It's been too long since I've updated. For me, anyway.

Well, one thing sucked for sure. I began writing this chapter but got distracted with "The Confessions of Young Nero", a great book, really addicted to it. Then, after three days of reading, I went back on my laptop and chapter 9 was gone. So I apologize for taking so long for this one.

On other notes, I've posted this story onto Wattpad, from recommendations some of you have given me. Overall, I'm actually disappointed with the number of views this has gotten. 5.1k. Seriously?

I'm sorry to rant but The Tide and the Moon had only 27k words and it reached over 25k views. Is it just me, or do people enjoy reading sappy romance stories more? Correct me if I'm wrong. Or am I just that bad at writing?

For reviews, no more replies. No more. First of all, nobody is reviewing, and that seriously lowers my self-esteem. What you call being "too lazy to review" is what we call "a flame to the pages" as the writers. That one minute or two that you felt "too lazy" to review is another minute of creeping discouragement that all writers feel as they begin to think... "Why am I even here…?" "What's even the point of continuing?" "My skills must be terrible…no one cares for my story…" "I'll never be a good writer...I quit." These are only a few thoughts that go through every writer's head- that go through MY head- when we put out a chapter/story with all our heart and soul within, and we sit there…and sit…and wait…and not a single person says even a word.

If you're not a writer, you have NO IDEA how much that hurts… If you ARE a writer, then I'm sure you know just how great it feels when someone is kind enough to leave a heartwarming and encouraging review, and you read it, smiling while thinking…" Wow…I did it…" So, why not give fellow writers the same luxury here? Too many times I've seen epic and utterly beautiful works of literary art fall to pieces before finally being abandoned due to the terrible discouragement that the lack of reviews can cause. Sometimes, it is so severe that the very writer himself decides to quit, denying the world his skills of writing that I'm it would have deeply enjoyed. So… Just one minute, that's all it takes. Just a few gentle taps of the fingers on your keyboard, a few seconds or so of your time, and your words can SAVE a writer from a dark demise.

Do me a favor: Go find a story, ANY story, anywhere here on, and see if you can help it. If it has very little / no reviews at all, just check it out, and say whatever comes to mind. And enjoy the thought in mind that you could have just SAVED that story, with just a few taps of the keyboard...If you agree with what I have said then please copy and paste any part of this story you wish onto your profile. Modify it in any way you see fit; there is no need to use my exact words. You make it say what you want it to say. I do this all the time, and it really helps encourage new readers to fit in with this large world.

Sorry bout the rant, but I'm kinda pissed not gonna lie. Well, enjoy this chapter folks.

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[Y] Review Replies

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~feel free tell me if I need to do more`

Dig Two Graves

When seeking revenge

One, for yourself.

-unknown

Chapter 9

Revelations

3rd Person POV

"Zeus!" The God of the Seas raged, having to be restrained by Ares and Hephaestus who honestly looked like they wished to let go restrained to beating the God of Thunder into a puddle of ichor. An emergency meeting had been called, and the Sea God was mad.

"I-I did nothing!" The panicked thunder god exclaimed, and even Zeus' arrogance was not enough to delude the youngest of the Big Three into thinking he could win against a fight against an enraged Poseidon. Even if he was king.

His hand trembled slightly against the nook of his throne, taking in slow breaths as he watched his brother cautiously, ready to strike if need. Poseidon still looked enraged; his calloused hand gripping his Trident tightly in a menacing way.

The tension in the throne room was so high you could cut it with a knife. Thankfully, the council stayed silent, watching the two most powerful gods argue it out. This type of situation wasn't scarce, but also happened a few times a year.

Poseidon snarled, his sea-green eyes glowing luminously at his younger brother, refusing to back down from his stare.

"You knew very well the Titans were going to rise, including our grandmother." The sea god spat out as calmly as he could, refusing to say the name - Gaea.

"No, the Titans could not be sensed in any way," Athena informed, smirking at Poseidon's enraged expression. "Gaea must have masked their scent, or there would be no way we haven't noticed the power surge recently."

