AFTER SEEING DR. THORN TURN INTO A MONSTER and plummet off the edge of a cliff with Annabeth, you'd think Naomi would be used to surprises.
But finding out the twelve-year-old with eyes like the moon was the goddess Artemis still rendered her speechless.
"Um.. okay," Percy said intelligently.
That was nothing compared to Grover. He gasped, then knelt hastily in the snow and started yammering, "Thank you, Lady Artemis! You're so... you're so... Wow!"
"Get up, goat boy!" Thalia snapped. She glared at the Hunters holding Naomi down until they let up, then grabbed Naomi's hand and hauled her to her feet. "We have other things to worry about. Annabeth is gone!"
"Woah," Bianca di Angelo said. "Hold up. Time out."
Everybody looked at her. She pointed her finger at all of them in turn, like she was trying to connect the dots. "Who... who are you people?"
Artemis's expression grew softer. "It might be a better question, my dear girl, to ask who are you? Who are your parents?"
Bianca glanced nervously at her brother, who was still staring in awe at Artemis.
"Our parents are dead," Bianca said. "We're orphans. There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but..."
She faltered. She could probably tell from their faces that they didn't believe her.
"What?" she demanded. "I'm telling the truth."
Naomi stepped forward. "You guys are half-bloods," she explained gently, remembering when she'd been in Bianca's position—so sure she'd been an orphan, but being told she wasn't. It was more than just jarring—it was world-shattering. "I know it's a lot to take in, but it's the truth. One of your parents was mortal... the other is a god."
"Cool!" Nico said.
"No!" Bianca's voice quavered. "This is not cool!"
Nico danced around like he had ants in his pants. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for—"
"Nico, shut up!" Bianca put her hands to her face. "This is not your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? There are no gods!"
Naomi couldn't help but feel sorry for the di Angelos.
Thalia must've been feeling something similar, because the anger in her eyes subsided a little bit. "Bianca, I know it's hard to believe. But the gods are still around. Trust me. They're immortal. And whenever they have kids with regular humans, kids like us, well... Our lives are dangerous."
"Dangerous," Bianca said, "like the girl who fell."
Thalia turned away. Even Artemis looked pained.
"Do not despair for Annabeth," the goddess said. "She was a brave maiden. If she can be found, I shall find her."
"Then why won't you let us go and look for her?" Percy asked.
"She is gone. Can't you sense it, Son of Poseidon? Some magic is at work. I do not know exactly how or why, but your friend has vanished."
"Oo!" Nico raised his hand. "What about Dr. Thorn? That was awesome how you shot him with arrows! Is he dead?"
"He was a manticore," Artemis said. "Hopefully, he is destroyed for now, but monsters never truly die. They reform over and over again, and they must be hunted whenever they reappear."
"Or they'll hunt us," Thalia said.
Bianca shivered. "That explains... Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley in D.C.?"
"And that bus driver," Nico said. "The one with the ram's horns. I told you that was real."
"That's why Grover has been watching you," Percy said. "To keep you safe, if you turned out to be half-bloods."
"Grover?" Bianca stared at him. "You're a demigod?"
"Well, a satyr, actually." He kicked off his shoes and displayed his goat hooves. Bianca looked faint.
"Grover," Naomi said. "Put your shoes back on. Don't you think she's been seen enough freaky stuff?"
"Hey, my hooves are not freaky!"
Naomi shook her head. "Bianca," she said, "we came here to help you guys. You and Nico need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet. You need to come to camp."
"Camp?" she asked.
"Camp Half-Blood," Percy explained. "It's where half-bloods learn to survive and stuff. You can join us, stay there year round if you like. That's what Naomi does."
"Sweet, let's go!" Nico said.
"Wait." Bianca shook her head. "I don't—"
"There is another option," Zoë said.
"No, there isn't!" Thalia snapped.
Thalia and Zoë glared at each other. Naomi wondered what their history was, because she could feel the tension between them like an oncoming storm. They seriously hated each other.
"We've burdened these children enough," Artemis announced. "Zoë, we will rest here for a few hours. Raise the tents. Treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests' belongings from the school."
"Yes, my lady."
"And Bianca, Naomi—come with me. I would like to speak with you."
Naomi frowned, confused. What did the goddess of the hunt want with her?
"What about me?" Nico asked.
