Chapter 2

Camp Half-Blood

In the vibrant midday of Camp Half-Blood, where not even the sun dares to take a break, Rachel Dare made her spectacular entrance into Apollo's cabin.

The sky, a masterpiece of oranges and purples worthy of a divine art gallery, seemed too modest a backdrop for her personal parade.

In front of the mirror, Rachel rehearsed her movements with the grace of an actress on opening night, while her smile, so radiant that one could swear she was the illegitimate daughter of the sun god himself, practiced her repertoire of witty phrases.

The objective? Nothing less than Percy Jackson, the boy who made the hearts of half the camp skip like popcorn in the microwave.

The image of Percy appeared in her mind, with his sea-green eyes and that smile capable of melting hearts, he had haunted her for months like a catchy tune. Now, finally, she had returned to camp and had the chance to conquer him.

Meanwhile, in the Poseidon cabin, our hero Percy seemed to be living his own drama, with a gaze so lost that one might think he was trying to find the last piece of a billion-particle puzzle: love.

Yes, the poor boy was oblivious to Rachel's elaborate plans and even more so to the divine mark that labeled him as "Artemis's exclusive property."

With the elegance of a model at Paris Fashion Week, Rachel exited her cabin straight to the dining area. She wasn't going to war, of course, but who needs a sword when you have lipstick and a plan in your mind?

Percy, for his part, emerged from his cabin with that mix of heroism and bewilderment that characterized him, also heading to the dining area, the scene of his next "casual encounter" with Rachel. When they saw each other, the tension was palpable, like a guitar string about to break just before the solo.

Rachel sat next to Percy at the table, a mischievous smile on her face, she never let an opportunity like this pass, so she released her first words and launched her frontal attack: "How about I teach you to bake an ambrosia cake, Percy? Maybe then you can impress Thalia with your culinary skills." Her tone had that mischievous edge that only Rachel could handle without cutting herself.

Percy, who was not lacking in the art of the comeback, responded with a crooked smile: Percy blushed slightly. "It's not as easy as it looks. And besides, Thalia doesn't need to be impressed. She already knows how amazing I am," he replied ironically.

Rachel laughed out loud. "Oh, come on, Percy. Stop pretending you don't care. You still have friction with her, don't you?"

Percy stayed silent, watching the flames dance on the campfire. A nostalgic feeling enveloped him. "It's complicated, you know who our parents are," he finally responded.

The conversation flowed, dodging the minefield of nostalgia and divine family complications, until a sharp cry and a shower of peanuts interrupted their chat.

Grover, in an act that defied the law of gravity, had managed to drench Rachel with an explosive mixture of chocolate and tomato sauce.

The disaster, instead of being an apocalypse of embarrassment, turned into a comedy of errors that ended with both of them laughing until tears streamed down their faces.

In that chaos, any residual tension between Percy and Rachel dissolved into laughter and sauce stains.

But the evening had even more surprises in store. As the laughter subsided, a gust of cold wind swept through the dining area, causing the flames of Hestia's campfire to lean to one side.

Rachel shivered and looked outside, where she saw a red-haired girl staring at her with an unusual intensity in her eyes. "I think someone is watching us," Rachel whispered, while Percy.

Percy looked up when Rachel murmured about a strange presence, but his eyes caught nothing more than the play of light and shadow among the trees.

"Maybe it's just the forest nymphs playing hide and seek," Percy joked with a slight shrug, downplaying the matter.

A knowing wink gleamed in his sea-green eyes, as if inviting Rachel to join him in his carefree attitude. However, a shadow of doubt crossed his face, as fleeting as a lightning bolt in summer, but perceptible enough to awaken a question within him: What if Rachel was right?

The following days turned into a spiral of paranoia and fleeting apparitions. The red-haired girl, as elusive as a shadow under the scorching sun, manifested on the periphery of Rachel's vision, an uncomfortable presence that tormented her with her penetrating eyes.

Rachel felt as if she were losing her sanity, trapped in a persistent hallucination. At Camp Half-Blood, where the impossible was commonplace, the rational faded in the face of the inexplicable.

Percy, faithful to his carefree nature, didn't give much importance to Rachel's concerns. "You're being paranoid, Rach," he would often say with a mocking smile.

"It's just your imagination playing tricks." But deep down, a seed of doubt was germinating in his mind.

The appearances of the red-haired girl, though brief, were too vivid to dismiss as mere hallucinations.

The red-haired girl became an omnipresent specter, appearing in the most unexpected places, watching Rachel with an intensity that made her nervous.

