Emilia tried to dream of Tartarus.

Calling on her mother seemed more difficult now, despite them having been on worse terms before. Perhaps because Eris was still finding trouble with crossing the River Acheron, perhaps because she didn't want to appear to Emilia until she was truly needed.

Emilia tried to imagine every last inch of the Mansion of Night. In her sleep, she tried to bring herself there again, a spirit to linger in her grandmother's home. She thought of the long hallway, of where Eris's bedroom was. She even imagined herself appearing through Hypnos's door, a way of passing herself into the realm the way Clovis taught her to.

At last, the darkness before her eyes rippled, returning her to the Griffith Observatory.

"You really like this place, don't you?" she asked her mother as she materialized across from her.

"You haven't called on me in awhile," said Eris, shrugging and letting the shadows roll off of her. "I was feeling nostalgic. What is it? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing, really," she said. "I just wanted to ask about something I was told today. I fought the giant Mimas."

Eris sighed. "I can imagine how that went. He realized he couldn't affect you?"

"Yes. But he said it was my grandmother's blessing that kept him from seeing what I feared. I had fears he could have exploited... but he couldn't find them. Why?"

"I don't pretend to understand why my mother does any of the things she does. She isn't exactly someone I'd label as thoughtful. However, it would make sense that she might have given you a blessing as you exited the Mansion of Night. You share her blood, her essence. She thought you were worthy of becoming a goddess... I suppose it wasn't too difficult for her to give you a little something useful to remind you of your home. She doesn't want Gaea to succeed. The less that can be used against you, the better."

Eris came closer. "Either way, you manipulate emotions constantly. Mimas can't exploit that with you the way he does with other demigods who are weaker, both mentally and physically."

"I wouldn't say Annabeth was mentally weak... but she was really affected by it."

"Your friend is prideful. She felt herself constantly abandoned and from what I sensed when she arrived in our mansion, sound asleep, she has a great deal of discord within herself concerning her mother, her father, Luke Castellan... fear is what we thrive off the most. It's a natural consequence of darkness. People are scared of what they think might be there, of the fact they can't rely on their vision. Your friend Annabeth is used to being able to handle herself more than most demigods. What happens when that ability is taken away?"

Emilia shrugged, taking a seat on the nearest bench. "I guess that makes sense. Even in Tartarus, I can imagine she and Percy felt so awful because of how little they could control. It still brings her nightmares."

"And it makes you feel homesick," assumed Eris, sitting next to her. "What troubles you? What are these fears that you thought Mimas could use against you? Does it have to do with Tartarus?"

"Not really. It has to do with me not knowing what's going to happen when Gaea no longer needs me. And afterward... I guess I wonder if you'll stick around after you are there in the moment I most need you. I thought..." She smiled to herself, "I thought of you knowing every aspect of my life, of you maybe meeting any children I'd have with... Hylla. I know you said you want us to get to know each other better but... nevermind, it's stupid. I don't know why I keep letting myself think of it. It's probably dumb to be thinking so far ahead. Kids, when I'm just a kid myself, in a lot of ways."

Eris reached out, brushing Emilia's hair out of her face. "Little one, I don't think it is foolish to think of these things if they are bringing you solace. Just as I understand why you find yourself thinking of your fate. I intend to stay for... as long as you wish me to be present in your life. I don't know much about those demigods in New Rome who go on to have children, but I imagine their parents will come when they call. As I promise to do with you. I will do everything in my power to keep you alive. Go on, tell me, how many children would you have? How would you imagine your life, ten years from now, when all of this is far behind you?"

She relaxed, trying to bring the picture to mind. It was nice to just sit here in a dark, empty observatory, talking to her mother about a relationship that made her happy. That was enough to draw her focus away from the fact she might not live to see it.

"Well... I'd want the child to be biologically ours. I imagine that someone who could do magic would help there. Or just... some scientist. I bet Annabeth and Hazel combined could figure it out. I can see us with... three kids. Three little girls that would be our little princesses. Daughters we would give the world to in a way we felt... we didn't always have. Could... could they be born with my abilities?"

