disclaimer - i am not rick, and i don't own pjo/hoo
hey bitches, i'm back! after over an year? i know, shocking to me too. but i got a moment of epiphany and wrote this whole chapter in the last two to three hours. you're welcome or i'm sorry
anyways, maybe I'll feel inspired again when i don't want to study and instead choose to write, but for now this is what you're getting.
1 night ago
Artemis had never faced sleeping problems before, but sleeping beside Percy made her hyper aware of everything she's touching. She stared up at the ceilings blankly, hoping to ignore the warmth that is emitted from Percy's side of the bed.
After the whole thing with Estelle happened, Percy had offered her a place in his room in case Estelle came back, and Artemis accepted. But sleep was not coming as easily as she had hope.
When she finally fell asleep, she was haunted by dreams.
"Lady Diana," the wolf in front of her, shifted to Lupa, and Artemis felt her Roman counterpart took over before she could do anything about it.
"Lupa, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Diana took a seat besides the other goddess, who tended to the fire in front of them. "You aren't known to interact with Olympian affairs."
"Time has changed, Diana," Lupa sighed. There was a blood moon that hung above them, and Diana glanced up with curiosity. "Nothing is as it seems, and I fear our time is almost near."
Diana blinked, her mind struggling to keep up. "What time? Don't tell me you're about to die, Lupa."
"It's a warning," Lupa stated quietly. "Night is falling, but the stars will light their ways. The mistress won't wait long, soon the battle will come to you. My wolves are on their trials, but there's not much they can do. Prepare the army, Diana. Soon we will meet on the battlefield."
"So war is almost upon us, then?"
"It pains me to say, but I believe so," Lupa sighed dejectedly. "We shall meet soon, Lady Diana."
The dream faded, and Artemis woke up gasping. Percy laid peacefully beside her, his hands curled protectively around her midsection, and she found herself curling into his arms. Into safety. Lupa's words echoed in her mind, and she noted it down to mention to her father in the progress meeting later that day.
The moon still hung high in the sky outside the bedroom, but Artemis found herself restless.
She slipped out of Percy's embrace quietly, tucking the blanket into his sides and letting out a quiet breath when he curled back up against the blanket. She didn't want to wake him just yet.
The kitchen light was on when Artemis went in, and Estelle sat quietly on the counter, nursing a cup of hot chocolate. She looked up when Artemis walked in, and offered her a half smile, twirling her ring with her index finger.
"Hey," Estelle smiled tentatively, and Artemis returned it. "You want something to drink? I still have some leftover hot water from-"
Artemis snapped her fingers and brought herself a cup of hot tea. Estelle blinked. "Or you can just do that."
Artemis let out a small laugh and took a seat beside the woman. It still felt surreal to be sitting beside the woman who was supposed to be only a few days old, yet already have twenty-two years of war under her belt. "Thank you for offering."
Estelle hummed in response, and they sat in silence.
"You love my brother," it was Estelle who broke the peace that hung over them. Artemis swallowed, turning towards the other woman, who raised an eyebrow in response. "I'm right, right?"
"I like him," Artemis shrugged, trying to ignore her beating her. "I don't know about love."
"You should do something about it," Estelle tried to play it off as a nonchalant statement, but Artemis saw the way she looked away. "Time is never on our side when we are in a war."
"What happened to your Percy?" Artemis asked tentatively, glancing at the other woman, who looked like a child for the first time since Artemis had got to know her. Her sweater drowns her, and her hair frames her face. Her eyes held more pain than Artemis had ever seen.
"He died trying to save me," Estelle looked away. "Shortly after my wife faded, I got more reckless. I love her, she showed me love when it seemed impossible, and she believed in me. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, but they treated me as if I was glass, as if I could break at the slightest touch, and I hated it. I'm not some fragile china that's going to break. My wife trained me in combat, she believed in me even when they didn't. In the end it didn't matter anyways, they came in with this device, and half of the immortals faded away, even the strongest one. There was no time to stop them, no one saw it coming."
"Your wife faded with the rest of the immortals," Artemis noted, and Estelle nodded, twisting the ring on her finger. "What happened to me?"
"You didn't fade," Estelle whispered quietly. "At least not at first. Your hunters were a huge part of you, and their numbers were big, so we thought you were safe. But they knew that too."
