Chapter 21

Artemis POV

'How could he be so irresponsible!' I mentally screamed 'People can get maimed doing this and he enters when he's just 12!'.

Luna smirked as if she knew what I was thinking"The match started and immediately the big guy starts talking trash saying 'you're going down little man' and 'why did they have to put me up against you I wanted a challenge.'

I'm getting mad but Sam keeps his cool and doesn't say anything. Meanwhile the children of Hermes are taking bets placing Sam losing the fight at 50 to 1 odds the only one to bet on Sam winning was his best friend Jace here." Luna said gesturing to the boy in black next to her.

"Made over a thousand drachma on that bet." he said speaking for the first time. Thalia realizing that this was her son starts fawning over him while Luna continued the story.

"The big guy charged Sam and took a big swing with his club hoping for a quick win. Sam easily dogged and got behind him and smacked his side with the flat of his blade. The big guy screamed in pain and starts taking wild swings in an attempt to hit Sam but is too slow. After a while Sam managed to knock off the guys helmet and slam the but of his sword into the guys head knocking him unconscious." Luna said pausing to take a deep breath.

Jace picked up when Luna paused"Melissa and Luna stood up and started screaming 'That's my brother!' and were cheering like he already won the competition. The next round went pretty much the same way and afterwards you" he said looking at Artemis "practically bit his head off one for entering in the first place and two for not telling anyone."

'Dang right.' I thought "But you couldn't pull him out of the tournament without making a scene especially after he made such a massive impression. Instead you settled for watching him fight. He went through the 3rd and 4th rounds with relative ease which was shocking because usually those rounds only had the seasoned fighters in then. The final round on the last day was a fight between the 3 remaining demigods and Sam did amazing." Jace said practically laughing.

"The first guy tried to attack Sam head on which if you watched his previous fights was a big mistake. But the guy was a surprisingly good fighter and lasted a full hour before Sam was able to knock him out, the other who I think was named Zane just waited while Sam and the other guy fought."

"Zane tried to fight him long ranged using his bow and spear to keep Sam at a distance under the assumption that Sam was a mostly close range fighter. It was a good strategy since Sam had only fought close range in his other fights but altogether wrong. Sam used his throwing knives break the guys bow and then used his own bow to pin the Zane to the wall, making Sam the winner. At only ten years old Sam was the youngest demigod to ever win the tournament" Jace said.

"You sound like you're writing his biography." Luna laughed.

"Well he won't brag so I've got to do it for him." Jace said "Anyway I think it was Hebe who was overseeing the tournament that day. A god or goddess always oversees the tournament so Zeus at least gives the impression that he cares." Jace snorted.

I nodded knowing that was something my father would do even if he didn't "So during the awards ceremony Hebe gives Zane who was a child of Hephaestus by the way, a flaming sword that looked awesome. But when it was Sam's turn you and Percy flashed in and asked to give him his award personally."

Jace paused like he was about to unveil great mystery. "Hebe agreed and backed away, Percy stepped up in front of Sam and said 'Samuel my son you have made me proud by your skill at such a young age. You may have inherited some talent from me but the skill you have displayed these past three days only comes from hard work and dedication, hold out right your arm'.

Sam did as Percy asked and his father grabbed his hand like the two of you were just shaking hands then said 'I Perseus god of heroes and your father give you my place as the third Vindicem'. Your arms started to glow when it faded and Percy's arm no longer had the glow and Sam's was glowing but we couldn't tell what color it was. He chose to wear bracers that day and it covered up is mark."

Jace looked at me "You stepped up next saying 'Now that your father has given you his own reward for winning this years tournament, I will offer you a choice.' You held up this wicked cool sword that crackled with electricity. 'You can chose to take this sword as your prize or you can leave it here and become my champion instead, you would be traveling with the hunt and aiding your father in protecting it.'

Several people people shouted their own choice but Sam bowed and said 'Lady Artemis I would be honored to be your champion.' You nodded and flashed out while me and Sam's other friends, which were mostly illegal born, swarmed him and carried him out of there. We went to Hestia's palace and had a whole feast in his honor. Several hours later with just the illegal born kids and our parents you showed up. Sam and Luna had turned 10 like the day before the tournament but you all decided that you would celebrate it later since you couldn't really do that much as a family in Rome." 'Makes sense.' I thought.

"When you showed up you were carrying packages. After dinner Luna and Sam started opening their presents Luna got a necklace that changed into an imperial silver sword and a bunch of other stuff that I don't really remember. Sam got his two hand and half swords, throwing and hunting knives, and his bow."

Jace stopped as the door was flung open and Clarisse stepped in breathing hard "My sister...in labor...complications...Apollo sent me...to get you!".

"Where is she?" I asked.

"Infirmary." Clarisse wheezed.

"I'll be right there." I said. Clarisse nodded and ran back "We'll be finishing this when I get back." I said walking out the door.

I walked into the infirmary where Apollo was tending to the daughter of Ares, as I looked at him he seemed nervous, panicked even, but I put it out of my mind and turned my attention to the daughter of Ares.

Time skip 30 min later

With one last scream of pain the daughter of Ares who I learned was named Natalie brought her baby into the world. Unlike most babies her's wasn't crying but it was very much alive. Gently I set Natalie's new baby girl into her arms. "She's so beautiful." she said "I'll call her Blair."

I nodded, the first moment of seeing a mother holding her child was always my favorite. "I'll go get your cabin mates." I said.

"That's fine but it'll have to be quick Natalie needs to leave as soon as possible." Apollo said.

"Why's that?" I asked finding my brother's urgency rather odd.

