Sorry for the delay! The escape happens- but it gets complicated and Percy makes a choice. Artemis doesn't approve.
Replies:
Undeath9087: There will be reunions soon enough, I hope they live up to expectations.
Guest: A, Percy is a fourteen year old who is grieving for someone she loved who died to protect her. B, the Greek gods are largely assholes and she is not wrong about them, and C, she has a right to a certain degree of arrogance given everything she's done.
Guest: To a degree I get what you're saying, but there would have been a point in time where he could come back from it. He's fucked up massively and doesn't deserve automatic forgiveness but at least at one point he was a good person. He became bitter and angry and was manipulated himself. That doesn't justify the things he did but it does add some level of question.
Zephyr0f8: the reunion will be interesting I know that. And don't worry there'll be plenty of cuddles :).
UnknowableQuest: You'll have to wait and see now won't you?
Avaatje: Thank you! and I mean, Apollo's a bit distracted holding up the sky at the moment.
Guest: Thank you!

Percy found herself somewhat surprised by how easy it was to slip out of their cell. Luke had, of course, left the door wide open when he'd rushed out yelling that they'd gotten away, and the monsters- or Percy hoped it was monsters rather than demigods, that had been guarding them had taken off after them. That meant that there was no one to spot them as she and Artemis slipped out of wove their way through dark ruins.

They were dauntingly huge Percy had to admit- huge blocks of stone bigger than her built the old Titan's palace, but it was crumbled and decrepit, half of the roof was gone- or hadn't reformed yet Percy realised. The old Titan stronghold wasn't falling apart but reforming. Surely a bad sign for them. But at least it wasn't too difficult to navigate, Luke had pointed them in the rough right direction. Now the important thing was making sure that they were heading down as best as they could, searching for some way out of the ruins where they wouldn't be too exposed.

There were a few incidents of course- only to be expected in an escape like this. They ran into a Cyclops, who Percy dealt with rather swiftly and brutally- which had earned her an impressed look from Artemis. There were also several times when Percy grabbed Artemis' arm, yanking her back and pressing them both against the dark cool stone of the walls as she'd peered around corners or ducked down out of sight from stray monsters patrolling the ruins.

Still, Percy felt they made pretty good time, and soon enough Percy was boosting Artemis up through a large hole in one of the walls that led to the outside of the ruins, and she followed close behind, dropping down on the other side, rubbing her hands together to try and force some warmth back into them. "So far so good." she muttered the words, glancing back upwards towards the summit. "Now we just have to get down to the garden right?"

"Yes." Artemis nodded shortly in confirmation, her expression determined. "That is-" she tensed and then Percy was being shoved down, and she let out a startled yelp, though she didn't get angry, largely because Artemis was throwing her dagger over the top of Percy's head- and a quick glance over her shoulder showed Percy a Dracaena- one second.

"Holy shit dude that's one of the Dracaena I kicked the butts of at the British Museum-" she paused, "Wow you have good aim, you got her in the eye." she darted back to scoop up the dagger from amongst the pile of monster dust, tossing it to Artemis, who caught it with practised ease.

"Why thank you." Artemis inclined her head very slightly, her lips twitching, "I appreciate the compliment. Now let us get out of here." and Percy definitely agreed with that sentiment.

There were a few more near misses but together the two girls managed to make their way down the slope of the mountain, Percy glancing back every few minutes as they ran- but the sound of pursuit didn't seem to be coming. Clearly Luke's distraction had worked, had brought them the time they needed.

And soon enough they could see a meadow, from between two large boulders that almost acted as an entrance- and there was a path leading through the centre of it.

Percy could see thick grass and a lush meadow of flowers.

And of course there was the dragon- and the tree that it was guarding. Stepping stones of polished black marble led around either side of a five story tall apple tree. Every bough glittering with golden apples. And Ladon was curled around it. His body was as thick as a booster rocket, glinting with coppery scales. He had more heads than Percy could even count. As if a hundred deadly pythons had been fused together. He appeared to be asleep for now, the heads curled in a big spaghetti like mound on the grass, his eyes closed. Percy wondered if he'd actually stay asleep when they were trying to slip past him. Well that was something they'd have to deal with shortly. It wouldn't be easy of course but they'd find a way and then they could hide out somewhere and figure out their next step.

And Percy forced her mind not to wander to her two best friends. If, as she'd been told, this was mount Tam, then Annabeth and Piper would be close- maybe it would be a good idea to go to them to ask for help. She knew they would, without hesitation even with Luke's presence but... but Annabeth had seemed like she was looking forward to the visit to her family. She enjoyed spending time with them in short doses.

And... she wasn't sure she wanted to bring Luke to Annabeth given their history. Not without making sure it was okay with the other girl first.

"Are you okay?" Artemis' voice drew Percy's attention and she turned her gaze to the ex-goddess.

"I'm fine." Percy ran her fingers through her hair, moving to perch on the boulder, glancing at her watch as she did. 10:30, and based on the fact that the sky was already dark she had to assume that was in the evening rather than the morning. "Catching my breath, we haven't exactly had much chance to breath. We just have to wait for Luke now." as Percy spoke she reached down to her shoes, fingers deftly unbuckling the straps before she slid them off. "Oooh that feels better." she rubbed at the soles of her feet, "They're probably better than barefoot here but I'm not gonna lie, they do ache to run in after a while."