The goddess hummed, tilting her head and carrying a patch of darkness with her. "Perhaps. You are the oldest of Nyx's demigod grandchildren... It has not been attempted before. I imagine it is possible. I imagine that the demigods that do manage to live long enough to have children cna only bestow a certain degree of power to them... it's never the same if they are not born directly from the god or goddess. But given that Hylla's abilities seem like more pronounced versions of what every demigod has– save for a few trademark traits that Bellona gave her– then it's entirely possible your children will inherit most of their power from you."

Eris put an arm around Emilia. "You should continue to imagine a beautiful world for yourself. If Nyx has blessed you, it is because she believes you deserve it. It means you are capable, that you will persevere. I will see that it happens. Your own will is something to admire. Do not forget that when you are becoming doubtful of yourself."

"Thank you, Mother." She leaned onto her shoulder. "Is... it okay if I just stay here for a bit?"

This must have surprised Eris, but she didn't admit to it. "Of course. I will remain here as long as you wish me to."

She focused on slowing her breathing, thinking only of the pendulum swinging back and forth, of the shadows caressing her (they seemed to have personalities of their own, flickering around like puppies chasing each other even when Eris and Emilia were relaxing).

She drifted off still in her mother's arms, and woke up in her bed having trapped herself in her blankets. They hugged her the way Eris had.

Sometimes, Emilia still resented that she hadn't had a normal childhood. It would have been... something, certainly, to be raised by Eris. She could picture them in a shabby apartment, maybe they'd live with her Aunt Evangelina to afford the rent so she could still be part of her life, too. Eris would have held her until she fell asleep. She would've braided her hair. Told her stories about the gods, about real things that happened way back in the day.

She was eating breakfast when the storm started. Poor Hazel darted out of the mess hall and made a beeline for the bathroom as Emilia went up to the deck to see how bad things were.

Apparently, they were pretty bad. A wave the size of a skyscraper crashed over the forward deck, washing the front crossbows and half the port railing out to the sea. The sails were ripped to shreds. Lightning flashed all around, hitting the sea like spotlights. Horizontal rain blew in her face, the sky so dark that she only knew it was daytime because of her own internal clock.

She caught Leo before a second wave threw him into the railing. "We need to get this thing airborne!" he yelled over the roar of the ocean as she pushed him back into the control board.

"I'll get Jason and Percy," she offered. "What do you need me to do?"

He motioned to Piper and Annabeth, who had just come onto the deck. "Try and save the rigging! And–" He gave a grunt of frustration. "The oars are breaking!"

"On it!" yelled Frank, who ran to starboard rail and without warning, turned into a gorilla. Emilia had to admit, it was impressive to watch him start to untangle the broken oars with his flexible feet.

Emilia went below deck, calling for Jason and Percy, who were both asleep up until the storm began. Tired and rubbing their eyes, she told them what Leo wanted them to do. "How can I help?" she offered. "Do you think between the three of us we can shoot this thing into the sky?"

"We can try," yelled Percy.

He was the only one having any luck, initially. He positioned himself by the center mast, hands extended like he was on a tightrope. Every time the ship tilted, he pushed in the opposite direction and the hull stabilized. He summed giant fists of water from the ocean to slam into the larger waves before they could reach the deck.

Meanwhile, Jason and Emilia were trying to summon the winds and shadows to form a base for the ship to sit on over the water. If they tried to make it ride the waves more smoothly in the time it took for Leo, Piper, Annabeth, and Frank to get the ship in flight condition, perhaps they could lift off without sputtering back into the sea.

The storm began to swirl so loud that soon, Emilia couldn't hear what Jason was telling her. Then, Percy started yelling something she couldn't comprehend, either. It was Jason who had to come over and tap her, shouting, "Percy thinks something is causing the storm. He wants to go down to stop it!"

"He shouldn't go alone!" replied Emilia.

"I'm going with him!"

"What the fuck?"

Percy flung himself overboard without further warning. She heard Piper and Annabeth making noise– probably wanting to know what the hell he was doing. Jason didn't answer their questions– he simply summoned a lasso of wind and formed a tornado that plunged him into the water.

Emilia shrieked, flicking her hands up in disbelief. There was no way in hell she was following them– not that she'd been invited to. Turning back to the others, who were staring at her equally in shock, she got back to her shadows, wondering how they were going to keep the ship in one piece without Jason and Percy.

