He desperately wished he could make it all go away. The anguish he saw on Thalia's face at all hours of the day tore him up inside. Percy's heart wrenched when she was in pain; and when he could see her hidden scars, it seemed as if nothing else mattered. If the King of the Gods himself stood in the way of her happiness, he would be all too willing to pay whatever price necessary.

As she fell asleep on him, all the worry in her face finally melted away, replaced with a peace he had never seen before. These days, her angelic face was constantly marred by worry, but Percy understood, and that was the worst part of all. Despite himself, his cheeks flushed as he pulled the blankets over her. Her breathing was soft and slow, a welcome sound compared to the rapid, harsh breaths she sucked down when consciousness plagued her.

His chest squeezed as the realization hit him like a truck: he would do anything for this girl. Even breaking through the lies she had convinced herself were true.

His heart raced, and his face felt warm. What was he supposed to do? What if she wasn't ready for anything? He wanted to let her rest, but here she was, lying in his cabin. At the very least, he wanted to etch her relaxed face into his mind forever. Maybe one day, when they were a little older, they could build a life together.

Without thinking, he planted a kiss on her forehead. It wasn't the first time he had thought about kissing her, but most of those times involved some kind of tension. Like the dance at Westover, where he had been distracted by the purple lipstick on her soft mouth, driving him crazy. A knot loosened in his chest, and he felt like he could breathe a little easier. All the emotional turmoil of the past several weeks evaporated as he watched her, sleeping safely in his cabin.

If she could gaze at herself from his perspective, all her doubts would flee her mind. Her angelic wings were in tatters, and he wanted to help her soar the skies once more.

Blushing, he pulled himself away. He didn't want to wake her. She was exhausted. From the way that she had frantically paced outside his cabin earlier, it was evident she had had a nightmare. He was no stranger to them, but it still didn't ease the anguish. The best he could do was let her be, checking in on her periodically to make sure the horrid dreams wouldn't return. He wouldn't be going to sleep any time soon anyway.

Settling down on the floor near her, Percy pulled out Zoe's letter, still unopened. He needed answers. The lines of the prophecy did not feel complete, and it made his stomach turn. Last time he'd gotten a prophecy, Luke had tried to kill him.

Lightning and Ocean dawn the new age. He repeated the line in his head, trying desperately to interpret it. Originally, he thought it had something to do with his dad and Thalia's. It was the most logical conclusion, considering they were the personifications of those elements. But after observing Zeus' behavior in the council meeting, and the subsequent decree that nothing would be done, it only fulfilled the first line of the couplet: Blinded eyes shall set a new stage.

He stood, walked across the cabin, and lit a candle. The shared light of his fountain and the small flame provided enough light to read comfortably without waking Thalia. He carefully opened Zoe's letter, a fresh wave of grief washing over him. Maybe she would have some answers. The entire prophecy felt odd. The quest was completed, and if you asked Percy, two goddesses had been rescued. Even the required number of deaths had been reached. Instead of feeling complete, the prophecy felt like it was pointing to something beyond the simple rescue mission.

Shakily, he took a deep breath and began to read carefully. He wasn't sure if it was intentional, but Zoe's handwriting was such that his dyslexia was far more manageable than he had been expecting. The letter was his only key to his unknown past, the final guidance from the immortal being who knew what was really happening.

If you are reading this, then it means my fear about the prophecy has come true. I am now dead, perished in battle by the hand of my father.

At that, Percy swallowed hard, a small lump forming in his throat. He steeled himself and pushed on.

Truthfully, I'm not sure why I'm writing this. You are insufferable, and a boy. Nevertheless, it would behoove you to learn the truth about your father, and how things were before the reign of Zeus.

Before my departure, I shared some of what I know with Chiron. I'm unsure how open he can be, so I'll tell you directly. Worst case scenario, I'll be dead. Nothing else could happen to me, so it's your problem now.

Your father is Posedao Enesidaon. He was the first king of the gods, ruler over the Mycenaeans, the first Greeks. He claimed "all that was beneath the earth," meaning sea and ground. Part of this includes Hades' realm. Posedao protected mankind from their infancy, leading the rebellion against Kronos and the Titans, my family. As mankind matured, they worshipped him as their rightful lord.

