Summary: Perseus, first-born child of Poseidon and Amphitrite, God of the Stars and Constellations, of Navigation and of the Astral Plane. Patron of Heroes and Mentor to the Goddess Artemis. Sitting upon the ruling council of the Gods for thousands of years – and now facing the end of Olympus.
Before we begin I'd like to take the opportunity to respond to some reviews. I'll keep it brief, but I'd first like to thank all of you for your continued support for the story. The response has been largely positive, and I appreciate all of you continuing to give feedback. Some of the talking points are discussed in the discord – feel free to join and just be a lurker if you want. It might give some insight to questions you may have, and I do respond almost daily to everyone's questions there.
Now, as far as the fight, I understand some were unhappy with the outcome. I welcome all feedback, positive and negative, so I'm not going to try and call out reviews by name and try to prove you wrong or something – you are entitled to your opinion and I'm happy you read it even if you didn't agree with the direction.
As for those saying the fights have been pointless or meaningless – you are right from a certain perspective, but wrong in others. Most people believe that there can only be a winner (Perseus) and a loser (whoever he's fighting) and it has to be extremely cut and dry. A fight to the death, where Perseus must kill his opponent. That isn't really how this works, or at least not how I write.
Krios, faced with both Perseus and Hades – even if they weren't on the same side really – decided to flee rather than most likely die again. Hades is powerful and always looks to have a contingency. I can't make him suddenly forget he has the ability to shadow travel for the sake of Perseus getting an easy win.
Also someone said that Hades only left with a couple of bruises. If that were true he wouldn't have needed Cerberus to 'fetch' him. Most of the damage was done by the meteors, and the beating was just an extra layer.
As far as the more 'meaningful fights' – they are coming, but this is still very early. Even though I'm 100k words into the story, we are just now getting to the heart of it. This is likely to span several hundred thousand words, though I honestly can't give a solid number. As the stakes get higher, so too will there be true victories and defeats.
There was also a question about Perseus and his interactions with his other family – particularly those in the Sea. That is coming, for certain. This is Arc 1, and without giving away the plot, Arc 2 will be heavily centered around Perseus and his relationships to the rest of his family – brother, sisters, and his parents.
I'm starting to ramble a bit, so I will end it here and just say I hope you enjoy the chapter.
discord. gg/Z7udeJpDBt (Remove Space)
Discord server created for Astraeus – A place for Q&A, as well as general discussion of the story and somewhere I will be posting upcoming dates that I plan to update. I will also post there if there is a delay in my schedule, as well as try to take time to speak to people who enjoy the story so far, and even those who take issue with it.
Anyway, thanks to everyone supporting my work and on with the show!
Chapter Eleven
Interlude – Atlanta
"….devastation which the world hasn't seen since the 1940's…Governors of Colorado and Utah have declared a state of emergency...combined damage from the initial blasts, as well as the numerous meteor strikes and the fires and earthquakes which were caused by them…"
The radio scratched at something in the back of her mind but Atlanta was doing her level best to block it out. She still felt the crushing grip of an armored fist around her throat, the helplessness as the starlight she summoned meant nothing while her feet dangled in open air and couldn't find purchase on solid ground.
"….official death toll still hasn't been released, but early estimates judge it to be in the tens of thousands spread across both Colorado and Utah, with the earthquakes felt hundreds of miles away…" the man said somberly. "Our prayers are with those lost to this tragedy…"
The violation as the beast in the guise of a man inhaled with his nose pressed firmly against her hair, and the revulsion she felt as he seemed to enjoy holding her close and choking the life from her at the same time. Then the pounding footsteps, and blissful release as she was dropped to the ground, gasping for breath while Clarisse charged headlong at the Titan without any care for her own safety.
"…have to start looking at the bigger picture, I mean, the government had to see this coming, and if they didn't, then why the hell not?"
The shouting and the heavy sound of an armored fist backhanding raw skin as the younger girl was hurled into the side of the van. The grunt of pain as Beckendorf tried – and failed miserably – to tackle the monstrous figure, only to be slammed in the spine with enough force to make him bounce off the pavement with a horrible sound that was something between a moan and a whimper. He didn't get up.
"...are they doing at those facilities? Obviously they've managed to contact something out there, and whatever they've done has put all of us at risk…."
"...currently have no leads as to the origin of the attack…"
"...military isn't allowing any access at this time…"
"...nothing of this world contains so much energy without any nuclear signature…"
"...final impacts with a fireball judged to be roughly eight miles wide..."
The knowledge that she had an ace up her sleeve, and the willingness to fumble into her pocket and blow as hard as she could on the innocent looking whistle. The roar as Leo leapt forward, and the struggle as she tried to drag Beckendorf to the van and get a disoriented Clarisse to help her.
