10 years before The Lightning Thief

Aphrodite

Two years passed before Aphrodite heard a knock at her palace's door.

"I need you to hide this from my sight, Aphrodite." Artemis spoke without preamble.

"What?"

"Sorry. The string. It's distracting." Artemis scowled and began pooling the string in her hands. "I was with my hunters and noticed it tangling around a juniper and was distracted. One of my girls...she took a hit that would have sent me flying. She should survive, but…"

Aphrodite nodded. She knew how much Artemis loved her hunters. And the few of her children that could see the strings were often distracted by them. She was used to it. They'd been a part of her life for a few thousand years after all. Her children that noticed them often only saw some, not all.

Of course, not everyone had a string. Some people simply did not have a soulmate. If someone's soulmate died their string would cease to exist. Some soulmates did not live at the same time.

That's how she knew this was Perceus Jackson's third time being reincarnated; it was the third time the string appeared on Artemis's finger.

Aphrodite wished that Artemis had found his last incarnation. She was a brave young girl, who would never back down from a challenge. She would have made a good huntress and a good confident for Artemis. Of course, her fatal flaw was loyalty; that was something that wouldn't change no matter what body and life a soul resided in.

Not all soulmates were romantically involved. Some were simply the best of friends. Their lives were enhanced and better for knowing their other halves. That's what Naia could have been for Artemis several centuries ago.

"Alright. Here." Aphrodite placed her finger on the tie of the string around Artemis's finger. She saw no difference, but Artemis would likely be watching as the cord retreated to her finger until only a ring remained. Concentrating, she made that ring appear to be solid ruby to any observer.

"What's this?"

"When he passes it will fade. In case that was something you would want to know. It's essentially more condensed now, so others will be able to view it, but it can simply pass as a gaudy piece of jewelry that your most beloved sister gifted you." The goddesses shared a smile. Artemis surprised her as she left by throwing her arms around Aphrodite in a hug.

"Thank you, sister," she whispered before returning to the Hunt.