Hanora Maeve Xanthus and the Titian's curse

I never felt unwelcomed in the sky, but I was never invited either kind of leaving me in this weird in between state of ‘fuck around and find out’. And oh boy flying straight for the lord of the sky’s palace with his least favorite nephew in tow was really pushing my luck. Well, if the excessive swirling thunder and lightning was anything to consider, then we were not in safe territory.

We circled over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. I had only been to Olympus a few times via traveling by elevator up to the secret six hundredth floor of the Empire State Building, all but one of those times I had been a part of the year rounders viewing the winter solstice meetings field trip. The other time obviously being Percy’s back up when he delivered Zeus’s lightning bolt back to the god himself, not a very welcoming moment then either. Olympus had always been a sight to behold, but from pegasus back it was on another level of awe inspiring.

In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colors, from bloodred to indigo. Apparently, no one ever slept on Olympus. 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. I caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things I couldn't name. 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. Our pegasi set us down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. The gates opened by themselves as soon as our feet hit the ground.

 Good luck, boss, Blackjack said to Percy, who nodded with a small ‘yeah’.

Ember nuzzled by hair again, she seemed to like doing that. I wish you well my lady.

I stroked my hand down her nose and brought our foreheads together, “I’ll see you back at camp.” I said with an edge of determination that I did not really feel.

She bumped my head lightly You shall.

Apparently, Blackjack had made some request to use Percy’s cabin as a stable if he didn’t make it back while Ember and I had been saying goodbye. That horse really knew how to back himself into a corner. All four of them flew off not long after leaving us demigods alone.

For a minute we stood there regarding the palace, the way we'd stood together in the front entrance of Westover Hall, what seemed like a million years ago.

 And then, side by side, we 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—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 were about fifteen feet tall, and I'm telling you, if you've ever had a dozen all-powerful super-huge beings turn their eyes on you at once… Well, suddenly, facing monsters seemed like a picnic. Gods, a picnic would have been nice.

 "Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

 My dearest lady! And my Champion! You have both made it!

 A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire. Ophi 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. I could feel his excitement permeating the whole room at our arrival, it almost lessened the nerves bubbling up in my throat. Key word being almost

Grover was kneeling at Zeus's throne, as if he'd just been giving a report, but when he saw us, he cried, "You made it!"

 He started to run toward Percy, then remembered he was turning his back on Zeus, and looked for permission.

 "Go on," Zeus said. But he wasn't really paying attention to Grover. The lord of the sky was staring intently at Thalia. I swayed a bit in her direction out of instinct, but I was finding it difficult to willingly step out of Annabeth’s orbit. I mean I did just sneak out onto a very dangerous quest, ignoring every rule ever just to go save her. So, you know I was a little more than reluctant to be out of snatching distance.

 Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed on the marble floor. Ophi splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled.

I scanned the faces of the gods unable to really keep my gaze down. I locked eyes with Hephestus for a moment. Seeing him out of his classic jumpsuits was always a little jarring, but I was happy to see him and his stubbornly smoldering beard anyway. He shifted his leg that was set in his steel brace and flicked some stray ashes away from his semi clean clothes. I absentmindedly adjusted my bracelets as his face broke into a small smile, which had always been a favorite of mine despite what he said about his welts making it difficult to really see a difference. I could see it and that was all that mattered to me.

Grover threw himself at me and pulled Annabeth and Thalia in from either side of me. Clearly, he had missed us. Then he grasped Percy’s arms. "Percy, Bessie and I made it! But

you have to convince them! They can't do it!"

 "Do what?" He asked.

 "Heroes," Artemis called.

 The goddess slid down from her throne and turned to human size, a young auburn-haired girl, perfectly at ease in the midst of the giant Olympians. She walked toward us, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion in her face. She seemed to walk in a column of moonlight.

 "The Council has been informed of your deeds," Artemis told us. "They know that Mount Othrys is rising in the West. They know of Atlas's attempt for freedom, and the gathering armies of Kronos. We have voted to act."

 There was some mumbling and shuffling among the gods, as if they weren't all happy with this plan, but nobody protested.

