CW: Alcoholism, Abuse, Graphic Depictions of Torture. Violence. Vomit. Semi-graphic depictions of murder.
"Percy…anybody…just get here soon." Thalia's whispered pleas echoed softly off the oppressive stone walls of her cell. What was real? What was merely imagination? She wasn't sure. The world came at her in hazy waves. Yet, in all the haze, there was a moment of clarity where she could have sworn that Percy was right in front of her, observing. In spite of her deleterious state, comfort washed over her knowing that he knew where she was.
Every single nerve in her body was on fire. Certain tortures can only be inflicted on those who still have a body, Dr. Thorn's sinister voice rang through her mind. She had barely been conscious when he uttered those words, but his icy delivery betrayed his sincerity. Her addled mind hadn't really comprehended the significance of what he said, but now it had become abundantly clear.
The haze of the world did little to stifle her racing thoughts. Why did she do it? Why did she take the sky from Luke? At the time, Annabeth had hesitated. That should have been all the warning she needed. She was already shaky at best from her time in the airplane, so what she attempted should have been considered akin to suicide.
Her mind had been screaming at her to just leave him and escape, but the thought had made her nauseous. Struggling in front of her was the boy who had helped save her from her life on the run. The one she had already been willing to die for once. Sure, he had done some questionable things since, but no one was irredeemable. Right?
She felt unsure. Was anyone truly irredeemable? She thought back to her mother, who she loved so dearly, and yet had abandoned her after Zeus's departure. Her mother slowly began to lose her mind. She had never been completely stable, but until Zeus's second sojournment, she at least attempted to be a caring and loving parent.
Instead, after the birth of her brother, her mother's lust for power and prestige tore her apart. She wanted to lay claim to the most powerful people, using them for her own desires. She began to resent her children, viewing them as obstacles in her own quest for influence. Thanks to her mothers neglect, Thalia had been forced to become baby Jason's primary caretaker at age nine. It wasn't pretty, but nearly single handedly she had helped her younger brother survive infancy.
Thalia winced, a sudden sharp pain in her head throbbing amongst the dull but intense ache in her bones. The recollections began to overwhelm her. Her already active imagination began to replay the scene in her mind, painting it so vividly it was as though she was living it for the first time. The haze around her began to bend and warp.
Why is it always this one? She bemoaned. She wasn't sure if it was some kind of lucid dream or dissociation. Either way she hated it. The memory never truly left her, haunting her whenever she'd spend too long alone in her mind. No matter how much she begged or forced, the mental movie refused to play any faster.
Thalia opened her eyes to see the early morning sun shining into her bedroom. The beige walls looked incredibly bland, but her mother got upset every time she tried to put up a poster or something to break up the boring monotonous colors. Everything has to be perfect. Her mother would mutter to herself before tearing down whatever it was she put up.
Whatever, it wasn't worth the fight anymore. Thalia reached down and pulled out the little CD player she kept under her bed, pressing play and settling back into bed as the music started. It was the one thing she had, her few moments to herself every morning. Sure, she stole the money in her mother's purse to get it, and she only had the one album, but it was enough. Nothing else was truly hers. It wasn't like her mother would miss the twenty bucks anyway.
Thalia smiled to herself as Welcome to Paradise filled the air. It was one of her favorite songs on the album, and it gave her hope that she could build a little paradise for herself, even if it was just these moments in her room. It was in the middle of the slums known as her mother, but that was okay. Maybe one day things could get better.
She made her ritual mental checklist for the day as the song changed. Pressing a hand to her mouth, she suppressed a yawn as she began rattling off the tasks in her head. Get dressed. Find something for Jason to eat. Maybe teach him a few more signs. She smiled to herself at that one. Find some food for herself. See if she had any broken glass to clean up so he wouldn't get hurt. The thought of cleaning the carpets again made her sigh.
It was a near daily occurrence now, cleaning up broken glass from the carpet in the living room, the tile in the kitchen, the whole apartment really. It wasn't just glass though. Vomit spots stained the carpet, but no matter how much she had scrubbed, the stains and stench just wouldn't leave. It was a miracle her mother even remembered to go grocery shopping anymore.
The CD player clicked off after the last song finished playing, and she forced herself to get out of bed and find some clothes. Steeling herself, Thalia eased opened her bedroom door, hoping that her mother would still be passed out in her bedroom.
She let out a sigh of relief when the dark hallway was empty, but the rim of light from her mother's door made her pause. Either she forgot to turn off the lights before she passed out, or she was awake. Thalia bit back the tension in her stomach. She could be nervous later. Right now, she had a job to do before Jason woke up.
The hallway loomed before her. She had cut her foot open a few times before while she was trying to get to the light switch. She wished for the thousandth time she had a flashlight, or that her bedroom light would illuminate the entire stretch of hallway. It's either him or me Thalia thought. She took a few ginger steps out into the darkness, feeling for any sign of shards of glass scattered in the carpet.
She took another careful step and a cold liquid greeted her. She recoiled in disgust, biting back a curse and trying to calm her now churning stomach. It was a few hours old by now, but the chunks betrayed what she had just stepped in. She could've screamed in frustration. All her mother ever did anymore was get too drunk to do anything, then throw up on the carpet after each bender.
She gagged. She needed to get to the bathtub immediately, before her own stomach contents joined the carpet. Glancing again at the light under her mothers door, she decided against using the master bathroom, and instead bounded down the hall, beelining for the bathroom at the end. A sharp pain seared her foot, slicing through the skin. Her steps faltered for a moment but she didn't give it any thought. It wasn't the first time anyway.