"No-" Artemis pressed a trembling hand to her mouth, she could guess where this was going, she wasn't an idiot. She wished desperately that she was wrong.
"The army killed them in the middle of the night. Every last one of them. You started fading not soon after, and you died in Percy's arms. You guys never quite got to confess your feelings, but it was so obvious. It would've been a love story for the ages, you know? I looked up to the two of you growing up, you two were this unstoppable duo, and your love was so pure, so sweet. But you two oblivious idiots just couldn't see that your feelings are reciprocated," Estelle wiped away a stray tear. "I guess Percy became more reckless too. We were on a scouting mission, we got surrounded during an argument. I was fighting the, they were everywhere, and they kept on coming. Percy was a force to behold, but I… wasn't. He came to my aid when I got distracted and didn't notice someone behind me. He took the poison blade, he died in my was the night she found me."
Artemis blinked. "She?"
Estelle waved her question away. "You will know in due time. She doesn't want her identity revealed so soon. She's going to play a vital part in this war. But she saved me, took me under her wings and told me of their plans. My parents were dead already, my brother was dead, my wife was dead too, so I joined them. Not a few years later we all came back to this timeline, hoping for a better outcome."
"I'm curious, who's your wife?"
"You wouldn't believe me," Estelle laughed, wiping her eyes with her sleeves. "Sometimes even I don't believe it."
"Try me. I am probably in love with the savior of Olympus and there's a war looming over my head. A baby I was in charge of not only got replaced by an older version of herself, but from an alternate timeline too, it can't get more crazy than this. I'm an Olympian, Estelle, I don't think anything will faze me."
"Athena."
Artemis blinked, as the word swarmed around in her mind. "Seriously?"
"Yep," Estelle gave her a lopsided grin that was so like Percy's Artemis had to remind herself that it wasn't her best friend sitting in front of her for a second.
"What with the Jackson siblings and getting a goddess to fall in love with them?"
"I guess it's just our natural charm," Estelle flipped her hair dramatically, and Artemis flashed a smile at that. "We're just irresistible like that."
"You also have an ability to attract danger everywhere you go," Artemis sighed.
Estelled frowned. "Guess that's just a downside of being a Jackson. You should warn Thalia about that. I heard she's officially a Jackson now."
Artemis laughed and shook her head. "I don't think Thalia could attract more danger even if she tried. She may be my Lieutenant but she sure knows how to get into a lot of trouble."
"That's Thalia for you."
They shared a smile, and Artemis felt her worry slip for a second. Because sitting in the Jackson kitchen, she felt untouchable.
Present Day
"WHERE THE FUCK ARE THESE CREATURES COMING FROM," Thalia led the charge into the battle, and Cathline laughed beside her, shooting arrows after arrows into the field of endless monsters. All the arrows were tipped in silver, allowing it to actually cause damage to the creatures.
Camp Juiter looks broken when the Hunters had rushed in to join the fight. Campers were scattered everywhere, and even their defense wasn't strong enough to hold the first wave of monsters down long enough. Lupa and her wolves got here right behind the pack of monsters, and they tore into monster flesh with their own teeths, leaving no one alive.
Percy had fled with Artemis to the battlefield, where they started ushing the younger camper through the portal to Camp Olympia, where the remainder of Camp Half-Blood had set up an emergency medical tent.
"WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE, LIEUTENANT," Cathline rushed in right after Thalia, while a group of hunters remained behind to take up posts in the trees, hoping to hold down the ground towards the portal.
"FUCK YOU!" Thalia was a ball of reckless energy on the field, using her spear and shield as if she was born for it. "IF I AM DYING I GET TO SAY FUCK AS MANY TIMES AS I WANT!"
"DO I GET TO SAY FUCK TOO?" Eleanor was waving magic around as if it was as easy as breathing. The arrows she shot were tinted with magical explosive that sends the monsters scattering, and Cathline let out a cackle when she shot three monsters with one arrow.
Thalia growled and held up her shield right before a monster try to sink its teeth into her head. "NO! AND CATHLINE STOP CACKLING, YOU LOOK LIKE A MAD WOMAN!"
"MAYBE I AM!" Just to annoy her, Cathline let out another cackle and charged into the battle, two hunting knives held up defensively in front of her. Thalia sighed and focused on the monster on hand. She saw Percy ushed campers after campers into the portals, while Jason and Frank were holding down the line of monsters trying to get access to it. She won't let what happened to Clarrise happen here, no one would sacrifice themself this time.
