gone girl.
━━━ chapter thirty one

❀

Amaryllis Kalomiri was dead. But the dead can't wake up and yet, she did.

She woke up panicked, as if she was still in the middle of a fight. She didn't know where she was, or if she was actually awake or just dreaming and it all added up to her heart beating a little too fast. She was laying on the ground and there was someone beside her, muttering prayers.

Will raised his head when he realised she woke up and looked at his sister with tears running down his cheeks. "You're okay," he said, as if he didn't fully believe it.

Amaryllis' first instinct is to look at his eyes. They're normal, blue-not gold, like she was expecting. But still, something felt weird. What if this was one of Deena's chaotic illusions? Will couldn't be real; he wasn't there at the throne room with them.

When Will touched her hand, she flinched as if she got burnt. "No," she muttered and tried to get away from him. "No, get away from me. You're not real."

Will looked scared for a moment. He looked like a mess and his Camp t-shirt was full of blood. "Hey, hey. It's okay, you're safe." He spoke so gently, like she was a wild animal.

"You're not real. Don't touch me!" she yelled; something inside her broke and she started crying. "Please. Just- just leave me alone."

"Lilly..."

"Please." Amaryllis looked around her, trying to understand where she was. It was a strange little dark room and the only light came from some candles. "I- I can't do this anymore. I can't," she whispered-she wasn't entirely sure who she was talking to; perhaps the gods. Her father. Anyone who was listening and still cared.

Will pulled back from her and made sure there was some distance between them. That seemed to relieve her a little. "Remember when we convinced Lee that our cabin was haunted by reprogramming his Valentine's Day talking teddy bear into whispering at night?" he asked. "Or... or that karaoke party at the beach. You sang that Ain't no mountain high enough song but you forgot the lyrics half-way through and Nia got up to sing with you? She even dragged Michael. Do you remember?"

She did. She remembered everything and it hurt like hell.

Will sighed. "I'm real and I'm here, Lilly. Kronos, Luke, Deena... they're dead. We won."

Amaryllis drew a sharp breath upon realising that he was telling the truth. But why did she feel so scared if everything had ended? "Where are we?" she asked.

"We're still on Olympus. The gods are currently fixing their ruined throne room." He hesitated and she could see it in his eyes. "As the... head counselor of the Apollo cabin, they told me to look after you until you woke up."

"Head counselor?" Amaryllis asked. "But..."

Will gave her a sad smile and he shook his head. None of them wanted to say it out loud, but that didn't make it less true; Nia was gone too. The Apollo cabin lost two counselors-two siblings-in the span of two days.

"I'm so sorry." Amaryllis didn't know what else to say. "You shouldn't have gone through this alone."

"I wasn't alone. Kayla and Austin... they're okay," Will said and she thanked the gods that at least the two of them were safe. "Anyways, we'll continue this conversation later. There's someone that really wants to talk to you."

He smiled at her again and he left the room, closing the door behind him. Amaryllis heard some incoherent, mostly cheerful voices and the door opened again.

When Percy entered the room, it felt like her heart missed a beat. He had this unexplainable power over her and she didn't really mind it. She wasn't sure why, but it felt like she hadn't seen him in a very long time. He looked like a mess, but it was a mess she had grown to adore; handsome, even after fighting in a war. She truly believed he was the only one that could achieve that.

Percy approached her slowly, his eyes full of disbelief. It almost made her nervous. "Take a picture, it'll last longer," she couldn't help but tease him.

He rushed in and hugged her in a sort of desperate way. She hugged him back-she could feel his fingers going through her hair, like he was still trying to make sure she was real and not a figment of his imagination. In his arms, it was the first time in quite a long time that she truly felt safe.

"You can let go now," she whispered.

"I don't want to." Truth be told, she didn't want him to let go either.

He pulled away and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. That's when he noticed his red puffy eyes. "Mar..." He choked up. "I thought you... I thought I lost you."

She smiled. "I'm right here."

"Do you remember what happened?" he asked.

"The last thing I remember is Deena's illusions. She took your form, trying to kill me. I don't remember anything past that." She looked right into his worried eyes. "Why? Did something happen?"

"Mar... you died."

