Yes, Zoë is alive, of course – would I kill my main character? Okay, I would – and I have to at the end of this story, though Rick Riordan didn't give me much choice with that. Anyway, let's get on to the important stuff.
First of all, know that school is starting, and I won't be able to write as much. It also means that I need extra willpower to keep going despite schoolwork, and I will be pushy and demand reviews. Sorry to those who do review even without me badgering you to, but that's not many.
And here is my response section, for those who actually reviewed my story, since I am a novice at fanfictions and I am not yet sure how to reply to reviewers over the server. If someone is willing to give me a review to explain, I would be quite thankful.
To Storm-Brain: Yes, I finally involved Artemis. Took me a while, sorry, but I needed to do things with Zoë before she met the Hunters. She'll have to do even more before she joins.
To Shinobi of the Sound: Glad you like it. And I hope this chapter counts as soon.
To Mahir: I love it when I get reviews like yours. Thanks!
To MyPenIsSharperThanYourSword: I like tantilizing people with cliffhangers. It's fun
To Jason Strong: Yours is pretty good, too. And there are a dozen Hunters four thousand years later, but Artemis accepts anyone who worships her as the Hunt goddess. A lot more of those in Ancient Greece than nowadays in America. Good question, though. Thanks again!
To nikhilipie: She might. I can bring her back to life if need be. You don't know what I might do(coughprophecycough).
HorseyGal23: Thanks again for your review. Broken arms hurt, but mine is just about healed now. And who ever said that Zoë joins the Hunters as soon as she meets them?
Athena0228: Thanks. I acknowledge everyone I can. Thanks again.
Believeinthegods: Thanks. I totally agree with the populace's view on Zoë. I'm working to improve it. I'm truly flattered by your compliments, too.
Everyone: I think I finally figured out how to reply to reviews over the server. I'll give it a try. So if no more review responses show up here, you know where to look. Also, there is a poll on my homepage if you want to vote.
And here is Chapter Eight!
I woke to the sound of crackling flames. My ribs no longer hurt, neither my shoulder. My head did.
But where was I? Last I remembered I was in my sword – my sword! Ladon! Where were they? I groped for the sheath at my waist, to find it empty.
"Looking for your sword?" asked a voice from behind me. "A force was stopping us from picking it up. Even for me, it was quite a challenge. What is it?"
I spun around. Sitting in front of the fire with a deer on her lap and a wolf by her side. The Goddess of the Hunt. Artemis herself.
"Lady Artemis," I said, bowing my head. "You saved me." At least, that's what I tried to say, but my throat was raspy and dry. I had no doubt that she understood, though. She wasn't a goddess for nothing.
"Here," she said, handing me a flask of water. I drank deeply and gratefully. The water was different, somehow – it woke up my senses, which had dulled since the sword's hold on me.
She fixed me with her silver eyes, just watching me. I resisted the urge to sit up a bit straighter.
"So," she said at last. "What is this sword, exactly? I have never seen its like before, nor the material or the power." The Goddess of the Hunt held up the blade, although I noticed the blade was actually hovering in the air above her fingers; even she could not touch the blade. Was it really that powerful?
"Of course," said Artemis, reading my thoughts. "What is it made of?"
I knew that I had to tell her. Not only had she saved my life, but she was a goddess. If she got angry, I might not be around anymore to witness it.
I told her everything. I don't know why, but it seemed like the right thing to do. Well, everything but the prophecy. Something about that was still scaring me, although I didn't know what.
She just sat there for a moment, pondering all of this information.
"Is Atlas free?" Artemis asked at last. Her fingers twitched toward her bow.
"I wish that I knew. Last I heard of, he was still under Ouranos's weight, but that may have changed since I was gone. I haven't been there in two years, of course, but I haven't seen him at all in that time. It's Aegle that is the threat – she is an expert in sorcery, fencing, and manipulation."
Artemis nodded slowly as she processed this information. "Zoë Nightshade, you have shown bravery, courage and skill." She spoke in a formal voice, as if she was conducting an ancient ritual. "You are a maiden, and believe in the pantheon of gods. Will you join the Sacred Hunt?"
I gasped. That was the last thing I had expected. I wanted so badly to agree. I wanted to have a home again, and friends. But I couldn't.
"I would love to, believe me. But my sword would be too dangerous to have around if I don't use it. Monsters are attracted to its aura. Also, I promised Hekate that I would hide it, in a place that the Titans cannot find it."
"What place could you possibly hide it that the Titans could not hide it? We could bring it to Mount Olympus, but even there, they would sense it, and if there was a traitor…"
I made a split-second decision. "Lady Artemis… Do you know of a place called the kraken's lair?"
