p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="db5feea15f1d799c08b972f1892159c5"The Goddess of the Hunt gazed at the wizard's camp from the shadow of a pine tree./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="db5feea15f1d799c08b972f1892159c5"Ever since she had heard of the sorcerer, she had dreamt of finding him, of fighting him, of defeating him. She wanted to prove to everyone, especially her father, that she was the strongest, and remove all doubt about her power./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2a1b2238133bed19ae144016caed0fb0"But she didn't know where this desire had come from./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="80ce110072518d1080444dfc8aecfdcb"It was like falling in love. You couldn't pinpoint exactly when and how it started, but you felt it, remembered it happening. It was the same way she had fallen for the thrill of the hunt. She had followed her usual routine at Olympus and with the hunters, until this desire took over her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="50e7e31e18c75788c67c9fc1f71ab47a"And now she was here to realize it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="88b3191a3d040053d590acee5f064c94"She rubbed her bow, feeling the cool silver and trying to calm her racing heart. This was a big moment. She would be damned if it went any other way than how she wanted it to go. Thalia Grace stepped out from behind a bush, along with a couple of other hunters. They bowed to Artemis, who nodded and gestured for Thalia to speak. Thalia rose, walking up to where Artemis was standing on the ledge of the cliff./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2aadcdeed87bc828cd89e0ae0de0dbc2""No guards. No animals. No living human in sight. Are you sure this is the right place, my lady?" Thalia asked, scanning the vast plain below./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6c0a86797ee7ce7171844b9d2a8a2f74"Artemis smirked a little. Thalia was never one to shy away from questioning, unlike the other hunters. She reminded her of Zoe. That was why she had chosen her to be Zoe's successor./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7edad9847daedb9cb937d402c797e5ea""I am quite sure," Artemis said, turning to look Thalia in the eye. The girl had an excellent poker face. Artemis could barely tell what she was thinking. Barely./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fcac833e863c57a1ccb5a4b4595e3423""You doubt me, Lieutenant?" Artemis raised an eyebrow./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1ae6ae2c87301c03124dd855a4476903"Thalia bowed her head slightly. "Never, my lady."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="33ae9b0b6b1770e35f4cc2f6d202cfc0""Then why do I see question in your eyes?" Artemis pressed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2df1c9b47c18261d13dfe40ef0c1e085"Thalia shrugged, looking away. "I don't know. This doesn't feel right. He doesn't have any guards. Doesn't have any walls. It seems too easy." She glanced at Artemis sideways. 'I think he knows. This is a trap.'/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5680b2ac8d45e02eeb0fb226a496df5a"She was right. It felt like a trap. The cliff and the canyon on either side of the site would make it impossible to flee, unless the wizards could teleport or had any Hades kids with them. The latter was impossible, as far as Artemis knew, and the former seemed more likely./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="71cd07b52a5ad5cec976d6573c109993"'I think so too.'/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="778539afbecad8fceabc20f2c929ad09"'And still, you are willing to walk in?'/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="10421f9b891c19c35c36801cf9d58ced"Artemis checked the bow slung across Thalia's shoulder and gave her a light slap. 'I'm the goddess of the hunt, girl. There's no trap that I haven't already outsmarted.'/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="06869f0aaab078d8fb919aa853d0b3c1"Thalia smiled, nodded. 'Shall we?'/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="44db73a3a1de7605b9ba593da3ef407e"'At nightfall, we shall.'/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="210e0da9dfc08bd597594284c2aa145f"Ego, Artemis thought, is the most destructive thing in the world. It can lead warriors to run into battle without armor. Or it can lead supposed wizards to leave their grounds were people in the clearing, that was for sure. She heard muffled voices and laughter coming from the big tent, along with the clinking of glasses and the crackling of the fire. She nodded to Thalia, who was just above her on the cliff. Artemis herself was perched on a tree in front of the magus's site, bow in hand and arrow nocked. Thalia nodded back and signaled for the hunters to take their positions. Artemis jumped down with a cat-like litheness and led one group to one side, while Thalia grouped the others on top of the cliff. Artemis felt the excitement build inside her, just like it did before any hunt, but greater. The kind that could cloud her judgement if not controlled./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d062b7a0e4baf9bcc49536be6401af21"This is going to be fun./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9af664551264f7b5bd8d0675261b6478"Night was a sharp-eyed hunter's best friend, it seemed. The night concealed the silver-clad hunters as they encircled the perimeter of the ground, careful to stay silent. The fire was Greek, casting a ghostly green light over the clearing, like a warning sign. The tent itself boasted beautiful decorations; it looked like a wall hanging more than a war-camp. Blood red cloth with blue and golden trimmings on the sides./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="699a3c90400424c9326f78cf80f98b88"But the most majestic thing about the tent were the two intertwined dragons in the center of the cloth, meeting where the tent flap