Prince of the Seas, Lord of the Eclipse (Discontinued)

Chapter 5

A flash of light in the sky announced Apollo's chariot arriving with the Hunters. I heard the campers groan, but I was a little curious to see who Artemis called an old friend.

As they got off the bus, head of black hair with volcanic eyes and a silver tiara on her head caught my attention. Zoë Nightshade, daughter of Atlas and Pleione. I chuckled, of course Artemis would send them here. Zoë and I went way back, before she even joined the hunt. I'm the one who got her to join, my sis' first recruit.

Her eyes met mine, "Perseus?"

I grinned. "Back from the dead, mi'lady, and at your service."

"I ought to hogtie you and feed you to the sharks!" she yelled, tackling me.

"But they wouldn't hurt me now, being a son of Poseidon."

She looked surprised so I quickly explained everything that happened. "Wow, that's a lot to take in," she said. I nodded.

Annabeth walked up, "You two know each other?" Always so curious, common trait of a child of Athena.

We both grin and nod. "Zoë and I go way back, to when I was originally Artemis and Apollo's younger brother. I'm the one who got her to be a hunter. The first hunter to be exact."

Annabeth's eyes were wide as dinner plates.

-----Time Lapse

I sat on the beach looking at the moon. I could already feel that she was captured. It pained me to send her off knowing it would happen, but it was necessary. Now, Zeus and the rest of the council have had the incentive to turn back human progression, and I would have an excuse to start fulfilling the prophecy.

I felt a presence approach and sit next to me. They were quiet for awhile, before they asked, "Are you really the reincarnation of their brother?" Annabeth.

"Yes. But it's not exactly a reincarnation anymore. I'm back to being a god, and with it, the responsibilities of such."

"So, you'll be leaving soon? And after the war, we won't see you again?"

A solitary eyebrow rose. "And why would this bother you? I've been here for two weeks and you barely know me."

"I know, but, you're the only one I really talk to other than my siblings. I just, it feels like I'll lose a friend."

I was a little surprised that she considered me a friend. "I'm not all that important. You'll get along just fine without me. Find a boy, get married, have some kids, live a nice life...well, as nice as it can be in these medieval times now, what with the reset and everything." Even saying that, I don't know why I suddenly didn't like the thought of her getting married. It didn't sit well with me.

"I don't want all that, I don't want just another boyfriend, or a man to marry me just to take care of me. I'm independent and can take care of myself. I want someone to love me for who I am. Plus, I've already got someone I like, I just don't think it'd ever work out. He's too busy all the time, he won't ever have time for me."

I snorted, "If he doesn't have time for you, then he doesn't really deserve your love now does he?" I ask her.

"I don't know, you tell me, Perce," she muttered, thinking I wouldn't hear her. She got up to walk away.

My arm shot out and grabbed her wrist, "Annabeth, why?" She looked startled that I had heard her in the first place. "I mean, I yelled at you, nearly killed you, and yet, you befriended me, and now, you're saying you may—"

She cut me off, "I'm not saying may. I do like you. I like you a lot Percy. I don't know why, or how it could be so fast, but maybe it's fate. All I'm saying is, you're a god, I'm mortal. I'll age and die, you'll move on, have lots of demigod kids like your brother–" It was my turn to cut her off.

"I've never had a demigod, even when I was a god before. I'm not like my brother or sister, but the median. I believe in love and marriage. I don't mind having kids, but I'm not going to sleep around like my brother," I explain quickly. "And, you never know Annabeth, just remember, Dionysius' wife was a mortal once..." I trailed off.

Her eyes were wide, "Oh."