Hestia's calming reassurance helped Thalia feel more free than she had in a long time. Her soul did not simply feel protected and cradled. It was as though Thalia's volatile cauldron of emotions had been enlarged, caressed by the hands of the mother she still desperately craved. Yet, as the days had passed and she and Percy had fallen into their routine of training and planning, she couldn't help the guilt that began to nip at her.

Her past sins refused to let her rest, slithering their way into her mind whenever she was alone. She had stopped voicing the concern aloud, hoping that her silence could force her inner voice into submission, but it still whispered to her in the night, calling her a monster. Her new scars were a reminder of who she used to be, and she couldn't help but ache as she saw Percy's as well. It was her fault he needed to suffer for her, even though he would never complain. The scars were a testimony of their shared burden.

It was sickening, but she knew deep down that her father was right. The mantle of leadership called to her. If she was in charge, things would be different. Things would happen on her own terms. That thought, paired with the rage fueled by Luke's betrayal, made her feel dizzy when she thought about it for too long.

Percy seemed less inclined towards power. But since he'd shared Zoe's letter, he'd seemed to warm up to the idea, or at least gain some confidence towards it. Thalia thought he was a natural. Without even trying, all of the Camp looked up to him. Whether it was Capture the Flag or sparring, he commanded respect; the quiet strength he radiated simply demanded it.

It was one of the reasons why, when he promised he'd keep her safe, she believed him. She'd never believed anyone else before. Even Luke's promise felt more like hope at the time; the wistful fantasies of two broken children wandering in the forest.

She was meant to be brainstorming now. She'd woken up early and hadn't been able to fall back to sleep, instead resolving to strategize and guess at whatever was coming next. Instead, she found her mind drifting into a daydream. An image of her and Percy, side by side on thrones, solidified in her psyche.

By day, they wore beautiful crowns and glimmering clothing, hers colored in rich purples and blues, and his in striking greens and deep blacks.

By night, the two of them lay in their bed, tangled in silk sheets and nothing else-

She blushed hard, her mind switching from her daydream to her conversation with Hestia. You seem to have found a nice boy, she had said. Thalia nearly snorted at that. She hadn't found him, he'd come crashing into her life. And if anything, she had come along kicking and screaming. Then there was the fact that they hadn't even discussed what they were.

The shock that he didn't hold romantic feelings for Annabeth still hadn't worn off, and she had yet to broach the subject.

She inhaled sharply, mentally scolding herself at the pinch of loss that came whenever thoughts of Annabeth crossed her mind. Stop it, she thought. You don't have time to think about it.

Her mind looped back to what she and Percy were to each other. They clearly cared about one another. She hoped the attraction she felt wasn't one sided, but at the same time, the thought of being his, and of him being hers, made her stomach do somersault.

She hated and loved the way he made her feel. She wanted to zap him, kiss him, and fight him all at once, and it made her dizzy.

Her mind drifted back to their fight at Westover. Make me. The words had practically been a command. Even now, recalling it made her shiver in ways that forced her thighs together. She could remember how his lips had been pressed into a pout, and she wondered how they would have felt against her own.

The memory of Percy pressed behind her, his sword against her throat, barreled through her mind, unprompted but not unwelcome. She had been completely at his mercy. It was strangely liberating, knowing that there was nothing she could do and the one she trusted was completely in control.

She mentally cursed herself for the way her pulse rushed as the memory flooded through her. She bit her lip against the urge to beg for more, even in her thoughts.

She blushed again. These feelings plagued her, asleep or awake. Since talking with Hestia, Percy bombarded her dreams nearly every night. Flirting with her, fighting with her. Countless different futures that left her excited and frustrated in equal measure.

She recalled the dream she'd awoken from early this morning; remembered the way his shirt rode up as he swung his sword. It had given her butterflies, even in the dream. Even as she had run her hands up his body, pausing when he smirked down at her. He had held his sword against her, backed her to a wall, and kissed her senseless. She could still feel the cold, sharp prick of the sword at her throat, the bold of arousal that had lit her body up like she was on fire. Could still hear herself practically whimpering against his mouth, begging for more, even as she knew it would never be enough.

Heat spread through her body at the memories. She didn't have time to think this way; not with the rapidly approaching war, and especially not with the sweetest, most infuriating boy she'd ever met.

