It is not common for someone to be an orphan, less to be a double orphan. In reality, Hector was not a double orphan, but the abandonment by his parents was basically the same thing as if they weren't in this world. Being a double orphan had a certain effect on the young boy, as he became less happy overall. He was still very funny in his own ways, but instead of being a happy go-luck child, the boy used humor as a defense mechanism to keep people at a distance.
It also had the effect of him feeling abandonment very easily, as what happened with his friend Annabeth Chase. As soon as she found another friend, the young camper thought it was the end of their friendship and made the radical decision to run away from camp.
Hector felt very connected to certain people but mostly kept his distance from the rest. Even as much as Hera tried to make him look at her as family, the young boy continued to treat her as her boss. She tried to make him call her Hera or Nana, but the boy insisted on calling her Milady or other titles.
However, Hector found himself talking to Artemis with great familiarity despite the "man-hating" reputation she upheld. As he entered her tent, the sight of dozens of animal pelts amazed the fourteen-year-old. A great number of them he could only identify thanks to the classes Chiron had given him. Still, he felt amazed at the beauty of the tent, but even more amazed by how comfortable he felt in such proximity with the goddess, even at her angry state.
"Sit down Hector" The goddess of the hunt commanded.
The brownish haired boy obliged, sitting down directly in front of the goddess. She stayed studying him, from his expression to the color of his eyes, there was not a single detail which passed unnoticed.
"I am here to ask you several questions, which you will have to answer in complete sentences and explain yourself fully. If you lie I will know, although I can't tell you how I will know. Are you ready to start?" Artemis said once she had breathed
Hector nodded his head, "yes Artemis, I am ready for your questions"
Artemis slightly smiled, "perfect. Now first, where did you sent the demigods?"
"I do not know where they are currently at. However, I do know that my boss has taken them to safety. I believe, although I may be wrong, that she has brought them to their parent in order to fully train them for the war. I could be wrong, so please don't take the last part as true. The rest is what happened" Hector explained where he bought the demigods
"Who is your boss? Is she an ally or an enemy?" Artemis asked forcefully
"I am not permitted to telling anyone her name. I can tell you that, although she was once an enemy of the King of Olympus, her loyalty is not to be questioned. She is on your side in this conflict, and by extension so am I"
"If she was an enemy, would you also be an enemy?"
"In all honestly Artemis, I think I would be an enemy. I have done many incredible feats during my life, yet I have not been claimed. I am not the only demigod that has been forgotten by its parent, and it's time the gods learn their lesson. I know that the bad guy is really bad, but for demigods like me, things couldn't get worse, so we would rather fight for change." Hector replied honestly, making eye contact with the goddess
"Maybe you haven't been claimed in order to protect you," Artemis said, trying to make her son know of the very real possibility
"Even if he or she wanted to protect me, I still lacked the knowledge of who it is. No dreams, no visits, not even a sign. The only gods I've talked to face to face have been my boss, Dionysus cause of the whole punishment thing, and you. But my parent has never even tried to make contact with me. It just sucks honestly. And I know that after we're finished fighting for Olympus, you are all going to keep doing the same things you do and we will continue to be screwed over. No offense"
Artemis put her hand up "None taken, I know how my fellow Olympians can be" she looked at the boy in front of her, his light-green-eyes controlling the tears that threatened to fall. "I must ask, Hector, why did you leave camp?"
"How did you know I left camp?" Hector asked suspiciously
"The way you acted outside made it somewhat obvious." Artemis easily lied
"Oh, yeah I suppose that's true. Honestly, I don't even remember why I left. All I know is that I felt betrayed and mad at my friends and Olympus overall, and I just ran away" Hector replied shortly
Artemis raised an eyebrow, "and freezing a certain centaur trainer in time did not affect your decision at all?"
"How did you know about that?" Hector asked nervously
"I look after you, Hector. I saw what happened that day, and then found out everything I could from Chiron. So, is there anything else you're not telling me?"
"Fine, I was playing capture the flag, and nothing much was happening. Then, we won, but out of nowhere, a hellhound appeared and launched towards Annabeth and Alex" Artemis looked surprised.
