AN: Hey guys, now we're finally caught up with the original. Expect Chapter 6 as planned, but after that, I will be moving to a semiweekly schedule. Also, sorry for the false alarm, in my crossposting there were a TON of errors in formatting that didn't transfer over. I also didn't realize Italics didn't transfer over as I was rereading chapter 4, so I will go fix Thalia's letter to Percy, which was supposed to be in italics. Now, time for review replies
Kaidrin Uzumaki: Glad you're enjoying! I tried to keep them close in age, but also older because it felt weird to write a romance with a 14 year old Percy and a practically 16 year old Thalia. So they're both already 16 if that wasn't clear.
Robotdocter: She was hoping that her dad would listen for once and help protect the plane from the blast. Whether or not that was the right decision is up to you, the reader.
The worst part was the screaming. He was comfortable in the water. He knew how it worked, how it moved. This was different. At first, the shadows were so enticing, promising him victory, but as he entered their grasp, the screaming of the damned overtook him. They threatened to overwhelm his resolve and dissolve his body, ghostly hands reaching out, taking little pieces of him each time they made contact.
Then, as his anger refocused his mind on Thalia, the transparent hands vanished and he found himself in control again. Her image pierced his mind, and suddenly he knew where he was. Light pierced through the endless darkness he had melted into, and suddenly he was exactly where he imagined, right inside her guard, with his sword at her throat. It was as if he just transported there in an instant. As though he blended the lines between the physical and spiritual world. The form of travel felt unnatural, as though the human body was not meant to experience anything beyond the physical world, experiencing spiritual things in the flesh.
Yet even the joy in his sudden victory was not enough to dissipate the fatigue that now shook his bones. His eyes felt as though they were made of lead, and the alien feeling of his soul now resettling itself in his body permeated throughout. The voices around him began to fade, and before he knew it, the ground was rapidly approaching.
Streaks of fire painted the night sky. The cacophony of screams confirmed the recent disaster. Right at the center was Thalia, her limp body slung over the shoulder of Dr. Thorn. Immediately, he went to cry out for her, but he found his mouth unable to open, his screams of despair trapped within his mind.
"I'll admit, that was a nice try, daughter of Zeus." Thorn said. "Still, it was all for naught, and all you have to show for it are the corpses of these mortals."
If Thalia heard anything, she didn't show it, her limp body remaining motionless on Thorn's shoulder.
A glowing red portal opened underneath the plummeting pair, and immediately they vanished. Just like Annabeth had over the cliff. As though an invisible puppet master had overridden his nervous system, Percy followed without any choice of his own, although it's what he would have done had he been given the chance.
Immediately, the air felt suffocating. Water pressure didn't affect him, but his mortal textbooks had described the immense pressure at the bottom of the ocean being enough to immediately crush any soul unfortunate enough to find himself in the depths. For the first time, he began to understand that feeling. The ever thickening fog felt as though he was walking through syrup.
The familiar dingy gray of Annabeth's jail cell came into view, right in the heart of the fog. Percy's heart sank as he realized Thalia was now doomed to the same fate. Thorn unlocked the cell with a grin, clearly eager to drop off his new cargo.
"Thalia!" Annabeth rushed forward. "What happened?"
Blood trickled from the corner of Thalia's mouth, but at least she managed a groan as Thorn roughly set her on the ground.
"I wouldn't try talking to her, silly girl." Thorn sneered, slamming the cell door. "She's massacred a plane full of mortals. Lots of good that did her."
Annabeth's icy glare betrayed the enmity in her soul. "Go to Tartarus."
"That's it? No hello?" Thorn feigned offense.
"The answer is still no. I'm not joining your army." She said, still huddled over Thalia
"I see your mother's wisdom was not passed down." Thorn mocked. "It is the only sensible option."
"Death would be a better option."
Thorn's wicked glare made Percy shudder, but Annabeth held firm. "Oh, if it was only death facing you, I would agree. Alas, a fate much worse than death awaits you if you do not cooperate. You are one of the three mortals alive who have seen the Fields of Punishment, yes?"
Annabeth's eyes shot daggers in response as she clenched her jaw. Still, she said nothing.
Thorn just laughed. "Oh my. It is the stubborn ones which are the most fun to break. Let me just promise you this. There are some tortures that can only be inflicted on those who still possess a body."
"Go fuck yourself."
"Let's see if you're still saying that by tomorrow night." Thorn promised, eyes glinting. He swiftly turned and left the cell room, his footsteps echoing ominously off the narrow halls.
As the echoes dissipated, Annabeth shot into action. Hidden in the corner of the room was a small, very squashed, but still very edible square of ambrosia. How she had smuggled it in was a mystery, but Percy wasn't going to be the one to question her.
"Sorry about this," Annabeth apologized, before stuffing half of the square into Thalia's mouth. Thalia's jaw remained slack, the extent of her exhaustion evident, prompting Annabeth to manually chew for her.
Immediately, the color began to return to her face as the ambrosia began to work its godly magic. Thalia's eyes fluttered open and she began coughing, red drops of blood escaping with each breath.
"Careful," Annabeth chided. "Even ambrosia doesn't work instantly."
"Annie?" Thalia questioned, but her voice was still weak and raw. "Where am I? I thought I lost you."
