A/N- PLEASE READ! Okay, now that I've got your attention, I just want to let you guys know that this book is part of a series so if you haven't read the full series and you'd like to, please go to my stories and do so. This story will remain in first Person-specifically, Thalia will be narrating-for the most part. I will occasionally write in third person but I'll write the change of pov in bold. So unless stated otherwise, it's first person. Happy reading!

1st POV/Thalia-

My palms sweated profusely as I approached the Big House. It was a pride thing, you see-asking for help for something well within your capabilities. I got it from my father, Zeus-Lord of the Skies and King of the Gods. As in Zeus-the god from Greek 'mythology.' I know what you're thinking, those are just myths, Thalia. They aren't real.

Well, I'd like you to tell that to the monsters that nearly chased me to my death about six years ago. To make a long story short: the gods are real and they have children with mortals (the only thing that's really changed is the location of Mount Olympus, the home of the twelve major Olympians) and I am the product of such interactions. As the child of one of the three major gods, I was constantly hunted by monsters and I had almost made it to a safe haven for demigods-Camp Half Blood. But the monsters outnumbered me and my companions then on top of Half Blood Hill, I took what I thought was my last breath.

It wasn't. Thank the gods.

I suppose my father felt bad for basically dooming me to a life a tragedy from the start or was feeling sympathetic that particular day, but he turned me into a tree, preserving my life. For six years, my spirit protected the camp's borders, giving other half bloods the chance to live their lives in safety so none would have to perish as I had. There was a slight bump in plans as my ex-friend, Luke Castellan, side kick to the source of all evil, poisoned my tree in order to weaken the camp's borders and raise an evil titan. Eventually, a cure was brought to Camp and its borders were restored. It worked so well that I was ejected from the tree.

Now, I was back in the modern world, trying to readjust. There was just one little problem: my powers weren't working and an 'end of the world' prophecy was trust onto my shoulders. Needless to say, life was much better as tree.

"Thalia, I trust you are well?"

My mentor and also half man, half horse creature trotted out onto to the porch, breaking me out my background narrative. Chiron was a centaur, the activities director, and trainer of all the legendary Greek heroes. But most importantly, his horse half was an off-white color.

"I've had better days," I admitted. "Look...I need some...help." I nearly choked on the words but as far as anyone knew, I was the oldest child of the Big Three and now was not the time to be the weakest link.

"Oh?" Chiron seemed surprised, a hint of understanding in his brown eyes.

"I don't know what's happening to me," I confessed, shifting the weight in my feet. "Ever since I've been back, my powers have been declining. Rapidly. I mean, I used to be able to summon bolts of lightning without breaking a sweat and now..." I extended my palm and summoned all the electricity I could muster. A tiny spark flew about half a foot forward and I was somewhat impressed-that was more power than I was able to muster in the past week. Maybe I didn't need Chiron's help after all.

"Oh dear, I see your conundrum." The centaur muttered. "What to do...what to do?"

Chiron began to pace-or trot, rather-which only increased my heart rate. If Chiron didn't know what to do, no one would.

"I've got it!" He exclaimed, turning to me excitedly. "Recently, I spoke to Percy Jackson-you know, the son of Po-"

"Poseidon and Kronos, ally of the gods, and reckless idiot? Yeah, I know of him."

"I assume you two are good friends."

"Best friends." I corrected him.

"Anyhow, after he came back from his quest to save Grover and obtain the fleece which restored your life, he mentioned experiencing a uh...power spasm, if you will."

I leaned in, intrigued. "Go on."

"Percy and his father, Lord Poseidon, were feuding and somehow, his powers stopped working. It wasn't until he reconciled with his father that his powers were restored."

"I'm not feuding with Zeus, though." I frowned, scrunching my eyebrows. "Am I?"

"I doubt it. Most likely your powers are simply in need of practice. Powers are known to be stationary after little to no use." Chiron informed me. "Perhaps you should ask Percy for his assistance."

I nearly laughed in my mentor's face. If my survival didn't depend on remaining within the safe borders of Camp, I would've put as much distance between me and Percy Jackson as humanly possible. Instead, I kept my cool.

"He's leaving for the summer-he told me yesterday."

