Percy had left Camp Half-Blood in hopes he would try and find answers. As he slunk away in the shadows, Artemis entered the Camp with her Hunters. He watched her stride past, and his eyes naturally followed. He didn't know why, but some force was drawing him towards her.
Percy stayed put, hiding away as the Hunters passed.
It was strange. He had only met the goddess twice, first instance being quite a few years back, and again just before he died again. But he had been drawn to her since the first instance0. He wasn't particularly sure as to why this had occurred, this sudden longing for the goddess. It was alien to Percy. Adding to that, Percy also couldn't have a relationship with the goddess. She was a Maiden Goddess after all.
Artemis had stopped in her tracks. Percy took this as a sign to leave. He turned and left, making sure he was unseen.
The Goddess of the Hunt turned around, and eyed the spot where Percy was once hidden. She could sense someone watching her. She had a strange feeling that it was that same person she had come across all those years ago: the Son of Sally Jackson - which was impossible. She had watched him die for her the winter before, after helping set her free from Atlas. Even the fact that she was from a world of myths, cheating death was something not even her she was capable of doing – despite being a god. A mere Legacy should not be able to do that… but could he?
Artemis shook the thoughts out of her mind. He had to be dead. She had to stop thinking so irrationally, or it could lead to her being captured again.
After greeting Chiron and having a brief conversation with the ancient Centaur, her Hunters got settled into their cabin before Artemis too retreated to her cabin in order to speak to the Hunt briefly. However, when she entered the cabin, she seemed to walk into an odd, disgusting, pink room, covered with love hearts. Artemis knew where she was.
"Aphrodite, why am I here?" Artemis asked, already feeling nauseous from looking at so much pink and red.
The Goddess of Love too entered the room, and sat down on her large king-size bed, shaped into a red love heart. She was grinning like a Cheshire cat, and it was making Artemis uncomfortable. "My, my – you have so much to learn." She giggled.
"What are you on about?" Artemis snapped, and Aphrodite laughed once again.
"By Zeus' beard, you really don't know, do you?" Aphrodite giggled, shaking her head at the unaware Maiden Goddess.
"Know what, exactly?" Artemis summoned her bow and aimed it at Aphrodite, angry.
"You're in love, silly!" Aphrodite squealed, and Artemis dropped her bow, and went pale.
"N-no I'm not!" She stammered.
Aphrodite shook her head and stood up, and slowly walked over to Artemis. "It's natural. That boy is very special, I must say. I'm not surprised." She said softly.
Artemis growled. "I'm NOT in love with Perseus!"
"I didn't even have to say his name! Admit it; you feel something for the boy!" Aphrodite laughed.
Artemis just remained silent, and looked away.
Cautiously, Aphrodite rested a hand on Artemis' shoulder. "I'm not manipulating anything. It's not a crime to fall for someone. I don't blame you, especially after he saved your life."
"I cannot love him. He is dead." Artemis refused to look at Aphrodite.
The Love Goddess smiled softly. "I wouldn't be so sure about that. But in time you will understand."
Artemis shook Aphrodite's hand off of her and spun on her heel, storming out of the room.
"True love always prevails!" Aphrodite called out just before the door slammed shut. She understood the Huntress' actions fully. This was all alien to her, she guessed. But time would tell.
Artemis had stormed into the cabin from Aphrodite's room, with her Hunters in it. She barked at them that they would leave the following morning – it was a matter of urgency. They all understood, some grumbling as they had not yet had a break.
Artemis left the cabin in a temper, and was going to go for a walk to try and calm down. But before she could relax in the woods, a goddess flashed in beside her.
"I swear if you've come to try and talk to me about love again, I'm going to-" Artemis snarled, turning round, but stopped herself mid-sentence when she saw someone other than Aphrodite standing there.
"Carry on, though that's not what I'm here for." The goddess said in deadpan. She looked like a ghost bride, wearing a long, heavily-faded floral gown that billowed around her, like smoke, and her dark hair curled and floated, as if she was weightless. Her pale face looked almost pained, hey eyes almost hollow, like the life force had been drained from her; though the colours were slowly reappearing to her, as if being in nature returned her beauty. This could only be one person.
"Persephone!" Artemis breathed, recomposing herself. "What troubles you?" She asked when she saw the Goddess of the Underworld's face.
The Goddess grimaced, knowing that there was no turning back now. "There is a matter of urgency in the Underworld – a quest. I need Bianca di Angelo and Thalia Grace." She said, curtly.
Artemis' gaze went to steel. "And what do you need the girls for? What is so urgent?"
Persephone shook her head, scoffing. "Unless you want an army of the dead joining the Titan ranks, it's advised they come with me so my husband can have this issue solved."
"Very well, Persephone." Artemis pursed her lips. Something more was going on that Persephone was not telling her. Hades never liked Demigods in the Underworld, especially when they are alive. Give me some time, and I'll let them accompany you." And with that, Artemis turned on her heel and walked away from Persephone, leaving her in the woods.
Persephone sighed, shaking her head. She had really screwed up, hadn't she?
The Demon Rites
Thalia and Bianca were both confused. They were still recovering from their last quest in the Labyrinth, and now they've been told that they have been summoned for yet another quest, in such short time.
"Have them back soon. Or I will inform Olympus of this concern in the Underworld." Artemis warned Persephone as she re-entered the woods, Thalia and Bianca in tow.
"This should not take too long, Artemis. Thank you." Persephone nodded out of respect, before taking hold of Thalia and Bianca and flashing away from the woods.
Something was really wrong, and it was concerning Artemis. She pondered on her thoughts, thinking that maybe she should inform the council after all. If it's a matter of messing around with the Ancient Laws, they were all at risk.
The Demon Rites
Persephone reappeared in the Underworld, in a rather luscious garden, with Thalia and Bianca in tow.
The garden was fairly dark, being in the Underworld and all. Rows and rows of silver flowers glowed eerily, and trees arched over the trio, sweet smelling fruit dangling over them, almost begging them to eat them.
"I wouldn't touch them if I was you." Persephone warned, before walking away, motioning for Bianca and Thalia to follow her. "Welcome to my garden."
"What was so urgent you almost snatched us from Lady Artemis, Persephone?" Bianca asked, clearly not very fond of her stepmother.
Persephone guided them to a seating area that overlooked the garden, and sat down, gesturing them to sit down. "Summer is at its end, unfortunately, so my last efforts above had to bring you here, unless you wanted trickery." The goddess commented, before waving her hand.
Handmaidens appeared, bringing food and drink to the table. They wore yellow dresses with wreaths on their heads. They looked pretty but they were… well… they were pretty dead, being in the underworld and all.
"The matter is so urgent that Lord Hades demanded that I fetch you, but won't greet you." The Goddess scoffed, before continuing, "This is a matter that concern's Lord Hades' sword."
Bianca looked confused. "My father doesn't have a sword. He has the helmet of terror, does he not?"
Persephone shook her head. "He didn't have a sword." She corrected her stepdaughter.
Thalia perked up at this. "He's forged a new symbol of power without my father's permission?"
Persephone sighed, and pointed in front of them, where the image of a group of skeletal blacksmiths using skull-like hammer fashioned a blade over a forge of black flames.
"The Second Titan War is brewing; My Lord needs to be ready." Persephone answered.
"There was an agreement between the three. Zeus and Poseidon would never agree to this, it would make Hades more powerful than them." Thalia argued.
"It was forged in secret for that very reason. He has no desire to turn on his brothers. He just wished to be ready." Persephone snapped.
The image changed to a key being set into the base of the sword.
"That doesn't look so good." Thalia remarked.
"No. That is one of the Keys of Hades. They have the power to unlock death – release or free a soul in the underworld." Persephone nodded.
"So you mean…" Bianca muttered.
"Yes," Persephone nodded, "the person who wields the sword can raise the dead, or send anyone to the underworld at ease."
"That's not good at all. He would be unstoppable." Thalia stated, and Bianca agreed.
"And that is why you need to get it back." Persephone grimaced, and Thalia shot up out of her seat.
"Get it BACK?!" She almost shouted.
Persephone looked at the Daughter of Zeus. "It was stolen near completion. And the suspect makes it even worse, as it is most likely the person is now an Agent of Kronos."
"It was Nico." Someone spoke from the shadows, behind the rest, stopping Thalia before she carried on.
"What…?" Bianca almost choked. Her brother…?
All eyes turned to the shadows, where they noticed a figure sitting there, legs spread as he lounged in a chair, twiddling his demonic sword between his legs, the tip dug into the ground.
"Percy?" Thalia asked.
Percy put his sword away, and stood up, dragging his chair with him as he moved over to where Thalia and Bianca were, before dropping himself back into the chair.
"I don't like it as much as anyone, but it makes sense. He got in undetected and took the sword before anyone could notice." Percy answered, and Bianca shook his head.
"That cannot be true!" The Daughter of Hades exclaimed.
"Unfortunately, it may be so. I hope I'm wrong, I really do." Percy sighed, shaking his head.
"Either way, nobody can know about this sword until it is finished, which is why I brought you three here." Persephone continued, not appreciating Percy now joining them.
"Just so they don't up and leave him, yeah? And join the Titans?" Percy remarked.
Persephone just looked nervous. "It has to be a demigod. No immortal can steal another immortal's weapon, not even Kronos is above that Ancient Law. This is why I brought you three together; one with powers from each of the Big Three."
"And how are we going to find this thief, if they've not already escaped?" Percy demanded.
A potted plant appeared on the table – a yellow carnation, to be exact. "This will guide you; it will always face the thief. One it dies… all hope is lost." Persephone answered, gesturing at the plant.
Bianca looked eager. This was a chance to prove herself to her father.
A petal fell off from the flower.
"Let's get going. Who is holding the flower?" Percy remarked as he stood up and collected his sword, stuffing it into his bag, where it was hidden.
He really did not want to use it… But something told him that it was happening whether he liked it or not.
The Demon Rites
And that's the next chapter done!
I'm sorry it has taken me a few months to write this chapter, but honestly as I said, life has been hectic. I honestly needed (and still need) a break from all of this stuff. Even with this covid-19 stuff going on, it is still ruining many lives.
My Uni is wrapping up for the year in a few weeks, fortunately, however afterwards I honestly need to focus on myself. I mentioned last chapter that I was struggling, and I honestly am with mental health. It's not something that can just be dismissed; no matter hard you want it to go.
Honestly being in lockdown at the moment has done me so much harm, it was a week ago I was rushed into hospital for surgery (I'm fine now, just healing).
At the end of the day guys, I need to focus on myself. This means I'm not going to be putting a time stamp on when I'll next be updating this story. And I do want to write more!
I'll honestly wrap this one up, and take time away from FanFiction I think, plan, maybe write the sequels, and update them bi-weekly or something like that. It's more so that I don't leave you guys hanging for a few months if I decide I need some time.
You guys have honestly been amazing! I honestly hope to have this story wrapped up by the time the shit show called 2020 wraps up, and I'll see if I can write anything for The Blood of the Moon – a story that seems to be getting quite a few people interested since the lockdowns started!
You guys have honestly been incredible. You are one of the reasons I've not given up my fight with mental health! And if anyone reading this struggles, drop a PM – I don't know you, you don't know me – and maybe we help each other!
Otherwise guys, I wish you all the best!
Until next time,
~The Prince of Souls