Hello and welcome back to Under the Silver Moon
Thank you to all who are reading this story and are reviewing as you know reviews help me know what I need to fix and they make me want to continue writing.
As always I do not own PJO or HoO
Without further more ladies and Gents Chapter 18:
CHAPTER 18: Shadows in the Light
Chapter 18: Shadows in the Light
The camp was on edge. News of the strange encounter in the woods spread quickly, whispered between meals, murmured during sparring matches. Percy could feel the unease in every interaction, the way everyone glanced toward the forest as though expecting shadows to step forward and attack.
Artemis had called a council meeting for the leaders in the camp, which included Chiron, Thalia, Percy, and a few others. They gathered in the central pavilion under the canopy of the ancient oaks, the air thick with tension.
Chiron leaned forward, his equine lower half settled as he rested his hands on the table. "This figure—did they give any indication of their allegiance? A name, a sign, anything?"
Artemis shook her head, her expression grim. "Nothing definitive. Their words were meant to unsettle, to sow doubt. But the power they carried wasn't insignificant."
Thalia tapped her fingers on the hilt of her spear, her face set in a scowl. "They mentioned being a messenger, but for who? And what did they mean by ties bringing both salvation and destruction?" She shot Percy a pointed glance, and he shifted uncomfortably.
"I'm guessing it's connected to whatever they sensed about me," Percy admitted. "But honestly, I've got no idea what they're talking about. And what's this shadow hunting the light supposed to mean? Some metaphor, or something literal?"
Chiron stroked his beard, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "The prophecy of the Seven spoke of darkness and light intertwined. It may be possible this figure refers to an extension of that—or perhaps another layer we have yet to uncover."
Artemis nodded. "The gods themselves are not exempt from such warnings. It's possible this threat isn't aimed solely at the mortal realm. And if that's true, we must tread carefully."
"Carefully," Thalia repeated, her tone skeptical. "We can't just sit around waiting for the next cryptic message. We need to act."
"Thalia's right," Percy said, the frustration bubbling in his chest. "Sitting on our hands isn't going to help. We need to figure out who sent this 'messenger' and why."
Artemis's gaze flicked toward him, her silver eyes assessing. "Then we'll begin by seeking answers where the veil between light and shadow is thinnest."
"The Oracle?" Chiron asked, his voice quiet but knowing.
Artemis inclined her head. "Delphi has been silent for too long. If we are to act, we need clarity, and the Oracle may provide it."
Percy exchanged a glance with Thalia. Visiting the Oracle had never been a simple task, and with the looming threat of an unknown enemy, it felt even more daunting. But neither of them argued.
"When do we leave?" Percy asked.
Artemis's lips quirked in the faintest smile. "Immediately. Time is not on our side."
The journey to the Oracle's sanctuary was quiet but tense. Percy, Thalia, and Artemis were joined by Grover, who insisted on coming along after Artemis revealed that the balance of nature might also be at risk. The path took them through hills and valleys, each step drawing them closer to the ominous sense of something stirring.
It was late afternoon when they reached Delphi. The air felt heavy as they climbed the winding steps to the temple ruins. The once-grand columns were crumbling, vines snaking up their surfaces like veins. The place carried a strange silence, one that set Percy's nerves on edge.
As they approached the central chamber, a faint glow emanated from within. Artemis stepped forward first, her movements careful but confident. Percy followed, gripping Riptide tightly, with Thalia and Grover close behind.
The Oracle's chamber was bathed in an ethereal green light. The spirit of the Oracle hovered above its usual perch, its translucent form flickering like a candle in the wind. Its voice, ancient and layered, echoed through the space.
"Seekers of truth, you come with questions. But the answers you seek will cost you dearly."
Percy glanced at Artemis, who gave a subtle nod. "We need to know about the shadow that hunts the light," Percy said, stepping forward. "Who sent the messenger? And what do they want?"
The Oracle's eyes glowed brighter, and its voice deepened. "The shadow is born of light's betrayal. Its master rises where the line of gods meets the forgotten throne. The messenger serves one who waits beyond the veil of time, watching, waiting, preparing for the unmaking of what you hold dear."
Percy's stomach churned. "The unmaking of what? The gods? The mortal world?"
The Oracle turned its glowing gaze directly on him. "The unmaking of the ties that bind. Beware, child of the sea. You walk a path fraught with peril. To hold the light is to invite the shadow. To deny it is to invite despair."
Before Percy could ask what that meant, the Oracle's glow dimmed, and its form dissipated, leaving the chamber in shadowed silence.
Thalia was the first to break it. "Well, that's... not ominous at all."
"What does it mean?" Grover asked, his voice hushed.
Artemis's face was unreadable as she turned to the group. "It means we are running out of time. The shadow born of light's betrayal—if that's literal, then it may already be among us."
"And the forgotten throne?" Percy asked. "What throne? Olympus is still standing."
"Not all thrones are on Olympus," Artemis said quietly. "There are powers older than the gods. If this involves one of them… we're dealing with something far more dangerous than we imagined."
Percy swallowed hard. For the first time, he felt the weight of the warning settle on him fully. The ties that bind. His connections—his loyalty to his friends, his growing bond with Artemis—were at the heart of this. And they might also be the key to unraveling it all.
Whatever lay ahead, it wasn't just about survival. It was about holding onto everything and everyone that mattered. Even if it meant walking straight into the shadow's path.
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