A. N. : This is my take on a Pertemis story, although as the summary said, the ships are to be defined yet, so it might end up not being one. Please do comment on the pairings you would like to see. It has no Chaos, assassins, Percy with absurd powers or Annabeth being an awful human being and/or dead. It does have an awful lot of OCs and it might have some OOC Artemis and/or Thalia, so I would like to apologize in advance for that.
Disclaimer: Percy Jackson belongs to Rick Riordan. And I'm deeply sorry for the situation these characters will be put in in this fanfic. On that note, this fanfic's later chapters might end up not being Safe for Work, Sanity and/or Life due to sexual situations and/or graphical violence, so read at your own peril. This is a work of fiction and any similarities to real events is pure and simple coincidence. Hopefully.
The huntresses of Artemis were camping in a north-american forest. Their sturdy tents were set in a clearing nearby a clean spring. It was the beginning of winter and the sky was cloudy. Soon it would start to snow. A few huntresses were posted at the perimeter of the camp, keeping watch while others moved around, talking, playing and conducting their shores. The smell of venison came from one of the larger tents as they prepared dinner. The goddess herself was at the camp, inside the bigger tent. She looked like a young adult in her earlier twenties wearing hiking boots, cargo pants and a tracksuit jacket, all her clothing as silver as her almond eyes. Her long brown hair flowed freely behind her back.
In front of her there was a small iron table with a map of the region on it. Across from her stood a man. He was bald and had a burly build, wearing a Kevlar vest over his white dress shirt and brown pants. He was sneering at her, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
— I'm not letting you go near any of my huntresses, Inquisitor. — She said, her tone definitive, glaring at him.
— This is the Church's business now, goddess. — He replied, scorn showing on the last word. She squinted at him.
— She called to us and made the oath. She is my business now, Inquisitor. — She said, letting her disdain for him show on the last word. He groaned and opened his mouth to retort.
— Now, now, Hammer. I'm sure we can reach an agreement. — Said a soft, melodious male voice coming from the side of the tent. The owner of the voice was a smiling man. He was fair skinned, his skin impeccable due to several hours of care each day. The most notable aspect about him, however, wasn't his beautiful skin, his soft voice or the elegant way in which he moved, but his hair, colored a bright sky blue, the same color of his eyes. He wore a dark blue dress shirt with a golden blooming rose embroidered over the right side of his chest and the left side of his torso and black pants with golden embroidered vines, leaves and small flowers on the hem. He gently touched the shoulder of the bald man, who looked at him almost disgusted and shrugged his touch off.
— Lady Artemis. — He said, turning to her as he walked closer to the table. — I don't believe we have met. I'm Hydran of Thorns. — He smiled to her, taking a deep, exaggerated bow.
— No, you aren't. — She said, glaring at him.
— Excuse me? — He asked, raising his head slightly, a playful smile on his lips.
— No one has a name like that. — She said, shifting her weight from one foot to another, uneasy with the situation. The blue haired man laughed, his laughter as melodious as his voice.
— Fair enough. It is true that it isn't my birth name, but it is the one I chose for myself, so I believe it to be my true name. Am I wrong, my lady? — He asked, still bowing. She groaned, looking away from his innocent smile.
— No, you aren't. — She answered with a heavy sigh. He grinned and finally straightened himself from the bow.
— So, with the introduction out of the way, let's discuss business, shall we? — The goddess frowned at these words, glaring at him.
— People and especially my huntresses aren't business to be discussed, mortal. — She said, her tone harsh. Hydran raised his hands in surrender, his grin turning into a sheepish smile.
— Sorry, miss Artemis, it was just a figure of speech. I meant no offence to your or your huntresses. — Her glare didn't get any friendlier, but she relaxed almost imperceptibly at his words. — We just need to talk to your new protégé, is all. — He continued after a few seconds of silence.
— I already told you, I'm not giving her or anyone to the Church. — She said, her glare turning to the bald man. — I remember Salem. — She added, in an accusatory tone so intensive that the man took one step back involuntarily.
