[A/N] Hope you're having fun thus far and if you're still sane, more points to you. Game on!
Shadows of the Hunt
Chapter 4: Just One Question…
"Off to Olympus Chiron! I'll see you later!" I shouted as we ran past the Big House at the centaur who was sitting reading on the porch. He leapt out of his wheelchair and staggered forward to object.
"W-Wait! Armani! You can't just go running off out of camp without permission!" he called after us.
He's like Mila!
"Sure I can. I'll see you when I see you!" I called as we crossed the crest of the hill and passed the pine.
Thalia skidded to a halt once we were out of range. "Did you really have to shout out to him? Centaurs are fast. If he'd caught us we'd have to stop and wait for authorization and Lady Artemis is waiting…"
I frowned. "But that'd be rude! I can't just leave without saying anything to him…"
The huntress groaned and walked on. "Let's just go… Now, about stripping in front of girls…"
-A-
We were still talking about it when we entered the double doors of the Empire State Building's lobby.
"What about in a changing room with boys and girls?"
"If it's unisex then that's okay," Thalia responded drearily (she brought it up…)
"Is it okay when you change in front of each other?"
"We're all girls, so that's also okay."
"But not okay when I do it?"
"No… That's not okay!" Thalia responded tensely.
This was tough… I had obviously missed a very important step in my social development somewhere.
As we climbed into the elevator and it began its ascent to the six hundredth floor I decided it was a time for a change of subject. "On another topic…"
"Please," moaned Aren. "Anything else."
"Right, a thought just occurred to me," I said, turning to Thalia.
"What?"
"Zeus is your father, right?"
"Yeah…"
"And Zeus is my mother's dad, right?"
"What about it?"
"I was just thinking…does that make you my aunt?"
I heard Steff suddenly burst into a fit of laughter. Thalia rounded on her. "Something funny?"
She wiped away a tear. "N-no it's just… Auntie Thalia…"
And now Aren was laughing. Thalia was almost glowing, sparks dancing over her skin, and as the static she was emitting seemed to now be interfering with the elevator's electrics, both girls reigned in their laughter. I noticed the lieutenant taking deep calming breaths.
"But you didn't answer my question…"
Thalia arched her head round to me tensely, and I could swear I saw electricity crackling over her irises; she opened her mouth to speak but was cut off as the elevator bell rang and the doors swung open.
And here we are…
-A-
I had never been to Olympus before. Its seemingly endless columns and sparkling white marble temples were indeed impressive.
I noted quite a bit of it was seemingly under construction. Obviously the aftermath of the Titan uprising hadn't entirely healed yet.
It took a while to reach the pantheon at the top of the mountain. Various minor gods observed as we passed, muttering and whispering. It would seem that word had indeed spread.
Aren and Steff waited by the stairway as we entered the giant stone structure. Trepidation was building inside me with each step we took down the marble stone corridor.
It was deserted so far, and I couldn't see the end of the corridor nor the room that lay beyond.
I paused, rooted to the ground.
"Frightened?" Thalia asked.
I nodded mutely and swallowed a gulp. "Yeah… I really am, as it just so happens."
I felt her squeeze my hand reassuringly and take her place at my side. "Come on, I'll be with you at least."
"Great, I can use you as a shield when Zeus blasts me into a million pieces."
She chuckled as we walked slowly on through the columns, "Very funny, Armani."
I swallowed again. "No, what's funny is that you think that I'm joking." She turned her head around and I found myself smiling. "Now, that was me joking."
As usual, my method of taking my mind off things by making light an otherwise terrifying situation worked like a charm…mostly. We emerged side by side in the throne room of the gods.
-A-
I thanked the gods (no pun intended) that at least they weren't all here. I hadn't even looked up, but I could still see several chairs missing a pair of legs dangling from them. There was a lot of murmuring in ancient Greek, and I finally dared to glance up.
I took a steadying gasp of air at the sight before me.
Mother was there, apparently in the middle of arguing with Apollo, who was sitting in his throne directly across from her.
I took some strength from being in her presence once again. I was also, however, taken rather aback by the fact that she was ten times my size.
There was a burly-looking man in a leather biker's jacket, looking decidedly bored as he lounged in his throne polishing a pair of sunglasses.
Ares, I presume.
I then observed a woman with black hair (and even I had to admit she was stunningly beautiful) who was making subtle kissy faces at Ares whist simultaneously holding the hand of a large man with a leg brace and a dark beard.
And there we have Hephaestus.
The woman had to be Aphrodite, and I was glad she hadn't noticed me yet, as Thalia and I stood hanging back at the throne room entrance.
