Hey guys, Percy and Artemis talk, and Artemis is a teeny bit suspicious.
Replies:
Krypton Joy Writes: Let the merging of the worlds begin! Whooo!
Guest: She's only temporarily stripped of her powers-and you're right she does have her Greek Powers- though they are fairly high up away from water- still I'm sure she'll find a way ;)
Zephyr0f8: Yeah the only death here is Desjardins- and some of your predictions are fairly accurate- though there are some bits you haven't quite got. Which will become clear fairly soon. Heheheheh.
Guest: I will never tell! heheheh. Percy's magic is blocked temporarily, her demigod powers aren't sealed though she can't figure out how to bust out with them yet, and the amulets are definitely still working.
Undeath9087: Annabeth and Piper upon learning what's happened are just gonna be stood there glaring sharpening their weapons like, 'Well, who do we hurt first.'
Avaatje: :D Percy is gonna have to save Apollo's ass.

Percy could feel Artemis' eyes on her. "You do not have your magic?"

"She drugged me." Percy scowled as she looked at her hands, "I don't know how long the drugs are gonna be in my system. I don't even know how long I was out for." she could try. She needed to at least try to use her magic. She focused, desperately trying to draw upon her magic, thrusting one hand into the air- and she couldn't feel it, couldn't feel the Duat, couldn't feel anything. Her fingers didn't curl around the hilt of her blade.

Fuck. Maybe- "Maw." she breathed the word, trying to push as much power as she could into it, but again it was as if there was an empty void where her magic should be. But- but perhaps- she focused once more, desperately reaching out, not for her normal magic but for the power of Chaos itself, embracing it- and she could sense it, sense it in a very faint distant way, feel that twisting uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her belly.

And there were wisps, barely even wisps but very faint curls of the red magic drifting around her fingers before dissipating. Not enough to do anything with, but it was a sign that her magic was coming back to her, slowly as that might be. Good, but not as good as she might have liked. She was still going to have to wait for it to come back fully.

And what about her demigod side? She still felt weak and unsteady but that was slowly fading. What about her powers though. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to breath deeply as she reached out with her senses.

And there, in the distance she could sense it- water. Far below her, too far for her to realistically make any use of it right now but she could feel the sea. Based on how far down it was they were on some sort of mountain. She could work with that.

"What was that?" the voice snapped her into the present unpleasantly suddenly. "The red- it has been a long time since I've seen Egyptian Magic but I do not believe I ever saw any quite like that."

"No. You probably didn't." Percy curled her fingers into fists and let out a slow breath, meeting Artemis' gaze. "I'm not the average magician."

"I don't suppose you'll explain."

"Nope, sorry Lady Artemis but right now there are more important things than me explaining that stuff to you."

"I see." Artemis watched her for a long moment before- "What is your name? Given the circumstances it feels rude to keep calling you girl."

Percy hesitated for a brief moment before, "My name is Percy."

"You know about us. Does the entirety of the House of Life know-"

"Eh-" Percy considered, "I mean, it's not some big secret but we have enough troubles with our own pantheon so I doubt many Egyptians even think about it."

"And yet you seem somehow involved in all this?"

"My two best friends are demigods." Percy ran her fingers through her hair. "Greek Demigods, one who was from your camp and the other who only found out what she was because of me." she wasn't sure she wanted Artemis to know just who she was yet. She didn't know who to trust, understandable in her opinion. Everything that could go wrong lately had gone wrong.

"And this... Alina girl?"

"She found out about you guys because she was watching me." Percy admitted, "Or I assume she did. Sorry about that."

"You mentioned her father?"

"A real dickhead." Percy scowled at the memories, "It's a long story but he tried to use me. It backfired and he died and she probably blames me because the gods know it must have definitely been my fault right?" her voice was just a touch bitter as she said that part, "Y'know I don't know why I was so surprised. even after he's dead and gone he still finds ways to fuck up my life."

"Men are good at destroying good women." Artemis spoke up. "It is a shame, for a maiden to have become so twisted for the sake of a man, even one who was her father. Do you know her plans?"

"No." Percy let out a breath, "She's probably working with Kronos-" she didn't miss Artemis' little wince and she filed it away for later, in any case it was what made the most sense, teaming up with her other enemy. "it's still kind of fuzzy." the only moment she could remember with true clarity was the way Desjardins had looked as he'd dropped to his knees, the way that even with his last breath he'd been reaching out to her. Trying to save her.

She jerked sharply, cracking her head back against the stone wall, the sharp pain helping her force those thoughts away.

"Percy-" Artemis' voice was startled, "You mustn't-"

"No offence Lady Artemis but you don't tell me what I must and mustn't do. I can look after myself."

There was a flash of anger on Artemis' face before it faded. "Perhaps not. You can drop the Lady." she added, "Given the fact that right now I'm likely less powerful than you."

Percy glanced at the goddess at that, considering for just a moment before. "Okay Artemis. I'll drop the lady." she looked around the room, eyes focusing on the door again, grimacing as she slowly dragged herself to her feet.

"What are you doing?"

"Testing the door. I know it's gonna be too thick for me to break but I can't just sit there doing nothing." Percy remarked, casting a sidelong glance towards Artemis, who gave a small nod.

"You have a fair point."

So Percy, still unsteady on her feet but feeling stronger than she had when she'd first woke, made her way to the door, leaning against the wall slightly.

The physical weakness would be gone before long. A bit of food and water would probably help but that was too much to ask for. If only her magic would come back so quickly- but she didn't even know how long she'd been knocked out.

