Page 4

A/N: All the characters, ideas, and plot lines belong to Rick Riordan and associates. This will be the last chapter of Thaila's time at Camp Half Blood. Thank you for all the comments and support. Until the next time, C.E.

We all filed into the attic. Mr. D stood in the doorway and Jackson was still fuming. Annabeth had wrapped herself in a sweater and was leaning in one of the corners.

"Look daughter of Zeus, the oracle hasn't awoken for anyone in years. I don't know what makes you think you're going to be any different."

Use your blood.

I blinked once and looked around. I could feel Chiron's eyes on me. I took a deep breath and looked at the oracle. It was a mummy of a girl. Her hair was ugly and ratty, partially decomposing. Her eyes were shut and the yellowish of her skin was galling.

Okay voice. Here I go.

I pulled a small dagger out of my pocket and slid the blade through the skin on my palm and a thin line of scarlet blood appeared. "Thalia? What are you doing?"

I heard Jackson's voice in the background. "She's insane, I tell you, completely off her rocker."

I ignored Annabeth's question and knelt down in front of the oracle. She was sitting on the stool, back facing an open window. I held my palm right at angle and watched the drops of blood drip drip drip onto the floorboards.

After waiting a moment, I rose and dipped two of my finger into the pool of blood in my palm and smeared them in a line across the oracle's forehead. Then I spoke. "Oracle, έχω την κόρη του Παντοδύναμου Δία, διατάζω να ξυπνήσει."

Her eyes opened to reveal startling yellow eyes. Annabeth gasped and jerked backwards. Refusing to break eyes contact with the creature, I heard Chiron's voice whisper, "By the gods."

"Do you know who I am?"

The oracle nodded and her mouth opened and to my great surprise, she spoke.

"Hello Thalia Grace. It's been a long time since I last saw you. Much has changed."

"Do you know why I'm here?" I asked slowly. I kept my voice calm, polite.

She smiled and for a moment I saw a shimmer of sparkle in her eyes. "I do. Give me your hand, child. I have something I want to show you."

"Thalia—don't!"

I ignored the voice shouting at me and extended my hand, the non-bloody one. She stretched out her as well and as soon as our fingertips touched, I saw…

… "I'm Luke Castellan." A dazzling, beautiful smile he was and as soon I extended a hand to shake his, I felt a beautiful and sudden warmth inside of my body. A safety that after a year of being alone, running away from everything, that I desperately needed.

"Thalia Grace," I responded with a smile. Perhaps this was love…

… "Come on, Luke. Talk to me, please, Luke please!" My hands pounded and pounded up and down on his chest while there was a darkness stirring in my own chest.

I could not lose him. I could NOT. I tilted his head backwards, breathing life into his lungs and I continued to pound.

"Somebody please, HELP ME!" Tears freely swam down my cheeks and I felt desperation creeping inside me, taking over. I was going to be alone again.

And then he awoke…

… The pouring rain set the stage. The empty parking lot had been our refuge and the sight of our camp burnt to ashes was too much.

Angry, I kicked and screamed at the ashes and for a moment I swung around, frustration rolling off of me, to see Luke standing there watching me with such a passion. He moved at the last moment and grabbed me roughly by the shoulders.

Luke's parka was soaked through I could feel the heat of his body radiating like a bomb. The roughness shocked me still. "Alia," he whispered, face close to mine. "Alia," he repeated and then kissed me.

Everything faded and there was nothing left but the pitter patter of the rain…

… The kiss had become elevation without neither girl nor boy realizing it was happening. I could feel him inside of me, the weight of his body bearing down on top of mine.

There was immediate pain; my body had not anticipated an intruder and it had no time to prepare. I could feel his heavy breath of my neck. I was quiet for a moment and the pain was like fire, but it soon morphed from agony to the tickling fire of pleasure.

His kisses trailed down my neck, reaching my collar bone and I felt his heart beating against my own.

This was infinite and we were one…

…

I collapsed with a heavy thud. My head was swimming with the thoughts and memories of what I had just relived. I didn't register to the hands grabbing me and hauling me into a sitting position.

Jackson looked like he had peed himself a little.

"Do you understand what you must do, Daughter of Zeus?" the oracle asked.

"Yes."

My tongue felt too big for my mouth.

"Good. You're the only chance for salvation. Good luck."

With that the mummy dropped back to a lifeless state. I shut my eyes and let the heaviness of the past claim my consciousness.

There was only one thing to do.

I had to find Luke.