Origin of a Hero - [A Percy Jackson Fanfic]

[T/N: Important notice in the T-note at the bottom]

Storm clouds hung heavy in the sky above the city that never sleeps. The wind howled loudly, and rain pelted the glass windows. Lightning lit up the night sky with an alarming, rarely seen frequency.

Many would feel uncomfortable with the atmospheric situation that reigned at night, but when you are a daughter of Zeus, lightning and strong wind are like a lullaby.

So while a storm was raging through New York City, Thalia Grace was sleeping peacefully in her bed like a baby with a full stomach.

"Thalia," a voice called, clearly male.

The aforementioned did not even flinch in any way and continued sleeping, curling up even further in her bed like a cat.

"Thalia," he called again, this time louder.

The only response he received was for the daughter of Zeus to turn around and turn her back to the voice. As she did so, the man could see two things. The first was the tribal tattoo on her upper right arm that reached down to her neck and right shoulder blade. The second was a clear image of her perfect heart-shaped ass outlined by black underwear, along with her long, defined legs.

" Damn it, woman! Wake up! "he shouted this time, doing his best to ignore the seductive image before him.

She did, but not in the way she expected. She reached under her pillow and, in a quick, accurate movement, threw a knife in the direction from which she had heard the voice.

The loud sound of the knife being impacted against something was heard.

"Damn... I'm glad I wasn't there"the same voice said. "Though it's a shame I can't see those legs from the front and that ass.

Thalia slowly sat up from her bed, still feeling sleepy, and studied the figure that was beside her, or rather, floating. She only needed to see the oval image floating in the air to identify that it was a message from Iris.

"Until you wake up," the voice said through the message. "For a second there I thought you were so drunk you wouldn't wake up, even if I started singing one of Justin Bieber's songs."

An annoyed grunt was all the response he received from the woman as she stood up. She yawned in a not-so-ladylike manner and scratched the back of her head, further ruffling her already messy spiky black hair.

He walked over to where his knife had embedded itself in his wall, ignoring Iris's message and the man's voice calling out to him, not caring that he was only wearing black underwear and a Green Day tank top that showed off his ripped abs.

She pulled the knife out of the wall that had embedded itself halfway through the foot-long blade, a remarkable feat for anyone, but she was no ordinary person, she was a demigoddess. And not just any demigoddess.

"Shit… I'll have to fix that later, "Thalia said, her voice hoarse and grumpy" Or maybe I could just cover it up…

"Thalia, will you listen to me? This is important! "the voice said, sounding impatient.

Again, she ignored the voice in chose to leave her room. The image followed her, floating behind her as Thalia made her way to her kitchen and opened the refrigerator to take out a bottle of water. She proceeded to drink it, not caring about the impatient voice calling her name.

"Ahhh... There's nothing better than ice-cold water after a night of beers" she exclaimed, with a bit of glee". Now... What the hell do you want... Luke?

Thalia turned around and looked directly at the son of Hermes through the Iris message floating in the air.

"Until you decide to pay attention to me," Luke said, sounding annoyed. "Your exams are over, right? We need you to get back to camp. Things have been a little tense lately."

"And whose fault is it? "she asked, taking another sip from her bottle of water. "I already told you that I don't care about the old man's light-up dildo. I have more important things to do.

Luke raised an eyebrow in doubt.

"Like getting drunk on beer and watching anime on your laptop all night? "he asked rhetorically.

Thalia's face took on an annoyed grimace.

"I passed an exam that was a pain in the ass, so leave me alone. I can do whatever I want. I'm a responsible and independent adult.

"Well, you don't behave like one.

"As long as I don't hurt anyone else with my actions, I can do whatever I want. And if I'm happy like this, who the hell are you to judge me?

She walked over to the dining room table where she grabbed a pack of cigarettes. She took one out and placed it between her lips before lighting it with a match she used in the kitchen.

"Is this the life you want? "Luke asked reproachfully, while Thalia took a drag on her cigarette. "A life of solitude and distance from everyone? Where you have no one in your life and you spend your time drinking beer, smoking cigarettes, watching anime, and writing books?

"Well, I'm doing just fine, "Thalia said indifferently, while expelling the smoke from her lungs with a bitter smile on her face"I get to live a normal life with the barrier I have in my apartment. I'm going to college, the book I wrote became a best seller last year, and I'm planning to write a sequel. I'm moving on with my life" She narrowed her eyes at Luke"Which you haven't done.

Luke frowned at his friend's words.

" What do you mean by that?

"Don't be an idiot with me"his voice, like his eyes, were hard". You had the same opportunity as me to go to college. To start a normal life, or as normal as a demigod could… but you decided to stay at the camp.

"Someone had to do it. Someone had to stay to protect the demigods. Train them, and prepare them for the hard life we ​​have.

"That's Chiron's job. We don't owe anything to the camp, or to the new campers. They have to learn for themselves to take care of themselves. Just like we did.

Luke narrowed his eyes at Thalia, feeling disgusted by his friend's words.

"And it is precisely because of that attitude that you are alone. That is why no one in the camp wants to associate with you and they treat you like a spoiled princess.

Thalia simply took a drag from her cigarette while shrugging, as if she didn't care what Luke said. She knew it was true. She was arrogant and apathetic towards the vast majority of the campers except for a few.

The only one who really cared about him in the camp apart from Luke, Annabeth, and Grover, was Chiron.

She owed a lot to the old centaur. It was he who had pulled her out of the depression that had consumed her for years. That emptiness was still there, but it was more bearable now.

It was Chiron who advised her to use all those negative feelings that consumed her to create something more. To use it as a drive to achieve something. For Thalia, it was controlling her powers and using the imagination she had to create something. A book. One that became a best seller. It was her greatest pride.

It was because of the unconditional support and help that Chiron gave her that she is where she is today.

"Yeah. You're right," Thalia admitted. "But you know what? I don't care. I'm arrogant and conceited, but that's who I really am. And I'm not going to pretend to be someone I'm not. And if the campers don't like it, then they can fuck off. I don't seek their approval to feel good… unlike you."

"Thalia…

"The only reason you stay at camp as an annual camper is because you… have nothing.

"Thalia, that's enough…

"I wrote a book. I started going to college. I did something with my life. Annabeth has plans to study architecture, even Grover has his dream of finding Pan, but you… What plans do you have?

"Thalia, shut up…" his voice took on a warning tone, but she didn't care.

"You have nothing," she continued. "You don't even know what you want. What is your goal, Luke? What is it that you crave? Someone like you who doesn't even know what he wants in his life has no right to judge me or lecture me. You stay at camp and live under the illusion that you protect the demigods. That your presence is important there. But you and I both know that you're afraid to leave camp because if you do… you'll have no purpose. And you'll be forgotten."

