Chapter 21
"You want me to help the hunters, somehow right?" I asked.
"They are on their way to the same area that Apollo and the others went." Artemis started. "And I have someone there that already know who the emperor his."
"But you are not going to tell me who the emperor is." I said. "But why do the hunters will need my help?"
"They are going on their own mission. However, once they reach Indianapolis." Artemis stopped.
"They are going to help Apollo and the others." I continued.
"Since you don't have anyone after you. You will be able to catch them in time." Artemis added.
"In time?" I asked.
"You should go. Once you meet the hunters, Thalia will explain further." Artemis said ignoring my question. "I will warn her of your arrival. And you should wear this on your arms for now." She added handing two gold arms sleeves.
"Why?" I asked confused.
"There is no knowing who will be able to see your markings. It's better if you keep them out of view." She explained.
I grabbed the sleeves and put them on.
"Very well, I will go since it will help me too." I said.
"None of the hunters know who you are, so you will have to keep it a secret." Artemis informed me.
"What can I tell them?" I asked. "Just meeting them and say that you sent me will not convince them."
"I will let them know you are coming. Plus, those are not ordinary sleeves, only you, or the Thalia will be able to take them out." She told me.
"You are really concern of someone seeing my markings." I commented.
"To where you are going there might be people that actually heard of the prophecy connected to you. Its better if there is no way to make connections." Artemis explained.
"I should go now them. I have still a long way in front of me." I said.
"See you another time Ula. Just try that Apollo doesn't find you are there" Artemis said and then disappeared.
That set up my next step. There was no better way to find out who the second emperor was than go to where he was. The tricky part would be keeping my presence a secret from Apollo and the others. But Lady Artemis was right about one thing. It wouldn't take me as long as them to reach Indianapolis. Having just to fight maybe some monsters here and there, but unlike Apollo I had no target on my back.
Still I knew that my trip to Indianapolis would not be an easy one. However, going there would get me some more answers, and I needed that. I knew that the hunters were on there way there too, so there was a small chance of finding them before reaching the city I needed. Even after Artemis telling me that she would warn the hunters of my arrival, I still was concern about how they would receive me. I just wanted that all of these came to an end.
I have been walking for a couple of weeks now, well I had been able to get a ride here and there but no longer than a couple of hours, for security. But now I was starting to see traces of the hunters, I was getting closer to them. However, it could take me a day or another full week to meet them, there was no way to know for certain. At least I was on the right way.
Even without having any target on my back I kept a low profile all the time. Traveling alone was not an easy task, stopping could give more trouble than just keep walking, but I still needed to get some rest. But after being traveling for almost four weeks, I was reaching the limit of my strength and my stops had start to be longer ones. I needed to find the hunters and fast.
I was walking into to the night once again, no city around me, just woods. I was stopping once again, I shouldn't, but I needed it. However, when I had found a nice hidden place to rest for a few hours, I felt that I wasn't alone. It as faint since I was not on my full strength, but there was something or someone close by. I looked around to check my suspicions, my hand ready to grab my dagger just in case. It was then I sense movement behind me, and when I turn, with dagger in hand, I was faced with a bow and arrow pointed at me.
"Who are you?" The young hunter asked, not moving her aim at me.
I lowered my dagger the second I recognized the hunters, plus the one in front of me.
"I'm Ula." I replied.
She hesitated before lowering her bow.
"Show me your arms." She requested, with the bow lowered but still ready to be used if needed.
I did as she requested, I guess the arm sleeves that Lady Artemis had given me were more than just to hide the marks on my arms.
"We were already thinking that we wouldn't see you." She commented. "I'm Thalia."
"Sorry about that. It took me longer to travel this last week." I explained. "It's good to finally found you."
"You look really tired. We should rest before continuing." Thalia suggested.
"That's fine by me." I said. "So, Lady Artemis really told you about me coming?"
"She did warn me, yes. But she didn't told me much about you." Thalia replied.
"That's normal. Sorry about that." I said. "She told me you might help me."
"About what 's happening in Indianapolis right?" She asked.
"Yes." I said.
"We will be able to help you, but we need to reach there first." She told me.
"Is there anything you can tell me about what is happening there?" I asked.
"The emperor there is kidnapping halfbloods and mythological creatures. We think one of us was also capture by the emperor's men." Thalia informed me.
That was not good news at all, we needed to reach the city and fast.
