Chapter 57

"Fine I submit." Artmies mumbled as I removed Gungnir and let it vanish.

"So now that I win, everything of yours are now mine. Including you and your hunters."

"What! But the-"

"Law of Divine Surrender. If you don't give what is mine than that law shall take affect." 

Artemis paled as she nodded. "Alright, I'll give you everyht-"

"It is alright, I will be envoking, Law of Mortal Appropriation. I'll let you keep everything else including your hunters, all you have to do is tell me your true name."

Artemis panicked as she looked up at me fearfully. "I have no choice, I will tell ou my true name."

"You do know what will happen if I know it."

"Yes I do." Artemis replied. "My true name is-"

<--------------------------- >

An hour later I watched Thalia pacing in the snow at the edge of camp, walking among the wolves that belonged to the hunters without fear. She stopped and looked back at Westover Hall, which was now completely dark, looming on the hillside beyond the woods. I wondered what she was thinking.

Seven years ago, Thalia had been turned into a pine tree by her father, to prevent her from dying. She'd stood her ground against an army of monsters on top of Half-Blood Hill in order to give her friends Luke and Annabeth time to escape. She'd only been back as a human for a few months now, and once in a while she would stand so motionless you'd think she was still a tree.

Finally, one of the Hunters brought me my backpack. Grover and Nico came back from their walk.

Nico rummaged through his own bag, which the Hunters had apparently packed for him, though how they'd snuck into Westover Hall unseen, I didn't know. Nico laid out a bunch of figurines in the snow—little battle replicas of Greek gods and heroes. I recognized Zeus with a lightning bolt, Ares with a spear, Apollo with his sun chariot.

"Big collection," I said.

Nico grinned. "I've got almost all of them, plus their holographic cards! Well, except for a few really rare ones."

"You've been playing this game a long time?"

"Just this year. Before that…" He knit his eyebrows.

"What?" I asked.

He looked unsettled, but it didn't last long. "Hey, can I see that sword you were using?"

I showed him Morningstar, and explained how to him how it was a gift from our father and that he would get his own when he got claimed.

"Cool! Does it ever run out of ink?"

"Um, well, I don't actually write with it."

"Are you really the son of three different gods?"

"Well, yeah."

"Can you surf really well, then? What about Sky diving? What about cave exploring!"

I looked at Grover, who was trying hard not to laugh.

"Jeez, Nico," I said. "I've never really tried."

Zoe Nightshade soon came up to us.

"Percy Jackson."

She had dark brown eyes and a slightly upturned nose. She studied me carefully, like she was not sure what to make of me.

"Please, come with me," she said. "Lady Artemis wishes to speak with thee."

Zoe led me to the last tent, which looked no different from the others, and waved me inside. Bianca di Angelo was seated next to the auburn-haired girl.

The inside of the tent was warm and comfortable. Silk rugs and pillows covered the floor. In the center, a golden brazier of fire seemed to burn without fuel or smoke. Behind the goddess, on a polished oak display stand, was her huge silver bow, carved to resemble gazelle horns. The walls were hung with animal pelts: black bear, tiger, and several others I didn't recognize. I figured an animal rights activist would've had a heart attack looking at all those rare skins, but maybe since Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, she could replenish whatever she shot. I thought she had another animal pelt lying next to her, and then I realized it was a live animal—a deer with glittering fur and silver horns, its head resting contentedly in Artemis's lap.

"Join us, Perseus Jackson," the goddess said smiling. After our little dual I had used the mist to whipe the hunters memories of what happened. And after using Artemis true name to have her forget of the fight she had ordered the hunters to set up camp and had asked to speak to Bianica.

You might want to know the reason for me mind wiping everyone, well because it would casue me to much trouble I didn't want at the moment.

I sat across from her on the tent floor. The goddess studied me.

"Are you surprised by my age?" she asked.

"Not really."

"I could appear as a grown woman, or a blazing fire, or anything else I want, but this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters, and all young maidens for whom I am patron, before they go astray."

"Go astray?" I asked.

"Grow up. Become smitten with boys. Become silly, preoccupied, insecure. Forget themselves."

"Oh, you mean when one of your hunters is taken advantage of by a god so you banish them by turning them into animals instead of helping them!" I remarked. "Geez so first they are raped than lose the only family they have for having gone 'astray' you're logic is flawed, Moon Goddess."