The heat...the fire and the light that was her Guardian had come to their rescue when she called, thank the Gods, and the dizziness she felt once they were inside. She almost thought she'd have to drive, but then Hermes was there, and the world twisted, and they were safe. Back in New York and far away from the Titan who once again proved he could reach her if he wanted.
"...sources say that there have been unexplained phenomena for weeks spotted in the night sky. The events over New York nearly a week ago were never given any explanation. Now, they tell us that intelligent life may be setting it's sights on our world, and they can't even see it coming…special guest from the Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics joins us to discuss how objects in space such as meteors and asteroids might be weaponized by advanced technology…"
Having heard enough, Atlanta scrambled to the front of the van to switch off the radio. "...aliens, I tell you! My cousin seen it all-"
His cousin hadn't seen anything, thank you very much. If he'd been close enough to witness anything, Atlanta was certain he'd be dead. She didn't know what happened, only that Hermes claimed they had to go – immediately – and that her father was on the way to deal with Krios. That was all the reassurance she needed. The Titan would be dead once more, and she could breathe a sigh of relief.
And it only cost likely tens of thousands of mortals lives…the thought left her sick to her stomach. She didn't like the mortals, not even a little, but to know that so many were killed in the blink of an eye...men and women and children...
She just wanted to go home, to the Hunt and to her sisters and forget all about this thrice-damned quest. It'd been a few hours since Hermes dropped them off on the outer edge of Central Park, but they hadn't moved from their parking space just yet. The children of Hades were terrified, Beckendorf was injured and Clarisse could barely see through her right eye as her face had swollen massively, turning purple and red and blue…
Atlanta, besides having the life choked out of her, was physically fine, but mentally she was rattled and using the excuse that they needed to see to their injuries before they moved on was good enough to give her time to process everything. Still, they would have to get moving soon. The deadline was still in effect and while they had several days remaining, she'd just as soon get it over with.
"He's gonna be fine, I think," said Clarisse, her words slurred slightly through her swollen cheek.
"Certo," Bianca agreed quietly. "He will not die...I just...I know when people will die, when they are close…"
She sounded haunted by something, and Atlanta wondered if she had known, or if she knew now how many people had died, even so very far away.
"He isn't paralyzed either, I think, but I can't be sure what the damage is. He was moving his foot earlier, so I'm pretty sure…" the daughter of Ares trailed off without much confidence.
"Astraeus is gonna win, wait and see," Nico said, his excitement tempered but slowly returning, and Atlanta was momentarily caught off guard as the boy used her father's true name. "He has more than 6,000 attack power if he fights outdoors under the stars. 10,000 if it's at night, and his defense is boosted by 600 if one of the constellations are already summoned before he fights."
That was the most ridiculous...never mind.
"We need to move, then. Once we get to camp Beckendorf can go to the infirmary and get more help than we can give. Meanwhile, I'll call for Lady Artemis and we can possibly get some answers, should she be willing or able to give them." Atlanta said, trying to ignore the trembling in her hand that wouldn't seem to leave.
She hated feeling so helpless, and she'd always avoided challenging any of the Gods because she knew that this would be the outcome if she were lucky. Gods, Titans...their strength and power could not be understood by mortals, nor could it be challenged. If not for that tiny whistle, which she would never let go of unless her father demanded it's return, they would all be dead – or at least most of them would be. Atlanta would likely face a much worse fate. Krios wanted her as revenge against her father, and he would not be…
Once more shoving her fears aside, she climbed fully into the driver's seat and set off through the city. The drive from Central Park to their destination out on the end of Long Island may sound like a short trip to those not familiar with New York, but it was still 90 miles and would take nearly three hours with the current traffic. It was approaching midday, so they would arrive sometime after lunch and finally see the end of the quest.
She was fairly certain she'd managed her secondary objective of convincing Bianca to join Lady Artemis, but with the journey sped up by Hermes she couldn't be fully sure. She'd only managed a single conversation on the topic. Her mistress would have to do the rest.
They had to fight through normal New York traffic, and then the journey opened up on the 495, though they were slowed down again when they left it in Long Island in favor of Highway 25. The relief she felt upon seeing the Pick Your Own Strawberries – 1 Mile sign was immeasurable. She'd always looked forward to visits to Camp Half-Blood as an opportunity to possibly see her father, unlike her sisters who dreaded setting foot in the demigod camp. This time, a sense of urgency she'd never felt before to just get there seemed to push her onward, and she turned down the gravel road that was the main entrance with enough speed that the van slid a little on the loose surface.
The sight of the sky-blue Big House with it's white trim and bronze weather vane was taken in greedily and the massive dust cloud which billowed behind them was most likely drawing all sorts of attention. Atlanta slowed down as they approached, coming sliding to a halt as several campers looked on from the wrap-around deck, and she leaped out quickly to move around to the other side where Clarisse was already opening the sliding door.
