Chapter Six

Artemis watched proudly as her hunters never once blanched from battle but she was still worried, she would lose many if her girls to this battle. The thought alone broke her heart and filled it with rage. She engaged Hyperion head on determined to win the battle quickly so that she could help her girls.

She fought with her hunting knives, moving faster than the hunters could see, only forming a silver arc that pushed the titan back. However, Hyperion was no weak titan, with a mighty swing of his sword he sent the Goddess flying into a tree, crumpling into a heap.

A roar of anger was heard from her lieutenant, as she summoned a bolt of lightning that hit the titan in the middle of his chest before he could impale the goddess. The distraction was enough for the goddess to get back to her feet and once more engage the titan who had been sent flying backwards from the force of Thalia's strike.

The three girls in the trees sent a volley of arrows that pierced many monsters before they could get close to their sisters but they were fighting a losing battle. There were too many monsters. Thalia and Phoebe, a daughter of Ares, made an incredible team, killing everything that got near their spear or bow. The monsters had begun to push the girls back slowly.

A cry was heard out as Dana, a daughter of Apollo fell in battle with a spear in her stomach. The girl fell to her knees then let out her last breath. The girl that was fighting with her Ellie, daughter of Hypnos, let out a pained cry. Thalia summoned the largest bolt of lightning she could and fried the Minotaur, it crumbled into ash. The hunters fought with renewed energy, each of them craving blood for their fallen sister even though many knew that this wouldn't be the only sister who fell in battle today.

Zoe watched the girl die, she was a new hunter, one that she did not know, and felt a pang in her heart. Death was inevitable with the life that they led, as hunters they battled more often than average demigods however that didn't mean that Zoe didn't understand their pain and want to help avenge a good warrior. She pulled out her pure black bow and aimed, she shot the hydra eight times in the heart before it crumbled into dust.

The hunters looked around stunned, the creature had not yet attacked, just prevented them from leaving, now it was dead. The hell hounds went to the fallen huntress and tossed her onto its back. They took her away from the fighting, ensuring that her body would not be trampled in the fighting. Zoe continued to aim at the monsters closest to hunters but Artemis was tiring in her fight against the titan.

"Enough Hyperion, I will be your opponent." she called as she jumped down from the branch.

As she walked her cloak opened to reveal her body covered in a black leather cat suit. She had silver hunting knives strapped to her thighs, a bow slung over her back and a sword at her hip. She twisted the silver ring in her finger and it elongated into a spear.

"I was wondering when you would show up. Did your lover boy finally let you out from under his thumb?"

The girl laughed, "I was always here, watching, what are you really looking for titan?" The titans eyes flashed with panic, "I was looking for revenge girl." he shouted.

Hyperion attacked violently, swinging his sword in no formation, trying to cut the girl in two. She laughed as she gracefully backed away, hopping, and twirling as if she were dancing.

"You just gave me all the information I needed titan. You may be getting ready to attack but your orders do not come from the horseman. You search for a way to awaken them." she said gleefully.

While the girl fought Hyperion, Artemis was able to help her hunters fight the less powerful monsters, with the goddesses help, the numbers quickly reduced. Artemis half paid attention to what the girl said. It seemed like she was trying to get information out of the titan. As the girl moved, Artemis wished she could see her face, she moved so fluidly, she could have sworn she knew the girl. She was familiar.

Zoe swung her spear like a bat, with the tip catching he titan in the eye. Once of his large hands swiped the air in front of him blindly and by luck he hit the girl. She went down hard, before she could rise he caught her by the back of her cape. The titan impaled her with his sword to her stomach. Zoe laughed, as her spear went through his neck at the same time.

He crumbled to dust and she whispered, "Nyx and Erebus await you in Tartarus."

Zoe glanced down at the sword, she muttered a filthy word as she sent a message to Percy. It would take something far more powerful than a simple sword to kill her completely and she was immortal.

Lady Artemis came to help the injured girl, "I can heal you." she said and moved to take out the sword.

"No milady. Thank you but Winter will be here soon. Help your hunters." replied Zoe.

She watched her old friend, and mother like figure, glance at her worriedly. She missed her Lady but as she watched the hunters she knew that she was no longer needed. Her time in the hunt had passed and her best friend was in good hands. They had both walked a path together for a long time but now that path had split, she wished she knew if they would ever share their friendship again the future.

Artemis watched as the girl waited for that boy and she wished she could hunt him or even just see the girls face, it seemed like the hood of her cape was enchanted to shadow her face, no matter how much she stared, all she could see was darkness.

The girl was bleeding to death yet she insisted on waiting on that boy. Many of the hunters, gathered to watch the mysterious girl when Artemis once again tried to help her.

"I will not wait for you to die waiting for a boy." hissed the goddess.

She gripped the handle of the sword and pulled, Zoe screamed and Lady Artemis went flying backwards. Winter stood in front of them again, this time with military style cargo pants, combat boots and a black muscle T shirt. He wore black sunglasses and snarled out, "What the hades to do you think you were doing?"

Thalia shouted, "Our Lady was trying to help a maiden, you know, your friend that lies there bleeding to death."

Winter laughed, "Maiden? Tell me huntress where is the maiden for all I see is Luna. Do not assume that every girl you meet is as pure as your sisters. You were not helping her, you were killing her. Luna cannot be healed in a normal demigod way."

Winter turned his back on Thalia, effectively dismissing her from thought and mind. However he did hear Artemis mutter, "Luna?"

Winter shrugged, "Its what you can call her, instead of girl or maiden."

He placed his hands on the sword and shadows wrapped around it. The sword flickered once, twice, then disappeared from view. He sprinkled some sort of dust over the wound and it disappeared.

Luna stood up and smiled, "You were right, the horseman are waking but something holds them back. The monsters are taking orders from them but not all have awakened. The titans search for the cause for the first to awaken."

Winter nodded his head, "The horsemen have been trying to escape for some time now. They will all wake, there is no doubt about that."

Luna nodded, "I am sorry for your loss but not all life can be saved." she told Lady Artemis.

They both disappeared into the shadows and reappeared in London, "Why are we here?" asked Zoe.

"I want to take you out on a date before we head to Alaska. Its time our warriors start making a name for themselves. War will come but for now, I search for three demigods besides if they haven't awoken yet then we have more time than we expected."