River Island

Nineteen

Thalia

So maybe we cheated a little. But I don't think it was cheating. The rules of the game were 'win at all costs'. And that's what I had in mind when I snuck into the arena's centre to talk to the monster. The boys were guarding my door to make sure no one got into my room and found me missing. Was I thrown off when I found out it was a chimera? Yes. Did that stop me from compelling it to light up four of the champions on fire and leave me and Hades' champion alive? No it didn't. Did I take advantage of the situation and tell it to light itself on fire when it was done? You bet I did.

So when it popped out of the ground I couldn't help the smirk on my face. I also couldn't help lounging back while it did its thing. Until finally we were only two standing in that ring. Me and Abaddon. That's what Eros told me his name was. Translated from Hebrew it meant the destroyer. I saved him in order to make a statement. To send a message to Persephone and her kin. I knew she wasn't here. But I was sure it would get to her. The crowd grew silent once more as Abaddon and I began to circle each other.

He glanced up at the dark box next to Poseidon's as if waiting for instruction. I looked in the direction he was and watched Jasper stand to his feet. He glanced at Abaddon and mouthed no mercy. Making sure I saw it. Then he looked back at me and smiled that cocky smile of his. And I saw the small glint of pride in his eyes before it disappeared and he sat back down. For some unknown reason it made me buzz. As if seeing him proud had an effect on me.

Fuck him.

"It's going to be very embarrassing when I kill you in front of all these people." I said facing Abaddon.

"I have been alive for a thousand years girl. I have killed over a thousand men. You would be foolish to think you can kill me."

He charged at me and I dodged his advance using my size to slip between his legs. Diving towards the weapons for a bigger weapon than my dagger I was thrown across the arena and landed on my back. He brought down his sword towards my head and I rolled away to avoid it. Kicking him away I got up to my feet and pulled out the dagger. It would have to do I guess.

Abaddon came charging again and I saw it coming. I moved aside and went to kick his head but he caught it mid air. Taking advantage of the position I twisted myself and found myself on his shoulders. I squeezed my thighs together going to choke the life out of him but he threw us both down causing me to hit my head on the concrete. The pain shot threw me and I lost my grip on him. His fist landed on the side of my head and I groaned again. Before could deliver another blow I shoved the dagger into his chest and pushed him away.

"You're gonna pay for that." He growled as I wiped blood from the cut on my lip.

"I don't think so." I smirked.

He let out another animalistic growl before dropping to all fours. I watched in fascination as his skin grew a tinge of red. You could hear his bones cracking as he took on a beast like form. Just as he looked up mid transformation I tapped into his head. I felt a chilling breeze before everything went dark.

"Tell me Abaddon, what makes you tick?" I heard Jaspers voice say as my vision cleared.

I was standing in a dimly lit room that looked similar to Axel's office. Only it was larger and lacked life. Jasper was standing in a dark corner glancing at his subordinate who was kneeling a few feet away. Blood dripping from the numerous gashes in his flesh.

"You're about to take over as head demon here and I need to ensure the only thing you fear is me. If I have to bleed every other thing you're afraid of out of you I will. No matter how long it takes."

When my vision restored I tapped into my power and made an angry Jasper appear in front of me. Removing myself from his vision. Once Abaddon spotted fake Jasper his transformation stopped and he dropped on one knee. Taking advantage of his distraction I came up behind him and drove his own weapon through his neck. Separating his head from his body.

As it rolled away from me everyone rose to their feet. The crowd's cheers filling the arena. I walked towards Abaddon's head and lifted it up turning to face Jasper. We maintained eye contact for a few more seconds and he eventually smiled at me. A full blown grin taking over his face.

"Not bad princess," I heard his voice whisper in my ear "Not bad at all."

...............

"That was f*****g awesome sis." Eros said lifting me up in the air as I walked into the hall.

I had taken a bath and changed into a simple spaghetti strapped gown before proceeding to the celebrations. Only the gods and their kin got to go to the after party. It was there that I would be formally introduced to to everyone. I had taken the potion I needed to take to gain back my immortality and went to join the rest.

"You didn't even give the others a chance to show off." Phobos laughed joining us.

"She just straight up murdered everyone." Eros said.

"I'm proud of the deadly assassin you're turning into Thalia." Phobos said patting me on the back.

"You're both idiots." I laughed.

"Zeus twelve o'clock." Eros whispered losing his smile and standing up straighter.