"See!" Zeus cried, glaring, and smiling at the same. "Athena supports my judgment. The Titan couldn't be sensed, nor did we know what we are up against. Your son is causing problems for the council and needs to be removed. He is like a bargaining chip if he is captured, what lengths would we take to save him?" He questioned, scratching at his lightning bolt. The younger Olympians nodded in agreement, all focused on Poseidon now.

"My son will NOT be touched, nor shall he be a 'problem' you want removed. This is my son you're talking about. What about the many children you have? Do you wish them to never be near a sea again?" The sea god countered angrily.

"Nor shall we have a risk of Olympus falling! This is Gaea we're talking about!"

By now, both sons of Kronos were face to face, jaws clenched and eyes burning into each other's skulls. Eventually, the God of the Seas sighed and turned away. "When you most need help in the face of war, remember this. You have wounded the House of Poseidon's pride, and there will be no assistance from us."

"YOU WILL REGRET-" Zeus thundered, standing up. Hera took her place next to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulders, stopping him from his rash actions. Ares and Athena looked battle-ready to aid their father, while the twin archers sat idly, completely uninterested. Demeter, Aphrodite, and Hestia watched on, tense. Instead, Poseidon sighed, waving his hand at his younger brother.

"Save it, little brother. You were never a good king."

...

Kill him.

His inner self screamed back, fear bypassing the previous emotion he had held: anger.

Through the throes of pain, I marveled at how one simple command could cause such breathtaking agony. Were my thoughts still coherent, or had I been already driven over the brink of insanity? Only time would tell, but suffice to say, it would probably hurt like I'd ever experienced before.

No theoretical training could prepare him for the excruciating pain that was sure to follow. Lighting his nerves on fire, bones cracking under the brute force of the punches, pummels at every spot of his body - In a way, this he deserved his punishment for letting his guard down.

It hurt to breathe, to think... it would be better to just die... he opened his mouth to scream, but just as suddenly snapped his mouth shut, the jarring force bringing some clarity back into his mind.

No, he would not give this insane bitch the pleasure to see him break.

His head flung back as he felt his mind slipping from control. Cold fingers scraped his feverish skin and he fought the urge to vomit at his touch. "Come now..." The man purred his dagger burying itself into his stomach.

"Scream for me..."

...

Death. Judgment. Fate. Heaven. Punishment. Hell. Torment. Agony. Peace. Elysium. Dream. Nightmare.

In Death, there are no lies.

There may be something that always stands between myself and the goal - revelation or vengeance? - but I am always, always the executioner.

Perseus' POV

The darkness seemed to hang around my eyes, and tiredness hung around me like a thick curtain. So she said. So I denied it. Rebutted the truth that revealed itself to my eyes. I had no sense as to how long I had fallen unconscious, but my head ached like Hades.

When I gained consciousness, all I remembered was the sickly sweet smell of flesh and the flash of darkness as dusk began to set. We were supposed to leave camp that day, to continue following tracks of whatever caused such trouble: most likely a Titan.

My body was achingly sore, with each bump of the cart's wheels sending a jolt of numbness through my body. It was a relief when the cart abruptly stopped and someone pulled me out. Through my eyelids, I recognized as Zoe.

In hindsight, that was about as clear as the memories of that place got. But I remembered the screams of pure agony the man I tortured was, the cry of mercy to embrace death already, but I gave him none. Power, after all, had its price. Using it efficiently was the key.

Time passed, and I lay in silence, Zoe, my only company as she handed me ambrosia. I didn't even bother to ask where she had gotten the divine food, stopping only to breathe as I scarfed the food down.

She scoffed, wiping her hands on her clean tunic, and pursed her lips as she watched me eat. A conversation was not needed: what mattered most was simply company.

The ambrosia healed me but also bought back memories of what had happened - what seemed so long ago. Finding the spy of Gaea, and the long torture that lasted to leech out the information. I wish I could've said a painless death, but he was considered lucky that I even let him die. Then, my overuse of earthshaking powers when I had angered Gaea right after, using her domain of the Earth against her.

"tell me how- I can make you more powerful than any-"

"unlimited power, nothing you can reject"

"a chance to prove them wrong"

Her voice hissed in my ears, blocking all sense from me. I was the moth in the flame, powerless to do anything. I hated being powerless.