She was a moment away from pinching herself when Percy's voice broke through her reverie.

"You alright?" His morning voice was low and gravelling, sending a shiver through her. "You've been staring off into space for, like, five minutes."

She pulled the hood of her blue hoodie up over her head, hiding her now-red face from him.

"Just thinking about the prophecy," she lied. "What do you think it means?"

Percy sighed, his body full of tension as he sat up in bed.

"I don't know," he said at last. "I don't know why Apollo thinks I've got Prophecy or whatever, it's just as alien to me as it was when Chiron first told us. Hell, even the prophecy from before I went to rescue you doesn't feel complete yet."

Thalia's heart sank. It wasn't his fault; besides, it wasn't like she had gotten any further in deciphering their next move. She could practically hear his mind whirring while his scarred hands fidgeted absentmindedly. She wasn't sure if he remembered, but he was repeating the first signs she had taught him in his dreamscape.

His pursed lips slowly morphed into a small grin, and she knew he had remembered something important.

"What is it?" She prodded.

Percy rubbed the back of his neck and averted her inquisitive gaze. "Uh, I still don't know what it means," he began, hiding his wince. "When I was, you know, beneath the sky. I heard a voice talking about 'Those who take me divided shall find themselves ripped apart'."

Thalia shuddered at the reminder of her own weakness. She had accepted the offer and relinquished her resistance. As a result, the sky burrowed into her and nearly dissolved her soul.

The temptation had been so simple. It was her mother, smiling brightly in a way she'd never seen before, telling her to come with her, that they were going home to Jason. She knew it was impossible, but the agony had diminished her ability to parse out the details. She had reached out in desperation, the hunger to see him again overriding her objections. Then, just like the rest of her hopes and dreams, she was crushed as Artemis took the burden.

"Yeah," she said tersely. "I heard it too." She looked at her own hands before hiding them in the sleeves of Percy's hoodie. The brand on her skin brought a tightness to her throat that she couldn't seem to shake.

Percy nodded knowingly, reassuringly, as he reached over and rubbed her leg. His gaze wasn't on his hand, on the black streaks lining his veins, but right into her eyes. His gaze searched her own, his jaw clenching and unclenching a few times before he finally sighed.

"Well, there were these siren things, and they kept trying to make me let go." His eyes were fixed on the floor now. "But I kept telling them no. Because I took the sky to save you, so you know, I couldn't just give up." Pink crept along his cheeks as he spoke. "So I just pictured your face, and it gave me the resolve to continue."

Her heart melted as if Percy held it in his hands. Her mind quieted as she took in his words. A pang of guilt shot through her at the thought that she had never done anything like that for him. But then she glanced up and he was looking at her again, like they were the only two people in the universe. She studied him, taking in his messy black hair and tired green eyes.

She could feel the weight of her silence as Percy began shifting, like he was worried he had said the wrong thing. She shot him a smile, and he perked up instantly. She melted again; she really didn't deserve his affection.

"Well, I guess you're stronger than me," she joked. "I couldn't take it anymore."

Percy moved to sit beside her on the bed and pulled her into a hug. "I get it," he said into her hair. "Believe me, you and I are the only living people who understand." He looked toward the ceiling. "I guess Annabeth does too, at least to some extent, with the actual Sirens."

Thalia nodded, allowing the warmth of his arms to silence the broken, jagged thoughts racing through her mind. She bit her lip, willing the tears forming in her eyes to go away. If she could wish for anything, she'd stop time forever, in this moment.

She allowed herself another breath to compose herself before pulling away.

"What happened after?" She asked softly.

Percy sighed and looked away, a war of emotions raging on his face. The bed began shaking, and a moment later she realized it was the whole cabin, as Percy's powers flooded into the earth beneath them. A muscle twitched in his neck as he fought to calm his breathing.

She stiffened. This was a pattern, she had noticed. When he was fighting himself on what to tell her, his earthshaker powers tended to slip away from him. She squeezed his arm comfortingly, trying to convey that he could tell her anything, and that he could stop when he needed to.

"That's the thing, I don't really know," he said. His voice was barely more than a whisper, and Thalia wasn't sure she was supposed to hear the next part. "I don't really know anything anymore," he lamented, his voice breathy.

Thalia looked over him. Gone was his usual strong, calm demeanor. He was fidgeting, shifting and restless, lost in thought.

