A/N: So the reviews to add Spi into the pairing are mostly positive, I will post results of it in the next chapter as people continue to decide whether to add Spi in or not. The vote will continue until an unknown date. Keep in mind the pairing with Hestia might not happen for a while.
I was going to upload earlier but Fanfiction was down, so I decided to expand this chapter a bit more, lucky you. I am pretty excited about this chapter as I think this is the best one so far but I will leave that up to you. Also there is a DARK PART so um… if you don't like reading that stuff you are welcome to skip but obviously you don't need me to tell you that so enjoy…
Percy POV
"Lady Artemis!"
I watched as Zoe and the rest of the hunters rushed towards the goddess in chains. Her eyes grew wide as she eyed each and every member of her hunt.
"Girls! What are you doing here? Hurry, you must leave quickly before they catch you!"
Zoe shook her head and began to tug on the chains in an attempt to release Artemis. "No milady, we must stick together! Sisters do not abandon each other!"
I stared in disgust at their little reunion as I kept watch from the shadows. I could almost imagine the monsters up here gutting each and every one of my tormentors, especially the two main ones trying to free Artemis. From the corner of the room I noticed a small gleam as an arrow was notched, aimed straight at Zoe's head. Cursing I quickly knocked my own arrow and fired it before whoever held the bow even had a chance to shoot.
The arrow seemed to move in slow motion, travelling across the room with the entire hunt staring after hearing the sound of my bowstring retracting. My arrow shot straight through the body and impaled itself into the shoulder of the assailant. A gasp of pain was released as I jumped out of the shadows and towards the unknown assailant, withdrawing my dagger.
"Identify yourself!" I growled, holding my dagger to its throat.
Instead I only saw a wide grin slowly form before I was swept off my feet and onto the ground with a spear aimed straight at my chest from a second figure.
"I do believe you do not hold the right to order people around in my fortress."
The second figure holding the spear stepped from the shadows. His figure was massive, wearing a tight suit that complimented his physique as well as his muscular build. He appeared to be a good twelve feet tall which seemed to be his shrunken down form. His face seemed to be chiseled from marble which would have been handsome if it wasn't ruined by the cruel sneer vandalizing his face.
"Atlas…" I breathed.
The figure froze for a second before letting out a massive laugh. "So you know my name don't you demigod? I suppose you already informed the boy about me Master Luke?"
The figure holding the bow stepped out from the shadows smirking. He yanked the arrow lodged into his shoulder and tossed into the ground. "Why of course not Atlas, we all have to keep some secrets to ourselves don't we Perseus?" He said, glowering at me.
I could feel a sense of shock fall upon the chained goddess across the room.
"Perseus?" She questioned.
I watched as the hunt formed a defensive wall between us and the goddess, paying close attention to our conversation as Zoe and Phoebe worked on Artemis's chains. I made sure to look in every direction except for hers. I didn't know if I could stare at her and not be tempted to fill her with arrows at that very moment. To know that she was within a close proximity to me almost filled me with a sense of rage.
I was brought out of my own thoughts when I felt someone kick me in the stomach. I turned my attention back towards Luke who was smirking.
"Why do you aid these girls Perseus? Surely you haven't already decided to help the people who never helped you?" Atlas questioned.
"You have no right to ask me that, my reasons are for my own." I growled.
"Perseus, you should pay more attention to the people who have the upper hand right now. Who knows, perhaps Atlas's arms may grow tired and his spear might accidentally impale you right at this moment." Luke said.
"Isn't this against the Ancient Laws? If I am correct divine beings are not allowed to fight us mere half-bloods without being challenged first." I countered.
Luke just laughed, "Who cares about the Ancient Laws anymore? We aren't going to win following rules. Rules are meant to be broken and bent in order to succeed! I do believe that is something you were never able to comprehend Perseus, always following rules like a little child. It does explain why it took you so long to leave the hunt."
A snarl escaped my throat as I glared at Luke, "Says the boy who is nothing but a mere puppet for these lesser beings!"
Luke's face grew red with rage and was about to retort but instead he was stopped by Atlas. "Calm down boy, this one knows not what he's saying. He is nothing but a sad mistreated little… bitch, a lowly little half-blood who is nothing but a dog to the hunt."
