Ch34
Annabeth sat across the table from Luke and Thalia as they ate. I'm happy for them I really am. Yet no matter how many times she said it the sight of Thalia smiling at Luke and them giggling together made depression worsen.
"So um did you guys want to do anything today?" She asked.
"We are still working on getting the ophiotaurus but it shall soon be in our hands," Luke said as he took Thalia's hand. "Soon you'll be strong enough to defeat the gods."
Thalia blushed and avoided Luke's gaze. "I-I don't know if I can be that strong."
"But the legends of the ophiotaurus's entrails are legendary," Luke said. "Sacrificing them will give you the strength to take down Olympus as is your destiny, you'll be the strongest demigod I know it."
"The strongest," Thalia said looking down at her plate.
"The gods will pay for what they did," Luke said as he looked at both of them. "Anyway come on lets eat up we have to check on the pool."
She nodded and slowly finished her food. Thalia please don't tell me you really want to destroy the gods. Looking over at her friend Thalia seemed content and if she was distressed by her situation she gave no sign of it.
Once they eating she got ready for the day and strapped her knife to her side. We are a family again. Looking into the mirror of the knife and into grey eyes she wondered if things were really like they were before. Despite everything it isn't the same. They weren't laughing and on the run with the entire world against them, they were working for Kronos and she was getting more miserable by the day.
She exited the room and ran into Thalia. "Oh sorry I just wanted to see if you were ready?" Thalia asked.
"Oh yeah I am," she said looking around to make sure nothing was wrong.
"Is everything ok?" Thalia asked.
She looked into Thalia's eyes wondering if she could trust her. "C-Can we talk a bit in private?"
"Of course what is it?" Thalia asked as she let her into the room.
They sat down on her bed and Thalia looked at her with a concerned look. "A-Are you happy here?" She asked softly. "You being here and all."
Thalia sighed, "Its all new. I never honestly thought of betraying my dad and serving Kronos." The daughter of Zeus avoided her gaze. "But now I realize that my true family was with you and Luke."
Her heart sank as Thalia smiled at her, "Did you like the camp at all?" She asked softly.
"It was alright," Thalia sighed. "I liked it and Chiron seemed cool but I always felt I could be more."
"More?" She asked curiously.
Thalia nodded, "Like I have this potential and while camp was good Kronos has shown me how much more I can grow."
She flinched at how Thalia said the last part, looking into her friend's stare she saw a hunger for power in them that shook her.
"When I sleep he shows me things," Thalia said softly. "Of what I truly can become, I'm not going to lie I hope can get some of that power." Thalia's gaze darkened causing her to want to shrink back into her bed.
"O-Oh," she said looking down at the ground
"Is something wrong?" Thalia asked sincerely.
"N-No its just that I was wondering how things were going with you and Luke?" She asked not wanting to put attention on herself.
"Oh that," Thalia said avoiding her gaze. "I hope us being together isn't awkward for you."
"Oh no it isn't," she said forcing a smile on her face.
"Thanks," Thalia sighed. "I don't want anything to be bad between us, we are a family through and through."
"Yeah a family," she said with a weak smile.
Then to her surprise Thalia came up to her and hugged her, "I'm really glad to be back with you both. I really am."
"Yeah me too," she said as she hugged her back.
They were interrupted by knocking at the door. "Hey are you two ready?" Luke asked.
"Coming," Thalia said as they both got up.
Luke smiled at them as they exited her room, "Having a good time girls?"
"We were just catching up," she said forcing a small smile on her face.
"Yeah just some girl time," Thalia said.
Luke laughed, "I'm glad to hear that come on now." He grabbed Thalia's hand as they all walked through their base.
Why do I even care that they are together. She shook her head, the way they held hands and acted like a couple. I'm happy for them I really am. Taking a deep breath she forced herself to ignore the way Thalia laughed at a joke Luke made.
When they made it outside they passed by Artemis who was being restrained by the burden of the sky. "Look at her all tied up," Luke said with a chuckle.
Artemis looked up at them her eyes ablaze with determination and disgust aimed right at them. "Foolish children Olympus will prevail in the end," the goddess said coldly.
Thalia flinched, after all she was Artemis's sister and still a maiden so must have been a double knife in the heart for Thalia to betray her father for Kronos.
"Don't worry about her she is too tied up to do anything," Luke said as they walked up to the large pool water where Alabaster and his siblings were locked hand in hand chanting.
"Alabaster how is the spell?" Luke asked.
The son of Hecate continued to chant, the poll of water in front of him glowed as letters in Ancient Greek and words in Latin glowed around the edge of the pool. When they stopped chanting Alabaster took a deep breath and turned to them with a wide smile on his face.
"It should work," Alabaster said. "All she needs to do is focus on the image of the Ophiotaurus and she should be able to summon it." With a snap of his fingers he produced a white notebook. "Thalia here is the image of the Ophiotaurus, just think about it and it shall come to you as you chant the spell."
Thalia took the notebook and they looked at it, The creature looked like some sort of sea cow and was kind of cute in its own way. "All I have to do is think about it?"
Alabaster nodded, "Summoning spells are our specialty. Let me show you what it looks like so you can get a better idea."
They all circled the pond of water as Alabaster chanted a spell and waved his hand over the water. The water vibrated and the image of the Ophiotaurus appeared, its face was calm as it swam through the water.
