======= Previously on The Rise of Night =======
"Bye Apollo," the other hooded figure said with a smile and Apollo smiled back. Michael took hold of Selyne's hand and Selyne holds on to her mother's hand. Artemis grabbed on to Athena's hand even though they are both confused. A bright light filled the room and the four prisoners are gone.
Apollo stood in front of the cell, wondering what he's doing there.
======= Now =======
Artemis, Athena, Selyne, and Michael landed roughly on the ground next to Athena's house. Artemis was the first one up, rubbing her eyes. When she saw her daughter, she smiled and went over to her, hugging her tight.
"You did good, my little moon," Artemis said motherly. Selyne smiled and wraps her arms around her mother. Michael watched from the side, a smile on his face. Athena stood up and walked toward Michael.
"What is your relationship with Selyne?" Athena demanded. "And who are you?"
"Michael," Michael replied, wanting to shrink away from Athena's intimating glance. Selyne giggles when she watched Michael getting questioned by Athena and decides to help him out. Artemis looked toward what her daughter is looking at.
A soft smile made their way to her lips as Selyne walked toward them.
"Is my grandma too scary?" Selyne teased Michael, pinching his cheek. He blushed.
"No," Michael shuttered, but changing his answer quickly when he saw Athena's glare. "Uh... maybe a little."
"Don't worry," Selyne told him. "She has that kind of effect of people. Now come on, I want to show you my house!"
Athena and Artemis watched them, dumbfounded. "Do you know their relationship with each other?"
"I think they're dating," Athena replied. Artemis nodded.
"Probably," Artemis said. "Now let's make sure they don't do anything inappropriate."
They laughed before they ran toward the house Artemis and Percy shared on Olympus.
======= Line Break =======
"Don't you need to get back to Nyx?" Selyne asked suddenly, looking up from the book they stole from the other universe about lots of different things.
An alarming look came to his face.
"Shit," he cursed. "Got to go! See you soon, Selyne."
He kissed her softly on the cheek before he disappeared in black mist. Selyne sighed before she continued reading the book.
Michael appeared in front of Nyx, who is glaring at him. He bowed quickly before summoning a spear and hide it behind him. He don't know if he will get kill right there.
"Where were you," Nyx asked in a dangerously low voice. Michael took a deep breath before replying.
"I got struck down by one of our inventions. The one that will trap someone," Michael replied, standing straight.
"The machine that is marble size?" Nyx asked for clarification.
"Yes," Michael replied before bowing his head again. Nyx took a deep breath before telling the rumbling boy in front of her.
"You're dismissed." Michael bowed and left the room, keeping a straight face as he went out, leaving Nyx in the room with her thoughts.
When she watched him, she felt something familiar. Proud maybe, but she has a feeling is something more than that. She felt like something is missing from her life. She felt an emptiness inside her that she had never felt before. She sighed and shook her head before settling for planning the next attack on Olympus.
"We will attack now," she ordered sternly. The guards bowed. "And tell Michael too."
======= Line Break =======
"Apollo's missing," Artemis replied again. Zeus nodded and looked toward the rest of the Olympian council and gods. Both minor and major, even demigods are here.
"Do any of you know about it?" Zeus asked. Chorus of 'no' was heard around the room. Zeus sighed before turning toward his daughter, Athena.
"Do you have any idea for when they will attack?"
Athena nodded her head before she reminded the council of something they all forget. "She planned to attack today. We should be ready. Especially since Apollo is kidnapped, there is no sun, and Nyx is strongest at night. Be prepared for an attack any time-"
She was cut off by Micheal, who was out of breath and in front of everyone. Selyne wanted to walk toward him but her father held her back, having no idea who the boy was. Her mother just gave her a soft smile before she addresses Michael.
"What are you doing here?" Artemis asked sternly, looking at Micheal.
"Nyx. Attack. Now," Michael breath out before he disappeared again. Athena sighed and turned to her father.
"We could be attacked at any minute. I think we should all stand guard now," Athena planned out shortly. Zeus nodded before he turned to everyone.
"To your position. Today we fight for Olympus!"
"To Olympus!" Echoes around the throne room, people rising their weapons before scrambling out of the throne room.
======= Line Break =======
The demigods are near the middle of the battlefield, sandwiched between the gods. Minor gods are at the back, while for once, the major gods were at the front line. Selyne was in the back with the archers. They all have their bow drawn. Her mother was next to her, holding her hand.
Michael disappeared back to Nyx's army so he doesn't cause any suspicion from Nyx. Without warning, Nyx and her army charge, Nyx in front, holding nothing. She made the night slightly brighter so she could actually have a fight.
