chapter sixty-two

─── sappy reunions and starlight funerals, the ups and downs of life

[ Andromeda ]

          𝖂e landed at Crissy Field after nightfall, which gave my joints some time to recover after having been chained up for days and then holding the sky. Though, I have to say that sky weighed the same amount as my failures, so the burden wasn't that bad.

As soon as Dr. Chase stepped out of his Sopwith Camel, Annabeth ran to him and gave him a huge hug as I contemplated whether collapsing on the floor was an appropriate response to seeing land and being free.

"Dad! You flew...you shot...oh my gods! That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"

Her father blushed. "Well, not bad for a middle-aged mortal, I suppose."

"But the celestial bronze bullets! How did you get those?"

"Ah, well. You did leave quite a few half-blood weapons in your room in Virginia, the last time you...left." Annabeth looked down, embarrassed and I turned away. Luke had helped set Zoe down beside Artemis and was turning back for me. I accepted his hand, stumbling out of the chariot and into his arms.

"I like the hair. Go to a new stylist?" I joked, twirling the grey strand of his hair around my finger. He hummed, pressing a kiss to my forehead as I felt his hands tremble in my own. "Now we match."

"You're okay," He muttered, his hands still trembling as I nodded and pulled him closer.

"I'm here, Luke, and I'm not leaving again,"

"Please don't. I can't handle that," I chuckled, before pressing a kiss to his lips, smiling as he wrapped his hands around my waist. Maybe I was a sappy fool in love, but being back in his arms was one of the best Christmas presents I got.

I suppose being saved from certain death also was on the list.

"Romy, Luke, Annabeth," Brooke interrupted, her voice urgent. She and Artemis were kneeling at Zoe's side, trying to bind the huntress's wounds. There wasn't much we could do though, as Luke had already given her the last of his ambrosia.

"Can't you heal her with magic?" I asked Artemis. "I mean...you're a goddess."

Artemis looked troubled. "Life is a fragile thing, Andromeda. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try."

She tried to set her hand on Zoe's side, but Zoe gripped her wrist. She looked into the goddess's eyes, and some kind of understanding passed between them.

"Have I...served thee well?" Zoe whispered.

"With great honour," Artemis said softly. "The finest of my attendants."

Zoe's face relaxed. "Rest. At last."

"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one."

But Zoe merely shook her head. She saw Luke, grabbing his hand tightly as he smiled at her.

"You have been a good friend," Zoe murmured. "You have always been a good friend."

"Rest easy, Zoe," He muttered, squeezing her hand. 

"You are nothing like the others," She muttered. "Thank you, for everything."

A shudder ran through her body as Luke bowed his head. I rested a hand on his back, grabbing onto Annabeth as well, who wrapped around me in a tight hug. Luke's shoulders shook, and I guessed that everything had caught up to him, though I wondered what else had happened on the quest.

"Stars," she whispered. "I can see the stars again, my lady."

A tear trickled down Artemis's cheek. "Yes, my brave one. They are beautiful tonight."

"Stars," Zoe repeated. Her eyes fixed on the night sky. And she did not move again.

Brooke lowered her head. Annabeth gulped down a sob, and her father put his hands on her shoulders. I watched as Artemis cupped her hand above Zoe's mouth and spoke a few words in Ancient Greek. A silvery wisp of smoke exhaled from Zoe's lips and was caught in the hand of the goddess. Zoe's body shimmered and disappeared.

There was a pause, as Luke leant back onto his heels and ran a hand over his face, trying to hide the tears in his eyes, but I saw them. I wasn't sure what was best for me to do, but in the end, I reached down and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, pressing a kiss to his head.

Artemis stood, said a kind of blessing, breathed into her cupped hand and released the silver dust to the sky. It flew up, sparkling, and vanished.

For a moment I didn't see anything different. Then Annabeth gasped. Looking up in the sky, I saw that the stars were brighter now. They made a pattern I had never noticed before—a gleaming constellation that looked a lot like a girl's figure—a girl with a bow, running across the sky.

"Let the world honour you, my Huntress," Artemis said. "Live forever in the stars."

It wasn't easy saying our goodbyes. The thunder and lightning were still boiling over Mount Tamalpais in the north. Artemis was so upset she flickered with silver light. This made me nervous, because if she suddenly lost control and appeared in her fully divine form, we would disintegrate by looking at her.

"I must go to Olympus immediately," Artemis said. "I will not be able to take you, but I will send help."

The goddess set her hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently. "You are brave beyond measure, my girl. You will do what is right."

Then she looked quizzically at Brooke, as if she weren't sure what to make of this daughter of Hecate. Brooke seemed reluctant to look up, but something made her, and she held the goddess's eyes. I wasn't sure what passed between them, but Artemis's gaze softened with sympathy. Then she turned to Luke.

"You did well," she said.

"Thank you, Lady Artemis," He replied, though his voice lacked the usual tone that I associated with my boyfriend.

She mounted her chariot, which began to glow. We averted our eyes. There was a flash of silver, and the goddess was gone.