My race grew red with rage as I began to shake in anger at Atlas's words. I noticed that some of the hunters had little amused smirks on their faces which only seemed to fuel my anger. Pulses of black and white light shot out of my body.
"Let me take over…" Spi whispered. "Let me show this puny titan his place!"
"He will pay!" Our voices echoed together.
3rd Person POV
A giant black and white cocoon of power shot out of Perseus, blasting everyone back. The amount of power pulsing from where Perseus laid was repeatedly blasting everyone in the room giving everyone a sense of the power he seemed to hold. In a flash of black and white, a figure floating in midair appeared. It was Perseus but he seemed different.
He was at a good height of ten feet emitting an aura of immense power.
Large metallic black wings protruded from his back with roaring white flames burning where his eyes previously were. Shadows morphed themselves around Perseus forming a strange set of armor around his entire body. Around him, wisps of black smoke were emitted from his strange armor. His gauntlets seemed to have blades protruding from the sides where his elbow was, all the way to his wrist. The blades seemed to made to slash one as smooth and as cleanly as possible. A whitish substance dripped off the blades and unto the ground, corroding the marble below.
His boots seemed to also have blades shooting out from the tip, shining a brilliant white. His body armor was a standard Spartan chest plate decorated with a white glowing symbol of a star in a crescent moon, showing off his allegiance to the Primordial Goddess Nyx.
His face seemed to be devoid of his normal tan and instead a pale, almost completely white, complexion took over. His full and healthy cheeks were replaced by gaunt ones. His eyes being endless pits of white flames could cause anyone to wet their pants. However if one were to stare closely into his 'eyes' they would see themselves drowning in darkness and shadow, stripping them of their courage and dignity, encasing them in a cocoon of fear.
"Ugh so this is what a male mortal body feels like? It's fine I suppose." A female voice said, coming from the body of Perseus. He or she flexed his/her muscles as he/she inspected their body. "But I much rather prefer a female one."
Perseus snapped his/her fingers and his figure morphed into one of a female. One would say the female who now stood in Perseus's place was gorgeous, holding beauty that almost seemed not possible if they were not intimidated by the figure of the female Perseus.
"That's better!" The female turned towards the cowering figures in the room and snorted. "Pitiful, this is everyone I get to kill?"
Atlas paled and quickly snapped his fingers. Mercenaries armed with G36Cs swarmed the room aiming at the hunters and the female Perseus.
"Hey now Perseus, we don't need to fight, you can leave all we ask is that you just leave the hunt behind!" Luke said.
The female Perseus pretended to ponder the suggestion before laughing. "That is something to consider but there is just one thing. Perseus isn't home right now. You can just call me Persi… or… whatever I'll come up with a female version of his name later but for now you can call me Spi and the thing is… you are gonna have to try harder if you want to convince me of anything."
"That's the deal on the table, take it or leave it." Luke said nervously.
Spi frowned, "That's it? It would be a real shame to vandalize these blades with blood."
Luke paled, "Fire!"
All the mercenaries took aim and emptied their clips into the powerful being in front of them. As the last bullet shell hit the floor they were just greeted by a humorous giggle as the being stood in front of them with a lopsided grin.
"That tickled, now would you like to see what I can do?"
Artemis and the hunt watched in fear as the now female Perseus stood with an insane grin on her face, walking slowly to the closest mercenary near her.
Let's just say the hunt and Artemis felt as if they were not going to have a peaceful night after the little display shown to them. The hunters gulped as they watched the former boy… no person they tormented, give cruel and unusual deaths to the mercenaries who dared fire upon her. Unable to tear their eyes from the scene, they instead were tormented by the screams of terror and fear from the mortals as their dead bodies began to litter the floor, the living mortals firing upon the rampaging Perseus in a useless attempt to stop the being.
Blood splashed all around the floors and walls as the female Perseus seemed to vanish and reappear every few feet, slashing or stabbing the mortals. Bodies proved to slowly become a nuisance to the remaining mercenaries as some would trip over their dead corpses before quickly being dragged into the shadows, kicking and screaming.
Soon there were only three left. One could see that one mercenary had obviously pissed his pants as he observed the shadows around him. Silence enveloped the three mercenaries as they slowly began backing away from the darkest corner in the room where their last comrade was murdered.
"Stay away you freak!" One nervously yelled. "We have no business with you!"
