It was late at night when Thalia snuck out of Cabin 8 and into the forest. Her movements silent, a wraith in the night. She hopped to find Percy, or Aiónios as he likes to call himself now. She wanted to know if he found anything useful in those visions, anything that would help Lady Artemis.

Okay, she actually wanted to beat the Hades out of him for allowing Annabeth to be as broken as she is. She wanted to find out where he was hiding and slap him across the face with a fish.

Golden eyed bastard, she thought. Her electric blue eyes narrowing with anger as Annabeth's face filled her vision. Her tears, her weakness. It wasn't Annabeth who she saw, that was not the daughter of wisdom she knew. That was a woman distraught over the loss of the man she loved. A woman who was starting to give up hope that he was still out there. And yet, she thought with anger, he's been so close this whole time...

She continued forward, back to where the hunters had set up camp. She searched until she found the faded footprints of Aiónios's boots. She crouched down and stared for a bit, watching as they lead off into the forest. She stood once again and followed the trail. Stopping at points where they seem to be hidden and searched until she found them once again and continued to track. She hadn't noticed the second pair of quiet footsteps behind her until she heard a twig snap from behind.

She froze, slowly pulling out her bow from her back and knocking an arrow.

"It's foolish to follow a hunter while she is tracking her prey." She says out loud. She then whipped around, arrow pulled to her cheek invthe direction she heard the noise and yelled. "SHOW YOURSELF!"

One, maybe two heartbeats later, a boy came out holding a six pack of coke. A mischievous looking smile plastered on his face and his blue eyes twinkled in the moonlight.

"Ack! Luke! Why are you here?!" She said as she lowered her bow. Then flicked her chin at his hands and said, "I assume you brought those for me incase you where discovered?"

Luke looked down at the cokes and smiled. "Well... not really. But if it prevents me getting stuck with an arrow then you can have one."

"Well, if they're not for me then who?" She asked as she shouldered her bow and made her way towards Luke.

"Aiónios," he replied as he took one off the plastic holder and handed it to the huntress. She took it, opened it, and took a sip.

"You know him? Have you-"

"Yes, I have seen his face."

"So you know who he really is then. Percy?"

"Yep."

"Do you know where he lives?"

"Nope, that's why I was following you."

Thalia chuckled and took another sip from her coke. Her smile faded, as she stared into her can. "Does it kill you." She asked.

Luke cocked his head. "What?"

"Annabeth. And knowing who and... and where Percy is..." Luke sighed. He understood what she was getting at but he also understood Percy's thoughts as well. So the best thing he could do was try and convince Thalia of his point of view.

"Hey Thals. Place yourself in his shoes for a bit. Imagine you went from a hero, to the most wanted person in the world. You became afraid that those looking for you would go after those closest to you, your family, friends... lover. If they knew you existed yet kept it a secret then it could put everyone you care about in danger. Those people would he tortured or even killed in order to find you. If no one knew anything then that's less pain. Plus, it helps when everyone thinks your dead. Now, let's say he did show himself to Annabeth. She's been devastated, imagine if one day she was just completely happy once again. That would be suspensious and right now, he doesn't need anything happening to the girl he loves. He's doing her more good in staying away. Just until he's ready to reveal himself."

"The longer he waits." Thalia started. "The less likely she'll forgive him and us for keeping such a secret."

"I know." Luke sighed. He glanced off and motioned infront of them. "Well, do you know the rest of the way?"

"Yeah. If I had to guess, he's not too far now." And with that said, huntress and thief continued their trek until they find a small cave. Thalia stopped before it, eyeing the cave and tugging at her bowstring.

"Is this the place?"

"I think so." She said. "But there's only one way to find out."

She strieghtened her shoulders and marched into the room. It was dark, dank, she had to adjust her eyes before she could takin in the scene before them. But when her eyes finally did adjust, she realized that there wasn't much to take in.

It was just a plain cave, with only a few signs here and there that, if the owner wasn't here, would indicate that someone or something might be living here.

But no one needed to wonder who, for he was here.

He was in the center of the cave, sitting on his knees and back facing the entrance. His head was bowed and Thalia could only assume that his eyes where closed as well. Luke came in behind her, then after a few minutes  (probably waiting for his own eyes to adjust) he asked in a whispered voice. "What's he doing?"

"I don't know." She whispered back.

Aiónios's eyes fluttered open. His concentration broken by the two who had entered the room.

Thalia could feek a slight shift in the room and turned to see his golden-eyed glare upon them.

"Hi." Luke said with an awkward wave. "I brought coke."

His features immediately shifted from grumpy to happy as Luke pulled out the remaining four cokes. He got up, rubbing the back of his neck and graciously took the cokes.

"Thank you." He said with a smile. "I coukd really use a break."

He then turned to Thalia and asked. "How did you find me?"

She shrugged. "Lieutenant of the Hunt here, been hunting mobsters for a few years now. Picked up a few tracking tricks. But I didn't come here to help Luke find you."

"Oh?" Percy asked, setting down the cokes as if he knew what was to come. "So then why did you come?"

She balled her fist and struck him on the arm. Percy glanced down at the spot she struck, barely fazed. "Owe?"

"That's for Annabeth! Since she couldn't do it herself! Your such a Seaweed Brain!" She exclaimed.

He rubbed the spot she punched and sighed. "You understand why I didn't tell her about me. Don't you?"

"Yes." Thalia replied. "But that still doesn't make things better. Why are you waiting so long?"

"I want ti become un-wanted by the gods. Well, wanted but not like, Wanted Poster type wanted-"

"Really? Is that really the only reason?"

Percy was quiet, glancing down and shuffling his feet. Then finally, in a voice barely above a whisper, he said. "I am not ready."

"What? Not ready for what?"

He then glanced up, his golden eyes filled with sadness. "I remember when she saw Luke like this. She was devistated. I'm not ready for her to realize that I'm not really Percy anymore, nor even Kronos. Just someone in between."

"It's still selfish. She loves you. She's been worried sick about you! She wants to know that you are alright. Please, tell her soon. If not for me. Then do it for her." Thalia said.

"Okay, I.... if I can't see the vision clearly within five days-"

"Three days." Thalia added, crossing her arms and chin held high in defiance."

"Okay, three days then I will tell her."

"Thank you." Thalia said, relaxing. "Because if you don't I will."

And with that said, she turned on her heel and vanished out of the cave's entrance.