Responses to my awesome reviewers-
MiniHorseMeadow- XD Thanks. Just hang on
Cheetah2613- Haha yes!
Brsrkfury- *evil chuckle* You'll see soon enough what Annabeth's mind set is.
Scarlet Nightshadow- Why thank you!
The Nightfury- Very clear on what you want eh? XD
MisterCrown- Wasn't really planning on it. xD
FallenOneAka X or Mr. X- Because I like Zoë! She deserves a main part in a story and Percy deserves someone who won't betray him!
Liza Smithers- ... have you read my notes or something? XD Dude! You literally described my entire plot for those two!
I forgot to do disclaimers! Whoopsies! I don't own the Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus series. {Though I wish I was as talented as Rick Riordan, I'm not xD}
Percy POV-
I reappear in another forest that isn't the one the hunters are in. It's strangely familiar, an old stirring in my mind, but... I can't exactly pinpoint where though.
But that doesn't matter as I lean heavily against a tree. My forehead presses against the rough bark as I try to process what the hell just happen.
When she kissed me, I could feel a dull spark. Like a firework that really wants to shoot into the air... But it just can't. I can't will myself to feel the spark her and I had just a short time ago. That fiery passion that drove me absolutely mad whenever she kissed me... It's gone.
I can't get the feeling off my lips though, the feel of her soft lips crashing against mine, tempting me to just forget all of my troubles and just let go. Gods how much I've missed that feeling, the feeling of total and utter love for someone.
But then, when I was just about to succumb to my old feelings for Annabeth, another girl comes into my mind. And not just any girl, Zoë Nightshade herself. Am I that crazy?! Am I really willing to put my ever so slowly healing heart out there with a 99.999999% of my heart being broken again? Zoë is a hunter for crying out loud! Yes, I have gained her respect as a human being, but that does not mean she's ready for love! She would probably kill me if I told her what went down tonight!
"Do you always have to do this?" I mutter to myself. I have managed to stay out of any emotional damage for over 600 years! I haven't wasted my time trying to find someone who could fill the empty gape in my heart that made me capable to love. Luke would always tease me that I was a picky person. Says from the boy who has a massive crush on Aerin, how can that be anymore impossible? Oh wait, I found it, falling in love with Zoë Nightshade, that is not even considered because there is not a single possibility of it occurring.
When people say something is impossible, it's not a way to make someone feel defeated. It is suppose to make someone feel hopeful because maybe, just maybe, they can achieve a feat no one has ever managed to do before. Saying something is impossible is just a way to make someone more confident in going for it. But I can't give myself false hope, I can't give myself the courage to stab glass into my already broken self.
I finally sit down on the ground, my back pressing against the sturdy tree and my eyes finding the stars once more. Why do I find these balls of gas so intriguing? Why would I rather spend hours trying to find shapes and constellations than talk to someone? Maybe it's because I don't have to actually try when I watch the stars. I don't have to fake a laugh or stretch a smile onto my face as I try to convince my friends that I am content with being just how I am. But when I lay on my back with my hands behind my head, I can let the smiles melt away into the thin air, and I can just take deep breaths without anyone casting me a concerned glance, immediately thinking I'm about to drop to my knees and sob uncontrollably.
Maybe it's because the stars are waiting for my soul to leave my scarred body and join them in the constellations.
I should be leaving soon. The hour is almost up and Artemis would have my head if I showed up late. And I have to show her I'm not like all the other men she's met.
Returning to the Hunt, I check in with Artemis just so she knows I didn't disobey her. Like always, she dismisses me the second I finish talking.
I walk across the camp to my tent, pinching the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger. While I have given myself time to think, it's still too much to comprehend.
I enter my tent, sealing it shut behind me. The tent is dark, but I can still make out the faint outline of everything as I sit down on the edge of my bed. Changing into pajama pants and removing my shirt before going under the covers and going to sleep.
{The Next day}
A piercing scream startles me from my sleep. I bolt from my bed and I look at my watch. It's only 4:30am, but I don't let that stop me as I grab my sword and run out of my tent.
One of the younger hunters, Bridget her name is I think, is on the ground as a hellhound looms over her, baring it's ugly teeth.
"Hey you!" I shout to the hellhound. It looks up and I run over to them, decapitating the hellhound instantly. I look around and I see that there are even more hellhounds with other accomplices. Cyclopes and empousas grinning manically at me.
"And I thought I lost my chance to kill you, Perseus Jackson." One of the empousas snarls, giggling wickedly.
I stand in front of Bridget, who was cowering at the giant army in pure fear. She has her bow out with a small arrow notched on the string, but her hands were trembling like crazy.
"Bridget," I whisper so that only she can hear. "Go wake the other hunters. I'll make sure you don't get hurt, but you have to run as fast as you can. Understand?" I ask quietly, but in the same tone I used to use with the kids I guided to camp.
