So, this is gonna probably be a rare occurrence that I'm going to post something so soon. I think I'm going to try for every other Thursday (meaning the next post will hopefully be the 17th). I hope this chapter is as good as the first one, I'm not the greatest with dialogue, so if you have any tips at all please share them. Your guys reviews gave me a lot of serotonin, so I really appreciate you all and want to thank you all for encouraging me. Anyway, without further ado, the next chapter!
The sun had fully set by the time she flashed back to the forest her hunters had set up camp in. Thoughts raced through her head as leaves crunched beneath her boots. He had been missing for twenty years and now is the time they're trying to find him? After all those times Zeus had called off the searches? And why her? There were literally hundreds of others that would be more than willing to drop everything and go search. What did she do to deserve this? How was she going to break the news to the hunters? She placed her head in her hands and screamed, kicking the leaves around her and then releasing her frustrations into a tree, which splintered into pieces. Her knuckles dripped golden blood as she panted, molten silver eyes glaring at anything that passed by.
'Some will be overjoyed'. She thought, thinking of a certain punk goth daughter of Zeus. But it wasn't just her, Perseus had personally brought quite a few of new recruits into her hunt over the five years before he disappeared. None of them ever disobeyed her, and many supported her when she let out her frustrations over the son of Poseidon. However, she could tell, in the way they'd take days off to 'explore the city' or when they'd stop and talk to the river spirits, saying they were simply asking for directions. Most of her hunt, unfortunately for her, loved him. Her older hunters had their reservations, especially after she told them about the news of her being engaged to him, but they weren't outwardly hostile towards him, well, except for Phoebe.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she neared the camp. Most of the huntresses have gone to bed, a few of them sitting at the large fire in the middle, stoking it to keep it burning. As she neared those who were keeping warm, she stopped.
"Lady Artemis" She whirled around, a bow in her hand, an arrow at full draw. The sound made the two hunters jump in surprise, with Thalia activating her spear.
"My lady?" She asked, her eyes scanning the environment, mentally berating herself for not noticing the threat her goddess sensed.
"I know it's the solstice- The static returned, and she scowled, lowering her bow. A silver light shone around her, energy rushing to fill her body.
"Two days in a row huh? You've got to be kidding me." She muttered. Unfortunately for her, Thalia could hear her as she moved to her side. Instantly she was in front of her, electric blue eyes staring into her own silver.
"What's he saying?!" She yelled, not even caring that the other huntress was completely out of the loop. Artemis grit her teeth, static filling her mind as his voice garbled through.
"Dawn is calling-" At this she froze. Dawn? But it was night? Did he get confused? Florida shared the same time zone as where they were, so why was he talking about dawn?Questions raced through her mind, and she unconsciously furrowed her brow. Thalia tilted her head, awaiting the goddess's response.
"Dawn?" She muttered, beginning to pace, the extra energy already causing her to be restless.
"I'm sorry, but Thalia, Lady Artemis, what is going on? What's who saying? What do you mean by dawn? Because unless I'm going crazy, it's currently sunset, the complete opposite and-" Artemis turned and glared at the girl, causing her to squeak. It was then that she realized who it was. Her chestnut brown hair fell down to her shoulders. She had a slim fit build and wore the typical silver parka that her other hunters wore. What was different about her was the small flower necklace that was draped across her neck. Deep forest green eyes stared back at her, not backing down from Artemis's glare.
"Verna you should go to bed." The goddess stated, not wanting to explain how she was plagued with the voice of her fiancée to another huntress. Having Thalia know was bad enough, if she told Verna as well, then she'd have a whole other set of problems to deal with.
