ｔｈｅ ｌａｓｔ ｏｌｙｍｐｉａｎ

LUCIA DIDN'T EXACTLY HATE RACHEL DARE. Or dislike her. She was cool, she guessed. she liked a lot of the things Lucia did: Art, Music... but the problem might have been that they had too many likes in common.

Lucia could admit that she was very pretty, with her red hair and forest green eyes, she was funny-ish too. She also didn't have a boyfriend or was brainwashed by a Titan lord hellbent on destroying the world...she would be better for Percy, and sadly, Lucia knew he could be happy with her...

I love Ethan she tried telling herself it doesn't matter

but truth was, she was getting to the point where she couldn't lie to herself anymore

Annabeth flew the pegasus toward an out-of-control helicopter. If Guido had been any less of a fancy flier, they would've been strips of confetti.

Lucia could hear Rachel screaming inside. And it was starting to piss her off. For some reason, she hadn't fallen asleep, but Lucia could see the pilot slumped over the controls, pitching back and forth as the helicopter wobbled toward the side of an office building.

"Ideas?" Percy asked them.

"You're going to have to take Guido and get out," Annabeth said.

"What are you guys going to do?"

Neither replied. Annabeth said Hyah! and Guido went into a nosedive. 

"Duck!" Annabeth yelled.  They obeyed. Lucia was then extremely grateful to be short enough that the helicopter blades got nowhere near her hair. she had been through enough she drew the line at her hair being ruined.

She straightened and reached for the helicopter door with Annabeth, They zipped along the side.

And that's when things went wrong.

Guido's wing slammed against the side of the helicopter and plummeted down with Percy on his back.

Leaving Lucia and Annabeth dangling from the side of the aircraft.

"oh Fuck you!" She screamed to no one in particular, her knuckles turning white with her grip.

She looked up at Annabeth, her brain working quickly to figure out a way to help her. She swore no matter what happened she would not let Annabeth fall.

Thankfully, Lucia didn't have much work to do. Rachel seemed to notice she was being rescued and pulled them inside the copter.

"Lucia?" She gasped

"No, it's Jesus Christ-AH!" Lucia slid to the side of the copter as it wobbled, She cursed as her bad shoulder slammed against the pilot seat. Her vision spotted and she let out a loud gasp. Through the pain, she dove forward and shoved the stupid mortal out of the way. Which allowed Annabeth to wobble into the seat and man the controls. He fell dramatically into the other seat of the cockpit, letting out obnoxious snores.

Camp Half-Blood is the Enemy

Not the time!

"Ahh!" Rachel cried as she flew backward

Lucia used her good arm to grab her by the shirt before she could fly out the Helicopter door. She pulled her closer and a frown fell on her face when Rachel gripped onto her armor. The redhead held on for dear life and started screaming bloody murder in her ear.

Lucia glared at her "Now who's the loud one?"

Rachel opened her mouth to speak but another scream came out, her finger frantically pointing to the front of them. She pulled Lucia closer, shaking her. "Oh my god! the building! Annabeth! Annabeth! the building!"

Lucia's heart crawled into her throat. The helicopter was only a few seconds away from slamming into the side of a skyscraper.

"Yes!" Annabeth huffed in frustration as she slammed at the controls faster. "I can see it, Dare!"

"We're going to die!" She wailed in response. She frantically pulled on Lucia's armor.

"You just might!" Lucia yelled back "Would you stop shaking me like an eight-ball! Annabeth's got it!"

Then miraculously the helicopter righted itself. It spun in a circle and hovered.

Very slowly, it began to descend.

It seemed to take forever, but finally, the helicopter thudded to a landing in the middle of Fifth Avenue.

Rachel opened the side door and dragged out the pilot. Lucia stumbled out, a look of annoyance on her face. She hissed at the pain running up her arm.

Annabeth stepped out Last.

Percy stared at the blonde in awe. "I didn't know you could fly a helicopter." 

"Neither did I," she said. "My dad's crazy into aviation. Plus, Daedalus had some notes on flying machines. I took my best guess on the controls." 

Lucia smiled in admiration, she was nothing short of impressed by the blonde girl. She just saved their lives and landed a helicopter like it was nothing. At this point what couldn't she do?

"You saved my life," Rachel said. 

Annabeth huffed, avoiding her eyes. "Yeah, well . . . let's not make a habit of it. What are you doing here, Dare? Don't you know better than to fly into a war zone?"

"I—" Rachel glanced at Percy. "I had to be here. I knew Percy was in trouble."

"No shit," Lucia grumbled

Annabeth sighed, clearly too stressed to deal with the mortal girl. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I have injured friends I've got to tend to. Glad you could stop by, Rachel."

And with that, she walked away

Rachel nervously bit her lip. She looked toward Lucia. "Thanks for letting me grab onto you. I-I didn't know you were back..."