Annabeth pursed her lips, as though she was reminded of her uncomfortable predicament. "Welcome to the aptly named Mountain of Despair." She said bitterly.
What little coloring had returned to Thalia's face was immediately flushed upon her realization. She began rocking slightly, almost rhythmically, as she grappled with the new reality in front of her, the cascade of endless fears threatening to overtake her. "Then…I was captured, too?"
A slight nod from Annabeth was all she got in response.
An uncomfortable silence permeated the cell. The hopelessness began to mimic the heavy air, as though it was laced within every single inch of this place. Still, Annabeth's fidgeting gave Percy hope that she was at least strategizing something, as the faster her brain was whirring, the harder it was for her to sit still.
"Let the ambrosia do its work. We can plan in the morning. You're still too injured to move." Annabeth said, cutting into the silence.
Thalia opened her mouth to protest, but Annabeth just shoved the remainder of the square into it. She chewed slowly, as though she was savoring something amazing she would never get the opportunity to enjoy again. "Fine," she said blearily. "But you're telling me everything in the morning."
Immediately, Annabeth guided her to the marble slab that was the bed, and despite the awful accommodations, Thalia fell asleep instantly. The tugging on Percy's back became irresistible as he felt himself pulled by invisible strings down the hallway. His mind swarmed with millions of things he wanted to say, but like before, he found himself unable to speak. Instead, the image of Thalia crashed on the marble burned itself into his mind, unwilling to ever be forgotten.
The narrow hallway gradually became wider and wider, until the walls disappeared completely. Coming fully into the open space, Percy's stomach dropped, as he recognized one of the two figures in front of him. Memories of his past encounters with Luke Castellan flooded him, threatening to overwhelm his already fragile state. He needed information, every bit he could get to hatch a rescue mission.
Above the second figure was the epicenter of the choking fog. Constellations, both new and old, were woven throughout, as though the cosmos itself was contained in this one location. The patterns swirled around, but they always returned to the center, directly above the second figure. He towered over Luke, at least twice his height, at least normally. Now, he appeared mildly uncomfortable under the weight, standing in a slightly hunched position.
"They are unwilling to join us." Luke said.
"It is as I suspected." the figure said. "You do remember our…contingency plan? It was your request that they even be given a chance. Now you must deliver on your end."
The color drained from Luke's face at that suggestion, but he kept his voice steady. "Yes. I remember. And if the plan doesn't work?"
"That isn't my problem. It was your foolish idea to let the girls live in the first place."
A sheen of sweat formed on Luke's forehead. "And as for the goddess?"
"She is currently in custody as we speak."
At that, Luke seemed to relax slightly. "Do not worry. We will relieve you of your burden soon."
The towering figure sighed. "It has been millennia since I have had a rest. Just remember, I did not approve of your plan. Nevertheless, a great general will give his subordinates the chance to prove their brilliance. If you fail, there will not be a second."
Luke tensed at the word subordinate. Percy found it mildly hilarious that the demigod who fled the gods for maltreatment found himself in the role of servant once again. Still, a sense of sick satisfaction overtook Percy as he realized Luke's insatiable desire to destroy had only led him back to the place he started.
"Yes, general." Luke sneered, not even attempting to hide his disdain for the man. "I won't need one."
Static began to fill the vision, creating an impenetrable barrier to further eavesdropping. Percy cursed. His mind began furiously working, only to come up empty. He still didn't know Luke's plan. Only that the girls and Artemis were in trouble, and they had until morning to figure out an escape route.
However, the world did not fade like it usually did at the end of his dreams. Instead, the scene changed to something completely different. He groaned internally. The dream was in black and white, which meant he wouldn't be getting anything interesting from it. Instead, it would either be a reliving of his worst memories, or something nonsensical. He hoped it would be the latter.
Immediately, he recognized the scene. It was the night Thalia returned to the land of the living. The sea of regret threatened to drown him like it always did when this memory made an appearance. He couldn't believe his own short-sightedness in hiding the truth from her, even if it was a lose-lose scenario. The first part of the memory was always the worst. Not because it was the most challenging to watch, but rather, because it was merely a tease at what could have been if he decided to be honest. His favorite blue hoodie on her body was a sight that would never exhaust him.
But no matter what, the fight at the Big House would always end whatever there was between them, and she would throw it back at him. The internal war continued to wage in his mind, which made this dream the worst of all. How do you atone for mistakes that weren't really mistakes? Especially when all attempts at explanation were met with stonewalling and deflection? The desolate isolation was by far the pinnacle of suffering, at least in Percy's mind. Ever since that day, that blue hoodie had remained unworn. Percy had placed it on the bunk in the corner of his cabin. He couldn't bear to wear it after Thalia had ripped it off of herself and thrown it back at him, but he was unable to abandon it because of the wealth of memories it contained. Even if it was just for a short time. Quality over quantity, and all that.
He hadn't even considered what his future might look like. Once Annabeth had spilled the beans in the Sea of Monsters, he assumed his days were numbered. Her refusal to give him the potentially darker details of the prophecy confirmed all he needed to know. Chiron, despite his sincerity, treated him as though he was a lamb being prepped for slaughter. Every moment was a gift. After all, apparently it had been a mistake that he was even born. An accident, and because of the sins of his father, he'd be required to pay the toll with his blood.
