Sorry I posted this chapter late. Hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson Series.
Thalia pov:
I storm up to Nico fully intent on killing him or at least shocking him with lightning. I can't believe he wouldn't tell me about his relationship. I am his favorite cousin after all.
Then I remember Percy who is now dead. I look down as I walk and try to get the bad memories out of my head. Percy and Annabeth being thrown in the lake floods my mind and the reality that they're both gone is too much. I collapse on to my knees because what is the point anymore? My best friends are gone and Nico is off in a relationship. The hunt is my only home but I feel lonelier than ever.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and I flinch. The touch brings me back to the present. I look up and see Nico's concerned face hovering over me. "Are you okay?" He helps me up and peers at me curiously. "When did you get here?" I ignore both his questions and try to forget the sadness I feel. "I...Why didn't you tell me about Will?" I blurt it out without thinking and his face gets even paler if that's possible. He doesn't look at me but I can tell he feels guilty. He shuffles around a little and then says, "I was embarrassed." I look at him confused.
"Embarrassed? Why would you be embarrassed?" He narrows his eyes at me and then looks around him. "Because I'm dating a boy and you always teased me about getting a girlfriend." He says it quietly and for once I understand what he must be feeling. Everyone teased Nico that he wouldn't get a girlfriend and in truth he didn't. He got a boyfriend and he thought I would make fun of him for it. "Nico I am proud of you. You got a nice boy to be with and if that makes you happy, then why should I judge you for it?" That is when he gives me a smile. A genuine smile that lights up his whole face. "Thank you, Thalia." He sits on the grass and I sit down next to him.
"Before I started dating Will, I wanted to leave and never come back. I felt unwanted and ashamed to be here. Reyna helped me through it. She was the greatest friend I could ask for but it wasn't enough. Then Percy and Annabeth died and I didn't know how to deal with it. They were dead, gone, never to be seen again and I couldn't handle the truth. Will came to my cabin one day and helped me. He really tried. Even when I pushed him away, he stayed. I guess ever since that last battle six months ago, I was truly in love with him."
Hearing Nico express his feelings so openly almost brings me to tears. I never thought about how Nico would feel after the deaths of so many. Even when Bianca died, I never thought about it. Nico was just a small, scrawny boy back then with no clue what he was doing but now he knows. He has fought wars and fallen in love and witnessed things nobody should of witnessed. And all this time I thought about him as a son of Hades and my cousin. That's all I thought but now Nico is brave and strong and has grown so much over the years I have known him.
Nico looks at me and I can't take it anymore. I hug him tightly. He awkwardly moves his arms until he finally hugs me back. I cherish the moment because it doesn't happen often. That's when Will and Reyna walk over. They take a seat beside us and Will smiles at me. "Hi. I'm Will Solace, son of Apollo." He reaches out and shakes my hand. "Thalia grace, daughter of Zeus." His smile widens if that's possible and then lays back. Reyna just stares at me, like she is picking out my weaknesses. "So…" I'll admit I was never one for conversation.
I hear a hunting horn and for some reason it sounds mournful. Artemis jogs over to me and says, "In respect, the hunters will lay down their bows over the graves of Perseus, Annabeth and Leo." I stand up and follow Artemis to the graves. Flowers almost cover all of them and it's hard to even see the inscribed names. I look down at all of the hunters bows strewn around the graves. Someone traced a trident and an owl into the dirt. Inscribed on Leo's grave is,
May he who sacrifices his long life,
live forever with respite,
and never again feel the pain,
may whom he was not go in vain
I smile at the nice words. On the other graves, the words start on Percy's grave and go on to Annabeth's grave. Each line alternates which grave it is on.
He was a hero and so was she
They held up the sky with no envy
They saved the world more times than we can count
They were the people who figured it out
Two prophecies and two wars
Had the worst luck and the worst gore
Annabeth was stabbed and Percy was saved
He bathed in the Styx and didn't cave
Even though they're gone
They were the best
Now that they're here
They lay in rest
I read it with tears in my eyes. I hear galloping and Chiron emerges from the woods. He stops next to me and stares at the grave. "Beautiful isn't it?" I nod and run a finger over the words. "Who wrote this?" As much as everyone loved Percy and Annabeth, I can't imagine any of them writing this. "The Stolls and Clarisse did this." I look at him in shock. The Stolls did something like this? I find that hard to believe. I knew Clarisse had a soft side but to do this…
"Both poems are beautiful." I lay down my bow and Chiron and I stare at the bows in silence. The dead are never gone.
Percy pov:
The next day is hectic. Everyone wants to help plan the wedding and wants to be in it. I got separated from Annabeth at one point and the last look she gave me, was a helpless look. There is also a tinge of sadness in the occasion. I always imagined me and my dad planning this out together. Now I can never see him again. I hate how I do this. I always bring the worst out in everything. I know I'm dead but I should try to be happy. I mean, I'm getting married to Annabeth! What more could I want?
At around 2:00 pm, I manage to escape into the bathroom. I decide to sit in here for a while until they come for me again. After about twenty minutes, I start to get bored. I will the water from the sink to swirl into different shapes. I make a dolphin out of water and then freeze it. I lay it in the sink and keep it there.
Suddenly, the door swings open and someone runs in. I get hit and then I fly backward into the bathtub. I look up and rub my head. Annabeth stands over me laughing. "I'm sorry, Percy. I was just hiding from them." I just nod because I can understand how they can be.
Before she can speak again, I kiss her. I pull away after a minute and smile. "What was that for?" she asks with a huge grin. "I haven't seen you all day." I lay down on the floor and Annabeth lays next to me. "We should just let them plan the wedding. They seem to have it all figured out," Annabeth says tiredly. I mumble consent and decide to sleep. I close my eyes and lean back a little more. Annabeth snuggles into my chest and we fall asleep that way.
I know the ending was a bit forced but I was tired. Anyway, I hope you liked it!