Disclaimer: I don't own PJO, Rick Riordan does.

From what I read in the books, Artemis does not hate men, she dislikes men, the hunters are the ones that look at Percy with disgust(*ehem*Zoe*ehem*). She did not talk to Percy with hostility there. She didn't show any hostility to Percy there either so I'm making her that way in this story. And she turns guys into jackalopes when they act all arrogant and disrespectful, except for Apollo, I guess.

Chapter 9

Percy's POV

There was an awkward silence between us. I tried not to notice the fact that we were alone by fiddling with the hem of my shirt and looking around, pretending I'm busy, but it's hard when she's looking at me.

I couldn't take it anymore, "Hey"

I tried not to notice the fact that my voice cracked.

She didn't answer, she just looked at me with those cold, distant, calculating and…. beautiful eyes of hers.

3rd Person POV

He greeted her, but she just kept quiet. She was thinking of the things to say and what was she going to do.

His voice cracked, she almost laughed.

Artemis observed the boy before her, the boy she met years ago, he has changed, physically at least, has grown taller, and he looks healthier, and he still looked terrified of what she might do, it almost made her smile.

She actually didn't know what to say, or to do. Should she ask the boy how he was doing? No. Should she make the boy leave? No she didn't want that. But what the heck, she could make small talk.

"I see you've become the hero of your camp, you are the one they send on quests now"

"Um, I guess so… but most of the time Annabeth was with me, my lady"

She nodded, of course he could not succeed without the help of a girl, "Ah"

But for some reason she felt an uncomfortable feeling in her heart.

'Annabeth, the girl who fell earlier…' Artemis thought.

There was silence between them again. Both didn't know what to say again. Artemis has her guard up. Now they were surrounded with hunters and demigods unlike before.

But then again my tent is sound proof…. Artemis thought.

Percy coughed and broke the silence, "S-so, how are you?"

"I'm a goddess Percy, what do you expect?" She teased.

He blushed and looked down, but she didn't miss his smile, "Oh"

She cleared her throat, "You?"

His smile disappeared, "Not so good my lady"

"Why?"

He looked down, "I-I just lost Annabeth and Thalia is mad at me"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Thalia is mad because, she thinks I left Annabeth alone, I did, but I did it to investigate, and Annabeth would still be here if we stayed together, but Thalia blamed it all on me and she just blew up on me. I'm upset too, I just lost my best friend, but she doesn't understand"

He felt a tear sliding down his cheek, but he wiped them away quickly, he didn't want Artemis to see he was weak.

Artemis saw, but she didn't comment. She felt pity for the boy. She felt pity on a boy.

When she put her hand on his shoulder he felt like he was gonna faint, but other than that it was magical.

"It will be alright Percy, I will try to find Annabeth, and I'm sure you can fix whatever is going on between you and Thalia, you are cousins, family Percy"

"But Thalia is-"

"-going to understand eventually"

He let out small smile, "I-Yeah you're right"

She smiled teasingly, and Percy was stunned, she was breath taking, and like… a goddess.

"Of course"

Percy's ADHD got to him, "You're beautiful"

Percy is now about to grab riptide and stab himself. He just can't go around saying that to a maiden goddess.

She blushed then looked away. She felt her heart pounding in her chest, she shouldn't be feeling this, she's been called beautiful so many times, what was different now?

"Um, thank you"

His face burning, he replied, "You're welcome my lady"

There was silence, but unlike earlier it was comfortable, but they were losing time.

Artemis stood up, "Come one Percy" she said. "We have to go"

"We're going to get a ride from your brother, huh?"

Artemis's silver eyes gleamed. "Yes. You see, Bianca di Angelo is not the only one with an annoying brother. It's time for you to meet my irresponsible twin, Apollo."

*Time Skip*

Percy's POV

Artemis assured us that dawn was coming, but you could've fooled me. It was colder and darker and snowier than ever. Up on the hill, Westover Hall's windows were completely lightless. I wondered if the teachers had even noticed the di Angelos and Dr. Thorn were missing yet. I didn't want to be around when they did. With my luck, the only name Mrs. Gottschalk would remember was "Percy Jackson," and then I'd be the subject of a nationwide manhunt… again.

The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they'd set it up. I stood shivering in the snow (unlike the Hunters, who didn't seem to feel at all uncomfortable), and Artemis stared into the east like she was expecting something. Bianca sat off to one side, talking with Nico. I could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt. I couldn't help thinking how selfish it was of her, abandoning her brother like that.

Thalia and Grover came up and huddled around me, anxious to hear what had happened in my audience with the goddess, minus the part where I called Artemis beautiful.

When I told them, Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

"How'd they even show up here?" I wondered. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia said, disgusted. "It's all Zoe's fault. That stuck-up, no good—"

"Who can blame her?" Grover said. "Eternity with Artemis?" He heaved a big sigh, I almost sighed with him.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs. You're all in love with Artemis. Don't you get that she'll never love you back?"

