Integrity
Chapter 3
Nico's Dilemma
Author's notes: As I've said before I don't own Percy Jackson and The Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus. Everything in bold belongs to Rick Riordan. Enjoy!
To the Guest reviewer who wanted to know the point of me bringing in Bianca and Zoe who are dead in the future (and from the past) and Luke who said he'd try for rebirth. We're just going to pretend that Luke hasn't yet left Elysium to be reborn. Bianca has, the reason that they were brought back was that people wanted them to come and read with them. Bianca because they thought that it would help Nico with everything that's going on, Zoe because she is a big part of this book.
...
Chapter 3: Bianca Di Angelo Makes A Choice
"Of course I had to get this chapter." Nico grumbled.
Jason frowned at that wondering what the Son of Hades could possibly mean by that. He was about to ask him when the Son of Hades continued to read somewhat reluctantly.
After seeing Dr. Thorn turn into a monster and plummet off the edge of a cliff with Annabeth, you'd think nothing else could shock me. But when this twelve-year-old girl told me she was the goddess Artemis, I said something real intelligent like, "Um... Okay. "
They snorted in response.
That was nothing compared to Grover. He gasped, then knelt hastily in the snow and started yammering, "Thank you, Lady Artemis! You're so... You're so... Wow!"
"Get up, goat boy!" Thalia snapped. "We have other things to worry about. Annabeth is gone!"
They all fell silent at the reminder.
"Whoa, " Bianca di Angelo said. "Hold up. Time out. "
Everybody looked at her. She pointed her finger at all of us in turn, like she was trying to connect the dots. "Who... Who are you people?"
Artemis's expression softened. "It might be a better question, my dear girl, to ask who are you! Who are your parents?"
They listened intently hoping to find out more about the son of Hades.
Bianca glanced nervously at her brother, who was still staring in awe at Artemis.
Our parents are dead, " Bianca said. "We're orphans. There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but... "
She faltered. I guess she could tell from our faces that we didn't believe her.
Bianca nodded in agreement with the last statement.
"What?" she demanded. "I'm telling the truth. "
"You are a half-blood, " Zoe Nightshade said. Her accent was hard to place. It sounded old- fashioned, like she was reading from a really old book. "One of thy parents was mortal. The other was an Olympian. "
"An Olympian... Athlete?"
"Yes, all of our parents are Olympian athletes." Leo said seriously. "Percy's dad in an Olympic swimmer, Frank's dad is an Olympic road cycler."
The others snorted. "You're making the last category up." Piper accused.
"No, it seriously is a real category in today's Olympics." Leo told them.
"Really?" Jason said in disbelief.
"Yep." Leo nodded. "Now, where was I? Oh and Annabeth's mom is-"
"Maybe we should just keep reading?" Rachel suggested cutting of the son of Hephaestus.
"Good idea." Annabeth agreed. She gestured for Nico to continue.
"No, " Zoe said. "One of the gods. "
"Cool!" said Nico.
"No!" Bianca's voice quavered. "This is not cool!"
Nico groaned at the next couple of lines. The others raised their eyebrows at his reaction.
Reyna looked over his shoulder to see what the fuss was about. When she saw the next few paragraphs she laughed softly. "Just go on and read Nico. The sooner you read the sooner it will all be over with."
The son of Hades sighed before reading on.
Nico danced around like he needed to use the restroom. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for-"
They all looked amused at the last few lines. Nico read on ignoring them.
The son of Apollo grinned at how Nico used to be. He was an energetic, lovable little kid. Then he frowned suddenly wondering what had happened to the kid he used to be.
"Nico, shut up!" Bianca put her hands to her face. "This is not your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? There are no gods!"
As anxious as I felt about Annabeth-all I wanted to do was search for her-I couldn't help feeling sorry for the di Angelos. I remembered what it was like for me when I first learned I was a demigod.
