Chapter 16: Saving Artemis

"This is so cool!" said Thalia when she saw the Golden Gate Bridge after crossing the portal.

"I know, right? We just went from Hover Dam to San Francisco in one second!" exclaimed Grover.

Soon everyone followed through the portal and Isaiah came out last and closed the spatial gateway.

"Do you guys not have portals or anything?" he asked.

Zoe shook her head,

"Only the most powerful sorcerers could do that and they are very rare. I don't think there is any mortal of the Greek world anymore who could do what you just did." Zoe replied.

"So now what? Where do we go?" asked Bianca.

"We must find Nereus," Percy said. "Apollo told me to find him.

" The old man of the sea?" Grover asked.

"That one."

"Nereus, eh?" Zoe said with a smirk.

"Do you know him?" Percy asked her.

"My mother was a sea goddess so I know. We can easily find him. Just follow the smell." she said.

2 hours later, they arrived at the West Coast.

"So what are we doing here?" Percy asked Zoe when they arrived in front of a Goodwill box.

"To find Nereus, you're going to have to go in disguise lest he runs away. Therefore, you need a disguise."

"Okayyyy. But, why here?"

Before Percy could receive his answer, Zoe had ransacked the box and took out some clothes and gave them to Percy.

"What this for!?" he let out.

"Put it on," she ordered.

The teen wanted to protest, but he changed his mind when he saw her face.

Cursing under his breath, he wore the ragged and somewhat smelly clothes that the huntress handed to him. His eyebrow twitched when he heard the rest of the group giggling on the side. Once he was done, Zoe nodded to herself in satisfaction.

"Now you look more like a typical male vagrant."

"Hey!"

She then told them to follow her. Once they reached the docks, she stopped and pointed at a pier. Isaiah could see a bunch of homeless people huddled together waiting for the soup kitchen to open for lunch.

"There! He's going to be down there somewhere."

"But how am I going to find him?"

"You sneak up to him. You'll notice his smell. It's different, especially for you, since you're a child of the sea. Once you find him, grab on. Don't let go until he surrenders." Zoe replied.

"Great."

"You can do it, Percy!" Grover cheered him.

"We've got your back!" added Thalia.

"Good Luck, Percy!" Bianca said.

Isaiah simply gave him a grin with a thumbs up.

The demigod sighed before making his way toward the group of homeless people. Isaiah saw Percy walk amongst the homeless until he arrived in front of an old man with a huge belly and a long stained beard. He giggled when the half-blood suddenly jumped the old man. After many shouts and screams, the old man thought it was a good idea to jump in the water with Percy.

The sorcerer could see a smirk on the son of Poseidon's face at the decision before he went underwater. A few seconds later, Percy came out of the water with a loud splash on the back of a killer whale. People around clapped and let out cheers of awe. He decided to be cheeky by giving them a wave. Soon Nereus got too tired and collapsed at a boat dock. The rest of the group ran towards them.

"You got him!" Zoe exclaimed.

Percy gave her a deadpan look,

"It sounds like you didn't think I would be able to do it."

Seeing the group, Nereus moaned,

"O wonderful! An audience for my humiliation. I supposed it's the same as usual. One question per capture!"

"But we have many questions!" Percy protested.

"Well, that's the rule boy!"

The group mulled over what to ask before the son of the sea god spoke.

"Then where is the monster that Artemis was chasing? The one that would bring an end to the Olympian gods?"

Nereus grinned,

"Well, it's right there!" he answered as he pointed at a spot in the water.

"Where?"

"Sorry! One question only." the Old man of the sea then turned into a fish before jumping in the water and swimming away.

Percy was about to catch him again when they heard something.

"MOOOOOOO!"

Everyone looked at the source of the sound in confusion when Isaiah saw one of the weirdest creatures he had ever seen. It was a mix between a baby cow and a serpent.

"Moooooo!" it let out once more.

"Bessie!" Percy shouted.

"Bessie?" Isaiah asked.

"Moooooo!"

Grover then spoke up,

"Huh, Percy? His name is not Bessie. It's Ophiotaurus."

"You can speak to it?" Bianca asked.

"Grover can speak with most animals," Thalia answered.

Zoe then facepalmed.

"I am such a fool. I know this story! How could I have not seen this?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The answer was right here all along. We were so focused on searching for a large monster that we neglected this one. The Ophiotaurus is not a dangerous monster per se. But if it was sacrificed, the power of sacrificing innocence can grant the Titans enough power to topple the Olympians. They almost did it last time, but Zeus stopped it by stealing its entrails."

