Just a little bit on time frame, were two years past the end of the book, so roughly Percy and Annabeth are 17, Clarissa is 18, Nico is 16, Thalia is still serving Artemis as a hunter, she will be in the story eventually.

Looking at the ticket in her hand, Astra knew this was the moment of truth. Did her father really reside here? Or was it her loving mother's way of creating a fairytale to ease the hurt of Astra's father abandoning them?

Astra stood outside the elevator, waiting for a chance to ride up alone, but the crowds just kept pouring in. Sighing in frustration, she looked around quickly, seeing a hidden sign for the stairs in a far corner.

After trying to open the door and finding it locked, Astra couldn't help but wonder if fate was working against her. Maybe she was never meant to know if the stories were true—maybe she shouldn't have doubted her mother.

No.

Astra had come too far to just give up. Glancing around quickly, Astra spotted a security guard and made her way over to him.

"Umm…Hi," Astra said nervously.

"Hello miss," the security guard said politely.

"I was wondering if there was any way to get the stairs opened so I could go up them?" Astra asked, playing with her necklace hesitantly.

"Is there a problem with the elevator?" the security guard questioned.

"No, no there's not, it's just…the movement of the elevator makes me sick, but I've been dying to see this place." Astra lied through her teeth.

"You get motion sickness but you're not afraid of heights?" the guard asked with a small smile.

"Yup. I know, totally weird," Astra replied with a small laugh.

"Okay, sure. I'll open the doors for you, and I'll radio up to the security guard so he'll know to open the door for you to come back down," the security guard said kindly.

"Oh, thank you, so much," Astra said, following the guard to the door marked stairs.

"Enjoy your visit," the guard said as the door closed.

Astra walked slowly up the stairs, growing more nervous with each step. It wasn't so much the fact that she was going to find out if her mother lied. It was finding out that if her mother had lied, then that means Astra's father was a regular mortal who had just…left them.

If her mother hadn't lied to her, then that meant her father had left for her safety. Her mother told her about the big three—Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades—how they all swore on the river Styx—whatever that was—that they wouldn't have any more children after the second World War.

She was proof that Zeus had broken that promise.

Zeus and her mother had come to an agreement. Zeus would leave her alone, not interfere with her life, not even keep track of her, as long as she was never known to the rest of the Gods. But if by some chance she was revealed as Zeus's daughter he would step up and claim her.

Astra wasn't doing this to meet her father. She was doing this to quench the never ending question—was Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, her father? She didn't need to meet him to know. All she wanted to do was find out if there was a floor 600 in the Empire State building, and if it brought you to Olympia. Farfetched as that sounded, if it did, then Astra would know her mother was telling the truth. She'd leave the Empire State building and return to her hotel room.

Glancing at the door, Astra saw that she was on the roof. Opening slowly, she walked out; she couldn't stop herself from peering over the edge. The view was amazing. Astra walked around the roof until she saw the door marked maintenance. Praying it wasn't locked, she tried the handle.

It wasn't locked. Astra stood in the small maintenance room facing the circuit box. Opening it with shaking hand, she flipped the switches her mother had told her about in her story.

Nothing happened.

Astra was about to flip them all back when a noise came from behind. Two metal shelving units moved open to reveal a gold and ivory elevator.

Shock filled Astra. Unable to stop herself, she walked into the elevator. With shaking hands, she pressed the only button there.

Suddenly she was pushed back by the force of the elevator moving what seemed to be upward. Only Astra knew that, rationally, there was no up on the top of the Empire State building.

The elevator stopped, opening to reveal something out of Greek myth. A path from the elevator led to a tall building like what she'd seen in Greek travel books, pictures of the ruins from so many years ago.

It was real.

All of it. Olympus was real.

Astra was standing there looking at it.

Astra couldn't help it she pulled her sleeve up and pinched herself hard, just to make sure she wasn't dreaming. She wasn't.

She finally knew the truth. She knew she should just close the doors and leave; go back to her hotel with the peace of mind that it all was real.

But there was a pull Astra kept feeling, ever since she had arrived in New York. At first Astra had brushed it off as determination to find the truth. But standing here in the elevator looking out at Olympus, the 'pull' became so much stronger.

So strong that, without even realizing it, she was walking down the path headed to a building that rivaled the Parthenon in Greece.

Astra sighed to herself. She was already here—what would it hurt to look around? The place seemed quiet and Astra knew that she would never get a chance like this again…because after this it was back to Normalville.

She couldn't believe how big this building was. Thankfully, the doors were cracked, so she could walk right in. She was looking all around her; the architecture was amazing. Finally, Astra looked forward…only to freeze.

There, sitting in giant chairs—because they were giant people—were the Greek gods. And they were all looking at her.

"Crap," was all that Astra could muster, mouth hanging open, eyes wide.

"Astra?" Zeus said in disbelief.

"Um." She could felt her throat closing up, she needed to get out of here, she hadn't thought anyone else was here!

"Astra…what are you doing here?" Zeus asked, power simply radiating off him.

"I…umm…got lost," Astra said without thinking.

"Lost." Zeus repeated with a small smile/smirk—Astra couldn't decided which.

