A/N- So you may or may not hate me after this chapter. I apologize in advance.

Artemis Pov-

"Welcome to the hunt, Naomi." Persia warmly greeted one of the four new huntresses'. "I am Persia."

The girl looked about fifteen, and like most of my hunters, ran away from home. Naomi had tawny brown eyes and short black hair, obviously a daughter of Demeter. She had been wandering in the woods for a while until Chloe came across her.

She joined quickly, and so did her three younger sisters- Atlanta, Delia, and Daphne.

After Persia had finished greeting the girls, I called her to my side.

"How are you?" I asked, noticing the silver glow of my second-in-command.

"Perfect," Persia beamed. "The hunt is thriving greatly."

"I would hope so," I chuckled, smiling at her. "After all, I did get the best person for the job."

"I wouldn't say that..." Persia's cheeks flushed.

"I'll tell you what," I leaned into her ear, whispering. "You can come along with me and someone else on a hunting trip, okay?"

"I'd be glad to accompany you and this "someone" on a hunt." She giggled, winking.

I raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"I mean," She paused, searching for the right word. "It's obviously you and Orion. Although he is a man, you seem to like him."

"I do not like men," I stated. "Besides, I just admire his hunting skills."

"Or you're just admiring him while he is doing his hunting skills."

"Persia..." I shot her a warning glare.

"Just saying, don't mess it up this time." Persia started to walk away.

"There was never a first time!"

"Adonis." Persia vanished into a tent, leaving me to my thoughts.

Oh, yes.

Adonis.

I can't believe I forgot about that. Considering it was sixteen years ago. Adonis, the favored one of Aphrodite, was supposedly killed by Ares.

As if. That hothead couldn't kill a fly even if his life depended upon it.

He was the reason why I have most of my huntresses. He broke a girl's heart and they would come to me, pledging to be an eternal maiden. So I decided to 'fix' the little problem.

I tried my best but I couldn't avoid the inevitable...I fell in love with him. Yes, you may flinch. A maiden goddess fell in love. Trust me, the irony isn't lost on me.

I didn't want to do it but for my sake and the huntresses, I killed him.

I still remember the lone tear that escaped from eyes as I left Adonis's body. Strangely, I even remember the faint cry of a child-most likely a newborn. I never turned around, for I thought the cry came from the near city of Athens.

So, with all things considered, I did indeed 'mess up' the first time. However, this time things were different. I admired Orion's companionship and we had similar interests. I didn't like Orion in that way.

Sure, his long black hair blew in the wind and suited him quite nicely. I liked the way his celestial bronze eyes shone with excitement when he spotted an animal. The way he chuckled and smiled was a bit charming.

A bit.

So maybe I liked him a bit better than most men-but a man is man, no matter how shiny his eyes are, how your heart soars when you see him, and no matter how many times you wish you weren't a maiden for eternity.

Still a man in the end.

I think I proved my over exaggerated point.

"Persia!" I called.

She poked her head out of the tent, listening.

"I have a meeting on Olympus." I got ready to teleport. "Look after the hunt while I'm gone."

"Okay, I'll meet you in the forest when you get back!" She diverted her eyes as I vanished in a golden light.

When I arrived in the throne room, Apollo was blabbing non-stop.

I eased into my seat as father said, "Apollo, please. Enough. We've heard about this girl a million times."

Apollo groaned, his eyes burning.

"I hope you are not talking about Persia." I narrowed my eyes.

"Noooo..." My twin's voice went a pitch higher than normal. He was always a horrid liar.

"Oh please," Aphrodite stopped filing her nails momentarily. "He's been talking about her for six hours straight. Persia this, Persia that, Persia is pretty, Persia everyday."

"I don't say that everyday!" Apollo defended then blushed, "Though she is pretty and nice and smart and good at archery and cute and pr-"

"Apollo!" I yelled, nostrils flaring. Why couldn't he just distract himself with some other woman? I shook my head, chalking it up to his obsession with women. "I told you to stop thinking about her!"

"Baby sister..." Apollo begged, gripping the arm rests of his throne. It was like every cell in his body wanted to bolt from the throne room. I'd never seen him in such a state. "I just want to see her again. I need to see her."

"You are obsessed with her, leave her alone!"