She threw open the door and began running the bath water before placing her foot beneath the still cold tap. She sighed in relief as she scrubbed with soap, the churning in her stomach slowly calming down. She could deal with the frequent cuts on her feet, even the tedious task of cleaning the glass had become second nature. But stepping in her mother's vomit was something that never became easier.
A burning heat began to form behind her eyes and she shut them tight. Her throat began to feel like it was closing, and her breathing had quickened. Swallowing felt impossible.
No, she thought. I still have things to do. Not yet. She forced her breaths to come slower, letting the cold air of the house fill her lungs. Eventually she felt herself calm, the even breaths coming more naturally. The longer she spent in the bathroom, the less time she'd have to get everything Jason needed for the morning.
The hot, sharp pressure behind her eyes faded, leaving behind the dull ache in her chest that she was so familiar with. She took another deep breath, reaching over to the sink to open the mirror and pull out some gauze and a bandage wrap. By now, the water running over her foot had turned a pleasant lukewarm, but it still stung on the open wound. She pulled it back and inspected it as the blood welled up again. Not too serious, thankfully. A minor gash that should heal in a few days. She splashed some water over the porcelain tub, washing the residual trickle of blood down the drain while drying her foot off with an old hand towel.
She unwrapped the gauze and covered the wound before taking the wrap, looping it around her foot twice, and pulled it taut. Once she was satisfied with the pressure, she stood. She could take another look at it later, but right now, she had some glass to clean up. She winced as she put weight on her foot, trying her best to ignore it as she crossed to the doorway.
Opening the door and letting the light flood the hall, she could now faintly make out what she had stepped in. She sighed, the scent of the puddle betraying the vodka her mother had drank the night before. Thalia didn't keep paper towels in the bathroom, but the thought crossed her mind that she should start.
She slowly crept her way to the kitchen, desperately hoping that another one of her mother's visitors hadn't stayed over. Usually, that meant a nearly naked man would be passed out on their couch, and Thalia had learned the hard way that her mother's suitors didn't like being woken up. She took deep breaths but couldn't stop the panic as her heart started crawling into her throat.
Peering around the corner, she let out a sigh of relief. The couch was empty. The carpet turned to a cold tile floor as she entered the kitchen. The cold felt nice on her bare feet as she opened the fridge.
There was barely anything inside, but there was enough. She grabbed a pack of vanilla yogurt for Jason and an apple for herself. She wasn't really hungry after this morning's vomit episode, but she knew it was probably all the food she'd get her hands on if she spent the rest of the day hiding out with Jason.
A loud knock at the front door nearly had her dropping everything. Her heart raced. She wasn't going to answer it, but it never was a good sign whenever people came over. Either it would be another one of her mother's crazed suitors, or just another escapade with CPS. She wasn't sure which one was worse. Thalia quickly grabbed the paper towels, a small spoon, and a little bowl of water for the glass before darting back down the hall into the bathroom. The shadows hid her as she peered past the edge of the doorframe.
Beryl Grace opened her bedroom door, and Thalia huffed quietly in surprise. For the first time in years, she put on makeup. The bags beneath her eyes that had long been growing had now vanished. She had a glow about her that Thalia hadn't seen since she was still really acting. She hadn't had a starring role in years, and it had begun to show. She looked like the mother from Thalia's memories instead of the neglectful monster she'd been living with.
She floated down the hall and answered the door. Thalia could see two men on the doorstep wearing suits.
"Hello. What can I do for you gentlemen?" Thalia cringed at the fake smile in her mothers voice.
"We've received a few complaints about possible child neglect. May we come inside?" The man on the right said.
Thalia knew her mother's eyebrow was probably twitching, her nervous tell. "That won't be necessary. I don't know what those neighbors are thinking. They've been on my case for years, you know. Jealous, I'm sure."
The men looked unimpressed. "Ma'am, I can't give details. Please just let us inside. We'll be quick."
Thalia tried not to get her hopes up. After all, this wasn't the first time that CPS had been called. Still, maybe this time would be different. Maybe these guys would see past her mother and actually do something. Thalia was pulled out of her thoughts as Beryl's smooth voice sounded again.
"I'm sure we can work something out." She grabbed her purse off the kitchen counter. "I bet they don't pay you guys enough."
"Bribery is illegal, ma'am." The agent on the right said, just as the other man said:
"Yeah, they don't."
The two agents glared at each other seemingly at an impasse. The agent on the right finally sighed.
"How much do you have?"
Thalia's heart sank. This was exactly the same as all the other times. She tried to blink back tears as she hurried down the hall to clean up the glass. Jason would be up any minute now and it wouldn't be safe for him.
She caught the end of their conversation as she finished cleaning up the glass.
"I'm glad we could come to an arrangement." Her mother purred.
"No, thank you. We'll be back in six months."
"Bye bye now." Thalia's mother said, before her voice turned fierce. "6 months. Not a moment sooner."
Thalia peeked around the corner to see the men nodding as they pocketed the stacks of cash. Thalia's mother slammed the door as they left.
"Can't have this getting out. I'm so close to getting another big role. The bad press would ruin me. They already think I'm crazy, but they just don't understand." She said, to no one in particular.
Thalia clenched her jaw. She tried not to let it bother her, but it stung every time her mother talked about her and Jason like they were nothing more than a hindrance to her career. Especially when she was taking care of her mother more than Beryl ever took care of either of them.