— I believe we all remember, and regret, that dreadful business in Salem, my lady. — Hydran said after clearing his throat to get her attention. — Even those of us who weren't there. — He added. The goddess felt a small pang of shame hit her at his words. It was true that she had been weary and angry at the Church since she had heard of what happened at Salem, but that man probably had no fault in it. Probably. She sighed.
— I'm still not letting you take one of my huntresses. — Her tone got a smidge softer. It was still harsh and accusatory, but without edge. — Or anyone, for that matter. — She added as an after thought. Hydran gasped, his eyes widening. He covered his chest with his hands in an exaggerated gesture of surprise and indignation.
— Take her? Heavens, no! No, no, no! — He said, shaking his head vehemently. — We just want to talk to her, is all! — He explained, smiling sheepishly to her. She didn't seem fazed at all by his display of indignation. The goddess closed her eyes, thinking for a few seconds.
— So you just want to talk to her? — She asked the blue haired man, opening her piercing silver eyes, looking directly into his eyes. He nodded. The goddess sighed. — Very well. I will let you talk to her, but under my supervision. And he doesn't get any closer than ten feet from her or any of my huntresses. If either of you try something stupid, I'm killing both of you myself. — She said, her tone definitive. The blue haired man grinned.
— Sounds like a plan!
— Then follow me. — Artemis said, turning around and walking out of the tent. Hydran turned to face the Inquisitor.
— Told you I'd find an agreement, Hammerhead! — The bald man groaned.
— And I told you to not call me that, warlock. — He replied, walking past the blue haired man.
There was a commotion in the camp as the goddess exited the tent followed by the two men, the huntresses coming from all sides to surround them, weapons drawn. The teenagers were uneasy, but one gesture from Artemis made them lower their weapons. They walked until they reached the line of trees farther away from the camp, where a huntress stood alone.
She looked to be in her mid teens and was dressed in the usual silver outfit of the huntresses. The hood of her track suit covered her hair, but a few locks of her short red hair were still visible, covering her eyes. The light of the sun shined on her necklace, a silver pendant with a strange yellow image that looked like an inverted, curly "Y". She gently wiped the hair away from her green eyes, not noticing their approach. She was sitting by a small fire, warming her hands. The goddess cleared her throat from behind and the huntress jumped to her feet, turning around and saluting, her bow fell to the ground in the midst of the movement and she winced, closing her eyes.
— You don't need to salute each time you see me, Heather. — The goddess said, a gentle smile on her lips as she approached the nervous girl, kneeling besides her.
— Sorry, ma'am! I'm… not used to this… — The girl said, slowly opening her eyes. The proximity to the goddess making her even more nervous. She looked from Artemis to the two strangers who stood farther away. The bald man scowled at her, his face as harsh as the snowstorm that approached fast. The blue haired man smiled and waved at her. She looked back at the goddess, a mute question in her eyes. The goddess smiled reassuringly to her and the girl, who was starting to get cold despite the small fire behind her, felt a different kind of warmth filling her body completely, her cheeks flushing with sudden heat.
— Heather, these men want to ask you a few questions… — The goddess whispered to her in a gentle, soothing tone, looking directly into her eyes. — Are you alright with that?
Heather didn't answer. She was mesmerized by the goddess eyes, fascinated with the way they shined like the moon in a clear sky, how those eyes seemed to pierce her, seeing straight to her soul, how the contrast of the silver on the white was beautiful and the fascinating way that they curved slightly upwards at the upper corner, giving the goddess an almost faerie look. She blinked, breaking out of her trance and realizing she had just been asked a question. Flushing with embarrassment, she tried to remember what exactly said question was.
— Sure! — She answered as she remembered, stammering a little, her voice going up a pitch. The goddess smiled reassuringly at her and at that moment Heather was sure that she would do anything that the goddess asked, no matter what. Artemis got up and went over to the two men, nodding her permission to Hydran.
— Hurt her and I'll make sure that your death is slow and painful. — She said to him as he walked closer to the girl.
Heather looked at the approaching man, suddenly weary. She picked up her bow and wrapped her fingers around the silver wood nervously.