But despite his rapidly approaching end, he could not find it within himself to push away those he held dear, which only made the impending departure even more painful. It all started with Annabeth. During their first quest, in a rare moment of candid confession, she revealed her desire to create something permanent. Then, when he saved her from the sirens, he truly understood what she meant. At first, he had thought it was just about designing interesting buildings and monuments, but when given the opportunity to see what she truly desired above all else, it was her family.
The fear of abandonment had shattered her foundation, and she was desperately trying to pick up the pieces. However, despite the obvious choices of Thalia, Luke, and both of her parents, Percy was notably absent from the picture. He wasn't hurt by the realization, although he thought he might have been. It wasn't her fault she already prepared herself for his impending demise. Maybe it would be better if he did the same.
Yet, despite his efforts to lose himself in training, the internal struggle intensified. The only time he could ever be himself was in those precious moments in his mind that he could be with someone who truly understood, and yet who also sought escape just as fervently. Those moments simply could not be ignored or forgotten. Moments that normal teenagers could share with one another. The simple joy felt as he could pretend the bone crushing pressure upon him was little more than an uncomfortable illusion. The tantalizing taste of normalcy simply refused to be forgotten.
However, those fantasy moments transfigured themselves into reality once Thalia found herself in the real world. She wasn't just a soul anymore. Instead, the beautiful girl he shared joyous laughs with found herself in Percy's arms. In that moment, the enticing thoughts of a potential future began to crack the impenetrable dam that was his mind. For the first time in his waking state, he felt the suffocating pressure dissipate, leaving him with the beaming face of Thalia Grace in its place.
Then, almost immediately, his inkling of a dream found itself in pieces at his feet. The truth that he had been meticulous in avoiding had shattered the tenuous wall he had constructed to keep her safe. It was all he wanted to do, even if there were truly no future ordained for him, he wanted to guarantee his friends could live long lives. If he truly ended up in Elysium, he could always explain himself there, where the sufferings of life were little more than unpleasant memories to share a drink over.
Silent tears began to pour from his eyes. Now, Thalia and Annabeth were in mortal danger. He didn't know how to help, and what's worse, he was trapped within his own mind. All because he couldn't keep his cool in a relatively unimportant game of Capture the Flag. Even if their sacrifices could miraculously guarantee him the future he so desperately craved, he would never consider that horrific option.
For the first time, he was grateful for the tears, as it helped obscure the scene in front of him. Maybe it would help the freshly reopened wound begin to heal properly. Things would never go back the way they were, but he wouldn't have a chance for restitution if he couldn't find a way to rescue the girls.
Whether it was a few minutes, or a few days, he wasn't really sure. The machinations of his thoughts obscured his sense of time, but the sudden coloring of the dream alerted him of the shift. He was back in Thalia and Annabeth's cell, and the sun was poking through the singular, small window.
"That should do it." Thalia said. She was still pale, and sweat glistened on her forehead. "Luke taught me how to pick locks before we met you."
"Shame he didn't teach me." Annabeth pouted. "But I'll wait to complain until we escape. We should hurry though. I'm sure they'll be back demanding an answer from us soon."
They eased opened the creaky door to the cell and quickly started down the hall, anxiously checking around corners for threats and monsters, but none came. If anything, it felt as though the hall itself was directing them towards the massive clearing. A pit began to form in Percy's stomach. Luke wouldn't just let them escape. He was too smart for that.
A blood curdling masculine scream echoed throughout the hall, as though the source was being tortured. Annabeth and Thalia looked at each other, reaching a silent agreement. They quickened their pace, no longer caring about checking for threats. Only one thing was on their minds: reaching the source of the scream as quickly as possible.
Despite the vast expanse of the hall, they were able to reach the end in just a few minutes. Not even their ragged breathing provided a hindrance, as they were clearly powered by the newfound adrenaline of freedom.
Percy's heart immediately sank as he recognized the clearing. It was the same place as the night before, where Luke and the second figure discussed their plan. The vast expanse of the oppressive fog remained just like before, only this time, the second figure was nowhere to be seen. Instead, in his place, stood Luke Castellan, sweat dripping from his brow, his back hunched to an unnatural degree, and shaky legs that looked as though they could give out at any moment.
What looked like a mild burden the night before had clearly intensified beneath the weaker being. Instead of finding a relative calm on the back of the second figure, it looked as though the sky had whipped itself into a frenzy, burrowing itself into Luke. Percy's stomach dropped. It wasn't just an oppressive fog, it was the sky itself. Which meant the other figure was the Titan Atlas, now free from his prison.
"Thalia, Annabeth!" Luke choked, tears and sweat shining on his face. "Please, help!"
The girls rushed forward, despite Percy's best attempt to scream that he was a traitor. A realization that this must have been Luke's plan made Percy utterly sick. An unstoppable tragedy was about to unfold in front of him, and he could do little more than be a spectator.
"What happened?" Thalia asked, voice hesitant, as though she was desperately trying to trust the boy in front of her.
"They left me here." Luke groaned. "Please, it's killing me."
At that admission, the sky grew even more anxious to escape its prison, dropping Luke to his knees as he desperately fought against the weight of the sky.
"Why should we trust you?" Annabeth glared. Percy's hopes lifted. Maybe Annabeth wouldn't forgive so easily. Maybe they wouldn't fall into Luke's trap.
