Percy

I groaned as my eyes fluttered open, a hand instinctively going to the back of my head as I rubbed the sore spot where the hard… something hit me. Why the hell do I keep getting knocked out? Is it a demigod thing? Resistance to literally everything except getting knocked out?

I sat up lethargically as I took stock of my surroundings. Silver rays of moonlight imprinted themselves on the floor of my cell through a small window with metallic bars through it, almost like pale arms reaching to pull me out.

As usual, my ADHD led my thoughts to meander.

Moonlight, Moon, Moon-goddess, Artemis… ARTEMIS!

I jumped up suddenly, clutching my head as I remembered the migraine I was nursing from the hit I had taken to the back of my head.

What had happened?

I remembered leaving Artemis to have some time for herself, I assumed she was distraught about her animals being controlled, going off to get wood, and then…

Blank.

Well, really, it all went black, but I digress.

I took stock of the small cell I was in.

I had been laying down on a small cot in the corner of the room, and the rest was empty. Just four walls, a roof, and floor made out of solid concrete. There was a small window opposite of the door, which was solid metal.

I quickly checked my right ring finger, sighing in relief as I felt the comforting familiarity of my enchanted ring.

So not unarmed then. Good. I could work with that.

Suddenly, a small flap in the door opened, and a singular eye widened as it saw I had awoken.

The owner of the eye quickly closed the flap again, and I heard the telltale jingle of keys as the jailer seemingly fumbled as they tried to find the right one.

Finally, the door latch clicked and the door swung open, and four women clad in ancient greek armour marched in, pointing spears at me.

A tall, regal lady, dressed in much more ornate armour entered. She gave me a once-over, before swiftly turning around. 'Come.' She said.

Should I go with them? In theory, I was still armed, I had control of my powers, I could fight my way out if need be.

As I thought it over more though, I realised I A, didn't know how skilled these uniformly female warriors were, where the hell I was, where Artemis was, or how to get out of here if I successfully overpowered my guards.

In the end, I decided to keep this particular ace up my sleeve.

I put my hands up in a placating manner, as a particularly large guard walked forward with a menacing smile on her face, turning me around and roughly pushing me against the wall of the compound, forcing some very tight handcuffs on my hands.

I was forcefully marched through monotone grey concrete walls with spartan lighting fixtures on the roofs.

I slowly lost track of time and where we were going as my mind went back to Artemis and how she was.

I mean, she's a goddess, I'm sure she can sort this out. I tried to reassure myself.

Eventually, we reached a massive doorway, with two female guards on the outside. I already had a pretty good idea of who these people were, but since my guards and the seemingly leader of my small escort didn't appear to be particularly conversational, I decided to keep my speculation to myself.

The grand doors were cast open by the guards, and I was met with a massive throne room, with ornate pillars and beautiful murals on the walls and columns, depicting epic battles between unspeakable monsters and armour-clad heroes.

At the end of the grandiose chamber sat a woman, clad in armour much more ornate than that of her fellow amazons.

As I was forcefully marched up to her, I was able to make out her features. She was very beautiful, with glossy black hair, onyx eyes and copper skin, a smouldering look present on her face.

'Hylla.' I greeted stonily.

XIXI

Artemis

I groaned as I sat up, finding myself in a drab grey cell, barren except for a small cot I was laying in. I quickly got up, finding my power to be quite diminished.

What happened to me?

I tried to retrace my steps through my memory as I tried to think of all of the events that came to pass just before I found myself in this strange cell.

The attack by my Yales, Gaia, Perseus risking himself for me…

I couldn't help the butterflies in my stomach as I thought of that.

I'll have to figure that out another time.

Standing up, looking for Perseus, and…

Blank.

I frowned in confusion, before suddenly I registered the pain in the back of my head.

Okay. I guess that answers my question then.

Having figured out what had happened prior to the cell, I now focused my efforts on my current situation. There was a small window, where moonlight shone through. I slowly stretched out my hand, feeling myself gain a sliver of energy as the moonlight came in contact with my hand.

Slowly, I stood up. What had they hit me with? I hadn't felt this drained since I hunted the Erymanthian boar almost millenia ago.

The moonlight helped me recover enough strength to walk, although for a couple of minutes I had to support myself on the wall of the cell to stay upright. I rubbed my forehead, squeezing my eyes shut as I tried to regain some sense of normalcy.

It felt… wrong, to be so deprived of energy, as if I was missing a limb. I took a couple of deep breaths. If only I wasn't alone. If only I had a companion to help me.

Companion, now why did that ring a bell?

Suddenly, my eyes shot wide open in horror.

PERSEUS!

XIXI

Percy

'After our last meeting, my sister promised me it would be the last time I was ever kidnapped by your kind.' I remarked coldly.

She smirked amusedly, raising an eyebrow questioningly. 'And how is my dear sister?'

'Fine, thanks, although she probably won't be unless I and my questmate are able to complete our quest.'

'Hm. So dramatic. You act as if the fate of your precious little war hangs in the balance.' Hylla responded carelessly.

'You have no idea, anyways, if you could inform me as to why you have sequestered myself and I presume my companion as well?' I began formally, putting much more force into my voice now.

The change was instant. Hylla seemed to straighten in her seat even more than her perfect posture already required, and the guards seemed to tense, gripping their spears.

