VI
ARTEMIS
"Sleep well, my hero. All is well." Artemis murmured softly as she knelt down holding the young demigod carefully in an awkward embrace. The mist swirled about into an illusory arrangement of crashing waves that swept over the grounds. In seconds, the arena was back to normal. The automaton sentinels knelt down on one knee and held their spears in salute while the ground beneath them shifted like quick sand, dragging them down under. And at last, Artemis and Percy stood alone in the arena of gladiators, amid the laughter and cheers of the crowd.
Sitting there in the middle of the arena, the goddess allowed her mind to wander in the hazy clouds of thought and wonder as she gazed at Percy's peaceful expression.
She sighed. She didn't know what happened, didn't know what had caused her world to be upturned upside down. She didn't know, didn't even bother to consider the idea, that she might be dragged down to this state and feel…something beyond fondness and friendship, traversing the border of normal to extreme.
It had never occurred to her that she could succumb to these feelings: emotions that bubbled so close to the surface, making her heart leap and skip as if striking a thousand beats per second, along with those unsettling butterflies in her stomach. She just didn't realize that she could feel like this: emotions like a ticking time bomb, threatening to explode as the pressure continued to build, emotions that shook with restrained force, threatening to erupt like an active volcano in a spray of molten lava and fire, emotions that rose, soaring faster than fireworks launched into the night sky. But from her first encounter with Percy, everything had changed like an inverted landscape—all its colors warped and changed.
When she had decided to meet Percy Jackson, it had only been to see for herself what was so unique about the young Half-Blood. The gods had spoken so highly of him, some believing him to be the savior of them all and others believing that he was a potential destroyer; both were formidable and sparked the interest of everyone in Mount Olympus. It was hard not to be at least drawn to Percy. She wanted to see firsthand what was so different about the demigod.
At first, she had only been mildly interested, but after their meeting under the dark clear skies and radiant full moon that fateful night, that detached interest soon became something so much more than that. It was like a moon that waxed and never waned, only growing brighter and brighter until it engulfed the night with its resplendence. With each passing day, her feelings shone brighter, to her and to others. And what had once been a mild interest became a shy obsession.
She felt happy—almost giddy with excitement and joy—and slightly startled. She had seen within him a dazzling brilliance, a light, pure and innocent and warm beneath the carefree character. Percy was honest, determined, and loyal. All the qualities that she once believed men to lack were there, underneath his skin and seen through his bright emerald eyes staring innocently back at her, whether in her mind or right there before her, contradicting her very ideals. Everything she believed in, all the things she had once taken as fact, and the things she had turned her back on, were suddenly in front of her, cast in a new light, golden and bright, that revealed the truth, complete and untarnished. The boundaries had been broken and new territory lay beyond waiting to be explored.
Everything she had once felt, the scorn for men, the rigid stance of maidenhood, and the idea that love escaped her fingertips, began to collapse before her mind's eye like card castles toppled over by a flick of the finger.
It felt like she had been born anew, like a phoenix rising from its ashes, or an infant first glimpsing the outside world. She felt like a young adolescent with a school girl crush. She felt like a foreigner to this new and strange universe, a permanent tourist to Percy's world. He had offered her an exit to her old days like the curtains drawing close then back up again as the new act began. It was like she had been asleep all this time, only to wake up from nightmares and pleasant dreams alike and find that the world has changed.
There had never been a demigod who took so much responsibility upon himself and only himself and dealt, with the consequences that resulted in this burden, as Percy, never a hero so…kind and straight-forward as the Son of Poseidon. He didn't care about power, or immortality, he didn't even care much about his own welfare. He was like an innocent puppy as Thalia once admitted laughing, only without the special treatment.
She knew he was something special, even before his refusal, she knew from the moment she had met him. And then that day came when Percy refused immortality had shown the gods that there might be something more to life than material gain and power. It had been unfathomable. It made them think that they were possibly missing out on something.
And Artemis often wondered whether their encounter was a prelude to some new beginnings.
She couldn't understand it, couldn't wrap her head around it, couldn't grasp its threads or look into its depths. The goddess just couldn't figure what had possessed her from that day—or night—forth. Now, her life was going down a long forgotten road, a road that felt so new from its long abandonment, so unused that it was covered with many dense unforgiving foliage of guarded thoughts and other such defenses and traps that a hunter would use to dissuade anyone from going near it. It had only taken one chance meeting with the son of Poseidon to strip away those barriers and remove the mental traps and bring down the walls of defense she had built up for so many years. The feelings were like the tides and waves of the sea, they couldn't be controlled, only influenced. And those waves of forgotten comfort washed over her in embracing torrents of warmth that hadn't been let loose for so long.
Sighing she stared, gazing at the unconscious form of Percy as she held him close. "Maybe the reason why we don't understand you is because there hasn't been a hero who cared so much for others. Maybe that was why I fell for you. Or maybe there's something more to you than that…" Glancing at his wrist, Artemis spotted her gift she had made her frustrating brother give to him, and smiled. Percy had put on quite a show.
Artemis had been present ever since the very beginning of Noctis' ordeal. She had seen the intensity, the shocking ferocity of the battle. The fiery of blades clashing against blades with a symphonic resonance that rang in everyone's ears over and over again like an orchestra performing in an echoing chamber. It was all too much, so overwhelming like the high tides at the ocean, so vast like gazing at the stars and the vast sky and realizing how infinitesimal one really was.