Lucia studied the girl. She hadn't seen her in a year since their quest in the Labyrinth. She was dressed like she was returning from vacation, with a t-shirt, beach shorts, and sandals. Her hair was tangled and her face was hued green from the helicopter ride.

"Mhm, I'm back." Lucia flexed her bad shoulder and glanced between the pair.

Percy cleared his throat awkwardly, his face burning red, Lucia could tell he wanted to tell her something. Rachel on the other hand shrunk away from Lucia's gaze completely. Gears shifted in the sun child's brain, then realization fell over her.

Something happened between them.

"Oh..." Lucia brushed her hair away from her face. She pressed her lips flat and avoided looking at Percy, "Sorry...I'll leave you two alone.."

"Luz it's not—" Percy called

But she was already storming away.

☼

SHE HAD NO RIGHT TO BE JEALOUS, Lucia knew that Percy Jackson was by no means hers to get Jealous about. Yet the sickly feeling kept swirling in her stomach, making her chest ache.

When she left Percy and Rachel she had briefly gone to help tend to the injured with her siblings. After a while and the resurfacing of more bitter memories, she decided she needed a second to breathe, a moment of peace alone. But of course, she wasn't allowed that.

"What's got you so blue Golden girl."

Lucia stopped in her tracks, she whipped around. Her mouth fell agape "Ethan."

"Not E?" He stepped forward

She took a step back

His face dropped "Lucia?"

"You stabbed me." The soreness in her shoulder flared as a reminder. "Sue me if I want some distance."

His single eye glinted with annoyance "I wasn't trying to stab you. You stepped in—for him."

Lucia took a deep breath in, her eyes fell shut "Ethan don't do this now please."

"Let me touch you." He begged

She frowned, she didn't want him touching her. She wanted him as far as possible. Not because she didn't feel anything for him, she did, and that's why it tore her apart to fully digest what he did.

Lucia realized the wound she had in her shoulder wasn't the first time Ethan had stabbed her in the back. She had a deeper scar, one in her heart. One he inflicted on her the moment he chose to deliver her to Kronos.

"You said I didn't have to worry." Ethan pressed "You said you wanted to kill him. Fight with us."

"And why did I say that Ethan?!" She raged forward, stopping inches away from him. Her violet eyes swirled with a mix of emotions as they peered into his dark ones. "Tell me! Say to my face what you did!"

Ethan looked at her, guilt flashed across his features but it was quickly replaced with irritation. "I had to Lucia.."

"Fuck you." She hissed, she began to leave.

"Wait!" He found her wrist. Holding her closer. "I do. I do love you, golden girl. You have to know that. I did what Kronos ordered but the rest was me. It's to bring balance to the world, I had—"

Lucia shoved him away from her, "Balance?!" Lucia exclaimed, "Ethan you hurt me..."

"You understood before." he frowned, "You wanted the same thing."

Lucia felt tears well up in her eyes. "I never wanted any of this E." she swallowed "You knew that..."

"I love you." He stepped forward,

"Stop." She took another step back. "H-How are you even here... you're supposed to be on first avenue."

"Kronos sent me to find you."

She scoffed, a pained smile falling on her lips as she rubbed at her puffy cheeks "so that's why you're here..."

"I just want you—"

"What about what I want?." She whispered, shaking her head softly. ".... I don't want this. I won't kill him. I won't kill anyone..."

He frowned "Lucia you need to come with me now."

"Gods Ethan! you don't listen!." She sighed

"You don't understand Golden girl." His hand found her cheek, in her exhausted state, she didn't bother fighting him. "If you don't come with me something bad is going to happen...something really bad. He said he wouldn't do it if I came if you—"

"Surrendered? If I let myself be a weapon?" she whispered

He pressed his lips together and looked away from her, "Hecate is at the camp, she cast another spell...he expected you to come by now but you were taking long"

"What is going to happen." She whispered

He shook his head, "You have to come with me."

"Tell me, Ethan."

"No." he decided "Not without you coming."

"If I stay..." Lucia hesitated, her gaze fell forward to where she had just come from. Where her friends, her family, the people she cared about most were currently trying to figure out how to save the world... "Are they going to get hurt..."

His face dropped. He scoffed in disbelief "What about us?"

"That's not fair—"

"You're thinking only about them!." He was the one to step away from her now, his hand fell to his side. "Don't you care about us?"

Kill Percy Jackson

Camp Half-Blood is the enemy

I serve Kronos

Her mind went on overload, running a mile a minute. It was screaming at her with Ethan around, which she was certain was planned... she managed to maintain a sliver of agonizing strength to resist. "I...I won't go back there, not if I can help it..."

He didn't seem to like that answer at all, his face contorted in rage. Tears spilled down his cheeks and a wave of guilt hit her like a slap in the face. "You said you loved me."

Her lower lip trembled, "You did too..."

He waltzed forward, his hands cradling her face once again. This time he held on a little tighter. There was a darkness in his eye, one that was always there, but she only recently got to meet and fall to the mercy of. Lucia watched him and her heart ached, she loved him, in her own way, but she didn't want or need him...and she knew that now.

