I'm just going to leave this here.
Chapter 9
Percy's POV
It was fair to say that today isn't going to be a good day for me.
I couldn't t believe that out of everyone she could've gone with, she chose him. I guess it kind of makes sense since I was taking his girlfriend.
On a side note: I'm not saying that Artemis is my girlfriend or anything, I mean at least I don't think so… but that's beside the point.
It's not like I'm jealous or anything. I'm not bothered by the fact that he's extremely attractive or that there's a slim possibility that she might come to like him more than she likes me. I don't care that she's clinging to his arm like he's her source of life or that he's leaning into her. Yeah...not jealous.
It just didn't seem to make sense. Why was he going with her? Were they closer than I knew? They sure look close, in more than the emotional sense with how touchy they are. Also, why didn't he just go with his girlfriend? I wouldn't be feeling so miserable right now if he had.
"You good bro, you look like you're gonna pass out?" Axl asked looking a bit too amused for my tastes.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I grumbled avoiding his seemingly smug gaze.
"Well on we go," Aphrodite exclaimed. By the way she was glaring at them it was clear to see that she wasn't too happy about this situation either. It's nice to know that I wasn't the only one.
We made our way out of Aphrodite's blank abode and strolled onto the streets of Olympus. I looked on as Artemis got closer to Axl, something I didn't think was possible. Aphrodite wound her arm through mine and squeezed my bicep. I looked over at her and she gave me a sympathetic look. I smiled in thanks and looked back to the path we were taking.
Around us other groups of immortals and demigods were headed toward the throne room of Olympus. Most seemed jubilant and filled with life, probably excited about the party that was going to occur after the formal address from the Olympians. I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking for Annabeth in the crowd.
"So how many people do you think are going to show up?" Axl asked clearly trying to start conversation.
"I'm not sure love, but I'm sure everyone will come out to celebrate you," Artemis responded with her annoyingly fond voice.
He turned to her and smiled before leaning forward and pressing his forehead against hers. Aphrodite cleared her throat beside me clearly as bothered as I was.
Artemis turned and directed her perfect face at Aphrodite, adorning it with a grin.
"Do you have something stuck in your throat? Surely I could get Apollo out here to look at that for you."
Aphrodite turned pale beside me for an unknown reason and promptly shut her mouth. Artemis gave her a smug smile after seeing her reaction before turning around and resting her head on Axl's shoulder.
I snuck a glance and saw that Aphrodite had tightened her jaw and was looked murderous. Her eyes were beginning to glow pink and I don't think that's a good sign. It didn't help that she was now gripping my arm to a point that it was becoming painful.
I grimaced at her godly grip. She took notice and muttered an apology before slackening her hold on me. She kissed my cheek in apology before laying her head on my shoulder. If Axl noticed I think he was too preoccupied to care.
We walked into the throne room to see it occupied with deities and half-bloods. Ten of the Olympians were seated on their thrones. Although, two looked like they wanted to be anywhere but here.
People moved to the side when they saw Axl approach and he beamed at them. He walked through arm-in-arm with Artemis to the center of the throne room and all conversation ceased.
Aphrodite muttered a goodbye before walking over to her throne and growing to her godly height, leaving me standing around awkwardly. I looked around the crowd I had been swallowed by and didn't catch sight of Annabeth. I'm sure she wouldn't miss this, her and Axl were close friends after all.
Axl kissed her cheek and she blushed; much to my dismay and she went to her throne. It was fair to say I wasn't too happy when I saw the faint trace of a blush on her cheeks after she sat down.
"Gods and demigods," Zeus boomed. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the return of the Oracle-"
I looked around and caught the eye of Piper beside Jason. She was dressed quite nicely and looked beautiful, (not as beautiful as Artemis mind you), but I'm going to give her some credit. Jason was in a black tuxedo with a white dress shirt and a blue tie. His hair was as impeccable as usual and his style reminded me of his father. He recently began to grow out a beard which is evident judging by the mass of blondeness on his face. He waved at me and I gave him a short wave in response. He turned his attention back to Zeus's unnecessarily wordy speech.
Piper smiled at me showing off her white teeth before furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. She mouthed 'Where's Annabeth?'
I shook my head at her hoping my facial expression explained it well enough. She looked at me confusedly before nodding her head, probably deciding to ask me about it later.
I turned my attention back to Zeus, missing most of his speech because I was kind of tuning him out.
"Does anyone object that this demigod is deserving of this gift?" He asked looking around at his fellow Olympians. No one said anything in objection and I saw that Aphrodite in particular had a huge smile on her face.
The Olympians shrunk from their thrones and formed a loose circle around him. They stretched out their arms toward him and began to chant in Ancient Greek.
They weren't making him an immortal right? RIGHT!? I know he's a hero and all, but godhood?...I guess he did make a huge contribution in the last three wars. Plus he did risk his life numerous times...okay I'll give him this one.
They stopped chanting and he fell down to one knee. He looked shaken and he stayed down there for a bit. Artemis went over to him almost immediately and lifted him back up to his feet. He had his eyes closed for a bit before he opened them back up.
