Siblings Meet

Luke was absolutely distraught as he sat beside Thalia's bed. It had been a week and she had yet to regain consciousness. But Luke still refused to leave her side.

It took every ounce of will power he had as well as his urge to protect Annabeth that stopped Luke from going back for Thalia. As they reached the outskirts of the camp, the trio are met by girl in her mid-teens with a group of younger girls and boys all armed from the looks of it they seemed to be on patrol.

Luke explained to them what was happening, the girl disappeared into the shadows while the rest of the patrol immediately rushed to check it out while Luke waited apprehensively. In the distance they could hear roars and shrieks in the distance. Finally, George appeared with Thalia in tow. Thalia was bruised, bloody and unconscious from her wounds and exhaustion. But George, George looked even worse. Luke barely had time to catch Thalia before George also collapsed unconscious.

Given that it was night Luke didn't see the extant until daylight came. Thalia had bruises and cuts all over. But George, had a burned left arm, four of his ribs were broken and his face... The healers were doing their best, but it was clear the damage was done.

Two days after they had arrived, Luke found someone else was now sitting beside Thalia. A boy not much older than himself, Tall and broad with features that Luke could only describe as earthly. His hair was oak brown, eyes an emerald green and a warm fair skin tone akin to sand at the beach.

The boy was petting Thalia's head with too much affection for Luke's liking. Then he took Thalia's hand and started channeling streaks of lightning down her arm.

"What are you doing?" Luke demanded getting up to stop him.

"Helping her heal," the boy replied calmly as he continued to work. "Children of Zeus can heal themselves by channeling electricity through their bodies, think of it like charging a battery, it also helps stimulate brain activity."

"I didn't know children of Zeus could do that," Luke said in awe.

"It's not commonly known," the boy replied, "I myself only just mastered it a couple years ago. The Boy turned fully to Luke and Luke 's mouth opened in shock. His initial observation of the boy had been incorrect. Only the boy's right eye was green, the left eye, the one he had not seen was blue, electric blue, the same as Thalia's.

"Are...are you..." Luke didn't want to assume but the evidence seemed to point in that direction.

The boy nodded, and gently laid Thalia's arm back on the bed and offering his to Luke. "David."

Luke grasped the boy's hand firmly and shook it, "Luke Castellan."

After separating, David looked him over and frowned, "you should eat something," he said gesturing to a plate of food on a nearby table. "It won't do for you to be fainting on her bedside when she wakes up."

Luke regarded the food for a moment and turned away, "how can I eat when Thalia's at death's door."

"Hardly," David countered, "she's still alive and with more ambrosia and nectar she'll make a full recovery. He looked behind him to the boy on the next bed. "And it seems I have that him to thank for it."

Luke nodded, "I shouldn't have left her alone," he grumbled angrily. Part of Luke hated himself for leaving her, but the more rational side told him that he needed to protect Annabeth as Thalia wished.

David put a hand on his shoulder, "when she wakes up, she'll be happy to know that the friends she fought to protect are safe." He assured him.

Luke looked up at him and nodded before speaking, "I have to ask, "if you're her brother where have you been all this time?"

David looked down and nodded, "I was on a quest of sorts."

Luke cocked an eyebrow, "of sorts?"

David stretched the back of his head, "it's not official and wasn't sanctioned, but it was something I had to do."

"I hope it was important enough for you to ignore your sister."

David frowned, "my sister is the reason I had to do it, and now that she's here it's more important than ever, to ensure her safety." The seriousness of his tone quieted Luke as he turned back to Thalia. After a moment he turned back to the plate of food and took his first bite, from a piece of bread. Itwasn't until the eighth day that Luke heard a soft moan and Thalia began to stir, her eyes fluttered as she turned her head to see Luke asleep in a chair.

"That's not going to be good for your neck," she said.

Luke jerked awake and his face brightened with joy, "Thalia," he gasped as he leaned towards her clasping her hand, "thank the gods."

Thalia gave him weak smile, "It would take more than a few mangy mutts to kill me," she quipped as she sat herself up. "Did Annabeth get here safely?"

Luke nodded, "we both did, but I...we almost lost you."

Thalia smiled at Luke's slip and placed her other hand over his, "the fact that the two of you made it means that it was worth the risk."

Rushed footsteps were hears and Annabeth appeared at the doorway. "THALIA!" she squealed in delight as she ran to her bedside and hugged her tightly, Thalia groaned softly as she was still sensitive but returned the embrace warmly.

