The King

Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Why didn't you?

Narrator's pOv

"To begin with," Zoe said, "immortality."

Percy raised an eyebrow as he tilted his to the side as if waiting for her to finish "Mhmmm?"

No one understood this, and they took it as a sign that Percy was surprised.

Artemis puffed her chess pridefully.

"My Hunters follow me on my adventures. They are my maidservants, my companions, my sisters-in-arms. Once they swear loyalty to me, they are indeed immortal... unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely. Or break their oath."

"What oath?" Percy asked, Even though he was fully aware

"To foreswear romantic love forever," Artemis said. "To never grow up, never get married. To be a maiden eternally."

"Like you?"

The goddess nodded.

"So you just go around the country recruiting half-bloods-"

"Not just half-bloods," Zoe interrupted. "Lady Artemis does not discriminate by birth. All who honour the goddess may join. Half-bloods, nymphs, mortals-"

"All Virgin females, Don't delude her; Demigods, Nymphs, spirits, which are you, then?"

Percy felt as if he was staring at one of Aphrodite's kids; that'd make her a titan, right?

Anger flashed in Zoe's eyes. "That is not thy concern, boy. The point is Bianca may join if she wishes. It is her choice."

"I'd be confiscating her choices in the next few seconds."

Percy shrugged ignoring her before looking at Bianca

"Bianca, this is crazy," Percy said. "What about your brother? Nico can't be a Hunter."

"Certainly not," Artemis agreed. "He will go to camp. Unfortunately, that's the best boys can do."

"Hehe," Percy chuckled, not offended, H3 knew he could do much more, Frankly he didn't need the camp, No he needed to grow infinitely stronger

"You can see him from time to time," Artemis assured Bianca. "But you will be free of responsibility. He will have the camp counsellors to take care of him. And you will have a new family. Us."

"A new family," Bianca repeated dreamily. "Free of responsibility."

"Abandoning your current family to get a new one... That's shameful Bianca."

Percy reasoned, But he knew nothing. Everyone was asking as loyal as him. Otherwise, the only reason he bothered coming back to camp was because of the people he had there; he couldn't abandon them.

She looked at Zoe. "Is it worth it?"

Zoe nodded. "It is."

"What do I have to do?" Bianca asked.

"Say this," Zoe told her, " 'I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis.'"

"You're making a bad decision."

Percy's cold voice interrupted her, But he hadn't acted yet, he watched it in curiosity.

"'I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.'"

Bianca repeated the lines. "That's it?"

Zoe nodded. "If Lady Artemis accepts thy pledge, then it is binding."

"I accept," Artemis said.

The flames in the brazier brightened, casting a silver glow over the room. Bianca looked no different, but she took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide. "I feel... stronger."