Thalia's POV

It started three weeks ago.

I couldn't really explain how I knew, but I could feel that something around my surroundings had changed. It felt as though someone's eyes were always on my back, no matter where I went. Every action I did, every place I went to, I could feel someone's eyes closely scrutinising me.

The exception was when I reached my house. For some strange reason, whoever that was keeping watch on me decided that whatever I did in my house was not as interesting as what I did outside, and every time, the exact moment my foot lands into my house, I would feel the eyes slide off my back.

I had my suspicions. The first was, of course, Luke. After hearing Percy's story, I finally had an inkling of how much power he had under him. The very thought that it was him sent shivers down my spine.

However, after thinking and mulling over it for a little while, I realised it didn't add up. Why would Luke's cronies decide to stop spying on my whenever I reach my house? If anything, they should be more than interested to know what I did in my house- my routines and all, in case they wanted to assassinate me or anything.

My second suspicion only came after I spoke to the rest about it. Everyone, literally everyone agreed that they felt someone watching them like a hawk, and all of them said that it had started around the time I started feeling it too. However, there was one guy that seemed to be less surprised than the rest.

"You know something, don't you?" I asked in a biting voice, squinting and shooting daggers at a particular sea green-eyed boy as we walked to class side by side.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, and his quirked eyebrow and questioning gaze only served to stoke the flames of annoyance burning within me.

"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. Who's watching us?" I asked straightforwardly, tone forceful and demanding. I felt a small twinge of smugness in me as I managed to spot a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Silence prevailed for a few seconds, and it seemed as though he was struggling with himself about something. Finally, he sighed and shrugged in resignation.

"You've always been a keen observer. I already told Annabeth, so I guess there's not much need to hide it. Just- please don't flare up at me when I tell you."

"Depends on what you're gonna say, honestly," I replied, not giving any chances. Seeing my determination, he sighed once again.

"The people watching you all are on our side. They're here to make sure that there is at least a line of defence between you and Kronos, so that you guys will be safe."

"I'm sorry about invading your privacy," he immediately continued without giving me a chance to speak up. "I know you're probably very angry about me doing this without your consent, but Kronos really is too powerful and you guys, being the closest to me, will be the prime targets for him. I need to ensure th- ouch!"

I rolled my eyes as he rubbed the spot where I pinched, and smirked slightly when he gave me a small glare that was screaming "What was that for?"

"You were rambling. It was getting annoying," I replied nonchalantly, and chuckled at his aggrieved expression.

"I'm not angry, and I don't blame you for doing what you're doing," I continued before he could retort in self-defence. "I might be quite hot-headed, and a little stubborn at times, but seeing Luke and hearing your story about Tartarus, I understand that one can never be too careful. You're doing this for our protection, and I thank you for it."

Hearing what I said, I could see him visibly relaxing, and it was only at this moment that I noticed how tensed he had been. A grin surfaced on his face as he laughed in relief.

"I didn't know it was weighing on you that heavily," I said, feeling a little guilty that I had pushed him. He shook his head and gave me a smile.

"I'm just glad you understand."

At that moment, a group of students that attended the same class as they walked around a bend towards the classroom, effectively putting their conversation on hold. Thalia observed Percy as a silence descended upon them while they walked the rest of the way towards the classroom.

While she wouldn't say that she was a total expert in reading body languages, she was confident that she knew Percy well enough, and more than half the time, she could tell how his state of being was if she bothered to study closely.

The more she observed, the deeper her frown got, and the feelings of sadness and guilt that churned inside her seemed to grow stronger.

Tensed shoulders, a slightly creased brow, small, almost unnoticeable worry lines, constant shifting of his fingers as though he was ready to respond to something at any moment-

Percy wasn't doing well.

She tried to understand, imagining herself in his shoes, but she failed miserably. Her life, tough as it was with an abusive mother and a long-lost father, could not compare to what he had been through.

Tartarus. The very word caused shivers to travel down her spine as it floated through her mind. The central communication hub of all underground activities- which, in other words, meant the most dangerous, twisted and god-forsaken place on Earth, - she could only imagine what it was like to live there as a child.

"Thalia," Percy said, bringing her out of her thoughts. She screeched to a halt as she noticed that they had already reached the entrance to the classroom.

A hint of red rose to her cheeks as slight embarrassment invaded her being, but it left as quickly as it came as she noticed Percy staring at her intently, with a look that was probably the most serious one she'd seen from him so far- excluding his fight with Luke.

"Yea?" She asked quietly, noticing that there was now no one in the hallway- the group of students from before had entered the classroom through the second entrance.

"If-" He paused, and she could see the struggle in his eyes- a storm that raged violently, exposing what he truly felt only to those that knew how to read them.

"If one day," He continued after a deep, shaky breath. "Something happens to me, and I'm not here anymore…protect Annabeth."

My throat dried up in an instant, and countless alarms started blaring inside my head as I stared at him with wide eyes, shocked and stunned.

"Promise me." Percy pushed on, not giving her a chance to recover, his face grim but determined.

All I could do was nod dumbly, my mind trying to comprehend just what his words entailed, trying to make sense of what he was implying.

Percy, seeing me nod, seemed to relax. The crease lines on his face eased, his tensed body seemed to deflate like a balloon, and his usual lopsided smile emerged.

"Thanks," He said gratefully, shooting a bright smile at me before turning and walking into the classroom. Only now did the mask he usually put on seem so obvious to me.

As I looked at his back, as I stared at his facade, as I studied the mask he put on, and as I thought back to his words, fear and trepidation seemed to cloud my heart, and worry flooded my mind. One question stood out from the rest that threatened to explode from her mouth. A question that worried me to no end.

What was he planning?