(Hello, loyal fans. Thank you for the reviews, you guys make me go. Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or HoO!) Percy POV: My head was pulled out of a bucket of water and I took a big breath. The scarred man threw me against the wall. "How dare you disobey the master! You will be punished!" He then picked me up by the throat and lifted me up while pushing me against the wall. I tried to move his hand, but he was too strong. He then threw me at the other wall. I landed and coughed and grasped my neck. He grabbed my arms and chained me to the wall. He then took a knife and cut a deep wound on my shoulder. I screamed in pain, then swallowed it. He then smiled evilly and poured saltwater on the wound. The pain pulsed through my body as I forced back tears. He laughed and pulled out another knife from a bucket. He then cut long gashes down my arms and legs. He then unchained me, and hauled me over to a large machine. He put me on it and strapped my arms and legs in tightly. He pulled a lever, and the machine stretched my arms and legs so it hurt like hell. I was about to pass out, when I heard a voice in my head. 'Percy!' It was soft at first, but then it became louder. 'Percy!' I was shaken awake by Artemis. I went over to the other side of the cave and vomited. Artemis came over and rubbed my back soothingly. I laid down against the edge of the cave and Artemis sat beside me. "I was so worried. You were thrashing around in your sleep." She said as she rested her head on my shoulder. I laid my head back on the wall. "The torture, I could feel every bit of it." Artemis grew a sad look on her face. After a few minutes, she stood and offered me a hand. I took it and she led me towards the mouth of the cave. "My powers are severely weakened. I cannot flash or create things. We are beyond the reach of the gods." I nodded. She started walking towards the woods, and I followed her. We found a little stream and we decided that we needed to bathe. Of course, the water was really cold, I could heat it up, but I would have to be in it. I jumped in the water, fully clothed, and heated it up with my powers. I allowed myself to get wet, and the warm water soothed my aching bones and rejuvenated my strength. Artemis took off her hunting coat, so she was wearing a t-shirt and pants. She went in on the other side of the stream, but immediately started shivering. I moved over to beside her and heated the water around us. She sighed in relief and rested her head against a rock. I lowered my head underwater and examined my surroundings. There were no fish. In fact there were no living being except me and Artemis. I rose out of the water, and sat next to Artemis. "So, ummm, I noticed that Thalia acted like she knew me. Was she one of my friends?" Artemis nodded. "Annabeth was her best friend, so when she thought you killed her, any friendship was broken off." I nodded. "You never believed it was me, did you." Artemis shook her head. "No. You were one of the few men to earn my respect. I wouldn't expect you to kill your own girlfriend." I nodded again. "Could you tell my adventures to me?" Artemis looked at me and smiled. "Sure, your first quest was to retrieve the master bolt..." She then told me of my many adventures, including the one where I saved her. It all seemed really unreal that I could have done all those things. Likes slaying the Minotaur, and killing Medusa. Defeating four titans! No one has ever done that! It hurt really. To have such a legacy behind you, and to not be able to remember it. To not be able to remember my family, my friends, my love. It was painful, that all this would happen to me, even though I had given my life for others. Curse the Fates! Nothing in my life ever worked. And why would it start now? Artemis shook my shoulder, as if warning me of something. I looked at her, and then noticed the stream was levitating ten feet above us. "Percy, calm down." I breathed in and slowly lowered the water back into the stream. Artemis wiped away a stray tear on my face. She turned my head towards her. "Are you alright Percy?" I lowered my head. "No, I am not. What did I ever do to deserve this? What in my life, did I do to deserve being tortured every day for over a hundred years?!" My voice lowered. "What did I do to deserve killing hundreds of people, just because some sick werewolf couldn't do his own dirty work!" The snow all melted around us and the water steamed. Artemis put her hands on my face. "The worst things happen to greatest people, Perseus. It isn't fair, but you must live with the fact that there are people out there who would want you in an eternity of pain. Like the titans." I nodded. My anger lowered and I laid back on a rock. "What am I supposed to do once this is over? Zeus will have me killed for 'kidnapping' you, his favorite daughter. Even if we convince him that I didn't kill Annabeth or kidnap you, I am still a werewolf. They will kill me for my crimes as NightBane. I have nothing to fight for anymore. All my friends are dead. And I can't expect a normal life after this." Artemis had small tears in her eyes. "Your life was never normal Percy. And you do have something to fight for." And then she leaned in and kissed me. At first, I was to stunned to do anything. Artemis pulled back and looked disappointed. "I knew it. You don't return my feelings." She was about to leave when I grabbed her face and kissed her with the most live I could ever give. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders, and I lost my hands in her auburn locks. I pulled back for air, and Artemis had one of the most happy smiles I've ever seen on her face. She leaned over and rested her head on my shoulder. "You're the first man I have ever grown to love, Percy." I smiled at her. "I have grown to love you, too, Artemis." She smiled happily then looked up at me. "Come back with me, Percy. You don't have have to risk your life. Please, I'll convince my father that you innocent. I'll find a way to remove your curse, I'll-" I cut her off. "No Artemis. I must do this. Unless I finish this, they will never stop hunting me. And there is no way to remove my curse now. I have the Blood of Wolves in me. And no matter how much we love each other, we can never be. You are a Maiden Goddess, I am a werewolf. Think about the hunt, what would happen to them?" Artemis started tearing up, and I pulled her close to me. She looked at me pleadingly. "Please Percy. I love you to much to lose you again. Please stay with me. There will never be another man like you to fill the hole in my heart." I put my hand under her chin and lifted her head to me. "I will never leave you willingly." And then I kissed her again, full of longing. I pulled back again after needing breath. "We must leave. Artemis nodded sadly. We got out of the stream and I dried us both. Artemis got her hunting coat back out and we walked in silence away from the stream. I was about to say something when I fell to the ground and lost consciousness. (I really hoped you liked this chapter. Not much, but romance is bountiful. FORTY REVIEWS FOR NEXT CHAPPIE! Da Beast is out.)
