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AFTER WHAT FELT LIKE FOREVER they landed at Crissy Field once the sun completely set.

As soon as Dr. Chase stepped out of his Sopwith Camel, Annabeth ran to him and gave him a huge hug.

Lucia drowned out their conversation to kneel at Zoe's side with Artemis and Thalia.

"Do you have any Nectar or Ambrosia?" She asked

Thalia shook her head in defeat. "We lost it when we abandoned the van but do you know how to bind a wound?"

"I-'ve seen my brother do it- but i- I dont-"

"Try."

Lucia immediately got to work. Using a torn-up piece of cloth she began binding the huntress's wound. Working only by memory, the result was far from perfect. Still, it was snug, not loose enough to be useless and not tight enough to cut blood flow. It was the best she could do at the moment. And still, it didn't feel like enough.

"Annabeth, Percy," Thalia interrupted them. Her voice was urgent.

Annabeth and he ran over to help, but there wasn't much anyone could do. They had no ambrosia or nectar. No regular medicine would help. It was dark, but anyone could see that Zoe didn't look good. She was shivering, and the faint moonlight glow that usually hung around her was fading.

"Can't you heal her with magic?" Lucia asked weakly. "I mean... you're a goddess."

Artemis looked troubled. "Life is a fragile thing, My niece. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try."

She tried to set her hand on Zoe's side, but Zoe gripped her wrist. She looked into the goddess's eyes, and some kind of understanding passed between them.

"Have I... served thee well?" Zoe whispered.

"With great honor," Artemis said softly. "The finest of my attendants."

Zoe's face relaxed. "Rest. At last."

Tears welled up in Lucias' eyes. She knew it was what Zoe wanted but it hurt to lose another person she cared for. It hurt so much.

"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one."

At that moment, Lucia realized it wasn't only the poison that was killing her. It was her father's final blow. Zoe had known all along that the Oracle's prophecy was about her: she would die by a parent's hand. And yet she'd taken the quest anyway. She had chosen to save them, and Atlas's fury had broken her inside. Lucia blamed herself for not noticing. How could she be a child of Apollo and still be completely useless?

"You can not change fate, Lucia." Zoe spoke as if she read her mind "Your powers are impressive but this is beyond you."

"I knew... when ladon-" her voice broke "I knew you were lying to me."

"And still... It was never in your control." Zoe reassured "In all my years I have never met someone with a heart like thee's. Promise me it shall never change."

Lucia's tears fell faster, she gave Zoe the brightest smile she could muster "I promise"

Zoe saw Thalia and took her hand.

"I am sorry we argued," Zoe said. "We could have been sisters."

"It's my fault," Thalia said, blinking hard. "You were right about Luke, about heroes, men—everything."

"Perhaps not all men," Zoe murmured. She smiled weakly at Percy. "Do you still have the sword, Percy?"

He couldn't speak, but he brought out Riptide and put the pen in her hand. She grasped it contentedly. "You spoke the truth, Percy Jackson. You are nothing like... like Hercules. I am honored that you carry this sword."

A shudder ran through her body.

"Zoe—" Percy cried.

"Stars," she whispered. "I can see the stars again, my lady."

A tear trickled down Artemis's cheek. "Yes, my brave one. They are beautiful tonight."

"Stars," Zoe repeated. Her eyes fixed on the night sky. And she did not move again.

Thalia lowered her head. Annabeth gulped down a sob, and her father put his hands on her shoulders.

Lucia fell from her knees onto her backside, she tried to suppress her sobs as she hugged her knees closer.

Artemis cupped her hand above Zoe's mouth and spoke a few words in Ancient Greek. A silvery wisp of smoke exhaled from Zoe's lips and was caught in the hand of the goddess. Zoe's body shimmered and disappeared.

Artemis stood, said a kind of blessing, breathed into her cupped hand, and released the silver dust to the sky. It flew up, sparkling, and vanished.

For a moment Lucia didn't see anything different. Then Annabeth gasped. Looking up into the sky, she saw that the stars were brighter now. They made a pattern she had never noticed before—a gleaming constellation that looked a lot like a girl's figure—a girl with a bow, running across the sky.

"Let the world honor you, my Huntress," Artemis said. "Live forever in the stars."

It wasn't easy having to say their goodbyes. The thunder and lightning were still boiling over Mount Tamalpais in the north. Artemis was so upset she flickered with silver light. If she lost control and appeared in her fully divine form, they all would disintegrate by looking at her.

"I must go to Olympus immediately," Artemis said. "I will not be able to take you, but I will send help."

The goddess set her hand on Annabeth's shoulder. "You are brave beyond measure, my girl. You will do what is right."

Then she looked quizzically at Thalia, as if she weren't sure what to make of this younger daughter of Zeus. Thalia seemed reluctant to look up, but something made her, and she held the goddess's eyes. No one was sure what passed between them, but Artemis's gaze softened with sympathy before she turned to Percy.

"You did well," she said. "For a man."

Artemis then gazed at Lucia. "You are brave my Niece. I see now why my brother chose you to bear his gifts. I can not say it will get easier. It will not. But you will do great things for Olympus. Of that I'm sure."

