Nico di Angelo, Flowers of Death

Chapter 34

Amber's P.O.V

My eyes round at Percy's words, astounded. This was Artemis? She didn't look like a goddess, just an average kid, I suppose that was the point.

"What are you doing here" Annabeth asks.

"I received an SOS call from Chiron. I can see why now" Artemis replies. She slowly walks into the room, coming to stand in the ring of campers. "I saw him, in the infirmary with the others, they are in bad shape"

She looks directly at me while she speaks, and gives a slight nod at the end, was she congratulating me?

"We have much to discuss, with little time." Artemis turned to me, Annabeth and Nico." You three, follow me, the rest of you find my hunters, help them tend to your sick, and bring the last of them to the infirmary"

Everyone looked skeptical. But Percy took one glance at Annabeth, then with a nod from her, he helps Hazel to walk to the infirmary. The rest soon followed.

"Come with me" we followed Artemis out of the big house, down a small patch of grass, and there between the volleyball court and Thalia's pine tree was a crescent of silver silk tents.

Mingling around in the grass, were girls, ages varying, each was busy doing something. There, between them, walked silver wolves, their coats glistened in the sun. I couldn't help but stare in awe at the sight before me. I glanced to my right, looking at Nico's reaction, he seemed unimpressed and over all angry. I quickly averted my eyes, feeling as if I was prying.

A quick gust of wind blew my hair across my face, as I brushed it away I saw a blur of titanium swoop down and land onto a girls shoulder. The blur was actually a falcon, the girl was about 11, her blonde hair pulled back into a loose bun. She took a rolled piece of paper out of the falcons leg, or rather a tube on his leg.

We followed Artemis to the middle tent, it seemed to be the same as the others. As I walked into the tent the first thing that I noticed was the excessive amount of fur that hung on the walls. They differed in size, shape, color and species. My heart beat faster at the sight of them, it just felt wrong. These had all once been living, had once breathed.

I forced myself to look away, focusing more on the silk rugs and pillows that were arranged tactfully across the floor. In the center of the tent, a golden brazier of fire burned, I noticed that no smoke lifted off the flames. Beside the fire stood another girl, she was about 9. Her head was cloaked in a scarf, and she wore a brown dress.

As she heard us approach, she turned and tipped her head slightly at Artemis, before she walked out of the tent. Her eyes caught onto mine and for a moment, they were fire. 

"Sit" commanded Artemis. I sat. Among the plush pillows and soft rugs. I felt the others sit beside me, Nico tense, Anaabeth inhumanly calm. I found myself looking at Artemis's feet, rather then her. I could feel her eyes watching me, sharp and knowing, it seemed like she was reading a book, only the contents of it was my life. It was invasive, but I didn't dare say anything.

"Lady Artemis, we are very great full for your help" Annabeth spoke, her voice held a certain edge in it, not anger, but desire. The desire to know, to understand, it was as if Annabeth was in a dark cave, and she was shinning around a flash light, looking for something only she didn't know what.

"I am happy to help. But we have no time for pleasantry, we have too much to talk about and not enough time" She paused her words, and I felt like I was gripping onto them, I waited impatiently for her to speak again. "I know you are worried about your other friends, but I have sent word to the Amazons, they will help Camp Jupiter"

The three of us exchanged some confused and uneasy glances.

"Now, you must worry about this camp, and how you are going to save your friends" I felt as if Artemis had spoken the words more to me then anyone else.