I spent my only day off this week writing a 4,000 word chapter! Hopefully y'all enjoy it!
~Wise Girl~
Thalia I
After the emergency meeting in the amphitheater I went to the arena to blow off some steam. So much had happened in the last hour and I was still processing most of it. Zoe had come back and I lost my spot as Artemis's Lieutenant then Luke came back and I had a lot of old feelings rushed back to me. The thing that gave me so much purpose the last few years was taken, one of the few things I took pride in. Jason was Zeus's Golden Child and I was just a normal Huntress now.
I walked into the arena, my head feeling so full of thoughts that it might explode, and honestly wasn't surprised when I saw Percy in there. He was hacking away at another dummy and, from the looks of the stuffing and straw surrounding him, it wasn't his first dummy either.
"Hey!" I called out to him and he stopped hacking at the dummy to look up "do you want a sparring partner?"
"No offense" he started "but I think I may be too angry and frustrated to not kill a real sparring partner."
"Do you want to talk?" I asked, half hoping he would say no.
"Not really" he said and turned back tot he dummy but then turned back to me a second later "but you look like you need to."
"No" I shook my head "I don't talk. I fight it out."
"Okay," Percy said and looked around "I'll make you a deal. Let's fight it out. If you win, I'll leave you alone. If I win, you talk."
"Fine" I said "but you know I'm gonna win right?"
"Thalia," he laughed, which was good to hear from him, "I'm the best swordsman at Camp."
"Cockiness will get you nowhere Seaweed Brain" I said and took out my hunting knives.
"Don't" Percy said and adjusted his grip on his sword "that's not your nickname to use."
"Less talk then, more fight" I said and we started.
I couldn't deny that Percy was good and a formidable opponent but I liked to think if we were allowed to fight using our powers I would win. Chiron banned me, Percy and Nico from using our powers because the last time we did we leveled the arena and it took almost a whole month before Hephaestus Cabin rebuilt it and sometimes a dead Roman soldier pops up out of nowhere.
Percy made the first move, a slash from the right side, aiming at my left. I used one of my knives to block his blade and the other knife I used to slash at him. He jumped back and I advanced quickly, slashing at him again, which he blocked and pushed me back. We stayed locked in combat for almost 30 minutes before he got the upper hand. He faked an attack coming for the left side of my torso and I dodged that but just before our blades would have clashed he changed motion and aimed at my leg. I stumbled, trying to dodge that attack as well but that's what caused me to slip and fall. When I looked up his sword was under my chin. He smirked and capped his sword back into it's pen form.
"Now talk" he said and held out his hand. I used his hand to pull myself up and we both walked over to the small set of bleachers.
"You made a lot of people happy" I started "when you brought everyone back. But in the process of that I was demoted and my old best friend, that I had to learn to hate because it was easier than caring for him, came back."
"I thought you gave up your position willingly?" Percy asked, his brows furrowing "I'm sure Artemis would have let you stay in the position."
"She would have" I sighed and sat back "but I gave my life to serve her and in that moment I knew the best way to serve her was to give my position up. I have been her right hand for almost 7 years now but Zoe was her right hand for hundreds of years. I wanted my goddess to have that back. Then, on top of that, the whole reason I joined the Hunt was because Luke betrayed me, betrayed all of us. Now he's back and supposedly he's okay again. Jason is my dad's Golden Child after he saved his beloved wife. Where does that put me?"
"You're still a child of Zeus" Percy said after thinking for a minute "that's not nothing. You dad is ruler of damn near everything and everyone sees that in you. You're also still a Huntress. That not nothing either. You run with a goddess, who happens to be your sister, every single day and for 7 years she trusted you to lead her followers, who are more like her family at this point, when she wasn't around. You gave her a gift when you gave the position as lieutenant back to Zoe. So to sum it all up you're a kickass Daughter of Zeus and Hunter of Artemis. That's where it puts you. Also, you've overcome your fatal flaw which makes you better than most of us here. And, for the record, I did not say that and I will not say it again."
"Have you overcome your fatal flaw?" I asked him, feeling a little better.
"Ask me again when I come face to face with Chaos" Percy said and stood up "there is absolutely nothing in this world I wouldn't give up for Annabeth."
"If it came down to the world or Annabeth what will you pick?" I asked him and he pondered that question for a second.
"If I answered that question honestly I would not be allowed in the fight at all" Percy said softly "and I'm her best chance of coming home."
"Percy-" I started but I didn't really know what to say.
"Thalia" Percy looked at me and I finally honed in on just how worn down he looked "I would move heaven, hell and everything in between as long as she is safe. Screw everyone and everything else."
With that comment he walked out and now I was really worried about him. The comment was so unlike him but deep down I knew it was true. I started my walk back to Artemis's cabin, debating if I should say something or just keep an eye on him. I hadn't come to a decision quite yet by the time I walked through the door.