Her own mind raced, desperate to help somehow.

"I have an idea," she began cautiously. "Why don't you try praying in the cabin again, just like Zoe suggested? Something tells me it'll work this time."

Percy sighed, the sound weary. "I've tried every single night," he said. "I never get anything."

Something in her mind told her to keep pressing.

"Do you trust me?" She asked.

Percy nodded.

"Then just try one more time. For me," She said. "I can't explain it, but it just feels like it's what we're supposed to do. Like it's our destiny."

The corners of his lips quirked upward. "Are you sure that you don't have prophecy?"

Thalia shrugged, but she couldn't keep the smile off of her face. "Just trust me. I don't have all the answers."

"Oh?" Percy raised a brow. "The mighty Thalia Grace admitting she doesn't know something? Who are you, and what have you done with Thalia?"

"I'm right here, asshole," Thalia said, trying to look fierce, and failing as a smile spread across her face. "Do I need to kick your ass again?"

"Again? There was a first time?" Percy said, sticking his tongue out. "I'm two for two in our sparring matches."

Thalia threw her hands up in exasperation. "Whatever," she said. "You still need to finish your story about how you can shoot fucking lightning now."

Percy smirked, although his face looked pained at the reminder. Thalia's stomach dropped, and she averted her gaze, wanting to escape the regret that gnawed at her for reminding him.

"After I refused to give in," he said softly, "it gets a little hazy. But once I broke the spell, Ouranos spoke to me. He was the one who said all the cryptic things about being torn apart. Then he started talking weirdly about how he was nothing but a remnant, only conscious of those holding him. He said there was something he always wanted to try, and then he was silent." He winced, rubbing his shoulders. "I don't really remember what happened. It got lost in…everything."

Thalia nodded. She took his scarred hand in her own and squeezed it.

"Kinda badass you got to meet him," she said. "Maybe he blessed you or something. I definitely didn't get that treatment." She shivered. "If anything, he seemed disappointed in me. But that's not really a new experience. The gods being disappointed in us."

"No, it isn't," Percy's voice was harsh. "But that's always the fucking problem."

He sighed, giving her hand a comforting squeeze. His eyes found her and seemed to soften in apology. His rough fingers rubbed patterns on her knuckles as he took a few deep breaths.

"I'm sorry," he said after a second. "I just need a minute."

Thalia nodded, watching as he stood from the bed. She studied him as he pulled on his camp tee, laced up his shoes, and left. She burrowed deeper into his hoodie, wishing she could stem the resentment in his eyes.

"This is all your fault, you know." The voice appeared clearly in Thalia's mind, but there was no one around except Amalthea. She frowned, the goat's appearance a mystery. The first and only time Amalthea appeared was after she ran away with Luke. Amalthea guided her and Luke to Annabeth and Grover to take her to Camp. The goat had never before appeared in a dream.

"What do you mean?" Thalia asked, suddenly unsure. "I thought you were supposed to help me."

"I serve your father," Amalthea bleated, her noises translated into English. "And he is not happy with you."

Thalia's jaw tensed. She held respect for the goat that had saved her life. However, knowing Amalthea was sent by her father made her want to curse the animal immediately.

"What's my fault?" Thalia spat. "I already know I'm a monster. I don't give a fuck what Zeus wants."

Amalthea bowed slightly as if she was disappointed. "Then you will find out shortly. AWAKE!"

Thalia woke with a start, her heart pounding in her head. Pounding rain battered against the windows of the cabin, and she frowned. A slight breeze and some frost were usually the extent of extreme weather patterns within the Camp's borders. Now, it was as if a hurricane had moved in. She glanced over at Percy's bed, and her heart dropped. He was gone, his blankets scattered like he had jumped out of bed at a moment's notice.

She quickly threw on one of Percy's hoodies and some sweatpants to combat the elements. Amalthea's warning rang out, and a cryptic sense of dread filled her as she tugged on her boots. Her fingers twitched as her anxiety became nervous energy in her muscles, like an electric bomb waiting to go off. She grabbed her can of mace containing her spear and Aegis. Her instincts told her to prepare for a fight. If Percy hadn't returned yet, then that meant something was seriously wrong. He could turn any minor threats into mincemeat with just a thought.