I smiled to myself, the power dynamic had switched in an instance, and everybody knew it.

Without waiting for a response, I ploughed forward anyways.

'I am Perseus Jackson, son of Neptune, praetor of the twelfth legion fulminata, and you have interfered in a quest issued by Mars Ultor, to slay the mighty giant king Porphyrion.' The shock in the guards was evidenced by their wide eyes.

Must be newbies. I analyzed. The old guards didn't even bat an eye.

Hylla was more controlled in her reaction, merely a shift in her countenance was all I needed to know I had rattled her with my mention of a quest, especially one ordained by one of their holiest gods for the amazons, the Roman war god Mars. Hopefully that would fastrack me and Artemis out of here.

Hylla stared back at me, seemingly uncaring to the discomfort her guards were being subjected to.

'You seem to labour under the impression that your admittedly esteemed position in the New Roman society means anything to me.'

'We found another son of the sea like you. Although I have to say, he was quite a bit different to you. He's not with us anymore.'

I blinked in surprise. Another son of Neptune? How had he survived so long without coming to camp?

I quickly forgot about this though, as Hylla made to speak again.

She gestured to the hall. 'You are currently in Seattle, Washington state, the headquarters of Amazon, a massive complex around 1000 acres large, with some of the best security in the world, divine or mortal. Last time I helped you for the sake of my sister. But she isn't here to help you now.'

I gritted my teeth in frustration at her admittedly accurate remarks.

Hylla leaned forward, staring at me with a gaze that could only be described as predatory

'You're in my world now.'

XIXI

Artemis

I was forcefully marched to what seemed to be some sort of chamber. The soldiers I noticed were very careful with me, making sure not to put me in any unnecessary discomfort given the situation.

I wonder if they treated Perseus so well?

Inside, reclined on an ornate golden throne, was a woman, not much older than Perseus.

The woman raised an eyebrow as she appraised me.

'I was not aware the ancient laws had been lifted, frankly I thought the reports of a seemingly divine woman in the company of the son of Neptune were merely exaggerations… Yet here we are.'

'We are on a quest of the utmost importance in the upcoming war against Gaea.' I began authoritatively. I would not be talked down to by some sort of wannabe upstart warrior queen. I needed to get Percy back.

Hylla was either unimpressed, or had an incredible poker face, as she gave nothing away, simply studying me for the time being.

'I suppose we shall be getting straight to the point, Lady Artemis?' My face stayed emotionless, but inside my heart plummeted. How did this girl know my identity? I rarely showed myself in the divine world, tending to stick with my huntresses, hunting monsters, which didn't really require that much interaction with the outside world.

Hylla continued without waiting for a reply. 'I suppose it is good Perseus has begun with his trial already, you seem quite eager to be gone from here.' She smiled mischievously. 'I have to say though, I will miss him once he leaves, he's quite easy on the eyes, wouldn't you agree?'

I felt an ugly feeling erupt in my stomach in regards to Hylla's… Choice words about Perseus.

I would not let this-this Harlot try to steal him away from me.

I blinked in surprise. That had been an… unnecessarily harsh reaction.

'I can't say I've noticed, then again, we have spent so much time together during this quest, I'm afraid I've gotten rather used to him.' I returned smoothly.

I smiled inwardly at how Hylla looked miffed at the comment, but she did not dare to take any more liberties with an olympian goddess than she had done already.

'Where is Perseus?' I followed up, suddenly remembering my mini-quest to get the idiot back.

Hylla smirked in a self satisfied way that set off alarm bells in my mind.

'Right now?'

AN:

Yet another chapter split in two.

What can I say? It is what it is. I feel it help with pacing, also for me to organise the chapters and the pacing, it just works better.

The reason I didn't add a new chapter last week is because I basically added like a couple thousand extra words to the first two chapters.

The reason for this is that between the first two chapters and the last two chapters, I wrote an entire plot, complete with character arcs, and as far as I'm concerned it's still a work in progress. So a bunch of stuff in the first two chapters had to be changed, and I also wanted to add more depth and context between Percy's relationships with other side characters and Artemis. So I did. Woohoo.

I also feel like and have been getting feedback that the quest and relationship is rushed, and I totally agree, so I'm debating whether or not to write an entirely new chapter.

The problem is, you can only have an Olympian goddess and one of the most powerful demigods of all time get ambushed or kidnapped or get stuck in an uncomfortable situation so many times together before it gets old.

Now, to address one thing, this Artemis is very much OOC, and there's a good reason for that, trust me.

I don't like Riordan's portrayal of Artemis.

In the myths, Artemis is always shown as generally uninterested in the company of men, preferring to hunt, but she never really had any specific vendetta against men, like Riordan's Artemis. Very much mature, understanding that her values clashed with those of matrimony and what was considered love and romance at the time. She also never swore off men, simply did not find any interesting enough to catch her attention especially as she valued her independence above all else, and she felt being married would hinder that.

So yeah, Artemis doesn't necessarily hate all men for no reason whatsoever. Myth Busted. (Do you get it? Myth busted? Because they're greek myths? No? I should shut up? OK…)

So while it is improbable that Artemis would fall in love, it is not impossible.

Slán, Murph