Chapter Four
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History prefers legends to man.
It prefers nobility to brutality,
soaring speeches to quiet deeds.
History remembers the battle but forgets the blood.
Whatever remembers of me if it remembers anything at all,
it shall only be a fraction of the truth.
For whatever else I am; a wife, a hunter, a goddess, I will always think of myself as a person in this world who struggled against darkness.
-Phoebe Artemis
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"Where are you taking me?" Artemis whined for the tenth time as she strode after the swift steps of her mentor who did not even budge at least once no more how high pitch she made her voice to be. He had simply strode emotionlessly and he did not even react when Artemis recited the heartfelt speech of forgiveness she had composed the night before for her bitchy actions.
"Percyyyyyy," Artemis called out again hoping to catch his attention and she nearly slammed to him as he stopped without warning all of a sudden.
"Here we are," he stated simply and Artemis frowned as she gazed at another one of the small shacks like the workshop and the armory that she had already witnessed. However this one she noticed had a large circular forge that compromises most of the space. A dozen tools that can be found in a blacksmith's house are lined neatly on the racks and Artemis had a hunch that Cassandra must have a hand on this again. The placing was too neatly and in order for a male to have been the one to arrange it.
"What are we doing here? Don't tell you're planning to teach me how to make weapons since for your information. I can't even craft a simple filleting knife," said Artemis.
"And I don't expect you to make one," replied Percy with a slight mocking on his tone. "I know enough about you to understand that you just don't have the patience or the artistry for such a task,"
"Hmmf! I'll take that as a compliment," Artemis huffed at the teasing. "So if you're not here to teach me how to smith, then why are we here?"
"Patience moon goddess. Give me your sword,"
Artemis rose an eyebrow in suspicion. She had been lugging the beautiful blade in her back ever since they left the house and she got the suspicion that some damage would be inflicted it if she handed it over. For the record, she really liked the blade.
"And your knife too," Percy commanded as he held out his hands in front of her.
"Don't tell me you're planning to break them," Artemis commented as she unslung the scabbard containing the slender sword from her back and handed it to the man in front of her. She then easily twirled the knife from its sheath before handing it more elegantly than the larger blade.
"Show off," she heard Percy mutter taking the blades with him to the center of the forge. By unspoken consent, Artemis padded after him.
"This is a lesson that I want you to remember my lady," Percy said the moment he unlocked a cupboard and pulled out a large earthen jar that contained some boiling liquid, placing it gently at one of the tables with a small thump. He then looked straight at Artemis. "Have you ever wondered why Boagrius was still alive after you nailed him in the eye?"
"Many times," Artemis shrugged. "Maybe I've missed or maybe I should have stabbed him in the heart. Judging by the lack of knowledge I have on vampires, its not my place to make a hypothetical guess,"
"Good answers," Percy nodded in approval. "Finally you're learning, tell me Artemis, what is the greatest weapon in the world?"
Artemis frowned a bit at that as she wracked her brain for answers. This philosophical talk is making her light-headed. This is Athena's venue, not hers. Artemis preffered the practical way being the goddess of the hunt and the wilderness rather than the theoretical ones.
"Power?" Artemis half-heartedly answered and she cringed at the disapproving frown that erupted at Percy's face.
"No, power is a means to an end Artemis. Power unguided is a wild force that destroys everything in its path. The more you get it, the harder it is to control and tame. No, what I am talking about is information,"
"Really?" Artemis asked incredulously. She can't help the disbelief that laced her voice.
Percy nodded again as he heated the jar making the gray liquid bubble. "Information is the greatest weapon any warrior who uses his or her brain could ever have. With the right information, you could bring down a country without firing a shot by digging the dirt of its leaders and forcing them to submission. With information you can direct armies at will without worrying what they would be facing. With the correct information on your opponent, you can study how moves, learn his styles and even though you are weaker. You can bring them down.
"What does it have to do with vampire hunting?"