 "At my Lord Zeus's command," Artemis said, "my brother Apollo and I shall hunt the most powerful monsters, seeking to strike them down before they can join the Titans' cause. Lady Athena shall personally check on the other Titans to make sure they do not escape their various prisons. Lord Poseidon has been given permission to unleash his full fury on the cruise ship Princess Andromeda and send it to the bottom of the sea. And as for you, my heroes…"

 She turned to face the other immortals. "These half-bloods have done Olympus a great service. Would any here deny that?"

 She looked around at the assembled gods, meeting their faces individually. Zeus in his dark pin-striped suit, his black beard neatly trimmed, and his eyes sparking with energy. Next to him sat a terrifyingly beautiful woman with silver hair braided over one shoulder and a dress that shimmered colors like peacock feathers. The Lady Hera. I had to suppress my shutter at the sight of her, showing any emotion at all could be detrimental if the way Artemis was behaving was a reflection of whatever awful plan they had just been discussing.

 On Zeus's right, Percy’s father Poseidon. Next to him, The Lord of the Forges,

Hephaestus. Hermes winked at us. He was wearing a business suit today, checking messages on his caduceus mobile phone. Apollo leaned back in his golden throne with his shades on. He had iPod headphones on, so I wasn't sure he was even listening, but he gave a thumbs-up. Dionysus looked bored, twirling a grape vine between his fingers. And Ares, well, he sat on his chrome-and-leather throne, glowering at Percy while he sharpened a knife. I glared back at him, but he only rolled his eyes when he finally noticed, I considered activating B2 just to spite him but that would not have gone over well with the other immortals.

 On the ladies' side of the throne room, a dark-haired goddess in green robes sat next to Hera on a throne woven of apple-tree branches. Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest. Next to her sat a beautiful, gray-eyed woman in an elegant white dress. She could only be Annabeth's mother, Athena. Then there was Aphrodite, who smiled at Percy with a wicked glint in her dual-colored eyes. Which was strange the last time I had seen her she had been almost like a shadow of a person, as if my brain could not think of anything beautiful to see in her. She had been so intrigued by the description that she had shown up at the forge for two weeks straight. But now her appearance was more humanoid and colorful, not that I had time to think too deeply on the implications at that moment.

 "I gotta say"—Apollo broke the silence—"these kids did okay." He cleared his throat and began to recite: " Heroes win laurels—"

 "Um, yes, first class," Hermes interrupted, like he was anxious to avoid Apollo's poetry. "All in favor of not disintegrating them?"

 A few tentative hands went up—Demeter, Aphrodite.

 "Wait just a minute," Ares growled. He pointed at Thalia and Percy. "These two are dangerous. It'd be much safer, while we've got them here—"

 "Ares," Poseidon interrupted, "they are worthy heroes. We will not blast my son to bits."

 "Nor my daughter," Zeus grumbled. "She has done well."

 Thalia blushed. She studied the floor. A complement for your parent as a demigod was the rarest form of interaction we could get. Some of us don’t even get a ‘oh yeah I guess you came out of me’ so a compliment was really on another level, which is really depressing if you think about it. I mean my dad would give me a compliment at least once every hour, at least. Which just goes to show how all of those people in those stupid chairs are just…ugh. If I start going down that rabbit hole again, I might start actually fuming.

 The goddess Athena cleared her throat and sat forward. "I am proud of my daughter as well. But there is a security risk here with the those two."

 "Mother!" Annabeth said. "How can you—"

 Athena cut her off with a calm but firm look. "It is unfortunate that my father, Zeus, and my uncle, Poseidon, chose to break their oath not to have more children. Only Hades kept his word, a fact that I find ironic. As we know from the Great Prophecy, children of the three elder gods… such as Thalia and Percy… are dangerous. As thickheaded as he is, Ares has a point."

 "Right!" Ares said. "Hey, wait a minute. Who you callin'—"

 He started to get up, but a grape vine grew around his waist like a seat belt and pulled him back down. "Oh, please, Ares," Dionysus sighed. "Save the fighting for later."

 Ares cursed and ripped away the vine. "You're one to talk, you old drunk. You seriously want to protect these brats?"

 Dionysus gazed down at us wearily. "I have no love for them. Athena, do you truly think it safest to destroy them?"

 "I do not pass judgment," Athena said. "I only point out the risk. What we do, the Council must decide."

I pulled Percy closer behind Annabeth and I while simultaneously pulling Thalia in from the other side. They would kill them only over my dead body.

