Chapter 10

Thalia's POV

I smiled when I slurped up the pineapple smoothie. In some ways, that relaxed me.

Meroe was beside me, looking at the different cookbooks. This was weird because I've seen Merope just magically summon cookbooks whenever she wanted. But I decided to leave it to her. She picked up one and went into the food isles.

" I'm thinking of western tonight, what do you think?" Merope asked.

" Hey, I'm no chef."

" Helpful as always Thalia." She chuckled." How about spaghetti with smoked salmon?"

" Sure, sounds good."

Merope picked up three boxes and one metal can from the isles and tossed them into the cart. I sometimes never understand that girl. She acts all carefree around me, but then she turns grumpy when she's around boys.

" I just wanna pick up a few more extra things for tomorrow." Merope said.

And I couldn't help but think what the hunters were doing now. Merope wasn't wearing the tiara anymore, which means she must've handed the title to another hunter. Artemis hasn't communicated with me either. Even when Zeus said that no god will help mortals anymore during the war last year with Gaea, Artemis defied his orders. I took another sip of my pineapple smoothie.

We walked over to the seafood area, were Merope ordered a pound worth of salmon. Then Merope ran to the meat area where she took a bunch of stuff like bacon, chicken, and beef. We got eggs, and some flour. By the time we were done, the cart was already full.

It reminded me of the time before my mom was corrupted. How she used to take me and two year old Jason shopping, by the time we were out. Our car trunk would be filled. We would laugh about it too. But after she changed, we would go home and my mom would throw a huge fit and smash all the food we just bought.

Merope and I lined up and paid for our the food. We were broke when we walked out of the store. Merope and I talked and laughed all the way back to Festub. Nico, Leo and Will were already there, judging by their expressions, they did not have a good day. A tied up boy were imbetween their feet, unconscious.

" Frank!" I realized.

Will turned to look at me.

" Yeah, he attacked us while Nico and I were shopping for spare parts."

Leo frowned. He looked much better than before.

" I can't believe Frank would attack you." Leo said.

Frank's eyes snapped wide open. Will jumped back in surprise. Leo yelped like a girl and Nico grabbed the hilt of his sword. Frank twisted and struggled, but no matter what he did, he could not break free.

" Better knock him unconscious or else he'll turn into a animal and run away." I suggested.

Will jabbed him in the neck and Frank went limp.

" I shouldn't do that anymore. It's a wonder he's still alive after I did that so many times." Will said.

" Your friend is a animal." Merope said blankly.

" Yeah, he can turn into animals-"

Merope shook her head." No, that look in his eyes. I recognize that look. I think he was driven mad with grief."

Will picked Frank up." I'll see what I can do for him." Will carried Frank into Festub with a little help from Leo.

" Hey guys! We're back!"

I turned around, Percy and Annabeth were walking towards us. They held lots of bags filled with cheap looking clothes.

" We got the clothes." Annabeth said." Did you get food?" She asked looking at me and Merope.

" Yep." Merope said.

Annabeth nodded." Good, what about you?" Annabeth said, looking at Nico and Will." Did you get the spare parts?"

" We got Frank." Nico offered.

Annabeth raised an eyebrow." Excuse me?"

" let's discuss this as a meeting." I said.

We gathered by by the ivory table. Frank also sat there, unconsious of course. I think Annabeth's first reaction upon seeing him was: AHHHH! Untie him! But Nico and Will quickly explained the situation.

" Someone wake him up so we can interrogate him," Percy said.

Leo didn't waste a beat. He slapped Frank in the face.

" WHOZAA!?" Frank nearly jumped out of his seat." Who are you? Where-"

Frank faltered.

" Annabeth? Percy? Leo? Where are we? And why am I...tied up?"

Leo laughed unsarcasticly." Very funny, WHAT WERE YOU DOING ATTACKING THEM?!" Leo yelled pointing at Nico and Will.

" I'm sorry, what?"

" Wait." Percy said, stopping Leo before he slapped Frank in the face again." Do you remember what you did?"

