Lies

Chapter 8

**Zoë Nightshade**

I watched Thalia stand at the edge of the cliff, so still that I had trouble believing it was actually her. Then she sat down with her knees tucked under her chin. It was a cloudless night but the moon wasn't shining and the stars were duller so Thalia looked more like a rock on the edge of the cliff than a demigod. I walked over to her and sat down beside her. I put an arm around her and felt a soft, sponge-like thing under her t-shirt, which I guessed was a bandage. Slowly so as not to startle her, I stood up. Then as quick as a viper I lifted the hem of her t-shirt up and saw a white bandage stained red with blood. Thalia hadn't moved at all.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Me, Zoë. I felt like going for a walk and found a draken that wanted to eat me who knew better than to roar," she explained.

I nodded and stood her up. Holding her forearm tightly and led her to the infirmary. She allowed herself to be dragged over to a bed and I pushed her down lightly.

"Hey, Zoë," Diana greeted, not looking up from tidying one of the shelves.

"Hi," I replied. "You wouldn't happen to know how to treat a draken wound, would you?"

She turned around instantly, forgetting the shelf and headed over.

"We're you bitten by one?" She asked.

"Not me, Thalia," I said.

Diana nodded and rolled Thalia's t-shirt up. She unwrapped the bandage and pressed lightly on her shoulder to make her lie down. Thalia's expression was still the same: sad, gloomy. I inhaled sharply and glanced at Diana who had gone pale. She went to get a syringe filled with a blue liquid that I recognised as a sleeping drug. Apparently, Thalia new it as well because she got a terrified look on her face and hopped off the bed.

"Phoebe! We need you in here," Diana called. "Possibly you too, Artemis."

The two came running in and were surprised to see Thalia pinned to the floor with me holding her down. I let her up, careful to watch Thalia's gut. Blood dripped onto the floor, splattering patterns into the fabric of the tent. Diana pressed the syringe to Thalia's neck who ducked and nimbly weaved her way past me and Diana, despite having a draken bite her in the stomach. She wasn't so lucky with Artemis, who grabbed her wrist and yanked the daughter of Zeus back towards the three demigods.

 Phoebe zipped up the tent flap and grinned wickedly at Thalia. Diana advanced and Thalia stepped backwards, her back pressing against a cabinet that was at least a good half foot taller than her. The glass was near breaking point, with Thalia pressing her back against it so hard to try and get as far away as possible from Diana. Artemis, Phoebe and I surrounded her. Thalia lashed out at Diana with her fist but missed as the healer ducked. Thalia swiped the syringe out of her hand and it went clattering across the floor, shattering and spilling the contents. Thalia breathed a sigh of relief and looked a lot happier until Diana pulled another phial from her pocket. 

Phoebe gripped Thalia's shoulders and forced the struggling teenager over to the bed. Artemis kept Thalia's legs from kicking everything while I kept the arms from flailing around. Phoebe kept a firm grip on Thalia's shoulders. Thalia thrashed around so they changed tactics which resulted in Thalia sitting in between Phoebe's legs with her arms wrapped around the younger girl's chest. Artemis and I each took a wrist and Diana shot forward with the syringe pointed at Thalia. Thalia yelled curses at her but it made no difference. Diana pushed the syringe into Thalia's neck and pressed the plunger. 

The four of us breathed a sigh of relief and laid Thalia on the table. Diana rolled up Thalia's t-shirt and showed Artemis and Phoebe the wounds. Artemis didn't bat an eyelid, being older and seeing worse and immediately went to get the supplies she'd need while Phoebe gasped. 

Her ribs were sticking through the skin and although the blood was coming slower, a lot had already been spilt. The bruise on her stomach was already turning a bluey purple colour with a little yellow here and there. Thalia balled her fists and gritted her teeth, her face contorted in pain. Artemis placed her hand over Thalia's ribs and mumbled something. Thalia shrieked as they jumped back into place with a loud CRACK, effectively waking up. Now that her ribs were back in place, she could run. And that's what she did. The tent flap had blown open in the strong wind and Thalia raced out.