𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

chapter thirty-nine. ☄︎. *. ⋆

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I WAS PRETTY THANKFUL my aunt seems to be fonder of me than of my father. Artemis welcomed me into her tent easily, healing my poisoned injury immediately, the only issue arising being her second-in-command. Zoë Nightshade already held me to a distaste, claiming that I was "weak and helpless" during the fight with Dr. Thorn. For what it was worth (and it wasn't worth a lot), I agreed with her.

     I was riddled with guilt. No, something beyond guilt—it was hatred. I hated myself. I hated that Annabeth was gone and there was nothing I could do about it. And, most of all, I hated Percy.

     When we arrived at Artemis's camp, Thalia was the first one to let loose on him. If I wasn't almost as angry as her, I would have felt sorry for him; I'd never been on the receiving end of one of Thalia's monologues, but even watching it from afar made a pit of dread form in my stomach.

     "What were you thinking back there, Percy?" she shouted. "You and Theo would take on Dr. Thorn all by yourselves? You knew he was a powerful monster! If we'd stuck together, we could've taken him without the Hunters getting involved. Annabeth might still be here. Did you think of that?"

     By the way she glanced sideways at me, I could tell she wanted to unleash on me, too, but I figured between the poison and losing my best friend, she wanted to cut me some slack. I was grateful for it, really, but I would've taken on a thousand of Thalia's furious lectures if it meant we could have Annabeth back.

     I stood to the side while Thalia yelled at Percy. I wanted to join her, but the wound in my side still ached and I was afraid that opening my mouth would break a hole in the dam that was keeping my tears back.

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

GROVER SAT WITH ME. He didn't talk, and neither did I, but it was nice to have the company.

Artemis debriefed Bianca and Nico on who they were—more especially, who their parents were. Bianca was in denial at first. Nico, in a way I could tell was probably true Nico fashion, was pumped. He asked all sorts of questions; "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does Poseidon have mega-waves that can take out your enemies with one hit? Is Percy her boyfriend?"

If I weren't so miserable, I would've cracked a smile. Then he asked the last question and directed it towards me, and my heart plummeted through my stomach to land in my feet. But then Artemis invited me into her tent, which was good timing, because I was about to burst into tears, and I wasn't sure Nico would've liked to witness that.

     The downside of this saving grace was the fact that Artemis invited Percy in at the same time as me. And now that I'd had time to calm down a tad, all I wanted to do was rip him to shreds.

     I'm pretty sure my aunt sensed the tension between Percy and me, because she purposefully offered us seats on opposite sides of Bianca, who was looking pretty nervous. I gave her a tight smile. It was small, but it was the only one I could muster.

     "Theodosia, Perseus," Artemis said. She looked at me as she said, "I trust you will keep your tempers in check whilst in my presence."

     I bit the inside of my cheek, avoiding looking over at Percy. What I wanted to say was Only after I punch him so hard he goes inside out, but I just nodded. Artemis twisted her lips like she could read my mind.

     "Theodosia, I've called you inside for a short matter," she told me. I shifted, glancing at Zoë behind me. Artemis said, "I wanted to tell you myself: Do not despair for Annabeth. She was a brave maiden. If she can be found, I shall find her."

I wasn't sure how that was supposed to make me feel better, but I nodded my head in appreciation anyways. I drew in a short breath and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Artemis. Is there anything you need from us?"

"Actually, yes," she said, and I cursed mentally. I was hoping she'd say no. "I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return."

"What?" Zoë 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 misunderstanding. It's your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down."

Cabin Eight. Yeah, because I wanted Zoë Nightshade and her Hunters as my next-door neighbors. Sounded lovely.

"And now there is one last decision to make." Artemis turned to Bianca. "Have you made up your mind, my girl?"

Bianca hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it."

"Wait," Percy said. "Thinking about what?"

"They... they've invited me to join the Hunt."

"What? But you can't! You have to come to Camp Half-Blood so Chiron can train you. It's the only way you can learn to survive."

"It is not the only way for a girl," Zoë said coldly.

Percy's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Bianca, camp is cool! It's got a pegasus stable and a sword-fighting arena and... I mean, what do you get by joining the Hunters?"

"Shut up, Percy," I said, glaring at him. "It's her choice. I'd choose it, too, if it meant I never had to see your stupid face again."

"Tempers," Artemis hummed, and I turned back to her. My cheeks were hot.

"Bianca, this is crazy," Percy said. "What about your brother? Nico can't be a hunter."

"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 can't do this," Percy said. "It's nuts."

She looked at Zoë. "What do I have to do?"

"Say this," Zoë told her, "'I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis.'"

"I... I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis."

"'I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.'"

Bianca repeated the lines. "That's it?"

Zoë nodded. "If Lady Artemis accepts thy pledge, then it is binding."

"I accept it," Artemis said.

The flames in the brazier brightened, casting a silver glow over the room. Bianca looked no different, but she took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide. "I feel... stronger."

"Welcome, sister," Zoë said.

"Remember your pledge," Artemis said. "It is now your life."

     Bianca nodded. I was happy for her. If being a Hunter was what she wanted to do, then good for her. What I wanted to do was pummel Percy Jackson's face in, but not all of us get to fulfill our dreams.