"He does tend to stray often." Chiron admitted. "Regardless, he may not leave for another week or two. That should be enough time."

"Alright." I agreed reluctantly. The centaur shot me an apologetic look before disappearing into the big house. With no other option, I dragged myself to the Poseidon cabin. I walked up to the door and knocked, straightening out my shirt.

Heavy footsteps came from the other side, and then the door was swinging open and I was staring at a very broad, tan well-muscled chest. A naked chest. My gaze dropped and my breath sort of...stalled. Jeans hung low on his hips, revealing a thin line of dark hair that formed below his naval and disappeared under the band of the jeans. His stomach was ripped. Perfect. Totally touchable. Not the kind of stomach I expected on a fifteen year old boy but I wasn't complaining. I also wasn't talking. I was staring. My gaze finally ventured north and I noted thick, sooty lashes fanning the tips of his high cheeks and hiding the color of his eyes as he looked down at me.

"Can I help you?" Full, kissable lips turned down in annoyance.

Although I'd spoken to him before, Percy's voice was deeper and firmer than usual. The kind of voice accustomed to people obeying his every command. His lashes lifted, revealing eyes so golden and brilliant they couldn't be real. They were an intense amber color that stood out in vibrant contrast against his tan skin.

"Hello?" he asked, placing one hand on the door frame as he leaned forward. "Are you capable of speaking?"

I sucked in a sharp breath, a wave of embarrassment heated my face.

Percy lifted an arm, brushing back a wavy lock of hair on his forehead. "Going once..."

By the time I found my voice, I wanted to die. "I...I need your help. My powers are whacked and Chiron said you went through the same thing so you were the person to ask for help."

Percy said nothing at first, just cocked a brow with disdain. "Fine."

The embarrassment was fading, replaced by a growing surge of anger. "I thought you had other plans for the summer."

"I did and now, I don't." Something glittered in his golden eyes. Not anger but something else.

"So you can help me?" I repeated, confirming the plan.

"I just said I would so I will. Keep up, Thalia. It's not that complicated." Both eyebrows were raised to his hairline now as if he were questioning how I could be so dumb, and that's when I realized what I saw sparkling in his eyes. He was laughing at me with a dose of condescension. For a moment all I could do was stare at him. He was twice as hot shirtless and perhaps the hottest guy I'd ever seen in real life, and he was total douche. Go figure.

"All I wanted was some help but you don't seem very helpful. This is obviously a bad time."

"Anytime is a bad time for you to come knocking at my door, kid."

"Kid?" I repeated, eyes widening.

A dark, mocking eyebrow arched again. I was starting to hate that brow.

"I'm not a kid. I'm almost sixteen."

"Is that so?"

I didn't like his mocking tone. A warmth burned in my chest, spreading to my throat. "You know what, I'm done with you. I won't be knocking on your door again. Trust me." I started to turn, leaving before I caved to the rampant desire to slam my fists into his face.

"Hey," he called out. "I can help you out with your powers."

"Thanks," I muttered and added underneath my breath, "Douchebag."

He laughed, deep and throaty. "Now that's not very lady like, Sweetheart."

I whipped around. "Don't ever call me that," I snapped.

"It's better than calling someone a douchebag, isn't it?" He pushed out the door. "This has been a stimulating visit. I'll cherish it for a long time to come."

"You know, you're right. How wrong of me to call you a douchebag. It's too nice of a word to describe you," I said, smiling sweetly. "You're a dickhead."

"How charming."

I flipped him off.

"So when do we start, Pupil?"

"Don't call me that." I crossed my arms, looking at him steely in the eyes. They were golden, holding a hint a mystery to them. "Why are you helping me anyway? What's in it for you?"

"I'm hurt that you would assume I have ulterior motives." Percy clutched his heart, feigning pain. "If you must know, I figure I should help you because you are the oldest known child of the Big Three which means you means you get to kill Kronos. I figured if I can't do it myself, I might as well provide an assist."

I sighed. Percy had this strange death wish that came in the form of wanting to assassinate the king of all Titans. Fortunately for me, I get to at least attempt to carry out that desire provided that I manage to survive until I turn sixteen.

"Besides, I know how much it sucks to be powerless." He said quietly.

"Alright, fine. How's this evening? Zeus' fist?"

