The First Son of Artemis Book Three: The Last Olympian

Nicolette Anderson, Daughter of Apollo (15 years old)

To say things were awkward on the ride to New Jersey between Jay and I, was an understatement. I never really liked forest that much, but walking through one with him, while he was giving me the cold shoulder, didn't help any. He had been silent most of the ride, the same as me. It was really starting to scare me. Even if I did like Jay like that, it wasn't worth losing him as a friend over. I pulled my jacket tighter around myself, it may have been summer, but it was the dead of night, and the forest was cold. Jay claimed that he could track the hunters, and I believed him, if anyone it could be him.

However at the moment, I was about to fall asleep standing up.

"Jay, are we any closer to finding them?" I called ahead to him.

He turned, and his silver eyes illuminated the area around us. He nodded. "Yeah, we should be. I can see signs of them all over this place. Are you alright?" He asked her.

She nodded her head. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just tired, and a little cold." She told him.

"We can camp out here for the night then. Do you bring a sleeping bag?" He asked pulling his bag from his shoulder.

She nodded and did the same with hers. "Yeah, what about you?" She asked.

He started gathering small pieces of firewood and placing it in a circle. He shrugged. "I don't need one, I'll just sleep in a tree or something." He said like it was no big deal.

I knew it was probably true. I tossed him a lighter from my pack and soon he lit the fire, bringing it to life. She sighed in relief and warmed her hands by it. Being a son of the goddess of the forest must certainly have its perks. Jay was pretty much Bear Grylls 2.0 in the forest. Now that she thought about it Bear Grylls was probably a demi-god. She had been really surprised to learn that a lot of famous people were demi-gods. Jay had once told her, that her mother said Michael Jackson was actually a son of Apollo. Being related to the King of Pop was certainly something that Nikki found awesome.

She looked over at Jay who was fixated on trying to keep the fire going. I sighed and looked at him, I needed to stop this. Whatever it was I was feeling, I had to smash it now, and stuff it away. We had a war to fight, and if me and Jay couldn't even look at each other, we would surely lose. Him, Percy, Annabeth and I were looked to as leaders in camp, and with Percy and Annabeth having their trouble in paradise relationship, Jay and I couldn't afford to not be talking and communicating. Kronos would surely invade Manhattan that way, and kill us all.

And I for one, enjoyed living.

"So, is this how it's going to be the whole trip?" I asked him.

I saw him tense up, then try to hide it. "What are you talking about?" He asked.

I shook my head, and rolled my eyes. "You know what I'm talking about Jay. Honestly, you've faced down a Titan in one on one combat, and me a 15 year old girl scares you?" I asked him.

"Yes…" I heard him mutter.

I wanted to laugh, but the situation was serious. He sighed and looked at me over the fire. "Look Nikki, what happened last night… I… I don't know what it meant."

I looked down, slightly upset. Was I being selfish by wanting to be something more with Jay, when we were at war? Besides, he probably still loved Bianca. I wouldn't blame him if he did, she was ten times the demi-god I'd ever be. I had no clue what brought on these feelings I had, but I didn't like it.

"Well we need to figure it out. We can't fight a war together when we're barely looking at each other. I… I felt something, I don't know what happened but-."

He held his hand up and his head shot around. "Shhh, did you hear that?" He whispered to her.

My hand went to the necklace I was wearing, which would give me my armor and sword. Jay had like superman senses in the forest, so I knew I should be alert.

"No, what is it?" I asked him quietly.

He silently walked back to me and we stood back to back. He had his silver bow out now, and had an arrow aimed at the bushes.

"I know you're there! Come out now, or I'll turn you into a pincushion!" He yelled out.

I saw the bushes rustle again, and out stepped a girl. She had her hands held up in a defensive position. She was either another demi-god, or a mortal who could see through the mist, because if she wasn't, she would have thought Jay was pointing a stick or something at her.

She looked older, maybe 18 or 19. I knew everyone at camp, and I had never seen this girl before. She was extremely pretty, tall, long black hair, and blue eyes that I could see from where we were standing. She didn't look scared at all, she just looked at Jay's bow as if it wasn't a big deal.

Jay pulled the string back harder. "That's far enough. Who are you!?" He demanded from in front of me.

Her voice was as calm as she looked. "Alright, alright just calm down. My names Hayley, demi-god just like you. I was just wondering around, and saw your fire. I've been freezing. I was hoping to warm up, and have some company." She said calmly.

Her voice was so honeyed I felt like I she was telling the truth. Jay loosened a little bit, but kept his bow up.

"If you're a demi-god, why aren't you at camp? I'm a camp leader, I know everyone, and I've never seen you before?" He asked her.

She laughed a little. "Haha, I'm new to the whole demi-god thing. I didn't even know there was a camp." She said.