Anarchy fell upon the world as everything occurred faster than the eye could follow, as everything around everyone began to go on fast forward. It was bewildering. But what really caught the goddess' eye was the creeping shift in atmosphere that had begun to seep through the whole of the camp, almost tangible in the air. It seemed to have affected everything but the crowd who had been too busy roaring in bloodthirsty approval as their champion cut down enemy after enemy.
She had seen the change that had come over Percy. She could see it in his eyes when Percy—no, Noctis—had fought and fought, crushing his enemies as a conqueror would have: killing and moving on, leaving the enemies fallen forgotten. It came over him like a rapid-spreading plague, a consuming virus that manifested itself physically for all to see. It was a parasite, a symbiosis that covered the true self in its metaphorical armor. And in that moment, Percy became Noctis. He was no longer the Greek hero, no longer the carefree demigod, or the champion of the Graeci that he once was. He was Noctis, a soldier of the New Roman Republic. He had been reborn as a Roman hero, one of the guardians of the New Province.
Percy probably would've never asked for this, but he hadn't been Percy for quite a long time now. Even before the test, he had been changing, unconsciously undergoing the evolution of his very character. It was as if he belonged to Rome more than Greece. Rome called to him and took him into Her arms, not the other way around.
Artemis shook her head, trying to clear all her heavy thoughts as her eyes traveled back to Percy's calm features that looked more Roman than Greek. Looking at the sleeping demigod now, Artemis almost wondered whether the Greeks hadn't taken in one of their own after all, and had stolen a hero of Rome instead.
At the end of the day, if Percy hadn't been tied down by sentiment or held back by friends, he would've realized a long time ago that he didn't belong to the Greeks. It was like his very soul was drawn to the New Province. And finally, he had reached his destination.
It saddened her a little but change was inevitable. And even with change, memory was like the vast ocean; it ebbed and flowed but never ran dry. Change could only reach so far. All of these changes didn't matter, because in the end, Percy would always be Percy. And Noctis would always be Noctis. No matter the wiped memories or the new friends or the drastic changes in his life, he would be forever the same, soul-wise. Percy was still there if one were to figuratively look inside: the same courageous and noble soul the likes of which were only seen once a millennia. But now, the Son of Neptune/Poseidon would have two sides: the Greek and the Roman, Percy and Noctis. And in a sense, he was more complete this way, having both sides of the coin rather than one.
Artemis sighed, sadly, brushing a long lock of hair from Noctis' face as she turned her attention to the present. She couldn't believe that the young Half-blood could sleep so soundly, even in the cacophony of noise and shouts that surrounded him, so soundly for someone who had gone through so many terrifying and dangerous ordeals. Then again, Noctis probably didn't know even half of what he had been through to gain the respect of the gods and demigods alike. She looked upward now, staring at the dark skies, as a howling whirlwind swept down upon the Coliseum, faster than a hawk diving for its prey.
Rain had begun to fall—the full force of the relentless storm steadily escalating to its furious climax. The steady, melancholy tempo of Heaven's tears that tapped a light rhythm became the rapid bullets of heaven's machine guns that pounded the ground with brutal shots.
Wind—cutting air—howled and whirled about in the Coliseum, echoing throughout the stadium in eerie screams in various tones like the voices of a thousand, ten thousand, or even more fallen angels that had risen from the earth. The winds' overwhelming gusts tore across the field, battling its own war as if the spirits of the dead had woken with a vengeance.
Lightning streaked through the sky as if tearing the world asunder with one mighty stroke of an invisible sword, its furious course through the heavens faster than any mortal eye could perceive.
Thunder followed, rippling through Nature's cloudy ceiling with a deafening roar as if the gods had unleashed their full fury upon the land—then again maybe it was the sky that was at war with the earth, or perhaps a thunder god busy battering away at great enemies with his war hammer.
Dark—almost black—clouds roiled up ahead, forming inconceivable patterns of different hues and shades of black and grey. It swirled together in the chaos above, forming a funnel—the eye of the storm peering down at the battlefield below.
It was like an Artist had painted a gothic abstract of a landscape that was steadily blacking out into darkness, as if anticipating the impending danger that was to come. He designed a scene fitting for the intro to a horrible war, painting with angry brush strokes those fury clouds and slashing wind and streaking lightning and rolling thunder.
Artemis gazed up at the sky again, her eyes flashing silver. A sudden sense of disquiet took hold of her as she continued to gaze up at the sky. Something felt wrong. And the more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that something was up and that something was coming closer, fast.
The spectators, oblivious to the growing sense of dread and danger, had erupted into an explosion of shouts, cheers, and applause. The whole of the Roman stadium moved about now: bets were being collected and there was much talk. Despite the storm and its pelting, punishing blows to the world below, people streamed out of the stands and onto the stadium, talking and laughing amongst one another.
And for a second, all seemed well indeed. Then, the sirens and bullhorns started blaring wildly, frantically sounding the alarm of an attack. One moment, nothing seemed to be wrong as everyone walked about the arena laughing and conversing excitedly with one another. The next, it was as if hell had broken loose all over again as people scrambled for the doors. The calm atmosphere had shattered to pieces, like a mirror of peace and harmony shattered by the mere sound of a scream, to be replaced by panic and frenzy. The stadium was thrown into chaos as everyone tried to get through to the exits. Shouts and curses were heard as the crowd fought to get out. Some ran for the armories to prepare for the battle while others, who were already armed, headed straight for the fray.
