This Dark Night ― Percy Jackson & Annabeth Chase¹

―xx. highs and lows

[the song naomi hears during the slow dance is "for island fires and family" by dermot kennedy... do with that as you will <3]

THERE WERE PARTIES. There were huge, major, blowout parties. And then there were Olympian parties.

The latter was like nothing Naomi had ever seen before. 

The Nine Muses cranked up the tunes, and she realized the music was whatever you wanted it to be: the gods could listen to classical and younger demigods heard pop or whatever, and it was all the same soundtrack. No arguments. No fights to change the radio station. Just requests to crank it up.

Dionysus went around growing refreshment stands out of the ground, and a beautiful woman walked with him arm-in-arm—his wife, Ariadne. Dionysus looked happy for the first time since Naomi had met him, which was incredibly disconcerting to see. She hadn't thought he even knew how to smile. 

Nectar and ambrosia overflowed from golden fountains, and platters of mortal snack food crowded the banquet tables. Golden goblets filled with whatever drink you wanted. Grover trotted around with a full plate of tin cans and enchiladas, and his goblet was full of double-espresso latte, which he kept muttering over like an incantation: "Pan! Pan!"

Almost as soon as the festivities began, Demeter officially introduced herself to her granddaughter. 

"I will admit," she said, tilting Naomi's face to-and-fro to get a good look at her, "the family resemblance is a bit... lackluster." Her face softened into a smile. "But you have your mother's heart. I can tell." 

A year ago, the compliment might have felt like an insult. But now Naomi only smiled. "Thank you, Lady Demeter." 

Demeter waved a hand dismissively. "You may call me Grandmother," she said kindly. "All of my grandchildren do." She looked at something behind Naomi. "Ah—speaking of grandchildren." 

Naomi turned, seeing two figures approaching from behind—a man and a girl. The man looked like he was in his twenties, his hair pitch black and his skin a healthy tan. The girl looked much younger, the same age as Artemis appeared, and her hair was white, her skin pale. 

"Hello, Grandmother," the man said, kissing Demeter's cheek. 

"It's good to see you again," the little girl said, her voice as soft as a gentle breeze. 

Demeter smiled. "It's always lovely to see you two," she said. "At least you still visit—unlike your sister." 

The man smiled in amusement. "Melinoe sends her regards." 

Demeter huffed. "I'm sure she does." She placed a calloused hand on Naomi's shoulder. "Naomi, dear, this is Zagreus and Macaria."

"A pleasure to finally meet you, sister," Zagreus said, smiling at Naomi. 

"Yes," Macaria agreed, offering Naomi a smaller, but just as kind smile. "A true pleasure."

The music shifted. Naomi wasn't sure what anyone else heard, but to her, a slow, optimistic song began to play.

Zagreus smiled. "Care to dance, little sister?" 

Naomi blinked, surprised. "Um... sure?" 

She let him take her hand and pull her onto the dance floor. 

Naomi was a bit nervous to ask, but as they danced, she figured it couldn't hurt. "Why didn't Lord Hades come to the council meeting?" 

Zagreus's otherwise consistent smile faltered just a little. He lifted her hand and spun her, as if to give him a moment to collect himself. "He is... dealing with other matters, at the moment."