Thalia must've been feeling something similar, because the anger in her eyes subsided a little bit. "Bianca, I know it's hard to believe. But the gods are still around. Trust me. They're immortal. And whenever they have kids with regular humans, kids like us, well... Our lives are dangerous. "
"Amen to that." Reyna said quietly. She then sighed sadly remembering her own troubled past. She didn't mean for the others to hear but they had anyways. They all looked at the daughter of Bellona in surprise. What had happened to Reyna in the past to make her say that? Is seemed so out of character for the normally brave, confident, and strong Praetor of New Rome.
Nico read on before they could ask the girl who was becoming like another sister to him any questions. She shot him a quick look of gratitude before she went back to listening to him read. The others had noticed that look as well. What exactly was in Reyna's past that she didn't want to discuss? What didn't they know about the female Praetor? Come to think of it...why had she acted weird when they had read about Percy and Annabeth washing up at Circe's spa and resort. She hadn't even been there...or had she? Maybe she was the unnamed girl.
"Dangerous, " Bianca said, "like the girl who fell. "
They all looked solemn at the reminder.
Bianca winced before apologizing. "That was insensitive. I'm sorry."
"It's fine Bianca." Annabeth assured her.
Thalia turned away. Even Artemis looked pained.
"Do not despair for Annabeth, " the goddess said. "She was a brave maiden. If she can be found, I shall find her. "
"Then why won't you let us go look for her?" I asked.
The other demigods who hadn't been there were asking themselves the same question.
"She is gone. Can't you sense it, Son of Poseidon? Some magic is at work. I do not know exactly how or why, but your friend has vanished. "
I still wanted to jump off the cliff and search for her, but I had a feeling that Artemis was right. Annabeth was gone. If she'd been down there in the sea, I thought, I'd be able to feel her presence.
They all looked a little down and depressed at the last paragraph. They hoped that Annabeth was okay, wherever she was.
"Oo!" Nico raised his hand. "What about Dr. Thorn? That was awesome how you shot him with arrows! Is he dead?"
"He was a manticore, " Artemis said. "Hopefully he is destroyed for now, but monsters never truly die. They re-form over and over again, and they must be hunted whenever they reappear. "
"Or they'll hunt us, " Thalia said.
"That's right." Frank sighed.
Bianca di Angelo shivered. "That explains... Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley in DC?"
"And that bus driver, " Nico said. "The one with the ram's horns. I told you that was real. "
Hazel glanced at her brother worriedly at that sentence. "You guys weren't hurt...were you?" She glanced from Bianca to Nico.
"We were fine, Hazel." Nico assured her. The daughter nodded sighing with relief as Nico went back to reading.
"That's why Grover has been watching you, " I said. "To keep you safe, if you turned out to be half-bloods. "
"Grover?" Bianca stared at him. "You're a demigod?"
"Well, a satyr, actually. " He kicked off his shoes and displayed his goat hooves. I thought Bianca was going to faint right there.
"It was a little overwhelming." Bianca said.
"Grover, put your shoes back on, " Thalia said. "You're freaking her out. "
"Hey, my hooves are clean!"
They all laughed at that part. Chiron chuckled softly even Zoe couldn't help but let a small smile show.
"Bianca, " I said, "we came here to help you. You and Nico need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet. You need to come to camp. "
"Camp?" she asked.
"Camp Half-Blood, " I said. "It's where half-bloods learn to survive and stuff. You can join us, stay there year-round if you like. "
"Sweet, let's go!" said Nico.
Leo grinned at Nico's enthusiasm. In fact he acted similar on their way to Camp Half Blood. "You were such a cute kid Nico."
Nico glared at him, and mumbled something that sounded like "Shut up Valdez." But he said it in a way that Leo knew he was only teasing him. Nico wasn't really all that upset with him. The son of Hades didn't want to say anything to hurt the Son of Hephaestus anymore than he already had been hurt by the other demigods.
Leo just smiled at him with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. The son of Hades knew what that meant. Leo was planning something and he doubted that he would like whatever it was. Nico decided to keep reading.
