Artemis's POV:
Honestly, how could I have not seen this coming? Being caught and imprisoned is unbecoming for the likes of me. How could I have been such a fool? Not only that, but Percy Jackson is also here. And he has to deal with the weight of the sky as his punishment. Just what do they want with him specifically? Having so much malice directed at one mere demigod? Just what has Percy been up to? 'Why-'
'You know, I found her. Jessica's mom. Lady Tyche. Wonderful mother she was. She really cared for her children, still does. Though she doesn't want them at Camp Half-Blood because she knows that they won't be cared for there... She said that Jessica was lucky to have met me, lucky that I saved her, lucky that I cared enough to help her. She had a lot of luck. But as such, that was too much... Nemesis fixed that.' Why is he telling me this? 'Not only Jessica's mom, but other campers too-'
'Percy, why are you telling me this?' I mentally asked. He should really tell this to his friends. Not me. At least the water made it easier for him to properly speak.
'...Because I don't believe I'll be able to. You are more likely to survive than I.' Just what in the hell am I hearing right now? This doesn't sound like the Percy I know. Not that I know him all that well in the first place.
'What? Are you giving up already?' I can't believe I thought that this boy would be better.
'I have no choice... I won't risk it.' Percy hung his head low. Well lower. The way his voice rung through my head was full of gloom and dejection. He cast his sad eyes up to me for second before drooping it back down, then he slumped noisily in a heap, turning his head away.
'And what ,exactly, won't you risk?' He is an enigma - not like that of books where words are so plainly written out and flow from page to page, but of books torn, frayed, and indecipherable. He's an enigma among deities and low class mortals. Either loved, hated, or feared.
'Can't say.' Of course you can. You just don't want to.
'Can't? Or won't?' asked again hoping to get a different reaction from him.
'Can't... You have your family to take care of. I have mine... Which is why we're both here, alone. Because it was just too dangerous otherwise. Isn't that right?' Somehow he managed to hit it right on the money. But the campers are fine and as for his actual family, well, they have nothing to fear.
'You're more perceptive than I gave you credit for.' Percy didn't say anything, he just grunted under the sky, '...Percy?' Maybe now is the time to ask him.
'What?' He half spat back at me. Not from hate directed at me, but more like tiredness.
I didn't get the chance to ask him. A laugh from off to her side caught her attention. It's a sound I have not heard in a millennia and it's a sound I would rather have not hear again.
Atlas leans on the growing stones enjoying himself. "To think I'd see the day where Artemis, hater of men, try and have small talk with a boy! Ha! Now that's just precious." Atlas smirked. It wasn't exactly small talk. But he can believe what he wants. Atlas walked over a grasp my chin, forcing me to look up at him. "Still defiant." Atlas' voice is very intimidating consider, even by my standard: it was deep, low, and strong, like the earth itself was talking. The force of Atlas' voice filled the entire area on top of this mountain, and it made the ground vibrate around him, even when he was not yelling. *Smack*
Atlas had the same general stature of an actual statue, even hit like one. He had dark slicked-back hair, grey eyes similar to marble, light brown skin, and a very muscular build. He is very tall and extremely muscular with a brutal face, huge shoulders, and hands calloused over three-thousand years. "As you can tell, I'm a bit frustrated. Those brats sure know how to piss me off. " He drew a hand through his hair and lined up for a punch.
He fist clashed into my gut forcing a cough out of me. I hear the loud clanking noise of chains rubbing against each other. I tried to wriggle myself free, my bare hands pushing against the rough surface of the celestial bronze. It was all in vain. The chains stood stubbornly in its place. There was no freedom of movement except some leisure for my hands. A shudder ran through me. Trapped. I was trapped. I was confined within the chains against a rock. I felt idiotic. A metallic smell hung in the air floating around me. It reminded me somewhat of the smell of dried blood. The mountain was alit from my brother's chariot, but even that hardly eased my sense of dread. Suddenly, another sense of pain washed over me. A jab to my ribs. I barely let out a grunt.