"Fine."

"Pleasure doing business with you, Percy Jackson." I smiled tightly before turning around.

"Same to you, Thalia Grace."

I frowned at the use of my last name and quickly spun around. Percy was gone.

Shivering, I turned back around. My last name had a lot of history behind it and I wasn't particularly fond of using it. I certainty wasn't throwing it around so how would he know it? I wasn't angry, just curious.

Despite being thrown off course by the son of Kronos and Poseidon, I managed to pull through the rest of the morning. I had just come back from archery class when my best friend, Annabeth, approached me, a book in her hands.

"Hey nerd," I greeted. "What book are you reading now?"

Annabeth chuckled, showing me the book cover. "Perry Johnson and the Olympics by Nick Riordam. It's based on Greek mythology and even has demigods in it. It features Perry Johnson, a brave but idiotic son of Poseidon. Annie Bell, an intelligent daughter of Athena. And Gunther, a reed pipe obsessed satyr. I'm on the first book."

"Sound fake. I'd hate to be in that series."

Annabeth shrugged, changing the subject. "Did you get help from Chiron as I suggested?"

"Yeah and now I have to work with Percy to get my powers back. Yay me."

My friend frowned for a minute then nodded, understanding. "He also went through power spasm of some sort."

"He wasn't very...helpful, at first."

"Yeah, he can be moody at times."

No shit. "I'm pretty sure that was more than being moody. I think he hates me."

Annabeth shook her head, her blonde curls moving in the sunlight. "Percy's kind of rough around the edges. Even I want to kill him on days that end with Y. He doesn't get along with...people."

I laughed. "You think?"

Before she could reply, a camper ran up to do us, smiling. My first impression of the girl was that she was beautiful. Her dark hair was curly and much longer than mine, reaching her waist. She was tall, thin and her almost perfect features held a certain innocence.

"Hey Annabeth, Hey Thalia."

"Hi Silena, how's Beckendorf?" Annabeth greeted the girl. "I know he was roughed up a bit during the last capture the flag game."

"He's doing much better, thanks for asking." The girl turned to me, curiosity in her eyes.

Oh boy. Here comes yet another question.

"Sooo Thalia, I'm glad you're back. You've been the talk of the town-or camp, rather."

"That's good know." I replied. Even in a world full of monsters and teenagers with various powers, somehow I-a former tree-was somewhat still fascinating.

"So were you like, alive as a tree? Could you see people?"

"I've actually wondered the same thing, Silena. Tell us, Thalia." Annabeth looked at me expectantly.

"Well I couldn't exactly see, per say." I started. "I felt different auras every time someone passed through camp. For example, you're probably a daughter of Aphrodite, right?"

Silena nodded, confirming her godly parent. I figured-I smelled Taylor Swfit's perfume, Wonderstruck before she even came into view.

"Aphrodite children tend to have a warm and soft aura, it felt like lying in bed after just taking the sheets out of the dryer. Children of Athena had commanding and disciplined aura, that kind that makes you want to sit up straight in chair and be all proper."

"Wow, that's incredible." Silena looked awe struck then smiled sheepishly. "Well, I should let you guys get to class. I'll see you guys around!"

Annabeth and I waved goodbye as the girl went spiriting off, probably late for her class.

"Sit up straight and be proper?" Annabeth retorted, shaking her head at me.

"I'm dead serious. Athena kids seem like the kind of people to invite you to a dinner then have two spoons and two forks for different meals."

"First off, there should be three forks. One for salad, one for for fish, and one for meat. Everyone knows that." Annabeth began ticking off the utensils by using her fingers as tally marks. "Second of all, the two spoons serve different purposes. One is for soup and the other for desert. Thirdly, it's all about placement. The three forks should be on the left hand side and the three knives and soup spoon should be on the right. The desert spoon should be proportional to the plate."

"Three knives?"

"Yes-one for salad, one for fish, and one for meat. Please try and keep up here, Thalia." I felt Annabeth's gray eyes judge me. "And stand up straight, slouching is bad for your poster."

I straightened my spine, shaking my head. Once again, my point had been proven.

