"A half-blood of the eldest god,
Shall reach sixteen in total awe,
And see the world in endless sleep,
The hero's soul, blessed blade shall reap,
A single choice shall end his days,
Olympus to preserve or raze."
Percy woke up drenched in sweat. Every night had been the same way. He would find himself in a dark room. The Oracle would appear before him and would explode in a green light and spout out the same words. Percy swung his legs over his mat. He rubbed eyes with his hands and took a deep breath. He looked around the room with a sigh. Over a year had gone by since he and the others had rescued Artemis, Nico, Bianca, Luke, and Grover; over a year since they had captured Annabeth and Ethan and discovered the Titan's plans. And yet nothing had happened. They had expected the Titan army to make a move. They expected the Titans' master to appear and wage war against the gods. But nothing had happened.
At first, tension was thick all over the world. The seas were abnormally calm, the skies never came to life with storms, and no demigods were issued any quests. After a couple of months and still no movement from the Titans, life slowly returned to normal. Bianca and Nico remained in the Underworld with Hades, only returning every now and then to learn sword fighting and archery from the campers. Chiron had permitted Rachel to visit camp one time during the summer, and seeing something in her, Percy took her to Artemis who offered her a place in the hunt. Rachel accepted, not wanting to be a part of her family anymore. The biggest change was at camp. Percy, having regained many of his memories of the world, removed Dionysus from his camp director position and put Chiron in charge. Dionysus was still forced to remain at camp for his punishment, but now he was forced to help maintain the grounds; much to his chagrin. With Chiron in charge, Camp Half-Blood became drastically different. Cabins moved in uniform precision. The camp learned and trained in ancient Greek combat techniques. It took a couple of months but soon the camp that had been fairly lazy in the past was now operating like a well-oiled machine.
Percy spent the majority of his time with the hunt, returning to the life he previously had. The Olympians had begged him to remain on Olympus, but he had refused. A seat on Olympus was not for a demigod and if he were to remain he would be subject to the ancient laws once more, hence defeating the purpose of becoming a demigod in the first place. He spent the weekends at camp, helping Chiron train the campers in swordsmanship as well as with the spear, but the weeks he spent with his old family. He was saddened to find out that only Zoe, Phoebe, and Atalanta remained of the hunters he had known in the past. He had expected the newer hunters to despise him, but he had forgotten that they still worshiped Gabriel, offering him sacrifices and performing rituals in his honor. The hardest part had been convincing the hunters that Percy was in fact Gabriel, but after a couple of long hours they finally believed and began to show him that they were not to be messed with.
Percy put on a shirt and his leather jacket and left his tent. The hunters were already up and about performing their chores. They were currently tracking a drakon through the Colorado mountains. It had razed a small town to the ground, killing everyone. Percy found Rachel sitting by the fire.
"What's up, Red?" he asked. She didn't look at him but smiled.
"Nothing much. Just still trying to figure everything out." Percy nodded and picked up a stick. He began prodding and stoking the fire.
"I understand. Becoming suddenly immersed in this world can really be hard. But you're with a great family now." Rachel smiled at him and stood up.
"I know I am. It'll just take some time before I will completely come to terms with the fact that I'm a Hunter of Artemis. I think I'll wait a little while though before I take the oath. I want to grow up a little more." Percy smiled and she walked away to finish her chores.
"You still remember how to make new hunters feel welcomed," came a voice from behind him. Percy smirked but didn't look up.
"Well you know me. I make everyone happy." He could feel Artemis rolling her eyes behind him. She sat down next to him where Rachel had just been sitting.
"Yes, but you can be an annoying bastard," she said. Percy looked at her and smiled broadly.
"Me?" he asked pointing at himself. He tried to look as innocent as possible which for him was incredibly difficult. "I can't be annoying! You all love me too much!" Artemis pinched his arm hard making him laugh and swat her hand away.
"No one knows why we do. You can be as bad as Apollo sometimes." Percy gasped.
"You really think I'm that awesome?" he asked, eyes wide. Artemis narrowed her eyes at him and rose her hand as if to slap him. Percy flinched. "Sorry, sorry. I was just joking! Don't hurt me!" Artemis smirked. She pinched his cheek.
