Alrighty, chapter 7. I'm gonna try to make this one a longer one. Currently writing this at 11:30 about 2 minutes after publishing the last chapter. Unfortunately, it is extremely hot here and it's difficult to type on my phone with sweaty hands. Until I get a laptop it is apparent that I will have to use my phone so I guess we'll deal till then. Alright, let's get into it. I wrote this like two weeks ago and haven't edited much since. I'll try a little harder to keep up with this story.
Thalia followed Artemis quickly towards her tent "milady slow down." Without stopping, or even hesitating, Artemis ducked into her tent. Thalia of course followed.
As soon as the tent flap closed behind her Thalia dropped all formalities.
"Artemis. How the fuck could Percy be missing?"
"Thalia... Your 'eloquent' language aside. We don't know. It seems both camps didn't notice his absence, with camp Jupiter not having contact for over a month and the last person to see Perseus was in camp half-blood over a week ago. They've contacted his mother, and have sent out search parties. The fact of the matter is that Perseus Jackson is missing, and it is vital that we find him."
"Can't you guys just summon him or Iris Message him or something?"
"Too many circumstances have aligned. It seems your cousin has fallen completely off the grid. It is up to us to find him. Other methods have been exhausted. Not to worry Thalia, Perseus will be found in no time, and you can punish him for leaving as you see fit." Artemis continued, all while packing the rest of her tent up.
Subtlety, a small current of electricity flowed over Thalia's fingers as if ghosting the electric slap that would be in Percy's future, before being sniffed out by her closed fist. One of determination.
"Now go pack your things Sister, and get the girls ready to move out. We have a demigod to find."
With a nod Thalia turned around in left the tent, taking stock and seeing the camp being broken down and packed up at a record rate Thalia nodded once more. Her mind turned to Percy, Thalia's resolve hardened and she began helping the packing of camp.
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Percy only realized that the car stopped when his stomach stopped doing summersaults repeatedly. Gathering his bearings he could hear J open the car door and go look around. The spot the car had stopped seemed to be a small clearing surrounded on all sides by dense jungle. Exotic flowers and birds littered the area contrasting heavily with the darkness surrounding the clearing throughout the trees. The area was filled with a cacophony of noises, and Percy could feel the water in the air and the rivers nearby. The humidity seemed to give him a small power boost and made him acutely aware of the area around them. He could make out the individual trees and animals in his immediate area. The small variations in air water content was enough to outline every single being and create the new sense. Never before had he felt something so alive. The area itself teemed with an energy he had never been privy to.
"Alright Perce. This is the closest I could get us to the cave. Remember, we're off of Greek soil. We are practically on our own. Camazotz is not going to be the most cooperative individual, and it may take a little bit of time. But we have about an hour hike till we get there. We're already pretty far from civilization as Cobán is about an hour in the opposite direction so we should be very cautious. The closer we venture towards the cave, and the further we stray from civilization, the more danger we become immersed in. So let's hop to it." J said, shouldering his duffle and walking straight into the darkness of the dense underbrush.
Percy, not one to be left behind quickly pulled riptide out, still and pen form, and jogged to catch up.
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While the majority of the hunt was breaking camp down, Thalia and Artemis were trying to find a place to start the search.
"Where would the boy have gone Thalia."
"Percy wouldn't just disappear milady. He's too emotionally attached to people. It's like his one major weakness." Thalia stated while narrowing her eyes slightly at the lack of interest and general dismissive nature Artemis was approaching the situation with.
"Well Thalia, camp didn't even notice his absence he could have up to two weeks head-start on us. He could be practically anywhere. So unless you know something I don't, this is a crapshoot." Artemis retorted looking her lieutenant directly in the eye with a steely gaze.
"His mom. He wouldn't be able to leave without telling Sally. Especially after the whole 'Hera-taking-his-memories' fiasco."
"Then to her we must go, grab my hand, Thalia. By the time we get back, the hunt will commence." Artemis said, and without wasting a moment flashed out of the camp.
In a blink of an eye, Thalia and Artemis Found themselves outside of Sally's apartment. Quickly knocking on the door Thalia stepped back, and the call of "coming" shortly followed. The door swung open to reveal Sally Jackson.
"Thalia! Oh, it's so good to see you" Sally said, grabbing the young hunter into a bear hug. After breaking the hug Sally noticed the other guest "And Lady Artemis, it's an honor" she said bowing slightly. "Please, please come in." Sally continued as she stood up and quickly turned back through the apartment door she had just opened.
Thalia and Artemis shared a look then quickly followed Sally into her apartment.
"Paul is at work right now, but I did just put a batch of my blue cookies on."
"Miss Jackson we really don't have the ti-
Artemis didn't get far before Thalia cut her off. "oh that's wonderful news Sally. I'm sure we have more than enough time to enjoy some of your amazing cookies." as she spoke Thalia shot a look towards Artemis that said 'you get between me and these cookies and we are gonna have some big fuckin' problems.'
"Make yourselves at home, I'm just going to be in the kitchen over here. Feel free to take a seat here in the living room." Sally said as she scurried back into the kitchen. After a short pause, where the only sound that could be heard was the clattering of dishware sally re-emerged from the kitchen with a dishrag on her shoulder and a light dusting of flour across the apron she had donned. "So how can I help you, it's not often that you come to visit, and it's very rare for a goddess of your stature to visit a random mortal. Especially one who isn't exactly a virgin."
Thalia took the lead quickly "we just have some questions for you Sally. That's all."
"Let me guess, Percy?"
This time it was Artemis who spoke first. "That is correct miss Jackson, we need to know anything at all you can tell us. Camp has already contacted you, but it's better for us to know firsthand, it will give us a better chance of making this hunt rather brief to get any individual pieces of information about him directly from you"
Before Sally had the chance to respond a sharp 'ding' rang out from the kitchen,
"excuse me for just one second"
"We'd like to know if he came to you," Artemis continued as she watched the woman return to her kitchen,"anything no matter how small it may seem could help us on our perquisition."
"Well he did stop in a week or two ago, but I'm not sure where he went afterward, in fact, I was under the impression that he went back to Camp after he left. It was rather rushed if you ask me."
Artemis continually watched the woman dart around the kitchen in much the same way a hawk would watch its prey. "did he mention anything, about Camp, or anything out of the normal. Perhaps you know which direction he was heading" Sally shook her head slightly " North, South, East, West, anything?" Artemis noted the slight hesitation in Sally's actions, 'West', she thought to herself. 'That's better than nothing'.
"Sorry, I'm not much of a help," Sally said as she carried a tray of fresh cookies." He didn't really say much, but if you do find anything, please, let me know. This isn't the first time he's just up and disappeared."
"That's fine Sally, and don't worry. We'll, have him back home in no time." Thalia said as she reached for her first cookie. "The Kelp Head probably just wondered off and got himself lost."
Sally let loose a small chuckle at that, "thank you dear, I don't doubt that you will find my son."
"Yes well, thank you for your hospitality miss Jackson, I believe it's time for us to take our leave." Artemis said rising from thigh chair that she had made her temporary home in. "Come along Thalia."
Thalia groaned as she had been about to bite into her first cookie "okay milady." She said sighing.
With a twinkle in her eye Sally handed Thalia a brown paper bag loaded with cookies, then quickly wrapped Thalia in a hug. "Stay safe out there." Sally whispered into her ear. "And save one of those for Percy when you find him.
"Thanks Sally. We'll be in contact." Thalia and Artemis turned to leave the apartment. The former not catching the last words the woman said before the door closed. But there is little that escapes a god's senses. Artemis did hear Sally's closing statement, and it wasn't one that surprised her in the slightest.
"Oh Percy. What have you gotten yourself into now."
Once the door had completely shut Thalia turned towards her companion. "What now Artemis. We didn't learn anything new. Sally didn't know any more than we already did."
"Not exactly, dear Lieutenant, I do know where we are going now. And she knows more than she let on."
"Well oh wise-one. Where are we going then?"
"West"
"Wow, That's... vague." Thalia said as she began to open up the paper bag that she had been given. "What else do you want to tell me. 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?'
"Do you doubt my skill Thalia?"Artemis questioned shooting her lieutenant a side eye.
"No, not in the slightest." She responded as she barely held in a moan from the pure pleasure she had received from the first bite of the cookie in her hand. "Fuck that's good."
Artemis rolled her eyes before responding. "Good. It's time to return to the others. The hunt is on."
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"Dude we've been waking for hours how have you not even broken a sweat?!?"
