The Forgotten One

Chapter Five: Manhunt

Artemis pulled the string on her bow as tight as she could. She aimed her shot for the deer's eye. Just as she was about to release her grip, a small rock sailed over her head and hit the ground next to the deer, who ran away in fear.

Artemis whirled around and glared at the intruders. "Curse you two! I almost had it!"

Two forms materialized from behind the trees, laughing. Apollo strode forward and wrapped an arm around Artemis's shoulder. "C'mon little sis, don't act that way. We don't even need to eat, so what's the point?"

Artemis shrugged off his hand. "First of all, I am not your little sister! Second, it doesn't hurt to be prepared, so leave me alone."

Apollo looked skeptical, so Aita spoke, "She's nervous, Apollo."

Artemis blushed like a tomato. "I am not!"

Aita raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because I am."

Artemis and Apollo looked surprised. "For real?" Apollo asked.

Aita nodded. "Oh yeah. I'm so nervous I can barely think straight. I mean, we'll finally be seeing Olympus, receiving our domains, and taking seats on the council. Who wouldn't be nervous?"

Artemis and Apollo both looked down at their feet. Apollo looked up sheepishly. "I'm nervous too."

Artemis nodded as well. Aita put a hand on their shoulders. "It's ok, we'll be together, so we have nothing to worry about."

Artemis and Apollo smiled and pulled him into a group hug. They were only pulled apart by their mother calling for them. They walked out of woods and saw their cabin, their mother and a young girl standing on the beach.

Leto pulled her children into a crushing hug. After a long minute she pulled back and looked at each of them, tears in her eyes. "No matter what happens," She said in a fragile voice. "you're mine. Mine to me. Don't let anyone separate you, and don't let anyone put you down. Do you understand?"

All three gods nodded. Leto turned to the young girl with her. "Take good care of them."

The girl nodded. "You have my word." She turned to the young gods and said, "My name is Hestia. I was sent to guide you to Olympus by your father."

The newest Olympians nodded and stepped forward. "Everyone, hold hands," Hestia said. Artemis and Apollo glanced at each other and stepped away from each other. Aita rolled his eyes and took one hand of Apollo and Artemis each. The two then took hold of one of Hestia's hands, and the eldest Olympian flashed them off of Delos.

When they materialized, the triplets' mouths dropped. The city of Olympus spread out behind them; large silver and gold temples as far as the eye could see. Above them, the clear sky sparkled with constellations. In front, the large council chamber rose to the sky.

"Come," Hestia said. "they're waiting for you."

She opened the door and walked inside. The two oldest walked behind her, and Aita was just behind them. As he walked, Aita's stomach dropped. His mother always told him how the Olympian Council was a proud, fair group that spoke in leveled voices and were patient with all matters.

Instead, the room was filled with the sounds of shouting. He saw his father, Zeus arguing with Poseidon and Hera. Hephaestus and Ares were screaming at each other while Aphrodite watched on in amusement. Athena chattered on while Demeter scowled and crossed her arms.* As he watched his family fight, he realized something:

He didn't want this.

He didn't want to argue with his siblings and family like they were children. He didn't want to earn the ire of some other deity just because he disagreed with them. He didn't want to be angry at those who didn't share his opinion.

He didn't want to be an Olympian.

The room was silenced when Hestia grew to her twenty-foot-tall form and took her seat on her throne. "My lord," She said. "I have done as you asked."

Zeus nodded. "Thank you, sister. My children, come forth."

They silently walked forward. Hera muttered, "Oh yes, welcome, bastards." But was promptly shut up by Zeus's glare.

"Artemis," Zeus boomed. "as the eldest, you shall receive your domains first. Proceed."

Aita noticed the Fates sitting in front of the thrones, their ball of yarn held in their hands. Artemis gulped and stepped forward.

"Child of Zeus," Said the Fates. "You shall be the goddess of the hunt, the Moon, chastity, animals, and the wilderness. And sit upon the council, you will."

Artemis bowed deeply and stepped aside. Aita nudged Apollo forward when the elder brother hesitated.

"Phoebus Apollo," They said. "you shall have dominion over light, healing, music, poetry, archery, reason and prophecy."

Apollo smiled and stepped aside. Finally, Aita stepped forward. The Fates looked at him for a long minute before they said, "Aita, you shall be granted dominion of light, music, peace, warmth, joy, and the wilderness, but you will not sit upon the Olympian council."

Aita was stunned for a moment before his shock turned to relief. "What?" Artemis asked. "What do you mean he can't be on the council? This must be a mistake!"

"We do not make mistakes, child," Clotho said. "Fate never makes a mistake. Your brother shall remain a minor god until he fades."

"But-but," Artemis stammered. Aita held a hand up. "Enough, Artemis. If Fate decrees that I am not to serve on the council, then I will not protest, and neither will you."

Artemis looked like she wanted to argue, but Aita turned and bowed. "Father. I'll not hold up this council any longer. You have two new gods to welcome, after all."

Before anyone could object, he turned on his heel and walked toward the door.

