Disclaimer: So, PJO and HoO belongs to Rick Riordan... Great!

Author's Notes: For catholics and most Christian religious, today is Christmas Even. So tomorrow it's X-mas. Have a good meal. We have the big meal on the 24th and leftovers or 'recalentado' on the 25th as we open the presents. I have seen American movies and they do nothing on the 24th. Weird!

35. The Hunters

Inside a dark alley by the AA building meetings, Aida kneeled in front of us almost dropping her weapon. Her free hand went straight to her mouth covering the loud heartbroken sob in her throat. I wanted to cry too but I was still too in shock to do it. Something was out of place but I didn't know what.

"Lana?" I asked hoping to distract my sister.

"I left her with Harry taking care of Claire" said Aida rubbing her tears. She put her sword back in its bracelet shape. I helped her to move Grandpa so he didn't look like a thrown broken doll lying on the dirty floor. She closed his empty looking eyes and kissed his forehead.

"Dad?" I asked.

"When I left them, Lana was calling to her mom's cell phone to reach him. I didn't wait. I just ran fast. I really had no idea what to expect" said Aida and we sat shoulder with shoulder against the grimy wall and door just by a smelling dumpster.

My sister took her cell phone dialing to 911. I heard her talking to the operation tell him or her how a car hit our Grandpa and we found him alone in the alley.

"Who did this?" said Aida "Was Mer?" She looked at me scared with teary eyes. I shook my head and I saw a timid smile in her face. She was happy that at least our sister wasn't guilty of killing our Grandpa.

"I think it was Orion. I heard Grandpa saying his name" I muttered.

"The hunter? I thought he was a myth" said Aida and I just threw a condescending look "Shut up. You know what I mean"

"He was the same guy back in Halloween. When I found them, he threatened Grandpa, then he threw him against the wall with massive strength just like a car crash" I said and Aida nodded at my words "He just left. I don't know why"

Aida quickly stood up taking her sword from her enchanted bracelet. She looked around with intensity and muttered "It's a trap". My eyes widened by the surprise. She was right. How didn't I notice it before?

We heard a booming voice from above saying "So this is the clever one" I heard Orion laughing so coldly and wickedly that I felt Aida barely trembling by my side. She was trying her best to hide her fear, just like me.

Aida and I looked at each other knowing that we couldn't fight in this narrow alley. It wasn't a good strategy, so we ran to the street, to the open. It was also a bad idea because he would shoot at us from the rooftops but we needed to face him.

As soon as we were out, Orion was expecting us sitting on a car roof, the most handsome of Giants and bane of the twin archers. He was wearing a thick fur that only added volume to his bodybuilder figure.

"Demigods, no legacies, I can smell you watered down godly power. You must be the one everybody is talking about it" he said at us.

Aida and I looked at each other, but Aida was the one to respond "Who me? I'm flattered of being the one of sending Orion back to Tartarus just before it happened. The Fates must love me" I saw a confident smile, just not to show doubt.

"Not you, blondie" said the giant and took out his bow from his shoulder "You are pretty but still a useless legacy, no more powerful than any other legacy" I saw my sister and she was clearly mad. Her eyes glared at the giant furiously.

Aida looked at me and asked me with her eyes 'why you?' I shook my head. I had no answer for her. I took a step to the giant and said "What about me? I'm just a legacy like you said"

"I can see what they mean. I can smell it in your blood… 'the rarest legacy'. Who thought a child from Athena's and Poseidon's bloodline? Certainly not me. Most of the time, the Gods and their children love killing each other" said Orion. He looked at my sister from top to bottom "If your mother looks any like you, I see why the son of Poseidon fell over heels for her" he chuckled a wicked laugh. My sister gagged, certainly not flattered by the giant's comment.

"What do you want from us?" I spatted angrily.

"From you, I want nothing really. I want what you are hiding if you are the ones who took what I am looking for. If you are not, well, sorry for killing you by mistake" said Orion and his hand moved to his quiver retrieving an arrow.

"We are not hiding anything" said Aida and

"It doesn't matter anymore. Once I kill you, boy, I will sell your skin, meat, bones and blood to the highest bet. Monsters will give their weight in gold for you, any piece of you" said Orion pointing his arrow down. He didn't look like he was going to shoot but the threat was obvious. He winked to Aida "But you girl. I could spare you. We could have fun together"

"Shut up!" roared Aida and the grip on her sword tightened enough to see white in the knuckles even at night "I will kill you before you touch a single dark hair of my dumb little brother's head"

"How brave! But pretty girl, you must know the rules for sure even in your legacy status. You need a God to defeat a Giant. Rules are rules and I think your wise Grandmother would agree with me" said Orion confident and smug.

