CHAPTER TWENTY:

If there was one word I could describe the most famous Greek hero to ever live, I would say he's very, er, laid back. Okay, so that's two words, but who cares? The word laid back wouldn't be enough to even describe the guy. Anyway, description aside, it was enlightening to know that I wasn't the only one who went bat crazy after being attacked by one too many monsters and who adopted the motto "You only get to live as a guy once, because most of the time you're monster chewables."

When Perseus learned that my name is Percy, he gaped like a fish. Apparently, my quests and near-death experiences were epic among the troops, and I cannot decide for the life of me whether it's a good thing or not. The good thing about it is that I can probably escape the awkward introductions with the others. The bad thing is that they would expect me to do something memorable and extraordinary, like doing gymnastics across a twenty-foot wave in a straitjacket and plastic flippers while on fire.

And that won't be the first time if that happened—my sister Ariadne asked me to put on the Barney the dinosaur mascot outfit for her birthday. Complete with a wicker basket filled with lollipops, and Justin Bieber's hairdo.

If that's not memorable, nothing is.

We went into the cafeteria to get something to eat. I didn't get to meet anyone there—well, anyone, but I met something. I really can't explain what they were, except they were floating lights that can hold on to trays without any hands, feet, limbs, octopus tentacles, or any appendages whatsoever. The lights were formed into a sphere, pulsing, and I must have been too hungry because I heard voices coming out of it.

"What are they?" Two spheres of light bobbed in front of me, depositing the chicken sandwich in my hands, before they followed the other spheres. During normal circumstances, I would be scared out of my wits, but I was too confused to even jerk my hand away from the light. No pun intended, I assure you.

"No one knows what to call them exactly but most of the people here call them servants or slave or even Light Sabers, with emphasis on the capital letter L, after some fanatic named them after a lighting stick."

Lighting stick? I may suck badly in geometry but I'm pretty sure a ball isn't called a stick. And no offence, but the guy needs to brush up on some modern pop culture.

I ignored his comment. "Uh, the lights—can they see or hear us?"

His eyebrows scrunched up in thought. "I don't know. And that is strange because no one really knows and you're really the first one to ask. I mean, no one bothers to ask or talk to the Sabers because they don't answer, they're just there."

"That's weird, you've never heard voices coming out of them?"

Perseus raised an eyebrow. "Voices? Sabers can't talk. They just pulse."

Then a beeping sound came from his blue jumpsuit. He pulled a handheld device—looks like a cross between a pager and that Tamagotchi gaming console. "That's strange."

"What's strange?"

"Well, it says here that you have a meeting with the Eminences."

"Who? Wait, are you talking about Chaos?"

His reaction was not what I expected. His expression darkened, electric blue eyes in slits and mouth turned down in a frown. Whoa, this guy must have some serious issues with the sparkly god. As if I can call the vampire dude a god. He's like my great-great-great-to-the-thousand grandfather, and that is surpassing the title god that I reserved only to the whiny and over dramatic deities.

Why do I feel like I'm missing something here?

"Why do you speak of Chaos so lightly?" The chandelier above dimmed a little.

"What—"

"That is not welcome here, Percy. Careful." Perseus grabbed my arm and began to drag me out and towards the marble stairs.

Remember what I said about Perseus being very laid back? Well, that can change entirely depending on the topic. And the conversation with any word related to Chaos is frowned upon. I swear; he'll have lots of wrinkles after all his frowning. And me being me, I tried to subtly gather up some dish about Chaos and whatever problem this guy had with him.

"So, what's the matter with you and Chaos? Isn't he like your resident Zeus here?"

His face remained impassive. "I was serious when I said that he is frowned upon."

I wasn't called impertinent for nothing. "Why is that so? Did he do something bad?"

"He is the Destroyer, Percy. Bad is an understatement. Let's just leave it at that."

And I did. It's not really what I would have done in normal circumstances, but I knew when someone could kick my butt for being impertinent. Gods, titans, and monsters—I knew when to pop their bubble. But there's something with Perseus, or even Theseus, that screams "Danger!" to every part of my ADHD-enhanced body.

