All rights belong to Rick Riordan

Chapter 58

I Almost Get Decapitated

(Artemis)

The question took me by surprise as I looked towards the daughter of Nike catching a glance at Percy who looked like a deer in headlights at the question though thankfully all the hunters were looking at me and not behind them.

'What do you mean Phoebe?' I asked curiously hoping to hades that she had not worked out anything was going on between myself and a certain Titan.

'You know the reward you promised us for winning the game, it has been over a week and you still haven't told us yet.' She explained and I felt a sense of relief overwhelm me. Though I didn't visibly show it unlike Percy who let out a sigh of relief before allowing a little color to return to his skin.

'It is not something I can tell you but rather show and I have been busy lately. Pack your things tonight so we are ready to move in the morning. We can move camp and do that at the same time.' I explained besides I knew they wanted to get away from camp as much as I did, there were too many fools to deal with here.

'No more KP duty.' Reyna added happily. I was glad she was no longer so grim after her 'therapy' session. Which was another reason I wanted to leave as she had caused a lot of unhappy residents with her treatment of Piper.

'No you can complete your sentence.' I told her causing her to curse quietly.

'So then girls, get ready because tomorrow will be a hell of a surprise.' I told them causing them to excitably get to their feet.

'Last one there gets to clean Nemea's litter tray.' Jacqueline proclaimed before running towards the cabin quickly followed by the others. Not that they stood a chance of catching the diminutive daughter of Hermes who could outrun any of them despite her stature. The thing was Nemea didn't even have a tray as she was a monster and bodily functions did not affect her the same way despite the amount she ate.

'That was close.' Percy whispered having moved to my side while I watched the hunters leave in the opposite direction.

'Relax, they don't know. No one does except me, you and someone who knows to keep his mouth shut.'

'Eros better know better than to open his mouth or we will need a new god of love.'

'Why you volunteering?' I asked him playfully causing him to blush.

'Titan of love just doesn't have the same ring to it.' He joked and I had to agree.

I was about to reply when I saw him stiffen and begin to look around as if searching for someone.

'What is the matter?' I asked him.

'I thought I sensed an immortal nearby briefly.'

'Well this place is frequented or inhabited by a number of gods.' I told him sarcastically only for him to frown.

'I know that but this didn't feel like a god, besides I can tell the six apart as well as you and Dionysius.'

'Well glad I am different from a drunk according to your senses.'

'No but the thing was I could have sworn it was a Titan.' He explained and that was enough for me to stop joking, great the literal last thing I needed today was that suicidal idiot turning up because of his wife's vendetta against my boyfriend.

'Go to the chariot and I will meet you there. I will make sure the hunters are fine and then meet you there.' I told him firmly before watching the shadows consume him.

'Fates if you are listening, you suck.' I said aloud before making my way to the hunter's cabin.

(Percy)

The night passed by uneventfully as I spent the night in the chariot with Diana who spent some time explain the rough details of pregnancy amongst goddesses/Titanesses. She had separated so she could keep an eye on the hunters as whatever I had detected had been inside the camp borders.

Apparently there were variations in how long pregnancy took depending on the nature of the child. Apparently a goddess was only pregnant with a demigod for around 3 months which would explain certain goddesses (Aphrodite cough) having seemingly a billion kids despite the closeness in their ages.

Monster/Mythical offspring which I sure as hell hoped we did not have was completely random. Arion for example was birthed mere days after conception which was probably the result of Demeter not wanting to stay in horse form much longer.

'Divine' children which hopefully was our case went full term of 9 months which meant our child was due around next May. Plenty of time I hoped to resolve any issues and not get zapped by an angry father with a super weapon grade taser.

It was amusing to see Diana react about our situation more for the fact she could not believe it was Artemis who had gotten pregnant. Seeing as she was the one who fell for me, hades she did not even remember changing aspect between blacking out and when we woke up and I didn't know either from my shoddy 3rd person memory of the gap between which had gaps in it. Not that I probably could tell considering her adult forms looked almost identical except hair style preference.

So watching her laud it over her counterpart aspect was quite funny after they split. Especially once Artemis reminded her counterpart of the no repeat of last night issue while Diana called her out on it causing Artemis to flash away angrily while Diana gloated her personal victory.

'Milady where are?' Suzie asked. Then again I could see where she was coming from after all we were standing in an open field.

'Screw that why is it so damn hot here?' Thalia complained pulling the neckline of her jacket a little.

'It is August Thals.' I said mockingly earning a withering look from the hunter. I had no such issues in a shirt and cargo shorts, the only thing I was missing was sandals and sunglasses.