A laugh echoed throughout the room before the mercenary jolted. He slowly looked down to see the end of a blade jutting out from his stomach.
"Surprise," A voice laughed from behind him before quickly whipping him into the shadows.
The remaining two quickly fired at the spot, hearing the impact of bullets sinking into flesh.
"Did… did we get him?" The mercenary who pissed his pants asked nervously.
His question was answered when a body riddled with bullets fell to the ground with a small thud. The room was quiet as they stared at the now dead mercenary who was filled with bullets. The face of terror and shock was imminent on his face.
"Please… please let me leave!" One of the mercenaries screamed. "I just want to go home…"
The most merciful death seemed to come for him as a single bullet entered his skull. He dropped to the ground right in front of the mercenary who pissed his pants. The mercenary quickly took out his pistol and aimed at his head only for the gun to be shot right out of his hands.
"Now what exactly are you doing?" A whisper drifted from behind. "Surely this is much better than what you can expect after death."
A knife gleamed from the dark as it snaked its way around the mercenary's throat. Absolute silence was surrounding the room as its inhabitants stared at the knife fearfully while the mercenary gulped.
"Do you think, the afterlife is better than what you are facing right now?" Spi whispered.
"Yes, yes! Please, I cannot handle this anymore!" The mercenary cried. "Just kill me!"
Spi laughed before leaning forward, her mouth an inch away from the mercenary's ear. "Very well, enjoy the Fields of Punishment!" She quickly drew her knife across the mercenary's throat, causing blood to surge from the cut and onto the floor as the body fell to its knees and down onto the floor.
Spi gripped the head of the fallen mercenary before slashing it off with the blade jutting out from the forearm. Blood poured from the head as the hunters began to fear of pissing off the obviously deranged entity in front of them. They watched as she grabbed the head and threw it to them to which they all gulped and began to edge away from the clearly insane being that possessed Perseus's body. In an attempt to escape the bloodthirsty Perseus, Luke and Atlas tried to rush to the doorway only to find shadows forming a barrier between them and evident freedom.
"Tut tut tut, now just where do you think you're going?" Spi slowly walked towards the cowering duo and lifted Atlas by the throat and pinned him to the wall. "I think it's been long overdue to spend some time with our relatives, don't you think so too?"
Atlas immediately shook his head, "No no, I think we can wait, a few centuries, a few millennia, perhaps never again?"
Spi just laughed, "I suppose you just want to skip the bloodshed and just do what I wish?"
Atlas began to hesitate but immediately Spi unleashed a pulse of her power.
"It would be most… unwise, heh heh, if you decided to oppose me. You may find out afterwards that a few certain… appendages may go missing…" Spi grinned.
"Of course, of course I will do whatever you wish." Atlas submitted.
Luke looked in slight shock as he watched Perseus simply order Atlas, Kronos's second in command into mere submission with just his… or her words. To be honest he didn't know what to think of this new Perseus. He quietly unsheathed his faithful sword, Backbiter, and took aim at Perseus behind his or her… he was getting confused on which gender he should refer to Perseus. He shook his head clear of his thought and took aim behind Perseus's back.
"Well Atlas, why don't you-" Spi stopped as a small grunt escape her lips as she felt something try to impale her from behind. She whirled around to see a completely white Luke edging towards the side of the mountain.
"I suppose you wish for an early death son of Hermes?"
Luke gave no response as he neared the edge of the mountain. Spi sighed before letting a grin take over.
"Well if you insist." Spi launched forward and kicked Luke in the chest with enough force to even shake the mountain and watched Luke scream as he flew through the air and towards the ocean and into a cruise ship docked at the shore. Monsters looked up in shock and fear towards the cheeky being giving a small wave from the top of the mountain.
"Atlas, sky, now!" Spi commanded.
Atlas nodded and rushed towards where pale Artemis stood, shaking from the sheer weight of the sky as well as from the spectacle Perseus showed.
"Is this alright? Do you need anything else? Whatever you need I will tell my guards to do!" Atlas babbled in fear of angering the being in front of him who in his mind believed could kick Kronos around like a soccer ball.
Spi shook her head, "I do not require your assistance at the moment, if you continue to please me, I may reward you in the future."
Atlas nodded before watching Perseus approach the Olympian Goddess.