" I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!

Thalia was not affected by Luke's outburst. She simply watched indifferently with a lit cigarette between her lips.

Luke was frowning heavily, making the scar on his face stand out even more. It gave him a dark and intimidating appearance.

" What's wrong with wanting to help others? What's wrong with wanting to form relationships with the people around you and be of help to them? Before, you would have done the same. You wouldn't have cared who they were, you would have helped them because you knew it was the right thing to do. But now… you just shrug your shoulders and act like you don't care about anyone or anything. You've become powerful, more than any demigod can imagine, but you don't use that power to help others. Percy would be disappointed in you.

The look Thalia gave him was terrifying and deadly enough to make Luke regret his words and involuntarily step back.

"Don't you dare mention Percy," she said in a cold, deadly voice. "I'm doing what he would have wanted for all of us; getting on with our lives."

"And I do what he did for us; protect us," Luke said, unwilling to give in. "I stay at camp to protect his legacy. Helping the demigods like he once did for us."

They both frowned at each other, neither of them intending to give in, because they both believed their own point of view was correct.

Luke was the first to break eye contact as he asked.

" Will you return to camp? Something has happened that is likely to provoke a response from the gods.

Thalia scoffed at that with a snort.

"I doubt there's anything that's going to force those fucking pompous idiots to act. The old man's lightning bolt was stolen from under his ass, and all he does is blame others.

"Yes, but something we didn't expect has happened. A new demigoddess came to camp a week ago and was claimed… by Poseidon.

That did catch Thalia's attention.

"Oh~…" she said appreciatively, taking a drag from her cigarette". And I guess the old man now blames her for being the lightning thief. Interesting…

Thalia didn't notice the way Luke narrowed his eyes at her when she mentioned the "lightning thief" because she stubbed out her cigarette with an ashtray she had on her kitchen counter.

"I'll be back by noon tomorrow at the latest," Thalia said. "I need to do a couple of things before I go."

Luke nodded at that.

"I'll inform Chiron. The harpies have kept your cabin clean, so you don't have to worry.

"My beer pantry better not be missing," he said in a warning tone.

Luke looked away, nervous at that.

"Uh… well… I may have… taken out a couple of beers a few nights ago for a poker game in cabin eleven. I'll make it up to you! I swear!

Thalia narrowed her eyes in his direction.

"Fine. I'll have a bottle of wine from cabin twelve.

"I… well… okay," Luke said, resigned.

She smiled brightly at that.

" Perfect! Oh, and one last thing. Rest assured, I'll kick you in the balls for so blatantly staring at my ass while I was sleeping.

The smile never left his face as he said that.

The last thing Thalia saw before she waved the message away was Luke turning pale and saying one last thing.

"It was worth every damn second.

The countryside passed by steadily as she looked out the taxi window. The fields that were so familiar to her that she had come to memorize them. She didn't need to look to know that they had passed the leaning tree, followed by a farm and a sign that said "Pick Your Own Berries."

Thalia had to admit that the place where Camp Half-Blood was was peaceful, but…

Don't you give up, nah-nah-nah…

I won't give up, nah-nah-nah…

The music was definitely not to his liking. And it ruined his mood.

Let me love you…

Let me love you…

"Hey, can you change the radio station, please? "although he requested it, it was more like a demand.

The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror and cringed a little at the look she gave him. It reminded him of the look he got from his wife when he did something stupid.

"O… Okay" he replied, and changed the station.

"I thought all girls liked Justin Bieber," the taxi driver thought. "My daughter is crazy about him. Her room is full of posters of that singer."

He changed the radio station to something that sounded like rock. And judging by his passenger's slight nod, he left it there.

In a few minutes, they arrived at the place where Thalia had to get off, at the foot of a hill with a huge pine tree at the top.

"Are you sure this is the way, miss? "the taxi driver asked doubtfully.

"Yes, sure.

Thalia handed him the money he owed her and without saying another word she took out her suitcase, hung it over her shoulders, and began to climb the hill.

As he climbed up, he could see the unmistakable remains of the battle that had taken place a few days ago. And from what he could see, it was quite a battle.

"And as usual, I miss all the fun," she thought.

It had been a while since she had faced a good monstrous challenge. The barrier she had in her apartment repelled any monster brave enough to face her. And her scent, which used to attract monsters, was now so strong that instead of attracting them, it scared them away. It was because of this that she was able to attend classes at the university without worrying about being attacked by a pack of hellhounds.

But because of that, he hadn't had much action the past few months. He missed the feeling of his power running through his body freely, along with the adrenaline being pumped into his blood.

Maybe she'd use a couple of campers as a punching bag. There were always those arrogant, oblivious types who wanted to challenge her.

He reached the top of the half-blood hill and approached the huge pine tree that adorned the hill.

Miss O'Leary, who was lying at the foot of the tree, raised her head when Thalia arrived. She immediately stood up and almost knocked the demigoddess over with her front paws before she began licking her face, drenching her in drool.

If it were any other dog, Thalia would roughly push it away, but there was no way she was going to do that to Ms. O'Leary.

"Oh, girl, you've grown so much!" Thalia said, petting the hellhound behind the ears. Earning a pleased whimper from the dog and a happy wagging of his tail. "It's good to see you're strong and healthy."

Miss O'Leary released her from her embrace and barked excitedly, happy to see Thalia again.

"I brought you something." He rummaged through the backpack on his back and pulled out a plastic bag containing dried meat. "They're your favorites."

The hellhound barked and began eating happily at the foot of the tree.

Thalia petted her head and let her eat in peace as she stood in front of the huge pine tree.

"Hey, Chief Seaweed, I'm back, "Thalia said, with a small, nostalgic smile as she stroked the tree's bark."Did you miss me? Your dear Thalia is back. I know it can get lonely if I'm not around to keep you company. That's why I brought you this to make it up to you.

She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a bag of chips and placed it at the foot of the tree.

"I'll come see you later. I have a lot to tell you about college. I know you'll laugh at how stupid mortals can be when they have to take a final exam.

She chuckled before looking at the tombstone beside the tree. She bent down and ran her fingers over the inscription on it.

"Hey, Sammy, how's it going? "she asked with a sad smile". I hope you haven't had to put up with any nymphs coming to look at Percy's tree and want to flirt with him. It's your duty to protect him from those harpies who want to get their claws on him.

Thalia knew they wouldn't respond to her in any way, and what she was doing by talking to inanimate objects could be considered the actions of a madman, but she didn't care. As far as she was concerned, Percy and Sammy were there. Together. Just like the day she met them.