'Perseus, enough with the wise cracks. As for why we are here well it is because of him so you may want to thank him.' Artemis explained as the hunters looked from the empty landscape to me.

'Thanks for bringing us to the ass end of n-'Thalia began before Artemis snapped her fingers breaking the illusion of the mist revealing the massive temple in all its glory.

'Whoa.' The hunters all chorused at the same time.

'Now you are not to tell anyone about this girls, but other than that have fun.' Artemis explained and no sooner had she finished than a great pile of stuff was dumped on the floor as they all ran up the entrance steps excitedly. Nemea loping up behind them in her kitten form after Morganna accidently dropped her too in the surprise.

'I think they liked it.' I told Artemis before we both walked up the stairs together and I resisted the urge to hold her hand.

(Artemis)

Now this was how I remembered my temples glory days, unlike the last time we had been here it no longer felt like an elaborate tomb. Instead as I watched the hunters run from place to place excitedly I felt a sense of nostalgia overcoming me.

Though of course remembering the past conflicted massively with what I felt every time I saw Percy and was snapped back to the future and what was to come. 9 months from now I might not even still have a hunt, hell I might not even have Percy if father over reacted.

Of course the Titan in question had no such issues currently running through his head as the hunters dragged him hither and thither around the temple and made him explain how he had done this, though he managed to avoid why he did it or so I could tell from what I overheard. That was one thing that was purely between us.

I watched curiously as Percy made his way over to a marble statue of a lion which Nemea was face to face with looking at curiously. The Lion depicted one I had hunted through the hills of what came to be Macedonia, which terrorized the towns and villages of the early state eating flocks and unlucky wanderers. Well before I put an arrow in its face on a whim because I was bored one day. Though of course the people held me in high esteem for doing so, hence the statue.

I watched in fascination as Percy walked around the side of the Lion before seemingly whispering something in its ear. Just as he finished he leapt back and to my surprise the stone statue began to slowly move before focusing on the cub directly in front of it. I watched its hindquarters lower before it suddenly lifted its head and bellowed a roar that echoed throughout the temple causing anyone who had not noticed what the Titan was doing to turn towards the source of the noise and a few weapons were drawn on instinct.

Nemea however remained unmoving as she stared down the larger Lion apparently unimpressed before being overcome in golden light which rapidly increased in mass before fading to reveal the Lioness's fully grown adult form. The statue meanwhile backed up a few steps what could be described as fearfully as the size ratio had now been changed out of its favor. Who says an automaton cannot show fear I thought as Nemea roared herself causing the stone lion to shrink low to the floor before running away once she had finished with its tail between its legs.

No sooner had it left visual contact Nemea shrunk back down again before rolling on her back and waving her paws playfully causing the hunters to laugh as they approached the happy kitten. I suppose I should have been concerned that there was now a Lithified Lion running around the Turkish countryside but in truth I didn't care.

However what I did notice was the sudden absence of my boyfriend who was no longer by the Lion's former pedestal.

(Percy)

There it was again that sensation that something was nearby again. It had been shortly after I activated the Daedalus defense initative on the Lion statue that I had first sensed something wrong. Though curiously Nemea's sudden change in form and size was not a result of my actions but her own. Sure I had known that she could normally overcome my time manipulation before if she had so wanted to or needed to but I had never seen her intentionally shrink herself again afterwards. Great next thing I know she will be able to control it as well as I could.

So while the hunters mobbed the victorious kitten I had discreetly walked away between the columns before flying onto the roof where it would be better to see the surroundings. Other than a terrified marble Lion that was lying low though I could not see anything on the ground, nevertheless I knew there was something nearby.

I was just looking towards the sky when something large and heavy collided with me slamming me back again the tiled roof heavily.

However I was distracted from the pain in my back by the fact I recognized the guy holding the knife to my throat after all I counted him amongst my friends.

'You have a lot of explaining to do Perseus.' Lelantos growled angrily pressing the blade further under my jaw.

'About what?' I asked in total confusion at why the Titan of the Air was threatening and manhandling me.

'Do not lie to me Perseus, I know you came back to Orthrys. I decided to visit you and would you care to explain what I found inside your room.' He demanded and I felt my body temperature turn practically sub-zero. After all I had no made no effort in tidying before I left and left a lot of incriminating things in the open.

'Dude calm down and let me explain.' I begged him but if anything it only made him look angrier.

'Explain what exactly, that you raped my niece!'

'Wait! What! No I would never do that to anyone.'

'Well then can you explain the ripped clothes, the signs of struggle the fact there is a sword slash in a smashed wall which has ichor in it. Or most damming the ichor stains on the bed sheets.'

'Lelantos listen to me, I can explain everything. Yes I had sex with Artemis and that stuff all looks bad but the fact is neither of us wanted to do it.' I said trying to sound calm.