"You shouldn't." Luke admitted. "I've been terrible to both of you, but I did what I had to in order to return Thalia to life."
Annabeth and Thalia stood silently, looking like children who had touched the hot stove one too many times, and yet, were desperately hoping this time would be different.
The sky forcefully pushed into Luke's back, forcing him even deeper, his face now parallel with the ground. It was Thalia who acted first.
She shoved Annabeth behind her, separating them, before joining Luke beneath the burden of the sky. For a brief moment, Percy felt the weight of the world tip, as though the entire cosmos had left the delicate balancing act that was maintaining the universe. It should have been impossible, but the sky began to weave itself through her the same way, trying to force her down to the ground.
"Help. Me." Thalia gritted, struggling visibly as sweat dripped from her forehead.
Instead, Luke rolled free. "Thanks for that." He said, shakily rising to his feet. "I knew I could count on you guys."
"LUKE!" Annabeth yelled.
Luke turned and shot her a sinister smile. "Oh, don't worry, her help is already here. Until then, try not to die. Thorn, take care of Annabeth. Keep her safe from what's about to transpire."
Annabeth rushed forward, likely to help prevent Thalia from crumbling under the burden of the sky, but a spike appeared from the shadows, striking her directly in the foot. She shrieked, struggling against the spike that pierced her flesh. But other than a rapidly growing pool of blood, her foot remained pinned to the spot.
"I said to keep her safe." Luke growled. "Was that really necessary?"
"Did you really want both of them to labor under the weight of the sky? The insolent girl was about to try and take the burden."
Luke clenched his jaw, but said nothing. "Just make sure she doesn't bleed to death."
"Why would you do this!?" Annabeth exploded. "What happened to family, Luke!?"
Luke's steps faltered, halting his unsteady march out of the room. One moment turned to two. The only sound in the room was Thalia's pained groans.
Luke sagged against the opening of the hall. "You'll understand one day. I'm doing this for you."
"Like fucking hell you are. Just what are you planning?"
He glanced back, flashing a sad smile, as though he was dealing with a younger sibling who would never truly understand him.
"You'll see." He pushed off the wall and continued out of the room, leaving Thalia to struggle under the increasingly volatile sky.
Hot pin pricks of rage pierced Percy's skin. He felt the dream itself begin to shake as he willed himself to either wake up, or reach through the dream and drag Luke back with his bare hands. He would've been satisfied with either outcome. Cracks began to form on the edge of the dream, and the color began to fade to gray. The last thing he saw was Artemis, bound in chains, being escorted to take the place of Thalia.
Percy's eyes shot open. The first thing he noticed was that he was unceremoniously restrained in the hospital bed. Black leather straps that were snug but firm kept his arms from flailing, and his ankles were held in the same manner. Immediately, panic seized upon him. He needed out immediately. Annabeth and Thalia were in danger.
"Easy, my boy." Chiron's voice sounded from beside the bed, and Percy's head whipped to catch sight of him. "Calm down. Let me explain."
Percy reluctantly stopped struggling, if only so Chiron could release his restraints.
The centaur sighed. "You've been asleep for 36 hours. After you and Thalia's little skirmish, you completely passed out. You were sleeping fitfully, causing massive tremors to shake the med bay. I do apologize my boy, but I hope you understand. Let me release you now."
There were millions of things he wanted to say, but Percy found it difficult to formulate the words necessary. Hopelessness washed over him as he realized the weight of the task ahead. Instead, he opted for the most urgent matter: relaying information.
"Thalia's been captured too." He choked out as Chiron released his restraints. "We need to go help them."
Chiron's expression betrayed a sad resignation, but he did not seem surprised. "It seems our enemies have read us like a book. I know you and Thalia had been planning to skip camp."
Percy at least had the decency to look sheepish. "So why didn't you stop her? She's been captured. We can't wait any longer." He said, trying to control his tone as a war of emotions raged in his chest.
"Because I understand, my boy." Chiron said sadly. His eyes were distant, and for a moment Percy could see the thousands of years of memories he held of his most loyal heroes. "But, I can assure you. Zoe and the Hunters are already on their way. They left yesterday morning, about 24 hours ago."
"Great," Percy grumbled. "I'm sure they'll have everything figured out."
"Have some faith in them." Chiron said, returning to himself as he helped Percy to sit up. "Of all the things they may be, they are at least competent."
"Was this an official quest, with a prophecy and everything?"
Chiron sighed. "Yes, it was. Although I need to discuss some things with you before you go."
"And if I refuse?" Percy glared. "I need to go get them."
"I suppose I couldn't physically stop you, but I'll tell you the prophecy," he paused, as if choosing his next words carefully, "as well as what's going on with your…unusual heritage."
Percy's thirst for information began to wrestle with his desire to leave immediately. He didn't want anything more than Luke's head on a stake, and the girls safely back at camp. They were brilliant, but brilliance would only withstand torture for so long. His heart wrenched at the thought of their minds being broken by whatever twisted methods Luke could come up with. Sure, Mr. D could fix them, but Percy didn't have any faith that the useless drunk would actually do anything about it.
Still, if he was going to unofficially go on his quest, he needed to know the prophecy. While they weren't determinative, they could provide enough guidance to speed up his journey. Plus, he needed to figure out what was going on with his powers. If he accidentally blended in with the shadows again, he'd end up being worse than useless wherever he went.
