A/N: This is the longest chapter yet, but it is full of action. As expected, Percy and Thalia are going to get into a fight, but it isn't going to be too serious. Sorry about that. There will be much more violence in later fights, I promise. Not that previous statement foreshadowed any fights. -shifty eyes-
The chapter switches points of view often. Hopefully, it doesn't become too confusing.
Feedback is encouraged. :D
The four teens sat around the stone table, each attempting to make themselves comfortable on the rough benches. Thalia, feeling the most awkward of all, clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Repeatedly. When the blonde glared at the older girl abruptly, she ceased the annoying habit and instead chose to look at the boy across from her. Percy was sending her a look of frustration, obviously wanting to hear an explanation from her. But she couldn't tell him; not with Aunty Em frying up some food in the kitchen.
"So," Thalia began, hesitantly, the words feeling like acid on her tongue. This shouldn't have been hard for her. She always managed to start a conversation. Since she had uttered her first word as an infant, she had never been completely speechless. She didn't like the sudden attention the one word had caused her to receive. The achingly familiar blond girl eyed her critically, as if she didn't know what to make of the girl.
Thalia cleared her throat pointedly, looking to try again. "How do you know Percy?" she asked, directing the question to the younger girl beside her.
The girl continued to stare at her blankly and the daughter of Zeus began to feel like a rabid animal in a cage. She was sure that any minute now, the girl would start to prod her with sticks for amusement.
Percy grinned, obviously finding the girl's silence humorous. "Ah, don't worry. Annabeth here is just a little high maintenance." The friendly expression faded from his face and he turned his emotionless gaze to the brunette.
Thalia shifted uncomfortably, resisting the urge to glare back at him. A fight was going to occur between the two of them; she could feel it.
"I am not, you little—" the girl began to object, her face blazing red.
"Annabeth?" Thalia interrupted, no longer caring if the blonde wished to ignore her. The girl's head snapped to her at the mention of her name. "Your name is Annabeth?"
Annabeth glanced up at her slowly, nodding her head in an almost numb fashion. "That's correct," she said, stiffly. "What's yours?"
Before she could answer, Aunty Em sashayed back into the dining area, somehow balancing four plates on her arms. She smiled warmly at them, but her grin seemed to falter when she caught sight of Annabeth. The woman quickly recovered, looking to Thalia instead.
"I thought it sounded like I had a few more visitors," she remarked coyly. "I have made enough food for all of you." She gingerly set down the plates and left the room, Thalia assumed to fetch the drinks. She returned seconds later, all four drinks in hand.
Thalia didn't recall ever eating a burger as fast as she did right then. Part of her, a very selfish part of her, fought off the urge to ask for seven more of the delicious cheeseburgers. She looked around her and realized the others had eaten their food just as fast.
"Thanks, Em," the daughter of Zeus said, looking across the table at the old woman. "The food was great. You should run your own restaurant."
"You are a very social person," Annabeth pointed out around a crisp fry. "Do you always talk this much?"
Thalia narrowed her eyes, but fought back the sarcastic remark that was sure to escape her lips. If this girl was who she suspected she was—the seven year old girl she had helped reach camp—the last thing she wanted to do was come off as rude to the girl.
"I do not mind social people," Aunty Em suddenly said, and Thalia could've sworn she was glaring at the blonde beneath that dark shroud. "It is not often I get visitors, you see."
"Oh?" Percy questioned, his mouth still in an angry, thin line. "Why's that?"
The woman gave a light shrug. "Not many people head down this road. That is why I often ask visitors to let me take a photo of them. So I can remember that, once in a blue moon, I am not always alone."
"You're lonely here?" the blonde asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
Aunty Em regarded her for a long moment. "Dreadfully so. I was not always lonely, in my younger days. I had friends, a family…a love."
"What happened?" Grover asked, tearing into his plate.
"It was all taken away from me," the older woman declared bitterly. "All because of a stupid, vengeful wench."
"Wench?" Thalia asked with a laugh. "Get with the times, Em. No one says wench anymore."
"I fear that is the nicest word I am able to utter at the moment," she stated coldly. "Everyone betrays us in the end. You may think you are able to trust a person—love them, even—and the second your life takes a turn for the worse, they up and leave you."
"Nasty break up?" Annabeth raised her blond brows.
Aunty Em refused to look at the girl. She definitely had something against her. "You know, young Annabeth," she said, still not bothering to look away from Thalia. "You have the prettiest gray eyes."