Through the pandemonium, no one, except Artemis and a few others, noticed the creature that was illuminated up ahead as the sky flashed blinding white once more. The thing was getting closer and closer, swooping down to land atop the Coliseum of New Rome. The only thing that could be distinguished of the giant creature was its two glowing crimson orbs that stared down unblinkingly at the arena and the crowd that had started pushing and shoving to get out. Lupa stared up at the beast's glowing red eyes, and snarled.
There was another flash of lightning, and the serpentine something, with its huge black wings that stretched out on either side as if to cover the whole world under its wing, came into full view of all. It was a dragon, or at least something that resembled one because dragons were usually smaller. This thing looked as if it could sink an island under its own weight or at the very least squash a building under clawed foot. It obscured the entire skies, shadowing the entire Coliseum in darkness, as it reared its head and let out a battle cry that shook the entire land.
Artemis tensed, summoning up her strength. Her eyes were blindingly white now, flecks of silver and blue sparks whirled around her, engulfing Percy as well in harmless crackling sparks of fire and light, like faeries prancing and circling them in a dance of bluish flames and silvery brilliance. The moon shone a blinding azure in stormy daytime, its rays cutting through the clouds, bathing the entire land in light. Artemis' power awakened and using the moon as a sort of satellite surveillance, she was able to see the entire camp from a bird's eye view.
The place was falling apart. It was Hell. The whole of the camp was in danger of complete annihilation. Whoever had planned the attack on the Republic had planned carefully. Demigods were fighting undead demigods. Legions clashed with undead Legions. And other creatures trampled the place as the soldiers of New Rome attempted to hold them at bay. Buildings caught on fire as the skies rained fiery hail and flaming rain as undead sorcerers chanted their sorcery, weaving their evil magic. And through the chaos and confusion, the people of Rome were holding out, but only barely.
Out of the corner of her eye, Artemis could see Lupa encompassed in an aura of golden flames. The wolf-goddess' wrath was everywhere. She knew of what was happening to her beloved Province; Lupa was patroness of Rome after all.
The fireball came in a fiery tempest and for a brief moment everyone was blinded as it seemed to consume the place. Then there was a loud hiss like the sound of a thousand angry snakes. A wall of mist and water and rain had covered the place in a dome. Artemis blinked, taken aback. She glanced over at Lupa but even the she-wolf was confused.
Lightning flickered through the heavens once again. The heavy downpour grew worse as the rain picked up even more. Through her moon's eye, the goddess could see that the fires were being put out and that the place was being completely drenched by the hurricane. Icy winds blew everywhere, bringing the temperature down to below zero in an instant. It was as if the whole ocean had been withheld up above in the restless, chaotic clouds' icy grip, only to be unleashed upon earth when the pressure was too much.
The Power of Neptune. Storm caller. Lord of the Seas.
"The nymphs! Look, they've come out of the water!" Reyna shouted, pointing upward. And sure enough the water spirits were soaring in the pouring skies. How the water maidens managed to do this Artemis had no idea, and no time to try to find out as the ground shook again like the whole camp had been hit by a high-magnitude earthquake. The water spirits had protected them once and it had probably cost them a lot of strength, Artemis didn't think they could hold for much longer as more fire rained down on them only to be shielded by water.
The dragon that towered over the Coliseum like Talos over ships at sea reared again, ready to launch another fiery tempest of flames. With a wave of her hand, Artemis sent a thousand arrows shot from a thousand invisible bows at the beast. The thing exploded into sulfurous dust and with another gesture Artemis blew it into the sky scattering it through the world so that it may never reform.
But there were more, she could see them flying in the skies with other nightmarish creatures soaring along. Dragons roared in the skies along with its companions and demonic riders as they bombarded the camp from above with fiery hail and fireballs the size of meteorites. The Legions of Rome were now rallying together and breaking into formations. The commanders of each unit were now tearing themselves away from the confusion and firmly grasping the situation.
In the Coliseum, order was being restored as well. Octavian and Reyna continued to issue orders here and there, organizing groups of demigods and directing them to different places as they moved about. In minutes the place was almost empty. Reyna hurried off, promising to meet up with them later.
Artemis supported Percy through the exit and into the streets, followed by the demigod's new group of friends and the two consuls while Lupa had gone off to the front lines, in an angry flash of gold.
As she ran, Artemis produced a bullhorn and blew. The blast sounded across the camp, echoing and traveling far and wide. A few seconds later, several other horn blasts could be heard echoing throughout the land in response. The goddess turned to inform Octavian, "I have sent a call. My hunters will be here shortly."
The Roman immortal nodded, gratified. "They will be most welcome, Lady Diana."
Sighing, Artemis continued on, running through the streets, weaving through crowds of soldiers heading to the front lines. She was piggy backing Percy now as she ran with his friends flanking her sides and guarding the rear from attacks. Enemy Legionaries were everywhere now. Somehow the walls had been breached even with all the defenses and guards the Romans had stationed.
Artemis glanced through the moon and beheld a figure with a familiar crest charging the Legion of Minerva, slaughtering many soldiers in the process. The dark figure rode atop a black dragon, leading the Legions on a rampage over near the Temple of Jupiter Stator. As Artemis looked closer, she saw that the crest bore the emblem of the second Triumvirate. Then the figure turned and glared up with a look of hatred at the skies and she could see his features more clearly. Things seemed to have taken a turn for the worse as she recognized the man: Marcus Antonius, who had been defeated by Octavian in the naval Battle of Actium.
