All Rights belong to Rick Riordan

Chapter 30

What the Hades Just Happened?

(Percy)

As I turned around after the epic failure of my escape attempt, I now looked upon the smiling faces of the hunter and the huntress. Greek and Roman and yet both held the same smug look as I cursed under my breath.

First the two of them hate each other and now suddenly they are BFF's. It was likely I had my work cut out, with that pair from now on. That was if I even survived the next few minutes intact. Turning from them I looked towards the goddess who was likewise staring at me with cold silver eyes, though as much as I wanted to focus on her beautiful face. It was hard to miss the knives she held in each hand.

"The girls are correct Perseus, were you perhaps thinking of backing out or is the mighty hero scared?" She asked in mocking sweetness.

"I am more scared of the Spectators Artemis, and what they will do to me when I inevitably beat you." I said confidently whilst gesturing towards Tania who was already cracking her knuckles.

"Don't worry about them; they won't do anything as you won't get a chance to. Now get in the ring." She said commandingly and I slowly strolled towards the area dragging my feet the whole way.

"Hey Perse, thanks but you may need this." Thalia said as I walked past the pair and threw me Riptide, back in its pen form again.

Before I entered the marked area of the ring, I laid down my spear and my silver bow as they would only be a hindrance in this battle. Besides the bow was out of the question anyway, slowly I entered the combat arena and looked towards my opponent.

(Artemis)

As I looked at the guardian, I knew I had a number of advantages over him, in that I was not restricted by my own unwillingness to reveal my powers. In terms of raw power, we were actually about even, although he probably had a slight advantage as he had more domains. Although this was offset by the fact, he was untrained in a few of them and also not a 'real' divine being.

On paper, none of either of our domains could be called combat related ones directly. Obviously, the ability to freeze your opponent in time was a major advantage, but he was not able to do that on this occasion. Realistically the only one that was somewhat related to combat skill was Hunting which we both had on paper. But well, there was a difference between paper and actual ability. So, while I may have lacked his strength it was offset by me having far superior agility and finesse.

Another hidden advantage of his was that he was basically invulnerable to attacks from behind that were below his shoulders due to the concealed wings being there.

I held my blades in each hand pointing behind me in a classic ice pick grip as I regarded his choice in weaponry. His use of Riptide and his shield was not at all surprising. I had already guessed he would not use his spear because of the potential power it held and the fact this was only a mock battle. Likewise, I had never even considered the use of Maelstrom as I knew he wished to conceal it from the other hunters. Also because of the terrifying ability of the blade to cut and kill anything permanently or at least as far as I was aware.

It was still somewhat disconcerting to think of a weapon powerful enough to kill an immortal being, in the hands of a seventeen-year-old, part immortal demigod. As far as I knew the blade had already permanently killed two Primordials (Both of them having been our great-grandparents!) and definitely one or two Titans.

"Thalia, if you would kindly do the honours." I instructed turning to the left where she stood as referee for this bout.

"You both know what to do. No ranged weapons, no maiming or killing. Anything else is permitted, until the battle is decided in a surrender or disarmament." My Lieutenant explained and we both nodded in acknowledgement to her before turning back to our opponent.

I saw him settle in a guarded stance with his shield at the ready and it gave me a reason to pause. I knew the shield could be used as a terrifyingly powerful weapon in its own right. But it was more a matter if Percy would choose to use it as one in this fight. One even off-handed glancing blow by it could cause me to break a bone. Still the fact that I was facing an opponent wielding the very visage of my former Lieutenant was mildly annoying.

He sat there patiently, his eyes overlooking the black metal rim, evidently waiting for me to make the first move. Perhaps hoping staying on the defensive would give him the advantage.

It was a good idea but one I intended to ruin as I flashed myself behind him instantly, ready to slash his left shoulder from behind rendering the arm and shield it held useless. Only to be met by a bronze blade from above as he held the sword over his shoulder as my knives naturally bounced off the Celestial Bronze obstruction.

