Percy's POV
So, I think I might've screwed up big time.
After Theo and Annabeth left me behind to dance, I walked around the gym, mingling. And what do I see? Dr. Thorn hurrying out a door at the opposite end of the gym while steering the di Angelo kids by the scruffs of their necks, like kittens.
Instead of getting my friends for help, I decided to go after them alone...You know, like an idiot.
I found Bianca and Nico locked in one of the classrooms. Before I could react, a large spike (courtesy of Dr. Thorn) ended up in my shoulder.
I didn't know what kind of monster Dr. Thorn was, but he was fast.
Now, Dr. Thorn was taking us into the woods. I tried to slow us down by pretending that my shoulder hurt, but he didn't buy it. So, I had to use my empathy link with Grover and hope he and the others show up in time.
Dr. Thorn: There is a clearing ahead. We will summon your ride.
Bianca: What ride? Where are you taking us?
Dr. Thorn: Silence, you insufferable girl.
Nico: Don't talk to my sister that way.
His voice quivered, but I was impressed that he had the guts to say anything at all.
Dr. Thorn made a growling sound that definitely wasn't human. It made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, but I forced myself to keep walking and pretend I was being a good little captive. Meanwhile, I projected my thoughts like crazy—anything to get Grover's attention.
Dr. Thorn: Halt.
The woods had opened up. We'd reached a cliff overlooking the sea. At least, I sensed the sea was down there, hundreds of feet below. I could hear the waves churning and I could smell the cold salty froth. But all I could see was mist and darkness.
Dr. Thorn pushed us toward the edge. I stumbled, and Bianca caught me.
Percy: (whispers) Thanks.
Bianca: (whispers) What is he? How do we fight him?
Percy: (whispers) I...I'm working on it.
Nico: (whispers) I'm scared.
He was fiddling with something—a little metal toy soldier of some kind.
Dr. Thorn: Stop talking! Face me!
Thorn's two-tone eyes glittered hungrily. He pulled something from under his coat. At first, I thought it was a switchblade, but it was only a phone. He pressed the side button.
Dr. Thorn: The package—it is ready to deliver.
There was a garbled reply, and I realized Thorn was in walkie-talkie mode. This seemed way too modern and creepy—a monster using a mobile phone.
I glanced behind me, wondering how far the drop was.
Dr. Thorn: (laughs) By all means, Son of Poseidon. Jump! There is the sea. Save yourself.
Bianca: (whispers) What did he call you?
Percy: (whispers) I'll explain later.
Bianca: (whispers) You do have a plan, right?
Maybe I could get both the di Angelos to jump with me into the ocean. If we survived the fall, I could use the water to protect us. I'd done things like that before. If my dad was in a good mood, and listening, he might help. Maybe.
Dr. Thorn: I would kill you before you ever reached the water. You do not realize who I am, do you?
A flicker of movement behind him, and another missile whistled so close to me that it nicked my ear. Something had sprung up behind Dr. Thorn—like a catapult, but more flexible...almost like a tail.
Dr. Thorn: Unfortunately, you are wanted alive, if possible. Otherwise, you would already be dead.
Bianca: Who wants us? Because if you think you'll get a ransom, you're wrong. We don't have any family. Nico and I...We've got no one but each other.
Dr. Thorn: Aww. Do not worry, little brats. You will be meeting my employer soon enough. Then you will have a brand-new family.
Percy: Luke. You work for Luke.
Dr. Thorn's mouth twisted with distaste when I said the name of my old enemy—a former friend who'd tried to kill me several times.
Dr. Thorn: You have no idea what is happening, Perseus Jackson. I will let the General and the Lieutenant enlighten you. You are going to do them a great service tonight. They are looking forward to meeting you.
Percy: (in a French accent) The General and the Lieutenant?
Why did I just say that in a French accent?
Percy: (in his normal accent) I mean...Who are the General and the Lieutenant?
Thorn looked toward the horizon.
Dr. Thorn: Ah, here we are. Your transportation.