She stood up and placed her backpack on her shoulders along with her suitcase.

"I have to catch up on a few things that have happened lately. So I'll come by later to talk to you guys. Don't move, okay?

Thalia gave Ms. O'Leary's head one last pat before heading to her cabin to unpack.

There was a demigoddess he wanted to meet.

And some balls to kick.

Andy never needed a father.

For as long as she could remember, it was just her mother and her. No one else. And she didn't need anyone else. She had convinced herself of that.

So when she was… claimed by her father, many assumed she would feel grateful, touched, and proud to be recognized. But all she felt was disgust.

Just when he was starting to become part of the camp as one more, to form bonds with the campers of cabin eleven, and even with Clarisse surprisingly, his father had to come and ruin everything.

She was feeling really depressed as she poked at her food with her fork listlessly. She had no appetite. She was sitting at Poseidon's table in the dining room all alone, as she was now the only daughter of the sea god. Which meant she had her own table, she could choose her own activities, she had her own cabin, and she didn't have to listen to anyone's snoring while she tried to sleep.

But I was alone.

Everyone at camp was wary of her. It was like they were scared of her in some way. Even Luke, who had been so kind to her, seemed reluctant to talk to her or train with her again. Annabeth, who used to teach her Ancient Greek, now looked at her like she had kicked her collection of favorite books.

A frown graced his young features.

"I just... I just wanted to be accepted"

A series of murmurs reached her ears. Andy thought it was about her, she could always hear the campers murmuring as she walked past them, so she decided to ignore them and try to eat her food, but the murmurs became louder and she couldn't help but listen to them.

"Shit, it's her. She's back.

" Didn't he leave last year? I thought he wouldn't come back. Nobody does.

"It's because they don't survive monster attacks, but she...

"Hell, I just hope he doesn't participate in wrestling activities.

"Yeah, the last guy who fought her was in bed for two weeks because of his injuries.

Andy felt a little nervous when she heard the murmurs of the campers. From the way they spoke, it seemed to be someone ruthless and deadly. When she heard footsteps echoing in the dining hall, she looked up to see the person who had such an infamous reputation, but was shocked by what she saw.

She was a girl around eighteen years old, with a tall and slender figure. She wore an open black leather jacket that clung to her body, a black tank top that left a lot of her cleavage on display. Her black jeans clung to her shapely legs and her boots echoed on the floor with each step she took.

" How are you doing, bitches?! "his voice echoed throughout the dining room with a proud tone". The Amazing Thalia is back to brighten up your sad lives!

"Thalia? The daughter of Zeus?!" Andy thought, alarmed.

"Hey… Hey, Thalia, what's up? "Michael said shakily.

Thalia turned and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Hey, peeping tom," she said, appreciatively.

Michael felt depressed at this. The memory of the day he spied her changing in cabin one was still fresh in his mind. He could see the Elysian Fields for a second before being thrown into the Fields of Punishment.

"I have a name, you know? And I wish you wouldn't always remember that.

"It doesn't matter, you're still a voyeur. You don't have to be ashamed of who you are. If you're a pervert, shout it from the rooftops!

" I won't do that!

"You didn't deny that you're a pervert.

Thalia just laughed out loud, while the campers chuckled lightly at the spectacle.

The daughter of Zeus looked around, as if she was searching for something among the group of demigods in the dining room.

"Where are the cabin captains and Chiron?" she asked. "I thought they would be here."

"They're at the Big House," Travis answered from Hermes' table. "Luke told me to let you know when you got there. They're having a meeting or something."

" A meeting? Luke didn't tell me anything about that.

"That's why I'm telling you now. They want you to go there.

Thalia turned around without another word and headed towards the Big House, but stopped when she saw Andy sitting at Poseidon's table. She raised an eyebrow in intrigue and after a few seconds of debate, she approached Poseidon's daughter.

When he stood in front of her, Andy was able to see her more closely, and he wondered if Thalia wasn't a goddess posing as a demigoddess.

She was beautiful in every sense of the word. Her black hair was short and neatly cut, with a couple of blue strands hanging over her face. Her eyelashes were long and the freckles she had on the bridge of her nose stood out a lot against her porcelain skin. She had a pair of skull-shaped earrings, along with a couple more piercings in her ears. I could see a tattoo on the right side of her neck that extended towards her shoulders.

But the most beautiful thing about her were her eyes. They were a mesmerizing and captivating electric blue that seemed to shine with power.

Andy found herself staring at them, completely fascinated.

"So you're the new star of camp," Thalia said, looking at her appreciatively.

Andy felt as if he was sizing her up in some way, trying to find some fault or flaw in her. She felt uncomfortable being looked at in that way. It was as if she were a barnyard animal about to be slaughtered.

Thalia raised an eyebrow, looking slightly confused.

" Have we met anywhere? You look familiar.

"No... I don't think so" she replied, feeling intimidated by the presence of the older demigoddess.

He would remember very well if he had met someone like Thalia in the past.

The daughter of Zeus simply shrugged.

"Well, never mind. But let's get one thing straight… "She moved closer to her, their noses almost touching as Thalia looked straight into her eyes". You better not get all cocky just because you're the daughter of that fish-faced old man. In this henhouse, I'm the hen that crows the most. So you better know your place, kiddo. Capish?

Andy shrank back in her seat as she watched sparks of electricity shoot out of Thalia's eyes as she looked at her as if she were nothing more than a cockroach. She felt a cold sweat run down her spine and a lump form in her throat.

She nodded shakily, not wanting to anger the demigoddess who was hailed to be the strongest in the camp.

Tensions were high between the daughters of Zeus and Poseidon. All the campers sat frozen in their seats for fear of making any noise.

Unexpectedly, that tension burst like a balloon when Thalia burst out laughing.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she apologized with a laugh. "I can't help but tease the new campers. They're kind of cute when they look so awkward." She lifted Andy's chin, forcing him to look at her. "You're kind of cute. Especially those beautiful eyes of yours. They're as green as the sea. They remind me of his…"

Andy blushed hard at the compliment. Being told you're pretty by someone as beautiful as Thalia is quite flattering. But he was curious to know who she meant by "him."

"I… thank you," Andy said, finding his voice. "You're very beautiful, too."

She covered her mouth immediately after she said that. She didn't know why she said that.

"Oh, thank you," Thalia said with a proud smile. "I know very well how beautiful I am, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded of that from time to time."

Thalia sat down next to Andy, not caring that she was sitting at Poseidon's table, and extended her hand to the young demigoddess with a friendly smile.

"Let's start over, shall we? I'm Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus.

Andy tentatively shook her hand, noticing Thalia's firm grip.

