Apologies for taking so long to get this chapter out. I got hit with the worst case of writer's block for this story. But, I'm back with another chapter. Hope you enjoy.
"Beef wellington with a side of frisee salad and potatoes dauphinoise," Luke described as he walked towards the table that he had set up in the middle of this shithole. His lips curled up in a grin of satisfaction as he lifted the silver platter to show off the meal he spent so long making.
Luke turned his gaze to the side. Thalia stared at him mortified. He wasn't quite sure why. Killing the monster had been a necessity. He couldn't have one of Nico's lieutenants running around, not after she helped kill his associates.
"Reyna…" Thalia whispered. Luke rolled his eyes. He knew that Thalia was a whore. All it took was for someone to give her a bit of attention for her to get on her knees. It worked well enough for him.
"She's reforming in Tartarus," Luke stated. "With some luck, it will take her a very long time to come back. And if she does try to fast track her return, I've heard it's extremely painful. Now let's sit down and enjoy dinner."
Thalia looked at him, and her body started to visibly shake. A smirk twisted Luke's lips. Thalia had been so pathetic when she first stumbled into Luke's life. He didn't have too much interest in the junkie, but Thalia had a way with her mouth. And, she was a good toy during sex.
"Ladies first," Luke offered as he scooted out Thalia's chair. Her gaze stayed focused on the pile of monster dust. It took some prodding from his associate to walk over. Luke studied Thalia. Alone, she was pathetic. It was just the fact that she managed to have friends in such high, well low, places.
Nico understood that Thalia was a tool to be used. That was why he sent his hound to find her and give her the gun. Power of the underworld sat in the palm of Thalia's hand, and she didn't even know it. How could she not understand how powerful this was? Granted, it wasn't like she knew anything.
Luke was sure that the gun wouldn't go off. Not with Nico being distracted as he was. He probably wouldn't know that his lieutenant had been destroyed and was rotting in Tartarus. He would find out sooner or later, though. It was just a matter of timing.
"Come here," Luke ordered. Thalia stared at him, and Luke raised a hand. Even though he was across the room, Thalia still flinched. She scurried towards him and eyed the plate. Then, she slowly sat down in her chair. Luke pushed her seat in before taking off the lid of the silver platter. "Medium rare. The only way it should be eaten. Bon appetit."
Luke walked towards his chair and sat down. He pulled the lid off of his platter and grabbed a napkin. After tucking it into his shirt, he grabbed his fork and waited for Thalia to eat first. He was a gentleman after all.
Thalia just sat there, rigid. Her eyes were boring into Luke from pure terror. He only smiled. He knew how to control her, and she would never lash out on him. That didn't change the fact that he was going to kill her after this nice dinner. Before or after he fucked her into the mattress was something he was undecided on.
"I understand, Thalia. I know why you killed all of my associates," Luke began. "This city, it changes people. It brings out our greatest vices. And knowing that you're a demigod; gods, it has to be an amazing feeling. I was one once. A son of Hermes. I had to shed that part of myself to become something... greater."
"But being here brought out your power. Why do you think the Hunters of Artemis and Nico reside here? This is the place that Mount Olympus used to rest. High above us. Now, it is in ashes, and the only remnants of the place is in our memories. I helped raze Olympus to dust. It wasn't me though. It was him."
"His power and control were taken by the Olympians long ago. Fighting tooth and nail has allowed him to crawl out of his hole, but he was weak. He needed a host. Someone to help him attain his immortal status once again," Luke explained prophetically. "We are so close to it, but Nico and his sister stop us. We will handle them soon. Just like we did your lover."
"Now eat."
Luke's commanding words seemed to bounce and echo around the room. Thalia stared down at her plate. She finally picked up her fork and stabbed it into the meat. Her hands were shaking, knuckles white. Was the fear paralyzing her that bad? Was she more pathetic than Luke remembered?
When Thalia didn't make a move, Luke grabbed her wrist. He spoke, "Your protector isn't here anymore. You will eat my cooking. Or else."
