The Life I'm Running From

36\ Olympic Memories and a Revelation

Stars fell around me, the midnight sky making them shine. A wind blew past, but it wasn't chilly. Golden statues saluted as I passed by, my arm interlocked with Annabeth's. I was wearing a shimmery dress that felt like it was made out of fairy's silk. It was an adjustment to be in a dress, but after the first hour I had grown to enjoy the freedom it gave.

"It's so beautiful," Annabeth breathed, her grey eyes taking in the scenery around us.

We were atop Mount Olympus, in the gardens around the palace. Down the hill we could see the twinkling lights of the Olympian homes—and not a single one had gone dark. This was a night for celebrating, after all. A merry tune flowed from the orchestra playing on the other side of the palace, where the official celebration was being held. Percy was over there, and had been dancing with Annabeth until I had stolen her away to take a walk in the gardens. My brother didn't have time to protest, as he was swept into a dance by a minor goddess with violet eyes almost immediately.

"I'm so glad it wasn't all destroyed." Annabeth tucked a blonde ringlet behind her ear. As part of the celebration, Annabeth had gotten a dress like mine and her hair curled. She looked like the spitting image of her mother, who I had talked to only an hour previous.

"Yeah," I said, because I didn't know what else to say. Olympus was breathtaking in a way you couldn't describe. It had magic and hope and joy in the atmosphere, giving the gold a brighter shine and the silver a heavier magnificence. Up here, where the mortal homes were only a dream, life seemed like a bouquet of blissful daydreams enveloped in honey and elation.

We sat down on a bench, and I watched Annabeth's eyes travel over the architecture of Olympus.  "Do you think I could ever make something as amazing as this? I don't know if I'm cut out for designing monuments and buildings worthy of Olympus."

"'Course you are." I bumped her shoulder. "And besides, now you don't have to worry about Kronos taking over the world. He's dead."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I shouldn't have said that. Annabeth flinched. I knew what she was thinking about, because I was thinking the same thing. Luke was dead. And he had sacrificed himself for the entire world.

"Do you ever wonder what our life would be without this?" I asked, in a soft voice.

Annabeth frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Without all of this." I gestured to our surroundings. "Without godly blood, without monsters and battles and powers—without it all."

"It would be different. But it also wouldn't be right." Annabeth shook her head. "You can't take away a part of someone and still expect them to be themselves."

★彡 ★彡 ★彡 ★彡

I lay awake in bed Tuesday morning, thinking of the previous night. Poor little Evan being bullied by teenagers, Peter and his infuriating mask, plus Ravenyx, and finally seeing her face.

Her face. I knew that face. It was in my memory, somewhere, and I was going to find it. That's what I was doing now. Sifting through my memories, trying to find some piece of recognition. At the moment, all I was coming up with was hay.

"McKinnley?" Danny knocked on my door, stepping into my room. "You have to get ready for school."

I sighed and sat up in bed. Danny's hair was even poofier today than usual, and her dark violet lipstick matched nicely with her dark complexion. At least I knew Ravenyx wasn't Danny. Now that would be awful.