AN: Hies! Ok so here's the 2nd Chapter (I know I implied not to expect one so soon, but meh I was excited :D my updates will be faster than this in Nov if the story lasts till then). Enjoy! PS: I know my story doesn't progress very fast, but I rather that than have everything rushed through. I want to develop most of the scenes properly so there's more flow to the story. I'll try to work on my descriptions coz' I feel like mine aren't detailed enough or so… Any opinions on how I can improve my writing?

And please review, even if it's just a few words long… Special thanks to Digimage & Lmb111514!

Digimage: I had the exact same thoughts of the plots I read and that's why I decided to write one myself ^^

Lmb111514: Surprise, Percy didn't die :P but something will happen next chap(:

Thanks for the support everyone! All your follows brighten my day(: Please introduce my story to your friends if possible. Merci!

3rd Person POV (Central Park)

It was a disturbingly silent night in New York, where not a single chatter could be heard in Central Park. It was as though the still sea in the evening foreboded whatever was coming at night, prompting many to stay home and avoid a particular tree in the Park. The moonlight shone down (AN: scientifically, it reflects light, but I'm just gonna go with this for the sake of it being nicer) on various angles of the park, illuminating its reservoir. The water glistened peacefully… until…

Swoosh! All of a sudden, the calm night was broken by a shrill scream as a body was spotted falling from high above the sky, straight towards the fully-grown maple tree in the middle of the park, by the reservoir. Nothing could be done to break his fall, and those who saw him would expect anyone to die from such a height. But not this demigod; he had much more in store for him to perish in the hands of sorrow and heartbreak. Upon crash-landing, a laughter was heard. One that sounded devious and sly… before it turned into a scream of agony.

Hyperion POV

Yes! The foolish sea-spawn that imprisoned me over a year ago is heading straight to me! That fall, most likely from Olympus or Ouranos, would surely kill him in the process of destroying my prison. I would be free at last, and I would seek vengeance on those who acted against me! I snickered at that thought, before Perseus Jackson smashed straight into the trunk of … well, me. I felt a sudden burst of strength, as my prison broke apart, unleashing my form. All that was gone in mere moments before I felt my life source being extracted from me. Noo… My final thought, before I faded into oblivion.

3rd Person POV

As Perseus rammed into Hyperion's tree, it not only destroyed his prison, but Hyperion himself too. Since his life source was anchored to the maple tree, it too was taken away from Hyperion, effectively causing him to fade. What Percy didn't expect when he jumped off of Olympus was that instead of a one-way trip to Elysium, his journey just became slightly longer…

As the life source of Hyperion ebbed into Percy's unconscious form, he glowed a brilliant bright yellow as the power coursed through his veins, providing instant warmth and shocking his self. Though that didn't guarantee his survival, but he would at least last a little longer, his body subconsciously hoping and waiting for someone to save him.

Pain, was all he could feel as the power enveloped him, causing him to fall into a deep slumber, but not before he caught sight of a flash of silver…

Artemis POV

Sigh, what does father want now… I groaned mentally as Hermes flashed in just a second ago, informing me of my needed presence on Olympus. I sought for Thalia before teleporting both of us to the throne room, as I did not want to suffer boredom alone. As my lieutenant, she should have expected that, though I, on the other hand, did not expect what father was about to say.

"Artemis, it has come to my attention that an unknown force was present in my domain before disappearing within a minute, preventing me from identifying this rude and disrespectful being. I need you to find me that man and bring him back to me as soon as possible. Athena has done the math and he seemed to have crashed landed somewhere in Central Park, and an explosion was heard there as well." Zeus ordered, in a tone that meant 'now, and no bargaining'.

I gave a curt nod and grabbed Thalia, again, bringing us to the source of disturbance without warning her. "Milady, can you st—" Thalia began in a whiny manner, before gasping and tensing up. I scrunched my eyebrows up in frustration and directed my eyes towards her gaze.

Right at that spot was what used to be Hyperion's tree, but was replaced with a lone figure draped over the remains of the bark. Though it was obvious a boy was there, father had instructed me to bring him back, and that's what I'll have to do. I took out my hunting knives faster than a mortal could see and called my twin brother for assistance, to heal the boy and perhaps fight Hyperion if he managed to escape.

"Hey there little sis, what's up," He asked, before taking notice of my battle stance and the unconscious body. His joking demeanor turned to one of serious and alert, as he used his radar to source for a stronger being — a titan. I looked to him questioningly as we came to the same conclusion. The only source of power came from the boy, and Hyperion seemed to have vanished. Since Apollo was able to sense the health of any being, I trusted that he knew what he was doing when he rushed forwards without a weapon. Thalia seemed to have overcome her shock as she drew her bow and arrow, and came up to me.

"Artemis! It's… It's Percy!" Apollo shrieked. My eyes widened in disbelief and shock, and that was all it took for Thalia and me to dash for the unconscious form of Percy. What I saw made me experience a sharp pang of pain and sorrow, though I did not understand why. There, laid the unmoving body of our Saviour and Hero. The only decent man I know of who rejected immortality twice and isn't power-hungry…

What was worse was that his whole body was red with cuts and bruises, and his back was arched upwards in agony. I felt terribly sorry for his state, for I could tell that he was, obviously, in deep pain. His limp and seemingly lifeless form gave no hint as to whether or not he was still alive.

While I processed these thoughts, Apollo had already begun his chanting, putting in all his effort and energy into saving Perseus. Could he still be saved? It was a question that sent me over the edge, as I inched forwards and placed my hand on Perseus' forehead. I harnessed the power of the moon and transmitted pulses of power into him, hoping to jolt him awake. Within mere seconds, both Apollo and I were drained of our energy but we knew Perseus deserved our help and efforts. He has saved us from 2 wars, we can't fail him...

The park was eerily silent, except for the occasional rustle of leaves and our heaving bodies. Drenched in sweat, I let out a huge sigh of relief as I felt Perseus' heart thump stronger. When we first found him, his heart was barely even responding. Now though, we couldn't risk teleporting back to Olympus as his body is still in critical condition. I called forth my chariot and got up, helping the trio get aboard.

As I controlled my chariot and directed it towards Olympus, or more specifically the infirmary, I couldn't help but keep glancing at Perseus. His skin radiated softly in the moonlight, with a clear sense of aura surrounding him. Wait a second, Perseus didn't have such a strong and obvious aura previously! How? I decided to leave questions for later as we neared the infirmary, signaling to the others that we've arrived.

As soon as Apollo got off, he summoned a flask of nectar and ambrosia, handing me some before he took the rest. He set off to work immediately, focusing once again on Perseus, tending to his body. I strode off towards the throne room, asking for Hermes to send a message and gather everyone else.

