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ladies and gents Chapter 6

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Chapter 6: Under the Pressure of Stars

It had been weeks since the night by the fire, and yet, Percy couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting between him and Artemis. They still spent time together, hunting, training, and talking in the quiet of the forest or by the campfire. But the air between them had grown thicker, charged with unspoken words and the tension of their growing closeness.

Percy found himself thinking about her all the time, and not just in the context of their quests or their shared battles with monsters. There was something about Artemis—the way she carried herself, the way she moved with such grace and certainty—that made him feel both comforted and uncertain all at once.

The hardest part was that Artemis had never asked for any of this. The pull he felt toward her, the connection between them—she hadn't wanted it, hadn't sought it. And Percy couldn't help but wonder if he was complicating her life, dragging her into a world she had spent centuries trying to avoid.

One evening, as they sat by the fire again, Artemis was quieter than usual. Her silvery eyes flickered toward the sky, and her expression seemed distant, as though her mind was elsewhere.

"Artemis?" Percy asked gently, his voice breaking the silence. "Is everything alright?"

She looked at him, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before her features softened. "I was just thinking," she said, her voice low. "About what you said, the other night. About taking a chance."

Percy's heart skipped a beat. He knew she had been thinking about it—he could feel the weight of her words, and he could see the hesitation in her eyes. He wanted to reach out, to say something that would make her understand, but the words eluded him.

"Do you think it's worth it?" Artemis continued, her gaze locking with his. "This... connection between us? Do you think it's worth the consequences?"

Percy didn't need to ask what she meant by consequences. He had seen the way the gods treated relationships, how even the smallest attachments often led to chaos, pain, or worse. But for once, he didn't want to think about the consequences. He didn't want to think about the risks of loving someone who could never be fully his.

"I don't know," he said honestly, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him. "But I'm willing to find out."

For a moment, Artemis said nothing. Her gaze drifted back to the fire, her eyes reflecting the flames. She was thinking, weighing his words against her own fears and doubts. Finally, she spoke again, her voice quiet but resolute.

"I've lived for centuries, Percy. I've seen countless heroes come and go. I've watched them fall, watched them burn because they thought they could have something more than their duty. But I've never wanted anything more than the hunt... than the moonlight."

Percy shifted closer, his heart aching with the weight of her words. "I understand that," he said softly. "But maybe you're allowed to want something else. Maybe you don't have to be alone."

Artemis turned her head sharply to look at him, her silver eyes piercing into his. For a moment, it felt like time itself had stopped. The forest around them was silent, as if even nature was holding its breath.

"I'm not afraid of being alone," she said slowly. "I'm afraid of wanting something I can't keep."

Percy swallowed hard. He had never been good at handling the emotions that made people hesitate. He had always been impulsive, charging in without thinking of the consequences. But this was different. Artemis wasn't like the others. She wasn't just some girl he could win over with charm or a smile. She was a goddess, and she had lived through things he couldn't even imagine.

But there was something in the way she said those words that struck him deeply. It was as if she was scared of what might happen if she let herself feel something for him.

"I won't make you promises," Percy said quietly, "because I can't. I don't know what the future holds. But I can promise you this: I'm not going anywhere. I'm here, and I'm willing to face whatever comes with you."

Artemis's expression softened, her lips slightly parted as though she wanted to say something more. But before she could, the air around them shifted.

A loud roar echoed through the trees, cutting through the calm of the night like a knife. Percy's instincts kicked in, and he was on his feet before he even fully understood what was happening. Artemis was already moving too, her bow drawn in an instant, her focus sharp and unwavering.

"Stay close," she said, her voice steady despite the urgency of the situation.

The roar came again, followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps and the snapping of branches. Something massive was coming toward them. Artemis's silver eyes locked with Percy's for a split second, a silent understanding passing between them. They were in this together—whatever it was, they would face it as a team.

The creature that emerged from the darkness was unlike anything Percy had ever seen. It was a hybrid of various monsters, with the body of a bear and the head of a wolf, its fur matted with grime and blood. Its eyes glowed red, and its teeth were long and sharp, glistening in the moonlight.

"Hydra," Artemis said grimly, her voice carrying the weight of a thousand battles fought. "A twisted version of the monster. But more dangerous."

Percy didn't hesitate. He called upon the water, summoning a surge from the nearby creek. The current rushed to meet his call, wrapping around his hands like a living thing, and he hurled it at the creature, forcing it back. But the Hydra wasn't easily deterred. It charged forward, roaring in fury.

Artemis released an arrow with lightning speed, striking the beast in its side. The arrow didn't pierce the monster's thick hide, but it slowed it down just enough for Percy to land a hit with Riptide. The water swirled around the Hydra's legs, attempting to trap it, but the creature was relentless.

Together, they fought the beast, a symphony of water and silver arrows, of swords and magic. Artemis was a blur of motion, her focus unwavering as she dodged the creature's massive claws and aimed her arrows with deadly precision. Percy was at her side, defending her and launching attacks of his own.

But the Hydra was relentless, its multiple heads snapping at them, each one more dangerous than the last. The battle seemed endless, and just when Percy thought they might have the upper hand, the Hydra's tail lashed out, knocking him off his feet. He hit the ground hard, wind knocked out of him, his vision swimming.

"Percy!" Artemis's voice rang out in panic, but there was no time to react. The Hydra was closing in, its jaws gaping wide.

Before Percy could even think, Artemis moved, faster than he could blink. She leaped into the air, her dagger raised high, and in one swift motion, she drove it deep into the Hydra's neck, her silver eyes blazing with determination.

The Hydra let out one final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground, its body shuddering as it died.

Breathing heavily, Artemis landed gracefully beside Percy, her expression fierce and triumphant, but there was a flicker of worry in her eyes as she knelt beside him.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice softer now, the urgency of the battle fading.

Percy blinked, still dazed from the impact, but a grin spread across his face. "You just... you just saved my life. Again."

Artemis's lips twitched, a rare smile forming on her face. "You're not as helpless as you look."

He chuckled, despite the pain in his side. "I've got a good teacher."

She helped him to his feet, her silver eyes locking with his. "You didn't back down. That's why I'm still here. You fight like you have nothing to lose, but maybe that's what makes you different. You fight because you care."

Percy's heart pounded in his chest as he met her gaze. In that moment, he realized that whatever was happening between them—it wasn't just a fleeting connection. It was something deeper, something that couldn't be ignored.

"You're not alone anymore," he said softly, his voice steady but full of meaning. "Not if you don't want to be."

Artemis looked at him, her silver eyes searching his face as if trying to read the truth in his words. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, finally, she stepped closer, her fingers brushing against his.

"Maybe... maybe I'm not," she whispered.

The night stretched on, the stars twinkling above them as they stood together, the silent promise of something new between them. And for the first time in a long while, Artemis didn't feel so alone.

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