Artemis considered the boy. "Perhaps you can show Grover how to play that card game you enjoy. I'm sure Grover would be happy to entertain you for a while... as a favor to me?"
Grover practically tripped over himself getting up. "You bet! Come on, Nico!"
Nico and Grover walked off toward the woods, talking about hit points and armor ratings and a bunch of other geeky stuff.
Artemis gestured for Naomi and Bianca to follow her along the cliff.
When they were out of earshot of the others, Artemis said, "I wondered if we would get a chance to meet, Naomi Murphy."
Naomi blinked. "Um... why?"
Artemis smiled softly. "Your mother and I are old friends, my girl," the goddess said. "When I heard she'd had a half-blood child, I'll admit, I was a bit shocked. Aside from myself and my stepmother, Persephone was the last of the goddesses I would have expected to have a child with a mortal."
"Right," Naomi said quietly.
"Your mother's Persephone?" Bianca asked, confused. "Isn't that... isn't she married to Hades or something?"
"Precisely why Naomi's existence is... unique," Artemis told the girl. "And dangerous, too."
Naomi's confusion grew. "Dangerous? How am I dangerous? It's not like my mom's one of the Big Three."
"Big Three?" Bianca asked.
"Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades," Artemis explained. "Their demigod children are among the most powerful. But your mother does not have to be one of them for her child to be powerful."
"All I can do is summon flowers and tame hellhounds," Naomi mumbled. "That's it."
"That's all you know of," Artemis corrected.
Naomi's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Artemis sighed softly. "I am not my brother, Naomi Murphy, but I know pieces of your fate. Nothing that I can reveal, but... I would never quite forgive myself if I did not offer you an... alternative."
Naomi frowned. "What alternative?"
Artemis looked back toward the camp. "Come. We will talk more in my tent. I could go for a cup of hot chocolate."
❊
Within a few minutes, Bianca, Artemis, and Naomi were settled in one of the tents, a mug of fresh hot chocolate in their hands.
The tent itself was warm and comfy. In the center, a golden brazier of fire seemed to burn without fuel or smoke. Behind the goddess, on a polished oak display stand, was her huge silver bow, carved to resemble gazelle horns. The walls were hung with animal pelts—black bear, tiger, and several others Naomi couldn't identify. Naomi wondered if Grover's obvious crush would withstand seeing all of these skins, but then again, maybe Artemis's status as the goddess of the hunt meant she could replenish whatever she shot.
Artemis took a slow sip of her drink. "I believe this may be one of the greatest mortal inventions," she confessed, a small smile playing on her lips. "What do you think?"
"It's delicious," Bianca said.
Naomi took a sip, tasting a hint of Silena's homemade sugar cookies. "Is there nectar in this?"
Artemis smiled. "My secret recipe," she said with a nod.
"Um... can I ask something?" Bianca asked nervously.
"Of course, my girl," Artemis said. "You can speak freely in my presence."
Bianca nodded slowly. She looked between Naomi and Artemis. "What you were saying about... about our parents... is that really true?"
Artemis said nothing, and Naomi realized she wanted her to answer.
"It is," Naomi said gently. "I know how you feel, Bianca—I was raised in an orphanage since I was a baby. I never imagined one of my parents could be a god, but... it's the truth."
Bianca stared at her lap, clearly distraught.
"I know it's scary," Naomi murmured. "But you can talk to me if you need to—I'll help however I can. It's an easier transition when you have a friend."
Bianca looked up, and she smiled a little. "Thank you."
Naomi smiled. "Of course."
Artemis smiled at the two. "You and your brother are not alone, Bianca," she said. "That I can assure you of." She took another sip of her hot chocolate, then set it down next to her. "Before we go further, I must offer you both a choice."
"A choice?" Naomi asked.
Artemis hummed. "Just looking at you two, I can tell your fates will not be kind. I am the patron goddess of maidens, and so, whenever possible, I feel it is my duty to extend an... alternative course of action, when I come across a maiden in need."
"What kind of alternative?" Bianca asked, curious.
"I would like to extend the two of you invitations to join my Hunt," Artemis said.
Bianca blinked. "What... what does that mean?"
"It means you would become one of my Hunters," Artemis explained. "You would live forever as my companions, hunting monsters and animals alike throughout the world, unless you were to fall in battle or break your oaths."