"That is what I will summon?" Thalia asked as she peered into the water her face going into a daze.
Luke nodded, "Its entrails will give you the power you deserve."
"The power I deserve," Thalia said softly.
She flinched at the look in Thalia's gaze, how could her friend want to sacrifice a monster to destroy the gods? Taking a deep breath she looked at the creature as it swam in the water. I wonder how our parents feel about our betrayal. Would they even accept our apology if we begged?
"Annabeth is something wrong?" Luke asked.
"Oh nothing," she said quickly. "I was just thinking it looks so peaceful."
"It does," Luke sighed as he peered into the water. "But sometimes a single death is necessary for a new world."
Alabaster nodded, "Indeed. Those mobsters will pay for what they did." With a wave of his hand the image disappeared, "I'll continue to make sure the spell goes on without a problem."
"Good. Keep up the good work," Luke said before turning to them. "How about we get lunch in San Francisco? We worked hard we should rest too."
"Um sure," she said as Thalia nodded in agreement.
"Great it'll be just like to old days come on," Luke said with a smile.
Luke quickly had a car brought for them, it was driven by a monster but she was already used to it at this point. "San Francisco has some good food from what I hear, lets get some clam chowder if its ok with you both?"
"Sounds good what about you Annabeth?" Thalia asked.
"Oh sure I don't mind," she said as they drove onto the freeway passing by various mortals in their cars who didn't have any idea of the world of the gods.
Luke put on some radio and chatted with Thalia while she stayed quiet like an awkward third wheel. Just like the old days. She watched as Thalia and Luke laughed at some joke he made, it was a stupid joke but it made her laugh for some reason.
They arrived at some restaurant, the air from the sea was refreshing and made her feel more at ease. As soon as they sat down Luke quickly ordered their food. "Don't worry this one is on me," he said. "Think of this just like the old days when we would search for food together."
"Yeah those were interesting times," Thalia said. "The monsters were always after us."
She nodded, "Yeah those were interesting times. I honestly never thought we would have times like that again."
"I'm glad we are together again," Luke said smiling at both of them. His smile seemed genuine and not as strained as it had been, he only showed this smile to both of them. "Nothing can separate us now. I won't allow the gods or anyone to separate us."
She nodded as their food was brought to them. Her clam chowder tasted good, but she honestly didn't have the stomach to eat a lot. I should be happy but I'm not this isn't the same.
"Annabeth is something wrong?" Luke asked.
"Oh no I'm just tired from all that's happening," She said scratching her head.
"I understand," Luke sighed. "Things have been tense lately but don't worry we'll come out on top. The quest is being led by the Hunters of Artemis though the sons of Poseidon appear to be joining them."
"Percy and Chris will be coming?" Thalia asked avoiding Luke's gaze.
"Don't worry with the power of the ophiotaurus you'll defeat them both I know it," Luke said putting his arm around Thalia who only nodded. "Olympus will know our power and strength, they shall not prevail."
"Y-Yeah," she muttered focusing on her clam chowder. She still had mixed feelings about the sons of Poseidon but right now she had mixed feelings about a lot of things.
"Alright you two calm down," said a voice that made her freeze.
"Dad he keeps hitting me," said a voice she recognized as her half brother Matthew. No. Her blood ran cold as she slowly turned around. Sitting a few tables behind them was her stepfather, her step mother, and her half siblings.
No No what are they doing here? She hadn't heard anything from her father since she left camp, did he even know she was gone? She quickly turned around to not be seen her body going rigid as tears fell down her face. Her body shook as a variety of emotions passed through her.
"Annabeth what's wrong now?" Thalia asked with a concerned look.
"M-My dad," she said softly.
Luke and Thalia both looked surprised as they turned to look at her mortal side of the family. "Gods I swear I didn't know," Luke said and for once she saw sincerity in his face.
"Come on now we are new here we have a lot of places to explore together," her stepmother said. "San Francisco is different from Virginia so we have to be careful."
Her body shook as tears fell down her face. She got up and ran in the opposite direction ignoring the protests of Luke and Thalia. They moved. Tears fell down her face as she ran, at least they are happy now that I'm not there to ruin his perfect family.
She made it to a park and sat down beneath a tree and cried. Bitterness and resentment filled her up as the memories of her childhood came back to her. They moved probably so he doesn't get reminded of me. She cleaned her face her body shaking. He never wanted me, he wanted a normal family with normal children.
She sat under the tree crying her anger boiling inside of her until she heard Luke and Thalia come up to her, "Hey Annabeth are you ok?" Thalia asked as she crouched down next to her and gave her a tissue.
"I swear Annabeth I didn't know that your father moved," Luke said as he knelt in front of her his eyes full of sympathy.
"He looked so happy," she sobbed. "Probably moved to get rid of the memory of me and my mom."
"It's alright there there," Thalia said softly wrapping her arms around her. "We are here for you even if you dad isn't, we are family again."
"That's right," Luke said smiling at her. "Annabeth me and Thalia will always look after you even if the world abandons you."
She looked at Luke and nodded, "Thank you," she said softly. Thalia and Luke were her only family left now. She left camp and betrayed the gods and her father probably wants nothing to do with her now. This is all I have left.