Nodding slowly, Bridget tries keeping calm, but it's obvious this is her first time playing a role in a monster attack this large. I can't blame her, she's only seven.
Bridget makes a run for the other hunter's tents and I run with her, shooting the occasional fireball or ice dagger at a monster who dares attack Bridget or I. The young girl darts into the tents and I stay guard, my sword in my hand.
But once Bridget runs in, all the monsters attack at once. I curse under my breath and I run away from the tents, the monsters following me. I can't risk the hunters being harmed because I was right by their tents, where they were most vulnerable.
"Is our brave Percy ready to die?" The same empousa snarls.
"Not anytime soon." I snap before they all attack.
Thalia's POV-
I was enjoying quite a lovely sleep even someone starts violently shaking me awake. I groan and open my eyes. It's Bridget, our newest recruit, and she looks as if she was ready to vomit.
"M-Monsters everywhere outside." She says panicky. I bolt out of my bed and I quickly change into my Lieutenant's uniform.
"Go wake up everyone else, I'll keep off the monsters as best I can." I say, grabbing my spear and Aegis.
Bridget nods and runs to the other bed, shaking them awake in the same manner she did to me. I barely pay them any attention as I run outside. But what I see stops me dead in my tracks.
Percy stands right in the middle of the large group of monsters, Riptide in his hand, and shirtless. He looks as if he hasn't slept in ages, and it was taking a huge toll from him. The dark semi-circles underneath his eyes quite visible, but his sea green eyes are cold and furious. Percy is in battle mode.
He fights at least three monsters at a single time, lighting one on fire with his hand while sword dueling with another and freezing the third with water. His sword fighting is flawless, a mix of roman and Greek techniques as he swipes and jabs. He dispatches monster after monster in a matter of seconds. While they could occasionally scratch him across the face or chest, that was all they could get before he kills them.
I hear my fellow hunters run out of their tents, but they too stop in their tracks. We all cast a glance with one another, silently agreeing on one thing. This boy is more powerful than we thought.
Before we can even start attacking, Percy drives his fiery blade through the final Cyclops. The wail echoes through the forest as we all stare at Percy in awe and little fear.
He looks around for any potential enemies until his eyes rest on us. That cold glint in his eyes blinks away, only to be replaced with that familiar steely edge.
"Stealing all the glory, I see." Lady Artemis says behind me. The hunters all chuckle at the slight dumbfounded expression on Percy's face.
"I apologize, Lady Artemis. My original order was to demolish any danger brought upon this group, so I followed that order." Percy says and I raise an eyebrow. Since when does Percy sound so smart?
"Well, while you are here, you will follow my orders as well. Are we clear?" She asks. Percy opens his mouth, probably to say a sarcastic remark, but shocks us all by closing his mouth and nodding.
Artemis smiles victoriously. "Now, I believe that this should be brought to the attention of the gods, even if the week is not up just yet. And yes, Perseus, you must come with me, but hunters, I need you to stay here and clean up." There's a collective set of groans from the hunters, including myself. But the groans die out instantly with one look from Artemis.
"And Perseus, if it isn't too much to ask," She says sarcastically. "Would you put a shirt on?"
Percy turns bright red as he turns and quickly walks back to his tent. As the rest of the hunters walk away to clean, I stay, watching as Percy disappears into his pitch black tent.
How much has Percy changed?
Percy POV-
How could I be so idiotic?! I go out shirtless in front of a group of girls who thrive off the pain of men? Not to mention they despise every single man known to mankind?
I go into my tent once more and I throw a random shirt over my head and I change into black jeans. I snap my fingers and the Mist enacts once more, gods I can only hope no one noticed that either. I wipe at the cuts on my face with a clean tissue just to stop the small trickles of blood coming from them.
Exiting my tent, my sword is a pen again as its placed in my pocket, though I do have another two daggers hidden in my shoes.
I run my hand through my hair as I catch up with Artemis once more. She speaks to Thalia quietly, both of them laughing at whatever joke the goddess made.
"Glad you could finally make it." Artemis says sarcastically. Thalia laughs.
"Have fun, Kelp Head." She says before walking away. I smile faintly at the nickname, but my expression turns serious once I catch whiff of Artemis's angry glare.
"Think you have enough energy to make a portal?" Artemis asks me, probably trying to make me ask her to transport instead.
I nod after a moment. "I believe so, My Lady." I answer. She scowls at me as I snap my fingers. A portal appears with a shimmering image of Olympus in front of us. Though it takes a lot of my energy to hold it up for some time, I don't tell her that.
I can hear her grumbling something incoherently as she walks through. I hide my smirk as I walk through the portal right behind her. After using these for many years, I manage to walk out of the portal with ease, just like walking through a doorway. Artemis on the other hand isn't as lucky. She slowly gets to her feet as I step through.
