Disclaimer: All Percy Jackson characters belong to Rick Riordan. I only own the plot.

Ch.11

Artemis's POV:

"WHAT?!" Zeus shouted.

I looked at the down, embarrassed. I was so surprised by Perseus's return that I had let him leave with the two children.

"How could you fail your mission?!" Zeus continued yelling. "How could you let him just leave with the children?!"

I didn't say anything. I don't know why I let him leave with them. Maybe it was because I felt guilty about what I had done in the past or because I was shocked to see him again.

Zeus was about to continue, but Poseidon spoke up.

"How was Perseus? Did he say anything to you?" Poseidon questioned.

Everyone's eyes turned to me, waiting for my answers.

"Yes, Uncle. He asked about Orion and said that retrieving the two half-bloods was some kind of a job." I paused before continuing, "He's also been out of Tartarus for some time. Maybe before the fire moved to Rome."

Everyone appeared shocked by my revelation. We all knew that Perseus would reform, but we had thought that he would not reform until after several centuries not decades. Poseidon was the first to speak.

"My son has been on Earth for at least two millennia, and I didn't know." Poseidon's tone was sullen.

Hestia walked over to Poseidon. She placed her hand on top of Poseidon's and began glowing a comforting orange light.

"He's back, brother. That's what matters." Hestia told Poseidon.

Poseidon gave Hestia a small smile to show her that he was okay. Athena was the next person to speak.

"How did you know that Perseus has been back for quite some time? Did he tell you?" She questioned.

"No," I responded. "He and Zoë already knew each other somehow."

Zeus went ballistic after hearing that. He started accusing Perseus of being a traitor for taking the kids and interfering with a mission from Olympus. Father also reasoned that Perseus was a traitor since he had known Zoë. Although Zoë was a demi-titan, she was the Lieutenant of my huntresses and has been loyal to me, therefore Olympus, for a couple millennia. Zeus was just trying to find a reason to send Perseus back to Tartarus. He never did like Perseus and was quite pleased when I had sent him to Tartarus.

"Artemis," Zeus called, "You are to find Perseus and bring him here."

I just nodded my head, expecting his demand.

"I also want you to bring Zoë here so that we may speak to her." Zeus continued.

I glared at Zeus. He didn't trust Zoë like I did, so I didn't know what he would do if I brought her here. Zeus just stared at me. He knew that I knew how he felt about Zoë and her parentage. Once he saw that I wasn't moving, he let out a sigh.

"Fine. I, Zeus, swear on the Styx to not harm your Lieutenant Zoë." Zeus swore.

Thunder boomed, sealing the oath. Satisfied, I flashed out of the throne room and went to get Zoë. I appeared back in the middle of my huntresses's campsite. They bowed their heads when they saw that I was back. I asked one of the newer recruits, a daughter of Demeter, where Zoë was. She said that Zoë was watching over the campers to make sure they weren't doing anything stupid.

"Thank you," I told her before heading off to get Zoë.

I found Zoë arguing with the girl Thalia. Annabeth and Grover were just watching them with amused faces.

"No, Zoë! I've told you once already that neither I, nor Annabeth, will join you guys!" Thalia was shouting.

"Why not daughter of Zeus? You'd be free of boys; have increased speed, strength, and agility as well as immortality." Zoë responded. "You'd never age and wouldn't die unless in battle."

"Immortality does sounded nice." It was Annabeth who spoke.

"Immortality does sound nice if you don't mind watching your friends age and die while you're still a teenager." Thalia retorted, still glaring at Zoë.

Seeing that their argument was going nowhere, I called out to Zoë and told her that she needed to come with me to Olympus. Once Zoë grabbed my hand and I told the campers to close their eyes, I flashed us back into the throne room. Zoë went up to Zeus's throne and knelt before coming back to stand by me. Even though Zeus swore on the Styx to not harm Zoë, I didn't exactly trust him to keep it, especially since he's broken an oath on the Styx before.

No One's POV:

Zeus waited a few moments before he began questioning Zoë.

"Do you know why you are here?" He started.

"No milord." Zoë replied.

"We wanted to know how you know Perseus."

"I met Perseus after Heracles finished his quest at the Garden of Hesperides." Zoë paused before continuing. She, as the case with all the other huntresses, did not care to talk about her past. "Since I had helped Heracles with his quest, I was cast out of the garden, my home."

Tears began to pool in the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Artemis put her hand on Zoë's shoulder as a way to offer support. Zoë gave her a smile of gratitude.

"Once Heracles left the garden, I was alone with none of my powers and no knowledge of the woods that I was in." Artemis could tell that Zoë had left something out but didn't bring it up. "I just started walking. I was lost and had no idea where I was at. That's when I ran into Perseus." A small smile appeared on Zoë's face as she recalled her meeting with Perseus.