The soldiers around her must have heard her intake of breath as they looked over, concerned. "What's wrong?" Octavian asked, turning to her, tensing. He ran along to her left, clutching his gladius tightly in one hand while the other traveled to his pocket to take out a golden Denarian.
"If Noctis' too heavy for you, I can help…" Bobby offered, joking. He was silenced however by a look from Gwendolyn and the others. "Okay, okay, just trying to lighten the mood."
Artemis glanced over apprehensively at the First Emperor of Rome, wondering if she should tell him. After a moment she sighed, "The enemy…it's—"
Artemis was cut off as a shadow fell over them all, they glanced up. A giant dragon, almost identical to the one they encountered in the Coliseum but wearing armor, landed in front of them, blocking their path. The rider atop it wore black armor the color of obsidian. He raised his sword to the skies and roared a battle cry.
Octavian's eyes widened. "Pompeius, you fiend, what have you done?" the former emperor was beside himself now, his rage cold and dangerous as he glared at the man atop the great black winged beast. "Is this your evil doing, Pompeius?" the rider gave a snort of derisive mirth.
"I have returned, little Caesar," Pompey laughed, his laughter cruel and malicious. "I have returned as I vowed I would. I was to rule Rome, I was destined! Terra told me so! And what happened? Your adoptive father took it away from me. Now I shall claim what is mine and that will be the end of it!" he shook his reins and the dragon reared like a horse, drawing back and taking a deep breath, flames pouring from its mouth as it prepared to fry them all to cinders.
With a toss of the coin, Octavian held in its place, a glowing sword of gold that shone as bright as the light of the sun. He ducked under the dragon's wild slash and sliced apart its armor with rapid strokes. In a blink of an eye, the armor of the great beast shattered to fragments like a whole puzzle being undone.
Pompey laughed. "Do you really think you can take me down?" he gestured at the ruins of the Province. "I once said to Caesar that I could raise an army with a stamp of my foot on the soils of Italy. And now I have raised it, raised my undead comrades from the ground with the power of Terra and her giants. See before you what my Legion can do: it has conquered Rome! Look at the ruins of this place."
"I have bested a thousand or more enemies more powerful than you. This won't take long." Octavian retorted, evenly. "And as for Rome, it still stands. Our Province will never fall as long as the last Roman lives and fights on."
Then they were at it again, Octavian became nothing but a blur of gold, and purple as he danced around the beast, systematically destroying it: severing tendons and muscles, cutting vital points and all the while dodging the dragon's sharp talons and jaws and fire.
Artemis stared at him, and then turned. " I leave this one to you." she began to run past, as Octavian engaged the old friend-turned-enemy of Julius Caesar in battle. The others, with only a moment's hesitation, followed the goddess close behind.
Hazel glanced at the others, who shared the stunned disbelief with the others by the appearance of Pompey. "Wow, the world has really gone insane. Pompey and all the other countless heroes..." There was a murmur of agreement, as they continued onward.
"Are you afraid?" Dakota asked, as he sliced an enemy soldier in their way down.
"Yes."
"Don't be, we got our own Avengers. Enemies of the state or not, we'll crush them."
"So we're superheroes." Bobby contemplated thoughtfully. "Not a bad way to look at us. I call spider man." The others laughed as Bobby cut down another enemy Legionary with a mocking flourish.
"Oh shut up, you joker," Gwendolyn exclaimed, slapping the back of his head playfully. "We need to focus."
"When did you turn into Reyna?"
"I said shut up."
Artemis smiled as she ran on. Percy had made some interesting new friends. She glanced to the side at Percy's calm expression as he slept on. A flicker of blue fire seemed to pulse from him but it was probably a trick of the light.
"Look we're here!" Bobby shouted with satisfaction as he rammed a Dracaenae in the gut before slicing it up and scattering the dust. The others stared up at the temple that loomed overhead.
The temple had been modified extensively. It stood as tall as formidable skyscrapers, shadowing over the area like a giant watchtower. Its gothic architecture seemed to be fit for a king rather than a place for worship. It took one's breath away no matter how many times one looked at it.
"Let's hurry, young heroes," Artemis said, breaking the silence. "The sooner we enter the safety of my temple the better for Noctis here."
"I'm not that young…" Bobby muttered as they climbed the temple's many stone steps until finally they reached the top and entered the place. "I'm turning sixteen very soon." He recoiled suddenly as Gwendolyn raised her hand. But she just covered her mouth and yawned, smirking at him.
The inside was just as breathtaking as the outside. The ceiling had numerous carvings and designs showing the vast expanse of ether at night: planets, constellations, the sun and other stars with no formation or figure. A crescent moon surrounded the depictions in its embrace. The floor mirrored the ceiling picture by picture in detailed clone-like mimicry. On the walls hung exquisite tapestries of various lunar phases, pictures of the goddess herself, whether it was her punishing wrongdoers or saving heroes, and also deer under silver moonlight. And this was only one part of the temple. The other rooms were probably intended as living quarters for her hunters and, on rare occasions such as these, herself and Percy.
