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“Brace Yourself.” It was just a two word letter from his father, but it still made Percy’s heart sink. Nothing about their quest to retrieve the fleece made sense. Luke letting them go, the fact that he was going to give it to them after he used it. Sure, he was going to use it on Kronos, but why would he just give it to them after the fact? It had been a couple weeks now, and Thalia’s tree was as healthy as it had ever been. Still, his father wouldn’t have sent him a letter if it wasn’t important.The other strange detail was the absence of Thalia in his dreams. Ever since he started to get more comfortable with some of his weird underworld powers, such as sensing souls, he began to talk with her in dreams. Sure, maybe it was because it was really his father who had saved her and not Zeus, but that didn’t make sense either. He had spent many nights since retrieving the bolt having relaxing dreams for once, the black haired, stormy blue-eyed girl making an appearance in most of them. Usually, that meant his nights would finally be peaceful. Every night like that was a luxury most demigods never could indulge in, and the tension that normally flooded his body would melt away, at least for a moment.Her short hair, cut in a punk style, was definitely strange compared to what he usually saw at camp, but he had spent enough time skating in New York that it wasn’t completely foreign. Add in their shared love for punk and alternative music, and their dream sessions quickly became quite enjoyable. Sometimes Morpheus had even been kind enough to send them playing cards so they could play silly card games. They had truly become friends. She mentioned how it wasn’t until Percy sensed her soul that she would even wake up at all. It was funny, her only time of being ‘awake’ was when Percy was asleep.So, the fact that since returning with the fleece, Thalia had been absent, was mildly alarming to say the least. His soul felt as though it was missing a piece. She had become someone he could rely on with his whole heart, and maybe that was because she couldn’t spill his secrets, even if she wanted to. Not that Percy thought she would, but she had had a tough life. He still couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth about Luke. Not when it was the only time she could have any semblance of a normal existence. Besides, he didn’t feel as if it was his place to do so, or his responsibility. Plus, it was nice to not have to worry about all the stress of being a demigod. Sure, Thalia was part of that world, but in the dreamscape, real life was little more than an afterthought. It was a nice escape for the two of them. For him, a place he could let his mind rest with the girl who was quickly becoming his best friend. For her, it was a place she could be conscious again, and have some semblance of living. A place where harm, bad news, and all the other concerns of normal life just didn’t exist. He had come to rely on these brief moments of respite, and Thalia seemed to appreciate them as well. He felt a little bad. He didn’t want to be malicious or anything, but having that complete monopoly on information made him feel a little guilty. Almost as if he had complete control over what they talked about and when. So, most of their meetings were usually spent talking about their favorite bands. Most things about the general state of the world were ignored. Besides, in their discussions, those were the only moments she had any semblance of normalcy. To ruin it with depressing things just seemed…a little off. Similar to old folks in the nursing home who are trying to hold onto their own minds. He knew that Thalia was more than that, but he had never been great at the whole truth versus feelings type of thing. He still felt like he made the right choice. She got to be a normal girl again without needing to worry about the world, and Percy got to pretend, even just for a night. It wasn’t his night for guard duty, but he insisted on taking watch alone. Normally, two campers would be on guard at all times, rotating through the cabins. For special cases like the Poseidon cabin, another camper would usually volunteer. Annabeth was usually the one to stay with him, but she had been forced to stay up the previous night on guard duty for her cabin, so he told her she could go ahead and take the night off. Was it against the rules? Sure. But even Chiron knew that telling Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase what to do was a fruitless endeavor. Besides, the borders had been restored, so no monsters dared to attack camp again. The only concern would be Luke and his spies returning to steal the Fleece, but Percy was skeptical of that too. For one thing, he had let them escape, or at least it seemed like it. If he truly wanted them, he would’ve set sail and pursued them immediately. It was still possible, but Percy’s instincts told him that he had more important things to worry about at the moment. A slight movement flickered at the edge of his vision. It had come from Thalia’s pine, as if the roots themselves had become animated, but that couldn’t be right. Brace Yourself . His dad’s warning echoed in his mind once more. The dark of the night permeated the landscape, forcing his eyes to pinpoint the source. It was nearly impossible to make out, but he would recognize those black, punk jeans anywhere. He had seen them countless times in his dreams. Thalia, she wasn’t a tree anymore.She was just like he had remembered. She had short black hair, a green day t-shirt, and black jeans ripped at the thighs and the knees. Her eyes were still closed, as if she was taking the most pleasant nap possible. Percy had to admit, she looked cute without all the worry that usually graced her features, even in his dreamscape. Then, his heart dropped. He was going to have to tell her, or at least someone was. She still didn’t know the truth about Luke, and everything that was going on. Her eyes fluttered open as she began to wake. Her body tensed in a familiar show that Percy had seen countless times. Every time it was time to leave the dreamscape she’d react this way, as if she was afraid of the unknown and the darkness. Meeting Death was not an experience one was supposed to come back from, and even his own trek through the Underworld didn’t really count considering his weird heritage. Grover had said it best. ‘Why do you think all rational creatures fear the dark?’ Percy did what he always did as she was entering her panic mode, he placed his hand gently on her thigh, right where the fabric was torn. A gentle touch to keep her grounded. It was kind of funny, that was what she had taught him when he just couldn’t handle the stress anymore. The grounding touch and making him name five things he could see. He bore his green eyes into her electric blue ones, silently asking for her permission. “Welcome back,” was all Percy could say.Thalia opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come. This was a fairly common occurrence. When she would get overwhelmed her ability to speak was greatly diminished. It took a little while, even in the dreamscape, to learn enough sign language for the barriers of communication to be overcome. “Hey, it’s okay,” Percy said soothingly. “It’s just me Thals.” Where am I? Thalia signed. Here at C-A-M-P Percy signed back. He couldn’t remember the word, so he just used the letters. Sure, he could have spoken, but as Thalia began to physically relax at his reciprocity, he knew he had made the right choice. I don’t like it here. It’s cold out today, Thalia signed.
It’s okay. I’ll go get you some blankets. I’ll take you to the big house and we can get you looked at.
In a minute, please. I don’t think I can walk yet. Just…stay with me a while. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
Her breathing hadn’t really slowed, and her face was pale. Every sign she made was trembling and brittle, as if her fingers were still fragile branches that could break with the softest of winds. Name five things you see, Percy urged.
You, the night sky, stars, the grass, and the lights of the house.
Four things you can hear?
The soft wind, the call of a crow, the rustling of tree branches, and the shifting of the dirt.
Three things you can touch?
Your hand, the dirt, the fabric on my jeans.
Two things you can smell?
The humid night air and a…cheeseburger?
Percy handed her a cheeseburger he had smuggled out of the mess hall. Normally he didn’t steal food, but with his father’s warning bouncing around his head he couldn’t shake the idea that he might need it later. He had assumed it might be because he’d need to sneak out again, but this purpose was even better. One more thing, one thing you can taste, Percy said.Thalia took the cheeseburger, which admittedly wasn’t as great now that it was lukewarm, and sank her teeth into it. Normally, she might’ve complained, but she hadn’t eaten any real food in five years, so she wasn’t feeling particularly picky.
This cheeseburger.
“There you go,” Percy said, using his voice to ease her back into the world. “It’s just like you taught me.”Thalia just shrugged as she devoured her meal. “T-thank y-you.” Thalia managed to stutter out. “I-it’s j-just hard to s-speak s-sometimes.”“Don’t worry about it,” Percy said. “I get it. Besides, it just gave me an excuse to learn sign language so I could still talk with you.”Thalia just nodded. “How long has it been? I remember getting sick, but the world still feels like it’s spinning.”“We haven’t had a dream together in four weeks,” Percy said. “That’s when the fleece brought you back. For what it’s worth, I’m very glad to see you outside of my own head. You’re the only thing I like in there.”“Oh?” Thalia said. “I’m in your head a lot?”“Come off it,” Percy replied. “You know what I meant. You’re lucky I’m glad to see you. In fact, as a peace offering, I’ll even give you this.”Percy took off the blue sweatshirt he had donned for his patrol duties. It didn’t usually get cold, but he had decided to put it on before he left. He pulled it over his head and gave it to the still shivering Thalia.“Thanks,” she said. The tension was slowly leaving her body and the chattering of her teeth had finally ceased. “Was it like this for you too?”“Like what?”“Coming to camp for the first time. I mean, I guess this is my second time, but you know what I mean.”“I mean it was an adjustment, and I also fought the Minotaur.”“You fought the Minotaur?”“I didn’t tell you that?”“You never told me anything of substance, or you’d just brush over it. You can’t escape me.”“It’s not really that important.”“Oh look, the great Percy Jackson is too important to talk about slaying only the most famous monster in all of Greek mythology.” Thalia smirked.“It’s not like that, Thals.” Percy protested. “It just wasn’t that important in the long run. Besides, it’s not fair to dump everything on you.”“I’ll just ask Annabeth, then. I’ll find out the truth eventually.”“I can assure you, it’s not very cool.” Percy argued.“Whatever. If I think it’s cool, you owe me another cheeseburger.”“Fine,” he agreed.“I’m more perceptive than you think. You used to be able to escape my questions by waking up. Now, you’re gonna have to tell me everything. It’s really not fair to you.” She said with a smirk.“It’s not a big deal.” Percy said. “Just drop it please.”“Whatever you say.” Thalia said, rolling her eyes. “Thanks for the hoodie by the way. I’m not giving it back.”“Hey, wait a minute. That’s my favorite one.” Percy protested. Thalia stuck her tongue out. “Too bad, it’s only fitting that you give your favorite hoodie to your favorite person.”His heart began to race and he felt a bit of heat in his cheeks. That couldn’t be right. Sure, he spent maybe more time than he should have thinking about how beautiful her black hair looked, or how the corners of her eyes would crinkle whenever he told a funny joke. Or noticing her mannerisms whenever she began talking about her favorite bands and watching her electric blue eyes crackle with joy over the simplest of things. He shook his head. It didn’t mean anything. She was just his best friend after all. “Since you’re feeling so well, I’m gonna take you to Chiron. And to see everyone else at camp. Annabeth especially.” He said, eager to change the topic from how beautiful he thought she looked.“Fine, but just a couple more minutes. I’m finally warm, and it feels nice to not rely on sunlight as my primary source of food.” Then she yawned and her eyes focused on a point in the distance, like they always did whenever she was thinking about something perplexing. “We’re finding Luke too, right?”Percy froze. Shit, he still hadn’t told her about Luke, and he would’ve rather done anything else at the moment. In fact, he realized he might’ve not told her enough about anything or anyone. His own refusal to give away details about himself might come back to bite him. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t want anyone to worry, not even his friend who was formerly a tree. “Er, let’s go see Annabeth and Chiron first.” Percy said. Not technically a lie, but not a direct answer.Thalia narrowed her eyes. Damn, she was perceptive. “He is still alive, right?”“Of course he is. You don’t need to worry about that. He just isn’t really at camp very much anymore. We don’t really have any campers over eighteen. After that, most of them strike out on their own.”Thalia seemed to buy that reason why Luke wouldn’t be included in her welcome party. Still, she looked disappointed. “I see. Well, we should go see him soon too.”“We will, soon.” Percy assured. “Are you ready to head? Your teeth stopped chattering.”Thalia pondered a moment. “If we had some playing cards I’d stick around, but alas, this is real life, and we can’t summon them out of thin air. So I guess now’s as good a time as any.”“Great,” Percy stood, pulling her to her feet. “Let’s go.”____
“Thalia!” Annabeth squeezed her friend in a bone crushing hug, as if she had just been brought back from the dead. Well, that was probably an accurate description. “Hey Annie! It’s great to see you too!” Thalia responded with enthusiasm. “I came as soon as I could. Not being a tree anymore is almost as weird as being turned into one in the first place.”“I get that.” Annabeth responded. “I see you’ve already met Percy.”“Sorry about that,” Percy said sheepishly. “If I had known this was going to happen I would’ve had you take watch with me.”“Don’t worry about it,” Annabeth said. “I was the one who wanted to get some sleep anyway. I figure you’re probably tired, so I’ll save all my questions for the morning. We’ll walk you to your cabin.”“I’d actually rather not.” Thalia protested. “Percy kind of explained things. I don’t really want to sleep alone, I’ve done enough of that. Second, I’m not a very big fan of my dad right now. Can I sleep anywhere else? I’ll sleep here tonight if I have to.” For a brief moment, Percy considered volunteering his cabin, but figured that gesture would not be appreciated, nor permitted. “Well, it is certainly unorthodox to not sleep in your own cabin.” Chiron said. “Regardless, I think we can make an exception for tonight. We can set up a room here in the Big House for you until further notice. I’d even be willing to allow you to stay in the Athena cabin with Annabeth given your past history, but I would need express permission from Athena to do that.”“That works.” Thalia said. “Just anywhere but the Zeus cabin.” Then, her voice got quiet, barely more than a whisper. “Please.”Chiron put his hand on her shoulder. “Do not worry, my dear. We will make you as comfortable as possible. You have protected our camp with your very life for over six years. It is the least we can do.”“Does Luke come by often?” Thalia asked. “Percy said he isn’t really around anymore, but I’d still like to see him soon if it’s possible.”An uncomfortable silence came over the room. Clearly, no one wanted to speak. The truth hanging over those who knew the truth acting like the pressure at the bottom of the sea. Chiron was the first to raise his voice.“Perhaps it would be better if we discussed this in the morning, my dear,” he began. “Much has happened already today, and much needs to be said.”“No, you’re going to tell me what happened to my best friend.” Thalia shot in, trying to keep her voice level. For some reason that designation hurt Percy a little bit, hearing Luke be referred to like that. It was going about as well as he figured. “I don’t want you guys to think I’m too fragile for the truth.”Chiron just sighed. “I can see that you will be restless until we give you the truth. I believe Percy is the best person to deliver the news. After all, he was the only one of us to actually experience it firsthand.” “Chiron I don’t-” “Please?” Thalia was practically on the verge of begging, which threw Percy off guard considering her usually stoic and carefree demeanor. He just sighed. Well, now was as good a time as any.“Thalia….Luke…he defected. He’s helping Kronos rise against the gods…against us… I’m sorry.” Short and sweet. That was probably the best way to deliver the news. Still, he would’ve rather given it another time. Annabeth hadn’t taken it very well, and it was slowly becoming a point of contention between them, a fact that was becoming more apparent by the day. He wanted to avoid that happening again this time with Thalia.The hope she had in her eyes completely shattered, slowly becoming replaced with a steely expression. She was entering shutdown mode. Percy had seen this happen whenever she was getting overwhelmed from bad news, or any other unpleasant memories. The face of hidden pain churned Percy’s soul as he realized what was about to happen. “No…he wouldn’t. I mean. He wouldn’t be willing to do that. He couldn’t.” She stared down at her hands, trying to calm their resumed shaking. “I’m sorry, but he would. He tried to kill me firsthand.” Percy said, brushing his hand against hers. He rolled up his sleeve and showed Thalia the scar on his palm. “He tried to kill me with a Pit Scorpion from Tartarus itself. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I just wasn’t sure how.”Thalia kept her eyes trained on her hands, trying to digest the new information. Percy could hear the gears of denial turning within her mind, searching for any reason to reject the truth. Then, she slowly turned her gaze to Annabeth. “Annabeth? Is this true?” Thalia asked, grasping for a thread of hope.Annabeth shifted foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable with the question. “Look, I don’t want to pick sides, but it isn’t as bad as Percy’s saying. I don’t know what’s wrong with Luke, but we’ll get him back. Somehow.”“Annabeth, that isn’t possible.” Percy cut in. “He poisoned Thalia. He tried to kill us multiple times. He has nothing but hatred in his heart. We can’t just let him keep hurting the campers. We can’t fight a war if we’re trying to save our enemy.”“He’s not an enemy.” Annabeth fired back. “He clearly knew the Fleece would save Thalia. That’s why he gave it to us. He only wanted to bring her back, like all of us did. We’ll find a way.” She glared at Percy, daring him to take the bait. Unfortunately for all involved, he did. “You’re not thinking clearly.” Percy protested. “You just want him to be evil? Is that it?” Annabeth shot back, her voice becoming watery. “He’s not all evil. I can promise you that.” Then she turned to Thalia. “We can make him see reason. I promise we can.”Chiron stepped into the middle of the argument, cutting their line of sight in an attempt to defuse tensions. “Okay, I think that’s enough for now.” Then he turned to Thalia. “Many of the specifics are still up for debate, but right now, Luke stands against camp and Olympus. That will suffice for now.” After another moment, he let out a sigh. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry. I do not know the specifics of your relationship, but I can tell you were close. We will do what we can.”Thalia just sat in her newly made cot, trying to process the information. No, it couldn’t be. He wouldn’t. Sure, Luke sometimes had a couple screws loose, and sometimes he went a little too far when they were on the run, but it was always only in emergency situations. Her mind just went blank. A deathly calm before the storm. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She whispered, trying to keep her voice steady. When no one answered she shouted, her voice a mixture of grief and anger. “Why didn’t you tell me!?” “I didn’t-I didn’t think it was important.” Percy began.“Important!” Thalia said. “You didn’t think it was important that my best friend is working for the Titans!? You had over a year. Hell, you didn’t think it was important to tell me that my best friend was the one who poisoned me!?”“I-”“Thalia,” Chiron cut in. “I’m sure Percy meant no harm. No one could have known you were coming back.”“So you were willing to let me languish in my existence as a tree without knowing the truth? Why? You were my only contact with the outside world. I taught you sign language. You wouldn’t even tell me any details about your quest. Why? Why? Why?” Each successive word getting caught in the lump she was desperately trying to swallow.When no one answered, she steeled herself. “I’m not a child, Perseus Jackson. I hope you can trust me with the truth next time. I had hoped my one line of communication could be trusted, but I guess not. Luke was the one who brought me back. He knew I could come back.”Percy wanted to protest that no one knew it was possible, and that they had trekked through the Sea of Monsters just to save her life, but any retort was caught in his throat as he saw her electric blue eyes, once so filled with hope, now completely shattered with unshed tears. The dagger that was her expression had lodged itself in his heart.Then, she took off the blue sweatshirt Percy had given her, and threw it at him. Her first gift after returning from being a tree. “And you can have this back. I’m not cold anymore.”The second knife hurt almost as bad as the first. Chiron just gave him a sad look of understanding. He had seen many grieving heroes in his time. Annabeth looked conflicted, sympathizing with Thalia’s frustration, but at the same time not wanting to see her two friends fight. So instead, she just opted for a third approach.“What do you mean he had over a year to tell you? You just came back.” She asked, with her eyebrows raised inquisitively.“He didn’t even mention me?” Thalia said. “We’ve been meeting in his dreams fairly frequently for over a year. He didn’t even tell you guys that I was alive? Or at least that I still had consciousness?”“Er–no. He didn’t...” Annabeth said. “I thought you were dead. I didn’t see what happened on that night six years ago…”Chiron patted Percy on the shoulder, which he took as a cue to leave. He had dug himself a deep enough hole for one night.“Do not worry, child.” Chiron said. “I know you had your reasons. She is just grieving. Hindsight is always 20/20. I think we should just give the girls their space for now.”Percy wasn’t sure. At the moment, his mind was drowning in the sea of regret. He didn’t want it to go this way. The only thing that he could make sense of was that Thalia was hurting, and he was at least partially responsible. He’d rather go to Tartarus than let that happen again. The only sound that could be heard that night was a soft whisper. “I’m sorry Thals.”
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Every night Percy was haunted by his decision to keep the truth from her. The look of complete betrayal in her electric-blue eyes danced in his nightmares to such a degree that it rivaled the grief he felt when his mother was kidnapped and presumed dead. For the rest of the summer, Thalia wouldn’t even look at him. Annabeth wasn’t exactly being helpful, but at least she wasn’t flat out ignoring him. Most of her time was spent with Thalia to assist her acclimation to camp, so she didn’t have much time for Percy. Tyson had also left camp; he had gone to Atlantis to begin his internship with Poseidon.That meant his nights were eerily silent, and he absolutely hated it. Why couldn’t she understand? Why didn’t she get that he wasn’t being malicious? Chiron was at least sympathetic, but that didn’t do much. After all, it wasn’t the centaur who he wanted to spend time with. Percy had lost his best friend because of a stupid decision, and even worse, she didn’t believe him about Luke. The Crooked One had shown him her final moments, her final desperate pleas for salvation. Yet, they fell silent on the ears of her father. Percy wouldn’t mind seeing him burn in Tartarus just for the crime of abandoning her. Still, despite the face of despair that now haunted his nightmares, maybe their reunion this summer wouldn’t be so bad. Annabeth and Thalia had gone to an all-girl’s boarding school in the city, so other than the occasional Iris message, he had lost all contact. Although it wasn’t as though Thalia really wanted to speak with him anyway. In a way, he was grateful for that, because every time he thought about it, his heart would just get twisted in knots. As challenging as the subject of Luke was, at least Annabeth didn’t make his heart go crazy. His mother wasn’t being very helpful either. Every time he would try to bring up his feelings, she’d just chuckle at him like she knew something he didn’t. Then, she would usually end with something along the lines of ‘just give her some time.’ Why didn’t anyone else seem to understand his dilemma? His best friend hated his guts and he didn’t even have the chance to make it better. So, when Grover had sent out the distress signal, it was perplexing. Sure, he was excited and always ready to help his friends, but knowing that Thalia and Annabeth would be there too? It sent his heart into a frenzy, like the restless tides. Although the longer he spent trying to decipher the waves, the stranger they became. Annabeth wasn’t completely blameless either, at least in Percy’s mind. She knew the truth, but could not grapple with it, leading her to try and walk a tightrope that didn’t exist. Sure, it was understandable given her past history with Luke, but that only explained the struggle, not the conclusion. Arguing that he ‘wanted Luke to be evil?’ That accusation sliced through him. He had been good friends with the guy before he went off the rails, but he had chosen his side. He wasn’t going to sacrifice his friends to give an enemy one more chance. Still, Thalia ran with the comment. Relationships were complicated, or at least girls were. If she were forced to choose between him and Luke, what would happen? At the current rate, he didn’t like his chances.Still, he was willing to put his mixed feelings aside. Grover needed help, and no one was going to get in his way. He was even willing to have his mom take him all the way up to Bar Harbor, Maine, an eight hour drive. Was it mildly embarrassing to have his mother drive him to his battles? Sure. But embarrassing was better than dead, or even worse, allowing his friends to die. It was even worth the baby stories that his mother told the girls. With the exception of Sally, everyone was silent. Grover had been pretty vague in his distress signal. Being demigods, any unknown was a great source of anxiety, even for arguably the three strongest demigods of the generation. Still, despite the embarrassment, it was nice to see the girls smiling for the first time in a while.As they rolled to a stop, Thalia wiped the fog off the car window and peered outside. “Oh, yeah. This’ll be fun. Although I’ll admit, I prefer summer weather.”Westover Hall looked like an evil knight’s castle. It was all black stone, with towers and slit windows and a big set of wooden double doors. It stood on a snowy cliff, overlooking a big frosty forest on one side and the gray churning ocean on the other. Percy felt at home the more he reached into the depths over the cliff, as though his father was giving him some reassurance. He wondered if Thalia felt that way in the sky.“Are you sure you don’t want me to wait?” Sally asked. “I don’t want you guys to be stuck here. Besides, everybody needs a getaway driver.”“No, thanks, Mom,” Percy said. “I don’t know how long it will take, but we’ll be okay.”“But how will you get back? I’m worried, Percy.”Heat crept into his cheeks, even as his heart filled with appreciation. “It’s okay, Ms. Jackson.” Annabeth smiled reassuringly. Her blond hair was tucked into a ski cap and her gray eyes were the same color as the ocean. “We’ll keep him out of trouble.” Sally seemed to relax at that reassurance. She’s convinced that Annabeth is the most level-headed demigod to ever make it to high school. Sure, she was right, but that didn’t mean Percy was happy about it. He and Thalia were incredibly impulsive, as evidenced by their expulsions and general behavioral troubles. Annabeth had once described them as incredibly similar, and that distinction was becoming more apparent the longer they spent with one another. Annabeth had even described the mischievous glint in their eyes as the same.“All right, dears,” Sally said. “Do you have everything you need?”“Yes, Ms. Jackson,” Thalia said. She wore a matching ski cap with Annabeth, except her cap was black instead of Annabeth’s gray. Her short black hair fit inside nicely, highlighting her silver earrings.“Thanks for the ride, and please, don’t hesitate to tell us more stories about Percy.”“Oh don’t worry dears,” Sally chuckled. “There’s always more.”“Mom, seriously! We’ll be fine. Thanks for the ride. We’ve got everything. Annabeth will make sure of that. Come on guys.” Percy said, eager to end the conversation.She looked a little hurt and Percy was sorry about that, but he was ready to be out of that car. If his mother told one more story about how cute he looked in the bathtub when he was three, he was going to burrow into the snow and freeze himself to death. He didn’t need the girls to know every embarrassing thing he ever did. He gave them enough material in the present as it was. Percy ducked out of the car, the girls following him outside. The wind blew straight through his coat, cutting like little daggers. Annabeth seemed acclimated, but Thalia shivered and pulled her hood up over her ski cap. Her coat stood out among her usual wardrobe: a thick silver parka over her black jeans and Green Day t-shirt. Once Sally’s car was out of sight, Thalia turned. “Your mom is so cool, Percy.” Well, it was a start. Not bad for the first words the pair had spoken in nearly four months.“She is pretty cool.” Percy admitted. “What about you? You ever get in touch with your mom?”As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he wished he could take them back. For one, whenever the topic would be broached in his dreamscape she would usually deflect, making her thoughts on the matter known. Still, despite preparing, the glare she shot at him pierced his soul, as though she could squeeze the life out of it if she wanted.Thalia was always immaculate at giving evil looks, and her punk get-up helped as well–the ripped-up army jacket, black jeans, and chain jewelry. The black eyeliner, purple lipstick, and intense electric blue eyes. Percy couldn’t help but think that it suited her perfectly. Her usually hidden blond roots betrayed the fact that she dyed her hair, but he thought she looked better that way anyway. Blond was Annabeth’s thing. Hell, Thalia had even asked him to find a way to get some black dye when they were in his dreamscape so she could touch it up. But now, all that ire was trained directly on Percy. As though he were in the crosshairs of a sniper. “If that were any of your business, Percy–”Annabeth, sensing an upcoming fight, spoke up quickly. “We’d better get inside, Grover will be waiting.”Thalia shot Percy one more glare before looking up at the castle. She shivered. “You’re right. I wonder what he found here that made him send the distress call.” Percy joined her in gazing up at the dark towers of Westover Hall. “Nothing good,” he concluded.____The oak doors groaned open, and the trio stepped into the entry hall in a swirl of snow. All Percy could say was, “Whoa.” The place was huge. The walls were lined with battle flags and weapon displays: antique rifles, battle axes, and a bunch of other stuff. Sure, Westover Hall was a military school and everything, but the decorations seemed like overkill. You’d think a school that tries to emulate military service would know when something was truly dead, but apparently not. His hand drifted to his pocket, where he kept his lethal pen, Riptide. His senses were going off the rails, alerting him that something wasn’t right. Even more curiously, he thought he could sense pomegranates. Sure, he had some weird quirks about his parentage, and some of it had been revealed after he had been confronted in the Underworld, but some of it was still a mystery. Thalia was rubbing her silver bracelet, her favorite magic item, the same nervous energy overtaking her as well. A fight was coming, and it was going to get ugly. Annabeth started to say, “I wonder where–”The doors slammed shut behind them in response.“Oo-kay,” Percy mumbled. “Guess we’ll stay a while.”Dance music echoed from the end of the hall. They stashed their overnight bags behind a pillar and started towards it. They hadn’t gone very far when Percy heard footsteps on the stone floor, and a man and woman marched out of the shadows, intercepting them. They both had short gray hair and black military uniforms with red trim. The woman had a wispy mustache, which did not suit her, and the guy was clean-shaven. Percy wanted to ask the guy how it felt to have a woman able to better sport facial hair, but he figured it probably wasn’t the time for that. They both walked stiffly, as though they were forced to move with brooms taped to their spines. “Well?” the woman demanded. “What are you doing here?”“Um…” Percy’s heart filled with dread. He had been so worried about the fight he hadn’t thought of actually getting in the building. Mortals could be just as troublesome as monsters. “Ma’am, we’re just–”“Ha!” the man snapped, which made Percy jump out of his shoes. “Visitors are not allowed at the dance! You shall be eee-jected!” He had a French accent. Or at least that’s what Percy assumed given that he pronounced his J’s like in Jacques . He was tall with a hawkish face, which was mildly unsettling. It was as though his human face was simply a facade. Upon further inspection, he was also really tall. Not in a physically impossible sort of way, but in a way that a man who stood around eight feet tall shouldn’t be able to move as gracefully and effortlessly as he did. Combine that with his flaring nostrils and dual-colored eyes –one blue, one brown– you’ve got a creature on the borders of uncanny valley. Percy watched as Thalia stepped forward, almost as if she was in slow motion. Like if she was in an action shot about to do something badass. Then, instead of impaling the guy, which would have been Percy’s vote, she snapped her fingers. The sound was sharp and loud. Much sharper than a snap should be. He wasn’t sure, but he could’ve sworn he felt a small gust of wind ripple out from her hand across the room. As though the fabric of reality that undergirded everything was suddenly disrupted. The only confirmation that it wasn’t his imagination was the slight rustling of the banners on the walls.“Oh, but we’re not visitors sir,” Thalia said, her voice oozing confidence. “We go to school here. You remember? I’m Thalia. And this is Annabeth and Percy. We’re in the tenth grade.” The male teacher narrowed his two-colored eyes. Something wasn’t right. Now they were going to get thrown out for lying AND trespassing. Still, the man seemed to be hesitating, like a saboteur unsure if the moment was right to strike.Finally, he looked over at his colleague. “Ms. Gottschalk, do you know these students?” In spite of the danger they were currently in, Percy had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. A teacher named Got Chalk? The irony clearly wasn’t lost on Thalia either, as he thought he caught a small chuckle from her as well. The woman blinked, like someone had just woken her up from a trance, or at the very least the best nap of her life. “I…yes. I believe I do, sir.” She frowned at the trio. “Annabeth. Thalia. Percy. What are you doing away from the gymnasium? I could’ve sworn we were quite clear as to the boundaries of the dance.”Before they could answer, Percy heard more footsteps, and Grover ran up, breathless. “You made it! You–”He stopped short when he saw the teachers, afraid to say more. “Oh, Mrs. Gottschalk. Dr. Thorn! I, uh–”“What is it Mr. Underwood?” said the man. His tone made it clear that he detested Grover more than a dead bug under his shoe. “What do you mean, they made it? These students live here.”Grover swallowed nervously. “Yes, sir. Of course, Dr. Thorn. I just meant, I’m so glad they made…the punch for the dance! The punch is great. And they made it!”Dr. Thorn glared, seemingly unconvinced. He looked like he wanted to throw everyone, even Mrs. Gottschalk, off the castle’s highest tower. Then, his colleague interrupted his unfriendly glare. “Yes, the punch is excellent. Now run along, all of you. You are not to leave the gymnasium again unless you want to spend a month erasing math books. Off with you!”Percy shuddered at the reminder. Maybe this woman was the real monster after all. That was a punishment only Hades’ Furies could think up. Still, she didn’t smell like Pomegranates, so at the very least she couldn’t be one of those. Creatures from the Underworld gave off a very distinct aura. He figured his ability to sense that was just part of his interesting parentage. It also probably helped with the whole dream buddies thing with Thalia. He was the first demigod in millennia to be able to both sense souls and control water. He wasn’t sure he liked it. Learning how water worked was hard enough. Because no one worshiped the gods anymore, most people had a spiritual disconnect which often led to very unhappy souls. So generally, he ignored that portion of his abilities. Grover snapped in front of Percy’s face. “Hey dude, you alright?”“Yeah man, sorry. Just spaced for a second.” Percy replied.“Let’s go, the teachers are still watching.”“Sounds good.”Grover rushed them down the hall in the direction of the music, eager to escape the menacing glares of Dr. Thorn and his mustached companion. The teachers’ eyes felt like they were burning a hole through Percy’s back. He edged closer to Thalia and asked in a low voice, “How did you do that finger-snap thing?”“You mean the Mist? Hasn’t Chiron shown you how to do that yet?” An uncomfortable lump formed in Percy’s throat. Chiron was the head trainer, but he was admittedly…forgetful sometimes. Still, why Thalia got to learn that while Percy was left in the dark…it hurt just a little bit. Especially because there was some kind of Great Prophecy that was supposed to end the world or something once one of them turned eighteen. As far as anyone could tell, Thalia was a couple months younger than Percy, so it wasn’t even an age thing. Grover hurried them to a door that had GYM written on the glass. Even with his dyslexia, Percy was able to decipher it pretty easily.“That was close!” Grover said with a sigh of relief. “Thank the gods you got here!”Annabeth and Thalia both hugged Grover. Percy opted for a high five, as he wasn’t a huge fan of the hugging thing. It was good to see him after so many months. He’d gotten a little taller and had sprouted a few more whiskers, matching Percy’s own black ones. Otherwise though, he looked like he always did when he passed for human –a red cap on his curly brown hair to hide his goat horns, baggy jeans and sneakers with fake feet to hide his furry legs and hooves. He was wearing a black T-shirt, the lettering on it taking a few seconds to work out. It said WESTOVER HALL: GRUNT. Whether that was referring to Grover’s rank or something like the school motto remained a mystery. For his friend’s sake, Percy wasn’t going to ask. “So what’s the emergency?” Percy asked.Grover took a deep breath. “I found two.”“Two half-bloods?” Thalia asked, amazed. “Here? In the middle of Maine?”Grover just nodded in response.Finding one half-blood in a school was rare enough. This year Chiron had put the satyrs on emergency overtime and sent them all over the country, scouring schools from fourth grade through high school for possible recruits. Normally, such an action would be unthinkable, but with the upcoming war and the always growing risk of defection, camp needed as many new campers as they could find. “A brother and a sister,” he said. “They’re twelve and fourteen. I don’t know their parentage, but they’re strong. We’re running out of time, though. I need help getting them out.” “What’s a twelve year old doing in a High School?” Percy asked.“It’s a combined junior high and high school.” Grover explained. “In remote areas like this, sometimes schools combine due to lack of numbers.”That idea sounded completely foreign to Percy, but he took Grover’s explanation for it. He was a city slicker at heart. “Monsters?” Thalia asked, trying to refocus the conversation.“One.” Grover looked nervous. “He suspects. I don’t think he’s positive yet, but this is the last day of term. I’m sure he won’t let them leave campus without finding out. It may be our last chance! Every time I try to get close to them, he’s always there, blocking me. I don’t know what to do. I think he’s having a little bit of trouble figuring out where it’s coming from. I think he’s figured me out though. Still, the presence of a satyr doesn’t really mean much because we’re everywhere, demigod or not.”Grover’s desperate gaze swung to Thalia, and Percy tried not to let it sting. Grover used to look to him for answers, but he seemed to have lost that privilege. Being roughly the same age, he couldn’t really use that card, and Thalia’s dad was Zeus. It was just the truth in the Greek pantheon that Zeus was treated with greater reverence. Plus, Thalia had sacrificed herself for the camp, and that gave her a rightfully earned celebrity status. Once word had gotten around that Percy had kept the truth about Luke from Thalia, he wasn’t exactly hated, but people seemed to trust him less, leading to a sudden and unceremonious demotion. “Right,” Thalia said, snapping Percy out of his internal monologue. “These half-bloods are at the dance?”Grover nodded.“Then let’s dance,” Thalia said. “Who’s the monster?”“Oh,” Grover said, looking around nervously. “You just met him. The vice principal, Dr. Thorn.” Percy froze. Well, at least that explained his uncanny appearance.____It was kind of funny in hindsight. At military schools, the strictest of all, the kids go absolutely nuts whenever there is some kind of special event and they get the slightest bit of freedom. It made sense. Crushing their individuality, or moreover, channeling it, would lead to occasional explosions whenever the opportunity presented itself. Immediately, Percy’s eyes were assaulted with all sorts of colors. Black and red balloons were the centerpiece, but streamers of all colors were all over the floors and walls. The guys were being…guys. Throwing the balloons at every passerby and generally being obnoxious. The girls weren’t being any better though, saving their torment in the form of unwanted makeovers. They traveled in little huddles like beauty piranhas, with the eyes of any unfortunate boy close enough betraying his fear. By the end of the ordeal, he would have ribbons in his hair and lipstick graffiti over his face. Some of the older guys looked a bit more like Percy at his dances–uncomfortable, hanging out at the edges of the gym and trying to hide from the gaggles of girls. “There they are,” Grover beckoned towards a couple of younger kids arguing in the bleachers. “Bianca and Nico di Angelo.”The girl wore a floppy green cap, like she was trying to hide her face. The boy was obviously her little brother. They both had dark silky hair and olive skin, and both used vibrant hand gestures as they spoke. Given Percy’s familiarity with all the good New York pizza places, he immediately placed them of Italian descent. The boy was shuffling some kind of trading cards. His sister seemed to be scolding him about something, but the boy didn’t seem to care. She kept looking around like she sensed something was wrong. Still, the most perplexing thing was the overwhelming smell of pomegranates. Grover had once mentioned that underground smelled like monsters. For Percy, everything in or from the Underworld reeked of pomegranates. The smell was unique to creatures and beings who called the Underworld home. But that didn’t make any sense…especially because the demigods were obviously biological siblings as well. Signifying that Hades would have had to spend significant time away from Persephone. Despite the usual godly flaws, he adored his wife, and he had kept his exploits to a minimum in the last century or so.“Do they…I mean, have you told them?” Annabeth asked.Grover shook his head. “You know how it is. That could put them in more danger. Once they realize who they are, their scent becomes stronger.”Percy realized the wisdom in not telling the kids the truth. If they were truly children of Hades, or by some miracle even his own godly siblings, knowing the truth would pretty much kill them immediately. As it was, Dr. Thorn would probably be making his move on these kids any moment now. “So let’s just grab them and get the hell out of here.” Percy voted. “Dr. Thorn already knows.”Thalia placed her hand on Percy’s shoulder. She nodded over at Dr. Thorn, who had slithered his way into the gymnasium doorway. He nodded coldly at them before angling himself toward the di Angelo siblings. His blue eye began to glow faintly. “Not yet,” she urged. “He’ll kill them before we even get the chance.”Percy wanted to protest that he was going to kill them anyway. Thalia’s lightning was pretty fast, and he could bring the building down in a moment if he absolutely had to. Still, he bit his tongue. There were too many people around to try something so drastic. Things hadn’t gotten quite that dire. Yet Dr. Thorn hadn’t been fooled by the Mist trick; he already knew who they were. Percy felt a pit open in his stomach. “Don’t look at the kids,” Thalia ordered. “We have to wait for a chance to get to them. We need to pretend we’re not interested in them. Throw him off the scent.”“You think that’ll work?” Percy asked. “I think he already suspects.”“We don’t have much choice,” Thalia grit her teeth. “If he takes them, we don’t have a chance. Just keep an eye on the kids.”“How can we throw him off?”“We’re three of the most powerful Half-bloods of the generation. Hopefully our presence can confuse him as to his targets. Mingle. Act natural. Do some dancing.”“Dancing?” Annabeth asked. Thalia nodded. She cocked her ear to the music and made a face. “Ugh. Who chose Jesse McCartney?”Hurt flashed across Grover’s features. “I did.”“Whatever,” she rolled her eyes. “Next time, I vote Green Day.”As much as he liked Grover, Percy agreed with Thalia’s assessment. Grover could rival Chiron when it came to choosing music. “I have a better idea.” Annabeth said. “Grover and I will go scour the edges of the gym. As children of the Big Three, you should be able to draw Dr. Thorn’s attention. With my cap, I should be able to get in close to the kids.”“So, you get to have all the fun while Percy and I are stuck at a dance?” Thalia asked, deadpan.“Exactly.” Annabeth said with a smirk. “This isn’t the first time you’ve used me as bait.” Percy grumbled. “At least I’m telling you this time! Besides, I don’t think we have a better option.”No one wanted to admit it, but Annabeth was right. Dr. Thorn was still trailing the siblings, and he needed a bigger prize to make him lose interest. Percy and Thalia, at least in terms of raw power, were by far the more attractive targets. Still, a shiver down Percy’s spine, filling him with dread. Something seemed off about this plan.“Can he smell you if you’re invisible?” Percy asked. “Wouldn’t that defeat the purpose?”Silence. No one really knew the answer to that question. “Loathe as I am to admit it, Percy’s right.” Thalia said. “We can go with the plan, but only if you keep your distance until he strikes for us. Deal? I don’t want you to get hurt, Annie.”Annabeth pouted a little as her plan was reworked, but she reluctantly agreed to keep her distance. “Fine, but like Thalia said, we need to avoid looking at the kids as much as possible. Dr. Thorn already knows who we are, and if we show interest, we’ll just be confirming his suspicions. Play dumb.”“Percy does that without even trying.” Thalia said. “Hey, wait a minute,” Percy began to protest. “What does that mean?”A shrug of the shoulders was all he got in response. Annabeth pulled out her magic Yankees cap. “Have fun you two,” she said. Then, she swapped hats and vanished from sight. Percy could’ve sworn he saw a wink as she vanished.As Grover scampered off to join her, that left the two Big Three kids in the middle of the dance floor. The tension in the air felt suffocating. All the things he wanted to say were racing around in his mind, but instead of saying something helpful like ‘I’m sorry’ or trying to make amends, all he said was, “So, dancing, huh?”“Forget it.” Thalia huffed. “‘We’re three powerful half bloods, mingle, do some dancing,’” Percy snarked. “Or was that just for show?”“Consider yourself lucky if you’re alive by the end of the night.” Thalia said with a glare. “That still wasn’t a no.”He waited for the air to crackle like it usually did when Thalia was upset, but it never came. Instead, the tension seeped into his bones, like a fermata that never came to its conclusion. Her eyes seemed perplexed, as if she was debating between murdering him on the spot, or just admitting defeat. He began to shift foot to foot, unsure of what to do. She remained silent, her bright blue eyes fixed towards him, relishing in his discomfort. “Fine,” was all she said.She raised an eyebrow, silently asking if he was going to take the lead, or if she was going to have to. His heart began to race. Still, he wasn’t going to let her lead, not after he had just challenged her. The only problem was…he didn’t know how to dance. At all of his school dances, he had been part of the group that hid in the corner playing cards or some other games. Now, he had a beautiful girl who had, begrudgingly, accepted his invitation to dance. He could only hope she wouldn’t notice the sweat on his palms.He quickly scanned the gymnasium, trying to pick up something useful from other couples. From what he could see, the guys would take their partner’s left hand in theirs and place their right hands on the girl’s lower back. The steps looked simple enough. Sensing Thalia’s impatience, he quickly grabbed her left hand and guided his other hand towards the small of her back. He felt a small jolt as it found its target. “I’m not going to go easy on you,” Thalia said, smirking. “Just remember, don’t do anything stupid.”Easy for her to say, she wasn't the one being shocked all the time. Still, it felt…surprisingly natural. Before tonight, the pair of them hadn’t shared any words since the night in the Big House. Every attempt to approach her since then had resulted in an unpleasant electrical shock that left his fingers numb for the next few minutes. As they danced, his mind refused to slow. There were so many things he wanted to say to her, but every sentence caught in his throat. Despite his initial surprise at allowing his hand on her back, his heart continued to race and his breaths felt quick and shallow. Instead of dissipating the tension that had worked its way into the room, the pressure felt as though it had multiplied, leaving nothing but an uncomfortable silence as he mulled over his words.The song was nice. He wasn’t familiar with it, but it sounded like one that would be played at his own school dances. One that would usually have the DJ get on the loudspeaker and invite the boys and girls to pair up. It was pretty easy to keep time with his steps, and even if he didn’t, it probably just helped him blend in a little bit more with the awkward teenagers around him. The tension was nearly unbearable at this point. Even Thalia looked a little uncomfortable, her steps becoming slightly more erratic. He looked into her eyes and saw the familiar crackle they always held whenever she was too lost in her own mind. So many things to say, so little time. He swallowed his pride and decided to just go for it.“Look…Thals…”“No, don’t,” she shot back. “You already know.”“How am I supposed to apologize if you won’t even let me?” Percy said, trying to keep his voice level. “I’m sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have kept the truth from you, I just didn’t know what to do.”“I thought we were friends.” Thalia said, eyes narrowing. “I trusted you with everything, but you couldn’t even tell me the truth about my best friend.”Hearing Luke be called her best friend sent a flare of jealousy through Percy. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because he knew the truth about him, and he knew that trusting the son of Hermes would only lead to future hurt. Why didn’t she understand? He was just trying to make her happy and protect her from the pain that Luke inflicted everywhere he went. “He’s just going to hurt you.” Percy said evenly. “Tell me, if you hadn’t come back. Would you have still wanted to know the truth? Knowing your best friend poisoned you and left you for dead?”“He knew the fleece would bring me back. He was just trying to help!”“He’s trying to use you. Manipulate you. He did it to me too.”“Oh, like hiding the truth from me to spare my feelings? Did he do that too? I’m not a child.”“I told you, I’m sor–”“Just shut up, Percy. I don’t want to hear it.”The air began to crackle, and Thalia’s expressive eyes began to match the shifting in the room. The tips of her fingers began to vibrate and her glare fixed itself on Percy. Instead of backing down, he rose to meet the challenge. Why didn’t she understand the truth? He was going to tell her, even if he got hurt in the process.“If you want me to shut up, you’re going to have to make me.” Percy said, his voice betraying a false sense of confidence. The energy in the air instantly dissipated. Instead of the quick anger Percy had been expecting, Thalia’s expression morphed into one of confusion. She was clearly taken aback by the challenge. The pressure cooker that was the gymnasium had once more turned into a thick mist. One moment turned to two. The blood raced in Percy’s ears. Maybe he had gone too far and she really would kill him. The rest of the world seemed to go completely silent, fading away until it was just the two of them.His eyes flitted between her stunned gaze and her full lips. She had used a darker shade of purple lipstick than normal, and it suited her. When they weren’t talking about how much they hated him, her lips looked…really good. Soft. For a brief moment, he wondered how they might feel against his. Heat began to rush to his face, and the entire room felt as though it was heating up. Her lips pursed slightly, a sign that she was deep in thought. Suddenly, Thalia’s eyes widened in alarm, her attention on the bleachers. “The kids, they’re gone.”That got his attention. He looked over to where the Di Angelo siblings had been. All that remained was a single playing card. Dr. Thorn was nowhere to be seen, and if Annabeth had gotten his attention he still would have remained in the gymnasium. That left only one option.“Thorn has the kids.” Percy deduced. “We need to go after him.”“I’ll go get Annabeth and Grover. I know exactly where she’ll be, and Grover won’t be far from her.” Thalia wrenched herself from his grasp and turned toward the exit.The protest died on Percy’s tongue. He attempted to follow, but a pack of girls stopped him in his path. By the time he could maneuver around them, Thalia had vanished, Shit, he thought. They were running out of time. That left him with one option. His instincts told him that Thorn wanted the kids for more than a simple meal, otherwise he would’ve taken the chance to nab them already. He was probably trying to take them somewhere. Percy’s heart sank as the realization settled in that this could’ve been a recruiting mission. He didn’t have time to wait around to find the others. He took off into the hallway to look for Dr. Thorn, leaving the others in the gymnasium to catch up later. The door opened into a dimly lit hallway. Scuffling sounds came from the darkness ahead, followed by a painful grunt. Sensing a fight, Percy uncapped Riptide. He jogged down the corridor searching for the noise, but he didn’t have any luck. He opened every door throughout the damp hallway, but eventually he found himself back at the main entry hall. Dr. Thorn was nowhere to be seen, but on the opposite side of the room were the di Angelo kids. They stood frozen, like statues. The only indication that they were still alive were their twitching eyes. Still, something didn’t seem right. Obviously, Thorn had taken the kids there, but now that he was gone, that meant he was either scared of Riptide, which was possible but not likely, or somewhere close by. Right now though, the kids stared at Percy, frozen in fear. He felt a pang of sympathy. His first encounter to the demigod world had been when one of Hades’ Furies, his math teacher, had tried to kill him. He lowered his sword to try and calm the young demigods. “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. My name’s Percy. I’m going to get you out of here and take you somewhere safe.”Bianca’s eyes widened and immediately he realized that the Di Angelos weren’t scared of him. They were trying to warn him. Sharp pain exploded in his shoulder as a force like a massive hand yanked him backward and slammed him into the wall. His chest immediately tightened as he struggled for air, the impact knocking it out of him. Instinctually, he swung his sword in the direction of the attacker, but nothing was there.A cold, creepy laugh echoed through the hall.“Yes, Perseus Jackson,” Dr. Thorn’s sinister French voice rang out. “I have been waiting for you. Every monster has been wanting to get a piece of you for quite some time now. I see you are without your little friends. A pity.”Percy tried to roll his shoulder, only to find it pinned to the wall. A thick, black spike protruded from the gaping hole like a tent stake. Burning emanated through his nervous system at the point of impact. Fog began to permeate the edges of his mind. Poison, and a strong one at that.Using Riptide, he pointed the blade towards the middle of the spike and stabbed. The spike began to collapse as its structural integrity was compromised. He didn’t think it was a fair trade, a shoulder for a spike. Now that his arm was free, he attempted to use his hand. The response was slightly sluggish, but nothing too alarming. He rolled his shoulder to assess the rest of the damage, and a sharp jolt of pain greeted him in response. Still, it felt usable, and he said a quick prayer to the gods for limited damage. He could deal with the pain. In fact, he welcomed it. It helped keep the dingy fog in his mind at bay. A dark silhouette emerged from the hallway. Dr. Thorn stepped into the dim light. The shadows made his uncanny features look even more ghoulish. His already waxy skin now seemed to be nothing more than a mask. His teeth were a perfect white, and his dual colored eyes glinted from the soft bronze glow of Riptide. “Thank you for leaving the gym,” he said, his smile looking more like a ghastly grimace. “I hate high school dances.”Percy tried to swing his sword, but Dr. Thorn was clearly expecting it. He simply took a step back, leaving the tip of Riptide to swing inches from its target. Another stake-like projectile shot from behind Dr. Thorn, although he didn’t appear to move. Bianca yelped as the second thorn impaled itself in the stone wall, half an inch from her face. The threat was clear. Attack him, and the kids die. “Now that I’ve made myself clear. All three of you will come with me.” Dr. Thorn said. “Quietly. Obediently. If you make a single noise, or if you call out for help, I will show you just how accurately I can throw.” Then, his ghastly smile bordered on demonic. “I won’t hesitate to hunt down your friends who are still in the gym either. You may be fast, but even you can’t outrun my spikes.”Percy’s heart filled with dread. He had only one option, even though he felt like a complete coward for doing it. He ducked his head as he and the Di Angelo siblings followed Dr. Thorn down the hall.
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Make me. Percy’s unusually bold response made her head spin. Just a moment before, there was a serious chance of sending him to Hades early, or at least shocking him enough to numb his fingers for a week. The guy didn’t know how to shut up, and he never considered what anyone else wanted or thought. He always thought he knew best, and now, he was nowhere to be seen.Right then, the opportunity would have been perfect. The crackling within her fingertips was mere inches from coursing through his veins. The faintest twitch in his green irises betrayed his uncertainty at the outcome if they truly came to blows. She couldn’t help but relish the seedling of fear she could place in him. He was such an idiot. It was too late to apologize, so any attempt to reconcile felt more like a pity party for himself, rather than a genuine admission of guilt. He didn’t think she could handle the truth, and if she hadn’t come back, the truth would have remained a mystery to her. He was fine with just letting her be a tree. Luke had saved her. He knew she would come back. Sure, he might be a little…off track at the moment, but he must’ve still had some good in him. During their days on the run he had always been a little impulsive, but he never hid anything, even when he had to confess some of his less than moral behavior. Percy was wrong. She could handle the truth. His arrogance would be the death of him, if she didn’t cause it first. As those thoughts crossed her mind, she began to fiddle with her silver bracelet. Sure, he got on her nerves and he had lied to her, but he was also her best friend for over a year. Her conversations with Annabeth had all but proven that the guy, while completely inept when it came to teamwork, was at least well-intentioned and protective. At the very least, maliciousness would have been at the bottom of his list of qualities... Her heart pricked as her flow of memories carried her back to the dreamscape. All the card games they played, all fun music they listened to, and all the stories they shared with one another tore through her mind without restraint. Her soul hungered to return to those days. The days of ignorance when she was in an essentially endless sleep, only to be interrupted by the boy with the sea-green eyes. Instead, she had returned to life, looking into those green eyes and feeling the weight of his comforting touch. She felt herself sink into the memories subconsciously, desperately searching for the warm blanket of security she had lost so many years ago when she ran away. Then, in an instant, her view of that blanket, Percy Jackson, had shattered, reminding her of the cold, cruel, and unforgiving nature of the world. Even your best friends can hurt you, and the knife always hurts more when it’s driven from behind. Yet, at that final moment when she could’ve used him as an outlet. When the inferno of her emotions crackled on her fingertips, he stood and said, ‘Make me.’ His eyes darted to her lips, almost like a challenge. For that fleeting moment, her heart began to race. Briefly, she didn’t hate Percy Jackson, and that scared her more than the monster she was about to fight.It was stupid really. The first thing he did was run off on his own. Fighting monsters alone is how demigods get killed. Why didn’t he understand? If he ran off to meet every danger head on, he’d eventually be outmatched. His friends, Annabeth, Grover, the kids at camp, they’d all be distraught. An uncomfortable truth she had been wrestling with began to piece itself together. She and Percy were incredibly similar, a fact that Annabeth would never let her forget whenever she’d rant to him about his insufferable ideals of protecting others from harm at any cost. Would he have sacrificed himself in the same way? The pit in her stomach gave her the answer. He was insufferable, stubborn, and unwilling to ever listen, but he’d sacrifice his life for a stranger. A cool breeze danced through the room and a shiver crawled up her spine. Something was wrong. She quickened her pace as she scoured the room for Grover. Annabeth would be nearby with him. At least, Thalia hoped so, given that she was still invisible. She spotted him in the corner of the room, muttering to himself. At least, that’s how it would have looked to an outsider, but Thalia let out a sigh of relief knowing that Annabeth was close. “We need to leave, now.” Thalia said. “Percy ran off by himself like an idiot. Something’s happened, I can feel it.”“She’s right,” Grover confirmed. “I have an empathy link with him. He just reached out to me. Thorn has them. He’s playing nice right now to buy some time, but we need to be quick.”Annabeth took off her cap and materialized next to Grover. “Where are they?”“I’m not entirely sure.” Grover said. “I’ll see if our empathy link can give us something.” He closed his eyes to concentrate, but shrugged in frustration when he came up empty. “In the meantime do we have any idea where to start?”Thalia racked her brain, but came up empty. The best plan would probably be to leave through the entrance closest to where the kids were before Percy disappeared. She fought to keep the smirk off of her face. Percy was a fighter. He would be fine and she couldn’t wait to rub it in that her plan was right.“We should go check the exit where we last saw the kids. I bet Percy made a beeline for it. Grover, keep checking your empathy link. If he’s smart, Percy will try to contact you through it.”“Sounds good,” Grover replied. “Lead the way.” ____The damp halls felt suffocating and the gray walls embodied the storm that was brewing outside. The soft drip of water from the ceiling betrayed the age of the place, but there was no sign of Percy or the Di Angelos. Damn it. Why did he always have to do everything alone? Now everyone was in danger. Then, something caught her eye. The first sign of a fight. A divot in the stone wall and a spatter of blood surrounding the area. Thalia ran her fingers through the indent. A large projectile at high speed. Although whether the small pieces of stone under the divot were part of the wall or the remnants of the weapon was unclear. Still, it was something. Her heart sank as she realized the extent of the blood-red stain that now coated the wall. The only reassurance she had was the lack of a prolonged struggle, suggesting Percy was playing for time. She had been expecting to see heavy lines that marked the dragging of unwilling participants. Instead, there seemed to be nothing more than four sets of footprints breaking the uniform layer of dust on the floor, blood drippings accompanying the largest human set.“Guys, I’m getting something.” Grover said. “What is it? Where are they?” Thalia asked expectantly.“Outside, by the cliffs. Percy says they’re still alive, but to be wary of Thorn. He can throw spikes, is wicked fast, and incredibly deadly. Percy said he’s playing nice to protect the kids. But we need to hurry.”“Percy doing the smart thing? Atlas must have let go of the sky.” Thalia quipped.“We have no time to waste. Let’s go.” Annabeth urged. “Now!”She hastily threw her Yankees cap back on her head, and instantly she vanished. Her soft footsteps echoed throughout the halls, but they were easy enough to follow as Thalia and Grover sped down the hallway behind her. The original plan of a stealth mission had been compromised. The world began to quiet around Thalia, the ambience slowly being replaced by her own rhythmic heartbeat. No more time for plans and discussion. The fight was about to begin and it was time to trust her training. Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. What he lacked in tactical brilliance, Percy made up for in instincts and adaptability. She had to give him credit, it was a principle he seemed to understand innately.Throwing open the doors, Thalia shivered as the cold air sliced through her, chilling her to the bone. Quickly locating Dr. Thorn's menacing figure, and Percy standing protectively in front of the kids, Thalia led the charge as they closed the distance to the cliff’s edge. It was time. Her chemistry with Annabeth hadn’t frayed in the slightest as the daughter of Athena plowed into Percy and the Di Angelos, causing Dr. Thorn’s first volley of spikes to narrowly miss. She rubbed her shoulder in an unconscious sympathy as she observed the black spikes for the first time. Still, Percy was on his feet, ready for a fight, even if he was favoring his right shoulder. Now it was her time to shine. She tapped her silver bracelet, which transformed into her favorite magical item: her shield, Aegis. It was likened after her sister, Athena’s. Etched into the bronze was the likeness of Medusa. Sure, it couldn’t turn people to stone like the real thing, but all she needed was the moment of hesitation. Not even monsters were spared from the hideous rendering. She uncapped her can of mace that she stored in her pocket as it slowly began to expand to full size. Her fingers twitched as the familiar bronze metal appeared in her hand. She knew her way around most weapons, but nothing could compare to her reliable spear. With her spear in her right hand, and Aegis in her left, she did the only thing she could. She charged Dr. Thorn.Dr. Thorn hissed as he caught sight of Aegis, but he did not falter like many weaker monsters. That was alright, she expected nothing less, which was why she brought a team. The world began to slow around her. The faint sound of a helicopter permeated through the icy wind and the clashing of weapons as her body moved without being told. One moment, that was all she needed.She raised Aegis, and then she found it. Dr. Thorn’s eyes began to narrow in the beginning of a wince. Here it was. Her muscles tensed, and she dashed through the opening the monster had left in his haste to avoid Aegis. Just under his chin, she saw her chance. Electricity began to course through her fingers to the tip of the spear, creating a familiar buzz. She began her strike, but the mirth in the monster’s eye told her she had made a terrible mistake. Dr. Thorn should not have been that fast. One glance at his too pleased face, and Thalia knew that this was no accident. From the corner of her eye she saw his massive hand coming straight towards her, and her reflexes took over as she threw her spear. She didn’t get to spend very much time at camp before going to school in the city with Annabeth, but she did get in time for a few lessons after her return to normal. Chiron taught her the best defense is a good offense. A fighter who is always on the defensive will eventually lose if they are not willing to counter. However, even when fleeing may be the best option, creating separation is always a necessity for a quick escape from a poor position. Her desperate gambit would require him to make a choice. Kill her, but sustain severe, possible lethal damage, or sacrifice his best chance to kill her, but live to fight another day. Stalemate. It was the best move on the board at the moment. It seemed that Dr. Thorn also understood the stakes. Why would he, who viewed himself as the queen, sacrifice himself for what he deemed was a lowly pawn. As her fingers released her spear, she felt herself relax slightly as his hand changed course. She forced herself into a backwards roll, the cold snow seeping through her coat. At the same time, Dr Thorn’s hand had transformed into a massive orange paw, swiping away the spear as though it was little more than an annoying fly. Still, it was just enough separation so she could shoot to her feet. Sure, now she was without her weapon of choice, but Aegis was a weapon in its own right. Plus, as a daughter of Zeus, she could always rely on the storms in a pinch.With the spear cast aside, he once again refocused on his target. He moved at an almost impossible speed, with his orange paw bearing down on her. She raised her shield, trying to brace herself for the impact. Sparks flew as his claws connected, forcing her backwards once more. Still, she retained her footing. The previously faint sound of the helicopter was now increasing, adding difficulty to the task of listening for soft sounds of movement. Sight was her best weapon, but she still felt uneasy at the prospect of continuing this fight without her spear, and with and her hearing diminished. She was lucky. Her eyes had remained focused not on Dr. Thorn’s head, but behind him. Spikes were hurtling towards her torso, right where her flank was currently exposed. She dropped the shield to cover, but she could not brace. The spikes hit with a nearly teeth shattering impact, sending vibrations throughout her body. These vibrations were unlike the familiar ones of electricity. Instead, they felt much more like Percy’s when he shook the earth. The cold snow stung against the small bit of skin that was exposed as she fell to the ground. She wheezed, attempting to regain her wind. It was at this moment she was grateful she had insisted on bringing her companions, as Grover began to play his reed pipes. Massive roots sprouted out the ground and began to wrap around Dr. Thorn’s legs, slowly weaving him into a net. Sure, on their own, they would likely do little more than irritate the monster, but with three demigods that could attack like wolves, the roots would do the trick.Unfortunately, this was where their luck ran out, as Dr. Thorn began to change. He began to grow even larger, choosing to shed any semblance of his human facade. His face remained the same, incredibly unsettling and waxy. His body had transformed into that of a huge lion, and his leathery spiked tail whipped deadly thorns in all directions. “A manticore!” Annabeth was now visible after losing her cap after her collision, and alarm crept into her tone as well as her expression. The Di Angelo siblings seemed to be wondering what the hell was going on, and if she were in their place, Thalia would likely have similar questions. There just wasn’t time right now to get them up to speed. If they survived, then they could know the truth.The manticore began clawing Grover’s weeds, destroying them faster than they could grow. Then, his waxy, snake-like face began to turn towards the others. His creepy smile looked more like a grimace, but it betrayed his confidence. He was sure that he would not lose. Perhaps his arrogance could be used against him , Thalia mused.Then it happened; another volley of spikes, but this time not aimed at her. Thalia saw them hurtling towards Percy and the Di Angelos. The projectiles were far too fast to evade, and she was sure that the demigods were about to turn into mincemeat. Riptide was a good weapon, even she could admit that, but parrying that many spikes simply wouldn’t be possible. Percy remained calm, and quickly tapped his wristwatch. A beautiful bronze shield emerged just in time. It clearly wasn’t quite as sturdy as her own, given the resulting damage, but it did the trick. Even with the massive dents, she could see the saga depicted on the face of the shield. Going in a clockwise direction, the first scene looked to be a fight scene with some giants. Next, it was battling what looked like massive bronze bulls around a central, very sick, pine tree. Thalia assumed that was her. Suddenly the events all began to make sense. They all matched the recollections Annabeth had told her about the quest through the Sea of Monsters. It was such a beautiful piece of craftsmanship that it pained her to see the damage the shield took, even as she was grateful it had done its job.“Yield!” Dr. Thorn yelled. “You cannot win, even though you outnumber me. Who knows? If you yield I may even let you live. If not, at least I can promise you that I’ll kill you quickly.”There it was. That arrogance. She felt her blood begin to heat up and she took a deep breath. Arrogance is what got you killed. It didn’t matter if it was man or monster, pride was a killer all the same. Of course, she could fall victim to the trap as easily as anyone else. She would not fall for his goading or his threats. She could happily enjoy gutting him after he was no longer a threat.“Never!” Thalia shouted in response. Dr Thorn scoffed in French. Her mind began to fog. She felt as though her limbs had been filled with a high octane fuel. This monster didn’t deserve mercy. Aegis could shield her until she reached her target. She didn’t need a spear for this. All she needed was one well timed blow. Manticore, man, or any other kind of being. If they had flesh, they could burn. With enough electricity, any type of flesh would fry. She would be happy to provide the voltage. He was still gloating in his assured victory. Now was her chance. She closed the gap in an instant. Dr. Thorn realized what was going on and began to turn to guard, but it was too late for him. He was still unguarded, right where his heart would have been. What saved the piece of shit was the helicopter. It appeared out of the mist with a thunderous noise and a blaze of light. Just beyond the cliffs, the rotors began to blow the snow, obscuring Thalia’s line of sight on the monster. From what she could make out, the helicopter was a sleek black military-style gunship. It looked like it had to be manned by mortals, and Thalia wasn’t sure if helicopters counted as the sort of technology that could be problematic, so she ruled out demigods preemptively. At least, friendly demigods. Thorn made use of the distraction and struck her side, sending her careening through the field. The blinding lights of the helicopter had sent her off course, directly into him. She began to gasp for air, desperately trying to force air back into her lungs. Her spear lay next to her, cast aside. Fortunately, it didn’t look broken. The manticore stared creepily, his expression of victory looking alien on his waxy face. She scrambled towards her weapon, but she would be far too late. He was too fast, and he wouldn’t be giving her a second chance. A spike appeared in her line of sight, aimed straight for her head, and much too fast to dodge, and she flinched. For a brief moment, she had some sympathy for Percy’s shoulder, thinking her head would soon meet the same fate. But the impact never came. One second turned to two, and she was still alive. Opening her eyes, there was Percy, panting like he had just run a marathon. Streams of his blood were flowing in rivulets down his arm, creating web-like patterns on his skin. From his hands, the drops fell to the snow, creating a slowly growing sea of crimson as he held his shield over the two of them. How he had gotten over to her that quickly, she wasn’t sure, but she could at least begrudgingly accept that he had saved her life.“Thanks,” Thalia said. “Although if you would’ve waited, you might still have a functional shoulder.”Percy held the shield above the two of them, wincing as he did so. “It works just fine. Besides, it did just save your life.”“Now we’re even then. Thorn would’ve killed you if we hadn’t come to save your ass.”“That makes it two to one actually.” Percy cut in.Thalia frowned. She didn’t really want to count the ‘first time’ he was envisioning. Still, she figured it probably wasn’t the best time to debate the morality of Luke’s actions with someone who couldn’t be convinced anyway.“Whatever. If you bleed on me I’ll kill you before Thorn does.”Percy’s brow furrowed. Then, the corners of his lips began to twitch. “That might not be so bad,” he said. “After all, I've always wondered how you’d look in red.” “Percy Jackson you better not or–”A clear piercing sound cut through the air, effectively ending her sentence. Thalia’s heart sank. She would’ve rather fought any monsters than deal with those holier-than-thou stuck up environmentalists. The hunting horn sounded once again, signifying their orders to advance. The manticore froze, his triumphant look transforming into one of alarm. He knew these girls too. “No,” he said. “It cannot be–”A familiar blur of moonlight whizzed past. A glowing silver arrow suddenly sprouted from Thorn’s shoulder. Justice, Thalia thought, for the boy who was currently bleeding over her. Well, despite their many flaws, the girls were good at one thing: hunting.Thorn staggered backwards, wailing in agony as blood gushed from his shoulder. “Curse you!” he roared. He unleashed his spikes, dozens at once, into the woods where the arrow had originated. In response, silvery arrows shot back, slicing his projectiles with precision and force, not even being disrupted in their course. The manticore pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with a howl. His labored breathing betrayed his fear and fatigue. Percy stood in preparation to strike, leaving a ring of crimson in the snow around Thalia.If he had truly been as hurt as he looked, Percy would’ve sliced him to bits, but the monster was either a great actor, or stronger than they had evaluated. Mimicking the speed of his projectiles, he swung his tail towards Percy. It collided with his shield, but the force was enough to knock him to the side.Finally, the Hunters decided to show their faces. The girls emerged from the woods like a pack, ready to finish the manticore. Thalia couldn’t have picked the girls out individually given the fact that they all wore the same clothing. She wrinkled her nose slightly as she remembered old school uniforms she had been subjected to. Sure, their matching outfits of silvery ski parkas and jeans didn’t look bad, but it was the seemingly mandated uniformity that felt unnatural. She scanned herself for patches of red. At the very least, if Percy had bled on her, she wouldn’t look like she belonged with the hunters. The undisturbed silver gave her the answer. Much to her surprise, she felt thorns of disappointment prick her heart.The one Huntress that Thalia did recognize stepped forward with her bow drawn. Amongst the Hunters, she was the only one who could have passed for something resembling an adult, standing out amongst her peers. Her long dark hair was tied back, likely in preparation for the mission they were now on. Atop her head was a silver circlet, braided into her hair so it sat like a crown. The Lieutenant. Her caramel skin faintly glowed with silver, as if she had a portion of the moon within her. There was no mistaking the identity of Zoe Nightshade, first among her peers. “Permission to kill, my lady?”The monster wailed. “This is not fair! Direct interference! It is against the Ancient Laws!”“Not so,” another girl said. Thalia wracked her brain trying to recognize her. It wasn’t like she was on good terms with them, but her usually sharp memory couldn’t even pinpoint the girl’s face from her previous encounter with the group. The girl looked about thirteen, but if Zoe was tinged silver, this girl was the source of the entire color. Her auburn hair was gathered back in a ponytail, but her eyes were what gave away her identity. Silvery yellow crescents danced in her pupils, as if the moon itself resided within them. Thalia’s memory clicked at the same time the girl's gaze drifted over to them, at which point Percy decided to gasp as though his breath had been snatched from him. Thalia rolled her eyes. She could tease him about it later, but she didn’t really blame him. Divine beings were vain, prideful, and beautiful. Artemis was no exception, except that her beauty was not superficial or surface level. Rather, it was the type of wild beauty that could only be found in the wilderness when it was bathed in moonlight.Artemis’s gaze returned to the manticore. “The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast.” She addressed her lieutenant. “Zoe, permission granted.”The manticore growled, and his pupils began to flare. “If I cannot have them alive, I shall have them dead!”Thalia snapped out of her stupor. Dr. Thorn was coming for them, and as before, he was moving too quickly. Her limbs felt as though they were filled with lead, and her previous adrenaline had nearly faded. It didn’t really matter the incoming threat, she would be too powerless to stop it. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Percy in the same state, grasping his sword, but he would never raise it in time. Just a few more seconds, that was all they needed to gather their weapons in defense.That’s when Annabeth did one of the most reckless things she’d ever done. She charged Dr. Thorn.“No!” Thalia yelled.“Get back, half-blood!” Zoe yelled. “Get out of the line of fire!” But Annabeth leaped onto the monster’s back and drove her knife into his mane. The manticore howled, turning in circles with his tail flailing as Annabeth hung on for dear life, her dagger acting as her anchor.“Fire!” Zoe ordered. Percy had now gotten to his feet, sword raised, but it was too late. Thalia wanted to yell at them to stop, that they could hit Annabeth, but the words died in her throat. The pit in her stomach betrayed what was going to happen. She was witnessing a car crash in slow motion, and all she could do was watch the disaster unfold in front of her. Fortunately, Percy seemed to have the same instinct. “No!” he screamed.But the Hunters let their arrows fly anyway. The first one caught the manticore in the neck. Another hit his chest, causing him to stagger backwards. “This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!” he wailed. Then, despite his injuries, he turned towards Thalia. An unsettling smile, too wide for his face, graced his features. “I shall see you soon enough, daughter of Zeus.” Throwing her a wink that only she could see, he turned and jumped off the cliff. Annabeth was still hanging onto his back, and her scream carried out as they careened downwards into the darkness. “Annabeth!” Percy yelled. By now, Thalia had staggered to her feet. Percy had broken into a run for the edge of the cliff, and she was about to join him when the sound of gunfire erupted from the helicopter.Most of the Hunters, except for Zoe and Artemis, scattered as bullet holes began to paint the landscape. Thalia dove for cover, using her shield to protect herself. Percy did the same. Artemis on the other hand, looked at the helicopter as if it was little more than a cockroach she needed to crush under her foot. “Mortals,” she announced, “Are not allowed to witness my hunt.”She thrust out her hand, and the helicopter exploded. However, instead of the fiery debris Thalia was expecting, the black metal simply dissolved into a flock of ravens, which scattered into the night. One second turned to another before the shock seemed to dissipate from the air. Percy was the first to react, dashing towards the edge of the cliff in a desperate bid to jump after them. Zoe intercepted his path.“Thou hast no chance,” Zoe said. “Stand down.”“Oh shut up, who are you to tell me what to do? Annabeth’s just been taken. I’m going after her!”“Do not make me ask again, boy.” Zoe threatened. “You’re either going to help me get her, or I will go through you. Final warning.” Percy growled, the ground slowly rumbling in confirmation of his threat.“Stand down.” Artemis said. “I will forgive your rudeness to my Hunters because I sense you do not actually know who we are, yes?” “Same threat goes to you, lady. Just who exactly do you think you are?”In that moment, Thalia expected him to be killed right where he stood. Instead Artemis just chuckled, as if a petulant child told a mildly amusing joke in his rebellion. “Well, if you must know. I am Artemis, goddess of the Hunt. Your friend is beyond my help. Do not delude yourself, she is not in the sea below. You could feel it if she was. Now, I would advise you to stop testing my patience, child.”He didn’t look happy about it, but Percy finally relented. Thalia found that mildly surprising, but even he seemed to know when a fight just wasn’t winnable. The rumbling began to cease, but the reality remained. Annabeth had been taken, all because Percy had thrown himself into a stupid situation and taken a monopoly on decision-making. Thalia began to feel her bones go numb, and a lump began to form in her throat. If he hadn’t decided to go off on his own, they could’ve formed a plan. Losing yourself during the mission just meant both the targets and the agents would die. She steeled herself. Now was not the time for grief. No mission was complete until the survivors returned. She blinked away the tears threatening to form in her eyes and took a deep breath. Annabeth was a fighter, and she was intelligent. She wouldn’t just give in or let herself be killed. Thalia could recall her stabbing a cyclops in the foot when she was seven, and the memory brought a ghost of a smile to her lips.Her expression quickly hardened when she caught Zoe’s cold gaze, effectively redirecting Thalia’s attention. “If you had just decided to join us then none of this would have happened.”Normally, she would’ve shot back at the huntress, but all she could do now was level the girl with her own icy stare. Even as she felt the pressure build behind her eyes, she forced herself to repeat the same mantra over and over. She was not about to cry in front of anyone, least of all Zoe Nightshade and Percy Jackson.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Apollo was officially Thalia’s least favorite god, at least at the moment. She shuddered, trying to calm her breathing as she stepped off of the sun bus. Fortunately, it didn’t look like anyone had been hurt. She felt a mild twinge of guilt as Percy stepped out just behind her. He was avoiding her gaze, but she couldn’t really blame him. It wasn’t like he didn’t deserve what she said, but as she replayed the events in her head, she realized that may not have been the nicest way to phrase things.
After they had boarded the bus, she felt her face drain of color as she got behind the wheel. Percy had always been very perceptive. He was the first to move into the seat next to her. Apollo had even given him the spot with a smirk, as though he knew something they didn’t. Given that he was the god of prophecy, it was probably true.
Her fingers were so tight around the wheel she felt as though they were in a cast, with rods of iron holding her hands in place. Percy had been shifting around nervously for a while, but he placed his hand on her thigh. Just like he always did whenever she would begin spiraling inside his dreamscape. He couldn’t have known about her fear of heights, but there was nothing except sincerity in his eyes, as though all he cared about in that moment was her well being, despite their recent tension.
Then, he decided to ruin it by opening his mouth. Sure, complaining about the hunters was always fun because they were insufferable, but they wouldn’t have needed to show up if Percy hadn’t run off on his own. Whether she liked it or not, Percy was powerful, and if he, she, and Annabeth had just taken Thorn on their own, they likely would have won. Instead, the hunters had to come save their asses, a fact that Zoe wouldn’t hesitate to remind her of. Added on to all of this was the absence of Annabeth, which hung over her, threatening to drown her at any moment.
“I just don’t like how they think they’re better than everyone.” Thalia said, trying to remain calm.
“I’m with you,” Percy said. “I don’t trust them. Especially not when boys are involved, it’s like they–”
In an instant, all of her frustrations exploded. She said the words she believed, but desperately wished she could snatch out of the air before they ever reached his eardrums.
“Oh, you’re with me, huh? What were you thinking going after Thorn by yourself? You knew he was dangerous
and
a monster.”
“I–”
“No,” she raised a hand, “let me finish. We could’ve taken him, just us three. Instead, you got yourself captured by Thorn, and the Hunters had to get involved. And last I checked, Annabeth isn’t here. She might still be, if you had just waited like I told you to.”
She wasn’t proud of how good she felt once she said those words, but it was the first time since the incident that her emotions found themselves expressed vocally. Even if it wasn’t completely fair, or an accurate assessment. For a brief moment, she expected some snarky remark, as it was rare for Percy to get tongue tied. Instead, he silently removed his hand from her thigh and headed back a few rows, intentionally avoiding her gaze.
The bus landed in the canoe lake and floated to the top. Fortunately, with the exception of a couple half-melted capsized canoes, nothing seemed out of order at camp. Still, she didn’t blame her passengers when they scrambled out the doors and down the dock. Everyone wanted to get off the bus as quickly as possible. Percy had taken it upon himself to give Nico a tour. The boy seemed unhappy. Thalia wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but she figured he had just been given the news that Bianca had essentially abandoned him. It wasn’t like she didn’t have a reason, essentially being his caretaker for several years at that point, but she couldn’t blame Nico for being upset at how everything played out.
For the time being, she was left to fend for herself, as the Hunters went to the Artemis cabin, and she didn’t really know anybody else at camp. At least, not anybody she wanted to be around. She had only spent a couple of weeks at camp before being sent off to go to school with Annabeth, but they would come back on the weekends for training. That was when Chiron had taught her how to manipulate the Mist. It made getting in and out of their closed campus a breeze.
Still, it had been a few weeks before they were able to trek back to camp, making the sudden winter makeover a stark contrast to the usual summer atmosphere. Instead of the comfortably warm summer temperatures for growing strawberries, light frost covered the fields. Each cabin was adorned with tiny flickering lights. Thalia shivered.
She still refused to use the Zeus cabin, despite Chiron and Annabeth’s urging. No one else at camp really knew the truth about the god who had saved her. Annabeth was still having a hard time accepting it, even now. But Thalia stuck with her choice on this one. It wasn’t her dad who had saved her, so she wouldn’t be gracing his cabin with her presence. It wasn’t much, but it was hard to rebel against an absent father when he was the all-powerful King of the Olympians.
Instead, she went to her room in the Big House. It was small, but a comfortable cot and some privacy was all she really needed. Peering through the window, she saw that Chiron was out front, talking with Percy and Nico, likely as part of his tour. She briefly considered wandering around camp until they were done, but she was still freezing, so she decided against it. She’d rather stay inside and be warm. Avoiding the awkwardness her presence would bring was a bonus.
Sighing, she left her room and started for the stairs. Chiron would want a debriefing of their mission, and the sooner it was over with, the sooner she could go back to her room, undisturbed. As she approached the front room, she overheard part of the conversation. “...and go get Thalia when you get the chance.” Chiron's voice carried into the hall. “I want to know exactly what happened.”
“No need.” Thalia said as she waltzed into the room. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything. Come in. We need to determine our next course of action."
____
Once they were finished, Chiron looked as though he had aged an additional century. He turned to Mr. D. “We should launch a search for Annabeth immediately.”
“I’ll go!” Thalia and Percy volunteered simultaneously.
Mr. D scoffed. “Certainly not!”
The demigod duo began to protest, but Mr. D was not in a mood to entertain them. His eyes began to glow purple, flames dancing around the edges of his form. It was his final warning that if they didn’t shut up immediately, they would either be turned into animals, or be sent to a mental institution. Thalia wasn’t particularly eager to stop being human, again, so she shut her mouth. Percy on the other hand, didn’t seem to care, so when he opened his mouth again she kicked him under the table.
The purple flames around Mr. D began to subside, now just barely visible as a reminder of who he really was. He fixed his glare towards Percy. “Now then, I’d hate to have to turn the only demigod with some sense around here into a dolphin. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t shed a tear if my hand was forced. Now then. From what you have told me, we have broken even on this endeavor. We have regrettably lost Annie Bell–”
“Annabeth,” Percy snapped. As much as she agreed, and was grateful to him for voicing her thoughts, she still wanted to kick him again. She didn’t want to take any chances with their crazy camp director.
“Yes, yes,” Mr. D said. “Although you procured a small annoying boy to replace her. I don’t think it would be wise to risk additional demigods on a rescue mission. We don’t even know if she’s still alive.”
Next to her, Percy looked downright murderous. Soft tremors began to make their way through the room and Chiron’s eyes widened a fraction. Still, if Percy wanted to attack Mr. D, she decided she’d join him. This was just another lesson that she wished wasn’t true. The gods do not care about their children, or demigods in general.
“Annabeth may still be alive,” Chiron said, injecting false optimism into his voice. “She’s very bright. You two know this. If…if our enemies have her as we fear, she will play for time. She may even pretend to cooperate.” Then, he turned towards Percy. “Imagine what you did with the manticore to stall for time. She will use every trick at her disposal in hopes of rescue or escape. She is too valuable for our enemies to kill immediately.”
“That’s right.” Thalia agreed. “Luke would want her alive. There’s no way he would capture her without a good reason.”
“If this is true,” Mr. D reasoned. “I suspect she is being held as bait, perhaps for you two. It is no secret that Luke has expressed an interest in Percy since he arrived at camp. Therefore, we should not indulge them. She will need to escape on her own.”
Percy shoved back from the table, toppling his mug of hot chocolate.
“Percy,” Chiron warned. Thalia winced as the centaur’s warning fell on deaf ears. She had never seen Percy so angry, and yet it mirrored feelings that she recognized in herself. The only difference was, he had a target for his wrath, whereas she could not find something that she felt truly deserved all of her ire.
“You’d be glad to lose another camper,” Percy said. “You’d like it if we all disappeared!”
To Thalia’s surprise, Mr. D just yawned. “You have a point to your little tirade?”
“Yeah,” Percy growled. “Just because you were sent here as an unfair punishment because Zeus got horny doesn’t mean you have to be a lazy prick! This is your precious western civilization too. Maybe you could try helping out a little.” Percy stilled, dangerously calm, like the motionless sea before a tsunami. “I fight for Olympus because you’re better than the alternative, but if the demigods truly were to rebel against you, with an actual vision, I would not hesitate to take up arms against you.”
“Perseus Jackson, was that a threat of treason?” Mr. D scoffed.
“That,” he said, letting the silence hang in the air, “depends on you.”
At that, even the Hunters’ stealth could not have gone unnoticed in the room. One moment turned to two, the sharp crackling of the hearth the only noise to cut through the silence. Thalia didn’t even think she was breathing. The soft rumble of the earth beneath them was a testament to Percy’s sincerity. He rarely made threats, and when he did, he always followed through. Finally, Mr. D sighed, regarding Percy as though he had always expected this.
For the first time since her transformation into a tree, Thalia fervently prayed, though to whom she wasn’t entirely sure. Readily, she got to her feet. Percy had a point, and at least here, he had always been consistent. If a fight was really going to break out, she had promised herself she’d be on his side. Fortunately, her silent prayers seemed to be answered as Nico burst into the room, followed by an out of breath Grover.
“SO COOL!” Nico yelled, holding his hands out to Chiron. “You’re…you’re a centaur!”
Chiron managed a nervous smile. “Yes, Mr. di Angelo, if you please. Though I prefer to stay in human form in this wheelchair for, ah, first encounters.”
“And, whoa!” He looked at Mr. D without a hint of reservation. “You’re the wine dude? No way!”
Grover bleated out a noise of equal parts concern and shock. Mr. D turned his glare away from Percy and gave Nico a puzzled look, lines appearing between his eyebrows. “‘The wine dude’?”
“Dionysus, right? Oh, wow! I’ve got your figurine.”
“My figurine?”
“In my game, Mythomagic. And a holofoil card, too! And even though you’ve only got like five hundred attack points and everyone thinks you’re the lamest god card. I totally think your powers are sweet!”
“Ah.” Mr. D seemed truly perplexed at the realization that fictional card games were using his likeness. Still, his wrathful look had dissipated. “Well, that’s…gratifying.”
“Percy,” Chiron said quickly, speaking in a low voice as Nico continued on, “you and Thalia go down to the cabins. Inform the campers we’ll be playing capture the flag tomorrow evening.”
“Capture the flag?” Percy asked. “But we don’t have enough–”
“It is a tradition,” Chiron interjected. “A friendly match, whenever the Hunters visit.”
Thalia had never taken part in the so-called Hunter-Camper capture the flag games, but given their arrogant and disdainful attitude towards everything else, she deduced that these games were anything but friendly.
“Great,” she muttered. “I bet they’re a real hoot.”
Chiron jerked his head toward Mr. D, who was still frowning as Nico chattered on about how many defense points the gods had in his game. “Run along now,” Chiron said pointedly, nodding to where Grover still stood near the door.
“Oh, right,” Thalia nudged him in the ribs. “Come on, Percy.” She was willing to throw hands with a god, but she couldn’t save Annabeth if she was no longer sane, or human.
She grabbed Percy’s hand, giving him no room to protest, and dragged him out of the Big House before Dionysus could remember how angry he was.
____
“You’ve already got Ares on your bad side,” Thalia reminded as she escorted Percy back to his cabin. “Do you really need another immortal enemy?”
Still, as she said it, she imagined that he didn’t really care. In a way, it was admirable. Whether he had to stand up to mortals or deities, Percy didn’t tolerate bullshit from anyone. The corners of her lips tugged into a smile. He definitely didn’t look the part, but he was as punk as anyone she knew.
“Sorry,” he apologized sheepishly. “I couldn’t help myself. It’s just so unfair.”
“You’re not wrong.” Thalia admitted. She paused for a moment as she gathered the courage to ask the question she feared the answer to. “So, did you really mean what you said?”
“Every word.” Percy confirmed. “But I don’t think that surprises you. I haven’t forgotten how much we’d bitch about our parents in my dreams.”
“Well, your dad is better than mine. He saved a kid that wasn’t even his. That’s got to count for something right?”
“Yeah, I guess so. But that doesn’t mean that the world of demigods is fair.”
The usual joyful gleam had vanished from his eyes. Instead, they swirled with fury. Thalia could’ve sworn she saw black streaks in his irises. He truly was the sea, with his emotions and demeanor betraying that fact every single day. No one could contain or control him, not even the immortal gods. Silence lapsed for a moment, their footsteps crunching in the frosty grass.
“So tell me,” Thalia finally said. “Why didn’t you join Luke?”
Percy froze up at the question, as though the possibility hadn’t really occurred to him. Seeing the tension in his muscles felt unnatural, like someone had somehow built a dam in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
“Because he just wants to destroy. If Kronos gets his way, all the demigods will be killed. It does no good to revolt without a true cause.”
His answer swirled around in her mind. She had been grappling with the motivation behind Luke’s actions. Sure, he wanted to save her, but even Annabeth had admitted that he had fallen into the clutches of Kronos, or was at least doing the Titan Lord’s bidding. It was becoming clearer that Percy was more than an arrogant demigod who thought only of himself. He had a vision of the world, but was willing to sacrifice that vision for his friends and fellow demigods.
They stopped in front of Cabin Three, and Thalia gently bumped her shoulder against Percy’s.
“For what it’s worth,” she said. “If you really were serious. I’d join you.”
“I was.” Percy said. “But as it stands, we don’t really have a choice.” He turned his head, eyes finding hers, and it felt as though he could see into her soul, bypassing her emotional walls. “If I had to kill Luke to save your life, would you hate me for it?”
She wanted to reassure him that of course she wouldn’t, that she’d know that he was just doing what he had to. But as she thought about it her stomach began to roll, and the words caught in her throat. Luke was just brainwashed by the Titan Lord. No one could truly be completely gone. He wouldn’t attack her like that anyway, not of his own volition. Her lack of an answer spoke for itself.
“I see,” Percy deflated, failing to completely hide his hurt. “I’d still do it, you know. I just wanted you to know that.”
They stood in an uncomfortable silence for a few moments. Thalia wanted to say something, but her words couldn’t get past the rapidly forming lump in her throat. Nothing was fair in this world.
“You should be captain. You clearly hate the Hunters even more than I do.” Percy said, startling Thalia with the change of topic.
“No, you should do it, you’ve been at camp longer.”
“We can, uh…co-captain or something.”
If she was being honest, that sounded like a disaster waiting to happen. But she was ready to put this uncomfortable conversation behind her, so she just nodded. They could work out specifics in the morning. It wasn’t like the position really mattered anyway, since all the campers were on the same team.
A shout drew her eye, and she saw a camper and a hunter beginning to fight on the basketball court. It was probably over something stupid, but hunters and campers killing each other would not help their already strained relations.
“I better go take care of that.” Thalia said, pointing over at the court. “I’ll see you around.”
Percy began shifting, like he had something else he wanted to say. She slowed her steps, pausing to give him more time, understanding the feeling of not being able to get your words out.
“I’m sorry about what happened at Westover. I should’ve waited for you guys.”
Thalia wasn’t entirely sure how to respond to that. She felt another pang of guilt for exploding at him on the bus over it. In hindsight, his decision made sense. If he hadn’t intervened, Thorn would’ve likely taken the kids and they would still be missing. Since they had returned to camp, her anger had greatly deflated, instead being replaced with the seedling of hopelessness. At the very least, she couldn’t be mad at him for his decision that night. If anything, she began to regret not joining him immediately. If Annabeth had stayed in the gym, maybe she’d still be there.
“It’s okay, Percy.” she finally said. “I don’t blame you for what happened.” She averted her gaze, unable to look at him for her next words. “And I’m sorry for what I said on the bus. That wasn’t fair to you. I just…it’s not fair… like you said.” So many words were now tumbling around in her mind, but they got caught in her throat. She kept her gaze fixed on her boots, blinking back the pressure that was beginning to form behind her eyes.
“We’ll get Annabeth back. I just don’t know how yet.” Percy promised. She looked up to find that there was nothing but tenderness and concern in his green eyes. He began to reach for her, then froze, as if he was unable to muster the courage to provide his usual comforting touch. His arm dropped back down to his side. “Don’t worry about me. I won’t make Mr. D angry again. I’ll tell the other cabins about Capture the Flag tomorrow.”
____
The morning news could not have been any worse. Thalia’s dreams were always bad, but Percy’s were always on another level even for demigods. Usually, hers involved past experiences involving monsters, with the night of her sacrifice often taking the forefront. For Percy though, he always had other information woven throughout his. Whether they were dreams of future events, or concurrent ones happening somewhere else, his nightmares were nearly always real. That fact sent a shiver down her spine when Percy began their conversation with “I had a dream last night.”
It was so serious that Percy decided to skirt camp rules and sit at the Zeus table that morning. Mr. D was nowhere to be found, and Chiron gave them a look, but no one interfered with their breakfast.
“We have to leave tonight.” Percy said. “Annabeth’s being imprisoned.”
“We knew that already.” Thalia said, expectantly. “What else?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but they’ve put her in a cell and they’re forcing her to make some kind of choice. She refused, now they’re locking her there until she gives an answer.”
“A choice between what?”
“I’m not sure, the only thing that I know is that Luke is involved.”
Thalia’s heart sank at the mention of Luke. She had been desperately hoping that her old friend wasn’t at the center. Unfortunately, it seemed whenever demigods were involved, he was too.
“What was her condition?”
“Other than being in a cell somewhere, she seemed as normal as she could be. Still, I don’t think we can afford to wait. Whoever else was there said they were taking her to Othrys.”
The name Othrys made alarm bells go off in her head. During their trips back to camp, Annabeth had been studying the existing literature about the Titan War. Othrys was the Titan capital, and if it was like everything else with the gods, Othrys would be in America too. It was always on the western edge of western civilization, signifying the threat faced as the sun dimmed in the sky.
She wasn’t certain, but Thalia was pretty sure California was their destination. She didn’t know much more than that, but considering that the Underworld, also always on the western edge, was in LA, she thought it was a pretty safe bet.
“You think Othrys is in California?” Percy asked, seeming to read her mind.
“I do,” Thalia agreed. She had been expecting to explain her thought process, but Percy knew more than he let on. He’d absorb one off comments by Annabeth or Chiron like a sponge, even if he’d rather do anything else than read the material himself. “Annabeth had mentioned something called the Mountain of Despair.” In context, she had been complaining about her family moving, but Thalia decided to leave that part out. Annabeth would give that information up if she felt comfortable doing so.
“So, you think that’s where they’re taking her?”
“That’s what my gut says. We can work out the details later. How long do you think we have?”
“I’m not really sure.” Percy admitted, “But the earliest it sounded like would be late tonight. We can leave after Capture the Flag.”
Truthfully, Thalia would have preferred to leave right away. She didn’t want to leave Annabeth in a dank cell any longer than necessary, but there was Mr. D to contend with. Ever since Percy and Annabeth had snuck out the previous summer to get the fleece, curfew patrols had been increased. Their best opportunity would probably come after the game, but before lights out.
“Sounds good,” Thalia agreed. “That way we can kick the Hunters’ asses, gather up supplies, and then go save Annabeth.”
Percy nodded, confirming the plan, before getting up and returning to his own table. For a fleeting moment, Thalia felt her heart ache as she watched him walk away, and she hated herself for it. Although whether it was for him specifically, or just the thought of not needing to eat meals by herself, she wasn't sure.
____
A frown creased Thalia’s features as she surveyed their lineup. It was going to be a relatively small game of Capture the Flag, with only about a dozen Hunters, including newly minted Huntress Bianca Di Angelo, willing to participate. Those numbers worked out nicely considering there were hardly more than a dozen campers during the winter.
Zoe seemed to be even more irritable than usual, and if the anxious faces of the Hunters were any indication, she seemed to have shared her problems with them. A small grin began to form on the corner of Thalia’s lips. She wasn’t proud of it, but she didn’t regret the joy she felt whenever the Hunters didn’t find themselves in their so-called perfect world. Still, the worry she had been suppressing all day began to snake itself back into her mind. What if it was something more serious? As obnoxious as Zoe was, she wasn’t one to worry herself over trivial things.
“Zoe had a dream last night,” Percy said, sensing her thoughts. “Apparently Artemis has been captured.”
Thalia felt her heart sink at that thought. It wasn’t out of any concern or love towards the wild goddess, but any being that was strong enough to capture a deity was a force to be reckoned with. And so close to Annabeth's capture? The thread of hope she had been grasping that the two events were disconnected began to unravel.
“Do you think her dream was connected to yours?”
A slight nod of Percy’s head was all she needed to see.
“I see,” Thalia said. “Let’s hope this game ends quickly then. We’ve got a rescue mission to get to.”
Percy’s mouth twisted in his signature smirk. “Let’s put a few of them in the infirmary. Game will end faster that way.”
“I like the way you think.” Thalia said with a mischievous grin. “Let’s go kick some ass.”
She turned towards the campers to take stock of who she was working with. Relatively slim pickings from the usual turnout. There were a few Hephaestus guys and a few kids from the Ares cabin. They were always a big help. The Stoll Brothers, the new kid Nico, and a few Aphrodite kids rounded out the list.
“I’m surprised the Aphrodite kids want to join.” Percy half whispered. “Normally, they just like to sit by the lake and do whatever it is they do.”
“You’re seriously surprised?” Thalia’s eyebrows shot up. “The Hunters have done nothing but berate them for refusing to swear off romantic love. That’s the one thing they deeply care about. Of course they would want a chance to pummel them.”
Almost immediately, Silena piped in. “I’ll show them. ‘Love is worthless’. I’ll pulverize them!”
Their strategy seemed simple enough. To be honest, Percy was probably better with understanding the individual campers’ strengths and weaknesses, but one thing was abundantly clear to her. His affinity and control over water would be much better utilized on the defensive. Add in the earthquakes and even the Hunters were bound to be slowed down. On the other hand, her lightning was better suited in short, direct bursts. Perfect for an attacker.
“I’ll take offense, you can take defense.” Thalia proposed.
Percy’s jaw tensed. “Oh.” He said tersely. “Don’t you think with your shield and all, you’d be better defense?”
Thalia just shrugged, hoisting Aegis higher on her arm. All of the campers except Percy gave her a wide berth. “Seems like it works well enough either way. Besides, in the worst case scenario you can just flood the place. If I did something like that, I’d kill our teammates. You’ve had more practice using your water stuff anyway.”
Percy’s jaw ticked again, although this time she didn’t really know why. Whatever, she thought. She had given her opinion. He could either propose something else, or he could accept the deal.
“Yeah, no problem,” he scowled, clearly unhappy with the idea.
“Cool.” She said brightly. The tension in the air became palpable, so she went to assist the Aphrodite kids who, bless their hearts, were inexperienced when it came to battle gear.
She glanced over to see Percy doing the same thing to little Nico Di Angelo. Frankly, he looked a bit ridiculous, but she figured she could cut the kid some slack. After all, if she had to suit up in battle armor at the age of twelve, she’d probably look tiny in it too.
A disturbing thought crossed her mind as she was helping a similarly aged daughter of Aphrodite with her gear. It was unnatural, training kids this young to fight for their lives. Was it a crime to simply exist in their world? Were they violating the natural law? It didn’t make a difference, the gods could wish it away in a heartbeat if they wanted to. Instead, they subjected their children to short, dangerous lives because of some arbitrary rules. She shook her head. Complaining wouldn’t do any good, and Percy had gotten them in enough trouble talking like that. The gods were petulant, irresponsible, and selfish beings, but they were also powerful.
“Heroes!” Chiron announced, breaking Thalia’s train of thought. “You know the rules! The creek is the boundary line. Blue team–Camp Half-Blood–shall take the west woods. Hunters of Artemis–red team–shall take the east woods. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. No intentional maiming, and no killing, please! All magic items are allowed. To your positions!” It was time. One aspect of frustration was that it made great fuel for competition. She could channel it for now, and she would happily use it against the Hunters. “Blue team! Follow me!” She shouted.
Cheers erupted from the campers, the roar sounding beyond their measly number of a dozen or so. A grin danced across Thalia’s face. The game couldn’t start soon enough.
____
The choice of where to keep the flag was an easy one. The creek was the boundary line, so there weren’t any bodies of water for Percy to use, which would have been her first choice. That meant that the best remaining spot was on the top of Zeus’s fist, a huge pile of boulders around twenty feet tall. They were supposed to look like a fist, but if anything, it more resembled a pile of deer droppings. Not that that mattered now. The flag was visible, and due to the massive height of the boulder, the ten yard radius around it that had to be guard free was no longer an issue.
“We’ll send a decoy to the left,” Thalia told the attacking group. “Silena, you’ll lead that.”
“Got it!”
“Take Laurel and Jason. They’re good runners. Make a wide arc around the Hunters, attract as many as you can. I’ll take the main raiding party around to the right and catch them by surprise.”
Everyone nodded. Thalia let out a soft sigh of relief. Despite Percy’s being around longer, everyone seemed to treat her as the de facto leader of camp, especially with Annabeth now absent. Even so, it was nice to have their support when it counted.
She glanced over to Percy. “Anything to add?”
“Um, yeah. Keep sharp on defense. We’ve got four guards, two scouts. That’s not much for a big forest. I’ll be roving. Yell if you need help.”
“And don’t leave your post.” Thalia added quickly. Percy was right. It was a massive forest, so anyone out of position would leave massive holes in their defense. It would be shaky as it was.
“Unless you see a golden opportunity,” Percy added quickly.
Thalia took a deep breath to calm her steadily growing irritation. “Just don’t leave your post.” It wasn’t that he wasn’t brilliant, especially when it came to improvisation, but he tended to make group decisions unilaterally, not caring about the consequences to his teammates or their strategy. Flashes of the night at Westover Hall began dancing in her mind, reminding her of the last time Percy had taken matters into his own hands.
“Right, unless–”
“Percy!” Thalia snapped. She felt a buzz of electricity crackle in her finger tips, the familiar hum that reminded her she was in control. She flicked his arm, sending the voltage through him. To a lesser demigod, the energy would’ve been enough to elicit a reaction, but other than a minor wince and a puff of smoke from his eyebrow, he remained stoic. Still, he got the message.
“Now, is everybody clear on what they’re doing?” Thalia confirmed. The silence that hung in the air was the only answer she needed. They were ready.
As everyone broke into their groups, the horn sounded, signifying the commencement of the game.
Silena’s small band dashed into the woods. Good, the faster they could get there, the more hunters they’d be able to distract. Thalia did some quick math. They’d probably send two or three on the offensive, meaning they’d have to work around nine. The only saving grace was that Zoe would be too prideful to sit back and defend. She’d want every opportunity to trample the campers into bits. Dealing with nine average hunters sounded better than dealing with one Zoe Nightshade.
“Let’s go,” Thalia ordered her companions, breaking off towards the right. Her years of fleeing monsters through forests and all kinds of terrain really came in handy, as the forest floor did little to encumber her. She couldn’t say the same for her companions, but that was fine. She could take the Hunters by herself if she needed to. Besides, Aegis was always a nice opening move in any fight. Before her opponents could flinch, electricity would already be coursing through them.
Blades began to collide off to her left. Silena’s group must have gotten the Hunters' attention. Perfect. She peered through the forest, trying to count the number. Five hunters. That meant there were probably four left ahead. She liked those odds. Her heart rate began to quicken, and the world began to go silent. Her pace picked up once more, leaving her party behind as she ran ahead to scout.
There it was, the silver shimmer of the Hunters’ flag. Still, she knew she couldn’t move too quickly. At least four were waiting in the clearing. Ducking behind a bush, she scanned the outskirts of the area, trying to locate them. Only one guard near the flag. If she was fast she could just swoop in and grab it.
Without warning, the Hunters dropped out of the trees in an ambush attack. That wasn’t completely unexpected. What was surprising were the numbers. Instead of three girls, there were now five, including the one guard at the flag. Thalia scoffed. “Did Zoe really go off on her own to get the flag? I guess she’s even dumber than I thought.”
“I wouldn’t doubt our Lieutenant.” One of the girls said, priming her bow. “Besides, you should worry about us first.”
“As you wish.” Thalia said. Her slowly simmering frustration had turned to a boil. She channeled the lightning coursing through her veins, and her eyes began to crackle. The usually soft hum of electricity had turned into a roar. Her teammates were still far enough away that they couldn’t get caught in the blast. Silena and her team were off to the left fighting their own enemies.
She flashed Aegis to the crowd. Clearly these girls were experienced, but even they couldn’t hide their squint at the hideous likeness of Medusa. It was that split second that it felt like a bomb exploded. Crackling from the tip of her spear shot out in every direction, striking everything in its path, responding directly to her emotions. The hunters dashed for cover, but even their swiftness was no match for the lightning headed straight for them.
It wouldn’t be enough to kill them, not spread out over that distance. As much as she’d like to, Artemis would have her head. That was a sister feud she didn’t want to deal with. Still, it would be enough to immobilize them and singe their eyebrows. Nearby trees began to catch fire in response to the flurry of strikes that were emanating from the tip of her weapon. Normally, summoning that much lightning would fatigue her, but instead, the electricity seemed to fuel her even more. In this state, she felt like she could have taken on even Zoe by herself. Smirking, she stepped over one of the Hunters who was lying face down in the dirt.
She turned her eyes to the flag only to see…Percy? What the fuck was he doing away from his post? He slammed into a panicked looking Bianca before unceremoniously snatching the flag.
“This better fucking work Seaweed Brain!” Thalia shouted, blood boiling.
Percy just shot her a mischievous smirk. That idiot, he never listened to instructions. She was going to kill him when this was over.
He barely made it ten yards before tripping over himself. One of the girls she had electrocuted must not have been as stunned as the rest, as the Hunter used an arrow as a tripwire to slow Percy’s escape. As angry as she was, Thalia dashed over to help him. She could chew him out
after
they had won.
Before she could get close enough, the putrid smell of sulfur caused her eyes to water, and sent her into a coughing fit. Even yards away, Percy wrinkled his nose while he struggled to get up.
“No fair!” Thalia managed to choke out. “Fart arrows are unsportsmanlike!”
Percy had returned to his feet and now he began to sprint. He wasn’t as fleet of foot as she was, but he was still incredibly fast in his own right. Silver arrows lodged themselves in trees as he weaved between them, but he remained unscathed. Looking past him, her heart sank. Coming from the opposite direction, with the green and blue Camper flag, was Zoe Nightshade. Percy would never make it across the creek before she did.
Staggering after her were Beckendorf from the Hephaestus cabin and Nico Di Angelo, both too far away to do anything. The Hunters began to cheer as Thalia felt her soul turn to lead. They were going to lose to the Hunters, and it was all Percy Jackson’s fault, again. Sure enough, as Percy approached the creek, Zoe crossed, slamming into him like a linebacker for good measure. The beautiful camper flag, now turning to the Hunters’ dazzling silver, officially marked their victory.
“The Hunters win!” Chiron announced bitterly. “For the fifty-sixth time in a row.”
Thalia’s thoughts glazed over as her vision singled in on one person. She felt the roar of electricity return to her, flitting around her form like some kind of shield. “Perseus Jackson!” She roared. This was her second chance to make things right, to do what she should have at Westover Hall.
All of the campers except Percy cowered from Aegis, and even he gave a few uncomfortable glances to the side as he scrambled to his feet again.
“What in the name of the gods were you THINKING!” She bellowed.
Percy clenched his jaw and balled his fists. In the back of her mind, Thalia appreciated his willingness to fight. This wouldn’t be fun otherwise. “I got the flag, Thalia!” He shook the silver banner in her face. “I saw a chance and I took it!”
“I WAS AT THEIR BASE!” She yelled. “But then their flag was gone! If you hadn’t butted in, we would’ve won.”
“You had too many on you!”
“Oh, so it’s my fault now? I had them stunned.”
“Do you really believe that?” Percy’s voice began to rise. “They weren’t exactly stunned when they shot that tripwire, or when they shot that noxious arrow.”
“Argh!” Thalia exclaimed. Anger crackled in her ears and she pushed Percy backward toward the water. On contact, the energy dancing on her fingers shot into his body, turning a normal shove into a truly monstrous affair. He flew backwards over ten feet, landing unceremoniously on his rear. Many of the Hunters stifled chuckles.
Percy’s glare darkened. A massive wave erupted from the creek, slamming directly into Thalia’s face, dousing her head to toe.
“Enough!” Chiron ordered. “We can deal with this later.”
His plea fell on deaf ears. Thalia held out her spear, shaking the water out of her eyes. Percy clearly wanted to fight, and she would happily oblige. “You want some, Seaweed Brain?”
The murderous glare that graced his features made his previous scowl seem childish in comparison. Black flames began to flicker in his eyes before slowly surrounding his entire figure.
“Only one person is allowed to call me that.” He growled. “And that person is not you.”
He raised Riptide, which now sported a black streak right down the middle. If she allowed him to use whatever new abilities he had, she’d be done for. She chuckled as she remembered that they were on the edge of the creek. Normally, that would be advantageous for her current opponent, but water and electricity were simply a match made in heaven for her.
She channeled a strike directly towards his chest, forcing him to take a step back. The smell of burning fabric pierced her nostrils as she surveyed the damage. Percy’s shirt had now turned into charred scraps, exposing his chest. Rapidly fading lightning marks adorned his skin, with the epicenter at the point of impact.
“Thalia, Percy!” Chiron pleaded.
His pleas were once again ignored. Percy’s eyes began to glow, his irises flickering between black and a muddy green. The creek began to rise, hundreds of gallons of water flowing with the smallest gesture of his hands. For the first time, Thalia’s hands trembled at the sight before her. She had wondered what he looked like truly unhinged, and the boy before her could have been confused for a god to the untrained observer. She swallowed her unease. Her plan would be the same. Electrify the water when it makes contact.
Percy tensed his hand and Thalia knew that this would be her golden opportunity. She sent another bolt directly into the growing mass of water that was now hanging over them both. She felt the energy leave her hand and her chest heaved. Two bolts of that intensity felt like she had just run a marathon, but it was all she could do to prevent what was inevitably coming.
The water splashed harmlessly back onto the forest floor and into the creek as the electricity found its way into Percy’s veins. Lightning patterns adorned his naked chest, but a grimace was all her attack had gotten out of him. Still, releasing his hold on the water was confirmation that he at least found it uncomfortable.
Before she could feel too disappointed, something even stranger happened. Percy breathed a small sigh, acknowledging the stalemate, and melted into the shadows. One second turned to two, and the tension was palpable. The only person who showed any reaction, much to Thalia’s surprise, was Zoe. Her face drained of color, as though she had just received confirmation of something awful.
While Thalia was distracted, the point of Riptide suddenly appeared at her throat, the winning position in any sparring match. Percy’s usual smirk adorned his face, and the aura of black flames had completely dissipated.
“I win,” he said simply.
“How…how did you do that?” Thalia stammered. “You…you just vanished and then appeared out of thin air!”
Percy shrugged nonchalantly. “No idea. I just felt really pissed off when I realized using water was just going to end in stalemate. I felt the shadows calling to me, almost like souls do sometimes. Then, next thing I knew, I was in front of you.”
“So, it just happened?” Thalia asked.
Percy nodded. Thalia shoved his chest.
“Next time, use that to get the enemy’s flag! Then, you wouldn’t even need to worry about running.”
“The opening was there! And it’s not like I could have done that before anyhow.”
“Okay, okay,” Chiron now physically stepped in between them. “We can talk about what happened later.”
Percy’s eyes began to droop, and before anyone could react, he unceremoniously collapsed to the ground. The only thing anyone could make out was some kind of slurred request for a nap, which got a snort out of Thalia.
“Take him to the infirmary.” Chiron ordered. “Thalia, I think it’s best if we call lights out for the campers a little early tonight.” He looked over at a still pale Zoe. “It appears I may be in for a long discussion with our guests.”
Thalia almost wanted to argue, but after one look at the charred trees she decided there had been enough collateral damage for the night. She looked down at Percy’s now prone form. Even the water was not providing him the usual boost of energy. Her heart began to twist in knots. It was stupid what she was about to do, but time was running out.
She had a short window. After instructing the Hephaestus kids to get Percy to the infirmary, packing up her things and sneaking out was relatively easy. She didn’t need much other than some drachmas, her weapons, and some other supplies she usually stored in her backpack anyway. Earlier that morning, she had agreed she’d leave with Percy to go rescue Annabeth, but now, with him out of commission, she needed to head off on her own. She’d only hope he’d understand when he woke up. She hastily scrawled a note explaining what happened. No one ever came into her room in the Big House anyway, no one except Percy, who would no doubt be looking for her once he woke up.
I’m sorry I went off on my own. I hope you’ll understand. Don’t worry about me. I can handle things on my end. You just make sure the Hunters don’t kill the campers. I’ll be back soon.
She debated back and forth on adding an apology line. She was sorry their fight got that intense, but she still stood by her claim that he lost them the game, a nearly unforgivable sin in its own right. Still, she couldn’t calm the gut feeling that it might be a while before she would see him again. She tried to ignore the ache in her chest, desperately hoping her instincts were wrong.
P.S. I’m sorry we fought. Just…please stay safe.
She let out a sigh. Now that her departure letter felt complete, it was time to go save Annabeth.
____
She desperately needed some sleep. She wanted to take a quick nap in the airport, but every time she closed her eyes she felt like the walls were closing in around her. Stupid. Why couldn’t she relax? She hadn’t been on her own like this since she was twelve. The dark circles under her eyes betrayed her fatigue, but the open space kept her rhythmically checking behind her back. It was roughly 2 in the morning, and she still hadn’t completely recovered from the day’s events. But none of that mattered now. Annabeth was running out of time. Boarding opened for her flight and she heaved a sigh of relief. Maybe with a smaller space to keep track of, she could feel more secure. Thankfully, she was in an aisle seat, so she wouldn’t be taunted by the window reminding her about how high she was in the air.
Despite the crowded flight, the plane felt eerily silent. Thalia’s eyes kept darting around the plane in search of any threats, but none of them materialized. She took a deep breath. Still, the tension in her muscles simply refused to dissipate. An eerie feeling of dread hung over her. Ever since she left the boundaries of camp, she felt like she was being watched. The plane felt like it was oddly crowded for a red-eye flight, but she chalked it up to flying into San Francisco.
An unnaturally tall flight attendant with a French accent gave the pre boarding safety check. He stood over seven feet tall, and he had to hunch over to safely maneuver between the aisles. With his waxy complexion, he looked mildly unsettling, but the strangest thing was his stare. The entire presentation, he never broke eye contact, not even to blink. Thalia squirmed in her seat, attempting to avoid the attendant’s glance. The man seemed vaguely familiar, and not in a good way, but every time she tried to focus on his face, it would get blurry, as though it was being obscured from her.
She closed her eyes and began searching for the thread of the Mist. It was unnaturally condensed on the man’s face, but any attempt to manipulate it was met with solid, immoveable resistance. Her carry-on was stowed underneath the seat in front of her, a fact she was becoming more grateful for by the second. She quickly grabbed her can of Mace, which contained her spear, from the front pocket.
For the first time in her life, she would have preferred a sword as she mentally prepared herself for an upcoming fight. In close quarters, she’d have limited maneuverability, and whilst her weapons wouldn’t hurt the mortals on the flight, if she blasted the plane out of the sky, everyone aboard would die in a fiery explosion. She cursed herself for her admittedly rushed plan. There was a reason quests were never undertaken alone, and it was becoming more apparent by the minute why this was a foolish idea.
The plane lurched forward in preparation for take off. The options rattled around in her mind. She could break the window and jump out now, but risk being late to rescue Annabeth, or she could take her chances fighting this monster. Her pounding heart pleaded with her to run, to go get help from camp and then leave, but she swallowed her anxiety. Time was of the essence, and if anything happened to Annabeth, she’d never forgive herself for running away. At least if she died for her efforts, it wouldn’t be her problem anymore.
The rumbling of the runway got louder, and takeoff was imminent. Thalia sat back in her seat, observing the strange flight attendant. Her choice was made, now it was just about execution. The uncomfortable lurch as the plane took flight turned her stomach to knots. She hated heights, even if she was on a plane in which she’d be relatively safe. In the past, she would’ve found the courage to trust her dad, considering she was now visiting home, but she pushed the absurdity out of her mind.
“First time flying, dear?” The old lady next to her asked. “Here, take this.” She pulled a stick of gum out of her pocket and handed it over. “It helps with your ears.”
Thalia just nodded and popped the gum in her mouth. Spearmint. It wasn’t her absolute favorite, but she appreciated the longevity of mint above other flavors, and considering the long flight ahead of her, it was a nice gesture.
She opened her mouth to respond, but found it nearly impossible. Instead, she opted for a simple thank you sign, to which the lady happily reciprocated. That was another sign she desperately needed a nap, as her ability to speak aloud had greatly diminished. Thalia sighed. There wouldn’t be any sleeping on this flight, not if she needed to keep an eye on the monstrous flight attendant.
As the plane reached cruising altitude, her eyes began to get heavy. It was the only part of the flight she truly felt comfortable with. The air seemed calm, and it felt like she was returning home. The rhythmic chewing of gum slowly lulled her brain into an uneasy sleep as her body demanded a reprieve. The back of her mind was screaming at her that a fight was imminent and that she needed to stay awake, but eventually the overwhelming tsunami of fatigue overtook her.
“Well isn’t this an interesting development?”
Thalia shot awake. Was that Dr. Thorn’s voice, on the plane? She began connecting the dots. The tall man, familiar voice, and required masking? How could she be so stupid. She tensed, taking in the being crouched in the aisle next to her seat.
“What do you want?” Thalia shot back.
“Not much. I sense you already know your situation.” Thorn said, still dressed in his ridiculous flight attendant garb. “Do you think you could take me alone? I’ll admit I have not fully healed, but my master was very generous in aiding my recovery.”
Thalia’s mind began to race. Thorn stood directly in the aisle, blocking any means of escape. Her can of Mace could come in handy, but with the limited space, she’d be a step slow. A step she didn’t have when it came to the crazy fast, spike-throwing Manticore.
“Why didn’t you stop me immediately?” Thalia asked, trying to stall for time.
“I had to wait until we were in the air.” Thorn explained icily. “I’m under strict orders to bring you in alive…unfortunately.”
“What if I refuse to cooperate?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, demigod.” Thorn sneered, flashing his tail. “I could kill you in an instant, and besides, you and the other girl were requested as a package deal. Plus, you wouldn’t want anything to happen to the daughter of Athena now, would you?”
Thalia’s blood turned to ice. She was a hostage. For a brief moment, she found the humor in getting caught by the same monster as Percy, but the hopelessness quickly reared its ugly head.
“I could jump out of the plane.” Thalia threatened. Although as she made the threat she immediately knew that wouldn’t be an option. The thought of plummeting to her death nearly made her sick on the spot. Add in her lack of faith in her father and the threat was little more than empty words. Still, Thorn found some amusement in it.
“Go ahead.” He urged. “Run away, I’ll kill everyone on this plane. I do hope your father will save you this time. After all, everybody deserves a second chance, right?”
The mockery nearly sent her over the edge. Electricity began to crackle in her fingertips before she felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. Even if she could launch enough volts into Thorn, he’d kill her instantly. Plus, she’d bring down the entire plane in the process.
“Where are you taking me?” Thalia asked, trying to keep her voice calm.
“Oh nowhere in particular.” he said with a waxy smile. “But if you cooperate you will be united with your friend. If not, well, your escape means her death.”
Thunder boomed, rattling the plane. The color drained from Thalia’s face at the reminder that she was, in fact, 30,000 feet in the air. Thorn just laughed.
“Scared of heights are we? Ironic isn’t it. Perhaps you demigods fear your parents. I don’t blame you.” Then, his waxy glare turned to steel. “Now, I’m only going to say this once. Come with me, or everyone on this plane
and
the daughter of Athena dies.”
She hated herself for it, but for the first time since her transformation, she prayed to her father for help. If he wanted to, he could save these people.
Father, I haven’t asked for much, but please protect this plane.
Her electric glare turned towards Dr. Thorn, who was still standing there, expectantly awaiting an answer.
The humming of electricity began to sync itself with her heartbeat. Flickers of light cascaded across her arms. It would be dangerous, but it was her only option. She screamed and unleashed the force of a thousand bolts straight into Dr. Thorn.
As the world faded to black around her, all she could ascertain was that she was falling. Flaming parts of the plane surrounded her. The cacophony of screams betrayed the destruction she had wrought. The plane was gone, and everyone was plummeting to their deaths. The last thing she heard before she lost consciousness was an icy French voice that said “Nice try.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The worst part was the screaming. He was comfortable in the water. He knew how it worked, how it moved. This was different. At first, the shadows were so enticing, promising him victory, but as he entered their grasp, the screaming of the damned overtook him. They threatened to overwhelm his resolve and dissolve his body, ghostly hands reaching out, taking little pieces of him each time they made contact. Then, as his anger refocused his mind on Thalia, the transparent hands vanished and he found himself in control again. Her image pierced his mind, and suddenly he knew where he was. Light pierced through the endless darkness he had melted into, and suddenly he was exactly where he imagined, right inside her guard, with his sword at her throat. It was as if he just transported there in an instant. As though he blended the lines between the physical and spiritual world. The form of travel felt unnatural, as though the human body was not meant to experience anything beyond the physical world, experiencing spiritual things in the flesh. Yet even the joy in his sudden victory was not enough to dissipate the fatigue that now shook his bones. His eyes felt as though they were made of lead, and the alien feeling of his soul now resettling itself in his body permeated throughout. The voices around him began to fade, and before he knew it, the ground was rapidly approaching. ____Streaks of fire painted the night sky. The cacophony of screams confirmed the recent disaster. Right at the center was Thalia, her limp body slung over the shoulder of Dr. Thorn. Immediately, he went to cry out for her, but he found his mouth unable to open, his screams of despair trapped within his mind. “I’ll admit, that was a nice try, daughter of Zeus.” Thorn said. “Still, it was all for naught, and all you have to show for it are the corpses of these mortals.”If Thalia heard anything, she didn’t show it, her limp body remaining motionless on Thorn’s shoulder. A glowing red portal opened underneath the plummeting pair, and immediately they vanished. Just like Annabeth had over the cliff. As though an invisible puppet master had overridden his nervous system, Percy followed without any choice of his own, although it’s what he would have done had he been given the chance.Immediately, the air felt suffocating. Water pressure didn’t affect him, but his mortal textbooks had described the immense pressure at the bottom of the ocean being enough to immediately crush any soul unfortunate enough to find himself in the depths. For the first time, he began to understand that feeling. The ever thickening fog felt as though he was walking through syrup. The familiar dingy gray of Annabeth’s jail cell came into view, right in the heart of the fog. Percy’s heart sank as he realized Thalia was now doomed to the same fate. Thorn unlocked the cell with a grin, clearly eager to drop off his new cargo. “Thalia!” Annabeth rushed forward. “What happened?”Blood trickled from the corner of Thalia’s mouth, but at least she managed a groan as Thorn roughly set her on the ground. “I wouldn’t try talking to her, silly girl.” Thorn sneered, slamming the cell door. “She’s massacred a plane full of mortals. Lots of good that did her.”Annabeth’s icy glare betrayed the enmity in her soul. “Go to Tartarus.” “That’s it? No hello?” Thorn feigned offense.“The answer is still no. I’m not joining your army.” She said, still huddled over Thalia“I see your mother’s wisdom was not passed down.” Thorn mocked. “It is the only sensible option.”“Death would be a better option.”Thorn’s wicked glare made Percy shudder, but Annabeth held firm. “Oh, if it was only death facing you, I would agree. Alas, a fate much worse than death awaits you if you do not cooperate. You are one of the three mortals alive who have seen the Fields of Punishment, yes?”Annabeth’s eyes shot daggers in response as she clenched her jaw. Still, she said nothing.Thorn just laughed. “Oh my. It is the stubborn ones which are the most fun to break. Let me just promise you this. There are some tortures that can only be inflicted on those who still possess a body.” “Go fuck yourself.”“Let’s see if you’re still saying that by tomorrow night.” Thorn promised, eyes glinting. He swiftly turned and left the cell room, his footsteps echoing ominously off the narrow halls.As the echoes dissipated, Annabeth shot into action. Hidden in the corner of the room was a small, very squashed, but still very edible square of ambrosia. How she had smuggled it in was a mystery, but Percy wasn’t going to be the one to question her. “Sorry about this,” Annabeth apologized, before stuffing half of the square into Thalia’s mouth. Thalia’s jaw remained slack, the extent of her exhaustion evident, prompting Annabeth to manually chew for her.Immediately, the color began to return to her face as the ambrosia began to work its godly magic. Thalia’s eyes fluttered open and she began coughing, red drops of blood escaping with each breath. “Careful,” Annabeth chided. “Even ambrosia doesn’t work instantly.”“Annie?” Thalia questioned, but her voice was still weak and raw. “Where am I? I thought I lost you.”Annabeth pursed her lips, as though she was reminded of her uncomfortable predicament. “Welcome to the aptly named Mountain of Despair.” She said bitterly. What little coloring had returned to Thalia’s face was immediately flushed upon her realization. She began rocking slightly, almost rhythmically, as she grappled with the new reality in front of her, the cascade of endless fears threatening to overtake her. “Then…I was captured, too?”A slight nod from Annabeth was all she got in response. An uncomfortable silence permeated the cell. The hopelessness began to mimic the heavy air, as though it was laced within every single inch of this place. Still, Annabeth’s fidgeting gave Percy hope that she was at least strategizing something, as the faster her brain was whirring, the harder it was for her to sit still.“Let the ambrosia do its work. We can plan in the morning. You’re still too injured to move.” Annabeth said, cutting into the silence.Thalia opened her mouth to protest, but Annabeth just shoved the remainder of the square into it. She chewed slowly, as though she was savoring something amazing she would never get the opportunity to enjoy again. “Fine,” she said blearily. “But you’re telling me everything in the morning.”Immediately, Annabeth guided her to the marble slab that was the bed, and despite the awful accommodations, Thalia fell asleep instantly. The tugging on Percy’s back became irresistible as he felt himself pulled by invisible strings down the hallway. His mind swarmed with millions of things he wanted to say, but like before, he found himself unable to speak. Instead, the image of Thalia crashed on the marble burned itself into his mind, unwilling to ever be forgotten.The narrow hallway gradually became wider and wider, until the walls disappeared completely. Coming fully into the open space, Percy’s stomach dropped, as he recognized one of the two figures in front of him. Memories of his past encounters with Luke Castellan flooded him, threatening to overwhelm his already fragile state. He needed information, every bit he could get to hatch a rescue mission. Above the second figure was the epicenter of the choking fog. Constellations, both new and old, were woven throughout, as though the cosmos itself was contained in this one location. The patterns swirled around, but they always returned to the center, directly above the second figure. He towered over Luke, at least twice his height, at least normally. Now, he appeared mildly uncomfortable under the weight, standing in a slightly hunched position.“They are unwilling to join us.” Luke said. “It is as I suspected.” the figure said. “You do remember our…contingency plan? It was your request that they even be given a chance. Now you must deliver on your end.”The color drained from Luke’s face at that suggestion, but he kept his voice steady. “Yes. I remember. And if the plan doesn’t work?”“That isn’t my problem. It was your foolish idea to let the girls live in the first place.”A sheen of sweat formed on Luke’s forehead. “And as for the goddess?”“She is currently in custody as we speak.”At that, Luke seemed to relax slightly. “Do not worry. We will relieve you of your burden soon.”The towering figure sighed. “It has been millennia since I have had a rest. Just remember, I did not approve of your plan. Nevertheless, a great general will give his subordinates the chance to prove their brilliance. If you fail, there will not be a second.”Luke tensed at the word subordinate . Percy found it mildly hilarious that the demigod who fled the gods for maltreatment found himself in the role of servant once again. Still, a sense of sick satisfaction overtook Percy as he realized Luke’s insatiable desire to destroy had only led him back to the place he started.“Yes, general.” Luke sneered, not even attempting to hide his disdain for the man. “I won’t need one.”Static began to fill the vision, creating an impenetrable barrier to further eavesdropping. Percy cursed. His mind began furiously working, only to come up empty. He still didn’t know Luke’s plan. Only that the girls and Artemis were in trouble, and they had until morning to figure out an escape route. However, the world did not fade like it usually did at the end of his dreams. Instead, the scene changed to something completely different. He groaned internally. The dream was in black and white, which meant he wouldn’t be getting anything interesting from it. Instead, it would either be a reliving of his worst memories, or something nonsensical. He hoped it would be the latter.Immediately, he recognized the scene. It was the night Thalia returned to the land of the living. The sea of regret threatened to drown him like it always did when this memory made an appearance. He couldn’t believe his own short-sightedness in hiding the truth from her, even if it was a lose-lose scenario. The first part of the memory was always the worst. Not because it was the most challenging to watch, but rather, because it was merely a tease at what could have been if he decided to be honest. His favorite blue hoodie on her body was a sight that would never exhaust him. But no matter what, the fight at the Big House would always end whatever there was between them, and she would throw it back at him. The internal war continued to wage in his mind, which made this dream the worst of all. How do you atone for mistakes that weren’t really mistakes? Especially when all attempts at explanation were met with stonewalling and deflection? The desolate isolation was by far the pinnacle of suffering, at least in Percy’s mind. Ever since that day, that blue hoodie had remained unworn. Percy had placed it on the bunk in the corner of his cabin. He couldn’t bear to wear it after Thalia had ripped it off of herself and thrown it back at him, but he was unable to abandon it because of the wealth of memories it contained. Even if it was just for a short time. Quality over quantity, and all that.He hadn’t even considered what his future might look like. Once Annabeth had spilled the beans in the Sea of Monsters, he assumed his days were numbered. Her refusal to give him the potentially darker details of the prophecy confirmed all he needed to know. Chiron, despite his sincerity, treated him as though he was a lamb being prepped for slaughter. Every moment was a gift. After all, apparently it had been a mistake that he was even born. An accident, and because of the sins of his father, he’d be required to pay the toll with his blood.But despite his rapidly approaching end, he could not find it within himself to push away those he held dear, which only made the impending departure even more painful. It all started with Annabeth. During their first quest, in a rare moment of candid confession, she revealed her desire to create something permanent. Then, when he saved her from the sirens, he truly understood what she meant. At first, he had thought it was just about designing interesting buildings and monuments, but when given the opportunity to see what she truly desired above all else, it was her family. The fear of abandonment had shattered her foundation, and she was desperately trying to pick up the pieces. However, despite the obvious choices of Thalia, Luke, and both of her parents, Percy was notably absent from the picture. He wasn’t hurt by the realization, although he thought he might have been. It wasn’t her fault she already prepared herself for his impending demise. Maybe it would be better if he did the same.Yet, despite his efforts to lose himself in training, the internal struggle intensified. The only time he could ever be himself was in those precious moments in his mind that he could be with someone who truly understood, and yet who also sought escape just as fervently. Those moments simply could not be ignored or forgotten. Moments that normal teenagers could share with one another. The simple joy felt as he could pretend the bone crushing pressure upon him was little more than an uncomfortable illusion. The tantalizing taste of normalcy simply refused to be forgotten.However, those fantasy moments transfigured themselves into reality once Thalia found herself in the real world. She wasn’t just a soul anymore. Instead, the beautiful girl he shared joyous laughs with found herself in Percy’s arms. In that moment, the enticing thoughts of a potential future began to crack the impenetrable dam that was his mind. For the first time in his waking state, he felt the suffocating pressure dissipate, leaving him with the beaming face of Thalia Grace in its place.Then, almost immediately, his inkling of a dream found itself in pieces at his feet. The truth that he had been meticulous in avoiding had shattered the tenuous wall he had constructed to keep her safe. It was all he wanted to do, even if there were truly no future ordained for him, he wanted to guarantee his friends could live long lives. If he truly ended up in Elysium, he could always explain himself there, where the sufferings of life were little more than unpleasant memories to share a drink over.Silent tears began to pour from his eyes. Now, Thalia and Annabeth were in mortal danger. He didn’t know how to help, and what's worse, he was trapped within his own mind. All because he couldn’t keep his cool in a relatively unimportant game of Capture the Flag. Even if their sacrifices could miraculously guarantee him the future he so desperately craved, he would never consider that horrific option.For the first time, he was grateful for the tears, as it helped obscure the scene in front of him. Maybe it would help the freshly reopened wound begin to heal properly. Things would never go back the way they were, but he wouldn’t have a chance for restitution if he couldn’t find a way to rescue the girls.Whether it was a few minutes, or a few days, he wasn’t really sure. The machinations of his thoughts obscured his sense of time, but the sudden coloring of the dream alerted him of the shift. He was back in Thalia and Annabeth’s cell, and the sun was poking through the singular, small window. “That should do it.” Thalia said. She was still pale, and sweat glistened on her forehead. “Luke taught me how to pick locks before we met you.”“Shame he didn’t teach me.” Annabeth pouted. “But I’ll wait to complain until we escape. We should hurry though. I’m sure they’ll be back demanding an answer from us soon.”They eased opened the creaky door to the cell and quickly started down the hall, anxiously checking around corners for threats and monsters, but none came. If anything, it felt as though the hall itself was directing them towards the massive clearing. A pit began to form in Percy’s stomach. Luke wouldn’t just let them escape. He was too smart for that. A blood curdling masculine scream echoed throughout the hall, as though the source was being tortured. Annabeth and Thalia looked at each other, reaching a silent agreement. They quickened their pace, no longer caring about checking for threats. Only one thing was on their minds: reaching the source of the scream as quickly as possible.Despite the vast expanse of the hall, they were able to reach the end in just a few minutes. Not even their ragged breathing provided a hindrance, as they were clearly powered by the newfound adrenaline of freedom.Percy’s heart immediately sank as he recognized the clearing. It was the same place as the night before, where Luke and the second figure discussed their plan. The vast expanse of the oppressive fog remained just like before, only this time, the second figure was nowhere to be seen. Instead, in his place, stood Luke Castellan, sweat dripping from his brow, his back hunched to an unnatural degree, and shaky legs that looked as though they could give out at any moment.What looked like a mild burden the night before had clearly intensified beneath the weaker being. Instead of finding a relative calm on the back of the second figure, it looked as though the sky had whipped itself into a frenzy, burrowing itself into Luke. Percy’s stomach dropped. It wasn’t just an oppressive fog, it was the sky itself. Which meant the other figure was the Titan Atlas, now free from his prison. “Thalia, Annabeth!” Luke choked, tears and sweat shining on his face. “Please, help!” The girls rushed forward, despite Percy’s best attempt to scream that he was a traitor. A realization that this must have been Luke’s plan made Percy utterly sick. An unstoppable tragedy was about to unfold in front of him, and he could do little more than be a spectator.“What happened?” Thalia asked, voice hesitant, as though she was desperately trying to trust the boy in front of her.“They left me here.” Luke groaned. “Please, it’s killing me.”At that admission, the sky grew even more anxious to escape its prison, dropping Luke to his knees as he desperately fought against the weight of the sky. “Why should we trust you?” Annabeth glared. Percy’s hopes lifted. Maybe Annabeth wouldn’t forgive so easily. Maybe they wouldn’t fall into Luke’s trap.“You shouldn’t.” Luke admitted. “I’ve been terrible to both of you, but I did what I had to in order to return Thalia to life.”Annabeth and Thalia stood silently, looking like children who had touched the hot stove one too many times, and yet, were desperately hoping this time would be different. The sky forcefully pushed into Luke’s back, forcing him even deeper, his face now parallel with the ground. It was Thalia who acted first.She shoved Annabeth behind her, separating them, before joining Luke beneath the burden of the sky. For a brief moment, Percy felt the weight of the world tip, as though the entire cosmos had left the delicate balancing act that was maintaining the universe. It should have been impossible, but the sky began to weave itself through her the same way, trying to force her down to the ground. “Help. Me.” Thalia gritted, struggling visibly as sweat dripped from her forehead.Instead, Luke rolled free. “Thanks for that.” He said, shakily rising to his feet. “I knew I could count on you guys.”“LUKE!” Annabeth yelled. Luke turned and shot her a sinister smile. “Oh, don’t worry, her help is already here. Until then, try not to die. Thorn, take care of Annabeth. Keep her safe from what’s about to transpire.”Annabeth rushed forward, likely to help prevent Thalia from crumbling under the burden of the sky, but a spike appeared from the shadows, striking her directly in the foot. She shrieked, struggling against the spike that pierced her flesh. But other than a rapidly growing pool of blood, her foot remained pinned to the spot.“I said to keep her safe.” Luke growled. “Was that really necessary?”“Did you really want both of them to labor under the weight of the sky? The insolent girl was about to try and take the burden.”Luke clenched his jaw, but said nothing. “Just make sure she doesn’t bleed to death.”“Why would you do this!?” Annabeth exploded. “What happened to family, Luke!?”Luke’s steps faltered, halting his unsteady march out of the room. One moment turned to two. The only sound in the room was Thalia’s pained groans. Luke sagged against the opening of the hall. “You’ll understand one day. I’m doing this for you.”“Like fucking hell you are. Just what are you planning?”He glanced back, flashing a sad smile, as though he was dealing with a younger sibling who would never truly understand him. “You’ll see.” He pushed off the wall and continued out of the room, leaving Thalia to struggle under the increasingly volatile sky. Hot pin pricks of rage pierced Percy’s skin. He felt the dream itself begin to shake as he willed himself to either wake up, or reach through the dream and drag Luke back with his bare hands. He would’ve been satisfied with either outcome. Cracks began to form on the edge of the dream, and the color began to fade to gray. The last thing he saw was Artemis, bound in chains, being escorted to take the place of Thalia.____Percy’s eyes shot open. The first thing he noticed was that he was unceremoniously restrained in the hospital bed. Black leather straps that were snug but firm kept his arms from flailing, and his ankles were held in the same manner. Immediately, panic seized upon him. He needed out immediately. Annabeth and Thalia were in danger.“Easy, my boy.” Chiron’s voice sounded from beside the bed, and Percy’s head whipped to catch sight of him. “Calm down. Let me explain.”Percy reluctantly stopped struggling, if only so Chiron could release his restraints. The centaur sighed. “You’ve been asleep for 36 hours. After you and Thalia’s little skirmish, you completely passed out. You were sleeping fitfully, causing massive tremors to shake the med bay. I do apologize my boy, but I hope you understand. Let me release you now.”There were millions of things he wanted to say, but Percy found it difficult to formulate the words necessary. Hopelessness washed over him as he realized the weight of the task ahead. Instead, he opted for the most urgent matter: relaying information.“Thalia’s been captured too.” He choked out as Chiron released his restraints. “We need to go help them.”Chiron’s expression betrayed a sad resignation, but he did not seem surprised. “It seems our enemies have read us like a book. I know you and Thalia had been planning to skip camp.”Percy at least had the decency to look sheepish. “So why didn’t you stop her? She’s been captured. We can’t wait any longer.” He said, trying to control his tone as a war of emotions raged in his chest.“Because I understand, my boy.” Chiron said sadly. His eyes were distant, and for a moment Percy could see the thousands of years of memories he held of his most loyal heroes. “But, I can assure you. Zoe and the Hunters are already on their way. They left yesterday morning, about 24 hours ago.”“Great,” Percy grumbled. “I’m sure they’ll have everything figured out.”“Have some faith in them.” Chiron said, returning to himself as he helped Percy to sit up. “Of all the things they may be, they are at least competent.”“Was this an official quest, with a prophecy and everything?” Chiron sighed. “Yes, it was. Although I need to discuss some things with you before you go.”“And if I refuse?” Percy glared. “I need to go get them.”“I suppose I couldn’t physically stop you, but I’ll tell you the prophecy,” he paused, as if choosing his next words carefully, “as well as what’s going on with your…unusual heritage.”Percy’s thirst for information began to wrestle with his desire to leave immediately. He didn’t want anything more than Luke’s head on a stake, and the girls safely back at camp. They were brilliant, but brilliance would only withstand torture for so long. His heart wrenched at the thought of their minds being broken by whatever twisted methods Luke could come up with. Sure, Mr. D could fix them, but Percy didn’t have any faith that the useless drunk would actually do anything about it. Still, if he was going to unofficially go on his quest, he needed to know the prophecy. While they weren’t determinative, they could provide enough guidance to speed up his journey. Plus, he needed to figure out what was going on with his powers. If he accidentally blended in with the shadows again, he’d end up being worse than useless wherever he went. “Fine,” Percy finally relented. “Please, just tell me what you know.”“Wise choice.” Chiron nodded. “Now then, I’ll start with the mystery of your father. Have you ever heard of the Mycenaeans?”Percy wracked his brain, but came up empty. “Not really, why?”“Because they are the key to the mystery. You remember the Trojan War, yes?”“Of course.”“Excellent. The so-called Age of Heroes was actually a time of Mycenaean Greece. They were the precursors to Ancient Greece.”Percy scrunched his eyebrows. “Okay, but how is this important?”Chiron sighed. “The importance, my dear boy, is that most of the information of this era of history has been lost. Even I, who was supposedly alive at the time, cannot remember details with exactness.”“So, like a memory wipe?” Percy asked, trying to wrap his mind around it.Chiron shifted his weight and winced, bringing his hand up to his temples. “I do not know exactly, but the further my mind wanders into the past, the worse it gets.” He pointed towards his head. “Whether this is just the price of immortality or something else, I do not know.”“Okay, so how do we know this then?” “Our dear friend Zoe Nightshade actually.” “What’s so special about her?” The centaur was silent for a moment, debating whether or not to share the information. “She is even older than I.” He began. “She is older than any of the gods. Even amongst the immortal Hunters, she stands as first among equals. She alone has been spared the loss of the past.”“What are you saying?” Percy asked.“From what she has relayed to me, all I have ascertained is that she is the daughter of the titan Atlas. She fled from him after assisting a hero. Afterwards, she was found by Artemis and given a chance to join the Hunt, as the first recruit of a new godly cult. She happily accepted her new calling.”For a brief moment, Percy worried about having a titan in such an important position. Then, he gave himself a mental slap for his idiocy. Chiron, the famous hero trainer, had the Titan King as his father. Thalia would be an awful person by his own logic.“So, being a part of the Hunt protected her from whatever happened?”“That is what I think.” Chiron agreed. “The blessing of Artemis covers all maladies, injuries, and other deleterious effects. Ironically, for Zoe, joining the Hunters was the only way she could ever die.” “What did she say?” Percy said expectantly.“The Mycenaeans did not worship the same gods. They were similar, but distinct in many aspects. Throughout the millennia, these aspects were hidden. Her own existence as one of the Hesperides was also erased in the rewriting of the history books.” Chiron explained. “She mentioned the existence of one deity who could explain the crossover between your affinity for water, while also explaining the recent shadow travel you undertook.”Percy’s mind began to race. Finally, he was getting some answers, and yet he felt his stomach drop. The fear of the unknown threatened to drown him as the significance of his heritage truly began to dawn on him. He was an anomaly even amongst demigods, and he wasn’t sure he liked that reality. Being anomalous usually meant you’d die in painful strange ways. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself and asked the first question to pop into his troubled mind.“So, what I did was shadow travel?” He asked slowly.“Yes.” Chiron confirmed. “It is an ability unique to those from the Underworld. Which now leads me to the next part of the story.” The centaur’s gaze began to flit around the room. “The name of this deity was Posedao Enesidaone .”At the mention of his name, the lights began to flicker, as though the fabric upon which reality was fastened was beginning to unravel. “Poseidon, Shaker of the Earth.” Percy translated effortlessly. “Indeed.” Chiron said. “You can understand the language even better than classical Greek. These are strange times indeed.”A million scenarios began to play out in his mind, none of them good. The whirlwind of emotions he felt was threatening to rip him apart. What if he was just a disaster? A good for nothing? A mistake?“Chiron…am I a…a mistake?” Percy’s fingers twisted into his blanket as his breathing quickened. The centaur closed the distance to his cot and placed a firm hand on Percy’s shoulder. “Of course not my boy. The Fates do not make mistakes. Perhaps they see the unfairness of it all, eh? Even if they did make a mistake, you cannot help the circumstances of your birth. It is what you do that defines you, not your origin alone. If you doubt this, just take a look at me.” Chiron gestured to himself.Percy appreciated the effort, but it did little to quell the memories that surged through him. They reminded him of what he had felt his whole life: like he was an outcast. Thalia and Annabeth were gone, left to the tortures of the enemy. Instead of going with Thalia as planned, he hadn’t controlled himself, and now he was stuck in bed, learning of the mistake of his birth. He blinked back the heat beginning to form behind his eyes. It just wasn’t fair. No matter how hard he fought to adapt, the universe seemed to keep throwing him new pitches he could never hope to hit.Chiron sighed, dropping his hand. “I understand it is difficult. Perhaps in time, you will see that what defines a group, and what unifies it, is not merely the sense of uniformity, but your sense of purpose. Many demigods feel similar to you, Percy, regardless of parentage.” A moment passed in silence. The centaur, in his wisdom, allowed the demigod to collect his thoughts. “Thanks Chiron.” Percy said eventually. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure he believed what he had said, but at least Chiron was being careful with his words for once. “Now then,” Chiron said, a smile breaking on his face. “If you want to rescue Thalia and Annabeth, I think you should know the entirety of the truth about your father.”Percy perked up. “You mean, you’ll let me go?”“I said no such thing.” Chiron said with a wink. “After I tell you everything I know about the former King of the Gods and Lord of the Underworld, I’m going to go on a long walk by the archery range. Who knows what, or who, could get in or out while I’m preoccupied.”Percy understood what that meant, and for the first time since they’d known each other, the lecturing voice of Chiron found itself without any resistance. ____He wanted to leave immediately after Chiron’s exposition. Blackjack was itching to get going, but he couldn’t shake the worry that was gnawing in the back of his mind. Instead, he hurried through in the Big House, the creaking of the wood betraying the age of the place. He found himself outside of Thalia’s room. No matter how much he tried to dry them, his palms simply refused to stop sweating. No one, not even Mr. D, was allowed in, and no one had ever dared try lest they get electrocuted. Yet, every time he tried to ignore the call, it grew stronger, threatening to overwhelm him if he didn’t go through with it. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding in his heart, and opened the door. It was about as he expected. On the walls were album covers of all her favorite bands, including the likes of Blink 182, The Offspring, and Green Day. Her clothes were scattered throughout the room, another sign of her rapid departure. While he didn’t want to go snooping, the graphic tees, ripped jeans, and fishnets thrown about the room were impossible to miss. Then he saw it. Right on top of her pillow, scrawled in pen, was the note she had left him. I’m sorry I went off on my own. I hope you’ll understand. Don’t worry about me. I can handle things on my end. You just make sure the Hunters don’t kill the campers. I’ll be back soon. Percy’s eyes stung. He didn’t have time for that right now. Why didn’t she understand that no matter what she said, he would still worry about her? His dream betrayed the danger she was in, and her tortured screams pulsed in his mind. His heart broke as his eye caught on the last line. P.S. I’m sorry we fought. Just…please stay safe. He had to go find her. He folded up the note and placed it in his bag, right in the front pocket where it wouldn’t be damaged. At the very least, if she truly was tortured into insanity, he could have this. He brushed the thought away as he stood.He scanned the room one last time, trying to find the one item that he felt was missing. Nothing that was laying out in the open felt right to him, although as to why he couldn’t quite place. He felt as though his subconscious was leading him along, as though he was little more than a limp puppet in the master’s show. Percy began to pace. The black dresser in front of him taunted him, like it was daring him to open it. His hands itched to open a drawer, the top one on the left. He kept pacing, trying to convince himself to leave, but every time he tried to leave the room, his hands would freeze, unwilling to turn the knob. Instead, he found himself at war with his own mind. He did not want to snoop through her things, and especially her clothes, but he could not leave until he did so.He swallowed. If it ended up being a disaster, he could always apologize for it later. Better yet, he could just not tell her what he had done, if possible. His left hand inched towards the drawer handle, the cold brass imprinting on his palm. He took a deep breath. It was now or never. He slowly inched the drawer out, averting his eyes as a precaution. He glanced down into the drawer, expecting to see things that he’d need to apologize for later.Instead, at the very top, was Thalia’s favorite Green Day hoodie. The one she always wore when they were together in his dreams. Percy frowned. As to why she left without it, he wasn’t sure, but the itching in the back of his mind finally ceased as he gently folded it and placed it in his bag. Once she was safe, he would give it back to her. He placed it right next to his favorite blue hoodie, the one that had been crumpled in the corner bunk of his room after Thalia unceremoniously gave it back. He had wanted to leave it, not wanting to dwell on the time they’d spent together, but he always ran hot, and it was by far the most practical choice when it came to fighting monsters, as his winter coat restricted his movement. With one final sigh, and his mind finally calm, he left the Big House. Chiron was nowhere to be seen, as promised, and Blackjack was waiting for him on the lawn. ____As the cold air currents blasted his face, the lines of the prophecy echoed relentlessly, taunting him.
Five shall go west to the goddess in chains
The price of freedom the Titan’s curse strains
Blinded eyes shall set a new stage
Lightning and Ocean dawn the new age
Yet success is not all that can be paved
Two alone cannot be saved.
The last line kept slithering its way into its mind, inflaming his worst fears. He wasn’t exceptionally great at math, but he knew that Thalia and Annabeth were a serious possibility for being the two that could not be saved. His heart began to race as he replayed the events of his dream in his mind. The deep ache of regret began to course through his bones. How could he have been so stupid? Fighting with Thalia right before they were set to leave. Not only that, but then overdoing it in the spirit of something was stupid in hindsight. Because of his actions, she had been forced to undertake their rescue mission alone. Going off on her own, forced to sacrifice general safety precautions for the sake of speed. She had fallen right into the hands of Luke, and she waltzed into an unbeatable trap. He cursed to himself once more, trying to slow his rapidly increasing breathing. He steeled his focus. Right now, they were still alive, and he would personally skin anyone responsible for threatening that. Starting with the son of Hermes. Yo boss. Do you have any idea where they are? We got time for donuts? Blackjack asked.His voice stirred Percy from his strategic musings. They had now been flying for half a day, the late afternoon sun beating down on them. “Yeah, I do.” Percy responded. “Just so you know, the donuts are going to make you fat.”
Whatever boss, with how far we’ve gone I’ll be fine.
“Just keep your eyes peeled. We should be approaching Dallas.”
Sure thing, boss.
“And stop calling me boss. You don’t need to do that.” Percy said, trying to hide his mild amusement.
Whatever you say boss.
Percy just smirked as he spotted a local donut shop, thinking it would be a nice place for Blackjack to rest.“Here you go, buddy. Go crazy.”
Thanks boss!
Blackjack started to divebomb towards the Earth, and Percy could only hope the mortals didn’t notice anything too strange. After all, this was the South. Maybe they thought the Rapture was coming early and the donut shop owner would just hand over the donuts for free. Still, as his stomach began to crawl into his throat he was reminded just how much he hated flying. The ground continued to hurtle towards him, and Blackjack’s excited ramblings became meaningless noise in his mind. Parked outside the shop Percy noticed a black limousine, an oddity at this place and time of day. Percy frowned. Very few things ever struck him as abnormal now, so the odd presence of the limousine sent a shiver down his spine. Sure, maybe it was some high school kids who had rented one for a day-time winter formal, but he figured it probably wasn’t likely. He sighed as Blackjack slowed to landing speed. The edges of the limousine began to flicker, confirming Percy’s fear that this vehicle was not simply some mortals having a party. He began to feel irritable, even more so than usual. His fingers twitched, trying to disperse the nervous energy that was threatening to overtake him. Briefly, he even considered abandoning the donut break just to get to San Francisco faster, but Blackjack would never have forgiven him. And besides that, the itching in his veins yearned for Luke’s blood.Blackjack’s hooves clopped across the asphalt, slowing as they stopped in front of the shop. Percy dismounted and sent the pegasus inside. Was it ridiculous? Sure, but he didn’t really care at this point. Plus, as helpful as he was otherwise, Blackjack could be distracting in a fight. Percy took a deep breath and felt his pocket for Riptide as he approached the limousine, ready to deal with whatever round of immortal bullshit that awaited him.Immediately, the back door opened and a bronze sword appeared at his throat. Percy cursed, and the man responsible for it began to speak.“Not so fast now, are you, punk?”Percy rolled his eyes, huffing a sigh. Ares’ presence explained his sudden irritation, although, even without his godly aura, gutting Luke still seemed like a tantalizing proposition.“What do you want?” Percy scowled, tremors echoing throughout the asphalt.“Careful, punk.” Ares mocked. “Wouldn’t want to hurt the mortals inside, right?” He pushed the blade of the sword deeper into Percy’s neck. “Go fuck yourself.” Percy taunted. “Did you come here for something useful or can I go now?” Ares tsked. “Watch your tongue, brat. I think you’ll want to hear what my lady has to say. Besides, if I kill you, then you can’t rescue your pathetic friends.”The debate raged inside Percy’s mind. Truthfully, he was itching for a rematch, even if he knew how lucky he was the first time. Worst case scenario, maybe Ares would piss him off enough that he’d shadow travel to some random place where he’d be safe. He took a deep breath. Even if that would work, it would take too long to recover from. Thoughts of Thalia’s tortured screams beneath the sky forced his mind to refocus. “Fine.” Percy relented.Ares lowered his sword. “Good choice,” he said. He shot Percy a warning glare. “And mind your manners. She's far less forgiving of rudeness than I am.”Percy just scowled as he climbed into the back of the limousine. Ares vanished out, presumably to give them space. As Ares left, he felt his anger cool to the simmer he had been nursing since Annabeth’s capture. Not entirely pleasant, but manageable enough for one conversation. Looking up to meet his remaining companion, his worries, concerns, and his ability to speak in complete sentences abandoned him. The woman in front of him was wearing a red satin dress that reminded Percy of an old Hollywood movie star. Her hair was curled in a cascade of ringlets, and her face was beauty personified: perfect makeup, starry eyes, and a smile that could’ve lit up the entire galaxy. In the back of his lovesick mind, he managed to piece together that this must be Aphrodite. Who else would be with Ares in the back of a limo?It was incredibly hard to focus on her, as her features seamlessly blended into one another. The faces of all the actresses he had ever thought looked beautiful flashed across her face. It was as if her appearance could be changed at will by both herself, and the one beholden to her presence.Then, the strangest thing of all happened. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was expecting, but when she flashed her winning smile at him, the capricious nature she was sporting suddenly calmed. Her face began to look mildly out of place with her movie star aesthetic. Short, choppy black hair, electric blue eyes, purple lipstick, and a silver nose stud remained her preferred features. To Percy, she looked remarkably like Thalia. He bit back his grief at the cruel reminder of her current predicament. “Ah, there you are.” Aphrodite’s honeyed voice said. “I’ve been waiting for you. Have a seat.”Percy would have liked to say something witty, but the more he searched for the words he wanted to say, the more tongue-tied he became. Instead, he opted for a slight nod and took the seat next to the love goddess.“You’re probably wondering why I’m here.” Aphrodite began. “I’ll get to that. But the question is, why are you here?”Percy took a deep breath and focused into Aphrodite’s eyes. The familiar electric blue, like magic, seemed to dissipate his slowly growing supply of anxious energy. “My friends have been captured. I need to rescue them.”Aphrodite just sighed, like Chiron used to in Latin class when he’d only give the surface level answer. “Yes, that’s part of it. But one doesn’t get my attention for simple friendly loyalty.”“Friendly loyalty?” Percy asked, confused. “What does that mean?”“Oh, my poor boy. You have much to learn.” Aphrodite said, her face pulling into a slight pout. “Feelings are complex, much like yourself. Emotions are like an unreadable sea. I would know, considering I do come from it after all.”Percy tried not to think about the goddess in front of him being the consequence of castration, but it didn’t really help. “Okay, plus I just felt like I was supposed to come. With the upcoming war, Artemis being captured would be really bad too.” He said.Aphrodite pursed her lips. “If you had to sacrifice Thalia to free Artemis, would you?”“What kind of question is that?”Aphrodite just laughed, a light sound that melted through the tension in the limo. “Don’t be coy with me. Don’t worry, I won’t tell the nature goddess if that’s what you’re worried about. She finds the concept of romantic love foolish. It’s no wonder you don’t get along with her little band of Hunters.”“There’s always a third way.” Percy argued. “I don’t know if that’s a fair question.”Aphrodite just sighed and her capricious nature returned. Clearly he wasn’t getting the point of her little game. “Just let me show you something, then maybe you’ll begin to understand.”The scenery changed, and Percy felt like he was falling. The swirling background threatened to unsettle his stomach until he began to recognize their destination. The golden pillars of Olympus were thrust into view, the twelve Olympian gods all sitting on their thrones in the midst of a council meeting.Suddenly, Zeus and Artemis began a heated discussion. Despite straining his ears, he could only make out two words. New Lieutenant . It felt as though he was watching an ancient play, the bittersweet end to a heroic tale. Suddenly, Artemis’ powerful voice echoed throughout the throne room. “I shall have a new lieutenant. If she will accept it.”It was only then that Percy looked at the figures in the center of the throne room. There were four of them, one of which had horns poking through his curly hair on the top of his head. One had curly blond hair, the same hair that was draped over him after he awoke from his fight with the minotaur. Immediately, it became clear that these figures were Grover and Annabeth. The short black hair and silver piercing immediately gave away Thalia’s identity, which only left one option for the boy with the wavy, unruly black hair standing in the middle of the group. Himself. Immediately a million questions began to surface as he wracked his memory for this event. Nothing came even remotely close. There was never a moment that all four of them were on Olympus together. “Is this the future?” Percy asked.“It could be.” Aphrodite said sadly. “Just pay attention to what happens next.”Percy returned his attention to Artemis, who seemed ready to announce her pick as the next lieutenant. “Thalia, daughter of Zeus. Will you join the Hunt?”“I will.” Thalia said firmly.At Thalia’s decision to join the Hunt, the vision began to transform. Instead of the throne room, it was now just a portrait centered in the middle of the frame. Next to the portrait of Zoe Nightshade, there now stood another. It was Thalia, wearing the silver crown of the Lieutenant, ready to lead the current and future generation of Hunters.Percy felt his heart begin to race as he thought about those implications. Zoe, dead ? Thalia as good as gone forever?. Two alone cannot be saved echoed in his mind. Was that what the prophecy meant? It didn’t quite feel complete, but the possibility was enough to send ice shards through his veins.The vision melted away, leaving the comfortable red interior of the limousine as his only backdrop. Oppressive silence hung in the air, the gravity of the vision threatening to crush him. Joining the hunters? Given Thalia’s current feelings about them, it didn’t seem likely. Yet, the possibility pierced his soul. The scariest fact of all was only beginning to sink in. He could not deny the truth of what he had seen. This was more than an illusion. Glancing over, he saw that Aphrodite’s appearance had morphed back to her starlet form.“Outcomes are never fixed.” Aphrodite said sternly, patting his hand. “But in many ways, this could be considered a ‘true’ outcome.”Percy stared at the leather. The rapid beating of his heart threatened to split it in two. “Luke was the reason she didn’t join the first time.” Aphrodite explained. She sighed sadly. “The Hunters feed on bitterness towards men. You saw how Luke betrayed her.” The goddess of love shot him a wink. “That’s where you come in.”“What- what do you mean?” Percy stammered.“Just think, do you want the dagger of unrequited love to bury itself in your soul, tormenting you for the rest of eternity?” Aphrodite mused dramatically. “I’m on your side Percy. Why else would you think I guided you into Thalia’s room?”“Wait a minute, that was you?” Percy asked, head spinning. “I don’t want love, I just want to make sure everyone’s okay.”She laughed, a soft tinkling sound. “Denial is always the first phase. Don’t worry. I’ll give you one last hint.” Shifting, the goddess once again donned short black hair, her eyes changing from a rich brown to an electrifying shade of blue. He gaped open-mouthed as he took in the vision of an adult Thalia sitting before him. She shot him a winning smile, and leaned forward, pressing a small peck to his cheek. “You boys are always so fun.” Righting herself, she snapped her fingers, and the limousine vanished, leaving Percy alone in front of the donut shop. His cheeks felt hot, and his mind was reeling, but one thing was beginning to solidify amongst his tempestuous emotions. He could not let Thalia Grace join the Hunters. Hey boss, Blackjack’s voice pierced his mind. You were totally right! I just walked in and they started mumbling about something called the Rapture and gave me all the donuts in the shop. You’re a genius! Percy let out a short laugh. At the very least, he wouldn’t be down fifty bucks to feed Blackjack’s donut addiction. “Thanks buddy. You ready to go work off those extra calories?”
You bet, boss. I feel great.
“Then let’s go. We’ve gotta get to the Mountain of Despair.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Percy would have preferred to keep going, but Blackjack’s labored breathing betrayed his fatigue. The loyal pegasus would have run himself into the ground before voicing a complaint, but Percy called it a night, landing Blackjack in the parking lot of a little Motel 6. They had made it all the way to Kingman, Arizona, flying at a breakneck pace. Even the mild interruption with Aphrodite hadn’t slowed them down too much, although her cryptic love games gave him a headache whenever he thought about it too hard.
Still, when she had morphed into an adult Thalia and pecked him on the cheek, his heart had done somersaults at the idea of it actually being Thalia. She had teased him with the future he so desperately craved. It was beyond cruel, knowing that his days were numbered. Yet, the hope that the future was not entirely fruitless began to worm its way into the back of his mind. What if Annabeth was wrong? What if the prophecy didn’t actually mean his death? After all, Chiron had told him that prophecies were never determinate, so maybe that meant he could change his fate.
He smacked himself in the face with the hotel pillow. Those thoughts would only make the eventual goodbye more difficult. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to have hope, but every time it reared its head, the despair and hopelessness would follow, leading to him feeling worse than before. Percy glanced around the relatively normal hotel room, appreciating that he had a real bed to sleep in. He had been planning just to sleep out in the cool desert that night, but he found a wad of cash that had been curiously stowed in his bag. It certainly wasn’t his, but he had a sneaking suspicion that the old horse had helped him a bit.
Despite the nice bed, he found himself tossing and turning. Now that Blackjack was going off and doing his own thing for the night, he didn’t have the banter that had kept him preoccupied for most of the day. Instead, he was forced to reckon with the things he had seen. He preferred the numbness that accompanied the acceptance of his death rather than the turmoil he was currently facing.
Eventually, the fatigue struck his body hard, reminding him that he was still human. Evidently, he hadn’t completely recovered from his stint in the shadows. He kept the lamp beside his bed on, both as a precaution for potential monsters, and to silence the fervent whisperings that now called to him whenever he was in darkness. Sleeping while anxious was nothing new to him, but it was the alien sense of eeriness that caught him off guard.
In spite of that, eventually his eyelids began to get heavy, and his ears could no longer hear the desperate whisperings of the damned. His ever increasing trains of thought began to derail, and after what seemed like an eternity, he drifted off into a restless slumber.
____
The gray of Thalia and Annabeth’s dingy cell slowly came into view. There were two sets of chains that had been drilled into the wall. Percy’s heart sank. Those were new installations, which meant that they were intended to be used. He began to struggle, but like before, he found himself unable to move or speak of his own volition, forced to watch another tragic event from the shadows.
The cell door slammed open, shaking the walls and causing debris to fall from the ceiling at the violent impact. Two cyclops stooped to enter the cell, the first one carrying the still struggling form of Annabeth. Her foot was sloppily bandaged, and the linens were already stained red. The second carried a now unconscious Thalia, draped over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Desperation began to fill Percy’s mind as he struggled against the dream. He tried to will himself to wake, to increase the pace, even if it killed him in the process. Yet, despite his best efforts, he found himself firmly rooted to the scene in front of him.
“You’re a monster.” Annabeth shouted.
“Silence.” The cyclops carrying her grumbled. “You were given the terms. You refused to join.”
“Go fuck yourself.” Annabeth spat on the cyclops. “Go back to Tartarus where you belong.”
The cyclops shrugged. “In time.”
The cyclops carrying Thalia carelessly set her on the slab of marble that was the bed, strapping her limp wrists to the set of chains installed directly above her. He pulled out a key and locked the shackles, leaving her arms suspended awkwardly above her head. The only indication she was still alive were the tears streaming down her face.
“Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way.” The cyclops carrying Annabeth said, nodding toward his companion who was still standing over Thalia. “Your choice.”
“Over my dead body.” Annabeth scowled, still trying to struggle free.
“As you wish.”
The cyclops over Thalia struck her in the face, specks of blood now adorning the cold stone floor.
Annabeth’s face went ghost white. The message was clear. “Luke said to keep us safe.” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
“Last I checked, you ain’t dead. Now, last chance. Easy way, or the hard way?”
Annabeth’s eyes filled with unshed tears as she took in Thalia’s now swollen face, small trickles of blood flowing from her cheek. The daughter of Zeus was awake now, but unable to muster the strength to even glare at her abuser. Reality seemed to set in as Annabeth’s head hung and her body went lax.
“Good choice.” The cyclops growled. He gripped her wrists tightly, ignoring Annabeth’s groan of protest, and shoved them upwards into the cuffs. She winced, but remained otherwise silent as he locked the shackles in place, dropping her to her knees and sealing her fate.
“I do hope you’ll reconsider.” The cyclops said. “The next guys won’t be as nice as us.”
With that, they left the cell, slamming the metal door in the process and not even bothering to lock it behind them.
Thalia was pale as a ghost. Her body was completely soaked with sweat, and every part of her was trembling. Percy nearly flinched when she spoke, not expecting her voice to come out as strong as it did. “You should have let them beat me.”
“What?” Annabeth cried, horrified. “I couldn’t do that.”
“Of course you could. Now we’re both trapped. I think it’s obvious what they’re gonna do, isn’t it?” Thalia turned her head to the side and spat blood. “They’re gonna do whatever they need to do to get what they want. They’ll beat me until you join Luke’s army.”
“No…no they wouldn’t.” Annabeth said, gasping. “I can’t let them do that. I can’t let them hurt you!”
Thalia managed a small smile. “I held up the sky. There’s nothing worse they can do to me. Besides, we don’t have a choice in our current state.”
“There’s always something worse.” Annabeth whispered. “We just don’t know what it is yet.”
“Then you’re gonna let them do whatever they’re going to do, okay?” Thalia said. “You know Percy even better than I do. There’s no way that he’d just leave us here to rot. We just need to survive long enough for him to get here.”
“But that could take days. You could be dead by then.”
Thalia took a shaky breath. “If that’s the case, then so be it.” She raised her head, locking eyes with Annabeth. “Promise me, that no matter what they do, that you will not join the enemy. We both know you can’t. Swear that you won’t.”
Annabeth’s lower lip quivered, but the sincerity of Thalia’s request must have caught her off guard. It was so quiet, no one else could have heard her, but she softly whispered. “I swear on the River Styx that I will not join them.”
Thunder boomed somewhere outside of the cave, sealing her oath. Thalia visibly relaxed, dropping her head again. “Thank you. It shouldn’t be more than a day or two. The Hunters are bound to be on the trail as well with Artemis’ current state.”
Annabeth just nodded, eyes glazed over. Percy could almost sense her disgust with her own willingness to go along with Thalia’s plan. Yet, he knew as he watched her think that reality had set in. There was no alternative plan. They were completely at the mercy of beings who thought of morality as little more than human foolishness. The cell was hauntingly silent for a moment.
“Well, well, well.” Luke’s voice echoed sharply through the small space. “It really is a shame. But I can assure you, this is all necessary for the greater good.”
Percy had been expecting an explosion from the girls, or at least Annabeth. Instead, a whisper barely passed her lips.
“Family, Luke. You promised. How could you?”
Luke just sighed, stepping into the cell and leaning far too casually against the barred wall. “I do not have time to explain everything to you, but it is abundantly clear to me that you two have been brainwashed.”
“Who are you to judge that?” Annabeth spat. “You’ve gone against everything you taught us.”
“I have never changed.” Luke said darkly. “It is you two who have bought blind loyalty to the gods. It is you who live at their little camp where they raise you like pigs to the slaughter. They have deceived you. I will help you see the truth.”
“And yet you keep us chained here like cattle.” Annabeth said. “At least slaughter pigs are pampered before their demise.”
Luke just grinned, a ghastly smile that used to be so charming. Instead, it now looked like it belonged to a mad scientist, obsessed with crafting the world in his image. “That’s why the system must be overthrown. We must have new rulers. New laws. You will see in time. Those who are brainwashed must be reconditioned at the most basic level.”
Annabeth’s face went pale white. ”R-reconditioned?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. You heard exactly what I said.” Luke said. “Soon, you will see the truth, but the only way for those poor souls who have been brainwashed is to destroy their mind so it can be rebuilt. Otherwise, they will remain slaves to the lies they’ve been told.”
“You’re the slave, Luke.” Annabeth said. “I’m sorry it ended up this way. I’m sorry you tore apart our family.”
At that, the son of Hermes grimaced, as though the comment caused him physical pain. The look of genuine anguish looked alien on his hardened features. It had only been a year and a half since he had left camp, but he looked like he had aged twenty years. His eyes, once bright and strong, now looked swollen and sunken. His cheeks were hollow, and his jawline had lost its crispness. Still, beneath it all, he was the same. The Fields of Punishment would have been too good for him.
“I do hope that you’ll see the wisdom in my actions.” Luke said. Pushing off the wall, he crossed over to Thalia, his gait still uncomfortable. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, and Thalia’s eyes grew wide. She began to weakly struggle against her restraints, but she could do little more than listen to Luke’s proposition.
“No,” She whispered. “You’re insane.”
Luke just sighed, straightening. “A pity. Perhaps soon you will see your error.”
“What did you tell her?” Annabeth demanded, fear flashing across her face.
Luke glanced back at her. “I just offered her an opportunity. The most privileged position in Kronos’s new army.”
“Which is?”
“You wouldn’t understand, but let’s just say, being a vessel does come with certain perks.” Luke grinned. “Of course, anyone could do it, but who better than the only living demigod child of the King of the Gods himself.”
“Go to Tartarus.” Thalia spat blood on his shoes.
“I’ll pass, but thank you.” Luke grimaced, toeing the dirt in an attempt to remove the blood spatter. “I do hope you reconsider. My underlings aren’t near as nice as I am.” Without sparing either of them another glance, he turned on his heel and walked out the cell door, ignoring the curses being hurled his way.
Silence settled in the cell, neither one of them wanting to speak. What was there to say? Annabeth’s jaw was clenched so tight it looked like her teeth might crack. Thalia, by contrast, had little resistance left in her sunken frame.
“What do you think they’ll do?” Annabeth said.
“It doesn’t matter.” Thalia’s venomous reply sounded weak and tired. “Knowing would only make it worse.”
Annabeth closed her eyes and began to pray. Percy couldn’t make out what she was saying, but he didn’t need to be a genius to figure out its purpose. Thalia had silent tears streaking down her face, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Percy…anybody…just get here soon.”
The dream began to fade, the dingy background slowly becoming fuzzy. The last thing Percy saw was Thalia’s electric eyes, staring straight into him, as though she knew he was there. Her quiet pleas still on the edges of her cracked lips, and then he was gone.
He woke up in a cold sweat, and his heartbeat echoed in his fingertips. This was so much worse than he could have imagined. His thoughts began to race so quickly that trying to parse them was impossible. He began to rock in his bed, back and forth, ever so slightly. He didn’t do it very often, but it was something he had observed Thalia do whenever she’d get too overwhelmed, and it seemed to work.
He took deep breaths. The rhythmic rocking provided the ship in which he could sail the tumultuous seas in his mind. It was okay. At the current rate, he’d get there by tonight, and then he could rip Luke’s skin from his bones. Still, the last lines of the prophecy echoed in his mind.
Two alone cannot be saved
. Annabeth had promised she’d never join upon the punishment of the River Styx. What happened if someone broke an Oath? He understood what it was like, watching others take punishments. He winced as the painful memories of his stepfather tried to surface.
The shadows began to call to him. Simmering beneath his anxiety was a desire for vengeance, justice, to hold those responsible. For the first time, the ghostly hands didn’t seem so scary, maybe they could take him where he needed to go. He imagined Luke’s head on a stake, ripped from his body by the very monsters he employed. The calls grew stronger. Maybe he could get to the cell.
He pinched himself. He forced himself to slowly count to ten. He had once cursed at a guidance counselor who told him to use that strategy whenever he got upset, but for the first time, he was grateful for her advice. 1) even if he could successfully navigate that distance, and that was a big if, he’d be completely wiped out the second he showed up, and 2) there was no guarantee he’d ever come back. The spirits fed on his emotions, and their ravenous nature would know no bounds.
Thalia’s desperate face weaved to the forefront of his mind. He’d keep his composure, at least until he could get to her. He reached over to his blue backpack and unzipped it. Right where he had left it, nearly undisturbed, was Thalia’s favorite hoodie. He’d return it to her. He had to.
The light gray of false dawn began to lighten the room. That meant it was time to go. He quickly gathered up his things, ate a lightning fast hotel breakfast, and called for Blackjack.
Yo, boss. Did you even sleep? You look like a raccoon.
“Of course I did. Are you ready to go? What did you do all night?” Percy asked.
Pegasus stuff.
“Pegasus stuff?”
You’re under eighteen, boss. I can’t tell you.
“Well thanks for the warning.” Percy sighed, rubbing his eyes. “Anyway, you ready to go?”
I was born ready. Hop on.
____
The late morning sun felt nice with the cool winter air. Percy was used to the harsh New York winters, where it would get so cold that any bit of exposed skin could get frostbite on the coldest days of the year. On the other hand, the mild Las Vegas winters provided a welcome relief, the cool blanket calming his racing heart.
The dusty concrete of the Hoover dam began to speed into view. Annabeth had always wanted to visit, calling it one of the greatest works of architecture and green energy. His heart twisted, realizing the sick irony that he, the one who knew next to nothing about building design, was getting to tour one of Annabeth’s top road trip picks.
He shook his head. Thalia’s pleading face threatened to overwhelm him. He had a job to do, and dwelling on their hopeless situation wouldn’t do much more than force him to act recklessly. The simmering rage could be used as fuel, but if he used it too early, he’d be useless by the time he actually arrived.
Blackjack was starting to huff, his erratic breathing betraying his fatigue.
“You good?”
Yeah…boss…just… a little…tired…is all.
“Next time, focus on getting some sleep instead of having weird pegasus sex.”
I’ll…have…you know…it…wasn’t…weird.
“Whatever. We can stop here. Go take a little nap.”
Blackjack just nodded as he sped towards the dam. On the plus side, at least it was around lunch time, so it was close to time to take a break anyway. As he got closer, flashes of silver began to catch his eye. They couldn’t be here, could they? He groaned. On the one hand, it would be nice to see how their search has gone, and see if he could get any more information. On the other hand, they’d probably try and kill him on the spot, and they were insufferably annoying. The internal war waged in his mind as Blackjack approached.
Where…do you…want…me…to drop…you…off?
Blackjack wheezed.
Percy cursed himself for what he was about to do. “Drop me off by the Hunters, the silver girls. They’re headed the same way.”
Blackjack whinnied in disgust. Clearly he didn’t like the Hunters either, which meant he was the smartest pegasus Percy had ever ridden. Still, he didn’t complain, although he was out of there the second Percy was on the ground. They were at the snack bar, and Percy’s stomach rumbled. He was surprised he was hungry so early in the morning, especially after eating the hotel breakfast. Then, he reflected on his anguish that morning and his elevated heart rate as a result, and it no longer was a mystery.
He slung his backpack off his shoulder, and took out enough cash for lunch. Like all tourist traps, the food was overpriced, but the burritos were absolutely to die for. Plus, it wasn’t like it was his money anyway, and Chiron had centuries of teacher salary in the bank. Although knowing what he did about teacher pay, Percy figured it probably wasn’t the nest egg it might appear to be.
As he finished, he glanced over at the Hunters and frowned. Bianca was nowhere to be seen. She was supposed to be on the quest, and her absence set off alarm bells in his head. He immediately began to fear the worst, the final lines of the prophecy ringing around in his mind. Nico had been absolutely devastated upon learning of her decision, and while the kid didn’t reach out directly, Percy knew he had been praying for her safe return.
At his next inhale, the sweet scent of Pomegranates filled the air in his lungs. The hair on Percy’s neck began to stand up, and his fingers began to twitch towards Riptide. His muscles tensed like springs, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. He glanced over at the Hunters, but if they noticed anything they didn’t show it. He forced himself to relax. Maybe that just meant Bianca was nearby, returning from scouting or something.
Still, the itching in the back of his mind warned him to stay alert. His instincts were immaculate, and ignoring them would most definitely lead to a painful demise. He bit his lower lip, inwardly groaning as he debated. For the first time in his life, he was ready to put his pride aside. He didn’t want to work with them, but given the numerical advantage of his enemies at the Mountain of Despair, he figured having some backup wouldn’t hurt. The only challenge would be not getting killed by Zoe the Titaness.
“Hey.” Percy said, strutting over to the Hunters. At the very least, he decided he could fake some confidence.
Immediately, three of the four Hunters pointed their bows at him, ready to give him a lobotomy. The one exception was Zoe, whose cool, calculating glare shot daggers through him.
“What art thou doing here?” Zoe said icily. “Thou art a forbidden one.”
“Oh don’t mind me,” Percy sassed. “I’ve just got a goddess to save.” He wasn’t going to tell the Hunters that Artemis wasn’t the goddess he had in mind.
“We don’t need a
boy’s
help.” One of the Hunters sneered. “We’re doing plenty fine on our own.”
“Phoebe’s right.” Zoe confirmed. “Thou art a male. We have no use for thee.”
“Oh, go fuck yourself.” Percy scowled. Then he turned towards Phoebe. “Last I heard. Bianca was on this quest. Where is she?”
A tense silence filled the space, the previous heated atmosphere turning frigid. Immediately, the Hunters lowered their bows. No one would meet his gaze, except for Zoe, whose jaw tightened. “She died honorably in battle.”
The confirmation of his worst fears was not unexpected, but it did little to blunt the grief. The expectant face of Nico Di Angelo flooded his mind, a little boy eagerly awaiting his sister’s return. Not only had she joined some girls’ club, she was gone for good this time. His frustration began to boil over. At the gods, the Hunters, at the unfair nature of the life of a demigod.
“What are you going to tell Nico?” Percy demanded.
“That is not thy concern.” Zoe shot back. “We will tell him just as we told you.”
“Just like you told me?” Percy’s voice came out louder than he meant it to. “Not even an apology that you couldn’t protect her? You offered her a choice not even five minutes after she learned she was a demigod! Before she could make an informed decision. She was all he had. You broke up a family!” At the end of his rant, mild tremors began to shake the dam.
“Boys have no need to know what goes on during our Hunt. Unfortunately, that includes Nico.” Zoe sneered. “Artemis has created her own family, with us, her loyal Hunters.” Zoe got deadly calm. “And do not question the ethics of Lady Artemis. ” She pulled out a silver hunting knife, the curved blade flickering as though the moon resided within. “Or it’ll be the last thing you do.”
“Great. Well I’ll make sure to tell Nico the Hunters killed his sister.” Percy said coolly.
Zoe’s grip tightened around her knife, the ash handle nearly cracking from the force. He could see where she was tensing, tenuously preparing to strike. Beneath her stoic demeanor, however, Percy could sense something else. Around her, the shadows became stronger, betraying her anguish and self-blame.
Percy pulled out Riptide and fell into his sparring stance, ready to parry the incoming strike, but it never came.
“Hunters at the ready!” Zoe shouted. “Old friends have arrived.”
The sweet aroma of pomegranates threatened to overwhelm him. He began to search for the epicenter, desperate to know the threat before he found himself face to face with it. Then, he saw them. The Hunters had surrounded one with breakneck speed, and it was immediately obvious what made these creatures so deadly.
On the surface, they looked like little more than skeletons wearing oversized suits of armor, but it was the inability to kill them that set them in a tier of their own. A multitude of arrows protruded from the skeletons, but nothing seemed to slow down their onslaught. He wasn’t sure what the mortals saw, but if the panic around him was any indication, it clearly wasn’t good.
The mortals running away from the commotion gave him a clear view of what he was dealing with. He counted four skeletons, one for each Hunter. Each one was riddled with arrow pockmarks, telling him that this was not the first time they had sparred. The image of the immortal snail flashed in his mind. Sure, these guys were a lot faster, but it didn’t seem like anything could stop them. Maybe these guys were the immortal snail to the immortal Hunters.
Percy took a deep breath as an internal war began to wage within him. On the one hand, he could leave these Hunters to struggle against the skeletons. If they didn’t want his help, he wouldn’t give it to them. On the other, the panicked onlookers were threatening to create a stampede, and there was no guarantee they would be kept safe from the resulting carnage.
He took a deep breath. Damn it, Chiron. The centaur’s words from his first quest slithered through his mind.
One should never harm mortals unless absolutely necessary.
While he wouldn’t be directly responsible for the devastation, he knew he’d never forgive himself for running away.
Riptide began to glow, a faint black aura with dancing yellow streaks. He could feel the thrumming of the two forces inside, the Sea and the Lethe. The world seemed to fade around him, and the shadows began to call his name. This time, however, he refused to melt and join them. Instead, he reached out for their source, searching for the Tether to the Underworld.
He felt it more than saw it really. A speeding bullet headed directly for his heart. The spartoi closest to him had fired from its rifle. Percy could feel the tether of the creature begin to pull taut, and he could’ve sworn the ghastly creature was smiling. Within the bullet, he felt a strange new metal, as though it contained the essence of shadow itself. He slashed instinctively, expecting a sea of crimson to stain his clothes, but instead, all he could hear was a metallic clang, deflecting the bullet straight into the floor.
Before Percy could even register what he had just done, the skeleton began reloading. Percy grinned. Now was his chance. He was the best swordsman in the last three hundred years, so even against unkillable monsters he liked his odds of at least a draw. Bringing a sword to a gun fight seemed like a bad idea anyway.
He charged the creature, closing the gap in an instant. The gray spartoi managed to unsheathe its sword, but it was too late. Percy slashed, his aura granting him strength, and cut through the sword. The mortal tether of the creature was now visible to him, and it ran straight from the ground into its spine, hazy and smoky like an enchantment.
With one quick slash, the spartoi found itself in pieces at Percy’s feet. However, instead of the usual reassembly act they did, the bones burst into purple and black flames, leaving nothing but minor char marks on the ground. For the first time, he felt a tug of gratitude for his strange heritage.
He could hear the soft twangs of the Hunters’ bows as they continued firing into the monsters. Zoe had taken it upon herself to weave effortlessly between them and continue to slice them into pieces with her Hunting knives. Unfortunately for them, by the time she could get the last one sliced to bits, which Percy had subsequently taken clean-up duty, the first one had already reformed, trapping her in the ever tightening knot of an anaconda.
“You guys want some help!?” Percy yelled across the snack bar. “I figured out how to kill them!”
“Fine!” One of the Hunters relented, yelling over her shoulder as she exchanged blows with a skeleton. “Bianca managed to kill one, but we haven’t been able to replicate it.”
Something clicked in Percy’s mind. It wasn’t just about cutting the thread, someone had to see it, to feel it. Someone who could sense the place where life and death meet. Bianca was a child of Hades, and he was a child of Posedao, which meant that they could both sense where the threads were woven.
Briefly, a smartass retort hung on the tip of his tongue, but then he saw the most recently reformed Spartoi. Zoe now had her back to it fighting its companion, and she didn’t give any indication she knew it was back. As much as he hated her, letting her die would only encourage Artemis to extend the invitation to join the Hunt to Thalia. Plus, of course, she was the one link to the past he had.
He felt the dual thrumming in his sword once again, opening his mind’s eye to the plane between worlds. The black, misty thread of the Spartoi was now in view. He immediately launched into action, his usual labored breathing now completely silent. As the skeleton began to reach for his sword, Percy struck, slicing through the tether, leaving a pile of rapidly incinerating bones at Zoe’s feet.
She turned around, stunned at the pile of bones behind her.
“You’re welcome.” Percy deadpanned.
Zoe just shot him a glare before softening her gaze. “I suppose I should thank you, even if you are a boy.”
Percy donned a magnanimous expression, the shadows slowly fading around him. “Damn straight. I just saved your life.”
Zoe pursed her lips, as though she was trying to bite back an uncomfortable truth. Then, she took a deep breath. “I suppose so. Thank you for being willing to join the fight.”
The voice of a terrified mortal girl sliced through the building tension. “W-what was that?”
“What was what?” Percy asked. “What did you see?”
“I-I saw these weird skeletons.” The girl began. “Then,” she pointed to Percy, “you started glowing all weird and you stabbed them. Then they burst into flames.”
Percy began to fidget uncomfortably. Sure, he knew clear-sighted mortals existed, but other than his mother he never was forced to try and explain everything. It was one thing to explain it to new demigods, as they would eventually be involved in the mythical side of things. However, for the mortals, it often just led to mental breakdowns. There was a reason most of the psych ward patients were clear-sighted.
“So…” Percy began. “This might be kind of hard to explain.” He walked over to the girl and placed what he hoped was a calming hand on her shoulder. “You know anything about Greek mythology?”
The girl nodded tersely.
“Well, long story short. That stuff is real. Most of it is hidden by something called the Mist. Some mortals can see through it. My mom is that way, and I guess you are too. I’m a demigod.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the hunters all freeze, and he began to internally debate how badly he had just fucked up. Then, much to his surprise, The girl began to laugh like she found it all amusing. For a moment, Percy was afraid he sounded like a crazy person, or that this girl wasn’t actually clear sighted.
“Oh my gosh, that was so funny. I’ve seen way worse than skeletons.” She held out her hand, grabbing his in an exaggerated handshake. “My name is Rachel Elizabeth Dare. I just figured you’d be more likely to tell me if I pretended to be really scared. Plus, I needed some practice with my acting.”
Percy took a moment to really look her over. Her frizzy red hair and wild green eyes certainly looked as eccentric as she seemed to be. “I’m just happy to hear that I’m not actually crazy. My dad has been trying to put me in the looney bin for a while now.” She looked over at the Hunters. “You guys look awesome. Who are you? I like the silver aesthetic.”
Zoe stepped forward. “Zoe Nightshade. Lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis.”
Rachel surveyed Zoe’s garb and compared it to the other three Hunters. She frowned.
“I’m digging the jeans, but the parka’s a bit much. Especially here in Vegas.” Then she groaned. “And don’t tell me they make you all wear the same stuff.”
“Lady Artemis is more than fair.” Zoe said. “But yes. The Hunters’ uniform is all the same.”
“Aw man.” Rachel pouted. “You guys seem totally cool, but I could never wear the same thing every day.”
As if to highlight her point, she pointed to the holes on her green jeans, which were obviously made without rhyme or reason. “It’s a little spicier this way.”
Percy stifled a laugh. At the very least, this girl wasn’t a complete lunatic, just a normal one. The back of his mind began to itch, the same way it did before he needed to enter Thalia’s room. He groaned. All he could hope for was that this wasn’t Aphrodite’s doing. He had his fill of being a reality TV star when Hephaestus had trapped him in the Tunnel of Love.
Still, the itching became incessant, refusing to be ignored. He needed to talk to Rachel, although about what he wasn’t sure. He took a deep breath.
“So, uh, have you ever been to California? We’re kind of in a hurry.” He cringed at how he sounded, but it wasn’t his fault. He would have preferred to just get back on the road immediately.
Rachel’s expression darkened. “Unfortunately.” She said, “What kind of godly stuff is going on over there?”
“Er–” Percy began.
“Artemis has been captured by Titans.” Zoe said. “We need to get her back.”
“And that’s bad, right?” Rachel asked.
Zoe rolled her eyes, like she couldn’t believe Rachel was serious. “Yes, mortal. This is extremely serious. Can you help us or not?”
Rachel huffed. “If I’m nothing more than a mortal to you then I guess I’ll just go.” Then, she began to play with one of the holes in her jeans. “But I’m gonna guess that a helicopter is faster than walking.”
“You have a helicopter?” Percy asked. “That’s wicked cool.”
Rachel just nodded. “Look, things are complicated. But I could probably get you guys a ride.”
“You have a helicopter chauffeur?”
Rachel just shrugged. “More or less.”
Percy began to wonder just how much money this girl had. What was most puzzling was her seeming lack of pride surrounding it. Most of the rich kids at Yancy would brag about the kind of money their parents had and all the expensive stuff they had. Rachel though, was dressed in standard green jeans, and a black shirt. Yet, this girl had a private helicopter at her beck and call, and she seemed nearly ashamed of it.
A wordless silence passed between the group. A few times Zoe opened her mouth, as did the other Hunters, but no words came out. The itching once again began to overwhelm Percy. Next time he saw the goddess of love, he’d make sure to file his complaint about the style of her prompts.
“Do you have any other questions about how things work?” Percy asked. “I mean, about godly stuff and all that.”
Rachel stared off into the distance, as though they held her memories. Percy could hear the gears whirring in her mind, the attempt to reconcile the world she knew to be true, and the reality.
“I mean. Of course I do.” Rachel started. Then, she took a deep breath and held out her hand again. “If you tell me your name and promise to explain everything, I can take you and the crazy girls to California.”
That was it? It seemed too good to be true. Tell this clear-sighted mortal girl his name and he’d get a chauffeur all the way to the Mountain of Despair? Yet, the more he thought about it, the more he realized the sudden absence of that itching. He sighed. That meant whether he liked it or not, he’d be doing it.
“All right,” he sighed. “My name is Percy. I’ll let the girls introduce themselves.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“So let me get this straight.” Rachel said. “You guys are immortal and you serve the goddess Artemis.”“Yes,” Zoe nodded.“And she’s been captured.”“Yes.”“And it would be really bad if we didn’t get her back because…”Zoe groaned. Percy tried not to laugh at her exasperation. He kind of understood it, but he remembered his first days after learning the truth. He had been just like little Nico, bombarding anyone and everyone who would listen with a barrage of questions. Still, he found it funny to see the immortal Titanness turned private tutor for a clear sighted mortal. It had been a few hours, and Percy couldn’t stop fidgeting. Blackjack was nowhere to be seen, but that was okay. Rachel told them the helicopter would be landing on the helipad soon, but his hands refused to stay put; fiddling with a hole in his jeans, picking at his nails. He had been warned on his first quest that flying would be a death sentence, but right now he didn’t really care. Truthfully, he wanted to rip the King of the Gods apart for letting things get this shitty in the first place. Still, the thought of boarding the helicopter when it landed at the dam made his stomach churn.The harrowing thought of the girls left alone in Luke’s clutches threatened to rip apart the dam. Zoe kept shooting him dirty looks whenever the ground would begin to rumble. He couldn’t really blame her though. Bringing down the dam would be an absolute disaster. One of the two Hunters Percy hadn’t met yet came over to him. She looked to be about twelve, but the quiet sadness in her eyes betrayed the experience and wisdom of a much older girl. She was short, no taller than 5’2”, although the silver shimmering of the Blessing of Artemis made her seem like a giant.“Hey,” she said quietly. Her hands were fidgeting nervously. “Thanks for saving Zoe, and us too. I don’t know why we couldn’t kill those things.”Percy sighed. He wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to explain why the monsters were seemingly vulnerable only to him. “Do you know where they came from?” He asked. The Huntress shook her head. “Not exactly, they just showed up when Phoebe ended up tracking us to the Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.”Percy frowned. He could sense the tether of the skeletal monsters sourcing all the way to the depths of Tartarus itself. He shivered. Just like with the overworld, where the bottom of the sea began to blend in with the Land of the Dead, the depths of the Fields of Punishment began to merge with a hell that no mortal could ever live to relay their experience. It felt unnatural, the merging of realms. As though the forbidden boundaries put in place by the Creator found themselves being tested at every opportunity. The memory of when he had been pulled to the edge the first time still sent chills down his spine. “And they just followed you all the way here?” Percy asked, snapping out of his thought spiral. “What did they want?”She shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know what they wanted with us, but whatever it was, it doesn’t matter anymore.” The end of her sentence caught, like she was choking on her own words. A frown pulled at Percy’s mouth. This girl was different from the other Hunters he had met. If she were someone like Zoe or Phoebe, they would’ve cursed him out and threatened to kill him by now. But the girl in front of him had approached him of her own free will, like he was an equal. “What’s your story?” Percy blurted. “I mean you haven’t threatened to kill me yet, and so far you’ve actually been kinda nice. So why?”She laughed at his question, as though she found it amusing. “Why would I kill you? Because you’re a man? Please.” Then, her smile dropped. “There are many within the Hunt who harbor resentment towards men, that much is true. But how unwise would it be for me to feel the same, considering Apollo is my father. He is just as much a man as anyone else.” She shuddered, as though she was remembering an unpleasant memory. “I don’t blame him for the actions of my mother.” “That’s brave, you know.” Percy said after a moment, cutting through the tense silence that had formed between them. “Forgiving is the more difficult choice.”“Blame and resentment are not the same.” The Huntress pointed out. “I resent the circumstances of my birth, like all demigods. My mother didn’t know how to handle the stress. I don’t blame my father for needing to follow the rules, even if I wish he could be around more, or change what happened.”The terseness in her fake smile betrayed her true feelings. Like every other demigod, she had mixed feelings towards her parents. But despite the fact that she was a complete stranger, she had approached him freely and shared a few uncomfortable truths about her past. Still, he understood how it felt, the desire to share those corrosive feelings with someone who wouldn’t treat you differently because you hardly knew them to begin with. At the very least, he could tell her his name.“My name’s Percy. I figured you should know that.” Percy said, trying not to cringe at how fake he sounded. “I know.” She smiled. “My name is Lyra.”Percy waited a beat, but when she didn’t explain how she knew his name, he asked,“What do you mean you know? How?”She shrugged. “I just do. Some children of Apollo are cursed with Prophecy.” She said, bitterness lacing her tone. “For many demigods, we get only partial aspects of our parents. I got the Archery and the Prophecy part from my dad.”The cogs in Percy’s mind began to turn at her weird phrasing. Cursed? He had delayed his departure just so he could get his hands on the prophecy that animated the quest. How could having the additional knowledge be a curse if it just ended up being some words in a rhyme?“Curse?” Percy asked. “I would have thought that the extra information would be helpful. Is it not?”Lyra’s eyes bored into him, fathomless blue depths full of both grief and emptiness. “I would think you know better than that. You’ve been privy to prophecy too.” As the words passed her lips, Percy felt a pit of ice form in his stomach. Whenever his dreams would turn from black and white to color, that usually signaled that he was about to see something important; whether it was concurrent, or yet to happen. Lyra studied him as though she knew everything he was thinking. “When prophetic visions come to those outside of my fathers Oracle, it often causes problems for those involved.” She said it patiently, as though she had explained this a thousand times. “You and I get dreams that are far worse than normal, even by divine standards. That is no accident.”“What kind of problems?” Percy asked..Lyra shrugged. “It depends on the individual. For example, I used to get debilitating headaches whenever I’d receive any kind of vision, the kind that knocked me out for days. Not really possible to sustain that sort of schedule as a demigod. I’m fortunate the Blessing of Artemis prevents those migraines.”“You wouldn’t happen to know what the problem would be for me then?” Percy asked hopefully. “Nope.” She said, popping the p. “But just know, godly knowledge always demands a price.”“That’s stupid.” Percy grumbled. "I didn't sign up for this.”“And we didn’t ask to be born, yet here we are.” Lyra shrugged. For a moment, Percy was astonished at how similar to Chiron Lyra sounded. Of course, she could be a thousand years old, and that would explain it. The parallel felt oddly comforting in his mind, as though the Centaur truly understood how his students felt; perhaps the same feelings he himself had wrestled with at one point in time. Maybe it wasn’t merely about the desire to be born, but instead, what someone did once they were that became more important. “You’re wiser than you look.” Percy joked, hoping to lighten the mood. “Well, I am just over three hundred years old, so I’d hope so.” Lyra said. “Besides, wisdom comes on you early when you’re forced to leave home young.”“What happened?” Percy asked, before quickly adding “if you don’t mind telling me.”Lyra inhaled deeply. “Let’s just say the Salem witch trials weren’t completely crazy.” She began. “Yes, most of the women actually executed were innocent, but my mother, she was a truly awful person. She began to hear whisperings in the night, promising her everything she ever wanted. At first it was small things, like urging her to steal, but it quickly escalated. The voice inflamed her worst impulses. Yet, along the way, she got everything she ever truly wanted, at the cost of what she needed.”Lyra’s breathing sped up as the words began to spill out. “One night I had an awful, terrible dream. A prophetic dream. It was a warning, the first time my father had ever spoken to me. He told me to run, as my mother would sacrifice me that evening. Yet, like a fool, I stayed. I didn’t want to believe him.” Tears began to gather in Lyra’s eyes. “It wasn’t until she ordered me into the wagon that my senses began to tingle.” She began to evade my questions and began to mutter things about power, money, and the lost one . Immediately, I knew that I could not deny my dream.”Lyra was shaking now, her voice threatening to break.“It’s okay, you don’t need to say anything.” Percy rushed to say. “I don’t understand it perfectly, but you don’t need to make yourself tell me if you don’t want to.”Lyra just shot him a watery half-smile. “No, it’s okay. This is the first time I’ve talked about this in years. I need to do this.” She took a deep breath and steeled herself. “I stayed in the wagon until we were near the top of a mountain. It was obvious she had planned this, as there were symbols carved on the ground. 12 snakes arranged in a circle, like a throne room. Then I ran. My head ached so badly from the night before, but I knew I just couldn’t stop running. I said a prayer, asking my father for protection. Then, as dusk turned to night, Artemis came to me in her moon chariot and asked me to join the Hunters. I said yes, and here I stand before you today.”One moment turned to two, and the silence became palpable in the air. Percy was dumbfounded at her story, completely unsure how to react properly. He didn’t want to say the wrong thing and risk upsetting her, not after she had bore her soul to him, but he didn’t want to make it seem like he wasn’t listening. “Thank you for telling me.” Percy finally said.Lyra just nodded. “I’ve only ever told bits and pieces before. I’m a rarity among the Hunters. Most of them are victims of male abuse, which gives rise to their general attitudes. Usually, most of them find my story hard to believe.” She looked down, fiddling with her hands.“Well, for what it’s worth. I believe you.” Percy said. “I’ve got a pretty good knack at knowing when someone’s lying.”“Of course you do.” Lyra said, the previous tension from earlier now dissipated. “I know Apollo isn’t your dad, although that’s almost a shame because you seem like you’d be a cool sibling, but the spirit of prophecy runs through you.”“I still don’t buy the whole ‘spirit of prophecy’ thing though.” Percy scowled. “I’m not Apollo’s son and that’s clearly his thing.”“The gods are eternal Percy Jackson.” Lyra said, looking through him with those large, knowing eyes. “And so are the prophecies. Apollo does not create them. They were written from the foundation of the world.”Percy shuddered, a chill snaking up his spine. He hated when people older than him started speaking in weird religious terms that made it sound like the world was ending.“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Percy said. “But I suppose it isn’t going to get me anywhere asking how you know all this?”Lyra just shot him a wicked grin. “Like the ancient historians said. It was revealed to me in a dream.”____“So let’s run through this one more time.” Rachel said.Zoe groaned from the other side of the table. The helicopter they were flying in was small, but it was large enough for a small dinner table to be placed in the back. At the head sat Rachel, because it was essentially hers. At the other side was Zoe, trying once again to explain the simplistics of how the Greek mythological world worked. Percy wasn’t convinced of Rachel’s ignorance, as he could have sworn after one of her questions she had winked at him. Considering their first interaction was based on her pretending to be scared witless, it wouldn’t be out of the question for her to be messing with Zoe. Secretly, it was an endeavor Percy was willing to support. Despite his satisfaction at Zoe’s irritation, he couldn’t shake the figure that had been influencing Lyra’s mother. No matter how he tried to justify it as some crazy lady, the sinking pit in his stomach told him that it was a real being with real intentions. The scarier part was, he felt like he may get to meet it one day. He just hoped the price for prophecy didn’t end up being his life.The speed at which the helicopter was flying was pretty impressive. It was already dusk, but that was okay. He wouldn’t have gotten there any faster if he had taken Blackjack anyway. The only worry he had would be if the horrific tortures that Luke had come up with had broken the girls. He was fairly certain they were alive, but Thorn’s comment about there only being tortures that could be inflicted on those with a body kept slithering menacingly throughout his mind. He had the backup of the Hunters now, but truthfully, he didn’t really care about Artemis. Loathe as he was to admit it, Aphrodite was right. If he had to make the choice between leaving one of them behind? If it came down to Thalia or Artemis, he’d leave Artemis in a heartbeat.It was the quiet moments like this that truly began to drive him crazy. The potential thoughts of Thalia’s screams threatened to eat away at him if he didn’t do something immediately. Even the worst tortures that Mr. D had thrown at him didn’t hurt nearly as bad. He could take pain on himself, but standing powerless as she was forced to endure was a fate worse than death. Just a few more hours, Thals, He told himself as he caught the last rays of sunlight disappearing over the mountains. He knew she couldn’t, but in his heart he found himself hoping that she could hear him some way. I’m coming to save you and Annabeth. Even if I have to use the Hunters to do it. Still, as he thought through potential escape plans over and over, the math simply didn’t work out. At the very least, the Titan Atlas would be a nearly impossible obstacle to overcome, even with an entire battalion of demigods. Plus, there was no guarantee that they wouldn’t just kill the girls if they didn’t cooperate. Especially when that was the preferred course of action for Atlas. “Thou art spiraling.” Zoe’s voice shocked Percy out of his inner monologue. Not just because of the voice, but the fact that Zoe Nightshade had talked to him willingly, and not just as a threat to kill him for ‘disrespect.’“Am not.” Percy huffed, although there wasn’t any bite behind his words.Zoe’s melancholic eyes betrayed her seriousness. “Thou art worried about your friends, yes?”Percy nodded.Zoe sighed, like she couldn’t believe what she was about to do. “Do not mistake this offer for fondness, Jackson, but I think our interests are aligned.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll let you join this quest, even as a forbidden one. You did save my life, and at the very least it’s the honorable thing to do.” Then, she looked at the ground in an uncharacteristic show of emotion. “Plus, we need a fifth member, and you’re at least mildly less irritating than that mortal girl over there. At the very least, my weapons work on you should I need to kill you.”To be honest, Percy was tempted to say no. After all, Zoe had earned no love from him. But as he ran through solo rescue missions in his mind, all of them had the same problem. The Titan Atlas. He could take out a nearly infinite number of foot-soldier monsters, but he had only fought one god before, and it took a miracle for him to win the first time. “I don’t think we have any other choice.” Percy relented. “Then, as soon as this quest is over, we can never see each other again. Deal?”For the first time, Zoe smiled. “It would be too soon.” She held out her hand and Percy shook it. It felt weird to have a truce with her, but he would take it. As he shook it, he could feel the tension in her fingers and wrists. He had been expecting the effortless fluidity typically exemplified by divine beings, but instead, her hands felt just like his. Her jaw, despite relaxing, still looked tense. The Huntress in front of him looked completely different from the first time he encountered her. Not that he relished in her grief, but it helped her seem more human, instead of a mindless slave in the cult of Artemis. “I’m sorry about Bianca.” Percy said before quickly slapping his hand over his mouth. He had been expecting a retort, some tears, or maybe even a terse silence, but instead, Zoe just sighed, as though she was trying to process the inevitable truth. “One day thou shalt understand.” Her voice was filled with deep regret. “It is my only hope that the day is not soon.”Percy felt that chill run up his spine again. He had already nearly lost his mother once. Then it was Grover, and now it was Annabeth and Thalia. How long could he continue to be lucky? Two alone cannot be saved . The haunting line slithered through his mind, taunting him. Alone. Percy felt awful about it, but for a brief moment, he hoped Bianca could be counted as one. That meant, in the worst case scenario, he’d at least get one of the girls back.“I have hunted for millennia with my Lady, yet my eyes and ears remain shut.” Zoe said. “It was my own foolishness that got Bianca killed. I wanted to train her. So she could learn. I was arrogant.” The tug-of-war began in his head. Of course, he kind of wanted to know what happened. Nico especially deserved to know. On the other, Zoe looked like she wanted to be done with the conversation, and he understood that too. “I know you want the story.” Zoe said solemnly. “The answer is no.”“He deserves to know.” Percy shot back.“It would crush the poor boy.” She said, “When soldiers fall, the message is relayed simply, without detail. The families do not need to know of the suffering in the final moments. All he needs to know is that she is gone. Resting a hero’s death in the valley of Elysium.” Percy bit back his retort. Would he have wanted to know if his mother had died after suffering horrific tortures? As it stood now, he was nearly going insane learning more about Annabeth and Thalia’s predicament. The fact the answer wasn’t an immediate yes gave him all the clarity he needed. “Fine.” Percy said. “I understand. I’m sorry for asking.”At his relenting, Zoe relaxed, like she had been expecting for the issue to be litigated again.“Thank you.” She said. “It doesn't get any easier. It never has.”“Never again, right?”She shot him a small smile, although whether it was because he referenced their earlier agreement, or had given her an implicit promise of success, he wasn’t entirely sure. “That’s right, never again.” She looked over at Lyra, who was now playing cards with Rachel. “Lyra seems to like you. That’s a first.’ She frowned. “Her instincts are usually immaculate, so I don’t know why she’d choose you.” “She has good taste.” Percy protested. Zoe shrugged. “As long as she keeps that she-devil occupied, I don’t really care what she does.”“I mean, Rachel is giving us a helicopter ride, so she can’t be THAT bad.” Percy reasoned. “Aw, thanks for the compliment!” Rachel shouted from across the helicopter. “Glad to know you think I’m wonderful.”“I didn’t go that far.” Percy protested. Rachel pouted. “Well that’s not fair. And here I was just about to give you my number.”Percy was about to tell her that he didn’t even have a phone before Zoe’s laughter filled the helicopter. “Just like I said, a she-devil.” Even the immortal Huntress couldn’t stop the small smile from crossing her face. The tension that had been hanging in the air finally dissipated, and Percy felt like he could breathe again. At the very least, it was nice to have some quest companions, even if they were annoying. The suffocating feeling of always turning around, having to watch your own back? He didn’t realize how awful it was until it was finally gone. ____The fact they didn’t arrive until after sunset made Percy want to tear his hair out. The dark cliffs of the Mountain of Despair were taunting him agonizingly. They called out to him, daring him to scale the cliffs. Yet Zoe said entry was impossible at any other time except sunset. Considering she used to be one of the Hesperides, and that she wanted entry nearly as badly as he did, Percy had no reason to doubt her honesty, but that didn’t make the tantalizing option any less appealing.Every time he closed his eyes he felt like he could hear their screams. The whistling of the wind taunted him, as though it knew of his suffering. He wasn’t sure if the silence was any better.“Time to set up camp.” Zoe announced, breaking Percy out of his thoughtful stupor. “There’s nothing we can do until tomorrow’s sunset.”Percy frowned. He wasn’t great at math, but he did know two things for sure; he wasn’t a Hunter, and he wasn’t a girl. “I’ll just…go somewhere else. I’ll meet you guys in the morning.” Percy announced, awkwardly backing away from where the girls were circling up. He didn’t want to act like a child and wait around to be told what to do. “That’s okay. I have a house here. You can stay with me.” Rachel popped up next to him and slung her arm around his shoulder. “Besides. I think Zoe would kill me if I stayed with them.”Zoe huffed, but didn’t deny it. Percy’s stomach churned. There was a weird feeling in his stomach. Growing up, all of his sleepovers had been with his male friends, so being invited to a girl’s house to spend the night felt like intruding.“I mean. I don’t know…” Percy trailed off. “I can always find something.”“Oh, nonsense.” Rachel said, waving him off. “I won’t get in trouble or anything if that’s what you’re worried about. My parents don’t even visit this house anyway.”Shit. He hadn’t even thought of that. On the one hand, spending a night alone with a relatively attractive girl would have been the dream of most high school boys. On the other, he wasn’t entirely sure that would be appropriate. He began to fidget with his hands.Rachel pouted. “Pleaseeeeee.” Then, she pointed towards the Hunters. “Unless you’d rather stay with them.”Percy took a deep breath. There wasn’t anything he could do anyway. Plus, considering Rachel had a private helicopter, the mansion probably meant he wouldn’t need to sleep in the same bed or anything. Hell, he could probably sleep on a different floor altogether. “You drive a hard bargain.” He said, flashing Rachel a sheepish smile. “Last I checked, you won’t try to shoot me with an arrow, right?”“Only if you want me to.” She said with a wink. Despite his best efforts, Percy blushed. “Are you two lovebirds done?” Zoe groaned. “If so, get out of here. Get a room.”Percy wasn’t sure he liked the implication of he and Rachel being ‘lovebirds,’ but before he could figure out how he felt about that particular statement, Rachel grabbed his arm and began dragging him down the street.Once they were out of earshot, Rachel let out a sigh of relief. “They look really cool and everything, but God. I can’t stand them.”Percy smiled. That’s exactly how he felt the first time he met them.“You and me both.”Rachel snorted. “Then why do you travel with them, how did you guys meet?”Looking up at the mountains, Percy’s heart twisted. He was so close. The cliff mountain was close enough that the wind could have carried him up. Instead, the night sky taunted him, reminding him that he was utterly powerless to save his friends. He tried to bite back the feeling of dread. Briefly, the thought of lying about everything crossed his mind. After all, it’s not like he’d really see Rachel again. Yet the harder he tried to think of something, the more his mind began to race in circles.“That bad, huh?” Rachel cut in. “You don’t need to tell me if you don’t want to. I don’t really know the intricacies of godly politics.”“You could say that,” Percy slumped a bit, defeated. “Life just keeps throwing me pitches I could never hope to hit, but if I don’t, then really bad things will happen.”Rachel placed a soft hand on his toned arm. “I get that, but I figured you didn’t just come along for Zoe. I for sure wouldn’t.”Percy laughed. “Well, it’s a bit complicated.”“Where do you usually go to relax?” Rachel asked suddenly. “You don’t seem like the artsy type. That’s how I usually unwind.”“Er…” Percy was caught off guard by the sudden question. “Why do you ask?”“Because I can hear the gears turning in your head and your heart beating out of your chest.” Rachel said. “There’s nothing we can do until tomorrow night. So we might as well relax until then, right? I know I don’t deal with godly stuff, but even us normal mortals get nervous.”Percy took a deep breath. Maybe Rachel was right. Sure, Thalia’s pleading for him refused to leave his mind, and it probably never would, but maybe just trying to forget for a few hours would be best. After all, he’d need to be well rested if his worst suspicions were true. The fatigue and worry of the day began to seep into his bones. His worry-fueled adrenaline that had been powering him ever since he woke up from his shadow-travel escapade felt like it was finally slowing, leaving him nothing but tired muscles and aching joints in its place. “The sea.” He said. “My dad’s…well, it’s complicated, but just know that I like being in and near water.”“Perfect.” Rachel chirped, dragging him along. “Let’s head down to the beach. We can walk along the shore to get to my house.”Percy searched his mind, looking for any semblance of that itching that Aphrodite was so fond of. After all, he wanted to do anything he could to prevent Thalia from joining the Hunters, and at the very least, he felt like Aphrodite was sincere in her desire to help him. Instead, he found silence, as though he was being given free reign to find his own path. In a way, it was nice to be free from the prompting of the gods, but on the other, he didn’t want to accidentally mess something up. ____The walk was nice, and the beach looked even more beautiful at night, providing a perfect spot to sit down at the edge of the water. The only thing was that the moon looked less silver than usual. Instead, the normally vibrant rays felt subdued, as though they were grieving. “Just one more day.” Percy promised the moon. “We’ll get her back.”“Artemis, right?” Rachel asked.Percy nodded. “Yeah, I figure we should probably rescue her.”“I still don’t think that was the only reason you decided to come here.” Rachel remarked. “What else could have made you come.”The soft collisions of the waves felt calming, a rocking sensation that quelled the edges of the sea of his emotions. Here, on the beach, he felt like he was home. Sure, his father was a bit of a mystery, but nothing could compare to the security he felt when at sea. The words of Poseidon lingered in his mind. You are a true son of the sea god . The Greek version of his father was always a bit crass in his words, but lack of eloquence only made the truths stick that much deeper. “My friends were captured.” Percy said. “I need to get them back.”“Tell me about them.” Rachel said, her green eyes boring into Percy’s. He jumped slightly, startled by her sudden eagerness. “It’s a long story.” He warned.Rachel mimed checking a fake watch on her wrist. “We’ve got time.” Percy sighed, sensing that he wasn’t getting out of this. Sure, he could run off into the ocean, but she had given him a ride to San Francisco, and offered him a place to sleep tonight. Plus, she was the only person around who didn’t seem to hate his guts. Maybe he could finally order the chaotic cacophony of worries in his mind. “One of them was Annabeth.” Percy said. “She’s probably my closest friend.” He wasn’t entirely sure how he wanted to describe her, but if he stopped the train of thoughts now, he’d never get it started again. “She’s got blonde hair and gray eyes. She’s the only one who kept me in line on my first two quests.”“I believe it.” Rachel said, tucking a red curl behind her ear. “First two quests?”“Yeah, long story. I had to get my Uncle’s lightning bolt back for the first one.”“I’m gonna assume that’s Zeus.” “Yeah, that’s him.” Percy said bitterly. “His royal ass is the reason we’re all here, isn’t it.”Rachel just shrugged. “You won’t find me defending a Monarchy. Unless I’m in charge of course.”Percy laughed. “Yeah, but anyway. We had to get his lightning bolt that he accused me of stealing. My friend Grover, who’s a satyr by the way, but he’s fine right now, and Annabeth went with me to get it back to stop World War Three.”“Well, considering the earth isn’t a pile of rubble, I’d say you succeeded.”Percy nodded. “Yeah. Then after that, I had to go get the Golden Fleece. That’s where things get interesting. You see, I started having these dreams…” He trailed off. “About what?” Rachel said, her eyes shining in the faded moonlight. “Well, about the other girl who was captured. But I didn’t know who she was yet. It’s a whole thing. Long story short, she was a tree and I can talk to souls. So I talked to her, nearly every night for two years. She became my best friend.”“Sounds like you’re building yourself a harem.”Percy’s face turned beet red and he shot a spout of sea water at Rachel, prompting an indignant snort from the latter. “It’s the truth!” She shouted. “Ha ha,” Percy said, lacking enthusiasm. “No thanks. I can barely understand one girl."“Fair enough.” Rachel said, trying to contain her laughter. “Although you owe me new clothes.”“If you’re good, I’ll dry them off.” Percy said. “I can do that, you know.”Rachel just raised an eyebrow. “And if I’m not?”Percy shrugged his shoulders. “I guess you’ll be out of luck.”Rachel frowned at that. “Anyway, you were telling me about your tree friend.” She said, trying and failing to hide the frown that Percy didn’t notice anyways.“Oh yeah, so her name is Thalia and we pretty much just hung out in my dreams. Except she was real, not just a normal figment of my imagination. For once, just once, I had hope.” Percy said. His jaw tightened, and the edges of his form began to flicker. “Then, one day, she got sick. Someone poisoned her tree. The one responsible, he’s up in that mountain.” A faint rumbling under the beach betrayed his feelings despite his best efforts. “Well fuck that guy.” Rachel said, gently rubbing Percy’s shoulder. “Not literally of course. I’m gonna guess that’s why you needed the Fleece.”“Yeah,” Percy agreed. “The Fleece was the only thing that could save her, otherwise she was going to die. So Annabeth and I snuck out. Grover had been captured too, funnily enough he was in the same place as the Fleece. Cue fun adventure and we retrieve it, bring it back, and Thalia’s tree is healed.”“Well that sounds great.” Rachel said, slowly inching closer. “But you make it sound like that isn’t the end.”Percy put his head in his hands. “No, because then the world decided to get all complicated. She vanishes from my dreams for like a month, and for a minute I thought that I was too late. Then one night, she was there, sitting under her tree.” “That would be a good thing though, right?” Rachel quirked a brow. “Your best friend is alive again. Now you can hang out and do whatever without needing to be asleep.”“I wish it was that simple, and it was good for a while…” Percy’s voice broke, a brief moment of weightlessness filling him as he thought about when she had donned his hoodie the night of her return. The memory threatened to overwhelm his mind. “You fought?” Rachel guessed.Percy nodded.“All friends do.” She reassured him.Percy stared glumly at his hands. “This one felt different though. The thought of losing her felt like it would tear me apart. You don’t understand. The tears in her eyes, the betrayal. It cut me, it made me pray to a God who isn’t even there.” His voice caught as he mulled over his next words. “The want to cherish someone’s heart forever, just so they can be spared from pain, only to realize the game was rigged from the start.” Rachel was silent for a minute, rubbing small circles into Percy’s shoulder with her thumb. “I do get it, at least a little,” she said. “But for what it’s worth. I’m sorry.” Percy took a moment to compose himself. “No, it’s okay. I’m the one who should be sorry. We just met today. Now I’m dumping all my emotional junk onto you and that really isn’t fair.”Rachel shrugged. “It’s easier to share our burdens with people we’ll never see again because the yoke feels lighter with distance.”“When did you become a philosopher?” Percy said. “You sound like my Centaur mentor.”“Of all the things I’ve been called, a centaur is definitely not one.” Rachel said sternly, although the smallest hint of a smile betrayed her true feelings. “An artist has to think deeply for their art to have meaning. Anybody can paint a mountain, but it takes an artist to paint what the mountain represents.”“Well, to be fair. I probably couldn’t paint the mountain.” Percy chuckled. “But I see your point.”“Good.” Rachel said, nudging his shoulder as they started to walk again. “You didn’t strike me as the artsy type anyway. No shame in that.” Percy just shrugged, feeling relaxed for the first time in a while. The tension had dissipated with his words, leaving only a soft hope for the future in its wake. Besides the faint crashing of the waves, it was quiet for several minutes.“You know there’s no one around.” Rachel said out of nowhere. “There hasn’t been for a while.” Percy agreed. “It’s kind of nice.”“Mhmm.” Rachel agreed. “My shirt is still wet.”He was about to dry it off for her, but when he looked over he froze. Instead of being patient, she had decided to take her shirt off. Underneath was a lime green bra with bows at the top of each cup. Her flat stomach glistened in the moonlight, the last drops of water reflecting off her pale skin. “Uh…I-I could’ve just dried it off for you.” Percy stammered, frantically looking anywhere but at her. “I know.” Rachel said, winking. “This just seemed like more fun don’t you think?”She took her slender hands and pulled up Percy’s shirt, revealing his toned form. Her warm hands felt relaxing on his tense muscles, as though she was drawing it out with her touch. “I’d die just to be able to paint you once.” Percy was struggling for words at this point, so all he could say was, “I don’t think dying would be necessary.”Rachel laughed, “No, but I’d be willing to. Just let me admire my specimen for a moment.”Percy closed his eyes, trying to coax himself into enjoying the moment. After all, nearly every high school boy would have loved what was going on. A beautiful girl had just taken her shirt off, revealing herself to him willingly and begging for more. One part of him was telling him to keep going, but it just felt wrong. When he closed his eyes, his mind kept drifting back to the flood of emotions when Aphrodite, looking like adult Thalia, had kissed him on the cheek. The minor flame in the present couldn’t compare to the prior inferno of hope. He barely even noticed as she climbed onto his lap and pushed him back against the damp sand. It wasn’t particularly comfortable, but the small granules helped keep him grounded. “I know we just met,” Rachel said. “But I just feel so loose and free around you.” She grabbed his hands and put them on the small of her back as she leaned forward, the smooth skin heating Percy’s fingertips. “And I really like the way you make me feel.”“I do too.” Percy said without thinking. “It was nice to be able to talk like that.”Rachel bit her lip, the warring emotions evident on her face. “Your heart yearns for another doesn’t it.”“W-what do you mean?” Percy stammered, the tension suddenly becoming palpable. “The way you talk about Thalia. You think about her a lot don’t you?”“Well, I don’t know…” Percy trailed off, his face becoming beet red at the thought of Thalia on his lap like Rachel was. “Probably just the normal amount.”“Ha!” Rachel began laughing hysterically, flopping onto the sand next to him. “You should see yourself. You are down SO bad.” She gasped out between breaths. “If anything, whenever you two finally get together, I should apologize for trying to steal her man.”“W-what do you mean ‘finally?’” Percy said. “I don’t get it.”“Boys and love.” Rachel said like it was perfectly obvious. “Always a treat watching them try to navigate it.”“Wait a minute.” Percy protested. “You sound just like Aphrodite.”Rachel’s laughing fit became even more pronounced, to the degree that tears began forming in her eyes. “Wait wait wait,” she gasped. “You’re telling me, that you met Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and she talked to you about a specific girl, this Thalia girl, and you didn’t believe her?”“Well, uh, I’m just here to rescue her.” Percy said, now deciding his shoes looked like a better option than Rachel’s hysteria. “I need to save her.”“Uh huh, knight in shining armor and all that?” Rachel asked. “Girls do love that. I’m just saying. It might be your best chance.”“Whatever,” Percy grumbled. “I just want to keep her safe is all.”“Mhmm, and you’re only a little hot.”“Probably accurate.” Percy agreed. “So I win.”Rachel reached over him to grab her shirt, which was now covered in sand. “We can call it a draw if you can clean this for me.”“Deal.” Percy said. “Just go soak it. I wasn’t joking about being able to dry it off.”Rachel went over to the water and, in a very exaggerated manner, dunked her shirt several times. “Done to your liking, Your Highness?”“It’s your shirt.” Percy shrugged before drying it out as she put it back on. A little nagging feeling tickled the back of his mind. It felt strangely like guilt. This hadn’t really been his fault, but it wasn’t Rachel’s either. “Look, I’m sorry,” Percy said awkwardly. “I don’t know how any of this works, but I am sorry it didn’t really work out.”Rachel was silent for a moment before responding. “It’s okay. It happens sometimes. No hard feelings. You’re still welcome to stay at my place. I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have tried to move things along so quickly.”“It’s all good.” Percy replied. An idea popped into his head. “Wanna see some of the ocean? It’s better than walking.”“Sure,” Rachel agreed. “I’m curious to see what you can do, aqua-man.”____He had been expecting a large house right on the coast, but the absolute mammoth in front of him made his jaw drop. It stood at three stories, the black paint highlighting the red trim. The cool ocean splashed on the sand down below, the soft white foam glistening in the moonlight. He had been to both Olympus and the Underworld, and while nothing mortal could truly compete, he thought this house would be the closest mortal equivalent. Maybe if he saw Hades again, he could recommend some more red for his palace. Maybe he’d even throw in some purple if Thalia would join him.“Bienvenidos.” Rachel said. “Mi casa, es tu casa.”She twisted the handle on the door, shining moonlight into the main living area. It looked relatively normal, with the exception of a grand piano by the brick fireplace. The flames of the hearth crackled, warming the room of the relatively ignored house.“Odd.” Rachel said with a shrug. “I didn’t turn that on. Can you do weird fire stuff?”Percy racked his brain, but even his unusually broad set of abilities seemed limited to water and soil. “Nah, I’m kind of antithetical to fire actually.”He wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw a flash of a nine-year-old girl tending the flames. It felt motherly. As though the usually destructive fire instead enveloped him like a heated blanket, ready to comfort him for the upcoming task. “Come with me.” Rachel said. “We’ve got lots of rooms here, but I’ll show you the best one.”“Oh right,” Percy said. Truthfully, he hadn’t really considered the thought. He had expected to crash somewhere on the street just a couple hours before, and now he was getting privileged to a luxury suite by a girl he had half-dumped. They climbed the stairs, the spiral staircase along the wall curling into the opening. The wooden stairs creaked with the black handrail. Uncomfortable silence filled the air. Percy had so many things he wanted to say, mostly ranging between ‘thank you,’ and ‘I’m sorry.’ Still, it didn’t feel right. He had done everything he could, and he knew if he actually went through it, Rachel wouldn’t be the first girl on his mind. She guided him to the end of the hall to the master bedroom and opened the door.The bed was nearly as big as Percy’s dorm room at Yancy. The black bedframe connected to the ceiling, giving the room the impression that it belonged to a royal. Technically, Percy was a royal of multiple houses, but the more he thought about that fact, the more it made him squirm. The red sheets matched the aesthetic of the exterior. Annabeth would probably be able to tell him more, if she ever got the chance to see it. Percy’s heart was wrenched. Briefly, he considered just running again. Maybe he could fight his way through anyway. If he had to fight the Hesperides, it wouldn’t be his first immortal duel.The shadows began to call, urging him to join them. We can take you to her, they said. Just trust us . Percy shook his head. Even if that were true and he could hold on to his physical form, he could already hear the pained screams coming from the tempting shadows. He took a shaky breath. Tomorrow. He just needed the girls to survive one more day. “Well, you know the drill, although I’d recommend the bed.” Rachel said, cutting into the silence. She pointed down the hall the other direction “Second door on the left if you need anything.” Then, she shot him one more wink. “I know it’s a long shot, but if you change your mind, I wouldn’t complain.” Then, her smile dropped. “Are you gonna be okay? You seem a little shaky.”Percy hadn’t even noticed his uneven breathing. “Yeah,” he said. “Just a long day.”Rachel looked at him skeptically, but this time she didn’t press. Instead, she just gave him a playful hit to the arm. “Thank you for tonight. I know it was a little awkward, but I still had a great time.” Then, she darted down the hall into her room, leaving Percy alone in the bedroom with the shadows. Join us, they screeched. Let us take you to her. You can save her . Percy pulled the pillow over his ears. They’d go away, they always did. He couldn’t give into their pressure. They’d tear him apart. You know we’re right. They protested. We can take you there. Just give in. Let yourself melt away. “No,” Percy murmured. “I’m not going with you.” It will be your fault you know. They argued. Two alone cannot be saved. Your inaction will kill her. “Shut up,” he protestedYet, despite his earnest pleadings, he wondered if they were right. If he had left just a few hours earlier, Thalia could be safe in his arms. Annabeth too. Instead, he was spending the night in a rich girl’s house while the girls were being tortured next to him. What if he truly was useless? Your body will be ours. They begged. All flesh turns to shadow, what makes you think you’ll be any different? The back of Percy’s mind began to itch, and for the first time, he was grateful for it. It added variety to the cacophony as he stumbled around looking for a light switch. Instead, he found himself at his backpack that he had unceremoniously left in the middle of the room. He realized he had no trouble navigating. If anything, the darkness seemed to have enhanced his sight, or at least his sense of direction. He unzipped it, trying to find the source of the itching. He frantically tried everything, including the little bit of remaining money Chiron had sent him, but the itching only grew more incessant to counter the voices. Percy sighed. That left only two options of what it could be. The two hoodies he packed, one of which was for Thalia, and one of which the memories were too painful to bear alone. As his hand drifted towards them, the itching ceased, leaving a sense of calm in its place.Percy shivered. The cool air of the coast had seeped into the room, dropping the temperature. He sighed. It was now or never. He took his blue hoodie, the one that Thalia had discarded the night after her return to the land of the living, and pulled it over his head. He could’ve sworn he could smell traces of her still on it, the faint smell of ozone that accompanied her parentage. His chest tightened, the flood of bittersweet memories overwhelming him. He’d see her again. He had to. Still, it felt like something was missing, the other part of the set. His eyes turned to Thalia’s Green Day hoodie, the one he had been saving to give to her once he saw her again. The tightness spread to his throat at the thought he might never get to give it to her. P.S. Please…just stay safe. The last line of the note added another trickle to the flood. He had to, for her. The shadows could help save her, but they would devour him in the process, or at the very least sap his energy such that he would likely end up in the same cell. He needed to learn control first. Once she was back, he could pay a visit to Hades to help learn how to use his tools. The shadows began to quiet, becoming little more than a contemptuous murmur. He took a shaky breath, desperately trying to dissipate the whirlwind of confusing emotions. So, he decided he’d take the second hoodie in the set. It would make a nice extra blanket anyway.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“Percy…anybody…just get here soon.” Thalia’s whispered pleas echoed softly off the oppressive stone walls of her cell. What was real? What was merely imagination? She wasn’t sure. The world came at her in hazy waves. Yet, in all the haze, there was a moment of clarity where she could have sworn that Percy was right in front of her, observing. In spite of her deleterious state, comfort washed over her knowing that he knew where she was.Every single nerve in her body was on fire. Certain tortures can only be inflicted on those who still have a body, Dr. Thorn’s sinister voice rang through her mind. She had barely been conscious when he uttered those words, but his icy delivery betrayed his sincerity. Her addled mind hadn’t really comprehended the significance of what he said, but now it had become abundantly clear.The haze of the world did little to stifle her racing thoughts. Why did she do it? Why did she take the sky from Luke? At the time, Annabeth had hesitated. That should have been all the warning she needed. She was already shaky at best from her time in the airplane, so what she attempted should have been considered akin to suicide.Her mind had been screaming at her to just leave him and escape, but the thought had made her nauseous. Struggling in front of her was the boy who had helped save her from her life on the run. The one she had already been willing to die for once. Sure, he had done some questionable things since, but no one was irredeemable. Right?She felt unsure. Was anyone truly irredeemable? She thought back to her mother, who she loved so dearly, and yet had abandoned her after Zeus’s departure. Her mother slowly began to lose her mind. She had never been completely stable, but until Zeus’s second sojournment, she at least attempted to be a caring and loving parent.Instead, after the birth of her brother, her mother’s lust for power and prestige tore her apart. She wanted to lay claim to the most powerful people, using them for her own desires. She began to resent her children, viewing them as obstacles in her own quest for influence. Thanks to her mother's neglect, Thalia had been forced to become baby Jason's primary caretaker at age nine. It wasn’t pretty, but nearly single handedly she had helped her younger brother survive infancy. Thalia winced, a sudden sharp pain in her head throbbing amongst the dull but intense ache in her bones. The recollections began to overwhelm her. Her already active imagination began to replay the scene in her mind, painting it so vividly it was as though she was living it for the first time. The haze around her began to bend and warp. Why is it always this one? She bemoaned. She wasn’t sure if it was some kind of lucid dream or dissociation. Either way she hated it. The memory never truly left her, haunting her whenever she’d spend too long alone in her mind. No matter how much she begged or forced, the mental movie refused to play any faster.Thalia opened her eyes to see the early morning sun shining into her bedroom. The beige walls looked incredibly bland, but her mother got upset every time she tried to put up a poster or something to break up the boring monotonous colors. Everything has to be perfect. Her mother would mutter to herself before tearing down whatever it was she put up.Whatever, it wasn’t worth the fight anymore. Thalia reached down and pulled out the little CD player she kept under her bed, pressing play and settling back into bed as the music started. It was the one thing she had, her few moments to herself every morning. Sure, she stole the money in her mother’s purse to get it, and she only had the one album, but it was enough. Nothing else was truly hers. It wasn’t like her mother would miss the twenty bucks anyway.Thalia smiled to herself as Welcome to Paradise filled the air. It was one of her favorite songs on the album, and it gave her hope that she could build a little paradise for herself, even if it was just these moments in her room. It was in the middle of the slums known as her mother, but that was okay. Maybe one day things could get better.She made her ritual mental checklist for the day as the song changed. Pressing a hand to her mouth, she suppressed a yawn as she began rattling off the tasks in her head. Get dressed. Find something for Jason to eat. Maybe teach him a few more signs. She smiled to herself at that one. Find some food for herself. See if she had any broken glass to clean up so he wouldn’t get hurt. The thought of cleaning the carpets again made her sigh.It was a near daily occurrence now, cleaning up broken glass from the carpet in the living room, the tile in the kitchen, the whole apartment really. It wasn’t just glass though. Vomit spots stained the carpet, but no matter how much she had scrubbed, the stains and stench just wouldn’t leave. It was a miracle her mother even remembered to go grocery shopping anymore. The CD player clicked off after the last song finished playing, and she forced herself to get out of bed and find some clothes. Steeling herself, Thalia eased opened her bedroom door, hoping that her mother would still be passed out in her bedroom.She let out a sigh of relief when the dark hallway was empty, but the rim of light from her mother’s door made her pause. Either she forgot to turn off the lights before she passed out, or she was awake. Thalia bit back the tension in her stomach. She could be nervous later. Right now, she had a job to do before Jason woke up. The hallway loomed before her. She had cut her foot open a few times before while she was trying to get to the light switch. She wished for the thousandth time she had a flashlight, or that her bedroom light would illuminate the entire stretch of hallway. It’s either him or me Thalia thought. She took a few ginger steps out into the darkness, feeling for any sign of shards of glass scattered in the carpet. She took another careful step and a cold liquid greeted her. She recoiled in disgust, biting back a curse and trying to calm her now churning stomach. It was a few hours old by now, but the chunks betrayed what she had just stepped in. She could’ve screamed in frustration. All her mother ever did anymore was get too drunk to do anything, then throw up on the carpet after each bender.She gagged. She needed to get to the bathtub immediately, before her own stomach contents joined the carpet. Glancing again at the light under her mother's door, she decided against using the master bathroom, and instead bounded down the hall, beelining for the bathroom at the end. A sharp pain seared her foot, slicing through the skin. Her steps faltered for a moment but she didn’t give it any thought. It wasn’t the first time anyway.She threw open the door and began running the bath water before placing her foot beneath the still-cold tap. She sighed in relief as she scrubbed with soap, the churning in her stomach slowly calming down. She could deal with the frequent cuts on her feet, even the tedious task of cleaning the glass had become second nature. But stepping in her mother’s vomit was something that never became easier. A burning heat began to form behind her eyes and she shut them tight. Her throat began to feel like it was closing, and her breathing had quickened. Swallowing felt impossible. No. She thought. I still have things to do. Not yet. She forced her breaths to come slower, letting the cold air of the house fill her lungs. Eventually she felt herself calm, the even breaths coming more naturally. The longer she spent in the bathroom, the less time she’d have to get everything Jason needed for the morning. The hot, sharp pressure behind her eyes faded, leaving behind the dull ache in her chest that she was so familiar with. She took another deep breath, reaching over to the sink to open the mirror and pull out some gauze and a bandage wrap. By now, the water running over her foot had turned a pleasant lukewarm, but it still stung on the open wound. She pulled it back and inspected it as the blood welled up again. Not too serious, thankfully. A minor gash that should heal in a few days. She splashed some water over the porcelain tub, washing the residual trickle of blood down the drain while drying her foot off with an old hand towel. She unwrapped the gauze and covered the wound before taking the wrap, looping it around her foot twice, and pulled it taut. Once she was satisfied with the pressure, she stood. She could take another look at it later, but right now, she had some glass to clean up. She winced as she put weight on her foot, trying her best to ignore it as she crossed to the doorway. Opening the door and letting the light flood the hall, she could now faintly make out what she had stepped in. She sighed, the scent of the puddle betraying the vodka her mother had drank the night before. Thalia didn’t keep paper towels in the bathroom, but the thought crossed her mind that she should start. She slowly crept her way to the kitchen, desperately hoping that another one of her mother’s visitors hadn’t stayed over. Usually, that meant a nearly naked man would be passed out on their couch, and Thalia had learned the hard way that her mother’s suitors didn’t like being woken up. She took deep breaths but couldn’t stop the panic as her heart started crawling into her throat. Peering around the corner, she let out a sigh of relief. The couch was empty. The carpet turned to a cold tile floor as she entered the kitchen. The cold felt nice on her bare feet as she opened the fridge.There was barely anything inside, but there was enough. She grabbed a pack of vanilla yogurt for Jason and an apple for herself. She wasn’t really hungry after this morning's vomit episode, but she knew it was probably all the food she’d get her hands on if she spent the rest of the day hiding out with Jason.A loud knock at the front door nearly had her dropping everything. Her heart raced. She wasn’t going to answer it, but it never was a good sign whenever people came over. Either it would be another one of her mother’s crazed suitors, or just another escapade with CPS. She wasn’t sure which one was worse. Thalia quickly grabbed the paper towels, a small spoon, and a little bowl of water for the glass before darting back down the hall into the bathroom. She shadows hid her as she peered past the edge of the doorframe. Beryl Grace opened her bedroom door, and Thalia huffed quietly in surprise. For the first time in years, she put on makeup. The bags beneath her eyes that had long been growing had now vanished. She had a glow about her that Thalia hadn’t seen since she was still really acting. She hadn’t had a starring role in years, and it had begun to show. She looked like the mother from Thalia’s memories instead of the neglectful monster she’d been living with. She floated down the hall and answered the door. Thalia could see two men on the doorstep wearing suits.“Hello. What can I do for you gentlemen?” Thalia cringed at the fake smile in her mothers voice.“We’ve received a few complaints about possible child neglect. May we come inside?” The man on the right said.Thalia knew her mother’s eyebrow was probably twitching, her nervous tell. “That won’t be necessary. I don’t know what those neighbors are thinking. They’ve been on my case for years, you know. Jealous, I'm sure.”The men looked unimpressed. “Ma’am, I can’t give details. Please just let us inside. We’ll be quick.”Thalia tried not to get her hopes up. After all, this wasn’t the first time that CPS had been called. Still, maybe this time would be different. Maybe these guys would see past her mother and actually do something. Thalia was pulled out of her thoughts as Beryl’s smooth voice sounded again.“I’m sure we can work something out.” She grabbed her purse off the kitchen counter. “I bet they don’t pay you guys enough.” “Bribery is illegal, ma’am.” The agent on the right said, just as the other man said: “Yeah, they don’t.”The two agents glared at each other seemingly at an impasse. The agent on the right finally sighed.“How much do you have?” Thalia’s heart sank. This was exactly the same as all the other times. She tried to blink back tears as she hurried down the hall to clean up the glass. Jason would be up any minute now and it wouldn’t be safe for him.She caught the end of their conversation as she finished cleaning up the glass. “I’m glad we could come to an arrangement.” Her mother purred. “No, thank you . We’ll be back in six months.” “Bye bye now.” Thalia’s mother said, before her voice turned fierce. “6 months. Not a moment sooner.” Thalia peeked around the corner to see the men nodding as they pocketed the stacks of cash. Thalia’s mother slammed the door as they left. “Can’t have this getting out. I’m so close to getting another big role. The bad press would ruin me. They already think I’m crazy, but they just don’t understand.” She said, to no one in particular.Thalia clenched her jaw. She tried not to let it bother her, but it stung every time her mother talked about her and Jason like they were nothing more than a hindrance to her career. Especially when she was taking care of her mother more than Beryl ever took care of either of them.She crept back to the spot on the carpet. Not her best work, but at least the glass was gone. She sighed, glaring tiredly at the new vomit stain. It would have to be good enough. She didn’t have time to spend scrubbing at it. Jason’s yogurt was starting to get warm and then he wouldn’t want it anymore. Not that she could blame him.Her mother’s mutterings and footsteps grew closer, and Thalia dashed into Jason’s room. If she knew that Thalia was up, she would likely make her do something, or berate her about the mess, maybe even blame her that the agents came to visit at all. Besides, this would probably be her best opportunity to get Jason to eat.She approached his little toddler bed and sat down on the floor next to him. His blond hair was wild from sleep. His lip was still red and sore from when he got his hands on a stapler a few weeks prior, but it seemed to be healing alright. It didn’t seem to be bothering him anymore, although wrestling with him just to get him to sit still so she could remove the staple was a task she never wanted to repeat. His face was scrunched, and Thalia sighed. He was having a nightmare. She nudged his shoulder gently. Good morning Thalia signed. How’d you sleep? Jason sat up, bleary eyed. Good morning, His little hands repeated. Fine. His signs were still pretty simple, but considering his age, they were remarkably advanced. At least, far beyond his speaking ability. Thalia pushed away her concern over that matter. Want food? Thalia held out the yogurt for him. It’s for you . Jason didn’t even bother signing yes before opening his mouth expectantly. Thalia laughed. Whenever she brought him his favorite breakfast, namely vanilla yogurt, he wanted her to feed it to him. He was getting a little old for that, but Thalia didn’t really mind. She would give anything for him to be able to maintain his innocence just one more day before he found out who his mother, and father, really were. Once he was finished eating she wiped the drips from his face. He had a goofy little grin that she hoped he would never lose. It was lopsided, like he was always planning something mischievous. In his defense, he nearly always was, although most of his little “schemes” involved finding ridiculous hiding spots when they would play together. She ruffled his hair affectionately. They both jumped as Beryl burst through the door, Jason's little hands clinging to Thalia’s arm.“Thalia, grab Jason and get in the car. We’re going on a road trip.” She said, the fake smile once again making an appearance.Ice filled Thalia’s veins. She didn’t really want to, but saying no wasn’t an option. Her mother would just take Jason with her and probably leave him somewhere. It wouldn’t have been the first time she ‘forgot.’ If it was a choice of letting Jason go into danger alone, or going with him, the decision was a no-brainer. Reluctantly, she got Jason dressed and followed her mother out to the car.____The mountains around them were strange. They’d never been this far out of the city before. Her mother hated nature, which did little to ease Thalia’s anxiety. Her mother was a city slicker through and through. Her intentional choice to take a mountain pass made Thalia’s stomach crawl into her throat. “You ever get nightmares?” Beryl asked suddenly, her voice higher than usual. “Uh, sometimes.” Thalia answered cautiously, nervously eyeing her mother.“Just a little drive to stop the nightmares,” her mother said aimlessly, sounding more like she was talking to herself than to Thalia. Her movements were stiff and unnatural, causing them to swerve a bit on the relatively smooth road.Her mother began to hum, and the sound was unnerving. Like a mixture of dread and excitement; Thalia thought of a prisoner headed to their last meal. Excited for the great food after years of prison slop, but also knowing that would be the very last time they’d ever get the privilege. The road took them all the way to the top of the mountain. Thalia had been foolishly hoping it was some kind of historic sight; that they’d read some plaques, ooh and aah at the view, and then go home. But she saw nothing of the sort. Instead, there was a cliff with a low wall overlooking the wilderness in front of them, with a great expanse of forest behind them. And they were alone with her mother. The car squeaked to a halt at the end of the scenic overlook on the side of the road. Valleys of pine trees spread out in every direction. Thalia shivered as they got out of the car. It was so much colder than back at their house, and she wished she had brought a jacket. She grabbed Jason’s hand to remind him to stay close. He had a tendency to wander, and she was worried he might accidentally fall off the edge of the cliff face.“I can take care of that.” Thalia’s mom said, eyes darting around. “I’ll take care of Jason. We’ll only be here a minute.”Thalia’s grip remained firm. Something was wrong, and her mom was acting even crazier than usual. She began to search frantically for any kind of help, but they were completely alone up here. Jason’s little hand held hers tighter as he tugged on her. His words often became garbled when he was stressed, and he shook as he signed, Mommy’s scary. “I’ve got it.” Thalia said, trying to keep her voice strong. “He’ll be okay.” I won’t let go. I promise. Thalia signed one handed back to Jason. She felt a pit in her gut. If her mother wanted to overpower her, there wasn’t really anything she could do. Jason’s trembling fingers in her grip told her all she needed to know. “You know I hate when you two do that.” Beryl snapped, her own hands trembling as she shoved them in her coat pockets. “I can never understand what you’re planning.”“It’s nothing mom, I promise.” Thalia said quickly. “He just doesn’t like using his words sometimes.”“If you keep babying him he’ll never learn.” Her mother said, sneering. “Not everyone is going to know sign language.”“It’s not like you’ve taught him anything.” Thalia muttered.The glare came then. Her mother didn’t use it very often, but it sent chills down Thalia’s spine. The one that warned Thalia that if she didn’t listen, bottles of alcohol were going to be thrown. Thalia squeezed Jason’s hand tighter, taking a step back and pulling him behind her. “Now.” Her mother shouted, eyes wide as she continued to scan the mountain. Thalia squeezed Jason’s hand again, debating feverishly in her head, weighing the consequences of disobeyal. Her mother stormed over furiously, closing the distance in an instant, and Thalia flinched out of habit. Beryl wrenched Jason out of her loosened grip and swept him into her arms. “That’s better,” she said, suddenly much more relaxed. “Go wait in the car, it’ll only be a few minutes.”Thalia didn’t believe her, dread filling her stomach. But what could she do against an adult? “Are you sure?” Was all the protest she could muster.“Now.” Her mother snapped, nodding her head towards the car.Her mother turned and began to walk, and Jason’s little blue eyes never left Thalia. Feeling numb, she remained rooted to the spot. Beryl Grace did not not tolerate direct disobedience, and Thalia had the scars to prove it. As sick as she felt, Thalia began to walk back to the car.Every step felt like a marathon. Her instincts were going crazy. Something was terribly wrong and she needed to go back, but by now, her mind had shut off. It was too much. Everything was too much.Her back was pressed to the passenger door, but she kept her eyes on her mother. She has made it nearly to the edge of the cliff with Jason, his blond hair blowing in the wind. Her mother began to flicker, and Thalia’s heart raced. She was too far away to hear the words, but her mother was having a conversation with someone, or something. She watched her mother sigh before nodding. Before she could process what was happening, Beryl held Jason over the edge of the cliff, and let go. Thalia’s heart shattered.“No!” She screamed, running towards the edge of the cliff. Peering over the side, there was a steep drop for hundreds of feet before it became forest. She whipped towards her mother, tears stinging her eyes. “What have you done!”“I’ve dropped him off.” Her mother said, sighing in relief. She had the gall to look relaxed. “You’re a monster!” Thalia screamed. “He’s three. Why the fuck did you drop him off a cliff?”Beryl shrugged, patting her arm. “The gods always demand payment, sweetie.”“Then fuck the gods!” Thalia spat, jerking her mothers hand off of her. Her fingertips felt numb. “You killed your son. My brother!” Her voice caught, breaking the stream of curses she wanted to hurl at her mother.“One day you’ll understand.” Her mother said. “The wrath of the gods will break even the strongest spirits.”Tears streamed down Thalia’s face. Jason wasn’t coming back. “I’ll jump off too.” She threatened. “I’ll go join him.”Her mother just shrugged, turning back toward the car. “What you do isn’t any of my business.”Thalia counted to three in her head. On three, she was going to jump. There wasn’t any reason to stay anymore. Maybe he survived the fall and she could go find him. She peered over the low wall and her feet became rooted to the spot. Her shoes felt like they were filled with lead and she couldn’t move. I’m sorry Jason. She signed. I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry. “Get in the car,” Her mother called coldly. “Or you’re walking home.”Thalia wanted to tell her to fuck off, but she swore she heard something growl in the woods behind the car. Numbly, she slid into the passenger seat. For the first time in a long time, her mother was quiet.Maybe Jason could still be alive. She knew it was a longshot, but it was the mantra she repeated in her head. She could freak out once she gathered her things, her CD player and some clothes. She could take the car and drive up the mountain, looking for Jason until she found him. She was done covering for her mother. But she had to get home first. She sat perfectly still, not daring to move a muscle, the tension threatening to snap her bones in half. They continued down the winding road, passing a sign that said they were almost to the base of the mountain. Thalia kept her gaze on the woods, eyes widening as they landed on two hellhounds, both larger than the car. It wasn’t the first time Thalia had seen monsters, but she flinched as their red eyes bore straight into the vehicle, as though she was the only target they ever wanted. She watched their hind legs tense as they got ready to pounce.“Watch out!” Thalia yelled, causing her mother to scream as she swerved.The hellhounds landed on the vehicle, the tires screeching as the car stopped and slid sideways. Thalia’s mother screamed louder, and the hellhounds began clawing at the car. Their claws began to rip apart the metal and Thalia knew she only had a few seconds before their massive jaws would be closing in on her. Every emotion that she had been trying to suppress until she got home, the rage, the grief, and the fear, snapped in a second. She unleashed it all with a scream, fingertips crackling numbly once again. Even as the hellhounds tore open the metal on the car, Thalia felt powerful.The world blurred as she placed a hand on each of the beasts. She felt the electric power leave her, moving through her and into the hellhounds. For a long moment, she felt nearly euphoric. As she pulled her hands away, the beast's charred husks fell from the car to the road. She nearly expected to feel relieved after all of that, but it never came. Instead, she was filled with an exhaustion so profound it made even breathing difficult.“This is all your fault!” Her mother screamed, hitting the mangled steering wheel erratically. “If you hadn’t been born, monsters would leave us alone!”“And you fucking killed Jason, so shut it!” Thalia yelled back. Beryl screeched, throwing open the door and storming out of the car. Thalia followed her, not done yet. “It’s not my fault you decided you needed Zeus’s attention so badly!”“You ungrateful child! If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t even exist.” Her mother snapped. Thalia’s hands began to crackle once more. She felt her body heat up in warning, but she didn’t care. Any warm feelings she may have still had for her mother vanished the moment she let go of Jason. Beryl closed the distance around the car, still waving her hands and screeching, but Thalia didn’t hear a word of it.She grabbed Thalia harshly by the shoulders, and Thalia simply let the energy in her hands go through her mother. Immediately, her grating voice ceased, and Thalia was assaulted by the pungent aroma of burning flesh. A moment later, her mother’s charred corpse fell to her feet, mouth still open and skin blackened. It was the last thing she remembered seeing before passing out on the side of the road, her body feeling like it would tear itself apart.Thalia winced, the painful memory nearly forcing her to tears as it came to a close. Reliving it didn’t hurt any less, as used to it as she might be by now. Besides, she didn’t have the strength to cry as her stone cell blinked back into view. Her mother’s death had been ruled an accident, and only Thalia knew what really happened. She was the only surviving member of the Grace family. Still, the message was clear. Trouble would follow her everywhere. After leaving the emergency room and sneaking out of the group home she'd been placed in, she decided she’d dye her blonde hair black to make her less recognizable. Her first attempt was sloppy, but she got better at it with time. She had run. She’d wanted to be anywhere but home, reminded of everything that had happened. Everything that could and should have been. She’d never even worked up the guts to retrieve her CD player.She shifted uncomfortably on the stone slab as her mind drifted to the aftermath of her mother’s death. Leaving L.A. did little to stem the limitless onslaught of monsters. Day after day, she lived in the woods, scavenged, and tried to survive. No one else should have to suffer, either by her hand, or even by her mere presence. It wasn’t until the second night without sleep that the panic really began to set in. Her movements were slow, and she wasn’t able to evade the monsters for more than a few minutes at a time. She was losing, and she was going to die here, sent to the same hell as her mother. Her legs had just given out as a Dracaena stood over her, ready for its next meal, when it suddenly turned to golden dust, a bronze blade protruding from where its chest had just been. The wielder was a sandy-haired boy, about fourteen, with a crooked smile that could have gotten him anything he wanted. Despite his confident aura, his eyes shone with fear. “Luke Castellan.” He said, extending a hand. “Nice to meet you. What’s your name?”Thalia stared at his hand. She could do little more than stammer. “Th-Thalia.”“Got a last name?”She shook her head, her voice failing her. She began to sign, hoping that he would understand. He didn’t but he did sit with her until she had calmed down enough to speak again. After talking for a little while, he offered to be her traveling companion, which she quickly accepted.That was the first time Thalia had seen that look in another person, the look of pure desperation, willing to do anything just to survive one more day. She had thought she was alone. After all, even if her mother deserved it, normal people didn’t end others’ lives without thinking about it, perhaps even relishing it. The torment of her memories clawed at her, day and night, threatening to rip her apart. But Luke was different. He didn’t care about her past. Instead, he helped her learn about what it truly meant to be a demigod. Sure, it was just the two of them, but it was the happiest she had ever been. More importantly, her time with Luke distracted her from Jason. She had accepted that he was gone, but the grief would have overtaken her if she didn’t have Luke with her. So they traveled together. Things like threatening store clerks, his violent language, and his intense bitterness every time he talked about his dad, seemed minor in comparison to all of her baggage. She understood how he felt. They were just traumatized children, saying violent things to let off steam. Her memories faded again, replaced with the dank cell walls. Luke had shot her that same look as the sky nearly killed him. It was the first time she had seen it since they met. He was afraid, and he needed help. Then, he took her incredible act of self-sacrifice, and spat on her for it, telling her it was for “the greater good.” She grimaced, another wave of mind-numbing pain washed over her. To say the sky was heavy would be underselling it. The burden wasn’t simply massive in terms of weight, but also in the toll it enacted. She could deal with the pain, even the agony of the physical world could be endured, but this burden demanded an even higher price. She felt like portions of her soul had been diffused with the sky as it bore into her. She felt like a piece of herself was missing.From the very first moment beneath the sky, a menacing voice echoed in her mind. Those who are divided that bear the sky, shall find that same divide rip them to pieces. Now, she was paying the price. The sky did more than crush, it tore apart everyone who bore it, shattering the foundation of anyone who survived. “I’m sorry.” Thalia’s voice was little more than a whisper. She didn’t even know who she was speaking to, but it wouldn’t have mattered. What was real and what was an illusion? In a world of myth, reality and fantasy weaved to create a tapestry of lies. “How are you holding up?” Annabeth’s shaky voice asked, filling the room.“I’m fine.” Thalia said, voice breaking at the end. Truthfully, she wasn’t sure how to answer, but Annabeth’s eyes were boring into her, desperate for confirmation that she was really okay. She sighed, trying to shake off the onslaught of nostalgia she’d been sitting in. If Luke was to be believed, worse was coming, and she didn’t have time to worry about the past.“They’ll come for us.” Annabeth whispered. “Percy is just like you, and you came for me.”Thalia nodded. The presence she felt earlier was gone now, but she was sure it had been Percy. How it all worked she could only guess. Percy did have his weird dreams, so maybe that would come in handy.“I know they will.” Thalia agreed. “Especially him, but I don’t know how long we’re going to have.”Annabeth sighed, and Thalia could practically hear the gears in her mind whirring to find any strategy that might help them. “We don’t really have a choice in giving up.” was all she said. “You kind of made sure of that when you made me swear on the Styx.”“If Luke is behind this, I know what he’s going to do.” Thalia said, horrid anticipation creeping into her chest. “What?” Annabeth said, alarmed. “Psychological.”“Psychological torture?”Thalia nodded. “Mhmm. Physical pain sucks, but it's whatever.” She said, trying to put on a brave face. “He’s sadistic enough that he’ll want to break us. Turn us into the slaves he claims we are.” Her voice dropped. “And he’s the only one with the knowledge to succeed.”Annabeth sighed again, as though she was finally needing to come to grips with an uncomfortable truth. Peering over at Thalia, her face dropped.“Hey Thals…have you always had lightning markings on your hands?”“No, what do you mean?”“On your hands and arms, there’s black lightning streaks running all the way up.”Thalia craned her head upwards to see, but she couldn’t muster the strength. Under Annabeth's intent gaze, Thalia became aware of the intense pressure on her palms and up her forearms. In what she now assumed was a lightning pattern. The ache felt like it had fractured her very soul.“Does it at least look cool?” Thalia mumbled. “If I’m getting scars out of this, they better be badass.”“It suits you.” Annabeth managed a small smile.____The fire that spread through her arms the following night was unbearable, but she couldn’t do anything else about it. Thorn had decided that her shackles would be tightened so she couldn’t relax. She wanted to scream in frustration, but her voice was still too weak to do much more than lightly protest. Summoning any sort of electricity left spots dancing in her vision. No longer was she Thalia Grace, daughter of the King of the gods. Instead, she was just the scared little girl she used to be when she was forced to live with her increasingly erratic mother. Except this time, she truly had no escape. In the darkness, the only thing that could break that haze was the mysterious, calming presence that had appeared the night before. Real or imaginary, Thalia wasn’t sure, but despite the desperation she could sense from it, it was calming. As though it truly cared about her well-being. “You’re the only one keeping me sane you know.” Thalia muttered. “Although I don’t even know. What’s real, what’s fake? Does anyone truly know? They beat me, torture me, and threaten me and those I care about. Do you know what it’s like? Hiding, running, screaming. I’m a monster, and this is my punishment. That’s the only way. Maybe I’m already dead.”She would have said more, but panic began to close her throat again, forcing her ramblings to stay silent.“You okay over there?” Annabeth’s pained voice asked.“Death is only mercy for the just.” Thalia replied. “There is no relief for me.”“What the hell are you talking about? Snap out of it!” Annabeth yelled. “We’re here, in a cell. Percy’s coming to get us. I know he is.”Thalia turned, face blank, to where she knew Annabeth was. “Why would Percy rescue me? I thought he killed monsters like me.”Annabeth’s hurried prayers began to fill the uneasy silence; her earnest pleadings to her mother, Percy’s father, Thalia’s father, even Mr. D. Hope was the only thing she could still cling to, and even those thinnest of threads were beginning to fray. “You’re not a monster.” Annabeth protested. “Just hold on a little longer okay?”Thalia wanted to ask Annabeth why she was trapped, but the words caught in her throat. Of course, Annabeth wasn’t at fault. She was an angel caught in the wrong place with the wrong people. No. This was her own doing, her punishment for matricide. Maybe the Universe was finally judging her for her sins.“You have no idea what I’ve done.” Thalia whispered. Although if Annabeth heard her, she didn’t respond. ____The dim light of morning was the only sign that the night was over. The haze that had plagued her ever since Artemis had taken the sky seemed to only be getting worse. Instead of just dinginess, the edges of her vision began to grow dark, as though her body was slowly being separated from her soul. Her eyelids felt heavy, but she didn’t dare close them. Besides, it was too late for any sort of sleep now. The demented Manticore made sure she wouldn’t get any rest during the night as her pained joints continued to swell. She imagined if she had filled her nerves with hot magma, it would be close to the aching that plagued her.She looked over to the prone form of Annabeth. Thankfully, her chains had been unadjusted, so while she didn’t look comfortable, her closed eyes and slow breathing signified that she had been able to sleep at least a few hours. That’s good . Thalia thought. She doesn’t need to see what’s going to happen today. She knew it was a pipe dream. In just a moment, Annabeth would be woken up when their tormentors returned, but it was the tiniest moments of hope that could give her some brief moments of respite from the labyrinth of insanity. There wasn’t any reason for Percy to rescue her, but maybe he’d at least come for Annabeth. She didn’t deserve this.The creaking of the cell door told her that her nightly respite was over. She didn’t bother looking up. If she was lucky, they’d just hit her and get it over with. Bracing wouldn’t do any good. Submission was the only way she might get off easy.“My offer still stands, you know.”Despite her best efforts, she looked up at that face she once found so endearing. Luke’s blond hair looked thinner from their days in the woods, and his scar stood out as the only blemish on his otherwise perfect features. Yet, he didn’t look handsome anymore. His pale skin looked gray, and he looked just as unsteady as he had when she had taken the sky from him.For a moment, Thalia considered the nuclear option, but she shuddered at the thought. Luke had offered her the opportunity to bathe in the Styx, and be the physical temple for the resurrection of Kronos. “You know I can’t.” Thalia’s weak voice replied. “I wouldn’t even survive the dip.”Luke shrugged, seemingly indifferent. “Maybe, maybe not. But it’s your only option.” His light blue eyes, for the first time since her imprisonment, looked anguished, in contrast with his tired, but generally stoic body language. “I can’t keep you alive any longer than the solstice, which is today. After that, the General will kill you.”“Since when did you care about keeping me alive?” Thalia spat weakly. “One day, you’ll understand.” Luke said. “My offer is your only chance at escape. Join me. Join us. It is the natural way of things. Children overthrowing their parents. It will be just like old times.”Thalia managed a growl. “The old you wouldn’t have trapped me under the sky. Go fuck yourself.”“Perhaps you are becoming a monster, Thals.” Luke said, “The very kind you accuse me of being.”Thalia bristled. Her nickname felt alien coming out of Luke’s mouth, as desperately as she wanted things to return, it only confirmed what she already knew. Back then, they were two young demigods, mad at the world without any real influence. Now, they were two monsters staring back at one another. “Don’t call me that.” Thalia sneered. “That ship has long sailed.”Luke sighed. “It’s a shame you know. You really think Hades will let you into Elysium? After all you’ve done?”“Shut it.” Thalia sneered. “That’s rich, coming from you.”“I just speak the truth, Thals.” He said, ignoring Thalia’s protests about her nickname. “Thorn told me about the plane. Did you even think about the mortals inside? There were no survivors you know…”Truthfully, Thalia had done her best not to think about it, but she couldn’t help the guilt that gnawed away at her. Sure, she had prayed to her dad to help them, but even if she knew it wouldn’t have worked, would she still have done it? The pit in her stomach told her everything she needed to know. The same girl that killed her mother was the same one that massacred a plane of mortals. “Since when do you care about collateral damage?” Thalia said. “Your boss doesn’t care about mortals either.”“I suppose on some counts I may be found guilty of hypocrisy.” Luke said. “At least to those who don’t understand my vision. Still, last I checked. Hypocrisy is hardly comparable to murder.”“You’re a fool.” Thalia said.”“And you’re a monster. You couldn’t even save your younger brother from your mortal mother.” Luke said. His smile turned ghastly. “I heard Hades is always looking to send more souls to the Fields of Punishment. Although perhaps monsters like yourself should go to Tartarus instead.”She wanted to shout more hateful things at the boy she used to love, but she didn’t have the energy. That nagging sense of guilt that began to eat away at her again. Luke knew her past better than anyone, and yet he wielded it like a weapon to carve up her heart.Plus, could he be right? After all, why would Elysium want her? She felt more awake now that the sun had come up, but she vaguely remembered her ramblings during the night. She had nothing to hope for, and she had no reason to be rescued. No matter how she sliced it, the drowning depths of despair kept crawling to her throat, choking her out. Luke’s sinister smile betrayed the joy that he felt, and that hurt most of all. She was nothing more than a tool to him. She felt as though she was hanging by a thread, and it was beginning to fray. The verbal assaults hurt even more than the physical strikes she had been subjected to. By now, she had long grown accustomed to the slow seeping from the lightning patterns on her arms. She felt as though she was splitting in two, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Luke glanced at a still sleeping Annabeth. “I’ll leave you two be, for now.” Luke said. “If you change your mind, just say the word. My lord would love the honor of sparing his new temple.”“Go fuck yourself.” Thalia spat blood on his shoe. Luke just sighed. “Then I hope Hades has mercy on you.” Then, he swiftly left the room, the hard soles of his boots echoing through the cell.The door remained ajar and Thalia knew what was coming next, so she just waited in silence, wishing desperately she could let out her screams.____“It’s all your fault.” Dr. Thorn told her between blows. “The blood of innocents is on your hands.”Thalia could do little more than whimper, and Annabeth had kept the same dissociative expression she had found since yesterday. By now, everything they’d done had started to blend together, the only difference today was that they decided they’d do more than insult her. She could deal with the usual hateful insults, but every time they mentioned the people she killed or failed to save, it felt like a hot knife had been driven through her heart. In her sleep-deprived ramblings, she had begun to unearth the truth about herself. She tried to fight the vicious insults, piercing her with every barb, but ultimately, they found their target. Tears began to pour down her face. She just wanted it to end. It didn’t matter what she had done, but no one was coming. Annabeth’s glassy gaze signified how little she was paying attention, but Thalia was grateful for that. The less she could remember, the better off she’d be. Crunch. Another one of her fingers was broken, but there was no scream. That was the new game they had played today. Thorn had gotten a list of every passenger on the plane and forced her to memorize it, with the faces of their families. He would make her recite it between his strikes, and when she would get one wrong, he’d break another finger.Still, their faces were etched into her memory. The faces that she was directly responsible for ending. “It was self-defense.” Thalia protested. Why she said it, she wasn’t sure. Thorn wouldn’t have cared. He made that very clear. Still, as her mind threatened to tear itself in two, she felt as though the fraying thread, upon which she could pin her fractured soul, desperately required what she said to be true. “Was it?” Thorn sneered. “I seem to recall telling you to come quietly and no one would get hurt. I am many things, but a Frenchman never lies.”“You would’ve captured me, tortured me.” Thorn smiled devilishly. “And yet here you are, with the blood of over one hundred dead mortals staining your hands. Do you truly believe it was self-defense? I don’t think so. Yes, I am a monster. My soul swears allegiance to Tartarus. Yet, despite that, I could never lay claim to such a massacre. The line between man and monster is very thin, Miss Grace.”“No.” Thalia repeated. “I will never be like you.”“Your trembling betrays you.” Thorn mocked. “You cannot deny your ramblings in the night. Though the sun may hide the shadows for a time, they will always resurface. Hades will have no mercy on you. You only have one option.”This time, Thalia stayed silent. She had nothing, not even a humorous quip. Still, she saw Annabeth’s glassy gaze and she knew that at least one of them deserved to be rescued. Her face had long since hardened from the cute little girl she and Luke had stumbled across in the woods. Still, Thalia could only hope a shred of innocence had been preserved, though she knew it was probably a pipe dream. The thick haze was now in the center of her vision, acting like a dark distortion around the world. Her thoughts were beginning to slow, the only thing remaining being the faces and names of those she had killed on the plane. Playing in reverse order, the fiery wreckage, once so clear, was now just splashes of color across her mental screen. Her limbs felt more like accessories than part of her, and the seeping of her soul did not dissipate. In a way, it felt remarkably similar to her original transformation. The fiery pain that had so plagued her now began to ebb, sending tears of relief to her tired eyes.Thorn’s voice sounded muffled as he spoke his next words. “You can feel it, the euphoria of death.” He chuckled. “Poetic justice I suppose, a self-inflicted wound.”Briefly, the haze in her vision felt as though it would begin to dissipate. Euphoria of death? She couldn’t die yet. Annabeth wasn’t safe, and there was no guarantee she’d get any relief even in the hereafter. “No,” was all she said, her words beginning to slur. Still, she cracked a smile, one far larger than normal in any circumstance. “Monsters don’t truly die.”Thorn’s eyes widened, but before he could respond, the ground began to rumble and he cursed. “Those parasites don’t know when to quit, do they?” He said, then he turned towards the seemingly empty hallway. “Get in here, undo their chains. It’s time to meet our visitors.”The cyclops wardens came in, keys jangling in their hands, and they unlocked the girls’ chains. “Come,” Thorn barked. Annabeth was able to stagger to her feet, but Thalia was unable to do anything more than whimper as she attempted to use any muscles at all. She tried briefly to stand, trying to claw her way through the haze, but found herself disconnected from her own body, making her own flesh her new prison cell.“You,” Thorn said, pointing at the cyclops closest to Thalia. “Carry her. We’re going to need her for the main event.”The cyclops unceremoniously took Thalia’s limp form and threw her over his shoulder. Still, she said nothing. There was nothing she could do except fight the increasingly oppressive mental haze that threatened to tear her from her body completely. She couldn’t let go, not yet. Not until Annabeth had made it out safely. “Where are we going?” Annabeth asked, her voice monotone. “Oh, just to see some old friends.” Thorn replied, although the tension in his voice betrayed his uneasiness. “You two are lucky. I would have liked to kill you now, but I have been forbidden from doing so.”The rumbling in the floor began to increase in intensity, forcing the group to slow their exit from the cell into the main hallway. Waiting outside was Luke. His jaw was tense, and his forehead shined with sweat. “This is your last chance. Don’t fail Annabeth like you failed Jason.” He warned. “If you say no, we’re taking you to the General, and he will not be merciful.”The sight of Luke pricked Thalia’s heart, providing some clarity to the cacophony of confusion of her sensory information. He was responsible. It was his fault. She focused on that feeling, providing relief from her mental haze. In exchange, her injuries began to jolt her, acutely making their presence known, but that was okay. She may be a monster, and the universe may be punishing her, but Luke was the instrument in her torment, and he would pay for his crimes. “Go to Tartarus,” she spat. Even the simple act of speaking caused her now brittle and broken bones to rattle, forcing her to wince, but if those ended up being her last words, she would be satisfied with them. “I’d let Annabeth go.” Luke promised, and his expression had changed, from one of worry and anger, into one of concern. “Please. It will heal you, and then I can personally guarantee Annabeth’s safety.”Thalia opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Instead, she glared defiantly at the son of Hermes, daring him to ask her again. Still, his pleading eyes seemed sincere, and for a brief moment, her heart desperately called out to forgive him, to give him another chance. To let him protect Annabeth in a way that she couldn’t.“I’d rather die standing than live kneeling beneath you.” Annabeth spat, answering Thalia’s question for her. “Were the last few days nothing but a practical joke to you?” “You were brainwashed!” Luke protested. “I had to break your minds, break your ways of thinking.”Annabeth’s gaze held a thousand words, a million things she likely wanted to say. Instead, she just wiped a single tear from her eye. “Percy was right about you.” Luke swallowed uncomfortably, as though he had to physically digest what he heard. “I see,” he said, his demeanor once again hardened. “Then, I guess I have no choice but to take you to the General.”Annabeth raised her chin in defiance. “Take us. I want to meet these ‘parasites’ Thorn is so worried about.”Before Luke could respond, the scent of saltwater filled Thalia’s nose and the ground began to shake violently. Annabeth smiled. “I told you they’d come.”Thalia could only hope she wouldn’t end up on the other side of a monster-slaying blade.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The tension in Percy's jaw threatened to crack his teeth. His pace was akin to a snail's but Zoe had been explicit in her instructions. Slowly creeping around the edges of the garden was the only way that they could get around Ladon. The periphery heads of the hundred-headed dragon kept staring, but he never left his post. Most of them looked perplexed, contemplating whether or not they were worth a tasty snack."It's me." Zoe soothed. "I used to feed thee."Zoe's sisters, the Hesperides, looked on in disgust. "Foolish Huntress," they sneered. "He will devour you."Zoe just shrugged. "I do not think so sisters, but we shall see, in time."Ladon continued his perplexing shifting. Half of him looked like he wanted to eat Zoe right where she stood, defending the golden apples like he had been trained. The other half seemed to sense her familiarity. In a way, it almost made him seem like the family dog, eagerly awaiting the eldest child's return home from college for winter break.The head closest to Zoe snapped, and she narrowly darted out of the way. The other heads began to hiss at the aggressor. The outside set never left Percy and the other Hunters, watching them with intrigue, but without malice. Despite lack of hostility, the dragon's golden eyes felt unsettling, as though they could see right through him.As they approached the other side of the clearing, opposite the tree, the one closest spoke up. "Enough." She commanded. "Ladon, dispose of these strangers."All of Ladon's golden eyes glazed over, like he was in a trance. He swayed slightly as nearly every head trained its gaze on Zoe. "It has been a pleasure to see you again." Ladon crooned, a deep dulcet tone. "Unfortunately, I see nothing more than four Hesperides, four Hunters, and a demigod."Zoe kept up her soothing speech as she continued to creep around the garden. "I used to feed thee, remember?" Her voice wavered at the end as she repeated the words. "From the time thou was but a hatchling."Ladon just sighed, his hundred heads drooping in unison, as though he was an unwilling executioner. "Goodbye, Zoe."He lunged. Zoe whipped out a long hunting knife to parry his strike. She was nearly fast enough, but Percy saw the edges of Ladon's teeth scrape Zoe's side. Her blades clashed against them, but the damage was already done.A fierce wave of frustration swamped Percy. They were so close to success, and failure was not an option. His frustration trickled into the earth, shaking the ground and forcing Ladon's attention onto him. He had no love lost for the Lieutenant, but he couldn't stomach the thought of abandoning her. In the back of his mind, the thought creeped that Thalia would be less likely to join the Hunters if Zoe could stay alive."Hey, Dragon-breath!" Percy called, trying not to cringe at the nickname. "Over here." Ladon turned, looking mildly amused, or as much as a terrifying hundred headed dragon could look amused. His swaying had resumed and Percy's stomach dropped. Well, that's unsettling. Zoe quickly darted beneath a distracted head to join Percy on the other side of the garden."Impressive." Ladon said. "You are not here for the apples, so I'll let you live. This time." Then, his glassy eyes began to return to normal, the Hesperides' enchantment beginning to fade. "It has been millennia since I have interacted with a demigod, much less one who caused me to falter." His hundred sets of golden eyes narrowed. "If I ever see you again, it will be far too soon." Satisfied with his warning, Ladon turned around, curling around the massive golden tree, and fell back into slumber. The other Hunters quickly caught up with them, gathering around Zoe with worried expressions.Percy let out a sigh of relief before he caught Zoe wincing."You alright?" Percy asked.She waved him off. "It's nothing. I've dealt with far worse. Besides, we don't really have time for this."He desperately wanted to believe her, but he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that not all of the souls who had started this quest would be finishing it. Percy noticed her hands, pressed tightly against her side, were shaking as she tried to keep pressure on her wound."Just don't die on me alright?" Percy flashed her a winning smile. "I am a forbidden one, and that sounds hella cool. You've gotta live to tell me more about that"A small, tense smile crept onto Zoe's face. "Perhaps the things I know are best left forgotten to history." She said, "If you were to know the truth, you may not survive what follows."That sounded an awful lot like a riddle, and it made him want to pull his hair out. He shook his head. The proper time for interrogation would be after the rescue mission.They started the trek to the looming pathway just beyond the garden. Percy could faintly make out the way it wound to the top of the mountain. It taunted him as his mind raced. He tried to calm it, like Annabeth might tell him to do, knowing the battle that awaited them.He replayed the prophecy in his mind again, just to see if he could glean any more clues from it. Lyra had told him not to obsess over it, but it was just too tantalizing to ignore.
Five shall go west to the goddess in chains
The price of freedom the Titan's curse strains
Blinded eyes shall set a new stage
Lightning and Ocean dawn the new age
Yet success is not all that can be paved
Two alone cannot be saved.
Each line swirled around in his head, begging to be solved. The first one was easy; the five Hunters had gone to find Artemis, and he replaced Bianca as the fifth member. Quest math was complicated, and he wasn't sure if the rules of substitution applied, but his internal ease told him that it wasn't really important.The second line made him feel like his stomach was full of lead. The Titan's curse was easy enough, but he wasn't sure if the supposed price of freedom was referring to Luke letting Atlas go, Thalia taking the sky from him, or Artemis currently holding it. Still, no matter how he sliced it, there were always loose ends, like he was trying to fit the line into the wrong-sized box. Chiron mentioned to him once that if he had to try and convince himself that a prophecy was complete, it definitely wasn't.The third and fourth lines remained a mystery. He thought that it was referring to some kind of blindness from the Gods, but he wasn't sure what that could mean. He knew the gods met on the solstice. Maybe they would make the wrong decision today? That was as good of a guess he had.It was the fourth line that filled him with dread.He figured that Lightning and Ocean were referring to people, or gods. The only ones who came to mind were Poseidon and Zeus. He groaned internally as they continued up the mountainside. He just hoped that he wouldn't be accused of stealing another lightning bolt. He had enough of getting shocked for one lifetime already.The last two lines felt obvious. There was no success without sacrifice. That much was clear. Percy's heart twisted, grappling with the uncomfortable future ahead. No one was going to die on his watch, and if it truly was foretold by the Fates, he would just pray Thalia wouldn't be numbered with the dead. The dream he had last night didn't really help his worries. She had looked beyond ragged, massive bags marring the skin beneath her eyes, and she had begun muttering to herself. In a way, he was grateful he hadn't been shown the finer details last night, otherwise he might have been willing to go march into the Garden and slaughter the Hesperides himself, an act of violence that would likely not help his case if the gods decided they wanted to kill him again.His backpack began to weigh him down. Not in terms of mass, but as a reminder of exactly what was at stake. Rachel had insisted he leave it at her place, and he nearly agreed, but when he tried, the simple act became nearly impossible. Aphrodite's incessant itching demanded he take it. In a way, he was grateful for the excuse. Even though he had slept with Thalia's hoodie the previous night, it still felt like something had changed, as though a new portion of himself had surfaced, beginning to wrestle with his heart over the direction he wanted to go.He shook his head. Just get this back to her and worry about it later. But he couldn't help it. The thought that he might run into her at the top of the mountain, even with the inevitable fight ahead, filled his stomach with butterflies. The more he tried to think of what he wanted to say, the more the faucet that was his racing mind dried up. He felt more comfortable fighting monsters than talking to girls.His breathing came harder, and he realized that they had nearly made it up the mountain. He glanced back at the four Hunters, his only companions for what was sure to be a bloody battle. He pulled Riptide from his pocket in anticipation and felt the thrum of the liquids inside, the sea and the Lethe. Despite his nerves, he felt calmer with the sword in hand. He relished the feeling coming from it, the pulses from the water matching his heartbeat. His breathing steadied. He was ready for this.They had nearly crested the hill, and everyone paused, catching their breath and readying weapons before the final ascent."I'm glad we have you." Zoe said, flashing him a rare, genuine smile. "Even if you are a boy.""Yeah, yeah." Percy scoffed. "Just don't die, alright?"Lyra hit his shoulder playfully. "Don't worry, we know what we're doing."Percy shot the Hunters a smile. "Then let's go. We've got a goddess to save."He was sure they wouldn't catch the double meaning of his words.____Ruins littered the top of the mountain, silver and black rubble painting the landscape as they reached the peak. Weathered stone walls lined the pathway, half-melted bronze statues and murals hidden among the wreckage."Mount Othrys." Zoe paled. "This is not good.""I'm assuming it moves like Olympus does and all that junk?" Percy asked.Zoe nodded. "It's no secret the titans wish to return, hence the ruins around you, but this mountain is particularly troublesome.""Atlas's mountain right?" Percy glanced around again. "I can feel the air here. It's not very fun.""Exactly." Her eyes narrowed. "I'm surprised you know that it's this one in particular.""You're not the only one that gets dreams, you know." Percy snarked. "Why else would I just leave camp on my own?"Lyra snickered in the background and Zoe shot her a glare, but there wasn't any venom behind it. "Whatever." Zoe said. "Let's just rescue our Lady and get out of here." Then, she shuddered. "I don't want to be here any longer than I need to.""Agreed," Percy muttered.A wild look flashed across Zoe's face before she broke into a sprint. Percy let out a strangled yell as the other hunters took after her instinctively. Because it was better than just standing there, Percy followed them. As he got closer, he could see exactly what it was that had caught Zoe's attention. Right at the epicenter of the mountain, near a configuration of tunnels, a figure strained beneath an impossible weight. Her auburn hair stood out in stark contrast to her now pale skin. Her forehead glistened with golden sweat as she shouldered a weight that looked seconds away from breaking her back. She was nearly unrecognizable compared to the first time Percy had seen her. At first, the wild beauty she displayed had made his jaw drop, but now, her glow had dimmed, and she nearly seemed mortal. Trapped before him was Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt.He nearly stopped breathing as he took in the sky settled against her shoulders. The clouds above them seemed to bend toward her, a swirling vortex of blues and whites. He tried to comprehend the expanse of what he was looking at for only a moment before giving up. Percy forced himself to set aside the mixture of dread, awe, and mortality that filled him, instead focusing on Artemis.Bronze shackles were locked around her ankles and wrists, chaining her to the spot. Not that it would have really mattered, but Percy got the impression that they were more for show than anything else."My Lady!" Zoe's voice was somewhere between a sob and a shriek as they closed in around the goddess . She began hacking at the chains, the other Hunters joining her and cutting them free. They fell away easily, confirming Percy's suspicion. Atlas was just keeping her on display, like a zoo animal."It's no use." Artemis strained to speak. "I cannot be free unless someone takes the burden from me."Zoe opened her mouth, likely to volunteer, but a massive towering figure appeared from the shadows."She's quite right, you know." He said. "It's really quite ingenious if you ask me. I'll give Zeus his credit. When it comes to devising curses, he truly has no equal. It makes me wonder if he's really the hero in all of this."As he stepped out into the light, Percy immediately understood the figure to be Atlas. After all, he was the father of the Hesperides, and now that Percy could see his face, the family resemblance became clear. His broad, strong shoulders looked tense, but it was obvious what he was made for. His birthright was to be claimed on the battlefield, a trait that he had passed onto his children, including Zoe."Let her go!" Zoe demanded. "Why are you doing this?""You would do the same after millennia of the Burden." Atlas shrugged, wincing at the motion. "The time for revolution is at hand. My Lord rises quickly, and I am needed elsewhere. I think once this is all over, I will have the Olympians all take turns beneath the Burden. Have them on, oh I don't know, a one hundred year rotation. Although maybe they would just abandon whoever was left like they always do. They aren't known for their kindness."Percy bristled. "Where are Thalia and Annabeth!" He demanded. "I know you're keeping them here."Atlas laughed, the booming sound grating Percy to his core. "Be patient, little hero. They will be here soon. I have sent for them."He made his way over to Artemis, crouching to regard her, a triumphant look on his face. "Besides. I think the little nature goddess likes her new position." He stretched out his hand, clearly intending to replace the chains, but Artemis lashed out and bit him. Hard. Percy swore he saw silver fire raging in her eyes, even as the titan pulled back, snarling."You tricked me!" Artemis ground out. "It will not happen again."Atlas just shrugged, a small smile tugging at the edge of his mouth as the skin closed over his hand. "I don't need it to. There's no way you could resist helping a young maiden.""You're sick, you know that?" Artemis growled. "I will skin you alive."Atlas just looked up, pretending to be lost in an amusing thought. "Let me know when you get out and I'll arrange the opportunity."Zoe opened her mouth again, and Artemis snapped her gaze to her lieutenant. "No!" She commanded. "Zoe, I forbid you."Zoe glared, but dipped her head. Even she would never disobey a direct order from her Lady. She directed her ire to her father, eyes shooting daggers through him."You'll pay for that." Zoe threatened, her voice a deadly calm.Atlas just smiled. "You're welcome to try. Although I don't see why we need to rush. Five minutes would not matter either way, no? To us immortals, time might as well not exist. Although I guess you sacrificed some of your immortality to join your little girls' club."Zoe was visibly shaking but she did not move. Her hands were clenched into fists so tight Percy worried her nails were slicing into her skin. Lyra and the other two Hunters had drawn their bows, awaiting Zoe's order to fire, but it never came."You talk a lot of smack for someone who takes orders." Percy snarked, sarcasm becoming his default weapon. "I mean, 'your lord rises quickly.' I thought you were the one in charge here. I didn't realize you'd be so afraid of a disembodied voice."Atlas bristled, turning to look at Percy for the first time. "I see respect has been lost over the millennia of my absence. You may not respect your Uncle, boy, but mine is a visionary. He will restore things to their proper place.""Even your own brothers, Prometheus and Epimetheus, didn't want to join you." Percy said. "Even they could see the truth. You're just a servant."Atlas's confident smile returned. "Can a general truly thrive without serving his troops? Acts of service do not demean, instead, they enhance. My brothers were fools, playing slaves to your Uncle. Instead of remaining strong like they once were, they became muddled and confused, molded by the weak minds of the mortals." His dark eyes bore into Percy's soul, sizing him up. "You are an abomination, a violation of the separation of the mortal and divine. Mankind shall serve their masters. That is their purpose.""Yeah, I don't give a shit about that." Percy spat. "Fuck Zeus, and fuck you too. I'm here for one reason. You have my friends, and I want them back. Get your political bullshit out of here."Percy meant every word. His sword hand trembled, from rage, not fear, as he felt his days of frustration and anticipation boil over. The earth began to tremble, shockwaves emanating from where his feet met the ground. The Hunters stared, slack jawed, and even Artemis looked surprised. Percy glanced down at his body, only mildly shocked to see what looked like black and green flames dancing along his skin. He briefly caught his reflection in Riptide's blade before snapping his gaze, his glowing green gaze, to where Atlas now regarded him with a mixture of hostility and bewilderment."Now, that's–"He didn't get the chance to finish as Percy cut him off. "Blah blah blah. You haven't seen someone like me in millennia, right? Because I shouldn't exist. Whatever. Go fuck yourself." He hoisted Riptide, settling into a fighting stance. "Are you going to bring me my friends or am I going to have to get them myself?""Ah, young demigod, haven't you noticed? They are already here." Atlas nodded towards a tunnel to his right and Percy's stomach dropped. Emerging from the hallway were Dr. Thorn, Luke, and Annabeth. She looked fairly unsteady, and incredibly pale, but she still glared with defiance. Luke looked mildly uneasy, but otherwise normal. His appearance hadn't changed much from Percy's dream. He still walked with a limp, and his skin looked gray.A cyclops came next, carrying Thalia with him. Percy fought back emotion as he took her in. Her limp form was draped over the monster's shoulder. Black lightning scars danced up her arms and her joints sat at awkward, unnatural angles. Her skin was nearly translucent and she shook violently, tremors coursing through her weak body. The cyclops dropped her to the ground, and Percy felt something in him break when she didn't so much as move."Thalia!" Percy screamed. The sight of her crumpled body channeled rage through him, shaking the entire mountain. Cracks began to appear as he turned toward Atlas. "What did you do to her!?""Nothing really." Atlas responded with a shrug. "She did not want to comply, so she is paying for her crimes. It's just business.""Well fuck you." Percy spat. Without thinking, his legs began to dash over to the prone form of the daughter of Zeus, but Atlas appeared in his path, moving faster than Percy would have anticipated for a being of his size."I can't let you do that." Atlas warned, face stony. "You see, my Uncle has big plans for her. I can't just let you leave with her. It would really make a mess of things.""Move." Percy demanded, raising his sword. "I'm not going to ask again." The flames around him flickered higher. He couldn't really describe what he was feeling, but the shadows around him began to quiet, pleased at the outcome. His body began to vibrate and time began to slow. One thought consumed him. Retrieve Thalia."Percy-" Zoe began, but Atlas cut her off with a booming laugh."Do you really think to stand against me?" Atlas snarled. "I know of your escapades with the puny war god, but he is little more than an arrogant fool. I am the commander of the Titan Forces, second-in-command to none other than Kronos himself." His glare turned serious. "You may be a demigod, a powerful one at that, but at most you are only half of what makes me what I am."Percy readied Riptide. "I don't give a shit about any of that. You're in the way, and I'm rescuing my friends." He nodded toward Annabeth and Thalia before pointing the tip of Riptide at Luke. "Then, I'm gutting you."Luke paled."Would you abandon Artemis? Abandon the Olympians?" Atlas asked. "They would kill you for abandoning her. Of course, they wouldn't take the blame for themselves. They would simply turn you into a scapegoat in an attempt to delay the inevitable.""I'll do whatever gives me the best chance at getting Thalia to safety." Percy glared. "Even if it meant fighting Olympus by myself." He paused for a moment. "And I'd rather drink the water of the Styx than join you monsters."At that, Thalia flinched.Atlas smiled mockingly. "What makes a monster and what makes a man? Do you not know what your little friend has done? Massacred hundreds for the smallest chance of escape. Even my best dream of having that kind of blood on their hands. Yet she did it without a second thought. What makes her any better than them?""The difference is," Percy's voice was dangerous. "If she stopped breathing, there is not a single monster responsible that could run from me." A weight lifted from him at the confession, and he charged the titan without thought.Atlas drew a sword Percy hadn't noticed he carried, parrying the first strike effortlessly. Percy stepped back, sizing up his opponent. His arm felt sluggish, as though he was trying to sword fight with a controller rather than his limbs."Fuck you and your stupid curse, Ares." Percy cursed under his breath."What's the matter?" Atlas goaded. "I thought there wasn't anything that could run fast enough, boy."Percy gritted his teeth. It didn't matter. Ares' curse or not, he was done with divine bullshit ruining his life. He readied Riptide once more. The blade, for the first time, felt unbalanced in his hand. The cold wind sliced through him, and the world around him became deadly silent, as though there only existed himself and the Titan in front of him.Atlas's strike came faster than he could have imagined. He could feel the blade slicing through the air before his eyes picked up on the movement. Instinctively, he raised Riptide to block it, causing a collision that forced him to step back, but Atlas gave no quarter.He continued relentlessly, Percy relying on his instincts as Riptide met the colossal strikes of his opponent. Curse of Ares aside, he felt incredibly sharp, as though the air itself was guiding his movements. He pushed massive tremors into the ground, creating a fissure at his feet. The small wiggle in the pathway of Atlas's sword was all he had been waiting for. He launched himself at Atlas, ready to strike.The faint but unmistakable sound of tearing flesh greeted him. Atlas responded with a howl. A shallow cut adorned his torso, a steady stream of golden ichor painting the ground beneath him."Impressive." Atlas remarked, "But I'm afraid it's going to take more than that to get rid of me."Percy breathed deeply, his racing heart pounding in his ears. "Naturally." He said, letting sarcasm ooze into his voice. "I thought you'd die if I sneezed in your direction. Disappointed to know I was wrong."Atlas shrugged, his shallow stomach wound already beginning to close. "We'll see how long you can keep up with this attitude of yours."Their blades danced, trading blow for blow across the scattered ruins. No matter how he tried, Percy could not maneuver himself closer to Thalia. Atlas kept his massive back to her, keeping Percy away. Her breathing had somehow become even shallower. A quick glance told Percy that the cyclops from earlier was now leading to a steady onslaught of monsters from the tunnel to the mountaintop. The Hunters had taken on that responsibility, posting themselves between the monsters and where Thalia and Artemis were positioned. Annabeth was even up and moving, supporting them wherever she could, despite her weakened state."You're running out of time, young demigod." Atlas mocked, one of his blows finally connecting. Percy let out a strangled yelp as the massive bronze blade sliced through his skin, sending hot streaks of pain down his arm. He was losing, and now he had a massive wound on his sword arm to prove it. Riptide's lack of balance only continued to worsen, and doubt sunk in his stomach like lead. What if he truly failed here? What if Ares ended up winning? What if Thalia truly was the second person to die?He steeled himself. Failure was not an option. His muscles ached, and his reaction time was slowing, but fatigue was a luxury he couldn't afford. He tried to remember the most basic tactic Chiron had ever taught him. Create space against a stronger, more powerful opponent. He continued his flurry of parries, gritting his teeth against the pain, waiting for an opening. Atlas had wisened up to his earthquakes, and there wasn't enough water around for him to do anything. He felt a small amount of moisture in the air, but decided against wasting his energy trying to use it.Luke flashed through his periphery and caught his focus for a split second. The shadows urged him to seek his revenge, and before he could stop himself, he turned toward Luke. Atlas, as punishment for Percy's divided attention, hit him in the ribs with the flat of his blade, sending him careening towards Artemis beneath the sky."Percy!" Zoe yelled, jumping between him and the rapidly advancing Atlas. A flurry of silver blades hurled toward her father, who had long since recovered from the surprise of fighting his child. His face stretched into a grin as he advanced, and Percy felt sick. He was having fun toying with them.Percy winced as he tried to suck in a breath. Spots danced in his vision as he forced himself to get over having the air knocked out of him. Rolling, he staggered to his feet before nearly collapsing again. Thalia's shivering form now lay across the clearing in front of him. He looked behind him and found Artemis, laboring beneath the sky"It's no use." she said, startling Percy. "He will never let you get to her.""I don't have a choice." Percy responded, setting his jaw and forcing himself to his feet. "I won't let her die here.""When there are others on the board, sometimes it does not matter what moves you make." Artemis gritted, shifting beneath her burden. "I was played like a fool, and you have no hope of victory. Especially not after your little spat with Ares.""Well fuck him too." Percy said, clenching his jaw so hard he thought his teeth might crack. "So it's his fault Thalia is about to die.""It is the fault of many." Artemis said wearily. "Not the least of which is the Titan responsible for keeping me here." She shifted the weight again, an uncomfortable grimace settling over her features. The silver fire in her eyes danced ferociously as she looked toward Atlas, still locked in battle with Zoe, as though she had fantasized about a thousand ways to skin the titan alive. "He had better pray I never escape."The price of freedom the Titan's Curse strains. The second line of the prophecy settled into Percy's mind. What had Artemis said about pieces? Sometimes It doesn't really matter what moves you make? An idea clicked into place, and he nearly hated himself for it.He kept his gaze on Atlas, stepping backward until he was directly in front of the goddess."Give me the sky." He demanded, voice low."No!" Artemis snapped. "It will crush you and then we will all die.""I can't beat him!" Percy nearly yelled in his frustration. "At least not with this stupid curse on me. I don't really care. You took the sky to save Thalia, so save her!""I don't think you understand what this will do to you." Artemis warned."Thalia and Luke both took it. I can too." Percy set his jaw. "We have no other options."Artemis was silent for a moment, which Percy took to mean tacit acceptance. He shifted, crouching alongside her, and she shifted ever so slightly to the left. An invitation, and his final chance to back out. Now that he was here, the literal and metaphorical weight of the vortex he was standing beneath stole the breath from him again. It was just like in his dreams, the dim constellations of dusk funneling towards the epicenter. The air felt like it was laden with curses.He took a deep breath, his intuition and self-preservation warring with each other, and took his place right alongside Artemis, beneath the weight of the sky.For the briefest of moments, he bore the burden alongside her. The crushing weight on his shoulders threatened to drive him into the ground. He felt tendrils of the sky drive themselves into his back like a power drill, and his vertebrae felt like they had been welded together with a blowtorch. The moon goddess slipped out from beside him, and he was suddenly left to shoulder it alone.Immediately, the world faded from his vision, replaced by hazes of color. Time felt like it slowed to a crawl, and the slithering temptation to just let it go became overwhelming. His knees hit the ground, the weight bearing down in ways he hadn't imagined possible. His bones felt like they were turning to jelly, and he felt like his soul was trying to rip from him, away from the agony.Interesting. A voice boomed in Percy's mind, cutting through the haze. I seem to be getting passed around.The agony in his joints prevented any kind of coherent response, but the voice seemed to expect that.That's a normal reaction, It said. I must warn you though, those who take me with a divided heart will find a stake driven through that divide.Percy could only formulate a one word response, the entire reason he took the sky in the first place."Thalia." He choked out, the weight now forcing his face parallel to the floor.Good intentions are not enough, the sky warned. I do hope you'll prevail.The haze began to change, and the weight began to shift. The constellations and clouds began to swirl like a tempest on Percy's back, threatening to drive him even deeper into the floor. He had no strength to open his mouth, but he felt a renewed strength fill his bones, although it did little to fight back against the unimaginable burden on his back.Dancing around the edges of his vision were what he thought were sirens. Beautiful mermaids began cooing in his ears. "Come on," they urged. "Let it go. Listen to us."Percy's eyelids felt heavy as he tried to shake off their charms. They weren't anywhere near water. They couldn't be real. This had to be a trick from the sky."No," He stammered through clenched teeth. "I can't."The one closest to him sighed as she floated over. She placed her finger under Percy's chin, a wispy sensation that felt like a small current of electricity. "Just let go." She crooned. "Besides. It's not like you'll have anywhere to go. Whether you give up now, in five minutes, or five hours will be meaningless. No one is coming to get you.""It doesn't matter. I took the sky to save someone, and if I let go she's going to die." He growled. "I will not let that happen.""Give up." The swarm of mermaids surrounded him. "There is no hope for you."Percy closed his eyes. He couldn't, no matter how badly his limbs ached and his back cracked beneath the sky. He wouldn't.He pictured the very face of the girl he had been willing to bear the burden for. The girl with electric blue eyes and wavy black hair, the smile that he had missed so badly in just a few short days of being apart.He cracked his eyes open, a movement that seemed to take all of his energy, and only one siren remained. In the next breath she morphed, just as Aphrodite had. The mermaid now looked exactly like Thalia, just like he pictured in his mind. She took his face in her wispy, incorporeal hands, and kissed him, leaving his lips tingling as she vanished from sight.Sea and sky. The voice mused. Above the earth and below it. What an interesting combination.Who are you? Percy thought, the effort of physical words too great. If I'm gonna be stuck here forever, it would be nice to know who's talking to me. If he had the energy, Percy would've jumped when the voice spoke.
I am Ouranos, long since dissipated, merely a small remnant of what I used to be. Forced to reside at the very place my children were conceived.
Despite the crushing weight, a small inkling of disgust managed to weave its way through Percy's fatigue. He had never been more glad that Ouranos had been castrated.Do not worry about that. I do not have a physical form anymore. He said, reading Percy's thoughts. I may as well not even exist at all.Then why are you here? Percy's knees felt like they were cracking. Can't you fade or something?Perhaps. Atlas had kept me company for so long. We spent millennia together. A sense of longing had seeped into his voice. No matter. Whatever happens will happen. Fate is not my jurisdiction, and I do not possess the strength to challenge it in any way.In Percy's mangled vision, a blur of silver slowly crept closer.Our time is coming to an end. I do hope your body can recover. You may not have wavered like those before you, but the toll will always be paid. He sighed. I have always wanted to try this, and I wish to finally pass on. Good luck. My children will not give up easily.Ouranos became strangely silent, leaving Percy to struggle against the weight without a distraction. There was a new emptiness to the sky, and Percy had the distinct thought that he had vanished completely. Percy's hands felt numb as they strained against the weight, yet he also felt a bit stronger. The overwhelming oppressive haze was starting to dissipate, just slightly.Artemis' voice rang through his mind. Get ready. He focused on the silver blur and suddenly, like looking through a telescope, he saw the goddess engaged in combat. Her silver hunting knives were clashing at impossible speeds as Atlas pursued her relentlessly. Artemis shot him a wink and he instinctively knew what was going to happen. He loosened his grip on the sky and it began to swirl above him, embracing its newfound freedom. Once again it tried to burrow into him, but by now, he was completely numb to its taunts. Thalia's warm face found its way into his mind, and he did something no one beneath the burden of the sky had ever done before. He smiled.Artemis was now directly in front of him. Her edges began to flicker with silver, and the tension that had plagued her under the sky looked completely gone. Her back was to Percy, but he could've sworn she was smiling, enjoying toying with her prey. Atlas lunged once again, this time overextending. His bronze blade found itself inches from Artemis's throat. She deftly sidestepped and gripped it between her two silver Hunting knives, lurching him forward as her voice spoke in Percy's mind.Let go! She said, and Percy did what he was told. Before he could blink, the hulking form of Atlas careened into him, sending him flying from beneath the sky. He landed with a thud, gasping as he once again struggled to pull air into his lungs. He grimaced at the feeling of daggers in his sides, stabbing with each breath he took. He attempted to roll over and stand but was immediately met with a face full of dirt as his body refused to support him.Glancing up, he saw that Atlas had managed to struggle to his knees, bellowing curses towards the gods. Artemis stalked toward the once haughty titan, trapped again beneath his burden. She reached for the remnants of her bronze chains as she gave him a look of false sympathy."Well. It looks like you'll be here a while." She grinned. "Guess I should help you with that." She closed the shackle around his wrist, throwing her knife to the ground to pin the chain down. "You just looked a little too comfortable.""I will skin you alive!" Atlas bellowed. "A million curses to the gods!"Artemis spat on him in response."Thalia." Percy groaned, trying again to lift his head and failing."Patience." Artemis chided, still gloating in her victory as she snapped the remaining shackles on the titan. "You are in no condition to move.""I don't care," Percy responded, letting his boiling frustration numb the exhaustion and pain in his joints. "I came here to save her."Artemis sighed, pointing across the clearing. "She's over there." Thalia had struggled to a sitting position, propped against a crumbling pillar but still swaying unsteadily. "I must go assist my Hunters now." With that, she turned and ran into the fray of the battle, assisting her Hunters as they brought down monster after monster. Percy imagined the fight wouldn't last very long after that.For all his faults, Percy had to give Luke credit for being able to walk after his duration beneath the sky. Every movement sent tremors of pain through his bones, protesting even the slightest movement after being sapped of everything. His tendons felt like they were on the verge of rupturing, and his organs felt like they were seconds away from bursting. But there she was. So close. Resolve settled through him. He wasn't about to let her slip away from him again.Percy struggled to his knees, fighting the lead that filled his limbs. The bleeding on his shoulder had slowed, although his shirt now felt sticky with a mixture of his blood and sweat. He tried to focus on the new feeling that had appeared when Ouranos vanished, the soft tingle that spread throughout his limbs and now helped him to move.His stomach rolled as he staggered to his feet, vision going temporarily black. His hands trembled, skin slick with sweat. He took a deep breath, steeling himself. He was alive and that was all that mattered.His backpack, discarded on arrival, now sat in the corner of an old ruin. He let out a sigh. It was, blessedly, near where Thalia now sat. He took one step. His knee nearly buckled, but it held his weight. That was all he needed.____The journey was only a few hundred feet, but it might well have been an ultra marathon. Percy figured he probably looked like a newborn giraffe, but he figured it didn't matter as long as he reached his destination. Thalia was now just a few yards away, but she didn't so much as acknowledge his presence.From this distance, he could make out lightning scars up her arms and covering the palms of her hands. Reaching for his backpack, Percy startled when he caught sight of his own arms. They matched. Black, charred scars marked his body, a physical representation of the toll of carrying the sky. Grabbing his pack, he began the slow journey to Thalia's side. Now he could see that her hair bore a gray streak near her temple, and Percy imagined he had one of his own. In a morbid way, it would be something that would forever bind them, even if the circumstances of their new scars would be best left forgotten.Icy dread sluiced in his stomach as he approached her. Something was wrong. He had been expecting her to be delirious, but he could sense her very soul leaving her. The thread that held her to mortality, once a strong rope, was now little more than frayed twine. He wasn't sure how, but it was as though she was oozing away the essence of life.He collapsed beside her and closed his eyes, silencing the painful protests of his joints. In his mind's eye, he saw what he was looking for. Electric blue mist was slowly leaving her body. In a way, he understood. It's what his soul wanted to do from his brief stint beneath the sky, and it seemed she had succumbed in one way or another.The shadows began to call to him, but this time they held no bite. Let us help you. They urged. We are the same. We can teach you to see it. Percy closed his eyes even tighter, desperately resisting their inviting call. He wasn't sure he could hold onto his body if he accidentally melted into them.He could sense Thalia's mortal tether weakening, and his heart sank at the thought that there was nothing he could do. He was little more than an observer to Death's unstoppable march. He took a deep breath. She will not die, Percy repeated in his mind like a mantra. He began to listen to the shadows, carefully distinguishing what made them special. I promised you I would stay safe, and now I'm holding you to your end of the deal. He thought.Intentional or not, the hand on Thalia's shoulder began to feel very cool. The skin became translucent and he knew he had overstepped. Still, he felt nothing grabbing him, rather, he felt drawn to the blue mist of Thalia's soul. Tentatively, he reached out, letting its mild buzz comfort him.It responded to his hand, but only the one that had morphed into shadows. On cue, the shadows began to gleefully demand thanks, which Percy granted. Thank you, He said. He began to slowly scoop Thalia's soul into his hand, guiding it back toward her weakened body. She sat vacant, a thousand-yard stare, eyes open yet seeing nothing. Percy swallowed. It was now or never.Beginning at her arms, a massive cavern was open. Coming out of it was the same blue mist that permeated the air. He gingerly placed what he gathered back into the rift. With some protest, it was reabsorbed into Thalia's skin. Percy breathed a shaky sigh of relief. His ever growing anxiety had been beginning to overwhelm him, but now he could focus on the task at hand.He continued the tedious process of scooping her soul back into her body. It could've been minutes or hours later, but eventually he had gathered all of the blue mist. Now it was simply a matter of sealing the rift. Carefully, he placed his hand over it, expecting it to respond to his will.A few moments passed, but nothing happened. He frowned, different ideas bouncing around in his brain. Briefly, he even considered trying to sew it manually, but he quickly dismissed it. This was a spiritual injury, not a physical one.Still, he could see the volatility of her soul in her veins, once again reaching the edge and seeping into the air. He placed his off hand into the shadows, joining its twin in its translucent form. He grit his teeth, physical body aching. He shook off the pain, refocusing on Thalia. He had a job to do. He could rest once she was safe.He placed his hands over the wound, and to his surprise, it felt incredibly warm. A strange language filled his mind, and he began to repeat the jarring syllables aloud. His palms began to heat, matching the temperature of Thalia's spiritual wound. A strange black and gold glow emanated from him, casting soft shadows around them.As he continued speaking, he felt what little strength he had left continue to leave him. He ignored it. Her wound was closing, and despite the exertion, he knew this was the only way to mend a rent soul. Thalia's eyes had regained a little bit of life, but her stare remained blank, looking, but not seeing.The final words of the incantation slipped past his lips and the golden glow abruptly disappeared. The wound, once a gaping chasm in Thalia's skin, was now little more than a scratch, and even that was fading quickly. He slumped, exhausted, and began to visualize his hands returning to their solid form.Slowly, but surely, his hands became solid again, their permeable nature slowly fading. He had only shadow-traveled once, by complete accident, but the sensation of returning to the physical plane felt remarkably similar to this. In front of him, Thalia grimaced, the glassiness in her eyes fading. Her electric-blue eyes flitted to him, vibrant again."Hey Thals," he said weakly. The world began to spin as his hands regained their form completely. The edges of his vision darkened, stomach churning as he tried to force his hands up to stop himself from falling. His muscles refused to respond to the commands as his entire body shut down. The last thing he saw was Thalia's terrified face as he collapsed into her lap.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Percy wasn’t sure if he preferred when his dreams changed from black and white into color. On the one hand, color dreams meant he would be getting some interesting information, or in Lyra’s words, the “curse of prophecy.” On the other hand, that meant he then had to decipher whatever he was about to see.
The pleasant backdrop of his last dream began to fade, leaving little more than a haze in its wake. He frowned. It had been many months since he had a dream like this, floating in between realms, where he was the agent. His heart began to ache, recalling the beautiful moments he had shared with Thalia under similar circumstances.
A soft pink glow pierced the fog, dimly illuminating the dreamscape. Slowly, the fog began to coalesce around the source, the appearance reminding Percy of a screen. As he willed himself over, a movie began to play.
Immediately, Percy recognized the scene. The Olympians on their thrones looking down on him, Grover, Annabeth, and Thalia. Zeus and Artemis were discussing Thalia’s potential recruitment. An uncomfortable lump formed in Percy’s throat. Had he failed? Had Thalia already joined the Hunters?
Heat pricked at his eyelids and breathing became a Herculean task. He had just gotten her back; performed some kind of experimental soul surgery, held the sky, fought countless monsters, and now she could be gone forever. A rational voice in the back of his mind said that the crushing scene in front of him couldn’t be real, as he was here in the dreamscape, and not in the throne room. But the thought of Thalia leaving him was still too painful to entertain, even in nightmares.
“Have you ever considered that it hurts because you want to spend the rest of your life with her?” Aphrodite’s melodic voice echoed into the dream. “Of course you want her to be happy, but I think you desperately want her to be happy
with
you.”
Percy blinked rapidly, clearing the still forming tears from his eyes as his brain finally caught up.
“Why do you enjoy messing with me?” He groaned. “I’m not your personal tv show.”
From the pink shimmering glow, the goddess of love materialized. Unlike their first meeting however, her appearance did not flicker and change between different looks. Short black hair, a silver nose stud, and electric blue eyes. Thalia, just a few years older than now. “Give me a little grace,” She teased, pouting Thalia’s soft mouth at him. “I was the one who told you to bring the hoodie. Boys really don’t know anything about love.”
“Who said anything about love?” He replied a little too quickly. “I mean, yeah, of course I want her to be happy, but I want that for all my friends.”
“My dear, you are lucky that love is such a fickle thing,” Aphrodite said, moving closer to him. “Would your father recognize the sea? Would Zeus not recognize the sky? Just as you know the water, I know the heart.”
Percy began to fidget. Of all the gods to irritate, Aphrodite was probably the worst. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.”
She brushed him aside with a small wave. “No need to apologize. Like I said, boys don’t understand love. In a way, it’s quite endearing.” She gestured to herself. “Tell me, who do you see?”
Her likeness was unmistakable. Percy closed his eyes for a moment and willed himself to see someone else. He cracked an eye open. Aphrodite’s impressive imitation still stood before him.
But it’s not really Thalia
. The thought left him feeling hollow.
“Thalia, of course.” Percy said, then under his breath. “Just like last time.”
“It’s not too late, you know.” Aphrodite said, reading his mind. “Thanks to you, she’s still alive, and as of now, she hasn’t decided to become an eternal maiden.” She leaned forward to whisper, even though they were alone. “Between you and me, I don’t think she, or you, wants that.”
Percy wanted to argue, but he didn’t have it in him. He had been obsessing over that dream since he had been shown it. Hell, Aphrodite had decided to replay it right in front of him and he was nearly choking on his grief. Thinking back to his night on the beach with Rachel, he couldn’t even focus on her, instead thinking of how Thalia might feel in his lap instead. His cheeks heated as that salacious thought refused to leave his mind. He considered hiding his face, but he figured it probably wouldn’t do him any good.
“Unfortunately, I do not come to give only good news, nor do I come to help in your journey of self-discovery.” Aphrodite said. “I’m here to deliver a warning. Despite your best efforts, Zoe Nightshade, Lieutenant of Artemis, perished from her injuries.”
Another uncomfortable lump formed in Percy’s throat. Despite their rocky relationship, he could respect Zoe for what she was: a natural leader, and an exceptionally skilled warrior. Plus, she was the only one who knew what was going on with his dad, and now, the one link he had to the past was now severed.
“Artemis needs a new Lieutenant then.” Percy said. “Just like in the dream.”
Aphrodite sighed. “Yes, the nature goddess needs a new Lieutenant.” She repeated. “But it is not too late.”
“What do I need to do?” Percy said quickly. “I mean, I don't want the Hunters to be without a leader and whatever, but I don’t know, I just don’t want Thalia to do it either.” The words began spilling out of him, faster than he could even process. “I want her to be happy, and I know I’ve made mistakes, but the thought of her being away from me forever tears me apart.”
A small, knowing smile graced Aphrodite’s face. “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but she really misses you. Her world has been turned upside down, and she doesn’t think she deserves any sort of love.”
“Well that’s ridiculous,” Percy blurted. “Why would she think that?”
Aphrodite sighed. “The mind is a powerful thing, especially when it is broken.”
He thought back to Thalia’s nervous ramblings and her turn beneath the sky. His heart ached as he thought about what Luke had done to her.
“Then I’ll put her back together.” He said. His gaze hardened into a glare, and he felt the dreamscape rattle around him. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “And I’ll gut those responsible.”
“The future is not fixed,” Aphrodite chided. “Remember, I am on your side, but now it’s up to you. I cannot make the choices for you, but I have given you the tools to succeed.”
The soft hue of the dreamscape started to crack, and Percy felt himself waking up.
“You can do this.” Aphrodite said, patting Percy’s shoulder. “You’re smarter than you think, and you have more in common with your love than you realize.”
Percy turned red at that, but he didn’t object. Just like last time, Aphrodite, morphed into Thalia’s likeness, planted a kiss on his cheek. The dreamscape faded.
____
A soft golden light shone through Percy’s eyelids. As he came to and carefully moved his limbs, he was greeted with a bone deep ache. He opened his eyes to find the source, and was greeted with the sight of a massive golden hospital bed. The rest of the room matched the bed, the overwhelming gold nearly blinding him.
Anticipating his shoulder injury, he tentatively brushed his fingers against the exposed skin. Gasping, he looked down at the space, rolling his shoulder experimentally. Instead of the pain or even stiffness he had been expecting, there was nothing. No wound. No pain. His shoulder was perfectly fine, functioning as though it had never been sliced open.
“Good evening.” Percy startled at the sudden voice. Looking up, he found the source of the greeting.
“Artemis asked me to bring you here and fix you up.” The god cracked a smile. “You’re crazy. You know that?”
Percy stared at the god in front of him, dressed in traditional Greek ceremonial clothes. The golden hue to his surroundings suddenly made a lot more sense. Considering his only previous encounter was in the sun chariot, the contrast was striking.
“Welcome to Olympus.” Apollo said, as though he could read Percy’s mind. “I am the god of knowledge, after all, so I have a pretty good guess as to what my patients are going to ask.”
Percy swallowed nervously. Olympus? That’s never a good sign. Last time he was here, Zeus had tried to kill him. His heart raced as his eyes skirted around the room, feeling increasingly panicked. He forced himself to take a deep breath. Apollo wasn’t going to kill him, and now he needed to figure out what was going on. Still, the next question came without any thought. Aphrodite was right about one thing, he did not want Thalia to join the Hunters.
“Where’s Thalia?” Percy blurted. “I want to see her.”
Apollo flashed him a blinding smile. “Patience. You’re not supposed to be out of bed yet.”
“I need to see her.” Percy repeated. “What happened?”
Apollo sighed and summoned a chair. He sat down, like a normal doctor would when delivering bad news. Percy’s heart began to pound in his ears, silencing the world around him.
“Where is she?” He asked again, beginning to tear the thick golden sheets away from his body. Apollo placed his hand on Percy’s healthy shoulder, calming him.
“I have good news and bad news.” He said. “I’ll start with the good. She’s alive. To be honest, I don’t know how. Her very essence was ripped apart, but it looks like it was mended expertly. That’s a kind of healing I don’t touch.” He flicked a speck of lint from his tunic. ‘Souls aren’t really my thing.”
Relief washed over Percy, and he stopped his rather pathetic attempt at escaping his golden hospital bed. Almost immediately, the thought of Thalia’s mangled body and thousand-yard stare burned itself into his mind. He shuddered. “And the bad?”
“Physically, I was able to heal most of her injuries. The only ones that remain can be healed by ambrosia.” He held up his hand, preemptively silencing Percy’s myriad of questions. “I don’t know what they did, but she’s not going to be the same girl you knew before. At least not for a while.”
“What do you mean?” Percy asked. “Like PTSD or something?”
Apollo sighed. “The human mind is a sensitive thing, and there will certainly be elements of that. Deep down, I think she’s still the same, but you and her will forever be unique.” He paused for a moment, and when he spoke again, the words came out careful and calculated. “Other than Heracles, you two are the only mortals to ever take the sky. Of course, Heracles is a god now, but nevermind that. We are in unfamiliar territory.”
The parting warning from Ouranos slithered in his head.
The toll will always be paid
. “It’s really weird, you know?” Percy said quietly. “Talking to a primordial.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Apollo said, looking at him thoughtfully. “But things won’t ever go back to how they were.” He was silent for a moment. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. In my professional opinion, I think she’ll be okay. Eventually. But she’ll need some time.”
A million thoughts and what-if’s raced through Percy’s mind. On one hand, he was grateful he hadn’t had to see everything they had done to her. But he had heard her. He’d seen her. Her delirious ranting, the bags under her eyes, the broken bones and displaced joints. She’d practically been through Tartarus this last week. He tried to swallow past the lump in his throat as the thought crossed his mind:
What if I’d gotten there sooner? A day earlier? An hour?
What if he had been too late? Why had he listened to Rachel and spent the night with her? What if he had listened to the shadows, made a deal with them? The thought of their double-edged promises snapped him out of his spiral.
“I almost forgot.” Apollo said. “Artemis made sure to bring this for you, too.” He grabbed Percy’s backpack and placed it next to him on the hospital bed. “I figured you would want it.”
Percy snatched it, turning the pack over in his hands. There didn’t seem to be any damage to it. In fact, it almost looked new. He unzipped it, tearing through the contents and sighing in relief when he found what he was looking for.
Right on top, exactly where he left it, was Thalia’s Green Day hoodie. He reached for it, but hesitated. He ignored the itching, nagging feeling as he recalled the fear on her face the last time she had seen him, so different from her usual bravado and confidence.
“Green Day, huh?” Apollo observed. “A pretty great band, if I do say so myself. And as the god of music, I think my opinion wins.”
Percy managed a small smile. “Yeah, they’re pretty great aren’t they?”
Thalia was obviously a much bigger fan than he was, but the skater-punk scene in New York had quite a bit of overlap.
Welcome to Paradise
was a bit of a niche choice for a favorite, but whenever that song played in their dream meetings, Thalia would relax. She never admitted it directly, but it was obviously sentimental to her.
An idea popped into Percy’s head. “Do you take requests?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re the god of music. You could perform something, right?”
Apollo frowned, deep in thought. “It’
s a bit more complicated than that. Asking me to perform an existing song would kind of ruin it, you know? Like, covers are great, don’t get me wrong, but they’ll never be the same as the original.”
Percy tried not to let his disappointment show, but he couldn’t help the way his heart squeezed painfully. “I get what you mean, but if what you’re saying about Thalia is true. I think I know what will help.”
Apollo looked conflicted. “Look, I believe you, but I don’t really perform anymore. I can’t just–”
“Oh come on man.” Percy interrupted. “I know gods have weird rules, but godly bullshit sucks.”
For a brief moment, Apollo looked angry. A fiery glow emanated from him, and his eyes shone bright and hot. As quickly as it came, it vanished, replaced with a fallen expression. “You don’t need to tell me how much godly bullshit sucks,” he said bitterly. “Especially when the king of godly bullshit is your dad.”
Considering Apollo’s normal happy-go-lucky, boyish charm, his fallen expression unsettled Percy slightly.
“I’m sorry.” He said, “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“It’s not your fault.” Apollo said, quickly shooting Percy a smile, though it looked a little forced. “You’ve had your fair share of stuff too.” He snapped his fingers. “I’ll cut you a deal, what you want is music related, so how about I give you this.”
In his hand appeared a device that looked suspiciously like an iPod. “It’s for ease of storage.” Apollo said, “but it can do so much more.” As if to prove his point, the iPod transformed into a CD player, then a miniature stereo system. “Any song, if you can think of it, will play on command.”
It was perfect. It could be just like old times in the dreamscape. He wasn’t entirely sure if his plan would work, but playing her favorite song was a start. As Apollo held out the gift, Percy hesitated. Gods didn’t just give things for free as Annabeth had warned him when Hermes had given them gifts before their trek into the sea of monsters.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
“What’s the catch?” Percy asked. “Gods don’t just give out favors.”
Apollo sighed. “Then consider this repayment, for rescuing my sister. If it wasn’t for you, Artemis would still be laboring beneath the sky.” He shot Percy a wink. “Or should I say, sisters.”
Despite himself, Percy blushed. “You sure?”
Apollo offered his device, once again returned into the form of an iPod. “I swear on the River Styx.”
Thunder rattled the medical bay, startling Percy, who took the gift and slid it into his pocket. Apollo did not react, instead opting to stare into the distance. “I’m glad you got to meet Lyra.”
The sudden change of topic was jarring. “Oh, um yeah.” He stumbled over his words. “She seems nice.”
“Of all of my children, she knows best what it is like to have the curse of Prophecy.” Apollo took a deep breath. “I have made many mistakes, and I will make many more, but I hope Lyra knows that I am sorry. I did not wish for her to have such a painful life. Prophecy spares no one, not even the gods.”
The small waver in his voice told a million stories. His bright smile was as prominent as ever, but beneath were millennia of broken hearts, unfulfilled dreams, and discontent. “Sorry,” he shrugged. “Godly bullshit sucks, but it’s better than the alternative.”
“For what it’s worth,” Percy said quickly. “She understands, and she doesn’t blame you for her birth. I’m sure she’d love to see you.”
Apollo relaxed slightly, letting a comfortable silence pass between the pair. He smiled, as though he was recalling an inside joke. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but be prepared for fireworks.” He shot Percy a wink, a gesture that did not go unnoticed. “Athena may be good with the whole wisdom thing, but between you and me, I think she just likes being a heartless bitch and calling it ‘being wise.’” He laughed softly. “Although you probably shouldn’t tell her I said that.”
Percy shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, I like Annabeth, she’s one of my best friends, but I have no love lost for her mother.”
“At least your dad knows how to pick fun rivals.” Apollo quipped. He clapped his hands, standing from the bedside chair. “I’m glad to see you acting like yourself again, although I do have one more bit of bad news. The Winter Session of the Olympian Council is starting, and Zeus has personally requested your attendance.”
Percy groaned, flopping back onto the pillows. “Can you tell him to go suck a lightning bolt? I’m not going to go to another meeting where he tries to convince everyone that it’s better to kill me.”
Apollo began to laugh hysterically, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. “Well, I could, but then he’d probably just smite you where you stood, or sat in this case.” He took a few deep breaths, calming himself as Percy sat back up, sighing. Looking up, he watched as Apollo turned to him, a mischievous glint flashed in his eye. “Thalia will be there, so if you want to see her, then this is your best chance.” His expression quickly turned neutral. “Although I am sorry. I don’t want to go to this thing either, but between you and me–” he leaned in close, “–let’s just say this meeting will be incredibly consequential.”
Truthfully, Percy didn’t care at all about the meeting, not the least of which being the upcoming debate to kill him. But if that was where Thalia would be, he’d be there. “Are you sure I can’t see her right now? Away from all the godly spectacles?”
“They’re in session right now, actually.” Apollo said. “Zeus let me go to come fetch you, and he’s getting impatient.” As if in response, the strong scent of ozone began to permeate the medical bay.
Immediately, the decision became crystal clear. Zoe was dead, which meant Artemis needed a new Lieutenant, and Thalia was the obvious choice.
Why do you care so much?
The question kept rattling around in his head, but every time he tried to answer it, or dismiss it, his stomach turned into knots. Aphrodite’s line seemed to taunt him.
Of course you want her to be happy, but I think you desperately want her to be happy WITH you.
“Has Artemis asked for a replacement yet?” Percy asked, swinging his legs from the bed and standing. “I know about Zoe.”
Apollo shot him a knowing smirk as they left the medical bay. “Not yet, but we should hurry. Let’s go.”
____
The energy was crackling in the room. Arranged in the same horse shoe pattern as the cabins at camp were the twelve Olympian gods. At the head sat Zeus, regal as ever in a purple pinstripe suit, master bolt was leaning against the side of his throne. To his right, was Hera, the Queen, wearing a brightly colored dress that looked more like a peacock than reasonable formal clothes.
The remainder of the gods sat in the same order as their cabins: the boys on the left, and the girls on the right, plus Mr. D. At the center, behind Zeus, was Hestia, tending the hearth, casting a warm motherly glow throughout the hall. The only addition was Hades, sitting at the tail end of the left horseshoe, looking disgruntled, as though he would rather be anywhere else. Compared to the ornate thrones of the Twelve Olympians, each reflecting their personal preferences, Hades’ looked like it was someone else’s. Percy imagined that if it were up to him, Hades would have mimicked the design of his throne in the Underworld, with massive gemstones and skulls lining the seat, Black Tourmaline absorbing all visible light. Instead, Hades sat on a simple bronze throne, with Persephone over his shoulder, shooting unpleasant glares towards her mother.
Massive golden steps led up to a dias in the center of the room. At the top, Thalia and Annabeth were having some kind of discussion. Next to Artemis were the three Hunters who had survived the quest, whispering back and forth amongst themselves. Percy ran up the steps, making for the center of the group, just like Apollo had told him to do.
As he reached the top, his backpack felt heavier. Taking in the circle of Olympians that surrounded them, Aphrodite shot him a smile as she teasingly morphed into Thalia, changing back quick enough that no one else noticed. Percy’s cheeks heated at her message. Apollo, who had put in some earbuds, gave him a quick thumb’s up.
Approaching Thalia and Annabeth, he was relieved to see that their physical injuries had been healed. Thalia even had a soft smile on her face, and he felt his heart jump in his chest. She always looked beautiful, but compared to the last few times he had seen her, she looked especially vibrant now. Her pale face had regained most of its color, and her voice no longer sounded shattered. He closed his eyes, carefully reaching out for her soul. He practically sighed in relief when everything felt normal.
The only outward sign of her time beneath the sky seemed to be her gray streak in her otherwise black hair. Her long sleeve shirt covered her, but Percy knew she also had black lightning scars running up her arms that looked more akin to tattoos. They were nearly identical to the ones on his own arms and hands.
His heart did a somersault and his mouth suddenly felt very dry. What was he going to say? Her terrified expression etched across her face as he collapsed onto her suddenly made things a lot more complicated than he thought. Why was she scared? Was it him? He wanted nothing more than to hold her hand, sign to her, and play her some music and tell her that everything was going to be okay. Yet, the monumental task ahead suddenly seemed impossible.
He slid in beside her, waging an internal war on whether to say anything. She shot him a wary look before facing forward again. Her smile had vanished, and his heart dropped. Guess that solves that problem.
“How kind of you to join us.” Zeus’ voice boomed, face pinching in a scowl. “We have business to discuss.”
Percy glared but said nothing. While he wanted nothing more than to hurl a stream of expletives at Thalia’s dad, he could be vaporized in an instant. He also had a feeling they were going to debate on letting him live again, and he decided against antagonizing Olympus’ judge.
“Welcome heroes.” Artemis greeted. “I apologize for the eventful last few days.” Held within her words was a subtle challenge.
“No one would deny they have done well, especially my daughter.” Athena spoke. “Even the wretched son of Poseidon managed to pull his weight.”
“I wouldn’t call him wretched, mom.” Annabeth grumbled.
“Still,” she continued like she hadn’t heard her. “That does not negate the inherent risk posed by the other two. That is something that should be heavily considered today.”
Percy’s heart dropped, although he wasn’t exactly surprised. Next to him, Thalia’s hands shook, but she looked passive. Resigned. For a moment, he debated throwing his bag down, hugging her and returning her hoodie. He nearly moved, but an overwhelming sense of doubt overtook him. The timing just didn’t feel quite right. He couldn’t feel any of Aphrodite’s itching, nagging magic. He looked up. Despite the ongoing debate, the goddess of love shot him another smile of approval.
This felt a whole lot like being called into the godly principal’s office, and the thought made his stomach churn. He had still had a small sliver of hope before this. Hope that maybe the gods had changed. After all, he had willingly taken the sky to rescue an Olympian, and he had done all of their dirty work for years now. But it looked like the song and dance would remain the same. Laughter broke Percy from his mental spiral.
“For being the goddess of wisdom you really are stupid.” Apollo quipped, grinning as he pulled one earbud from his ear. “Risk is a part of living. What would it say about us if we are willing to kill our children because of something they
might
do.”
Athena shot a glare across the throne room. “As the God of Prophecy, you know full well what is upon us. We cannot be too careful.”
“Oh do tell me,” Apollo spat. “Would anyone here deny the importance of demigods to us?”
No one spoke up, but there were a few disgruntled faces.
“Exactly. Now, by show of hands, who here has a good relationship with their children?” Apollo asked. No one raised a hand.
“Objection.” Athena snapped. “That’s not a fair question. We are not permitted to show favoritism or even contact our children. The Ancient Laws forbid it.”
Percy bit his tongue, choking down the stream of expletives that filled his mind. He had heard of the bullshit “Ancient Laws” excuse since he knew he was a demigod. That didn’t make it hurt any less. It was more like absent parents trying to justify it by paying child support, except instead of child support, they got cool superpowers.
“And then you wonder why they hate us?” Apollo asked, his voice rising. “You’ve never wondered why our demigod children scorn us? Why would they do what is needed when we do not even grant them the praise they deserve?”
“Do you take me for an idiot?” Athena spat. “Of course I understand why our children may resent us, but you know as well as I that we can’t have relationships with them. We are immortal, and they are not. Do you not remember the storms in the early days, of the grief shared by perishing children?”
“Our children do not have the memories of the past.” Apollo argued. “You and I were born after the tyranny of the Titans, but if we do not remember, why would our children?”
Athena sighed, like she was tired of making the same point repeatedly. “That is precisely why children of the Big Three are so dangerous. They possess abilities considered unnatural even for demigods. There is an inherent risk every second we let them live.”
“She’s right.” Ares butted in. “It would be easier while we’ve got them here…”
“We are not killing my son.” Poseidon’s voice sounded, low and dangerous. “I will not allow it.”
“Do you even hear yourselves?” Apollo threw his hands up in exasperation. “We are currently debating whether the greatest heroes in a generation get to live or die all because of some prophecy.”
“Wise counsel is often unpopular.” Athena argued. “Regardless, what we decide to do is not my place to say. It is the council’s role to act on potential threats.”
“And logical counsel would dictate you’re a dumbass.” Apollo said. “You’re not always the smartest person in the room. The campers have a greater loyalty to Percy and Thalia than they do to us. Killing them would only exacerbate the demigods’ exodus. Prophecies will come to pass whether we like it or not.”
“Oh that’s rich, coming from you.” Athena snapped. “Last I checked, I’ve never been forced to turn mortal because of my arrogance.” She took a deep breath, putting a lid back on her simmering anger. “Regardless, we cannot escape the truth. My Father and Uncle have broken the oath, siring children. I do not think it bears repeating the immense danger we are in.”
“Mother!” Annabeth said. “How can you say that? They just helped save Olympus.”
“And they remain the only key in destroying it too.” Athena said, cutting Annabeth off with a sharp look. “If the prophecy is to be believed, the gates of Olympus can only be destroyed by those with the keys, demigods who stand as first among equals.”
“I never thought I would say this.” Artemis began, “But my brother is right.”
Apollo mimed wiping away a tear from his eye. “After all this time, you truly do love me.”
She shot him an exasperated glare. “Regardless of circumstance, Perseus freed me from beneath the sky, a feat that none of you seemed willing to do. Through the heroism of these demigods, the plans of the Titans have been delayed once more. I will not punish the heroes who have done us a great service.”
Small murmurs of assent rose around the room, although the indifference hurt more than the outward hostility that greeted them. Thalia trembled next to him, silent tears streaking down her face. Annabeth looked downright murderous.
To everyone’s surprise, Mr. D spoke up. “May I remind you, Perseus Jackson, that upon your return from your mission at Westover, you directly threatened treason if the gods did not decide in your favor? And, might I add, that after being forbidden from rescuing Annabelle, you decided to go anyway, in direct contradiction of godly orders.” Mr. D began to glow purple, his eyes staring directly through Percy. “You are unreliable at best, and outright dangerous at worst. You hold no loyalty to the gods.” He then turned to Thalia. “And you, young lady, are no better. You defied orders, and when Percy stood against me, you joined him in his defiance.”
“Leave her out of this.” Percy shouted. “Thalia hasn’t done anything wrong.” He pointed directly at Mr. D. “It was only because you wouldn’t do anything that she was forced to leave in the first place. If you actually gave a shit, maybe we’d listen.”
Mr. D, just smiled. “Just like I said. Unreliable and impulsive. They will do whatever it takes to get what they want, going through mortals and immortals alike.”
“Why should we give a fuck about any of you if you don’t care about us!” Percy yelled.
Athena grinned smugly, confidently, as Percy’s comments sat in the air. “Then I believe the matter is settled. They will not serve us. We should put it up for a vote.”
“Are you fucking insane?” From the hearth, Hestia’s usually timid voice now rang throughout the throne room. “Look at them! Can you not see the pain of the children, listening to their parents debate whether they even deserve to live?” She turned towards the eldest five on the Council, fixing them with a deadly stare. “Do you not remember the cruelty of our father? Forcing us to live in his stomach out of his paranoia?” She began to glow. “If you go through with this decision, then this Council deserves the same fate as
Him.
” She spat out the last word as though it were the worst expression in the universe. The stark contrast to her usually soft and motherly demeanor left the room unnaturally still.
Thalia opened her mouth, but immediately closed it, her glare directed at her father. Percy couldn’t fight the feeling that normally she would’ve said what was on her mind. He had already said his piece, but he could see the signs Apollo had mentioned. She still swayed slightly. She was unsure of herself, as if she couldn’t quite process what was in front of her. The gods continued arguing, but Percy could only focus on Thalia.
“If you’ve got something to say, you should say it.” Percy whispered, playfully nudging her shoulder. “They’re shitty parents anyway.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She shrugged, her uncharacteristic lack of fight evident as her shoulders slumped. Her voice trailed off, a broken whisper. “Besides, they know what I’ve done.”
She began to tremble again, her breaths coming faster and shorter. She began shaking her head, rhythmically, as if the physical action would stop the onslaught of memories. Annabeth squeezed her hand, attempting to ground her, but it did little to help Thalia’s steadily shallower breaths.
“I…” Thalia began to stammer, her mouth opening and closing, but no sound coming out. Percy got in front of her making sure she could see him before he signed:
It’s okay
.
Deep breaths.
Tears fell as she closed her eyes, but she listened, taking a deep, shaking breath.
“I…” Her voice broke once again, a heart-wrenching sound that tore Percy’s heart in two. Despite everything he and Apollo had done to heal her, Percy could see that she was only a shell of herself. She looked at him again, and Percy swore her electric blue eyes were a few shades dimmer.
Don’t push yourself.
Percy signed.
You don’t need to say anything right now.
She gave her head a small shake, jaw clenching in defiance. “N-no. I-I can’t.” Her free fist was clenched on her side. “W-we d-don’t…don’t have t-time.” Her voice broke on the last word, and Percy couldn’t take it anymore.
The chatter and arguing of the throne room faded away as he threw his arms around her, pulling her against him. Annabeth’s grip on her hand slipped. Thalia struggled weakly, trying to pull away, but he wasn’t willing to let go. His chest muffled her sobs as she cried into him, his t-shirt absorbing her tears. He could practically feel the flurry of emotions coursing through her right now, but only one thought filled his mind.
Thalia was safe. She was here.
He knew it would take time for her to be truly okay again, but she was here. He hadn’t failed.
“Y-you don’t…you don’t u-understand.” She said, crying harder as she spoke. “I-I’m a m-monster.”
He squeezed her even tighter. Those words were wrong. Felt wrong, on every level, Thalia wasn’t a monster. In his eyes, she was practically a goddess.
“I don’t think a bigger lie has ever been told.” Percy said, softly brushing his fingers through her hair. He pressed a quick kiss to her head before releasing her. Her hands immediately went to cover her face as he slung his backpack off his shoulder. Opening it and pulling out Thalia’s hoodie, he felt another approving nudge from Aphrodite’s magic.
A full blown argument was erupting in the throne room, but Percy tuned everything out, focusing only on the girl hiding herself in front of him.
Percy gently nudged her hands away, hooking a finger beneath her chin and bringing her beautiful, tear stained face up to look at him. One look in his eyes had Thalia tearing up again. Percy stroked his thumb along her jawline comfortingly as the words poured out of him.
“I’ve killed many monsters, Thalia Grace, and seen many more. But all I see right now is the face of a shattered angel.”
He pressed the hoodie, the Green Day hoodie he had been protecting with his life, into her hands. “We can talk about everything later, but I wouldn’t have dragged this across the country and back for a monster.”
A dozen emotions flitted across her face as the tears pooled and overflowed, cascading down her cheeks. She opened her mouth, and Percy placed a gentle finger against her lips.
“Don’t fight me on this one, Thals. Please.” He rubbed her arm soothingly. “We can talk about it later. Just put your arms up.”
She inhaled shakily before nodding, stepping back to raise her arms and Percy helped her slip the hoodie on. He grimaced internally as he noticed how easily it slid over her body. He had felt her ribs protruding far more than he thought they should be when he had hugged her.
He wanted to say more, maybe a million things at once if he could, but the thoughts got all jumbled up in his brain, creating a logjam.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t any faster.” He whispered, pulling her trembling form against him again. “Please forgive me.”
Eventually, her shaking stopped and her breathing slowed. It could have been five seconds or five years, but Percy just held her. For the first time since she had left, that little bit of hope he had been trying to bury finally broke free.
She placed her fist on her chest between them and made a circular motion, a sign of apology.
“You have nothing to apologize for.” Percy said fervently, threading his fingers through her hair as he held her.
He wasn’t entirely sure if she believed him, but when she finally returned his embrace, it felt like his heart would explode out of his chest. Gods, he would do anything for this girl. The thought of fighting the entire Olympian Council felt like child's play considering what he was protecting in his arms right now. This strong, beautiful girl and her shattered heart and soul. He would do anything, everything, to help her pick up the pieces.
“Silence!” Zeus’ booming voice echoed through the throne room, causing the ever-growing debates to cease and Thalia to jump in his arms, peeking out from where her face was burrowed into his chest. “I will have order in my throne room. I have come to a decision.”
“I propose a vote,” Athena said haughtily. “About the fate of the demigods.”
“There will be no vote.” Zeus said firmly. He looked unhappy, as though he had been coerced into the decision. Given Hestia’s insistence, and his father’s hanging threat, Percy wasn’t exactly surprised. “If our reports are to be believed, the Titans have been pushed back once again. Apollo is right, prophecies are often meaningless until after they have already passed.”
Apollo’s eyebrows shot up. He opened his mouth before closing it again, silent.
“Additionally,” Zeus continued. “My Father has been stirring. And although this is nothing new, he
has
infiltrated the minds of men for generations. Therefore, until we receive new intelligence, this matter will remain closed.”
Immediately, protests arose from the room. Artemis, pleading her case for action against the Titans. Athena and Ares, arguing on behalf of killing Percy and Thalia, and Poseidon looking like he wanted to gut his brother right where he stood. The only goddess who looked pleased was Aphrodite, who shot him a winning smile.
“Enough!” Zeus commanded, the room silencing once more as electricity cackled around him. “I will not hear another word.” He glared, meeting the eyes of every god and goddess in the room, daring anyone to be foolish enough to challenge him. When none came, his shoulders relaxed, and his voice returned to its normal dulcet tone. “Now then, Artemis, I believe you have a request to make.”
“Yes, I do.” She regarded her father with displeasure before turning to address the room at large. The edges of her form flickered silver, and her voice wavered unsteadily as she began. “As many of you know, my faithful Lieutenant and closest friend, Zoe Nightshade, took her place among the stars following our defeat of Atlas.”
“No.” Percy said quietly, his heart racing. “This can’t be it.” He felt Thalia burrow into him, her breathing once again calm. “Look, Thals…you can’t…I mean…” His words caught in his throat as he realized he wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to say. Did he love her? Was that even appropriate? Was that even accurate?
“Consequently,” Artemis continued. “I require a replacement, someone wise beyond their years.” Her gaze turned towards Thalia. “Someone who would benefit from my blessing far more than any other candidate, providing the easiest pathway to recovery after she bravely endured the worst the enemy has to offer.”
The tension hung in the air as Artemis allowed the proposal to sink in. Worse yet, from what he could see, Thalia’s eyebrows were scrunched, as though she were seriously considering the potential offer, weighing the options before her. Percy tensed, praying harder than he had ever prayed that he wouldn’t hear those words pass her lips.
“Thalia, Daughter of Zeus, will you swear to turn your back on the company of men, join the Hunt, be blessed with immortality and all the benefits thereof, and serve as my new lieutenant?”
Thalia was quiet in his arms. Percy hugged her tighter, breathing her in and trying to commit this moment to memory. All he could do was hope that whatever choice she made, she would be happy.
And just as desperately, he hoped he could be a part of the rest of her journey.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Artemis' proposal sat in the air, and a million thoughts danced in Thalia's mind. Nothing made any sense. Why wouldn't Percy let her go? A small flurry of guilt danced through her as she absorbed his affection. She was a monster, but he didn't seem to understand that. When he found out about her mother, or what she’d done on the plane, he'd leave her. Just like Luke did.
Yet, despite her insistence, he held her tighter, enveloping her in a way that she never experienced before. What had he said? That she was lying? She wanted to keep struggling, but his embrace was so comforting that her brain finally melted, her never-ending stream of thoughts ceasing. The sound of Percy's heartbeat stabilized her own racing heart, and without thinking, she finally embraced a lifeline she had been wrestling with since returning to the land of the living.
But now she had a decision to make. She could join Artemis and replace Zoe, becoming the immortal Lieutenant. In its own way, the option was tantalizing, and it felt natural, as though she was made for the position. The world felt like it was constantly spinning, and even though the unnatural haze that lingered from her sojourn beneath the sky had now faded, a portion of her felt like it had never left the Burden, always teetering on the edge of reality. Maybe she could be healed. Mr. D could do it if he was feeling generous, but given his comments during the meeting, she wasn't exactly hopeful.
She shuddered. This living nightmare could finally end. She wouldn't need to worry about boys anymore. Despite their arrogance, and with an eternity to learn, she could even come around to liking the stuck-up huntresses too. Objectively, she'd be an idiot to turn down the offer.
As the question sat heavily in the room, the tension thickened. Many of the gods began shifting uncomfortably, and Percy's heart began to race, its echo ringing in Thalia's ear. What had he been trying to say? It was almost as if he knew the question was coming, and he didn't want her to do it. For a brief moment, that nearly made her want to say yes out of principle. Who was he to know what was best for her? His head was full of kelp, even if he was heroic.
Her hoodie smelled faintly of sea salt, just like the blue one Percy had on. The same one she had thrown back at him on the night of her return. When she put it on for the first time, it felt like a massive weighted blanket had been placed on her, the long sleeves hiding her hands. It was a foreign feeling, not grappling with the pressure to make all the decisions or be ready to flee without warning. But even if it was an illusion, that was all she wanted right now. A nice weighted blanket as she tried to navigate her new world.
Percy removed the hand that was on her back, keeping the one holding her head against his chest. She frowned, suddenly feeling very exposed once again, adding to the complex calculation with which she tried to make her decision. His hand drifted towards his pocket, and she caught sight of an iPod. Thalia scrunched her eyebrows. That was odd, but if he was going to let her listen to some music, she wasn’t going to complain. It usually helped her think, anyway.
Percy pressed a button, and
Welcome to Paradise
began to play softly from the iPod. Another lump began to form in her throat. She wasn't sure how Percy knew that it was her favorite, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was that he was right. It was bittersweet, a reminder of the little refuge she had crafted away from her mother. Now, she needed to build another one. The paradigm of her decision shifted. Would accepting Artemis' offer allow her that refuge? Or would she just be signing up for a nearly endless stream of fighting again? Was it worth the sacrifice?
"I just want you to be happy," Percy murmured, his voice wavering as he held her tighter. "I just…I don't know… just do what you want…I just thought you might like this."
The answer became crystal clear in her mind. He had been thinking of her, even when she didn't deserve it. She looked up to protest as much. Why was he being so sweet after how she treated him once she returned? Annabeth's last words to Luke began to ring in her mind.
Percy was right about you
.
"Shhh," Percy said, shaking his head as if sensing her protest. "We'll talk about it later." He began swaying with her as the song finished. It was almost like dancing. The repeated motion washed over her, calming her. "But godly magic can't fix everything. Otherwise, the gods would be perfect. Just think about that, okay?"
Thalia nodded, giving him a watery smile. "Just like you said. They're shitty parents anyway."
Percy's grip relaxed, and Thalia turned towards Artemis, who looked impatient. "Lady Artemis." She began, steadying her voice. "I appreciate the offer, but my answer is no."
It was almost imperceptible, but Thalia felt all the tension in Percy's body melt away. She could’ve sworn his heart stopped racing, too. A quick glance had her own heart beating faster, a brilliant smile gracing his features. He didn’t look angry or sullen, ready to fight anything in his way. He didn’t look like he was obsessing over a million problems. He looked really, genuinely, happy.
Artemis, however, looked shocked. "No? You would turn down a position of such honor."
A million reasons why she was making a mistake filled her mind, but for the first time, her heart felt warm. The internal war was ending. The look of relief on Percy's face was just a confirmation that she made the right decision.
"That's correct." She said. "I do not accept the position."
Artemis looked hurt. "I see." She said slowly, carefully. The silver flickering around her began to intensify. "I do not approve of your choice, but I have vouched for you. And you have endured more than anyone ever should, so I will let your dismissal slide." She looked like she wanted to say more, but she stopped herself.
She turned toward Annabeth. "You, my dear, are just as brilliant, especially in battle. You would benefit from my blessing, the same as Thalia. My offer is now extended to you."
"Wait a minute," Athena said. "My daughter has a brilliant mind. She would be much better served in a different role."
Annabeth shifted uncomfortably, all eyes now on her. "Lady Artemis," she began. "I'm honored you hold me in such high regard, but I also have some of my own dreams and aspirations. I want to build something permanent, not necessarily
be
something permanent."
Artemis frowned. "You will be part of something permanent, building it in your own image, acting as the head of the family when I am absent." She beckoned Lyra toward Hephaestus, who whispered something in the ear of the Blacksmith.
"You can build something to last a thousand years, and be around long enough to witness it in all its glory. And when the time finally comes that you join Zoe, you will have the choice as to your final destination, whether it be in the stars or behind the gates of Elysium," Artemis announced.
Annabeth continued shifting nervously. "Lady Artemis, may I approach you?"
Artemis nodded, and Annabeth quickly walked over. Thalia could no longer hear their conversation, but what she wanted wasn't a secret. Even when she was just a little girl traveling in the woods, she would tell anyone who would listen every cool architectural fact that she knew. It wasn’t really Thalia's thing, but it was impossible to resist Annabeth's little excited face, spending every night sketching out interesting designs. She was going to ask for some kind of arrangement where she could do that in her downtime, Thalia was sure of it.
Annabeth had always been more open to the Hunters. Thalia couldn't get along with Zoe, or any of them, when they crossed paths at their boarding school in the fall. She rebuffed the standard recruiting pitch, but Annabeth seemed interested in the idea of a permanent family and some sense of stability. For a time, Thalia wondered how Percy would take the news, but he seemed pleased. If anything, he seemed far more worried about her own potential membership. That opened another can of worms Thalia wasn't ready to grapple with, but that was tomorrow's problem. She could pretend everything was normal again, as worry-free as the dreamscape had been.
Annabeth glanced back at the two in an embrace, and her expression was mixed. She looked mildly pained, but she bore a spirit of quiet resignation. As Artemis continued their quiet conversation, her expression slowly morphed into a smile, and the tension that burdened her dissipated, exuding a calm aura of confidence. Thalia smiled; seeing Annabeth regain some of her spunk was nice.
Lyra was smiling as she joined Annabeth and Artemis. In her hands was a laptop that was far beyond anything Thalia had seen in any of the computer labs at school. Considering the usual danger demigods were in when it came to using technology, she never got good with computers. Artemis held out her hand, waiting for Annabeth to shake it. Annabeth looked back once more, her previously mixed expression now completely relaxed. She took Artemis' hand and shook it.
"It is nearly done," Artemis announced. "Now it is time for you to take the oath."
Annabeth nodded.
"Repeat after me. I, your name, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the hunt."
Annabeth took a deep breath and began the oath. "I, Annabeth Chase, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the hunt."
She began to glow silver. Her face looked a little fuller, restoring the weight loss from her time in the prison. Her back stood a little straighter, and the fatigue weighing in her bones dissipated instantly. On her head, a silver tiara now sat like a warrior princess.
"I accept," Artemis announced. "Welcome to the Hunt, Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena, Slayer of Monsters."
Despite herself, Thalia flinched, earning her another squeeze from Percy. Defeated, she turned into him once again. It would all come crashing down, she knew it. Maybe as soon as tomorrow; but for now, she would enjoy it while it lasted.
Raucous cheers broke out in the throne room, even from Athena, who previously seemed opposed. Oddly, none of them were louder than Aphrodite, who had been giving the embracing pair her undivided attention despite the contentious debates around her. Thalia didn't want to be the pet of the gods, but she didn't feel like starting a fight with the temperamental goddess. However, if she were to try, she knew Percy would help her.
"Well then," Zeus said. "Since that's all settled, we have no further business." Everyone stood up from their thrones and vanished as Zeus snapped his fingers. In their place, massive banquet tables filled with nectar, ambrosia, and every kind of food imaginable appeared. "Then it's time to celebrate!"
____
It was nice to be celebrated, but it was difficult to enjoy. The golden lights of Olympus felt harsh on her eyes, and the cacophony of noise from the myriad of conversations around her was overwhelming. Satyrs and nymphs danced in the center of the room, with the banquet tables lining the edges, allowing all kinds of intermingling. Percy hadn't left her side, although he was constantly bombarded with questions. He handled them politely, but he was clearly ready to go, too.
Apollo had enchanted a magical stereo system, allowing everyone in attendance to listen to whatever they wished. Thalia was incredibly grateful for that. As much as she loved Grover, his music taste was awful, and she wasn't hopeful that a bunch of immortal gods would be much better.
“Huh.” Percy cocked his head, perplexed. "That's weird. I didn't even think about it, but the song changed."
"It's trippy, right?" Thalia said. "It's almost like it knows what we want before we do."
"Well, I guess I won't complain too much; in terms of 'godly bullshit,' this is probably my favorite." Percy laughed. "What are you listening to? I don't want to assume, but I think I have a good guess."
He nodded toward her hoodie, and Thalia blushed slightly. As much as she would never admit it, the gesture was incredibly thoughtful, and not at all something that she thought Percy was capable of. She wanted to ask why it smelled like him. Maybe it was just because it had been with his stuff for a few days. She wanted to kick herself for being so weak, being so clingy. Even when she had come back from being a tree, she hadn't been this way, but she felt so exposed now. She wanted to cherish it before he found out what she really was.
"Hello?" Percy was grinning at her, and it knocked her out of her mental stupor. "Did you hear me?"
"Yeah, sorry," Thalia responded. "You asked me about what I was listening to, right?"
Percy nodded. Thalia turned towards the music, trying to decipher it. Honestly, she hadn't been paying attention, and the additional noise overwhelmed her senses. She strained her ears, allowing the soft melody to absorb. It was a heavy guitar line with a melancholic, slightly gravelly male lead.
"The Diary of Jane," Thalia said. "I really like this one, even though it didn't come out until after I got back."
Percy closed his eyes as a smile crept on his face. "There, now we're listening to the same song." He glanced around the room, shifting from foot to foot. "And, if you want. I think I owe you a dance."
It certainly wasn't a traditional dancing song, at least compared to the two dances she had attended, one of which was at Westover. As the beginning riff began to play, she felt the beat and started swaying. Anything for a few more minutes to forget. "Okay," she said.
He took her hand in his, sliding his right to the small of her back. Teasingly, she sent a slight shock, just a reminder to not try anything too crazy. She had been expecting a reaction or smirk, but he hardly reacted as she allowed her fingers to vibrate. Instead, his fingers glowed slightly red.
His right hand tensed as he pulled her closer, his lips now level with her forehead. A million things she wanted to say crossed her mind, but she didn't even know where to start. The last time they were like this, she was contemplating killing him. He had just been the same arrogant Percy that she’d always known. But now? Now, in her mind, she could only hope the roles hadn't reversed.
"Look." Thalia began, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "I don't know what I'm saying, or what I even want to say, but–" She took a shaky breath. "–I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. You were right." Silent tears began to fall once again. "Even about Luke."
He raised an eyebrow at her, and she promptly buried her face in his chest so she wouldn’t have to look at him.
Here it comes.
She had apologized countless times as a child: to her mother, to little Jason, about anything and everything. Everything had always been her fault, and apologizing had just been a way to try and dampen the abusive onslaught that came about more often than not.
Now, all she could think about was all the times she’d been angry at Percy for his choices, for trying to make amends, and it ate away at her. It just confirmed what she already knew. She was a monster, willing to take out her problems on anyone around her, not caring about the consequences.
She gripped his hand tighter, fingers still shaking. Percy inhaled, like he was going to speak, and she flinched. Now it would happen. He'd yell at her for all the stupid things she'd ever done, and she deserved it.
"I forgive you," Percy said, his soothing voice precisely the opposite of what Thalia was expecting. "We can talk about everything later, but I'm not mad at you." She could hear the smile in his voice. "Besides, you already apologized. At least about Capture the Flag."
"But you don't understand!" Thalia’s head snapped back to look at him as her voice rose. "Why aren't you mad at me? Why aren't–"
The hand that had been on her back instantly went to the back of her head, pulling her to his chest and muffling her voice. "Tomorrow, okay?" He said. "I know there's a million things you want to say. Me too, but let's just enjoy tonight, okay? You're safe, and that's all that matters." He cracked another smile. "We have ADHD; we procrastinate everything. Let's just put this off until tomorrow."
She didn't want to, but her heart began to slow, mimicking Percy's strong, rhythmic thrums. With it, her mind began to calm, enveloped in a blanket she didn't know she needed.
"Fine." She huffed, her usual defiance gone. "Tomorrow."
Percy sighed, the song reaching its conclusion. "Thanks, Thals. It's all gonna be okay."
That sounded like a lie to her, but she could tell Percy believed it, and that was enough for now. He had fought a god for insulting his mom, so she didn't doubt he'd do everything he could to make his promise materialize.
"Hello." Artemis' voice rang out from behind them, startling the pair apart. "Sorry to interrupt, but I need Percy for a moment."
Truthfully, Thalia didn't want to let him go, nor was she excited about leaving him alone with a goddess known for turning men into Jackalopes. She probably shouldn't push her luck, given she turned down the most prestigious position Artemis could offer.
"Sounds good," she said reluctantly. "You'll know where to find me when you're done."
Percy nodded as Artemis flashed them away, leaving Thalia alone with her thoughts. The lights felt too bright again, and all the noise around her felt like it was only getting louder. She felt exposed, and her panicked breathing picked up.
"Hey, Thals," Annabeth called out, catching her eye. "You doing alright?"
Thalia nodded her head, but Annabeth didn't believe it, if her immediate beeline towards her was any indication. She shot her a glowing smile. "You don't need to lie to me, you know."
I’m not lying,
Thalia signed.
I'm as good as I can be.
Annabeth sighed.
We'll never be the same again, will we?
A sudden onslaught of thoughts battered her mind like a storm. Had it only been a week? Just a week ago, she had been preparing for Winter Break at camp with Annabeth, finally ready to flee the horrific life that was high school. Since then, she had been on a rescue mission, lost Annabeth, blew up a plane, held the sky, and was forced to live in the deepest recesses of her mind. She shuddered, all of it threatening to overwhelm her again. She wanted to kick herself for it, but every time she tried to pull herself together, it felt like she had been shattered into a million tiny pieces, impossible to regroup.
She took a shaky breath.
It was so much easier then. Even surviving in the woods.
She signed.
Back then, it was all about surviving one more day, worrying about no one but ourselves.
Annabeth cracked a smile.
Well, I'll be back to that. Living in the woods. Except this time, I'll be immortal.
A smile crept onto Thalia's lips. She had a million questions she wanted to ask Annabeth, so she started with the most pressing.
Why'd you take it? I thought you wanted to be an architect. You could've said no.
Annabeth shrugged her shoulders.
It was a hard decision, and I had been thinking about it for a few months. I told Artemis that I needed to be able to design buildings. She asked Hephaestus for this.
She pulled out the laptop Lyra had delivered. From where, Thalia wasn't sure, but it probably involved the same kind of magic within their bows.
It sends all my ideas to Olympus, and I can work on it whenever we're not actively hunting. From there, the choice was pretty simple.
Despite her mixed feelings, a strong sense of relief washed over Thalia. She understood the pressure of trying to choose between two different dreams. Now, Annabeth could design to her heart's content for millennia.
I'm glad.
Thalia said.
I'm really happy you didn't have to choose between that. But I’ll really miss you. How does the blessing feel? Did it heal everything like Artemis promised?
Annabeth shrugged her shoulders.
Honestly, I'm not sure. I feel stronger, and even injuries I got when I was a kid feel healed now.
Annabeth scrunched her eyebrows.
But I'm still me, and it's not like the memories went away.
Her gaze bore directly into Thalia, searching for answers.
Why didn't you join? You were her first choice.
A myriad of reasons came to the forefront of her mind, but among all of them, a specific green-eyed boy rose to the top. Despite herself, she felt her cheeks begin to heat up.
I don't trust godly magic,
She finally signed. Technically, not a lie.
If godly healing worked on everything, then why are they so fucked up?
Annabeth snorted, trying desperately to stifle her laughter.
I'm sure it was more than that, but I'd never thought about it that way.
Her smile dropped, and her expression turned serious.
Was Mr. D serious? Did you and Percy really threaten to overthrow Olympus if he didn't let you go?"
Thalia raised an eyebrow.
Come on, Annie, what do you think?
Well, I'm flattered you would do that for me.
Annabeth signed.
But I guess I'd have a hard time joining you now.
Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
Thalia signed.
Although you know better than anyone that Percy is gonna get himself killed soon. I'd rather that didn't happen. You see how he reacts when the gods attack anyone but himself. There is not a single thing he wouldn't do if he thought it would help his friends.
You don't have to tell me twice.
Annabeth agreed.
But if anyone is entitled to that, it's him. Fighting a god and living to tell the tale is no small feat.
Annabeth held out her arms and pulled Thalia into an embrace. "I'm really going to miss you. I hope you know that." She said, signing no longer possible. "It feels right, and I know it's right, but just because the change is coming doesn't mean I need to be excited about all of it, you know?"
Thalia nodded. She understood what Annabeth meant. Plus, the thought that once she died, Annabeth wouldn't be joining her wherever she went was incredibly bittersweet. She hated not having control, even when she knew those choices were never hers to make. She could only hope that immortality ended up being better than she originally thought. Despite her resignation, she felt a piercing heat behind her eyes as she thought about their upcoming separation.
"Send me an IM before you two do anything stupid, alright?" Annabeth said. "I'll drop by as much as I can."
"Y-yeah," Thalia said, choking out her words. "J-just be safe, please."
"You're going to be okay," Annabeth said. "And I get it if you need to talk about anything."
Thalia swallowed, gathering her thoughts. There was one moment Annabeth had relayed that had never made sense, and it suddenly seemed relevant. Annabeth's own experience with the Sirens.
"The sirens," Thalia said. "You don't need to tell me what they showed you, but I know how they work. How did you recover from that? Having everything you ever wanted promised, only to have it be ripped away."
Annabeth pursed her lips, and her shoulders tensed. "Truthfully, it still bothers me." She admitted. "The only thing that makes it easier is remembering that getting everything you ever wanted will never come without a price. So if I got it, I'd likely end up worse than where I started."
"What do you mean?"
"A family," Annabeth said. "I wanted a family,
My
family. My mother and father, Luke, you. All together, like everything else was a bad dream." Her tone turned bitter. "I held out hope that it was possible, but I see that I would've had to ignore a lot, about a lot of different people…" Her voice trailed off as the last syllable caught in her throat. She took a shaky breath to finish her thought. "But still, I replay every interaction I had with them, wondering what I could have done differently."
Luke's betrayal
. The more Thalia thought about it, the more it tore her up inside. He was obviously different, and she had been warned, but she couldn't believe he wasn't the same boy he had always been. The alternative was even scarier, that he had always been that way, and she was just too blind to see it. In Thalia's case, she got a pass because she wasn’t around for most of it, but Annabeth witnessed it all and interacted with him on a daily basis.
"Beneath the sky." Thalia's voice was quiet, barely more than a whisper. "They have Siren-like things. They promise you everything you ever want if you just give up because it's hopeless anyway." She took a trembling breath, allowing her train of thought to coalesce. "They showed me perfection, and I took it. I gave up. I was too divided. As I gave up, I felt the sky physically burrow into me, like my skin was no longer there. It was already unimaginable, but from that moment, until Percy collapsed in my lap, I felt like I was dissolving. It's–"
Annabeth squeezed her arms. Thalia didn't notice her breathing pick up, but now it was unmistakable. Twice, she had bordered on the realm of Hades, the murkiness still hanging in her mind. Ideas she wasn't even sure she could describe. The words simply didn't exist, like trying to describe a new color to someone who couldn't see.
"I get it," Annabeth said. "The words don't exist and never will, but that doesn't make it any less real." The edges of her lips tugged into a smile. "On the plus side, I've already seen the Underworld in person, so I don't need to die first."
"Yeah," Thalia said, mimicking Annabeth's smile. "I guess you don't."
A moment of silence passed. One final night before their eternal destinies would separate. They would cross from time to time, but now, Annabeth had her own responsibilities. Thalia, on the other hand, had an upcoming prophecy. She shook her head.
Tomorrow
.
Just like Percy said.
"Want to pretend like this is one of our school dances, just for this one night?" Thalia asked.
Annabeth shot her a warm smile. "Yeah, I like the sound of that. But no manticores this time."
____
Before them stood the King of the Gods. Dressed in his royal suit, with his light gray beard, he looked like an aristocrat. Thalia clenched her jaw. Of all the people in this world that she wanted to see, her dad was at the very bottom of the list.
"Good evening," Zeus said. He addressed Annabeth. "May I have a moment alone with Thalia?"
Annabeth shot Thalia a nervous glance. "Are you sure, sir?"
Zeus' glare narrowed slightly, and the scent of ozone permeated the air. "Yes, Lieutenant Chase. I am sure. You may return shortly."
Annabeth paled. She shifted from foot to foot but decided to stay silent. Thalia shot Annabeth what she hoped was a reassuring glance, but it did little to stem the growing tide of anxiety within her. After all, her father seemed open to the idea of killing her just a few hours before. That, and the fact that it had been radio silence from him on her quest.
Annabeth gently squeezed her arm before leaving them alone.
Gods, her thoughts were spiraling now. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she deserved everything that had happened to her. She was a monster. Everyone knew that monsters belonged in Tartarus; she was lucky no one had come along and incinerated her yet. And not to mention all the people she had hurt and failed. Even if she knew Zeus would have helped with the plane, would she have still blown it up? The fact that the answer leaned toward yes…Thorn's taunts relentlessly battered her. She couldn't disprove them; in many ways, he was right, and that was the most sickening part of it all.
Too late, she noticed that she was hyperventilating. If Zeus noticed, he didn’t say anything.
Good.
Thalia thought.
He’s never cared; he doesn't get to pretend now.
Zeus cleared his throat. "I've noticed you don't want to sleep in your cabin." He said. "Why would you refuse?"
It took a beat for his words to even register. Really? That's what he wanted to talk to her about? Not a fake apology for the way he abandoned her? Not even a scolding for killing his last mortal concubine?
"I'm not even supposed to exist," Thalia said bitterly. "Why would I want to acknowledge that fact?"
"Because it is your birthright, as my daughter. You were born to rule." Zeus said matter-of-factly. "You are running from the mantle that is rightfully yours."
"So now you care about my potential?" Thalia spat. "Where were you in the first years of my life?" Tears filled her eyes. "What about when I was pleading for my life as I lay dying on the borders of camp? I know you didn't save me. Percy's dad did. And I don't want to hear any bullshit about ancient laws!"
"You are running from your destiny," Zeus said finally. "Running from what makes you who you are."
"Are you even listening?" Thalia asked incredulously. "You abandoned Jason and I. Because of you, Jason is dead, left in the hands of that monster known as my mother!"
Zeus tensed. "Your mother couldn't handle the truth, yes. Just another reason that gods and mortals should remain separate."
Thalia just stared at her father. "Glad to know you don't give a fuck about my brother."
"What happened to your brother was…tragic." He paused as if the word was foreign to him. "But in millennia of existence, the lifetime of thousands of my children have come and gone. I cannot interfere with all of them. And if I were to interfere in some, then chaos would reign on the earth, with gods helping out their children, even against other demigods."
"You could at least pretend to be sad about it, you know," Thalia said flatly. Truthfully, she didn't buy the argument. She understood she was already unique and was sired in violation of an oath; Hades' furies had made that very clear in her first go-around, but even if it were the case, her father could have shown some grief or even apologized. Instead, here he stood, stoic. The only thing he cared about was that she was rejecting him. Her fingers started vibrating with rage, and she let the emotion wash through her.
How dare he.
"Grief is an emotion the gods have no room for," Zeus said, his voice monotone. "I will not pretend to be sad over a routine event."
"Then I'm not going to pretend to fucking care!" Thalia snapped. "If all you wanted was for me to sleep in your cabin, I don't want to hear it. I know you hear my prayers. I know you heard me cry every night I spent with my horrid mother. And you did
nothing
!”
Zeus bristled. "You should show your father respect, child."
"Go fuck yourself." Thalia spat. It felt cathartic. Her years of frustration at her absent father, all the bitching she did in the woods when she was on the run. She shared grievances with Percy and Annabeth. But this time was different. Now, she could air a fraction of her grievances at the man responsible. She still felt shattered, but she found a bit of relief by hurling expletives at her father. It made sense that she was a monster, considering she was the daughter of two of them.
Zeus began to flicker dangerously. The air around him suddenly felt heavy and electric all at once. Just beyond him, she caught sight of Percy making his way over, Annabeth in tow. The buzzing disappeared as the King of the Gods calmed himself, once again adopting his regal, controlled manner. Percy and Annabeth now stood between Thalia and her father. Annabeth’s attention was on Thalia, but Percy was staring Zeus directly in the eye.
"Is there a problem here?" Percy said flatly. "Or have you finished your little chat?"
Zeus bristled but put on a fake smile. "No, I believe Thalia knows exactly what's expected of her. You would do well to get out of the way, son of Poseidon."
Percy just smirked. "Then I believe we're done here."
"Just know, Perseus Jackson," Zeus growled. "That next time, I will not be so forgiving of such insolence. Dionysus was right about you." He began to glow, and Thalia’s eyes found the flood out of instinct. Before anything else could happen, he vanished.
"Are you alright?" Percy and Annabeth asked simultaneously.
Thalia hadn't even noticed how badly she was shaking. Her eyes hurt, and all she wanted was to lie down. It was cathartic to voice her thoughts, but now her emotional high was quickly crashing as the adrenaline wore off. Her entire body felt heavy.
"Yeah." She said, "I'm okay. Just kind of tired."
Annabeth pulled Thalia into an embrace. "It's probably best if you go back home and get some rest." She said, and Thalia’s eyes filled with tears at her tone. "But just know that I am really going to miss you. Even if this is the right choice."
Thalia squeezed back. "Yeah," she said thickly. "I know." There were a million things she wanted to say, but she hoped Annabeth understood them all as she hugged her even tighter.
She took a shaky breath as Annabeth released her. She wished she wasn't like this, unable to handle a tense conversation with her father without falling to pieces. Being a burden was the last thing she wanted.
The Olympians, deities, and other beings were all starting to leave the party, walking or vanishing from the hall.
"I think it's about time to go." Annabeth said. "But it's all going to be okay. I know this isn't the last time we'll see each other."
"I know," Percy said, speaking Thalia's mind. "It'll just be weird, you know? This was my first quest without you, and I didn't know what I was doing. It'll be weird without you there."
"Just don't push yourself too hard, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said, giving him a soft punch on the arm. "For better or worse, I think we'll see each other again soon. Hold down the Capture the Flag title until I come back, alright?" She shot a smile at Thalia. "That means you too, Thals."
Percy gave a mock salute. "Yes, Lieutenant." His smile quickly faded, his eyes swimming with his thoughts. "Take care of Lyra for me."
Thalia raised an eyebrow. She wasn't sure of their history, but considering that Percy hated the Hunters nearly as much as she used to, she figured it was a story worth telling.
"I will," Annabeth reassured. "When I design buildings. I'll add little notes for you to find, like a scavenger hunt."
"Ugh, you know I hate reading." Percy rolled his eyes, smiling. "Still, if that's what it takes. I'll do it."
"You had better," she smirked. Annabeth shot the two of them one final smile. "I've gotta go now. Artemis has been calling me for the last few minutes. Don't want to be late on the first day. IM me if you guys are planning on doing something reckless. I want in."
'Will do." Percy said. "See ya around, Wise Girl."
"See ya, Annie," Thalia said. "Although I'm dropping out of school, just FYI, now that you can't make me go to class."
Annabeth sighed. "Tell that to Chiron."
A flash of silver appeared next to Annabeth, and they averted their eyes as Artemis materialized, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Has everyone said their goodbyes?" She asked. Everyone nodded, and she looked towards Percy. "I hope Zoe's letter answers all your questions.” Thalia looked down, finally noticing the envelope Percy held. “I have not read it, but it was the last thing she handed to me before she…before she took her place among the stars. Just know how important it was for her."
"I will," Percy said. "I promise."
Artemis relaxed. "Then, as a final courtesy, I will send you back to Camp." She motioned towards Percy and Thalia. "Close your eyes."
They did as they were told. Suddenly, Thalia felt dizzy, and she felt Percy grab onto her. Around her, the world felt like it was spinning faster and faster, and her stomach threatened to expel her dinner. The air around her felt unnatural, warping against the air currents. A scream caught in her throat as the ground beneath her vanished. She squeezed Percy's arm, desperate for any kind of lifeline, as terrifying thoughts of freefalling from a plane again flooded her.
As quickly as the spinning started, it stopped. Her feet once again found solid ground, and she immediately sat down, her head still spinning. Next to her, Percy did the same. Cautiously, she opened her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, though her heart refused to slow. The familiar pavilion of Camp Half-Blood greeted her gaze. She was home.
"Welcome home," Percy said, giving her a gentle side hug. "We've missed you."
Thalia nodded. "My cot will be more comfortable than a prison cell." She tried to say it as a joke, but it fell flat between them.
"Yeah," Percy finally said. He stood and looked at her for a moment, opening his mouth like he wanted to say something. Instead he just sighed before offering her a hand.
"Mind if I walk you back to the Big House? Don't want the cleaning harpies to be alarmed."
"That would be nice," Thalia said, taking his hand and standing. She shivered. It was warmer inside camp than the rest of New York, but Mr. D still allowed soft frost to permeate the borders.
"I guess we should walk quickly then," Percy said. "Don't want you to freeze to death out here."
"Oh, please," Thalia said. "A little cold won't kill me."
"I'm not risking it," Percy said firmly. "Two brushes with death is enough for one lifetime, no?"
"We're demigods," Thalia said bitterly. "Brushes with death are all in a day's work."
Percy sighed. "You don't need to remind me." He said, staring off into the distance. "Let's just worry about…everything tomorrow, alright? It's been a long day for both of us."
Thalia couldn't really argue with that, so she relented, letting Percy lead the way back to the Big House, unable to find the words for what she wanted to say.
As the Big House approached, she couldn't bite back the nervousness that slowly filled her, squeezing her stomach. She didn't want to be alone, especially with Mr. D and Chiron as the only roommates in the Big House.
No
. She thought.
I'm not so pathetic I can't spend one night by myself. It'll be fine. Camp is safe.
"Everything alright?" Percy asked. They were stopped now, the Big House directly in front of them. "Anything I can get for you?"
Thalia hadn't noticed her trembling hands. She slid them into her hoodie pockets. "I'm good." She lied, "Just cold."
Percy looked at her, his lips pursed skeptically. "You sure?"
"Mhmm." She said, nodding. "Good night."
Percy quickly pulled her into a hug. "Good night, Thals.” He murmured in her ear. “I hope you sleep well."
The warmth of his embrace was tempting, but she had decided. Fighting her body, she willed herself to leave Percy's warm arms, forcing herself up the steps and into the house. She would not be weak. The mantra repeated in her mind as she opened the main doors to the Big House, ready to turn in for the night.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The griminess on her skin made her want to rip it off. Thalia didn’t even realize how sweaty she was, but now that she was alone, her clothes clung to her. Small granules of salt stuck to her arms, creating a scratchy, abrasive layer. Briefly, she wondered if an industrial scrub brush would be a worthy investment.The trek to the showers in the Big House was an unfamiliar one. Normally, she used the ones in the communal bathrooms like everyone else, but it was late enough that it wasn’t a feasible option. Chiron had given her a key to the private one to be used in emergencies, and she figured if there was an appropriate time to use it, it was now.Her jaw tensed. It was just a trip to the bathroom. Nothing special. The dark hallway loomed in front of her. Why is the house dirty? Instinctively, Thalia flinched. She quickly darted her eyes from side to side, scanning for the source. No, it couldn’t be. Why would her mother be here? A hundred possibilities swarmed in Thalia’s head. Her mother was dead, yet the voice was undeniable, taunting her, as real as it was every day of her childhood. Her hand began to buzz, and tiny tendrils of electricity sprung forth, illuminating the walkway. It wasn’t much, but the soft blue glow was enough for her to see the ground in front of her. She quickly scanned the hallway, looking for ghosts, ghouls, poltergeists, and even another camper playing another practical joke, but there was nothing. Taking a trembling breath, she continued her trek down the hallway. In her mind, a mantra began to repeat. She was safe. There was nothing to worry about. She was just seeing things. It’s all your fault. Dr. Thorn’s voice mocked her. The blood of innocents is on your hands. “Fuck you,” Thalia replied, spinning in the direction of the phantom voice. The only response was the soft echo of her own voice bouncing off the hallway. She willed her lightning light to shine a little brighter, tendrils reaching out like a tesla ball. The air around her began to vibrate in response to her commands.A sharp pain singed her fingers, and she winced, nearly extinguishing the light. Slowly, she made a fist to assess the damage. A dull ache was all that remained, permeating her bones. Puzzled, she repeated the action. Same result. Maybe you’ll remember next time Thorn’s insidious voice whispered in her mind. “Go away!” Thalia yelled. “I’m armed!”Silence was all that greeted her. She picked up the pace, now facing the bathroom door. She fumbled around in her pocket for the key, her trembling fingers unable to grip the slippery brass. Get in the door, then turn on the lights. A simple enough task. A nice relaxing shower, then time to turn in for the night. You deserve it, you know. You only had one chance. Now Luke’s voice rang out. Instinctively, she zapped in his direction, or at least what she thought was his direction. She expected to hear his cries of pain, maybe begging for mercy, or at least a grunt of some kind. Instead, there was a crashing sound next to her. A picture on the wall, now shattered on the floor, with broken shards all around. “Who’s there?” Thalia shouted. Down the hall, Chiron appeared, puzzled. “Thalia, my dear, are you alright?”Thalia blinked. Even the curlers in his tail seemed normal compared to the night she was having. “Er, yeah.” She said slowly, “I think so.”The centaur cautiously made his way over, stopping at the border of the broken picture to avoid slicing his hooves. “Are you sure?”“Mhmm,” Thalia said, nodding her head. “I just, I mean, I bumped into a picture frame, is all. It startled me.”Chiron looked unconvinced, his shadowed face looking flat. “If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask.” He looked down at the picture as he flicked on the light. “You are not the first demigod to break something, and you will not be the last. Do not worry. I’ll take care of it.”“You sure?” Thalia said. “I can go get something for that. I’m sorry.”“You’ve had a long day, my dear,” Chiron said. “Just focus on getting some rest.” He sadly looked down at the picture. A closer inspection revealed that it was more than a photograph. Thalia wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but it looked like some kind of hyper realistic painting. At the center was a younger Chiron, his beard a vibrant black. Next to him was a towering demigod with an immaculate physique. In his hand was a massive bronze sword that looked a lot like Percy’s.“Is that–”“Hercules.” Chiron finished. “Yes, my dear. Percy is not the first wielder of Riptide, as you may notice. It’s a complicated weapon.” He looked like he wanted to say more but stopped himself. “I’m not sure it’s my story to tell, but do not fret. The image itself is preserved. The casing can always be replaced.” Despite Chiron’s assurance, the guilt gnawed away at her. What was wrong with her? Obviously, there was nothing here. Even though that was true, she kept hearing voices and lashing out at the closest pieces of furniture, which were obviously very sentimental to her mentor. She bit her lip, the uncomfortable sensation providing an eerie sort of control and comfort. “Again, I’m sorry Chiron.” She said, shifting her weight from foot to foot. “Like I said, nothing that can’t be fixed,” Chiron said, shooting her a warm smile. “It looks like you were about to shower, so I’ll leave you to it.” He turned around, giving Thalia one last look before the clopping of his hooves retreated back into his room, flicking off the hall light that was right outside. If only it were that easy for me. Thalia’s inner voice taunted her. The horse can fix his paintings. But nothing will ever fix you. She quickly found the key in her jeans pocket, placing the brass bit into the lock. The tumblers rotated, the door unlocked, and she swung it open, slinging on the light switch. The lights were nearly blinding, but she took a sigh of relief. Nothing could sneak up on her now. She stripped down and turned on the water, the warm steam quickly filling the room. Glancing in the mirror, she grimaced as she took in her new physique. Her ribs protruded slightly, and the black lightning scars, while they looked badass, stood out on her pale skin, feeling more like a cattle brand than a cool tattoo. The gray streak in her hair stood out like a sore thumb, but she got the sense that no matter how many times she tried to dye it, it would remain until the day she died. An uncomfortable lump formed in her throat. This was her new normal, and her feelings were mixed at best.She sighed. Every change was a menacing reminder of what had been done to her. Despite her best efforts, she wasn’t able to ignore the uncomfortable memories that resurfaced nearly every moment since Percy had fallen in her lap on the Mountain of Despair. Unsavory recollections threatened to pull her from the present, like the worst movie of all time, forcing her to relive it all again.Cautiously, she scanned the room one final time before stepping behind the shower curtain. Her hands wouldn’t stay still, itching to fight something, and the compulsive need to watch her back overwhelmed her every few seconds. Her heartbeat pounded in her head, drowning out the rest of her thoughts. Shakily, she took her shampoo bottle and poured some into her hand, scrubbing at her scalp, hesitantly closing her eyes as the soap ran down her forehead with the water, desperate to cleanse the grime from her skin.Despite the water, the compulsive urge to open them was nearly overwhelming. What if someone was coming? What if this was all a dream, and she was still trapped? She scrunched her eyes tighter. No, she was in the bathroom, taking a shower, in the Big House. The sensation of the warm water began to fade away, panic now filling her bones. Without thought, she opened her eyes, now burning with the watery soap running down her face.In front of her was the dank gray cell on the Mountain. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, her mind screamed. Her hands were shaking violently, and her heart was shaking. Her jaw trembled, clenching so tight she thought her teeth might crack. In the edge of her vision, she saw Thorn approaching, and she fired a bolt in his direction, his devilish smile taunting her. Her head hurt, and she began seeing double. Blinking, the white porcelain of the tub slowly came back into focus, a massive chunk now missing. It took her a long moment to realize that she was now on the floor, curled in the fetal position. Her trembling hands picked up the sizable chunk of porcelain lying next to her head. The more she tried to focus, the more her vision refused to cooperate. The intensity of the pounding in her skull only increased, and she was forced to close her eyes, tears now streaking down her face. You should’ve joined me, Luke's voice taunted. Thalia opened her mouth to respond but found herself frozen, unable to move. Distantly, she thought she heard screaming, although she wasn't sure whether it was all in her head like the rest of the voices. Her eyes refused to open, falling victim to the paralysis that overtook the rest of her body. The only thought she could piece together was that she was a monster. She was a monster, and this was her punishment for her sins.Icy, cold water sparred her to action. Immediately, she got to her feet, scanning for threats. Instead, a face full of cold was all she got in response. Right, she was in the shower. Her pruny hands betrayed she had been in there longer than she anticipated, but she wasn’t sure the exact length of time. Quickly, she turned off the faucet, figuring her time soaking would have done its job. The missing chunk of porcelain sent cracks from the corner throughout the remainder of the tub. Another twinge of guilt slithered its way into her heart. Now, Chiron would have even more to fix, and it was all her fault. She quickly shook her head and grabbed her towels. Just get to your room. She told herself. You probably just need some sleep. Rerobing into her pajamas, consisting of shorts and an oversized t-shirt, she quickly gathered her things, preparing to head back. Her rapid heartbeat had refused to slow since she entered the Big House, an uncomfortable reminder of how she would spend her waking moments with her mother. She shook her head, desperately trying to hold those thoughts at bay just a moment longer. She hated herself for it, but she left the bathroom light on, allowing it to illuminate the hallway. Every time she flicked the switch, allowing the darkness to envelop the house, she couldn’t force herself to take another step, her mind flooded with awful memories. Besides, the Camp’s expenses were already paid, and she figured Chiron would rather deal with a slightly higher power bill than with more broken furniture. Her arms refused to uncross from her chest, like some sort of security blanket. Hesitantly, she looked around, checking behind her every few steps. She told herself to stop and that she was acting like a lunatic, but every time she ignored the compulsion, her mind would scream at her that she was in danger, forcing her to either acquiesce, or fire off another lightning bolt and break more pictures. Tomorrow, She thought. Just get through the night doing whatever you need to . Despite her paranoia, the voices didn’t return, the light holding the awful whisperings of the night away.Stepping into the familiarity of her room had Thalia sighing in relief. The posters on the walls brought back pleasant memories, and she smiled despite herself. Her cot sat against the wall, completely undisturbed from her hasty departure. The only thing absent was the note she left for Percy, warning him of her whereabouts. Her scattered clothes spawned mild pricks of irritation. It wasn’t anybody’s fault, of course, but now the thought simply wouldn’t leave her mind despite her exhaustion. In spite of her sudden desire to organize, she climbed into bed, hiding her face beneath the blankets on her cot. Maybe she could pretend the mess didn’t exist.No position seemed comfortable. Thalia's hands itched for her spear across the room. Every time she closed her eyes, the haze began to approach, threatening to drag her into another world of unpleasant memories. Frustrated, she threw the blankets off the bed and began to clean, hoping she would eventually just crash. It was a safe bet that no one would bother her in the morning anyway. She began furiously and meticulously folding her clothes, placing them in the proper drawers. Slowly, the cluttered junkyard that was her room became pristine and organized. No more weird shadows were cast from the lamp in the corner. Satisfied, she took a deep breath. Thalia frowned, breathing in again. The soft aroma of wine filled her nostrils. Given Mr. D’s constant residence, it wasn't abnormal, but the scent usually avoided her room. On the rare occasion it got in, it usually triggered a nightmare, but at the present, it was little more than an annoyance.Satisfied with her work, she finally returned to her cot, eyes heavy. Before she could get comfortable, the smell of wine got stronger, seeming to concentrate around her. The unpleasant haze began to return, threatening to pull her into it. Frustrated, she climbed out of bed once again. She began pacing quickly, weighing her options. She could sleep outside, which meant she wouldn’t sleep. Sleep in the Zeus cabin, again, no sleep for her. She could ask Mr. D directly if he could turn off the wine smell, or try to tough it out and deal with whatever nightmare was about to plague her.Metallic blood coated her tongue, and she winced. She had been biting her lip, and now she was paying the price. Yet, in a sick sort of way, the pain sliced through the mental haze that was threatening to pull her away to an inescapable land of horror. She went over to her nightstand and grabbed a paper towel, letting the blood soak it crimson. With newfound mental clarity, she settled in for the night. She was fifteen, not a child. One night alone wouldn’t kill her, and it wasn’t the first time she’d dealt with Mr. D’s carelessness. The encroaching memories finally seemed to ebb, allowing her to close her eyes without her chest tightening and her heart racing. Slowly, she drifted into an uneasy sleep. ____Massive pine trees stretched out as far as she could see. A cool spring wind blew past her, and her hair, oddly, didn’t fly into her face. Thalia froze. Her usually short hair was now long enough to be pulled back into a ponytail. She used to keep it the same way before she had to flee home. Trembling, she held her hands out in front of her face, confirming her worst fears. Her body felt too small, and her control felt wobbly at best, as though she were fighting another force for command of her limbs. Hesitantly, she took a step forward, nearly collapsing in the process. Her bones ached, and she was nearly paralyzed from some kind of exhaustion. Cautiously, she looked back, trying to gauge where she was. Her stomach lurched. Behind her was her mother’s charred corpse, the pungent stench spreading throughout the forest. Vultures began circling the carcass, ready to scavenge whatever they could off Beryl Grace’s slight frame. This wasn’t how it went. Thalia thought to herself. I never looked back. Yet the scene was unmistakable. Thalia's breaths came faster, and her head began to spin. No, no, no, she thought. That’s not how it went. I know it. Without thinking, she began to run. To where she wasn’t sure, her thoughts numb. Whatever force she was fighting began to take control, freely guiding her back home. The background slowly began to melt away, and dissonant voices chirped at her. You’re a monster, they said. View who you truly are. She ran directly into an invisible wall, knocking her on her back and leaving her gasping for breath. She sucked in the air, desperate to regain her composure. “What’s going on?” She yelled. Not even an echo greeted her. Quickly, she turned around, desperate to continue her flight away. From what, she wasn’t sure, but in the back of her mind, she hoped she could outrun whatever unseen monster was tormenting her. Unceremoniously, she smacked into another invisible wall directly behind her. She held out her hands, and the realization dawned on her that they were closing. Scrambling, she sprinted parallel to the wall, keeping her left hand on it to see if it ended. Its unyielding frame began to shrink, forcing her to the center of her new prison, halting nearly all progress. Outside the walls, the outside world began to dissolve, leaving nothing but a black void, consuming all in its path.“What do you want from me!?” Thalia shrieked. “Just leave me alone, whoever you are.”Suddenly, the invisible prison stopped shrinking. Panic surged through her as she realized that the cell she was in now was roughly the size of the one she had been thrown into at the Mountain of Despair. Trembling, she began feeling every inch of the walls, scratching at them to find a way out. Witness who you really are. A voice that sounded eerily similar to Thalia’s rang through the prison as though she was hearing herself on a recording. On command, the invisible walls suddenly became mirrors, every side reflecting back at her. Thalia screamed, an animalistic howl that sounded nothing like her.The minor physical changes were lost on her in her haste to escape. Staring back at her was not the twelve-year-old girl who killed her mother. Instead, the figure in the mirror was taller, and her limbs were unnaturally long. Instead of fingernails, sharp claws now protruded from her hands. Razor sharp teeth taunted her, and suddenly the taste of raw meat poisoned her mouth. Behold Thalia Grace, her mimicked voice taunted. The Queen of Monsters. Thalia curled into the fetal position, screaming in an attempt to drown out the taunting voice.____Her eyes shot open. Her racing heart pounded, drowning out her thoughts. She felt lightheaded, her rapid breathing bringing floating dots to her vision. Her throat felt raw and scratchy. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She threw off her blankets and dashed over to the mirror on her wall. The fingernails on her hands looked normal, but she continued picking at them. The realism of what she had just experienced forced her to double-check.Much to her relief, everything was as normal as it could be. Her hands looked the same as when she went to sleep, the menacing black streaks taunting her. She bared her teeth, desperately searching for any new points, but they shone back at her, completely undisturbed. She began to shake her head rhythmically. Everything is okay, she repeated in her mind. It was just a nightmare. The sour aroma of wine swirled its way into her nostrils, and she gagged at the repugnant stench. Instead of dissipating like it usually did, the aroma only seemed to intensify, once again threatening to drag her out of her room and back to her childhood once again. “Fuck you Mr. D,” she muttered.Her room became unbearable. She felt so exposed and vulnerable in the one place where she was supposed to be safe, as though her mind had set a vicious trap and she walked into it willingly. The thought of lying down to sleep sent tremors through her body. Despite her increasingly anxious pacing, her heart refused to slow, feeling as though it would leap out of her chest. Tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. What if the dream wasn’t just a dream, but a prophetic warning? Demigods have weird dreams like that all the time, right? After all, Percy’s dreams usually meant something; it’s how he knew exactly where to look for her. She subconsciously brought her nails to her teeth and began to chew on them, desperate for any comfort. Maybe she was Thalia Grace, Queen of Monsters. Ironic that Artemis wanted her to lead the Hunt, where she herself would’ve been responsible for leading the Hunt against the vile creatures.A warm memory began to slice through the oppressive haze that was overtaking her. It was the first night she had returned, a night she had refused to think about since. It was a disorienting shift, as though she had woken up from the longest sleep imaginable, her only moments of respite from her coma with a particular boy with green eyes. Except this time, it was no respite, it was her new reality. Instead of the dreamscape fading, she opened her eyes to see the night sky of Camp, fighting the familiar feeling of panic that had become nearly second nature to her. Just as reliably, Percy placed his hand on her thigh, always knowing the little things that she needed to keep her anchored, to help her adapt to her new reality. He briefly gifted her his hoodie as she shunted in the cold, her body unable to withstand the sudden change. For the briefest of moments, before it all came crashing down in her ignorance, things felt like they might be okay. Her eyes stung. Her trembling body told her one thing. She needed to leave. Immediately. Otherwise, broken furniture would be the least of Chiron’s worries. The smell of the wine was just too much, and her mother’s grating voice was inching closer, mocking her at every turn. Without another thought, she threw open the door and fled the Big House, into the cold night.____It shouldn’t have been a surprise that she ended up where she did. In front of her loomed the Poseidon cabin, its gray walls reflecting in the moonlight as though the sea itself was contained within. Its relatively low roof stood in contrast to her father's, the tallest of all, as though it needed to prove a point to the rest of the cabins. The rules against campers being in cabins that weren’t their own were pretty strict, especially if the owner of said cabin could be considered a rival of your parent. Yet, despite the alien feeling of the sea, she felt drawn to it, to the only place where she’d felt safe since returning. She shivered, the cold night air slicing through her. She hadn’t even thrown on a jacket in her haste, leaving her with little to brace against the cold winter air. She hesitated, despite her heart screaming at her to go in. Her goosebumps agreed. What if it didn’t work? Or what if he didn’t want to see her? Disaster scenarios raced through her mind, and if it wasn’t for the horrific nature of the Big House, abandoning the idea seemed like the safer option. Suddenly, the door opened right in front of her. Briefly, she considered lying, though she knew that was a fruitless endeavor. Percy’s bleary-eyed face appeared, looking straight at her. He tilted his head, brows furrowing. “You doing alright?” Percy asked. The concern in his voice nearly broke her. “It’s cold out, and you’re only in your pajamas.”Thalia’s face flushed against her will, her cheeks immediately feeling warm. “You see, I-I mean…”Percy quickly scanned the camp, making sure no one was watching. “Come inside. You’re shivering like a madwoman.”Thalia was too tired to protest, and she followed Percy into his cabin.His green eyes bore straight into her soul, as though he already knew all of her secrets. Instinctively, she tensed, ready to fend off whatever deep questions he was going to throw at her. Instead, he cracked a small smile. “Couldn’t sleep, huh?”Thalia nodded. “Mhmm, just one of those nights.”“Same.” He said. “I dozed off for a little bit, but then I just got antsy and couldn’t go back to sleep.” He shot her a warming smile. “Guess it worked out then. Otherwise, you would’ve been freezing out there all night.”“Would not,” Thalia said, pouting. “I would’ve just gone somewhere else.”Percy raised an eyebrow as he sat down on his bed, beckoning Thalia to join him. “And is that why you were just standing there? You didn’t even knock or anything.”Thalia shivered again, still warming up from the cold, indirectly answering his question. Percy laughed as she plopped on the bed next to him. “It’s alright. I get it.” He said. He studied her for a moment before placing a hand on her thigh. “I hope this is alright?”Thalia just nodded. She didn’t even realize that she had begun trembling again, but his stable touch sent calming waves through her, reminding her that she wasn’t alone. She was tempted to chew on her lip again, even though it still throbbed from earlier. She settled for tapping her hands against her legs, letting the repetitive movement calm her.Her head throbbed, and her vision seemed fuzzy. Now that her adrenaline was ebbing, she could feel her head throbbing from her shower incident. She placed her head in her hands, swaying, and tried to steady herself as the world spun around her.“What happened?” Percy asked, lightly rubbing her back.“Hit my head,” Thalia moaned. “Just a rough night.”“Here, lay down,” Percy said, slowly helping her to lie on the bed. “Let me get something for you.”He grabbed a small package from his nightstand and unwrapped it, revealing a golden square.“I stole this from the infirmary,” Percy smiled at her. “You never know when you might need to sneak out to save a friend or two.”Thalia chuckled and then immediately winced, the laughter echoing in her skull. “Just give me some, please.” She said, “It’s not like I’m dying over here or anything.”Percy chuckled. “Can do.” He handed over the square, and Thalia immediately put it in her mouth, allowing its healing power to wash over her. The pounding in her head quickly began to subside, and the spinning stopped. Her previously depleted energy reserves felt like they had been refilled, and her skin no longer felt clammy and cold. “What does it taste like?” Percy asked, his soft eyes bearing deep into her. Her eyebrows rose, and he quickly started backpedaling. “You don’t have to answer if it’s super personal or anything.”Thalia pursed her lips. She realized the flavor had shifted slightly as the warm square melted on her tongue. The base was the same, a simple chocolate brownie that her mother used to make before she went off the rails. Now, there was a slight tinge of sea salt within the square, as though Percy had been the one to make them instead.“Chocolate brownies,” Thalia said, cracking a small smile. “I guess I’m not very creative. Ambrosia squares look like brownies. How about you?”“Chocolate chip cookies,” Percy said. “Just like my mom makes. She’s been trying to teach me how to bake. It’s so-so at the moment.”“Well, I’d love to try them,” Thalia smiled, moving into a sitting position. “I’m sure they’re better than mine anyway.”“Deal.” Percy agreed. He opened his mouth and closed it, unsure of what he wanted to say.A comfortable silence fell betwixt the pair. Thalia leaned back against the wall as the ambrosia worked its magic. At some point, Percy’s hand found its way to her thigh again, and he was currently rubbing little circles against her skin with his thumb.She wasn’t sure how he did it, but every time she felt her heart begin to race or the memories threaten to overwhelm her, he knew exactly what to do. Percy felt like home.“Did you know that Chiron wears curlers in his tail?” Thalia asked, the humorous image from earlier resurfacing. Percy snorted. “Wait, really? Like an old lady?”Thalia nodded, flashing a small smile of her own. “Whatever you’re thinking, I can promise you it’s a hundred times worse.”“Well, now I’ve gotta know,” Percy said, leaning closer. “How did you figure this one out?”Thalia clenched her jaw, immediately regretting starting this conversation. “I bumped into him in the middle of the night.” She said tersely. Percy raised an eyebrow, his eyes darting to her uncomfortable shifting. “What was he doing out of bed? Is something wrong? No one ever sees him after light’s out.”“Er-” Thalia stammered. “I mean, it wasn’t anything important.” She said, averting her eyes from Percy’s piercing gaze. Percy sighed, his skepticism evident. He gave her a small pat on her thigh before getting up. “You’re an awful liar, you know.” He said. “You can fool others, but I know you better than you think.”He walked over to his dresser and pulled out his blue hoodie. Thalia’s heart panged, remembering the warm embrace. Even here, she felt so exposed, like something was stalking her, just waiting for her to let her guard down. Percy held it in his hands, suddenly uncomfortable. He glanced back, his jaw tensed. “I know we said we’d talk about it tomorrow…” His voice wavered, unsure. “But if you want it, it’s yours.” His gaze dropped to the floor. “Besides…you’re still shivering.”Thalia wanted to protest. A million reasons why she didn’t deserve it flashed in her mind. But as she opened her mouth to say no, the words wouldn’t come out. The indents on her palms from her nails told her everything. Her jaw was clenched so tightly she was afraid her teeth might crack. She let out a resigned sigh and nodded her head yes, her scratchy throat unable to voice her thoughts.Percy gave her a small, soft smile as he brought it over. “Just like last time. Put your arms up.”Thalia did as she was told, manually forcing her jaw to unclench. The sea-blue hoodie slid right over her, enveloping her. It was warm, like Percy had just been wearing it. Slowly, her breathing began to slow, her security blanket enveloping the shattered pieces of her, helping them slowly mend. Normally, oversized clothes felt oppressive, like she was swimming in them, but this felt different. Like it would keep her safe from anything. Percy sat down right next to her, returning his hand to her thigh, right at the hem of the hoodie, which now covered her pajama shorts. He rubbed little circles with his thumb again, the repetitive motion calming. He looked straight into her eyes, understanding swimming in his own. “It’s okay,” he said. “I get them too.”Thalia turned towards him. “I’m fine,” she said, injecting false bravado into her voice. “Just cold is all.”Percy smirked at her attitude. “Whatever you say, lightning girl.” “Your head is full of kelp,” Thalia retorted quickly. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”Despite the warm hoodie now enveloping her, nervous energy began to flood her. She needed to get up and move. Her eyes started darting around the room. The walls felt too close, the lights too dim. Images of her little prison resurface, and she took a deep, shuddering breath. Percy sighed, standing from the bed again. “Come on.” He said, holding out his hand. “Just trust me on this one.”She gave him her hand, focusing on how his skin felt against hers. She squeezed her eyes shut and let him guide her, up, up, up the stairs and to a little balcony, where the chilly night air greeted her again.“Open your eyes,” Percy whispered.Thalia did, and immediately sucked in an awed breath. The cold air that had felt so biting just a few minutes ago now felt refreshing. Thousands of stars glittered above her head, the New York smog held back by the borders of Camp. Her panic quickly dissipated. Her nightmares couldn’t touch her here.Percy grabbed a step ladder, placing it near the wall and climbing to the top. He looked back at her. “You coming?”Thalia nodded her head as she realized what he was doing. The ladder led up to the low roof, which was hung just several feet shy of the top of the ladder.“Mhmmm.” She mentally shook herself. “Yeah, sorry.”He climbed up onto the roof, beckoning her to follow. She reached the top of the ladder and gripped the tiled edge, straining as she pulled herself up. She cursed. Apollo had promised that her injuries had healed, but apparently, that didn’t cover her conditioning. Percy grabbed her by the arms, helping her up over the lip of the roof.“Don’t worry about it.” He said, releasing her and sitting. “It was hard the first time for me too.”“Well, it shouldn’t have been,” Thalia scowled, sitting so that her legs could dangle. “It’s just a pull-up.”Percy chuckled. “I’m not going to pretend like it’s not a little frustrating trying to get back into shape.” He said, scooting right next to her. “After my first summer, I decided to go back and live normally. When I came back, originally, I felt fine, but I quickly learned how important it was to stay in shape throughout the year.”“Whatever,” Thalia grumbled. “I’m still not happy about it.”Her legs felt cold again, now that she wasn’t moving. She shivered. As warm as she was on top, she was still only wearing pajama shorts, now covered by the fringes of Percy’s large hoodie. Percy noticed instantly.“Don’t worry,” he said. “We can head back down whenever you want. I just figured you wanted a bit of fresh air.”Thalia nodded. “Thank you.” She said, “I’m sorry about all that. I know you’re tired.”Percy waved her off. “It’s no big deal. Like I said. I was having a hard time sleeping, too.”She turned her gaze upwards to the sky, slowly naming all of her favorite constellations, the twinkling stars reminding her of who she was. Her heart twisted. She wasn’t really sure anymore.“Which one is your favorite?” Percy asked, now lying back on the roof, his arms crossed behind his head. “Capricorn,” Thalia said without hesitation. “I’m not really into astrology stuff, but it’s still my sign.” The corners of her lips tugged upwards. “Plus, goats are kinda cool. Look at Grover.”Percy laughed. “That’s a good choice.” He patted the space next to him. “I get it if you don’t want to, but laying down makes it easier to look up.”Thalia rubbed the back of her neck, which was protesting the awkward angle. She slowly rolled back until she was laying next to him. She glanced over to find him already watching her, and looked away, trying in vain to keep her cheeks from flushing. The pine trees that lined the edge of the roof were no longer visible, and she directed her gaze to her unfettered view of the night sky. The tiled roof was still cold, and without thinking, she threw her legs over Percy’s.“Cold?” Percy asked with a smirk. Thalia blushed, realizing what she had done. She curled into her hoodie, desperate to avoid questions. “Only a little,” she muttered. “It’s not my fault the roof wants to freeze my ass off.”Percy laughed, placing his hands on her thigh and rubbing warmth into her skin. “I don’t think that would be fun for anyone involved,” he mused. Desperate to avoid further embarrassment, Thalia scanned the night sky once more, naming constellations and rattling off the attached stories. She paused as she came across one she didn’t recognize in the area previously obscured by trees. It looked like Orion, a Hunter holding a bow. A tiara adorned the figure’s head, the same way Zoe used to wear hers. “That’s my favorite,” Percy said, reading Thalia’s mind. “I think you can guess who it is.”“It’s Zoe, in the stars. Just like Artemis said.” Thalia surmised, her chest feeling a little tighter at the declaration.Percy nodded before swallowing uncomfortably. “Yeah,” he said. “It’s her forever home.” His voice caught on the last syllable. “I just hope she’s happy.”“I’m sorry,” Thalia murmured, memories of their rivalry resurfacing. “Have you read what she wrote for you?”Percy shook his head. “I wanted to do that in the morning. Things are just…a little fresh right now.”Thalia gave him what she hoped was a reassuring squeeze on his arm. Percy returned it, and she melted into his side, telling herself it was just because he was warm. “Isn’t everything?” Thalia said, thinking about all the things they needed to talk about. She opened her mouth briefly, wanting to get the long train of confession out of the way, but a yawn interrupted her. She looked up towards the sky again.“It’s beautiful tonight.” She whispered, grief constricting her throat.“It definitely is.” Percy said, his gaze flitting towards Thalia. “The most beautiful I’ve seen in a long time.”Thalia yawned again, snuggling deeper into Percy. She didn’t even notice his gaze, a light in his eyes that she had never seen before. He gently kissed her forehead as she retreated deeper into his side, her fatigue finally overcoming her.“My head may be full of kelp.” Percy whispered teasingly, “But yours is full of pine needles.”“You take that back.” The retort came out muffled. The warmth of Percy’s hoodie was helping her eyelids get heavy. “Kelp head. You’re silly.”Percy laughed, pulling her head to his chest. “I think you’re just sleepy.”“Nuh-uh.” She said, her words slurring a bit. “Definitely not.” She couldn’t even open her eyes, instead curling further into him, incredibly warm despite the cool air. For the first time in a very long time, she fell asleep without worrying if she had checked for monsters. The next morning, the only thing she could remember was slowly stirring as he tucked her into bed, the gentle smell of sea salt her last memory before she finally fell deep into a dreamless sleep.
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He desperately wished he could make it all go away. The anguish he saw on Thalia's face at all hours of the day tore him up inside. Percy’s heart wrenched when she was in pain; and when he could see her hidden scars, it seemed as if nothing else mattered. If the King of the Gods himself stood in the way of her happiness, he would be all too willing to pay whatever price necessary. As she fell asleep on him, all the worry in her face finally melted away, replaced with a peace he had never seen before. These days, her angelic face was constantly marred by worry, but Percy understood, and that was the worst part of all. Despite himself, his cheeks flushed as he pulled the blankets over her. Her breathing was soft and slow, a welcome sound compared to the rapid, harsh breaths she sucked down when consciousness plagued her. His chest squeezed as the realization hit him like a truck: he would do anything for this girl. Even breaking through the lies she had convinced herself were true. His heart raced, and his face felt warm. What was he supposed to do? What if she wasn’t ready for anything? He wanted to let her rest, but here she was, lying in his cabin. At the very least, he wanted to etch her relaxed face into his mind forever. Maybe one day, when they were a little older, they could build a life together. Without thinking, he planted a kiss on her forehead. It wasn’t the first time he had thought about kissing her, but most of those times involved some kind of tension. Like the dance at Westover, where he had been distracted by the purple lipstick on her soft mouth, driving him crazy. A knot loosened in his chest, and he felt like he could breathe a little easier. All the emotional turmoil of the past several weeks evaporated as he watched her, sleeping safely in his cabin. If she could gaze at herself from his perspective, all her doubts would flee her mind. Her angelic wings were in tatters, and he wanted to help her soar the skies once more. Blushing, he pulled himself away. He didn’t want to wake her. She was exhausted. From the way that she had frantically paced outside his cabin earlier, it was evident she had had a nightmare. He was no stranger to them, but it still didn’t ease the anguish. The best he could do was let her be, checking in on her periodically to make sure the horrid dreams wouldn’t return. He wouldn’t be going to sleep any time soon anyway.Settling down on the floor near her, Percy pulled out Zoe’s letter, still unopened. He needed answers. The lines of the prophecy did not feel complete, and it made his stomach turn. Last time he’d gotten a prophecy, Luke had tried to kill him. Lightning and Ocean dawn the new age. He repeated the line in his head, trying desperately to interpret it. Originally, he thought it had something to do with his dad and Thalia’s. It was the most logical conclusion, considering they were the personifications of those elements. But after observing Zeus’ behavior in the council meeting, and the subsequent decree that nothing would be done, it only fulfilled the first line of the couplet: Blinded eyes shall set a new stage. He stood, walked across the cabin, and lit a candle. The shared light of his fountain and the small flame provided enough light to read comfortably without waking Thalia. He carefully opened Zoe’s letter, a fresh wave of grief washing over him. Maybe she would have some answers. The entire prophecy felt odd. The quest was completed, and if you asked Percy, two goddesses had been rescued. Even the required number of deaths had been reached. Instead of feeling complete, the prophecy felt like it was pointing to something beyond the simple rescue mission. Shakily, he took a deep breath and began to read carefully. He wasn’t sure if it was intentional, but Zoe’s handwriting was such that his dyslexia was far more manageable than he had been expecting. The letter was his only key to his unknown past, the final guidance from the immortal being who knew what was really happening.
If you are reading this, then it means my fear about the prophecy has come true. I am now dead, perished in battle by the hand of my father.
At that, Percy swallowed hard, a small lump forming in his throat. He steeled himself and pushed on.
Truthfully, I’m not sure why I’m writing this. You are insufferable, and a boy. Nevertheless, it would behoove you to learn the truth about your father, and how things were before the reign of Zeus.
Before my departure, I shared some of what I know with Chiron. I’m unsure how open he can be, so I’ll tell you directly. Worst case scenario, I’ll be dead. Nothing else could happen to me, so it’s your problem now.
Your father is Posedao Enesidaon. He was the first king of the gods, ruler over the Mycenaeans, the first Greeks. He claimed “all that was beneath the earth,” meaning sea and ground. Part of this includes Hades’ realm. Posedao protected mankind from their infancy, leading the rebellion against Kronos and the Titans, my family. As mankind matured, they worshipped him as their rightful lord.
However, Zeus was arrogant and believed he could do better. He saw an opportunity to capitalize on his ambition. While he could, at best, fight to a draw in combat, he understood something no one else did: the linkage between mortals and the gods. Posedao, as great as he was, desired to allow his creation to flourish, separate from his meddling hands where possible. It was this ignorance that led to the coup.
Zeus understood that despite Posedao’s best efforts, there would always be a touchstone between mankind and the gods. That is why humanity had god-kings, representing both the gods and the people. The patron deities of the countries would sire children to lead nations, ready to act as mediators between the people and their gods. For millennia, the gods remained ethereal forms, ready to act as needed in the world. Mankind believed the gods would, so they did. The power of human will was unique, separate from the absolute control found within godly domains.
Zeus sired a hero and taught him the ways of the gods. Slowly, this hero used intrigue to become king of the Mycenaeans, the patron nation of Posedao. He succeeded by using the absence of the rightful king during the Trojan War. This ‘hero’ turned the people to human sacrifice and, in an act of rebellion, refused tribute to Posedao, who was furious.
Posedao battered the once great nation in his fury, reducing them to ashes, but the damage was done. The people turned on him and began to worship Zeus. Sensing his rival’s weakness, Zeus schemed to make himself king, using Apollo’s most incredible son, Homer, to craft his new story. Posedao threatened war, but Zeus held the Mycenaeans hostage. Bitterly, Posedao relented, giving up half of his kingdom to Hades as a peace offering to his brother in exchange for saving the remnants of his formerly great nation.
Supposedly, that was the end of the conflict. But your very existence has broken the hegemony of Homer. The Fates have placed their hand in the world through you. I have wracked my brain for any other alternative, but there is literally only one deity who has ever existed, god or titan, who held such power over the earth, water, and shadows. Scour the earth for information if you must. Pray within the confines of your cabin. If gods are truly manipulated by mortals, then even just one may be enough to tilt the scales.
Zeus has been known by many names throughout many times, but he will not leave quietly if that is the path you wish to pursue. Some of the gods know the truth, those whose loyalty he bought in exchange for their silence. We do not know which ones, but be wary, as any and all of them should be seen as potential threats.
I do not know what is woven in the threads of fate, but you should prepare. The “Great Prophecy” is not what it appears. Posedao lives on, and you are his legacy. What you do with that is up to you. You must not share this knowledge with anyone untrustworthy, as the gods loyal to Zeus would instantly kill you. Even uttering the forbidden name will alert unsavory characters.
I wish I could help you more, but your instincts will lead you straight. You and I are not so different. No one can help with the circumstances of their birth, but it is what we do that ultimately determines our destiny. Find someone with whom you can strategize. Plan for the future. Kronos rises, and he awaits no one. I suspect the two events are related, namely your birth and His rise from Tartarus. War will always be messy. I would know, considering I have lived through hundreds at this point. Now, it’s your turn. The campers look to you for guidance, even above their own parents. Bianca, whom you only met once at Westover, talks highly of you. I may not like it, but it is an inescapable fact. Be wise in your loyalties. They will steer you more than they steer most, and choosing poorly will lead to the destruction of those you care about above all else. Good luck, Perseus.
Sincerely,
Zoe
Even the running water, the usual background noise of Cabin 3, was silent. The only noise was Thalia’s slow and steady breathing. Wincing, Percy relaxed his fist, his cramping muscles sore. On cue, the water in the fountain resumed, its natural flow now continuing unabated. The onslaught of thoughts he was expecting never came. Instead, he felt calm. Sure, he didn’t know everything, but at least he knew what he didn’t know this time. All the pieces felt like they had clicked into place; the mystery of his heritage was finally revealed. Even the reason for Zeus being a dickhead made things remarkably simple. The Fates’ meddling was getting old at this point, but at least the shadow travel made sense now. And it was clearly no accident that he could do it. In a puzzling way, he enjoyed the extra abilities. It allowed him more options when it came to fighting, and that meant a chance to protect the things he cared about. It wasn’t tough to keep things from the gods, and he had already threatened to fight a few, so while it sucked, it was status quo ante. Despite his calm, the magnitude of what he had read was not lost. Just having Zoe’s letter in his possession, if discovered, would be enough to have him killed immediately. He swallowed the stubborn lump in his throat as he thought about Zoe’s recent demise. It had been important enough for her to leave this to him, even when she knew she was likely going to die. His one link to the past had left him a map, which he would treasure forever. Choosing poorly will lead to the destruction of those you care about most. The penultimate line of the letter was worth its weight in gold. What do I care about most? Percy contemplated. At the forefront was his mother, where even one tear shed was far too many. He glanced back at Thalia’s angelic face. His heart twisted as he thought of how many tears, how many sorrows she had already had to bear. On the quest to get her back, he had been surly, argumentative, and ready to throw hands at anybody who interfered. Would he do it again? Absolutely. But he had been an absolute wreck until the moment she had safely returned to his arms. Thoughts of her safety consumed his every waking moment, and most of his dreams as well. A small twinge of guilt gnawed at him, and he winced. Rachel hadn’t done anything wrong, and neither had he. Still, as inexperienced as he was, he knew it was probably considered rude to think of another girl while an attractive one was on top of you. She laughed it off, and he was glad she didn’t make it a big deal, but it was obvious where his priorities were, even when he couldn’t realize it himself. His heart began to race as his mind replayed that night on the beach. His cheeks flushed slightly at the whole debacle. He was grateful Thalia couldn’t see him at the moment, as she would have made a comment about it, and he was not ready to explain himself. Shaking his head, he tried to force other people into his thoughts, other priorities that he had to consider.Grover and Annabeth rose to the top, unique even among the mythological world. Other campers like Beckendorf, Connor and Travis Stoll, and even Clarisse soon joined them in Percy’s mind. It wasn’t fair what was being done. Despite their differences at Camp, everyone could relate to the story of absent parents, and friends who had died horrifically at the hands of monsters, their prayers unanswered. It was just another day at the office for demigods.Percy clenched his jaw. It wasn’t fair, and everybody knew it. It was no accident that he had threatened to fight Mr. D before Thalia’s capture. He had stood before multiple deities and didn’t back down from their threats, instead egging them on. He didn’t want the mantle of leadership, he wasn’t the one who should be in charge. Yet, if Zoe was right, and she had no reason to lie, then his actions mattered to those in Camp. They were likely to join him if he truly were to go against their parents.Yet, he hesitated. He was no stranger to the cruelty of the Titans, and if anything, they’d likely just genocide all of the demigods they could get their hands on, even those who served them. Would things actually get better under their leadership? He was incredibly doubtful. He looked again at Thalia’s sleeping form. A burning heat clawed its way up his chest, a fierce desire to protect her consuming him like a raging fire. He had a million things he wanted to say. Since she had returned, he was still hurting from her complete dismissal of him. Still, it seemed there was a path forward, one he wanted to take, even if it was incredibly long and bumpy.He bit his lip, nerves coursing through him. Chiron may have told him his father's name, but now, Zoe had given him enough to work with. It was a long shot, but he directly talked with Ouranos, who was long thought to be faded away, so maybe there was a chance. He steeled himself, his decision made as he crossed to the middle of the cabin. At the very least, Thalia was sleeping, so he wouldn’t look stupid if it didn’t work.“Uh, hey, Dad,” Percy said, trying not to cringe. “Posedao, uh, are you alive?”Percy waited for one moment, then another, but silence was all that greeted him. Cautiously he looked around. Zoe said his cabin would be safe, but nervousness still crawled up his spine. If the gods were going to kill him, he at least wanted to face them before he died. Knowing Zeus, he would just send a lightning bolt with Percy’s name on it and call it a day.Frustrated, he began to pace. Many of the answers he had been given were satisfactory, but the previous calm was starting to wane. A myriad of questions took its place. How could he protect the demigods? Joining Luke was out of the question, and therefore Kronos was as well. One, both of them were just wrong, and his feelings hadn’t changed from when Thalia had asked him why. Second, and perhaps more importantly, Percy wouldn’t let Thalia get within one hundred miles of that sleazebag. That left the unsavory option of backing the gods once again because “they were better than the alternative.” It was difficult not to let the bitterness grow, but anyone who said they at least didn’t understand why Luke left was lying. No one could blame the demigods for hating their parents, but what other choice did they have? Percy threw his hands in the air in surrender. Maybe it didn’t matter anyway. He had given up hope once, and he could do it again. Perhaps life was just slowly meandering through monsters, fighting them until they finally got him. Zoe said the “Great Prophecy” wasn’t what it appeared to be. Even so, he had prepared himself like a lamb for slaughter ever since Annabeth had told him about his foretold destiny.Despite his pacing, his gaze refused to leave the sleeping daughter of Zeus across the room. He would do anything to keep her safe, allow her to recover, do whatever she needed and wanted to do with her life. Annabeth had architecture, and now she got to pursue it. Thalia had always been more reserved with her long-term plans, but he figured she felt the same way he did, never planning beyond the next day. Maybe they could build a life together. Maybe that would help him make his next decision, protecting those he could in the process.He yawned, his fatigue from the day finally catching up with him. He took one last look around the cabin, half hoping that Posedao would just show up like Poseidon could, but nothing had changed. He blew out the candle and made his way over to his bed, just adjacent to Thalia’s. He checked on her one more time, using the moon's dim light to check that nothing was wrong. The long shadows made it difficult to tell, but her beautiful face looked as calm as when he first laid her on the bed and tucked her in. Satisfied, he followed course, curling up and allowing sleep to overtake him.____Heavy mists of darkness surrounded him, an impenetrable fog caging him in from all directions. Tentatively he reached out, but felt nothing. He couldn’t even sense a speck of moisture in the darkness. He was alone, and he had no idea where he was meant to be going.The floor was made of concrete and covered in thick dust, as though it hadn’t been traversed in thousands of years. Percy closed his eyes, trying to get a feel for the situation. He felt a small tug at his center and followed, heading blindly into the darkness. His steps echoed from above. He was surrounded by something, not simply in a vast open space. Out of the corner of his eye, he kept seeing movement, minor flickering that cut through the oppressive fog. His eyes darted, trying to follow, but nothing was ever there. Whisperings, different from his usual shadow companions, also permeated the void, taunting him and goading him into going deeper. Every time he tried to resist, the unseen tug in his chest increased its strain. He wasn’t sure how long it had been. It could have been minutes, or it could have been days. The desperate whisperings only increased their frequency, and he could have sworn he saw a few faces among the haze. However, very slowly, a faint red light began to appear, slicing through the fog. The tug pulled him in its direction, but no matter how long he walked, it never got any closer.He picked up the pace, the echoing growing more incessant. Mirages taunted him, always just out of sight. Faces of his loved ones: Thalia, his mother, Annabeth, and Grover, would appear and disappear at random. He began repeating strings of facts he knew to be true to attempt to combat whatever was happening, reassuring himself that his thoughts were real. Trudging forward, the air felt heavier, similar to when he had been approaching the sky at the Mountain of Despair. Breathing became difficult. He thought about Posedao, wondering if the illusions of the Mist could provide some hidden knowledge. He wasn’t sure if he wanted the Mist to be omniscient or not, but at the very least, it would show if this was something forming from his memories, or something it was creating on its own. Another figure appeared in the corner of his vision. Percy resisted the urge to look directly at it, instead making out what he could peripherally. From what he could make out, it looked a bit like his father, although the natural light green of the sea had been replaced by a muddy green with black streaks, like the ocean floor personified. The top of his head was fuzzy, but something extra poked out from his hair. Percy glanced over, desperate for more, but the image dissipated, leaving him with nothing. Immediately, the air began to cling to him, swirling. Icy terror shot down his spine.This fog was more than just haze. It was alive. His insides began to crawl, the menacing presence sliding under his skin. He needed out, but there was no escape from the living air. His heart raced, adrenaline spiking. Far ahead, a menacing, dim red light taunted him. He broke into a full sprint, the corrosive air preying on his every weakness. He heard Thalia’s screams coming from the light, and he ran as fast as ever before, the endless maze laughing around him.As he was ready to give up, fall down, and simply allow the fog to overtake him, it dissipated, the way to the red glow suddenly so clear it stopped him in his tracks. Cautiously, he started toward it again. A new glow, dim and light blue, appeared at his feet, curving away from the pulsing red light still in the far distance. Glancing between the two, he turned to follow the soft blue trail, trying to drown out Thalia’s screams as he willingly walked away. As he continued along the trail, the itching feeling on his skin reduced. It was still there, but now he had a purpose and a lifeline. He maintained his pace along the path, allowing it to guide him to his destination. Out of nowhere, the angry red glow that had been taunting him now enveloped him, warm and soft and strangely devoid of screams. Percy's brow furrowed. I could’ve sworn I was walking away from that… He spun around, searching, trying to make sense of how he had reached the red light, be it travel or teleportation, but the harder he thought the more his head pounded. Time seemed distorted. He vaguely wondered if a watch would work in a place like this. Giving up, he walked further into the light, the cool mist of the fog fading away. The further he walked, the more a room materialized around the edges of his vision.Well, it could hardly be called a room. A cavern was a more accurate description, illuminated by a single red bulb in the center. The source of the red light, then. There were two figures in the space with him. One, a girl with frizzy red hair, green smoke slowly oozing out of her mouth as she swayed beneath the bulb. In the far corner was a frail old man, facing the wall, unmoving. An eerie sense of dread filled him. The man was alive, but he should not have been. Percy had seen corpses with more life in them.As he approached the red haired girl, his heart dropped. What was she doing here?“Rachel?” He asked, grabbing her shoulder. “Where are we? What’s going on?”She gave him a forced smile, green smoke oozing from her lips. When she spoke, it sounded as though her voice had been distorted through a filter. “That all depends on you,” she said.“I seek the path that will save my friends.” Percy declared. Rachel smiled, green smoke now billowing out of her nose and eyes, casting shadows as though she was a spectre. “Then, observe your destiny.”She waved her hand, and the man facing the wall stood up, walking jerkily towards Percy. He remained facing backward as he approached, a sight that made Percy jerk back for a moment. Rachel continued smiling, green smoke filling the air. Percy swallowed hard. If this was Prophecy, he wanted nothing to do with it.The old man now stood uncomfortably close. Percy inched backwards, but the man matched him step for step, and Percy quickly gave up. A raspy voice escaped him, his head now turned at an unnatural angle that allowed Percy to see the bottom half of his terrible, wrinkled face. “Your destiny,” he wheezed. “Shall be found in the endless maze. It is the only path you shall seek.”His arms contorted and twisted, wrapping around his back and firmly grasping Percy’s shoulders with far more force than should have been possible. Percy tried to squirm out of the old man’s grip. A horrid cracking sound came from the old neck, and Percy’s stomach twisted as the crunching of bones became louder. It should not have been possible, but the old man’s head began to turn like an owl, the wrinkled skin stretching taut.The face that awaited him had Percy retching, expelling the contents of his stomach. The man’s expression was held in a permanent scream, unending agony etched on his face. When he spoke, his lips did not move; instead, he felt as though it reverberated from his chest. His eyes were absent, empty sockets in their place. Percy’s reaction did little to hinder the man, who continued his death grip despite now being soaked in vomit. Suddenly, the man released one arm, forcing Percy to look into his cavernous eye sockets. Percy’s mind was empty, flooded with unending fear. “To save your friends,” the man wheezed. “You must save me.” Maggots began to exude from the man’s orifices, and Percy screamed as the menacing fog once again overtook him, abandoning him in the darkness.____His cheeks were wet and his throat scratchy when his eyes finally shot open. His heart felt like it was shaking in his chest. The dim light of the morning was the only light in the cabin. He was hyperventilating, the shocking face of the old man etched in his mind, taunting his every thought. The urge to vomit refused to subside, and his skin maintained its itching like little maggots from the man had burrowed themselves into him. He felt a reassuring squeeze in his hand, and his eyes darted over to see the source. It was Thalia, her eyebrows furrowed in concern. Her short, messy hair was all over her face, and she was squeezing him tighter than he expected. He took a deep breath, focusing on the face in front of him. “Stay with me,” Thalia said softly, brushing her thumb over his knuckles. “Name five things you can see.”He didn’t really want to, but he followed the instructions. “Your face, your hair, the gray walls, the fountain, and the nightstand,” he said, trying to steady his wavering voice.Thalia shot him a reassuring smile. “Good job, now, four things you can hear.”Percy took a shaky breath. “My heartbeat, your voice, the water in the fountain, and the bickering of the nymphs outside.”Thalia snickered. “They’ve been at it since I woke up. Sounds like some of the Hermes kids pulled a prank they didn’t like. Now, name three things you can touch.”Percy managed a shaky smile, briefly distracted wondering what prank the Stolls pulled. “Uh, your hand, the covers on the bed, and the sweat on my skin.”“Now, two things you can smell.” Thalia urged.Percy breathed in deeply. The faint smell of ozone helped calm his nerves. Annabeth had once mentioned that things always felt slightly more salty when he was around. Maybe Thalia was the same with ozone. He liked the thought. “Ozone and salt.” He declared, the salt water from the fountain dissipating throughout the room.“Just one more,” Thalia crooned. She took out a small, uneaten portion of the ambrosia square from the night and handed it over. “One thing you can taste.”Percy took it hesitantly; he had never eaten it for its own sake. Thalia’s expectant gaze made him forget his cautiousness as he broke off a small chunk. He ate it, allowing the soothing taste of his mother’s blue chocolate chip cookies to fill him. Immediately, he felt calmer and more alert, the rest of the cabin coming into focus. “My mother’s chocolate chip cookies.” He said, taking a deep breath. “Thank you.” He said, giving Thalia another reassuring squeeze. “Guess it was a rough night for the both of us, huh?”Thalia got up, moving to sit down on his bed next to him. “I tried to wake you,” she said. “But even my shocks weren’t working. Sorry about that.”“No, it’s alright.” Percy said, “Sometimes it just goes that way. Nightmares are a part of our lives.”Thalia’s electric blue eyes bore into his, a deep sense of understanding swimming in them. “I get it if you don’t want to….” she said, “But if you want to talk about it. I’m ready to listen.” Percy breathed deeply, sighing. His mind was spinning from all the new information he had learned, starting with Zoe’s letter. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but he knew the dream was connected with his decision. His only path would be found through the endless maze. If the maze was anything like his dream, he wanted to stay as far away from that place as possible.“Just…give me a minute,” Percy said. “These dreams never make any sense, you know?”Thalia placed her free hand on his thigh, mimicking the rubbing motion that he always did for her. “I get it.” She said sadly. Her tone turned bitter. “It’s just another day in our lives.”“I guess we match.” Percy chuckled. “We both had one last night. Same offer goes to you if you need to talk.”Thalia pursed her lips, her face furrowed in thought. She relaxed, taking a deep breath as she made herself comfortable on his bed. “I’ll tell you what, Kelp Head,” she began. “It’s tomorrow now, so if I tell you, you tell me. Deal?”Percy bristled. He didn’t want to worry her about his dreams and their meaning, but he wanted to share what Zoe had told him in her letter. Plus, it had to do with the Great Prophecy, which also concerned her. Prophecies were weird, and even if he happened to be older by a couple months now, that didn’t necessarily make it about him. She had a right to know. “Okay,” He sighed. “I’ll tell you.”He relayed the contents of the letter and the decision he knew he had to make. About whether the gods were worth saving and how much he hated most of them. As he finished his rant about her father, Thalia smiled sadly, unsurprised. He kept a few details about the maze to himself, namely that he was told to go into whatever it was, but he told her about the oppressive fog that felt alive, messing with his mind, and how it had something to do with his dad. As he tried to relay the part about the corpse of a man, he got choked up, the memory getting stuck in his throat.“It’s alright,” Thalia said, squeezing his hand. “You can tell me later, okay? When it’s not as fresh.”Percy nodded. He didn’t even notice he was trembling until Thalia squeezed his hand again. The grotesque man, the key to everything, would never leave his memory. Still, knowing that he wouldn't need to deal with it alone was comforting. “Your turn,” Percy said solemnly, “at least if you’re feeling up for it.”Thalia took a deep breath and steeled herself. Percy felt her hand tremble as she instinctively tried to pull it away. He squeezed harder, and she relented, allowing his firm grip to take hold. “Okay,” she began. “It’s stupid, really, but what if–what if all these nightmares, what if it’s just punishment for the things I’ve done?”Percy wanted to open his mouth and say that it was absurd, but the hurt in her eyes made him hesitate. That pain tore him up inside, something about her expression making him pick his next words carefully. “I don’t think the world works that way,” he said slowly, desperate to give her the space to let her feelings out without validating her fears.“But what if it does?” Thalia countered, her voice turning to a whisper. “You don’t know what I’ve done.”Percy sighed softly and squeezed her hand. “We’ve all done a lot of things, but I’m all ears if you’d like to tell me.”“How much do you know about my capture?” She said quietly, “I mean, before…you know, the Mountain.”Percy thought back to his first dream when he had been in the hospital bed, Thorn’s sinister voice ringing out among the wreckage. “I know the plane you were on exploded, and Thorn insinuated you were to blame.”Thalia’s eyes welled with tears, and she stared down towards the floor. He could barely hear her whisper. “It’s true. I blew up the plane. There were no survivors. I killed those people.”“Tell me the whole story,” Percy said, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “What happened?”Thalia took a shaky breath, unwilling to look up at him. “I mean…you were passed out, and I knew we were running out of time, so I had to take a plane to San Francisco. I knew it was risky, but we didn’t have time to wait. Thorn followed me on the plane and tried to take me hostage. I turned myself into a suicide bomb. I prayed to my father to protect the mortals from the destruction.” She squeezed Percy’s hand harder, her whole frame trembling. “I was a fool for thinking he’d ever help me.”Percy rubbed his thumb along the top of her hand rhythmically. He pursed his lips, choosing his next words carefully. “You know,” he said. “The fact you feel guilt over this means you’re not a monster. They relish in killing. At the end of the day, those who had the power to stop it refused to do so. You were just desperate and scared.”“But I didn’t have to!” Thalia yelled, making him jump. “I should have known that my Father wouldn’t help. I should have cooperated like you did with the kids. Or I should’ve waited for you to wake up before leaving.” Her voice went quiet. “They still haunt me, you know. I had to learn each of them by name. Their husbands, wives, children, and their faces won’t ever leave me.”“No, they won’t,” Percy said quietly, placing his off hand over hers, cupping it safely. “That much is true. Godly bullshit sucks, and it means mistakes will often end in death for those who don’t deserve it, but I don’t think that a teenage girl trapped in an impossible scenario is a monster for playing her best card and asking her dad for help.”Tears streaked down Thalia’s cheeks. Percy’s heart ached for her, and he desperately wished he could take it away with just a wave of his hand, but he also understood. The necessity to grieve was important in allowing her to move on. He didn’t see how she was wrong. If anything, her dad, who could have done something, refused to help. Percy tried to quell his rage at Zeus. He could deal with it once Thalia was okay. He pulled her closer to him, placing his hand on the back of her head as she sunk into his chest. He just hoped things might get a little easier one day, but one thing was certain. Any choice he’d make, he’d want her by his side. He pretended not to notice her tears soaking the front of his pajamas. He rubbed little circles into the back of her head as her breathing calmed again.“Believe me, I get it. I still think about the mortals that died because of my fight with Ares.” He paused. “Is there more?”Thalia shook her head yes as she pulled herself off of Percy’s chest. She closed her eyes and looked up, attempting to steel herself. “Yeah,” she choked out. “There is.” Percy grasped her hand again as she slowly chose the words in her head. He could see she didn’t believe him, and while his heart ached over it, he wasn’t surprised. The lie was embedded deep within her, like she had been carrying it alone for years. Thalia took another shaky breath, and her brows furrowed like she was fighting with herself for control over her mouth. “I’m a monster,” her voice was catching on the end of every syllable. “Because I killed my mother.” The words hit Percy like a truck. Thalia had retreated into his hoodie like a snapping turtle, turning in on herself, desperate to avoid his gaze. He was no stranger to abusive family members, and Thalia wasn’t the kind to kill someone for no reason. The shock of her confession slipped away, replaced by the realization that something must have been completely, horribly wrong for that to have happened. “My mother killed my stepfather,” he said quietly. “He deserved it, though.”At that, she peeked her head out, eyebrows raised. “What happened?” She asked quietly. Now, it was Percy’s turn to steady himself. “My stepfather…well let’s just say that calling him a piece of shit is the understatement of the century. Anyway, long story short, after I killed Medusa, my dad sent the head back to me. My mom used it to kill him.” Percy’s voice turned fierce, the banished memories from his childhood beginning to boil over. “I guess he hit her one too many times. Good riddance.”Thalia’s gaze returned to the floor, although she looked less tense now. Her eyes were still filled with tears that slowly spilled past her dark eyelashes and dripped onto the blue hoodie. “W-would you have killed him if you got the chance?”Percy gently grasped her chin, coaxing her to look him in the eye as he answered with a surety: “Yes,” his voice was soft, but firm. “The only reason I didn’t was because it was my mother’s battle. Without Medusa’s head, I would have done it without hesitation.”Thalia gave him a watery smile, though it looked forced. “Thanks,” she whispered. “Then I guess you’ll understand what happened.” She took a deep breath and relayed the basic details of her story, and as she did, despite the tears that now stained her face, Percy could see the burden slowly lifting off of her. He knew her past would never truly leave her. Scars of that kind never really healed, but it was the first step to helping close the wound that had been reopened by Luke’s torture. The cabin began to rumble in response to his simmering rage at those responsible; Zeus, Kronos, Luke, Thorn, and all the gods who could and should have done something about it. Despite her tears and anguish as she finished, she looked brighter than ever since her return, making Percy’s heart somersault. “I guess we’ve both had shitty home lives.” He chuckled. Thalia laughed softly. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.” She inched closer to him, no longer trying to keep space between the two of them. “Thanks. For, you know, not leaving.”“Of course not Pinecone Face,” Percy stuck his tongue out. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”Thalia pretended to look offended. “Pinecone Face, huh? Low blow, Kelp Head.”Percy laughed. “If you can call me Kelp Head, I can call you Pinecone Face.”Thalia pouted, her lips pursed pathetically. “Nothing I say is gonna change that, is it?”“Nope,” Percy said, popping the p. “Ugh, fine.” She said, hugging her arms around herself. “Then I’m keeping this hoodie.”Percy felt his face flush slightly, the roller coaster of emotions from the morning crashing to a stop at her declaration. “No complaints from me,” he said, trying to stay calm. “It’s all yours.”Thalia curled up next to him on the bed, yawning as she let her head fall on his shoulder. “Once again,” she said softly. “Thanks. It’s just hard, you know?”Percy nodded, leaning back on the pillows and pulling her closer. He could help fix her broken wings; if he was lucky, he might even grow a pair of his own. “You’re stuck with me, Thals,” Percy said.He swore he saw her smile before she snuggled in even closer, nearly on top of him now. It made Percy’s heart race, and he only hoped she wouldn’t notice. Despite his nerves, relaxation overtook him, unlike any in a while. He felt he could do anything as long as she was with him.A comfortable silence grew as he absorbed her presence in his cabin. If Chiron wanted to complain, ah, well. It felt far more homely with Thalia in there with him anyway, and none of the other campers were going to stop them.“Hey, Thals,” Percy said, breaking the silence. “What day is it?”Thalia scrunched her eyebrows. “Well, the solstice was yesterday, hence the meeting. So today is December 22nd.”Percy broke into a wide smile. “Then I guess it’s not too early to say happy birthday.”She blinked as if the realization just dawned on her. “I guess you’re right,” she said. “So long as my birthday hasn’t changed since being a tree.”“I guess we’re technically the same age now,” Percy quipped. “Although I don’t know how the aging thing works in unorthodox cases.” Still, in his bones, he knew it was accurate. Apollo had said she was younger than him in an offhand way, so her turning sixteen today was likely.“I guess so,” Thalia said, hiding her smile in his chest. “I guess this is the first birthday I’ll have at Camp, huh. Do they make cakes here?”“I’m not sure,” Percy admitted, “But I’ll find a way to get you one. That’s a promise. In the meantime, what would you like?”He saw Thalia’s eyes widen almost imperceptibly. She began to make little signs with her hands, subconsciously, like she always did when she got nervous. “I–uh,” she stammered, “Can I just stay for a while? It’s nice here, especially compared to the Big House.” Percy blinked. That wasn’t what he had been expecting. He wasn’t sure what he thought she might have wanted, but her request was simple enough. She was warm and right next to him on the bed. There was no question of letting her stay or not. And one thing was for certain. He could wake up every morning like this and be the happiest man in the world.“Okay,” he said softly, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as she curled into him again. “Stay here as long as you’d like.”He wouldn’t mind if she never left.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
A soft pink hue broke though the monotonous monochrome of his dreams, and he groaned. His last dream in color was his freaky dream about the old man and the endless maze. He did not want a repeat of that experience if he could help it, but knowing how Prophecy usually worked, he wouldn’t have a say in the matter.Slowly, Percy’s breathing began to calm. The soft pink glow was familiar, or at least not hostile. Whatever it was had no desire to hurt him, a welcome relief considering how many gods and monsters he had pissed off over the years. It slowly enveloped him, and his heart began to race. Despite his best efforts, he smiled, giddy, like he had just seen the most beautiful girl in the universe, and she had planted a kiss on his cheek.The pink haze began to materialize in the shape of a woman, slightly shorter than him. The pink haze faded, replaced with black hair, pale skin, and purple lipstick. Immediately, his heart did another somersault, comforting memories flowing through his mind. They were of him and Thalia simply…living together happily. They were both older than they were now, probably in their early 20s.The pair of them were smiling, lying in a king-size bed; although with how Thalia’s was practically on top of him, it might as well have been a twin. His heart fluttered as the mental movie played. She planted a deep kiss on his lips and murmured something he couldn’t quite make out, but he couldn’t help the blush across his face. For the first time, she looked rapturous and at peace. She had regrown her wings.“Like what you see?” Immediately, the movie of memories ended, and he was pulled back into the dreamscape. In front of him was Thalia, just like he had seen, in her early twenties and with a smile on her face.“Aphrodite?” Percy guessed. “What are you doing here?”“In the flesh,” she said with a smirk, glancing down at herself. “I see that my form hasn’t changed. I’m glad to know my efforts haven’t been wasted.”Despite himself, Percy blushed as she winked at him suggestively. “L-lady Aphrodite,” he said. “Er–thank you for helping me out, you know, on Olympus.”“It’s nothing,” she said with a casual wave. “That decision-making and that speech you gave was simply marvelous. I couldn’t have said it better myself.” She stood up straight, beaming, ready to deliver a piece of good news. “Thalia is no longer in danger of joining the Hunters. Congratulations.”She summoned the previous movie she had shown him from their first meeting, the one where Thalia had donned the silver tiara in Zoe’s place, and shattered it. Its remnants slowly became interspersed in the dreamscape. The shards slowly vanished, as if they never existed, that horrific future little more than a bad memory. Aphrodite gave a little squeal that puzzled Percy. Normally, gods were stoic, only showing their emotions for some kind of personal gain, but this was a squeal of glee, something he would expect one of his female classmates to do after the football jock asked her to prom. Slowly, the realization dawned on Percy. Aphrodite was the very idea of love in all its forms, both teenage puppy love and the endearing, persevering love shared by an old couple on their deathbeds. That meant that she-“You didn’t answer my question,” Aphrodite interjected, breaking Percy’s train of thought. “Did you like what you see?”Percy’s cheeks flushed, and the dreamscape suddenly felt very warm. “Uh…do I need to answer that, or do you already know?”Aphrodite shot him a knowing smile. “Of course I know, but I asked you anyway. So, what do you think?”“Uh, I mean, yeah…” Percy trailed off. “I’d really like that.”“Then you’re in luck,” Aphrodite beamed. “Like I said before, I’m on your side. Now, would you like more good news?”Percy nodded in affirmation. “Well,” she began. “The little visions I just showed you are entirely in your grasp!” She was practically vibrating with excitement. “Sure, it’s never easy. Believe me, I would know, but the life you want with your love is entirely there for you. All you need to do is take it!”Percy’s head was spinning. “Take it? What do you mean?” Aphrodite just patted him on the head like he was a child, asking one too many questions. “Oh, sweet boy, you’ve got to learn the language of love. That’s okay, though; you’ve got time.” She leaned in close. “Between you and me, I think you’ve been doing a great job. You haven’t even kissed her yet, and she’s already slept in your cabin with you.”“Well–er,” Percy stammered, his face heating. “I mean, it’s not a big deal or anything, but there was no way she was going to sleep in the Big House. She’s always so tense when she’s in there, and it gives her nightmares.”“Oh, you’re so cute.” Aphrodite mused. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle whatever I can as far as her dad is concerned.”“Was he actually serious?” Percy asked, shifting uncomfortably. “I mean, like, what is he going to do?”“I don't know,” Aphrodite shrugs. “But he’s already not happy with Thalia, and there’s not really anyone who could stop him.” Percy scowled, muttering, “I’d be willing to give it a try.” “Oh, you’re so cute when you’re protective,” Aphrodite crooned. “As tough as she is, I’m sure Thalia appreciates the sentiment, even if she brushes it off sometimes. That’s part of the fun.”“Why are you helping me?” Percy said suddenly. “I mean, Ares hates my guts, and he’d probably not be happy if he found out you were doing this. Don’t get me wrong, I love the help…” his voice trailed off, and he found his shoes very enticing. “And without you, Thalia would be with the Hunters, but I just don’t know how much more trouble I want.”For a brief moment her face shifted, Percy was afraid he had offended her. But then she laughed, a light sound that filled him with the same giddiness as when she first appeared. “Your concern is sweet, darling,” she said. “But while I may look like your love, I am still a goddess. I can handle myself.”Percy found himself blushing again. She was calling Thalia his love . For the first time, he didn’t find himself racing to deny it. Instead, the visions of him and Thalia simply…existing in a domestic environment made his heart pound. A small smile crept onto his face. A soft scene of tucking her into bed beside him every night played through his mind. He felt that bubbly feeling threatening to break though his chest again, but he just grinned. Thalia would tease him for eternity if she knew about this. Aphrodite flashed him a knowing smile, Thalia’s purple stained lips curving devilishly. “My dear boy, I’m going to let you in on a secret.” She leaned in to whisper in his ear. “The best kinds of love are boring. It’s about finding someone to help you guide the boat while the tides of life try to carry you out to sea.” She saw Percy’s expression and cut him off. “Of course you like the sea, as do I, but that is not the point.”“Then why does trouble seem to follow me everywhere!” Percy blurted. “I mean, it’s not like I’ve done anything wrong here, but it seems like no matter what I do, the tides or whatever keeps trying to throw me overboard.” His glare turned fierce. He vaguely took notice of a minor tremble in the back of the dreamscape. “Thalia’s dad seems to be the chief culprit.”Aphrodite sighed and summoned a loveseat, signaling that he should join her. “Come, let me tell you a story.”Percy took a deep breath to calm his simmering anger. At the very least, Aphrodite was a goddess who, unlike Ares’ warning, seemed perfectly willing to tolerate his outbursts. However, he didn’t want to push his luck. After all, she had warned him about Thalia and the Hunters in the first place. Gathering himself, he joined Aphrodite on the loveseat, allowing her imitation of Thalia to calm his nerves.“Now,” she said. “I know I said that the best kind of love is boring,” she began. “Of course, it is much deeper, but the words do not exist to express the entirety of a concept. We could sit here for one hundred years and hardly even scratch the surface.”She waited a moment before Percy nodded in understanding. “I am unique, older than even the eldest six,” she explained. “I am the personification of love, and I have changed many times through the ages, as have most. Love is coeternal with the universe. As long as beings have existed to experience the world, love will exist with them.”“Okay?” Percy nodded, wondering where she was going with her impromptu history lesson.Aphrodite smiled gently. “Love remains the driving force in the world. You’d be surprised how much of history is driven by powerful men and women who simply seek the objects of their desire. Zeus is no exception. Unfortunately, he is incapable of anything beyond eros, and it shows through his escapades. Others are merely objects to him, and it is saddening. He does not experience true, pure love.”Silent tears began to streak down Aphrodite’s cheeks, and Percy suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Her resemblance to Thalia compelled him to pull her in, but he thought it was inappropriate. She was a goddess of a different type. He shifted in his seat, self-preservation warring with his comforting instinct.“You’re a sweetheart, you know that?” Aphrodite said with a smile, her tears now ceased. “But forgive me. Let’s continue.” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, deep abiding love, or agape , will allow even the most ordinary people to do the most extraordinary things.” She paused for a moment, allowing her statement to hang in the air.Percy’s mind began to whir. He had heard rumors of even regular mortals lifting cars to save loved ones in danger. Even the platonic love he felt for Grover had spurred him to action to get the Fleece, although his face quickly warmed as he remembered that it was a joint effort for two of his friends and that Thalia had slowly come to the forefront throughout the quest. Even his urgency to rescue Annabeth stirred far different emotions than the ones Thalia did.“You are beginning to understand,” Aphrodite beamed. Then, she gestured at herself. “And I would safely venture that the deep love you feel for Thalia is far different than the kind for Annabeth and Grover, but these are still valid and important. It is quite silly that many people think of me as some kind of sex goddess and nothing else.” She blushed slightly. “Don’t get me wrong, there are far worse things to be known as, and it’s definitely part of the puzzle, but love is so much deeper than physical infatuation.”She continued, “I am here to support those who feel that deeper kind of love. Perhaps it is treasonous, but that’s simply how it works. Your father could not give up the sea even if Zeus demanded it, nor could Apollo give up the sun.”Percy thought deeply about it, and a twinge of remorse rattled him. He had always written off most of the Aphrodite kids for being superficial, and truthfully, most of them had acted that way, but that still wasn’t any excuse. As if she sensed his thoughts, Aphrodite gave him a soft smile.“When my children are younger, they must go through a process similar to yours,” she said softly. “Love is complicated, and no one will ever truly understand it. But we can see its fruits.” She gave him a knowing look. “You are familiar with Orpheus and Eurydice, yes?”Percy nodded, wondering where Aphrodite was going with her point.“Well, I said that ordinary people can do extraordinary things for love,” she said. “Now, imagine what an extraordinary person could do. Orpheus, for love, nearly brought Eurydice back from the dead.” She leaned in close, and Percy’s heart began to race. “Imagine what you could do for yours.”Percy swallowed uncomfortably. Memories of the endless maze began flooding back to him, its walls goading him into the entrance like an unsavory maw. Prophecy demanded that he enter if he wanted to save those he cared about. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Aphrodite give a knowing smirk. Did she know? He shuddered, knowing he would never truly answer the question.“I’d do whatever it takes,” he said, fire edging his tone. “I held the sky once, and I’d do it again if I had to.” He winced as he said it, phantom pains piercing his shoulders and scars, but he knew it was the truth.Aphrodite took Percy’s hand in hers. “Then you have nothing to worry about. You may not understand love, but your instincts haven’t led you astray yet. Choose well.”She smiled softly at him, and the dreamscape began to crack. As she slowly faded, she planted a kiss on his cheek. Just like last time, his face burned hot. When he awoke, his hand flew to his face, certain that he’d find purple lipstick marking his cheek.____The soft light of dawn illuminated Percy’s cabin as he reeled from the dream. Winter break was now coming to a close. It had been roughly two weeks since they returned from the Mountain of Despair, and his heart began to twist. He looked over to Thalia, passed out comfortably on the bed adjacent to his. Ever since her flight into the night, she had been coming to his cabin, so much so that he offered to just keep a spot open and save some counter space for her in the cabin’s bathroom. After about a week of her sneaking in, he told her to stop going to the Big House and stay with him, an offer she had accepted-with much less convincing than he had been expecting. So far, no one had really bothered them about it, although Percy wondered how long that might last.After all, he had promised that she could stay as long as she liked for her birthday present. He had bribed some Hermes kids into smuggling in a small chocolate brownie cake for Thalia’s birthday. If her gleeful expression was any indication, he had chosen correctly. She had taken the heavy news pretty well, even about his disturbing dream about the endless maze, but he could tell it still made her nervous. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel the same.It was his last day at Camp, and he had a decision to make. Thalia had assured him that he could do what he wanted, and he reciprocated, but the thought of separating made him uneasy. What if something happened to her? In the back of his mind, he worried if he was becoming a little obsessive over her safety, smothering her in the process. But he couldn’t help the concern for her that felt as natural to him as breathing. Especially now that she seemed so much more relaxed about his reassurance that he wouldn’t leave her for things she had done in the past.The way she would tense at sun down or whenever she was left alone for more than a few minutes told him that things weren’t fine. By the same token, he started to feel nervous and antsy whenever she wasn’t around, and any time any of his friends were out of sight, his heart started racing. He took another look at Thalia’s angelic face. He wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to do. She had joked to Annabeth about “not being forced to go to school anymore,” and now that he knew what he did about her home life, or lack thereof, he figured she’d probably stay. Yet, when she talked about the outside world and her desire to live a normal life, he could see her eyes light up. It reminded him of when Luke had asked if he missed the quest after returning the bolt. Despite the subsequent assassination attempt, Luke had been right. He did miss it. At the same time, he wasn’t entirely sure that even if she remained, she would stay within the borders. The few times she’d brought up the Mountain of Despair, most of which had been at Chiron’s urging in the infirmary, her expression had gone blank. For all the dissociative stares, Percy could see the whirlwind of emotions roaring beneath. And he knew exactly who the feelings were directed at. Luke Castellan. It was a matter of when, not if, she was going after him, and Percy wasn’t going to let her do it alone.Frustrated, he went over to his nightstand and pulled out a drachma. He twirled it in his fingers like a professional poker player before quickly stopping in disgust. He already knew what Chiron wanted him to do, as the centaur had suggested it since his first summer. Chiron would want him to stay, but he wanted a second opinion.He walked over to the fountain, allowing the mist to dissipate into the air, creating a strong rainbow in the morning light. Across the room, Thalia turned over, still sleeping soundly as she snuggled further into her blankets. He turned back to the water, vowing to speak quietly so as not to wake her.“O, Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering.”The drachma disappeared as he tossed it through the misty rainbow, and Percy continued. “Show me Sally Jackson in Upper East Side, Manhattan.”Slowly, the rainbow began to shimmer and change, showing the inside of his apartment’s kitchen. As his mother appeared, he felt the knot in his stomach loosen slightly. He didn’t like telling her about his adventures; she was worried sick for days last time he’d gotten too specific. But he needed her help figuring out what he should do. As Aphrodite had mentioned, he craved guidance from someone who loved him, truly loved him. Not some god with an agenda pushing him to do whatever suited their fancy. He just wanted his mother. “Percy?” Sally asked, wiping her hands on a dish towel as she fully came into his frame of view. “Is everything okay? Should I expect to come pick you up tomorrow? What’s going on?”“Everything’s fine, Mom,” Percy said quickly. “Or at least, it is now.”Sally raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean it is now? How did it go at Westover?”Percy clenched his jaw. He had meant to call his mom and update her on the happenings, but between his dreams and everything else, he had forgotten. He just hoped his mother wouldn’t think him the worst son in the world for not updating her immediately.“Er–” Percy said. “How much time do you have?”Sally looked at her watch. “As much time as you need, sweetie. I don’t have my writing seminar until later this morning.”“Writing seminar?” Percy asked hopefully. “Finally getting started on that book?”Sally blushed slightly. “Well, yeah, and I found someone who can help me get started.”Percy smiled, although the pink in his mother’s cheeks was not lost on him. “Well, good,” he said. “I’m glad. What do you want to know?”“Well, for starters, is Grover okay? Did you guys help him?”Percy’s chest tightened. “Well, er–” he stammered. “Grover’s fine. He needed us to help him fetch two demigods, and things got a little messy.”Sally frowned. “A little messy? How are the demigods? How about Thalia and Annabeth, are they alright too?”“Yeah, they’re alright, Mom,” Percy said. “At least Thalia and Annabeth are. Nico is too. His sister, though…” Percy trailed off, unwilling to speak the truth.Sally looked at him, her eyes full of understanding. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “It’s never easy, but just please try to forgive yourself. It’s not your fault. You were born into a world far too mature for children.”Percy nodded tersely. “Thanks, mom,” he said, his voice pained. “Although that’s not really what I want to talk about.”Sally gave him a little nod, encouraging him to continue. “It’s just,” Percy said. “I don’t know if coming home is the right thing for me. A war is coming, and I want to be prepared. But at the same time, I don’t know if I can fight on behalf of the shitty gods who keep using me and my friends as pawns in their little game. It seems like every time I mess up, someone else has to pay the price.” Swallowing the lump in his throat became near-impossible. “It’s just, I mean, Annabeth was captured because we couldn’t beat Dr. Thorn at Westover, then Thalia and I fought, and I overdid it and knocked myself out, so she had to go alone. Then guess what? She was captured and tortured, and Artemis was captured too. How am I supposed to go back to normal after that?”Percy blinked away the tears in his eyes as his mother spoke her next words. “I wish I could lie and say that it doesn’t worry me to death about the life you’re forced to live,” she began. “But as long as you’ve been my son, you always find your way in the end, and I’ve yet to see a time where it didn’t turn out right.” She shuddered, “Even with my ex-husband.”“But you don’t understand!” Percy shouted. “I can’t do it! I don’t know what to do. I get all this new information and have so many friends to protect, but…” his voice turned to little more than a whisper as he felt the wetness on his cheeks. “I’m scared, mom. I got this weird dream that tells me the only way I can save those around me is to go into the endless maze, but I can’t do it. I don’t want to go back.” Sally’s eyes were filled with understanding. She was silent for a moment as she allowed Percy to breathe. “I love you very much, Percy,” she said, softly. “I truly wish I could make this decision for you. It sounds like you’ve got a lot to think about. But I’m still just as confident in your decision-making as ever. You always end up on the right path. Tell me, what do you think is the right option right now?”Percy slowed his breathing, allowing his mother’s comforting words to wash over him. What were his options? He could ignore the dream and let destiny take its course. He probably wouldn’t get a say on what side of the war he ended up on, which would torment him for eternity. Or, he could follow his dream, as cursed as Prophecy may be, and try to forge his own path. The two options raged in his mind, and his heart wanted to rip out of his chest, but slowly, one side began to win as Aphrodite’s reassurances began to swim through his head. Imagine what love can do with extraordinary people .“I want to save my friends,” Percy murmured. “That’s all I really want.”Sally reached her hand to the illusion, as though she were rubbing her fingers beneath his chin. “Then choose wisely, my son.” Her eyes began to fill with tears, and she averted her gaze slightly. “But please…just be careful.”Percy shot his mother a watery smile. “Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll be as careful as I need to.”“Oh good,” Sally said. “Don’t think I don’t know that you hide things from me. In a way, I’m kind of grateful for it. I’d probably die even younger than I probably already will with what you do tell me, but I feel a lot better knowing that Annabeth’s going to be with you.”Sally must have noticed Percy’s pained expression because her own face fell. “Annabeth is going to be with you, right? You said she’s alright.”“Er–” Percy said, suddenly interested in his feet. “She’s with Artemis now.”Sally frowned. “You mean, like the Hunters?” Percy nodded, Annabeth’s absence hitting him like a ton of bricks. “Yeah,” he said, his voice strained. “She’s with them now, leading them, actually.”Worry flashed across Sally's eyes, although it quickly dissipated. “Oh…” she said. “I’m sorry.” She bit her lower lip nervously. “So, just you and Thalia, then?”Percy nodded, his stomach suddenly feeling slightly queasy. “Yep,” he said. “It’s just us now. I’m sorry.”“Oh, there’s no reason to apologize,” Sally assured with a smile. “Annabeth’s a smart girl, and she wouldn’t make any decision she wasn’t confident in.” Her smile dropped, “although I know how difficult it is, losing a friend. Even when they’re still here.”“Yeah,” Percy said, his voice tight. “But I’ll still see her occasionally, so it’s not all that bad.” “Of course you will, sweetie,” Sally soothed. “But you and I both know that things are different now. You’re a good boy, Percy. I know you’ll make the right decision in the end.”Percy felt his heart swell slightly at his mother’s praise. She was giving him that soft smile, and he rubbed the back of his neck, not quite sure what to say.“Perseus Jackson,” Sally’s sharp tone made his attention snap to her. But she wasn’t looking at his face, she was looking…oh gods, his arms. He dropped his hand quickly, the damage already done. Her voice was sharp and controlled, and he could tell she wouldn’t accept a deflection. “What happened,” she demanded.Briefly, Percy considered lying, but his mother’s piercing gaze made him wither like a plant in the hot sun. He looked down at his shoes, hoping he could escape the daggers in her eyes, but he knew it was futile. “I held the sky,” he mumbled.“WHAT!?” Sally shrieked. She took a deep breath, and if Percy was there he wasn’t sure his mother wouldn’t want to strangle him, hold him, or some combination of the two. Her next words came out tense, but more under control. “Why did you do that?”“I didn’t have a choice!” Percy was surprised by the fierceness in his tone. “I was in a battle I couldn’t win, and Thalia was in danger.”Sally sighed, and while her jaw had yet to relax, the fire in her eyes began to die down. “Young man, next time I see you, you are so grounded.” Then, she mumbled, so quietly Percy could barely hear. “Although I am proud of you. Even if you keep ending up in deadly situations.”Percy felt his heart threaten to rip at his mother’s anguish, but he knew just as well as she did that there wasn’t anything that could be done. Still, it only felt natural to apologize.“I’m sorry,” he said. “For making you worry.”Upon seeing his apologetic expression, her fierce look transformed into a comforting one. “Oh, baby, it’s okay,” She said. “I just worry about you.”Percy nodded, the words he wanted to say getting caught in his throat. He wasn’t quite sure what to do now, but as long as she knew that he didn’t regret his decision he knew it would be okay.Across the room, Thalia yawned softly and sat up, her bed head making his heart skip a beat. Her oversized shirt, which Percy could have sworn was his, was caught in the blankets, revealing her midriff.Despite his best efforts, his eyes traced down her body to her hips. Her nighttime shorts had slid down ever so slightly, revealing the waistband of her black panties. His face flushed at the myriad of thoughts that he was both ashamed of having and mildly enjoying it all the same. He bit his lip, hoping Thalia wouldn’t notice. If she did, she didn’t say anything.He silently cursed himself for waking her. When he glanced back at Sally, a knowing smile was etched on his mothers face. Immediately, he hid his face in his hands. He wasn’t sure whether the scolding he just received would be better to what he was about to experience. “Say,” she teased. “Aren’t you calling me from your cabin? I could have sworn you were.”“Yes, Mom,” Percy’s voice was muffled, and after a moment he forced himself to uncover his face and look at her. “I am.”“And Thalia is in there with you this early in the morning?” She asked, eyebrows raised.“It’s nothing, Mom,” Percy said a little too quickly, his face redder than a tomato. “Just a rough night was all.”Sally laughed knowingly. “Well, I don’t want to interrupt you,” her voice changed, a bit more solemn now, “but please think about what I’ve said, Percy. I think you know what you need to do, and let me know when you’ve made your decision. I love you.” At that, she ran her hand through the message, severing it. Rainbow colored mist floated through the air where his mother had just been. Percy turned around, and Thalia was as red as a tomato, pillow clutched in front of her body like a shield. “Oh gods,” she said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t–I didn’t realize you wanted to call your mom this morning.”She threw face into the pillow, and he heard faint, muffled screaming. He couldn’t blame her. He wanted to do the same thing.Despite it all, Percy walked over and sat on the edge of her bed, slowly settling his hand onto her thigh over the blanket. He made soft, slow circles, trying to comfort and reassure her. She shifted, and he inhaled sharply, looking pointedly at the ceiling and trying to push away the thoughts that filled his mind at the exposed skin along her stomach and thigh. If her shirt lifted just a bit higher- Stop it. He mentally scolded himself. That is not appropriate. He could only hope she didn’t notice the racing, excited beat of his heart as he said, “It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, really. I was just thinking about going back or not…”Thalia peeked up from the pillow, looking up at him expectantly. “Well, Kelp Head,” she said. “I’ll do what you do. School sucks, but no point in sticking around here all by myself. Seems kinda dumb, don’t you think?”Percy chuckled, his embarrassment slowly fading as his heart regulated its beating. “Yeah,” he said. “School sucks. But I don’t know…don’t you ever want to get away from it all?”Thalia looked at him blankly. “Did you forget who you’re talking to?” She teased. “I literally had years where I got away from it all inside your head. Plus,” she made a grand gesture to the bed, “I don’t even sleep in my own cabin OR the Big House.”Had he turned the heat in the cabin up? He swallowed thickly, tugging on the collar of his shirt. Warm. It’s too warm in here. Yeah,” he said. “Sorry. It’s just that everything has felt like a dream since we got back, you know? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad and everything, but it just feels like more bullshit after the other.” He cringed slightly, hoping that Thalia would understand that she was definitely not part of the bullshit. Thalia's electric-blue eyes bore into his, swirling with emotion. She looked like she was about to say something, but she stopped herself, shook her head slightly, and said instead, “We should go get breakfast. They’re probably almost cleaned up by now.”“Yeah,” Percy said, wondering if he needed an ice bath. “That’s a good idea.”____Mr. D’s glare didn’t leave them for the entirety of breakfast. Ever since Thalia had started sleeping out in the Poseidon cabin, Mr. D had become noticeably surlier, an accomplishment in its own right. He would shoot the pair dirty looks as though they had just insulted his mother. Although, given what Percy knew about the mythological world, most gods didn’t actually care about that. Percy knew he should at least be mindful of Mr. D’s warnings, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Thalia had made herself clear that she was not sleeping in the Zeus cabin, and Mr. D made it unbearable for her to sleep in the Big House. That left Percy’s cabin, and he was not going to make her or let her leave unless she wanted it. As Thalia sat next to him at the Poseidon table, Chiron, uncharacteristically, approached the pair and cleared his throat. “Now,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “Don’t think I don’t know what’s been going on. I know you already know this, but I should inform you that Mr. D is very upset with both of you. While I understand the circumstances are extraordinary, hence my reluctant permission, please be mindful when dealing with our director.”Chiron’s pained expression told Percy how serious it was. He bit back the urge to use Chiron to tell Mr. D to fuck off, but he wasn’t sure the old horse would have appreciated it. Besides, Chiron did give him implicit permission to sneak out and rescue Thalia. He didn’t want to be rude to his mentor, not when this was Mr. D’s fault. Percy gave a terse nod as Chiron seemed satisfied. “For what it’s worth,” he said. “I wish I didn’t need to deliver this message, but I would find it incredibly tragic if something were to happen to either of you or the other campers.” Percy tried to bite back his bitterness, although he wasn’t surprised. Of all the gods who were the most likely to vouch for his safety at the council of Olympus, he figured Mr. D was at the bottom, down with Zeus and Ares. Chiron turned towards Thalia, who had inched closer to Percy. “Thalia, my dear, considering you were going to school with Annabeth, and that she is now with Artemis, have you decided what you wanted to do?”Thalia tensed slightly but relaxed just as quickly. “I don’t know,” she said. Her eyes flitted in Percy’s direction. “I guess it all depends on how things work out.” Chiron directed his attention towards Percy. “Am I correct in assuming you want to go back with your mother?” His tone indicated his preference for Percy to stay and train, but he clearly wanted to give him the space to decide for himself. Something Percy was grateful for.“Er–” Percy said. “Actually, I kind of wanted to talk with you about that.” His voice softened. “I’m not really sure what I want to do anymore.”The centaur placed a comforting hand on Percy’s shoulder. “Not to worry, my boy.” He said with a smile. “Come speak with me after breakfast, in the Big House. We can discuss everything then.” Percy nodded, and Chiron ambled off to the stragglers still sitting at the Aphrodite table. After they finished eating, Thalia headed to the training pit to do some sparring with the Ares kids. “See ya later,” she said, smiling. “When you finish with Chiron, come on by.”Percy could’ve sworn she winked at him, and his heart nearly seized. She turned from him, black hair swishing behind her and a bounce in her step that hadn’t been there before. He had loved watching the light slowly return to her eyes over the last couple of weeks. It was a vast improvement, even if she was still plagued by nightmares.Thalia occupied his thoughts the whole way up to the Big House, and those thoughts were cruelly ripped from him as Mr. D stepped into his path. How the god managed to look down his nose at him when Percy was a full head taller he’d never know. “Hello,” Percy said coolly. “Can I help you?”“You know the rules, Peter,” Mr. D said, his purple eyes narrowing. “Although I suppose you think you’re too good for them.”Percy gritted his teeth. “Since when have you cared about any of the rules? Weren’t you known for throwing the wildest, illegal parties back in your demigod days?”Mr. D flashed a dangerous shade of purple before smiling. “Perhaps,” he said. “Admittedly, I never cared much for the rules. But my father does, so you should probably be careful. I know Chiron has already warned you, but the old centaur can–let’s just say–be a little permissive when it comes to his warnings. I still stand by what I said on Olympus.”Percy opened his mouth to respond when Chiron threw open the front door, calling for him. “Percy, there you are.” He gave Mr. D a terse look. “I believe I can handle it from here. Thank you.”Mr. D scowled before vanishing in a flash of purple light, leaving the sour smell of grapes in his wake. The smell triggered a memory in his mind, and it became abundantly clear why Thalia couldn’t stay in the Big House. Percy’s fists curled, nearly shaking with rage. It made him want to drag Mr. D back by his fat ass and whip the guy himself, insanity be damned. Finally, Percy collected himself enough to mount the stairs to the porch and enter the Big House behind Chiron. “I’m sorry about that,” Chiron said, rubbing his temples. “He’s been like that ever since the solstice. He gets quite pissy when he doesn’t get his way.”Percy stared at his mentor, mouth agape. For Chiron, that was the equivalent of calling someone a fuckwit. He smiled. Even the horse could have a sense of humor from time to time. “Yeah,” Percy said, grinning. “Although I won’t complain. I’m still here.”“Right you are, my boy,” Chiron praised, “and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now tell me, what’s on your mind? The fact you are not jumping at the opportunity to spend time with your admittedly lovely mother is mildly concerning.”Percy took a deep breath, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. “It’s just that…” his mind started to race. “We’ve got an upcoming war, and now I’ve got these weird powers from–you know–my dad, and I don't have a lot of time to use them. Or even learn how.”Chiron looked at him pensively, finally speaking carefully. “It is no secret that I believe Camp is the best place for you to learn and grow,” he admitted. “However, dedicating your entire life around the upcoming war may be a bit unwise.”“If I don’t, then I won’t have a future,” Percy said bitterly. “Even then, I’ll probably die in it anyway.”Chiron pinched the bridge of his nose. “I do not blame Annabeth. She was, and is, very fond of you, but what she knows about the Great Prophecy is not complete, nor should it be considered comprehensive. You, my boy, know better than nearly every demigod that prophecies are finicky.”Percy swallowed uncomfortably. Chiron was right, of course, but that didn’t mean that the menacing dreams about the endless maze didn’t haunt him. His mother told him to follow his instincts, as did Zoe and Aphrodite. Apollo’s warning about Prophecy rang through him like a gong, but he was sure that his dream about Rachel and the man was more than just a nightmare. “Chiron…” Percy began, unsure of what, exactly, he was trying to ask. “What do you know about the endless maze?”Chiron’s face paled slightly, although he maintained his composure. “There are many things to know about it. Is there anything in particular?”“Nothing much…” Percy said, a little too quickly. “I just had a dream about it.”Chiron stared at him, reading Percy like a book. “Am I correct in assuming that this dream is part of your decision whether to stay or go?”Percy nodded tersely. Lying wouldn’t do any good anyway.Chiron sighed. “I’m sorry to ask this of you, but I have received prophecies of my own in the past few years. Please share some of your thoughts with me, if you feel comfortable.”Percy hesitated. In a way, it felt like a betrayal to Thalia to tell Chiron all of this instead of her. He knew she wouldn’t be mad at him, but they had confided in each other. Yes, they still had stuff to work out, but they were getting there. He hadn’t told her at first because he didn’t want to worry her. He knew he wouldn’t have that problem with Chiron, at least not in the same way. He sighed.“Well, it’s just that I don’t know what’s best for the demigods, you know?” he spoke quickly, afraid the words would never escape if he stopped. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I would rather die than join Kronos and Luke for what they’ve done, but I see how miserable everyone is, and it makes me reluctant to back Thalia’s dad.”A flicker of understanding flashed in Chiron’s face. “I understand, at least in theory,” he said, “I know your meeting at the solstice was less than stellar. Please, my boy, continue.”“Well, I had this dream, and long story short, I was told that the only way for me to get what I want is to delve into the endless maze and save some old guy. I don’t know who he was.” Percy shuddered at the memory, “But I feel that’s the only way to protect the demigods here at camp.”Chiron sighed sadly. “It’s natural to be afraid–” he held up a hand to stop Percy’s interjection. “–even if we cannot admit it to ourselves. However, I believe I have some guidance that may help you. I received a prophecy many years ago that may explain what you seek.”Percy waited for Chiron to continue, but a minute, then two passed, and an uncomfortable silence filled the air. “Er–sir, are you going to tell me?”Chiron opened his mouth and then closed it again, suddenly unsure of himself. “It is probably best if I do not share the exact details, but it would suffice to say that much will be revealed when Clarisse gets back.” Percy tried to swallow his frustration, although Chiron’s cryptic answers weren’t helping. He knew that the centaur wasn’t doing it maliciously. After all, Chiron had let Percy sneak out to go rescue Thalia and was at least reluctantly allowing them to bunk together. “Thank you,” he said tersely. “I think I’ve made my decision.”“And what would that be, my boy?” Chiron tilted his head.“I’d like to stay at Camp over the winter,” Percy said quickly before he could allow his fear to change his mind. “I think it would be best for all involved. I need to train, practice… whatever this shadow stuff is, and prepare myself for what’s coming.” Calm surged through him. This was the right choice. And besides…he didn’t mind bunking with Thalia a little longer.Chiron shot him a wide smile. “I think that is very wise, my boy,” he said. “We shall make the preparations.”Percy nodded. He turned to leave, to go tell Thalia the news, when the front door slammed open, bouncing off the wall as Thalia herself practically fell through the doorway, bent over and gasping for air.He rushed to her, instincts screaming at him to protect her, shielding her from whatever had sent her running. He checked her over, quickly kneeling beside her. “What’s wrong, Thals?” He brushed her hair from her face, taking in her wide, panicked blue eyes. “Are you okay? What happened?”She was alarmingly pale, but she nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She turned towards Chiron, a flicker of fear in her eyes. “It’s Clarisse.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
As Clarisse stumbled into Camp, bloody, buried, and panting, Thalia knew something was wrong. She didn’t know the daughter of Ares very well. From what she could gather from offhanded comments from Percy, Clarisse was the stereotypical tough girl who wouldn’t take shit from anyone. But, she was the one who officially led the quest to get the Fleece, so Thalia would always owe her a debt of gratitude. Clarisse was hauling a demigod Thalia didn’t recognize toward camp piggy-back style. He babbled incessantly about string and monsters. Between that and the vacant look in his eyes, it was clear he wasn’t well in the head. Despite their unfamiliarity, Thalia winced, her own memories of her time on the Mountain threatening to roar back with a vengeance. Spending time with Percy was a comfort. The shattered pieces of her mind were beginning to mend, although she feared that cracks would remain regardless of how much time passed.Shooting one last look at the now shredded straw dummy in front of her, Thalia hurried from the training pits. Her labored breathing slowed her down, and she cursed. Despite her recent improvement in her conditioning, she still felt fatigued and unrefined. Her spear was finally feeling familiar once again, and her small electric shocks seemed to work on everyone except Percy. She had made it most of the way up the hill when Clarisse called out to her.“Get Chiron,” she yelled, staggering towards the Big House. Her torn pant legs flapped open with every uneasy step she took.Thalia nodded as she reversed course. She could have sworn Clarisse was whispering softly to the boy on her shoulders. If the boy noticed, he didn’t let on, mumbled words about mazes, strings, and monsters continuing to spill past his lips.She sprinted down the hill, for the first time cursing the fact that she didn’t see any Ares kids milling about. Or anyone, really, who she could send back to help Clarisse while she got the adults. She raced up the porch steps and barreled into the Big House, stumbling through the door to interrupt what seemed like a deep conversation between Percy and Chiron. Percy immediately tensed before bolting to her side.“What’s wrong, Thals?” Percy’s hands brushed over her, checking her over like she was the one in danger. She hardly heard the rest of what he said over the sound of her heart racing in her ears. She had the faintest thought that they’d need to reschedule their sparring match.She gave Percy a reassuring nod when she caught his worried look. Finally her breathing calmed enough to get words out.“Yeah, I’m fine.” She glanced at Chiron, willing her voice to steady. “It’s Clarisse. I don’t know what’s wrong, but she’s got a dude with her who sounds like he’s gone crazy. She’s not doing too well either.”Several emotions, including panic, flashed across the immortal centaurs face before he could compose himself. She felt Percy tense beside her, his strained expression matching how she felt. It was unsettling to catch a glimpse of Chiron’s true emotions, calm and collected as he always was.“Take me to them,” Chiron instructed. “Quickly, there is much that we need to learn.”Thalia nodded as Percy stood and pulled her from the flood. Before he released her hand, he gave her another reassuring squeeze. “They’re out by my tree,” she managed to say. As she raced with Chiron and Percy out to Clarisse, a pit formed in Thalia’s stomach. Something felt vaguely familiar and altogether wrong, although she didn't quite know what or why. She had seen Percy and Chiron exchange a look earlier, like they both knew something she didn’t. Hurt pinched her heart, but she tried to push it away. It was fine, good even, for Percy to talk to Chiron about things. She just hoped that Percy wouldn’t start seeing her like a fragile snow globe, ready to shatter at the slightest touch. Clarisse and the boy hadn’t made it more than a few feet inside of the border before Clarisse’s legs had apparently given out. The boy was lying on his back, brown eyes open and unseeing. Clarisse had scooted back against the pine tree, her eyebrows furrowed as her chest heaved. Her lips were moving, but no sound was coming out. Chiron scooped the boy up in his arms, his face pinched in concentration. Deep sadness washed over his face, again making Thalia feel like Chiron knew something the rest of them didn’t.“Bring Clarisse,” he said. “I will be in the infirmary.” With a flick of his tail, he turned and trotted down the hill. Percy and Thalia were left to help Clarisse, who hadn’t even acknowledged that Chiron had been there. Percy walked over and crouched next to her.“Hey,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “Can you walk? Or should I douse you with toilet water again?”Thalia held back a snort at the mention of the toilet incident. Percy had told her all about it, and she would’ve given nearly anything to see it for herself. But Percy’s face held nothing but concern. He wasn’t trying to push her buttons, just gauge where Clarisse was at mentally.Thankfully, Clarisse scowled slightly. “Punk,” she murmured. Slowly, she turned and kneeled, using the tree for support as she pulled herself to her feet. Her legs shook, but she didn’t go down. In an instant, Percy was next to her, draping her arm over his shoulder for support. Thalia went to her other side, allowing Clarisse to use her to balance if needed. Percy’s jaw was set, eyes far away as they trudged slowly down the hill. Thalia knew that he had recognized the boy who was with Clarisse. A strange look had briefly crossed his face when they’d gotten to them, and Thalia gathered that they didn’t get along particularly well.They both startled when Clarisse broke the silence at the bottom of the hill.“The air was alive,” Clarisse said, her voice so soft, Thalia nearly thought she’d imagined it. “Like, it was trying to burrow into me. Crawling inside me.” She shook. “Like ants in my skin.”Thalia shuddered at the mental image. It sounded remarkably similar to what Percy had shared; that horrific scratching beneath the skin. The kind of thing that could drive you mad. Percy shared a weighted look with her. Clarisse stumbled and he broke their gaze, concern back in full force as he shifted to take more of her weight.“I get it,” Percy said softly. “Let’s get you to Chiron.”Clarisse nodded, but pulled herself from both of them as they reached the dirt road. “I can walk on my own.” Percy threw his hands up in surrender as she pushed ahead of them, allowing her to stagger the rest of the way to the infirmary. Neither he nor Thalia left her side. Thalia shot him a concerned look when she started mumbling again, the words slowly becoming more incoherent until only one word left her cracked lips, again and again: ‘Chris .” ____Laying on a white bed in the infirmary, the usual fire that burned in Clarisse’s eyes began to return. Chiron finished fussing over Chris, who was now sedated and resting peacefully on the adjacent bed. He turned toward her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. From their place at the open doorway, Thalia could see the sad understanding written so starkly across his face. “My dear, I know it is fresh, and I apologize that I am asking this of you. But please, tell me everything you learned.” He took a heavy breath. “For what it is worth, I wish I didn’t have to send you into that horrid place.”Clarisse waved off Chiron. “It’s fine,” she said gruffly. “Someone had to do it.” She glanced over at Chris. “Besides, he’d be dead otherwise, so it wasn’t all for nothing.”She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she laced them together.“Your concerns were confirmed, Chiron,” she said. Her gaze slowly drifted to where Percy and Thalia stood, her eyes seeing, but not observing. “Luke wants to use the Labyrinth to invade camp.”Chiron smiled tersely, but he did not look surprised. Something rumbled quietly, and then the room was shaking softly, just enough for Thalia to feel it. She glanced to Percy, who looked downright murderous. The edges of his body flickered black and red, so subtle she might have thought she imagined it. His fists were clenched, along with his jaw, so tightly that she was afraid his teeth might crack. Even doing everything he could to keep his emotions in check, the room still shook, medicine and supplies rattling in cupboards and on tables.Chiron cast him a concerned look, and Thalia grabbed his arm, squeezing, and praying it would be enough to help calm his barely contained rage. He relaxed at her touch, but only barely. “I’ll kill that fucker before he gets the chance,” he muttered under his breath. Saying those words was enough to stop the little tremors from shaking the room, but not enough to squash the green energy that seemed to buzz in his eyes. Like green flames, Thalia thought. She had rarely seen that look, and would nearly describe it as frightening, but when he turned his gaze to hers, it morphed into something else. His eyes shone with a different kind of light, like she was the only thing that mattered to him. Deep within her, she knew he would kill for her. He had said as much, even when she was obstinate about Luke. I’d still do it, you know. His promise, given after her first apology about Westover, infuriated her at the time. She didn’t need him looking out for her. She could do it herself, just like always. Then, the Mountain happened, and he came on his own to rescue her. She had bared the worst parts of her soul to him, all of her sins, and all he did was hold her and call her an angel. Instead of the repulsion she was expecting, she felt him tense on her behalf, and a security blanket was wrapped around her, allowing her some space to regain what was lost as she shattered. Percy’s anger was much different than Luke’s. By comparison, Percy’s fury was righteous and warm, as though it was a fire meant to incinerate all those who threatened the bricks of the hearth. His eyes blazed, but his gentle arm, which had now moved around her, was comforting and soft, reduced to the soft simmer that made her insides melt. She could do anything with him, and the light in his eyes that she could observe when he would let himself relax meant that Thalia could see the seed of hope burgeoning within him as well. Shaking herself out of the swirl of thoughts, she gently rubbed his arm. She smiled at him.“It’s okay. I’ll help you kill that fucker, too,” she whispered. Maybe Luke could be redeemed. Some small part of her hoped for it, despite everything. But whether or not Hades decided to forgive him was another question. All she could do was support Percy in the extradition process. She was suddenly aware of Chiron staring at them, his eyes alert but not alarmed. As the last rumbles of the earthquake subsided, he turned back to Clarisse, urging her to continue. The daughter of Ares took a deep breath, steeling herself.“Nothing makes any sense,” she said. “You’ll be walking in a direction, down a tunnel, and then turn around the way you came and immediately become lost. The air…it’s alive, and it wants to siphon out your very life.” She picked at her skin absentmindedly. “Sometimes it felt like there were hundreds of fingernails pricking my skin, like they were trying to take it from me.” She pointed over to the demigod on the adjacent bed. “I found an exit over in New Mexico, and that’s where I found Chris. I think he was in there a lot longer than me, but I…” her voice trembled slightly as she took a deep breath, “...but I couldn’t just leave him. I made my way back as soon as I could.”Chiron sighed sadly as Clarisse finished her story about the maze with living air. He turned and nodded to Percy. The color drained from his face, but he nodded back in unspoken agreement. His rage was gone, replaced with something that looked a lot like anxiety. “So, what are our options?” Thalia asked, her words slicing through the thick tension in the room. “It’s obvious that Luke’s plans for the maze are confirmed.” She pointed at Chris, “And he clearly knows something. Can’t Mr. D fix him up so he can tell us what he knows?”Chiron sighed again, suddenly looking a century older than before. “My dear Thalia. Unfortunately, I do not think it is that simple. But I do believe that it is time I explain what I can. As I’m sure you’ve already surmised, like the rest of the Greek mythos, the Labyrinth is alive and thriving in our modern day. The animating force remains another mystery, as do its capabilities, but for lack of a better term, it acts as a second skin, living and growing beneath the surface, buried between the Underworld and the normal one.”He continued. “As Percy has shared with you, and Clarisse has confirmed, time and distance have no meaning within its walls. Even godly magic is greatly reduced, acting as a natural grate against the free-flowing divine energy.” He looked towards Percy, then Clarisse. “In many ways, it is like the Sea of Monsters, but instead of the magical boosting capabilities found within most mythical places, the Labyrinth can read your mind and snuff out everything you think you know. That makes it far more dangerous than any singular god, or Titan, for that matter. Gods can kill you, torture you, and punish you however they see fit, but the Labyrinth will do its best to siphon your very soul.”Thalia shivered and unconsciously slid towards Percy. Twice now, her soul had tried to flee her. The first time, Hades’ Furies wanted to expedite her journey to the Underworld. That had landed her as a tree for far longer than she would have liked. The second was after her time holding the sky. Luke’s voice slithered into her mind uninvited. It’s all your fault, you know. None of this would have happened if you just joined me. You’re the monster you fear you are. Percy wrapped his arm around her and squeezed, anchoring her.“It’s okay if you need a minute,” Percy whispered in her ear. “I get it. I’ll go with you.” Thalia stubbornly shook her head. “It’s okay,” she whispered back. “We need to learn everything we can. Besides, the Labyrinth is going to be important. Your dreams usually are.”He gave her one final squeeze and averted his eyes, although she could have sworn that his cheeks were a slight shade of pink. “Yeah,” he said, his steely voice not matching his blush. “I know, I just…want you to be okay.” “I will be,” Thalia said with a sigh. “Eventually.”Chiron cleared his throat and Percy dropped his arm, both of their attention once again fixed on the centaur. He once again looked at Clarisse. “How much time do you think we have until they figure it out?”Clarisse shrugged her shoulders. “I don't know, but I think Chris was one of the first scout teams.” She looked over at him, her eyes soft. “He’s been babbling about string,” she said, her voice catching. “That tells me they’re looking for Ariadne’s string in the center. Considering how awful that place is. I’d give them at least six months before they make any progress.”Chiron relaxed slightly. “Thank you, my dear. If legend is to be believed, the string will be found at Daedalus’ workshop,” Percy flinched at this, “right at the heart of the maze. Whether or not it even still exists is another matter, but I see no reason to suppose that it has been lost. At the very least, our enemies are operating under the assumption that it is real. I, for one, believe they are probably right.”Thalia regarded Percy, now stiff next to her. Considering what he said about the creepy old man, she wondered if he was making the connection. Before she could ask, Chiron spoke again.“I received a prophecy many years ago that I feel could be useful to share now.” He looked around, as if afraid of being overheard. “The lines were:
The Titan Lord rises, his prison unbound
Fueled by betrayal, he soon shall be crowned
The madness, the maze, the Old One’s reign
Shall overrule the awful stain
Of a time that shall soon be passed
The throne of Olympus, a broken mast.”
Chiron looked wary, like reciting the prophecy had taken all his energy. Thalia’s heart sank as she took the prophecy at its face. Did that mean that it was inevitable that Luke would win? Her hands began tingling, tiny sparks flickering from her palms. Images of Luke’s head on a stake began to weave its way into her fantasies, his corpse looking just like her mother. Yes, that was exactly what he deserved. Fried, beaten, and forced to pay for his crimes. It nearly disgusted her that she wasn’t put off by the horrific images she conjured, but not quite. She would make Luke fluent in the language of pain and sing the epic of suffering. Percy, however, looked pleased. “Thank you, Chiron,” he turned towards Thalia. His green eyes bore into her soul as if he knew exactly who she had just been thinking about. “We’ll do everything we can to make things right. Besides, don’t you always say that prophecies don’t really make any sense?” Chiron murmured the affirmative, but Thalia didn’t really hear him. Percy’s fiery gaze told her that he was entertaining the same thoughts she had been. A shot of something that felt very much like attraction ran through her. Knowing that he’d help her maim Luke, even if he did try to spare her the horror of the act, felt satisfying. Besides, it had been a while since she had seen him swing his sword…Chiron gave another nod to Clarisse. “Thank you, my dear.” He looked over at Chris. “And don’t worry, I’ll make sure that nothing happens to him. At least until he wakes up and can explain everything.” Clarisse relaxed at that, giving Chris one more longing look as she settled in. Thalia could only assume they had some sort of history, even before Chris turned up in the desert. Chiron nodded to Percy and Thalia and made for the door. Percy wrapped his arm around Thalia’s waist and turned to walk her out. The soft, seemingly innocuous action gave her butterflies, her emotions whirling. Her hands twitched. She needed to do something. Volatility was more her speed, not this soft, emotional stuff.“Spar with me,” she said, fierce enough that Percy flinched. Manually, she calmed her tone, trying to keep the itching out of her voice. “Please.”Percy smiled at the little sparks shooting from her palms. He pulled Riptide, capped in pen form, from his pocket and flashed her a smirk. “Race you to the Arena!” He took off, and Thalia raced after him, smiling to herself at his pace. He wasn’t going his fastest, but just slow enough for her to catch up.____Electrical currents snaked beneath her skin as she stood with Percy in the sand pit. Casually, she watched Percy uncap Riptide and swing it around. He did it effortlessly, as though it were a part of him. The muscles in his arms rippled with every motion as he mimed slicing the dummy in half. She quickly turned from him, pretending to examine her spear as she tried to swallow down the torrent of thoughts and sensations that had crept up on her.She turned, grip tightening on her spear as she methodically practiced her feints and jabs. She would never be as quick as Percy, and she was 0-1 in their official spars. Granted, his one victory had been because he used his dubious shadow powers. But Thalia maintained that it would’ve ended in a draw. She liked her match-up, after all. Electrification worked extremely well in water. She winced as Luke’s voice crept through her mind. You’re holding it too tight. Shame, then rage flowed through her. She pushed the words aside and created a nice little electrified field around the tip of her spear. She drove it straight into the dummy in front of her, allowing the lightning to shatter on impact. The scent of burning cloth and straw permeated the arena. As she imagined the dummy was Luke, she increased the voltage, allowing it to catch fire before wrenching her spear free. Chiron probably wouldn’t be happy she’d rage burned yet another dummy, but it was worth it to pretend that had been Luke she’d just flambeed. Cold suddenly shocked her from head to foot, and she sputtered, wiping water from her face. Someone snickered behind her and she whirled to find Percy, smirking, just a few feet away.“Careful,” he teased. “Didn’t realize you were such a fire hazard.”She grumbled, shaking the water from her hair as she shot another tendril of electricity at him. He sidestepped it easily, still smirking. “Dry me off,” Thalia demanded. “Or you’re getting fried.”Percy placed his hand on his chin like a philosopher, as if he were contemplating the idea. “You know, that actually doesn’t sound so bad. Sounds kinda toasty.”Thalia shot another wicked glare at him and he relented. A flick of his hand and her clothes dried in an instant. “You ready?” He grinned at her, a playful gleam in his eye. “Powers or no powers?”Thalia didn’t have to think about it. Her skin was itching, buzzing; she needed to let it out. “Powers,” she said, circling him. “Besides, if I’m such a fire hazard, I have you to keep things from burning down. You’re like my own personal firefighter.”“You better not light the forest on fire just to backstab me,” Percy said with a chuckle, matching her movements.Thalia feigned offense. “Me? I would do no such thing.”“Then let’s begin.” Percy settled into his stance. Thalia hauled Aegis up her arm and flashed it directly at Percy. He didn’t flinch, but instead eyed her warily.Irritation bubbled as he watched her find her footing. She tried to feel grateful that he was letting her settle before they started, but the bigger part of her just wanted him to go all out. Needed it.“Scared?” She taunted. Percy’s smirk was her only response. Her frustration boiled over, and she took two quick steps in his direction. Percy’s gaze narrowed, and she tensed as he cocked his head. He’d win every fight in close quarters. A sword was far more practical than a spear in that sense. He probably thought she was planning something. Good, she thought.She willed energy from her body, down through her spear, until the tip was crackling with electricity. She flashed Aegis once again, and when Percy flinched, she struck.Despite being out of practice, she could read him well; knew where he was tensing and how he would react. She went right for his sword hand. She was a breath too slow, and Percy deflected, reacting before she could make contact with his body.Riptide clashed with her spear, throwing her momentum off, but his eyes narrowed at the contact. “You missed.” He said quietly, stepping back and circling again. She turned her head, confused.“You should’ve put enough energy into that to numb my hand. Knowing you, that’s exactly what you’d do. But you didn’t,” his hand flexed, the veins prominent against his skin, “so you missed.” Thalia groaned, shaking her head as she tried to brush it off. How could she have miscalculated the voltage? She willed more power into her spear, allowing it to vibrate in the air. It practically sang with all the energy it held now.Percy’s face twisted with a mischievous grin. Thalia knew her shield trick wouldn’t work again. He looked completely at ease now. She could’ve sworn his hands were glowing a soft red- wait!Percy lunged, faking her out and then retreating. Thalia kept up with him while the wheels turned in her mind. One of the mornings she’d awoke before he did, she’d sent him playful little shocks in an attempt to wake him.
