I do not own Harry Potter or Percy Jackson.
Artemis gestured to Chrysa, and they walked over to the cliff together, so that they were far enough away to avoid any eavesdroppers.
"Your son?" Artemis asked carefully. "I presume you refer to your children from your previous incarnation?"
Chrysa nodded stiffly.
"I presume your…consort…is the father?"
Chrysa glared at the goddess.
"I know that I have not been a virgin since long before you were born, but do not presume that I give myself away easily! My consort is the only person who has touched me since long before you were born, godling."
The goddess held up her hands in surrender, obviously recognizing how tense Chrysa was. The demigoddess was glad. Normally a goddess like Artemis wouldn't put up with such an insult, but apparently having her child kidnapped in front of her granted her some leeway.
"I know that you are stressed because of the situation…"
Chrysa scoffed.
"Situation? I do not think you understand, Lady Artemis. As long as he has Bianca, Kronos holds the key to mine and my consort's participation in this war. My consort is the key to his wife's participation. His wife is the key to her mother's participation. We are all powerful in our own rights. If Bianca is used as a hostage against us, it could be extremely detrimental to the coming war. If the Titan Lord finds out that I am her mother and my consort is her father, there will be one thing and one thing only that he asks for in trade for Bianca's life."
Artemis raised an eyebrow.
"And what would that be?"
"My head," Chrysa said bluntly. "Probably the rest of me too, as long as I'm in pieces. You have never met the Titan Lord, Artemis. I can tell you that the familial talent for holding grudges did not start with the gods."
"You are concerned that he is rising?" Artemis questioned, brow furrowed.
"I know he is," Chrysa replied. "I can sense it. Besides Rhea, and possibly even including Rhea, I am the person who knew him best. I can sense the malevolence of his presence if I pass near Tartarus. I can see his hand in organizing the schemes of late. Besides, my consort and I confirmed it the summer before last: the main part of his body is not where we left it. The chains were melted. The doors were broken and shattered. He is coming. I would recommend you speak with Percy Jackson. He was with Thorn longer than I. Thorn – the manticore – seemed to be monologuing. We should know what information he revealed."
Artemis nodded. "I will do so. Will you come with me?"
Chrysa sighed.
"They're going to have questions. No one knows about my past lives. But I can't tell them anything. Not until Bianca is safe. There's a spy at camp, but I don't quite know who. I'm only partially a goddess."
Artemis tilted her head in puzzlement, before something dawned on her and her face cleared.
"Patron goddess of spies," she said in realization.
Chrysa simply nodded.
"Careful what you say. There are ears everywhere, and not all of them are mine."
Together they went back to the camp site that the Hunters had constructed in minutes. Seven large tents, all of silver silk, curved in a crescent around one side of a bonfire. A dozen white wolves patrolled the camp like guard dogs. The Hunters walked among them and fed them treats, completely unafraid, but Percy, Grover, and Nico stood close to the tents. Falcons watched the camp from the trees, eyes flashing in the firelight, doing their own job as guards. The weather had calmed, and the lack of wind and snow made it a much more pleasant campsite.
"If you would collect the boy, I would bring Zoë to join us," Artemis said quietly.
Chrysa nodded her assent, then stated, "I will be bringing my son with me as well. With his sister snatched before his eyes…he should not be alone."
"Very well," the goddess nodded. "The largest tent is mine. I will meet you there."
She drifted off to the left to collect her lieutenant. Chrysa moved towards the boys.
All three had their bags with them now, so Chrysa assumed that the Hunters had managed to collect them from inside the school. Nico was rummaging through his and pulling out the Mythomagic cards and figurines.
"Big collection," she heard Percy comment.
Nico smiled, though it was weaker than his usual grin.
"I've got almost all of them, plus their holographic cards. Well, except for a few of the really rare ones."
"You've been playing this game for a long time?" Percy asked.
"Just this year," Nico stated. "Before that…" he said as his eyebrows knitted themselves together.
"What?" Percy asked.
"I forget. That's weird."
"Nico," Chrysa said quietly.
The boy's face instantly shot towards her, and his body followed not far behind. He crashed into her arms with the force of a missile, and Chrysa barely managed to keep upright.
"Mamma," he said into her chest.
She kissed the top of his head, then looked over at her cousin.
"Percy, if you would come with me, the Lady Artemis wishes to speak with you."