At the centre of the thrones sat a man in a pinstriped blue business suit. He and the demure-looking brown-haired lady in the throne next to him were the only ones who seemed to even notice we were there. The woman was looking at me inquisitively while the man was staring a hole into me with his electric blue eyes.
Zeus…
I saw Athena sitting with her fingers intertwined on her lap, the same way I had seen her before. She was observing my mother and uncle talk, although I suspected she had seen me already.
There was also a man wearing a fishing hat, who appeared to be focused on tying fishing flies on the arm of his own throne. He appeared as equally disinterested in what was going on as Ares was.
Poseidon's here too?
Thalia nudged me forwards with her elbow.
Now or never, then.
The instant I crossed the threshold silence blanketed the hall and I began the long walk towards the centre of the room. Thalia was following a respectful distance behind and I could feel the eyes of some seriously powerful celestial entities burning into me.
I glanced out the corner of my eye at Apollo, who shot me a reassuring wink. Then I glanced to the left. I found my mother following me with her eyes; they seemed gentler than I remembered, and I could swear there was the ghost of a smile on her face.
I stopped a respectful distance from the central throne. Silence prevailed in the cavernous room and I could sense them waiting for me to announce myself. Although it was not the throne my heart told me to bow to, as Thalia had said, 'you must present yourself first to the lord of the house'.
Zeus stared down at me from his throne silently and so I dropped to a respectful knee. Thalia followed suit. "Great Lord Zeus…" I saw him nod his head in acknowledgement and so I rose up, turned and bowed respectfully to the throne of Artemis. "Honored mother…" she inclined her head with a smile that made me feel slightly less ill at ease. I turned my head around, meeting the gaze of each god and goddess in turn, "Great Lords and Ladies of your respective dominions… And Apollo."
"Hey!"
I faced Zeus now with head held high, "To what do I owe the honor of the summons?"
Zeus was nodding thoughtfully; obviously I had made the correct first impression. He then spoke, in a deep echoing voice, "You have been summoned here so we may discuss an issue of great consternation that has arisen among us."
I nodded, "And am I to believe, Lord Zeus, that this issue is…me?"
He glared down at me and nodded, "It is."
I took a deep breath to collect myself. This god simply radiated an aura of power, like lightning ready to leap to the nearest conductive object. "Understood."
The lightning god glanced up at the surrounding deities. "What are your thoughts on this matter?"
"I don't see a problem," Apollo said offhandedly.
"Nor do I," my mother said in a dismissive tone.
"You would say that!" Aphrodite snapped, "Lord Zeus! He intruded upon your domain, and Artemis herself has violated one of our main edicts!"
"And what edict might this be?" my mother enquired in a terse tone.
"That no god may show favoritism among mortals; especially their own children! And what did you do? It has come to light, my family, that Artemis made her child immortal! If that's not showing favoritism, kindly tell me what is!"
Zeus was running his fingers through his beard, "That is true… Artemis?"
"Father… I have already accepted responsibility for violating your domain and I thought you forgave me that… didn't you?" There was a strange note in her voice as she said this, and there also seemed to be an odd glistening quality to her eyes.
Zeus grumbled something inaudible. "Yes… I do recall saying those words, but that does not dismiss the primary issue at hand."
"But father…he's the only one I have. You know I can never have another child!" Her tone was almost pleading, and I was stunned.
"Cut the act, daddy's girl! My Lord, the boy is an abomination! I vote we annihilate him on the spot and restore the order!" Aphrodite snapped.
I'm caught smack in the middle of a divine family squabble…
"Careful Aphrodite…" My mother said in a low and dangerous tone.
"Or what? What are you gonna do, little girl?" the love goddess taunted.
My mother just gave a pleasant and oddly terrifying little smile. "Why don't you ask my brother how his ribs are healing up?"
I noticed Apollo shift uncomfortably in his throne. Obviously when a god is attacked by another it takes time for them to completely recuperate.
"You wouldn't dare…" Aphrodite hissed.
"That's just it…this is a new situation…and I'm not entirely sure just what I might do." Aphrodite seemed to lean away in her throne.
"You little…"
"Enough!" Zeus bellowed. I heard thunder rumble outside. "I will not have this petty squabbling in my halls!"
"If I might interject…" Athena spoke up demurely, raising a finger. "We have accepted this boy as the only child of Artemis, am I correct?" The other gods inclined their heads. "If this child's life expectancy is indefinite, with the exception of him being killed in battle, then the order will simply remain static and unchanging in that area. If anything, his death would represent a return to the old order, a devolution if you will. Unless Artemis has plans to start breeding immortal children, then I believe there is not an issue; the deed is done, the world has changed and it is childish to cry over spilled milk, as the mortals would say. If anything I am curious as to what this child will become."
Wait…did Athena just…VOUCH for me?