The shrill call of an Eagle sounded, filling her veins with ice. A shadow passed over the window briefly, and the sheer size of it froze her in place for a moment. It sounded angry. Amalthea's warning suddenly became clear. Zeus was unhappy, and he was willing to sacrifice Camp to teach her a lesson.

Hot rage began to fill her as blue electricity danced up and down her arms. Hadn't her father taken enough from her? Was he really so petty that he'd be willing to kill her friends just so she'd sleep in his stupid fucking cabin?

Her mind cleared, the world suddenly moving in slow motion as a perverse calm swept over her. She swung the cabin door open, a wicked smile painted across her face. If Zeus was going to play dirty, so could she. She would gut her father's annoying pet and boast to the high heavens that she had done so.

As she stepped into the whipping rain, she swelled with energy. She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the piercing smell of ozone. Her pupils widened, body thrumming with energy as she surveyed the scene before her.

Ahead of her, on the outside border of her pine tree, Percy stood panting, glaring at the massive white eagle hovering above him, squawking angrily and pounding its giant wings. His voice was mostly lost between the wind and the force of the beast's wings, but Thalia made out bits and pieces as she ran for him, can of mace at the ready.

"Go fuck yourself… you stupid bird," Percy taunted. "...or come down here."

As if sensing her approach, the eagle turned its attention to Thalia, its beady eyes staring her down. It opened its giant beak; the sound that came out was a bird's call, but she understood it perfectly.

You know your sins, The Caucasian Eagle roared. You have displeased your father. This is your final warning. Return and take up your mantle, or Lord Zeus will revoke his protection.

Rage threatened to bubble over, but Thalia forced herself to take a deep breath. Sparks flew from her fingers and she breathed again. Percy had approached, a few cautious steps away now. He sent her a warning look and she forced the harsh emotions down.

She looked back at the eagle and finally noticed the myriad of cuts and slashes littering its wings and neck. Golden ichor splattered to the ground in the rain; the same gold blood that dripped from Riptide, and understanding crashed over her.

In a fight on the ground, Percy would win, but he had no way of following the animal to the skies. Tiny red flickers leapt from his palms, almost hesitantly. Despite herself, Thalia smiled.

"Fat chance," she yelled, turning back to the eagle. Percy raised a brow at her, but she ignored him; she could fill him in later. "Why would I listen to the man who abandoned me?"

Because you have no choice, the eagle screeched, circling the pair. If you care about your friends, you will return to your cabin.

"Thanks, but I've already found my cabin," Thalia snarled. "It's with the god who was more of a father than Zeus ever was."

The eagle seemed to bow, and while he had no lips, she could have sworn it was smiling.

Then you leave me no other options. I have my orders.

The eagle perched itself on the top of the tree, surveying Camp as if choosing its next target. Its hungry eyes looked toward the Big House. Percy was now standing beside her, jaw and body tensed as the earth rumbled beneath them.

They both followed the eagle's gaze to the soft purple glow visible through the upper windows of the Big House. Fucking Dionysus.

Percy's knowing smirk was all the approval she needed. Black and electric blue danced in the edge of her vision as her body vibrated with energy.

She turned her gaze back to the bird, deploying her spear. "If you want to get to Camp, you've gotta get through us."

The Caucasian Eagle spread its wings, its golden ichor falling to the ground like giant raindrops. Thalia tensed at the animal readying itself to strike. The thought of surrendering and moving to the Zeus cabin briefly crossed her mind, but the electric rage filling her veins quickly squashed that thought. Her home was being threatened. And by the man who had the audacity to claim all the privileges of fatherhood without any of the responsibilities.

She narrowed her eyes as the wind and rain pelted her hair. Thrums of energy coursed through her spear as she pulled out Aegis. The turbulent air currents felt like wind tunnels; she could feel them perfectly, as though they were an extension of her fingers. Experimentally, she sent a tendril of lightning through one. To her delight, it followed the wind tunnel perfectly.

She narrowed her eyes on the massive eagle in front of her, its enormous wings using the air currents to hover. Tentatively, she reached out and grabbed them, pulling at them.

With glee, she watched the massive feathered flyer stumble in the air. A wave of dizziness rushed her, her body unfamiliar with this new ability. Despite the discomfort, a smile crossed her face. This bird was in her element now; she could batter it with the wind and never even lift her spear.