"No." The daughter of Ceres crossed her arms, her sun kissed skin shining in the light of the bonfire. She was stubborn, and Artemis pursed her lips. "You don't think I see it? You and Thalia's silent fights? The way you literally glow with power sometimes? I mean I know you're a goddess and all but…" She trailed off, looking into the forest, biting her lip. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall. "And now I finally have the reason right in front of me and you're telling me to go to bed like some child? We are supposed to be a family, that's the whole reason I joined the hunt! Percy" Artemis flinched "told me so. I left a broken home twenty-four years ago, and I don't want to do it again. So please, tell me what is going on." Verna took a deep breath, her hands quivering as she dug her nails into her palms. Artemis was shocked, and from what she could see, Thalia was too. She didn't know that she had been paying attention. The girl mostly kept to herself, at least she never really talked to Artemis that is. She assumed she was just shy, but now she knew why.
"I…Artemis." She flinched, the static hiding the words in the middle of the phrase. However, she also felt relieved as the garbled noise finally receeded and her mind was clear once more.
"Okay…come with me." Artemis said, motioning for the girls to follow. "I'll tell you what's going on, only because I care for you, and ironically it will help us in the coming days." Thalia and Verna raised an eyebrow at this, but wordlessly followed the goddess to her tent.
Artemis wondered if this was the same girl that came to her hunt all those years ago.
Artemis walked through the redwood forest, admiring the enormous trees towering over her. It was one of her favorite places to camp, as it was one of the few places mortals protected from their own. The hunt has set up camp a few minutes away from where she was, so she took the time to stretch her legs. It was, understandably, boring after the war. With the doors of death closed, and monster activity next to zero, she wasn't really sure what to do. She could hunt non mythical animals, but it wouldn't be a challenge to her. A deep, dark part of her had wished the war didn't end so soon. At least the second titanachomy was over the span of three years. The giants didn't even last more than a year, and most of that was because of Hera's doing. As she continued her thoughts, she heard footsteps behind her. Black spiky hair suddenly entered her vision.
"We are all done preparing for dinner." Thalia grinned, and Artemis held a soft smile. She pushed her intrusive thoughts out and nodded. They both walked through the forest in silence, admiring the trees. As they entered the camp, Artemis's heart ached. There were only four tents lined up, not including hers. The giant war had ended a year ago, but she'd only been able to recruit one person, well, Thalia had recruited her. A strong daughter of Bellona and a former leader of the Roman camp. She watched as her huntresses chatted at the table; a couple of dishes placed between them. From the smell, it seemed to be venison with gravy and roasted vegetables. Even though she was a goddess, her stomach growled.
"Come on My Lady, everyone else is as hungry as you are." The goddess's face flushed as she glared at her half-sister, who just chuckled in response. Striding over, Artemis took her place at the head of the table. On her right, the punk goth sat down and stared hungrily, loading her plate up. On her left was Phoebe, the brunette demigod of Ares. She could see muscles bulging underneath the shirt she wore. Next to her was Reyna, chatting away with Phoebe, who was grunting in response. Across from Reyna and next to Thalia was Atalanta, an older daughter of her brothers, and in charge of healing. Her niece was nodding along to Reyna, sneaking glances to Thalia ever once in a while. Usually about once or twice a month she had to perform the Heimlich maneuver on the daughter of Zeus, and Artemis was sure Atalanta could hear Thalia choking in her dreams.
As the goddess chewed on a piece of deer, looking over her hunt, she saw a pair of green eyes peering at her in the middle of the table. She blinked, and they blinked back.
"Uhm, are you sure this is the right person? This just looks like a random thirteen-year-old in the woods. Wait, is she kidnapped? Are you okay little girl?" The image shimmered as a girl came into view. Her light brown hair had a few leaves stuck in them, as if she had fallen into a leaf pile. Deep green eyes studied the girl, narrowed in worry. Artemis was intrigued, the only ones that knew where the camp was, was the hunt. So, the fact that an Iris message got through was interesting to say the least. She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by another voice, off mist.
"No, that is in fact the goddess Artemis, well, I know her as Artemis, you'll probably know her as Diana, but that's really just semantics at this point…." The voice rambled on, and Thalia nearly choked. Atalanta was already behind her, patting her back.
