N/A: Soon, I'll be changing the title of the fic for "Sixth Extinction", which I think is more appropriate.

Any opinions are welcome (Especially if the characters are ooc or not. ^^).

Chapter III: Python

Artemis

Normally I would just leave the demigods with the campers and then just leave with my hunters, but unfortunately we still had issues that needed sorted. Hermes and I arrived at the Throne Hall where the other gods waited. Zeus we do not attention for us and just looked angry at Apollo and Dionysus, although the latter seemed oblivious to the situation at hand.

So we both sat on our throne, Zeus spoke in dangerous tone:

"Apollo, you were captured and used as a bargaining..."

"I did everything right though! I was behind Python to kill him, but then things gone wrong and ..." Apollo claimed a pleading look in his eyes.

"And now we cannot punish the Titans because of your actions!" Zeus thundered.

Before Apollo spoke once more, Ares intervened:

"But at least we can hunt down, torture and punish the betrayers lesser gods, right? After all that, they were required to serve us."

Ares did not care about Apollo, but perhaps could win his father's favoritism to calm him down. Zeus pondered for a moment:

"That's true ... But Apollo; you at least killed the Python?" Zeus asked staring down at Apollo.

"No, why ..." Apollo faltered nervously.

"Of course not, I should have just left you there!" Zeus bellowed in outrage.

"Lord Zeus, it would be too dangerous to leave the oracle held by titans." Athena recalled.

"I know, but I'm a little curious. Tell me, what is your stupid excuse?"

"Well, I'm not allowed to do this. I mean, Phoebe said I would have to take the help of another person to be able to do that and we know that her gift is much older and stronger than mine."

There was a moment of silence. We knew that Phoebe does not usually get involved in things, but the gift of them was almost as important as the destination. I was sure she would not take the oracle for herself and help our enemies, nor allow Delphi was in fact destroyed.

Maybe it was a sign of good faith? But we know that she hates Python as far as me and Apollo

"Who do you need?" Zeus asked curiously.

"I need ... Artemis."

Apollo nervously looked at me like I was expecting the worst. Zeus looked at me, so I said:

"Do not worry, Zeus. After all I am the goddess of the hunt and Apollo always told me for thousands of years it was a creature easy to kill so that will not be a problem."

"Well, sort of ..." Apollo warned guilty and I set a glare at him.

Of course I knew Python was a dangerous creature, I myself tried to hunt it, but as Apollo beat me and was so proud of killing the creature, which I preferred to act as if I had not missed anything. Even Apollo seemed to believe it until now.

"Then it is settled? Olympians, the two return to Delphi? "Zeus said.

All other Olympians wanted us to be there, after Delphi was important. Dionysus spoke grumpily:

"And I have to go there again?"

"Why? For walk around and cause problems? You go back to the camp!" Zeus shouted unnecessarily.

"How you wish, father." Dionysus sighed in relief.

"The twins will go alone, but first we'll hear the latest news Hermes has for us."

"The Romans had a little problem on the trip, so I decided to help by leading them to a makeshift train and power it to move across the country. After all I am the god of travelers and I think we should give a little attention to the Romans such as we do to the Greeks. "

"Do they make the necessary offerings then?" Asked Zeus, Hermes seemed calm.

"Of course, many Romans are struggling with that."

I thought I'd remember that they have left other as Selene and Helium side and the problem it caused, but I preferred not to discuss it now.

"They are not having any problems now then?" Zeus continued.

Hermes pondered for a moment, and then said:

"No problem with Greeks, but I would be worried if I were in praetor boss, after all she contradicted the rules of Camp Jupiter."

"My son is the new Praetor, so she will have some support and avoid being thrown into the Tiber River. Now the popular support of the camp residents is more complicated. "Ares warned.

"And her sister? She is the queen of Amazons and perhaps her support causes problems despite what have done so far. "Athena said, but Ares laughed unconcerned.

"I've fired her, after the Amazons made a fight with each other while she was doing that stupid trap in Puerto Rico. I caught Hippolyta belt to give someone the fittest. "

"Will you give to anyone who is leading the revolt?"

"No, I will give to those who deserve because I got tired of seeing the belt, a blessed object with my prowess, be caught by inheritance or trick some lucky hero."

"I hope this does not create unnecessary enemies for us."

"Look who's talking." Poseidon dismissed.

"Settle down, Olympians. Hermes, is that all? "

"Yes."

Apollo sighed in relief.

"Then it's settled, you should leave now. After going behind some lesser gods traitors, arrange some kind of mess and then decide to make a party to the gods for victory. "

"Because it was a long time without doing anything, so I need to show that I am in control with an iron fist!" Zeus said with a bang, but no surprise.

Most gods seemed bored and tired, as if they preferred lies elsewhere. But some seemed like Aphrodite is daydreaming and smiled at me like she was planning something and I feared it was some plane with my hunters. It was better to get it over with as quickly as possible.

"Lord Zeus, we are leaving now and I swear we will defeat Python."

As soon as we Zeus authorized, Apollo and I went out of the throne room, we took our cars and flew straight to Delphi.

Although it took a while to get there because of the time zones, it was still light. Delphi was already in ruins thousands of years ago, but still remember when all this was whole. Fortunately it was not full of tourists and so we could chase the creature smoothly.

"How do you really did see the last to defeat it?"