Thalia couldn't shake away her smug smile when the blonde's cheeks flushed a bright red. "Th-thank you," she said, unsurely.
The woman mumbled, clearly about to change the subject. "Have you ever been in love?" she asked the daughter of Zeus.
Wasn't that a simple question?
"No," she replied without hesitation. "Why are you asking me, ma'am?"
"Curious, actually," she said, tilting her head to the side in contemplation. She glanced to Percy, and Thalia could see the trace of a smile. "What about you, Perseus?"
"Uh, I don't think so," he responded honestly. "I'm kind of focusing on getting through school." It's summer, idiot.
"A scholar, are you?" she asked, and Thalia refrained from laughing. Annabeth, however, could not help herself. The blonde began to laugh aloud, rocking herself in her chair.
"No," he said, blushing. "Stop, Annabeth! It's not that funny."
Thalia stood up, her hands shaking anxiously. Her body was on high alert, and she and she had no clue why. Time for a smoke break, she thought wryly, taking a quick sip from her drink. "Where are you going?" Aunty Em asked, looking up at the tall girl.
"I'm just getting some fresh air," she said, refusing to meet Percy's eyes. She visibly cringed when the boy stood and walked over to her. "What are you doing?" she asked begrudgingly.
"Buddy system," he said with a smirk. "Thought I'd accompany you on your devastating journey."
"I don't know about that," she responded suspiciously.
"Oh, and why not?" he asked, scowling. "Plannin' on ditching me again?"
That stung.
Thalia opened and closed her mouth several times, unable to think of anything to reply. Percy grinned smugly in satisfaction. "C'mon," he said, grabbing her hand in his and heading for the exit. "Let's go get some air, yeah?"
"I'm sorry," Thalia weakly apologized when they were standing outside, the cold air chilling their skin. He still hadn't let go of her hand.
Being from Michigan, she wasn't affected by the temperature. Some times, the city of Detroit was colder than the North Pole. She didn't know why her mother even insisted upon moving there after her acting career fell through. They could've lounged back in Malibu—but no, they had to freeze their asses off in The Wolverine State.
She looked to the boy across from her and found him shivering. "Percy," she said. "Are you okay? Say something."
"I'm just a little cold," he said with a chuckle. His cheeks had a rosy tint to them that made him look even cuter than he usually did. She blushed at her thoughts and looked away. Thalia heard him sigh. "I didn't mean the way I acted in there."
She shrugged. "You have every right to be angry with me. I should have came to you first thing, I know."
He shook his head, giving a small smile. "No," he dismissed her excuses. "It's probably safe that you didn't. You have people wanting to kill you and everything." He laughed, but it sounded strangled. "I guess I have people wanting to kill me, too."
"Son of Poseidon and all," she agreed with a nod.
"You knew?" he asked, looking up. He appeared startled.
"More of a suspicion, really," she lied, not wishing to anger him. She wasn't sure how much she could push him before he snapped. She had already lied to him enough, but she didn't want to tell him the complete truth and risk their still-developing friendship. "I mean, I wasn't sure, but I—uh, thought there was a chance you might be."
"Your Dad sent you after me, thinking I had the lightning bolt?" he questioned, raising his brows. She swallowed thickly. How had he known? People should really give him more credit. Even if he wasn't academically superior to others, he wasn't as oblivious as everyone believed him to be. He grinned at her shocked expression.
"It wasn't like that, I swear," she hurried to explain. "I never thought you had it, Percy. I told my father you didn't have it, he just wouldn't believe me. I'm not against you."
Percy picked at the drawstring of his thin gray hoodie and cleared his throat. The smile on his face hadn't faded, and it made Thalia nervous. His fingers tightened in her hold and she flushed red before tearing her hand away. "Sorry," he mumbled, suddenly dejected.
"I'm the one who should be sorry."
"Maybe you are," he said, smile back in place. "But it's fine. I trust you."
"Why?" she asked, incredulous. What reason could he possibly have to trust her after she went behind his back and spied on him?
"Because you're my friend," he answered simply. "'Sides, if you meant me any harm, you would've kicked my ass back when we were still in Yancy."
"Or at Montauk," she said, running a hand through her wild dark hair. She had to get a haircut soon; her hair was growing out and she had a major cowlick.
His eyes watched her movements in interest. "My Mom," he stated blankly. "Please tell me you've seen her. Were you in the Underworld, too?"