"A hellhound inside camp borders would mean-"
"That someone summoned it, yeah I know. Anyways, I launched towards Annabeth and saved her, then I saved Alex by killing the hellhound. I was injured from the fight, but Annabeth noticed that Alex had a cut and so he went into the water, was claimed, yadda yadda yadda. I grew angry at my godly parent and then marched towards Chiron and demanded to know who my parent was"
"And I'm guessing Chiron did not tell you"
"Worse, he told me he had no idea. And I know Chiron, he wouldn't lie to me. So I just became really mad, and one thing led to another, and then suddenly I froze him. He stood unmoving for about thirty seconds until I could unfreeze him. After that, I grew scared of myself and ran towards the city. Once in the city, I was going to sleep in Central Park but then my boss found me. She was kinda mean at first, but then she became really sweet"
Artemis sat there trying to figure out who had been the woman who had taken care of her son for the last two years.
"Was there a certain reason why she became sweet with you?" Artemis questioned, trying to see if the answer to the question might help her figure out who the goddess was
"I don't know. Maybe it was the fact that I instantly showed respect, or maybe the fact that I looked like someone she knew from before." Hector answered
Artemis nodded. "I see"
"She did say something about my ring" The boy muttered, loud enough for the enhanced goddess hearing to pick up.
"What about your ring?" Artemis asked carefully
Hector picked up his necklace and showed the goddess the ring. "She asked me where I had gotten this ring, and after telling her that it was the only thing from my godly parent, she became more welcoming. Throughout the years I've been able to find out that I remind her of another boy, maybe a son or something, but I did not wish to ask her about it"
Artemis' eyes widened in the realization of who was the woman her son answered. It was the same woman she detested for making her mother's life so difficult. The woman who had made her own life difficult, and who was incidentally the mother of her husband.
"Is your boss the Queen of Olympus?" Artemis asked in a hushed voice.
Hector's eyes widened and his mouth gaped. Struggling to make the words come out of her mouth, the young boy nodded in confirmation.
"Yeah, it's her. How did you know?"
"Just a feeling. Now answer me, Hector, what powers or characteristics do you believe to have inherited from your parent?" The silver goddess asked, changing the subject
"I would have to say my archery skills, the stopping Chiron thing and controlling wild animals. I'm also quite good with the sword but I don't know if it's because of practice or genetics. Also, the high tides seem to calm me for some reason."
"What about your personality? How would you describe yourself as?"
Hector shrugged his shoulders "I don't know, maybe as funny but also someone who follows instructions. I don't like confined spaces tho, and being close to a lot of people gives me anxiety. I also think of myself as a leader who hates to be told what to do, except when a deity commands me to do so. I can't do much more introspection, forgive me, Artemis"
Artemis waved it off "don't worry"
A comfortable silence fell upon the duo, Artemis studying the physical attributes of her son while he looked at the tent. He had changed since the last time she had seen him two years ago. Instead of a camp half-blood t-shirt, he wore a grey hoodie with a jean jacket on top, and black pants, clearly evidencing the great care Hera had provided. His hair stayed short, but it had become more auburn colored than when he was younger. His stature had also increased, along with his muscles. The only thing that seemed unchanged were his eyes, ever so beautiful. Her little boy had grown into a teenager, one that was able to break many hearts.
"I have one final question Hector if you don't mind. After it, I will call someone to come here and explain what happened with the manticore"
Hector turned his face towards the goddess. "Go ahead"
"If your parents abandoned you in order to protect you, but had been paying close attention to you all these years, would you be able to forgive him or her?"
Hector looked at his necklace for a few seconds, then returned his look to the goddess. "It depends. If he or she has a good excuse and has proven to be there for me, then perhaps I'll be able to forgive. But for now, I do not think I can. After all, the only gods who have done anything for me are Apollo, Hera and you."
Artemis nodded as she grinned a little. "I understand. Now if you'll excuse me for a moment, I have to tell Zoë to bring young Alexander over here, as I have some questions to ask him."
"Is it alright if I stay here? I want to see Alex shitfaced"
"Language!" Artemis scolded
"Sorry"
"Just don't talk with that kind of language. But yeah, you can stay here. Just please don't interrupt me, and don't pay mind to Zoë" Hector nodded at the instructions. He stayed sorted as Artemis exited the tent in search of her lieutenant.