I turned and saw a light in the distance, a searchlight over the sea. Then I heard the chopping of helicopter blades getting louder and closer.
Nico: Where are you taking us?
Dr. Thorn: You should be honored, my boy. You will have the opportunity to join a great army! Just like that silly game you play with cards and dolls.
Nico: They're not dolls! They're figurines! And you can take your great army and—
Dr. Thorn: Now, now. You will change your mind about joining us, my boy. And if you do not, well...there are other uses for half-bloods. We have many monstrous mouths to feed. The Great Stirring is underway.
Percy: The Great what?
Dr. Thorn: (smiles) The stirring of monsters. The worst of them, the most powerful, are now waking. Monsters that have not been seen in thousands of years. They will cause death and destruction the likes of which mortals have never known. And soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus!
Bianca: (whispers) Okay. He's completely nuts.
Percy: (whispers) We have to jump off the cliff. Into the sea.
Bianca: (whispers) Oh, super idea. You're completely nuts, too.
I never got the chance to argue with her, because just then an invisible force slammed into me. Looking back on it, Annabeth's move was brilliant. Wearing her cap of invisibility, she plowed into the di Angelos and me, knocking us to the ground. For a split second, Dr. Thorn was taken by surprise, so his first volley of missiles zipped harmlessly over our heads. This gave Thalia and Grover a chance to advance from behind—Thalia wielding her magic shield, Aegis.
If you've never seen Thalia run into battle, you have never been truly frightened. She uses a huge spear that expands from this collapsible Mace canister she carries in her pocket, but that's not the scary part. Her shield is modeled after one her dad Zeus uses—also called Aegis—a gift from Athena. The shield has the head of the gorgon Medusa molded into the bronze, and even though it won't turn you to stone, it's so horrible, that most people will panic and run at the sight of it.
Even Dr. Thorn winced and growled when he saw it.
Then I heard someone whistle from the treeline. Thorn, the di Angelos, and I looked over and saw Theo holding his silver bow and had his quiver on the left side of his hip while aiming an arrow at Thorn.
Thalia: FOR ZEUS!
I thought Dr. Thorn was a goner. Thalia jabbed at his head, but he snarled and swatted the spear aside. His hand changed into an orange paw, with enormous claws that sparked against Thalia's shield as he slashed. If it hadn't been for Aegis, Thalia would've been sliced like a loaf of bread. As it was, she managed to roll backward and land on her feet.
The sound of the helicopter was getting louder behind me, but I didn't dare look.
Dr. Thorn launched another volley of missiles at Thalia, and this time I could see how he did it. He had a tail—a leathery, scorpion-like tail that bristled with spikes at the tip. The missiles deflected off Aegis, but the force of their impact knocked Thalia down.
Theo fired arrow after arrow at Dr. Thorn. Most of them got stuck in his hide, while some he narrowly managed to avoid. Dr. Thorn threw a volley of missiles at Theo, but he managed to jump out of the way.
Grover sprang forward. He put his reed pipes to his lips and began to play—a frantic jig that sounded like something pirates would dance to. Grass broke through the snow. Within seconds, rope-thick weeds were wrapping around Dr. Thorn's legs, entangling him.
Dr. Thorn roared and began to change. He grew larger until he was in his true form—his face was still human, but his body was that of a huge lion. His leathery, spiky tail whipped deadly thorns in all directions.
Annabeth: A manticore!
Bianca: Who are you people? And what is that?
Nico: (gasps) A manticore? He's got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!
Theo looked at me with a look of confusion, and I just shrugged. I didn't know what he was talking about, but I didn't have time to worry about it. The manticore clawed Grover's magic weeds to shreds then turned toward us with a snarl.
Annabeth: GET DOWN!
Annabeth pushed the di Angelos flat into the snow. At the last second, I remembered my own shield. I hit my wristwatch, and the metal plating spiraled out into a thick bronze shield. Not a moment too soon. The thorns impacted against it with such force they dented the metal. The beautiful shield, a gift from my brother, was badly damaged. I wasn't sure it would even stop a second volley.
