"Are you sure about this?" Thalia asked as she studied Piper. The demigod in front of her held a rather sharp knife. Bianca was standing at the door and watching both of them. She had yet to say anything other than a small greeting. The fourth person in the room, Reyna, was still asleep.
"It's the best way to confirm if you are a demigod or very lucky with that lightning," Piper explained. "This is made of celestial bronze. It can only harm monsters or demigods. But not mortals."
"Just be gentle," Thalia began. She held out her hand. Piper gently cut into Thalia's finger. Thalia winced and pulled her hand away. "Shit. That hurt!"
"Oh shit," Thalia whispered as she realized what that meant. She pressed her finger to her shirt, but Piper grabbed her hand and poured some of that golden liquid on it. The wound closed. "Oh, fuck. That means I am a demigod?"
"It does," Bianca confirmed. "You should drink more to take care of any of your other wounds."
Piper offered the canteen to her. Thalia slowly took the drink and almost thought that it was poison. She let out a deep breath and then took a sip. A warm feeling spread through her body, and it tasted like coffee. The last coffee that she had with Jason. Thalia swallowed painfully.
"What now?" Thalia asked as she buried the memories away. "What do we do now?"
"My brother and I have been working against each other for far too long," Bianca started. She looked around. "Nico, I know you're watching. I know you have been ever since we brought Reyna in. Come on out."
Nothing happened, and Bianca shook her head. Piper kept looking at the shadows like she expected someone to walk out of them. Thalia felt a chill run down her spine and shivered. After a minute of going without a response, Bianca sighed and walked towards Reyna.
"Don't," Thalia began. She moved in front of the bed.
"I'm not going to hurt her," Bianca promised. Thalia hesitated but finally stepped aside. Bianca walked towards Reyna and placed a hand to her uninjured shoulder. Reyna groaned softly and shifted. "Reyna, we need to talk."
"So you can set her up again?" a voice asked. Thalia's head snapped to the side, and she jumped as Nico was standing right next to her. The shadows seemed to cloak around him. "Just like you did before."
"Nico," Bianca greeted as she turned. Thalia looked in between the two siblings. There was a tight smile on Bianca's face. Nico was just scowling. "I thought it would be a lot harder to contact you."
Nico remained silent. He looked over at Reyna, and something like concern flashed through his face. Then, that same scowl returned, and Thalia almost thought she was imagining it. Bianca spoke, "We took care of her."
A scoff left Nico like he was unconvinced. Bianca continued, "We should work together to take out Luke. He is at his most vulnerable."
"Because of me," Thalia interrupted. She stood and looked between the two siblings. "And Reyna."
"This conversation doesn't concern you," Nico replied.
"Yes, it fucking does," Thalia snapped. She glared at Nico but was careful to avoid his eyes. "Before I came into the picture, Luke and his friends ruled the city. Now, Luke is on the run."
"The city is in chaos because of you," Nico countered. "Gangs that were held under Bryce's iron fist are out of control, killing and stealing without cause or care. The prostitutes that Ethan watched over are being snatched up by every two-bit pimp out there, no matter how much my sister's Hunters try to save them. Who knows what is going to happen with the police now. And, I'm sure Orion's death will prove to be more of a pain than when he was alive."
"Because the city was sooo fucking great when they were alive," Thalia replied sarcastically. Nico glared at her.
"Language," Nico warned.
"Nico, just because Luke killed Will doesn't mean-"
"No," Nico snarled. His voice was quiet, but his tone sent a chill down Thalia's spine. The lights flickered as the room became much colder. Piper pressed against the wall, and Reyna shifted uncomfortably. Bianca was the only one who seemed unfazed.
"You do not get to talk about him like that," Nico growled. "Especially since it was your fault."
"I did not cause his death," Bianca argued.
"You used him as bait just like you used Reyna and Thalia. I am not dumb, Bianca. I have been watching them ever since the police station," Nico stated.
"Wait," Thalia interrupted. She looked in between the two siblings. "What do you mean Bianca set us up?"
"Are you going to tell them, or should I?" Nico questioned. A small scowl came to Bianca's face. Piper looked confused as Thalia exchanged a questioning look with her.
"There is nothing to tell," Bianca tried to dismiss as she tensed.
"Thalia, who told you and Reyna where Luke was?" Nico questioned.
"Piper did," Thalia said after a moment. Her questioning gaze turned to Piper. "Were you lying to me?"
"No," Piper said quickly. "Our reports told us that Luke was there."