"It's been an hour and a half J. And I don't stop and bitch every two seconds about how hot I am. That helps too." Percy said as he trudged ahead of his friend.
"Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and call BS. You're not human." J responded as he shouldered the heavy duffle he was carrying.
"You're not completely wrong." Was the only inly response J received. Before his companion had stopped in his racks.
"We're here."
Percy was not wrong. The two stood there, directly in the foreground stood one of the largest caves in the world. It's entrance resembled the maw of some primordial being. Stalagmites and stalactites mimicking jagged teeth. Just waiting for a morsel or two to fall within its grasp. A since of foreboding radiated from the place. Both J and Percy shifted uneasily before the caves entrance.
"So what now J?" Percy said, not talk his eyes from the cave in front of him. As if he was expecting a creature to jump out and grab him at the exact moment he took his attention from the point in front of him.
"Well sometime you just have to leap before you look Percy" J said with a slight smirk on his face.
"Wait wha," was all that Percy got off before he was pushed from behind into the cave. Directly after he had fallen into the entrance he heard a second body drop directly behind him.
"What the fuck was that J"
"Oh shut up you big baby. You're fine. Let's get going. He's not going to be out in the open. Or really anywhere near the direct sunlight at this time of year." J said helping his friend off the ground and to his feet, gesturing for him to lead the way. "After you"
The pair continued deeper into the cave, soon all that surrounded them darkness. The shadows that once laid behind had grown exponentially to cover the walls until it was impossible to tell where one shadow began and the next ended. Despite this, Percy could see just fine in the damp and dank cave using his newfound vapor vision. J on the other hand was having his own issues. The flashlight he had produced from his duffle had failed several times. As if the cave itself was interfering with his flashlight. Percy thought back to something he had learned early on in his life as a demigod. 'The supernatural and technology don't mix,' he quickly pulled riptide from his pocket and held it up. The soft glow illuminated the pitch black cave that the two had ventured into surprisingly well. The tap on his shoulder cause Percy to jump slightly. Startled just enough to get his heart beating. J held his pointer finger to his mouth and slowly pointed up towards the caves ceiling. Along the top of the ceiling were millions of bats of varying sizes, colors, and species. Percy's eyes widened greatly 'how had I missed that, and just how much else did I miss.'
It was then, without warning that the absolute horde of bats began to swarm from overhead. Heading back towards the direction from which Percy and J had arrived. "What the hell is going on" Percy said barely getting his voice out from above the fluttering and screeching that was creating a deafening cacophony above them.
" Nothing good." Jay said as his eyes stared to dart around.
Percy started to notice a few things. It began with the bats moving to either side of the cave. Then with his vapor sense he felt a mass roughly the size of the average man flying at Impossible speeds towards their location. Without even a lick of hesitation Percy tackled J to the floor roughly behind an above average sized stalagmite, striking the ground quite harshly and likely injuring his friend in an effort of protecting him. He could feel the air where he's his head had once occupied be broken violently and the whistle of sharp claws cutting through the air permeated his hearing. Riptide clattered from his grip and fell from his vision. Engulfing the pair in complete darkness. Just behind the rock they were using as cover he felt a figure with his vapor sense slowly rising and spreading its arms. Using the abundance of moisture in the cave to his advantage Percy began to form a small barrier around himself, just to cover their fronts. J was out cold. A small amount of blood slid down from his forehead. All Percy could do was wait for the familiar weight of riptide to return to his pocket.
It was then he heard the voice. A voice that sounded both exceedingly deep, and extremely high pitch, like nails scratching a chalkboard ring out.
"It has been a considerable amount of time since my last meal. And you smell absolutely divine."
Like I said I'm going to be attempting to make longer chapters as I go. Unfortunately that means likely chapters might be a little bit further and fewer in between. I still don't have a computer and I literally have been writing this chapter for like a month and a half cause I get writers block and I procrastinate so I just decided it's probably time just to get done, put it out, and start working on next one. thanks for reading make sure to favorite, follow, leave a review, tell your friends if you want I don't know. yeah so thanks again. Im going to reiterate that I do not own anything except for my own created characters, plot and idea. Life gets in the way. I'm gonna try to keep up with this so I'm gonna keep updating. I am not abandon this I just wanna let you guys know that. Thank you again. Thanks for following and favoriting. It's actually pretty cool to have people that like what you make ya know?