Veronica Sawyer was an iconic name. And so that was what she called herself.
She would've liked to be simple, with the basic life of demigods for a backstory-mortal parent didn't want her, she ended up a year-rounder. But the Fates didn't like Veron...
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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝟏𝟐: 𝐀𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐚𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞
December 21, 2007
VERONICA HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT MOUNT OLYMPUS WAS INTERESTING.
But right now, she couldn't help but feel sick as she looked at the palace where the gods resided and wondered if this had all been worth it.
The crackle of lightning and clap of thunder made her turn back to Zeus' palace, the early-morning darkness allowing her to see the multicolored torches and fires along the mountainside palaces, glowing all sorts of colors, going from bloodred to indigo. Much like New York City, it seemed like Olympus never slept.
The twisting streets were full of demigods and nature spirits and minor godlings bustling about, riding chariots or sedan chairs carried by Cyclopes.
Winter wasn't a possibility here, it appeared. Veronica could smell the gardens in full bloom, the scent jasmine and roses and even sweeter things she tried to remember. Music drifted up from many windows, the soft sounds of lyres and reed pipes. It woke her up completely.
Towering at the peak of the mountain was the greatest palace of all, the glowing white hall of the gods.
The pegasi set the half-bloods down in the outer courtyard, in front of giant silver gates, Percy briefly talking to Blackjack. Then the gates opened by themselves.
After a moment, Blackjack and his friends flew off, leaving Veronica, Thalia, Annabeth, and Percy alone. For a long minute, they stood there regarding the palace, the way they'd stood together in front of Westover Hall.
It was barely a week ago, but it felt like an eternity.
And then, side by side, 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. The ceiling above glittered with constellations—Veronica even saw Zoë the Huntress, making her way across the heavens with her bow drawn.
All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess looked about fifteen feet tall.
"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said gently.
"Mooo!"
Veronica turned and saw Bessie and Grover. The former was swimming in a sphere of water that hovered in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire. Grover was kneeling at Zeus' throne, as if he'd just been giving a report, but when he saw them, he cried, "You made it!"
Veronica was suddenly struck with the feeling of deja vu as she recalled Westover Hall again.
Grover started to run toward Percy, then remembered he was turning his back on Zeus, and looked for permission.