"What is it Artemis? Have you found out who the intruder is?" Zeus demanded. I took a quick scan at the rest of the council, to see who was paying attention. Apparently, it was one of those rare times when almost everyone was listening. I cleared my throat before speaking,

"Father, he isn't an intruder. He's someone we all owe dearly to."

"What do you mean? As far as I know, we gods owe no one anything. The only person who would be granted a request by me is Perseus, or any of my children." He raised his brows, confused, before a look of anguish and realisation struck him.

"It can't be…"

"I'm afraid it is the case, father. Perseus must have jumped off Olympus earlier on." The council gasped, as Poseidon bolted up and attempted to flash away before I stopped him. "He is… safe now. Apollo is currently taking care of him, though I must admit, it wasn't easy trying revive him. I don't know how he managed to survive such a fall, but thankfully he did even if it was such a close call. Anyway," I took a deep breath. "Hyperion's tree was destroyed in the process of Perseus' landing, but neither Apollo nor I managed to detect his presence. What we felt in Central Park was an odd aura of power emitting from Perseus. I don't dare speculate what my thoughts are, at least until we make sure Hyperion is indeed gone."

"Alright. We'll talk about Perseus'… situation… tomorrow. Everyone, check your domains and see if Hyperion is loitering around somewhere. Report back tomorrow in the morning." Everyone flashed away, with exception of Poseidon. I looked up to him, before giving him a gentle smile and nod to assure him that Perseus was recuperating. He returned a grateful smile and flashed off, and so did I.

~ Time Skip the next day ~

3rd Person POV

The atmosphere on Olympus was tense and the power the gods emitted was beginning to crackle with danger, spiking the air pressure around them. The gods were seated on their thrones on Olympus, each giving their own reports on their domains. No news of Hyperion had been found in all their domains, and Hades concluded that Hyperion must either have faded, or sent to Tartarus. This loosened the tension immediately as shoulders of the gods drooped immediately, as if the sky had just been lifted off of them. Scouts sent out the night before were called back, and they too have had similar findings. Though Hyperion was no longer bound to his prison, he was nowhere to be found either.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Poseidon turned to Apollo and asked updates on his son's recovery.

"Percy has not awaken yet, but fret not uncle, he is on the route to recover. He seems more powerful, in fact, though for whatever reason, I do not know." Apollo replied, shrugging his shoulders. Artemis sent a message to Apollo, telling him of her suspicions. A look of terror and revelation could be seen on his face, before he relaxed and nodded to his twin sister.

"Father, I think I know what happened to Hyperion. I had my doubts at first, but it soon made sense to me. See, when Hyperion was trapped in the maple tree, a part of him must definitely be bound to the tree's essence for survival." Athena nodded in understanding, before Zeus motioned for her to continue. "When Perseus destroyed the tree, Hyperion must have faded as well. That is what we have found out today, too. But have you not noticed the strange aura of power present somewhere on Olympus? It gets stronger and more concentrated near Perseus. Hence, I come to the conclusion that some of Hyperion's power has been transferred to Perseus. I'm not sure if his essence remains, but Apollo here claims that it did not enter Perseus. Yes Athena, I know it seems unlikely for a demigod to absorb a titan's powers without dying, but since he actually fell from Olympus, and survived, I doubt it's impossible."

Athena frowned, but could not think of a better explanation as to why Perseus seemed stronger. There is indeed a slight possibility, and adding Perseus' luck of being involved in two great prophecies and how he survived a fall from Olympus, it was acceptable.

"Yes, perhaps that is the case. He didn't turn into a titan, father, no need to worry, but I believe he would be a much stronger demigod now. I know having two different sets of godly power would make him a threat, but I believe his loyalty stays with us." Athena stated. "After all, most of us are on good terms with him, right?"

The gods were shocked that Athena stood up for a son of Poseidon, which earned her a smile from him. A unanimous decision was settled, whereby Perseus would not be punished or killed for that matter. Before the meeting adjourned, however, a question lingered.

"But, why exactly did he even jump off of Olympus?" Hephaestus asked, confused. "He had me work with him on a ring for Annabeth just yesterday… He was clumsy, but he put in great effort and spent half the day on it though I said I would take no more than an hour."

"What?!" Athena screeched out. Poseidon shot her a glare, but she continued. "I gave him my blessing and told him I allowed their relationship to progress a few months ago. Poseidon, he just finished his training with you right?" Poseidon nodded. "He must have waited for this day to propose, but what happened? Could he have been pushed off?"

"Enough! We shall speak of this when Perseus awakes. I think it's best if we ask him for ourselves instead of making wild guesses. Apollo, inform us when he comes round. For now, keep Hyperion's disappearance and Perseus' situation a secret. If anyone asks, he is with Poseidon training. Understood?" Zeus thundered, flashing out without waiting for a response.

All that happened while Aphrodite was deep in thought. Surprising, right? Yes, the love goddess thinks too. He must have found out about Annabeth and the son of Hephaestus. None of the gods know, even my husband is oblivious to his son's newfound love… I guess Percy would want me to keep a secret for the time being huh.

With that, she flashed to her palace, determined to spy on Annabeth for Percy.

Annabeth POV (Last night)

Oh no, what have I done! I could barely process my thoughts as I saw Percy run off, leaving behind an overturned basket of our favourite foods and a clam. A clam? I dashed forward, reaching for the clam, only for it to freeze up all of a sudden. Water shot out from beneath me and wrapped itself around the clam protectively, before freezing it into a sculpture with the words "The Last Gift" carved at the bottom. What does it mean?

I tried knocking on the ice, desperate for it to show any acknowledgement of my presence. It worked, because the clam slowly opened up within the ice, letting me get a glimpse of the beautiful ring it held before it snapped shut. I was crestfallen. Was my Seaweed Brain about to propose? I kneeled down in front of the sculpture, letting the tears I've held back trickle down my cheeks. I didn't notice Jake squatting beside me, putting a comforting arm on my shoulder, as if apologizing.

I wanted so badly to have a shoulder to cry on now without feeling guilty. But that isn't possible with Jake. We were, after all, the reason behind Percy's heartbreak and gods know where he ran off to now. I was honestly worried for him. I know how much he did for me, and yet I broke his heart. Even if he forgives me one day, I doubt I would ever excuse my actions. I shut my eyes, as I felt a pair of arms scoop me up bridal style, carrying me towards my room. I let darkness take over, as I did not wish to relive the moment where I saw Percy's silhouette in the distance. Before sleeping though, I heard a voice whisper; "I'm sorry," as a pair of lips touched my forehead…

I woke up to the sound of knocking on my door as the events of last night came back to me. I smiled at my first kiss with Jake, before realizing the consequence it brought about. Percy…

The knocking became more urgent as I made my way towards the door, swinging it open after unlocking it. A very furious goddess was glaring at me, her eyes demanding for the truth. My mum was here.