It was dark, and slivers of bluish light shone through from the circular tinted colored glass that ringed the moon, looking like miniature suns. It cast an almost ethereal glow over the place. It had an aura of reverence and awe that even took Artemis aback. Across the large circular room, at the end opposite the huge doorway, stood a throne, its outline framed in blue light from behind and around the floors, where crystals of varying sizes shaped into countless weapons lay, glowing and pulsing brightly. Two wolves made of silver and encrusted in sapphire gems stood guard, flanking the throne and crouched as if they were about to spring out at anyone who approached the seat any minute now.
Artemis made her way across to it, gently laying Percy on it. She stepped back and stared at him. He looked almost like a king, Artemis thought, as he sat there cross-legged and asleep, his breathing slow and steady with his fist resting on his cheek, while the other rested on the throne's arm. The light from the crystals around him illuminated his face in a dramatic light.
The others stopped by her side, equally struck by how totally royal he looked. Hazel turned to her, "You're going to let him sit here while we fight the Attackers? What if something happens…?"
Artemis shook her head. "While he's in here, my power will protect him. The Aventine hill is well protected with its new defenses. And I've set defenses of my own before, too." Besides that, she was linked to the temple; it worked the same way as the moon, so she could keep Noctis in her sight at all times even without being in the same room as him.
The others were silent for a moment before there was another horn blast and the hunters of Artemis burst into the temple, with bows ready, strings drawn taut. The tallest, a girl with spiky black hair and punk rock clothes, stepped forward and bowed. "Lady Artemis, I have returned on your call. And you'll be pleased to hear that we managed to save the Loose Canon from Terra's loonies. Though it was a close one." When she straightened, she caught sight of Percy and blinked. "Percy?"
Artemis smiled, flustered for some reason. "Yes, that's Percy. Don't wake him, Thalia. He's had a long day."
Thalia just stared in surprise at her sleeping friend, taken aback. Then realizing something, she snapped out of her daze, "But that's your throne, my Lady…" she gestured at Percy. "You're okay with this?"
"Of course," Artemis replied, albeit defensively. "Why wouldn't I be?" Thalia couldn't find an answer as the lieutenant of the Hunt stared at the goddess closely, her eyes trying to pierce through Artemis' wavering defenses.
"Anyway, "Artemis continued, hastily trying to change the subject. "Did you find Jason?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah," Thalia replied, bemused as she squinted at her goddess, scrutinizing her as if trying to get some insight just by staring. "I was so happy. I thought he'd died." She trailed off, then, "Did something happen between you two…?" she smirked.
"No," Artemis exclaimed. "You've been listening to my stupid, annoying, lying, frustrating brother again, haven't you?"
Bobby raised his hand, "Hey! Let's get going. Super heroes have a schedule, you know. Can't wait all day."
Dakota pulled the joking Half-Blood into a headlock, "That's enough from you, Bobby. She might turn you into a jackalope; just think of how sad we'd all be if you were to be like that." He turned to the others, oblivious to Bobby's weak attempts to free himself. "But seriously, let's get going."
Percy's new friends quickly headed out, the Hunt following behind. "Super heroes…? What was that all about?" Thalia muttered. Gwendolyn laughed and went on to explain, talking animatedly to her and gesturing energetically.
"Mood swings…" Bobby muttered under his breath. Gwendolyn's head snapped toward him.
"What?"
Artemis was the last to leave. And as she took a step outside, she glanced back, staring at Percy. This won't take long, Percy, she thought.
Before the great metal doors soundlessly closed behind her, Artemis saw for an instant a flare of blue light and fire that erupted from the crystals around the young demigod. She blinked in astonishment but as she took another look, the crystals were back to normal. Weird, there can only be so many times that the light could trick you.
Minutes later, they were at the front lines, battling monsters that seemed to go on endlessly. Artemis saw her hunters taking a stand near the gate, trying to block any more enemy Legions from entering. The tides were against them. The monsters kept reforming, kept swarming around them, kept coming, in innumerable numbers. It was like trying to wage war on the sea or sky, both impossible feats.
Octavian had taken care of Pompey already and was leading the Calvary through the enemy lines, cutting down enemy after enemy. The Legion of Mars roared their battle cries as they charged the hordes of Terra, spearing the undead legions and dividing them in half. The Legions of Apollo stood atop the walls and shot supersonic arrows and machine guns at the undead like it was some Sisyphean target practice.
"Hold your ground!" Reyna hollered over the noise of war. She led the Legion of Minerva out and joined up with the Hunt in an attempt to better stop the forces of Terra from entering. The Legion pushed forward and moved to secure the gates but the effort was in vain. The hordes of the Underworld kept coming. Soon the Legions and allies of Rome had to retreat. It was either that or get overrun.
Octavian stared grimly at the scene before retreating along with the rest. Yes, the tables were turned against them, or maybe they had been turned from the very beginning. But the fact was that Rome couldn't hold. Then there was a loud roar that shook the physical as well as the mental dimensions.
Lupa stood at the gates alone and let out another roar that sent shockwaves rippling through the air, sending the enemy Legions back a few meters. Fire rained down from the skies on Lupa's call and decimated the undead. But even that was futile.
Artemis raised a hand and the very skies turned black as if the sky was a mass of water and a bucket of black ink that had been dumped into it. Day became night and the moon and stars shone bright in the sky, through the ravening clouds. Streaks of lightning hit the earth producing shudders throughout the region. Mountain Tam high overhead seemed to shake with the intensity.
Then the stars fell, one after another. Thousands of thousands of stars fell to earth. They crossed the skies and cut the clouds like mincemeat. They fell. The shooting stars fell upon the enemies of Rome.