Sidestep, counter!
She grit her teeth. He hadn’t stirred, hadn’t so much as twitched. But his skin had glowed, a soft red. She’d been too freaked out to ever try it again, afraid she’d hurt him somehow.
Parry, slash, duck!
But she hadn’t hurt him. He hadn’t even felt her lightning just now. For whatever reason, her electricity didn’t seem to affect him. Despite herself, she grinned. If that was the case, it meant that she could go all out. She stopped, panting, and pointed her spear at him.“I did not fucking miss,” she growled, allowing her power to swell. Percy was looking at her quizzically. Glancing down at her arm she took notice of the blue and purple glow, flickering like little flames along her skin.He gave her a knowing smile as she took her stance again. In an instant he had mirrored her, his own dark flames swallowing his skin. She gave a shout before charging him again. The sound of clanging metal rang through the arena. Vaguely, she registered that a small crowd of campers had formed to watch their violent little dance.They were just getting started, but Thalia’s lack of conditioning was already catching up with her. Her electricity thrummed against her veins, begging to be unleashed. A painful tug in her gut nearly pulled her off balance as Percy stuck hard at the same moment. Despite it all, her body relished the freedom as she shot round after round of lightning fromThe ground suddenly rolled beneath her feet and she froze, bracing herself. Percy used that moment to duck inside her guard. Ignoring Aegis, he slashed at her ribs. She flinched, reacting to the strike. From the tension in his shoulders, she knew he was holding back, intentionally going slower.She whirled Aegis at the last second, coursing enough electricity through it to kill a horse. Percy struck. Sparks exploded at the impact, sending her staggering backwards as little columns of smoke drifted from her shield and Percy’s sword.She narrowed her eyes, trying to assess what she’d just felt. Her arm was all tingly. She stretched it, the muscles flexing uncomfortably. It felt like it was holding too much energy. But that was impossible, because she’d just released all that energy. Unless- Her gaze whipped to Percy again. Did that power come from him? He was several feet back now, still shaking off the last effects of the impact. A few small fires had started at the edge of the arena from where the sparks had landed. Percy doused them quickly. Thalia barely heard the whispers and chatter from the growing group that was now watching them spar.Thalia turned her full attention back to Percy, intending to start again, but stopped short as she actually looked at him.His chest was heaving, his hair wild, but he looked otherwise unharmed. But the thing that really caught her eye was his shirt. Former shirt. Portions of his camp tee had been singed from the lightning, the area at his side and around his stomach practically charcoal now. Most of it hung open, revealing the glistening, sweat slicked skin beneath.“Impressive,” Percy nodded at her, tossing Riptide to his left hand and flexing his right. “Although this isn’t my first rodeo.” He winked at her.Thalia stared at him, mouth agape. She could feel the energy coursing through her, and a quick glance around the impromptu crowd told her they could too. While Percy’s increased endurance meant that he should’ve survived without any serious damage, the fact that he was still standing and smirking at her was baffling. He was incredibly wary, and it worked to her advantage after Capture the Flag. Now, with greater power, he smiled as though it was nothing more than static.“You’re batshit crazy, you know that?” Thalia taunted. “Aren’t we all?” Percy asked. The intensity of his gaze made her shudder. He had an uncanny ability to know exactly what she needed, so willing to play along. Instead, she pressed her advantage, racing him in less than a second. If anything, he was faster now, matching her step-for-step. Sparks flew as their weapons collided. Her entire body was warm; she could feel the nearly limitless quantities of energy pounding against her skin like water against a dam. They formulated a dance, with Thalia’s jabs and Percy’s parries making up the majority of the motion. His brow was furrowed in concentration, and she could see the gears whirring in his mind, wondering how to get through her guard a second time. She smirked at the thought that even out of practice, she was holding her own. With each successive blow, the red in Percy’s aura increased, quickly dominating the black and green. He just kept getting faster.She managed to get in close enough to knock his shoulder with her shield. His skin was practically vibrating, the sensation running through Aegis and up her arm.He grunted at the impact, knocking her back with Riptide and striking again. The red glow and weird vibrating nagged at the back of her mind, but she forced it aside, content to relish her fight and solve mysteries later. She was completely zoned in; her spear was an extension of herself. Her confidence swelled, and soon she was grinning despite the brutal pace. Percy caught sight of her face, and smiled brightly, even as they traded blows. The thought that her own smile could make him happy made her heart somersault, adding to her adrenaline high. The two of them were now steaming, their sweat and energy evaporating into the crisp winter air. Thalia was flushed, her heart racing as their environment faded into little more than background noise. Her focus was lasered in on Percy, who was now flickering with red lightning. Wait, red lightning? Shock made Thalia pause for a second, halting her strike in midair. That brief moment was all Percy needed. He sent a shockwave directly at her feet, throwing her off balance. Her spear went flying. She cursed at herself as he moved in, nearly in slow motion, as she fought to regain her stance.His muscles were tensed, precise, and she mentally slapped herself for noticing the bare, taunt skin of his stomach that flexed as he moved. Little red streaks of lightning flickered from him, and all she could think was that it would go so well with her own blue.He stepped inside her guard, easily deflecting her desperate block with Aegis. His warmth was at her side now, closing in on her. In a final, desperate act, she shot her right arm to his chest, channeling as much lightening as she could muster. She inhaled sharply as he grabbed her arm instead of dodging it, pulling it to him and absorbing the hit directly. Their lightning flickered purple for a moment, and she briefly registered his eyebrows raising in surprise before he twisted suddenly. She was expecting him to just disarm her and call it a match, but as he twisted, he took her arm with him, spinning behind her back and pinning it right between her shoulder blades. She let out a frustrated, surprised sound as he twisted her left wrist, the pressure forcing her arm to go slack and drop Aegis. He let out a satisfied little hum, the sound so ridiculously attractive in the moment that Thalia’s thighs clenched involuntarily. Before she could process any of that, he had wrapped an arm around her, restraining her completely. Before she could open her mouth to try and claim a draw, Riptide was at her throat, the sharp blade prickling right against her skin.Percy’s hot breath warmed the back of her neck, causing goosebumps to erupt down her overheated body.She took her bottom lip between her teeth, working it as the remaining energy from her last outburst left her. A different, more fiery energy was snaking its claim along her spine as Percy pressed her in closer to his body. It was hot and addictive, weaving its way through her like the tendrils of a flaming vine. “I win.” Percy’s voice was rough as he murmured the words in her ear. A whimper broke past her lips as heat seared her, stronger yet. She had expected that failing would lead to more frustration, anger, and bitterness. Instead, the pressure of the blade at her throat, of Percy holding her against him, sent sparks of something exciting and heady coursing through her. Her body nearly trembled with anticipation, and in that moment she was suddenly aware that they had an audience.“Shut up, Kelp Head.” Her voice came out higher, breathier than she’d intended. “I was distracted.”His face was so close to hers that she felt more than saw the smirk that he gave her. Her heart did a flip. “I guess you can only blame yourself. If you’d shocked me full force like you’ve done before, I would’ve been done for.Percy, seeming satisfied with his victory, lowered his sword and stepped back. Thalia frowned, both at the loss of his body against hers, and at his words. She spun, facing him.“I did,” she argued, brows drawn tight. “It’s not my fault you’re immune to it now.”Percy frowned, cocking his head to the side. “What do you mean? That doesn’t make any sense.” He shook his head. “All I felt was a thrumming kind of energy, like water. I figured you were just adjusting.”“Well then you could’ve gone easy on me,” Thalia shot at him. He raised an eyebrow.“You would’ve never let me live it down. Plus, you would’ve just been more angry with me. You needed to blow off some steam.” He motioned to the steam coming off her body and chuckled. “Literally, too, I guess.”She hit him weakly on the arm, mind buzzing. Her body was buzzing too, if she were being honest with herself. She took a deep breath, pushing all thoughts of swords and throats aside. Glancing around, and grateful that their audience had dispersed, she looked up at him again.“Let me shock you,” she said after a moment. “I want to test something.”Percy’s mouth tugged into a lopsided smile. “Why, want revenge?”Thalia flushed. “No, you idiot, I’m just running an experiment.” He made a big show of shrugging his shoulders. “Fine,” he smirked. “Try not to fry me.”Thalia ducked her head and focused on Percy’s hand, still glowing a faint red. As tired as she was from sparring, it didn’t worry her. She didn’t need fine control for this, just to see how his body processed an electrical charge. Slowly, she allowed the energy to flow. Enough that three weeks ago, he would have pulled his hand back in discomfort.“What do you feel?” She asked. “A small tingling, like pure energy,” Percy said. “Nothing big, though.”Nodding, Thalia increased the voltage. Other than his hand growing a deeper red, Percy didn’t react.“The same,” he said. “But stronger, like my hand is vibrating.”Thalia repeated the process again, and again, finally forcing out all the energy she could muster. Her body felt hot, too hot. She swayed slightly on her feet, ignoring Percy’s concerned look when she glanced up again. Her voice trembled.“How about now?” Percy withdrew his hand, instead wrapping his arm around her. “Like my body is pulsing with energy, like when I try to use too much water, and it wants to break through my skin.”Thalia nodded. She felt the same. “Now,” she said, shaking. “Try and control your energy. Like a lightning bolt.” She pointed at a massive Sycamore tree at the edge of the forest. “Aim it there.”Reluctantly, Percy released her and did as she asked. He closed his eyes. Thalia could feel the energy emanating from him. Slowly, she felt it shift, like the energy was akin to her own. Sweat began to sheen on Percy’s brow as it furrowed in concentration. There was a sharp crack as red lightning burst from Percy’s outstretched palm. He staggered backward, eyes flying open in surprise. The tree was splintered, shards of wood scattered throughout the forest. Where it struck was a blackened scar on the remainder of the trunk. Small fires raged from the flaming fragments, now falling from the sky. Percy looked a little shaky in a way that was reminiscent of her first time seriously experimenting with summoning electricity. Despite his clear fatigue, he used the water from the lake to douse the remaining embers. The only harm done was the nymphs casting them dirty looks as they disappeared deeper into the trees.Despite his lopsided grin, Thalia couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. Lightning was her thing, and now Percy could do it too. Slowly, thoughts questioning whether she would be good enough to keep up slid into her mind. It wasn’t his fault, but her emotional turmoil in the last couple of hours only exacerbated her irritation. Noticing her scowl, he smiled softly. “It’s good to have you back, Thals,” he said brightly. “Although I promise I don’t know what the hell happened.”Thalia took a deep breath, flashes of purple lightning dancing around her memory. Despite the unfairness, it did look pretty badass. She’d never admit that to him, though. He had to earn his lightning like she did. On cue, he staggered, and despite herself, she grinned. Now, she’d get to be the one guiding him.“Yeah, that happened to me the first time, too,” she smirked. “You’ll get the hang of it, though. And you totally owe me an explanation when you figure it out.”Percy frowned and sat down heavily in the sand. His chest was heaving, and it looked as though all the energy had been drained from him. She followed his gaze as it traveled upon her. Shakily, he took a breath as he looked down at the black scars on his hands. Thalia’s heart squeezed as she saw the tension in his jaw. He didn’t really talk about it, but he was clearly struggling with the physical changes, just like she was. He sighed, his face shining with emotion. His jaw was tense, and there was a mild grimace. “Maybe later,” he said, shrugging his shoulders as if they were sore. “I still haven’t worked it out myself.”Thalia nodded knowingly. Her own experience beneath the sky was one better left forgotten, but she knew that the roaring tsunami of memories would never leave. Instead, they lapped at the dam of her mind, threatening to spill over if she wasn’t careful. Percy definitely had the pieces of the puzzle, but she would grant him the time to work through it on his own. The delicate balance was something she wasn’t completely comfortable with. She was never sure when to press for more information, or when to back off. It was something that Percy, seemingly unknowingly, was an expert in when it concerned her. He could read her mind before the thoughts even appeared, always racing to her side whenever she could feel herself slipping, holding her away from the edge of the spiral. She just wished she could reciprocate, despite the emotional eruption that occurred whenever she spent more than five minutes thinking about him. “What happened here?” Chiron suddenly appeared at their backs, his voice tight but controlled. His eyes darted between the pair and then the destroyed tree. “Did you two overdo it again?”Thalia suddenly found her Converse far more interesting. Her limbs trembled with exhaustion, and she could feel the warming electrical currents lapping in her organs even though it was cold. Her eyelids began to droop, a sign that their spar was well spent. Her emotional vessel was now empty, replaced with a familiar bone-aching exhaustion. “Sorry, Chiron,” Percy said. He turned towards Thalia, quirking his lips from side to side, debating something in his mind. “Hey,” he said. “I think I know what you’re going to choose, but I at least wanted to give you the option considering Mr. D’s mood.” Thalia shot him a glare. She knew he was going to ask about leaving his cabin if she wanted to. Of course, he meant well, but he knew better than anyone that returning to the Big House was unacceptable. Frankly, she was mildly offended.“If you ever suggest such a stupid option again, I will personally kill you,” Thalia warned. “I’m not going back.”Percy raised his hands in a placating motion. “I’m sorry,” he said. He opened his mouth and closed it again, like he wanted to say more. His voice was little more than a whisper, and Thalia was convinced she wasn’t supposed to hear his next words. “I really like having you here,” he mumbled, his cheeks slowly turning a shade of scarlet. “I just wanted to give you the option.”Thalia gave him a subtle nod to signal that she wasn’t mad, or wouldn’t be for long. Chiron gave an exasperated sigh at the pair, but he didn’t say anything as he clopped back to the Big House, shaking his head slightly. Percy gave a small smile at the sight before beaming at Thalia. “Come on, let’s get out of here,” he said, standing. She took a step to follow, but her legs trembled beneath with exhaustion. On cue, Percy wrapped his arm around her, guiding her back to the cabin. Selfishly, she took the opportunity to lean her head against him, allowing him to support her weight as they walked back to their cabin. ____Bright blue tendrils shot out from her in every direction. Blue? She thought. My dreams are never in color. She groaned. Ever since moving into Percy’s cabin, her sleep had become dreamless, the monotony of nothing only broken by pleasant dreams of an unknown future. One where her Father was gone, Percy was by her side, and she could finally breathe again. But those dreams were always in black and white. The last time she had color dreams was when Percy had somehow conjured a dreamscape for them to escape to. Conflicting feelings flooded her as she reminisced on their time together. It had only been about six months since she had been poisoned. The idea of even making it to eighteen at the current rate felt as though it was slipping away, a soapy chain sliding between her fingers. She got what she desperately craved, a second chance to protect those she cared about, but she couldn’t help but hunger for the simplicity of playing card games with Percy. Besides, she had failed in her duty. Luke was…Luke. And Annabeth had joined Artemis, essentially separating them forever. Hot tears began to prickle her eyelids. Their destinies were now drifting apart, and the sister she never had was gone. She kicked herself for it, but the tears began to fall anyway. She should be happy for Annabeth and her new life, but now it felt as though a portion of Thalia’s heart was missing. Biologically, Annabeth may have been older now, but she would always be Thalia’s little sister, the closest thing she’d ever have to getting Jason back. What she wouldn’t give to ruffle little seven-year-old Annabeth’s hair in the woods, picking out the sticks as they slept under the stars in their shelters. Even teaching her how to braid her hair seemed like a distant dream. The pain was a consequence of love, and she hated it, hated herself for hurting over Annabeth’s joy.Across the electric web, little orbs formed, shining brightly. Thalia sat in the center, desperately pouring over the endless supply of memories. Her chest felt tight, and her throat made swallowing an impossible chore. Her emotions felt like the scattered orbs before her. Within sight, but completely unattainable, forever doomed to wander the emotional wilderness alone.Suddenly, the web began to glow orange. Thalia flinched, expecting the intense heat to burn, but instead, it acted like a warm blanket, vaporizing the shards. The orange glow spread through the air, morphing the endless expanse around her into a living room, neatly laid bricks lining the fireplace at the center. Tending the flames was a young girl, who smiled warmly at Thalia. A comfortable looking loveseat was directly behind a coffee table placed to the right of the fire. Thalia made for it in an instant. She was snuggled deeply into the cushions before the girl spoke.“You must be hurting,” she said softly. “About your family.”Thalia nodded, the words too painful to give voice to. She could feel the walls she’d so carefully built around her heart crumbling. She suddenly wanted to bare all her sorrows to the soft, tender girl by the flames. The girl gave one last look to the fire before she snapped her fingers. Chocolate brownies, sea salt caramel chocolate squares, and some cheeseburgers appeared on the coffee table. “It’s not real,” she said. “But food is often a great source of comfort, so it will taste just like the real thing.”Thalia leaned forward and tentatively took a bite of a chocolate brownie. The food was airy, akin to the smoke offerings at Camp, but it was as real as anything she’d ever tasted. Despite her lack of hunger, she ate a little of everything, allowing the comfortable sensations to calm her racing nerves. The girl sat patiently, a soft, warming smile on her face as she waited for Thalia to calm down.“You must have many questions,” she said. “I’ll begin with the most pressing. I am Hestia, goddess of the home, family, and the hearth. I prefer to stick to the fire, but something drew me here.”A flicker of fear washed over Thalia. Normally, gods didn’t like to be drawn somewhere, or else they wanted something for it. But Hestia’s gaze held no malice, only concern, soft and kind like a mother’s. She calmed at that, her fear slowly replaced with a soft yearning. “I am truly sorry,” Hestia said softly. She changed form, slowly growing in size until she appeared like a middle-aged woman. Thalia felt a brush on her cheek as Hestia’s warm fingers caressed her face. She sank down on the couch beside her. “I figured you may prefer this form. I did not wish to frighten you, my dear.”Thalia opened her mouth, a million questions and worries coming to the forefront, but her voice broke as she went to speak. Instead, sobs wracked her, her fears expressed in grief. Her family was gone, and she was wandering aimlessly. Hestia simply pulled her close, allowing Thalia to cling to her as she cried. She stroked her hair softly, and Thalia cried harder.“It’s okay,” Hestia cooed. “It’s okay to hurt. Family will always be messy, and it’s okay to hurt when you lose them. You have lost so much, my dear. Now it’s time to grieve what you’ve lost.”The words were lost on Thalia’s ears. “Why does it hurt so bad?” She whispered between sobs. “Why does my family keep leaving me?”Hestia caressed the back of Thalia’s head, her warmth enveloping the shattered girl next to her. “It is true that you cannot control your parentage,” she said warmly. “Mother, Father, and brothers and sisters are not something that we can control.” She placed her hand on Thalia’s chin, gently inviting her to look up. “But Annabeth is just as much of a sister to you as anybody else. Families are held together by more than just love. They have obligations to one another. This sense of duty, shared among friends, creates their own little families, and the loss of this knowledge has shattered my own.” Small tears formed at the corner of Hestia’s eyes, but they were quickly replaced with fiery determination.“And the heartbreak we feel when our family betrays us is far more vicious and poignant than anybody else,” Hestia continued. Despite her tears, Thalia understood that Hestia knew about Luke too. And how all the hopes and dreams she once had with him and Annabeth were wholly shattered. As if Hestia could read her mind, Welcome to Paradise began to play softly in the background, like a funeral ballad to the family now estranged, never to be rejoined.“Grieving means that you love them,” Hestia said softly, once again pulling Thalia into her. “You have done so much, my dear. Just rest for a while. I am drawn to those who have suffered great loss and require respite at the hearth.”“I just wanna go home,” Thalia murmured. The only problem was that she didn’t know where home was or how to make one. The years of running had left her exhausted, and she wasn’t even sure how to build one. Why would anybody want to build a home with a broken girl?Hestia fixed her with a kind smile and leaned in close, as if she were the only one in the world that mattered. “You aren’t broken, my dear. Home is where family is. And family can always be found for those who search for it.” She smiled to herself, and Thalia wasn’t sure if she was supposed to hear the next words. “Besides, you’ve found a nice boy. It sounds like you’re already off to a great start.”Thalia was too tired to feel embarrassed at the implication. She had no more room for the indecipherable emotions that assaulted her every time Percy occupied too much of her mental sphere. she turned back towards Hestia’s comfort, letting herself become lost in her arms. For the first time in her life, she cried in the arms of the mother she never had. And for the first time, those arms held her.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Hestia’s calming reassurance helped Thalia feel more free than she had in a long time. Her soul did not simply feel protected and cradled. It was as though Thalia’s volatile cauldron of emotions had been enlarged, caressed by the hands of the mother she still desperately craved. Yet, as the days had passed and she and Percy had fallen into their routine of training and planning, she couldn’t help the guilt that began to nip at her.Her past sins refused to let her rest, slithering their way into her mind whenever she was alone. She had stopped voicing the concern aloud, hoping that her silence could force her inner voice into submission, but it still whispered to her in the night, calling her a monster. Her new scars were a reminder of who she used to be, and she couldn’t help but ache as she saw Percy’s as well. It was her fault he needed to suffer for her, even though he would never complain. The scars were a testimony of their shared burden.It was sickening, but she knew deep down that her father was right. The mantle of leadership called to her. If she was in charge, things would be different. Things would happen on her own terms. That thought, paired with the rage fueled by Luke's betrayal, made her feel dizzy when she thought about it for too long.Percy seemed less inclined towards power. But since he’d shared Zoe’s letter, he’d seemed to warm up to the idea, or at least gain some confidence towards it. Thalia thought he was a natural. Without even trying, all of the Camp looked up to him. Whether it was Capture the Flag or sparring, he commanded respect; the quiet strength he radiated simply demanded it. It was one of the reasons why, when he promised he’d keep her safe, she believed him. She’d never believed anyone else before. Even Luke’s promise felt more like hope at the time; the wistful fantasies of two broken children wandering in the forest. She was meant to be brainstorming now. She’d woken up early and hadn’t been able to fall back to sleep, instead resolving to strategize and guess at whatever was coming next. Instead, she found her mind drifting into a daydream. An image of her and Percy, side by side on thrones, solidified in her psyche. By day, they wore beautiful crowns and glimmering clothing, hers colored in rich purples and blues, and his in striking greens and deep blacks. By night, the two of them lay in their bed, tangled in silk sheets and nothing else-She blushed hard, her mind switching from her daydream to her conversation with Hestia. You seem to have found a nice boy, she had said. Thalia nearly snorted at that. She hadn’t found him, he’d come crashing into her life. And if anything, she had come along kicking and screaming. Then there was the fact that they hadn’t even discussed what they were. The shock that he didn’t hold romantic feelings for Annabeth still hadn’t worn off, and she had yet to broach the subject. She inhaled sharply, mentally scolding herself at the pinch of loss that came whenever thoughts of Annabeth crossed her mind. Stop it, she thought. You don’t have time to think about it. Her mind looped back to what she and Percy were to each other. They clearly cared about one another. She hoped the attraction she felt wasn’t one sided, but at the same time, the thought of being his, and of him being hers, made her stomach do somersault. She hated and loved the way he made her feel. She wanted to zap him, kiss him, and fight him all at once, and it made her dizzy.Her mind drifted back to their fight at Westover. Make me. The words had practically been a command. Even now, recalling it made her shiver in ways that forced her thighs together. She could remember how his lips had been pressed into a pout, and she wondered how they would have felt against her own. The memory of Percy pressed behind her, his sword against her throat, barreled through her mind, unprompted but not unwelcome. She had been completely at his mercy. It was strangely liberating, knowing that there was nothing she could do and the one she trusted was completely in control. She mentally cursed herself for the way her pulse rushed as the memory flooded through her. She bit her lip against the urge to beg for more, even in her thoughts.She blushed again. These feelings plagued her, asleep or awake. Since talking with Hestia, Percy bombarded her dreams nearly every night. Flirting with her, fighting with her. Countless different futures that left her excited and frustrated in equal measure. She recalled the dream she’d awoken from early this morning; remembered the way his shirt rode up as he swung his sword. It had given her butterflies, even in the dream. Even as she had run her hands up his body, pausing when he smirked down at her. He had held his sword against her, backed her to a wall, and kissed her senseless. She could still feel the cold, sharp prick of the sword at her throat, the bold of arousal that had lit her body up like she was on fire. Could still hear herself practically whimpering against his mouth, begging for more, even as she knew it would never be enough.Heat spread through her body at the memories. She didn’t have time to think this way; not with the rapidly approaching war, and especially not with the sweetest, most infuriating boy she’d ever met.She was a moment away from pinching herself when Percy’s voice broke through her reverie. “You alright?” His morning voice was low and gravelling, sending a shiver through her. “You’ve been staring off into space for, like, five minutes.”She pulled the hood of her blue hoodie up over her head, hiding her now-red face from him.“Just thinking about the prophecy,” she lied. “What do you think it means?”Percy sighed, his body full of tension as he sat up in bed. “I don’t know,” he said at last. “I don’t know why Apollo thinks I’ve got Prophecy or whatever, it’s just as alien to me as it was when Chiron first told us. Hell, even the prophecy from before I went to rescue you doesn’t feel complete yet.”Thalia’s heart sank. It wasn’t his fault; besides, it wasn't like she had gotten any further in deciphering their next move. She could practically hear his mind whirring while his scarred hands fidgeted absentmindedly. She wasn’t sure if he remembered, but he was repeating the first signs she had taught him in his dreamscape. His pursed lips slowly morphed into a small grin, and she knew he had remembered something important.“What is it?” She prodded. Percy rubbed the back of his neck and averted her inquisitive gaze. “Uh, I still don’t know what it means,” he began, hiding his wince. “When I was, you know, beneath the sky. I heard a voice talking about ' Those who take me divided shall find themselves ripped apart’.” Thalia shuddered at the reminder of her own weakness. She had accepted the offer and relinquished her resistance. As a result, the sky burrowed into her and nearly dissolved her soul. The temptation had been so simple. It was her mother, smiling brightly in a way she’d never seen before, telling her to come with her, that they were going home to Jason. She knew it was impossible, but the agony had diminished her ability to parse out the details. She had reached out in desperation, the hunger to see him again overriding her objections. Then, just like the rest of her hopes and dreams, she was crushed as Artemis took the burden.“Yeah,” she said tersely. “I heard it too.” She looked at her own hands before hiding them in the sleeves of Percy’s hoodie. The brand on her skin brought a tightness to her throat that she couldn’t seem to shake.Percy nodded knowingly, reassuringly, as he reached over and rubbed her leg. His gaze wasn’t on his hand, on the black streaks lining his veins, but right into her eyes. His gaze searched her own, his jaw clenching and unclenching a few times before he finally sighed.“Well, there were these siren things, and they kept trying to make me let go.” His eyes were fixed on the floor now. “But I kept telling them no. Because I took the sky to save you, so you know, I couldn’t just give up.” Pink crept along his cheeks as he spoke. “So I just pictured your face, and it gave me the resolve to continue.”Her heart melted as if Percy held it in his hands. Her mind quieted as she took in his words. A pang of guilt shot through her at the thought that she had never done anything like that for him. But then she glanced up and he was looking at her again, like they were the only two people in the universe. She studied him, taking in his messy black hair and tired green eyes.She could feel the weight of her silence as Percy began shifting, like he was worried he had said the wrong thing. She shot him a smile, and he perked up instantly. She melted again; she really didn’t deserve his affection. “Well, I guess you’re stronger than me,” she joked. “I couldn’t take it anymore.”Percy moved to sit beside her on the bed and pulled her into a hug. “I get it,” he said into her hair. “Believe me, you and I are the only living people who understand.” He looked toward the ceiling. “I guess Annabeth does too, at least to some extent, with the actual Sirens.”Thalia nodded, allowing the warmth of his arms to silence the broken, jagged thoughts racing through her mind. She bit her lip, willing the tears forming in her eyes to go away. If she could wish for anything, she’d stop time forever, in this moment. She allowed herself another breath to compose herself before pulling away.“What happened after?” She asked softly. Percy sighed and looked away, a war of emotions raging on his face. The bed began shaking, and a moment later she realized it was the whole cabin, as Percy’s powers flooded into the earth beneath them. A muscle twitched in his neck as he fought to calm his breathing.She stiffened. This was a pattern, she had noticed. When he was fighting himself on what to tell her, his earthshaker powers tended to slip away from him. She squeezed his arm comfortingly, trying to convey that he could tell her anything, and that he could stop when he needed to. “That’s the thing, I don’t really know,” he said. His voice was barely more than a whisper, and Thalia wasn’t sure she was supposed to hear the next part. “I don’t really know anything anymore,” he lamented, his voice breathy. Thalia looked over him. Gone was his usual strong, calm demeanor. He was fidgeting, shifting and restless, lost in thought. Her own mind raced, desperate to help somehow.“I have an idea,” she began cautiously. “Why don’t you try praying in the cabin again, just like Zoe suggested? Something tells me it’ll work this time.”Percy sighed, the sound weary. “I’ve tried every single night,” he said. “I never get anything.”Something in her mind told her to keep pressing. “Do you trust me?” She asked. Percy nodded.“Then just try one more time. For me,” She said. “I can’t explain it, but it just feels like it's what we’re supposed to do. Like it’s our destiny.” The corners of his lips quirked upward. “Are you sure that you don’t have prophecy?”Thalia shrugged, but she couldn’t keep the smile off of her face. “Just trust me. I don’t have all the answers.”“Oh?” Percy raised a brow. “The mighty Thalia Grace admitting she doesn’t know something? Who are you, and what have you done with Thalia?”“I’m right here, asshole,” Thalia said, trying to look fierce, and failing as a smile spread across her face. “Do I need to kick your ass again?”“Again? There was a first time?” Percy said, sticking his tongue out. “I'm two for two in our sparring matches.”Thalia threw her hands up in exasperation. “Whatever,” she said. “You still need to finish your story about how you can shoot fucking lightning now.”Percy smirked, although his face looked pained at the reminder. Thalia’s stomach dropped, and she averted her gaze, wanting to escape the regret that gnawed at her for reminding him. “After I refused to give in,” he said softly, “it gets a little hazy. But once I broke the spell, Ouranos spoke to me. He was the one who said all the cryptic things about being torn apart. Then he started talking weirdly about how he was nothing but a remnant, only conscious of those holding him. He said there was something he always wanted to try, and then he was silent.” He winced, rubbing his shoulders. “I don’t really remember what happened. It got lost in…everything.”Thalia nodded. She took his scarred hand in her own and squeezed it. “Kinda badass you got to meet him,” she said. “Maybe he blessed you or something. I definitely didn’t get that treatment.” She shivered. “If anything, he seemed disappointed in me. But that’s not really a new experience. The gods being disappointed in us.”“No, it isn’t,” Percy’s voice was harsh. “But that’s always the fucking problem.” He sighed, giving her hand a comforting squeeze. His eyes found her and seemed to soften in apology. His rough fingers rubbed patterns on her knuckles as he took a few deep breaths. “I’m sorry,” he said after a second. “I just need a minute.” Thalia nodded, watching as he stood from the bed. She studied him as he pulled on his camp tee, laced up his shoes, and left. She burrowed deeper into his hoodie, wishing she could stem the resentment in his eyes. ____“This is all your fault, you know.” The voice appeared clearly in Thalia’s mind, but there was no one around except Amalthea. She frowned, the goat's appearance a mystery. The first and only time Amalthea appeared was after she ran away with Luke. Amalthea guided her and Luke to Annabeth and Grover to take her to Camp. The goat had never before appeared in a dream.“What do you mean?” Thalia asked, suddenly unsure. “I thought you were supposed to help me.”“I serve your father,” Amalthea bleated, her noises translated into English. “And he is not happy with you.”Thalia’s jaw tensed. She held respect for the goat that had saved her life. However, knowing Amalthea was sent by her father made her want to curse the animal immediately. “What’s my fault?” Thalia spat. “I already know I’m a monster. I don’t give a fuck what Zeus wants.”Amalthea bowed slightly as if she was disappointed. “Then you will find out shortly. AWAKE!”Thalia woke with a start, her heart pounding in her head. Pounding rain battered against the windows of the cabin, and she frowned. A slight breeze and some frost were usually the extent of extreme weather patterns within the Camp’s borders. Now, it was as if a hurricane had moved in. She glanced over at Percy’s bed, and her heart dropped. He was gone, his blankets scattered like he had jumped out of bed at a moment’s notice. She quickly threw on one of Percy’s hoodies and some sweatpants to combat the elements. Amalthea’s warning rang out, and a cryptic sense of dread filled her as she tugged on her boots. Her fingers twitched as her anxiety became nervous energy in her muscles, like an electric bomb waiting to go off. She grabbed her can of mace containing her spear and Aegis. Her instincts told her to prepare for a fight. If Percy hadn’t returned yet, then that meant something was seriously wrong. He could turn any minor threats into mincemeat with just a thought. The shrill call of an Eagle sounded, filling her veins with ice. A shadow passed over the window briefly, and the sheer size of it froze her in place for a moment. It sounded angry . Amalthea’s warning suddenly became clear. Zeus was unhappy, and he was willing to sacrifice Camp to teach her a lesson. Hot rage began to fill her as blue electricity danced up and down her arms. Hadn’t her father taken enough from her? Was he really so petty that he’d be willing to kill her friends just so she’d sleep in his stupid fucking cabin?Her mind cleared, the world suddenly moving in slow motion as a perverse calm swept over her. She swung the cabin door open, a wicked smile painted across her face. If Zeus was going to play dirty, so could she. She would gut her father’s annoying pet and boast to the high heavens that she had done so.As she stepped into the whipping rain, she swelled with energy. She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the piercing smell of ozone. Her pupils widened, body thrumming with energy as she surveyed the scene before her.Ahead of her, on the outside border of her pine tree, Percy stood panting, glaring at the massive white eagle hovering above him, squawking angrily and pounding its giant wings. His voice was mostly lost between the wind and the force of the beast's wings, but Thalia made out bits and pieces as she ran for him, can of mace at the ready. “Go fuck yourself… you stupid bird,” Percy taunted. “...or come down here.”As if sensing her approach, the eagle turned its attention to Thalia, its beady eyes staring her down. It opened its giant beak; the sound that came out was a bird’s call, but she understood it perfectly. You know your sins, The Caucasian Eagle roared. You have displeased your father. This is your final warning. Return and take up your mantle, or Lord Zeus will revoke his protection. Rage threatened to bubble over, but Thalia forced herself to take a deep breath. Sparks flew from her fingers and she breathed again. Percy had approached, a few cautious steps away now. He sent her a warning look and she forced the harsh emotions down. She looked back at the eagle and finally noticed the myriad of cuts and slashes littering its wings and neck. Golden ichor splattered to the ground in the rain; the same gold blood that dripped from Riptide, and understanding crashed over her. In a fight on the ground, Percy would win, but he had no way of following the animal to the skies. Tiny red flickers leapt from his palms, almost hesitantly. Despite herself, Thalia smiled.“Fat chance,” she yelled, turning back to the eagle. Percy raised a brow at her, but she ignored him; she could fill him in later. “Why would I listen to the man who abandoned me?” Because you have no choice, the eagle screeched, circling the pair. If you care about your friends, you will return to your cabin. “Thanks, but I’ve already found my cabin,” Thalia snarled. “It’s with the god who was more of a father than Zeus ever was.”The eagle seemed to bow, and while he had no lips, she could have sworn it was smiling.
Then you leave me no other options. I have my orders.
The eagle perched itself on the top of the tree, surveying Camp as if choosing its next target. Its hungry eyes looked toward the Big House. Percy was now standing beside her, jaw and body tensed as the earth rumbled beneath them. They both followed the eagle's gaze to the soft purple glow visible through the upper windows of the Big House. Fucking Dionysus. Percy’s knowing smirk was all the approval she needed. Black and electric blue danced in the edge of her vision as her body vibrated with energy. She turned her gaze back to the bird, deploying her spear. “If you want to get to Camp, you’ve gotta get through us.”The Caucasian Eagle spread its wings, its golden ichor falling to the ground like giant raindrops. Thalia tensed at the animal readying itself to strike. The thought of surrendering and moving to the Zeus cabin briefly crossed her mind, but the electric rage filling her veins quickly squashed that thought. Her home was being threatened. And by the man who had the audacity to claim all the privileges of fatherhood without any of the responsibilities. She narrowed her eyes as the wind and rain pelted her hair. Thrums of energy coursed through her spear as she pulled out Aegis. The turbulent air currents felt like wind tunnels; she could feel them perfectly, as though they were an extension of her fingers. Experimentally, she sent a tendril of lightning through one. To her delight, it followed the wind tunnel perfectly.She narrowed her eyes on the massive eagle in front of her, its enormous wings using the air currents to hover. Tentatively, she reached out and grabbed them, pulling at them.With glee, she watched the massive feathered flyer stumble in the air. A wave of dizziness rushed her, her body unfamiliar with this new ability. Despite the discomfort, a smile crossed her face. This bird was in her element now; she could batter it with the wind and never even lift her spear. Percy nodded encouragingly, moving to stand in front of her and redirect the bird's attention. Riptide was glowing red, the black streak standing out in harsh contrast. She felt nearly drunk with power as she continued to pull and pinch at the air currents. She flashed Aegis towards the sky, but the eagle didn’t so much as blink at it. At that moment the beast dove from the sky. Thalia rushed past Percy, shield braced in front of her as the eagle's massive beak collided with a resounding clang that had aftershocks rushing up her arms. She grit her teeth against the discomfort, shaking the water from her eyes as she looked skyward. The eagle had flown up so high that it was little more than a blurry speck in the clouds. Percy gave an empty laugh. “Maybe you scared it off?”Thalia smirked. “He’s a little baby if I did, but–oh shit! ” The little speck was rapidly growing larger until it was apparent that the gargantuan bird was dive bombing them. Thalia raised her shield to cover her head, the eagle a white blur in her vision. Thunder crashed all around her as they collided again. Thalia cried out, fiery pain shooting up her arm as the eagle took off again.Grimacing, she flexed her hand in its holster. It shook in response, weak but not mangled.“Fucker,” Thalia spat. “You good?” Percy called out. His eyes were fixed upwards, tracking the bird.“Fractured my arm,” Thalia said. “Hurts like a bitch, but I can still move.”Percy nodded, concern flashing across his features. “Okay,” he said. “Just be careful, please.”“We’re fighting a ten-foot Eagle, and you want me to be careful. Got it.” Thalia snarked. She shot him a glare, but the streaks of pain shooting up her arm made it more of a grimace. Tentatively, she examined Aegis, searching for any signs of damage; besides the smallest of scratches, it was unaffected. She breathed a sigh of relief.“There!” Percy called out, bracing himself. The eagle had soared into the sky once again, golden ichor falling on them with the rain. Thalia squinted at the beast, and to her delight, she saw that its razor-sharp beak was now bent, broken from the impact with Aegis. But it hadn’t stopped the creature. No, now it just seemed angry. It flapped its powerful wings, and Thalia could feel the air currents morphing around her. The sudden air pressure drop around her made her dizzy, but she held firm, allowing her flowing adrenaline to numb her throbbing arm. Its shrill call echoed over Camp, the piercing cry slicing through the howling wind. For a brief moment, Thalia hoped reinforcements would arrive, but considering the racket they had already been making, it seemed like an increasingly unlikely proposition. The creature darted once again, but this time not at her. Just over to her left, Percy stood, waiting to parry the eagle’s strike. Thalia stood frozen as time slowed; the vicious creature opened its broken mouth, still confident in its piercing beak as it made directly for Percy. He tensed, moving his weight to his back foot. Red lightning flickered from his hands as he moved Riptide into position. As the eagle was only a few feet above Percy, it changed course sharply, now targeting his torso instead of his head. Percy didn’t move his sword in time.Thalia watched in horror, saw the moment he realized his mistake, and couldn't move fast enough to do anything. She was hurling herself through the air the moment the eagle collided with Percy. The sound of tearing flesh rang in her ears, followed by a cry of pain from Percy. Crimson and gold blood formed a muddy lake in the soaked grass of her tree.Time seemed to return to normal as Percy countered, his instincts taking over. Thalia steadied herself and sent a white-hot bolt into the creature’s eye. Riptide slashed a massive chunk out of the creature’s wing, and the faint but pungent stench of char told her that she had been successful as well. The eagle screeched as it flapped its massive wings and took to the sky once more, eyes glowing with hatred. Yet, it seemed…satisfied. The chilling thought sent shivers down Thalia’s spine. Thalia squeezed her spear again, allowing blue rivulets of electricity to course through it again. She suspected the bird was not going to come back down. She focused on disrupting the air currents around the creature, ignoring the painful tug in her gut as she pulled at the air. A small grin broke across her face as the beast faltered. The pain worsened suddenly, and she released the air with a gasp. “Damn thing is too strong,” she muttered to herself. Pain flickered through her entire body. Her endurance was far better than it had been in the woods all those years ago, where she could only summon a bolt or two before passing out, but she was still only human. Her shaking, fractured arm would limit her in close combat. Her strength was waning, and the eagle’s hungry attention was now fixed squarely on the Hermes cabin.Beside her, Percy was staring the beast down, panting heavily and ignoring the steadily growing pool of crimson at his feet. She wanted to yell at him to take the shot, but she refrained. He wasn’t even keeping the water off of himself right now, hair plastered to his face from the rain and his own sweat. Mud was streaked across his cheeks like war paint as he hoisted Riptide, holding it threateningly at the eagle. The thing seemed to scoff at them as it turned, diving through the Camps borders for the first time. It seemed to slice through both the magic and the air with a whoosh that drowned out Percy and Thalia’s distressed cries. “No!” Percy and Thalia both screamed. Thalia doubled over, ignoring the pain and forcing herself through the mind-numbing haze of the winds. She willed herself closer to the beast on instinct, forcing it to return to the border.Instead, she felt weightless, and suddenly, she was directly in front of the creature. The eagle gave a small screech of surprise as she thrust her spear directly into its good eye socket. She allowed the energy to course through her, ignoring her rapidly heating body as she willed her violent rage into the eagle. Never mind shooting the messenger, she would fucking kill the thing. A violent screech escaped the creature as its majestic white feathers began to smolder red and then black. It thrashed blindly, its sharp beak searching for any piece of exposed skin. She groaned as it found its target, grazing her directly beneath the right side of her ribcage. The irony of Prometheus’ Eagle skewering her liver was not lost on her, even as she thought of how she and Percy would share scars in the same place again. Drunk on adrenaline, she released the growing tide of energy in a violent explosion. A horrifying screech pierced her eardrums as charred feathers began to rain down around her. She was drenched in golden ichor and doubled over, the weightless feeling lurching her mind back to reality.Her heart crawled into her throat as she looked down. The blood drained from her face as she began falling to the earth, unsure of how her feet ever left the ground. Terror flooded her as she screamed, the ground now rapidly approaching. She closed her eyes, the horror of the freefall churning her stomach as it threatened to expel its contents. She had been expecting to shatter against the ground, splattering in every direction, but strong arms were suddenly around her, breaking her fall.She turned to face her rescuer, having a grand idea of who it would be, but as she went to make a smartass quip about the little grunt he gave as he caught her careening from the sky, her stomach turned. Invisible hands clenched her stomach, and she expelled her dinner all over Percy’s front. A weak apology crossed her lips as her vision went white. The last dregs of adrenaline were leaving her, forcing her to feel the extent of her exhaustion and injuries. The scrape to her abdomen suddenly felt a lot worse. She vaguely heard Percy answer her, but couldn’t focus on the words. Pain wracked her body, and some part of her knew that Percy only felt so warm because he was bleeding on her.As the world faded and her eyes drooped shut, her addled mind conjured the vision of her and Percy crowned and seated, side by side, on glittering thrones. ____Hot, sulfuric air filled her lungs as she coughed violently. The sky glowed a dim red, and Thalia shuddered as small rivulets of moisture fell on her skin. Squinting, she took in the black craggy cliffs jutting among the landscape. Moans of agony in the distance hurled themselves on her ears, causing her to draw her hands to cover them.Pausing with horror, she noticed the hideous red blisters on the back of her hands, her black scars jagged against the inflamed skin. From each one, small streams of pus began to flow, searing pain shooting from them. The muggy air bore down on her, coating her skin like a latex glove and forcing her to sweat. Her eyes burned from the heat, and she couldn’t tell if the pungent aroma of burning hair was from her. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Red liquid now splattered over the back of her hands as a fit of coughing overtook her. She could feel hot knives burning her throat, slicing her open, as she tried once again, between her wracking coughs, to hear her voice. From beneath, a small tug ate away at her, pulling her even deeper into the pit. This is hell , Thalia thought as another violent round of coughing shook her frame. Why am I here? This is where all monsters go, a deep, a mellifluous voice said, shaking her from her stupor. The edges of her vision had begun to blur from the heat. I just thought I’d give you a little taste. Go fuck yourself, Thalia screamed in her mind. I don’t belong here. Although she couldn't see it, she could have sworn the razor voice was smiling. Ah, but you don’t really believe that, do you, daughter of Zeus? Besides, we are not here for you. Her legs began moving on her own, the depths of exhaustion eating away at her muscles. In vain, she tried to force them to stop so she could sit and rest, but her body refused to listen. The call from beneath her began to get louder, whispering in her mind. Tenderly, she took a deep breath, fighting the vicious slicing in her lungs as she fought for air. You could’ve just transported me, you know. Thalia spat. That’s usually how this dream bullshit works. Oh, my dear, the voice crooned. This is not me. In fact, you can leave any time you wish. All I did was bring you here. Only monsters can ever enter hell and live. So what does it say about you that you’re here? That you’re a dick, Thalia snarled. You’re a real coward, you know that? Intelligence looks like cowardice to the foolish, the voice replied, as though it were lecturing an elementary school student. I merely wished to show you my home before I leave for good. Thalia racked her brain for answers. Violent coughing fits kept interrupting her, causing an oppressive haze to lap at the edges of her mind. She shuddered as the edges of her vision began to narrow. Her ragged breathing increased as she felt her soul slowly being squeezed by this strange place, the call of its siren beckoning her to relinquish control. I shall have pity, the voice said as Thalia collapsed to the ground. She winced as black shards of glass coated her skin, embedding themselves in her blisters. At least, far more than the gods ever did for you. Immediately, the scene in front of her shifted. She was an observer, hovering above the drama about to unfold beneath her. She took a deep breath and nearly cried with relief. The hot sulfuric air was gone. Looking down at her hands, the red, grotesque blisters had also vanished, her usual pale, scarred skin now vibrant in its place. She frowned as she took in that same red skyline, those same craggy black cliffs that adorned the horizon. Dark tendrils of shadow seemed to reach out in every direction.However, most curiously, she now appeared to be just above the edge of the steepest cliff she’d ever seen. The previous whispering from beneath had now turned into a cacophony of roars, urging her to jump. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself against their nearly irresistible call. She needed to wake up and find her way back. Despite her best efforts, she peered over the edge.It was completely indescribable. The black expanse of nothingness spread down below, but even that was only scratching the surface. Four-sided triangles and three-sided squares appeared and disappeared in the Void, defying all known laws of geometry. The deepest echo she had ever heard boomed from the depths, a sound that made her organs want to separate from the rest of her body. With each tone, she could feel herself being ripped apart by the creature. Goosebumps covered every inch of her as she felt her head being forcibly turned away from the Void. As she did so, the desire to rip herself apart began to abate, but the memories of the unsettling, physics-defying being merely etched themselves into her, desperate to be understood, though they never would. I told you I had something to show you. The voice from before shocked Thalia into action, banishing the unnerving scene from her mind. It is much easier to do that if you are of sound mind. Beneath her stood four beings. To the left, the figure was obscured, their features unrecognizable. Thalia squinted her eyes, desperate to decipher, but the harder she tried, the stronger the thread of the Mist taunted her. Frustrated, she looked to the being closest to the Void, a ghastly woman made of nothing but skin and bones. Her sunken cheeks held deep scars, and based on the placement, Thalia supposed they were self-inflicted. Long fingernails protruded from her cloak as the woman laughed maniacally, black tears streaming down her face. Thalia tensed her jaw as her stomach turned.To the right stood the biggest of them all, a towering woman. All light absorbed into her without reflection, and she wore a midnight-black dress adorned with onyx stones in the fringes. Looking at the towering woman made Thalia’s insides vibrate uncomfortably, as though looking at her too long would drive her crazy or rip her apart. One more glance at the woman revealed that her mouth was pressed into a thin smile.Thalia’s heart dropped as she noticed the figure turn to her and nod slightly. Panic rushed through her mind as blood roared in her ears. Then, as if it had never happened, the massive woman simply turned back to the show unfolding beneath her, leaving Thalia to wonder if she had imagined the exchange. “No!” Thalia’s scream seemed muted even as panic clawed its way up her throat. The boy in the middle of the group had unruly black hair that fell over his green eyes. He was covered in cuts and bruises, his clothes torn and filthy. He had placed himself between the others and the obscured figure to the left, and he kept glancing back at the person, a fierce protectiveness filling his gaze. As the group moved, she took in his awkward gait, moving like he’d injured his leg. She wouldn’t have been surprised, given the blood that caked every inch of his skin. Hot tears flooded her eyes as she saw Percy’s labored breathing. His handsome face was now gaunt and skeletal, as though all the blood and muscle had been drained from him. His expression was etched into a look of pure loathing that she had never seen him use before, not even on Luke. A sudden, horrific scream nearly split Thalia’s eardrums.The woman with sunken cheeks screamed in agony as her joints began to writhe at awkward angles. She moved as if controlled by an invisible puppet master, jerking along like a marionette. One glance at Percy and Thalia's jaw dropped in horror.He stood flexing his hands as sweat poured from him. His face was grit in concentration as his fingers forced the miserable woman to dance. The look on his face was so alien from the calm, loving boy she knew. A muffled voice, coming from the hidden figure, said simply: “Kill that poison bitch.”Percy grinned and flexed his hand harder, and Thalia watched in disgust as the ‘poison bitch’s’ screams began to intensify, echoing off the massive cliffs. Slowly, her head began to inflate as the black liquid on the ground forced itself into her, muffling her screams. Thalia attempted to avert her eyes but had no control over herself. Percy’s sadistic smile never left his face as the goddess began to bleed golden from her eyes and ears. Then, with a final grunt from Percy, she exploded, golden ichor raining down on him as he looked up with a smile. As he finished, sweat still pouring down his face, he doubled over and clutched his gut as he let out a guttural scream of agony. The blurred figure rushed over to him, and Thalia sensed them glaring intently at what was left of the desiccated corpse of the goddess. The massive shadow woman simply smiled before throwing one of her flowy black sleeves over the pair as they vanished from sight, small flickers of shadow all that remained from their presence. This is what Percy will become, the voice said, shattering Thalia’s stunned mind. The only question is, could you still love him? Is this the future you want? With an audible snap, the red glow faded as the scene began to swirl. Thalia closed her eyes as the uncomfortable sensation racked her body, invisible hands squeezing her stomach. She felt the dream begin to crack around her. She awoke with a start.She began to sign frantically, her words completely failing her at the horror of her dreams. Vaguely, she knew that Percy would have taken her to the infirmary after their fight with the eagle, but her vision was still swimming with horrific images of the Void and Percy’s sadistic smile as he killed that goddess. She wanted to be held. She wanted Percy, dammit, and even if that was his future, that wasn’t who he was now . Two words played on a loop through her mind, and she forced them past her lips.“Where’s Percy!?” She cried out, unsure of who she was even asking. Only in the back of her mind did she notice her bone-crushing exhaustion.Chiron's face came into view as he placed a comforting hand on Thalia's shoulder, guiding her back against the pillows. His face was sad and tired. Thalia felt her stomach drop before he had even said anything. A lightning storm began to brew in the open sky where the ceiling used to be. “I’m sorry, my dear,” He said, choosing his words carefully. “Percy hasn’t been seen since yesterday.” A violent shriek tore from Thalia's throat as tears fell from her eyes. The world slowly faded to black once more. Her last thought was that the infirmary was absolutely destroyed.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Next to Percy, Thalia lay on an infirmary bed, murmuring incoherently as Chiron attended to her. Her pained moans fueled Percy’s frustration. He shot an unpleasant glance at his mentor for not stepping in; but he’d deal with that privately. His gaze turned back to Mr. D, who was emitting a faint purple glow, but looking as unenthused as ever. Percy felt hot rage surge through him as the god leaned casually against the door frame.
“Are you going to say something, Peter?” Mr. D yawned. “Or can I get back to Olympus?”
Percy took a deep breath, searching for the most hurtful words he could find. “You are exactly like your father,” he said quietly. “I just didn’t realize that he’d raised you to be his little bitch.”
Unexpectedly, Mr. D barked out a harsh laugh, his eyes flashing dangerously. His gaze bore into Percy, casting horrifying visions of Thalia being chained beneath the sky. His most painful memories began to play as Mr. D’s fire grew, consuming his entire body. Flashbacks from his childhood only inflamed Percy’s already teetering emotional control. Gabe Ugliano's ugly walrus face stood suddenly at the forefront of his mind, raising his hands to hit Sally Jackson, and Percy’s emotional cauldron finally boiled over.
Red lightning began to crackle along the ceiling of the infirmary. Percy could faintly hear Chiron’s desperate pleas for civility, but he could tell the centaur was more concerned for Thalia’s safety than his own. That was fine. Percy would never let anything hurt Thalia, much less anything that came from him.
Massive bolts struck out in all directions, lashing out violently at the walls, the beds, and at Mr. D. Inside himself, Percy could feel his organs lap with excitement as the infirmary began to shake violently, a massive crack sounding as a chasm ripped open the floor between Percy and Dionysus.
From the shadows, the incessant calls of the damned beckoned him. For the first time, without any reservations, he called upon them, bringing them to the forefront of his mind. He allowed their screams, their anguish, to meld with his own, his violent lightning expanding, now laced with flickers of black energy as the shadows began to take corporeal form.
He wasn’t in his body; he was everywhere, in every corner of the room, in every shadow and flash of lightning. Distantly, he noted Mr. D tense, his eyes wide, alarmed as the light show turned into a raging storm. His purple glow staggered as the red lighting continued to lambast him relentlessly. A few particularly brutal strikes later, and he shrunk back, an ugly wince on his pudgy face.
Good,
Percy thought, the words swirling as the shadows echoed the phrase around him.
I want him to hurt. I want him to hurt for what he did to her.
His anger grew as the shadows swarmed the room, the numbness in his limbs an addictive fuel that propelled him further, harder. The air vibrated as he augmented his lightning. Mr. D had allowed the Eagle to attack Camp, and as a result, Thalia was unconscious in the bed behind him. A guttural roar escaped Percy as the black fissure in the floor began to ooze. Mr. D’s eyes flitted back and forth, shifting nervously as dark blue liquid erupted from the chasm. The liquid coated the walls and the doorframe, splattering onto Mr. D. Percy’s smile was dark as the wine god yelped; the blue fluid was cold as ice, burned like it too. Sorrow, grief, and despair hung heavily in the room. Percy huffed out a laugh, barely noting the way his breath clung to the frozen air.
Around him, shadows began to step out from the rumbling walls, bringing the chill of the underworld with them. The dark figures were varied; some tall and slender, with limbs too long for their towering frames. Others were short, stocky and bulbous, seeming to roll across the space as they descended on Mr. D.
The already dim lights of the infirmary flickered wildly. Several light bulbs burst in a spray of glass and sparks as faint, white orbs of light rose from the still oozing cavern in the floor. Their agonized moans rang shrilly through the room as they floated through the air, settling deeply into the shadow homunculi. The beings had no faces, only crude, bright eyes of various shades on their dark faces.
Percy hardly felt the wind whipping at his hair and clothes, brushing off the energy buzzing along his skin as he took in Mr. D’s now horrified expression.
From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Chiron carrying Thalia from the infirmary bed. He was moving steadily, but slowly, taking great care to keep the blue liquid off of her limp, unconscious body, even as it hissed where it came into contact with his own hide.
Percy heard himself speak. “Chiron?”
The centaurs head snapped to him, eyes pleading as he nodded toward the literal hell that Percy had raised. He ignored him, his gaze planted firmly on Thalia's exhausted body. His heart twisted at her furrowed brow, at the blood that ran from her injuries.
For a moment, the sight of Thalia’s injuries drove his own rage higher, and he found himself wishing that he could march on Olympus as he stood.
The anger he had been clinging to rushed from him with the horrible realization that he had placed her in danger. Guilt gnawed at his heart as shame sliced through him, freezing his hot rage. Thalia began to writhe in Chiron's arms, her unconscious body desperately trying to escape the cold, joyless space he had made.
The shadow homunculi now stood at the edge of the pit, awaiting their orders. Their gazes pierced Percy as the cacophonic vibrations of unsettled souls rattled his mind. He shot one last wicked glare toward Mr. D, the shaking coward, and the dark blue liquid began to recede into the fissure, vanishing as if it never existed.
His arms fell to his sides like blocks of lead, the lighting raging against the walls dimming as exhaustion filled him. The harsh red glow of the room morphed into a soft pink, then vanished altogether as the gargantuan bolts morphed into small, crackling tendrils before petering out.
Taking a deep breath, he waved his hand weakly, and the shadow creatures melted away, slithering into the cavern and joining their brethren in the unseen world.
Percy struggled to keep his eyes open, failing to do so as the newly freed souls descended upon him, their anguished voices now screaming their agony into his mind. With each new voice, a layer of suffocating pressure enveloped him, siphoning from his emotional bank. He dropped to his knees, overcome with the urge to curl up and never move again. Nothing was worth it. Thalia would hate him when she woke up. All the feelings, all the bitterness inside of him, he couldn’t quell them. Maybe it would just be better if she never saw him again.
A strong hand gripped his shoulder, breaking him from his spiral. He pried his eyes open, looking up to find Chiron’s poignant gaze pinned on him. His eyes were sad as he regarded him, and Percy noticed for the first time how the millennia of his life seemed to be etched onto his features.
“You know what to do,” Chiron urged.
Percy nodded, turning to face the darkness once again. He steeled his mind, erecting metal dams against the overwhelming flood of dejection. Slowly, he felt himself float above the waterline of misery as the white, wispy orbs reached out to him. Ignoring their call, he flexed his hand and bent them to his will, their anguished cries quelling to silent but expressive sadness.
He guided them to the fissure in the floor as he willed them to leave. Though the souls protested weakly, they obeyed, like little marionettes, as they filtered down. Some deep part of himself felt them melt back into the river they had come from. He slumped, his energy truly spent, as the last spirit returned to its prison. Percy looked around at the ruins of the infirmary, taking it in for the first time.
Mr. D was nowhere to be found. Black char dotted every inch of the walls, scorch marks from the lightning he had wielded. The previously pristine oak walls were completely marred.
Beds and bottles were overturned all around the room; glass littered the floor, and medicinal liquid pooled in various places. Additional guilt wracked him as he realized the mess he made. His throat tightened, his eyes hot. He averted his eyes as Chiron slowly carried Thalia back to one of the few intact beds.
A flicker of irritation began to fight for dominance in the sea of his emotions, wondering why his outburst was necessary in the first place. All he knew was that he needed to leave before he exploded again. There was nothing he could do for Thalia now anyway. He was just a liability.
Chiron opened his mouth to say something, but Percy cut him off. “If you’re going to stand in the middle of the road,” he said, trying to fight the bitterness from seeping into his tone. “Then you’re going to get hit.”
He pushed to his feet, storming from the room before he could hear Chiron's reply. What Mr. D had done wasn’t exactly surprising, but it still stung nonetheless. His hatred for campers was an open secret. Considering that he had voted to kill Percy and Thalia on Olympus, that he would allow them to die fighting Prometheus’ Eagle seemed par for the course at this point.
It was Chiron’s indecision that was shocking. The Old Horse had made his fair share of mistakes, but willingly shared Percy’s father’s identity, even at grave risk to himself. In that same conversation, he had allowed Percy to go rescue Thalia.
His
Thalia, even though Percy knew Chiron thought there were wiser courses of action.
He flushed slightly as the words.
His Thalia
flashed through his mind again. His heart somersaulted at the implication, but he mentally slapped himself for thinking that way. After all, you couldn’t really own people, and Thalia would probably kill him if she knew his thoughts. It was just that he needed to make sure she was okay, and the insatiable urge to fix everything consumed him whenever she was around. Even small things, like not fixing her shoelaces when her converse would come untied.
As his heart and his mind warred over his lightning girl, currently unconscious in the infirmary, he found himself at the lake without meaning to be there. He glanced down at the gashes covering his torso and arms, still dripping blood, and winced. The adrenaline was wearing off, his eyes drooping as he grimaced against the new wave of pain that coursed through him.
Stepping in, he took off his shirt. Chiron or some of the Apollo campers would probably be kind enough to help heal him, but there wasn’t any reason to, especially after he just trashed their workstation. He caught sight of his abdomen and stopped, puzzled. His gash from the eagle's claws had stopped bleeding. Instead, right where the skin was little more than thin, flayed strips of flesh was a red wall of blood, unmoving and firm.
Closing his eyes, Percy allowed his mind to focus, the water invigorating him as he moved deeper into the water. He shuddered, the contrast of the lake water highlighting a strange, new liquid within himself. It wasn’t anything like the Underworld Rivers or the Sea. Both of those felt like home. This felt much more fragile, almost delicate.
Blood roared in his head. He forced himself to relax, repeating a few signs that Thalia had taught him in an attempt to release some of the tight, nervous energy entangled in his body.
The painful tug in his gut from earlier finally dissipated, and as if on cue, blood began pouring from his gash again. Percy jolted with realization.
What he did earlier wasn’t natural. He was suddenly aware of his body's fragility. How had he survived fighting immortal beings? He was just a pile of flesh and bones. He’d had various abilities pop up over the years, but this was the first that gave him pause. His mind wandered to potential uses for these new powers, and he bit his lip hard enough to draw blood as he mentally wandered to a dark, uncomfortable place.
Why should you worry?
His inner voice prodded.
It’s not like you can help it. How you use it is far more important. And besides, it did just save your life.
Percy rubbed his temples then submerged himself completely, but not before an acorn bounced off his head. He rolled his eyes, though he was too tired to care about the nymph who threw it. Even after apologizing, they still hadn’t forgiven him for accidentally blowing up that sycamore tree with his lightning. At least they hadn’t filled his bed with bugs.
Thalia’s idea began to weave into his mind as the water invigorated him again. Only one person might have answers, and there was only one way to call upon them.
Wincing, Percy rubbed his side as the skin continued to knit itself together. It wasn’t painful, but it itched like crazy as the water boosted healing that should have taken weeks, if not longer.
Riptide thrummed, its strong pulse echoing in the currents. Percy took it out of his pocket as it started vibrating, sending shockwaves throughout the lake. An irresistible urge to uncap it consumed him as he tried to pinpoint the new frequency.
The celestial bronze tugged him through the water as little flickers of energy began to pull him like a vortex. Percy could just make out that the black streak down the center of the blade was now joined by streaks of dark blue, emerald green, ember orange, and a muddy, swampy yellow. The streaks melded together, swirling as one down the center of Riptide. A chorus of voices rang through his head as his sword dragged him toward the bottom of the lake.
Our master has called for you. It is time.
The next inhale of water was tart, and slightly sweet, playing on Percy's tongue as a brilliant vortex opened in the water before him. Kind, watery hands reached up from the bottom of the lake, gently helping him through the portal. Percy was not afraid, and didn’t resist as they helped him through. He allowed himself to relax as his vision went dark, relishing in the cool twinge of ice that coated his skin. In his last moment of consciousness, a thought clicked into place in his brain.
The water tasted like pomegranates.
____
Percy sat up, breathing the muggy air of the Underworld deep into his lungs. His smile quickly morphed into a frown as he took in the room he was in. Massive bronze and black walls surrounded him, with a high ceiling that he had to squint to see.
He was in Hades’ palace, but he didn’t recognize this room.
“Welcome,” Persephone’s soothing voice rang from a doorway to the right. Percy scrambled from where he’d been seated on the floor as the goddess came into view. “I believe we have much to discuss. It has been a long time since I have visited here. Oh goodness.”
Percy’s cheeks burned as she took in his shirtless form. She snapped her fingers. A dark tunic appeared in his hands, and he quickly shrugged it on.
She smiled. “That’s better.”
Percy bowed quickly, his face pinching in confusion. “Thank you, my lady. And…what do you mean?”
Persephone sighed, a mixture of emotions flitting across her face.
“Come with me,” she sighed.
She started off toward a doorway opposite from where she had come through. The door opened into a long, dark hallway. Percy followed, unable to stop himself from looking over his shoulder, just to see if Hades would show up.
The long, bronze hallway slowly darkened, until the walls, ceiling, and floors were covered in black. The carvings on the walls became older and older, Ancient Greek letters slowly losing shape and giving way to indecipherable characters. The entire feel of the Underworld changed, the shadows pooling like liquid across the plushy carpeted floor.
As they moved, Persephone’s flowing red and black peplos darkened until the fabric was dark as ink, maroon undertones swishing with the cloth as it moved.
Persephone stopped so suddenly that he bumped into her. She turned her head, a mischievous look on her face. Her elegant, long-fingered hands pointed at a glowing bronze set of symbols glowing against the black stone walls.
“Tell me,” she said. “Can you read this?”
Percy squinted, the words swimming into his mind of their own accord. “Wanax Posedao, Shaker of the Earth, Mover of Olympus, Last of the Old Ones.”
He uttered the words without thinking, and panic immediately welled up inside of him. Zoe had been clear: never say that name to anyone, let alone a god. He glanced at Persephone, half expecting outrage or anger. Instead, the goddess just looked sad, her expression far off and her eyes misty.
“That’s a name I haven’t heard in millennia,” she said softly. She grimaced, placing her head in her hands and rubbing her temples. “Tell me, does the name Despoina mean anything to you?”
Percy shook his head. While the name was familiar, he wasn’t sure what it meant, or who it meant.
“No,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry.”
Persephone waved him off, though her expression still looked pained.
“It’s alright,” she said. “Besides living with my mother when I was young, the Underworld is the only thing I can remember.”
Percy stilled as the energy in the room shifted, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Persephone’s eyes were dark when she spoke again.
“Posedao was my father. These runes have been glowing for weeks now. I heard your prayer…heard you say His name. So I summoned you, both as a member of my royal house and as a favor.”
“That makes you my sister,” Percy blurted. He wanted to take it back instantly. Persephone wasn’t a goddess to be trifled with, and he felt like he was pushing his luck. But he also found it hard to care.
Luckily, Persephone just chuckled. “I’m not sure how you know that, or if it’s even true, but if so…”
To his surprise, she pushed up on her toes and threw her arms around him, embracing him warmly. He was enveloped in her soft, comforting scent, and it reminded him vaguely of hugging his mom. He awkwardly wrapped his arms around her, and she squeezed him one more time before stepping back and nodding towards the door.
His mind was still racing, and he had to push himself to focus on what she was saying.
“This place has not been seen in many centuries. It has flickered into existence occasionally, but this the most solid it's been in…a long while.” She smiled sadly, pointing toward a locked door a few feet ahead of them.
“I know of the upcoming war and of Zeus’ inaction. I believe this could be the key to everything. Open it, and I will teach you all I can about the nature of shadow, and how to wield it.”
Percy stepped forward and examined the oddly shaped keyhole. Riptide thrummed again in his pocket, and he pulled it out and uncapped it. The colors along the blade shone brightly in the dim hallway, a rhythm coursing through his mind as the chorus of voices returned.
Use us,
they sang.
The master awaits.
Tentatively, he placed the point of the blade against the lock. Instantly, the door lit up with the same colors that swirled through Riptide. The door creaked open.
Inside was a simple, large room, teeming with life and energy. Percy stepped through the doorway, pulled in by the thrum of the sea. He noticed little seahorses floating past him, schools of minnows swimming through the air, even an octopus hiding along the doorframe. There was no true water here, but the air was…fluid, somehow. Unrestrained.
Percy laughed, startled, as tiny versions of Cerberus ran past his feet, chasing each other in circles as they barked and played. Their little yips echoed off of the walls of the chamber as several of them wrestled one another.
One of the little dogs stopped what it was doing and sat in front of Percy, two of its three little heads cocking to the side as it regarded him. It jumped up suddenly, its leftmost head grabbing Percy’s pant leg and dragging him further into the room while the other two heads barked excitedly, its little tail wagging furiously.
Persephone followed behind him. Her hand hadn’t left her forehead since they’d entered the room, and her face was pinched in pain like she had a migraine. Percy winced as the puppies continued to play loudly, but she shot him a reassuring smile, following him deeper into the chamber.
The room itself was rather unremarkable, dust coating every surface, the limestone walls old and worn. Percy marveled at the energy of the room; he felt more at home than he ever had before, this space the perfect union between shadow and sea. They continued back and back until they found themselves rounding a corner and arriving at an old, four post bed.
The little pup leading Percy barked excitedly at the foot of the large bed. Percy frowned, stepping forward to examine it. There was nothing in or on it but dusty sheets, which looked as though they’d gone for centuries without use.
Persephone found a spot against the wall and sat, crossing her ankles as another puppy found itself a place on her lap. She immediately began scratching behind the little things' ears, taking turns with each head, and she had the puppy whimpering happily in no time.
She chuckled, and the space around her brightened. Moss, grass, flowers and an assortment of roses appeared from the ground around her. Within moments, the space around the bed was a little meadow.
Percy's puppy yelped. His tail was once again moving, frantic with excitement, as he tried to scamper up onto the bed. He was too small, and could do little more than get his heads level with the high frame, but he didn’t seem deterred.
He laughed at the pups enthusiasm and crouched down to help him along.
Faintly, the soft cough of an elderly man came from the head of the bed. Percy froze, glancing briefly at Persephone before standing to check the previously empty mattress. A noise of surprise sputtered in his throat at the figure in the bed. It was all he could do to keep his mouth closed, squinting at the unmistakable likeness of Poseidon laying in the bed. They were identical in nearly every way, except that his beard was pure white, his face weathered, and dark horns protruded through his curly, graying hair.
The god let out another scratchy cough as Percy saw Persephone stand from the corner of his eye. His throat tightened as the goddess froze, silent tears instantly streaming down her face. It took another moment for her mind to catch up, realization dawning across her features as she held her little dog closely against her.
“F-Father,” she said quietly. Her hands shook as she set her puppy on the floor. “I’m- I’m sorry. I could not remember you.”
With Persephone's words, the inscription on the door came rushing back into Percy’s mind in full force.
Posedao’s lips turned up, crinkling his weathered face. “It is alright, my daughter. The fault is all mine. There are powers at work here that I was too foolish to see. Now come here.”
Stiffly, Persephone moved closer to the bed, next to where Percy stood. She reached out to hold his hand, but it simply passed through him, as though he were an illusion.
Posedao laughed weakly as he gestured towards Percy. “It is because of my son that I am even here at all. I fear this will be the last time I will wake.”
“No,” Persephone pleaded, her hands balling the sheets beneath his hand. “I just remembered. I can’t allow myself to forget again.”
Her father simply held his hands to her face, caressing her jaw tenderly. While they had no form, Percy could feel the warmth of his form from where he stood. His heart swelled with pride at the decrepit man calling him his son. Even Poseidon, one of the better Olympians, did not possess the same warmth.
“Do not weep, my daughter. There is much for you to learn.” He coughed weakly, and golden streams of ichor dribbled down his chin. Persephone blinked back tears. “Even the gods are not eternal; you embody this far more than anyone else, residing in different palaces at different times of the year.”
Posedao smiled weakly, lost in his memories. “My first wife, Damate, left after the Fall. She does not remember who she was. Oh, how I loved her so. I simply wish she does not lose her way.” His eyes twinkled as he looked at Percy, who’s mind had begun to race. The name sounded familiar, but the identity of the goddess escaped him.
“Only the most foolish of gods think of themselves as eternal,” Posedao said, his attention fully on Percy now. “It is the natural order of things, and I was foolish with my brother.”
“You mean Zeus?” Percy asked. He was having a hard time comprehending all of this. The gods were supposed to be immortal and unchangeable; yet here his father was, seemingly happy with his impending death.
Posedao nodded. “Yes, I do. You have met my grandfather, Ouranos.”
Memories of Ouranos’ cryptic words tore through his mind, taunting him as he recalled the hours he’d spent pouring over them. Percy nodded.
The old god chuckled. “Yes, he told me you had met. He was surprised by you, son. He didn’t know I could still get it on in my old age.”
“Dad!” Percy’s face heated, both at the implication and at how easy it was to claim this being as his father. Persephone choked on a laugh. “I thought you said you weren’t awake for centuries?”
Posedao smiled. “That is true. And if I’m being honest, I do not know what happened, but all the pain I have suffered was well worth seeing my children once more. I suspect the Fates have called you forth to atone for my mistakes.” He placed a wispy hand on Percy’s arm. “I am sorry, my son, that you must atone for my failures.”
Percy blinked back, tears threatening to form in his eyes. “What happened?”
Posedao sighed, and two chairs manifested beside the bed. Taking the cue, Persephone and Percy sat. Each of the little Cerberus puppies climbed into their laps, and were quickly snoring as their respective favorites gave them pets. Percy scratched absentmindedly behind three sets of ears as his father began to speak.
“Gods are complicated, and no one really knows, save Chaos, but we are embodiments of nature, of our element,” he began. He gestured over to Persephone, and she nodded in confirmation. “I was the Wanax, the King of Olympus. In the old days, the kingship was bestowed by whoever’s patron nation was the world superpower. The gates of Mycenae were unchallenged, and no equal existed among them.”
His eyes darkened. “But I was foolish and far too trusting. In my haste to not repeat the mistakes of my Father, Kronos, I allowed Zeus to scheme. I did not wish to harm my siblings, who shared the horrid fate of our father. Zeus’ patron nation, the Hittites, began to grow strong, and in my cowardice, I allowed them to torment my own people. I feared an unnecessary loss of life, domestic or foreign.”
He was silent for a moment. A single tear ran down his weathered face. “Because of my inaction, my people lost faith in me, and by the time I brought the storms to ensure their victory at Troy, Zeus had turned the hearts of the people, raising a hero in my own country against our agreement. Because I was weak, I allowed my friends to die on behalf of strangers.”
His piercing gaze cut through Percy, and a roil of emotions stormed through him with that look. “The world is cruel; whether it comes from the gods or the mortals, the result is the same. All you can do is protect those around you. Mercy is a luxury for those who have nothing to lose. My sins are mine alone, but learn from me; do not allow love for an enemy to allow the enemy to kill your love.”
Percy’s heart flipped as thoughts of Thalia flooded his mind.
His love.
The term felt like it had been crafted specifically for her. Pink crept into his cheeks as he thought of Thalia in his hoodie. He never said anything because he didn’t want to make her shy, but he knew that she’d swap out and steal more hoodies whenever she felt like it. He didn’t mind, though; it was a sight that he’d never tire of.
Thoughts of running his hands up her body made him swallow uncomfortably. He shifted to get comfortable, his blood now rerouting from his brain. What if, when she stretched in the mornings, he placed his hands on her slender stomach and kept them there, slowly riding them up as she whimpered beneath his touch, moaning his name softly…
Persephone cleared her throat as Posedao stared at him intently. Blushing, Percy averted his eyes. “Uh, sorry,” he said. “I didn’t hear you.”
His father just laughed, though he gave Percy a knowing look.
“It’s alright, it wasn’t that important. I also find that thinking about my love is far more enjoyable than nearly everything else in the world.” He winked at Percy. “The only other thing, of course, is doing things with her that warrant the title.”
“DAD!” Percy hid his face as Persephone laughed.
“Hades and I have definitely had fun in our millennia,” she mused. “Although we have had our rough patches, like everybody else.”
Percy groaned audibly and the two gods burst out laughing. Persephone dropped her hand to the bed, and Posedao let his spirit-like hand rest over hers. Fatherly affection swam in his eyes as he looked at her.
Slowly, his smile dropped, his intense gaze finding Percy once again. The old god began to flicker as another coughing fit racked him. Persephone stood, tears once again streaking her face as he rasped.
“My son, I love you dearly, and I wish I could watch you grow old.” His voice was weak and shaky. “But it is time for me to go. Zeus has lost his way. The Ancient Laws I instituted were only meant so Gods did not interfere with their children, most of whom were kings and princes of great nations. The loss of life was far too great, and I foolishly thought Zeus would uphold his end of the bargain.”
He coughed again, vicious tremors shaking his body. Giving a weak smile, he continued. “You are my legacy and a hero. Whether you like it or not, the life of a hero will end with blood-stained hands. It all depends on whether the blood is of your enemies or of your friends.”
Despite his flickering, his eyes burned brightly as he held Percy’s gaze. The pup in his lap stirred, three tongues licking his hands like he was urging him to pay attention.
“Trust my successors. Both of them.” Posedao urged. “My essence was split in two to prevent me from ever gaining consciousness again. Hades and Poseidon will see reason. Save your friends and choose well.”
He turned towards Persephone, the same fire burning in his eyes even as his voice softened. “My daughter, please guide my son, my heir. He has abilities that he can only dream of and has only begun to access. I awoke as he summoned my servants, the Five Rivers. His destiny is great and terrible. Please ensure the blood that will stain him will not be his own.”
Persephone nodded, her stoic facade breaking as tears dripped down her cheeks.
“I love you, dad,” she said. “Thank you for coming to see me one last time.”
Posedao brushed his wispy hand against her cheek. “Do not fret, my daughter. One day, though I hope it will be many, many centuries, we shall be united in the belly of Chaos. Death is preferable to the prison of Tartarus. The fading of the vanquished can be honorable. Should, Chaos forbid, Zeus prevail, invoke the ancient rite. We shall meet again one day.”
The fire in his gaze suddenly went out as he began to flicker again, his skin nearly translucent. “I love you, my children. Please allow an old god his indulgences, one final embrace.”
Percy rose from his chair as he and Persephone leaned over the bed. There was nothing to embrace, his skin little more than a wispy mist, but he squeezed his fathers hand as his sister lay her head on his chest. A look of contentment spread across his tired face. With one final glance at his children, he closed his eyes.
The pups on the floor began to howl, a sad, low sound as the last remnants wisped away. Percy sat back, struck with emotion as Persephone’s tears landed on the sheets where their father had just been.
The bed of the Old One was now empty.
Five wisps: dark blue, emerald green, ember orange, muddy swampy yellow, and black came from the now empty bed. They floated in the air, lighting the sorrowful, dank room.
Surrounding Percy, they circled tighter before slowly fading into his skin in the same order they appeared. With each, Percy felt a well of power flood through him, bubbling beneath his skin before sealing themselves behind a glass wall he knew he could never break. He flexed his scarred fingers as Thalia consumed him once more. His mind was made up in that moment.
His life had been painful, full of blood and punishment. He’d seen monsters and friends alike die, by each other's hands and at the hands of indifferent gods. His gaze hardened as his eyes traced the jagged black scars that ran up his arms. He would ensure his friends survived; he’d keep Thalia safe. The only ones to die would be monsters, in all their forms.
My heir.
Posedao’s ragged voice echoed in his mind, just as Ouranos had. Then it dissipated, and Percy knew that Posedao was finally gone.
____
The black shoreline of the Styx glittered before him, Achilles marking the banks. His face was weathered, but his frame was still youthful and strong. He was in prime fighting condition, save an arrow piercing his heel. He passed a viscous gaze over Percy, and the little dog, whom Percy had decided to call Spot, cowered behind his legs.
Percy stood unflinching. The yellow water of the Styx was littered with debris. Percy would’ve guessed that the water was originally a clear blue. Now, discarded hopes and dreams polluted it, and putrid yellow smoke evaporated from the shores. It cast an eerie shadow around the ghastly Achilles, standing between him and the river. Persephone stood behind, watching with interest.
