Ch43

Luke's heart raced in his chest as he looked at the River Styx. His stomach turned, a part of him told him to go ahead while most of him was still scared to try. "Hurry up my dad could sense us," Nico di Angelo said.

He nodded. The son of Hades had taken him to his mother to get her blessing and now he was going to do the final step. Achilles had just warned him not to enter but he needed this more than anything. "Here I go," he said taking his clothes off. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Nico's face redden and he swore the son of Hades licked his lips while averting his gaze.

As soon as his feet touched the water he fell face down and was immediately pulled in. He wanted to scream in pain, it spread throughout his body but then the memories came to him.

Luke come back. He saw Thalia's face, her lovely face as she reached down and gripped his cheek. I love you.

Then Annabeth's face appeared. Luke please protect us.

This is for them. He forced himself to think of them, they were the reason he fought, the reason he wanted to change this horrid world. Thalia and Annabeth are my family. I love them both with all of my heart.

A wave of peace hit him as a strange power washed over all of him except for a place in his armpit. Anything for them.


Annabeth frowned as she sat at the table eating breakfast alone. Where are they? It seemed that Luke and Thalia had been avoiding her lately, going out and doing things in secret. Am I just the third wheel now?

She frowned thinking of what they could be doing. Could Kronos be sending them on a quest? It was a possibility.

"Hey you ok?" Alabaster asked as he sat next to her.

"Yeah just tired," She sighed. "Have you seen Luke or Thalia?"

"I think they were inspecting some monsters. I hear they will do another expedition into the labyrinth," Alabaster said.

She nodded. Luke told her that Kronos was going to use the labyrinth more often. He didn't tell her how he got it but apparently now that he has the String of Ariadne they could transverse it. He is planning something big, just what is it? More importantly why had Luke only insisted on taking Thalia with him to get it?

"Anyway I could take you to Luke if you want," Alabaster offered as they finished their food. "We were both working on ways to improve our ability to transverse the labyrinth."

"Sure," she said. What is keeping him so busy?

Alabaster led her out of the hide out and towards a large area of grass where she found Luke talking with some cheerleaders. She froze, her blood boiled upon seeing them. "I said no Kelli," Luke sighed as the empousa put a hand on his shoulder a playful smile on her face.

"Come on Luke just a quick date," Kelli pouted. "I promise I won't kill you this time."

"I said no. Not after what you did last time," Luke said. "Now why don't you go and do the mission you and your sisters were assigned to."

"Luke," She said doing her best to keep the anger out of her voice.

Luke nearly jumped as he turned around to face her his eyes betraying tension. "Oh Annabeth what are you doing here?"

She folded her arms as Alabaster looked away awkwardly. "I was wondering where you went." Kelli and her sisters gave her a catty smirk which made her blood boil even more.

Luke rubbed the back of his head. "Oh I uh was just working with Kelli and her sister on are next plans. Do you want to help?"

"I see," she said coolly. "Sorry but I was going to spend the day with Alabaster."

Both boys looked shocked as she grabbed Alabaster by the arm and pulled him away. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Luke's shocked face twist in anger.

"S-Sorry I didn't know he was with them," Alabaster said. "I don't think its serious, no one would be foolish enough to go out with them."

"I don't care," she muttered. "Is Thalia around here?"

"I haven't seen her. She might be in her room," Alabaster said as she stopped pulling him. The son of Hecate rubbed his hand and avoided her gaze sheepishly. "So do you really want to help me out?"

"Sure why not?" She said folding her arms. It's not like I have anything else to do here. "What are you doing?" It wasn't easy to hide the anger in her voice, first Luke avoids her and now he is being too chummy with monster girls, she desperately wanted to stab something.

"I was looking over plans for the invasion," Alabaster said as he lead her to a room full of charts and various parchments.

She looked around the room the smell of parchment making her feel at home. "What invasion?"

"Didn't Luke tell you? The one to invade the demigod camp," Alabaster said with a frown.

