ON THIS SPRING DAY
━━━━━ chapter three

━━━━━ VIOLET FELT HER blood run cold. If she had known that the auburn-haired girl was Artemis herself, Violet would've never talked to the goddess the way she had.

It shouldn't have been as shocking as it was. Violet had just seen Dr. Thorn turn into a manticore and plummet off the edge of a tall ass cliff with Annabeth. It really shouldn't have, but hearing this twelve-year-old girl say she was Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, rendered the daughter of Eros a little speechless.

"You see?" the Hunter by her side hissed, digging her fingernails into Violet's arm. "Be more respectful."

"It's alright, Kathleen," Artemis promised. "She was running on adrenaline. She meant no harm."

Violet shook off the Kathleen's hold. She rubbed her arm, where the Hunter's nails had dug in. At least this goddess was forgiving—maybe that had something to do with Violet being a girl.

Percy eyed the goddess in front of him. "Um ... okay."

However, that was nothing compared to Grover's reaction. He gasped, then knelt hastily in the snow and started yammering, "Thank you, Lady Artemis! You're so ... You're so ... Wow!"

"Get up, goat boy!" Thalia snapped. "We have other things to worry about. Annabeth is gone!"

"Whoa," Bianca di Angelo said. "Hold up. Time out."

Everybody looked at her. She pointed her finger at all of them in turn, like she was trying to connect the dots. "Who ... who are you people?"

Artemis's expression softened. "It might be a better question, my dear girl, to ask who are you? Who are your parents?"

Bianca glanced nervously at her brother, who was still staring in awe at Artemis.

"Our parents are dead," she said. "We're orphans. There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but ..."

She faltered. From everyone's expressions, Bianca guessed none of them believed her.

"What?" she demanded. "I'm telling the truth."

"You are a half-blood," Zoë Nightshade said. Her accent was hard to place. It seemed old-fashioned, like she was reading from a really old book. "One of thy parents was mortal. The other was an Olympian."

"An Olympian ... athlete?"

"No," Zoë said. "One of the gods."

"Cool!" said Nico.

"No!" Bianca's voice quavered. "This is not cool!"

Nico danced around like he needed to use the restroom. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for—"

"Nico, shut up!" Bianca put her hands to her face. "This is not your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? There are no gods!"

As anxious as Violet felt about Annabeth—all she wanted to do was search for her best friend—she couldn't help feeling sorry for the di Angelos. She remembered how horrible it all was in the beginning, having your world turned upside down by the information.

Thalia must've been feeling something similar, because the anger in her eyes subsided a little bit. "Bianca, I know it's hard to believe. But the gods are still around. Trust me. They're immortal. And whenever they have kids with regular humans, kids like us, well ... Our lives are dangerous."

"Dangerous," Bianca said, "like the girl who fell."

Thalia turned away. Violet swallowed harshly. The Hunter at her side wouldn't look at her, as if she felt guilty for letting Annabeth get grabbed. Percy's jaw tensed and he looked at the ground. Even Artemis looked pained.

"Do not despair for Annabeth," the goddess said. "She was a brave maiden. If she can be found, I shall find her."

"Then why won't you let us go and look for her?" Percy asked.

"She is gone. Can't you sense it, Son of Poseidon? Some magic is at work. I do not know exactly how or why, but your friend has vanished."

Violet still wanted to jump off the cliff and search for Annabeth, but she knew the goddess had to be right. Annabeth was gone. There would've been something to say that she wasn't.

"Oo!" Nico raised his hand. "What about Dr. Thorn? That was awesome how you shot him with arrows! Is he dead?"

"He was a manticore," Artemis said. "Hopefully, he is destroyed for now, but monsters never truly die. They reform over and over again, and they must be hunted whenever they reappear."

"Or they'll hunt us," Thalia said.

Bianca shivered. "That explains ... Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley in D.C.?"

"And that bus driver," Nico said. "The one with the ram's horns. I told you that was real!"

"That's why Grover and I have been watching you," Violet spoke up. "To keep you safe, if you guys ended up being half-bloods."

"Grover?" Bianca stared at him. "You're a demigod, too?"

"Well, a satyr, actually." He kicked off his shoes and displayed his goat hooves. Violet thought Bianca was going to faint right there.

"Grover, put your shoes back on," Thalia said. "You're freaking her out."

"Hey, my hooves are clean!"

"Bianca," Percy said, "we came here to help you. You and Nico need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet. You need to come to Camp."

"Camp?" Bianca asked.