"She's fine," she assured, setting her hand on her shoulder. "I couldn't escape with her, but she's doing okay. She's strong, for a mortal. Sally will make it through, I know it."
"I'm rescuing her. I was going to save you, too. Guess you don't really need saving now, though," he smiled.
But you do. "I guess not," she said.
"Listen…we didn't really get a chance to talk before," he started, meeting her eyes.
"What do you mean?" Thalia raised an eyebrow.
"Well, about the whole powers thing," he said. "You never did show me much of what you can do."
"Have you learned any of your powers yet?" She smiled. She dug the carton of cigarettes from the inside of her new leather jacket and pulled two from it. Percy cautiously took the offered cancer stick and stuck it between his lips. Thalia mimicked his actions and fumbled with her lighter before both of the tips were lit.
Thalia took a long inhale; both loving and hating the way the addictive substance filled her lungs. Even though she knew it was a dangerous and immature habit, she had first picked up a cigarette when she was nine years old and hadn't been able to put it down since. Percy tried to do as she did, but ended up erupting into a coughing fit.
He tossed the cigarette to the ground angrily and stomped it out with his sneaker. "How the hell do you smoke that disgusting stuff?"
The daughter of Zeus laughed at his expense. "You get used to it." She pulled the cancer stick from her mouth. "Anyway, about the powers?"
"Oh, yeah," he said excitedly. "I can control water and stuff."
"Figured that much, Kelp Head," she scoffed. She finished most of her cigarette and flung it to the concrete before flattening it out with her boot.
His mouth went wide in surprise but he couldn't help but laugh. Percy lightly punched her in the shoulder. "Watch it, Lightning Dolt."
"Hey, now that ain't cool," she frowned, punching him back. "Sharkboy."
He grinned. "Lighten up, Static Shock."
"That was lame," she commented dryly. "Even for you, Aquaman."
"Storm." He pinched her nose.
She glared at the gesture, reaching out to pull his ear. "Dolphin Breath."
Percy frowned, rubbing his sore ear. "Air Head."
She smirked, an idea striking her. Thalia knew he would probably get pissed off at her, but she couldn't resist. "Shrimp Dick."
Percy's eyes darkened. "Oh, it's on now."
"I wonder what's taking them so long," Annabeth said suddenly, biting into her second burger. "Are they throwing a party out there or something?"
"I can see why they didn't invite you," Grover jibed, smiling so she would know he was only kidding. "No one wants to invite the girl of a million questions."
"Shut up, Grover," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. Aunty Em had left to her back room when the teens had ventured outside and still had yet to return. Annabeth got a bad vibe from the strange, shrouded woman. The woman seemed to be glaring at her every time she dared to speak.
"Just sayin'," he grinned, picking at her plate. "It wouldn't surprise me if they were making out. They're so into each other."
"And yet so oblivious?" Annabeth guessed.
"Exactly," Grover affirmed with a nod.
"Who is she, anyway? She never did introduce herself, but she seems to know you two." The blonde wiped at her mouth with a napkin.
"Get this," Grover started, leaning in dramatically. "That's Charona."
Annabeth gasped. "No way."
"Yeah way," Grover said like a Valley Girl, flipping a lock of his hair from his eyes. The daughter of Athena laughed, shaking her head at her satyr friend's actions. Even though they hadn't been close—ever, especially since Thalia died because of him—she was slowly warming up to him.
The satyr had his moments.
"You think we should go check on them?" she asked, furrowing her blond brows.
"Nah," he answered. "I'm sure there's nothing to worry about."
"You wanna say that again, Ozone?" Percy snarled, stepping dangerously close to the raven-haired girl.
"What're you gonna do, Priscilla? Kick my ass?" Thalia taunted, leaning closer to him.
"Something like that," he said, cracking his knuckles.
"Bring it, mama's boy!"
Percy tackled her to the ground, trying to get the upper hand. Thalia was too fast for him, though—she easily spun out from underneath his punches and sprung to her feet. Before he could so much as turn around, she had him in a painful headlock. Even though she was faster, he was physically stronger than she was. He grabbed onto her arm and used all of his strength to flip her over his back.
The demigoddess hit the ground, immediately rolling into a crouching position. She swung out with her leg, roughly kicking the boy's knee. Percy almost lost his balance, and smartly backed further away. Thalia stood and threw a punch towards his face.