She mounted her chariot, which began to glow. They averted their eyes. There was a flash of silver, and the goddess was gone.

"Well," Dr. Chase sighed. "She was impressive; though I must say I still prefer Athena."

Annabeth turned toward him. "Dad, I... I'm sorry that—"

"Shh." He hugged her. "Do what you must, my dear. I know this isn't easy for you."

His voice was a little shaky, but he gave Annabeth a brave smile.

Then they heard the whoosh of large wings. Four pegasi descended through the fog: three white-winged horses, and one pure black one.

"Blackjack!" Percy called. The black pegasus neighed happily.

"It was rough," He admitted.

"Are you talking to him?" Lucia asked dried tears staining her cheeks

"Poseidon is also the god of horses." Percy explained, "I can speak to horses."

Lucia nodded. Blackjack looked at her inquisitively.

"No!," Percy said aloud. His cheeks turned red. "These are my friends. We need to get to Olympus pretty fast."

"Fascinating," The professor said. "Such maneuverability! How does the wingspan compensate for the weight of the horse's body, I wonder?"

Blackjack cocked his head.

"Why, if the British had had these pegasi in the cavalry charges on the Crimea," Dr. Chase said, "the charge of the light brigade—"

"Dad!" Annabeth interrupted.

Dr. Chase blinked. He looked at his daughter and managed a smile. "I'm sorry, my dear, I know you must go."

He gave her one last awkward, well-meaning hug. As she turned to climb aboard one of the white pegasus Percy revealed was named Guido, Dr. Chase called, "Annabeth. I know... I know San Francisco is a dangerous place for you. But please remember, you always have a home with us. We will keep you safe."

Annabeth didn't answer, but her eyes were red as she turned away. Dr. Chase started to say more, then apparently thought better of it. He raised his hand in a sad farewell and trudged away across the dark field.

Thalia,  Annabeth, Percy, and Lucia mounted their pegasi.

Together they soared over the bay and flew toward the eastern hills. Soon San Francisco was only a glittering crescent behind them, with an occasional flicker of lightning in the north.
Thalia was so exhausted she fell asleep on Porkpie's back.

Lucia knew she had to be really tired to sleep in the air, despite her fear of heights, but she didn't have much to worry about. Her pegasus flew with ease, adjusting himself every once in a while so Thalia stayed safely on his back.

Annabeth, Lucia, and Percy flew along side by side.

"Annabeth" Lucia called, she turned. Grey eyes met brown ones. The sun child immediately got shy at the intense gaze "S-sorry it's just we never formerly met so. I-I'm Lucia."

A moment of silence passed. Lucia could feel Percy's own eyes on them when Annabeth gave her a wide smile.

"You said you were coming to save me right...I remember your voice"

Lucia looked down sheepily "Yeah that was me"

"You're Luz?" She questioned, "Percy talked a lot about you."

Lucia's eyes widened her head turned toward Percy who was scratching the back of his head

"He.. did?"

"Yeah, you're his childhood best friend right?" Annabeth asked

"Yeah. That's me..." Lucia gulped, and she forced a smile. "...he's talked a lot about you too"

"He did?" Annabeth's smile got wider, which only made her look more beautiful than Lucia originally thought. "It's nice to meet you, Lucia."

"Yeah, you too Annabeth"

Silence fell and Lucia suddenly got the feeling that Annabeth and Percy had a lot to say to each other.

She didn't want to be in their way.

Carefully and slowly she drew her pegasus forward to fly beside Thalia.

After a while despite her yelling at herself not to she turned around. Her eyes fell on the pair who looked deep in conversation. The talk with Aphrodite echoed in her mind.

"There it is." Thalia's voice broke through Lucia's thoughts once she'd woken up. Lucia turned to see she was pointing toward Manhattan, which was quickly zooming into view. "It's started."

"What's started?" Lucia asked.

Then she looked where she was pointing. High above the Empire State Building, Olympus was its own island of light, a floating mountain ablaze with torches and braziers, white marble palaces gleaming in the early morning air.

"The winter solstice," Thalia said. "The Council of the Gods."

A/N. Hi, lovelies!!! I just wanted to end this chapter with a couple of quick things

the first is I'm sorry for not posting as much lately I've been really busy lately but I promise I will be writing and posting a lot more!

I also wanted to say that I know Luz seems like she's crying a lot and like she doesn't know what she's doing but because it's her first quest she doesn't lol. I wanted her to have almost no clue about what's going on and be very vulnerable emotionally and physically but now that we are entering battle of the labyrinth I do want to say she will have major developments and be even more integral to the plot plus I can start adding all the subplots I have for her so please be as excited as I am !!

now the last thing is Annabeth and Lucia will not be enemies so do not think that at all, please. no girl vs girl this is not that in case anyone gets that vibe from the end of this chapter! I just want you to know that won't happen I promise I will dive deep into their dynamic and even if there is angst and tension (hehe) their relationship is more than a boy like Lucia said there is no competition this isn't the Olympics!