disclaimer - pjo/hoo do not belong to me
okay, so turns out i can't update twice a week... but i'm back!
i guess my update schedule would now be once a week, and any extra chapters would be published in between
sorry for the long wait, i hope you like this chapter, shit is about to get real ;)
(also the long awaited pertemis confession hehe)
enjoy!
- kathy
The days after Estelle's birth went by in a blur. Percy had never seen his mom this stress out since... forever really. It was like the addition of a baby suddenly added more chaos to the family, in the best way possible.
Percy had promised to stay for the first week with his mom, and Thalia joined him. Percy wished he could have captured the look on Thalia's face when Sally asked if she wanted to hold Estelle. The pure horror was definitely something he had never witnessed on the face of Thalia.
By the fourth day when Sally had more dark circles under her eyes than percy had ever seen her, he pushed her out of the house with Estelle resting on Artemis' arms, promising that she would be well taken care of. To be honest, Percy was sure his mom only agreed because Artemis was there. Which was a little bit offending, but Paul is taking Sally somewhere relaxing for the day, so at least she would get a day of rest.
Artemis laughed when Percy let out a huge sigh and leaned his back against the door the second his mom and Paul were out. Percy rolled his eyes, but pushed himself off of the door and took a seat on the couch instead. "I don't think I've ever seen my mom more overprotective or stressed out. Should I be jealous?"
"Maybe just a little bit," Artemis chuckled. Percy couldn't help but notice how Artemis seemed to glow as she held Estelle, like she was in her own domain. They still hadn't really talked about the elephant in the room, but he could tell it was weighing down on them with the way Artemis still seems to dance around him. Artemis glanced down at the child in her arms, who was thankfully still asleep. "But I wouldn't blame her, Estelle was born a little too early, so I know where the concern was coming from."
"I think today will do her some good. She needs to take a day to herself to just relax," Percy leaned back against the couch casually, watching as Artemis made her way across the room to take a seat on the other end of the couch. Percy sighed internally, so the distance between them was still there. "Are we going to talk about it?"
Artemis blinked, glancing up from Estelle to Percy, before glancing down at the baby again. "Talk about what?"
"The elephant in the room."
"What elephant?" Artemis glanced up again, her face freed of any emotions. Percy tried to maintain eye contact before he looked away again.
"The fact that you still hate me and we almost kissed but we're pretending we're fine because there's now a baby in our life. But the baby in our life postponed the talk we were going to have and now we're back to square one when we pretend everything is fine when in reality it is not," the words came out of Percy before he could stop them, and really, he was expecting it.
He had held it back long enough, it wasn't his fault if Artemis suddenly hated him for unknown reasons she won't talk about. If she wants to pretend everything is fine, then fine. But he couldn't stand the silence anymore. The silence was the loudest thing he had ever heard in his life.
"Can we not talk about it now?" Artemis looked away, absentmindedly stroking Estelle's short dark hair. Estelle made a noise of contentment before snuggling closer to Artemis and falling asleep once again. "I can't do this right now, Percy. We're currently watching this day's old child and I would prefer it if we focus our attention on her instead. We already pretended for so long, why not a few more hours?"
Percy sighed again. "Because then we will never talk about it again. I know you, Artemis. So we can do this now, or we will never talk about it again. Estelle's asleep anyway, you can leave her in the crib and keep the baby monitor on. We are going to talk about it."
"Fine."
The words were simple, but yet Percy felt the weight lifted from his shoulders. He was tired of dancing around it, he knew he had feelings for his best friends, and honestly, he would prefer to get reject now so he could get over his feelings then to be stacked in the situation in which he still have hope that Artemis would feel the same about him.
Artemis got up with a final look at Percy before turning away and walking towards the bedroom. Percy sighed and took in the quietness, grabbing a pillow and hugging it close to his chest. I guess this is happening.
When Artemis finally walked back, Percy was ready. He pattered the spot beside him and watched as Artemis sat down, a space between them a silent tension hung in the air.
"I don't know anything about love," Artemis started quietly, fidgeting with her hands before she sat down atop it. "And I don't know what it's supposed to be."
She finally looked up, and Percy gave Artemis an encouraging smile. "We don't have to label what we have, Artemis. But I know what we have is good. You know the world we live in, there's no telling what would happen to us in a few hours. I know you're immortal, but with the upcoming war, who knows how long that will stay. And I can die any moment, Artemis. There's no reason to waste anymore time."