"Wait, " Bianca shook her head. "I don't-"
"There is another option, " Zoe said.
"No, there isn't!" Thalia said.
Thalia and Zoe glared at each other. I didn't know what they were talking about, but I could tell there was bad history between them. For some reason, they seriously hated each other.
"Yep." Luke sighed remembering their first encounter with the Hunters of Artemis. It was right before they had met Annabeth and Hal. Luke frowned at the sad thought and shook his head trying to get rid of it.
"We've burdened these children enough, " Artemis announced. "Zoe, we will rest here for a few hours. Raise the tents. Treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests' belongings from the school. "
"Yes, my lady. "
"And, Bianca, come with me. I would like to speak with you. "
Nico looked at the book hoping that he wouldn't have to read about what was coming next. He wasn't seriously going to have to read about his sisters conversation with Artemis right? With his luck he probably would have to.
"What about me?" Nico asked.
Artemis considered the boy. "Perhaps you can show Grover how to play that card game you enjoy. I'm sure Grover would be happy to entertain you for a while... As a favor to me?"
Grover just about tripped over himself getting up. "You bet! Come on, Nico!"
Nico and Grover walked off toward the woods, talking about hit points and armor ratings and a bunch of other geeky stuff.
Nico made a face after reading that line before he read on.
Artemis led a confused-looking Bianca along the cliff. The Hunters began unpacking their knapsacks and making camp.
Zoe gave Thalia one more evil look, then left to oversee things.
As soon as she was gone, Thalia stamped her foot in frustration. "The nerve of those Hunters! They think they're so... Argh!"
"And yet you joined them?" Piper said with raised eyebrows.
"I'm with you, " I said. "I don't trust-"
"Oh, you're with me?" Thalia turned on me furiously. "What were you thinking back there in the gym, Percy?
"Well, I know what you were thinking now." Thalia murmured.
You'd take on Dr. Thorn all by yourself? You knew he was a monster!"
"If we'd stuck together, we could've taken him without the Hunters getting involved. Annabeth might still be here. Did you think of that?"
Chiron frowned at Thalia in disapproval of her actions.
Annabeth looked upset at the daughter of Zeus. "Seriously Thalia? He risked his life to save Nico and Bianca. He did the right thing. By the time we would have gotten there it would have been to late to save them."
"I know," She looked ashamed of her past self's actions. "I was just upset and took it out on him." She turned to the son of Poseidon. "Sorry Percy."
"It's alright." He gave her a smile in return to let her know that all was forgiven.
Chiron smiled at the exchange. Maybe Hera was right. Maybe the books were helping in more ways than one. She had even brought back Zoe nightshade (as she was relevant to the book they were now reading) and Nico's elder sister Bianca (who had died) from the past (to help Nico with whatever he was dealing with).
My jaw clenched. I thought of some harsh things to say, and I might've said them too, but then I looked down and saw something navy blue lying in the snow at my feet. Annabeth's New York Yankees baseball cap.
Thalia didn't say another word. She wiped a tear from her cheek, turned, and marched off, leaving me alone with a trampled cap in the snow.
The Hunters set up their camping site in a matter of minutes.
Seven large tents, all of silver silk, curved in a crescent around one side of a bonfire. One of the girls blew a silver dog whistle, and a dozen white wolves appeared out of the woods. They began circling the camp like guard dogs. The Hunters walked among them and fed them treats, completely unafraid, but I decided I would stick close to the tents. Falcons watched us from the trees, their eyes flashing in the firelight, and I got the feeling they were on guard duty, too. Even the weather seemed to bend to the goddess's will. The air was still cold, but the wind died down and the snow stopped falling, so it was almost pleasant sitting by the fire.
Almost... Except for the pain in my shoulder and the guilt weighing me down. I couldn't believe Annabeth was gone. And as angry as I was at Thalia, I had a sinking feeling that she was right. It was my fault.
"No, it's not Percy!" Annabeth disagreed.
"She's right. I only said that because I was grieving." Thalia told him firmly. "It was in no way your fault."