I couldn't lie, so I told her the truth. I explained my thoughts of the past few months to show my remorse, hoping Athena would simmer down a little… It seemed to have done its work, but she only became angrier when she replied.

"He saved me from Arachne a few months ago when I needed help the most! He knew how much I disapproved of your relationship with him yet he came to my rescue, taking the risk of getting himself killed!" Athena yelled at me, causing me to flinch involuntarily. "If not for his bravery and selflessness, I wouldn't even be talking to you right now, and neither would he ju—" She stopped halfway, before composing herself and dismissing me.

What was she saying? Neither would he have what? A thousand questions whirled around in my mind, as I made my way to the elevator after packing up. It was Monday noon and I was returning to Camp Half-Blood. I wasn't entirely surprised that I slept in late. My mind must be exhausted from last night's situation. I didn't bother saying bye to Jake; I wasn't ready to see him yet. I hoped I would be able to explain to Percy what had happened at camp later… If he wanted closure, I had to give it to him.

Ding! The elevator doors opened as I stepped in, letting the horrendous and torturing 'music' into my ears as I prepared a mental script. I had never been so nervous before. What would he say? Would he even listen to me? Before I knew it, I reached the ground floor and headed for camp, not caring to take in my surroundings as the taxi whizzed past.

"Hey, Chiron!" I called out to my favourite centaur, not waiting for an answer before dashing off towards the Poseidon cabin. I decided to talk to Percy straight away, before I lost my confidence.

I knocked on his cabin door in the usual rhythmic sequence, waiting for any indicator of response. I stood there, leaning against one foot, one arm on my hip and the other tapping my thigh impatiently. What's taking him so long? Is he alright?

After a couple more minutes, I couldn't take it anymore as my ADHD kicked in. I let out a sigh and turned the knob of the door, opening it expecting to see his sleeping form laying spread across his bed. A sight I dreaded to see greeted me. The room was exactly as he had left on Saturday morning, with some minor changes. His dirty clothes were strewn across the floor; cupboards were left pulled open and his wardrobe had been emptied, with a pile of clean clothes lying on his bed. It was as though he was dressing up for an important date… Last night…

I took a quick scan, but I could still see all his valuables around. The shield Tyson made for him hung on the wall, picture frames of the two of us, along with our friends and others with Sally and Paul were still on his table.

He had yet to return from last night. But where could he have gone? I fished out a drachma from my pocket before IM-ing Sally, hoping to see Percy there. When she saw my worried expression, her cheerful demeanor was replaced with one of confusion and concern. I asked if Percy had contacted her recently, but her response was not as expected.

"Yes, he IM-ed yesterday telling me about how he was planning to propose to you last night. What happened? He showed me the ring oh it was gorgeous! He even said he spent the whole afternoon working on it! My little Percy has finally grown up… Anyway, did something go wrong? Why is his room still as messy as he left it?" Sally questioned. I couldn't tell her the truth about Jake and me yet, so I lied and said it was nothing. One lie followed another and it led to Sally thinking Percy was still with Poseidon at Atlantis… Maybe I should contact Lord Poseidon? No, if he asks I'll have to face his wrath or risk lying to a god…

I cut off the connection with Sally and made my way to my cabin. After dropping off my belongings, I looked for Chiron, asking him if he knew about Percy's whereabouts. He said he had no idea, but would ask the Poseidon later in the afternoon. I had to beg him for minutes during his archery lesson before he finally surrendered and called Poseidon. Thankfully, Chiron did not reveal that I was the one looking for Percy, but Poseidon hesitated when answering Chiron.

"Well, honestly, Chiron, I can't tell you where he is right now. I don't wish to lie to you, but his location is to be kept secret until it is decided otherwise. If any of the campers ask, tell them Percy is with me in Atlantis. The gods will give you the same answer if you ask them, so I suggest you stick to it and avoid asking too much." Poseidon explained, before I gasped and face-palmed myself for giving my position away. Poseidon turned to look at me, shocked that I had overheard his conversation. He narrowed his eyes at me before cutting off the connection.

Sigh, mum couldn't have told the gods about me and Jake, could she? I hoped she didn't, for it is truly unwise to anger the sea god or any other gods. My experience with Hera taught me that. My thoughts drifted back to Percy, as I thought about where he could be…

He isn't at Atlantis, nor is he at Sally's. Where else can he be? Usually, hundreds of possibilities would flow through my mind at ease, but even thinking of a single location was giving me a headache. After pondering for over an hour over Percy at the beach, I decided to give it a break and went ahead with the camp's daily activities instead.

~ Time Skip a week ~

Where. Is. He! I was groaning in frustration as I tugged at my hair, desperate for answers. The camp received no news at all for the past week about Percy's whereabouts, putting Chiron, me and the other senior campers at great worry. The gods were obviously hiding him from us, but it was as though Percy didn't want to be found either.

I had called for a secret meeting an hour ago to discuss about this situation. We had to send out a search party. I will not allow him to go missing on me again. He deserves a proper explanation. Speaking of which, Jake and I have yet to see each other in person. Just the other day, I IM-ed him to tell him that I wouldn't be up on Olympus for the next few weeks as I was busy with 'camp stuff'. He looked glum and disappointed, but I assured him that I was alright and would visit him soon. I told him he didn't have to worry about that night, for it was mostly my fault for everything that happened.

"Does anyone have any news about Percy?" I asked. The meeting had just started, and worried looks were plastered on the counsellors of the Ares, Demeter, Hermes, Aphrodite and Hephaestus cabins; Clarisse, Katie, the Stolls, Piper and Leo. The atmosphere was tense and downcast, as each of them shook their heads. It was not like Percy for him to leave without a word, which left only one possibility. And I did not like the prospect of it.

"Guys, I think it's time we call out a search party. Percy wouldn't be gone for so long without as much as a word from him. Something must have happened to him, and we must find out as soon as we can." After voicing my views, Clarisse spoke up.

"I call first hunt. Chiron will get suspicious if all of us leave together. My cabin may not like Prissy a lot, but he is the only one who deserves our respect for his skills."

I nodded, before assigning the other counsellors different days. Ares would go first, followed by my cabin, Hermes, Hephaestus, Demeter, Aphrodite and the cabins for minor gods if they wish to help out. I discussed with Clarisse on the areas her group would scope and left for the arena to keep my mind off of this.

Meanwhile on Olympus…

Artemis POV

I was strolling around the garden, my thoughts elsewhere as I unknowingly walked straight into an ice block. So much for being a hunter… It had been days since Perseus' accident, but he has yet to awaken! It's like his body has a mind of its own, intentionally not waking when everyone is waiting for him to do so. I was so frustrated by his adamant, rebellious attitude, as this side of him still showed when he was unconscious! I mean, what kind of logic is that?!