However, Zeus was arrogant and believed he could do better. He saw an opportunity to capitalize on his ambition. While he could, at best, fight to a draw in combat, he understood something no one else did: the linkage between mortals and the gods. Posedao, as great as he was, desired to allow his creation to flourish, separate from his meddling hands where possible. It was this ignorance that led to the coup.

Zeus understood that despite Posedao's best efforts, there would always be a touchstone between mankind and the gods. That is why humanity had god-kings, representing both the gods and the people. The patron deities of the countries would sire children to lead nations, ready to act as mediators between the people and their gods. For millennia, the gods remained ethereal forms, ready to act as needed in the world. Mankind believed the gods would, so they did. The power of human will was unique, separate from the absolute control found within godly domains.

Zeus sired a hero and taught him the ways of the gods. Slowly, this hero used intrigue to become king of the Mycenaeans, the patron nation of Posedao. He succeeded by using the absence of the rightful king during the Trojan War. This 'hero' turned the people to human sacrifice and, in an act of rebellion, refused tribute to Posedao, who was furious.

Posedao battered the once great nation in his fury, reducing them to ashes, but the damage was done. The people turned on him and began to worship Zeus. Sensing his rival's weakness, Zeus schemed to make himself king, using Apollo's most incredible son, Homer, to craft his new story. Posedao threatened war, but Zeus held the Mycenaeans hostage. Bitterly, Posedao relented, giving up half of his kingdom to Hades as a peace offering to his brother in exchange for saving the remnants of his formerly great nation.

Supposedly, that was the end of the conflict. But your very existence has broken the hegemony of Homer. The Fates have placed their hand in the world through you. I have wracked my brain for any other alternative, but there is literally only one deity who has ever existed, god or titan, who held such power over the earth, water, and shadows. Scour the earth for information if you must. Pray within the confines of your cabin. If gods are truly manipulated by mortals, then even just one may be enough to tilt the scales.

Zeus has been known by many names throughout many times, but he will not leave quietly if that is the path you wish to pursue. Some of the gods know the truth, those whose loyalty he bought in exchange for their silence. We do not know which ones, but be wary, as any and all of them should be seen as potential threats.

I do not know what is woven in the threads of fate, but you should prepare. The "Great Prophecy" is not what it appears. Posedao lives on, and you are his legacy. What you do with that is up to you. You must not share this knowledge with anyone untrustworthy, as the gods loyal to Zeus would instantly kill you. Even uttering the forbidden name will alert unsavory characters.

I wish I could help you more, but your instincts will lead you straight. You and I are not so different. No one can help with the circumstances of their birth, but it is what we do that ultimately determines our destiny. Find someone with whom you can strategize. Plan for the future. Kronos rises, and he awaits no one. I suspect the two events are related, namely your birth and His rise from Tartarus. War will always be messy. I would know, considering I have lived through hundreds at this point. Now, it's your turn. The campers look to you for guidance, even above their own parents. Bianca, whom you only met once at Westover, talks highly of you. I may not like it, but it is an inescapable fact. Be wise in your loyalties. They will steer you more than they steer most, and choosing poorly will lead to the destruction of those you care about above all else. Good luck, Perseus.

Sincerely,

Zoe

Even the running water, the usual background noise of Cabin 3, was silent. The only noise was Thalia's slow and steady breathing. Wincing, Percy relaxed his fist, his cramping muscles sore. On cue, the water in the fountain resumed, its natural flow now continuing unabated.

The onslaught of thoughts he was expecting never came. Instead, he felt calm. Sure, he didn't know everything, but at least he knew what he didn't know this time. All the pieces felt like they had clicked into place; the mystery of his heritage was finally revealed.

Even the reason for Zeus being a dickhead made things remarkably simple. The Fates' meddling was getting old at this point, but at least the shadow travel made sense now. And it was clearly no accident that he could do it. In a puzzling way, he enjoyed the extra abilities. It allowed him more options when it came to fighting, and that meant a chance to protect the things he cared about. It wasn't tough to keep things from the gods, and he had already threatened to fight a few, so while it sucked, it was status quo ante.

Despite his calm, the magnitude of what he had read was not lost. Just having Zoe's letter in his possession, if discovered, would be enough to have him killed immediately. He swallowed the stubborn lump in his throat as he thought about Zoe's recent demise. It had been important enough for her to leave this to him, even when she knew she was likely going to die. His one link to the past had left him a map, which he would treasure forever.