I heard a thwack and a yelp, and Grover landed next to me with a thud.
Dr. Thorn: YIELD!
Thalia: NEVER!
She charged the monster and for a second, I thought she would run him through. But then there was a thunderous noise and a blaze of light from behind us. The helicopter appeared out of the mist, hovering just beyond the cliffs. It was a sleek black military-style gunship, with attachments on the sides that looked like laser-guided rockets. The helicopter had to be manned by mortals, but what was it doing here? How could mortals be working with a monster? The searchlights blinded Thalia, and the manticore swatted her away with its tail. Her shield flew off into the snow. Her spear flew in the other direction.
Percy: NO!
I ran out to help her. I parried away a spike just before it would've hit her chest. I raised my shield over us, but I knew it wouldn't be enough.
I saw Theo fly at the manticore from behind using his grey winged Adidas shoes. He managed to get onto its back and flicked his left wrist, causing a 12-inch bronze blade to come out of his left bracer, before jabbing it into the monster's back.
Dr. Thorn: ARGH!
The monster swung his tail around, trying to hit Theo off his back. He got dangerously close, and Theo must've realized that he wouldn't survive much longer if he stayed on its back, so he flew off and landed a few yards away. Thorn launched another volley of thorns at him, but he activated his own shield and blocked them with it. But unlike my shield, his did not break.
I'm gonna have to ask him how he did that.
Unfortunately, the force of the volley knocked him onto the ground.
Dr. Thorn: (laughs) Now do you see how hopeless it is? Yield, little heroes.
We were trapped between a monster and a fully armed helicopter. We had no chance.
Then I heard a clear, piercing sound: the call of a hunting horn blowing in the woods.
The manticore froze. For a moment, no one moved. There was only the swirl of snow and wind and the chopping of the helicopter blades.
Dr. Thorn: No. It cannot be—
His sentence was cut short when something shot past me like a streak of moonlight. A glowing silver arrow sprouted from Dr. Thorn's shoulder.
Dr. Thorn: ARGH! CURSE YOU!
I looked at Theo and saw that...he did not have his bow out. If he didn't shoot that arrow, then who did?
He unleashed his spikes, dozens of them at once, into the woods where the arrow had come from, but just as fast, silvery arrows shot back in reply. It almost looked like the arrows had intercepted the thorns in midair and sliced them in two, but my eyes must've been playing tricks on me. No one, not even Apollo's kids at camp, could shoot with that much accuracy.
Actually, now that I think about it, the only one I knew who could shoot like that was Theo.
Then the archers came from the woods. They were girls, about a dozen of them. The youngest was maybe ten. The oldest, about fourteen, like me. They wore silvery ski parkas and jeans, and they were all armed with bows. They advanced on the manticore with determined expressions.
Theo: Holy shit...
Annabeth: The Hunters!
Thalia: Oh, wonderful.
I didn't have a chance to ask what she meant.
One of the older archers stepped forward with her bow drawn. She was tall and graceful with coppery-colored skin. Unlike the other girls, she had a silver circlet braided into the top of her long dark hair, so she looked like some kind of Persian princess.
Theo widened his eyes when he saw her.
Girl 1: Permission to kill, my lady?
I couldn't tell who she was talking to because she kept her eyes on the manticore.
Dr. Thorn: This is not fair! Direct interference! It is against the Ancient Laws.
Girl 2: Not so.
This one was a little younger than me, maybe twelve or thirteen. She had auburn hair gathered back in a ponytail and strange eyes, silvery yellow like the moon. Her face was so beautiful it made me catch my breath, but her expression was stern and dangerous.
Girl 2: The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast. (turns to the other girl) Zoe, permission granted.
Theo's eyes were so wide, his eyes looked like they were about to fly out of his skull.
Dr. Thorn: (growls) If I cannot have these alive, I shall have them dead!
He lunged at Theo, who was too stunned to move.
Annabeth: NO!
She charged at the monster.
Zoe: Get back, half-blood! Get out of the line of fire!
