Chapter 3

One year. A fleeting yet intense year that Percy had treasured like an oasis amidst his chaotic demigod life. However, like all good things in the life of a son of Poseidon, this period of peace was about to be swept away by a storm of epic proportions.

A dark threat loomed over Camp Half-Blood, and once again, Percy was called to be its savior. Nightmare monsters were breaking into the demigods' sanctuary with alarming frequency, confirming that the enemy had found a way to breach their defenses. It was as if Tartarus had decided to throw a surprise party in the middle of the camp, with all the guests being bloodthirsty demigod-hungry creatures.

Artemis, gripped by anguish and helplessness, couldn't even communicate with Percy for fear of being discovered. Both suffered in silence, tormented by uncertainty and the pain of separation. The goddess of the hunt was in a constant state of anxiety, checking her magical ring every five minutes like a teenager waiting for a crush's message.

Two days after Percy's departure, devastating news reached Artemis: Daedalus's Labyrinth, that infernal prison teeming with abominable creatures, had come to life. What was even more terrifying, an entrance to this labyrinth lay just within the camp's borders—a revolving door to hell installed right in the camp dining hall.

However, what truly struck Artemis was the mission assigned to Percy: to guide him through the Labyrinth, venturing into its heart of darkness. Her worst suspicions were confirmed: Percy was being used as a pawn in a deadly game, risking his life in a mission he might not return from. And worst of all, she couldn't even bid him a final farewell before he plunged into the jaws of danger. Artemis felt like a bride left at the altar, except instead of a "yes, I do," it was a "yes, I will risk my life in a deadly maze."

It was at a council meeting, just two days later, when even worse news arrived. Percy had blown up Mount St. Helens, releasing Typhon, and he hadn't returned with the group that entered. Everyone in the throne room held their breath, albeit for completely different reasons. While the other gods feared the battle against Typhon, Artemis was breathless and heartbroken, whispering Percy's name softly at the possibility he might not make it. Her difficult position was noticed by one person, one she didn't want to know. Her silver eyes made contact with her brother's squinted blue eyes.

"You have a new friend who happens to be a boy, and you didn't even tell me," shouted Apollo, his voice resonating with a mixture of indignation and fraternal concern.

""So what if I have it?"" responded Artemis, leaning against a wall in the hall of her palace.

"Do you tell me about every mortal adventure you have? So why do you expect me to tell you?" Artemis raged, her eyes shining with an intensity that would have made any mortal recoil.

"So, you accept that this is an adventure? Have you already renounced your oath?" Apollo said, mocking her with a smile that oscillated between amusement and concern.

"Apollo... Don't assume things like that," Artemis gritted her teeth, her voice a low growl promising pain if her brother continued down that path.

"HA! How ironic. Another son of Poseidon. Have you forgotten about Orion?" —Those words pushed Artemis to the edge. With unfathomable fury, she aimed her bow at her brother, the arrow gleaming with a silver light promising unimaginable pain.

"Never compare Percy to that bastard. Even though this is just a friendship, he is more than worthy to me," she said calmly, each word laden with an implied threat.

"You are clearly blinded by his outer façade, Artemis. He will take advantage of you, just as you hate it. You'll thank me later, when you regain your sanity," Apollo said, trying to reason with her, his voice softer, but still skeptical.

"Who are you to talk to me about taking advantage of you? Don't think he's a playboy like you. If you ever hurt him, I'll deny you and curse you, Apollo. Now get out!" she spat his name with so much venom that Apollo shrunk in fear, instinctively backing away from his twin sister's fury.

"I can see your emotions, Artemis. I know you like him. But remember, he is mortal, a fleeting being. You two are not meant to be together. He will break your heart unknowingly when he dies," Apollo disappeared in a flash of golden light, leaving Artemis alone with her tumultuous thoughts.

Artemis burst into tears, realizing her brother's last words. The truth of his mortality hit her like an arrow in the heart. But amid her grief, she made a decision. Artemis would stay with Percy until the end. She would make the most of the time she had with him and cherish what they had. She would do it for Percy Jackson, the boy who captured the heart of the eternal huntress.

Once again, defying almost all odds, Percy Jackson returned four days later, very much alive. Artemis was so relieved that she almost jumped for joy in the middle of Olympus, which would have been quite unbecoming for a huntress goddess.

She was about to take him to her palace to talk, using that ring he fondly wore as a pendant (which she secretly considered some kind of unofficial engagement ring), when news came that he had returned once more to rescue the trapped demigods there.

Artemis didn't know whether to kiss him or strangle him for being so noble and stupidly brave. Her heart wrestled between admiration and frustration, a combination only Percy Jackson seemed capable of provoking in her.

However, when he returned, she was ready to kill him for being the fool he was, were it not for the army of monsters that poured out of the Labyrinth before it collapsed completely. That was the Labyrinth Battle, led by someone named Percy Jackson, who crossed it twice in a month as if it were a walk in the park.

The ambush was sudden and the casualties were numerous, but the campers managed to defeat the monsters. That day, many shrouds were burned, the smoke rising to the sky as a somber reminder of the costs of war.

When Percy finally called Artemis that night, she was ready to scold him for worrying her. She had a whole speech prepared, full of reproaches and veiled threats to turn him into a jackalope if he ever scared her like that again. But when she found him, he had his head in his hands, crying. All her anger evaporated in an instant, replaced by overwhelming concern.

"I could have saved them. They were innocent, Artemis. I saw a 12-year-old boy die. I couldn't do anything," he said, tears streaming down his cheeks. Artemis went and sat beside him, realizing how bad it would be to see kids die. Still, she couldn't bear to see Percy break down like that. She patted his back and hugged him, letting him cry on her shoulder.

"Don't blame yourself for their deaths, Percy. You can't save everyone, but you can avenge them. Don't let their sacrifices be in vain," she said, her voice soft but firm, laden with wisdom acquired over millennia.

Once he stopped crying, Artemis pulled away and slapped him in the face. "Don't ever do what you did again, Percy. I was so worried about you," she yelled, her eyes shining with a mix of relief and frustration. Percy chuckled, holding his cheek and returning to the friendly banter they used to do.

"Sorry, my favorite goddess. I promise not to blow up any volcanoes without telling you first," he said with a crooked smile that made Artemis's heart skip a beat.

That was the night when, after Artemis disappeared, Percy realized his own feelings for Artemis, but he stayed silent, thinking he would lose a friend if he spoke with his heart. He sighed and walked back to camp, unaware that thousands of miles away, in her palace on Olympus, Artemis was having exactly the same thoughts.

The huntress goddess paced her room, murmuring to herself. "He's just a mortal," she repeated to herself, "an incredibly brave, loyal, and attractive demigod, but mortal nonetheless." Then she looked at the twin ring on her finger and smiled like a schoolgirl in love. "But he's my mortal," she whispered, before shaking her head and returning to her stoic goddess role.

Meanwhile, at the camp, Percy stared at the stars, specifically the constellation of the Huntress, wondering if he would ever muster the courage to tell Artemis how he truly felt. "I'd probably turn into a jackalope," he muttered to himself, but he couldn't help but smile at the thought.

And so, two hearts beat as one, separated by distance and duty, yet bound by a bond that not even the gods could break. War loomed, danger lurked around every corner, but amidst the chaos, a goddess and a demigod had found something precious: A love written by the same stars.

To be continued...