The skies returned to normal and night became day once again. Artemis collapsed, gasping. Thalia ran to her side and shook her. "Lady Artemis! Lady Artemis! Are you alright?" Artemis glanced up to meet Thalia's concerned gaze.
Artemis panted, trying to catch her breath. "Fine. Just tired."
Octavian frowned as he crouched down with Thalia. "That's strange. What's happening? You're a goddess." He paused. "I didn't know the Olympians can get tired …"
"I've been cut off from Olympus ever since I spoke out against Zeus for withdrawing from mortal affairs." She stood steadily with Thalia by her side, glancing at the gates. What met her eyes wasn't pleasant: the Legions of monsters and undead demigod had stormed through the defenses and were now chasing down the retreating Roman forces. "We need to retreat. Find high ground. Then we'll be able to pick them off easily."
"The Aventine Hill then," Octavian said, standing also. "That's where Noctis is. The enemy Legions will follow us there, and then we'll crush them."
If we can… Artemis wanted to add but didn't. Lupa was already on the move, the she-wolf nowhere in sight, probably already at the Artemis' Temple by now, preparing.
The retreat was bitter. They saw shops and villas razed to the ground, temples ruined, the Forum burning, and the Curia in rubble. The undead were singing now, singing their horrid song of Rome's Second Fall. It rang in the ears distastefully like nails on a chalkboard.
Finally the Legions of Rome were backed against the steps of the Temple of Diana. Octavian had straightened, he spoke, his voice thundering over the clang and clash and other piercing sounds of the gears of war, "We cannot retreat any more, this is where we make our final stand. Legions, rally! Rome shall not Fall." he raised his sword and the Romans roared with him. The charisma of the man amazed Artemis as she looked upon the hopeless situation, the burning Rome, the ruins of Rome, the destruction, the carnage. And the hordes, the almost infinite number of enemies. She knew it was the end.
To her right, Thalia cursed. "We'll never make it." She drew another arrow and notched it with bleeding fingers from the string.
Artemis turned and looked despairingly. The enemies were practically indestructible and everyone knew it. Then Antonius arrived, atop his great black dragon, clad in matching black. She could hear Octavian suck in his breath as if his worst fears were confirmed.
"Di immortales!" Bobby spat as he stared up at the figure.
"Octavian, it's been awhile, friend." Mark Antony smiled. "I lost to you once, remember? I always thought that wasn't the way it should have ended. Well, here's the alternate ending. Unless you're willing to make a truce…"
"Marcus, is betraying Rome once not good enough? We were both born and bred to be heroes of Rome. But you turned your back on our sacred pact. During the time of the Second Triumvirate, why did you betray Lepidus and me? Was not ruling part of Rome enough? What will satisfy you?" Octavian shook his head, sadly. "I don't know what to make of you, Marcus. And I will not accept a truce. This is where it ends. One force will be left standing: either of Terra or the Province. Let the Parcae decide the victor."
Marcus waved a hand, arrogantly. "Augustus, Augustus, listen to my terms first. I do not wish to destroy Rome, only rule it. I give you an ultimatum that will save thousands of lives: give us the Son of Neptune and we will leave. We will even restore the Province. It's a good deal. One life for countless thousands." He sheathed his drawn sword. "The Fates need not determine whether one of us dies. Come, Augustus, be reasonable."
Octavian shook his head again. "I thought you knew me better than that. When I ruled Rome, I preached values. Remember? You think that has changed? No. My mind is made and also the minds of my fellow citizens I believe. We don't sell out comrades. "
Marcus' smile faded. He glared at Octavian, "Then you leave me no choice." He raised his hand signaling the Legions of the Undead on his mark. His hand fell, and the enemy charged. Artemis and the rest tensed, prepared to meet their fate, then—
The world flashed a blinding white, flecked with pale azure sparks that exploded everywhere in bolts of lightning and in crazy zigzagging streaks like electricity. They screamed overhead, crackling and pulsing in the air, before condensing into orbs of evanescent bluish silver fire that fell like snowflakes to the ground and disappeared, only to be replaced with ample more light and sparks and fire and lightning. The enemy Legions were driven back, blasted off their feet by the sheer power of whatever had caused this. The blue embers became shooting stars and they zoomed about, hurling themselves at the invaders as if some invisible gym class were playing dodge ball and the armies of Terra were the targets.
"What the heck—?" Bobby shouted as he rubbed his eyes, half-blinded by the light, while fumbling for his gladius.
Artemis turned to the others and saw their equally stunned expressions, surprised by this recent turn of events. She stared with the rest as stars began to swirl around them, moving in a circle around the world as if the earth had started spinning a thousand times faster than it was supposed to. The storm grew to higher heights as thunder rumbled like low laughter and the lightning streaked across the whirling skies like white cracks of a hollow globe of glass and the rain fell harder like heaven weeping and the winds cutting like blades.
Over the noise of chaos, Artemis heard the sound of footsteps echoing on the temple floor. She turned.
The doors of the Temple of Diana had drawn themselves open of their own accord and stood there waiting for the shadowy figure beyond to pass through. All that could be seen of the person or thing were the twin glowing pupils that shone crimson red. The legions of Hostis, the enemies of the state, caught their breaths, some even falling to their knees with all weapons fallen or thrown aside forgotten as if an avenging angel, or god, had come down to punish them, others went mad and started screaming incoherent words, and even others who snarled like demons at the sight of their holy enemies.
