Thalia's POV

The five of us stood armed on the outskirts of the city. We'd devised the perfect plan. All that mattered now was putting it into action.

"Alright it's time," Hylla said looking at Reyna and I. "You know what to do."

"Yeah," Reyna nodded but she was twisting her ring on her finger. She was nervous and I figured she didn't like the idea of separating from her sister.

"I'll keep an eye on her," I promised, tapping my bracelet and causing my shield to expand.

"I believe she keeps more of an eye on you," Hylla replied sarcastically. "Now go...and stay safe."

I nodded and together Reyna and I crossed the busy street together. I twirled my spear anxiously in hand as we walked into the city. The building remained in rubble from the day before and I could see a trail of blood from Reyna's leg wound.

"How long will it take for them to find us?" I wondered aloud glancing about as groups of people flocked together and walked by.

"No idea but I'd say pretty soon," Reyna guessed, her eyes hard and ready.

I nodded as we walked weaving in and out of the crowd. After being in New York you learned how to navigate busy walk ways. Contrarily, Reyna had a harder time with this. She was more polite than I was as I shoved my way through. The last thing we needed was to be separated by a group of mortals.

"Come on. Keep up. Stay close," I said grabbing Reyna's hand and tugging her along. She nodded following me closely until we got to a less busy part of the city. Once free from the mob of people I scanned the area. "Two O'clock."

Reyna glanced subtly in the direction I'd said. Sure enough there was a dog except it's form flickered ever so slightly revealing a wolf. They were scanning the terrain. It wouldn't be long until they picked up our scent.

"Alright, time to play the part," Reyna sighed as the wolf sniffed the air cocking its head in our direction and growling. Throwing its head back it howled a long piercing cry.

"Is it too late to back out of this?" I asked spinning and searching for the other wolves. They stalked through the crowd, heads lowered, eyes glaring, salivating at the thought of a fight.

"Way too late," Reyna snorted as she stepped back so our backs touched.

"I wish I had my bow," I grumbled. It'd be easy to pick them off in the crowds. Instead we were stuck with close quarters combat. There were six in total three in front of me, three in front of Reyna. "Let's play."

"Agreed." Reyna nodded making the first move and thrusting her spear at the nearest wolf. It was a lazy strike, purposefully lazy, allowing the wolf to dodge and snap at her arm leaving a nasty bite wound. Reyna grit her teeth and mumbled under her breath. "It's for the plan."

"Fine but don't take it too far," I warned, kicking at the muzzle of a wolf. It whimpered retreating a few steps as it's friend lunged tackling me to the ground. It's jaws snapped latching into my shoulder and shaking me like a rag doll. Grabbing it by the throat I growled sending electricity through its system. It smoked and fell over sideways.

It was quickly replaced by another one of its brethren. I brought my shield up trying to keep it at bay it's claws racked against my side and for the sake of our damn plan I let it. At last, Reyna and I were injured enough to pass off our idea.

"Time to play dead," I whispered to her as I batted aside another wolf. Reyna nodded and we both let our guards down. The wolves noticed and lunged. I was knocked to the ground yet again but I didn't attempt to get up. Instead I curled up in a ball and went limp. Feeling the hesitation of the wolves I nearly smiled. The plan that was so dumb it shouldn't have worked was actually working. There was a high pitched howl and the teeth of a wolf clamped onto my foot. The same happened to my other foot and soon I was being dragged.

I fought the urge to open my eyes and to kick the crap out of the animals but I knew where they were taking us. To Lycoan. And Lycoan in turn would take us to the base. We were going to be lead right inside and to where the others were.

A dared a peek and saw Reyna across from me also being dragged, the wounds and blood making our state look realistic. I only prayed they fell for it. If not we were in trouble. The ground was grating painfully against my skin and wounds but it stopped when I was no longer being dragged.

"Ah ah ah. Looks like they can only hold out so long." It was Lycoan's voice. "Good job my children. Let's take them to the Boss."

There's nothing more disturbing or disgusting than feeling Lycoan's greasy and dirt covered hands touch your skin. He had picked me up and walked rather briskly. I wasn't sure when we took us away left from the city. In fact, I nearly fell asleep while being carried.

