Hello everyone! How are you?
I hope all good! The view/ reviews/ favorites / follows keep increasing and it makes me very happy!
Really guys! Thank you all!
We are at 220.000+ views! A number that I could only dream when I started this! Thank you all for making it comes true.
Anyway, before going to the new chapter let me say that I am sorry for the late updates but a lot of things are going on! But I certainly don't forget you.
***Also! Happy new year! I hope 2018 treats you all well!
I am ashamed that my last chapter was a year ago! I will try to write more! But I can't promise you anything!
So…enjoy!
Artemis
After I showed two or three things to Percy about the correct posture of his body or how to lose the excess tension, I let Thalia to help him out, while the rest of the hunt was free and I had some loose ends to tie.
I flashed myself to Olympus, only to find Hestia.
She turns to me with a raised eyebrow.
"Thanks for the meeting with my mother", I said, trying to beat around the bush.
"And?" she asked, after nodding her head in appreciation.
"I have some more things to look after before being free to deal with him." I said and almost spat the last word.
"I would talk better about him" Aphrodite commented, singing the last word, earning a death glare.
"Is she still in denial?" the Goddess of love asked the last Olympian.
"I am not! I need to take care of some business first!" I almost yelled at them.
They exchanged a knowing look.
'Like what?" Aphrodite almost teased me.
"Arianna!" I replied seriously and the two goddesses changed their tone.
"Of course. We forgot. Let's see the end of this story." Hestia replied and called for a meeting.
"Yes Hestia." said our king after the whole council was present.
"Actually, I wanted to call for this meeting, about Arianna." I said and all the gods nodded.
Athena spoke.
"We learnt from Percy that she worked with him. So I think he must be the one to decide her punishment."
"All in favor?" asked Zeus and twelve hands were raised, apart from Ares.
So both Percy and Arianna were flashed in the throne room in two bright lights.
Percy looked around the gods and before saying a word he spotted Arianna and clenched his fist.
"Why is she here?" he asked in an aggressive tone.
Arianna on the other hand looked lost, looking left and right like she didn't understand a thing.
"We know that she was hoping Tartarus from what you told us." Athena explained.
"And we thought that you should be the one who should decide her punishment his father explained.
He looks a bit puzzled at first, and then turned to me.
"What would you do, Lady Artemis?" he asked and I was taken by surprise.
"What do you mean? It's irrelevant. It your choice" I responded, trying not to show any emotion on my voice.
"Yes, but I am not a god and I do not know many things like you do or haven't lived similar things and I fear I will judge too harsh or too wrong." he said casually, leaving me speechless.
"Well then you must find out yourself" Hestia told him, breaking the silence.
"Who are we talking about?" a voice asked and we were all stunned to see Arianna speak.
"About you my daughter." the God of war replied.
"Why? What did I do?" she asked, fear evident in her voice.
We all looked at Apollo who snapped his fingers taking himself and Arianna away.
The answer came two minutes later from my brother.
"It seems that Tartarus manipulated her mind that when that when he died or she was captured, after a while all her memories of him and their plan to be erased. So the last thing she remembers is the day before Tartarus reaching out to her, which was the second day in the Hunt."
"So we can all forget about this?" Percy asked.
"What? She betrayed us all and she was the reason Tartarus captured you!" Poseidon erupted, making Ares flinch.
"I agree father, but right now there is no reason for her to be punished. She did all she did because she was manipulated. She may was herself, but that Arianna is erased? And in the end I am alive and Tartarus is gone." he replied.
The lord of the seas seemed to think about all this.
"As you wish my son. But I will not let her continue to be on the Hunt. I believe its fair." the earth shaker decided and since none said anything more the decision was taken and Arianna was flashed away.
"Is there anything else?" Zeus asked, ready to put an end to this meeting.
"Actually brother yes", the Lord of the Dead spoke, "We have to reward Percy for his last feats".
"I agree" Poseidon said.
We all turned to Percy.
"You all know that I will decline for the third time. Please don't kill me" he replied.
And I was stunned for one more time. Why is he so selfless sometimes?
"Are you sure Percy? We may not offer this another time." his father asked.
"Well then. I will not decline but will not accept either." he said, after he thought about it for a minute.
"What do you mean my son?" the Lord of the Seas asked.
"He means that he will be able to decide when he wants to become a god" Athena replied, rolling her eyes to Poseidon's question.
"I see. Smart move. Any objections?" Zeus boomed, and no god said anything.
"But there must be something you want for yourself Perseus." pushed Poseidon.
A smirk appeared on his face.
"A trident?' he asked and almost all of us face palmed ourselves.
"You will get it for your next birthday"
And with that the meeting ended and most of the gods flashed out, leaving me alongside with Hestia, Aphrodite, Athena and Percy.
"Perseus?" Athena called him as he stated walking towards me and I nodded, giving him the permission, while Hestia and Aphrodite came to me.
"So, now that this has ended, what are you going to do?' asked Aphrodite.
"Well, I want things to relax first, for Percy to be fully accepted in the Hunt and then I will see what I will do." I replied.
"That's almost good for now!" said Hestia and the two goddesses flashed out, leaving me alone, waiting for Percy.
After his talk with Athena, he came to me, with a weird grin on his face.
"What now?" he asked.
I didn't reply. Instead I flashed us to the camp.
"You have the day off. Tomorrow morning you are to report at 8 sharp at Thalia" I instructed a bit angry and flashed off.
Percy
At least a day off, I thought as I walked to my cabin.
My mind was wandering to what Athena told me. And then Artemis was angry about something. I fear I am in trouble!
As I reached it I saw something new. Next to Poseidon's, there was now a new cabin, smaller, but similar to mine. Triton's cabin I understood.
So my brother wasn't going to have only one daughter. That was good to hear. He was warming up to the "surface dwellers".
I stepped in my room, looking around. All was the same. The Minotaur horn still in its place, the fountain ready for use. I missed my room.
I was ready to rest for the day when I heard a knock on the door. Great. Up and running again!
I walked out and saw Chiron with Nico.
I raised my eyebrow.
"So?" asked Nico.
"What?" I asked.
"Dude, you were talking to us, then you flashed out and then you return and don't say a word?"
I had totally forgotten that! I am a seaweed brain!
"Well we had to see what would happen with Arianna!" I replied.
"And?" my teacher asked, who was silent till now.
"Tartarus manipulated in a way that she doesn't remember anything so she will return in the camp, if it is ok! That's what I decided when I was given the choice!" I stated and I saw two jaws dropping.
"Wait. You let her get away with it?" Nico said, starting to get angry!
"Hey! Calm down! It's all good! But if you don't want her here she can go to Camp Jupiter!" I said raising my hands in defeat!
Chiron simply put his arm on Nico's shoulder!
"I am sure she can stay here. But it must not be learnt why she left!" I nodded and I was ready to head back inside when I heard a guy shouting my name.
I left out a breath and turned around.
Too late I saw Jason and Leo coming to me full speed.
Before I could do anything they grabbed me, Nico putting handcuffs on me and Jason a dark cloth over my head.
I started thrashing around and I felt them lifting me on their shoulders and started taking me away just before I hear my teacher to advise me to trust them!
So I did!
I waited patiently and without resisting to arrive at our destination. I felt the ocean near and I am sure they knew that I could spoil their plans any moment I wanted but the hoped that I didn't. And I didn't.
After a while we stopped and they made me stand on my feet.
"Wait!" said Leo and removed the shackles.
I nodded and I just stood there.
I tried hearing something to get a clue for what they were planning but I got nothing. And I started getting anxious and couldn't be still, so I started cracking my knuckles.
"Easy there man! Give us a minute!" Jason laughed at me.
I let out a deep breath trying to calm down and suddenly the cloth was taken away and I was breathless.
In front of me were all my friends from Camp Half blood and some from Camp Jupiter, Tyson and there was a big table full of blue foods and drinks and in front of them all was a blue cake that wrote: "Welcome back Percy!"
But before I could do anything I came across a big hug from my brother.
After five minutes he calmed down and after my color became normal again I greeted all my friends I haven't seen for a while.
"What are you all doing here?" I asked finally!
"We told you we were going to have some time with you! To catch up!" Piper spoke.
And so we did. For the next hours we ate, drunk, sat around Leo, or better our fireplace, and had a great time.
After quite some time I felt good again! With my friends, three places to call home. But I was missing something. A place on my heart was empty. But that was starting to fill too.
The next morning I woke around 7.
I knew I had time before checking in on Thalia and I thought it was a good idea to inform my mother that I was ok. She must have learnt about my new adventures. I threw a drachma on my fountain.
"Fleche, do me a solid. Show me Sally Jackson" I said, ready to greet my mother.
"The connection can't be established" was the answer and my heard skipped a beat.
"What? Something must have happened!" I exclaimed and I was already outside, running to the Big House.
"Chiron, I can't reach my mother. I must leave!" I almost yelled.
"What? Of course. Be careful" said my teacher and I let the shadows of the Big House to embrace me.
In minutes I was outside my apartment, Riptide on my hand. I stopped outside the door, careful to not make any sound and to hear anything out of the ordinary. Silence.
I opened the door and there she was, sitting on the couch like nothing happened.
"MOM! Are you ok?" I almost yelled.
She simply looked at me and smiled. "Of course I am! Why wouldn't be?"
I came to her and hugged her.
"I tried to IM you but I couldn't reach you and I feared something happened!" I explained!
"I have my friends too up there! Well at least now you see how I feel every time I can't reach you or that I learn you are in a new mission!" she said, a tears forming in her eyes.
I didn't know what to say! She was right and I knew it.
So I just hugged her again.
"Now, tell me about your new adventures!" she demanded.
And so I just explained all the things that have done.
When I finished, my mother was in tears and I had a few too.
We spoke a bit more and then I remembered something.
I looked at the clock in the wall in dread.
It was 10 o'clock. I was dead.
