Chapter 8

I laid flat on my back, trying to think of a reason to get up. Here I was, meant to be one of the strongest demigods alive, defeated by someone I had never even heard about. Funny how I was always looking for a fight and now that someone strong actually appeared, I was defeated with ease.

I had stabbed the man twice in his chest, but all it took was a kick from him to immobilize me.

I simply sighed. I knew there was no point in walloping in my misery, it was un-like me. So with great struggle, I got up from the ground and stood on wobbly legs.

I walked away from the direction I had came from, deciding that there was no way for me to make my way up the mountain I had jumped off.

I made my way into the woods, taking note of the fact that my head was still bleeding, but I would be fine, probably. But I wouldn't be surprised if something as weak as a hellhound could kill me right now.

Speak of the devil.

As I was just finishing my thought I turned around to see a hellhound, relatively small but still the size of a lion, charging right at me.

I couldn't help but sigh. Like really? Now of all time. But I simply reached my hands out and summoned my spear. Without moving my feet, I simply launched it forward, sending it flying at high speeds.

The hellhound obviously wasn't ready seeing as how the tip went straight through it's open maw all the way through to his tail, piercing his entire body.

I turned around before the beast could even dissolve to dust.

Obviously I wasn't serious but I really wasn't in the condition to fight. I summoned my weapon back to my hand in ring form, seeing as how I probably wouldn't be using it for a minute.

I continued to walk till I reached another opening, this one had a lake in the middle of it. I walked over to the little shore and dropped to my knees. I slowly took my tank top off, spreading the blood over my entire back, but it didn't matter because I was about to wash myself anyways.

I took off the rest of my clothes and washed myself, doing my best to clean the wound. I spent the next fifteen minutes relaxing in the water, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

I was starting to get lost in my thoughts when I remembered something. Deimos!

I had left him in what seemed like forever ago. What was he doing for the past hours if the Teumessian fox was with me?!

I quickly hopped out the water and put my pants on. As I went to put on my shirt, I felt something shift in the air. Someone was approaching.

I threw my shirt to the side and summoned my scythe.

I sighed. I didn't even have time to really recover, but here I was about to get into another fight.

"Who's there...where are you!" I yelled out.

Just as I was about to lower my guard, I heard something in the distance, a familiar sound.

The thwip of an arrow. I quickly turned around just in time to see a arrow coming full speed for my head. My eyes immediately widened as countless thoughts went through my head.

"Damn it, if only I had my chains I could've stopped the projectile." I thought to myself. But no, here I was inches away from what seemed like death. I raised both my hands upon an attempt to block the attack, but I knew it was hopeless. I closed my eyes and braced for impact.

...

Nothing?

After a solid second or two, I heard a voice directly in front of me.

"Hmm, seems it was a blunt anyways. Suppose this is my good deed for today." Grumbled the voice.

I slowly opened my eyes to see the arrow tip millimeters away from my nose, in the hand of someone who had caught the bolt mid air.

"Well look at you. Almost dying right after you lost a fight, crazy." Said the voice which was all too familiar.

I looked at the hand, and then the arm, and then the whole person, and there was no doubt I knew who it was.

It was him. (Yes, the same him...)

"You...you." I said the last word with a twinge. Though I was grateful to be alive, he wasn't the person I wanted to see right now.

"Yes me, who else?" Said the being in a way that would sound sarcastic if it wasn't him.

"What are you doing here?" I said taking a step back and raising my blade.

The being simply threw the arrow to the floor and turned around, his back to me. "You...uhh, we have other problems to worry about."

I quickly noticed what he was talking about. Though I knew it was a bad idea, I decided to listen to the being for now.

I walked over and stood next to the being, my scythe at my side, ready for whatever was coming.

"Who's there!" I yellowed out into the thick forest.

There was silence for a moment.

I looked to my side to see the beings nose twitch.

"What is it?" I asked him.

The being ignored me again, simply mumbling something under his breath. "Oh brother." He said.

I moved my head back to the trees as I hear a noise in the bramble. I watched as something emerged from the bushes and... I now understood his reaction.

Emerging from the wilderness was a being, possibly as dangerous as the one standing right next to me. And honestly, I probably had equal love for both of them. Not saying much.

"Oh..." I said, not knowing what else to say.