Percy only barely avoided being hit, having just enough time to move his head to the side. Her attacks didn't stop, though. She was everywhere at once, it seemed. Was something in those burgers? Shrooms, definitely, he thought, ducking to avoid a high kick aimed for his skull. Or, in Thalia's case, steroids.
He'd have to fight back soon, but he was unable to find any opening. If he struck out with any part of him, another part of him was doomed to be injured. Toughening up, he clenched his fist and drove it into her abdomen. Unfortunately, that left his jaw unprotected. He clutched his face, stepping backwards.
Thalia smirked smugly, and Percy wanted nothing more than to knock it off of her face. "Gettin' tired already, Shrimp D—"
"Don't you dare," he growled in warning. Before she could think of another witty remark, he dove towards her again.
"So, how did she get out of Hell?" Annabeth asked.
Grover shrugged. "I have no idea. And don't say hell. You're way too young for that."
"Am not," she argued. "'Besides, it's a place."
"Are too," he mocked, smirking. "All those years with Luke and Thalia sure corrupted your vocabulary."
"Don't talk about them," she warned glumly, scowling. Thalia was still a sensitive subject for her, and she felt like Luke didn't want anything to do with her since the daughter of Zeus passed on. She didn't blame Thalia—not at all—instead, she found it in her seven-year-old self to blame the satyr. She was trying to stop doing that, though. Even though it had been his responsibility to protect her friend, she wouldn't be alive if it weren't for his efforts.
"Sorry, Annie," he apologized, sighing.
"Don't call me that," she lectured, playfully this time.
He smiled. "Annie."
Thalia fell back onto the concrete, wincing as out-of-place glass shards pierced her jacket. She really hoped they didn't find themselves lodged into her skin. She braced her hands above her head and flipped to her feet. Percy and Thalia began to circle each other, waiting to strike.
Kicking his ass proved to be harder than she thought it would be. With any other demigod, it wasn't a big feat. With the son of Poseidon, however, she found her skill matched. She doubted either of them could best the other. That wasn't going to stop her from trying, though.
She didn't want to resort to her powers, but she found no other way to win the fight. Feeling the sparks coursing through her veins, she briefly glanced down to see the lightning spinning around her clenched fists like barbed wire on a prison yard fence. Percy didn't seem to notice. He struck out, aiming to uppercut her. She easily dodged, catching his fist in her hand.
If he didn't notice the sparks before, he certainly did now.
His sea green eyes widened and she took advantage of his confused state, punching him swiftly in the gut. Due to the force of the lightning, he was flung nearly twenty feet across the yard. Guilt instantly filled her. She glanced traumatically to her worn hands, taking notice of her bloody and bruised knuckles.
Percy had a hard face.
"I'm going to check on them," Annabeth announced, standing up.
Grover shrugged carelessly. "Be my guest. But don't come screaming to me when you catch them swappin' spit."
"You're disgusting," she commented, wrinkling her nose.
"Don't hate the playa," he smirked.
"That doesn't even pertain to this conversation, Grover," she said, looking confused. "Are you sure you aren't a demigod? You are so random."
"You know, now that you mention it," he paused to run a hand dramatically through his hair. "I may be a son of Aphrodite."
She snickered. "Yeah right."
"Get outta here," he called out in a strange accent. Annabeth cast him a frightened look before making her way outside.
Grover was acting awfully strange. He was such a weirdo. The daughter of Athena cautiously turned the doorknob and flung the door open. Seeing no one outside, she stepped out into the cold and scanned the grounds.
"Percy," Thalia wearily called out across the yard, making her way towards his unmoving figure. "Oh my God," she gasped when she caught sight of him. His face was covered in bruises, and although she knew she probably looked just as beat up, she felt herself sink into regret.
She knew she shouldn't have got carried away. She was always so impetuous. Now she was dealing with the consequences. Thalia reached out to him, her hand brushing his cheek. As soon as their skin touched, the boy's eyes flew open and he threw a punch that had Thalia falling back onto her ass.
"Fucker," she yelled, springing to her feet. He caught a hold of her arm and twisted it behind her back. He tightened his hold and she bit her lip to keep from wincing. She had been through worse pain—no doubt—but pain was pain.
"Cheater," Percy snapped.
Thalia head butted him and spun out of his hold. "You talk a lot of trash for someone who can't back it up."
