The Blood of the Sea

I Swear on the River Styx

Percy's POV

The flashback ended and Thea collapsed to the ground. Her green eyes were still glowing and she was breathing fast.

Everyone started at her in shock and horror. Jason looked pale, and Katie, the counselor from Demeter cabin, looked like she was going to throw up. I heard a gasp and I looked and saw Thea with her neon eyes filled with pain.

Without thinking I jumped up from my seat and went over to comfort her. I kneeled down next to Thea but she didn't look at me. I hesitated but I touched her arm. A tingle went up my arm and I wasn't in the war council meeting room anymore.

I was in an all white room, and it was completely silent. But not for long.

A blood curdling scream was realised and it shook me to my core.

Two cloaked figures walked in. One in blood red robes, the other in light brown robes.

Their faces were covered so I couldn't see them but I didn't really care.

All I could focus on was the girl they were holding. Thea.

Her emerald green romper was soaked in maroon blood.

Her eyes were closed, tears falling down her face. She was biting her lip, hard. Probably trying to contain another scream.

The two figures dropped Thea on the ground carelessly, tears still streaming down her cheeks, her face contorted in pain. The light brown cloaked figure grabbed Thea by the chin and forced her to each something.

I'm pretty sure it was ambrosia, but Theas' injury on her back was still bleeding, her blood dripping onto the floor, but somehow it stayed white.

Anger flared through me. Why weren't they helping her? Can't they see that she was in pain?

"Please!" Thea screamed, her voice filled with so much pain I felt my eyes watering. "Please it hurts! Please!" the figures disappeared out of the room without hesitation.

Thea released a scream so gut wrenching, I collapsed on the ground and covered my ears.

Thea sobbed and I wanted to run to her aid but I knew I couldn't help her.

She laid on her stomach and cried until nothing was left.

For some reason the blood didn't stay in the room but her tears stayed in a small puddle. She moved her arms beneath her and she yelped, but continued, until she was in a sitting position. Thea gasped for breath, her face twisted in pain.

She lifted her shaking hands in front of her and she closed her eyes. Her puddle of tears lifted off the ground and shaped into an orb.

Thea moved her fingers and the orb moved behind her onto her back. She let out a whimper, but continued.

After what felt like forever the orb disappeared. I expected her back to be back to normal like what happened with the knife injury, but I was wrong.

Instead of perfectly fine skin, a deep, dark pink scare was there. It expanded all along her back in jagged lines. It looked like...it looked like...like...lightning. The lightning branded her. Zeus branded her.

Rage flared through my body. I know, I don't know Thea that well and that we haven't ever had a nice conversation, but she is still my sister, and I felt the same feeling I felt when I first held Estelle. Thea didn't deserve this, no one earth deserved this.