Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson & The Olympians. I only own my OC character, Reiji Sakazuki.
Chapter 3: Friendship Or Immortality?
"Um...okay." Those were the words Percy Jackson said upon realizing the girl in front of him was the goddess of the Moon, Artemis. Reiji would have face palmed if he weren't so weak. Percy sounded like a moron, he really did. Annabeth actually did face palm at the son of Poseidon's stupidity.
Grover's response was far more intelligent than Percy's. He gasped, then hastily knelt in the snow and started yammering. "Thank you, Lady Artemis! You're so...you're so...wow!"
"Get up, goat boy!" Thalia snapped. "No need to swoon over her, even if she is a goddess!"
"But...but..." Grover tried to argue, but a glare from Thalia silenced him.
Reiji coughed and Percy checked him. "You okay?"
Reiji gave him an 'are you serious?' look. "Yes Percy," he said sarcastically. "I'm fantastic. I'm just incredibly weak and coughing. Completely normal." Thalia giggled, Annabeth stifled a laugh, Grover chuckled and Percy had the decency to blush. "I'll be fine," Reiji promised. "I just...doing whatever it was I did has left me really weak."
"I would imagine so," Artemis said. "A half-blood has never been known to be able to manipulate both fire and water. It is no wonder you would be so weak, especially without practice."
He heard a yell from the woods. "Hey!" it was a girl's voice. "Let me go!"
"Bianca!" Reiji yelled. "Nico! It's okay! Their friends!"
"Big bro!" Nico's voice came from the woods as he ran out, rushing towards Reiji and hugging him tightly. Bianca was right behind him.
Reiji coughed a little, and the half-blood's smiled at how close Nico seemed to be to Reiji. "I'm fine Nico," Reiji said, his voice still weak. "I just used a lot of energy beating up the bad guy."
"You mean you beat that...that thing?" Bianca asked in shock.
"Yeah he did," Percy promised. "And it was awesome."
"Coolest thing I've seen," Thalia agreed.
"Would have been better with a plan," Annabeth said. "But it was okay."
"That's awesome!" Nico's eyes sparkled. "You beat the manticore! That thing had three thousand attack power and plus 5 to saving throws! And you beat it!"
"This isn't your game Nico!" Bianca snapped. Everyone looked to her. She pointed a finger to all of them in turn, except Reiji and Nico. "Who...who are you people?"
Artemis's expression softened."It might be a better question, my dear girl, to ask who are you!Who are your parents?"
Bianca glanced nervously at her brother, who was still looking at Reiji in awe.
"Our parents are dead," Bianca said. "We're orphans. There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but..."
She faltered. Everyone's expressions said they didn't believe her. She looked to Reiji for support, but he was quickly realizing what exactly a 'Half-blood' was.
"What?" she demanded. "I'm telling the truth."
"You are a half-blood," Zoe Nightshade said. Her accent was hard to place. It sounded old-fashioned, as if she was born thousands of years before or reading from a really old book. "One of thy parents was mortal. The other was an Olympian."
"An Olympian...athlete?"
"No," Zoe said. "One of the gods."
"Cool!" Nico said.
"No!" Bianca's voice quivered. "This is not cool!"
Nico danced around, like he really needed the restroom. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for-"
"Nico shut up!" Bianca put her hands to her face. "This isn't your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? Gods are not real!"
Bianca once more looked to Reiji for support. Her expression begged that he backed her up, that he agree with her that the gods didn't exist. "Bianca," Reiji said. "Any day before now I would have agreed with you in a heartbeat. But..." he looked to Artemis, then back to her. "The gods are real...this girl is Artemis, the Greek goddess of the Moon and Hunt."
Bianca looked to Artemis in shock. Thalia seemed to pity the siblings, because the anger that was in her eyes subsided slightly. "Bianca, I know it's hard to believe. But gods are still around. Trust me. They're immortal. And whenever they have kids with regular humans, kids like us, well… Our lives are dangerous."
"Dangerous," Bianca said in anger. "Is that why Reiji is so week right now?"
Thalia looked away. "I'm fine Bianca," Reiji said. He put a hand to her cheek. "Trust me okay? Have I ever lied to you?"
Bianca looked at him, before shaking her head. "I...I'm scared Reiji..."