Aida looked sideways at me, not daring to turn her head at him. I nodded weakly. The Giant was right. We needed a God just like in Fort Gorges against Polybotes. I prayed for my Grandparents to help us. We could only delay him and hope to stay alive until dad got here. It was a terrible plan, but it was better than nothing.

I looked to my sister with clear intentions of attacking. She nodded and we both ran on opposite directions hoping to confuse him and attack at the same time in the middle. He had 2 choices and he aimed at me. Orion is a fast shooter. Most arrows missed me by less of an inch but two hit me before Aida slashed her sword at him making him drop the bow. I was bleeding from my forearm and palm. The one in the palm hurt like crazy. I wouldn't be able to close or move my left hand for some days.

"Really good" said Orion at Aida before throwing a punch to my sister sending her flying to a pile of garbage bags next to a parking car. I took the opportunity and buried my dagger on his good hand. He wouldn't be able to shoot that way. He roared in pain as he removed the dagger. He looked at me giving me 'good try' smile and threw the dagger at me missing my head by a hair, but my ear was bleeding.

"You are not that bad. I was waiting to get bored easily" boasted Orion.

"We are just warming up" said my sister as she was already back on her feet ready for round two. I didn't want to look back but I needed my dagger. Aida saw my hesitation and nodded. She was going to cover me. I nodded back and ran back as she rushed to the Giant to distract him.

I got my dagger just in time as my sister was sent flying again to her back. I heard her body making a deadpan thump in the sidewalk.

"Aida!?" I yelled concerned.

"I'm fine!" yelled Aida back at me as her elbows supported her upper body "Distract him, would you? I need a breather!"

"Distract me? I'm flattered" joked Orion with tons of sarcasm in his voice "Can you do any better than you really hot sister?"

"Shut up!" yelled Aida really red of embarrassment.

"Of course" I said and I knew Aida was going to hate for weeks for I was about to do. I summoned water from the pipes below our feet, sewer water. I created a ring of water surrounding us and trapping Orion.

"That's nasty" said Orion "A little low, legacy"

"You got to be kidding me, TJ!" yelled Aida as she was back on her feet with her sword. She looked tired but mostly annoyed as she crinkled her nose at the fetid smell.

"Shut up! You do it then!" I yelled back to my sister.

"I would if I could!" yelled Aida and I saw Orion actually rolling in laughter at us. I was blushing embarrassed. This was ridiculous for sure.

"Alright, you won, Aida!" I yelled to my sister and threw a jet of sewer water to a red city firefighter hydrant with enough force to break that thing in half. Soon, fresh or at least a lot cleaner water rushed out in a tall column of 20 feet.

"That's better!" said Aida loudly "Idiot!"

I used the water again to corner Orion. I was getting tired quickly. I wasn't use to manage this amount of water. The Giant seemed unafraid or worried of my effort. His hands were down and I realized that I fell right in his plan. He was tiring me. I dropped everything.

"Why? I was enjoying the fountain show" said the Giant with a sassy smile "Is all you got, legacy?"

I felt like stammering but I couldn't show doubt. I breathed in before saying "I am barely starting".

I ran at him and he took out a carving hunter knife from his belt. He advanced at me and met me in the middle. We fought. He was great, excellent. I managed to avoid his blade but he was dangerously getting closer with each stab and slash. One bad move and I would end up on pieces in hooks like a cow in the market meat.

"This is getting boring" boasted the Giant and threw a punch at me. I dodged but I lost my ground and I felt on my back.

"TJ!" yelled Aida ready to aid me as she ran at us. She rushed at him distracting him enough for me to stand up and fight again.

"Together" I said and Aida nodded. Together we fought the Giant. We drew as many ichor of him as possible, but it wasn't enough for him to disappear.

For the next 10 minutes or it felt like that, we managed to stay alive and complete as we attacked. I used the water from the hydrant to slash him like a whip making him keep his distance of Aida or me. We were getting tired and nowhere close to defeat him.

An arrow flew and it landed on Orion's left foot. The 3 of us turned to see a girl wearing camouflage pants and silver tank shirt. She looked like a Thalia, so she must be a hunter. As I looked closer to her, I noticed a silver glow emanating from her. She was the Goddess Artemis.

