DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN PERCY JACKSON OR RELATED CHARACTERS.

PROLOGUE.

The wind whistled a sad and lonely tune. The leaves rustled, the creatures of the night stood rooted in their tracks. The weather, sullen. Here, on a dark and lonely night a hooded woman burst through the clearing. Her features though hidden were resonant. Her body even seemed to glow in the moonlight. Cradled in her arms was a child. Swathed in a silver cloth, it slept peacefully. Its head lying close to the woman's heart. Her heartbeat rhythmic and lulling. The woman nestled the child softly on the ground. Underneath the hood tears flowed.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

For who? The question rang in her mind. Herself or the child? She bent slowly and kissed the child on its forehead. At the instant the child opened its eyes. Silver with streaks of emerald green against pure silver that shone in the dark. The child raised its hand and caressed its mother's cheek.

"I'm sorry," she said again conflicted.

She reached into her cloak and pulled out a silver dagger. The blade shone ethereally in the moonlight pulsing with a life of its own. Its handle was ornately carved in the shape of a wolf. She placed it in a silver sheath and placed it next to the child. Slowly she retreated backwards. The child instinctively reached for its mother. She turned her back to it. Its cries reverberated through the forest. She walked away. She had to. She had no choice. She disappeared into the forest. Leaving her child behind, her hope, her spark. Her life.

CHAPTER 1.

The village had been reduced to ashes. Strewn around the streets were bodies. Some charred others eaten. The very aura of death clung to the earth suffocating whatever life had remained. A wail of panic rang in the air as a girl with copper-colored skin and long dark hair. Raced across the streets often tripping over dead bodies. Her garment stained red with blood. Her arms and legs cut in multiple places. Her face black with dirt and her eyes dark brown filled with fear. Her pursuer sadistically enjoying her pathetic attempts at escaping him or rather it.

The girl ran on and tripped landing face first into the ground. Struggling to get to her feet she raised her head and saw it. A monster. Two hundred feet, scales that shined in then wickedly in the night. But the eyes held her. Suddenly her body shut down. Every thought of fleeing escaping her mind. The drakon stared at her and slowly advanced. She stared at it. Her body numb, here she would die. Her mind flew far and she remembered how life had been. Amongst her sisters, her mother, her father. The garden. Her pet. She'd sacrificed all for him and this was the consequence. Death. Far from home, far from family. The beast barred it teeth, raised its head for the kill. She closed her eyes and waited.

The silent whistle of an arrow caught her ear and she opened her eyes to see an arrow embedded firmly in one of the drakon's eyes. Another struck the other eye it tip lit with a green flame, Greek fire. The creature wailed loudly. It body slowly dissolving into dust. She looked around frantic for the archer. Her savior.

"Hello there,'' the voice came from behind her. She jumped. Taking a look at archer. She was surprised. He was fairly tall, a bit muscular. His features were fine, godly even. He was handsome, very handsome she would later admit. But what really drew her to him were the eyes. A pulsing grey with streaks of emerald green.

"My name is Perseus. What is yours?"

She would later tell him here name once they had left the village. Currently they walked through the forest the boy moving swiftly ahead of her. Clearing the path and aiding her when necessary. They came across a clearing. Here they rested for a while.

"Excuse me fair maiden. May I tend to your wounds?" he'd asked politely.

She'd nodded stiffly. He reached out for arm grabbing it at the elbow. Instinctively she'd withdrawn it out of fear.

"I mean you no harm," he'd said reassuringly. He reached into a bag slung over his shoulder and pulled out a silver vial.

"Here drink," he'd offered it to her. She glanced at the vial suspiciously. Then she'd remembered the kindness the boy had shown throughout their encounter. Hesitantly she accepted the vial and took a sip. The heavenly taste of apples filled her mouth. Nectar, she'd realized and swallowed every last drop of it. Somewhat greedily. Ashamed she hid her face behind her hands. He chuckled and pulled out two cubes from the bag and offered them to her. She went slow with these ones. Slowly the wounds on her hands and feet healed. Those that ran too deep left only faint scars on her copper skin. He gone to hunt and returned with two plump rabbits and a handful of wild fruits. He'd skinned them surgically and roasted them over a fire. He'd pulled some bread from his bag and they'd eaten she taking the lion's share. Fed, rested and clothed she sat to face the sun sinking reluctantly in the west. He came and sat next to her his features glimmering in the sun's last rays.

"So tell me. What brings a daughter of Atlas this far out?"

Her pulse raced. How had he known?

"No need to worry I am just being inquisitive?" he told her.

Slowly and painfully she'd recounted her story. How blinded by love she'd helped the son of Zeus trick her father into getting apples from the garden. Consequently her sisters had banished her from the garden. Disgraced and humiliated she'd wandered to and from towns, cities. She'd broken down and wept for herself. Her susceptibility had led to her ruin. He'd comforted her.

"What of you? Where do you come from?" she'd asked.

At the instant his eyes went far away.

"Mine is a story you will learn another day, fair maiden," he'd responded. She wanted to press harder but found herself incapable of doing so there was sadness in his voice that firmly stopped her. She'd slept on his chest facing a starry night. They'd pointed out each other's favorite constellations. They'd spent a week together magically. He said he had to leave. He had places to, go creatures to hunt. She wanted to join to join but he had refused firmly it was far too dangerous for her he would not accept. "We will meet again Zoe Nightshade. I assure you of that."