"Who is this?" Poseidon questioned Zeus.

"This is Astra. My…daughter," Zeus said strongly, which started all of the gods in the room talking. All of the sound snapped Astra out of her daze; she slowly turned and began to walk back toward the door.

"Wait. You had another kid after swearing not to have any more?" Aries questioned with a smirk.

"Actually, it looks like she came before Thalia," Apollo said with a grin.

"Any more of your kids gonna pop out? They seem to be the most annoying," Aries shot at Poseidon with a smirk.

"Am I the only brother who kept his word?" Hades thundered, standing up, causing everyone to focus on him. "How ironic" he finished smugly before sitting back down on his throne.

"Very," Athena said drily.

"Stop," Zeus commanded and Astra froze, not sure if he was talking to her or the other gods.

"Turn," Zeus said. She did.

Again, all of the gods sat watching her in silence.

"Hi," Astra said quietly with a wave of her hand. She winced as her voice echoed in the vast chamber.

"I'm really sorry I didn't mean to interrupt…whatever you were talking about," Astra said quickly.

"Why don't you just explain why you're here?" Zeus offered, sitting forward in his throne.

"I just wanted to know if mom was telling me the truth, but then when I got here I felt like I needed to explore, and then I ended up here and I really didn't mean to I thought this place was empty I didn't mean to slight any of you and I'm really sorry, I'll just go now I don't want to be stepped on," Astra rattled out quickly before turning once again. Some of the Gods laughed lightly at that last part.

"No one's going to step on you, Astra," Zeus said with a small smile and a chuckle.

"Oh. Okay…but I really think I should get going and let you all get back to whatever you were discussing," Astra said, inching toward the door.

"Don't sweat it, Astra—we were just discussing if there was a pizza place nearby that delivered," Apollo said with a laugh.

Shock must have shown on her face, because the other gods smiled.

"Really?" Astra asked skeptically.

"Nah, but that's so much more exciting than what we were talking about," Apollo grinned kindly.

"Oh," Astra said with a blush.

"I believe, due to certain events, we can adjourn this meeting until tomorrow," Zeus said, and word became law as all of the gods stood and began leaving their thrones, most nodding or smiling at her kindly as they left.

"I'm rather shocked that your mother told you about me," Zeus said standing and walking over to her, shrinking down to human size as he went.

"Yeah…she's been telling me all about you guys since I was born," Astra replied nervously.

"I take it she's not here in New York with you?" Zeus questioned, coming to stand in front of her.

"Um, no. She's back in Arizona," Astra said, suddenly shy standing in front of her father.

"Is that where she finally settled with you…" Zeus mused lightly, more to himself than anything.

"Yeah, about six months after I was born we moved," Astra said quietly.

"I knew she had plans to move when you were born, but I had no idea it was so far," Zeus said, turning slightly. "You know what has to happen now, right?" he asked softly.

"Umm…what do you mean?" Astra asked, confused.

"I've claimed you as mine. The monsters will come for you, and now you must go to Camp Half Blood," Zeus said solemnly.

"Why can't I just go back home?" Astra asked, becoming upset.

"Because I've claimed you. You've been in the presence of the gods. The monsters will not stop until you are dead—your mother also. You will only be safe at the Camp," Zeus said gently.

"But I don't want to go," Astra said, tears forming in her eyes.

"I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice," Zeus said with authority.

"But—" Astra started, only to be cut off by her father.

"Do you have a death wish, Astra?" Zeus asked her seriously.

"No," she replied, tears falling from her eyes.

"Do you wish for your mother to die?" Zeus asked, becoming, if possible, more serious.

"No!" Astra replied, crying harder at the thought.

"Then camp is the only way you will be safe," Zeus said in a tone of absolute finality.

Astra just nodded.

"I am sorry, Astra. This is not the fate I wished for you," Zeus said, his voice filled with something akin to regret.

"It's my fault, not yours," Astra said, still crying. Zeus said nothing, only watched her for a moment before turning and motioning to his side. Apollo walked out and came to stand before her, next to her father.

"Apollo will stay with you until someone from camp can arrive," Zeus said quietly.

Astra nodded.

"Apollo, a moment alone with my daughter?" Zeus requested, and Apollo nodded, smiling at her before moving out the doors.

"Gods do not have much contact with their children," he went on warningly.

"I know," Astra said, tears still coming.

"But know that you are my daughter, and should you need me, I will be there," he said, waking close to Astra and gently brushing her tears away.

"Okay…thank you," was all Astra could think to say.

"Go now. I know it may not seem like it, but this will become a good thing," Zeus said, stepping back from her.

Astra nodded and began to walk out, but stopped and turned suddenly and flew into Zeus' arms, hugging him tight. Zeus froze slightly, and then his arms enclosed her gently before releasing her.

"Sorry. I just…always wanted to do that," Astra said with a small smile before turning and heading out the door towards Apollo.

"Go on ahead Astra. Apollo and I must speak quickly," Zeus said.

Astra nodded and continued on, but she heard what he said to the lesser god.

"I've lost one daughter already. I will not lose another."