The Olympians and their army charge forward to meet Nyx. Sword, arrows, spears, all kinds of weapons collide in the middle. Shouts were heard around the battlefield as the soldiers from both sides fell dead at their friend and family's feet.
Cry of encouragement were heard from the Olympian, encouraging their soldiers to go on. Hestia was giving out hope. You can't win a battle without hope. If one loses all hope, they will give up.
Apollo's children are in the back, healing their soldiers. Tears were shed as hundreds of people died one by one on both armies. The army of Nyx fought with no mercy, killing people after people, no regret in their eyes.
The Olympian army fought for a different reason. While the army of Nyx fought so they get power, the Olympian army fought for their loved ones. All of them have one goal in mind, to survive and get back to their family.
Selyne was with her mother, shooting arrow after arrow when she suddenly noticed something. Her mother's pinky was tied with a red string. As Selyne continued studying the string, she saw her father's sword arm, a red string around his pinky as well. Selyne continued tracking it, noticing that the string tied to her mother.
"Soulmates," Selyne breath out as Artemis looked at her daughter with concern.
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing to worry about," Selyne smiled softly before her father made his way toward them.
"We could use some help at the front line," Percy called out. Artemis went toward him without hesitation. Artemis gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek before going after her husband.
Artemis fought side by side with Percy, none standing any chance once they step within Artemis' arrow range. The monsters died quickly, but the problem came. The army, made of people and not monsters. Some demigods have challenge killing them. The peaceful gods have trouble killing them as well, giving the army of Nyx an advantage.
The battle was far from over though. Selyne was shooting arrow after arrow when Michael appeared next to her. He was wearing the Olympian's armor. "What are you doing here?" Selyne hissed at him.
Michael glared at her half-heartedly. "Glad to see you care."
Selyne rolled her eyes before she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Okay, now tell me what are you doing here?"
"I left a copy of me with Nyx so she doesn't suspect anything. I'm here to help you though," Michael said with a smile before putting on a hood. Selyne sighed again and shook her head before she grabs his arms and they went toward the front line, helping the Olympians.
======= Line Break =======
Athena and Poseidon fight together. "It's like the giant war again," Poseidon called out over the noise. Athena rolled her eyes before stabbing a monster.
Some monsters remained but mostly the army of Nyx is made out of people now. "Try to focus so we don't get killed okay?" Athena asked before throwing her spear over Poseidon's head. She held out her hand and the spear flew back to her hand, killing more monsters as it did so.
Poseidon sighed dramatically. "I guess I really need to focus."
Athena rolled her eyes again. Poseidon used his trident to stabbed a monster before quickly pulling the trident out roughly and stabbing another monster.
"A hundred fifty-five!" Poseidon called out over the noise. Zeus and Hades both stabbed the same monster at the same time causing them to glared at each other. The big three were competing on who can kill the most monster.
Hera and Aphrodite are working together again. But this time, Hephaestus and Zeus joined them. Hephaestus threw fireball after fireball, all hitting the target. Zeus was having fun throwing his lightning bolt around.
Hades sent terror at their enemy, making lots of them run away in fear only for Nyx to pulled the soldier back again.
Speaking of terror, Ares' sons, Phobos and Deimos were having their fun as well. They rode their father's chariot and crushed though the army of Nyx, sending even more terror and nightmares, causing half of the army to collapse on the ground, vaporize in fear.
"Fifty points if you can knock that head off," Deimos said, pointing to a big soldier's head. Phobos immediately through his knife, killing the soldier instantly.
"Five hundred and fifty," Phobos said proudly before Deimos lined up his aim and said at the same time.
"Five hundred points if you kill five people in a row," Deimos said before without warning, throw his spear. The spear sailed through the air, stabbing three men in their stomachs. Deimos gave his brother a grin, only to receive a glare.
"One thousand points if you kill ten people," Phobos said. Deimos shrugged.
"Oh, this is on," he replied his brother with excitement in his eyes.
Ares was doing as well as his sons. Killing people after people, enjoying the "fun". Seriously, no one thinks is fun, except maybe people in the army of Nyx.
Demeter and Persephone were growing plants to hold back the army, keeping them in line as demigods throw their weapons and killing the people.
Overall, the army of Nyx wasn't winning, the odds aren't in their favor today. So Nyx went for a different approach. She whispered to one of her generals. He nodded before making his way toward Artemis, Percy, Selyne, and Michael.
They weren't expecting it. Artemis cried out in pain as a sword went through her stomach, ichor pooling out. "ARTEMIS!" Percy cried out before running toward his wife. Selyne ran after her father as Michael followed closely behind.
Percy's cry was so desperate, time seems to stop as he ran toward Artemis. People stopped to stare at the family, gather around Artemis. The Olympian ran toward them as well. As for the general that stabbed Artemis, Percy killed him without a second thought.