Percy nodded encouragingly, moving to stand in front of her and redirect the bird's attention. Riptide was glowing red, the black streak standing out in harsh contrast.

She felt nearly drunk with power as she continued to pull and pinch at the air currents. She flashed Aegis towards the sky, but the eagle didn't so much as blink at it.

At that moment the beast dove from the sky. Thalia rushed past Percy, shield braced in front of her as the eagle's massive beak collided with a resounding clang that had aftershocks rushing up her arms. She grit her teeth against the discomfort, shaking the water from her eyes as she looked skyward. The eagle had flown up so high that it was little more than a blurry speck in the clouds.

Percy gave an empty laugh. "Maybe you scared it off?"

Thalia smirked. "He's a little baby if I did, but–oh shit!"

The little speck was rapidly growing larger until it was apparent that the gargantuan bird was dive bombing them. Thalia raised her shield to cover her head, the eagle a white blur in her vision. Thunder crashed all around her as they collided again. Thalia cried out, fiery pain shooting up her arm as the eagle took off again.

Grimacing, she flexed her hand in its holster. It shook in response, weak but not mangled.

"Fucker," Thalia spat.

"You good?" Percy called out. His eyes were fixed upwards, tracking the bird.

"Fractured my arm," Thalia said. "Hurts like a bitch, but I can still move."

Percy nodded, concern flashing across his features. "Okay," he said. "Just be careful, please."

"We're fighting a ten-foot Eagle, and you want me to be careful. Got it." Thalia snarked.

She shot him a glare, but the streaks of pain shooting up her arm made it more of a grimace. Tentatively, she examined Aegis, searching for any signs of damage; besides the smallest of scratches, it was unaffected. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"There!" Percy called out, bracing himself. The eagle had soared into the sky once again, golden ichor falling on them with the rain. Thalia squinted at the beast, and to her delight, she saw that its razor-sharp beak was now bent, broken from the impact with Aegis.

But it hadn't stopped the creature. No, now it just seemed angry.

It flapped its powerful wings, and Thalia could feel the air currents morphing around her. The sudden air pressure drop around her made her dizzy, but she held firm, allowing her flowing adrenaline to numb her throbbing arm. Its shrill call echoed over Camp, the piercing cry slicing through the howling wind. For a brief moment, Thalia hoped reinforcements would arrive, but considering the racket they had already been making, it seemed like an increasingly unlikely proposition.

The creature darted once again, but this time not at her. Just over to her left, Percy stood, waiting to parry the eagle's strike. Thalia stood frozen as time slowed; the vicious creature opened its broken mouth, still confident in its piercing beak as it made directly for Percy. He tensed, moving his weight to his back foot. Red lightning flickered from his hands as he moved Riptide into position.

As the eagle was only a few feet above Percy, it changed course sharply, now targeting his torso instead of his head. Percy didn't move his sword in time.

Thalia watched in horror, saw the moment he realized his mistake, and couldn't move fast enough to do anything. She was hurling herself through the air the moment the eagle collided with Percy. The sound of tearing flesh rang in her ears, followed by a cry of pain from Percy. Crimson and gold blood formed a muddy lake in the soaked grass of her tree.

Time seemed to return to normal as Percy countered, his instincts taking over. Thalia steadied herself and sent a white-hot bolt into the creature's eye. Riptide slashed a massive chunk out of the creature's wing, and the faint but pungent stench of char told her that she had been successful as well. The eagle screeched as it flapped its massive wings and took to the sky once more, eyes glowing with hatred. Yet, it seemed…satisfied. The chilling thought sent shivers down Thalia's spine.

Thalia squeezed her spear again, allowing blue rivulets of electricity to course through it again. She suspected the bird was not going to come back down. She focused on disrupting the air currents around the creature, ignoring the painful tug in her gut as she pulled at the air. A small grin broke across her face as the beast faltered.

The pain worsened suddenly, and she released the air with a gasp.

"Damn thing is too strong," she muttered to herself. Pain flickered through her entire body. Her endurance was far better than it had been in the woods all those years ago, where she could only summon a bolt or two before passing out, but she was still only human.

Her shaking, fractured arm would limit her in close combat. Her strength was waning, and the eagle's hungry attention was now fixed squarely on the Hermes cabin.

