CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
—stupid council

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—JUDITH hadn't been to Mount Olympus before, though she had been invited to go the winter after her first summer. Coincidentally, that had been the trip Luke Castellan had gone crazy and stolen Zeus' lightning bolt and Hades' Helm of Darkness. She couldn't tell you if that made her regret her decision not to go or if she was thankful.

Either way, she had prior knowledge that the heavens were located above the Empire State Building, so when they arrived to the giant architectural monument, she wasn't all that surprised.

They were all on the backs of different Pegasi, probably sent by Chiron to aid them in their journey to New York. Judith didn't mind being on the back of a mare named Sugar, but she kind of missed Blackjack and knowing Percy was in control of the flying. Sugar was a little more reckless than the ebony stallion and Judith guessed her main appetite was her namesake.

"There it is." Thalia's voice carried through the gushing wind. She was pointing toward the building ahead of them. "It's started."

"What's started?" Percy asked.

Judith rolled her eyes. That boy always asked questions before trying to figure out what was right in front of his eyes. "The winter solstice, Barnacle Breath," she deadpanned, gesturing to the golden light flooding the atmosphere from atop the Empire State Building.

"The Council of the Gods," Thalia finished.

As they actually approached the palaces and streets that sat just on the clouds, Judith became just a little impressed. The color scheme wasn't her favorite, the bright marble and golden accents was just old news to her, but Annabeth was walking on air. Judith did admire all the different figures that walked the streets, though. There were immortal beings alongside demigods and nature spirits. They all seemed to get along well enough apart from the occasional satyr that chased down a tree nymph.

The Pegasi landed just before the pearly gates of the main Olympian Palace. Judith groaned as she slid off Sugar's back. She rubbed at her backside like it would help but it didn't. Her, Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia all shared looks with each other as the gates slowly swung open of their own accord.

Twelve enormous thrones made up a 'U' around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp. The ceiling was a stark contrast from the daylight outside; it was a starry night with every constellation in the sky, even Zoë's new addition. Judith spent a moment staring at it, only pulling her eyes away when Thalia nudged her to keep moving inward.

All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about fifteen feet tall making Judith crane her neck uncomfortably. Her eyes immediately latched onto her father in his deep sunglasses and camouflage, military pants and leather jacket. She couldn't tell if he was looking back at her for certain with his shades, but there was an igniting fire in her that told her he was. Her waist stung with heat and she knew her sword was buzzing to be used while in his presence.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!" Judith rolled her head around, knowing the sound of that animal anywhere. 'Bessie' and Grover were at the center of the room next to the hearth. The Ophiotaurus was hovering above the ground in a globe of water and Grover was kneeling in Zeus's direction. But after noticing the demigods' presences, he jumped to his feet in delight.

"You made it!" He yelled. He started to run toward the group, then remembered he was turning his back on Zeus, and looked for permission.

"Go on," Zeus said vaguely. But he wasn't really paying attention to Grover. The lord of the sky was staring intently at Thalia, his thoughts indiscernible.

Grover trotted over in the silence as none of the gods dared to speak to their respective children. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed on the marble floor and Bessie splashed in his bubble of water pleasantly. Grover gave Annabeth and Thalia big hugs. He looked at Judith for a moment and offered a smile, knowing she didn't like the affection of hugs. She tried to smile genuinely in return and that seemed to please him enough. Then he grasped Percy's arms. "Percy, Bessie and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!"

"Do what?" Percy asked, sorry making its way into his tone.

"Heroes," Artemis called their attention.

The goddess slid down from her throne and turned to human size, a young auburn-haired girl, perfectly at ease in the midst of the giant Olympians. She walked toward them, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion in her face as she seemed to walk in a column of moonlight.

"The Council has been informed of your deeds," Artemis told us. "They know that Mount Othrys is rising in the West. They know of Atlas's attempt for freedom, and the gathering armies of Kronos. We have voted to act."

There was some mumbling and shuffling among the gods, as if they weren't all happy with this plan, but nobody protested.

"At my Lord Zeus's command," Artemis said, "my brother Apollo and I shall hunt the most powerful monsters, seeking to strike them down before they can join the Titans' cause. Lady Athena shall personally check on the other Titans to make sure they do not escape their various prisons. Lord Poseidon has been given permission to unleash his full fury on the cruise ship Princess Andromeda and send it to the bottom of the sea. And as for you, my heroes ..."

She turned to face the other immortals. "These half-bloods have done Olympus a great service. Would any here deny that?"

