The Loner (Book 1 in the Loner Series)

Chapter 22

"Wake up! Please wake up!" Bianca pleaded, shaking me. I looked at her, smiling. "I'm okay, Bianca. We're leaving today. Trust me. I'll protect you for as long as I need to." Bianca looked concerned. "But they beat you until you passed out, then kept beating you for the next hour. You're in no condition to fight. You're close to death." I shook my head. "I'm fine, Bianca. Don't worry about me. " Bianca nodded. "They're coming in a few minutes. Let me take the beating, Artemis. They usually beat me for twenty minutes or so." I nodded. "How do you know my name?"I asked, confused. "You talking in your sleep. Plus, a ghost showed up and told me your name." I smiled. I had no intention of letting Bianca take the pain she already was. When our captor came back, she giggled and said, "Come now, Bianca." I stepped in front of her. "No. Bianca won't taking any punishment today." "Fine then." Our captor reached for me, and somehow I literally switched places with Bianca. "Bianca no!" I yelled. I only got a death stare from her, and I let her get taken. I hated myself, but I had no choice.

(A/N Next paragraph is in Jason's POV)

I drew my Imperial Gold sword. We came across a pretty woman and a little girl. HELP! ARTEMIS AND I ARE TRAPPED HERE!! I heard her tell me. I subtly nodded at her, and she smiled. Third cell in the right hall! she silently told me. "This way." I said quietly, and we went right. We arrived at the third cell and I smashed the lock. "A bit excessive, Grace. There was no need for that much force." "Shut up, Elise." I replied. I watched her book morph into a sword. Gloria already had a sword, and Nico had his Stygian Iron sword still at his side. We walked in and Artemis ran forward. "Thank the gods you came! But we can't leave without Bianca. She was just taken for a beating." "we'll save her. It's kinda our job." "Jason, she'll need a weapon. I think our captor is either a goddess or a monster." "She's a mortal, Artemis." "Demigod, Jason. I've analyzed what she told me about her, and she's a demigod." "Fine. You can give her a dagger, Artemis. That's it." Artemis nodded. "Let's go save that little girl." We stormed down the halls until Artemis pointed. "There. That's her." We literally destroyed the door and Artemis slashed through Bianca's bonds, giving her the dagger, explaining it to her. "Don't cut yourself. It will really hurt. Memorize the faces of our allies. Only attack our captors." Bianca nodded and went straight for the lady we had seen at the entrance.

(A/N back to Artemis)

I slashed through monster after monster, keeping a close eye on Bianca at the same time. "I am the goddess Aphrodite, puny girl! You can't hurt me." I heard, and I glanced up, Aphrodite disappearing. I watched a Roman with an Imperial gold sword creep up behind Bianca and we switched places again, I looked down to see the tip of the sword. Then I felt the pain. A scream tore from Bianca's mouth and she killed the monster that had stabbed me, pulling out the sword. "No! You can't die! You just can't die, Artemis!" I smiled. "It's why Aphrodite was here, Bianca. This was a trial of how much we all love each other. " I winced. "Get Jason for me, Bianca. Blond haired guy." Bianca nodded and ran off. She was back in a few minutes with Jason. "Artemis, what happened?" "Someone thought it would be a good idea to run me through with an Imperial Gold sword." I winced. Jason started scolding me. "Artemis, just because you have the name of an immortal doesn't mean you're immortal too! Be more careful. We need to get you back to camp right now." Bianca piped up. "I can assist you with both of our problems." Bianca's hands hand a blue aura and the pain faded. I smiled. "Thanks's Bianca. I gave Jason a look like, Apollo's daughter. He nodded. "How do we get back to New York?" "I an call in a favor. A few days before Artemis came, a voice told me that I could call for him to take wherever I wished, with whomever I wanted." Jason looked impressed, something that rarely happened. Bianca concentrated and we appeared in new York, right outside camp. "We need to get Artemis to the Apollo cabin, fast!" Jason said, and we all barreled into camp, Bianca going right through the barrier without hesitating.