Disclaimer - I do not own PJO or HOO. All rights to our dear Uncle Rick.
AN: Hey! I'm back with my Monday update! It's earlier than usual but I think everyone is okay with this.
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. The story is only getting started!
- Kathy
Artemis sat on her moon chariot, her hand supporting her head as she leaned on the side, peering down at the view below her. The forest was pretty quiet, the leaves dancing with the autumn wind as Artemis closed her eyes, enjoying the cool breeze against her skin.
Everything was blurring together. Her thoughts, her emotions, her actions surrounding her best friend, Percy. The more she tried to understand it, the more confused she was.
We're just friends, nothing else, nothing more, she thought to herself, ignoring the part of her that wanted to be more than friends. She shoved the feelings aside without giving them any more thoughts but it was starting to annoy Artemis.
The foreign feeling.
Just take a break from being with him, a part of her whispered and she agreed to it almost instantly. If it means the feeling would go away, she would go for it. At least for a while. It's her most logical option.
But it'll worry him, was her other thought as she pondered over her first idea.
Or you can just confront Percy about it, another part of her whispered but Artemis quickly shoved it away, another feeling slowly rising.
Fear.
She fears losing Percy, of what would happen if she told him. Told him about the weird tingly feeling she was feeling.
She needed time for herself. She needed time to sort out her thoughts before she faced the problem head-on. Artemis wasn't usually the person to run away from her problems but this one was too frustrating for her to face just yet.
I'll get to it one day, was her only thought as she landed the moon chariot next to her hunter's camp, getting off the chariot as she snapped her fingers, changing back into her normal hunting attire.
Thalia was waiting for her on the border. "How was the hunt, Artemis?"
Artemis stumbled with her words for a while before quickly composing herself. "It was quite great actually. Is there anything to report?"
Thalia shook her head slightly. "The last hunt was normal. Though our scout reported that she saw a new brand of monsters."
Artemis furrowed her eyebrow in confusion as Thalia started to explain. "She reported that the monster looks deadly-"
Artemis cut Thalia off before she could continue. "Aren't all monsters deadly?"
"Just listen, I'll get to it," Thalia promised as she continued. "It has black blood instead of red and its sense is better than most. That's all the information we could gather without getting too close and being attacked."
Artemis nodded with a thoughtful look on her face, thinking that there's something familiar about the monster that she couldn't quite place. She had hunted many different monsters in her life but never once had she encountered a monster with black blood. Although her memory couldn't quite place any monster like that, she kept on getting the feeling that she had.
"Thank you, Thalia, you may rest now," Artemis informed her as Thalia quickly dipped a half bow and walked off toward her tents, knowing full well that Artemis would put a small spell around camp whenever she's around. It can't hold off stronger monsters like the Echidna or immortals but it provides them the protection they need.
Artemis walked toward her tent, still in her head even after she changed and got into her bed, pulling her blanket up to her chin, trying to block out every thought and just relax and live in the moment. She closed her eyes, soon falling into a restless sleep, dreaming of the son of Poseidon.
Percy paced around his living room, staring at the clock every once in a while as he mumbled under his breath. "She's just late, that's all. Not that she was ever late or anything…"
He stared up at the clock once more as the clock struck one. He only got more and more worried as time went by. They had made a silent agreement a while ago, that Artemis would always come on Saturday. Usually at eleven. Never once was she late and never once was she early.
"Maybe something just needs her attention right now," Percy tried to convince himself as he flopped down onto his couch, thinking back to last Sunday, wondering if it's something he said that made her leave so early.
"Maybe she hates it when people tease her," Percy pondered over the thought as he tried to come up with more reasons.
"What if she hates me?!" Percy suddenly gasped as he jumped up from his couch. He started pacing again as a bright light appeared and he quickly closed his eyes to avoid going blind. When Percy opened them again, Artemis stood there, many parts of her hunting clothes torn as she struggled to straighten out some parts.
"Artemis?" Percy called out in surprise as Artemis offered him an apologetic smile. "What happened?"
"Just a small monster attack," Artemis said casually as she brushed off monster dust on her clothes. Percy just stared at her in surprise as Artemis looked up once more, raising her eyebrow. "What?"
"Nothing," Percy quickly looked away as Artemis chuckled slightly. "So… are you sure it's just a small monster attack? I'm pretty sure your hunters can handle small attacks."
Artemis punched his arm playfully as she groaned and snapped her fingers, changing into casual clothing.
