You're family, aren't you?

We are so alike (or how Thalia sees Sephie)

Thalia had never expected to live long, not after she lost Jason.

Her little brother had been the light of her life, the only thing she had to live for, and for two years, she did her abject best to be both the sister and mother to the little one. Most would’ve pitied her, or offered her help; Thalia didn’t want either of those. Taking care of a baby was an exhausting job, but Thalia never considered it a job – it was her brother, for gods’ sakes! He could never be a burden, a passionless job.

Then her mother left her brother to die, and Thalia’s world shattered.

She ran away that same night, only one thought looping in her head: Jason is dead, and it’s my fault. She wasn’t even ten then, and she had no idea where to go, or what to do. She knew she wasn’t normal – she had shocked a creeper to death once, and Beryl had often said her father’s name was Zeus, the King of Gods.

Thalia had been quite unwilling to believe the deranged ramblings of a drunk woman, but when he returned, Thalia had seen and felt the power of the sky. She smelled the ozone and felt the fresh breeze her father radiated, and more importantly, she had seen him create lightning balls for Jason to play with.

“You’re a daughter of the King, Thalia Grace,” Zeus told her once, sitting on the veranda under the night sky. “Your powers will be both feared and revered. Do not fail me; do not fail Jason. And most importantly, never trust my brothers, or his children.”

Thalia had no idea at the time, but when she set off, she quickly understood what her father talked about. Running across the country, she was hounded by the most vicious monsters, all claiming to serve her father’s brother, Hades. She even once ran into his son Zagreus, barely escaping with her soul attached to her body. Needless to say, she had no warm and fuzzy feelings for her older uncle.

Poseidon, though, never seemed to be cross with her. In Florida, she had to escape the legion of empousai, and the only way out of the bind was to climb on the boat and row away. She had not rowed for long, but no monster assaulted her, and no waves bar the normal ones hindered her journey. In fact, Thalia could’ve sworn she had seen a smiling man’s face in the water once as she approached the shore again, not willing to risk her luck.

That being said, she quickly found herself befriending Sephie Jackson, once she was separated from her tree. At first it was the pure gratitude: her cousin snuck out of the camp to help her, and her father had once spared her in his domain, and Thalia felt she owed Sephie a chance. She hated owing people anything.

Soon though, the gratitude transformed into true camaraderie, the two daughters of Big Three often meeting and IM-ing each other to complain about campers, gods and monsters hounding them. They understood each other on the level no other demigod could. They both had that Prophecy hanging over them, and their lineage and powers made them both nice monster chow and powerhouses most seemed to be scared stiff of. Only Annabeth, Grover and Chiron didn’t seem to give a damn, and tried to treat them like normal demigods.

However, even they couldn’t fully grasp the difficulties the two girls faced all day, every day, and Thalia had to admit she accepted the position of Artemis’ lieutenant to escape at least some of the pressure. She felt horribly guilty, of course, but Sephie never held it against her.

“Your temptation is power. You did absolute opposite of what everyone expected you to,” Sephie told her on Nico’s birthday, smiling as she watched their little cousin jump like a demented rabbit to grab a chocolate bar from Bianca, who held it just out of his reach. “That took guts.”

“It was an easy way out,” Thalia argued, the worm of guilt lodged in her chest spreading its wings. “And you had it worse than me!”

“Thalia,” Sephie laid her palms on Thalia’s shoulders. “Thalia, listen. Everyone has their own demons to fight with. I won’t ask you, but I know you had reasons beyond fear. Now chin up and walk the road you chose. Do it for me. Be the best lieutenant you can be.”

“Sephie -”

“Hush,” Sephie covered Thalia’s mouth with her hand. “You’re my cousin, my family. I’ll be there for you whenever you need me.”

Thalia’s eyes watered. Luke had been the last one who promised her family, and now Sephie was doing the same. Could she trust her?

Of course, the little voice said at the back of her head. She risked her life to save yours, without even meeting you.

So did Luke, her mind countered. And look what he did to me.