But Perseus referring to Chaos as the Destroyer—I knew he was depicted badly, as the major bad guy in the stories, the mafia villain boss with the evil mustache and stinky tobacco, but isn't he a good guy too? People who worshipped him also called him the Creator or something like that. Isn't that a good thing? Like, he's the guy who gave birth—and what more could anyone say to a man giving birth—to Erebus, Aether, and Gaia—

Okay, so maybe he shouldn't have made the evil Snow White; hence making him lean more into the bad side.

But Chaos made the impression that he couldn't even hurt a fly! He didn't even blast me to pieces when I made him fall back in Theseus' library!

Watch your back. Betrayals happen to those who don't look back. A voice in my mind that oddly sounds like my dad Poseidon said.

I shivered. Yeah, I have to listen to my instincts. Gods know how I got my butt handed to me many times for trusting too quickly.

But my instinct's telling me to give the god the benefit of the doubt, which did not comfort me in the slightest.

So I stopped pestering him. It's not really what I would have done in normal situations, but I knew when someone could kick my butt for being impertinent. Gods, titans, and monsters—I knew when to pop their bubble and hideous hide.

But there's something with Perseus, or even Theseus, that screams "Danger!" to every part of my ADHD-enhanced body.

We were walking through many hallways, double doors that open to more hallways, hidden passageways with more hallways, broom closets with more hallways—well, you get the picture. Hallways can even fit through Jerry the mouse's sanctuary from the crazy Tom the cat. Anyway, Perseus got over the introductions, and me gaping like a blowfish, and proceeded to give me a tour of the place.

At first, I took note of where we turned, backtracked and passed, but I soon got confused and just let the guy do the leading.

The weird thing is, as we go further, fewer people were walking down the hallways.

"Wow, I didn't know a building could be this big."

Perseus shrugged, blue jumpsuit shining in the darkness of the hallway. "Big is considered an understatement, really. And I wouldn't call the Sentry a building. It's more of a fortress, and a living one at that. Every year—well, based on the Ancient Grecian calendar—it adds an unknown number of floors, rooms, and passageways."

"Whoa, that's so cool. But why is that?"

"Nobody knows for sure. Many of the scholars tried to solve the mystery of the Sentry but they all disappeared, no one came back. Well, no one I know of."

The hairs on the back of my neck rose.

"Disappeared? How exactly can you disappear here?"

The Sentry is bigger than expected of a size of a baseball stadium but surely someone as smart as a scholar could figure his or her way out?

"How am I supposed to know? I know a fool's wish when I see one, even though I am impulsive. No one came back alive or sane and if I'm not mistaken, that is a clear warning to those crazy enough to try."

This is getting weirder. "And no one tried to report the disappearances?"

"Of course some of the men reported these things to the Eminences, but the cases slowly got piled up with even more problems—feuds, petty jealousy between the soldiers, the latest model of the Gliderboards—you get the picture. So, people forgot about it—but not those who live in or near the Sentry. We soldiers will never forget."

There's something about Perseus' tense shoulders that told me to drop the subject. But I had more in my mind. "Who exactly are the Eminences? I remembered that you referred to them in the cafeteria."

And bashed Chaos, too. But I didn't add that one because I knew I wouldn't live to ride a space ship if I brought that specific topic up again.

He pondered. "Well, they're like the Olympians—twelve powerful deities, less temperamental but more paranoid than all the Olympians combined. Six women and six men wearing hooded robes with power beyond anything, domains of vast expanse it would leave you staggering—that's the only thing my instructors told me. They tread on the topic of the Eminences as cautious as possible so they can't actually say something about them, like what their favorite color is or who is their most despised demigod of all time."

I won't be surprised if I'm on that list.

"Have you seen them before?"

We turned and passed an abandoned hallway. It was a relief the hallway was bright and open. I had to adjust my eyes at the onslaught of light after being in the darker hallways. Perseus frowned. "Not directly in the face. But, no one really knows what the Eminences really look like, only the high-ranking officers do. Even I haven't seen them and I'm placed meticulously high in the ranks." Then he turned to me, curious eyes bright.

"And it seems that would be a past matter because I'll be seeing them again once I bring you in the throne room."

I resisted the urge to squirm under his penetrating gaze.