"We have injured, we need the infirmary. Now!" she said to those watching on.
Let it never be said that the kids of Camp Half-Blood were normal children. They were used to danger and injuries, and trained for battle with creatures who wanted their death above all other things. The group of demigods surged into action before she finished the word 'injured' and one of the larger males leaped over the railing on the deck to help them while the others ran to the nearby stairs. There was a commotion at the large double doors as another group of demigods lead by Chiron's wheelchair came out to see what was happening, and one of them immediately turned around to go prep the infirmary.
"What are we looking at?" one of the boys asked, rushing to help lift Beckendorf out of the van. He had a sort-of pinched face and scrunched up features that reminded Atlanta heavily of Apollo when he looked down the shaft of an arrow.
"Back injury, though we don't know the extent," she said quickly. "A single, blunt strike. His head hit the pavement pretty hard, and he has a leg injury that's more than a week old."
"Crap," the boy muttered. "May have to get Will to look at him. I'm no good with deeper critical injuries like the spine and head."
As they spoke, the larger boys had come up with a makeshift stretcher that was carried between two of the burly, muscle bound kids with soot-stained hands. Meanwhile Clarisse was being looked over by a boy that could only be her older brother, and the two children of Hades were climbing out of the van cautiously.
"Is Charlie alright?" a girl who must be one of Aphrodite's asked, her tone near panic.
"I don't know," Atlanta said distractedly, looking for Chiron while she gathered Bianca and Nico to her side. "Come on, lets get you inside where Chiron can decide what we need to do."
She wasn't trying to be so cold about the situation, but as far as healing went, Beckendorf was much better off in the hands of Apollo's kids than hers. Atlanta's primary responsibility had to be the children of Hades until instructed otherwise. She allowed the boys to carry the stretcher ahead of her, the girl who asked about Beckendorf following closely behind them, and motioned for Clarisse.
"You need to get looked at as well," she said, though her tone was far more welcoming than she'd been to the other camper. She owed Clarisse her life – more than once – and brushing her aside as soon as the quest was over would be a very poor way to repay that. They'd been through a lot together, thousands of miles and several short but intense fights, and while they weren't super close she definitely considered the girl a good friend. "You also need to get some nectar and ambrosia. You haven't eaten properly for days, since before we entered the Casino."
"You haven't either, and besides, I'm fine," Clarisse said, her tone kind-of gruff despite the slight adjustments to her speech with the swollen face.
Atlanta wasn't taking no for an answer. The girl, from their quiet talks, appeared to believe that she wasn't all that important and didn't think much of herself, but she was important to Atlanta and she was going to make sure she was taken care of. "You've got to come with me anyway. We need to update Chiron on the quest and we might as well get some treatment while we do. You could use a cold-pack and my throat could do with a warm drink."
Finally getting her to agree, she lead their small group up the stairs onto the deck to meet Chiron near the door to the Big House. He was sitting in his wheelchair and standing close by was a girl with short-cut, dark hair that Atlanta vaguely remembered seeing with the other counselors when the quest began, and she looked exhausted.
"Despite the obvious injuries, I'm happy to see you all made it back in relative safety," Chiron said in greeting.
"It was a near thing," Atlanta admitted. "We were...I'm not sure if I'm allowed to speak of it, actually."
"The Titans," the dark haired girl blurted. "It has something to do with them, doesn't it?" Atlanta narrowed her eyes in question, unsure how she could possibly know that. "I...I was on Olympus earlier, and my dad sent Hermes to get you guys to safety."
"You were on Olympus?" Clarisse questioned disbelievingly, and there was a jealousy hidden in her tone.
"I wasn't, I mean Athena took me there, and then everything happened…" the girl said uncertainly. "And we saw Perseus fighting the Titan, and Hades."
Atlanta's breath caught at the final word. "Hades?" she asked forcefully, her eyes darting to the two dark haired children she brought with her. "He was fighting Hades and Krios? But that doesn't make sense. We made the deadline, we completed the mission."
"A lot has happened since you all left, very little of it good, I'm afraid," answered Chiron. "Perhaps we should go inside and speak of this."
Atlanta felt a small sense of immaturity flare up as she was tempted to rip the younger girl closer to her and demand answers, but as Chiron turned away to head back indoors, she allowed it to pass.
The small group was lead inside to Chiron's office, which incidentally was the only place with a radio and a TV as it was shielded from the monster's influence. It was where new demigods were sent to watch the orientation video, and where Chiron was able to conduct business in regards to the strawberry farm, as well as contact schools and parents of the children at camp.
The volume was muted, but the images showed on the television seemed to knock the air from Atlanta's lungs. The aerial view from what she assumed was a news helicopter or a drone of some sort showed an endless sea of devastation and massive fires which still burned. The view was from a great distance, as if they couldn't get any closer, but she could see the raised edges of a number of craters, and they were set into the bowl of a much larger one.