"It's okay," Reiji said. Out the corner of his eyes he noticed the Hunters- especially Zoe- giving him looks of hatred. "I'll be fine. I just need to heal up a bit, and I'll be good as new."
"Your friend is strong," Artemis promised. "Never have a seen a Half-blood as strong as him."
"About that..." Grover hesitated.
"What is it satyr?"
"A-as you know, we satyr's specialize in sniffing out half-bloods."
"Yes," Artemis motioned for him to continue.
"I...I have never smelt the scent of a half-blood from Reiji," he said, and everyone except the Di Angelo siblings and Reiji looked shocked. "I have never smelt any half-blood scent from Reiji before. Even now I cannot smell it."
"Impossible," Artemis said. She observed Reiji carefully. He began to get uncomfortable, with everyone's eyes on him. Finally, she said. "Take off your earrings."
Reiji glanced at his earrings and the necklace in his hand. Slowly, very slowly, he took off both his earrings. Immediately, Grover's eyes widened.
"Th-that's impossible," Grover said. "I-I can smell it so clearly now- how could I not before?"
"Magic," Artemis said. "The earrings and necklace hide his scent. Had he not done what he did, then I would too believe him a mortal."
Reiji quickly put his earrings and necklace back on.
"Oo!" Nico suddenly piped up. "What about Dr Thorn? Is he dead?"
"Yes," Artemis said. "He is dead. But he is still a monster, and they reform over time. And each time, they must be hunted."
"Or they'll hunt us," Thalia threw in.
Bianca shivered. "That explains...Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley in DC?"
"And that bus driver," Nico said. "The one with the ram's horns. I told you that was real."
"That's why Grover has been watching you," Percy said. "To keep you safe, if you turned out to be half-bloods."
"Grover?" Bianca stared at him. "You're a demigod?"
"Well, a satyr, actually." He kicked off his shoes and showed her his goat hooves. Bianca looked as if she were about to faint.
"Grover, put your shoes back on," Thalia said. "You're freaking her out."
"Hey, my hooves are clean!"
"Bianca," Percy said, ignoring his friends, "we came here to help you. You and Nico need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet. You need to come to camp."
"Camp?" she asked.
"Camp Half-Blood," Percy explained. "It's where half-bloods learn to survive and stuff. You can join us, stay there year round if you like."
"Will Reiji come too?" Nico asked.
"He's a half-blood, so yes," Percy said.
"Sweet! Let's go!" Nico grinned.
"Wait," Bianca shook her head. "I don't-"
"There is another option," Zoe said.
"No, there isn't!" Thalia growled.
Thalia and Zoe glared at each other. Reiji didn't know what they were talking about, but he had an eerie feeling. All of the Hunters were female. A lot of them seemed young, very young. Young enough to not have hit puberty. They all looked at him with hatred. He remembered a legend about Orion, one of the few males Artemis got along with. He remembered the small mention of the Hunters in the legend, and about how they were...
Reiji's eyes widened. "We've burdened these children enough," Artemis said. "Zoe, we will rest here for a few hours. Raise the tents. Treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests' belongings from the school."
"Yes, my lady."
"And, Bianca, come with me. I would like to speak with you."
"What about me?" Nico asked.
Artemis considered the boy. "Perhaps you could show one of the demigods here how to play that card game you enjoy. I'm sure they would be more than happy to entertain you."
Annabeth shrugged. "I'll do it."
Nico and Annabeth trudged off to the woods, talking about hit points and armour ratings and movement bonuses, with Grover following. Artemis led a confused Bianca along the cliff. The Hunters began to unpack their knapsacks and set up camp.
Zoe gave Thalia one last, evil look, then left to oversee things.
As soon as she was gone, Thalia stamped her foot in frustration. Reiji moved so he was leaning against a tree. He took an iPod out of his pocket, plugging in headphones and put on some music. "The nerve of those Hunters! They think they're so...urg!"
"I'm with you," Percy agreed. "I don't trust-"
"Oh, you're with me?" Thalia turned on Percy with fury. "What were you thinking back there in the gym, Percy? You'd take on Dr Thorn all by yourself? You knew he was a monster! If we'd stuck together, we could've taken him out before the Hunters got involved! Did you think about that?"
Percy's jaw visibly clenched. He looked as if he was about to say something, but he saw Annabeth's Yankee's cap in the snow. He picked it up, glaring one last time at Thalia, before he turned and walked off to give it back to her.