"Thalia" Artemis said with a warm smile on her face and I suddenly felt guilty about what I had been feeling since Zoe came back.
"M'lady" I bowed my head to her and sat down on my bed.
"We missed you after the amphitheater" Artemis said "is everything okay?"
"Of course" I smiled, pushing all my other feelings aside and tried to focus on the good things from my conversation with Percy.
"I would like to thank you again" she continued and smiled at Zoe, who was sitting next to her, as if she had never left her goddess's side "it takes a lot to give up a position you have held for so long. It shows a lot about your character to be able to give up something so important."
"Of course Lady Artemis" I nodded my head.
"Well" she continued "with that being said I would like to offer you both a compromise. Zoe was my lieutenant for hundreds of years and you were my lieutenant for almost 7 years now, both are respectable amounts of time. I would like you both to be my lieutenants."
"You would like us to both be your lieutenants?" I asked her and she nodded.
"I suggested to our goddess that neither of us should have been demoted" Zoe finally spoke up "it didn't seem quite fair to either of us. We both have served her as her right hand and we both have the knowledge of running The Hunt while she is away. There is no reason why we cannot be her lieutenants together."
"Th- thank you" I stuttered a little "I accept this position."
"Splendid!" Artemis smiled "then I suggest we three get ready, we are expected to be at the War Council in 15 minutes.
"M'lady, my brother is leaving to bring reinforcements from New Rome so for the time until he returns I would also like to be a Daughter of Zeus and speak on behalf of Zeus during war meetings and such."
"Of course Thalia" Artemis smiled "though you are my huntress you will never stop being a Daughter of Zeus as well and our father's cabin does need representation until your brother returns."
Artemis waved her hand and my hair felt shorter than it had been feeling since Zoe came back and I knew it was because the silver ringlet that marked me as Artemis's lieutenant was braided into my hair again. I also noticed my bow, which was hanging on the wall next to my bed, had grown and the decorations became shinier and more elaborate. I threw it and my quiver over my back as Artemis, Zoe and I walked out the door to begin the hike up to the Big House.
The Rec Room was buzzing with conversation when we walked in and I noticed there was almost double the amount of people in the room than there had been when we were told the Olympians would be staying with us. Another huntress walked up to the three of us and I recognized her briefly as Bianca di Angelo, Nico's sister.
"M'lady Artemis" she bowed her head to Artemis who pulled her into a hug.
"Bianca" she said softly "I am thrilled to have you back in the Hunt."
"I am thrilled to be back to the Hunt ma'am" Bianca smiled at her as they pulled away "I apologize for being away from the Huntresses. I had missed my brother terribly-" Artemis held her hand up to stop her.
"My dear Bianca, there is no need to apologize. You and your brother were separated by more than the Hunt and I understand your desire to see your brother again. Although my brother is a pain I do understand the love you have for him still" Artemis smiled "but I do expect you to share your time between Hades and my cabin for the duration of our stay at Camp Half Blood."
"Of course m'lady" Bianca bowed her head and the now four of us sat down in the four empty chairs that appeared at the table.
"I do believe this is everyone" Chiron started the meeting with Percy at his side. Percy had a serious look on his face, almost the same look I had seen a million times on Annabeth's face. Malcolm, Annabeth's half brother, sat in the chair that Annabeth normally sat in. I was so used to seeing her in this room and he looked so much like her that I had to do a double take.
"To start this council I do believe there is a couple changes in command amongst the cabins here at Camp" Chiron continued "Mr. Solace, I see you brought Mr. Yew with you, do you intend to step down and return the counselor position to him?"
"Yes Chiron" Will Solace nodded "he had been counselors for years before he...uh...went away and I would be more than thrilled to have him back into the position." He smiled at his brother. I hadn't really known Michael but from how the brothers acted and how Apollo was beaming I assumed it was the right call.
"Thank you Mr. Solace" Chiron nodded and turned his head to look at Piper and Silena "Ms. McClean?"
"Although I never knew Silena I would still like to tender my resignation from Aphrodite's Cabin counselor and hand the position back to Silena Beauregard" she said "but after discussion between the two of us and the rest of our cabin we have decided I would continue to serve Aphrodite and Silena as her second in command."
"Excellent" Chiron nodded and turned to Zoe and I "Ms. Grace, I noticed you and Ms. Nightshade share the same marking as lieutenant to Lady Artemis. What is the final verdict?"
"Yes" I nodded "Lady Artemis has decided to allow Zoe and I to both continue to be her Lieutenants, therefore the role of cabin counselor will fall on the two of us equally as in The Hunt as well. Though for the time being until Jason returns from New Rome I will speak for Zeus cabin as well."
"Very well" Chiron nodded and his gaze shifted to the Hephaestus cabin "Nyssa?"