"We were just there…" Clarisse mumbled, staring at the image with a hollow look in her eyes.
There was no way to tell where exactly they'd been, as the gas station was gone without a trace, as were the interstate and the town it bordered. Ash and smoke distorted the view, and there were military vehicles and aircraft shown patrolling the area.
"Perseus went there, and he fought Krios," the black-haired girl said quietly. "The others...the Gods were trying to evacuate the area, but everything happened so fast, and then Hades showed up, and they were all fighting each other."
"My...my father?" Atlanta questioned Chiron, but the centaur merely raised his eyebrows.
"He was the one who...leveled the place, you could say," the old trainer said finally. "He was also seemingly the victor, as Hades fled the battlefield and Krios apparently did so before him. I never saw the Titan myself, only the final moments of the battle."
No...that couldn't be right. There was no way that all of that damage and all of the fighting meant nothing in the end. There was no way that all of those mortal lives lost were for nothing. Krios had to be dead, or Hades, or...something had to have come from the complete destruction of a piece of the world.
"This is Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus," Chiron introduced, unaware of her thoughts. "And these two must be…"
"Nico and Bianca Di Angelo, children of Hades," answered Atlanta, a reflex born from so many years of tragedy and heartache and the will to overcome it.
Clarisse snorted, and then winced at the action seemed to pain her. "We're saving their asses, and meanwhile your dad and theirs are fighting. What a messed up situation."
"What does that mean, for my brother and me?" Bianca questioned nervously. "That our...parents...are fighting each other."
"It means nothing, child," Chiron said soothingly. "You are safe here, and whatever feuds happen with the Gods, Camp Half-Blood is off limits. This has always been a safe haven for demigods, no matter their parentage, and that will not change."
"Cosa?" she said. "But Perseus...they say he runs this place, and if he is fighting our father…"
"He will not carry any ill will toward you," Atlanta assured. "I know my father, and he doesn't hold children accountable for their parents' actions."
"But our dad, he's okay, right?" Nico asked, staring at the TV and the destruction it showed.
"He escaped, so I will assume he's fine, but I believe all involved were injured at least some," said Chiron truthfully. "In a battle between Gods, things can often look worse than they are."
That was an outright lie. It looked bad because it was bad, but Atlanta refused to say so in front of the young boy. If Hades had angered her father enough that he would level a portion of the United States, and kill a yet uncounted number of mortals in the process, it was very bad. Perseus had an attachment to the mortal world that surpassed pretty much all the other Gods. It would take a lot for him to go this far.
"What happened with you guys?" questioned Thalia. "With the Titan, I mean."
Atlanta merely stared at her. She didn't know anything about Thalia Grace, and she certainly wasn't going to offer information to a twelve or thirteen year old mortal before she discussed the events with Lady Artemis no matter how favored she may be. It wasn't common for mortals to be allowed on Olympus, so that spoke to a certain level of importance or favor, but Atlanta felt no obligation to tell her anything.
"That will be discussed with Lady Artemis before anyone else, and she may decide what I speak of, and to whom," Atlanta finally answered. "I intend to seek her council at the first opportunity, if she is willing or able to speak with me. Until we receive word from Olympus, it's likely best if we don't speculate on things we can't possibly understand. The other campers will be told whatever the Gods deem appropriate."
The girl looked uncomfortable, and glanced at Chiron quickly. "Um, they kind of already...know...some of it. When I came back from Olympus I was kind-of freaking out, and they were still fighting, and so I...I used an Iris Message to watch the end of the fight with the other counselors. I told them some of what I'd seen."
Atlanta – once more – stared at the girl. She felt a certain level of resentment flare to life as Thalia Grace admitted her foolishness. "You used an Iris Message to spy on the Gods, and then broadcast it for all of Camp Half-Blood to see? You then told them information – which the Gods may wish to keep classified – which you had witnessed after being given the honor of an invitation to Olympus by Athena herself?"
Even worse, she'd broadcast the complete annihilation of part of the mortal world at the hands of Atlanta's father. She'd shown the children who were loyal to him that, when push came to shove, the sacrifice of the mortal world would be acceptable if it meant victory for Olympus. It was something Atlanta had grown up knowing, but this wasn't the time to introduce children to a new idea like that. Not on the very precipice of war.
"That wasn't...I mean I wasn't spying on them," the girl defended, a spark of anger beginning to color her tone. "They never said we couldn't see, or that I couldn't say anything."
"Perhaps we should all…" Chiron began, but Atlanta had had enough of the constant refusal to respect the will of the Gods by the mortal children they created.
"Common sense would dictate that until the Gods give you leave otherwise, anything that happens on Olympus is to remain secret!" Atlanta snapped harshly. "If the Titans have returned, then war will follow. How can you possibly know who can be trusted with sensitive knowledge?"
