A/N: Good day, everyone. Or night, whatever. I have returned, with another chapter of The Dissonant Notes of Fate. ARC II starts today and will be mostly about the Battle of the Labyrinth. If you haven't, check out my other stories, Perseus: Excidium Troiae and The Guardians, along with the Hunters of The Sun. Unfortunately, I would like to inform you that Fall of Olympus, our first story, has been Discontinued, because of reasons I cannot disclose. Thank you all for waiting this long for an update to this story. The curtains of ARC II have been drawn open and I hope you'll all enjoy this journey alongside me. Happy New Year. Enjoy the chapter. As usual, VOTE, COMMENT, REVIEW, LEAVE A KUDOS. Also, DRAMIONE is life. Fight me if you disagree.
Cheers, TripleHomicide.
LUKE CASTELLAN was not feeling well. He stood in the doorway of the school, lips pursed, checking his watch every five minutes. He was supposed to have met up with his best friend, Thalia, an hour ago. But as usual, she was late. Rolling his eyes, he leaned against the wall and waited.
Luke did not understand why Chiron had decided to send them to school. It was dangerous—risky, even. Demigods in the world were being hunted and their Activities Director had decided that they needed to experience High School Life, so they could get their minds of Kronos. The demigod knew it was just a play to keep him and his best friend occupied so they wouldn't go after Kronos themselves. Luke snorted to himself. He was supposed to escort Thalia to her orientation, which had started thirty minutes earlier.
Luke was in the junior year and Thalia was a freshman in Goode High and if he was going to be honest, he thought all this was a major waste of his time. He hated how useless he felt. About six months had come by and there had been so sign from Kronos, or their ex-best friend Annabeth who had betrayed them and gone to the dark side. It still hurt the blond-haired boy every time he thought of it. Annabeth's mother Athena had manipulated her into joining the titans and Luke felt like if they had tried harder, they would have been able to convince her of how wrong her decision to follow Kronos was. How bad it was that she was willing to turn evil just for her mother's acknowledgement.
They could be out there, destroying the monster armies that were congregating at Mount Othrys, the home base of Lord Kronos and his family of psychos who had tried to kill Luke on many occasions. Luke went back to grumbling about Chiron in his head, so distracted that he didn't hear the approaching footsteps.
"Oh, look what I found," A soft voice purred in his left ear. Luke's eyes snapped open and he arched an eyebrow at the two figures who were standing close to him. They wore cheerleaders outfits and lots of makeup. One was pale-skinned with blond hair and the other dark-skinned with black hair. "You look too old to be a freshman," The blonde girl said.
"I'm not starting till fall. And I'm in junior year," Luke replied curtly. "I'm just here to see a friend."
They edged closer, and one licked her lips, reminding Luke about that time the seductress Lamia had kissed him and then tried to tear him apart. He shuddered, trying not to think about the nightmares which had plagued him since.
"Maybe your friend's in orientation," Dark skin said, batting her eyelashes. "We can take you there if you like?" Luke inhaled, catching a whiff of roses and…horse? He had ridden enough pegasi to know the smell. He glanced down at her chest, catching right of the stitches on her uniform. Kelli.
"My face is up here, silly," The dark-skinned one giggled. Luke was getting really sick of Kelli and her friend.
He stood away from the wall, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets. "Look, I'm not interested. I'm going to find my friend now." Kelli pouted but her friend simply giggled. Luke rolled his eyes. Maybe that saying about cheerleaders having empty heads was true.
He shoved his way through them, but as he did his knee hit Kelli's and a clang reverberated across the corridor. Luke frowned. It was almost as if…she had metal legs. He shook his head, hurrying down the corridor and turning a corner as soon as he could. He was making his way to the side entrance when he bumped into Thalia. Luke reared back in surprise at the barrage of swear words which came from the shorter girl.