Quickly I explained my mother and shadow traveled to the Camp.
I appeared in my cabin, and from there I headed to Artemis cabin.
As I reached it, I found it strangely quiet. I stopped outside the door and put my ear on it. I tried to act as a hunter!
I didn't hear anything more so I tried opening the door. It opened easily and I stepped in. Too late I understood my mistake.
They wouldn't leave their cabin alone, unlocked for anyone to come in.
And I prepared myself for the pain that would come from any trap.
But nothing happened.
I saw around, without moving in and I saw a blowtorch above the door that was somehow activated. I was a crossbow across the room.
So there are traps. Why weren't they activated?
"Because you are part of us!" I heard a voice beside me and I jumped back, going for Riptide.
"Calm down already!" Artemis said in a serious tone.
"I will get used to it!" I answered back!
"Or you will learn to feel someone presence behind you and learn to walk without waking up the universe!" she countered.
"Touché"
"So. I gave you a simple task last night. Didn't I?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Yes, but…" I started saying but I was cut short.
"Yes. I was informed about what happened. And I knew it would. I combined the situation with a test for you, and Thalia. But mainly I wanted to test two things about you!" she said and let me dumbfounded.
"First I would like to see if you would inform me."
0/1 Ithought. Great start!
"Second. I wanted to see how you would deal with a matter that involved a very dear person. And the good is that you didn't act too rashly."
1/2. Could be worse, my brain said.
"But it is bad!" she commended!
"Can you please stop reading my thoughts?" I said.
"If I want!" she laughed at me.
"Now go and train with the girls. They wait you in the archery range!" she ordered and I was off to hell!
"You don't want to see hell!" she yelled at me.
Great.
Thalia
WHY IS HE A HUNTER? I thought. He can't even shot an arrow straight and can't seem to understand the corrections!
I was training with him only 10 minutes and I was ready to kill him.
I was thinking all these as I shot arrows to let off some steam and I didn't notice the girls to come around me.
Thanks to our bows I kept firing and firing. I did it so that I wouldn't electrocute him so hard that his children would have raised hair.
I kept on going till I heard someone clearing his throat.
Only then I understood three things. I had shot so many arrows that I had completely destroyed the target. Two, that I was drenched in sweat.
Third, that Artemis and the whole hunt were looking at me weirdly.
"Girls. Go take a shower. All of you. Thalia, take two. I will be waiting you in our Cabin. I have some news to tell you." Artemis said and left.
The girls silently started walking and Anna came to me.
"Why are you angry with Percy?" she asked me.
That girl! Sometimes she is in my head.
"I am not angry with Percy! I am angry at Percy. He just can't seem to be able to understand some basic things!"
"We all from the sea side have it! I can see that in my self too!" she said.
"And how do you fight it?" I asked curious.
"I wish I knew! The only thing I can feel is that patience is the key!" she said and started walking faster leaving me last.
After the shower we all gathered up in the cabin. I was almost sure it had to do with Ariana.
"Girls. There are some things you don't know exactly. I had hoped Percy would explain since he lived it, but since he is to rest for the day I will tell you the events." Artemis started. And she did.
She explained it all.
I was stunned by the course of some events but I really didn't expect the ending.
"So you say that Percy let Arianna off the hook?" I asked, in full harmony and coordination with Anna.
"Yes. He had his reasons! So from today Arianna will not be part of the hunt. Also I am very happy that you accepted Percy. With the new events I hope you all saw his true self and intentions."
We all nodded.
"Tomorrow the schedule will go on as usual. Now to your beds, except for Thalia!" she finished and I was left alone with the goddess.
"Yes milady?"
"At 8 sharp Percy is to check in with you. I want things to go smooth! You will continue training him on the bow and I want to start to teach him how to move like a true hunter." I instructed.
"Can I not?" I complained. "He is the worst student ever!"
She simply laughed.
"A good teacher is revealed on a tough student Thalia! Through this you will understand some things about yourself too! Now off you go!" she instructed and flashed out, leaving me skeptical.
I must challenge myself to be better teacher and teach this seaweed brain some things.
And I was sure I would do that, until next morning at 8.
I had woken up, was ready and waiting for him.
But he didn't show up. I waited till 8.30. And then I started looking for him
I had run through all the camp around 3 times, asking anyone that could know anything.
Some had seen him too early going to the Big House, but Chiron didn't help me at all.
Around 9.30 Artemis came to find me.
"Thalia? Do you have anything to report?" she asked, a bit to innocently.
"Percy is not here. I don't know where he is."
She made a face I knew.
"But you already knew that! It was a test. Wasn't it?" I said. She had put through a lot of those through the year.
"Yes. Now go to the arrow field. When he comes teach him the second thing I told you yesterday!" she instructed and flashed away, leaving me a bit angry and wanting to make him suffer.
So…this was it! I hope you liked it!
Again I am sorry that this took so long! I will try to update more often!
One more time I want to thank you for your views-reviews etc!
It may be such small things, but they make the difference!
Also please tell me what you would like to see more or different!
Thanks!
Bye!