Disclaimer - I do not own PJO or HOO
Hi...? Sorry, it took me so long to finally update something, I have no reason for it except for loss of motivation from time to time and not being satisfied with what I have written. So... you can probably say I delete a few parts a lot of times. This version is finally the one that satisfied me so I hope it's okay.
I make no promise when I'll update next but if all goes to plan, I'll be updating soon (maybe not that soon because summer school ask for a lot but I'll try), because I wrote "finishing botw" as one of my summer to-do list so I better do it haha.
without further ado, enjoy this chapter!
A flash of pain made Percy tremble, but a weight on his arms made him widen his stance and catch the woman laying there. His eyes wandered around the empty parking lot but beside him and the unknown woman in his arms, there was no one. His groceries bags were on the ground and he slowly bent down, picking them up.
The last thing he remembered was walking out of the store... then nothing. He felt a binding headache that disappeared as quickly as it came and then it was all quiet and calm once more. Percy glanced down at the woman in his arms, she has dark hair and dark purple eyeshadow. Her eyes were closed but they seemed to be fluttering.
Afraid that he was the reason for the woman's unconsciousness, Percy picked her up bridal style and carried her to his car, strapping her in the back seat before driving back to his mom's apartment, where he's staying for the next few weeks.
As he pulled up in front of the apartment, he let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Percy glanced back at the woman once more, puzzled by her appearance. She could be a goddess, she could be a titan, she could be a monster in disguise for all he knows. But he was sure she was no mortal, there seems to be this mysterious aura surrounding her that Percy couldn't quite figure out.
Shaking his head, Percy unbuckled his seat belt and walked out of the car, carrying the mysterious woman once more. He was glad that his mom and Paul weren't home today, they were scheduled to come back tomorrow from their three days road trip. It was a chance to relax and have fun before the baby was born.
Percy gently laid the woman on the sofa, putting a pillow under her head before walking into the kitchen, setting the groceries on the table. He walked back into the living room soon after, standing in the doorway as he observed the woman.
There was something about her that seemed familiar. Maybe it was the way she curled herself up, hugging the spare pillow, or maybe it's the way her hair covered her face. Percy shook his head once more, trying to clear his mind as he slowly approached her, sitting beside her. He couldn't describe the feeling, but he felt like he should know her. Maybe he'd met her on Olympus before, but there was a nagging voice in his mind that said otherwise.
It was a closer relationship, a part of him feels like she's her sister, a part of him recognizes her as a close friend, but there was no denying the love that he held for her. But it was a different kind of love than the way he loved Artemis.
The way her eyes would lit up whenever he commented something stupid. The way she'll lean on his shoulder as they watch the stars. The way she cuddles close to him as they watch a movie on a weekend. There was no denying it, Percy knew he loved her. And he wants to give her his everything.
Sighing, Percy closed his eyes, leaning against the sofa. His eyelid felt heavy and before he knew it, he slipped off into a restless sleep.
The movement on the sofa woke up Percy from his somewhat-peaceful slumber. He rubbed his eyes drowsily, his hand reflexly going to his pocket, reaching for Riptide.
The woman shifted before opening her dark eyes, it was like staring into the endless night sky. Percy forced himself to turn away as he backed up slowly. The woman was staring threatendely at Percy, glancing out of the window. To his surprise, the sun was already down.
"We don't have much time," the woman said frantically, glancing up at the sky once more before sitting up and throwing the pillow back onto the sofa. "She'll notice soon."
"Who are you? What do you mean by there's no time? Who's she?" Percy fired off questions but the woman held up her arm, silencing him.
"I'm the Mistress of Night," she said, her voice soft but commanding. "Name have power, young one. I can hide us from her view for a limited amount of time before she gets suspicious. Everything under the night is under my command."
Percy stared at the woman, a look of confusion flashed across his face. The woman wasn't paying attention though, staring up at the sky once more, her eyes widening before turning back to Percy, who was trying to comprehend everything that's happening. "It seems like we have less time than I would like."
"Beware the father of the savior," she warned, but Percy continued to stare at her in confusion, staring out at the sky, wondering what she was looking for. "The goddess and the blessed soul-"
"Please stop speaking in riddles," Percy pleaded but she only glanced out at the window once more.
"Time is limited," she said sternly. "I must go back before she notices."
Percy tried to stop the headache from forming. Everything she said made no sense to him, the father of the savior? The huntress and the sister?