Her black hair had become longer and had made her a lot more beautiful than she had been before. It fell to her shoulders and onto her backpack. Thalia was chewing a piece of gum, her black eyeliner making her look even more of a badass and bringing out the blue of her eyes, her pink lips in a line of annoyance at having been bumped into, and a bored expression on her face. She wore a black leather jacket, and black tights, with combat boots and a pink t-shirt in it—her favourite—which said, Death to Barbie, with an arrow through the head of the doll. Thalia had grown, and although she was shorter than him she was still a good deal taller than she had been before.
"If you keep on staring at me I might just think that you have a little crush, Castellan," Thalia smiled at him.
Luke winced, then thought, You have no idea.
"I don't," Luke grinned. "But you can keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better." Thalia laughed, punching him lightly in the arm.
"Did you wait long?" She finally asked. Luke gave her a pointed look. Did she even have to ask? The blue-eyed girl laughed once more, then said, "Come on. It's that way."
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him. It was just a friendly gesture but it made Luke feel like air. It made butterflies erupt in his stomach and he smiled silently to himself. Thalia didn't know and he would like to keep it that way. He couldn't do anything to destroy their friendship.
They finally reached the doors and Luke pushed them open cautiously. They were extremely late and Luke felt several eyes on him and the daughter of Zeus as they tromped towards the pack. His eyes flickered across the room and he felt Thalia suddenly stiffen from beside him. Luke frowned and glanced at her. "What's wrong?"
Thalia didn't answer. Her eyes were trained on something. No, someone. Luke followed her line of sight and his frown deepened when he spotted the girl. Where did Thalia know her from? Why were they staring at each other—the girl with amazement and wide eyes, Thalia with uneasiness.
Luke studied the girl. She looked to be about Thalia's age, with curly red hair which fell around her shoulders. She wore a jacket over a t-shirt and shorts which were…different colours and filled with doodles and markings. Luke didn't notice when a guy in a pinstripe suit went to the front and began speaking. The sound echoed across the room but then suddenly Thalia was clutching his hand, pulling him back across the room and towards the doorway.
"What is it?" Luke asked, voice harsh and filled with confusion. Thalia flinched and he was about to apologise when he spotted the pale hand on her shoulder.
It was Red Hair. "What are you doing here?" She whirled Luke's friend around, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Rachel Dare," Thalia said, grimacing.
Rachel's jaw dropped and she looked at Thalia incredulously. "And you're Thalia. The girl who tried to kill me last December." Her eyes flickered to Luke. "And I see you've found yourself a new boyfriend."
Thalia choked and Luke tilted his head in confusion. "Am I missing something here?"
"I— We—" Thalia turned away from Luke, ignoring his questioning glance. "What are you doing here, Dare?"
She narrowed her eyes a bit, then looked around. "Same as you, I guess. Orientation."
"You're a New Yorker?" Thalia asked in confusion. Okay, Luke was feeling left out. He cleared his throat to speak but Rachel did before him, scoffing at the Daughter of Zeus.
'What, do I look like I live in Hoover Dam?" She folded her arms.
Luke finally whisper-shouted, "What the Hades is going on, Thals?" Thalia turned to him, uncertainty flashing in her eyes. Luke copied Rachel's movement, folding his arms too. "Start talking, please."
Thalia was about to answer when a voice said from behind them, "Would you three can it?" A tall kid said nastily. "The cheerleaders are talking!"
"Hello everyone!" A girl said into the microphone, then giggled. Luke glanced towards the stage. It was the blonde girl who had approached him with her friend outside. She giggled again, then said, "My name is Tammi." She motioned to the dark-skinned girl on her side, then said, 'And this is like, Kelli." Kelli waved. Next to them, Rachel let out a sound like she was being strangled. Luke glanced at her. She was strange, he decided. Her eyes were wide and she was looking at the cheerleaders in…fear.
"Okay," Rachel said, a tinge of panic in her voice. "Turn and run."
Thalia scowled at the girl. "Why?"
Rachel did not explain. She pushed her way through the throngs of people and fought her way to the doorway. Luke hesitated, glancing anxiously at Thalia. He glanced towards the stage again, then swore loudly in ancient Greek. He met Kelli's eyes and she bared her teeth at him in a smile. Those weren't girls. They were monsters.