Ever the army of Nyx stops to watch how this will all play out. Nyx is clearly frustrated though, this is when they are supposed to attack. But many aren't eager to attack them, mostly because the battlefield is deathly quiet and they don't want to be the next to taste Percy's blade.
Artemis was on the ground, barely breathing. Hestia was working their power as best as they can but it doesn't seem like it's working. Michael knows why though, the second he saw the blade.
"She can't heal," Michael said, breaking the silence of the battle field. Still, no one spoke up though, until Hestia asked gentlely.
"And why is that?"
"The blade is designed to make immortal fade," Michael explained, earning thousands of gasp. "She would be gone within a few week."
"Is there anything that could stop her from fading?" Percy asked, tears sliding down his face.
"As far as I know, no, there is no cure," Michael said sadly. "I'm sorry."
Selyne clung her mother's hand tightly, silently sobbing. Artemis was already unconscious and her body looked a little dull. Hestia's glare was murderous as she stalked toward the army of Nyx, no weapons in hand except for her power. Percy was marching after her, his sword, Riptide in hand.
It was given to him by Zoë, when they were in the hunter's camp. Zoë knew he will need it one day, and he knows that Percy lose his sword often.
"Where is Nyx?" Percy snarled, his blade in hand. No one dare to move. Finally, Nyx herself showed up.
"Looking for me?" She asked mockingly. Percy, without warning, grabbed onto her shirt and pulled her off the ground.
"You. Will. Tell. Me. How. To. Heal. My. Wife." Percy growled dangerously. Hestia was next to him, flame in hand, ready for a fight.
"She can't be heal," Nyx said nervously. Something about this seems familiar to her though, like a memory long forgotten by her. Something tingled in the back of her mind but she ignored it.
"Then you will die," Hestia snarled. She raised her hands above her head, flame in hands before she push them toward the ground, creating fire that surrounded the army of Nyx. They have no choice but to retreat, but not many were able to do so. Those who retreat returned back to where they came from but they rest were burned alive.
The Olympian made a side note, to never anger Hestia. Percy stabbed Nyx without a second thought as she disappeared in black smokes. Cheers went around the battle field, people celebrating, hugging their family close to them.
Everyone was celebrating, but Percy, Selyne, Michael, and the Olympian. Artemis had become even more faded during the time Percy and Hestia was battling Nyx.
Selyne cried as she started signing softly, trying to calm herself and everyone around her. People who were celebrating stopped and listen to Selyne's heartbreaking song as she sung her heart out. Unkown to everyone, Nyx was watching from the shadow.
(AN: I didn't write this song. I want people to actually here the tune so, this isn't my song. It's called Soon You'll Get Better by Taylor Swift)
"The buttons of my coat were tangled in my hair
In doctor's-office-lighting, I didn't tell you I was scared
That was the first time we were there
Holy orange bottles, each night I pray to you
Desperate people find faith, so now I pray to Jesus too
And I say to you
/
Ooh-ah, soon you'll get better
Ooh-ah, soon you'll get better
Ooh-ah, you'll get better soon
'Cause you have to
/
I know delusion when I see it in the mirror
You like the nicer nurses, you make the best of a bad deal
I just pretend it isn't real
I'll paint the kitchen neon, I'll brighten up the sky
I know I'll never get it, there's not a day that I won't try
/
And I'll say to you
Ooh-ah, soon you'll get better
Ooh-ah, soon you'll get better
Ooh-ah, you'll get better soon
'Cause you have to
/
And I hate to make this all about me
But who am I supposed to talk to?
What am I supposed to do
If there's no you?
/
This won't go back to normal, if it ever was
It's been years of hoping, and I keep saying it because
'Cause I have to
/
Ooh-ah, you'll get better
Ooh-ah, soon you'll get better
Ooh-ah, you'll get better soon
Ooh-ah, soon you'll get better
Ooh-ah, soon you'll get better
Ooh-ah, you'll get better soon
'Cause you have to"
Selyne wiped a tear away from her eyes when she finishes singing that, only to noticed that everyone was crying with her. Her father hugged her tight. "That was a beautiful song."
Michael hugged her as well and Percy glared at him. Michael backed away, causing Selyne to smiled a bit. Nyx wiped a tear away from her eyes as well.
Before suddenly, she cried out in pain and fell out of the shadow. People turned toward her. And when they saw who it was, weapons were pointed at her. But she wasn't attacking, she was in the ground, in pain.
Nyx clanged her head in pain, nothing is making sense right now. Images flashed through her mind, people she should have known. People she used to known. She remembers everything now. She was drunk one day when she made the worst decision in her life. She locked her memories of her family. Every single one of them.
