Sorry for the delay! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter- in which an uneasy alliance is formed. I don't have time to type up individual replies- busy busy busy at the mo, but I will say I am updating as and when I find the time and energy to do a bit of writing and update- and yes! We have Luke redemption. And don't worry he won't just be instantly forgiven I'm not doing that. He fucked up and he needs to earn back trust and respect. And I love crossovers though it can be tricky to make it work bearing in mind how different worlds can be. Still I have some plans for in the distant future so we'll see :D.

Percy stared at Luke for a long moment, a considering look on her face as she watched him. "You help us escape and I'll offer you the protection of the House of Life-"

"You have no right!" Artemis looked shocked, "If Chiron is to be believed his crimes- you can't offer him that, my father would-"

"Artemis-" Percy gave the currently ex goddess a look, "Please shut up. I don't really care what your father will think. I don't come under his jurisdiction. If he wants to start a war with the House then he's going to be in a lot more trouble than he already is and it isn't worth it. It just isn't. Especially not if Luke is being genuine here. He might be a dick who deserves some minor stabbing-"

"You aren't making this easy on me Kane-"

"But if he does want to switch sides then that's really fucking good for us right now, and he can start by getting us out of here."

"I don't trust her-" his eyes flicked to Artemis, who was glaring darkly at Luke, and Percy rolled her eyes.

"Boo fucking hoo. You telling me you fully trust me? Last time you saw me you were choking me out. No, you know I'm your best bet of fixing your fuck ups and that doesn't change with Artemis coming with us." she pointed out, "Besides, I don't trust you."

Luke grimaced, "You have a point." he admitted after a long moment. "I don't know if I trust you. But I do know that you're my best chance of... fuck I don't even know." he raked his fingers back through his hair, a flash of frustration in his eyes, "You fucking ruined everything for me. If you hadn't interfered-"

"If I hadn't interfered you'd probably already be Kronos' meatsack." Percy said, mock sweetly. "That was your deal with him Luke. You made the dumb decision. I saved your ass, brought you some time to realise how stupid you were being. A literal case of cutting your nose off to spite your face. Even if you'd got the Fleece you'd have still been fucked in the long run and you know it. Even if you avoided being his host, everything you claim to fight for would be lost. So what would be the point?"

"I get it okay." Luke snapped the words, "I've made my choice you don't have to keep going on. I'm- I'm defecting. Which is probably going to fuck me over really badly but whatever, I don't... I can't do it any more. I'd rather deal with the nightmares he'll send my way than the guilt that keeps getting worse and worse the further I go. It- it's like you- like he was in my head and you yanked me back out partly. I don't know how to explain it."

"I-" Percy paused, "Actually that would make sense if he was whispering in your dreams and grooming you. Doesn't mean you didn't fuck up but he probably has been deep in your mind in a more subtle way too. I can probably help with keeping him out of your head. Especially your dreams." she gave a slightly smug grin. "I'm pretty good with that sort of thing- helping with dreamless sleep or granting sweet dreams, I'm pretty tight with Nephthys still."

"Nephthys?" Luke raised an eyebrow, "I have no clue who that is you realise that right."

"Egyptian Goddess."

"Right." Luke huffed the word, "I really hope your gods aren't as big assholes as the Greeks-"

"Watch yourself bo-" Artemis started but Percy interrupted, holding up a hand.

"No, no I mean, to a certain degree I kinda agree with the dude on that one." Percy ignored the annoyed look on Artemis' face.

"Your opinion does not count. You are bound to be biased towards the Egyptians given your status as their princess."

"Eh, you'd think so huh." Percy smirked slightly, "Doesn't matter right now anyway. Luke I offer your my protection- but if you fuck up I will be so much worse than even Zeus himself would be." she gave him her sweetest smile, "Are you understanding me?"

Luke stared at her for a long moment before giving a small, sharp little nod. "I understand." and the tone of his voice told Percy that yes, he did understand. Clearly he'd come to the conclusion that she wasn't to be underestimated. Fucking finally.

"Okay then Luke." Percy leaned forward slightly, "What's your genius escape plan then? It better be good because I have things to do." like figure out what Alina was planning and also figure out exactly what the prophecy was telling her she was supposed to be doing. The first parts she'd now figured out, it was the last three lines than she was uncertain of.

"That's the hard part." Luke shifted uncomfortably, "Alina says that the drugs she used stole your magic?" the question was annoying but not unexpected and Percy sighed.

"Yes, I can't use my magic right now." she paused, "But if you can get me weapons I'm a fairly skilled fighter even without it if it comes down to it."

"I am skilled enough with blades, though for preference I would use a bow and arrow." Artemis spoke up after a moment, his expression still showing her distaste. But clearly she'd come to the realisation that it was better to travel with a boy and be at least semi-free than to stand by her principals and stay locked up in the cell. "And of course there is the question of what to do once we have escaped."

"We'll figure that part out when we're out." Percy's voice was firm, "I may have some hints as to what's best but first we need to get out. Luke, what's our situation out there like? We'll need to avoid Alina and Atlas. As much as I would love to chop Alina into tiny little pieces right now I know I'm not up to it."

"I know a route out that will bypass them." Luke told them, "But there'll be monsters and, we'll have to stay low too. It's risky."

