Ch. 3: When Friend Turns Foe

(Recap: "You have to and you will." He said, then went as close to the captive's face as the cage would allow and whispered.

"You have no choice but to co-operate." And he pulled off his mask, revealing who he was. And all that the girl could do was stare wordlessly, paralyzed at the sight, for she was staring at her brother, who was confirmed dead.

Thalia Grace, Lieutenant of Artemis and daughter of Zeus was staring at her cousin - the same one that was confirmed executed. She was staring in the sea green eyes of Perseus Jackson. The man she had loved as much as her real brother, the man she'd trusted the most, despite what her mistress Artemis considered of men. The same one who just announced was going to take her to Tartarus and torture her.)

Thalia wordlessly stared at the man who was threatening her. For the first time in her life, she was feeling scared. Not for herself, but for her cousin.

What happened to him? One of the kindest guys she'd ever seen had murdered someone, was executed for that and now somehow was alive and in control of an army of monsters, serving none other than Tartarus - the same Tartarus who had made him endure so much agony and mental torcher while he was trapped in there.

And the worst part was that Thalia was almost absolutely certain that Percy was in no way possessed. Not by a God, not by an eidolon.

How was she certain?

Because his eyes were the same sea green colour they always were. Not golden.

Whatever Percy had done, whatever he was doing, he seemed to be doing of his own accord. That scared her. If Percy Jackson became an enemy of Olympus and allied with Tartarus and his whole army, the demigods would be facing practically the whole pit along with one of the most powerful primordials and one of the most powerful demigods of the century.

His pros weren't limited to his fighting skills. He was a great leader, and if he buoyed the monsters against the camp, he would have the perfect strategies in place to destroy his home. Ex-home, apparently.

"Percy. What is this? What are you doing? Why am I in a cage?"

"Thalia Grace. I don't know how you know my name, but I already told you what I want and why you're here."

"What do you mean how do I know you? I've known you since you were 13 Percy, you're my brother! What's happened to you? Why are you doing this?"

"Ha! Those lies won't get to me, daughter of Zeus."

He spoke the name with such distaste, Thalia winced.

"Master already warned me of all the lies you'd tell me to turn me against him. But get this, Lord Tartarus is my master, and my loyalty lies with him! You have done so much wrong in your life, killed so many innocents. You will be punished. You all will be. Along with that God forsaken camp and the Olympians themselves." He looked like on a role, venting out emotions that Thalia was pretty sure never existed within her brother. Hatred. For her, for the Olympians and the camps.

"What are you saying! Hear yourself, Percy! Killed innocents? Me? Tartarus has done something to you, Percy! Wake up and see-" She was saying desperately.

"Enough! I don't wanna hear another word from your mouth, you ruthless cold blooded murderer! Shut up, or I'll make you!"

That stung. And simultaneously pissed her off.

"Okay, Percy. Do what you can. I'm not shutting up. I'm not scared of you. Go and tell that moron Tartarus he has chosen the wrong person to interrogate. No matter what he does to me, I'll never ever rat my sisters out." She said and resolutely crossed her arms, at least as much as she could in her confinement.

"Oh, but it isn't gonna be him who'll do things to you, lieutenant. It's gonna be me. And a very special person who very recently regained his memory. Apparently, he has a score to settle with you." Percy smirked wickedly.

"You..? And regained his memory? Who are you talking about?" Thalia asked, genuinely nervous.

"Oh, you'll soon find out, Grace. It appears as if the year is all about people regaining their memories. Me, him and who knows how many more we'll find." He stared at her with utter hatred.

Thalia was so confused at this point, nothing seemed to be making sense anymore. As it turned out, she didn't have to use her head for much longer. Percy picked up a fallen piece of log and went behind Thalia.

"What.. What are you doing Percy?" She asked, rotating her head and looking in the direction of Percy.

