Hey readers. This time it's Talon centered, and since you all like him so much, I think you'll enjoy this short story.

I realize that the last chapter was pretty lackluster, and probably the weakest of this story. But I promise, this one will be better, touching up on Talon's conflictions, and some badass moments.

NiHaR OP: "hehe lets go. Those kids r AF tho"

Response: True. Thanks for the review man, your Never Bow Down Story is good, keep it up.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters (except the OC's) Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Heroes Of Olympus, or Trials Of Apollo. All of that belongs to Rick Riordan.

Takes place during Chapter sixteen of the first book, when Talon left the group, where did he go? What did he do? Well you're about to find out in this chapter of the Demigod Chronicles.

3. A Change Of Heart

Talon's POV

Driving down the highway, that damn feeling popped up again.

What's up, Talon here, you know who I am, let's skip the bullshit and get on with why you're here. To hear about my thoughts on leaving the group.

The truth was, Matt and his gang had grown on me a little. Ever since I started the hitman gig, I always did jobs solo, never bringing along a client. To say that I've been in solitude would be an understatement. As a boy I was taught the ways of this world, both normal and supernatural. But it all came down to one thing...survival. Whether it be humans or monsters you're up against, you have to know how to defend yourself, and you have to be able to do what it takes. If that means being immoral every now and then...so be it.

That was my thought process for years, so why do I now have this strange feeling inside of me? Why am I starting to believe that being moral is a priority, and doing the right thing matters?

Damn, I need to stop this nonsense, just get back to the normal swing of things. All of that is behind me now, those guys are on their own, I need to forget about them. But it was hard, they were alright by me, the first thing to a bunch of friends I've had since Mateo, Malachi, and Sera.

Mateo.

Fuck him. It still pains me to remember that bullet of mine reaching his head, his lifeless body falling to the orange ground. After all of them years, best friends, sneaking out and playing cowboy together, and none of it means anything to him. Sure, I went away for a while on that wretched Island, but that wasn't of my own will, I didn't expect him to change so much. I guess all that power got to his head.

Malachi and Sera were another story. Me and Mateo, we weren't good people, we were bounded by our family, me by Master with his constant training, and his father, a gunslinger on the reservation. We both wanted a level of freedom, we became rebellious, and did some things that I cringe at thinking about now. But Malachi and Sera were good people. They both had an equally shitty childhood to mine, and they turned out great. Malachi being the most selfless person I know, a true leader on the Island, even being raised by that psycho Primordial Ouranos wasn't enough to burn out the natural goodness inside of him. And Sera, well that girl was way, way too nice. She had been part of the Griffith Clan. A family of demigods under the snow goddess Khione. They were all horrible people, involving themselves in the worst things possible just to make money. They were rich alright, and they got it by selling demigods, selling illegal drugs meant for the godly world (Bet you didn't know about that.) And a whole bunch of other things. Well, I guess Sera was the black sheep of the family, turning out to be a normal child, she was beaten for not adapting to their way of life. But that didn't change her, she still stayed the sweet Sera she was, and eventually got sent to the Island, because her family was sick and tired of her.

I hoped Matt would be able to free her and Malachi. I wanted to see them again, but I just couldn't go back to that place. It's filled with memories good and bad, and I just don't' want to relive it. Distancing myself is the best thing to do, that way no one gets hurt.

I tried to take my mind off of things by racking my brain, thinking of hits I gathered before meeting up with Matt. I thought for a moment, and remembered one from a guy in Vegas, something about the other guy sleeping with his wife or something, and he wanted him dead. I agreed, the target being mortal, I wouldn't have to do much, but the client was a middle aged demigod, so I charged him drachmas. He was to pay me twenty. If you don't know how much a lot is in drachmas, well let me tell you that twenty is not that much, but since it's a mortal, I won't have to exert much energy, and I didn't want to rip off anyone.

So I drove all the way to Vegas, about ten miles from the strip, I figured I would call the client and let him know his nuisance was about to be dealt with, on the account of me being behind a few days.

I could drive a motorcycle well, so it was no trouble driving with one hand and holding a cell in the other.

The phone rang, and finally, a man's voice said, "Hello?"

"Hey, this is the exterminator you called, I just wanted to let you know that I'm on my way, your problem will disappear soon."

He must've been pissed at the delay, because he raised his voice, "Finally! What the hell took so long!"

