All rights belong to Rick Riordan

Chapter 76

That's impossible

(Percy)

As I relocated us to my chamber at Orthrys I was beginning to think Perseus was truly insane.

'Are you just trying to get us killed now?' I shot at him angrily.

'Come on don't be like that it was fun, besides you're the one who started making out right in front of him.' He defended jokingly.

'Doesn't mean you had to take it a step further and essentially tell the already pissed off god to go fuck himself.'

'Please, what exactly can he do but chat a load of hot air?' He said laughing at his own pun.

'That is not the point, as we learned from the first one getting hit still hurts like hell and we still are not healed from that. I am not going to be able to fly for weeks as it is. Lelantos took six weeks and he only had two damaged. Besides I don't want to spend the rest of time looking over my shoulder in case our future father in law decides now is time to get rid of that annoying pain in his ass.'

'More like pain in his nose, am I right?' He asked happily causing me to mentally growl in anger.

'You know what I don't care, I am just going to ignore you from now on. There must be a mute button somewhere to you.'

'Fine you're no fun sometimes, oh by the way you're ignoring her again.' He said before going silent and I realized I did become completely oblivious of the world around me whenever I started having these mental debates.

'You really need to work on your attention span.' Artemis said glaring at me as I refocused on her.

'Sorry I was busy dealing with him and how annoying he can be.' I explained causing her to raise an eyebrow.

'Why what did he do?' She asked curiously.

'Gave your father the bird while we were making out.' I explained simply causing her to slap the back of my head.

'Ow-what was that for?' I asked rubbing the spot.

'Well I can't exactly hit him for being an idiot. Perseus if you take control again while we are doing anything together, I will find a way to forcibly separate the pair of you. At the moment you are an annoyance to everyone around you and I don't like annoyances.' Artemis threatened coldly looking into my eyes and I wanted to turn away and I was not even the target of the threat.

'Fine.' He said simply with a huff of disappointment before going silent.

'I think he got the message.' I told the goddess and she seemingly calmed down seemingly losing the intensity in her eyes.

'So how come you brought us here anyway what is wrong with the hunt?' She explained gesturing with an arm signifying my lounge area.

'First I wanted to show you how to decorate a room properly. These are called decorations you put them here to make it look ni-Ow.' I complained as she once again slapped the back of my head.

'Very funny smartass.'

'Fine I thought we could spend a little time together away from the hunters, they are not expecting you back until later and I don't believe most of them probably care I am missing, besides Nemea is still there anyway.'

'Oh good I almost thought you wanted to tell the Titan's straight away.' Artemis explained with a sigh of relief.

'Not in the state I am in. one sentence out of Theia's mouth would be enough to finish me off. Besides I don't want to deal with our grandmother.' I told her with a shudder.

'Remember both of my grandmothers are part of your council.' She corrected.

'Yeah but Phoebe and Koios are cool. Rhea just has that annoying disapproving glare. Besides I don't think they will find it that big a deal I don't exactly follow standard Titan conventions.'

'We are still gonna need to tell them soon we have only got a little over a week before someone opens their mouth and the truth is out, and I bet I know who it will be. If she didn't hate me before she sure as hell will now.' Artemis replied.

'Oh I am sure she is far too busy getting settled in her new home to worrying about that at the moment. I really must thank Hera for coming up with that by the way.'

'Yeah she was being surprisingly nice for once. I don't suppose she is planning on kidnapping you again and erasing your memories.' Artemis remarked with a smile.

'She can try but I think that she will find herself waking up in the middle of nowhere with no memories if she does.'

'No I think she is actually being genuinely nice for the first time in a millennia maybe the stars are aligned or something.'

'I can tell you for a fact they aren't.' I said playfully pointing at the ceiling and the constellations depicted on it.

'That only serves to remind me of two enormous jackasses who I wish I did not have the misfortune to meet.' She said pointing at the figures of Heracles and Orion.

'How did the rumor of you actually liking him start/' I asked curiously before regretting it as her face soured.

'The same reason I don't like my Prenom. An ex-hunter of mine named Phoebe. Like all the original hunters she was a nymph and like most of her kind, she didn't know when to shut up. Admittedly yes I did like Orion for his skill but that was it, however she began to gossip that it was more than that so that eventually Apollo heard. Ironically when he showed his true colors she was his victim. Of course I ended up killing him before I found that out or there was no way he would be on that ceiling. As for her I had to throw her out of the hunt. She was the first hunter I ever did it to. The only reason I didn't kill her was because I saw his attack on her as punishment enough. She was a reminder of my greatest shame and that is why I don't like the name.'

