Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Eagle's Path || a PJO/AC Crossover

Chapter 25: The Hunters of Artemis Part: 1

Percy POV:
We made it up back to the surface within seconds, and the sunlight illuminated brightly that we blocked it with our hands. I really hate being underground like that. Not only because the sunlight burns your eyes, but because underground is dear-old Uncle Hades' domain, and he doesn't like me that much. Once all of us were accounted for, I peered over my shoulder to see that the guy watching the door had gone to close it and lock it. Weird... Why would he lock it from the OUTSIDE? Maybe just to make it look discrete, like someone's not in there. Kind of stupid, but discrete nonetheless.
I looked back forward, and I focused my attention to Emily. She was staring at the ground as she we had gotten out of the hideout. She wasn't like this before we entered, and she wasn't like this when we were in there. I just wasn't like her to look like this. She was always an adventurous and calm kind of girl, never looking down and always strong... What happened to her? "So what do you say guys"? Jason asked. "I say this is crazy" Leo replied, "but I'm all ABOUT crazy"! Everyone had smiled, seeing the same-old crazy and fun Leo Valdez. "I say we should get going" Annabeth exclaimed, "once we get this done, we can be on our way with the quest again". "Alright then. We should all come back here once we're done. Make sure you weren't followed" I said, "let's do this". With nods all around, we agreed, and we had gone in separate directions, but before that, a hand had stopped me from moving much further, and I turned to see that Annabeth had grabbed my wrist. A smile on her face, she said "good luck Seaweed Brain". I smiled back, and responded with a kiss, and "you too Wise Girl". We had then separated from each other, and continued to carry out our mission; Emily, Thalia and I will pick up the Intel from Shaun and Rebecca. Jason, Piper and Leo will destroy the manifests for the Methamphetamine ingredients. While Frank, Hazel and Annabeth will destroy the ones for the guns. Elizabeth stays behind for assistance.
Emily, Thalia and I walked out of the alley and turned left down the street. London was actually pretty jam-packed like the streets of New York, so we could possibly catch a cab around the corner. I peered to my right, and I saw Emily was still staring at the ground, looking depressed out of her mind. As we walked, I thought of what was going on in her mind. Did she do something? Did someone say something to her? I wanted to ask her what was troubling her. "Emily... Are you okay"? I asked. No response, just continued staring at the ground. "Emily"? She heard me this time, and looked up at me. "Hm? Yeah Percy"? "Are you okay? You look like as though someone hurt you". Maybe now was a bad time to ask, but she concerned me very much. She stared back down at the ground as we kept walking, but had responded with a "oh yeah... I'm alright...".
"A-are you sure? Because-".
"I'm fine. Let's just get this over with" she replied, ignoring my concern of her. That wasn't like her, to snap back at someone like that, especially if something, or someONE got her down. Something DEFINITELY happened. "Alright. Whatever you say". We continued walking until we made it around the corner, in which a cab had coincidentally pulled over near an apartment area as a few passengers got off with their luggage out of the trunk. The TAXI light was switched on, and was available for passengers. Before the driver could drive off, Thalia had hailed it; reaching her arm out and called for it. "Hey you two"! Thalia called out to us, "I got us a ride, hop in"! Thalia had been standing next to the cab, with is merely feet away from her. I had reached for the door handle, and opened the door for the girls. "Your chariot awaits Pinecone Face" I said with a smirk. "Thank you kindly, Kelp Head" she replied, stepping into the back seat. Before she got into the cab as well, Emily raised a brow with a smile on the corners of her lips, "Kelp-Head"?
"It's just a nickname".
"Oh sure. Kelp Head".
"What was that"?
"Nothing" she lastly replied, stepping into the cab besides Thalia in the middle. I got in last, closing the door beside me. I was smushed together with the girls as the back seat could only accommodate three passengers at a time. The driver looked up at his rear-view mirror and viewed is before asking "so, where would you three like to go". Oh... I forgot, none of us mentioned back in the hideout where Shaun and Rebecca would be, or where we could meet them. It was until Emily had spoken and said "St. Mark Street". "Aye, you three need to get there quick"?
