Savien X: Thank you, as always, glad to know you are liking it!
I in no way own the rights to the Percy Jackson franchise or The sword of Truth franchise, I am writing this for fun and in no way intend any harm to either franchise!
Chapter Twenty
They stepped through the courtyard, the sky had darkened significantly over the last few minutes he'd looked. Percy and Annabeth stopped behind Naomi, the three stood in front of the squat building. Three wolf-cloaked figures stood outside, two grey wolves and Zoe, dressed in a black wolves pelt.
"Perseus, Seeker of Truth. Annabeth, Mother Confessor. Thou have called upon us in this time of need. The need to commune with our Ancestors of old, those that have slept in peace in Elysium since their valiant deaths on the battlefield. Doth thou wish to proceed?" Zoe spoke monotonously, her eyes the colour of the Hunter's garb.
"Repeat after me," Annabeth whispered. "We do," Annabeth stated loudly, Percy copying her, correctly.
"Come. This discussion shall now commence, let those that have perished commune with you now, for it cannot be undone once the binding has begun." Zoe turned, the wolf pelt swaying from the erratic movement, the two grey wolves following her inside the building. The two followed them inside.
The room was different to that of the one he and Annabeth shared. Inside was a small fire pit, the silver flames crackled and popped as the embers floated free from the charred wood. The three figures sat around the fire, staring towards the two to sit opposite. They obeyed, sitting cross-legged in front of the fire, Percy almost losing himself to the mesmerising flames.
Zoe reached forward, placing a blackened skull, charred from the silver flames as she delicately lowered it within the fire. Percy watched in wonder as the fire grew, as silver gems slowly formed in the sockets of the skull. The three Hunters closed their eyes, beginning to chant in their ancient language, recognising it as the words from the pages he scoured over in Zoe's quarters. Their eyes opened once more, the silver glowing prominently like moons, as a shape slowly formed before them.
The skull began to rise from the fire, a black mass slowly forming around it, a frightening chill worming its way down his spine. He turned to Annabeth in alarm, his hand resting on the hilt of Anaklusmos, ready for a fight. She caught his wrist, shaking her head minutely as the black mass formed into that of a person, much like they had done in the boundary, depicting his parents. A woman formed, a young and beautiful woman, no older than her mid-twenties.
Two wolves, those of the other Hunters, coalesced behind her, beginning to flank around the rear of he and Annabeth. His hairs stood on end as he heard the low growls as they prowled around the two, before coming to a stop beside the woman in the centre. Their eyes glowed red, more intimidating than the likes of the hounds as they crossed the Pass, their gaze seemingly piercing his very soul.
Auburn hair danced in the silver flames around her, slowly forming into her former Hunters Garb, as she stood in the smouldering embers, a dishevelled look on her face. Her Silver eyes turned down to those present, scanning those that had summoned her behind, before looking over Annabeth. A kind, gentle smile formed on her lips as she bowed lightly to the woman, speaking her title in her the language of Forage.
Her eyes looked to him next, feeling the air escape his lungs as she looked to him, her eyes alight with rage. He released his grip from Anaklusmos, holding his hands before him in a somewhat disarming gesture, a sneer making its way to her once attractive face.
"Who has summoned me from Elysium?" The figure spoke, her eyes never leaving his.
"We have, Lady?" Annabeth began.
"Artemis,"
"Lady Artemis, we find ourselves in a predicament. This man here, the True Seeker,"
"Pah," Artemis interrupted, spitting at the feet of him, "True Seeker, what have they ever been good for. I hate them the most. His kind is the reason behind my vows, the Hunter's vows."
"Orion was a Seeker? I had no idea," Annabeth hummed absently, shaking her head to rid herself of the current off-topic information she had learned, "Putting your grievances aside for his kind, we need your help." She continued.
"I despise men, Seekers more," Artemis continued, looking between the two, ignoring Annabeth's words, "I should strike thee down, here. How dare thou be the one to summon me!" The woman shrieked. With lightning speed, she lunged for Percy, within mere inchesfrom reaching him with a touch of death.
"No!" Annabeth yelled, ready to defend him with her life.
"Wait!" Percy called, "You Hunters pride yourself on helping men, do you not? Proving that you are the alpha over us?"
Artemis paused, her ghostly form examined him a moment, before swooping closer to him, feeling the chills caused by the shadow things close proximity.