But Annabeth leaped onto the monster's back and drove her knife into his mane. The manticore howled, turning in circles with his tail flailing as Annabeth hung on for dear life.
Zoe: FIRE!
Theo: NO, DON'T SHOOT!
But the Hunters let their arrows fly. The first caught the manticore in the neck. Another hit his chest. The manticore staggered backward.
Dr. Thorn: This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!
And before anyone could react, the monster, with Annabeth still on his back, leaped over the cliff and tumbled into the darkness.
Theo & Percy: ANNABETH!
We started to run after her, but our enemies weren't done with us. There was a snap-snap-snap from the helicopter—the sound of gunfire.
Theo raised his shield and deflected some of the bullets as most of the Hunters scattered as tiny holes appeared in the snow at their feet, but the girl with auburn hair just looked up calmly at the helicopter.
Girl 2: Mortals are not allowed to witness my hunt.
She thrust out her hand, and the helicopter exploded into dust—no, not dust. The black metal dissolved into a flock of birds—ravens, which scattered into the night.
The Hunters advanced on us. The one called Zoe stopped short when she saw Thalia.
Zoe: You.
Thalia: Zoe Nightshade. Perfect timing, as usual.
Zoe scanned the rest of us, but her eyes lingered on Theo for a bit longer.
Zoe: Five half-bloods and a satyr, my lady.
Girl 2: Yes. Some of Chiron's campers, I see.
The younger girl's eyes landed on Theo, and her expression faltered a very tiny bit.
Percy: Annabeth! You have to let us save her!
Girl 2: I'm sorry, Percy Jackson, but your friend is beyond help.
I tried to struggle to my feet, but a couple of the girls held me down.
Theo: No, fuck that.
He turned around and rushed for the cliff, but Zoe tackled him onto the ground before he could make it halfway.
Theo: GET OFF ME! WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!
Zoe raised her hand as if to punch him.
Girl 2: No. I sense no disrespect, Zoe. He is simply distraught. Give him a moment, and he will understand.
She then looked at Theo, who looked back at her. He then looked shocked.
Theo: Mom?
Wait, did he just say 'Mom?"
The girl then looked at me, as if sensing my confusion.
Artemis: Yes. I am Artemis. Goddess of the Hunt.
Theo's POV
After seeing Dr. Thorn turn into a monster and plummet off the edge of a cliff with Annabeth, you'd think nothing else could shock me. But when I realized that this twelve-year-old girl was actually the goddess Artemis, my mother, I thought my eyeballs would pop out of my skull.
Percy: Uh...okay.
He looked downright confused, and I didn't blame him
That was nothing compared to Grover. He gasped, then knelt hastily in the snow and started yammering.
Grover: Thank you, Lady Artemis! You're so... you're so... Wow!
Thalia: Get up, goat boy! We have other things to worry about. Annabeth is gone!
Bianca: Whoa! Hold up. Time out.
Everybody looked at her. She pointed her finger at all of us in turn, like she was trying to connect the dots.
Bianca: Who...Who are you people?
Artemis: 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.
Bianca: Our parents are dead. We're orphans. There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but...
She faltered. I guess she could tell from our faces that we didn't believe her.
Bianca: What?! I'm telling the truth!
Zoe: You are a half-blood. One of thy parents was mortal. The other was an Olympian.
Her accent was hard to place. It sounded old-fashioned like she was reading from a Shakespeare play.
Bianca: An Olympian...athlete?
Zoe: No, one of the gods.
Nico: Cool!
Bianca: No! This is not cool!
Nico danced around like he needed to use the restroom.
Nico: Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for—
Bianca: Nico, shut up! This is not your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? There are no gods!
As anxious as I felt about Annabeth—all I wanted to do was search for her—I couldn't help feeling sorry for the di Angelos. I remembered what it was like for me when I first learned I was a demigod.
Thalia must've been feeling something similar because the anger in her eyes subsided a little bit.
Thalia: 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.
Bianca: Dangerous, like the girl who fell.