Artemis raised an eyebrow before focusing on the heels and whistling, "Those would impress Aphrodite even. I'm surprised you can walk in them let alone run."

Percy laughed, "I have practise, don't get me wrong I don't wear heels constantly but I'm an actress- if I'm doing red carpet events I'm gonna dress up nice and I love these ones." they'd cost three hundred bucks. Not a huge amount of money for her but she didn't usually spend that much on shoes, but they were very pretty, the blue reminded her of the sea in Mykonos, that beautiful crystal blue, with the delicate little crystals that were the finishing touches. "I'll put them back on in a second- better these than running around barefoot."

"Some would disagree." Artemis' nose wrinkled slightly, "I'm not sure I could run in those shoes- not now in any case."

"You could try." Percy's smile was playful as she held them out to the goddess. She had to try and keep her mind busy or it would slip back to Desjardins and she knew that if she let that happen she'd crumble. And that would end with his sacrifice being for nothing. She'd let herself feel the grief, truly feel it once this was over. It was the only way she could get through this.

"I would rather not embarrass myself." Artemis scoffed, "I have never been one to bother with such things. Perhaps once this is over I'll introduce you to Aphrodite. I rather think she'd like you-" her eyes flicked up and down Percy- who looked blinked..

Yeah, that look was fair enough, she was still wearing the dress she'd put on for the stupid dance. It was a bit dirty, a bit of blood, and some general dusty mud from where she'd been tossed into a cell and basically slept on the ground, but it wasn't too bad all things considered. And she was sure that she made quite a strange picture, she definitely didn't look like a warrior. "Well at least she isn't likely to think I'm not badass just because I like to look pretty. You have no idea how many dudes think I must be some stupid helpless airhead because I'm an actress.".

"Men can be idiots. They should learn better than to underestimate women." Artemis agreed, "Alas I fear they never will. If they haven't before I doubt it will ever truly change. But you're certainly skilled despite what some fools might think."

"Thank you." Percy leaned back slightly, stretching a little before glancing at her watch again. 10:45. Fifteen minutes left for Luke to arrive.

And the time seemed to somehow both pass incredibly quickly and incredibly slowly all at once, and Percy pressed her lips together tightly as she stared at the watch as the 10:59 changed to 11:00. "That's the half an hour." she lifted her head to look at Artemis. "Luke said we should go on without him if he didn't show up."

"It won't be easy to get past Ladon but I'm confident that between us both we'll be able to get out despite Ladon- though we may have to deal with the Hesperides-"

"You'll have to get past Ladon on your own." Percy said the words, barely even thinking before she took a deep breath, "I'm sorry but- he's probably fine, I'm probably being stupid-" but her gut was suddenly telling her that something wasn't right. And Luke- as much as she didn't trust him, and truthfully she wasn't sure if she'd ever be able to like him- she could not, would not leave him behind to pay the prince for betraying Kronos and aiding their escape.

"But Percy-" Artemis' face was stunned, "If you go back- you have no magic and all you have is that dagger you will get captured-"

"Then I'll get captured." Percy said firmly, "Please- you should escape Artemis. Get out of here. Find your way to camp to get help. Or Olympus, either would be safer for you than staying here. But I have to go and help Luke. He might be a complete jackass, an idiot, a traitor and any number of other things but if he's trying to do the right thing then I have to try and help him." she let out a huff, "Beside, if I didn't one of my best friends would never forgive me-" she paused at the confused look Artemis shot her. "Long story. It doesn't matter." she shook her head. "Point is, no matter what he's done wrong in the past, I've offered him a second chance and I can't just go back on what I said I'd do. And I can't just leave him in the hands of Alina and Kronos-"

"Percy, he can't be trusted. What if this is all part of their plans? Or even if it isn't, what happens when Kronos slips inside of his mind again. He said it was as if you lifted a fog from his mind, what if Kronos pulls him into his grasp again? We should leave ourselves-"

"I was given a prophecy." Percy interrupted Artemis, her voice firm, "Do you want to hear it- or the part that's important right now anyway."

"You- a prophecy?" Artemis' eyes narrowed but she nodded, "What is so important then?"

"Twins taken by the traitors heir,

a choice one will make, a burden to bear,

the other to flee with the thief and the princess." Percy raised an eyebrow at Artemis. "Apollo is the one who chose to bear the weight of the sky from what you told me, which means you're the one who is going to flee. Clearly I'm the princess... and I first met Luke... if you can call it meeting, he was in the middle of stealing the Bolt and the Helm-"

"What-" Artemis' eyes narrowed. "I- I remember now. I didn't take much note of it at the time, Apollo and I were searching, we were on a train. I saw someone with white hair dragging another girl away. It was you. You had them then didn't you?"

"I made sure to return them." Percy pointed out, "It was just... somewhat delayed." she took a deep breath. "And that's not the important part for now. We need to leave with Luke for the prophecy."

Artemis scowled, "I don't like this. Risking capture to save the traitor. But I will not let you go alone." Artemis decided, "I just hope that we do indeed manage to flee this place."