"Everything. You cannot destroy something if you had no idea how to destroy it," Pery explained. "For example, remember your...failure at the docks?"
Artemis bristled but made no comment on it as she simply nodded in confirmation.
"You brought Celestial Bronze which might I add was wise thinking judging that you expected a monster. However your information was made by guesswork and it nearly cost you your life. A true vampire hunter never jumps without knowing what is waiting for him or her at the end. Before we strike to kill, we learn about our enemies' capabilities. Some vampires are wiser than the others and not only rely only on their natural gifts but also on their unnatural ones. For instance, are you familiar with Napoleon Bonaparte my lady?"
"Yes, demigod son of Athena that never trained with the rest of the demigods. Great emperor of France. Why?"
"Do you know how he died?" Percy asked and Artemis shivered at the predatory smile that appeared at his face. Every god of course remembered how the Great conqueror died. Stomach Ulcer without warning that surprised everyone.
"Don't tell me you had a hand there?" Artemis gawked.
"Indeed I did. What you gods don't know is that the emperor was a vampire in secret. Have you ever wondered what happened to the prisoners that kept on disappearing at the French dungeons that time?"
"No, I'm not," answered Artemis before she realized she being pulled off track. "But you said you had a hand that killed the emperor,"
"That is lightly putting it," Percy replied. "It was impossible to assassinate him using swords or axes...or arrows," he added as an afterthought with a smirk at Artemis as she scowled at the insult on her favorite weapon. "I had to use other non-conventional weapons. A few milligrams of silver nitrate at his morning tea and voila. Emperor vampire have a stomach cancer,"
"Athena is still mad until now you know. You better pray she never finds out," Artemis pointed out with a shake of her head unable to believe that the person in front of her was responsible for killing one of the greatest men in history which is "supposed" to be a vampire in disguise.
"Don't worry about me," Percy waved her off. "No one would believe you anyway even if you tell them," he sneered at her making Artemis shot him a glare.
"Just teach me how to destroy them already," huffed Artemis crossing her arms in front of her and leaning to one of the wooden posts of the shack.
"My, my getting impatient now are we?" he chuckled a bit and Artemis felt her jaw drop in disbelief. Cassandra had stressed that the guy never laughed anymore. To hear him chuckling at her sent tendrils of confusion at her brain.
"Do you know what this is?" he pointed to the now bubbling grayish mass that smelled from the earthen jar. One look at it made Artemis grimaced a the foul smell. Still she recognized it without problem. She uses its solid form almost every day after all.
"Silver,"
Percy nodded at her correct answer pulling the slender sword from the scabbard and twirling it easily on his hand much faster than Artemis thought possible the flat of the sword shining on the morning light. Placing it on the table along with the knife, Percy took a large spoon from the rack and scooped a generous amount of liquid silver before gesturing it to Artemis.
"Drink," he ordered briefly catching Artemis by surprise. She can't believe her ears. He wanted her to drink that glob. Looking at his eyes, she can't detect any source of mischief.
"You want me to d-d-drink that?" she asked nervously looking at the bubbly mess. She was sure that if it would go anywhere near her throat, she would be unable to eat anything for the rest of her life.
"Yes," Percy merely replied curtly.
Artemis sighed in defeat, extending her hands. If this is what she needed to defeat Boagrius, she would do it. However she was surprised as a broad grin appeared suddenly appeared at Percy's face and his chuckles are a bit louder than normal.
"Seriously, you're going to drink it?" he chuckled and Artemis went red that she had been pranked. Percy must have seen the explosion that is about to happen for he dropped the teasing immediately and turned stern as he inlaid the sword's blade with the liquid silver.
His voice somber like usual he explained as he worked. "When Judas betrayed Jesus, it was thirty pieces of silver. At that time then, silver then became a curse...to the cursed," he finished by adding another line at the knife. "That's the reason why nearly every creature born from the darkness are afraid of silver. It is lethal to them. You'll never see a vampire with silver on his coat or jacket. They hate it simply,"
"So we can kill them only with silver?" Artemis asked as she glanced at the now shining sword.