'Poor girl' Artemis thought, before turning to her lieutenant.
"Percy?!" She yelled.
"Yeah, that's me, uh, I…Hey Verna, are you able to turn the screen? Mist? I'm not sure what to really call it." The voice, now identified as Perseus, called out. Artemis could tell from the volume of his voice that he wasn't too far away from the girl who called her. After some fiddling with the mist, the girl managed to turn it so that the hunt could see what was going on. Immediately, all the hunters burst into laughter, while Artemis blinked in astonishment. Upside-down with both of his feet snared by a celestial bronze rope was the great slayer of Kronos, the one and only Perseus Jackson. He wore a pair of blue jeans and his usual orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt, which was currently inside out and covering the trapped gods face, leaving his entire abdomen exposed. The god blushed a bright gold, not that they could see it, and waved his hand in a 'hello' motion.
"Yeah yeah, real funny, anyway, I was wondering if you guys could help me out here. I was trying to guide Verna to you guys, but as you can see, we ran into some issues. I could cut the rope, but it looked expensive and I don't think any of you would like me destroying your traps." The wind blew through the forest, and he gently swayed side to side. Artemis couldn't help but roll her eyes. How he had saved Olympus twice, she would never truly know. The girl, Verna, just stood there awkwardly, her hands in her pocket. Artemis scanned the girl's surroundings, going through a mental list of where she had the girls place traps. After a few seconds, Artemis had their location figured out. She looked over to Thalia, who was on the floor now, crying from laughing so hard, she stood up, motioning for the others to stay where they were.
"I will be there soon Perseus." After she swiped through the Iris message she turned North and started running. While she could've flashed, she wasn't sure how much the girl knew about the immortal world and didn't want to risk vaporizing her. Besides, the trap she had set was only about a mile away from the camp, which is nothing considering she could use her godly speed. As she approached the area, she could see the trapped god moving his head, seemingly talking to his younger partner. Getting closer, she heard bits of their conversation.
"Yeah, it's a place you can call family, they go around and camp in forests. Of course, they hunt monsters too, but I think you'll do just fine considering you took out those hellhounds earlier with those vines. Barely even needed my help honestly, not sure why Annabeth sent me here." Verna smugly smiled, puffing out her chest. Deciding to make herself known, she exited the nearby trail and stopped next to the young godling and girl. Perseus turned, as much as he could anyway, and waved. The girl looked her up and down, still wondering why the goddess of the hunt was thirteen.
"Hey Lady Artemis, sorry about this. Truly." The goddess could feel how genuine he was, and considering he was basically half-naked in front of her, it made sense for him to apologize. She studied him for a moment, before walking over to a nearby tree which had the counterweight on it and untied the knot. She heard a loud thud followed by an 'ow'. "Yeah, I deserved that." Perseus rolled over and pushed himself up, dusting off stray leaves and bugs. Verna giggled and helped him out, before looking back towards the goddess. As Artemis got a better look at her, she noticed a few things. The way the trees seemed to bend towards her, or how the leaves in her hair were actually decorations and not just a bad trip through the brush. She wore a purple form fitting t-shirt that had a silver vine design on them and a pair of simple jean shorts that reached the middle of her thigh. Considering it was California in the summer, she didn't blame the girl for dressing light.
"So…." The girl twiddled her thumbs, looking around. "You're the goddess of the hunt, Diana? Artemis? I'm not really sure honestly, this guy claimed to be a god too, but I've never heard of a god called Percy Jackson. And surely a god wouldn't be stuck upside down for thirty minutes before realizing he could call for help?" She jabbed her thumb towards the god in question, who looked mock offended, before giving his signature lopsided smile.
"I told you already, I became a god recently, I'm still getting used to everything. You try having Zeus as your mentor. Guy's ruthless really, does nothing but berate you if you get something wrong, and if you somehow get it right, bam, he thinks you're mocking him, and you get a master bolt to the face." Artemis winced, feeling pity for him, before turning towards Verna.