"Poor baby." Percy glared at her but she ignored him and stood up. "Come on. We have a lot of ground to make up and you still haven't even packed up." Percy looked around and saw that his tent was the only one still standing. He groaned but got up and finished packing. Soon he was done and found the hunters waiting for him.
"Come on, Golden boy. I thought you were faster than that." Percy glared at Zoe who was giving him an obnoxious smile.
"Shut up," he replied. The hunters just snickered at him. Percy ignored them and looked at Artemis who was smiling herself. "What's the plan?"
"The drakon should only be a couple miles north of here. We will surround it and take it down as quickly as we can." Percy and the hunters nodded. They put their packs on and started making their way through the mountains. They hiked for hours in silence though Percy and Artemis stood in the front whispering to each other, much to the amusement of the others. Around noon, they made it to a little mountain stream when they heard a roar from above them. The hunters made to get their bows but Percy held up a hand, stopping them. They looked at him expectantly. He looked around for the drakon. Suddenly the drakon crashed down in the middle of the hunters. It hissed and lunged at Rachel, but she dodged out of the way at the last second. The hunters recovered from their shock and began firing arrows at the giant snake-like monster. Artemis pulled out her bow and joined the others.
The drakon roared in pain, but none of the arrows penetrated its skin. It turned towards Zoe and spat acidic venom at her. Her eyes widened and she tried to move but she was frozen with fear. Rachel reacted quickly and dove in front of Zoe taking the acid to her chest. Zoe's mind snapped back to reality and she yelled for her sisters to cover her while she pulled Rachel to a safe distance. Percy growled with anger and pulled out his two swords. He charged the drakon and jumped on its back. Its tail whipped back and forth striking Percy on the back. He stabbed Isorropia through the drakon's neck. The monster flung its head back throwing Percy off of it. He flew backwards into a tree. The Nemean jacket took the blow saving him from any serious harm. He stood back up.
"Stop!" He roared to the hunters and Artemis. They stopped firing their arrows. The drakon turned back to him. Blood poured down its maw from where Percy had stabbed it. It opened its jaws to spit acid at him. He jumped to the side and charged the monster. It snapped at him with its razor sharp fangs, but Percy rolled under the strike. He drove Isorropia straight up through the drakon's lower jaw. Blood gushed out covering Percy completely. The drakon tried to shake Percy off but couldn't move with the sword in its mouth.
"Now!" he commanded. The hunters and Artemis rained down arrows straight at the drakon's open mouth. It took several arrows but finally the monster exploded into dust. Percy got up shakily and wiped his swords off on the grass. Suddenly, a thought came to him and he turned around abruptly and ran to where Zoe was kneeling by Rachel's side. He rushed up and knelt down across from Zoe. Rachel was gasping for breath. The acid had eaten away at her chest causing her to lose a lot of blood and muscle tissue. She had tears rushing down her face. Zoe was working valiantly trying to patch her up but the blood loss was too extreme. Percy's eyes glowed with anger that such a thing could happen to his friend. The sky turned incredibly dark and the hunters could feel time begin to slow. Percy put his hands on Rachel's shoulders and closed his eyes.
His body began to glow a brilliant gold and the hunters and Artemis were forced to avert their eyes. Slowly, Rachel's wound began to heal. The poison was removed and her skin and muscles began to knit themselves back together. After several strenuous moments, her body was fully healed. Percy still had his eyes closed and he focused more power into her. Rachel's body began to glow a soft gold before it went back to normal. The sky returned to its bright, crisp blue, and time sped back up. Percy opened his eyes slowly, sweat dripping down his forehead. Zoe and the others looked at him in awe. Rachel opened her eyes and gasped in shock when she saw that her chest was fully healed. She looked at Percy and sat up, giving him a tight hug. Percy smiled at her but was too tired to say anything. Artemis came over and helped him stand, while Zoe helped Rachel.
"That was beautiful, Percy," said Artemis. Percy just smiled weakly and rested his head on her shoulder. "We should make camp here." The hunters nodded and began setting up the tents and preparing a fire. Artemis handed Percy a jug full of nectar which he took gratefully. He swallowed a few gulps and felt his strength rushing back. He thanked her and went to the stream. When he was a good ways away where the hunters wouldn't see him, he took his clothes and watch off, and jumped into the water. The cool mountain stream felt good against his tired and worn out body. Despite all the time he had spent with the hunters, they had never faced such a powerful monster. He spent a couple more minutes than was necessary basking in the water. When he was finished, he washed his clothes from the drakon's blood. He was about to get out of the water when he realized he had stupidly forgotten his backpack at the camp. He groaned. The bag had all of his extra clothes. He felt around in the pockets of his jeans and sighed in relief when he found a golden drachma in one of the pockets. He made a quick rainbow and threw the coin through it.
"Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering. Show me Artemis," he said. Artemis glimmered to life in front of him. "Psst. Arty," he whispered. Artemis whirled around and smirked at him.
"Well what do we have here?" Percy glared at her, but blushed a bright red.
"I forgot my backpack back at camp could you possibly bring them to me?" Artemis laughed at him.
"Sure, Percy. But I will never let you live this down." She swiped through the message. Percy groaned and sank as low as he could in the shallow stream. A couple minutes later, Artemis appeared. She smirked at Percy.
"Hmm, maybe I shouldn't give you this bag." Percy paled.
"No! Please! I need it!" Artemis put a finger to her lips thinking.
"I don't know," she said. "You have clothes right there what do you need these for?" Percy glared at her.
"They are wet. I hate wet clothes. Now give me my backpack." Artemis rolled her eyes, but kept smiling.
"Fine," she said. "But if I do you have to do something for me." Percy nodded enthusiastically.
"Anything! I'll do anything just give me my backpack!" Artemis smiled evilly.
"Anything?"
"Anything!" Artemis nodded.
"Fine." She dropped the bag on the ground. "Here you go. But I will hold you to your promise." Percy nodded and she returned to camp to let Percy change. He quickly got out of the water when he was sure she was gone and dried himself off. He put on new clothes and walked back to camp. The hunters were all sitting at their makeshift table eating some venison. He hung up his wet clothes on the wire the hunters had set up. He looked around for his tent. It was usually piled up with the other tents.
"Hey, where is my tent?" Percy looked through the tents that still had not been set up but couldn't find his. "Where's Artemis?" The hunters began snickering.
"She left to go hunt some more food. You always eat too much," said Phoebe.
"Okay that's fine and all, but seriously where is my tent?" The hunters snickered again.
"It's over there," said Atalanta, pointing at a large silver tent. Percy gave the hunters a pointed look.
"Har, har, very funny. That's not my tent." Atalanta smiled at him.
"It is now." Percy paled.
"I'm not going in there. That's Artemis' tent. Give me my tent now." Zoe shook her head.
"Wasn't even our idea," she said. Percy looked at them confused.
"Then who's was it?"
"Mine." Percy turned around and saw Artemis standing there smirking. She had a deer draped across her shoulders. He paled. "You said you would do anything. Are you afraid, Percy?" Percy gulped and nodded. The hunters and Artemis laughed. She dropped the deer by the fire and patted Percy on the cheek before sitting down with the hunters. "Well get over it. Now let's see if you still remember how to skin a deer." Percy grimaced but sat down and showed the hunters why he was the most skilled deer skinner.
That night after an evening of laughter and stories Percy followed Artemis into her tent. She had decided to appear as a fourteen year old girl now to match Percy in age. He was incredibly nervous. He was only fourteen after all. He was much too young to share a tent with a girl; even if he had done so years ago. He walked in and immediately took a breath. He didn't know what he had expected but seeing his old things sure wasn't it. He looked around. His old chest from when he was a god. Beside it was the old pedestal that he had used to store his sword and shield. He opened the chest and found his old armor stored neatly. He looked up at Artemis who was sitting on her bed shyly.
"You kept all this?" he asked. His voice wavered with emotion. She nodded.
"I never thought you had faded like everyone else did. I knew you would come back some day. I kept them for you." Percy closed the chest and sat down on the bed beside her. He put his hand under her cheek and made her look at him. Her silver eyes sparkled.
"Thank you." She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. He smiled and rested his head on hers. "I'm not leaving. Not this time. I'm here to stay." She hugged him tightly. "But do I have to sleep in here?" Artemis punched him in the gut. "I'll take that as a yes," he said, gripping his stomach in pain. Artemis responded by hugging him tighter. Percy sighed. Oh well, he thought. I could be in a worse situation. Slowly, he felt his eye lids close as his body finally succumbed to his exhaustion.