"Orion, always a delight to see you" said Lady Artemis clearly annoyed.

"Well, what do we have here?" said Orion "Beautiful as usual" Artemis actually growled at him. She clearly didn't like the comment. She looked dangerous for a small girl no older than Lana, but again she was a Goddess and looks are deceiving with them.

Orion looked at us and he knew it's was time to make an abrupt leaving. He said "Artemis, legacies, it has been fun but I have things to do, a mission, you know how it goes"

"What is your mission?" demanded Artemis

"Won't you love to know?" said Orion really smoothly "Artemis, you know I might be a lot of things but I am not a common rat. Let's just say that something is out of place and it's my job to return it"

"To whom?" asked Artemis.

"Sorry, I signed a non-disclosure contract" said Orion and I wondered if he was really joking or not "Well, it's time to wrap things up, don't you think Artemis?"

"I couldn't agree more" said Artemis taking a sword in her hand. She looked at my sister and I knew this wasn't my fight anymore. Both girls ran at the hunter and fought him until there was nothing left except for ichor and dust.

Once the fight was over, my sister and I faced the Goddess.

"Lady Artemis, what brought you here?" I asked

The Goddess glared at me long time before answering "We have been trying to track the Dark Sword for some time now"

"A satyr is helping them" I said quickly interrupting her. She looked at me with hate.

"Or faun" said Aida and I felt like stomping her feet. She could be so annoying.

Artemis touched her chin in thought for a couple of seconds before saying "That would explain who they have managed to evade us"

Aida asked so politely "You were saying, Lady Artemis?"

"Well, before HE and YOU interrupted me. Yesterday, we caught a trace of Orion coming to the city. We fought him by the Brooklyn Bridge earlier this morning, but he jumped on the water before I could corner him" said Artemis

My first thought was Mer's godmother but it was Aida who asked first "Is Thalia okay?"

"Yes, only a couple of casualties fighting against Orion. They are nearby camping at Central Park" said Artemis.

"Any idea who was he working to?" I said and her eyes still glared at me. She must really hate man.

"Still unclear, Theodore James" said Artemis deadpan and grumpy.

"Thanks for everything" I said politely.

"Yes, we are really thankful" said my sister.

"This young woman could make an excellent addition to us. You are little older than the rest of my maidens but you are still in range. What do you think, girl? Would you like a life of sisterhood and hunting?" said Artemis and my sister was really flattered. I could tell by the pink blush on her cheeks.

Aida smiled politely and bowed to the Goddess. She said "Thanks for the offer but I'm not interested"

"Well, I had to try. Be careful" said Artemis, then her eyes went to the alley "I'm sorry for your lost"

"Thanks for your kind words" said Aida and the Goddess nodded before running far from us.

Aida and I were left alone in the middle of disaster zone. The red hydrant was still pumping water and there were broken glass and wrecked cars around us. When that happened?

"Are you alright?" asked Aida and her hand ruffled my hair.

Before I could answer, my dad came rushing with his sword. He looked like he had run 10 miles at full speed to get here. He stopped panting and trying to catch his breath.

"Are you okay?" he said at us.

"Yes, dad" I said "Only tired and some scratches, nothing serious"

"Grandpa?" said Dad.

I was about to open my mouth when Aida interrupted me asking "Where were you?"

"Sorry. Lizzy's phone was on silence mode" explained my dad. Aida didn't seem completely happy by the answer but my dad didn't notice it. "What happened?"

"I am not entirely sure but I think Orion was working for whoever is behind all this. They are looking for one of us" I said.

"Who?" asked Aida. My dad's eyes were fixed on me expecting an answer.

"I don't know. I heard Orion saying 'her'. It could Claire or Lana since he really didn't pay attention to Aida" I explained.

"At least not in that way" said Aida "Creepy pervert giant"

Finally we heard and saw the distinctive coming of the ambulance. My dad looked at us and he didn't need to ask again for Grandpa. Aida started to cry inconsolably and my dad pulled her to him. I didn't want to cry, but the tears were already falling fast down my eyes.

As the paramedics stepped down of the vehicle, it was me who took them to Grandpa while my dad held my sister. Like in a drama movie, it started to snow slowly almost poetical over us. Now that the immortals were gone, we were left to face a very mortal aspect of life: death.