He leaned forward his lips brushing against her temple. Lucia tensed, and dread began to claw at her stomach.

"Don't say I didn't warn you Golden Girl..."

And just like that, he was gone.

☼

LUCIA THOUGHT A QUICK POWER NAP COULD help her, but these days it seemed like everything was against her. Once her eyes closed, she was pulled into another memory. A continuation of one she had just a few days ago.

"Percy was right." He smiled. "You are the brightest light. Nothing can dim your radiance. Lucia, Promise me, Promise me that no matter what. No matter how much it hurts. you'll never stop shining."

"Papa I'm scared."

"You're the Princess of Sparta." He said "The daughter of the Sun god. you do not need to fear my dear girl, for your power and beauty will bring people to their knees. you shall not bend or break you shall dance and sway like a flower. you're strong."

"I don't want to be strong." She cried "I just want to be with my dad."

"Your dad is not nearly as strong as you." He frowned "Not I. I am but a mortal prince who loved too much and the result of that love is tragedy."

"what are you saying?" Lucia asked, her brain scattered. She didn't know if it was her age or if her dad just made absolutely no sense.

"I know I'm not being fair to you." He whispered "I know you're confused. But you won't remember this until you have to."

"I remember everything." She repeated, "I always remember—"

"I know." He smiled "You get that from me and your grandmother. But trust me Solecito, you won't."

"Dad!" She yelled in frustration "You don't make any sense!"

"Lucia." He spoke sternly "You were created out of pure love. But I am a Prince out of my time, out of my realm. The cruelties of this world are great. I was brought back by my love but I was never meant to leave the roots in the ground. This was always supposed to happen. sooner or later. But know I don't regret a single second for you... you have come from this darkness. I would choose to stay by your side forever but the fates are immovable and I am tired."

"Papa." She sobbed, her tiny hands found themselves gripping his shirt "I don't want you to leave."

There was a knock on the car window. Carlos' manager Davis stood there, his arms crossed over his chest. "Carlos. What do you think you're doing?"

The image changed, distorted, like someone had pulled the film out of a tape. Then suddenly, She was back in the penthouse, their suitcases laid on the ground open, clothes scattered all over the large living room.

Wake up! Lucia screamed at herself Wake up now!

Agatha stood in the corner..cosmo in hand and a cigarette in the other. She watched with amusement as Davis yelled at her Father.

Lucia could see the veins popping up his neck, she stood in the corner getting a full view of the show in tears. Oh, how she wished she was watching SpongeBob with Percy right now.

"You think you can leave?! We have a contract Carlos, We own you! that voice belongs to me!"  He screamed, poking his chest harshly.  It was now after sunset, the sky was dark, and Lucia could see nothing but black out the window. "Now I want you to put on your suit, plaster on a smile, grab your gorgeous wife that you love, and get through that business meeting with a smile on your face."

"No."

"Excuse—"

"I will not." He announced with authority "You do not order me. You are lucky it is another who stands before you and not the prince who with the snap of his fingers could have your head on a stick. You will leave me and my child alone. I've endured your rapacious abuses for long enough."

"I don't know what you're on right now." Davis' hand fell on the bridge of his nose "But you better listen to me Carlos or it will get ugly."

Carlos smiled like he had nothing to lose. But the smile that once filled Lucia with joy now shot a shiver up her spine.

"Papa." Lucia frowned

"Lucia." He frowned at his daughter's broken expression "Do you know the way to Percy's?"

She nodded shyly "yes..."

"Go." He announced, "Be safe, tell Sally the flight had to be canceled."

Lucia began to run off when she was stopped by a hand yanking her toward them. "No, her mother didn't give her permission. She's staying."

"Don't you dare touch her!" Carlos seethed "She is not your child!"

"I am your wife!" She slurred, swaying slightly. Lucia whimpered as the ashes of her cigarette burnt her shoulder. She tried pulling away but Agatha only held on tighter. "Lucia you want to be with your mom right, tell your father to let us be a big happy family."

"Papa!." She tried reaching for him "Papa!"

He stepped forward, but Davis shoved him back. "Get ready Carlos."

"Let go of her." He said softly  "Just let my daughter go."

"And then you'll come?" Agatha kissed the top of Lucia's head. She cringed.

"Yes." He looked at Lucia, his purple eyes tragically sad...

The image warped.

It was the middle of the night now, Lucia shot up from her place in bed, waking up to the sound of crashing.

Her blood ran cold, she could only shiver. She saw nothing in the still darkness but her heart was racing, fear engulfing her from head to toe. A paralyzing feeling hit her, one that told her something bad was about to happen...

And that's when a scream erupted out of her, she jumped back into her bed...The sound of the gunshot ringing in the air and her ears...

I would choose to stay by your side forever but the fates are immovable and I am tired.