Ch29
Luke's heart raced in his chest as he saw Thalia brought to him, her hands chained as she tried to break free. "Leave her with me," he told the monster guarding her.
As soon as the monsters left he went over to her, his heart raced in his chest as he stared at her. "Thalia I missed you," he embraced her hugging her tightly.
"Luke what happened," she muttered he could feel her body shake against him.
Pulling away he looked at her. Thalia's face was calm but her eyes betrayed a mixture of emotions from disbelief and anger. "I'm setting things right," he said firmly holding her by the shoulders. "Thalia we are a family again."
His eyes began to become wet, his body shaking as he smiled at her. "After everything the gods put us through we are together again, I won't let anyone separate us."
Thalia stared at him, "Is it true you and Annabeth work for Kronos?" Her words were soft but her body shook as her eyes became stormy.
He sighed, "Thalia the gods left you to die and have long abused us. Lord Kronos will help us rebuild society."
Thalia jerked away from his touch, "How could you!" She glared at him her body shaking while tears fell down her face. "Luke what happened?" She muttered. "How could you do this?"
"The gods never cared for us!" He yelled louder than he intended. Thalia stared at him in shock, he took a deep breath and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please Thalia don't be fooled, your father left you to die. The Olympians don't care for us don't be fooled." She stared at him when an idea came to his head. "Come on I'm sure Lord Kronos will show you the light, she showed me a long time ago."
"Wait what?" Thalia said as he pulled her by the arm and led her down the ship.
"Lord Kronos will convince you. I'm sure of it," he said firmly. "Don't worry later we'll talk to Annabeth later."
A group of monsters led them down to where Kronos's coffin was, it was in a room heavily guarded by monsters who immediately made way for him. Thalia's body tensed up but a group of monsters made her move quicker by walking behind them.
The room where Kronos's coffin was placed on a table in the middle of the room. The monsters nearly pushed Thalia to her knees before leaving and shutting the door. "Lord Kronos Thalia is with us I know she will be valuable to you," he said bowing deeply. He turned to Thalia who was kneeling on the ground and shaking. "Thalis it's ok. Lord Kronos won't hurt you."
He promised we could be a family again.
"Thalia Grace I sense your fear and feel your heart," Kronos said his voice reverberating throughout the room. "You crave strength, I can give it to you. Fight for my cause and you shall have power beyond your imagination."
Thalia's body shook as she took a few deep breaths. Come on Thalia I know you'll make the right choice. She knelt on the ground and her gaze became foggy, Kronos was probably showing her in some sort of vision the benefits of serving him.
"Soon you'll gain unlimited power," Kronos said. "Your father cares nothing for you and abandoned you. Do you think he'll take you back? Your friends Luke and Annabeth recognized it, now you three can be united in my service."
"I.. I don't know," Thalia muttered her eyes glazing over.
"Thalia I know you'll make the right choice," he said firmly. "Your father left you abandoned in a cruel fate, it was Kronos and I who save you from it. We are a family now, the gods won't toy with us anymore."
"A family," Thalia said softly as a tear fell down her face.
"I know of your pain child," Kronos said. "I can see the memories of your past. The gods toyed with your family, you lost a lot when you were with your mother. A cruel fate due to the gods. Haven't you ever wanted to obtain revenge? I'll give you the power to avenge your family, the family you lost because of your father and his true wife. You lost your family to the gods and I have reunited you with your new family."
Thalia's face contorted in pain as if she were reliving some horrible memory. Tears fell down her face as she sobbed, "It's alright I'm here now," he said softly as he knelt down and hugged her. "We are a family again." Thalia nodded as he handed her a tissue. "I won't let anyone separate us again."
He knew that Thalia had a troubled homelife. Her mom was an alcoholic who abused her, though he knew that there was some issue that broke the camel's back. He never asked what it was because she made it clear she didn't want to talk about it.
"Child tell me of your choice," Kronos said. "Do you wish to be a puppet of an uncaring father and his wife who will not rest till you are also dead? Or will you fight alongside your new family, and obtain the power you rightfully deserve."
"Come on Thalia I know you'll make the right choice," he begged looking her in the eyes. "We already did a lot together, we can do anything now."
Thalia's eyes were red and still appeared hazy but she slowly nodded, "Luke I choose you," she muttered softly.
He pulled her in for a hug, his heart racing as tears fell down his face. "I knew you'd make the right choice."
