Chapter 7: Revelations and New Enemies

3RD PERSON POV

It has been 3 months since Percy and Estelle joined the hunt, and things had set into a rather mundane routine. Estelle had continued to train with her bow nearly everyday, becoming more active in the hunts as a result of her training. She also began getting lessons from one of the hunters and daughter of Athena, Emily. Percy had requested that Estelle should still learn as much as she was able to even without going to school.

Estelle was still hardly 6 years old, but the daughter of Athena didn't care and imparted as much knowledge as she could handle upon her. Percy tended to his chores like usual, often the punchline of relatively harmless pranks from the Hunt, and generally enjoying his time with them. It was mostly just the older hunters that respected him. The younger ones he rescued saw him as their big brother, but the hunters in between treated him with indifference. Respectful sure, but there weren't many moments they joked around or interacted at all other than training and telling him what they wanted to eat.

Percy's relationship with Thalia and Artemis had become even stronger. He and Thalia were closer than that had ever been, constantly joking with one another and even pulling off some pranks together. He and Artemis had developed a friendship quiet unlike any other. They shared their thoughts on training and hunting, and casually joked around. Percy still took her threats very seriously given her track record, but overall he enjoyed being around her. And even though Artemis wouldn't admit it to anyone but herself, she enjoyed being around him too.

They had just finished lunch when they got a visit from an unexpected god.

APOLLO POV

I discovered one of my daughters was being abused by her uncle recently. Her mother had passed from cancer a few months back and I felt terrible about it. 'Some God of Medicine I am. These gods damned Ancient Laws,' I thought bitterly. She had been sent to her uncle, who seemed like a good enough guy at the time.

'Mortals. Medical bills pile up and they decide to take out their stress on anyone they deem beneath them. Though, I suppose some gods aren't any better,' I thought sadly at the realization. Regardless, I flashed to Artemis's Hunt immediately after finding out about my daughter's unfortunate fate to utilize their Guardian.

I appeared right outside of Artemis's tent to the sound of laughter inside. 'Artemis? Laughing?,' I thought quickly before brushing it off and walking inside. 'Wow. Laughing with a male. Granted it's Percy, but still,' I wondered what had happened in the 3 short months of him being here.

"Hey baby sis!" I addressed her cheerfully only to receive an arrow at my feet. "I am older than you Apollo! What are you even doing here?" The smile on her face replaced immediately with a scowl. I noticed Percy trying not to laugh and I continued, "Oh come on Arty! Don't be like that."

"Arty?" Percy said with an eyebrow raised and a mischievous smirk that would rival Hermes. "Don't. You. Dare." Artemis said through gritted teeth and Percy turned white. I chuckled at the two of them wondering how they had gotten so close. "I'm here on business Artemis. Don't worry, I won't even talk to the Hunt." I said turning to Percy, "Just Percy here."

"What can I do for you Lord Apollo?" Percy asked, making me cringe. "Please cousin, just call me Apollo," I told him, not being a fan of honorifics. "My daughter is in an abusive household and I would like you to fetch her and bring her to the hunt," I told him, receiving a growl from both him and Artemis. "She's in Orlando. Take this charm and it will lead you to her. Please contact me when you return." I handed him the charm and flashed out.

ARTEMIS POV

'It's rare to see Apollo actually acting like a father, but I guess it can't be helped given the circumstances,' I wondered. I was also surprised to hear Perseus growl when Apollo told him about the abusive home life. 'I wonder if that has to do with the soft spot he mentioned months one way to find out.'

"Perseus?" He turned to me and I finished my thought, "Would you mind if I accompany you on this rescue mission? I can't intervene due to the Ancient Laws, but I would like to observe and recruit my niece personally." Perseus responded immediately, "Of course Milady. It is your niece after all." I nodded to him and he gave his little half-bow. I sent a mental message to Thalia about the mission and flashed the two of us to Orlando.

Perseus's shift in demeanor was instantaneous as we appeared in Orlando. He closed his eyes and his usually cheerful expression shifted to the cold, calculating face of a warrior. 'He must be pushing his senses to locate her,' I thought before his eyes snapped open and he began running toward the home of my niece, not saying a word to me.

I followed him closely until we stopped at the home. Home was putting it nicely. The shit-hole had broken windows and trash all over the lawn. 'Apollo you're lucky you have the excuse of the Ancient Laws. This is disgusting,' I thought as Perseus summoned his katana. Perseus certainly wasn't taking this lightly as he kicked the door in and we entered.