"Are you saying my hunters can't handle themselves?" She asked with a slightly challenging tone as she glared at him threateningly, making Percy gulped.
"Uh… what I meant was… are you hurt?"
"No, Percy," Artemis rolled her eyes. "I am not hurt. And fine, maybe it's not just a small monster attack. It a little larger than normals monster groups… but that's not the point. Sorry for worrying you."
"Worrying me?!" Percy exclaimed as Artemis looked startled at his sudden outburst. "You made me panic, thinking something happened to you and it'll all be my fault."
"How would it be your fault? You weren't even there during the monster attack," Artemis pointed out as Percy glared at her. She added quietly. "Sorry for worrying you."
Percy wrapped his arms around Artemis as she hugged him back unconsciously. "All that matters is that you're here now. And you're safe."
"I'm a goddess, Percy," Artemis rolled her eyes once more. "I can't die."
"But you can fade-" Percy argued.
"But I can recover from fading," Artemis countered as she cut him off mid-sentence. "Seriously, I'm fine Percy, stop being a momma bear!"
Percy frowned at her. "Did you just compare me to a bear?"
"Too protective for your own good," Artemis continued as Percy scowled.
"Seriously?" He deadpanned as Artemis crossed her arms.
"You know I'm right."
"Okay, maybe slightly right," Percy started, thinking over his actions. He couldn't help it though, he wants every one of his friends and family to be safe.
Artemis stared at him as he groaned. "Fine, you're right. Happy now?"
"Very happy," she smirked as she looked around his living room, noticing a change in the surrounding. Her eyes lingered on a guitar leaning against the wall. "You play guitar?"
Percy's eyes followed hers as she nodded slightly. "I mean I'm not the best at it but I'd been teaching myself for a while ever since Paul got it for me after the war ended."
"I bet you're amazing at it," Artemis blurted out as Percy shrugged and walked over. He took a guitar and strummed a few notes. Artemis walked toward him.
"Not really," he said, pushing away the somewhat compliment. "I'd just recently taken it out."
"Is that why I have never seen it before?" Artemis wondered as Percy nodded again, looking down at his left hand as he pressed in on a few strings, strumming it once more.
"I actually forgot about it," he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head as Artemis chuckled at her best friend.
"Why am I not surprised?"
"What is that supposed to mean?!" Percy protested, pouting as Artemis punched his arms playfully, making him rubbed them. "Okay okay, I know what it means."
"You better not have forgotten your own birthday," Artemis joked as Percy laughed, pretending to think.
"I forgot… is it in July?"
Artemis punched him playfully again. "No dummy, my birthday is in July. Yours is in August!"
Percy groaned as he laid his guitar down on the ground and rubbed his arms once more. "Why so hard, Arty?"
"Because you deserve it," Artemis replied simply as Percy pouted. There was a comfortable silence for a while before Percy spoke up again, his voice laced with curiosity.
"I never get it though," he started as Artemis raised her eyebrow. "I never know god's keeps track of their birthdays. Since you guys are so ol-" he quickly changed his phrasing mid-way through his sentence seeing the look Artemis was sending him. "You guys live for such a long time. I thought you would have forgotten it by now."
"I could never forget about the day I was born," Artemis scowled as she stared at the wall in front of them, where the guitar was previously leaning. "Lots of gods forgotten already… but I could never forget."
"Why?" Percy blurted out before covering his mouth, seeing the look Artemis was sending him.
"None of your business," she replied calmly, making Percy frown inwardly. They had never really held back about anything before, he doesn't understand why Artemis is doing it now but there must have been a reason. He chose not to push it as he coughed awkwardly, trying to break the tense atmosphere.
"How about I show you some of the songs I learned?" He asked as he picked up his guitar. Artemis didn't respond for a while before nodding.
"Let's see if you can play more than Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars or Marry Have A Little Lamb," Artemis teased.
"Hey!" Percy protested as he glared half-heartedly at her. And just like that, the previous tension was broken.
"Hunters! Set up camp!" Artemis called out as her Hunters moved to a new location. They did that every two months or so. It's better to keep moving instead of staying in the same place at once, not wanting to attract any monsters.
"Yes milady," echoes through the clearing as the hunters start their jobs. Some setting up the archery range and training area, some setting up the tents all with different uses, some setting up the eating area, some taking out their own tent and settling it up. Artemis watched from the sideline as she set up her own tent as well, throwing a box-like thing onto the ground as it turned into a tent.