Zoe sat down at Artemis's right. She glared at me as if all the stuff Artemis had just said was my fault, like I'd invented the idea of being a guy. I glared at her back using a nice mix of Menance, Cyclopean Fury and Titanic Gaze. The result? Zoe eyes turned fearful and looked away.

"You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you, so stop glaring at her." Artemis said. "It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp. Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp…" She looked at Zoe. "Which one was it?"

"That boy in Colorado," Zoe said. "You turned him into a jackalope."

"Ah, yes." Artemis nodded, satisfied. "I enjoy making jackalopes. At any rate, Percy, I've asked you here so that you might tell me more of the manticore. Bianca has reported some of the… mmm, disturbing things the monster said. But she may not have understood them. I'd like to hear them from you."

"Rule 34 of the Divine Laws" I responded instead. "Wait, wrong one. It is Rule 43 of the Divine Laws, my bad."

Artemis looked confused. "I'm sorry what?"

"Divine Law of Equitable Exchange. 'If one seeks information from another, equal compensation must be traded that matches the value of the knowledge.' It is your choice is you want the knowledge."

"Alright, fine. I don't know how you know the laws." Artemis muttered. "Let's hear the information."

"Atlas was released from his inprisonment and has become the General to Kronos's growing army."

Zoe's face paled. She turned to Artemis and started to say something, but Artemis raised her hand.

"Go on, Percy," the goddess said.

"Atlas plans to use the Ophiotaurus to destroy the Olympians, already powerful and ancient monsters are awakening once more. The great stirring has begun, the titans are gathering and soon war will arrive."

The goddess was so still she could've been a statue.

"Maybe he is lying," Zoe said.

Artemis shook her head. "No. He was not. I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster."

Zoe looked like she was trying very hard not to be afraid, but she nodded. "We will leave right away, my lady."

"No, Zoe. I must do this alone."

"But, Artemis—"

"This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me."

"As… as you wish, my lady."

"I will find this creature," Artemis vowed. "And I shall bring it back to Olympus by winter solstice. It will be all the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in."

"The father is going to rise soon, when the mountain holding im explodes."

Artemis gripped her bow. "Is that all?"

"Sadly yes." I responded. "I wouldn't want you to owe me your entire life."

Even though I already own her. A flicker of a smile played across Artemis's lips. "Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you."

"Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?"

"Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return. I am placing the hunters under your care."

"What?" Zoe' blurted out. "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there—"

"Yes, I know," Artemis said. "But I'm sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge just because of a little, ah, misunderstanding. It's your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down."

"And why put us under a boys command?" Zoe exclaimed. "I am the second in command, I am good enough to take care of the others."

"I owe Perseus compinsation for the information and placing him inchage of the hunters until I get back is the only thing I can think of. I trust him, I know that he will take good care and respect you all. And now there is one last decision to make." Artemis turned to Bianca. "Have you made up your mind, my girl?"

 "I'm still thinking about it." Bianca hesitated as she turned to me. "They… they've invited me to join the Hunt."

"I will tell you this, as much as I respect the Hunters it is not worth it." I responded.

"To begin with," Zoe said, "we are granted immortality."

"to live forever and watch those you love die, will you be fine joing the hunters and living for centuries when your little brother that you love will die of old age while you stay this age forever.

Artemis spoke. "My Hunters follow me on my adventures. They are my maidservants, my companions, my sisters-in-arms. Once they swear loyalty to me, they are indeed immortal… unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely. Or break their oath."

"Bianca, don't jump at offers like this," I said. "What about your brother? Nico can't be a Hunter."

"Certainly not," Artemis agreed. "He will go to camp. Unfortunately, that's the best boys can do."

"You can see him from time to time," Artemis assured Bianca. "But you will be free of responsibility. He will have the camp counselors to take care of him. And you will have a new family. Us."

"A new family," Bianca repeated dreamily. "Free of responsibility."

"Bianca, you already have a family, you have Nico, your father and Step-mother who are waiting for you." I responded. "You are the daughter of Hades and our dad is really worried about you."

She looked between me and Zoe. "Is it worth it?"

Zoe nodded. "It is."

I shook my head. "No it is not."

"I choose to join...."