Choosing poorly will lead to the destruction of those you care about most. The penultimate line of the letter was worth its weight in gold. What do I care about most? Percy contemplated. At the forefront was his mother, where even one tear shed was far too many.

He glanced back at Thalia's angelic face. His heart twisted as he thought of how many tears, how many sorrows she had already had to bear. On the quest to get her back, he had been surly, argumentative, and ready to throw hands at anybody who interfered. Would he do it again? Absolutely. But he had been an absolute wreck until the moment she had safely returned to his arms. Thoughts of her safety consumed his every waking moment, and most of his dreams as well.

A small twinge of guilt gnawed at him, and he winced. Rachel hadn't done anything wrong, and neither had he. Still, as inexperienced as he was, he knew it was probably considered rude to think of another girl while an attractive one was on top of you. She laughed it off, and he was glad she didn't make it a big deal, but it was obvious where his priorities were, even when he couldn't realize it himself.

His heart began to race as his mind replayed that night on the beach. His cheeks flushed slightly at the whole debacle. He was grateful Thalia couldn't see him at the moment, as she would have made a comment about it, and he was not ready to explain himself. Shaking his head, he tried to force other people into his thoughts, other priorities that he had to consider.

Grover and Annabeth rose to the top, unique even among the mythological world. Other campers like Beckendorf, Connor and Travis Stoll, and even Clarisse soon joined them in Percy's mind. It wasn't fair what was being done. Despite their differences at Camp, everyone could relate to the story of absent parents, and friends who had died horrifically at the hands of monsters, their prayers unanswered. It was just another day at the office for demigods.

Percy clenched his jaw. It wasn't fair, and everybody knew it. It was no accident that he had threatened to fight Mr. D before Thalia's capture. He had stood before multiple deities and didn't back down from their threats, instead egging them on. He didn't want the mantle of leadership, he wasn't the one who should be in charge. Yet, if Zoe was right, and she had no reason to lie, then his actions mattered to those in Camp. They were likely to join him if he truly were to go against their parents.

Yet, he hesitated. He was no stranger to the cruelty of the Titans, and if anything, they'd likely just genocide all of the demigods they could get their hands on, even those who served them. Would things actually get better under their leadership? He was incredibly doubtful. He looked again at Thalia's sleeping form. A burning heat clawed its way up his chest, a fierce desire to protect her consuming him like a raging fire. He had a million things he wanted to say. Since she had returned, he was still hurting from her complete dismissal of him. Still, it seemed there was a path forward, one he wanted to take, even if it was incredibly long and bumpy.

He bit his lip, nerves coursing through him. Chiron may have told him his father's name, but now, Zoe had given him enough to work with. It was a long shot, but he directly talked with Ouranos, who was long thought to be faded away, so maybe there was a chance. He steeled himself, his decision made as he crossed to the middle of the cabin. At the very least, Thalia was sleeping, so he wouldn't look stupid if it didn't work.

"Uh, hey, Dad," Percy said, trying not to cringe. "Posedao, uh, are you alive?"

Percy waited for one moment, then another, but silence was all that greeted him. Cautiously he looked around. Zoe said his cabin would be safe, but nervousness still crawled up his spine. If the gods were going to kill him, he at least wanted to face them before he died. Knowing Zeus, he would just send a lightning bolt with Percy's name on it and call it a day.

Frustrated, he began to pace. Many of the answers he had been given were satisfactory, but the previous calm was starting to wane. A myriad of questions took its place. How could he protect the demigods? Joining Luke was out of the question, and therefore Kronos was as well. One, both of them were just wrong, and his feelings hadn't changed from when Thalia had asked him why. Second, and perhaps more importantly, Percy wouldn't let Thalia get within one hundred miles of that sleazebag.

That left the unsavory option of backing the gods once again because "they were better than the alternative." It was difficult not to let the bitterness grow, but anyone who said they at least didn't understand why Luke left was lying. No one could blame the demigods for hating their parents, but what other choice did they have?

Percy threw his hands in the air in surrender. Maybe it didn't matter anyway. He had given up hope once, and he could do it again. Perhaps life was just slowly meandering through monsters, fighting them until they finally got him. Zoe said the "Great Prophecy" wasn't what it appeared to be. Even so, he had prepared himself like a lamb for slaughter ever since Annabeth had told him about his foretold destiny.