— Hello, miss Heather. I'm Hydran of Thorns. A pleasure to meet you. — He said, bowing exaggeratedly to her. She glared at him, uneasy.
— How do you know my name? — She asked hesitantly. His smile grew.
— That is not important right now. What is important is that you answer a question that I have for you, my dear. — He said and looked at Artemis for permission. The goddess looked at her, concerned.
— You don't have to answer if you don't want to, Heather. — She said, making Heather's heart flutter in her chest. Lady Artemis was concerned with her well being! That notion by itself was enough to give her the courage she needed. She gulped and nodded to the goddess, who in turn nodded to Hydran. The man smiled and turned back to the huntress.
— So, Heather, please tell me… What happened to Eli Blackwood? — The man's smile had disappeared and his tone had gotten slightly more serious. Heather's face went white, and she took a step back, feeling just like a recently closed wound had reopened. Eli Blackwood was the name of her brother. They had been happy, living with her mother on their apartment until a week ago.
It had been a pretty normal day at school, but everything changed when she came to the door of the apartment. It was open. That was weird. They never left the door open, especially not in the beginning of winter. She cautiously pushed the door open. Her heart froze with shock with what she saw. Her brother was there, bleeding from several wounds to his chest. He was pinned to the wall by what looked like six spider legs ripped from the main body, three on each side of his chest. His head was slumped over his chest, but he slowly lifted it and looked at her as the creaking of the door filled the silent room. She knew that nightmares of that scene would haunt her to the day of her death as he looked at her, absolute terror in his green eyes.
She looked to his side, where the stairs to the corridor that led to the bedrooms and saw… something there. She wasn't sure what it was, it looked like a giant, formless shadow, taking most of the hallway. But she saw the flash of another of those spider leg looking things amidst the darkness and looked back at her dying brother, desperate.
— Run! — He shouted, although she wasn't sure if she had heard that or just read the word on his lips. So she turned around and ran. Amidst the mist of her tears she ran until her legs gave and she fell. From then until meeting the hunters her memory was hazy, but she remembered that she would get up and run again. She didn't know how long it was since she had been running when she finally had stumbled upon Artemis and her huntresses. They offered her shelter, food and comfort and without thinking, she had decided to join them.
She gulped, feeling the tears start to well up again. She and her brother had always been close and thinking about his death again felt like a stab in the heart. She looked up at the blue haired man.
— It… It wasn't my fault! — She whimpered, looking from him to the bald man, whose face was impassive and unreadable. She looked to Artemis who had taken a step forward, worried. — I… I swear, Miss Artemis! I didn't… I… I couldn't! — She cried out in a pleading tone, feeling the tears starting to run. Her throat clenched, the sound of her heartbeats deafening the world around her as her words turning into cut, desperate begging, the pain of the unleashed feelings of guilt and shame for running away, as well as the loss of someone so close to her heart making her unable to form coherent sentences. She couldn't see the world through the mist of tears.
Suddenly she felt a comforting warmth against her. She blinked her tears away, surprised to see Artemis' hair in front of her. Then the realization hit. The goddess was hugging her! And then her heartbeat wasn't as deafening and she could hear the goddess whispering comforting words in her ear. The girl closed her eyes and buried her face in Artemis' shoulder, hugging the older woman tightly as she felt the goddess' hands rubbing her back, her heartbeat reverberating through her entire body. She didn't know how long they had been like this, but she hoped it would last forever.
But it didn't take long for her to calm down and she couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed when she felt the goddess let go and back away. Artemis smiled reassuringly at her and she tried to smile back, with questionable success. Hydran cleared his throat and both women looked at him. Artemis glared with open hostility while Heather's gaze was more nervous. She felt the hand of the goddess on her shoulder, holding her protectively.
— It was never my intention to imply that you had anything to do with it, miss Heather. — He said, apologetically. — I just wish to know what happened to him, is all. But I see that the memory is painful, so I think it is for the best that we leave you alone, miss Heather. — He finished with a deep bow. The bald man still looked unfazed, his harsh glare not disappearing for a second, but didn't disagree. Artemis let go of her shoulder.
