Chapter 8

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, etc. are the property of JK. Rowling and Rick Riordan. The OC characters and storyline are purely my imagination running wild. My story is for entertainment only and is not part of official storylines. I do not have any association with J. K. Rowling or Rick Riordan even though I wish I had. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Arriving back at the van, the group decided it was best to leave, as there was nothing more to help them find Lady Artemis at the museum. This time, Percy tagged along as he sat in the back with the other campers.

"Percy, tell Skye what you have seen," Zoe commanded, as she wanted everyone to be on the same page.

"I think it would be best if I tell you from the beginning…" Percy said as he began his story until he met up with the questers sans Skye.

The story was rather a bazaar, yet amazing, she will give him that. He had saved some sort of marine-like cow early in the morning, only to find the group had left without him. He then followed them on the back of a Pegasus - 'that must be what she smelled earlier in the day' - to D.C. After arriving and finding the abandoned van, Percy spotted Mr. Thorn, the manticore she had seen before she met Artemis and the girls. It was then that his story became prudent to the quest. As he followed the manticore using a cap of invisibility, he borrowed from Annabeth that he overheard a conversation between "the General", causing Zoe to cringe-making a mental note to ask her about it later - and some boy named Luke. The General summoned skeleton warriors to prevent the quest's success.

The rest of his story was about him fleeing after being detected and finding them.

"Does anyone have something to say or ask?" Zoe asked from the driver's seat of the van, getting positive reactions from the others, it was obvious that they had quite a few questions that they wanted answers.

The first was Annabeth, who looked straight at her. "I have a question for Skye if you don't mind?"

Seeing her shake her head, Annabeth continued. - "What did the lion mean that you had human blood on your hands?"

This question placed her in a tight spot and caused Bianca and Zoe both to glare at Annabeth. She did not want to think back to that day.

"This is something that I rather not answer - not yet. I would like to speak to the huntresses first about that." Skye said, looking away from Annabeth into Bianca's and Zoe's eyes, respectively.

Percy, however, did not accept this and pressed on. "And how should we know if we can trust you if you won't even answer a simple question?"

This got Thalia going not liking how her two friends were ganging up on Skye like this. - "In what way was that a simple question Percy, and Annabeth why would you believe that she would answer your question if you have been treating her with such distaste?"

"How about this? I Skye Ariel Potter swear on the river Styx that I am loyal to Lady Artemis and the hunt and that I will do everything in my power to make sure this quest succeeds." Following Skye's words was a rumble of thunder, which sealed her oath.

"That's enough questioning Skye about her past," Zoe said sharply, stopping any arguments in that direction.

The occupations soon turned their attention towards Bianca. "So, Bianca, do you have any idea who your godly parent would be?" Percy asked her.

"I don't know," Bianca said, unsure.

"That is okay, Bianca," Skye said softly, stopping any questions. "We still need to figure out what abilities are linked to your godly powers before we can guess who your godly parent is."

All conversations soon came to a stop when they spotted a helicopter overhead that was following them just as they crossed the Potomac, a large river on their way out of D.C.

"They know the van," Thalia noted as the helicopter kept following them closely from behind.

"How can the General use mortals?" Percy asked, bewildered.

"They are mercenaries," Annabeth said to Percy.

"Mortals will fight for any cause if they are paid well," Zoe said bitterly.

"But how can they work for these monsters?! Don't they see what these beasts are?" Percy continued to question.

"I truly doubt that it matters to people like them, even if they knew who they are working with. Sometimes mortals can be more repulsive than the cruelest monsters out there," Skye said with a long-buried pain shining within her eyes.

It was Bianca who was their saving grace as she pointed out a parking lot and asked for Zoe to trust her, which she did. After parking the van, the group followed Bianca into the subway where the helicopter could not follow them.

"Good thinking Bianca." Came the praise from Thalia.

" I remember this station well because it was new when Nico and I came through here the first time. It surprised me because it was not here when we lived in D.C."

This statement caused a lot of confusion among the group as they could see this place was a little run down, but before they could ask any more questions, they had to change trains.