"I'm Andy... Andy Jackson, daughter of Poseidon, I guess...

The campers began to murmur amongst themselves as they watched the interaction between the daughters of two of the Big Three.

"Thalia being friendly with a new camper? This is unheard of!

"And with a daughter of Poseidon, shouldn't they be rivals or something?

"I'm afraid of what Andy will become if he spends too much time with Thalia.

"Ignore them," Thalia said, waving her hand dismissively in his direction. "They always start gossiping like little women when a son of the Big Three comes along. They did it when I got here, and I wouldn't be surprised if they did the same when your father claimed you."

Andy lowered her head in sadness.

Thalia was right. Ever since her parentage was revealed, the campers always whispered and pointed in her direction whenever she was around.

Thalia patted him on the shoulder in a friendly manner to get his attention.

"Hey, don't feel bad about it. It's not your fault, it's theirs for being assholes. Do you hear me, assholes?! They're a bunch of assholes!

All the campers looked at her in surprise at her outburst.

At Apollo's table, Michael was the first to react.

" Are we morons?! The only moron here is Nick! "he finished pointing at a boy at Ares' table.

" What did you say, asshole?!

" You heard me, motherfucker!

Thalia ignored the fight that began to develop and turned to Andy, who looked a little amused.

"So don't worry about these idiots. You have to hold your head up high and be proud of who you are. In order for others to accept you, you have to accept yourself first. And if they don't like who you are, then they can go to hell.

Andy smiled at Thalia's words, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders that he didn't know he had. Her words were comforting and it was what he needed right now; understanding. And Thalia being a daughter of Zeus, knew exactly what Andy was going through.

"I'd like to continue talking to you, but I have a meeting to attend.

Thalia stood up and walked towards the Big House. She waved goodbye with a light wave over her shoulder.

"See you later, girl.

Andy said goodbye with a small smile on her face. She felt a little better after talking to Thalia. Maybe because she was understanding with her, something that no one has been since her parentage was known.

"Maybe I could talk to her later," Andy thought as he dug into his food, more cheerfully this time.

Thalia walked towards the Big House with a proud smile, her hands in her pockets and her eyes looking up at the sky which, unfortunately for her, was full of storm clouds, but that didn't ruin her good mood.

¨Hehe. And Luke says I can't get along with the campers. In your face, motherfucker¨

I was planning on rubbing that in his face when I saw him. I also wanted to talk to Annabeth about her experience in college, since she was aspiring to attend one.

"Alright. Let's get this shit over with. I'm hungry"Thalia said to herself as she walked up the steps to the porch of the Big House and opened the door like she owned the place. "Hey, sluts! How's it going? I hope you're not in the middle of an orgy.

Over the years, Thalia's vocabulary had only gotten worse. Did she regret that? Not one bit.

Upon entering the Big House, more specifically the captains' meeting room where they had meetings once a week, he noticed that all the lights were off. Nothing could be seen but the outlines of the ping-pong table in the middle of the room along with some other furniture.

"Oh, gosh, who turned off the lights? It's not my birthday yet for a surprise party.

¨The captains were supposed to be in a meeting¨ she thought ¨Where the hell are they? They're not really having an orgy… are they?¨

She took a step forward, the wood creaking beneath her boots.

It was at that moment that his spider instinct told him something was wrong.

But he couldn't react in time.

- Now!

She felt something very heavy fall on her and envelop her, preventing her from moving properly.

" What the fuck…?!

" Hold her!

Thalia felt herself pushed to the floor and immobilized. Her body hit the floor and a moan of pain escaped her mouth. The light in the room turned on and she could see her attackers.

All the cabin captains looked at her warily. And it was then that she recognized that what was preventing her from moving was a net. But not just any net. It was heavy, it prevented her from moving properly and it made her feel weak.

He tried to summon the power of lightning to escape, but all he got were sparks of electricity.

"It's useless, Thalia," a female voice said. "The net is made of celestial bronze. Not only does it make you feel weaker, but it also greatly limits your powers."

Thalia recognized the voice. She turned her head and looked directly at Annabeth's distressed face. Next to her was Luke. He was watching her carefully, as if he was waiting for her to make a move before he could act.

"Annabeth, Luke… "she said, surprised.

"I'm sorry it's come to this, Thalia," Luke said, his voice sad. "But it was necessary."

" Necessary? Why the hell is it necessary to trap me like a fucking wild animal?! "she exclaimed, annoyed as she looked at her two closest friends demanding an answer.

"Call it an insurance policy," Clarisse said, holding one end of the net firmly as she eyed Thalia warily. "If you wanted to, you could disappear in the blink of an eye, kill them, and then escape."

"We just want you to answer a few questions, Thalia," Silena said, trying to calm the temperamental demigoddess. "If you are innocent, we will free you and apologize to you."

"Am I innocent? "she asked confused.

She frowned, thinking about the words she had been told. She wasn't as smart as a child of Athena would be, but if she had learned anything over the years, it was to be sharp and perceptive about the things around you.

The captains arrested her because they thought she would do something dangerous, but… why did they think she would react that way? Silena told them she had to ask her some questions and see if she was innocent. They acted with caution based on the fact that she was possibly guilty, but… Guilty of what? What situation had occurred for them to suspect her?

A thunderclap rumbled across the sky, and then she had an epiphany.

Luke's call last night, and his persistent questions about when he's coming to camp...

The appearance of a daughter of Poseidon…

The strange weather that adorned the skies…

The itching I felt on my right buttock…

Everything fit.

"I see. That's it." His voice was low and understanding. He stared at the floor. "They found out that I was the one who stole the lightning bolt from the old man."

Everyone's eyes widened in surprise. They were completely taken aback by Thalia's statement, but none more so than Annabeth and Luke.

"No... it's not true... "Annabeth said, dejected as she looked at Thalia pleadingly". Please tell me you didn't do it, Thalia.

"I… did it" he confessed, looking up at Annabeth seriously". I stole Zeus's lightning bolt.

Clarisse and Beckendorf, who were holding Thalia in the net, tightened their grip to prevent her from escaping. Chiron, who hadn't said anything until now, just looked sadly at the daughter of Zeus. Annabeth had light tears forming in the corner of her eyes.

Luke gritted his teeth and glared at Thalia with barely contained anger.

" Why?... Why did you do it?! "he screamed, demanding an answer". Do you even know the consequences of your actions?!

"I had no other choice! "she exclaimed, desperation in her voice". I… needed it…

"Need it? "Chiron asked, a little panicked. "What would you need the most powerful weapon in all of creation for?

Thalia lowered her head in sorrow and muttered something in a low voice in an incomprehensible way.

- That?