 "I will not have them punished," Artemis said. "I will have them rewarded. If we destroy heroes who do us a great favor, then we are no better than the Titans. If this is Olympian justice, I will have none of it."

 "Calm down, sis," Apollo said. "Jeez, you need to lighten up."

 "Don't call me sis! I will reward them."

 "Well," Zeus grumbled. "Perhaps.  But the monster at least must be destroyed. We have agreement on that?"

 A lot of nodding heads.

My eyes snapped to Ophi swimming happily in his water bubble.

 "Bessie? You want to destroy Bessie?" Percy said forlornly

 Destroy! Who is destroying me? Sea child please, you must protect me. I do not want to die! Ophi pleaded.

I grabbed Percy’s hand to keep myself from running to Ophi.

 Poseidon frowned. "You have named the Ophiotaurus Bessie?"

 "Dad," Percy said squeezing my hand, "he's just a sea creature. A really nice sea creature. You can't destroy him."

 Poseidon shifted uncomfortably. "Percy, the monster's power is considerable. If the Titans were to steal it, or—"

 "You can't," He insisted. Then he looked at Zeus meeting his gaze with the kind of confidence only an idiot could muster. "Controlling the prophecies never works. Isn't that true? Besides, Bess—the Ophiotaurus is innocent. Killing something like that is wrong. It's just as wrong as… as Kronos eating his children, just because of something they might do. It's wrong!"

 Zeus seemed to consider this. His eyes drifted to his daughter Thalia. "And what of the risk?  Kronos knows full well, if one of you were to sacrifice the beast's entrails, you would have the power to destroy us. Do you think we can let that possibility remain? You, my daughter, will turn sixteen on the morrow, just as the prophecy says."

 "You have to trust them," Annabeth spoke up. "Sir, you have to trust them."

 Zeus scowled. "Trust a hero?"

I wanted to say something snarky, but my voice died in my throat with the withering glare of chocolate brown eyes seated at his left. My arms began to itch, but I resisted moving even an inch.

 "Annabeth is right," Artemis said. "Which is why I must first make a reward. My faithful companion, Zoë Nightshade, has passed into the stars. I must have a new lieutenant. And I intend to choose one. But first, Father Zeus, I must speak to you privately."

 Zeus beckoned Artemis forward. He leaned down and listened as she spoke in his ear.

  "Annabeth," Percy said under his breath, moving in closer to her. "Don't."

 She frowned at him. "What?"

 "Look, I need to tell you something," He continued, but it was clunky, like he couldn’t figure out how to phrase it. "I couldn't stand it if… I don't want you to—"

 "Percy?" she said. "You look like you're going to be sick."

I patted his back in soothing circles, but he still looked green in the face as he regarded Annabeth, almost like she was going to disappear.

“Don’t worry Sea, everything is going to be fine.” He looked at me skeptically but like he really wanted to believe me. And then Artemis turned.

 "I shall have a new lieutenant," she announced. "If she will accept it."

 "No," Percy murmured from behind me.

 "Thalia," Artemis said. "Daughter of Zeus. Will you join the Hunt?"

 Stunned silence filled the room. I should have been expecting this, I mean with everything that had happened it was sort of obvious that this was how things had to go. Annabeth smiled. She squeezed Thalia's hand and let it go, as if she'd been expecting this all along. I met Thalia’s growing smile and nodded in approval.

 "I will," Thalia said firmly.

 Zeus rose, his eyes full of concern. "My daughter, consider well—"

 "Father," she said. "I will not turn sixteen tomorrow. I will never turn sixteen. I won't let this prophecy be mine. I stand with my sister Artemis. Kronos will never tempt me again."

 She knelt before the goddess and began the words I remembered from Bianca's oath, what seemed like so long ago. "I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men…"

 Afterward, Thalia did something that surprised me more than her pledge to join the hunt. She came over to Percy, smiled, and in front of the whole assembly, she gave him a big hug.

 He turned bright red. It was really the cutest moment between those two, and I was glad to get to see them actually become real friends despite their fathers and the prophecy.

 When she pulled away and gripped his shoulders, he said, "Um… aren't you supposed to not do that anymore? Hug boys, I mean?"