Thalia looked around, and noted that one demigod was absent, "where's George?" Luke gestured over her head and Thalia turned to see their new companion still unconscious. Thalia turned back to Luke, "Is he going to be okay?"

Luke frowned, "more or less, they say he might regain conscience. But..." he rubbed the back of his head, "...some of his injuries are beyond healing." Taking a closer look, her eyes widened as she noticed the right side of his face was heavily bandaged.

"You gave your boyfriend quite the scare," a voice in the distance said. "He has refused to leave your bedside until you woke up." The three turned to see David leaning against the doorway holding a tray of food. Pushing himself off, David walked over to them and set the tray down on a nearby table. "With all that sleeping I suspect you're hungry I brought something you and Luke can share, he hasn't exactly been watching his calories either." He cupped Thalia's cheek. "Glad to see you're recovering nicely, one more day of rest and you'll be as good as new."

Thalia stared at the stranger; it wasn't lost on her that his left eye was exactly like hers. Still this boy was intruding on a family moment. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"

David smirked, and withdrew his hand, "I'll give you a hint," he said as he raised the fingers on his hand and lighting cackled along them.

Thalia's eyes widened, "I-I have another brother?"

"Another half-brother to be precise," David corrected. Thalia threw off the sheets and tried to get up, but when she attempted to stand, her legs gave out. "Whoa, whoa," David exclaimed, catching her before she could collapse. "Easy there sis," David chuckled, "it looks like your legs are still asleep." He sat her back down on the bed. He knelt down and lifted her foot, "here this should help," David raised his hand, and send a light current of electricity along her legs from her ankle to her hip. Thalia's legs jerked, like being hit in the knee with one of those doctor hammers. Once he was finished. David stood up, "now give it a try."

Thalia paused for a moment and taking a deep breath, she placed a hand on the bedpost and pulled herself up. This time she didn't collapse, and she was able to take small steps. "H-how," Thalia was bewildered.

David chuckled, "Lightning has more uses than just destructive purposes. I learned much in my life and I will teach you all of them. But for now, your friends will be eager to show you around the camp. Afterwards I'll show you to our cabin."

As he said this a bright light appeared over Thalia's head followed by a golden lightning bolt.

"About damn time," Luke grumbled.

"Probably waiting for her to wake up before he claimed her," David shrugged. "Then again he always did favour his little girls over his sons."

"Didn't he claim you right away?" Thalia asked.

David shook his head, "not for a few days after I woke up here. Not that I would have minded but It did put less strain on my former Cabin mates.

After eating their fill from the tray, the four headed for the big house where David introduced Thalia to their half-brother Dionysus, who was shuffling cards and drinking Diet Coke. Unsurprisingly he was as interested in his new sibling as he was with anyone else.

"Welcome to Camp Tasha Grayson," he drolled with a wave of his hand. "If you expect some big welcome forget it."

"It's Thalia Grace," the girl snarled with her fists clenched and lightning cackled lightly around them. Luke and Annabeth put the hands on her arms. at their touch she quickly relaxed.

Dionysus looked more amused than intimidated, listen to your friends, little sister, he said slyly, my father's child or not you do not want to challenge me."

David put a finger to the middle of his forehead like annoyed older brother of a small boy. "Charming as ever brother," he replied. Before turning to Thalia, "nonetheless he right, it's simply not worth the effort."

The door of the house opened, and Grover stepped out. "THALIA, you finally awoke." He exclaimed happily."

"Something you should be most grateful for," Dionysus replied. "Not all that's left is for the boy that did half your job to wake as well. Then we can decide what will happen to you. If he doesn't-"

Grover shuddered, and nodded, "yes sir," his voice became small and scampered off to do whatever. Dionysus turned to Thalia again. "I think David is more than capable of showing you to your cabin, now begone."

"Always a pleasure," David said as he led Thalia away.

"What happened with Grover?" Thalia asked.

Luke sighed, "after we got here, Grover was taken to the council of Satyrs to relay the events." He rubbed the back of his head. "They were not exactly pleased with his performance."

"Careless and lackluster were the most commonly used words," Annabeth frowned.

"But why?" She exclaimed, "I mean we all made it didn't we, so his task was a success."

"The elders considered your survival credited to George rather than Grover." Luke explained, "since he was the one that stayed with you and got you to the Camp." Thalia sighed as her thought went back to the hospital wing.

"There were also the wrong turns and leading us into a Cyclops den," Annabeth added.