Luke reached out for Thalia and grabbed her hand. "Come on. We're leaving."
"What? Why—" Thalia tried to argue but Luke sent her a pointed glance which made her go quiet real quick.
"I'll explain later," He said. "Just follow Rachel." Thalia didn't argue. It was one of the things he loved about her. She trusted him without question. After last winter she had seen who her friends were—and identified those who were her enemies.
They raced out of the room, running down a corridor after Rachel Dare.
-X-
THALIA GRACE didn't know why Luke wanted them to follow the girl with hair that looked like tomato. But she wasn't going to argue. He had clearly seen something when he had looked at the stage—the same thing Rachel had probably seen—and Thalia trusted Luke with her life. They raced down the corridors and made a turn just in time to see the girl in question enter a room.
Thalia glanced up at the sign on the door, which said, "Band Room." They raced through the doors and Thalia's eyes caught sight of the red wisps of hair behind a bass drum. Green eyes, wide with fear popped up and Rachel's urgent voice reached them. "Get over here. Hurry!" Thalia didn't question it. She allowed Luke to drag her to the percussion section and they ducked under a set of drums and crouched down beside Rachel Dare.
"Were you followed?" Rachel questioned heatedly. Luke shook his head, glancing at the closed door they had just come through.
Thalia took that opportunity to speak. "What exactly is going on? What did both of you see?" Rachel's flickered with hesitation and unease and Luke pursed his lips. "You…you wouldn't believe me," Rachel said in a low voice.
Luke ran a hand through his hair, glancing at the door again. "I don't know what they were, but I was able to see through the mist they had on. They had fire for hair and red eyes and…one donkey leg, another metal one. And they had fangs."
"Vampires?" Thalia fiddled with her silver bracelet, eyes darting around. Rachel held up a hand.
"What?" She whirled on Luke. 'You saw them too?" Luke's eyes were narrowed and he exchanged an anxious glance with Thalia. The daughter of Zeus nodded slowly, then said, "She could see the Spartoi last December. She sees through the mist."
"But that's impossible," Luke shook his head. "She's mortal."
Thalia didn't know where it came from but she spoke hurriedly. "Beryl could see through the mist. So could your mother, Luke. And Annabeth's dad." Rachel cleared her throat just as a dark look passed on Luke's face. He looked away and Thalia felt guilt engulf her. She had blurted it out without thinking. They did not talk about their parents, not since they had left May Castellan's house for good two years ago.
The green-eyed mortal beside them looked confused as Thalia pushed all thoughts of Luke out of her mind. She faced Rachel as the girl said, "Why do you keep saying that? You call me mortal." She hesitated and Thalia saw her clench a shaky fist. "Like you're not."
The daughter of Zeus exchanged another glance with Luke. He shrugged in answer. Thalia turned back to Rachel. The girl looked afraid, but intrigued also, eyes wide as she studied the two of them. "You know what everything means," She said matter-of-factly. "Tell me. What do the things I see mean?"
Thalia tilted her head to the side, turning her attention to the bracelet once more. "No point beating about the bush, then." She inhaled. "You know about the Greek myths don't you?'
Rachel nodded slowly. "Like…like Zeus and Hades and Kronos?" Luke coughed suddenly, his blue eyes flickering across the room as though he expected the Titan Lord to jump out of the walls and kill them. Thalia's ears picked up a sound from outside the door. Footsteps, approaching the Band Room, several voices talking. They had started the tour.
"Well, it's a bad idea to go around throwing those names out," Luke spoke finally. "But yes, those guys. They exist." He motioned to himself and Thalia. "And, we're their children." Rachel didn't look in the least bit surprised. She folded her arms. "What about…the-the monsters?"
"They're real too, obviously," Luke rolled his eyes. The red-headed girl let out a sigh which sounded almost…relieved. "For years I thought I was going mental. I thought I was mad. And I couldn't tell anyone because they'd have me sent to an asylum." She let out another sigh, turning back to Luke and Thalia. "You said you're the children of those gods?"
