Artemis POV

"Please kill me" continued Perseus between sobs.

"No" I replied, surprising myself. Most of us know me as a man-hating goddess...which is partially true but it was because I never found someone worthy enough to be called a man. All of them were self-righteous bastards. Always trying to run away and protect themselves when faced with problems, yet taking all the credit for a job they got help with.

Even though I hated males and enjoyed turning them into animals and castrating them, the same couldn't be applied to Perseus. He seemed to be...different.

To say he was handsome would be an understatement. Before we continue saying that I am a maiden goddess and I can't say stuff like that...well I am just describing him. Also, many people don't know my condition of the oath of maidenhood. Not that I want people to know...
So yeah, Perseus was downright handsome. He had a frame of about 6 ft with very prominent features. For once he had the face of a god, high cheekbones, well-defined nose, strong jawline, and very sea-green eyes that felt like even a ship can be lost in them. He had broad shoulders and pretty toned muscles and had a perfect beach-tanned body that showed out of the chiton he was wearing.

Hearing my reply Perseus was taken aback.

"Aren't you going to turn me into an antelope, Milady? Like you do to males." He asked with big watery eyes.
(A/n: no jackalope bcuz they were not created back at that time)

I couldn't help but take pity. I asked him to wait while I signaled Zoë to come over. She instantly came. Seeing him, she notched an arrow. But as soon as he saw the condition he was in, even her aim wavered. Although it was only for a second as she already had a strong grip on the bow and drew it. I waved her off.

"What is it about him, Milady?" Zoe asked.

So I explained to her what he told me his name, parentage and what he had told me about his mother and what he aims to become, the heartbreak of losing a family member. Zoe kept quiet and heard it all but never let the boy out of sight. Once I finished, Zoe started her barrage of questions. Some were normal questions and others were personal which even I didn't know the answer of. But then one thing struck me or rather one sentence.

"Why do you trust him milady? He could have been lying. He may be acting that way to gain your trust. After all, he is one male. All males are the same" Zoe suggested.

As much as I wanted to trust my lieutenant, the tug in my gut said otherwise.

"Tell me Zoe, have you ever heard a boy call another man 'Filthy Male'? Tell me, how many males have you seen who come to me begging to die just to join their adopted sister in the underworld?" I asked as Zoe shook her head and for the first time since she joined the hunters after the Heracles incident, I saw sympathy in her eyes for another male.

"What are you Perseus?", I thought, "You already not only won my confidence but also that of a huntress who you didn't even speak to. You truly are something. You have my respect Perseus Achilles."

Suddenly my thoughts flashed back to the previous Council meeting.

FLASHBACK

I arrived at the Olympus Throne room as my father called a council meeting. Hera, Demeter, Athena, and Dionysus were already there while others flashed in within 5 minutes. As it was a weekly routine meeting, Everyone started to fill in about their share of work and domain. I told them about me leading the hunt to take down the Nemean lion. All in all, it was another meeting of pure and torturous boredom. Soon I lost interest in the meeting and found myself lost in my thoughts about the monsters and animals I had hunted over time. All was good until Zeus boomed and brought everyone to attention.

" Attention Olympians!" boomed Zeus. "A great Prophecy has been revealed by not an Oracle but the Fates themselves."

Oh great! Just what we needed. I thought.

"This is also the reason more and stronger monsters of Tartarus are reaching the surface world. Before you ask about the prophecy, it will come later. First I must tell everyone, especially Artemis, with more and more monsters surfacing, the lives of demigods are in danger. But demigods can somewhat find solace in Camp Half-Blood. But it is not safe in the case of the Hunters."

I sat up and glared at my father. "Are you suggesting we are not capable of looking after ourselves?" I yelled.

What he said surprised everyone.

With somewhat of a hurt look, my Father continued "Daughter, it is not that I don't believe you will not be able to look after yourself. In fact, I am proud to have a daughter like you. This is because I care for you and our hunters. Unlike Demigods, you roam the earth freely and thus are more vulnerable to attacks and I can't bear the fact that it might endanger you."

Everyone was shocked to see this side of Zeus. Sensing this, his face grew stern once again.

"As decreed by the Fates themselves, you are to find yourself a Protector, The Protector Of The Hunt, by the end of this month. As much as you hate males, it has been ordered by the Fates that it has to be a male."

"NOOOOO!NEVER! How could you Father? How could you do this?" I screamed.

Zeus hit his Master bolt on the floor effectively shutting every conversation.

"It's either that or I will give you a Protector of my choice."

I was about to flash out when Athena asked what the Prophecy was. At that moment the Fates appeared. They spoke in unison.