~Ancient Greece~

Zoë was begging Heracles to let her go with him. He started becoming frustrated, turned around, and started choking her. She clawed at his hands, trying to get him to release his grip but to no avail.

"Don't you understand little one," he whispered in her ear, "You were just a means to an end. You've served your purpose."

Tears formed in her eyes. She had sacrificed so much for him: her home, her family. He looked her up and down, licking his lips.

"Maybe there is one more purpose that you can serve," he said, reaching for her chiton.

Zoë began flailing, kicking her legs in any and every direction. Heracles grabbed her by the throat. She somehow managed to kick Heracles in his precious family jewels, but he just squeezed her throat harder. Zoë's vision was turning black.

"You bitch." Heracles seethed.

Suddenly, the pressure around her neck was gone. Zoë fell to the ground and hit her head. The last thing she saw before she was unconscious was a figure looming over her and red eyes.

When Zoë came to, Heracles was gone. Zoë looked around to see where she was, but she had no clue where she was. All she could tell was that she was in a different place from where she fell unconscious. Upon realizing the reason why she was knocked out, Zoë checked her body over. Her clothes were fine, and she didn't feel hurt or sore anywhere except at her neck. Seeing that she was unharmed, Zoë got up and just continued to walk through the forest even though she had no idea where she was.

Zoë was completely lost now. She was almost positive that she had seen that rock already. She had never been outside the garden in her entire life. Now, she was exiled from her home. As Zoë walked aimlessly through the woods, she mumbled curses upon herself and Heracles. Thinking about Heracles's name made her furious. Zoë felt like a complete fool, falling for his stupid charm. She should have realized that he was just using her. She even gave him her hairpin to use.

Zoë stopped walking when she realized that. She gave him her hairpin! She was so stupid! She now had no weapon or immortality. Her mother Pleione had given her that hairpin which contained her lineage, therefore, her immortality. Just great. The last item her mother had given her, and she let some koprophage (AN: dung eater) have it. Zoë let out a groan of frustration.

"Could today get worse?" She mumbled.

"Miss, are you alright?" A voice asked.

Zoë turned around and saw a figure in a brown cloak. His eyes, although oddly colored, looked concerned. Zoë was nervous. She was weaponless so she wouldn't be able to defend herself if need be. The figure took a tentative step toward Zoë. Zoë took a step back and eyed the figure warily.

"Don't worry," the figure said, stepping closer to Zoë. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Zoë just scoffed at the man. 'Yeah right' she thought. 'Haven't heard that before.' She backed up another step; but her foot hit something, and she fell backwards. Zoë landed on her back, and the man rushed over to her to make sure she was okay.

~Olympian Throne Room (Present Day)~

"The man introduced himself as Perseus." Zoë said. "He said that he found me because he sensed the strong feeling of betrayal I was feeling at the time."

"How did you end up with Artemis then?" Zeus questioned. He was none too pleased hearing some titan scum accuse his son of such a heinous act.

"I was traveling with Perseus for some time. We did odd jobs now and then to earn money. We were camping one night; and when I woke up the next morning, Perseus was gone." Zoë replied, "All he left was a note that told me to head to the river. That's when I found Artemis."

Zeus still looked at Zoë suspiciously. Artemis didn't show it, but she was nervous for Zoë. She noticed that Zeus was looking at Zoë with distrust and slight anger. Artemis was also wondering if Zoë knew about her past with Perseus; and if she did, what did Zoë think about her.

"That is all for now Zoë. You may take your leave. Artemis, don't forget about your mission." Zeus reminded her.

Artemis flashed her and Zoë back to the campsite.

Artemis's POV:

"Zeus gave you a new mission?" Zoë asked.

"Yes. I am to find Perseus and bring him to Olympus."

"I'll gather the hunters at once milady."

"Zoë, stop. I will be doing this on my own."

"Why milady? You know how the girls love a man hunt."

"Because I don't want to risk putting you girls in harm's way," I replied. "Perseus is dangerous, and I don't want to lose any of you."

"Then let me go with you. Perseus won't harm me." Zoë responded.

"I need somebody to watch the hunters." I had other reasons why I wanted to do this mission alone. One of them being that I did not want Zoë to know about what happened between me and Perseus.

"Phoebe, Phaedra, and Ally are more than capable." Zoë answered.

I let out a sigh of resignation.

"Alright then, let me go and ask Apollo to pick everyone up and bring them to camp." I said. "Go and notify the other about what will be happening."

Zoë nodded before running off. When we find Perseus, I hope that everything goes smoothly. I thought before contacting Apollo.

We would find Perseus alright, but things would go far from smoothly.

AN: Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! How'd y'all spend your Turkey day? (eating, charity work, sleeping, watching football, studying, etc.) ALSO, I wanted to know how y'all felt about flashbacks during stories. Do y'all like the flashbacks?

Constructive criticism is much appreciated! Let me know what y'all liked or hated! I want to hear the feedback.