"We do," Artemis scowled, her eyes scanning his. Annabeth sighed with relief, the sudden fear of watching him be struck down by a shadow thing, weighed on her mind. Annabeth continued to translate Artemis' words, as she seemed capable of understanding him easily.
"Well then, help me in my time of need. Your Hunters have already helped me once, saved my life and will likely never let me live it down, if I ever encounter them again. Luke Castellan, Son of Kronos, ruler of Othrys, you know him, yes?" Percy wondered. Artemis frowned as she nodded once for him to continue.
"Unfortunately we do, yes. Why? What of it?" Artemis scowled.
"We need your help, your guidance, in finding the last box before he does."
The shadow thing groaned, grasping her head as if a piercing screech echoed through her mind.
"We cannot answer such a question. Not when the boxes are already in play!" Artemis yelled, her eyes alight with anger from the pain he had caused.
"Well, is there anything you can tell us about the box? Can you tell us how many Luke already has, where he got them from?" Percy frowned. Artemis winced in pain once more, scowling down to him, as if preparing to strike him where he sat.
"No, we cannot reveal such information. This meeting is over. If thou try to contact us again, we shall strike thee down." Artemis growled, her appearance began to shimmer as the skull slowly began descending towards the flames once more.
"Wait," Percy growled, his hand clasped around the hilt of the sword.
"Ah, the angry bite of a Seeker," Artemis snapped, the two wolves beside her crouching low, snarling all the same, as it echoed around them.
"You can't tell me the whereabouts of the box, but can you tell me of the whereabouts of someone who can, someone living?" Percy wondered. Artemis paused as she looked him over, her hands stilling the wolves beside her. Her sight was fixated on his hand, his body, feeding off of the magic the sword gave.
"Why should we help, hmm? We care not for thy petty whims," Artemis scowled, turning away from him.
"Because if you don't help us, your world that you built, those who hate men the most will be ruled by one indefinitely. That is if he lets them live. Do you really want that? A man ruling over you and your people?"
Artemis scowled down to him as she grew quiet, the air in the room grew cold. He took a sidelong glance to Annabeth beside him, her face unreadable like he'd grown used to seeing.
"There is one, another who all. But she has been outcast from our society, for practising that of the dark arts." Artemis spoke, breaking the silence.
"The dark arts?" Percy frowned, running his fingers over the words on the hilt, listening to Annabeth's translation. Artemis hummed as she nodded, looking between the two.
"She is not fond of her kind either, having dealt with many in the past." Artemis began, pointing a dainty finger towards his companion. "She was once a Hunter, outcast from us as she delved deeper into the Dark Mist, the more sinister art than her sister practised, Hecate." Annabeth's back stiffened as she translated the words, her eyes turning to his, seeing fear behind her masked face.
"Who is she?" Percy asked levelly, his voice unwavering.
"She goes by many names, Witchwoman, Dark Sorceress, a Shota. But her true name spoken aloud gives her more power. Thou shall find her north, towards Blackburn Mountain. At its base, thou shall find her, within the confines of The Hallows." Artemis revealed, her eyes looking over Annabeth.
"Thine life shall be in grave danger if thou tread there, Mother Confessor. She hates thee the most." Percy nodded in thanks to the slowly disappearing head of the First Hunt, still unknowing as to who she was. He looked to Annabeth, noting the distressed look on her face, sensing she did not wish to share the things she had learned.
The air inside the room seemed to come back all at once, the firelight slowly dying down to its original size. The wolves that once stood beside the figure, manifested into the two Hunters once more. Zoe blinked once, as if in a daze, her eyes changing from the silver haze to her unusually natural black once more.
"I hope thou shall leave with the knowledge gained, yes?" Zoe eyed him, her question directed to him. He nodded as the five stood, Zoe stepping around the fire, followed by the two Wolf garbed Hunters. They stepped out after the three, looking to the night sky, the grey clouds blocking him from telling the time. He guessed it was around midnight, shocked at how long they were in there for, their interaction with the dead seemingly not that long.
"Thou shall leave in the morning, we shall supply thee with food and any medical supplies for thy journey. Good night." He watched as the Hunters stepped away from the building, leaving the two to ponder on the information they had learned from the Ancestor. They made their way to their room in silence, nothing but the sound of a dying fire under the night sky and insects chirping in the surrounding treeline.
He pushed open the door, allowing Annabeth to enter first, as he followed in after. The two removed their boots, Percy climbed into his bed soon after, his eyes on the thatched roof above once more. Annabeth stepped passed his bed, her bare feet padded over the varnished wood. She entered the washroom, returning shortly after, her corset in hand. She climbed into bed, his eyes on her as she chewed her lower lip in thought.