Aphrodite just scoffed, "The order isn't the problem here! Nor is your ridiculous curiosity! Go build a shed or something! The problem is that Artemis broke the rules-rules that we all agreed upon thousands of years ago!"
"I get the feeling Aphrodite has it in for me," I muttered sideways to Thalia.
"Gee Armani, whatever gave you that idea?"
"We could argue about this for centuries..." Zeus groaned.
"Well, none of us are getting any older," I mumbled and Zeus raised a single grey eyebrow. "Sorry sir…slipped out…"
"It would seem there is no other choice but to put it to a vote," he decided after a moment.
"I'm sorry sir, I don't follow," I felt I had to interject.
"They're going to vote on you," Thalia hissed in my ear.
"You mean they're just going to vote whether or not to blast me out of existence?" I whispered back.
"…yes."
"Oh well that's just spiffing…"
My mother gripped the arms of her throne, "If that is the case then I-"
"-will abstain." Zeus interrupted.
Oh, sweet Hades…
"But…Father!" she gasped.
The lightning god raised his hand, "As will Aphrodite and myself. I must remain impartial and, as the accuser, Aphrodite forfeits the right to vote."
"Oh, come on!" the love goddess snapped.
"I don't see the problem," Athena interrupted. "It's plainly obvious which way you both would've voted anyway. You virtually cancel one another out."
She has a point there.
"Hera?" Zeus asked his wife.
Here we go…
She hummed thoughtfully, "Well… He is a pretty little thing, and I'm sure he would make such a wonderfully promising influence on our little black sheep Artemis. But I'm sorry dear, I simply cannot abide by the sheer chaos and infighting your presence would bring on the family. I think it's best you go."
I'm not sure if there was a single part of that I didn't find insulting.
I didn't need to turn around to know my mother was glowering as Hera looked up. "Oh come now dear, don't look at me like that, you know it's for the best. If you want to have a son, go out and find a nice man to help you with it."
"Here, here," Aphrodite called up.
I could sense my mother's indignation, and to be frank, I shared it. If it weren't for my survival instincts keeping my mouth frozen as a tight line I'd have probably said something that would've had me obliterated on the spot.
Zeus nodded, "Very well Hera, your vote is cast." He looked to the side. "Ares?"
He didn't even glance up from his sunglasses, "Kill 'im."
Charming…
Zeus sighed. "You, Apollo?"
I turned my head around to face my uncle, who was now looking decidedly smug.
Oh gods, here we go…
"Well, well, well…bet you wish you were a bit more polite now, eh?"
I groaned. "Uncle, please don't…"
He smiled. "All right, I'll vote for you…but you have to take it back."
"Take what back?"
He frowned. "You know what I'm talking about!"
I sighed. "Fine…You didn't cheat when you got a hundred percent at Through the Fire and Flames on expert mode. Despite the fact you had your eyes closed the whole time…" Apollo nodded smugly. "…And despite the fact that you didn't even touch the controller…or that you didn't…oh, I can't say it! Controlling the game with your mind does not count! It totally defeats the purpose of challenging hand-eye coordination!"
"It does not!"
"Yes it does!"
"It does not!" he shot back. I could see the gods glancing between like they were watching a tennis match.
"Fine, then give me one good reason that I should vote for you," he said, folding his arms petulantly.
All right, if he wants a reason…
"Because while at Camp Half-Blood I did you a bigger favor than you can possibly imagine!"
His brow knotted together.
"What favor?"
"This one." I dropped my mental defenses for the first time since I stepped off the elevator, just enough for him to scrape one memory off the surface of my mind; the memory of my conversation with his daughter. I watched as his smugness gave way to a blank unreadable expression.
He seemed to swallow a lump in his throat. "I vote in favor of my nephew."
I saw my mother frown slightly. "Brother? What seems to be the problem? You seem somewhat emotional…more so than usual."
He melodramatically wiped a tear from his eye. "No…it's just…he thinks I'm like sunshine on a rainy day!" And then he burst into hysteric, theatrical tears into the nape of his sleeve.
He is never going to let me live this one down…
Zeus rolled his eyes as Apollo continued his emotional act, "That's one in favor… Hephaestus... Be quiet, Apollo!"
"Sorry, Dad." He snapped out of it instantly and instead settled on humming 'Sunshine on a Rainy Day' to himself. Part of me prayed for Zeus to kill me now.
"Haephestus? Your opinion?"
The large man narrowed his eyes at me and grumbled, "its nothing personal kid, and I've got nothing against you, but I'm afraid I gotta side with the old ball and chain."
The look on Aphrodite's face was almost worth the fact that he voted for me to be destroyed.
That's 3 to 1 for me going bye-bye…
"Your vote is counted… Athena?"