"Not really. They still die if you burn them or cut their head off, or poison them with silver," his face then got a thoughtful look. "I'm not sure if a vampire would still live if you cut it in half. Never tried that before. I won't be surprised if it would still be crawling still towards you. These bastards are hard to kill after all,"
"So...what now?" asked Artemis as she viewed her now anti-vampire weapons.
A preadatory grin appeared at Percy's face that seemed out of place as he looked at her. "We wait for it to dry. Then we start training to make sure you don't die at a fight and I might say I am looking forward on beating you black and blue,"
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Artemis was impressed and that is saying something as she was seldom impressed, much less by the opposite sex. After drying her sword from the silver, Artemis now watch in awe as Percy partaked a lifetime of vampire hunting to her. They started of course with her main weapon, the sword.
It was the first time the moon goddess saw someone almost do it as simple as dancing as she watched silently while Percy demonstrated to her different poses and different attack styles that would maim, kill or incapacitate at maximum efficiency with her blade. Artemis now understood why Percy insisted that she got a longer weapon than a knife. Vampires won't die with a single thrust unless one is capable of breaking bone and meat that will render helpless and it would be easy to kill them then.
"Do I have to be twirling the sword like that?" Artemis asked as she watched Percy form different poses whirling the sword like dancing as he dismembered imaginary enemies.
"Yes, the key on fighting vampires is to anticipate their move. Remember what I told you?" He looked at her. "Vampires disappear and attack at all directions. You must be moving all the time, your weapon ready to block any angle...of any attack!" Percy suddenly threw the sword at Artemis and the moon goddess' eyes widened as she saw the sword go "whoomp-whoomp" in the air before she managed to catch it just in time just a handsbreath before she is cleaved to two parts.
"Are you crazy?!" Artemis can't help but shriek at the man in front of her. "You could have killed me!"
Percy only shrugged. "Nothing like facing death would teach you the needed to experience. As much as nice it is to face vampires head on, its easier to kill them while they are still at the distance,"
Artemis growled but Percy merely waved it off. "Now you try it,"
"Excuse me?"
"Do what I just did," he stated simply with another wave.
"The dancing part or the throw part?"
"Dance first then throw,"
"You've gotta be kidding me. I don't even know if I would be able to do that," said Artemis exasperatedly as she held the curved sword. "I'm no good at sword fighting," Percy rolled his eyes simply.
"And you would never get any better on it unless you move...NOW!" he finished the last part with a shout.
Artemis galvanized by the command squeaked and slowly but doubtfully began to twirl the blade in her fingers in no small amount of nervousness. She was thankful that the sword was light, the more she twirled it, the more she felt that it was a part of her body than a weapon. It felt right and she felt complete.
"Now shift it while still moving to your left arm," Percy commanded softly and Artemis gulped but obeyed as she shifted it in her other arm. It took her longer than her right to get it right but soon it was spinning as if she had been born to do it. Artemis can't help but laugh at her success.
"Very good, now shift it again to your right and left repeatedly but slowly and make sure you don't drop it," ordered Percy stressing the word "slowly"
A bit now confident and sure than five minutes before, Artemis did it as commanded and in a mere five minutes of repeating. Artemis now was twirling the sword back and forth a lot faster as her hands got accustomed to the repeating movement. Artemis can't help but feel the warm glow in her stomach increase as Percy's praises made her tingle. She shook her head at that. Since when did she want Percy's approval anyway.
The two proceeded now to the part where Artemis was now moving the blade with her body and Artemis found that part hard. Her focus distracted by the movement of her arm and her body at the same time, she lost control of the twirling sword and she lost the grip during one of her passes to her other arm and she watched in horror as it twirled at Percy's direction.
"Percy look out?!" Artemis can't help but yell in alarm as she watched the speeding object flew to her teacher. Her jaw dropped however when Percy merely caught it in midair, stopping the twirling it did by grabbing the hilt of the sword on its last twirl before it hit him. He approached her then and handed the sword to her shocked arms.