"Perseus Jackson." Said the voice with obvious irritation. "And...you" Said the newcomer, directing their attention to the being to my side.

"Yes, me." He said dryly, but I could tell he was trying to hide his thoughts.

"And what do, uhhh, we owe the pleasure miss Nightshade?" He asked.

Zoe Nightshade, the second in command of the hunters of Artemis. Someone who could be a contender for the strongest demigod alive, besides me of course. (Wait, was she even a demigod?).

Though i had gained a little bit of respect from her upon our first meeting against the chimera, I had quickly lost it over the past year.

I had only met her twice since last summer, one brief, but the second time wasn't too pleasant.

I had no doubt that she had grown to hate the person I had become, but I didn't mind too much as long as she didn't try and kill me.

But maybe that's what she was here to do today, and honestly in my condition, she could probably succeed.

"What do you want, Nightshade?" I asked her with my guard up.

"That does not concern you, Perseus. You should be more worried about the people, no, creatures, you surround yourself with." She said .

"I have a name, you know." Said the "creature" she was talking about.

"Yes I know. Agreceon Remleon Vollyaire de Lampros. (Pronounced: Ah-Gray-She-On Rem-Lee-Own Volly-Air de Lam-Pros). Bane of the hunters and Olympus itself. Son of Lycaon, prince of the wolves."

"Quite the title, a bit extra though, in my opinion, but I guess I did ask for it." He said casually, not picking up on the spite in Zoe's words, or simply not caring.

"Do you think-" I cut Zoe off.

"As much as I care about y'all twos little drama, I really must be going." I said, changing my scythe back to a ring. I hoped it would show that I really didn't want to fight right now.

Zoe notes my gesture, lowering her bow a little bit, but her expression didn't get much nicer.

"Besides, your the one who shot at me first, so I'm really saving al of us some trouble right now. And besides, do you really want to fight me and Remmy at the same time."

Zoe gave me a weird look before responding. "Do not think I will hesitate to taking you both down right now. Neither of you are in fighting condition, and my hunt is near by." She said.

Wait, both of us? I quickly glanced to my side and noticed something surprising. Across Remleons entire arm was a huge gash that seemed to be pretty fresh. There were also noticeable bruises and cuts across his entire body.

"What..what happened to you?" I asked the werewolf. Who could have done that to Remleon?

The wolf scoffed a little bit. "Wouldn't you like to know." He said surprisingly aggressively for him. "But I'm fine, just a little scratch."

I was about to speak when an arrow flew Ight in front of my face, splitting the air in between me and Remmy.

"Do not ignore me, demigod." She said in a stern voice. I was really starting to get annoyed.

"As I was saying..." Zoe didn't finish her words.

She looked on as Remleon started to walk away towards the woods, completely ignoring the hunter. I noticed that he had multiple large gashes along his back.

"I'll see y'all later, it's really time for me to get going." Said the wolf as he walked away, his white hair glowing wild in the wind.

"Wh-what do you think this is? Do you really wish for a repeat of our last encounter? I tried to keep it peaceful but you are forcing my hand." The huntress took a step forward and immediately the air changed.

The wolf prince stopped walking and turned his head, his eyes were now a glowing yellow and his teeth were replaced with large fangs.

"Do NOT follow me." He barked out, immediately making Zoe stop in her tracks. Despite the wolf's fierce look, Zoe showed no fear. The wolf turned back around and started walking again after a moment, the air returning to normal.

Zoe let the wolf walk off into the woods unbothered. I watched as he walked away from us, wondering what he would do now.

I was surprised when he spoke again. "See ya around Percy, try and stay outta trouble for me." He said waving a hand behind him and disappearing into the woods.

After a second I let out a breathe. Though he was probably here to help me, I couldn't help be a little relieved. I really didn't need to be doing a lot right now.

And apparently Zoe though the same.

"I suppose...if you are unarmed there's no need for this." She said putting her bow up. She walked towards me till she was within striking distance, but I didn't think she was trying anything.

I say down on a nearby rock and leaned back.

I decided to try and use my words for once.

"So, ummm. What brings you here?" I asked trying to keep it light, which isn't something I would usually concerned about but I really wasn't myself right now.

"Are you really unaware that you are in our hunting grounds?" She asked as she sat down on the ground. "I came out here to scout the area because I had a feeling I would find something, and then I come across you and Agreceon."

