Chapter 52
"Do not worry my child. Your father will come as soon as possible. He will rescue you, he will rescue us." Artemis said in a low whisper making sure that no one over heard her. She was in a dark cave bound in golden chains. She could have tried to break free by assuming her true form but that would hurt her baby and there was no guarantee that it would have worked. So she stopped herself and directed her energy in contacting Perseus. She had asked him for help and she knew that Percy is not the one to refuse. She felt bad for she was keeping a secret from him but she had no choice.
Artemis was captured in golden net when she was sitting all alone on a beach lost in her own thoughts. She had identified her captor to be Iapetus. It had greatly surprised her because Iapetus had lost his memories when Perseus Jackson had pulled him into the river Lethe. Somehow the Titan had regained his memories and was out for revenge. Artemis was not successful in figuring out the Titan's plans but understood that he was making efforts to increase the strength of the other Titans.
Artemis was exhausted, she slowly drifted into sleep. Now gods normally do not get dreams but sometimes they get visions this time was one such time. Artemis found herself on a ship. There she saw Perseus standing and gazing at the moon. The sun was starting to rise. Normally a person would look at the rising sun but Perseus was looking at the moon. Artemis understood that someone else temporarily was taking care of the moon she also felt her heart leap. Perseus was looking at the moon so he should be thinking of her. She concentrated on Perseus. He looked a bit disturbed like he had just seen some bad dream. His black messy hair was messier because of the sea wind. His beautiful green eyes were filled with concern. Artemis loved those eyes, those eyes which were like the tides always changing and every time more beautiful than earlier. It was a known fact that the moon pulled the tides but here it was the tides pulling the moon and the moon had already given in.
"Beautiful isn't it, the moon." Sandra said as she moved towards her brother. "Divine." Percy said. They stood there in silence for a few minutes. "Bad dreams?" Sandra asked. Percy nodded "I saw a Titan beheading a Nereid named Andromeda. It was part of some ritual to gain power. Taking away an innocent life is powerful in a bad way." Sandra looked in shock even Artemis was shocked Percy continued "the Nereid thought of me as her master or something. She referred to me as Lord. Nereids don't do that so I get the feeling that particular one knew me personally. She said that I would kill the Titan for what he did and she was right. No one, I mean no one messes with my friends. If they do, even if they are gods they will pay. I will make that Titan pay. I will send him to the depths of Tartarus."
The ship started to gain more speed and Sandra sensed this "Percy slow down we both can cope with the sea as this is our element but for Lisa and Hazel it is not. They will end up with sea sickness which is not good. And again you must keep your power reserved so as you can use them during a fight. Percy turned to face his sister "don't you understand? The very moment we waste will only add to the danger she is facing. The Titan killed a Nereid. The Nereids are nymphs. She was a nymph before she was made a goddess. They will kill her to gain power. We must act fast." Sandra was about to reply when the ship shook as if though it was hit by something. "What in the name of Pluto was that?" Hazel yelled as she came running towards Percy and Sandra followed by equally baffled Lisa and Amber. Both Percy and Sandra leaned over to look at what had caused such an effect on the ship but could not see anything. Then again the ship shook like it was hit at the other end. Lisa and Hazel ran towards the other side to look at the cause Sandra was about to follow when Percy stopped her and pointed her to look at the water at their own end. Suddenly a reptilian tail which was green in color came out of the water and banged against the ship making Sandra lost her balance and would have fallen but Percy caught hold of her. "Please tell me it is not what I think it is." Sandra said desperately hoping that it was not the particular monster about which she had heard of. Percy turned and looked at Sandra with a serious expression on his face "it is not what you think it is." Both Lisa and Hazel who had come back to ear shots could not hold themselves and they burst into laughter. Even Sandra had to laugh. Artemis who was watching this trough her dream was also laughing but her voice won't work. The laughter died down the very moment another bang was heard.