Percy gave them a half-smile in response.
What had Annabeth wanted to tell me in the gym? Something serious, she'd said. Now I might never find out. I thought about how we'd danced together for half a song, and my heart felt even heavier.
I watched Thalia pacing in the snow at the edge of camp, walking among the wolves without fear. She stopped and looked back at Westover Hall, which was now completely dark, looming on the hillside beyond the woods. I wondered what she was thinking.
"What were you thinking about?" Piper asked curiously.
"I was thinking about everything going on with Luke and with Annabeth." She told them.
Seven years ago, Thalia had been turned into a pine tree by her father, to prevent her from dying. She'd stood her ground against an army of monsters on top of Half-Blood Hill in order to give her friends Luke and Annabeth time to escape. She'd only been back as a human for a few months now, and once in a while she would stand so motionless you'd think she was still a tree.
Thalia raised an eyebrow at that last sentence but stayed silent.
Finally, one of the Hunters brought me my backpack. Grover and Nico came back from their walk, and Grover helped me fix up my wounded arm.
"It's green!" Nico said with delight.
The other demigods grinned at how younger was acting.
Bianca smiled warmly. Her smile faded when she remembered how different Nico was in the future. A frown replaced the smile that was there only a few moments before.
"You were such a cute kid Nico!" Piper squealed.
Nico shot her a glare and said. "I'm the Ghost King. I'm not cute."
They laughed at that except for Bianca and Zoe who had no idea what they were talking about.
"Ghost King?" Bianca asked in confusion.
"It'll be explained in the book." Her younger brother told her before going back to reading.
Bianca looked visibly hurt that Nico barely acknowledged her presence.
Hazel gave her half-sister a small smile, and squeezed her shoulder to comfort her.
The huntress gave her a small smile before they went back to listening to the book.
"Hold still, " Grover told me. "Here, eat some ambrosia while I clean that out. "
I winced as he dressed the wound, but the ambrosia square helped. It tasted like homemade brownie, dissolving in my mouth and sending a warm feeling through my whole body. Between that and the magic salve Grover used, my shoulder felt better within a couple of minutes.
They all looked a bit better at that sentence. Their worry lessened a little bit.
Nico rummaged through his own bag, which the Hunters had apparently packed for him, though how they'd snuck into Westover Hall unseen, I didn't know. Nico laid out a bunch of figurines in the snow-little battle replicas of Greek gods and heroes. I recognized Zeus with a lightning bolt, Ares with a spear, Apollo with his sun chariot.
"Big collection, " I said.
Nico grinned. "I've got almost all of them, plus their holographic cards! Well, except for a few really rare ones. "
Will smiled at younger Nico's antics. He remembered the boy when he first came to camp. He had acted the same; but then the next time he had seen him in the Battle of the Labyrinth he had totally changed. He was no longer the kid he used to be.
"You've been playing this game a long time?"
"Just this year. Before that... " He knit his eyebrows.
"What?" I asked.
"I forget. That's weird. "
Will frowned worriedly at that. Had he had Amnesia or something?
He looked unsettled, but it didn't last long. "Hey, can I see that sword you were using?"
I showed him Riptide, and explained how it turned from a pen into a sword just by uncapping it.
"Cool! Does it ever run out of ink?"
They laughed at past Nico's enthusiasm.
"Does it?" Leo asked the Son of Poseidon.
"You know...I'm not sure." Percy said thoughtfully.
"Um, well, I don't actually write with it. "
"Are you really the son of Poseidon?"
"Nope he's the son of Tyche." Reyna said sarcastically.
"You know that would really be ironic with his rotten luck." Piper commented
"I know right?" Reyna and Piper smiled at each other. They were real genuine smiles.
Coach looked happy that the two girls seemed to be starting to get along. Hera's right. The books are helping a lot more than we ever thought.
"Well, yeah. "
"Can you surf really well, then?"
I looked at Grover, who was trying hard not to laugh.
