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I didn't know what to do. I needed to talk to someone. I thought about talking to Aphrodite, but I couldn't trust her. I searched my brain for someone who could understand my emotions, someone who knew Perseus. I thought of the person and flashed to her location.
I found the person I was looking for; she was sitting under a tree under the night sky. Looking at an old picture of Perseus. I walked toward her, and until I was in talking distance. I observed her as her free golden hair flew with the wind. Her gaze never left the picture, she was holding, tears streaming down her face.
"Annabeth," I called out to her.
Third Person Pov
Annabeth looked up to Artemis, and hurriedly did a bow to the Olympian. She wiped the tears off her face and looked at the goddess, "Lady Artemis, what can I do for you?"
Artemis observed the girl; she didn't seem like the Heroine of Olympus. She looked like a broken woman who had everything taken from her. Artemis didn't understand why? She cheated on Perseus of her own accord; then why was she this affected?
"I wanted to talk to you about something personal, but not here." Artemis looked around for prying ears.
"So where do you want to go?" Annabeth asked the goddess.
"Let's talk in my chariot." Artemis said, touching Annabeth's shoulder, transporting both of them to her chariot.
Annabeth looked around, they were among the stars; everywhere her eyes could see were glittering stars. This was undoubtedly the most beautiful sight she had ever seen, but nothing mattered to her now. She had lost the one person she called home.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Annabeth looked at Artemis for an explanation.
"Why did you do it?" Artemis asked, Annabeth whipped her head so fast that it would've given her whiplash.
"What do you mean?" She asked again, and of all the things she thought Artemis would ask, this wasn't it.
"Why did you cheat on my guardian?" Artemis asked again.
Annabeth closed her eyes, when she heard of Percy. Hermes had announced to the camp, that a new Olympian had emerged, that Perseus Jackson was a god now. She knew that he was chosen as the guardian of the hunt. She knew of his domains, which surprised her.
"I don't know anymore. I used to think it was because I thought I deserved better, but now it is like a haze of darkness in my memories. No matter how much I think about it, I can't understand my own actions." Annabeth said, as tears gathered in her eyes once again.
"Percy always used to ask when we were going to have sex, but I always denied him. Saying that I would only give him my virginity, once we got married, he was the person I trusted more than anyone. I fought with my siblings, I fought with my mother for him. I could never even think to betray him, but it was like one day, I woke up and my feelings changed overnight. I started to question our relationship and felt an overwhelming lust. I gave away the one thing I denied the love of my life, to the first guy I saw. I still can't rationalize why I did it, and it caused me the one thing I wanted more than anything, a life with Percy." Annabeth sobbed and brought her knees to her chest.
Artemis didn't understand what made Annabeth betray Perseus like that, but she knew one thing. Some godly forces were at play here. Artemis tried to see inside Annabeth's mind, but couldn't. Annabeth was right, even Artemis herself couldn't see why her emotions changed overnight. It was like a god was going out of their way, to make sure Annabeth's memory was secure.
Artemis frowned, thinking about who could be the reason behind it. Perseus loved the daughter of Athena with all his heart. If she couldn't be with him, then maybe she could fix this to give him some sort of happiness. Maybe then one day she could also get together with her guardian, whom she loved very much.
Annabeth composed herself, and looked at Artemis, "I'm sorry for burdening you with my problems, but what did you want to ask me about, and how is Percy?"
Artemis smiled, the girl may not be a maiden anymore, but she was a powerful and accomplished woman. Artemis respected that. "Perseus is good, but what I wanted to ask was, how do you feel about Perseus, being the god of sex and harem?"
Annabeth frowned and answered, "At first I was shocked, but I accepted it. I could join his harem in a heartbeat in a second if he accepted me. I know that nothing could change Percy at his core, even if he was a sex god, he would treat all his concubines with respect and care."
Artemis smiled, that was exactly what her thoughts were about him. But still something gnawed at her heart; she decided to ask about that also.
"The reason I wanted to talk to you was because, tonight I heard him talking with his concubine." Artemis started, but Annabeth interrupted her.
"You mean Silena right?" She asked the goddess.
"Yes, the daughter of Aphrodite is the only concubine in his harem for now. And I don't think he is all that excited for getting more." Artemis answered, and Annabeth nodded.
"I heard them talking and decided to listen. Perseus was talking that he was still in love with you, and he was also in love with the goddess he had sworn to protect." Artemis looked away towards the stars to push back the hurt she was feeling, that she couldn't be with him.
