Part 2: Daughter of the Hunt.

The news soon spread throughout the camp that Jackie had been claimed by the goddess Artemis. There was many arguments and theories, but no one could settle on one being the truth.

The camp continued to argue about it days later in the dining pavilion during dinner.

Chiron tried to calm down the campers, but it was no use.

Suddenly, an Iris message opened on the wall of the pavilion. Artemis could be seen on the other side of it.

Chiron bowed. "Lady Artemis, an honour. What is the reason for your call?"

Artemis's expression turned grim. "Chiron, I am calling about Jacqueline. I would like to clear up some rumours flying around.

Jacqueline is not my daughter. Yes, I claimed her, but she is not my daughter.

During a hunt some years ago, two of my Huntresses were killed by a hellhound. Instead of letting them die, I used their two souls to create one. That soul is Jacqueline.

She did not have a mortal parent, so I named her according to the names of the fallen who gave their souls to give her life. Their names were Jacqueline and Emma, so they became her first and middle names. Her surname is Hunt.

So, you see, she is not my daughter. She is the Daughter of the Hunt, so I ask that she is treated as you would treat one of the maidens."

Chiron nodded. "Thank you, Lady Artemis, for clearing that up for us."

Artemis nodded. "And, Chiron. Let the girl stay in whatever cabin she chooses. I don't want her to be alone again. Also, Thalia is bringing the Hunt to camp in a few days, so the maidens can meet who was once their comrades."

Chiron nodded. "Very well. We shall welcome them with open arms."

"Very good. I may accompany them, so I may see you again soon. Goodbye, Chiron."

"Goodbye, Artemis."

The Iris message faded, but the campers remained silent.

Chiron turned towards them. "There you are. Spoken from the lips of Artemis herself.

And, Clarisse, I would like to see you directly after the others have left, since you did not come to the Big House last night."

Clarisse nodded, her expression grave. She had avoided punishment last night, but she couldn't escape it forever.

The other campers dispersed, but Clarisse remained, just as Chiron ordered.

The old centaur stood next to Clarisse. "You do understand what you did wrong, don't you?"

"I fatally wounded another camper during what was meant to be a fun game." She said, almost regretfully.

"I was going to punish you, Clarisse, but I think you understand what you did wrong. I think you owe Jackie an apology and maybe a little something else, but I'll let you decide what."

Chiron passed her a bag of golden drachmas. "This is to pay for it. Choose wisely."

Chiron trotted off, leaving Clarisse to sit with her thoughts before going back to her cabin.

Jackie had been staying in the Big House ever since being claimed but was moved back into the cabins that night.

She found the Aphrodite cabin too noisy, so moved to the Hades cabin, giving Nico a surprise when he opened the door and discovered another sleeping bag on one of the bunks.

There was a note on his own pillow.

It read:

Hi, Nico. I hope you don't mind me bunking in the Hades cabin now. The

Aphrodite kids were starting to give me a headache, but I don't want to be alone.

I just went down to the beach to clear my head. I'll be back later.

From, Jackie.

Nico smiled. A roommate at last.

Jackie arrived back in the cabin almost fifteen minutes later. Nico was sitting on his bunk, reading a comic book.

"Hey, you're back! I want to talk to you."

Jackie nodded. "Ok."

"Look, about you moving in… thanks. I really wanted some company."

Jackie was a little surprised. "Ah… your welcome, Nico."

Nico nodded towards her bag, which was sitting on her bunk. "Why do you have such a huge bag?"

Jackie unzipped the large bag. "I had to bring something special with me…"

She pulled out another bag. Inside was a white and silver camouflage jacket, in the same cropped style as her black leather jacket, as well as a pair of white cargo pants, white tights, another white shirt identical to the one she usually wore and a pair of white leather biker boots with a sheath on the side for a knife and silver laces.

"My last foster carer gave these clothes to me, saying that they were from my mother. I kept them safe while I was traveling and didn't wear them, just in case. I guess she wants me to join the Hunt and become a maiden forever. But…"

Nico frowned. "But what?"

"But I don't want to be a maiden forever. At least, not yet. I wish I was older, just by three or four years, that way I wouldn't be too young to keep up with the others and too small to properly fight a monster. If I am to join the Hunt, I want to be a Huntress, not just a packhorse."

Nico nodded. "I could help you with that."