Artemis looked up at Percy with the most valuable look he had ever seen on the goddess. "I'm scared. I'm scared that we won't work out and I'll lose my best friend."
"That will never happen," Percy shook his head, reaching across and took Artemis' hands. "I will always be here, I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," Artemis whispered, but she allowed Percy to rub her knuckle comfortingly. Percy scoot closer to Artemis, wrapping his other arms around the goddess.
"Well, you know I will try my best to always be here," Percy leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "No matter what happens, I will make my way back to you. In this life or the next."
Artemis leaned into Percy's touch, burying her face in Percy's shirt. The room was quiet besides the soft breathing coming from the baby monitor, but everything felt right.
Suddenly, Artemis glanced up with soft eyes. "I just want to let you know that I like you. A lot. Like like-like you. Like I really like you."
Percy chuckled. "Take a breath, Moonbeam. I think I got a stroke just by hearing how much like it was in that sentence."
Artemis punched his arms, and Percy let out a gasp of horror. "Shut up. I'm trying to share my feelings here."
Percy grinned, a smile he thought would be permanently engraved on his face for the days to come. Artemis likes him, the way he likes her. Maybe the love wasn't unrequited after all. Artemis snuggled back into Percy's side and he didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her.
Though with his luck, the tranquility didn't last long.
There was suddenly a loud cry coming from Estelle's room and Artemis perked up and moved from under Percy's arms. Percy pouted. "Did you have to go?"
Artemis rolled her eyes, squeezing Percy's hands. "I'll be right back."
"Okay," Percy sighed, a dreamy look on his face as Artemis moved towards the master bedroom.
He was so screwed.
Nyx paced the Mansion of Night, not even Erebus' words could calm her down. It was almost time, and she had hidden El's ring in the correct place with El's soul in it. The next step was all up to her adoptive daughter. The easy part was over, and the hard part is only just beginning.
"We all know what El's capable of, she's going to be fine, baby," Erebus walked over, a pile of files in his hands. He dumped it on the table, picking up the top files before a scowl appeared on his face. "On the other hand, the mistress' demands are in again."
The pacing stopped, and Nyx turned before grabbing the file in Erebus' hands. A part of her knew she was a hypocrite to accuse Artemis of pacing when she herself was guilty of the same crime. Her eyes scanned the file, groaning when she saw the list of demands again. "More soldiers? There's literally no more to spare."
"Think about it this way," Erebus wrapped his arms around Nyx comfortingly. "We have more army on the inside. It would be good for us."
"On the other hand, she has more of our army to brainwash into believing her cause," Nyx scowled, wrecking her husband over the head with the file in her hand. "This is war, and there could only be one winner. We all saw what happened in the last war when we supported her out of fear, we can't make that mistake again. Chonous only has the power to bring us back to the start once, we have to win this war. El has to be okay, everything depends on her, she's the key."
Erebus reached up and rubbed Nyx's shoulder. "My dear, we will not win this war by stressing out. Our monthly meeting with the resistance is soon, we should be able to plan out everything. Especially with El back, it would bring everything in places."
Nyx gave her husband a glare. She loves El like she was her own child, but the power they are playing with is way out of their hands. It was a power that had never been explored before there were so many things that could go wrong. Nyx took a deep breath. "Okay, one step at a time. Let's get the mistress what she wants, and—"
The necklace around Nyx's suddenly light up and Nyx drops the file. Her eyes were wide as she clasped the necklace in her hands, her next words coming out in a whisper. "She did it."
"Fucking hell," the first thing Estelle felt when she came to be was that it fucking hurts. She laid in the remains of her crib, rubbing her temple. Her eyes caught sight of her rings and she was quick to place it back on her fingers. It was all she had left of her wife in this life and she would be stupid if she didn't treasure it.
Estelle looked around the room, her eyes tearing up at the familiarity of it all. It was a room she hadn't seen in... years, ever since the whole family were forced into hiding, she hadn't been back.
The sound of the door opening made Estelle's eyes widened but really, there's no place to hide now. And it would be easier to explain her current situation than trying to explain to her mom where her newly born daughter went. The door opened but it wasn't Sally on the other side.
"Artemis?"