— I'll escort you two out. — She said, getting up. The men nodded. The three of them started to walk away and Heather sighed in relief. Then she felt something slender and flexible like a vine wrapping around her waist from behind. She screamed in surprise, gripping her bow tightly and turning around to hit what had grabbed her. She stopped in her tracks, her face freezing in horror.
She was face to face with a mannequin. Its face had painted eyes and a smiling mouth, making it look like it was wearing a painted comedy mask. There was something very disturbing about the way that thing tilted its head to the side, as if curiously examining her. Several black tentacles were sprouting out of its back, one of them had wrapped itself around her waist and now was pulling her even closer to the mannequin. She pressed her hands against its chest and pushed, trying to break free, to no avail. That creature had an unholy strength and didn't even seem fazed by her efforts, not even when she drove the end of her bow against its face several times. She then tried attacking the tentacle holding her, but again the mannequin didn't seem to feel it at all.
There was a flash of silver at the side of her vision and she gasped as she saw a silver arrow embed itself deep into the head of the thing. She looked behind her and saw Lady Artemis in one knee with bow in hand, drawing another arrow from the quiver at her back. At her side were the two men. The bald one had a silver chain wrapped on one hand and with the other was carrying a sledgehammer, running in her direction. Hydran was unarmed, but also running to her. Behind the goddess, she saw the other huntresses approaching and kneeling, readying to take shots. Artemis shouted for them to wait, the chance of hitting her were too big for them to fire securely.
She heard an awful, inhuman cracking sound as the mannequin's mouth split open. It seemed like it was ripped open by a cutting knife, looking more like the mouth of a Jack-O'-Lantern. Both men that were running in their direction paled at this. The mannequin lifted its head, looking at the sky. She saw the blue haired man cover his ears and throw himself to the ground as the bald one seemed to brace himself. She wondered why they did that for a second. On the next, she lost consciousness.
An extremely loud, eardrum-piercing shriek filled the air. It was more of a feeling than a sound. It felt like a jackhammer trying to split your head open and almost succeeding. But not quite. It filled the mind with pain, leaving everyone that heard it unable to process sound or image or to even move, leaving them deaf, blind and immobile. Artemis winced, gritting her teeth at the unearthly sound. She looked around and saw all of her huntresses on the ground, groaning in pain. Hydran was getting up and the bald man was shaking his head, slapping his own ears. The mannequin turned around and started to run away from them. She couldn't put her finger on exactly why, but there was something profoundly disturbing on the way it moved. It seemed… unnatural. Alien, somehow. But the sheer speed of its movements was the most unsettling of all. In seconds it was yards away, leaving the forest they were in. She knew where it was heading too, a larger and denser forest a few hundred yards away from them. She wasn't sure even she would be able to track it down if it got there.
— Fucking banshees! It's fleeing! After it, Theo! — Hydran shouted, starting to run after the mannequin. The bald man followed close, the heavy armor he wore not seeming to interfere in anyway with his speed.
Artemis looked past them, at the mannequin, the arrow still embedded deep on its head, carrying an unconscious Heather away, to the edge of the forest a few dozen yards away. She took a heavy breath and drew another arrow. She glared at her target and got on one knee. She lined up the shot, her hands moving to track its movements with practiced ease, the calculations for distance, speed, weight, resistance of the air, wind speed and so many other factors that influenced in the shot done in a matter of seconds by her brain. She let go of the arrow as she felt the tip of the feather touch her shoulder.
There was a satisfying crack as the arrow left the bow and started flying. She had put five more in the air before the first was in the middle of its flight. Less than a second later it met its target: the tentacle holding Heather. A split moment later the other arrows met the other tentacles, severing them completely. It was clear to her that the mannequin wouldn't be detained by anything apart from complete destruction of limbs, and it would take a while even for her to be able to do that. Besides, her focus right now was to save Heather. She saw the girl fall with a piece of the tentacle still wrapped around her waist, looked back at her huntresses, still recovering from the wail, and started running towards the unconscious girl, easily outrunning the two men, who seemed to be almost out of breath. The mannequin turned its head around one hundred and eighty degrees, looking straight at her, then at Heather, before its head twisted back to its original place. The goddess winced at just how unnatural that movement was, but didn't slow down her legs.
