OK, here we go again. But firstly, sorry for taking so long to update, I've been working like a dog since June. College is awesome but there are times when your free time just vanish and the only time I have to write and basically do everything else is on weekends, but don't worry. I won't stop writing.

Secondly, I know I have no right to ask after taking so long to update, but...give your review after you read. As an amateur writer all comments matters so I can make my text better for my readers.

Thirdly, I have serious problems with author notes, so unless it is something really important I won't write one.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF MASTER RIORDAN'S WORKS.

The clearing to where Zephyrus took them was isolate from the rest of the world, the Mist so thick that Thalia could see it distorting the surroundings. The god of spring sat near a rainbow color fire caressing two nymphs who were tied and gagged "It was about time for you to show up, we were getting bored here, these two aren't the best companies, you know" the look he gave the naiads when fondling their breast made Thalia sick. The young hunter turned her face and tried to resist the urge to behead the god, leaving the talking to Sieg she started looking for clues that could tell were they have been taken.

At least Sieg's poker face were good, he showed no reaction towards those despicable manners and calmly continued talking "Why did you brought us here, Zephyrus?" an unemotional and almost strange voice came from his mouth "...and who else is with you?". He was tense; something there was making him unease as if something or rather, someone was watching them.

The god simply ignored the Einherjar, continuing molesting the naiads "Funny creatures, aren't they? Naiads...they tried to keep their loyalty to a goddess by resisting us." Zephyrus waved his hand and chains appeared, connected to their necks while the river spirits started to sob, their heart-breaking expression making his blood boils, but he could not be taken by his emotion, the god in front of him could be easily dealt with but the problem was what the other elusive presence hiding somewhere near.

In the meantime, Thalia was taking a walk around the clearing, the place seemed painfully familiar, a small island in the middle of a lake and deeply covered by Mist, two naiads; one taller than the other ...then it occurred to her, it was the Vancouver Lake, north of Portland.

It had been three years since she had been there, her initiation among the Hunters of Artemis and as their Lieutenant. It had been only for a couple of days, Artemis was in a hurry back then like something was worrying her, now she knew why, too close to the Nordics and Amazons, but Nordics especially. The memories brought a warm feeling inside her chest, her first day in a new family, one that wouldn't betray her…

Unfortunately this feeling was soon replaced by a sudden clutch in her stomach like she was put inside a roller coaster. A reflection caught her attention; jumping sideways she heard a knife that had popped from between the trees cutting the air like a bullet. From between the trees emerged a teenager holding another one in the tip of his fingers, she actives aegis just in time to block the blade aimed at her head, the pitch was so strong that it left a dent on the metal. "Sieg! It's an ambush!"

She was barely covering herself with the shield but managed to take a glimpse on her companion, soon regretting doing so, Sieg was on his knees trembling and hugging himself, muttering words in a long forgotten language. Thalia jumped to his side, tackling him as trying to break his trance but her plan didn't work as she felt her own consciousness being dragged.

The scenery where she stood changed dramatically; she was in a plain, bodies covered the ground, their blood drenching the soil and the smell of death coming from all directions; Sieg was standing in the middle of all this madness.

She recognize two of the bodies near him, Will and Lars but as for others she had never seem, a couple heads were still connect in a last kiss laid over their own feet, a mass of blood, flesh and broken bones was all that remained of other two bodies like they were smashed together; at his feet were the body of an old man with a strong build like a Santa Claus who passed to much time in the gym and had an eye patch over his left eye and right next to him was her own body, lifeless and bloody with a hole where her heart should have been.

She couldn't understand what was happening or why she was there but one thing was clear: Sieg was in pain, more...he was scared. All those sensation were intoxicating her, poisoning her mind, she was thrown back into reality when her body hit something hard, maybe it was her luck for landing on his chest plate or maybe she was unlucky as the metal wasn't a bit soft.

Thalia didn't have time to recover from the shock as her vision was twisted once more; invisible hands were strangling her while raising her high in the air. She had already felt this bone chilling sensation, that fateful night were she had made her last stand at Half-Blood Hill in order to give Annabeth, Luke and Grover the crucial moments they needed to reach safety.

