Even though I knew it was probably all mental, sleep came significantly easier after I helped those girls out in the medical tent. The emotional boost I got from helping people, and the strain on my body after using my powers like that was just the shove I needed to enter Dreamland.

Well, if we're being honest, it was probably also the lack of coughing, crying, and overall talking invading my enhanced senses, but I'm not going to victim-blame those poor, sick girls, so let's just move on.

Blissfully, though, I didn't actually have any dreams. Demigod dreams tended to get out of hand, and now since I was outside the camp borders, I could've very well drifted off and ended up face-to-face with Kronos or something.

So, all in all, things were off to a good start this morning. Kind of.

I stirred awake around dawn, to the sounds of huntresses talking animatedly as they packed up camp. I tried not to be too surly as I stood up and started stretching out the sore muscles in my back. Despite what squirrels around the world will tell you, sleeping in a tree is not comfortable, nor is it glamorous.

Plus, I couldn't understand why they insisted on getting up so early. The sun wasn't even out yet, for crying out loud. It wasn't like we were going to travel in the darkness.

I paused, remembering the frenetic look in Artemis' eyes. Were we?

My crankiness disappeared, though, when I noticed a bowl of soup in front of me. There was a wooden spoon at the edge of the bowl, and steam was still rising out of it, so I knew it had been placed there recently.

I was definitely planning on sneaking some protein bars out of my [Inventory] to keep up my protein intake but I appreciated the gesture and didn't want to risk offending whoever put it here—if I had to guess, though, it was Zoe.

I started walking toward Zoe and Artemis, who were herding some of the younger huntresses toward the center of the field.

Artemis didn't acknowledge my presence, but Zoe did. She actually looked kind of happy to see me. Kidding—well, she looked at me and didn't glare, which I considered to be progress. That's probably as happy as she's ever going to be to see me. I shrugged off her indifference and said, "Thanks for the soup."

I could tell Zoe was a little bit suspicious about the whole, I don't know, blood-bending thing, but I was hoping she'd keep it to herself. No one here knows the extent of my cover, and I'm prepared to fall back on the Apollo's my dad excuse if I have to, but I'm not sure how well that's going to track.

"We had extra meat this morning," Zoe replied dismissively, sniffling. Her haughty expression remained unchanging as she stared out at the rest of the huntresses. It looked like I was safe, for now. "Don't read too much into it. Unlike you boys, we show our gratitude."

"Right. Gratitude. And don't worry, I wouldn't dream of it," I replied, slurping some of the soup. Not bad. It didn't compare to Hestia's cooking, but not much food could, in all honesty. The woman could put Gordon Ramsey to shame. For a couple of teens out in the middle of the woods, this soup wasn't bad at all. "Do you guys need any help cleaning up? I don't know if you have a specific way of doing things or not, but I'm a quick study."

"No," Artemis joined the conversation. Her hair was completely silver this morning, and there was no sign of the red streaks I'd seen earlier. Her voice was a bit hoarse. It honestly felt like this was her first time speaking all morning. "My huntresses are efficient and well-practiced. Your presence will only slow them down."

"Right," I deadpanned as I saw one of the younger huntresses drop a poorly-wrapped bundle of cloth and sticks on the ground. Artemis looked at me daringly, waiting for me to comment on it. I ignored the challenge in her bloodshot eyes and chose the high road for once. "And we're waiting for…"

"My brother," As if on cue, the sky began to lighten. It was like someone hit fast-forward on the sunrise, and the star began rising on the horizon at an alarmingly fast pace. The tips of her hair turned red as Artemis muttered, "About time. He gets so lazy after August."

Lazy? The sky was changing so fast, all I could wonder about was how the mortals in the next town over would react. I'd never truly considered how powerful the Mist was, but I knew it would have to be working overtime to shield this.

"Don't look," Artemis advised. I hadn't even noticed, but she'd been looking at me carefully—the same way I'd stare down defenders in basketball before deciding how to score on them. It was hard to tear my gaze away from the scene, but I did. "Not until he parks."

Parks?

I averted my eyes and saw that the others were doing the same. The light in the sky brightened exponentially, and a surge of warmth intensified around us to the point where my armor felt like it was melting off of me.

Then suddenly the light died. I looked.

And I couldn't believe it. It was my car. Well, the car I've wanted ever since I was a kid, anyway. Don't get me wrong, Mr. D's car is great and all, but it doesn't even begin to compare to this.

The light died down to reveal a red convertible Maserati Spyder. The tires were spinning as it gently dropped down onto the ground, and the stereo system was so loud, each bump of the bass shook the ground we were standing on. It was so awesome it glowed, and then, I realized it was glowing because the metal was unbelievably hot.

The heat instantly charred the ground around it, creating a ring of white fire that flared up as the volume of the music got louder. The sound cranked so high, the ring of fire nearly reached the treeline. I felt my teeth vibrate and my ears ache from the intensity of the speakers.

See, me personally, I feel like four or five in the morning is a bit too early to listen to Drake, but gods don't seem to play by the same rules.

The fire and light died down as Apollo got out, smiling.

He was wearing the same letterman jacket I'd seen him wear to the underworld, except now it was green, and he was donning a limited-edition green Christmas Day Kristaps Porzingis jersey underneath. Aside from that, he was wearing cargo pants and loafers.

"Little sister!" Apollo called. If his teeth were any whiter he could've blinded us without the sizzling car. It hadn't been that noticeable in the Underworld, but on the Overworld, his entire body was surrounded by a slight glow. Like, a glowing, golden outline that was just on all the time. "What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"

Artemis sighed. "I'm fine, Apollo. And I am not your little sister."

Apollo shrugged off Artemis' annoyance. He probably had thousands of years of experience doing that. "Hey, I was born first."

Like syrup spilling into a drink, Artemis' hair briefly rippled red. "We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue—"

"No shot," Apollo cut Artemis off, much to her annoyance. He was staring directly at me, with his mouth ajar. His eyes sparked with anger. "Orion! Bring it in, tyke!"

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I was teleported in front of him, and he immediately wrapped me in a bear hug and picked me up off the ground. My ears were still ringing from the boom of his voice in my head. Just when they'd readjusted from the speakers, too. "Oh, my beautiful boy!"

I thought back, Artemis caught me and brought me here! She made it seem like it was your plan all along! You didn't tell me she was going to hit the first place on your list, dude! I'm not a miracle worker! The woman is the huntress!

"Hey, old man," I gritted out. I felt my bones creak as his arms tightened even more. "Long time no see."

"He's your son?" Artemis butted in incredulously. She crossed her arms. "There's no way you think I believe that, Apollo. For one, his aura is all—"

"So what's up?" Apollo interrupted, finally placing me down and clapping my shoulder. His clap was superpowered and sent me stumbling back toward Zoe, who begrudgingly caught me. Maybe she just didn't want me crashing into the younger girls. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"

I had to hand it to him, he knew how to get under his sister's skin. A part of me wondered if he'd done so intentionally, but when I saw the angry look on her face, I knew no one in their right mind would want to be on the receiving end of that if they could help it. Artemis gritted her teeth. "I need a favor. I have some hunting to do with your son here. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."