Thalia Grace was in pain. That wasn't new to her, she had been hurt before, both physically and emotionally. But this kind of mind numbing, thought splitting pain was something she hadn't experience before and really wish she wouldn't have to again. She blinked, trying to push away the bright flashes that obstructed her vision. Her ears were still hurting, the echoes of that unholy scream deafening the world around her. Suddenly she felt more than saw or heard movement at her side. She didn't know how, but she knew it was Lady Artemis getting up. She felt her Lady start running forwards, towards the horrible thing.
She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, forcing herself to get to her feet. She almost fell, but shook her head and stood on her feet. She was the lieutenant of Lady Artemis and wasn't about to disappoint her! So she started walking. She didn't really know where she was going, but she could feel the direction that the goddess had followed and so, shambled in her tracks with some difficulty.
— It's gaining on us! — Hydran shouted to Theo in between heavy breaths. — Can't you bind it with your silver chain? — He asked, frustrated. Theo shook his head.
— Can't while moving. Too far away to stop. — Theo answered laconically.
— Shit! Alright, time for plan B! — He shouted, picking up a small bag from his pocket. They were almost to the unconscious girl now. The goddess of the Hunt was already there, gently holding Heather. The goddess looked up as she heard them approaching and was surprised to see Thalia right behind them. The huntress had already mostly recovered, although her movements were still a little stiff. Even so, she had been able to outrun the two men with relative ease.
Thalia got to her at the same time the two men did. She stopped by her as the two continued running after the mannequin. Lady Artemis looked at her and smiled.
— Thalia, I need you to take Heather back to the medical tent with the other huntresses. Double the patrols and reinforce the perimeters. — She ordered, getting up and handing Heather to her lieutenant.
Thalia nodded.
— Yes, ma'am! And what about you? — She asked, her strong hands lifting the unconscious body with ease. Lady Artemis turned to the direction the two men were running, seeing the mannequin in the distance.
— I'm going to bring down that thing. Whatever it is. — The goddess answered, starting to run towards it while Thalia turned around.
— Hey, my lady, can you shoot down a small bag like this in mid flight far away? — Hydran asked, seeing the goddess approaching from behind. She scoffed.
— Can you walk on two legs, mortal? — She answered him and he smiled.
— I need your strong arm, Theo! — Hydran said. He thought for a few seconds and threw the bag forward and to his right, in the direction of Theo. The bald man started counting.
One.
Two.
Three.
His left foot hit the ground and the bag was right in front of him. He picked it up with his right hand.
Four.
The tip of his right foot hit the ground. Before his heel touched the soil, he spun, turning the entire movement into a spin in a flowing motion. Mid spin he saw the goddess get on one knee and ready her bow, drawing an arrow.
Five.
He extended his arm and let go. The bag flew far away, propelled by the momentum he had built up. Artemis held her breath, taking aim. There was a reassuring snap as the arrow left the bow.
The arrow flew, meeting the bag just as it was starting to come down. The goddess watched expectantly.
Nothing happened. The bag fell inoffensively a few yards in front of the mannequin, who seemed to follow its movements. Again the thing turned its head one hundred and eighty degrees. Its expression didn't change, but Artemis was sure that it was laughing, if it was even capable of that. Both men came to a halt. She stopped as well, looking questioningly at Hydran.
The blue haired man smirked.
— Laugh while you can, you son of a bitch. — He said, crossing his arms over his chest, slightly bending over and closing her eyes. He started counting.
One.
The thing drew closer to where the bag had fallen. Slowing down as it saw that its pursuers had stopped.
Two.
Closer still, but not quite. Now it was moving almost humanly slow.
Three.
It was a hundred yards from the trees, but barely a foot away from where the bag had fallen.
— Got you, asshole! — Hydran cried out, opening his eyes and spreading his arms out. — Bloom, my garden!