The daughter of Athena began walking away, muttering something about the aura description being false. As she ran off to her next class, I went to my sword training class. After class, I wanted to stay and talk but my schedule was quite busy that day, so I decided to get a move on it. I scurried off to my Gardening class, not wanting to disappoint the nymphs by being late. When I approached the strawberry fields, I noticed that Annabeth was there, talking to Juniper. Juniper was a dryad-a wood nymph. For the most part, Juniper stayed within in her tree, near Zeus' fist but occasionally she came out to help garden or visit Grover-the satyr that was assigned to guide me to camp six years ago.

The three of us talked for a while before Juniper was whisked away by one of her cousins, another nymph. For the most part, the class compromised of Demeter students which was to be expected, considering that their mother was the goddess of harvest and agriculture. A few curious souls used their free period and joined the class like Annabeth and Malcolm-both children of the wisdom goddess, Athena. When class started, Annabeth and I were asked to bring out the bags of soil from the stables. Before getting the bags, we made a quick pit stop by my cabin and found a hair tie for Katie Gardner, a daughter of Demeter. We'd only been inside ten minutes tops, but when we went to stables, all the bags of soil and mulch were gone.

Figuring that the group got impatient and sent someone else to fetch it, we went back down to the strawberry fields. Sure enough, the bags were there and the class had already begun working on their flower beds. I shrugged and we walked over to the flowerbed that Annabeth and I shared.

Katie Gardner ran up to us, out of breath. "Hair tie?" She asked, sweat framing her face.

"Here you go." Annabeth handed her the piece of elastic.

The girl took it gratefully and began pulling her hair into a high pony tail. As she did so, I pointed to the bags of mulch. "Who brought that up here?"

Katie shrugged. "I thought you guys did. I didn't actually see who brought them but I assumed you guys did since you were asked to. We were standing there, waiting for you guys then the bags appeared. I felt like I was looking a specific spot for a long time then they just appeared. When I looked up, you guys were coming down the hill."

After Katie left, I glanced at Annabeth. "How did they get over here?"

Dropping down on her knees, she starting pulling out the weeds. "Probably Percy-it seems like he stopped time and brought the bags down."

"Percy?" I repeated, dumbfounded. For crying out loud, the guy was an assassin-helping out wasn't in his job description.

Annabeth nodded. "He can be nice when he wants to be."

"You got that right." I snorted.

For the next half hour, Annabeth and I attacked the weeds with more energy that I thought we would. I never knew that pulling weeds was a good way to let off steam. After we got the weeds out, Annabeth dragged over a rake to dig up the old mulch.

"This is fun," She commented. "It's relaxing."

"It is. I don't think when I'm doing stuff like this."

"Huh." The daughter of Athena started raking the faded mulch out of the flower bed. "So you do it to avoid thinking?"

I ripped open a bag of mulch, not sure how to answer that question. "My mom...we made a garden in our old apartment's balcony. She wasn't the best mother at times but I felt like she only loved me when we were doing her favorite activity, gardening."

Before Annabeth could reply, a figure walked down the hill, heading in our direction.

As the figure got closer, I groaned. "I was having such a good time."

Annabeth twisted around, nodding to the approaching figure. "His morning nap must be over."

"Morning nap? It's almost one o'clock." I commented, looking over him. Percy looked as if he'd just rolled out of bed. His jeans were rumpled, hair tousled and all over the place. And he was shirtless.

"Doesn't he own a shirt?" I asked, grabbing a spade.

"Unfortunately, I don't think so." Annabeth groaned, "He's like a brother to me. It's disturbing that I have to see so much of his...skin. Yuck."

Yuck for her and hot damn for me. I started digging more holes. My throat felt dry. Beautiful face. Beautiful body. Atrocious attitude.

Percy took his sweet time walking down the hill. His impending presence had a swamping effect. Most of the girls focused on their work, occasionally looking up distractedly. For me, there was no ignoring him, not even when I had my back to him-I could feel him watching. My shoulder blades tingled under his heavy stare. Once I glanced over, he was gone, only to return minutes later with a shirt on. Damn. I kind of missed the view.

I was patting down new soil when Percy swaggered over, dropping a heavy arm over Annabeth's shoulder. She tried to wiggle free, but he held her close. "Hey, Wisegirl."

The daughter of Athena rolled her eyes, grinning. "Hey yourself. Thanks for moving the bags for us."