"I wonder; what is it with you that captured the Eminences' attention?"

I gave him an honest answer.

"I don't know."

He stared for a few before nodding. "I'll find out soon enough anyway. If there's one thing I could say about the Eminences, they're brutally honest to their soldiers."

I had no idea how true that statement was.

We were silent after that. I was freaking out inside, and hoping that it's not see on my face. After all, what does one say to gods who are more levelheaded than the Olympians, and not easily distracted?

See, Zeus may have the power to incinerate my butt all the way to Mount St. Helens but he's dramatic to the point of being insufferable that he makes the Titans likeable. Zeus likes to flaunt his theatrics and then he'll forget what he's yelling at me for and remember it two years after it happened.

That's Zeus for you. The Eminences? Well, I have to be very careful.

I looked to my right and saw Perseus' tense shoulders and clenched jaws and I was sure I made the right decision not to infuriate the first Eminence I see.

Too soon for my liking, we stopped in front of a red brick wall.

"Uh, why did we stop?"

A sharp gust of wind blew in my face. I thought it was just air blowing in my face but somehow—I knew it was something entirely different. Something entirely dangerous.

Sinister.

I didn't know how my life would take a turn for the weird and dangerous back then.

Perseus didn't answer. He pulled a sharp golden dagger. And grabbed my right hand with a suffocating grip.

Instinct told me to fight him. And I did. Either Perseus got some power boost with that sharp gust of air or he's being controlled against his will, I never got the ask.

"What the hell are you doing, man? Let me go!"

Soon, I forgot why I was fighting his vice-like grasp. He slowly turned his head, body still facing the brick wall. His eyes were a haunting silver color; void and terrifyingly absent of emotions, similar to the cobalt blue eyes I have seen in my dream in Camp Half-Blood.

"A sacrifice will be made. Sacrifice to the Eminences."

I shivered, the cold running down my spine.

"Perseus, dude, snap out of it—"

He didn't listen. I watched, horrified, as he made a long slash in my arm and brought the gushing blood against the wall. I didn't register the pain, and it's not that painful, because I was too shocked to see the wall glow a bright red before splitting silently to the sides. The hallway beyond was as dark as night.

Immediately, Perseus let go of my arm. He shook his head and put a hand to his temple. "Ugh—I have a headache." He looked up and saw my still extended arm and shocked expression.

"Uh, what happened?"

"You cut me." I said, eyes wide.

"What? I did what?"

I wasn't looking at him.

I was looking at the hallway. Light. The light at the end of the hallway was moving towards us. Perseus was still apologizing for cutting me as well as cursing himself.

"Oh gods, Percy, I apologize—"

"Someone's coming." I whispered.

And it truly was someone. A Light Saber lighted the silhouette form of a man—or a woman—in a hood and I heard a whispering voice.

"The one who is wise is coming! The one who is wise approaches! Hide your folly, hero! For she is the Changing One!"

She? The one who is wise? Hide your folly? What the—

The robed figure stopped in front of us. The figure only reached my shoulder and was in an emerald-green robe. I tried to peek beneath the hood but I only saw shadows obscuring the face. The Light Saber mentioned that the figure was a she, and judging from the petite build, it was right.

"You have come a long way, hero. I did not expect such."

I know that voice. Well, not the voice—the tone. I've heard condescending, exasperated, curious, cautious, and every expression coming from the gods. But I can't forget Athena's tone when talking to me—whether incensed or impressed, it was the same lilting, intelligent way of speaking that caught my attention.

I don't really know how to explain how I can tell if the person talking has a brain the size of Olympus, but after coming to meetings with the Olympians and having Athena scold me in person or in my dreams, calling be an "ungrateful plebeian, foolish and uncouth for a son of a fish", it would do well to remember that tone.

It's how Annabeth speaks, too.

But that couldn't be; Annabeth is still in Camp—as far as I hope—and Athena can't just abandon the Council without setting Poseidon on fire, thus creating World War III—

Perseus noticed as well. He stopped apologizing and turned to the newcomer, brows furrowed. "Lady Athena?"

"Quite. But not quite."