Annabeth smiled, the first real smile she had, for a very long time. He was still in love with her; maybe he would accept her, but she knew she couldn't go back to him just like that. She would have to show, that she was sincerely sorry for her actions. She would've felt jealousy before, but knew that now, as a god, Percy couldn't ever belong to just one woman. Strangely, she was okay with it.
"So what is the problem? It sounds like you love him back too," Annabeth said to the goddess; she could see the way Artemis' eyes lit up every time Percy was mentioned. It was the same lovesick look she had seen in the mirrors every day.
Artemis smiled sadly, a lone tear escaping her eyes, "I do, I love him a lot, but I can't be with him. I made an oath to my father to forever remain a maiden; he won't let me back from it. Apollo and Zeus would try to kill Perseus if they learn of our love. While I have no doubt that Perseus could defeat them, I don't want conflict in my family. Even if the family matter was solved, there are my hunters. Who've sworn to follow my ways and remain maiden. What will they think of me?"
"I can't do that to them, while I know that they are in love with him too. I see the way my hunters look at Perseus with love and affection; I can sense their feelings from him. How can I go after what I want? When I have made my hunters sworn not to, I don't want to be a hypocrite." Tears sprang out of Artemis' eyes like a waterfall.
Annabeth didn't know what to do; it was the second time she had seen the goddess cry. She tentatively put an arm around the goddess' shoulder to comfort her, which Artemis accepted.
Both of them stayed silent, for a long time. Suddenly Annabeth had an idea, an idea she wasn't sure if Artemis would like.
"My Lady I have an idea, but I'm not sure you will like it." Annabeth said to her.
"What is it?" Artemis asked without looking up; she didn't believe that she could get out of this situation.
"Why don't you grant your hunters the permission to join Percy's harem, if they want to. You could alter their oaths so that Percy is the only man they would ever love. Because if Zeus was to marry you off to another god, by ancient laws your hunters would become his property; and no god would drop the opportunity to lay with dozens of eternal maidens. He would probably rape them, but you know Percy would never force them into anything. The hunters already have feelings from them, after that only your family squabbles remain. I am sure that Poseidon, and Hestia would never let Zeus, or Apollo do anything rash, and by the council's pressure they would have to accept your decision." Annabeth suggested her plan to Artemis, making the goddess' eyes widen.
Artemis thought about what Annabeth had said. She was a little apprehensive about her hunt joining Perseus' harem, but knew they would be treated fairly. Her hunters already do love him, and most of the council would either vote in their favor, or would refrain from voting. The plan had a 90% chance of success.
Artemis looked at Annabeth, her eyes lit up like the moon they were in, "I see why Athena, has declared you her smartest children till date."
Annabeth blushed from the praise, but refrained from saying anything. She had learned to control her fatal flaw these past few years.
"So have you decided to talk to Perseus too?" Artemis asked Annabeth.
"I don't know, on one hand I would love nothing more than to be with him again, but on the other hand he has seen me give away my maidenhood to someone else, while I refused him. I know that he is not shallow to think of a person less because they do not have their virginity intact, but I feel impure for him." Annabeth said as tears once again started pooling up in her eyes.
Artemis had an idea, but she didn't know if the daughter of Athena would accept it or not. "In my birthplace, the island Delos, the pool I used to bath in has special property. It can return a woman's maidenhood, but it is painful for a mortal, as it was created for me, an immortal. The pain you feel would be worse than anything you've felt, it would be like bathing in the Styx. But if you step in with pure intention, it would return your maidenhood to you."
Annabeth's eyes widened; she didn't even have to think about it, "I will do it." She said with such determination that even Artemis was shocked.
Artemis nodded and gave her the location to Delos, "You would have to make the journey on your own, you can only take help from an animal to reach the island. Once you've reached the island and completed the purification, pray to me and I will come get you; but I can't help you before that."
Annabeth nodded and jumped towards Artemis; she tackled the goddess into a tight hug, saying thank you repeatedly.
Artemis laughed and flashed Annabeth to her cabin, to prepare for the journey.
Line-Break
After talking with Annabeth, Artemis was feeling pretty good, and she was roaming around Olympus chatting with the nymphs and minor goddesses. She felt two presences lurking in the shadows, following her.
Artemis walked into an alley and waited for them to follow, when the two people followed her. They saw Artemis lean against the wall, playing with her knife.
Artemis looked up with a fake smile plastered on her face, "Hello Nephews, nice day to stalk your aunt isn't it?"