"I can't do that." Apollo whined, his eyes wandering like a lost cub.

I glared at him until he succumbed to my superiority.

"I'm leaving." Apollo looked torn but materialized out of the throne room.

I spent the next hour and a half listening to father's speech about a camp that the children of the gods can stay at.

Persia Pov-

"Hey Phoebe." I walked over to the her while she started a fire. "Watch over the camp, will you? I have to meet Artemis in few minutes."

"You two wouldn't happen to be going hunting with a certain son of Poseidon by the name of Orion?" Phoebe smiled, giving a sly wink.

"Possibly..." I hinted as I walked away.

"Hey," Phoebe laid a dainty hand on my shoulder, looking into my eyes. "Just watch out, okay?"

"For what?"

"It's just that," Phoebe paused for effect. "Artemis really likes Orion and-even if it means that she has to give up her oath and the hunt-she deserves a chance at true happiness."

I raised an eyebrow, still not understanding what she was getting at.

"You're just a bit alluring to men and I fear that you would mess it up." Phoebe looked down, feeling guilty.

"Oh. Oh." It took a moment but I finally understood what she was getting at. "I would never hurt Artemis on purpose-you know that. I'll try my best not to." I promised, hugging Phoebe.

"I know you've only been here for about three months, but Artemis has been talking about letting us go to Olympus." Phoebe pulled away, her eyes shining.

"I can't wait!" I said, already running towards the woods.

"Hurry back!" She called after me, her voice sounding a million miles away.

"I will!" I yelled back, traveling further into the dense forest. Little did I know, that would be the last time I saw my best friend.

The light filtered through the top branches, introducing the smell of compost leaves. The leaves crackled as I stepped upon them. The branches touched above me as I ambled below them and the hidden wonders of nature brought life to the path I walked upon.

I walked around in the forest before finding a green meadow hidden in the folds of the forest, giving off the earthy smell of beginnings and endings.

It was a valley left fallow, although, it was still lovely, wild with untamed growth, hiding brown rabbits and grey mice in the thick bramble hedges. Scrub cedar, sunflowers and wild honeysuckle assaulted my nose with a heavy fragrance.

I looked back, having a faint feeling that someone was watching me.

"Dinner!" The voice came from the east of the woods, stomping towards me.

The ground shook as the voice neared. Steadying my rapid heart, I unlatched my silver crossbow from its sheath and loaded a sharp broad head.

I kept the bow drawn and slowly backed up when I heard several large feet stomping in my direction.

As I did, three large, giant-like monsters appeared. The hairs on my arms stood up as I saw the ugly faces on the monsters. Their skin was a gross shade of vomit and their bodies were so big but discolored. They look like swollen, oversized humans.

Thinking fast, I drew back my bow and aimed at one of them. The arrow bounced of harmlessly, but made a small dent where a line of golden blood drew out.

I cursed silently; they were immortal.

"Foolish child!" The middle one roared, hitting me with a wave of bad dental care, "Your mortal weapons will not work for we are Laistrygonians and we hail from Rome!"

"So you are Laistrygonians who are also Romans?" I asked, attempting to stall them. If my bow wouldn't harm them, I'd have to run and stumbling through branches was not going to be pleasant. I weighed my options: run or be dinner.

Run.

"No." The one on the right corrected, irritated. "We are from Rome."

"So you are Romans?"

"No, we are from Rome." The right one repeated.

"So you all are from Rome but not Romans?" I started to back up, planning to run west.

"Exactly." They said in sync.

In a blinding light, three golden arrows sunk into the Laistrygonians' chests evaporating the monsters on the spot.

The overwhelming amount of power caused me to fall to the ground, breath hitched, and shaking.

A gentle hand grazed upon my shoulder-as if hesitating to be even near me.

"I'm so sorry," The person said, his voice gentle. "I should have been here sooner."

I looked up to saw Apollo, the sun god, with tears in his eyes.

"It's alright," I said, letting out a breath I hadn't known I was holding. "I'm fine-thank you."

"No, I failed you-I couldn't bear it if something happened to you." Apollo's gaze was sincere and honest.

"You would actually care if something happened to me?" The words came out in a tumble, sounding like a question instead of a sincere statement.

Apollo's expression was blank then he blushed, "Of course I care about you, why wouldn't I?"

"That's not what I asked."