I turned around and watched the god king saunter towards us. He had strong features and stood above everyone. His white long hair was pulled back and tied, stormy grey eyes glinting from the lights above us. When he got to us he nodded to my brothers and they walked away still keeping a significant distance.

"I understand now why your father kept you a secret for so long. You are quite the goddess." He said smiling down at me.

"And to think they did it for my own safety." I said giving him a small smile. In all honesty he threw me off. And I also had thousands of years of history to know he was a real womanizing prick.

"I do apologize for my daughter. I'd like to blame it on her spending so much time in the underworld but even her mother is overly dramatic." He sighed.

"I just hope none of you come for me after I relieve you of said burden."

"If I were you I'd be concerned about her husband's reaction than any of ours." He said. "But enough talk about that. Why don't I give you a proper Olympus tour. I'm sure with all the training you haven't gotten to properly see the place."

"Oh no that's all right." I said.

"I insist." He said grabbing my forearm. From the look in his eye I could tell he didn't take no for an answer. And picking a fight with the king of the gods was a bad idea.

"There you are princess." A voice said as I was pulled into a hard familiar chest.

Looking up I found myself looking at Jasper's arrogant face. He kept his eyes on Zeus but gave me a light squeeze. I was grateful for his appearance for now because Zeus had released me the second Jasper appeared.

"Jasper my boy. You told me you knew her, I didn't realize you were this familiar with each other." Zeus said smiling at him.

"Well I tend to keep my relationships private." Jasper said. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything?"

"Your uncle just invited me to a tour of Olympus. I was just about to tell him I was already going with you after the party." I said finding what felt like the perfect way to turn down Zeus without him making a scene.

"That's why I came looking for you. We have something to do after the party so I suggest we do that tour now." Jasper said smiling down at me.

"Well I do hope on seeing you soon Thalia. Hopefully we can talk one on one without an audience." Zeus smiled lifting my arm and kissing the back of it. "I hope you come visit often too Jasper."

I felt Jasper's hold on me tighten but he kept the smile on his face.

"I'll be sure to visit." He said. Zeus gave us a small nod and walked away from us. When he was completely out of sight I tried to get out of Jaspers hold but he didn't let me go.

"Let go of me Jasper." I hissed.

"I wouldn't advise that. You just told my uncle I'm taking you on a little tour. He'll be watching or he'll have people watching you. Once he see's you alone or with anyone but me he can easily grab you." He said leading us outside.

"What is he afraid of you?" I asked just as we walked out into the open air.

"No just cautious." He smiled letting go of me. I put some distance between us and turned around to glare at him.

"Thank you. But I still don't like you." I said.

"I wouldn't expect you to. Let's walk and talk I have a preposition for you." He said walking past me. I reluctantly followed him and we silently made our way away from the music.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"That was quite the show you put on in the arena back there. But I'm curious to know what that little special power of yours is for that last kill." He said avoiding my question. "Everyone thinks you compelled him to stay on his knees but I know that's not it."

"What makes you so sure it wasn't compulsion?"

"Because I could smell his fear. And it was coming off him in delicious waves. The only time Abaddon is ever that afraid is right before I torture him. The fact that his eyes turned milky also gave you away."

"You're observant."

"It's one of the things that makes me deadly." He smiled.

"Really? Not your lack of emotion?"

"I'm not a sociopath. Although that would have made life easier for me."

"Why should I tell you?" I asked stopping.

"I want to help you. Be an ally. If I'm to help train you I need to know all your special little gifts."

"I already got my training." I said.

"Your brothers did train you but only I can make you indestructible, unkillable. They got you partly where you need to be to become who you were born to be. I can get you all the way." He said.

"And I'm just supposed to trust you?" I asked looking up at him.

"No that would be foolish on your part. I know you aren't after my throne. My mother is reluctant on Hades handing me the throne because she still wants to be queen of hell. I help you kill her and keep my father and her mother away from you for the rest of eternity and you join my side."

"Join your side for what?" I asked.

"I can't tell you that now. But I can tell you that I won't do anything you don't want me to. We become allies and we both walk away from this with what we want." He said offering me his hand.

"No messing with my personal life, no unnecessary touching and no backstabbing because if I die when this is over Jasper I will haunt you for the rest of your life."

"That doesn't sound too bad." He chuckled. "But I promise. No doing anything you don't want me to. Deal?"

"Fine, deal." I said throwing my hands up and walking away from him. "I still hate you asshat."

"Thank god for that." He laughed following me. "Let me take you on that tour."

Jesus Christ I just made a deal with the devil.