Where You Go ― Jason Grace

xxi. another crossroads, another farewell

THEY MATERIALIZED ON the hillside overlooking the River Acheron. The sun was just rising over the horizon, making the water glitter and the clouds glow orange. The cool mountain air smelled of honeysuckle. 

Ophelia blinked, trying to push away the nausea she felt. "Whoa." 

Leo staggered backward. "You know... I think I'll sit down." 

He collapsed. 

The others joined him. Leo passed Ophelia another piece of ambrosia from his tool-belt, which she took gratefully. The Argo II still floated over the river a few hundred yards away. 

They began to exchange stories. 

Ophelia told the others about their run-in with Melinoe and her ghosts. Nico and Percy both winced at hearing that—apparently they'd faced her before, too. 

Frank explained what had happened with the ghostly legion and the army of monsters—how Nico had used the scepter of Diocletian, and how bravely Jason and Piper had fought. 

"Frank is being modest," Jason said. "He controlled the entire legion. You should've seen him. Oh, and by the way..." Jason glanced at Percy. "I resigned my office, gave Frank a field promotion to to praetor. Unless you want to contest that ruling." 

Percy grinned. "No argument here." 

"Praetor?" Hazel stared at Frank. 

He shrugged uncomfortably. "Well.. yeah. I know it seems weird." 

Hazel beamed. "It seems perfect." 

Leo clapped Frank on the shoulder. "Way to go, Zhang. Now you can order Octavian to fall on his sword." 

"Tempting," Frank agreed. He turned apprehensively to Percy. "But you guys... Tartarus has to be the real story. What happened down there? How did you...?" 

Percy laced his fingers through Annabeth's. "We'll tell you the story," Percy promised. "But not yet, okay? I'm not ready to remember that place."

"No," Annabeth agreed. "Right now..." She gazed toward the river and faltered. "Uh, I think our ride is coming." 

Ophelia turned. The Argo II veered to port, its aerial oars in motion, its sails catching the wind. 

Festus's head glinted in the sunlight. Even from a distance, Ophelia could hear him creaking and clanking in jubilation. 

"That's my boy!" Leo yelled. 

As the ship got closer, Ophelia saw Coach Hedge standing at the prow. 

"About time!" the coach yelled down. He was doing his best to scowl, but his eyes gleamed as if maybe, just maybe, he was happy to see them. "What took you so long, cupcakes? You kept your visitor waiting!" 

"Visitor?" Hazel murmured. 

At the rail next to Coach Hedge, a dark-haired girl appeared wearing a purple cloak, her face so covered with soot and bloody scratches that Ophelia almost didn't recognize her. 

Reyna had arrived. 

 ❖

The Athena Parthenos gazed out serenely over the River Acheron, her gold dress like molten metal in the sun. 

"Incredible," Reyna admitted. 

She was still red-eyed from crying. Soon after she'd landed on the Argo II, her pegasus Scipio had collapsed, overwhelmed by poisoned claw marks from a gryphon attack the night before. Reyna had put the horse out of his misery with her golden knife, turning the pegasus to dust that scattered in the sweet-smelling Greek air. Maybe not a bad end for a flying horse, but Reyna had lost a loyal friend. She'd given up too much in her life already.