"No contest Chiron" Nyssa smiled back at him "Bekendorf is our cabin counselor and will continue to be Cabin 9's counselor."
"Thank you Nyssa" Chiron smiled but the smile faded when he turned to Malcolm.
"Uh...yeah" Malcolm swallowed hard and I noticed Percy's jaw clench "I have been Annabeth's deputy for as long as I can remember and I will continue as Cabin 6's counselor until the time Annabeth returns to us."
"Are you prepared to st-" Chiron started but Percy was the one that cut him off.
"I'm getting her back" Percy said "do not act as though she is dead."
"Mr. Jackson-"
"I'm serious Chiron" Percy shot back "until there is a time that we know without a doubt that Annabeth is gone Malcolm's position as Cabin 6's counselor is temporary." Even Malcolm nodded. The poor kid looked worried, he may have been her deputy but Annabeth's shoes were hard to fill.
"She's alive" Nico spoke up "I'm keeping an ear out."
"Thank you" Percy nodded at our cousin.
"Very well" Chiron nodded and cleared his throat "now the smaller elephant in the room. Hermes cabin?"
For the first time I noticed Luke in the room. He was quiet and I could tell there was a nervousness about him and he had put the Stoll brothers between him and Hermes.
"So" Connor Stoll started "we were torn."
"Yes" Travis continued for him "we didn't know how Camp, the Olympians and you would react if we made Luke our counselor again. But given the current situation and the reputation Luke had before the...uh..."
"Time he worked for Kronos and caused a war?" Clarisse asked and the room got uncomfortably quiet.
"Yes...that" Travis said and cleared his throat again "we decided since Percy trusted him enough to bring him back he should get to be counselor again."
"That should go up for a vote" Clarisse argued "honestly the bringing him back should have been voted on too." She shot a death glare at Percy who crossed his arms and glared back.
"Alright" Percy nodded "lets talk about this in terms of war strategy. Malcolm back me up."
"Okay?" Malcolm said and sat up.
"I am the best swordsman here" Percy kept his gaze locked on Clarisse "the only person who ever stood a chance against me was him."
"Got a man crush then Jackson?" Clarisse said "because I could easily take you down."
"Why haven't you?" Percy shot back "you are THIRD in the rankings, technically fourth if you are looking at the official ranking list. Annabeth comes before you do."
"That's win streaks" Clarisse shot back at him.
"And yet you're still fourth!" Percy said, louder "I am the one that breaks your streaks because you get cocky when you think you're going to pass me. The record between me and you is 45-1 meaning I have beat you 45 times and you have only beat me once and that was the first week I was Camp. But I also want you to remember that my FIRST week at Camp when I was 12 I beat you and 4 of your siblings in a swordfight during Capture the Flag."
"You were in the water" Clarisse rolled her eyes and I jumped when Percy slammed his hand on the table.
"It was a battle" Percy snapped "if I get more powerful when I'm in water shouldn't you get more powerful during a fight?"
Clarisse clenched her jaw.
"In means of war strategy Luke is an asset to have on our team. Am I wrong?" he looked at Malcolm, who shook his head "he knows that if he fucks up again I will personally escort him to the Underworld and throw him into Tartarus myself. He was a good Camp Counselor and in a way Luke was always loyal to Half Bloods because we all seem to forget that the war was not started because Kronos just had the power. He played on one half blood's hatred of their godly parent and it is a hatred we all should understand in one way or another. He saw half bloods wait years at Camp without so much as a claiming from their parent. Hate and love are the two most powerful emotions in the world."
The room was quiet because we all knew what he meant. I even admitted to hating Zeus a couple times.
"If the whole entirety of Hermes cabin agrees that Luke should be counselor again then he is counselor again" Percy said, ending the discussion.
"Which is what Hermes cabin agreed to" Connor Stoll said "it was put to a vote by the Campers who were here for the fist war. The vote was unanimous."
"Very well" Chiron nodded. I could feel the heat radiating off of Clarisse as she fumed, embarrassed by Percy in front of Ares "Luke Castellan will be Cabin 11's counselor."
"Thank you Chiron" Luke nodded.
"Now the bigger elephant in the room" Chiron nodded "we need a plan."
"I agree" Athena was actually the one who spoke now "Malcolm and I have spent the last two hours searching for more information on Chaos than what is common knowledge."
"And?" Zeus asked.
"Well we assume that her children will fight with her" Athena said.
"Well we've already defeated Gaea" Piper said.
"And Annabeth and I out smarted Tartarus" Percy said, nodding his head.
"That leave Nyx, Erebus and Eros. Though we're sure Eros will not fight" Athena continued.
"Why not?" I asked and it was Aphrodite who piped up.