"Yes. Please and thank you".
"Alright then". I looked at Emily and asked "are you sure that's where they are"? "Yes. I'm certain" she replied.
"How do you know"?
"I just do. Alright"!
There it was again. Something wasn't just right about Emily that I can't get my mind off. Emily was staring forward, expressionless, but I could see that something was bothering her. Was it the fact that she facing the fact that she learned that gods, monsters, demigods, and so on were all real? Or... What? Thalia had been glaring daggers at Emily. Maybe she just doesn't trust her. Then again, Thalia was about to mention why the Hunters of Artemis have a rivalry against the Assassins during the meeting on Olympus, but Artemis pulled her away before explaining. It makes me wonder; 'what happened'?
As much as I wish to focus on that, it doesn't matter now. All that matter is to get the job done and put an end to the Templars, one step at a time. Time to visit some old friends.
***10 Minutes Later***
Well that was fast. Despite the large, crowded streets of London with so much traffic and many cars and cabs around. I thought we'd be stuck in traffic for hours. And thankfully we had arrived quickly to St. Mark's Street in time, so hopefully, Shaun and Rebecca haven't relocated or have retreated back to their hideout. Either that, or the Templars could have captured them. Hopefully it doesn't come to that. They're good people that me and Emily knew, and I don't think we could bear to see them killed or captured by Templar hands. After exiting the vehicle, Emily had paid the fare, and the cab driver had drove off, leaving us to walk now. Looking around, most buildings were brick, two to three story apartments, there were cars parked close to the curb, and a few people and cars were coming through here. But either than that, the place didn't seem abandoned. It seemed like a good place for us to meet anyways. It was less populated so there was no possible way the Templars wouldn't monitor us.
...Maybe I shouldn't jinx us.
We looked around for any possible sign that Shaun and Rebecca were here; maybe an Assassin symbol? A piece of paper with a message on it? Or a hand with a pointed finger engraved into a wooden bench? There had to be something here. As far as we could see, there was nothing here. "Hey? Are you sure they're here"? Thalia asked, questioning Emily. "...yes, they're here" Emily sighed. Her eyes focused on an alleyway across the street from us; bare and empty with the exception of a few trash cans, dumpsters, and cardboard boxes. Nothing worth our while there. Unless... I don't know, I felt like a surge of power was coming from that alleyway. It was definitely god-like and it was pulling me in. I didn't want to mess with it.
But Emily just then pointed towards the alleyway, and exclaimed "there... That's where they are...". Thalia raised a brow, and asked "there? The dirty alleyway"?
"Yes".
"Are you sure"? I asked.
"Yes, I'm one hundred percent positive. There's no way anyone might expect a group of Assassins to meet in one place".
"Technically four Assassins and one Hunter to meet".
"Whatever. Let's just go".
We began walking across the street, getting to the other side and down the alleyway. Kind of a shady place, besides New York's alleyways in Manhatten. But despite the smell and the garbage, there DEFINITELY was power behind this place. Like I said; it was god-like. I felt this power before, mostly when it comes to being around gods, Titans, and Primordials. But it all depends how powerful the individual gods are: gods like Dionysus don't have much powerful forces (oh gods, please don't kill me if you heard my thoughts), but gods like Zeus, my dad, Hades, Athena, and Artemis have powerful forces around them because they are stronger and powerful in combat. It was getting stronger as we continued to walk down the alleyway. Even as I looked at Thalia, who was ahead of me, she even had given rapid breaths as we entered the alley. "Thalia? What's wrong"?
She peered over her shoulder and said "I don't know. I just got a feeling".
"Like what"?
"Like someone's here. It feels like there's power here. Like a god's".
"I know. I feel it too".
"Then why aren't you scared"?
I raised my brow, "oh, are you saying that the all-mighty daughter of the God of the skies, Zeus, is scared and I'm not".