"The odds aren't in our favor," the woman muttered under her breath before pushing Percy toward the sofa, blasting him with a ball of dark energy. He grunted in pain, slumping against the sofa. The familiar pain returned to his head, this time hurting more than the last. I really should stop rescuing goddesses from the street, he thought, feeling rather faint. But before he lost consciousness, three words made their way into Percy's mind. "Trust the process."
In all her years of living, heartbreak isn't something that Artemis experienced on an everyday basis. But when they do occur, she remembers them. The way her heart seems to pound against her ribcage, threatening to tear her chest apart. The way the tears drop, and then the anger. So much anger. So much pain laced into her piercing screams. But then it all turns to numbness and the tears once again make their reappearance.
But with Percy, it hits differently. It was shock and pain, no anger, never anger. No matter what he does to her, Artemis could find the heart to forgive him. Maybe it was because of the close bond that had form over the long period of time they'd known each other. Or maybe it was because of the lopsided grin that's she'd come to love. Or maybe it was because she missed him.
Missed the way he'll wrapped his arms around her whenever something was on her mind, and he won't ask, just comfort her the way no one else would. His presence enough can make her forget about everything, and just soak in the tranquil silence. He made her reconstruct a whole belief system, torning it down with a simple smile.
And his laughter... Artemis squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the image of him. The way his hair will plastered against his forehead after a swim, the way his eyes lit up whenever they see each other. But it was all over know.
Artemis found herself slowly building up the wall she had long broken down. But maybe that was a mistake. Breaking down the fortress. Letting someone in who will sabotage it from the inside.
For a while, there was silence, only Artemis' occasional sob filled the soundproof tent. She let out a few heavy breaths, focusing on slowing down her racing heart. In. Out. In. Out. And all too soon, she heard Thalia's voice.
She had planned a hunt a few days ago when they were back in the mortal world, needing every actual training her hunters could get to prepare for the war at hand, but maybe it was a good idea, to go out and clear her mind.
"Coming, give me a second," Artemis called out before realizing the tent was soundproof. She groaned inwardly before swinging the magical quiver of arrows onto her back and grabbing her bow from its spot next to her table. She studied herself in the floor length mirror, seeing a broken girl. But she'll come back stronger, and maybe, just maybe, her aching heart would go away.
It was a bad idea.
The only thing Artemis could hear was the loud beating of her heart as she led her hunters through the forest, her mind miles away. She was trying her hardest to focus on the task at hand but everything reminds her of him.
It reminds her too much about the incident that happened ages ago before Thalia had to interrupt their moment. It made Artemis wonder if Thalia hadn't appeared, would they actually have kissed, what would it feel like, where would they stand now? But she isn't supposed to be thinking about these things.
"Milady..." Thalia whispered nervously beside her. Artemis snapped her head toward her voice, a frown on her face. But she soon sees the problem.
The horde of monsters were unmistakable and the fear of her hunters are non maskable, although few tries. As if all under one command, the monsters charged, and her hunters moved forward to meet them. But fear consumed Artemis that evening and her attacks were all pathetic attempts.
At least the fates were on their side today.
The monsters were easily killed as Thalia led the attack, Cathline by her side. Artemis tried to keep her thoughts on wrap but they just kept on resurfacing, leading her half-hearted shots. Many of them barely hit their mark and that's saying something considering Artemis never misses a shot.
"GET DOWN!" Cathline tackled Thalia as Artemis' arrow sailed over their head, hitting a tree behind them. Artemis stood paralazed in place as she stared at her arrow. Her head screamed for a release she couldn't give and her heart craved for his touch.
This is why you don't let anyone in, Artemis thought angrily. You give them the power to hurt you.
By now, the last of the monsters were taken down and hunters had their head turned Artemis' way, mouth agape.
"Lady Artemis?" Cathline stepped forward wearily. Artemis shook her head, holding up her hand. Cathline stopped, looking over at Thalia for help. But Thalia was studying Artemis with an unreadable expression, maybe it was sorrow... and worries.
Artemis turned away from her, snapping her fingers, flashing her hunters back to their camp. She squeezed her eyes shut and let the tears fall, dropping down onto the ground, her arms wrapped around herself. Heartbreaking sobs took over her body and the bow in her hand dropped to the ground beside her. This was why she never let anyone in, why she built her wall high enough so that no one could climb over them. She gave him her trust and trusted him to not use them against her, but of course, she was wrong. Men are nothing but cheaters and liars.
Warm arms wrapped around her shoulder and for a second Artemis allowed herself to believe that it was his. She closed her eyes, leaning against them and letting their hand rub her back with comfort. "It's okay, just let it out."