Luke nodded curtly and Thalia said, "Yeah. We're half human, half—" She didn't get time to finish though. Thalia stiffened when the doors to the band room swung open. She turned to peek over the set of drums and went down just as quickly. It was Tammi and Kelli. The doors slammed shut behind them.
"You can come out, little half-bloods," A sweet sultry voice reached Thalia's ears. She reached out to her side, picking her mace canister. She looked towards Luke who was clutching his sword hilt tightly. Rachel shrunk back. Luke nodded and Thalia bobbed her head in response.
As one they stood. Thalia almost stepped back in surprise. But she steeled her nerves and threw her mace canister into the air, before tapping her bracelet. Aegis sprang to life on her wrist and she grabbed her spear from the sky. Luke stood next to her, in a defensive stance. Thalia's eyes flickered to the doors. They were trapped.
The demon ladies stood right in front of it and Thalia took the time to analyse them, wondering how on earth she hadn't seen them for what they were. Their skin and faces were all white as chalk. Their eyes were completely red, no whites. Teeth as long as Thalia's finger—fangs—bared at them. Then she looked down.
A loud laugh tore out of Thalia's throat. "What the Hades are those?" Luke chuckled from behind her as they examined the mismatched legs of the Vampire-demons. The first was brown and shaggy with a donkey hoof. The other was shaped like a human leg, but made out of bronze. Tammi snarled in response while Kelli muttered, "Rude." The blonde haired one stepped forward.
She turned to Luke, a smile stretching on her face. Her eyes moved to his sword. 'There's no need for that, handsome. How about a kiss?" Luke sneered at her.
"Lamia already tried that," He said hotly. "I'm not falling for it again." Thalia smiled to herself.
Tammi sneered back, then turned to the dark-haired girl at the door. 'May I, Mistress?" The girl in question licked her lips, a hungry glint in her red eyes. She simply nodded in response. The cheerleading vampire advanced on her weird legs, baring her fangs, and hissing much like a constipated demon. Thalia levelled her spear to her chest. "Get back, Draculaura. Or I run you through."
Kelli laughed from her spot at the door. "We are not vampires, silly girl. That stupid legend was based on us. We are empousai—the servants of Hecate!"
Tammi nodded in response and a whimper came from behind them. Rachel had been so quiet Thalia had forgotten she was there. The empousa forged on. "Dark magic formed us from animals, machinery and ghosts! We exist to feed on the blood of young men!" She raced forward at that moment and all hell broke loose.
-X-
LUKE leaped forward alongside Thalia, racing past her and running towards the dark-skinned girl at the doors. Kelli bared her fangs as he approached, twirling his sword. She snarled, "In another universe, Luke Castellan, perhaps we could have been friends. If you had served Kronos instead of the pesky Olympians, I wouldn't have had to kill you today!"
Luke scoffed in response, swinging his sword as the empousai neared. Kelli ducked under his swing and jumped forward, nails elongating into claws. They raked across Luke's chest and he yelled in pain. He backed away, ignoring the burning on his body and slashing at the demon again. His sword narrowly missed her neck, but he forged on, swinging at her side. Kelli wasn't fast, that was evident. His sword nicked her side, making her hiss in pain as yellow dust poured out of the wound.
She snarled in annoyance and jumped for him once more, but Luke dove to the side. He heard a wail come from behind him and risked a glance just in time to see Rachel hurl a snare drum at Tammi's head. It slammed into her, stunning her for a few seconds and giving Thalia an opening. Luke's friend slammed the rim of her shield into Tammi's neck then thrust her spear into her chest.
Tammi let out another wail, melting instantly into monster dust and sulphur. From in front of him, Kelli shouted, "No!" Rachel coughed. She was covered in yellow. "That…that was disgusting."
"You!" Kelli snarled at Thalia, slipping into an offensive stance. "You killed my trainee!"