I pressed my hands behind my head, leaning back into a tree. My inflamed wrists felt comfort and a flare of relief from the cool skin of the tree, and I sighed until she broke the silence. It wasn't Zoe.

Standing in front of him was Helen. Helen of Troy.

"No." I thought in blooming horror, cold dread trickling down my spine with icy fingers. "Not again."

"Why... Why did you kill me?" Hurt blue eyes pierced his, even in death. Her blonde hair whipped a halo over her head like that of an avenging angel. In her left hand, light glimmered off Katoptris like molten ice.

"Didn't you love me? I loved you. And you killed me. Death hurts. I hurt. Why?"

I squeezed my eyes shut, and tried drawing a firm voice. It came out shaky.

"Liar. You were the reason for the war. Even in death you never learn from your mistakes. Paris was your lover, and you were the seductress, the witch in this entire play. Your death made my life easier." I snarled, but my voice came out shaky, insecure.

Those stormy sapphire eyes glared back and her hands traced back up the tattered remains of her robes, pausing at the bloodstains that stained them. It clenched into a fist and her head rested simply against her chest, tears seeping through her closed eyelids. "My blood... so much blood... you killed me... I thought you understood what my intentions were... I loved you..."

'And I did. Before. A lifetime ago." I sighed sombrely. A lifetime ago, when we were mere children. When war seemed like a joke to us both. "Not anymore. The sense of beauty changed you, stained your heart. You played with everyone, then left them heartbroken."

"I do!" She shouted at the specter, voice cracking as she sank to her knees. "I loved you, I always have."

Her eyes flared with sharp anger. She screamed hoarsely, an inarticulate feral sound of anger, fists clenched and tears cutting through her delicate visage. What was of Helen, the girl I knew was gone. Not even the shell. Now she was a ghost, forever haunting the mortal world.

"Loved. Past tense. You loved me. Now you do not." I pointed out, trying my best to ignore her pleads.

And we were nose to nose now, I had stood up to face her. Her hands fisted into my shirt until I could almost taste the tears on her lips. Trying in vain to push her away, it was too much, I was suffocating in her sorrow. If this was a punishment from Gaea, I couldn't take this on.

Whatever she was going to say was cut off by the sudden sharp gurgle. A stabbing pain pierced my hand, and he could see, with no amount of morbid horror, a long bronze tip cutting through her skin. He had killed her, again.

Helen's eyes widened in shock, and it would have almost been comical if I hadn't known she'd been run through. She let go, stumbling backward, clutching at her throat with rough gurgles. Red blood spilled in a thick waterfall from her pale lips, and I could see the jagged edge of the sword running her through.

Riptide smeared green.

My hand was on the hilt.

"NO!" I screamed, trying to claw my way towards her, but the wind pushed me back. The Earth was thickening at my feet, slowly pulling me deeper into its maw...

She reached out a trembling hand towards my direction, rivulets of blood crisscrossing her pale wrist. The panic, and the desperation in her eyes - it was so real. Our fingers brushed...

And then someone was screaming, the long, keening, wail hurting my ears. More voices joined in, the screams forte'ing into an echoing crescendo of pain-filled cries threatening to smother me in madness. This was what the death of a loved one rally felt like. This was the plan of Gaea.

I screamed.

I couldn't see.

Couldn't breathe.

My voice was raw.

The blood tasted of rust on my lips.

Where was she?

Someone was crying.

"Don't cry." I tried to say, but my voice felt thick and heavy. "Angels shouldn't cry. I'm sorry."

Someone was crying desperately.

This is what it feels like to drown. Only I wasn't drowning in water, but in the lies, people carelessly spewed. They both had once promised they would be together forever. They were suffocating, pushing back down into the depths as I struggled for air. Every motion of my arms seemed to be of no use, the surface so tauntingly close yet so disturbingly far away. A bitter laugh choked out of my throat. Turns out the Son of Poseidon could also drown.

Who knew Death had a sense of humor?

I didn't die immediately. This was some sick prank Gaea had pulled though, reimmersing me in horrible memories, memories I still craved for, made me weak. I refused to give in. Although this certainly was the start of the catastrophic chain of results.