"Thalia?" Artemis turned over, trying to suppress her surprise when she saw Thalia behind her, a comforting smile on her lips. "What are you doing here?"
"You're my sister," she answered simply. "It's my job to look after you. You may be older and have more experience, you may be able to fool others with a convincing lie but you can't hide from me. I'm here for whatever you need."
Artemis gasped at her, tears welling in her eyes. She never had this kind of relationship with Apollo and she never thought she'd find comfort in her half sister, but it was a welcoming feeling. To be loved by someone with no judgment. "Thank you," she whispered quietly.
"I'm here," Thalia repeated, hugging her close. "And I'm not going anywhere."
There isn't anyone Artemis is more grateful for at this moment. And maybe life will go back to normal, she'll forget all about him, she'll live her life as it was before, she'll prepare for the upcoming war, she'll lead her hunters.
But maybe a tiny part of her, deep deep down, still longs for a relationship with the sea-green eyes son of Poseidon who managed to break down every wall she puts up.
All he could see was darkness.
It surrounded him, refusing any sort of escape. A woman's voice echoed in his mind. "Trust the process."
Trust what process? What is there to trust? What is he supposed to trust? Questions swarmed his mind and a sense of deja vu washed over him. Who is he?
"Where am I?" He shouted, his voice echoing the dark... tunnel. So if this is a tunnel, there must be light somewhere.
"Trust the process"
A squint, making out a small light to his left. He started jogging, but the light only seems to get further and further away. He let out a groan, sprinting to keep up with the moving light. But it only seems to get further away the faster he runs.
"Trust the process"
"Shut up," he muttered to the voice. But the gear in his mind is turning, trust the process. He stopped in his step, and everything around him stopped. But the light in front of him continued moving further away.
"Trust the process, Percy"
So his name is Percy. Why does this scene feel so familiar? The light only moved further and further away before a shiver ran down his body and he felt himself pass through a sticky liquid. He gasped, the weird sensation quickly passing. But when he opened his eyes, he was on a battlefield.
A familiar figure fought with an armored guy but unaware of the enemy from a distance, aiming an arrow at her heart.
"ARTEMIS!" Percy screamed, running forward and blocking the arrow with his own body. He prepared himself for the pain but it never came. His surroundings changed once more and he found himself in a small room, the wall closing in around him. He felt his heart beating faster and faster against his chest. Children of Poseidon do not like to be contained.
But the wall only moved closer and closer, and Percy felt like suffocating in this small room.
"Trust the process"
So Percy closed his eyes and curled himself up, allowing the space to continue closing in. But before any part of the wall made content with his body, the surroundings changed again. And this time, he was drowning.
He struggled to get above the water, but it only pushed him down.
I'm a son of Poseidon, I can breathe underwater.
But the sentence wasn't enough to settle his nerves. He was still holding his breath and he knew he'd run out soon.
"Trust the process"
Percy took a huge breath as his surroundings changed once more. He sat up gasping, his living room coming into view. He placed a hand on top of his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart. The image of a blurry woman came into his mind but he couldn't remember anything else. The only words he remembered was: "Beware the father of the savior"
But what does that mean? And there was something else. Percy racked his brain, trying to remember. It was something about a goddess and a blessed soul...
Maybe he needs to visit Artemis soon, see what she has to say about this visit. Wait...
Percy looked down at the watch on his wrist, frowning when he realized it's already noon and it was Friday yesterday... So where is Artemis? Percy couldn't help but worry as he draped a coat on his shoulder and rushed out of the door, not allowing his mind to think about the events that had just taken place.
He closed his eyes, reaching out his senses. There was something different this time, but he couldn't quite place it. But there was nothing to sense. Deciding to try his luck on going to the hunter's camp Thalia had brought him to last time, Percy gathered his concentration and mist travelled himself there.
The first thing he noticed was the lack of aura that he usually felt when he's with Artemis. So maybe she's out of camp, he thought to himself. Thalia's face greeted him and Percy smiled brightly at her. "Hey, Thal-"
A slap stopped him mid-sentence. Thalia's angry electric blue eyes studied him. "How could you do that to Artemis!"
"It's nice to see you too," Percy commented dryly, annoyance in his voice. First he got slapped, and now he's wrongly accused of something he wasn't sure of? What a nice greeting.
Thalia huffed before turning on her heels and storming out. Cathline watched from the side, a frown on her face as she approached her brother, who was rubbing his sore cheeks. "What was that about?"
Percy shrugged, looking at Thalia's retreating footsteps. "I don't even know what I did wrong."