"Stop! You will not hurt milady!" A nervous huntress said as she stood in the path of the being.
Spi blinked, bemused as how the huntress thought she could stop her. She snapped her fingers and immediately the shadows shot from the walls and restrained the girl.
More and more hunters followed the girl's lead only to meet the same results as they were all restrained to the floor or walls only leaving Zoe, Phoebe and Artemis.
"Move now!" Spi snapped at the two main tormentors in Perseus's past. The two only shook their heads and pulled out their weapons.
"This isn't you Perseus, something is possessing you! Fight it!" Zoe commanded. The only reply she got was Spi blinking before giggling.
"Oh no did you hear that Perseus? Something is possessing you! Someone call the cops or Apollo!"
A white smoke began to leak from Spi's torso and form next to her taking the form of Perseus before the crazy show of his transformation. His entire body seemed to be made of gas but that still didn't take away the chill that ran down the huntresses backs as he stared at the both of them. A laugh escaped his lips as he watched the two hunters in front of him with emotionless eyes.
"Oh I heard, I bet Apollo would be the best option, that way he could watch as we remove the mighty pedestal beneath these hunters feet." Perseus grinned.
The two looked at Perseus in shock, before Phoebe let out a war cry, rushing towards Perseus only to pass straight through him.
"What the-"
Perseus snapped his fingers and shadows launched from the walls and dragged Phoebe with them until she disappeared.
"Where did you take her?" Zoe demanded.
Perseus slowly turned around with a cold stare making Zoe gulp and Spi grin in amusement. "Phoebe is currently enjoying the company of one of my many friends."
Zoe slowly nodded, afraid to ask who. "Perseus…" She said cautiously. "This isn't you… all these actions, the mindless murder, what happened?"
Perseus POV
Spi growled, "Now listen here you idiotic half-breed! You-" I waved her down before starring Zoe straight in the eye.
"While I don't exactly approve of this… mindless mass murder of these mortals..." Spi gave a small hmph before cleaning the blades jutting out from her gauntlets of all the mortal blood that stained the poisonous blades.
"At least she actually cares for my well-being unlike some people I know. She didn't spend every minute, every second she could to torment me, to try to break me down into insanity just because I was a male. I never chose who I could be. I was just brought into this world in the way I was because the Fates decided they needed a bit of drama in this world. But yet you act as if I was the scum of the earth. I did not CHOOSE TO BE BORN FROM THIS MONSTER!" I yelled pointing to Artemis who has remained silent the entire time. She just stared down at the ground in shame as Zoe stood there absorbing every single word.
"Perseus…" Zoe tried to reach out to me only for her hand to pass straight through me. "I'm… I'm sorry… I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for everything I've done to you. I'm sorry for the way we treated you. If you must, take your hatred out on me; don't take it out on your mother."
My fists began to clench tightly as they shook uncontrollably. If Zoe noticed, she paid no attention to it.
"Please don't do something you will regret. Don't harm her, harm me. I tortured you, I tormented you, not her. Please, I know I don't deserve to ask you this, I know I am the last person you want to hear this from but please come back to us. Please let's just start everything anew. Give each other the chance to reconstruct broken bridges and perhaps even become… our brother."
I paused; this is all a trick isn't it? Here right now I am having everything handed to me on a silver platter. But if there was one thing I learned it was that no action comes without a consequence. What is stopping them from betraying me? I already had enough betrayal in my life. I wasn't sure if I could handle another.
"Stop trying to deceive him," Spi snarled. "Stop trying to toy with him. He already had enough of your mind games. He doesn't need it anymore, what is stopping you from going against your words? What is stopping you from betraying him? You already had your chance. You had several… no hundreds… no that's not right, oh yes millions!" Spi glowered at Zoe. "You had millions of chances to repent for your actions towards him and start anew but instead you all crushed him and ran him over in your little chariot to Elysium while leaving him behind to suffer."
"And all I ask is for one more! Is that too much? To ask for one more chance? That is all I ask for!" Zoe said matching Spi's glowering. "Who are you to stop him from making his own decisions?"
"Zoe," I started. "Remember what I said back at the bottom of the mountain? I told you that I requested to have one day with Artemis alone then I wished for you and the rest of the hunt to stay the Hades away from me till the end of time…"
"Perseus please…" Zoe said, starting to break down.