The rest of the demigods and satyr looked the same way at the present moment.
"Jeez, Nico, " I said. "I've never really tried. "
He went on asking questions. Did I fight a lot with Thalia, since she was a daughter of Zeus? (I didn't answer that one. )
"Do you?" Hazel asked curious.
"Quite a bit actually." Percy said thinking about it.
If Annabeth's mother was Athena, the goddess of wisdom, then why didn't Annabeth know better than to fall off a cliff? (I tried not to strangle Nico for asking that one. )
"I didn't fall off the cliff." Annabeth said indignantly. "I jumped on the manticore's back to save you Percy, Thalia, Grover and Bianca. The Manticore jumped off the cliff while I was hanging onto his back."
Was Annabeth my girlfriend? (At this point, I was ready to stick the kid in a meat-flavored sack and throw him to the wolves. )
"Thanks." Nico responded dryly. A brief expression of hurt flickered across his face though before he composed himself. He took a deep breath and continued to read.
Percy had noticed this. He felt a little guilty at hurting Nico's feelings. It wasn't like he knew that they'd be reading books about his thoughts later on though. Still Percy was really frustrated with the Son of Hades. What was it with Nico? He was acting so bi-polar. One minute he hated him and the next he didn't.
I figured any second he was going to ask me how many hit points I had, and I'd lose my cool completely, but then Zoe Nightshade came up to us.
"Percy Jackson. "
She had dark brown eyes and a slightly upturned nose. With her silver circlet and her proud expression, she looked so much like royalty that I had to resist the urge to sit up straight and say "Yes, ma'am. "
Zoe smirked in satisfaction at that line.
She studied me distastefully, like I was a bag of dirty laundry she'd been sent to fetch.
"Come with me, " she said. "Lady Artemis wishes to speak with thee. "
Zoe led me to the last tent, which looked no different from the others, and waved me inside. Bianca di Angelo was seated next to the auburn-haired girl, who I still had trouble thinking of as Artemis.
The inside of the tent was warm and comfortable. Silk rugs and pillows covered the floor.
In the center, a golden brazier of fire seemed to burn without fuel or smoke. Behind the goddess, on a polished oak display stand, was her huge silver bow, carved to resemble gazelle horns. The walls were hung with animal pelts: black bear, tiger, and several others I didn't recognize. I figured an animal rights activist would've had a heart attack looking at all those rare skins,
"I think you've been hanging out to much with Grover Jackson." Clarisse observed. "You're starting to become concerned with animals and the environment."
"But that's a good thing!" Grover protested. He shot Percy a smile. "I'm glad that you've seen the light, Perce. It's nice to see that you care about the environment. All due to my influence of course."
"Of course." Annabeth commented.
but maybe since Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, she could replenish whatever she shot.
"She can boy." Zoe replied. She acted as if speaking to him was a dirty job that she had to do but wish she didn't.
I thought she had another animal pelt lying next to her, and then I realized it was a live animal-a deer with glittering fur and silver horns, its head resting contentedly in Artemis's lap.
"Join us, Percy Jackson, " the goddess said.
I sat across from her on the tent floor. The goddess studied me, which made me uncomfortable. She had such old eyes for a young girl.
"Are you surprised by my age?" she asked.
"Uh... A little. "
"I could appear as a grown woman, or a blazing fire, or anything else I want, but this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters, and all young maidens for whom I am patron, before they go astray. "
"Go astray?" I asked.
"Grow up. Become smitten with boys. Become silly, preoccupied, insecure. Forget
themselves. "
"Oh. "
Zoe sat down at Artemis's right. She glared at me as if all the stuff Artemis had just said was my fault, like I'd invented the idea of being a guy.
"No, that was Prometheus and Epimetheus." Reyna corrected absently. "With some help from Athena. They created man."
The others nodded at that little bit of information before the Son of Hades continued to read.
"You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you, " Artemis said. "It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp. Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp... " She looked at Zoe. "Which one was it?"