Despite his pacing, his gaze refused to leave the sleeping daughter of Zeus across the room. He would do anything to keep her safe, allow her to recover, do whatever she needed and wanted to do with her life. Annabeth had architecture, and now she got to pursue it. Thalia had always been more reserved with her long-term plans, but he figured she felt the same way he did, never planning beyond the next day. Maybe they could build a life together. Maybe that would help him make his next decision, protecting those he could in the process.

He yawned, his fatigue from the day finally catching up with him. He took one last look around the cabin, half hoping that Posedao would just show up like Poseidon could, but nothing had changed. He blew out the candle and made his way over to his bed, just adjacent to Thalia's. He checked on her one more time, using the moon's dim light to check that nothing was wrong. The long shadows made it difficult to tell, but her beautiful face looked as calm as when he first laid her on the bed and tucked her in. Satisfied, he followed course, curling up and allowing sleep to overtake him.

Heavy mists of darkness surrounded him, an impenetrable fog caging him in from all directions. Tentatively he reached out, but felt nothing. He couldn't even sense a speck of moisture in the darkness. He was alone, and he had no idea where he was meant to be going.

The floor was made of concrete and covered in thick dust, as though it hadn't been traversed in thousands of years. Percy closed his eyes, trying to get a feel for the situation. He felt a small tug at his center and followed, heading blindly into the darkness.

His steps echoed from above. He was surrounded by something, not simply in a vast open space. Out of the corner of his eye, he kept seeing movement, minor flickering that cut through the oppressive fog. His eyes darted, trying to follow, but nothing was ever there. Whisperings, different from his usual shadow companions, also permeated the void, taunting him and goading him into going deeper. Every time he tried to resist, the unseen tug in his chest increased its strain.

He wasn't sure how long it had been. It could have been minutes, or it could have been days. The desperate whisperings only increased their frequency, and he could have sworn he saw a few faces among the haze. However, very slowly, a faint red light began to appear, slicing through the fog. The tug pulled him in its direction, but no matter how long he walked, it never got any closer.

He picked up the pace, the echoing growing more incessant. Mirages taunted him, always just out of sight. Faces of his loved ones: Thalia, his mother, Annabeth, and Grover, would appear and disappear at random. He began repeating strings of facts he knew to be true to attempt to combat whatever was happening, reassuring himself that his thoughts were real.

Trudging forward, the air felt heavier, similar to when he had been approaching the sky at the Mountain of Despair. Breathing became difficult. He thought about Posedao, wondering if the illusions of the Mist could provide some hidden knowledge. He wasn't sure if he wanted the Mist to be omniscient or not, but at the very least, it would show if this was something forming from his memories, or something it was creating on its own.

Another figure appeared in the corner of his vision. Percy resisted the urge to look directly at it, instead making out what he could peripherally. From what he could make out, it looked a bit like his father, although the natural light green of the sea had been replaced by a muddy green with black streaks, like the ocean floor personified. The top of his head was fuzzy, but something extra poked out from his hair.

Percy glanced over, desperate for more, but the image dissipated, leaving him with nothing. Immediately, the air began to cling to him, swirling. Icy terror shot down his fog was more than just haze. It was alive. His insides began to crawl, the menacing presence sliding under his skin. He needed out, but there was no escape from the living air.

His heart raced, adrenaline spiking. Far ahead, a menacing, dim red light taunted him. He broke into a full sprint, the corrosive air preying on his every weakness. He heard Thalia's screams coming from the light, and he ran as fast as ever before, the endless maze laughing around him.

As he was ready to give up, fall down, and simply allow the fog to overtake him, it dissipated, the way to the red glow suddenly so clear it stopped him in his tracks. Cautiously, he started toward it again.

A new glow, dim and light blue, appeared at his feet, curving away from the pulsing red light still in the far distance. Glancing between the two, he turned to follow the soft blue trail, trying to drown out Thalia's screams as he willingly walked away.

As he continued along the trail, the itching feeling on his skin reduced. It was still there, but now he had a purpose and a lifeline. He maintained his pace along the path, allowing it to guide him to his destination.

Out of nowhere, the angry red glow that had been taunting him now enveloped him, warm and soft and strangely devoid of screams. Percy's brow furrowed.I could've sworn I was walking away from that…

He spun around, searching, trying to make sense of how he had reached the red light, be it travel or teleportation, but the harder he thought the more his head pounded. Time seemed distorted. He vaguely wondered if a watch would work in a place like this.