"Camp Half-Blood," the son of Poseidon clarified. "It's where half-bloods learn to survive and stuff. You can join us, stay there year-round if you like."

"Sweet, let's go!" said Nico.

"Wait." Bianca shook her head. "I don't—"

"There is another option," Zoë said.

"No, there isn't!" Thalia said.

Thalia and Zoë glared at each other. Violet had to wonder what their history was to garner such hostility. She knew Zoë was talking about joining the Hunters, but she had to wonder why Thalia hated them so much.

"We've burdened these children enough," Artemis announced. "Zoë, we will rest here for a few hours. Raise the tents. Treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests' belongings from the school."

"Yes, my lady."

"And, Bianca, Violet—come with me. I would like to speak with you."

Violet took a second glance at the goddess. Surely, she wasn't going to be offered a spot? Her dad was Eros, God of Love. And Artemis was, like, anti-romantic love—at least, romantic love between a man and a woman.

"What about me?" Nico asked.

Artemis considered the boy. "Perhaps you can show Grover how to play that card game you enjoy. I'm sure Grover would be happy to entertain you for a while ... as a favor to me?"

Grover just about tripped over himself getting up. "You bet! Come on, Nico!"

Nico and Grover walked off towards the woods, talking about hit points and armor ratings and a bunch of Mytomagic stuff Violet didn't understand. The daughter of Eros and Bianca followed Artemis along the cliff.

Bianca walked alongside Violet, whispering to her, "What does she want with us?"

The daughter of Eros kept her eyes trained on the back of the goddess's frame. "Nothing bad. I think I may know, but I'm not for sure."

And so, the two followed the goddess.

🌷

In just a few minutes, Violet was warming her hands with a mug of hot chocolate, getting herself comfortable in a silver tent that had been set up in a matter of seconds.

She and Bianca followed Artemis into a large, silver tent. 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 Artemis, on a polished oak display stand, was a huge silver bow, carved to resemble gazelle horns. The walls were hung with animal pelts—black bear, tiger, and several others Violet didn't recognize. At first glance, she thought that Artemis had another animal pelt lying next to her, and then she realized it was alive—a deer with glittering fur and silver horns, its head resting contentedly in Artemis's lap.

"I must confess," the goddess spoke first, "I much prefer coffee over hot chocolate. Although, I can't deny why so many mortals drink it on cold nights."

"Um ... yeah," Violet said, shifting in her seat; a fluffy pillow placed on the floor. "I like hot chocolate a lot more than coffee. I'm not really a coffee person."

Bianca looked into her mug, a hint of confusion on her face. "It doesn't taste a lot like hot chocolate," she murmured. "It tastes more like ... brownies."

Violet frowned. She knew she had tasted something more than just hot chocolate; she tasted a hint of the madeleines her mother would always make for her.

"Is there nectar in this?" she asked.

Artemis smiled. "It is food for the gods," she said.

"There's not enough to, you know, burn us up alive? Right?" Violet asked.

"Burn us up?" Bianca asked worriedly.

"No, no." The goddess shook her head.

Bianca looked at the hot chocolate in her hands, clearly worried about what Violet had said about nectar. "What do you mean by nectar? Food for the gods?"

"Have you heard of something called nectar before, Bianca?" asked Artemis.

The girl shook her head.

"Nectar and ambrosia are food for the gods, but the gods' offspring can eat it too, just in smaller quantities."

"Yeah," said Violet, "if we eat too much, we burn up from the inside."

"But I didn't add enough nectar to your hot chocolate to cause that," Artemis added. "So drink as much as you like."

Bianca took a long drink from her mug. She licked her lips, looking nervously at the goddess in front of her. "Can I ask another question?"

"You can ask every question you have," Artemis said kindly. "I'm this is all confusing and scary, so take as much time as you need."

Bianca looked between Artemis and Violet. "What you were saying earlier, about my parents, you're serious about all that? Violet you really came to Westover with Grover for me and Nico? You're all telling the truth?"

Artemis looked at Violet, and the girl straightened like the goddess had given her electric shock. The goddess wanted her to answer—give an answer from someone who had been through the same thing.

Violet set her cup in front of her carefully, placing her hands in her lap. "Yeah, it's all true. You have a godly parent. That's why all those odd things happened to you. I know it sounds crazy—I didn't believe it at first, either—but it's all true."

"Did Grover find you, too?" Bianca asked curiously.

"Uh—no." Violet shook her head. "No satyr found me, actually. My dad showed up and told me I needed to go to Camp Half-Blood."

"You're dad?" Bianca raised her eyebrows.