"Fine," Percy finally relented. "Please, just tell me what you know."
"Wise choice." Chiron nodded. "Now then, I'll start with the mystery of your father. Have you ever heard of the Mycenaeans?"
Percy wracked his brain, but came up empty. "Not really, why?"
"Because they are the key to the mystery. You remember the Trojan War, yes?"
"Of course."
"Excellent. The so-called Age of Heroes was actually a time of Mycenaean Greece. They were the precursors to Ancient Greece."
Percy scrunched his eyebrows. "Okay, but how is this important?"
Chiron sighed. "The importance, my dear boy, is that most of the information of this era of history has been lost. Even I, who was supposedly alive at the time, cannot remember details with exactness."
"So, like a memory wipe?" Percy asked, trying to wrap his mind around it.
Chiron shifted his weight and winced, bringing his hand up to his temples. "I do not know exactly, but the further my mind wanders into the past, the worse it gets." He pointed towards his head. "Whether this is just the price of immortality or something else, I do not know."
"Okay, so how do we know this then?"
"Our dear friend Zoe Nightshade actually."
"What's so special about her?"
The centaur was silent for a moment, debating whether or not to share the information. "She is even older than I." He began. "She is older than any of the gods. Even amongst the immortal Hunters, she stands as first among equals. She alone has been spared the loss of the past."
"What are you saying?" Percy asked.
"From what she has relayed to me, all I have ascertained is that she is the daughter of the titan Atlas. She fled from him after assisting a hero. Afterwards, she was found by Artemis and given a chance to join the Hunt, as the first recruit of a new godly cult. She happily accepted her new calling."
For a brief moment, Percy worried about having a titan in such an important position. Then, he gave himself a mental slap for his idiocy. Chiron, the famous hero trainer, had the Titan King as his father. Thalia would be an awful person by his own logic.
"So, being a part of the Hunt protected her from whatever happened?"
"That is what I think." Chiron agreed. "The blessing of Artemis covers all maladies, injuries, and other deleterious effects. Ironically, for Zoe, joining the Hunters was the only way she could ever die."
"What did she say?" Percy said expectantly.
"The Mycenaeans did not worship the same gods. They were similar, but distinct in many aspects. Throughout the millennia, these aspects were hidden. Her own existence as one of the Hesperides was also erased in the rewriting of the history books." Chiron explained. "She mentioned the existence of one deity who could explain the crossover between your affinity for water, while also explaining the recent shadow travel you undertook."
Percy's mind began to race. Finally, he was getting some answers, and yet he felt his stomach drop. The fear of the unknown threatened to drown him as the significance of his heritage truly began to dawn on him. He was an anomaly even amongst demigods, and he wasn't sure he liked that reality. Being anomalous usually meant you'd die in painful strange ways.
He took a few deep breaths to calm himself and asked the first question to pop into his troubled mind.
"So, what I did was shadow travel?" He asked slowly.
"Yes." Chiron confirmed. "It is an ability unique to those from the Underworld. Which now leads me to the next part of the story." The centaur's gaze began to flit around the room. "The name of this deity was Posedao Enesidaone."
At the mention of his name, the lights began to flicker, as though the fabric upon which reality was fastened was beginning to unravel.
"Poseidon, Shaker of the Earth." Percy translated effortlessly.
"Indeed." Chiron said. "You can understand the language even better than classical Greek. These are strange times indeed."
A million scenarios began to play out in his mind, none of them good. The whirlwind of emotions he felt was threatening to rip him apart. What if he was just a disaster? A good for nothing? A mistake?
"Chiron…am I a…a mistake?" Percy's fingers twisted into his blanket as his breathing quickened.
The centaur closed the distance to his cot and placed a firm hand on Percy's shoulder. "Of course not my boy. The Fates do not make mistakes. Perhaps they see the unfairness of it all, eh? Even if they did make a mistake, you cannot help the circumstances of your birth. It is what you do that defines you, not your origin alone. If you doubt this, just take a look at me." Chiron gestured to himself.
Percy appreciated the effort, but it did little to quell the memories that surged through him. They reminded him of what he had felt his whole life: like he was an outcast. Thalia and Annabeth were gone, left to the tortures of the enemy. Instead of going with Thalia as planned, he hadn't controlled himself, and now he was stuck in bed, learning of the mistake of his birth. He blinked back the heat beginning to form behind his eyes. It just wasn't fair. No matter how hard he fought to adapt, the universe seemed to keep throwing him new pitches he could never hope to hit.
Chiron sighed, dropping his hand. "I understand it is difficult. Perhaps in time, you will see that what defines a group, and what unifies it, is not merely the sense of uniformity, but your sense of purpose. Many demigods feel similar to you, Percy, regardless of parentage."
A moment passed in silence. The centaur, in his wisdom, allowed the demigod to collect his thoughts. "Thanks Chiron." Percy said eventually. Truthfully, he wasn't sure he believed what he had said, but at least Chiron was being careful with his words for once.
"Now then," Chiron said, a smile breaking on his face. "If you want to rescue Thalia and Annabeth, I think you should know the entirety of the truth about your father."
Percy perked up. "You mean, you'll let me go?"
