I'm back! Sorry for the delay. I know it's been way too long since I wrote anything on this story, but as is so often the case life got in the way. Well I finally got the next chapter done. Hope you like it!

Hestia

Hestia let the sword of flame in her right hand disappear as she studied the carnage before her. The rage that had moments ago consumed her mind had vanished, replaced with her usual serenity that was this time heavily tinged with melancholy. Before her was a crater, several hundred yards across and smoldering like a volcano in this area that hadn't seen volcanic activity in millennia. She knew she'd been excessive in the release of her power, but after seeing the inside of that apartment in the city she hadn't been able to restrain herself. Her foe lay in the center of the crater's floor.

Hestia stood silently at the crater's rim for a long time. Finally she stepped forward and began carefully picking her way slowly down the southern slope. The only sound in the eerie silence was the creak of the ancient leather straps of her armor, armor she hadn't worn since she and her siblings had thrown down their father, and the occasional loud crack of superheated stone. When she reached the bottom she glanced back the way she'd come. The trail she'd taken was plainly visible, glowing brightly in the darkness. I guess I'm not as calm as I thought. She could feel the heat radiating off of her skin in waves, warping the air around her. She took a few deep calming breaths then turned and approached her adversary.

Standing above the fallen Gigas, Hestia looked down into the lone surviving mechanical eye. It seemed dazed, as if unable to focus as it stared up into the dark sky. The broken body was burned black from head to toe. The Giant's left arm was burned away at the shoulder, and his leg ended in a blackened stub just above the knee. Both were the results of the particularly powerful burst of fire that had created this crater. "Hello Orion," she said evenly, and the lone eye met hers suddenly with a frightening intensity. It searched her face wonderingly for a moment, and then a small pained smile appeared on the ruined face before disappearing into a grimace. The burned and blackened skin cracked as the Giant coughed weakly.

"So it was you," Orion rasped weakly through bleeding lips. "I was wondering who was on my trail. Too powerful." He coughed again. Some clear thick liquid was seeping from the cracks in his skin. "I always had my suspicions about you, but never had any proof." His lone eye closed and he let his head fall back to the ground. "Unfortunately I was right." The eye opened again and looked around, taking in the carnage in a sweep. "How are your precious humans going to explain away this?" he asked weakly.

Hestia crouched down beside the Giant's head, still studying the broken body. She shrugged, "There are ways. Humans have a way of seeing what they want to see. The Mist will take care of the rest." Orion grunted, whether in annoyance or agreement she couldn't tell, and closed his lone eye again. Hestia watched his labored breathing for a long while before saying, "You failed."

The lone eye flared open, and Orion hissed with as much strength as he had left, "Like hell I did! I've never failed in a hunt in my life. I watched them die!"

Hestia waited patiently for Orion to finish and for his slowly weakening breathing to even out before shaking her head. "The girl lives."

Orion's eye searched her face frantically for the truth. Finally he sighed weakly and hissed, "Then summon one of your pet virgins and finish me." He grinned as evilly as his ruined face would allow. Hestia could hear the cracking of burned skin. "I'll be back in a few years to finish the job."

Hestia stood and turned her back on this monster, this attempted child killer. A monster her niece had once called friend, and perhaps more. "You'll see your father soon enough," she told him. "Of that I have no doubt, but not yet."

Again Orion grunted weakly behind her. "You don't mean to kill me?" he asked bitterly, voice weaker than before.

Hestia felt her own evil, bitter grin split her face and she looked over her shoulder to meet the rapidly dimming eye. "No. I have something far, far worse than death in mind," she answered. With a snap of her fingers, Celestial Bronze chains appeared wrapped around the broken body. "I'm going to give you to my niece."

Artemis

Artemis looked up as Hestia appeared wreathed in flames beside the Hearth. She and Apollo were on their feet in an instant; only Athena remained seated, still rocking the unconscious Ava slowly. Hades spoke first, "What news Sister," he asked?

Hestia's face was stone, expressionless and cold. The unfamiliar countenance sent a shiver down Artemis's spine. "Gather the others," Hestia said in a voice stonier than her face. "But leave Poseidon. He needs not be here in his grief." Hades nodded without hesitating and looked toward Hermes who flashed away. Hestia looked around, "Good, the wards are going back up. How is the girl Apollo?"

Apollo grunted. "She'll live, which is a miracle given the circumstances." He stood wearily, "She's sleeping now."

Hestia nodded. "Good," she said. "Take her to your palace and make sure she stays asleep. Stay with her, you're needed more there than here." Her voice faltered slightly, "Her brother needs to be here when she wakes." Apollo sighed but nodded, and walked to Athena reaching for Ava.

Athena shook her head and stood. "I'm staying with her," she said. "Let's go." Again Apollo only nodded. Together they walked from the Hall as the few missing gods flashed in.

Artemis couldn't take it anymore, she reached for Hestia's arm just as Zeus and Hera appeared in their thrones. The goddess's skin was hot enough to blister her palm, but she didn't care. The normal calmness she felt when near her aunt was absent. "Who was it," she demanded, voice sounding hard even in her own ears. "Tell me who's damned themselves for all eternity." She wouldn't let whoever had done this, whoever had hurt Percy, escape unpunished. "I will end them," she heard herself hiss. Hestia's eyes met hers, and Artemis found herself looking into endless caverns of orange flame. She knew her own eyes were silver mirrors of Hestia's.

Artemis thought she saw sympathy in those dancing flames as Hestia answered. "Gaea sent her best killer," she said quietly. "There's only one who could have snuck past our defenses Artemis, you know that."

Hestia's voice was smooth and calm, but the hint of sympathy was there too; and Artemis found that she was right. There was only one who could have done this. Only one with the skills in stealth needed to pull of such a hunt. The realization hit her like a blow to the stomach and she stumbled back. "No," she heard herself whisper. "No, it can't be."

To her right Demeter breathed, "Orion," quietly, but Artemis didn't hear. Her mind was in shock. Around her the other gods began talking, or arguing, urgently, she couldn't tell which, but Artemis wasn't listening.

"I trained the bastard," Artemis hissed to herself. "He already betrayed me once, and now this?" Ohh Percy, will you ever be able to forgive me? Shock flashed to rage in an instant. Artemis looked up sharply. "Where is he," she demanded, cutting off the conversations around her. "Where!?"

"I have him," Hestia said after a moment. "I thought you'd like to make him pay for his crimes."

I'll make him pay for his crimes alright, she thought, already planning the vilest tortures she could think of. Maybe Hades can help… "No," Hera said from her throne cutting off Artemis's internal planning. The rage was back in an instant, and Artemis felt her eyes ignite again.

"You will not keep me from him," Artemis told her step mother in a dangerously quiet voice. You will not rob me of my revenge, you will not! "You have no right…"

"I am your queen! I have every right," Hera cut in, raised voice stern. Hera's hard eyes held Artemis's, and Artemis was only just able to hold herself back from summoning her bow before Hera's face softened. "You have more important matters to be about than revenge Artemis. I will not lie and say I'm fond of you, but you are part of this Olympian family, and Orion tried to destroy the only chance you've had for a happy marriage in millennia." Again her voice and face softened. "Leave him to me," she said. "I'll be sure he pays for what he's done."

Artemis deflated, emotionally drained. Hera was right she knew, but the thought of revenge was a much needed distraction from what she really needed to be about. Sighing she nodded and looked away. "That is wise Sister," Hestia said beside her. "And something I should have thought of myself. Forgive me Artemis, I should not have tempted you so." To Artemis's ears Hestia seemed annoyed with herself.

Gathering her courage, Artemis turned to her father. "I must go to Percy, Father," she said. "Do I have you leave to go?"

Zeus sighed wearily, and to Artemis he looked as close to fearful as she'd ever seen him before. As well he should be, Artemis thought. We all should be. She herself was terrified, but her worry for Percy outweighed even her terror. "It must be done," he said finally. "Take care of the boy Artemis. If this goes poorly it could mean a war with the seas as well as the Earth."

I don't care about the damned war! Artemis almost snapped at him. I care about Percy! She forced the rage down once more however and simply nodded. "I'll come with you," Hestia said. Artemis turned toward her aunt, and looked at her for a moment before holding out her hand. Together they disappeared in a column of fire.

Percy

Percy leaned forward and threw another log on the fire. Through the rising sparks he saw Will stir, then stretch and rise. "Well guys," he said with a yawn, "I'm gonna turn in. Wake me up if we need to go looking for the girls." Nico nodded, and Will turned to walk to their tent.

Percy leaned back against the old tree stump he'd been using as a back rest and locked his hands behind his head. With the girls out hunting, and Artemis at the meeting, Percy and Nico were alone for the first time in weeks. He knew what was coming, so he sat back and waited.

Finally Nico stirred as if he'd come to some decision and nodded toward Artemis's empty tent. "You like her," he asked. "Don't you?"

Percy sighed, for all his subtly, Nico could be blunt at times, and answered. "I've been with her for almost a year," he said. "If we didn't at least like each other on some level one of us would be dead by now." Please just leave it at that Nico. Please.

Through the dancing flames Percy could see the side of Nico's mouth turn down in a distinctly disapproving manner. In the distance a coyote howled. "That's not what I meant and you know it," Nico said finally. "Ignoring the situation isn't going to make it go away Percy."

Percy felt his anger bubbling up at the statement. If it had been at anyone else he might have held it in, but Nico was tough and would understand. He needed to vent. "What do you want from me Nico?" he demanded in a quiet angry voice. "Huh? What is it? What do you want me to say?" Angrily he grabbed another log and threw it on the already blazing fire. Sparks and embers scattered. Nico didn't flinch. His steady gaze never faltered from Percy's eyes. He waited, patiently. Finally Percy couldn't take it anymore, "You want me to say everything's alright? You want me to say Artemis and I will fall in love and everything's going to turn out fine?" Percy locked eyes with his friend across the fire. "Well I can't, and you of all people should know why."

Nico held his gaze for a moment longer before nodding. "Annabeth," he said. It wasn't a question.

At her name Percy felt his anger drain away. He fell back against the stump deflated, staring down at his lap. "I can't betray her Nico, I can't. I thought I'd be able to, but it's getting harder and harder to lie to myself."

"Well you've done a good job of fooling all the others," Nico said after a moment. "I think even Lady Artemis thinks you like her."

"I do," Percy mumbled. "That's the problem." He looked up then, staring deep into the flames of the fire. "I could see myself loving Artemis, hell maybe I already do in some ways," he grimaced, "and it's tearing me apart inside."

Nico was quiet for a long moment. "She wouldn't have wanted this," he said quietly. "She would have wanted you to be happy."

Percy looked up and scowled. "How the hell would you know that?" he asked.

"She was my friend too," Nico said gently. Then he grinned evilly. Gods he can be creepy when he wants to be, Percy thought. The way the firelight danced in those deep sunken eyes made him look a lot like his father. "Besides, I'm the Ghost King," he said. "You don't think I know a thing or two about ghost?"

Percy had to laugh at that. He knew Nico was just trying to cheer him up, but despite himself it worked. "Yeah, yeah," he chuckled. "Whatever you say your majesty." Then a thought occurred to him. "Have you talked to her since it happened?" he asked, not really hopeful, but curious.

Nico shook his head. "I wanted to," he said. "I still want to, but dad would probably throw me into Tartarus himself if I tried to get onto the Isles of the Blest." Nico's voice grew quiet and somber then. "The place is sacred to him. She's the only person he's ever let in, other than himself, that didn't earn Elysium three times." Nico shrugged, "Not even the other gods are let in."

Voices from behind made Percy turn and listen. "The girls are back," he said, then grew suspicious. "Did you ask Will to go to bed early so you could talk to me?"

Nico chuckled softly. "I might have mentioned we needed some alone time to talk," he said. "But I didn't ask him to do anything."

"Sometimes I forget just how sneaky you can be," Percy grumbled as Thalia and Clarisse walked into camp each carrying a pair of rabbits.

Nico's eyes narrowed, studying the rabbits. "Did you two use spears to kill those things?"

Thalia smiled and shrugged. "Miss Warmonger over here thought I wouldn't be able to hunt without my bow, I had to show her up."

"Looks like a tie to me," Percy offered with a grin.

Clarisse waved a hand dismissively, "We'll finish later," she said. "We already had enough for tomorrow." The two girls sat down between Nico and Percy and began cleaning their kills. Percy listened to the talk with only half an ear. His mind was still on the conversation between he and Nico earlier. I have to get over this, he kept telling himself at the same time he knew that would be impossible. The world depends on it.

"What do you think Percy?" Clarisse asked.

"What?" Percy asked in confusion. "I wasn't listening."