"That boy in Colorado, " Zoe said. "You turned him into a jackalope. "
"Ah, yes. " Artemis nodded, satisfied. "I enjoy making jackalopes. At any rate, Percy, I've asked you here so that you might tell me more of the manticore. Bianca has reported some of the... Mmm, disturbing things the monster said. But she may not have understood them. I'd like to hear them from you. "
And so I told her.
When I was done, Artemis put her hand thoughtfully on her silver bow. "I feared this was the answer. "
They other frowned in confusion.
Zoe sat forward. "The scent, my lady?"
"Yes. "
"What scent?" I asked.
"Things are stirring that I have not hunted in millennia, " Artemis murmured. "Prey so old I have nearly forgotten. "
She stared at me intently. "We came here tonight sensing the manticore, but he was not the one I seek. Tell me again, exactly what Dr. Thorn said. "
"Um, 'I hate middle school dances. '"
They snorted in laughter at Percy's response.
"No, no. After that. "
"He said somebody called the General was going to explain things to me. "
Zoe's face paled. She turned to Artemis and started to say something, but Artemis raised her hand.
"Go on, Percy, " the goddess said.
The demigods wondered what they were talking about.
"Well, then Thorn was talking about the Great Stir Pot-"
"Stirring, " Bianca corrected.
"Yeah. And he said, 'Soon we shall have the most important monster of all-the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus. '"
The goddess was so still she could've been a statue.
They glanced at each other in worry.
"The Orphiotaurus." Luke murmured.
"Maybe he was lying, " I said.
Artemis shook her head. "No. He was not. I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster. "
Zoe looked like she was trying very hard not to be afraid, but she nodded. "We will leave right away, my lady. "
"No, Zoe. I must do this alone. "
"But, Artemis-"
"This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me. "
"As... As you wish, my lady. "
"Is any one else totally confused and has no idea what they're talking about?" Leo asked.
The others (with exceptions of Percy, Annabeth, Grover, Chiron, Luke and Thalia) nodded in confirmation.
"Okay, just checking to make sure that I wasn't the only one." Leo said going back to his drawing. He began to draw Nico right next to Reyna.
"I will find this creature," Artemis vowed. "And I shall bring it back to Olympus by winter solstice. It will be all the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in."
"You know what the monster is?" I asked.
Artemis gripped her bow. "Let us pray I am wrong. "
"Can goddesses pray?" I asked, because I'd never really thought about that.
"I suppose they could." Chiron told them.
A flicker of a smile played across Artemis's lips. "Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you. "
"Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?"
They laughed at the thought.
"Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return. "
"What?" Zoe' blurted out. "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there-"
"Yes, I know, " Artemis said. "But I'm sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge just because of a little, ah, misunderstanding. It's your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down. "
"They did." Luke confirmed.
The others looked surprised that Luke had said something. He had been quiet for the most part.
Zoe muttered something about foolish campers.
"And now there is one last decision to make. " Artemis turned to Bianca. "Have you made up your mind, my girl?"
Nico gripped the book as he read. Why did I have to get this chapter to read?
Bianca hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it. "
"Wait, " I said. "Thinking about what?"
"They... They've invited me to join the Hunt. "
They glanced at said girl who was dressed in hunters attire.
"What? But you can't! You have to come to Camp Half-Blood so Chiron can train you. It's the only way you can learn to survive. "
"It is not the only way for a girl, " Zoe said.
I couldn't believe I was hearing this. "Bianca, camp is cool! It's got a pegasus stable and a sword-fighting arena and... I mean, what do you get by joining the Hunters?"
"To begin with, " Zoe said, "immortality. "
Thalia, Zoe, and Bianca nodded in affirmation.
I stared at her, then at Artemis. "She's kidding, right?"
"Zoe rarely kids about anything, " Artemis said. "My Hunters follow me on my adventures. They are my maidservants, my companions, my sisters-in-arms. Once they swear loyalty to me, they are indeed immortal... Unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely. Or break their oath. "
"What oath?" I said.