 "I'm honoring a friend," she corrected. "I must join the Hunt, Percy. I haven't known peace since… since Half-Blood Hill. I finally feel like I have a home. But you're a hero. You will be the one of the prophecy."

 "Great," He muttered. 

 "I'm proud to be your friend."

 She hugged Annabeth, who was trying hard not to cry. Then she even hugged Grover, who looked ready to pass out, like somebody had just given him an all-you-can-eat enchilada coupon. She stopped in front of me, I raised my hand up for our own special handshake, I was afraid that it would be the last one for a very long time. But as soon as it was done, she hugged me tight.

“Keep an eye of those three for me, won’t you Nora?”

“Pft, I am pretty sure that it is my full-time job at this point. And in case you were wondering, the pay sucks.”

We both laughed and then she patted my shoulder before she went to stand by Artemis's side.

 "Now for the Ophiotaurus," Artemis said.

 "This boy is still dangerous," Dionysus warned. "The beast is a temptation to great power. Even if we spare the boy—"

 "No." Percy looked around at all the gods. "Please. Keep the Ophiotaurus safe. My dad can hide him under the sea somewhere or keep him in an aquarium here in Olympus. But you have to protect him."

 "And why should we trust you?" rumbled Hephaestus who sent me a wearily look almost like an apology.

 "I'm only fourteen," Percy said. "If this prophecy is about me, that's two more years."

 "Two years for Kronos to deceive you," Athena said. "Much can change in two years, my young hero."

 "Mother!" Annabeth said, exasperated.

 "It is only the truth, child. It is bad strategy to keep the animal alive. Or the boy."

I glared at her, threads of different colors sparked at the edge of my vision. I had never fought Athena before, but I was about to try my luck if she suggested killing Percy one more time. I did not give a dam who her daughter was, she was about to be meeting me on the basketball court at three pm at this rate.

 Posidean stood. "I will not have a sea creature destroyed, if I can help it. And I can help it."

 He held out his hand, and a trident appeared in it: a twenty-foot-long bronze shaft with three spear tips that shimmered with blue, watery light. "I will vouch for the boy and the safety of the Ophiotaurus."

 "You won't take it under the sea!" Zeus stood suddenly. "I won't have that kind of bargaining chip in your possession."

 "Brother, please," Poseidon sighed.

 Zeus's lightning bolt appeared in his hand, a shaft of electricity that filled the whole room with the smell of ozone.

 "Fine," Poseidon said. "I will build an aquarium for the creature here. Hephaestus can help me. The creature will be safe. We shall protect it with all our powers. The boy will not betray us. I vouch for this on my honor."

 Zeus thought about this. "All in favor?"

 To my surprise, a lot of hands went up. Dionysus abstained. So did Ares and Athena, both of which were getting higher up on my list of catching these hands. But everybody else…

 "We have a majority," Zeus decreed. "And so, since we will not be destroying these heroes… I imagine we should honor them. Let the triumph celebration begin!"

There are parties, and then there are huge, major, blowout parties. And then there are Olympian parties. If you ever get a choice, go for the Olympian.

 The Nine Muses cranked up the tunes, and I realized the music was whatever you wanted it to be: the gods could listen to classical, and the younger demigods heard hip-hop 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. 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!"

The gods had shrunk down to human size to avoid crushing fellow party goers and they were freely mingling with the rest of us. Thalia stuck close to Artemis’s side while Percy and Annabeth got swallowed by the crowds almost immediately upon arriving. Percy constantly had a god or goddess talking his ear off while Annabeth mingled and danced with any immortal that would listen to her. I however had very little interest in mingling, I was practically dead on my feet.

I only made a move to speak with Hephestus for a moment discussing the upgrades I had done to B2’s ring. He nodded in contemplation and said he would send Tiny, the mechanical messenger dragon I had made for him several years ago, with some schematic ideas to finalize her final version. Not long after he was whisked away by a couple of cyclops’s in need of mechanical advice of their own.

I floated in a half-asleep daze past the buffet table snagging a chocolate chip cookie on my way past. 

“That is an interesting choice, I didn’t take you for a chocolate chip cookie kind of kid.”

I did not need to look to know who had fallen into step beside me.

“Go away, I am mad at you.” I snipped, taking a bite of my cookie.

