Chapter 4:

(Percy)

I couldn't breathe. It felt like my chest was being crushed by Gaia herself. My head started spinning and the world seemed too as well.

"Perseus! Perseus if you can hear me, please calm down" Anna- I mean, Artemis called out. Her voice sounded so far away.

"H- how- wh- I - you…" I stuttered, kneeling over as my breathing sped up. Annabeth rushed over to help me up. As soon as she touched me I felt as if I was struck by lighting and my heart threatened to explode.

"NO! Don't To… don't… t-touch m..me.." I pushed Annabeth away, my vision tunneling. Annabeth? Artemis? I felt bile crawling up my throat and my face was feeling numb. My eyes started to close, but then a hard slap to the back of my head, rocked me to my senses.

"PERSEUS JACKSON. YOU WILL NOT FAINT FROM THIS." An- Artemis yelled at me as she grabbed my head and forced me to look at her. Her eyes were watering. "Listen to my voice. Take slow deep breaths" I forced myself to take deep breaths as I obeyed her soothing yet firm voice… it was simply hypnotic. The world slowed down and stopped spinned. My vision focused on her eyes… those beautiful grey eyes that haunted my dreams. The dreams of the happy memories with Annabeth… The ring I promised her that now hung around my neck… and the words that I never got to hear as she died in my hands. The wounds in my mind felt like they would reopen. But I focused on my breathing and on… Artemis. 'This is Artemis. She needs my help. Get your shit together Percy. Annabeth would not want you to be like this.' I chided myslef, sending a shock to my system. I regained my composure. Artemis was now slowly letting go of my head as I stood back up.

"I'm okay." my throat was dry as I spoke. "I.. could you explain, this?" Artemis looked at me with unease and guilt.

"Perseus, I..." she tried to explain. "My bow… It broke during the fight."

"What fight?" I didn't understand what she was trying to say.

"The War Perseus!" She half yelled, "Having my symbol of power broken by Gaia led to a… complicated side effect. Annabeth's death was in close proximity to my bow's own 'death'. Now my symbol's regeneration is painfully slow, and so my strength is barely recovering." She finished her explanation, finishing with a gasp as for having rushed through it. I was struggling to understand her explanation, but still had some questions.

"I… I don't understand. Why does your bo-"

"Look." Artemis interrupted. "I can try to explain everything to you in excruciating detail. But that would take forever and even then I'm not sure you would get it."

"Well I am technically a god now, so I have forever." I couldn't help as a smile broke through. Artemis glared at me.

"I may look like her, but make no mistake. I am not your girlfriend. I will not put up with your annoying habits and banter." she hissed. I felt my heart ripping at her words and dampness streak down my cheeks. Artemis' scowl was replaced with remorse as she tried to comfort me "Percy, I didn't mean to hurt-"

"I'm fine." I growled, wiping my eyes in frustration and pushing her away. 'She is right, I needed to remember she's not Annabeth.' I gripped the ring on my necklace, tightly. "I'm fine... How long do you think it will take for your power to recover." Artemis still carried concern in her eyes.

"I don't know for sure, but at least… two years." she stared at me as I tried to process everything. I felt panic rising in me but I slammed it down, reminding myself of my job and Artemis needing my help. I nodded slowly.

"Okay, I will stay with your camp over the next two years." I shakily told her. She sighed in relief.

"Thank you Perseus. Come, we must introduce you to the Hunters." she gestured to the camp. "Thalia will be excited to see you again." I smiled at the thought of meeting my cousin. Only to have my heart ache at the sight of Artemis walking in front of me. I knew in my head that she wasn't Annabeth, but my heart just wasn't on the same page. I shook my head, not allowing the tears a chance to fall, as I stepped forward.

Trailing Artemis, I entered the camp and found myself feeling a sense of nostalgia. I remembered the first encounter with the Hunters. Their tents were still the same simple white structures, the standing torches were new though. I heard the splashing of water nearby. I was surprised to find a silver water fountain. A smile broke onto my face as I recognized the statue. With those sharp eyes and stern expression, how could I not recognize Zoe. The statue of her stood just as she did with her bow drawn. Water was spouting from the tip of her arrow.