"My friends can be trusted," Thalia argued.
"That isn't for you to decide!" Atlanta responded, a feeling of disbelief overcoming her. "How can you possibly know that not a single one of them – not a single child – could be swayed by riches or power or any number of promises to give information on the Gods? How could you believe that information about a feud between my father and Hades should be displayed so openly, when any form of internal strife could be used against Olympus?"
"I didn't think about that," Thalia snapped defensively. "But none of us are going to give information to enemies of the Gods."
"You. Can't. Know. That." Atlanta ground out through clenched teeth. "I've heard dissent with my own ears. Resentment toward the Gods exists in this camp, and on most days it's infuriating, but it doesn't matter. Now, on the verge of war, everything matters!"
"Calm!" Chiron commanded, his tone firm and unrelenting. "Emotions are high and this isn't the time for arguments. What's done is done, and cannot be changed now. Athena told Thalia that we are to expect an envoy from Olympus soon. Until that time, it's best if we all take the opportunity to regroup and see to our wounded."
The petty urge to slap the daughter of Zeus reared within her, to knock some sense into the child that didn't seem to have any, and yet Chiron was nearly as respected as a minor God himself. Atlanta wouldn't dishonor him by disregarding his orders.
"I'm going to Cabin 8 to contact Lady Artemis," she finally said. "I'll return as soon as possible and we can deal with the rest of this mess."
She really did need to contact the Goddess, but it was also the perfect excuse to allow her to leave the situation. Lady Artemis often told her she shared her father's quick temper, and the daughter of Zeus was testing that sentiment quickly. For weeks she'd been slapped in the face by demigods who thought it appropriate to trample her beliefs and devotion to her Gods, to disregard her upbringing and her faith in those who sat at the top of the world. The Gods weren't perfect, but their imperfection was not for children to decide.
Her belief and her faith in Olympus had seen her through countless years of hardship and loss, through the deaths of dear friends and siblings. Through the joys of a world filled with life and beauty and sacrifice. They didn't have to be perfect, because they were enough. Their imperfections were the only things that made them relatable to humans, as without them they would be far too alien to understand or believe in. There was no such thing as perfection, or rather, perfection had a different meaning to her than it did to modern humans.
And yet, imperfect as they were, they were the Masters of everything. In this – and only this – she felt that the Romans were likely superior. The demigods of Camp Jupiter knew better than to presume the will of the Gods, and were taught respect by the Mother of Rome before ever setting foot inside the city.
Atlanta was a Greek, through and through, and so she had a difficult time admitting that the Romans were superior at anything, but never would you hear a member of the Legion gossiping about the Olympians if they were allowed the honor of visiting the home of the Gods. Should Lupa, or Gods forbid He hear about it, the consequences would be most severe. To actually spy on them in their private dealings...it would never come to pass.
However, with the separation of the Camps, this wasn't a point she could bring up in front of just anyone. The Hunt was allowed to know about New Rome only because Lady Artemis, and her counterpart Lady Diana shared the same handmaidens – some from Greece and some from Rome, alongside a few clear-sighted mortals with no known divine relation.
Casting aside thoughts of the other camp Atlanta approached Cabin 8 swiftly. The campers were ignored on her brief trip, their whispering and curiosity proof that whatever Thalia Grace had shown the councilors had already spread through the camp. Some of them were preparing for a celebration, likely to welcome back the members of the quest in true heroic fashion, but with everything happening that was far down the list of importance as far as she was concerned.
She entered the building swiftly, it's outer walls appearing a dim gray in the daylight, but that she knew would glow like the moon itself under the cover of darkness. The interior immediately relaxed something within her, and as she closed the door gently behind her, the noise of Camp Half Blood was immediately erased.
It was replaced by the soft sound of a trickling stream, and the gentle caress of wind rustling the vines and plants that hung overhead like a forest canopy. The floors were ever so slightly uneven to mimic the earth itself, and the dim light filtered downward from the ceiling to expose the earthy and serene room which felt so much like home. The beds – two dozen of them to accommodate the full number of handmaidens Lady Artemis would have whenever the Hunt was full – were made from twisting limbs and seemed to grow naturally from the floor.
On the far end of the room was the source of trickling water, a gentle stream that ran down the dark, rock-textured wall and disappeared into a stone basin that could be used to fill canteens and cleanse their faces when they woke. There was a weapons rack to hang their bows and blades, and selection of small tools for fixing and fletching arrows, as well as sharpening their hunting knives. The center of the floor was covered by a large, soft pelt given by a bull moose. The entire cabin was meant to be a small piece of the wild that would welcome them whenever they had need of it, and Atlanta didn't know if she'd ever appreciated it so much.
