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Diavo

"Smarts are for stupid people". That is my favorite quote. Use it as you wish.

Thanks for the quote. I think I can use this when Thalia and Annabeth are having an argument. So again, thanks for the quote and Merry Christmas.

If you're wondering how to get your review into the next chapter, write something that might catch my attention like a little criticism or a question or something really random or funny and I might add them. Just don't overdo it.

Chapter 11

Hey-yo here comes the danger up in this club

When we get started we ain't gonna stop

-Percy-

"This ought to be fun," his companion said with a smirk. He looked like a tall buffed barbarian who was wearing armor all coated in gold. I thought to myself, who's the titan who likes the color gold as much Apollo does. Hyperion. I can also feel his intent to kill on any prey he spots. But I ain't gonna be that prey.

"Ok everyone just calm down, " said the guy who was gonna destroy my properties and memories. He turned to his companion and said to him,"His another abandoned. I want to know if he's a possible ally first." He had sandy blonde hair, blue eyes and a scar that he probably wont forget. A huge scythe was resting on his right shoulder and he looked like he was ready to strike at a moment's notice.

"You talk about peace while holding a gun. Yea that's very persuasive," I said to him nonchalantly before I glared at him.

He returned to me an equally intense glare before he stabbed the floor beneath him with the blade of his scythe making it look like it was defying gravity. He stepped back and looked back at me.

"There, now can we talk?"

"Let's hear what they have to say," Gelo said inside my head.

I still wasn't convinced though. The way his companion looked at me like a predator makes me want to drive my blade through their guts but instead I gave the slightest of nod just to oblige to what Gelo said.

"Do you like how the gods rule this world? Have a 'one night only' with your parent before they leave them with a child they can't even raise properly? Leave them a child who will only be tortured and be scarred for life?" his expression turned grim. "I for one felt that pain but we keep moving forward, thinking to ourselves that it was only a bad dream. But this disorder comes back to you everyday, making you feel unrecognized, unwanted, unloved. It slowly kills you inside."

He took a pause before he asked me. "You know that feeling don't ya? The feeling of being abandoned and left alone. We all do."

He ripped the scythe from the ground only for him to bang it angrily against the floor sending a massive energy wave. I suddenly felt that time itself stopped all around us except for us three before it continued moving again. He looked up to me and I saw that his eyes weren't blue anymore. It was now golden. The same ones that haunted me when I was a kid. He smirked at me evilly like he just recognized who I was finally dealing with here.

"The time of the reckoning has come today. Join us in rebellion against the gods. Let no other child become a victim to what we have experienced so they can live their life without being abandoned by their parents. It would be the perfect world for everyone," he said like one of the bad guys in cartoons.

"Do you always do that." He looked at me confused. "I mean do you always send out an energy for a dramatic effect every time you try to convince someone to join your cause ?" I said wittily, trying to suppress the bad feeling that came over me. I don't know why but I knew deep inside that this is a fight that I cannot win. Not at the moment that is. I know when to expect much from people and these two shouldn't be taken lightly.

His smirk quickly came back "Oh that. It wasn't just for show. I just saved another possible at the Junkyard of the gods." He let out a light chuckle, "How relevant. If not for the ble-"

"That's enough information dispelled to him already Luke," his burly companion cut him off. His eyes settled back at me. "Make your decision demigod. Are you in or not?"

"Don't pressure the guy Hyperion. Give him some time. He'll give us his answer soon. For now let's bring them the scythe and finish this mission." Luke said . He grabbed hold Hyperion shoulder and gave me one last look. "I hope you make the right choice because I hate to force a powerful demigod to join us. Just remember this cliche quote, 'keep your friends close but your enemies closer," he said with a smirk before they flashed away.

I released the breath that I didn't know I was holding. The overwhelming feeling that crept over me earlier disappeared. I looked at my hands and saw that they were shaking uncontrollably. Was I really that afraid of them?

"Dude, what has gotten into you? Were you really that scared?" Gelo asked.

I took a deep breath before I answered him. "I don't know. Those two just rubs at me the wrong way. But let's not dwell on that, we still have a mission to finish," I shrugged. I started making my way to the entrance. I took a peek and saw that it lead to something very deep inside the cave.