Artemis saw something at least unexpected happen. Below the mannequin, she saw several vines burst from the ground, quickly forming bushes around the thing and spreading in all directions, until the creature was in a field of thorny bushes that extended one hundred yards in all directions, trapping the being in its midst and coming to a sudden halt a few feet away from them. Then white roses started to sprout all over the vines, completely covering the thorns. The air was filled by their sweet, delicate scent. The white roses were all closed.
The mannequin looked around, seeing that it was suddenly in the midst of a sea of flowers. It tilted its head to the side before shrugging and restarting to run in the direction of the forest, mere one hundred yards away from it. There was a loud crack and the mannequin looked down, surprised. The crack came from its own porcelain skin. Vines had wrapped around its ankles and its thorns had pierced the porcelain, going inside it. The mannequin tried to keep moving, but now its movement was impaired by the persistent thorn bushes and it had to stomp and kick to make way, its run slowed to the pace of a stroll.
Theo looked over to Hydran, who had his left hand closed in a fist in front of his body, seemingly very satisfied with himself. He backed away a few feet from the rose patch, noticing that Lady Artemis, too, had backed away from it. He nodded to himself, approvingly. That lady was smart.
Hydran smiled, seeing the mannequin trying to stomp its way out of the rose patch. He looked at the roses, seeing that they had somehow gained a slightly rose coloration and were now a light pink. As he watched, the roses took a light orange coloration.
He lifted his closed left hand and tightened his fingers, as if crushing something between them and his palm. Several vines lifted up from the bed of roses and wrapped around the thing's arms, loud cracks echoing around as the thorns broke the porcelain, fixating the grip of the vines on the trapped being. It was struggling against them, but its movements were growing slow and sluggish, almost lazy. The roses were now a bright pink. They were all still closed.
Hydran lifted his right hand and several vines followed his movements, their green brighter and livelier than before. He closed his hand, as if strangling something and with a loud snap the lifted vines wrapped themselves around the mannequin's neck, the porcelain again being broken by the thorns. Hydran grinned and crossed his arms over his chest, bringing them closer to him until they touched his chest.
The vines around the being trapped started to pull it down. It struggled, but it was getting weaker and slower. Soon it was dragged down and disappeared beneath the now crimson but still closed roses.
Hydran kept his arms close to his chest, his hands balled into fists.
The now blood red roses bloomed all at the same time, filling the air with their sweet scent. Hydran smiled, opening his arms.
— And down it goes. It's safe now, they've had their fill. — He said, turning to look at Theo.
The bald man looked at Hydran, then at the roses, then back at the blue haired man. He didn't seem happy.
— I know you far too well to believe you. Not a fucking chance in hell I come less than a flamethrower's breath away from those things. — He said, glaring at Hydran, who laughed.
— Fair enough! I'll go, then. — Hydran said, walking over to the rose field. The flowers moved as if swept by a breeze, but there was no wind blowing there at the moment. He smiled as he approached and the roses parted way for him in a seemingly natural movement. Soon he was back with the body of the mannequin in his arms. He let it down in front of Theo.
— So this is what happened to Eli Blackwood. — Theo said, bowing his head a little.
— At least now he is at peace. — Hydran replied, also bowing his head. They stood in silence with their eyes closed for a few moments. — Will you burn the body now, Theo? — He asked after the moment of silence was gone, his face betraying no emotion. Theo nodded, his face not showing any emotion either. They looked at Artemis, to see if she would oppose. The goddess shrugged and Theo nodded.
Theo picked the body of Eli Blackwood up and walked away.
— I think it would be for the best if miss Heather doesn't find out what happened to her brother. I'm not sure she would take these facts well, ma'am… — Hydran started, turning to face Artemis. He was interrupted by her aiming an arrow right between his eyes at point blank range.
— You have a lot of explaining to do, Demon Rose. — She said.
The Demon Rose, Hydran of Thorns, was taken aback by that. He didn't realize that she knew of him. He sighed. That could be potentially problematic.
A. N. : I apologize for the distinct lack of Percy on this chapter, but I promise that he will be along soon. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please do comment.