"And I'm going to kill you too if you don't tell me what Kronos in planning!" Thalia shouted in response. Luke slowly stood, tightening his hold on his sword. He edged slowly to the empousa's back, making sure to make as little noise as possible.
"Foolish girl!" Kelli laughed. "No hero has bested me in thousands of years." Luke took that moment to strike, shouting, "Oh, yeah? Then you're in for a real surprise!" He leaped up, swinging his sword in an arc to cleave off Kelli's head. She dodged under his strike and Thalia advanced, thrusting her spear once more.
Kelli dove away, towards Rachel and Luke shouted in alarm. The demon laughed. "You don't even know what is coming, do you? Soon, your pretty little camp will be in flames, your friends slaves to Lord Kronos, and your parents faded, with you unable to do anything." Thalia's eyes narrowed.
From down the hall, Luke heard voices. A tour group was heading their way. The empousa's eyes lit up. She picked up a trumpet and hurled it to Rachel. The girl ducked and it smashed through the window. The voices in the hall stilled.
"Thalia!" Kelli shouted, lacing fear inside her voice 'Why did you throw that?" The empousa smiled deviously as Thalia's lips curled. She swiped a row of instruments and they crashed into the floor. The footsteps got louder. More hectic.
"Time to greet our friends!" Kelli laughed.
"No!" Rachel yelled. Luke dove forward, swinging his sword once again. The doors flung open just as Kelli yelled, "No! Please!" She erupted into flames, just as Luke's sword connected with her body, waves of fire roaring and splashing over everything. Luke stepped back in horror. He'd never seen a monster do that before.
"Thalia Grace!" A voice called to them. 'Luke Castellan! What is this?!" Luke spun, to see Mr. Blofis, a teacher he had met at the doors, his eyes wide with surprise and alarm. Kids screamed and raced away as the fire swept across the room. In the chaos, Luke felt Thalia pull on his sleeve.
"We have to go!" She was right. He turned, ignoring the stunned teacher behind them and allowed Thalia to drag him towards Rachel. He grabbed the girl by the wrist and sprinted towards the broken window. Without hesitation, they jumped through.
-X-
THALIA led them towards East 81st. She let go of Luke, turning to look at the burning school in the distance. Flames engulfed the building, screams still reached her ears from their position. Luke coughed, grabbing his knees and wheezing. Rachel stood next to them, eyes wide as she stared at the school.
Thalia made the decision then, speaking hurriedly, "We have to get back to camp."
Luke nodded, then stood. "We'll take a cab. The Grey Sisters."
The red-headed girl plopped down onto the ground. She took out a piece of candy and popped it into her mouth, then said, "You still owe me an explanation, Thalia." She was shaking slightly, but she let out a huff of air as if pushing away all her fear and confusion. She then pulled out a marker from her pocket, motioning at Thalia's palm. Thalia didn't resist. She allowed the girl to write down a number on her hand.
Rachel pulled back, then nodded to the daughter of Zeus. "Call me."
Thalia snorted, then said, 'I'm sorry, but I don't swing that way." Rachel threw her head back in shaky laughter, which really didn't fit the situation they were in, and Luke cracked a smile. He stood up straight and nodded to Rachel. The girl pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I'll handle things at the school," She promised. 'I'll make sure you can both return in September."
Thalia smiled at her. 'I'll see you around, Dare." Without answering, Rachel took off, towards the burning building of Goode High.
XMX
THALIA and Luke headed straight for the Big House. They needed to see Chiron immediately. As they passed through the arena, Thalia's eyes narrowed when she spotted the white-haired man seated on the stands and watching the giant hellhound devour their training dummies. She had been present when the man and his pet had appeared in Camp, proclaiming he was a demigod and asking for protection.
Thalia did not trust him. Not after what had happened last winter. Even though Percy had been good in the end, he had still played with her emotions and toyed with her. He had tricked her to earn her trust and although she had forgiven him for it, she wasn't so big on the forgetting part.