She lifted her foot up for a Spartan kick, but Percy anticipated the move and grabbed her calf. Twisting her leg, he watched in satisfaction as she flipped onto the ground. Before she could get up, he quickly spun her onto her back and straddled her, pinning her hands above her head.
"Get the fuck off of me," she growled, strongly bucking her hips upward. He lost his balance and fell onto his side, giving Thalia the opening she was looking for her. When she went to mount him, however, he gripped one of her arms tightly.
"Sure you wanna do that?" he asked threateningly.
Thalia loved a good challenge.
Annabeth gasped, the quiet sigh spilling from her chapped lips inaudibly. The brunettes were grappling on the floor, limbs and punches thrown everywhere. They had somehow found themselves tangled, their legs intertwined. To make matters worse, it looked awful suggestive.
The girl noticed her presence first. Her dark head shot up, her bright blue eyes catching sight of the younger girl. She seemed to forget she was fighting the son of Poseidon and began to untangle herself.
"Annabeth!" Percy cried, startled. He unhooked the zipper of his jacket from Thalia's pants zipper and jumped to his feet.
"Came to check on you two," she said, smirking. "Didn't realize you'd be, uh…busy." She raised her eyebrows suggestively. The teens didn't seem to catch on to the innuendo.
"She started it!"
"He started it!"
They turned on each other, faces red. "You're the idiot who flipped out on me when I called you Shrimp Dick!" the girl claimed, missing the way Annabeth blushed scarlet and her mouth dropped open in shock.
"You're the one who started the name calling!" Percy accused, crossing his arms over his chest.
"You hit me first!"
"And I missed!"
"S'not my fault you can't hit worth a shit," Thalia barked, her nostrils flaring unattractively.
"You have stupid hair!" Percy screamed, not able to come up with an intelligent comeback.
"You're one to talk, cowlick," she replied, voice heavy with unkempt rage.
"Stop!" Annabeth shouted above the arguing. "You're acting like three-year-olds!"
The raven-haired teens flushed, looking to their shoes. Something about lectures from the angered daughter of Athena made them want to run home crying. She was terrifying. "Now, we are going back inside and if you two so much as glare at each other, I am going to personally kick both of your asses."
When they didn't respond, her gray eyes narrowed. "Am I understood?"
"Yes," came the mumbled, collected response.
"Good," she sighed, internally proud of the way she handled the situation. "Back inside, the both of you."
"This is all your fault," Thalia whispered bitterly. Percy glanced at her, his green hues clearly portraying his anger. The daughter of Zeus expected him to hit her. To her surprise, his mouth stretched out into a smile.
"If you think about it," he suggested, in a whisper. "Like, really think about it, it's kind of funny."
"You think it's funny that I kicked your ass?" the girl question wryly, arching a dark eyebrow.
Percy gave a fake laugh. "Sure, girly. Whatever gets you to sleep at night." He tilted his head to the side. "It is funny, though. Think about it. I didn't get mad at the fact that you were practically stalking me—"
"Was not," Thalia mumbled, interrupting.
"—but when you called me a harmless nickname, we got into a full-fledged battle," he finished. Thalia hated the way he was grinning at her. He was brushing off their earlier fight as if it were nothing more than a mere squabble. Well, the bruise on her brow said otherwise.
They sat next to each other at the stone table again, flinching under the critical gaze of the infuriated blonde. Aunty Em had returned to the table and was now eyeing Percy as if he were a piece of meat.
"Oh, are you children all right?" she nearly purred, walking around to the boy and placing a chilly set of hands on his shoulders. "Get into a rather nasty dispute, did you?"
Percy blushed, slowly inching out of the woman's hold. "Something like that," he vaguely answered. His eyes flickered to Thalia and he was delighted to see she gave him a small smile.
"I handled it," Annabeth assured the foreign woman, not bothering to glance up at her.
"I would hate to trouble such darling orphans," the woman began. "But, you see, it is my own personal tradition to take pictures of visitors, and—"
"Say no more," Thalia silenced, flashing a small smirk. "We'll take a picture, ma'am."
The children could make out the maniac grin beneath the shroud and it made them slightly uneasy. "Oh, wonderful," the woman clapped her hands in excitement. "We shall go outside and take it, yes?"
Thalia shifted on the stone bench, preparing herself to pose for the woman's picture. Percy sat to her left; Annabeth to her right. Grover was perched on the floor in front of them, leaning back against her knees. The daughter of Zeus was about to smile when she heard a faint hissing noise. Looking around cautiously, she furrowed her eyebrows. Were there snakes around?
