Ch31
"My power could be yours if you wish it," Kronos said in her head. "All of it can be yours just submit to me. Be my host if you wish to truly be powerful."
Thalia Grace woke up with sweat running down her face. His power mine. Her body trembled just thinking of what she could do with it.
Her body shook as she got out of bed. Her insides still were numb when it came to her father. It doesn't matter now. We are his enemies. He wouldn't hesitate to kill me now that I'm sixteen. Despite the doubts in her heart she knew she had no other place to go, her father wouldn't tolerate her betrayal and she would be hunted down along with her family.
After getting ready she joined Annabeth and Luke for breakfast. They were staying at an abandoned motel near an abandoned camp grounds that were used to house Kronos' monsters.
"Did you sleep well?" Annabeth asked.
She sighed. "Yeah just a bit tired. How about you?" Annabeth still looked pale and was on the skinnier side since they left the west coast with the remainder of Kronos' forces.
"Yeah just trying to get used to things," Annabeth said.
"I know it has been rough these past few weeks," Luke said looking at both of them. His face was gaunt but in his grimace she swore she saw a glimmer of life in his eyes. "But we'll strike soon. We'll prepare for summer, the camp won't know what hit them."
Annabeth only cringed a little but neither of them said nothing as Luke's gaze passed over them. "The labyrinth will be our key to victory. We'll get them back for the humiliations and setbacks that occurred last year I promise."
"I see," she said avoiding his gaze. A part of her still was guilty over betraying the camp and leaving Chiron, Percy, and the other campers. It doesn't matter. I'm with my true family now.
As soon as they finished eating Alabaster came up to them. "Hey Luke Lord Kronos wants to see you three now."
"We'll be right there," Luke sighed as they helped clean up.
Wonder if he is going to push it again. She knew Kronos has been floating the idea of her becoming his host, it was a thought that she had to admit intrigued her but deep down she didn't know if she could do it or not. I would most surely die if I did. Yet a shiver went down her spine as she thought of the alternatives. Luke. No I can't let him do it.
They arrived at the room which was a guest suite converted for Lord Kronos' tastes. Upon entering the three of them bowed. "Lord Kronos," Luke said as the three of them bowed to the coffin. "What do you desire?"
Kronos' power filled the room. "I have a quest for you three. You must retrieve an important animal for me."
"An animal? Don't you mean a monster my lord?" Luke asked politely.
Kronos laughed. "No you must retrieve a golden winged bird for me. It will help us against our problems with the sons of Poseidon."
A golden winged bird? She didn't know how such a bird could defeat Percy or Chris but if Lord Kronos wanted it who were they to defy him.
"I see. Understood sir," Luke said. "Where shall we look?"
"I believe it should be near Lake Eerie on the Americans side of the border," Kronos said. "It shall come to you don't worry I've made contact with it already. With it by our side we shall defeat the sons of Poseidon and no one will stand in our way."
A smile spread across Luke's face. "As you wish sir."
Alabaster came into the room with a bag and handed it to Annabeth who smiled at him. "Throw this in the air once you are in the location, the bird will come to you," The son of Hecate said.
Annabeth nodded and took the bag her eyes lighting up for a second. For a second she noticed Luke frown at Alabaster as if he stole something.
"Will Nico be accompanying them my lord?" Alabaster asked. The son of Hecate had become Nico's teacher and had been helping him master his powers.
"No he won't be able to transport all three of them," Kronos said. "The three of you are to return as soon one you retrieve the bird. Alabaster let them take a jeep."
"Yes sir," Alabaster said with a bow. "I'll have one ready in no time."
"Good you're all dismissed," Kronos said. They all bowed one last time before exiting the room.
"Come on this will just be like the old days," Luke said as they got into a car. "A quest just the three of us."
Annabeth waved to Alabaster before getting into the car. "Yeah just the three of us."
She nodded despite the smiles on their faces she could feel the tension in the air. "Don't worry I'm sure we'll do well," She muttered as began to speed off.
The three of them remained silent as the car drove. Luke and Annabeth both were looking at the ground their faces blank as if they hadn't slept in a while.
"Are you both ok?" She asked.
"Yeah just tired," Luke muttered forcing a small smile on his face. "Lord Kronos is busy with this summer's plans. So many things to do and organize."
Annabeth shifted in her seat. "Is it true about the camp?"
"What about the camp?" She asked.
Luke took a deep breath. "Lord Kronos wants to avenge his defeats and strike at the camp."
There was silence, Annabeth avoided looking at anyone her face blank as she tried to hide her emotions. "Invade the camp?" She asked. True she had been in camp for a few months but she enjoyed her stay more or less.
Luke nodded his brow furrowing. "To strike at the gods and punish those that dare raise their swords at him." He clenched his fists his posture turning rigid. "The sons of Poseidon will be our main targets this summer, we'll take them down once and for all."
"Take them down?" She asked. "How?"
A smile spread across Luke's face. "We have many plans in place. For one we have Nico, we just have to push him until he is strong enough to face them. Two well its our current task at the moment. An enemy of Poseidon from the old days."
She was puzzled on what some animal could use against Percy and Chrysaor but she said nothing as the car drove on.