Thankfully I was startled out of my half slumber when a loud bang and screech greeted my ears. I was tossed precariously onto the ground and I heard another thump and imagined Reyna landing next to me. There was another bang and a painstaking moment of silence.

Nothing happened and I nearly opened my eyes to look around. The silence broke with a series of pops and slowly I realized it was clapping.

"Very good ladies. What a brilliant show!" The voice was deep and gravelly yet thunderous and quiet. It caused my chest to stir with something familiar and foreign. It wasn't exactly a need, or a want, it was something more. "Oh come on stop with the act it's honestly rude. I know you're awake."

My breathing was shaky and I wasn't sure what to do. I opened my eyes the slightest amount and I saw Reyna looking at me trying to convey a message with her eyes. 'Don't move.'

I frowned. 'Why?'

'Let me talk.' She sat up pretending to look dazed. I sucked in a breath trying to look unconscious.

"Who the hell are you?" Reyna asked.

"Not a nice greeting. Of all people I thought you'd be formal." The voice responded. Reyna's voice was guarded.

"You have yet to answer my question," She said, slipping into Praetor mode.

"If you must know I'll give you a few hints first." The voice said amused. "Hint number one. You know my brother."

"Continue," Reyna said, and I could pick her footsteps out of the noise as she was pacing.

"Number two. You've met me before," He said.

"Surely not, I'd recognize you," Reyna responded and I could picture her glaring at him with crossed arms.

"You have. You just don't remember." The voice responded in mock sadness. "Hint number three. I am a god."

"Oh big whoop there's like thousands of you," Reyna sighed.

"Do NOT...try my patience," He snapped. "As for your friend tell her to stop playing dead. It's making me angry."

"Thalia. Get up," Reyna said. I peeled my eyes open and got to my feet quickly.

"Oh look I'm alive! It's a damn miracle!" I said throwing my arms in the air. My gaze settled on the being in front of us. He sat on a throne like one of the ones I'd seen before. He had a dark hood pulled up over his head. Dark red piercing eyes glared back at us. I quickly dropped my arms.

"You." His voice was vibrating outwards almost like a ripple effect.

"What about me?" I asked suddenly nervous. Reyna glanced at me and moved a little closer.

"At last we meet. " He stood at a towering height. "The one who helped my brother. Who ruined my show. Who defied my mother!"

"That sounds like me but I'm missing something here Scary Eyes," I winked, mentally kicking myself for my own behavior. Why did I have to be sarcastic when I was emotionally confused?

"My name is Páthos. The God of Passion. Brother of Sila God of Heartbreak." He said his voice making that odd feeling dance in my chest again. "My mother you should know. My other brother you should also know."

"Ah the Queen Bitch and the diaper wearing love guru who decided to mind fuck me," I grumbled, that odd feeling growing more in my chest.

"Thalia, shut the hell up," Reyna hissed.

"Huh. You truly are strange," He mused. Upon standing his robes billowed about like ink. His footsteps were silent like an animal stalking prey.

"So I've been told," I said, sizing him up. He drew nearer until inches were between us. I was still unable to see his face.

"Let's see here." He said his hand glowed a vibrant red and in a flash he plunged his hand into my chest. It stung like fire and I cried out in pain. My knees gave out and I collapsed onto the floor. My vision blurred and my body convulsed in pain like acid was poured into my veins and was destroying me from the inside out.

"What did you do?" Reyna's voice was hard and demanding but it shook slightly.

"She's not going to die unless I smash it." Páthos's voice was amused and through my blurry vision I could see something glowing red in his palm. "Now let's see here. There's a new development."

Black spots danced in my vision and coughs wracked my body violently. It was almost like being a fish out of water. A hand rested on my shoulder and I knew who it belonged to without looking.

"Well well well looks like someone has defied the odds yet again. Tell me how did you do it?" The voice was close as if Páthos were kneeling down.

"Get the fuck back," Reyna spat, the glint of her sword dancing in my vision.

"Easy girl you could join her," He sneered. "Besides, I wasn't talking to you. Only it appears to me that you're something else entirely."

"What does that mean? Where is this place?" Reyna said and I could hear the uncertainty behind her fierce tone.

"I'll answer if I can ask." He responded. "A Q&A of sorts. Oh and you can participate too Thunder Girl."

All I could do was groan. My brain felt like it had been put in a blender.