"Are you sure?" Gelo began. "Because I have a bad feeling happening to the hunters… He said he saved someone from where?"

"Junkyard of the gods. You know, where the gods -especially Hephaestus- throw away the what they deem useless," I replied matter-of- factly. I examined the damage the explosion brought. At least half of the kitchen was charred, with the fridge soaking all of it. A huge hole now decorated the side, showing all the rotten foods and all of it's glory. Luckily all of the smell that was trap were all dispersed.

"And where are the quest members going exactly?" he began.

"I don't exactly know but -"

"Then where did you send your mom off to?" he asked exasperatedly.

"She's the goddess of the night. She can easily track anyone as long the sun is down," I argued. I started walking towards the stair as I decided that I want to see my room first before I went to the labyrinth.

"And basically your her adopted son. Or should I say the prince of the night. Can't you do the same," he retorted.

I stopped my tread to gave out a retort."You know, as much as I like to say 'touche' right now, I rather want to see you have a physical form of your own…" I said in a edgy tone.

"Why? So you can gaze at my handsomeness and give me a pat on the back for my smartness?"

"So I can stick my sword through your gut," I deadpanned.

"Hahaha, as if your sword is strong enough to penetrate me," he stopped for a second. "That didn't came out right," he chuckled

"Shut up," I snapped. I took a few breaths before continuing. "What were trying to say earlier?"

"Dense as ever are you? What I'm saying is that can't you sense them the same way your mother did."

"I can but in a smaller radius. I mean really small so that's not an option," I said. "And besides, I have faith in my mother. I trust that she can handle watching over a few hunters and quest members." I tried hiding my irritation at him for always answering back as I was near my breaking point.

"Small? Is it as small as your brain or you balls because I can't tell."

"Shut up," I was starting to grit my teeth now.

"AAww, someone's piss. What are you gonna do, complain to your mom that your somewhat inner demon is teasing you, mommy's boy?"

Calm down Percy. Deep breaths. Don't stoop down to his level. This is part of your training. Tolerance. Just close your eyes and imagine your beating him inside your head.

Just as I thought of that, I suddenly felt my conscience get dragged away from my body, straight to nothing but darkness. I continued like that until I saw a familiar-looking face. He was grinning at me like when a master finally sees his/her student achieve something that others couldn't. I stopped moving just right in front him.

"Looks like someone finally accomplished it," he said, his grin plastered on his face. "You- ommph." Exactly when I stopped floating towards him, I gave him a hard punch to the face.

"Oh that felt good," I said with satisfied smile. I wanted to do that for years. I took a look all around me but saw nothing but darkness and ironically, I can see through the dark. "Where am I?

"As a I was going to say before you rudely interrupted me," Gelo said as he stood up, He was nursing his jaw and was giving me an intense glare. "You finally did a real meditation for the first time

"What do you mean? I meditated for a hundred times already."

"But you weren't taking it seriously. This time however, it looks like you were finally looking for your inner peace."

"Oookay," I said weirdly as all I thought about was beating Gelo up which suddenly lead me here. And Gelo is quite the opposite of peace. "So what now?" I asked.

"Now, you decide your next move." he said. He suddenly let himself fall backwards. I thought he was gonna fall into the darkness below us but instead he looked like he was sitting on an invincible sofa.

He grinned. "What? You thought I was gonna fall didn't you?"

"How are you floating like that," I asked

He rolled his eyes at me. "We're inside your brain stupid. You can do whatever you want and don't you have like a night vision."

True enough, there was a sofa underneath him. I tried doing what he did but only failed as I flail my arms every time I started falling. I keep conjuring chairs but it keeps disappearing every time.

"You know what, screw it." I cursed. I turned to Gelo as who was laughing to himself, like he was the one cause the chairs to disappear.

"So what do you wanna do?" he said as his face contorted to something more serious. "Go find and check on the hunters or do you want to go on with the mission that Hecate assigned you with, who's missing."

"The problem on checking on the hunters is that I don't where they are. And we're also near the entrance of the Labyrinth so the plausible thing to do is to just continue." I replied. Why abort on your mission you were preparing for for quite some time already.