The room swirled in a haze of black smoke. When the room cleared he was in laying in a large bed with white sheets. The small room was lit only with candles, and there were no sounds save for the breathing of the room's two occupants.

Hecate had her head on Aita's chest, drawing little circles with her fingers across his left bicep. She had dark hair today, with mesmerizing blue eyes.** They were both naked except for the thin blanket draped over them as they both rested.

Aita closed his eyes and thought with content over everything he had to be grateful for. He was a god, had two loving siblings who annoyed him to no end, a mother who spoiled him rotten every chance he got, friends both mortal and immortal, and a beautiful wife whose body fit with his so perfectly it was like Chaos itself had molded them for one another.

Hecate stopped her ministrations and looked him in the eyes.

Aita arched an eyebrow. "What?"

Hecate smiled and kissed the tip of his nose. "I love you."

"I love you too," Aita said immediately.

Hecate sat up. The sheet fell away from her, exposing her perfect skin and Aphrodite-level body. She smiled down at him as she straddled him. "Can you believe we're married?"

Aita began to rub up and down her hips. "I'd be a fool if I didn't. The wedding was only a few hours ago."

"Your sister looked like she wanted to skin me alive."

Aita smiled. "She's always like that. You should see her when Apollo flirts with her Hunters. I don't even think a titan would attack her when she's that angry."

Hecate smiled sweetly and began to rock her hips back and forth, eliciting a groan from her husband. She loved to tease him. He loved making her happy. It was a win-win.

She bent down and whispered, "I love you."

Again, Aita said, "I love you too."

Then she kissed him. Her lips were soft and melded perfectly with his. Soon they were lost in a battle of lips, teeth and tongues.

The bed collapsed beneath him, and suddenly Aita was in a large cavern. The ceiling was far above him, so he had to strain his neck to see the top. He looked around him, and found three men speaking in loud tones.

"Sixteen warehouses!" A man with curly brown hair, a beard, and blue eyes shouted. "We've lost sixteen warehouses in less than a month! How do you explain that?"

A man with a large belly and neckbeard waved his hand. "Relax, Commodus. This new adversary will soon be dealt with."

Commodus threw his hands into the air. "How? So far none of our men have been able to kill him! We don't even know where he'll strike!"

The third man stepped forward. He had short blonde hair and piercing brown eyes. "We will soon. Nero, is our new friend cooperating?"

Nero nodded. "Don't worry, Caligula, he'll soon have control over Delphi, and then the future will be ours."***

Their conversation became muffled, and Aita tried to get closer to hear them better, but soon he felt the mist begin to constrict around him. The black smoke solidified into light brown scales, which stretched into a long, trunk-like body. A deep hissing filled the room, which Aita thought sounded like laughter.

"Soon…" Said a voice in the darkness. A pair of yellow eyes appeared, the rest of the face obscured. "We shall meet soon, little hero. I will enjoy the taste of your flesh as I devour you."

The body began to squeeze, and Aita could feel his bones breaking under the pressure, just as it became too much, the world and the snake vanished…

Aita woke with a start, sweat dripping down his forehead. Gods did not usually sleep, but recent weeks had left him exhausted. It was June 4, and the time was approaching for him to find Nero. In the last three weeks he had destroyed sixteen warehouses, disrupted thirty supply deliveries, and killed over two hundred men. Suffice it to say, Triumvirate Holdings knew something was after them.

Hemera walked into his bedroom and threw his uniform onto his lap. "Get dressed, it's time to…everything alright?"

Aita nodded mutely. Hemera pursed her lips. "Very well, get your things ready, it's time to go."

-o-

Aita watched the men load the trucks for transport. They were just outside one of the larger warehouses in New York and had nearly eight trucks full of supplies. As the last of the trucks were loaded, Aita leapt from his vantage point and shifted form mid-flight. His arms turned to wings, his skin to feathers, and his mouth and nose elongated into a beak. Soon he was flying across the sky as a raven; his sacred animal.

He began to follow the trucks as they wove their way down the many streets of New York, leading him to his prey.

-o-

The sun was at its peak when the trucks arrived at their destination. They pulled into a massive warehouse so large it could've fit half a dozen football stadiums inside it and still have some room left over. As the men began to unload the trucks, Aita returned to human form. He waited for the trucks to be emptied and driving off before he made him move. He summoned his bow and released an explosive arrow at one of the large metal doors, which exploded upon impact.

Aita dropped his bow in favor of the Spear of Diomedes and sprinted through the smoking doorway. He expected to find some factory workers, some security guards, and one soon to be dead emperor.

Instead, he found himself surrounded.

Demigods, monsters and mortals surrounded him. Some wore armor and wielded weapons while others pointed machine guns at him.

"This is a trap," He said aloud.

"Quite right!" A voice called. The phalanx of demigods surrounding him parted. A teenager with curly hair and a cruel sneer walked forward. He was wearing a sleeveless Cornhuskers T-shirt and jeans. His arms were covered in scars and muscles. At his side is a golden sword.