"Sure, sis!" He gave me a look I couldn't quite decipher. Then he raised his hands in a stop-everything gesture. "Hold it. I feel a haiku coming on."

"Not this again," I mumbled. Zoe gave me a look of understanding. I had the feeling Zoe and I were going to form a trauma bond over this. "His last one wasn't even the right amount of syllables."

"Trust me, you haven't seen anything yet," Zoe muttered back. She almost looked queasy. "He's been going through this haiku phase ever since he visited Japan. It's nowhere near as bad as the time he visited Limerick. If I'd had to hear one more poem that started with, There once was a goddess from Sparta—"

Apollo cleared his throat a few times and said, "Green grass breaks through dirt. Artemis pleads for my help. I am so cool." He grinned at us, waiting for applause that I was certain would never come.

"That last line was only four syllables," Artemis said. She was pinching the bridge of her nose and taking deep breaths. Despite her best efforts to control her emotions, she added, "Moron."

"Am I?" Apollo frowned. "Wait, was it?"

Artemis growled, "Yes. What about I am so big-headed?"

"No, no, that's six syllables. Hmm." He started muttering to himself. "I've got it!" Apollo announced. "I am so awesome. That's five syllables!" He bowed, looking very pleased with himself.

"Right," Artemis said a moment later, fighting to keep the incredulity out of her tone. "Well, the usual rules apply. You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And, if you mention any stories from our childhood, I'll kill you."

"Yeesh, you're always such a buzzkill," Apollo complained, but the cocky grin on his face was wiped clean when Artemis stepped closer, her eyes flashing red. "Right, no, sorry. No lookie, no touchie, no talkie. I'll be a glorified UberX driver."

"Good," Artemis said and then gestured for me. "Come. We must begin the hunt."

"Right," I said, waving at the huntresses. I didn't appreciate being bossed around, but it was worth it just because of the look of disbelief on Apollo's face. "What she said. Bye, everyone!"

Artemis' chariot hurtled even faster than yesterday. I sat down and held on for dear life as Artemis whipped us through the clouds with reckless abandon. I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure she was trying to just hurl me off the side.

About ten minutes into the ride, she yelled over the wind, "What's the plan?"

"Uh," I froze. On the very long and slightly redundant list of things I was expecting to happen on this quest, Artemis asking for my advice wasn't on there. "You actually want to hear what I have to say?"

"Don't make me regret asking," Artemis warned. She flicked the reins. The chariot lurched a bit, and I smashed into the side. "Sorry."

"Wonderful," I rubbed a sore spot on my shoulder. "Injure your backup. Real smart. You want to break my arm, next?"

"I'm sorely tempted," Artemis shot back from the front of the chariot. A ripple of red flitted through her curtain of hair. The woman was like a walking mood ring. "Answer the question."

I sat in deep thought for a moment. My boosted [INT] stat made the process a whole lot easier. "I think the best way to do it is to disguise myself as Jasper, and you as the girl he was supposed to kidnap. We kill two birds with one stone—I'll infiltrate his room and get some information on who he reports to, who he's with, all that stuff, and you'll probably be taken to where he's keeping the rest of them."

"When I find them, I'm bringing them home instantly," Artemis said plainly. "They're my priority. Of course, I care about the balance of the natural world, but saving them is my first move, and then, I'm putting all of my parks on lockdown. No one in, no one out."

"That's…fine," I replied, still trying to consider every angle. Even though Artemis told me that she only cared about saving her animals, I was finding it a little difficult to limit myself to just that. I had a personal vendetta against the Titans now, and if I had a chance to throw a wrench in their plans, I was going to. "All of those animals disappearing could be cause for alarm. Can you create afterimages of them or something? I know some gods can do that. It would let you get your animals to safety without entirely blowing our cover."

"I can't create afterimages of them all willy-nilly," Artemis frowned. "I suppose I could bend the moonlight once or twice, but maintaining that illusion inside of a heavily lighted place could prove difficult. Not difficult from a power drain perspective, mind you, but from a logistics perspective. All it takes is one ripple, and everyone watching will know it's a fake."

"What about clones?" I tossed the idea out there. "Gods can create clones, right? Could you create clones of yourself and disguise them as the missing animals?"

"That could work," Artemis agreed. She seemed way more in favor of my plan than I expected her to be. Something changed in the way she was talking to me. There was still that distance, that hesitation, but she wasn't being needlessly cold. "We can do that."

"Terrific," I replied. My curiosity got the best of me, and I asked, "Why'd you ask me for my opinion, though? I was under the impression you thought all men sucked, are the cause of every problem on the face of the Earth, invented the Devil, um, eat little children for breakfast—"

"Don't push the small amount of leeway I've given you," Artemis said, her voice turning cold. I just had to go and open my mouth, huh? She turned around and my eyes were drawn to hers. "Last night, I told you to stay away from camp. I specifically told you to stay away from my hunters. And, before you deny it, I felt it the moment you moved. You knowingly disobeyed my orders."

So, I hadn't been entirely wrong after all. The reason the Moon seemed so strong was that it had been; she'd been leveraging her powers to keep constant surveillance on me. Being endorsed by her brother wasn't enough to make her trust me, not even a bit. "Then why not intervene?"

"Oh, I did," Artemis smirked. The expression looked natural on her face as the wind whipped her hair all around. "The second you got up, I was already on you, dagger in hand. I wanted to string you up right then and there, but something nagged at me. Something told me to wait. And, so I did. I waited for you to walk inside, stood outside the tent as Zoe confronted you, and waited for the inevitable moment that Zoe would yell out for me, and I'd get the chance to gut you, cut you up into tiny little cubes, and send you back to my brother in a gift basket."

She paused, biting her lip. "Instead, you convinced Zoe to let you through. You were respectful and kind to my huntresses, even when some of them refused to be civil to you."

"Is there a question in there somewhere?" I said, noticing the inflection in Artemis' sentence, and the hesitation on her face. I shifted, facing her even more. "You seem like you want to ask me a question."

"You know my question," She replied quietly. "Why? Even with the threat of me looming over your head—quite literally—you still disobeyed my orders. What reasoning could you possibly have to defy an Olympian?"

"Because they needed help," I said simply. "It's bad enough that children are forced into the life that comes with being a demigod. So, when I hear a demigod in pain, I help them. It's as basic as that. Your huntresses, some of them anyway, distrust men. I get that. That doesn't mean I can't try to help, though."

"That's why I asked for your input," Artemis said pointedly. Her eyes were cloudy and unfocused—it was like she was trying to see right through me. She shook off the weird expression. "And, that's why I know you're not my brother's child."

I went to protest, but she pressed on, "And, even without that, I can both sense and smell your aura. You don't smell anything like any of his other children."

"I'm special?" I offered weakly.

"Perhaps," Artemis said in response, turning away from me. "Now be silent. I need to focus my power."

