https://discord.gg/vJtaaaygvq Join my Discord server, it's fun. Nothing more to say.
Another thankful work by my beta Saans1512
There was a moment of silence as everyone recollected what had just happened. No one moved or spoke anything, their eyes trained towards the massive cavern that had just opened in front of them and swallowed the daughter of Athena.
The hunter named Naomi's body had fallen to the ground next to the cavern, an earthen spike protruding from her heart, her eyes wide in terror, and blood spilling from her mouth. It was a gruesome sight for any to bear, but the sheer malevolence that was radiating from the cavern only added to the horror.
It took everyone a minute to realize the damage that had just been done. Artemis was the first to move, she sprinted from her position towards her fallen hunter. She reached her and cradled her lifeless body in her lap, while no tears were falling from the stoic goddess' face, her grief was noticeable to everyone present. The rest of her hunters also gathered around her, shedding tears for their fallen sister.
Thalia soon followed and fell to her knees, silent tears escaping her eyes as she curled into herself. No one had the heart to say anything to console the daughter of Zeus. She had woken up a month ago from her slumber only to find out that one of her best friends had turned traitor and fled towards the enemy line, and now she was forced to see her friend whom she had treated as a little sister fall into the pit.
Perseus finally moved and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, making her look up at him. Pain and rage were clear in his eyes as tears escaped from them, but in her grief, Thalia didn't notice it, she stood up and faced the god and started punching his chest.
"Why did you let her fall down there?" She punched him, "Why couldn't you save her?" Another punch was thrown, "You're a god, you should've saved her." Each of her questions was followed by a punch.
Perseus didn't say anything in his defense, he just stood there taking the hits silently, looking defeated. Thalia couldn't keep up with herself long as she almost fell down again, but the lord of fate caught her and pulled her against himself. Letting her use his chest to smother her tears.
After Thalia calmed down, Perseus looked down at her with a pained look, "It was the presence of my father. While I may be God of Time, he also holds the same domain. Both of our natures clashed against each other, and the presence of Gaea only strengthened my father's power. While I may be powerful, she is a first-generation Primordial. She holds power unfathomable to us, and she will only grow stronger."
Thalia couldn't say anything, she was too lost in her grief. Perseus looked around to see Artemis and the hunters securing the dead huntress to give her the final rites. Nico had cried himself to sleep and was curled up beside a tree.
Perseus joined Artemis as the hunters put their sister in a pyre, some words were spoken, but most were lost to the god as he just stared at the burning body of the huntress. This was the first casualty of the war; the numbers would only grow as long as the war stretched. That thought made him sick, having to watch children fight and die. His domain of fate was a cruel thing indeed.
After the funeral was finished, the hunters all stood waiting for further instructions from their mistress. Only to be met with silence. Artemis herself was looking towards Perseus, wanting to comfort him but not knowing whether it would be accepted or not. So, she watched as the Lord of fate cracked his neck and spoke in a firm tone, "I am going after Annabeth."
It took everyone a moment to digest what he said, before the elder huntresses, Thalia and Artemis shouted, "WHAT?"
Perseus looked over his shoulder towards the group of hunters, demigoddess and goddess. He regarded them for a few seconds before continuing, "Annabeth is falling into the pit as we speak currently. It takes around 7-9 days for someone to reach the bottom of the pit if they fell in through a hole. She is alone, scared, and weak down there. I can't allow her to carry on as such in any circumstances."
Artemis moved towards Perseus and grabbed his shoulder, "It's the pit Perseus, you never showed anyone but even after millennia you still had nightmares of the pit. You have been down there, it's not a place for anyone to be. You would be weaker down there."
Perseus nodded; he already knew the risk of everything. "I know, but I would still be more powerful than a demigod down there. The pit is designed to be a jail for immortals and monsters, it's no place for a mortal. The first blow has been dealt by the enemies, and I was powerless to stop it. But I would not stand around and hope that Annabeth makes it out while I have the power to save us. Like it or not, I am going down there to rescue my girlfriend."
Artemis swallowed the fear that was clenching her heart in a vice grip, she knew better. She had known Perseus for millennia, she knew that once his mind was made, there was no changing it. She surprised him by moving forward and hugging him. Her head came up to his torso as she wrapped her arms around him. "Please make it back safely."
Perseus had gone still for a second before composing himself and nodding, he bent downwards to press a kiss against the goddess' head, "I will."
Moving towards the cavern that had swallowed Annabeth, he could hear someone following him. Turning his head he saw Thalia just behind him, he raised an eyebrow at her. Silently asking her what she was doing Although he had an idea.
Thalia straightened her back, looking more confident than she was feeling. But her mind was resolute, there was no going back from here, "I am coming with you." She said determinedly.