Thalia screamed in frustration. She would have continued, but Reiji's voice stopped her. "Hey," he called. She looked at him. "Do you like Green Day?" Thalia blinked, then grinned. She walked over and sat next to him, putting one of the earphones in her ear.
While Thalia and Reiji waited for Bianca to finish her talk with Artemis, they listened to music and talked, exchanging stories. Thalia explained about how she had met Luke and Annabeth, and fought off monsters, then met up with Grover and headed for Camp Half-Blood. Her voice cracked as she explained how she sacrificed herself for her friends and her father turned her into a tree. While she was talking, a Hunter had walked over and given Thalia and Reiji their bags.
Reiji put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey," he said. "That was very brave of you. That moment, when you held off the monster's for your friends, you were strong. You should be proud, not because your Zeus's daughter, but because you gave your life to save your friends."
Thalia wiped tears out her eyes and nodded. "Thanks. I needed that. So...what's your story?"
Reiji looked at her, then to his hands. He sighed. "Okay..."
"You don't have to tell me," Thalia said.
"No," Reiji said. "You told me yours, so I'll tell you mine."
He took a deep breath. "I was born on an island off the coast of Japan. My mother was half Japanese and Half American. She named gave me a Japanese name, it was apparently what my father wanted to name me. I thought he had died, but as it turns out he is a god. She moved back to the states when I turned 5, and raised me as best she could. I was happy. On my 10th Birthday I got the jewellery I'm wearing. The moon earring was a gift from my dad. The sun earring was a gift from my aunt and the necklace was a gift from my uncle.
"I also got the silver ring on my index finger, which I'm going to guess does something similar to my necklace. 2 years after I got my jewellery..." his voice cracked. "My mom died..."
Thalia gasped. "I...I'm sorry-"
"Don't," he told her. "You didn't know. Do not pity me." Thalia didn't say anything, so he continued. "My mother left everything she had to me. Her business, her money, bank details, credit card numbers, a house. All of it. I lived nearby so I decided to go to school here. People here...they didn't like me...because I was different. My eyes is what caused it mostly."
"Your eyes?" Thalia asked.
"Red isn't exactly a natural eye colour you know," Reiji told her. "They thought it was weird...they bullied me too. Nothing physical. All of it verbal, but it hurt. They bullied me because I didn't have a father, and because my mother died. They said she died to get away from being my mother..." his fist clenched. "I wanted to hurt them...but I couldn't..."
Thalia looked at him with sympathy and sadness, but he continued. "I cried myself to sleep a lot...it was then I started listening to music. It had a calming effect on me, no matter what it was. It made me feel calm, happy. I felt like I was with my mom again, and she was wrapping me in her arms. I felt even better when the light of the moon shined on me. I felt like I was being hugged by my mom...and maybe my dad too. I felt like...my family was complete...even if it was fake...
"After that, I met Bianca and Nico. We hit it off right away. They accepted me for who I am. They didn't have their parents either, so we really connected. We could relate, and we found out we had a lot in common. I started playing Mythomagic with Nico. I really enjoyed it, and I got interested in Greek Mythology thanks to it, so I started reading about it. And then...well, here we are today."
"I...see..." Thalia said. "You really had it rough."
"Not as rough as you," Reiji told her. "You had to fight for your life at the age of 12. All I lost was my mom. You've had it way worse."
"Maybe..." she breathed.
Reiji might have said something had Zoe Nightshade not come over. "Reiji Sakazuki."
Both Reiji and Thalia looked to her, though Thalia with more anger than Reiji's confusion. Percy was standing behind her, looking annoyed.
"Come with me," she said. "Lady Artemis wishes to speak with thee."
Thalia growled and would have said something, but Reiji shook his head at her. He handed her his iPod. "Listen to some songs to stay calm. I've got all of Green Day's albums on there, so feel free."
Thalia instantly brightened up and began to scroll through songs. Reiji stood up and looked to Zoe. "Lead the way."
Zoe led them both to the last tent, which looked no different than any of the others, so Reiji was wondering how she told them apart. She waved them inside. Bianca was sitting next to Artemis, even though it was still a little hard to believe it was Artemis.