"Huh?"

"I can train you to fight as well as, or better than, me. Then, I could get Percy to train you further, to hone your skills and file off any rough edges I might've left behind after my training. That is, if you're willing to put in the work?"

Jackie nodded. "Sure. I'll do anything to earn more time."

Nico nodded, smiling happily. "We start tomorrow."

The next day…

Jackie parried Nico's sword blow for what seemed like the millionth time that day.

"Lean back less when catching a blow on your blade like that, or you'll get injured more easily." Nico called.

Jackie shoved upwards as hard as she could, throwing Nico off balance so that he landed on his back on the forest floor. She put the tip of her blade gently on the skin between his eyes, as to not actually cut him. "Checkmate."

She took a step back and helped him up. "Well done." He said, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "That's the third time you've beat me. I don't think it's beginner's luck anymore."

"Gee, thanks."

"No, what I mean is…"

Jackie chuckled lightly. "I know what you mean, Nico, it's okay."

Nico laughed with her as they walked back towards the cabins. The weather was warm and pleasant, a little hot to be dressed in jackets like the pair were, but still okay.

A few campers were battling a large, green sea monster in the lake, a few were playing volleyball, but most were just walking around or practicing sword manoevers.

Jackie's sword techniques were becoming more refined, but her knife technique would never change. She was a berserker with knives, there was no changing that.

The day was sleepy and slow, a rare treat for the half-bloods, especially since they'd fought Gaia only one year ago.

Festus, Leo's bronze dragon, was flying high above the camp as a scout. Suddenly a piercing shriek sounded across the camp. A monster of substancial size had entered camp and was heading towards the campers.

A loud siren sounded and everyone grabbed weapons and suited up in armour.

Jackie and Nico exchanged nervous glances and headed towards where the monster had entered camp.

They were amoung the first to arrive, only to be shocked at what they saw. Three dead cyclopes, shot full of silver arrows and only just starting to disintegrate.

A girl dressed in the same attire as Jackie, the white and silver of the Hunt but with a silver circlet around her head, stepped forward.

"Jeez, talk about a warm welcome. We've been hunting this lot for days… Oh, hi! I'm Thalia Grace, leader of the Hunters of Artemis."

Jackie was shocked. Most of the girls were no older than her, ranging from about 12, to 18 or 19.

Thalia led the Hunters up the hill. The male campers kept their eyes on the Hunters, but only from a safe distance. They knew what happened when they dared to approach to close.

Thalia looked up at Chiron. "It seems your campers have either learned their lesson from the last Hunter visit, or their all scared."

"I think they just learned their lesson, Thalia, no more cheeky comments please."

Annabeth ran over to Thalia and both started talking nineteen to a dozen.

Percy hugged Thalia too, but kissed Annabeth on the cheek.

Thalia smiled. "Well done, Percy, you chose wisely… Right, to business. Where's Jackie?"

Annabeth looked around. "Hades cabin with Nico."

Thalia raised an eyebrow. "Um, is that allowed?"

Percy held up a hand. "Nico would not cheat on Will."

Thalia nodded. "Ah, okay… Will? No! Don't answer, 'cause I never asked!"

Annabeth laughed and led Thalia over to the dark cabin. She knocked loudly. "Jackie!"

"I'm not coming out, so you can just take your fancy Hunters and stuff them…"

Annabeth kicked the door open. "Jackie! How dare…"

Jackie lunged at Annabeth, her knives outstretched, but Thalia knocked the blades away, but couldn't stop Jackie as she ran outside.

Nico shrugged. "I'm not a part of this."

Thalia called on three of her Hunters and took off after Jackie, who had run towards the lake where Percy was teaching some campers paddleboarding.

"Percy! You gotta help me. I don't want to become a maiden forever, please help!" She yelled, trying to hide behind Percy's back.

"There's a better way to hide, you do now that." He said, grabbing her wrist.

"What's that?"

"Hold your breath!"

Percy leapt into the lake, taking Jackie with him. A large bubble surrounded them and hid them in a thick kelp forest.

Percy turned towards her. "Why don't you want to be a Hunter?"

"I don't want to be a maiden forever. I want to be able to fall in love with someone one day. I won't be ruled over with their stupid pledge and rules. I won't!"

Percy gave her a look of pity. "I'm sorry, but there is no other way."