She looked around at the assembled gods, meeting their faces individually. Zeus in his dark pin-striped suit, his black beard neatly trimmed, and his eyes sparking with energy. Next to him sat a regal woman with silver hair braided over one shoulder and a dress that shimmered colors like peacock feathers. The Lady Hera. On Zeus's right, Poseidon dressed rather like a vacationing father in Hawaii, and Judith held in her snicker. Next to him, a huge lump of a man with a leg in a steel brace, a misshapen head, and a wild brown beard, fire flickering through his whiskers. The Lord of the Forges, Hephaestus.

Hermes sat next to him and was constantly checking messages on his flip cellphone. Apollo, who Judith easily recognized from their earlier encounter with him was also wearing sunglasses and leaning back cooly in his throne. Dionysus wasn't too hard to recognize either as Judith had to see him everyday, unfortunately. And then she glanced at her father again, seeing him now twirling a pocket knife around in his fingers methodically as if trying to scare someone. Judith had no doubt that it was probably Percy.

On the ladies' side of the throne room, a dark-haired goddess in green robes sat next to Hera on a throne woven of apple-tree branches. Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest. Next to her sat a gray-eyed woman in an elegant white dress. She could only be Annabeth's mother, Athena. Then there was Aphrodite, who smiled at Judith for a moment and turned her gaze to Percy knowingly. Judith side-eyed the boy, but he refused to look anywhere near her.

Weirdo.

"I gotta say"— Apollo broke the silence —"these kids did okay." He cleared his throat and began to recite: "Heroes win laurels —"

"Um, yes, first class," Hermes interrupted, like he was anxious to avoid Apollo's poetry. "All in favor of not disintegrating them?"

A few tentative hands went up — Demeter, Aphrodite.

"Wait just a minute," Judith's father growled. He pointed at Thalia and Percy. "These two are dangerous. It'd be much safer, while we've got them here —"

"Ares," Poseidon interrupted, "they are worthy heroes. We will not blast my son to bits."

"Nor my daughter," Zeus grumbled. "She has done well." Thalia blushed with the unusual compliment.

Judith sneered at her father, not liking the suggestion he'd made. But she hadn't expected any less from him.

The goddess Athena cleared her throat and sat forward. "I am proud of my daughter as well. But there is a security risk here with these other two."

"Mother!" Annabeth said. "How can you —"

Athena cut her off with a calm but firm look. "It is unfortunate that my father, Zeus, and my uncle, Poseidon, chose to break their oath not to have more children. Only Hades kept his word, a fact that I find ironic. As we know from the Great Prophecy, children of the three elder gods ... such as Thalia and Percy ... are dangerous. As thickheaded as he is, Ares has a point."

"Right!" Ares said. "Hey, wait a minute. Who you callin' —"

He started to get up, but a grape vine grew around his waist like a seat belt and pulled him back down.

"Oh, please, Ares," Dionysus sighed. "Save the fighting for later."

Ares cursed and ripped away the vine. "You're one to talk, you old drunk. You seriously want to protect these brats?"

Dionysus gazed down at the demigods wearily. "I have no love for them. Athena, do you truly think it safest to destroy them?"

"I do not pass judgment," Athena said. "I only point out the risk. What we do, the Council must decide."

"I will not have them punished," Artemis said. "I will have them rewarded. If we destroy heroes who do us a great favor, then we are no better than the Titans. If this is Olympian justice, I will have none of it."

"Calm down, sis," Apollo said. "Jeez, you need to lighten up."

"Don't call me sis! I will reward them."

"Well," Zeus grumbled. "Perhaps. But the monster at least must be destroyed. We have agreement on that?"

A lot of nodding heads accompanied that judgement.

Percy, as usual, was a little slow and Judith tugged his sleeve to gesture to the Ophiotaurus. She knew he would try and protect the beast. Percy looked at her oddly and then realized her intention. "Bessie? You want to destroy Bessie?"

Bessie's low moo protested.

Poseidon frowned. "You have named the Ophiotaurus Bessie?"

"I know right?" Judith mumbled to herself but the gods were all-hearing and obviously heard her little snip as some chuckled.

"Dad," Percy said, ignoring Judith's comment, "he's just a sea creature. A really nice sea creature. You can't destroy him."

Poseidon shifted uncomfortably. "Percy, the monster's power is considerable. If the Titans were to steal it, or —"

"You can't," the boy insisted. He looked at Zeus. Judith found it quite dumb of him to speak so boldly to them, but she would have done the same in his position. "Controlling the prophecies never works. Isn't that true? Besides, Bess — the Ophiotaurus is innocent. Killing something like that is wrong. It's just as wrong as ... as Kronos eating his children, just because of something they might do. It's wrong!"

Zeus seemed to consider this. His eyes drifted to his daughter Thalia. "And what of the risk? Kronos knows full well, if one of you were to sacrifice the beast's entrails, you would have the power to destroy us. Do you think we can let that possibility remain? You, my daughter, will turn sixteen on the morrow, just as the prophecy says."

