Here's chapter three, hope you enjoy reading it as much as I writing it.
Once again, thank you for reading and a special thanks to all of you who took the time to review.
I do not own anything. J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan do.
Aurelia's POV
It was a truly awe-inspiring sight. The Hunters fought like water and steel in harmony. With an unbreakable discipline and teamwork they fought the veritable army of monsters, but still were as swift as dancers as they dodged and floated through the mob of enemies, spotting weaknesses while swiftly and ruthlessly taking advantage of them.
It was obvious in this moment that most of the Hunters had centuries worth of experience in fighting and working together as a team.
Pan had warned her about them. The Hunters of Artemis, an elite group of demigods and clear sighted mortals blessed by their leader, the Goddess of the Hunt herself, with unnatural grace and speed as well as an form of immortality. They trained and lived as a closely knitted unit, having sworn off love and males, spending their time hunting monsters and threats to Olympus under Artemis guidance.
The battle, if one could really call it such for it was more of a slaughter than a battle, was rather short and ended with the loss of one of the campers, a young blond girl despite the hunters intervention. She was captured by the Manticore in a moment of inattentiveness as the Demigods fought for their lives and the Hunters did all they could to defeat their enemy as soon as possible.
She would have certainly enjoyed the show in spite of the ending, if it hadn't remind her of what was awaiting her, if the Hunt found her. Death by arrow wasn't high on her to-do list. So she decided, that the best thing to do for now, was to stay hidden and watch the events unfold.
And that did work out just fine for her... at least in the beginning.
...
It was a fair distance between the joint group of campers and hunters, and her hiding spot in the bushes, at the edge of the forest. But still with her advanced hearing the distance could just as well have been a few short meters.
With nothing better to do while hiding, she listened in on the campers, the hunters and the goddess from her hideout, in hopes to learn what was going on here outside the Labyrinth and what this all was about.
Apparently the campers were sent to rescue two powerful half-bloods, a brother and sister, from an unknown monster. The Manticore it would seem, which didn't quite worked out as planned, as recent events proved. From the two new half-bloods one, the girl of course, was given an offer by Artemis to join the hunt in exchange for a vow of eternal maidenhood which she accepted. Her brother wasn't too thrilled by it, to say the least. Also the girl, who was captured at the end of the battle, must have been very close to the one male camper if his reaction was anything to go by, disrespecting a goddess, Artemis at that.
Listening to all of this she only noticed the satyr's shift in behaviour when it was too late. He grew more nervous by the minute and started to looked around frantically.
"Perce I think there is one more here" – The satyr's voice broke through her musings.
Honestly, she should have known better than to underestimate a satyr after living together with Pan for three years, it was embarrassing.
"What do you mean by one more, Grover? One more what?" – The black haired male camper asked back confused.
He hadn't struck her as the sharpest tool in the box, but even he must have realised what his friend meant by that.
Maybe the sudden loss of his girlfriend clouds his mind – she thought to herself forgetting her particular situation for just a moment – but still, smart or clever are sure not the sort of adjective I'd choose for him.
"A monster, Percy" – The satyr, Grover, said as if he was used to his friend's slowness, of thought that is, she saw earlier he wasn't half bad with that sword of his.
By now they had gained the attention of Artemis, who was just standing a few feet away. - "What do you mean satyr? What kind of monster is it?"
"I-I don't know it's scent is d-different than the ones I smelled before." - He was nervous and it showed in his voice.
"Then descibe it" – Artemis ordered as she signaled her hunters to be ready.
It took a while for Groover to find a suitable description, and with every passing minute Aurelia grew more nervous.
"It reeks of fur and forest, but with a metallic note to it... and there are other smells I don't quite recognize, there's this smell similar to the unique note every magical object has and also the smell of human mixed to it."
The lieutenant, a beautiful raven-haired girl with obsidian eyes, stepped forward and asked – "What do thou think it is, my lady?"
"Fur and forest, a metallic note. No, it can't be... you must be mistaken...the last time this monster walked the earth was in the Age of Heroes, I had thought it faded." - The sudden worry in the Moon Goddess's face and voice caused many of the assembled to become worried themselves, looking around and into the shadows which seemed darker and larger than just a minute ago.