"Good work Artemis. You've progressed faster than I believed and in fact I would be surprised if you got that part of the training on the first try. Come, leave your sword and follow me," he gestured and began to walk in the forest.
"How, how did you that?" Artemis gasped as she ran after her mentor. "Not even Ares can catch a sword midswing. What are you?"
Percy merely gave her the ghost of a smile. "Another thing Artemis, its not polite to pry into people's pasts no matter how close you believe you are to him or her. As for the catching part, all it needs was a lot of repetition and perseverance which I hope you will apply to your training,"
"Of course," Artemis nodded as they entered the woods again. "Where are we going?"
"The stance I'm teaching you is called the dance of the sword. It's a Teutonic style of fighting and one of the best defenses that had ever been developed when fighting against vampires. However all it needed now I judge after seeing your performance just now as repetition and repetition. You'll get the hang of it don't worry. However I've brought you here so that I can train your legs and your arms. Put this on," they had now reached the part of the woods where a dozen logs are crisscrossed with one another.
Artemis barely caught things he threw at her and she blushed deep and red when she noticed that its a shirt with no sleeves and shorts that are extremely short that it only went down a few centimeters from her outer thigh.
"Is-is this a joke?" Artemis can't help but screech as she held the new apparels shaking them as if they are the worst things she ever had the bad luck to hold. Percy's glare was her only answer.
"There's a covered clearing behind the spring. Go and change moon goddess. Your present clothes will not allow you your full potential. Better wear that where you can move all you want without problem,"
"Or maybe you just want to seem my legs and arms," Artemis grumbled under her breath. She maybe respecting Percy since he is her teacher and a good person to Cassandra but he's still a male and Artemis was doubtful that he won't take any advantage of her while she's under his tutelage.
"What was that?" Percy's voice broke Artemis' thoughts clearly.
"Nothing," chirped the moon goddess innocently as she went to the screen indicated by the vampire hunter.
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"Be gentle..be gentle...be gentle...be gentle...owwww!" Artemis can't help but wail out loud, her voice echoing on the bathroom.
Cassandra only scowled at her. It has been three weeks ever since Artemis stayed here at Jackson Manor and the girl had slowly relaxed to Artemis' presence and have been quite relaxed on having her around. "Honestly Artemis, you're the Olympian goddess of the moon but you're acting like a five year old baby,"
"I hate splinters," pouted Artemis splashing her hands on the bathtub water as Cassandra pulled another one at her legs followed by a whimper under the water as the moon goddess drowned her wails at the water before surfacing again, her silver hair dripping wet. "I've always hated splinters ever since I was a child," she and Percy had been training again on the logs and some of the wooden splinters managed to roach on her leg.
Cassandra just rolled her eyes at her as she took the gauze drenched with antiseptic before rubbing it at the legs of the goddess that is followed by many a hiss and more blubbering from the moon goddess.
It had been three weeks ever since Artemis started her training with Percy. She had gone from fighting in an orderly style to a style that is completely unpredictable that could rival even tha of her sister, Athena. The once unwieldy but elegant sword that she is using is now a deadly tool designed for vampire killing and Artemis was well versed at how she can use it. From slicing moves, to gutting, chopping, piercing and even the part where she usually throws it. Her knife throwing was as excellent as ever and Percy didn't drill her much on that part. Her emotions are also steadily being temperized by the vampire hunter and Artemis during their find-or-else-you'll-get-groped sessions do not react that badly when Percy would try to ruin her modesty during training. Artemis smiled as she remembered their sessions. The last one earned Percy a slap of strength from her that his right face swelled and he had to admit it to very embarassed Cassandra that he had been aiming at Artemis' breast when she managed to nail her.
