Xenomorphic

Chapter22: The Lightning Thief Part 3

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The plane touched down at the airport without problems. Well, as far as the passengers were concerned, there were no problems. Some geniuses thought that they could pull off a hijacking mid-air. Just some stereotypical Middle Eastern would-be terrorists looking to suicide bomb into the airport.

Asteria had those guys made the second she stepped foot on the plane, and had allowed them to continue with their little plan until they decided to put it into motion. It was all too easy to enter their minds and convince them not to do that. Instead of causing an international incident, those men would be turning themselves into the authorities, and giving up all the information they had on certain locations, people, and events.

All in a day's work for the daughter of Poseidon.

Now it was time to disembark.

Asteria gently shook Annabeth, and the blonde stirred before yawning, her arms sticking straight up, her mouth falling open, and her back audibly cracking. The hybrid walked over and shook Thalia awake, but was met with resistance. The thumb-sucking goth groaned around her finger, before rolling over and showing her cousin her back.

Annabeth giggled, and Asteria's lips curled into a nasty grin. Thalia wanted to play hardball? Asteria could play hardball too. A clawed finger made its way to the seat of Thalia's jeans, before slowly pressing in. The denim and underlying cloth offered no resistance to the invading digit, but the daughter of Zeus did not suddenly leap up with a shout as expected. Instead, Thalia moaned at having her butt poked.

"Oh, Luke~..."

Annabeth suddenly turned a violent shade of red, while Asteria cocked a brow as a scent entered the air, a scent that originated from Thalia. Okay, Plan B then. The daughter of Poseidon promptly slapped her cousin on the head, and she woke with a start.

"Whowhatwherewhy is my thumb wet? And why does my butt feel weird?"

'A) I'm pretty sure your thumb is not the only thing that's wet around here, and B) your butt feels weird because you were dreaming about Luke...while using your finger.'

Thalia looked lost for a moment, before her cheeks started to gain color while the rest of her face began to lose it. "Y-you didn't see anything. Nothing h-happened."

Annabeth was still blushing, while Aster looked amused. 'Of course not, cousin. Come on, we've landed, and if we hurry, we can make it back for the returning flight.'

"What? Landed-you sneaky brat. You knocked me out!" Thalia accused.

'Mm-hm. Because you threw an infant-level tantrum, and I admittedly lost my patience before hitting the back of your head really hard. Then I made you suck your thumb like a baby.' Thalia looked like she wanted to zap something.

'I debated putting you in of Annabeth's pull-ups, but I decided that would've been overkill. However, the amount of blackmail I have on you...' Asteria's grin was positively serpentine. But not like the Director's. Hers was filled with malice, and wicked intent. Aster's was teasing.

Thalia blushed something fierce, but any retaliation was ended by Asteria exiting the cabin, quickly followed by Annabeth, who sent a teasing grin at her big-sister figure. The daughter of Zeus's just gaped at how she had been blown off by both younger girls.

Then reality set back in, and she scrambled to follow her questmates.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The distance between Los Angeles International and Valencia Boulevard was little over an hour away with perfect drive time. Hitching a taxi was easier than hitching an airplane, and the long drive time gave Asteria time to think.