"The Prophecy shall be revealed, but conditions are there. First, Phoebe Artemis must not learn about it. She will realize as the time comes. Second, Poseidon shall learn only half of it and may learn the rest as the time comes. Third, others who will learn of the Prophecy, including Hestia and Hades, shall swear by the Styx not to reveal it to the ones who shall not learn."

I started to protest but was cut off by the Fates. "Phoebe Artemis, you shall take your leave at once and look for the Protector. Anything else is non-negotiable."

Left with no other choice, I flashed to the camp.

PRESENT DAY

I pondered over that meeting. How my hunters reacted. All of them were ready to kill any Protector that came our way. Though they had to accept Fate and agreed on having a Protector but not before promising that they would make his life so miserable he would probably run away.

I cleared my thoughts and looked at my Lieutenant.

"What if we make him the Protector of the Hunt?" I asked.

"Milady why should we trust him with that position. We do not even know him properly. He is a male, males are known to betray for their own credit." Zoe said.

"Well it is either he or Father chooses randomly. Well, we also seem to have already seen how different he is. For the sake of his sister, he was ready to die. And he already has a vile male radar built into him. So why not give him the position for one week as trial and then we decide as to keep him or not."

"What if he tries to make a move on us hunters Milady?" Zoe added with concern.

"If that be the case let us say Tartarus may be a better option for him."

This somewhat satisfied Zoe and she nodded.

Turning towards Perseus I noticed he was still weeping. I asked him "Would you like to honor your mother's wish? Would you like to live again if you are given the opportunity to prove that you are different from other males?"

He slowly looked up, his eyes devoid of emotion, full of sadness. He said," If the purpose is to live by example, to show men to be different, then I am ready to go any length. To redeem me from being just another male, I am willing to even die."

It was hard not to sympathize with him. Even Zoe, the most man-hating of them all, seemed to be sympathizing.

I said, "Will you be able to take the position of the Protector of the Hunt?"

His eyes widened, and he gasped." But milady I was not able to protect even my sister, also other than that I am just a male...not even worthy of your respect. Why me then? There are plenty of girls out there more capable than I could ever be. Why are you asking a male?"

Zoe beat me in answering him. She said, "We don't have a choice between a boy and a girl. We saw what you did for your sister. Since we don't have a choice, we are willing to give you a chance. You have one week to prove yourself. You will only be accepted if meet our expectations. This will also give you a reason to live. Don't flatter yourself though, one false move and you will wish Tartarus gets you first."

I looked at my lieutenant with pride. Ever since what that dipshit Hercules did to her, she never even talked with males much fewer chances of speaking with sympathy. Yet here she was talking to the boy with sympathy visible in her eyes.

He looked at us," Miladies are you sure? I would never like to offend you. So wouldn't my presence in your camp defile it?"

I looked at him and said," You just told me your mother asked you to live by example. Prove us. You have been given the chance to do so. Make her proud. I know my hunters won't be able to accept you instantly so prove to them that you are different. Prove them as you proved us."

He looked at us straight in the eye, his own sea-green eyes filled with immense determination while kneeling in a bow we had never seen before. He was kneeling on one knee, his right fist curled and rested it on his heart while his left hand was on his side, where the weapons generally are. Strange but never the less looked impressive...not that I would ever tell him.

[A/N: Imagine the bowing in Attack on Titan]

Still holding his gaze, he said, "Thank you Miladies, as giving someone such as me a chance to prove myself, I shall try to uphold my mother's wish. I am ready to leave shall I be determined unfit and may painful death overcome me shall I try to make any move on your hunters."

Both me and Zoe were impressed by his promise. Out of curiosity, Zoe asked, " What is with this bow of yours? Who taught you?".

He replied respectfully. "Miladies I was not taught this. This is in memory of my sister. She used to love it when I bowed like this. She was the one who convinced me to bow like this everywhere. Bowing as such keeps her alive in my memories. I will stop at your command if you wish."

I said "No need to hesitate to bow like this. Tell me boy do you know how to fight other than using your powers?"

"Milady, I was taught by my mother before she passed. Her family was from the East hence I have somewhat different methods of wielding. I will stop if you command and learn the original way of wielding."

"We shall see about that tomorrow. For now, you are given 1 week to prove your worth. You are to respond to all orders given by us and shall face our wrath if you move on my hunters. Do you agree to these terms, Perseus Achilles?" I said.

"In the name of my sister and mother, I accept your terms and promise to treat your hunters like I would have treated my mother and sister" Perseus replied solemnly.

"Then we shall start tomorrow. For now, I need to meet my hunt. Follow us boy."

As I and Zoe started walking, he got up, covered her sister in a shroud, and burned it; giving her a proper burial. Then with a determined face, he started walking the way we came.

A/N: (Patting myself on the back)

Phew!

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Ciao.

-KK42069

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