Once again feeling the pain inflicted by the furies and the army of hell-hounds she saw her own body being painted with blood, life fleeing her eyes and her body going numb. She felt the sadness of her father as she was transformed into a tree and the loneliness that her soul had to deal with for the following years.

Sieg was still trying to make sense of all that happened; his mind had been easily subdued, he felt fear for the first time in centuries as insanity took over his mind. He also did remembered a warm felling approaching him, trying to help him, such foreign sensation yet he welcomed it the same way when Odin chose him as his right hand…as a blessing.

His sight was still blurred like the entire world was mixed together and his hearing wasn't any better, however his mind was already crystal clear. He remembered Thalia's voice, her presence in the illusion and the warmth of her body colliding with his while protecting him from that madness.

Now there she was suffering the same hallucination and the make the matters worse, Zephyrus was taking advantage of her situation and started exploring her curves, mouth-watering with expectation of taking the maidenhood of a was the last straw, all the disgust towards both gods couldn't be kept anymore, furthermore he had a life debt with Thalia although he knew that might be the only reason to help her.

One single and swift movement of his arm along with the impulse granted him the moment necessary to stop Zephyrus. Unsheathed, the cold steel of his sword flew across the neck of the god leaving a thin trail of Ichor in the air that soon position, Sieg charged at the other god burying the sword deep in the chest. "Know your place Phobos, the fears of others isn't something you should be toying with" he said twisting the blade free and finishing with a downward cut, but this time no Ichor came out…

Thalia didn't understand what was happening. In one moment she was trapped in a hallucination and in another Zephyrus' head was flying, disappearing in a storm of petals, than she noticed Sieg standing in front of the boy who had attacked her earlier but now he didn't seem as intimidating as when he walked from behind the trees. There was a deep and burnt cut from head to waist; also Sieg had his sword in hand, a four feet long blade, thinner than the Greeks sword and had a deep shade of grey, the guard was a simple and old cross shaped just as most medieval swords and the feet long hilt was wrapped in black leather strips.

The second god turned into a dark fog and vanished and the only sound left was Sieg's breathing. Thalia had never heard of such thing, how could he overpower two gods in an instant? Even to a nearly immortal being that wasn't supposed to be possible and until now only Percy, Nico, Jason and her could face stronger foes such as others gods, titans and giants without getting killed.

"W-what happened?" She couldn't stop her body from shaking; the memories of the illusion were still burning in her mind. Sieg gave a couple of swing before reversing the grip and sheathing the sword, turning slowly he knelt near her and pick her up in his arms "First you need some rest and I need some food".

Thalia knew better than trying to argue with him…he was right, so she didn't complained while he carried her back to the shore where Villi was still sleeping.

…

After a few minutes resting over a mountain of white fur and some sips of nectar, color had already returned to her cheeks and her body had stopped shaking; Sieg also seemed better now, his expression had softened.

He was right next to her, their shoulders a couple of inches apart when he started talking "I'm sorry". Thalia didn't know what to say or even how to react so he took her brief silence and continued "I didn't notice Phobos back then; he was the one who cast those hallucinations and…" He never got the chance to finish as she started laughing making him stare at her with a look as trying to figure out what he said that was so funny.

It took a few seconds for Thalia to calm down and be able to speak again. "Gods! Now I know how Annabeth feels when Percy or I go into leader mode…always trying to shoulder all the problems in the world" she than gave a quick kiss on his cheek "We saved each other in this and it was those two' fault of what happened, not yours. Speaking of which, what happened with them?"

He couldn't help but blush from her actions, but that did little good to organize his mind "Uhm…even gods have problems if they receive a serious injury from my blade, but either way they will reform sooner or later". He stretched a little and climbed onto the wolf's back "So are you coming? We still have a long way before we have some proper rest"

"No big deal…just like every quest" she replied hooping behind him, already covered with his cape and resting her head on his back. Sieg patted Villi on the head and the wolf soon started moving away from the island and the lake.

Thalia gave a last look to Vancouver Lake before it disappear from her sight and saw two slim figures standing over the water. The two nymphs were waving their hands, that moment Thalia knew the good memories of that place would always be with her…