"Well," Dr. Chase sighed. "She was impressive; though I must say I still prefer Athena."

Annabeth turned toward him. "Dad, I...I'm sorry that—"

"Shh." He hugged her. "Do what you must, my dear. I know this isn't easy for you."

His voice was a little shaky, but he gave Annabeth a brave smile.

Then I heard the whoosh of large wings. Four pegasi descended through the fog: two white winged horses and one pure black one.

"Blackjack!" I cried out, turning to look at Luke, who mustered a smile. He waved me off to say hello to my horse, turning back to Annabeth and Dr. Chase.

Yo, boss girl! she called, prancing over with her usual dramaticness. You manage to stay alive okay?

"It was rough," I admitted.

I brought Guido, Poker and Porkpie with me.

How ya doin? The other three pegasi spoke in my mind.

Blackjack looked me over with concern, then checked out Dr. Chase, Luke, Brooke, and Annabeth. Any of these goons you want us to stampede? Can I kick Luke?

"No, you cannot kick my boyfriend," I said aloud. Luke and Blackjack both glared at each other. "These are my friends. We need to get to Olympus pretty fast."

No problem, Blackjack said. Except for the mortal over there. Hope he's not going and I better not have blondie on my back.

"Why do I feel like your horse is insulting me?" Luke questioned, grabbing a rucksack.

"Cause she is," I slapped my horse in the process, who snorted and glared. "Stop being mean to him. You like him deep down."

No, I don't

"Let's agree to disagree," I replied, before assuring her that Dr. Chase would not be coming along. The man was staring, open mouthed, at the pegasi.

"Fascinating," he said. "Such maneuverability! How does the wingspan compensate for the weight of the horse's body, I wonder?"

Blackjack cocked her head. What did he say?

"Why, if the British had had these pegasi in the cavalry charges on the Crimea," Dr. Chase said, "the charge of the light brigade—"

"Dad!" Annabeth interrupted.

Dr. Chase blinked. He looked at his daughter and managed a smile. "I'm sorry, my dear, I know you must go."

He gave her one last awkward, well-meaning hug. As she turned to climb aboard the pegasus Guido, Dr. Chase called, "Annabeth. I know...I know San Francisco is a dangerous place for you. But please remember, you always have a home with us. We will keep you safe."

Annabeth didn't answer, but her eyes were red as she turned away. Dr. Chase started to say more, then apparently thought better of it. He raised his hand in a sad farewell and trudged away across the dark field. I squeezed her shoulder as I jumped onto Blackjack's back, waiting for Luke and Brooke to mount their pegasi. Together we soared over the bay and flew toward the eastern hills. Soon San Francisco was only a glittering crescent behind us, with an occasional flicker of lightning in the north.

Brooke was so exhausted she fell asleep on Porkpie's back. Her pegasus flew with ease, adjusting himself every once in a while so Brooke stayed safely on his back. Annabeth, Luke and I flew along side by side slightly behind her.

"Your dad seems cool," I told her.

It was too dark to see her expression. She looked back, even though California was far behind us now.

"I guess so," she said. "We've been arguing for so many years."

"Yeah, you said."

"You think I was lying about that?" It sounded like a challenge, but a pretty half-hearted one, like she was asking it of herself.

"Did I say that?" I countered, as Luke rolled his eyes, a sad look in them. "I dunno, he just seems okay. Maybe they've gotten cooler since you saw them last."

She hesitated. "They're still in San Francisco, Romy. I can't live so far from camp."

"And that's fair," Luke cut in.

"So, what do you think has happened with Puck?" Annabeth asked, her tone quiet.

"He's not dead," Luke shook his head. "No, I doubt Kronos would let him die now. Not with what they've done so far and what more they've got left to do."

"Well, that's grim," I muttered.

The towns were zipping by faster now, islands of light thicker together, until the whole landscape below was a glittering carpet. Dawn was close. The eastern sky was turning grey. And up ahead, a huge white-and-yellow glow spread out before us—the lights of New York.

How's that for speedy, boss gal? Blackjack bragged. We get extra hay for breakfast or what?

"You're the horse," I patted her neck, before sitting back upright.

"There it is." Brooke's voice; she'd woken up. She was pointing toward Manhattan, which was quickly zooming into view. "It's started."

"What's started?" I asked.

Then I looked where she was pointing. High above the Empire State Building, the New York conference centre was its own island of light, a floating mountain ablaze with torches and braziers, white marble palaces gleaming in the early morning air.

"The winter solstice," Luke muttered. "The Council of the Gods."

"Yay!" I cheered, before wondering if it was too late to pitch myself off of Blackjack and towards the ground.

∘☽༓☾∘

Hiya,

I lied, you're back to Andi's pov and my favourite sarcastic, slightly morbid child is here. Her humour, I will warn you, will shift over the series because as she goes through more things her humour gets slightly darker. Let me know if that's a problem, or if you want more trigger warning put up at the start of the book.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx