The Hunters of Archer
Disclaimer: Nothing in this story belongs to me.
Chapter 7
Percy was walking outside of a well-known bikers' bar somewhere in the Midwest. He was set to meet his next acquaintance. He had known her for a while now, but he tried to avoid her presence as much as possible. He witnessed the grandeur of her motorcycle, parked next to a series of other bikes. The other bikes looked bland and unthreatening, compared to the terrifying bike that belonged to his acquaintance.
He entered the rough and sketchy looking bar. As soon as he entered the bar, his expression turned sour. His nose caught onto the scent of vomit, piss, and sweat. Such a lovely setting to have a simple meeting.
Percy made his way through the crowded bar. He bumped into some sketchy bikers, some looked ready to jump him. But Percy quickly lost them in the surrounding crowd. Then he found her, in such a wretched place.
Playing billiards with men twice her size and width. If anything, it was her who was depositing fear into them and not the other way around. From Percy's interpretation he thought she was winning. Of course, she was Nemesis.
Percy made his way towards the table furthest back to finally have a chance to talk to her.
"I can't come to the conclusion on why you insist we meet here." Percy said as he sat in the loveseat directly behind her. She turned around.
Nemesis was a beautiful goddess with auburn hair and silver eyes. She wore a red jacket, with a black shirt, black jeans, black boots and carried a whip around her waist like a belt.
"I see you've changed your look. Trying to fit in with the surrounding crowd I imagine?" Nemesis said as she looked around to see the musty bikers with leather vests, washed jeans, and boots.
Percy contemplated his look before he met with Nemesis. He always liked to fit in with the crowd, so he wasn't easily spotted or worse, recognized. Today he had decided on a black leather sports jacket with a black v neck t-shirt. He wore faded jeans with black leather boots.
He turned to Nemesis as she continued to play her game. "Always the analyzing one Nemesis. You never reveal your true form to me. You're an unimaginative being." The playful insult seemed to strike a nerve, as she completely whiffed the ball with her cue stick.
"I'd be careful Perseus. Just because we are acquaintances and strive for the same goal, does not mean I won't unleash my wrath upon you for your impudence." Percy of course simply laughed. He had heard this threat many times over the centuries.
"I wouldn't laugh Perseus. After all, you're the one too afraid to tell me who I am and why you want revenge." Perseus got up in a flash and grabbed Nemesis by the sleeve of her red jacket and pressed her forcefully against the table.
"Struck a nerve, did I?" Nemesis did strike a nerve. Nemesis had an interesting ability to rile up anger and the wanting of retribution on the individual she appeared as.
The auburn hair and silver eyes should tell you who Nemesis truly looked like. Of course, Nemesis appeared to you as an individual you wanted retribution against. And right now, she was Artemis goddess of the hunt. That was his reasoning for avoiding her presence as much as possible. Nemesis would assume the appearance of Apollo and Artemis, and sometimes other gods. Nemesis however, didn't know who she appeared as. Perseus also wasn't willing to give that information up to Nemesis, it would just add to his anger and lust for retribution.
"No. I thought we were just enjoying ourselves. You like to play rough, don't you?" Percy recollected himself as he gave a fake smile. He was trying to contain his anger.
"Yes. I do indeed." Nemesis turned around as she set a few bills on the table. She said some words to the grown men. Before she turned to Perseus once again.
She pointed towards the office in the back and Percy obliged as he followed her.
"So, what brings you to my lovely abode? Or shall I say business?" Nemesis said as she sat in her office chair and perched her feet up on her desk.
Percy looked at her 'abode' or office with distaste. The walls were black and the light that was provided, barely lit half the room. It looked like an interrogation room if anything. He sat in the free leather chair that was somewhat torn, as if a lion used it as a chewing toy.
"You know why I'm here. The titans are rising. I want to be informed on their movements. But most of all, which side is the most appealing to you." Nemesis mockingly put her hand under chin pretending to contemplate what she was going to say.
"You should know the answer. After all, Kym also asked of my loyalties and dare I say she persuaded me. We 'minor gods' have to stand together against those who have wronged us. The Olympians are the ones who have wronged us." Nemesis said as she began riling Percy's inner retribution and distaste towards the gods.
"I'm the goddess of balance and retribution and I provide it to anyone who seeks it, for a price. I especially love to ruin the proud who are having too much luck. How about your Perseus? This is your chance. Wasn't it you who first came to me to commence a war against the Olympian council? Don't get soft on me now." It was true, and Percy admitted it. He was the one who brought up the idea of an immortal revolution. But that was back then, when all he wanted was their destruction. And he still does, but that means ruining the demigods as well.
"It is what I want. But the titans will push us aside if we win the war for them." Nemesis seemed to understand this as she nodded.
"There always risk in war. You have to take the chance." Nemesis eyed Percy skeptically.
"You look indecisive presently. I will give you some time. Let Kym know what your response will be. We've put our demigod children on the line for this. I even took an eye from my own child as payment for his wish. That how just I am, I don't pick favorites." Perseus knew too well of Nemesis's cunningness, but she was correct that she was just and fair.
"For now, my response is I will be neutral. I will let Kym know if my answer changes." Nemesis accepted the answer, but she spoke before Perseus could leave.
"Perseus you realize if you decide to side with Olympians, we will still be acquaintances. But in war that all goes into the pit of Tartarus." Perseus nodded.
"I despise the Olympians, why would I side with them?" Perseus asked her but mostly to himself.
"Because you despise the titans more. Or was it a lie when you told me this?" It was all true, he did despise the titans more. He was an abomination in their eyes. Fathered by a mere mortal, he was unworthy of their presence.
"All is fair in the game of war. I hope to see you again Nemesis?" Nemesis nodded.
And Perseus walked out of that hell hole.
PAGE BREAK
"So, you're offering free food, right? Please tell me you have enchiladas." Grover looked around hopefully.
Aunty Em looked at him distastefully, as if he did something remotely incorrect. Then plastered a fake smile once again.
"I don't see why I can't cook some up." The group of questers blindly followed Aunty Em towards the back of the shop.
Grover passed by a statue of a satyr that looked oddly familiar to him. Too familiar. He took a hard look and realized it looked a lot like his uncle Ferdinand.
"What are you laughing at, Grover?" Ridley said as he looked oddly at Grover and the statue.
"Nothing, it's just that statue looks like someone I know." Ridley didn't bother asking further. The smell of food blinded the alerts and red flags that were going off.
"You manage this auspicious shop?" Altair looked around as he looked at all the statues. Almost every statue, looked in a state of shock. The eyes seemed to follow the questers warningly.
The nagging feeling in Altair's gut kept pestering him but he resulted it to his hunger.
"Yes. I used to run it without my sisters before they left to do their own thing." Before Annabeth and Altair could say anything, she spoke first. "Here we are. I have some burgers, fries, shakes, and of course enchiladas for you." As she pointed at the group and specifically at Grover.
The groups stomach grumbled in unison. They looked at each other before concluding that they would satisfy their hunger first, before they asked questions. She gave them each a plate with a burger and fries. As they were eating they couldn't help but savor and enjoy the foods taste.
"This is amazing. One of the best enchiladas I've ever tasted. That's telling you something Aunty Em." Aunty Em smiled at Grover with her brilliant white teeth that held a certain edge to them.
As they finished their meal, their defenses and instincts began to kick in. Especially Altair's. Altair had now realized the predicament they were in. They were in an enclosed structure with an unknown individual, not knowing that person's full capabilities. Percy had always taught him to be distrustful of strangers, specifically the nice one's who had a hidden agenda deep within.
"Your sisters why did they leave." Altair eyed Aunty Em suspiciously.
"They weren't as good at creating statues like me. They couldn't capture their faces and expressions like I could." Annabeth froze as a deep thought from the back of her brain clawed into her current thoughts.
"Must be lonely around here. No husband?" Ridley asked stupidly. Both Annabeth and Altair looked at Ridley with anger apparent in their eyes. Ridley hadn't realized it sounded like an insult.
Aunty Em's face wrinkled. Her features twisted in those of anger. "No. I was once beautiful, which attracted a man. But a wretched and prideful woman drove us apart. She did an act that ruined me. She made me no longer desirable." Altair looked at Annabeth, Grover, and Ridley. Both Grover and Annabeth nodded as if realizing that the women in front of them was the gorgon Medusa. Ridley however, was oblivious as he nodded stupidly, even having an expression that showed sympathy.
"Such a tragedy that occurred to you. Mournfully our group has to depart. We give you appreciation for your favorable hospitality." Altair said as he grabbed his bag and tossed it to Ridley. He started to rally the troops to depart. But Medusa deduced that they had uncovered her identity.
"Before you depart. I ask if I may take a picture of you." Ridley of course nodded, oblivious to the cunning and deceiving Medusa.
Medusa fetched into her pocket, as she pulled out an ancient and disposable camera. She began to take of her head wrap and glasses. "Don't look! Avert your gazes!" Grover shouted. Ridley was at a loss as he kept looking at Medusa. Altair zoomed into action as he tackled Ridley to the ground, breaking the eye contact.
Medusa hadn't fully unveiled her head or her eyes to cause the irreparable damage of becoming a statue, forever. "It's the gorgon Medusa. No one look into her eyes or her head!" Annabeth yelled as she ducked and ran through the statues trying to run for the exit of the shop.
Grover and Ridley did the same. But they were in loads of trouble, as Medusa began trailing them. They couldn't turn around or look anywhere except in front of them to avoid from becoming an addition to Medusa's statue collection.
Altair closed his eyes and tuned into his other senses. Making sure to increase his hearing and touch to sense the vibrations, while also hearing footsteps. The downside to such capabilities is that he was vulnerable. He could differentiate his allies' footsteps or vibrations from Medusa's.
He heard the bell jingle at the front door which meant that Annabeth was the first one to escape. He heard heavier steps and clacking which he assumed was Grover. The door jingled, and Grover was the following member to escape.
Altair was waiting for the bell to jingle a third time, but it had been a minute and still nothing. No footsteps or vibrations. Which meant Ridley was either hiding or he had become a statue. Or the more hopeful scenario was Ridley managed to destroy Medusa. He cursed aloud in Greek.
"Such a young age to be saying those unkindly words." He heard a feminine voice say.
"Medusa what is your business with us? And what are the whereabouts of the young Ridley." Medusa cackled, but he heard the sound of snakes in between.
"I stopped following that brat. He is of no concern to me. But you, you're special. You must be one of those nomadic male hunters that Kronos had spoken about." Altair tensed and froze. How could she possibly know? His blood turned ice cold. Kronos was arising? Altair thought to himself.
"What is wrong? Tongue twisted? I think Lord Kronos will reward me greatly by capturing you." Medusa laughed mockingly.
Altair felt and heard footsteps a few feet to his right. It had to be Ridley. It had to be. He was the only one who hadn't left the premises.
Altair was too busy listening to his surroundings he hadn't heard Medusa begin talking "-Well Lord Kronos has promised me more demigods to turn into statues. I think that is enough to join his cause-" Altair heard a sword being unsheathed. Before he knew it, he ducked as he heard a swoosh in the air.
Then he heard the sword connect with flesh as it struggled to clear the head off Medusa's neck. A heavy object fell to the ground and it began to roll around.
"Your eyes are sealed Ridley?" Altair said as he made his way to the head with his eyes closed. He put his foot on the indentations where he believed the eyes would be.
"Yes. Can I open them now?" Altair first opened his eyes to make sure he had correctly covered the gaze of Medusa and thankfully he had done it.
"Indeed, it is okay to open and see the light. Pass me the glasses." Ridley made his way where Medusa carelessly dropped the glasses and tossed them to Altair. Altair closed his eyes once again before harshly placing the glasses on Medusa's face.
Altair left the head haphazardly on the floor and made his way to a desk full of papers. He picked up a specific paper that had an interesting seal on it. An invoice to a specific address in Los Angeles. He recognized that symbol anywhere, it was Hades' helm of darkness. He stuffed the paper into his pocket then turned around.
"What is it you are doing Ridley? And how did you know that Medusa was in front of me?" Altair caught Ridley stuffing Medusa's head into a cardboard box and taping it shut.
Ridley guiltily looked at Altair. "I had my eyes open, but I held them to the ground. I recognized your clothes and just swung wildly hoping to end her. And well I wanted to send her head to Olympus as a surprise, I guess." Altair looked from the box to Ridley before a smile made its way onto his face.
"Splendid idea and I know the address of Olympus." Altair made the note and wrote the address with his spectacular penmanship. He wrote a note on Ridley's behalf.
The duo then made their way out of the building, finding Grover and Annabeth pacing back and forth across the street. When Annabeth saw Ridley, her eyes went from worry to relief to anger. She quickly made her way towards Ridley before hitting him in the arm.
"OW!" Ridley said as he began rubbing his arm where Annabeth had punched him.
"You're an idiot you know? You could've died. Then you wouldn't be here, and we wouldn't be able to finish the quest." She added the last part quickly. Altair just scoffed, she was just trying to hide her true feelings.
The whole group was exhausted and paranoid of another threat. They made their way into a patch of woods hoping to camp out and rest. Away from view. Altair luckily had packed an extra sleeping bag into his bag, which is why his bag was large. The group had made fun of him that he was going camping. Little did they know it would become useful.
He stretched out the bags and gave one to Annabeth. Grover had insisted that he would rather sleep on the floor, he was used to it. Stating he was one with nature and that it was part of his routine. He decided to give the last sleeping bag to Ridley, who shyly accepted it.
"I'll take first watch." Altair said tiredly.
"No. I'll do it." The prideful daughter of Athena offered. Altair already exhausted and a little annoyed, lashed out.
"Just let me do my job! Let's face it. I'm the babysitter of you inexperienced demigods." Ridley and Grover looked a little hurt. While Annabeth was red from anger.
"I apologize. I'm just not used to taking care of others. Usually, the hunters are experienced, and we trust each other to watch out for one another." This seemed to calm down Annabeth.
"In addition, you are just children. You need sleep to grow. Archer trained every hunter to be able to go multiple days without rest. So just believe in me." Altair didn't wait for their response as he climbed onto a nearby tree and perched himself on a branch and began tuning all of his senses to be on high alert.
The rest of the group fell asleep in a matter of minutes.
The next day
Everyone was ready to go.
"My supplies are still intact. I have snacks for multiple days, but we have to be sparse and careful not to overeat." Altair tossed each one of them a breakfast bar.
"Why aren't you eating one?" Grover asked as he munched on the wrapper.
"Hunger is not an issue for me, presently. I will eat when I wish. Now let us go, we must find transport to Los Angeles to the entrance of the Underworld." Altair began his way back towards the open street hoping to hitchhike with the group.
"You have money for transportation?" Annabeth asked in matter of fact tone.
"No daughter of Athena. I have this rectangular object that Archer handed me in case of Emergencies. But we must first look for someone to transport us to the nearest method of public transportation" Altair pulled out a black metallic card from his pocket.
"That is what we call a credit card in modern day." Grover said jokingly. The younger questers of course laughed. Altair's face was blank not comprehending the joke.
A good Samaritan gave the group of odd children a ride in the back of his pickup truck to the nearest Amtrak train station.
Annabeth and Altair made their way towards the train schedule and pay the ticket with the credit card.
"The farthest west the train will go is Denver, Colorado." Altair was trying to impose his will on this negligent and stubborn worker. But Annabeth decided to avoid the commotion by agreeing.
"That's perfect. Thank you, ma'am," Annabeth snatched the card out of Altair's hand and gave it to the lady selling the tickets. The worker gave them their tickets for four people.
They made their way back towards Ridley and Grover, who were sitting on the benches in the open.
"We got the tickets. Farthest we will go is Denver. So, after that we have to figure out how to make it to Los Angeles." Everyone nodded and resigned themselves to sit there until their train was ready.
The train came and thankfully they sat together. The train ride was uneventful, and Altair was thankful for that.
PAGE BREAK
Percy had asked all his connections and none of them had information over the Master Bolt. Something he disbelievingly accepted. Whenever they claimed not to know the whereabouts of it, he read their body language and he know they were withholding information.
"Thanks once again." Percy said as he walked out of the Lotus Hotel and Casino. He had been travelling back and forth seeking information that everyone claimed not to have.
Before he could make his way back onto the illuminated streets of Las Vegas, Sin city as they called it, one of the Lotus eaters called out to him.
"I don't know the whereabouts of such weapon. But I do know that it wasn't the only one to be stolen. Hades' Helm of Darkness has also mysteriously disappeared and its whereabouts are unknown." Shock filled Percy. Everything made sense now. Which explained why Hades was also restless.
He began fitting pieces together into his head and began realizing why Poseidon was the one being blamed by his brothers. He was the only Elder god to not lose his symbol of power. Which made him a prime suspect and thus the easiest to accuse of thievery.
"Thanks once again." The Lotus eater nodded before he made his way back into the prison the rest of his kind had created. All he was hoping for was that Altair wouldn't fall for their trap and lose track of time.
PAGE BREAK
Altair and the gang made it to Denver, in the middle of nowhere. He looked hopelessly around trying to find another method of transportation. But gave up when everything he found looked abandoned or unable to be used.
The group wandered aimlessly, away from the Amtrak station. They were hoping if they went further out they could find another method of transportation.
As they were walking in the middle of a vacant street, heading farther and farther away from the station, they were hoping to find a fast food restaurant to satisfy their hunger once again. Their legs were exhausted, and they were hungry. They didn't brighten up until they saw a local diner that was miraculously situated in the middle of nowhere. They were prepared to order the whole menu. But before they could enter the diner they heard a roar of a motorcycle that was deafening them, directly behind them.
Sitting upon the deafening motorcycle is a bugling and muscular man radiating negative energy and danger. Altair didn't want to admit, but he was terrified of this mysterious man. He was wearing a large black leather duster jacket, a skin-tight red shirt, black jeans, and combat boots. Situated over his red shirt was a bulletproof vest that radiated power and heat.
He gave the group a once over look, looking at them distastefully with a hint of disappointment.
"These are the elite demigods Camp Half-Blood have sent to impede a war? Might as well prepare my armor and start polishing my weapons." Altair's blood started boiling, the utter dislike for this mysterious man was growing drastically.
"And who might you be?" Altair said, puffing his chest out trying to be intimidating as possible. The mysterious man looked at Altair with amusement, like he was some pushover.
"Ahh yes. I'm Ares of course, you must know of me." He said rather cockily as he flashed shiny white teeth when he smiled. The smile didn't make Ares any less intimidating, in fact it just made him more fear imposing.
"Sorry but I don't know you? Are you a minor god?" Someone obliviously said from behind Altair. Of course, it had to Ridley, sometimes he could be really clueless.
The comment wiped the smile off Ares's face. That ignorant comment caused a crack in Ares's façade of being in a state of calmness. He wasn't the god of war by title, he is the most violent god out of all the Olympians.
"I'm an Olympian which makes me an important god. You children are ignorant and rude. You're lucky I'm supposed to spare you, so you can continue with your quest. But before I give you transportation further west, I will pay for the next meal." Ridley had dodged a bullet. Ares had concealed within his duster jacket, a fire arm made of celestial bronze.
The questing group with the god of war, made their way into the diner as he intimidated the host into giving them the table of his choice. He pushed through some of their customers who quickly moved out of the way, knowing he was temperamental and highly susceptible to violence. Anger and violence radiated off of Ares, making anyone near him feel angry. He was compelling them to want to commence a battle, war, and bar fights. You name it.
When everyone had ordered their food and sat their awaiting their meals to be placed on the table, Annabeth asked the one hundred-million-dollar question. "With all due respect Lord Ares, but why are willing to help us?" Ares stared at the group blankly, as if in a trance before he recollected himself.
"I love violence. But a war between us, within the Olympian council, is plainly stupid. We should be focusing on the real enemy and that is anyone outside of the council threatening us." Ares seemed satisfied with his answer not bothering to elaborate.
"Are you doing this on your accord? Or is there a hidden agenda? Do we have to retrieve something for you as well?" Altair asked suspiciously. If there was one thing Archer had taught him, it was that no immortal did anything for free. They would ask for payment on your debt later.
"No strings attached. I would've asked for you to retrieve my shield, but I got someone else to do it. Pretty isn't she?" Ares said as he pointed at his bullet proof vest.
"That's a bulletproof vest, not a shield." Ridley stupidly pointed out.
"You're so lucky your old man is counting on you to save his ass. I would've killed you already, if I didn't want to end this dispute." Ares said as everyone's mood started to become hostile.
The food arrived which disallowed the group and Ares from talking any further. Everyone ate a feast, while Ares stared blankly at the wall, not bothering to touch his food. Once everyone was finished, Ares became hostile towards the workers in the restaurant. He was claiming the food wasn't up to par and that he wasn't going to pay for the meals. The workers just nodded and let the group walk out of the diner without any trouble. They were to afraid and fearful of Ares.
"That is your ride over there." Ares pointed to a van with two large individuals stuffing empty crates into the van.
"You've got to be kidding me." Annabeth said surprised and a little frustrated that they couldn't get a better method of transportation.
"Of course not. If you rather walk I understand." Ares said truthfully. Knowing they had no other options.
Everyone looked at each other before nodding at the god of war. They made their way into the van sneakily, while the men were inside the diner. Ares presented 'gifts' to Ridley before he departed back towards his motorcycle.
Ares grabbed four blue majestic pearls from his front pocket and handed them to Ridley. "Your old man gave me these. He suspected we would cross paths and told me to give them to you." Ridley grabbed them with care. The pears looked fragile and beautiful.
"Lastly, here's a bag full of supplies. It has all you could need. Extra clothes, food, and Oreos. I know you kids love that." Ares shoved the bag into Ridley's chest, which caused such an impact that Ridley was nearly squashed into the crates. Ares did that purposely.
"Well that is all I have. I have more pressing matters to attend to. So, I bid you farewell." Ares closed the door of the van in the groups face. The van shook vehemently from the sheer force Ares used to close the door.
Next stop, closer to the west…
A/N Well I said I would update during the weekend, but I guess I finished earlier than anticipated. As you may notice I am changing some things from the original storyline. I don't want this story to be exactly the same, so that is why I changed some details. Some details I totally scratched out (Encounter with Echidna and the Chimera. Percy jumping from the archway and getting the pearls, retrieving Ares's shield.) I just felt those were some minor details that could be scratched out. It would require more unnecessary chapters. Also, I thought I could finish the lightning thief arc in two chapters, but I was wrong, there just so many details for it to be finished in two, so expect an extra chapter or two. I will try my best to update next week, but no promises. Review to tell me your advice like always, I feel happy when people review. For the purpose of this story I will input Reyna's POV during the titan war, so we could get the Roman's perspective. Also, if you didn't catch it, the titans and some monsters know about Percy's group but don't know their full details. They're wary of them because they don't know what side the Hunters of Archer are siding with.
P.S Sorry for grammar mistakes.
Calypso will make an appearance next chapter, although she won't be meeting Percy till further in the story.
Also, if you like the parts where I input Percy meeting his 'allies' against the Olympians and want me to add more please tell me. If not, well there won't be one next chapter.
