(I apologize for the long hiatus. I'll make this chapter especially long for you guys! :D Back to the story! )
"Turn around and put your hands on your head." Artemis ordered them.
Percy did as he was told, muttering a prayer to Poseidon in Greek. Harry raised his hands and put them on his head, but continued to face Artemis.
"Do you not speak English?" Artemis questioned, "Turn around."
"What are you going to do?" Harry looked her in the eyes.
She stared him down, her yellow eyes dangerously shining, "You dare to speak to me as though we are equals?"
"If you're going to kill me, then you're bringing yourself to my level. So yes, we're equals." Harry nodded his head.
Artemis started to laugh and Percy took the risk of turning around, exchanging glances with Harry.
Artemis wiped her eyes, tears of joy spilling out, "In all my years, I have never met a human such as yourself."
Harry shrugged his shoulders, "I'm different."
Artemis nodded, her eyes falling on his lightning scar, "I can tell."
Harry put his hand on his head, covering the scar up, "What did you want to talk about?"
Artemis crossed her arms, "I'm sorry, wasn't I going to kill you a second ago?"
"You weren't going to kill us." Harry stated firmly, "I was just joking around."
"Well, you're right. But that can always change." Artemis warned him, "Perseus, what exactly did the Manticore say?"
Percy told Artemis everything the Manticore had rambled about, but her brow furrowed when he mentioned a "powerful creature, capable of taking down the gods."
Harry, forgetting his scar, let his hand drop to his side, "Monsters can fight gods?"
"Just because we're immortal doesn't mean we don't have enemies." Artemis turned to him, "Of course, the lower level ones, like those you have to deal with can't do anything to us. But stronger ones may be able to inflict wounds."
Harry cleared his throat, "Not that we didn't need saving, but I'd just like to know what a goddess is doing out here."
"I have sensed a strange power multiple times. Each time I sense it, I urge the Hunters to move quickly so we can find the source. As fast as we are, we never get there in time. Either the thing senses us coming and flees or it wanders off of its own will." Artemis exhaled heavily and Harry noticed her chest puff out as she did so.
Percy, following Harry's gaze, quickly elbowed him.
Harry looked at him, rubbing his side, "What the bloody hell man?" He whispered.
"Listen," Percy whispered to him, "Artemis is not the goddess to stare at. Two guys saw her naked once. One's dead and the other got turned into a girl."
Harry shuddered, "Point taken."
Artemis interrupted them by clearing her throat, "Would you like to share your discussion with me?"
Percy shook his head quickly, "Just, uh, two guys talking."
Artemis arched an eyebrow but said nothing. Harry suspected she knew what they were talking about. He made a mental note to keep track of how long his eyes stayed on Artemis.
If Percy noticed it, then her Hunters would catch it even quicker. And after speaking with Zoe, he wasn't sure he wanted to take that chance.
"Well, that's all I have to discuss with you." Artemis stretched, "You can regroup with your friends."
Harry and Percy exchanged looks, shrugged shoulders and walked out of the forest. Annabeth hugged Percy and after hesitating, hugged Harry as well.
"I knew you wouldn't get hurt Harrdini." Thalia smirked.
Harry shook his head and Nico walked up to him. "Why did you just leave us there by ourselves?" He said angrily.
"Sorry, but it was the safest place I could~"
"I missed the fight of a lifetime!" Nico cut him off, stomping his foot, "You guys are all cut up and hurt and I didn't see anything!"
Bianca touched Nico's shoulder. "Calm down. You're embarrassing me."
"Listen kid, I'll make it up to you." Harry jerked his thumb at Artemis, "You see that lady?"
Nico nodded. "Mhm. What about her?"
"That's Artemis. The Goddess of Hunting, if I'm correct." Harry looked to Annabeth.
"Goddess of the Hunt, the moon, chastity, animals, and the wilderness." She recited from her memory.
"No way!" Nico yelled, facing them with a grin on his face, "In Mythomagic, Artemis does 6,500 HP Points of damage! I'm gonna go ask her if she thinks that's an accurate point system."
Percy held Nico back by his jacket, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down there kid. Artemis is not the goddess to mess with. She hates the male species."
"Oh." Nico looked dejected, "I read that in the books but I figured..."
"She'd be different?" Harry finished for him.
"Yeah." Nico nodded, "Guess she isn't. Didn't the myths say she turned two guys into animals?"
"Rightly so." Zoë snorted, "Men are worthless."
"I see you speak from the few instances you actually spoke to them." Harry crossed his arms, turning to her, "Based on the few encounters you've had with a man, that is the definition of prejudice, wouldn't you say?"
Zoë narrowed her eyes, "I need not speak to your kind. All men do is destroy."
"Really?" Harry stepped forward, "Where's the proof behind that? Or is this another faceless claim based on the one man you spoke to?"
"Listen boy!" Zoë stuck her finger in his face, "I have had enough of thy antics. Lady Artemis will forgive me for striking you dead."
