I'm thinking about making Thalia a major character, but I really don't know how to write her. I just go with the moody-rebellious-teenager attitude whenever I write her chapters. She is important, world building and stuff, I think. Also, I'm having troubles with the eventual pairings of the story; Thalia, Annabeth, Rachel (?), or would it be—
SCUMBAGS
Tending to the garden seems infinitely more difficult then Thalia remembered. In the not too distant sky, lightning rumbled and clapped together, sowing through the clouds like spider webs. The ground rumbled and yawned, knocking over flowerpots and splitting those unfortunate trees. Some, irreplaceable.
"I'm sure His Majesty will be able to replace those beds, don't worry too much Thal." Katie spoke from beside Thalia, holding a watering pot in both hands. "He knows how much you enjoy these flowers."
"That's precisely why he wouldn't replace them." Thalia's brows pinched together. "He'll probably tell the flowers to grow up and join the army."
Katie stifled an awkward laugh. "You can really be surprised by the wrath of a King, especially so close to home."
"'Wrath', more like a tantrum." Katie sweated, carelessly stumbling into dangerous territory. "Who the hell do they think they are, causing such a ruckus right in our backyard, like a bunch of arrogant scumbags. Why don't they just zap back home to Shithole-lon, or better yet, head straight to hell and take a dip in Cerberus'-"
"Ahem." Thalia and Katie's head darted over their shoulder, an iron clad officer saluted, clearly uncomfortable. "My lady, a message from His Majesty."
Thalia rose, patting the dust off of her knees then sighed.
"Go on." She commanded dreading the worst.
"His Majesty request an assembly of the Golden and Silver Knights' captains and generals within the Defense Hall." The Iron Knight announced with a loud, broad voice that seemed to shatter even more of the garden's stones.
A moment passed, Katie bit back a whine, as she was well aware of Thalia's hatred towards "filler" duties that toggled along with her position.
"Pass." Thalia turned back, kneeling before the flowers again.
"Thal!" Katie yelled disapprovingly, she grabbed Thalia's sleeves in an attempt to pull her back up.
"I know, I know." Thalia sighed. "You guys can't take a joke."
Katie smiled doubtfully. Right, a joke.
The spacious, circular auditorium was brimming with the low chatter of high-ranking officers. The snobbish murmurs leaked arrogance and political flaunting. Thalia despised these uptight, brown nosed attention hogs, many of who hated her back, mostly for some form of public lashing or another.
"I heard General Thomas is still raging about your little display of bickering." Clarisse plop down in one of the many open seats beside Thalia, it was clear the others tried to avoid the two younger officers as greatly as possible.
"It was hardly bickering," Thalia replied with a small smirk. She fiddled with a small sliver of severed notebook paper into a small ball before aiming it squarely on the back of an old man two seats in front of her. She flicked the makeshift ammunition, hitting the old man, causing him to whirl around, shaking his fist with barks of anger. "I was merely testing his bodyguards."
"Hello, General Thomas." Clarisse smiled halfheartedly to the steaming old man.
A messenger fashioned man stepped onto the stage, bowing deeply to the crowd of officials. The mumbles settled.
"Entering, His Majesty, Zeus!" All the members of the assembly stood in honor for His Highness.
Zeus entered the hall from the second floor balcony, where a larger podium stood and like a musician with the score before him, Zeus spoke of the victories and defeats of Valhalla as if they were new news.
The ranting became so patriotic that even some of the proud captains grimaced at the embellishment of the speech.
Thalia would have fallen asleep if not for the complete embarrassment she was victim to, apparently she sounded very much like her father, which she once thought was a complement.
"Now the matter at hand will be the most grievous challenge ever bestowed upon this council!" Zeus bellowed, drawing in a slow breath for effects, which had little impact on the audience, considering the numerous times Zeus has used that very line. "Son of Lord Poseidon, Perseus ve Artorius has vanished during the passing night."
The murmurs picked up once more. Thalia could hear it, the misbalanced thoughts on the subject, was this bad or good, an advantage or a hindrance. These pathetic, no good scums make me sick.
"Geez, the day I get back and this is what I get treated to." Clarisse exclaimed.
"As we speak, Poseidon is arranging investigations for the Crusadist, and I expect full cooperation from all members of the Knights." As Zeus spoke, the audience grew restless, not quite outraged, but getting there.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider..." One general spoke up from the front row. His words were lost under the immense gaze of Zeus.
"Is that it?" The voice rang out in the auditorium like a bell that alerted all who were seated. Heads turned and all eyes fell on the young Princess of Valhalla. "This is our 'most grievous' challenge?"
Clarisse shook her head in disappointment.
"Thalia, was this tragedy not of importance to you?" Zeus stated more than asked. "If so, then what do you propose should be more of an essential matter?"
"How about the unidentified intruder that slaughtered all the staffs of the Knight's security office?" Thalia shot back without missing a beat.