The goddess of Wisdom narrowed her eyes at me, "Drop your defenses, Armani," she commanded simply. She could clearly sense me hesitate. "A vote in your favor from me is the only thing preventing your destruction. Do as I say."
I sighed and did the one thing I haven't let a god do since my mother, and let her in. My fist clenched at my side. Most could never sense a god looking into their thoughts and indeed weren't aware of how adept they were at it, but I was. I could feel her poking coldly about in my thoughts and recent memories in the same way someone may rummage through a drawer full of junk, "Kindly stop…" I pleaded; I could feel tears in my eyes as she dragged cascades of emotions to the surface. She froze and pulled back. Her gaze seemed oddly sympathetic.
"I'm sorry, most do not sense any discomfort. You were unintentionally resisting, so it required more force than usual."
Stupid reflexes.
She breathed in and stared off into the distance, "But…I sense you to be a kind entity, if somewhat wild, and I cannot be sure what impact you may have on the future. But I am personally hopeful for this one and am curious to see how he will progress. So, on the grounds that you never refer to me as, and I quote, 'The Scary Owl Lady' again, you have my vote in your favor."
I breathed a sigh; that vote had come at the price of most of my composure. I tried to steady my head.
"Your vote is cast" Zeus intoned.
2 in favor and 3 against, that would mean the best I could hope for is…
My thoughts were interrupted as Zeus spoke again.
"Very well… Brother?" Zeus turned to Poseidon who, having immediately turned back to his flies after acknowledging my presence, obviously didn't hear him. "Brother!" Zeus repeated.
Poseidon blinked, "W-What? Oh, I don't know! I was only here to oversee the refit of the aquarium; do I really have to get involved in this?"
The sky god scowled slightly. "You were here at Olympus when this council was called, you know the laws as well as I."
"Oh, very well…" he sighed. He carefully set the hooks down on the arm of his chair and straightened up. He narrowed his eyes as he glared down at me, "Now let's see. Hmm…he's a bit short…not the most impressive specimen. If you were a fish I'd probably toss you right back."
"Uncle…" I heard my mother breathe. She actually sounded fearful.
For me?
The sea god smiled weakly. "I'm jesting with you, niece." Suddenly he seemed to turn formal. "The moon and the tide have always gone hand in hand. And on a more personal note, Artemis voted in favor of my own son when the last vote was taken. I now repay that debt. My vote is cast, brother."
I released a breath I wasn't aware I had been holding.
Thank you, Poseidon…
I heard my mother give a similar sigh. "Thank you, uncle." He merely winked and went back to his tackle.
Zeus grumbled, "It would appear we have reached an impasse, three votes for and against."
Aphrodite laughed. "Then the answer is simple, Lord Zeus; have Artemis revoke his immortality. He lives but the rules remain intact."
"Father…" Artemis breathed and Zeus glanced at her, seeming torn. "I have not asked a favor of you in many millennia; I pray you grant me this one." I was shocked and touched at how far my mother was going for me. I'd have hugged her if she wasn't twenty feet tall.
I guess these are the puppy-dog eyes.
"Athena already gave a valid argument on this. And it is true you have not asked much of me these past centuries. But the vote was tied…"
"Father, if I may?" Apollo interrupted. Zeus inclined his head and Apollo rose and crossed the room. He leaned in towards the lord god's ear and began whispering something.
"Brother," Artemis said in a warning tone. Obviously she was suspicious of him…and to be honest, so was I.
Zeus was nodding in thought as my uncle spoke. All the other gods were watching; even Poseidon had stopped his tinkering and was observing with detached curiosity.
"Hmm… Very well, I suppose that will suffice." Zeus nodded and Apollo pulled away and sank back into his throne. He himself looked oddly serious.
Now I'm worried.
"It is decided" Zeus spoke. "You may leave this place unharmed, Armani Dove"
"My Lord!" Aphrodite objected angrily, but Zeus silenced her with a glare and she reluctantly composed herself.
Zeus went on, "And should you complete the task assigned to you and return alive we shall consider the matter closed."
"Brother! What have you done?" my mother demanded in a low tone.
Apollo frowned. "The only thing I could do."
I didn't like his response, and clearly, neither did my mother, as she now looked quite fearful. I turned back to Zeus. "If I might be permitted to ask Lord Zeus, what is this task?"
He stared down at me, "You will know of it when the time comes. Just make sure you stay alive until it is completed and I will then consider you worthy of retaining the gift my daughter has bestowed upon you."
I blinked and glanced around, "So… What? That's it?"
"That is it," Zeus confirmed.
I suddenly felt immensely relieved, but now Apollo had planted a nagging sensation in my gut. "So what now?"
