Summary: God AU. Pertemis. She finds him when they are just godlings, he is in the form of a wolf so that he might not be found by the Olympian council, and injured. What Artemis doesn't know about her new companion is that he is really the god of power and virtue, Perseus, son of Poseidon and Hestia. Together they live through the ages as Olympians, spun in the web of the politics and antics of the Greek Gods.

Chapter 11: Confessions of Truth


When Percy left later that evening, Artemis missed him the moment he went away. "Do you have to leave?"she asked him, holding his hand tightly as if that would anchor him to her. He smiled at Artemis sweetly.

"I have someone to meet later tonight. It's a meeting I can't miss."

Artemis leaned her head against his broad shoulder. "I understand. We're gods now. We have responsibilities." Even though she said that she understood, she still wished that he would stay with her.

Percy squeezed her hand then let go. "I'll see you soon. When you need me, call out to the sea, and I will come to you."

Artemis nodded, and then he turned to disappear into a flash of light.

She sat on the sand, gazing at the wonderful sunset. It was a gorgeous blend of rich purples and bright oranges. The sunset was the perfect ending for a perfect day.

Artemis wasn't alone for long. Orion arrived only a few minutes later, holding a stack of firewood, looking content with himself. He looked particularly energetic that day, giving her a million watt smile when she finally turned to see him. He created a fire pit a few feet away from her, haphazardly throwing stones in a sloppy circle. When he was finished and Artemis hadn't come to it with him, He gestured for her to take a seat next to him. "The hunters and I were attacked by a cyclops today."

Artemis knew she should've responded, but her mind was miles away, thinking about her kiss with Percy.

"We took care of him. There were no injuries." Orion rambled on about the fight, not noticing that Artemis was staring at the fire, not even acknowledging his story. Finally, he saw that Artemis wasn't listening and lightly tapped her shoulder. "Artemis, are you feeling alright?"

Artemis flinched at his touch, and he retracted, a look of intense hurt flitting across his face. "What's wrong?" His voice was so genuinely filled with concern that Artemis almost felt guilty. Orion finally placed his hand into his lap, drawing into himself a little.

"You know, I wouldn't be the hunter I am today without you," Orion looked to her, but Artemis wasn't moved. "I've always wanted to tell you this, but I never found a good moment. I didn't just… run from Chios. I was driven out. Exiled. You see, I fell in love with the king's daughter because she wasn't like most women. She was so strong, so quick-witted, and there was just something about her," he scooted closer to Artemis, but she didn't respond. "Like you."

At this, Artemis' silver eyes snapped up, finally looking him in his eyes. "And I wouldn't be able to see anything if you hadn't implored Hephaestus to help me. For that I am in your debt forever."

Suddenly, Artemis had become uneasy. She didn't do well with these kinds of emotional things. "Orion...what are you saying?"

He looked to the fire. "What I'm trying to say is that you're someone special to me. When I'm with you-"

No, Artemis's head began to throb, and she placed a hand against her forehead to ease the pain, He can't.

"-my life finally has meaning. It's to stay by your side, by the hunters' sides. Who knows what would have become of me if you hadn't found me that day." He drew in a breath, then sighed heavily. "I love you, Artemis. I love you."

Artemis gasped lightly, dread pumping into her system. No no no no. Why did she feel so afraid? Why did she feel so…

Sick?

"Orion, no. I can't. You know I can't. The chastity vow-"

Orion's eyes widened with shock that Artemis didn't-couldn't feel the same way. Suddenly, his love and adoration for her turned to cold hatred. He scoffed. "Chastity vow. Bullshit. This is about your precious Perseus isn't it?"

"What? No-no, Orion, no-"

Orion straightened to his full height, and he towered over her. "Fine. You can stay with him for all I care. But before you choose to love him," he leaned forward, an ugly smirk twisting his handsome face, "Realize that he couldn't ever give him the time you'll want from him. As the son of Poseidon and god of so many domains, he doesn't have time for some lovesick romance. He's always off somewhere, meddling with the mortals. That's not a good habit for a god to have. I mean, look at Zeus. He has a new woman every week. I'm sure Perseus does too. He won't need you. But I will," Orion's voice broke on the last sentence, then he scowled darkly and turned away. "Don't ever try to find me."

Artemis's headache worsened, and she watched helplessly as Orion become a shapeless dot in the distant Delos sunset.


Hebe had never drank so much alcoholic nectar.

Which was certainly something, since she'd drink several pints at a time quite often. She'd built up such a tolerance that only a few glasses would hardly give her a buzz.

But she didn't want some light buzz tonight. No, she wanted to feel nothing. And so she drank glass after glass, not giving a damn for the consequences that might happen afterwards.

She had gotten to glass eight when she began to feel the emptiness inside of her fill with the warmth of the alcohol. The nymphs passing by were watching her wearily, but some watched with pity.

This is not what a goddess should do.

Hera's voice whispered in her head, prompting Hebe to take another long draw from her drink.