I stared down at her before looking towards Artemis who was glowing silver with power. My eyes widened before glaring down at Zoe.
"You're stalling for time aren't you? Right now Artemis is regaining her power. Give me one reason why I should spare you right now?" I growled.
"Yes I was stalling," Zoe admitted. "But everything I said was genuine! Please just take what I said into heart. If you must, kill me now but please…" She shakily unclasped her necklace as well as slip a hairpin from her pocket and tried to hand them to me only for her hand to go straight through me once again. Instead Spi just took a step forward and took the items.
"Just… keep these with you. You may find the hairpin to be helpful and the necklace. The necklace was from my mother; hopefully this will give you something to think about in my offer." Zoe said slumping down next to the wall.
I nodded before snapping my fingers. Zoe watched in surprise as Phoebe flew out of the shadows and onto the floor unconscious followed by the god Moros.
"Thanks for taking care of her," I said to Moros.
"No problem, anything for my little bro…" Moros said before frowning. "Well, Mom still hasn't adopted you yet but I do consider you as a brother…"
This brought a small smile to my face, nodding to Moros as he disappeared in the shadows. I allowed myself to diffuse into my body which was currently being 'used' at the moment by Spi.
Zoe POV
I watched as the ghostly form transfer over into female Perseus before the female Perseus walked right past me, surprising me, before grabbing Artemis by the throat, staring right at me.
"Perseus says he will think about what you just told him but don't expect any immediate results," The female Perseus said. I watched as she took out two knives and laid them down in front of me.
"He says for old times' sake," The female Perseus whispered before disappearing in a flurry of shadows.
I tried to clamber to my feet only to slip in a puddle of my own tears, causing me to collapse onto my knees. Everything Perseus said, everything, hit me like a brick wall. It made me realize that the hunters, myself, everyone, never gave a single thought about Perseus. I slowly grasped the twin knives and stared at them in shock, igniting a memory I had long forgotten.
Flashback
"Please, my family… once they learn what I have done, I will be kicked out!" I pleaded. "I will have no place to go! Let me accompany you! Please, at least to the next town!"
I watched as the muscular hero, shining as bold as brass, standing in all of his glory, smirk down towards me. His face which was once sympathetic, friendly, charming, now filled with arrogance with a crude smirk adorned on his face.
"Sorry but I cannot allow for a simple maiden to impede my journey," The hero chuckled before sheathing the celestial bronze sword. "I hope to see you soon girl."
He began to laugh as he walked out the garden. The sky seemed to darken as he walked away. A small patch of sunlight seemed to focus solely on the muscular hero, taunting me, telling me as if all my hopes and dreams were walking away with the pompous hero. Tears began to leak from my eyes as I could feel myself begin to drown in a pool of depression and sadness. I couldn't see, I couldn't imagine what would happen the moment my father found out about the act of atrocity I committed. I would lose my mortality, my previous life would disappear, everything that I once had would disappear.
Through my blurry tears, I watched a figure in black leather armor step out in front of the golden hero. It was obvious the two got into an argument due to the arm waving coming from golden hero. Suddenly both of them got into defensive stances. I watched in curiosity as two began to engage in battle. The figure in black, being smaller and more agile, weaved his way through and between the hero's strikes. Slashing and striking every available spot that made itself aware to the boy in black.
I could hear a roar of rage emitting from the golden hero who desperately tried to hit the nimble figure as he darted his way around the hero. Lightning flashed in the sky as the two were heavily engaged in combat. The movements and strikes of the boy in black were fluid and flawless as if it was a dance. The daggers he wielded seemed to be just a flash of silver as they quickly stabbed and slashed themselves all across the hero's body.
"Enough!" The hero roared. He brandished the celestial bronze sword and pointed it towards the boy. "Stand down or my father shall strike you where you stand! For I am Hercules, Son of Zeus! I have bested many monsters and men and I suggest you stop or you will die!"
"Oh shut the Hades up, you muscular fuck!" The boy said before dashing forward, avoiding the attempted swipes and stabs the son of Zeus swung his way. "You swing like an amateur, let me show you how it's done."
The boy twirled his daggers and darted below Hercules's outstretched arm, making his way behind Hercules before stabbing his daggers into Hercules's back. His shriek seemed to echo throughout the mountain and all the way to Olympus as blood poured heavily from Hercules's wounds. Thunder rumbled violently before lightning struck right next to the figure, causing for the boy to leap away.