"Lady Artemis," I said, glancing at Zoë. "You said we're to escort the Hunters back to camp. How are we supposed to... you know, get there?"

She spared me a smile. "You tell me, Theodosia. What time is it?"

Percy said, "What?" stupidly, but I knew what the goddess was talking about.

"Just about dawn, I'd say." I managed a faint smile at the thought of seeing my father. I nodded to Artemis, and she returned it with a pleased smile.

     As I passed her on the way out, she said, "You know, Theo, shall we be lucky enough to have you join us, you would be a brilliant asset to my Hunters."

     I offered her a shaky smile. It was the best I could do to not grimace and shake my head at the offer. Still, I felt like she could read my mind, because she just nodded sadly and gestured to the exit of the tent.

     "Your dad's our ride to camp?" Percy asked me, jogging up behind me without invitation. "How does that work? Doesn't he have to.. like, control the sun?"

     I rolled my eyes, exhaling hotly. "Don't talk to me. If you know what's good for you, actually, don't even look at me."

     He furrowed his brow. "You too?"

     "Me too, what?"

     "You're mad, like Thalia."

     "Of course I'm mad!" I shouted, capturing the attention of a few Hunters nearby. I glared at them. They turned away quickly. My scowl turned back to Percy. "My best friend is missing—probably dead—and it's your fault."

     Percy said, "You didn't even—"

     But I cut him off, saying, "I didn't even do anything? Oh, sorry, was I supposed to walk off the poison that was racing through my body at the time? Trust me, Percy, I wish I had! Then maybe Annabeth would still be here, and you and I wouldn't be having this conversation."

     "Was I supposed to stop her?" Percy asked me, his voice wavering in anger. "Was I supposed to have jumped down there after her? Fine, then, I'll go fall off a cliff!"

"Oh, don't get my hopes up," I said coldly, crossing my arms. "There's nothing you can do to make this better, unless you can somehow find Annabeth and bring her back. But in the mean time, I mean it when I say I never want to see you ever again."

"Oh, sure, Princess, I'll make sure to stay out of your way!"

"Fine!" I shouted.

"Fine!" he replied, and stormed off.

My fingers tingled. Sparks popped off them. This time, I didn't have to wonder if it was because I was angry or something else—because the sun had just started rising in the distance and I could already see my father racing toward us at the speed of light.

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

"ABOUT TIME," Artemis muttered, rolling her eyes. "He's sooo lazy in the winter."

     I'd never seen my dad in action before, I'll admit it. As angry as I was at Percy, I was still fascinated with the bright light that was growing closer. Artemis advised us to look away, but she gave me a look that said I would probably be fine.

     I don't know what I was expecting. A chariot, like the ones we drove at camp last summer, maybe. Something old and Olympian-looking. The last thing I thought he would do was pull up in a red convertible Maserati. It was glowing with heat.

     He stepped out of the sports car—still in the form I was used to seeing him in: Young, tanned, bleached-blond hair, dazzling white smile. He held an unbearable resemblance to Luke.

     "Wow," Thalia muttered. "Apollo is hot."

     I elbowed her in the gut.

     "Little sister!" my father called, beaming at Artemis. He walked towards her with outstretched arms, but Artemis grimaced and ducked out of his reach. He was unfazed. "What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"

     Artemis sighed. "I'm fine, Apollo. And I am not your little sister."

     "Hey, I was born first."

     "We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue—"

     "So what's up?" he interrupted. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"

     Artemis grit her teeth. "I need a favor. I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."

     "Sure, sis!" Then he raised his hands in a stop everything gesture. "I feel a haiku coming on."

     I groaned along with all the Hunters. They knew as well as I did of my father's horrid habit of breaking into poetry at what is usually the exact wrong time.

     He cleared his throat and held up a hand. I stepped forward before he could get a word out. The sight of me must have taken him by surprise—either that, or he was shocked that someone had the gall to interrupt him in his haiku-planning. I must have looked pretty rough, though, because he faltered and lowered his hand. He looked from me to Artemis. I almost thought I could see some sadness in his expression—hurt, maybe—but I chalked it up to be woe at the fact that I hadn't let him spit out a haiku.

     "What is this, sis?" he asked. For the first time in all my years as Apollo's daughter (so sixteen years, I guess), his voice wavered.

     Artemis glanced at me, then shook her head. "Theodosia will be alright. Her injuries are surface, at most." She spared me another sideways look, and I thought that maybe she was unsure at the fact that I would be alright. Hey, I wasn't so sure of that, either.

     My father looked me over once more. I shifted under his gaze. Finally, he seemed to believe his sister.

     "So!" Apollo said, clapping his hands together. "You people need a ride. Lucky for you, I've got one! We'd better load up. Ride only goes one way—west. If you miss it, you miss it."

     "How will we all fit?" Nico piped up from behind me. He was holding Grover's wind pipes in one hand and a little action figure in the other.

     "Oh." Apollo seemed to notice the problem for the first time. "Well, yeah. I hate to change it out of sports car mode, but I suppose..."

     He took out his car keys and beeped the security alarm button. Chirp, chirp. For a moment, the car glowed brightly again. When the glare died, the Maserati had been replaced by one of those Turtle Top shuttle buses like we used for school basketball games.

     "Right," he said. "Everybody in."