David then led them to where the cabins resided, and the area was quite a sight. There were 23 cabins set up in a U formation. 13 Large cabins formed an Inner U while 10 smaller ones were set up formed rows outside the inner U. Annabeth took the role as a tour guide.

"The larger Cabins are for the main Olympians," Annabeth explained while the smaller ones are for the minor gods of the pantheon. For the most part the gods Cabins are the odd numbers on the left while the goddesses are the even numbers on the right. There are however two notable exceptions. Cabin 12 of Dionysus is on the right, while Cabin 17 of Eris is on the left. "

One of the first cabins they passed was by far the largest in terms of number of residents. dozens of assorted kids hung out on the porch with a wide variety of looks, in hair, eyes, skin-tone, bone structure. The oldest of which was the very same girl that Luke met when they first arrived at camp. She was currently helping a boy as young as Annabeth with a nasty knee scrape, he had received. Using a wipe to clean it off and bandaging it before sending him off to the medical wing. Before leaving the boy gave her a hug before being helped by one of his cabin mates.

As soon as the girl saw the group she stood up and waved which David returned in kind. Seeing her fully made Luke gulp. She was quite beautiful, Tall as David with a graceful figure, olive skinned, violet blue eyes and black hair that fell down to her ankles in a braid. She scampered down the steps of the cabin and walked right up to David.

"You must be David's sister," she said looking Thalia in the eyes. Thalia nodded and the girl smiled. "Your brother and I have been friends since childhood, I hope we can be friends too, Thalia." She then put the back of her hand on Thalia's forehead, "how are you feeling?"

Thalia shrugged, "better than when I arrived that's for sure."

Eve nodded, "well the important thing is you're going to be alright. Your friends have been worried sick about you. I was worried we would have to force feed this one to prevent him from starving." She gestured towards Luke who blushed.

She chuckled lightly and turned to David, "well, I'll let you kids get settled after everything you've been through you have earned more than a reprieve."

The girl headed back to her Cabin and Thalia turned to Annabeth, "who was that?"

"Eve Stellaris," she answered, Counselor of Hestia Cabin and the daughter of Nyx."

"NYX?" Luke exclaimed. "As in the Primordial Goddess of the Night."

Annabeth nodded and Thalia winced, "but wouldn't that make her-"

"A Demi-Primordial, possibly the first in known history," Annabeth confirmed.

"I was going to ask if she was immortal," Thalia corrected.

Annabeth paused and thought for a moment, Titans and Olympians pairing with Mortals resulted in mortal children. But Primordials were a different matter since there were no recorded offspring of them and mortals who knows what such being would be capable of."

"I don't know," Annabeth admitted, "and I don't think even she knows, since she isn't willing to put it to the test."

Annabeth led them to the cabin opposite of Dionysus cabin with a number 11 on the door."

The door was open, and David knocked on the door frame. "Matthew," he called, "a fresh kid's moving in."

A tall young man who looked like a more athletic version of Luke stood up. He smiled brightly and held up his hand, "glad to properly meet you, "I'm Matthew Thawne, Counselor of Hermes Cabin."

"Luke Castellan," Luke replied to shaking Matt's hand."

Matthew chuckled and ruffled Luke's hand before placing his hand on his younger brother's back and spoke to the kids inside. "Everyone, meet our newest sibling, Luke Castellan!"

The kids immediately hurried forward and practically swarmed him with greetings. As he was being pulled in David whispered in his ear, "check your pockets one of them may have stolen your things."

Sure, enough one of them did, and Luke began scrambling to get it back. Thalia chuckled at the scene as the door closed.

David chuckled, "he'll fit in fine I'm sure," he said and placed a hand on Thalia's back, "Come, let's get you settled in."

The children of Zeus, headed for the far end of the Cabin line where the biggest cabins by far were situated, passing the rest of the cabins along the way. Unlike the Hestia cabin with its wide diversity, the members of each cabin seem to cut from the same mold, sharing one or two feature between them despite different ethnicities whether they be physical or in personality.

They made their way towards the biggest one and David stepped aside. "Ladies first," he said gesturing towards the door. Thalia carefully opened the heavy double doors and stepped inside. Inside was a large open space in the middle where Thalia noticed her belongings were placed. Dozens of folding chairs rested on the left and right walls along with sections of folding tables. There were other things such as a small desk with drawers and a proper chair, a training dummy and a bookshelf full of books. On the far end was a towering statue of what Thalia could only guess was their father. But the stature unnerved her. It looked like its eyes were following her every move.