Cathline shrugged.
"Oh, do you by any chance know where Artemis is?" Percy wondered aloud. To his disappointment, Cathline shook her head.
"Try the cliff though, she likes going there when she needs to think."
"Thanks," Percy smiled, giving Cathline a quick hug before running toward the direction she had pointed to.
Artemis closed her eyes, listening to the splashes of the wave as it hit the rocks. The sound was oddly comforting, like the song of the ocean trying to cheer up her solemn mood. After revealing everything to Thalia and getting everything off her chest, Artemis felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulder. She wanted to hang on to that feeling for as long as she could.
The sound of feet shuffling brought Artemis out of her thoughts as a familiar figure stumbled out of the forest behind her. Her fingers curled into a fist as she stared angrily ahead. The fates just love messing with her, don't they? She finally felt at peace and then the person she wanted to avoid most walked to her.
But Artemis was ready this time. She won't let anything he said get into her mind, she'll keep her guard up, and she won't let her wall crumble down with a simple smile from this sea-green eyes boy she had unknowingly fallen for.
"Artemis!" Percy exclaimed, his voice cheerful. He sighed in relief. "Okay, that took longer than I expected."
Artemis remained silent, staring blankly ahead, her hand playing with the hem of her shirt nervously. But she caught herself and pulled it away, this wasn't the time for nervousness.
"What's wrong?" Percy questioned, sitting down beside her. Artemis glanced over briefly, her mind filling with the image of him and that woman, and he has the audacity to act as if nothing happened. It took all her will not to shove him off the cliff.
"Please talk to me," he pleaded, placing a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. Artemis shook him off, tired of being hurt, tired of being lied to, and tired for him to lead her on. "What did I do wrong?"
"I'm sorry for whatever I did," Percy spoked up after a moment of silence. But that only flared Artemis' anger. "Please, tell me what I did wrong."
"Everything," Artemis spit out harshly, standing up and moving away from him.
The look of hurt on his face was unmistakable, but Artemis won't break down, she won't give in, she won't. Her eyes involuntarily shifted to his lips, noticing how kissable they suddenly looked. She looked up once more, meeting Percy's sea-green eyes that seemed to trailed down to her lips as well. But she looked away, coughing slightly.
"You shouldn't be here," she muttered instead, feeling as if fate were pulling her toward Percy. Screw his eyes that make me want to forgive him.
"Why not?" Percy countered, taking another step forward. Artemis took a step back. "What did I do, please, you owe me that."
Artemis scowled, trying to channel her inner anger, avoiding his eyes. "I don't owe you anything."
Percy sighed, and Artemis' eyes flickered to his lips once more. She slapped herself mentally, reminding herself that this was the man who led her on when he's already with someone else. This was the man that made her believe she could actually find love.
"Just leave me alone," she turned away, ignoring her pounding heart. There was nothing else to say. They're done. "I have nothing to say to you."
Without another word, she rushed toward the forest, flashing away the second she knew she was far away enough, ignoring the tears that were streaming down her face.
"Artemis!" Percy shouted, coming out of his daze and rushing toward the wood where Artemis disappeared into. But the chirping of birds and rustling of leaves are the only sounds that accompany him this evening.
El flopped down onto her bed in the Mansion of Night, the daily training section tiring her out quicker than she would have expected. The weekends became the only days she could relax. She wanted nothing but to push back her hood and let her brown hair fall. She missed her siblings, no matter how annoying they were.
But now it's possible they don't remember her, they don't know who she is. The sudden thought struck her. She doesn't know who she is either. That single thought brought tears to El's eyes. She misses home, she wants her brother's hugs, her sister's sarcastic remarks, her mother's comforting words, and her father's jokes. And most of all, she missed her smart remarks, her smile, her laughter, her touch, and most of all, her 'I love yous' that made El feel like it's the first 'I love you' they shared no matter how many times they said it to each other.
She fingered the ring on her left ring finger, a small smile lingered on her face as she stared at it, her hand wrapped around the necklace on her neck that her mother had passed down to her.
A knock on her bedroom brought her out of her thoughts. "Come in!" She called out, her door swinging open soon after. Nyx appeared in the doorway, a grin on her face.
"Guess what?"
"Don't tell me you're pregnant," El joked, earning a frown from Nyx, who El had always viewed as a second mother or a really cool aunt.
"What if I say I'm pregnant?"
"I will ask you when it happened because I was with you almost every day, and it would be kinda gross if you and Erebus-"
Nyx rolled her eyes before interrupting El mid-sentence, her face flushed red, bringing some sort of color to her pale skin. "Fine, I won't let go out of the Mansion of Night."
