When Things Fall Apart

Chapter Sixteen

Dear Artemis,

I was lucky enough to receive another envelope to send a message to you. Don't ask where I get these from, it's too crazy for anyone to ever understand.

After writing you that letter, I spent about three years living by myself. I essentially quarantined myself from the rest of the world, and for good reason. However, the person who gave me this letter also gave me another tool to 'get out' a bit more.

I know this sounds sort of stalker-ish, but I've been watching over you and the Hunt. You may not be able to see me (which is the whole point), but I've been there for you guys for the past couple of months. And I have to tell you- you haven't aged a bit, Artemis :) . Alright, you may be in your eighteen-year old form, but you still look as beautiful as the day we danced on Olympus.

Seeing you has been the highlight of the last couple of years for me. Before that, I would hide at the bottom of lakes, barely coming to the surface. I was nervous that I would forget what you looked like, but every time I did come up to the shore, I would look at the moon, and your image would immediately appear in my head. Sometimes I needed that reassurance to keep on keeping on.

But I have some potential good news to tell you. This person who has visited me told me a way to escape this pattern of life. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing you. But I want you to see me. Even if you have no emotions or feeling for me, I don't care. I just want us to interact. At that point, if you want to turn me into a jackrabbit or make me your living target practice, I don't care.

It's funny, isn't it? I've put all of my chips on one person. And this person is actually a goddess who usually hates my kind. Funny how I've chosen you to confess my feelings, when you may be thinking about castrating me right now. But it's worth it.

What I have to do will be no small task. Heck, I don't even know if I will survive it. But I pray to you and all of the other gods that I will. If this works out, I will get to see you again, Arty. (Like the nickname? If not, you can beat me up for it later.)

If things don't work out, and I am gone-gone, tell my mother that I love her so much, and I wished we could have seen together. Tell her that I made the most out of every situation that was brought upon me, even if the situations were dreadful.

If I am gone-gone, then I want to tell you something as well Arty.

I love you. I love everything about you. You are pure, you are independent, you are perfect.

Till we meet again,

Percy

Artemis folded up the letter and didn't even try to restrain the tears that were pouring down her face. She was sitting on a boulder on top of a cliff overlooking the night sky. Although she wasn't paying attention, an observer could notice the moon turning darker and darker.

Artemis started to silently weep. She didn't want to have to control her emotions at this point. There were too many things that saddened her.

First of all, Percy had spent the last couple of years on his own in the middle of nowhere. She didn't know if even she was capable of doing such a thing. After all, she spent the majority of her time with the Hunt.

Beyond that, Percy was willing to sacrifice himself just to see her. She had no idea what he was up to, and that was the worst part about it. She couldn't help him in any way. She just had to sit there and hope that he would make it out of there okay. He was willing to do this even if she wanted to turn him into an animal. That's how bad he wanted to interact with her.

But she knew she would never do any of those things to Percy. She admired him too much. She remembered the time he took the weight of the sky for her. She didn't think he could handle it without the power of a maiden. But he did. He held it for her so she could defeat Atlas. Any other male would have tried to prevail as the hero no matter what, even if they were inhibited by a stupid curse. But he did the right thing, not even caring about the glory of victory.

He was as good as a man could be. And now she didn't know if she would ever see him again. She continued to sob.

"Artemis," a voice called out beside her. Artemis quickly tried to wipe away her tears and emotions.

"What is it?" she asked, slightly upset. She looked at who it was. "Oh, Hestia. How did you find me here?"

Hestia just gave her a soft smile. "I always know where my family is, especially when they need help," she replied.

"I don't need any he-"

"Artemis," she interrupted. "I know something is wrong here. Just let me know what's going on. I want to help you."

Artemis sniffled and tried to compose herself. "It's about Percy."

She went on the explain the whole story and the second letter she got. Hestia just nodded afterwards.

"Sounds like something he would do," she told her.

Artemis nodded her head. "I know, and that's what makes it so hard. It seems like he's always putting his life on the line."

"But it's interesting. It seems like that is a part of Percy's nature. But I didn't expect you to care as much as you do," Hestia confessed.

Artemis shook her head. "He is the best male I have ever met. It's just an objective thing. No one has ever been as selfless as him."

"You're right, he is objectively the best. But it appears that my niece is taking it a bit subjectively."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she retorted.

"Artemis, I know how you feel about the boy, ehr, man. It appears that he has feelings for you, and I think you are starting to reciprocate them," she told her.

If anyone else had told Artemis this, she would have gone into a fit of rage and taught them a lesson. But with Hestia, it never had any other implication other than the reality of the situation.

"Is it that obvious?" she asked, wiping a tear away from her dark, silvery eyes.

Hestia smiled, "Only to someone who finds you in the middle of the night crying to his letter. But that's only me. You have nothing to be concerned about."

"But if he does come back... then what do I do?" she asked.

Hestia looked out, thinking hard. Then her face lightened a little. "Well, let's not forget who we are talking about here. " Artemis looked at her to elaborate.

"It appears that Percy Jackson is the personification of defying fate. Maybe he can defy yours as well." Artemis looked her thoughtfully, and Hestia smiled warmly.

"Thank you Hestia."

Hestia gave a slight bow. "Anything for you, Artemis. He will survive. Just as much as putting his life on the line is in his nature, so too, is him surviving it."

Artemis nodded, "Let's hope that's the case." Hestia gave one more smile and left in flames.

Artemis looked up towards the moon, and slowly, it grew brighter and brighter.

She read the letter again, but this time she didn't cry.

She mumbled to herself, "I love you too, Percy."