"Oaths?" Naomi asked.
"To forswear romantic love forever," Artemis said. "To never grow up, never get married. To be a maiden eternally."
"That... we would really be immortal?" Bianca asked. "Young forever?"
Artemis nodded again. "You would be my sisters-in-arms, following me on my adventures. You would be trained just as you would be trained at Camp Half-Blood, protected by your sisters from monsters and enemies until you are strong enough to protect them back. It is a great honor."
Naomi didn't doubt that. It sounded like some kind of paradise. No more fear of monsters, no more worrying about some cryptic fate. She doubted Luke and Kronos would be able to get through a goddess and her companions to abduct her.
But... that would mean saying goodbye to Camp Half-Blood. To Percy, to Annabeth, to Silena, to Drew, to... to Ethan.
Naomi didn't think she loved him—not the way he probably wanted her to. But she didn't want to say goodbye to him forever.
Her mother had told her she'd tried to shield her from her fate, one no one seemed keen on explaining. What could be ahead of her so terrible that everyone was too afraid to speak of it?
"Lady Artemis... did my mother ask you to do this?" Naomi asked softly.
The look Artemis gave her was one of concealed pity. "She... made a suggestion."
Naomi stared at the tent floor. Somehow, she wasn't too surprised. Or even angry, like she thought she would be. The fact that her mother had spoken to Artemis about this... as much as she wanted to, Naomi couldn't deny it: her mother really cared.
"I will give you two time to think on it," Artemis said. "It is a big decision—one I beg you not to make lightly."
Bianca and Naomi both nodded slowly.
"Now, onto a slightly darker topic—tell me about your encounter with the manticore."
Naomi took over the explanation, telling the goddess about the things Dr. Thorn had said—about the so-called Great Stirring, Dr. Thorn's threats, etc.
Halfway through, Zoë walked inside, standing at Artemis's side like a sentinel on duty.
When Naomi was done, Artemis placed a hand thoughtfully on her silver bow. "I feared this was the answer."
"The scent, my lady?" Zoë asked.
"Yes."
"What scent?" Naomi asked.
"Things are stirring that I have not hunted in millennia," Artemis murmured. "Prey so old I have nearly forgotten."
She stared at Naomi intently. "We came here tonight sensing the manticore, but he was not the one I seek. Tell me again, exactly what Dr. Thorn said."
"He said someone called the General was going to explain things," Naomi said.
Zoë's face paled. She turned to Artemis and started to say something, but Artemis raised her hand.
"Go on, Naomi," the goddess said.
"Well, then Thorn was talking about the Great Stirring, and he said, 'Soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus.'"
The goddess was so still she could've been a statue.
"He might have been bluffing," Naomi suggested weakly.
Artemis shook her head. "No. He was not. I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster."
Zoë looked like she was trying very hard to not be afraid, but she nodded. "We will leave right away, my lady."
"No, Zoë. I must do this alone."
"But, Artemis—"
"This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me."
"As... as you wish, my lady."
"I will find this creature," Artemis vowed. "And I shall bring it back to Olympus by winter solstice. It will be all the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in."
"You know what the monster is?" Naomi asked.
Artemis gripped her bow. "Let us pray I am wrong. Zoë, please bring the Jackson boy here."
A look of displeasure flickered across the girl's face, but she nodded. "Of course, my lady."
She disappeared through the tent flap.
"Lady Artemis... how much danger are we in?" Naomi asked nervously.
Artemis's expression was grim. "I fear if I told you, it would unfairly sway your decision."
Naomi stared at her, unsettled. "That's... comforting."
"Finish your hot chocolates, my girls," Artemis said kindly. "It is cold out there."
Naomi and Bianca looked at each other, then obediently drank their hot chocolates.
Zoë returned a few minutes later with Percy in tow, Zoë barely hiding a sneer as she went back to Artemis's side.
"Are you okay?" Percy whispered as he sat down next to Naomi.
Naomi nodded, even though it was definitely a lie.
"I must ask you to forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you, Percy Jackson," Artemis said, looking at Zoë with a stern look. "It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp. Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp..." She looked at Zoë again. "Which one was it?"
"That boy in Colorado," Zoë said. "You turned him into a jackalope."
"Ah, yes." Artemis nodded, satisfied. "I enjoy making jackalopes. At any rate, Percy, I've asked you here to ask a favor of you."
"Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?" Percy asked.
"Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return."
"What?" Zoë blurted out. "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there—"
"Yes, I know," Artemis said. "But I'm sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge because of a little, ah, misunderstanding. It's your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down."
Zoë muttered something about foolish campers.
"And now there are two last decisions to make." Artemis turned back to Naomi and Bianca. "Have you made up your minds?"
Bianca hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it."
"Wait," Percy said. "Thinking about what?"
"They... they've invited us to join the Hunt."
Percy looked between her and Naomi, his brow furrowed. "What? But you can't! You have to come back to Camp Half-Blood. It's the only way you can learn to survive."
"It is not the only way for a girl," Zoë said.
Percy shook his head in disbelief. "Nay, you can't—Camp Half-Blood's your home! I mean, what do you get by joining the Hunters?"
"To begin with," Zoë said, "immortality."
Percy stared at her, then Artemis. "She's kidding, right?"
"Zoë rarely kids about anything," Artemis said. "My Hunters follow me on my adventures. They are my maidservants, my companions, my sisters-in-arms. Once they swear loyalty to me, they are indeed immortal... unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely. Or break their oath."
"What oath?" Percy said.
"To forswear romantic love forever," Artemis said. "To never grow up, never get married. To be a maiden eternally."
"Like you?"
The goddess nodded.
"So... you just go around the country recruiting half-bloods—"
"Not just half-bloods," Zoë interrupted. "Lady Artemis does not discriminate by birth. All who honor the goddess may join. Half-bloods, nymphs, mortals—"
"Which are you, then?"
Anger flashed in Zoë's eyes. "That is not thy concern, boy. The point is Bianca and Naomi may join if they wish. It is their choice."
"But—but this is crazy!" Percy protested. "Bianca, what about your brother? Nico can't be a Hunter."
"Certainly not," Artemis agreed. "He will go to camp. Unfortunately, that's the best boys can do."
"Hey!" Percy protested.
"You can see him from time to time," Artemis assured Bianca. "But you will be free of responsibility. He will have the camp counselors to take care of him. And you will have anew family. Us."
"A new family," Bianca repeated dreamily. "Free of responsibility."
"Bianca, you can't do this," Percy said. "It's nuts."
Bianca looked at Zoë . "Is it worth it?"
Zoë nodded. "It is."
"What do I have to do?"
"Say this," Zoë told her, "'I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis.'"
"I... I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis."
"'I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.'"
Bianca repeated the lines. "That's it?"
Zoë nodded. "If Lady Artemis accepts thy pledge, then it is binding."
"I accept it," Artemis said.
The flames in the brazier brightened, casting a silver glow over the room. Bianca looked no different, but she took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide. "I feel... stronger."
"Welcome, sister," Zoë said.
"Remember your pledge," Artemis said. "It is now your life."
And then, all eyes were on Naomi. She hated it.
"Now, my girl," Artemis said gently. "What is your decision?"
Naomi swallowed hard. She looked at Artemis, her stomach twisting into knots. "I... I appreciate the offer, Lady Artemis, but I... I can't say goodbye to..." She looked briefly at Percy, then back to the goddess just as quickly. "To camp. My home is there."
Artemis's eyes softened with something like grief. "I understand, my girl. My offer will stand as long as you live. I... I pray that is a while."
Some of the tension seemed to leave Percy's body, though Naomi wasn't sure why. He still looked displeased, though, scowling at the tent floor.
"Do not despair, Percy Jackson," Artemis said. "You will still get to show the di Angelos your camp. And if Nico so chooses, he can stay there."
"Great," he said dryly. "How are we supposed to get there?"
Artemis closed her eyes. "Dawn is approaching. Zoë , break camp. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother."
Zoë didn't look real happy about this idea, but she nodded and told Bianca to follow her. As she was leaving, Bianca paused in front of Naomi and Percy. "I'm sorry, guys. But I want this. I really, really do."
Then she was gone, and Percy and Naomi were left alone with the goddess.
"So," Percy said. "We're going to get a ride from your brother, huh?"
Artemis's silver eyes gleamed. "Yes, boy. You see, Bianca di Angelo is not the only one with an annoying brother. It's time for you to meet my irresponsible twin, Apollo."
❊