She crept back to the spot on the carpet. Not her best work, but at least the glass was gone. She sighed, glaring tiredly at the new vomit stain. It would have to be good enough. She didn't have time to spend scrubbing at it. Jason's yogurt was starting to get warm and then he wouldn't want it anymore. Not that she could blame him.
Her mother's mutterings and footsteps grew closer, and Thalia dashed into Jason's room. If she knew that Thalia was up, she would likely make her do something, or berate her about the mess, maybe even blame her that the agents came to visit at all. Besides, this would probably be her best opportunity to get Jason to eat.
She approached his little toddler bed and sat down on the floor next to him. His blond hair was wild from sleep. His lip was still red and sore from when he got his hands on a stapler a few weeks prior, but it seemed to be healing alright. It didn't seem to be bothering him anymore, although wrestling with him just to get him to sit still so she could remove the staple was a task she never wanted to repeat. His face was scrunched, and Thalia sighed. He was having a nightmare. She nudged his shoulder gently.
Good morning Thalia signed. How'd you sleep?
Jason sat up, bleary eyed. Good morning, his little hands repeated. Fine. His signs were still pretty simple, but considering his age, they were remarkably advanced. At least, far beyond his speaking ability. Thalia pushed away her concern over that matter.
Want food? Thalia held out the yogurt for him. It's for you.
Jason didn't even bother signing yes before opening his mouth expectantly. Thalia laughed. Whenever she brought him his favorite breakfast, namely vanilla yogurt, he wanted her to feed it to him. He was getting a little old for that, but Thalia didn't really mind. She would give anything for him to be able to maintain his innocence just one more day before he found out who his mother, and father, really were.
Once he was finished eating she wiped the drips from his face. He had a goofy little grin that she hoped he would never lose. It was lopsided, like he was always planning something mischievous. In his defense, he nearly always was, although most of his little "schemes" involved finding ridiculous hiding spots when they would play together. She ruffled his hair affectionately.
They both jumped as Beryl burst through the door, Jason's little hands clinging to Thalia's arm.
"Thalia, grab Jason and get in the car. We're going on a road trip." She said, the fake smile once again making an appearance.
Ice filled Thalia's veins. She didn't really want to, but saying no wasn't an option. Her mother would just take Jason with her and probably leave him somewhere. It wouldn't have been the first time she 'forgot.' If it was a choice of letting Jason go into danger alone, or going with him, the decision was a no-brainer. Reluctantly, she got Jason dressed and followed her mother out to the car.
The mountains around them were strange. They'd never been this far out of the city before. Her mother hated nature, which did little to ease Thalia's anxiety. Her mother was a city slicker through and through. Her intentional choice to take a mountain pass made Thalia's stomach crawl into her throat.
"You ever get nightmares?" Beryl asked suddenly, her voice higher than usual.
"Uh, sometimes." Thalia answered cautiously, nervously eyeing her mother.
"Just a little drive to stop the nightmares," her mother said aimlessly, sounding more like she was talking to herself than to Thalia. Her movements were stiff and unnatural, causing them to swerve a bit on the relatively smooth road.
Her mother began to hum, and the sound was unnerving. Like a mixture of dread and excitement; Thalia thought of a prisoner headed to their last meal. Excited for the great food after years of prison slop, but also knowing that would be the very last time they'd ever get the privilege.
The road took them all the way to the top of the mountain. Thalia had been foolishly hoping it was some kind of historic sight; that they'd read some plaques, ooh and aah at the view, and then go home. But she saw nothing of the sort. Instead, there was a cliff with a low wall overlooking the wilderness in front of them, with a great expanse of forest behind them. And they were alone with her mother.
The car squeaked to a halt at the end of the scenic overlook on the side of the road. Valleys of pine trees spread out in every direction. Thalia shivered as they got out of the car. It was so much colder than back at their house, and she wished she had brought a jacket. She grabbed Jason's hand to remind him to stay close. He had a tendency to wander, and she was worried he might accidentally fall off the edge of the cliff face.
"I can take care of that." Thalia's mom said, eyes darting around. "I'll take care of Jason. We'll only be here a minute."
Thalia's grip remained firm. Something was wrong, and her mom was acting even crazier than usual. She began to search frantically for any kind of help, but they were completely alone up here.
Jason's little hand held hers tighter as he tugged on her. His words often became garbled when he was stressed, and he shook as he signed, Mommy's scary.
"I've got it." Thalia said, trying to keep her voice strong. "He'll be okay."
I won't let go. I promise Thalia signed one handed back to Jason. She felt a pit in her gut. If her mother wanted to overpower her, there wasn't really anything she could do. Jason's trembling fingers in her grip told her all she needed to know.
"You know I hate when you two do that." Beryl snapped, her own hands trembling as she shoved them in her coat pockets. "I can never understand what you're planning."
"It's nothing mom, I promise." Thalia said quickly. "He just doesn't like using his words sometimes."
"If you keep babying him he'll never learn." Her mother said, sneering. "Not everyone is going to know sign language."
"It's not like you've taught him anything." Thalia muttered.
The glare came then. Her mother didn't use it very often, but it sent chills down Thalia's spine. The one that warned Thalia that if she didn't listen, bottles of alcohol were going to be thrown. Thalia squeezed Jason's hand tighter, taking a step back and pulling him behind her.
"Now." Her mother shouted, eyes wide as she continued to scan the mountain.