Shemanaged to form a shield of darkness around the ship, shadows preventing the waves from hitting it. But it didn't stop the rocking, which made it difficult for anyone to make repairs. The bubble of shadows muffled the storm enough that Hazel's retching could be heard downstairs, which was starting to make Emilia feel nauseous, too.

"I don't know how much longer we can hold this!" shouted Leo. "We're not going to be able to fly! We have to keep sailing and wait until we touch down somewhere to make repairs!"

As soon as he spoke, the storm began to die down. Emilia, face beaded with sweat, lowered the shield carefully, allowing the darkness to return to the shadows the ship made over the water. The sun beat down on them as if it had never been hidden. Out of nowhere, the sea was calm.

A final wave spluttered onto the deck, letting Percy and Jason walk around as if they'd never left. "What the hell is wrong with you two?" shrieked Emilia over Annabeth and Piper's equally indignant questions. "Percy–" She caught him as he stumbled. "You look... green."

"Little bit of poison," he said tiredly as Annabeth helped Emilia support him. "No biggie."

"No biggie?"

"It'll be okay," said Jason, though his expression remained fairly grim. "We have to keep sailing to Delos. Artemis and Apollo might have advice to give us there."

Percy was about as woozy as Hazel when they all sat down to refuel with birria tacos that Emilia and Leo prepared. A little ambrosia helped him siphon the rest of the poison out of himself, the way he'd apparently done to Akhlys. The reference didn't sit well with either him or Annabeth.

The goddess of violent sea storms had been the cause, apparently, but Jason insisted she was on their side now. Kymopoleia had been with Polybotes and dozens of basilisks, ready to kill them. Had it not been for Jason's negotiating skills, Percy would have drowned in poison. Kymopoleia had helped Jason lop off Polybotes's head in exchange for shrines at Camp Jupiter, Camp Half-Blood, and fear from mortals. To Emilia, it sounded ridiculous. She was glad she hadn't gone into the ocean with them. She probably would have beat the crap out of Kymopoleia and asked her who was scared of who now.

Kymopoleia had left them each with warnings. She'd told Percy that he'd soon face a sacrifice he might not be able to make, something that would cost him the world and force him to face his fatal flaw. She'd told Jason that he'd find himself tricked nad faced with unbearable sorrow, and had reminded him of how Ouranos was defeated.

How this helped them against Gaea, they weren't sure. Ouranos had been lured away from his home territory, then ambushed, then held down and sliced to bits. They weren't sure they could do the same thing to Gaea.

In better news, Hazel had made enough of an impact on the merpeople that they'd waged war against Gaea's allies to try and protect Long Island. In worse news, the Athena Parthenos had yet to arrive at Camp Half-Blood. Emilia was starting to get very, very worried about Reyna, Nico, and Coach Hedge.

They spent three days at sea, the Argo II too damaged to fly. They spent every other hour warding off hungry sea serpents and attracting schools of curious fish. At one point, they'd gotten stuck on a rock. Percy, Jason, and Emilia had had to push the ship out, which was ridiculously annoying.

Emilia was trying her best to keep Leo's spirits up, but it was clear that his heart was cracking more each time the ship did. She followed him around like a puppy helping him fix things as best as she could, but it didn't seem like it was doing much good. At night, each time she went to check on him before their nightly calls to Hylla and Xochitl, he seemed more and more crestfallen.

On the third day, Percy and Annabeth had gone to scout ashore and gather some treats for everyone while Emilia kept Leo company on the quarterdeck, watching him fine-tune the control console. She had to tap him on the shoulder several times to help him realize that Percy and Annabeth had returned with gelato.

The whole crew sat on deck, without a storm or monster attack to worry about for the first time in days, and ate ice cream. Emilia joined Frank (who was lactose intolerant) in eating a bowl of cut fruit.

The day was hot and windy. The sea glittered with chop, but Hazel didn't seem to be getting too seasick. Pelicans flew overhead, apparently regulars in the town Percy and Annabeth had popped into. Emilia noticed that everyone's spirits were... well, perhaps elevated wasn't the right way to interpret it, but she did seem to think that they were all trying to make the best of the days to come. There was no sense in them overthinking what might or might not happen.

Still, a serious air lingered. Piper set down her ice-cream cup. "So, the island of Delos is right across the harbor. Artemis and Apollo's home turf. Who's going?"

