Perseus Jackson: Titan of The Hunt

CH55: That's got to Hurt

(Percy)

'Seriously Reyna where is Piper? It has been over 12 hours and no one has seen her.' I asked the demigod who simply smiled in return.

'That's not my fault if she doesn't want to be found.'

'It is, because people are going to start asking questions, Jason spent the rest of last night after he recovered looking for her and I am sure he suspects you. Besides the only reassurance we have that she is still alive and not in Tartarus is your word.'

'I swear on the Styx I did not kill her or allow her to die. Anyway I was being serious she probably doesn't want to be found. If she doesn't turn up by tonight I will show you where I left her.'

'Perseus leave her alone, I agree if she is not found by tonight Reyna will have to show us.' Artemis said from behind me concluding the matter while the Roman demigod returned to her look of serene happiness with herself. It had been the first clue to Jason that something wasn't right when he came to ask us earlier. Reyna never appeared actually happy, sure she would smile on occasion at a joke or prank but actual happiness was unheard of.

'Yes Milady.' We replied in chorus as she returned to cleaning her equipment, sure I had removed the ichor from her clothes but I refused to do the rest of the wear and tear she had done in the last few weeks.

The hunters had the day off from all duties and training for winning the game and most were taking the opportunity to stay in bed all morning or to gloat over the campers and the gods of heroes. So much so that Leo had locked himself in Bunker 9 because Phoebe had found it hilarious to keep reminding him about me possessing him and using him as a tool to break free of my own trapped state.

Sure I had apologized to him for doing it and injuring him but I could tell he was still sore about the subject. Afterall this was not the first time he had been possessed and I knew from personal experience with the Eidolons it was not cool. I had a plan to make it up to him but for the moment I did not have the strength to do it.

Even Nemea had taken apparent pleasure in strolling through the camp causing most of the campers to flee in terror at the sight of her, and I realized just how much the Lioness had done last night. The hunters admitted after the game they captured three demigods and Frank total. The rest had been done by me, Artemis, Thalia, Reyna and Nemea. The Lioness had single handedly (pawed?) defeated the entire camp attack force and that was in her reduced state. I was starting to think how I had created a monster when I had taught her to keep her mouth shut at all times in a fight as it was her only weak point.

Nico and Bianca had returned to the underworld after Hades summoned them to account for how I managed to beat the pair while handicapped and barely able to move. Sure my relationship with my uncle had improved but apparently it still grated upon him for me to beat his children, even if he had technically adopted me or at least blessed me. Not that it was currently active like most of my other powers at the moment.

As for everyone else Frank had returned to New Rome to oversee the Senate, Jason was off Piper searching and Thalia was gloating over everyone as if she had single handedly won the game. Then again she had defeated two gods so it was fairly justified even if she was technically the only person on our team who was out by the end of it.

Artemis and I had chosen to spend some time at the Archery range as it had been free of other people because the hunters weren't around, the Apollo kids were dealing with the few still wounded campers. Of course I achieved very little in the actual practice though it did give the pair of us time alone together without risking suspicion. Though eventually campers had begun to arrive there for training and we had left first so I did not injure any with errant shots and second because they kept shooting us look of bitterness towards the loss. Not that they said anything aloud, apparently they decided it was good to not bad mouth the Olympian goddess and the Titan Lord who kicked their asses.