Jay let his bow down. I knew he had a soft spot for new demi-gods, since his first few hours as one didn't go very well. He lowered his bow, and turned it back into a bracelet. He sighed and looked down at the fire.

"Sorry, nowadays you can't be too careful. Nikki, why don't you give her the run down on the whole camp thing? I'm going to go and try to find more firewood." He said exasperated.

I nodded my head. I had plenty of experience helping new Demi-gods. Whenever Percy, Jay, or Annabeth weren't at camp, I would give tours to new demi-gods and help them come to terms with what they were. I knew Jay wouldn't go far, so I wasn't worried when he dashed off into the brush.

I looked at Hayley and sighed. I sat down and she did the same. "So, how long you been on the run?" I asked her.

She shrugged her shoulders. "A few months now, you got anything to eat?" She asked.

I tossed her one of the multiple chocolate bars that I brought and she tore into it. She did say anything, but just looked into the direction hat Jay ran towards.

"Who's the guy?" She asked.

"Oh that's Jay, I'm Nikki." I told her.

She nodded her head. "He's a cute one, isn't he?" She asked.

I grinded my teeth with a little frustration. I didn't know why, but the comment sent a jealousy streak down my spine. I shrugged my shoulders, to make it look like I didn't care.

"I guess so. So you said that you didn't-."

"You guess so? You're a very bad at lying Nicolette. Your feelings for Jason are written all over your face." She said, her voice sounding different.

Every muscle in my body froze. I never told this girl my full name, or Jay's. Her voice was deeper, and filled with a tone of hilarity. I stood up and my hand went around my necklace.

"How do you know that!? Who are you!?" I demanded from her.

Her voice sounded wicked now, like one of the witches I saw in TV shows. "Oh, dear child. I can see it, in your heart. I have heard great stories about Nicolette Cassidy, daughter of Apollo, and Jason Nicholson, the first son of Artemis." She said.

I pressed the button on the back of my necklace. Soon I was incased in a golden set or armor with my sword out and pointed. No demi-god wondering out at night would know who Jay's mother was. It was something only camp members knew. My sword was pointed at her, but she didn't even flinch.

"WHO are you!?" I demanded from her.

She chuckled and swirled around her fingers. A green sort of mist formed at her fingertips. She pointed her hands towards me, and the mist attacked my face and swirled. Out of nowhere I felt myself become dizzy. I had the sudden urge to curl up and go to sleep.

"I am Hecate child, the goddess of magic. And I say it was time that I tested the like of you and Jason Nicholson." She said.

The last thing I remembered, was trying in vain to call out for Jay as I fell to the ground.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

When I woke up, I had absolutely no idea where I was. I was in a house, I looked around and my heart almost dropped. There was a nice, expensive looking couch, with two lounge black leather arm chairs. It was dark in the room, with a giant plasma screen TV shining as the only light source in front of the TV. I recognized where I was now. The fancy tile floors, the mahogany coffee table in front of the couch, the huge kitchen that was to the right.

I was in my old home. I looked on the couch and cradled up in blanket, was a little girl. It was me, a loose ponytail of blonde hair, light blue eyes.

"What? What… what is happening?" I asked myself, out loud.

I was standing down looking at a 12 year old version of myself. I never liked to remember my life before being a demi-god. I remembered now, I looked at the younger version of me, I was wearing a Real Madrid soccer jersey, watching a soccer game on the giant TV. It was what I liked to do when my mom wasn't home.

"It looks familiar doesn't it young hero?" A wicked voice said from behind me.

I turned and the girl 'Hayley' or Hecate I guessed her name actually was. I had never been visited by any goddess other than my father, and Artemis. My hand went to my necklace and soon I had my sword out and pointed again. We were in my old living room, little me was on the couch looking through me like I was a ghost.

"What are you trying to do!? What do you want with me!?" I demanded of the goddess.

She smiled wickedly. "You see my dear, before I join a side, I must weigh my options carefully. Do I join Kronos and his army? Or do I defend Olympus with the gods? Before I choose, I must see what the demi-gods on the side of Olympus are made of." She told me.

I shook my head. "You're demented! Send me back right now!" I demanded again, my voice wavering.

She cackled. "Haha, what is wrong my dear? Do you not want to relive your past? If you can't face memories of you past, how do you hope to defeat Kronos?" She asked me.

I froze. I hadn't exactly had the best memories in the past. However I didn't go flaunting them around. I heard a car door close from outside the house we were in and turned sharply.

I heard Hecate cackle again. "Hahaha, mommy's home." She said, before she was gone with a snap.

"HEY! TAKE ME BACK!" I said swinging my sword around wildly.

