Percy

It almost felt too easy. A pattern. A rhythm. His life, day to day, week to week, month to month.

But a year?

His memory, exact as it was now, left no room for argument. A year had passed. It had felt more like two weeks. A busy two weeks, to be sure, but nothing out of the ordinary in his extraordinary life.

He'd chewed Zeus out twice, publicly. Apollo brought popcorn the second time. He spent time with his father and halfbrother as the occasion called. He had semi-frequent meetings with both Styx and Themis about what would be just and appropriate. He'd even deferred to them when Ares broke four oaths in one day. Percy would have enjoyed making his life miserable far too much. He had trained demigods at both camps. His presence wasn't constant, but it was the norm. Grace grew. Estelle grew. Frank and Hazel finally got married.

And he made his list exceptionally shorter. Yes, it was always growing, but he was proud to say he handled more cases a day than came in.

But now he was on Olympus, surrounded by the eleven Olympian gods who tended their thrones. He should feel intimidated. He did feel annoyed.

"My boy is progressing well in his new role," Poseidon enthused to break the silence. The twelve had been waiting for some few uncomfortable minutes. Percy didn't know what they were waiting for yet, though.

.

Artemis

"I haven't set foot in that forsaken hall in over a decade! What makes them believe I'll run to heel now?!"

Her lieutenant stayed silent and Artemis dared not look at her, fearing an outburst depending on what expression was on the daughter of Zeus's face.

"It's ridiculous! If anything were truly pressing they would know better than to expect me to answer to that man." She stalled and did spare Thalia a glance this time. After all, it was their father she spoke of. Thalia seemed nearly indifferent.

The hunt was difficult for some girls, creating divided loyalties. They pledged themselves to Artemis, yes, but their origins would often stay with them.

"And to think!" she raged on. "He has yet to apologize to my brother! I often think Apollo is the prime example of male depravity, but Father's sheer audacity and misplaced ego dwarfs Apollo's misdeeds by scores!" She took pleasure in sneering the term father into the most atrocious insult she could.

"Maybe Percy will fill you in."

"Excuse me?" She turned to face Thalia head on, her surprise displacing the burning anger.

"Percy is there."

"How… Why?"

"I'd assume the same reason you are being summoned. We were sparring when the summons was sent out. That's how I know."

"I see."

"Are you...upset, Mi'Lady?" Thalia wore a confused expression, which was very out of place on her usually sarcastic or stoic face.

"No, I've told you both, your sparring benefit's your own skills and exercises his focus."

"Then what is bothering you?"

"I don't know. I suppose I just need to acknowledge that I must reenter Olympus eventually."

"Right." The pinched expression on Thalia's face spoke of disbelief, but Artemis wasn't sure what other answer she could give. Or even what question to ask.

.

Aphrodite

The silence was deafening.

Poseidon could only stack so many compliments on his son's shoulders to distract from the tense atmosphere. Next, Demeter gave an update on the year's harvest in a strained voice. Apollo would have been next. Aphrodite had been prepared to listen to at least 13 haikus, but instead he aimlessly strummed his lyre. Anyone who paid a molecule's attention could see that even after these years he still hadn't recovered from his time as 'Lester Papadopoulos.'

Which brought about the present discomfort.

Artemis still hadn't shown up.

Her throne had been vacant for over ten years now, but at least she was tending her domain again. For a time she'd even been absent from her Hunt. It hadn't passed Aphrodite's notice that Perseus was the one who brought her back.

That was another point of discomfort for the love goddess. When would he come for her? She was an oathbreaker, after all.

She studied her the object of her judgement. He favored the appearance he'd died with, though often shifted to a younger state to make those he was training more comfortable. Some kids needed the stability of an adult, while others favored trusting a friend. He discovered each need and adapted to the individuals. Much like how Artemis took on the form closest to her hunters. He never retreated an inch when he was in the right, but she'd seen him apologize when he was proven wrong as well. Even as a god.

Right now his eyes held sea grown hurricanes and his hair spiked in every direction like he'd been struck by lightning. He wore a blue tee-shirt that was just tight enough to show the cords of his muscles. His pants were black jeans and he wore white sneakers. Oddly, no brand adorned the side of his shoes.

