Chapter 22

Samuel POV

A growl escaped my lips as I thrashed against the ants that were dragging me through the ant hill. I had decided to take a walk threw the woods before breakfast and accidentally stepped onto one of these things. The stupid thing bit me causing me to go numb and started dragging me to the hill. I tried to kick it off but some of its friends showed up to help.

I tried to draw my sword when the numbness faded but it was bit in half by one of the ants. I couldn't feel any water near by, so doing my best to keep my energy levels as low as I could I opened my eyes and felt a tidal wave of energy surge through my veins.

Artemis POV

I ran ahead of everyone else reaching the ant hill first 'There's is no way I'm losing my son so soon after getting him.' I thought. Normally I would have been happy at that thought of having a child but the situation deterred that feeling.

I was about to charge into the hill myself but I felt an explosion go off and something powerful moving inside. Ants started pouring out of the hill and at first I thought they were after me but once I saw the queen, who was six times bigger than the others, leave the hill I realized they weren't attacking. They were running.

When the tide of ants finally stopped I noted that there was only two hundred or so out of the thousand that were supposed to be in there and I couldn't feel any life in the hill besides the being that seemed to be rushing to the surface. The queen foolishly turned to face it head on as it came out the opening. The queen was ripped to shreds in a matter of seconds.

The remaining ants surrounded surrounded the attacker preparing to avenge their fallen queen. While they did I managed to get a good look at him, it was Sam! He was just standing there unfazed by their numbers just waiting for them to attack.

He looked the same as before except now he was emanating a Silver aura that moved almost like water around him like currents. And this time I could see his eyes, his right was silver like mine his left was green like his father's and they glowed humming with power 'So that's why he keeps them closed.' I thought. He wielded two silver swords that I had seen before but now they had wave like designs, in a color similar to that of sapphires, on them.

On his left arm just below the shoulder was a mark in the shape of a wolf 'My first born mark.' I thought and on his right forearm was his vindicem tattoo that was a mix of Silver and blue. The ants swarmed him. I fired arrows at the nearby ants in the hopes of decreasing their numbers or at least distracting them but neither worked out very well. As the ants got within a few feet of him Sam launched into the nearest one, his blades becoming blurs of silver with dust flying everywhere.

I paused feeling slightly in awe of my son as he was expertly dogging the ants. He was using the surrounding rocks and trees to give himself foot holds and the high ground, relying more on his speed rather than strength so only ten or so could get close at a time. I felt his energy growing larger and did my best to keep it contained because I knew that if any of the other gods noticed his power he would be killed as an illegal born.

After what felt like hours but had really been a few minutes the only thing that remained of the ants was the dust piles that now covered the ground. Sam was leaning against a rock with his eyes shut taking deep breaths. His power started to drop and the wave designs on his swords disappeared.

I thought at first the energy drop was from exhaustion setting in after fight. However I was proven wrong when I distracted him by asking if he was ok and it shot back up. 'He's trying to contain it.' I thought. Every so slowly his power went down to normal levels and he slipped his ring back on returning his disguise as a child of Ares just as Percy and the others broke the trees along with half a dozen others such as the Stoll brothers which I hadn't realized had followed us.

"What the Hades happened here?" Clarisse shouted in surprise at the massive amount of monster dust, the Ares cabin, Luna, Jace, Grey, and Percy came to see how Sam was doing while everyone else checked out the carnage.

Sam shakily stood up I went to help him but Luna grabbed my arm and shook her head. "I'm fine" Sam whispered "just need a second.".

"Guy's you need to see this." Connor stoll shouted exiting the Ant hill with his Brother.

"Get Away from there!" Percy Shouted running over to them "What were you thinking, you know how dangerous it is to go in there."

"Dude just check out the entrance tunnel." Travis said.

Percy and several others did and they all gasped, I decided to take a look as well and felt my jaw drop. It was fill with monster dust, the floor sides and ceiling were covered in deep cut and scorch marks from sparks that would have come off a blade as it cut through the earth. "The entire inside of the hill looks like this." Travis said "It's like a typhoon shot through the place, also there's no ants left, the hill's empty".

Everyone turned to Sam who looked like he was barely standing before breaking out in a cheer and carrying Sam back to the dining hall. Over the next hour Sam was bombarded with questions about what happened to which he said "I don't really remember." and would recount getting dragged into the ant hill and going into the blessing of Ares before blacking out.

Jess from the Ares cabin convinced everyone to let Sam go rest which Sam thanked him for. The camp was a buzz about it for the rest of the day, the Ares, Aphrodite, Hecta, and Hephaestus campers took dozens of wheelbarrows and emptied the Ant hill of all its riches that the ant had stockpiled over the years.

The Treasure was put next to the Dining hall and by dinner the last of it was removed making the diameter of the pile about 10 feet wide and 4 feet deep. Upon seeing the immense riches campers immediately started stating clams to it. Some said they had a right because they helped excavate it. Others because they had lost a sibling to the ants and so on.