Giving up, he walked further into the light, the cool mist of the fog fading away. The further he walked, the more a room materialized around the edges of his vision.

Well, it could hardly be called a room. A cavern was a more accurate description, illuminated by a single red bulb in the center. The source of the red light, then. There were two figures in the space with him. One, a girl with frizzy red hair, green smoke slowly oozing out of her mouth as she swayed beneath the bulb. In the far corner was a frail old man, facing the wall, unmoving. An eerie sense of dread filled him. The man was alive, but he should not have been. Percy had seen corpses with more life in them.

As he approached the red haired girl, his heart dropped. What was she doing here?

"Rachel?" He asked, grabbing her shoulder. "Where are we? What's going on?"

She gave him a forced smile, green smoke oozing from her lips. When she spoke, it sounded as though her voice had been distorted through a filter. "That all depends on you," she said.

"I seek the path that will save my friends." Percy declared.

Rachel smiled, green smoke now billowing out of her nose and eyes, casting shadows as though she was a spectre. "Then, observe your destiny."

She waved her hand, and the man facing the wall stood up, walking jerkily towards Percy. He remained facing backward as he approached, a sight that made Percy jerk back for a moment. Rachel continued smiling, green smoke filling the air. Percy swallowed hard. If this was Prophecy, he wanted nothing to do with it.

The old man now stood uncomfortably close. Percy inched backwards, but the man matched him step for step, and Percy quickly gave up. A raspy voice escaped him, his head now turned at an unnatural angle that allowed Percy to see the bottom half of his terrible, wrinkled face.

"Your destiny," he wheezed. "Shall be found in the endless maze. It is the only path you shall seek."

His arms contorted and twisted, wrapping around his back and firmly grasping Percy's shoulders with far more force than should have been possible. Percy tried to squirm out of the old man's grip. A horrid cracking sound came from the old neck, and Percy's stomach twisted as the crunching of bones became louder. It should not have been possible, but the old man's head began to turn like an owl, the wrinkled skin stretching taut.

The face that awaited him had Percy retching, expelling the contents of his stomach. The man's expression was held in a permanent scream, unending agony etched on his face. When he spoke, his lips did not move; instead, he felt as though it reverberated from his chest. His eyes were absent, empty sockets in their place. Percy's reaction did little to hinder the man, who continued his death grip despite now being soaked in vomit.

Suddenly, the man released one arm, forcing Percy to look into his cavernous eye sockets. Percy's mind was empty, flooded with unending fear. "To save your friends," the man wheezed. "You must save me."

Maggots began to exude from the man's orifices, and Percy screamed as the menacing fog once again overtook him, abandoning him in the darkness.

His cheeks were wet and his throat scratchy when his eyes finally shot open. His heart felt like it was shaking in his chest. The dim light of the morning was the only light in the cabin. He was hyperventilating, the shocking face of the old man etched in his mind, taunting his every thought. The urge to vomit refused to subside, and his skin maintained its itching like little maggots from the man had burrowed themselves into him.

He felt a reassuring squeeze in his hand, and his eyes darted over to see the source. It was Thalia, her eyebrows furrowed in concern. Her short, messy hair was all over her face, and she was squeezing him tighter than he expected. He took a deep breath, focusing on the face in front of him.

"Stay with me," Thalia said softly, brushing her thumb over his knuckles. "Name five things you can see."

He didn't really want to, but he followed the instructions. "Your face, your hair, the gray walls, the fountain, and the nightstand," he said, trying to steady his wavering voice.

Thalia shot him a reassuring smile. "Good job, now, four things you can hear."

Percy took a shaky breath. "My heartbeat, your voice, the water in the fountain, and the bickering of the nymphs outside."

Thalia snickered. "They've been at it since I woke up. Sounds like some of the Hermes kids pulled a prank they didn't like. Now, name three things you can touch."

Percy managed a shaky smile, briefly distracted wondering what prank the Stolls pulled. "Uh, your hand, the covers on the bed, and the sweat on my skin."

"Now, two things you can smell." Thalia urged.

Percy breathed in deeply. The faint smell of ozone helped calm his nerves. Annabeth had once mentioned that things always felt slightly more salty when he was around. Maybe Thalia was the same with ozone. He liked the thought. "Ozone and salt." He declared, the salt water from the fountain dissipating throughout the room.

