Well, that was longer than 2 days… sorry, hehe. Laziness and chore-duty issues. I'm gonna go on ahead.

WARNING: gonna be a few swearwords in this one.

Chapter 4

"Woah." Jason whispered wrapped in a blanket at the edge of his bed, his sister curled around him protectively.

"Quiet!" She hissed.

Beryl was pretty wasted that night. It was around a quarter to five in the morning when she slammed the front door open startling the two children from their sleep. Thalia had crawled over to a terrified Jason as their mother stumbled down the hallway, breaking and flipping things around as she did so.

There was a good chance that she was angry and might be wanting to take it all out on her children, so Thalia decided to comfort and protect her little brother as much as she could.

At present, the two could hear their mother across the hallway in her bedroom, the door wide open. She was muttering curses as she stumbled on the clothes and furniture scattered upon the floor.

"Stupid Lisa…" Beryl was saying with every ounce of disgust she could muster. "Stupid birthday-bitch and her friends. I can't ride in the carriage, huh? Stupid rich-bitch-only carriage?" Her voice was slurred yet angry. Thalia tensed, hoping she would just pass out.

Another thump from across the hallway. Both children prayed it wasn't a heavy footstep.

Another thump. The two prayed it wasn't a second footstep.

A third thump, closer this time. They were now silently begging she wasn't coming for them.

Then came a loud crash, followed by a weak moan. She had collapsed on the floor, probably bringing a table down with her.

There was a long silence as the two children stared anxiously at the door. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Thalia made a move to stand up, the ringing in her ears being unbearable. But Jason grabbed her sleeve.

"No." He mouthed, shaking his head, but his sister's stare told him otherwise.

She took his hand, trying to reassure him, and gently put it down as she stood from the bed.

Shakily, she began to walk across the room careful not to make a sound. She held her breath as she reached the door, fingers wrapping around the knob. She tugged gently and winced at the small creak it gave.

The small opening was enough. Thalia peered out and into the hallway, her eyes settling onto the form of her mother collapsed on the ground just inside her own bedroom door. She was snoring heavily with her arms folded beneath her head.

Other than that, Thalia couldn't see much in the dark, so she closed her bedroom door and tip-toed back to where Jason sat on his bed.

"All clear." She whispered. "Get some sleep."

"How about you?" the little boy whispered back, a little louder than intended.

"I'll be here." Thalia smiled and sat at the foot of his bed, her back against the wall. "I'll stand guard."

It took a little more persuading, but she finally got him to fall asleep.

Thalia took one of the pillows and hugged it close, folding her legs beneath her. The sun was starting to rise, a faint light shone through a crack in the window curtains. Her mother's snores got louder and louder with a few occasional groans tossed in. But she was still asleep, and Thalia was almost there.

"Maybe, Luke," She whispered sleepily. "Maybe." With that, she let her eyelids drop.

She wished her mother would go out drinking every night for the entire week, then maybe she'd find her papa. Nearly everyone in the village went to the festival. Who knows? Maybe he'd be there.

But she was only, after all, just a little girl. No sweat.

Ok, so that was short. Just a little teaser. Tell me what stuff you guys wanna see! I'm open to ideas! ^_^

Review!

~Apollo'sGreenday-FanDaughter