"Me," Leo blurted out immediately. Everyone turned to him. "What? I'm diplomatic and stuff. Emilia, Frank, and Hazel volunteered to back me up."

"Sure," said Emilia carefully, not sure why he was saying that.

Hazel's gold eyes flashed in the sunlight. "Leo, did you have a dream about this or something?"

"Yes... well, no, not exactly. But... you got to trust me on this, guys. I need to talk to Apollo and Artemis. I've got an idea I need to bounce off them."

Annabeth frowned. She looked like she might object, but Jason spoke up, "If Leo has an idea, we need to trust him."

Leo smiled. "Thanks, man."

Percy shrugged. "Okay. But a word of advice: when you see Apollo, don't mention haiku."

Hazel knitted her eyebrows. "Why not? Isn't he the god of poetry?"

"'Cause then he'll be insufferable and speak only in haikus for the rest of the conversation," said Emilia, getting to her feet. "Let's get going."

Leo and Hazel had ridden to Delos on Arion's back, while Emilia had been carried by Frank, in the form of a giant eagle. They found the island deserted, the windswept hills barren except for rocks, grass, wildflowers, and crumbling temples. They walked down an avenue lined with white stone lions, the faces weathered almost featureless.

"It's eerie," observed Hazel.

"You sense any ghosts?" asked Frank warily.

She shook her head. "The lack of ghosts is eerie. Back in ancient times, Delos was sacred ground. No mortal was allowed to be born here or die here. There are literally no mortal spirits on this whole island."

"Cool with me," said Leo. "Does that mean nobody's allowed to kill us here?"

"I didn't say that." Hazel stopped at the summit of a low hill. "Look. Down there."

Below them, the hillside had been carved into an amphitheater. Scrubby plants sprouted between the rows of stone benches. Down at the bottom, sitting on a block of stone in the middle of the stage, the god Apollo hunched over a ukulele, plucking out a mournful tune.

He appeared about seventeen, with curly blond hair and a perfect tan. He wore tattered jeans and a black T-shirt and a white linen jacket with glittering rhinestone lapels, reminding Emilia of Will Solace. Sitting in the front row was a young girl of about thirteen, wearing black leggings and a silver tunic, her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was whittling on a long piece of wood– making a bow.

"Those are the gods?" asked Frank. "They don't look like twins."

"The one thing I memorized in bio was how fraternal twins work," said Emilia. "Genetically they're like regular siblings. And being gods, they look however they want. How do we approach–?"

Leo yelled out, "Don't shoot!" It was unnecessary, given no one was threatening them. But still, amusing to watch him raise his arms and head down to the stage.

Neither god looked surprised to see them. Apollo sighed and went back to playing his ukulele. When they got to the front row, Artemis muttered, "There you are. We were beginning to wonder."

Emilia bowed low. "Lord Apollo, Lady Artemis."

They eyed her with vague recognition. Leo took charge, "So you were expecting us, then.'I can tell, because you're both so excited." Emilia resisted the urge to face-palm externally instead of just in her head.

Apollo plucked another sad tune. "We were expecting to be found, bothered and tormented. We didn't know by whom. Can you not leave us to our misery?"

"You know they can't, brother," chided Artemis. "They require our help with their quest, even if the odds are hopeless."

"You two are full of good cheer," said Leo. "Why are you hiding out here anyway? Shouldn't you be... I dunno, fighting giants or something?"

Artemis turned her pale eyes on him. "Delos is our birthplace. Here, we are unaffected by the Greek–Roman schism. Believe me, Leo Valdez, if I could, I would be with my Hunters, facing our old enemy Orion. Unfortunately, if I stepped off this island, I would become incapacitated with pain. All I can do is watch helplessly while Orion slaughters my followers. Many gave their lives to protect your friends and that accursed Athena statue."

Emilia's heart skipped a beat. "Who? Is Thalia–? Nico–? Reyna–? Coach Hedge–? Are they alright?"

"Alright?" Apollo sobbed over his ukulele. "None of us are alright, girl! Gaea is rising!"

Artemis glared at Apollo. "Emilia Gonzalez, they are all alive. Hazel Levesque, your brother is a brave fighter, like you. I wish I could say the same for my brother."

"You wrong me!" wailed Apollo. "I was misled by Gaea and that horrible Roman child!"

Frank cleared his throat. "Uh, Lord Apollo, you mean Octavian?"

"Do not speak his name!" Apollo strummed a minor chord. "Oh, Frank Zhang, if only you were my child. I heard your prayers, you know, all those weeks you wanted to be claimed. But alas! Mars gets all the good ones. I get... that creature as my descendant. He filled my head with compliments. He told me of the great temples he would build in my honor."

Artemis snorted. "You are easily flattered, brother."

"Because I have so many amazing qualities to praise! Octavian said he wanted to make the Romans strong again. I said fine! I gave him my blessing."

"As I recall," said Artemis, "he also promised to make you the most important god of the legion, above even Zeus."

"Well, who was I to argue with an offer like that? Does Zeus have a perfect tan? Can he play the ukulele? I think not! But I never thought Octavian would start a war! Gaea must have been clouding my thoughts, whispering in my ear."

Emilia gritted her teeth, remembering Aeolus. She wished it were possible for Apollo to strike Octavian down from a distance. "Lord Apollo... what's happened in Delphi because of him?"

Apollo plucked a dramatic chord. "When the schism began between Greek and Roman, while I struggled with confusion, Gaea took advantage! She raised my old enemy Python, the great serpent, to repossess the Delphic Oracle. That horrible creature is now coiled in the ancient caverns, blocking the magic of prophecy. I am stuck here, so I can't even fight him."

"Bummer," said Leo quietly.

"Bummer indeed!" sighed Apollo. "Zeus was already angry with me for appointing that new girl, Rachel Dare, as my Oracle. Zeus seems to think I hastened the war with Gaea by doing so, since Rachel issued the Prophecy of Seven as soon as I blessed her. But prophecy doesn't work that way! Father just needed someone to blame. So of course he picked the handsomest, most talented, hopelessly awesome god." Artemis made a gagging gesture. "Oh, stop it, sister! You're in trouble, too!"

"Only because I stayed in touch with my Hunters against Zeus's wishes. But I can always charm Father into forgiving me. He's never been able to stay mad at me. It's you I'm worried about."

"I'm worried about me, too!" agreed Apollo. "We have to do something. We can't kill Octavian. Hmm. Perhaps we should kill these demigods."

"Whoa there, Music Man," said Leo as Emilia narrowed her eyes, shadows curling at her fingertips as she resisted the urge to summon Incubo. "We're on your side, remember? Why would you kill us?"

"It might make me feel better!" said Apollo. "'I have to do something!"

"Or," offered Leo quickly, "you could help us. See, we've got this plan..." He began to explain to them what'd happened in the last few days. How Hera directed them to Delos, how they had Nike in the stables after she'd described the ingredients for the physician's cure.

This got Apollo's attention. "The physician's cure?" He stood and smashed his ukulele on the stones. "That's your plan?"

Leo raised his hands. "Hey, um, usually I'm all for smashing ukuleles, but–"

"I cannot help you! If I told you the secret of the physician's cure, Zeus would never forgive me!"

"We'll find a loophole," suggested Emilia. "Something that doesn't involve you telling us. Like, tell Artemis then have her tell us. Please, we require it."

"Brother..." Artemis beckoned him to glance at her. The twins locked eyes and had a silent argument. Apparently Artemis won. Apollo heaved a sigh and kicked his broken ukulele across the stage.

Artemis rose. "Hazel Levesque, Frank Zhang, come with me. There are things you should know about the Twelfth Legion. As for you, Emilia Gonzalez, Leo Valdez–" The goddess turned her cold silver eyes at them, "Apollo will hear you out. See if you can strike a deal. My brother always likes a good bargain."

Leo seemed hesitant, for a moment, as if this was a conversation he wanted to have with Apollo alone. That didn't make sense to her. Frank and Hazel left them hesitantly, following Artemis up the steps of the amphitheater and over the crest of the hill.

Apollo folded his arms at them, eyes glowing with golden light. "Let us bargain, then. What can you offer that would convince me to help you rather than kill you?"

-

A/N: Happy 600 pages! Sorry for not updating for so long. I've had sooo many midterms and other responsibilities, it is killing me! Additionally my motivation always falls when I'm nearing the end of a story, perhaps 'cause I don't want to part with it. Will miss writing for Emilia highkey but I do want to get back to my GoT fics soon. Comment for more!