Beside her, Percy was staring the beast down, panting heavily and ignoring the steadily growing pool of crimson at his feet. She wanted to yell at him to take the shot, but she refrained. He wasn't even keeping the water off of himself right now, hair plastered to his face from the rain and his own sweat. Mud was streaked across his cheeks like war paint as he hoisted Riptide, holding it threateningly at the eagle. The thing seemed to scoff at them as it turned, diving through the Camps borders for the first time. It seemed to slice through both the magic and the air with a whoosh that drowned out Percy and Thalia's distressed cries.

"No!" Percy and Thalia both screamed. Thalia doubled over, ignoring the pain and forcing herself through the mind-numbing haze of the winds. She willed herself closer to the beast on instinct, forcing it to return to the border.

Instead, she felt weightless, and suddenly, she was directly in front of the creature. The eagle gave a small screech of surprise as she thrust her spear directly into its good eye socket. She allowed the energy to course through her, ignoring her rapidly heating body as she willed her violent rage into the eagle. Never mind shooting the messenger, she would fucking kill the thing.

A violent screech escaped the creature as its majestic white feathers began to smolder red and then black. It thrashed blindly, its sharp beak searching for any piece of exposed skin. She groaned as it found its target, grazing her directly beneath the right side of her ribcage. The irony of Prometheus' Eagle skewering her liver was not lost on her, even as she thought of how she and Percy would share scars in the same place again.

Drunk on adrenaline, she released the growing tide of energy in a violent explosion. A horrifying screech pierced her eardrums as charred feathers began to rain down around her. She was drenched in golden ichor and doubled over, the weightless feeling lurching her mind back to reality.

Her heart crawled into her throat as she looked down. The blood drained from her face as she began falling to the earth, unsure of how her feet ever left the ground. Terror flooded her as she screamed, the ground now rapidly approaching. She closed her eyes, the horror of the freefall churning her stomach as it threatened to expel its contents.

She had been expecting to shatter against the ground, splattering in every direction, but strong arms were suddenly around her, breaking her fall.

She turned to face her rescuer, having a grand idea of who it would be, but as she went to make a smartass quip about the little grunt he gave as he caught her careening from the sky, her stomach turned.

Invisible hands clenched her stomach, and she expelled her dinner all over Percy's front. A weak apology crossed her lips as her vision went white. The last dregs of adrenaline were leaving her, forcing her to feel the extent of her exhaustion and injuries. The scrape to her abdomen suddenly felt a lot worse. She vaguely heard Percy answer her, but couldn't focus on the words. Pain wracked her body, and some part of her knew that Percy only felt so warm because he was bleeding on her.

As the world faded and her eyes drooped shut, her addled mind conjured the vision of her and Percy crowned and seated, side by side, on glittering thrones.

Hot, sulfuric air filled her lungs as she coughed violently. The sky glowed a dim red, and Thalia shuddered as small rivulets of moisture fell on her skin. Squinting, she took in the black craggy cliffs jutting among the landscape. Moans of agony in the distance hurled themselves on her ears, causing her to draw her hands to cover them.

Pausing with horror, she noticed the hideous red blisters on the back of her hands, her black scars jagged against the inflamed skin. From each one, small streams of pus began to flow, searing pain shooting from them. The muggy air bore down on her, coating her skin like a latex glove and forcing her to sweat. Her eyes burned from the heat, and she couldn't tell if the pungent aroma of burning hair was from her.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Red liquid now splattered over the back of her hands as a fit of coughing overtook her. She could feel hot knives burning her throat, slicing her open, as she tried once again, between her wracking coughs, to hear her voice. From beneath, a small tug ate away at her, pulling her even deeper into the pit.

This is hell, Thalia thought as another violent round of coughing shook her frame. Why am I here?

This is where all monsters go, a deep, a mellifluous voice said, shaking her from her stupor. The edges of her vision had begun to blur from the heat. I just thought I'd give you a little taste.

Go fuck yourself, Thalia screamed in her mind. I don't belong here.

Although she couldn't see it, she could have sworn the razor voice was smiling. Ah, but you don't really believe that, do you, daughter of Zeus? Besides, we are not here for you.

Her legs began moving on her own, the depths of exhaustion eating away at her muscles. In vain, she tried to force them to stop so she could sit and rest, but her body refused to listen. The call from beneath her began to get louder, whispering in her mind. Tenderly, she took a deep breath, fighting the vicious slicing in her lungs as she fought for air.

