The First Son of Artemis Book Three: The Last Olympian.
A/N) Sooooooo here it is everybody, the long awaited first chapter of Book Three of my First Son of Artemis Series! I say this all the time but I never imagined when I penned the first chapter of Book One, that I would be here and have all the support I've had on the last two books.
So before we get this underway I want to clarify that after this book is done, I will be moving onto the Heroes of Olympus arc. Jay will without a doubt influence the outcome of those books. If you're looking forward to the Kane Chronicles crossover I have planned, that will be started sometime during my writing of The Heroes of Olympus. I plan to have Jay in all the Riordan books one day :)
I also want to say that this book in particular will be shorter than the last two, mainly for the reason being the last two books had two Pjo books in them, and this one will only have The Last Olympian.
With this series I have recently been giving more chapters with less length, that is going to change. Chapters of this book will be at least 5,000 words each, and I'm going to try and span it out as much as I can.
So I've rambled enough let's get going! Thank all you wonderful people so much, and let's get going!
Jason Nicholson, Son of Artemis (16 years old)
I never pictured myself in this situation when I was 16. Before I figured out about all this demi-god business all I thought I was going to be doing at sixteen was attending some fancy high school where I would be that quiet kid nobody talks to. Now, I was riding on a magical falcon gifted to me by my mother the Goddess of the moon Artemis. I wasn't just riding the falcon, I was riding it into a practical suicide mission to sink a boat full of monsters that was Hades bent on destroying the gods and killing me and all of my friends. Yeah, while most sixteen year old boys would be snapchatting or Instagram-ing themselves at 'rad' parties or 'lit' school dances with a cute girl, I was literally riding into war.
"Where do you think Percy is?" Beckendorf asked me as we soared through the air.
Beckendorf the head councilor for Hephaestus cabin, was flying the Pegasus Blackjack alongside him. We had just left Percy's apartment in Manhattan, he wasn't there like I expected. In his last few Iris messages with his best friend the son of the sea god Percy Jackson, he had been getting a few things together to help protect his mom and her boyfriend before he headed to camp. However when Chiron, Annabeth, me, Beckendorf and the rest of the head councilors agreed to this plan, we messaged Percy and told him we'd just come pick him up to take him to where we needed to go. I hadn't heard anything about Luke, or Kronos who was using Luke's body as a host since Percy and I encountered him in the Labyrinth. Now we were assaulting his ship.
I had also tried to get ahold of Nico, but I hadn't heard from him in almost a year. Ever since Bianca had to join the Hunters, Nico had become more and more distant from camp, and cold towards me in particular. He felt I was the reason Bianca had to leave camp, and I didn't blame him for being mad at me one bit. My heart ached at having to let Bianca join the hunters every day since it happened. Yes, I know she's almost certainly doing well, and is safe since my mom runs the show with the hunters, but I still missed her immensely. Bianca did her duty to help us have more time to prepare for the Great Prophecy to unfold, like I knew she would, but she couldn't look me in the eye the day she left.
I would have plenty time to feel bad about losing Bianca later, but for now I had a job to get done, and I knew exactly where Percy was if he wasn't at his apartment, or at Camp Half-Blood.
I looked over and yelled to Beckendorf, "He's at Montauk beach! Come on, follow me I know how to get there." I said veering in the direction of the shore.
I looked over and saw Beckendorf looking at the picture he had of him and Selina the head councilor for the Aphrodite cabin. The two had finally gotten together after what seemed like flirting and pretending not to like each other forever. I was happy to see the two of them finally get together, now if only Percy and Annabeth would finally stop beating around the bush be together, my life would be complete.
I flew slightly closer to him as we approached the beach, "Hey don't worry man, we'll get back, we all will. You'll see her again." I said to him, trying to get his confidence up.
He nodded his head and put the picture in his back pocket. "Thanks Jay, I needed that. How about your girl have you… heard anything from Bianca lately?" He asked.
I sighed and looked out over the beautiful beachline. I shook my head and Beckendorf. "No, I haven't heard from her in months, her or my mother. All the gods seem to have gone silent since around May." I had to shout over the gust of wind.
He shook his head, "I don't like this Jay, and the gods going dark is never a good sign." He shouted back.
