chapter eighty-five

─── birthday parties and me don't have a good track record

          𝕾trangely enough, the summer was normal after that. Daily activities continued; we played capture the flag, sang at the campfire, played with Mrs O'Leary on the beach. Luke spent a lot of time on errands for Chiron, so Annabeth and I had a lot more girl time.

I needed to talk to Luke about Kronos, but there was never a good time to bring it up. When he was coming back, I just wanted to see him and spend time with him, and he was always tired or worn out, so I didn't think bringing Kronos up was the best plan.

July passed, August brought a heat wave and soon, the last day of camp had arrived. I had the letter, saying if I wasn't out, I'd be eaten, but I knew that Luke was coming to pick me up.

Thus, by ten o'clock, I was on top of Half-Blood Hill, waiting for Luke. I'd made arrangements for Mrs. O'Leary, and I was going to send my uncle Hades a message about bringing Mrs. O'Leary to him. She'd have a better life in the Underworld than here.

Annabeth was remaining here, wanting to go through Daedalus' laptop for longer before going back to her father's place in San Francisco.

"There's a private school out there that I'll be going to," she said. "I'll probably hate it, but..."

"You haven't even gone yet." I pointed out. "Stop jumping to conclusions. You never know, you might love it."

She pulled a face as I tugged her into my side and kissed her head.

"You be good, yes? Don't do a me." She laughed, shaking her head. "I meant to ask. What's the rest of the prophecy?"

She went quiet, so I continued.

"You shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze," I remembered. "The dead, the traitor, and the lost one raise. We raised a lot of the dead. We saved Ethan Nakamura, who turned out to be a traitor. We raised the spirit of Pan, the lost one."

Annabeth shook her head like she wanted me to stop.

"You shall rise or fall by the ghost king's hand," I pressed on, knowing that we needed to get this out into the open. "That wasn't Minos. It was Nico. By choosing to be on our side, he saved us. And the child of Athena's final stand— that was Daedalus."

"Romy—"

"Destroy with a hero's final breath. That makes sense now. Daedalus died to destroy the Labyrinth. But what was the last—"

"And lose a love to worse than death." Annabeth had tears in her eyes. "That was the last line, Romy. Are you happy now?"

I paused, turning to Annabeth. I'd never considered this before. I knew that Annabeth had a crush on Luke, but I hadn't known about Puck.

"Not like that!" She cut me off. "He was my friend, a really good friend. He always looked out for me, we did everything together. But-I-I didn't say anything to you or Luke and now, he's-I-I..."

"It's al-" Before I could continue, a sparkle of light appeared beside us, transforming into a woman.

"Hera," Annabeth said.

The goddess smiled. "You found the answers, as I knew you would. Your quest was a success."

"A success?" Annabeth said, eyebrow cocking. "Puck is gone. Daedalus is dead. Pan is dead. How is that—"

"Our family is safe," Hera insisted. "Those others are better gone, my dear. I am proud of you."

That was a touch insensitive.

"You're the one who paid Geryon to let us through the ranch, weren't you?"

Hera shrugged. Her dress shimmered in rainbow colours. "I wanted to speed you on your way."

"But you didn't care about Nico. You were happy to see him turned over to the Titans." Hera waved her hand dismissively as I shook my head. "That wasn't kind."

Her eyes turned dangerously bright. "Watch yourself, daughter of Poseidon. I guided you more than you know in the maze. I was at your side when you faced Geryon. I let your arrow fly straight. I sent you to Calypso's island. I opened the way to the Titan's mountain. Annabeth, my dear, surely you see how I've helped. I would welcome a sacrifice for my efforts."

"Next time, thanks...but no thanks."

"Annabeth." I muttered, and she looked up on me. "You're making me proud."

"You will regret this, Annabeth. You will regret this very much." Hera scowled, before glaring at me. I shrugged. What was she gonna do to me? Kill me before I could get myself killed in the prophecy?

