Chapter 9

Percy was sitting in the bar, his dark raven hair shadowing over his usually radiant eyes.

He couldn't express the tidal wave of emotions that were overwhelming him as he drank silently— not caring about the facade he had to put up or the secret he had to keep.

A hand rested on his shoulder.

"Why so blue, kelp face?" said a familiar face— only one person called him that.

He turned to see two electric blue eyes on a pretty face. Her hair was as jet black as ever.

He put up a weak smile and hugged the girl, "Thalia, so great to see you. I thought you were working in the palace."

"I got fired. It's okay though , I was planning to anyways." She said.

"So mind telling me whats got you so down." She continued as she got on a chair next to him.

His fingers went to rub his forehead and brows, "I'd rather not talk about it at all."

"That bad huh?" Thalia ordered a drink from the bartender.

"Yup"

"Well, if you need to talk to someone, I'm here."

Percy smiled thankfully at her, "I see you didn't get back your rightful throne as the daughter of zeus." he said.

"Nope, some stuff things stopped me." Thalia said solemnly.

Percy looked up at her curiously about to ask her exactly she was talking about, when Nico came to them.

"Thalia! Oh my god, when did you get here." Nico shouted with joy.

Thalia smiled at him "Hey, Nico!" She said and pulled him into a hug which then led to her head locking Nico and messing up his hair.

Percy smiled being reminded of older days. His smile slowly faded away.

"I'm a bit tired. I'll see you guys later."Percy said before getting up and leaving the bar.

"What's got his panties all tied up in a bunch?" Thalia asked Nico.

"I don't know. He's been like that this whole day." Nico said, "I'm guessing it's because of a girl."

Thalia's eyes widened as did her smile, "A girl?! Man, our little Percy is growing up to be a man."

"He's had a lot of girls, Thalia."

Thalia gave him a weird look, "Really?"

"Yeah, but he's never been depressed about a girl. Ever." Nico said, "You should talk to him."

"I tried, already."

"Well, if you can't, I don't know who can."

"Fine, I'll try again." Thalia said before chugging down her glass.

Nico looked at her, "You still drink like a man."

Thalia glared at him with razor blue eyes. Nico forgot how scary she could get.

"I mean, you look lovely, a lot more beautiful than before. heh."

"Watch it, di Angelo." Thalia said. She then smirked at him. Nico let out a sigh, before getting knocked up hard on the head.

"Hey! What was that for!"

"It's my way of showing my affection. Didn't you know that?"

"Yeah, but it still hurts." Nico said rubbing his bruised head.

Thalia laughed and locked her arm around his neck, "Oh how I've missed my punching bag."

"Hey!"

Thalia laughed harder while Nico pouted like a little child.

Meanwhile, Percy was in renegade form watching the city while perched on the rooftops.

He wanted to hate the girl. He had to. HE scolded himself for ever falling for her sparkling, radiant grey eyes that turned silver in the moonlight and her gorgeous honey golden locks which swayed so mesmerizingly in the sun and —

Percy shook his head, tired of the war going on in his head. His head hurt.

She seemed so different from the others— it was what attracted him.

And now he wondered if what she was with him was all truthful or a fake facade she used in getting his trust and greatest secret.

Then again, if she told her father, soldiers would be at his door by now.

His sole mission, his whole life was to get revenge for his father's death by slitting the king's throat— the one and only death he would ever commit.

Now with the girl in the picture— his daughter— it just made things more complicated.

He had to sever his feelings and emotions for this girl— he had to loathe her— the princess— daughter of the man who killed his family so ruthlessly. She was probably just like him.

Yes, she was.

Percy's eyes darkened and lost the last glimmer of warmth that was still there.

He couldn't just throw it all away for some princess.

Revenge, that was it

And no one would get in the way

not her, not anybody.

He then heard his door knock from his apartment below. He ignored it— assuming that it was probably just some girl coming over to try and win him back.

Percy sat and sat in his hatred that was eating him from the inside without him knowing.

He heard footsteps and turned quickly to see Thalia standing there with her hip out to one side and her arms crossed over her chest.

Percy's eyes went wide in shock.

"Relax, Percy, I know it's you. And why the hell didn't you let me in?"

Percy let his mask fall from his face and rest on his chest.

"What? How did you know?"

"I knew ever since you became it, you moron. You couldn't be any more suspicious when you told us you needed to 'take care of some things' in the middle of the night" Thalia said.

"Why didn't you stop me or say anything?"

"You were helping the poor and rebelling against the government at the same time. Why would I stop you?"

Percy was silent then.

"You still not going to tell me what's wrong?"

Percy looked up at her then let out a heavy breathe, "What would you do if you had to choose between a normal life with someone you love or revenge for the death of your family?"

Thalia looked deeply into Percy's eyes, then nodded with understanding.

"I wouldn't know, but I would bet you should trust your gut, Percy. Your gut never lies. I've learned from experience." Thalia said walking closer to his black figure and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You'll make the right decision, Percy, you always do."

Percy looked up and smiled slightly at Thalia, "Thanks."

"No prob." Thalia said smiling brightly at him then said, "You're not going to tell me who she is?"

Percy looked up, "Nope."

"Fine. Kelp face."

Percy looked at her incredulously, "Electric goth barbie."

Thalia smirked and crossed her arms, "Thanks for the compliment."

Percy chuckled softly, Thalia could always bring his spirits up.

"Percy?"

Percy and Thalia turned to see a shocked looking Nico looking at Percy who was wearing renegade clothing.

"Nico. How'd you?"

"Does that matter right now? I can't believe you're the renegade! That's amazing." Nico said awestruck.

Thalia smirked at him, like watching a two year old get a new toy.

Percy's brows raised up, "Funny, that's exactly how I pictured Nico to react when he found out."

Thalia laughed as Nico ran up to him and examined riptide in awe.

"Oh my god. This is so legit." Nico sad.

"Never get older, Nico." Percy said smiling.