As it turns out, Olympus wasn't a mountain located in Greece. 

Well it still was, but it wasn't home to the gods anymore. Mount Olympus and the concept of Olympus were two completely different things. Paris explained that the Greek gods shift with each new wave of civilization. 

During the era of the Greeks they resided in Greece, then they moved to Rome during the rule of the Roman Empire and became the Roman gods. Then, they kept shifting more and more each time, until they were at the very epitome and center of western civilization. America.

     Naturally, and in very dramatic Greek fashion, Olympus was on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building, right smack in the middle of New York City in one of their most important buildings. 

Percy, Paris and I walked inside the glittering lobby, packed with tourists from all over the world. There was no way we were ever going to make it to the 600th floor of Olympus while this place was open and there was absolutely no way I was taking the stairs.

    "No worries. I got this," Percy winked and strolled near a doorman standing in a corner of the crowded lobby. I hadn't even noticed him before. He looked sickly; tall and pale, with a distant look in his eye. His bald head reflected the golden lights of the elaborate lobby. It would be easy to mistake the guy for a skeleton. Something about him was unsettling but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

 Percy handed him six golden drachmas, the currency of the gods. The man studied the coins carefully in his palm. I worried he would call security on us or throw the coins in Percy's face, but he merely tucked them away in the pocket of his maroon coat.

    "Come along, demigods," the man nodded and stepped aside, revealing another door. 

I was positive that wasn't there before. 

I decided not to argue, and began to follow my friends into the dark abyss ahead of us. The small entrance led to a complex and winding series of tunnels. There were at least six off to my left, four in the middle, and another two to the right. The place was dark; the only source of light was coming from the full light of fire torches over our heads. The place was definitely old and smelled even worse than the Hermes cabin and the Pegasus stables at camp combined. If I listened closely I could hear the distant pitter patter of what sounded like pipes leaking.

    "Um," Percy held his nose, "isn't there supposed to be a service elevator right around here?" He pointed in between the first and second tunnels on his left. "I could've sworn it was right here."

    The doorman chuckled; the crook between his shoulder and neck began to bubble and steam. Man, it was too early for this. I tried to rub the sleep out of my eyes but it was no use. Before I knew it the man had grown eight other separate heads and they weren't even human. In fact, the man's own skin was melting off, revealing a pattern of grey reptilian scales.

    "Shit," Percy cursed underneath his breath and began to back up, "not you again." The monster's necks began to multiply in size right before my very eyes, expanding towards the ceiling above. The monster looked like a weird hybrid between a snake, a lizard and a t-rex, with long, razor sharp teeth and beady golden eyes. It had at least ten heads, all sprawled out like deadly spaghetti. 

    "It's the Hydra," Percy scowled, backing away from the creature slowly.

    "The what?" I had no idea what he was talking about.

    "The Hydra," Paris repeated, looking at me with her wide grey eyes, "in myths the monster was said to have five to nine heads. If you cut off one, two more grow in its place."

    "Great, so how do we stop it?"

    The hydra roared as if to mock my momentary burst of confidence.

    Percy unscathed his sword while Paris activated her silver spear and shield. I was frozen in fear, unaware of what to do next as they charged for the beast.

     "Hercules defeated it by-"

     The Hydra roared again, but this time a stream of fire burst from its reptilian mouth. This guy had some serious morning breath. We dove out of the way, all landing in different directions from each other.

    Paris dove underneath the monster, landing on the south side of its body. 

"Hey, ugly!" She called out, waving her arms frantically. "Over here!" Three of the hydra's heads turned to look at her and roared in anger.

    "Watch out!" Percy called over to Paris, busy slashing at two of the monster's heads. Paris ducked behind her shield as one of the monsters heads spat a wave of flames straight at her. She emerged unharmed and lunged for the head that had just attacked. Her chrome spear landed precisely in the monsters eye, it's head flailing in agony.