Yes, but Sephie’s flaw is loyalty, she told you that herself, the voice rationalized. If she considers you her family, she’ll never betray you.

Her mind had no rebuttal.

“Thanks, Sephie,” Thalia whispered, and Sephie’s eyes glistened.

“You’re welcome.”

~

Thalia took Sephie’s words to the heart, and talked with older Hunters. She wanted to be more than just lieutenant to those girls – she wanted to be their friend, their confidant. She listened to the tales Phoebe wove of the ancient times, when Orion, Zoe, Ariadne and she accompanied Artemis everywhere, going from Macedonia to Crete, from Epirus to Troy. She played games with the eight-year-old Lily and nine-year-old Janice, and talked with Helena and Marie about the old, aristocratic regimes in Europe they escaped.

Artemis did not fail to notice that, and she summoned Thalia in her tent one night. It was mid-November, if Thalia’s sense of time wasn’t lying to her, and the bitter winds forced the girls to huddle around the fire, with wolves laying behind them to give them additional warmth.

“My Lady?” Thalia asked, ducking into Artemis’ tent the goddess and the lieutenant shared.

“Sit, Thalia,” Artemis smiled, petting her favorite wolf. None of the Hunters knew the wolf’s name, but the girls suspected it was named after the only boy Artemis ever fancied – Orion. “I see you’ve been sending a lot of time with the girls.”

“I’m their lieutenant,” Thalia shrugged as she sat down, cross-legged. “How can I expect them to trust me if I behave like I’m someone above them?”

“Well spoken,” Artemis nodded. “You would’ve been a marvelous leader, Thalia.”

Thalia shook her head. “Pardon me, my Lady, but lust for power is my fatal flaw. I’d keep wanting more and more. This,” she gestured with her hand, “keeps me anchored. It reminds me of what happens when your flaw overpowers you.”

Artemis shook her head, but did not comment. “Do you know how did I name this wolf?” The goddess asked idly, but Thalia got the feeling the question was more than it seemed.

“No, my Lady,” Thalia answered truthfully. “None of the girls know.”

“But they suspect.” The smile on Artemis’ face was setting off Thalia’s ‘something wicked this way comes’ bells.

“They do.”

Artemis raised her eyebrow, and Thalia relented.

“They think you named him Orion.”

Thalia waited for the inevitable burst of temper at the mention of the name, but the goddess only ‘hmm’ed, continuing to pet the wolf.

“I see why they would think so,” Artemis finally spoke, not lifting her silver eyes from the wolf. “I’ve never made a secret I was impressed by the boy’s archery skills. But I would never name a faithful companion and guide after him.” She clicked her tongue, and the wolf jumped up.

“Περσέας, να οδηγήσει το δρόμο”, Artemis ordered, and the wolf bobbed his head before bounding out of the tent. (Perseus, lead the way.)

“Perseus?” Thalia blinked, remembering the story Sephie told her once. “That’s strange.”

“Strange?” Artemis tilted her head.

“If Sephie had been a boy, her mom would’ve named her Perseus,” Thalia explained, “because he’s the only hero who had a happy ending.”

Artemis nodded in understanding. “That is why I named my favorite Perseus. His loyalty to his mother and wife was truly admirable. Now go – he will lead you to your task.”

Thalia nodded and ran out, easily following the wolf’s tracks through the woods. Determination coursed through her veins. Whatever task Lady Artemis set in front of her, she was sure she would be able to complete it….

Or maybe not.

Thalia cursed her own foolishness for what felt like millionth time in the last hour. The task Lady Artemis in front of her was no easy feat, but it wasn’t impossible to accomplish, either. Catching the golden stag was actually pretty fun; sneaking up on him, waiting patiently until it dropped its guard, snagging it in a net.

However, the task was only a means to the end. The hunt led Thalia straight to the Central Park, where Persephone dragged her and Sephie down to the Underworld to help Nico and Bianca find the new symbol of power for her uncle.

Oh joy.