A nervous laugh escaped her throat. "Except I clearly didn't."

Percy shook his head, looking the most serious she had ever seen him. "Apollo said it might take a while for you to regain all of your memories," he said. "You took a knife for me. It hit your mortal point and it... killed you."

"I don't get it," Amaryllis said and she tried to get up, though it took her a while, her body still stiff. "I died? Like, died died?" Percy nodded. "Then how am I alive right now? I am alive, aren't I?"

"You are. It's a long story-Will saved you. He had a small bottle with some strange magic liquid that he believes his father gifted him. Him and Nico shadow-traveled to the Camp to get it and it saved you. Except no one really knows what it was, but it worked, so I couldn't care less."

"I died..." Amaryllis muttered to herself. It didn't feel real. "I think I remember something. I remember thinking that you were in danger and jumping in front of you, but the rest is a void."

"You saved me. I would be lost without you," he said, "both literally and figuratively."

"It's fine."

"No, it's not," Percy frowned. "Never, never, do this again, okay? You have no idea..."

Amaryllis held his hand and squeezed it. "That was my plan from the start, remember? Dying for Percy Jackson."

"Well, Percy Jackson doesn't want you dying for him," he said. "Because he..."

He couldn't say it, but she didn't mind. She knew it-she could feel it, see it in his eyes and it was enough.

"Guys?" They heard a voice and turned to see Nico standing in the doorway. He looked even more pale than usual, but she supposed it was expected-he had just witnessed his sister die after all. "The gods want to talk to us," he said.

Percy coughed awkwardly and put some distance between himself and Amaryllis. "Right, um, yeah. Come on, I'll help you."

"I'll do it," Nico said and came to her side. He looked at Percy, a conflicted look on his face. "I want to talk to my sister. Privately, if you don't mind."

Percy nodded and left the two siblings alone. With her brother's help, Amaryllis managed to stand up on her own, although she did feel a little dizzy. She supposed she didn't have the curse of Achilles anymore-the war was over, so she supposed it didn't matter anymore.

Nico didn't seem like he knew what to say. "I'm glad you're okay," he finally said after a while, but he couldn't even look her in the eyes. "I was very worried."

"I'm sorry," Amaryllis said. She understood his awkwardness-he was never comfortable with expressing his feelings. She used to be like him, until she realised that the feelings she was so desperately trying to suppress would end up making her explode at some point anyway. "I wish you didn't have to go through this."

Both of them had lost too much. It was unfair, but Amaryllis liked to believe that at least they had each other.

"It's not your fault," he said. "It's just that... you're my sister." He hesitated, but Amaryllis waited for him to find the right words. "And I... love you. And if anything bad happened to you, I..."

"Nico, are you crying?" The boy's jaw was clenched, like he was struggling, but his dark eyes had a glassy look. She wiped the tears off his cheeks with her fingers and raised his head so he could look at her. "Look at me. I'm okay. And as long as I'm here, you'll never be alone again. You're my little brother, I love you too."

"Technically, I'm eighty years old," he muttered and she let out a snort. It's a shame he didn't smile more, she thought as she looked at him. It suit him.

And for the first time, it was him who hugged her first.

❀

The Olympian council had already started once Nico waltzed in the room with Amaryllis relying on him. Everyone's eyes were on her-she was probably the first person they had ever seen come back from the dead. Amaryllis felt someone staring at her and when she turned to see who it was, she saw Hera. She had a weird look on her face, but she said nothing, as Zeus continued talking about whatever the hell he was talking about. He was probably patting himself on the back, Amaryllis thought bitterly.

Nico went to sit next to Hades, as Amaryllis made her way next to Percy, Annabeth and Grover. The last two looked at her with the biggest smiles she had ever seen.

Grover hugged her from the back as Annabeth held her hand. "Thank you for not dying," she told her. "I really don't think I could have handled that."

"I'll try not to die tomorrow too, if that's cool with you."

Annabeth cracked up, but Grover nudged her, because Hera was giving them a dirty look.

"As for my brothers," Zeus said, "we are thankful"-he cleared his throat like the words were hard to get out-"erm, thankful for the aid of Hades."

