CH 9

A/N: Hello! This week was so much fun! I'm really enjoying my holidays. Anyways, here's another chapter. I hope you like it. And I'm EXTREMELY sorry for not updating sooner.

Disclaimer: I don't own PJatO (and I hate this part).

andy: That was sweet! Thanks, though all of it isn't true. I took a lot of time to update at times. Anyways, keep reading!

Twilight Chick 01: So, uh… in English, that means you are a new reader? LOL :D Thanks for the review!

The Gamer Dude: No problem, dude. Keep reading!

Daughter of the sea: I don't like fluff, and I hate overfluff. There won't be much, I warn you.

Electronic Bookworm: We'll see, dude. Maybe I'll do the war.

Luvtoread: Okay, here. You have another chapter. :)

magicflower23684: I'm glad you brought up your doubt. See, Percy is a minor god, and a new one at that. Also, Drakon poison is too dangerous. Gods get tired, too. And no, he doesn't have his invulnerability now. He lost it after becoming a god, I should've mentioned it.

THANK YOU readers! You are all awesome!

*line break*

Percy's POV

The moon, I thought. Only now I realise how beautiful it is.

I was sitting on a beach, alone in the moonlit night. I watched the tides, high and low; the sea trying to touch that shiny orb in the sky, the moon. It had always had a great impact on the tides… on me. But I had never really cared about it, until now. But why now?

Artemis, I thought, and suddenly, I was filled with anger, so bad that I wanted to reach out there and crush the moon with my bare hands. I hate moon!

"But do you?" A voice spoke from inside me. I stood up to look into the heavens, all the anger inside me gone, to see the moon melting into the shape of a lady, a familiar looking huntress. She descended on the earth with such grace that my eyes were glued to her. Her beauty, her elegance, everything about her was so incredible, I couldn't help but stare. And then she smiled.

Gods, her smile! It made my heart skip a beat. How could something be so soo beautiful? She landed softly beside me, and started coming closer, slowly, smoothly. I looked into her eyes, and passed into oblivion. Suddenly, her eyes turned angry, full of hatred. Before I could come out of my stupor, she pushed herself toward me with swiftly.

"Erghhh!" I cried as something penetrated my abdomen, hard. I looked down to see blood pouring out of my stomach, and a long hunting knife in her hand. As I looked up, I saw loathing in her eyes, and only one word escaped my mouth, "Why?"

She looked at me bitterly for one second, and I knew what was coming. With one loud cry, she raised her knife again and stabbed me in the chest.

"Ahh!" I launched up abruptly, looking around stupidly, rubbing my eyes. "Huh?" What the hell? I'm gonna kill Morpheus!

I went to check on Damon, the previous night rushing back in my head. I was calm and in control, and maybe what I said last night had been a bit of an overkill. I mean, come on, I was a little mad at that time. Okay, maybe a lot! But I was not going to hunt them down, those Hunters.

"Why not?" That strange voice inside of me asked.

"Um… the Council is still above us," I told it, out loud. "I don't want the gods to take sides and fight each other."

"Bah, bullshit!" It said teasingly. "You're the man! You can't forgive what they did to your lieutenant so easily. They deserve punishment!"

"Shut up!"

"Uh… Commander?" It was Rusty, demigod son of Hermes. "Who are you, uh… talking to?"

Shit. "Oh, nothing. It's nothing," I said, trying a smile. He gave me a that-was-really-lame look. Perhaps my awesome powers of persuasion didn't work this time. "How's Damon?"

He looked at me, confused. "Why? What happened to him?" Shit again!

"Uh… nothing," I said hastily. "Seriously, nothing at all."

I turned around and started walking toward the medical-care tent quickly. I could only imagine what my Warriors would do if they got to know about what happened last night. The very thought made me shudder. Poor Hunters… I'll have to control my boys, but we'll have to be more careful from now on. The Hunters could cross any limits to protect their pride.

Now when I came to think of it, we were not like the Hunters. I never hated women, and I didn't teach my Warriors to hate them either. I always taught them to respect them, unlike Artemis and her girls, who simply hated men. But I knew their nature all too well, and my boys knew never to let their guard down.


By midday, everyone in our camp got to know about what had happened with Damon the previous night. It was just like I had expected. They went nuts, swearing and complaining like hell! They began to hate the Hunters, if not women, and hate with a passion. They craved for revenge, every one of them. They wanted to rip the Hunters limb from limb. I could sense it, and it wasn't good… for anyone.

"Guys, guys, guys! The hunters have learned their lesson." I tried to keep them calm. "They won't dream of doing such a thing again."

It was useless, no surprise there.

"I'll show them who's the boss here!"

"Screw you Hunters!"

"Ugh! I'm gonna kill those bitches!"

"Whoa!" I shouted above their swearing. "Enough, guys! Calm down, we'll see about it when we come across them next time."

"How can you expect us to calm down, Commander?" It was Nick, son of Nemesis. "This is outrageous!"

I sighed inwardly. This is what you get for raising your men as brothers. Too much backtalk. But well, I had to live with it. I didn't like too much respect anyways.

"Y'all need to cool off a bit, and I know the best place for that." I said with a smile. They all looked up, suddenly interested in what I had to say.

"Commander, you don't mean-?"

"Yes, my father's palace." I said cheerfully, and it lightened them up significantly. Cries of joy broke out, everyone forgetting about last night's incident. I knew it would work. They had been to Poseidon's realm just once, and they had loved the place since then. Well, what can I say? The place really is stunning.

So yeah, we were off to my dad's palace. I wondered what the Hunters were up to.


A/N: *sigh* I know it's short, but that's all I can give you right now. I have no excuses. It's just… I had a major block, and I'm still going through it. So… sorry. I'll try to bring the next chapter soon. Thanks everyone!

Read and review!