I slowly started to understand what was happening. "But why did you have to shoot at me? I was in no position to dodge that, as you can see." I asked.

"It was only a blunt so you would've been fine, but I decided it would be easiest to just put you to sleep so we could carry on our way. If it had worked, I would've already taken the hunt somewhere else by now and you would be sound asleep, perfectly fine." She said as if it was normal.

I looked at her weirdly, trying to think of what to say without offending her, but thankfully she got the message anyways.

"But I suppose...it may have been an oversight on my part." She said as she got up. "But I cannot leave now. I can't leave knowing that Agreceon is free and roaming this earth uncharged." She finished.

"...ok? I understand you hunters have a problem with him and everything, but what does that have to do with me. " I asked.

"Perseus...you know very well your connection with that monster."

"Actually- gahhh!" I screamed out. As I was speaking I felt a sharp pain in my chest area around my ribs. The attacks from earlier were finally setting in.

Zoe instinctively made her way towards me, but stopped as if she realized that she didn't like me. I tried to speak again but all I felt was pain. I held up a finger to ask for a second to compose myself.

After a moment of watching, I guess Zoe decided I was worth helping as she came to my side. "Here." She said as she grabbed me by my shoulders.

It only took her a second to notice the big gash on the back of my neck from where I had hit the rough tree bark when the god had kicked me.

I heard her stifle a gasp.

"What are you doing walking around with this?" She said in her old sounding accent. It was the closest I had ever heard her sound worried.

The huntress effortlessly pick me up and laid me on my back without asking or anything.

"Gahh! Do you mind being a little more gentle?" I asked as I continued to feel as if I had a caved in chest.

"If you want to get better, you'll need to be a little more quiet." She said as she got up and walked over to where my shirt was.

"I don't remember asking for help, actually." I said to the huntress.

Zoe's face turned a little red before she responded. "Actually I need you alive, demigod, so this is in fact, not for you." She said in an unconvincing voice.

"And I hope you don't mind me using this." She said as she grabbed my shirt from the ground. She didn't seem to notice the Teumessian fox pelt.

"Actually... I don't think I'll be using this." Said the god as she threw the shirt away once she noticed all the holes in it.

"What were you doing?" She asked looking back at me.

"Nothing important. Just training and chilling, ya know, trying not to get shot." I said, trying to change the subject.

Zoe squinted her eyes before talking.

"Whatever you say. But I don't have much time, so I'm going to need you to explain. But first we need to clean that wound.

Zoe ripped off the bottom of her shirt, revealing her toned stomach. I immediately turned away out of fear for my life.

"I expect to get answers after doing all this." She said.

"Even though you only doing this for yourself? I don't know..." I didn't finish my words as the huntress lifted my head.

"Face this way." she said moving my head towards her directing. The huntress used the now wet rag on my neck.

"You already washed it so all I need to do is disinfect it." She said as she took a vial of something out her pocket and poured it on the rag.

"Uhh, what is that?" I asked worried. "Is this really necessary?"

Zoe simply let go off my head, making me get a face full of dirt.

"Much easier this way." She said as she continued to rub the wound.

I felt my body immediately clench up, it felt as if I had just taken a bath in rubbing alcohol.

"It burns." I said with my teeth clenched.

"Good, that means it's doing it's job. You know there's a lot of stuff that shouldn't be in your system as a demigod right now, I'm doing you a favor." She said as she finished off with the rag.

"Doesn't feel like it." I said with barred teeth.

"I would feed you ambrosia, but who knows what could happen with all those spirits in you." She said as she got up.

"Just give it to me, trust me I'll be fine." I said as I rolled over to my back, my entire chest and stomach was now covered in grass.

"You sure?" She asked.

I simply nodded, to exhausted for words.

Zoe reaches into the satchel on her hip and pulled out ambrosia. She got a decent amount and squatted down.

"Sit up." She said. "I'm not going to touch you further."

I looked at her for a second before I forced myself up. "You know this hurts a lot." I said in pain.

"Just eat." She handed me the god food and I ate it whole. The food tasted a lot like the muffins that Phobos would make for me and Deimos. Damn was I hungry.

But despite the good taste, I couldn't feel any effects of the Ambrosia. I asked Zoe why it was.

