Modern Myths

Book 0: Chapter 4: The huntress's terror & the messenger's anger.

3/1/01

Underworld: Hades POV

I am almost done finishing up the last of my paperwork. Percy was a genius for suggesting that I make the corrupt politicians & businessmen in the fields of punishment help organize and file my paperwork. It makes everything easier.

The fact that me and my wife take turns babysitting him while the other works & Sally is in college makes everything better.

He convinced me to give Hecate some more credit and explain why I cannot afford to give her a raise with how the underworld as a whole is overworked, not just her.

He even convinced her to stop Empousa from eating humans and even befriended the ones that were assigned to teach him magic.

I can't wait to introduce him to my 3 kids in the Lotus Casino. I even told him that Hazel was Roman.

I looked out my window having finished the last of my paperwork ready to join Persephone playing hide and seek with Percy.

I saw what looked like Hermes dangling Artemis over the edge of Tartarus.

I quickly ordered Alecto to investigate.

(A few moments prior) Hermes POV

I am furious. I just caught Artemis & her hunters beating my son unconscious after he just rescued a 7-year-old daughter of Athena & a daughter of Zeus a few years older than him from a horde of monsters. She then tried to strong arm the daughter of Zeus & unconscious daughter of Athena to join them.

I transported the 3 to a nearby Satyr & grabbed Artemis to have a word with my older sister.

I hold her over Tartarus. "WHAT GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO DO THAT?!"

Artemis: "He deserved it. He was a male." She says while struggling to hold onto his arm that is dangling her over the pit.

Me: "WHAT MAKES YOUR HUNTERS BETTER THAN THE MEN YOU DESPISE?! YOU TORTURE, ABUSE & TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE THAT HAD DONE NOTHING TO YOU! YOU'RE NO BETTER THAN HERCULES, HALIRRHOTHIUS OR ANY OF THE MALES YOU DESPISE! YOU THINK WOMEN ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN MEN BUT INDULGE IN THE SAME BARBERIC PRACTICES YOU DESPISE THEM FOR! MY SON WAS WEAKENED FROM PROTECTING TWO FEMALES, ONE BEING A CHILD, YET YOU ATTACKED HIM BASED SOLELY ON HIS GENDER!"

Artemis: "NAME ME ONE WOMAN THAT RAPED, TORTURED & EXPLOITED MEN FOR HER OWN PERSONAL GAIN!"

Me: "YOU! FOR THE LAST TWO, YOU! BEYOND THAT YOU ALSO STRONG-ARM WOMEN & CHILDREN INTO JOINING YOU! After we finish this discussion, I'm going to take you to an orphanage that a woman uses as a front to sell children into the sex trade. I'm going to show just how bad women can be but know this: IF YOU EVER PULL A TRICK LIKE THIS AGAIN, REMEMBER: I CAN GRAB YOU & THROW YOU INTO TARTARUS FASTER THAN ANYONE COULD NOTICE WHAT HAPPENED! FATHER & APOLLO WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PROVE IT WAS ME! I AM THE FASTEST OLYMPIAN!"

I turn to bring her to the orphanage but notice that a fury was watching us. She turns to leave, and I pay her no mind.

(A few minutes later) no POV

Artemis teleports back to her hunters with several children & infants with her.

Artemis: "Change of plans. We are officially letting boys into the hunt."

Zoe: "WHY?! AFTER ALL THEY'VE DONE TO US! WHY SHOULD WE?!"

Many more echoed that sentiment.

Artemis: "IF YOU'D SHUT UP, I WOULD EXPLAIN!"

There chapter 4 done. I always found Artemis & her hunters to be hypocrites with how they treat all men, even the ones that have done no wrong, so I had Hermes deliver a "reason you suck" speech to her & put the fear of god into her this chapter.

Hermes is the fastest Olympian & the god of mischief. If anyone can toss people into Tartarus without others noticing, it's him.