Thalia squeezed Jason's hand again, debating feverishly in her head, weighing the consequences of disobeyal. Her mother stormed over furiously, closing the distance in an instant, and Thalia flinched out of habit. Beryl wrenched Jason out of her loosened grip and swept him into her arms.
"That's better," she said, suddenly much more relaxed. "Go wait in the car, it'll only be a few minutes."
Thalia didn't believe her, dread filling her stomach. But what could she do against an adult?
"Are you sure?" Was all the protest she could muster.
"Now." Her mother snapped, nodding her head towards the car.
Her mother turned and began to walk, and Jason's little blue eyes never left Thalia. Feeling numb, she remained rooted to the spot. Beryl Grace did not not tolerate direct disobedience, and Thalia had the scars to prove it. As sick as she felt, Thalia began to walk back to the car.
Every step felt like a marathon. Her instincts were going crazy. Something was terribly wrong and she needed to go back, but by now, her mind had shut off. It was too much. Everything was too much.
Her back was pressed to the passenger door, but she kept her eyes on her mother. She has made it nearly to the edge of the cliff with Jason, his blond hair blowing in the wind. Her mother began to flicker, and Thalia's heart raced. She was too far away to hear the words, but her mother was having a conversation with someone, or something. She watched her mother sigh before nodding. Before she could process what was happening, Beryl held Jason over the edge of the cliff, and let go. Thalia's heart shattered.
"No!" She screamed, running towards the edge of the cliff. Peering over the side, there was a steep drop for hundreds of feet before it became forest. She whipped towards her mother, tears stinging her eyes. "What have you done!"
"I've dropped him off." Her mother said, sighing in relief. She had the gall to look relaxed.
"You're a monster!" Thalia screamed. "He's three. Why the fuck did you drop him off a cliff?"
Beryl shrugged, patting her arm. "The gods always demand payment, sweetie."
"Then fuck the gods!" Thalia spat, jerking her mothers hand off of her. Her fingertips felt numb. "You killed your son. My brother!" Her voice caught, breaking the stream of curses she wanted to hurl at her mother.
"One day you'll understand." Her mother said. "The wrath of the gods will break even the strongest spirits."
Tears streamed down Thalia's face. Jason wasn't coming back.
"I'll jump off too." She threatened. "I'll go join him."
Her mother just shrugged, turning back toward the car. "What you do isn't any of my business."
Thalia counted to three in her head. On three, she was going to jump. There wasn't any reason to stay anymore. Maybe he survived the fall and she could go find him. She peered over the low wall and her feet became rooted to the spot. Her shoes felt like they were filled with lead and she couldn't move. I'm sorry Jason. She signed. I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry.
"Get in the car," Her mother called coldly. "Or you're walking home."
Thalia wanted to tell her to fuck off, but she swore she heard something growl in the woods behind the car. Numbly, she slid into the passenger seat. For the first time in a long time, her mother was quiet.
Maybe Jason could still be alive. She knew it was a longshot, but it was the mantra she repeated in her head. She could freak out once she gathered her things, her CD player and some clothes. She could take the car and drive up the mountain, looking for Jason until she found him. She was done covering for her mother. But she had to get home first. She sat perfectly still, not daring to move a muscle, the tension threatening to snap her bones in half.
They continued down the winding road, passing a sign that said they were almost to the base of the mountain. Thalia kept her gaze on the woods, eyes widening as they landed on two hellhounds, both larger than the car. It wasn't the first time Thalia had seen monsters, but she flinched as their red eyes bore straight into the vehicle, as though she was the only target they ever wanted. She watched their hind legs tense as they got ready to pounce.
"Watch out!" Thalia yelled, causing her mother to scream as she swerved.
The hellhounds landed on the vehicle, the tires screeching as the car stopped and slid sideways. Thalia's mother screamed louder, and the hellhounds began clawing at the car. Their claws began to rip apart the metal and Thalia knew she only had a few seconds before their massive jaws would be closing in on her.
Every emotion that she had been trying to suppress until she got home, the rage, the grief, and the fear, snapped in a second. She unleashed it all with a scream, fingertips crackling numbly once again. Even as the hellhounds tore open the metal on the car, Thalia felt powerful.
The world blurred as she placed a hand on each of the beasts. She felt the electric power leave her, moving through her and into the hellhounds. For a long moment, she felt nearly euphoric. As she pulled her hands away, the beast's charred husks fell from the car to the road. She nearly expected to feel relieved after all of that, but it never came. Instead, she was filled with an exhaustion so profound it made even breathing difficult.
"This is all your fault!" Her mother screamed, hitting the mangled steering wheel erratically. "If you hadn't been born, monsters would leave us alone!"
"And you fucking killed Jason, so shut it!" Thalia yelled back. Beryl screeched, throwing open the door and storming out of the car. Thalia followed her, not done yet. "It's not my fault you decided you needed Zeus's attention so badly!"
"You ungrateful child! If it wasn't for me you wouldn't even exist." Her mother snapped.
Thalia's hands began to crackle once more. She felt her body heat up in warning, but she didn't care. Any warm feelings she may have still had for her mother vanished the moment she let go of Jason. Beryl closed the distance around the car, still waving her hands and screeching, but Thalia didn't hear a word of it.
She grabbed Thalia harshly by the shoulders, and Thalia simply let the energy in her hands go through her mother. Immediately, her grating voice ceased, and Thalia was assaulted by the pungent aroma of burning flesh. A moment later, her mother's charred corpse fell to her feet, mouth still open and skin blackened. It was the last thing she remembered seeing before passing out on the side of the road, her body feeling like it would tear itself apart.