But the battle looked hopeless, and even if they wanted to keep Camp Jupiter, it felt like a losing battle. The hoard doesn't stop, and campers are dropping dead quicker than monsters are dying. Thalia knew a hopeless battle when she saw one, and this was one.
"WE GOT TO FALL BACK! CATHLINE, TAKE THE HUNTERS AND FALL BACK! ELEANOR, HOLD THEM DOWN!"
"WITH WHAT?" Eleanor yelled back.
"I DON'T CARE, A BARRIER OR SOMETHING I DON'T GIVE A FUCK AS LONG AS THE MOSNTERS STOP ADVANCING FOR A SECOND!"
A wave of magic exploded from the brunette, and the hunters rushed towards the portal as everyone started to fall back. Eleanor was fading, and Thalia caught the girl and pulled them towards the portal. Artemis stood worriedly at the side, as campers continued to disappear towards safety. The barrier started to fade, and Thalia bit her lips, praying for some gods to answer her prayer for just a few more seconds.
"We got to destroy this portal too," Thalia shoved Eleanor into Cathline's arm as they disappeared beyond the portal, and the monsters closed in on them. Jason flew over, and a cheetah-form Frank ran into the portal.
"I got it," Artemis spoke up calmly, and Percy looked over with a look that seemed to scream 'not over my dead body'. Artemis took his hand and pressed a kiss to his cheeks. "I am a goddess, darling. Trust me."
"You better come back alive, or I will drag you out of death myself," Percy kissed her cheek, before he disappeared with Jason into the portal. Thalia soon followed, but not before glancing back at Artemis, who gave her two thumbs up.
"See you on the other side, milady."
Artemis smiled, and Thalia felt the sensation of something passing through her before a blast sent her forward and the portal connecting Camp Olympia and Camp Jupiter was destroyed forever.
Artemis flashed in a few moments later, and Percy took her in his arms and didn't let go.
With Camp Jupiter at Camp Olympia too, not only was the new Camp over crowded, work was going faster than expected with double the hands. The Gods strengthened their protections, each taking chance to add a little bit of their own magic to the barrier protecting this new camp. It was a sight to behold, the Roman and Greek in the same place again for the first time in centuries.
Percy found himself hanging out with old friends, and although it felt different without Annabeth, it felt like coming home.
"You never did tell us what happened to your baby sister, Percy," Jason was the one who finally brought the topic up, and Percy let out a laugh.
"You won't believe me."
"I'm sure there's nothing we won't not believe at this point," Piper pointed out. Hazel and Frank nodded in agreement.
"It's complicated," Percy shrugged. "My mom isn't too happy about it, actually. All you need to know for now that she's safe and sound, but she's driving my mom crazy."
Leo joined in. "I bet she is. Have you seen you?"
Percy frowned. "Are you trying to insult me? I am not annoying if that's what you're insulating."
Hazel hid a laugh behind her palm and Percy glared in response. "I thought you guys were on my side."
"Sally had lots of fun stories about you as a kid," Leo patted Percy's back sympathetically and Percy pouted. He was going to have a word with his mom later, it wasn't fair that they all get to hear embarrassing childhood stories.
"If you guys are going to be rude, I'm going to leave-" Percy got up with a pout. As if hearing his prayer, Artemis appeared. "Well, now I'm actually going to leave."
"Have fun with your girlfriend," Leo winked, but then shrink into himself with Artemis glared at him coldly. "Sorry, I mean Lady Artemis."
Percy laughed and allowed Artemis to pull him away from the group towards the beach. "I missed you."
"I saw you this morning, Arty," Percy slipped his hands into his pocket, and Artemis blushed. "Aww, did you miss me that much?"
"No, the Olympian meeting was super boring," Artemis huffed and looked away when Percy poked her flushing cheeks. "Athena kept looking into the shadow with funny faces and Dionysus was snoring half the time. Zeus ran for over two hours, and Hermes and Apollo started throwing paper airplanes at each other. Aphrodite kept making kissy faces at me and Poseidon kept staring longingly at Athena. It was kind of disgusting really. And then this shadow spear kept hitting him, so he got annoyed and started splashing Hades with water. Which started a mini war between them, which entertained me for a while until Athena started talking strategy for another two hours and I zoned out again."