"Yes, I am Artemis. Diana is my Roman form, but I mostly keep to my Greek visage, as it's easier on everyone involved. May I ask who you are?" A soft smile graced her lips as she watched the girl's eyes widen. In the corner of her eye, she could see Perseus leaning against a tree, his sea green eyes watching the two interact. She noticed a tinge of worry in his eyes and wondered why.
"My name is Verna, I'm apparently a demigod, from what he said, it's likely my mother was Ceres, or…what was her Greek name again?" She turned to Perseus.
"Demeter." Him and Artemis said at the same time. Perseus's eyes shone with amusement while hers probably shone with annoyance.
"Yeah her, well, Percy here told me you may have a place for me? It was either this, or a camp, which sounds way less fun than living in the forest." She looked around, her eyes taking in the beauty of the redwoods, likely feeling the same thing Artemis felt when she was walking around earlier.
"Have you told her the conditions for joining?" Artemis looked over to Perseus. He had one hand in the air while the other had grabbed his elbow, letting out a yawn. He nodded, his voice coming out slightly garbled.
"Yeah, she's aware, she can't date, she must swear her felty to you, all that stuff." The goddess rolled her eyes and turned back to the demigod, who was looking off into the distance.
"My father tried to marry me off for the sake of his business. I dislike the idea of romance; it doesn't seem real to me. Every time I watch a crappy drama or a cheesy Hallmark movie, I just don't get it. So yeah, for me, it's an easy choice." Artemis tilted her head, before nodding. She looked over to Perseus and he just smiled.
"She'll fit right in. I hope you don't mind if I visit every now and again Lady Artemis?" He asked, looking off to the side, a hint of gold on his face. "I uh, well, y'know…." Unable to get his thoughts out, he just waved his hands around awkwardly.
"Awh, you're gonna miss me aren't ya?" The daughter of Ceres smiled wide, a smug aura on her face as she walked forward. Perseus stammered awkwardly, looking at Artemis like a fish out of water.
'Ironic' She chuckled inwardly
"I enjoyed our time together, even though you're a brat sometimes, but it felt like I had a little sister? And just, I know I can trust Lady Artemis to keep you safe but-" The god was cut off as Verna gave him a tight hug. He flushed, looking towards Artemis, and she looked at him curiously. First it was Zoe, then it was Thalia, now it was Verna. The goddess ran through different scenarios with other males she knew. Apollo would get shot on sight by all three of them, Hermes would probably be ignored, and Ares, well, she didn't even want to think about it. But him, this stubborn, dumb, oblivious, charismatic son of Poseidon had managed to befriend those whose hearts were closed. She wondered what his trick was, if he was secretly a descendant of Aphrodite too.
"Of course, Perseus, so long as you remain respectful, then you may visit." Verna stepped out of his embrace, before she walked over to Artemis. She noticed the god discreetly wipe a tear from his face, before he gave a deep bow.
"Thank you, Lady Artemis." He looked over to Verna, giving his signature lop-sided smile. "Be good, okay?" Verna nodded, and Artemis noticed she too was wiping her eyes. Giving one last bow, Perseus teleported away in a flash of green, the scent of the sea lingering in the middle of the forest. Verna turned towards Artemis, who put on a more serious face. She could still feel how uncomfortable Verna was looking down at a thirteen-year-old goddess, so she decided to shift her form. Shining a soft silver, she now looked around nineteen, her auburn hair in a high ponytail, wearing a silver t-shirt with a pair of tight-fitting blue jeans. She was only a small bit taller than Verna, at a modest height of five feet nine inches.
"Now, let's get you to camp, I have to introduce you to everyone." Both of them turned towards the direction of the camp, the redwood trees looming over them like giant knights, guarding them from the outside. They disappeared into the bush, into the camp of their now extended family.