"What about if there's a distraction?" Percy asked after a moment, "To draw the worst of the monsters away, and Alina and Atlas."

"That would help but we're still likely to run into a few." Luke said slowly, "I brought you some daggers- I couldn't exactly bring swords, they'd have been noticed."

"A daggers better than nothing." Percy preferred her staff or her khopesh but that had been at the school. She wondered if anyone had found it. If they thought the worst. If there truly had been Greek fire then it was possible that it had been melted down by the fire.

And gods but that thought stung- a minor thing given the grief pressing down on her that she was trying to ignore but it was there. Like a bee sting whilst having a broken arm. That had been a gift from Ra himself, proof to herself that what she'd done whilst under the control of Apophis hadn't been her fault. The forgiveness and trust had meant the world to her. And now it was gone. It was gone and she might not ever get it back.

She blinked back the sudden tears. She had to be strong, she could afford to fall apart, not when Artemis and Luke were both looking at her like that, like she was their only chance. Really how was it fair that she had so much pressure on her when she just wanted to curl up and die?

Strong. She'd been doing that for years, since she was nine. She could sure as Hades pull it off now. "Will a dagger work for you Artemis?"

"It will help." Artemis confirmed. "As I said I'm best with a bow and arrow but I am skilled with blades too."

"What sort of distraction are you thinking of?" Luke asked, "There's only so much I could do to distract them."

"First, I assume they're at the summit of the Mountain right?" Percy asked carefully, "And we need to go down, so we want them all to gather at the summit."

"Yes." Luke confirmed, "What sort of distraction can you use then?"

"We're going to make Alina think I have my magic back." Percy pressed her lips together tightly, "I have some tricks up my sleeve that I can use as a last resort but for now... tell her you came into the cell and found it empty, and someone hit you from behind and ran off. Invisible."

"You- right." Luke rolled his eyes, "How could I forget that trick of yours. You have no idea how fucking weird it was seeing someone just magically appear in front of me like that."

"I was just offended." Percy joked lightly, "To think that you didn't recognise me instantly, I'm the most famous 14 year old in all of America."

"Yeah, which made it even worse when I had to explain who you were to Kronos." Luke grumbled that part, which made Percy grin until he added, "How do you explain that some tiny little actress somehow repeatedly ruins my plans."

"I am not tiny!" She almost pouted at that.

"You-" Artemis' lips twitched, "I hate to agree with a boy but you are rather short."

"Oh fuck you." Percy poked her tongue out at the goddess, who looked away in a clear attempt not to laugh at the childish behavior.

"So I tell them that you used that invisibility thing you do and ran away. But that won't distract the monsters."

"Maybe not." Percy remarked, "But you tell her that I whispered to you that I'd make the 'bitch who killed Desjardins' pay. And that you saw weird red sparks before I disappeared."

"What does red sparks mean?" Luke raised an eyebrow, "why would that be important."

"Oh Luke." Percy smirked, "You still haven't watched my movies have you?"

"No wh-" Luke blinked, "Oh gods- your movies, and the books please tell me they're not-"

"Basically my life story with some small adjustments? Yeah." Percy gave a wide grin, "It's really entertaining when people find that out honestly."

"I guess I'll watch them." Luke groaned, "Suddenly I regret refusing to watch them with An-" he cut himself off, his expression turning grief stricken. And Percy hesitated.

She didn't trust Luke, not even slightly but he was genuinely helping them escape and he was switching sides. Maybe she could at least help him with his grief. She was fairly confident that given his progress he wouldn't just turn around and go back to Kronos just because Annabeth was alive. If anything he'd be more desperate to betray him because he'd want to earn back his honorary little sisters trust. "Luke about that day-"

"Don't." Luke cut her off, shaking his head sharply, "Don't just- just don't." his voice cracked slightly, "I- uh, you should hit me, leave a mark so the stories believable. We need to get the fuck out of here right?"

"But-"

"Please." his voice was desperate, not even slightly steady and Artemis reached out, grabbing Percy's elbow.

"You heard the boy Percy."

"I-" Percy groaned, "Fine, but- maybe later." she held out her hands, "Daggers first, then I'll hit your head hard enough to leave a mark and you can run out yelling at the monsters to go after us, point towards the summit. Make it loud." She paused, "When will we know we're out?"

"You'll reach the garden of the Hesperides." Luke had a sour look on his face as he said that. "I'll meet you there as quickly as I can. Give it half an hour. If they come... I guess just go on without me."

"How will we know it's been half an hour?" Percy gave him a look, "I don't exactly have a watch and neither does Artemis-" she paused when Luke took a watch off his own wrist and tossed it to her.

"Use that." then he pulled the ankle of his cargo pants up to reveal two daggers strapped to a calf holster. "These are the daggers."

Percy took hers, examining it carefully. Celestial bronze, sharp, about nine inches. It was a nice enough blade, leather wrapped around the hilt, comfortably heavy in her hands. It wasn't as nice as her khopesh but it would do the job.

And from the look on Artemis' face she could see that the current ex-goddess was thinking much the same thing.

"Well then." Percy took a deep breath, nodding towards the door. "Open it for like, ten seconds then go. We'll slip out a minute later once the monsters have had chance to leave." she paused, "Good luck Luke."

Luke nodded. "Same to you two."