Thalia sighed exaggeratedly, and explained in a voice one would normally reserve for a small child. An unusually thick small child. Percy smiled at her. "We were talking about trying to push hard and finishing the army today or tomorrow. That way we can be home for Christmas."

Percy nodded. "I like it," he said. "Last Christmas was when I first saw Ava and Mom and Paul again, seems wrong to miss the anniversary of that."

Will's strained voice came from the side and all of them were on alert in an instant. "Something's wrong," he forced out between clenched teeth. He fell to his knees and Nico was at his side in an instant, Percy wasn't far behind. Clarisse and Thalia were on their feet, weapons in hand, scanning the dark for danger. "Gods," Will muttered. "I don't have the gift of prophecy and even I can feel it."

"What is it," Percy asked urgently, also scanning the perimeter. Riptide was in his hand, he didn't remember drawing it. This is coming from Apollo he realized.

On the ground Will was rocking back and forth, hugging himself. "I don't know," he whispered. "Doom…doom…doom," Will began chanting quietly. The litany sent a chill down Percy's spine.

Nico looked up from beside Will, "Percy this is bad," he said, face creased with worry. "What if…"

Will cut Nico's question off in a dead, emotionless voice, "It's here," he said as if in a trance.

Thalia stumbled as if struck and cried out. Percy spun, searching the darkness for archers. "Hestia," Thalia breathed harshly behind him, Percy turned to glance at her. She was on her knees as well, eyes clenched shut and trembling. Not in pain, but in anger it looked like to him. Clarisse was standing over her protectively. "By the gods such rage…" Thalia trailed off and Percy understood.

Percy swore. "Gaea's attacking the council," he said. "Clarisse, bind her. She looks like she's going to lose control any second." Clarisse looked down. Whatever she saw there must have convinced her that Percy was right and she ran for a rope. Thalia was pounding the ground with already bloodied fist, fighting for control of herself. Percy turned toward Nico and began "We have to do…" before a wave of rage and terror washed over him as well. He stumbled back, and was barely able to keep his feet. He'd been living with those emotions for years now though, and was able to fight them down with effort. "Father," he hissed and turned north. Nothing like this had ever happened before. His father's emotions must have been incredibly strong to reach him like this. "Nico," Percy forced out. "Do you feel anything?"

Nico shook his head. "No," he said. "But Father always was the most controlled of the Olympians." His voice fell and he looked toward Thalia, now bound with ropes and lying next to the fire with a protective Clarisse standing over her again. She was fighting the bonds with everything in her. "Well," he added quietly. "He and Hestia were."

Will groaned and tried to climb to his feet; instead he fell backward onto the stump and sat. "What's going on," Nico asked him gently. Gently. Percy's mind locked onto that as he fought the rage and growing terror coming from his father. He needed a distraction, and that was it. At least Nico and Will are good for each other, he thought.

Will shook his head wearily, "I don't know. I just know it's bad."

A second wave of emotion hit Percy with the force of a hurricane, this one from his bond with Artemis and full of desperation and terror. Percy stumbled back again, and this time could not keep his feet. He sat down hard beside Thalia, who now had a gleam of rage induced madness in her eyes, and buried his face in his hands. When he looked up, gazing northward, he could feel the tears streaking his face. "Artemis," he breathed. "By the gods what's going on." He fought these emotions for what seemed like an eternity, until both those from his father and Artemis turned slowly from rage and fear to grief.

Suddenly Nico bolted upright, gazing north with an intensity that almost made Percy believe he could see across the long miles. "No," he could hear Nico murmur. "No no no no…"

So someone's dead, Percy thought. The two now tightly gripped bundles of emotion in his mind that were his father and Artemis were fading now, but not due to death, they were finally getting control of themselves. At least it not one of them, he told himself. Beside him, Thalia relaxed. She looked around, a dazed expression on her face then croaked, "What happened?"

"We'll find out soon enough when Artemis gets back," Percy whispered.

"Whatever it was," Clarisse said as she bent down to untie Thalia, "it wasn't good." Thalia's thrashing had pulled the knots tight and Clarisse was having trouble with them. Percy reached down to his ankle and unsheathed Annabeth's dagger.

"Here," he said holding out the knife hilt first. "Use this." Clarisse nodded her thanks and Thalia was free a moment later. Clarisse handed the knife back as a flash of flame just outside their camp materialized into Hestia and Artemis. Artemis's shining silver eyes found his and locked there, and Percy felt his heart drop in a growing sense of dread.

Artemis (the next day)

Artemis and Hestia were alone in her palace on Olympus, waiting for news of the Giant army and worrying about Percy. Ares and Apollo had taken Clarisse and Will to finish the job. She thought even Dionysus had gone since the twins were involved, but couldn't be bothered to care enough to check. The moment from the night before, the moment she'd told Percy of the deaths of his mother and stepfather, kept replaying over and over again in her mind. The look of complete and utter despair, of sadness so unfathomably deep, that she'd seen in his eyes at that moment was burned into her memory. Then he'd been gone, and she hadn't seen him since. With their bond, she could find him easily, and would have, but Hestia's gentle council to let him be had stayed the impulse. So here she sat, with her silent aunt, doing nothing and fighting the impatience growing inside of her.

Finally Artemis cursed and rose. She started pacing back and forth across the parlor. "I have to do something," she muttered to herself. "I have to go to him."

"You will," Hestia said, "soon. But not yet." Artemis started, not realizing she'd spoke out loud. A distant muffled scream echoed outside. Hera was doing her work well.

"Why not?" Artemis demanded. Feeling her anger rise within her, an unfamiliar emotion when she was addressing her aunt, she grabbed onto it none the less, using it for strength. "Why can't I go to him? He needs someone!"

Hestia rose, calm as ever, and walked to Artemis. She reached up and placed a hand on her upper arm. The feeling of calm that so often accompanied the touch was muted this time, and failed to push back Artemis's fear and anger. Hestia is worried too, she realized. "You know as well as I he'll blame himself for this," Hestia said seriously. "Seeing you right now will just be a reminder of the prophecy. You do not want him to start blaming you as well." Hestia sighed and looked away, "If that happens we're all lost. Trust Poseidon and Nico to help him."

Artemis pulled her arm away in disgust. "I thought you of all people would care more about Percy than this damned prophecy!" she hissed at her aunt. "I don't care if he blames me. I blame me! I'd pull Olympus down myself if I thought it would help him and to Tartarus with all of you!"

For the second time in two days she saw anger flash in Hestia's flaming eyes. "Do not forget with whom you're speaking Artemis!" Hestia said firmly, and Artemis took an involuntary step back. Hestia's eyes softened after a moment and she continued. "Of course I care about the boy," she said. "You and his sister are the only two who will be able to help him through this, and Ava will need as much help as he does." Hestia took her hand and led her to one of the silver silk couches. "You're the only one who can help heal this broken family. I advise caution only because I would not see you throw away the trust you've spent a year building on impulse."

Artemis sighed and fell back into the couch, closing her eyes. Her aunt was right, she knew it, but that didn't make it any easier to accept. Finally she nodded and asked without looking, "How's Ava?"

"Still under Apollo's sleeping spell I gather," Hestia answered with her calm tone once more in place. "Athena hasn't left her side." Again, Artemis nodded. That was probably for the best until Poseidon and Nico convinced Percy to return. Once his mind cleared enough and the thought of his sister needing him occurred to his grief stricken mind, he'd be back. Of that Artemis had no doubt. He wouldn't lose himself in madness and self-pity again. He wouldn't. He was just too upset to think about that right now was all.

I need to get out of this place, Artemis thought suddenly. I have to do something. "Aunt Hestia," she said. "When Nico returns tell him I've gone to the bakery will you? He'll understand what that means. I need to get out of here and clear my mind."

"Of course, my dear," Hestia said. She patted Artemis's arm and rose. "I'll be with Ava while you're gone."

"And Aunt Hestia," Artemis said again. "I'm sorry for snapping at you. I should have known better than that."

Hestia only smiled as Artemis disappeared in a flash of blinding silver light.

She reappeared in the old storeroom at the back of the bakery. Opening the door she walked out into the kitchen and glanced up the stairs. The setting sun was visible from the large windows in the store front. It's later than I thought. She's probably already upstairs. Slowly, Artemis climbed the stairs and knocked on the door. When it finally opened, she pulled Evelyn into a hug as the tears finally came.

Well there it is. A lot more Hestia and Artemis interaction in this chapter as well as some nice banter among the demigods. As always leave a review to let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!