𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚔𝚒𝚍 - percy jackson x oc

017

XVII - THE SUN GOD IS HOT

"VALERIA!" PERCY SCREAMED.

He started to run after her, but their enemies weren't done with them. The helicopter had opened fire on the Hunters and half-bloods.

Most of the Hunters scattered as tiny holes appeared in the snow at their feet, but the girl with auburn hair just looked up calmly at the helicopter.

"Mortals," she announced, staring at the helicopter being controlled by humans, "are not allowed to witness my hunt."

She thrust out her hand, and the helicopter exploded into dust—no, not dust. The black metal dissolved into a flock of birds—ravens, which scattered into the night.

The Hunters advanced on them. The one called Zoë stopped short when she saw Thalia. "You," she said with distaste.

"Zoë Nightshade." Thalia's voice trembled with anger. "Perfect timing, as usual."

Zoë scanned the rest of them. "Four half-bloods and a satyr, my lady."

"Yes," the younger girl said. "Some of Chiron's campers, I see."

"Valeria!" Percy yelled. "You have to let us save her!"

He chose to leave out the fact that Darian was missing as well.

The auburn-haired girl turned toward him. "I'm sorry, Percy Jackson, but your friends are beyond help."

"Help!"

"I stand corrected."

Percy wasted no time as he ran towards the edge of the cliff. He kneeled down and saw the golden-eyed girl clinging desperately to a ledge in the rocks.

He reached down and tried to grab her, but she was too far down. He wouldn't make it.

"I cannot..." she trailed off.

"I—hold on!" he called as the auburn-haired girl raced over.

"Here!" She threw over a glowing silver rope that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere and Percy sighed a breath of relief as Valeria grabbed it and climbed up.

Once she made it to the top, her eyes focused on the auburn-haired girl and she froze. "My lady."

"Who even is this?" Percy asked.

Zoë stepped forward as if to smack him.

"No," the other girl ordered. "I sense no disrespect, Zoë. He does not understand."

The young girl looked at Percy, her eyes colder and brighter than the winter moon. "I am Artemis," she said. "Goddess of the Hunt."

When this twelve-year-old girl told Percy this, he said something real intelligent like, "Um...okay."

That was nothing compared to Grover. He gasped, then knelt hastily in the snow and started yammering, "Thank you, Lady Artemis! You're so...you're so...Wow!"

"Get up, goat boy!" Thalia snapped. "We have other things to worry about. That boy Darian is gone!"

"Whoa," Bianca di Angelo said. "Hold up. Time out."

Everybody looked at her. She pointed her finger at all of them in turn, like she was trying to connect the dots. "Who...who are you people?"

Artemis's expression softened. "It might be a better question, my dear girl, to ask who are you? Who are your parents?"

Bianca glanced nervously at her brother, who was still staring in awe at Artemis.

"Our parents are dead," Bianca said. "We're orphans. There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but..."