Chapter 34 - Surprise

March 7th 2001

Dinner had passed, and Lucas had spent the evening in the training arena alongside Luke and Thalia. They sparred until the sky darkened into a navy sheet scattered with stars. Eventually, they called it a night, deciding to wash up before heading to bed.

After cleaning up, Lucas found that Luke and Thalia had left without him. He shrugged and began walking back toward his tent.

That was when a voice called from behind.

"Lucas!" Annabeth's voice rang with fake surprise. "There you are!"

She jogged up, brushing imaginary dust from her shirt. "Come on, we're all meeting near the Amphitheatre. Luke and Thalia are waiting for us."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "And they sent you to get me instead of just bringing me along?"

Annabeth grinned. "Luke wanted some alone time with Thalia."

Lucas nodded, accepting the explanation, though he silently noted that even now, Thalia still seemed to hold something back from accepting Luke's obvious advances.

She laughed, grabbing his wrist and pulling him along. "Hurry up."

They wound through the trees. The camp felt unusually quiet. Trails were clear, empty of the usual bustle. As they neared the amphitheatre, Lucas felt a twinge of suspicion.

The building looked normal, but his instincts said otherwise. He activated his veil sight.

The amphitheatre shimmered with illusion. Magical lights, hidden from mundane vision, lit the space, and faint signs of recent activity were visible.

Annabeth let go of his wrist just before the final turn. "Go on. You first."

Lucas narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but stepped forward.

With a burst of lanterns and fairy lights, the amphitheatre lit up.

Colorful banners stretched between trees, hand-painted in a dozen styles, proclaiming:

"Happy Birthday, Lucas!"

Tables were loaded with food: roasted meats, vegetable skewers, and a cake that looked like three people had argued over its design and settled the debate with a flamethrower.

Lucas blinked.

Then he blinked again.

And then someone yelled, "Surprise!" and the pieces fell into place.

Luke stepped out from behind one of the larger tables, grinning. "Took you long enough."

Thalia followed, arms crossed but eyes sparkling. "You're lucky we didn't stuff your tent full of confetti."

The Hermes Cabin was already halfway into the food. Connor and Travis, mouths full, waved enthusiastically. Several Aphrodite campers had arranged a gift table, wrapped with precision and flair. Two Dionysus boys lounged near the drink table, sipping grape soda like connoisseurs.

Lucas stood frozen.

"I..." he started, then stopped.

Thalia rolled her eyes, grabbed a paper crown from the table, and jammed it onto his head. "There. Now the birthday boy looks the part."

In truth, Lucas had forgotten it was his birthday. The habit of travel, constant movement, and danger had dulled his sense of time. Celebration hadn't existed in his world for years.

"You're all ridiculous," Lucas muttered.

"You love us for it," Thalia replied.

And he did. He could feel it swelling in his chest, warmth.

Someone handed him a slice of cake. The frosting was lopsided. The writing read "Happy Brithday," and there were far too many candles. It was perfect.

Then came the gifts.

The Aphrodite Cabin presented a small enchanted mirror. It would glow different colors depending on whether it approved of his outfit or not.

The Hermes kids handed over a box of enchanted playing cards that changed suits and values based on the user's whims. "Excellent for cheating," Travis whispered.

The Dionysus twins gifted him a bottle of sparkling grape soda.

And finally, the trio, Annabeth, Luke, and Thalia, brought forward a set of finely balanced celestial bronze throwing knives.

For once, Lucas didn't feel like the outsider looking in.

He was Lucas. The birthday boy. A camper. A friend.

As night deepened, the fire crackled. Someone started a song, off-key but full of heart. Laughter carried into the sky.

...

Later, Lucas made his way back to his tent, the celebration still echoing in his chest. He pushed open the flap and found three wrapped gifts on his bedroll.

A note rested on top, stamped with Hermes' seal. "Delivered via Hermes Overnight Express: the fastest express in America."