"The chairs and tables are for council meeting along with miscellaneous purposes." David explained. "I set myself up there he said pointing to a space on the right side of the statue." but you can set up wherever. Also let me know if you need anything and I'll see if I can get it."

Thalia looked around the room and after a moment picked up her things and set them up on the left side of the Statue. once she was done David smirked, "let me guess-"

"It's the one spot in the room where that statue can's see (you) me." they said at the same time, before both started laughing.

David sighed, "Now I assume you have questions about me some feel free to ask, I'll answer as best I can."

So, Thalia and David took a seat, and the two siblings began talking."

"So, wait," Thalia spoke up, "your mother was Gloria Roosevelt?"

"Did you know her?" David asked intrigued.

Thalia shook her head, "no, but my mother would rant about her often especially when she was drunk. Blaming her for all her misfortune and woes." Thalia scoffed "as if she needed Gloria for her own stupidity." She imitated her mother holding a cigarette and a martini and mocked her mannerisms, "Because of Gloria, Zeus won't make me immortal, he won't give me beauty, he won't even take me to Olympus. Because of Gloria He NEVER loved me. Gloria the megastar, Gloria, Zeus' first love. STUPID, PERFECT GLORIA."

"Too bad he didn't care enough to save her," David mumbled.

"Compared to me you lived In relative safety," Thaila pointed out.

David nodded in agreement, "I am truly sorry I couldn't find you," he said solemnly, "what kind of Brother doesn't protect his siblings."

"You lost a mother, and I lost a brother," Thalia replied, "father's actions have hurt us in so many ways."

"The River Styx enacts a heavy toll on those who break vows on it," David said his eyes downcast, "and it's often we that pay the price." He looked up at his little sister, "he's fine by the way."

Thalia paused, "who?"

"Jason, he was doing fine the last time I saw him."

Thalia sprang up, "YOU'VE SEEN HIM?" she shrieked, grabbing David by the arms, "where is he, where did he go?" Despite her size she was practically shaking him.

David put his hands on hers to settle her down, "he's right where he belongs, in a safe haven."

"Take me to him," Thalia demanded, "I want to see him."

David bowed his head and shook it. "I can't, though I do want to it all depends on father which is unlikely."

Thalia wretched free and stepped back, "WHY?" she cried" For the longest time I thought he was dead or worse, and now you're telling me I can't even see him." She huffed and went for her things; I he won't tell me I'll go out there and find him myself."

David quickly grabbed her arm and spun her around. "Please Thalia, it's not that simple."

"THEN TELL ME!" Thalia shrieked. "Help me understand."

David sighed, "only if you swear on the river Styx that you won't tell anyone what I am about to tell you" I already have permission from Father, but you must hold an obligation too."

Thalia stared at her older brother for a moment before she finally relaxed and nodded reluctantly. "Fine," She said begrudgingly, "I swear on the River Styx that I will be silent."

The Room rumbled with thunder sealing the pact before Thalia took back her seat and David did the same. David breathed deeply and began. "Jason is our father's son, but technically he isn't the son of Zeus."

"Thalia looked confused, "I don't get... how does that work?"

"Jason was conceived under our father's alter ego, Jupiter."

"The Roman God?"

David nodded, "see the gods have a Greek form and a roman form, I'm still trying to figure out how that works or what causes the change but regardless, it has resulted in Greek demigods and Roman demigods. So, the two groups of demigods go to separate camps."

"What's the difference?"

The Roman aspects are more militant and while some such as Mars are stronger in this form, others like Minerva are weaker. Being Roman means that their demigods are hardwired for Latin rather than Ancient Greek and like their parents are far more militant than we are."

"But why?"

The main reason is to prevent another war from breaking out. The last time our Camps were together resulted in the Civil War. So the gods keep us as far away from each other as possible and do everything they can to prevent interaction."

"The Civil War?" Thalia questioned, "as in the American Civil War?"

David nodded, "yep, we led the North, and they led the South."

Thalia winced, "are things between our camps really so bad?"

David smirked, "one of their main rules are to never trust the Greeks."

Thalia bowed his head, "so does this mean I'll never see my brother again?"

David smiled and cupped her cheek, "don't despair sis, Jason's training has been going well and being the son of Jupiter means it won't be difficult for him to rise to prominence within their ranks. Perhaps in time Father may give you permission but for now the best thing we can do is be patient and wish out brother the good fortune."