Violet looked at Artemis, wondering if the goddess would get upset at her talking about the God of Love. ( Especially because Eros had technically broke god code by talking to Violet directly. )

"It doesn't happen very often like that," she said. "The gods are ..." She trailed off, looking at Artemis, deciding what choice of word would let her live longer.

Artemis smiled; although, it was twinged with coldness. "You can be honest, Violet, I cannot fault you for saying the truth; the gods are not very involved parents."

"Why'd her dad tell her himself, then?" Bianca asked. "If it doesn't happen often, why'd he do it?"

"Eros doesn't have many kids," Artemis explained. She smiled at the daughter of love before her. "And there are very few like Miss Violet."

Violet's face burned. "Why'd you want to talk with us, Lady Artemis?" she quickly asked, hoping to change the topic.

Artemis sat down her mug of hot chocolate, too. She looked between the girls in front of her. "You two are strong young ladies. And it would be such an honor if you accept my offer. I am offering you a spot among my Hunters."

Bianca looked at Violet with wide eyes. "Join your Hunters?" she repeated.

Artemis nodded.

"What does it mean to be a Hunter exactly?" Bianca asked, almost sounding eager.

The goddess's silver eyes gleamed, as if she was excited to tell the two all about her band of maidens. "My Hunters are my immortal companions. I give them protection, strength, and immorality for their promise to swear off men. And they can only fall in the instance of battle. Some of them have been with me for decades—centuries, even."

She looked back at Zoë, who Violet had just noticed for the first time, with what almost seemed to be a loving look in her eyes.

"We become immortal?" Bianca asked, sounding shocked. "Just like that?"

Artemis nodded. "You would become my sister-in-arm, follow me on my adventures. And you wouldn't have to worry about training; you would be trained just as well as you would be trained at Camp Half-Blood. You would be protected by your sisters from monsters or any enemies we come across."

"It is a great honor to be a part of the Hunt," Zoë spoke up. "You would just have to follow my lady's oath."

"Your oath to forswear romantic love," Violet remembered. It seemed the sentence had touched a nerve within her; her expression turned a little sour.

"My oath." Artemis nodded. "To foreswear romantic love, to never get married. To be a maiden eternally."

All of that sounded like paradise to her, except for the 'no-love' part. Violet was in love with the idea of love. She wanted to have that fairytale romance. As a kid, there was nothing she wanted more than to fall in love and experience real love. Violet was a hopeless romantic at heart; she wanted to know what it was like to love someone like that.

But joining Artemis and her Hunters meant completely giving that up. She would be saying goodbye to Camp Half-Blood. To AJ, to Annabeth, to Silena, to Travis. She'd be saying goodbye to ... Connor.

"Lady Artemis?" Violet said. "You know my father would lose it if he knew you offered me a spot."

"We are not our parents, Violet," Artemis countered. "Just because he is the God of Love does not mean you're life has to be defined by it."

Violet shifted in her seat once more.

Artemis seemed to catch onto her discomfort as she changed the topic; "I will give you two time to think on my offer. It is not a decision to take lightly."

Both Violet and Bianca nodded.

"Now, then, onto a darker topic—tell me what happened with the manticore."

Violet explained everything to the best of her ability. She was the one who knew the gods were real before the attack. She told the goddess about everything Dr. Thorn had said—the things he said about the 'Great Stirring', him talking about his employer, the General, and anything else she could remember.

When Violet was done, Artemis's expression had long turned thoughtful. She petted the deer in a repetitive motion. "Zoë?" she called.

The lieutenant stood straighter. "Yes, my lady?"

"Retrieve Percy Jackson. I want to hear what he has to say."

Violet's brows furrowed. What could he say that she already didn't say? She and Percy saw the exact same thing.

Zoë's expression turned pained as she left the tent to go get the son of Poseidon. Soon, she returned with the boy in tow. The black-haired boy stumbled inside, sitting awkwardly on the floor in front of Artemis.

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

"Uh ... a little," he admitted.

"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?" Percy asked.

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

"Oh."

Zoë sat down to Artemis's right. She glared at the son of Poseidon as if all the stuff Artemis had just said was his fault, like he had invented the idea of being a guy.

"You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you," 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 Zoë. "Which one was it?"

"That boy in Colorado," Zoë 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. Violate and Bianca have reported some of the ... hm, disturbing things the monster said. But I'd like to hear them from you, as well."

And so Percy told her. He said nearly the exact same thing as Violet. When he was done, Artemis put her hand thoughtfully on her silver bow. "I feared this was the answer."

