"So . . . this is real?" Bianca di Angelo gulped.
I grimaced. "Afraid so."
"And you're…"
"A demigod," I nodded.
"Who…"
"Zeus," I said, answering her unspoken question. She blinked, staring at me like I was from another planet. I allowed myself a small smile. "It's not quite as amazing as it sounds, believe me. Thalia over there is my sister, she's a daughter of Zeus too. The boy over there is Percy, he's a son of Poseidon."
Bianca only stared, but beside her, Nico beamed. "That's so cool!" he exclaimed. Her sister shot him a look, but I only scoffed half-heartedly. "So, does Zeus really have lightning bolts that shoot out of his hand?" I shrugged. "How many attack points does he have?"
I frowned. "How many… what?"
"Nico, this isn't a game!" Bianca snapped at him.
"But-"
"But nothing! This is insane!" Bianca ran her hands through her hair in frustration, and I couldn't help but pity her. I couldn't sympathise, because I'd never really had to deal with the shock of it all. Growing up, I'd always known who I was and how I was different from the other kids. Even when my memory was wiped, by the time I realised who I truly was, my memories were returning and I was beginning to understand the gravity of my situation.
"Why are they arguing?" Nico suddenly asked, poking my side.
I followed his gaze to see Thalia and Zoe snapping at each other shortly with dangerous glares. My lips pursed. From my own encounter with Zoe, I knew there was history between the two of them, and I knew it had something to do with Luke. I could guess the rest, but by the way Zoe kept pointing in my direction, I was guessing that was a particularly sore spot for Thalia right now.
"They… have a difference of opinion," I said tactfully.
Just then, Thalia let out a scream of frustration and marched away, leaving a trailing smell of ozone.
"Uh-oh," I muttered.
"Quite," a voice came, and I twisted to see Artemis standing a few feet away, her hands clamped behind her back. Despite appearing as a twelve-year-old little girl, her eyes held centuries worth of wisdom and knowledge, and right now, uncertainty. Her eyes hovered over me for a second, then she cleared her throat and turned to Bianca. "May I have a word?"
"What about me?" Nico frowned.
Artemis hesitated, but I stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder. "You get to stay with me," I smiled. "Come on, you can tell me and Grover all about that game."
"Um, and perhaps he can stop your arm bleeding?" Artemis suggested calmly, and I glanced down at the claw marks across my upper arm. Grimacing, I nodded once in her direction, then steered Nico away from them.
Grover and Percy were perched beside a small fire. Sasha lay there too, licking her wounds and glancing occasionally at Artemis. I could tell she felt guilty for disappearing, but she still didn't trust or like what the gods were doing. Even now, she was torn between her loyalty to Artemis and her instinct to protect me.
I couldn't help smiling at her sadly, kneeling beside her and stroking her fur. "Relax," I muttered. "It's alright." Sasha grumbled in her throat, but lay her head across my lap and said nothing.
"Is that a wolf?" Nico gawped.
"Yes," I smiled. "She's an immortal wolf blessed by the goddess Artemis."
"Why is she with us then?"
Sasha grumbled again, and Percy and I exchanged a look. "How many attack points did you say Zeus had?" my cousin suddenly asked him loudly, and in an instant, Nico was distracted.
Grover shifted a little closer to me, eyeing my arm cautiously. "That looks sore," he commented carefully.
I laughed. "It's not so bad," I shrugged. He didn't answer, already slathering green gel over the cuts and ignoring my wince.
The Hunters quickly set up their tents, and more wolves seemed to appear out of the trees. Every once in awhile, I'd catch them shoot a glance at Sasha, who was now sat upright and trying to shield the pain from her stance. Overhead, falcons circled, ever watchful.
My mind kept wandering back to Annabeth, and my chest started to hurt. Why her? She should have just grabbed Percy and gotten out of the way.
Someone strode toward us and I looked up to see Zoe scowling down at us. "Acacia," she greeted shortly. "You should have listened to her."
My jaw locked, and I pushed myself to my feet slowly. "You know, I'm starting to see why Thalia has such a big problem with you," I scowled back, turning to find my sister, but Zoe caught my arm tightly.
"Lady Artemis wishes to speak to you and Perseus Jackson," she instructed, and I stopped, glancing back at Percy. He shrugged uncertainly, and I had to remind myself that I was supposed to be making amends.
"Nico, stay with Grover," I muttered, taking my arm out of Zoe's hold. Sasha grumbled. It's up to you, Sash, I told her. Come with us, or stay here.
I shall stay with the satyr, my lady. My own peace making with the gods will wait for now.
Percy and I followed behind Zoe, ignoring the looks from the other Hunters as we moved. At the very last tent, we were waved inside, and I ducked beneath the flaps. Inside, Bianca was sat beside Artemis, surrounded by silk rugs and pillows, with a large fire crackling in the centre. Animal fur pelts were huge from the walls, and behind Artemis, her silver bow hung.