He did not know what to make of the Hunters words, was unsure as to whether she was genuine or not. But the look on Annabeth's face told him otherwise. She knew who it was that they were to see, but did not wish for them to go.
"Percy, I think we should find someone else to help us," Annabeth began, masking her fear well, her grey eyes on his.
"Why? She said that this Witchwoman would be our best bet, we have no choice but to see her. It is the first and only lead we have thus far." Percy reasoned.
Annabeth looked torn, continuing to bite her bottom lip as she looked over to hip on his bed. She did not wish to reveal who she was to him, not yet. She still was not ready. But with every passing moment, it seemed like she was growing far too attached to him. Eventually, she would tell him and ruin the friendship between the two.
"We will leave in the morning," Annabeth began with a sigh, "Make our way to the small city of Thebes. They have an inn we can sleep at for the night, roughly a days walk from here. From there we can make our way to Blackburn Mountain, it is not hard to miss." Annabeth said with finality. She tucked her legs under the provided blanket, turning her back to him.
She seemed upset with his decision, still unaware as to the reason. He guessed it was because of her secret. She kept things from him as she translated for him in the meeting. The language of Forage held a similar structure to his mother tongue, he could tell that Annabeth was keeping things from him, the translation was shorter than what he had heard. He sighed as he rolled onto his back, hearing the even breaths from the other side of the room. She must have been more tired than he thought.
He stood in the middle of the hut, Hecate's home, overlooking his two friends. They still laid lifeless on the floor, both covered in bones as Hecate moved around her home. She prepared a bowl of the mixture she had been feeding the two since they'd first arrived there. Grover rose, the bones shifting from him, clattering against one another. He drank the mixture slowly, his eyes slowly began to focus, the haze that once filled them slowly vanished. Chiron was next, Percy watching with hopeful eyes, hoping he would do the same.
Grover groaned as he rubbed his eyes with the balls of his hand, blinking blearily around him.
"Wha' happened? Where's Percy?" Grover slurred, his voice thick and groggy, more so than usual.
"Ah, how... Nice of you to finally awaken," Hecate smiled teasingly. Grover grumbled as he pushed himself to his feet, testing his balance. "They should be... Safely through, by now."
"They left without us?" Grover scowled, grumbling under his breath.
"Their journey shall be long. There was no time to... Waste," Hecate argued. Grover watched in silence as Hecate continued to pour the mixture down the Wizards gullet.
"Why am I awake before 'im?" Grover frowned, "And how long was I out for?"
"A few days now, you were... Struck much quicker than the Wizard were," Hecate explained, glancing to him. "He felt the... force of the Underworld more than you."
"Will he be alright?"
"The bite of the Underworld... touched him severely. But he shall be fine, a few more days rest," Hecate stood, her milky eyes turning to Percy's direction as if seeing him. "That reminds me, Perseus. He left you a message, he wants you to go back to... Benton, tell his brother's about the boundary..."
He heard thudding on the door, waking him abruptly from his dream. Gone was the image of Grover and Chiron, one awake and receiving his orders on what was needed. Percy stretched as he turned to Annabeth, his eyes caught on her tanned midriff. He averted his gaze, feeling things stir within him. He cleared his throat as he stood, his back to her as he rifled through his pack, finding his toiletries.
Annabeth watched him enter the washroom, quickly removing her shirt. She placed the cool leather around herself, beginning to tighten the cords holding her corset in place. Percy returned not long after she was finished, smiling in thanks as he handed her, her woodland garb. Percy neatly placed his things inside his pack once more, plucking the sword from beside his bed. He wrapped the belt around his waist, securing the sword to his hip. His hand instinctively curled around the hilt, as he shouldered his things.
He scanned his area of the room once more, waiting for Annabeth to return from the washroom, ensuring he didn't miss anything. The two stepped outside, once she returned, pulling the hood up around her golden strands. The weather was better than the day before, the grey clouds covering the tracer that had plagued him for weeks, it seemed. Hunters stood around the centre of their village, waiting for their arrival.
"Are thou ready to leave?" Zoe wondered, her eyebrow arched in question.
"We shall, thank you for your help and hospitality." Annabeth smiled.
"Thank you," Percy bowed his head slightly in respect, shocking those around him. Annabeth stared in stunned silence to him, shrugging his shoulders lightly.
"How did you-" Annabeth began.
