Legends Never Die

Finding A Replacement

Thalia kept shooting furtive glances at Percy. Ever since last week when he told her about...well, everything, she couldn't get something out of her head. 'How could the Gods' even think of killing Percy?'

But she knew her father was paranoid. He always had been. And Percy was a really powerful demigod, and not one of his. He was was paranoid and jealous. Thalia had no clue how to handle things if Percy died or was cast into Tartarus. She thought she had lost him once to that hell hole. But if she were to lose her cousin like that again, and because of her own father?

Thalia growled in frustration. Her sister, Artemis glanced at her. "Whats wrong?"

"Uh...nothing mi'lady."

Artemis narrowed her eyes, then followed her gaze to Percy. Her eyes narrowed even further. "Perse-Percy...Thalia...my tent, now," she ground out, her mind jumping to the worst possible conclusions.

Percy looked up confused, but followed behind them. "What's this about, Artemis?"

"Don't you, Artemis, me. What's going on between you two?"

Percy's eyes widened. "Oh, that. I swear its not what you think, Artemis. I just told her something that happened to me and she's upset."

Artemis glared at him. "Then why does she keep looking at you?"

"She's waiting for me to fall over dead," he said.

Artemis glared at him. "No games, Perseus. Why–"

"I'm not kidding, Artemis. She really is waiting for me to fall over dead. I'm dying, alright? I've hit my cap. My powers have reached their peak and its killing me. The only reason my body hasn't succumbed to it, is because I'm partially immortal."

Artemus stared at him. "You're...dying?"

Percy nodded. There was no way around it. It was going to get out some time any ways. His only job was to train the Guardians and protect Artemis from this next threat. Once that was done...well...he'd be finally allowed to see his mother again. And Luke, Selina, Beckendorf, Lee, Michael, and all his other friends he'd lost along the way.

"But if you die, who's going to become the Guardian of the Hunt?" Artemis asked. Thalia nodded, also wanting to know.

"I don't know. I guess Annabeth. She's the only other demigod who could pass the trials. So I guess I'd have to train her."

"No! I will not have that wretched little weasel in my camp. She is a bad influence and a bad name for women everywhere," Artemis snarled.

Percy cocked his eyebrow up. He'd never seen Artemis so aggressive about being against a woman...ever. Not even Aphrodite got this kind of treatment from her. He got to thinking. There was someone else, but it'd be an almost impossible task to get her. She wouldn't require any training or begging to get her to take the job though. When he had time, he'd look into it. It'd require a huge sacrifice, but for someone like him, that wasn't too hard to come by.

"What are you thinking about?" Thalia asked, seeing the cogs turning behind his eyes.

He looked at her. "Oh, just trying to think of who could take over after I die."

Her eyes narrowed. "You aren't dying Percy Jackson. And I won't hear any more of that nonsense. If I do, I'll make you wish you did die." She was so vehment about it, Percy thought for a moment that maybe he could fight to survive.

But then Artemis couldn't ever be happy. He was a male, and having him in her hunt was probably grinding on his nerves. Not to mention, this other person is far better than he could ever be. He sighed. "I'll do what I can, Thals, but I won't make a promise that I don't know if I can keep. Sorry, can I speak to Artemis alone real quick?"

Thalia looked at him and then just nodded before walking out of the tent. Artemis turned to him. "What is it?"

"Its about who could replace me. What if I told you..."