The Spirits of the Universe (PJO)

Chapter 2-I Accidentally Strangle My Favorite Cousin--EDITED

One way to piss off an immortal is to ignore them.

"What are you doing here, boy?" Artemis hissed out.

I didn't let her see that I heard her, but I couldn't control my hands tightening into fists. I stared longingly at the water. After all I did for the gods, all I got addressed with was 'boy'? Plus, Artemis had so much disgust in her tone that it seemed she was talking about roadkill. 

The last time I checked, I didn't smell nearly as bad.

I'm going to kill her, End raged. After squishing all of her puny hunters right in front of her face.

Percy, get a hold of your emotions, Order told me as End fought for control. Otherwise, something REALLY bad will happen.

I'm trying! I screamed. I really was. 

The last thing I wanted was to have more innocent blood on my hands.

But as I pushed End further into the depths of my consciousness, she struggled harder. It was like trying to ride a unicycle over a balance beam—blindfolded—while having a rope around your waist that was trying to pull you off the balance beam with the strength of five elephants.

In other words, End was gaining control.

"Answer. The. Question," Artemis enunciated, pulling the silver arrow notched on her bow back until it was trembling to be released. Tell me, or you die."

"Can't you see I'm trying to control my emotions?" I managed to voice out despite my inner struggle. 

It probably wasn't a smart thing to sass the Goddess Who Hated All Males, but it sure helped me push End a bit back for some breathing room.

The next second, however, the sister of Chaos attempted to lunge out of my mind again. My lip was warm with blood as I fought back.

A hunter with a silver circlet and two other silver-clad women—one with blonde princess curls and the other with short, choppy chocolate-brown hair—lowered their bows in surprise.

"Percy?" Silver Circlet, who appeared as the group leader, asked. "Is that you?"

Oh no. My eyes widened. It was Thalia, a daughter of Zeus with whom I was closer than the Stoll brothers were to each other.

Perfect, End purred as Thalia took a few careful steps towards me. I'll start with the lieutenant first.

"Not another step forward, Thals," I gasped out, tears blurring my vision from the effort it took to block End. "Otherwise, I'll do something I'll hate myself for doing."

Okay, I have to admit, that wasn't the best way to word my intentions. But there was a lot going on.

Thalia hesitated, her foot an inch from taking another step. All the hunters got ready to fire at the poorly worded warning as I winced.

"Not going to happen, Kelp Head," Thalia said as she overcame her surprise, covering the distance between us confidently. "I trust you more than you trust yourself—"

She placed a hand on my shoulder, making me falter—just as End wrenched control from me. I watched helplessly as she quickly spun around and yanked Thalia into a tight headlock.

"Maybe you should think more next time," End cackled as Thalia started gasping for breath and pointlessly struggling.

Her physical voice was almost identical to mine—meaning it was male—except it had an underlying tone of absolute command and confidence. I couldn't help but be jealous; why couldn't I have that boldness?