"I said no such thing." Chiron said with a wink. "After I tell you everything I know about the former King of the Gods and Lord of the Underworld, I'm going to go on a long walk by the archery range. Who knows what, or who, could get in or out while I'm preoccupied."
Percy understood what that meant, and for the first time since they'd known each other, the lecturing voice of Chiron found itself without any resistance.
He wanted to leave immediately after Chiron's exposition. Blackjack was itching to get going, but he couldn't shake the worry that was gnawing in the back of his mind. Instead, he hurried through in the Big House, the creaking of the wood betraying the age of the place. He found himself outside of Thalia's room. No matter how much he tried to dry them, his palms simply refused to stop sweating. No one, not even Mr. D, was allowed in, and no one had ever dared try lest they get electrocuted. Yet, every time he tried to ignore the call, it grew stronger, threatening to overwhelm him if he didn't go through with it. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding in his heart, and opened the door.
It was about as he expected. On the walls were album covers of all her favorite bands, including the likes of Blink 182, The Offspring, and Green Day. Her clothes were scattered throughout the room, another sign of her rapid departure. While he didn't want to go snooping, the graphic tees, ripped jeans, and fishnets thrown about the room were impossible to miss.
Then he saw it. Right on top of her pillow, scrawled in pen, was the note she had left him. I'm sorry I went off on my own. I hope you'll understand. Don't worry about me. I can handle things on my end. You just make sure the Hunters don't kill the campers. I'll be back soon.
Percy's eyes stung. He didn't have time for that right now. Why didn't she understand that no matter what she said, he would still worry about her? His dream betrayed the danger she was in, and her tortured screams pulsed in his mind. His heart broke as his eye caught on the last line. P.S. I'm sorry we fought. Just…please stay safe. He had to go find her. He folded up the note and placed it in his bag, right in the front pocket where it wouldn't be damaged. At the very least, if she truly was tortured into insanity, he could have this. He brushed the thought away as he stood.
He scanned the room one last time, trying to find the one item that he felt was missing. Nothing that was laying out in the open felt right to him, although as to why he couldn't quite place. He felt as though his subconscious was leading him along, as though he was little more than a limp puppet in the master's show.
Percy began to pace. The black dresser in front of him taunted him, like it was daring him to open it. His hands itched to open a drawer, the top one on the left. He kept pacing, trying to convince himself to leave, but every time he tried to leave the room, his hands would freeze, unwilling to turn the knob. Instead, he found himself at war with his own mind. He did not want to snoop through her things, and especially her clothes, but he could not leave until he did so.
He swallowed. If it ended up being a disaster, he could always apologize for it later. Better yet, he could just not tell her what he had done, if possible. His left hand inched towards the drawer handle, the cold brass imprinting on his palm. He took a deep breath. It was now or never. He slowly inched the drawer out, averting his eyes as a precaution. He glanced down into the drawer, expecting to see things that he'd need to apologize for later.
Instead, at the very top, was Thalia's favorite Green Day hoodie. The one she always wore when they were together in his dreams. Percy frowned. As to why she left without it, he wasn't sure, but the itching in the back of his mind finally ceased as he gently folded it and placed it in his bag. Once she was safe, he would give it back to her. He placed it right next to his favorite blue hoodie, the one that had been crumpled in the corner bunk of his room after Thalia unceremoniously gave it back. He had wanted to leave it, not wanting to dwell on the time they'd spent together, but he always ran hot, and it was by far the most practical choice when it came to fighting monsters, as his winter coat restricted his movement.
With one final sigh, and his mind finally calm, he left the Big House. Chiron was nowhere to be seen, as promised, and Blackjack was waiting for him on the lawn.
As the cold air currents blasted his face, the lines of the prophecy echoed relentlessly, taunting him.
Five shall go west to the goddess in chains
The price of freedom the Titan's curse strains
Blinded eyes shall set a new stage
Lightning and Ocean dawn the new age
Yet success is not all that can be paved
Two alone cannot be saved.
The last line kept slithering its way into its mind, inflaming his worst fears. He wasn't exceptionally great at math, but he knew that Thalia and Annabeth were a serious possibility for being the two that could not be saved. His heart began to race as he replayed the events of his dream in his mind. The deep ache of regret began to course through his bones. How could he have been so stupid? Fighting with Thalia right before they were set to leave. Not only that, but then overdoing it in the spirit of something was stupid in hindsight.
Because of his actions, she had been forced to undertake their rescue mission alone. Going off on her own, forced to sacrifice general safety precautions for the sake of speed. She had fallen right into the hands of Luke, and she waltzed into an unbeatable trap. He cursed to himself once more, trying to slow his rapidly increasing breathing. He steeled his focus. Right now, they were still alive, and he would personally skin anyone responsible for threatening that. Starting with the son of Hermes.
Yo boss. Do you have any idea where they are? We got time for donuts? Blackjack asked.
His voice stirred Percy from his strategic musings. They had now been flying for half a day, the late afternoon sun beating down on them. "Yeah, I do." Percy responded. "Just so you know, the donuts are going to make you fat."
Whatever boss, with how far we've gone I'll be fine.
"Just keep your eyes peeled. We should be approaching Dallas."
Sure thing, boss.
"And stop calling me boss. You don't need to do that." Percy said, trying to hide his mild amusement.
