Chapter 20: Ruthless

3RD PERSON POV

The day carried on normal enough for Percy and the Hunt as they went about their regular duties. There was only one noteworthy difference and that was in Percy's demeanor when he trained both himself and the young ones. He was colder and more calculating. He didn't give nearly as much praise as he used to and he pushed the girls even harder than he had before.

Thalia and Artemis were observing the training session from the side of the clearing when they noticed. They watched onward as Percy was dueling Estelle's group. Normally he'd hold back a great deal and allow them to get close to him, but this time, he was strict and ruthless. "Again," he called as the girls were panting to catch their breaths. So again, they charged and pressed him. Estelle with her new sword, Lora with her ax, and Rebecca with supporting fire.

"He's more merciless now," Thalia said to Artemis as Percy had just disarmed his sister and got her to yield. Artemis knit her eyebrows together in worry and frowned. Percy then flipped over Lora and held his katana at the back of her neck. "Dead," he said and moved to dodge Rebecca's arrows. After three volleys, he threw a knife and closed the distance. Rebecca managed to dodge the knife barely, but couldn't avoid the sweep of the legs. "Dead," he said.

"You girls need to be faster. Think quicker and anticipate what your opponent is going to do," he said as Artemis approached. "I think that is enough for them for today, Perseus," she said and Percy stiffened slightly then nodded. "Keep working hard girls," he said and bowed and left to his own training. "You girls did great," Artemis said, but their heads remained down at their feet. "Brother is scary now," Estelle said and the other nodded.

Artemis crouched down and put a finger under her chin to make her look up. "He just wants all of you to be prepared for anything," Artemis said reassuringly. The girls all sighed and nodded before following Thalia back to camp. Artemis went to go see Percy.

ARTEMIS POV

I found Percy in a separate clearing with seven automatons training. He was impressive. Far more so than he had already been, but more merciless too. Not a single movement, not even a breath was wasted as he weaved in and out of attacks, throwing in counter strikes of his own.

He balanced his strikes from his weapons with use of his powers so gracefully it was poetic. He used one weapon on each automaton and dropped it after each was defeated to ensure he trained with them all. By the time he was weaponless, only one remained and he charged unarmed, slipped into its guard and disarmed it with a series of quick jabs to its arms and torso. The bronze caved in slightly where he struck.

I slowly approached as he felled the last and spoke to alert him of my presence. "Seems I had nothing to worry about in terms of your ability," I said and he straightened up and turned around. 'Still with the damn emotionless mask. Why is he so good at hiding his emotions?' I mused.

"You know, you don't have to be so strict with the young ones. They're giving it all they've got and they're already leagues above the campers their age," I said and still got no reaction. "I'm just trying to prepare them as best as I can. They need to be better for what is to come," he said flatly. A slight annoyance bubbled up in my chest. "Still, there is no need to be so harsh," I said, irritated.

His eyes flared ever so slightly before he spoke again in a dead even tone. "They haven't seen what I have. They need to be stronger, faster, and merciless," he said and the rage overflowed. I closed the distance in an instant and slapped him hard across the face. "You should pray that they never have to see what you have!" I hissed at him. I saw the anger flare up in him again before he collected himself. The traces of guilt and pain were still in his eyes.

"Percy, no one should have to go through what you've been through. You can't train and teach them that way because of it. They are still children and I know you didn't get the chance to grow up with that luxury, but they deserve at least a sliver of that innocence," I finished softly.

He looked away from me and I could see his jaw clenched tightly. "You haven't seen or been through what I have, Milady," he all but spat at me and I felt the anger again. "Fine. But I don't think either of your mother's would want to see you like this. And they damn sure wouldn't want Estelle to become estranged from her only family because of it," I told him in a steeled tone and his head whipped up to look at me.

There was anger and loathing present in his eyes, but above all else; pain. Unfathomable pain sat in those sea-green depths and my heart wanted to pull him into a hug, but my pride won and I stood my ground. The standoff felt like an eternity, but eventually he looked down and slumped his shoulders. "You're right… I'm sorry… Artemis," he whispered and I internally celebrated my victory. "It's not me who you should be apologizing to," I said softly with a hand on his shoulder.

