Welcome back! Thank you for all of the reviews, favorites and Alerts. I can't believe how fast the reviews and the other stuff came, compared to Fire Meets Water and Percy Jackson: Uprising. Anyway, on to the review replies!
keenbeenz: I'll try to update every week, but no promises!
Avardsin: I'll fix that some other time, and thanks for finding the typo!
Disclaimer: I don't own PJO
Enjoy the new chapter!
Chapter Two: Artemis loves who?
"But she'll send me to Tartarus!" I exclaimed. I could envision myself being turned into an animal and having her Hunters to hunt me down. If she's merciful.
"Well I want to see who she's in love with. She's been acting way too blank and unfocused lately. She's not even able to get rid of Apollo any more," stated Aphrodite.
"Bu-"
"Plus, they won't recognize you with your mask on. Also, in the past, you couldn't shoot for your life, so you'll be the last person they would expect." Wow, Aphrodite was actually using logic. Then she flicked me.
"What did I say about making fun of your patron?"
"Sorry my lady," I replied politely. "Fine, but I'm still skeptical."
Then she tempted me, "Well, a lot of new-found love could lift a lot of grief!"
"I'm in," I said. "When do I set out, Lady Aphrodite?"
"Now, but make sure to return after 4 o'clock in the morning. I have to... entertain Ares for a while," said Aphrodite.
I answered, "Okay, just not on my bed! Remember the last time?" I stretched my cupid wings and flew out of Aphrodite's window, exposing me to the cold midnight New York air. Lights were everywhere, and people were still walking around. New York never sleeps.
They're in Central Park, said Aphrodite in my mind. So I did a dive, plummeting through the air towards their camp. I could see a campfire, with sixteen silver tents surrounding it. Silhouettes were on logs surrounding the camp, and there were a few scattered around, probably for defense. I swooped down on a nearby branch, readying my bow.
"Now, ready yourselves, Hunters, to see another awful man for this week's Man Hunt, a show meant to strengthen your hatred for the opposite gender," said Artemis. "The filth's name is..." that's where I zoned out. Another horrible person, blah blah blah. Artemis is getting old and predictable. Then Artemis shifted.
"Hm, my Man-Sense is tingling. Hunters, spread out and find the offender!" Then they started walking away from the campfire. Perfect! I aimed at one and shot, hitting the Huntress on the small of her back.
"Ryan!" she yelled. See, a side-effect of the love arrow was that the victim would say the name of the object of their affection. Her voice summoned the other Hunters to her, which made it easier for me.
"Steve!" "Tyler!" "Steven!" The screams filled the air, following an arrow near my vicinity. One even got so close that it grazed my belt, almost breaking it. I held my hand over the hole and it closed up. Yep, I have the very useful power of healing clothes. Then someone tackled me from behind, making the both of us fall down.
"My lady!" said Thalia's voice. "My lady, I have the- Nico!" She yelled as I stabbed her with the love arrow. Perfectly harmless, disappears after it's made contact with a conscious being. I shoved her off and bolted with my stuff, dodging the arrows flying my way.
I decided to risk it. I yelled, "Go to sleep!" in the most powerful voice I could muster as the arrows stopped flying. Another power Aphrodite gave me was charmspeak, and only minor gods and above could refuse, excluding fellow charmspeakers. Then I readied both my bow and Riptide. This would be me against Artemis. I crouched low, having both the disadvantage of Riptide's glow and the advantage of surprise. Then I heard a rustle from behind.
Artemis appeared from the bush, hunting knives pointed forward. I raised Riptide, blocking the blow. I stood up to my six foot frame and tried to knock her out using the flat of my blade. She ducked and lashed out, almost cutting my guts out if I hadn't stepped to the side. I slammed the butt of my hilt into the back of her head hard as she passed by, making her woozy. I guess after fighting Annabeth for years really taught me not to go easy on girls. I hit her head again, making her pass out. The shock from both my sudden assault and my physical force was just too much for her tired godly body. I brought out an arrow and stabbed her with it.
"Percy," she moaned in her unconsciousness. What the Hades? Wasn't my explanation from Chapter One enough? This was impossible! I checked my watch, four thirty. I had been waiting and hiding for three and a half hours? Wow, my ADHD has really toned down!
I stretched my wings, and pushed off of the ground, flying towards Olympus. Luckily, since I was a servant of a goddess and could fly, I could just fly through the air barriers, instead of dealing with the stupid guard. I flew in just as Ares left the house. Aphrodite only had her underwear on, sticky and sweaty from the... activity she just did, though the love goddess in underwear didn't faze me anymore.
"My lady, the deed was done," I said. "Now can I go to sleep?"
Aphrodite said, "Wait. Who is Artie's crush?"
I started to stutter. "I-I... um... you see... Peter! Um... Peter... Johnson!" Then she pursed her lips.
"Tell me the truth," said Aphrodite without charmspeak, "or I'll make you."
I started getting a little comfortable with the lie, "Nope, her crush is Peter Jackson- I mean Johnson." Emphasis on a little comfortable.
Then she swooped upwards and kissed me. No, she isn't using "The Power of Love and Friendship!" or anything stupid like that. She was using a certain form of magic, since I was immune to charmspeak. The magic in this kiss caused men and homosexual women to tell her anything, because this was the most pleasurable kiss in the world. She called it her "Godly Kiss", and it was pretty gross when she demonstrated this. She would just pluck a random male godling from the street and kiss him, ask him a question, and sent him on his way while she made me do the same thing to the opposite sex. Let's just say it didn't work out well. I had to drink twenty cans of ambrosia, one every day. Plus, I couldn't move.
She broke apart. "Now tell me the truth."
"M-Me." Then she laughed. "Ha! I knew it! Artie likes Percy and Percy likes... no one! Ha ha!"
I grumbled under my breath. "Can I sleep now?"
"Yes, but I wouldn't sleep in your bed if I were you." Cue more grumbling from me. I walked into Aphrodite's room, slipped into her bed and fell asleep.
So there it is. Tell me if you guys find any typo's or grammatical errors, and I'll fix them some day.
Goodbye!