From then on, Perseus had visited her over the years, bringing in new recruits. It was eerily similar how each one would go, minus the trapped god, with each girl having connected with him and a tear-filled departure. It irritated her to no end that he had a chokehold on so many of her girls. She wanted them to hate him like she did, to understand how hurt she was, to take her side, and while they were angry for her, they couldn't be angry at him. Shaking her head, she opened the flap to her tent and stepped inside, Verna and Thalia helped themselves to nearby chairs adorned with deer pelts, while Artemis herself sat on her bed. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face Verna, since Thalia already knew what she was going through.
"It started around a year after he left. I was in the middle of riding my chariot through the sky and I hear his voice. Of course, I was a little spooked, and nearly fell out of the sky." Thalia winced, and Verna's eyes widened. She went to speak but Artemis raised a hand to stop her. "It was faint and filled with static. It was only a few words. My name alongside an apology. Then his voice was gone as I gained a rush of energy." Artemis looked down, clenching her fists. "It didn't come again until a week later, around the same time. Still static, still only a few words…." Her hands shook now, her silver aura flaring "still a rush of energy."
"And you haven't told anyone?! We've been looking for him for years Lady Artemis! I know your situation, I can understand, but Percy…" Verna stood up, her forest green eyes meeting molten silver.
"Then what?! He's still lost! It's always the same fucking words! The same deafening static! And then a goodbye! Do you know how many times I couldn't sleep because of him?! How many times I was forced to think about him?! I replay the scenes leading up to his abandonment like a damned movie on repeat! And then-" She stands up, stomping over to one of her walls "He's gone. For months, and…" The huntresses couldn't see it, but a semblance of a tear formed in the corner of her eye, her frustration breaking her normally cool mask. "He's back, as if nothing happened. His voice is the same, as if he hadn't just disappeared again. More apologies, more 'Lady Artemis's', more goodbyes." Artemis had her head turned away from them, which allowed Verna and Thalia to sneak a fleeting glance at each other. The goddess turned around, "And now, Zeus ordered us to find him, saying he's in fucking Florida!"
At this, both Thalia and Verna's eyes went wide with shock. The gears in their heads working on overdrive on how the hell he could be in Florida this entire time.
"What do you mean he's in Florida?! We searched all over there like, the first year he went missing?" Thalia was the first to speak, slamming a fist onto a nearby table, putting a sizeable dent into the magical wood. Artemis sighed, letting herself fall onto her bed in a sitting position.
"I don't know Thalia. But I do know Zeus wants me specifically to find him, so first thing in the morning we're breaking camp and heading south." Artemis placed her head in her hands, taking a deep breath, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. She felt a small weight next to her, before warmth enveloping her. She looked up and saw the daughter of Ceres gently wrapping her arms around her. She smelled of pine and citrus, an odd combination for sure, but for a goddess of the hunt, it was supremely comforting. Immediately she could feel her heartbeat steadying.
"I'm sorry for getting angry, I just, I care for him. I know that you can't trust him, and I understand, but I'm simply asking you, as my mentor, my friend, please, help us find him." She moved her face so that green met silver once more, and Artemis saw tears forming in her huntress's eyes. And she realized something. How would she feel if someone kept secrets from her about her loved ones? How would she feel if the one person that held the key was the one that hated them the most? She gave a gentle nod.
"Okay. I will try, for you. For all of you. But once we find him, I don't think I can do much more after that." Thalia placed a hand on her shoulder, a smug smirk on her face.
"That's okay My Lady, once he's back in our hands, we'll beat some sense into him." Both Verna and Artemis let out a small chuckle, before the demigod gave one last squeeze before standing up.
"I think it's best we retire for the night, it looks like we've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Artemis nodded, watching the two huntresses walk out of her tent. The goddess flopped onto her bed, letting her eyelids slowly close. She still felt the effects of the earlier rush of energy, which stopped her from sleeping. As she closed her eyes, once more her mind replayed the memories of them together.