I nodded grimly knowing it was true, however I needed to say something reassuring, for his sake and mine. "Don't worry about it too much. All we can do is take the fight to Kronos whenever we can, and we have to be ready for his eventual invasion." I told him, trying to sound as confident as possible.
We eventually found where Percy was. I saw he was driving Paul's car which made me a tad jealous. I turned sixteen July 2nd, and I still hadn't had any driving practice yet. Well in fairness if I asked MY mother to teach me how to drive she would probably teach me to drive a chariot instead, which I already knew how to drive. Percy had only five days until he turned 16, which meant there were about five more days until we all would probably die. I pointed over towards the car.
"He's down there! You see him!" I had to yell over to Beckendorf.
Beckendorf squinted down and looked closer towards the car Percy was in, he could see the older boys eyebrows raise. "Who's that redhead girl that he's with?" He asked me.
I squinted closer as well and saw he was in the front seat with Rachel Dare, I shook my head in disappointment, "Oh gods Percy. Don't worry I'll go down and get him!" I yelled to him, whispering the first part to myself.
I got the nod from Beckendorf and slew Agatha down towards Percy's car. I landed her right on the hood of the car, almost making Percy jump through the roof, and Rachel almost got out the door and ran. After regaining his composure, Percy looked at me, and gave me a grim smile, he knew what me being there meant.
"Hey Rachel. How you doin Perce?" I asked trying to lighten the mood.
Percy managed a laugh and smiled at me, "Haha I'm alright. Is it time?" He asked me.
I nodded my head, and he did the same. He turned to Rachel, probably to explain what was going on. He didn't get any words out though, because Rachel kissed him right on the spot. The sight put a bad feeling in my stomach. Rachel was cool, cute and all that, but it just didn't seem right, seeing the two of them kiss.
"Go ahead, go save the world. Be careful, I'll tell your mom about the car." She said to him smiling grimly.
Percy nodded his head then looked back at me. He got out of the car and climbed on Agatha's back, and wrapped his arms around my stomach.
"Ohhhh I'm tellin Annabeth." I whispered in a sing-song like voice, trying to lighten the mood.
It didn't work, he just glared a hole through my head. "Do that, and you're going to wake up with your bed in the middle of the lake, and we all know how much you hate swimming." He said, and I knew he was smirking.
I shivered at the memory of our trip to the Sea of Monsters. I had gotten saved by Percy one to many times during that summer. He remembered when he was trapped on a piece of wreckage from their ship. He got surrounded by four mermen who had gone to Luke's side, each one of them were trying to kill him, and the only thing he had to fight on was a small piece of driftwood. He got knocked off it, and if it weren't for Percy coming in underwater and killing them, and dragging him above water he'd be dead.
I managed to laugh and shake my head, "Please I never wanna have to swim, ever again."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
The ride was mostly banter between me, Percy and Beckendorf. It was fun trip that was until we saw the Andromeda. I could see packs of monsters roaming the deck from our position in the sky, and we were about to head directly into the thick of things.
"So how much Greek fire do we have!?" Percy yelled over to Beckendorf.
We circled in the air overtop the ship when Beckendorf yelled back, "We got plenty, we need to find the engine room! After we find it, I'll plant the fire then BOOM!" He yelled to us.
I nodded my head and turned around to look at Percy. "You ready?" I asked him.
He nodded, not taking his eyes off the ship. "Yup, let's get going." He said reluctantly.
I nodded back to him, it looked like it was time for ANOTHER battle. I flew Agatha down silently, her silver fur made a decent camo with the clouds around. Beckendorf flew down besides us, and landed after Percy and I made sure it was clear. I told Agatha to circle around and make sure she was ready to help us with a quick getaway. After Beckendorf landed and our rides flew off, we hit the floor as quickly as possible, waiting for the right moment to leap down to the deck. My skin crawled when I saw the packs of monsters roaming the decks, we were going to have a tough task ahead of us if we didn't get out of there quick.
"Alright the coast is clear, come on let's find the engine room." Beckendorf said quietly.
The three of us quietly lowered ourselves down, and dashed down the deck until we found a door labeled 'Engine room'.
"Wow that was easy." I whispered as the three of us made our way down the stairs.