As he turned around, I could see some of his right eye and saw gold and knew he had used his powers. Me must have chosen to speed himself up, just enough to defend himself before he suddenly spun one-eighty whilst thrusting out with his shields tapered base towards my chest level. At this I was forced to slide to my knees underneath it before rolling back. As I did so, I kicked out with my feet above me at the inside of the shield and his exposed wrist. Whilst I missed the vulnerable joint itself, I was surprised when the blow had the unexpected result of forcing the shield off his arm and narrowly just out of the ring.

Percy looked annoyed about having lost that advantage but compensated by drawing one of his throwing knives in his free hand. I was about to protest the use of the weapon when it changed form into a multi-metal hunting knife which he held in an identical stance to mine.

This time it was he who initiated the attack leaping forward in a cross slash with the weapon meaning to catch me in between them. Though this time I copied a leaf out of his playbook and did what he did against the minotaur. I ran towards him before sliding between his legs catching his ankles with my blades. Unfortunately, though they bounced off him with no effect, momentarily confusing me until I remembered he had taken a second dip in the Styx.

Once again, we matched blades after we both took a step forward and I began to realize I was at a minor disadvantage. The sword he held in his right gave him a longer reach by about a foot. This combined with the Curse of Achilles made him an awkward nut to crack. After all I could make a risky move to get inside his guard, but there was no guarantee whatever I did would actually work on him if I landed a blow.

Still the two of us slowly circled around one another exchanging probing flashes of metal. I could also see that since the first attack he had refrained from using any form of time dilation.

Eventually though the flurry of blades took on a new ferocity when I felt the cold metal of the knife pass by my forehead. Missing my flesh there by mere millimetres but not before severing a few of the hairs from my fringe.

The sight of the slowly drifting auburn hairs pushed me over the edge, as I sought to use everything at my disposal to defeat him. I was not losing in front of my hunters, no matter who he was or cute I found him. Second by second, I picked up the pace and the ferocity of my strikes.

(Percy)

The moment Chasing Wisdom passed her head something changed in her. I barely caught sight of a something reddish in colour fall to the ground between us and the goddess suddenly became twice as determined to rip my head off. At the surprising onslaught I was forced on the defensive again stepping back from her.

The goddess became more athletic in her strikes as well as jumping high strikes were immediately followed by a leg sweep which I was barely able to evade. It was abundantly clear that she was better than me in martial arts due to her almost inhuman agility, whereas I was built like a fridge unit.

The problem was I was not well trained in the use of dual wielding with a sword and a knife. Twin swords I found were easy, even if they were of different types and lengths. As long as the second was the same or longer than Riptide I found could use them quite comfortably, the extra reach was a bonus. But the smaller blade alongside Riptide was annoying, I kept expecting to have more reach with the off-hand weapon only to find it came up short. So, whilst I was having trouble using two weapons, it was like the graceful goddess was using four as she danced around me. Lashing out with blade, elbow, knee and foot, whatever was able to land a hit. If I still had my shield, she might have decided against using her body so much, but that was beside the point. I no longer had the Adamantium plate, she had gotten rid of it first.

However, this predicament of available armament was cleared up when Artemis struck a heavy blow to my right hand and I was forced to drop the sword even if the curse protected me from having it severed outright, the blow still hurt like crazy though. Before I could react to the loss the nimble goddess managed to kick the still airborne blade by the hilt out of the area. Where it eventually impaled itself in a tree and once again, I was forced to reluctantly draw the other knife.

Holding the two blades once again balanced me out somewhat and the nimbleness and lightweight nature of the weapons allowed me to match her again somewhat as we rapidly exchanged blows. A few seconds later I was able to catch her blows in a downwards strike of my own and pressed her to one knee. I myself had to bend over almost to my waist with the blades caught between us. I was about to slide one of the blades free when she surprised me by suddenly glowing golden.

(Diana)

It was more than a little unfair of me to change aspect in the middle of a fight, but I was up against it. With him using his superior strength to drive me to the floor, I had little advantages if pinned down. The sudden change surprised him and allowed me to regain my footing pushing him back almost upright, although we remained in a deadlock of blades as we were pressed right against each other, neither willing to break off. Before I suddenly gained an insane idea and pressed my face forward.

