Perseus The Disgraced Archangel

Talks, and More Talks

      "Zoë, go get me Perseus Jackson." Artemis told her lieutenant.

     Zoë nodded. She walked to the clearing where the demigods had set up cap, and where tending to Nico, who had gotten hurt with one of Thorns thorns. "It's green!" He said.

     Zoë cleared her throat. "Perseus Jackson, my lady requests a word." She said.

     Percy nodded and followed the lieutenant to Artemis' tent. It was warm and cozy inside, with animal pelts hanging on the walls. Silk pillows and rugs covered the floor. In the corner, a brazier was burning. The goddess sat in the middle of the tent, criss cross applesauce style. A deer with silver horns was resting its head in her lap. All in all, it felt like a tent Remiel would like, being into hunting and all. He should introduce them someday.

     Percy shook himself out of his thoughts and turned to the hunting goddess, who was watching him intently. Zoë sat at her mistress' side, giving Percy a mock glare, not that Artemis knew, as she spoke. "Sorry if my hunters aren't that friendly. Boys are rarely ever allowed in here. The last one was..." She looked at Zoë.

     "The one in Colorado, the one you turned into a jackalope." She said.

     "Right. I quite like turning boys into jackalopes."

     Percy nodded. He wasn't sure if she could turn him into a jackalope, and he wasn't eager to find out.

     "Surprised by my age?" Artemis asked. It was then that he realized that Artemis was looking 12. It didn't really faze him, as his sister Azrael looked pretty young as well. So he just shrugged.

    "Not really. You can look any way you want."

     Artemis looked surprised, before she gestured for him to sit. "Sit."

     Percy sat.

     "Now, I talked to Bianca, but she is understandably confused, so I thought I would ask you. What did the manticore say exactly?"

     "'You're no match for me, much less the forces that we'll have due to the stirring of monsters.'" Percy repeated the manticore's words.

     "Hmm... I wonder if it has something to do with the scent." She mumbled almost inaudibly.

     "The scent?" Percy and Zoë asked simultaneously.

     "Prey so old, I've almost forgotten about them." She murmured. "I must go at once. Zoë, I will call Apollo and he will take you all to Camp. Try not to burn down the cabins this time."

    Zoë smiled. "We'll try milady."

     "Before I go, have you made your decision, Bianca?"

     Percy didn't even notice that Bianca was sitting on a pillow behind him. "Decision about what?" He asked.

     "They offered me.. To join the Hunt." She said.

     "You would have to leave Nico."

     "Yea, but I've cared for him my whole life..." She said, not finishing.

      "I won't tell you what to do, but believe me, sibling betrayal hurts a lot." he said, pain barely constrained in his voice. "I'll be outside waiting for Apollo."

LINE BREAK

     Apollo was late. He's lazy in the winter. Never sets his alarm. When he finally parked his car, Percy realized that it was his car, only a different color. Apollo had the sun set to a 1962 Chevrolet Corvette, only in orange. Percy liked the design, but wanted one in black. That would be his goal next time he went into the city.