"I never saw her have an, um, episode, but Luke told me about the glowing eyes, the strange things she would say. He made me promise never to tell. What caused it – I have no idea. If Luke knew, he never told me." – Thalia Grace, the Last Olympian.

Author's Note: Okay, so this needs a little explanation. Luke made Thalia swear on the River Styx not to breathe a word about May's visions – about what Luke's future would bring. So since she gave him her oath, she is literally unable to speak of what will happen. Thus we have this scene below…

Hoping. Hoping to see a sign from Zeus. Knowing that the little scar on her finger tingled every time she thought about speaking it to Chiron, the way her jaw seemed slightly too heavy when she tried to form the words, the way her lips parted, but made no sound as they attempted to talk.

And now she was kneeling. Kneeling next to Zeus's Fist, her pale hands clasped tightly in a fervent prayer.

Her head was bowed, her tears dripping onto the cold stone and pooling to form a small, clear puddle. Then, after what seemed like eternity, the girl looked up as a ray of golden sunlight shone through the trees and hit her face, making her electric blue eyes sparkle, luminescent from the salt water trickling quietly down her face. An uncomfortable, itching sensation prickled at a spot at the navel of her back, almost like the girl was being…

Watched.

In a millisecond, the sunshine had faded, leaving the clearing colder than ever. Irises flashed a dangerous dark blue as they scanned the trees quickly for any signs of movement. Thalia swiftly backed up against the rock heap, her jaw set. There were only miniscule flaws in the perfect image: her hands were balled into tight fists at her side, as if to stop them from trembling traitorously, and her teeth were gritted, her breathing shallow – hyperventilation; her frame, however small, was noticeably stiff and –

A hesitant hand touched her shoulders, and Thalia tensed up immediately, the muscles in her arms clenching as she snatched up her spear, whirled around, and faced the very bane of her existence.

"Don't touch me," she hissed, sparks flying from her sharp sapphire eyes. She leaped back three paces and was about to run out of the woods when Luke's piercing azure stare met hers sadly.

They shared more than color: their irises had a haunted shadow to each fleck of intense blue, and the circles beneath them could only be acquired with many straight nights of broken sleep, but Thalia's eyes held caution and weariness, while Luke's pupils simply looked drained of emotion and energy.

"Look, I'm sorry," Luke murmured, his voice almost inaudible as he continued to hold the girl's gaze. "I've come to apologize."

Thalia sagged in defeat – she couldn't attack him when he talked to her like that – and dropped her weapon onto the forest floor with a loud clang.

"… Just go away."

"Please, Thalia. Just hear me o –"

She tried to run. She really did. But Luke caught her wrists and spun her around.

"Listen, Thalia." Luke's voice took on a desperate quality as he leaned towards her and cradled her hands to his chest. "It's Kronos. He's going to take over my body and use it as a stepping stone. You've the only one who can save me. Thalia, please. I'll give you anything – anything you want – but you've got to come with me."

Her heart S–H–A–T–T–E–R–E–D.

She needed to believe him, because she was going to go insane from the fact that her best friend had just betrayed her –

"I want a lot of things," she heard herself say distantly as her cerulean eyes started to burn and prickle. "I want so much. But – but you can't give me any of those."

"Power," Luke breathed, and it sounded like the softest caress on his lips. "That's your fatal flaw, Thalia. You can have so much of that. Unlimited power, Thalia… So much, you can destroy all of the gods like swatting flies."

She stood there for a single, tantalizing moment, terror and wanting rooting her body to the spot. She could imagine herself, standing in Olympus's throne room, wearing a beautiful silver chiton and a lovely gold tiara, with the gods screaming for mercy at her feet as she held a staff of bronze and lightning in her hands…

She could taste the pure temptation on her lips. He probably could, too, because suddenly he was kissing her.

His cold touch was what bought her back to Earth.

"That power," she whispered as she twisted silently to look at him straight in the eye. "Is it strong enough to kill all of the Titans?"

Luke's irises glinted, and Thalia felt like the small clearing was suddenly full of sunlight again.

"Yes, Thalia," he murmured lovingly. "When we destroy all of them, it'll be just like the old times. You, me, and Annabeth."

Her

Name

Was-like-a-splash-of-icy-cold-water-on-Thalia's-face.

(Drip, drip.)

She drew back.

"… You haven't told her yet." The previous moment of euphoria disappeared as the girl squashed the memory into the darkest depths of her mind, where it would never resurface until she forcefully dragged it back out again.

Luke hesitated for a second. "No," he answered reluctantly, eyes locking with Thalia's. "But she'd agree when we go to her."

Kisses seemed to be the way Luke lured her into a daze – she felt all dizzy-headed when their lips touched – once again – and the daughter of Zeus allowed herself to warm to his fingers running down her arm, and how he gripped her – firmly, like one would hold a flailing hamster as they deposited the pet back into its rightfully caged home.

(She doesn't know how she's going to get out of this one. Flaws and lust and temptation just don't go well together.)

And finally, after what seemed to be forever, they drew back – Luke's breathing was shallow, and Thalia was gasping for air.

"No," she choked out, and her eyes fluttered close as she pushed away the last feelings of pleasure. "I can't – I can't do this."

"If you change your mind," he whispered tenderly, and trailed his fingers tantalizingly around her back (she resists the urge to do so, but only with extreme efforts), "I'll be right here."

Author's Note:

… Ugh. Sorry about that. That was really crappy and short. =( Please review for constructive criticism. Thanks for reading all the way 'til here, though. I really appreciate your unlimited patience. =)