"Is there no end to your ignorance"? She pouted. "Oh come on, I'm just kidding".
"You really are a Kelp Head. But this is serious Perce, we have to watch ourselves".
"Alright".
Suddenly, Emily had stopped, and shushed us. Checking her surroundings. Everything was clear for now. We were in an open, large space in the alleyway, within a square of buildings close to E Tenter Street and was probably the only clean spot of the area. It was more clean and didn't smell much of garbage. The only things around were a few benches, lights, and grass that was beginning to turn brown like straw as fall was around the corner. Now there were no people down here as there was only me, Emily and Thalia. The force still remained however. And another problem was that Shaun and Rebecca were not here. There was nothing here to tell if they were here or not; no clues or indication was to show if Shaun and Rebecca were here or not. I... I don't get it...
"Where are they"? Thalia asked, "I thought you said your contacts were supposed to meet us here. Where are they? Did they move or-". "THEY are here"! Emily had snapped back at her, "but...". There she was again, she had gone silent and hadn't spoken another word, but instead had looked down at the ground, and I swear I could see a tear flowing down her cheek. Pressure was overwhelming her, and I knew that someone was pressuring her right now. Was it us?
"...I-I... I'm sorry you two. I lied to you two...". I slowly approached her, only wishing to help her but she shrugged, shying me away. I only wanted to help her. "Emily... What's wrong? A-are you okay"? She sighed, and replied "I told you guys that we were going to meet THEM... But... It's not Shaun or Rebecca we're meeting here"? "What"?! Thalia snapped, "DID YOU LEAD US INTO A TRAP OR WHAT ASSASS-". "Hey hey hey"! I exclaimed, stepping in between her and Emily as she began to threateningly approach her, hoping to stop her in her tracks. "Easy Thalia-". "No! Not 'easy' Percy! This mess of an Assassin possibly led us into a trap and you're defending her! I may trust you, but I can't trust-". "THALIA GRACE!!! THAT IS ENOUGH"!!! A commanding voice called. But none of us had said anything. Even Thalia had stopped her angry impression and stopped. The voice we heard was feminine, commanding, and... Familiar... No... It couldn't be... We turned our heart to the left where we had entered the alley. And stood there was a group of girls, around the ages of 12 to 16, some older, with their long hairs in braids, and wore silver camouflage Parkas, Cargos, and black combat boots. Slung around their chest were hunting bows, quivers with silver-tipped arrows in them, and try had knives strapped to their sides or boots. Out of all of them there was one who was roughly one of the oldest, probably 16 with long, auburn hair pulled back into a ponytail with a silver circlet around her head. What stood out the most of her were her eyes; silver that reflected like moonlight. They were all strange, but that's what I though when I first encountered them three years ago; for these girls, and their leader, were the Hunters of Artemis, and their patron goddess Artemis. "L-lady Artemis..." Thalia sputtered, seeing her goddess stand before her. I didn't need brains to know that we needed to kneel before the goddess in front of us. So me and Thalia got on our knees and knelt. Me and Thalia were kneeling, but as I looked up, Emily had still been standing. I felt a lump in my throughly and I had a feeling that lady Artemis would punish her for not kneeling to her. "So you're the goddess Artemis? Greek goddess of the Moon, Maidenhood and the Hunt"?
"To answer all of your questions, Yes".
"Would've thought you would've look tougher". I broke a sweat and widened my eyes. Oh no... She's a goner now. "You may not be a pig, those BOYS as they're called, but I would not hesitate to punish you for your intolerance. And you being an Assassin doesn't help either. So if I were you, I'd be silent. Am I clear"? If I were Emily right now, I'd be scared out of my mind; seeing a goddess stand before her along with a group of her Hunters behind her. But as I looked up at Emily, she wiped her tear off her cheek, and narrowed her eyebrows, and I could feel a sudden rebellious, angry feel in her. Lady Artemis was getting to her, and she didn't like it. As Emily stood next to me as I knelt, I let my hand up and held hers. She looked down at me, and I shook my head, "please don't do this... We can't defy a goddess. So please, don't fight". Emily stood for a second, thinking, before she knelt with us. "Good" Artemis said, "but you all don't have to kneel". We nodded for the generosity of the goddess, and stood again respectively. "Lady Artemis, if I may so ask; why are you here? Has something happened to Olympus"? "No, of course not Thalia. Olympus is safe" she responded, "however, I have only came to check up on you. Forgive me of my cautiousness, but I was worried".
