River Island

Sixteen

Thalia

The day for me to leave for Olympus had finally arrived. Apollo had come through and his men were on the island now with the ones Max had brought. Peyton had decided to stay a little while longer with Amelia and Allison. I think the only reason she stayed was because she thought one of the guys that had come was cute.

After saying my goodbyes and meeting everyone I found myself in my mother's garden on Olympus. I was standing alone taking everything in when I saw someone flying above me. Looking up I watched him land with a thud few feet away then quickly retracting his wings. He was rocking that whole bow and arrow look. He smiled at me then walked forward.

"Thalia," He said opening his arms expecting me to hug him. I eyed him then took a step back.

"Yeah, no thanks." I said shaking my head.

"Stop being weird Eros." A guy said landing next to him and shoving him away. "Sorry about him. I'm Anteros."

"Thalia. You obviously already know that." I told the new arrival.

"Ares sent us to take you to the arena. Our father didn't realise his meeting with Zeus would take so long." He smirked.

"Oh, that means you guys..."

"Are your siblings? Yes. In every sense of the word actually. We are part of the lucky seven children of Ares and Aphrodite." Eros said smiling.

"Well eight now if we're counting you." Anteros added shrugging.

"We'll get into family history and all that later. Right now we need to get you to the arena before dad gets all grumpy." Eros said walking towards me.

Before I could respond he wrapped an arm around me and we were in the air. I held onto him and heard him chuckle under his breath. What felt like minutes later, but was only a few seconds, we landed in a large Colosseum style arena. I let go of Eros and stepped back looking around.

"Wow." I whispered taking in the place.

If you ignored the fading blood stains and gruesome weapons the place was an architectural masterpiece. The place looked like it could house well over a hundred thousand spectators. The seats, like most ancient arenas, were in a tier arrangement. I could count a total of twelve special boxes which judging by the different designs were each for a different god. There also seemed to be some modern technology embedded with the ancient structure. Whoever had built the place had really gone all out.

"Awesome right? All Hephaestus and Athena's work. We have games quarterly in this place." Eros said excitedly.

"Games?" I asked.

"Oh yeah. Each special little seating box is for a god or goddess and their descendants. Each god has what we call a house. Twelve gods, twelve houses. Each of the twelve houses sends in a contender to compete in the games. Twelve go in, one comes out." Anteros said landing next to me.

"Sounds like the huger games." I said.

"You'd be surprised how many crazy ideas humans have given us." He chuckled.

"Humans are quite merciless creatures if you think of it. Completely insane ninety percent of the time. Perfect imitations of us if you think about it." Eros said.

"Really guys? She just got here and you're already telling her about the games?" Someone said appearing out of nowhere.

I glanced at the dark haired god front of me and a sudden sense of dread overtook me. He smirked at me tilting his head to the side.

"Deimos behave yourself. That's not how you introduce yourself to people we've talked about this." Eros scolded just as the feeling left.

"Deimos? Where have I heard that?" I asked quietly.

"You met the other Deimos I hear. I'm the nicer one. Hopefully your favourite brother." He said offering me a hand.

"She met Jasper?" Anteros asked glancing at his brothers for confirmation.

"She didn't just meet him," Eros smiled looking at me as if he could see right through me. "She likes him."

"No I don't." I scoffed crossing my arms.

"I'm the god of love sis. And you're in denial." He laughed.

"Boys." A voice interrupted behind us.

The trio automatically stood straighter and turned to it. I turned as well and gaped at the warrior in front of us. His blond hair was military chopped, a scar running down his left arm. He was dressed in full armour and towered over all of us. You'd be an i***t to not know who he was. He literally looked and felt like a battlefield.

"Hello, Thalia." Ares said smiling down at me.

"I thought you'd be taller." I said tilting my head to the side. I wasn't going to let him see I was intimidated. I didn't like being intimidated.

"And I thought you'd be skinnier." He countered smirking before turning. "Come."

I glanced behind me at the guys and they each gave me small thumbs ups. Taking a deep breath I turned back and followed Ares to wherever he was leading me. He didn't say anything until I was walking next to him outside the arena.

"I'm going to go straight to the point seeing as we don't have time for formalities." He said. "Your brothers will be overseeing your training for the games."

"Wait I'm taking part in the games?" I asked stopping.

"That's the best way to get you ready for your battle with Persephone. You'll be doing everyone a favour if you kill her honestly. Even Demeter is getting tired of her favourite child."

"What if I don't make it?"

"No daughter of Ares has ever lost a battle." He smiled placing a hand on my shoulder. "And those that have haven't lived to tell the tale."

"Ah, so kill or be killed?"

"I knew you'd understand." He said letting go. "You'll be living with your sister Harmonia while you're here. She'll be teaching you the ways of your mother and your history while the boys teach you my ways. You're entering the games under the house of Ares so disappointment isn't expected seeing as you're replacing Eros this year."

"Yes sir." I said.

I never thought I would say this but this was going to be worse than Amelia's psycho training I could feel it. This was going to be hell. These people were probably going to break me then put me back together.

Lucky me.