Book Cult (New and Improved)

Jason XXXVII

"Jason XXXVII," Hestia read.

Jason had found his sister and lost her in less than an hour.

Don't remind me. Thalia sighed. 

"We'll see each other again." she reminded herself.

As they climbed the cliffs of the floating island, he kept looking back, but Thalia was gone... She'd found a new family with the Hunters, and a new mother in Artemis. She seemed so confident and comfortable with her life, Jason wasn't sure if he'd ever be part of it.

Thalia looked shocked he would even consider that. 

"Of course I would!" she exclaimed. "You're my brother!"

And she seemed so set on finding her friend Percy. Had she ever searched for Jason that way?

Thalia looked like she'd been slapped. "If... I'd known..."

Annabeth squeezed her hand. "It's okay. He didn't mean it."

Sounds like he did. the huntress thought before bitterly adding. Not that I can blame him. 

She should've tried harder to find him. The wolves couldn't have taken him far. If she had just fought her mother hard enough or maybe searched harder for some clues. Maybe things could have been different.

As if sensing her thoughts, Annabeth squeezed her hand harder. Thalia appreciated it, since it helped keep her grounded on the present.

Not fair, he told himself. She thought you were dead.

He could barely tolerate what she'd said about their mom. It was almost like Thalia had handed him a baby—a really loud, ugly baby—and said, Here, this is yours. Carry it. He didn't want to carry it. He didn't want to look at it or claim it. He didn't want to know that he had an unstable mother who'd gotten rid of him to appease a goddess. No wonder Thalia had run away. Hestia read sadly, trying to keep sympathy out of her voice.

If I'm going to tell him about Mother, I'll do it after this whole Great Prophecy mess ends. Thalia decided, before grimacing. That is, if he survives.

She tried to shake her doubt. Of course, he'll survive, he's made it this far. He can handle whatever comes his way.

Leo pulled the shoelace at both ends.

Then he remembered the Zeus cabin at Camp Half-Blood... Their dad wasn't much of a bargain, either.

"He's the best we got." Thalia sighed.

Zeus huffed. "As if Jupiter can do better..."

He winced at the sudden burst of pain in his head.

Jason understood why Thalia had renounced that part of her life too, but he was still resentful.

"I'll make it up to you somehow." Thalia muttered.

He couldn't be so lucky. He was left holding the bag —literally.

The golden backpack of winds was strapped over his shoulders. The closer they got to Aeolus's palace, the heavier the bag got...

As they climbed, Leo and Piper left Jason in his silence. Maybe they could sense his bad mood. Piper kept glancing back, worried, as if he were the one who'd almost died of hypothermia rather than she...