"Wasn't me."

Annabeth pushed his shoulder playfully. "Whatever, butthead."

"That's not nice." He pulled her closer, smiling-really smiling, and it was a nice look on him. He should try it more often. Then Percy glanced over at me and his eyes narrowed, as if he just realized I was there. The smile was completely gone. "What are you doing?"

I gestured to the surrounding area. It seemed pretty obvious considering I was covered with dirt and there were several plants scattered around me. "I'm fixing-"

"I wasn't asking you." He turned to Annabeth. "What are you doing? This is your free period, you're usually reading in your cabin at this time."

I wasn't going to let him get to me. I shrugged, picking up a potted plant.

"I'm helping her with the flower bed. Be nice." Annabeth punched him in the stomach before squirming free. "Look at what we've done. I now have a hidden talent."

Percy turned his eyes on my landscaping masterpiece. I was quite proud of it. I knew exactly where to place plants that needed more sun and ones that thrived in shadows. There was a layered effect, taller and leafy, sturdier plants in the back and flowers in the front. If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was a child of Demeter. Hell, with my handiwork I'd think I was Demeter herself.

Percy arched a brow,

My insides tightened. "What?"

He shrugged. "It's okay. I guess."

"Okay?" Annabeth sounded as offended as I felt. "It's better than okay. We rocked this. Well, Thalia rocked it. I just handed her stuff."

"Is this what you do with your free period?" He asked me, ignoring Annabeth.

"What-are you deciding to talk to me now?" Smiling tightly, I grabbed a handful of mulch and dumped it. "Yeah, it's kind of a hobby. What's yours? Kicking kittens?"

"I'm not sure I should say in front of you two virtuous ladies." He replied, his expression turning wolfish.

"Ew." Annabeth made a gagging motion.

The images I got then were totally R-rated, and I could tell by his smug expression he knew it. I grabbed more mulch.

"But it's not nearly as lame as this," He added.

I froze, pieces of red cedar floating from my fingers. "Oh? And why is this lame?"

His look said do I really need to explain? Sure, gardening wasn't the height of coolness. I knew that. But it wasn't lame. Because I liked Annabeth and didn't want to ruin our friendship by trash talking her best friend, I clamped my mouth shut and started spreading the mulch out.

Annabeth pushed him, but Percy barely wavered. "Don't be a jerk, Seaweed Brain."

"I'm not being a jerk."

I raised my eyebrows.

"What's that?" Percy asked. "You have something to say, Sweetheart?"

"Other than I'd like for you to never call me Sweetheart? No." I smoothed the mulch, then stood, admiring our work. Casting Annabeth a look, I grinned. "I think we did good."

"We did great, lameness and all. And you know what? I kind of like being lame."

Percy stared at the freshly planted flowers, almost like he were dissecting them for a science experiment.

"Oh! Percy has a great spot outside his cabin for a flowerbed. We could get a small flower be-"

"She's not welcome in my cabin," Percy snapped, turning to his best friend. "Seriously."

Insulted by the venom in his words, I took a step forward and my hand flew to my bracelet, ready to unleash Aegis, my shield decorated with the head of Medusa. Annabeth panicked slightly when she saw the bracelet and knew the terrifying power that shield had.

"I was thinking we could work on the flower bed, which is outside-not inside-the last time I checked."

"Don't care. I don't want her over there."

"Percy, don't do this. Thalia's my friend."

"And you have other friends. Better friends."

"It's not the same, Thalia's been with me since day one." Annabeth snapped.

Percy glanced over at me, trying to decide whether to lose a friendship over a plebeian like me. His lip curled and if I still held the spade, I would've chucked it at his head. "You have better friends, Annabeth." Percy repeated. "You don't need to be friends with someone...someone like her."

I'd kept quiet up to that point because I didn't want to say anything to upset Annabeth. Dickhead was her best friend, after all, but that-that was going overboard.

"What do you mean, someone like me?"

The son of Kronos and Poseidon tilted his head to the side and let out a long breath.

Annabeth's eyes darted from him to me nervously. "He didn't mean anything by it."

"Bullshit." He said.

My hands were clenched into fists. "What the hell is your problem, anyway?"

Percy faced me. There was a strange look on his face. "You."

