¹Pocket Full of Posies, p. jackson

v. An Offer Impossible to Refuse

chapter five
❛ an offer impossible to refuse ❜

━━━━━  IT WAS THE very last tent in the row of silver. It looked the same as all the other silver tents the Hunters of Artemis had set up, but with who was leading Posie toward it (and who she had been told waited inside) — Posie felt her insides squirm, as if a snake had infested her organs. It was a horrible feeling, and she had to hold her stomach with her left arm, silently following after Zoë Nightshade, wondering where she had gone wrong in life. It would've been easy to point out that she had ever agreed to bind herself to Hades, but it was more than that. It could've been ever indulging Percy Jackson two summers ago, as perhaps she wouldn't have been forced onto the quest for Zeus's Master Bolt — but that was simply not the answer, either. One way or another, as the Fates clearly wanted it, she was going to be a fourth player in that quest. Then, she had to simply look to the source — Apollo and Beau Pascual.

        Posie tried to look for the good in situations, yes, but that became rather hard over time. In truth, it was a slow build — becoming harder and harder, as more and more terrible events stacked on top of one another. Besides, it was easier to blame her parents, who were never around, and it did make sense, because if Apollo never did deliver a golden cradle to Beau's doorstep on April 13th, then Posie wouldn't be in Maine, walking through the Hunters of Artemis's campsite. But that didn't change the fact that Apollo did use the winds to drop Posie off in a cradle made of gold in an apartment in Washington, D.C. — he did, perhaps guided by the Fates, or because he thought Beau would make a good father. (But Beau Pascual would prove that he was good at nothing but playing guitar and neglecting life, including his own.)

        With that, because of Apollo and the Fates, Posie was in a camp full of silver tents, as her right hand pulsed dully with a burn that should never exist, as she felt weighed down with the guilt of Annabeth and the nerves of why Artemis wanted to speak with her. And it was far too late to turn and bolt, because right as Posie was seriously considering it, Zoë made it to the very last tent, pushing aside the silver fabric that blocked out the cold wind, holding it as she looked over to the daughter of Apollo — it was an invitation for Posie to step inside first. But Posie didn't want to step inside; she didn't want to know what Artemis wanted to speak with her about — she wanted to turn and bolt back to the bonfire, even if that meant listening to the constant chattering from Nico di Angelo. However, when Zoë's dark eyebrows knitted together after enough seconds passed by with a silent staredown between her and Posie, the daughter of Apollo cleared her throat and ducked her head — she stepped inside to the very last tent among the Hunters' campsite.

        As far as Posie could see as she crossed the camp, the silver tents looked nothing alike, and neither did the one that held Artemis. However, inside, it must've told a much different story. It was far larger inside than Posie would've ever anticipated, and was very warm and comfortable, with silk rugs and pillows thrown across the floor for any Hunters and or guests to be comfortable. (But that didn't change the fact that Posie was so nervous to speak with Artemis, with the anxiety leaving her chewing at the skin on her lips, with the anxiety leaving effects on her.) In the center, sitting on an intricate, golden brazier, was a lick of orange flames, and that flame was burning without any sort of fuel or smoke (as much as she could tell, that is). And just behind the golden brazier, there sat the Goddess of the Hunt, and behind the goddess — it was a polished oak display stand, decorated with a huge, silver bow that was carved to resemble gazelle horns. That wasn't the only thing, either, as up along all the walls were animal pelts — black bear, tiger, and several others that Posie couldn't recognize. It was all made more awkward as Zoë stepped around Posie, stopping just behind Artemis, watching the daughter of Apollo intently, just as Artemis was.