Atlanta placed her pack – retrieved from the van – on one of the beds, hung her silver parka on a peg next to the exit, placed her weapons in their proper place, and then approached the basin to cleanse her hands and face. She felt dirty and unkempt, and wouldn't call for her Goddess until she'd at least calmed herself and took the time to become presentable.
She also removed the choker and compass charm from her bruised neck, and took the time to clean it in the waters which were summoned straight from the Aliakmonas from the homeland, though it was now known by a different name. As her fingers brushed over the symbol of her father, which he'd once gifted to her mother, she tried her best not to think about the hand which had squeezed it so painfully into the skin of her throat just that morning.
There was a small flare of light from behind her which illuminated the walls for just the shortest moment, but she was unafraid. One thing she was certain of was that, in this place – protected by her father's barrier and the temple of her Mistress – nothing could reach her.
She turned to regard Lady Artemis, the Goddess appearing slightly shorter than Atlanta with auburn hair and pale skin. Her eyes shone with a yellow-silver light, and while hard to read sometimes, were currently set into a mask of sympathy.
"You've had a difficult time, my dear one," she said, her voice as gentle and ethereal as ever.
"M'lady," she greeted warmly, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight of her patron, even as her heart seemed to break a little for everything that'd happened since she last saw her. "I have...I have completed the task you gave me, though it appears that it wasn't as successful as I'd hoped."
The Goddess closed her eyes and shook her head once. "Whatever the outcome of this truly unfortunate situation, none of it may be placed at your feet. I will not allow it. You have conducted yourself with both grace and honor, and nothing more could you have done."
"As you say, Lady Artemis," Atlanta agreed, tilting her head in acknowledgment. She wouldn't refute the words of her Mistress who likely knew the situation far better than she did. "I am...it is good to be back in your presence once more."
Artemis smiled, a pleased expression overtaking her. "You were well missed, and I've brought something for you. I thought you shouldn't go another moment without this."
The Goddess held a pale white hunting horn out to her, the silver fittings shining like new, and she nearly lunged forward to accept. The horn was made from the ringed antler of a gazelle, with a silver mouthpiece and a grip worn by thousands of years in the palm of Atlanta's hand. It still fit perfectly – she didn't know why she thought it wouldn't – and the comforting weight allowed her to relax in a way she hadn't for weeks. She wished they were somewhere more appropriate so she could actually use it.
"While it had to stay with our camp, you can be certain that I would allow none to use it in your absence. This has ever been your place, and cannot be taken by another," Artemis said quietly.
The thought of someone taking her place hadn't really crossed her mind, but it did so now that she knew who was seeking her. The fallen Titan was far more than she could ever hope to match. "This entire time he...Krios has been…"
Artemis tilted her head, and her eyes narrowed slightly. "Show me, my child," she said, her voice still low and soothing.
Atlanta knew that the Gods were capable of reading the thoughts of mortals, with or without their consent, but it was a slight relief that Artemis always asked and never forced them. She also only looked at what they were willing to show her. Recalling the dream and the confrontation at the gas station in Colorado were all too easy, as they were never far from her thoughts, and she gladly showed the Goddess what had haunted her for the entire journey.
"So," Artemis said in response, and her voice was briefly distorted as if she were speaking with two separate inflections. "He has decided to make his very last mistake."
"M'lady I can't…I can't fight against him. Whatever strength I have has no effect, and the starlight didn't even harm him. It's like he can twist something inside of me, and it hurts," Atlanta said, and she was unashamed to show how vulnerable she felt in this situation.
"Fear not," Artemis responded. "Monsters like him hide in the darkness, but beneath the light of the Moon and the Stars, and even the Sun, he will not hide. The wild places will give him no respite, and nature itself will turn against him. He will be driven from his hiding place and into the open, where the predators will seek him in an unrelenting pursuit. No rest and no relief, and when he is cornered…"
Artemis' form flickered briefly like static, and showed a glimpse of a taller Goddess with slightly darker red hair and unforgiving silver eyes – Diana, the most ferocious aspect that Artemis had ever assumed.
"Only then will he understand the full gravity of his mistake," she said firmly. "Krios will face the full wrath of not only myself, but your father and my brother for this grave error. Rest assured, he will have no opportunity to seek you out when his very existence is constantly at risk."
Her assurances allowed Atlanta to feel a measure of relief. Artemis was not known to make empty platitudes, and she defended her handmaidens with a zealousness that matched their own devotion to her.
"Thank you, Lady Artemis," she said gratefully. "I'm not sure what this all means. The return of the Titans isn't something I thought was possible."
"Nor did we," the Goddess answered candidly. "We assumed incorrectly it would seem, and now Olympus prepares for war. There is still much that is unknown to us, and it is likely that we will be sent into the wild to learn all that we can and relay that information to the Council over the coming months. Your sisters are already en route, and will arrive tomorrow."