"Of which monster do thou speak,my lady? The one the Manticore mentioned?" - Zoë asked curiously, originating herself from the Age of Heroes.
"No," - Came Artemis's short answer before she continued - "this one is not as old as the one Kronos searches for, still, a demigod is no match for it, even minor gods should not underestimate it."
"So what is it?" - Percy asked earning himself glares from the hunt and a belittling look from Artemis.
"The Nemean lion" – She simply said, before ordering everyone to come together as the sun began to rise and with it what looked like a burning red car.
Apollo, the Sun God had just arrived.
Grover POV
Grover was lost in thought, he couldn't shake the feeling felt that his sense of smell was being deceived by something. He had smelled the monster as clear as any other, but instinctively he knew that there was a part of it hidden. He couldn't help but feel that the scent was slightly off, like someone didn't want all to be known so they had veiled not the monsters full scent but had still hidden a small part of it.
Hearing a loud thump be quickly looked up, he was so distracted he had nearly missed the Sun God landing in front of them.
Aurelia's POV
She couldn't believe her cursed luck. Maybe it was genetic to always have the worst of luck, she mused to herself.
It may looked like they were leaving in this, newly changed, bus, but for how long could she escape the notice of two gods?
As she heard Artemis saying the hunters were to stay at Camp Half-Blood while she was hunting the monster Kronos searched for, Aurelia thought that she had just about succeeded in waiting the whole situation out, a little more time and she could leave the hiding place.
That was until she heard Artemis say that she just had to do one thing before they were to take off.
Not a second later her vison was filled with with light, blinding her for a moment. As soon as she could see again she knew she was in trouble, big trouble.
Here she stood in front of the hunt, three campers, a satyr and a small child as well as two major gods. There was just one thing left to say.
"...Shit!"
Her gaze wandered briefly over the group in front of her before setteling on the twin archers.
Apollo was the epitome of the sun, with blond golden hair and shining bright blue eyes he had an esay-going attitude around him. He certainly was attractive but that paled in comparison to his twin.
Artemis was by far the most beautiful person, male or female, she ever had seen in her short life. Artemis had the most stunning eyes. They were like pools of liquid silver, shining with the moon's light. The face to which these eyes belonged to was equally capturing, fair skin, aristocratically shaped features, and long aurburn hair, tied back. She rediated an aura of power, grace and authority.
Aurelia felt herself getting lost in Artemis appearance and aura.
She felt overpowered in the goddess's presence, feeling waves of power washing over her. This was the first time she truly understood the gulf of power between a minor god, like Pan, and an Olympian god, like Artemis.
"I knew it wasn't the Nemean lion. He never would himself be caught by a satyr." - At that Aurelia' cheeks became slightly rosy – "But still I can see him in you. You must be his daughter if your aura is anything to go by. But there's something else about you. Your other half also isn't human. At least not all human."
The revelation of her parentage caused serval gasps from the surrounding bystanders.
"Nemean lion? Could someone please tell me what's going on? Lil' sis?" - Apollo was heard not knowing the previous events that lead to this situation.
"The satry, Grover I believe, informed us earlier of the powerful scent of a monster in the surrounding woods. After describing the scent to us I believed it could possibly be the lion's smell, but before any of us could futher act on it, I felt your presence drawing closer so I called everyone together before searching and finding her with my godly senses." - Artemis explained calmly.
...
Artemis POV
"The Nemean lion" – She answered the sea god's son.
It was then that she felt her brother's arrival.
"In winter he always get's lazy." - She muttered to herself thinking about the creature in the woods.
She wouldn't have thought the Nemean lion as someone to let himself be caught by a satyr. No, he was far too skilled and experienced for such a mistake to happen, but still, something was out there, she knew, the satyr would not lie about that.
Her brother, of course, had to change his chariot into a sports car. A burning red one, literally burning.
After greeting her brother and warning him about how to treat my Hunters as well as explaining to the girls that they would have to stay in camp for the duration of my solo hunt, I took a deep breath and spread out my aura into the dark forest, feeling every living thing in there from small animals like squirrels, over plants and trees, to hiding Half-Bloods.
She, for it was a girl, was hidden pretty well and it quickly became clear that she wasn't inexperienced, she most likely would have succeeded in staying hidden even with two gods and a satyr present if one of the gods wasn't the goddess of the hunt.