"Chrysa, what's going on?" Percy asked.
Chrysa sighed.
"I can't answer that, Percy. You're just going to have to trust me for a little while."
Percy looked troubled, but he nodded anyway and followed her to the last tent in the crescent. The inside of the tent was warm and comfortable. Silk rugs and pillows covered the floor. In the center, a golden brazier of fire seemed to burn without fuel or smoke. Artemis was seated on the far side of the tent, with Zoë Nightshade to her right and a white-haired girl who looked to be a bit younger than Artemis to her left. Behind the goddess, on a polished oak display stand, was her huge silver bow, carved to resemble gazelle horns. The walls were hung with animal pelts: black bear, tiger, jaguar, leopard, and more. A deer with glittering fur and silver horns sat with its head in Artemis' lap and its body between the goddess and the white-blonde Hunter.
Chrysa took a closer look at the white-blonde Hunter, whose hair was braided back from her face, revealing her familiar green eyes.
"Rhanis," she greeted in surprise. "I haven't seen you in…a very long time. It's been what, seven years?"
"Something like that," the Oceanid replied. "It was your first solstice back on Olympus. It's good to see you again, though I regret the circumstances."
Chrysa sighed. "As do I." She took a seat across from Artemis and pulled Nico and Percy down to either side of her.
Artemis stared intently at Percy. He shifted uncomfortably.
"Are you surprised by my age?" she asked him.
"Uh…a little."
"I could appear as a grown woman, or a blazing fire, or anything else I want, but this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters, and all young maidens for whom I am patron, before they go astray."
"Go astray?" Percy asked, brow furrowed at the terminology.
"Grow up. Become smitten with boys. Become silly, preoccupied, insecure. Forget themselves," Artemis stated.
"Oh," Percy said.
Zoë was glaring at Percy from Artemis' right. Percy shifted uncomfortably once more.
"You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you," Artemis said. "It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp. Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp…" She looked at Zoë. "Which one was it?"
"That boy in Colorado," Zoë said. "You turned him into a jackalope."
"Ah yes," Artemis nodded, satisfied. "I enjoy making jackalopes. At any rate, Percy, I've asked you here so that you might tell me more of the manticore. Chrysa has repeated some of the things the monster said, but she was not there the entire time. I'd like to hear the story from you."
Percy hesitated and glanced at Chrysa, who nodded.
"He didn't really say anything until we got to the cliff. Just yelling at us. Once we got to the cliff, he pulled out a phone and used some sort of walkie-talkie mode to say that the package was ready to deliver. I couldn't hear what the other side replied. I considered jumping off the cliff with the di Angelos, but Thorn said he'd kill me before we reached the water, but we were unfortunately wanted alive if possible. Bianca said that she and Nico didn't have any family, so Thorn wouldn't get a ransom…?" he questioned, looking at Chrysa.
"It's complicated," she said. "To make a long story short, Nico and Bianca's memories were…clouded. They wouldn't remember me until I touched them. It was an enchantment for their own protection."
Percy's eyebrows knitted together.
"Does that mean their father's not a god?"
"No," Chrysa sighed dully. "Their father is a god. That's how the monsters found them so easily. They're very powerful."
Percy nodded in understanding and continued the story.
"Thorn said that we'd be meeting his employer soon enough, and then Nico and Bianca would have a new family. I said he worked for Luke, but he didn't look happy about that. He said that I had no idea what was happening, and he would let the General enlighten me. He said I was going to do him a great service tonight, and that he was looking forward to meeting me. Then the helicopter showed up. Nico asked where Thorn was taking us, and Thorn told him that he should be honored, because he would have the opportunity to join a great army, just like his Mythomagic game. Nico argued with him, but Thorn said that he would change his mind about joining them, and if he didn't, there were other uses for half-bloods, and that the Great Stirring was underway."
"I was there by that point," Chrysa said quietly. "When Percy asked what the 'Great Stirring' was, he said that it was, and I quote, "the stirring of monsters, the stirring of all the ancient things. The worst of them, the most powerful, are now waking. Did you really think that it was just our Lord? All of the lost ones are awakening. The ancient Titans who once ruled the world. The lesser immortals who were forced out by younger deities. Monsters that have not been seen in thousands of years. They will cause death and destruction the likes of which mortals have never known. And soon we shall have the most important monster of all – the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus!" After that, we attacked."
Artemis put her hand thoughtfully on her silver bow.