“Why did he even start making that stupid sword?” Thalia grumbled as the trio navigated through the Fields of Asphodel, Thalia watching out of the corner of her eye for Beryl and Jason.

“To control the Doors of Death better,” Nico answered, looking around himself.

“The less monsters Grandfather has, the better,” Bianca agreed, her pale complex nearly blending in with the shades surrounding them. If not for the intense, near-black eyes, Thalia would’ve thought she was dealing with one of Uncle Hades’ subjects, not his child.

“Wouldn’t that give him power over the Pit?” Sephie asked, holding the sunflower in her hand sand watching it with worried face.

“Actually no,” Bianca shook her head. “Father is only a warden – he guards the boundaries. Pit itself and things in it are completely out of his reach.”

Sephie nodded, obviously pacified with the answer, but Thalia wasn’t. If you control the Doors of Death, you could control who and what goes out of Tartarus. She didn’t want to think what kind of monsters he could let out if he had that sword.

“Let’s just get the thing and be over with it,” Thalia grumbled. “Some of us don’t like being in the Underworld.”

Sephie smirked at her but obediently sped up, following the path the sunflower showed them.

~

With the sword back in Hades’ hands and Bob the Titan – ehm, Iapetus the Titan – neutralized, Thalia felt completely justified in suggesting McDonalds for the post-quest relaxation spot. Nico instantly jumped on the suggestion, and Sephie caved after a few seconds. Dragging a protesting Bianca with them, the children of Big Three found a joint near the Central Park and sat down to eat.

“So Bia,” Sephie asked as she munched on her fries, looking ready to drop any moment, “have you made the decision yet?”

Nico looked a bit sullen at the question, and Bianca fidgeted in her seat.

“Not really,” Bianca admitted, playing with her fry and not looking anyone in the eye. “I mean, I said I’d like to do it, but I’m really not sure. Sephie really made me rethink some things.” She threw a quick look at Nico, who was trying to glare the holes through the table.

“Take your time,” Sephie advised her, popping in another fry before focusing on Thalia. “So, how is it? Running with Artemis all the time.”

“It’s amazing,” Thalia admitted with a proud smile. “I’d never change anything about it.”

“And the immortality?” Sephie prodded. “How does the immortality treat you?”

“I don’t really think about it as immortality,” Thalia shrugged, wiping the crumbs from the corner of her mouth. “I can still die in battle.”

“Yes, but otherwise you’re practically immortal,” Nico said quietly, lifting his gaze from the table. “You’ll probably outlive us all.”

Thalia gulped and fidgeted in the rickety metal chair. She’d never thought about it in that way.

“Let’s first survive this war,” Sephie finally said after the silence became unbearably tense. “If we lose, we’ll all die.”

The four cousins quickly agreed and in no time, the insults became the currency, and Thalia couldn’t stop smiling. However, she couldn’t get rid of the bad feeling she got whenever she glanced at Sephie. She had acted like everything’s fine one time too many not to recognize the fellow actor.

~

The last thing Thalia expected in the middle of the February night was to receive the IM from Sephie. Thankfully, it was her shift, so she was wide awake.

“Sephie?” Thalia asked, taking in the bloodshot eyes, bright red cheeks, paleness hiding under the Mediterranean complex and drying tears. “What the Hades happened?”

“I… I had a dream,” Sephie whispered, her voice cracking. “K-Grandpa talked to me.”

“What the Hades?” Thalia whisper-yelled, trying not to wake any of her sisters. “Why’s that creep talking to you in your dreams?”

Sephie gulped at the question, and a bad feeling crawled into Thalia’s heart.

“He… can you keep this a secret, Thals?” Sephie practically begged her cousin, and Thalia could only nod dumbly. “Luke and I… he came to me last year, for the Valentine’s day. He offered me to run away from all this with him. I almost said yes.”

Thalia inhaled, but did not say anything.

“But… we had a fight. Verbal, not with the swords,” Sephie quickly inserted the clarification. “I refused to go, and he wasn’t happy. He asked me who I loved more – Olympus or him.”