" …I said I needed it to unclog the toilet! It was stuck! I needed a plunger, and only a divine weapon would do the job!

That statement left everyone stunned and completely dumbfounded. No one knew how to react.

The silence lasted for a few seconds until…

"Pfff! HA. HA. HA. HA. HA! Their faces! If only they could see the idiotic faces they're making right now! "Thalia exclaimed, before bursting out laughing again.

"Thalia, what was it…" Annabeth stammered, completely baffled.

Thalia stopped laughing and took a breath to regain the air she had lost. She looked at everyone with mockery in her eyes. Her shoulders shook erratically, and she had a mocking grin on her face.

"Seriously… Do you really think I would steal that pompous old man's lightning bolt?" she asked. "What the hell would I want it for? As a comforter? No, thanks. I'm not desperate."

"But you said you did! "Clarisse burst out.

Thalia simply shrugged, or as much as she could in the position she was in.

"I was lying. If you don't believe me, why don't you ask Silena? She can tell by touching me with her power of empathy.

Silena Beauregard, captain of cabin ten, had a very peculiar ability that very few of Aphrodite's children had ever had. She was able to link with a person's emotions by touching them, allowing her to sense the emotions of others and feel them herself.

The captain of the Aphrodite cabin looked a little hesitant to do so, but after a nod from Thalia, she placed both hands on her temples, and immediately…

"Pfff! Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha! "she laughed loudly in a melodious voice, but quickly controlled herself and took her hands away from Thalia's head". She… Ha. Ha… She's telling the truth. I didn't sense any kind of deception or hidden feelings from her. Although I could sense her amusement.

"Very well. That settles it. Now, release me!" Thalia said impatiently.

"Not yet," Clarisse said, not loosening her grip on the celestial bronze net. In fact, she tightened it, causing Thalia to grimace uncomfortably.

" Oh, come on! What else do you want from me? The beers I have in my cabin? Hell no! My erotic underwear? I don't even have any! Swear on the River Styx? Okay! I'll do it! I swear on the River Styx that…

"Thalia, there's no need to go that far! "Annabeth said, a little panicked.

"… I didn't steal Zeus's fucking master bolt.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and Thalia still looked alive and kicking. Only her frown showed how upset she was. But the fact that she was still alive proved that she was telling the truth.

"Well? "he asked impatiently.

"Clarisse, Charles, free her," Chiron said, sounding tired, but relieved at Thalia's innocence.

They both agreed and released Thalia. She stood up, feeling a little weak. She flexed her fingers until she nodded.

In a flash of electricity, Thalia disappeared and both Clarisse and Beckendorf hunched over and fell to their knees with a painful groan and Thalia reappeared in the same place she was in just a second.

Clarisse gagged and tried hard not to vomit up her lunch, while Beckendorf stood still trying to catch his breath.

"Was it necessary?" Chiron asked, an eyebrow raised.

"I think that's about even," he said with a mischievous smile.

"You'll pay for this…"Clarisse growled, holding her stomach.

Thalia raised an amused eyebrow until she slammed her boot down on Clarisse's head, forcing her face to the floor.

"Learn your place, insect," she said, with a sadistic smile.

"I'll kick your ass, you arrogant bitch... This time I'll beat you! "Clarisse managed to say from under her boot.

"Oh~, interesting. Let's see how strong you've become these past few months, Clarisse"Thalia said, with a defiant smile as she put more pressure on her foot". Because I won't go easy on you. I don't care if you're a low-class warrior.

Clarisse's gaze didn't waver for a second, which pleased Thalia. If there was anyone she truly respected, it was a person with a strong will. And that's why she liked Clarisse. She always pushed herself to want to better herself. To be a better warrior. That's why she antagonized her, to motivate her to keep going.

"Well, now that Thalia's innocence has been proven, there's only one person left," Luke said, drawing everyone's attention.

"Do you really think it's her?" Lee asked doubtfully. "I mean, she's only twelve."

Annabeth didn't take that comment very well.

"I'm twelve years old too and I can kick your ass at any time.

Lee looked a little nervous about that. It had happened once before because he underestimated Annabeth and he found himself staring at the sky after a judo throw.

"I don't think it's fair to suspect her just because she's a daughter of Poseidon," Thalia said, crossing her arms with a bitter expression"That's something Zeus would do, and I definitely don't want to be like him.

Those who had personally known the king of the gods scrunched up their faces in disgust. Thalia was right about that. No one wanted to be like Zeus.

"So what do we do? "Castor asked. "Stand by while the gods wage a war that will destroy the entire country?

"Destroying just the country is a rather optimistic view," Chiron said. "Their battle will be of biblical proportions. The Olympians will be forced to take sides, and so will the campers. War will break out not only in the world, but here at camp as well."

They all frowned at that and looked at each other in concern. They might have their differences, beat each other to the point of breaking bones, and mock each other, but they would never fight each other to the death. They were, in a way, one big family.

"And what do you propose? I assume you have a plan? "Luke asked. If there was anything he could do to prevent a senseless slaughter, he would do it. No matter what.

Thalia knew the hero trainer had a plan by the look in his eyes. She, along with Luke and Annabeth, were the oldest campers. So they knew a little about the man who had been a father figure to all of them.

"A mission," he said, surprising everyone. "It's time for the demigods to take action."

"But… None of us have received a prophecy from the Oracle! "Katie burst out.

"Yes, but an unexpected twist has been added to the equation.

The campers all looked at Thalia, who had sat down and put her legs up on the ping-pong table while eating chips. She looked up when she noticed everyone was staring at her.

" What? Do I have something on my face?

"No. I wasn't referring to her"Chiron clarified". I was referring to the new camper.

"Andy? "Annabeth asked. "Well, it would make sense if she received a prophecy considering who her father is, but…

"It would make sense, actually," Luke said, considering the idea. "Poseidon is the one accused of stealing the lightning bolt, so it would make almost poetic sense if it was his daughter who returned the lightning bolt to Zeus. That way, she would prove her father's innocence."

"That's a good way to look at it, but we don't know if she's the one, Beckendorf said, arms crossed.

"There is only one way to find out," Chiron said. "She must visit the Oracle."

Andy didn't understand why she had been called to be part of the captains' meeting.

She was officially the only member of cabin three and therefore its captain. But she had only been called in the night before. She thought she would have to take up her responsibilities early Monday morning.

But now he found himself on the porch of the Big House, staring directly at the door that led to the meeting of the camp's cabin captains and, therefore, to the strongest demigods in the camp. The storm clouds that seemed to swirl in the sky over Long Island did not provide a very reassuring atmosphere for the camp either.

He felt a cold sweat run down his neck and momentarily wondered if he could go to the bathroom before he went in.