And that was a thought. "Artemis do you know what the date is?" she turned her head to look back at the goddess, who's brows furrowed.

"I believe it is the fifteenth of December." Artemis told her after a moment, "Why do you ask?"

And ouch. The dance had been on the thirteenth. That meant she'd been out for an entire day and probably some hours too. Not good. "Early or late?"

"It was morning when we arrived- and that was not too long ago."

"When we?" Percy paused, "Apollo too." her expression turned slightly distant. "The prophecy-"

"Prophecy?" Artemis straightened up, "What prophecy are you talking about."

"I- when I dreamed." Percy shook herself, "Twins taken by the traitors heir." she told Artemis, "That was the first line. And if you're here that means that the twins are you and Apollo." she bit her lip. "Traitors heir fits Alina to a T. Her dad was definitely a traitor and she's following his footsteps. Then there was a line about a choice and a burden? Apollo? What happened?"

Artemis almost flinched, her expression turning to a mix of guilt and pain. "He followed me. We were captured together by this Alina, a mixture of Celestial bronze chains and enchantments. They brought us here-"

"Where is here?"

"Mount Tamalpais." Artemis told her swiftly, "But it seems that whilst it is Mount Tamalpais it is also Mount Orthys, much as Mount Olympus-"

"Is the 600th floor of the Empire state building. Got it." Percy grimaced. Mount Orthys, she'd heard of that of course, once the stronghold of the Titans, where Atlas was... oh gods. "The burden- there was a line about a choice and a burden-"

"My brother now holds the sky." Artemis almost whispered the words, her expression tortured. "She cast her magic on me, draining my divinity before threatening to take my life if Apollo did not take the sky from Atlas and free him."

"I'm so sorry." Percy breathed the words. Because she could very much imagine that level of guilt- it must be horrible to feel responsible for her brothers suffering. And gods but that was not good. There was a Titan wandering around out there. One of the more powerful ones from what Percy could remember, Atlas had been a fierce fighter before he'd been bound and trapped under the sky. That would make any escape attempt a hell of a lot harder.

"I cannot even help him." Artemis spat the words, "I have never been so weak before. I despise this feeling."

"We'll figure something out." Percy said quickly, "I promise Artemis. I don't know how but we'll find a way to save your brother."

"I hope you're right. Truly I do." Artemis shook her head, "But I fear what will become of us if you are not-" she went silent very suddenly, because there was a click, and the sound of several bolts being drawn back.

Percy practically threw herself away from the door, wincing as her back hit the wall and she let herself slip down it so that she was sat again- best if their enemy thought them weaker than they were for now- or thought her weak in any case. She wasn't yet up to physically fighting, and she had no weapon.

And she saw Artemis stiffen up when the door swung open. Percy swallowed hard as her gaze focused on Alina.

She'd changed out of the slinky black dress and heels, instead wearing dark blue jeans and a clingy red jumper- probably a concession to the cold, which drifted in with her when she opened the door.

"You're awake." Alina sounded overjoyed as she clasped her hands together, "I wondered how much longer you'd be out for. Tell me Percy, how are you feeling?"

"Like I've been drugged." Percy spat the words, desperately trying to reign in the sudden rage that flooded through her at the sight of the girl who had murdered Desjardins, "What do you want with me Alina? Why not just kill me."

"As if I'd kill you." Alina laughed, "No, I need you awake Percy, I want you to watch the world fall apart and know that even if you delayed the destruction of everything you hold dear, it was just that. A delay. And we wouldn't even be able to pull it off so easily if it wasn't for you. I would have never come up with this plan if I didn't find out your precious friends were Greek- a whole new world to exploit."

"You will not win." Artemis spoke up angrily, "My hunters will come, Demigods will come, my father will send-"

"Your father won't even acknowledge that Kronos is rising." Alina laughed, "It's pathetic really. You gods are as blind as the House of Life was- and it will be just as useful to me as it was to my father-"

"Before his gruesome death you mean?" Percy shot out, unable to help herself- which made Alina's gaze swing back towards Percy, her eyes flashing with fury before:

"Sa-mir-"

And the wave of pain that hit Percy had her hunching, gritting her teeth. It felt like her blood had turned to acid in her veins.

But Percy had had worse- she'd fallen into the Sea of Chaos and survived and she would not show weakness in front of Alina. "That all you got?" she ground out, her eyes showing her hate.

"Well look at you." Alina laughed, "I always knew you were tough princess." she leaned back slightly, watching Percy. "Don't worry. There's more to come."

"So what's your plan?" Percy demanded, tilting her head back slightly. "Come on Alina, I'm at your mercy-"

"What, you want me to give an evil speech and tell you what I'm planning so you can find a way to stop it?" her tone was mocking. "Oh Princess I'm not brain-dead."

"Was it you?" Percy asked suddenly, "Did you send the Dracaena to steal the Parthenon statues?" that earned her a confused look from Artemis and a stunned one from Alina.

"How did- oh for- no-"

Percy gave her best smug look, "I was just trying to repatriate them and the Dracaena showed up. You're the one they were stealing them for right?"

"Of course it was you." Alina snarled the words, "You just can't help but get in the way. Not that it matters now- that was for my first plan. I had to change it because of you-" her gaze swung to Artemis. "Which means you're here because of her interference. Make of that what you will, goddess." she spat the words before.

"And your highness, there's someone else on this mountain who has a few bones to pick with you. I'm not the only one who's plans you've ruined. I hope he has fun with you when he comes." and then she turned, stalking off, the door slamming shut behind her.