"Do you know how to navigate down the Labyrinth?"

"No."

"And the only item that can help you is the stone which you don't even know how to use. That's basically a suicide mission."

"What would you want me to do. I don't where the hunters are located either so both missions are just me walking blindly 'till something happens."

"Hmmm," he looked thoughtful for a second before he suggested, "Maybe your mother left something back home. Knowing her, she probably left a note or something when you come back home first. Maybe she left the location of where she was heading."

"So you're basing this on a 'maybe'? What if she didn't?"

"And your basing this on a 'what if". Some intuition you have. It's your call anyway. You either walk inside a huge maze without a map or take your chances on going back home and looking for the hunters and your girlfriend."

I felt my face up heat up at the word. "She's not my girlfriend. She's only my best friend."

"Whatever you say Romeo." he grinned.

I just ignored him and started pacing back and forth, thinking about what I should do about the dilemma.

-Thalia-

I didn't know exacty where we were going but I didn't care at the moment. I never knew fighting an unkillable monsters was so tiring. The only thing I noticed before we came in here is the words 'Sun West Line' in gold. I don't know if it was the location where we were heading or the just simply the name of the train.

"Uuuhhh…." I turned to Malcolm who was gaping at the sight in front of him. I couldn't blame him though. If I had his passion for cars, I would be doing the same thing. A bunch of sports cars were parked and displayed in this part of the train.

I snapped my fingers in front of him which brought back some senses into him before he ran towards the cars saying all their names.

"A dodge viper. A maserati…" he said like a kid who's in a toy store who wanted to buy all the toy's his little eyes can see.

The two hunters made their way to silver colored car without a saying anything else other than, "Rest up and we leave immediately as soon as we reach as this trains stops." They've been like that ever since I called them to hurry. I didn't know what exactly happened but I heard a voice other than Zoe's or Phoebe's talking and I'm pretty sure it was a male's.

"Something on your mind?" Annabeth asked, breaking me away from my chain of thoughts.

I shook my head, "It's nothing. You should get some rest. We might be in here for a while."

She nodded towards his brother, " You go on ahead, I still need to calm him down or knock him at least."

I smiled at her before I made my way towards the nearest car. It was green with a small 'viper' just beside the door which I guess was the name of the car.

I let my body fall on the shotgun seat as exhaustion finally took it's toll on me but before I could do though a voice suddenly spoke behind me.

"That was a rather a pleasant day," the stranger said.

I looked at the rear view mirror and saw a smirking blonde at me. "Apollo?"

"Fred," he corrected me. "The Fates and Zeus doesn't like us helping in the quest.

"What are you doing here?" I growled. I'm already very tired and I wasn't in the mood to talk to a very annoying Apollo even if he is a god.

"To visit my little half-sister of course," his smirked quickly turned somber, "And to thank you for trying to save my, our sister I mean. We may bicker a lot but I love her more than the girls I made love to combined."

"What the heck. I didn't need to hear that."

" Way to go ruining my moment," he huffed. "Can I least have a thank you for saving you some time?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

He raised one finger up, which looked weird before words suddenly appeared in gold. 'Sun West Line' was written. The same name written on the station.

I let my brain work as I connected the pieces together. Then realization hit me. "Thank you then lord Apollo," I said, trying to sound grateful even though I knew I was failing. I just want to get some sleep in this not-so-comfortable seat. Is that really too much to ask.

"To problem Thalia. Now say Apollo is the awesomest god next," he said cheerily.

I would have laugh at his own stupidity but really, my patience have been already stretched to the limit. I need my rest! "You got what you wanted Fred now leave."

He frowned, "Excuse me, but that's not how you speak to a god little sister."

"Oh were my manners." I said in a sweet tone. "Piss off before I make you."

"Jeez Thalia, your like li'l Arty, both of you can't take a simple joke. Later," he said before he was consumed with a brilliant light and he was gone.

I sighed. Finally, alone. Rest, here I come.

Line Break

"How is that possible?" Annabeth said confused, as she was racking her brain for answers. "We were at a day or two away yet we travelled it over night?"