"I thought you like Athena's strategy," Percy pointed out, kicking the sand under his feet and glancing over at Artemis, debating if he should take her hand in his. Was this even a date?
"I mean, yeah, usually. But today she was being extra," Artemis made a face. "It was almost as if she was trying to please- oh."
"Oh?" Percy raised his eyebrows, and Artemis looked away again.
"I don't know if it's my secret to tell."
"Well I sure as hell won't be asking Athena so you can keep the secret," Percy shuddered. "I think Athena hates me."
Artemis hit him playfully. "You're being dramatic. She doesn't hate you."
"Tell that to my burnt shirts," Percy protested, and Artemis laughed and slipped her hands into his. Percy froze for a second, and they stared at each other for a moment before they continued on, walking closer than before.
The sound of the waves was calming that night, as if Poseidon was giving them his blessing.
"I don't want to lose you, Percy," Artemis confessed quietly. "You mean too much to me."
"You and I both know we lived in a world where someone we love could be ripped away from us right away," Percy muttered quietly. "But I'm going to stay with you for as long as I live. You're my best friend."
"You're mine," Artemis squeezed his hands three times. I love you.
Dinner was awkward, and Estelle shoved food down her mouth to avoid talking with Sally and Paul. It was dead quiet, besides the sound of metal against plates and chewing, and Estelle hated the sound of chewing.
"I can't believe Percy turned my son into a twenty-two year old woman," Sally muttered, and Paul placed a calming hand on Sally's shoulder. "I'm sorry, dear. This is going to take me a while to get used to. I mean I just gave birth to you yesterday and now you're twenty-two!"
"Well, since I just passed my birthday, I'm technically twenty-three," Estelled added unhelpfully, and Sally glared. She shut up.
"What your mother meant is that we still love you the same, but this is super weird for us," Paul added sweetly, and Estelled smiled at him. "Tell us about your life, Estelle?"
"Well, I grew up with Percy as a big brother so it was kind of chaotic. But then I met this woman who I absolutely hated at first sight because she was so smart and cool and no one is cooler than me. But then we fell in love, and then it turns out she was actually a goddess-" Sally choked, and Paul patted her back. "-but then we got married. And then there was this bright light and then I was here."
"I see you got your personality from your brother," Sally let out a small laugh, and Estelled flashed her famous lopsided grin. "And you got your smile from him too."
"That's what everyone says," she grinned. "The food is lovely, mom. But may I be excused? I have some errands I need to tend to."
Sally nodded. "Yeah, will you be back tonight?"
"Yep, I'll see you soon, mom," Estelle bounced up and kissed her mother's cheek, pulling Paul into a side hug. She melted into the shadow, ignoring the echo of her mother's squeal as she appeared in the mansion of night.
"MY BABY!" Nyx cried in relief and tackled Estelle into a hug before she could even brace herself. Erebus chuckled on the side, and Estelle shot him a 'help me' look. "You're alive!"
Nyx started patting down Estelle's body, checking every angle of her face. "All limbs attached surprisingly. And not dead."
"Thank you for your faith in me," Estelle deadpanned, trying not to feel guilty that the Mansion of Night felt more like home than her mother's apartment would ever be. There was something about the darkness that brought her comfort in a way no one else could. "How's the plan going?"
"Well," Nyx shrugged. "The Mistress does not suspect a thing. Although she's getting annoying. Can I please, please get the killing blow?"
"You know that's not how it works, love," Erebus took Nyx's side, giving Estelle a hug. "I'm glad you look well."
"Thank you!" Estelle sighed exaggeratedly. "When are we going into step two?"
"Soon, have patience, El," Nyx ruffled her hair and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. "I miss you so much. It's going to work this time, you're going to keep your family, okay?"
"Okay." Estelle let herself fall into Nyx's embrace, letting the lie sink into her skin. Everyone knew that war only take and take, and that who lives and who dies all depends on fate. Maybe fate would be kinder this time around. But right now in Nyx's arms, she felt protected from the raging war going on outside.
i hope you enjoy that, leave a review and let me know what you think! (or your prediction for how the story will end)
you're welcome for being nice and not ending in a cliffhanger. at least if you wait for another year you will know that at least they are happy for now-
anyways
see you soon (maybe) ~