"MOOOOO!"

"Um, Zoe? You might want to avoid talking about the S word since our friend here doesn't like that." Grover said.

While the group discussed what to do with the creature. Thalia had an odd expression.

"The power to topple the gods," whispered Thalia as she was staring intensively at the beast.

Isaiah looked at her and saw that she was acting strange.

"Thalia?" he asked.

The girl didn't answer and started at the beast.

"Thalia?"

"What kind of power would that be?"

"Thalia!"

The haze in the daughter of Zeus's eyes disappeared and she turned to Isaiah.

"W-What?"

"You were making this weird expression and you were saying weird things."

Thalia didn't say anything and frowned.

"Is there something wrong?

She shook her head. Isaiah looked at her before turning toward the rest of the group.

"So what are you going to do with the Ophiotaurus?"

"We need to take him with us. We can't let Kronos get his hands on him." Percy said.

Isaiah raised an eyebrow,

"You want to take him with us? To the same place where Artemis is captured? The same place where the Titans are and the last place he needs to be?" he said while pointing at the monster.

"Mooooo."

Percy let out an awkward chuckle and rubbed the back of his head,

"If you put it that way, it does sound idiotic."

That's when Grover had an idea,

"Wait, Percy. You said that the Ophiotaurus can appear in different bodies of water, right?"

Percy nodded.

"Then we could tell him to go back to Long Island. There, Chiron could then bring him to Olympus for safekeeping."

"We could do that, but who's going to go with him. He may not know where to go?" Bianca said.

"I... could go with him. Besides I am the only one who can speak to him." Grover volunteered.

"Are you sure, Grover?" asked Percy.

"Yeah. Pray to your dad to grant us safe passage, please."

"You can't simply pray for that kind of request. You have to sacrifice something." Zoe warned.

Percy mulled at what to do before taking off his coat. It then turned into a pelt of fur."

"You know I can create a portal to Camp Half-Blood right? You wouldn't need to sacrifice anything."

Zoe pinched the bridge of her nose,

"Right. How could I forget?"

They all sighed and chuckled at the absurdity.

"I guess it's because no one talks about creating portals so we easily forget it," Grover said.

"Wait, can you create even a portal inside Camp Half-Blood?" Percy asked.

"Why do ask?"

"Well, because the camp is inside a barrier that doesn't let just anyone inside."

Isaiah tilted his head,

"But didn't Artemis permit me to enter the camp? Besides, that barrier is just an illusion barrier with the ability to repel normal humans and monsters. It doesn't isolate space."

He then shrugged,

"Tell you what. Let me try to open a portal. If I cannot, you can ask your dad to help you."

The others nodded and the boy took out his sling ring before concentrating on the space in front of them. Soon the familiar orange sparks appeared before forming a circle and twisting the space. Soon the portal opened and the familiar beach of Camp Half-Blood could be seen on the other side.

"It works!" Grover exclaimed.

"This is great. Grover, you shall go with the Ophiotaurus to Camp Half-Blood and help Chiron take him to Olympus. We will go search for Artemis and save her." Zoe said.

Grover nodded before he and the creature swam through the portal.

"Good luck Everyone!" he said and Isaiah closed the portal.

The area was silent now that Bessie and Grover were gone.

"So where are we supposed to go now?" Bianca asked.

Zoe sighed,

"I suppose it's time for me to go back home."

"Home?" asked Thalia.

Zoe nodded. "Yes. To the garden of my sisters."

"You have sisters!?" everyone asked.

"Yes, however, we can only enter the garden during sunrise or sunset."

At that moment, everyone's stomach growled. They all looked at each other before bursting into laughter.

"I guess with everything that happened, we forgot to eat. Let's find some food." Thalia said.

Isaiah shook his head.

"I have the food from Hoover Dam with me," he said before it out.

It was still fresh.

They all thanked Isaiah and found a table to eat.

"So where is your sisters' garden, Zoe?" asked Percy as they were eating.

Zoe pointed at a mountain in the distance past the Golden Gate Bridge.

"Mount Tamalpais?" asked Bianca.

"Yes, their garden is located over there."

"Do they have a name or some sort of legend associated with them?" asked Isaiah.

"You may know them as the Hesperides."

" The one that tends to the trees of the apples of immortality?"

Zoe nodded.

"Does that mean Atlas is your father?"

"What!?/Really!?/Huh!?"