I took a deep breath to try and calm myself down. Thalia turned away. Even Artemis looked pained.
Artemis: Do not despair for Annabeth. She was a brave maiden. If she can be found, I shall find her.
Theo: Then why the hell aren't you letting us go after her?!
Artemis: She is gone. Can't you sense it, my son? Some magic is at work. I do not know exactly how or why, but your friend has vanished.
I still wanted to jump off the cliff and search for her, but I had a feeling that Artemis was right. Annabeth was gone.
Bianca: Wait... (turns to Theo) She's your mom!?
I wasn't in the mood, so I just nodded.
Nico: (raises his hand) Oo! What about Dr. Thorn? That was awesome how you shot him with arrows! Is he dead?
Artemis: He was a manticore. Hopefully, he is destroyed for now, but monsters never truly die. They re-form over and over again, and they must be hunted whenever they reappear.
Thalia: Or they'll hunt us.
Bianca: That explains... (turns to Nico) Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley in DC?
Nico: And that bus driver. The one with the ram's horns. I told you that was real.
Percy: That's why Grover has been watching you. To keep you safe, if you turned out to be half-bloods.
Bianca: Grover? (turns to satyr) You're a demigod?
Grover: Well, a satyr, actually.
He kicked off his shoes and displayed his goat hooves. I thought Bianca was going to faint right there.
Thalia: Grover, put your shoes back on. You're freaking her out.
Grover: Hey, my hooves are clean.
Theo: Bianca, we came here to help you. You and Nico need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet. You need to come to camp.
Bianca: Camp?
Theo: Camp Half-Blood. It's where half-bloods like us learn to survive and stuff. You can join us, stay there year-round if you like.
Nico: Sweet, let's go!
Bianca: Wait! I don't—
Zoe: There is another option.
Thalia: No, there isn't.
Thalia and Zoe glared at each other. I didn't know what they were talking about, but I could tell there was bad history between them. For some reason, they seriously hated each other.
Artemis: We've burdened these children enough. Zoe, we will rest here for a few hours. Raise the tents. Treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests' belongings from the school.
Zoe: Yes, my lady.
Artemis: And, Bianca, come with me. I would like to speak with you.
Nico: What about me?
Artemis considered the boy.
Artemis: 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 just about tripped over himself getting up.
Grover: 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 led a confused-looking Bianca along the cliff. The Hunters began unpacking their knapsacks and making camp.
Zoe gave Thalia one more evil look, then left to oversee things. As soon as she was gone, Thalia stamped her foot in frustration.
Thalia: The nerve of those Hunters! They think they're so...Argh!
Percy: I'm with you. I don't trust—
Thalia: Oh, you're with me? What were you thinking back there in the gym, Percy? You'd take on Dr. Thorn all by yourself? You knew he was a monster! If we'd stuck together, we could've taken him without the Hunters getting involved. Annabeth might still be here. Did you think of that?
Theo: Hey, hey! Knock it off, you two! We don't need—
I stepped in between Thalia and Percy before either of them could take a swing at the other, but then I looked down and saw something navy blue lying in the snow at my feet. Annabeth's New York Yankees baseball cap.
Thalia didn't say another word. She wiped a tear from her cheek, turned, and marched off in one direction, and Percy went the other way, leaving me alone with a trampled cap in the snow.
I picked it up from the ground and wiped off the dirt and snow that was covering it. Then I sat on a nearby rock overlooking the sea while holding it close to my chest, trying to hold back my tears.
I had just lost David, and now I have lost Annabeth.
Timeskip
The Hunters set up their camping site in a matter of minutes. Seven large tents, all of silver silk, curved in a crescent around one side of a bonfire. One of the girls blew a silver dog whistle, and a dozen white wolves appeared out of the woods. They began circling the camp like guard dogs. The Hunters walked among them and fed them treats, completely unafraid, but I decided I would stick close to the tents. Falcons watched us from the trees, their eyes flashing in the firelight, and I got the feeling they were on guard duty, too. Even the weather seemed to bend to the goddess's will. The air was still cold, but the wind died down and the snow stopped falling, so it was almost pleasant sitting by the fire.