“I need to bathe in the Styx,” Percy said, meeting Achilles’ glare with one of his own. “It’s the only way.”
“You are a fool,” Achilles spat. “The river will burn away everything you are. Friend and foe become one and the same; eventually, the bloodlust will consume you. My death was the greatest blessing I had ever received.”
Percy uncapped Riptide, the singular black streak once again lining the center of the shimmering bronze blade. He readied himself into a fighting stance, baring it to Achilles and speaking sharply.
“You don’t understand. I’ve got people I need to protect, and even the combined might of the gods may not succeed.”
“Then you are on a fool’s errand,” Achilles snarled. “The curse will make your skin iron, but it will turn your heart to stone. You will lose all you have ever loved. It is carved on the banks.”
Achilles stepped aside, allowing Percy to pass. “If you do not believe me, then read it for yourself. The River demands a price, and death is preferable to it.” Percy could've sworn Achilles' eyes swam with tears as he spoke the next words with uncharacteristic softness. “My beloved Patroclus was taken from me because I trusted in the River. Do not allow the same fate to come upon your love.”
He nodded once before vanishing, allowing Percy access to the river. Persephone was still behind him, and she was frowning deeply. He turned back to the water, frustration raging within him.
It had been over a month since he had seen the sky and sun, but the progress of mastering his abilities, namely shadow travel, prevented him from returning from the surface. If he returned, he’d be killed immediately. The only safe method of travel would be through the shadows directly to his cabin; otherwise Zeus would know of his whereabouts. At least, that’s what his sister and brother-in-law had reported.
His heart screamed, tearing itself apart over the fact that he couldn’t see her. He knew there was nothing he could do, but he hadn’t even said goodbye. He hadn’t gotten the chance to call her a badass for killing the Eagle, a sin in its own right. Every attempt to IM her was met with the blinking blue mist of a dropped call.
He had vanished without a trace. He figured she must be at least a little mad. But if he bathed in the river, he’d be practically invincible, and that was what he needed to do, right? He needed to avenge his father, he needed to protect
her.
A firm hand clasped his shoulder, and he glanced back to see Persephone’s concerned face. “It’s okay,” she said. “But please don’t go through with this. You step away from the river, and I’ll pull some strings to get you back into Camp. Deal?”
Percy took a deep breath, the filthy water of the Styx calling him. He needed to dive in, no matter what. But as he took a step, his legs froze, unable to fight whatever invisible force was hindering him. Thalia’s angelic laugh filled his ears. Images of her hand intertwined with his brought butterflies to his stomach. Unconsciously, he twitched his hands, suddenly feeling empty without its companion to hold.
Persephone, as if she were psychic, leaned down in his ear. “The river would make you sacrifice it all. What is a king without his queen?”
Shaking, Percy stepped away from the river, allowing Persephone’s calming words to guide him away from the water.
He couldn’t give her up, no matter what. His heart longed for her, and there was nothing off-limits in his quest to get her back. He just needed to see her, to make things right. Hopefully, she could forgive him for his little outburst that had made it unsafe for him to return to Camp. He didn’t want power, but if it was with her, he’d be willing to take a few risks…
“Fine,” he said, trying to keep his frustration out of his voice. “I just, I don’t know what to do. I need to see her and make sure she’s okay.”
“She
will
be okay,” Persephone said, grasping his arm as she led him back to the palace. “You’d just be placing her in more danger by going back right now. Besides, I think you’re pretty close to mastering shadow travel, and then you’ll have free reign. So long as you aren’t seen.” Her eyes turned misty as she gave Percy a quick hug. “And I’m sure Dad wouldn’t want you to wear yourself out. Don’t try to grow up too fast.”
Percy brushed her away, but his quip died as a lump formed in his throat, so he just nodded instead. That’s right. That’s why he was training like a madman. So he could create a better world with his love and have the ability to protect her. He couldn’t permit himself to become a danger to her by dipping himself in the Styx. Without her, he was floating without purpose, a side of himself slowly slipping through his fingers. This feeling she gave him was a luxury, but he craved it with all of his being.
“Then let’s go,” Persephone said. “I’m sorry we can’t bring her here. Children not of the Underworld would slowly lose their minds.”
“I know,” Percy grumbled. The knowledge didn’t ease their separation in the slightest. Preemptively, he already dreaded the goodbye that was to come. He couldn’t stay at camp for long. But he
could
relish in the fact that he was about to see her again. And soon.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Persephone stood next to him on the borders of Erebus. The location was perfect; Percy could feel the call of the Shadows and decipher their words. The Underworld was never separate, but there was something special about the borders. It was as though the very essence of pure shadow could sustain him, just as the ocean could.
The Queen of the Underworld shot him a smile as she poured a handful of seeds into his waiting palm. The tart aroma sharpened his senses as they sat in his hand. Little tendrils of shadow wrapped around each, flickering in and out of Percy’s vision as he raised them to his mouth. The juices flowed over his tongue as his pupils flared, the currents of shadow crescendoing their enticing call.
“I’ll guide you there. The first time is always the hardest,” Persephone said. “Poseidon said it was okay to use your cabin. He’s furious for you.”
Percy nodded and closed his eyes, allowing the energy to flow through him. The once dreaded shadows reached out to him, but instead of their usual icy edge, there was a soft warmth, as though they had accepted him as one of their own. Slowly, his body began to slip away. He melted into them, aligning his thoughts with the pulsing rhythm of the darkness.
He recoiled as his heart thrummed in beat with the shadow, his desires united with them for the first time. Something had changed since his explosion on Mr. D, and ever since, the shadows were no longer scary. Instead, their song of vengeance had turned pleasant in his ears. In many ways, they were the only ones who could truly understand.
Instead of fighting the ghastly hands that reached for him, he allowed them to caress his skin, their chilling touch sending shivers down his spine. Despite the still uncomfortable sensation, a sense of security washed over him. In his mind, a map of the inner workings of the shadow current appeared, with Thalia’s shining face breaking through the oppressive darkness that nipped at him.
Picturing the Poseidon cabin as clearly as possible, a final burst of energy and a push from those hands had a light appearing at the end of his shadowy tunnel. His heart skipped a beat, a sensation that felt suspiciously close to giddiness filled him. Thalia was waiting for him.
His Thalia.
He stepped through the edge of the shadow and into the room, the familiar aroma of sea salt air tickling his nostrils.
The thick air of the Underworld seemed to slough off from him as his feet found firm ground once again. A breeze blew past him, nearly corporeal as it ruffled his hair affectionately, seeming to leave him with a moment of praise before the pomegranate scented air dissipated from the cabin.
In his first moment of privacy he hastily scanned the cabin, desperately searching for Thalia, hoping she hadn’t left.
His heart dropped into his stomach as he examined the bed adjacent to his. It was pristinely made and undisturbed. Hurrying over, he ruffled the neatly made covers, searching for any sign of life. Even Thalia’s hairs, which were occasionally left on her pillow, were absent. It looked like his Father’s, completely abandoned without remorse. He choked back a sob as he realized what that meant. His bed, still unmade and messy from his fight with the Eagle, stood, the only sign of life in the room. His other half had been ripped from him.
Searching the cabin’s private bathroom, he found it nearly empty. Thalia’s clutter, a comforting sign of homeliness, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, lonely bottles of shampoo and body wash stood on the shower ledge, the only disruption in the stark linoleum facilities. He fell to his knees on the cold bathroom tile. She was gone, left to deal with the horrors of the Zeus cabin or the Big House.
His hands fidgeted as his mind began to race. He needed to see her. He
had
to. Of course she’d be upset with him for vanishing. Now that he was persona non grata to Dionysus, none of his mail had been permitted to reach her either. With agonizing clarity, he could feel the crushing loneliness she must have endured after she woke up from her badass fight with the Eagle.
He jumped to his feet, pacing as a hand rubbed absently at his chest. The weight of her absence was crushing. And he couldn’t even go looking for her; he could only wait inside the door and hope she walked by. The cabin was the only place free from Zeus's eyes, and leaving would be a death sentence. Even then, seeing her one last time might be worth it.
“Damn it!” He yelled as he brought his fist down on the bathroom counter. A massive crack formed on impact, spider-webbing through the cultured marble finish. Percy winced as fiery pain shot up his hand, protesting the violent outburst. The skin had already turned an ugly shade of purple, bruising as it began to throb. Grumbling, he slowly backed away from the sink. The walls were already shaking violently, and the last thing he could afford right now would be to accidentally bring the cabin down. Plus, if Thalia happened to wander by, she couldn’t see him like this.
A vibrant flash of light the color of the sea lit up the cabin and Percy jolted to shield his eyes. The strong, comforting smell of the ocean filled the cabin, overpowering all else. Percy’s eyes were still averted, fixed on the now seamless marble of the bathroom counter, when a strong pair of arms embraced him.
“My son,” Poseidon’s deep voice rumbled behind him. “Are you alright? What happened?”
Percy turned as the arms holding him fell away. One glance at Poseidon’s face and his heart dropped. His usual self assured expression was gone, replaced with worry. More wrinkles than Percy remembered marred his face, and his countenance lacked the vigor of immortality.
“I’m fine, Dad,” Percy said. He wasn’t sure if Poseidon counted as his father, but the term rang true through him as surely as it did the day the God of Tides had claimed him in front of the entire camp. “It’s a long story.”
“We’ve got time,” Poseidon said. His eyes flickered with barely contained agitation, but he inhaled slowly, like he was calming himself. “Please, tell me everything you can.”
Memories roared through Percy’s mind as he did his best to settle himself. He thought back through the past month before settling on the cause of his banishment from camp.
“I kicked Mr. D’s ass.” He joked, cracking a smile. “He deserved it, though.”
Poseidon’s eyes glowed with pride, but not surprise. “I have heard about the Eagle. You and Thalia did well, though the circumstances were inexcusable.”
The air around the god darkened with his gaze. Storm clouds gathered on the ceiling of the cabin, bringing wind and rain with them as they raged. Poseidon turned and thrust his trident upward, channeling the storm effortlessly up through the ceiling and to the sky beyond. The violent storm was gone as quickly as it had appeared, a gentle breeze left in its wake.
As Poseidon turned back to his son, deep-seated hatred blazed in his eyes. He smiled, almost cruelly, as his gaze flitted skyward. “I believe my brother has forgotten who I truly am. He never really forgave me for the whole Storm-bringer thing. The only difference is that I am willing to wield those storms on behalf of my family rather than myself.” He looked at Percy, a fierce glimmer in his eye. “Do not fear the storm. Although I expect you don’t, considering your choice of friends.”
“Thalia’s not dangerous, Dad,” Percy said, overcoming his awe at the rare show of godly power. “Don’t bring her into this.”
Poseidon quirked an eyebrow as he smirked. “Not dangerous, huh? I’m a little disappointed. My dear Amphitrite is quite dangerous to all who oppose her.”
Percy flushed red, his Father’s words finally clicking. “Wait, I didn’t mean…”
A laugh escaped Poseidon’s lips, a booming sound that rivaled his storms. “Oh, my boy. It’s all in good fun. You are quite like me, after all. Do not fret; I will not abandon the girl after I’ve saved her. She is loyal to you, and that is good enough for me.”
The pit in Percy’s stomach began to reopen. Why should she trust him after he left? Pressure built behind his eyes at the thought of the inevitable, vicious glare she’d be giving him when she saw him again. She’d already been abandoned so many times before, and he’d gone and done it to her without wanting to. He needed to explain everything.
Percy was startled from his thoughts by Poseidon placing a firm hand on his shoulder. “I understand it is difficult and may take some time, but I believe she will find it within herself to move forward. She, more than anyone, knows of the cruelty of the gods.” He gestured to himself. “Every god is cruel. The difference between us is only to whom we turn our ire. Heroes are much the same way.”
Percy winced, and he held up a hand to explain. “The world will forever be hostile, and the only way we can survive is to do what we must. Every enemy spared is another opportunity for that enemy to shed more blood. An enemy slain will never bother you again.”
Percy’s stomach churned, but he understood what that meant. Posedao had promised the same thing: mercy only meant prolonging the conflict, and more conflict meant more death. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt Thalia. Even in the time when she wasn’t talking to him, he still would have killed Luke, or anybody, for her. Anyone who could make her feel broken or convince her she was less-than deserved to suffer.
“What should I do?” Percy asked, fighting his quavering voice. “I’m stuck in the cabin. Zeus will smite me where I stand if I leave. Thalia probably hates me, and Kronos is getting closer to rising.” He let out a shaky breath, his onslaught of worries caught in his throat.
Poseidon gave a small sigh as he ruffled Percy’s hair. “There is but one option, I’m afraid. But it would allow you to peruse Camp safely again, for a time.”
“Tell me,” Percy said, tendrils of anticipation weaving up his spine. “I need to see her.”
One moment turned to two, the air heavy as Poseidon’s eyes bore into Percy’s, studying him deeply. Poseidon pursed his lips as he looked towards the ceiling, seemingly deep in thought.
“It is a little sooner than we were planning…but if I were to officially offer you a quest, you would then be designated a hero by the Ancient Laws. Then Zeus can’t just strike you down wherever or whenever he pleases.”
Percy rapped his knuckles against his thigh, the comforting impact ebbing his worst worries. His eyes flitted to the door once more, desperately hoping that Thalia would come through it at any moment.
“What would the quest be?” He asked cautiously. “Where would you be sending me?”
Poseidon sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. “You are familiar with the Labyrinth, yes?”
Visions of the old man’s maggot-infested corpse squeezed their way into Percy’s mind, unbidden. He shuddered over the man’s cryptic message at the itching on his skin in the maze. Without thinking, he began scratching his skin, phantom ants crawling through as his mind warped around the horror of that place. Still, he nodded jerkily.
“Considering the Eagle, I highly doubt that morale for defending Olympus is very high,” Poseidon began. “And frankly, even I don’t care much for my brother at the moment for endangering my son and future daughter-in-law. Anyone willing to discard their own children so callously has clearly lost their way–”
Percy cut him off, sensing another rant about the King of Olympus. “Preaching to the choir, Dad. Why is the Labyrinth important? What do you know?”
Percy didn’t even try denying the daughter-in-law bit, and Poseidon gave him a knowing look. Percy fought the heat rising on his cheeks as pleasant memories from Aphrodite began to weave their way through. Most involved him and Thalia on a bed, either snuggling or stripping. Gods, he’d kill to see that, to do that with her. His soul was drained without its other half, and the stony walls of isolation loomed larger every day.
“While my brother has endangered Camp with his foolishness, the Labyrinth remains an enigma to the Olympians. Hecate has turned on Olympus, and she alone knew the magic far better than most,” Poseidon said. “We have strong reason to believe that Kronos will use his forces to attack Camp. So while people like me can politic with Zeus, the Camp must be protected in the meantime.”
“So, you just want me to investigate?” Percy asked. “Is that it?”
“More or less?” Poseidon shrugged his shoulders. “I suspect there is far more at play, but our hands are tied. I suspect the Prophecy will guide you more.” He cracked a smile. “But at least this time, you won’t need to fight the Minotaur. Unlike Theseus, you managed to separate the tasks.”
Percy laughed, although it was emptier than he would have liked. The Labyrinth loomed over him, its menacing walls a prison though he had not yet entered. His Father's sincerity was apparent, and even though his relationship with most gods left much to be desired, heading to a magical place that even they couldn’t track felt like a disaster.
Deep inside of him, he knew that his destiny was to be found there. It was the only possible outcome in which he, Thalia, and his other loved ones were saved. The haunting words of the old corpse scratched at his mind again and again.
Your destiny shall be found in the endless maze
.
Percy steeled himself, his jaw tense. “I accept.” He said. “I shall go into the maze on your errand as a hero.”
Poseidon relaxed, some of the tension lines leaving his face. Once again, the sea felt free, and Percy could feel many ocean storms around the globe dissipate, leaving sailors to traverse the calm seas once more. His heart panged as he realized the worry he gave his Father. In its absence, however, his corrosive anxiety over confronting an angry Thalia was heightened.
Poseidon’s gaze softened, his pupils swimming like the sea's currents. “As a hero, I hope you succeed in defending your friends. It is what I want. However,” he pulled Percy into a brief but firm hug. “As my son, I want you to remain safe.”
“I will be,” Percy said. His voice caught at the end, his Father's warm arms causing his heart to swell. “I will be,” he repeated. “For her.”
Breaking from the hug, Poseidon clapped Percy on the back. “Forgive me for the theatrics, but since we’re doing this the old-fashioned way, I believe you have an entrance to make.”
____
Percy stood in the center of the pavilion, his expression carefully neutral, and his skin crawling from the inquisitive, piercing gazes of the Campers. None of them were fiercer than Thalia’s. Her expression had morphed from relief to frustration, anger, and something else that Percy couldn’t name. She’d bite her lip occasionally and then avert her gaze like she was embarrassed. He couldn’t really blame her; he wasn’t sure what to do either, and of all the things he wanted to say, it wasn’t the time.
Her once sparkling blue eyes were now dull and lifeless. The first time he’d caught sight of them, he’d nearly flinched away. Her movements were sluggish, and she looked like she hadn’t slept since he’d left. In her brooding moments, her eyes would go wide, almost imperceptibly. Her fidgeting hands made signs that only Percy could recognize. Her breath would hitch, and the desire to cradle her nearly consumed him. He tried to get her attention and she averted her gaze, hurt flashing across her features.
“Camp Half-Blood,” Poseidon’s booming voice echoed through the space, his dulcet tones slicing through the tertiary discussion. “I am here to announce a quest that has been given to Perseus Jackson.”
Raucous applause broke out among the Campers, although they still looked befuddled. Of the three quests issued in the timeline of most attendees, Chiron would pull the heroes aside privately and explain things. Then, he would send them to the Oracle with as little fanfare as possible. Percy remembered his first quest exceptionally vividly. Clarisse didn’t discuss it, but it was still a relatively private affair, even with the pressure on Tantalus. Considering he was unconscious during the Hunters' Prophecy, Percy wasn’t sure, but he imagined that it was nothing like this.
“As you know, Kronos rises shortly,” Poseidon said. “It is a threat that…some–” he shot a threatening glare at Mr. D, who was scowling in the corner but saying nothing. “–believe is nothing more than a minor incursion on the sovereignty of Olympus. However, I am not here to stand idly while many of your parents seek to play games with your lives. Therefore, as Percy has already agreed, he will enter the Labyrinth and dispose of the threat within.”
Murmurs of anxiety rippled throughout the crowd. The younger ones looked outraged at the implication that their parents were using them as tools, gambling with their lives. The older ones looked dejected as they explained that Poseidon was not lying. They bore the fact with quiet resignation, and Percy’s blood boiled.
“As is custom, Percy may select two quest companions.” Poseidon’s storm swirled just past the beach bordering camp. Winds blew through the pavilion, making the torches flicker dramatically. “But first, the Oracle awaits, my son.”
There was no more applause as Percy stepped down from the makeshift podium. Heavy silence hung over them, the kind that no one dared break. Gods didn’t show up to Camp without a reason, and the magnitude of the threat was beginning to sink in. His eyes caught Thalia’s, but she scowled and turned her head, though he swore he saw them glistening. Sighing, he headed towards the Big House to receive his Prophecy, trying to keep Thalia’s broken heart away from his mind.
“I will be making sure Mr. D knows his place,” Poseidon said with a wink as Percy continued through the crowd. “And please ensure that my future daughter-in-law hears why you left her for a month.”
“I didn’t leave her,” Percy growled, trying to add some bite into his voice. Guilt bled through instead. He tucked away that giddy part of himself that sang as Poseidon called her his future daughter-in-law. “I’ll talk to her as soon as I can.”
It was mostly silent as Poseidon walked with him to the Big House. The calming presence of the sea radiated from his father, washing over Percy. The moment they reached the front door, Poseidon stepped aside, flashing him a grin.
“I should really get back to the party,” he said. “The Oracle doesn’t like to speak if other people are around, and–” he gestured behind Percy, who’s eyes widened as he realized Thalia had followed them “–I think someone wants to talk to you.”
Percy nodded, his heart doing a little flip. Poseidon walked off, whistling and muttering to himself about
‘teaching the young'uns how to make proper quest sacrifices’
.
Thalia’s normally sweet face was scowling as she glared daggers at him, eyes narrowed and flickering with electricity. Not just her eyes, her whole body seemed to be electrified.
Her nostrils flared as she stomped up the steps and got in his face.
“You better have a fucking explanation,” she grit out.
Percy held his hands up placatingly, the gesture not doing a thing against her simmering rage. He could feel the heat from her body even from this distance, her warmth soaking into him. His heart swelled at their proximity, and he couldn’t keep a little smile from crossing his face.
Thalia noticed, and he took a step back, trying to speak quickly before her rage could boil over. He backed up again, but she followed him, pushing him against the side of the house and pinning him, her forearm pressed just below his throat.
“Er–I mean, I kicked Mr. D’s ass?” Percy’s words rushed out, trying not to wilt beneath her threatening glare. “What did he tell you?”
Her gaze lightened nearly imperceptibly, although she did not look away. A massive spike of electricity flowed through her arm and into his chest, but it was hardly enough to make him flinch. She scowled. “I’m asking the questions here, Jackson. You don’t get to disappear without a trace for a month.”
Percy clenched his jaw, trying to avoid a repeat of the Westover apology. “It’s not my fault that Zeus wants me dead. Apparently, I have a ‘
kill-on-sight’
order. And Mr. D wouldn’t let any of my messages get to you. I tried to tell you what happened, but none of my IMs went through either. I had to pester Persephone for over a month just to let me
try
shadow travel.”
Thalia began to glow, her body shaking as her lightning bolts slowly covered her body more and more intensely until she was practically covered in blue.
She took a deep, shuddering breath. Tears streamed down her face and Percy felt his heart crack, even as she pinned him beneath her volatile stare.
“Do you know how it feels to wake up from a nightmare and find that the
one person
who has always been there is gone? To worry for you, cry for you? To be convinced you were dead or worse?” A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “I was forced to choose between following my fathers orders, or being killed. Do you even
know
how fucking shitty that is?”
“If I came back, I would have been killed!” Percy matched her volume, pushing against her and putting some distance between them. “Of course, I wished I could have come back. I thought about it every single day!”
“You left me!” Thalia screamed, her voice breaking. “You promised you wouldn’t.”
The retort died in his throat at the raw hurt on her face. Her lightning was sputtering out, like she was too tired to keep her anger up. He sighed. Why couldn’t she just
listen
to him?
“Like I said, it’s not my fault your dad’s a whiny little bitch,” Percy grit his teeth as he tried to keep his tone in check. “You think I wanted to leave?”
“I think you did leave!” Her lightning flared to life as she advanced on him again, all her hurt replaced with anger.
As she opened her mouth, Percy assumed to continue yelling at him, a small but fierce growl came from Percy’s feet. Percy looked down, blinking away his surprise at Spot, standing between the two, guarding Percy protectively as three little heads growled menacingly at Thalia.
His little legs were trembling, but his teeth were all bared, and all three heads looked as vicious as Percy had ever seen.
Thalia's eyes darted down to the three-headed Rottweiler puppy, and her lighting flickered before dying again.
When she looked at Percy a few moments later, some of the anger was gone from her expression. Instead, she just looked tired and deeply hurt. She took a deep, shaky breath before sitting on the porch, her back propped against the railing.
“I’m going to give you five minutes,” she said tersely. “Explain everything from the beginning. Your head may be full of Kelp, but I know you won’t lie to me.”
“Okay,” Percy said softly, sitting down with his back to the Big House. Spot, who had stopped growling, climbed into his lap, although one head still eyed Thalia warily. “For what it’s worth. I’m sorry.”
Thalia nodded slowly. Her face was torn, emotions dancing across her features like she was trying to piece together what happened before Percy began.
As he regaled her with his tales of kicking Mr. D’s ass and his sojourn with Persephone, her expression slowly began to soften. The daggers shooting from her eyes had not dissipated, but their blades had dulled such that Percy could see she was starting to crack. Starting to believe him.
“In conclusion,” Percy said, miming checking his watch, “Poseidon gave me this quest so your dad can’t kill me.”
An uncomfortable silence fell between them. Thalia shifted, curling her knees to her chest as Percy rubbed his hands together nervously. Neither could hold the other’s gaze. Questions of his own began swirling in his mind. He wanted to ask about the empty bed, where she was staying, and what Mr. D had told her. Every thought he had fled from him as Thalia spoke.
“I believe you,” she said, her voice shaking. The venom in her glare had long since vanished. Now, the girl before him simply looked…broken. It was an expression that Percy hoped to never see again.
“Do you know why the Eagle attacked Camp?” Thalia asked, her voice small.
Percy had suspicions but shook his head no. It was her turn to talk now.
She took a deep breath then began. “Well, basically, my dad decided to be a dick and demanded I sleep in his cabin. I said no. I know Mr. D threatened me in front of you, but I guess he got sick of it.” She shrugged, but the tension in her frame made her attempt at nonchalance look pitiful. “So, he decided to try and kill my friends because he’s a whiny little
bitch
.”
Percy sighed, consumed with the urge to pull her into a hug, but he didn’t know if that would be welcome. Instead, he gave her a gentle smile.
“You looked like a badass fighting that Eagle, though. It was less of a whiny bitch than your dad.”
Thalia smiled weakly. “Thanks,” she said. “The other part is just…I’ve just…had some bad dreams. And I wasn’t sure where you were.”
She scooted across the porch, close enough that Percy could feel her warm breath against his shirt. Spot shifted, but didn’t complain as she sat thigh to thigh with him.
“It was awful…and I wasn’t sure what to do.” Her voice broke, little more than a whisper. “I don’t want to do things by myself. I mean…what can we do against the gods?”
Percy’s heart shattered as her lower lip began to quiver. More guilt gnawed at him as he realized how worried she must have been. It morphed into a deep-seated frustration. He was sick and tired of the gods and their petty games. Zeus, most notably.
He focused on her again. Her big blue eyes were filled with unshed tears, her lip wobbling as she sucked in deep breaths, trying to calm herself. In that moment, he knew his decision was made. It was the same decision he’d made with his father just before he’d faded.
He pulled her into him, letting her warmth calm the frustration that threatened to boil over.
“I’m never leaving you again,” he whispered. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t come see you.”
“Shut up, Kelp Head,” she said. She burrowed into him, though he could feel her fidget restlessly. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“I’ll keep this one,” he said. “I won’t allow anything else.”
A comfortable silence overtook them. His heart slowly pulled itself back together as he held her in his arms, just to break again at the implications behind her words. She must have moved back to the Zeus cabin, unwilling to endanger Camp. As defiant as she was, she would never jeopardize the other demigods, especially if the only cost was herself.
Holding her tighter, he hoped to convey the message that words could not. Alone, they were strong, but together they were unbeatable. He quite liked the mental image of Thalia as his queen, restoring the throne unjustly taken from his Father. Of course, he wanted the other things that being his queen would entail, too…
“I’m sorry your dad is a whiny little bitch,” Percy said. “But I think we’ll be okay. You aren’t alone anymore.”
“You better not be fucking lying,” Thalia said, though all the bite in her voice was gone. She had relaxed in his arms, and was even absentmindedly scratching Spot behind the ears of his middle head. He sighed contentedly. In that moment, not even Zeus himself could have broken them apart.
“I could never lie to you, Pinecone Face,” he grinned, giving her another squeeze. “You’re welcome to come back to my cabin, you know.”
Thalia sighed, hiding her face even deeper in his shirt. She was silent, save for the way her breathing hitched. “I’d really like that…but you know I can’t.”
The answer wasn’t surprising, but it still stung like she had driven a dagger into his heart. It wasn’t her fault, and given their dual self-sacrificing nature, he completely understood. He just selfishly wanted her for himself, willing to fight whatever monsters threatened her. No one would get between him and his girl.
“I know,” he said, hiding his hurt. “I just…thought I’d offer.”
Thalia gave him one more squeeze as she slowly pulled away. Her eyes were red and puffy, and the front of his shirt was soaked, but in a way, it was comforting that she could slip into a similar ease they had held since before he had left. Her brash anger was replaced with a tentative cautiousness, and she gazed at him as though he would disappear if she looked away.
“You better take me on your quest,” she said seriously. “You just promised you wouldn’t leave.”
Percy nodded, grinning at her again. “Of course. I figured we’d need a bit of greenery down there anyway, Pinecone Face.”
Thalia flushed, sending a shock through him. Percy just smirked as his body absorbed the harmless energy.
“G-good,” she stammered, climbing to her feet. Percy followed suit, Spot jumping from his lap. Thalia looked down at her shoes, her jaw tense. “And, uh, I’m sorry for puking on you.”
Percy blinked, the memory wholly forgotten. “Oh, it’s nothing,” he said, waving her off. “Only takes you down one notch on the badass meter.”
Her eyes narrowed, but the corners of her lips turned upwards. “Come find me after you’re done, Kelp Head. You’re going to have a Prophecy to share.”
Oh, right.
The Prophecy
. He always hated getting one of those things. “Wouldn’t dream of doing anything else,” he muttered. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
With a nod, she left the porch and started walking down the hill. Percy couldn’t help the way his eyes followed her, drinking in the lines of her perfect body as they drifted lower…
He shook himself out of that particular train of thought. With a blush on his cheeks, and one more glance back at Thalia, Percy hurried inside of the Big House.
____
At the center of the dusty, dim attic sat the Oracle. Her skeletal form was the same as he remembered it. Of course, that’s how dead people usually were. From her empty eye sockets, green smoke billowed, her lifeless body looking remarkably like the old man from the maze.
Approach, seeker, and ask.
The Oracle’s dead, hollow voice reverberated in Percy’s mind. He shuddered at how much the intrusion felt like a misty snake coiling around his brain. He braced himself and stood firm. The Labyrinth and all its horrors was the only key to unlocking the future he so desperately craved.
He said simply, “What is my destiny?” A long moment passed, and the Oracle remained silent. He could feel Aphrodite’s magic itching at the back of his mind. Percy sighed, knowing exactly what she wanted. “How do I save my love?”
The Oracle seemed to smile gruesomely, billows of green smoke now filling the attic. The scene before him churned his stomach. On the floor were Annabeth, Rachel, Grover, and Thalia, sliced open by some unseen force, and bleeding heavily. Their eyes were empty and lifeless, but they still bore into him. He choked back a strangled sound.
It’s not real. It’s not real,
he told himself. But he could see them, could smell the metallic tang of their blood.
Just like when it was Gabe and his poker buddies, one by one, they opened their mouths and spoke a line. First was Annabeth, turning her head with a jerk as though her body were not hers.
From the ashes reborn, the old one’s rage.
Then, it was Rachel’s turn, green smoke billowing from her mouth as she spoke, Lightning and Ocean dawn a new age. Percy shuddered at the familiar line. Grover cocked his head, his voice sounding like it was coming through a distortion filter. A cursed blade forged, crafted through stone. Thalia was last in the sequence, her visage tearing Percy apart as her eyes filled with tears. Shattered through breaking of flesh and of bone.
Annabeth opened her mouth again, and Percy frowned, trying to calm his racing heart. This was going to be a long prophecy; that was never a good sign.
Lightning shall fall, the ocean will rise.
Grover continued.
Justice shall reign, the King belies.
Of choices, of pain, sacrifice unjust.
Percy scarcely breathed, praying Rachels line was penultimate.
His gaze turned to Thalia, whose lifeless eyes had filled with tears. Her amorphous form began to shift, her bleeding torso ripping itself open even further. Percy swallowed the bile that crawled up his throat as her organs sat there, exposed to the air, steaming. From her chest, a knife appeared, flickering a heavy red. Her expression, previously neutral, shifted into one of agony and dejection. As she spoke the lines, she gestured to herself.
Choose O hero, the world, or your trust.
The scene dissipated as Thalia finished the Prophecy, leaving only green mist skirting about the room. Gasping for air, Percy felt the cold, damp wood of the attic floor against his face. He didn’t remember falling over. The only thing he could see was the horrific image of Thalia being ripped open, playing again and again in his mind.
Shuddering ripples of power and shadow lapped at his body. The icy chill shocked him from his mental prison. He pushed himself up onto his arms enough to look up at the Oracle. That ghastly smile still stretched across her skeletal face. He steeled himself and met her gaze unflinchingly. Determination filled him, desperate to avoid the future he had just seen, at any cost.
Choose wisely, hero.
____
Stepping through the front door of the Big House, the first thing he saw was Thalia, leaning against the railing of the porch. Waiting for him.
She straightened, walking to him.
“How’d it go? Are we all going to die?”
“What do you think?” Percy asked, trying to keep his voice steady. A vision of Thalia’s broken body flashed in his mind, and he winced.
Thalia rubbed his arm softly. “I’m sorry,” she said. “That bad, huh?”
Percy nodded, trying to shake the horrific image from his mind. “In a way. But I guess that’s about all we can expect, huh?”
“Don’t get cold feet on me, Kelp Head,” she scolded. “You already promised me that I’d be going with you. If you think I’m letting you do this by yourself, then you’re a dumbass.”
Percy chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Thanks.” A lump formed in his throat as he kept his gaze squarely on his shoes. “I’m going to guess you want to know the prophecy now, huh?”
Thalia raised an eyebrow. “Did you hit your head or something in the Underworld? What do you think?”
“Right, right,” Percy responded. “Of course.”
She was quiet as he relayed the Prophecy, her brow furrowed. Her hands moved as she processed the lines, and Percy caught signs here and there.
Trust. Choice. King.
He repeated the Prophecy when she signed for him too, and he could practically see the gears whirring in her mind as she went over every possibility of what the lines could mean.
“There’s a repeat,” Thalia said eventually. “I’ve never heard of that before.”
“The same line that I thought wasn’t complete from yours,” Percy said with a sigh. “I guess we’ll get to find out what it means, though? Considering both of us are going, I bet it means something referencing us.”
“If I fall, I hope it isn’t from very high up,” Thalia smiled a bit weakly. “Heights aren’t really my thing.”
Percy smiled. “The Princess of the Heavens afraid of the sky? That’s like me being scared of the water.”
Thalia’s eyes narrowed, clearly unamused. “Don’t call me princess.”
“Whatever you say, princess,” Percy said, sticking his tongue out. “By the time this is all over, you’ll be a queen anyway.”
“You’re insufferable, you know that?” Thalia groaned, though her cheeks turned a cute shade of pink. Percy was expecting an insult, or maybe for her to punch him, but she pulled him into a hug instead. He swallowed his shock, wrapping his arms around her ash she buried her face in his chest.
“You better not break your promise,” she said, her voice muffled. “No more vanishing on me, okay?”
“I promise,” Percy said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Even as the words left his lips, a seed of doubt bloomed inside of his chest. He wasn’t entirely sure how the Labyrinth worked. It was completely possible that they’d get separated, even despite his best efforts. Besides, quests never went according to plan.
Thalia pulled back. “Percy-”
“
Ahem
.”
Her mouth snapped shut as they both whirled around. Percy groaned, already dreading this conversation.
Persephone stood with a raised brow, arms crossed over her chest and looking entirely displeased with him.
“Your training isn’t done,” she said firmly. “To fulfill your legacy, we need to–”
Percy cut her off. “I’m staying. Besides, I have a quest.”
Persephone flickered briefly, her eyes narrowing, but she spoke quietly. “It’s suicide, what Poseidon wants you to do. You aren’t ready.”
“I don’t have a choice,” Percy said. He gave Thalia a meaningful look. “And I made a promise to stay. I’ll be safe at Camp.”
An exasperated sound escaped Persephone’s lips. “You aren’t thinking straight,” she protested. “The Labyrinth is suicide, it is unknown to even myself and Hades.”
“If we wait any longer, Camp will be attacked,” Percy shot back. “Sure, we maybe have a couple more months, but do you really think Mr. D would allow anything from me? I want to DO something!” He was shouting now, the earth shaking almost imperceptibly beneath them. He took a deep breath. “I’m sick of Zeus’ shit, and I’m not going to hide away like a coward.”
Persephone pursed her lips, looking every bit the disapproving older sister.
“Nothing I say will change your mind, will it?”
Percy shook his head. “I’m sorry, but no,” he said firmly. “I made a promise that I intend to keep.”
The Queen of the Underworld shot a look at Thalia, but Percy could not decipher what it meant. Thalia, however, nodded in approval.
“Then I will leave you to your quest,” she said. Her icy demeanor from a moment ago was beginning to thaw. “Remember, you can always pray for assistance, and I will help you, though the Law of Heroes prevents me from doing anything too directly.”
Percy nodded. “Thank you, I’ll be careful. Although there is one more thing.”
“And what would that be?”
“Nico. Take him with you. He’s miserable here, and he needs to learn how his powers work.”
Persephone's gaze found the large group of campers gathered around Poseidon, who was still going on about sacrifices. She zeroed in on the boy with black hair and olive skin, her eyes narrowing.
“Him, yes?”
Percy nodded. “Yes. He’s been struggling since his sister was killed. I’m not doing the dirty work of the gods and telling him. That’s Hades’ job. He needs to claim him. Either that or you can train him and force your husband to claim him.”
Persephone’s nostrils flared with annoyance. “I have never loved my husband’s escapades, though godly fidelity is fickle. Gods create demigod children in many ways, sometimes by accident. I mean, Athena is a great example of this. She somehow has children despite never violating her oath.”
Percy nodded, though he could feel irritation lapping at the edge of his skin. “I know. I will never understand the gods. Even ones I enjoy seeing,” he said. “But Nico needs the help, and I won’t be around to teach him what you’ve taught me. So will you do this as a favor for your lovely brother?” He batted his eyes dramatically, and Persephone laughed.
“Of course,” Persephone smirked. “Though you are the furthest thing from lovely I’ve ever met. I’ll go fetch him and explain everything. I’m sure he’ll enjoy not wearing the orange. That color definitely does not suit him.”
She gave Percy one last, soft look before turning and starting down the hill, towards the Underworld’s newest prince. Percy sighed as he turned back to Thalia, who was already looking at him.
“What?” He asked, a bit self consciously. Thalia just smiled softly.
“That was a nice thing you just did.” Her eyes dropped to her shoes. “And, uh, thanks for staying with me. I know it’s not easy to say no to the gods.”
“It is when you’ve done it your whole life,” Percy said with a tight laugh. “What did you and Persephone talk about with that look?”
“Just girl stuff,” she winked at him.
“So I’ll never get to know.”
“Nope,” Thalia said with a smirk. She linked her arm through him, pulling him towards the steps. “Now come on. Let’s go find someone crazy enough to head into this maze with us.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
As soon as the words left her mouth, Thalia regretted them. She didn’t even want a third quest member if she was being honest with herself. As they walked back down to the Pavilion, longing shot through her, each step intensifying her grief. Why couldn’t she stay mad at Percy? He had abandoned her, left her to metaphorically drown in the Zeus cabin, where her nightmares were an endless torment. The voices that had long since retreated from her mind were returning, reminding her of her failures. But the longer he was next to her, the more her previous worries melted away, along with all but the most lingering feeling of abandonment. She found herself inching closer to him, like she couldn’t get enough of his warmth. His powerful, calming presence seemed to wrap around her like a blanket.Spot let out a happy ‘ woof!’ as he followed the pair. Since Percy had calmed down, the little three-headed Rottweiler had taken a liking to her, licking her ankles and darting between them as they walked. The dog slobber on her ankles normally would have been irritating, but she found herself unable to manage any negative emotions toward the adorable puppy.Could Spot qualify as a Quest member? Thalia smiled at the thought of the puppy barking at a dracaena while flopping on his back, begging for belly rubs.She fought the smile for a moment, but her lips refused to turn down. Yeah, things sucked; that was the status quo. Her creepy father’s massive statue in her cabin was as haunting as ever. And things still felt a little tense between her and Percy. But maybe things could be alright. As they approached, she took in the figures gathered around the pavilion, and this time she did frown. If she had things her way, she wouldn't be sharing the boy who had just told a goddess no on her behalf.A small figure broke away from the pavilion and met them halfway.“Hey Nico,” Percy called out. “All ready to head with Persephone?”While not officially claimed, Thalia had to agree with Percy’s assessment that the boy was the son of Hades. His olive skin had grown pale, and his clothes hung loosely off his soft frame. Deep grief swam in his eyes as he took in the pair of them walking arm in arm. Thalia swore she could feel the same essence of shadows and darkness coming from him that Percy occasionally wielded. “Yeah,” the young demigod said quietly. “And…thank you. For sticking up for me. Who knows how long it would have been?”Percy broke from Thalia to put a firm but gentle hand on Nico’s shoulder. “Look, the system is far from perfect. Things suck, a lot. But the best thing you can do right now is train with Lady Persephone, and to take it seriously. And…” He took a deep breath, “I’m sorry about Bianca.”Nico cut him off with a snarl, shrugging his hand off. “Don’t give me that shit. I only want to hear an apology from those responsible. You were unconscious.”Thalia couldn’t help the pang of guilt at the shattered expression in Nico’s eyes. Maybe if she had been successful, Bianca would be alive. She remained silent. Nico had made it clear that he blamed Zoe and Artemis…a sentiment that Thalia couldn’t really argue with.“I bet if you asked, Annabeth would bring the Hunters over,” Thalia said quietly. “You remember her, right?”Nico nodded curtly. “Yeah, she kind of started this whole thing, right?”Thalia’s nostrils flared. “That was the Manticore.”Percy stepped between them, cutting off their view of one another as though he could feel the surge of protectiveness running through her. “Look, things aren’t fair, and they might never be, but we’ll do the best we can. It’s going to be alright, yeah?”Thalia caught a glare from Nico over Percy’s shoulder before the boy looked down at his feet.“Okay. Sorry,” he mumbled, in what Thalia assumed was her direction. She took a deep breath, reminding herself how young he was, how he was hurting. “I know how you feel,” Thalia gave him what she hoped was a soft smile. “I had a sibling too.” Her voice broke as she gave words to one of the many things that had been on her mind over the past month. Nico’s head snapped up, his eyes boring into hers. Understanding bloomed on his face. Tiny flickers of shadow faded in and out of existence around him as he searched her open expression. “I believe you,” he said after a moment. He gave her a slight nod before turning and walking to where Persephone stood waiting. Percy wrapped his arm around Thalia’s shoulder and pulled her closer. She turned to face him, shock coursing through her when his lips found her forehead. The quick kiss both calmed her and sent butterflies tumbling in her chest. “That was a brave thing you told him,” Percy said softly. “About Jason.”It was almost irritating how he knew her better than she knew herself; but she was grateful that he was so aware of her that he could help calm her before the panic truly registered. “It’s because I understand,” Thalia said, her voice tight. “Things will never be fair, will they?”Percy clenched his jaw, the muscles feathering along the ridge. “Probably not,” he said eventually. “But I want it to be. I’m sick of watching my friends die.” One moment turned to two as the heat from his body wrapped around her. Thalia resisted the urge to nuzzle into him. His hand had slipped from her shoulder to her waist, and his fingers were rubbing distracting little circles against her hip while he stared off, lost in thought. She swallowed down what she was sure was going to be a very embarrassing noise as she leaned into his touch. His protective streak was showing, and she mentally scolded herself for the way her heart leapt, for the way pure need coursed through her as his fingers played with her skin. Gods, he had really just kissed her forehead. Her eyes were on his lips, pursed ever so slightly, and all she could think about was those lips on her skin, covering every inch of her-“I’m not going to die,” Thalia said softly, pushing down the feral thoughts that had taken hold of her mind. “I promise.”“We can’t know that,” Percy said, his voice rising as his hand tightened on her hip. “I mean, what if we’re not good enough? You’ve seen how the Labyrinth broke Clarisse. How can we ask someone else to come with us?”“Stop it,” Thalia said firmly. “Close your mouth right now, or I’ll find a better use for it.” “But I-”“I mean it, Kelp Head,” she interrupted. “Shut up or I’ll kiss you.”Percy opened his mouth in protest before immediately closing it. His eyebrows furrowed, and his lips pursed as his gaze darted to her mouth. She pressed on, ignoring the searing reaction her body gave. “You’re spiraling,” Thalia said. “I know you are. Stop blaming yourself for the infirmary. I’m safe, aren’t I? I don’t know what the Labyrinth is going to do to us. But we’re going to be together, right?”“Well, yeah,” Percy said, shaking his head. “Sorry, it’s just…when I first got that dream, I was told that going into the Labyrinth would be the only way to save my friends. Combine that with everything else, and I just…I don’t know.”Thalia looped her arms around him and pulled him close, though she was too short to do much more than bury her face in the crook of his neck.“I believe in you, you know,” she said softly. He so rarely showed when he was unsure about something, it both unnerved and comforted her. The Labyrinth terrified her, and in a weird way, it made her feel a little better to know that it worried him too. Then there was his curse of Prophecy, which she didn't even want to think about. It was enough to know that they could do anything, as long as they were together. “Whoever you choose will be the right person. I know that,” Thalia said, pulling away to look him in the eye. “I just don’t like hearing bad things about you, even if they come from yourself. Besides, I know you’ve got a ton of badass new things to show me.” Percy smiled weakly, finding her hand and squeezing. “I know you’re right. I just wish things were different.”An image flashed across her mind, just for a moment. That fantasy she’d had about ruling beside Percy, seated together on thrones, as his queen. She bit her lip. She hadn’t thought about that since he’d vanished a month ago. Something inside of her sang for that future, longed for it so deeply it hurt.Thinking about trying to fly again made her feel sick. Thinking about that day fighting the Eagle, the day Percy left, made her want to bury her head in the sand. But she’d been powerful that day. They were powerful. Together. Maybe they could make a difference if they tried. Maybe, together, they could build that future she saw so clearly in her mind; the one where Percy placed a gleaming silver crown on her head, called her his queen, took her by the hand and led her to their room where he-“I mean, you did kick Mr. D’s ass by yourself,” Thalia said, snapping herself out of her daydream. “Don’t you feel it? Whatever that thing is that makes us different. Stronger. We have power, Percy, real power. What if we could truly claim it? We could change things. Make things better.” Percy cleared his throat, his eyes faraway. “You know, my dad did mention that Gods aren’t eternal in the way we thought. He called me his legacy, and you got brought up…among other things. Maybe…we could find a way to make things better, yeah?”“Of course, dumbass,” Thalia swatted his arm, trying to keep the heat from rising to her cheeks. “That’s what I’m trying to say. You’re blessed with Prophecy, damn it. It’s only a curse if you let it be one. So use it, and let’s save our friends.”Percy’s eyes hardened as her words sank in. His jaw clenched. “You’re right,” he said. “I’m sorry.”“Apology accepted.” She smiled. “Oh, and one more thing.” She allowed electricity to wrap around her hands, flickering and dancing across her skin. “If you ever apologize for having feelings again, I will personally fry you. I don’t care if you’re freakishly immune. Capiche?”“Aye, aye, captain,” Percy grinned, giving her a goofy mock salute. She shoved him.“I should be calling you captain, mister quest leader.”He rolled his eyes. “Only if you agree to be my co-captain. That’s not really my thing.” “Of course I will, Kelp Head,” Thalia said. “And by the way, you’re the only one who can’t see it. Everyone here would vote for you for President of Camp immediately. For some reason, people seem to really like you.” Images of just how much she liked him danced in her mind. His hands, his arms, those perfect lips. His gorgeous green eyes watching her as she undressed for him, taking her in his arms, throwing her onto the bed. A squeak escaped her lips, which she attempted to play off as a cough. She clenched her thighs together, glancing from Percy to the Pavilion. More and more campers were watching them, and though they were far enough to not be overhead, she sighed at the lack of privacy.She glanced to Percy again, who was pointedly looking at the ground. Disappointment shot through her, along with worry. If she let them continue like this, would he ever make a move? Would she? Percy swallowed uncomfortably, and Thalia pretended not to notice the sweat that beaded his forehead. His breath came out in small puffs of hot air, mingling with her own in the crisp dusk sky. “We should get back,” she said, trying to ignore the prying eyes of Camp in her periphery. Percy cleared his throat and stood straighter. His eyes traced over her, and she hoped she wasn’t imagining the hunger she saw there. “Yeah,” he said. “You’re right. And I think I know who I want to take with us.”“Oh yeah?” Thalia asked. “Who?”“When I got my Prophecy, there were four people that the Oracle had the voices come from.” He shuddered, and Thalia caught the wince that flashed across his face. Suddenly, she was grateful the prophecy had been given to him rather than her. “They came from Annabeth, Rachel, a girl who helped us on the quest to come get you, Grover, and you.”Rachel's name felt important, especially since Thalia knew she’d been in multiple dreams and visions at this point. She shoved down the stab of jealousy that came from that thought, blocking out the irrational hurt from knowing another girl had made her way into Percy’s dreams. But Rachel was not here. Grover was. “So, Grover?” Thalia guessed.Percy nodded, then paused as he scanned her face. Whatever he found there had him flashing her a knowing grin, and she found herself praying that the growing darkness would hide her blush. “Yeah,” he said finally. “I can’t explain it, but I feel like there’s something extremely important down there that he needs to find. Plus, I wouldn’t feel right taking anyone else. I doubt Clarisse would say yes, and she’d be my second pick.”“Agreed,” Thalia said, trying to calm her racing heart. “I think it’s a good choice, mister quest captain. Lead the way, Kelp Head.”Percy gave her a slow look, flashing her a grin as his hand settled on her lower back, guiding her towards the rest of camp. Electricity that had nothing to do with her shot up her spine, coiling tightly around her chest and making it difficult to breathe. A small flex of his fingers seemed to turn her, guiding her exactly where he wanted to go. The warmth from his touch spread through her belly, then lower, settling so deep within her that she nearly purred at the feeling. She bit her lip, once again fighting against a string of soft noises at Percy’s nearness. His touch was so intoxicating that she hardly even noticed the crowd of campers around them, or the fact that Grover now stood in front of them. The hushed whispers of the other campers slowly lifted the fog from her mind, just enough to hear Percy speak. “Hey Grover. How would you feel about being the third member on this quest, just like old times?” He asked. Grover fidgeted nervously with his reed pipes, but his face was filled with a quiet determination. “I mean, if you really want me, then I won’t let you down.”Thalia sighed in relief as she slowly returned to her senses, though she had to hide the disappointment on her face. While she wasn’t on board with the whole trio thing, at least it was with the bravest satyr she knew. But guilt gnawed away at her at Grover’s apparent apprehension. She glanced at Percy, knowing Grover’s nervous antics wouldn’t be lost on him.“We need you, my man,” Percy said. “I can’t explain it, but I know there’s something down there meant for you. Something I’d never be able to find. This should be a piece of cake compared to the Underworld, right?”Grover paled slightly. “Right,” he said, a bit too quickly. A gust of wind barreled through Camp at that moment, both soft and sharp. Thalia closed her eyes against the hair blowing in her face, and frowned as the airflow visualized in her mind. It looked more like a liquid than an air current, like a thread of divine energy. Thalia inhaled sharply, opening her eyes just as Grover began shaking. His eyes darted frantically, excitedly, as if looking for the source of the wind, but it was gone as quickly as it came. Thalia frowned as Percy tilted his head at his friend.“Was that what you’ve been looking for?” Percy asked.Grover nodded, his body buzzing as though he had drunk a hundred cups of coffee. “Yes! This is the greatest lead I’ve ever had.”Percy placed a calming hand on Grover’s vibrating shoulders. “What did he say?”“He said just three words,” Grover said, his voice filled with awe. “ ‘I await you’ . I think that means you’re right, Perce. We’ve gotta go, like now. It would make sense. No satyr would ever go down there.”Percy chuckled, though his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m glad you’re coming with us, man. I wish I could promise you more, but I know you’re supposed to go.”Grover barely spared them another glance as he rushed off to pack, muttering excitedly about Pan. ____All the pre-quest excitement died down in just a couple hours, and then it was just the three of them. Thalia didn’t have much to pack. Just a couple changes of clothes, some ambrosia, and a few other necessities. Chiron would provide the financial backing, although Thalia imagined that vending machines would be few and far between in the Labyrinth.Watching Grover come tromping down the hill, a pack on his back loaded with his own supplies, she couldn’t shake the feeling that that was meant to be Annabeth’s position.If anyone could figure out how to navigate the maze, it would be Annabeth. By now, she would have read every existing piece of literature on how the Labyrinth operated, crafted plans and contingencies for each, and found some way to gain them an upper hand in the maze. Instead, they had only found the usual story of Daedalus and the Minotaur, and that the Labyrinth somehow possessed magic qualities. In her mind, Thalia couldn’t help but wonder whether ignorance was better for this. After all, the maze couldn’t distort their knowledge if it didn’t exist.Despite her resolve to put it out of her mind, the mystery continued to taunt her. It was as though she was missing something that should have been obvious. Daedalus should have been dead, yet he was alive. Clarisse and Percy had described the air as ants under the skin, and all forms of navigation were impossible. Her heart began to speed up as her own experience with the fringes of reality gnawed away at her. The Void was something best left forgotten, but the harder she tried, the greater the nagging feeling, taunting her that she could never truly forget her short stint in Hell. She just hoped the Labyrinth would be more forgiving. After all, Theseus had survived it…right?A sudden icy drop in temperature shocked her from her reverie as cold, ghostly hands seemed to pull at her. She pivoted, instantly alert. No, she thought. I thought we were done with monsters. Aegis was out in an instant, directed at the tiny vortex of darkness now before her. Electricity spiked in her blood as ripples of blue lightning flickered along her arms and shield. She flicked open her can of mace, spear deploying with less than a thought.As she pointed her spear at the shadowy orb, it blinked out of existence, as if satisfied with whatever it found. She grit her teeth and spun, trying to locate it- she froze. Something sharp and smooth slid into place against her throat. She inhaled, the soft skin meeting the prick of a blade. A hand suddenly appeared at her waist, gripping her hip to keep her in place. All at once the scent of ocean air and soft earth hit her, a voice growling into her ear,“I win.” Percy. A rush of heat shot straight through her. “Not fair you can fucking teleport,” Thalia grumbled. He chuckled, his breath gracing her cheek, and she shoved down the disappointment rising in her as he lowered both his sword and his hand. She swallowed harshly. “Means you can sneak up on people.”Percy just shrugged as she whirled to face him. “I wasn’t allowed to come back until I figured it out. If I had shadow traveled anywhere but my cabin, Zeus would’ve killed me instantly.”Another emotion ran through her. Longing. But this time, a white hot streak of rage joined it, twisting around her heart and squeezing. It wasn’t fair. Not at all. Her father sent an eagle to kill her friends, and she and Percy paid the price to defend Camp. Percy had protected her, stood up to Mr. D and won. And for what? He’d practically been exiled for a month. All because Zeus couldn’t handle rejection from the daughter he’d long since abandoned. “Hey, Pinecone Face,” Percy said gently, wrapping his strong arm around her shoulders. “Ready to go?”Thalia took a deep breath. She wasn’t alone this time. She might have been drifting, but Percy was her anchor. He wasn’t going anywhere. She smiled at him.“As ready as I’ll ever be, Kelp Head. Did your dad tell you where to look?”“He told me to ask Apollo.” Percy pulled out the little music player Apollo had given him. “Turns out this thing is kind of like a hotline to him if I pray. He said to start at Zeus’ Fist, and that we’d find what we wanted there.”Thalia nodded. Luke wouldn’t have tried to use the Labyrinth if it hadn’t taken the army of monsters inside Camp directly. The godly borders would keep anyone else out. Still, they didn’t have to look stupid, turning over every rock in the woods until they found the right one.“Then let’s go.” Thalia urged, grabbing her pack from the ground and tugging it over her shoulders. “Waiting around won’t do us any good.” Percy's gaze stayed on the ground. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “I know you’re right,” he said finally, sighing. “It’s a shame we can’t just use a ball of yarn like Theseus, huh?”“I mean, I brought one. Just in case,” Thalia shrugged. “I bet it won’t work, but it wouldn’t hurt to try, right? Then we’ll know if it's just a crazy maze, or if it's a magical, homicidal crazy maze.”Percy huffed out a laugh, but didn’t argue. Grover had finally made it over to them after a tearful goodbye with Juniper. His backpack was bulging at the seams as he reached them. He took a deep breath, as though he were about to start rambling about Pan and satyr magic again. Percy took one look at her expression, at her stimming hands, and tightened the straps on his own pack.“I’ll race you,” he said brightly. She quirked a brow. “You’re on,” she said. Curse that boy for always knowing exactly what she needed. ____The massive pile of rocks at Zeus’ Fist lay there, taunting them. After their race to the top, they had overturned each one, but they found nothing. Not even a hint of a clue. Thalia's adrenaline was fading, quickly replaced by annoyance. If the maze was so eager to kill them, why was it hiding? Percy and Grover hadn’t given up yet, still turning over boulders and rocks she knew they’d already checked. Her frustration intensified, settling over her skin thickly. Lightning crackled along her fingers. Not even ten minutes into their quest and they were already failing.The lightning along her skin amplified, and in an attempt to quell her rising anger, she discharged a small bolt at a clearing in the rock several yards away. She turned back towards Percy, but paused. There was no sound of rock cracking and breaking, no sizzle as electricity washed over the stones. She turned back, tentatively, to find a softly glowing Delta symbol carved into the rock. She heard Percy gasp behind her.She clambered down the rocks and to the clearing, reaching out to the symbol. The stone was rough beneath her fingers, and it seemed to vibrate under her touch. Thalia's arm snapped back in surprise and a narrow strip of rock near the symbol groaned open, revealing a dark cavern that curved steeply downward. She swallowed uncomfortably. Percy had caught up to her, Grover just behind him. “Found it,” she said softly, trying to inject confidence in her voice. “Well done,” Percy praised. He was panting, a sheen of sweat coating his face. He fiddled with the hem of his shirt for a moment, brows furrowed as if deep in thought.He took a deep breath and stepped into the maze, holding his hand out behind him for Thalia to take, guiding her in with him. Grover followed, though his enthusiasm had waned slightly as they embarked underground. The cavern ceiling was low. Percy could have reached a hand up and touched it easily. The thick stone walls surrounding them were covered in indecipherable characters, and they stretched as far as Thalia could see. The air was thick and foreign. She reached out for the air currents, but they were unresponsive, closer to sludge than air. She recoiled at the feeling. Another several feet and Percy paused, shooting one last glance at the entrance. Her gaze joined his. She could still see the sunlight outside, yet her lungs already itched. The exposed patches of her skin crawled, like tiny claws and bugs had found their way inside and embedded themselves within her. She shuddered at how accurate Percy’s description had been.“Take out the yarn,” Percy instructed, catching her attention again. “I want to try something.”Thalia slung her backpack off her shoulder and fished out the red bundle of yarn. “Have it trail us?” She asked.“Yes,” Percy said. “That was your idea, after all. Right?”“Right,” Thalia said. “Any idea where we’re headed? I mean, you had that little shadow eye thing that told you where I was. Can you use that?”Percy closed his eyes, searching. His black shadows were subdued, the flickers going out quickly, like they weren’t used to obeying him.“It feels blocked somehow,” he complained after a moment. “Like the air is messing with our powers. Try summoning your lightning.”Thalia did. It was like reaching through syrup, pushing down into herself, trying to access her abilities. She flushed with effort as she found it, though a bolt burst from her fingers. Immediately, she stumbled as dots floated in her vision. Instead of the massive explosion she expected, the bolt connected with the wall, not even marking the decrepit, dusty surface. It sounded more like a little pop. Grover stiffened uncomfortably next to them.“Fuck,” she said. “I guess that means it’s a crazy homicidal maze, huh?”Percy chuckled as he uncapped Riptide. Cautiously, he swung, but his movements were as fluid as ever, his muscles rippling as the sword moved like an extension of himself. Thalia did the same with her spear, sighing in relief as her weapon seemed unaffected by the supernatural aura of the place.“Guess this means we should be careful,” Percy said sarcastically. “I guess we’ll just go forward and see what we find?”Thalia and Grover exchanged glances, but neither had a better proposal. Percy placed his left hand along the wall. “Do this,” he urged. “It’s a long shot, but maybe it’ll guide us back. Thalia, unspool the yarn, let it follow us.”Thalia tied the end off on a little rock formation before allowing the red yarn to trail behind them. They traveled for little more than a dozen paces until the wall vanished. Her heart pounded, blood roaring in her ears.Percy’s voice seemed muffled. “Everyone, turn around the way we came.”Thalia turned 180 degrees. Instead of the corridor behind them, there was a large clearing with tunnels shooting off in all directions. “That one,” Thalia and Grover said simultaneously. She looked down the tunnel, sure she was right. Next to her, Grover pointed at one directly to her left. She heard Percy sigh next to her. “What about the yarn? Does it lead anywhere?”Thalia followed the thread with her eyes but found that the yarn came from none of the tunnels. It was frayed, as though it had been cut quickly. There was no sign of the previous length. “No luck,” Thalia said, her anxiety spiking as her breathing quickened. Not even five minutes in and they were already stuck. Her eyes darted around the new clearing. Nothing seemed to change. The itching in her skin only worsened. A soft sound rang out through one of the tunnels, and Thalia's blood turned to ice. The words were indecipherable, but the noise conveyed pure agony. The stone walls were like a megaphone, amplifying the sound until Thalia's hair stood on end. “Do you hear that?” Thalia asked, trying to gauge how far away it was. Percy turned to the tunnel directly in front of them. “Yeah,” he said. “Not good. Grover, what do you think?”Grover sniffed the air and gave a shrug. “Doesn’t smell like a monster, although that sound makes me think this place is haunted. I vote we do not go that way.”“Great, the magical homicidal maze is haunted, too,” Percy grumbled. He pointed at a tunnel going in the opposite direction. “I vote we go there.”Nobody objected. They headed off down the tunnel, delving deeper into the maze. Thalia’s only consolation was that the agonized screams slowly faded the further they traveled. ____After keeping a brisk pace for nearly an hour, Grover strained his ears.“I think we’re good,” he said. “I can’t hear anything anymore.”Percy nodded. “Thanks G-man.”Thalia's steps faltered. “Check it out, guys,” she said warily. “You think he and Spot are friends?”A gargantuan Molossian Hound had appeared in front of them, wrinkled and depressed-looking. Despite the folds of skin covering the upper half of his eyes, his tail wagged excitedly. He trotted up to Thalia and pulled on the fringes of her hoodie, pulling her forward. She reached out, scratching behind one soft ear. “Can I bring my friends?” she asked as the beast continued to pull at her.She took his resounding woof as a yes. She shrugged, wiping the slobber from her front. She chuckled as she did, sure that this hoodie, like all of Percy’s other clothes, would never be free of any puppy slobber or love for as long as Spot was around. “Come on, guys, he wants us to follow.” Thalia called back. Grover nodded. “Yeah, that’s what he just said.” Thalia cringed internally. Of course Grover could just talk with the dog. Said dog yelped excitedly as he trotted down the hall, checking occasionally to make sure the trio was following. Slowly, the markings on the walls shifted as the stone walls darkened. The air became muggier as the ground began to slope downward. Thalia rubbed her hands against her shoulders, trying to keep warm as the air temperature dropped.Percy walked closer, dropping his arm around her. She sidled closer to him without a second thought, absorbing his warmth and hoping he appreciated hers. Torches began to appear along the walls at even intervals. Thalia's breath appeared in wispy bursts, sticking to her face as she walked through it. She frowned. The misty air felt familiar. Instead of the weird, itchy energy at the entrance of the Labyrinth, it felt more like threads. She furrowed her brow. Tentatively, she closed her eyes, letting Percy lead her. She reached out and gently pulled on one of the strings. To her surprise, it responded. It came to her suddenly. This was just mist. This was The Mist. Her eyes flew open and she shuddered. She didn’t like the implication of mist being in this place. “Someone has a talent, I see.” Percy jolted to a stop as the feminine voice pierced through the darkness. His sword was out in an instant, but Thalia pushed past him, spear at the ready. The threads around her began to swirl, enveloping her body until she was weightless. The breath vanished from her lungs in a horrifying instant. Her spear fell as she gasped for air, clawing at her throat, but it wouldn’t come. Her lungs ached, head throbbing as spots began to dance in her vision. Mirthful laughter sounded. “Tell me, dear. Did that feel real?”With a sharp snap, Thalia could breathe again. She greedily sucked down air as the spots in her vision dissipated. At some point she had fallen to the ground. Her head was pounding, but the influx of oxygen was slowly helping it to lessen. She glared up to find the same Molossian Hound standing over her, tongue flopping as it wagged its tail. Thalia's head turned wildly, checking to see if Percy and Grover were okay. They were gone. "Grover? Percy?” Her voice was hoarse. She looked back towards the hound. “Was that you?” she gasped out. “Close,” the voice sounded like it was smiling. From the darkness behind the Hound, a woman stepped through the mist. Her green eyes pierced Thalia to her soul as they regarded her. Her long black hair was coiled in the Greek fashion, a dark chiton gracing her slender frame. Cold perfection radiated from much like the light from the green flame from the torch she held in her right hand. Thalia tilted her head at it. Two flames. Two stumps jutting from a shared trunk. A chittering sound caught her attention and her gaze slid to a little animal slinking along her shoulders. A chill ran through Thalia, a near realization that escaped her. “Lady Persephone told me you would be in the maze,” the woman said. “For some reason, she has decided to bestow her favor upon that Perseus boy.”“Percy,” Thalia spat. “He doesn’t like being called Perseus. Who are you anyway?”“I would have thought that would be obvious,” she swirled the Mist around her torches with delicate fingers. “I am Hecate, Goddess of Mist, Crossroads, Necromancy, and Sorcery.”Thalia swallowed uncomfortably as she stood, her spear in hand. Hecate was, traditionally, no friend of Olympus. But was she working with Luke instead? Thalia did not bow. “My lady,” she said evenly.Hecate pursed her lips, her eyebrows furrowed in disappointment. “You have potential, I must admit. You have remarkable control over my Mist.” In an instant she grew in size until she was towering over Thalia. Her eyes seemed to glow, alight with purple flames. “I do not yet know if I can trust you, Daughter of Zeus.”Thalia snarled. “I don’t appreciate that name.”A smirk played on Hecate's lips. “No love for the King of the Gods, girl?” “Fuck that guy.” She spat. “He's a dick.” “You would turn your back on your own father?”“Why wouldn’t I? He turned on me a long time ago. I’m just returning the favor,” Thalia said bitterly. All her anger and frustration bubbled to the surface. Here in Hecate’s domain, she could feel her lightning singing just beneath her skin. Tendrils snaked around her fingers, up her arms, until there was a barrier between her and the goddess before her, sparking in tune with her heartbeat. “Then perhaps we can work together,” Hecate offered, not unkindly. “But first, there’s something we must see.” “Only after you tell me where my friends are,” Thalia countered. “What did you do to them?”“Is that any way to treat your hostess?” Hecate chided. A graceful wave of her hand had her torch disappearing and a small, cozy brunch table appearing in the space beside them. It was filled with plates of ambrosia and glasses of nectar, two little loveseats settled on either side. “I can assure you they’re safe. They’re with my companion.”“Why should I trust you,” Thalia regarded her warily. “How do I know you aren’t some kind of monster from the maze trying to get me to let my guard down? You did try to kill me.”Hecate laughed, a joyless sound. “My dear, if I wanted to kill you, you’d have been dead long before you ever ran into my lovely hound. All I did was show you the power of sorcery. I’m willing to see if you’re worth my time. And believe me, my compatriot tells me that without my help, you and Perseus are bound to die gruesome deaths.”Thalia clenched her jaw. She wasn’t sure who this compatriot was, but it was abundantly clear she was out of her element.“And if I refuse?” Thalia asked, knowing she was pushing her luck.“Then I suppose it would be more merciful for me to kill you now,” Hecate said, sounding almost bored. “I happen to trust my sister with my very divinity, so if you reject my offer or prove yourself unworthy of it, a death at my hand would be far kinder to you.”“So basically, if I don’t do what you say, then you’re going to kill me? How does that make you any better than the man who calls himself my dad?” Thalia fumed, lightning flickering from her fingers.Hecate sighed as she shrank back to human size and sat in one of the loveseats. “Not quite,” she said. “I am what you would call a swing vote. I need to prove that you can be reliable. Perhaps this is a test.”A flash caught Thalia's eye, and she turned to find a simple golden doorway at the edge of the space. “Of course, this is your third option,” Hecate said, gesturing to the door. “I quite like giving choices in threes. I’m going to show you something. Then, I’m going to offer you two possibilities. Percy is being offered these options as we speak. If you both choose the same, we know you can be trusted.” Hecate’s eyes glinted dangerously. “If you choose differently, however, your allegiance to one another turns you into great risks for both myself and my sister.”“So basically, if I choose wrong, then Percy and I die while you prostrate yourself to Kronos,” Thalia said, clenching her jaw. “And I’m assuming the third option is just to leave, which would grant me a trip to Elysium?”“Clever girl,” Hecate said. “More or less. I have no love for Kronos, but I cannot support your father after his actions. Leaving is your third option. Though I can tell you only one road leads to the outcome you seek. Leaving is little more than a dead end. Regardless, I will allow you to choose your own outcome. Would your father grant you that dignity?”Thalia swallowed thickly as she began to fidget with her hands. Maybe it would be easier to give up. If Hecate was telling the truth, she could just go to Elysium now. She’d be out of the way, and Percy could undoubtedly accomplish something. Hecate continued to watch her, completely unbothered by all the time they were wasting. Thalia panicked, trying to make a choice quickly. Would she go and sacrifice her destiny? Or would she play the games of the Goddess of Witchcraft? An image of herself and Percy, grown up and crowned, flashed through her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the future she craved was only attainable by playing this game. “Fine,” Thalia said, sliding into the loveseat opposite Hecate. "I’ll play your game.”“Excellent,” she said, eyes glittering with amusement. “For my part, I’d like to give you a bit of closure.” A wave of her hand had a small movie screen appear, floating to the left of them. Thalia pursed her lips, wracking her brain. What was Hecate playing at? Her gaze flitted to the goddess. She caught a flash of mischief in the goddess’ gaze before she waved again and a movie began playing on the screen. Thalia’s heart dropped. Her throat tightened as the familiar scene unfolded in front of her. Her mother's horrid, beautiful face stood supreme, glistening with sweat as she muttered nonsensical things. She held Jason out in front of her, his tiny face streaked with tears. He was looking over her shoulder, his little hands reaching towards the car, for Thalia. “Why are you doing this?” Thalia choked out. “I…I already know what happened.” Hecate paused the movie, sighing. “Confirmation is always the hardest, yet most crucial step, to learning. Please just watch in silence. It will all make sense after. Altering the point of view can illuminate things that were lost in the shadows.”Thalia gritted her teeth as her vision began to blur, tears pooling in her eyes. It wasn’t fair. Maybe it was her fault for playing this stupid game in the first place. A hot slash of grief was driven through her heart as the movie continued. Energy flickered beneath her skin, and she found herself wishing beyond hope that she could kill her mother for a second time. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, before turning back to the screen. As the screen showed her mother at the cliff, she willed desperately that this would show a different reality than the one she knew. Just as Thalia remembered, Jason was dangling over the edge, trying to claw his way back into his mother’s arms, searching for solid ground. Beryl’s voice was little more than a whisper. “I’ve done what you asked. Take him and leave me alone.”Thalia startled as Hera’s voice sounded. “You have made a wise decision, mortal. It is enough that my husband embarrassed himself and I by sleeping with a disreputable woman like yourself. Hand the child over, and your torment will cease.”Beryl’s eyes were blank, emotionless, as she robotically handed over Jason. “Good riddance,” she said. “He was getting in the way of things anyway. Do whatever you want. I don’t really care.”The camera panned to the side, showing both Hera and Beryl in the frame together. Hera’s eyes flickered with rage as Beryl held Jason over the edge and dropped him straight into Hera’s arms. Thalia bit her lip as a scream welled up in her throat. A sick sense of dread filled her; that what she was about to watch would be worse than she thought had happened to Jason. As soon as Jason was out of her arms, Beryl stormed off to the car. Thalia knew what happened next with her. The camera stayed with Hera, who was looking at Jason with unfettered disgust. He was crying and squirming, and Thalia could tell that Hera was not holding him kindly. Her heart squeezed as they suddenly disappeared from the mountain-top. Hope welled up inside of Thalia. What if he was still alive? What happened to him? Hot, sharp pressure built behind her eyes again, and she forced them closed. She couldn’t cry here. It wasn’t the time.“Take all the time you need, my dear,” Hecate said, her tone unexpectedly kind. “Unlike others, I can at least grant grace to my potential allies. Though you should know, there is more for you to see.”Thalia nodded, taking a deep breath. Warm memories raced through her mind; playing with Jason at the park, feeding him his yogurt, reading him books, snuggling with him early in the mornings so he wouldn’t cry and attract their mothers' anger. She straightened, breathing deeply again. A small bundle of hope was tentatively growing in her chest. She needed to see what happened. She nodded to Hecate, and the goddess gave her a sad sort of look as the movie started again. Hera’s steps echoed down the glittering halls of Olympus. She was still giving the child in her arms disgusted looks, her purple peacock dress flowing behind her as she strode down a long, gleaming hallway. The air around her simmered an angry blue as she approached a massive set of marble double doors. She gripped the handle, flinging the door open with such force that small cracks spiderwebbed out across the stone.Inside of the massive chamber lay a large bed, the center point being Zeus, naked, with another of his lovers. Zeus froze for a moment, but Hera didn’t so much as flinch. A saccharine smile graced her face as she asked sweetly, "I hope I’m not interrupting, but is this one yours?”Hera held Jason out in front of her. A flicker of recognition sparked in Zeus’ eyes, but his attention was quickly refocused on the woman currently on top of him, who didn’t seem to mind one bit that they were being interrupted by her partner's wife. "Er-no,” he said after a moment. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”Hera flickered but remained composed, still dangling Jason before her. “Are you certain, dear? I know you’ve been spending time with that mortal slut of yours again.” Zeus’s eyes again flickered with recognition as they darted to Jason, who was now crying softly. “No, dear, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is that why you disturbed me? To ask me about some mortal child?”“Of course not,” Hera lied smoothly. “I’ll let you get back to your…entertainment.”She turned on her heel and stormed out, scowling at Jason as he began to cry in earnest. She didn’t spare her husband another glance, making her way back down the hall and to her own chambers. The palace seemed to shake with her displeasure as she went. She paused before entering her own rooms, taking care to open the door gently. Hera walked straight through her pristine, polished room, ignoring everything in her space and prowling for the window. She flung the window open, and Thalia bit her lip harshly to keep from crying out. It was nearly worse than what she’d always feared had happened to Jason. The thought sent a raging fountain of grief flooding through her. Lightning escaped from her fingertips as Jason clawed at Hera’s arms. She held him roughly in front of her, out the window and into the wispy clouds beyond Olympus. His wails echoed through her chambers as she scowled at him. “You are a mistake,” she scoffed. “Another pitiful reminder of my husband’s infidelity.” Her hands released, and a tortured cry escaped Thalia, heart in her throat, as Jason screamed, plummeting through the clouds and to the earth below. A sick smile crept over Hera’s face as she looked out over the ledge, Jason’s screams fading into nothing. A violent sound rang through the space, and Thalia realized a moment later that it was coming from her. Unending waves of grief crashed over her as tears streamed down her face. She had already watched Jason die once in her life; why did she need to see it again?“What was the point of this!?” Thalia screamed at Hecate, who had moved to sit next to her. “I already knew he was dead!”“I thought it was important you know the truth,” Hecate said gently, placing a hand on Thalia’s back. “To know the truth about his fate, the truth about the gods.”“Well fuck you,” Thalia spat, gritting her teeth as she shrugged her off. “Give me the third option again. If this is how I’m going to be treated the rest of my life, I don’t want it.”Hecate pursed her lips. Thalia hoped she would find anger there, but instead, her face was filled with nothing but pity.“My dear, I cannot do that. I gave you the option, and you did not wish it. This pain will pass, like everything else.”“I want them to suffer!” Thalia screamed. “Hera, Zeus, they need to pay. Don’t they understand how fucked it is? We’re nothing but fucking pawns to them. They want to play their stupid games, and we’re the ones who pay for it!”Another wave of sobs wracked her and she buried her face in her hands. Her heart was splitting in two, her lightning thrashing out violently in Hecate’s little bubble. The raw energy was overwhelming, and all she could do was curl into a ball and cry. Her faint hope that Jason had survived was now wholly crushed. Her cries sounded pathetic, even to herself, but she couldn’t get them to stop. Life wasn’t fair. She was stuck; unable to join Jason in Elysium, and unable to piece her heart back together enough to move on. “I simply wished for you to know the truth,” Hecate said. “Decisions made in the darkness of lies are not binding or just. Take all the time you need, my dear. Time does not exist here. It is time for you to grieve, to deal with the loss you have carried for years.”Several moments passed in silence, Hecate’s wisdom sinking in. Gradually, Thalia’s ragged cries began to slow. From the broken, empty place of her soul, one thought emerged: vengeance. Hera and Zeus were to blame here. They took Jason from her, made no effort to save him despite having the power. They needed to pay. Thalia sniffled, her eyes narrowing on Hecate.“Why should I trust you?” Thalia asked, clenching her jaw. “You didn’t need to tell me that the gods are petty and selfish. I already knew that.”Hecate shrugged. “I’ve also done things others did not like. Everyone, even mortals, are driven by selfish desires. I have performed great acts of compassion, yes, but so have many of even the worst gods. I do not intend to convince you that I am a paragon of moral virtue, but rather to determine if our interests could align in a strategic partnership.”“You want to create a third faction?” Thalia asked. A small glimmer of hope shone through her grief. “Only if we could win,” Hecate quickly. “I am selfish. I will not join a war's losing side. Fortunately, you and your lover are the two best weapons remaining in the hands of the gods. Combine that with the existing gods who are disgruntled with the current leaders, and we could potentially be a real threat. That’s why your answer to this question will be the most important. We’d already have the might of my Sister and Lady Persephone. Others like Janus and Prometheus could be persuaded to join us as well.”Hecate leaned in close, her voice quieting to a whisper. “It is the only way you could potentially gain power. You would be nothing but a servant in the other armies. Help lead this one, and the future you so desperately crave with your love will be within your grasp. All you need to do is hope he answers the same.”“He’s not my love,” Thalia stuttered out, her face red. “He’s just…my best friend is all.” It was an overt lie, but she wasn’t willing to admit Percy’s potential as a bargaining chip to her. Even now, drowning in grief and emptiness and vengeance, all she wanted was for him to hold her. Jason wasn’t coming back. It was a truth she had made peace with long ago, even if that wound felt raw all over again. But still. The thought of fighting her dad alone scared her. The little flame of hope she’d held within herself felt colder than it had been in a while. She rubbed her arms, thinking back to the moment she’d realized a month ago that Percy was gone. Her eyes pricked with fresh tears. Hecate studied her. “I just thought you should know,” she warned. “I can tell when you’re lying.”Thalia felt herself flush. “Whatever,” she muttered. “Tell me, what are the options?”Hecate’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Eager to learn your destiny, I see. Your choice is simple.” Her dual torch had reappeared in her hand, and was now glowing brightly. “Should I grant you my blessing, would you join Perseus? Or would you pursue revenge against your father? Should you choose revenge, and Perseus agrees, you shall find yourselves strategic allies in our cause. Should you choose one another, your loyalty shall keep you rooted, as we already know that neither of you will stand idly by, nor would you join the Titans or your father.”Thalia swallowed uncomfortably. The real challenge wasn’t figuring out what Percy wanted. He was an incredibly self-sacrificial idiot who would throw himself away for his friends in a heartbeat. She was definitely in that category of a friend . This was a different kind of test. What did she want, and what was she willing to sacrifice? Anger flared within her as she thought of Hera and Zeus’s actions. The thought of hurting them, of making them pay with their lives and their golden blood brought a smile to her face. The call for revenge coursed through her. “Do not fret about taking all the time you need, my dear,” Hecate placidly, sipping nectar from a dainty tea cup. “I am more than willing to be patient with my allies.”Thalia thought about it again, pushing the bloodlust away. As she thought about bringing the gods to justice, her father, Hera, Athena, her fantasies felt empty. Where did it end? Even if she ended up taking the throne of her father, there was no point in doing it alone. Slowly, the cold thoughts of revenge began to thaw, heated by a desire for the boy she needed to return to. With his arms around her, she could do anything… and from the way his eyes softened whenever she was around, she was sure he felt the same. She straightened. “Percy,” Thalia said confidently. “I choose him.”Hecate smiled as the Mist began to swirl. Thalia held her breath in anticipation, worried for a moment about another round of suffocation. “Well then, now it’s time to see what he chose. If he chose you…then welcome, my champion.”