Hello everyone, and happy Halloween! I am uploading this on Wednesday, the 30th, instead of Friday so it gives those who might have off for the weekend or whatnot time to read it without rushing. This chapter has some heavy language in it and might throw your emotions into turmoil, but please stay grounded.
Since they're in here, I have to say that I don't own any characters from the Rick Riordan HoO series.
Enjoy.
Silver Hearts
Chapter Eight
Percy Drowns Everyone
Strider POV
Three days.
Three days had gone by since the explosions within the forest surrounding Camp Half-Blood, and after seventy-two hours of nonstop searching under every rock and in every crevice…
Artemis and I, joined by my new lupine companion, Nova, came up empty-handed.
Absolutely nothing.
No leads.
Nothing.
Zero.
Zippo.
Nada.
It certainly didn't help our moods when many of the demigods wouldn't shut their mouths and kept pestering the moon goddess and I after every hour and every turn. So after three days, I had finally had enough and stormed into the arena, creating holographic clones of myself that would challenge me.
I needed to blow off some steam before I blew up the camp.
These 'clones' fed off the power of my songs. Gold focused on movement and agility as it was running off the mobilium song, red was an aggressive rusher and would compare to Ares in how it behaves. Just with significantly more discipline. Green would usually provide support from afar with a bow and arrows, keeping its distance as the supporium clone. And blue would be strictly defense. Knowing every block, parry and evasion I had learned over the thousands of years of my existence.
"Stupid."
A red holographic clone exploded into shards from my silver sword as it was slashed from its hip to opposite shoulder.
"Fucking."
Another clone was decapitated by a silver blur trailed by an inky black smoke.
"Demigods."
Whipping my sword around, I flicked away a strike that would have left a nasty gash in my side. Seeing that my opponent's guard was wide open, I sent a quick thrust into its chest, causing it to burst into golden shards that tinkled to the arena floor.
"KIAI!" I roared, unleashing the peak of my rage as I spun on the final blue clone of myself, cleaving it in two as I brought my blade down on its head.
Panting for breath as my body trembled, I didn't notice as someone walked up behind me.
"Hey! You! Clo- Ugh!"
The gruff male voice was cut off as I spun on my heel, viciously punching out with a metal clad fist that struck him square in the chest. As he stumbled back, clutching his sternum, my staff appeared in my grasp and I speared the boy to the ground, effectively pinning his somewhat thin torso in the gap between the two blades.
As I raised my sword that was still in my right hand to bring down on the throat of my wide-eyed victim, a woman's voice cut through my adrenaline induced haze.
"Strider! Cease!"
I froze immediately, the blade's point quivering as it stopped, suspended a hair's breadth from the throat of the boy who looked no older than fourteen. Bright blue eyes looked up at me, filled to the brim with fear as regret washed over me.
Lifting my sword from his neck, I grabbed my staff, which was firmly embedded in the ground, and yanked it out. Seeing as he was now free, the boy gingerly sat up, keeping his eyes locked on my form as I back tracked several steps to give him space.
My eyes darted upwards and I immediately regretted even looking around. I could see and feel myself surrounded by bows with arrows notched and aimed at me.
"The first to release their arrow will determine if you all survive what comes after." I warned, not even looking at how some arrows were drawn back slightly farther. My eyes locked onto Artemis and for the first time, I could see disappointment in those silver orbs.
"Zeus wants you brought to Olympus…" The goddess said, rather regrettably. "Preferably in chains. I don't know how exactly he expects me to do such a thing, but seeing as you don't pose a threat to me, I will not follow through." She turned her piercing silver eyes to the youth I had nearly killed. "And you, boy, should know better than to interrupt someone's training." If looks could kill, the young man would be a pile of ash. "Do you not realize he would have ended your life? He wouldn't even be merciful and cut your head off. Oh no. Far from it." She stalked toward the youth, who shrunk back until he tripped on his own feet, falling on his rear. "He would have plunged his sword into your neck and watched as the life left your eyes." The goddess of the moon's next words would have made Aphrodite proud. "He is mine. Nobody, especially not some arrogant little son of my brother, is going to take him from me."
"Arty…" I softly spoke, placing my left hand on her chest, seeing as my right still gripped my sword, and gently pushed her back a step. She snapped her eyes up to mine, trying to glare at me, but I saw the genuine fear at the thought of losing me. I leaned down and whispered in her ear, feeling her shiver. "I am not going anywhere. It was a mistake, let this go. If anything, do this for me. Please."
She bowed her head and gave a slight nod, but I could feel that she wasn't alright.
I gently tilted her head upward to meet my eyes with a finger under her chin. I placed a soft kiss on her cheek and smiled, stepping back once to sheath my sword. I chuckled to myself as I heard the many bowstrings relax, and the sighs from the archers as they relaxed their shoulders.
I turned my attention back to the demigod who had disturbed me. "Let this be a learning lesson to leave someone alone. Or, if you truly wanted to speak with me without endangering yourself, just stand at the entrance and call for me." I looked him up and down, noticing the way he gingerly held his hand against his chest. "You should get that looked at." I said, concern lacing my tone.
Thunder suddenly rumbled overhead and I looked up just in time for the sky to open up and rain to start pouring down. I sighed.
Great. Just what I needed.
Literally raining on my day.
"PERCY FREAKING JACKSON!" A female voice screamed over the pounding rain. "WHEN I SAID I WANTED A SHOWER, THIS WAS NOT WHAT I MEANT!"
"Oh come on Owl Head! It was funny and you know it!" Came the reply in a male voice, and I could tell he was barely holding back his laughter.
I heard a faint smacking sound in the distance, closely followed by a yelp of pain and the skies instantly cleared.
A thoroughly drenched Annabeth Chase stormed past me with a downright murderous expression on her face. Without saying a word to anyone, she threw open the door to the Athena cabin and slammed it shut.
Nobody spoke.
Until–
"Must be that time of the month again." Came the comment from none other than, you guessed it, Travis Stoll, son of Hermes.
I couldn't help myself, I keeled over, falling onto my knees as I burst into laughter. Many other males joined me in my mirth, all of us roaring with laughter as the females glared at us with scathing looks.
Those of us dating would certainly pay for it later.
But it was so worth it.
And that's that. Got a taste of some classic Rick Riordan characters, and I will let you all know that they will come into play later on. I have a lot planned for this story, so sit back and relax. I got the reins and everything is under control.
Another thing, I will be starting a Ko-Fi when each of my stories hit 15 chapters. This will grant those who subscribe the opportunity to join a discord server that I'm building as of right now. Those who have access will gain the ability to get in touch with me directly, view sneak peeks of future chapters, and gain early access for another 3-5 chapters ahead of what's already published.
That's in the future though.
Hope you all enjoyed Chapter Eight of Silver Hearts and remember to have fun on Halloween!
Happy hunting.