I averted my eyes as the goddess turned into her true divine form and disappeared in a blaze of light. The hilltop was peaceful again. Over at the pine tree, Peleus the dragon dozed under the Golden Fleece as if nothing had happened.

"I'm sorry," Annabeth told me. "I—I should get back. I'll keep in touch."

"Good. I'll hold you to that." I promised.

"Luke's here, you better get going." Annabeth whispered, backing off. "See you, Seaweed Brain."

She jogged down the hill and I watched her until she reached the cabins. She didn't look back once.

∘☽༓☾∘

Two days later it was my birthday, another date to signify that I was closer to the final fight. Luke and I had spent most of the morning together, finally sleeping in for the first time in a long time. My mom had then appeared in our apartment, to throw me a small party. Paul, her new boyfriend, came over as did Tyson.

While Tyson helped my mom blow up party balloons, Paul Blofis asked me to help him in the kitchen.

As we were pouring punch, he said, "I hear your mom signed you up for some stuff in the fall, to go with your classes."

"Yeah, she has. Think we're doing some joint things together." I nodded. "It'll be nice to do it without worrying about the money as much now. I know it's easier when I'm not at home."

But still, as much as I wanted to hang out with my mom, this stuff about me dying was weighing on me more.

"You've had a rough summer," he said. "I'm guessing you lost someone important."

I stared at him. "How do you know that? Did my mom—"

He held up his hands. "Your mom hasn't said a thing. And I won't pry. I just know there's something unusual about you, Andromeda. You've got a lot going on that I can't figure. But I was also twenty once, and I'm just guessing from your expression...Well, you've had a rough time."

I nodded. I'd promised my mom I would tell Paul the truth about me, but now didn't seem the time. Not yet. "I lost a couple of friends at this camp I go to," I said. "I mean, not close friends, but still—"

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright." I smiled. Not like I could say 'they died for me to live and I don't want that sort of guilt on my conscious'.

"Here." Paul handed me some punch. "To your twentieth birthday. And to a better year to come."

We tapped our paper cups together and drank.

"Andromeda, I kind of feel bad giving you one more thing to think about," Paul said. "But I wanted to ask you something."

"Yeah?"

"Girl stuff."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Your mom," Paul said. "I'm thinking about proposing to her."

I almost dropped my cup, a smile lighting up on my face. "Really?"

"Well, that was the general idea. Would that be okay with you?"

"You're asking my permission?"

Paul scratched his beard. "I don't know if it's permission, so much, but she's your mother. And I know you're going through a lot. I wouldn't feel right if I didn't talk to you about it first. You're her daughter."

"You wouldn't have needed to ask me at all. Go for it." I sent him a warm smile. "Out of everyone, my mom deserves that sort of happiness."

He smiled really wide then. "Cheers, Andromeda. Let's join the party."

∘☽༓☾∘

I was just getting ready to blow out the candles when the doorbell rang.

My mom frowned. "Who could that be?"

It was weird, because our new building, that Luke and I lived in, had a doorman, but he hadn't called up or anything. My mom opened the door and gasped. It was my dad. He'd actually cleaned up a bit, as if for my birthday, but the fishing hat was still there.

"Pos—" My mother stopped herself. "Um, hello."

"Hello, Sally," Poseidon said. "You look as beautiful as ever. May I come in?"

My mother made a squeaking sound that might've been either a "Yes" or "Help." Poseidon took it as a yes and came in. Paul was looking back and forth between us, trying to read our expressions. Finally he stepped forward.

"Hi, I'm Paul Blofis."

Poseidon raised his eyebrows as they shook hands. "Blowfish, did you say?"

"Ah, no. Blofis, actually."

"Oh, I see," Poseidon said. "A shame. I quite like blowfish. I am Poseidon."

"Poseidon? That's an interesting name."

"Yes, I like it. I've gone by other names, but I do prefer Poseidon."

"Like the god of the sea."

"Very much like that, yes."

"Well!" my mom interrupted. "Um, we're so glad you could drop by. Paul, this is Andromeda's father."