My nostrils were assaulted immediately by the stench of rotting food, stale beer, and pigs of men that smelled like they haven't bathed in a month. My nose crinkled at the odor, but Perseus's warrior-mode was unphased. "I fucking hate poker," I heared him mutter barely audible looking at said game set up at a table in the corner.

Three men whipped their heads around to us once the door was turned to splinters, and I saw them towering over a little girl of maybe 10 years old with cuts and bruises riddling her frail form. I noticed her clothes were torn and one of the pigs' pants were undone. But before the rage consumed me, one of them spoke up.

"Who the fuck are you and what are you doing in my house?" he slurred, no doubt belligerently drunk. "I'm here for the girl. Leave now and you won't meet my uncle today," Perseus's monotone voice sent shivers throughout my being. The men just laughed at him, "Tough talk kid. You shouldn't have come here. Now you and your little girlfriend have to die. Not before we have some fun with her though," one of them added with a wink.

Under normal circumstances, I would have been annoyed and a little embarrassed at someone calling me Perseus's girlfriend. However, with all the rage bubbling up in me, I didn't have that luxury.

I have only been truly fearful a few times in my immortal life. The battle with Atlas where Zoe perished. The Second Giant War. Those were the top two, but what happened next will remain in my memory until I fade.

As the 3 pigs moved forward toward Perseus and the little girl ran to hide, Perseus flicked his wrist and *THUD* the man on the right's head hit the carpet. I hardly saw the blur of the katana. The other two pigs' expressions shifted to confusion at the sound that was immediately replaced by fear at the sight. Even I stood there frozen.

The second pig was pinned to the wall with throwing knives just as quickly. Perseus slowly approached the now crucified figure and then *CRACK*. His neck was snapped as blood trickled down his chin and only the uncle was left. He tried to make a break for the door, but stopped mid stride.

I realized quickly that Perseus was controlling the water in his body and Perseus stalked up to him. "How long?" he whispered. The man didn't answer, but the uncle defecating himself gave Perseus all the answer he needed.

*CRUNCH* The uncle's nose was shattered and he slumped against the wall. Perseus made him look into his cold, emotionless eyes. "Last time I encountered someone like you, I was powerless to stop it," Perseus muttered. If not for my heightened senses, I wouldn't have heard him. "Now. I'm going to take from you what you and your friends have taken from her." I made a mental note to ask him about what he meant later. 'Hopefully he'll tell me,'I thought before being shocked out of those thoughts.

Perseus placed his hand, glowing orange, on the man's forehead. Upon the touch, the man began spasming violently and continued to for a minute. Perseus removed his hand and the man slumped over, eyes glossed over and drool spilling from his mouth. "W-What did you do to him?" I asked, hoping the fear wasn't evident in my voice.

"I took away his hope," he spoke in the same emotionless tone, inspiring another dose of chills throughout my body. 'I knew he was powerful. But he can rival the power of Olympus if he so chose,' I thought dangerously. Perseus blinked a few times and shook his head. As quickly as it came, the warrior persona was gone and in its place, Perseus - 'no, Percy,' I thought - was back and rubbing his neck like he always did.

"Sorry about that Lady Artemis. I should have warned you about my attitude on these missions," he said, embarrassment clearly visible by the blush in his cheeks. I shook my head numbly and followed him as he went to find my niece.

After we found Rebecca (who is 9 years old by the way) and explained the reality of our world to her, she took the oath of the Hunt right then and there. She also thanked Perseus repeatedly and hugged the both of us several times. We both smiled widely at her and each other at the change in her personality. We then stepped outside and Perseus set the house ablaze before I flashed the 3 of us back to the Hunt.

PERCY POV

I felt bad that Artemis had seen that side of me when we went to retrieve Rebecca and even worse that I had let some of my past slip out as well. I didn't have time to dwell on it though as I looked up at the sky and said, "Apollo, we got her." Within seconds, he flashed right next to me, making me avert my eyes.

"I can't thank you enough cousin," he started as he hugged me unexpectedly. "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad we got her out of there," I replied. "We?" Apollo asked in confusion. "Yeah Lady Artemis joined me to observe and recruit her niece in person," I said, not thinking much of it as we walked to Artemis's tent.

Apollo shifted to his 30 year old form which raised eyebrows from both myself and Artemis, but before we could comment he was crushed into a hug by a crying Rebecca. "I know. I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry," he kept whispering to her over and over. It was a pleasant surprise to see Apollo acting so fatherly given his reputation, so I couldn't help but smile.

"Percy, do you have the charm I gave you?" he asked me looking over his daughters head. I handed it to him and he pulled Rebecca from his chest. He clasped it in both hands and muttered some words that I couldn't pick out and suddenly a bow appeared in his hands. "I have missed too much in your life to make up for it all, but please take this so I can at least help you protect yourself and those you care about," he said with a soft smile to his daughter.

I noticed Artemis go wide-eyed at the comment, but filed in my mind for a later date. Rebecca took the bow gratefully and hugged Apollo again. "I have to go now. Zeus already isn't happy that I have been gone this long, but I will see you again. I promise," he said with tears in his eyes and parted from Rebecca, placing a delicate kiss on her forehead.

"Percy. Walk with me for a moment before I leave," Apollo turned to me and said. I looked to Artemis for confirmation and she nodded swiftly. The two of us walked in silence away from the hunters camp for a while before I finally spoke up. "It's rare to see you act so fatherly Apollo," I said in a teasing manner because truth be told, the silence with Apollo was uncharacteristic and slightly uncomfortable.

Apollo just glanced at me with sadness in his eyes at the comment, shocking me further. "I suppose that is a fair assessment given the interactions you and I have had over the years," he stated clinically, like he was diagnosing his next patient. He let out a deep sigh and continued, "It is difficult being a god Percy. A small fraction of me is jealous that you had the chance to turn it down. Though if I was given the same opportunity, I doubt I would have taken the same path as you."

I didn't know what to say at this point, but Apollo just continued on, "Ancient Laws prevent us from intervening. Rebecca's mother died from cancer. As the God of Medicine, the emotional hurt I experienced from that amplified. I was useless. More often than not I am Percy." We had stopped walking at this point and he turned to me. "The God of Prophecy and Truth isn't any easier. I get glimpses and feelings of all things that are going to happen, some stronger than others, but almost always bad. The lies told by mortals and immortals alike. All things I had some extent of prior knowledge about, yet couldn't do anything because of Ancient Laws."

I stood there frozen still. He pressed on, "I suppose that is why the immature, playboy Apollo came to be. A coping mechanism. Not dissimilar to your own you know." I stared at him in silence. "But be weary of coping mechanisms Percy. They come with trade-offs. Mine sacrificed my relationship with my sister," He finished and I finally spoke.

"What do you mean? Your relationship with Artemis has always been playful hasn't it?" I inquired to him. He scrunched his eyebrows and sighed again, the tiredness in his eyes evident as they dulled slightly. "Before we got our domains we were inseparable. Playing, hunting, and protecting each other. Then I began to experience what I was telling you about my domains, particularly when men sought after Artemis. She became so disgusted with them that her disgust superseded the familial bond we had. I became another pig to her. Sure I protected her from behind the scenes still, but she didn't play or joke or hunt with me anymore. I was replaced by the Hunt in fact."

I was trying to wrap my brain around all this information, but the only question on my mind was, 'Why is he telling me this?' "So I adopted the coping mechanism to help deal with the heartbreak in the world, but also to keep Artemis in my life. Better for her to hate me in her life than to have forgotten about me," he finished.

'Forgotten. I know what that's like,' I thought before finally speaking up. "Why did you tell me this Apollo?" I asked and he offered me a small smile. "You have been forgotten too cousin. I'm not telling you to handle it the way I did, nor am I telling you not to. I simply want you to know that a decision will have to be made eventually. Just think about it."

He turned to flash away, but I spoke up before he could, "Does Artemis know? About the glimpses?" He turned back around, "No. You're actually the first person I've told. I heard it helps ease the pain, however little. You'll have the same opportunity soon enough." And with that, he flashed out to leave me alone with thoughts that made my brain hurt.

3RD PERSON POV

The rest of the day went on uneventfully. Training was done, meals were made, and no monsters had come around. However, both Artemis and Percy were uncharacteristically quiet for separate reasons. Artemis still had her mind racing around Percy's display on the mortals from the morning and the things he had said. No matter what direction she approached the scenario, she couldn't get any answers from it.

Percy hadn't thought so hard about anything in his young life. So when Apollo dropped the mental bombs on him, he had spent every moment after trying to get answers for himself. 'What did he mean? Does he know about everything? Even Gabe?' were some of the thoughts circling in his head. And they stayed that way until the night rolled around and he found himself at a cliff near camp, overlooking the ocean.

ARTEMIS POV

I had had enough by the time night rolled around. I had no answers and no clues about Perseus and it was irritating me more than it should have, but I couldn't let it go. So after the hunters had gone to their tents, I went to find him and demand answers from him. I stumbled onto his spot and admired the beauty for a brief minute.

The smell of the forest blended perfectly with the salty air of the tides below. The moon out and overhead, but not quite full. 'Another couple days and I'll have to handle that,' I thought before following the moonlight down to the cliff and saw Perseus sitting at the edge. He looked to be deep in thought and didn't react to my presence.

"Perseus," I said softly, not meaning to scare him. If he heard me he didn't react. I followed his gaze and found myself staring at the Huntress constellation. I couldn't help but smile at that and spoke up again, "She looks beautiful tonight doesn't she?" He finally turned to look at me and smiled softly, "Yeah she does."

I sat next to him and enjoyed the scenery in a comfortable silence. The wind blowing from the cliff and rustling through the trees. Wildlife scurrying around in the dark. I was at peace and I turned to see Perseus with a similar expression, before I remembered why I came here. "Perseus, what was that this morning?"

He turned to look at me again with a small frown. "Did I frighten you?" he asked quietly. Of course I would never admit that he did, so I told a half truth, "Of course not, but it was… unexpected to say the least." He studied my facial expressions after I answered, searching for any hint as to what I was feeling. I pressed on, throwing subtlety off the cliff. "What did you mean when you said you were powerless last time? I have known you for quite a while and you are many things, but powerless isn't one of them."

PERCY POV

I sat there in thought for a few moments. 'So this is what Apollo meant by the same opportunity. Bastard should've just told me it would be tonight,' I thought, annoyed and swear I heard a light chuckle in the back of my mind. A few more moments went by of me weighing the pros and cons of telling Artemis. I was surprised by how patiently she waited for an answer.

"I've never told anyone this," I began and she sat up straighter showing her attention. "But Apollo told me talking about things like this helps, so why not." Confusion crossed her face at the mention of her brother's name, but I held up my hand to hold all questions until I was done.

"After I was born and my father had to leave due to the Ancient Laws, my mother married a mortal, Gabe, whose scent was so overwhelmingly… well mortal, that it would hide me from the monsters. On the surface, it was a noble sacrifice. My mother protects me much like I like to believe all mothers would do for their children. But what I didn't realize was that it didn't matter if we attracted any monsters when we let the worst kind of them into our home willingly."

Artemis looked confused again and I drew a shaky breath, "It started when I was 7. I came home from school and my mom was at work. Gabe was there with a few of his buddies playing poker, drinking, and smoking. It was the first time I saw the game, so I watched curiously for a few moments. Gabe lost the round and one of his buddies laughed at him and winked at me, making me laugh along with him."

"After awhile they left and I was in my room. Gabe came in and started yelling at me. Calling me ungrateful and a brat and a loser. I was scared because I didn't know what I did, so I told him that." I paused to look at Artemis. Worry in her eyes as I drew another shaky breath.

"T-Then he hit me." I heard Artemis gasp, but I pressed on afraid that if I didn't get it out now, I never would. "He kept hitting me until my entire torso was littered with bruises and cuts from his ring. Then he grabbed me by the neck and lifted me up to his face and said, 'If you ever tell your mom about this, I'll do this to her but 10 times worse. You're mine now, punk.'".

ARTEMIS POV

I was seething with anger as Perseus revealed to me his childhood. Of all the people in the world to be a victim of abuse, Perseus would have been the absolute last I would have guessed. He told me about how it started, how it continued for 5 years afterward, how he lied to his own mother about it for 5 years just to spare her. He had been openly crying about it since the start of the story and my anger withered into concern.

I reached over and pulled him into a hug. Normally, I would never, but after all he had done for me, for Olympus, for the Hunt, it was more than mutual respect. We were friends. And I couldn't just sit there and not comfort a friend in front of me so desperately in need of it. I rubbed his back as he cried, staining my shirt but I didn't care.

After a while we separated and sat in silence. "That's why you have such a soft spot for the Hunt, isn't it?" I asked quietly. He simply nodded and the silence returned. Another few minutes went by before he spoke again, "Thank you for listening to that Lady Artemis. Apollo was right, the burden feels lighter, no matter how little." I shook my head with a soft smile, "No Perseus. Thank you for sharing that with me. I promise I won't tell anyone unless you say otherwise. And when we're alone, you may call me 'Artemis'." I added quickly.

He smiled at that and quipped back, "Only if you agree to call me 'Percy'." I smiled back to him and nodded in agreement. Once again, the comfortable silence set in as we watched the tides in the night. However, the silence didn't last as Percy sprang to his feet in a defensive manner in front of me.

PERCY POV

I sensed a presence that wasn't a hunter or a god and sprang to put space between them and Artemis. Artemis looked at me confused, but I pulled both Riptide and Frostbite out, both in pen form. I closed my eyes and focused on the presence again. '2 of them. Both monsters, but both too strong to be goons. They're here to kill or capture,' I thought and called out to them.