Whatever you say boss.
Percy just smirked as he spotted a local donut shop, thinking it would be a nice place for Blackjack to rest.
"Here you go, buddy. Go crazy."
Thanks boss!
Blackjack started to divebomb towards the Earth, and Percy could only hope the mortals didn't notice anything too strange. After all, this was the South. Maybe they thought the Rapture was coming early and the donut shop owner would just hand over the donuts for free. Still, as his stomach began to crawl into his throat he was reminded just how much he hated flying.
The ground continued to hurtle towards him, and Blackjack's excited ramblings became meaningless noise in his mind. Parked outside the shop Percy noticed a black limousine, an oddity at this place and time of day. Percy frowned. Very few things ever struck him as abnormal now, so the odd presence of the limousine sent a shiver down his spine. Sure, maybe it was some high school kids who had rented one for a day-time winter formal, but he figured it probably wasn't likely.
He sighed as Blackjack slowed to landing speed. The edges of the limousine began to flicker, confirming Percy's fear that this vehicle was not simply some mortals having a party. He began to feel irritable, even more so than usual. His fingers twitched, trying to disperse the nervous energy that was threatening to overtake him. Briefly, he even considered abandoning the donut break just to get to San Francisco faster, but Blackjack would never have forgiven him. And besides that, the itching in his veins yearned for Luke's blood.
Blackjack's hooves clopped across the asphalt, slowing as they stopped in front of the shop. Percy dismounted and sent the pegasus inside. Was it ridiculous? Sure, but he didn't really care at this point. Plus, as helpful as he was otherwise, Blackjack could be distracting in a fight. Percy took a deep breath and felt his pocket for Riptide as he approached the limousine, ready to deal with whatever round of immortal bullshit that awaited him.
Immediately, the back door opened and a bronze sword appeared at his throat. Percy cursed, and the man responsible for it began to speak.
"Not so fast now, are you, punk?"
Percy rolled his eyes, huffing a sigh. Ares' presence explained his sudden irritation, although, even without his godly aura, gutting Luke still seemed like a tantalizing proposition.
"What do you want?" Percy scowled, tremors echoing throughout the asphalt.
"Careful, punk." Ares mocked. "Wouldn't want to hurt the mortals inside, right?" He pushed the blade of the sword deeper into Percy's neck.
"Go fuck yourself." Percy taunted. "Did you come here for something useful or can I go now?"
Ares tsked. "Watch your tongue, brat. I think you'll want to hear what my lady has to say. Besides, if I kill you, then you can't rescue your pathetic friends."
The debate raged inside Percy's mind. Truthfully, he was itching for a rematch, even if he knew how lucky he was the first time. Worst case scenario, maybe Ares would piss him off enough that he'd shadow travel to some random place where he'd be safe. He took a deep breath. Even if that would work, it would take too long to recover from. Thoughts of Thalia's tortured screams beneath the sky forced his mind to refocus.
"Fine." Percy relented.
Ares lowered his sword. "Good choice," he said. He shot Percy a warning glare. "And mind your manners. She's far less forgiving of rudeness than I am."
Percy just scowled as he climbed into the back of the limousine. Ares vanished out, presumably to give them space. As Ares left, he felt his anger cool to the simmer he had been nursing since Annabeth's capture. Not entirely pleasant, but manageable enough for one conversation.
Looking up to meet his remaining companion, his worries, concerns, and his ability to speak in complete sentences abandoned him.
The woman in front of him was wearing a red satin dress that reminded Percy of an old Hollywood movie star. Her hair was curled in a cascade of ringlets, and her face was beauty personified: perfect makeup, starry eyes, and a smile that could've lit up the entire galaxy. In the back of his lovesick mind, he managed to piece together that this must be Aphrodite. Who else would be with Ares in the back of a limo?
It was incredibly hard to focus on her, as her features seamlessly blended into one another. The faces of all the actresses he had ever thought looked beautiful flashed across her face. It was as if her appearance could be changed at will by both herself, and the one beholden to her presence.
Then, the strangest thing of all happened. He wasn't exactly sure what he was expecting, but when she flashed her winning smile at him, the capricious nature she was sporting suddenly calmed. Her face began to look mildly out of place with her movie star aesthetic. Short, choppy black hair, electric blue eyes, purple lipstick, and a silver nose stud remained her preferred features. To Percy, she looked remarkably like Thalia. He bit back his grief at the cruel reminder of her current predicament.
"Ah, there you are." Aphrodite's honeyed voice said. "I've been waiting for you. Have a seat."
Percy would have liked to say something witty, but the more he searched for the words he wanted to say, the more tongue-tied he became. Instead, he opted for a slight nod and took the seat next to the love goddess.
"You're probably wondering why I'm here." Aphrodite began. "I'll get to that. But the question is, why are you here?"
Percy took a deep breath and focused into Aphrodite's eyes. The familiar electric blue, like magic, seemed to dissipate his slowly growing supply of anxious energy. "My friends have been captured. I need to rescue them."
Aphrodite just sighed, like Chiron used to in Latin class when he'd only give the surface level answer. "Yes, that's part of it. But one doesn't get my attention for simple friendly loyalty."
"Friendly loyalty?" Percy asked, confused. "What does that mean?"
