Born To Die

She comes back and luke takes the sky

The tension on the ship was palpable as the news sank in. The light from the Iris message flickered before it vanished completely, leaving only the cold silence in its wake. I felt my breath catch in my chest as I processed Selina's words. Thalia was back.

Luke's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched so hard that I thought he might crack a tooth. He stood motionless for a moment, his fists balled at his sides, before he turned and walked to the window overlooking the churning sea. The rhythmic crash of waves against the ship was the only sound between us.

"Thalia's back," I whispered, breaking the silence. It was almost too surreal to say out loud. The girl who had been at the center of so many of our shared memories, who had become a symbol of loss and grief, was now alive again.

Luke's voice, when he finally spoke, was low and filled with a complex mix of emotions. "She'll never forgive us. Not for this. Not for betraying everything we fought for together."

I stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. "She doesn't know the whole story, Luke. We'll explain it to her. We have to."

He turned to face me, and the turmoil in his eyes made my heart ache. "How do you explain betraying your own blood? Your family?" His voice cracked, and he looked away, the weight of guilt pressing down on him. "I poisoned her tree, Isla. I was the one who set everything into motion. I did it thinking it was for the greater good, but Thalia—she'll never see it that way."

I reached up, brushing his cheek and turning his face back toward mine. "We did what we thought was right at the time. We were trying to change things, to make the gods see us, to get justice for all the demigods who were neglected. Thalia... she's strong. If anyone can understand that, maybe she can."

The silence stretched between us again as the ship rocked gently on the waves. In the distance, Mount Othrys loomed, dark and imposing, the heart of Kronos's power. We were so close, but now everything felt uncertain.

"We can't let this news shake us," I said firmly. "We have to stay focused on the mission."

Luke sighed, the tension easing just a bit as he met my eyes. "You're right. We'll deal with Thalia when the time comes. For now, we need to get to Mount Othrys and secure our position. This doesn't change our plan."

A knock on the cabin door pulled us both out of the heavy moment. Evan's voice called from the other side, laced with urgency. "We've got company! Percy and his crew were spotted in the distance."

Luke's expression hardened, the hesitant vulnerability disappearing as he stepped back into his role as a leader. "Looks like the fight's coming to us sooner than we thought."

I nodded, the fire of determination sparking in my chest. We had a mission, and no matter what ghosts from our past resurfaced, we couldn't afford to falter now.

As we moved to join the others on deck, a sliver of doubt wormed its way into my mind. Thalia was back, and the girl we once knew was fierce, fearless, and unwavering. If she found us, if she stood against us—what then?

The ship docked at the base of Mount Othrys, the dark clouds swirling overhead, casting shadows over the jagged peaks. The air felt heavier here, as if the mountain itself carried the weight of countless battles and betrayals. Luke and I exchanged a glance before stepping onto the cold, unyielding ground. The rest of our crew stayed back, watching warily as we approached the heart of Kronos's realm.

Atlas stood chained, his massive form bent under the crushing weight of the sky. His eyes, even from a distance, gleamed with a feral defiance. Despite his captivity, he radiated power, and as we drew closer, his gaze locked on us, sizing us up like prey.

"Luke Castellan," Atlas rumbled, a smirk twisting his lips. "And the traitor's loyal little follower. Have you come to beg for mercy, or are you foolish enough to try and negotiate?"

Luke's expression didn't waver, but I could feel the tension in his stance. "We've come with an offer," he said coolly. "We need your strength. You help us secure the fleece and take down the gods, and in return, we free you from your burden."

Atlas's laugh was deep and mocking. "And who would take my place under the sky, hmm? You, boy? You barely know the true meaning of sacrifice."

I stepped forward, trying to keep my voice steady. "If we succeed, no one will need to bear the sky anymore. The world will change. Balance will be restored."

The titan's gaze shifted to me, a glimmer of amusement sparking in his eyes. "Ah, the girl with fire. But I doubt even you understand the price of change."

Luke shot me a sidelong glance, and I knew exactly what he was thinking. The plan hinged on one of us taking the sky temporarily—long enough to free Atlas and secure his alliance. But I wasn't about to let him take that burden alone.

"Isla, step back," Luke said, his tone sharp.

"No," I countered, my heart pounding in my chest. "I'm not letting you do this by yourself, Luke."

He turned to me, frustration etched across his face. "This isn't up for debate. If something happens to you—"

"If something happens to me, we both know you won't stop," I interrupted. "You'll keep fighting, just like I would for you. We made a promise, remember?"

Atlas's chuckle cut through our argument. "Oh, this is precious. The two star-crossed lovers fighting over who gets to play the hero."

I glared at the titan. "We're not playing. We're rewriting the story."

Luke clenched his jaw, the battle between anger and worry playing out in his eyes. Finally, he relented, his hand gripping mine tightly. "Fine. But if anything goes wrong, you let me take it. No arguments."

I nodded, a silent agreement passing between us. We turned back to Atlas, our resolve clear.

"We'll hold the sky," Luke said, his voice steady. "But only long enough for you to secure our path forward."

Atlas's eyes gleamed with a predatory satisfaction. "Deal."

As the weight of the sky shifted, I braced myself, knowing that this was only the beginning. The true test was yet to come.