Noctis stepped out of the shadows and crossed the threshold swiftly, staring about, his eyes as red as blood. He stared at the scene before him: the legions of undead demigods and enemies of both Rome and the gods of Olympus. He stared at the ruins of New Rome and the Roman army pushed to the brink of total annihilation. He stared with a calm indifference as if peering through a dream. It was almost chilling, Artemis thought as she stared up at him. The whole world seemed to warp into a different scene from a different universe as Noctis stood there, surveying the world distastefully.
An aura of power washed over the moon goddess suddenly as if it were a healing current, rejuvenating her. And she was refreshed and comforted to the point that it was almost too much, and she was overwhelmed.
The day became night once again and the stars shone ever so bright, the different constellations were alive now. Orion was up there, drawing his bow. Zoe Nightshade was there, too, running along the sky. Taurus, Leo, Draco, Sagittarius, every last one of the starlight forms, whether of winter or summer or fall or spring were there watching over them.
Artemis looked on, dazzled by such an unexpected entrance. "Percy…? Is that you?" Thalia looked over and followed her gaze, then gasped.
Percy, or Noctis, began descending the steps down to the bottom where Terra's Legions stood, either frozen by paralyzing fear or grabbed by indomitable madness. Even Mark Antony was taken aback by the lost hero that continued to descend, taking all the time in the world as he strode down the stone steps.
Then there was a whisper as if the earth was imploring its followers to move, to react and respond to the situation at hand. The Legions of the undead snapped out of their trance in a panic, their battle lines chaotic and disorganized as they readjusted to their surroundings.
"Fire at him!" Antony roared above the uproar, his eyes flashed red but unlike Noctis' clam cold eyes of glowing red, the consul of the Second triumvirate was furious. The man's eyes and actions betrayed his growing sense of unease, a hint of desperation, to stop this one adversary. "What are you doing? Fire!"
The enemy attacked, foot soldiers aimed their automatics, archers drew their bows with flaming arrows, and spearmen stepped back to hurl their missiles. It was a million against one and Artemis couldn't help but cry out.
But none of them touched Percy as he stopped there in the middle, between the Roman Legion and the army of the Undead with its hordes of innumerable Underworld nightmares. It was like a transparent force field surrounded him as he continued onward, oblivious to the bullets shattering and arrows splintering and spears breaking.
His glowing red eyes were brighter. He glowed with an aura of blue and white flames. A miniature storm—a hurricane—began around him as crystals appeared out of nowhere and whirled about him. With a wave of his hand, the crystals shattered and reassembled into thirteen different weapons: a spear, a lance, a halberd, a double-bladed axe, a sword, a trident, a scythe, and other variations of these medieval weaponry—thirteen crystalline shapes that circled him, picking up speed as the gemlike forms flickered and shimmered in and out of focus. Then the crystal gears of war shattered altogether and became a crystal storm that followed him about wherever he went.
Marcus Antony roared in defiance and lunged, but Octavian was at his throat in no time, engaging the old enemy in combat. The god of Rome, the first emperor, was ablaze as he fought Antony, friend of Caesar.
The first wave that charged the Romans at a bull run was the hordes of Underworld creatures. Noctis reached out with his outstretched hand and the whirlwind of crystal shards became a sword. He seized it while his other hand spun the silver bracelet and it changed into a lance.
He flashed white and disappeared in a trail of silver and blue sparks of dazzling light, reappearing in front of the enemy. He stabbed and slashed and hacked. One minute he held a sword, the next it became the double bladed axe, then the next it was the halberd and then the scythe and another lance and a gladius. He fought like a man possessed, like a demon unleashed in a fury. It was so raw and uncontrolled it was almost insane. Artemis blinked before joining in the fray herself, working her way to fight alongside him.
She called down the stars once again and fired a thousand arrows from the sky and all around. The others, Percy's new friends and Thalia with the Hunt followed after her. The tides had turned finally in their favor and the enemies were being driven back, forced to give back all the ground they had gained. And as Noctis pushed the forces of Earth further and further away, his power washed over the damaged state of Rome, healing it, cleansing it almost of the results of war, and over the citizens of the city-state, healing them also.
Finally they were at the gates. And with a tremendous effort, they managed to push the enemy out. But Noctis continued on, walking now, again with no hurry, toward the retreating enemy.
"I will return, Octavian. Don't you forget that, and next time I'll have Legions that will cover this whole world and bring Rome down to Her knees." Mark Antony swore. He reined his dragon and soared upward. Then the sky flickered and flashed, and Antony fell, struck by the god of lightning's bolt of punishment.
Noctis strode alone now toward the enemy lines. Thalia cursed under her breath. "Does he want to die? Ugh, Seaweed Brain." She started after him, Artemis with his new comrades at her heels. "Percy! It's over, get back over here. You'll get yourself killed."
Percy didn't seem to hear her as he walked on. Artemis flickered with silver sparks as she nervously took a step toward him. "Percy?"
Then again, crystals appeared, one by one, like solid apparitions yet ghostly at the same time, high overhead they took form, as if sitting atop the hills and scenery of clouds above, like hawks perched on airy branches over a cliff, waiting for the prey to make the first move. They shattered to a million pieces and rained down on the Legions of Terra and struck them all down. Monsters vaporized and their yellow sulfurous dusty substance soared up into the air and into his sword of silver, sealing themselves within the cold metal that he had grabbed from the crystal winds. Carvings of the many different beasts of the Underworld and of Terra appeared etched on the blade as one by one they were sucked in.
