Perseus Jackson: Titan of The Hunt

CH12: I Desend Into Darkness

(Thalia)

The light cleared to reveal the figures of Lady Artemis, Percy, Jason and his friends Leo and Piper, Nico and two others I didn't know.

I bowed towards the goddess but was surprised when she practically ran forward and embraced me tightly.

"Thalia, I am so glad you are ok." She said surprising me as she never really showed open emotion, even with us Hunters she was often cold and distant. If anything, the only emotions she ever showed often was anger and hostility when provoked. From what I had heard from the other older Hunters before, the only person she ever truly befriended was Zoe. And even that was almost entirely a professional relationship at all times.

"My lady, I am sorry I have failed you." I said respectfully, seemingly snapping her out of this emotional phase.

"No Thalia, I have failed you. I should never have let our father keep me from the Hunt. This is the fault of no one fault but that of my brother's spawn." She answered coldly whilst standing back before looking at the fort on the hill.

"Unfortunately, the ancient laws forbid me from seeking vengeance on him myself or this would already be over. Father has decided that this conflict of demigods must be concluded by demigods and that is why the seven are here." She said indicating the figures who arrived with her. I looked around the figures noticing the unknown duo sticking close together wary of the crowd looking at them and so I guessed they were Romans before I noticed someone missing.

"Percy where is Annabeth?" I asked before immediately regretting it, as his face fell and the others looked saddened.

"Annabeth Chase died saving her mother and saved Olympus by killing Porphyrion, she was a true Hero." Artemis answered for him to which he simply nodded thankfully. I could not believe she was dead; she was like a little sister to me despite me technically appearing younger now. I had seen her worried when Percy was missing but the face, he had now she was gone was horrible he seemed stuck between sadness and anger, and it hurt to see my cousin like this.

Artemis looked around the other injured campers noticing injuries too them all, Phoebe's entire back was a mess from where she stood with her back to the flames helping the others, I had a broken rib from the force of hitting the back wall. Thankfully it had started to mend before Artemis hugged me. No one was in a fit state for anything especially not to fight.

"The Romans are being manipulated by their Augur and we need to stop them and capture that little fool. He will pay for this but you cannot help me girls, you need to heal. I will be back once this is dealt with." She said before turning back to the demigods behind her.

(Percy)

When I saw the state of the hunters, I was angered to see he wounds across their bodies, several were barely able to move due to the bandaging over their burns. Only Thalia seemed uninjured but she was a victim of more internal problems, both physically and mentally for she felt as if she had failed. It was the same feeling I had after the battles at the Labyrinth and Manhattan, when I saw he deaths of my friends and I was helpless to save them... the same I had when Annabeth died.

But this was no one's fault; my friends had died saving others, giving their lives so we could live. The Hunters had died because of a misunderstanding and manipulation both Gaia's and Octavian's. I had seen his manipulation back when I had first arrived in New Rome, I had seen his attempted murder of Gwen after the war games and here was yet more proof of his treachery and desire for power. His distrust of anyone else and ability to inflict suffering on those against him.

Only a true monster would attempt to burn others to death in their sleep and knowing the Augur, he was probably sitting in their camp claiming honour for it.