Slavic Huter [OC PJO Crossover]

CHAPTER 13 - Night Talks

19th December 2007

     I locked the door, then turned to the newcomers, who looked like they were being chased by a pack of banshees (I don't recommend it from my own experience – the locals still stay away from the area of Lough Sheelin in Ireland): dirty, in ragged clothes, breathing heavily, in front of me stood Zoe Nightshade, Thalia and Percy Jackson.
- I can see that this business card came in handy. Only... - I started counting heroes.
- Where is young di Angelo and Underwood? And what is Jackson doing here? I asked. Zoe just shook her head, and Percy couldn't get a word out. Only the daughter of Zeus managed to put anything into words.
- Grover... with Ophiotaurus... Bianca is dead... Talos...
- Okay, first things first. – I calmed everyone down (and most of all myself) – The bathroom is on the right, the first door, and exactly the floor above; the first aid kit, if you need to use it, is in the kitchen; I'll find you clothes if you need them. We'll talk in a moment, and I'll prepare something for you to eat.
With that said, I made my way to the kitchen while the demigods went to wash themselves.

     After an hour or so, the four of us were sitting at the dining room table; reports have been moved to the empty end of the table. I sat down across from my guests, each of us holding a large cup of tea in our hands, and on the table between us was a plate of sandwiches. It was at this point that I realized how powerful the beings were sitting in the room: the son of the lord of the seas, the daughter of the god of the sky, and the daughter of the greatest titans general (yes, I knew who Zoe's father was: proof of her trust in me).
- Okay, let's start again: what has happened since our last meeting? - I asked, and they told me: about the Smithsonian Institute, the General, Apollo as a homeless man (I didn't want to believe it – he wouldn't stoop so low), the journey on the wild boar, the encounter with Aphrodite and Ares, until they got to the point of fighting Talos.

     At this point in the story, I couldn't tell who was more depressed: Zoe or Percy, as if they both took responsibility for Bianca's death. Then there was a trip down the Colorado River, Hoover's Dam, a red-haired teenager, a duel with a sea god and a battle with the Manticore, ending it all by getting here, fending off the attacks of several hellhounds in the process.
I was saddened by the news of Bianca's sacrifice: she lived too short, she enjoyed the title of Huntress for an even shorter time; I just hoped that the jury in the Underworld would be kind to her and send her to Elysium. I looked at the heroes.
- What now? What are your plans? I asked.
- We need to get to Mount Tamplais before sunset. - Zoe replied to me. 

     I shook my head.
- You won't have time now. - They looked at me questioningly, so I explained, - Even if we left right now, we wouldn't be there before dusk.
- We? - asked Thalia, surprised.
- You need help, and the prophecy says that only when the Heroes and the Huntress are paired can they save Artemis: there are two of you, Zoe is only one, and I have been a member of the Hunt for 50 years. Besides, - I continued, pointing to the reports at the end of the table - I still have to check what's going on up this mountain to know what to prepare my people for.

     - Wait, wait. Who are you really, huh? The huntresses are not hostile to you, even though you're a man, and then we find out that you owed them a lifetime debt that you paid off; and now, all of a sudden, you're telling us that you were a member of the Hunt? Something really stinks here! - Thalia said, a little pissed. I looked at her, then closed my eyes and sighed.
- You are right. You need to know more about me, I owe it to you. But you must remember that I will not tell you the whole story: not because I am hiding anything from you; It's just that there are some private matters, too painful for me or those that don't add anything to the current situation.
Thalia and Percy both shook their heads, accepting my terms. Meanwhile, I began to spin my story.

     - I was born in the late 1920s. When World War II broke out, I was barely 10 years old. After the fall of our capital, my parents decided to join the Home Army – the Polish resistance movement – and help the Underground Government to fight the occupier. I also took part in it: some graffiti on the wall here, a letter brought there between the partisan commanders. After 4 years, as a result of... clusters of many events, my parents were killed, and I was left alone in the middle of nowhere. That's when the Huntresses of Artemis found me and saved my life. It took me a year and a half to gain their trust, but my goal was simply to repay for their help. I ended up taking an oath, somewhat similar to the one every new Huntress takes.