The hood fell. The woman was beautiful, with a pale, aristocratic face, high cheekbones and ebony hair curling down to the waist, a small silver tiara sitting on top of her head. She looked every bit like a Disney Princess that it's really disturbing. But then I met her eyes—And I stepped back when the familiar gray eyes met mine.

It's Athena's clone!

Perseus gasped and hastily fell down to his knees. "Lady Metis. Forgive my insolence."

Metis—the Titaness of wisdom and deep thought and the goddess who gave Zeus a potion who gave it to Kronos who drank it and vomited his dad out. I'm in front of the mother of Athena—and grandmother of Annabeth.

And what did I say to the Titaness who is smarter than any god, goddess or mortal, Athena included?

"Zeus ate you."

I swear; I'll get dismembered before I can even start to think on what I just said.

Perseus made a weird noise in his throat but did not stand up from his bowed form. Metis was staring at me calculatingly, as if looking for the most brutal and sadistic way to behead me with a ballpoint pen and a Mexican burrito. Her gray eyes and golden-blonde hair were disarmingly similar to the goddess I'm always annoyed with and the girl I once fell in love with.

As if reading my mind, her glare increased in intensity. "Indeed."

Is it too late for me to say that Metis terrifies me more than Athena when she's absolutely furious? The one-word reply is making me sweat like a pig on Thanksgiving Day.

"Your vulgarity and insolence will be your demise."

That snapped me out of whatever dimension of stupidity I just went in. I hastily copied Perseus bow and waited for something slice my neck off.

"Rise."

Her face was void of emotions, and the shadows were making her face look even more menacing. "Come. We await for you."

Have you ever felt a time that you were walking towards your grave? The cold gust of air caressing your skin, palms breaking into a sweat, imagination running wild, shadows looking more like Hades' hulking form every step you take—yep, that's the one. Metis was walking ahead of us, hood back in place, and Perseus was walking behind me. I felt trapped with both of them around me and I resisted the urge to run back to the wall, cut my hand open, and get the hell out of here.

We turned around a corner and entered a huge cavern. There was a massive golden double door in the far end but I was too preoccupied with what was standing—or rather guarding—the doors with their bodies. And it was a sight I really didn't want to see so early in the morning. Or for my entire lifetime.

"Drakons." Perseus whispered.

I told you.

I believe I am destined to meet all kinds of reptilian creatures until I scream my head off.

And it's not just one drakon, but there are five, humungous, fire-breathing creatures that could snap my neck in one bite. Long, scaly bodies were intertwined with each other in a giant rainbow ball and all heads, almost reaching the ceiling of the cavern, were staring at us.

And my first impression of the Eminences is that they do overkill when it comes to guard dogs.

They were different with each other. It made me think they look like those assorted Christmas balls in my mom's Christmas tree.

There was a brown drakon, almost coppery, that was glaring at us intensely. The ruby-red one was bobbing its head in boredom. The silver-white drakon snorted smoke from its nostrils.

But the black drakon, almost invisible in the dark, took the prize of Most Creepy Drakon Ever. It's not really the color that freaked me out. Hades knows I've seen more black in the Underworld than necessary, but it's the stare that made me uneasy.

The drakon wasn't fixated on all three of us. Only at me. Singling me out.

The largest drakon, a bluish-green creature raised its head and a deep, grating voice resonated in the cavern.

"Lady Metis. We are humbled by your presence. Perseus, son of Zeus and Danae, we welcome you to our abode."

Then it landed its gaze at me.

"Perseus Jackson. The hero of the prophecy."

Its stare was unnerving, both black serpentine eyes trained on me. When it addressed Metis and Perseus, it only gave a passing glance. But now—it referred to me as the hero of the prophecy.

Why do I get the feeling it's not referring to the two prophecies back in Camp?

Lady metis bowed her head in greeting. "Phaethon. You and your brothers' magnificence astound my wit. I ask of you, O great serpent, to grant passage to Perseus, son of Danae and Percy Jackson, son of Sally Jackson."

The drakons roared fiercely. The dark-red drakon reared its head forward. "The pleasantries are unnecessary, Lady Metis, for they are not fitted to your insufferable patrician stature. You may pass. The hero may pass as well."

Is it just my hearing or did that drakon insult Athena's mother?