"Speaking of sisters, I believe I have Bianca prepared to join us, though I'm not fully certain of it. She showed interest, but remains hesitant do to her attachment to her brother," Atlanta said.
There was an amused tilt to Artemis' expression when she responded. "Oh, I believe you've done more than that, dear one. You've also gifted me insight into another young maiden."
Atlanta briefly wondered if she was talking about Clarisse, but she had another question to ask before she could think of that. "My father, is there anything you can tell me?"
"He's fine, though I imagine his anger still hasn't left fully. I only spoke to him for a moment when he returned to Olympus." Artemis explained.
"And the mortals?" she nearly whispered.
The Goddess merely stared at her without speaking. It was answer enough.
After their brief conversation, Atlanta followed Artemis back to the Big House feeling far more refreshed and calmed. The quest was officially at an end, and now it was just time to tie up the few loose ends. They'd been successful in their mission, whatever else happened, and she was happy to once more be following her patron as she always had.
She still wasn't happy with Thalia Grace, and she was still worried about her father and the fallout from his battle. She was worried for Beckendorf who was still injured, and she was worried that she hadn't been successful in swaying Bianca to join them. Still, following behind and to the left of her Mistress was an old comfort, and one she welcomed gladly. The calming weight of the hunting horn at her side was an added bonus.
They entered and made for Chiron's office, where the centaur was in the middle of a conversation with the Di Angelo children. She was happy to see that Nico had regained some of his exuberance, as annoying as it could be at times, and that Bianca was looking as exhausted with it as she had when they first met. It appeared that the effects from their run-in with the Titan were finally wearing off.
She was also happy to see that the daughter of Zeus was no longer in attendance.
"Lady Artemis," Chiron greeted, bowing. "A pleasant surprise."
The Goddess nodded quickly at him, glancing over the two children. "So these are Hades' children," she said thoughtfully. "If you'd be so kind, I'd like for you to summon Clarisse La Rue to speak with us."
While he did so, Atlanta got the attention of the girl she'd just whisked halfway across the country mostly against her will. "How are you doing with all of this?" she asked.
Bianca tried for a brief smile, but it looked a little strained. "I'm not sure. Everything seems so strange, and yet I have seen things that cannot be explained…"
"You will adjust in time, as all before you have done," Lady Artemis said gently. "I understand that it can feel overwhelming, but you have a place in this world. You will find it, in the end."
"Still can't believe our Dad's alive," Nico said, grinning slightly. "I bet he's super strong."
Artemis stared at the boy, none of the warmth she showed Bianca appearing on her face. Though many would probably take it as a sign of her hatred for men, that was never displayed toward young boys like Nico without prior cause. Atlanta felt it far more likely that she held animosity toward Hades and was unhappy to see him viewed so reverently.
The brief staring contest was broken by the arrival of Chiron and Clarisse, and the expression as well as the attention of the Goddess switched immediately. Clarisse bowed as soon as she saw the Olympian, but Artemis approached swiftly and placed her hands on her shoulders, nearly forcing the girl to look at her fully.
"The Bane of Lamia," she greeted, a small smile gifted to the young girl. "A fine hunt, young maiden. My handmaidens sang your praises around the campfire for days after the battle." Clarisse looked as if she might burst, and her chest seemed to puff up with obvious pride. "I am here for a very specific purpose, but it would be foolish of me to ignore the chance to fill the Hunt in its entirety. I have two positions open, but one of them has been spoken for. I would like to offer you the chance to fill the remaining position and join my handmaidens as well."
Atlanta wasn't very surprised. Though it was never her place to offer a position in the Hunt, she'd hoped that either Zoë or Lady Artemis herself would do so. Bianca was a special case, as her joining was apparently crucial, and so Atlanta was allowed to offer the position to her.
Clarisse would make for a fine huntress, should she accept.. She was strong and fierce and fearless, and would serve the Hunt well as a close range fighter. She was also dependable and willing to risk her own life for her allies, and was willing to work together in a fight for a common purpose – proven when she worked alongside Atlanta to defeat Lamia.
"I didn't, I mean…I didn't really hunt Lamia, she was hunting us," Clarisse said, her face turning crimson even beneath the bruises.
"A true hunter must also, at times, be the hunted," Artemis responded easily. "Predator and prey are the ways of the world and of nature. The ability to turn from the hunted into the victorious hunter is a skill many never lay claim to, and I would have you join me if you're willing."
"Though it isn't my place, I would welcome you gladly as would my sisters," Atlanta said, trying to be encouraging. "This is a choice we all must make for ourselves, but just know that a true sisterhood awaits you should you decide to join us."
"I...can I think about it, for a little while?" Clarisse asked hesitantly.
"Of course," Artemis answered, smiling. "There shall be a feast in your honor today, and the Golden Laurels will be presented to you all. Enjoy this time of victory. Tomorrow I will seek you out to hear your answer."