"To foreswear romantic love forever, " Artemis said. "To never grow up, never get married. To be a maiden eternally. "
"Like you?"
The goddess nodded.
Piper thought. How would her life had been different if she had joined the Hunters of Artemis? Would she still be a part of the prophecy of seven? She probably wouldn't have been Jason's girlfriend or be friends with either of them anymore.
I tried to imagine what she was saying. Being immortal. Hanging out with only middle-school girls forever. I couldn't get my mind around it. "So you just go around the country recruiting half-bloods-"
"Not just half-bloods, " Zoe interrupted. "Lady Artemis does not discriminate by birth. All
who honor the goddess may join. Half-bloods, nymphs, mortals-"
"Which are you, then?"
Anger flashed in Zoe's eyes. "That is not thy concern, boy. The point is Bianca may join if she wishes. It is her choice. "
"Bianca, this is crazy, " I said. "What about your brother? Nico can't be a Hunter. "
"Nope." Percy replied.
"Certainly not, " Artemis agreed. "He will go to camp. Unfortunately, that's the best boys can do. "
"Hey!" I protested.
The other males demigods in the room had the same thought.
"You can see him from time to time, " Artemis assured Bianca. "But you will be free of responsibility. He will have the camp counselors to take care of him. And you will have a new family. Us. "
"A new family, " Bianca repeated dreamily. "Free of responsibility. "
Nico looked hurt as he read that line. He forced his mask of indifference back in place and kept reading.
Bianca looked guiltily at her brother before she looked back to the book.
"Bianca, you can't do this, " I said. "It's nuts. "
She looked at Zoe. "Is it worth it?"
Zoe nodded. "It is. "
Thalia agreed wholeheartedly with the daughter of Atlas.
"What do I have to do?"
"Say this, " Zoe told her, " 'I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. '"
"I... I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. "
The son of Hades looked pained while he read on.
"'I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt. '"
Bianca repeated the lines. "That's it?"
Zoe nodded. "If Lady Artemis accepts thy pledge, then it is binding. "
"I accept it, " Artemis said.
The other demigods couldn't believe that Bianca would just leave her brother like that. That she would just join the hunters with no regard to her brother's feelings on the matter. She had abandoned him practically.
The flames in the brazier brightened, casting a silver glow over the room. Bianca looked no different, but she took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide. "I feel... Stronger. "
"Welcome, sister, " Zoe said.
"Remember your pledge, " Artemis said. "It is now your life. "
I couldn't speak. I felt like a trespasser. And a complete failure. I couldn't believe I'd come all this way and suffered so much only to lose Bianca to some eternal girls' club.
"You're not a failure Percy." Luke told him.
Percy looked surprised at Luke's statement.
"Thanks." He said a little uneasily.
"Do not despair, Percy Jackson, " Artemis said. "You will still get to show the di Angelos your camp. And if Nico so chooses, he can stay there. "
"Great, " I said, trying not to sound surly. "How are we supposed to get there?"
Artemis closed her eyes. "Dawn is approaching. Zoe, break camp. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother. "
Zoe didn't look real happy about this idea, but she nodded and told Bianca to follow her.
They glanced at each other. Was this what had caused Nico to change so drastically, his sister leaving him to join the Hunters of Artemis?
As she was leaving, Bianca paused in front of me. "I'm sorry, Percy. But I want this. I really, really do. "
Then she was gone, and I was left alone with the twelve-year-old goddess.
"So, " I said glumly. "We're going to get a ride from your brother, huh?"
Artemis's silver eyes gleamed. "Yes, boy. You see, Bianca di Angelo is not the only one with an annoying brother. It's time for you to meet my irresponsible twin, Apollo. "
"Finished." Nico announced. He handed the book to Percy before returning to his seat and promptly ignoring him.
Percy sighed in response and started to read. He planned to talk to Bianca later. Maybe she could get Nico to tell them what was going on with him.
Authors notes: Sorry for the wait. What do you guys think of this chapter?