This brought me to a new perspective. Why, oh gods why, do I even care about a boy's safety? Since when have I ever been bothered about a male? Perhaps I just want to find out what happened to him. Yes, that must be it. My wandering thoughts were giving me a headache, and I did not appreciate the bump the ice gave me. It just worsened my head… I rubbed my forehead in indignation, frustrated.

Speaking of which, why would there be an ice block in the middle of a garden? I gave it a glimpse, before double taking. "The Last Gift – Perseus Jackson". Hold on, the last gift? I scratched my scalp in bewilderment as I scrutinized the ice block, my eyes caught on a one-of-a-kind clam embedded at the centre of gravity of the block.

I stalked round the perimeter of the ice, and the clam shot open all of a sudden, revealing an exquisite ring it protected. The sight of the gem took my breath away as stood rooted on the spot, taking in the beauty of this wonderful piece of art. The craftsmanship was elegant and delicate, making the ring look so fragile yet strong at the same time.

"It's divine, isn't it?" A voice came from behind me, as I jumped up in shock at the sudden presence. Two times, Artemis! Two times, you failed to notice your surroundings! Aphrodite stood behind me, a lovesick expression washed over her face. Her perfume was choking me, as always, but I knew she had answers I wanted.

"What happened between the two?" I asked. Her facial expression darkened and she frowned at my question. Her eyes seemed to contemplate whether or not she should tell me something. I gave her a pleading look, which I never did. I have no idea what got over me, but my heart ached for her reply.

"I'll give you two words. New love," she said, before turning around, 'accidentally' whipping her hair in my face, and left. New love? What did she mean? Could Perseus have cheated on Annabeth but got caught? He is still a male, and it's not surprising that he would break a girl's heart… But he's different.

I decided to check on Annabeth, secretly, to see if I can find out what happened. Using my godly senses, I pictured Camp Half-Blood and the image of the rec room appeared. Fuzzy, but it was enough. A few counsellors surrounded the Ping-Pong table and were currently in a heated discussion.

"What do you mean you can't find any traces?! A demigod leaves a scent or trail behind, even a ghost does!" Annabeth screeched, her face contorted in confusion and anger.

"Gee, I don't know, what do you think? If there's no trace, it either means he hasn't been in that area, or he's dead! What else could I have meant?" A burly-looking girl shouted back, rolling her eyes at the supposed stupidity of a certain daughter of Athena.

"Don't you EVER say that about Percy! I knew it from the start, you were never serious about looking for him and you only volunteered for the sake of your cabin's honour!" A look of fury spread across Annabeth's face, as her stormy grey eyes flashed dangerously, threatening those around her as if saying 'Try me, and it'll be the last thing you ever do'.

I cut the connection with my mind as all the yelling was giving me a migraine, and that was all I needed to know as of now. I had to put up false trails and leave some of Perseus' scent around the city, making sure they stray away from the Empire State Building but not too much to cause suspicion. I just had to throw them off course until Perseus awakes and decides for himself what he wanted to do.

Judging by the anxiousness and anger of Annabeth, I doubt she found out about Perseus' wrongdoings. Either that… or he didn't cheat on her. Sighing, I paced around mini palace on Olympus, my thoughts drifting from the Hunt to Perseus occasionally.

The rest of the week passed by uneventfully, as I travelled around the forests in America with my Hunt. Though I loved them like my daughters and sisters, the only who connected with me was Thalia. As my lieutenant, she had extra duties, which included being in charge when I wasn't around. That increased our contact time brought us closer, in a way. Anyway, since she was the only one besides the gods to know about Perseus' condition, I could only confide in her as she did with me.

"Milady, why is Percy taking so long to wake up? I'm really worried about him… I mean I knew his head was filled with kelp, but who would have expected him to jump off Olympus?! What kind of idiot or maniac would do such a thing?" Thalia continued ranting in a hushed tone, as the two of us walked ahead of the hunt, leading the rest to a new camp area.

"Thalia… I do not know why, but I know it has something to do with his relationship with Annabeth. I—"

"WHAT!" She shrieked in surprise, startling our hunt and perhaps all the animals or monsters within hundreds of metres from us. The lightning the crackled off her skin tuned down as she began to take notice of the dozens of eyes on her. She gave a sheepish smile before continuing in a whisper.

"That's impossible! The two of them are closer than anything in the world! Percy has done so much for Annabeth, and you should have seen how pained she was when he disappeared for months! He fell down Tartarus for her! There's no way for their relationship to waver. Nothing can come between them."

I shook my head at her reasoning. As much as I wanted to believe that, Aphrodite's words hung in my head. Something happened. I'm not sure what, but I will find out.

"Sis! Sis! He's awake! Hurry!" Apollo chimed as he flashed himself in front of me before disappearing as quickly as he came. Without thinking, I flashed myself outside the infirmary where Perseus was and rushed forwards.

Oops, I left Thalia behind… I slapped my forehead before going back to get Thalia, bringing the both of us right beside Perseus' bed this time instead. Upon our sudden visit, he jumped up in shock, totally not expecting our presence. Before he could recover though, Thalia jumped onto him and squeezed the life out of him, but I managed to pull her away just as he was about to turn purple.

Now that I could see Perseus more clearly, I realized he was in a terrible state. His eyes were dry and hollow, and I could see how broken he was just by looking into the once lively sea-green orbs. Why he felt that way, we would find out soon enough. His jet-black hair was as messy as ever, but it had grown over the months to cover part of his ears, some even touching his shoulders. His face was pale from the coma he had, and one could make out some faded deep gashes near his cheeks and forehead. Despite the faint scars and prominent grey streaks of hair, his face was charming and showed a calm demeanor that indicated he was ready for anything. Wait wait wait… Where did 'charming' come from?!

While he stared at me and noticed my fixated gaze, I took note that his body was still very weak. His shoulders were slumped forwards and his chest heaved up and down, his eyes occasionally closing for a brief moment as if staying awake was a chore to him.

"What. The. Hell. Happened! Do you have any idea how worried we were? Add the fact that I could tell no one of your little stunt except the gods while I watched the campers send out search parties all over the country for you! Do you know how worried Annabeth—" Thalia drabbled on, taking me out of my thoughts. When she mentioned Annabeth though, Perseus stopped breathing for a few moments, before he started gasping for air desperately. His eyes looked empty as tears finally wet them, but he held them in. I literally felt his heart clench after he heard his girlfriend's name, as the light dimmed by a considerable degree in the infirmary. What was going on?