I sat still on the rock, still holding Annabeth's Yankees cap. I couldn't shake off the guilt I was feeling.
Maybe if I had done more, Annabeth would still be here. Maybe if I had paid more attention to Bianca and Nico, I would've stopped Dr. Thorn from taking them. If I had just stabbed him just an inch or two to the right, he would have been dead.
What had Annabeth wanted to tell me in the gym? Something serious, she'd said. Now I might never find out. I thought about how we'd danced together for half a song, and my heart felt even heavier.
I watched Thalia pacing in the snow at the edge of camp, walking among the wolves without fear. She stopped and looked back at Westover Hall, which was now completely dark, looming on the hillside beyond the woods. I wondered what she was thinking.
I saw Percy standing on the edge of the cliff, staring at the sea below him. Maybe a part of me blamed Percy, but I knew that if I had seen Dr. Thorn dragging the di Angelos away, I would've rushed after them.
Then I saw Percy walk over to Grover and Nico, who was playing with some cards while Grover dressed his wounds.
Suddenly, I saw my backpack land next to me. I looked over and saw one of the Hunters giving me a simple nod before walking away.
Then I looked back at the day I first arrived at Camp Half-Blood. I remembered charging at the Odontotyrannos after I had just witnessed it kill Eric. In an act of stupidity, I decided to ride it and held on to one of its horns.
Then...an arrow flew into its neck. I took it out and used it to stab it in one of its eyes. I remembered the silver arrowhead of the arrow being the same as the one I had hanging around my neck.
After I had killed the monster and was about to collapse from exhaustion, I girl with dark brown hair and a silver circlet—which turned out to be one of the Hunters—came up to me to check me for any injuries. When she didn't find any major injuries, she thanked the gods in Ancient Greek.
Wait...the girl's voice...it's the exact same as Zoe Nightshade's...
Zoe was there that night? She was the one who saved my life?
???: Percy Jackson. Theo Miller.
She had dark brown eyes and a slightly upturned nose. With her silver circlet and her proud expression, she looked so much like royalty. She studied Percy distastefully like he was a bag of dirty laundry she'd been sent to fetch.
But then she looked at me, and her expression softened a bit.
Zoe: Come with me. Lady Artemis wishes to speak with thee.
Zoe led me to the last tent, which looked no different from the others, and waved me inside. Bianca di Angelo was seated next to the auburn-haired girl, whom was actually Artemis.
The inside of the tent was warm and comfortable. Silk rugs and pillows covered the floor. 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 I didn't recognize. I figured an animal rights activist would've had a heart attack looking at all those rare skins, but maybe since Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, she could replenish whatever she shot. I thought she had another animal pelt lying next to her, and then I realized it was a live animal—a deer with glittering fur and silver horns, its head resting contentedly in Artemis's lap.
Artemis: Join us.
Percy and I sat across from her on the tent floor. The goddess studied us, which made me uncomfortable. She had such old eyes for a young girl.
Artemis: Are you surprised by my age?
Percy: Uh...a little.
I didn't respond.
Artemis: I could appear as a grown woman, or a blazing fire, or anything else I want, but this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters, and all young maidens for whom I am patron, before they go astray.
Percy: Go astray?
Artemis: Grow up. Become smitten with boys. Become silly, preoccupied, insecure. Forget themselves.
Zoe sat down on Artemis's right. She glared at Percy as if all the stuff Artemis had just said was his fault, like he'd invented the idea of being a guy.
Artemis: You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you. 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... (turns to Zoe) Which one was it?
Zoe: That boy in Colorado. You turned him into a jackalope.
Artemis: Ah, yes. I enjoy making jackalopes. At any rate, Percy, I've asked you here so that you might tell me more of the manticore. Bianca has reported some of the... mmm, disturbing things the monster said. But she may not have understood them. I'd like to hear them from you.
And so he told her. When he was done, Artemis put her hand thoughtfully on her silver bow.