Suddenly, a tingly feeling appeared in the back of her mind as she groaned inwardly, knowing it's another council meeting. Watching her hunters for a while before she called out.
"There's a council meeting I must attend," she started as heads turned her way. Artemis looked toward Thalia who nodded in understanding. "Thalia, you're in charge until I get back."
"Yes, milady," she said with a teasing grin in her eyes, knowing how much she hates formality. After Thalia joined the Hunters, she became a sister Artemis never had. Although she has many half-sisters throughout the years with the number of children her father sire, Thalia was the first person who felt like a real sister to her. Artemis glared half-heartedly at her before flashing away, appearing on her throne as she straightened herself.
She looked around the throne room, noticing Aphrodite, Ares, and Hermes missing. Artemis looked toward her father, noticing his look of annoyance as Ares and Aphrodite finally flashed in together and Hermes a few seconds later. Aphrodite and Ares barely said anything as they walked toward their throne but Hermes smiled apologetically at Zeus.
"Sorry I'm late," he started as he settled down on his throne. "Some packages I need to deliver."
Zeus waved him off as he looked around the throne room, making sure everyone was paying attention before finally speaking up. "I'm sure all of you have noticed the strange stirring of monsters."
Artemis nodded, her eyes widening slightly, not knowing her father could sense something similar as well. She noticed Poseidon shifting nervously on his throne as her eyes narrowed in his direction. She caught his eyes, seeing uncertainty as he quickly looked away. Artemis frowned at the behavior as her sister, Athena, spoke up.
"Father, if I may," Athena looked toward Zeus, who gestured for her to continue. Athena stood up from her throne and walked toward the middle of the room, glaring at Hermes and Apollo while doing so when she saw them listening to music. She made sure to kick Dionysus' shin to wake him up as well.
"Hey!" He protested as he shot up from his throne. Athena rolled her eyes as Hestia to look at Dionysus with disappointment, making him look away from her stare.
"I suspect it must be a new brand of monsters," she started, earning a nod from her father. "I had never seen anything like them. Normal weapons don't kill them, I had tried. I… honestly do n-not know how to defeat them," she choked out the last words as if it's poison, making Poseidon snickered on his throne and lots of gods to hide their laughs.
Athena glared at Poseidon, her eyes cold as Poseidon started laughing. "Athena… doesn't know something!"
"Are you saying you know any better?" Athena countered as Poseidon opened his mouth to form a word but it never left. Artemis frowned once again at his strange behavior, he looked like he's surely hiding something. The Poseidon she knew would never hold back if he knew something Athena doesn't. Athena took his silence as the reply. "That's what I thought."
Artemis' mind flashed back to when Thalia told her the Hunters had encountered those kinds of monsters. They hadn't tried to kill it but maybe they'll have to learn how to kill it really soon. Athena was about to speak up again but suddenly, Apollo collapsed on his throne.
Everyone looked over, concern presented on everyone's face except for a few like Ares, Aphrodite, and Hera. Artemis ran forward. She may not like him that much but he's still her brother. She gently put her hand on his forehead before pulling away quickly, feeling how hot his forehead is.
"He's burning up," Artemis stated as Dionysus spoke up lazily.
"He's the sun god."
"Yeah, and none of us know that," Artemis said sarcastically, making Hermes raised his eyebrow.
"Are you being sarcastic?" He asked as all the gods looked toward Artemis, making her rolled her eyes but ignoring their stares. She was about to reply to them when Apollo suddenly gasped, his eyes turning green as smoke surrounded him. When he spoke, his voice was more ancient, different, like three Apollos were speaking at once.
Artemis shuddered at the thought of three Apollos.
"Children of lightning lead the way
A soul exchanged in the shadow of day
Pit of internal doom they must travel
A bittersweet truth to finally unravel
The beginning will come to a violent cease
With the help of the darkness' niece
Daughter of dove, son of the sky
The time rewind, a final sacrifice," With the last word spoken, Apollo collapsed on the ground once more.
Percy grumbled as he stared at the words floating off his English essay he was writing by hand, not trusting himself to use a computer after the incident last time. He had been trying to type up his essay when a monster had attacked him, almost destroying his apartment. Thankfully, he killed it in time.
He scribbled in annoyance on his paper, crumbling it as he threw it toward the trashcan like a basketball. He took out another line paper as he started his essay once again, trying to make his handwriting as neat as possible and trying to sound smart by repeating some of his phrasings just in different words.
As he continued to write, the words started floating off the paper again as Percy finished the first page, making him groaned again.