Apollo blinked twice before helping me up. His hands were soft against mine-fitting perfectly into my hand.

I immediately drew my hand away from his, earning a small disappointed look from him. I wanted to apologize-I just wasn't used to such close contact. It was a reflex. A stupid one at that. I enjoyed our brief touch, it was warming like the god himself.

"I can't believe I didn't see them earlier..." Apollo muttered.

I was beginning to become infuriated with myself for letting him take the blame for my own stupidity. He was brave and I wouldn't had been standing there, talking to him had it not been for his courage.

"Hey," I pulled him into a hug, laughing. "Stop tormenting yourself-it's not fair."

"Next time, I will protect you," He vowed after I pulled away. "I will always."

I looked deep into those almost sky blue eyes and trusted what he had just said.

"Promise?" I sounded like a small child, trusting an adult.

He smiled, his bleach-blond hair whipping wildly in the wind. "Promise."

Apollo said it with such certainty, I didn't doubt a word he said.

"I should go," I drew away, heading further into the forest. "I have to meet Artemis soon."

The sun gods face fell, but he smiled and said goodbye. As I walked away, I began to miss his warm touch and radiant face. He truly was one-of-kind and I wanted to get know him better. Being an eternal maiden, I'm not sure what that said about me.

It wasn't too long before I bumped someone else-dear gods, I was making a habit out of this.

With a hard thump, I fell down onto the steep forest floor, startling whoever I bumped into.

"Oh, Artemis! I am so sorry!" The voice was obviously a male-most likely Orion. He helped me up but kept his eyes on the ground.

"Please don't turn me into a jackalope..." He pleaded.

I accepted his hand and pushed my hair out of the way, revealing that I wasn't Artemis.

"You're not Artemis..." He drawled, his cheeks turning red.

"No, I'm Persia. Sorry to disappoint." I laughed.

"Not disappointed at all..." The tall man let his jet black hair fall into his face, partially hiding his red cheeks. "I'm Orion."

"Nice to meet you, Orion. I'm Artemis's lieutenant."

"Oh yeah," For a moment, I thought I saw a look of dismay on his face. "She talks about you often-you even look like her. Sort of."

"Thanks, sort of." I chuckled, leaning against a tree.

He laughed softly, "You're welcome. Sort of."

"Do you know when Artemis is coming?" Orion stomped his foot impatiently, putting a hand on the same tree I was leaning on.

He reminded of a care-free boy with excited, celestial bronze eyes. He was like a little cub.

"You're a cub," I said stupidly.

"What?" Orion blinked before laughing along with me. When I finally stopped laughing, he ran a gentle hand through my hair.

"Your hair is so soft..." He murmured, caressing my cheek.

Suddenly, an arrow protruded from his chest. Orion looked at me, confused, then crumbled to the floor in a heap.

I dropped down to his side, bloodying my hands to check for his heart rate. I whipped my head around wildly for the attacker but found no one. My heart rate quickened as the blood continue to ooze out of the dying man. I had to do something.

"Orion!" I shook him desperately, attempting in vain to take the arrow out. "Someone please help me! Help!"

It was too deep in, and I knew only one person could have done this. Someone with terrifyingly precise accuracy.

And sure enough, the goddess herself stood in front of me.

"Artemis, I don't k-know what happened." I stammered, shaking. Hot tears poured down my cheeks and my chest started heaving uncontrollably. She had to help me. Help Orion. I looked down at my hands stained with crimson. "He was fine the-then..."

"Oh, spare me." Artemis snarled, those once kind eyes becoming cold. Her mouth was in a tight line. "I knew I shouldn't have let you come. I'm just sorry it had to end this away."

My brain was muddled. I gasped as she notched an arrow and raised her bow. The tip of the arrow was pointed at...

Me.

No. She wouldn't. She couldn't.

"It wasn't what it looked like! Please!" I threw my hands up, pleading for my life. "I trusted you! How could you!"

I stumbled back, trying to escape the vengeful Artemis. My body shook, every instinct told me to run. But I kept tripping over the stray branches, never taking my eyes off the emotionless goddess. I held my breath, waiting for her to say this was all joke. That Orion was actually dead. This was just some magic hallucination she had concocted to test me as her second.