We eventually arrived in front of what I assumed was the Lotus Hotel with our disguises intact. The entrance was a huge neon flower, the petals lighting up and blinking. No one was going in or out, but the glittering chrome doors were open, spilling out air-conditioning that smelled like flowers—lotus blossom, maybe. I'd never smelled one, so I wasn't sure.

Artemis looked miffed at being forced to disguise herself as a child, and I had to admit, I wasn't ecstatic about the idea of being transformed into a child trafficker, either, and that was discounting the fact that I had to hold her hand to maintain our charade.

It also didn't help that I was used to the athleticism of my body. Artemis' magic was way denser than Apollo's had been, and when she transformed me into Jasper, I felt like him, too.

My joints hurt. My legs ached as I walked. As I tried to keep up with Artemis, who was practically sprinting, my lungs rattled like a box of rocks. Jasper was shorter, weighed more, and was so out of shape, I was already breathing a bit heavily after the short walk from the chariot to the sidewalk.

I couldn't see my face, thank goodness, but my fingers were gnarled and bony. Bulging blue veins webbed the backs of my hands, and my nails were chipped. Jasper also had some form of withdrawal, or so I think, because I was shivering the whole time and I felt itchy everywhere.

I was silently considering just pulling out a [Mirror of Aphrodite] and blasting the hotel into nothingness when the doorman smiled at us. "Hey. You look tired. You want to come in and sit down?"

Really?

I would've been able to sniff this guy out as bad news in my first week as a demigod. I hid a frown as I felt some pressure against [Gamer's Mind MK2] and nodded, "Yes."

The whole lobby was a giant game room. And I'm not talking about cheesy old Pac-Man games or slot machines. There was an indoor waterslide snaking around the glass elevator, which went straight up at least forty floors. There was a climbing wall on the side of one building and an indoor bungee-jumping bridge. There were virtual-reality suits with working laser guns. And hundreds of video games, each one the size of a widescreen TV. Basically, you name it, this place had it. There were a few other kids playing, but not that many. There was no waiting for any of the games. There were waitresses and snack bars all around, serving every kind of food you can imagine.

"Hey!" A bellhop said. At least I guessed he was a bellhop. He wore a white-and-yellow Hawaiian shirt with lotus designs, shorts, and flip-flops, so it was kind of hard to tell. "Welcome to the Lotus Casino. Here's your room key. If you need anything, like extra bubbles for the hot tub, skeet targets for the shooting range, or whatever, just call the front desk. Here are your LotusCash cards. They work in the restaurants and on all the games and rides."

"Thanks," I replied, pocketing the room key and the two cards. As we stepped onto the game floor, the watch we'd nabbed from Jasper began vibrating in my hand. With a series of delicate clicks and twists, the seemingly ordinary object began to disassemble itself. Tiny gears and cogs separated, revealing a hidden compartment within. Within the heart of the watch, an ethereal glow shimmered, gradually materializing into a three-dimensional projection.

"This is just like Star Wars," I whispered to Artemis, who stared back at me blankly. "No? Okay. My bad."

A hologram took shape before us. The image flickered to life, revealing a normal-looking face bathed in soft, otherworldly light. The person appeared almost translucent, their features slightly distorted, as if they were speaking from another realm. "Jasper, my main man! You made it. Did you bring the merchandise?"

"You know I did," Artemis glared at me from behind the hologram, like this whole situation was somehow my fault. Not that I'd tell her, but she wasn't exactly my idea of precious cargo, either. Hanging out with her was like being forced to play with the weird neighbor since your moms are friends. "Where do you want to do the handoff?"

"Meet me in my room, dude. Take your time, though. Enjoy yourself a bit on the way up, everything's free," The voice laughed. Jasper hadn't mentioned anything about who his contact was, but based on the way they were talking, I'd wager it was a male somewhere between the ages of fifteen and thirty. "Room 328. See ya."

I wanted to try my hand at one of the machines—it was an arcade basketball hoop, and I was absolutely certain I could demolish the current high score, but Artemis grabbed my wrist and marched me over to the elevators.

The elevators were modernized, too. Unlike Olympus' elevators, which only played smooth jazz, this one played Dominic Fike: Baby, careful inside where you step, can you feel the weight of their eyes on your neck?

We took the elevator upstairs and knocked on room 328. I heard some music playing behind the closed door, and it got noticeably quieter after the knock. "Jasper?"

"Yep."

A few moments later, the door opened, and I got my first glimpse of the man—I'd been right—who'd been behind the kidnappings.

First thoughts? He looked young. Way too young. I wouldn't have pegged him as a day over sixteen if I had to.

His hair was a cascade of midnight black. It fell in unruly waves around his face, framing sharp, piercing eyes that swirled with shades of amethyst and sapphire. Dark, dramatic eyebrows arched above, further accentuating their intensity, like the world wanted everyone who looked at this kid to know he had cool eyes.

His features, while possessing an undeniable allure, bore a hint of ethereal strangeness. His skin was pale and seemed to glow softly in the dim light of the room. Faint, intricate patterns resembling ancient runes danced across his skin.

[LAMONTAS]

[UNDEAD]*

[THE NIGHT'S EMBRACE]

[SHADOWED]

[VEILWEAVER]

[MOONLIT VEIL]**

[LVL]: 68 (N/A)

[HP]: 80,000/80,000

[SP]: INF/INF

[MP]: INF/INF

[FEALTY]: COVEN OF SHADOWS

[STR]: 200 (+175)

[VIT]: VARIABLE

[DEX]: VARIABLE

[INT]: 280

[CHA]: 400 (+455)

[WIS]: 384

[LUC]: N/A

|| As a creature of the night, and [UNDEAD]* Lamontas' physical stats change based on how much blood he's consumed in the last 24 hours. This has a floating base of 200 and can scale up to 1000. This perk also forces the user to be doubly weak against fire, light, and holy magic. ||

|| The title [MOONLIT VEIL]** instantly doubles all stats when activated. It activates in the absence of the Sun. ||

Now just who the hell was the Coven of Shadows?

"Thanks a ton, dude," Lamontas said. Now since we weren't communicating through the watch, I could get a better read on his voice. He sounded young, too, but his voice was confident and smooth. More confident and smooth than any teen's should be. "Ah, you can just leave her downstairs with the others. Trust me, they won't be able to leave, anyway. Perks of having a magically reinforced base, yuh?"

"Oh," I said. I turned to Artemis, who thankfully didn't react outright. I saw the opportunity to secure some information and ask, "You've kept the others? Alive and unsupervised? Isn't that a bad idea? There are a lot of people here, man. Operations I've worked with in the past would've shipped them out a long time ago."

"Mmmhm," Lamontas hummed, his face twisting into a grin. He buffed his nails against his leather jacket. "Don't worry, bro. You're not gonna get caught. You probably noticed, but the people here are all kinds of loopy. You'd be loopy too if I wasn't actively blocking the influence. Mortal authorities have no power here. As for the girls, we aren't shipping them anywhere. We want them here—the only reason they're still alive is because we're not going to harvest them for a few nights."