Zoë sat forward. "The scent, my lady?"

"Yes."

Violet looked up. "What scent?" she asked.

"Things are stirring that I have not hunted in millennia," Artemis murmured. "Prey so old I have nearly forgotten."

She stared at Percy and Violet intently. "We came here tonight sensing the manticore, but he was not the one I seek. Tell me again, exactly what Dr. Thorn said."

The son of Poseidon exchanged a nervous look with Violet. "Um ... 'I hate middle school dances.'"

"No, no." The goddess waved her hand. "After that."

"He said somebody called the General was going to explain things to me," said Percy.

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

"Go on, Percy," the goddess said.

"Well, then Thorn was talking about the Great Stir Pot—"

"Great Stirring," Violet corrected.

"Yeah, that. And he said, 'Soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus.'"

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

"Maybe he was lying," Percy offered.

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

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

"No, Zoë. 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."

"You know what the monster is?" Violet asked the goddess. She was sure her expression was betraying her as much as Zoë's expression was betraying the Hunter.

Artemis gripped her bow. "Let us pray I am wrong."

"Can goddesses pray?" Percy asked.

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."

Violet frowned at the request. She lived at camp just as long as Percy had, and she was a girl. Wouldn't it make better sense for her to help the Hunters around Camp?

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

Violet winced at the memory. The last time the Hunters had visited Camp was before her time there, but she had heard all about it from Connor Stoll. And from what she was told, nothing pleasant went down.

"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."

Zoë muttered something about Foolish campers.

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

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

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

"They ... they've invited me and Violet 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 corrected him.

Percy shook his head 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?"

"To begin with," Zoë said, "immortality."

He stared at her, then at Artemis. "She's kidding, right?" He jabbed a thumb in the lieutenant's direction.

"Zoë rarely kids about anything," Artemis said. "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."

"What oath?" Percy said.

"To forswear romantic love forever," Artemis said. "To never grow up, never get married. To be a maiden eternally."

"Like you?"

The goddess nodded.

"So ... you just go around the country recruiting half-bloods—"

"Not just half-bloods," Zoë interrupted. "Lady Artemis does not discriminate by birth. All who honor the goddess may join. Half-bloods, nymphs, mortals—"

"Which are you, then?"

Anger flashed in Zoë's eyes. "That is not thy concern, boy. The point is Bianca and Violet may join if they wish. It is their choice."

"But—but that's crazy!" Percy said. "Bianca, 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."

"Hey!" the son of Poseidon protested.

"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. "Is it worth it?"

Zoë nodded. "It is."

"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 line. "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," she said.

"Welcome, sister," Zoë said.

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

Then the eyes turned to Violet. She felt queasy.

"Violet," the goddess said gently. "What is your decision?"

With the feeling of her stomach twisting into knots, Violet looked Artemis in the eye. "I ... I appreciate the offer, but I won't join. Camp is my home. And I don't—I can't ..." She trailed off, hoping Artemis got the unsaid message.

"You can't swear off romantic love?" Artemis asked, smiling slightly.

"Um, yeah. Something like that."

Artemis didn't look offended. "I understand. Just know my offer stands as long as you live."

Percy's shoulders were tense, although he didn't look as green in the face as he once had. He looked at Violet, like he was trying to read her mind. She moved the bow slung behind her back. It suddenly felt like it was trying to snap her ribs in two.

"Do not despair, Percy Jackson," Artemis told him. "You will still get to show the di Angelos your camp. And if Nico so chooses, he can stay there."

"Great," he said, sounding bitter. "How are we supposed to get there?"

Artemis closed her eyes. "Dawn is approaching. Zoë, break camp. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother."

Zoë didn't look very happy about this idea, but she nodded and told Bianca to follow her. As she was leaving, Bianca paused in front of Percy and Violet. "I'm sorry, guys. But I want this. I really, really do."

Then she was gone, and the two were left alone with the twelve-year-old goddess.

"So," Percy said glumly. "We're going to get a ride from your brother, huh?"

Artemis's silver eyes gleamed. "Yes, boy. You see, Bianca di Angelo is not the only one with an annoying brother. It's time for you to meet my irresponsible twin, Apollo."

🌷 FEB. 9TH, 2023 / vi is a hopeless romantic at her core

sorry i don't make the rules

and vi's kinda a special case too bc a lot of my fem!ocs would thrive as hunters but vi would def not

she literally would crumble okay w/ no romantic love she wouldn't know what to do w/ herself

anyways,, thoughts?? opinions??