"Ahem," came a rather loud voice. Percy jumped knocking Artemis off the bed. She got up glaring at Percy. He shrugged meekly at her. He looked back at the tent flap. Bianca was glimmering in a rainbow looking at them awkwardly.
"Am I intruding on something?" she asked. Percy sighed.
"No. What's going on, Bianca?" She nodded seriously.
"You need to get back to camp. Something happened. You need to hurry." Percy nodded and got up. He swiped through the message. Artemis frowned.
"You have to leave?" Percy turned to her and nodded.
"If Bianca is the one calling me, then it must be bad." Artemis nodded.
"Then we are coming with you. You promised you wouldn't leave and I don't intend on letting you break your promise." Percy smiled at her. He pulled her into a hug.
"Thank you," he said. She smiled up at him. She had forgotten just how much taller he was than her. They walked out of the tent together to a chorus of cheering hunters. Percy glared at them all but it didn't do anything.
"Alright, stop your laughing," said Artemis. The hunters stopped but they kept smiling at them. Percy sighed but smiled. This was better than having them trying to castrate him. "Percy and I just received an important message. Percy is needed back at camp and we are going with him." All the hunters except Rachel groaned. "I know you don't want to but we are staying with Percy. So pack everything up. I'll take us there in my chariot." The hunters finally agreed, glad that at least they didn't have to walk all the way to New York.
It didn't take long for them to pack up the camp and soon they were in the air traveling to New York. It was still very early in the morning and the sun had not yet risen. Artemis explained to Percy that in recent years she and Apollo had found a way to let their chariots travel on their own so they didn't have to be in the sky every day and night. They arrived in camp just as the sun rose. Percy was very impressed to see that Chiron had stationed guards at the entrance along with Peleus. The guards were two sons of Ares. They nodded at the hunters and Percy and let them through. Camp had grown exponentially. Chiron had completely changed it. The Hephaestus cabin had built defense walls around the camp's land facing borders. The walls were wide enough to allow archers on top. Apollo campers were stationed around the wall tops. Greek fire lamps lined the ramparts. Artemis sent her chariot away and they walked up to the Big House.
Artemis told the hunters to wait outside while she and Percy went inside. They found Chiron in his wheelchair and the camp counselors all engaged in a heated conversation. Percy was happy to see Bianca sitting in a new seat for Hades. Dionysus was sitting in the corner reading a wine magazine. Beside Chiron was a man that Percy didn't recognize. The man looked at him and paled, but didn't say anything. Percy just frowned.
"We have to find a way down there! If that's really the Titan's plans then we have to prepare for it!" Chiron rubbed his face wearily. He looked up and noticed Artemis and Percy.
"Percy!" Everyone stopped and looked to the door. They all smiled and greeted Percy and bowed to Artemis. Artemis took a seat in the Artemis chair. Percy took a seat in the Gabriel chair. Chiron had insisted on putting a cabin and chair at camp in his honor as well as an honorary table in the dining area. Percy didn't have the heart to tell the old centaur no.
"What's going on, Chiron? Bianca called me telling me to come as quickly as I could." Chiron nodded, a frown on his face.
"Clarisse went on a secret quest earlier this summer. She was to find an entrance to the Labyrinth."
"You mean Daedalus' Labyrinth?" asked Percy. Chiron nodded.
"Yes. Well, Clarisse can tell you the rest."
"We found an entrance in the city but we wanted to make sure that there wasn't an entrance here at camp. I couldn't find anything down there except for a demigod that went missing a couple of months ago. I had to come back before I could keep looking. But Chris, the demigod I found, says that the Titans believe there is an entrance to camp." Percy narrowed his eyes.
"And how would he know?" Clarisse stared back at him defiantly.
"He was captured by them a couple years ago. He was constantly tortured, but he overheard their plans." Percy nodded and smiled at her. She calmed down and smiled back albeit a bit forced.
"Alright, so what's the plan?" Chiron sighed.
"That's the problem. We need to send someone into the Labyrinth to look for the entrance here at camp and to make sure the Titans army cannot make it through the Labyrinth."
"Yes but how can we possibly find the entrance?" asked Lee Fletcher. The other camp counselors started yelling at each other again different ways and methods.
"Enough!" yelled Artemis. Everyone stopped immediately. Artemis glared at the campers. "I believe that our guest here has something to say." Everyone turned to the man beside Chiron. Percy thought he looked familiar but couldn't think of the man's name. "Who are you?"
