Sally knew, she knew everything. Damn Amphitrite, you told her before you brought me here. Even if I didn't tell her a thing, she would still know. A failsafe just in case I failed to complete my task. Don't you trust me, Amphitrite? I need to speak with Perseus, which is all I want. I don't want to lose a close friend. But what happens next? What will happen to Perseus? I don't want him to die, I will save him even if I make the gods my enemy. But why won't you stand down. We both have a common goal. I know you will probably never forgive me but we both wish for Perseus' wellbeing. So let's end this, Sally.
She watched me. Her eyes watching my every movement like a lion ready to strike. I sat back down on my seat. I looked back at her, our eyes connecting. I flinched. She had a strong will, to stare down a god. But I am no mere coward either. I pushed away my fear enough to look her in the eyes.
"Yes… I was conscious… when we mad love" I said.
"So it's true…" she said, "you damn woman… using the potion as an excuse to justify your actions... Hurting my son, what right do you have over us mortals? Isi because you are a goddess? A maiden goddess, what a joke. If you truly were one, you wouldn't have hurt my Perseus."
"What do you mean? Are you calling me a loose woman?"
"Can't say it any better, can you Artemis?"
I clenched my hands. My blood began to boil. I wished to punish this mortal. I shot her a piercing glare. She returned it, showing no fear. I looked away. Powerless to take her judging stare.
Have I finally fallen so low that I fear a mortal? Or have I come to understand mortals are not simply inferior beings? Mortals have emotions and dreams they wish to accomplish. Perseus is one such mortal. I destroyed his dreams and broke him because of my weak will. And I blamed him for all I done. I hurt him like no one has. And betrayed him, even though he is a close friend by using him at my convenience. I understand now… Forgive me Perseus.
"Maybe I am… I didn't want to hurt him…"
Sally seemed to calm. She walked up to me. I stood up. A sharp, hot pain erupted from my face. Falling to my knees, holding my head in pain. Sally loomed over me. Her arm extended with her fist up. Sally had hit me…
Grabbing my robes, she pick up. We faced each other directly, our eyes connecting. "Stop lying you damn immortal," she said, "Tell me everything. From the beginning"
"Alright… I will," I said, "You have my word."
She released me, sitting back to her previous seat. "Not like you had a choice… but continue."
I took a deep breath. Wary of sally's piercing gaze. Rendering me almost useless but I will tell her everything. My close friendship with Perseus and over what occurred the night of the victory celebration.
It all began when Perseus saved me at mount Othrys. I had been holding the sky, in atlas place, as a way of torture for several days. I saw a group of demigods and Zoe burst into my cell. The boy, I recognized him. He is Perseus, the son of Poseidon who retrieved Zeus bolt. He willingly took the sky for me, allowing me to take on atlas. Zoe tried to save me but poisoned by Ladon, was a futile case. She ultimately died at the hands of her father.
I felt rage… and sadness for losing my most trusted lieutenant. Stealing a glance at the boy, I saw his face contorted in rage at losing a friend. Fighting atlas with all my strength, I pushed him back to his prison, I one swift move, I imprisoned him in his cursed prison, freeing Perseus from his prison.
Perseus did not move. His eyes widened, unable to handle the death of Zoe. I wondered why Zoe trusted him. He is male hero, the very thing she despised. Curious, I decide to speak with him.
After the quest, I spoke to him. His face priceless, a face of fear. After surpassing the initial setbacks, it astounded me that he was such a selfless and pure boy. Something burned in my heart, an emotion foreign to me. Fearing him to become corrupted as he grew older, I watched him.
I finally spoke to him for the first time after the titan war. We talked for hours after the war games between camper and the hunters. I, at that moment, did not realize that I loved him truly like I never have before. We met several times after that. Eventually we became close friends, the more we met.
