"She needs nectar and ambrosia," A boy said. He had a smooth voice. I tried to wake up. To breath. He took me by the shoulders and lifted me into sitting position, resting my head on his shoulder.
"Come on!" He yelled to the others. "What's wrong with you people? Let's get her to the Big House."
Then I took a shaky breath. I coughed and opened my eyes. Everything was blurry at first. A crowd of people but none of them near to me... except the boy.
His irises were startlingly green – sea green.
I stared at him in bewilderment, shivering and wild-eyed. "Who-"
"I'm Percy," He said. "You're safe now." Was I? What was happening?
"Strangest dream …" Was it real? Where are Luke and Annabeth?
"It's okay." Nothing is Ok... I feel so confused.
"Dying." I mumbled. I thought I'd – Maybe they found me before I'd died.
"No," He assured me.
"You're okay. What's your name?" The words rang around my head.
What was happening? I remember... Luke and Annabeth... We were atop the hill, fighting. I'd tried to stop them... Right?
His eyes changed ever so slightly as I tried to answer him. It was as if he already knew the answer. As if he knew who I was and what I'd done. But how could he? I just got here.
Flash back time.
Luke cried out my name as the monster scraped a claw down my arm.
"Keep going!" I yell back.
I looked around. Grover was doing exactly what I'd told him to do: get Annabeth to safety no matter what. He was trying for all he was worth but there were so many monsters. Annabeth was giving it her all. For a seven year old girl she was good. But still a seven year old.
I heard a grunt from my left and saw Luke battling his hardest. Why weren't the supposed safe camp coming to help us? Why weren't the gods helping us? Why did we have to live like this? But there's no time to sit around and complain about how unfair your life is when you're about to be killed by a bunch of monsters.
I heard my name be screamed into the wind again but this time it was Annabeth. She was looking at me, her eyes wide with terror and desperation.
I turn in time to stop the fatal blow. Focus! You can't die now! I slam my sword through the monster's stomach fiercely and turn to help Luke. But I can't get to him. I try, I try so hard.
"Up! Head up!" I call to him hoping he'd hear. And he does. Thank goodness! We battle our way up, parallel to each other. "Grover!" I call.
He sees us and pulls us both toward him. We've got some clear space but I can see them. Down below. They're coming for us. No, not us. Me. This is my fault.
I gasp but the wind rips away the sound. Rain is splattering my face making my rare tears indistinguishable.
I can't let anything happen to Luke or Annabeth. Not after what I've put them through. I'm a magnet for monsters because of who my father is.
"You have to go on without me." I yell.
"What?" Luke yells back. "We're almost there, just a bit further!"
"They're almost on us!" And they are. "Go and get Annabeth to safety or so help me!" I know I can be scary so I milk it for all it's worth.
"No! You can't!" Annabeth screamed from where she was running beside Luke.
"C'mon Annabeth we've got to go." Luke says deathly calm. His blue eyes on mine.
"No! We can't! She can't! The family!" She screams as Luke picks her up and over his shoulder.
"Goodbye Luke." I try to sound as if it were a simple goodbye and not one signalling my death.
"Goodbye Thalia. I'll make sure you're never forgotten. They'll pay for what they've done to you." I hope he means the monsters.
"Just make sure you survive first." We're standing at the top of the hill. He just needs to go down the other side. And I'll stay here. The monsters are almost upon us so he needs to go.
He opens his mouth to say something more but I cut him off. "Just go! Het out of here!" I scream at him. The look on his face I can barely describe. He looks so pained... I guess I'd look the same if he was about to die.
With one last look he runs down the other side with Annabeth crying on his back and Grover weeping at his side. My brave family. I turn to face the monsters head on.
"Bring it on!" I yell down at them. I stand tall, aegis on my arm and a sword in my hand. I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready.
Why did Luke look so pained? Why am I still thinking about him? I wish I could – no! I never realised! I never told him! Did he too? That was my expression on his face. The one I would use. The one only for him.
"Luke!" I scream.
Lightning strikes –
I see a talon –
I see a bright light –
I see darkness –
Am I dead?
How long will this last?
I feel tired –
I think I'll...
Goodbye Luke, goodbye Annabeth, goodbye Grover, goodbye life.
End of flashback.
"I'm Thalia," I said. "Daughter of Zeus."