You could've just transported me, you know. Thalia spat. That's usually how this dream bullshit works.

Oh, my dear, the voice crooned. This is not me. In fact, you can leave any time you wish. All I did was bring you here. Only monsters can ever enter hell and live. So what does it say about you that you're here?

That you're a dick, Thalia snarled. You're a real coward, you know that?

Intelligence looks like cowardice to the foolish, the voice replied, as though it were lecturing an elementary school student. I merely wished to show you my home before I leave for good.

Thalia racked her brain for answers. Violent coughing fits kept interrupting her, causing an oppressive haze to lap at the edges of her mind. She shuddered as the edges of her vision began to narrow. Her ragged breathing increased as she felt her soul slowly being squeezed by this strange place, the call of its siren beckoning her to relinquish control.

I shall have pity, the voice said as Thalia collapsed to the ground. She winced as black shards of glass coated her skin, embedding themselves in her blisters. At least, far more than the gods ever did for you.

Immediately, the scene in front of her shifted. She was an observer, hovering above the drama about to unfold beneath her. She took a deep breath and nearly cried with relief. The hot sulfuric air was gone. Looking down at her hands, the red, grotesque blisters had also vanished, her usual pale, scarred skin now vibrant in its place.

She frowned as she took in that same red skyline, those same craggy black cliffs that adorned the horizon. Dark tendrils of shadow seemed to reach out in every direction.

However, most curiously, she now appeared to be just above the edge of the steepest cliff she'd ever seen. The previous whispering from beneath had now turned into a cacophony of roars, urging her to jump. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself against their nearly irresistible call. She needed to wake up and find her way back. Despite her best efforts, she peered over the edge.

It was completely indescribable. The black expanse of nothingness spread down below, but even that was only scratching the surface. Four-sided triangles and three-sided squares appeared and disappeared in the Void, defying all known laws of geometry. The deepest echo she had ever heard boomed from the depths, a sound that made her organs want to separate from the rest of her body. With each tone, she could feel herself being ripped apart by the creature. Goosebumps covered every inch of her as she felt her head being forcibly turned away from the Void. As she did so, the desire to rip herself apart began to abate, but the memories of the unsettling, physics-defying being merely etched themselves into her, desperate to be understood, though they never would.

I told you I had something to show you. The voice from before shocked Thalia into action, banishing the unnerving scene from her mind. It is much easier to do that if you are of sound mind.

Beneath her stood four beings. To the left, the figure was obscured, their features unrecognizable. Thalia squinted her eyes, desperate to decipher, but the harder she tried, the stronger the thread of the Mist taunted her. Frustrated, she looked to the being closest to the Void, a ghastly woman made of nothing but skin and bones. Her sunken cheeks held deep scars, and based on the placement, Thalia supposed they were self-inflicted. Long fingernails protruded from her cloak as the woman laughed maniacally, black tears streaming down her face. Thalia tensed her jaw as her stomach turned.

To the right stood the biggest of them all, a towering woman. All light absorbed into her without reflection, and she wore a midnight-black dress adorned with onyx stones in the fringes. Looking at the towering woman made Thalia's insides vibrate uncomfortably, as though looking at her too long would drive her crazy or rip her apart. One more glance at the woman revealed that her mouth was pressed into a thin smile.

Thalia's heart dropped as she noticed the figure turn to her and nod slightly. Panic rushed through her mind as blood roared in her ears. Then, as if it had never happened, the massive woman simply turned back to the show unfolding beneath her, leaving Thalia to wonder if she had imagined the exchange.

"No!" Thalia's scream seemed muted even as panic clawed its way up her throat. The boy in the middle of the group had unruly black hair that fell over his green eyes. He was covered in cuts and bruises, his clothes torn and filthy. He had placed himself between the others and the obscured figure to the left, and he kept glancing back at the person, a fierce protectiveness filling his gaze. As the group moved, she took in his awkward gait, moving like he'd injured his leg. She wouldn't have been surprised, given the blood that caked every inch of his skin.

Hot tears flooded her eyes as she saw Percy's labored breathing. His handsome face was now gaunt and skeletal, as though all the blood and muscle had been drained from him. His expression was etched into a look of pure loathing that she had never seen him use before, not even on Luke. A sudden, horrific scream nearly split Thalia's eardrums.

