Pertemis A Moon's Tale

Chapter XII: Tale of Farewells

Sitting by the bed, I was waiting anxiously for Perseus's return. I only resolved to biting my lips and pricking at my nails to calm the pacing nerves.

The only possible person who is suspected for this attack is my father. I thought after our second defeat at Kansas as well as my presumably death have taught him a harsh lesson for continuing the war with the Wolves. I thought he had finally realised that we, Olympian stood no chance at defeating them, that almost all our champions have been slain saved for Paecus, and we still stood at the edge of complete annihilation. My father must have realised by now that our resources are almost spent. The Olympian warrior reserves are already at their limit, even Poseidon has exhausted his troops for this lost cause. Yet he was still being stubborn, still holding on to whatever ray of hope in his mind. I guess my stubbornness was inherited from him. But I also knew when, was the best time to retreat, to conserve and take revenge. But my father was being irrational about his decisions, for the continuous defeats have finally consumed him.

Now what I concerned most wasn't about his well-being and mental stability anymore, sooner or later, the gods would abandon this war and retreat to Europe. Athena and Poseidon have already suggested this and have been urging it ever since our loss at Texas. What I worried most was that the Olympians were still loyal to Zeus right now, and if he decided to have a battle, my hunters must get involved. I have already lost enough good and brave warriors. With me being gone, Zoe and Thalia have no power to refuse my father's recruitment. They were marching toward their deaths.

The doors burst open as Perseus walked into the room. The furious look on his face turned my blood cold. He did not speak, nor even look at me. He marched all the way toward the table, grab the teapot and didn't even bother to pour it into the cup before he dumbed the content into his mouth. He slammed the pot on the table, hard enough to rattle everything on it.

"The Olympians have become too desperate to go as low as striking a deal with him!" Perseus grumbled.

"Just calm down Perseus," I walked up to him, still confused about his statement. "Tell me what's wrong?"

"I don't mean to offend you Artemis," he turned to me, his voice somehow softer than before. "But your father..."

The moment he was mentioned, all my concerns until now came rushing in, as if doomsday finally arrived. So, my prediction was true.

I held his shoulder, squeezing them tight as if I wanted him to spill out everything in his mind.

"What's with my father?"

"He is mad." Perseus sighed. "He has made a pack with Tartarus, to open the Door of the Deaths and borrow the Devil's army himself. In return, Zeus promised to give half of America, which is our current territory to Tartarus's control. Zeus's army of monsters is marching towards us right now as we speak."

The news shook my entire core, as my balance was lost into that abyss of confusion and denial. I stepped back, my eyes widened as plates while I tried to form proper sentence.

"No, he wouldn't" I stammered, still disbelieving whatever came out of Perseus. "He wouldn't make a decision as stupid and reckless as that."

"Yes, it's the truth Artemis," Perseus turned to me, his eyes full of concern over my mental state. "We have intelligent all over your people's lands. We just lost Utah last night. Report said the monsters poured in with millions during the night, as if they did not care for their lives at all. Despite the Werewolf's advantage at night, our post sentries were not enough to hold up that mass assault. Zeus led the army himself, the survivors said. Right now, they are heading West, a straight course to our base. Most of our posts positioned in each States don't have enough number to hold their advance"