Chapter 7: Loss

Phoebe's POV

The next day, I felt extremely happy, yet there was a sense of dread lingering over me. Like the calm before the storm. Not to mention the annoyance I felt because of my fellow Huntresses. As soon as I woke up;

"Where were you last night?" Chloe asked.

"What happened to you?" Gabby questioned.

"We missed you!" Danielle exclaimed.

"Why were you so late?" Jailyn pressed.

"Why do you look so damned happy? And what's with the sad undertone?" Fiona looked angry.

"Forget about where I was!" I snapped. "The important thing is that last night I saw two new constellations, and I remembered two of the prophecy lines; one shall be lost in the land without rain; And one shall perish by a parent's hand. What if Bianca died in the land without rain, and Zoë died at Atlas' hand, because he's her father?!" I gave a partial explanation.

They all gasped.

"Atlas is Zoë's father?!" Chloe was confused.

"Bianca could be dead?!" Danielle was freaking out, as people would put it.

"Why didn't we know about Zoë's parentage?!" Jailyn questioned.

"Two new constellations?!" Gabby was worried.

"Zoë might be dead?!" Fiona seemed oddly excited.

I slapped her. Hard.

"What's wrong with you?!" I snapped.

"I could be promoted to first lieutenant!" Fiona was still excited, but she held her face where I slapped her.

"Hey! Come outside, Lady Artemis and the demigods have returned!" Sammy was excited.

We all ran outside immediately.

"Artemis!" Everyone screamed.

They all ran up to her in excitement. I waited a second so I wouldn't be squished, plus I wanted to see Zoë. I wanted to know she was alive. I walked up to Percy and Annabeth.

"Zoë?" I looked at Percy.

He frowned and shook his head sadly.

"Atlas' fault?" I wanted to confirm.

"How did you know?" Percy seemed curious.

"I remembered the prophecy and saw two new constellations." I wanted to cry.

Percy reluctantly put a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I won't kill you. You're the only boy Zoë didn't complain about, even if she never complemented you." I smiled sadly.

Percy looked sad, and Annabeth said, "You're a good person. At least you have a new lieutenant." She tried to smile at the last part.

"Who?" I asked.

"Thalia." She pointed to Thalia Grace, who was standing behind Artemis with s smirk.

At least she's nice and tolerable. She looked at me and gave a sad smile. I returned it.

"Good luck, heroes." I said before I left Percy and Annabeth alone.

I saw them share a confused look before the satyr Grover came up and said something about winning the lottery with the aluminum recycling bin. Satyrs. I walked up to Thalia and asked her about everything that happened, and she told me what happened from her point of view, but I think she left something out when it came to her and Percy jumping off the bridge to run away from the boar. Then I walked up and gave Lady Artemis a hug. She got a sad knowing smile on her face that I didn't understand.

"I know, but I'll make an exception for now. Just be careful Phoebe." Artemis warned with a sad smile again.

My eyes widened, but she didn't elaborate. She didn't need too. Then the other Campers came out to greet their heroes. Connor escaped the crowds and came to me.

"Are you okay? Someone told me about Zoë and Bianca." Connor was worried.

"I'll be fine, I've at least got Thalia as a Huntress, and Artemis has her as a lieutenant, but I'm worried about how Artemis will miss her, their best friends, and Zoë's been in the Hunters longer than anyone." I explained.

"Okay, I just had to make sure." He hugged me.

The other Huntresses looked like they were in shock. Artemis and Thalia looked amused, but they kept it to themselves.

"Hey Connor, can I talk to you?" Percy asked.

"Sure." Connor grinned.

The other Huntresses looked like they were about to say something, but I held my hand up and just walked away to the beach. I don't want to hear the criticism.

Connor's POV

Percy was grinning with the humor he usually has. That's one good thing that comes from Annabeth.

"You really like her, don't you?" He teased.

"No idea what you're talking about." I lied.

"Dude, I'm not stupid. And it's not like I'll go around telling people." He was a little more serious.

"Yet you can't admit your feelings for Annabeth. Ueah, you're not stupid at all." I countered.

"Tell you what, you admit your feelings to me, I'll admit mine to her." Percy suggested.

"Fine. And yes, I really like her. I even went on a date with her while you were gone." I agreed.

Percy got a goofy grin that I believe Annabeth calls the Seaweed Brain look.

"Your turn. Go and tell her." I waved him away.

"I said I'd tell her. I didn't say where or when." He used an evil grin.

Then he ran off, anticipating my next move.

"Percy!" I yelled after him.

Why does Annabeth call him Seaweed Brain if he can outsmart even a clever genius like a Hermes kid?

Phoebe's POV

Then I heard Artemis calling for all the Huntresses, so I went back to the group of excited Huntresses.

"Alright, I hate to say this, but we need to go. We no longer need to stay at Camp, so we graciously thank them as hosts, but we have to leave now." Artemis addressed us all.

No! I can't leave, I just got close to Connor! At least let me say goodbye! Artemis walked up to me and whispered, "Go say goodbye, I'll distract them."

"Thank you." I said and ran to find Connor.

When I found him behind some people, he looked as upset as I was. I dragged him to the beach where there was no people, and kissed him.

"I love you... Bye." I started to cry.

"I love you too... Bye." He choked out as he wiped my eyes.

Then he walked me to the hill, and I saw that Apollo was waiting to take the Huntresses back to our campsite. I gave Connor one last hug and got on the bus.

"You wouldn't have been able to stay with him anyways..." Apollo started.

Then I hit him square in the jaw and sat down in the front seat with my head in my hands. I cried my eyes out and I heard people asking me what was wrong, but I ignored them. Everything eventually went black, and then I remember waking up slumped up against Artemis with her arm around me, and I heard Thalia exercising their authority to make them stop asking questions and leave me alone.

"You'll see him again, I promise you." Artemis whispered.

Then I fell asleep again.

Connor's POV

After Phoebe left, I went to my cabin and buried my head in my pillow. People kept trying to wake me up, but I wouldn't budge.

"Chiron, I'm worried, he's been like this since she left." I heard Chris say.

"Six hours?!" Chiron seemed worried.

"Yes, six hours. And nothing we do makes him move. That stupid Hunter did something to him..." Travis started.

Then I jumped on him, and pinned him.

"SHUT UP! She didn't do anything wrong! If anything, she's made my life suck less than what it does with you!" I started to cry.

"Come on buddy, it's okay." Chris started pulling me off Travis.

"Connor..." Chiron started.

"Shut up!" I screamed.

"Calm down Connor, you'll be fine." Clarisse said.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Helping Chris. And you'll se Phoebe tomorrow at the party on Olympus, okay?" Clarisse said gently.

"Okay." I agreed.

Tomorrow. Then they put me back on my bed, and I fell asleep.