Her father nodded. He had a smug look on his face, but Amaryllis figured he'd earned the right. He had finally gotten what he wanted; recognition and appreciation. He patted Nico on the shoulders, and Nico looked happier than she'd ever seen him. Then he glanced at Amaryllis-he looked like he wanted to talk to her, but instead, he only nodded.

"And, of course," Zeus continued, though he looked like his pants were smoldering, "we must... um... thank Poseidon."

"I'm sorry, brother," Poseidon said. "What was that?"

"We must thank Poseidon," Zeus growled. "Without whom... it would've been difficult-"

"Difficult?" Poseidon asked innocently. Amaryllis could see where Percy got this sass from.

"Impossible," Zeus said. "Impossible to defeat Typhon."

The gods murmured agreement and pounded their weapons in approval.

"Which leaves us," Zeus said, "only the matter of thanking our young demigod heroes, who defended Olympus so well-even if there are a few dents in my throne."

He called Thalia forward first, since she was his daughter, and promised her help in filling the Hunters' ranks. Amaryllis zoned out as the gods kept calling people in front of them. Tyson was gifted a stick, after his own request. Grover became a Lord of the Wild and collapsed from the excitement, earning an eye roll from Dionysus. Annabeth was crowned the architect of Olympus, which left her with a starstruck look on her face and a mind full of new ideas.

She only snapped out of it as her own name was called out.

She hesitantly walked into the middle of the throne room, still half-expecting the gods to smite her for all the insulting things she had said about them over the years. To make the situation better for herself, she bowed to Zeus.

"Amaryllis Kalomiri, you were a... surprise to all of us," Zeus said. He looked like he wanted to say much worse things, but he was holding back.

Hades grit his teeth. "Brother, don't start this now-"

"Alas," Zeus cut him off. "This is not a day for arguments and bitterness. At the end of the day, you fought for our side."

"She deserves to get rewarded then," Hades said. "Is anyone opposed to that?" He looked around the gods and surprisingly, none of them-not even Hera-disagreed.

"Fine," Zeus sighed. "What is it that you want?"

Amaryllis bit the inside of her cheek. She could ask for anything; she could ask for a way to communicate with the dead more often, or to be left alone forever, so the gods could never intervene with her life again. She could ask to be rewarded with gold, or even immortality. More power. She felt like she deserved to be selfish for once.

But then she remembered Deena's words echoing through her head. You'll become like them. You'll forget your promises, just like they will forget about theirs, she had said. Amaryllis knew what she had to do.

"I want you to free Calypso from Ogygia," she said. The gods started whispering to each other and everyone looked at Amaryllis like she was crazy. "I want you to free her and never, never, intervene with her life again. I want you to bring her here, right now."

"What you're asking for is impossible," Zeus scoffed. "The Titaness is serving her punishment for supporting her kind in the First Titanomachy. She's a traitor."

"She was only supporting her family," Amaryllis argued back. "That's what we did as well. None of us would have fought on your side if it wasn't for the simple fact that we were fighting for our family."

"That's different."

"No, it's not," she insisted. "Her punishment is cruel and she doesn't deserve it, just because of something that happened back when the universe was first created. And anyways... you agreed that I deserve to be rewarded. That's all I want."

The gods were all looking at each other. Finally, Zeus turned to Hades. "It's your daughter. What do you think of her request?"

Hades shrugged. "I think we should do it. She's not asking for something... completely irrational."

"Fine," Zeus said through his teeth and she was pretty sure that he was fantasizing of smiting her with lightning. "We'll free Calypso."

"I want you to swear on the River Styx," Amaryllis said. "That you'll free her right now and then you'll never intervene in her life again. You can never sent her back there."

"Smart girl," Poseidon muttered.

Zeus rolled his eyes. "She really does remind me of you, Hades. For the record, I'm saying this in the worst possible way." He sighed. "In the name of the Council, we swear by the River Styx to grant you your request."

The gods muttered in approval, though not all of them looked very happy. Thunder roared to make the deal official. Then Zeus got up and hit his foot on the ground, creating a portal just in front of Amaryllis.