It was a while later when the group left the last train. They had no idea where they were, but were certain that they had lost the helicopter a while ago. They were now standing in an abandoned railway stop in some industrial area, but not seeing anyone, the group started to wander around through the yard searching for another train that would take passengers or even just a place to stay safe for the night.

It was while they were wandering through the yard that Percy summarized their situation quite dryly if you asked Skye. "Somewhere far to the west, Artemis is in danger, missing and in chains. A doomsday monster is on the loose, and we are stuck on the outskirts of D.C."

After looking around a bit more, the group noticed a homeless-looking guy standing not too far away from them. The man gave the group a once over before giving a toothless smile as he waved them over to his trash can fire. "Y'all need to warm up? Come on over!" he said happily.

"Should we contact the camp?" Bianca asked Zoe, not sure what they should do now.

"No, we need to finish the quest ourselves; the camp cannot help us with this," Zoe stated.

"You know," the man started looking at them, "you're never without friends. You kids need a train going west?" He asked them.

"Yes, sir," Percy answered before anyone else could. "You know of any?"

Skye could not believe Percy. Why would you volunteer important information to a stranger that can cause them more harm than good? Boys can be so dense sometimes. Deciding to expand her senses and observe this man, she soon notices a hiding power within him that reminds her of Artemis's opposite; this can only mean this man is Lord Apollo trying to help them discreetly. Skye knew it was best to keep this quiet from the group, knowing that the gods were not allowed to help Demi-gods on their quests.

The man pointed one of his hands over to the side, where a freight train appeared; gleaming and free of any snow which lay everywhere else. It was a train that was transporting cars. On the side of the train was written in bright yellow letters SUN WEST LINE.

"That's… awfully convenient," Annabeth said. "Thanks, uh…"

The group turned to thank him only to see him gone, this of course, confirmed to Skye that this was Lord Apollo trying to help.

Sitting back inside a dark blue Audi on the train, both Zoe and Bianca soon joined Skye. "Skye, we wanted to talk to you about what Annabeth asked you in the van," Zoe said without any accusation in her voice.

"Hmm… go on, ask," Skye said, looking into the night sky.

"Please, Skye, look at me when I speak to you," Zoe said with a firm voice. Looking back at Zoe, Skye saw no disgust or hatred there, at least not yet, so Skye waited until either one began.

"At the museum, your father said he smelled human blood on you, and then Annabeth asked in the van as well," Zoe stated it was not a question so Skye did not answer, just gave a curt nod before looking away.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Bianca questioned.

Seeing nothing but kindness on both Zoe and Bianca's faces, Skye knew that she could not hide her life before the hunt from either of them any longer, so she slowly started with her tale, something she only told two gods before.

Skye needed the two to tell her that what she did was fine like Artemis had done. She needed the hunt's acceptance. After all, they are her family now.

She was not sorry for what she had done, but Skye could not lose this family because of the past. After all, they are the first family that willingly welcomed her in.

Throughout her tale, Zoe's face turned red with anger, her obsidian eyes shined like the blackest of black gems and Bianca was shaking with suppressed anger as the shadow slowly started to cover her in a tight embrace.

"If that man weren't dead by now, I would kill him myself," Zoe reassured her as she saw Skye's look.

"Agreed," Bianca said in a clipped tone.

"After we heard him say that you had killed and then you confirmed it in the van, I knew we had to come and have this talk, especially after hearing your comments about the mortals' potential to be worse monsters than monsters themselves," Zoe said to her.

"You don't have to worry about your past like you did, Skye. Being part of the hunt makes you family and family will always stick together. We look after each other. Know this as soon as Artemis accepts you in our ranks. You were above all. Suspicion, we will trust you with your past," Zoe said softly to Skye.

"Thank you, Zoe, and if either one of you wants to talk about anything that is bothering you or just to chat, know I will always be there to help," Skye stated seriously to the girls.

"I might just take you up on that in the future," Zoe sighed before continuing, "but I think that we all could do with some rest."

With that done, the 3 girls got themselves comfortable before trying to catch some shut-eye, as you never know when you won't be able to.