Chapter 41: The Huntress's Resolve
The night air was cold against Artemis's skin as she stood at the edge of camp, her silver eyes fixed on the horizon. The Hunt had set up a temporary encampment in the mountains, far from prying eyes, but no amount of distance could settle the storm raging inside her.
Percy was gone.
Not just missing—taken.
Her fists clenched at the thought. She had felt it the moment he disappeared, a cold absence in her chest that left her breathless. The gods had always spoken of such bonds, the way a connection between immortals and mortals could form into something unbreakable, something deeper than logic or reason. She had never believed it.
Until now.
"You're going after him."
The voice belonged to Thalia. She approached from the shadows, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
Artemis didn't turn. "You already knew the answer to that."
Thalia exhaled, her fingers tightening around her bow. "The Hunt is worried. They won't say it, but they know something is wrong."
Artemis closed her eyes for a brief moment. The Hunt was her family, her sisters, bound to her by centuries of loyalty. But even they wouldn't understand this—not fully. How could they? None of them had ever allowed themselves to feel as she did now.
And yet, she knew she was failing them. A part of her had been distant ever since Percy entered her life, ever since he had begun to chip away at the walls she had spent millennia building.
But she couldn't let that stop her.
She turned to Thalia, her expression set in cold determination. "I will find him. I will bring him back."
Thalia nodded, as if she had expected nothing less. "Then I'm coming with you."
For the first time in what felt like days, Artemis felt something close to relief. She gave Thalia a brief nod before turning to the others.
"The Hunt will remain here," she commanded, her voice even, firm. "I will not endanger them for my own selfishness."
Thalia frowned. "This isn't just about you."
Artemis knew that. She had always known that. But the truth was, she didn't care. She needed to do this. She needed to fix this.
And if the Titans thought they could take Percy Jackson and get away with it, they were about to learn just how wrong they were.
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next chapter will decide if Artemis rescues Percy or if he escapes on his own.