"What happened to being a family?" I screamed, trying to shield myself. I prayed to the gods, hoping for divine interference. It was the only thing that could save me now.

Because I knew better than anyone else, Artemis never missed her mark.

With a sick and twisted smile, she drew back her weapon. I closed my eyes, the sound of my rapid heartbeat flooding my ears.

I held my breath.

She must've released the arrow because a sharp pain exploded in my chest. I was thrown back, writhing on the forest floor.

The arrow pierced my heart, twisting and tearing.

I couldn't breathe. My vision blurred. Every breath I took became shallow. Every vein in my body was exploding, and every bone was being twisted. My muscles cried out in pain. My blood began to boil. What was happening? Where was I? What had happened?

It couldn't be real.

I couldn't die. Not here, not all alone. My breathing became desperate, as if someone had shoved a rag deep inside my throat; later submerging me in acid. It was one injury, just one shot, yet all this pain had entered my body just as the arrow did.

"Persia!" Apollo appeared next to me and held me in his arms.

He started to use his healing powers but I only felt coldness.

"It's not working?" He looked at his hands as they had betrayed him. His brows knitted together and his face paled. He tried to put his hands over the wound again but nothing changed.

The fates were so, so cruel.

"No," I croaked. "It's no use." I sobbed, desperate. This wasn't the way things were supposed to end. I wanted to pave my own way in life. I wanted to make my own future. I wanted to stay with my adoptive sisters and take them to Olympus. Most of all, I wanted to get know Apollo's beautiful soul. I wasn't ready to go.

My eyes wheeled around wildly, halfway seeing Charon's desk.

"No!" Apollo cried. "Don't leave me!"

"It's not your fault." I gasped, taking a shuddered breath.

The pain-I couldn't bear it.

It was eating me from the in side, taking all I had with it. I couldn't feel Apollo's arms around me.

I was losing blood. Fast. I felt Apollo's hot tears dripping, pulling my limp body near him.

I cried out in pain, gasping at another object plunging into my skin.

A blurry image of Artemis pulling a sharp knife out of me. I almost doubled over, screaming.

I looked at her once, barely whispering, "Your betrayal hurts the most."

I drew in one last breath, gazing at a distraught Apollo before the darkness overcame me.

Apollo Pov-

She was dead.

I pulled back in disbelief at the realization, at the limp corpse that once was the girl who held my heart and soul.

I rested my palm on her chest, and the silence of it, so loud to me, soon became the cause of the cry that gripped itself up in my throat. The heart that kept her alive, that kept me alive, had died along with her.

I stared at the body in front of me.

Her eyes didn't glow anymore, they were stone cold and focused on me.

Persia's body glowed and vanished in a silver light. Gone. Like she never existed. Like she didn't matter.

"Artemis," My voice cracked, not daring to look up. "Why?"

"She deserved it." My sister's voice cold and bitter. If I could even call her sister any more. She was a monster, nothing more and nothing less.

I stood up instantly, not bothering to wipe the tears that fell. She had killed Persia in cold blood with no regret. A titan wouldn't even dare stoop so low.

"I, Apollo, bestow upon you-a curse of the wicked. The next man who captures your heart shall never live to see another day. He shall suffer as I have-cursed just because a maiden goddess was jealous. Everyday you will watch him endure his torments-and only if he brings back the woman I love-he will never escape his pains."

I ran away, not wanting to think about Persia.

I didn't want to think about how I could have stopped this from happening, how my heart stopped when hers did, and most of all, I didn't want to think of anything to do with her.

But I did.

My world was her, and now she was gone. I had nothing left to live for. Nothing mattered-there was no purpose in life anymore.

I had nothing-not my sister and not even Persia's body.

No purpose.

A/N-Just a heads up, I didn't know Orion was in BoO (I haven't even read House Of Hades) I just looked up his hair and eye color and it was like he was in BoO. So I'm assuming he sided with Gaea since that's his mother, anyway he's not showing up again and if he turns out to be super mean and evil, sorry, I wrote this before I read BoO. I should get on that though.

I got a few questions:

Who are Persia's parents? (I basically gave it to you from the start)

Did Persia really die?

Did Orion really deserve to die? (actually I'll answer that-NO!)

Will this story be Percabeth or Pertemis?

Will you review your answers?

Will I ever stop asking these questions?