"You mean you can strike people a live?" Percy joked.
"ARGH!" Zoë let out a yell of frustration, "Lady Artemis! Permission to do away with these peasants!"
"I understand your frustration Zoë, but bear with it." Artemis nodded her head in empathy, "That being said, I have a task for you."
"What is it, my Lady?" Zoë bowed her head.
"I'm placing the Hunters under your leadership. I want you all to go back to Camp Half-Blood." Artemis glared into her eyes, "No ifs, ands or buts."
"But~"
"I said no buts." Her silver-gray eyes darkened to that of a night-black.
"Y-Yes my lady." Zoë bowed.
"Good. Apollo, see to it that they arrive safely."
'Apollo?' Harry thought to himself, 'The sun god? Where is he?'
"Okay Sis!" A male voice called out, "Leave it to me."
Before his very eyes, Harry witnessed a red Maserati appear in front of the group, a glowing red Maserati. The guy driving looked about 18, had sandy blond hair and a handsome face. He had a bright, warm smile and was wearing a sleeveless white tank top.
"That's Apollo?" Harry whispered to Percy.
"Yes indeed!" Apollo answered Harry directly, "And you guys need a ride so..." Apollo snapped his fingers and the car turned into an orange mini-bus.
He opened the bus doors, "Climb on in."
The Hunters of Artemis were the first to enter, thanking Apollo politely. Next was Bianca, who happily sat at the back of the bus, near the Hunters. Then Nico, Grover, Annabeth and Percy took seats in the middle. Finally, Thalia and Harry hopped on, Harry sitting at the front by Apollo.
Apollo started the mini bus and they were soon in the sky, soaring through the clouds.
"What spell did you use to lift the car?" Harry asked, forgetting himself for a moment, "Hogwarts doesn't have anything like that."
"Spell?" Apollo looked back at Harry, grinning, "Dude, I don't know what you're talking about but, I have a haiku I've been creating in my head."
"Let's hear it mate." Harry leaned forward.
Apollo cleared his throat, "Green grass breaks through snow. Artemis pleads for my help. I am so cool."
"Aren't you the god of poetry?" Harry questioned.
"Yeah. So whaddya think?" Apollo asked.
"It was um, very interesting." Harry nodded.
Apollo smiled, "Just like me. I'm a pretty interesting guy. Speaking of interesting...THALIA!"
"Yes?" Thalia turned around, breaking off her quiet chat with Annabeth.
"You're almost sixteen aren't you?"
"Uh, yes Si?." She came to the front.
Apollo waved his hand, "None of that Sir stuff. We're cousins! And besides, calling me Sir makes me feel old."
"Whatever you say...bro."
Apollo clapped his hands, "There we go. Anyways, take the wheel."
"Wait, what?" Thalia's face twisted into an expression of shock.
"You're going to be able to drive soon. Might as well get a first-hand start." Apollo stood up.
"Oh, um..." Thalia rushed to the seat and firmly grasped the wheel.
"Just give it a little gas. Nice and eas~"
Thalia floored the gas pedal, sending the formerly-standing Harry, flying to the back. Having been accustomed to reckless transport, he bounced back up instantly.
A girl-ish scream flew into his ear, but he didn't have time to look for the source.
"Easy Thalia! What the hell's the matter with you?" He climbed back to the front.
When he looked at Thalia, he could see she was completely frozen, her hands stuck in place.
"Oi!" He snapped his fingers in her face, "Wake up."
That made things worse. She jerked back from the sudden motion, swerving the wheel to the right. That wasn't the worst part. Harry could feel them descending at an insane speed.
Looking through the front windshield, Harry could see flecks of sky scrapers.
"Pull up." He said.
People came into view and Harry yelled loudly, "PULL UP!"
Thalia swerved the wheel and they zoomed up, barely missing an office building.
"Whoa!" Apollo exclaimed, laughing, "You set a part of New England on fire!"
Harry murmured a silent prayer to those back there and hoped no one was hurt.
It was a regular day at Camp Half-Blood, excluding the absences of four well-known campers. Those in the Canoe Lake heard screaming and looked up, their eyes widening. An orange mini-bus slammed into the water, steaming appearing as it dove deeper.
Then, by some miracle, it re-positioned itself so that it was levitating above the water, then slowly lowered itself on the bank of the lake.
"That was one heck of a ride?" Apollo looked back at his guests, "How do you guys feel?"
"I think I'm gonna~" Nico clamped two hands of his mouth.
The doors opened and the occupants flooded out, all breathing heavily. Some of the Hunters muttered under their breaths, while Nico took one look at the water and puked.
"HEY!" Percy yelled at him, "Do that somewhere else man!"
"Thank you Percy!" Two naiads waved and then descended into the water.
Harry sighed, "Can't I just go home?"
(I am sorry, my wonderful readers. This story has been inactive for too long! I was ready to give up...then I read the Cursed Child and my mind blew up. So, here's a chapter for you guys! Many more coming!)