"I feared this was the answer," she said gravely.
Zoë sat forward.
"The scent, my lady?"
"Yes."
"What scent?" Percy asked.
"Things are stirring that I have not hunted in millennia," Artemis murmured. "Prey so old I have nearly forgotten."
She stared intently at Percy. "We came here tonight sensing the manticore, but he was not the one I seek. Tell me again, exactly what Dr. Thorn said."
"Um, 'I hate middle school dances,'" Percy said.
"No, no, after that."
"He said somebody called the General was going to explain things to me."
Zoë's face paled. She turned to Artemis and started to say something, but Artemis raised her hand.
"Go on, Percy," the goddess said.
"Well, then Thorn was talking about the Great Stir Pot –"
"Stirring," Chrysa corrected.
"Yeah. And he said, 'Soon we shall have the most important monster of all – the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus.'"
Artemis was so still that she could have been a statue.
"Maybe he was lying?" Percy offered weakly.
Artemis shook her head.
"No. He was not. I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster."
Zoë looked like she was trying very hard not to be afraid, but she nodded.
"We will leave right away, my lady."
"No, Zoë. I must do this alone."
"But, Artemis…"
"This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me."
"As…as you wish, my lady."
"I will find this creature," Artemis vowed. "And I shall bring it back to Olympus by the winter solstice. It will be al the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in."
"You know what the monster is?" Percy asked.
Artemis gripped her bow.
"Let us pray I am wrong."
"Can goddesses pray?" Percy asked.
A flicker of a smile played across Artemis' lips.
"Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you."
"Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?" Percy asked warily.
"Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return."
"What?" Zoë blurted out. "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there…"
"Yes, I know," Artemis said. "But I'm sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge just because of a little, ah, misunderstanding. It's your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down."
Zoë muttered something about foolish campers.
"I would ask something of you as well, Percy, and of you, Zoë Nightshade and Rhanis Oceanis," Chrysa said gravely. "While Lady Artemis hunts this monster, I also must hunt. I leave to hunt for the monster that has stolen my daughter. I will not rest until she is returned. Until that point, I ask of you to escort my son to Camp, and guard him while you remain there."
"What?" Nico demanded. "You're leaving me?"
"I have to find your sister, Nico," Chrysa soothed. "I am the only one who can. You will be safe at Camp, with Percy and Thalia and the Hunters."
Rhanis bowed her head to Chrysa and intoned, "As it remains in my power, so shall it be done. You have my oath."
"And mine," Zoë said.
"And mine," Percy added, looking slightly out of his depth.
"I thank you," Chrysa replied formally, bowing her head to each of them in turn.
"How are we supposed to get to camp?" Percy asked.
Artemis closed her eyes.
"Dawn is approaching. Zoë, Rhanis, break camp. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother."
Neither Zoë nor Rhanis looked happy about the idea, but both stood and left the tent, leaving Percy, Nico and Chrysa alone with the twelve-year-old goddess.
"So," Percy said glumly, "we're getting a ride from your brother, huh?"
Artemis' silver eyes gleamed.
"Yes, boy. You see, Bianca di Angelo is not the only one with a younger brother. It's time for you to meet my irresponsible twin, Apollo."
"My favorite thing," Chrysa said drily. "Dealing with flirts before dawn."
Artemis raised an eyebrow.
"He flirts with you as well? Your consort does not deter him?"
"He doesn't go out of his way to flirt with me, but he does it all the same. It seems to be his default setting. I can see how he has so many lovers," Chrysa said as they exited the tent. She still had her arm wrapped tightly around Nico, relishing the small time she had left with him before she would leave on her self-imposed quest. Percy followed behind them and immediately shivered.
"H-how long 'til we leave?" he asked, teeth chattering.
"Not long," Artemis assured. "Dawn is coming.
The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they set it up. Percy stood shivering in the snow with the satyr and Thalia, while Artemis stared into the east. Chrysa moved off to the side with Nico.
"Do you have to leave?" he asked sadly.
"I must, tesoro. I go to find your sister. I will find her, Niccolò. I swear it on the River Styx."
Thunder rumbled to confirm her claim.
Nico's brow furrowed.
"What does that mean?"
Chrysa smiled at him.