The usual workout also on running and jumping logs while fighting made the moon goddess' body a working machine with much endurance to bear. For the first time, Artemis met the physical limit of a goddess and she was glad at the strength and the speed she now possessed. Her body had transformed from the soft girl she is to a weapon of whipcord, lean and graceful though much to her embarrasment, her curves got even more pronounced and her legs grew even more graceful that even Percy who is the very epitome of stoic, she caught once or twice looking and appreciating her as she donned the shorts he "lent" her looking away as quick as he looked.
Also her feelings for the handsome vampire hunter against her wishes are starting to bloom. She started to appreciate little things about him. His stern countenance, his laughs which is rare and between. His hands lingering a bit on her longer than necessary sometimes. Artemis was confused with her feelings and despite her misgivings, she wondered if she had done the right thing for swearing the oath of being an eternal maiden.
"Penny for your thoughts Artemis?" Cassandra's voice asked and Artemis snapped out of her reverie as she had been staring at the roof thinking about a certain green-eyed man.
"Nothing," Artemis sighed. "I'm just wondering if Percy would be eating with us for later,"
"No," Cassandra shook her head, her beautiful face saddened as she laid Artemis' leg back at the tub now clean again. "He is visiting the village tonight. Apparently some vampires are arriving tomorrow and Percy wanted to kill them all while they are still in the boat before they land here,"
"I see," Artemis leaned on the edge of the tub thinking. Percy never joined them during mealtimes ever even though Cassandra set a table for him every time. He always reasoned that he is on missions or visiting other vampire hunters then he would pop up an hour later to pick up Artemis.
Artemis felt for her friend. Cassandra may not say it but she could see it on her eyes as she cleaned their mealtimes every time. She wanted Percy to eat with them even once. She had once awakened in the middle of the night seeing the beautiful girl waiting for the master of the house at the fireplace, a plate held waiting for him to return during a nightly incursion. Her heart broke as she saw Percy enter and smile at the girl who helped him with his coat before offering him the food. She saw Percy smile and kiss her brow before refusing and going to his study leaving her behind. Artemis almost jumped in to comfort her as she saw a silver tear fall from her face, her blonde hair shining as she stood rooted alone. Next day she was smiling as if nothing is wrong as she awoke Artemis.
"I'm proud of you Artemis," Cassandra's voice softly said making the moon goddess look at her friend who are rearranging the medical kit on a box, the lower hem of her gown wet due to Artemis' splashing.
"For what?" Artemis asked confused.
"You made Percy laugh and chuckle," she said softly and Artemis could see the tears being held in by a will of iron. "I've tried everything I knew to make her laugh like that again. I even climbed into his bed once. He never did. But you, in the matter of a week, I've never seen him so relaxed as this,"
"I guess you're welcome," Artemis nervously replied burying her head halfway to the bubbles, her silver eyes blinking to her friend.
"Maybe...maybe it's time," Cassandra murmured more to herself as she stood up.
"What are you implying at Cass?" Artemis blinked.
"It's time for me to leave maybe soon," she replied with a sad chuckle. "Percy no longer needed me and I feel useless. He has you now," she said softly before walking away leaving a stunned and confused moon goddess behind.
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"What are we doing here Perce?" Artemis can't help but ask as she glanced uneasily at the dock tavern where most of the dock workers and sailors take their time off to buy their drinks and food. It is also here that many of the slaves are traded and bought off. All in all it is a venue for smugglers and thieves, rapists and many more that Artemis could list off in her brain. Somewhere that no sane girl would enter into willingly. Normally Artemis would rather find herself Aphrodite's test project before entering here but she had changed now thanks to Percy's training and she felt only mild discomfort as she went in after her teacher.
"Taking a drink of course," Percy replied curtly as he waved at the barman to order a glass of whiskey before looking questioningly at her.
"No thank you," Artemis replied with a smile and wave of her hand. She is wearing a dress of gray that made her look like a local. It had been two days since her talk with Cassandra and the shy girl had promptly ignored her, their conversations strained and awkward.
