Thalia pov:
I woke up with a feeling of dread pilling up in my stomach. It was March 25th, the date for the burial of my younger brother.
I immediately shut my eyes. I knew there was no way I could go to the funeral without pouring my eyes out.
A light knock was heard outside my tent, and I groaned, knowing fully well that there was only one person that could be there.
"Thalia," Artemis's voice sounded. "You need to get up. The ceremony starts at two."
A few tears slipped out of my open eyelids and I rolled on my shoulder, away from the door.
Open daylight stretched along the tent floor, and I squeezed my eyes shut upon hearing footsteps enter the tent.
"Thalia..." Artemis's voice faltered.
"I'm not going Artemis." I said, desperately trying to hide the pain in my voice.
She sighed. "You can't not go to your brother's funeral. He'll probably want you there."
"I-I can't go."
"I lost a brother last month too, and you may not think me and Apollo don't care about all of those children of Zeus that died in the past but we do. And so do all of the other Olympians. We all lost a baby brother."
I heard Artemis sit down in the tent. "You are going to that funeral, whether you are in your pyjamas or not."
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I thought of all the memories me and Jason had together.
Me teaching him to talk, and walk. Him learning how to say my name. And even me pulling a stapler out of his lip.
I can't believe I won't see him again. See him one day then disappear the next.
I felt arms wrapping around my waist and I opened my eyes, staring up at Artemis with red puffy eyes as she pulled me onto her lap.
"Be brave, Thalia. There's a reason why I chose you as my lieutenant."
I looked down.
"Jason would want you to stay strong." Artemis whispered in my ear, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. "Let's go to our baby brother's funeral."