"Ah." Paul nodded, though he didn't look real pleased. "I see."

Poseidon smiled at me. "There you are, my girl. And Tyson, hello, son!"

"Daddy!" Tyson bounded across the room and gave Poseidon a big hug, which almost knocked off his fishing hat.

Paul's jaw dropped. He stared at my mom. "Tyson is..."

"Not mine," she promised. "It's a long story."

"I couldn't miss Andromeda's twentieth birthday," Poseidon said.

"Poseidon." Luke called, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

"Luke, good to see you." My boyfriend hummed, as I nudged his ribs with a grin.

Poseidon's eyes twinkled. "Sally, Luke, Paul, Tyson...would you mind if I borrowed Dree for a moment?"

Once we were alone, his smile faded and he reached down to pull me into a tight hug. I smiled gently, squeezing my dad back.

"Are you all right, my girl?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. I guess."

"I heard stories," Poseidon said. "But I wanted to hear it directly from you. Tell me everything."

So I did. It was kind of disconcerting, because Poseidon listened so intently. His eyes never left my face. His expression didn't change the whole time I talked. When I was done, he nodded slowly. 

"So Kronos is indeed back. It will not be long before full war is upon us."

"What about Puck?" I asked. "Is he really gone?"

"I don't know, Dree. It is most disturbing."

"But his body is mortal. Couldn't you just destroy him?"

"Mortal, perhaps, but there is something different about Puck, my girl. I don't know how he was prepared to host the Titan's soul, but he will not be easily killed. And yet, I fear he must be killed if we are to send Kronos back to the pit. I will have to think on this. Unfortunately, I have other problems of my own."

I remembered what Tyson had told me at the beginning of the summer. "The old sea gods?"

"Indeed. The battle came first to me, Dree. In fact, I cannot stay long. Even now the ocean is at war with itself. It is all I can do to keep hurricanes and typhoons from destroying your surface world, the fighting is so intense."

"Let me come down there," I said. "Let me help."

Poseidon's eyes crinkled as he smiled. "Not yet, my girl. I sense you will be needed here. Which reminds me... " He brought out a sand dollar and pressed it into my hand. "Your birthday present. Spend it wisely."

"Uh, spend a sand dollar?"

"Oh, yes. In my day, you could buy quite a lot with a sand dollar. I think you will find it still buys a lot, if used in the right situation."

"What situation?"

"When the time comes," Poseidon said, "I think you'll know."

I closed my hand around the sand dollar, but something was really bothering me.

"As cryptic as ever, Dad," I said, "I wanted to ask you something. When I was in the maze, I met Antaeus. He said...well, he said he was your favorite son. He decorated his arena with skulls..."

"He dedicated them to me," Poseidon supplied. "And you are wondering how someone could do something so horrible in my name."

I nodded uncomfortably.

Poseidon put his weathered hand on my shoulder. "Dree, lesser beings do many horrible things in the name of the gods. That does not mean we gods approve. The way our sons and daughters act in our names...well, it usually says more about them than it does about us. And you, Dree, are my favorite daughter."

"Don't start pitting me against my sisters, dad. Don't think that will be good." I reminded him.

He smiled, and at that moment, just being in the kitchen with him was one of the best birthday present I ever got. Then my mom called from the living room. "Dree? The candles are melting!"

"You'd better go," Poseidon said. "But, Dree, one last thing you should know. That incident at Mount St. Helens..."

I winced, shaking my head as I remembered the damage that I had caused and the other deaths that were on my hands.

"The eruptions are continuing," he said. " Typhon is stirring. It is very likely that soon, in a few months, perhaps a year at best, he will escape his bonds."

"I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't mean—"

Poseidon raised his hand. "It's not your fault, Dree. It would've happened sooner or later, with Kronos awakening the ancient monsters. But be aware, if Typhon stirs...it will be unlike anything you have faced before. The first time he appeared, all the forces of Olympus were barely enough to battle him. And when he stirs again, he will come here, to New York. He will make straight for Olympus." 