Watching Percy and Hestia defeat her for their family unlock some of the memory. But the second Selyne started singing, she finally understood how important family is. They support you. She finally understood why Michael joined her. She promises him family, something she wouldn't be able to do. She throws away her family. What would they think now?
She saw her parent, Tartarus, and Chaos. Tartarus wasn't really the fatherly type but he was there for her. Chaos was a busy mother, so Nyx never saw her much. She remembers her children. Hermera, Charon, and many more.
She suddenly missed Hermera, her exact opposite. She missed their silly argument. Nyx sighed again, and when she comes back to her sense, people were looking at her in anger. Nyx sighed again and rubbed her temple, trying to erase the headache that is forming. She has lots of work to do if she wants to make up for all the things she had done.
"I'm sorry about Artemis," Nyx finally said before giving them a small bow and disappeared into shadow again.
======= Line Break =======
Artemis had been fading more and more, only getting better when Selyne sings to her. Nothing else really works. Everyone was busy rebuilding Olympus from the war. People are still weird out by Nyx's sudden change of heart but no one has seen her ever since, so they took that as a good sign.
Apollo was returned to Olympus as well, and the second he arrived, he was helping his twin sister, trying to save her or buy her as much time as possible. Selyne was there as much as Percy, both wanting as many time with her as possible. Leto was released from Delos and she wastes no time talking to Artemis as much as possible, even though Artemis may not hear her.
Zeus visited as well. So did all of the Olympians, sharing some of their power with Artemis, hoping that maybe one day, she won't fade.
Percy visited Artemis every day, never really saying anything. On the third day, he couldn't help it. He broke down right beside her, saying words after words, spilling out everything he has been feeling ever since the war ended.
"Hey Arty," Percy started as he sat beside his wife. "I'm not sure what I should be doing right now. After you started fading, I feel like part of me is fading as well. I don't know what I would do without you. I want to be a good dad to Selyne, but I want you by my side as well. I can't live without you. I will always hold on to hope though."
Percy took a deep breath as he brushed Artemis' hair aside before continuing talking again. "I will hope that you won't die. I meant what I said earlier. I can't live without you. I need you by my side. I need you with me, you are my second half. Please don't leave me."
He kissed her softly on the lip before pulling away. To his surprise, her body started glowing, glowing so bright even Percy have to close his eyes. When he opened them again though, he wasn't expecting what he saw.
Artemis was laying there, but every color reappeared to her body, no part look faded. Percy stared, mouth open. Artemis opened her silver eyes, only to meet with the sea-green eyes of her husband.
Without a second thought, Percy leaned down to kiss Artemis again, her lips soft on his. Artemis' hand made their way to his hair as she deepens the kiss, her hand tangled in Percy's messy raven black hair.
======= Line Break =======
Selyne and Apollo were visiting Artemis as they walked around Apollo's hospital, both of them looking at the ground.
"Hey, Selyne," Apollo spoke up and looked toward his niece.
"Huh?" Selyne asked, looking up from the floor as well, meeting her uncle's sky blue eyes.
"Have anyone ever told you how much you look like your mother?" Apollo asked tears in his eyes. Selyne nodded.
"Dad said that all the time," Selyne started. "So did many other gods."
"You would be a reminder of Artemis after your mother fade," Apollo said softly. Selyne shook her head quickly.
"I don't think my mother will fade," she answered. Apollo looked at her weirdly.
"And why's that?"
"I read about something that might help," Selyne replied. "I just need dad's help."
"Really?" Apollo asked, who once thought that all hope isn't lost.
"Yeah," Selyne answered with a huge smile on her face. "Want to guess what it is?"
"No," Apollo pouted. Selyne friend before she ruffled her uncle's hair.
"Come on," Selyne said, trying to hide her smile. "It's not that hard. Aphrodite would probably have guessed it by now."
"Aphrodite?" Apollo asked. Selyne nodded and Apollo thinks quickly. What would Aphrodite guess first? He groaned when an answer came to his mind. "Don't you start grumbling about the true love nonsense as well."
"But it's true," Selyne countered as they entered Artemis' room. Selyne point to her parent. "Or my parent won't be sucking each other's face off."
Apollo stared in shock at them before he quickly sank into the nearest chair, clearly trying to process everything that's happening.
AN: Yay everyone! I update on time! So, if all goes well, which I'm pretty sure will, the next update will be this Wednesday. What do you guys think of this chapter? Good? Bad? Okay?
Make sure to comment/review! I want to hear all of your opinions. Anything you guys want to see in the last three chapters? If there's something, share your thought in the comment/review! I'll read every one of them!
See you all soon!