"I believe you were supposed to be following me?" Artemis appeared behind me, causing me to jump a bit. She smiled as she saw the fountain. "Well I suppose I should not be surprised. I take it you still remember my late Lieutenant."

"How could I not?" I sighed sadly.

"Immortality can do crazy things to men." Her voice was chilly as she spoke. I turned to face her. Her stoic expression was just like how Annabeth would look like when we fought. She would sound and act cold or angry, but her eyes would tell her sorrow. And this was no exception.

I knelt down to dip my hand in the fountain water. "Have you heard of PTSD?" I asked her. She frowned, not really answering. I stirred my hand in the water, enjoying the feeling of being in it.

"I don't know either. Dionysus tried to explain to me but I still don't understand it fully." I stopped stirring as I watched my distorted reflection in the water. "But what I do know is...I won't forget. More precisely, I can't forget."

I could feel Artemis shifting her feet uncomfortably, so I pulled my hand out of the water and stood back up. "Ok that's enough of that. I have to ask though, why a fountain? Wasn't the stars enough?" Artemis looked a bit startled by the sudden change, but answered nonetheless.

"It was Thalia's suggestion. We didn't like how Zoe and Orion ended up with the same honor. Thalia suggested we make something in her honour."

"Yeah, but that could have been just a statue. Why a fountain?" As I inspected the statue,

Artemis stiffened a bit, before continuing. "Zoe requested it." she mumbled.

"What? How did you... " I stared at her as I made the connections. Annabeth always had the worst poker face when it came to her being guilty.

"What." She countered defensively, "You don't honestly think you're the only one who can make trips to the underworld right?" I broke out laughing. That was just like Annabeth, somehow justifying herself when she is caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

"Why are you laughing?!" Artemis scowled. I could tell she did not appreciate being laughed at. I sighed as I wiped away my tears. She glared at me, trying to look mad, but It's kinda hard to be afraid of her when she's blushing from embarrassment.

"It's alright, long story." I chuckled as I stopped laughing. "I believe I was supposed to meet the Hunters?"

She squinted before rolling her eyes and turning to storm off. I smiled as I chased after her.

(Artemis)

I hate this. I hate this. I HATE this. WHAT WERE THE FATES THINKING?! I barely have a fifth of my power now! My hunters could have been killed! And how DARE Percy mistake me and Annabeth! I know I look like her but… Its ME! Why can't he see that?!

"Annabeth, wait up!"

I spun around and glared, anger seeping from my pores. Percy came to a halt, stammering as he realized his mistake.

"I- I didn't mean-"

"Look here Perseus. I am NOT Annabeth, I am Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. I don't CARE who or what I look like, I will NOT be called ANYTHING else! YOU GET THAT IN YOUR HEAD BOY. OR ELSE THE LAST THING YOU SEE WILL THE TIP OF MY ARROW!!"

I suddenly felt a tear well up. 'Wh- what?! Why am I crying?!' I spun back around and discreetly wiped it away. Percy better not have seen that. I took a deep breath to calm myself before facing him again. As soon as I saw him, I immediately regretted my outburst.

Percy's eyes were dull… just like that night. He looked like he was looking at something a thousand miles away, even though he was staring right at me. A pang of pain exploded in my chest. 'Please don't look at me like that..' I just wanted to hug him and tell him I'm sorry and everything is alright… But.. I couldn't…

"I'm sorry Lady Artemis." His voice was hollow and weak, but cut me deeper than anything I had felt before.

"N- no-" my voice faltered. I cleared my throat. "It is ok Perseus. I understand your situation. I won't attack you but please do try not to repeat this mistake."

He simply nodded. I hate this. I hate this stupid vow. I hate the fates and their stupid potions. I hate how Percy is affecting me. I hate me and my damn pride.

"Percy?" A voice called out from behind me. Percy's face immediately lit back up. I fought back the wave of jealousy at whoever could make him smile like that.