Clarisse nodded, and then the Goddess turned to Bianca. "If you would please accompany me to the next room? I have some matters of importance to speak with you about."
"But Nico…"
"I'll watch out for him," Atlanta assured her. "I'll show him around a little, and we can meet back up after you've spoken with Lady Artemis." The girl nodded her agreement after a moment, and hesitantly followed behind the young-looking immortal.
The bonfire started early that night, just after darkness had fallen fully. Atlanta stood on the outside edge of the firelight, watching on as Clarisse and a still-injured Beckendorf were surrounded on all sides by the joyful campers. They were in the process of burning the burial shrouds which were made for them by their cabins, golden laurels sitting like a crown atop their heads.
She had her own clenched in her hand, but had no desire to place it anywhere near her head. She wasn't a hero, didn't want to be, and she couldn't celebrate knowing that even as they completed their mission, the true hardships were just beginning. War was coming, and it would bring with it a terrible price that none of the children could possibly understand.
It would take something from them that they could never get back. Perhaps their lives, or maybe their friends and family. It might even take everything that made them who they were. Either way there was a tithe to be paid for victory, and an even greater one for defeat.
Next to her stood Bianca, and the girl's already pale skin practically glowed beneath the light of the moon. Under the cover of darkness, a small glint of silver shone in the back of her eyes and the Blessing of the Moon rested gracefully on the already beautiful girl. She'd accepted Lady Artemis' offer without hesitation, and now was her newest sister.
Much like their trip from Vegas, Atlanta had already decided to look out for her.
The sound of heavy and uneven gasps, broken by a choking cough filled the silence of the room. The swirling, funnel-shaped vortex of wind and clouds and flashes of lightning rushed downward into the room with a vengeance and without warning it sped up, trying its best to reach the floor. It became more violent and heavy as the sky itself appeared to surge to life and force its way downward.
The lower reaches of the vortex rested on the back and shoulders of a humanoid figure that dripped with golden ichor and he screamed in agony as the weight of the sky tried to flatten him. His voice was becoming hoarse, his arms and legs shaking from the strain as the golden blood of immortals puddled upon the floor around him.
Standing across from him, a large man in a fine pinstriped suit wiped his hands upon a white cloth, leaving streaks of gold behind in an effort to clean the ichor from his fingers. His face was a mask of apathy as the struggling figure tried to resist the weight of the sky that was, moment by moment, becoming heavier. Lightning danced across his blue eyes, and a small gesture caused the vortex to, once more, speed up and surge downward.
The man screamed again until his voice broke.
"Speak and be spared," the commanding tone lashed across the room. "Keep your silence, and this will become your tomb."
"You can't…" the struggling man heaved. "You can't do this. It is forbidden-"
His voice was cut off as the lightning which danced within the vortex surged outward and arced across his body, forcing his muscles to seize as a silent scream seemed to lodge in his throat. It lasted for several moments while burns formed upon the skin and smoke began to curl from him. When it finally stopped, the man sagged and very nearly collapsed fully to the floor.
He was retching and coughing, his breaths becoming moans of agony as he was forced fully upon his hands and knees. His fingers were curling and his knuckles white as he struggled to keep himself upright.
"Speak! Where are they?!" the man commanded, unmoved by the obvious torture he was inflicting. He was met with a broken, whispered reply. "Louder!"
The struggling man's cough turned to a rasping laugh.
"Alaska, the Land beyond the Gods." The man spit a mixture of saliva and ichor from having bitten his tongue. "Where even you can't reach them. Where all of your strength counts for nothing."
Author's Notes: Chapter 11 done, and while it definitely isn't as action oriented as the one before, the stage is now being set for the War to come.
I found this chapter to be a bit boring to be honest, but I didn't want to just ignore the final stage of the quest as if nothing had happened to the group. I also needed to show some of what they went through when they were confronted by Krios, but that scene would have been laughably short, and so I decided to write it in this way with Atlanta looking back on it. Against Krios they would have lasted literal moments if they were lucky – there was no fight scene to truly write.
We also see the first glimpses of the impact to the mortal world due to the fighting, and we see a little of Atlanta's reaction to it. Its just finally setting in that a lot of people have died, and in the end it was for nothing aside from their escape. Now we also have to take into account the fact that the people in Mack were already killed by Krios before they arrived, but the mortals didn't know that so they will attribute it all to the events they were able to witness. A lot more died outside of that anyway.
Also, at the end of the chapter we get to see a glimpse of where Zeus went when he left the throne room in such a hurry. I always felt that, for such a seemingly powerful place, Alaska wasn't utilized enough in the original books.
As always, I appreciate everyone who is spending their time reading my amateur attempts at writing a compelling story. Review if you want to, don't if you don't.