On the other side of the portal was Ogygia. She would recognize the island anywhere-the blue sky, the warm air going through the leaves of the trees and the smell of exotic flowers. But what shocked her to the core was the sight of a girl standing in front of her. She hadn't noticed the portal forming, as she was watering the plants just outside of her small cabin.

Amaryllis found it difficult to talk. She had dreamt of this moment for at least a year and it seemed too good to be true. "C-Calypso?"

Calypso turned her head and the watering can fell from her hands. With wide eyes and trembling lips, she stared at Amaryllis, her old friend. "Mar? Are you real?"

Amaryllis nodded. For a moment, there was no one else in the room, but those two. "I told you I'd find a way to free you. Take my hand," she said and her hand went through the portal. Calypso hesitated, but then took her hand and Amaryllis pulled her towards her.

Calypso finally left Ogygia. She looked utterly confused, but the first thing she did was wrap her arms around Amaryllis and give her a tight hug both of them seemed to need more than anything. "Mar, I can't believe you," she whispered.

Zeus coughed and Calypso finally noticed her surroundings. She pulled away and gracefully bowed to the gods. "Thank you, my lord," she said.

"Don't thank me yet," Zeus said. "Just because we've agreed to grant you your freedom doesn't mean it comes without its terms."

"But-"

"It's okay," Calypso told Amaryllis and returned her attention to the King of the gods. "And what are those terms, my lord?"

"You'll be stripped of your immortality and powers. In return, we swore that the gods will never intervene in your life again."

"Unless, of course, you want us to," Apollo said and winked flirtatiously.

A wave of annoyed disapproving sounds came from the entirety of the Council. There was even a gagging sound coming from where Artemis was sitting.

"I accept those terms," Calypso said.

Zeus nodded. "Good. I suppose that means you're free then." He sighed, like the moment he was dreading the most just came. "Unfortunately, there is one last demigod we need to call here."

"Percy Jackson!" Poseidon shouted.

Amaryllis returned back where she was previously sitting at, this time taking Calypso with her. There were so many things she wanted to discuss with her, but her eyes were glued on Percy as he made his way into the middle of the throne room.

First he bowed to Zeus and then he knelt at his father's feet. "Rise, my son," Poseidon said and he stood uneasily. "A great hero must be rewarded," Poseidon said. "Is there anyone here who would deny that my son is deserving?"

No one protested. "The Council agrees," Zeus said. "Percy Jackson, you will have one gift from the gods."

Percy hesitated. "Any gift?"

Zeus nodded grimly. "I know what you will ask. The greatest gift of all. Yes, if you want it, it shall be yours. The gods have not bestowed this gift on a mortal hero in many centuries, but, Perseus Jackson-if you wish it-you shall be made a god. Immortal. Undying. You shall serve as your father's lieutenant for all time."

Amaryllis felt her heart drop. Immortality. Godhood. Who would be stupid enough to refuse such a gift? She felt a wave of panic as she tried to imagine what would happen if he said yes. Would she ever see him again?

Percy stared at him, stunned. "Um... a god?"

Zeus rolled his eyes. "A dimwitted god, apparently. But yes. With the consensus of the entire Council, I can make you immortal. Then I will have to put up with you forever."

"Hmm," Ares mused. "That means I can smash him to a pulp as often as I want, and he'll just keep coming back for more. I like this idea."

"I approve as well," Hades said, though he was looking at Amaryllis.

Percy glanced back at her. Amaryllis couldn't even meet his gaze, pretending that she was suddenly very interested at her destroyed shoes full of monster slime.

"No," he said.

The Council went silent. The gods frowned at each other like they must have misheard.

"No?" Zeus said. "You are... turning down our generous gift?" There was a dangerous edge to his voice, like a thunderstorm about to erupt.

"I'm honored and everything," he said. "Don't get me wrong. It's just... I've got a lot of life left to live. I'd hate to peak in my sophomore year."

The gods were glaring at him, but he was still looking at Amaryllis. She met his eyes and hid her big smile behind her hand.

"I do want a gift, though," Percy said. "Do you promise to grant my wish?"

Zeus thought about this. "If it is within our power."

"It is," he said. "And it's not even difficult. But I need your promise on the River Styx."

"What?" Dionysus cried. "What is up with you demigods and not trusting us?"