I offer her my hand, but she dismisses it and walks to the throne room. My hand drops to my side as I follow her. She is a very moody person if you ask me.
Artemis shoots a silver arrow into the sky and then sits at her throne. I stay where I am near the center, but leaning against a marble pillar casually.
The gods begin to appear, looking at both Artemis and I curiously. Poseidon appears and looks at me in concern. He is looking much better than when I last saw him, more like his original self. I smile a little at him in assurance that I'm alright. Apollo is absent from the meeting since he has to drive the sun chariot around the world. Luke and Sean enter as well since they are on Olympus. They look at me as if I'm crazy.
"I'm calling the other Counselors, we all need to hear this." Luke says and before I can protest, the Counselors appear in a blink of light. The other Counselors began to talk amongst themselves as they waited for the meeting to start and I stay right where I am, which is far from them. But Zoë kept looking over at me, her eyebrows furrow in confusion every time.
"Shouldn't the other groups be here?" Luke asks Zeus. "After all, I'm sure this will affect everyone." The sky god nods in understanding.
"So be it." Zeus says before snapping his fingers. The head Counselors of Camp Half-Blood arrive, the praetors of Camp Jupiter and Hylla arrive. Most were in their nightwear, and it's quite amusing to see. I avoid making eye contact with Annabeth, who leans a little against James tiredly.
"It's too earlyyyyyy." Hermes and the Stoll twins whine in unison while yawning. Artemis flashes a glare at the messenger god, which causes him and his sons to silence.
"Now why have you called this meeting, daughter?" Zeus asks Artemis. The moon goddess looks up from spinning the tip of an arrow on her finger.
"You should ask Perseus, after all, he is our protector." She says with a little steel in her voice. Zeus raises an eyebrow and looks over at me, as does everyone else. Some are seeing me for the first time and there are gasps here and there. I push off the pillar and I walk to the center, my hands clasped behind my back.
"Early this morning, or should I say earlier this morning," I say, causing a few gods to chuckle. I didn't mean to make a joke. "I heard someone scream. So I went to investigate. One of the younger hunters, Bridget, was being attacked by a hellhound. After dispatching of the hellhound, I realized that this was an organized attack, due to the extra hellhounds, Cyclopes and empousas. Easily more than 100. Order must have organized an attack on the hunt, though I believe it was a last second thing, just to keep us on our toes." I continue, but then I think. Do I really want to tell them I killed all of them on my own? Coming to a decision, I finish the story. "And with the help of the Hunters and Lady Artemis, we were able to defeat all of the monsters." I finish.
I can see Artemis watching me with an eyebrow raised, but I don't make eye contact with her, nor do I keep eye contact with anyone, looking above the gods' heads. But I suddenly hear Luke groan in annoyance and I look at him.
"You really have to stop doing that, Perce. It gets annoying." He says, shaking his head. I raise an eyebrow at him in question and the other Counselors start laughing when Luke groans again. The gods and campers all look at us in question, watching Luke and I like a tennis match at its finest.
"So you do it unintentionally do it?!" He exclaims like a little kid.
"Do what exactly?" I ask in a cooled tone.
"Act so modest and lie! You killed all the monsters didn't you?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.
Setting my jaw, I reply in the same cool tone. "I did not kill them all. I probably would have died if I did not have the assistance of Lady Artemis and her hunters."
Luke laughs a short laugh, ignoring the glare coming from Artemis. "And how should I believe that if I have watched you singlehandedly defeat an entire Devonian army because one of them hurt Bianca?" He asks. Bianca turns bright red and swats Luke's arm before he continues. Aerin hits Luke's arm also since he insulted her home planet to some extent. Everyone's eyes widen except for the Counselors, but everyone was staring at me in awe, save the gods who hate me and Aerin. "And yet, when we reported to Chaos of what occurred, you told him that if I wasn't by your side helping, you would have died. And right after you finished talking, you made no eye contact with any of us, but rather looked over our heads. Percy, I know when you are lying and being modest, we all do." Luke finishes.
The entire throne room is silent as they look at me, waiting for me to respond in some way. I sigh faintly and open my mouth, only to be cut off by someone I really wish hadn't open their mouth.
"How are you so sure he even did that?" James asks, glaring at me. "Maybe he did have help while cowering in the distance." He spits. I clench my fists slightly, trying to keep my cool. I keep my expression emotionless as I look at the son of Zeus.
But what shocks me more is that Sorcha, the most quietest girl in this room, storms across the room and punches James right in the nose. He stares at her bewildered as blood spurts from his broken nose, but she isn't finished. She pushes him back and as he stumbles, she trips him and body slams him onto the hard marble. Pinning his limbs with only her legs and one arm, she pulls a dagger out of thin air and presses it against his throat, her grey eyes bright with anger.