This is why you are forgotten, daughter.

How could you do this, Hebe?

"Out!" Hebe cried, her hand shaking so much that she dropped her drink. "Leave me, Mother!"

The entire universe was spinning, and Hebe crashed to the ground, sobbing violently. She could see him again, she could see him as he entered Artemis's palace to do Zeus know what. Why did she care about him so much? Is this what love was? This emptiness?

It is a shame that youth be wasted on the young.

When she awoke, she was in her mother's room. Hera's bedroom was certainly the grandest room in Zeus' palace, with a large king bed with the finest cloths, stunningly beautiful paintings depicting the history of the Olympians, a great gold vanity, and a walk in closet. It was an extravagant room built for an extravagant woman. Hebe despised it.

She spotted Hera sitting in front of the vanity, brushing her long black hair with a silver brush. Hera's eyes caught Hebe's through the shiny mirror of the vanity. Hera's gaze hardened, and she pursed her lips bitterly. "Hebe."

Hebe scoffed and dug her way deeper into the covers. "What?" her harsh tone surprised Hera.

"You're lucky some nymphs found you, passed out cold in the middle of the street. What is wrong with you, Hebe?"

"What, never gotten a bit drunk before, Mother?" Hebe's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"No," Hera answered resolutely.

Hebe giggled then rose from the bed. "Since there's nothing we need to discuss, I'll get going."

"Sit. Down."

Hebe reluctantly obeyed.

"As the cupbearer of the gods, you have an incredibly honorable and important job. You cannot be found on the floor, passed out and smelling of...of…"

Hera shook her head. "It's humiliating, I tell you. It's time for you to display a little more maturity-"

Hebe laughed. "Do you hear yourself, Mother? Maturity? You? You plot a mortal woman's death nearly every week-"

Hera's eyes flashed dangerously. "Don't you dare mention your father's infidelity. I already have to deal with this Danae woman. I don't want to have to deal with you, trust me. Not when you're acting like a three year old godling."

"I am the goddess of youth-"

"But you are my daughter. And no daughter of mine will be found on the ground, drunk and passed out!"

Hebe was lost for words. She held her mother's stare coldly, her perfectly groomed brows furrowing in a frown. "Maybe I don't want to be your daughter."

To Hera, there was nothing more important than family. And so when Hebe had told her that she no longer wanted to be a part of Hera's family, it crushed her. Slowly, her sorrow turned into white hot anger.

"Fine," Hera growled, "Until you quit being a walking, talking, disappointment, we won't need to speak to each other. If you need anything, go bother your father. Now get out of my palace."

One thing that all the gods knew about Hebe was that she regretted nothing. To her, the future was a beautiful expanse of only the best of outcomes, where she would thrive with happiness despite her choices. So when Hera saw Hebe turn the corner out of her bedroom, she knew that it was not likely she would speak to her daughter again for centuries.

Hera was exhausted from her situation with Hebe, so when she came to Argos, she was in less of a positive mood. She watched in a jealous rage as Zeus and Danae kissed lovingly. Pursing her lips, she made a promise to herself.

Never again.

But, of course, she made this promise every time Zeus had an affair with a mortal woman. But there was something about them that kept drawing him closer. Hera could never compete against these women, because their time was limited. Hera was a constant. She would be at his side for all eternity, and Zeus knew this. But he never seemed to understand the pain he forced her to endure every time.

Zeus pulled Danae closer, whispering something sweetly in her ear. Hera couldn't watch anymore, tearing her eyes away while a storm of envious rage brewed within her. When she flashed away, Zeus looked up at the sky, suspicion clouding his eyes.

"Is something wrong, dear?" Danae lightly ran her hand down his arm.

Zeus shook his head, knowing his wife was watching them, as she always did. She always knew. "No, no, everything is fine."

"Good," Danae smiled, and snuggled closer to him.


A mere three miles away, Percy sat on the beach where he and Danae would meet every month. The moon was high in the sky, and he was becoming increasingly worried. Danae was never late to any of their meetings. After a few hours later, he became restless and went to Olympus, wanting to find Danae. He'd only been walking for a few minutes when he saw Hebe, drinking a tall glass of mead.

She looked as stunning as always. Her golden blonde hair was tied up in a delicate chignon, and her makeup was impeccably applied. She gave him a tilted smile, and raised her glass to him. "Perseus!" she sounded drunk. "It's a fine night, isn't it? Or should I say morning?" she giggled, and took another swig out of her glass. "Funny seeing you here. Gone to see Artemis? I'm afraid she's a little preoccupied at the moment." Hebe's eyes glinted mischievously.

"I'm looking for a princess. Danae," Percy hoped that Hebe would know. When Hebe's eyes lighted with recognition at the name, Percy sighed with relief.

