River Island

Twenty One

Thalia

"Need a sparring partner?" Adrian asked behind me. I lowered the bow staff and smiled at him.

"Think you can handle it?" I asked.

"I'm no Olympic champion but I like to think I can have you on your back." He smiled taking off his shirt.

"Come to think of it I haven't seen any of your sessions this week." I smiled as he grabbed a bow staff.

"Well I've seen all of yours. I'd like to believe I know your techniques." He said as we circled each other.

"I wouldn't bet on it pretty boy." I said.

I made the first move and he blocked me with his staff. He shoved me away and I took a step back stepping aside as he came at me. We continued like this for another two minutes until he tripped me and I found myself lying on my back.

"Got you." He smiled before I pushed him off me and got onto my feet.

"Why are you good at making weapons?" I asked.

"It's kind of in my blood. Being the son of Hephaestus and all."

"Can you shoot fireballs out of your hands?" I asked appearing behind him and kicking him to the ground.

"What?" He chuckled. "That's the first question you're going to ask me?"

"Well can you?" I asked. He smiled and shot one at me. I swang my staff at it and it went flying into a dummy behind him.

"That was awesome."

"Good thing these things are fireproof." He said before lighting his on fire.

"That's not fair." I said watching him twirl it in one hand.

"Life's not fair." He smiled coming towards me.

"Tell me about your family." I said.

"My dad's a loyal husband. My siblings were all born before he was married off. I was the acception." He said. "I happened after he got a little tired of his wife's infidelity."

"Must suck for him." I said. "What about your siblings?"

"I have a sister named Thalia actually. She was named after one of the graces. I'm guessing you were too." He said almost hitting me with the fiery staff.

"Never got to ask." I said tripping him and pinning him down with my staff to his neck.

"Enough family talk." He said looking up at me.

"It's the only topic we haven't touched in our daily 3am talks." I smiled.

"There's a lot we haven't touched in our talks." He said resting his hand on my waist.

"You should get your hand off her waist if you want to be able to touch anything again." Someone said behind us. I looked up and saw Jasper leaning against a sword rack glaring at us.

"You have impeccable timing asshat." I said getting off Adrian and helping him up.

"Nice to see you too princess." He smirked.

"Jasper" Adrian grumbled glaring at him.

"Firecracker" Jasper said losing his smirk.

"Of course you know each other." I sighed.

"Me and match box over here go way back." Jasper said.

"I'll see you tonight Thalia." Adrian said walking away. I watched him leave the training yard and turned back to glare at Jasper.

"You two seemed cozy." He said.

"What are you doing here Jasper?" I asked.

"We had a deal, remember? I'm here to make sure you don't get yourself killed. Fooling around won't help you." He said grabbing a sword and throwing it to me.

"And you care because?" I asked catching it.

"He's technically your step-brother. That's too close a relation to ignore."

"You seem to take after your dad. You both have a thing for your nieces." I said circling him.

"I don't have a thing for Harmonia." He smirked.

"Ha ha very funny."

Ass.

"You're in a familiar terrain facing an enemy. You're the only one with a weapon. What's the first thing you do?"

"Not to underestimate my opponent." I said standing directly in front of him.

"Good. Next?"

"Use my surroundings to my advantage." He slipped off his jacket and smirked at me.

"You're back shouldn't touch the ground doll face. Unlike blowtorch I'm not looking to cop a feel. I'm here to cause immense pain."

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

My whole body was sore by the time I was flashing back into my room. I landed on the bed and groaned allowing the soft mattress and sheets to sooth me. I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath.

Jasper didn't hold back. And it didn't help that none of my abilities worked on him. I tried every single one but they had no effect whatsoever on the god of asshats. What was he the god of anyway? Or was he just crown prince of the underworld? Did the title come with the crown?

"You're in my bed princess." He said walking into the room.

"Please let me rest." I groaned not opening my eyes. I felt the bed dip next to me and could feel his body heat.

"I'll kick you out later." He said.

"But it's my room." I said. "You built this thing for me remember."