"I could not smell the prey like you and I had not yet mastered the gift of prophecy yet, so I asked for the sun itself, Helios, for to show me where it was. Then ask for a little help him to kill the Python ... "

"As far as I know mortals did not keep this version of the story."

"That was more than three thousand years and the Romans compared me to Helios." Apollo said, but soon it seemed that would not have said that.

"True, but it is better not to waste time discussing it. Now I will hunt that beast. "

I crouch down and touch the ground and I focus on the region of the island. I can feel some animals for more than a kilometer we perhaps turned away because there are usually people in that area or fear Python. So far so good, but I do not feel the own Python nowhere.

"And then, Arty?"

"Let me focus for a moment." I insist.

"But I guess I know where she can stand."

"You saw the creature here, then perhaps has any idea."

"Come on."

She took me to an isolated place in the mountains where there was nothing but a cave that seemed a little too narrow for two people in at the same time. I was just getting a little close I feel a horrible odor and I was sure that there would be any animal, let alone mortal's animals that wanted to enter in there.

"I remember that I had played the rest of her body that hole because it stank skin a lot and was very poisonous to let outdoors or keep on my temple as a reward."

"Why you not played it in Tartarus?"

"Maybe some day we could have that need the Python skin, but that does not matter now, since it could have escaped with the other monsters."

"Are you sure it's in there?"

I do not want to admit it, but I could not feel the monster. Wild beasts and monsters are in my domain and my hunter instinct; I should be able to notice something strange for several meters away to concentrate me.

I could only feel old and evil forces at the end of the tunnel, but I could not tell what kind of thing had. Maybe it was a trap, but I knew that I should go there.

"Yes, trust in Phoebe. She would not use Python as bait for us to see here and be captured. "

"All right, now let's go."

We went down the tunnel it was a little tilted, but had several stones for support. Every time we descended, wetter the floor and wall of the cave was.

So it was almost too dark to see, Apollo has raised a flashlight. I could also have a flashlight, but I could guide me in the dark much better than Apollo.

"The stench is getting worse and should is eroding the wall."

"Now you will tell me that Python loose acid as a Hydra?"

"I probably would not surprise me that she had poisoned even stronger. It would be nice if Python would not take much to redo that we might learn about it through the demigods. "

"No practice, but learning the cost of the lives of others is cowardly. And I have the impression that this creature is very strong for a common demigod. "

Then finally we reached another hole that seemed to give greater chamber. We entered carefully, because we knew that we Python could strike at any time. Evil entered, Apollo lit the whole environment so that our prey could not hide.

The area was the size of a sports stadium. The walls were wet, as well as the ground was slippery. Across the chamber, dimly lit, Python was seemed we are waiting.

The snake seemed to have over thirty meters and almost as wide as a car. Phython skin seemed dry as if it had changed his skin several times. The eyes were the reptilian I had ever seen.

"She seems to be different than I remember ..." Apollo said.

As he spoke, the flashlight went out. I could see that Apollo tried to lighten the atmosphere using their power, instead of using an object, but not lit or one meter in front of us.

And the opening behind us was gone, replaced by a plain wall. Fearing it was a trap, I quickly grabbed my bow and arrow.

"Leave it to me."

Apollo turned out the light and went silent. Despite the strong stench and darkness, I could feel Apollo near me. Even if I could not feel the smell of Python, I might try to hear the sound of it approaching like I was the prey.

Phyton, with great speed, almost snapped, but I dodged the side and then fired an arrow. Before it had any effect, she shook neck it's against me with the same speed, but I jumped over it and stabbed with two knives and cut off with all my strength.

I heard the snake hiss and tried to cut her pulling my knives, but the cables came loose easily. I could feel the strong smell of liquor out of Python wounds, which was so strong it made me stunned.

Phyton leaned back, taking advantage of my brief distraction, managing to shock me against the wall of the cave. Phyton pulled away and I hit the floor at once. The pain was not so, but the smell was poisonous.

I could hear noises in front of me and I thought if my brother was doing something to end it with the snake. It did not take the snake to move against me before I got up, but I throw myself to the side before the snake hit me. Then I heard a loud knock, as if the snake had crashed into the wall and I had the feeling that it was trapped.

For a moment I thought that if I turned with an animal like a lion, I could bite it and cause more damage, but it would be a bad idea considering what happened with my knives, so I took an arrow that could explode in a moment and fired at the creature that seemed to be trying to wriggle loose from the wall.

I ran into the darkness, for as far as possible that snake, but every step I took, but I was heavy. I was getting too weak to run out of that place.

"Apollo, where are you?"

He appeared about some feet from me, emanating a little light.

"I swear I would have hit it during the day!"

"We leave here!" I shout.

I started to feel stunned, even if only there was a little light in place. Then I heard a familiar voice:

"You could try to kill it snake in your divine form since beginning, but you've always been a proud hunter. It is why you will be my prey, Artemis. "

"Let me heal you, Arty." Apollo approached.

"I could do it alone…"

"Alone. It was because of this pride that I can catch you that time. "The voice said.

"It's better to leave me alone, I'll still behind you!" I yelled.

Before Apollo came up to me, it seemed a blur.

Phyton reacted quickly, without me having time to react, crushing me with a giant mouth. I could feel that one teeth of Phynton grazed my leg, but I was too stunned to feel hurt. I used all my strength to use my divine form and break free of this creature. That same voice sneered:

"It is a shame that they have wasted your power only to hold the sky, but I will use your potential for something much bigger."

Then everything faded.

Continue...