"Now you return to Camp Half-Blood and enjoy your time there," Apollo said, then smirked slightly. "I'm sure my kids are taking great care of you."
My eyes narrowed. "Why yes, they are, as a matter of fact."
"Any questions?" Apollo asked sarcastically.
He really knows how to get to me…
"I think we should go now, Armani!" Thalia said, and grabbed my elbow to lead me away.
"Actually…" I began, and Thalia groaned. "…There is just one question…something that's been bugging me ever since I walked in here."
"And what's that?" Athena enquired.
"It's just… Why are you all so…big?" Athena opened her mouth to answer, and then closed it. Suddenly I noticed all the gods were glancing around at one another.
Can it be…they don't even know?
"Because we are GODS!" Ares boomed. Athena rolled her eyes; obviously this was not the succinct answer she would have chosen.
They continued shuffling in silence for a second when Apollo finally spoke up.
"It's because, Armani…" he began with a sigh, "…The people thousands of years ago were really simple and we managed to trick them all into thinking that this was our true form."
I raised an eyebrow. "And now?"
"Now we're stuck with a giant palace, a load of comically oversized furniture, and a bunch of people convinced we're overcompensating for something!"
"Apollo!" Zeus snapped.
"Hey, don't look at me; the giant chairs thing was your idea!"
"Maybe we should build a smaller palace…"Athena mused.
And soon all the gods were debating the benefits of DIY and minimalism.
I turned to Thalia. "Now we can go."
Thalia turned to follow me. "Was that really necessary?"
"I have a saying: if you're going to leave a room full of people, always leave them thinking."
The lieutenant groaned and followed me. As we crossed the threshold something occurred to me and I squeaked to a halt on the polished marble.
"Oh, gods, what now?"
I peeked my head back into the throne room. "Hey Apollo!" Silence immediately descended and all the gods turned to me. "Spend some time with your kids!" I immediately retracted my head before my uncle could decide to fire a giant golden arrow at me. I turned to Thalia, who was now looking decidedly pale. "Now let's get out of here before they change their minds."
"I'd call you insane, but to be honest I'm not sure that's a strong enough word."
-A-
"Well? How did it go?" Aren asked as we emerged.
"I'm still alive…For now, at least."
Thalia turned to me. "I suppose when it comes down to it, you didn't do half-bad. Let's just get you back to camp as quickly as possible."
Steff sighed. "We have to go back there?"
I immediately sensed the nearby presence, so I didn't need to turn around to know who was standing behind us.
"No… You will not be." It was my mother; she was standing by one of the columns of the Pantheon entrance and back in her normal size.
"Lady Artemis," the three Hunters said respectfully in union.
"Hi, mom."
She nodded her head in response and continued, "Thalia, take Steff and Aren and return to your sisters. I will escort Armani back to Camp Half-Blood myself."
"But Lady Artemis-" Thalia began. Artemis shook her head slightly and the daughter of Zeus immediately went silent. "The Hunt currently stands without any leadership; without you there I feel uncertain about your sisters, and this distresses me greatly. I must know the meaning behind my brother's words. I feel they could spell great danger. To find this out I must go to Camp Half-Blood myself."
Thalia nodded glumly. Aren and Steff looked upset also. "I will protect Lady Artemis," I began. I noticed my mother quirk up an eyebrow. "T-that is, I will protect her honor; not that she herself needs protecting."
"Nice save," Thalia muttered.
"Thanks…Anyway, once she's got me there and found out what we need to know I'm sure she'll be right along." I was trying to sound reassuring but I guess they just didn't like being separated from their goddess for long.
"Go now, Thalia. I assure you I will be back with you as soon as I can," Artemis said. Her voice was kind, but it was unmistakably an order, and so her Hunters grudgingly obeyed.
"Of course, my lady…let's go." The three turned and headed back towards the base of Olympus.
And there I was alone with her. A somewhat uncomfortable silence had descended, so I spoke first, "Won't they notice you've gone?"
She glanced back through the large doorway, "Not for some time; the last time they got into this argument, it took them three weeks to notice I was gone." I noticed she was hesitating. "What is…the norm…for a situation such as this?"
I searched my head for everything I knew about normal mother-child social interactions. "A hug would be the traditional exchange of affections, but since we-"
And then she did the most shocking and terrifying thing I could've possibly imagined.
She hugged me.
I yelped in surprise and tensed in her arms. It took some serious focusing to overcome my shock and hug her back.
I suddenly realized how warm and comforting it felt in her small arms. I was reminded of the feeling I had as I laid in my bed in cabin eight; I felt like I could just stand there for hours with her small form in my arms. For someone who can be as cold as the moon itself, her warmth as the lady of childbirth was…nice. However, I realized that standing for hours would be somewhat impractical, so we released one another after a moment; we wore identical, pondering expressions.