" Sure. I was looking for Hazel, then I remember pain, then, a vision of a dragon. Festus I think, underwater, and then I remember turning into an elephant... Then I saw you guys." Frank winced." My head hurts just thinking about it."

Percy exchanged glances with Annabeth, I didn't see Percy or Annabeth's expressions, but I'm guessing it wasn't happy smiles.

" I have a feeling… That Frank is meant to be on this quest." Annabeth said.

" What-? Oh as the eighth person. Got it." Leo said." Enemy and all."

" No, I think something is possessing him." Percy said.

We all fell silent. Until Percy sighed.

" At times like these I really wish for Piper's charmspeak." He said. Everyone gravely nodded their heads.

Frank looked around in confusion." Isn't anyone gonna tell me what's going on?"

" I'll tell you what's going on." I said.

I explained the new prophecy, the quest and that Percy, Nico, and I were chosen as it's champions. After I finished, Frank looked at Percy in approval, me in question, and just total shock at Nico.

" Sorry, it's just I never imagined you'd be one of the three." Frank said, blushing.

" It's okay, I got that during the past few days." Nico grunted.

I felt bad for him. Everyone approved of Percy being one of the three. I had supporters, but Nico…He had no one. I wasn't a mind reader, but I could tell Hazel wasn't happy with it either. What's worse than not even having your sister trust your ability to save the world?

" Also, I want to know…Why didn't you tell Camp Jupiter?" Frank asked, breaking my thoughts.

" Well…Chiron thought that because none of the three were Roman, he wouldn't let us receive your help." Annabeth said.

" That…that's stupid! We can help… I know we can be involved. I don't know if this helps, but a few days ago, not long after Hazel disappeared, a voice boomed over telling- perhaps the prophecy of the three, and then something about sky and three gifts." Frank said in one breath.

Everyone exchanged confused glances.

" We need to tell Chiron, he'll let the Romans help if we do!" Annabeth decided.

" Wait! Are you saying my sister hasn't returned to Camp Jupiter yet?" Nico repeated, voice deadly cold.

All my instincts screamed: Danger! Nico was mad, I could feel the sub temperature dropping. I wanted to unlock Aegis, but I knew that would not help. Leo and Merope seemed to inch for their weapons, but stopped. Percy, Annabeth and Will were abnormally calm. Frank, who was the one being threatened, looked like he he was going to drop dead. Then again, Nico was son of the god of the dead.

" Nico, I think Frank is very tired from the recent shock. Let's not kill him now, you can torture him all you want after he's a a good nice sleep." Said Annabeth, always the reasonable one.

Nico sighed so sadly I felt bad for him, that kid was one filled with so much misery.

Leo helped untie Frank. Frank walked to the room with the wooden door, I guess it fits since his life depended on one. Everyone started going there separate ways. Percy walked to his room with what looked like pre-calculus homework. Annabeth pulled out her notebook and vigorously started scribbling Gods know what. Leo pulled out his archimedes sphere and fiddled with it. Will followed Frank into his room, probably trying to squeeze more information out of him. Nico walked to his room without saying anything, Merope was the inly one who wasn't doing anything, so she just started braiding her long hair several times over.

I felt so bad for Nico. I remembered our talk back in Zeus' cabin. He said the only person that he ever trusted was Bianca and Hazel. Bianca is dead and Hazel is gone. Almost instinctively, I walked towards his room and opened the door.

" Nico?" I asked. The room was small like mine and I bet the others. But unlike my bright sunshine filled golden room, his was dark, with nothing but a few candles to lighten just a little bit.

" Go away Thalia." Nico said.

I nearly jumped. Nico was sitting on his bed behind me. His expression was guarded but I could tell he had been crying from his swollen red eyes.

" Look, I said it before, and I'm gonna say it again. We need to trust each other if we're gonna win this war. So I've decided you had enough secrecy. It's time for you to let go of your burden. It's painful to see everyday hiding something."

Nico gave me a cold stare." I'm. Afraid. Of oceans."

I was slightly amused.