'I guess that explains why you don't like the name does this Phoebe know this?' I asked out of curiosity.

'Of course not, I don't hold someone's name against them joining the hunt.'

'If all the original hunters were nymphs then why don't you recruit them anymore?' I asked genuinely confused.

'Mainly because of distance. Nymphs are not able to stray far from their source tree/plant/river whatever. In Greece it was not so bad because the whole country was only a few hundred miles to a side. When Olympus began to move I encountered the problem of I was unable to bring them with me. So those who survived until Rome I was forced to leave behind in Greece. And more recently due to the size of North America they would be constrained to an individual state sized area which is simply not feasible. The only exception to this was Zoe who though technically a nymph was able to move with me because the Garden of the Hesperides moved also and because she was exiled from it allowing her greater freedom. That is why I have demigods or rarely mortals as hunters.' She explained and we both unconsciously turned our heads to look at the constellation of the Huntress.

'Can we change the subject?' She asked sadly turning away from the reminder of the great huntress. I knew not to question her because I understood that talking about her past was something she loathes to do, even with me.

'Ok how do I get rid of the annoying voice in my head?' I asked completely off topic.

'Hey' Perseus exclaimed only to be quickly ignored.

'With an arrow to the brain… fine well normally you would need to know exactly what of your power is belonging to which aspect which is something that takes years to realize. However as far as I am aware you are unique in that you developed an aspect, after we left Rome. None of the newer gods since have one being only Greek or Roman depending on their heritage. There is also the fact you are unique in the way you change aspect. You don't have the usual light show we all do you simply change eye color and that is it. Oh and you become more obnoxious and irritating.'

'Does anyone like me?'

'I like it when you shut up.' I thought back.

'Is it because I am Titan?' I asked the goddess.

'No because Hecate is technically a Titaness and she has the same changes as we do. Most of the Titan Lords never actually developed an aspect because they were imprisoned and were reduced in power. So though some got Roman names it never affected them in anyway.'

'So for example Saturn was Kronos but he only had the one aspect.'

'Put simply yeah. As I said you are seemingly unique in the way you function, it is entirely possible you cannot separate.' She explained causing both me and the voice in my head to groan.

'Don't take that as gospel I only said it as a warning, speak to Athena if you want a complete and thorough lecture on the subject and it's feasibility.' Artemis added hearing my annoyance.

'Easy for you to say you can separate whenever you want.' I pouted and in response the goddess glowed silver before separating into the near identical goddesses. However I was just about to speak when the Roman goddess launched herself at me and pinned me to the flaw causing me to groan in pain.

'Are you trying to kill him or what?' Artemis chastised rubbing her head as she looked down at the pair of us.

'Huh-oh sorry Percy. Despite what she said I wanted to say yes.' Diana said rapid fire as if eager to get everything of her chest. Something I also wanted to do because of the pain it was causing me in my ribs, back and wings.

'I know you did, but can you please let me stand up and then we can talk.' I said trying not to groan in pain as she hurriedly got of me before the pair of them helped me to my feet Diana apologizing constantly as they did so. Besides I doubted they could have done it if my wings had been intact. It was strange that I was not burdened with their weight at all but others and the ground I was standing on were.

'Diana it is fine I get it you were excited. The three of us are getting married.'

'Plus one other.' Artemis added causing Perseus to briefly take control.

'Yay.' He said half-heartedly before giving my body back and going silent again.

'How exactly is this going to work anyway exactly at a wedding?' I asked the pair of them only for them to look at each other and start having a staring contest.

'Never mind we can sort it out closer to the date, something I have no clue about either.'

However it seemed that my words fell on deaf ears as the two promptly gave up on the staring contest and proceeded to argue over who was doing what and when. With neither agreeing on anything so I did the predictable response in this situation I walked off and left them to it.

As it was by the time both had realized I was not paying attention, I had managed to down a pack of ambrosia and a pint of nectar. Something that surefire would have incinerated me as a demigod but as I was now it served to remove a lot of the pain I was experiencing and gave me enough energy to dissipate my wings allowing me to lay down in comfort. Something I was eager to do as I collapsed on my bed.

