Chapter 19 (61) The Meeting of Gods

                                    

                                          
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Flying was bad enough for a son of Poseidon, but flying straight up to Zeus's palace, with thunder and lightning swirling round it, was even worse. And I really wanted to land before Y/N started to freak out.
We circled over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit round Mount Olympus. I'd only been there once before, travelling by elevator up to the secret six hundredth floor of the Empire State Building. This time, if it were possible, Olympus amazed me even more.
In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colours, from blood red 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, and Y/N quickly hugged the ground. Before I could even think to knock, the gates opened by themselves.
Good luck, boss, Blackjack said.
"Yeah." I didn't know why, but I had a sense of doom. I'd never seen all the gods together. I knew any one of them could blast me to dust, and a few of them would like to.
Hey, if ya don't come back, can I have your cabin for my stable?
I looked at the pegasus.
Just a thought, he said. Sorry.
Blackjack and his friends flew off, leaving Thalia, Annabeth, Bianca, Y/N and me alone. For a minute we stood there regarding the palace, the way we'd stood together in front of Westover Hall, that seemed like a million years ago.
And then, side by side, we walked into the throne room with Thalia pulling Y/N in who seemed confused.
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Timeskip brought to you by
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Hermaeus Mora trying, and failing, to unlock Y/N's secrets
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Twelve enormous thrones should be making a U round a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp. In theory the ceiling above glitters with constellations. This is all I have been told the Olympian throne room looks like.
From the sounds all of the seats were occupied. Each with a god and goddess that should be about five metres 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. Especially for me since I can feel gazes better than normal people.
"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.
"Mooo!"
Cow? Is the lake here? I'm pretty sure this isn't a lake. I feel like a lake would be a notable feature of a throne room.
Suddenly Grover's voice cried, "You made it!"
"Sadly I haven't baked anything recently." I pouted as I heard his foot steps stop.
"Go on," Zeus said. But I don't really think it was to me or Grover. The lord of the sky was staring intently in my direction, but beside me where Thalia was.