"You think…" Hercules coughed. "You think you can best me? Once you tire what would stop you from avoiding death? I will destroy you!"
Bolts of lightning struck all-around Hercules as electricity arched off the bolts and into Hercules, energizing him and healing him of his wounds.
"I am the son of Zeus! You cannot kill me!" He roared. "You are just an insect under my boot mortal!"
"You talk too much," The boy responded before dashing past the bolts of lightning striking the earth and launching a flurry of strikes at the angered hero. However I watched with shock and fear as Hercules made a feint which the boy began to block before being hit with Hercules's unarmed fist, hurling the boy across the garden and into the earth, his body digging a large trench right next to me.
I gasped, staring at the mound of dirt where the boy laid, obviously greatly injured. His entire left arm was bent and collapsed, showing signs of shattered bones. His leather armor was torn, stained with heavily with blood pouring from his wounds. His mask became uncovered, revealing an angelic, handsome face that outrivaled Hercules, filled with pain and agony. The boy slowly clambered to his feet before falling to the ground.
"You had enough! Please stay down or he will kill you!" I pleaded to boy who was still trying to stand with pain evident on his face.
He slowly turned towards me, blood dripped from a cut above his left eyebrow and cheeks. His entire left side was bruised with dirt caking his entire body. However his eyes were filled with determination as he stared at me. He showed no signs of giving up as he stared into my fear filled eyes.
"Close your eyes…" He said softly.
I shook my head violently as I stared at the injured boy. He nodded before shakily pointing to a pouch in front of me.
"Pour it…." He coughed out blood. "Pour it on me…"
I quickly, without question, uncapped the pouch and poured its entire contents out on the boy. Golden liquid poured from the punch and onto the boy, covering his entire body. I watched as a golden glow began to softly emit from liquid. I looked up to see Hercules slowly striding to our location with a satisfied smirk on his face.
"You really thought that you could triumph me, the son of the king of Gods? You are nothing but a mere insect under my boot."
I turned back to where the boy lay only to see an empty indent within the earth with bits of the golden liquid soaking into the earth.
"Surprise," A voice whispered from behind Hercules before the blade of a dagger protruded from his stomach.
Hercules looked down in shock before the hilt of a second dagger smashed into his skull knocking him unconscious. He fell to the ground in a massive heap, revealing the injured boy. He took the sword Hercules held and tossed down a rag onto Hercules's unconscious body.
"Clean yourself up," The boy sneered. "You are ruining the view."
The boy limped towards me and gently pressed the sword into my hands.
"I believe this belongs to you," He said softly as he curled my hand around the hilt of the sword."
I engulfed the boy in a hug. "Thank you, thank you so much." I cried with tears of happiness.
"Come, let's get away from this dump, I know a great place where you would be accepted." The boy said, taking my hand.
He led me away from the unconscious hero and into the forest. After what seemed like miles, we arrived at a busy campsite filled with girls dressed in silver, rushing about and laughing. He let go of my hand and walked ahead through the campsite. I watched as the entire campsite go silent as they stared at the boy with a multitude of looks, some of disgust, some of hatred, some of annoyance.
I followed him to the biggest tent to which he gestured for me to stop before entering the tent.
After a few moments he exited the tent with a regal woman who bore similar features to the boy next to her.
"So you are the one my son speaks of?" She said. "Are you hurt in any way?"
"No mother, as far as I am aware she was never injured." The boy spoke up.
"Silent, I did not say you could speak. Why are you still here? I would have assumed that after you allowed yourself to foolishly become injured by that son of Zeus that you irresponsibly used completely all of that nectar, offering this child none of it because you simply believed she was unharmed without checking her first." She growled. "Go to the medical tent and get yourself patched up, I do not wish for a cripple to soon be wondering around my camp."
I watched in shock as the boy limped away, obviously hurt by words but nonetheless obediently following her orders.
"Come inside," The woman said, adopting a much kinder facial feature. "I'm sure we have much to talk about."
Time Skip
For the past few days I watched as the boy was pushed around by the goddess as well as my fellow hunters. I could feel pity arise in myself as I stared at the mistreated boy, the boy who offered me a new life to grant me happiness even when he had none. When he was free, he was hardly seen around camp.