She was distracted from her analysis by a bright light to her side.

Artemis occupied the silver throne.

.

Artemis

"Akhlys is still at large." The words echoed around the chamber, spoken before anyone could comment on Artemis's presence. Humidity blew in and Percy's hair swept in several directions as his eyes narrowed and his expression darkened.

"We cannot directly interfere in the lives of mortals, and she has not acted against us since…"

Athena had the good sense to bite off the reminder of the attack on Estelle.

"And what champion would we send against her?" Zeus asked.

Percy visibly bristled at the suggestion that the demigods were at their beck and call, but he held his tongue, more aware of the laws that bound them now than he had been when he'd been such a champion.

"There is no prophecy to guide them," Apollo spoke in a quiet tone. Artemis felt her heart melt anew at the hurt he'd gone through. "We cannot act but through them, and they cannot act without prophetic words. I know Estelle's pain and I've been looking for a way to avenge her. There is no prophecy."

Percy's face fell.

"Besides," Artemis finally spoke up, her voice carrying through the silence it created, "she killed the best of them a year past. What would she do to any sent now? Are we not to protect them?"

The former demigod still looked stricken, but his posture eased slightly. She would need to teach him to better control his countenance.

A silence followed her words as everyone looked uncomfortable, obviously trying to figure out how to move forward without resuming their use of demigods as simple pawns.

"Let's start with the end," Percy spoke up. "What do we do with her when she is found, captured, or killed?"

"Tartarus of course," Ares said, while a few others made similar comments.

"She escaped there once," Athena pointed out. "She has hated us for millenia, and she will continue to try to do us and our children harm. She must be watched."

"So, we need to talk to Hades about a new home for her?" Hera asked, as if 'a new home' was just a remodeled wing of Olympus and not an eternally damned dungeon in the Underworld.

"I can consult him when I leave to see Styx," Percy said helpfully. Artemis hid a grin as everyone twitched at the goddess's name. "So, how do we get her to her 'new home,'" he shot a sarcastic glance at Hera at the word choice, "without using demigods or breaking the Ancient Laws?"

"We find a way to make hunting her fall into one of our domains," Athen said as if it were obvious.

Zeus looked at Artemis, his gaze imploring. She refused to look at him. Her curiosity was the only thing that brought her here, and the unavenged assault on a young girl was the only thing keeping her here.

"She attacked someone in my sister's domain," Apollo said in an uncertain voice, meeting her eye as if asking to continue. She gave him a nod. "And she is the best hunter among us."

"Vengeance will not unbind her," Demeter pointed out.

"It will if she takes a vow!" Athena brightened. "Swear vengeance for the girl and Perseus will be forced to hold you to your oath."

Artemis locked gazes with Percy, who was obviously about to protest.

"I will hunt the one who harmed your sister and she will taste my wrath." Artemis's voice was cold and venomous, with an unsettled anger that surprised everyone in the room, including herself.

Percy closed his eyes and took a breath.

"Don't swear it to me, because I won't hold you to it. I need to see this through."

She regarded him. It made sense. But his desire to do this himself was going to make things more complicated than it needed to be.

"Apollo," she said, still looking at Percy, "I swear to enact vengeance upon the one who has eluded your prophecies, Akhlys." He grimaced, the pact was made. "I'll alert the council when I've cornered my quarry."

"Artemis," Zeus's voice halted her and she struggled to keep the snarl from her lips despite his soft tone. "You will not go alone."

"I have no need for-"

"You will not go alone. You may have been exercising some distance from a poor father recently, but I am still the king of the gods and you will mind my words."

She glared, lifting her chin and regretting stepping foot in this hall.

"You will take the oathkeeper with you."

"You want me to hunt with a man?" she asked, incredulous, considering what happened the last time she had allowed a man on her hunt.

"He was capable before and now… The quest falls in his domain as well and he already informed you of his desire to go. You will do this."

She seethed, but there was no escape.

"I'll speak to Hades," Percy said. "Let me know when you are ready."