Lies

Chapter 21

**Phoebe**

Zoë and Thalia refused to stop glowering at each other so Artemis sat in between the two. When she stood up to go get a few other Hunters just in case they leapt at each other. I tackled Zoë to the ground and pinned her down while Diana held Thalia around the waist. Zoë squirmed under me, trying to get free, but for once I was glad that Ares was my dad. Artemis watched from the tent door smirking. Cynthia, Atalanta and Bianca came in and rolled their eyes when they saw what was happening. Atalanta came and held down Zoë's legs so that I could threaten her easier and Bianca and Cynthia shoved Thalia to the floor and pinned her down. Artemis motioned for me to take Zoë back to the infirmary before they moved Thalia. I cautiously got off her and immediately she tried to escape but Atalanta still had her legs. I lifted her up under the arms while Atalanta carried the feet. Zoë kicked about while we carted her off, making it as hard as possible. A few other Hunters glanced at us and smiled in amusement. When we set her down she hopped up and got into her fighting stance, eyes flashing murderously. I swallowed nervously. Last time Zoë'd taken on the whole group of Hunters she'd won. She knew better than to run past me and Atalanta, instead cutting a hole in the tent and jumping through. I cursed quietly and ran after her. Soon all the Hunters were chasing her. Half an hour later Zoë still hadn't been found and ten Hunters had been knocked out. It was eleven to one and I was pretty sure she was gonna beat us all except Artemis. For some reason, Artemis hadn't turned up at all while we'd been chasing her. I figured Artemis was doing some other thing. Thalia was tied to a tree with a bit of rope and her hands were bound but I wasn't sure if she'd stay. I doubled back and headed towards Thalia. The ropes were frayed at the edges as if they'd been cut but Thalia didn't have any weapons. I noticed a red liquid at the base of the tree and instantly recognised it as blood. A Minotaur horn was lying in the grass near the tree and there was monster dust in the air but all I could think about was they've been captured, they've been captured, they've been captured. I yelled for the others to come quickly and they did.

"Tartarus has his name all over this," Artemis growled.