Getting somewhat bored (and very curious), Hector began to look at Artemis' desk. It was a very plain one, with not even a little decoration on it. However, what caught the boy's eyes was a letter addressed to Artemis. Curiosity getting the better of him, Hector extended his arm and grabbed the letter.
As he opened the letter, the tent flap opened, signaling the entrance of the goddess. Before she could look, Hector put the letter on one of the inside pockets of his jacket.
"They should be here shortly. You do not have to worry" Artemis tried to make the boy relax a little.
After waiting for a little while, the tent flap opened, revealing the still-fourteen-year-old huntress and the other fourteen-year-old demigod. Alex sat beside the ex-camper, while Zoë Nightshade sat beside her mistress.
In the following minutes, Alex recalled the whole series of events that occurred during the fight against the manticore. The goddess's face stayed unmoving up until the mention of "The General". Hector looked between Artemis and Zoë Nightshade, who for the first time since he had arrived had stopped glaring at him. They seemed to be very preoccupied with whoever this "General" was.
Hector studied the lieutenant of the hunt facial expression. She went from being a very calculative and cold young woman to a scared little girl. Of course, she was trying to disguise her fear by acting all high and almighty, but just by watching her closely, the facade dropped.
"I must go and hunt this beast," Artemis said breaking Hector from his trance
"You know which beast it is?" he asked the goddess
"I believe so. But, let's pray I'm wrong"
"Can gods pray?" Alex genuinely asked, earning a hint of a smile from Artemis and a jealous look from Hector.
"Zoë, you will be in charge of the hunters in my absence. You will be staying in Camp Half-Blood until my return" Artemis commanded
"But Milady-" Zoë tried to avoid doing her commands
"No buts Zoë. I'm sure Dionysus has forgiven you by now. Besides, I must do this hunt alone"
The hunter nodded and proceeded to exit the tent, leaving both boys alone with the goddess. Artemis turned towards them, looking at Alex with slight distaste and kindly at Hector.
"Let's go outside. Your ride should be getting here any minute now"
As they excited, the rapidness in which the huntresses closed camp surprised the campers. Yes, they had gotten the camp up fast, yet the speed at which they took it down was incomparable.
Alex went towards were Grover and the daughter of Zeus sat. Feeling out of place, Hector walked to the other end of camp and decided to sit next to a tree. He watched in boredom as the hunters prepared to leave and as the campers shared laughs and hateful looks.
"Why don't you join them?" A voice said from beside him. When he turned his head around, he found himself face to face with the same goddess that had interrogated him earlier.
"I don't know, guess I just don't feel part of a group right now. You could say I'm a lone wolf" he chuckled
Artemis looked at him softly, "I know what you mean. You see me around all my hunters, happy and all, but I mostly feel the happiest when I'm alone. However, one day you will find someone who will make you want to be with them all the time, and when you do, you're going to be able to deal with any group of people. Just be patient. But for now, try to integrate more with the group, all right?"
Hector smirked "fine, I'll talk to them on our way to camp."
Artemis noticed how his voice cracked when he mentioned camp. Deciding to use this rare mother-son moment to advise him, she decided to ask him about how he felt.
"Are you nervous about going to camp?" Artemis asked
Hector looked at the ground and began to play with the snow. "Kind of. I'm scared that people will think I'm a traitor, or that Chiron will be afraid of me because of what happened last time. But honestly, I think that deep inside I just don't want to be disappointed with the fact that I won't get claimed."
Artemis had tears close to falling. Thankfully, the fourteen-year-old stayed staring at the ground.
"I'm sure your parent is very proud of you Hector. If I was your mother, I would tell you that you are the best son anyone could ever ask for and that I'm so sorry for not being there for you. You deserve so much more, and you should know that. Be proud of who you are, and don't let hatred define you, because I know that deep down you're a happy child" Artemis said, her voice almost cracking
Hector looked up, his eyes eating Artemis'. A small smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you, Artemis. I'll keep that in mind"
"You better. Now let's go and wait for my annoying brother. He's so lazy during winter"
I know nothing much happened during this chapter, but it's more of an in-look of how Hector thinks like and why he will act the way he does. Next chapter will have more characters. Anyways,I hope you enjoyed!