"Thank you m'lady for your cautiousness. But I am quite alright. I'm not ungrateful for you watching out for us, but we could handle this quest ourselves" Thalia responded to her goddess. "I understand Thalia, but it's not that I don't trust you, it's something else". Thalia had a puzzling look on her face, and asked "what do you mean"?
"I trust you know what I mean" Artemis exclaimed, only she was looking towards Emily's way. I saw the fear of Emily's eyes as she looked in Artemis' own. Wait! Was this what was troubling Emily? Was this what was pressuring and changing her? Leaning to her side, I whispered "Emily? What's going on"? She had then closed her eyes, breathing in a large breath and released, releasing pressure off of her and opening her eyes once more. Then she spoke... "Guys... Earlier in the hideout... Artemis came to me in my thoughts before we left... She told me we HAD to come her along with you two to meet... I'm sorry I lied to you two...". So that's what was troubling her? The goddess was getting in her head and manipulating her into bringing us here to meet the goddess in person? I couldn't believe that Artemis would drag and manipulate her like that. She didn't deserve that. Even if she is a goddess she should not mistreat an innocent girl like that. How could she? "If I am to assure your safety, than I must warn you both; turn away from this nonsense of the Assassins, and continue on your quest". She looked back at Emily, who had again sighed upon Artemis' outburst and glare at her. I knew she couldn't handle much more, even if Emily was good under pressure. "What do you mean 'their safety'"? Emily asked. "SILENCE ASSASSIN"!!! Artemis screamed, "I may be unobjectable with girls, but you are not acceptable as by who you serve. In fact, that IS the problem". All us of had questionable looks, and more questions raised as Artemis said the Assassins were the problem. How were they the problem? Does she even know why the Assassins are here? Or what we do? If so, we have to convince her to leave them be as a hope to help us and Olympus.
"Lady Artemis... How are the Assassin the problem with our quest"? Thalia questioned.
"Because Thalia, do you not remember what I have told you about the Assassins? They cannot be trusted, and they have been the true thieves of my bow. I do not see any other reason but to have them removed from the equation. Abandon them". Thalia, Emily and I looked around at each other, worried out of our minds of what was going to happen. Was Artemis considering to... Destroy Emily. NO! Destroy the ASSASSINS? This... This can't happen... "Lady Artemis... We can't". "Huh?" Artemis said, taken back by Thalia's respond. "Thalia, do you dare defy me"?
"No m'lady! But... Percy would you be kind to explain"?
"Yeah" I replied, hoping to reason with the goddess for the Emily and Assassin's innocence. "Artemis... The Assassins are innocent", she had an aggressive slash questionable look on in her eyes. "Oh? How so"? I was about to answer, but Emily placed a hand on my shoulder behind me. I peered over my shoulder and looked into her own eyes, and I saw what she was trying to tell me. So I nodded, moving aside as she stood in the center of us, with confidence and courage in her soul as she stood before the goddess. She was ready. "Lady Artemis, I know of how you dislike and disagree with our brotherhood, but I assure you, we need each other".
"Oh" Artemis raised a brow, tilting her head. "And what reason would I have to believe you? For all I know you are killers. You have no true purpose in this world, no reason for being here; interfering with demigod affairs is strictly prohibited if it has nothing to do with you". Silence for a few seconds as we stood there. I knew Emily was trying to find the words to say to her; explains our purpose and why the Assassins are here. And then, she spoke a single word; "Templars". The Hunters and Artemis raised their brows, confused by the response. But I knew it more than enough to explain. "What"? Artemis asked. "The Knights Templar. Pilgrims who had been trained for battle in order to travel to Islam for expansion of their order. Everyone knows that. They robbed, enslaved, and killed innocent people for power and control, claiming it was for liberty and freedom. But no matter what they said, it was always the same, control over humanity as a way to grow in power. They wanted true power, so they had to find devices of absolute power to keep humanity in check. Those objects, were the 'Pieces of Eden'. Mystical objects that were created by 'those who came before'. Precursors. If the Templars got their hands on them, every would fall apart and humanity would lose their freedom for all eternity... We couldn't let that happen...".
"We? You mean the Assassins"? Artemis asked, replied with a nod from Emily. "We founded our brotherhood; the Assassins to fight back against the Templars as a way to save humanity, and prevent them from obtaining these objects. In such, we kept peace and order to the people for centuries. We've been in secrecy for centuries, hiding ourselves from the history books and committing that recorded history was anything but true. All the way from the Middle Ages of Jerusalem, to Italy, Constantinople, the Caribbean, the American Colonies, the Northern Atlantic, France, Victorian England, and so on. All up to date, but so did the Templars, hiding their name behind the identity of Abstergo Industries; the Virtual Entertainment Company that's been around since 2010. For centuries the Assassins have been strong, but... The Assassins are a dying order now. The Templars are too strong, more of us die each day, and the only thing that could prevent the Templars from gaining control of humanity, are us. So lady Artemis... If you so choose, DESTROY us, or STAND with us, but know that we were not the true thieves of your bow... Please...". As I glanced at the goddess, I could tell that her and her hunters were now processing what they just heard. Even I would have been astonished, not just by the great courage Emily showed, but also the great knowledge that she had spoken to Artemis. She had great confidence in her words and I admired her... Gods I love her.
"Lady Artemis..."? Thalia asked. Artemis shook her head, and shrugged, and a few seconds later, a response came from her; "I may not David the Assassins, and words do not mean anything...". I had nearly lost hope as Artemis said that. But then... "But Perseus... Thalia... As Olympus is in dept to you as you saved Olympus twice in the past, I trust you... If you trust the Assassins, I can trust them". Smiles arose on our faces upon her words, knowing he have succeeding in winning her trust, and have help from the Assassins, Rooks, AND Hunters. The Hunters may not have been keen with the Assassins, but they had to respect the goddess' decisions and opinions, as do the Assassins with their masters. "So m'lady..." Thalia exclaimed, "what do you say? Will the hunt join alliances with the Assassins"? Artemis smiled at her lieutenant's question, pride in her half-sister's words brought admiration to her. "I-".
"LADY ARTEMIS"!!! A hunter had screamed, cutting her patron goddess' words. Artemis peered over her shoulder curiously, and asked "yes Abigail? What is the matter"?
"IT IS AN EMERGENCY!!! PLEASE!!! HURRY, YOU MUST COME"!!! Abigail screamed in fear, her eyes full of worry and emergence.
"Of course"! Artemis exclaimed, with as much worry as her Hunter, "HUNTERS! PERCY! THALIA! EMILY! COME"! We all nodded, and ran as we followed Abigail down to where the emergency was. The wind was blowing as we hurried, running as fast as we could to our limits! I was worried as what was to come; Templars? Blighters? Monsters? I couldn't shake the thought out of my head. But a new thought had arose in my head; 'what happened'?
~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: again, for probably the millionth time, I'm sorry for the late update. I'm just either too busy (playing video games or wasting my life away watching YouTube), or too busy with my school work. Kind of a bad excuse, I know, but I still want to continue this book nonetheless.
So here you go! Finally an update! And it's a crappy Cliffhanger, I know, but I didn't want to hold out on it too long, and I didn't want to make it too long. So... Yeah.
But that's not the only thing I wanted to say. I'd like to say that I want to write ANOTHER Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus crossover book. Unexpected, I'm crossing Percy Jackson with...
*drumroll*
*drumroll*
*drumroll*
KILL. LA. KILL.