That was just the kind of wonderful news I wanted to get on my birthday, but Poseidon patted me on the back like everything was fine. "I should go. Enjoy your cake."

And just like that he turned to mist and was swept out the window on a warm ocean breeze.

∘☽༓☾∘

It took a little work to convince Paul that Poseidon had left via the fire escape, but since people can't vanish into thin air, he had no choice but to believe it.

We ate blue cake and ice cream until we couldn't eat anymore. Then we played a bunch of cheesy party games like charades and Monopoly. Tyson didn't get charades. He kept shouting out the answer he was trying to mime, but it turned out he was really good at Monopoly. He knocked me out of the game in the first five rounds and started bankrupting my mom and Paul. Luke was annoyingly good at the game, and had a grin on his face as he continued to raise the rent on all of his properties well into the thousands. Him and Tyson were having turf wars when I left them.

 I left them playing and went into my bedroom.

I set an uneaten slice of blue cake on my dresser. Then I took off my Camp Half-Blood necklace and laid it on the windowsill. There were three beads now, representing my three summers at camp—a trident, the Golden Fleece, and the latest: an intricate maze, symbolizing the Battle of the Labyrinth, as the campers had started to call it. I wondered what next year's bead would be, if I was still alive that was.

I patted my pockets and emptied out my stuff—Riptide, my apartment key. Then I patted my shirt pocket and felt a small lump. I hadn't even realized it, but I was wearing the white cotton shirt Calypso had given me on Ogygia. I brought out a little piece of cloth, unwrapped it, and found the clipping of moonlace. It was a tiny sprig, shrivelled up after two months, but I could still smell the faint scent of the enchanted garden. It made me sad.

I remembered Calypso's last request of me: Plant a garden in Manhattan for me, will you? I opened the window and stepped onto the fire escape.

My mom had gifted me and Luke a planter box for our first apartment together. There was nothing in there at the moment, so I planted the dried sprig of moonlace carefully in the dirt and sprinkled a little nectar on it from my camp canteen.

Nothing happened at first.

Then, as I watched, a tiny silver plant sprang out of the soil—a baby moonlace , growing in the warm summer night.

"Nice plant," a voice said.

I jumped. Nico di Angelo was standing on the fire escape right next to me. He'd just appeared there.

"Sorry," he said. "Didn't mean to startle you."

"Nearly gave me a heart attack." I muttered, before shooting him a glare. "I thought I told you to stay in contact. I haven't heard from you! At least you look healthy, have you been in the sun?"

He'd grown about an inch taller over the last couple of months. His hair was a shaggy black mess. He wore a black T-shirt, black jeans, and a new silver ring shaped like a skull. His Stygian iron sword hung at his side.

"I've done some exploring," he said. "Thought you'd like to know, Daedalus got his punishment."

"You saw him?"

Nico nodded. "Minos wanted to boil him in cheese fondue for an eternity, but my father had other ideas. Daedalus will be building overpasses and exit ramps in Asphodel for all time. It'll help ease the traffic congestion. Truthfully, I think the old guy is pretty happy with that. He's still building. Still creating. And he gets to see his son and Perdix on the weekends."

"That's good."

Nico tapped at his silver ring. "But that's not the real reason I've come. I've found out some things. I want to make you an offer."

"What?"

"The way to beat Puck," he said. "If I'm right, it's the only way you'll stand a chance."

I took a deep breath. "Okay. I'm listening."

Nico glanced inside my room. His eyebrows furrowed. "Is that...is that blue birthday cake?"

He sounded hungry, maybe a little wistful. I wondered if the poor kid had ever had a birthday party, or if he'd ever even been invited to one.

"Come inside for some cake and ice cream," I said. "It sounds like we've got a lot to talk about. We've got a spare room you can have."

∘☽༓☾∘

Hiya,

So, we've got the bonus chapter for this part coming up next which I'm looking forward to and I know it's been a while, I'm really sorry guys but hopefully this makes up for it! Andi and Luke have an apartment together now!!

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx