Artemis was sitting in the booth of a small diner. It was one of those ones that stayed open late but did not have a whole great deal of people coming in and out of the diner.

Zoë had asked her to come here to meet her, as the Hunters were split up at the moment to track down the demon threat. Artemis began to grow concerned, Zoë was now ten minutes late - something must have happened.

The bell at the door jingles as someone walks in, heavy footed like they were tired. It was not Zoë, Artemis knew that much. The footsteps approach her, and she readies a knife under the table, as if to strike the individual

A teenager slides into the hot-rod red chair opposite Artemis. He wore jeans, fairly beaten, a slightly wrinkled t-shirt and a navy hoodie. Next to him was a huge gym bag that housed an indecible dangerous sword. It was none other than Percy Jackson, the Legacy of Poseidon who Artemis had watched die.

"Hi," He smiles sheepishly, "Long time, no see."

There was a silence between Percy and Artemis for a few moments.

"'Hi'..." Artemis muttered, "Is that all you have to say?" Her anger was quickly surfacing. He had died. It was not possible.

Percy was taken back a little, but he was not all too surprised by this response. He had not really seen her since he had died saving her and the others.

"I'm sorry. Nobody could know I was alive." Percy looked away. He regretted not informing Artemis. But what was done was done - there was no point in dwelling on the past.

"Then why come out of the shadows now?" The Goddess of the Hunt asked, the anger still sitting on her tone, her silver eyes gleaming with murder with the anger and shock she had felt.

"Hell and the Titans are making moves. The Princes are sceptical of their plans now, but their leaders are dead set on overthrowing the Pantheons on Earth. It's all going to be going down in the next few months." Percy answered solemnly, starting to regret meeting Artemis here now.

"No names or targets?" Artemis asked, and Percy shook his head.

"Names hold power." Percy answered, "And with Demons, it helps them locate you. So not for now."

Artemis looked away, taking a few deep breaths. She was in shock. She had heard a rumour that he was kicking around, but now she needed answers - meaning the Huntress needed to calm down. And here comes the more important question: how in Zeus' beard was Percy alive? "How in my father's name are you alive?" Artemis needed to know if something more was at play.

"I honestly do not know. I just woke up in the field." Percy lied. And Artemis could tell he was lying. He was hiding something.

"Percy," Artemis looked at him, worried and annoyed. "What actually happened?" She cared, and she needed to know. What he may have sacrificed in order to come back.

Percy shrugged, looking away. "Some white light brought me back and kept speaking to me. Claimed it was not my time to die, yada yada. It led me to some demon strongholds, but has gone silent as of lately." He answered reluctantly. He had suspicions as to what the white light was, but wanted to keep that to himself.

"It all ties to that sword, doesn't it?" Artemis guestered her hand to the newish rucksack next to Percy, who thought for a moment.

"Possibly. The sword has brought me nothing but pain, however." Percy remarked, and Artemis nodded in acknowledgement.

There was a long, awkward silence between the two as they ordered their food and drinks at the diner.

"You look nice." Percy complimented Artemis, awkwardly.

The goddess went slightly gold from blushing, and looked away. "The hair looks better than the old hair." She replied, before motioning to the clothes, "And your wardrobe is a bit damaged."

Percy laughed. "The mortals do have good barbers. Plus these were the only clothes I have that are not ruined." To which Artemis laughed too at their awkwardness.

There was another awkward silence until the food and drinks arrived.

"What else do we talk about?" Artemis asked, awkwardly.

Percy shrugged sheepishly, before replying, "Beats me, I've hardly had any interaction with normal people growing up."

"I'm sorry for not reaching out sooner." Percy reached across and gently took Artemis' hand into his own.

Artemis looked at him dead in the eyes, and she could see the emotions swirling in his eyes. These feelings… they were alien to Artemis. She was used to cursing a male for even getting close to her. Yet, she is having lunch with one. She was attracted to a male, an idea that would have repulsed her a few years prior.

"It's fine." Artemis smiled slightly, "I would usually turn a man into a jackalope for even getting close to me - let alone touch me." There was a twinkle in her eyes that seemed somewhat mischievous and playful.

"Well then, today is my lucky day!" Percy joked, and they shared a laugh.

The pair continued their small, awkward small talk as they finished their meals and Percy paid the bill with some cash.

As they left, Artemis turned to him, "Where did you get the money?"

"Well some people leave their wallets in stupid places, loaded with cash." Percy chuckled slightly as they walked down the road towards a park at the edge of town.

Artemis gingerly took Percy's hand into her own as they walked down the road.

Motion behind caught Artemis' eye. "We're being followed." She muttered to Percy.

"I know," He replied, "Since the diner. Monster, I think."

"Do we cut them off?" Artemis asked. She did not want to draw attention. She did not want to rely on the Mist too heavily if this led to a full blown fight - even the laws of nature have their limits.

Percy glanced behind, and laughed aloud. "Sure, let's go to the park at the outskirts of town." He said aloud. Artemis looked at him confused for a second before it clicked: drawing whatever was following them away from a public area to try and deal with the issue without any casualties.

Artemis gave a fake laugh a few seconds after, and Percy looked at her confused.

"Now that was the worst fake laugh I've ever heard." Percy snickered, to which Artemis playfully punched his arm.

The pair kept up the charade until they got to the outskirts of the town, where there was a rather large nature park full of trees and plenty of hiding spots. Percy adjusted his rucksack so he could open the zip and rest his hand on the hilt of the cursed sword.

Artemis dashed into the trees and materialised her bow and arrows, her civilian clothes morphing into her more flexible hunter garments.

Branches snapped behind the pair as they hid in waiting for whatever was following them.

Percy pulled his sword from his rucksack, dropping the bag on the ground as he eyed the stalker.