"Someone once told me," Percy said, looking at Hades, "you should always get a solemn oath."

Hades shrugged. "Guilty."

"Very well!" Zeus growled. "In the name of the Council, we swear by the River Styx to grant your reasonable request as long as it is within our power."

The other gods muttered assent. Thunder boomed once again, shaking the throne room. The deal was made.

"From now on, I want to you properly recognize the children of the gods," Percy said. "All the children... of all the gods."

The Olympians shifted uncomfortably. "Percy," his father said, "what exactly do you mean?"

"Kronos couldn't have risen if it hadn't been for a lot of demigods who felt abandoned by their parents," Percy said. "They felt angry, resentful, and unloved, and they had a good reason."

Zeus's royal nostrils flared. "You dare accuse-"

"No more undetermined children," he continued. "I want you to promise to claim your children-all your
demigod children-by the time they turn thirteen. They won't be left out in the world on their own at the mercy of monsters. I want them claimed and brought to camp so they can be trained right, and survive."

"Now, wait just a moment," Apollo said, but Percy was on a roll.

"And the minor gods," he said. "Nemesis, Hecate, Morpheus, Janus, Hebe--they all deserve a general amnesty and a place at Camp Half-Blood. Their children shouldn't be ignored. Just like Calypso, the other peaceful Titan-kind should be pardoned too. And Hades-"

"Are you calling me a minor god?" Hades bellowed.

"No, my lord," Percy said quickly. "But your children should not be left out. They should have a cabin at camp. Amaryllis and Nico have proven that. No unclaimed demigods will be crammed into the Hermes cabin anymore, wondering who their parents are. They'll have their own cabins, for all the gods. And no more pact of the Big Three. That didn't work anyway. You've got to stop trying to get rid of powerful demigods. We're
going to train them and accept them instead. All children of the gods will be welcome and treated with respect. That is my wish."

Zeus snorted. "Is that all?"

"Percy," Poseidon said, "you ask much. You presume much."

"I hold you to your oath," he said and Amaryllis gleamed with pride. "All of you."

He got a lot of steely looks. Strangely, it was Athena who spoke up: "The boy is correct. We have been unwise to ignore our children. It proved a strategic weakness in this war and almost caused our destruction. I move that we accept the boy's plan."

"Humph," Zeus said. "Being told what to do by a mere child. But I suppose..."

"All in favor," Hermes said.

All the gods raised their hands.

"Um, thanks," Percy said.

He turned, but before he could leave, Poseidon called, "Honor guard!" Immediately the Cyclopes came forward and made two lines from the thrones to the door-an aisle for him to walk through. They came to attention.

"All hail, Perseus Jackson," Tyson said. "Hero of Olympus... and my big brother!"

❀

Amaryllis introduced Calypso to Annabeth, who later left to talk to her mother. Percy thought the gleam in Amaryllis' eyes was the cutest thing he had ever seen. Then it was just the three of them; her, Calypso and Percy, like they were back at Ogygia. He hadn't thought of Ogygia for a long time and he wasn't sure if he should be feeling guilty about it.

Calypso hugged Percy with a kind smile and he hugged her back, but he quickly pulled away, like he didn't want to cross any boundaries.

"It's nice to see you again, Percy" Calypso said. She looked exactly how he remembered, with her white dress and caramel-coloured hair that she had let down. But she no longer had that melancholic, mysterious aura around her; she looked like a normal teenage girl.

"You too." He suddenly felt very awkward, but he tried to look as nonchalant as he possibly could. "So, um, no hard feelings for leaving the island?"

Calypso chuckled. "No, not anymore," she said. "If it wasn't for you two leaving Ogygia, I would have never been free. If anything, I'm grateful."

"I can't wait to show you around," Amaryllis said. He hadn't seen her so excited in a long time. "There are so many things I need to show you."

"It'll take me a while to get used to it. Being free," Calypso said and she had a dreamy look on her face. Then she turned to Amaryllis. "When you swore on the Styx, I really thought... It doesn't matter. I should have never doubted you, Mar."

"Damn right." The blonde smiled, but it slowly faded away. "I need to talk to my father. Will you be okay?"