Before thinking about it any further, she opened the door to the Big House and was greeted by the intense gaze of all the cabin captains. Except for Thalia, she was eating chips while reading a small book.

"Andy Jackson," Chiron called. "Please, have a seat."

The only free chair was the one next to Thalia. Andy walked over and could see that it wasn't a book she was reading. It was like a comic book, but in black and white. She identified it as a manga.

"If you touch my fries I'll cut your hand off," were his warning words without looking up from his reading.

She didn't even consider looking at the chips again.

"Andy, do you know why you're here? "Chiron asked.

The young demigoddess shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She looked at everyone as if she was waiting for an answer from them.

"I… I guess it has something to do with my father," she said slowly. "And the fact that he and Zeus are fighting over something that was stolen, right?"

Many were surprised by this, but no one said anything.

Chiron leaned forward in his wheelchair, looking directly at Andy seriously.

" How do you know that?

"Annabeth," she replied immediately, much to Annabeth's surprise. "When I had Ancient Greek classes, I heard her muttering under her breath about a quest. And something that had been stolen from Zeus."

Everyone looked at Annabeth with a raised eyebrow. She had the decency to look away in embarrassment as she tried to hide behind her hair. For Andy, it was a curious sight to see the proud and stubborn girl act that way, but it caused her a little amusement.

"I've also been having some strange dreams lately" he continued."About an eagle and a horse fighting and screaming over and over again; Give it back to me. Give it back to me.

"Did that voice sound like a petulant, spoiled child who had his toy taken away? "Thalia asked, turning a page in her manga.

"Uh… yeah.

"It's definitely the old man.

"What exactly is going on? "Andy asked. "And why does it involve me in any way? I mean, it's Poseidon and Zeus who are fighting, what do I have to do with all this?

"Oh, my child," Chiron said, a little sadly. "I'm afraid your role in this is quite important."

Chiron began to explain the situation he found himself in. The theft of Zeus' master bolt. The fact that Zeus blamed Poseidon for it. The impending war that was brewing, and her key role as Poseidon's daughter and supposed thief of the bolt.

As he finished his story, Andy's expression was one of disbelief and annoyance.

" I stole the master bolt? But I've never been to Olympus! A week ago I didn't even know I was a demigoddess and the whole Greek world thing! Zeus is out of his mind!

"That's what I've always said, "Thalia said."No one here has the balls to back me up, but you did. Here, you earned a French fry.

Thalia handed him the bag of chips and he tentatively grabbed one and ate it.

It was delicious.

-Thank you.

"You're welcome. If you survive your mission, I'll give you a whole bag.

" What mission?

"The mission to recover Zeus's master bolt," Chiron explained. "If you return the master bolt, you will not only prevent an all-out war, but you will also prove your innocence and that of your father."

"And why should I take this quest? "she asked, feeling annoyed". There are other campers far more capable than me. Besides, I have nothing to do with this. I didn't steal Zeus's lightning bolt.

"I'm afraid that when Zeus is convinced of something, it's hard to make him see reason. Unless his lightning bolt is returned, he will start an all-out war. And you will be the first to feel his wrath because he suspects you most of all.

" But I haven't done anything!

"Zeus cares little about that," Clarisse said. "To him, you are the prime suspect in the theft. And unless proven otherwise, he will blame you for it."

"And how can I prove my innocence?

"You can get the lightning back," Chiron said.

Andy gritted his teeth in frustration. He felt like he was dancing to the music of the gods, and he didn't like it at all.

"So I have to get that stupid lightning bolt back to stupid Zeus.

A clap of thunder sounded in the distance, causing the campers to look worriedly at the sky. As if they were expecting a lightning bolt to strike and kill them all.

Thalia was the only one relatively calm as she continued reading her manga.

"You made the old man angry," she said. "Have another potato."

Andy accepted the sandwich and ate it before asking:

"And where is that thing? Is it Disneyland? Las Vegas? Miami?

"If he's somewhere in Mexico, then he's screwed," said Thalia.

Luke gave his friend an irritated look.

" Are you just going to stand there reading manga and making random comments?

Thalia shrugged.

-Probably.

"I have an idea of ​​where she might be," Chiron said. "But as I said before, if she is not the right person for the mission, it would be best not to reveal her possible location."

"So how do we know if I'm the chosen one? "Andy asked. He thought for a few seconds and then turned to Thalia. "Did that sound like Harry Potter?

"He did it"Thalia nodded.

"Definitely," Clarisse agreed.

All the captains nodded solemnly.

"Damn," Andy complained.

"There is only one way to know if you are the one to return the lightning bolt," said Chiron, resuming the discussion". You must go to the attic and have an audience with the Oracle. If a prophecy is revealed to you, then it is your destiny to stop the war between the gods.

"Don't worry"Silena encouraged". If it's not your mission, then the Oracle won't say anything.

"But what if he says it? "Andy asked doubtfully.

"Then our fate will be in your hands," Chiron said grimly.

Andy gulped audibly at that. He was beginning to feel the pressure on his shoulders.

He shakily stood up and walked to the attic, the campers moving to the side as he passed, giving him encouraging glances and comments.

Andy had never been in an attic before. She had lived in a small, but tidy apartment all her life. So when she saw the amount of stuff that filled the attic, she felt really uncomfortable. The place looked like it had never been cleaned. It looked more like a landfill than anything. She wouldn't be surprised to see an old lunchbox in there, where there was food that formed a new ecosystem.

It was filled with old armor, shields battered and dented beyond use. There were trophy racks containing enormous snake heads, a massive cyclops eye, the stuffed head of a hellhound. But what caught his eye was one trophy that was free of dust. They were two enormous horns. One had a slight curve and the other looked more coiled like a spiral, but they both shared a sharp edge capable of penetrating the strongest of armor. Beneath them was a polished plaque that allowed him to see what was written: HORN OF THE MINOTAUR, DENVER, COLORADO. HORN OF THE CHIMERA, LONG ISLAND, NY. KILLED BY PERCY.

"Percy? The same demigod who sacrificed himself to save Thalia and Grover?" Andy thought, admiring the war trophies.

It meant that the demigod had killed two of the most infamous and deadly monsters in all of Greek mythology, and according to Chiron, that was no small feat. He had explained that the more well-known the monster, the more powerful they were.

"He was certainly an amazing person. I wonder what he was like…"

He went deeper into the attic. And an image caught his attention.

Next to the window, sitting in a wooden rocking chair, was the rotting body of a mummy. It was an old corpse where the grey and black skin clung to its bones. Its eye sockets had white stones that simulated its eyes, but they only made it look more terrifying.