A dangerous tone to take with me, "You wanna repeat that?" I growled.

He got a little nervous, realizing who he was talking to, "U-uh, no thanks. Just um, make it clean."

"Will do." I hung up.

As I was closing in on the bar the target worked at as a bartender, I got a strange feeling in my gut, like this whole thing was wrong. Why the hell was I doing this?

Shut up, you've done this for a while now, nothing new. Besides, there's money waiting for you.

But it's wrong.

It's just a mortal.

But it's a life. Remember, Mary had a life, and now she's gone.

I clenched my fists, now parked in the parking lot, staring at the neon signs above the bar. It was nighttime, although with the bright strip surrounding me, you could hardly tell.

Why the hell was I having this struggle? Why was I thinking of Mary at a time like this?

Mary was mortal.

So? This guy's fucking some dude's wife, Mary was a good person.

I shook my head, fuck this angel devil bullshit, I was going to do my job. I got off the bike, adjusted my sunglasses, and made sure my revolver was at my side, concealed in the leather jacket.

I walked to the entrance, music blaring and people drinking. I weaved through the crowd and around tables, eventually spotting the target behind the bar.

I took a seat away from the people, off to myself, so that they couldn't hear the potential conversation I was about to have. For some reason, instead of just popping the guy with a round right now, and driving off, I felt I needed a drink, and even more strangely...to hear his side of the story.

He came over, "What can I get you?"

I could go for a Coors Light, having already manipulated the mist, everyone thought I was twenty one. Yeah, Master trained me with the mist, works well when you're nineteen and love beer, also at strip clubs.

"Coors" I said, that damn music the only problem. I wish that shit would get turned off. I hated that dubstep bullshit they played all the time.

He brought me back a can of Coors, to which I cracked open and took a few sips.

He began to walk to another customer, when I called him back, "Hey buddy, c'mere a second."

He looked confused, "Um, yes sir?"

"Name's Thomas, right?"

"Yes."

"You happen to know a Bill and Maxine Staton?"

He started to sweat, "Um, I know Maxine, but I've never heard of any Bill, sir."

"That so? Cause Bill seems to think you're sleeping with his wife."

He went wide eyed, "W-What?! I had no idea she was married!"

"Don't fucking lie. You've been banging her behind his back, and he's pissed."

He put his hands up, shaking in fear, "I swear! I didn't know she was married! I-I've never heard of Bill in my life!"

I had my hand on the revolver, but something stopped me from just getting it over with and killing him. He sounded serious, and genuine. I detected no bullshit in his voice.

Who cares if he did it or not? Kill him and get the money!

But that voice inside of me was overwhelmed by this other feeling. A feeling that I couldn't place.

I took my hand off the revolver and tightened my lips. "You had no idea they were married?"

He shook his head violently, "No sir! I wouldn't have done anything with her had I known!"

He wasn't lying. I gritted my teeth, I was about to kill an innocent man.

So? The voice said again. You've probably done it before! Just kill him and get the damn money!

NO! I shouted back. Something about me had changed recently. I was now questioning my actions, and even the whole hitman life altogether, it was odd.

"Sorry for the misunderstanding." I took out some mortal cash and dropped it on the counter, walking out of the bar, feeling weirder than I ever felt, and...a little angry at Bill.

I decided to talk to him, and tell him the job was off. I found him at his car garage downtown, it was just him and some other young looking guy.

I parked my bike out front, and went into the garage. The younger guy looked at me with worry, spotting my mysterious look, and my hand near my waist.

"Get lost." I told him, he nodded and ran to the other room.

I walked up to where Bill was, under a car, doing whatever the hell those people do under there.

I nudged him with my boot. "Get out here, Bill. I gotta talk to you."

"Who the fuck is it?" Excuse me? Who the hell talks to anyone like that as a greeting? Fuck this guy. Maybe your wife was cheating on you because your an asshole. Not that I'm one to talk, but I don't have a wife, and never will probably.

"It's Talon, you dumbass."

He rolled out from under the vehicle, not looking frightened at me, I guess he thought that I would be taller or something, because he wasn't nearly as scared as he was on the phone.

"I don't see any blood on you. Did you kill him?"

I leaned on the car with my hand, "Here's the thing about that, I talked to him. Which is something I never do with targets, but this time it paid off, because I found out he never knew your wife was married."