"Perseus Jackson," Artemis greeted. "Acacia. Please, join us. You are quite safe within this camp."
Percy shot me a not-so-subtle look, but I only stepped further inside and took a seat on Artemis' left, opposite Zoe. Percy followed my example, frowning uncertainly.
"I invited you here to explain about the manticore," Artemis said. "Perseus, you were with the di Angelos the whole time, correct?" He nodded slowly. "Then perhaps you could explain. Bianca has tried her best but I fear she may not understand as well as you do."
Percy shifted awkwardly. "He was saying that we had no idea what or who we were fighting," he said quietly. "He said that monsters, old monsters, were rising and that we'd be overwhelmed soon. He said that someone called the General was behind it."
Zoe visibly paled at the mention of the General, and immediately, I wanted answers. Artemis, however, only raised a hand to silence her and invited Percy to go on. "He mentioned a Great Stirring? And a monster capable of bringing down Olympus."
A shiver ran across my skin, and I stretched out my neck subtly. The scar was suddenly burning again, and the pain was beginning to thump in the back of my head.
"I should have seen this sooner," Artemis muttered, frowning at the fire in front of her. "Zoe, I need you to return to Camp Half-Blood with Perseus and Acacia. I must hunt this monster." Zoe immediately made to protest, but once again, Artemis waved her away. "The only thing left is…" She glanced sideways at Bianca.
The girl gulped, but nodded. "I think I'm ready."
"Ready?" Percy blinked. "Ready for what?"
"Bianca is joining our Hunt," Zoe told us testily. She was looking at us as though she was expecting us to argue.
"The… what?" Percy gawped. "But you can't! What about Nico?"
"Nico will be safe with you at Camp," Artemis replied calmly. I glanced at Bianca, who was refusing to look at either Percy or me and wondered how she could do something like this. There wasn't a chance anything could make me turn away from my sister.
"And what does she get out of it?" Percy insisted irritably.
"Immortality," Zoe said, and her eyes found me. I gulped hard and turned away, but the pain in my neck was building and I had to breathe through my teeth to stop myself passing out.
"Zoe," Artemis scolded. "This is Bianca's decision, and whatever that is, we will respect it. Is that understood?" I had a feeling she wasn't just talking about Bianca, but I couldn't focus properly. Vaguely, I heard Zoe agree and Bianca take her vows, while Percy scowled.
"Do not beat yourself up so much, Perseus Jackson," Artemis was saying. "The di Angelos will go with you to camp, and I have faith you will aid Nico in becoming a strong fighter."
"Great," Percy mumbled. "How do we get there? If we all go together, we'll attract too much attention."
Artemis considered him for a moment, and then her gaze became a little distant. With a deep breath, she fixed her eyes on Percy. "Dawn is approaching," she said simply, and for a moment, through the pain, I didn't understand what she meant.
Then it clicked. "You have got to be joking," I breathed.
Percy frowned. "What?"
Artemis watched me carefully as I shoved myself to my feet unsteadily, scowling at the ground. "Apollo's coming," I said shortly, storming out of the tent without another word.
Outside, the dark night seemed to go on forever. It was hard to believe that Apollo could be anywhere near here, let alone about to bring dawn with him. But I'd seen it before, and I didn't question it. Artemis would never have told me about it if she weren't sure.
"Acacia?" Grover blinked as I neared the camp. "Are you-"
"Don't," I warned dangerously. "Just … don't, alright?"
"What's got into you?" Thalia scowled as she approached with her hands in her pockets.
"Did I, or did I not just ask you to leave it?" I snapped back.
"Hey, don't snap at us like that," she scowled. "What happened?"
"Artemis just called in a favour," Percy's voice came from behind me. "From Apollo."
"You're joking," Thalia blinked.
"Is anyone listening to me?" I spat irritably. They all stared.
"You want to know how many attack points Apollo has?" Nico asked brightly. The pain in my head began thumping again, and all I could do was groan and sink to the ground beside Sasha, one hand holding my head, the other clamped around my scar.
No one said anything else for a while, but they didn't move from my side either. The Hunters packed up their camp just as quickly as they had built it up. Bianca took Nico to one side to explain her decision to leave, and by the look on his face, it wasn't going well. Artemis stood at the edge of the cliff, watching the east and waiting.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a burst of light was cast over the horizon and my chest clenched more painfully than my neck burned. The warmth came next, and a strange tingling seeped over my skin. The pain vanished, and I was left with a sinking feeling in my stomach.
"Don't look," I managed in a coarse voice. Immediately, the others did as I asked, and I closed my eyes and waited for the light to fade. Even then, I didn't want to open them again.