"Thalia!" He exclaimed happily... as he rushed past me.

(Percy)

I immediately received a small blast of lightning to my gut, causing me to double over.

"Wh-"

"You better not be asking why I did that." Thalia cut in, electricity crackling in her palm.

I grimaced as I got up, then hugged her.

"I'm sorry I worried you, and I'm sorry I took this long to see you." The smell of ozone dissipated, as Thalia hugged back.

"God dammit Seaweed brain…" She lightly punched my rib as we broke the hug. "Don't you ever make us worry like that again!" All I could do was shrug and smile weakly. Thalia immediately broke out laughing, shaking her head.

"Ahem." Artemis cleared her throat. I turned my attention to her. I don't understand why, but Artemis looked a little… miffed. She was probably still mad about me calling her Annabeth. Honestly, can she blame me? "Now that you've met Thalia, I believe that she can introduce you to the rest of the Hunters." she said stiffly.

"What?" Both me and Thalia asked, taken aback. "My lady, don't you think that it would be better if you did the introductions?" Thalia asked with me just nodding my head.

"I have some important things to do, so I will need Thalia to take over the introductions." Artemis was definitely upset. She had the same face as Annabeth whenever she said "Nothing's wrong." Somehow Artemis was worse at covering up her anger.

"Lady Artemis, if you are still upset about my earlie-"

"I'm NOT upset!" Artemis snapped back. "I just… have important work. Now please. Follow Thalia, she will carry out the introductions."

"Yes ma'am." me and Thalia responded, not wanting to upset her further.

Artemis nodded. "I will be back by lunch." and quickly flashed away, leaving me with a pang of guilt in my gut. I know she wasn't Annabeth but… seeing her upset still hurts.

"Not bad Percy." Thalia chuckled.

"What?"

"In less than an hour of being here, you have already managed to upset Artemis."

"I really didn't mean to. It's just that she looks identical to Annabeth."

Thalia sighed audibly. "Yeah that caused quite a stir when we first found out. Took quite a bit of explaining on her part, but we got used to it. Speaking of which…"

She then became extremely serious.

"A lot of the girls are not thrilled about having a boy here, even you."

"Understandable." Quite a lot of them had full on been traumatized by guys, so I'm sure I would aggravate it. "I'll be on my best behaviour and not get in trouble with them."

"Yeah… see... they will look for trouble with you." She sighed. "Lady Artemis told us that you are immortal while you're doing your job. So the girls understood that as Lethal Force is Allowed."

I inhaled sharply. Wouldn't be looking forward to that.

"Any chance you could help st-" Thalia shook her head.

"Just be smart and avoid their arrows. And watch where u step. And check your bed. And tent. And clothes."

As I pondered my new task, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the girls. It felt like a cry for help. Like they were trying to cope with grief but though violence. Maybe they needed this outlet.

"Its ok. Like she said, I'm immortal. I can take it. Maybe you guys could use with a punching bag."

A small sadistic smile appeared on Thalia's face.

"Well if you say so."

I didn't even hear the lightning strike. Just a moment of Ozone, then charred ground.

"THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR" I yelled, patting out the fires on my clothes.

Thalia apologized with another lightning bolt. This time I reacted by bringing up my shield.

"Pussy." She taunted, launching bolt after bolt.

"THIS IS NOT EVEN A PRANK!" I tried to reason with her.

"I dunno, it's pretty funny!" Suddenly i heard lightning crackle from above. I launched myself at Thalia, knocking her over. The lightning struck the ground where I was.

"Shit Thalia," I said. "You could take it a little easier." I quickly realized I was lying on top of her. Awkwardly I got off her, trying not to be aware of her body and her blushing face showed she was very much aware too.

"Sorry" I muttered, avoiding eye contact. Thalia shook her head, responding with a "It's fine."

A minute of awkward silence later, I cleared my throat. "Should we go introduce the others to their new punching bag?"

"I'll record what happens." she laughed as she broke into a smile and led the way.