When I realized Hecate wasn't coming back, I sighed and my sword and armor disappeared. I heard the door click, and my heart dropped from my chest to the pit of my stomach. A tall women with blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, walked in. She looked just as I remembered. Wearing her work suit, with her cell phone still at her ear as she walked in.

It was my mother, Elizabeth Cassidy.

I usually liked to keep my cool, and appear tough and unmovable. However… seeing my mother again, it almost made my legs turn to jelly right there. I was ready to cry.

The younger me's head perked up at the sound of the door opening. It was dark outside, and the clock read 11:48 pm. My mother walked into the living room, not even noticing little me. She was completely immersed by the conversation she was having on the phone.

"I don't care what it takes, we need this kid to sign!" She said. After a pause she continued. "Then send a plane for him, put his family in a five star hotel, I don't care what we have to spend, this kid is the next big thing in music!"

Little me smiled and tossed the blanket off herself. "Mom! Mom you're finally back!" she said happily.

I smiled at my twelve year old self. Twelve years old, this was about a year before I figured out I was a demi-god. I looked so different back then, so much smaller, and… happier looking.

However my mom simply looked at little me. Before returning to her conversation. "Yes, set them up at the palm woods. I want recording of his demo started right away. Alright, I'll see you first thing tomorrow morning Jonathan. Yes, goodnight." She said before finally ending her call.

I was sickened at that point. I looked down at little me and remembered exactly how I was feeling at that moment. It made a tear fall from my face. I was so desperate for her attention, but all she did was work and work.

"Moooommm!" Little me said tugging on her sleeve.

She finally looked down at Little me. She tilted her head. "Nikki, what are you doing up this late? Your first day of school is tomorrow you should be sleeping." She said.

When the younger me frowned, I felt what she was feeling all over again. Scared, apprehension about starting another new school.

"I… I haven't seen you for more than five minutes in two days. I… I was scared, about starting a new school again, I wanted to see you before I went to bed." She asked, in such a sweet voice.

I, just like many other demi-gods never stayed in one school for too long. We were too different from other kids. Our brains were to hard wire for ancient Greek to do very well. So me, just like a lot of other demi-gods, switched schools a lot growing up.

My mom waved off my concern and ruffled my hair awkwardly. "Oh don't worry about that Nik. You'll be fine. So… have you been keeping up with your piano lessons?" She asked.

Me, and the younger me both rolled our eyes. "Mom, I told you a million times. I don't like playing piano. I spent most of the day shooting in the back yard. Did I tell you that the school has a soccer team!? I'm going to try out for it and-."

Little me was cut off by the ringing of my mother's phone. I sighed and almost sobbed at the sad look on my younger self's face. My mom looked down at me and tried smiling.

"Sorry hun, I gotta take this. If you want to play soccer go ahead and try out for it. Noe, off to bed." She said, kissing the top of little me's head before answering the phone.

I was shaking from what I was feeling now. As soon as my younger self left the room, the scene froze again. I had tears slowly falling down my face now. I wasn't sure if I was mad at my mother, or just missing her even more than I already did.

A cackling voice came from behind me again. "Ahhh you faced that well young hero. However I can feel the discomfort inside you. How you will handle this next, I wonder."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

When I came back to, there was a defining cheer. My head shot back and forth and I was in a set of bleachers. I was standing on the top row of seats, every single spot was taken by a fan wearing a light sky blue t-shirts. The sky was perfectly clear, clouds were out and perfectly white. It was what only could be described as the perfect day.

I looked out onto what everyone was watching. The white painted lines, the two large goals. The 22 players all trying to get a touch on the one ball. It was a soccer game, and it brought back so many great memories for me. I was never really amazing in school, but I always did love playing soccer.

I watched the one girl, near the front of the red team's goal. A loose ponytail bouncing up and down as she ran. The number 10 on the back of her uniform, the bright green and blue cleats. It was me, running back and forth trying to get a touch of the ball.

"The score is tied 2-2 here as we enter the last five minutes of play! Nicolette Cassidy already has two goals for the eagles here, and she's probing for a third!" A man announced over the intercom.

I watched as the younger twelve year old version of me got a pass from a teammate. She dribbled past one defender, and then flicked the ball over top another girl who came towards her.

"Wow… I was good, really good. I completely forgot." I said mystified.

I hadn't even touched a soccer ball since I became a demi-god. I forgot it all after what happened to my mom… I wondered why Hecate would be bringing me back to this moment. Was it to remember what I used to love doing? Back then I was always in the backyard practicing shooting the ball into the net. Nowadays I practice shooting arrows down range and decapitating training dummies.

I scanned the crowd for any sign of my mother. I walked down to the bottom of the bleachers and couldn't find any sign of her. She didn't show up… and at that moment I remembered. I remembered what happened.