He looked over the gifts. Two were marked: one from Steven, the other from Hecate. The third was covered in red hearts. Assuming it was from Aphrodite, he checked the tag and paused.

Eros and Psyche.

Curious, he opened Steven's first.

The note was warm, full of love and pride. It spoke of guidance and hope, and how Steven wished for Lucas to always find his way, even in darkness.

Inside was a torch, simple but clearly marked by Hecate's magic.

Lucas snorted. "Cheapskate. Called it your gift, but it's clearly from her."

He opened the second. From Hecate. A small bundle of string and a single line on the parchment:"For Potion 6."

Lucas' eyes narrowed. So the next step had begun.

Then came Eros' gift.

Inside were two elegant, matte-finished envelopes. Restaurant vouchers.

A full-course dinner for two at a French bistro in Manhattan. No expiration date.

Lucas raised a brow. "Romantic mischief from the god of love?"

But he tucked the gift away with a rare smile.

He sat in the quiet of his tent for a while, the flickering lantern outside casting soft shadows against the canvas. The warmth in his chest lingered, but was quickly broken by the sound of slow, careful footsteps.

Thalia stood at the entrance.

Lucas gave her a curious glance. "Back to throw more confetti on me?"

She didn't smile.

"Can I come in?"

Lucas shifted, making space. "Of course."

She sat cross-legged across from him, arms resting on her knees, gaze low.

"I know it isn't the best time, but I need someone to talk to."

Lucas didn't interrupt.

She stared at the floor.

Lucas watched her carefully, sensing the weight behind her words.

"My mother, Beryl Grace, was a mess. After I was born, Zeus left, as they do. But she became obsessed. Thought being chosen by the King of Olympus made her the greatest mortal alive. She paraded it like a crown. Demanded Olympus owes her more. When he came back and Jason was born… she got worse."

Thalia's hands tensed slightly. "He kept visiting us. But when she begged for beauty, for Olympus, for immortality, to just stay by his side, he disappeared again. Left us alone with her madness."

Lucas stayed silent, letting her speak.

"One day in '96, she took Jason and me on a picnic. I went to the car to get the basket. While I was gone… a wind spirit came. It said it had a message from Hera. Then it attacked."

Her voice cracked. "It's the only time I ever truly saw her as a mother. She screamed at me to run. And I did. I never looked back."

She shivered, tears streaming down her face. Lucas moved, embracing her, rubbing her back.

Lucas didn't know what to say.

"He must have known." Thalia said, eyes sharp now. "He's the god of the skies. He hears everything. He couldn't be seen breaking his oath so he turned a blind eye to us and still, when I, his daughter, cried for him, he ignored me. Just like he ignored her."

She looked up, eyes sharp. "You once asked why I hesitate with Luke. Why I hold myself back. It's because I keep expecting everything to break again. Maybe it's not even Luke I'm afraid of, maybe it's me projecting Jason onto him. Maybe I don't even like him. Maybe I just want my brother back."

Lucas reached over, resting a hand on hers.

"You know that's not true, and there is no need to worry about losing him or us, I traveled with Luke and let me tell you he is like a parasite, even if you try to abandon him in an cyclopes infested cave he will find his way back - he is annoying like that."

Thalia let out a little giggle through her tears.

"He did tell me about that story"

She was quiet for a moment, then whispered, "Happy birthday, by the way."

Lucas gave a tired grin. "Great gift. Emotional trauma. How are you going to top it next year?"

Thalia laughed again. "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be. But I want you to know, you don't have to worry about me or Luke. It's us who will look after you. And 'beth."

Thalia gave him a sad but grateful smile.

"Here, they should help."

Lucas handed her the two envelopes he received from Eros.

Thalia accepted them, then she stood, hesitating only for a moment before slipping out through the flap.

Lucas remained where he was, watching the canvas sway.

The warmth was still there.

But now, it was burning.