"Because he is not a bitter god" Aphrodite said "and he was still worshipped even when I took over love. The mortals actually see him as Cupid. He was often depicted with me, as my consort of sorts. He is strictly on the side of love and passion and does not meddle with things that do not have anything to do with either. Once he was reunited with Pyshce he disappeared from Olympus. He does not hold grudges very well, as love does not hold grudges, but he has sworn to keep his life only about his love so that nothing may happen to her again. We have all but forgotten about him and, out of respect, have left him alone."
"Would he be willing to help fight?" Percy asked and Athena shook her head.
"Not likely" she said "he only fights for love."
"Does this mean we're alone?" Zeus asked.
"Well we have a theory that if we can find the other two lost gods they may be more willing to help" Athena said "but I worry that one will be hesitant as Apollo is involved."
"What did I do?!" Apollo asked and sat up from where he had been leaning back on the hind legs of his chair.
"You became the Sun God" Athena said simply "and when people think of the sun they think of the day. You even took over her role as the one who rides the sun and makes the darkness go away."
"Hemera" Apollo said and nodded "you think she will not help because of me?"
"A scorn or forgotten god is never one willing to help" she continued "but we may be able to play on the fact she is opposite of her mother. Nyx will hold a grudge against Artemis because just as Apollo accidentally took the Day, Artemis took the Night."
"I did not mean to offend anyone" Artemis frowned slightly "I Hunt by the Moon. It is the mortals who saw me as a goddess of the moon."
"The mortals also thought it would be interesting if the Twins became the god and goddess of opposites" Athena said.
"That leaves Aether" Percy said and Athena frowned now.
"There is hardly any information about Aether" she said "but she is your best chance of help against Erebus. Nyx and Erebus are strong immortals and they are older than us Olympians. We will be outmatched if we cannot get Hemera and Aether on our side. But I do not have even the slightest idea where you can find Aether. She is the Goddess of Divine Light, the thing between Ouranos and Gaea."
"We could ask the wind gods" Percy suggested "it sounds like she is more or less the air, the winds would know how to find her."
"That is an excellent place to start" Athena nodded "but we must hurry. We do not know when Chaos will strike. Is your Oracle here? You will need a quest."
"She arrived this morning" Chiron nodded and then walked in Rachel Elizabeth Dare. She was in paint covered overalls but her raid hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
"When Chiron Iris Messaged me and told me about Annabeth I immediately jumped in a car and came" she said "I wasn't officially done with the semester until next week so I'll have to explain to my dad why I left early."
"Perhaps we can manipulate The Mist" Percy said "it's good to have you here."
"Congratulations on your engagement by the way" Rachel said to him and Percy hung his head as the room erupted.
"What?!" I asked at the same time as Aphrodite squealed.
"What does she mean engagement?" Hera asked "I do not believe I was asked."
Percy glared at Rachel who shrugged.
"Sorry" Rachel said "maybe you should share the good news when you share the bad. It helps soften the bad."
Percy let out a breath.
"I had been planning this for a month now, Malcolm's been helping, and last night I asked Annabeth to marry me" Percy looked around at all of us, even though the news was happy his eyes were sad "and she said yes."
"Congratulations!" was heard from almost everyone, Aphrodite just squealed and Hera rolled her eyes, annoyed that she now represented two of her least favorite demigods.
"I have been working on you two for 6 years now" Aphrodite gushed but then her smile faded and she got a determined look on her face "and that is one wedding I will NOT let not happen. I'll kill Chaos myself if I have to."
Now the room was buzzing with newfound determination. We had all been waiting for this day for Percy and Annabeth, we HAD to get her back for the sake of everything.
"So we need a prophecy" Apollo said and looked at Rachel who nodded.
"I haven't had one quite yet but I did have some weird dreams" she said "when one comes I'll-"
She stopped talking and doubled over, like she was in pain.
"There is it" Apollo grinned and when Rachel stood back up her eyes were a bright green and her voice was raspy, just like I remember the Oracle's voice from the attack. She searched the room for Percy, meaning this was his quest.
"The Son of the Sea shall travel far West,
To find the lost God and complete his request.
Beware of the journey, lined with many dangers,
Do take head the advice of love's strangers.
For Olympus to see the rise of morrow's sun,
Love must take two and make it one."
Rachel blinked and her eyes were back to normal but she almost fell back before Percy caught her and helped her into a chair.
"There's your prophecy" Rachel said, rubbing her head, "I hate that part."
"Okay so Percy has to go far west" I said "California? What's in California that appeals to Eros?"
"Oh" Aphrodite sighed softly "Santa Barbara."
"Why?" Percy scrunched his nose.
"Ugh!" Aphrodite rolled her eyes "it's beautiful and it's been ranked one of America's most romantic places."
"So it looks like I have a quest to Santa Barbara" Percy sighed quietly "one of America's most romantic places."