'You are not helping your case Perseus.'

'What I mean to say is that we were both drugged by Aphrodite that night, neither of us remembers what happened. Though her clothes got ripped off in between that and what followed. As for the ichor on the wall it is Aphrodite's, so she would confess everything to me and Artemis. I would never harm Artemis I swear.' I explained.

'How do I know you are not lying?'

'Because I say so uncle.' I heard Artemis say and both our heads turned towards the sound of her voice though my range of movement was still restricted by the blade at my throat. I was surprised to see her with bow in hand aimed at her uncle.

'Is what he says true then?' He asked the goddess.

'Unfortunately so, but if anyone is to blame it is Aphrodite not Percy so let him go. Neither of us wished our current situation.' She told him and I felt the blade go slack against my throat and in response Artemis lowered her bow.

'So then why have you not already killed the whore?'

'Because it would accomplish nothing the damage is already done, she no longer remembers what she did. Besides if we did people would ask questions.' Artemis explained.

'And I would take the blame for it and what is to come.' I told him and I realized I had said too much.

'What do you mean to come? Artemis does that mean what I think it does?' He said after moment's pause as I looked from him to the goddess who was glaring daggers at me for saying too much.

'Yes uncle it does, now would you kindly get off my boyfriend. You are not going to tell anyone what you know. I will tell my mother so do not tell her anything of what you have seen or heard. Or you will be joining Aphrodite and Eros on my shit list.' Artemis explained and I could have sworn the Titan gulped in response to the threat.

However eventually the Titan did get off of me and helped me to my feet.

'So then what are you both doing here then, because I could have sworn someone burned this place down.' Lelantos said jokingly changing the subject. Well this could have gone worse, though I knew one thing without a doubt.

If it is a mess, tidy your damn room.

(Artemis)

'Uncle if you would be so kind as to not flirt with my hunters, it would be greatly appreciated.' I told the Titan who was acting far too chummy with the twins for my liking.

I was starting to regret letting him in, well as much as letting in can be done with a building with about a hundred entrances. I had only done so as to explain mine and Percy's disappearance.

Of course I had forgotten that Lelantos was to my mother what Apollo was to me, really, really annoying.

So arriving back at the temple entrance flanked by a pair of winged Titans had drawn a bit of attention.

'We weren't flirting milady; we were just admiring his wings.' Amy said blushing.

'Sure you were.' Suzie chastised.

'Hey sis, just because you prefer Percy.' Amy shouted back at her. Causing said aforementioned Titan Lord to cough in embarrassment.

'Girls enough, you know your oath and Lelantos was there anything else you needed?' I practically shouted at the pair as jealousy tinged my voice before I turned on my uncle.

'No but Percy I expect you to return to Orthrys soon so we can discuss err… recent events.' He said looking from Percy to me and back again. Thank the gods the twins were too busy staring at each other to notice.

'Sure I guess. Once we… I know more.' Percy told him as the pair nodded respectfully towards each other.

'Oh and Artemis maybe you should speak with your mum soon, she misses you and I am sure she would love to know what has been happening recently from you after all.' He said with a smile before turning away and flapping his wings and rising to the air before darting away between a pair of pillars in a flash of bronze.

'So what was he the proto-Apollo or what.' Percy said after he had gone.

'Unfortunately all the males in my close family are what the word 'special''.

'Please say we have a girl then.' Percy whispered into my ear.

'In that case I should have just turned you into a girl and we could have avoided this whole mess. Now come on we still have to find a new campsite.' I told him quietly.

'Why do I think that translates as I have to find a new campsite?' He said causing me to grin.

'I didn't being Lord of Time let you see the future and know what I was gonna say. Besides you did a good job last time.' I told him cheerfully causing him to grumble.

'Where should I be looking?'

'Surprise me.'

'Don't I always.' He said with a grin before shadow travelling away. I really needed to teach him flashing.

AN. Only a short chapter this time to ease of the cliffhanger of the last chapter, which I thought was a little mean admittedly.

Congratulations to those of you who realised what Phoebe was on about. I had not forgotten about the hunters reward.

To whomever asked me to get Nemea a mate this is as close as you get. there is already enough awesome kitty in this story and she knows it. She is great on her own for the multiple applications she can be used for from loveable pet to complete badass bane of everything.

As for Lelantos for a guy who is involved in very few myths I like him as it lets me use him however I want without him seeming out of character. he is essentially a slightly more serious Apollo due to a few thousand years of imprisonment and besides I wanted someone to find evidence about what happened and jump to the wrong conclusion, no one touches his favourite niece.

As always please read and review