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Coming soon to S.S. Olympus…
          
          Chapter 51: The Song of the Nightingale ️
          
           Chapter Song: The Sound of Silence — Peyton Parrish
          
          Only Apollo understands Echo’s language naturally. 
          
          Right?
          
          Someone else answered her.
          
          Deep within the quarantine wing, where endless thirst has swallowed names, memories, and hope…
          
          A single song reaches someone still trapped inside the darkness.
          
          Eurydice.
          
          Sometimes, the first miracle isn’t being healed.
          
          It’s being heard.
          
          

 #30DC, here we go!
          
          Two goals this month:
          
          ✍️ Participate in #30DC. (With S.S. Olympus.) so I can finish it by August 31st.  As my second entry for the #Ambys.
          
          Starting the challenge strong with the chilling story of Lycaon’s revenge banquet and the myth that followed.
          
          So… no more light bending ridiculously charming pirates until Hades’ Kingdom is done! ‍☠️
          
          (I know where this ends, and it’s awesome.  I just have to get there. )
          
           Dragon Born has been submitted for the Wattys—wish it luck!
          
           Dragon Sworn has been submitted as my first book for the #Ambys.

Did you wonder who “Red” was? Don’t worry you’re getting her point of view before the wolf contagion. 
          
          And it is delicious. 

Rome had Werewolves . . . It started with the wolf King Lycaon.
          
          They had witchcraft. Ruled by the goddess Hekate 
          
          They also had the Lamia. Creatures of the night with an unending hunger for blood.  
          
          Hades was the ruler of the underworld and all of the creatures it claimed. 

You have met Hades, who grows with her.
          
          You have met Nar, who would sacrifice everything, including himself, for her.
          
          But have you met Hook?
          
          The Fae Prince whose response to impossible love was simply…
          
          “Guess I’ll redesign my entire life… and win first place in the Best Kept Yearning competition.”
          
          Anyway…
          
          I’m supposed to be building an army.
          
          Instead, I got distracted by a pirate and an emotional support octopus.
          
          I regret nothing. 

Okay, have you ever had a song completely reshape a chapter?
          
          I was working on the Echo myth and randomly put on The Phantom of the Opera. I cannot tell you how much better this chapter became once that became the inspiration for the atmosphere.
          
          Everything suddenly clicked. The haunted estate. The echoes. The music. Even Echo herself.

Eric: I am an invincible pirate prince.
          
          Moon-Fire: CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE ONE NIGHT OFF…
          
          Eric: Ooh, piece of lore….
          
          Moon-Fire: internally screaming Leave. My. Collection. Alone!!!
          
          Eric: finds collection
          
          Moon-Fire: Excuse me while I drown from embarrassment.
          
          Sunny: I AM HELPING!!!
          
          Moon-Fire: STOP HELPING.
          
          Captain Ink: Pirate man upset my Mermaid friend …. Petty attack initiated!!!! 

As S.S. Olympus continues to evolve, a lot has changed from the original version.
          
          Some myths, especially toward the later portions of the story, may be sacrificed in service of telling a stronger overall tale. That has been one of the hardest parts of the rewrite.
          
          Two myths I was especially reluctant to lose were Orpheus and Eurydice and King Lycaon (yes, that name should sound familiar).
          
          I am incredibly excited to say that both are surviving the rewrite—and not only surviving, but returning in a much stronger form than before.
          
          For those following along, prepare yourselves.
          
          The myths of the Roman vampire and the Roman werewolf are coming to Olympus. 
          
          And trust me, Hades and his first mate have plans for both.

 Chapter 36: Dawn of the Empire is Live! 
          
          Cornelia (Kore) was kidnapped from her own wedding.
          
          10/10 experience.
          Would recommend.
          
          As it turns out the best man of the real groom took Roman wedding traditions very seriously.
          
          Including the paperwork.
          
          Especially the paperwork.
          
          Now it is finally time to go home.
          
          Back to the S.S. Inferis.
          
          Back to Cerberus.
          
          Back to Project Belladonna. (Whatever that is)
          
          Hades has been “busy,” but no one will explain what that means.
          
          We have already seen what Winter’s Wrath means for his enemies.
          
          This chapter asks a different question:
          
          What does Spring’s Hope do for his people?
          
          ☠️
          
          And yes.
          
          Apollo still lost a fight to a horse.

Consequences have come. The thing about the God of Death is that he mostly keeps to himself, unless he is disturbed. In this case, someone stole his queen.
          
          Death is thorough in his justice. Hades does not negotiate.
          
          Karma is relentless in hers, and Artemis has no patience for predatory men.
          
          Romans have unique traditions. Apollo appreciates dramatic ones.
          
          ☠️