"My name is Quintus. I am the new sword-master here at camp," he explained to Percy and Artemis. They nodded. "I am an older child of Athena. I have studied the Labyrinth for quite some time. I believe that there are two options you can choose. You can either search for Ariadne's string, or you can find a clear sighted mortal to lead the way." Everyone sat in silence contemplating his words.
"Isn't one of your hunters a clear sighted mortal?" asked Chiron to Percy and Artemis. They nodded.
"Yes, Rachel. But she may not want to be a part of this. How will we find Ariadne's string?" asked Percy. Quintus nodded, expecting the question.
"I believe that Daedalus stored it in the heart of the Labyrinth. If you can make your way through the maze you should be able to find his old workshop. That's what old manuscripts say, at least." Quintus looked embarrassed at all the attention. Percy smiled in thanks, though he still had a nagging idea that he knew the man from somewhere.
"I just have one question," said Percy. Everyone looked to him. "How do we know that this Chris person is telling the truth? What if the Labyrinth doesn't exist at all? Or what if Chris just told us they were looking for the Labyrinth but they are really preparing a full scale invasion over land?" Everyone looked down. Everyone, that is, except Clarisse. She glared at Percy and he could see her eyes beginning to water. Shit, what did I do now? He thought to himself.
"We know because the Titans drove him to insanity, Prissy. They tortured him harsher than Luke, here." Luke paled but nodded. "Plus, I've been down into the Labyrinth." She shuddered. "It's an awful, evil place." Percy's eyes widened and he looked down.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Clarisse's gaze softened and she gave him a small smile.
"It's ok. It's just been hard seeing him like that." Percy nodded.
"I understand." Thalia tapped her foot impatiently.
"Alright so back to the main topic on hand. Who will be leading this quest?" Chiron looked around at the room.
"I believe that it would be best if you, Thalia, led this quest." Everyone let out a sigh of relief. No one wanted to have to go down into the Labyrinth. Thalia grew nervous but steeled her nerves and stood up.
"Then I will go up to the attic and speak to the Oracle right now." Everyone clapped for her. Artemis leaned over to Percy.
"She would make a wonderful hunter." Percy smirked but nodded. He had been thinking the same thing. It was several long minutes before Thalia returned looking pale.
"Did you receive a prophecy?" Thalia nodded.
"You shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze,
The dead, the traitor, and the lost one raise.
You shall rise or fall by the contrite's hand,
The child of Athena's final stand.
Destroy with a hero's final breath,
And lose a soul, for good, to death."
Everyone paled. Chiron cleared his throat.
"Who will you be taking?" Thalia sat down in her seat.
"I will take Bianca, Percy, and Luke." The three heroes sat up tall in their seats. "Will you join me?" They nodded. Artemis looked at Percy with worry.
"Spend the rest of today preparing. We will go over everything tomorrow morning before you all leave," said Chiron. Everyone nodded and left the Big House. Artemis and Percy walked to her cabin. They walked in and found the hunters reading and telling stories. They looked up and smiled. Their smiles didn't last long when they saw Artemis' forlorn look.
"Milady, what's wrong?" Percy pulled Artemis in for a hug. The hunters all stood up and came close.
"Percy has been called to go on a quest." Zoe and Phoebe cocked their heads.
"And what's wrong? He's completed every quest he's ever gone on." Artemis shook her head.
"I know but this time it's different. He is going into the Labyrinth. The prophecy isn't a very positive one. We could lose Percy for good this time." The hunters paled.
"Why do you think that?" asked Atalanta.
"The last line says: and lose a soul, for good, to death," said Percy. The hunters felt tears coming to their eyes. They huddled around their patrons and hugged them tightly.
"You won't die, Percy. You promised us you wouldn't leave. We expect you to return." Percy smiled weakly.
"Thank you for your confidence, but you never know." Atalanta slapped him on the face.
"Don't talk like that. I just got my father back and I sure as Hades won't let him leave again." The hunters all shouted in agreement. Even the newer hunters had come to see Percy as their father. Percy smiled at them and hugged Artemis tighter.
"Then I guess I'll just have to come back, won't I?"
A/N: I'm back again guys. I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter and that it makes up for the pretty boring last chapter. Tell me what you guys think! Thanks again for the reviews, favorites, and follows. You guys are the best!