As Perseus turned his head away, Thalia continued, though in a softer and concerned tone. "What is it Kelp Head…? I'm sorry for ranting, but I was just so lost when you weren't around. And now that you've finally come to, I don't know what to say. Take your time, but please tell milady and me your story…" She almost never spoke like that, with the exception of the times when she found a fatally injured animal. I could see tears well up in her eyes as a single drop fell onto the sheets below. It was the first time I saw my lieutenant look so fragile and vulnerable, even though she was just a bystander of this situation Perseus was in. I could finally feel the bond the two children of the Big Three shared, as Perseus directed his eyes at Thalia's shaken form.

"I…I'm sorry," he croaked out, before looking down at his feet in guilt, or in sorrow, perhaps both. "It's just that I saw… I saw…."

"Perseus, if you don't wish to tell us, we won't force it upon you to do so. Calm down, alright?"

He looked me straight in the eye, reflecting a deep sense of understanding he had towards me. "I now know why you swore off the company of men, milady… It just saves so much more…"

"Percy, what do you mean?" Thalia questioned, cocking her head to one side confused.

"Isawherkissinganotherguy"

"Sorry, what?"

"I saw her… kissing… anotherguy," he finished, gulping and blinking back tears as he tried to get through the sentence. I was dumbfounded. Did a girl cheat on a male?! This was unbelievable. No, no this can only happen if Aphrodite interfered.

"She grew more and more distant from me ever since I started my training at Atlantis… I never thought much about it but now that I do, I realized her heart was always somewhere else when we were together. That night was the final straw, when I was preparing to propose to her. I thought I had it all; the perfect girlfriend and a peaceful future that awaited us. But that night, I found out… how wrong I was. I was foolish to think I could have a happy ending. Heroes never do." He choked out, tears already trickling down his cheek and dripping off from his chin. "I wanted to end my life so bad, you know? Everything was over. I had nothing else to live for in this world, and I just wanted the pain to go away. It hurts… so bad… It's like my heart was compressed to beyond minimum capacity, before it got twisted and ripped right out of my chest. No, it's far worse than that, Artemis. Your choice to stay a maiden forever was the smartest decision I've witnessed."

Perseus was breathing heavily, his body shaking with his emotions pouring out of in every possible way. Was he that miserable?

Percy POV (finally! Sorry about the wait)

I just woke up, which was dreaded news to me. My head throbbed in pain as I struggled to make out my surroundings. A bed, okay; other beds, white, plain walls? Nope. Instead of a normal hospital room, various flasks of potions, nectar or ambrosia surrounded me, and the walls were lined with portraits of the different Greek gods. Great, I was back to where I came from… The events of last night came rushing back to me; each scene that unfolded sent a celestial bronze-tipped spear straight into my heart. Was it last night? How long have I been out? The bigger question is, how in the name of Zeus did I even survive?! Name me one mortal who can't manipulate the winds or sky, besides me, who survived a 600-storey fall. You can't, can you?

Confused, I tried to stand up, only to be pushed back by an invisible force field I later found out to be Apollo's arms.

"Hey! You're awake!" The cheerful yet horribly annoying voice sang. I nodded glumly before asking what had happened during the time I was out.

"Well, let's see. You were unconscious for more than a week, your dad, Artemis, Thalia, Hestia and yours truly were worried sick, and your camp has sent out some search parties. Seems like nothing much to me."

Artemis was worried for me? It must be because of Thalia… Oh gods she's probably going to kill me for what I did. Until she finds out what she did. I let out a strangled gasp and Apollo asked whom I wanted to see first. Since I am depleted of hope, and warmth, I told him I would like to meet Lady Hestia, then Artemis and my dad. And to piss him off, I mentioned 'Apollo' at the end of the queue.

Apollo pouted before summoning Hestia and leaving us to our privacy. What I absolutely loved about Hestia was her affection and care towards others. Even though many ignored her, she never failed to do her duty in tending to the hearth of Olympus. She's what keeps us together, yet no one pays her as much respect as they would to the other gods. That's what sickens me. So many campers worship and honour Zeus just because he's the ruler and has the power of obliterate anyone he pleases to, but end up neglecting the most crucial god.

Hestia came forward and gave me a comforting hug, expressing all her words and emotions in that single gesture. I understood her completely. She was worried how I disappeared and ended up in a weeklong coma, but knew and felt sorry for my predicament. After all, she watches the hearth and can see wherever there's fire. She must have seen what I did, because she poured her empathy into the hug before giving me a peck on the cheeks and flashing out.

Moments later, the door burst open to reveal Lady Artemis and the fearsome Thalia. I prepared myself for the worst, as she engulfed me in a hug before unleashing her fury of words all over me. I at least tried to listen to what she was saying, but I regretted it almost immediately as she said that one name which killed me on the inside. Annabeth. Her name seemed to echo around the room as I stiffened and tried to look away before either of them saw my eyes.

I know myself enough to sense that my eyes would betray my thoughts and emotions, but it was too late. Thalia had stopped midsentence before switching to a totally un-Thalia-like tone that sent chills up my spine. I dwelled on whether or not I should tell them, seeing that they are the only ones who I knew I could trust. Before I could make up my mind though, a single tear dripped down from above. Not mine, but Thalia's. Throughout our friendship, I have yet to witness her drop a tear for me, but at that moment, I knew she deserved to know.

"I…I'm sorry. It's just that I saw… I saw…" I couldn't bring myself to say those words out, because I wanted to deny the truth they held. Once I said it, it would forever be labeled as it is.

"Perseus, if you don't wish to tell us, we won't force it upon you to do so. Calm down, alright?" Artemis whispered, her eyes softening up. She looked sort of cute when she's worried… Percy… you're halfway through the story? Oh, right.

I thought back to what I witnessed that night. I was bursting with joy and anticipation as I had waited so long for that moment, only for it to be destroyed by another male.

"I now know why you swore off the company of men, milady… It just saves so much more…" It was true… If I hadn't gotten involved in a relationship or even the concept of 'love' for that matter, all this would not have happened. Things wouldn't be so complicated as it is now.

"Percy, what do you mean?" Thalia questioned, cocking her head to one side confused. Uh-oh… Did I really have to say it? Those words I thought I could escape from? But Thalia knows you; she deserves to know the truth…

"Isawherkissinganotherguy" I spit out in a single breath, wanting to get it over with as soon as possible.

"Sorry, what?" Damn it already!

"I saw her… kissing… anotherguy," I gulped, holding back my tears. Before either of them could ask further, I explained the theory behind my earlier statement on swearing off the opposite gender. I broke down halfway through, not being able to hold back any longer. Tears that accumulated over the week gushed out, threatening to burst my eyeballs from the high level pressure it exerted. All my feelings, particularly pain, poured out of me, as my body shook vigorously with the amount of energy I was letting out of my system.