Jackie was ready to cry. "No! Don't take me back up there! Don't! Percy!"

The bubble began to rise slowly, but Jackie had other plans. She ripped her knife through the thin membrane, shocking Percy for long enough to start swimming away through the kelp forest.

Her chest was burning. She needed oxygen, and fast.

The sand on the beach was warm and soft beneath Jackie's hands as she crawled up the dunes, coughing and spitting.

Percy soon arrived, encircled in a large ammount of water that seemed to carry him.

"Hey, I know you don't want to go with them, but Thalia is kind and she will make sure you have friends."

"No she won't. She'll act just like the campers. She'll forget I even exist until I'm no longer there to do her work. Then she'll go trap another pitiful girl in her trap."

Percy gave her another look of pity. "I'm taking you back. I don't like it either, but it's the rules."

Another grip of water appeared beside Percy's and encircled Jackie's waist.

She began to cry. Percy made the water pull her close so he could hug her. "I'm sorry."

Soon she was back on the pier, her clothes were dry and so was her hair, but her cheeks remained damp from crying.

Thalia gave her a trying glance. "You can't run away from the Hunters of…"

"I can run away from you just fine. I just can't trust anyone to help me."

Jackie shot Percy and Annabeth a dirty look as she was led back towards camp.

Her trench knives remained in their sheaths, but not the khopesh.

Jackie spun the khopesh in a deadly arc as she unsheathed it, cutting the heads of the Hunters that surrunded her.

Thalia yelled and drew her hunting knives. "Di Immortales, girl, don't you ever give up?!"

Jackie gritted her teeth and smashed her khopesh into Thalia's knives over and over again, knocking the older girl back by several feet with each strike.

Thalia grunted. "Chiron warned me that you were strong. Should've listened to him, eh?"

Thalia shoved back from under Jackie's blade, but found that the height difference between them made it impossible to knock Jackie over. She was just too tall to make any difference to the younger girls balance.

Jackie, instead, jumped backwards to counteract the shock from the Huntresses shunt, then running forward and lunging at the Hunters chest and abdomen, using the length of her blade to her advantage.

Thalia stepped back lightly. If she hadn't, she would've been squewered. Jackie overcorrected when she pulled back from the failed lunge, almost falling over, but correcting with a well-timed and awesome backflip.

Suddenly, there was a yell from the crowd. "ENOUGH!"

Chiron stepped forward, carrying a young Huntress on his back. Lady Artemis.

The goddess jumped down from Chiron's back, subconsciously stroking him before walking towards the pair of fighters.

"I come to see if I have gained a new Huntress." Exclaimed Artemis, almost sadly. "And I find my own Liutenant fighting with my Claimed. Thalia Grace, what were you thinking?"

Thalia bowed her head. "She ran away from us. When we recaptured her, she attacked other Hunters and…"

"Did you just say RECAPTURED?!" Cried Artemis, almost unable to believe her ears.

"She ran away, My Lady! We had to get her back here to talk to her."

"SO YOU CAPTURED HER LIKE AN ANIMAL?!"

"My Lady, you are mistaken…"

"Oh, I don't think I am, Thalia." Suddenly, the goddesses voice was soft and dangerous. "You frightened her with those cyclopses when you made the 'immpressive' entance. Just with that, you made her believe that the Hunters of Artemis are about killing and maimining monsters and glory in battle."

Thalia stood straight, rooted to the spot. "No… I-I didn't mean it like…"

"We are about cooperation, bravery and helping young girls and women achieve things they never thought possible.

Thalia Grace. You are no longer worthy of the rank liutenant. Nor are you worthy of calling yourself a Huntress."

The crowds stared in horror as Artemis summoned her bow to her hand and drew a silver arrow from her quiver.

She was about to fire, when Thalia felt something grasp her arm.

Jackie was clinging to Thalia's arm, a look of terror in her eyes. "Stop!"

Artemis lowered her bow. "Jacqueline? What's the matter?"

"Thalia may not be worthy of being a Huntress in your eyes, but to me she's worthy of taking your place on Olympus!"

Artemis stared in shock and the girl's sudden outburst. "Pardon?"

"Thalia is braver than anyone I've ever seen. She has just been stripped from her duty as a Huntress, but she stands tall, even though you have drawn an arrow to her. She has just shown me what the Hunters of Artemis are all about. I want to be a Hunter."