The engine was the largest most complicated piece of machinery I had ever seen in my life. In all fairness I haven't seen many complicated pieces of machinery, but I still found it impressive. I tapped the wolves head charm on my wrist and brought out my silver bow and arrow that has been my lifeline since I was 12.
"So can you rig it up easy enough?" Percy asked Beckendorf who was eyeing the engine with glee.
He nodded his head, "Easy enough yeah, it'll take a few minutes but I can make this place go boom." He said smirking.
Percy and I stood there awkwardly waiting for him to finish. The hairs on my neck stood up when I heard something come from above deck. I knew for a fact Percy heard them to, he looked just like I did.
"He's here! He scares me so much! His lord wants to be ready to invade in five days, I hope we have enough time!" I heard a telekhine tell another above deck.
"I hope we are ready by then! Come, we need to check the engine room." The other said in a voice that made my skin crawl.
Percy looked back to Beckendorf. "You finish planting those, Jay and I will go distract them." He said to him.
I looked and nodded at Beckendorf as well, "Yea you do your thing, once you're done meet us on the air pad!" I yelled over to him before dashing up the steps.
With Percy right beside me, we burst out onto the deck, and caught the attention of a pack of telekhines straight away. I launched an arrow in a second and hit one in the neck, and the other one charged right away. Percy slashed him away easily, but right away another pack of monsters came around. We ran towards the back of the boat, both of us were panting trying to catch our breath.
"We… we need to give Beckendorf more time." I said panting from the exhaustion. I may had been training at camp since summer began, but I still felt out of shape. I had spent most of my school year sitting around Brooklyn house, watching ESPN with Khufu the baboon and eating Cheetos.
"Did... didn't you hear them? Kronos is here somewhere." Percy said panting the same way I was.
A few more packs of monsters came around the corner, including some demi-gods clad in Greek armor. The second deck of the ship was lined with either monsters or demi-gods archers. Each had an arrow knocked and aimed at Percy and me.
"Ohhhh this is just great." I muttered as we both looked on towards the line of arrows aimed at us.
"Well the good part is it can't get any worse." Percy muttered as a few patrols of demi-gods and monsters came around the side of the ship, all had swords or axes aimed at the two of us.
I rolled my eyes with an arrow drawn, "You had to say something didn't you? Haven't you figured it out Percy that nothing ever comes easy for us?" I said to him, as we both carefully placed our weapons down.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
My arms were trapped behind my back, some monster was holding my bow and my belt buckle, which would turn into my knives. Percy wasn't any better, we had given a little bit of a fight, which meant now the both of us were scarred and bleeding. We were dragged to the front of the boat, and brought before Luke/Kronos. He had a sick twisted smile on his face, as he eyed us both with those golden eyes that made me wanna run for my mom. He stretched out his arms in a welcoming gesture.
"Ahhh the famous Percy Jackson and Jason Nicholson, I must say you're-." He began.
I frankly wasn't in the mood, "The famous Percy Jackson and Jason Nicholson, blablabla, do you have to be so darn dramatic with everything? Or is that just a god and titan thing?" I mocked him.
Percy managed to laugh, and I saw every single monster shift uncontrollably. They all stared at Kronos, waiting for his response. Kronos looked even more monstrous in Luke's body now. He looked like he was going to tear me apart with his eyes, which I was pretty sure he could do if he wanted to.
"Silence! I am the King of the universe! I will turn you and your Olympian parents into dust! I think I'll begin with your mother first Jay, her throne will be the first I destroy." He said, clearly outraged.
It was all part of my elaborate plan. I sent out a mental message to Agatha to pick up Beckendorf when he got to the air pad. Since we were surrounded by water, all Percy and I had to do was jump off the boat, and Percy could do the rest. Now, all I needed to do was figure out a way to create a distraction. I looked over at Percy and winked, and he seemed to understand the message. Percy and I had been friends long enough that he understood what I was trying to do.
I looked back at Kronos, "HA, are you kidding? My mom would kick your sorry Titan butt! What do you think Perce? Think my mom could take him?" I asked my best-friend.
Percy let out a laugh, "Haha, well your mom certainly is scary, but me and you could take him, we don't need no gods." He said smiling like the whole situation was funny.