"I can sense you both. Come into the clearing slowly and I may grace you with mercy." "Well lookie here sonny. Artemis alone with a boy," the figure said getting closer, but I already knew who it was. Artemis growled at the comment and I spoke out again, "Echidna," I spat and Artemis paled slightly. "My, my, boy. I'm impressed you know me," she mused as she came into the clearing with the Chimera in chihuahua form.

I smirked at the two of them, "I'm disappointed that you don't remember me. It's only been a little more than a decade, right? St. Louis last time I checked." Artemis's eyes widened at the fact that I had encountered the Mother of Monsters before and Echidna narrowed hers as the Chimera rose to his full form. "Jackson," she spat. "We had heard you were gone. Master will not be pleased, but you are nothing more than a minor inconvenience that I will correct now!"

I clicked both my swords into action receiving a gasp from Artemis behind me and a nervous growl from the Chimera. Luckily Artemis snapped back to reality quickly and drew her hunting knives, and we engaged in battle. I took the lead since the Chimera's fire wouldn't have an effect on me and Artemis and I worked in tandem. She danced in and out of striking range leaving small cuts all along the beast as I battled the main head.

Suddenly Artemis got batted away by the snake tail and flew off into the tree line. "Shit!" I yelled and parried more of the blows and fire. Unfortunately, part of my mind was on Artemis which kept me distracted enough to miss the bite of the snake in my leg. 'Motherfucker! That's the second time!,' I thought. I felt the poison course through my veins and retreated several meters quickly.

Echidna laughed, "Again Jackson. You will die this time!" Luckily for me, my training allowed me to slow down the spread of the poison. Unluckily, I was going to hurt like Hades in about 15 minutes. Probably killing me. Rage built up in me, being bit for the second time by the damn thing and I went on auto pilot. I blasted the Chimera with fire and it stumbled backward. I quickly advanced and sliced off the snake tail.

'Not letting that happen again.' I thought as I dodged another swipe. I channeled my Earthshaker abilities in a stomp, throwing the Chimera off balance and created a barrier of ice underneath me to launch me on to the beast's back where I sliced off the goat head.

With two of the 3 heads gone, the Chimera breathed fire at me again, but I just redirected it back into its mouth. It sputtered in shock and I stabbed it through the roof of its mouth into its brain. "SONNY!" Echidna exclaimed as it exploded into dust. Before Echidna could finish me herself, a silver arrow pierced her shoulder.

Artemis had gotten the hunters and they had her surrounded. "Heed my words Jackson. The Master is rising, and now that he knows your back, he won't let you escape him a second time." I paled. 'No. No no no. Not him. Why him?!' I thought as the ground cracked beneath Echidna and she was swallowed by the place I never wanted to see, speak, or hear about again, confirming my suspicions.

I physically stumbled back and dropped to a knee wheezing and coughing up blood. I slowed the poison long enough, but now it's taking its toll. I dropped both my swords and coughed again.

ARTEMIS POV

"PERCY!" Both Thalia and I yelled as we rushed forward to him. Thalia spoke first, "Percy what was that? What happened to her? What did she mean you won't escape him again?" Percy was cold and clammy, sweating and coughing blood. "He's coming," he croaked. "Who?" Thalia asked and Percy looked both of us in the eyes before whispering. "Tartarus."

At the utterance of the name, Percy collapsed unconscious and Thalia panicked. "Thalia. Get the Hunt back to camp, I'm going to flash him to the infirmary and call Apollo." I didn't stop to see if she nodded as I flashed out. "Apollo! It's Percy, come quickly!" I yelled to no one in particular, but he appeared seconds later and got to work.

Several minutes later, Apollo came out of the tent. "He'll be fine. He should wake up in a couple days. Make sure he rests." I nodded and Apollo gave me a soft smile and left. 'No witty remark? Weird,' I thought before entering the infirmary and looked at Percy.

'He's so relaxed. It's hard to believe that conversation even happened earlier.' I thought as Thalia burst in with Estelle. Estelle climbed into the bed with him, curled up and cried herself to sleep, while Thalia and I took turns watching over the camp.

'This is going to be one Hades of a Council meeting once he wakes up.'

AN: If you've noticed, I made changes to the story quite a bit. Perseus Apollyon brought up some solid points and I decided to be not lazy, though as opposed to full rewrite I made some alterations. Story going forward should be just fine. Hopefully. Please leave reviews and comments and the like and I'll see you around!