Zoe gasped in recognition, but Percy merely sighed. Before them stood the Minotaur, which allowed Percy to mutter under his breath, "How many times must I chop up this piece of beef before it learns not to bother me?"

Getting over his little mutter of annoyance, he crouched down into a ready position, while Zoe could only watch helplessly because her bow was across the room, behind the Minotaur.

Percy sensed this and yelled to her, never taking his eyes off the Minotaur as it prepared to charge.

"In my backpack, there's a pair of hunting knives, but don't bother helping me, guard the door!"

Whatever else might have been said was omitted due to the charging bull in front of him, which he neatly sidestepped and ducked under the Minotaur's arm, and then stabbed it in the back, reducing him into a pile of golden dust. All this occurred in a matter of less than ten seconds.

Zoe had no time to congratulate Percy on his quick kill for no sooner than she retrieved the knives and strode to the door did a hellhound come barreling in, nearly knocking her down before a quick thrust from the knife slayed it.

A whole group barged in after it, but Zoe and Percy were able to deal with it relatively easily. Zoe was exhausted, clearly not in her top fighting condition after the long period of abuse.

Of course, it was at that moment when Percy found himself entranced by her. Her long creamy white legs, her slender waist…

Percy quickly shook himself from that train of thought, Perseus Jackson; you really need to calm those thoughts. Do you want to get promptly murdered by Zoe and then by Artemis if she ever finds out?

No,his rather hormonal side replied, But surely you can appreciate her beauty, I mean, now is the MOMENT! She's tired, cut all over, and somewhat terrified, no matter how much she doesn't want to show it. She needs some comfort. Provide it.

And I'm the one to provide it? Not me, I'd much rather maintain my status of… living, thank you very much. There is literally no way for me to attract her, and I certainly won't force myself upon her. I mean she's a Huntress of Artemis!

Former Huntress you mean….

Percy had no retort, and decided to just ignore the inner voice. Determined to not let his weakening resolve of not looking at Zoe fail, he forced his thoughts elsewhere, such as a plan to get out.

"Percy, we need to leave now." said Zoe.

Percy gulped as he tried to rearrange his thoughts.

"Yeah."

Giving him a questioning look at his briefness, but shrugging it off as post-battle nervousness, she continued.

"There's a massive squadron of at least a thousand monsters coming, so I hope that they aren't blocking the way you came here from."

Grateful for the distraction from his less than decent thoughts, he glanced out the door.

"Shit! It seems Hades was right in mentioning a disturbance from Tartarus. No, they aren't. We'll have to hurry though." Percy said, after a moment of observation.

"Alright then, just let get my bow."

They snuck quietly out the door and were already halfway back to where Hades was looking for Percy before the monsters noticed them and began to charge towards them. Percy and Zoe sprinted back, and while they both made it back safely, Zoe was more winded than she should've been after a short sprint.

They then relayed the information Hades, who promptly summoned his army to deal with the monsters.

"And who's this? Ah, yes I recall. She came here very briefly before Artemis sent her into the stars. How'd you get here? Never mind, just go to Olympus to tell them what happened. I'll get the story from Hermes when he comes. And as for your reward, as a thanks for saving the river Styx and a job done, here you go." Hades handed Percy a black Visa credit card with a skull upon it. "This has most all of the currency that a half-blood would need for a good long time, or to be more precise, 100,000 dollars. Enjoy." His face turned more sober. "There's something else too… Annabeth. I'm sorry."

Hades flashed them away to Camp Half-Blood before Percy could ask about the cryptic message he had said at the end, while he went to deal with the monsters, the very thing he had hoped to avoid.

Percy eyed the credit card, and put it in his pocket, and strangely, Hades had missed and dumped them in the woods, a mile from camp.

They looked at each other shrugged, and began the walk back to camp.

Percy and Zoe were both lost in their own thoughts as they trudged back towards camp. Percy was thinking about Zoe, or trying not to, and the message from Hades. Zoe on the other hand was thinking about Artemis and about how much she missed the Hunt, and if she would be sent back into the stars or allowed to remain on Earth. She sincerely hoped that she would be allowed to remain alive.

They remained in their thoughts until they were interrupted by the distinct sound of Annabeth's voice.

"I love you, Eric."

"I love you too, but what about that Percy fellow? Won't he be mad?" inquired this Eric person.

"I really don't care. I just want to be with you," replied Annabeth.

Percy and Zoe were then greeted by a not so appreciated view of Annabeth kissing Eric into oblivion. Eric and Annabeth then proceeded to engage in some… activities.

Percy stormed off, somehow not alerting Annabeth and Eric due to their attention upon other matters. Zoe followed him and called out.

"Wait!"

Percy paid her no attention and was engrossed in his anger. Why the hell do all of these terrible things happen to me? I'm just one half-blood who has suffered basically my entire life except for Annabeth and my Mom. Now they take away Annabeth. What have I done to you, Fates?

His thoughts were abruptly ended as he found himself facing a literal wall of nocked arrows in a small clearing.

Zoe noticed this too and stopped short just behind him. Before she could say anything, she was greeted by a familiar voice.

"Is that you, Zoe?"

Author's Notes:

Yeah, I was just too lazy to finish this scene and just decided to publish it now here. I've been rather distracted from this fanfic by another pairing, Harry/Fleur, and am currently working on an initial chapter for that so expect less-than-frequent updates. Maybe like once every two weeks like this.

-Dumbothedumbo