Zoe sighed once more,

"Yes. he is my father"

"I see."

Isaiah shrugged.

"Well, it doesn't matter, am I right?" he asked the group and they nodded.

"Then let's go and save Artemis!" Percy said.

"We can't right now," Zoe told him.

"Why?"

"Just like their name says, my sisters are the nymphes of the sunset. Therefore we may only be able to enter their garden when the day changes into night."

Isaiah raised an eyebrow,

"Is the garden in another dimension or is it behind a barrier?"

Zoe shook her head.

"It is shrouded by the Mist so ordinary mortals wouldn't be able to perceive it even if they go over there. Just like how Camp Half-Blood would be perceived as an ordinary strawberry farm. They would only perceive the mountain as an ordinary one."

"I see."

'So it's like an in-between. I should research more about the Mist'

"Then let's go over there for now then wait over there," Bianca said before turning to Isaiah.

"Can you take us over there?"

Isaiah nodded.

"Just give me a moment since I've never been there."

Isaiah stood up and the rest of the group followed him. He then cast (Reinforcement) into his eyes to increase his vision of the mountain. He could also see that the top of the mountain was hidden by clouds. Once he had a clear image, he cancelled his spell.

"Alright, I've got it."

He looked around and saw that no one was looking at him before opening the portal. On the other side was a forest.

"Let's go," the boy said and they all walked through and set up camp.

A few hours later, It was almost noon and the five packed up their stuff.

"So where are we supposed to go?" asked Percy.

"Do you see the cloud on at the peak?" Zoe asked and the rest nodded. "That's the Mist. We are supposed to go through it to reach the garden.

"Then let's go. We don't have time to waste since the sunset is almost there." Thalia said as she started walking.

After thirty minutes, they arrived in front of the swirling Mist. Isaiah could feel the magical mist blanketing the whole area which made it hard for him to sense anything since it was everywhere.

"Now concentrate on me before you enter otherwise you will get lost" Zoe instructed and the others nodded. They were about to walk in when everyone's instinct warned blared.

"WATCH OUT!" shouted Percy.

He tackled Bianca while Thalia dove away. Isaiah only had time to conjure a two-layered shield on top of him when a huge lightning bolt came out of nowhere.

*BOOOM!*

It immediately destroyed the first layer before crashing onto the second layer. Isaiah groaned as the lightning continued to hammer against the shield.

*Crack!*

The shield started cracking as the force of the lighting started penetrating his defences. Isaiah started to smile widely and rolled out of the way at the same time as the lighting broke his shield.

*BOOOOMM!* *CRAAAASSHHH!*

The lightning struck the ground creating a small burning crater and creating an explosion of dirt and dust.

*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*

Everyone coughed as the dust settled down.

"Isaiah!" Bianca shouted.

"Everyone! Are you okay!?" Shouted Percy.

"I'm fine!" answered Thalia.

"Me too!"

"Isaiah?" Bianca called again.

"Here." the boy answered.

Everyone saw Isaiah less than a meter beside the crater. The twelve-year-old ran to the boy and asked.

"Are you okay? I saw you trying to block the lightning."

Isaiah looked at his trembling hands and smiled widely,

"Why are you smiling?"

"I can't help it. it's the only thing I know."

They both got up from the ground. and regrouped with the others. Thalia was furious.

"I can't believe he would do that! I'm his daughter!" she said, but Percy shook his head.

"It's not Zeus. The lighting doesn't feel the same as him."

"Then who?"

"Most likely Kronos. He wants you to blame Zeus."

He then turned to Isaiah,

"You okay, man?"

"Yes, I'm uninjured."

"Then let's go inside. Just like I said before. Concentrate on me." the huntress said, before entering the fog and disappearing.

The others followed. Isaiah walked through the fog and felt magic literally touching him. It was almost overwhelming his senses. After a few steps, they soon arrived on the other side. The road they were walking on turned into dirt and the sunset reflected against the sea in the distance. They continued to walk and soon reached the top and into a garden. Many flowers of different colours decorated the land. Some even glowed in the sunset. Isaiah then saw it. The tree that bore the apples of immortality. They were glowing golden in their lush green leaves. Underneath the tree, coiling around it was the body of a massive reptile. Isaiah followed the body to its head. More specifically, its heads.

'Ladon. The hundred-headed dragon. And that's the tree of the apple of immortality.'

At that moment, four young-looking women shimmered into existence in front of them before. They wore what the Greeks called a chiton and bore a striking resemblance to Zoe.