" Look if you want to know, fine, I'm worried about Hazel. Happy?" Nico snapped.

" But, there's more isn't there?" I asked.

Nico looked down, it was so hard to imagine how Bianca's little brother, the one who was a mythomagic geek became such a serious and gloomy guy.

" I-I've been having dreams." Nico admitted.

" We all do, go on."

" I…My father came to me, he said my sister was in grave danger, and she would be gone if I don't hurry and save her."

I moistened my lips." Nico…" I didn't know what to say." We'll save Hazel, I promise."

Nico shook his head." There was more…My father, he said…Bianca was reborn and alive somewhere. And that I would see her soon."

I froze." When was this?"

" Yesterday."

" You should've told us." I said, surprisingly calm. All of a sudden, I wanted to protect Nico until he saw Bianca. I don't know where the urge came from, maybe from the history I shared with her, that I wanted to help her see her brother again. I leaned over Nico and hugged him tightly. It would've been embarrassing, if Nico pushed me away, but he didn't. Instead, he stopped shivering, and he closed his eyes. I embraced him for almost two minuets, until his breathing slowed into a smooth rhythm. Nico looked strangely angelic while all the stress was out of his face.

" Sis." Nico barley whispered, eyes closed.

I smiled, he was kind of cute in the brotherly way. And with that, I left his room. I walked next door to my golden room.

The light almost blinded me. I guess that's what you get for staying in a pitch black room then going into the sun. I took a shower, brushed my teeth, and changed into my pajamas. I crashed onto my bed and hoped to get some sleep, but I didn't.

I opened my eyes. I was standing in the Wolf House. A tall woman with a eighties poofy hairdo. It suddenly struck me who she was.

" Mom?" I gasped.

The woman smiled." I will see you soon, my love."

Suddenly thunder cracked overhead. And in a brilliant flash, Beryl Grace was gone, replaced by a tall man with shoulder lengh hair in a suit and tie.

" Father…" I had never been so glad to see him.

Zeus sighed." Hello Thalia, I just came here to tell you, the one you don't want to ever see again is out there, reborn."

My mouth hanged. I did not ever want to see what I just saw ever again.

" But…Father, surly you don't want her back. Just order Hades not to." I tried my best innocent daughter voice, but I doubt he even heard me.

" Sadly, the person who is taking her soul is more powerful than both Hades and I. Why, I am suppressed that he is even alive."

I suddenly knew something was wrong. Zeus looked tired and sad.

" What's wrong? The rebirth of Mother isn't the only thing bothering you is it?"

Zeus shook his head. " You know Pandemonium?"

I nodded. it was all that's on the news these days.

" Well…It's hard to say the specifics, but, It's caused by the sky."

I didn't understand. "If it was caused by the sky, wouldn't you be able to cleanse it?"

" Normally yes. But this was caused by a God, one more powerful than me. It has already begun to kill thousands of mortals."

" So why is it so bad?" I know, normally this would be a big deal to humans, but Zeus didn't care about them. He'd once wiped out the in tire human population except for two people who replenished it.

" Because it's inflicting everyone, including demigods and even Gods."

I took a step back." Demigods and Gods alike?"

" Yes. I will have a trial for my spot as King of the Cosmos. I would fight back...But all eleven of the Olympians agreed to do this, wouldn't have a chance."

Suddenly it came back to me. The Sky will try. It meant Zeus would have a trial.

" Well I better get back. I was lucky enough to even talk to you under the circumstances."

I wanted to ask him more questions, but he just disappeared in another flash of lighting.

I sat up on my bed. My heart was pounding. I could see the slightest orange in the sky. I heard a lot of banging and and clanging. I heard shouts. I heard steam releasing tension. It took me a moment to realize that it might've been trouble. after all I just woke up.

Someone banged on my door." Thalia! Thalia!" I recognized the voice as Percy's." Wake up! Frank is tearing down Festub!"

Chapter 10 end.

Ok done! I know that this chapter was a little late. I usually update like every two days, but since school is starting again, maybe once a week? It depends on my schedule. And sorry in advance if I update late.