There I was, sitting on the edge of a bed, crying heavily for the first time in many years. I began to realize that Anna– she was just an offset to this sudden outburst of emotions. Every quest I took, all the loss the camp faced, the misery and horror of Tartarus, the constant fear of losing my parents and friends…

I went ahead and exposed all the suffering I had built up within me, as I knew this would be one of those rare times where I got to let my feelings out. I explained to Artemis and a still frozen Thalia about my thoughts that night on the edge of Olympus, before I jumped off. I didn't understand how I survived, but I told them just how much I wanted to have perished. I was tired of the life I was leading and the escape was death. A new start was out of the question with my background.

Without meaning to, I wrapped my arms around the nearest of the two around me, my body craving for some human contact. My mum was the one who would comfort me and soothe me when I felt out of control, but she isn't here now. I longed for a familiar touch and practice as whomever I was hugging awkwardly placed her soft and tender arms around my back, patting me slowly and rubbing circles with her palm.

At that gesture, I only sobbed harder, as that was exactly what my mother used to do. I held onto her desperately, as though she was holding me back from death itself, not that I feared it. I embraced it, actually, but whomever I was hugging didn't let me go. She only held on tighter, grasping me in a bear hug before I caught sight of the auburn hair splayed across her back… Oh crap.

I gave Artemis one final squeeze and took in her intoxicating smell that made my head go fuzzy, before I let go and blushed heavily. I could tell she that too was flushed, but unless I wanted to be turned into a Jackalope, which I was surprised I hadn't already become one by the way, I should keep to myself. And thank gods I did.

I murmured a sorry and felt Thalia's piercing gaze alternating between the two of us, her eyes narrowing in suspicion and ... mischief. I didn't know what to make of the current situation we were in so I cleared my throat and plopped back down on my bed. Big mistake.

"Ugh," I let loose a whimper as my back connected with the mattress, causing me to jump back up to relief the pain… Only for my head to bump straight into Artemis'! I groaned and rubbed my forehead indignantly, blaming my luck. Artemis glared at me, making me shrink back timidly which only earned me a snicker from the grinning Thalia.

"Oh shut it Thals," I rolled my eyes and gestured for her to zip up her lips. She gave me a weak smile as she acknowledged my old self. Sigh, I wonder what awaits me… My head bolted upright as I thought of my mum. "Please tell me my mum doesn't know of my accident…" I pleaded, emphasizing on the word 'please'.

"Don't worry Perseus, no one except the gods and Thalia knows. The camp has been denied the truth as well, though some were sent out as scouting and search parties. I had to throw them off the track so as to avoid their suspicion, but Anna— she suspects something. Anyway, I think you should let your dad know you're okay now. See you later Perseus, don't overtire yourself. Your body is still weak from the all that sleep and is adapting to your new powers."

New powers?! I looked to her in confusion, before she told me about Hyperion, which made sense to me. I was excited about learning a new power, and perhaps mixing both together to develop another fighting style. It would be awesome!

She bade farewell after Thalia gave me one last hug and apologizing for her outrage, and Poseidon flashed in soon after.

"Oh Percy, thank gods you're alright! What happened?" Dad sighed with relief as he saw me, pulling me into yet another hug. Wow, I could really do with a shower soon; I'm still covered in a layer of sweat and dried tears. And I was unconscious for over a week!

"Hey Dad, sorry for worrying you…" I took a deep breath and continued. "Look, I'm tired so I'm just going to cut to the chase… But you have to swear on the River Styx not to do anything to those involved…" I persuaded, for my fatal flaw is still Loyalty. You can't expect me to let my father curse or torture her, can you? Well, I can, but I don't want to…

"What! Who is it, and why must I swear? Are you trying to cover up—" His eyes flashed in anger and mild confusion, but I interrupted him before he could start another long speech about who's deserving and who's not…

"Dad… If you don't swear, I can't tell you!"

"Ugh! Fine. I, Poseidon the god of the seas, swear on the River Styx not to harm those who made you attempt… suicide," He said in defeat, but choked a little at the end.

I nodded before responding, albeit hesitantly. I didn't know how he was going to react, and I feared it as well. "Anna… Annabeth cheated on me…" My voice cracked a little at her name, but I ultimately managed to say. Silence… This can't be good…

You know how a bottle of coke explodes if you shake it too hard or drop some mentos in it? Yea… Imagine there, except this 'bottle of coke' is the god of the seas and earthquakes… Boy I would hate to be caught on land or at sea right now.

From up here, I can literally feel the waves and tsunamis crashing onto the shores of coastal areas, the tremor unleashed enough to mirror that of the Sichuan Earthquake. Thank gods I'm up on Olympus, safe from all the destruction. I pity those affected, duh, but I wasn't the one who caused my dad's wrath…

A few minutes passed and he still hasn't recovered from the shock and anger radiating off of him… Alright, time to step in.

"Hey um Dad, calm down?" I asked timidly, slowly approaching him in caution. His expression softened a little from my voice but he was still enraged. Yea, um, Lady Hestia? Can you help me with my dad for a moment? He doesn't seem to be taking the news very well… and I don't know what to do to calm him down. If he continues, a whole continent may end up getting destroyed! I prayed to Lady Hestia for help and, as usual, she came to my aid without ado.

I smiled to her and gestured to the infuriated Poseidon–statue, before her eyes widened and she recoiled in shock. She ultimately managed to wrap her arms around him in a sisterly manner and flash him to gods know where. It seemed to take immediate effect as the quakes stopped and the sea returned to its semi-'calm' state. Stressed, I decided to take a shower and walk about.

The water revitalized my body as my body took in the 'vitamins' it offered. I didn't realize how stiff my body was until I tried to bend down and got myself stuff in that position for a couple of minutes. An awkward one if I say so myself. I donned on a murky green hoodie and a pair of jeans I found in the wardrobe before making my way out. Upon exposure to the sunlight, warmth spread through my body and gave me a Round 2 boost of energy. I could only imagine the amount of power I would I hold if I was immersed in both light and water…

Artemis POV

I still couldn't believe what just happened. I hugged Perseus. What was going through my head at that time! I twirled a strand of my hair as I thought back to the warmth and comfort I felt when my body made contact with his… I felt heat creep up my cheeks but didn't bother hiding it for I was alone.

Now, I would have turned any male who even thought about touching me into a jackalope and killed him, but it was Perseus, and he was different. Yes, he was a male as well, but he was actually a man. The first I've seen in centuries. He's the same one who held the burden of the sky for me so I could assist Zoë; the same one who blamed himself for the death of 2 of my hunters though it was fate; the same one who gained the respect of Zoë and deemed him worthy of Riptide. He was the only decent man left; yet a girl broke his heart. Admittedly, there were some cases where it was the females who cheated, but those were against vile men! Perseus has not done anything categorized as such, and he definitely does not deserve to be treated that way.