Thalia winced, the painful memory nearly forcing her to tears as it came to a close. Reliving it didn't hurt any less, as used to it as she might be by now. Besides, she didn't have the strength to cry as her stone cell blinked back into view. Her mother's death had been ruled an accident, and only Thalia knew what really happened. She was the only surviving member of the Grace family. Still, the message was clear. Trouble would follow her everywhere. After leaving the emergency room and sneaking out of the group home she'd been placed in, she decided she'd dye her blonde hair black to make her less recognizable. Her first attempt was sloppy, but she got better at it with time.
She had run. She'd wanted to be anywhere but home, reminded of everything that had happened. Everything that could and should have been. She'd never even worked up the guts to retrieve her CD player.
She shifted uncomfortably on the stone slab as her mind drifted to the aftermath of her mother's death. Leaving L.A. did little to stem the limitless onslaught of monsters. Day after day, she lived in the woods, scavenged, and tried to survive. No one else should have to suffer, either by her hand, or even by her mere presence. It wasn't until the second night without sleep that the panic really began to set in. Her movements were slow, and she wasn't able to evade the monsters for more than a few minutes at a time. She was losing, and she was going to die here, sent to the same hell as her mother.
Her legs had just given out as a Dracaena stood over her, ready for its next meal, when it suddenly turned to golden dust, a bronze blade protruding from where its chest had just been. The wielder was a sandy-haired boy, about fourteen, with a crooked smile that could have gotten him anything he wanted. Despite his confident aura, his eyes shone with fear.
"Luke Castellan." He said, extending a hand. "Nice to meet you. What's your name?"
Thalia stared at his hand. She could do little more than stammer. "Th-Thalia."
"Got a last name?"
She shook her head, her voice failing her. She began to sign, hoping that he would understand. He didn't but he did sit with her until she had calmed down enough to speak again. After talking for a little while, he offered to be her traveling companion, which she quickly accepted.
That was the first time Thalia had seen that look in another person, the look of pure desperation, willing to do anything just to survive one more day. She had thought she was alone. After all, even if her mother deserved it, normal people didn't end others' lives without thinking about it, perhaps even relishing it. The torment of her memories clawed at her, day and night, threatening to rip her apart.
But Luke was different. He didn't care about her past. Instead, he helped her learn about what it truly meant to be a demigod. Sure, it was just the two of them, but it was the happiest she had ever been. More importantly, her time with Luke distracted her from Jason. She had accepted that he was gone, but the grief would have overtaken her if she didn't have Luke with her.
So they traveled together. Things like threatening store clerks, his violent language, and his intense bitterness every time he talked about his dad, seemed minor in comparison to all of her baggage. She understood how he felt. They were just traumatized children, saying violent things to let off steam.
Her memories faded again, replaced with the dank cell walls. Luke had shot her that same look as the sky nearly killed him. It was the first time she had seen it since they met. He was afraid, and he needed help. Then, he took her incredible act of self-sacrifice, and spat on her for it, telling her it was for "the greater good."
She grimaced, another wave of mind-numbing pain washed over her. To say the sky was heavy would be underselling it. The burden wasn't simply massive in terms of weight, but also in the toll it enacted. She could deal with the pain, even the agony of the physical world could be endured, but this burden demanded an even higher price. She felt like portions of her soul had been diffused with the sky as it bore into her. She felt like a piece of herself was missing.
From the very first moment beneath the sky, a menacing voice echoed in her mind. Those who are divided that bear the sky, shall find that same divide rip them to pieces. Now, she was paying the price. The sky did more than crush, it tore apart everyone who bore it, shattering the foundation of anyone who survived.
"I'm sorry." Thalia's voice was little more than a whisper. She didn't even know who she was speaking to, but it wouldn't have mattered. What was real and what was an illusion? In a world of myth, reality and fantasy weaved to create a tapestry of lies.
"How are you holding up?" Annabeth's shaky voice asked, filling the room.
"I'm fine." Thalia said, voice breaking at the end. Truthfully, she wasn't sure how to answer, but Annabeth's eyes were boring into her, desperate for confirmation that she was really okay. She sighed, trying to shake off the onslaught of nostalgia she'd been sitting in. If Luke was to be believed, worse was coming, and she didn't have time to worry about the past.
"They'll come for us." Annabeth whispered. "Percy is just like you, and you came for me."
Thalia nodded. The presence she felt earlier was gone now, but she was sure it had been Percy. How it all worked she could only guess. Percy did have his weird dreams, so maybe that would come in handy.
"I know they will." Thalia agreed. "Especially him, but I don't know how long we're going to have."
Annabeth sighed, and Thalia could practically hear the gears in her mind whirring to find any strategy that might help them. "We don't really have a choice in giving up." was all she said. "You kind of made sure of that when you made me swear on the Styx."
"If Luke is behind this, I know what he's going to do." Thalia said, horrid anticipation creeping into her chest.
"What?" Annabeth said, alarmed.
"Psychological."
"Psychological torture?"
Thalia nodded. "Mhmm. Physical pain sucks, but it's whatever." She said, trying to put on a brave face. "He's sadistic enough that he'll want to break us. Turn us into the slaves he claims we are." Her voice dropped. "And he's the only one with the knowledge to succeed."
Annabeth sighed again, as though she was finally needing to come to grips with an uncomfortable truth. Peering over at Thalia, her face dropped.
"Hey Thals…have you always had lightning markings on your hands?"
"No, what do you mean?"