    "What are you doing just standing there?" Percy called out to me, still slashing at the Hydra heads in front of him. "Cut the Hydra's head while you still have time!"

Head #2 shot straight at my torso, I dove out of the way again.

"I thought we weren't supposed to do that!" 

"Paris needs to burn where the head was so it won't grow two more, now go!"

    I nodded, taking the Swiss Army knife out of my pocket. It was the first time I'd ever use my brand new sword and there was no time like the present to break it in. 

The weapon felt incredibly balanced in my hand, light enough for me to swing and slash with agility but definitely heavy enough to keep my hand steady. I lunged for the hydra with the spear in its eye, slashing it right where its ugly head met its slimy body.

 I looked around for a torch to light the Hydra's neck on fire but Paris was already two steps ahead of me, launching a torch from her hands. "Heads up, Orion!" 

I ducked as the torch flew above my head and directly onto the monster's nub. 

Heads #1 and 3 wailed in despair before directly moving towards me. 

Out of nowhere, I was knocked to the ground and my sword was sent clattering into the dark abyss of one of the tunnels.

    Great. I'd had my sword for three hours before I lost it.

    "Use your arrows, Orion!" Percy yelled, setting head #1 on fire in one quick panicked motion.

     I opened the locket tied around my neck, feeling the familiar weight of an enchanted quiver on my back almost instantly. 

My hands were trembling as I loaded my bow and aimed directly for the space right in between head #4's beady little eyes. Then I let it go. The silver arrow sent a spark of electricity right through the beast's head. Head #4 collapsed only two feet in front of me, giving Paris a window to cut its neck and cauterize the wound.

    Wonder Boy took care of heads five and six while Paris and I dominated seven, eight and nine, rolling and sprinting out of the way of the beast's ruthless reptilian heads.

 We slashed and burned, quite literally, through all nine of the beast's heads until there was nothing but us, and the remains of the deadly hydra in the network of tunnels.

    Percy stood on top of the defeated monster, heavily panting as he wiped sweat and Hydra guts from his brow.

"Now what?" He sighed, sliding down the monster.

  "Now we look for an elevator," I said. 

    "Wait," Paris protested, "we need to make sure this thing is absolutely dead." She fished around her backpack, pulling out a mason jar filled with a swirling and glowing green liquid.

    "Greek fire," Percy gawked, "if you're going to use that, we need to split. Like now."

"Greek what?"

"Greek fire," Paris slung her backpack over her shoulder. "Think of it as the Gods' mini nuclear bombs. It burns everything it touches, even underwater." 

    The three of us bolted for the service elevator. Paris looked at the jar of Greek fire and back at us again. Her arm was getting ready to spiral the jar from twenty feet away. "On three," she warned us. "One. Two," Percy's hand clicked the elevator's close button, "three."

     "Wait!" I cried out, remembering my sword was somewhere amongst the mess of monster guts and discarded torches. But it was too late. Paris hurled the mason jar at the monster like a star quarterback. The jar spiraled through the air before engulfing the tunnel in a whirl of green flames. I could see the beginning of an explosion forming just as the elevator began to rise at full speed. 

"My sword was back there!" I yelled, holding onto the golden rails of the elevator as we zoomed upwards at lighting speed. 

    "I'm sorry, Orion! There wasn't any time," Paris yelled. 

    I couldn't help but think this wasn't part of Paris' plan to sabotage me. This was the first step in her breaking my trust, wasn't it? I shoved my paranoia to the side as I watched the hundreds of glowing elevator buttons glow bright gold, working overtime to get us to the 600th floor of the Empire State Building. 

Suddenly, the entire elevator came to a stiff halt. I lost my balance, tumbling to the middle of the floor as the elevator opened. 

    Ding.

    I looked up, not sure if I had died and gone to heaven or if this really was the home of the gods. There were golden clouds everywhere, leading up to large marble white structures that made mansions look like doll houses. 

There were statues of major and minor Greek gods everywhere, decorating lush green gardens in the distance. 

Small children were playing and running through markets, people were laughing, and even musicians littered the streets, playing sweet melodies on their golden instruments, completely unaware of the impending doom that was looming over their home. 

In the distance I could see a giant marble building; it looked like a Greek version of New York's city hall. There were golden torches lining the pathway to its entrance, and an enormous statue of Zeus in the middle of a drachma fountain. 

Looking down, I could see all of Manhattan through the golden clouds. The city was hustling and bustling and completely ignorant to the godly city watching over them. I was completely awestruck.

    "We'd better get going. I can feel Poseidon's presence here still," Percy motioned for us to follow him.

    How were Percy and Paris so calm right now? Maybe it was the ADHD, but I couldn't seem to focus on anything. I was too busy wondering what my father was like and if he would resemble my adoptive father at all. Did Zeus know about John? Did he like him? My head felt so full with questions I thought it might physically overflow.

    "You okay?" Paris looked at me with concerned eyes.

    I debated telling her that I was nervous, no, terrified of meeting my father and that I had no idea how to even begin to talk to him, but I brushed her question off. It was probably best to avoid her knowing too much. "Yeah, I'm fine."

    She pursed her lips as if deciding on whether or not to speak up. "I've never met my mother. Almost all of her children in our cabin have had some sort of contact with her, but she's never even spoken to me. Sometimes I wonder if she's ashamed of me...or if she just hates me."

     I furrowed my eyebrows as we walked up the steps to the sparkling white marble palace in front of us. "Why would she hate you? You're like, the best fighter at camp. And you can outsmart just about anyone."

     Her lips curled into a faint smile, but it quickly vanished. "I failed her a long time ago. I don't think she's forgiven me yet."

     Before I had time to ask any more questions, Percy motioned frantically to the entrance of the palace; its courtyard was lovely, decorated with countless exotic flowers and lush green vines. Sunlight seemed to touch everything in the courtyard, making it all look like solid gold. Next to the fountain statue of Zeus was a shimmering pathway that led to an elaborate throne room.

    Except, the throne room was the size of my house. Multiplied by a thousand. In the center of the throne room was a crackling hearth, surrounded by a semi circle of twelve massive thrones; each was unique to the other, representing a different Greek god.

    In the center of the semi circle, sitting on a platinum throne, was a man in a navy blue pin striped suit. His dark auburn hair was beginning to grey, matching his neatly trimmed beard. His handsome face was stubborn, yet and proud and serious. I couldn't tell if the man had ever smiled in his life. 

   If I didn't know any better, I'd say the guy was a former President or the C.E.O of a major company by the way he radiated power. His eyes looked like liquid rain. The closer I got to the man, the more the air began to smell like static. Every hair on my body stood pin straight. 

    Percy sternly nudged my shoulder with his as if to say, 'Speak up!'

    "Father," I tried my best to keep my voice steady and calm but my tongue felt heavy in my mouth. I suddenly became aware of the enormous lump in my throat.

 The last thing I wanted to do was start blubbering like an idiot in front of Zeus. 

"I've come to seek your help on my quest." My eyes were glued to the shimmering granite tiles below. It was difficult not to study the reflection of my frightened face.

    "Look up, Orion," the man gently ordered. His voice stirred a deep memory in the very back of my head. A soft platinum glow. A laugh. 

   "What help do you seek?" A new voice prompted. 

    I turned to look at the man beside my father, who I assumed to be Poseidon. Percy's father. It was easy to see the family resemblance. They had the same unruly, tousled black hair and their eyes were the same shade of stormy green. 

The man had a faint rebellious look on his face, eerily similar to his son's natural mischievous features. The strangest part was, Poseidon looked nothing like a god. This couldn't be the same Poseidon who owned a trident and controlled the seven seas, could it? The guy was wearing flip flops from Old Navy and a corny magenta flower patterned Hawaiian shirt, which only made his sun tanned leathery skin look three shades deeper. His throne was made of limestone and covered in chunks of rainbow colored coral and odd shaped sea shells. Just like Percy's cabin.