The woman with sunken cheeks screamed in agony as her joints began to writhe at awkward angles. She moved as if controlled by an invisible puppet master, jerking along like a marionette. One glance at Percy and Thalia's jaw dropped in horror.

He stood flexing his hands as sweat poured from him. His face was grit in concentration as his fingers forced the miserable woman to dance. The look on his face was so alien from the calm, loving boy she knew. A muffled voice, coming from the hidden figure, said simply: "Kill that poison bitch."

Percy grinned and flexed his hand harder, and Thalia watched in disgust as the 'poison bitch's' screams began to intensify, echoing off the massive cliffs. Slowly, her head began to inflate as the black liquid on the ground forced itself into her, muffling her screams. Thalia attempted to avert her eyes but had no control over herself. Percy's sadistic smile never left his face as the goddess began to bleed golden from her eyes and ears. Then, with a final grunt from Percy, she exploded, golden ichor raining down on him as he looked up with a smile.

As he finished, sweat still pouring down his face, he doubled over and clutched his gut as he let out a guttural scream of agony. The blurred figure rushed over to him, and Thalia sensed them glaring intently at what was left of the desiccated corpse of the goddess. The massive shadow woman simply smiled before throwing one of her flowy black sleeves over the pair as they vanished from sight, small flickers of shadow all that remained from their presence.

This is what Percy will become, the voice said, shattering Thalia's stunned mind. The only question is, could you still love him? Is this the future you want?

With an audible snap, the red glow faded as the scene began to swirl. Thalia closed her eyes as the uncomfortable sensation racked her body, invisible hands squeezing her stomach. She felt the dream begin to crack around her.

She awoke with a start.

She began to sign frantically, her words completely failing her at the horror of her dreams. Vaguely, she knew that Percy would have taken her to the infirmary after their fight with the eagle, but her vision was still swimming with horrific images of the Void and Percy's sadistic smile as he killed that goddess. She wanted to be held. She wanted Percy, dammit, and even if that was his future, that wasn't who he was now. Two words played on a loop through her mind, and she forced them past her lips.

"Where's Percy!?" She cried out, unsure of who she was even asking. Only in the back of her mind did she notice her bone-crushing exhaustion.

Chiron's face came into view as he placed a comforting hand on Thalia's shoulder, guiding her back against the pillows. His face was sad and tired. Thalia felt her stomach drop before he had even said anything. A lightning storm began to brew in the open sky where the ceiling used to be.

"I'm sorry, my dear," He said, choosing his words carefully. "Percy hasn't been seen since yesterday."

A violent shriek tore from Thalia's throat as tears fell from her eyes. The world slowly faded to black once more. Her last thought was that the infirmary was absolutely destroyed.

AN: Hey all! Bonus chapter! I currently have a goal to get this fic updated every week now that I had to put Art of War on Hiatus. My college schedule is such that I can draft in class, but the nature of that fic with its far more intense worldbuilding means that it's not productive and ultimately makes me unhappy to try and multitask in such a manner. So, this one will be getting far more love and attention in terms of pure word count. Plus, if I'm being honest, I LOVE this story and want to get to my favorite scenes that inspired me to write it in the first place. Also, I finally listened to Epic the Musical(drop your fav tracks, I love Thunder Bringer because my voice matches Zeus PERFECTLY among many others), and I loved it so much that I'm nearly regretting my portrayal of Athena because she's amazing in it. Yap session over, thanks for reading, and as always, reviews, favorites, and feedback are ALWAYS appreciated. For the deep sound that Thalia hears from the Void of Creation, this is the sound I had in mind. Black Hole audio. Now, time for Review Responses.

Savien X: Thank you! I always pride myself on my chapter titles.

anaklusos16: That was quite the mental image that I had while crafting it. It's all that can prevent the two from kissing each other's brains out at this point. They are just two idiots in love after all.

True Wielder of Riptide: Look, lots of gods are bad in this one, but we love our shippers. They're just like us after all. Don't worry, they'll get together soon.

Ginocide02: The fluff goblin will always get his tribute, although the recovery arc is ending, so now its time for MORE ANGST. The goblins are at war, and I am the peacemaker.