El's eyes widened before she quickly exclaimed. "I take back everything I just said."
"I thought so as well," Nyx grinned victoriously before gesturing to a shadow. "Now show me what she'd learned this week."
El couldn't stop the smile that appeared on her face before running forward and giving Nyx a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you!"
"Stay as long as you need!" Nyx called out before El disappeared into a shadow. She appeared in the familiar streets of New York. Her hood faded into a dark blue sweater and she pulled the hood up for that as well. It won't hide her face but no one would know her. And the hood gives her a weird sense of comfort, probably from wearing it all the time in the Mansion of Night.
She rounded a corner, smiling when she saw the coffee shop come into view. The bells on the door that rang when customers walked into the shop greeted El as she pushed open the door. She walked toward the cashier. "One cold brew, please."
"Name?"
"El," El said simply, knowing full well they'll probably write 'Elle' instead.
"That'll be-" before the guy could finish his sentence, she snapped her fingers, manipulating the mist to her aid.
"I already paid for the cold brew."
The man looked a bit dazed as he pointed to the pick up line. "Your order would be ready in a few minutes."
"Thank you," she smiled sweetly, walking toward the pick-up line and grabbing her coffee a few minutes later. She checked the name, and as she expected, it was 'Elle', not El. She laughed quietly to herself, so glad for some sense of normality.
But as she walked out of the coffee shop and toward Central Park, she had a suspicion of someone following her. She glanced briefly behind her, sucking in a breath when she noticed the familiar pair of stormy grey eyes. She toyed with her necklace, suddenly feeling nervous.
Her blue eyes darted around the park, searching for an easy way out. She wasn't ready to face her, not yet. But before she had a chance to make a move, a hand grabbed her wrist. El noticed that they were in a more hidden part of the park.
Oh no...
"Who are you?" The dark hair goddess asked boldly, cutting straight to the point like she always does. "And why do you not have a sense of a demigod?"
El forgot to be scared at that moment, a smirk spread across her face. "Are you saying I smell better than those demigods?"
The goddess in front of her sighed. "Do you know who I am?"
"My secret admirer?" El tried.
"I don't know whether I should take that as an insult or a compliment," she commented dryly as El bit the inside of her cheeks.
"Take that as a compliment."
She sighed, before her calm and expressionless facade was once again plastered on her face. "You still haven't answered my question."
"You're Athena," El said simply. "Goddess of wisdom and warfare. Daughter of Zeus and Metis."
"But I didn't catch your name," Athena spoked up calmly, with no trace of emotion on her face. This was the Athena El hated the most. The one that acted all tough when she was breaking on the inside, the one that hid everything away because she doesn't know how to express them.
"It's El," she replied. "Now would you tell me why you're following me?"
"I saw you used the mist, but you don't have the scent of a demigod," Athena repeated her previous statement. "You catch my interest."
El smirked. "So are you saying I'm interesting?"
Athena looked at her, staring her down. "So what if I am? Why does it matter?"
"It doesn't," El hummed, looking away. Gods of Olympus, why is this so hard? "Well, it was nice meeting you, Athena."
She started walking away but Athena pulled her back. "You're not going until I get my answers. Like what are you?"
"I'm El," she said vaguely, she would reveal the truth, but now it's definitely not the time. It's too early for this. "I'm just a girl who would love it if she could have her hands back."
Athena quickly let go of her wrist. El rubbed it with a sour expression on her face. "Has anyone ever told you your grip is really hard?"
"No," Athena stared at her weirdly, an unfamiliar feeling washing through her. "Why do I feel like I know you before?"
"I don't know," she lied. "Maybe I look like someone you know?"
"That's not it..." Athena mused to herself. El panics, she knows Athena is surely smart enough to figure out the truth. She glanced around, her eyes glancing at the patch of shadow near them, but not close enough for Athena to notice if she made a dash for it.
"Well, that was a good talk, but I got to go," El said lamely, sprinting toward the shadow. But before she disappeared, she called back. "I know you're smart enough to figure this out."
Athena stood alone in the park, her mind still occupied by that mysterious girl that she knew nothing about. And she hated not knowing. With a sigh, she flashed herself to her library, most likely burying herself in books until she found the answer to her questions.
So... what do you think? Also, if you want to see a deleted scene from this chapter, make sure to check out the discord link on my bio! I have fun polls up every now and then and you can meet many new people!
I hope that was okay and have an amazing day/night!
- Kathy