Kronos looked like he was going to open his mouth, probably to eat us like he did his kids or something, but I interjected. "You may have a Titan inside your body now, but deep inside you're still Luke, and I could beat Luke with my eyes closed!" I yelled over to him.
Kronos didn't say anything, he only held out his hand with a smirk. "Hand me my scythe, let the two of them go. Give them their weapons, I will show the two of these insolent demi-gods how to respect their betters." He said clutching a hand over the handle of his weapon.
Percy and I both got shoved forward in-front of him, and our weapons got tossed in-front of us. I grabbed my belt and clipped it around my jeans, and got my bow out right away. Percy pulled our Riptide, ready to hack away at anything Kronos sent our way. Kronos looked like he was about to speak again, but I didn't want to give him any time to monologue. That was always the hero's mistake in the movies, they let the bad guys talk too long.
Percy got the hint and charged with his sword. My arrow flew past him, and hit Kronos right in the shoulder, I almost got excited. However my excitement dimmed completely when my arrow hit its target and just bounced off him, as if I shot him with a nerf dart!
"What… what is that?" I muttered to myself trying another arrow.
I fired three more arrows and hit all three shots, but again all three bounced right off him. Percy clashed weapons with the Titan lord and the two stayed locked in combat, while I looked at my bow in shock like something was wrong with it. I looked up at the sound of a sword clash, and I remembered my best-friend was clashing weapons with the Titan king. He slashed at Kronos's stomach and just like my arrow Riptide harmlessly bounced off the Titan like his stomach was made out of stone.
Percy had a split second to look surprised before he got thrown back into me, and the two of us got sent flying back on the deck. The two of us were completely drained of any energy we had.
I looked over at Percy, the two of us panting heavily. "He's… he's indestructible or something! My arrows just bounce right off him." I said.
Percy nodded his head, "Yea same with my sword, we need to-. Oh no, Beckendorf!" He said shooting to his feet.
I did the same, and we saw a huge cyclops holding Beckendorf in his grasp. My eyes widened and I had an arrow knocked in a second. I launched it at the cyclops, but Kronos knocked the arrow aside with his scythe, he and the rest of his minions laughed.
"Haha, no words now puny demi-gods? I have become more powerful then you could ever imagine!" He started to yell and gloat.
Percy and I looked over at Beckendorf. He flicked his hand over a small button he had in his hand. No… he was going to blow it, and was waiting for us to make a break for it. I had to hold Percy back from charging for him. Before I could do anything a dracaena noticed the button in his hand.
"Heyyyyy, look at thisssss!" She said reaching for the trigger in his hand.
I grabbed Percy and tried to break for the railing, "Percy come on we need to GO!" I yelled dragging him along.
Percy fought my grip, "NO, we have to try and-."
I didn't let him finish before I pulled us both overboard just as the Greek fire exploded. It was like something right out of an action movie. Percy and I got blown away, I looked over and he flew the opposite direction of me. I looked down, and my worst nightmare came true, I splashed right into the water.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"NO NOT THE WATER!" I yelled shooting my head upwards.
The last thing I remembered was being completely wet. I hated the feeling of being drenched with water, I hated being around the ocean, I hated the beach, I hated swimming more than anything. It was pretty ironic considering my best friend was the son of the sea god. My head shot around, trying to gage where I was now, I wasn't wet so I know I wasn't in the ocean. I know I wasn't dead, if I was dead I would be waiting for Charon the boat man to take me to be judged in the underworld.
I was in the forest, I could tell that much, and a pretty lush one at that. I was in a large tent, on a big comfortable bed of animal furs. I looked up and saw mounted animal heads all over the tent, with a large silver table and chairs. The silver, the mounted animal heads, the giant tent with fancy beds. I could only be in one place, I was in my mother's camp.
The flap of the tent flew open, I dashed my head over, and my heart fell. "Oh, you're awake." She said calmly.
Bianca had changed in the last year. I had heard from her a few months ago, but haven't actually seen her since we parted ways at the end of last summer. She had gotten taller somehow, and even more athletic looking since then. She had a deeper tan, and her hair was down to her mid-back now. It was tied down in intricate nots with sparkling silver hairclips and she just seemed to be glowing silver. She was in a pair of light silver armor, she was tall, tanned and absolutely beautiful.
