This Dark Night ― Percy Jackson & Annabeth Chase¹

―xix. the gods decide their fate

THEY CIRCLED OVER MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. Naomi had only been there once before, traveling by elevator up to the secret six hundredth floor of the Empire State Building.

This time, somehow, Olympus amazed her even more.

In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colors, from blood red to indigo. Apparently no one slept on Olympus (except maybe the sleep gods). The twisting streets were full of demigods and nature spirits and minor godlings bustling about, riding chariots or sedan chairs carried by Cyclopes.

Winter didn't seem to exist here. Naomi caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom—jasmine and roses and honeysuckle and buttercups. Music drifted up from many windows, the soft sounds of lyres and reed pipes.

Towering at the peak of the mountain was the greatest palace of all, the glowing white hall of the gods.

The pegasi set them down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. Before anyone could even knock, the gates opened by themselves.

The pegasi flew away, leaving Naomi, Thalia, Percy, and Annabeth alone—but only for a moment. A pretty girl around their age skipped out of the nearest garden, her paper-white skin flushed orange.

"Lilium!" Naomi couldn't help but smile.

"I was wondering if you would recognize me," the nymph said, grinning at Naomi like they were old friends—which, this time, they were.

"This a friend of yours, Naomi?" Thalia asked with a raised eyebrow.

"An old friend," Lilium said with a jovial smile. She flourished a hand and a crown made of lilies and stems appeared on her arm. She set it on Naomi's head, still smiling. "Your mother says hello—and congratulations." The smile faded a bit. "And sorry."

Whether it was for Naomi nearly dying, or losing Bianca and Zoe, or finding out the father she'd never known and unfairly resented had been dead since she was a baby, Naomi didn't know. Still, she nodded, managing a small, grateful smile.

"Good luck inside," Lilium said. She looked pointedly at Percy. "And mind your manners."

Percy blinked, clearly surprised, but Lilium flitted back to her garden before he could respond.

Annabeth poked one of the lilies on Naomi's head, smiling softly. "Cute."

Naomi hoped no one noticed her blushing.

For a moment, the four half-bloods just stood there, regarding the palace, the way they'd stood in front of Westover Hall, which seemed like a lifetime ago.

And then, together, they walked into the throne room.

❊

Twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at Camp Half-Blood. The ceiling above glittered with constellations—even the newest one, Zoë the Huntress, making her way across the heavens with her bow drawn.

All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about fifteen feet tall, their eyes turning toward the demigods all at once.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

That's when Naomi noticed Bessie and Grover.

A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire. Bessie was swimming happily around, swishing his serpent tail and poking his head out the sides and bottom of the sphere. He seemed to be enjoying the novelty of swimming in a magic bubble.