xviii. circe's island

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WHEN THEA WAKES UP, HER HEAD IS IN ANNABETH'S LAP. Annabeth is dabbing at Thea's cheek with a dry cloth, her face pinched with concentration.

"Oh, thank the gods," she sighs once she sees that she's awake. "You've been out for hours. I thought you were—"

"Dead? Please, been there, done that." She winces when she tries to sit up and lays back down after her leg flares with pain. "Shit, shit, that hurts."

"You got saltwater on it, of course it hurts you idiot." Annabeth is silent for a second. "Thea, are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah, why?" She blinks at the sun. "Am I about to die or something?"

"Thea, come on. You jumped into the sea of monsters after Beckendorf, you could've died. And you've been . . . different."

Thea shuts her eyes. It's only Annabeth and Percy in the rowboat. "I didn't want to lose him. If you had a cousin, would you want them to die?"

"No." Annabeth glances at Percy. "Luke talked about your mom and you've been . . . different since then. Do you think he'd bring her back?"

"Yeah," she answers, without hesitation. "If they got her on their side, the war would be different. Have you heard about her before?"

"Andraya Vasquez," Annabeth says. "Grandaughter of Hecate, messenger and warrior of the gods. Everyone knows about her, until she, you know, everyone wanted to be just like her at camp. She was a legend. Malcolm told me about her, I just . . . didn't realize she was your mom at first."

"Well, yeah. But she knew more about the gods than almost anyone. More than some of them did." She sighs, her eyes still shut. "Since she was barely seventeen she was doing things for them. She knew the gods better than any other person that wasn't one. But there's always a price to pay for things like that."

"...You think they did it?"

Percy elbows Annabeth in the side and chastises her.

"Can't say for sure, but honestly? Probably. I had a dream about her the other night. She and Lord Apollo dated. And they were so in love. It was obvious. But they both kept saying that they couldn't tell anyone because his family wouldn't allow it. And we all know what happens to those people."

Death.

Percy looks pale. "Oh. I've never thought of it like that."

"Yeah." She heaves herself up into a sitting position, her leg mostly dead weight. "She was dangerous, and intelligent, and—she was just great. If they managed to bring her back and told her what happened to me? Yeah, she'd probably side with them."

"She'd go against her grandmother?" Percy asks.

"This is something my mom always told me," she says as she looks intently into his eyes. "Never count on the gods. Never count on them to be a part in your plan. She said to love and worship them as you should, but realize that even if they're gods, they're more mortal than us."

Annabeth doesn't say anything. Thea can tell she wants to disagree, but as she mulls over the information she can't. Because her mother was right. The gods pride themselves on not being mortal, yet they are more foolish and sensitive than the "weak" mortals. They became what they sought to outlaw.

"I told him about the prophecy," Annabeth blurts. "At least what I know. That at sixteen one of the Big Three kids would make an important decision. We, uh, we couldn't wait until you woke up."

"Oh." She glances at Percy. "You . . . didn't know?"

"No, why would I? I'm not the Oracle." He sticks a hand in the water and the salt seems to calm him. "And you knew?"

"Yeah. But we don't know for sure if it's you." Annabeth looks at her. "What? We don't! It could be another demigod. I mean, your friend, Thalia? That's two Big Three demigods in . . . the same time range, really. It's not crazy to think there's at least one more out there. And we don't even know that Percy's the one the prophecy's talking about."

She's hanging onto a thread, a decently-sized thread, but still a thread. She doesn't want to believe Percy is the demigod, because she knows how the prophecy ends. Everything points to the demigod dying.

"Is there anything else?" Percy asks. "You're, like, demigod extraordinaire. You have to know more about it."

"Well—"

"Land!" Annabeth yells. "I can see land!"

Thea tries to get a closer look but immediately stops when her leg flares with pain again. Great. But she can see it, approaching faster than their sail should be able to take them, like a strange paradise in the middle of their personal hell.

The rowboat finally sails right up to a dock where a woman is waiting. She reminds Thea of a flight attendant.

They step out of the rowboat, each holding their hands out to Thea. "Come on," Percy says. "We'll pull you up."

"The problem isn't getting up," she says, hoisting herself up only with her arm strength, "it's standing up."

"Oh no, are you injured?" the woman says, her red lips forming into a pout. "How terrible! Don't worry, we'll get you all fixed up, I'll call for a wheelchair."

"Really," Thea says, "it's fine, I don't need—"

"Nonsense," the woman says. "Girls! Bring a chair!" She turns back to them. "Alright then. Is this your first time with us?"

They all exchange looks and Annabeth speaks, as eloquent as ever. "Umm . . ."

"First—time—at—spa," the woman says as she writes it down on her clipboard. "Let's see . . ."

She looks over them critically. "Mhm. A herbal wrap for the young lady, a full treatment for the other young lady. And of course, a full makeover for the young gentleman."

"A what?" he asks.

The woman is too busy writing down her notes. "Right! Well, I'm sure C.C. will want to speak with you personally before the luau. Come, please."

Two young girls hurry down the docks, one a few years older than the other, the youngest around Thea's age. She's pretty, her hair silky smooth and her tan skin glowing in such a way that it makes Thea blush immediately.