She froze a part of her long frozen wept. "The camp?"

Alabaster nodded and showed her a map of the camp. "We'll strike through the labyrinth through Zeus' Fist and defeat the enemy demigods once and for all."

She slowly nodded her insides numb. Chiron. She winced at the memory of the centaur, her siblings, and her friends at camp.

"You ok?" Alabaster asked.

"Y-Yeah it's just old memories," She muttered. "I lived there for ages with Luke." She chose her words carefully, right now more than ever.

"I see," Alabaster sighed. "I never went there, our mother always said since she didn't have a cabin she wasn't welcome we shouldn't bother going." Alabaster's face then contorted into anger. "Then suddenly those mobsters capture and threaten her and suddenly she is rewarded with one."

She winced at his words. Hecate's defection along with some of her children was still a sore spot for Alabaster. "Sorry to hear about that," She said softly.

"Us children of the minor gods were nothing," Alabaster said glaring at the map. "We were treated as less than worthless because we weren't children of the major gods." His eyes were a mixture of anger and resentment his body shook as he glared at the small cabin for Hecate located not far from the other cabins.

"I'm sorry you and your family were so disrespected," She said softly. The memory of the full Hermes Cabin was still in her head. Their solemn faces knowing that despite being claimed they would never have a cabin of their own.

"Anyway enough of that," Alabaster said shaking his head. "What do you think so far? I have a list of regiments that we will be using along with the number of estimated troops needed to wipe the enemy out."

He handed her a series of papers which she looked over cautiously. Her stomach turned at the number of monsters and demigods that would be used for the invasion. "The forces used are more than double the number of campers," she said softly her body trembling as she looked over the number of troops. The camp would get destroyed. Her body turned numb, despite everything deep down she didn't want the camp destroyed.

"I know," Alabaster said. "Nico and something else Lord Kronos is working on will be a major part of it too." The son of Hecate scratched his head as he looked at the map. "We out number the enemy but I wonder if that is enough."

"I don't know what else you could do," She said softly. "I mean I assume Mr. D would be there but I'm not sure."

"Yeah I know," Alabaster said. "Our camp spy said that he has been visiting the minor gods, hopefully he stays away. If not it would be troublesome. But Lord Kronos is working to make sure he isn't at camp so other than that we should be good."

She nodded and set the papers down. "The camp is strong don't underestimate it."

Alabaster nodded. "I'm not. Those sons of Poseidon are a troublesome duo, it wouldn't surprise me if they pulled something off at the last minute."

She winced. The memory of Percy's dark glare sent shivers down her spine. When she met him for the first time she thought he was kind of cute and he was still attractive but the way he stared at her last winter made it clear he saw her nothing more than an enemy that must be killed.

"Apparently their father locked my mother up and convinced her to join them," Alabaster said shaking his head. "I don't know if she means it or not but I can't believe she sold her dignity out like that."

She shifted where she stood and looked at the map. "Will it be hard to fight against your siblings?"

Alabaster frowned. "I don't know, a little. I mean I did know some of them but not all of them. What about you?"

She winced. "A little." From what she learned her siblings in the Athena Cabin were punished because of her. It wouldn't surprise me if they hate me.

To her surprise Alabaster placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him and saw a sympathetic gaze. "I know it must be difficult, but you have a family here too." The son of Hecate's gaze then shifted temporarily. "I'm also here if you need it."

She smiled at him. "Thanks. I appreciate you helping me."

Staring into each other's eyes the kindness and warmth in them made her heart flutter as they leaned in closer to each other. Alabaster was cunning but his smile was kind and warm. Her heart raced a bit as they both inched closer to each other. She didn't know what she was thinking as she inched closer. His kind eyes were warm and comforting, Alabaster eventually moved to hold her hand, it was soft and comforting.

"Annabeth!"

They both froze. Turning to the door she saw Thalia and Luke staring at her. Her mouth was agape as she tried to form a response. Thalia gave her a knowing smile and avoided looking at her. However, Luke's face was red with anger.