Insanity.

I was going insane.

Slowly, insanity creeping into me.

Insane, Insane, Insane, Insane.

Zoe kept giving concerned looks as we ate breakfast, eating cooked deer. I reared away subconsciously, but her hand closed around my wrist. Her gaze was war, sympathizing, and I had to grit my teeth to refrain from spilling my heart to her. Secrets had to be kept.

"I'm fine." I snapped quickly. Seeing her distress, I softened slightly. "Just... Nightmares."

She thought she understood.

Muttering my thanks, and turning sharply to leave, her hand crept up and pulled me back.

"Percy... Are you sure you're alright?"

"No!" I screamed internally. "I'm not. I've been watching my friends die. I've been watching glimpses of you dying. I'm going insane. Someone... help me..."

"Yes, I'm fine," I said, a bit too brightly, trying to smile for her sake. "Just feel a bit gloomy today." Zoe scrutinized me for a moment, before smiling and letting go.

With sheer will I had to refrain myself from running into the forest, crying my heart out. She was watching. Every move I made calculated as I did my best to act my normal.

Since when did I worry so much? I repeatedly asked myself, but the question was answered by myself before I could ponder. Since I had seen what mankind could truly handle, past the depths of innocence every single person showed. No, there was much more than just that.

Ever since I had murdered, I had begged the gods a thousand times over to release me of my sin, to cleanse the stained blood off my skin. It was like a never-ending night. With each minute, an eternity passed by. I was forced to kill or be killed. It was like insomnia, tainted with the chit chat of demons at bedtime.

Sleep had never come, the last moments of my first victim cemented into my mind. The man's wide eyes plead for mercy as he drops his javelin and stares up at his fate, desperately clinging to the hope of mercy in the corner of his mind.

"Il facet ent craes cont en mort," I say

May death treat you better than life.

This was the true face of humanity, behind the masks of love, loyalty, peace.

Pushing away from the subconscious trains of thought, I stagger, before picking myself up and gather my weapons. The ground was now coated in a thin layer of dew, one that seemed to have already started to freeze. I frowned at the ice, mind sensing danger at the sight. This is a little early for ice and snow, isn't it? Or was this the sign of bad things to come? Sighing, I turned back to face Zoe, who had finished packing up. Nobody would know we had camped here for the night

The grim smile stretched across her face was gone, replaced by the look of determination. "We'll track down the army of monsters, where we'll most likely find either Iapetus or a minor Titan. From there, we'll figure things out." Zoe nodded, adjusting her quiver.

I smiled. Though we'd never had a plan, a day out hunting for monsters sounded perfect. "Sounds like a plan."

3rd Person POV

He slipped into the recesses of his mind, unable to keep the images at bay. They were far too deeply embedded into his memory to allow him to suppress for long after such a reminder anyways. For once, he was thankful there was some distance between him and his companion. Except for this time, it was something different. Something he had long forgotten in the edge of his mind...

He held her still, cold body in his arms, frozen in place. Rivulets of blood trickling from the gaping wound from her side, coating his arms. He watched as the light in her eyes dimmed, finally leaving forever. His surroundings were smothering him, from the fire's smoke, literally, causing each breath to become more labored than the last.

It wasn't Helen this time. Now he wished it was.

She couldn't be gone.

She couldn't have had died.

She promised.

But he knew that not all promises could be kept. Behind him, he could hear the screams of townsfolk, along with the screams of bloodlust from the Trojans. They were coming, and he had to leave. It didn't matter. Nothing did, at the moment. No matter how much he cried, it wasn't bringing her back. Her. His only best friend.

His arms began to tremble under the slight weight, guilt crashing down at him. He could've been a bit faster. Just a second earler, and she could still be alive. The spear wouldn't have had impaled her if he ran slightly ahead. The corpse of a stray Trojan he killed was no consolation in the face of what he lost.

What did it feel like, to see death and blood at such a young age? To kill your first grown man, not for yourself but for another? His own injuries were leaking blood, but he paid them no attention. At this point, he truly didn't care if he lived or died. All he could think about was how he failed another person who had placed their trust in him. Once again, they were dead due to his incapability.