"Question one. What do you think Sparky thinks of you?" Páthos questioned.

"I don't know. How would I answer that?" Reyna said angrily. "That we're friends? "

"Wrong," He sighed disappointedly.

"My turn. Where are we?" Reyna asked, unphased by Páthos' answer.

"In Utah still." He responded. "How much do you know about all of this?"

Reyna laughed callously. "You're scared aren't you? I can smell fear you know."

"Answer!" He demanded.

"I know you've got a plan that needs man power. But I also know you have a particular type. You want the Hunters and the Amazons. It's sort of a tribute to your Mother isn't it? Because they're the ones who escape her realm of power. What I want to know is why?" Reyna said her tone changing. This was her element. Years in the Senate deducting and reasoning. Pulling information from what people say and using it to ask questions.

"It's from the kindness of my heart," Páthos said.

"You're lying." Reyna replied. "Question and Answer that's the game."

"Fine. My siblings and I have been banished from Olympus," He replied, the words clearly uncomfortable in his mouth. "As for you... what have you pieced together out of all this nonsense?"

"That you're probably trying to earn your mother's favor. If you've been banished then you're trying to get back to Olympus." Reyna reasoned. "But why build an army of monsters and girls?"

"To use it of course," He snorted, his answer vague on purpose. "Now tell me something, I'm just dying to know, how on earth have you put up with her?"

If I could've I would've dropped kicked Páthos all the way to Olympus just for Hera to toss him back down and crush him like Hephaestus.

"Because we're friends. She puts up with me I put up with her. We have a mutual understanding of one another, a hatred of your mother, and quiet frankly I trust her with my life," Reyna insisted. "She's saved my ass countless times."

If I weren't currently slow cooking from the inside out due to my missing heart I would have given a standing ovation. Sadly, I could not.

"My question. Where are my friends?" Reyna asked.

"They're all here. Currently breaking into the cells facing little resistance and saving the day just like you planned. They'll be out of here in no time probably wondering why you haven't shown up to help yet." Pathos's voice had turned steely. "Now little girl how does it feel being played? You've given me every bit of information I need to know. You have told me exactly what you've figured out. You've given me your weakness and now I have your friend in the palm of my hand quite literally. Still want to play?"

"Yes," Reyan retorted. "I have one more question for you."

"Really? What's that?" Pathos inquired.

"Do you like to be medium rare or well done?" I turned the slightest amount to see the scenario. Reyna was standing next to a drum of oil and Pathos was across from her. Out of all the places for Páthos to reside he'd picked a fuel warehouse. glanced at Reyna and she had a look on her face that could only be one thing 'sorry'. I knew what was needed. Reyna kicked the barrel over making oil spill from the barrel. It pooled on the ground and spread out like a black death. I watched it slowly come closer oozing within a few inches from my fingers.

"Wow thats your escape plan? I'm really surprised. It's pathetic." Pathos said. Less than three inches now. It was closer but I still couldn't reach it. "Tell you what. You can have this back before I kill you. Consider it a gift."

I wasnt sure what was changing hands as the oil licked at my finger tips. Focusing I shot sparks through it. The fire caught easily and raged into existence. Soon the entirety of the black mass was aflame. Reyna moved out of the way quickly as the flames caught the corner of Pathos's robes. She sprinted in my direction sword in hand.

"We gotta go. Stay still." I wanted to repsond along the lines of 'It's pretty damn hard to move in case you hadn't noticed!' but the words never left my mouth. It felt like being punched in the chest. I drew a sharp breath, sprang to my feet, thanked Reyna for returning my heart in one piece, and started running. She passed me and turned left. "Follow me, I know the way out!"

Without asking questions I followed her. Sure enough she lead us outside. Hylla stood waiting with a small group but we didnt stop to say hi. "Get your asses in gear that place is gonna blow!"

The others immediately started sprinting behind us. The flames shattered the windows roaring loudly and for a moment I thought I could hear an angry cry but I brushed it off. We didn't get far when the building exploded. It shook the ground violently causing Reyna to lose her footing front of me. Grabbing her I tugged her to her feet. I looked back to see debris raining from the sky. The building was a husk and nearby structures were aflame.

She stared at it with wide eyes as her hands shook in my grip. The others caught up to us looking stunned. When I spoke my voice was quiet, "Come on. We need to go."