"What matters right now is to secure our alliance with Avalon, rather than suppressing terrorism." Zeus spoke with both calmness and dominance. "We must be sure to prevent potential war from both inside and out."
"So you intend on us working with these potential threats?" Thalia didn't feel the thrill of argument, for some reason she felt dread instead.
"If this matter is such a deep concern of yours," Zeus spoke, his eyes never leaving Thalia. "Perhaps you will be willing to handle this investigation of the Knight's office slaughter?" Thalia knew she couldn't deny. Zeus had somehow forced this case on her, she was sure of it!
"Consider it done." Thalia broke eyes with Zeus, turning away and crossing her arms.
The room fell silent once more, no one dared to follow Thalia's example, and so they grudgingly accepted the task. The meeting was adjourn after a few more assignments, the official intelligence official were called in for another meeting afterwards, like usual. Thalia sat still, her arms crossed behind her head, unmoving throughout the last portion of the conference.
"Thal, it's time to leave." Clarisse nudged Thalia. Thalia's uncaring mask morphed into one of deep thought. "Maybe you should've kept your mouth shut. Solving puzzles were never your strong suit, I wish I could help."
"Why do you suppose that Prince's baby sitter is gone as well?" Thalia leaned forward, knitting her fingers together, elbows posed on the table.
"What?"
"I visited the Hermes reservation were Poseidon stayed this morning." Thalia explained. "Knights were searching the rooms were the Prince had stayed, every attendant and worker were present, even the old King was pacing around, questioning more than he was answering the investigators. But I didn't see the blonde haired bodyguard of Percy."
"You can't expect to remember every resident of the reservation." Clarisse dismissed the thought.
"No, no. The whole inn was reserved for the King of Athens." Thalia touched her chin in thought. "Those three and a few attendants were the only residents. Anyway, he had one of those faces."
"'One of those?'" Clarisse raised an eyebrow.
"One of those noticeable faces." Thalia answered.
"Oooooh?" Clarisse smirked. "I got in late last night, so I missed him." She pouted teasingly.
"This isn't the time to joke around." Thalia waved her off. "I'm thinking." She pondered a moment, trying to piece the puzzle together. "I think I'll take you up on that offer."
Clarisse grimaced, regretting her own fat mouth.
"No, I'm sorry, I don't believe I have any records of a Luke Castellan registered on here." The desk lady said as she ran her finger through the large book spread before her.
"What about around 5 A.M. to 7 A.M.?" Thalia edged closer.
"No, he's not on any recording in the last 2 days." The operator said apologetically.
"Thank you very much." Thalia said after a moment of thought. The two walked out of the train station, in the mid afternoon sun.
"Satisfied?" Clarisse asked, sweat beads crawling down her forehead. "Or do you want to check the bicycle store as well."
Thalia tilted her head in thought.
"I was joking!" Clarisse sighed.
"So, Castellan didn't leave the city in any formal transportation. There wasn't any unexplainable occurrences that would suggest any other form of escaping, and no one have even seen this guy today." Thalia repeated the same statement for the hundredth time that day. "Do you think he could have ran all the way out of the city?"
"Thalia!" Clarisse whined. "Don't do this!"
"Yeah, you're right," Thalia flattened her lips. "Not without being spotted."
Clarisse sighed loudly. "You know, the Barron Deserts was a dangerous place, full of Goths and rebels. I sure did look forward to taking a break back home and RELAXING before heading to war again!"
"Thanks Clarisse!" Thalia punched Clarisse's shoulder and gave her a thumbs-up. "Best friend!"
"Shut up, you owe me." Clarisse grunted. "Anyway, I thought you were on the whole intruder deal, not this missing prince thing."
Thalia smirked and her eyes grew dangerous.
"Who said I wasn't on the intruder case?" She said slyly.
"Don't tell me you're thinking what I'm thinking?" Clarisse grew serious.
"I'm not saying anything your thinking." Thalia faced ahead. "But I will tell you a secret."
Clarisse was hesitant to lean in, Thalia's secrets were usually... worthy of being secrets
"Did you know, the culprit for the Prince's attempted assassination also went missing?" Thalia whispered.
"Don't tell me?" Clarisse.
"Yup, nothing was stolen from the Knight's Office; no intel, no reports, or anything. Just one girl."
Thalia and Clarisse walked into a larger building, checking into the office and moved up the elevator. They stopped on the 200th floor. In the back of the hallway, Thalia slipped her key into the door, and opened up to a large office-like room. Wide windows that stretched from ceiling to floor overlooked the city below. Angular and curved desks that housed Thalia's favorite worn down chair and her old, self built computer.
Thalia dropped into the seat and Clarisse sat on a sofa on the other side of a window panel.
"So the assassination failed." Clarisse brought the conversation up where it ended. "And they needed to cut the loose end. How does that involve that Castellan guy?"
"Well who else is missing without a trace?" Thalia leaned back, a troubled look pasted on her face.
"Why does he want to kill the Prince? The one he serves?" Thalia answered Clarisse's question with a sharp look. "Well, why here of all places, wouldn't it have been easier back in Avalon."
"Who knows?" Thalia shrugged. "Maybe he wants to start some tension? A mysterious assassination attempt, and the culprit disappear in the heart of Olympia? Isn't that suspicious, almost like we're behind this whole stunt? That'd explain why Poseidon refuses to greet us."
"You're overthinking things." Clarisse tries to clear the tension in the air.
"True, it is mostly speculation. But until further evidence, I can very well pin the murders on Castellan." Thalia folded her arms again. "Just saying, I need some ideas on the matter."
"You can always blame it on a Goth spy." Clarisse not so jokingly joked.
"The Barron Deserts changed you." Thalia said lightheartedly. "It's made you racist."
A buzz rang from the door across from them.
"Milady," a feminine voice spoke from a speaker. "Guests have arrived seeking your audience."
"I thought all viewing requests go through Hermes messengers?" Clarisse thought out loud.
"Who will they be?" Thalia asked.
"Sir Charles Beckendorf and Lady Selena Beauregard of the Crusadist." The room seemed to visibly darken by the last word.
Thalia and Clarisse exchanged a weary look.
"Let them in." Thalia said at last.
It merely took a few minutes before the door rang and opened with a quick gesture by Thalia.
Two soldiers stepped into the room, clad in navy blue and white. Strange clothing covered and overlapped with a fabric that layered their chest and abdomen and the chain mail. Small plates covered their shoulders and arms, legs and feet. Their chest plate seemed to be missing.
They were helmet-less, very open compared to the completely metal covered Knights of Valhalla. What was strange was that the female, Selena had a short sword strap to her hip and what looked like a folded bow on the other side. While Beckendorf had a large... hammer? Strapped on his back. Cool choices if anything. Thalia thought.
The two Crusadists bowed as Thalia and Clarisse stood.
"Our gratitude for you audience." The man, Beckendorf said. He was a dark skinned man that was easily the tallest in the room, and even better built than Clarisse. "I am Charles Beckendorf, son of Hephaestus, Captain of the Bastion Knights of the Crusadist."
"I am Selena Beauregard, daughter of Aphrodite, and lieutenant of the Bastion Knights." Even before she introduced herself, Thalia and Clarisse knew from her beauty, those perfect eyes, with long lashes and angled face and clean, long hair. Selena annoyed the two.
"What is it that you need?" Thalia sat back down in her seat.
"We were informed the Young Master have been engaged to Your Highness." Beckendorf spoke as he rose.
"Congratulations are a bit late." Thalia said tastelessly.
"I give our deepest condolences." Beckendorf said, ignoring Thalia's comment. "And we hope you will cooperate with us so that we can secure the Young Master's safety."
Thalia snorted.
"I got my hands full with the murder cases, I'm sure you've heard of that." Thalia shrugged as if to say "sorry."
Beckendorf nodded. "That's understandable."
"But, I should let you know," Thalia smirked. "That you should find the Prince quickly, before I find him that is..."
The silence hung like a cloth.
"I can assure you that I will put forth all my strengths in protecting the Young Master." Beckendorf said, almost as a challenge.
Thalia's upper lip pressed on her lower lip, her brows twitched as if a thought had just slip into her head.
"Well, if you need any help with the murder case, I can help you there." Thalia said, less jokingly. There was a sense of honesty in her voice and something else, something Clarisse couldn't pinpoint.
"Thank you for your offer." Beckendorf smiled for the first time. "We will be taking out leave now."
The two Crusadist retreated through the door, leaving the two girls to think over the encounter.
"What a bunch of chums." Clarisse blurted out.
Thalia nodded in agreement. "Especially that Selena chick."
"I can't believe them." Selena fumed under her breath. Her steps were heavy, like stomps. "The nerves of these Valhallians are incredible!"
"Don't fuss over it." Beckendorf said soothingly. "Their just a bunch of kids pushed into this situations."
Selena pouted, her cheeks puffed out.
"Nobody can be as iron plated as you are Charles." Selena whined as they entered the elevator. "I feel like we wasted our time here."
Beckendorf turned to Selena, an amused smile played on his lips. His hand rose, his fingers brushed Selena's cheek. She didn't move, almost as if she was waiting, her eyes never broke contact with Beckendorf. They seemed longing.
Beckendorf turned away, prying away his hand with the will of a thousand hammers. Selena turned away as well, a frown placed on her face.
"It wasn't a waste, think of it as the Princess's way of encouraging us." Beckendorf said, almost as if they had a completely different conversation than Selena had heard. "Anyways, she did offer to help."
Wait. Was that it? I could've sworn I was trying to write an actual story with plot, but maa, who cares?
Next chapter! WORLD BUILDING, hint dropping, Nero loving, and Annabeth brooding.