Chapter 21

Percy's POV

Artemis wouldn't let go of her twin children, not even for a second. Al and Liz was telling them about their encounter with Aura when Hermes interrupted them.

"Percy? Rube is awake." Hermes said.

Al and Liz stopped their story. "Where is he?"

"He's in the infirmary with Will."

Al and Liz stood up and rushed outside, heading straight towards the infirmary. "Since when did Al and Liz cared about . . . your child?" Artemis asked. Percy shot her a meaningful glare.

"I know I made a mistake, Artemis, but he's still my son. Nyx being his mother doesn't make him any less than mine. He doesn't even recognize Nyx as his mother."

Artemis sighed. "Maybe . . . But . . . I don't know. Everytime I look at him, I became angry and sad. He's like a constant reminder about what you did to me, Percy. It just hurts so bad." Artemis started to sob. Percy pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a warm hug.

"I'm sorry it happened, Artemis. I'm so sorry."

Artemis wiped the tears from her face. "It's okay. It's not your fault." Artemis managed a smile and kissed Percy softly on the lips. "But don't do it again."

"You have my word." Percy said as he gave Artemis one of his famous smiles.

Line Break

"Hey Rube." Percy greeted when he and Artemis went to the infirmary. Liz and Al were already there, taking care of him. Rube looked happy, but his smile melted a bit when he saw Artemis.

"Hey d- . . . Percy." Rube said carefully, not wanting to remind Artemis that he was his father. Percy ruffled his hair.

"You okay?"

"I've been better. I wouldn't have made it without Al and Liz." Rube said.

"And we couldn't have done it without Rube." Liz said.

"I totally agree." Al said.

"But-"

"Shut up and take the compliment." Al cut him off.

Rube kept quiet for a while before answering. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. So, what did we miss when we're gone?" Al asked.

"So, we got Styx on our side and I can manage the Devil Trigger a bit better." Percy explained.

"That's good to hear." Liz said.

"Oh, and Jason is back."

Al and Liz looked at him in confusion. "Who's Jason?" Al asked. Liz elbowed him in the ribs. "What? I don't know who he is."

"Don't you remember? He was Aunt Thalia's brother who died three years ago in the last war." Liz explained. "But, what do you mean, he's back?"

"Well, a meteor landed on the arena at Olympus and Jason was there." Percy said.

"Just like how we landed. Why did we land in Russia anyway?" Rube asked.

"Why are you asking me? Do I look like the guy who says where we land?" Al asked.

"Shut up."

Percy couldn't help but smile at the interaction between the three of his children. They reminded Percy of his old memories with his oldest friends, Grover and Annabeth. Always fooling around and bickering and having fun but in the end, they always covered each other's ass.

Percy intentionally left out the part where he met Typhon. It was so disturbing that Percy didn't tell anyone about it, not even Artemis. Even though Typhon had said he'll aid them in the upcoming war, Percy couldn't help but thinking that he might have his revenge after the war, when everyone was weak and tired.

"Percy? What's wrong?" Artemis asked. Percy blinked, snapping himself back to reality.

"I'm fine. I was just, uh, thinking about something."

"Dad, you know you're a terrible liar." Rube said. Percy noticed that Rube had called him dad. Artemis noticed as well, but she did well on hiding her emotions.

"And I know you're as annoying as me, which annoys me even more." Percy said. All three of them laughed. Even Artemis managed a smile. He leaned close to Artemis' ear. "Cheer up, Arty. He's trying hard to be one of us."

Artemis glanced at Percy and sighed. "I'll try." Artemis said. "It's just that . . ."

"It's okay, Artemis." Rube said suddenly. Everyone turned their attention towards Rube, who was staring into space. "I didn't expect that I'd be accepted here by any of you, since my mother is . . ." Rube sighed. "Don't worry. I'll be leaving as soon as possible."

"Rube, you said you'll leave only if you don't get accepted." Liz said.

"And am I getting accepted?" Rube asked with a sincere voice. Percy didn't really know what to say. Sure, Percy accepted him, but Artemis? Percy didn't know.

"Rube, come on, we're family now. Remember what Chaos said? We're the key to defeating Nyx." Al said. Liz held Rube's hand tighter. Rube looked at both of them carefully.

"I'm sorry, Liz and Al." Rube said.

"You are so stubborn. Fine then, if you want to leave," Al got up and stood at the door of the infirmary. "You'd have to get pass me." Al said.

"You know I'll kick your ass." Rube said.

"But you won't leave until you do." Al taunted.