Apollo look pained "Because Blair's an illegal born. If they stay at camp for too long someone will find out."

"Who's the father?" I asked already suspecting the answer.

"I am." Apollo said kneeling next to Blair and her mother.

I was ticked that Apollo had fooled around with yet another girl but I decided to yell at him later for it. "So what do you plan on doing?" I asked.

"I have a house in Utah where I was going to send them." Apollo said.

"You can't send them there!" some said from behind me. I turned to see Sam, Luna and Jace standing near the entrance.

"Why not/" Apollo said.

"Because they enemy already knows where that is, and because the rest of the Olympians can't know Blair exists. If you change location knowledge of Blair's parentage will be leaked to Olympus some how and they will have her killed. Your only chance for them to survive is to send them to Ogygia and make everyone else think their dead." Sam said.

"Well how do you propose we do that?" Apollo snapped "No is going to believe that without a body".

"Leave that to us." Luna said "First send them to Ogygia Calypso's hut should still be intact and fully stocked, you can join her later."

"I can't see my siblings?" Natalie asked somewhat saddened.

"Maybe some day if you're lucky, now hurry the others will be wanting to come in soon." Luna said.

Natalie nodded "Okay I'm ready." she said holding her daughter close. Sam told Apollo where Ogygia was and he flashed her there.

"Now what?" he asked. Luna and Sam ignored him and held out their hands, water slowly collected on the bed and started forming the shape of two bodies. After a minute a near perfect replica of Natalie holding her daughter lay on the bed. Their skin was ice most likely because it would take less energy for Luna and Sam to maintain it.

Next Jace stepped next to the bed and touched their skin. Slowly it became a pale skin color and for a goddess the feeling of death was strong. Apollo went outside to deliver the news. Many of the Ares campers were sad and I could tell Sam was hurting because it was partially his fault. And I had to remind myself that he had been living with them as their own brother for a while now. Of course he would feel somewhat attached.

That night we burned Natalie and Blair's fake bodies under a shroud like any hero. True to Sam's word by the time we returned to Olympus they already knew what Blair was but let it go since she died at birth, Ares was still furious at Apollo though.

Percy POV

The next morning I awoke to Artemis shaking me awake "Come on Percy we need to go." she said.

"To tired come back later." I said.

"If you get up now I'll give you a kiss." Artemis said. I smirked flew out of bed making her laugh. She gave me a quick peck on the lips "Now go get ready." she said.

I groaned "I thought you didn't want to do this." I said.

"I don't but we need to, your mother has a right to know and we've put this off long enough." she said and I knew she was right.

I showered and got dressed before we flashed to my mom's and Paul's apartment. "Here goes nothing." I said knocking on the door.

My mom answered "Percy, Artemis come in, what brings you here, PAUL!"

"Well we got some big news." I said as Paul walked in carrying my little sister

"Artemis and me are married." I said. Paul smiled and mom hugged Artemis muttering congratulations 'well she's taking this better than I believed she would'.

"So when is the wedding?" mom asked. 'Ah she misunderstood.' I realized.

"Um we're already married."I said nervously.

"What! Why wasn't I invited to the wedding." My mother bellowed.

Thankfully Artemis came to my aid "Mrs. Jackson by ancient law me and Percy were married the moment I said yes. There was no wedding and we can't have one for now or we risk angering my father."

Mom seemed to calm down a bit "So how long have you two been married?" she asked.

"About 4 days." I said wincing.

"And you're just telling me now!"

"I'm sorry I was busy."I defended.

"With what!"

"Well I sorta became a god.". My mom slumped into a chair. "Are you ok?" I asked.

"Yes...I think. It's just a lot to process.". We talked for while which mostly consisted of my mom crying about how I was growing up too fast then we excused ourselves and flashed to Camp half blood.

The first thing that caught my eye was the giant structure that was supposed to be my palace already half built on the far end of camp. It sat to the right of the big house and near the ocean. The second was the sight of my daughter Luna holding some child of Nike in a headlock while the hunters laughed.

"What happened?" I asked walking up to them

"Well Luna beat this guy in a sword fight and he didn't take it that well so he insulted her father and well here we are." Phoebe said.

I took one last look at Luna and said "Carry on." before walking away. The horn blew and I headed to the mess hall where Grover was already sitting with Chiron and Mr. D. The campers filed in and I saw Grey with the Athena cabin and made a mental note to talk to her later. I also noticed several boys with bandages and thought I should look into it, it wasn't uncommon for campers to get hurt but this was a lot to occur at one time.

Chiron stamped his hoof getting everyone's attention "Before we eat there are some announcements first we will be have capture the flag against the hunters tomorrow after dinner.". He said causing a simultaneous chorus of cheers and groans to fill the air.

Mr D. stood up as the noise faded with a big smile that most of the campers cringe. "Also as of today I will no longer be your camp director Perseus will be taking my place." the campers gave a big cheer as he flashed out.

The nymphs started serving food, mostly just cereal and what not but for some reason I got pancakes with syrup. Grover must have noticed my puzzled look because he started laughing for some unknown reason. I thanked the nymph for the food and she winked at me, but left quickly as Artemis gave her a death glare. I leaned over to Grover "Do you know what just happened?" I asked.

"I'll explain it to you later." he said still chuckling.

As we were finishing up breakfast a child of Nemesis I recognized as Kim ran into the mess hall and said "I just saw Mike from the Ares cabin getting dragged towards the hill with the giant Ants" she said. I grabbed my sword and broke into a run towards the ant hill followed by Artemis, Luna, Jace, and half the Ares cabin.