"Don't hurt yourself Annie. Apparently the gods are more generous than I thought." Malcolm said which made me change my views on Apollo a bit. At least he was helpful, unlike some gods/ fathers that I know.

"How about we get something to eat first?" I suggested. Since we didn't really had any real dinner last night, I suspect everyone was hungry. And they all nodded.

We went to the nearest restaurant which was just a couple of blocks away ate to our stomachs content. But despite the way we ate, not much words were spoken.

Only after we exited the restaurant did one of us spoke.

"So how do you guys propose we get to our next destination, wherever that is?" I asked out of the blue. The prophecy states that the bane of Olympus shows the trail or the monster that Lady Artemis was hunting, as what we all theorized. It must have been a very strong to earn that title and get Lady Artemis captured.

"We head east," Zoe said with authority. Nobody questioned her since she was the quest leader and she's the calling the shots.

"How about our mode of transportation?" Annabeth asked.

"Oh don't worry about it," Malcolm said with a mischievous smile as he rubbed his hands together. "Leave that to me."

Line Break

"Tada," Malcolm posed in front of a very huge vehicle. It was 7 feet tall and at least 35 feet long.

"I swear Malcolm, you need to stop hanging out with the Connor twins. Their bad influence." I said but he just rolled his eyes at me.

"I thought this would be enough space for the hunters if they want some space from males," he said. Him thinking ahead didn't really surprised

The two hunters nodded appreciatively at him before they quickly went inside probably at the far most back. .

"Whats the matter with the two?" Annabeth asked. "They been like that ever since we when left for the train station."

"Yea I noticed as well. I usually hear complaints every 10 minutes from Phoebe but she suddenly went silent." Malcolm added. "But there's no point in thinking about it if I can't even ask them." With that, he went inside, probably to the driver's sit to try, leaving me with Annabeth.

"Why don't you ask them?" Annabeth looked at me expectantly. "Didn't you say also wanted to join the hunters?" Ever since Luke joined Kronos, I started considering becoming an eternal maiden. Why? Because he betrayed us. He betrayed me. He gave us a promise that we will always stick together but in the end, he's the one who ends up breaking it.

"I'm not sure if that's a very good idea," I said, trying to find an excuse but I couldn't think of any.

"C'mon don't be like that." she said. She started pushing me inside the van and towards the hunters. I would have turned the other way but she shoved me making them notice my presence. I turned to Annabeth but she just gave two thumbs before he went to the front.

With a sigh, I shifted back to them and asked. "Can I talk to you gals?"

The engine roared to life and we were on our way.

Zoe unsheathed her knife and started cleaning it with a white cloth."So what is it about Thalia?" We sat at the very back of the RV which had a double deck bed. Phoebe occupied the top bunk, who's probably asleep while me and Zoe took the lower one.

"Are you two okay? Everyone else is worried about you."

"It's nothing worth mentioning about. It wont jeopardize this mission. I promise you that," she said. I immediately noticed that she wanted to change the subject. But my head pondered back to the station. Specifically the voice that I heard talking with Zoe and Phoebe. A male's voice.

"I don't want to meddle or anything but back in the train station, who were you guys talking to? And how did you know the huge two headed dog?" I said.

I saw Zoe visibly flinch before she scowled at me. "That's none of your business. Now is that all you wanted to ask me?"

"No actually," I said, trying to think how to phrase my next words. "At the end of this quest, can I join the hunt?"

Zoe gaped at me wide-eyed which made the blade in her hand slip. Fortunately, her quick reflexes were fast enough to catch it before it alerted anyone. "Are you really serious in becoming a hunter?"

I beamed at her, "Of course I am."

"Then after we rescue Lady Artemis, you are welcome to join the hunt. Just make sure to survive this quest so you can receive a more proper pleasantry." She sheathed her knives and placed it beside her.

"Same to you. It wouldn't be complete welcome without the lieutenant." I knew all about the prophecy. She explained it to us when Malcolm left to find our ride. She was destined to die by the one who the monsters call the general which is also her father. Phoebe and Annabeth didn't look surprised when she announced. Annabeth being the smartest and Phoebe being the one she's closest with at the moment meant that they already knew about it. But to me, it was huge news. But for some reason, I have a feeling that part of prophecy wont be fulfilled. Deep down in my gut I knew something else was going to happen.