The inside of the tent was warm and comfortable. Silk rugs and pillows covered the floor. In the center, a golden brazier of fire seemed to burn without fuel or smoke. Behind the goddess, on a polished oak display stand, was her huge silver bow, carved to resemble gazelle horns. The walls were hung with animal pelts: black bear, tiger, and several others that Reiji couldn't recognize. He figured that an animal rights activist would've had a heart attack looking at all the rare skins, but Artemis was the goddess of the hunt. By all rights, they were hers. Reiji noticed another animal laying next to Artemis with its head on her lap- a deer.
"Join us, Percy Jackson, Reiji Sakazuki," she said.
Percy sat across from her on the tent floor. Reiji sat next to Bianca, who looked at him worriedly. The goddess studied the two of them, making them feel uncomfortable. The wisdom in her eyes was a lot for a girl that looked so young.
"Are you surprised by my age?" she asked.
"Yes," Percy said.
"No," Reiji said.
The goddess raised an eyebrow at Reiji. "And why is that?"
"You are a goddess for a reason," he explained. "You could look however you wished most likely. How else would the male and female gods in olden days seduce men and women? They would take on a form appealing to them."
Artemis relented this point. "You are correct of course. I could appear as a grown woman, or a blazing fire, or anything else I want, but this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters, and all young maidens for whom I am patron, before they go astray."
"Go astray?" Percy asked.
"Grow up," Reiji said, getting a surprised looked from Percy and an impressed one from Artemis. "Before they fall in love with boys."
"That is correct."
Zoe sat down at Artemis's right. She glared at Reiji and Percy, as if being male were their fault. Like they'd invented the idea of being male.
"You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you," Artemis said. "It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp. Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp…" She looked at Zoe. "Which one was it?"
"That boy in Colorado," Zoe said. "You turned him into a jackalope."
"Ah yes," Artemis nodded, satisfied. "I like making jackalopes."
"Did you turn him back?" Reiji asked suddenly.
Artemis blinked. "Pardon?"
"Did you turn him back?"
"Why would I do that?"
Reiji glared at her, which surprised everyone present. "How do you think that boy's family feels? They could be worried sick, looking for him. They may think he's dead."
Zoe growled. "Hold your tongue! You will speak when spoken to-"
"No Zoe," Artemis said. "He makes a point." She snapped her fingers. "He has been turned back. But I do not expect such disrespect from you next time, demigod."
"I make no promises," Reiji told her.
"At any rate," Artemis continued what she was saying. "I've asked you here so that you may tell me more of the manticore. Bianca has reported some of the...mmm, disturbing things the monster said. But she may not have understood them. I'd like to hear them from the two of you."
And so they told her.
When they were done, Artemis put her hand thoughtfully on her silver bow. "I feared this was the answer."
Zoe leaned forward. "The scent, my lady?"
"Yes."
"What scent?" Percy asked.
"Things are stirring that I have not hunted in millennia," Artemis murmured. "Prey so old I have nearly forgotten."
She stared at Reiji and Percy intently. "We came here tonight sensing the manticore, but he was not the one I seek. Tell me again, exactly what Dr. Thorn said."
"Um, I hate middle school dances," Percy said.
"No, no. After that."
"He said somebody called the General was going to explain things to him," Reiji told her.
Zoe's face paled. She turned to Artemis and started to say something, but Artemis raised her hand.
"Go on," Artemis told him.
"Well, then Thorn was talking about the Great Stirring of Monsters," Reiji continued. "And he said, 'Soon we shall have the most important monster of all- the one that shall bring the downfall of Olympus.'"
The goddess was still. She could have been mistaken for a statue.
"Maybe he was lying," Percy said.
Artemis shook her head. "No. He was not. I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster."
Zoe looked like she was trying very hard not to be afraid, but she nodded. "We will leave right away, my lady."
"No, Zoe. I must do this alone."
"But, Artemis-"
"This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me."
"As...as you wish, my lady."
I will find this creature," Artemis vowed. "And I shall bring it back to Olympus by winter solstice. It will be all the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in."
"You know what this monster is?" Percy asked.
Artemis gripped her bow. "Let us pray I am wrong?"
Reiji hummed as a thought came into his mind. "Can goddesses pray?"
A flicker of a smile played across Artemis's lips. "Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you."
"Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?" he asked.
"Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return."