Pov Artemis

From the depths of her being, Artemis was consumed by an inexplicable hatred, a burning fire that devoured any trace of calm in her divine being.

The last few days had been torment, with the figure of Rachel Dare lurking in every corner of her mind like a haunting shadow.

The prophetess of Apollo, that insignificant mortal, dared to get too close to my Percy, she had crossed an invisible yet unbreakable line for Artemis.

Every touch of Rachel's skin against Percy's, every whispered word in his ear was like a stab in the goddess's heart.

The image of her secret love being seduced by a mere mortal filled her with uncontrollable resentment, a burning that threatened to consume her from within.

With eyes burning with flames, Artemis watched every encounter between them, every gesture of complicity, with a mixture of fury and jealousy that surprised even herself.

It was such a human, visceral emotion that it embarrassed her in her condition as a goddess.

But Artemis was not a goddess who stooped to act impulsively. Her pride and her position on Olympus prevented her from taking direct action against the mortal, even though her anger cried out for her blood. "But if I am discovered, Apollo will find out," she thought bitterly, aware of the ancient laws that governed her pantheon.

Then, in her mind, the threads of a plan began to be woven, a masterful strategy that would resolve the dilemma without staining her pride.

"That mortal does not deserve the attention of my Percy," she muttered through clenched teeth, her voice resonating with cold, calculated determination. "She is just a girl pretending to be a woman, a mere shadow pretending to eclipse my light."

And so, with her mind ablaze and her heart entangled in a tangle of contradictory emotions, Artemis plunged into the darkness of her obsession and manipulation, determined to protect what she believed was rightfully hers by divine right.

Apollo's Cabin

The goddess of the moon, in an act of divine arrogance, descended upon Rachel. Her imposing figure, illuminated by the faint moonlight, cast a long shadow that enveloped her in an aura of mystery and power. Her face, cold and severe as the night itself, reflected the anger consuming her.

"Rachel Dare," her voice resonated like thunder in the stillness of the night, "I have come to make you a proposal."

Rachel, surprised and terrified, could barely stutter, "Goddess Artemis? What... what do you want from me?" In an instant, a wave of memories flooded her: the red-haired girl watching her intently, the invisible presence haunting her, the constant feeling of being watched. Could it be that this goddess, so majestic and intimidating, was responsible for her torment?

Unperturbed by Rachel's obvious discomfort, Artemis continued with her proposal: "I offer you a place in my hunt. Join me, and I will make you an immortal huntress, a relentless warrior like no other."

Inside the goddess, a malicious smile curved her lips. The idea of turning Rachel into one of her huntresses was a cruel mockery, a way to keep her close while manipulating her at will.

Once Rachel joined the hunt, she would assign her an impossible mission, a deadly trap that would punish her for daring to approach what rightfully belonged to her by divine right.

Rachel swallowed hard, her heart pounding forcefully. The offer was tempting, the promise of power and glory was irresistible.

But a shiver of fear ran through her body. Artemis's eyes, like two daggers of ice, pierced her to the core. Her voice, a roar of storm, echoed in her ears, filling her with paralyzing terror.

"I cannot," Rachel finally found her voice, albeit trembling. "I appreciate your offer, goddess Artemis, but my place is here, with my friends."

Artemis's fury unleashed like a storm. A roar escaped her lips, making the leaves of the trees tremble. "How dare you reject my generosity?" her eyes locked on Rachel with an intensity that made her feel small and insignificant. "Mortal girl," she said with a cold, cutting voice, "I warn you to stay away from Percy Jackson. He is mine!"

Rachel stood tall, her legs shaking but her head held high, defying the goddess with a fierce gaze. Her voice, barely a whisper, resonated with determination: "I am not afraid." "And who are you to give me orders?" she asked with a touch of rebellion in his voice that ignited Artemis's anger even more.

"Insolent! Your fate is in my hands, mortal. You will regret this decision!"

Artemis spun on her shoes and walked away, not before erasing the memories of their conversation. Her slender figure faded into the shadows of the forest, leaving Rachel alone in the darkness, with a terrible coldness in her heart.

This story will be continued

Author's note

So how's that chapter, huh? I have to admit, I didn't think it would blow up like my breakout "The Year the Moon Forgot Her Memory," you know, with the same amount of followers as "47" so quickly.

That was a big surprise for me so I hope you have a good read.

Hit me up with your brilliant ideas and interesting recommendations in the comments. Let's make some magic together."