opened./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f6790179e0dd9bfa30db819ced1826e6"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Oh, now you're just making me jealous/em, Artemis thought, realizing that her tent was nowhere as beautiful./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="de7a6c27be608e222a52d4088b28b9e1"She nocked the arrow into her bow, pulling it back as far as it would go. Pointing it at the tent flap, she drew in a deep breath, slowly letting it escape. This was it. She would tell him that he was surrounded, that he and his minions should surrender, and that if he wanted to save his followers, then he would have to duel her. And if he didn't, they would burn at her hand. Yes, that would work./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="86cf54fc02057fab0c62a6413686433a"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"If the bastard is anywhere near as honorable as they say he is/em, Artemis snickered in her mind./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f6c9d25fa71e7a55b6ae95660ac565fa"Suddenly, everything went to Hades./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="82256088d8d4b734239be9d279a86903"They appeared from behind the trees and rocks, as if nature had decided to paint fire-ball wielding humans into the dark of the night. They all looked different. Some were kids, some looked to be in their early twenties, with some teenagers here and there. People of a lot of different races. They held fireballs in their hands, and wore the exact same garb. A simple red shirt and pants with a blue vest with a dragon on it. And they certainly didn't look friendly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="26478db11a74b3c8675f463fee30cba7" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="35f847be4b87808556567d6e168efc0c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Well/em, Artemis thought bitterly, aiming at the nearest sorcerer. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The bastard's been recruiting./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e1ddfb9a797275fd35f67bf8b34dcfb9"The hunters were all surrounded. There was no way of escape. The hunters aiming downwards from the cliff fired their arrows, yelling in shock. Her girls gathered together, back-to-back, pointing at the wizards with silver shafts of death. She suddenly realized something. She could escape by telling her hunters to shut their eyes and assuming her godly form, which would also kill the sorcerers. Yes, that could work. She drew in a breath, and then–/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e819e617f1c72e9f321303227875800d"'STOP!'/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1f29b230c22ca99d6501a041a2bda7e1"Artemis whipped around, so fast that her neck cricked. Three of the wizards had one of her hunters pinned down – Cassie – her face turned to face Artemis; her eyes pulled wide open."Let her go!" Artemis shouted, fury and fear rising in her chest. "Or I'll make you regret it!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cfe201de5943405c840233fec4378a45" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="df2e643785c6c30b035234db11893f24""Let her go, Zara." Came a voice from within the tent. "You don't want to go around making enemies with the gods, now do you?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6e3277f1917ca92061fe75e158b8699b"The girl who'd pinned Cassie down - Zara - backed away slowly, although her eyes remained hateful and locked onto Artemis. Cassie jumped up and ran towards where Artemis's group of hunters was standing back to back. Artemis stared her down herself, not letting go. But the sorceress didn't let go of her eyes either. They held like that for a long moment, staring each other down, until a voice sounded from behind her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="63d59a732d0fdaedf7e91d51cf40fd78""Phew. Will you look at that. The hunters have decided to fit us in their busy schedules."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="76e3e1f5fa8c95158c0edf222313260d"Out from the tent came a tall boy with boyish features. His gait was slow and deliberate, his clothes exotic and new. The good-humored expression on his face reminded Artemis of all the egotistical, pig men she'd struck down in her years. But the most disturbing thing about his appearance was the cloth he wore across his eyes. As if he was trying to hide something. He stopped next to the Greek fire, the light from the green flames illuminating his high-cheekbones./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8069734628a176a71db69aa18acbc261"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I'll cut those down myself, /emthought Artemis, still seething./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7fa16345670c2055a1bfb5a4170b9afd""Come to hunt us, my lady?" He asked, eyebrows raised. "I must say, the timing of your arrival couldn't have been more worse. I was just about to take a shower-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ecfe9412e3201a596be0c55cc4ac461a""SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Artemis shouted. The wizard raised his eyebrows, a small smirk playing on his lips, but he said nothing further. Artemis, however, was bursting with things to say. How dare he! How dare his minion put her hands on his hunter! How dare he show her such impertinence! She'd already decided it, but now it would be more fun to burn him in front of his little cult./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7e431fa850542ea2c4839e3a2d1e1b96""Who are you? And where is your leader?" Artemis demanded, her words hanging in the air like icicles from leaves./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0c12501acce56dd39cd6a375f225ff5b"The boy shrugged. "I'm Merlin."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b7d02b64f9e47354bf0b62bf4c2cd954" /p
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