Said goddess had her hunting knives out within seconds and Estelle held up both of her hands in the air. "Who are you and what have you done with Estelle?"
The next thing she knew, Percy was charging in with Riptide in both of his hands. Okay, too much tears, but what was she supposed to do when her older brother was standing in front of him, alive and well. Estelle's eyes watered and before she knew what she was doing, she found herself running towards Percy's and wrapped her arms around him.
Riptide dropped to the ground in his shock and Artemis just stared at the weird scene in front of her. Percy blinked. "Umm... who are you and where is my sister?"
"I'm you sister, Percy," Estelle looked up, her brown eyes meeting sea green ones. "I'm Estelle."
"Last I checked my sister was a few days old baby," Percy pointed out, glancing towards the ruined crib. Artemis restrapped her knives but crossed her arms.
"You better explain before I kill you."
Estelle glanced between Artemis and Percy, and then the look the two of them exchanged. Okay, so she was definitely getting killed if she doesn't explain any time soon. Estelle glanced down at her watch, there was still time.
"I'm from the future," she blurted out before Artemis could unstrapped her knives again. Estelle had trained with Artemis before, and the goddess of hunt was one of the scariest fighters she had ever faced. Percy blinked, and Artemis looked unimpressed. "I mean, I'm from an alternate future, where basically everyone dies. So I teamed up with a few people, join a cult, and now I'm back in time."
"That doesn't explain why you took the body of our Estelle," Percy pointed to the broken crib, and Estelle rolled her eyes.
"There can't exactly be two Estelle running around. Plus, now your Estelle, is me! I'm still the same person, just... twenty two years older than the other one," Estelle shrugged, her eyes glancing towards Artemis. Honestly, she might die if the goddess chose not to believe her.
"And why should we believe you?" Artemis' arms were still crossed, and Estelle just pointed to her face.
"Because this beautiful face looks like your boyfriend's."
Artemis blushed, Percy sputtered, Estelle smirked.
"He's not my boyfriend," Artemis muttered, but she uncrossed her arms. Estelle gestured to her head, and Artemis closed her eyes. In the next seconds, Estelle felt a presence slipped into her mind before it disappeared as quickly. Artemis' posture relaxed slightly. She turned towards Percy. "We can trust her."
"Just like that?" Percy questioned, and Estelle quirked an eyebrow.
"Not going to believe your girlfriend?"
"I mean... I can see it..." Percy studied her face, and Estelle crossed her arms. Honestly, she was more surprised that neither Percy and Artemis denied their feelings yet, maybe there was hope for this universe. In the timeline in which she was from, her brother never confessed his feelings until the moment before Artemis faded away. It was definitely one of the most heartbreaking things he had ever seen.
"Well then, you should trust me," Estelle rushed out, glancing down at her watch. "I promise I will explain everything later, but right now I have more important matters to attend to. So.. if you don't mind."
She flashed Artemis and Percy a smile and two thumbs up before melting into the shadow. She was definitely paying for that later.
Athena didn't know what she was expecting when the two days came and she was back in her library once again. The ring was still left on her index fingers, and she often found herself re-reading the leather book, searching for hidden clues.
So far, there wasn't any.
There was a weird emptiness that settled within her chest without El bothering her every now and then, and that feeling deeply confused her. Athena knew better than to get pulled into Aphrodite's little love game, but something about her feelings for El was something she had only experienced once before.
But he no longer deserves any of her thoughts, Athena took a few breath before shoving him away once again, trying to focus on the book in front of her. The words blurred together and for the first time in her whole immortal life, she doesn't feel like reading.
There were more questions in her mind than she had answers for, and the thing that was driving Athena crazy was the fact that El has them all.
"Did you miss me?" Athena whirled around, her eyes finding El leaning against a bookcase in the shadow casually.
"One day you'll have to tell me how you get into my palace," Athena called out, watching as El finally stood out of the shadows. But what Athena saw made her do a double take.
The usual hoodie was discharged for soft dark curls that fell down her back, and her eyes are the warmest brown Athena had ever seen. She was dressed casually, ripped jeans and a simple t-shirt, paired with combat boots.
To put it simply, the woman was beautiful.
"El?"
"Surprised! I can finally ditch my hoodie without ruining the timeline now," El walked confidently towards Athena, flopping down on the couch casually. "My real name is Estelle Jackson, pleasure to meet you."