(Percy)

If I had been surprised when she changed aspect, it was nothing compared to when she suddenly kissed me. The moment her lips brushed against mine I froze up, only for her to pull away with a cheeky smile. Before suddenly running forward and kicking me in the chest with both her feet and causing me to tumble onto my back. My own inability to comprehend what had happened combined with the strike caused me to lose my grip on the weapons and so I found myself lying on the floor unarmed just outside the arena area.

At the sight of me down, the hunters suddenly broke their silence before launching into applause and running forward to hug the victorious goddess in congratulations.

I was left where I lay, winded and groaning, until I eventually found the urge to get up and look at the goddess who smiled back at me before giving me a surprising wink.

"Now then girls, what should you have learned from that battle?" She asked the assembled hunters.

"That Jackson gets his ass kicked by girls." Tania shouted enthusiastically.

"No Tania." Diana said rolling her eyes.

"In all likelihood, Perseus would have won if I had not disorientated him, he fought well." She said appraisingly, in all honesty I think she was giving me too much credit.

"That in a real battle you should use anything you can to your advantage. There is no such thing as an unfair advantage when it comes to life and death." To my surprise Jacqueline of all people explained.

"Very good Jacqueline, Perseus has more physical strength than I do as well as being protected by the curse of Achilles. therefore, it was extremely hard to inflict any form of injury to him or force him to yield. So, I had to for an alternate for of victory via disarmament and ring out. The problem was although I removed his sword and shield, he still has secondary weapons and despite being not as well trained in their use. Still almost managed to defeat me, until I ultimately distracted him and used the time, I gained to press the advantage. Remember in a real battle nothing is forbidden, if it helps you achieve victory, anything and everything is too be expected." She explained breaking away from the hunters as they digested her words and walking towards me.

"I am going to feel that in the morning that is for sure." I stated rubbing my chest that was throbbing from taking her blow, Styx once again clearly not feeling charitable. Now I know she was the goddess of Hate, but can I at least have some consistency with your stupid curse!

"I am sorry, that was unfair of me to take advantage of you like that." She said gaining a rosy colour to her cheeks.

"I don't know, in all honesty it worked pretty effectively, and I can certainly say I did not expect it. Still, it was something new that I haven't experienced before. I don't think I have ever been kissed by my opponent mid-battle, although it certainly confused the hades out of me." I explained feeling my own cheeks heat up as I thought about the kiss. No matter how brief it had been or under what situation... it just felt right.

"Glad to see it worked then, although I can admit you could have won easily if you were unrestrained. Now I think you need to retrieve your sword before you annoy another forest." She stated and I looked towards my fallen sword where it was impaled up to its hilt in a nearby oak.

"I am just glad that is in the tree and not me. As for restraining myself I don't know other than using time dilation once, when you first attacked. I don't think it would have helped me too much to use any of the others. Besides to do so could have resulted in me losing control like I do in a real battle. If that had happened you could have gotten hurt, and I wouldn't want that, Diana." I said calmly and I saw her intensify the red colour of her blush. Although she seemed to realize after a second and calm down.

"Nevertheless, I expect a fair duel one day. One where nothing is forbidden, when you eventually reveal your true self." She explained.

"Of course, how could I possibly deny you the pleasure of kicking my ass for a second time?" I said laughing at the prospect, of course if that was the case I would win before she took a single step.

"I expect nothing less." She stated simply with a smile before turning back towards her hunters. Leaving me staring at her figure from behind as she slowly walked away with them. Finally, I shook my head and walked around collecting my weapons, my thoughts never leaving that two second period where we were so close together.

(Reyna)

After the celebratory feast that Diana summoned in mine and Thalia's honour, both as a welcoming treat and to celebrate our tying in the contest. I had chosen to take a walk around the camp to better acquaint myself with its layout and find where everything was in my own timings. Not at the manic pace that Thalia had done so earlier.

I had already rendezvoused with Scipio who was happily grazing now that the other hunters had led the wolves away from him and he seemed happy with my decision to remain here or so I guessed. I had explained that he could return to either camp if he wished but instead, he had nuzzled my hand affectionately before continuing to graze. Unfortunately, unlike Percy I did not speak equestrian.

After the goddess had left to attend to her duties, most of the others had quickly returned to their tents but instead I had spent some time with Percy's pet Lioness, Nemea I think was her name. She was patrolling the camp borders and it was quite a surprise to see she made very little noise as she stalked in between the trees despite her size and mass. Except for when I reached up and scratched her behind the ears, in doing so she began to purr affectionately. This was very similar to my automaton dogs had done. Despite them being firstly dogs and second actual machines, although they too had reacted like a real animal.

Leaving her alone I noticed that the last of the hunters had also returned to their tents already. It seemed even Thalia had returned to our shared one. The daughter of Zeus had surprised me, I had thought she was Lieutenant simply because of who her father was and for being Artemis's sister. Instead, she had shown she was worthy of the rank being able to match swords with me. This despite the fact I could tell it was not her preferred choice in weaponry and with a borrowed sword to boot made it more impressive. By comparison I did not believe Jason was not an exceptionally gifted weapon user, instead being more focused on exploitation of his inherited powers and using them to his advantage.

The only other occupant in the camp was Percy who was lying against a log staring up at the sky oblivious to his surroundings as I crept up on him.

"Good evening, Lord Perseus." I whispered behind him startling him. Ever since his fight he had seemed distracted and during the course of the dinner he had not been focused on the food. Sitting off to one side I suspected something was troubling him.

"What, who- Reyna, I told you to not call me that." He hissed out quietly.

"Relax, the others are all in their tents so calm down, now what is troubling you?" I asked curiously.

"What tells you something is troubling me?" He asked seemingly panicked by the question.

"You just did, all evening you have been distracted and just now you did not notice me sneak up on you. So therefore, something must bother you." I explained and I saw him slump against the log.

"Just thinking about all that has happened and all that I have lost. Both what I once had and what could have been." He said sadly looking to the sky and a particularly clear constellation I now understood had once been Thalia's predecessor.

"So, in other words, Annabeth." I guessed and knew I had hit the nail on the head when he sighed.

"Do you know how it feels to love and lose someone. Just when you think you are finally happy and in the blink of an eye it can be all over. When you do, it feels like a hole is being ripped out of your heart that you think you will never fill. That is how I felt at that moment, but the worst part is when you begin to forget their face. Much as I would rather not, I can remember every detail of Octavian from before and after I tortured him. The arrogant bastard he was before and the husk he was after. Both are clearly visible to me when I close my eyes, but she is hazy in my memory, and it saddens me. The sad part is I think I am slowly getting over her and yet I don't want to forget all we did together." He explained putting his head in his hands.

As I looked at him at him, I saw not the incognito Titan Lord moonlighting as the hunt's guardian. But instead as the damaged young man he really was.

"Nothing lasts forever, not even memories Percy." I said and regretted it when he looked at me with a small amount of anger.

"That is the damned problem, I will be here forever, immortal and yet I have lost my connection to the time when it was a lot simpler. Even if I had a lot of pressure on me back then, it was still a simple matter of doing the right thing and she was always there by my side. But now I stand a chance of losing that connection and I don't want to. Even if I died, I would never be able to see her again. The Fates have forbidden it and now she is forever gone, lost to me." He explained practically broken down; I was seeing what few else must have noticed. That the mighty Hero of Olympus was not as strong and confident as he maintained to others. Still to see him broken down like this was distressing, especially when I realized he spoke the truth and the problem of immortality was you must inevitably leave everything else of your life behind.

A hundred years from now if I was still alive, I would be exactly the same and yet the world would be completely different most likely. My sister would probably have long since died and even New Rome would probably be different if it adopted any of the Greeks culture.

I may have sworn off romance willingly yet here was Percy perhaps forever stuck with a shattered heart and it was truthfully saddening. To compare my possibility of a relationship with Jason to what he actually had with Annabeth was like comparing apples to oranges. I also knew most of the other hunters would take solace in this scene if they were aware of it. Despite the circumstances of his heartbreak finally he began to regain his composure and straighten up.

"The Fates are cruel, first they take away Annabeth and then they give me a forbidden romance." He muttered almost rambling under his breath, much to my surprise as he returned his gaze to the clear sky above. Apparently unaware of what he had said, and I took it as a sign he wanted to be on his own and so I silently rose and left. Looking over my shoulder he didn't even seem to acknowledge my leaving.

Yet as I walked back to my new tent his final muttering left one question in my mind. If Percy had feelings for someone and it was forbidden, then who? Could it have even been a hunter or someone else entirely?

It was not exactly wrong to say he was good looking, and that given a chance any number of women or even goddesses would probably fawn all over him for the chance. Yet who was possibly the one he wanted? I continued to think of this to myself as I went to sleep. Perhaps for the first time in many months, it was not filled with nightmares of what the coming day would bring but a strange sense of optimism.

(Diana)

My feelings at the moment were so confused at the moment. I didn't know how to react as I watched the discussion below between Reyna and Percy.

I felt saddened to hear Percy explain about his lost relationship, and it broke my heart to hear him explain about what he thought was the true cost of immortality. It was the truth unfortunately, I had long since forgotten the faces of most of my hunters who had perished over the centuries. Even other goddesses who had inevitably faded like Selene were but distant foggy memories, despite us having been friends before I ultimately displaced her as goddess of the Moon in Human culture.

At the sight of him breaking down though it was too much, and I longed to flash back down there and hold him tight against me. I was envious of the position of daughter of Bellona and yet was sad to see her just watching him when he clearly needed consoling.

It was tragically true, no one had ever thought of the cost all the constant fighting had put on him, me included. Perhaps as a result of his generally cheerful personality no one had paid much notice to it. He had always seemingly taken everything in his stride and always came out on top but now the sight before me was that of a clearly broken man. The truth hidden behind a cracked façade, and I wanted nothing more than to be the one consoling him.

I saw him finally break out of his daze and heard his muttering. No matter how quiet it was I still heard it and it shocked me.

Percy said he was in love with a forbidden romance. As cryptic as his words were, I could but hope he was referring to me. As I sat in my chariot, I watched with a large smile on my face as Reyna slow back away from the Titan Lord and returned to her tent.

I now had the proof I needed. It was nothing concrete, but it was a very high likelihood and that was more than good enough. I sat there watching the young Titan look up at the sky and realized he was actually looking at the Moon and by extension me and it made my stomach jump for joy.

I flashed back to the camp and for the first time, I had the confidence to confront him. As I walked around the side of the fallen tree, I realized something was off as he did not react to my presence. Quickly I noticed sadly that he had fallen asleep in that position, much to my displeasure.

However, as I stood there regarding the sleeping figure in front of me. I inevitably decided not to wake him up, although I had to fight my own sub-conscious not to.

As I turned to leave, I suddenly found myself unable to resist and instead walked towards him before bending down and brushing my lips against his and for the second time that day I felt amazing as I experience something almost euphoric and forbidden.

The first time during our fight earlier was the first time I had ever kissed a man under any circumstances and yet I had done so without thought, it had just seemed like the right thing to do in that situation. Although sure I had brushed it off to the Hunters as an extreme example of how to distract an opponent, I would not say I had wasted the opportunity and let it escape my memory despite how brief it was.

This time however I felt simply pleasure as his skin caressed mine and I felt his faint breath on my face sending shivers down my spine. I felt saddened as I slowly pulled myself away and looked at him longingly one last time before I flashed away and left him to his rest, even if it hurt my heart to do so.

(Percy)

I awoke when I was sure I felt an immortal presence leave the camp and I sat there in confusion. I was sure I had not felt any unusual auras enter the campsite and nor could I hear signs of disruption. Either from the hunters or Nemea and so slowly I relaxed again as I leant back against the tree trunk. For the moment I was happy where I was, I would return to my tent later perhaps.

It was only when I closed my eyes did, I notice a difference and felt an unusual taste on my mouth. Licking my lips, I recognized a taste similar to that of cinnamon and was left in a state of confusion at its source. As far as I was aware, there had been none of the spice on the meal I had eaten so where had it come from?

The question was left unanswered in my weary state as I pushed it to the back of my mind and settled back to sleep and dreaming about that momentary kiss.