"You have to trust them," Annabeth spoke up before thinking better of the intrusion and said softer, "Sir, you have to trust them."

Zeus scowled. "Trust a hero?"

"Annabeth is right," Artemis said. "Which is why I must first make a reward. My faithful companion, Zoë Nightshade, has passed into the stars. I must have a new lieutenant. And I intend to choose one. But first, Father Zeus, I must speak to you privately."

Zeus beckoned Artemis forward. He leaned down and listened as she spoke in his ear. After a moment of whispering, the goddess turned again. "I shall have a new lieutenant," she announced. "If she will accept it."

In the small moment following her words, Percy's breath hitched and his hand snaked to grip Judith's forearm. She pulled her arm away and for extra measure, side-stepped a little.

"Thalia," Artemis said finally. "Daughter of Zeus. Will you join the Hunt?"

Judith was stunned into silence, having not expected it but not as surprised as she would have been at the start of the quest.

"I will," Thalia said firmly.

Zeus rose, his eyes full of concern. "My daughter, consider well —"

"Father," she said. "I will not turn sixteen tomorrow. I will never turn sixteen. I won't let this prophecy be mine. I stand with my sister Artemis. Kronos will never tempt me again."

She knelt before the goddess and began the oath that Judith refused. "I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men ..." Judith wasn't sure how long Thalia had known she would join the hunt. Perhaps it was before Bianca's death, or maybe it was on Mount Tamalpais, maybe after Zoë's death. Judith really couldn't be sure, but Thalia seemed confident in her choice.

After her oath, Thalia walked over to Percy and enveloped him in a hug. When she pulled away and gripped his shoulders, he said, "Um ... aren't you supposed to not do that anymore? Hug boys, I mean?"

"I'm honoring a friend," she corrected. "I must join the Hunt, Percy. I haven't known peace since ... since Half-Blood Hill. I finally feel like I have a home. But you're a hero. You will be the one of the prophecy."

"Great," He muttered. Judith punched his arm lightly to remind him of his audience. He only glanced at the gods around him.

"I'm proud to be your friend," Thalia said. She looked at Judith who was already developing a small farewell smile, an uncommon sight but a nice one all the same. Thalia only placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you for accepting me at the camp and helping to bring me back to human life. You're a great fighter and I admire your impulsiveness, although it is dangerous." Judith just rolled her eyes in a joking way.

She hugged Annabeth, who was trying hard not to cry. Then she even hugged Grover, who looked ready to pass out, like somebody had just given him an all-you-can-eat enchilada coupon.

Then Thalia went to stand by Artemis's side.

"Now for the Ophiotaurus," Artemis said.

"This boy is still dangerous," Dionysus warned. "The beast is a temptation to great power. Even if we spare the boy —"

"No." Percy looked around at all the gods. "Please. Keep the Ophiotaurus safe. My dad can hide him under the sea somewhere, or keep him in an aquarium here in Olympus. But you have to protect him."

"And why should we trust you?" rumbled Hephaestus, not threateningly, just genuinely curious.

"I'm only fourteen," he answered. "If this prophecy is about me, that's two more years."

"Two years for Kronos to deceive you," Athena interjected. "Much can change in two years, young hero."

"Mother!" Annabeth said, exasperated.

"It is only the truth, child. It is bad strategy to keep the animal alive. Or the boy."

Poseidon stood. "I will not have a sea creature destroyed, if I can help it. And I can help it."

He held out his hand, and a trident appeared in it: a twenty foot long bronze shaft with three spear tips that shimmered with blue, watery light. "I will vouch for the boy and the safety of the Ophiotaurus."

"You won't take it under the sea!" Zeus stood suddenly. "I won't have that kind of bargaining chip in your possession."

"Brother, please," Poseidon sighed.

Zeus's lightning bolt appeared in his hand, a shaft of electricity that filled the whole room with the smell of burnt ozone.

"Fine," Poseidon said. "I will build an aquarium for the creature here. Hephaestus can help me. The creature will be safe. We shall protect it with all our powers. The boy will not betray us. I vouch for this on my honor."

Zeus thought about this. "All in favor?"

Many of the hands in the room went up. Percy cringed as Ares, Athena, and Dionysus abstained. An ironic trio considering Judith and Annabeth were his ... friends ( Judith reluctantly admitted to herself, if only for convenience's sake ) and Dionysus was his camp director.

"We have a majority," Zeus decreed. "And so, since we will not be destroying these heroes ... I imagine we should honor them. Let the triumph celebration begin!"

NOTES;

I DON'T HATE THIS ONE EITHER.

edited : 07 / 25 / 2020