Well, I'm not a satyr, I have a chance. Wait. What am I even saying? I don't… love her.

The rest of the conversation was pretty much white noise, I was too busy thinking about my talk with Artemis before, we almost seemed like friends. But that's insane, we were just… casual. Yup, that's it. She is one of a kind, so close yet so far, very far. She's from Olympus, and I'm a mortal, I belong in the earth.

Finally the sky began to lighten. Artemis muttered, "About time. He's so-o-o lazy during the winter."

"You're, um, waiting for sunrise?" I asked.

"For my brother. Yes."

I didn't want to be rude. I mean, I knew the legends about Apollo—or sometimes Helios—driving a big sun chariot across the sky. But I also knew that the sun was really a star about a zillion miles away. I'd gotten used to some of the Greek myths being true, but still… I didn't see how Apollo could drive the sun.

"It's not exactly as you think," Artemis said, like she was reading my mind.

"Oh, okay." I started to relax. "So, it's not like he'll be pulling up in a—"

There was a sudden burst of light on the horizon. A blast of warmth.

"Don't look," Artemis advised. "Not until he parks."

Parks?

I averted my eyes, and saw that the other kids were doing the same. The light and warmth intensified until my winter coat felt like it was melting off of me. Then suddenly the light died.

I looked. And I couldn't believe it. It was my car. Well, the car I wanted, anyway. A red convertible Maserati Spyder. It was so awesome it glowed. Then I realized it was glowing because the metal was hot. The snow had melted around the Maserati in a perfect circle, which explained why I was now standing on green grass and my shoes were wet.

The driver got out, smiling. He looked about seventeen or eighteen, and for a second, I had the uneasy feeling it was Luke, my old enemy. This guy had the same sandy hair and outdoorsy good looks. But it wasn't Luke. This guy was taller, with no scar on his face like Luke's. His nose was identical with Artemis's. His smile was brighter and more playful. (Luke didn't do much more than scowl and sneer these days.) The Maserati driver wore jeans and loafers and a sleeveless T-shirt.

"Wow," Thalia muttered. "Apollo is hot."

"He's the sun god," I said.

"That's not what I meant."

"Little sister!" Apollo called. If his teeth were any whiter he could've blinded us without the sun car. "What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"

Artemis sighed. "I'm fine, Apollo. And I am not your little sister."

"Hey, I was born first."

Her eyebrows furrowed, it was the most adorable thing I have ever seen. "We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue—"

"So what's up?" he interrupted. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"

Artemis grit her teeth, her eyes flashed, I almost fell down on how adorable she looked. "I need a favor. I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."

"No problem!" Apollo checked us out. "Let's see… Thalia, right? I've heard all about you."

Thalia blushed. "Hi, Lord Apollo."

"Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half sister. Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad you're back. I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember one time—"

"Brother," Artemis said. "You should get going."

"Oh, right." Then he looked at me, and his eyes narrowed. "Percy Jackson?"

"Yeah. I mean… yes, sir."

It seemed weird calling a teenager "sir," but I'd learned to be careful with immortals. They tended to get offended easily. Then they blew stuff up.

Apollo studied me, but he didn't say anything, which I found a little creepy.

"Well!" he said at last. "We'd better load up, huh? Ride only goes one way—west. And if you miss it, you miss it."

I looked at the Maserati, which would seat two people max. There were about twenty of us.

"Cool car," Nico said.

"Thanks, kid," Apollo said.

"Um sir, will we fit in that?" I asked.

"Oh." Apollo seemed to notice the problem for the first time. "Well, yeah. I hate to change out of sports-car mode, but I suppose…"

He took out his car keys and beeped the security alarm button. Chirp, chirp.

For a moment, the car glowed brightly again. When the glare died, the Maserati had been replaced by one of those Turtle Top shuttle buses like we used for school basketball games.

"Right," he said. "Everybody in."

Zoe ordered the Hunters to start loading. She picked up her camping pack, and Apollo said, "Here, sweetheart. Let me get that."

Zoe recoiled. Her eyes flashed murderously, I almost laughed, but I did not want a black eyes so I refrained myself.

"Brother," Artemis chided. "You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart."

Apollo spread his hands. "Sorry. I forgot. Hey, sis, where are you off to, anyway?"

"Hunting," Artemis said. "It's none of your business."

"I'll find out. I see all. Know all."

Artemis snorted. "Just drop them off, Apollo. And no messing around!"

"No, no! I never mess around."

Artemis rolled her eyes, then looked at us. "I will see you by winter solstice. Zoe, you are in charge of the Hunters. Do well. Do as I would do."

Zoe straightened. "Yes, my lady."

Artemis knelt and touched the ground as if looking for tracks. When she rose, she looked troubled. "So much danger. The beast must be found."

She sprinted toward the woods and melted into the snow and shadows, off to go in the territory of danger.