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Chapter 28: The Price of Love
Artemis stood at the edge of the throne room, her heart pounding in her chest. The air was thick with tension, and the gods around her seemed to whisper among themselves, their gazes flicking between her and Zeus. She had expected confrontation, but not like this. Not with so much rage in Zeus's eyes, the kind that burned brighter than the mightiest of storms.
Her father, the king of the gods, stood tall and imposing before her, his expression grim. His throne, a massive structure of gold and clouds, seemed to tower over her, making her feel small in a way she hadn't since her childhood. And yet, she refused to bow. She was a goddess, after all—a being who had sworn off the rules of mortal love and distractions long ago. But now? Now she was being forced to confront those very rules she had upheld for centuries.
"Artemis," Zeus said, his voice cold and deep, like the rumble of thunder before a storm. "You've brought shame upon yourself, and upon Olympus. You've chosen him—Percy Jackson—a mere mortal, a demigod, to be your... companion."
The word hit her like a blow, and her chest tightened, but she held her ground. "I don't see why that matters, Father. Percy has proven himself worthy of my trust. He has earned his place, just like you once earned yours. Why does it matter who I choose to be with?"
Zeus's face darkened, his eyes crackling with fury. "It matters because you betrayed your vows. You have defied everything you were meant to represent. The Hunt, the purity, the freedom from mortal weakness. By taking this child of the sea as your... lover, you've made a mockery of your own oath!"
Artemis didn't flinch. She had made her decision, and she would not back down. But the weight of Zeus's words stung more than she expected. She could feel the eyes of the other gods on her—some sympathetic, others critical—and it only made her resolve grow stronger.
"I haven't betrayed anything," she said, her voice firm but steady. "I've chosen Percy because he deserves to be chosen. He is brave, loyal, and he has stood by my side in ways no one else has. He is more than worthy of my affection."
Zeus's eyes flared, the storm clouds above them churning with energy. "I do not care what you think is worthy, Artemis. You are a goddess, sworn to the Hunt, sworn to remain untouched by mortal weakness. Your actions tarnish everything we stand for. And you—" He pointed a finger at her, the skies crackling with his divine fury. "—will pay for your disobedience."
The words hit Artemis like a slap across the face. She had known this might come, but hearing it out loud, seeing the anger in her father's eyes—it made something twist inside her. She had defied Zeus, and now she would have to face the consequences.
"What do you plan to do, Father?" Artemis asked, her voice steady but the undercurrent of anger barely concealed. "Punish me for loving? Is that what you think this is? Love?"
Zeus's lips curled into a bitter sneer. "Love? You speak of it like some divine virtue. No, Artemis. This is not love. This is weakness. And it must be eradicated. You will return to the Hunt, and you will never again leave it. If I must, I will strip you of your power to be with him. Your heart will remain cold, like it was meant to be. You will learn that this mortal is not worth your time, nor your devotion."
Artemis felt her chest constrict as her father's words sank in. To be stripped of her feelings, of her ability to choose whom she cared for, was a fate worse than anything she could imagine. But she wouldn't show weakness. Not here. Not in front of the gods who had watched her grow into the goddess she was now.
"I will never let you do that, Father," Artemis said, her voice quieter, but with an undeniable steel to it. "I won't be a puppet, pulled by your strings. I am Artemis, the goddess of the Hunt, the protector of all that is pure. But I am also my own person. And I will not be controlled."
Zeus's thunderous expression faltered for a moment, and for the briefest second, Artemis saw the barest trace of something—perhaps regret, perhaps fury—flicker in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it came.
"You will see," Zeus said, his voice low and dangerous. "You will learn that the price for defying me, for defying the very foundation of what Olympus stands for, is more than you can comprehend. You will return to the Hunt, and you will forget this mortal." His eyes narrowed. "And if you don't..."
The threat lingered in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst.
Artemis refused to be cowed. "I will never forget him," she said quietly but fiercely. "I won't forget what Percy has done for me, for Olympus, or for the world. You can try to take my feelings from me, Father, but you cannot change who I am."
Zeus's face twisted with fury. "Then you are no daughter of mine," he spat.
A tense silence hung between them, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder as the storm clouds swirled overhead. Artemis stood unmoving, her chin raised, her heart pounding but resolute.
"You are making a grave mistake," Zeus warned, his voice a cold whisper now. "One that will come back to haunt you."
"Maybe," Artemis said, "but it's my mistake to make."
The room seemed to hold its breath as Zeus stared at his daughter, eyes flashing with divine power, while Artemis stood her ground, refusing to back down. The silence stretched on, until Zeus finally raised his hand and dismissed her with a wave.
"Go," he said, his tone harsh. "Return to your precious Hunt. But know that this... relationship will be your undoing. And Percy Jackson will never be welcome here again."
Artemis turned and walked away, her heart heavy but her resolve stronger than ever. She would not be swayed. Not by Zeus. Not by anyone. Her love for Percy Jackson was her own, and nothing could take that from her—not even the king of the gods.