"Oh, my poor boy. You have much to learn." Aphrodite said, her face pulling into a slight pout. "Feelings are complex, much like yourself. Emotions are like an unreadable sea. I would know, considering I do come from it after all."
Percy tried not to think about the goddess in front of him being the consequence of castration, but it didn't really help.
"Okay, plus I just felt like I was supposed to come. With the upcoming war, Artemis being captured would be really bad too." He said.
Aphrodite pursed her lips. "If you had to sacrifice Thalia to free Artemis, would you?"
"What kind of question is that?"
Aphrodite just laughed, a light sound that melted through the tension in the limo. "Don't be coy with me. Don't worry, I won't tell the nature goddess if that's what you're worried about. She finds the concept of romantic love foolish. It's no wonder you don't get along with her little band of Hunters."
"There's always a third way." Percy argued. "I don't know if that's a fair question."
Aphrodite just sighed and her capricious nature returned. Clearly he wasn't getting the point of her little game. "Just let me show you something, then maybe you'll begin to understand."
The scenery changed, and Percy felt like he was falling. The swirling background threatened to unsettle his stomach until he began to recognize their destination. The golden pillars of Olympus were thrust into view, the twelve Olympian gods all sitting on their thrones in the midst of a council meeting.
Suddenly, Zeus and Artemis began a heated discussion. Despite straining his ears, he could only make out two words New Lieutenant. It felt as though he was watching an ancient play, the bittersweet end to a heroic tale. Suddenly, Artemis' powerful voice echoed throughout the throne room. "I shall have a new lieutenant. If she will accept it."
It was only then that Percy looked at the figures in the center of the throne room. There were four of them, one of which had horns poking through his curly hair on the top of his head. One had curly blond hair, the same hair that was draped over him after he awoke from his fight with the minotaur. Immediately, it became clear that these figures were Grover and Annabeth. The short black hair and silver piercing immediately gave away Thalia's identity, which only left one option for the boy with the wavy, unruly black hair standing in the middle of the group. Himself.
Immediately a million questions began to surface as he wracked his memory for this event. Nothing came even remotely close. There was never a moment that all four of them were on Olympus together.
"Is this the future?" Percy asked.
"It could be." Aphrodite said sadly. "Just pay attention to what happens next."
Percy returned his attention to Artemis, who seemed ready to announce her pick as the next lieutenant. "Thalia, daughter of Zeus. Will you join the Hunt?"
"I will." Thalia said firmly.
At Thalia's decision to join the Hunt, the vision began to transform. Instead of the throne room, it was now just a portrait centered in the middle of the frame. Next to the portrait of Zoe Nightshade, there now stood another. It was Thalia, wearing the silver crown of the Lieutenant, ready to lead the current and future generation of Hunters.
Percy felt his heart begin to race as he thought about those , dead? Thalia as good as gone forever?. Two alone cannot be saved echoed in his mind. Was that what the prophecy meant? It didn't quite feel complete, but the possibility was enough to send ice shards through his veins.
The vision melted away, leaving the comfortable red interior of the limousine as his only backdrop. Oppressive silence hung in the air, the gravity of the vision threatening to crush him. Joining the hunters? Given Thalia's current feelings about them, it didn't seem likely. Yet, the possibility pierced his soul. The scariest fact of all was only beginning to sink in. He could not deny the truth of what he had seen. This was more than an illusion. Glancing over, he saw that Aphrodite's appearance had morphed back to her starlet form.
"Outcomes are never fixed." Aphrodite said sternly, patting his hand. "But in many ways, this could be considered a 'true' outcome."
Percy stared at the leather. The rapid beating of his heart threatened to split it in two.
"Luke was the reason she didn't join the first time." Aphrodite explained. She sighed sadly. "The Hunters feed on bitterness towards men. You saw how Luke betrayed her." The goddess of love shot him a wink. "That's where you come in."
"What- what do you mean?" Percy stammered.
"Just think, do you want the dagger of unrequited love to bury itself in your soul, tormenting you for the rest of eternity?" Aphrodite mused dramatically. "I'm on your side Percy. Why else would you think I guided you into Thalia's room?"
"Wait a minute, that was you?" Percy asked, head spinning. "I don't want love, I just want to make sure everyone's okay."
She laughed, a soft tinkling sound. "Denial is always the first phase. Don't worry. I'll give you one last hint." Shifting, the goddess once again donned short black hair, her eyes changing from a rich brown to an electrifying shade of blue. He gaped open-mouthed as he took in the vision of an adult Thalia sitting before him. She shot him a winning smile, and leaned forward, pressing a small peck to his cheek. "You boys are always so fun."
Righting herself, she snapped her fingers, and the limousine vanished, leaving Percy alone in front of the donut shop. His cheeks felt hot, and his mind was reeling, but one thing was beginning to solidify amongst his tempestuous emotions. He could not let Thalia Grace join the Hunters.
Hey boss, Blackjack's voice pierced his mind. You were totally right! I just walked in and they started mumbling about something called the Rapture and gave me all the donuts in the shop. You're a genius!
Percy let out a short laugh. At the very least, he wouldn't be down fifty bucks to feed Blackjack's donut addiction. "Thanks buddy. You ready to go work off those extra calories?"
You bet, boss. I feel great.
"Then let's go. We've gotta get to the Mountain of Despair."