I was lost for words, "Bianca… what, what happened? How'd I get here?" I asked her, as she tried avoiding my gaze.
She placed a plate of cooked venison in-front of me with a tall glass of water. I downed the glass of water in a second, when Bianca pulled a chair next to the bed.
She sighed and finally managed to look me in the eyes, "Agatha found you face down in the water about to drown. She plucked you up out of the water and brought you here, were in New York. Lady Artemis got the story from her, it looks like you passed out after the ship exploded." She explained to me, taking the glass of water back.
I took a few bites of the food she had given me, and almost chocked when I remembered the boat. "Percy! Did Agatha find him to? Is he alright!?" I asked frantically.
Bianca managed a smile and shook her head with a small chuckle, "Ha, Jay Percy is the son of Poseidon. He's surrounded by water, I'm sure he'd fine." She said smiling.
I managed a small chuckle, she was right, she usually was. We sat there awkwardly looking at each other, both of us seeming to avoid any questions. I couldn't keep up the act however.
"Umm, so how is it? Have you, uhhh been doing well here?" I asked her.
She slowly nodded her head, "Yea, I've been good. How about camp? How's everything been going since the war started? How is… Nico?" She asked me tentatively.
I didn't want to tell her Nico had been going away from camp more and more, but I couldn't just lie to her. "I… haven't seen him all summer. He visits Percy now and then, word is he's been in the underworld a lot more. He… he's been pretty cold to me." I told her.
Her face fell, "Oh… well please Jay, just keep an eye on him please. He's a son of Hades I know, but he's still young." She begged me.
I sighed and nodded my head, "You know I will, it's the least I can do for you…" I said awkwardly.
She shifted oddly in the chair, "Jay I… I don't blame you. I know that we needed-."
We were about to started having this deep emotional conversation, when the tent flap opened again. I felt a godly presence come in, and sure enough, it was my mom. She was as usual in the form of a 13 year old girl. She had raven black hair with her silver eyes gleaming bright. She looked worn out, she was wearing silver battle armor, she tossed her bow onto the table and managed smile when she saw me.
She looked over to Bianca, "Thanks for looking after him Bianca, Thalia is waiting for you to go out on that patrol." She said with a melancholy smile.
Bianca looked to me, and smiled, then back to my mom. "Yes Lady Artemis, it's good to have you back." She said standing up.
My mom laughed a little and smiled ironically, "Thank you Bianca, but I'm afraid I just came because I heard Jay had been brought here. I need to return soon." She explained to her.
Bianca nodded and smiled at me again, "Feel better Jay, I'll talk to you later. Tell everyone at camp I said hi." She said before walking out of the tent.
I managed to get feeling back in my legs and bring them around the side of the bed. I stood up and managed to stretch before my mom slammed me with a hug. I melted into it, after everything I went through back on the ship, losing Beckendorf and getting separated from Percy, I needed a hug from my mom. She smelled like the forest, and wild flowers which was the greatest smell in the world to me. She looked ready to break down how tired she looked. I hadn't seen her this tired looking since she went off on her solo hunt, and ended up a captive of Atlas.
She pulled back and kissed my cheek, "Jay, how come whenever I see you, you are waking up from being knocked out?" She said managing to laugh at herself.
I managed the same, "Ha, well you know me mom always trying to be a hero." I said.
She laughed and shook her head, "You are a hero Jay, I've never been more proud of someone in my entire life. You destroyed a huge bulk of Kronos's army, you keep stacking the odds in your favor." She told me, with some pride in her voice.
I smiled grimly, "Yea, but… I lost Beckendorf. I lost him, and I may have destroyed a bulk of his army, but he still outnumbers us by a lot. Also, Luke did… something to his body. I shot him with a bunch of arrows but… they all just bounced off him like they were nerf darts." I told her, thinking back to Percy and me trying to fight him.
My mom, genuinely looked frightened. "Jason, tell me right now exactly what happened on that ship?" She said, using my real name, which made me know she was being deadly serious.
