I stared down at the head of the tombstone mournfully. Carefully, as if it might disappear, I reached down and rested my hand upon it. The cool, hard rock did nothing to ease my pain. If anything, the lifelessness of it made me hurt even more. I dropped suddenly to my knees, bowing my head. Tears stung at my eyes, but I couldn't bring myself to let them fall.

"As long as we're together, Wise Girl. You promised." I whispered, my voice cracking.

I wanted to get angry. I wanted to shout at the fates for being so unfair. I wanted to yell at a Annabeth for leaving me all alone. Most of all, I wanted to scream at myself for letting her get hurt. But I couldn't. I just couldn't. If I knew one thing about the love of my life, it's that she would've wanted me to be happy.

That just hurt even more.

I shot up off of the ground. A hoarse goodbye escaped my lips as I placed a painted gray flower on top of Annabeth's grave. I turned away and didn't look back. I didn't need to, I had the scene burned into my brain: seven identical stones with seven identical patches of dirt, all representing the fallen heroes who gave there lives to save the world. Again.

Ignoring the rain that pelted my gray hoodie, I trudged through the the cemetery to the gate. I let my fingers hover on it for a second longer than necessary, keeping my gaze on the iron pegasus that was welded onto one of the bars to symbolize it as part of the camp.

Pushing the black gate open, I strode through the clearing of the forest that the cemetery was built on. I kept my head down, and made my way back to Cabin 3. Just as I opened the door, a hand grabbed me and spun me round.

"Percy." A voice called out.

I turned, coming face to face with a pair of eyes matching my own.

"Father," I greeted stiffly, "don't suppose you've come to mourn with me."

The god of the seas sighed, looking down at his leather sandals. "I'm afraid not, Perce. Zeus has called for a council meeting. And I regret to say that you're invited."

I nodded. "Chiron knows?"

"Yeah."

I stared into his green eyes, which were surrounded by laughter lines. I gave him a lopsided, and fake, smile.

"Then why are we still here?" I asked, my voice trying to be as light and carefree as it had once been. "We have a meeting to crash."

One godly pep-talk (to himself) and a bright light later, we stood on Olympus.

Everywhere minor gods walked about, going into shops or talking to one another beside a beautiful green garden filled with bright and colorful flowers that gave off a sweet, if not slightly intoxicating, scent. Stone pillars wrapped in vines rose up to reach a nonexistent roof. A light fog surrounded the underside of a white spiral staircase without rails, leading up to a grand set of marble doors, behind which sat 11 Olympians who awaited our presence.

I looked left to see my father, who in turn stood gazing at me.

"Still can't get used to it, huh?" He asked, watching me carefully.

"And I never will, it seems." I answered, looking again at Olympus. "Annabeth did a great job."

Poseidon smiled, giving me a reassuring nod. "She sure did."

Neither one of us said another word until we reached the throne room.

Upon entering, I turned to meet each and everyone's gaze, landing lastly on Zeus. I didn't bother to bow, not that anyone had really expected me to anymore.

"I thought you said you were going to give Hades and Hestia a throne." I started off, breaking the ice.

Zeus shot me an annoyed glance, but snapped his fingers anyways and conjured up two thrones on both ends.

One, Hestia's, resembled a rocking chair of sorts. It had one of those tie on cushions, and was surrounded in a warm peach glow.

Another, Hades', was solid black and embedded with precious gems; emeralds, rubies, and something that looked like a blue diamond. His didn't look very comfy to me, but Hades seemed to like it, if the smile on his face meant anything.

Zeus cleared his throat, and I looked back at him.

"Perseus Jackson." He said, his voice sounding loud and clear.

"Percy." I muttered, annoyed, under my breath.

Old thunder bolts gave me a pointed look that said, quite clearly, "shut up".

"For your services in the war, the gods and I have decided to, again, offer you a gift. We have prepared, for the second time, to offer you immortality and a spot on the council."

"Thank you," I said, thinking carefully on how to phrase my next words.

"But no. I don't want to become a god... My lord." I added as an afterthought.

Zeus sighed. Around me, I saw the gods all look away or fidget nervously.

I looked to Apollo, who wouldn't meet my gaze. A few seats over, Athena looked at me sorrily. Even my father mouthed "I'm sorry".

I spun around, worried, only for Hermes to gently lay a hand on my shoulder. I wasn't sure if it was to hold me in place or reassure me, but it was doing an awful job of the latter.

"Lord Zeus?" I asked warily, pulling out Riptide incase I needed to fight my way out.

"I'm sorry Percy, but I'm afraid I lied when I said it was an offer. The fates have informed us that you are to be made a god today."

I struggled against Hermes, who had moved his hands down to mines, crossing them behind my back and not budging as I desperately tried to escape. He bent my wrist gently and Riptide clattered out of my hands, onto the floor, and after a minute back into my pocket. I faced Hermes, pleading for release.

"Percy, please. I didn't want to, but it has to happen. You know more than anyone that you can't run from fate"

I kicked and thrashed, failing to come free. "Screw fate." I spat angrily, trying to shake Hermes off. "Screw it!"

"Percy." Hermes tried again. His voice sounded pained, like he wanted me to go free just as much as I did.

I gave one final tug against him before I slumped against his hold, defeated. Hermes spun me around and brought me into a loving embrace like my father had done before he war.

I clung onto Hermes, grabbing fistfuls of his track suit/uniform that he wore. I shook my head, unable to believe his was actually happening. I didn't want to live, especially not forever and especially not without my Annabeth.

A cold, delicate hand rested on my shoulder and I turned to see Hera, holding a golden apple.

I met her eyes for a long time, before slowly reaching for the apple.

I turned back at the Olympian council, holding onto Hermes' arm for reassurance while meeting everyone's eyes once again. I lingered on my father's before I turned to Zeus.

"You did this." I reminded everyone, staring Zeus down especially.  "I never wanted this."

I looked down at the fruit I gingerly held in my hands as if it might explode.

"Please don't make me do this." I whispered into the apple, my voice cracking like it had in the graveyard. "Please."

No one said anything, so I reluctantly raised the apple parallel to my mouth.

My left hand, the one holding onto Hermes, squeezed around his bicep to calm my nerves quickly as I steeled myself to do this. As I glared at the gods, I thought about the other thing in my pocket besides Riptide: a silver ring I was planning to give to my Wise Girl before she died. If I was going to throw away my mortal life, I'll be damned if my last thought aren't about Annabeth.

With that I took a big bite of the golden apple of immortality, and was enveloped in a blinding light.