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"Percy," Annabeth said quietly "You were right about Luke" It was the first tiard's death She kept her eyes fixed on the elevator floors as they blinked into the ical nulances
"Annabeth," I said "I'm sorry--"
"You tried to tell ood I didn't believe you untiluntil I heard how he'd used Silena Now I know I hope you're happy"
"That doesn't ainst the elevator wall and wouldn't look atin his hands "Wellsure good to be together again Arguing Al Abject terror Oh, look It's our floor"
The doors dinged and we stepped onto the aerial ay
Depressing is not a word that usually describes Mount Olympus, but it looked that way now No fires lit the braziers The ere dark The streets were deserted and the doors were barred The only movement was in the parks, which had been set up as field hospitals Will Solace and the other Apollo ca for the wounded Naiads and dryads tried to help, using nature s to heal burns and poison
As Grover planted the laurel sapling, Annabeth and I went around trying to cheer up the wounded I passed a satyr with a broken leg, a deed froolden burial shroud of Apollo's cabin I didn't knoas underneath I didn't want to find out
My heart felt like lead, but we tried to find positive things to say
"You'll be up and fighting Titans in no tireat," Annabeth told another camper
"Leneus turned into a shrub!" Grover told a groaning satyr
I found Dionysus's son Pollux propped up against a tree He had a broken arht with the other hand," he said, gritting his teeth
"No," I said "You've done enough I want you to stay here and help with the wounded"
"But--"
"Promise me to stay safe," I said "Okay? Personal favor"
He frowned uncertainly It wasn't like ere good friends or anything, but I wasn't going to tell him it was a request from his dad That would just embarrass him Finally he promised, and when he sat back down, I could tell he was kind of relieved
Annabeth, Grover, and I kept walking toward the palace That's where Kronos would head As soon as he made it up the elevator--and I had no doubt he would, one way or another--he would destroy the throne rooods' power
The bronze doors creaked open Our footsteps echoed on the marble floor The constellations twinkled coldly on the ceiling of the great hall The hearth was down to a dull red glow Hestia, in the fore, shivering The Ophiotaurus swam sadly in his sphere of water He let out a half-hearted ht, the thrones cast evil-looking shadows, like grasping hands
Standing at the foot of Zeus's throne, looking up at the stars, was Rachel Elizabeth Dare She was holding a Greek ceramic vase
"Rachel?" I said "U with that?"
She focused onout of a dream "I found it It's Pandora's jar, isn't it?"
Her eyes were brighter than usual, and I had a bad flashback of moldy sandwiches and burned cookies
"Please put down the jar," I said
"I can see Hope inside it" Rachel ran her fingers over the ceraile"
"Rachel"
My voice see her back to reality She held out the jar, and I took it The clay felt as cold as ice
"Grover," Annabeth mumbled "Let's scout around the palace Maybe we can find some extra Greek fire or Hephaestus traps"
"But--"
Annabeth elbowed hiht!" he yelped "I love traps!"
She dragged him out of the throne room
Over by the fire, Hestia was huddled in her robes, rocking back and forth
"Come on," I told Rachel "I want you to oddess
"Lady Hestia," I said
"Hello, Percy Jackson," the goddess "
"I know," I said "The Titans are near"
Hestia focused on Rachel "Hello, my dear You've come to our hearth at last"
Rachel blinked "You've been expecting lowed I saw i dinner at the kitchen table; ing songs and roastingthe beach in Paul's Prius
I didn't know if Rachel saw the saes, but the tension went out of her shoulders The warmth of the fire seemed to spread across her
"To claio of your distractions It is the only way you will survive"
Rachel nodded "II understand"
"Wait," I said "What is she talking about?"
Rachel took a shaky breath "Percy, when I ca for you But I wasn't You and me" She shook her head
"Wait Now I'm a distraction? Is this because I'm 'not the hero' or whatever?"