One day I followed him during one of his free times to a clearing in the forest. It was a small, tranquil area hidden by bushes and trees from plain sight. The sunset shone beautifully through the trees and into the clearing, bathing the entire area in a multitude of colors.
"Hey, how are you?" A soft voice spoke from behind me.
I quickly turned around to see the boy softly smirking as he stared at the sunset. However despite the peace and serenity between us, I could see the haggard look the boy bare. Dark shadows hung beneath his eyes as scars decorated his entire face. His eyes seemed to be haunted with only a tiny spark in his eyes.
"Hey," I greeted. "I didn't mean to disturb you, I was just curious on where you wander off to every time you are free."
He chuckled and sat down in the grassy clearing, patting the area next to him. I slowly sat down next to him as we both stared out at the sunset.
"You know, I don't feel like I formally introduced myself, I'm Perseus." The boy said, holding out his hand. I shook it with a slight smile.
" Zoe, Zoe Nightshade," I responded.
Silence enveloped us again as we stared out at the sunset.
"Do you know… do you know why mother hates me?" He asked slowly.
I stared at him to see Perseus staring at the ground with a somber look on his face.
"I'm sure she doesn't hate you, I bet she is just stressed with the hunt and her duties as a goddess. I am sure she loves you,' I quickly said in an attempt to comfort him.
He shook his head as he violently stabbed the ground with one of his knives. "She sure has a funny way of showing it. She treats the girls with such care; it is almost as if they are like her own daughters yet… every time she looks at me, I see no pride in her eyes. I just see disappointment and hatred. I just feel as if I am a major annoyance she has to deal with on a daily occasion."
His grip on his knife tightened as he glared out at the sunset before taking a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the forest.
"You know… this is the only area where I feel free. It gives me a sense of freedom from the hunt. It's almost as if I am running away and never looking back. I want to have this sense of peace, of serenity, yet at the same time I want to be accepted. To be with a family that cares for me. I don't want this; I just wish…I just wished I could at least have someone, someone to talk to, someone to hold onto when the times get tough like everyone else." Perseus glared bitterly at the ground as a tear slowly made its way down his cheek. "I hate this feeling of being worthless."
I took ahold of his hand much to his shock. "You saved me from Hercules, you risked your life and limb for me, just to give me back my sword as well as offer me a new home. I don't care what other people think about you. You are an amazing person. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If people can't see how amazing you are, how truly selfless and caring you are then it is their loss. If you want to run away then I will run with you. Friends never abandon each other."
"Are you sure…?" Perseus asked as he stared at me in shock
"Don't worry Perseus, I promise to always be there for you." I said, leaving no room for argument.
Perseus looked shocked before a small smile began to cross his face. "Thank you…"
I punched him softly in the shoulder, "Come, we should get back before the others get suspicious."
He laughed, the twinkle in his eye shining brightly before we both took off to the campsite.
Flashback End
"I'm so sorry…" I whispered as I gripped the twin knives. "I promised that I would always be there for you. This is my fault. I should have never hurt you. I broke my promise."
The knives remained a dull silver, no longer carrying the shine and glory that was once eminent in the knives. It was almost as if the knives were lifeless. The sharpness of the blade which could have once easily sliced through a tree like butter looked as if it could hardly sink into a monster.
I pocketed the twin blades before sinking down the wall reminiscing about Perseus and my past actions next to a group of unconscious hunters and a struggling Titan.
A/N: I got kinda caught up in writing this so it kinda got a bit longer than I expected. But then with Fanfiction was down it became even longer. Anyways so good news, I think a bit of inspiration is coming back to me. I was reading my previous chapters and I was like hey, why didn't I update this sooner. I hate being the person in which everyone is waiting for to update and I know the feeling of waiting for someone to update. Anyway enough with that, how do you feel about Zoe? I always liked her character and I found it hard to make her despicable so I was like eh and tried this to see how you guys would react.
ARTEMIS WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN IN THE CONFRONTATION! So please, I rather not be spammed with multiple questions on whether or not Perseus will forgive her. Also don't exactly get your hopes up for a massive torture scene next chapter for Artemis because I'm not that big on torture =P . This dark part is probably only going to be a onetime thing.