"What?" Zoe blurted out. "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there-"
"Yes, I know," Artemis said. "But I'm sure Dionysus will hold a grudge just because of a little, ah, misunderstanding."
"What did they do?" Reiji asked, curious.
"They burned down a lot of cabins." Artemis responded.
Zoe muttered something about foolish campers.
"And now there is one last decision to make." Artemis turned to Bianca. "Have you made up your mind, my girl?"
Bianca hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it."
"About what?" Reiji asked.
"They...they've invited me to join the hunt."
"What?" Percy yelped. "But you can't! You have to come to Camp Half-Blood so Chiron can train you. It's the only way you can learn how to survive."
"It is not the only way for a girl," Zoe said.
Percy had a look of disbelief on his face, while Reiji didn't show any emotion. "Bianca, camp is cool! It's got a pegasus stable and a sword-fighting arena and… I mean, what do you get by joining the Hunters?"
"Immortality," Reiji said, again getting an impressed look from Artemis.
"Y-your not serious are you?" Percy asked.
"I figured it out when I thought of the legend about Orion," he said. Zoe and Artemis shifted uncomfortably at the name. "I read a really old version of the text that mentioned about the Hunters, and gave a brief description that, in exchange for swearing off men for eternity and staying maiden's and serving Artemis, they become immortal, but they can still die in battle."
"Yes," Artemis said. "He is correct."
"So...they become like you?" Percy asked.
Artemis nodded.
Percy's head was spinning. "So you just go around the country recruiting half-bloods—"
"Not just half-bloods," Zoe interrupted. "Lady Artemis does not discriminate by birth. All who honor the goddess may join. Half-bloods, nymphs, mortals—"
"Which are you then?" Percy asked.
Zoe shot him an angry look. "That is not thy concern, boy. The point is Bianca may join if she wishes. It is her choice."
"Bianca, this is crazy," Percy said. "What about your brother? Nico can't be a hunter?"
Reiji still showed no emotion.
"Certainly not," Artemis agreed. "He will go to camp. Unfortunately, that's the best boys can do."
"Hey!" Percy protested.
"You can see him from time to time," Artemis assured Bianca. "But you will be free of responsibility. He will have the camp counselors to take care of him. And you will have a new family. Us."
"A new family," Bianca repeated dreamily. "Free of responsibility."
"Bianca, you can't do this," Percy said. "It's nuts."
She looked to Zoe. "Is it worth it?"
Zoe nodded. "It is."
Bianca looked to Artemis, about to open her mouth and ask a question. But stopped. She looked to Reiji. He looked at her. "What do you think Reiji?"
Zoe gained an angry look, like she expected his answer.
Reiji was silent for quite awhile, before he let out a smile. "Bianca," he said. "You are my first and best friend." That surprised Bianca greatly, as could be seen on her face. "You carve your own destiny. I cannot help you make this choice. I just want you to know, that no matter what you pick, I will support you."
Bianca looked to Reiji, then Percy, then Zoe, and finally Artemis. She took a breath. "I thank you for the offer my lady. But I can't." Zoe looked shocked. "I know being responsible for my brother isn't fun, but it just shows that I'm already maturing. And I wouldn't be able to leave my friends behind like that. So, I thank you once again. But I choose to be a camper."
Artemis nodded. "As you wish. I can respect your choice. You will grow strong in the future. I wish you the best." The maiden goddess smiled, as did Bianca.
Percy sighed with relief, but Zoe looked absolutely furious at this. She looked at Reiji with hatred, but when he looked at her, his eyes were just filled with pity. He saw her as a girl who hated men, and was just trying to force her beliefs on to others.
"I expect you to make good on your promise, Percy Jackson," Artemis said. "Make sure to escort my hunters and the Di Angelo siblings to the camp safely."
"Yes, Ma'am," Percy said. "But uh...how are we supposed to get there?"
Artemis closed her eyes. "Dawn is approaching. Zoe, break camp. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother."
Zoe did not look happy in the slightest, but she nodded and left the room.
Bianca smiled at Reiji, and she smiled at her. Then they looked to Artemis.
"So," Reiji said. "We're getting a ride from your brother, are we?"
Artemis's silver eyes gleamed. "Yes, you are. You see, Bianca Di Angelo is not the only one with an annoying brother. It's time for you to meet my irresponsible twin, Apollo."
