Moving On | Percy x Artemis

ten

P E R C Y 

So much for being the most powerful demigod alive. Honestly, I'm not quite sure why the gods still want me after being beaten by a couple of strangers on the side of the road. And yet, here is Artemis, much more beautiful in the flesh, but also rather terrifying. 

She doesn't seem to like my sarcastic comment about arresting me. She simply scowls and walks away from me, like I'm a nuisance. Thalia pulls me into a hug. 

"I almost thought you'd gotten yourself killed," She says, sounding half relieved and half annoyed. 

I try to smile at her, but there is some small part of me that wishes I had got myself killed after all. Maybe it would be better to be with Annabeth then in this place where I was only liked for my power. 

Thalia helped me to my feet and Artemis returned, looking me up and down disdainfully. 

"We need to go, the sooner we get you back to your father and mother, the better," Artemis says, like I'm a child. 

"And you think I'm just going to follow you?" I ask, stifling the urge to laugh. She really doesn't know who I am, or should I say, the person I've become. 

"If you know what's good for you, yes." Artemis replies stubbornly. Her eyes flash as if she's daring me to disobey her. 

But I have nothing to lose, I have already lost everything. "I don't think so," I say. "I have done my fair share of work for the gods and I have no intention of going back." 

Artemis takes a small step towards me, her eyes are on fire. I find myself a little distracted by them, I can't decide what colour they are. Mostly green, but with flecks of silver like tiny stars. 

"I'm not asking if you would like to come back. You are coming back with me." She says the last part almost like Zeus would issue a command. I don't like it. 

"Good luck trying to drag me all the way back across half the country," I smile at her. 

She looks ready to destroy me and I cross my arms, bracing for her response. It never comes because Thalia steps between us, a warning in her eyes. 

"Why don't we set up camp here for a while," Thalia suggests. "We can work this out tomorrow." 

I don't really want to work things out later, but my eyes are heavy and my side still hurts a little. Maybe some sleep would be nice. 

Artemis looks at me for a long moment, her eyes narrowed before she gives a small nod and turns on her heel. 

Thalia gives me a reproachful look. "Please try to be nice," She sighs. 

"I will if she will," I shoot back. 

It doesn't take very long to set up camp. Artemis clicks her fingers and tents pop up, girls scurrying around for firewood and chatting amongst themselves as the sun sets in an array of brilliant colours. 

Thalia sticks to my side and I'm grateful. The other hunters seem uncomfortable to have a boy in their midst. Though I do get my very own tent, which is nice. 

Hours later when all the hunters are asleep in their tents I still can't sleep. I toss and turn on the thin mattress, it's odd to be sleeping in some kind of bed. I am so used to the ground and walking till I fall asleep on my feet. 

I give up and leave my tent. Sitting down on one of the logs around the fire I look up at the night sky.  There are still small flames at the bottom of the campfire and even though it's only slightly better than the cool night air, I'm happy for the tiny bit of warmth. 

The night around me is silent and dotted with stars. For one wild second I consider making a run for it. Then I shake my head and shove my hands deeper into my pockets. I can't run away, I don't have any money left, and with Artemis so close, she would catch me in a second. 

Two years of hard work running away from the gods and it's all smashed to pieces in one evening. All because of one arrogant, annoyingly attractive and stuck up goddess. 

As if on cue, a figure emerges from a nearby tent and joins me at the campfire. She sits across from me on one of the logs, her eyes as bright as stars in the moonlight. 

"Still here?" Artemis asks. "I thought for sure you'd have run away by now."