Chapter 3

I admit, this monster discovery was not nearly as surprising as the first one. When one monster's scented a half-blood, they're likely to alert their monster buddies, and before you know it, you're dead.

Or something like that.

Anyway, looking back on the situation, I think I overreacted on the whole. I guess I was just so nervous and anxious to get the mission over with that I completely forgot how adept I am at monster-fighting, and I don't mean to brag. Even two giant venomous serpents? Hell, I've faced giants five times their size. One at a time, of course, but that's not the point. The point is that I should not have been freaking out, and now that I'm actually thinking about what happened that day and after it, I am now slightly concerned with my sanity. But I'm sure you are too, and were a long time ago, so…s'all good.

But I was freaking out! And I suppose I should tell you the real reason. I've just realized that I can't delay it any longer or else none of what I'm going to tell you will make any sense. So, be prepared to sit for a spell and think. If you're not prepared to sit for a spell and think, go and get your energy out and come back when you're ready, because this is going to take some brain-work. I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE ON VACATION, PUNK!

Moving right along.

Because I suck at explaining stuff, I'm going to write it out. The date is…yesterday. (See what I mean?)

"Thalia?" Lady Artemis called from the mouth of my tent that I shared with Phoebe. "Thalia, I need to see you."

I glanced up from my reading and blinked, forcing myself to attention. (You know how hard it is to try to pay real attention to a nine-year-old girl?) "Hm? What?"

She raised an eyebrow slightly, her lips pinched and eyes cold, though her voice sounded kind. "Thalia Grace, in my tent. Immediately, please."

I felt my stomach clench. I always hate it when Lady Artemis gets mad at me, I feel like I'm letting her down, even though she's always still polite and even nice when she's angry at her Hunters. It's a quality that is sometimes fine, but generally verging on creepy. Gods, tell me something about this world that isn't creepy!

I stepped into Lady Artemis's tent preparing for another lecture on behavior and respect, but instead, the goddess briefly handed me a pouch of drachmas and a small, elaborately carved wooden box.

"Keep these in your pack," she instructed, "and sit with me at dinner, please. Do not, I repeat, do not open the box. You may go now."

I bowed my head and took the items, then headed back to my own tent. I was glad beyond relief I didn't have to sit through another talk feeling miserable and pathetic, yet her curtness told me that my mistress was angrier with me than ever. Why, oh why couldn't I learn to behave myself? I'm sixteen years old and I still don't know the proper moments to speak, how to address an authority, or even how to start a conversation without sounding idiotic. I'm just plain awkward!

I'm like Pandora. If you say to me, "Whatever you do, don't open that box!" all I want to do and all I think about is what will happen if I open the damn box. I kept wondering about the container Lady Artemis gave me until dinnertime. Were these items some sort of…punishment? Why would she give me money? I don't need money! I probably would've refused the drachmas if I hadn't been so afraid of upsetting Lady Artemis even more. Have I mentioned how cowardly I can be?

When dinner came, I sat down next to Lady Artemis around the campfire as I'd been instructed. I didn't speak until I was spoken to, which proved to be a good move. She only waited three minutes before deciding to talk.

"I don't understand you, Thalia," she said suddenly, staring into the fire blindly.

"…L-lady Artemis?" I stammered.

She looked at me, her hard gray gaze piercing through my mask of feigned indifference towards however she expected to punish me.

"I don't understand how your mind works," she said, as though she'd been waiting to let this all come out for a long time now. "I don't understand what you feel—not like I understand my other Hunters. Not like I understand Phoebe, or Melissa, or Ianthe, or even Polyxena, and I've known Polyxena since she was born." Lady Artemis sighed. "And while they've all had their chances, you haven't had yours."

I had no idea what to say, so I settled for what I hoped was a completely confused expression.

She almost smiled at my face. "I believe your time has come, Thalia. I really do."