"The River Styx is the boundary of the Underworld. Styx, the river goddess, is also the goddess of oaths. An oath sworn on the River Styx has to be honored, or there will be dire consequences. For mortals, the consequence is usually death. For gods…well, the Lady Styx is rather vengeful and is always willing to extract some form of punishment from oathbreakers."
Nico's eyes widened with fright.
"I don't want you to get hurt if you can't find Bianca!"
"I will find your sister, tesoro. Do not worry about that. I want you to focus on staying safe. Don't leave camp. Learn all you can. Don't worry that your father won't claim you immediately; he can't yet. Listen to Percy and Thalia, they'll protect you. If Percy and Thalia fight, don't get in the middle. I'll be back as soon as I can."
She embraced him tightly and kissed the top of his head. He returned the embrace just as fiercely.
Shortly afterwards, the sky began to lighten.
"About time," Artemis muttered. "He's so-o-o lazy during the winter."
"You're, um, waiting for sunrise?" Percy asked.
"For my brother. Yes."
Percy looked confused.
"It's not exactly as you think," Artemis said.
"Oh, okay," Percy said, relaxing a bit. "So, it's not like he'll be pulling up in a –"
There was a sudden burst of light on the horizon, accompanied by a blast of warmth. Chrysa turned away from the light and pulled Nico with her, protecting his face from the brightness of Apollo's chariot.
"Don't look," Artemis advised. "Not until he parks."
When the light finally died, Chrysa turned around to see a red convertible Maserati Spyder glowing as it sat beside the cliff. The snow had melted around the car in a perfect circle.
Apollo stepped out of the car, dressed in jeans, loafers, and a sleeveless t-shirt. He had sandy hair and outdoorsy looks, similar to Luke's, but smiled brightly instead of sneering. He also appeared younger than Luke, at only seventeen years old.
"Wow," Chrysa heard Thalia mutter. "Apollo is hot."
"He's the sun god," Percy said.
"That's not what I meant," Thalia replied, disgruntled. Chrysa stifled a laugh.
"Little sister!" Apollo called. "What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"
Artemis sighed. "I'm fine, Apollo. And I am not your little sister."
Apollo pouted.
"Who says I was talking to you? I could have been talking to Chrysocomê."
"You weren't," Artemis and Chrysa said in unison.
Apollo continued pouting.
"Hey, I was born first!"
"We're twins!" Artemis retorted. "How many millennia do we have to argue…"
"So, what's up?" Apollo asked, interrupting their age-old argument. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"
Artemis gritted her teeth.
"I need a favor. I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."
"Sure, sis!" Apollo agreed, before raising his hands in a stop everything gesture. "I feel a haiku coming on."
The Hunters all groaned. Apollo cleared his throat and held up one hand dramatically.
"Green grass breaks through snow.
Artemis pleads for my help.
I am so cool."
He grinned at them, obviously waiting for applause.
"That last line was only four syllables," Artemis pointed out.
Apollo frowned.
"Was it?"
"Yes. What about I am so big-headed?"
"No, no, that's six syllables. Hmm."
"May I suggest Off to Camp Half-Blood?" Chrysa offered.
Apollo nodded slowly.
"That could work. But I don't think it really shows my awesomeness enough."
"But this is an action haiku," Chrysa said. "You can't have the first two lines be action lines and leave the third as a descriptor."
Apollo sighed.
"Alright then. I'll talk about my greatness another day. And now, sis. Transportation for the Hunters, you say? Good timing. I was just about ready to roll."
"These demigods will also need a ride," Artemis said, pointing to Percy, Thalia, and the satyr. "Some of Chiron's campers, and Chrysocomê's son."
Apollo's eyes immediately went to Nico.
"Is he…"
"Yes," Chrysa cut him off.
"And you're…"
"Yes," Chrysa said.
"Are you…"
"All of this will be discussed in council on the solstice," Chrysa said firmly. "It is not relevant right now, except for the fact that you are taking him to Camp Half-Blood."
Apollo shrugged. "No problem."
His attention turned to the other campers.
"Let's see…Thalia, right? I've heard all about you."
Thalia blushed.
"Hi, Lord Apollo."
"Zeus' girl, yes? Makes you my half sister. Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad you're back . I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember one time…"
"Brother," Artemis interrupted. "You should get going."
"Oh, right," he said. Then he looked at Percy, and his eyes narrowed. "Percy Jackson?"
"Yeah. I mean…yes, sir."