I look at him sternly and can't help see the family resemblance between Atlas and his daughter Zoe. Atlas has the same regal expression as Zoe, the same cold proud look in his eyes, which Zoe got when she was angry, though on him it looked downright menacing. The bastard was wearing an expensive brown business suit. Atlas proudly stood at twenty feet tall. Raring to let another punch at me. This psychopathic, extremely sadistic, monstrous, conniving, and arrogant bastard.
"S-Sto-op." I heard Percy groan with the actual use of his voice. Hearing the real thing... wasn't pleasant.
"Oh?" Atlas abruptly did so and stared sadistically at the boy. "Why should I? There is nothing you can do and nothing you want to do. I own you!... You saved me. Freed me, all according to his plan. Don't forget why you're here." I couldn't believe my ears, my brain stutters for a moment and my eyes take in more light than I expected, every part of me goes on pause while my thoughts catch up. A part of me couldn't help feel disgusted. Is this why he won't say anything?
"Have you no guilt!" I shouted. Yet, Percy just kept his eyes on the Titan making his way over to him, "The guilt that you let a monster; like him loose! Do you feel no shame in your actions! No amends, or amount of pleading will ever be enough to be forgiven! I just wish that you beg within your heart for a chance of redemption. Your actions shown are proof that you don't deserve the friends you deeply care about or the family that loves you dearly. You better pray for a quick death from someone else because once I'm free and done dealing with the mess you left behind, it won't be. You traitor!" In the span of my rant, Atlas just gawked in sheer satisfaction before laughing hysterically with mania.
"Even your side has turned it's back on you! Absolutely marvelous! I guess even they don't care about your family!" Atlas kept laughing vibrating the very mountain with it's sheer volume.
"D-oesn-'t mat-ter... Dea-l w-as on-ly me... Lea-ve her alo-ne." Percy grunted and I couldn't help scoff. No sane person would go make deals with the Titans. Atlas let out a soft tt and grasp Percy's hair firmly pulling his head back hard.
"You're lucky I'm in a good mood. Those friends you're so fond of won't live to see tomorrow." The Titan slammed his fist into the boy's chest with enough force it was made audible. His knees crashed into the ground bringing the weight of the sky on top of him full force. The roar that escaped his lips cried agony. They say we cannot feel the pain of another, but Percy's scream was agony seeping into our skins. The scream was pain put into the air, writ large for anyone who cared to help end it. But no one would would.
To my surprise Atlas took one good look at me before vanishing from our sight. No doubt to plan something despicable. 'I'm sorry.' I heard Percy pray.
'You should be. Just what were you thinking?' I ordered.
'I meant I'm sorry about not acting sooner. I didn't realize so I must apologize.' Percy completely overlooked my order. 'I know it may seem like I unleashed hell, but this was the best option.'
'And what exactly do you mean by that. You've been very vague with me since I was captured and brought here.' I responded with. 'Would it kill you to be straight with me?'
'Yes.' Percy responded without the slightest hint of hesitation. 'Well it depends. I can't say anything out right, but ask the correct question and you'll get to know. Or if somebody takes my place I will be able to tell you most of it.' I hate not knowing the circumstances under which Percy was brought here. It is making things a lot more difficult than it should be.
'What happened?' That seems like a safe place to start.
'Too broad.'
'Who's threatened.'
'Can't risk it.' I took a moment and gave my next question some thought. I can't seem to generalize my questions, nor can I seem to ask anything that would lead to someone specific. So, it would seem I have only one course of action left.
'Why? Why trap yourself?'
'... I know you must be absolutely furious with me.' You're right. But furious doesn't even begin to cover it. 'I would be too. I am. So, hopefully telling you this would alleviate some of that anger... As I told you before, I am willing to do anything necessary for my family. As are you. Though making the decision to let Atlas free wasn't easily made, I made sure that no harm would come to anyone outside of me. As long as certain conditions were met... That includes both sides. Plus, my being here gave the best chance for others. Like those who are coming to rescue you.' That didn't help. It just arose more questions than answers... Oh, now I get why mortals hate talking to deities. This makes perfect sense.