'So this is where you snuck off to.' Artemis asked from the doorway causing me to turn over and look at the pair.

'Did you actually manage to decide anything?' I countered causing the pair to turn red.

'Didn't think so. Now for the next few hours it is just the three of us. You can spend it arguing if you want but I am going to sleep which if I remember is the two of yours current favorite hobby.' I said patting the bed on either side of me playfully.

'Easy enough.' Diana remarked before the pair both jumped on the bed on either side of me. Diana to my right and Artemis to my left before the pair of them both snuggled up beside me causing me to wrap my arms around them.

As I lay there between there embrace I couldn't help but feel satisfied with how everything had gone today. Sure it had a few speed bumps here and there but considering how I had expected it to go when Artemis left this morning it had certainly been far more exciting. We dealt with the Olympians, we got engaged (something I still had no idea how it got in my head at that time) and as bonuses I got to be treated better by the gods, I got two sacred animals and I even got an aspect as strange as it and he was.

'I got to break Zeus's nose.' Perseus chimed in breaking my thoughts.

'Shut up and go to sleep.' I told him closing my eyes.

Little did I know the day wasn't over yet.

(Diana)

'Wake up!' A gruff voice shouted angrily causing me to stir and open an eyelid and catch sight of one person I would never want to see upon waking up or ever if it could be helped.

'Atlas? What the hell do you want?' I said snapping wide awake and looking at the Iris message hovering over us.

'Your boyfriend to wake up goddess.' He replied angrily loud enough to seemingly do the job for me.

'What? Atlas what do you want? Why is there blood on your face?' He asked going from tired surprise to fully awake questioning with each successive question. Sure enough now I was looking there was signs of a red liquid that was most certainly not ketchup on his cheek and neck.

'That doesn't matter I need your help now and bring your girlfriends.' He said hurriedly and I sensed he was actually against the clock on something.

'Why the hell would I want to do anything for you.' My other half snapped groggily.

'I will explain when you get here, now please hurry up.' He asked surprisingly politely and sincerely.

'Where are you?' Percy asked.

'That massage place in the city I took you too, near Chinatown. I'm inside.' He said before the message faded.

'Why were you at a massage parlor?' Artemis asked curiously.

'I never went in. Come on let's see what trouble he has got into.' He defended before flashing the three of us away.

As we reappeared on the San Francisco sidewalk, it was pretty obvious where we were going by the fact the front door had been ripped clean of the hinges and there was a faint amount of smoke drifting out the door.

Thankfully there seemed to be no mortals nearby to notice the suddenly appearing trio of a guy with two extremely similar girls.

'Well it seems he is no more subtle than before.' Artemis remarked before summoning a pair of knives and I soon followed suit.

'I don't know but he looked like he had no idea what to do, which even for him is unusual.' Percy replied before leading the way inside.

The inside was far worse than the outside had suggested which was quite a feat. Mostly because the source of the blood on Atlas's face became rather apparent. Lying here and there were the bodies of close to a dozen men in various states of death. Some looked relatively 'intact' a broken neck or a caved in head all that showed. While others were rather more brutally killed and if my sight wasn't mistaken one man appeared to have been physically ripped apart limb by limb. The whole room was also littered with fragments of furniture and gunshot holes peppered the walls in the corner a small fire burned where it looked like a mini bar had been located.

'What in uncle's name happened here?' Percy asked turning white as he spotted a severed head lying on an over turned table. Thankfully as he turned his head away he spotted the slowly growing fire and it immediately went out as he snuffed the flames.

'Where is he?' I asked seeing no sign of the Titan of Strength.

'Through here somewhere.' He explained hastily entering through a side door which lead to a corridor filled with small nooks each hidden behind a curtain. However we all saw the movement coming from the second in the left as we cautiously approached it. As we did so a large bronze spear split the curtain before stopping inches from Percy's throat.

'Atlas what the hell is going on.' Percy asked as Titan became visible his back to us spear held in one hand while the other was in front of him.

'I need help and I didn't know who to ask.' The Titan said relaxing the spear allowing us to get closer and see what was in front of him.

Lying on the couch was a middle eastern young woman who if the large bump on her stomach was anything to go by, very heavily pregnant far more than I or Artemis were at present.

'Atlas she is dead.' Percy said somberly looking at the woman.

'You can't know that.' The other Titan snapped back.

'I can sense everything alive in this building. No mortal is left in here. Was she the one we spoke about before?' He asked softly only for the Titan to punch a hole through the sofa beside where the dead woman lay.

'I'm sorry.' Percy muttered turning away.

'What about the child?' Atlas asked hopefully.

'I can't sense that which has not been born yet, believe me I know. How long has she been like this?'

'Ten minutes though she was breathing a bit not long before you got here.'

'There is nothing I can do, if she was alive I could probably have healed her. I can't restore life.'

'Atlas move aside.' Artemis commanded brushing past the mourning Titan in an attempt to get to the young woman.

'Diana go find a knife or something sharp.' Artemis told me and my eyes widened as I understood what she was proposing.

'You're holding a knife.' Atlas growled.

'I can't cut mortal flesh with Celestial bronze you fool now stop talking so I can focus on possibly saving this child if it still lives.' She shot back at him as I ran back to the main room looking for something suitable before spotting a flash of steel in a dead man's hand and prying the switchblade from his cooling fingers and running back.

'Not exactly sanitary or precise but better than nothing.' She remarked as she took the blade from me and immediately set to work piercing the flesh of the woman's abdomen. We may have been the goddess of childbirth but that did not mean we were experienced at doing this. Especially not when the mother was already dead and using such a basic implement.

Artemis was forced to rip the woman's top of to expose more of her abdomen and in doing so revealed the tiny hole located just below her left breast that had ended her life. The bullet had obviously ruptured a lung which had resulted in her slow death. It was a cruel irony that her long agonizing death may be the only thing that could save her child.

However I was turned back from such grim thoughts when Artemis finished her incision and tossed the blade to the side before pushing her hand inside the incision and into the dead flesh. I was suddenly very thankful that I had never had to do this.

'It is still alive.' She muttered as she continued to maneuver her hands in an attempt to manipulate the child.

The three of us spectating had little choice but to watch as the little blood that remained within the woman slowly draining out over the couch and more often than not my counterpart's clothes.

'Diana grab the knife.' She ordered causing me to lean past her and grab it as she began to pull her hands out carefully cradling the blood splattered baby as she did so. And I took the hint and immediately set about rudimentary tying the umbilical cord before cutting it and discarding the blade.

'It's a girl.' Artemis reported as she looked at the small silent demi-Titan. However as she did so I could have sworn the Titan's face looked downcast briefly before he settled on a small smile.

'I should have known.' He muttered softly.

'She needs help though she is still premature and who knows what trauma could have happened.' Artemis added and I had to agree with her the child was still too small to be called healthy. Strangely a suggestion came from Percy that could possibly work.

'I can manipulate her in time and make her grow older safely. Essentially it is the same thing I do with Nemea.' He explained.

'This is my daughter not your monster cat!' Atlas exclaimed in paternal anger.

'He has a point though. The child is at a stage where it is unaware of the passage of time and where it would cause no ill effects. It's memories are nonexistent so it will not be aware of the manipulation either.' I told him.

'Atlas you called us here to help and we can, but this is your decision. The fact she is alive at all is a miracle in itself but if she stays that way is something we can't know safely.' Percy told the Titan.

'Fine do it.' He said after a seconds pause as he hesitated something he had never done in battle.

Due to the cramped conditions Artemis was forced to pass the child to Atlas who took it surprisingly gently for someone with such large hands. However it was as Atlas passed the child to Percy that everything went strange. From where I located I saw that all Percy did was brush a finger under the girl's head before we were all suddenly bathed in golden light and I felt myself blown across the corridor into the booth opposite. I was so distracted with covering my eyes I failed to hear the cacophony of sounds of crashing and thudding around me.

However as the light eventually faded I was able to make out the scene in disbelief and the figure in the middle of it.

However Artemis beat me to the punch.

'This is impossible.' She said in disbelief as we both looked onward.

Standing there in the middle of the corridor was a naked young woman who was unmistakably Zoe Nightshade.

AN. Surprise now please don't kill me for the cliffhanger (again 3 out of 4 oops).

Yes it is the real Zoe Nightshade though she is no longer a Hesperide but a demi-Titan daughter of Atlas. As for how she is back well i will let her explain next chapter. yes i can circumvent my own no revive policy in a way i strangely have never seen before at least. No one else is coming back alive that i promise.

Also don't be a mortal and piss off a Titan it will never end well.

As always please read and review