"I'm your problem?" I took a step forward. "I don't even know you. And you don't know me."

A muscle popped in his jaw. "I don't need to get to know you. Or want to."

I threw my hands up, frustrated. "That works just fine for me, buddy, because I don't want to get to know you either."

"Percy," Annabeth hissed, grabbing his arms. "Knock it off."

He smirked as he watched me. "I don't like that you're friends with Annabeth."

I said the first thing that came to my mind, this guy got under my skin like no other. "And I don't give two shits what you like."

Percy stared me down, towering over me. The intensity in his eyes sent shivers down my spine.

"Listen closely," he said, taking a step forward. I-involuntarily-took one back, and he forced me back until my back bit into one of the tall trees. Percy bent his head down, his unnatural gold eyes filling my vision. Heat rolled off his body. "I'm going to tell you this once. You're a child of the Big Three, not to mention the oldest known child of the prophecy. Everything about you screams danger. If Annabeth gets caught in the cross hairs, gods so help me-" He stopped, taking a deep breath as his gaze dropped down to my parted lips.

My breath caught. Something flickered in his eyes, but they narrowed again, hiding whatever had been there. The images were back. The two of us. Hot and sweaty. I bit my lip and tried to make to my expression blank, but yet again I knew he could tell what I was thinking when his expression turned annoyingly smug. Beyond annoying.

"You're kind of dirty, sweetheart."

I blinked. Deny. Deny. Deny. "Excuse me?"

"Dirty," He repeated. "You're covered in dirt. What did you think I meant?"

"Nothing," I said, wishing he'd back the hell up. "I'm gardening. You get dirty when you do that."

His lips twitched. "The are a lot more fun ways to get...dirty. Not that I'd ever show you."

I had a feeling he knew each way intimately. A flush spread over my cheeks, down my throat. "I'd rather roll around in manure than any thing you might sleep in."

Percy arched a brow then spun around. "I need to talk to Chiron."

I stayed against the tree, eyes wide and unmoving until he disappeared beyond the hill. I swallowed, looking at at a distraught Annabeth.

"Alright," I said. "That was intense."

Annabeth rubbed her temples, shooting me an apologetic look. "Look, I love Percy but he's a dick. I know he is. He hasn't always been this bad though. Something's gotten into him lately."

Speechless, I stared at her. My heart was still racing, pumping blood way too fast. I wasn't sure if it was fear or adrenaline that was making me dizzy when I finally pulled away from the tree and approached her. And if I wasn't afraid, I kind of wondered if I should be.

"I'm so, so sorry. He's over protective because he lost someone he loved a long time ago. I'm the only person he's a long lasting relationship with so he's a little on edge."

"I get that, but it's not like I'm some creep trying to molest you." My hands were shaking, and even though he was gone, I could still feel him-the heat he'd thrown off. It had been...exciting. A feeling I hadn't felt in a while, even before I was turned into a tree.

A grin peeked through. "I know, but he worries a lot. He'll calm down, once he gets to know you."

I doubted that.

"Be honest-he's run you off, hasn't he?" She stepped forward, brows furrowed. "Gods, I'm going to kill him."

"I'll help you." I offered then sighed. "No. It's fine, Annabeth. He didn't run me off-he won't."

The blonde looked so relieved I thought she'd collapse. "Good. I've go to run but I'll fix this. I promise."

"There's nothing to fix. He's not your problem."

"He kind of is. Talk to you later, okay?"

Nodding, I watched her head back to the Athena cabin. I grabbed the empty bags. What the hell was that about? Never in my life had someone disliked me so strongly and I've come across monsters who wanted me dead for just existing.

Percy was hot, but he was a world class jerk. And I'd meant what I said to Annabeth. He wasn't going to scare me off. He'd just have to deal with me because I was here to stay. Needless to say, this evening was going to be interesting.

A/N-If you guys have any questions that have to do with my updating schedule or the future of this series, please go to my profile first and if your question isn't answered, feel free to PM me. Feel free to PM or review any questions and I'll try my best to answer them. Also if you have the time, I have a poll up on my profile-it's just for research purposes. It asks how you pick a fic-do you filter by pairing or genre? I'm just curious. Thanks for reading and I'll see you guys next update.