We all work for Kronos. Looking down at her hands she wondered if she could go through with it. Can I really become his host? That will surely be the end of me. A part of her was intrigued by the power she would wield while another part of her warned it would be the end of her existence.
They arrived at the meeting place. It was a dirt road on the shore of Lake Eerie. She shivered as the cold wind of the lake brushed up against her, the waters of the lake crashing against the shore.
"Alright how do we find this bird?" Annabeth asked.
Luke took out the bag they were given and through some golden dust into the air. The dust flew up into the air and formed a large scythe in the sky like a bright firework.
The three of them stood and watched the cold wind passing by them. "Look up there!" Annabeth said pointing to a formation of geese in the sky.
She squinted her eyes and watched as a rather large bird came towards them. "Is that it?" The bird flew down to them and stood proudly between them it looked like a regular goose except that its wings were the color of gold and its eyes looked too smart to be a normal animal.
Luke nodded and got onto his knees looking at the goose. "We need your help to take down Poseidon's children. Will you help us? Consider it your ultimate revenge against the god who wronged you."
The goose honked its glinting in the light before waddling over to the car. "Lets go," Luke sighed.
"This was easier than I thought," Annabeth muttered as they all got inside the car. The bird got into the car and quickly made itself at home on one of the seats.
"Don't worry I'm sure we'll have more quests in the future," Luke said smiling at them thought his eyes looked tired and fatigued.
No one said anything as they road back to the base. The bird remained quiet and didn't so much as honk at them.
Do I want to do it though? She thought of the power she would have but also the hearts she would break. Looking up at Luke her heart was conflicted. I don't know if I still feel the same about him. He is my family and Annabeth too. Can I really just abandon them now after all this?
She didn't say anything to anyone as they made it back to their base. They presented the bird to Lord Kronos who ordered them to leave so he could speak with it.
"Hey Thalia can I speak to you for a minute?" Luke asked as Annabeth headed off to her room.
"Sure what is it?" She asked
Luke led to her to another room far from prying eyes. "Thalia I want to ask you something, please be honest with me."
"What?" She was surprised by the fear and desperation in his voice.
Luke looked at her and swallowed. "Does he want you to be his host?"
Her eyes widened as she stared at him in shock. "Wh-What?"
Luke's gaze narrowed. "Does he want you to be his host?" His voice became frantic as he grabbed onto her shoulders. "Please tell me the truth."
She avoided his gaze as she let him shake her. "Yeah he has been asking me about it."
Luke's eyes widened in fear. "You too." He looked at her with a tired gaze. "Thalia please don't, I don't want you to leave us like that. It will be something you can't go back from."
She avoided his gaze. "I haven't made up my mind yet."
Luke looked at her tears falling down his face as he pulled her in for a hug. "Thalia please I don't want to lose your or Annabeth. A part of me wants to run away with you both like the old days but we aren't safe out there, the gods will kill us either way. "
Her eyes watered as she hugged him back. "We'll stay together I promise. We'll take care of each other always"
Annabeth watched Nico di Angelo summon a few dozen skeletons. The son of Hades was mastering his powers at an alarming rate and Kronos was making sure he could hold his own in a fight really fast.
"He is getting better isn't he," Alabaster said as he sat down next to her. "Soda?" The son of Hecate offered her a coke with a smile on his face.
"Thanks," she said as she accepted the soda and began to drink it to calm her nerves. "Do you think he could take on the sons of Poseidon?"
"Not Chrysaor," Alabaster said. "But maybe Percy with enough training, I hope at least. We are getting to close to swearing loyalty to Kronos, but he wants to get his sister first."
He didn't sound so sure, a part of her wondered if he was saying that in case Kronos was listening. "Well you are a good teacher," she said as Nico ordered the skeletons to fight each other.
Alabaster nodded. "Thanks. I do my best but there is only so much I can teach him before summer begins." He clenched the coke he was drinking. "I hear my siblings finally have a cabin in that camp. Those mobsters are just threatening my mom and holding them hostage."
She avoided his gaze and nodded. "Has she really joined them? The Olympians I mean."
Alabaster's face darkened. "Yeah she has. If I could I would tell her to continue fighting but those Olympic mobsters must have threatened her, my siblings, and her lovers. She always had a good heart."
"Sorry to hear about that," she said softly. Personally she didn't know how to feel about the whole ordeal. I'm the enemy of the gods, they will hunt me, Luke, Thalia, and everyone here down for what we are doing.
Alabaster grabbed her hand and smiled at her. "Come on enough sad talk want to get some lunch?"
She looked into his eyes and was surprised by the kindness in them. "You know I would like that."
AN: Yes the bird is from Greek mythology, from a story related to Poseidon that wasn't used in PJO. Fate fans will know who it is.
Also for those wondering what happened to my message criticizing the mods of R/camphalblood for harassing authors here. The site moderatos here took it down, apparently the moderators didn't like that I criticized their behavior here. I know for a fact that the moderators are the ones doing the harassment here and are lying when they say it isn't them. Either way I'm going to ignore them.
Anyway please like, review, and follow. Or just give your opinion on the state of this story.