"It must have been a year since you've had some, give it time, but..." Zoe got up on her feet and reached her hand out. "Get up. We have to talk." I grabbed the huntresses hand and got up. I stumbled for a bit till I sat down on a rock, Zoe finding one across from me.

"Wish I had my coat." I said as I felt the cool breeze hit my bare chest. "So what do you want to know." I said. Though I didn't plan on sharing everything, I guess she kinda deserved to know something.

"A lot of things, actually. But first I want to know what your doing here with Agreceon, and why you let him go. Is he not one of your...prisoners." She asked.

I sighed before speaking.

"First off, doesn't he go by Remleon now, ever since he was released. He was only called Agreceon when he was-"

"When he was a killer? A monster? Or perhaps a ruthless tyrant. If that's what your going to say, then there's no reason to call him by a different name, since he is still those things." She said spitefully.

"Zoe... I know why you hate him, and I can't really say I understand. Trust me, I'm not really a fan of him myself, for different reasons of course, but don't you think it's been long enough?

To hate someone for eternity based of actions in a much different time..." I decided to just let it go, there was no point in trying to change her mind.

"Never mind. But back to your question. No, I no longer have any control over any of my spirits, including Agreceon. In fact, I don't even know where the rest are.

"Percy.." I couldn't quite read the hunters face, but I could tell she was contemplating her next words.

"Are you telling me you broke the stone of souls?" Zoe asked with wide eyes. Though Zoe didn't know everything, she had learned of my connection to the stone quite a while ago, and seeing as how Zoe was much older then me, she knew enough about the stone and it's power.

"No, I don't think so at least. But even if it did, the spirits won't be a problem, otherwise we'd both be fighting swarms of monsters right now."

"So what happened to it? Where did it go? One does not simply lose an item such as that one." She said with a stern look.

I thought about it before speaking, twirling around my metallic arm, thinking of an answer.

After a moment I spoke. "I don't really know, to be honest. I know it was taken from me, but that's about it." I stood up as I continued to talk.

"And to be honest to you, I don't really care. The stone caused a lot more trouble then it was worth at times, and at this point in my life, I'm fine without it. I hope that was good enough for you, as thats all I have to say." And to be honest, I wasn't lying.

I didn't really need the stone for my every day life (unless I was fighting people like Remleon and Da Vinci, that's a different story), and I wasn't too worried about getting it back. I wasn't one to dwell on things that didn't affect me directly, and this was just another thing to move on from.

I continued to talk. "I appreciate all the help, Zoe, I really do, but you know I don't like to be involved with things concerning the gods." I said. "So if you could consider not telling the hunt about this, it would be much appreciated. I promise you, the stone will not cause any problems, actually it's probably in better hands now." I started to walk away.

"I hope you understand, thanks again for the help."

I walked away, not waiting for the huntress to respond. I was surprised when I was grabbed by my prosthetic arm, holding me back.

"Do you really think it's that simple?! And you talk about not wanting to be involved with the gods, but do you not live with one yourself?" She lifted my arm up and waved it around.

"If you truly did not wish to be involved then you would not need this!"

I quickly yanked my arm away. I felt myself fill with anger, but I restricted myself to only giving the huntress an irritated look.

"Do you, Zoe, believe it to be that simple? I have no choice, and you know that. The gods have done enough to ruin my life, and I'm doing what I can to fix it.

And right now that involves my returning home without the entire hunt on my tail. So I'm asking you again, please let me do that."

Zoe looked me in my eyes, a stoic expression on her face.

After a moment she spoke. "I hope you know that you will never live a normal life, Perseus. You can not kill a god, and remain a normal being, not in the eyes of the gods at least. Remember that, as you go home." Zoe swiftly turned around, and walked away. I sighed as I watched her leave.

At first it had seemed like maybe Zoe no longer hated me, but I could tell by her tone that she had no love for me. And I don't mind.

I didn't really want to concern myself with making friends, but to have the leader of the hunters as an enemy wasn't something I wanted.

I let out a big sigh. All of this crazy stuff has happened today and for what. A fox pelt?

I took the pelt out my pocket and stared at it. Though I would be fine without it, the stone of souls was a powerful weapon, and though it was pretty... the pelt wasn't worth it in my opinion.

But what's done is done. I stuffed the pelt in my pocket and made my way into the woods.