Chapter 7

Love had struck Artemis like a stray arrow from Cupid, and boy, did it hit the mark. The goddess of the hunt, who had sworn eternally to remain a maiden, now found herself ensnared in the webs of the most mortal of feelings. The culprit? A demigod with eyes as green as the sea and unruly black hair who answered to the name Percy Jackson.

Artemis never imagined she would end up like this. After millennia of rejecting love and watching it destroy gods and mortals alike, she had fallen prey to his charms. It was ironic, almost comical. The huntress had become the hunted.

Every time she thought of Percy, she felt butterflies in her stomach. No, they were more like eagles, or perhaps wild Pegasus. Her heart beat so loudly she feared the other gods could hear it from Olympus. "What have you done to me, Percy Jackson?" she constantly wondered, alternating between bliss and despair.

The goddess was lost in thoughts of her beloved when a noise startled her. She spun around quickly, bow in hand, only to find it was a squirrel. She sighed in relief, but also disappointment. For a moment, she had hoped it was Percy, appearing out of nowhere as he often did.

"I'm going crazy," she muttered to herself, holstering her bow. "Crazy in love," she added with a nervous laugh.

Artemis vividly remembered how it all began. After the victory against Gaea, she and Percy had spent a night together that changed everything. They hadn't done anything indecent, of course. They had simply talked for hours under the stars, sharing their fears, hopes, and dreams. And somewhere between midnight and dawn, Artemis realized she was irreversibly in love.

Since then, her obsession had only grown. She watched over Percy in secret, ensuring he was safe. She glared daggers at any girl who got too close, suppressing the urge to turn them into jackalopes. She had even considered asking Aphrodite for beauty tips, something she never thought possible.

"What would Zoë say if she saw me like this?" Artemis wondered with a mix of amusement and melancholy. Her loyal lieutenant would probably be horrified to see her lady sighing over a man. But Percy wasn't just any man, was he? He was special, unique. He was... perfect.

The goddess shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She had to focus. Today, she had a date with Percy and she wanted everything to be perfect. She had planned to take him to a secluded clearing in the forest, where they could stargaze uninterrupted. Maybe she would even dare to shower him with kisses and hugs again.

As she prepared, Artemis couldn't help but imagine a future together. Percy by her side for eternity, hunting monsters, exploring the world, loving each other under the moonlight. It was a beautiful dream, but dangerous. Percy was mortal, after all. Unless...

"No," she told herself firmly. "I can't ask him to give up his mortality for me." But a little voice in her head whispered, "Why not? Don't you deserve it? Doesn't he deserve it?"

Artemis looked at herself in the mirror, surprised by her own expression. Her eyes shone with an almost feverish intensity, and a smile that oscillated between adoration and madness adorned her lips. "Oh, Percy," she murmured, stroking her reflection. "You have no idea what you've done to me. But don't worry, my love. We'll be together soon. Forever."

With that silent promise, Artemis headed to their meeting place, her heart full of love and her mind filled with plans for an eternal future with her Percy. After all, what was immortality without someone to share it with?

Artemis arrived at the forest clearing early, her heart pounding with anticipation. Every second without Percy felt like an eternity. She nervously scanned her surroundings, making sure everything was perfect. She had scattered wildflower petals on the ground and strategically placed scented candles (being careful not to cause a forest fire, of course - that would ruin the romantic atmosphere).

"Maybe I went a little overboard," she murmured to herself, noticing that the clearing looked more like the setting of a romantic movie than the natural refuge it used to be. But then she shook her head. "No, nothing is too much for my Percy."

Minutes passed and Percy still hadn't arrived. Artemis began to worry. What if something had happened to him? What if some monster had attacked him on the way? Or worse, what if some flirtatious nymph had distracted him?

"Calm down," she told herself, taking a deep breath. "Percy would never do that to you. He is loyal. He is yours."

Just as she was considering summoning her deer to track Percy, she heard a rustling among the bushes. She spun around quickly, a smile lighting up her face... only to find herself face to face with a rabbit.

"Oh, for the love of Zeus," she grumbled, frustrated. The rabbit looked at her with its big brown eyes, as if mocking her. For a moment, Artemis considered turning it into a jackalope just to vent, but she restrained herself. "Get a grip," she scolded herself. "A goddess of millennia shouldn't be jealous of a rabbit."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity (and Artemis knew quite a bit about eternities), Percy emerged into the clearing. He was slightly out of breath, hair more disheveled than usual, and a smear of something that looked like tomato sauce on his shirt.

"Artemis! I'm so sorry, I-", he began to apologize, but stopped short when he saw the elaborate romantic setup. His eyes widened. "Wow," was all he could say.

Artemis felt her cheeks blush. "Do you like it?" she asked timidly, suddenly feeling like a mortal teenager on her first date.

Percy smiled, that smile that made Artemis's heart skip a beat. "It's amazing," he said, approaching her. "Though not as amazing as you."

The goddess felt herself melting inside. How was it possible that a few simple words could have such an effect on her? She, who had faced Titans and giants without flinching, now felt weak at the knees from a compliment.

"I... um... thank you," she stammered, internally cursing her lack of eloquence. Where was her millennia-old goddess confidence when she needed it?

Percy scratched the back of his neck, looking slightly embarrassed. "I'm sorry for being late. I had a little mishap with Mrs. O'Leary and a pizza. It's a long story."

Artemis raised an eyebrow, amused despite her nerves. "Is that why you look like you've been wrestling with particularly aggressive tomato sauce?"

Percy looked at his shirt and chuckled. "Something like that. I promise next time I'll make sure my hellhound understands that pizza is for eating, not playing."

Artemis couldn't help but laugh too. It was one of the things she loved about Percy: his ability to make her laugh, to make her feel... like a normal girl. Not like a distant goddess, but like someone real, someone alive.

"Well," she said, taking his hand and leading him to the center of the clearing, "I guess I'll have to teach you how to hunt your own food. That way you won't depend on treacherous pizzas."

Percy pretended to shudder. "Does that mean I'll have to eat roasted jackalope?"

Artemis tapped him playfully on the arm. "Don't be silly. Jackalopes are sacred. Besides," she added with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, "they taste awful."

Both laughed, and for a moment, everything was perfect. But as they sat together under the stars, Artemis couldn't help but let a dark thought slip into her mind: How long would this happiness last? How much time would pass before cruel fate or Percy's mortality separated them?

The goddess squeezed Percy's hand tighter, as if afraid he might vanish at any moment. "Percy," she whispered, her voice barely audible, "have you ever thought about immortality?"

Percy's green eyes met hers, filled with a mix of love and concern. "Artemis, I..."

But before he could respond, a deafening roar shattered the night's tranquility. Something large and furious was approaching through the forest, knocking down trees in its path.

Percy jumped to his feet, drawing Riptide. Artemis already had her bow in hand, an arrow ready to be loosed.

"Well," Percy said with a crooked smile, "looks like our date will have some action after all."

Artemis returned the smile, feeling a rush of adrenaline. This was what she loved: the thrill of the hunt, the imminent danger. And now, with Percy by her side, it was even better.

"Hope you're ready for a practical hunting lesson, my love," she said, pointing towards the violently shaking trees.

As they prepared to face whatever was approaching, Artemis realized that, mortal or immortal, these were the moments she wanted to share with Percy forever. And by Zeus, she would make sure it happened.

The beast emerged from the trees with a deafening roar.

It was a massive Nemean lion, its golden fur gleaming under the moonlight. Its red eyes fixed on the pair, its jaws opening in a threatening growl.

"Oh, great," Percy muttered. "And here I thought tonight would only have to worry about spilling wine on my shirt."

Artemis couldn't help but laugh. "Wine? Percy Jackson, were you planning to get me drunk?"

"Me? Never," he replied with feigned innocence. "Although now that you mention it, a bit of nectar wouldn't hurt."

