Chapter 7: A Final Stand and A Shocking Turn Of Events

Narrator's Pov 

Anthony slashed, blocked with his shield, dodged kicks and punches, until he exhausted himself. While rain rejuvenated his energy and healed his wounds, the constant barrage was too much. And after mowing down 4 Cyclopes, he still saw a sea of them.

He slumped in defeat, he knew his strategies couldn't save him this time, nor was anyone near him to help him in his current predicament. He was proven wrong when Thalia came in, lightning crackling around her, spear and shield at the ready. Anthony just chuckled, saying," You couldn't listen to me when it actually mattered?" 

A small smirk played on her face saying," Well I have a promise to keep, and a son of Athena whose to dumb to realize that I don't care for his orders," Anthony just sighed saying," Well if you don't kill yourself by being here, I might just forgive you for always doubting my intelligence," he then said," emphasis on the word might,"

Thalia just laughed, before they put their backs to each other, protecting themselves and each other with their shields and spears. Before disengaging when they get cornered, then attacking Cyclops after cyclops. They continued this dance, while tiring themselves even more, resulting in what happened next.

Thalia's Pov 

Anthony was doing fine when I saw a giant club going to his head, so, without even thinking. I dashed as fast as I could, and got into the path of the club, before everything went dark. And I felt my head hit the ground before hearing him scream in agony, I didn't think he could sound so hurt before.

I woke up in a white plain, with nothing in sight, "did I die?" It was what I thought before feeling something inside me awake. Before I knew it I opened my eyes, surrounded by people I didn't know, only for an older Annabeth to show up with tears in her eyes.

After I was caught up on everything, I couldn't understand what had happened to them, Luke became the leader of rebel demigods bent on the destruction of Olympus! And Anthony became 2nd in command? The last memory of Anthony was the blood curdling that let loose when I took that club for him. So, why was he rebelling?

Narrator's Pov

While she was thinking this, Anthony was watching this unfold from afar, the now 16 year old son of Athena had no right to be here. Not until he finished his mission, he had visited her tree everyday, talking to his old friend from beyond the grave. He cursed his photographic memory for making him remember her death so clearly, and the nightmares that haunt him ever since.

He couldn't forgive himself then, he couldn't forgive himself now either. When he got the invitation from Luke, and then hearing the incident with Percy, he put two and two together to paint a messy picture that he didn't like.

Anthony back then knew that if Luke was planning to revolt against the gods, and with the help with the titans, monsters, and the demigods who accepted the invitation. He could actually succeed in accomplishing his goal, " How?", You may ask? With the knowledge of the many who would no doubt feel like the gods need to fall, and Luke himself with the many strategies he shared with him, meet with the monsters naturally physicals and the titans help.

It'll be a massacre that they wouldn't walk unscathed, so, he infiltrated the enemy camp, leaving without a word to anyone. Relaying every spy, base location, minor gods that turned traitor, and every plan that could affect the camp or Olympus in a significant way.

The only being's who knew were the gods themselves, and even when he was the most effective commander in the titan army, he was laid with suspicion ever since he joined. He was watched 24/7, so, to prove himself not a spy for Olympus, he was sent to kill a demigod loyal to Olympus.

He knew that if he truly killed a demigod loyal to Olympus, that he would never be welcomed back into camp ever again. So, with a heavy heart, he completed the task, his eyes becoming soulless and without life. With every demigod he had to kill to prove his loyalty, his heart was ever so broken into pieces.

Anthony had became the most feared demigod in the titan army. His soulless eyes, that stared right through you, the skill to kill you in seconds, and the sheer willpower to stare down the minor gods that turned traitor with intimidating soulless dark grey pools.

Anthony then left, towards the only place he felt any comfort to his damaged soul. It was the only place that could still help him keep sane. It was Thalia's tree, he knew that it was dangerous to be here, with the demigods here, and the traitors that watch him. 

But there was nobody watching him today, and the campers were still occupied by Thalia, so he took a risk and began to lean on her tree. Not noticing that on the other side was Thalia and Annabeth, being as quiet as possible. 

They saw Anthony when they were coming up here, and since he wasn't doing anything wrong yet, that they'll just watch him for a while. Which led them into this predicament here, they then heard Anthony let out a sigh before saying," I came here to calm my mind down, but since Thalia isn't in her tree I guess it's not the same,"

Thalia and Annabeth just sat there, trying to not make a noise. Anthony then said something that would change their world view in seconds, saying," I should probably go now, Luke said he had something big in the works, and if I'm not there I won't be able to relay his plans to Olympus," before getting up and leaving.

Thalia looked at Annabeth, only for tears to be in her eyes, she then began to get up to follow Anthony, to smack some sense into him. Maybe punch his face in, only for Thalia to grab her and set her down whispering," Don't! I know it might be hard but if what we heard was true, then it'll endanger him more if you stop him now!"

Annabeth just looked at the back of Anthony, his shoulder slumped in defeat, his body language screaming fatigue. She shot out of Thalia's grasp before tackling her brother to the ground, surprise and then worry on her older brothers face as he quickly wiped her tears. 

Resulting in her letting out more tears, as this unconscious and involuntary action and expression that her brother did, told her everything she needed to know. She then pounded her fists on her brother chest while shouting," You stupid idiot! Why do you always shoulder everything by yourself!"

As tears poured onto his face, Anthony, looked at her, tears swelled in his eyes, before shouting back," I did it to keep you safe, I failed before, and I'm not letting that happen again!" 

Thalia hearing this, came out from behind her tree, and slapped him across the face. Making him look at her in shock, before Thalia said," Stop blaming yourself for what happened to me back then, and your pretty stupid for a son of Athena if you don't realize that it wasn't your fault,"

She then hugged him before saying," You don't have to always suffer alone, we're here for you always bird brain," His eyes now pouring tears, as years of stress and pain came out. Annabeth and Thalia hearts began to ache, Thalia never saw him like this before, and Annabeth saw her brother, who usually masked his feelings, let out a painful sob.

It was his scene that some of the gods of Olympus watched, Athena teared up, watching her son like this was painful, she remembered the night that her son decided to become a spy for Olympus. He was so terrified back then too, he connected dots that the gods ignored, and threw himself into the fire so no one else had to.

He just prayed to her, saying," Look after Annabeth for me mother, I won't be able to where I'm going," she watched her son that night unable to change his mind.

Poseidon watched his legacy, with shame, he couldn't protect him at all. He remembered a time when the boy had been so cheerful, when the light in his eyes shone with brilliance, and his soul untouched by blood. Now he looked like he could drop dead any second, his eyes clouded and soulless, and his soul tainted with blood.

 The other gods looked at him with either sadness or indifference. Most of them knew of the length the son of Athena went to, to become trusted among the titan army, and even though he killed many demigods. He always made it quick and painless. So that they didn't suffer on the way to the Underworld.

As they watched Annabeth and Thalia bring him into camp, they did wondered about what Anthony said. And if Luke was planning something big, what could it be, and when would it happen?