"Percy what are we here for?" Artemis asked again just in time as the barman returned with Percy's drink. She may bear entering this place but staying too long being stared at made her skin tingle and she resisted the urge to skin these men alive. It would be easy and not a problem, she would be eliminating some of the world's problems after all.
"Your next lesson," Percy replied curtly as he took a drink. "You'll never see a vampire reflected in mirrors. The one thing God put as an evidence that they will never have. For the dead cannot be seen for they are already dead,"
Artemis turned just in time to see Boagrius talking at the doorway to a person handing out a couple of gold coins before walking off. Liquid fire of fury burned to Artemis' chest and she instinctively reached to the knife hidden in her belt. Today was her day of vengeance, her day of reckoning. Finally she would be able to avenge her mother.
"Percy its Barts! Its Boagrius Barts-," Artemis was halfway through her stool when suddenly Percy grabbed her neck and slammed her head to the counter eliciting laughter from the other drinkers at her state as Percy whispered harshly on her ear.
"I give you the targets. That was our deal!"
Artemis was still huffing in anger as Percy dragged her back to the manor a few hours after with a slight curt nod at Cassandra who took their jackets. Artemis resisted the urge to cuss the man though as he strode through the study dragging her, his still muddy boots leaving mud tracks behind him on the floor. Didn't he know that he's causing his friend more work?
"Sorry," Artemis muttered to Cassandra as she gave a faint smile dropping on her knees as she began scrubbing the mud off the pavement, courtesy of Percy.
Artemis found herself seated on what is supposed to be a projector of some sorts showing off a picture of Boagrius Barts. Around her was Percy's study littered with scrolls and maps and hundreds of notes littering the ground that she made great care on stepping her feet in fear of damaging something important.
"This was not only about Boagrius Barts Artemis," he flicked the next picture and Artemis recognized her immediately. She had blonde hair and looks that could kill with high cheekbones and slightly thin mouth. "Vadoma, a ruthless enforcer," he flicked again the projector and now Artemis remembered where she had seen her and him as the picture showed a person with glasses and heavy jaw with slightly bald head.
"They call him Adam," Percy explained. "He, who from others are made,"
"I recognized him and her," Artemis said finally. "They were at the docks before I tried to kill Boagrius Barts ordering a fresh crop of food,"
"Not food, slaves," Percy corrected looking at Artemis' questioning face. He then flicked the projector again.
"Vampires have been in the new world for centuries. Slaughtering early settlers and tribes. However when the Europeans came with their slaves. The dead saw a new opportunity and an endless supply of food," the picture flicked now to a continent of America divided by red and blue that marked the Confederate and the Union.
"They've built an empire in the south and are slowly moving north leaving murder and death at their wake," the projector turned off and Percy slumped back with a sigh.
"It is up to us Artemis, the hunters to ensure that this part of the world remain a nation of men and not monsters. What we do, we do not for ourselves but for the good of all mankind. Remember that always,"
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Late that night, Artemis lay at her bed trying to absorb everything she had learned. This was bigger than her. This was bigger than anything she had ever imagined. As a goddess and an Olympian, Artemis never exactly cared for humanity. But now upon seeing the horror behind the shadows that threaten the mortals. Artemins knew that deep inside her heart, she must fight to preserve the world as it was, as thankless as the job would be.
"What we do, we do not for ourselves but for the good of all mankind," Artemis repeated softly and found herself drifting off to Hypnos' realm.
Tomorrow, she would begin the Hunt and she prayed that she won't do it alone.
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HIYA2X ANOTHER CHAPTER IS DONE. HOPE YA LIKE IT. NEXT ONE WE'LL MEET MR. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. HIHIHI PLEASE REVIEW AT LEAST TO REACH 40 HAHA THANK YOU FOR THE EVER SUPPORT. DONT BE ASHAMED TO POINT OUT QUESTIONS IF YOURE CONFUSED.
PS: DO YOU GUYS WANT CASSANDRA TO BE PART OF THE HUNTING TEAM OR NO?