Chapter 16

Percy POV

"How's the leg" Zoe asked. "Smarts a bit" I said, after yesterday things had kinda calmed down between us, we weren't exactly friends but I think we've come to an understanding. As I past a rather heavily moss covered tree I felt something change in the air "We're close aren't we". "Good instincts boy" Donna said. "My name is Percy not boy" I said. "Should be free and clear from here on out" Merina said completely ignoring my comment. "You did not just say that." I said "You never say that unless you want trouble".

"Hmpf boys and their crazy superstitions" Donna laughed. Out in the distance something large howled "yeah crazy" I said quickening my pace. Five minutes later it howled again this time closer "run" Donna shouted. "Don't have to tell me twice." I muttered breaking into a run. Just a head of us a two headed dog the size of a large horse with rust colored fur. "What is that" I asked. "It's Feron the father of Cerberus." Zoe Shouted "We need to take out both heads at the same time-". Before Zoe could even finish Merina fired an arrow in the exact spot the necks of the two heads met which then exploded. "What hast thee done fool". Zoe shouted.

"Relax I just killed it." Merina replied. "Fool had thee let me finish thy would have known its power. First Feron's skin is extremely tough our arrows are useless against it. Second if he is not killed in a single strike he will heal and become resistant to the attack which wounded him" Zoe said. The smoke cleared showing Feron's skin knitting itself back together and denser. "Donna, Percy distract him" Zoe shouted "Merina you're with me".

Donna went right shooting arrows at Feron's side and I went left. Apparently this was a common tactic because I couldn't get close. "Donna use an explosive arrow" I shouted. "Are you stupid" She replied "didn't you hear what Zoe said."

"Yes I heard her, aim for its feet". Although she was a bit ticked off Donna did as I asked and Feron reacted much like I expected leaping away and landing right where I wanted him to. Making a quick slash I cut off his tail, Feron reeled in anger and spun on me, I could see pure rage in his eyes yet all I could do was smile. Zoe stabbed the left head and Merina went for the left but her knife got stuck in Feron's toughened skin. The mutt howled even louder and flung both of them back. I could feel my heartbeat increase and a tug in my pull in my gut, water came rush out of a river I didn't even know was there and skewered Feron over a dozen times including his two heads.

"How did you do that" Merina asked. "Son of Poseidon remember? I can control water on instinct." I said "Well control might be too strong a word more like influence". "You did well for a boy" Zoe said. "Yes it was a fine show" another voice added. I nearly jumped out of my skin as a 18 year old girl with light brown hair and Ice colored eyes. "Who are you" Donna asked. "She's Eunomia goddess of good order" Zoe seethed. "Oh don't be that way Zoe" Eunomia whined laying on her side "we were sisters after all". "You're related?" I inquired. "No" Zoe said "Lady Artemis has a standing offer for all the goddess' who remain maidens to travel with the hunt. Eunomia was with us so often Artemis even made her her lieutenant. I became lady Artemis' after Eunomia's betrayal."

"Geez it was just a bit of fun" Eunomia said. "Thee broke thy vow of maiden hood and convince other hunters to follow you." Zoe said "If thy wanted out of the hunt all you had to do was ask Lady Artemis has never punished hunters for leaving". "No one except me" the goddess shot back. "thy was banished for breaking the rules simple as that." Zoe deadpanned. "Where are the chains" I asked anxious to change the subject.

"Gone" Eunomia said "Heracules took them as a trophy when Prometheus was first freed". "So this whole quest was for nothing!" I shouted kicking a rock. "I wouldn't be so sure about that" Eunomia said slowly disappearing "I've seen a black door covered in chains that have similar magic not too far from here maybe an hour east if you hurry".

As the goddess fully disappeared I looked as Zoe "No" she said flatly "we're not going". "But she just said there's another chance" I said "we have to try". "Eunomia has been out to ruin Lady Artemis, and her father by extension, ever since she was banished from the hunt." she said "The chains may very well be real but there will likely be more she didn't tell us about."

I was at a loss for words, how could we not at least try "I think we should go after the chains." Merina said "me and Donna are well versed in magic and daughters of Hecate if there's any kind of hidden magic we'll know it."

Time skip -1 ½ hours-

We had to take a detour around a waterfall so it took us longer than expected. The door was actually a little underwhelming. It was a black door with intricate carvings and metal bars over a window like an old fashion prison door. The chains were of course covering the door but that wasn't the half of it. IT WAS JUST A DOOR! This thing wasn't attached to anything, not a building, not a cave, nothing. It was like someone took a door and the frame covered it in chains and set it out in the middle of nowhere.

Just looking at it gave me a headache because it made no sense. "You...have...any thing sis" Donna asked. "The magic on the chains is real enough but I got nothing on the door" Merina said. "Same here" Donna said. Zoe had them do a very thorough check that took another four hours which turned up nothing. "I guess we can just take the chains." Zoe said. I took out riptide to cut the chains and Zoe gave me a sour look "What?" I asked. "Nothing" Zoe said through gritted teeth.

I cut the chains with ease which then repaired themselves. Man I love magic right now! Before we left though I had to try the door, it was unlocked and sung open to show Zoe standing on the other side, it's just a run of the mill door. I don't know why but the absurdity infuriated me. "Why would someone go through so much trouble just to stick a door out in the middle of nowhere!" I shouted.

"Hermes probably did this as a prank for Athena" Zoe said "He sets this up in Artemis' favorite hunting grounds so she's the one who found it not him. Athena will either come down on her own to investigate or be aside to by her father. And after months of working in the heat she'll find a hidden message that will state 'thy has been punk'd' signed Hermes". I stuffed the chains in my backpack and we left, Zoe lead me out of the forest the headed back to rejoin the hunt, looking back I thought I saw a hint of smile on Zoe's face. Maybe we could actually be friends one day.

Time skip -Midnight-

Third person POV

The black door opened revealing a boy with a mess of midnight hair and stormy grey eyes. "I need to hurry" The man said "I may not get another chance". Grabbing a small backpack and a sword he stepped out onto the grass savoring the feeling. He turned back to door and cleaved it in two with his sword "I'm never going back to that forsaken dimension you put me in. Mark my words lord of the sky I'm going to make you pay with my own hands".