She hugged him back, "Luke I trust you. I still don't know all that is going on but I'll trust you. I-I just don't know if I can swear loyalty yet."
"That is acceptable," Kronos said. "Arise child."
He helped her up. "Good job Thalia,' he said pulling her in for a hug. "I knew you'd make the right decision."
Thalia nodded her face still looking dazed, "It's a lot to take in but I'm glad we are together."
"Don't worry we are together and that's all that matters," he said firmly. "Come on lets get dinner Annabeth will be there."
"Rest well Thalia Grace," Kronos said. "Soon we will be needing you." Thalia nodded before doing a low bow.
"I knew you'd make the right choice," he said as they walked to the dining room. "Come on Annabeth will join us for dinner, it will be just like the old days."
Thalia nodded, "O-Ok." She avoided his gaze as they entered the dining room.
"Is something? Don't worry about your father he won't find you here," he said firmly. "We lost Hecate but Lord Kronos taught us how to hide this place from the sight of the gods."
"Where are we anyway?" She asked as they sat at a table.
"Not far from San Francisco," he said. "We are using Alcatraz as a base but we are in another safe house, don't worry this place is heavily defended. We'll raise Mt. Othrys and soon we'll march on Olympus."
Thalia nodded but her eyes widened as Annabeth entered. "Annabeth!"
Annabeth stared at Thalia in shock, tears falling down her face. "Thalia!" The two girls quickly hugged each other. "I missed you so much," Annabeth said her voice almost sobbing.
He smiled at them, his heart racing. "We are together again and we won't be separated by anything else." The two girls sat at the table across from each other. "Annabeth Thalia also swore to Kronos, it is because of him we are together again."
Annabeth nodded, her gray eyes tearing up, "I-I'm just happy she is here with us." A few monsters brought plates of food and drink for them which they happily began to eat.
"It was cruel what happened to her," he said looking at both of them. "But the gods will soon suffer, Olympus will fall and mankind will be brought into a new age. But enough of that lets just be together for now."
Thalia nodded, "I'm glad we are together. When I came back everything was so confusing."
"How's camp?" Annabeth asked her eyes becoming brighter for a second.
"Chiron was saddened by both of you betraying the gods," Thalia said glumly. "He must be distraught that I'm gone."
"Oh," Annabeth said looking down at the table.
"Don't worry," he said firmly. "Chiron was a good teacher, he had good intentions Lord Kronos will spare him if he pledges loyalty. Besides he is Lord Kronos's son."
Despite everything he also had a soft spot for the centaur. He was sure there would be a place for him in the new world order.
"What about the other campers how are they?" Annabeth asked.
"Well the sons of Poseidon are probably the strongest campers," Thalia said frowning at the table. "I was surprised by how strong they were, I was blown away by what they could do."
"Don't worry soon you'll be stronger than them," he said as he sipped some soda. "You'll be sixteen soon and then Olympus will definitely have to fear you."
"What about the rest of Athena Cabin?" Annabeth asked softly. "Are they ok?"
"Um they aren't allowed in Poseidon's domain and neither are they can't ride horses or related animals either," Thalia said carefully. "They have been managing your loss."
Annabeth stared at her food in shock, she had already been told how the sea god punished her siblings. "It's alright," he said placing an arm on her shoulder. "This just shows how pathetic and petty the gods are, your siblings did nothing wrong and look how they are punished. Soon everything will be alright." She only nodded as she cleaned her face with a napkin.
He smiled at both of them, "Come lets enjoy ourselves. It'll just like the old days now I promise."
Thalia and Annabeth both nodded. Dinner was pretty quiet, Annabeth only nibbled at her food but Thalia ate a good amount. "Alright things will be busy for a while," he said once they finished eating. "Artemis is holding up the sky at the moment so she won't be a bother. For now lets just focus on us for the moment," he said smiling at them. "Everything will work out well don't worry."
Annabeth nodded, "I'm going to bed," she muttered as she got up and left for her room.
"She's come along way," he said to Thalia. "I know deep down she is with us. Come on lets go for a walk, I want to show you around."
Thalia finished her water and got up, "Sure sounds good."
He led her out of the safe house, it was a cold windy night. The area around them was guarded by various monsters and demigods. "It's a nice night," he said.
"It is," Thalia said as they walked past some guards. "Luke can I ask you something?"