"On your hands and arms, there's black lightning streaks running all the way up."
Thalia craned her head upwards to see, but she couldn't muster the strength. Under Annabeth's intent gaze, Thalia became aware of the intense pressure on her palms and up her forearms. In what she now assumed was a lightning pattern. The ache felt like it had fractured her very soul.
"Does it at least look cool?" Thalia mumbled. "If I'm getting scars out of this, they better be badass."
"It suits you." Annabeth managed a small smile.
The fire that spread through her arms the following night was unbearable, but she couldn't do anything else about it. Thorn had decided that her shackles would be tightened so she couldn't relax. She wanted to scream in frustration, but her voice was still too weak to do much more than lightly protest. Summoning any sort of electricity left spots dancing in her vision. No longer was she Thalia Grace, daughter of the King of the gods. Instead, she was just the scared little girl she used to be when she was forced to live with her increasingly erratic mother. Except this time, she truly had no escape.
In the darkness, the only thing that could break that haze was the mysterious, calming presence that had appeared the night before. Real or imaginary, Thalia wasn't sure, but despite the desperation she could sense from it, it was calming. As though it truly cared about her well-being.
"You're the only one keeping me sane you know." Thalia muttered. "Although I don't even know. What's real, what's fake? Does anyone truly know? They beat me, torture me, and threaten me and those I care about. Do you know what it's like? Hiding, running, screaming. I'm a monster, and this is my punishment. That's the only way. Maybe I'm already dead."
She would have said more, but panic began to close her throat again, forcing her ramblings to stay silent.
"You okay over there?" Annabeth's pained voice asked.
"Death is only mercy for the just." Thalia replied. "There is no relief for me."
"What the hell are you talking about? Snap out of it!" Annabeth yelled. "We're here, in a cell. Percy's coming to get us. I know he is."
Thalia turned, face blank, to where she knew Annabeth was. "Why would Percy rescue me? I thought he killed monsters like me."
Annabeth's hurried prayers began to fill the uneasy silence; her earnest pleadings to her mother, Percy's father, Thalia's father, even Mr. D. Hope was the only thing she could still cling to, and even those thinnest of threads were beginning to fray.
"You're not a monster." Annabeth protested. "Just hold on a little longer okay?"
Thalia wanted to ask Annabeth why she was trapped, but the words caught in her throat. Of course, Annabeth wasn't at fault. She was an angel caught in the wrong place with the wrong people. No. This was her own doing, her punishment for matricide. Maybe the Universe was finally judging her for her sins.
"You have no idea what I've done." Thalia whispered. Although if Annabeth heard her, she didn't respond.
The dim light of morning was the only sign that the night was over. The haze that had plagued her ever since Artemis had taken the sky seemed to only be getting worse. Instead of just dinginess, the edges of her vision began to grow dark, as though her body was slowly being separated from her soul.
Her eyelids felt heavy, but she didn't dare close them. Besides, it was too late for any sort of sleep now. The demented Manticore made sure she wouldn't get any rest during the night as her pained joints continued to swell. She imagined if she had filled her nerves with hot magma, it would be close to the aching that plagued her.
She looked over to the prone form of Annabeth. Thankfully, her chains had been unadjusted, so while she didn't look comfortable, her closed eyes and slow breathing signified that she had been able to sleep at least a few 's good. Thalia doesn't need to see what's going to happen today.
She knew it was a pipe dream. In just a moment, Annabeth would be woken up when their tormentors returned, but it was the tiniest moments of hope that could give her some brief moments of respite from the labyrinth of insanity. There wasn't any reason for Percy to rescue her, but maybe he'd at least come for Annabeth. She didn't deserve this.
The creaking of the cell door told her that her nightly respite was over. She didn't bother looking up. If she was lucky, they'd just hit her and get it over with. Bracing wouldn't do any good. Submission was the only way she might get off easy.
"My offer still stands, you know."
Despite her best efforts, she looked up at that face she once found so endearing. Luke's blond hair looked thinner from their days in the woods, and his scar stood out as the only blemish on his otherwise perfect features. Yet, he didn't look handsome anymore. His pale skin looked gray, and he looked just as unsteady as he had when she had taken the sky from him.
For a moment, Thalia considered the nuclear option, but she shuddered at the thought. Luke had offered her the opportunity to bathe in the Styx, and be the physical temple for the resurrection of Kronos.
"You know I can't." Thalia's weak voice replied. "I wouldn't even survive the dip."
Luke shrugged, seemingly indifferent. "Maybe, maybe not. But it's your only option." His light blue eyes, for the first time since her imprisonment, looked anguished, in contrast with his tired, but generally stoic body language. "I can't keep you alive any longer than the solstice, which is today. After that, the General will kill you."
"Since when did you care about keeping me alive?" Thalia spat weakly.
"One day, you'll understand." Luke said. "My offer is your only chance at escape. Join me. Join us. It is the natural way of things. Children overthrowing their parents. It will be just like old times."
Thalia managed a growl. "The old you wouldn't have trapped me under the sky. Go fuck yourself."
"Perhaps you are becoming a monster, Thals." Luke said, "The very kind you accuse me of being."
Thalia bristled. Her nickname felt alien coming out of Luke's mouth, as desperately as she wanted things to return, it only confirmed what she already knew. Back then, they were two young demigods, mad at the world without any real influence. Now, they were two monsters staring back at one another.
"Don't call me that." Thalia sneered. "That ship has long sailed."
Luke sighed. "It's a shame you know. You really think Hades will let you into Elysium? After all you've done?"