As I thought about how life was so unfair to Perseus, prompting me to begin doubting my sanity, my eyelids drooped heavily and before I knew it, I dozed off on my couch.

Annabeth POV (She's a little prideful here but I've tried my best to tone it down. It's hard to explain her decision along the lines of the plot without slight variations… I had to rewrite this 3/4 times before I was finally satisfied.)

Over a week has passed, and traces of Percy had finally shown up mysteriously and in haphazard directions, but disappeared all of a sudden this afternoon. Being a daughter of Athena, possibilities popped up around my head and I came to the conclusion that someone had put up false trails of Percy just so they could keep us away from locating where he is. Normally, I would have persisted to the end because I never back down from an intellectual challenge. This time, however, I did. It was a wild goose chase I didn't want to be involved in again.

I was honestly worried for him, but I was feeling exasperated. Not just because of this endless search, but because of his lack of awareness. I mean, he seldom knew when to act serious and when not to, often being sarcastic to an unbelievable extent. Can't he be more mature sometimes? We were opposites that seemed to fit together perfectly, balancing out our odds. But now that I think of it, our relationship was perhaps forged out of urgency, based on our plight back then when we were constantly on the verge of a full-fledged war. We were best as partners or best friends, but being demigods, our romantic side can hardly ever progress with our lives being in danger every day. I truly appreciated his efforts and the things he has done for me over the years, but my fatal flaw was tugging me away from him… In defense, I tried my best to hold onto him, but we just seemed to drift further and further away now that life is peaceful without any worries for a war. Whenever I'm at camp, I'm either working on new monuments for Olympus or in the library, whereas Percy was at the arena training. I'm not sure who drove the other to do what they did, but I was too busy then to care. Maybe I was being a little workaholic and neglected him… But being a daughter of Athena, it's hard to resist the temptation of architecture and work over romance. I may be different from my half-siblings, but we still share certain innate characteristics I can't control.

Right now, I'm confused as to what I should do about Percy's disappearance. That actually says a lot seeing as who my mum is. With a sigh, I decided to call of the search for it was giving me a headache. It wasn't like me to give up, but if Percy didn't want to be found, I doubt we would succeed. Besides, what would I do when he returns? I'm not sure if our relationship still stands with my new feelings for Jake. New and stronger feelings. An epiphany hit me. 'We'll just stay as friends!' I thought with a smile. The simplest solution to this disaster. We could still hang out as always and spar or race, like we usually do. The only difference would be the romantic aspect and the worry of us drifting further away. It was perfect! Why didn't I think of this earlier?

I know I'm not acting like myself lately, but you can't blame me. The planning for the futile search has made me short-tempered and irritable, much like finding a needle in a haystack under the scorching sun. Tiresome, frustrating and out right impossible! I shook my head and cleared it of my thoughts before packing up. I was meeting Jake today for the first time since the incident, and I didn't want anything to ruin our new relationship!

~ Time Skip ~

"Hey, sorry for bailing on you for over a week… I was just so confused and troubled by everything and all that, but I've gotten my head back! It no longer matters when he returns, because I don't feel love for him anymore, you know? I think we'll be better of as friends instead. He'll forgive easily enough. I hope," I told Jake, whilst looping my arm over his and leaning on his shoulder. His scent of pencils and wood was drawing me closer towards him, as he squeezed my arm lightly before resting his chin on my head.

"Yea, don't worry I understand. I would've done the same time if I were you too. I'm just glad you're back. It was getting lonely up here without anyone to talk to…"

"Well, why don't you come to camp? It's really fun there and we can be together 24/7! Oh and you'll love Bunker 9. Not to forget a private library I designed myself beneath my cabin! It's absolutely magnificent, and I promise you, you won't regret it," I suggested in pleading tone, looking up into his brown orbs.

"I… I don't know… What if the campers there hate me? I don't think they'll appreciate you going out with someone when Percy just disappeared a week ago… And if he comes back, will he kill me? I've seen and heard how he can control his powers so well, plus his sword—"

"Don't be silly, Jake! He may not be very smart, but he's sensible enough to know not to let a grudge get between us. Besides, like I said, he'll forgive. He's not the type to let his emotions control him to the extent of killing a fellow camper… And the rest of the campers will soon grow to welcome you. I don't want us to become a secret and end up having to date discreetly behind everyone's back." I reasoned, giving him a mock-glare and my puppy dog eyes.

He finally gave in and agreed, saying he would pack his things tonight and head for camp with him next morning. Yippee! I cheered and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss. It soon became heated and blinded me of my surroundings, and I would have noticed Percy staring at us if not for it.

Percy POV

The first place I had in mind was to pay Aphrodite a visit. Why, you may ask? I had to gain assurance and 'advice' regarding my relationship with Annabeth. The hot pink temple came into view as I walked along the various buildings dedicated to the gods. I didn't want to get my feelings confused right before consulting the love goddess herself; hence I shall not describe the awe I had for her. Yes, yes very nice whatever.

Ugh, I wrinkled my nose in disgust as I turned into the pathway leading to Aphrodite's temple. No, it wasn't those old traditional Chinese temples; these are modernized ones that only take the structure of the former. Before I could knock, the door burst open as Aphrodite squashed me into a hug. Are you serious? Another hug?! I swear, this seems like an 'Olympian' thing that's been going on since I awoken.

"Hey, um, can't breathe!" I choked out, until she finally let go and ushered me in. The interior of the temple was, personally, revolting. I mean, who can stand that much pink! It's like some sort of strawberry milk castle with pink fluffy pillows and beanbags sprawled everywhere, not to forget the shelves upon shelves of make up. Gosh I wasn't so sure if I would survive staying in this 'place' for long.

"So… what brings you here Percy," She purred, though I was confident she knew exactly why I came.

"I want you to tell me… if what I witnessed the other night was true… And if you had any part to play in it. I'm ready for the truth, and don't lie to me."

She sighed, her dreamy expression lost. "Sadly, it's the truth. I'm sorry that you had to find out about her that way. You can be rest assured that I did not interfere in her new love. For someone to love another, he or she has to let go of any existing love, or neither will develop past a certain point. As in your case, the connection was growing weak ever since a few months ago, but it seems to be on the verge of breaking off any time now… Her mixed feelings for the two of you were unbalanced, but the other boy just tipped the scale a few nights before you found out. I really regret claiming that I would make your love life difficult, because I never expected something that drastic to take place. I'm… sorry, Percy."

Did she just apologize to me? Did she just say Anna– she (damn I've got to get over this) had given up on us? And had she really not interfered in it? Upon seeing the distrust in my eyes, Aphrodite started to swear she was telling the truth.

"I swear on the River—"

"It's okay, I believe you. No need for such measures…" I could see the sincerity behind her eyes and some relief and joy when I told her it was alright. Well, at least now I know for sure my heart was shattered for a reason. We sat in silence for a brief moment, before she gave me a piece of advice.

"You know, if you wish to get over her, all you have to do is give it time. Of course, that isn't the most effective solution, seeing that the duration varies with people and how deep the love was. For your case, I fear it may be quite some time… The quickest way is to find new love, but—"

"Oh I'm never going near love again. It's too painful to relive. The betrayal and mental torture is too much for me to bear. Thanks for the advice Aphrodite… I never thought I would thank the love goddess, but I guess you outplayed your role. And if a next hero comes, do try your best not to make him or her suffer a fate similar to mine, will you? Helping others isn't always a bad thing," I said with a bitter smile, before flashing her my grin and bidding farewell.

She didn't let me go without a hug, so I just rolled my eyes and tried to give her a quick hug, only it turned out to last for minutes. For the goddess of love, she sure was tough.

On the way back to the infirmary, I passed by the garden by the pool and to my dismay, heard some giggling. To be more specific, her giggling. Before I could escape though, I overheard snippets of their conversation, which tore a new hole in my chest.

"… Because I don't feel love for him anymore… friends instead… you won't regret it… Don't want … secret… date discreetly behind everyone's back… "

What was worse followed, as the two leaned in and kissed in my presence once again, though they were totally oblivious to that. I felt my tears dry up on my cheeks; I had cried unknowingly…

I turned my back and dashed off to the infirmary, slamming and locking the door behind me. I poured what was left of my heart out, as I recalled what she said… "I don't feel love for him anymore…" I knew that as a fact, but hearing her say it herself was a whole different story altogether. And seeing them make out like that… It just brought back horrible, heart wrenching memories. If this continued, I wouldn't be able to survive camp with them around! I had to get away… Away from all this havoc and misery.

Too much… to handle…

3rd Person POV

As soon as dawn arrived, Artemis flashed into the infirmary, wanting a word with Perseus. Alone. And she knew how he always slept in, so no one would even think about visiting him that early. It was a futile attempt though, because she failed to foretell what greeted her.

Instead of the sleeping and drooling form of Perseus, there lay a single envelope in his place. It was addressed to several persons, including Artemis herself, Thalia, Chiron, his dad, Hestia, Aphrodite, and some campers. Disbelief and sadness washed through her as she picked up the envelope sceptically, desperately wishing for Perseus to jump out from somewhere in the shadows to surprise her. But she knew he had left. Somewhere in her heart, she knew. It couldn't detect his presence on Olympus, and it hurt her to think that.

She slowly, with trembling fingers, pulled out one of the few notes from the envelope. It was addressed to her. She traced the borders of the paper as she forced herself to read its content, praying that Perseus was merely taking a stroll, but once again, her heart told her otherwise.

"Dear Artemis,

Thank you for being there for me when I woke up. You were the least person I expected to worry about me, but I guess I was wrong. I'm sorry for putting you, and the others, through any mental turmoil whatsoever. It pains me to say this, but I have to leave. It's for the best… You should know why, and I hope you and your hunt won't come looking for me. I promise I will return some day, but until then, I wish to be alone, in peace. Once again, thanks for everything. It means a lot to know that the gods and goddesses do care for me, even if I may have disrespected some of them before. Especially when the man-hating goddess allowed me to hug her. Sorry for bringing this up, but I want you to know I appreciate your help and that this secret stays safe with me. (But if it leaks out, it's Thalia!)

Love,

Percy Jackson, your ally.

The boy who swears off the company of women as of this date.

PS: If you ever need my help, not saying that you will, but if you do, throw this into a mist as you would a drachma. Fleecy will transmit your message to me, though it may not be a two-way communication. Remember, it can only be used once, so don't waste or lose it. Don't tell the others either, because I only gave it to you."

A single tear escaped Artemis' eye as it fell with a squish on the note Perseus had written to her. She smiled at his words, but frowned at the end of his note. She pocketed the special bright yellow and sea green token shaped like the moon. (To her, it was a moon, but it was really just a spherical token :D)

Artemis POV

I was touched… By what he said and how much he meant it. I know he wrote it from the bottom of his heart, but even so, he just had to tease me about our hug. It wasn't all that awkward when I thought back to it… I felt like I belonged in his arms, his embrace. The warmth that radiated off of him even though he was crying. It just showed that he was a true man; one that didn't fear of being judge by others not for being weak but for being strong for too long.

He told me not to look for him. Too bad I would. Reverse psychology, plus I really missed him… We never had a proper goodbye. Who am I to say all this? Wait… I'm a maiden goddess for Zeus' sake! Why am I even having such thoughts in the first place?! Gods, Perseus is the only one who can drive me insane… Not to forget we both swore off the company of the opposite gender. 'Unbelievable'. I sighed, shaking my head. That's it, I'm so going to hunt him down for confusing my thoughts! He's gonna pay~

With that, I turned on my heel, tucked his letter safely away and summoned those who received a similar (or not) letter from Perseus.

Perseus, I will find you...

AN: There you go! Where did Percy go? Expect the unexpected next Chap!(: Something's gonna happen to Percy, but the chapter probably won't be as long as this. Either that or it'll only be updated mid/nearing the end of Aug.

PS: [Read this if you doubt the reality behind Artemis' behaviour, thanks] I know it's quite a leap for Artemis to savour her hug with Percy (the last 3rd and 4th paragraph plus a little above) but I think it's still somewhat realistic. Percy's the only man whom she met and felt he was an anomaly of his gender. Because Percy is different, as explained earlier (he's not power-hungry, he rejected immortality twice, he saved Olympus twice not for reward but a sense of duty and family, his heart got broken by a girl and not the other way around, and Zoë actually praised him before she passed away. It's not impossible for Artemis to feel different towards him, and since she's often wary and intimidating towards men, the opposite reaction to someone totally different from the usual may indeed be slightly overbroad. Basically to sum it up, Percy's totally different, a one of a kind (literally), so Artemis can't help but not have a grudge with him, and since she's often evil to men, she doesn't really know how to 'control' her emotions or feelings/actions towards a decent man (it's a first). So… yea.

#SPOILER ALERT

About 2 or 3 more chapters more to go before Percy returns and reunites with his godly family. And... the reason behind the name of the story is obviously related to that. Make a guess if you want to, it's quite simple :P

Oh and Singapore follows the British spelling of words though MS Word may autocorrect some back to American spelling. I apologize for any inconsistency observed though I checked through.