The crowds gasped. Artemis's stare grew more intense, but she slung her bow over her shoulder all the same.

Thalia turned as white as a ghost at Jackie's words, but started to blush as she realised it was a compliment.

Jackie followed at Thalia's heels all the way back to the Artemis cabin in camp.

The inside of the cabin was decorated with the skins of many different animals, all of them rare and beautiful.

Jackie followed Thalia to the corner, where cushions had been piled up to make a wonderful sitting place.

"You didn't have to save me, you do understand that." Thalia said staring at the floor.

"Yeah, but I wasn't going to stand by and watch, now was I?" Said Jackie, sitting down next to Thalia.

"Ok, but do you really want to be a Huntress?"

"Maybe…"

Artemis entered the cabin. "Jackie, are you ready to become a Hunter?"

"I'm not so sure anymore... It would be fun, but I feel that I still have some life I want to live first."

Artemis thought for a minute. "I could offer you the pledge, but a little different. I can offer you the immortality and strength of the Hunters, but it will still appear that you are growing. And… I will allow you to fall in love. Once."

Jackie stared at the goddess. "You mean it? You really mean it?!"

"Yes. You can choose when you stop growing. But, once you fall in love once, you can't have another try. One boy or man only."

Jackie stared at the goddess, still shocked. "Really?"

"Really."

Jackie nodded. "I'll agree to that."

Artemis told Jackie the pledge and Jackie repeated it.

Finally, Jackie was a Hunter. Just a little different.

Exiting the cabin, Jackie was stared at by nearly everyone in the camp, which she didn't like.

Nico walked up to her. "So… you're a Hunter now, I guess."

"Is something wrong with that?"

"My sister, Bianca, was a Huntress. She died just days after stating the pledge."

"I'm sorry, Nico. But it was my duty."

Nico nodded. "I know. But I don't want to lose another sister."

"Pardon?"

Nico smiled softly. "The two girls that died, Emma and Jacqueline, the two souls that became you. Do you know why they died?"

"A hellhound attacked them, right?"

Nico nodded. "They were both children of Hades from thoudands of years ago. That's why the hellhound attacked them. They smelled like its home!"

Jackie let this sink in. "Which is why the hellhound attacked me in the forest!"

Nico nodded. "So, technically speaking, you'd be my sister."

Jackie laughed. "You need a brother, mate, you've got too many sisters."

"I don't mind. Hades will recognise me more if I'm the only boy."

"Good plan, bro."

The pair walked towards the dining pavilion, exclaiming how excited they were about Nico's discovery.

Everyone else was already tucking into lunch, including the Hunters, when Jackie and Nico entered.

All eyes followed the pair as they sat down at their table and began to eat, still talking between mouthfuls.

Thalia got up and walked over to their table. "Nico… why are you so interested in talking to Jackie? Aren't you normally antisocial towards the Hunters?"

Nico nodded. "But this is my sister."

Thalia frowned. "Bianca died… Hazel is at Camp Jupiter… what are you talking about?"

Nico nodded towards the Artemis table. "Some other Hunters told me about Jacqueline and Emma, the two Hunters that died. The hellhound attacked them because they were both children of Hades. That makes Jackie my half sister."

Thalia nodded. "Very well."

Thalia walked back to her own table and a few minutes passed before the pair were disturbed again.

Clarisse walked over, a nervous expression on her face. "Hey, Jackie? Can I talk to you please?"

Jackie gave Nico a terrified look, but stood all the same. Clarisse looked down at her worn old combat boots. "Um, about the CTF thing… I wanted to say sorry."

"Apology accepted, please don't do it again." Said Jackie looking at her own black boots.

Clarisse handed her a long, narrow box. "This is to say sorry. I heard from a Hunter that you were Hades kid, so I got you this."

Jackie took the box gingerly. "You sure this isn't a bomb?"

"I'm sure."

Jackie pulled the tape off the box and opened the tabs. Inside the box was a Stygian iron axe, three feet long and razor tipped.

"Wow, Clarisse, I don't know what to say… thank you…"

Jackie then did the normally unforgivable. She put her arms around Clarisse's shoulders, standing on tip toe to hug the taller camper.

Clarisse was stunned at first, but then hugged the young Huntress back.

Jackie let go after a minute so Clarisse could go back to her table, blushing bright crimson after the hug.