They seemed humanoid, but something was off about this person. Percy couldn't place it. The being was emitting a faint red glow, and then it clicked. He needed to get Artemis out of there.

Before he could act, Artemis revealed herself from the shadows, an arrow knocked into her bow and aiming at the being.

"Who are you? And what do you want?" She demanded.

"A snack. A goddess would do nicely." The being grinned, its smile extending until the corners of the mouth reached around the ears, revealing rows and rows of razor sharp teeth.

The monster looked normal, as if it was a human, until you saw the monstrous teeth that lined it's mouth, and the hollow, evil eyes that it possessed. It was like the creature was radiating an aura of dark, malicious intent. Like it would drive someone to murder the ones closest to them for the enjoyment of it.

Percy had to hold himself for a second. He would only get one chance at this.

Artemis let her arrow fly, and it landed where the beast's heart would have been - but it had no effect. The creature roared, and lunged forward, snarling as its mouth opened wide.

With a mighty grunt, Percy held the Sword of Enoch with both hands and swung his sword with all his strength. The sword passed through the creature's neck like a hot knife through butter as the creature let out a blood curdling scream.

The head dropped to the floor, a long, back tongue dangling from the beast's mouth. The body collapsed, melting away into black oozee and seeping into the ground.

"Burn the ground. Now." Percy turned to Artemis, who looked horrified. "Artemis." He called out, and she snapped to reality. She knocked a second arrow alight with a silver flame and fired it at the decapitated head and the ground where the creature's body once were.

The couple walked away to a clearing in the nature park in case the screams attracted anyone.

"What was that?" Artemis demanded, still shaken up. She had never been charged like that. Monsters usually run at her, but never did she feel the dread that the monster made her feel.

Percy looked around, making sure his rucksack he had hastily picked up was zipped up properly with his sword stashed away.

"I'll be honest - I never knew the name. But it was a myth among Hell for many years." He replied, "Even the Princes fear them, that's all I know."

Percy turned to Artemis, placing a hand on her shoulder. "How are you?"

She brushed him off. "I'm fine." She replied bluntly.

Percy nodded in understanding, adjusting his bag. He knew all too well that he should not pry.

"We need to tell Olympus." Artemis stated, rolling her shoulders.

"You do." Percy replied.

"You need to brief the Council-" Percy cut Artemis off.

"No. I am from Hell - I can't go." Percy said, deadly serious. He would not budge on that.

It was not that he did not want to go to Olympus - he did. But he was scared. What if he was rejected by Olympus? What if he would be rejected and all he would know is Hell? What if they cast him out?

The Olympians were not known as a very kind race of deities, after all.

Artemis nodded. "Have they sided with Hell? Those monsters?"

Percy shook his head. "No. They hate the Demons. They just devour everything. Think of them as evil incarnate."

Artemis nodded.

"So, I'll see you around?" Percy asked Artemis, and she nodded.

"Yes. Hopefully before the war breaks out fully." She smiled. Percy gave her a small hug before shielding his eyes as the Goddess of the Hunt vanished in a burst of silver light, returning to Olympus.

Percy had some research to do: what the hell did he just kill? And were there any more in the area?

Time for him to consult a certain white light.

The Demon Rites

Percy found himself in a secluded, empty warehouse. He had scared the crackheads and homeless people out of there by firing a gun into the air. It was strange - these Americans seemed to love their guns as you could get them anywhere, but also so scared of them?

Then again, the ringing in Percy's ears made him hate the small handgun as it did pack a punch.

Percy pulled out a pack of chalk and another pack of candles from his rucksack, and began drawing a symbol on the ground, and placed the candles in a circle around the symbol. After finishing and lighting all the candles, Percy knelt down and put his hands together, praying in an ancient language.

A few moments later, a bright white light sparked to life above Percy, so he stood up and stepped back, eyeing the light suspiciously.

"I am not used to being summoned, child." The light spoke angrily.

"Then tell me what the Hell just attacked me and my friend a few days ago?" Percy demanded.

"I do not understand-" Percy was done with this being now.

"Oh stop feeding me this bull. I know you have been keeping tabs on me. So give me an answer." Percy demanded.

The light did not reply straight away, as if it were thinking. "They have many names. None of which I can tell you."

Percy cursed and pinched the bridge of his nose. The beast… It had put thoughts into his mind about hurting Artemis. Torture her, if anything. It scared him; more than he was willing to admit.

"But they do come from a place between planes of existence. You met a young one that escaped into this world - you are lucky it did not corrupt you." The voice added, almost understanding Percy's frustration.

"It did, do you not understand that? It made me want to hurt the ones I care about!" Percy yelled, and the voice acknowledged Percy's pain.

"And you did not give in - this time. I will see if there are any more of the creatures and have them destroyed." The light said, almost like it was trying to reassure Percy. Not that it did too many wonders for him - he still felt awful, feeling like there were dark claws scraping at his mind, reminding him of what he could have done.

"You do that." Percy shook his head and swiped his hand through the light, dismissing it.

So now there were interdimensional beings on Earth that he could run into? Fun.

No wonder he never saw one in Hell - as they were not of Hell. But the demons still feared them. Percy was dreading to think if there were more on Earth that the white light could not find.

The entire building shakes as Percy gets his stuff to leave. Through a fogged window, Percy spots a mass of black smoke shooting past.

It was time to continue his self-imposed mission of spying on and hunting demons.

The Demon Rites

That's a wrap. Yeah I keep vanishing for ages at a time. I have had university and lots of stuff going on - which have somewhat cleared up for now. I'm currently in Portugal on holiday and decided to publish this chapter that I've had written for a while now; I purely forgot when I was caught up in university work.

I'm not going to keep giving promises and excuses for a next update, I will just write it when I get the time to.

All the best,

The Prince of Souls