Berserker of the sea

Chapter 9 "Gratefulness"

"Do you still have it?" Asked the goddess.

Perseus numbly reached into one of his many pockets, pulling out the cursed pen.

He went to throw it, but Artemis caught his hand. "It is her story, her memory. Despite it being a painful one it is not one you can just get rid of."

She gently squeezed his hand, Perseus sighed his arm falling back down limply.

"Any damage I missed?"

Perseus rolled his shoulders dull ache arching through his body like lightning.

"I'll live." He huffed almost sounding disappointed.

"So Poseidon." Inquired the goddess after a few moments.

"Yep, dear old deadbeat pops."

"I was wondering when he'd break the oath. What will you do?"

"About what? You're father really has not even an inch of room to talk nor judge."

Artemis managed a chuckle "true, my father can be quite the hypocrite."

Perseus didn't reply.

"She did what she did out of love and care. Not me nor you could have stopped her."

"I could have done something more." Argued Perseus.

"Her death was fated."

"Fate, fate only holds dominion over you once you surrender to it."

"Do not torture yourself child. Zoe is at peace where she is. The least you can do is find some peace in that fact yourself."

"And what about you? Are you at peace?"

"Time does not dull the wound I feel everytime one of my hunters passes on, but i find some comfort knowing where they are. As much as I wish I could let grief strike me down I cannot allow it. I must move forward."

Perseus let his head fall against the gleaming wood of the sleigh.

"It's kind of like Santa's sleigh." He commented under his breath.

"Where did you think the legend came from." Smirked the goddess.

"I wanna say Coca Cola." Managed to smirk back the tired half-blood.

Artemis scoffed, but didn't rebuke him, instead focusing on the road ahead.

Soon Olympus appeared into view, the kingdom of the gods illuminated in the dark sky by well placed gigantic braziers.

Perseus rose to his feet steadying himself against the edge of the sleigh. He gazed at the Ancient Greek city with contempt. Not expecting what would come next to be good.

"They will not lay a finger upon you or Thalia." Vowed the goddess of the hunt as if she read his mind.

"Besides you're father won't let it happen."

"He's let much worse happen before." Darkly stated Perseus.

Artemis glanced at him, a hint of pity shining in her eyes.

The sleigh landed down upon the street of Olympus. Some minor deities stepping out of their homes to look on in bewilderment as a mortal, a man no less leap out of the chariot of Artemis of all people.

The two ignored the forming crowd and marched towards the throne room. The Parthenon like temple standing tall above all other buildings.

Perseus tuned out the whispers sent his way, along with the slightly lustful looks of the nature spirits looking on from the gardens.