He didn't look a whole lot different from before the transformation. I guess he got more muscular, his jaw was more defined (if that was even possible), his hazel eyes appeared to be more vibrant, and...you know what? I'll just stop there, I'm starting to sound like an Aphrodite girl.
"All hail Axl Baker new god of Olympus!"
The party on Olympus was in full swing. The muses were singing whatever song people wanted to hear, gods and demigods were mingling and it seemed like everyone was having a good time.
I had walked out with Aphrodite beside Axl and Artemis after he got granted godhood. They didn't explain what his domain would be, but I suppose they just hadn't gotten the details figured out quite yet.
He got barraged by a group of people trying to get his attention and congratulate him, so Aphrodite and I got out of his way. I don't think Artemis could bear to leave his side.
We sat down at one of the many tables scattered around the edges of the party to gather our bearings. She had sat down next to me and I could practically feel the emotions come off of her. Excitement, anxiousness, and the most potent. Jealousy.
"Well hasn't today just been lovely?" I asked trying to clear the air.
She looked up from the table, then at me with a small smile on her face in response. It just didn't seem like her heart was in it.
"That's one way to put it," she answered.
I asked a question that had been on my mind for a while, "Is it just me or do Axl and Artemis seem really...comfortable with one another?"
She snorted as she nodded. "I think that woman hates me. It's one thing to accompany him, but she's been all over him."
"Yeah, I noticed." I agreed being mentally in tune with Aphrodite for once in my life.
"Hey, being in tune with me isn't so bad." She complained with a smile lighting up her face.
"I never said it was, just thinking that it's unusual is all." I defended.
I looked around and caught the familiar electric blue eyes of an old friend.
"Hey, I'm going to go talk to Thalia for a minute alright?" I asked Aphrodite before getting up and walking over to her.
I felt bad for leaving her, but when I looked back she was heading into the crowd, probably looking for Axl.
Thalia had her arms crossed and was fixing me with a glare by the time I got to her.
"Well look what the Minotaur dragged in," she teased tapping her foot on the stone floor.
I sighed, it's not like I could expect her to be civil.
"Technically he chased me in, he didn't get a hold of me to drag me." I retorted.
"But how we all wish he had!" She responded. My annoyance with her was beginning to peak.
"Look, I just want to know if Annabeth is here by chance."
"I don't see how that's any of your business." She defended bringing in her arms tighter.
"Hey I know you're just being a good friend to her, but I'm your friend to you know?"
She sighed letting her arms fall to her sides.
"Just because she doesn't want to see you doesn't mean she wouldn't come out to support a friend. It's not all about you." She answered with a grin.
I rolled my eyes. It's a good thing to know that Annabeth was here. Now if only I could actually find her.
"Speaking of Axl have you seen him anywhere? I haven't gotten the opportunity to congratulate him yet." She asked getting on her tip toes in a vain attempt to see him over the crowd.
I smirked seeing my opportunity to poke fun at her.
"Hmm, I'm sure you want to congratulate him. You might want to pull him aside for a little privacy. With Artemis's permission of course." I stifled my laughter, just barely.
To say she looked murderous would be the understatement of the millennia. She did blush however, which is a victory in itself.
"I wanted to honor him as a friend, but that doesn't seem clear enough to you people." She huffed turning an even deeper shade of pink.
I laughed before leading her into the direction that I had last seen him. Thalia followed in my footsteps occasionally apologizing when she bumped into someone else.
"What ever happened to you guys?" I asked while weaving between a few gods.
A few years ago it seemed like the pair would surely end up with each other even if it involved her leaving the hunters. They were flirting like crazy and would make every excuse to be around one another. There were a few times that she punched him in the face or kneed him where Apollo doesn't shine, but hey that's love. One day the kind of just fell off and acted like they never knew one another.
She gave me a look before sighing.
"I don't know. Everything seemed fine. We were really good...friends... then one day he kind of "
just started ignoring me. He wouldn't look in my direction or pay me any mind. I missed him a lot in those days. I know I'm away most of the time with the hunters, but I still really cared about him. Things have gotten a bit better since then, nothing much we just talk on occasion. He seems happier these days, with you know Aphrodite"
I couldn't help but notice the venom in her voice when she said her name. There's clearly some animosity there, but I suppose it makes sense.
"Ah there he is." I said finally being able to see out of the crowd of people. I approached from behind Artemis, Axl's face the only one visible to me.
Artemis was face to face with him and it appeared like they were having a nice conversation apparent with their close proximity.
He smiled at something before going to turn around. Artemis grabbed him as quick as I could blink and held his face in her hands. He furrowed his eyebrows before going to turn around once again.
I stopped dead in my tracks as Thalia cursed behind me for stopping so soon.
"What's the big idea?" She asked coming out in front of me before looking where my gaze fell.
She froze just as quickly as I had.
Never in all my years did I think I was ever going to see Artemis kissing Axl.
I knew today just wasn't going to be my day.
R&R