"Just one more," Thalia crooned. She took out a small, uneaten portion of the ambrosia square from the night and handed it over. "One thing you can taste."

Percy took it hesitantly; he had never eaten it for its own sake. Thalia's expectant gaze made him forget his cautiousness as he broke off a small chunk. He ate it, allowing the soothing taste of his mother's blue chocolate chip cookies to fill him. Immediately, he felt calmer and more alert, the rest of the cabin coming into focus.

"My mother's chocolate chip cookies." He said, taking a deep breath. "Thank you." He said, giving Thalia another reassuring squeeze. "Guess it was a rough night for the both of us, huh?"

Thalia got up, moving to sit down on his bed next to him. "I tried to wake you," she said. "But even my shocks weren't working. Sorry about that."

"No, it's alright." Percy said, "Sometimes it just goes that way. Nightmares are a part of our lives."

Thalia's electric blue eyes bore into his, a deep sense of understanding swimming in them. "I get it if you don't want to…." she said, "But if you want to talk about it. I'm ready to listen."

Percy breathed deeply, sighing. His mind was spinning from all the new information he had learned, starting with Zoe's letter. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do, but he knew the dream was connected with his decision. His only path would be found through the endless maze. If the maze was anything like his dream, he wanted to stay as far away from that place as possible.

"Just…give me a minute," Percy said. "These dreams never make any sense, you know?"

Thalia placed her free hand on his thigh, mimicking the rubbing motion that he always did for her. "I get it." She said sadly. Her tone turned bitter. "It's just another day in our lives."

"I guess we match." Percy chuckled. "We both had one last night. Same offer goes to you if you need to talk."

Thalia pursed her lips, her face furrowed in thought. She relaxed, taking a deep breath as she made herself comfortable on his bed. "I'll tell you what, Kelp Head," she began. "It's tomorrow now, so if I tell you, you tell me. Deal?"

Percy bristled. He didn't want to worry her about his dreams and their meaning, but he wanted to share what Zoe had told him in her letter. Plus, it had to do with the Great Prophecy, which also concerned her. Prophecies were weird, and even if he happened to be older by a couple months now, that didn't necessarily make it about him. She had a right to know.

"Okay," He sighed. "I'll tell you."

He relayed the contents of the letter and the decision he knew he had to make. About whether the gods were worth saving and how much he hated most of them. As he finished his rant about her father, Thalia smiled sadly, unsurprised. He kept a few details about the maze to himself, namely that he was told to go into whatever it was, but he told her about the oppressive fog that felt alive, messing with his mind, and how it had something to do with his dad. As he tried to relay the part about the corpse of a man, he got choked up, the memory getting stuck in his throat.

"It's alright," Thalia said, squeezing his hand. "You can tell me later, okay? When it's not as fresh."

Percy nodded. He didn't even notice he was trembling until Thalia squeezed his hand again. The grotesque man, the key to everything, would never leave his memory. Still, knowing that he wouldn't need to deal with it alone was comforting.

"Your turn," Percy said solemnly, "at least if you're feeling up for it."

Thalia took a deep breath and steeled herself. Percy felt her hand tremble as she instinctively tried to pull it away. He squeezed harder, and she relented, allowing his firm grip to take hold.

"Okay," she began. "It's stupid, really, but what if–what if all these nightmares, what if it's just punishment for the things I've done?"

Percy wanted to open his mouth and say that it was absurd, but the hurt in her eyes made him hesitate. That pain tore him up inside, something about her expression making him pick his next words carefully. "I don't think the world works that way," he said slowly, desperate to give her the space to let her feelings out without validating her fears.

"But what if it does?" Thalia countered, her voice turning to a whisper. "You don't know what I've done."

Percy sighed softly and squeezed her hand. "We've all done a lot of things, but I'm all ears if you'd like to tell me."

"How much do you know about my capture?" She said quietly, "I mean, before…you know, the Mountain."

Percy thought back to his first dream when he had been in the hospital bed, Thorn's sinister voice ringing out among the wreckage. "I know the plane you were on exploded, and Thorn insinuated you were to blame."

Thalia's eyes welled with tears, and she stared down towards the floor. He could barely hear her whisper. "It's true. I blew up the plane. There were no survivors. I killed those people."

"Tell me the whole story," Percy said, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "What happened?"