His dead friend's voice echoed against his ears. Even dead, she still wailed at the pain. He wished she could only leave now, rest peacefully in the realm of Hades. "Why? Why didn't you stop it? He was right next to you. Why did you wait?" Her voice was filled with pain, distraught at her own death. It was if she was cheated from life, years stolen forever.

"You- You had your sword. You could've acted faster. You could've SAVED ME!" She shouted, her voice escalating immediately. Her pale, ghostly figure hovered above her own corpse, transparent tears staining her chiton. "Why?"

Right after that, his mother had arrived, fleeing from the incoming Trojans, dragging him away, towards the palace. "Why?"

But almost immediately, the vision came crashing down, replaced by shadows, unintelligible spheres of darkness.

"So, Perseus. Had enough yet? Or should I take even more away from you? I wouldn't mind. In fact, I'd be happy to." She had never said that, but it seemed so natural it would come from her, Gaea, it resounded in his mind. Words, not spoken, spoken. How he wished he could go on and swear on the Styx he never intentionally left friends to die. Some choices were better left forgotten.

He quivered in a combination of rage and devastation. Nothing in his life was ever easy.

He stayed motionless, his best friend's body suddenly reappearing in his arms, silence reigning. The sounds around him seemed to meld into an indistinguishable buzz around him, not drawing his attention in the slightest. He just wished to remain there forevermore, when he felt a powerful grip yank him onto his knees.

She slipped out of his grasp, falling limply to the ground. A strangled cry escaped his lips, his mind still unable to comprehend that a child, his best friend since birth, so full of life, could have been callously torn from the world. No sounds were made as he opened and closed his mouth repeatedly. There were no words to be said.

His heart dropped like a stone as he watched her mother kneel down and begin to cry at her daughter's death. He offered a silent prayer to Hades, begging she find her way to Elysium. There was no doubt in his mind she deserved it.

Hands made of dirt rose from the ground to hold his ankles, tendrils of roots snaking up his arms and pushing him down. He screamed, his mouth so raw he could not scream, or breath, all he could see was the dirt. It was mother Earth, taking revenge.

"Remember..."

His eyes shot open, and he stumbled for a moment, remembering where he was. Zoe was still ahead of him, foraging a path through the thick weeds. The light seemed ten times brighter, and he placed a hand at his heart, trying to slow the pace. This shouldn't have happened. He was immortal now, and immortals didn't receive flashbacks nor nightmares.

Thoughts, broken like kaleidoscope glass, tumbled in his mind for a fraction of a second. "I never knew the fates were so cruel...," he spoke softly, trying not to jump to rash conclusions.

"Fate is always what happens to us while we make other plans in life." She muttered somberly, gazing into the dusty horizon. He nodded, even though she could not see, but Zoe felt the recognition of acceptance behind her.

"I know. I'm just... worried." He managed a twisted smile. "Odd, right?"

Zoe's gaze turned stormy. "You're never worried..."

Perseus scrutinized her back for a fraction of a second before exhaling heavily, feeling his breath slowly fan over his face. "I don't know, Zoe. I've been getting this nagging feeling that something bad is going to happen soon..."

Destiny was inevitable, and fate was the same. Unstoppable, with no boundaries until death. Mankind truly was hell.

It was ludicrous to say he never really thought about anything. Revenge seemed pointless, but something inside him begged for him to unleash fury, bottled up anger at whoever crossed his path. He was a maniac, a person who had gone insane with blood, not so different from his Trojan War comrades. Bloodlust could not consume him, because Zoe was his mortal anchor to this world.

Without her, what would he do...?

He sighed, and memories consumed him, once again.

"How do you kill without remorse?" she asked Percy.

Percy glanced at him. "Kill without remorse? I don't think that's possible. Killing another human being is a tragic fate that will scar anyone. Though, I've met some people who enjoy harming others. They aren't in the right mind. Those people are insane."

"But-" Zoe caught himself. Look at you, he wanted to say. He figured that the Son of Poseidon wouldn't take too kindly to that assessment, so he held back.