Artemis: I feared this was the answer.
Zoe: The scent, my lady.
Artemis: Yes.
Theo: What scent?
Artemis: Things are stirring that I have not hunted in millennia. Prey so old I have nearly forgotten. We came here tonight sensing the manticore, but he was not the one I seek. Tell me again exactly what Dr. Thorn said.
Percy: Um, "I hate middle school dances."
Theo: (groans) Oh, my gods...
Artemis: No, no. After that.
Percy: He said either someone called the General or someone called the Lieutenant was going to explain things to me.
Zoe's face paled. She turned to Artemis—who had a look of fear in her eyes but didn't show it—and started to say something, but Artemis raised her hand.
Artemis: Go on, Percy.
Percy: Well, then Thorn was talking about the Great Stir Pot—
Bianca: Stirring.
Percy: Yeah. 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.
Percy: Maybe he was lying.
Artemis: (shakes her head) No. He was not. I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster.
Zoe looked like she was trying very hard not to be afraid, but she nodded.
Zoe: We will leave right away, my lady.
Artemis: No, Zoe. I must do this alone.
Zoe: But, Artemis—
Artemis: This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me.
Zoe: As...As you wish, my lady.
Artemis: I will find this creature, 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.
Theo: You know what the monster is, don't you?
Artemis gripped her bow.
Artemis: Let us pray I am wrong.
Percy: (turns to Theo) Can goddess pray?
I shrugged.
A flicker of a smile played across Artemis's lips.
Artemis: Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you.
Percy: Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?
Artemis: Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return.
Zoe: What?! But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there—
Artemis: Yes, I know. But I'm sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge just 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.
Zoe muttered something about foolish campers, but then she looked at me.
Zoe: Well, I do not believe the Hunters will be happy to share the cabin with thee.
Theo: It's fine. I'll just grab some of my stuff out of there and crash at the Apollo cabin or something. I'm sure they wouldn't mind.
Percy: You can crash at my cabin if you want. It's a lot quieter, since...y'know...it's just me in there.
Theo: (chuckles) Maybe. Thanks, Percy.
Artemis: And now there is one last decision to make. (turns to Bianca) Have you made up your mind, my girl?
Bianca: I...I'm still thinking about it.
Percy: Wait. Thinking about what?
Bianca: They... they've invited me to join the Hunt.
Percy: What? But you can't! You have to come to Camp Half-Blood so Chiron can train you. It's the only way you can learn to survive.
Zoe: It is not the only way for a girl.
Percy: Bianca, camp is cool! It's got a pegasus stable and a sword-fighting arena and... I mean, what do you get by joining the Hunters?
Zoe: To begin with, immortality.
I widened my eyes as Percy stared at her, then at Artemis.
Percy: She's kidding, right?
Artemis: Zoe rarely kids about anything. 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.
Theo: What oath?
Artemis: To foreswear romantic love forever. To never grow up, never get married. To be a maiden eternally.
Theo: You gotta be kidding me. You broke your own oath with Alexios.
Artemis simply looked down while Zoe looked at me like she wanted to kill me.
Percy: So, you just go around the country recruiting half-bloods—
Zoe: Not just half-bloods. Lady Artemis does not discriminate by birth. All who honor the goddess may join. Half-bloods, nymphs, mortals—
Percy: Which are you, then?
Zoe: (angrily) That is not thy concern, boy. The point is Bianca may join if she wishes. It is her choice.
Theo: Bianca, think about it. If you do this, you won't see your brother again. He'll grow old and die, assuming he's even lucky enough to live that long, while you stay the same as you are now forever. Nico can't exactly join the Hunters, can he?
Artemis: No, he cannot. He will go to camp. Unfortunately, that's the best boys can do.
Theo & Percy: Hey!
Artemis: (to Bianca) You can see him from time to time. But you will be free of responsibility. He will have the camp counselors to take care of him. And you will have a new family. Us.
Bianca: A new family. Free of responsibility.
Theo: Bianca...
She looked at me as I tried to plead with her.