"Just let me get through this one essay, can you?" Percy groaned as he closed his eyes and opened them once more as if it'll make everything better. It didn't help with anything, only making him more annoyed and frustrated as he took the cup of water next to his desk, feeling a bit better.
He got off his chair as he flopped back onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his thoughts once again going back to Annabeth. He couldn't bring himself to let go of her, she will always have a place in his heart as a little sister he never has. But he also knew Artemis was right, he needed to learn to let go.
He knew that no matter what happened, he won't ever forget her but he doesn't know how he could move on from her death, how he could move on with his life. Her death cuts a little too deep and it hurts every time he thinks about it.
Percy knew for sure that Artemis was helping with it. Every time he sees his best friend, he couldn't help but smile and laugh as they explore many different places, having fun together.
"She'll always be there in your heart."
Artemis's words echoed in his mind and he moved his hand to his heart, feeling the steady beating. A small smile appeared on his face as he closed his eyes slightly, vowing that he'll never forget Annabeth but vowing that he'll somewhat move on from her death, he'll learn to live again, taking baby steps.
The ringing of his doorbell interrupted his thoughts as he frowned, not expecting anyone. He took Riptide out of his pocket, just to be safe. He crept toward his door as he took a calming breath and swung it opened. If it's a mortal, they can't see the sword either. If it's a monster, well, one less monster to worry about.
He didn't expect his cousin, Thalia Grace, to be standing on the other side with a raised eyebrow when she saw the way she greeted him. She invited herself in as she looked around. "That's quite a nice greeting you got there, Kelp For Brain."
Percy rolled his eyes as he shut the door behind him, locking it in the process. "I wasn't expecting you to visit, Pinecone Face. How did you find me anyway?"
Thalia didn't respond, just flopping down on his couch as she flipped her hair dramatically. "Oh, you know? I'm a hunter, tracking people is kinda my thing."
"I thought it was tracking monsters?" Percy asked, confusion laced in his voice as Thalia punched him on the arm.
"You're dense," she said simply, her electric blue eyes holding mirth. Percy glared at her.
"You're annoying," he countered.
"And you're insufferable," Thalia huffed as Percy glared at her once more.
"You're…you're…"
"Cat got your tongue, Percy?" Thalia teased as Percy tackled her suddenly, sending them both trembling toward the floor. What he didn't think of was that his cousin would land on top of him.
"Get off me," Percy groaned. "You're so heavy."
Thalia gasped in offense as she rolled off Percy, punching his arm for the second time that day, this time with electricity in her punch. "Are you calling me fat, Perseus Jackson?"
"Yes...?" Percy rolled off to avoid the punch being thrown his way as Thalia glared at him murderously. Okay, maybe angering a daughter of Zeus isn't the best idea, he thought to himself as he quickly stood up, running toward his front door. But Thalia was faster as she tackled him as well.
"You're not getting away that easily," Thalia said darkly as she punched him in between words. Percy looked around for something to free him from.
"I thought you love me," Percy pouted as Thalia glared harder, making him mumble under his breath. "Woman and their mood swings."
Thalia punched him even harder on his shoulder as Percy groaned in pain.
"Man and their mood swings," Thalia mocked as Percy sighed.
"Okay okay, fine, I get why you hate me. Can't you get off me now?"
"Fine," she huffed as she pulled Percy up with her, straightening out the wrinkles in her clothes casually as if she didn't just try to punch him to death.
"So…. why are you here?" Percy asked as they both settled down on the couch, with Thalia putting her leg on the coffee table, earning a protest from Percy but he didn't do anything to stop it. He couldn't help but add in the end. "And how did you find me?"
"Well, you're my cousin and I miss you," Thalia announced as Percy stared at him in disbelief, making Thalia sighed. "Okay fine, there's another reason."
"And that is?" Percy asked, a bit worried.
"What's your relationship with Artemis?" Thalia asked bluntly as Percy opened his mouth, trying to form an answer without revealing anything.
Gods help me, he thought to himself. On one hand, if he tells her the truth, he won't have to worry about keeping it a secret from Thalia but would Artemis approve of his decision. What are the pros and cons of this situation? Percy stared at Thalia, who stared at him with her arms crossed, waiting for an answer.
The throne room was silent for a while before the shock sank in and all hell broke lose.
"Another great prophecy?!" Zeus exclaimed in annoyance, remembering what he had to give up last time a great prophecy came to pass. He wasn't feeling too pleased about the "Children of storm" and "son of the sky"parts either. What if they make him swear an oath again?