I told her what happened on our mission to destroy the Andromeda. She grew even paler than she was before. After my story was over she started pacing, muttering to herself about what to do. I had been wondering since it happened how my arrows just bounced off the Titan Lord. If he was somehow now indestructible, we were in for an even worse fight than we thought. I had been told some things were indestructible, or unbeatable, but that never stopped me.
I tried to talk to my pacing mom, "Mom, what's going on? What did Luke do to make himself indestructible?" I asked her.
She looked over at me with a grim look. "Luke bathed in the river Styx, you're a smart boy Jay do you know the story of Achilles?" She asked.
I nodded my head, it was a standard story that every demi-god learned, "Of course, he was the best fighter in the Greek army they say he was indestructible, but he was hit with an arrow in his heel, and that's how he died. That's how they got the term, Achilles heel." I told her reciting the story I had heard so many times from Annabeth.
She nodded her head, "Yes, that's the story. However the story of him being indestructible was very true. You see, he bathed himself in the River Styx in the underworld. When a hero does this, they become indestructible, except for one spot on their body." She explained for him.
The solution to this seemed obvious so I told her, "Well if he's done that, then why don't I just go and do the same thing-."
"NO!" She screamed as soon as I brought up the idea.
She had a newfound strength in her eyes. She really did not want me going anywhere near the underworld. I was taken aback, I of course knew my mother had a temper, but she never got that type of tone with me.
Her face softened and she shook her head, "Jay it isn't that easy. Bathing in the Styx is one of the most painful things a hero could go through. The water of the Styx makes you feel like your body is on fire, only certain heroes can survive the experience. I will not risk you by letting you do this." She stressed, baring her eyes through me.
I looked at my mom with odd eyes, she never was THIS overprotective of me. "Well what makes you think I won't just go do it anyway?" I told her, meaning it as a joke.
She didn't take it as a joke and looked like she was about to turn me into a pin-cushion, "I know you won't do that Jay, because to bath in the Styx you quite literally NEED permission from your mother. Before you ask, no I am not joking." She told me, not budging.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I had never really been annoyed with my mother, but she was being slightly unreasonable here. "Mom if this is what we need to do to beat Kronos, I don't care what the consequences may be! If Luke can survive it I know I can." I reasoned with her.
She shook her head, her silver eyes bearing down on me, "You may not care what the consequences but I DO! You are my one, and only son Jay, and I will not take the risk of losing you to the Styx." She told me.
"But mom we need to beat him! What else are we going to do? You have to believe that I can survive it." I asked her, practically begging.
My mom sighed but didn't cave in, "Jay I am sorry, but you will find a way to win this war. I know you will, you are going to play a major role, along with Percy Jackson in defeating Kronos." She told me, trying to lighten her tone.
I knew that there was no use in arguing with my mother about this, I sighed and nodded my head. She did the same and hugged me tightly again. "I must go now, I need to get back to the fighting." She told me.
This caught me off guard, "Wait, what? Fighting? What fighting?" I asked her frantically.
She re-adjusted her armor and picked her bow off the table. She laughed lightly, "Haha, did you forget Jay, your friend Percy unleashed Typhon after Mt. explosion. The other Olympians and I have been fighting him." She informed me.
I completely forgot somehow what Percy had done in the mountain. I was busy being a captive of Morpheus, who's 'treatment' still haunted me to this minute. I was worried of course, but if anyone would be fine in this battle it would be her.
I nodded my head, "I forgot, so what about me? What do I do now?" I asked her.
She hugged me with one arm and kissed my cheek one more time, "You take Agatha back to Camp Half-blood. I'm sure the campers there are getting restless, you and Percy need to get back, and prepare for the coming battle." She told me.
My face fell, "So it's true? The battle will be soon?" I said reluctantly.
She nodded her head but smiled, "Yes, very soon. Don't worry however Jay, you'll be just fine." She said before walking towards the tent flap.
She looked back at me one more time and smiled, "You are MY son after all."
A/N:) Sooooooo here it is, I hope you guys enjoyed chapter one! You can expect updates for this story no more than two weeks apart. Tell me what you liked about this chapter and what you're looking forward to!
So I'm gonna keep this short since I had a long AN in the start. So everyone thank you so much for reading, have a lovely day! Goodbyeeeeee!:)