"Well, well, well," The boy said as he circled Aita. "so this is the one who's been causing such a ruckus these past few weeks. Can't say I'm impressed."

"Who are you?" Aita asked.

The boy smiled and put a hand on his chest. "I am Lityerses, reaper of men! My friends call me Lit, but you will call me Death!"

"No thank you," Aita said. He looked around at the guards. "You knew I was coming."

Lityerses smiled. "Of course we did! Lord Nero's newest ally gave us all the information we needed."

"Newest ally?"

Lityerses nodded. "A powerful one, too. He's taken control of the Oracle at Delphi. Soon he'll control the others as well."

"Who is he?"

Lit brandished his sword. "It doesn't matter. You have no hope of stopping him. He nearly killed Apollo, back in the old days. He would've killed Leto as well, had she not escaped."

Aita's stomach dropped. He remembered an old story his brother had once told him; how he'd truly become the god of prophecy, and the monster he'd had to kill to earn the title…

Lityerses must've seen him pale. The boy smiled. "So you know? Good. Our ally will prove most beneficial. Soon, he will control all the oracles, and we will control the future itself!"

Aita brandished his spear. "No, you will not."

Lityerses threw his head back and laughed. "You have courage, I'll give you that. I will grant you a warrior's death. Nobody shall interfere, everyone understand?" His men nodded.

Aita's spear vanished and he unsheathed his sword. He knew the Ancient Laws would not allow him to attack first, so he waited for his opponent to challenge him. Lityerses did so.

He charged Aita with his golden sword, and the god blocked with his own blade. Lit slashed and stabbed, but Aita was fast enough to block his strikes. As he fought, a part of Aita was saying, don't fight blindly, study his patterns. And so he did. Lityerses was all offense, no defense. This worked in Aita's favor.

Aita spun and slashed forward with his sword. Lityerses caught it on his own, and Aita tabbed forward, hunting knife suddenly in hand. Lityerses was so focused on Aita's sword he didn't notice the knife until it was in his gut.

The Reaper of Men stumbled back, one hand going to the knife in his side. He tried to pull the blade free, but he was too weak. He let out a final battle cry and charged. Aita caught the blade with his own and pulled his knife free. Lit fell to one knee, grasping his side. Quick as a flash, Aita raised his sword and brought it down on his opponent's neck.

The Reaper of Men's head rolled across the floor.

For a moment, nobody moved. Then one of the monsters let out a war cry and charged, followed by the others. Aita waved his hand and a moment later, instead of armed warriors, a swarm of cockroaches fled to the cracks in the walls and floor. Aita bent down and picked up Lityerses' sword. Artemis had told him more than once that it was appropriate to collect a trophy from a successful hunt.

He spent the next few minutes lining the warehouse with explosives. As he walked away from the complex, the ground shook from the force of the explosion, and the building was reduced to rubble.

Aita teleported to the House of Day, determined to inform his host of the disturbing news that had come from this excursion.

-o-

"You're certain?" Hemera asked.

Aita nodded. "There's no other way they'd know we were coming. In my dreams, I heard a raspy voice, deep and gruff, just as my brother once told me. Gaea has raised her son, Python."

A heavy silence fell over the room at the mention of the great serpent.**** While Hemera thought, Aita fought to swallow a lump that had formed in the back of his throat. He remembered Apollo's tale of how he'd defeated the monster. The Muses liked to sing and cheer about how Apollo had destroyed the monster with a single arrow, but Aita knew better.

One day, after the battle, Aita had gotten Apollo drunk on wine and Nectar, and Apollo had let slip the true tale. Teeth as long and sharp as sabers, terrible yellow eyes, skin so thick it was almost unbreakable, and his breath…strong enough to kill mortals and greatly weaken immortals. If he had risen again, and was taking control of the Oracles…

Aita shuddered. No, it won't happen, Aita thought, I won't let it.

Hemera shook her head as though to wipe away any thoughts that she didn't like. She turned back to Aita, face stern. "We will deal with Python and the emperors in time, but another threat has risen."

Aita's fingers curled into fists. "What must I do?"

"The giant Polybotes is leading an attack on New Rome. Journey there, stop him, and remain there until I tell you to return. The Greeks are sailing on a massive warship. You are to stay and make sure nothing goes wrong."

Aita nodded. Hemera put a hand on his shoulder. "It is imperative that you remain vigilant. This could be the first step to a peaceful coexistence between the Greeks and Romans, we cannot let them go to war, or the results could be disastrous."

Aita nodded. "I won't fail."

* Since Hermes wasn't born until after Apollo became a god, he wouldn't be there. Dionysus was also not around at this time so Hestia would still be on the council.

** In some myths Hecate is said to have three forms, and that she can appear as each one to different people.

*** Even though the third emperor hasn't officially been announced, in The Dark Prophecy there's a line about someone called the White Horse, which is something Caligula was called due to the fact that he let his prized horse become a high priest.

**** On the official Riordan Wiki Python's called a dragon, but in the Hidden Oracle it says that there were piles of snake skin covering the floor where Apollo and Meg see Python. Also, his name is kinda a dead giveaway.

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