I stood up. "Get some rest first. You probably didn't get any back in the train."

She nodded. She placed her knives below her pillow, probably for easy reach, before she dozed off.

I walked to the front and took the vacant seat beside Annabeth. She was holding a map of what looked like the western part of US. She wore a frustrated look on her face as she was calculating something. It didn't took a genius to know what she was doing.

"Damn it," she scratched her head with annoyance. "How did we reach Mexico so quickly?"

Her brother just laughed at her irritation. I just sighed at the two before I zapped the map she was holding, effectively creating a fire with it, which wasn't my plan at all.

Annabeth started panicking as she shook it all around but it only made it spread faster. As last ditch effort, she did what everyone else would do in her situation, she threw it outside.

There was few moments of silence to realize what Annabeth just did, throw away our only map, before it quickly changed to Malcolm' s laughter and Annabeth' s scolding.

"What did you that for, that was our only map…" Annabeth yelled. I didn't process anymore of her rantings as I just laughed all along with Malcolm.

But it all ended up short when someone yelled from the back.

"Shut up useless boy. Keep driving and don't talk with the others." It was Phoebe's.

"Why am I the only getting yelled at?" he whispered. But for some reason, she heard it.

"Because you're a dumbass boy and their good girls so shut up before I shoot your head."

He paled at her words and just replied with simple nodded while me and Annabeth laughed at his flustered face.

Line Break

Everything was going perfectly well until the fates started playing with us.

I was woken up with someone shaking my shoulder.

"Get up Thals, were out of gas." Malcolm voice said. I groaned in protest but obliged when I felt someone pinch my nerves. I was jolted awake at the pain.

"Told you it would work." Annabeth with a smirk

Malcolm rolled his eyes at her. "I was the one who thought you that, remember?".

"Nope," she said with a cheeky smile. He huffed at him before going outside.

According to the clock on the van, it was 2:43. I looked to the right to see a mountain pile of junk. I turned to Annabeth confused, "Where the heck are we?"

"Why don't you come out and see for yourself."

I stood up from the chair limply, as the drowsiness was still there, and walked outside. The hunters stood together talking to each other while Malcolm stood at least a few feet away from. His eyebrows scrunched up which meant he was thinking.

"Was it a coincidence that we ran out of gas exactly at the entrance of this thing or are the fates just toying with us?" I asked rhetorically.

In front us stood a barb fence which I think was 15 feet tall and probably surrounded the perimeter. The only noticeable entrance was the huge gate like fence but it was padlocked. On top of it was a sign that said 'Junkyard of the gods'.

"I could easily pick that lock but who knows what's lurking in their," Malcolm said.

"Stop boasting boy," scolded Phoebe.

"Just do it already and remember," Zoe said. "We just need to find some gas or a different vehicle to get us to San Francisco. No messing around," she turned to Malcolm, "especially you boy."

He held up his hands surrender before he continued what he is doing.

Few minutes later, we were inside it and exploring around. I don't know why but I kept seeing figurines from the greek mythology, some missing a few pieces or melted. I saw a hellhound with its right face burned off, a hydra without its legs and even a mini Zeus with his head missing, which I found amusing.

When I saw what looked like automaton head, my curiosity got the best of me as I picked it up and examined it. "Hey guys check this -"

Before I was able to finish what I was gonna say, the mountains of junk shook all around us. The one in front of me started growing like when someone rises out of the water.

"Look out." Phoebe yelled. She grabbed me and we she dragged to the left. The place I was standing earlier was now filled with huge debris.

"Thanks." I muttered out throughout the chaos. But she was gaping to at the sight in front to acknowledge it and so were the others. I looked in front as well and I found out why. Standing at least 50 feet tall a spartan-looking warrior with it's huge sword beside it.

"Talos," Zoe gasped.

A/N: Percy just had a run it with Luke and the titan Hyperion and Luke already has the scythe of Kronos. I'm trying to mix up the plot a bit and see what I can come up with it. With Thalia's group, you already know the story, 'one shall be lost in the land without rain'. Who do you guys think it is?

Merry Christmas guys!

Sixthstar out