And if that wasn't scary enough, when Andy took a tentative step toward the mummy, it sat up straight in its chair, like a puppet controlled by strings.

She took a step back and fell on her butt. The mummy slowly raised its arm and pointed its bony fingers at her. It opened its mouth with a snap and a thick green mist began to pour out of it. The sound of hissing snakes began to fill the place and Andy found herself frozen in place in fear.

He regretted not going to the bathroom before entering the Big House, because he felt like he would have a urinary accident at any moment.

Fog filled the flat and Andy heard a hissing voice in his ear, as if a snake had learned human speech.

"I am the spirit of Delphi, slayer of the great Python. Come closer, seeker, and ask."

Seeing that the mummy had no intention of attacking her, Andy gathered all her courage and stood up. She stood in front of the mummy and with the least trembling voice she could muster, she asked:

" What is my destiny?

The green mist thickened and began to swirl in front of her until it took on a human form that she recognized all too well; her mother.

It looked so real, but the greenish tint to his skin and eyes made me know it was an illusion caused by the fog.

"You will go west, where you will face the god who has rebelled," he said in the whistling voice of the Oracle.

The fog swirled in front of the prize rack again, taking on two distinct figures. One was a young girl and the other a teenage boy. Both had their backs turned and were staring at the prize rack.

"The ghost of the tragic will guide you down the path of desolation"

He could not identify which of the two said it since their voice was the same as the Oracle's and both had their backs to him.

"You will find what was stolen and return it"

The boy turned around and stared at her. He had dark circles under his eyes and a kind, if tired, look. Andy could see that he was holding a kind of knife that looked like a tooth. He opened his mouth and said:

"And the true enemy will reveal his face"

With that said, the figures began to dissolve and be sucked into the mummy's open mouth until it disappeared and its jaw closed with another snap.

"Wait! " Andy shouted. "Who is the god who has rebelled? Who is the ghost? And who is this enemy?

The mummy didn't say anything. He simply sat back in the rocking chair and remained as still as the corpse he was. The attic fell silent and Andy waited for some response.

The Oracle said nothing, and she knew she would get no answers. At least, not from her.

As she walked down the stairs, she was greeted by everyone's expectant gaze… except Thalia, who was still reading her manga with her legs on the table.

It was Chiron who broke the awkward silence.

" Well?

Andy sat back down in the chair next to Thalia and, without her consent, took out a French fry, much to the dismay of the daughter of Zeus.

"I received a prophecy.

The bombshell was received with surprise, and questions were not long in coming.

" What did he say?

"Did he tell you where the lightning bolt is?

"Did he tell you who stole it?

" Who told you that you can grab one of my potatoes?

Obviously, he ignored that last question.

"I think it would be best if you knew exactly what the Oracle told you," Chiron said, silencing the others' insistent questions. "It's important to know every word."

Andy swallowed the saliva that had accumulated in his mouth and recalled the Oracle's words.

"You will go west, where you will face the god who has rebelled. The ghost of the tragic one will guide you along the path of desolation. You will find what was stolen and return it. And the true enemy will reveal his face.

His words were met with a mixed response from the campers: hope, satisfaction, joy, and confusion.

" That's great! "Lee was the first to react happily". You'll find the lightning and return it!

"And he'll probably face the god responsible for the theft, Beckendorf said.

"Fighting a god?" Katie repeated nervously. "That doesn't sound too good."

"Nor about the ghost that guides you down the path of desolation," Silena said, her voice trembling.

"And what is this about the true enemy? Is it not the god who has rebelled? "asked Castor.

"The Oracle's words, though accurate, have always been deceptive and double-entendre," Chiron said. "We will not know the truth until all the prophesied events are complete."

"Are all prophecies like this? "Andy asked.

"Yes, they are always misleading.

"And they're a pain in the ass.

"They are also dark, and this one is no exception.

"Although it's good that it doesn't prophesize that you die.

"You're not helping.

"Okay. Okay," Andy said, not wanting to hear anymore. "Where am I supposed to go anyway? Who is this god of the West? The West isn't very specific when we live in the far east of the entire United States."

"The answer is simple, Andy," Annabeth said"That god must be someone who benefits from the war between Zeus and Poseidon.

Chiron nodded in agreement.

"It must be someone who holds a grudge against them. Someone who has been unhappy with them for millennia. Someone who was forced to swear not to have any more children because of an oath they have both broken.

Andy's eyes widened in understanding.

"Hades…

He heard Thalia click her tongue in displeasure.

Andy remembered what Grover had said about her. That when she was younger, she was hunted by hordes of monsters who sought to kill her simply for being the daughter of Zeus. She understood why Hades didn't like her very much.

"The Lord of the Dead is a sure candidate," Chiron said. "Think about it, Andy. A Fury came after you and tried to kill you. You were hunted by hellhounds, beings that primarily inhabit the underworld. And last night, a hellhound tried to kill you."

"It all makes sense," Annabeth said sympathetically. "Hades knew all along that Andy was a daughter of Poseidon, and that he would use her to try to clear his name. That's why she was chosen to fulfill the mission of returning the lightning. And also why Hades wants to kill her."

"So you're saying Hades is the lightning thief? "Clarisse inquired.

"That's most likely the case. And everything points to that.

"So why don't we tell the other gods that Hades has the lightning bolt and they'll go get it back? "Andy asked.

Luke shook his head.

"Andy, gods cannot enter another god's territory without their explicit permission. That's why they always entrust demigods to do so. We can go wherever we want and challenge any god. For centuries, gods have used the help of demigods to fulfill their will.

"So my father just claimed me so he could use me? That's great.

"Well, get used to it," Clarisse said. "That's the life of a demigod."

"Being used by some gods and hated by others?

Clarisse shrugged.

-Basically.

"Great. My father just wants to use me, and not only does Zeus want to show me, but Hades too.

Instead of feeling scared, Andy felt angry. Angry at Zeus for wrongfully accusing her. Angry at Hades for wanting to kill her so he could get away with it. And angry at Poseidon, who happened to be her father, for wanting to use her to clear his name. Were all the gods so hateful? She had only met one in person and thought he was hateful. Now three more were added to the list.

"Don't get so worked up about it, kid," Thalia said nonchalantly. "You're not a full demigod until you're hated by some god. Every one of us here is hated by at least one of them."

All the campers nodded solemnly at that.

Andy let out a tired sigh and massaged the bridge of his nose.

"Okay, let me see if I understand correctly. I must go to the underworld and face the Lord of the Dead.

"Exactly," they all said.

"Being guided by a ghost along the path of desolation to find the most powerful weapon in creation.

"You're getting it," Lee said.

"And return to Olympus before the summer solstice, which is in ten days, and avoid a war that will destroy the world.