I felt the bones in my hand creak a little. Artemis' hand on my wrist was like a vice grip. Even though she'd be given what she wanted on a silver platter—a way to get her animals out of here, the thought of them getting harvested was still enough to kick her into overdrive.

I could've respected her drive if it wasn't for the fact that she was crushing my already weakened hand. Maybe if Apollo told me ahead of time that his sister was going to use me like a stress relief toy, I could've prepared.

"Go downstairs, little girl," Lamontas grinned. He jeered at her. "The grownups are talking."

Artemis turned and left without a word.

"She's a weird one," He commented, and I chose to keep my mouth shut. I'd bet my left hand Artemis was listening, and I didn't want to risk her ire. Well, more of it, anyway. "Anywho, you remember how I told you that you possessed clear sight."

I lied through my teeth. "Yes."

[Lie successful.]

Thanks, Game.

"Well, I'll let you in on a little secret. You ever read those myths about Hercules, and the gods, and all that?" At my nod, he smirked and raised his arms out in a grandiose manner. "Well, they're real. The gods, the myths, everything. And those girls you helped me steal aren't just little girls. They're the goddess Artemis' sacred animals, disguised as girls."

"How do you know that?" I asked dubiously. My throat felt like it was closing, and I let out a few hacking coughs. Spit flew everywhere, and Lamontas wrinkled his nose. I wiped my mouth and added, "They looked completely normal to me."

"I looked on a different plane of existence," Lamontas waved me off. His tone was so casual, it made me wonder how often he did that. "Besides, she always does this. Artemis, I mean. She tries to find some clever way to hide her animals. It's a cute effort, but I'm not paid to find it cute. I'm paid to thwart it."

"Hold up, man," I stopped, raising my hands. I tried to actively force myself to talk like Jasper had. It wasn't hard. Talking made my throat feel all scratchy and dry. "This all ain't making much sense to me. How the hell would you know what she does?"

"Jasper, Jasper, Jasper," Lamontas chuckled darkly. He tapped his nose. "I know because I was there."

"There?" Realization bloomed in my mind, and I fought off my desire to reach into my pocket and pull out Riptide. Besides, the Game didn't mention it, so there was no way he could be that powerful right? "The fuck? You're a god?"

"Pfft, don't I wish," Lamontas scoffed. He waved me over to a table. Riptide felt like it weighed a million pounds in my pocket as I shuffled my way over to the seat next to him. "It's a bit more complicated than that."

Upon the table sat a whirlwind of disarray, a collage of chaos that seemed to have a life of its own. Books piled high in precarious stacks, their spines bent and well-loved, as if whispering forgotten tales to one another. Scrolls, their edges frayed and yellowed with time, peeked out from between the pages, revealing fragments of ancient wisdom that flooded my mind. My concentration was broken as Lamontas pulled a white box out of his pocket and hit it against the edge of the table a few times. "You want a cigarette?"

"I'm good." Jasper's respiratory system was bad enough. I was convinced that a cigarette would actually kill me. "Trying to quit."

"Your call, man," Lamontas said around a cigarette. He held up a finger, and there was a spark alongside the smell of sulfur as the end of his cigarette burned. He inhaled hard. A steady stream of smoke poured out of his nostrils as he exhaled. "How well-versed are you in Greek mythology?"

"Not at all," If only he knew. I tried not to cough as the smoke drifted toward me. "The only Hercules I know is from the Disney movie."

Lamontas barked out a laugh and flicked the edge of his cigarette. He didn't seem to care that his embers were falling on old, ancient-looking books. If I was a librarian, I would've smacked him already. "There's this old wives' tale. In the ancient city of Athens, there was a powerful follower of Hecate named Marianna. Real fucked up bitch, man, I tell you. Word around town was she used to slaughter and sacrifice all kinds of living things in Hecate's name, all for the goddess to notice her. Legend had it that Hecate possessed the ability to grant immortality to mortals who dared to summon her, and Marianna, oh she wanted it bad. Day and night, Marianna would seek the favor of Hecate, performing dark rituals, and offering blood as a tribute. The blood of animals, the blood of humans. Her blood. All kinds of weird shit."

"Keep her away from the blood banks," I muttered, and Lamontas shook his head good-naturedly.

"You have no idea," He replied solemnly. "But as time passed, her efforts seemed in vain. Hecate remained silent, her immortal gift seemingly out of reach. Desperation consumed Marianna, her obsession with immortality driving her to the edge of madness. And that's when Hecate, ever watchful of her devoted follower, saw an opportunity to play a fateful trick. Appearing before Marianna one moonlit night, Hecate disguised herself as a beguiling figure, her beauty radiant and otherworldly. She whispered promises of immortality, tantalizing Marianna with the prospect of eternal life. In her manipulative wisdom, Hecate offered a solution that would grant Marianna her deepest desire. Unbeknownst to Marianna, Hecate presented her with a goblet of extracted moonlight, promising her it was godly energy that would help her live forever. Blinded by her longing, Marianna eagerly took the goblet, not realizing that it held the elixir of vampirism, a curse disguised as the ultimate gift. With each sip, Marianna's life force intertwined with the darkness, transforming her into a creature of the night, forever bound to the thirst for blood."

I stared at him from across the table as he played around with the butt of his cigarette. "And you said that's a wives' tale?"

"The thing about these tales," Lamontas said, leaning forward. His eyes flashed red. "They're not entirely fictional. The part of the story everyone always leaves out is what happened after. No one wants to talk about how Marianna ran around Greece turning unwitting people into monsters. And, to get to the point of all of this, that's how I know how Artemis operates. I was there. I seem young, I know, but I've been on this plant for a long, long time."

"So, what, you've got a grudge against her?" I narrowed my eyes. I was having some trouble connecting the dots between moonlight and vampirism, but that wasn't my main objective, here. "I'm not fucking with a goddess, man. I got my mom to take care of."

"A grudge? Pfft. Listen, I fuck with Artemis. I do. Her whole shtick as the moon is real nice for me, and her powers are indirectly the reason I've been able to kick it for this long. The Sun, on the other hand? Screw that guy," Lamontas chuckled. He scratched his nose, "As for your mom, take that card you got. It's got enough cash to handle your mom forever. Get you some new digs, too."

"Bro, just promise me Artemis isn't going to kill me." As if he could promise me that. Apollo himself couldn't promise me that.

"She won't," Lamontas promised. He leaned back in his chair and kicked his feet up on the table. "She's boutta have her hands full, anyway. You know how I told you we were going to harvest those girls?"

"Yeah…"

"We're using it to lure out a big boy," Lamontas told me excitedly. "The kind that can draw the attention of the gods. You should stick around for it."

"A monster big enough to get the attention of the gods?" I repeated, scoffing. "This is way above my pay grade. I don't want to get caught lacking by a Minotaur or something."

