Daughter Of Lightning - Book 3 (A Percy Jackson x OC Fanfic)

CHAPTER 6

(Ella's POV)

Artemis assured us that dawn was coming, but you could've fooled me. It was colder, darker & snowier than ever.

Up on the hill, Westover Hall's windows were completely lightless.

I wondered if the teachers even noticed if the di Angelos & Dr. Thorn were missing yet. I didn't want to be around when they did.

Though I was kinda worried that the only name Mrs. Gottschalk would remember was "Percy Jackson," then he'd be the subject of a nationwide manhunt "again".

The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they'd set it up. Percy & I stood shivering in the snow (unlike the Hunters, who didn't seem to feel at all uncomfortable).

Artemis stared into the east like she was expecting something.

Bianca sat off to one side, talking with Nico. I could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt.

I couldn't help but think how selfish it was of her to abandon her brother like that. The weird thing was at some point even I'd considered joining but...then I found better ways to live life.

No offense though, I mean immortality is cool...but having to live the same kind of life everyday just didn't sit well.

Thalia, Grover & me went up & huddled around Percy, to hear what happened in his audience with the goddess.

When he told us, Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

"Yeah..don't even get me started on that.." I added.

"How'd they even show up here?" Percy wondered. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia said, disgusted. "It's all Zoe's fault. That stuck-up, no good—"

"Who can blame her?" Grover said."Eternity with Artemis?" He heaved a big sigh.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs. You're all in love with Artemis. Don't you get that she'll never love you back?"

"But she's so..into nature," Grover swooned.

"You're nuts," said Thalia.

"Nuts & berries," Grover said dreamily. "Yeah."

"Jeez Grover you sound like a love sick teenager." I said which earned me a slap on the shoulder.

That's when finally the sky began to lighten. Artemis muttered, "About time. He's so-o-o lazy during the winter."

"You're..um, waiting for sunrise?" Percy asked.

"For my brother. Yes."

I thought it was weird. I mean, I knew the legends about Apollo- or Helios- driving a big sun chariot across the sky. But I also knew that the sun was really a star about a zillion miles away. I'd gotten used to some of the Greek myths being true, but still...I didn't see how Apollo could drive the sun.

"It's not exactly as you think." Artemis said, looking over at Percy & me. Judging by the look on her face I guessed that me & him were thinking about the exact same thing.

"Oh, okay." Percy said. "So, it's not like he'll be pulling up in a—"

There was a sudden burst of light on the horizon. A blast of warmth.

"Don't look," Artemis advised. "Not until he parks."

Parks?

We averted our eyes, & saw that the others doing the same. The light & warmth intensified until my winter coat felt like it was melting off of me.