He scoffed, "Bullshit! He's lying! Did you shoot him?"

"No I didn't fucking shoot him. He was telling the truth, I can tell when people are lying by the way they move and talk, and he wasn't. I ain't killing an innocent man." My next words came with some thought, but I was sure it was what I was thinking, "I'm actually thinking about quitting this gig altogether."

He punched the table nearby, "FUCK!" He turned on me, two inches taller, trying to intimidate, "What the hell is your problem? Have you been pussified or something? I've heard you've never quit a job!"

I fought down the urge to beat him to a pulp at the pussy comment, but for some reason, I kept my cool. "Get someone else to do it if you want him gone so bad. But I would suggest fixing things with your wife. You seem to be the problem, maybe you're not satisfying her."

His face went red, "You fucker! I'll kill you!" He grabbed a tire iron and swung it at me. I easily knocked it out of his hand and kicked his leg, bringing him to one knee. I brought my fist down on his face, bloodying his nose.

Normally, I would have shot the bastard in the head, but that damn feeling came over me again, every since meeting Matt and his crew, I just...ain't the same.

"Find someone else." I growled, shoving him to the floor, "That's all I'm gonna say." I walked off, back to my bike. Him yelling curses at me and flipping me off, but I paid no attention, I just drove off into the night, knowing where I needed to go next to clear my head.

Home.

It took a long ass time, but I finally made it to Texas, back to the reservation, where I grew up.

Not long ago, I was here with the gang on that quest. I wondered if they were at the Island by now. I hoped they were.

I had the sudden feeling of guilt. Like I should be helping them.

I ignored it, and thought about the things I missed. I hadn't had time to just be here peacefully when we came on the quest. It would be different this time though.

By the time I got to the Reservation, it was evening, near sunset, a perfect time to visit her.

Mary.

Mary was my girlfriend years ago to those who don't know. We were young, I thought she was the prettiest thing, and apparently she saw something in me, because for a while we were inseparable. I remember being so happy then, all the time, a foreign thing now. Of course, she was taken from me. A basilisk attacked the town, and ended up getting her, crushing her small body with it's jaws, she never stood a chance. She had only been twelve.

I remember screaming in pain and agony at seeing her lifeless body, I remember wanting to cause that damn snake so much suffering, but Master shot it dead before I had the chance. I had no one to let my anger and bitterness out on, so I just sobbed and held her body. The memory of it haunts me to this day.

She was buried near the town, in a cemetery for those that fell over the years, either by monster attacks, or natural causes. The ones by monster attack were the majority though.

Last time I visited was well...damn, when I had that argument with Master after I escaped the Island. That was over two years ago. I hated that we argued, and now he was dead too. I should have understood that he tried to save me, and I could've come back, avoided killing so many for money, took care of Mary's grave, and had a better relationship with Master.

Was I over her? Yes. Years of mourning take a toll, but I am over her. That doesn't mean it will do any good though. I can't imagine a girl stupid enough to like me the way I am now, so I might as well forget the whole damn romance thing, it's not my style anyway. I ain't Percy, Malachi, or Matt. I'll never have an Annabeth, a Sera, or a Harper, I'll just be alone, and that's fine.

No, it's not.

Shit, I'm so confused.

I had to keep going, visiting her will help me, I know it. I went to the old general store to get some flowers for her grave, as the ones on there from two years ago were no doubt dead now. I was walking toward it, when all of a sudden I heard a scream from the field next to me.

I turned my head to the source, it sounded like a kid. I then heard another voice, well not a voice, more like a roar thing, or a bellow.

I ran to it, eventually stumbling on the scene, two children were on the ground, screaming their heads off at the monsters before them. Two Chupacabras. Which I know sounds weird, since those aren't Greek monsters, their American. But I was taught that beings from other spectrums exist, and they can cross over. I've seen plenty of Chupacabras over the years, and even one Wendigo.

Chupacabras are known for drinking the blood of animals, they look like large freaky dogs, I guessed the kids had accidentally crossed paths with them, and the dogs turned hostile. They may kill animals, but if provoked, they will attack humans.

They were stalking towards them, sharp teeth bared, snarling and ready to kill. I wasn't going to allow that. I pulled out my revolver and aimed it at the Chupacabras, firing two rounds to each head, dropping them instantly. The gunshots caused the children to yelp and jump, the boom of the sound echoed across the plain.