"I remember your translation from the archery lessons, is all," Percy smiled.
"A few of our best will escort thee to the roads, for the Seeker and Mother Confessor's safety," Zoe nodded with finality, turning away from the two.
Phoebe, Naomi and a few others they helped with training the day before, stood beside them. One, handed them food for their trek as they all prepared to leave, surprised to hear and see goodbyes from some. The two walked in the centre, flanked by female archers, mindful of the still slick mud from the downpour the day prior. Stepping through the clearing, they descended the hill slowly, before making their way to the road.
The sound of distant howling and yelping could be heard behind them, the sound of hounds hunting. The Hunters paid them no mind, able to tell the distance they were away from them, giving them no second thought. Those covering the rear scanned the open plains around them, the tall pale grass swaying in the light breeze that rolled through. The walk to the road wasn't as quick as Percy would have hoped, due to the slick bog-like mud beneath his boots. They made it after what seemed like half an hour, his eyes on the towering black mountain in the distance.
In no way was it as large as the colossus further to the east, but it seemed like it could cast a heavy shadow, regardless. Percy tightened his hold on his pack, his other, resting on the sword's hilt. The Hunters said their goodbyes, Percy waving to those he helped, Annabeth thanking them once more. The two watched the silver-clad Hunters move through the tall grass once more, continuing themselves as the Hunters descended the hill.
"I'm surprisingly going to miss them, despite they all hated me," Percy grinned. Annabeth laughed as she shook her head.
"I do not think they will forget you, any time soon," Annabeth smiled.
"Which way?" Percy wondered, after a moment of silence.
"We follow this road to the east, for now. There will be a junction further up the trail," Annabeth sighed. She tightened her hold on her packs straps, the two walking side by side.
Percy thought over the strange dreams he was having of late. He did not understand how he knew the things he saw. He didn't want to tell Annabeth about it, either. It frightened him that he found himself inside the enemies garden, looking over the sleeping form of Luke. It alarmed him more that he heard the voice of Luke's father, someone who had been dead for many years.
"What are you thinking?" Annabeth wondered, noting the concerned look on his face.
"Nothing," Percy sighed, his eyes scanning the grey clouds above. "I feel uneasy about something, that's all."
Grover road hard, as hard as the horse-drawn cart would allow. The weather had cleared up significantly since the last time he was awake, the rain clouds following Percy over Ogygia. His horse's hooves thundered along the ground behind the cart, echoing across the trees and boulders around him. Fool's March came into view in front of him, the wheels of the cart sliding on the still muddy ground. He pulled up in the barn beside the tavern, the decrepit building in a worse state since he last saw.
Guards from Benton wandered around the grounds, a hangman's noose in the corner of the town, swayed in the breeze with its recent kill. Grover paid it little attention, his focus on the tavern keeper and his son, spotting another in the supply shop next door. Jake looked up to him, his thinning brown hair blew in the cool morning breeze.
"The hell happened 'ere?" Grover frowned. He jumped from the seat, his boots kicked mud around him as he landed. His chainmail clinked as he moved, shaking Jake's hand in greeting, nodding to the son beside him.
"Seeker happened, that's what," Jake tutted. He looked inside his tavern, seeing the renovations taking place quickly and smoothly, the whole town seemingly in a buzz of activity.
"Percy?" Grover frowned, "He did this?" Jake laughed as he shook his head, nodding towards the swinging body of a burly man, surprised the weight of him didn't snap the rope or the beam holding him.
"No, Percy did that. Man tried to 'ave his way with his companion friend," Jake began, his gruff farmer's accent full of mirth. He ran his fingers through his wiry beard, scratching the underside of his chin before he continued. "Some men, the likes I've never seen afore, none like ours. They showed up few nights back. Were looking for some woman, wearin' a white dress. My patrons didn' approve of their actions, wrecked the bar."
"Sorry to hear. Were they alright? Percy and his friend I mean?" Grover wondered, his hand resting against the head of the mace on his hip.
"They made it to the Ossein, Percy took a clobbering to the back of his head, seemed alright to me," Jake shrugged.
"Don't s'pose one of his brothers are 'ere?" Grover sighed. He looked to his right, ensuring his horse was there, stood patiently and awaiting his master.
"Nah, he left a day ago. Give 'im my thanks again, and same to Percy if you see each other again. That boy did me a huge favour," Jake grinned. Grover grasped the man's hand in his, shaking it with a smile.