Thalia took a shaky breath, unwilling to look up at him. "I mean…you were passed out, and I knew we were running out of time, so I had to take a plane to San Francisco. I knew it was risky, but we didn't have time to wait. Thorn followed me on the plane and tried to take me hostage. I turned myself into a suicide bomb. I prayed to my father to protect the mortals from the destruction." She squeezed Percy's hand harder, her whole frame trembling. "I was a fool for thinking he'd ever help me."

Percy rubbed his thumb along the top of her hand rhythmically. He pursed his lips, choosing his next words carefully. "You know," he said. "The fact you feel guilt over this means you're not a monster. They relish in killing. At the end of the day, those who had the power to stop it refused to do so. You were just desperate and scared."

"But I didn't have to!" Thalia yelled, making him jump. "I should have known that my Father wouldn't help. I should have cooperated like you did with the kids. Or I should've waited for you to wake up before leaving." Her voice went quiet. "They still haunt me, you know. I had to learn each of them by name. Their husbands, wives, children, and their faces won't ever leave me."

"No, they won't," Percy said quietly, placing his off hand over hers, cupping it safely. "That much is true. Godly bullshit sucks, and it means mistakes will often end in death for those who don't deserve it, but I don't think that a teenage girl trapped in an impossible scenario is a monster for playing her best card and asking her dad for help."

Tears streaked down Thalia's cheeks. Percy's heart ached for her, and he desperately wished he could take it away with just a wave of his hand, but he also understood. The necessity to grieve was important in allowing her to move on. He didn't see how she was wrong. If anything, her dad, who could have done something, refused to help. Percy tried to quell his rage at Zeus. He could deal with it once Thalia was okay.

He pulled her closer to him, placing his hand on the back of her head as she sunk into his chest. He just hoped things might get a little easier one day, but one thing was certain. Any choice he'd make, he'd want her by his side. He pretended not to notice her tears soaking the front of his pajamas. He rubbed little circles into the back of her head as her breathing calmed again.

"Believe me, I get it. I still think about the mortals that died because of my fight with Ares." He paused. "Is there more?"

Thalia shook her head yes as she pulled herself off of Percy's chest. She closed her eyes and looked up, attempting to steel herself. "Yeah," she choked out. "There is."

Percy grasped her hand again as she slowly chose the words in her head. He could see she didn't believe him, and while his heart ached over it, he wasn't surprised. The lie was embedded deep within her, like she had been carrying it alone for years.

Thalia took another shaky breath, and her brows furrowed like she was fighting with herself for control over her mouth. "I'm a monster," her voice was catching on the end of every syllable. "Because I killed my mother."

The words hit Percy like a truck. Thalia had retreated into his hoodie like a snapping turtle, turning in on herself, desperate to avoid his gaze. He was no stranger to abusive family members, and Thalia wasn't the kind to kill someone for no reason. The shock of her confession slipped away, replaced by the realization that something must have been completely, horribly wrong for that to have happened.

"My mother killed my stepfather," he said quietly. "He deserved it, though."

At that, she peeked her head out, eyebrows raised. "What happened?" She asked quietly.

Now, it was Percy's turn to steady himself. "My stepfather…well let's just say that calling him a piece of shit is the understatement of the century. Anyway, long story short, after I killed Medusa, my dad sent the head back to me. My mom used it to kill him." Percy's voice turned fierce, the banished memories from his childhood beginning to boil over. "I guess he hit her one too many times. Good riddance."

Thalia's gaze returned to the floor, although she looked less tense now. Her eyes were still filled with tears that slowly spilled past her dark eyelashes and dripped onto the blue hoodie. "W-would you have killed him if you got the chance?"

Percy gently grasped her chin, coaxing her to look him in the eye as he answered with a surety:

"Yes," his voice was soft, but firm. "The only reason I didn't was because it was my mother's battle. Without Medusa's head, I would have done it without hesitation."

Thalia gave him a watery smile, though it looked forced. "Thanks," she whispered. "Then I guess you'll understand what happened." She took a deep breath and relayed the basic details of her story, and as she did, despite the tears that now stained her face, Percy could see the burden slowly lifting off of her.

He knew her past would never truly leave her. Scars of that kind never really healed, but it was the first step to helping close the wound that had been reopened by Luke's torture. The cabin began to rumble in response to his simmering rage at those responsible; Zeus, Kronos, Luke, Thorn, and all the gods who could and should have done something about it.