"Yes I did. But that was when we were friends and we were willing to share a room." He shrugged.

"Before you were a total asshole and hurt my feelings?" I asked.

"Two months ago just about anything could hurt your feelings. You were too soft back then, too trusting, too loving."

"So what you were helping me?"

"If I hadn't been a total asshole to you, if I had stayed, would you be where you are today? Would you have gotten this far? This strong? This powerful?" He asked softly. "Everything happens for a reason."

We still hate him Thalia don't let him manipulate you now.

"I'm still not sharing the room." I said.

"Did you burn my belongings?"

"They're still in the closet. All your clothes and weapons."

"Except my lucky dagger." He smiled facing me.

"I can give it bad."

"No. It's yours now. It's too small for me."

"So where are you sleeping?" I asked looking at him.

"I'll sleep at home for tonight. But I'll have someone build an attachment from the outside of this room. An extra bedroom."

"As long as he's quiet." I sighed not bothering to argue with him.

We layed there in a comfortable silence for a good thirty minutes until I eventually fell asleep. It was a dreamless sleep. One that I really needed. When I woke up in the middle of the night my body was no longer sore. And I was dressed in my pajamas. I sat up slowly and looked around the dark room.

"Peyton changed you." Jasper said from his position at the bathroom door. A white towel hanging almost loosely on his waist. Steam was coming out of the bathroom and off his skin. I looked away from him and faced the ceiling.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"It's 03:15. Expecting someone?" He asked.

"Not that it's any of your business but yes." I said jumping out of bed and stepping out onto the patio. I left the door open and sat in one of the chairs.

I heard the closet door close and leaned back. I sat alone watching the night sky for a good minute before grabbing a pillow from inside to support my head. Just as I was getting comfortable Adrian appeared with two cups of coffee.

"I bring you the sacred bean juice." He said handing me mine.

"I needed this." I said taking it from him and having a sip.

"I thought as much." He smiled seating across from me. "So, you and Jasper? How long has that been going on?"

"There is nothing between Jasper and I. He's an ass and I don't go out with asshats." I said. He seemed to relax and sat back in his chair.

"That's great. How long is he staying here?"

"Well we have an arrangement so until the end of winter I think." I shrugged. "But you don't have to worry about him being in your way. You'll barely see him."

"Hey angel face, where did you move my shirts to?" Jasper said appearing at the door in just a pair of sweatpants. "Oh hey inferno. I see you brought coffee."

"Wait don't...." I protested as he got my cup from me.

"Shirts. They aren't where I left them." He said before taking a sip of my coffee.

"They're in the top left drawer."

"Thank you princess." He smiled. "And thanks for the coffee handy many."

"That's not my name. Not that you care." Adrian grumbled to himself as Jasper walked away.

"I think I'd be doing everyone a favor if I killed him in his sleep." I sighed rubbing my face.

"You share a room and a closet?"

"Not today Adrian. I don't want to have an argument especially because of him." I said closing me eyes. He was quiet for a while until I heard his chair move.

"I'll see you in the morning." He said before walking away and towards the cabins.

I let out a sigh and got up from my seat. I found Jasper lounging on the bed the coffee mug on the side table. I walked towards him and got into bed next to him. He turned to face me and we looked at each other neither of us saying a word.

"Lava boy leave already?" He asked softly.

"Do you not want me to be happy?"

"There's nothing more that I'd want than for you to be happy." He said brushing my cheek with his hand.

"Then why aren't you letting me make friends."

"He doesn't want to be just friends."

"That still doesn't give you the right butt in. I don't care what sort of feud you have just don't put me in the middle of it. And don't use it to cause a rift between Adrian and I."

"'Adrian and I.'" He said moving his hand away from my face and looking at the ceiling. "I'll stay away from you and bob the builder. If that's what you want."

"It is." I whispered.

"Awesome." He said looking back at me. "Goodnight Thalia."

And just like that he vanished. Whoever said girls were the dramatic gender hadn't met Adrian and Jasper. I turned my head and forced myself to sleep. I honestly had no time for boy drama. I had other things to worry about.