"No problem. Your wagon back in one piece, off to see the brothers then. Take care of yourself, Jake." Grover smirked.
"You too," Jake nodded.
Grover mounted his horse, the black mustang steadied himself before turning with the aid of the reins. Grover clicked his tongue, the horse responded in kind, beginning to race out from the town. He steered clear of the route they took as a group, sensing the horse's unease as it remembered the boundary before.
He rode hard for a few hours, eventually coming up to his home on the outskirts of Benton. The sun beat down on his back, feeling hot under the many layers he wore to protect himself from the hound's teeth. He saw the familiar yet new scene of Chiron's cat, Cat, laying peacefully asleep on the roof, waiting for his arrival. The cat perked up at the sight of him, making his way down carefully to greet Grover.
Grover stepped up to the front door, leaving his horse tied up by the water trough, letting him rest from the hard ride he'd endured. He stroked the back of the cat's ears as he walked by, the cat happily perched on the railing of the veranda. Grover opened the front door, the cat running inside as he found his way to Nico sat on a chair, reading.
"Father, you're back earlier than expected," Nico wondered.
"Ran into a few problems, Percy continued without me for a while." Grover waved off, finding Juniper in the kitchen. He kissed her on the cheek, as he stepped over to the table. He picked up an apple from the awaiting bowl, biting into the flesh. The apple popped as juices flowed from the bite, chewing on the piece for a moment, before taking another.
"What are you doing now?" Juniper wondered, spying her son in the entrance to the kitchen.
"Famished," Grover muttered, his mouth full. "Then off to see Tyson, he'll listen more than Triton."
"Why? What's happened?" She frowned.
"Well," Grover began, "The boundary is failin' far sooner than expected, hounds are gettin' braver and somehow smarter." Grover lowered his tone from prying ears, "And Percy and Annabeth should be through to the other side of the boundary, by now."
"What happened to Chiron?" Juniper worried.
"He and I were left behind, Underworld magic hit us,"
"By the old gods, are you both alright?" Juniper fretted, her eyes scanning over him, her hand on his cheek.
"M'fine, Juni, calm down. Chiron's still out, the bone woman said he'd wake soon. I woke today, Percy gave me a message to tell his brothers. I'll head there soon," Grover sighed.
He sat at the kitchen table, continuing to chew the apple in thought, feeling Juniper's fingers run through his hair. He rarely visited the other side of the boundary, tended to not make a habit of it. He knew what a hellish place the Wilds were, especially the Hunters. Grover did not like the Hunters very much, nor did they like him. But the thing they could both agree on was keeping people from the boundary, the Watch and the Hunters guarded each side with diligence.
Percy and Annabeth could see the rising smoke of the Thebes coming into view in the distance, still an hour or two's walk. If they continued onward, another half a days walk could see them at the base of Blackburn Mountain. The sky had darkened as they walked, Percy learning things about the land of Osmia, the dos and don'ts. If he were to guess, he'd say it was around six in the evening, his stomach growled from hunger.
He still felt uneasy, scanning his surroundings as they walked, the lateness making it harder to see. He toyed with the idea of using the lamp he had but thought better of it. He did not want to attract the attention of bandits, this side of the boundary was still much like his own, after all. He checked the hilt of Anaklusmos, freeing it from its hold slightly, ensuring it was ready at a moments notice, just in case.
He pulled her off of the trail, much to her protest, the two hid by the side of the road under the cover of bushes. He held his finger up, silencing her in an instant. He pointed towards the way they'd come, the sound of heavy footfalls, the clattering of chainlinks under metal plating marched by. He could hear the strange dialect, one that he'd heard before, knowing all too well who they were.
A Quad.
He slowly and carefully removed his pack, freeing his bow from his back. Annabeth's eyes widened in alarm, her hand stilling his.
"What else would you have me do? They're clearly here for us," Percy whispered.
"They have passed us, we can follow and see where they go," Annabeth whispered in response, trying to reason with him.
"That's even riskier! At least my way, I could drop one maybe two. Then we have two or three to deal with," Percy argued, knocking an arrow.
"Fine," Annabeth huffed. She pulled free the daggers from her either boot, nodding once for him to continue.
Percy crept out from the underbrush, firing an arrow to the back of the first member of the Quad. He dropped hard the metal clattering to the cobbled road. Percy was caught by surprise, the fearsome battle cry from the rear. He raised the bow high defensively, the sword cleaving through the silver bow limb with ease. His heart sank at the sight around him.
Another Quad.