"And, your reports are signed off by your lieutenant," Nico stated. He looked back at his sister. "You knew that Luke wasn't there. You knew that Orion was just setting a trap, and you allowed Reyna and Thalia to walk right into it. Why?"
"You're too smart for your own good, little brother," Bianca snarled. She shook her head. "Yes, I did trick them. Sorry, Thalia. But, this was our best chance to kill Orion."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Thalia demanded as she glared. "We could have died!"
"I would not have let you die," Bianca promised.
"Me. What about Reyna? Would you have let her die?" Thalia interrogated. Bianca nodded once.
"That was her plan," Nico stated. He scowled. "Bianca hoped that Orion would kill Reyna, either by banishing her back to the Underworld or something more permanent. Then, she would have jumped in to disable Orion, so I or another god could kill him."
"Reyna doesn't deserve to be alive," Bianca argued, glaring at Nico. "I don't know what you see in her as a lieutenant, and I don't know why you keep her around. She is the reason Hazel is dead!"
"I know that," Nico growled.
"Wait. Stop," Thalia interrupted. She raised both of her hands. "Bianca, you put me in danger just to kill Reyna because she killed someone you know?"
"Our half-sister," Bianca said with a scowl. "Reyna convinced Hazel to use the gun and damned her soul from there. Orion killed Hazel and left Reyna in a shape like this. Nico should have put her down then and there."
"So, you decided to do the job for him?" Thalia hissed. She felt so angry at these two idiots. First, they couldn't work together to end this threat to the city. Then, Bianca used them as bait! Nico knew but didn't intervene until now. Thalia wanted to scream at them and ask them what the fuck was wrong with them.
"I did what I had to do," Bianca retorted. She crossed her arms and glared at them. "I have always been doing what must be done. Nico, you are so focused on making sure that revenge is delivered that you don't take the chance to make sure it is. You won't take any chances."
"That's what you call setting us up?! Taking a chance?!" Thalia yelled. She clenched her fists. "I'm not a fucking pawn in your game!"
"Thalia Grace, you have always been nothing more than a pawn," Bianca sneered. A smirk came to her face. "You just don't realize it yet. The monster that you care so much for is only using you. When you are tired of being used, find Piper. We'll allow you to join the Hunt. Immortality awaits."
"I'm no goddamn pawn," Thalia argued. Bianca shook her head and turned away. "I will never be a fucking pawn!"
"You are," Bianca said as if it was a matter of fact. "And, Nico. You need to stop holding onto Will. The war god has a claim on his soul and will forever hold it because Will died in battle."
"He was just helping people. He wasn't even fighting," Nico snapped. He seemed to compose himself a moment later. "No. You will not talk about him anymore."
Bianca made a motion to Piper and then walked out of the room. Piper slowly stood and looked at them. She spoke, "I didn't know, Thalia. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Piper hurried out of the room. Thalia was left alone with Nico. She slowly looked at him and saw that he was fuming. Nico took a deep breath and looked at Thalia.
"So, you hate me?" Thalia asked. Nico closed his eyes and exhaled.
"No, I do not hate. Your mouth, maybe. But not you," Nico answered. He opened his eyes and studied her. "Reyna has set wheels in motion that I cannot stop. I would not stop it even if I could. I'm not sure how much Reyna has told you, but she was in a place just like you were. She begged for a way to avenge her sister."
"To bring suffering to Luke and his friends. I gave her the chance, but Reyna has done nothing but squander it," Nico continued. Disappointment laced his tone.
"You mean her other charge. Your half-sister," Thalia guessed.
"Yes," Nico confirmed. He sighed sadly. "Hazel just wanted to stop the monster that is Luke. She wasn't doing it for revenge like the rest of us. Reyna convinced her to use the gun. Damning her one way or another."
"What do you mean?" Thalia questioned. Her eyes narrowed in confusion. "How did Reyna damn her by giving her the gun?"
"How much did Reyna tell you?" Nico asked. Thalia slowly grabbed the gun from the waistband and studied it.
"The first five bullets in here go where I want, but Reyna is the one who makes sure they go there. Well, I guess you can do that too," Thalia commented.
"What about the sixth bullet?" Nico asked. His gaze moved to Reyna. Thalia looked at her as well. Reyna had not moved once, still unconscious.
"Reyna told me that the bullet will fire eventually, but it doesn't sound like I will control it," Thalia answered after a few moments. She studied Nico. "Does Reyna?"
Nico smiled coldly and turned away. Thalia waited for him to answer, but he didn't even make a noise. Nico left the room without a word, and Thalia felt a bad feeling forming in the pit of her gut. From Nico's word, whatever happened when the sixth bullet fired wouldn't be good for her.