Chapter 3

Annabeth walked up to her dorm and put down her bag only to find Piper snooping through her things. Annabeth crept up behind her and screamed in her face.

"HOLY SHIT ANNABETH WHY DID YOU DO THAT!?" Piper screamed

"Why are you going through my things?" Annabeth countered

"Thalia dared me to find some dirt about you."

"Huh, anyway I come bearing gifts so not all is lost."

"Oh really, if I remember correctly you and I have very different meanings of what a gift is so it better be good," Piper said

"Well, we're going on a mission together with Thalia!"

"Really, where are we going? What's the mission?"

"I'll tell you after I find Thalia, there is no point in saying it twice. Do you know where she is?" Annabeth asked

"She's in the training center," Piper replied. Her and Annabeth went down to the training center and sure enough, Thalia was sparring with one of the training dummies. Annabeth crept behind Thalia and tried to scare her just like she did Piper, but in true Thalia fashion, she reacted way differently. As soon as Thalia felt Annabeth's hands on her back she turned around and swung at her. Annabeth ducked then kicked her square in the chest when she popped back up. Thalia staggered backward, but soon enough she was charging at Annabeth again. Annabeth charged too but at the last second, she slid between Thalia's legs, kicked her in the back of her knees, and put her hands behind her back as she crumpled to the ground.

"Pinned ya again!" Annabeth sang as she got a bunch of Thalia's black, curly afro in her face.

"Ugh, I accept defeat again," Thalia grumbled. Annabeth let go of her and waited for Thalia to roll over so she can help her up.

"You let your anger and pride get in the way again Thals," Annabeth commented

"Ugh don't rub it in Beth." Thalia as she walked away.

"Rub in what?" Annabeth asked innocently

"That you are in the lead now" Thalia mumbled

"I'm sorry what?"

"You're in the lead now."

"What?"

"You're in the lead now. Are you happy?"

"Yep, that's music to my ears."

"I'll beat you next time."

"Yeah keep telling yourself that. Anyway, The Council assigned us on a mission with Piper."

"Great. Wait, WHAT! THE COUNCIL!" Thalia screamed. She turned to Piper "DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS TOO?!"

"No, I'm freaking out about this too," she said

"Yeah, they briefed me about it a few minutes ago," Annabeth replied

"YOU MET THE COUNCIL" Piper and Thalia cried

"Yeah, are you done yet?"

"Yeah what's the mission?" Piper said

"I can't tell you here, let's go to my dorm," Annabeth replied.

As they walked to her dorm, Annabeth told Thalia and Piper about their mission and her meeting with the Council.

"So we have to stop an assassin from killing The Council. We don't know who he or she looks like, their age, nothing except that they may be going to a school halfway across the country in Manhattan. Do I have everything right?" Thalia asked sarcastically.

"Look I know we aren't going on a lot but think about what would happen if we succeed! We would be the talk of the agency, be able to meet with The Council daily, and we would be respected by everyone. No more trying to prove that you're better than everyone else because you will be better than everyone. Isn't that what you always wanted Grace?" Annabeth challenged.

Thalia and Piper stood there, deep in thought. "When do we leave?" Thalia asked

"Tomorrow, probably sooner."

"Well then let's get packing! Road trip!" Piper squealed

"Actually we're taking a plane—" Annabeth started

"Fight me"

"I'd rather not thanks."

"We don't have all day come on," Thalia said as she dragged them along.

~XxX~

"So what school are we going to anyway?" Thalia asked as she started to throw her things in a suitcase.

"I think it's called Goode," Piper said, sitting on the edge of Thalia's bed, already packed.

Thalia paled and turned around abruptly so Piper and Annabeth wouldn't see her.

"Interesting, um Piper can I borrow those color contacts?" Thalia asked, attempting to change the subject.

"Sure there in my room on my dresser," Piper said, not noticing Thalia change in subject.

Annabeth on the other hand, totally saw Thalia's reaction when Piper mentioned Goode. Annabeth got off the bed and followed Thalia, hoping to find out more.

"Thals what's going on?" Annabeth asked as she chased after Thalia.

"Nothing's wrong," Thalia muttered

"Cut the crap Thalia, I've known you forever I know when you're lying."

"Ok, maybe there is something wrong. Why should I tell you?"

"Because I know from experience that it isn't good bottling your feelings. You can tell me anything Thals, there's no need to worry."

"Fine but you can't tell anyone."

"I swear I won't."

"I know someone from Goode, his name is Jason and he's my younger brother. Our mother was rarely in her right mind so I had to take care of him. He wasn't old enough to go to school yet, and sometimes I had to leave him alone with our mom to get food and go to school. The day my mom died was one of those days."

"What happened to your mom?"

"She was drunk, way too drunk to drive and got into a car accident. When the police found her it was too late to save her. The police went to my house and saw my baby brother crying, with no one there taking care of him. Social Services was called and they took him away. Since I wasn't there and there was no trace of me they didn't think anyone else was lived there. When I got back I was so scared, I turned the place upside down and checked the security cameras. I-I—"

"It's okay Thals you don't have to tell me anymore if you don't want to."

"No, I— I do, let's go to your room," Thalia said as she walked into Annabeth's room.

She continued, "I saw them take him, he was calling out my name, screaming and crying for me to come back. I wasn't able to save him and I thought I would never see him again. Beth, I thought he was gone forever." Thalia sobbed

Annabeth held her best friend and soothes her down. She could understand where she was coming from if she was able to see Malcolm again but wasn't able to tell him who she was then she would be devastated.

After some time Annabeth and Thalia were back in Piper's room. The rest of the day was a blur and soon Annabeth, Piper, and Thalia were on a private plane to New York City.

Hey everyone, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and sorry for posting this so late. Thanks so much for reading and I hope you tell me what you think!