Jackie sat down next to Nico, allowing him to examine the axe. "This isn't pure Stygian iron. It's a blend of Celestial bronze and Stygian iron mixed into one, you can see the bronze flecks running through it. It's useful, but slightly showy."

Jackie gripped the strap attatched to the handle, slinging the deadly weapon over her shoulder, adding it to her collection. "I'll attatch it to my khopesh sheath later."

They ate the rest of their lunch, then left the pavilion to check the guard-rotation roster.

"Damn, we're next." Growled Nico.

Jackie patted his shoulder gently. "Let's take some snacks out with us. We're with Connor and Travis Stoll, so leave your wallet in the cabin."

"And lock the door." Added Nico, making both of them laugh.

Guard duty was normally very boring, but Nico and Jackie took a pack of cards out to pass the time. Soon, they only had five minutes left, with no incidents or missing belongings.

Suddenly, there was a low rumbling in the forest nearby. Nico drew hi sword and called for the Stolls, who appeared from the opposite direction, their usual cheeky grins replaced with grave expressions.

Jackie pulled her khopesh from it's sheath. "Let's go."

They crept forward, only to find themselves face-to-face with a hooded camper.

"Oi! What are you doing?!" Yelled Jackie.

The camper turned, only to reveal that they were wearing a mask over their face. A huge hole opened in the ground behind him and out leapt…

"A hellhound!" Screamed Jackie, dodging aside as it ran towards the small group. Connor tried to slash at it with his sword, but got his arm cut by a claw instead.

Nico charged the beast, trying to stab it, but he missed and got batted aside as the beast turned on Jackie instead.

The pit was behind it as it moved towards her. "If I can get it to move backwards, it will fall into the hole."

She stepped forward, glaring at the huge mutt with her fiercest face. It gave her a quick second glance. She continued to advance towards it.

Jackie roared, charging forward. The roar, which she thought would sound like a terrified scream, turned out to sound like an angry lioness protecting her cubs.

The hellhound stepped back slowly as Jackie moved towards it, followed by Nico, who had recovered from hitting the tree.

The beast's back foot hit the side of the pit. It looked down nervously, then back at the advancing demigods. It chose wisely, turning and diving headfirst into the pit.

Nico gave a cheer. "We did it! We did…"

Obviously, the hooded demigod didn't enjoy his hellhound running away. He picked up a large branch and threw it striaght at the two children of Hades, then turned and fled into the forest.

The branch hit Jackie square in the head, knocking her forward into the pit!

Nico cried out and ran to the edge of the hole, looking down to find Jackie clutching onto a small ledge.

"Grab my hand! I pull you up!" He yelled reaching out to her.

She shook her head softly. "I can't…. I can barely hold on… Any slight movement could cause me to fall."

Nico saw the Stoll brothers running towards them. "Hold on! The Stolls will know what to do."

Then he saw it. Blood, dripping from the back of her head. Her face was covered in sweat and very pale. She was about to faint.

Nico made a dangerous move and crawled forward, hanging half into the pit, so the he coud grab her wrist.

He felt Travis grab his ankles, pulling him back inch by inch. Jackie looked up at him. "Nico…"

She put her finger too her lips, kissing it gently, then reached up and touched it to the inside of Nico's wrist. "Fate is calling me, Nico, I must go."

She let go of his wrist, but he couldn't let go… couldn't let her fall.

"It might not go to the Underworld! You could fall into Tartarus!" He screamed down to her, pulling her up half a foot in the process. The sweat on her wrist made it hard to keep his grip on her arm.

Suddenly, she slipped, catching her fingers in his, just for a second. "See you down there… brother."

She smiled softly as she fell. Nico howled like a wounded animal, crying harder than ever before.

A small group of demigods, led by Will Solace, ran towards them, watching the pit close up right before their eyes.

Will knelt beside Nico, hugging the crying boy tight. "Hey, she'll be fine. You survived Tartarus on your own, didn't you? She'll be fine."

"S-She's not me." Nico whispered.

"You have no idea how similar you two are." Will whispered back, kissing Nico on the cheek. "If you feel that bad about it, go down there and ask your dad to help find her."

Nico nodded. "Thanks, Will. I guess I'll do that."

Nico kissed Will goodbye and Shadow-Traveled down to Erebos, the castle of Hades, Lord of the Dead.