I exchanged a glance with Perseus, who looked quite as shocked as I felt. I took a step when the red drakon placed a long tail in front of me.

"But the hero of the prophecy must stay."

Perseus frowned. "What? But, O majestic drakon, the Eminences want to see him—"

"They can wait for a few more, surely."

Lady Metis stopped before nodding at the red drakon, voice tinged with annoyance. "As you wish, great guardian Chrysantheon. Come, Perseus." They passed by the drakon and entered the door, temporarily washing the cave with light before vanishing back in the darkness.

Chrysantheon snorted. "I hate that upstart goddess. She doesn't know her place."

And just like that, I was left in the mercy of five drakons who can swallow me alive. The bluish-green drakon, Phaethon, entangled himself from his brothers and slithered to a stop in front of me. I underestimated the drakon's height. He was taller than the cavern! His sinewy neck was bowed to almost half and the giant clawed feet is as thick as my body.

Phaethon put his snout right in front of me; smoke blowing in his nostrils, eyes piercing.

"Why have you come here, child of the prophecy?"

Well, that was expected. Not.

"What?"

"This is not where you must be. Who brought you here?"

"The Eminences wanted to see me."

Phaethon shook his giant head. "Not the Sentry. The Heart. Who has brought you to the Heart?"

I frowned. "Chaos told me I was supposed to train for the prophecy—"

That got a reaction from them. Immediately, all five heads surged forward, almost knocking me back, eyes bright.

"The prophecy. Do you know what it entails, child?"

This is a test. I just knew it. There was a soft nudge in my head and I had the sudden urge to tell them everything I knew. Everything I was feeling, all my strengths, weaknesses, fears—But I promised myself that I wouldn't tell anyone the prophecy that led me here—aside from Chaos that is. Even Theseus doesn't know the exact words, probably the idea only.

I remembered Theseus shaking his head subtly, warning me. That was for the horrific dream I had in camp but I had a suspicion it's not only for that.

He was referring to my prophecy.

Does that mean I must not tell anyone, even the gods or these guardians?

I looked them straight in the eye. "No."

Simultaneously, they pulled back. We stared at each other for a while before Chrysantheon the red drakon nodded his head.

"Well done, hero. You passed our test. Nothing will shake your will."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"But you know."

I didn't bother lying. "Yes."

"Then you must not tell anyone, for your safety."

"Not even my friends? Not even the gods?" I left out the Eminences but I knew they understood the hidden meaning when they nodded once.

"Not even those who are near to your heart. You must face this alone, for too much foes are waiting for your downfall, silently creeping on your mind. Deceiving

your judgment."

I really hate deities. I mean, how much could one guy curse them just to get a year of peace?

"But you are making a mistake now, hero. You are not needed here."

"Then who will train me? I can't face this alone."

"They are not here in the Heart. They are millions of miles away, lost in the embrace of Ananke and the grasp of Chronus. They cannot come to you but you must come them."

I'm having a migraine. "What? But Chaos told me my destiny is here, that I must train among the greatest demigods—"

The brown drakon snarled. "This is not the first time Chaos made a mistake. Your destiny waits not in this place of valor and deceit but of a place of desolation and truth lost to our ancient eyes. The greatest demigods live not in jocundity but in despondency. Heed my warning, hero, leave now before it comes too late."

I won't be surprised if I pass out right now.

"What? Please, I don't understand—"

The white drakon approached me, with scales shining in the dark cavern. "Anthaeon knows no lie, for he is the dust of all there is—the foundation of all the living and dead, mortal and immortal, good and evil. He knows of what turmoil your heart, hero. Listen and follow his way."

"I just want to know why I'm not supposed to be here. Is it because I'm not dead? But Chaos told me I'm here to train so that I can save Earth and my friends back in Camp. I'm confused and I don't know what to do."

"I didn't tell anyone of the prophecy or even my dream where someone possessed my best friend and drowned him—well, I drowned Nico, but he was controlling the wave and I was stopping whatever it was but I slipped and Camp's murdering each other and someone's about to destroy Earth and I don't know who's planning world domination and for the love of gods, I AM DAMN FREAKING OUT!"