The demigods and sorcerers went down in sprays of dead blood and the earth opened up to take them back in its clutches like a direct route to the pit, falling to the dogs.
Noctis flashed white and appeared before Artemis, taking her breath away, as he took her and practically flew up the walls of Rome.
"Sure, leave us to run for our lives!" Thalia shouted as she and the others ran back to the gates of Rome which closed behind them. "Not like we matter if we fall into that hole."
Whether Noctis heard or he just simply ignored the comment, Artemis couldn't figure out through his impassive features as he ran on, killing countless tray Rogue legionaries and monsters that had survived the earth's mealtime mayhem as he dashed here and there, running on walls then on solid ground then flying in midair over ramparts then running atop battlements again. It was so disconcerting to be here then there then somewhere else and so on faster than light even for a goddess but soon they were back behind the safety of the fortifications. Behind them, on the Graveyard, the earth swallowed everything in its giant maw like a giant glutton. It devoured demigods and bones and weapons and other mementos of the Fall alike.
Thalia was at their side in seconds. "Are you alright, my Lady?" she reached out, but at that moment, the crystals vanished and the bluish silvery aura along with it. Percy's eyes returned to its usual unnaturally bright green and he collapsed, falling into Artemis' arms for the second time this day, unconscious. Thalia stared at her sleeping friend in bemusement. "What is this time of year for him? Hibernation period?" and before Artemis could stop her, Thalia flicked his forehead with her finger. To the goddess' relief, it didn't wake him.
The others had come to Artemis and Percy's side, too. They looked over and, after seeing that Noctis was perfectly fine, began tending to the wounded.
Octavian lingered for a bit as he examined the two. "Hmmm…Not bad." He commented, pausing briefly before continuing as he looked down at Percy sleeping in Artemis' arms, "We'll have his initiation ceremony and feast in a week or so, right before he goes on the quest, Lupa has for him. There we'll announce his rank as Commander of the Fourteenth Legion of Rome, the Legion of Neptune."
"Wait, Noctis is going on a quest in a week?" Bobby asked, outraged. "I waited thirteen years to go out and kick butt for my city-state. How come he gets the fast lane ticket to the roller coaster?" he crossed his arms, glaring indignantly.
Gwendolyn slapped the side of his head. "Stop pouting, Spider man. You're supposed to be a super hero."
"And you're too old to pout anyway," Reyna added as she came behind them, making them jump. She turned to Artemis and spoke, "Lupa's getting worried that we might be going too slow with things. We were lucky this time, but we might not be so fortunate when Antonius returns."
"You really think he'll return?" Hazel asked, doubtfully.
"He'll return," Octavian stated, wearily. "Marcus has always been true to his word." He turned to look over at the setting sun as it disappeared behind the horizon. "Now, let's get going, it's almost dinner."
The others followed the consul as he turned and left. Finally Artemis was left with Thalia and Percy alone. Thalia stared at her, eyes narrowed. Artemis raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Nothing," the daughter of Zeus replied, smirking. "It's just that…I think I know why Apollo's kept his eye on Percy ever since you met him." Artemis gave her a look. "Okay, okay, I won't tell."
Artemis sighed, too exhausted to argue. "Whatever."
They made their way toward the villas of Neptune on foot rather than on the litters that were offered to them. Thalia had exclaimed that she had felt bad for the litter-carriers so there they were, walking through the crowded streets of Rome with Percy on Artemis' back, not that she minded much.
"You're gonna stay here for awhile, aren't you?" Thalia stated more than asked. Artemis nodded and the girl smirked again.
"You can wipe that smug look off your face now and stop teasing me. I have enough of that coming from Aphrodite and Apollo. Even Hermes is bothering me just because my brother and his muses like to gossip to the whole world about other people's business."
Thalia laughed as she took out her iPod and walked on, silent now, humming to herself as she was immersed in her world of music.
Artemis turned to look up at the sky. The moon shone a crescent white when only moments before it had been completely round. She wondered about Noctis—Percy—and his newly acquired powers, powers that went as far as to the extent that it was able to affect the land around him so dramatically, power that made the stars fall like she did.
She wondered about his blood red eyes, and his glowing pulse of blue and slivery light that had surrounded him like flame molded into armor. She wondered about his thirteen gleaming crystal swords and the sealing blade that was still clutched in his right hand, its thousands of carvings of the monsters slain by him writhed within, shining through in the silver reflection. The sword seemed to thrum with intense excitement as if it were sentient; the way it pulsed and the way it shimmered were almost like emotions that stirred just below the surface of its cold silver blade.
When they reached the villa, Thalia decided to call the entire Hunt to camp at Percy's since it was so big. The Hunters laughed and giggled as Thalia told them something interesting. Artemis was too tired to bother much as they gave not-so-subtle glances over their shoulders at her. If it was about her and Percy, then she would have to set them straight tomorrow. At the moment, she was too sleepy, too tired from today's work, to do anything but think. So she let her hunters go on, giggling and whispering.
She tilted her head to the side, gazing at the demigod in deep slumber. Percy…What happened…? How did you gain this power?
She lay there on the soft bed with Percy opposite her, on the other side, and played with a strand of hair. She stared at his features once again and wandered into the tracks of aimless thoughts as sleep enveloped her in its warm blanket…