"Hmm," we said in unison.
"Odd, but pleasant," I concluded, and my mother nodded. "But let's never do that in public again, okay?"
"Agreed. Now, what comes next?"
"I suppose we … walk and talk." I noticed her become all business as she walked beside me on the long path down to the elevator, the occasional lower god stopping to bow in reverence.
"You handled yourself well, Armani…I am proud."
"Thank you, mother."
"For a time I was… worried."
I smiled weakly. "I take it you would like me not to point out the irony of that statement, given our history?"
"I would appreciate it if you did not."
There was a question I had to ask. "Why did you really want to accompany me back to camp? Surely Thalia could've reported back well enough."
The goddess took a moment to answer. "I was worried Aphrodite might attempt to intercept you beforehand; for it is not over between you two, not by a long shot. And also…"
"What?"
"I wished to spend some time with you…strange, is it not?"
I smiled. I was quite touched at how uncertain she was. "I have missed you also, mother," I felt I had to admit.
I suddenly realized she had stopped. She was staring at the ground with an arm curled tightly around her stomach. "I was scared," she said, barely above a whisper. "For a moment I thought I was going to see you destroyed right before my eyes."
"Mother…" I suddenly realized why she went as far as to hug me; she was that relieved. "I'm not disposed of so easily," I said lightly. "You should know that better than anyone."
She smiled weakly. "Yes, I suppose I should," she said as we continued walking. It took me a second to notice she had taken my hand in hers. She was squeezing it hard enough to turn white, but I wasn't about to complain.
-A-
We went back to camp on foot. The trip through the forest went by in a blur, and I couldn't believe how fast she could move—or, for that matter, how fast I could move when we were together. Yes, being with her truly was a strange feeling…but it was a nice one.
A stray hellhound had crossed our path at one point. My mother chose to take out her stress by kicking it into the air, punching it to the ground and snapping its neck with her bare hands. There was a dark look in her eyes as the creature perished-a wild, untamed look. Something told me she wasn't this way around her Hunters, and I realized with a start that this was a side of herself she had probably shown to none other than me. I dwelled on this as we reached the hill with Thalia's pine at its peak.
"And here I am again," I sighed.
"Oh? You enjoy this place as little as my Hunters, do you?"
"Actually, I believe it has been quite therapeutic for me here. It pains me to say it, but I think I owe a lot to this strange place."
"I am glad."
"Mother," I said, stopping suddenly.
"Is something the matter?"
"It's nothing…but don't you think you should let go of my hand now? It…might look a little odd."
Her eyes widened and she snatched the small appendage back and clasped it behind her back, looking quite perturbed. "Yes. Now, let us proceed."
"Let's."
-A-
The Big House was totally deserted, so we ventured out into the main part of the camp, keeping our eyes peeled for Chiron. I eventually found Annabeth scribbling some notes on a blueprint at a table outside the Athena cabin. "Annabeth!" I called.
The blonde glanced up and leapt to her feet as soon as she saw me. "Armani! You're back! What happened at Mount-" she stopped as her eyes flicked to my side and widened in startled recognition. "Lady Artemis!" she said, bowing respectfully. "It's an honor to see you again."
The goddess inclined her head in response. "It is good to see you well, Annabeth. You've met one another, have you?"
I nodded. "Both as friend and as foe. Annabeth, have you seen Chiron?"
"I think he's out at the archery field trying to teach Rachel how to use a bow again."
I winced. "After what happened the last time? Jeez, I'm still shocked we had a proctologist handy."
"I know…that poor Hermes boy."
"A proctologist?" my mother suddenly enquired.
I thought about explaining, but then thought better of it. "Don't ask."
She considered this. "No, I think it best I don't."
"So, back already? Aw, looks like mommy's cut down your bodyguards to a third. Oh, how will you survive?"
Oh gods, not now…
Yes, it was Mila, still armed from sword training and flanked by about six of her cabin mates. I noticed Annabeth waving her arms behind my mother's head, making desperate cut-throat signs.
"So…" she began tauntingly, swaggering forwards and leaning right into my mother's face. "What's your name, little Huntress?" she asked, patting her patronizingly on the head.
Annabeth threw her arms up in despair and stood back for safety.
I also began backing out of what Apollo would refer to as the splatter zone.
My mother just stared at her wordlessly, an expression of barely contained fury on her face. "Artemis," she said after a tense moment.
"What was that?" Mila asked with mock curiosity.
"You asked for my name…" she replied in a terrifyingly impassive voice, still as a statue.
"So you're name's Artemis huh? Just like y-" she literally halted mid-syllable and my mother stared back at her. Terror and realization are a funny thing when mixed together. Her steadfast followers were already backing slowly away. Mila herself, very slowly, withdrew her hand from my mother's head. She patted down the few out of place hairs and smiled in a very stupid way.