Athena took Estelle's outstretched hands wordlessly. Estelle Jackson. "Any relation to Perseus Jackson?"
"His sister actually," Estelle smirked, her handshake was firm and warm. She plopped her feet onto the coffee table and Athena coughed. Estelle pouted and put her feet down once again. "Well, I imagine you have a lot of questions."
"I do," Athena nodded, turning in her seat on the couch and trying to get used to this woman in front of her. Apparently she had been talking to the hero of olympus' twenty-two years old time traveling sister. That was a lot to wrap her mind around. "First of of, why are you?"
"I have an important role to play in this war," Estelle shrugged casually, but Athena could tell there was something she was holding back. There was a certain look in Estelle's eyes that Athena was all too familiar with. It was the same look she often seen in Perseus' eyes. "I hadn't been briefed yet but I knew there was something I must do if this war was to be won. There are more people on Olympus' side then you would imagine."
Athena blinked. "Why?"
She wasn't against Olympus, no, but she was more than aware of the hatred that the Olympian often received. They weren't saint, that's for sure, but they tried their best.
A dark look came across Estelle's face, and Athena feared the answer that came next. "If the primordial goddess win, the world would be worse. At least the Olympian rule with fairness, the goddess does not. She would destroy everything in her path, even those who had originally sided with her out of fear knew that it could not go on. So we formed a group, and traveled back here to change things."
Athena raised an eyebrow. "So you're telling me there's more than you who traveled through time?"
Estelle nodded, playing with her ring absentmindedly. "I can't reveal their name without drawing too much unwanted attention, but you would meet them sooner or later. The first battle is coming soon."
"What can you tell me about the first battle?" Athena questioned, her mind already racing through battle strategies. If they have a time traveler among them, surely the battle could be easily won.
Estelle sighed, and the hope vanished from Athena's mind almost as quickly as it appeared. "The thing is, we're not sure. When the original people switched sides, so did their soldiers. So really... this will be like the first battle all over again."
"What's the point of having a time traveler if we won't even have an advantage?" Athena grumbled, but all Estelle did was flashed her a dashing smile and flipped her hair.
"Well, you got my amazing personality and me! Who could deny me?"
Athena only shot the woman a glare before getting up from the couch and grabbing her books. New plans needed to be made.
The progress meeting was quiet, little updates being made. Estelle blended into the shadow by Athena's throne, watching Percy sitting near Frank and Jason, the three of them talking in hush tones. Thalia seems restless as she stood beside Artemis' throne, her hands twirling a knife in her hands.
The last god to flash in was Dionysus, no surprise, and the second he took a seat on his throne, Zeus started the meeting by slamming his lighting bolt down on the ground. Honestly, drama queen.
"Welcome, gods and demigods. This is our progress meeting for training and any news update, anyone is welcome to start," Zeus sat back into his throne as Frank stood up.
"Camp Jupiter is still helping with the transition into Camp Olympia, but it's happening. As soon as Camp Olympia is completed, Camp Jupiter will move in. But right now we are holding down Camp Jupiter as it could be crucial to the war. Training are going well, my lord."
Zeus nodded before Thalia stood up. "The hunters are doing great, father. We took a huge hit the other day but we are recovering. Monsters activity seems to have ceased these days, and I'm afraid that they are gathering for something much bigger. We must be prepared for everything."
Chiron spoke for Camp Olympia, talking about its progress and how the remaining campers from Camp Half-blood had been settling in. Zeus hummed in contentment, and Estelle knew the moment Athena spoke up, the moment would be broken.
"I have something to add, father," Athen spoke up, her back straightening as she addressed her father. "I have heard that we might not be alone in this war, there are other primordials that might be on our side, but they have yet to reveal themselves. And the first battle is coming soon—"
Her words were interrupted when an Iris message suddenly appeared in the middle of the throne room, and Camp Jupiter flashed into picture. Tyson was in the center of it, a stick in his hands and Ella the harpy perched on his shoulder. "SENT HELP! CAMP JUPITER-"
There was a battle cry, and then the Iris message cut off. Estelle glanced up at Athena, who glanced down into the shadow with an unreadable look in her eyes.
The throne room broke into chaos.
i hope you guys enjoy this chapter! lemme know your thoughts! (i always enjoy ending in a little cliffhangers, keep you guys on the edge heh)
see you soon ~