"Nah, it's not like that," Lamontas assured me, giving me a pat on the shoulder as he stood up and moved behind me to grab a bag of chips. "It's the Ophiotaurus. It's not too beefy itself, we just need to draw it out so we can kill it."

I gave him a blank look, and he sucked in some air behind his teeth. "Right. I keep forgetting. Uh, it's this mythical creature that pops up from time to time. Killing it and sacrificing what's left is rumored to give the sacrificer unlimited power. Supposedly enough to destroy the gods."

"Man," I trailed off. Jasper's big, uncoordinated body was beginning to cramp up from sitting too long. I had to find Artemis and get the illusion removed soon. "I just want to help my mom. I don't know about getting caught up in all this."

"Dude, I don't want to force you to make a call right now. You're probably all stressed out," Lamontas said comfortingly. He waved his hand, and a business card appeared in it. He handed me it, and it read: THE ARCHITECT, "If you ever change your mind down the line, toss that card into a fire. And no, I'm not kidding. Right in there. I know you got what you needed, but trust, there's more money and power involved in this business than you could ever think of."

"The Architect," I repeated, raising my eyebrows. I scratched the scruffy beard on my face. "This is your boss?"

"For now, I guess," Lamontas answered. "We use those terms loosely. Let's just say me and a couple of friends are on call for an even bigger organization right now, and they're looking to branch out. We could use you."

I hummed and looked at the business card. "The Architect. That's kind of a weird name. Why are they called that? Do they build stuff?"

"It's a bit misleading," Lamontas said, sighing and plopping down on the couch in his room. He began bouncing a ball off one of the walls. "A better term would be the Reality Architect. Never met 'em, but I've heard the big boss is capable of creating stuff out of nothing. That watch I have you was created out of thin air."

"Stuff out of nothing?" I muttered, feeling a surge of remembrance tickle my senses. [Clue Detection] blazed to life in the top right of my screen and I found myself asking, "Like, monsters, maybe?"

"Eh, probably," Lamontas answered noncommittally. He stopped bouncing the ball and looked back at me. I realized I overstepped just a bit. For a guy who didn't know about Greek mythology, I was asking a lot of questions. "Wouldn't be too surprising. Why?"

A flicker of discontent nestled deep in my core. It smoldered, roaring and screaming in my chest. I felt it coil and twist, weaving its tendrils through every fiber of my being.

"No reason," I answered breezily. "I was just curious. You don't seem like the kind of guy who would want to answer to someone else."

"That's true. I'm really not," Lamontas replied. For a millennia-old vampire, he was pretty down to earth. "It's just basically like a corporate buyout. Someone wanted to enlist us, and we thought the deal was good, so we took it. I still get to operate how I want, but I just have more resources now at the cost of having to answer to someone else."

I hummed, "That's fair. You don't think killing this ophio-whatever will mess up the balance of the world or some shit?"

"Beats me," Lamontas admitted. "I don't really care about all of that stuff. I just like money and stuff, and it's just something to do. Those Titans, on the other hand, phew, they take this stuff seriously. That's why I let someone else talk to them. My attitude doesn't really do me any favors with them."

"Titans?" I repeated.

My brain kicked into overdrive. Lamontas' slip-up was more telling than he knew; if the Titans were bankrolling his little quest, this Coven of Shadows organization was definitely involved, too. They were building allies. I'd have to get on a call with Luke soon and see what he could tell me.

I coughed a few times before asking, "You're losing me, man."

"Shit, I wasn't supposed to mention that, anyway," Lamontas bit his lip for a second. "You mind forgetting I said that?"

"Already forgotten. I should get going," I said, giving him a lopsided smile. I lifted up the card and saluted him with it. "I'll keep y'all in mind. Thanks for the cash."

Lamontas gave me another weird look but eventually smiled. "You got it, homie. Take care, and remember the offer. If you decide to come on board, I'll ask around about fully inducting you into the Coven, too."

Artemis was waiting for me as I got to the elevator, back in her adult form. She was leaning against the buttons with her arms crossed, and her eyebrows scrunched as she saw me get closer. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," I answered neutrally. I handed her the card. "I got the information we need. He's working for this organization called the Coven of Shadows. Specifically, his contact is this big shot called the Architect, and they're trying to lure out and kill the Ophiotaurus. I also get the sense that the Titans are overseeing all of this. According to him, they're bankrolling the Coven. I don't know if it's on a mercenary basis, though."

"This is…troubling," Artemis commented after a few minutes of silence. She hit the down button. "I was under the impression the Coven of Shadows was disbanded years ago. And trying to summon the Ophiotaurus isn't possible. It's already out there, traveling freely. Unless, of course," Her jaw clenched. "That's why they wanted my animals. To lure it here."

"Yeah," I said quietly. A tense silence fell over the two of us. Thankfully, she waved her hand, and the illusion around me disappeared. I cleared my throat, "So, what now? Is the Coven really that big of a deal?"

"It is," Artemis replied. She pursed her lips. "Back in Greece, they were a group of Hecate's most trusted followers and the like. Sorcerers and witches, beasts of all kinds. If they're back now, it's possible that she's allied herself with the Titans, and so have her followers."

"Lamontas said they were trying to branch out, and that he was on contract for them," I remembered. "Like I said, he made it seem like this was a contractual thing, but is it possible that they're trying to make a power play or something? And why wouldn't the Titans just get involved themselves?"

"Perhaps. There are a few reasons that come to mind, but the paramount one is secrecy. If the Titans make a move, it alerts the gods. If some magical group does, it doesn't even ping the radar of our minor gods. If I hadn't been forced to look into this because of the disappearance of my animals, I would have been in the dark as well. Either way, we need to find the Ophiotaurus before the Coven does," Artemis said, tapping her chin. "If we let them continue with their plan and it gets to the point where they try to harvest my clones, they'll know we're onto them and go back into hiding. We need to find it and get out, fast."

"Can't you just find it?" I asked as we got in the elevator. "Don't all gods have a GPS for this kind of stuff?"

"No. I could try to hunt it, but we don't have the time," Artemis told me. "I can sense things under the moonlight, and to some extent, GPS things, but high-level monsters are exempt from this."

I frowned. "Why? That seems counterintuitive."

"Not exactly," The tips of her ears turned red. "It's so I can hunt them for sport."

"Great," I sighed, resisting the urge to slam my forehead against the elevator wall. I forced the annoyance out of my tone and asked, "How do you propose we find it now? It's not like we can just magically find out where it's hiding."

"No, we can't," Artemis agreed. She was staring at her reflection in the mirror wall behind us. Her eyes flicked to my reflection. "But I know someone who can, and unlike the Ophiotaurus, I know where we can find him, too."

"Great," I said. Even though [Gamer's Mind MK2] dispelled all the emotion I'd been feeling earlier, I still wanted a mental victory before the day was over. Just a little checkmark in the W column for Team Jackson. Something to make me feel like I did something today. "Let's go get him."

"There's just one thing," Artemis added awkwardly. "We have to wait until nighttime. I don't know where he is, but when the moon comes out, I'll be able to pinpoint his location if he steps outside, even for a second."

"Wonderful. What do you suggest we do until then?"

Artemis gave me a pointed look. "Didn't you want to go play in the arcade?"

"Don't say it like that," I said petulantly. "You make it seem like I'm a little kid."

"You are to me, Oreo," She said, a smile forming on her lips. "Go play. I'll come to fetch you when it's time to go."

"Again, not helping," I said crossly as the elevator dinged open. "I'll be over here. Go do your old lady stuff, grandma. Try not to break a hip."

Artemis' eyes widened and she opened her mouth to say something, but I ran—yes, actually ran to the arcade floor before she could get her word out.

Despite her comments, I still had a blast at the arcade. I'd always loved the idea of arcades, but never got to go as a kid. We were too poor, and my mom was too busy. Also, technology and demigods didn't tend to mix in the best of times, so walking into a room full of screens wasn't always the best idea if you weren't at camp.

The air was alive with a symphony of sounds: the rhythmic pounding of buttons, the melody of game music, and the chorus of laughter and cheers. It was a sanctuary of pixels and neon lights—everything I'd hoped it would be and then some.

The conditions were perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. Every time I got hungry, a bellhop was there with a plate of mozzarella sticks, and whenever I got thirsty, my cup of blue root beer refilled itself instantly.

My first stop was the basketball arcade game. As promised, I crushed the record by a whopping forty points and got a bunch of weird looks as I celebrated like I'd just won the NBA finals. Next, I hit the Mario Kart themed racing game, and wiped the little kid next to me, much to his chagrin.

One by one, I cycled through the games until I got enough tickets to win one of those big bears at the checkout.

It was just my luck that it was the exact moment Artemis told me it was time to go.

"He's in Oakland," Artemis said as a form of greeting. I hadn't seen her for a few hours, but the cup of coffee in her hands indicated she'd been spending some time around the hotel, too. Her lips twitched at the comically large stuffed animal in my hands, "I see you got busy, Oreo."

"Listen, I just wanted to play some video games. He's a happy side effect. I think I'm going to call him Bartholomew," I said, grabbing the stuffed animal's hand and gesturing it toward Artemis, who took a long sip out of her cup. I deepened my voice, "Hey, I'm Bartholomew. It's beary nice to meet you."

Now listen. By now, I've seen the impossible over and over again. I've done the impossible, over and over again. I fought the War God at age twelve and helped my brother destroy Oceanus that same summer. I've taken on Titans, fought monsters, and done and seen all kinds of things.

This, though? This takes the cake.

Artemis' eyes met mine, and her cheeks bulged. It started off as a stifled snicker, a suppressed chuckle threatening to escape. Then, the inevitable happened. A spray of coffee erupted from her mouth, propelled by the sheer force of her laughter.

I stood, gobsmacked as the hot liquid went spewing past me.

Artemis' eyes widened, caught between the shock of the unexpected and the sheer hilarity of the situation. Her hand instinctively flew to cover her mouth. Coffee dripped from her chin, leaving a dark stain on her shirt.

"No way," I lowered Bartholomew's hand. I turned to face the bear as if he was real. "I didn't even think it was that funny. He just…he just wanted to say hi."

"Tell anyone, and I'll kill you," Artemis quickly wiped her mouth and placed the cup of coffee on one of the bellhop's trays. The stain on her shirt instantly disappeared. "Bring it up again, and I'll deny it tooth and nail."

"I don't even know what to say," I stammered. "Usually, I never shut up, but I honestly have no idea what to say."

Artemis grumbled the whole way back to her chariot. When we settled in, she asked me, "Realistically, what are you even going to do with the bear?"

"I didn't think that far ahead," I admitted. "Can we leave him in the chariot? Maybe you could give him to one of your younger huntresses or something. Oh, you could enchant him and make him guard our stuff when we get out."

"I'll consider it," Artemis huffed. "Giving him to my huntresses, that is. I'm not animating your little buddy. Enough about Bartholomew—our target is Nereus."

"The Old Man of the Sea?" My brow furrowed. "Oh, you want to catch him and make him tell us where the Ophiotaurus is."

"Precisely," Artemis nodded. She looked pleased with her plan. Well, until she added, "Um, there is a slight hitch."

"Which is…"

"He's getting married tonight," Artemis said awkwardly. It never failed to amaze me how awkward she could get in one moment, only to get super intense in the next. "And we're not on the guest list."

"We're not on the guest list," I repeated, disbelief coloring my tone. "You're a goddess. The guest list shouldn't mean jack to you."

"You're right. I'm a goddess and that's the problem," Artemis sighed. "He's marrying a mortal, and he's marrying her in the mortal world. Since the wedding isn't on Olympus, going would technically be a breach of Ancient Laws since I wasn't invited. He's probably purposefully having it in the mortal world so no one can crash it and catch him."

"I can go in alone, though," I pointed out. "Do you trust me to go in alone?"

"I don't not trust you to go in alone, but I need to ask the question so we can find it effectively," Artemis replied. "We can sneak in by pretending to be mortals."

"You're pretending," I clarified. "I am a mortal."

"Right," Artemis said. "Whatever. Let's not get bogged down in the semantics."

The glow of moonlight intensified around me, and my clothes transformed into a suit. When I looked back at Artemis, her hunting clothes had been replaced by a backless silver dress.

I gazed at Artemis as she stood there, her figure framed against the vast expanse of the night sky. The moon, resplendent and full, cast its ethereal glow upon her, illuminating her graceful form. Like Apollo, her outline glowed, but in a whitish aura.

Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight itself, cascading in delicate waves around her shoulders. Artemis's eyes were fixed upon the heavens, her gaze unwavering and intense. It was like she was mad at the sky.

Even though I'd only been traveling with her for the better part of a day, I'd gotten kind of used to her brooding.

She certainly did it a lot. I couldn't help but wonder if that's how Silena felt around me sometimes.

As she stood beneath the star-studded tapestry, her face was illuminated by the soft moonlight. Out of nowhere, she asked me, "Last night, before you attempted to sleep…you spent an awfully long time looking at the stars."

A smile formed on my face, even though I wasn't entirely sure why. "You were paying attention?"

"I'm the moon," Artemis replied, turning around to face me. She nodded toward the actual Moon, which began growing in size. I'd never seen it this close before. It was so big, I felt like we'd run into it if we got any closer. "You were practically staring at me. Hard to ignore, wouldn't you say?"

I inhaled the night air. The chill of it hurt my insides. "Ah…sorry?"

Artemis rolled her eyes and asked, "Well, do you at least have a favorite constellation?"

"Me? Nah. I don't really think about it like that." I crossed my arms. The suit fluttered in the wind, and I noticed I was wearing a vest and a tie that matched Artemis' dress. "I've just never been the kind of guy to care about that kind of stuff."

"Then why stare for so long?"

"You don't get to see this many stars where I'm from," Now since the chariot was cruising, I felt comfortable enough to lean over the edge and stare at the trees blurring by. "That, and I was thinking about something someone told me once. About constellations."

"I create constellations," Artemis reminded me. "You're talking about my handiwork."

"She liked your handiwork," I replied quietly. "Said it was a bridge to the past; a collection of our stories and history. That the stars represented what made us human."

"She's smart," Artemis complimented. "I'd very much like to meet her."

"She's dead."

"Oh," Artemis said awkwardly. "Sorry."

"Yeah."

Way to kill the conversation, Jackson.

"Well, what was her favorite constellation?" Artemis tried to dispel the weird energy I'd unintentionally created.

"Vela," I replied. "She liked how it represented the sails of the Argo Navis."

"The ship on which Jason and the Argonauts sailed on their quest for the Golden Fleece," Artemis said, tracing the constellation in the sky with her finger. It glowed a little bit brighter. Artemis' glowing face turned a bit mournful. "One of my favorites. I apologize if I hurt your feelings, or brought up any bad memories."

"You don't need to apologize," I replied, even though I actually really did appreciate her apology. A lot of gods didn't care about hurting your feelings, even if they did so on purpose. Artemis tossing me an apology for someone she did accidentally was unexpected but nice. Besides, Persephone told me talking about what happened would make things easier overall, so I was willing to meet her halfway. "She, uh…well, a lot of my friends died recently. And, um, in some ways I feel like it's my fault. So…talking about stuff like this is kind of weird."

"I understand," Artemis replied solemnly. "It isn't an easy burden to bear."

"No, it isn't," I agreed. "But in some ways, I'm glad it isn't. If it was easy, in some weird way, I'd feel like I didn't care about them enough. Even though it sucks, I guess the grief reminds me I cared. That I still care."

"My mother used to tell me that grief was nothing but love with no place to go," Artemis said in a soft tone. My eyes narrowed as I tried to place the tone. I'd heard it before. Wait… "I kind of get how you're feeling. I had a friend once, too."

"Just one?" I asked. "Surely, you have your huntresses—"

"They're more like daughters than anything," Artemis replied softly. Even though it didn't make any sense, I was absolutely sure her voice, in this exact tone, was the voice I'd heard in my fight against Aphrodite.

But that couldn't be it. I'd never met Artemis, let alone hear her like this. Hell, this was my second day of actually knowing her! How and why would she be in my head a week ago?

I pushed those thoughts out of my head for now. I'd investigate it later. "So, what happened to this friend?"

The moon glowed brightly, and Artemis simply replied, "I couldn't protect him."

"I couldn't protect my friends either," I breathed. The trees underneath us gave way to a city that looked like it was glowing in the moonlight. I looked back at Artemis, who was facing the Moon. She looked like a shadow against it. "I guess we'll have to do a better job protecting each other, right?"

Artemis didn't reply, and the rest of the ride was quiet. Vela stayed bright the whole time, though, and we eventually parked in front of a wedding venue overlooking a lake and dismounted from the chariot.

I'd never tell Artemis this, but in the glimmering moonlight, with her silver dress, she actually looked kind of pretty. She was quieter and more brooding than usual as we walked up the winding path to the entrance.

The road was full of parked cards. I figured Nereus had some rich friends or something, since all I saw on the way up were Bentleys, Ferraris, and BMWs.

Artemis and I got in line behind a bunch of other couples, and when some of them turned to look back at us, Artemis linked her arm with mine, even though it was obvious she was uncomfortable with doing it.

I knew she wanted nothing more than to turn everyone's brains into mush and make them let us pass, but using her mana could clue in other gods or goddesses in attendance that she was here, and we were supposed to be posing as a mortal couple.

The architecture of the entrance to the wedding venue exuded elegance and grandeur. Towering columns stood proudly on either side, their smooth marble surfaces gleaming under the soft glow of strategically placed lanterns.

Above the entrance, an intricately designed archway spanned the width, commanding attention with its graceful curves and meticulously crafted embellishments. Delicate floral motifs intertwined with flowing vines created a visual tapestry that seemed to come alive with each brush of the wind. Glimmers of gold leaf added a touch of opulence to the overall design, catching the eye and hinting at the splendor that awaited beyond.

Moonlight filtered through the vibrant hues, casting an enchanting kaleidoscope of colors onto the path below as if beckoning guests to step into a realm where dreams were realized. It was just as tantalizingly inviting as the casino, just without the magic parts.

The entrance was flanked by towering double doors, crafted from rich, polished wood. Elaborate carvings traced intricate patterns along the surface, depicting scenes of love, celebration, and unity. The doors were adorned with gleaming brass handles that beckoned invitingly.

Above the doors, a meticulously crafted frieze showcased scenes from romantic folklore and myth, capturing the imagination and setting the tone for the enchantment that lay within. Each intricate detail, carefully etched into the stone, told a story of love and eternal bonds, inviting all who passed through to become a part of that narrative.

I didn't really have an eye for this stuff, but, as a whole, the architecture of the entrance exuded a sense of timeless beauty and sophistication. It seamlessly blended elements of classical Greek designs I'd seen at camp and in museums with the kind of decorations I'd seen at the Fall Ball and other weddings.

"You guys have your invitation?" Our turn was up. We were greeted by a big, buff security guard. "No one gets in without an invitation."

"I apologize, but we've misplaced ours," Artemis said smoothly. "My husband is very sloppy."

"Mm," The man looked unconvinced. He turned his gaze to me, and I realized he was waiting for me to say something.

"Yep," I said, pushing as much emotion as I could into my voice and giving him a bright smile. My [Persuasion] skill lit up, and I could see his shoulders loosen a bit. "I can't help it. My wife here is just so all over the place, it's like I barely have time to organize my things. Let me give you a tip, man, don't get married if you value your space. This wedding ring is more like a prison—urk!"

Artemis elbowed me but maintained her sweet smile at the man. He shifted in place, and his eyes were beginning to glaze over. "Well, you guys do seem like you're being honest."

"Celine!" A familiar voice said. Behind the man, I saw Aphrodite's telltale pink glow, and my body stiffened. Why in the fuck was she here? "Oh, I'm so glad you made it! Let them through, Alan."

The man grumbled but stepped aside. Artemis gave Aphrodite a confused look and walked toward her, but I couldn't move for a second.

As I stood there, a torrent of emotions coursed through my veins, overwhelming me with their intensity. Sadness gripped my heart, its weight bearing down upon me like an unbearable burden. It felt as if a dark cloud had settled over my being, casting a shadow that drained the colors from my world.

KILL.

Each breath seemed heavier than the last, carrying with it a deep ache that resonated throughout my entire being. Anger, like molten lava, surged within me, fueling a fire that threatened to consume everything in its path. It raged with an intensity that surpassed reason, searing through my veins and igniting every nerve ending.

HER.

My fists clenched involuntarily, my muscles tensing as a primal instinct urged me to unleash this seething fury upon the world. And amidst the swirling storm of emotions, a surge of pure adrenaline coursed through my body, electrifying every fiber of my being. It was as if my senses were heightened, every sound amplified, every heartbeat thundering in my ears.

[Gamer's Mind MK2] nearly instantly dispelled all of those emotions, and I followed Artemis. Even though it felt like forever in my head, in real life, it probably wasn't even a second.

"Artemis, you look so beautiful," Aphrodite gushed, pulling Artemis into a quick hug. Whether it was because of our old bond, or just the crazy long amount of time I'd spent in her presence, I could tell there was something off about her. "I didn't expect to see you here, but of course, I'm more than happy to add you to the list. And P—"

I shook my head, and Aphrodite got the hint. She stopped talking and gave Artemis a small smile, "Do you mind if I borrow your date for a moment?"

Artemis looked even more confused but nodded. She gently disentangled her arm from mine. "Sure…"

"Terrific," Aphrodite said, leading me out of the main pavilion and into a garden nearby. The familiar scent of vanilla tickled my nose. It felt nostalgic but in a melancholy way. Like a memory I'd only be able to see in my dreams. She craned her neck backward, looking for Artemis, before turning to me and asking, "What are you doing here, Percy?"

"I need information," I said in a clipped tone.

Aphrodite, her head tilting inquisitively, greeted me with a disarming smile. The shock of her smiling at me after what had happened a week ago was so strong, I almost tripped. "What specific kind of information are you seeking? Surely, you're aware this is a wedding? Unless you're considering quitting the demigod life and turning into a wedding planner?"

"That kind of information that's of no concern to you," I retorted, my tone bristling with guarded defensiveness. The shock gave way to anger, and I felt my body begin to hum with power. "Why do you care?"

Her expression shifted, a sigh escaping her lips as she tried to touch my shoulder. She gave me another sweet smile, the kind that used to make my stomach flutter, and I felt the ground underneath me begin to crack. "You still bear the burden of the world all by yourself, don't you? Running from quest to quest, thinking that solving someone else's problems will help you with your own. It's okay to ask for help."

Her attempt to offer assistance hung delicately in the air. All it did was make me mad. I wanted to grab her and smash her face into the ground beneath us. I wanted to punch her so hard that my wrist broke. And, at the same time, I just wanted to hit rewind and go back to what things were like before she forced me to fight my friends. Back to when we thought we could still stay friends, and that me, her, Jason, and MJ could all hang out together.

"Have you forgotten what happened?" I questioned incredulously, a spark of righteous anger igniting within me. Aphrodite's once-pleasant smile faltered. I got closer to her and whispered furiously, "You have the audacity to stand here like we're still friends? If it wasn't for Artemis, I would have already finished what I started."

"Percy—" Aphrodite began, her voice laced with an earnest plea.

"No," I interjected sharply, cutting off any attempt at justification. "I get it, you weren't the reason the monster was there. But, when you saw the monster, what did you do? Nothing. You didn't put up a shield, you didn't try to get them out. You must've felt the disturbance of something and what, you stood there? I could somehow justify all of that if it wasn't for the fact that you tried to stop me from going to the Underworld. If it wasn't for the fact that you made my friends fight me. And now, all of my friends are dead. The woman I loved is dead. And that all falls on me, while you get to walk away scot-free. What could you possibly have to say to me?"

"Why are you being like this?" Aphrodite gently placed her hand on my cheek. "Just, please listen—"

I slapped her hand away from me. What the hell was wrong with her? Had she lost her mind? "Don't lay another hand on me unless you're prepared to lose it."

"Percy—"

Ice began forming on her cheek as I growled, "Fuck. You."

"I WAS ONLY DOING WHAT YOU TOLD ME TO DO!" Aphrodite screamed, and I stopped in my tracks. What did she say? She had to be lying...I hadn't even seen her!

A memory teetered on the edge of my consciousness—two summers ago, in Atlantis. Aphrodite had sworn on the River Styx to never lie to me. But, even then...

"What?" I said quietly. "What did you just say?"

"Before the dance," Aphrodite panted, her eyes brimming with tears. "Don't you remember? You came to visit me, and—"

"No, I was with Luke," I blinked a few times. The ice on her cheek fizzled out. The roaring inferno of anger inside of me retreated a bit. "It wasn't me. It couldn't have been me."

"It was," Aphrodite took a shuddering breath. Tears were falling freely down her face. "I had you verify your identity, swear on the River Styx, and tell me all kinds of things only you could know. You're the one who told me the monster was going to be there. You were the one who told me to do nothing."

AN: Hey all. Sorry for the delay but I went on vacation. Even then, this is a larger-than-usual chapter...so...you're welcome. Sorry to end on a cliffhanger, especially this one but there's no way I could've kept going here.

Lots of Percy and Artemis scenes here! Hope you guys like those...and I hope you remember everything up to this point. Like, *cough* little hints throughout this entire story. Hehe.

Little easter egg; when Percy gets in the elevator he hears Dominic Fike playing, and one of his songs is called Vampire. And then, he meets Lamontas, who's a vampire, so yep, just wanted to toot my own horn a bit.

Some reviews:

Midas420: I've heard some of those rumors as well. I crosspost this story to A03 as well so check it out there. Currently around C23 there, I think. But yes, if this site ever goes down, you can find this and all of my other stories there. Gotta protect myself somehow, lol.

SparrowWriter2: Thanks so much. I enjoy hearing compliments like this! I keep trying to upload it biweekly. Usually, every three weeks. This is how my process goes: I talk to Etko about what I want to happen in the chapter. Like, plot points, themes, motifs, symbolism, connectivity- all of it. He helps me frame it, and then I go in and write the main plot. That process takes a week. Then I go in and put the details, thoughts, and everything else. Etko reads it, helps me with grammar and the plot, and then I go in and put in the final polish. That process takes a few days. And then work, weekends, it all factors in. So, that's my long way of saying usually ~2.5 weeks.

Wednesday's Jest: This is the most polite way I've ever been told someone doesn't like my story. I appreciate the time you put into it, and thanks for the compliment. Have a good one.

Immaterium: Thanks for the analysis. If you liked Sephy, you'll love the rest of this arc. That's all I'll say.

Aion God of Eternity: That's high praise, but thank you so much for the compliment. I'd make one, but I have no idea what I'd put on there. Plus, I just don't feel like it. I like giving everyone equal access. The closest thing I have to that is Discord, but even then, I only really clarify things in there or talk big-picture, so I don't know.

Zarathos 11: My favorite reviewer! His skills stagnating would be pretty funny, but most of them are used enough that they never will. Especially given the fact he has a perfect memory. I just chose the number randomly, so I wouldn't worry too much about the ordering of the archetypes. Artemis' design was definitely very inspired by some conversations I had with Etko, so as always, he deserves so much of the credit. I'm kind of curious- you made it seem like there are more. What are some of your favorite don't judge a book by its cover moments in this story? I'd assume Artemis only lets her huntresses use that stuff in an absolute pinch since that would make things too easy. Or, well, that's just always been my headcanon. See you later!

- Maroon