Percy smiled sadly. The horizon seemed to be his best friend. He kept looking at it. "delude yourself, Zoe." There are many ways I've seen people deal with killing. Some pretend the person on the other end is a monster. Some convince themselves the person on the other end will kill them if they don't kill them first. Other's believe they aren't actually humans, rather some entity pretending to be a human."

She swallowed. "And you?"

"I'm not killing humans. Percy said. His eyes looked lost as if clouded by hatred and insanity. "I'm destroying a legacy, I'm exacting revenge."

"Why don't you rest?" Percy suggested. "I'll wake you up at dawn."

The scene shifts, to another forest, where the two camp for the night.

Perseus and the girl were sitting in the middle of a campfire. They looked as if they'd just finished cooking dinner. They were giving offerings to the fire like they were thanking the gods.

"That was a great idea, you know." He complimented, grinning like crazy. "Crazy, but it was brilliant."

"Not really." She shook her head. "Crazy and insane, more like. I bet on the fact they were stupid enough to take the bait. There were so many ways it could've gone wrong, but I guess the gods were on our side." She laughed.

He chuckled with her, offering another piece of meat to the flames. "To the Gods of Olympus."

Turning back to her, he smiles once more. "And that's because you knew what they were going to do what they did," He argued. "You're brilliant and amazing."

She blushes, staring down at her sandals."I-I suppose."

"Well, that only leaves two more targets. The Hydra and the remaining Titans," Perseus said, poking the ground with a stick. "It'll be hard to defeat the Hydra. I heard Hercules had trouble defeating it... Monsters are hard..." He complained.

She scoffed. "You think it's hard being related to monsters? What we're fighting are monsters in myths. Monsters in reality are Titans like my father." She spat. "And think of the Titans in a world where they lost the war, and being disowned by my father. Who's my ally now?"

He gave her a smile. "I am. And you know what? If the Gods are too paranoid and freaked out by Atlas' daughter we can forget about you joining the Hunters of Artemis. We'll just create our own group, of normal hunters!" He said childishly, laughing.

Her eyes flickered with anticipation and hope. Her face was illuminated by the light, and he got his first good look at her, with no sweat, dirt nor blood. She was the very definition of beautiful and elegant, with dark eyes and long dark hair. She looked like a Persian Princess.

"That sounds... nice." She spoke softly.

Perseus stared at her for a moment before realizing what he was doing, and he hastily looked away. She noticed. He cleared his throat before speaking again, looking up at the clouds. "Maybe we could earn a spot in the sky after completing feats even the greatest Heroes could envy. We could be aionia eftychia."

"Eternal Happiness?"

"Exactly. Eternal Happiness. Forever."

The girl pursed her lips. She couldn't ruin this rare moment of happiness in all the months of travel. She knew she had to join the Hunters of Artemis, sooner or later.

"What about aionioi erastes?"

He suddenly looked nervous. "Eternal... Lovers?"

"Eternal lovers." She nodded quickly, internally chastising herself for saying that out loud.

Perseus blinked. "For what happened to you... To joke about love like that..." He trailed off, remembering her situation with Hercules.

She smiled warmly. "It doesn't matter, Percy. When I'm around you I feel okay to pretend. I know you well enough to understand your feelings for me." She hesitated, remembering his blushed face. "Regardless, it's time for rest. I'll take first watch."

She put a hand on his cheek and leaned in for a kiss. Short, and sweet, tingling on both their lips. He savored it, every moment of it.

When they broke apart, they had bid each other good night, and he walked to the tent he had set up.

He had stayed awake until it was his turn to take watch, and he couldn't help but smile at what had just happened, even if he knew there was no love between them, like siblings in disguise. Nonetheless, he smiled.

"Goodnight, Zoe."

...

He slowly rocked himself to sleep, every night. It had been more than a year now, and it had been the same, killing monsters and traveling around Greece in search of threats. They had both learned hard lessons. Mere demigods could not track down Titans. There was no sign of the Gods, but small glimpses every night from dreams kept them going.

"Zoe," He whispered, sneaking a glance at her stoic face. "Do you sense others in this forest?"