Artemis' POV

Artemis couldn't help but feel impressed and touched on how much her children wanted Rube to stay. Artemis didn't want Rube to leave, but she didn't know if she could accept him either. The fact that Rube was a child of Nyx didn't disturb Artemis at all. But the fact that this was Percy's child with another woman that made Artemis felt . . . sad. Rube was a constant reminder of that.

"I'm still leaving, Al. I think even you guys could see that I'm not wanted here." Rube said. "It would be best if I leave."

"You are not leaving. Not today, not now, not ever." Liz said.

Artemis could see that her children were attached to Rube now. Even Percy didn't want him to leave, though he did a good job hiding it. Doubts kept circling around Artemis' head. One question kept coming into her mind: Will she like him?

"Artemis, I need to talk to you." Percy said suddenly.

Oh boy . . .

"Uh, okay."

"Privately."

"Oh."

Artemis and Percy went outside the infirmary and closed the door behind them. Artemis was scared that Percy might be mad at her for something she did.

Instead, to Artemis' surprise, Percy hugged her. Artemis buried her face in his chest as she enjoyed the warmth that Percy gave her. Artemis could cry right now, because of the mixture of feeling inside her head. "It's okay, Artemis. I understand." Percy rubbed her back soothingly.

"Percy, I want him to stay. I don't hate him, Percy. I just have trouble accepting him."

"Then tell him." Percy said.

"Help me tell him?"

"Of course." Percy said with a smile.

When they entered the infirmary, they saw their twin children being bound in shadows and Nyx strangling Rube with a crazy grin on her face.

Third Person's POV

"No!" Percy shouted and lunged straight at Nyx. Nyx snarled and pushed him aside with a wall of force. Artemis took out her bow and started to fire at Nyx with incredible speed. She stopped the arrows with a wave of her hand and sent them back at Artemis.

Michael arrived just in time to erupt a wall of shadows in front of Artemis. Without hesitation, Michael lunged at Nyx with his scythe and slashed at her. Nyx was forced to let go of Rube and dodged Michael's attack, only to meet with Alia's exploding arrows.

Nyx got thrown through the wall and landed outside. Percy and Artemis immediately got up and went to their children. Percy helped Rube up while Artemis freed Al and Liz.

"I'm okay, dad." Rube said. "Let's get the bitch."

Nyx summoned some angels and demons to keep the others busy, but Rube and Percy went right past them. Rube struck first with his sword, making Nyx defend with a wall of shadow. Percy went around the wall and swung his sword, only to meet a Stamati. Enraged, Percy kicked the Stamati and stabbed it in the chest. Nyx appeared out of nowhere and struck Percy with a beam of dark energy. As Percy was thrown back, Al came along with Liz. Liz shot a beam of silver while Al and Rube struck her with their swords. Nyx got overwhelmed and was sent flying to the amphitheatre. The Nine Muses screamed when they saw Nyx and ran away. Al, Liz and Artemis went towards the amphitheatre together.

"That's enough!" Nyx shouted as she exploded into and explosion of darkness that overwhelmed everyone. Percy went to protect his family, only to be beaten by Rube who moved like lightning. Rube put his body around Artemis, Liz and Al as he withstood the blast. Percy got overwhelmed by grief as he watched his son having to withstand such pain.

Percy was thrown backwards as well. When the explosion ended, the amphitheatre was destroyed, leaving nothing but rubbles and piles of rocks.

Nyx towered over Percy, who was unable to move. Nyx grinned and grabbed Percy by the collar. "I like seeing you at a weakened state like this. It makes me feel strong and powerful." Nyx said. Percy spat blood onto Nyx's face and got a strong punch in the gut and got thrown into a pile of rubble. Considering the pain, it was definitely worth it.

Nyx walked towards Percy, but got a lightning struck onto her. When the smoke cleared, her body was steaming as she coughed up silver, the blood of the primordial.

Thalia, Nico, Ai and Reyna were here.

"What are you doing?" Thalia asked. "How stupid can you be you crazy bitch?"

Nyx managed a pained laugh. "We'll see who'll have the last laugh, Thalia." Nyx blasted her with dark energy, only to be met by Nico's own dark energy.

"Stay out of this, son of death."

"You know, hearing that from Thalia didn't bother me. But hearing that from you, really ticks me off." Nico said.

Percy saw Michael struggled to get back up. Percy was doing the same, but his body felt weak and helpless. Rube lied unconsciously on the ground and his body was badly wounded. Artemis was healing him, which was a relief.