"Ten…" My mother began in an emotionless voice.
"W-wha?" the Aphrodite girl stuttered as she pulled back slowly.
"Nine…"
"I, I'll just…"
"Eight…"
"Uh…"
"Five…"
"B-but you missed out-"
She's not getting the point is she?
My mother's silver bow appeared, three arrows nocked.
"Four…"
"Run!" I shouted in frustration and the Aphrodite girl practically screamed as she and her campers bolted for their cabin and slammed the door shut behind them.
The sound of bolts being slammed home was audible even from two doors down, and then curtains were pulled closed so quickly I could swear I heard tearing fabric..
"They won't be coming out for a while," Annabeth noted after a moment's silence.
I had to ask. "Just out of sheer morbid curiosity… What would you have done if you had reached zero?"
Her bow vanished and a small smile pulled at her lips. "What indeed?"
I gulped nervously and followed after her.
"So what happened?" Annabeth asked as she fell into place beside me.
"I'll let my mother explain when we find Chiron."
"She's quite something," she said quietly.
"So is yours. I suppose I owe you a debt now, Athena voted in my favor."
"Voted? You mean they were going to-"
"-yup, but there's apparently a condition to my survival."
"A condition?"
"Like I said, you'll hear in a moment."
-A-
We found Rachel in the process of pulling an arrow out of one of Chiron's hooves at the practice field. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Chiron!"
The centaur grunted as he yanked his leg back to try and get the arrow free. "Well, let this be a lesson, Ms. Dare, about the importance of obeying the safety regulations."
There was probably an anecdote here, but I guessed it could wait. "Chiron!"
He smiled upon seeing me and limped over on three hooves, pulling Rachel behind him, "Ahh, young Master Dove, I'm so glad you're still in one piece. I was beginning-" he then dropped so abruptly to one knee upon seeing my mother that he sent Rachel sprawling onto her backside. "-You honor me with your presence, Lady Artemis."
"It is good to see you again, Chiron," the goddess replied curtly.
Rachel stood, rubbing her backside, the offending arrow now free in her hand. "What's the big idea, Chiron?"
"Rachel, have you met my mother?"
Now whereas Chiron went for reverence, Rachel Dare seemed to decide on delighted curiosity. "Really? You're Lady Artemis!"
"I am."
She was leaning around Chiron to get a good look at her. "Wow, she's so tiny! Is she really your mom?"
The goddess turned her head around to me, "Do I have to start counting again?"
Best nip this one in the bud. "Anyway!" I said, gently ushering Rachel back, "I think it best we tell you what happened at Olympus."
Chiron nodded, "Of course, please; this way, Lady Artemis." The goddess nodded and the centaur lead us to the Big House while my mother recounted recent events.
-A-
It was late by the time we finished discussing everything, and an odd silence had fallen.
"What do you suppose Apollo was talking about?" I asked, but judging by the way they were glancing at each other they had a bad suspicion.
"It's probably nothing, Armani, best not to dwell on it," Chiron said as dismissively as possible. "Put it out of your head for now and I'm sure everything will become clear eventually."
I realized he was right; if something was coming, then it was coming, and it didn't do to dwell on things I had no control over.
"I think it best we turn in for the night," the centaur said as the curfew horn sounded outside. "Lady Artemis, will you be dwelling in cabin eight tonight?"
"But of course."
This is going to be an odd night.
-A-
…And now I was panicking.
How does one get to sleep with a goddess in the room? Is there another bit of etiquette I don't get? Do I wait for her to fall asleep first? For once I wished Thalia was here.
"I carved it," Artemis said as I climbed into bed, startling me out of my thoughts.
"I'm sorry?"
"The white feather, I did that. Do you like it?" she actually sounded quite nervous, as if I'd say no or something.
"I love it, mother. Thank you very much."
"You're quite welcome." If I didn't know better I could've sworn she yawned slightly.
"I didn't know gods slept," I felt I had to comment as the tiny goddess settled into the bunk next to my own.
"We don't. Not as you know it, anyway."
It was then that I noticed the song of the wild had become calm and fluidic as I lay back, and an odd suspicion dawned. "Are you trying to lull me to sleep?" I enquired drowsily.
"Is it working?" she asked quietly.
I didn't have the strength to respond as I sank into a deep sleep.
-A-
Unfortunately, it was then that I had a dream.
A familiar voice was speaking in the darkness. "-The fruit of your humiliation! And he's strutting about up there like he's king of the world!"
A smooth, dangerous voice spoke up. "The humiliation I felt when that shade escaped and Artemis blamed Persephone and I…the balance was never restored…but then it never is for me!"