"I'm making sure you're not too much trouble when we take you to Tartarus. Sleep well huntress, this is gonna be the last time you're ever gonna get to sleep. When you wake up, you'll find yourself in a location that might be worse than your worst possible nightmare." He gave a cruel smile, then with a snap he got the cage opened and without wasting a second, brought down the logon Thalia' head, effectively knocking her out. Percy picked the unconscious girl and nodded to his bodyguards, signalling it was time to go to Tartarus.

It was almost dawn at Camp half-blood and Annabeth chase was ready to leave for her solo mission to gain knowledge of the happenings at Poseidon's Palace and to find out what actually had actually transpired there. However, just as she left her cabin, all packed and ready, Chiron came sauntering over to her and stopped her.

"Annabeth. You can't go. Wait."

"Chiron. We talked about this. What changed within a fortnight ?!"

"A lot of things actually. Hear me out. I just got a call from Lady Artemis. Thalia has gone missing."

Annabeth dropped her satchel down in shock and dismay.

"Do you think... "

"I fear so. She has been taken by an enemy. Lady Artemis says there may be a new threat on the rise. She'll shed more light on the problem when she comes here."

"She's coming here?"

"In about an hour, with all huntresses. This will be the first time her new recruits will see camp. You know how each of her huntress' sparing Thalia was lost to the war against Orion. And now Thalia is missing. So she's a bit testy."

"You think this situation has got something to do with Percy?"

"A week ago the noblest and courageous hero of Olympus was accused of murder and executed. Now if reports are to be believed, the lieutenant of Artemis and daughter of Zeus has been taken. This is appearing to be more like a planned attack."

"That makes sense. What do the Gods have to say about this?"

"Lady Artemis is the first Olympian we'll have a chance to speak to about this. So stay and talk to her. Hear her out, then we'll decide what we should do."

"You're right. As much as I hate to wait, Lady Artemis will know much more than we know at this point."

"Okay. Now I'll go, I have to conduct classes."

"At this hour? What kind of classes?" Annabeth asked puzzled.

"Oh you know, teach the boys how to behave and give them some pointers as to how to avoid being turned into jackalopes by Lady Artemis." Chiron winked.

"Oh yeah. Go ahead, they'll need it." Annabeth gave a small smile. For the first time since Percy's departure, and Chiron's face contorted into a small smile as well.

Chiron left Annabeth to her own devices then, since he had to prepare for the arrival of Artemis and her hunters. Annabeth, having nothing much to do, proceeded towards the training arena to get some training in. Only after she kept her satchel in her room of course.

Three-fourths of an hour later, a conch suddenly blew, signalling an attack. The campers rushed without their armour, just with their weapons in hand. The sight that they saw was brutally terrifying and yet soul pleasing.

Brutally terrifying because a bunch of girls in silver armour with relatively unknown faces were mercilessly pounding the monsters black and blue, leaving a trail of monster dust in its wake.

Soul pleasing because the way in which the monsters were being annihilated made the campers glad that the huntresses were on their side.

Soon the monster army (which was an assortment of various species, about 50 in all) was finished off. A young teenage girl came out of the crowd with her bow in hand. She was also an unknown face to the campers.

Only when Chiron bowed before her did the campers realize her identity and followed suit. Annabeth was the first one followed by the rest of the camp.

Lady Artemis was in her 18-year-old form for the first time in front of the campers. "Chiron, campers, Rise."

"Milady, you and your sisters are welcome."

"No time for welcoming centaur. Let's go inside, we have a lot to discuss."

"Of course," Chiron said, and the campers parted way for the hunters led by Artemis. They followed, Annabeth and Chiron leading the way.

Once everyone was seated, Annabeth began "Lady Artemis, is it true about Thalia..?"

"I'm afraid so, daughter of Athena. We don't have much information, but we have enough to be afraid. Very afraid."

"Ever since Percy, the camp doesn't quite look like it should. The Roman camp has stopped visiting, they refuse to believe that Percy was involved in something so heinous, they've boycotted us. We are alone for now."

