A web of fates | Percy Jackson and the Olympians

XI| a girl he can't forget

Theo's mind was a tempest, a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and overwhelming emotions that threatened to capsize his sanity. A dull ache throbbed behind his eyes, a physical manifestation of the mental and emotional overload he was experiencing. It was all too much, a suffocating weight pressing down on him. Annabeth, his own sister, lay injured, a victim of Ethan Nakamura's cruel blade. And as if that wasn't enough, he had been forced to confront the devastating reality of Daphne's transformation.

He was adrift, lost in a sea of uncertainty. He remembered the disbelieving scoff he had let out when Percy had returned from the Princess Andromeda mission, recounting the changes in Daphne's demeanor. "Daphne? Changed? Impossible," he had argued internally. How could the girl he loved, the girl who embodied everything good and pure, undergo such a drastic shift? He had clung to denial, a desperate shield against the unwelcome truth.

But the truth had shattered his defenses, crashing down upon him with brutal force. Daphne had changed, irrevocably so. The revelation of her true allegiance, her willingness to risk herself to protect Ethan – the very person responsible for Annabeth's injury – was a painful blow. It was a betrayal that cut deeper than any sword.

Theo knew intellectually that Daphne had changed, but the intensity of that change, the chasm that now separated them, was more than he could have ever imagined. Witnessing her on the opposing side, actively fighting against them, felt like a horrifying dream. He was consumed by a cocktail of emotions: hurt, raw and aching; confusion, blurring the lines of what he thought he knew; and a bone-deep sense of loss, mourning the girl he once loved.

And then there was the unsettling resemblance. She looked and acted so much like her older brother, Luke. The similarities were uncanny, a chilling echo of a past betrayal. Both siblings, blessed with so much potential, had turned their backs on their family, on everything they represented, all because of the perceived neglect of an absent father. The bitterness, the resentment, it consumed them both.

Theo couldn't help but draw comparisons between Daphne and Luke during those agonizing moments on the bridge. They did look alike, sharing a determined set to their jaw and a glint in their eyes that spoke of simmering anger. The resemblance was haunting.

Luke's betrayal had been a seismic event, a devastating blow that shook Camp Half-Blood to its core. But for some reason, Daphne's defection felt even more profound, more personally devastating. Luke had always been somewhat of an enigma, a figure shrouded in mystery. But Daphne? Daphne was an integral part of Camp, a beloved presence who brought joy and laughter to those around her. She was a beacon of hope, a symbol of everything good. Her betrayal was a blindside, a shocking twist that no one, least of all Theo, had anticipated. It was a wound that would take a long time to heal, if it ever healed at all.

Percy and Theo, urgency etched on their faces, practically abducted Will Solace from the Apollo cabin. "Keep searching for Michael Yew!" Theo barked at the remaining Apollo campers, his voice tight with worry. Time was of the essence. They needed transport, and fast. Spotting a gleaming Yamaha FZI parked carelessly nearby, Theo didn't hesitate. He roused the sleeping biker with a swift nudge, "Borrowing this!" he announced, not waiting for a response before hot-wiring the ignition.

Theo had never actually driven a motorcycle himself. Oliver, with his penchant for adrenaline and reckless stunts, was the true gearhead in their family. But necessity was the mother of invention, and Theo figured if he could handle a Pegasus, this ought to be child's play. "Hold on tight," he instructed, the Yamaha roaring to life as he twisted the throttle. Percy and Will scrambled onto the back, clinging on for dear life. They sped towards the Plaza Hotel, the wind whipping past them. Theo pushed the borrowed bike to its limits, weaving through traffic at speeds that would have sent his cautious father into cardiac arrest. As they weaved through the city, Theo noticed an unsettling sight, a series of empty pedestals that usually held statues, a silent testament to the growing chaos.