Annabeth sprinted across the camp, her sandals kicking up dust. Her mind reeled with Mr. D's words, the prophecy, the unspoken threat looming over Thalia's sixteenth birthday. Her heart hammered not just with exertion, but with the weight of something heavy settling over her chest: fear.
Cabin One loomed like a mausoleum. The shadows from its marble columns stretched long in the morning light. Thalia was inside, sharpening her spear in silence, the motion repetitive, precise. She didn't look up as Annabeth entered.
"We need to talk," Annabeth said, breathless.
Thalia paused, her grip tightening slightly on the shaft. "About Kratos?"
Annabeth shook her head. "No. About you. And a prophecy."
The words hung in the air. Thalia set the spear down and looked at Annabeth.
Annabeth recounted everything: Mr. D's warning, the implication from Olympus, the fear that the gods might soon act not to protect Thalia, but to prevent her from becoming something they feared. The girl listened, eyes narrowing, jaw clenched. When it ended, silence filled the cabin.
"So it's true," Thalia finally said, muttering to herself. "They think I'm the one."
"You already knew?" Annabeth asked, remembering Lucas vague words upon him leaving.
"I picked up some details during the few times Zeus came to meet my mother, mainly that the three brothers made a promise to not have more children for fear one will grow up and fulfill a prophecy to destroy Olympus." Thalia spoke, reluctantly remembering her childhood.
"You're turning sixteen in a few months." The statement caused Thalia to rise and start pacing.
"And that's enough for them to keep me caged here?" She growled. "I've fought monsters since I was ten. I've bled for this camp, even when Olympus tormented me I have never acted against them. And now they want to lock me in like I'm the threat?"
Annabeth didn't answer. She couldn't. Every instinct told her to fix this, to offer strategy or a plan. But there was no enemy to outwit, just fear and divine arrogance.
Thalia's hands were shaking slightly. Not from fear, but from the strain of being made a suspect by the very gods she had served. Her voice lowered. "They were right."
That made Annabeth look up sharply. "What do you mean?"
"About Olympus and how they view us. Lucas and Luke have both said many times how little they care about us."
Annabeth wanted to argue. She wanted to defend Olympus, or at least Chiron, or the camp. But she remembered Kratos' cold stare, the rigid lines of punishment drawn after the game, the way the campers' laughter had vanished.
They made their way to the door of Cabin One together, hoping maybe fresh air would ease the weight.
But someone was waiting.
A tall woman in black and bronze stood with her arms folded, posture perfectly still. She wore no armor, but something about her presence made the hairs on Annabeth's neck rise. Her expression was calm, unreadable.
"Thalia Grace," she said.
Thalia stopped. Her eyes narrowed. "You're the one who stood beside Kratos."
The woman inclined her head. "Bia."
Annabeth felt the name drop like a stone. Bia, goddess of force. Sister of Kratos. Enforcer of Olymus.
"The camp's defences are being restructured ," Bia said. "Until the gods are satisfied, you will remain inside its bounds. The world beyond is no longer safe. For you, or others."
"You mean I'm under house arrest," Thalia said flatly.
Bia's lips curled faintly. "You may call it what you like."
"Because of a prophecy." Thalia spoke with undisguised venom
"Because we have seen what children of the Big Three can do, and do not wish to see them manipulated to act in undignified ways."
"Lucas?" Thalia asked, struggling to keep her voice neutral.
Bia glanced at her, "A dangerous, wild child acting out not noticing the chaos he is causing"
Though vague, these words allowed both of them to confirm Lucas was alive, meaning Annabeth's little test of sending mail to check if Lucas was alive was now just a simple delivery.
Relief flickered across both girls' faces, but it didn't last.
"From here on out, you are restricted from contacting the outside world too"
"What?" Thalia was flabbergasted at this, "You are restricting me from even communicating with a friend?"
"That is not my concern," Bia said. "My concern is ensuring Olympus survives. You may not leave camp."
"This isn't protection," Thalia snapped. "It's imprisonment."
Bia didn't argue. She simply turned and walked away, leaving no room for further debate.
As her figure vanished beyond the cabins, Thalia exhaled slowly, getting her emotions in check.
They turned and re-entered Cabin One. But the walls felt narrower now. The windows smaller. And though the door remained unlocked, the entire camp had begun to feel like a cage.
Thalia moved to the window and stared past the pine trees. "I hate this place."
Annabeth didn't answer. She simply stood beside her.