Quintus, the man with the white hair, had asked their activities director to become the swordsmanship instructor, in place of Luke and when the son of Hermes had agreed, he had been given the position. It still unnerved Thalia each time she saw the giant truck sized hellhound chewing their straw dummies in the arena. But Chiron had accepted him and there was nothing Thalia could do in that regard.
Her eyes flickered across the arena. Charles Beckendorf and Silena stood next to the hellhound, flirting in the sunlight. Clarisse's siblings were duelling each other and other people were watching it go down. It wasn't weird that the counsellor herself was not present; things were happening that other campers didn't know about. They had passed through most of the areas in camp and everything seemed normal enough. The summer activities were in full swing—people were swimming, duelling, training, studying greek, flying pegasi, battling in triremes in the creek, the usual. But something nagged at Thalia and she felt extremely uneasy. She couldn't rid herself of the image of the empousai or of Kelli's words.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, they continued walking, heading out of the arena. Thalia spotted about a dozen crates lined up in the corner and she squinted to read the words on it. TRIPLE G RANCH. FRAGILE. THIS END UP. Thalia frowned, turning to glance at Quintus who was now communicating animatedly with the Ares Cabin and teaching them a particular swing. Had he brought those crates there?
She continued reading. OPEN WITH CARE. TRIPLE G RANCH IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE, MAIMING OR EXCRUCIATINGLY PAINFUL DEATHS. From beside her, Luke snorted. He was also gazing at the boxes and he said, 'I don't understand why Chiron isn't investigating that man more. What if he's like Tantalus?" Thalia shuddered involuntarily. She did not want a reminder of what had happened two summers ago.
"He wouldn't allow him here if he thought he was dangerous," Thalia finally answered, shrugging, even though she didn't believe it. Luke arched an eyebrow, telling her he knew what she was thinking and they continued walking towards the Big House. They spotted Chiron, seated in his wheelchair on the porch, looking over at everything which was going on in Camp.
He went straight when he saw them—well, as straight as someone in a wheelchair could go—and said, "You're back already? I thought orientation would last longer."
Luke groaned, plopping down onto a chair. He ran a hand through his hair and Thalia followed his lead, crossing her legs. 'We were attacked," She said. "Monsters in the school. They called themselves empousai." Chiron's eyes narrowed and he motioned for them to go on. Thalia narrated exactly what had happened, leaving out nothing and allowing Luke to chip in when he thought it necessary.
"Kelli burst into flames," Luke reminded. "What do you think that meant?"
Chiron looked deep in thought. "Few monsters, the most powerful ones, sometimes do that. She did not die. She simply escaped from the school. It is a bad sign that they are stirring."
"What about what she said? About an attack on camp?" Thalia asked, leaning back in her seat.
Chiron shook his head. 'We will discuss that later. For now, we must get to the woods. Grover would want you present." Luke looked confused and Thalia arched a brow in question.
"I was waiting for your return," Chiron said. "Grover is at his formal hearing. The Council of Cloven Elders is meeting now to decide his fate."
-X-
LUKE, Thalia and Chiron entered a small glade blanketed with wildflowers. Luke looked around in slight panic, searching for their satyr friend. He spotted several satyrs, seated in a circle in the grass. Grover stood in the middle, facing three old, really fat satyrs, who sat on thrones shaped out of rose bushes. Luke had seen two of them before around camp, and he took a wild guess and deduced that they were the Council of Cloven Elders.
Luke caught sight of the silver-clad figures standing in the shadows of the trees, watching the proceedings with interest. Thalia let out a strangled sound and Luke frowned. He hadn't known the Hunters were in town. He spotted Zoë Nightshade in all her glory, standing next to an olive-skinned girl—Bianca di Angelo. The girl looked taller and a bit older, although Luke knew she didn't age any longer. Beside her stood her brother, who was also a bit taller, his arms folded, eyes narrowed. Dark hair fell onto his eyelids and Luke met his onyx orbs. Nico nodded to and smiled at him in greeting and Luke nodded back. The boy still hadn't been claimed yet and he lived in the Hermes cabin. Next to him stood a girl who Luke recognised as Grover's dryad girlfriend, Juniper. She had a green tinge to her skin, elfish ears and was quietly sobbing in Bianca's arms.