Snakes are everywhere, genius. Not in Ireland, she argued with herself, before she realized talking to her mind was a sign of insanity.
"Where is your camera?" Grover asked, searching for the hidden object.
"I do not have one, dear satyr," Aunty Em rasped in an unnatural voice. Her hand began to slowly unwrap her shroud and the daughter of Athena gasped.
Thalia felt her heart skip a beat. Could it be…?
"Run!" Annabeth's warning sliced through her thoughts just before the shroud revealed the woman's face and she dived off the bench, heeding the girl's instincts. She trusted the girl with her life, even if she hadn't seen her in forever. Percy, being slower to react, chased after the daughter of Zeus.
She rushed through the unending maze of statues, searching for a way out. She didn't know what the hell Aunty Em was, but she knew it was nothing good. Percy was hot on her heels, panting. She knew the boy was a horrid runner, but damn. He was getting tired this fast?
Thalia reached behind her and grabbed onto his hand, helping him to run along. A shock ran up her spine but she brushed it off. Her nerves were going crazy. A statue crumbled to the ground off to their left and Annabeth's voice called out over the noise.
"Don't look at her! Shield your eyes!"
Thalia scanned the area for the blonde, but she was nowhere in sight. Using her free arm to guard her face as she walked along, she caught herself before she could trip on a clump of rock. Percy wasn't as lucky. He crashed to the ground, his face impacting with the rough surface.
"Son of Poseidon," a scratchy voice reached Thalia's ears. "All alone, are you? I warned you, darling, your friends will only leave you in the end."
Thalia drew the ballpoint pen from her jacket pocket and cursed herself for not thinking to take it out earlier. She quickly activated it, not able to watch it was it transformed into a long, imperial gold sword.
"Daughter of Zeus," the monster croaked, obviously surprised. "Impossible!"
"But likely," Thalia jibed, swinging out blindly with the sword. As she expected, the blade didn't connect with Aunty Em flesh.
"Your older brother may have been able to defeat me, demigod, but I am not so foolish now," the demon stated, and Thalia felt her getting closer. She jabbed in front of her with the sword and swore aloud when she missed.
"Medusa," she heard Percy whisper off to her left.
Thalia wanted to smack herself. Of course it was Medusa. How could she have been so oblivious? She searched her mind for how Perseus had slain the Gorgon. Fire, dismembering, the hokey-pokey, decapitation, line-dancing—
Decapitation.
Great. Now she just needed to find out where the hell the bitch's head was. She didn't think she could just outright as her to place her head beneath the blade. As inhuman as monsters were, they weren't always stupid.
Medusa gave a cruel laugh, and the sound of slithering snakes filled Thalia's ears. Something began to prod and nibble at her face and she visibly paled. A serpent attempted to wiggle up her nostril and she blew her nose grotesquely, not wanting to spend the rest of the night picking snakes from her brain.
"You heroes are all the same," the monster mocked, circling the girl menacingly. "Loyal to your friends. Tools to the spineless Olympians." Reptiles don't have spines either, lady, Thalia thought insultingly. "You all live and die tragically. Luckily for you, I am giving you an option."
Thalia resisted the urge to talk; she didn't want a snake crawling into her mouth, too. "Surrender the lightning bolt and join forces with—"
"Don't listen to her!" Percy's voice called. Medusa hissed, along with the snakes sprouting from her cranium and Thalia felt the monster briskly move away from her. No doubt heading towards the injured son of Poseidon.
She couldn't afford to let something happen to him. Letting her demigod instincts take over, she felt an invisible rope pulling her towards the monster. Even though she couldn't see the Gorgon, she could sense her—and that was about a thousand times better. Being a demigod may have its downfalls, but she'd be damned if it didn't have some kick-ass benefits as well.
The air around her sped up, tousling her hair wildly. As she wasn't used to manipulating the wind, it didn't feel like a part of her whereas lightning did. She heard Medusa speaking to Percy, and she managed to decipher some of the hissed words.
"You are a puny mortal! You could not even imagine my pain!"
"Guess I'll have to settle for causing it," Thalia quipped, slicing at Medusa. A gross noise announced the removal of the Gorgon's head and the monstrous figure erupted into dust.
"Wow," Percy let out a breath of air. "You've got some killer senses."