I looked back at the field. The younger me was getting closer to the. She passed the ball over towards the side of the field. She ran towards the back post of the goal, and soon her teammate passed the ball high in the air towards her.

I watched with a slight smile as the younger version of me, kicked her leg up and smashed the ball into the back of the net with an overhead kick. The crowd absolutely roared, with cheers. Little me got swarmed by her teammates and she looked absolutely elated. I remembered at that exact moment I was the happiest I had ever been in my life. Here I was 15 years old now, still smiling at something that happened 3 years ago. My heart sank a little bit, when I saw her trying to scan the crowd. She was looking for her mom…

"And she wasn't here… even though she promised she would." I said sadly, looking over at the parking lot.

The referee blew the whistle and the game was over. "And Nicolette Cassidy scores an amazing bicycle kick to win the game for the Eagles 3-2! The Eagles win the Southern Main county conference championship!" The man over the intercom announced with elation.

I felt my heart slowly breaking as if I was in her shoes all over again, when I saw her desperately trying to find where her mother was. I watched as trophies and medals were given out to both teams. As the team talked and celebrated. Every kid in a light blue jersey was with a parent, or guardian. Little me was simply, in front of the goal. She had the game ball at her feet, her gold medal around her neck. She was playing keep ups with the ball, with a look of sadness on her face.

"Why show me this again?" I sobbed slightly.

I didn't want to be seeing this. I had lived through it already. I would dodge questions about my mother when people asked me at camp. I would never answer questions about what I liked to do before I learned I was a demi-god. I avoided every soccer ball I would see. I wanted to forget everything about this time. It was too much for me to remember.

I sighed and looked over to the parking lot. A red chevy Camaro pulled up in the parking lot. Out rushed my mother, her heels clacking on the black parking lot trying to rush to the field. Little me looked over at her and just sighed before focusing on keeping the ball in the air again.

She pushed past some people and finally made it to Little me. She tried smiling and hugged her like nothing was wrong.

"Amazing job honey! Congratulations! You were amazing!" She said happily, trying to pretend she didn't just show up.

Little me just looked at her with a disappointed look. "You JUST got here, don't lie. The game was over like twenty minutes ago mom." She said upset.

My mother sighed and looked down. "I'm sorry honey I got caught up with the new-."

Little me held her hand up. "Save it. Let's just go home." She said, walking past her to the car.

The scene stopped again. I knew exactly what was going to happen next. I looked all around me, and started screaming.

"HECATE! STOP THIS! STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!" I tried demanded with tears welling in my eyes.

Her wicked cackling voice rang though my ears. "Ohhhh child. Your trials are just beginning, it is time for the grand finale." She yelled.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

I was crying when I arrived at the next scene. I was in the back seat of my mother's yellow Camaro. Little me was in the front seat, looking out the window with a discouraged look. My mother had her eyes on the road. She sighed and looked over at Little me.

"Nikki, will you please talk to me? I'm so sorry I missed the game." She said to her.

Little me sighed and looked out the front window. She shook her head. "It's no big deal. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much when you promised." She said.

It looked as if someone had stabbed a dagger through her mother's heart. She sighed and looked over at her daughter.

"When you were born, your father told me that you were going to be something special. If… if he was here now, he would be so proud of you, and so disappointed in me." She said sadly.

Little me squinted her eyes forward. "Mom." She said.

Her mother ignored it and continued. "I haven't been the best mother to you Nikki. I… I promise that I am going to try to be better. Your father would have wanted so much better for you." She continued.

"Mom!" Little me urged again.

Again she ignored him. "If you want to play soccer in the future, then you can. We'll find professional trainers for you, we'll get you on a club team. I want to be there for all of your-."

"MOM LOOK OUT!" Little me yelled loudly.

My mom looked out and turned her car sharply when she saw another coming straight at her. Right before the car smashed into the tree on the side of the road, I blacked out again, with tears swelling up in my eyes.

If this was my trial, then I was sure I have just failed.

A:N) I am sooooo sorry this is up so late guys, I got swarmed at work so I had very little time to write. The response for last chapter was amazing and I felt terrible that I couldn't bring you this chapter sooner.

I also had another problem. For the first time I didn't know where to go with the plot. I didn't want to jump into the battle right away. I also didn't want Jay to go with Percy on his quest with Nico, because I wanted to deviate from the main plot some.

So I asked myself, 'What can I do?'. Then I realized I never really expanded on nikki's backstory. So I thought up this chapter in my head, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out I really hope you guys liked it.

So again guys pleaseeeeee keep reviewing on this story. The next chapter will be called 'The Trials of Jason Nicholson' so look forward to that.

As usual guys, thank you sooo much for reading. Have a lovely day! Goodbyeeeeee! :)