"Shut it." Thalia sneered. "That's rich, coming from you."
"I just speak the truth, Thals." He said, ignoring Thalia's protests about her nickname. "Thorn told me about the plane. Did you even think about the mortals inside? There were no survivors you know…"
Truthfully, Thalia had done her best not to think about it, but she couldn't help the guilt that gnawed away at her. Sure, she had prayed to her dad to help them, but even if she knew it wouldn't have worked, would she still have done it? The pit in her stomach told her everything she needed to know. The same girl that killed her mother was the same one that massacred a plane of mortals.
"Since when do you care about collateral damage?" Thalia said. "Your boss doesn't care about mortals either."
"I suppose on some counts I may be found guilty of hypocrisy." Luke said. "At least to those who don't understand my vision. Still, last I checked. Hypocrisy is hardly comparable to murder."
"You're a fool." Thalia said.
"And you're a monster. You couldn't even save your younger brother from your mortal mother." Luke said. His smile turned ghastly. "I heard Hades is always looking to send more souls to the Fields of Punishment. Although perhaps monsters like yourself should go to Tartarus instead."
She wanted to shout more hateful things at the boy she used to love, but she didn't have the energy. That nagging sense of guilt that began to eat away at her again. Luke knew her past better than anyone, and yet he wielded it like a weapon to carve up her heart.
Plus, could he be right? After all, why would Elysium want her? She felt more awake now that the sun had come up, but she vaguely remembered her ramblings during the night. She had nothing to hope for, and she had no reason to be rescued. No matter how she sliced it, the drowning depths of despair kept crawling to her throat, choking her out. Luke's sinister smile betrayed the joy that he felt, and that hurt most of all. She was nothing more than a tool to him.
She felt as though she was hanging by a thread, and it was beginning to fray. The verbal assaults hurt even more than the physical strikes she had been subjected to. By now, she had long grown accustomed to the slow seeping from the lightning patterns on her arms. She felt as though she was splitting in two, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Luke glanced at a still sleeping Annabeth.
"I'll leave you two be, for now." Luke said. "If you change your mind, just say the word. My lord would love the honor of sparing his new temple."
"Go fuck yourself." Thalia spat blood on his shoe.
Luke just sighed. "Then I hope Hades has mercy on you." Then, he swiftly left the room, the hard soles of his boots echoing through the cell.
The door remained ajar and Thalia knew what was coming next, so she just waited in silence, wishing desperately she could let out her screams.
"It's all your fault." Dr. Thorn told her between blows. "The blood of innocents is on your hands."
Thalia could do little more than whimper, and Annabeth had kept the same dissociative expression she had found since yesterday. By now, everything they'd done had started to blend together, the only difference today was that they decided they'd do more than insult her. She could deal with the usual hateful insults, but every time they mentioned the people she killed or failed to save, it felt like a hot knife had been driven through her heart. In her sleep-deprived ramblings, she had begun to unearth the truth about herself. She tried to fight the vicious insults, piercing her with every barb, but ultimately, they found their target.
Tears began to pour down her face. She just wanted it to end. It didn't matter what she had done, but no one was coming. Annabeth's glassy gaze signified how little she was paying attention, but Thalia was grateful for that. The less she could remember, the better off she'd be.
Crunch. Another one of her fingers was broken, but there was no scream. That was the new game they had played today. Thorn had gotten a list of every passenger on the plane and forced her to memorize it, with the faces of their families. He would make her recite it between his strikes, and when she would get one wrong, he'd break another finger.
Still, their faces were etched into her memory. The faces that she was directly responsible for ending.
"It was self-defense." Thalia protested. Why she said it, she wasn't sure. Thorn wouldn't have cared. He made that very clear. Still, as her mind threatened to tear itself in two, she felt as though the fraying thread, upon which she could pin her fractured soul, desperately required what she said to be true.
"Was it?" Thorn sneered. "I seem to recall telling you to come quietly and no one would get hurt. I am many things, but a Frenchman never lies."
"You would've captured me, tortured me."
Thorn smiled devilishly. "And yet here you are, with the blood of over one hundred dead mortals staining your hands. Do you truly believe it was self-defense? I don't think so. Yes, I am a monster. My soul swears allegiance to Tartarus. Yet, despite that, I could never lay claim to such a massacre. The line between man and monster is very thin, Miss Grace."
"No." Thalia repeated. "I will never be like you."
"Your trembling betrays you." Thorn mocked. "You cannot deny your ramblings in the night. Though the sun may hide the shadows for a time, they will always resurface. Hades will have no mercy on you. You only have one option."
This time, Thalia stayed silent. She had nothing, not even a humorous quip. Still, she saw Annabeth's glassy gaze and she knew that at least one of them deserved to be rescued. Her face had long since hardened from the cute little girl she and Luke had stumbled across in the woods. Still, Thalia could only hope a shred of innocence had been preserved, though she knew it was probably a pipe dream.
The thick haze was now in the center of her vision, acting like a dark distortion around the world. Her thoughts were beginning to slow, the only thing remaining being the faces and names of those she had killed on the plane. Playing in reverse order, the fiery wreckage, once so clear, was now just splashes of color across her mental screen. Her limbs felt more like accessories than part of her, and the seeping of her soul did not dissipate. In a way, it felt remarkably similar to her original transformation. The fiery pain that had so plagued her now began to ebb, sending tears of relief to her tired eyes.