"Sisters." the latter greeted them.

"We do not see a sister. We see three half-bloods, a Hunter and a mortal. All whom shall die," one of them coldly replied.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," retorted Thalia.

"I don't why they are a threat. They don't look all that-" "Can we go?"

Another sister was saying when a voice suddenly interrupted them.

They all looked at Isaiah who had his usual smile.

"I mean we are wasting time here. Shouldn't we go rescue Artemis?"

"Insolent mortal. You who have no power dare to speak so arrogantly. One word from us and Ladon will wake," the third sister snarled.

"He will not hurt us," Zoe interjected.

"You do not belong here anymore. He will kill you all." the final sister said.

Zoe became silent before looking up with a determined expression.

"Wake, Ladon!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, they heard hisses and growls. It was as if hundreds of snakes and crocodiles banded together and made a chorus.

"Are you mad!" a Hesperide said.

"I'm not mad. I'm simply not afraid, sister." Zoe replied.

"And that will be your doom." all four sisters said at the same time before vanishing away.

Zoe then looked at Ladon who was slowly approaching her.

"Don't do this Zoe. You are not a Hesperide anymore. Ladon may attack you." Bianca said.

They all had their weapons ready when Zoe started walking up to the dragon.

She whispered gentle words to it as she got closer to it. The dragon seemed to calm down. Several of its mouths closed while others were snarling and the rest looked confused.

She continued to whisper words to it when suddenly all the dragon's heads tensed. Isaiah quickly created a whip with Eldritch magic and wrapped it around Zoe and pulled her back before the heads' lunged at her narrowly missing her.

"RUN!" she shouted.

Without hesitating, everyone ran towards the peak of the mountain. Luckily, the dragon stopped and returned to the tree. It seems like guarding the tree was more important than eating humans.

"You have my gratitude, Isaiah. Thank you very much for saving me." Zoe thanked her saviour.

"No problem."

They soon arrived at the top of the mountain. They could see ruins everywhere.

"The ruins of Mount Orthys," Thalia said.

"What?" asked Bianca.

"The fortress of the Titans. It was the rival of Mount Olympus in the old times." Zoe replied. "It's also Atlas's mountain where he holds- where he used to hold the sky" she corrected herself.

All of them tightened their grip on their weapons before entering the ruins.

Once they entered, they saw Artemis in chains struggling underneath something. That's when Isaiah realized, she was holding the sky.

"MY LADY!" Zoe shouted and ran to her mistress.

"What are you doing here! Run! You shouldn't have come!" Artemis replied with wide eyes when she saw the group.

"We have come to rescue you, my lady," Zoe said.

"No, this is a trap!"

Suddenly, a booming voice was heard,

"How, touching."

They all turned and saw a humongous man beside a blond teen with a scar on his mouth. They could see a golden sarcophagus behind them.

"Luke." snarled Thalia.

The boy smirked,

"It's good to see you again, Thalia," he replied.

The girl's reply was to simply spit at him.

The humongous man chuckled,

"It doesn't look like old friends to me, Luke," he said before turning to Zoe,

"How's my little traitor. Have you come to see dear old father?"

Zoe simply snarled at him.

"Oh well, then I will enjoy killing you."

"No one is going to hurt Zoe. I won't let you, Atlas," Percy said.

Atlas chuckled once more,

"I see my reputation precedes me. But you have no right to interfere little hero. Since this is a family matter. However, it seems you were wrong about Thalia, Luke." he said before speaking to Luke.

"I'm not!"

Luke then spoke to Thalia.

"Please, Thalia. You can still join us. Call the Ophiotaurus. I know you've seen it. You can be more powerful than the gods. Remember how they've treated us! Remember that they hunted you and even transformed you into a fucking tree instead of saving you!" Luke pestered her as he held out a hand to her.

"Come join us and we can change the world for the better."

Thalia was trembling,

"What happened to you, Luke?" she asked with a small voice.

He waved his hand and a sacrificial altar appeared and the sarcophagus glowed making the ruins more solid as if it was rebuilding themselves.

"Please, Thalia. It will be like old times. We can even bring Annabeth if you come with me."

"Annabeth would never go to you!" Percy shouted.

Thalia looked at his desperate eyes before sighing shakily,

"No." she firmly answered.

Luke lowered his arm and looked down as if resigned.

"I see. Then you give me no choice."

At that moment, the rescuers' eyes met and Percy shouted,

"NOW!"

And all Hades broke loose.