Thalia nodded and slowly grabbed her knife to cut into her meal. Luke smiled and let go of her wrist. He cut a piece of his meat and raised it to his lips. After taking a bite, he spoke, "I do have to thank your friend. She never takes that jacket off, and Octavian planted a tracker in there. The two of you led us right to the base of the Hunters of Artemis."
Thalia stared at him in horror again. Luke grinned and looked back at his food. A chair scraped against the ground, and Luke looked up. He howled as something buried itself into his right eye. His hand lashed out at what had hit him, and Thalia squealed as she was picked up.
"You whore!" Luke yelled. He gripped the utensil that was in his eye: a fork. "You fucking bitch! I was going to make your death quick. Now, we're going to drag it out."
"Let me go!" Thalia yelled. It sounded like she was struggling with Luke's bodyguard. Luke snapped his fingers and froze time. He would handle his eyes. Then, he would handle his whore.
All of this arguing was starting to give Piper a headache. It didn't help that the two siblings in front of her had been circling the same topic for the last hour. They were getting nowhere, and it was always like this with the two. Piper had been around long enough to know that when Bianca and Nico were arguing, it was best to get them out of the building and let them do their thing.
Piper wasn't sure what caused the relationship between the two siblings to disintegrate. Bianca had always been an open book with the other Hunters of Artemis, and she talked fondly of her past. Especially her mother. Bianca never talked about what happened to her mother, but if there was ever a time that Bianca and Nico seemed to bond, it was when they were speaking of their past.
There was no special bonding happening now. The siblings were only glaring at each other. Piper almost wished she left when Thalia and Reyna did. A soft sigh left Piper as she thought of the two. Her past with Reyna was complicated, but as much as they hated each other, they could work together.
And, Thalia was Jason's older sister. Piper swore that she would protect Jason, and she failed in that regard. Now, she had to extend that vow to Thalia. That was another reason she did not want her to work with Reyna. That monster brought pain and death wherever she went.
"The Hunters of Artemis can handle Luke," Bianca stated.
"You can't," Nico argued. Piper took a deep breath.
"He's right, Bianca. With all due respect, we cannot handle Luke. We have been trying these guerrilla hit and run tactics for years now. We haven't been able to make a dent in his plans, but Thalia came along and changed everything," Piper chimed in. Bianca turned on her and glared.
"Reyna stepped out of line by disobeying me, but she had the sense to bring what she thought was a mortal into the equation," Nico explained. He cast his gaze to the ground. "A mortal can do things that we cannot. Thalia being a demigod means she can do even more than that."
"You were disobeyed," Bianca snapped.
"And it produced results," Piper interrupted. "I know none of us like it, but before Thalia came into the equation, we weren't getting anything done. Anytime they lost a number, two more replaced them. Any victory we had was of the pyrrhic sort. Thanks to Thalia and Reyna, all of Luke's most powerful allies lie dead. He's the last one. We just have to work together and follow Nico's plan."
"Attacking Luke directly is suicide," Bianca muttered. Nico looked at her.
"Reyna has the right idea. Taking down his numbers will leave him vulnerable and..."
"Nico?" Bianca asked as she turned her head. Piper looked at him. Nico's eyes were wide, and he seemed to be frozen in place. "What is it?"
"Reyna. I can feel her essence. In Tartarus. Reforming," Nico explained.
"Thalia," Piper whispered in shock as her eyes widened. Bianca opened her mouth, but the building suddenly shook. Piper heard two noises that chilled her to the bone. One was explosions. The other was the screams of injured hunters.
"We're being attacked," Bianca stated as her bow appeared in her hands. She looked at Nico. "Help me! Piper, go after Thalia!"
"It will be quicker if I go," Nico argued.
"Brother, I need you," Bianca begged. She looked Nico in the eyes. Piper watched as the two siblings had a silent conversation. A thousand words seemed to pass between them, but a single nod from Nico caused Bianca to relax. "Hurry, Piper!"
"I will," Piper promised. She took off running. Reyna's apartment was far, but she could take a car. She would speed down the road to get there. Piper promised Jason that she would take care of Thalia, and she intended to keep her promise.