My burning face and seething expression must have been a sight but the drakons only looked apprehensive. "Brothers. This changes things."

"What? What changes things?"

Gods, monsters, titans—all of them likes withholding information that could save the world and my life. I'm pretty sure they're getting a kick out of watching me make a fool out of myself.

Anthaeon the brown drakon snorted, "That is refreshing. He's calling the hero, for once. And here I thought he's too high and mighty for demigods."

I was so confused. Who is "he"?

"Come to us three moons after the Season of the Theoi. Our essence will be at their strongest then." Phaethon said.

"Season of the Theoi? What is the Season of the Theoi? And why three moons after that?"

"It will be a time the mountains are weak and the dust are strong. We may speak to you then."

"Leave now, Perseus. The Eminences are starting to get suspicious. Brother, accompany him. The Fates are smiling down upon you, maybe he is the one."

By the gods, I'm so confused that I didn't complain their manhandling—or is it drakon-handling—and the black drakon wrapped his tail on my arm. He put his snout right in my face, green serpentine eyes slit. Then the drakon put me on his shoulders and reared his wings up.

With a powerful push, he was off the ground and flying into the open door.

I can't believe this! My eyes must be exclaiming. Because there is no way the sea can fit the Sentry without anyone noticing it.

It's a paradise. Literally. You see magazines of beaches so white and clean it's obviously photo shopped and airbrushed so many times Aphrodite must be in tears of happiness. Waves came crashing softly in the sand dunes, an endless cycle of pushing and pulling. Pelicans so white they were shining in the sunlight were flying in a V-formation, squawking in the background. Dolphins jumped up in the air, greeting me with excitement. The black drakon slowed down so that the sea creatures could greet me.

Son of the sea god! Son of the sea god!

Farther in the east, a glowing, majestic white palace stood above the highest mountain peak. Turrets and gigantic Greek columns were lined in a square formation, holding the structure with its marble elegance. At first glance, I would say it looks like Olympus, but something about it seems older, more powerful than the home of the Olympians above the Empire State Building.

It was beautiful.

But—there was something wrong about it too. It felt—

Unreal.

"What is this place? How can the sea fit in here?"

A deep, mellow voice resonated in my mind, different from the grating and rasping voices that came from the other drakons. "It shows you who you are, son of the sea."

Who I was…Yeah, this is a very accurate description indeed. I'm like the sea; with all its strength, mysteriousness and bull-headedness I could probably beat the Minotaur out of the Most Bull-headed list.

I feel honored.

"I'm a son of Poseidon so that answers the question of who I am."

The black drakon swung his head back to look at me. "I doubt it. You are a son of Poseidon, yet you are simply not."

"What do you mean?"

"The sea is a powerful force. It does not like to be restrained."

I snorted. How I've heard that exact same line since I stepped in camp. "Exactly what I am. I can be rebellious when I want to."

"Chaos reigns in the acts of the sons and daughters of the sea. Shaping such judgment and will to fit others' reason would only cause disasters in the foreseeable time. You, a son of the sea, do not wish to follow the will of others, yes?"

"Only when they're acting like Zeus, definitely. Or when they're trying to destroy the world. Or when they're trying to make me eat fish."

The drakon flapped his wings. "You speak of Chaos yet your soul belongs to Aether. Such a conundrum, you are, hero. Who are you?"

There was something with this drakon that gives me the creeps. "I don't know understand you're trying to say."

"There's something in you, Percy Jackson, that caught the eyes of the Fates."

I really can't help but be sarcastic. Really, I asked every deity who could possibly listen to my inner mantras and complains, but even they're stumped on the question why.

"You have no idea. They're after everyone's blood. The Fates are cruel."

A strange combination of grittiness and melody came from the drakon's laugh. "One cannot fully know a monster without battling one, hatchling. Judge not the Fates for you are not in their place."

"What does that even mean?"

Here I thought I can finally get the gist on how the Fates love to make my life miserable, but then I get even more confused because of this drakon.

The black drakon did not even answer!

And I learned another thing from my stay in the Heart: I hate riddles.