"I think the demigods have enough great prophecies for a lifetime!" Hermes shouted, remembering what happened to his son on the last, last Great Prophecy and what the seven had to go through.
"I would not let my son be part of another Great Prophecy," Poseidon protested as he glared at the sky, angry at the fates.
"Your son killed my daughter!" Athena shouted at Poseidon angrily who stomped toward Athena in a threatening manner.
"And he regretted not being able to save her every day," Poseidon countered, both of them standing a foot away from each other, none of them backing down.
"Is Apollo okay?" Artemis surprisingly asked as she checked his temperature again, glad that he started shifting slightly.
"You're all crazy. If you eat more cereal, you can be calmer regarding this situation," Demeter childed as Hades glared at her viciously.
"Stop with the cereal, Lady!"
"Then give my daughter back!" Demeter crossed her arms, looking unaffected by his glare. "You kidnapped her!"
"I agree to let her go," Hades growled. "And you have your daughter for two-third of the year!"
"The tragic heroes," Aphrodite sighed dreamily. "More drama, more love."
"More war," Ares added as Aphrodite winked at him, causing Hephaestus to look away in disgust.
"Maybe some of those brats of my husband will die," Hera claimed unhelpfully as Zeus glared at his wife. Hera glared right back, causing him to gulped slightly.
"Fewer brats to worry about," Dionysus murmured from his throne as he flipped through the magazine, barely paying attention to anything happening around him, not really caring about the demigods either.
The arguments continued and it only got louder and louder as the time went on, no one backing down from the argument that had found themselves in. Hestia sighed from her throne, watching her fellow Olympians as she shook her head with disappointment.
"Be quiet!" Hestia suddenly shouted vehemently, causing everyone to turn their head toward the usually calm and peaceful goddess. She looked irritated as she studied each of the Olympians and met them in the eyes. "Stop being children and act like the Olympian Gods you are!"
Many looked down in shame as they all went back to their throne. It was quiet for a moment as everyone looked around the throne room, none of them wanting to speak up just yet. Apollo suddenly groaned from his spot on the throne as he sat up, his hand on his head.
"What happened?"
"You spoke another great prophecy," Artemis eventually spoke up when no one wanted to reply to his simple question. After Artemis repeated the prophecy for him, Athena finally spoke up as well, directing her question at Apollo.
"Any idea when the prophecy will come to a pass?"
Apollo closed his eyes as he opened them once again. "It already started."
Percy kicked the sand with his feet as he paced on the beach he founded a while ago, where no mortal will ever be on. Thalia had let him off the hook for now when he stood there, not saying anything.
She didn't even tell me how she found my apartment, Percy thought to himself as he sighed, continuing to pace.
"Oh you know, I'm just your mistress' best friend," he suddenly spoke up as if he's talking to Thalia before shaking his head. "No… that wouldn't work."
"We become some-what friends after I saved her from under the sky," he tried again before realizing how forceful he sounded. He groaned as he walked ankle-deep into the water, flopping backward as he floated on top of the waves, letting them carry him.
Percy continued muttering to himself about possible responses to Thalia's questions when he felt a disturbance in the water. He frowned as he turned around and started diving into the water, willing his clothes to dry as he drove deeper and deeper, frowning as he continued to swarm.
He spotted a shark in his way as he suddenly stopped. The shark looked scared as he shouted in Percy's mind.
Get away, milord! This place is dangerous.
Percy frowned as he tried to swim forward but the shark blocked his way. Please do not go there, it needed to be reported to Lord Poseidon first.
Why not? Why is it dangerous?
There are untamed monsters in there.
I can handle a few monsters, Percy countered as he took out Riptide, making the shark backed away slightly from him.
Normal weapons wouldn't hurt the monster milord, only a specific kind of weapon can. Lord Poseidon- the shark was cut off when Percy felt great pressure on him. He gasped for breath as the shark quickly swarmed away without another word, making Percy study the huge creature approaching him at a fast speed.
He held Riptide out in front of him, preparing himself for the unknown monster advancing his way.
AN: Heh-
I kinda feel bad about the cliffhanger but... BUT... what story is without a cliffhanger? What do you guys think of the prophecy?
Also, I finally planned out most of my chapters for the story so... Every chapter will be packed with fun and heartbreaks!
Tell me what you guys think of this chapter and I'll see you next week! (If you're still interested in the story.)
Stay safe.
- Kathy