"Get away from her!" Luke yelled as he drew his sword his body shaking as he charged at Alabaster.

"Hey Luke calm down," Thalia said trying to restrain him.

"L-Luke please we were just talking," she said tears forming in her eyes.

Alabaster nodded but Luke's face was contorted in anger. "YOU DARE TOUCH HER? WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

"Hey man chill we were just having a good time," Alabaster said raising his arms.

"Luke please!" She yelled tears falling down her face.

Luke looked like she just slapped him across the face. He lowered his sword and sheathed it, his body shaking as he turned around and stormed off.

"I'll go talk to him," Thalia said softly as she hurried after Luke.

As soon as they left she fell to the ground tears falling down her face. "I'm sorry," Alabaster said kneeling down next to her.

He wrapped an arm around her, his touch was soft and she let him hold onto her. "They say we are a family yet I know they leave me out of things," she muttered cleaning her face with a tissue Alabaster gave her.

"Well I'm always here if you need it," Alabaster said softly. "If need me I'll be there for you."


"Luke calm down," Thalia begged as she watched him stab a dummy with his sword.

"HOW DARE HE!" Luke slashed at the dummy hacking the head off.

"They weren't doing anything. So what if she wanted to kiss him," Thalia said.

Luke flinched. He turned to her his gaze cold as ice. "We are a family I won't let anyone else touch her."

She sighed. Luke please calm down. "Well maybe she just feels lonely. We have been keeping our secret from her."

Luke nodded and sheathed his sword. She went up to him and wrapped her arms around his shaking body. "Calm down, she is growing up. As a family we should support each other."

"I can't lose either of you," Luke said softly wrapping a hand around her. "I won't let anyone take advantage of you or her."

She flinched at the cold edge of his tone but held him tightly. "I know you will protect us. Just make sure you don't lose yourself."

Looking into his eyes she swore she saw a flicker of fear in them. Luke's hands shook as they held onto her. "I won't let anyone harm either of you." Luke sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry it's just when I saw them I thought he was going to take advantage of her, I can't let that happen to her."

She smiled at him. "I think Annabeth is old enough to know if a guy is trying to take advantage of her."

Luke gave her a small smile. "I know. But she still is that little girl who followed us a long time ago."

She cleaned her face as the memories of their past filled her head. A different more carefree time. Despite not wanting to admit it, neither Luke nor Annabeth seemed happy.

"Come on lets do something together like the old days," she said grabbing his hand. "But you really should apologize to Annabeth later."

Luke nodded. "Fine. I'll apologize to Annabeth later."

"Great come on lets do something fun while we still can," she said.


While she slept Lou Ellen daughter of Hecate felt a familiar presence. Her dream shifted until she was on the top of a mountain underneath a starry sky. A familiar woman holding a torch stood at the edge of the cliff. "Mother is that you?"

Her mother Hecate turned to her and nodded. "Hello dear." Her tone was neutral, Hecate could be kind and stern right now she could tell it was the latter.

"Mother what is it?" She asked.

Hecate sighed and looked up at the sky. "There were many paths I could've taken. Agency is something interesting, one small change can change the world."

She stared at her mom contemplating her words. Hecate turned to her with a calm gaze. "I know it must be hard for you all at the camp given my treason."

She avoided her gaze. "People just need to warm up to us."

Her mother sighed. "The Olympians were furious at what I was doing. They threatened to kill every single child of mine and I knew that they would. I saw it in my visions, many of you dead."

"Mother," she said softly. She knew that many of siblings were still on the enemy side, not all had decided to join her at camp.

"I sided with the Olympians last time," Hecate said her gaze firm. "My dear Lou you must protect your siblings. I want the world to know that my children have merit. I want the campers and Olympians to see that. Can you help me with that?"

She was surprised by her mother's words but nodded. "I will mother."

Hecate smiled at her. "Be safe my darling. Work well for our family."