And that night, I drank the wine first. I wanted to protect him. By the time, I knew what occurred, I let things happen. My skin burned uncontrollably, almost too hot. I fainted shortly after Perseus. When I awoke, I lay on my bed. Perseus next to me. The heat inside my exploded, unable to be controlled. My breathing quickened, I flinched at the feeling the cool air. I moved to Perseus, and climbed on top of him. He looked peaceful, almost as he had not fought any wars but evidence still remained such as a light scar on his left cheek.
I knew I should move, from such a filthy position but I couldn't, my body refused to obey my commands. Perseus awoke. I tried to break away… I did but I failed to notice a pair of hands at my waist. In a rapid movement, Perseus flipped me. He now stood on top. His fierce, burning hands traveled throughout my freezing body. It excited me, I wanted more. I could have left anytime, overpowered Percy but these new sensations were unknown to me but I couldn't be without them. Everything I felt was scorching heat and pleasure at its purest form. It was all I felt, even as Perseus took my purity, I did not stop him. Nothing else mattered to me but him. I wanted nothing but for Perseus… no, Percy stay by my side.
So I did something cruel. Since I am the goddess of childbirth and technically associated with fertility. I gave myself a blessing of fertility. So I wished to entrap Perseus with a child. Sooner or later he would come to love me. The morning after, I felt strange...almost sick but I ignored it. I was happy, ecstatic have taken him first but I finally saw Perseus' true self. A broken hero without any will to live. I refused to believe it and I in anger assaulted him. Luckily Apollo and Aphrodite stopped me, but the damage was done. Perseus had become a husk devoid of anything but sadness and utter regret because of me.
"That is the truth… Sally," I said. Water droplets began hitting my hands. Am I crying? I promised myself I wouldn't cry but I can't stop these tears. Why did I do all that? Was it truly to protect him? Or was it for my selfish ambition? I really don't know anymore but I know I regret it all. My heart clenched, all I feel is sadness and regret.
Tears flowed freely down my face, unrestrained. I released my entire soul with tears. Regret, and sadness released from the built up dam of emotions, I knew I hurt the very man I loved. I won't do it again. But I still feel strange…almost sick. Gods cannot become sick. The only reason a god, No only goddesses…would feel such sickness. And there is only one reason that is if a goddess is pregnant. So I means I carry his child, then my objective is complete. But I don't feel elated due to the consequences of what I have done? To atone for my actions, I will leave Olympus for a while… and raise this child, I carry.
So what I thought was a sickness, was me sensing another being inside me, since that morning. I blocked everything once I saw Perseus's condition. I guess at first, I felt elated, due to the existence of a child but I denied the child later to the point, I had forgotten its existence. But I can't deny the child any longer, it has the right to live. Well…It would be what Perseus would have done.
"Forgive me…Sally," I said.
"I am not the one who will decides… it is my son, Perseus you should apologize to," she said calmly.
I let out heart wrenching sobs. I wrapped my arm around myself as I were protecting myself. I am such a sad being. Hurting Perseus, the man I love? I must… no, I will tell him everything and resolve this whole mess. I won't hold back on anything, even the child. He deserves. Whether he accepts or not, it is his choice.
"Sally… I must tell you…that I truly bear Perseus's child… "
Her face slackened, body unmoving as color drained from her face. After a few moments, she turned toward me, with her rage filled eyes.
"You are a cruel person… involving an unborn child" she said," but I understand your love for him is true."
"What? That is it? Don't you hate me for what I did to your son?" I said
"Yes… I do. I wish only to cut you into pieces and throw you into Tartarus personally," she said, giving a small smile," I know because I tried doing the same thing with Poseidon."
"What?" I asked.
"Well… what most people don't know is because I am illegitimate daughter of Amphitrite," I said, "and I tried to take my mother husband the same way… but after some scuffles and fights, tears shed, battleship battles with live ammo… don't ask… I reconciled with my mother and Poseidon. She still hated Percy for a while after that but she ended up liking her grandson eventually."
"What?" I said…it was all could say.
"Now go… Save my son otherwise my threats will come true." She said menacingly.
I nodded. I ran out the apartment. Heading toward Olympus, my final destination. Time to end this…
*Chapter done...Happy new years...