He chuckled, “Come on baby bird. It’s nothing personal-”

“Oh, I am pretty sure it was VERY personal.” 

He sighed; I could see him pinch the bridge of his nose out of the corner of my eye. “You are impossible, you know.”

I shrugged and continued my quest to find a quiet place that could give me a break from all of the partying. “Did you have something important to say or did you just want to be my godly shadow?”

He shifted nervously next to me,” well I wanted to congratulate you on your successful quest-”

“My quest mates died, I don’t really see that as successful.”

“Yes, well people die in battle and war, it is the sacrifice of being a hero. And I should know, war is my specialty.” He waved his arm in a dramatic bow to emphasize his point.

“Yes, but even the god of war must concede to the wills of the fates, perhaps you should consider that fact next time you attempt to circumvent the system,” I halted my steps to turn to him. He stilled only a step after I did, he adjusted his leather jacket and met my gaze with his own flaming eyes. “Last I checked, lord Ares, even the gods cannot change fate.”

He bristled. Over his shoulder I could see a few demigods using poor Ophi’s water sphere as an oversized beach ball to toss around. I had half a mind to save the poor cow, but Posidean was already making a beeline for him.

“Hanora,” I turned my attention back to Ares. For the first time since I had left the forge the smile that took purchase on his features was genuine and fond. “My position was not against you personally, and despite all of the disrespect you insist on showing me. You know a god. I am glad that you are around, I am glad that Hephestus defied the fates.” He raised an eyebrow at me as if he were trying to link to very different events.

“Hephestus did not defy the fates, Ares. If he had, the fates would have struck me down ages ago. No, he defied the other Olympians,” I scanned the room catching sight of a silver head that still makes my arms itch.” He defied the king and queen and the very least.” I rolled my eyes as I turned my attention back to Ares. “No one is above the fates, unless you believe that stupid prophecy the titans are throwing around.”

His eyes widened,” What prophecy?”

I waved him off but recited the lines anyway upon his insistence. His expression grew increasingly more concerned, by the end he looked like he had gone through all of the stages of grief and then some. “A child…hidden from fate…” He muttered to himself.

“Do you know something about that?” I asked but his eyes were still far away. “Ares? What is it?” I shook his arm bringing him back to the present.

He shook his head, “It’s nothing, but don’t go telling people about this. You’re right this prophecy is not from the fates, so we can’t put any stock into it.” I nodded reluctantly. He knelt down in front of me and placed his hands on my shoulders, “Hanora, don’t worry about this false prophecy, okay? Focus on the here and now, there are bigger things at play, and this is probably a ploy on their part to get in your head.” He squeezed my shoulders and then swiped his finger down the bridge of my nose. “Why don’t you go grab some more sweets and take a break on that bench out there,” He pointed to a seat at the outskirts of the party.” I’ll look into this little matter for you baby bird, just leave it to me.” 

I nodded and floated to the bench a little while after he left with a plate full of breads, cakes and donuts, lots of donuts.

Despite my conversation with Ares my appetite was still intact so that poor plate did not stand a chance. I left it empty on the seat next to me which at one point someone must have cleared away. I scanned the party watching familiar and unfamiliar faces alike weave in and out of sight on the dance floor. I watched Athena move away from a slightly dazed Percy and a concerned Annabeth.

I couldn’t tell what they were saying but I watched as Annabeth swiped the gray streak of hair that Percy had gotten while holding the sky. It matched her own streak, and I suppose mine as well. I pushed my own streak behind my ear, it sparked a bit unlike theirs but it remained as a reminder of our struggles all the same. 

“Aren’t they just the cutest duo you have ever seen?” A voice sing songed next to me.

I nearly jumped out of my skin; I had been so focused on watching the party that I had missed the goddess’s approach. I looked over to see Aphrodite had taken the seat next to me. Her hair was long and ombre from dark black roots fading into blonde at the tips. A streak of gray hair hung around the right side of her sun kissed face, free of any flaw or imperfection. Her green and gray dual-colored eyes peered at me through her lashes knowingly.

“I know you see me differently now, little one.” 

I huffed at the implication and turned my eyes back to the party.

“Haven’t you already said your piece? I thought you were only interested in talking to Percy.” I said, annoyance dripping into my voice.