She nodded, placing a sole finger to her lips, a silent command to stay quiet. It seemed she could also sense beings ahead of them. They had scoured the forest for food but had stopped when he sensed something other than animals were nearby.

They breathed in sync, grasping their respective weapons tighter until breathing became almost non-existent until they became merged with the foliage.

"Atlanta, tell the others to set camp here. Rest up and prepare for the trek to Thebes early morning." A female's voice resounded, ordering a teenage girl who looked like she was in charge of the rest. "The same to you, Phoebe." People could be heard shuffling about, setting up tents and shouting commands. Not one male voice was heard, he realized.

His breathing continued at a normal pace again, and his tense body loosened. Beside him, Zoe watched the girls curiously.

"Perce." She whispered, catching his attention. "It appears we have found the Hunters of Artemis."

Panic seized him, and his palms grew sweaty. This could not be the end. The end of their companionship. It was much too fast.

"Indeed, you are correct." A girl spoke up behind them. A bronze tipped arrow was pointed at his neck within a second. More figures appeared, surrounding the two trespassers. He was immediately knocked to the ground, and Riptide, his spear, and shield was taken away from him. Luckily, Judgement was in ring form. Though he would sound like a cocky, arrogant Son of Zeus, Perseus knew he would have no resistance taking all of them down.

"Girls. Give them space. We'll hear them out, and if not..." An auburn-haired girl smirked, rubbing her bow in anticipation. His eyes widened, remembering the stories Artemis had inflicted on males who had come across the camp. He would be incredibly lucky to come out alive, or with his manhood.

Zoe spoke first, placing a comforting hand on his own to calm him down. Inside, he was screaming for her to stop. She couldn't stop his reminiscing what they had discussed. The Son of Poseidon couldn't help but smile - they had finally found them - the Hunters. But the dream of hunting in the woods together became nothing more than a distant pulse, in comparison to reality. All alone, if he were to make it out. His cheeks twitched with immeasurable pain.

"Lady Artemis, me and my companion, Perseus have accidentally crossed your camp. First, we beg for your forgiveness." Artemis nodded, glancing at the two. "Second, I wish to join the hunt. I was a former Hersperide and was cast from my home. I beg for you to take me in." Artemis nods, smiling. "It appears we shall have a new sister. Atalanta, please inform the others."

She had promised.

What did he expect?

Promises were made to be broken - like oaths sworn to break.

Lady Artemis gestures for Zoe to her tent, and she sneaks a last look at him, kneeling, crestfallen.

She was conscience-stricken, but she had chosen. She had to.

The huntresses follow her like sheep until she orders a few to guard him. Was she selfish? Was she too self-indulged in what she wanted? Perseus was still on the ground, his face masked with no emotion. It was typically expected - to know what he felt and thought, but this time there was nothing.

"Come." Artemis' eyes pierced hers - silver meeting brown. "We have much to discuss."

And she takes a step forward, into her inevitable future, away from him.

It was unbearable already.

...

Perseus POV

Within a heartbeat, she was gone. He was ushered out, and she was given a short amount of time to talk. After all, huntresses weren't allowed to talk, much less be near males. That was probably why they hated me. For my very existence.

It felt like everything was in slow motion, reality sinking into my veins like thick liquid metal.

One by one, I was losing everything.

I frowned at myself for being so weak, and my heart swelled in my chest almost unbearably. With a nervous gulp, I turned to leave.

"What about aionioi erastes?"

He suddenly looked nervous. "Eternal... Lovers?"

"Eternal lovers."

It had seemed so true at the time, but I had been a fool to notice the forged imitation of love she had depicted. It was right in front of me, yet I missed it, played along, and now I would suffer for it. Best leave now than to see her once more. Of course, she noticed and grabbed my hand to prevent me from running.

"Percy... Perce...stop." She murmured softly. "Talk to me." I gulped, doing nothing but keeping my mouth shut and gently pulling my hand from her. She was using her nickname for me as ammunition, as proof, she still cared and loved me. That was a lie. A lie written across her face now, even a cow could see.

"Perce, stop." She said seriously. "I understand you're grieving, believe me, I do, but pushing people away will make you feel worse." She spoke softly, but I knew there was more to that. I felt her hand catch my wrist again, and I turned back to her. She'd taken a step towards me, her arm outstretched, making a gap between us. Her body language completely directed towards me.

