Parry, dodge, slash, jab, etc.
I was getting kinda bored from the fighting routine. I was currently fighting a small army of monsters, a legion more like, but without the order. I, unbeknownst to them, was helping the hunters who had been ambushed by the monsters. I guess I should tell a little more about myself: I am Percy Jackson, former hero of Olympus and all that good stuff. I remember the day when I was banished like it was yesterday.
-Flashback (around three thousand years back) -
I was called to the Olympian throne room by Hermes, who had a sombre face, as if he had received some bad news, or worse even, came to deliver them.
I headed to mount Olympus on the back of a 'borrowed' Pegasus. I`m sure the owner wont mind.
Anyway, as I headed for Olympus, I couldn't help but feel a bit anxious about this meeting. I just had the feeling that this meeting will bring major trouble.
I entered the throne room to see a shocking scene that I thought I would never see: the Olympians weren't fighting. Despite this astonishing event, it`s what else I saw that made me really anxious:
The Olympians seemed to be having an internal struggle. Hestia seemed to be the one most at peace, her face showed determination and a hint of sadness. I didn't know what this was about, but whatever it was it had to be serious to upset my patron like that (yea, Hestia is my patron, deal with it).
Zeus finally noticed me and gestured me forwards. I walked towards the centre of the room and bowed before the Olympians before kneeling by my patron's side.
"PERSEUS JACKSON, RISE BEFORE THE OLYMPIAN COUNCIL TO FACE YOUR TRIAL." Zeus bellowed.
I was really confused now, what was I being trailed for?
"The Olympian council has deemed you too powerful; as such we shall decide what we shall do to solve that particular issue."Zeus continued.
I gave them all a blank look. I mean, SERIOUSLY? So, first they all want me to be the most ruthless, most powerful demigod warrior to ever exist, so I could help them kill all the monsters in the land. Apparently there were too many rogue monsters around. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, now that most of the monsters had been taken care of by me and the hunt, they dispose me like a used and broken sword. Which I guess I was about to become.
"What!? Surely you can`t all agree to this!" As most of the assembled gods stared at me with angry or expressionless faces, my will began to crumble. "Right?" I whispered, desperate for some conformation.
"We can, and we will." Said Zeus with a stern voice, "Now, I believe it is time to reach a verdict in terms of the boy`s punishment. All in favour of sending the boy to Tartarus raise their hands."
The votes went like so:
In favour: Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Hades, Dionysus, Poseidon, Apollo, and... "A-a-arte-artemis? Why?" I said, in a brokenhearted whisper, only loud enough for her to hear.
She looked down in shame and regret and said," I'm sorry Percy, but if I didn't he w-w-would,..." she broke down on her throne, sobbing away.
However, Zeus ignored this, " The council has spoken," said Zeus with a bit too cheerful tone, " and we shall banish Perseus Jackson to live right by his grandfather. We shall strip you of you`re powers and partial immortality. Begone!" He said as he raised his master bolt, poised to strike. I looked at my father, Poseidon, for any support, as I knew my patron could do nothing. I saw nothing but a cold stare. The 'big three' chanted in ancient Greek and fired beams of energy from their symbols of power. It felt like someone was ripping you apart and re-stitching you while burning your inside with Greek fire, all the while forcing you to hold up the sky. And I speak by experience. Then out of nowhere an endless pit opened beneath me.
And I fell, deeper and deeper into the pit. All the while crying from the betrayal of the love of my life, Artemis.
-End of flashback-
There were those who argued that that my punishment was too severe, but Zeus didn't listen, as usual. Anyway, onwards with the fight.
I was currently fighting about twenty hellhounds by myself, paying no attention to nothing else but the next target. I weaved in between the legs of the hell hound and then jumped onto it's back, using the tail to help me. I ran along it`s back and stabbed it in the top of the skull. I jumped towards my next target when suddenly it exploded into dust followed swiftly by the others in it`s trip to tartarus. I gulped and looked the direction of the silver arrows that were fired.
There, in all their splendour, were the hunters, a group of pre-teen girls that seem to always be on their period and hate men with passion. In front of the group were tow girls: a black, punk stile haired girl with electric blue eyes and the most beautiful of them all, Artemis, with her perfect auburn hair and her big, round silver eyes. Well they would be round if they weren't narrowed in my direction.
"State your business here and show respect to Lady Artemis, boy." The lieutenant, marked by the silver tiara in her head, shouted across the battle field. I walked across to them to where I stood only 10 steps away from Artemis.
"Take off your hood, and bow, you are in presence of a goddess!" the lieutenant exclaimed, clearly affronted and angry at the supposed disrespect I was showing.
I ignored her, however, and looked artemis in the eye, "It`s good to see you again, Artemis."
Her eyes widened at the sound of my voice and tone with which I said her name, the tone of heartbreak and forced anger. As I wasn`t angry at her, only sad.
"N-no. I-it can`t be. You`re alive." She whispered with a tinge of happiness in her voice. Unfornately the whisper went unnoticed by Percy, who was dodging arrows that were being fired by the hunters, who were clearly ticked off by the tone of the boy`s voice. One almost caught him if it weren't for Artemis catching the arrow in her arm. Unluckily, the arrow was poisonous. The hunters stared in shock, disbelief and guilt as Percy ran towards Artemis, who was lying on the grass, looking deathly pale.
Percy reached her with worry written all over his features. He took off the hood he was wearing and tore of his shirt to start to make large strips of cloth to tighten around her shoulder.
"I hope you forgive me and don`t turn me into a jackalope," he said, " but I am going to have to suck the poison out of the blood."
He snapped the shaft of the arrow and took off her silver parka. She blushed slightly at the sight of a half naked man taking of her parka, but then worried about her hunters. There was no sign of them being anywhere near. She looked in the direction of her hunters, only to see a dome of energy. She didn't wonder about it more as Percy carefully took the arrow out of her arm and proceeded to suck the poison out of her blood. The grass around them had a gold tinge from the golden ichor being spit by Percy. Artemis blushed heavily due to the notion of a man sucking a wound on her arm.
Percy reached with his powers to check that no poison was left and cut the bandages that were holding the blood of. He got up and dispelled the energy barrier before Artemis was able to glance over to her Hunters position, which were now running with their bows pointed at the man, though they were not firing.
"Get away from our lady right now, boy, or we will make you." The lieutenant said with barely controlled rage.
" Leave him alone, Thalia. You are to treat him with some respect." Artemis said with an undertone and glare that said,' hurt him in any way or insult him, and I will make Tartarus look like a playground'.
Despite the glare, all her hunters were looking at her with betrayal clearly written in their features.
"Now come on Percy, your coming with us to Olympus right now. Or, if you prefer, I'll chain you up in the wolf's tent, see how they like to have their chew toy again."
Percy paled but looked at Artemis with a sad smile. " I can`t Artemis, look, I have a task to complete, I have to go. It is not my time yet." He said as he walked away.
"No! You are not going away again. I`ve finally found you." She said in a desolate voice.
"I have to. But I will be back when the time is right. Until then, have this." He tossed her a ring that looked to be made of a galaxy and had a silver hunter insignia on it," whenever you need me, pray to the ring. I`ll appear as soon as i can. But I can only appear on dreams."
He began to walk away again and a pitch black portal formed in front of him. He looked back with a sad look before jumping into the portal, the portal and Percy disappearing without a sound.