Beside them stood a burly girl with dirty blonde hair, Clarisse La Rue, glaring at everything around her. Luke allowed Chiron and Thalia to lead him towards the other campers.
They stopped next to Clarisse. "What's going on?" Luke asked.
Clarisse didn't answer but simply nodded towards the group of satyrs. Grover seems to be telling a story. He twisted the bottom of his shirt, shifting from one hoof to another.
"It's not going well," Juniper sniffled.
"Nonsense," Nico reassured. "He'll be fine."
"Master Underwood!" The satyr on the left throne shouted. "Do you expect us to believe this tall tale?"
"B-but Silenus," Grover stammered. "I'm telling the truth!" Luke exchanged a worried glance with Thalia. They had known this was going to happen, sooner or later. But they hadn't been informed that it would be today and it was a bit unnerving.
"For six months!" Maron, the one in the centre said. 'For six months you have been spreading false rumours that you heard the lost god Pan speak."
"But I did!"
"Impudence!" Leneus shouted. Chiron had moved forward to stand next to the elders and Luke remembered he was an honorary member of their council. The centaur was trying to placate the satyrs, saying, "Peace, Leneus."
"I've had it up to my horn with this nonsense. As if Pan would speak to the likes of him!"
Juniper surged forward but Clarisse held out a hand. The daughter of Ares shook her head. Luke tried not to look too surprised, but it was hard. He'd never expected to see a War Child deny someone a fight. Leneus and the other satyrs continued talking, but Luke's mind was elsewhere. When they had arrived after their quest, Grover had gone to inform the satyrs about his encounter with Pan.
For six months he had been searching, scouring the country, and drinking about twenty cups of coffee each hour in an attempt to hear Pan speak once more. But he had found nothing. Pan hadn't spoken and eventually, the satyrs had gotten annoyed and a few had even begun speaking against Grover—calling him a liar and attention seeker. Luke looked sideways to Thalia, who looked mutinous. He knew she wanted to shout out that they had heard Pan too.
They had been saying it since they had returned, to support their friend. The satyrs had indulged them but stopped believing after a while. Luke knew it wouldn't do any good to say it once more. The satyrs muttered amongst themselves and Chiron bent, speaking a low voice with Maron, the fattest of the Council.
"We will give you one more chance, Underwood," Silenus announced. Grover perked up as Maron spoke, 'One week."
Their friend looked stumped and a brief flash of panic appeared in his eyes. Luke knew what he was thinking. That was impossible.
"One week, Master Underwood," Leneus sneered. 'And if you cannot prove your claims, you shall hand in your searcher's license." Grover began protesting but it was lost in the muttering of the crowd.
"This meeting is adjourned," Maron shouted. "And now, for the noonday meal." The satyrs scattered as nymphs swooped into the glade, carrying trays of vegetables, fruits, tin cans and other goat food. Grover ambled despondently towards them, head bowed, sadness etched on his face. "Hey Luke, Thalia."
Thalia reached forward, patting Grover on the back and Luke draped his arm around his shoulders. Juniper crashed into him, sobbing, "They don't know how much you've tried. Ignore them."
"There's another option," Clarisse muttered. Luke frowned. He knew that Clarisse and Nico had been working on something for Chiron and he guessed it had something to do with what she was referring to. The only thing was that they refused to tell anyone what exactly it was.
"No!" Juniper shook her head. "Grover, I won't let you." The satyr was pale but he ran a hand through Juniper's curls. "I-I have to think about it, though."
Thalia and Luke exchanged another glance. "What are you talking about?" The daughter of Zeus asked.
Clarisse folded her arms. 'We'll talk later. Chiron finally agreed to allow us to tell you." Nico shoved his hands in his pocket and said, "For now you'd better get to your cabins. Silena's inspecting today."