"Yes, I believe Hera said she was one of Zeus's new conquests," her eyes flashed with an emotion dangerously close to envy. Percy felt his ichor boil with anger that Zeus was even daring to touch someone as precious as Danae. He would have to address this later, but right then he just wanted to find her. He was interrupted from his thoughts when Hebe muttered, "She must be a real beauty if the great Perseus is showering her with his attention." She took a healthy drink from the mead, "Yes, a real beauty." Her body swayed, and Percy caught her easily, deciding to take her to his palace since he didn't know where she actually stayed.

He laid her on the bed, and turned to leave. She grabbed his arm weakly, wrapping her delicately manicured fingers around his wrist. His heartbeat quickened. "Perseus," she whispered, "Won't you stay with me?"

"I can't, Hebe."

"What must I say? What must I do?" She was quickly becoming desperate, on the verge of tears.

"Nothing."

"If it had been me on Delos, would you have loved me too?" It was a question that had plagued her for days after meeting Artemis.

Percy inhaled sharply, not knowing how to answer her question. "I don't know."

When he looked to Hebe again, she had fallen asleep. Percy slipped out of the room quietly, not wanting to wake her because he needed to find Zeus, now.

He didn't even knock on Zeus's palace door and stormed past Zeus's nymph servants.

Percy found Zeus sitting on a small replica of his throne on Olympus. Percy had never felt so angry as he looked down at the King of the Gods, who wore a face of impassivity. "Perseus, welcome to my palace," he said dryly, clearly not liking the way Percy had burst in uninvited. "What could I do for you at one in the morning?"

"Tell me where Danae is," Percy growled, clenching his fists. This was Percy's first time personally witnessing Zeus's infidelity. How could he do this to Danaë? How could he do this to Hera? While most gods were used to Zeus's disgusting habits, Percy was appalled. He couldn't stand the thought of Zeus seducing one of his closest friends. Danaë was just too innocent.

"I don't understand." Zeus said flatly, frowning at Percy's angered form.

"Bullshit!" Percy was shouting now; he'd given up on containing his anger. "You know where Danaë is! Tell me!"

"Oh, yes, that one."

"She has a name," Percy ground out. "Don't dig yourself a bigger hole, Zeus. Tell me where she is."

Zeus wisely revealed Danaë's location and the bronze fortress she was trapped in. "Her father won't let her out because of a prophecy," he sighed, "you'll have to change form if you want to see her. There's a grid in the ceiling you can go through. She might not be happy to see you."

"Why not?" Percy asked, frowning.

"Because you're not me!" Zeus grinned, looking mighty pleased with himself. Percy rolled his eyes then turned. "You made a mistake, Zeus."

"Why's that?"

"Don't ever touch one of my friends again."

Zeus watched as the god of power left his palace, feeling uneasy and afraid.

Percy slipped through the grate, and found Danaë lying in the corner, with a thin blanket wrapped around her torso. She was shivering, wrapping her arms around her knees to insulate body warmth. Percy approached her slowly, and saw that she had been crying. Her eyes were red and her hair was disheveled. She looked so different from the Danaë he knew and went to the beach with. "You poor girl," he whispered, and kneeled down to meet her beautiful brown eyes. She blinked a few times in confusion, as if she couldn't believe that it was he who was standing in front of her. .

She shook her head in disbelief. "Not real, not real," she muttered to herself, running her hands through her matted hair. "Percy is gone. He left."

"Danaë," Percy grabbed her hand, warming her up, "I'm very real. I'm here for you now. I'm so sorry I couldn't come to see you sooner."

Danaë's lip quivered, and soon tears were falling ceaselessly down her face. "Percy. I've missed you. I've missed you so much." She threw her arms around his neck, sobbing into his shirt. "Why were you gone for so long? Are you a god too?"

Percy jerked back. "I—"

"It's okay. I know. Zeus is a god and he seems a lot like the uncle you told me about, and it would explain your strange behavior," she reasoned, and pulled him in for another hug.

When she finally sat back, she had stopped crying. Only Percy could comfort her this way.

"Why are you trapped here, Danaë? What happened? Why were you crying?" Percy hoped he didn't overwhelm her too much with his questions, but he had to know. He had to help her get out of this prison.

"I-I got thrown in here because Father thought I was a whore who-who had betrayed him," she looked down at her clasped hands in her lap, "So he punished me by throwing me in here." Biting her lip, she looked up at him questioningly. Percy gestured for her to continue. "For weeks I prayed you'd find me...or-or- you'd do something like, I don't know," her hands trembled and she seemed defeated, "Then Zeus appeared. At first, I was cautious but eventually," her face brightened and a small smile adorned her pretty face, "we fell in love. He made me happy, Percy."

Percy nodded, even though he still wasn't happy that Zeus had approached Danaë.

"But now…" the tears began to fall again, "I'm doomed to die."

Percy's eyes widened. "What? Danaë, what do you mean?"

Danaë looked up through dark lashes, then closed her eyes in resignation. "I haven't told Zeus yet."

"Percy, I'm pregnant."


Author's Note:

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter like I enjoyed writing it :)