Apollo studied him wordlessly, before rubbing his hands together and saying, "Well! We'd better load up, huh? Ride only goes one way – west. And if you miss it, you miss it."
"Cool car," Nico piped up.
"Thanks, kid," Apollo said.
"But how will we all fit?" Nico pointed out.
"Oh," Apollo said, seeming to notice the problem for the first time. "Well, yeah. I hate to change out of sports-car mode, but I suppose…"
He took out his car keys and beeped the security alarm button. Chirp, chirp.
For a moment, the car glowed brightly again. When the glare died, the Maserati had been replaced by a Turtle Top shuttle bus.
"Right," he said. "Everybody in."
Zoë ordered the Hunters to start loading. She picked up her camping pack, and Apollo said, "Here, sweetheart. Let me get that."
Zoë recoiled, and her eyes flashed murderously.
"Brother," Artemis chided. "You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart."
Apollo spread his hands.
"Sorry. I forgot."
Only millennia of mediating arguments between six thousand brothers and sisters allowed Chrysa to see the teasing glint in his eyes. Apollo knew exactly what he was doing. He was simply being a little brother and annoying his sister as a minor revenge for her ignoring him.
"Hey, sis," Apollo said. "Where are you off to anyway?"
"Hunting," Artemis said. "It's none of your business."
"I'll find out. I see all. Know all."
Artemis snorted.
"Just drop them off, Apollo. And no messing around!"
"No, no! I never mess around," Apollo said, looking faux-solemn and holding his hand up like a Boy Scout.
Artemis rolled her eyes, then looked at the group preparing ot depart.
"I will see you by winter solstice. Zoë, you are in charge of the Hunters. Do well. Do as I would do."
Zoë straightened.
"Yes, my lady."
Artemis knelt and touched the ground as if looking for tracks. When she rose, she looked troubled. "So much danger," she said. "The beast must be found."
She sprinted toward the woods and melted into the snow and shadows.
Apollo turned and grinned, jangling the car keys on his finger.
"So," he said. "Who wants to drive?"
"With my son in your safe-keeping, it had better be you, Apollo," Chrysa said, a hint of warning in her voice. "Do not underestimate what I will do to you if a hair on his head is harmed."
Apollo clutched the keys in his hand.
"Noted. Alright, everybody on the bus!"
Chrysa leaned down slightly so she was closer to Nico's eye level. He was less than a foot shorter than her, so it wasn't difficult, except for the fact that he seemed intently focused on the ground.
"Look at me, Niccolò," she said softly, but firmly, placing her finger under his chin and tilting it up so that his face was to hers. When he finally looked at her, the fear in his eyes was plain.
"There is nothing in this world that I love more than you or your sister, my treasure," she said quietly. "I love you, and I promise I will come back to you, with your sister in tow. Then, perhaps, we shall go see your Papà and celebrate Natale together. How about that?"
Nico nodded, even as he sniffled slightly.
"I – I'd like that, Mamma."
Chrysa smiled sadly as she embraced him one last time before ushering him onto the bus. The Hunters had seated themselves as far away from Apollo as possible, leaving Nico, Percy, Thalia, and the satyr in the front seats. Nico sat with Percy behind the driver's seat while Thalia and the satyr sat across from them.
To Chrysa's surprise, Rhanis was seated directly behind Nico, with Zoë seated beside her.
At Chrysa's raised eyebrow, Zoë said, "You asked us to look after your son, Lady Chrysocomê. We shall do our best to do so."
Chrysa smiled and bowed her head in their direction as a silent thanks.
"Everyone not leaving on the Sun Express needs to vacate the vehicle!" Apollo called out. "It's time to get this thing on the road!"
Chrysa pressed another kiss to Nico's brow as she hugged him tightly, hugged Percy and Thalia, and left the bus. She was forced to turn away as the sun bus brightened as it took off, but she did not leave until it was gone, speeding away to Camp Half-Blood.
She stepped back into the shadows of the woods and cloaked herself in darkness.
Author's Note: Rhanis is a mythology-canon daughter of Oceanus and Tethys and nymph of Artemis.
This may be the last thing posted for a while. I'm going to try to have the next chapter done by next Sunday, but it's been giving me a lot of trouble, so that may or may not happen. Warning: the next chapter nearly got titled, 'Chrysa Goes Psycho'. She is NOT HAPPY. And it's going to show. The next chapter is going to be somewhat darker than all previous ones.