The image focused and I realized I was looking in on a black marble throne room that looked similar to the one I had been in that same day, except only two thrones stood here and the flames in the hearth were black and heatless.
A man and a boy stood before the thrones; a tall man of huge proportions dressed in silky black robes with long, flowing, jet-black hair…and the boy I knew: it was Nico. Then that would mean…
Hades?
He sat and gripped his throne angrily. "I will have this boy torn limb from limb, and will make an example of him to the other gods when I personally hurl his soul into the depths of Tartarus!"
"B-but we don't have to, you know, kill him. Couldn't we just…humiliate him? Make him sorry he was ever born… I mean…he doesn't have to die, does he?" I noticed Nico now looked quite unsure of himself. He had the look of someone starting to regret something.
"SILENCE! You foolish boy! You bring something like this to my attention and you expect me to just leave it! Your sister would have known better. I will exact proper vengeance so perfect and apt the likes of it has only ever been seen in the Fields of Punishment!" He seemed to brood for a moment as he drummed his dark manicured nails on the arms of his marble throne. Then he smirked. "So… If at the hand of a shade he was brought into the world…then by the hand of a shade shall he be taken out of it."
"B-but father, if a shade is used then the soul inside is destroyed, and if Zeus finds out you destroyed a soul-"
"-Again you show how inept and blind you are to the laws of the Underworld! There are other ways to make a shade. One is to use a soul already in the Underworld and put it into a body to send to the surface. The soul is then destroyed, but it is under the control of the soul within that body until the destruction occurs.
"Another way is to fashion one from a life that died but never made it to the Underworld! That shade is a shell, formed from the echo of the existence they once occupied. The difference being that this shade can then be influenced and instructed with a goal which they will carry out single-mindedly until they complete it or the shade is destroyed in the process. This has the added bonus of them retaining the skills and strengths that they possessed in life! I hope you're getting all this down, there's going to be a test later!"
Nico was looking even paler than usual. "B-but…what do you mean, 'a life that died but never made it to the underworld'? Is that possible? I thought all lives came here upon passing."
Hades smirked, and his clothes seemed to scream in despair. "Oh, that's quite true, but there have been a few exceptions. And it's because of what those exceptions are that makes this so beautiful…oh, the sheer, beautiful, perfect irony!"
Nico watched in horrified silence as Hades strode over to the black hearth and waved a hand. An image shimmered to life above it; it was the night sky, the stars shining brightly above the dark flames.
The Lord of the Dead plunged his hand into the image and black smoke began flowing out of his arm and into the image. "NOW LET US BEGIN!" he roared, and began laughing-a deafening, manic laugh-as Nico bolted from the room in sheer terror.
As the image faded a single thought occurred to me:
Boy…someone's in for it…
-A-
I was woken from the dream by a loud banging. As I bolted upright, Artemis was already opening the cabin door. Annabeth stood in the dawning light, totally out of breath and with a sheen of sweat on her face. "Annabeth… what's wrong?"
She spoke between gasps. "Get…Armani…to the Big House… NOW!" she shouted at my mother, and I knew it had to be pretty serious for Annabeth to forget just who she was yelling at. My mother seemed to realize this also, as she glanced at me and nodded. I changed with lightning speed and was out the door, sprinting towards the huge farmhouse.
I skidded to a halt with my mother to find Chiron and Mr. D on the porch, supporting a staggering Rachel.
"What's going on, Dionysus?" Artemis demanded, but it was Rachel who responded. Her hand was on her chest as if desperately trying to contain something.
"Get him here…can't… It's coming!" I staggered forwards. Her green eyes seemed to be glowing slightly.
Annabeth caught up a second later. "It's okay, Rachel, we're here!"
Her eyes seemed to focus on me, and as our gazes met she suddenly went tense and those eyes began to glow an eerie green. I found I was frozen to the spot. When next she spoke it was in a tone that was not her own…as if it wasn't really her speaking…as if something was speaking through her. "I am the Priestess of Delphi…speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Know me and heed my words well."
"Does she need a lozenge or something?" I asked Annabeth.
"Shhh!" she snapped back. "We're listening, priestess, what is it you have to say?"
"The Child born of death and the Maiden of Light,
With the guilty, and daughters of battle and fight,
To the Desert of the Meadows and the Shattered Palace one and all,
lest the followers of the Eternal Virgin into darkness shall fall."
The green light died and Rachel slumped forward into my arms. Everyone went silent. I found I had only one thing so say.
"Wow…and I thought Apollo's poetry was bad…"
To be continued…
[A/N] As usual, I'll be getting the next instalment up as quick as humanly possible, I'll catch you then!
To be continued in Chapter 5: Allies