"Yeah. That's the mission statement," Luke said. "Pretty simple, huh?"

Andy laughed nervously.

"Sounds good. Anyone want to trade places with me?

"Andy, the mission was given to you. You can't just pass it on to someone else" Chiron said, causing the young demigoddess to slump her shoulders in defeat". Though you are allowed to have two companions.

"If you're going to face a god, you'll need all the help you can get," Clarisse chimed in. "I'd offer to accompany you, but even I know my skills wouldn't be much help on this mission. So I'd recommend someone strong…"

Everyone looked straight at Thalia when she said that. She was still reading her manga and eating chips, as if what was happening had nothing to do with her.

"What?" She looked up. "If you want someone strong, there's Luke. He's the 'best swordsman in the last 300 years.' His experience will be helpful. Maybe he can even seduce Persephone to help you two out. Just use protection. You don't want to get some kind of divine STD."

"As… tempting as the idea is, except for the STD thing, I think it would be best if I didn't go, "Luke said."With a possible war around the corner, the campers will start taking sides and the battle will happen whether we want it or not. I want to stay to make sure they don't kill each other.

"Yes. You always look out for the well-being of all the campers, don't you?

Luke shot a scathing look at Thalia, who wasn't affected in the slightest.

She sighed and swung her feet off the table and closed her sleeve.

"As much as I want to stay and stuff myself with beer, chips, and manga, fighting a god sounds pretty tempting. I've got quite a bit of pent-up anger towards that old necrophiliac. And as much as I don't like him, it's my old man's lightning that was stolen. And as his daughter, I have a responsibility to help in his search. Who knows? Maybe he'll pay my apartment rent for a whole year as a reward. Or maybe he'll buy me one. I'll see what profit I can get out of this. Besides…" she looked at Andy and gave him a slight smile. "I can't leave all the responsibility to a newbie. And the fact that I liked him is a bonus. So be proud, Andy Jackson! I, the amazing Thalia, will help you!"

"She says she doesn't want to be like her father, but she's just as melodramatic as he is," Luke whispered to Annabeth under his breath.

"Maybe I've inherited more from him than just his powers," she whispered. She took a figurative step forward and spoke in a loud, confident voice. "I'm also volunteering to accompany Andy on his mission. With Thalia and Andy in tow, I'm the best person to stop them both from screwing up and getting us all killed for their incompetence."

"Hey! "they both protested.

"She has a point, though, "Lee said."Annabeth is one of the few people Thalia will listen to. They already have the power from Thalia, now they need the brains.

"Sounds like a solid team," Beckendorf agreed. "I'm all for it."

Katie, Silena, and Castor nodding in agreement. Clarisse reluctantly did so after being nudged by Silena.

"Then it's decided," Chiron said. "The third member will be Annabeth… that is, if you accept, Andy."

Annabeth looked at Andy intently, as if daring her to reject her.

Andy considered the offer for a few seconds. He put his hand to his chin in a pose that was all too familiar to Thalia.

"I think… no.

" What?! "Annabeth snapped. "Why not?!

"Because I feel like I wouldn't work well with you," Andy explained. "Thalia is different. I've only known her for a few hours and she's treated me better than you have in a week."

"Yeah, I'm that cool"Thalia said, looking at her black painted nails.

"That's irrelevant," Annabeth said, with a deep frown.

"It is for me. How can I trust my life to someone who isn't even nice to me and doesn't even thank me after what I did for her?

" Thanks? Why would I thank you?

Andy frowned deeply in annoyance.

"I saved your life the day I arrived at the camp. If it weren't for me, that hellhound would have killed you for being so reckless. If you can't even thank a person for saving your life and treating them a little more kindly, then that tells me that you're not a trustworthy person. And I can't take someone I don't trust on such an important and dangerous mission. Besides, who knows if you won't act the same way when we encounter some monster just because you want to prove yourself?"

"You have a point," Thalia acknowledged. "This is a very important mission, Annabeth. You should know better than to be reckless, and to get along so we can work together. There's too much at stake for us to be proud about it. And this is coming from someone who exudes pride from every pore like I do. Don't let pride cloud your judgment."

Andy felt like she was being a little unfair by bringing up the subject of thanks, but she also felt like she deserved a little respect. She'd had enough of people walking all over her. And if she was going to go on a mission where the world was in danger, at least she was going to do it with someone she trusted and who gave her a little respect.

Annabeth looked away with a disgusted expression, biting her lower lip until she lowered her head with a sigh.

"I… I'm sorry," she said through gritted teeth. "I'm sorry I was so rude to you earlier. You didn't deserve it."

Andy crossed his arms.

- AND…?

Annabeth sighed again in defeat.

"And thank you… for saving my life.

Andy nodded in agreement. He raised his hand in a friendly gesture, surprising Annabeth.

"Let's work together to prevent the end of the world, okay?

She gave him a crooked smile. What was known in her family as the patented Jackson smile.

Annabeth stared at her, completely shocked. Maybe it was her imagination, but Andy saw the recognition in Annabeth's eyes for a second before it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

Slowly, he shook her hand with a confident and slightly warmer smile.

"Okay. You can count on me to watch your back, seaweed brain.

"Excellent," Chiron said, smiling proudly. "Andy Jackson. Thalia Grace. Annabeth Chase. We leave it up to you to prevent the impending war between the gods."

"Yes…. No pressure" Andy said.

"If you survive, could you bring me a souvenir from the underworld?" Luke said. "A pair of Persephone's thongs will do."

"I'll get you Hades' underwear if you keep bothering me," Thalia said, her eyes narrowed. "Which reminds me…"

She approached Luke and before he could react, Thalia kneed him in the groin.

Luke squealed like a pig and fell to his knees on the floor. All the men present grimaced at the sight of such a brutal scene. Some even put their hands to their crotches.

"That's for looking at my butt while I was sleeping" Thalia snapped.

Luke let out a pitiful groan from the floor, but managed to lift his hand and give a thumbs up.

"It's still… worth it…

…

..

.

[T/N: Huh, I have been thinking. You guys think more people would check out the book if I changed the cover to a sexy Thalia pic? If you like this chapter then leave a comment, write a review, and drop some stones. If you can't wait for the next chapter then check out my Patreon for some advanced chapters! For just $10, you can get access to over 300+ posts. That means you get access to all my other works. I changed the pricing of tiers to be cheaper overall after a vote over on Patreon, now there is only one tier but instead of paying $10 for like 13 chapters a month, I only just realised how ridiculous that was, you can pay $10 for 50+ chapters a month. You could also just join the free membership, I always appreciate it. (*/ω＼*) ]

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