It took more than to hide from sight alone in order to fool Artemis. One also must repress their aura and if possible scent. And those were not easy things to do.
"One more thing before you can go" – She said to the assembled group, grapping the girl with her power, flashing her infront of them.
As the girl looked at them all, after regaining her sight, she said a simple, bone dry 'shit', causing Artemis to suddenly have to stifle the urge to giggle. - Really giggling, I mean who giggles?
It was when the girls eyes locked with hers that she knew things were about to change. She just felt it looking the girl over.
She was tall for her age, which Artemis estimated to be around thirteen, and wore a green tunic showing of her well trained body. She had long, blond hair and skin with a slight tan. She would be a beautiful woman in the future, but what really caught her attention were the orange, glowing orbs she had for eyes. They were mesmerising.
After explaining to Apollo the situation, she knew what she had to do. She pitied the girl, it was not an easy existence she led and if the girl chose right it could become much better for her. What went unsaid here was that Artemis herself felt the need to have the girl around her.
...
Aurelia's POV
"There are two ways how we can go from here on. And it's entirely your choice." - Artemis addressed her.
All looked at either her or Artemis at her words. She did have an idea how this was going to play out.
"But first, would you be wiling to answer a few questions?"
"Of course" – Aurelia replied, knowing that she didn't have a real choice in this matter.
She was led away from the group by Artemis, only Apollo acompanying them. Several meters away, out of earshot from the group, Artemis began questioning her.
"You may ask yourself why Apollo is present here, that is because he, as the god of truth, is able to tell me if you are lying. For that to work you must answer in whole sentences or with a yes or no. Do you understand?"
To that she simply nodded. - "Good then let's begin."
"What's your name?"
"My name is Aurelia Potter."
"How old are you?"
"Thirteen year old."
"Are you aware of the Greek Gods?"
"Yes, I am aware of the Olympians moving with western civilisation."
"How?"
"I met the god Pan inside the Labyrinth, he taught me about the gods and showed me how to defend myself, for the last three years."
That shocked the gods visibly. Artemis looked at her with wide eyes before she glancing over at an equally stunned looking Apollo, who still shakily managed to give her a confirming nod.
Apollo had to clarify - "You met Pan? The Pan, the lost god? Searched for by satyrs the last two millennia? That Pan?"
Aurelia knew of Pan's self exile, she also knew that he didn't want to be found by anyone until he felt them worthy and that the time was right. He had allowed her to tell others about him, but only if needed, not that it mattered much, no one, god or not, would be able to find him in his sanctuary, not while he continued to hide himself... Still she would rather not betray his trust in her, however there was little she could do now.
"Yes, Pan, God of the Wild and Lord of Satyrs." - Aurelia replied to Apollos question.
Artemis shook her head then seemed to put the revelation of Pan still being around to the back of her mind as she continued in questioning her.
"Why did you come here and from where did you come?"
"I was born in Britain were I entered Daedalus's maze at the age of ten, I came here just because it was the nearest exit from where Pan and I had stayed at the time."
"Do you know what you are?"
"Yes I am half monster half mortal."
"Did you knew that the lion was your father?"
"We, that is Pan and I, didn't know for sure but we had our suspicions."
"What is your story?"
At that she held still in for a moment, she had not expected such a loaded question. Nevertheless she answered after taking a little time to gather her thoughts, telling the story of her life up to the point were she left the Labyrinth.
After Aurelia was finished, Artemis looked at Apollo for confimation, and after receiving a nod from him, she turned to Aurelia and said – "Don't worry if you hadn't killed them I would have done it after hearing your story." - Apollo who was nodding in agreement to his twin's statement added a small 'me too'.
Hearing that relieved her immensely, having feared that they would punish her for killing two humans.
"I apologise in advance for this question but it is important for us to know in order to narrow down your possibilities. Are you a virgin?"
"I am." - she didn't feel offended by the question, having learned from Pan that the wild does not care about such trivial things like being virgin or not.
"My last question is if you would like to join my Hunters. I only see two possible ways for you from here on. One is to join the camp and be faced with the ignorance of the campers for being a half-blooded monster and most likely being executed by Zeus for much the same reason. Possibility two is to take my offer and join the Hunt."
"You do know about the Hunt I assume with you being taught by Pan about the Gods?" - Artemis added in an afterthought.