“At the time, yes, I did only want to speak to him.” She paused,” His love story is going to be a great one. Something to watch out for, and oh how excited I am to see it in all of its tragic glory.” She squealed a bit as she said that, almost like a giddy schoolgirl.

I rolled my eyes, “yep cause everyone knows that all the best romances are surrounded in tragedy.”

She turned to me with enthusiasm forcing me to look back at her, “Yes! Exactly! Oh, I knew you would understand-”

“I was being sarcastic,” I deadpanned.

“Oh,” she deflated but quickly her eyes regained their sparkle,” I suppose it does not matter because right now I am so excited for what the fates have weaved for the three of you!”

“Three?”

She turned my head back to the dance floor just in time to see Percy nervously pull Annabeth onto it. Their smiles were shy and private, and honestly extremely adorable to see.

“I am personally seeing to it that their love story will be beautiful and harrowing. Sorrow and happiness all the same. Two fighters side by side for many great battles.”

Aphrodite then pulled my face back to look at her, she pointed to her eyes, the one on the right a stormy gray while the one on the left was a deep-sea green. Two extremely familiar shades, much to my displeasure, but there was still something off about them. Or maybe it was just that fact that they were not on the correct people.

“You my dear, are also a fascinating case in your own right.” She took both of my hands in her own, a great big smile split across her face revealing perfectly aligned and blindingly white teeth. “Your view on love has changed so much since we last met.”

I pulled my hands away, “I have had no such change.” I turned away and looked down at the floor.

“But you have,” she leaned in closer, but I did not look up at her. “When we first met you saw me as a shadow with almost no form at all. Shapeless. There was nothing for my power to draw on to catch your attention. But now, “she pushed my chin up enough for me to catch another glimpse of Percy and Annabeth on the dance floor. Carefully turning each other about the mass of dancers. “Now, your heart has a beauty to yearn for.”

I shook my head, “not that any of that matters.” I watched as the light caught in Annabeth’s hair making it glow gold. Percy laughed about something, as he leaned into her shoulder his eyes crinkled in the corners as he shut them. “I can’t have what I want.”

Aphrodite hummed next to me, “and what is your heart's great desire?”

I snorted,” why are you asking me? Isn’t it like your whole job to know everyone's romantic destiny, their hopes, dreams, and gods know what else?”

“Yes, well you are a special case. I find that you are very difficult to read. It is almost like you put up a wall around your heart so high that even I cannot hope to peer over.” She huffed partially in annoyance and partially with impressed awe. “No one has ever been able to doop me like this, I can’t even glean your romantic destiny. You my dear are a blank slate.”

I looked back at her, “so does that mean I have no hope for any romance at all? Why is that something that intrigues you?”

“No, if your destiny was romance less I would be able to see that. Your fate is completely hidden from me, my first ever surprise.” She smiled at me, soft and genuine, “so tell me where do you think you are heading?”

The music changed to something more upbeat, a real party song. All of the dancers were jumping about the dance floor, laughing and screaming. In the middle of it all it's almost too cheesy for me to admit, but it was like a spotlight shown down on two faces in particular. Or maybe there was no spotlight, but more like they themselves were emanating pure light. 

“You are right about one thing,” Annabeth ruffled Percy’s hair as the two of them giggled,” their romance will be one for the ages. Their threads are so intertwined it is hard to see where one begins and the other ends. They shall be a legend to be retold to heroes of the future, and I get the esteemed privilege of being along for the ride.” I nodded sadly,” that is enough for me. To just be there for as long as I can for them. I want a future where they can be alive and happy, whatever that may look like. Even if-” my voice broke a bit, “even if I am not a part of it. Because I am not certain that I am even capable of something like that. Feelings of any kind are not exactly my strong suit.” We both giggled halfheartedly at my joke. “I have never known a love that does not leave.”

Aphrodite placed a hand on my shoulder, “isn’t it better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all?”

I shrugged, my shoulders sagging in defeat. “Maybe, but if I am being honest. I have no other frame of reference, because no one has ever loved me and stayed.”

The crowd moved again, almost completely obscuring Annabeth and Percy in their large mass. An ache started to settle in my being, but this time it sat square in the middle of my chest.

Two was perfect while three was a crowd, but it's okay I preferred solitude anyway. I hoped that if I repeated that enough, then maybe I would start to believe it.