"I am aware. But I'm sure if a war threatens us, the Romans will step up. It's their job and their honour. As to Perseus Jackson's case, I have reason to believe that the Council may have made a very hasty decision regarding his execution."

Annabeth's jaw dropped and her heartbeats sped up, fearing her boyfriend was executed for nothing.

"Hasty? How so your majesty?"

"It is vain to ponder over what could've been. However, if only the decision would've been delayed, we would've had Percy in this fight, which I'm afraid is going to be one of the biggest wars we have ever fought. Then, regardless of whether he'd committed the crime or not, Perseus could've redeemed himself by serving the Council and gotten a clean slate."

Annabeth nodded sadly, her eyes holding agony and heartbreak. Although it was over a week, it looked like only yesterday they were sitting at the Poseidon table eating food, having fun and today he was gone. Just like that.

If only she knew.

"What actually is this threat that you came here all the way to discuss, Milady? And what are the reports on Thalia's whereabouts? "

"A meeting of the Gods will convene exactly a month from today when the summer solstice takes place. The threat looming above us is great. Rumours have started spreading, rumours of an ancient soon to rise and destroy Mount Olympus. Judging from past experiences and the speed and seriousness of the rumours, we have about a month and a half at max."

"We understand all that, but who is this ancient? Please don't speak in circles."

"I'm a bit hesitant to speak the name in front of the entire camp. I do not wish to give them sleepless nights."

"I think the campers are mentally strong enough. I've made them strong enough." Chiron said a bit offended.

"We'll see about that." She said, then continued

"We fear that Tartarus is rising." She let that sink in.
A moment later, there was mayhem as the campers started freaking out. Chiron pounded his hoof against his wheelchair to silence the crowd.

"I can't blame the campers milady. If what you say is true, even I will have sleepless nights. Tartarus is no joke! Chiron exclaimed.

"Indeed, Chiron. We'll have to give it our best. We still have time. Train the campers, make amends with the Roman camp, we'll seek the support of the Amazons. We both have begun mass recruitment. These girls may be new, but Thalia and I have trained them to fight like demons."

"Is that all we can do? Just wait till the enemy attacks and then hope that we are strong enough to defeat them? No offence milady but it sounds like a huge gamble to me, especially against a being as powerful as Tartarus." Annabeth said.

"We can't do anything until the summer solstice. The Gods need to be made aware, then one of the possible outcomes, the most feasible will be carried out."

Annabeth nodded, while Nico, Jason and Piper were lost in thought. They were all of the same opinions that given the circumstances and given the recent mental trauma Annabeth had gone through, she wouldn't be able to make it through the war. Just then the conch blew, the senior campers and the hunters rushing out with their weapons drawn.

They were stunned at seeing the scenario though. A pack of hellhounds was chasing a teenage girl. The girl was trying to defend herself vigorously, but she looked to have sustained far too many injuries to be able to defend herself. The hunters and the children of Apollo began raining down arrows on the hellhounds. Soon enough there wasn't any monster left to kill. The girl, too exhausted and injured, fainted on the spot. Everyone rushed towards the girl to check out her condition, with Will Solace in the lead.

They got the shock of their lives when they realized the face of the girl though. They heard a few words before she slipped completely out of consciousness to leave them, if possible, even more stunned. Lady Artemis looked the most stunned. A makeshift cot was called and the girl was pulled on it and taken to the infirmary.

Eventually, the whole camp came to know who she was and the last words she'd spoken.

The girl was none other than Thalia Grace, and the last words she'd spoken were

"Percy and Tartarus... Tried to kill me..."

(A/N: PLEASE REVIEW, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS APPRECIATED. IF YOU REVIEW AS A GUEST, I CANNOT REPLY AS I AM ONLY ABLE TO RESPOND TO REGISTERED USERS ON THEIR ID VIA THE WEBSITE. PS - I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS BOOK ACROSS WHATEVER PLATFORMS YOU FIND IT ON.)