Nyx summoned her whip, the whip that Percy had saw during his first encounter with Nyx in Tartarus with Annabeth. Nyx lashed her whip around, destroying everything it touched. Ai spread his wings and moved with incredible speed. He dodged the whip and took Nyx down with a tackled. Thalia followed up by blasting her with lightning after Ai got out of her way. Nyx managed to form a wall of energy around her, but it shattered when it met the power of Thalia's lightning.

Nyx snarled but it immediately disappeared when Percy threw a punch at her, sending her sprawling to the ground. "Leave now before we destroy you." Percy threatened.

"You could try."

"As you wish." Percy growled. As Percy raised both of his swords and got ready for the kill, Nyx grinned, which meant her plan went well, whatever it was.

Percy's POV

When Percy swung his sword, Nyx disappeared into a cloud of shadows. Percy's swords hit the ground. As soon as Nyx disappeared, Percy realized how tired he was. He shook off his tiredness and went straight towards Artemis. If this was under different circumstances, Percy would've choked on what he saw.

Artemis was crying as she healed Rube, who had terrible wounds all over his body. "Don't you dare die, not now." Artemis muttered with tears streaming out of her eyes. "Get some ambrosia and nectar, now!" Artemis ordered.

"Artemis . . ."

"I have to save him." Artemis said.

"Artemis, listen to me first."

"I don't have time for that."

"Artemis! Jeez . . ." Percy muttered.

"What is it?" Artemis turned her head towards Percy. Her eyes were red and her auburn hair was a bit wild. Percy sighed.

"Step back, I got this." Percy said. Percy knelt down next to Rube and put his hand on Rube's cheek. At first, Artemis thought Percy was going to do some badass healing and made Rube feel better.

Instead, Percy tapped Rube's cheek. "Hey, stop the act. Wake up."

"What are you doing?" Artemis asked. "We need to help him."

"He's fine." Percy said. "Wake up or you're grounded."

"I'm up." Rube said suddenly as he got up and groaned. "Can't I rest for a bit? It still hurts like hell."

"Wh-what?" Artemis stammered. "How did you . . ."

"Take the armour off." Percy said.

"Yeah, yeah . . ." Rube muttered. He tapped his shoulder and something invisible clattered onto the ground.

"What was that?" Artemis asked.

"Helixean armour. It goes invisible when I wanted it to. It's unbreakable, but I could still feel the blast. It was so hard that it knocked me unconscious." Rube said.

"Y-you saved us." Artemis said, as if she's just realizing this now.

"Well, yeah. It seemed like the right thing to do. I mean, you guys are my father's family. He would have my ass if I didn't save you." Rube said. "Where are Al and Liz?"

"They're unconscious, but they're okay." Artemis said. Then, she looked at Rube carefully. "I, uh, must say thank you for saving me and both of my children."

"That's what fa-" Rube stopped himself. "I mean, I was just doing my work." Percy knew what Rube was going to say. Before Percy could say something, Artemis beat him to it.

"You're also a part of our family, Rube." Artemis said.

Rube looked just as surprised as Percy was when she said that. Rube looked at Artemis carefully before turning his attention towards Percy's friends who had gathered around them.

"I-I would like to but . . . I'm still not accepted here. Olympus is not my home. In fact, I don't know if I even have a home." Rube said miserably.

"Come on, Rube. Stay." Artemis said with pleading eyes.

"I-I . . ."

"You're annoying like your father. Take the goddamn offer." Thalia said. "Or I'll zap you into Hades."

"Really? You're still using my name as a curse word?" Hades muttered.

"She's a Sparkbag after all." Ai taunted.

"What the fuck did you call me?"

"What, you want me to say it again?"

"I dare you."

"Sparkbag."

"You little-"

"Stop it." Michael said, though he had a smile on his face. Percy knew Rube was amused, because he was smirking.

"Come on, Rube." Artemis ruffled Rube's hair. "You're staying with us, whether you like it or not."

Rube kept quiet before speaking. "Thanks, for everything."

"Yay! Group hug!" Nico said.

"Grow up, Nico." Thalia grumbled.

"You still love me, don't you?" Nico said as she kissed Thalia's cheek.

Line Break

Rube's POV

Rube felt glad that he got accepted and was now treated as one of their own. Now, Rube was in the balcony, looking at the night sky. Artemis had truly accepted him now, but that didn't fill in the huge hole in his heart.

The bit of him that still yearned for the love of a mother.

At the back of his head, the strange feeling was still there. It was there since they got back from Heaven. Chaos had warned him about this, about how long he'll exist.

Maybe he'll finally be happy when it's time for him to leave . . .