"Come. It's time for lunch. And remember: you can ALWAYS talk to me about it. You're my friend and it pains me to see you this way," I said with finality and we walked back to camp. 'It hurts me because you may be more than a friend, you stupid Sea Sponge,' I thought as we returned to camp.

3RD PERSON POV

Percy summoned lunch for the Hunt and apologized to the girls who all smiled and hugged him gratefully. Artemis noticed he still tensed at the contact, but it was slightly less this time and he still refused to eat with them for the time being, but they couldn't do much about it. When he was ready to, he would.

The rest of the day went par for the course and nightfall came soon enough. Dinner was had without Percy's presence still, but the Hunt was soon to bed after that. Percy didn't put Estelle and the little ones to sleep, who now all slept in the same tent since Percy's capture, but he crept in after they had gone to sleep. He couldn't bring himself to approach them, but watched them carefully for several minutes as their chests rose and fell steadily. It brought ease to his damaged mind.

Percy then entered Artemis's tent. "I'm headed out, Milady," he said with a half-bow. "Please, Percy. We're alone. Artemis is fine," she said and he rose from his bow. Artemis didn't like that they had lost their familiarity with one another, but she didn't dare bring it up in fear of losing it forever. 'It'll just take time,' she told herself.

"Where are you headed?"she asked. "I'm going to scout out and around our current position to ensure there are no threats. If I find none, I will do the same around both of the camps. It should take all night," was his reply and Artemis nodded and sent him off, only to call Thalia into her tent moments later.

"I want you to take watch tonight. I am going to watch Perseus from my ride on the Moon Chariot. I want to see just how much this affected him," she said and Thalia nodded, understanding the concern for her cousin.

PERCY POV

I figured if there were any threats around CHB, I would have detected them when we set out yesterday, so I put that post on the backburner. Camp Jupiter was across the country and while it was a trivial matter to get there, I figured my main focus should be a thorough sweep of the area around the Hunt.

I ventured out in a 50 mile radius around the Hunt to survey any forces. I found none to the North, West, and East, seeing as we were fairly close to CHB still, but the South had my attention. I picked up some tracks there and ventured slowly and carefully, making sure to leave no stone unturned.

Unfortunately, the tracks proved legitimate. Fortunately, there were no Titans or Giants, just a fuck-ton of monsters. 'Probably en route to meet up with another force, though if that's the case, that's one massive army,' I mused as I surveyed their camp from a tree. At least 200 monsters were camped out near Swallow Falls in West Virginia.

I methodically picked them off one at a time. The patrols first. They fell without even a scream as I used my bows and katana to bring them a quick and merciless death. With the patrols out, I went through each tent, one by one, and killed everything that resided there. It was merciless, but after my decade in hell itself, I couldn't bring myself to remotely care.

I was nearly finished with all 200 when they began to take notice. Shouts of alarm rang throughout the camp as my cover was blown. They didn't know where I was as I vapor traveled to a vantage point in the trees to survey. 'A couple dozen left and they have no idea where I am. Good,' I thought as I vapor traveled in.

I struck down another half dozen and vanished again before they could locate me. I repeated the action, beheading and dismembering everything except for one unlucky telekine. I appeared behind it and put fear in it and watched it run away. I tracked it and toyed with it watching the fear grow. Finally, I grew tired and pinned it to a tree with an arrow. I dropped down in front of it and approached slowly.

"Tell me everything you know about gathering forces and battle plans," I said in my emotionless tone. "Go to Tartarus," it hissed at me and I began to boil the blood in its body. It screamed in pain and cursed at me until I stopped. "Tell me," I said again in the flat tone void of emotion.

"I-I don't know where they are, but I-I know it'll be a two pronged attack!" it yelled, trying to spare its life. "Both camps simultaneously?" I asked and it nodded furiously. "When?" I asked and it stayed silent. This time I froze its blood and it hissed in pain. "When?" I repeated the question.

"I-I don't know! Not soon, but not so far away either. A-A half a year at the earliest!" it managed to get out and I stopped toying with it. "And what of the Hunt and the Amazons?" I asked finally. "A-Amazons have a force designated to them, but we know the Hunt will help the camps," it said finally. With a swift flick of my wrist, I exploded the blood in its head and it disintegrated.

'I need to notify all parties,' I thought then traveled back to the camp to find Artemis at the fire.

ARTEMIS POV

Percy was far worse than I had feared. I watched with horrid fascination as he decimated an entire army of 200 monsters without batting an eye. He picked them off one by one before they could even realize. 'Japan turned him to a master assassin. Not even the Gods would see him coming,' I thought and shuddered at the idea.

I listened intently as he extracted the information from the last telekine and my stomach churned uncomfortably when he made the thing's head explode. My heart broke a little bit more and I feared he would never be the same. 'Have hope, my niece,' I heard Hestia say in my mind. I steeled my nerves and traveled back to the Hunt's camp to the fire to await his arrival.

He approached me cautiously and sat down across from me. 'He doesn't even want to sit next to me anymore,' I thought sadly, but pushed the thought aside. "Successful mission?" I asked, but already knew the answer. "You should know. You were watching me the entire time," he said calmly and I went wide-eyed. "Y-you knew?" I asked and he nodded.

'His senses have been dialed up to 11 since he came back of course he noticed me watching,' I thought. "We will notify everyone tomorrow," I said. "I have a plan already formed. It will require me to train the demigods, as loath as I am to do that. It would be wise to gather them all in one location to avoid a three-pronged attack if you count the Amazons," he said and I was shocked by his tactfulness. 'Another product of his capture,' I mused bitterly.

"We will discuss it with Athena tomorrow," I said and he nodded. Silence fell between us. "You didn't have to be so ruthless… what happened to you down there," I asked finally and immediately regretted it. He got a faraway look in his eyes. "Nothing you need to worry about," he said and I had had enough.

"Don't tell me not to worry about it! You've changed, Percy! You're going down a dark path and for Estelle's as well as your own well being, I will not just sit back and let you!" I whisper yelled and he just looked at me. "Estelle and the little ones are worried about you. Your parents are worried about you. Thalia is worried about you," I said and felt the tears prick my eyes ever so slightly. "I-I'm… worried about you," I whispered and took a deep breath.

"You've become an irreplaceable part of my life… My best friend really since Zoe… and I-I've grown fond of you a-and your company… I-I don't wanna lose that," I said, barely audible over the crackling of the fire. A few stray tears had fallen at this point and I couldn't bring myself to look at him.

He moved around the fire to sit next to me, and did the last thing I expected. He hugged me. He hugged me and buried his face into my shoulder. My heart leapt for joy for a beautiful fleeting moment until I noticed his shaking and his sobs. I was shocked and I didn't know what to do, but I absentmindedly rubbed his back as he cried. "I-I was terrified before… but I-I can't even look at them or myself the same now," he choked out. 'Thank Gods. He's not completely buried beneath the pain.'

"Percy," I said softly. "C-Can you show me? I want to help… but I need to see exactly what happened," I told him and he tensed and was quiet for a moment before pulling away. "S-sorry… are you sure?" he asked gently and I nodded. "Only if you want me to see," I said and he took a shaky breath.

He placed his fingers on my forehead and I closed my eyes. I saw everything. Every cut, every punch, every kick; everything. For 10 years they tormented him everyday to the point his wounds hardly closed. My heart broke for him again. Then the psychological torture came. I saw the Hunt, the campers, even Thalia and Annabeth come in one by one and leave their mark. I saw him nearly drown. 'They tortured him with his own element,' I thought angrily.

Then I saw Kronos curse him. Only three hours of sleep each night and none of it without nightmares. 'Just when I thought my heart couldn't break anymore for this man, it shatters further,' I thought bitterly.

I opened my eyes and felt wetness there. He wiped my tears away for me with his thumb and I looked into his pained eyes once more. He forced a watery smile for me and said, "Don't cry for me." That had the opposite effect and I cried into his chest as he held me and rubbed my back this time. "I-I'm s-so s-sorry. It's n-not fair. W-why you?" I choked out between the sobs. 'Gods, The Fates are cruel.'

"C-Can I see it?" I asked and he tensed, but nodded slowly and removed his coat. He pulled the long-sleeve shirt down to reveal the "K" shaped scar. I traced it with shaky fingers and noticed him shiver, but failed to notice his light blush as I traced his bare chest. "I-I didn't know it was cursed," I said softly.

He forced me to look at him again. "I said I'd come back to you and I did. So don't cry anymore. Remember what I told you and Estelle as I fell in there?" he said gently and I looked at him puzzled. "You're too beautiful to cry," he whispered and realization crossed my face. Not because I realized that the voice I heard was him; not entirely anyways. But because I realized in that moment, I was falling in love with him. For millennia, I had sworn off men for the vile, greedy pigs they are. Yet, in that moment, I realized I was falling for the greatest one I had ever met.

Of course, I was too damn proud to admit it then and there. And too scared to. 'What if he doesn't love me back?' I thought but pushed it aside and chuckled a little. "You did promise. And if you broke it, I would've killed you then dragged you back from Elysium to castrate you myself," I said softly and for the first time in that decade he was gone, a very small, but a very genuine smile graced his lips.

"You should get some rest. I'll be here when you wake," I said to him and he nodded reluctantly. A sliver of hope warmed me when he said, "Yeah… I guess I'll need my three hours of shut eye for tomorrow. Goodnight… Arty. And thank you." "Goodnight, Percy." 'He's coming out of it. It'll be gradual and he'll have to build that trust again, but he's coming back. I'll be there for him no matter what,' I thought as he disappeared toward his tent.

3RD PERSON POV

Artemis wasn't the only one that realized her feelings that night. Percy's own developed further and while he didn't know it was him falling in love with her. He saw her as someone he could confide anything in and with a fatal flaw of loyalty, that was all he needed. He didn't need the romantic, mushy kind of love and neither did Artemis. That didn't match their styles. They both needed a partner. Someone that they could put 100% of their trust and feelings with and while romantic love was budding and they would reach that level of private intimacy eventually, that was not the form of love they valued. They wouldn't necessarily need the affection, though there would be a time and place for it; they just needed each other.

The night turned to morning and the two informed the Hunt of their trip to Olympus. They flashed there and left Thalia in charge and summoned the remaining Council members as well as the minor gods and goddesses and immortal leaders of each camp. The Amazons were there via IM.

"I took out a group of about 200 monsters in West Virginia last night and got some answers," Percy began. "As early as six months, Tartarus will launch an attack on both camps and the Amazons before moving on to Olympus," he said and let his words sink in. He then looked to Athena.

"I believe it would be advantageous to localize both camps to one location, likely CHB since it's closer to Olympus to avoid a three-pronged attack and reduce it to two. I also believe I should oversee the training of the campers and the Hunt, should they have me," Percy said and glanced at Artemis who gave him a nod.

"Not such a Barnacle Beard like your father are you?" Athena said with a slight smile and got a nod from Percy. "I believe that is a solid plan for the time being. Annabeth and I can iron out the details and discuss them with the leaders of the camps," Athena said and only barely noticed the flinch Percy had at her daughter's name.

The remainder of the meeting went over a few more details and they would meet again in a week to brief everyone of the plan in its entirety. The Gods and campers flashed out and Percy talked briefly with his parents and patron to let them know he was okay and he was doing better. Apollo reminded him of his therapy coming up and they left him alone.

ANNABETH POV

"Percy?" I asked softly and noticed the tension in his shoulders before he turned around. "How are you?" I asked and got a heavy sigh in reply. "I'm doing okay, Annabeth. Tartarus the second time around… was much worse," he said and for the first time in awhile I didn't know what else to say. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see the pain etched in his eyes.

"We can talk more… about everything. Just... after this is all over," he said and I nodded. "I'm getting help though… and I think I'm going to be just fine," he said, but his gaze was across the room. I followed it to see him looking at Apollo and Artemis. I looked back to him and noticed a small smile on his face, but something else in his eyes.

'I see… he used to look at me the same way,' I thought, Surprisingly, the pain in my heart was significantly less than I thought it would be. 'I can't make this about me,' I thought and shook my head. "I'll hold you to that… Seaweed Brain," I said and he looked back to me with gratitude in his eyes and nodded.

3RD PERSON POV

Percy approached Artemis after his brief conversation with Annabeth. "Ready?" she asked and he nodded.

"Time to make warriors out of these kids," he said and they disappeared into a silver light.

AN: Chapter 20! Having fun with it. Send me reviews and suggestions! Until next time!