    I half expected Zeus and Poseidon to look like those elaborate marble statues you'd see at art museums. But they looked like...well, people. 

    "I've been accused of stealing a weapon that belongs to Hades. His spear. I need help clearing my name. His son, Nico attacked me at camp the other day and said there was a war coming if I didn't return his father's belongings."

     Poseidon's friendly face quickly turned into a deep scowl. "And just what do you expect us to do? Olympus is on the brink of war," he said sternly. The god spoke to me as if I were a whiny child. I suddenly got the feeling Poseidon didn't really like me. 

Tough crowd.

    Zeus studied my helpless expression with his electric blue eyes. I wondered if he believed me. "Poseidon's trident and my bolt have been stolen as well. It is our belief that Hades is trying to create a large distraction in order to claim Olympus as his own while we are at war. How are we to know you are not in alliance with our brother?"

 "I'll retrieve your weapons. I'll talk to Hades myself. Anything, if you buy us some time. Just...please don't start this war. Not now."

   "Do you plan to venture into Hades' realm alone?" Poseidon cocked an eyebrow at me. 

    "No, sir. I plan on being accompanied by Percy Jackson and Paris Cantor. I'll make this right somehow, I swear." 

   Poseidon and Zeus looked at each other as if they were trying to come up with a silent understanding.

     "Very well," Poseidon nodded towards us. "You are permitted ten days to find my trident and the bolt of Zeus. If by then you have not returned the weapons we will have no choice but to declare war against Hades. Seek him first in the Underworld. Perseus will know where to find its entrance."

     Thunder boomed from outside, sealing my agreement with the gods.

     "I do believe this assembly is finished," Poseidon rose from his throne, bowing to his brother before turning to face my friends and I. His ancient eyes studied each and every one of us from top to bottom as if he were sizing us up. He was trying to guess who the biggest threat of us all was. His eyes stopped on Percy. The crinkles by his eyes got deeper.

    "Perseus," he suppressed a smile as he acknowledged his son for the first and only time since we had been in the throne room.

   "Father," Percy bowed his head in respect but there was a faint smile lingering on his lips too. They had a sort of unspoken connection, and maybe I was crazy, but love for one another. I could sense it. Poseidon was beaming at his son with so much pride it made my heart swell.

     Then, in a gust of sea breeze, he was gone. And we were left alone with my father.

    "I...uh-"

    "We'd better-"

    Percy and Paris began to babble awkwardly in unison before following Poseidon's example and bowing to Zeus.

    "My Lord, if you'll excuse us," Paris said and nervously smiled up at Zeus.

     "Go on." Zeus did not tear his eyes from my gaze as Percy and Paris walked out of the throne room. I wondered what was going through his head as he looked at me. His regal face was difficult to read. The guy was probably really good at poker.

    There was an uncomfortable tense and stiff silence between Zeus and I, both of us too stubborn to speak first. Besides our stubbornness, the similarities between us were unmistakable. I had his dark hair and proud features as well as his overwhelmingly blue eyes. This man was without a doubt my father.

  "Why did you claim me? Why now?" The questions tumbled out of my mouth and echoed against the deafening silence in the throne room.  My voice was unrecognizable. I sounded like a wounded little girl.

    Zeus stroked his peppered beard before grimly speaking. "After the most recent war between the Olympians and the Titans your friend, Perseus, made all of the gods on Olympus swear to claim all of their children by the age of thirteen as to avoid them feeling betrayed or...abandoned," he said abandoned as if it left a bad taste in his mouth. 

   This meant Percy was the one responsible for me being claimed. I felt a sudden pang of annoyance, even though I logically knew it wasn't Percy's fault I was a demigod but I couldn't help but blame him for the life I had to give up. 