She jolted, startling the deer sitting next to her. Her silver eyes widened. She obviously did know of the kraken's lair, and it scared her.
"By Zeus! Where did you hear of that place?"
I swallowed. "The Oracle told me. It said that none would find it there."
Artemis sighed, running a hand across her silvery bow. Finally, she looked up at me. "What I am about to tell you is a great secret. We tried to keep it from mortal society, but the Egyptian scribes wrote it down, and we have no power over the Egyptians." She said Egyptians like it was a curse.
"Once, there was an island in the sea at the end of the world. Its kings were greatly favored by the gods; in fact, they were demigods themselves. They were blessed with a paradise, and a kind people, but they needed to keep their bloodline free of mortal corruption, and were forbidden to have children with the mortals. As long as they had the blood of the gods flowing through their veins, they were exempt from the effect of Pandora's Box.
"But they didn't, and, slowly, the faults of men returned to them. They used their population to form an army, the likes of which this world has never known again. They attacked neighboring lands, and easily took them, for mere mortals could not fight and win against the spawn of the gods.
"But the gods themselves saw this, and were not at all pleased. The power of Atlantis was meant for peace, not bloodshed. So, for the first time, Poseidon, Zeus, and Hades worked together to destroy the island that had been a paradise. It sunk beneath the sea, and is still there to this day.
"But monsters are drawn to powerful auras, and Atlantis had the most powerful aura there can be. Atlantis had celestial silver, the most powerful of all materials, which they used for jewelry. The lesser monsters are destroyed when they come near a large mass of celestial silver. The greater ones remain near to it, content to bathe in its aura and guard it against all who would take it.
"The greatest of all monsters, even more powerful than Typhon himself, is the kraken. Not even the gods know where it came from, and we all wish it would just go back there. It is similar to an immense squid, but it is far, far larger and much more intelligent. Each tentacle is at least a mile long, and its mantle is at least twice that. Its chosen task is to guard Atlantis's treasures against the monsters, mortals, and gods alike that go to Atlantis.
"But if you have a powerful and valuable treasure of your own, the kraken will want it. It will be willing to bargain with you to gain your sword, and the first thing that it will offer is safe passage back to the realms of mortals.
"This is the creature that you will meet. You may be able to escape lightly, but that is unlikely."
I understood that she didn't want me to go. But I couldn't fight against a prophecy and Hekate. I had to go.
"Thank you for thy help and information, Lady Artemis. But I have to go. If the Oracle is telling me to go to the kraken's lair, then I must go. I shall never tell another what you have told me. And if I survive, I would be delighted to join the Hunt."
"Go, then," responded Artemis. "But take with you a blessing of Artemis." She raised a hand and pointed it at my bow, then hissed a quiet word. As she did, the brown wood of the bow flickered, then turned silver. My quiver did likewise.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice hoarse. The Olympians were being so much kinder than the Titans. First Hephaestus, now Artemis. I was lucky, indeed.
I walked out of her tent, walking towards the sea. I knew that my sword would guide me.
"Wait!" called a voice from behind me. Another Huntress was sprinting towards me. "Lady Artemis, if Zoë wants me, will you give me permission to go with her?"
Artemis sighed. "Eavesdropping again, Odessa? My lieutenant should know better." Try as I might, I could hear no real anger in her voice.
Odessa shrugged. "Your tent isn't soundproof, and my tent was right next to yours. Besides, I was once a nymph of the sea; I already know about Danu Talis anyway, so it isn't as if a big secret was just discovered." She turned to me, eyes hopeful.
I shrugged. "It would be nice to have a companion, particularly one who knows these waters," I admitted.
Artemis nodded slowly. "I suppose that I can do without my lieutenant for a little while. Be careful." We nodded in unison, then, as one, turned towards the sea.
"Home," whispered Odessa. She turned to me. "Are you sure you can manage?" she asked. "It's cold, and hard to see underwater. The pressure might crush you."
I bristled. "I was once a daughter of Pleione, and this sword contains magic of the water. The real question is, can you keep up?"
She laughed, and we strode into the Mediterranean.
That was a little bit of a boring chapter, but I liked writing about Atlantis, or Danu Talis. According to the Egyptians, that is what Atlantis was. It was under the god Poseidon, as it was an island.
Also, Odessa is the current lieutenant, though she also is a nymph of the sea. Hopefully I didn't leave you guys on too much of a cliffhanger. Not as bad as the last two chapters, and not nearly as bad as the next chapter (maniacal laughter in the backround). Hope you enjoy the story!
Sa Rart