Phobos and Deimos gulped, and looked at each other, before Phobos spoke up, "We have an interesting information concerning the new Olympian. We would tell you, in return you have to save us from his wrath." Deimos nodded along with his brother.
Artemis frowned, what kind of news would they have, that would make them afraid of Perseus' wrath. "I'm listening." She said to them and motioned for them to start.
The brothers looked at each other and started.
Line-Break
Artemis flashed herself to Camp-Half Blood, and searched for Annabeth frantically, but couldn't find her. She saw the trainer of heroes, and immediately went up to him.
Chiron saw Artemis and was about to bow when Artemis stopped him. "No time for that Chiron, where is Annabeth?"
Chiron frowned, his thousand years of instincts telling him something drastic was going to happen. "She left early in the morning, she borrowed a Pegasus and left. She said, she received an urgent quest from a God directly."
Artemis cursed herself and flashed away to Perseus' island. She found him sleeping under a tree surrounded by his wolves, different animals and birds. If she had time, she would've stopped to admire how adorable he looked.
Artemis shook him awake; before he could say anything; she said, "Annabeth is in danger," and flashed themselves to Olympus.
Percy looked around Olympus, confused, why was Annabeth in danger, and why was Artemis dragging him to Athena's palace.
"What happened to Annabeth?" Percy asked, his patience wearing thin.
"Not now, Athena would have to know too," Artemis said, as they reached Athena's palace.
Before they could even knock, the door opened. There stood the goddess of wisdom, looking as regal as ever. Her black hair freed and cascading from her head, gray eyes that screamed danger. The eyes that scared Percy more than anything when he was a demigod.
"Perseus, Artemis to what do I owe this pleasure?" Athena asked, looking at the two gods standing in her doorway.
"It's about your daughter, let's go in." Artemis answered, making Athena's eyes widen; she looked at Percy for an explanation, who shrugged.
The three of them went inside the palace and situated themselves on the couch, "Now can you tell me what is going on?" Percy asked, the suspense was killing him. Athena nodded along with him.
"You know how Annabeth cheated on you all those years ago?" Artemis looked at him; his mood dropped, and the room darkened a bit.
"Please tell me, you did not just wake me up to remind me of the most painful day of my existence." Percy growled lowly, like a wolf seconds away from attacking.
"Apparently she didn't cheat on you from her own free will." Artemis said, and Percy stood up, enraged.
"What do you mean, what was the reason then?" He hissed as his aura leaked around and the two goddesses could feel time around them slowing down.
Artemis looked at him sternly and said, "Sit down, shut up and listen carefully."
Percy was about to refuse, when he saw Athena also glaring at him; he sat down after that.
Artemis turned to Athena, "You remember how Aphrodite used to gush around Perseus' and Annabeth's relationship saying that nothing could break them apart."
Athena nodded, remembering the love goddess' words. She used to frown thinking that the sea spawn was not worthy, of her daughter.
"Eros took that as a challenge and decided to use his powers over people's lust, and changed Annabeth's feelings, so that she would not have a chance to fight against it. He made her feel the exact opposite of her true feelings, her love turned to hubris and lust." Artemis could see that Percy was breathing heavily as he was having trouble containing himself.
"But Aphrodite said that she could not detect any love magic from my daughter. How did that happen?" Athena asked her sister; her own anger was growing by the minute.
"Circe helped him, she wanted revenge on Percy and Annabeth for destroying her island so she created a potion to remove any love magic residue from Annabeth. So that Percy believed that she did everything of her own accord," Artemis said, making their eyes widen further.
It was a plan worthy of Athena; no direct attack, but a fatal one. They had almost destroyed Percy with their plan.
"How did you know this and how is Annabeth in danger?" Percy asked, his eyes having turned pure golden. No shade of green left in them. Artemis gulped, knowing that by the end of the day a god was going to fade.
"Phobos and Deimos knew of it 5 years ago, but decided to ignore it. Now they asked me to save them from Perseus' wrath and confessed everything to me. Today I was talking to Annabeth and told her about my sacred bath on the island." Artemis said to them.
Athena gasped as she realized what was going on. Percy was more confused than ever, and looked at Artemis for further explanation.
"My sacred bath has property to return a woman's maidenhood, but it is as painful as bathing in Styx for a mortal. Annabeth said she would do whatever was necessary to show Perseus that she was sorry, she left for the island this morning. Eros and Circe are figuring out that their secret is going to come out, so they are sending the Kraken, and the Basilisk to ensure that Annabeth doesn't return from her journey alive." Artemis told them, and Athena stood up to save her daughter. She turned to Percy, but he was already gone.