The younger girl gestures for Thea to sit in the chair, and with a bit of difficulty she manages to hoist herself into it. The younger girl pushes her while everyone walks slightly ahead.

The place is incredible, and the further they go, the more she forgets about her worries. White marble and blue water, terraces climbing the side of a mountain, swimming pools on every level. It's so intricate that Thea immediately wonders what Charlie thinks of the mechanics behind it.

She turns to look back at him, and then she remembers. Charlie isn't there anymore. Percy and Annabeth have accepted that he and Tyson are dead, but Thea won't. Charlie is stronger than that. He, Tyson, and Clarisse are okay, they will be fine. They are alive and well. They have to be.

As they walk through the resort, Thea notices that there are tame animals everywhere, but that isn't the strangest part. The only residents are young women. All very different, different heights and races, but all beautiful and comfortable.

Thea's eyes widen when they pass a pale redhead lounging on a beach chair with a leopard beside her. She remembers that girl, how awful she was, how she had shoved her toward the monsters—

And then suddenly she doesn't. They keep moving forward and Thea forgets all about the girl.

"Are you alright?" the girl pushing her asks. She has an accent that Thea can't quite place.

"I—yeah." She can't remember what upset her. "I'm fine."

They enter a large marble room with big windows overlooking the resort. There's a large loom the size of a flatscreen.

A woman is standing by the loom and Thea is nearly physically struck by how beautiful she is. Long dark hair, strangely green eyes that almost look like contacts and a black dress with patterns of animals that seem to shift.

"You appreciate weaving, my dear?" the woman asks.

"Oh, yes ma'am!" Annabeth says. "My mother is—"

She doesn't finish, because that isn't a smart idea.

The woman just smiles. "You have good taste, my dear. I'm so glad you've come. My name is C.C."

They all introduce themselves to C.C., and the woman seems to smile brighter at Thea for some reason, her eyes always flitting over to her naturally.

There are guinea pigs in a cage, squealing as they push against the bars. It's annoying.

"Oh dear," C.C. sighs. "You do need my help."

Percy blinks. "Ma'am?"

C.C. looks at the flight attendant woman. "Hylla, take the girls on a tour, will you? Show her what we have available. The clothing will need to change. And their hair, my goodness. We will do a full consultation after I've spoken with this young gentleman."

Thea knows it's time to rebraid her hair, but is it really that bad?

"But . . ." Annabeth sounds hurt, it doesn't make Thea feel good. "What's wrong with my hair?"

C.C. smiles. "My dear, you are lovely. Really! But you're not showing off yourself or your talents at all. So much wasted potential!"

"Wasted?"

"Well, surely you're not happy the way you are! My goodness, there's not a single person who is. But don't worry. We can improve anyone here at the spa. Hylla will show you what I mean. You, my dear, need to unlock your true self!"

Annabeth is at a loss for words, but her eyes seem to glow with want. "But . . . what about Percy?"

"Oh, definitely," C.C. says as she gives him a pitied look. "Percy requires my personal attention. He needs much more work than you."

Thea thinks he looks perfectly fine.

"Well . . . I suppose . . ."

Hylla leads Annabeth down the hall, the girl pushing Thea following behind.

"What's your name?" Thea asks, turning slightly to look at the girl. "I didn't hear you say it."

"It—it's Reyna," she says. "Is yours Thea?"

"That's me." She smiles slightly. "Your name's pretty. Derived from Latin, right?"

"Yes, from the word regis. Meaning—"

"Royal."

The two girls smile at each other. Thea likes her company, she's nice, smart, and pretty. Her smile is a bit infectious.

"We'll start by cleaning you two up," Hylla says. "To get all of this grime away. And next we'll take care of your wound. Is it infected?"

"Um . . . maybe."

"Oh, dear. We'll get it taken care of."

She and Annabeth sit onto tables that remind her of the ones in doctor's offices. The two girls work, gently rubbing their exposed skin clean. It seems like each time they run over a cut it heals instantly, but Thea is too focused on Reyna so close to her that she can't notice.

"Pants," Hylla says. "So we can get to the wound."

"Oh—right, right."

She takes her pants off, glancing at Annabeth nervously as she does so. The two girls work on the wound, and with only a few stings of pain, it's wrapped up and feels instantly better. It's like magic.

"Time for the hair," Hylla says. "We'll wash it, then style. Thea, any preferences?"

"Um, no? But that'll take a long time, and—"

"Nonsense, everything works fast on C.C.'s island!"

And she's right, it does. In record time, Thea's hair is washed, combed, oiled, and braided. That should have been her first clue. It takes hours, not a whirlwind.

But once again Thea can't think past that.

"Now, time for dresses. Do you two like dresses?"

They both go to say 'no,' but they don't, for some reason.

They step into their dresses, white silk without sleeves. It looks similar to Reyna's, though Reyna's has sleeves.

Thea turns to look at Annabeth but instantly looks away, her face hot. Annabeth looks . . . very, very nice. She always looks nice, but something is different about her, and if Thea stares for too long sh's scared she won't be able to form a coherent sentence.