Thalia’s eyes widened, and the daughter of Zeus uttered a curse under her breath. Damn Luke for doing the same thing he did to her!

“I was furious,” Sephie continued, her eyes closed. “He expected me to just trust him, after what he did to me on Othrys. And tonight… Kronos told me I could have Luke for one day, if I come to Othrys in secret.”

Thalia now cursed out loud, not caring if anyone heard her.

“Sephie, don’t!” The lieutenant said with vehemence. “There’s nothing of Luke left in that shell. He’s gone.”

“He’s not gone, Thals,” Sephie sobbed, opening her eyes. “His eyes shifted from gold to blue. He’s still inside.”

“No,” Thalia insisted, ignoring the soft twangs of her heart. Luke betrayed her, and deserved none of her sympathy. “Don’t be a fool, Persephone Jackson. You’re not dealing with Luke Castellan the traitor; you’re dealing with the Crooked One, the first kin-killer and the Cannibal King.”

“You don’t understand, cousin,” Sephie shook her head. “I have to. My soul-body connection was damaged again in our battle against Iapetus. Father, Uncle Hades and Apollo can’t do anything about this. I have to go. He’s the only one who can stop the further damage.”

Thalia’s windpipe closed up, and for several seconds she couldn’t speak, let alone find the words to calm down her cousin and talk her out of her plan.

“Sephie… don’t die on me.” It was Thalia’s turn to beg now, her eyes shimmering. Sephie’s eyes watered as well, and she gave her a shaky smile.

“Don’t worry. He’s not interested in killing me just yet.”

“Yet being the key word here,” Thalia noted dryly, trying to regain her equilibrium. “Sephie please, don’t go.”

Sephie shook her head. “I have to, Thalia. I just… I just wanted to tell someone if I don’t return.”

“You’d better return, you kelp-headed moron,” Thalia threatened, aware just how weak the threat sounded.

“No worries Thals,” Sephie smiled wearily. “If I don’t call you in the next two days, go and talk to Nico or Bianca. They’ll help you shadow-travel me out of Othrys.”

~

Sephie called again exactly two days later, again around midnight. This time, however, Thalia was in the tent, which allowed her a little privacy.

“Hey Sephie – what happened to you?” Thalia asked, flinching away from the IM. Sephie’s hair was in total disarray, the light makeup she usually wore was smeared around her eyes and several dark purple marks rested on her neck. She looked a lot healthier though – whatever Kronos did to her helped her in some way.

“Please, don’t ask,” Sephie sighed. “The guy is completely mad. He confused me with his wife when I arrived at first.” She took a few steps back and turned so Thalia could see the yellowish bruises running up her side through the slit in her peplos.

“What – did he throw into the boulder?” Thalia gasped in horror, which only multiplied when Sephie said nothing. “Hades, Sephie! You told me you won’t die!”

“Obviously, I haven’t,” Sephie rolled her eyes, covering the bruises. “Besides, I have some important news for you.”

“Don’t just write this off, Sephie!” Thalia growled. “He -”

“Thalia,” Sephie cut her off with a steely look. “Jason.”

Thalia froze at the name uttered.

“What?” she whispered, searching Sephie’s face for deceit of any kind.

“Jason, your brother,” Sephie said again. “I’ve seen him. He’s alive.”

Thalia bolted upright, nearly disconnecting the Iris Message.

“What? Where?” Thalia yelled, not caring if anyone would hear her.

“On Othrys. He was doing the air recon of the place when I escaped,” Sephie told her. “Flying and all. I asked him what was his name, and he said Jason Grace.”

“He’s alive,” Thalia breathed out, an enormous smile on her face. “Jason’s alive. Does he have a small mark on his lip?”

Sephie scrunched her eyebrows, trying to remember. “Yeah, yeah, he does,” she said after a few moments. “Is that important?”

“Oh yes,” Thalia nodded. “he got that after he tried to eat the stapler.”

“You’re joking, right?” Sephie gaped before bursting out in laughter. “Stapler? Freaking stapler?”

The two girls dissolved into helpless laughter.