We landed in an empty space in front of the two-columned porch. As soon as the drakon's claws touched the rocky ground of the mountain, the sea, the mountain, everything just dissolved into the air. Instead of facing the white marble porch, I was facing a huge double door made of gold and outlined with so many gems—sapphires, rubies, diamonds, weird purple things that pulses—that Hades would be green with envy.

"Whoa! What happened?"

"Illusions has come to pass, hero. They read your soul and found it to be worthy. Now, it is time for you to meet the Eminences. Keep a cool head, and maintain a winning posture. They despise cowards. Do not disrespect them so, it will lead to a most painful death. It would seem my time is nearly to a finish. Your presence is wanted, Percy Jackson and I must bid you farewell."

The drakon helped me down and hovered in the air.

"Wait!"

Deep blue eyes met mine.

"What is your name, great drakon?"

The stare intensified. I was beginning to feel awkward with the staring when he broke the silence. The drakon's serpentine eyes were alight with—hope.

"You are the only one who noticed me, Percy Jackson. Can it be? Are you the one who sees?"

I tried to hide my confusion. "What? I can see what?"

The drakon made to leave but stopped for a second. His eyes met my confused stare with a strange glint. As if in slow motion, he put a claw on my cheek and scratched lightly. A slight sting told me that the drakon drew blood. He licked the claw and put it where he scratched me. Immediately, a warm current ran up my spine and settled in my chest.

Talk about weird.

If the drakon can smile, he must be doing it now. "I knew there was something in you that draws me in. It seems the Fates gifted me to you, I, Erebus the guardian. Treasure me well, master."

I didn't know what I was thinking, or how I even got the idea of touching one of the creatures that freaks me out, but I put a hand on the snout of the huge creature, thoughts of being eaten whole like a shark eating a tuna all but forgotten.

"I will. I swear."

The drakon nodded. "I must rest, dear master. But I will be waiting for your call."

With a parting pat on my head with a giant snout, he disappeared.

I got a drakon.

Well, that's a first.

The doors opened.

When I saw the throne room, the first thing that came up in my head is the word "wow". The throne room was wide and towering, the domed ceiling almost invisible in the vast expanse of brightness that seemed to be coming from everywhere. Greek columns were posted in the four corners of the room, a timely fashion back in the olden age. Instead of having marble floors, the flooring was made of crystalline glass.

And I almost fainted of shock when I saw the large hulking figure of a black spaceship pass under me.

I think I have an idea why Zeus made Olympus stand on clouds, even though they aren't as solid as they made it out to be. Knowing my dad, Poseidon would've fainted face first at the first sight of airplanes flying under him. Oh, add Thalia, too. She'd scream murder.

I hastily looked up. Twelve pairs of eyes were watching me.

The Eminences sure are intimidating.

Twelve thrones, big enough for a giant to sit in, were positioned in a U-formation, four thrones lined up in the middle and at the sides. I had a sneaking suspicion that the Eminences did that to scare anyone off.

I mean, how obtuse can you get not to realize that twelve powerful gods surround you and the only way you can get out is through the giant double doors that you need to push to get out?

But I had other things to worry about. The Eminences, all twelve of them, are seated in their thrones. Staring at me.

I still don't know why I noticed the décor first and not the giant figures of the most powerful gods in existence.

They are different—very different.

See, the Olympians radiate power and haughtiness, but they are also too random to be taken seriously. Whenever I visit the Council for the annual meeting about Camp Half-blood and Camp Jupiter, it would take two hours just to get Athena and her spear away from my dad's face and another hour just to get Apollo and Hermes to stop singing "I'm Walking On Sunshine" and "Like a Virgin" every time Artemis breathes. Two hours to make Aphrodite pay attention everyone and not her hot pink magic mirror and an hour to make Demeter stop singing praises to cereals and other wheat products.

Half a day is wasted every meeting, and that's the case only if Zeus is in a very good mood—which is highly unlikely.

Suffice to say, we don't get anything done by the end of the day.

The Eminences, however, tell another story. Six women and six men were dressed in various Greek clothing—chitons and chlamys— and gold sandals underneath the emerald green robes. But the robe was pulled back and I got my first glimpse of the Eminences.

And imagine my shock when I saw one of the persons I never expected to see here in a million years.

"HERA?!"