Despite her tears and anguish as she finished, she looked brighter than ever since her return, making Percy's heart somersault. "I guess we've both had shitty home lives." He chuckled.

Thalia laughed softly. "Yeah, I guess you could say that." She inched closer to him, no longer trying to keep space between the two of them. "Thanks. For, you know, not leaving."

"Of course not Pinecone Face," Percy stuck his tongue out. "You can't get rid of me that easily."

Thalia pretended to look offended. "Pinecone Face, huh? Low blow, Kelp Head."

Percy laughed. "If you can call me Kelp Head, I can call you Pinecone Face."

Thalia pouted, her lips pursed pathetically. "Nothing I say is gonna change that, is it?"

"Nope," Percy said, popping the p.

"Ugh, fine." She said, hugging her arms around herself. "Then I'm keeping this hoodie."

Percy felt his face flush slightly, the roller coaster of emotions from the morning crashing to a stop at her declaration. "No complaints from me," he said, trying to stay calm. "It's all yours."

Thalia curled up next to him on the bed, yawning as she let her head fall on his shoulder. "Once again," she said softly. "Thanks. It's just hard, you know?"

Percy nodded, leaning back on the pillows and pulling her closer. He could help fix her broken wings; if he was lucky, he might even grow a pair of his own. "You're stuck with me, Thals," Percy said.

He swore he saw her smile before she snuggled in even closer, nearly on top of him now. It made Percy's heart race, and he only hoped she wouldn't notice. Despite his nerves, relaxation overtook him, unlike any in a while. He felt he could do anything as long as she was with him.

A comfortable silence grew as he absorbed her presence in his cabin. If Chiron wanted to complain, ah, well. It felt far more homely with Thalia in there with him anyway, and none of the other campers were going to stop them.

"Hey, Thals," Percy said, breaking the silence. "What day is it?"

Thalia scrunched her eyebrows. "Well, the solstice was yesterday, hence the meeting. So today is December 22nd."

Percy broke into a wide smile. "Then I guess it's not too early to say happy birthday."

She blinked as if the realization just dawned on her. "I guess you're right," she said. "So long as my birthday hasn't changed since being a tree."

"I guess we're technically the same age now," Percy quipped. "Although I don't know how the aging thing works in unorthodox cases." Still, in his bones, he knew it was accurate. Apollo had said she was younger than him in an offhand way, so her turning sixteen today was likely.

"I guess so," Thalia said, hiding her smile in his chest. "I guess this is the first birthday I'll have at Camp, huh. Do they make cakes here?"

"I'm not sure," Percy admitted, "But I'll find a way to get you one. That's a promise. In the meantime, what would you like?"

He saw Thalia's eyes widen almost imperceptibly. She began to make little signs with her hands, subconsciously, like she always did when she got nervous. "I–uh," she stammered, "Can I just stay for a while? It's nice here, especially compared to the Big House."

Percy blinked. That wasn't what he had been expecting. He wasn't sure what he thought she might have wanted, but her request was simple enough. She was warm and right next to him on the bed. There was no question of letting her stay or not. And one thing was for certain. He could wake up every morning like this and be the happiest man in the world.

"Okay," he said softly, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as she curled into him again. "Stay here as long as you'd like."

He wouldn't mind if she never left.

AN: Hey ya'll. When I said bonus chapter, I meant it, so welcome back to your regularly scheduled every-other-Saturday programming. I hope you enjoyed this tooth-rotting fluff. It's probably safe to say that Thalia will be making Cabin 3 her permanent residence, and now we get to see how her dad will react. As always, reviews, likes, and favorites are ALWAYS appreciated, so thank you all so so much for reading. Now, time for review responses.

Ginocide02: Thank you! I love quiet intimacy. You'll find that when I write relationships, I tend to prefer quiet and instead rely on outside events to tell a compelling story (rather than cheating or just general toxic behavior by one or both of the partners.) You're absolutely right, Percy would LOVE for Thalia to move in, and he'll fight every Olympian at once if he needs to, although Aphrodite and Poseidon at least would join him.

KaidoFett: Thank you, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.

Savien X: Same to you, I hope you enjoyed. Thanks for reading.

anaklusosdude16: You'll have to read the next chapter because that may or may not be part of what happens next (spoiler alert).