"Of course," he said looking her in the eye. "You can ask me anything."
"Do you believe what you are doing is right?" She asked softly.
"I do," he said firmly. "Thalia I know this is all new to you but I believe in what I'm doing. The gods never treated mankind well, soon they will tremble before us. You're strong Thalia, I know the future has great things in store for you."
Thalia nodded but avoided his gaze, "Luke I don't know what the future has in store for me but I don't know if I can beat my father." She then turned to look at him. "But I trust and Annabeth. I would trust you both with my life."
"Don't worry about that," he said lifting her chin up so he could stare into her eyes. "Soon you'll be stronger than him. We are together now, no one can stand in our way."
He moved his face closer to hers. She said nothing and did not reject him as he placed his lips against hers. His heart raced as he kissed her. Thalia returned the kiss and wrapped her arms around him.
Annabeth cried herself to sleep the night before, when she awoke her eyes were still red. I know I'm on this path but it still hurts. She washed her face her body shaking. She writhed on her bed her heart torn at the day's events.
"We are a family again," she muttered her voice cracking as she washed her face and got ready for the day. And we all are working for Kronos. The Titan Lord's name sent shivers down spine causing the physical and mental scars to ache.
Like I'm one to judge I'm an enemy of Olympus now. The gods wouldn't be so forgiving of her and the camp would see her as a traitor. Mr. D already saw it and the other gods should know as well.
She shivered at the memories of her torture. Would I be accepted anywhere else though? I doubt it. The camp hates me already. I have no where else to go.
She wanted to break down at that thought. Her mother seemed so proud of her the few times they met, now she was fighting against her. All I have now are Luke and Thalia. She cleaned her face, despite everything she did feel glad that they were together again despite everything.
Can we make things right? She wanted to convince them to fight against Kronos and return to camp, but they wouldn't agree to that and now that they captured Artemis they would kill them if found.
She left the room and went to eat some breakfast. "Hey may I join you?" Alabaster asked.
"Sure why not," she muttered as the son of Hecate sat across from her.
"Thanks. Luke and Thalia are having a private moment it appears," Alabaster said. "Did you not sleep well?"
"Sort of I'm dealing with a lot of stuff at the moment," she said. The son of Hecate always seemed to want to talk to her, but she didn't know if it was out of sincerity or he was being told to watch over her.
"I understand. It must be a lot for you to be with Thalia and Luke again," Alabaster said as he ate some toast.
"Yeah. I've also been worried about my siblings," she said as she drank some orange juice.
"I heard they are being punished. I'm sorry for that," Alabaster said with a sympathetic look. "You guys had your own cabin so that makes them a bigger target for those Olympian thugs."
She nodded knowing it would do her no good to say anything else. "Any news from your mom?"
Alabaster frowned. "No. Strangely a lot of my siblings are also quiet and laying low. I think something is going on but I'm not sure. Do you still have contact with your mortal family?"
She nearly choked on her food. "No," she said quickly. "They never cared for me." Luke had offered to have her write a letter to her dad but a part of her wondered if he would just be more disappointed in her. He has his own family now I bet he is so happy.
"Sorry to hear about that," Alabaster said sympathetically. "If you ever want to talk I'm here." The son of Hecate then produced a flower and handed it to her. Her face reddened as she accepted it.
After breakfast she found Luke and Thalia chatting in private. She froze, Thalia was smiling and laughing while Luke seemed happier than he had been these past few months.
"H-Hey guys," She said awkwardly like an awkward third wheel.
Thalia and Luke snapped out of their conversation and turned to her. "Hey Annabeth good morning," Thalia said her face red.
"Did you sleep well?" Luke asked as he and Thalia sat on a bench
"I slept alright," she said sitting across from them. "So what now? I mean what's are plan now?"
"Well our spy in camp has told us that a quest may be issued to save Artemis," Luke said. "Our target is a monster that will make Thalia powerful enough to take on the gods."
Thalia's face turned red as Luke held her hand. "Y-Yeah you told me" She muttered.
"Those pesky hunters of Artemis will be easy for us to defeat," Luke said before turning to her. "Annabeth once this is done I'll ask Lord Kronos for some time off so we can have fun just like the old days. We are a family again and have so many things to catch up on."
"Yeah sounds fun," she said with a forced smile. A family. Are we really one? She wanted it to be like the old days but deep down she knew that those days were long gone.