PLEASE READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE!
Author's Note: Ugh guys this is a day late again. Sorry. If I ever post anything late, you can be sure that it will most likely never be more than a day late. For anyone who was wondering if there was going to be a Percy POV chapter, I've been thinking about that a lot the past few days. That's a really good idea and I would like to include Percy POVs, but my original plan for the story was only to have Thalia, Luke, and Annabeth POVs. I've already written up to chapter eighteen, and I don't really want to change that now, but I could possibly write another companion story from Percy's POV, either while I'm writing this or when I'm done with it, maybe? Please tell me what you think of that idea. As always, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to everyone who has reviewed, followed, or favorited this story. Last but not least, the usual stuff: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians, I am just a fan.
Chapter Eight: Thalia POV: I Regret My Decisions
As we reached the top floor of the ship, Luke turned left and led me down the hallway. At the end, there was an extra hallway making a T with the original hallway. This hallway was only about ten feet long on either side, but wider than the previous hallway. There was a door on each side.
Luke used a key to unlock the door to the room on the left. We stepped into the room and I gasped. It was gorgeous! Large windows stretched the length of the back wall, covered by elegant navy curtains that were drawn back to either side and tied with a thin golden rope. To the left, an antique wooden four poster bed was against the wall. The bed was draped with the same thick curtains that covered the windows. To the right, the wall curved, following the shape of the ship's stern. There was a small sofa against the back wall, and a large dining table made of the same wood as the bed, complete with graceful high-backed chairs to to the right. Two long candlesticks rested in holders atop the table, along with a menu of room service options.
Luke set my duffel bag down on the floor next to the bed. "I'll leave you to unpack." He said. "The closet is in the bathroom, over there." He pointed to a set of double doors at the far right of the room. "Oh, and Kelli will be happy to bring you anything you need, including room service, if you'd like it. Dinner will be at 5:30. Do you want to join me for dinner in my room?"
"Sure," I said.
"It's the room in the hallway to the right, straight across from your room," he told me. He smiled and I smiled back before he handed me my room key and exited the room, closing the door behind him.
I carried my bag to the bathroom and began to unpack. The bathroom was large and had a gold bathtub. Windows lined the top of the wall against the ceiling, brightening the small space. I found the closet at the left and began to hang up my clothes. It probably took me less than ten minutes. I ran my hand through my hair, making sure it was still spiked up, and left the bathroom, collapsing on the bed.
I was in awe of how nice the room was. I had never stayed in a room this nice. When I was younger, my mother had had a lot of money, but she wasted it all on clothes and jewelry. We ended up living in a small two-bedroom apartment. Then my brother Jason disappeared, and I went on the run with Luke and Annabeth, where I slept on the street. After that, I moved into Cabin One at camp, a cold and depressing place. To me, this room was practically like a palace.
I got up again, shaking myself out of my thoughts, and grabbed the room service menu from the table out of curiosity. At the bottom of the elegantly typed menu with dishes I couldn't pronounce, sloppily handwritten in red marker, were "hamburger and fries" and "chocolate milkshake". I couldn't help but smile. Luke knew me so well.
I glanced at my watch and realized it was 5:20. Looking down at my clothes, I knew I should probably change into something nicer. I selected a black dress that went surprisingly well with my leather jacket and combat boots, then walked across the hall to Luke's room.
I knocked on the door, and it was opened almost immediately by Luke, wearing a suit. He smiled. 'Hey, Thali. Come on in." He held the door open for me. His suite was a mirror image of mine. The table was set for two with gold silverware, and the two long candles were lit. He pulled out a chair for me at the head of the table and I sat down. He sat down on my left.
"I asked the cooks if they would make steak tonight. They're making mashed potatoes too." I smiled in anticipation, and he laughed in response. "I knew you'd like that," he said. "Kelli will bring them up momentarily."
My smile quickly faded. I leaned forward. "Look, Luke, I don't feel comfortable with all of these monsters here. How can you side with them when we've been fighting them all of our lives?"
"Thali, Kronos has offered me a much better deal than the gods. The gods sent us out in the world on our own to prove our worth by fighting monsters, and you saw how well that worked out." He subconsciously touched the scar running down the side of his face. "Kronos promised to protect us if we sided with him, and the monsters are under his control. We can overthrow the gods, and we'll never have to worry about monsters or quests ever again."
"So who's us?" I asked.
"The other demigods who sided with Kronos and I," he said. "And now you," he added with a smile. I didn't return it.
"How can you just forget all of our friends at camp, Luke? What about Annabeth? By siding with Kronos, you're betraying all of them. You're betraying me."
"Thalia, they made their own choices. They can still choose to side with Kronos, if they want."
"As much as I hate the gods, I can't betray them. They're our only family left, Luke. Them, and the demigods at camp. Luke, please, I'm begging you, come back to Camp Half-Blood with me. I can't bear to betray any of my friends, especially not Annabeth!"
Just then, there was a knock at the door and Kelli the empousa entered. I realized I was standing, and quickly sat back down. Kelli set the plates down and left the room, looking positively delighted about our argument.
"Annabeth can still come here. Please, Thalia, just think about what will happen when we overthrow the gods. We could be happy."
"Are you even listening to me?" I stood up again, upset. "What about our friends? You know they aren't going to join you. What are you going to do, stand by and watch Kronos's army, your army, kill them, and expect me to do the same? You're delusional. I shouldn't have come here."
"Thali, please, please, listen to me-" Luke started.
"No, Luke, I won't listen to you. You're a traitor. I can't believe I ever came here." He tried to grab my arm, but I pulled away and picked up a pitcher of cider, throwing it at the wall. It shattered, leaving sparkling apple cider and shards of broken glass everywhere. "I'm leaving."
I stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind me, and entered my own, locking the door.