Thorn's voice sounded muffled as he spoke his next words. "You can feel it, the euphoria of death." He chuckled. "Poetic justice I suppose, a self-inflicted wound."
Briefly, the haze in her vision felt as though it would begin to dissipate. Euphoria of death? She couldn't die yet. Annabeth wasn't safe, and there was no guarantee she'd get any relief even in the hereafter.
"No," was all she said, her words beginning to slur. Still, she cracked a smile, one far larger than normal in any circumstance. "Monsters don't truly die."
Thorn's eyes widened, but before he could respond, the ground began to rumble and he cursed.
"Those parasites don't know when to quit, do they?" He said, then he turned towards the seemingly empty hallway. "Get in here, undo their chains. It's time to meet our visitors."
The cyclops wardens came in, keys jangling in their hands, and they unlocked the girls' chains.
"Come," Thorn barked.
Annabeth was able to stagger to her feet, but Thalia was unable to do anything more than whimper as she attempted to use any muscles at all. She tried briefly to stand, trying to claw her way through the haze, but found herself disconnected from her own body, making her own flesh her new prison cell.
"You," Thorn said, pointing at the cyclops closest to Thalia. "Carry her. We're going to need her for the main event."
The cyclops unceremoniously took Thalia's limp form and threw her over his shoulder. Still, she said nothing. There was nothing she could do except fight the increasingly oppressive mental haze that threatened to tear her from her body completely. She couldn't let go, not yet. Not until Annabeth had made it out safely.
"Where are we going?" Annabeth asked, her voice monotone.
"Oh, just to see some old friends." Thorn replied, although the tension in his voice betrayed his uneasiness. "You two are lucky. I would have liked to kill you now, but I have been forbidden from doing so."
The rumbling in the floor began to increase in intensity, forcing the group to slow their exit from the cell into the main hallway. Waiting outside was Luke. His jaw was tense, and his forehead shined with sweat.
"This is your last chance. Don't fail Annabeth like you failed Jason." He warned. "If you say no, we're taking you to the General, and he will not be merciful."
The sight of Luke pricked Thalia's heart, providing some clarity to the cacophony of confusion of her sensory information. He was responsible. It was his fault. She focused on that feeling, providing relief from her mental haze. In exchange, her injuries began to jolt her, acutely making their presence known, but that was okay. She may be a monster, and the universe may be punishing her, but Luke was the instrument in her torment, and he would pay for his crimes.
"Go to Tartarus," she spat. Even the simple act of speaking caused her now brittle and broken bones to rattle, forcing her to wince, but if those ended up being her last words, she would be satisfied with them.
"I'd let Annabeth go." Luke promised, and his expression had changed, from one of worry and anger, into one of concern. "Please. It will heal you, and then I can personally guarantee Annabeth's safety."
Thalia opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Instead, she glared defiantly at the son of Hermes, daring him to ask her again. Still, his pleading eyes seemed sincere, and for a brief moment, her heart desperately called out to forgive him, to give him another chance. To let him protect Annabeth in a way that she couldn't.
"I'd rather die standing than live kneeling beneath you." Annabeth spat, answering Thalia's question for her. "Were the last few days nothing but a practical joke to you?"
"You were brainwashed!" Luke protested. "I had to break your minds, break your ways of thinking."
Annabeth's gaze held a thousand words, a million things she likely wanted to say. Instead, she just wiped a single tear from her eye. "Percy was right about you."
Luke swallowed uncomfortably, as though he had to physically digest what he heard. "I see," he said, his demeanor once again hardened. "Then, I guess I have no choice but to take you to the General."
Annabeth raised her chin in defiance. "Take us. I want to meet these 'parasites' Thorn is so worried about."
Before Luke could respond, the scent of saltwater filled Thalia's nose and the ground began to shake violently. Annabeth smiled. "I told you they'd come."
Thalia could only hope she wouldn't end up on the other side of a monster-slaying blade.
AN: Hey ya'll that was...something. I'd love to hear feedback as to if you like this sort of elevated violence and theme level. For context, my beta reader found it a little unsettling, so I'll consider altering the future tone depending on you guys, the readers. On a happier note, thanks for all the reviews and such! I always love it when my inbox notifies me that someone enjoyed, or at least read, the chapter. Thanks for the continued support! Now, time for review replies
Ginocide02: I'm glad you like Rachel! She's one of my favorites. Once I'm done with my current projects I'm currently considering writing some Perachel. No promises yet though.
Jojo 'Perlia' Jesus: Our boy Percy has got this. I've got a plan for the future on this front, don't worry. Glad you're enjoying, and yes, I am aware of the scam bots, but its still nice to have the reminder regardless
My two Guest reviews: Don't worry, I have a plan for the reunion and romance as a whole.
pjowriter27: Thanks for the lengthy feedback! I absolutely enjoy your work as well. I'm super glad you like Lyra, she was fun to come up with and she's my first OC, so I'm glad she turned out okay. Our boy Percy is SUPER down bad. Pining is a MUST for any romance imo. Although after this chapter, I think it sets up an interesting dynamic considering the liberties I took with Thalia's backstory (shared abusive parents and all that). As far as canon variance, I actually meant for it to be more, but sometimes the story writes itself. Still, don't worry, after TTC arc we'll start getting SUPER variant. Plus, the stubborn Percy/Thalia dynamic is incredibly fun to write, especially from the male perspective, so it's interesting to keep the characters masculine and feminine, yet exploring what that actually means is one of my favorite parts as an author. Hope you enjoyed this one and excited for your next updates as well!