But I forced myself. And there he was. The sports car looked the same as ever; a burning red that seemed so hot, it glowed brightly. I knew from experience that the metal would be too hot to touch. The door opened, and Apollo climbed out with an easy smirk and a confidence that bordered arrogance.
"Wow," Thalia blinked. "You're right, he's hot." I shot her a cold look before I could help it, and she blushed bright red. "What? I'm only saying."
"Sister!" Apollo greeted, throwing his arms out like he was expecting a hug. Artemis glowered, her temper only just controlled. "You don't call or write, I was getting worried!"
I got the feeling Artemis was struggling to find the words to deal with him. I really screwed the two of them up, I thought miserably.
It was not you, my lady, Sasha defended. Lady Artemis has been dealing with her brother for millennia now. She'll be fine.
Watching them, I wasn't so sure.
"I would not have called you here if I had any other choice," she insisted through her teeth.
Apollo winced, clamping his hands over his heart. "You wound me, dear sister. Truly."
"Nothing but what you deserve," she said shortly, and Apollo's expression faltered.
"Dear gods," I moaned quietly, rolling my eyes as I pushed myself to my feet beside Thalia and Percy.
"I need you to take my Hunters and the campers back to Camp Half-Blood," Artemis instructed shortly.
Apollo blinked. "Campers?" Artemis's face turned to stone, and he cast a glance around the camp. His eyes found us, and something shifted in his expression. "Ah."
She scowled and stepped around him, moving toward us. "Acacia, a word please," she said.
"Hey!" Apollo started, and I cleared my throat.
"I'm not sure getting in between the two of you again is a good idea," I told her quietly as she approached. "Ever."
"You're not," she dismissed. "But I'd like a word."
I took a breath and pursed my lips indecisively. Beside me, Thalia squeezed my hand tightly. "We're with you," she declared, loud enough for the whole camp to hear. "Whatever you decide." She winked when I cast her a strange look. "You ain't getting rid of me easily again, Acey."
"Damn right," Percy added with a nod, and Grover beamed at me. Even Nico gave me a thumbs-up.
I smiled tightly and squeezed Thalia's hand back. "I'll be a minute," I replied quietly, then stepped after Artemis without looking in her brother's direction.
She led me straight to the tree line, as far away from the camp as possible in an attempt to get out of Apollo's earshot. I had no idea what was going on, but I knew now was the time to do something about it. Apollo and Artemis needed to get on, or the gods would tear each other apart. She was the only thing that could stop him taking out his anger on Ares and Hermes, and he was the only one who could keep an eye on her while she was on this Hunt.
"I apologise for calling him here," Artemis started. "Sincerely, if there was any other way to get my Hunters and the campers to safety…" She trailed off with a heavy sigh. "The truth is, I've always trusted my brother. As irritating as he can be, he's…"
"Your brother," I finished with a grimace. "I get it. Honestly."
She fixed me with her stern gaze. "The one thing I don't trust him with is you." I opened my mouth to say something smart, but nothing came out. "For that matter, I don't much trust you with him, either. The two of you are as bad as each other in my book." I wasn't sure what to say to that, either. She sighed. "That's why I need to ask you a favour, too."
I blinked. "Oh? I'm not sure I'm the right person to ask anymore." I lifted my hair back to show her the scar, and her expression tightened.
"You're the only person I can ask," she shrugged.
This might be your only shot at making amends, a small voice in the back of my head whispered, and I found myself nodding. "What is it?"
"I need you to help me on my Hunt," she told me honestly.
"I thought you said it was too dangerous for your Hunters, let alone me," I scoffed.
"This is a different Hunt," Artemis answered. "One day soon, the monsters I hunt will be too powerful and strong for me alone. When that day comes, the gods have to stand together, and their children are the best hope of convincing them of that."
I frowned. "You mean the campers?"
"Yes and no," she nodded. "Perseus Jackson has more than proved himself capable of leading the campers. The ones I speak of are not there yet. They are some of the strongest yet, each gifted in their own way. I need to you track them down and bring them in, before Luke does."
I stared, a thousand questions flashing through my mind. "Gifted how?"
"You will see," she dismissed. "Start with the archer, he'll know where to find the others."
"But where is he? How am I supposed to find him if I don't even know who he is?"
Artemis took a deep breath. "Hey!" an indignant shout came, and I glanced to see Apollo scowling at us, obviously furious. Just looking at him, he wasn't the only one. Every inch of anger I felt last summer came hurtling back, so fast that it hurt. "You're out of time," he told Artemis shortly, before storming back off.
"Please, accept my apology," Artemis muttered. "I wouldn't leave you with him if I had any other choice. Good luck, Acacia Grace." With that, she whirled and raced into the forest, leaving me confused, hurt and more than a little nervous.