Theo: You're all Nico has left. Don't do this. Please.
Bianca sighed as she turned to Zoe.
Bianca: Is it worth it?
Zoe: It is.
Bianca: What do I have to do?
Zoe: Say this: "I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis."
Bianca: I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis.
Zoe: "I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt."
Bianca: I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt. That's it?
Zoe: (nods) If Lady Artemis accepts thy pledge, then it is binding.
Artemis: I accept it.
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.
Bianca: I feel...stronger.
Zoe: Welcome, sister.
Artemis: Remember your pledge. It is now your life.
I couldn't believe what I had just seen. I couldn't believe I'd come all this way and suffered so much only to see her willingly abandon her brother for some immortal warriors.
Artemis: Do not despair, Percy Jackson, Theo. You will still get to show the di Angelos your camp. And if Nico so chooses, he can stay there.
Percy: Great. How are we supposed to get there?
Artemis: Dawn is approaching. Zoe, break camp. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother.
Zoe 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 me and Percy.
Bianca: I'm sorry, Theo. But I want this. I really, really do.
Theo: Did you even think about what Nico wanted?
Bianca lowered her head, and then left the tent with Zoe.
Theo: (under his breath) Didn't think so.
Artemis: Leave us, Percy Jackon. I wish to have a word in private with my son.
Percy sighed, then nodded before leaving the tent. This left me alone with my mother.
Artemis: It is wonderful to see you again, Theodorus. I only wish it had been under better circumstances.
Theo: (scoffs) Yeah. You and me both. And don't call me that. I haven't gone by that name in 3000 years, and I'm not gonna start now.
I still felt angry at Artemis for not letting me go after Annabeth and letting Bianca abandon her little brother to join her.
Artemis: Please, son—
Theo: Don't. Just don't. You don't exactly have a foot to stand on when you're making Bianca make the oath that you broke when you had me.
Artemis: Theo...Your father...is the reason I made my Hunters follow that oath.
Wait, what?
Artemis: When I saw your father be murdered by...that man, I was heartbroken. Devastated. Alexios was my first love, and I simply watched as he died. If I had intervened, he may have lived long enough to raise you to be the hero he and I both knew you could be.
I could feel her guilt. And the worst part is...I knew exactly what it felt like.
I guess I now know where I got my fatal flaw from.
Artemis: The pain I felt that day...I wouldn't wish it upon anyone, especially my Hunters. I care too much about them to allow them to feel that pain. There is only one being that I would wish that pain upon, and it is the man who killed my love.
I didn't know what to say. I just nodded. I wanted to ask who that man was, but I figured she wouldn't tell me. It wouldn't be the right time to ask her that kind of question anyway.
Theo: So...my uncle is coming to pick us up, huh?
Artemis: (chuckles) Yes. Yes, he is. I must warn you, he can be very annoying in the best of times.
Theo: (smirks) Sounds like he and I would get along just fine.
Artemis chuckled again. At least I managed to lift her spirits a bit. But then my smirk faded quickly when I remembered something.
Theo: There is just one thing I have to ask...
Artemis: What is it, my son?
Theo: You heard of the man who adopted me from that orphanage, right? David Miller?
Artemis: I have. And I will forever be grateful to him for raising you. I have heard of his disappearance, and believe me, I wish to find him as much as you do. But I simply do not know where to begin.
I dug around my pockets and fished out the note I found.
Theo: Maybe this could help.
I gave Artemis the note, and she read it. Her face paled almost immediately, and she didn't even bother trying to hide it.
Artemis: Where...where did you get this?
Theo: It was stuck on the fridge back in my apartment. I showed it to Chiron and Dionysus, hoping they might know who took David, but neither of them knew.
Artemis: Of course, they don't. The only one who would know apart from myself and the Hunters is Hermes. And he swore not to speak of it to anyone.
Theo: You know who did this, don't you?
She looked me dead in the eye, and all I could see in them was raw, unadulterated fear.
Artemis: I do. And I pray you do not have to face him as long as you live.