The squabbling continued until Luna had had enough "EVERYBODY QUIET!" she shouted silencing everyone "Now unless I'm mistaken the spoils always go to the one who kill the monster correct." several people nodded "Then seeing as Mike cleared out the ant hill all the gold and what not in it goes to him. Anyone got a problem with that." A lot of people grumbled but everyone agreed Mike a.k.a. Sam had the most right to it.

"What goes to me?" Sam said walking into the dining hall, Jess gave him a rundown of what happened. "Ok first off could I get the Hecta campers to go through and make sure there's no cursed objects or anything in there." Sam said gesturing to the pile.

"We already did." one of them answered.

"Good that will make this easier." Sam said. "We've all lost family and friends to the ants so here's what I'm going to do. My cabin mates will go first and pick one item they want since I was the one to kill the ants. The rest of the cabins will go through it one at a time and do the same, we'll draw lots for the exact order. The cabins that helped bring it here will go to the front of the line, each cabin will have one hour to pick something. Time slots will be listed in front of the big house tomorrow so for now let's go have dinner."

Third Person POV

After dinner Sam and the Ares cabin went through to pick their stuff. Sam took a few necklaces, Clarisse took a golden shield, Jess took a bronze sword that looked a lot like a samurai sword, and so on. Once they were done they separated the treasure into four piles the weapons, the jewelry, the raw metals/jewels, and the few things that weren't even money like books and what not. The next day went by and each cabin took their turn, after they finished which was around dinner time Sam gave what was left of the weapons to Chiron and Lupa to distribute between the camps.

The jewelry was given to the gods to be divided up evenly among the goddess, a third of the raw precious metals and jewels were give to camp to help pay for it needs. Another third went to Hephaestus to use as he wished and the last third was to be given to the satyrs travel fund for finding demigods. Sam took a few books for himself which puzzled Clarisse, and the rest were given to the gods for who ever wanted them.

Most of the camp was shocked by Sam's behavior. Here he had enough wealth that he could have live extremely well for the rest of his life on his own private island but instead he's giving it all away. The campers got creamed in capture the flag yet again but Percy noted 9 campers who didn't participate at all.

Percy POV

I awoke next to Artemis in my own palace which had been completed several days earlier. The day it was completed Annabeth had insisted on giving me a tour personally. I knew what she was doing so I talked Nico and Jason into coming with me so Annabeth couldn't try anything.

Ever since I became a god Annabeth had been doing pretty much everything she could to get me back and honestly is was getting old and a little sad. She had tried to get me to go on romantic walks with her, taken Aphrodites' scarf from our first quest together out of the big house attic so she could use it's love magic, and even tried to slip me a love potion. Ok I don't have any proof of the love potion but she did try to slip something into my drink.

The palace was amazing, and as much as I hate to admit it Annabeth had outdone herself. The palace itself was a very deep shade of blue and had three different floors.The bottom floor had a room for meetings, a training room complete with an Archery range, and a pool. The second floor had the kitchen, living room, and a game room which would have made Apollo jealous. The top floor was just bedrooms that had nothing but a bed in them. The only except one which was the master bedroom. The bed was king sized and so was the room. By that I mean my mom's entire apartment could have fit in there with room to spare.

There was a dresser next to my bed that was actually made from coral as was the desk next to the far wall. There was a window that opened up to a balcony overlooking the ocean which was awesome. But the thing that was clearly the focus of the room was the painting on the wall just above the headboard depicting my quest to find Artemis.

I knew she put it there because at the time I was only going to save her but I liked it nonetheless because it also showed me saving my wife from the titan Atlas. I brought Melissa later that day and said she could pick any room she wanted we spent the rest of the day decorating it and putting up posters for the few bands/singers she liked.

Coming back to the present I looked at the clock and noticed it was already 8:00 am. Groaning I sat up and looked over at Artemis who was still asleep with her hair spread out around her. "Artemis time to wake up." I said.

One of her eyes opened just a tiny bit before she said "Go on ahead I'm exhausted."

"Maybe we should call Apollo you've been like this all week despite having plenty of sleep?" I suggested somewhat concerned.

"Maybe." Artemis said tiredly.

I sighed "Do you want me to bring you something to eat?" I asked.

"Do you think you could make me a peanut butter and pickle sandwich?" I nodded. Forcing down the sick feeling from her request I started for the door. 'What's up with all the weird food requests?' I thought grabbing the door knob.

"Wait!" Artemis said causing me to turn.

"What is it?" I asked.

Artemis was sitting straight up wide eyed "Exhaustion, weird cravings, upset stomach in the mornings." Artemis said quietly putting a hand over her stomach. Her face broke into a huge grin "Percy I'm pregnant!".