The lion roared again, seemingly offended at being ignored.

"I think someone's jealous that we're stealing the spotlight," Artemis said, aiming her arrow at the beast.

Percy raised Riptide. "Any ideas on how to beat this thing? Last time I faced one, I ended up using it as a disguise."

Artemis raised an eyebrow. "Disguise? That's a story I definitely want to hear later." Then her expression turned serious. "Its hide is impenetrable, but the inside of its mouth is vulnerable. We need to get it to open its jaws wide."

"Leave it to me," Percy said confidently. "I'm an expert at making monsters want to eat me."

Before Artemis could protest, Percy ran towards the lion, waving his arms and shouting, "Hey, kitty, kitty! Want a demigod snack? Come get me!"

"Percy!" Artemis shouted, torn between worry and exasperation. "You're not a toy mouse!"

The lion, however, seemed to take Percy's offer seriously. It lunged towards him, its jaws wide open. At the last second, Percy dove to the ground, sliding between the lion's legs.

"Now, Artemis!" he yelled.

Without hesitation, Artemis released her arrow. The silver projectile flew straight into the lion's open mouth, embedding deeply in its throat. The monster roared in pain, shaking violently before disintegrating into a shower of golden dust.

Percy stood up, brushing dust off his clothes. "Well, that was..."

He couldn't finish the sentence because Artemis threw herself at him, hugging him tightly. "Idiot!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and anger. "You could have died!"

Percy hugged her back, gently stroking her hair. "Hey, I'm okay. We make a good team, don't we?"

Artemis pulled back slightly, looking him in the eyes. "Yes, we do," she said softly. Then, without warning, she kissed him passionately.

When they finally parted, both were breathless. Percy had a dazed expression on his face. "Wow," he murmured. "If that's how you react every time we kill a monster together, maybe we should do it more often."

Artemis playfully tapped his chest. "Don't push your luck, Jackson." But there was a smile on her lips.

They sat back down in the clearing, this time closer to each other. The romantic atmosphere Artemis had prepared was somewhat ruined, with toppled candles and crushed flower petals, but somehow, it seemed even more perfect.

"Percy," Artemis began, her voice serious. "About what I asked you earlier..."

Percy looked at her, his green eyes filled with understanding. "Immortality."

Artemis nodded. "I know it's a lot to ask. I know you have a life, friends, family. But I... I can't imagine eternity without you."

Percy took her hands in his. "Artemis, I love you. And the idea of spending eternity with you is... incredible. But..."

"But you're scared," she finished for him.

"It's not scary exactly," Percy said. "It's... responsibility. I have people who depend on me. The camp, my mother, my new stepfather you know Estrelle is turning 3 in a few weeks and friends, my friends. I can't just abandon them."

Artemis felt a pang of guilt. Of course, Percy would think of others before himself. It was one of the reasons she loved him so much.

"I understand," she said softly. "And I wouldn't ask you to abandon them. But maybe... maybe we could find a solution. Something that allows us to be together without you having to give up your mortal life completely."

Percy looked at her curiously. "Do you have something in mind?"

Artemis smiled mysteriously. "Maybe. I need to talk to some gods, do some research.

But I think there might be a way for a moment" "a thought crossed my mind one where Percy and I walked together with humanity through the centuries."

Percy kissed her gently. "I trust you," he said. "And whatever happens, we'll find a way to be together."

As they cuddled under the stars, Artemis felt a mix of hope and determination. No matter what she had to do, she would find a way to keep Percy by her side. After all, she was the goddess of the hunt, and Percy Jackson was the most valuable prey she had ever pursued.

And this time, she had no intention of letting him escape.

Author's note...

I want to make it clear that this fanfic is a remake of a one-shot originally written by "serendipitous". I'm not claiming the idea as my own; I just found it interesting and decided to rewrite it for fun. I am not receiving any type of financial benefit. In my version, I went deeper into the plot and tried to cover the gaps in the original as best as possible, as well as making Artemis more obsessive.