Aurelia didn't like being forced to choose but she would be lying if she said that she wasn't tempted, it was a good offer. Especially considering that she originally thought she would be killed on sight and not be offered a place in an elite group like the Hunters. Furthermore the Hunt united nearly every thing she ever wanted from life, the hunting, living in coexistence to nature and having a place to belong to in form of a kinda family. Also a big motivator to join the hunters was the prospect of being smote by Zeus otherwise.
"Yes I know what the hunt is and I would gladly accept your kind offer, my lady." - She said showing all her respect to the goddess.
At that Apollo lost his serious demeanor and started fake crying shouting about how another beauty was lost to the world.
To the question if Zeus would still try to kill her Artemis answered. - "By being part of my hunt you fall under my domain, Zeus cannot interfere in another gods domains without an unanimous council vote, also the oath of the hunters binds them to me so there is no reason to suspect anything."
"Now speak after me: I pledge myself to the Goddess Artemis. ..."
"I pledge myself to the Goddess Artemis. ..." - She repeated after Artemis.
The oath continued. - "... I turn my back on the company of men, ..."
"... I turn my back on the company of men, ..."
"... accept eternal maidenhood, ..."
"... accept eternal maidenhood, ..."
"... and join the Hunt. "
"... and join the Hunt. " - As soon as she ended a silvery glow enveloped her. Almost instantly she felt the changes in her body.
"With the oath comes my blessing. You will find that your abilities in archery have increased as well as your speed, strength and grace. From now on you will be immortal until the day you fall in battle." - Artemis told her, seeing the question on her face.
After letting the information sink in Artemis spoke again. - "Come, you will get your gear when you reach camp, Zoë will take care of that, she is my lieutenant, you will listen to her, because she is resposible for every new recruit."
"You Ladies coming?" - Apollo asked. He was on a bit of a schedule here, sunrise and such.
"Of course." - Came the answer. - "The plan is still the same. I will start my solo hunt as soon as you are gone. And remember, no flirting."
From there on everything proceeded pretty quickly. She was introduced to the hunt as a new member, caused only a few surprised looks, most having expected it already. She also learned a lot of new names, the satyr who had detected her before was named Grover Underwood, he kept an distance between them at all times, only looking over in quick short glances when he thought she wasn't paying attention. She had a feeling that he had tried to break Pan's barrier on her scent, he had put up the barrier to hide any of his aura and scent on her in an attempt to keep others from discovering that they knew each other, he didn't want the knowledge of his continued presence or their link to each other to be discovered unless she had to give it out. The other new hunter was named Bianca di Angelo while her brother's was Nico, who wouldn't stop giving her and the other hunters dark looks. The other male camper was Percy Jackson, a son of Poseidon and from what little she saw and heard, she had little doubt that the they would be having problems in the near future. The only female camper, now that Bianca had joined the hunt and with the other blonde girl missing, was Thalia Grace, a daughter of Zeus, who kept eyeing her suspiciously as soon as she heard her heritage.
She definitely wouldn't be making any friends at camp, that was for sure. The hunters on the other hand, were very welcoming after Artemis's introduction. They were kind and every one she spoke to quickly reinforced that that the camp was a horrible place. They warned her that certain cabins were almost certain to try something on her, the children of Ares and Hermes being the ones mentioned most often, she would definitely have to be on her guard around them.
They also had made sure to tell her about the camp's cabin system and that Artemis cabin was reserved for them.
Sitting next to Zoë and another hunter she looked out of the window at the moon goddess and couldn't shake the feeling off that something was about to go terribly wrong. She couldn't shake the feeling that she should stay with Artemis although she wasn't sure why or if it was just her previous reaction to her possibly influencing her.
The roaring of the bus's engine brought her out of her thoughts and she both watched and felt as it took off in a rather unprofessional way, throwing all the passengers, including her, inside around. Holding on for dear life she quickly went to look to the driver's seat and almost immediately wished she hadn't. The reason why the chariot in bus form was being driven like it had an drunk driver was because it had a completely unexperienced driver at the wheel! After overcoming her shock she couldn't help but laugh. Hearing laughter in the back Apollo turned and winked at her smiling before turning back and attempting further instruct Thalia at the wheel.
...
Please review. Tell me what you think.