Perseus' lips curled in a smirk, for as much as the girl liked to display herself as mysterious and aloof, she was quite predictable. "Are you sure? Tartarus is not a place for a picnic, the place is created to drive you to your worst nightmares. The air inside is poisonous, seeping out hope from your lungs. The ground is filled with shattered glass, making you cry out in agony with every step. The sounds of monsters screaming makes your ears bleed."
Thalia visibly gulped as she stared at the god in horror, that was not something she wanted to hear right before she jumped into the pit. However, she knew that it was a test, he was testing her resolve. Her electric blue eyes flashed and lightning danced in them. "Luke turned into a monster," She said, more firmly than Perseus had ever heard her speak when it came to the son of Hermes, "I already lost one member of my family. I am not losing another."
Perseus smiled, expecting this answer from her. "Well if you are sure," his hand wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer to himself, "hold tight."
He turned towards Artemis to see that there were tears in her eyes, he nodded to her and spoke, "Artemis, remember, you are the only one who can carry the burden." Without saying anything more or explaining himself further, he took a step ahead and was sucked into the pit.
Artemis
Artemis watched Perseus get sucked into the pit and for the first time in a really long time, she actually felt afraid.
She was beating herself up for the past two millennia for letting go of the one man who had loved her truly and unconditionally. She had gotten him back only for him to treat her as a mere acquaintance, still, the lingering voice in her head kept pushing her forward. In hopes that someday he might forgive her if she earned his forgiveness, whatever it took, however long it took.
However, it seems that the fates were playing with her.
Perseus had returned, but with the information that he would have not one, not two but six partners. That sucked as much as Apollo's haiku did. Still, she held onto the belief that she could be fine with it, for a chance that he would look at her like he used to once again.
Though, all that went out the window when she saw him get together with the daughter of Athena. Jealousy burned inside her hotter than the sun. Over the days, she had gotten over that too, but now it seemed that the universe found it amusing to watch her suffer in misery, as she watched her ex-husband, the man she loved, jump into the pit to save the woman he loved.
Fates sure were cruel. Taking revenge and making her suffer as she had once made their master suffer.
Shaking her head out of her morbid thoughts, Artemis focused on her hunters who were all looking towards her for further instructions. She moved forward towards the area their tents had been made in. She didn't have the time to wait if she wanted to save the daughter of Hades. Perseus had given her the answer of where Bianca Di Angelo had been taken and she knew what needed to be done.
After reaching the campsite, she closed her eyes and called out to her annoying brother. Apollo was angry and disappointed in her, but still, he would never turn her away.
She looked towards her hunters and spoke firmly, "Girls, I have to go away for the time being for an important task," she raised her hands to stop Zoë's protest when she saw it coming. "It's an important task that must be attended to, and I need to go alone. For the time being you are all to stay at the demigod camp."
The hunters all groaned at the prospect of spending time at Camp half-blood amongst the annoying demigods, mostly the male campers and the Aphrodite girls, but seeing their mistress' stern glare they knew they couldn't complain.
They all reluctantly nodded and Artemis continued, "Be respectful towards Chiron, do not attack any campers unless provoked. Be better than that and do not disappoint me." She added remembering Perseus' words.
The hunters all looked miffed out at not having permission to mess with the male campers as they wanted but they knew better than to argue.
As the hunters packed the campsite, the son of Hades had woken up and Artemis had to gently explain to him what happened to his sister along with everything that followed. It wasn't easy as she had to curb her man-hating instincts down, but the fact that he was an innocent child helped.
After Nico had calmed down, by which she means stopped screaming at everyone to give his sister back, Artemis could finally see Apollo approaching. Finally!, she thought, he was sooo lazy during winter.
She heard the yelp from Nico when the sun chariot drew closer, it's brightness blinding the boy temporarily. The hunters had more experience than that and had all averted their eyes. She could hear the gasp from Nico as the chariot stood in front of them, unlike her own chariot, her brother's was charmed to appear as the looker's favorite car.
Apollo smiled towards them, unlike the usual time that he would make some idiotic comment to annoy them. No, her brother had changed in the last few centuries, he would joke and play around with Hermes and Dionysus, but with her, he wasn't as close as he used to be. Is this what he had felt like all the time she ignored him and treated him like a swine?
She had a lot to think about, but not right now. "Brother, I need you to take my hunter and this half-blood to the camp. I have to go on a solo hunt."
Apollo's eyebrows raised in surprise at how sincere she sounded, not like the condescending intolerable bitch she usually was. He nodded and went ahead towards the hunters, not even replying anything to her. The God of Sun looked at the son of Hades straight in the eyes, gazing into his soul before moving on, feeling content with what he could see.
He snapped his fingers and the chariot turned to a bus, turning to the group he gave them his blinding smile, "So, who wants to drive?" He asked, twirling the keys to his chariot around his finger.
None of the hunters seemed enthusiastic about it and stayed silent, seeing as no one was going to say anything, Nico jumped up and down and raised his hand, "I want to."
Apollo laughed and ruffled his hair, "Walk before you run squirt."