They slip on sandals and the two girls begin to work on their makeup. Thea has to hold her breath until her chest hurts to not focus on the fact that Reyna's hands are on her face, her delicately scarred fingers working fast and quick, like a seamstress.

"All done!" Reyna says. "You look wonderful."

"You too!"

No. She did not just say that.

Thankfully, Reyna only smiles, a hint of red on her cheeks. "Can you walk now?"

Thea stands and—oh, she can walk. How can she walk? She doesn't seem to care, she only cares that she can walk.

"I think I'm going to go check on Percy," Annabeth says. "Thea?"

"What? O-Oh, coming!"

Hylla says something, about further treatment, but she eventually guides them through the halls, back toward C.C.

"I think we should let C.C. finish her treatment," Reyna says. "Don't you think so?"

"We're just gonna go annoy him, and then we'll come right back."

Reyna nods and chews at her nail bed, but stops as soon as Hylla glares at her.

"Miss C.C.?" Annabeth calls out.

Hylla and Reyna hurry off somewhere while they walk into the room.

"Where's Percy?"

"He's having one of our treatments, my dear. Not to worry. You look wonderful!" She smiles at Thea. "And you, dear, you look radiant."

"I—thank you, Miss C.C."

"Have you two seen the library?" she asks. "I bet Annabeth here would love it."

"Library?" Annabeth parrots. "A library?"

"One of the largest. Every subject you can think of, my dear. Anything to study."

"Even architecture?"

C.C. scoffs. "You, my dear, have the makings of a sorceress. Like me." She fixes her gaze on Thea. "And you, Thea, can be a powerful one with my help, it's in your genes to be one."

Thea's mind rushes to figure out why C.C. is familiar and how she can know that. She isn't a monster, she can't be, it just doesn't fit. But she is familiar. Dark hair, green eyes, tan skin, black dress, manicured nails, there has to be something.

Asian. And if she has to guess, Korean. Of course, how could she have missed it? She looks just like Hecate, just like Thea's grandmother, too.

"You're Circe," Thea says, pulling Annabeth back by the elbow. "Of course you are. That's why you've been staring at me this whole time, because we're—"

"Related, yes." Circe's smile looks more like a predator's now. "Cousins, at that. I would be your, what . . . great-aunt?"

"Yeah." Thea itches to grab a sword, but she doesn't have one anymore. "That's right. But unfortunately for you, I'm pretty shitty at magic, so. I can't do a spell without passing out."

"Oh, but can you not?" Circe says, stepping forward. "You see, my dear, if you just get to the root of why you are tired, wouldn't you be stronger? If your strength wasn't taken, wouldn't you be powerful?"

"T-Taken?" Thea stutters. "What do you mean?"

"Thea, dear, you must have wondered why you are always so tired. Falling asleep standing up, barely able to do magic even with your genes . . . isn't that a bit odd?"

"I'm just tired, I—how do you even know this? I've never met you before!"

"I have my ways," is all Circe says. "Family looks out for family, yes?"

The guinea pigs squeal in the background.

"You're not my family, you're a witch who didn't get told no enough as a kid."

"Thea, now!"

As Annabeth pops a Hermes multivitamin into her mouth, Thea grabs one from her outstretched hand and pops it into her own. It's strawberry-flavored, it tastes like chalk, and it makes her feel like God.

"Where's Percy?" Annabeth demands. "What did you do with him?"

"I only helped him realize his true nature."

Just then, the guinea pigs squeal again, and Thea rips a lamp off the wall and brandishes it like a sword. "Give him back you bitch!"

Circe tries to cast a spell but it's no use, the multivitamins have done something to stop it. The lamp is swung full-force into her face, the crystal tassels falling to the floor.

"You could've been a wonderful sorceress!" Circe rages. "Descendants of Hecate stay together, you know this!"

"No, I don't!"

She swings it again, clocking Circe in the face so hard she falls back and slams her head into the floor with a crack.

"Did you just kill her?" Annabeth whispers.

"Um, maybe. Just get Percy out of here!"

As Annabeth fiddles with the cage and dumps the multivitamins out onto the ground Thea holds the lamp tightly, facing the door.

It's just her luck that the person that comes has to be Reyna.

"Are you alright, I heard—"

Her eyes flick over to Circe, then the lamp, then the chaos behind them. "Oh," she says, eyes narrowed. "Hylla was right, you are terrible."

Thea snarls and charges forward, only to swing where Reyna had just been, not where she is. Reyna grabs Thea by a handful of braids and yanks her backward.

"Not the hair!" she screeches, swinging a hand behind her to hit Reyna in the face. The lamp makes contact with her nose and gives Thea just enough time to push her off.

Reyna stands by the wall, hand over her rapidly bleeding nose, a knife in hand. Her gaze is murderous.

"Come on," Thea says, and Percy—newly-turned human—along with Annabeth hurried out the door. "If you don't follow us I won't hurt you."

Reyna hisses out a curse in Spanish, and Thea repeats it right back before she hurries down the hall.

All Thea can think about is getting out of there safely—but even with that, she has a feeling that isn't the last time she will be seeing Reyna.

A/N:
thea this entire chapter: