Chapter4
The sun was setting over Camp Half-Blood, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Artemis sat on a rock by the lake, her gaze fixed on the horizon while her fingers nervously toyed with an arrow. A few meters away, Percy Jackson leaned casually against a pine tree, watching the goddess with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Is there no way I can change your mind about leading this war?" Artemis insisted for the umpteenth time, her voice tinged with a desperation she tried to hide. She knew it was futile, but maybe, just maybe, Percy would listen this time.
It had been a month since the Battle of the Labyrinth, and now the Titan King had declared war on the Olympians. While the gods would battle Typhon, the demigods and hunters had to protect Manhattan and, to some extent, Olympus. Unfortunately, it also meant Percy would likely have to cross swords with the Lord of Time himself. Today might be the last day they saw each other, as they would soon depart for their respective battle stations.
Percy sighed and approached the goddess, sitting down beside her on the rock. Artemis felt her heart skip a beat at the demigod's proximity.
"You know me, Artemis," Percy said with a sad smile, looking at the stars beginning to appear in the twilight sky. "I can't just stand by while others risk their lives. If there's something I can do about it, I will."
Artemis groaned in frustration, pinching the bridge of her nose. If only Percy knew how much he meant to her, especially after losing Zoe. But of course, there was his damn altruism again. It was so infuriating... and yet, it was exactly what drew her to him like a moth to a flame.
They sat in silence for a long while, simply gazing at the night sky. Artemis stole glances at Percy every few seconds, committing every detail of his profile to memory.
"I have to take a dip in the Styx," Percy suddenly declared, his voice barely a whisper.
Artemis's eyes widened and she turned sharply to him. "What? There's no bloody way you're doing that!" she exclaimed, grabbing Percy by the shoulders and shaking him.
Percy blinked in surprise at the goddess's reaction. "But I have to," he insisted. "Luke has the Curse of Achilles. Otherwise, Olympus doesn't stand a chance."
Artemis pinched the bridge of her nose, knowing deep down that Percy was telling the truth. "You know you could die doing that, right?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Percy simply nodded grimly.
"And you're still going to do it, seaweed brain?" Artemis asked, using the nickname Annabeth used to give him.
Percy chuckled dryly. "Well, you know what they say... 'Yolo'."
Artemis blinked in confusion. "Yolo?"
"You Only Live Once," Percy explained with a crooked smile. "Although in my case, hopefully it'll be twice if I survive the Styx."
The goddess rolled her eyes at the demigod's poor attempt at humor. However, before Percy could react, Artemis lunged at him and enveloped him in a fierce hug. Percy was paralyzed by surprise as the goddess buried her face in his neck, holding onto him as if there were no tomorrow.
"You better come back alive, you idiot," Artemis murmured against his skin, sending shivers down Percy's spine. "If you don't, I swear by the Styx I'll personally drag you out of the Underworld and torture you for all eternity."
When Artemis finally pulled away, Percy wore his characteristic crooked smile. The goddess couldn't help but return the smile, though her silver eyes gleamed with a mix of concern and something more that Percy couldn't quite identify.
"I don't think it's in my hands to leave you behind, Artemis," Percy said, looking her directly in the eyes. "I'll come back to you, I promise. And you better not let Typhon harm you, hear me?"
Artemis stared into those sea-green eyes that captivated her so much, lost in their depth. Before she could second-guess herself, she leaned forward and planted a lingering kiss on Percy's cheek.
Time seemed to stand still. Percy held his breath, his eyes wide as he felt the goddess's soft lips against his skin. Artemis allowed herself a few more seconds to savor the moment before pulling away abruptly. Without another word, she turned and walked away briskly, leaving behind a stunned and blushing Percy.
When Percy's brain finally processed what had just happened, his face turned bright red. He brought a trembling hand to his cheek, touching where Artemis had kissed him. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he began walking back to camp with a silly grin on his face and his heart racing.
What Percy didn't see was Artemis hidden behind a nearby tree, watching him walk away with a look that mixed longing, concern, and a touch of madness. The goddess clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms.
"You better come back to me, Percy Jackson," she murmured to herself, her eyes gleaming with an almost feverish intensity. "Because if you don't, not even Hades himself will protect you from my wrath."
With that silent promise, Artemis vanished into the night, preparing for the impending battle and praying to all the gods (even herself) that her beloved demigod would return alive.
The war erupted like a sudden storm, sweeping everything in its path. For seven endless days, the gods battled Typhon relentlessly, while the demigods defended Manhattan tooth and nail.
Artemis was in a constant state of anxiety, torn between her duty as a goddess and her concern for Percy. Every time she received news from the front lines, her heart skipped a beat, fearing the worst. It didn't help that the Olympians were being pushed back by Typhon, dangerously close to the city that never sleeps.
"Damn it, Percy!" Artemis muttered through gritted teeth as she shot another arrow, disintegrating a monster. "Why do you have to be so damn heroic?"
Around her, the battle raged. The hunters fought fiercely, but they were outnumbered. Artemis moved like a silver whirlwind, her arrows finding their deadly mark with precision. But even so, she couldn't stop her thoughts from constantly returning to the young demigod with green eyes.
"If you come out of this alive, seaweed brain," she thought as she dodged a swipe from an empousa, "I swear I'll tie you to a tree so you can never endanger yourself again."
The news came in chaotic bursts. Percy had defeated the Minotaur... again. He had taken down the Chimera with Clarisse's help. And then, the unthinkable: Percy had defeated Hyperion in a one-on-one duel.
Artemis couldn't help but feel a surge of pride mixed with exasperation. "That idiot..." she murmured, an involuntary smile curving her lips as she decapitated a dracaena. "Always exceeding expectations."
But the joy was short-lived. The gods were being pushed back at an alarming rate. The demigods fought their last battle, defending Olympus at its very gates. Even with Hades joining the fight, they were overwhelmed.
And then, Cronus made his appearance.
Time seemed to slow down as the Lord of the Titans advanced, destroying everything in his path. Artemis watched in horror as Dionysus fell from his chariot, defeated. For a moment, despair threatened to engulf her.
"No," she told herself, gritting her teeth. "I can't give up. Percy wouldn't."
With renewed determination, Artemis kept fighting. In her mind, she made a promise: if they emerged victorious from this war, if Percy survived... she would confess her feelings. No more doubts, no more fears. Fate had given her a chance to find love in the most unlikely man, and she wouldn't waste it.
As if the universe had heard her resolve, the tide of battle turned. From the water emerged the army of Atlantis, led by Poseidon himself. His trident gleamed with divine power, driving Typhon back.
"Hah!" Artemis shouted, a fierce smile on her face as she unleashed a rain of arrows. "Take that, pile of ashes!"
With the power of Poseidon on their side, Typhon fell within minutes. Now it all depended on Percy. If he could defeat Cronus, the war would be won.
The gods returned to Olympus, horrified by the destruction caused by Cronos. Artemis ran to the throne room, her heart pounding hard. What if she was too late? What if Percy...?
The doors swung open. Artemis held her breath, bracing herself for the worst.
And there he was.
Percy Jackson stood in the middle of the throne room, tired but alive. At his feet lay the body of his old friend Luke, who in the end had been a hero, redeeming himself in his final moments by holding off Kronos long enough to pierce him with his sword and defeat him. A sigh escaped his lips; another regret was added to his list: he couldn't save him. Annabeth Chase wept inconsolably over the loss of her only love.
Artemis's and Percy's eyes met, and it was as if an electric current ran through the air between them. Their faces lit up like fireworks, and they had to fight the urge to run to each other and embrace right there.
What followed was a whirlwind of rewards and celebrations, but for Artemis and Percy, it was all a blur. Their gazes constantly sought each other in the crowd, sharing secret smiles and looks loaded with unspoken promises.
Artemis felt a pang of sadness when Percy rejected divinity, but at the same time, her heart swelled with pride. Once again, Percy showed that not all men hungered for power. Instead, he chose to help the demigods, giving Artemis a subtle smile that made her heart skip a beat.
As soon as the celebration feast began, Artemis slipped away from her throne. With the stealth of an experienced hunter, she approached Percy, who seemed to be waiting for her by the throne room door.
Without a word, Artemis took his hand and teleported them both to a deserted beach, where the full moon shone over the calm ocean.
When she turned to look at Percy, he stood with his arms open, a crooked smile on his face.
"You know, if you wanted to kidnap me, you could've given me a heads-up," Percy joked. "I would've at least brought sunscreen."
Artemis rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Shut up, seaweed brain," she murmured before throwing herself into his arms.
Percy lifted her off the ground, spinning with her as they both laughed like children. When they finally stopped, they had both begun to cry without realizing it. Percy, with a tenderness that melted her heart, gently cupped her cheeks and wiped away her tears with his thumb.
"I promised you I'd come back alive," Percy said softly. "And I did, Artemis. I did it for you."
Artemis took his hand, intertwining their fingers. "I can't imagine what would've happened if I'd lost you, Percy," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper. "I would've been devastated. You've been my spark of happiness for the past two years. They say gods can't change, but you, Percy Jackson, changed me. You made me... human."
She paused, noting the surprise on Percy's face. But she had come too far to back down now.
"You've captured my heart, Percy," she continued, a warm smile lighting up her face. "Your annoying and endearing ways made me fall in love with you. I love you, Percy Jackson. And if you ever risk your life like that again, I swear I'll chain you to my side for all eternity."
Percy's surprise quickly turned into a smile of pure joy, making Artemis feel dizzy with happiness.
"You know? That last one sounded more like a promise than a threat," Percy teased, pulling her closer.
"Shut up and kiss me, seaweed brain," Artemis murmured, tugging at his shirt.
Their lips met halfway, and it was as if the whole world disappeared around them. Artemis's cinnamon taste mingled with Percy's salty sea taste, creating an intoxicating combination that neither wanted to stop tasting.
When they finally broke apart, gasping for air, Percy rested his forehead against Artemis's.
"Artemis," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion, "you're the one for me. My soulmate, my other half. What I feel for you, I can't feel for anyone else. I've always done it, and I always will. I love you, Artemis."
"Happy Birthday, idiot," Artemis replied, gently pushing him onto the sand with a mischievous smile.
"Whatever you call me, I'm still yours, my love," said Percy as she sat on his lap.
"You'd better," murmured Artemis before capturing his lips in another scorching kiss. "Because now that I have you, Percy Jackson, I don't plan on letting you go ever."
And so, under the moonlight and with the sound of the waves as witness, Artemis and Percy sealed their love, ushering in a new era of their story together. A story that, undoubtedly, would be filled with adventures, dangers, and above all, a love that defied all odds.
To be continued...