If it wasn't for that promise maybe I still would've been living at home.Zeus could've continued to ignore my existence and everything would be normal.

     Zeus continued, "I did not abandon you. Or any of my children. I kept you hidden in an effort to keep you out of harm's way for as long as possible. I shielded you, watched over you. Nevertheless, the truth has a nasty habit of always resurfacing. It is inevitable. Once you knew who you were, it was pointless to keep your identity a secret. It is never fair to keep one knowingly in the dark, especially for seventeen years."

    It took every ounce of willpower in my body to keep me from crying. I would have loved to yell at Zeus. To tell him I never wanted the truth. But I could see the pain in his eyes. The genuine fear of a parent who didn't want to lose his child.

   "I understand, Lord Zeus. If you'll excuse-"

  "Orion," Zeus' rushed tone caught me off guard. "I had almost forgotten."

  He stepped down from his throne and made his way towards me. The closer he got, the larger he appeared. Zeus towered over my small frame. In human measurements, he must have been over seven feet tall. 

   "Here, you will need these on your journey to find my brother in his realm. The Underworld can be...difficult."

        In his hand were, what looked like, five iridescent marbles. They were no larger than an olive. He extended his hand out to me, gesturing for me to take them.

    "Keep them. They are the pearls of my daughter Persephone. She uses them to escape from the Underworld every so often. Once you have spoken with Hades and returned his spear you may use the pearls to take you to where ever it is you need to go. Consider it the third installment to your birthday present."

    There it was. The all too familiar pang of guilt. I felt my heart sink into the pit of my stomach. "Um, actually, sir...I kind of lost the sword you gave me. I'm sorry."

    Zeus let out a short chuckle. Was he amused by my apology? Was I really that pathetic?

    "The sword is enchanted. It will follow you wherever you are. Check your pocket. Go on," he gestured to my jeans.

    My hand fished around inside for a moment and sure enough, my fingers were able to curl around the cold metal of the folded up Swiss army knife. Cool.

   The room had fallen back into a stiff silence once again. Zeus was only inches away from me, but all he could do was stare. There was a flicker of doubt in his gaze, but it left just as quickly as it had come.

    "I'd better get back to my friends now. Thank you, Lord Zeus."

    I bowed my head to him and I swore I could've seen a smile on his solemn face.

    "You will make me proud, Orion."

     With a blinding flash of lighting and a deafening boom of thunder my father disappeared from my life for the second time.

     I walked back down the stairs of the courtyard in a trance. There were so many emotions stirring in my brain, so many things I wanted to say, so many explanations I wanted to hear. The only thing I really longed for above anything else was my mother's advice.

     Percy's stood at the bottom of the stairs, flipping a gold drachma in his right hand habitually.

     "Hey," I let out a shaky breath, "where's Paris?" I looked around for Paris but she was nowhere in sight.

     "They have vending machines around the corner. She's stocking up. How'd it go with Lord Zeus?" I could tell there was definite tension between my father and Percy by the way he mockingly said his name.

    "It was...intense. He's not that bad though."

     Percy caught the coin in his hand and placed it back in the pocket of his jeans. "Yeah, he tends to favorite his daughters."

    I shrugged, thinking back to the way Zeus studied me with uncertainty in his eyes. Had he protected me for seventeen years out of favoritism?

     Paris jogged back to meet us, countless golden snacks in her hands. "Guys, I got us enough food to last us ten days. Let's get a move on!"

     "Wait," I called after them. "We don't even know where the underworld is. It could be anywhere."

     Percy smirked as if he knew something I didn't. Not surprising. "What's the opposite of up?"

     "Down?"

     "So if up is New York City, then down must be..."

    I furrowed my eyebrows in concentration. What was the opposite of New York City?

    "Los Angeles." 

    "Check and mate," Percy clicked his tongue. "Now come on, we've only got ten days to do this."