But it was her eyes that really caught me. They were softer and deeper than ever before. I shook my head, tearing my eyes from her. This was Helen, all over again, and I couldn't let this happen again.

Time stilled, as she gazed at me.

I let out a shaky breath as she took another step forward, closing the gap between us. Slowly she brushed her hands to my jaw, then to before I knew it, cupping my cheeks and gently pulling me towards her. We were inches apart.

"Don't you dare shut me out, Percy," She whispered, half-glaring at my face. I had probably turned pale.

I sighed, looking into her volcanic eyes. I had to tilt my head slightly down to look at her fully. I didn't even care if the Hunters were staring.

"What's the point of letting people in if they're just going to leave you?" I whispered carelessly.

"I have to, but never, inside here." She said stubbornly, pointing to my heart.

I whimpered a little. I couldn't help it. The whole thing was too painful - too overwhelming. But in a way, it was like a goal achieved. I dropped my head further down, shutting my eyes for a moment as I tried to hold back tears. She was, too. Pressing my chin on top of her forehead I sighed.

"One day, we'll meet again. In this world, or the next. Who knows, I might die someday, even as an immortal."

"Don't say that!" She berated, mumbling under my head. "I'm going to miss you, no matter what they think."

I pursed my lips, blinking back tears. "May the years treat you well."

She scoffed into my chest, and I laughed a little. "Do we have to end this on such somber terms?"

"No, and to be honest, I'm not ready to say goodbye yet..." I trailed off.

My heart dropped as I watched her expression unfold. "You gave me my life back, Percy."

Smiling blissfully, I remembered all those happy memories, when we'd swum in that lake, stolen a massive platter filled with Greek cuisine, teaching her how to ride a horse. It was all so precious. I'd keep those memories with me, forever and ever.

"Now let me give you back yours."

"I don't want it without you." I frowned as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

And it all fell apart. It was if the screen between us finally shattered, revealing ourselves, our inner selves. I was seeing her for the first time. Really seeing her."Perce - please -" She pleaded, looking away but I grabbed her closer. Her hand balled up to my chest, sending shivers all over my body. I sighed heavily, looking at her. Her eyes were soft and desperate. I didn't know what to do.

She couldn't be leaving me... Was I in a nightmare?

"You owe me a favor, Percy." She murmured, and my eyes widened, then narrowed in surprise. She wouldn't play that card. "Well, I chose this, and now you have to let me go my own way."

"That's not fair, Zoe." I protested desperately, clinging onto her, astonished by what she was saying.

"I want you to stay away from me." She said, trying to sound confident, when I knew, we both knew, this was breaking her. It came out more like a plea. Shaking my head desperately I tried to imagine myself in a dream, about to wake up. Curse the fates!

"You owe me this." She said clearly and firmly, and the last thing I felt from her was the pressing of soft lips on my cheek. I couldn't even bear to look at the pain in her face. One day, we'll meet again. I promise. I swear on the Styx. I just wouldn't be able to stomach it. So I held my head high, and walked away, away from her, away from us. aionioi erastes.

aionioi erastes...

Walking on and on, through a storm...

On, and on. Without her.

aionioi erastes.

And... cut!

Well, I hope that was a good one. There isn't much time for writing these days, with so much going on, but I manage. It's been nearly a month since the last update so I was feeling a bit guilty for this one. Excuse the emotions. *sniffles*

It's been hard writing this chapter. Ugh, the amount of trouble just writing 7k words. accidentally deleting the entire chapter, writer's block, homework, seriously, the world is against me. Again, I apologize for the ranting at the start of the chapter, but I really hope y'all just click that review button. I'm not even asking you to subscribe.

So, I'll be updating every 2 weeks now, until the end of school (which is about 6-7 weeks from now). Thanks for the support, and don't forget, it's ok to cry...

His laugh was cold and humorless. The mirth died from his eyes, leaving them a dull green, cold, and blank.

"What's more despicable," Percy asked softly, his words deadly and quiet. "The pawn or the player?"

:)