-X-
THALIA sat next to Luke and Grover at the campfire. Clarisse and Nico had told them everything, about the Labyrinth and about how Annabeth might use it to attack Camp. The Apollo cabin was leading the sing-along and s'mores were being passed around. The fire was bright, burning orange, and Thalia smiled silently, all thoughts of Kronos and their former friend out of her mind. Camp felt safe that night, as though the looming threat of the Titans was at the back of everyone's minds. Nico di Angelo was seated next to Quintus and Mrs O'Leary, the hellhound, at the very back and they seemed to be discussing something.
But Thalia didn't pay him any mind. She didn't even argue with the hunters, which was a first. She was content to ignore everyone except her friends, but she refused to sing along with the rest of the camp. That was never going to happen. Never in a million years. Thalia was still wandering in her thoughts when she felt the hand on her shoulder. She glanced backwards and frowned, although without malice, when she spotted the daughter of Atlas.
Zoë motioned towards the trees in the distance and turned, beginning to head that way, without waiting to see if Thalia was following. Thalia turned back to Luke and said, "I'll be right back."
She followed the lithe form of the lieutenant of Artemis, weaving through campers and making sure not to step on anybody. Thalia clenched and unclenched her jaw as she walked. She hadn't spoken to Zoë since last winter but she didn't need to be a wisdom child to understand why Zoë wanted to speak with her. They came to a stop at the edge of the forest, Zoë leaning on a tree as she waited.
"Thalia," The huntress greeted. 'You look well."
"So do you," Thalia nodded back. She folded her arms and looked questioningly at the girl.
"Have you heard from Perseus?" Zoë said bluntly. Thalia rolled her eyes. That was exactly like the huntress. Blunt and straightforward. Nevertheless, she shook her head in answer. Thalia let out a sigh. She barely knew the Titan of the Earth but ever since he had disappeared last winter, she had been trying to get into contact him. He was good, and he had helped them in the end of it all. He had saved her life and that of her friends. And she missed his company. She missed him.
He was a good listener, and a good friend, and Thalia had been trying to reach him through her dreams like he had been communicating with her last December.
"I can't contact him," She said, looking down. "I try every night, and every morning and Chiron refuses to allow me to search for his Island. He forbade me from going back to San Fransisco to pull out the sword." Zoë didn't look surprised. She nodded in reply and rubbed her temples. Thalia asked, "How are things on your end?"
"Lady Artemis has travelled to Olympus to give Zeus a report," Zoë answered. 'The hunt for Aphrodite and Athena proved futile and she requested that we remain at camp while she was on Olympus. The other gods are securing the Titan prisons and Lord Dionysus is checking up on the minor gods." Thalia glanced into the darkness of the forest.
The Titans were getting stronger, she knew it. Othrys was overrun with Monsters. Lelantos' ship, the Princess Andromeda, still stood. Thalia felt useless. She wanted to do something—anything. She couldn't just lie in wait and sing songs at the campfire while Kronos turned more and more people against Olympus.
"We have to—" Thalia was cut off by a loud shout. She pivoted on her feet as several yells and running footsteps reached her ears. The campfire blazed wilder and Thalia was surprised she could see it from where she stood. She exchanged a glance with Zoë and instantly they shot down towards the Amphitheater. Thalia urged her feet to go faster and she hurried towards Luke when she finally got to the stands. He was pale, white as a sheet and staring somewhere.
Thalia shook his arm. "Luke, what's wrong?" The son of Hermes snapped out of his stupor. But he didn't answer. He simply pointed. Thalia followed his arm and she felt her heart stop as ice filled her veins. Nico di Angelo stood next to his sister Bianca, by the hunters. He was swatting at something about their head, apparently oblivious to the shouts around them. A skull and crossbones faded into the mist above him. Thalia went still as it dawned on her.
"No…" she muttered. It couldn't be.
Nico and Bianca di Angelo were children of Hades, the Lord of the Dead.
A/N: Hello! So, that's the end of things I guess. I hope you enjoyed, blah, blah, blah. Have a great day, vote, comment, etc, etc. Thanks for reading!
Cheers, TripleHomicide.