"Of course. I have a lot of things to discuss with some of the gods anyway," Calypso said. Her eyes betrayed a mischievous side of her Percy had never seen before and he was starting to think Calypso would be taking advantage of the "gods never interfering with her life" term of the oath quite a bit.

"I'll come with you," Percy told Amaryllis and she nodded. There was a silent agreement between them-that's how they should always be doing things; together.

Hades and Persephone were whispering to each other, as if they were gossiping about the rest of the gods, when they approached them. Hades straightened his back and immediately switched into a more serious expression, especially after he saw Percy. The last time the two saw each other Percy called him a shitty father, almost killed him and Hades had tried imprisoning him for eternity, so none of them seemed too excited to talk to each other.

"Dad," Amaryllis said. She was serious as well-long gone was the cheerful, excited person that she was a few minutes ago. "I need to talk to you."

Hades nodded at Percy's direction. "Why is he here then?"

Percy opened his mouth, but Amaryllis didn't let him speak. "That's none of your business, is it?" The god seemed stunned that his daughter was talking like that to him. "Whatever. I need to know something. Was... I the hero of the Prophecy?"

Percy looked at her strangely, but then he realised. A half-blood of the eldest gods shall reach sixteen against all odds. Amaryllis was sixteen and a child of the Big Three. And see the world in endless sleep. Kronos had enchanted the entire city of Manhattan to be sleeping so mortals couldn't interfere with the war.

The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap. It fit Luke's fate as well, considering his broken promise to Annabeth cursed the knife he later used to kill himself. But it also fit what happened to Amaryllis; Ethan Nakamura traded his eye for a cursed dagger that would find their mortal points to kill them. That was the dagger Deena used to murder Amaryllis.

A single choice shall end his days. Percy had to choose between giving Annabeth's knife to Luke and allowing him to destroy himself, or trying to destroy Luke himself and failing, causing Kronos to burn away Luke's body as he took on his true form. Olympus to preserve or raze. Because of his choice to trust Amaryllis and Annabeth, Olympus was saved.

Hades hesitated. "Prophecies are not always easy to unravel, Amaryllis. They can come true in ways you would never have expected. But it's true that... either you or Luke could be the hero the Prophecy was referring to."

"What does that mean?" Percy asked.

"It could mean anything. I'm afraid that..." He looked around, as if he was careful not to be heard. "It could mean that you and Luke have some kind of connection."

Amaryllis wasn't saying anything, which sort of scared Percy. "What are you saying?" he turned to Hades. "That Amaryllis will end up like- like Luke?"

"As I said, it could mean anything," Hades said. Percy could clearly see that the god knew something the rest didn't.

Amaryllis changed the subject. "I want you to restore my mother's memories," she said. "The war is over now. She won't be in danger and neither will I."

"But-"

"And I want you to come with me. To talk to her," she cut him off. "To tell her everything that happened and take responsibility for what you did. She deserves some closure from you. So do I. And if you're brave enough to fight in a war, then I'm sure you can manage this simple thing."

Persephone tensed up, but surprisingly to all of them, didn't say anything until Hades looked at her. "I don't like it, but the girl is right," the goddess said and attempted a smile as she turned her attention to Amaryllis. "You know, our stories are quite similar, Amaryllis. Both kidnapped by the god of the Underworld-" Hades rolled his eyes, like he was saying Not this conversation again, "-away from our mothers. Perhaps I misjudged you."

Amaryllis nodded. "Thank you." Percy could tell that she was getting emotional, but she didn't want it to be noticed. "So," she turned back to her father, "will you do it?"

"Fine," Hades sighed. "I suppose I owe you that much."

"You do," Amaryllis agreed. "Come on, Percy, we're leaving."

"I want to talk to Percy first," Hades cut her off. "Privately."

As much as Percy hated the idea of being alone with Hades, he knew he couldn't really avoid it. Persephone left to talk to her mother and Amaryllis walked up to her siblings from the Apollo cabin, but she kept looking back nervously.

"Let's be clear, Jackson. I hate you," Hades said. "If I could guarantee that there would be no consequences, I would have dragged you to be eaten by Cerberus long ago. Or I'd have you turned into a statue with your hands open so you could hold my food for eternity. Or-"

"I get it, dude," Percy said, rolling his eyes. "Thanks."

"I must admit, however, that you surprised me," the god said. His tone changed and his eyes went lighter. Percy wasn't really sure if he did it on purpose, but his eyes turned into the same shade of brown as Amaryllis'. "You refused godhood. Why?"

"I want to be a regular guy. I want to grow up. Have, you know, a regular high school experience."

Hades raised an eyebrow. "So it has nothing to do with my daughter?"

"I couldn't leave her," he admitted, his throat dry.

"You'd better. Your only-and I mean, only-redeeming quality is that you care about my daughter." He sighed. "For some reason, she cares about you too. Enough to sacrifice herself for you anyway."

Percy felt his jaw clench at the memory of holding Amaryllis' lifeless body. He wasn't sure if the image would ever leave his mind.

"Just because Kronos is gone doesn't mean the danger is over," Hades said. "Gods aren't meant to interfere too much at the lives of mortals, especially their children's."

"And yet, you did."

"Shut it, Jackson," Hades cut him off, his voice getting more and more annoyed by the second. "What I am trying to say is that... things are not going to get much easier. You'd better not let my daughter down."

Percy wasn't entirely sure what to say. If he wanted to pick a fight with Hades, he could. Instead, all he did was nod. "I don't intend to."

"Good."

The conversation ended. As a last act of pettiness, Hades erupted in a column of flame, charring the front of Percy's shirt.

❀

Annabeth and Amaryllis were waiting for him at the elevator. "Why do you smell like smoke?"

"Long story," he said. Together they made their way down to the street level. Neither of them said a word; there were a lot to process and the music wasn't helping. It was awful-Neil Diamond or something. Percy thought he should've made that part of my gift from the gods: better elevator tunes.

When they got into the lobby, he found his mother and Paul arguing with the bald security guy, who'd
returned to his post. "I'm telling you," his mother yelled, "we have to go up! My son-" Then she saw him and her eyes widened. "Percy!"

She hugged the breath right out of him and he hugged her back just as tightly. "We saw the building lit up blue," she said. "But then you didn't come down. You went up hours ago!"

"She was getting a bit anxious," Paul said dryly.

"I'm all right," Percy promised as my mom hugged the girls. For some reason, she seemed particularly happy to see that Amaryllis was okay. "Everything's okay now."

"It's great to see you, Mrs Jackson," Amaryllis smiled.

"Mr. Blofis," Annabeth said, "that was wicked sword work."

Paul shrugged. "It seemed like the thing to do. But Percy, is this really... I mean, this story about the six hundredth floor?"

"Olympus," he said. "Yeah."

Paul looked at the ceiling with a dreamy expression. "I'd like to see that."

"Paul," his mom chided. "It's not for mortals. Anyway, the important thing is we're safe. All of us."

Percy was about to relax. Everything felt perfect. Him and his friends were okay. Amaryllis was alive. His mom and Paul had survived. Olympus was saved.

But the life of a demigod is never so easy. Just then Nico ran in from the street, and his face told Percy something was wrong. "It's Rachel," he said. "I just ran into her down on 32nd Street."

Amaryllis frowned. "What happened to her?"

"It's where she's gone," Nico said. "I told her she would die if she tried, but she insisted. She just took Blackjack and-"

"She took my pegasus?" Percy demanded. Nobody stole his pegasus, not even Rachel. He wasn't sure if he was more angry or amazed or worried.

Nico nodded. "She's heading to Half-Blood Hill. She said she had to get to camp."

Amaryllis' eyes widened up. "Oh, no. Percy... the Oracle."

That was all he needed to hear to confirm his suspicions and it filled him with dread. Rachel was about to get herself killed.

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒.

▊surprise??

▊im so emotional over finishing this book, but ive already planned so many things for the sequel so im also really really excited!! trust me, you're not ready for the chaos that will be amaryllis' hoo era.

▊i would love to know your thoughts and headcanons about the characters? what interactions are you most excited about? what friendships have you enjoyed the most? what's something that you'd like to see more of? i always enjoy hearing your guys opinions!

here, have some memes