"Say one more word against the prince and I will slit your throat, coward." She spits right in his face. James growls a little in fury. The Counselors make an attempt to pull Sorcha away, but she glares at them fiercely, causing them to freeze in their steps. Everyone else is staring, shellshocked.
I make a step towards them, ignoring everyone who are mouthing "no" silently and shaking their heads. I calmly walk over to them and I crouch beside Sorcha.
"Let go of him, he isn't worthy of your time or energy." I whisper softly to my fellow Counselor. She stares at me in shock.
"B-But he insulted you!" She exclaims loudly. But the hand she holds the dagger with begins to tremble slightly, she isn't used to killing people. She's only ever killed only 20 in her lifetime because she's always resorted to talking things out.
"He took the chance to try getting under our skin by attacking me. Don't let him get the best of you, okay?" I ask quietly and she slowly moves the dagger away from James's throat
"I-I-I'm sorry, Percy." She whispers. I ignore James's dramatic groans of pain as I slowly help up Sorcha, who's eyes were wide with realization as to what she almost did.
"Don't apologize, I thank you for protecting me." I whisper back. "And just between you and I, I think he soiled his pants because you scared him so much." Sorcha laughs a little and I smile faintly.
Someone clears their throat and both of us look up. Zeus, being the one who cleared his throat, stares at both of us with wide eyes. Probably since Sorcha nearly killed his son.
"I-um-well, I believe this meeting can be adjourned. Does anyone have anything else they would like to report?" He asks, trying to clear out the awkwardness. Everyone shakes their heads and he nods. "Then that will be all for today. Have a nice day everyone." He says before grabbing Hera's hand and disappearing in a lighting bolt.
Sorcha thanks me one last time before joining Bianca and Hylla and returning to the Amazons. No one else really says anything to me as they leave, except the occasional glance. I create a few portals for the camps to use before I lean against the pillar again, looking down at the ground as I wait.
"You have to be the most modest idiot in this universe." Someone says behind me. I turn and I see that it's Zoë.
"And why would that be?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. A small smile plays along my lips as she rolls her eyes. I stand straight once more.
"Because you would rather give the glory to everyone else rather than the rightful owner of said glory, you." She says as if it was obvious. I shake my head a little.
"I do not deserve the glory. I am just a soldier who needs to do what's asked of me and to also make sure no one gets hurt around me." I say simply. Zoë frowns at me again.
"Is that really how you think of yourself?" She asks. But before I can answer, I hear Artemis call my name.
"I have to go. I'll talk to you later." I say before walking away, joining Artemis once more.
"You and I need to have a little chat." She says before we both disappear in a blink of silver light. All I can think is oh crap.
Hestia's POV-
This meeting was very... Very unique I suppose. It was quite lovely to see Perseus again alive and well. But it was still odd enough for the reason I saw him.
The meeting started like any other, Perseus informing us of what occurred... Or what might have occurred.
Hermes's son, Luke, exploded about what Perseus said. Apparently he was trying to be modest. Despite all the yelling Luke did, Percy kept a straight face. This is new.
Last time I saw Percy, he was recovering, becoming the boy he was before, happy and carefree. But now? It seems as if all hope he had was extinguished. I didn't see the same Perseus I saw 6 centuries ago. All I saw was this shell of the man I loved like a son.
But then Zeus's child spoke up, James I believe his name is. Oh dear, I would never say it aloud, but I truly find disgust in this boy. Arrogant and boastful. Usually, whenever he speaks, we all just ignore him as his girlfriend quiets him. But not today.
Today he had taken it to a personal level. Sorcha, a lovely young woman and always has a kind heart, broke his nose! She then threatened him with a knife. It was quite shocking to watch.
But then when I thought I lost him, Perseus steps forward and gently comforts Sorcha into releasing James from her death grip. I could see that bright orange glow around him once more. But the second Sorcha goes away, his small smile falls and is replaced with that cold mask. What has happened to my dear boy? I thought to myself as he looked down at his shoes as he waited for everyone to leave. I almost got out of my seat when one of the female Counselors started talking to him. Even from my throne, I could see the small genuine smile return at the sound of her voice. It was quite enjoyable to watch.
That was until I saw the daughter of Athena watching him as well. She had that familiar look on her face, analyzing Perseus's each and every move, word and action. James was the one who finally snapped her out of it, pulling her into the portal Perseus had made for each of the groups that needed transportation. Odd...
When I looked to see if the girl and Perseus were still talking, I saw that they were both gone. Dang it. I was going to say goodbye!
But I have a feeling there will be another meeting soon enough.
Bad ending, I know I know. But, again, if y'all want to talk to me about the story. If you have ideas, last attempts at pleading for a certain ship, or just want to talk, I won't ignore you. Unless you seriously threaten me, then I will ignore you XD. Until next time!