'They're coming for you too.' I tried to ease him just a tad. Percy left out a soft giggle before deeply sighing.
'With my luck? It will be too late. A mortal is not meant to hold the sky... That side of me, I can feel it already catching up. My godly side can only hold out so long before it withers under the strain... By the time they get here, I will be little more than a husk. My punishment fits the crime. Don't you think?'
Third Person POV:
Zoe was a bit apprehensive when Triton asked her to follow towards the back of the train cart. They were lucky enough to get actual seats on the train and not some loading cart filled with useless mortal junk.
Ever since that whole debacle at the museum in Washington D.C., something was not sitting right with her. The Nemean Lion and those skeletons just don't pop up out of nowhere. Thankfully none of them were seriously injured and got away mostly unscathed. Unfortunately mortals, or more commonly known as mercenaries in their line of work, got a clear picture of them during their getaway. Zoe is certain that that many coincidences does not happen. Especially with this many demigods. They clearly missed something, something big.
So as Zoe followed Triton deeper into the train, her unease only managed to grow. Which it definitely should.
Triton had his own suspicions and the fact that he is seeing things didn't help on the matter. Yep, that's right, Triton was seeing things in the most unlikely places. He saw that thing in a big puddle, fountain, river, and he's pretty sure he sensed it somewhere in the restrooms. He was being followed and it felt as if he could hardly do anything about it.
Plus the presence he felt at the museum was hardly pleasant. He could feel who it was, but he would rather be wrong. If he was right, then things weren't looking good for him. Or the others. Perhaps Zoe could provide some intel, given that she spent quite a bit of time with Artemis and hopefully picked up a few things.
Triton stopped, looked around, and opened the door to one of the rooms. Zoe hesitantly went through. "This should be good enough." Triton spoke as he shut the door behind him.
"What do you want?" Zoe semi spat. She hated the fact that he called her out and went out of his way to basically humiliate her against the monsters.
"I need to be sure of something before I notify the rest of our group. I don't want to cause a panic or floras conclusions based off assumptions." Triton spoke evenly with his arms crossed over his chest. Zoe sat in a chair while Triton guarded the door with his body. If she wanted to leave, there is more than one way. "I'm not trapping you. If you want to leave just say so. However, this is dire." Triton basically read her mind.
"Quit beating around the bush and get on with it." Zoe answered.
"I felt a presence and... if I'm right on who it was then we are in some serious trouble. It would also give us some greatly needed answers." Triton sighed. "Both good and bad. I'm just... worried what the bad might be..." Zoe stayed silent getting irritated. "Atlas."
"Im-impossible! We would have known! Artemis would have-" She burst out in a furry denying it completely, then she stopped short and her eyes grew wide with panic. "Oh gods..." She sunk deep into thought running impossible circumstances. Imagination can very well turn into a prison. She could try and deny it all she wants, however Triton's reputation never once suggested altering the truth. Arguing right now would lead down a path to nowhere.
"I'm absolutely certain I'm right. It could explain a great deal while giving horrific truths in its wake. It can not possible be a coincidence. First Percy, then your mistress. Now him of all people... This is painting a very bad picture." Triton tried his best to keep his voice steady, but it was getting hard to do so. The scenario of Percy possible bearing the Titan's curse has been plaguing his mind ever since the museum. He couldn't put it past his brother to do so. "That's not all however."
Zoe snapped her head up. "What else would there possibly be?" She didn't actually shout, but her demeanor clearly screamed distress. Her feared escalated, only praying safety to her mistress.
"The monster Artemis was hunting down, somehow, and for some reason, it's following me... Strangely enough, I have a feeling Percy is behind this."
"How?"
"I'm not sure. Yet, my senses haven't been wrong so far so there is no point is doubting it now... So, what do you want to do?"
"I think some well needed rest is in order. I... I just can't right now."
I apologize for the slow updates. Life sucks. I hope you guys are good though.