I stuck my pistol back in it's holster, and walked up to the kids.

"Ya'll alright?" I asked, my hands up a little, to show I wasn't a monster.

They shook in fear, not responding. It was a boy and a girl, probably brother and sister, because they looked alike.

I got down to their level, "It's okay, their gone. I ain't gonna hurt ya."

They seemed to calm down a bit, but were still scared out of their minds, couldn't blame them.

"My name's Talon. What were you guys doing out here?"

The boy postured himself a little, to save his sister from having to speak. "W-we were just playing."

I nodded, "Alright, well you need to get on home."

The sister spoke up in a high voice, "Will you take us home, mister?"

I hesitated, normally I would have just let them be on their way, but they were asking me for help? I ain't about that sappy shit, helping children get home. So why did I feel compelled to help them?

I caved, sighing, "Yeah, sure, I'll take ya'll home."

I helped them up and led them through town, it was now near dark, and they led me to their house. A group of them sat next to the row of buildings in town, small houses next to each other like a trailer park, they showed me which one was theirs.

When we got to it, the door opened immediately and who I guessed to be their mother and father ran out and scooped them up, crying and hugging them tightly. I just stood there awkwardly, taking my sunglasses off. If I take my sunglasses off, it means I get serious, and if there's an emotional moment, I like to look someone directly in the eye, so there's the reason for that, if you were wondering.

"W-where were they?!" The mother asked.

"In a field, ma'am. A couple of Chupacabras attacked them, their alright, no one got hurt."

"Oh, lord." The father said, cradling his son, "You saved them, th-thank you so much."

I waved him off, not used to thanks, "Ah, it was nothing."

He shook his head, "No, no, let us give you something, we have money-"

"No, that's not necessary. You just keep them inside and...have a good night." I waved at them awkwardly, and walked away.

I was feeling odd, and not making much sense of what I just did. Or anything about the recent events. I needed to clear my head.

I walked to the general store like I had planned, and got some roses, Mary's favorite from what I remember, and what was usually on her grave.

I stepped out, the night surprisingly bright, and made my way to the graveyard.

I had her location marked by memory, a small cross near the middle, with a flower holder by it's side. I finally got in front of it, noticing the dead flowers, I took them out and got on my knees, not caring if my jeans got messed up. I placed the new flowers next to the cross, and stared at it, remembering a lot of things, the good times specifically.

I took a breath, and just let it out.

"Hey, Mary. Been a long time."

The grave didn't reply, and I might be crazy to talk to it, but I felt that if I did, I might make sense of all of these new feelings.

I continued, "Sorry I haven't visited for so long. I've been...busy. I met some interesting people, people...that have made me see things differently."

I looked up, seemingly into the distance, "I don't really know what the hell I'm talking about, or what I'm supposed to do. I just...wonder if I'm meant for something. I never told you who my father was, but I just feel like I have to be like him, a hero. But the thing is...I'm not."

But you can try. A voice said, and it wasn't mine.

I was shook, it kind of sounded like Mary, but that was impossible right?

"What?" I said, but nothing else came. It could've been the wind, or something else, but I could've swore that I heard something in my head.

I shook my head, "I've made a lot of bad choices, but maybe I can set things right. I don't know. Ever since I escaped the Island, I've had so much guilt bottled up inside, and I just sat around, killing people for money, and not having a purpose."

I couldn't help but smile a little, "But the thing is...I want a purpose. I want to do something significant, I don't want to be an assassin. I want to be...well, something else."

And I could do that. By helping Matt.

I knew that if I wanted to change, I needed to go back, I needed to help them. Whatever the risk, this was the way.

"I...think I know what I need to do." I said, nodding to myself, it was becoming more clear.

I still sat there, gathering my thoughts, and just sitting there with her. I could feel myself moving on, and maybe escaping the shell of my former self. I know that sounds weird as hell, but that was just how I felt.

After a few minutes of just sitting there, I felt a new sense, a sense of importance. I knew what I had to do to start changing, I had to go back to the Island, and help them. I had to help my new friends...and my old friends.

I got up, dusted my jeans off, and smiled at Mary's grave.

"Thanks, Mary." I gazed at it a little longer, for maybe the last in a long time, and I walked toward my motorcycle, sure of my next destination.

I got on, cranked the engine, and rode off into the night.

Next stop, The Cursed Island.

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