Percy's POV

I was stalking Kronos, just barely keeping my presence known to get on his nerves, but he didn't seem to care much. It looked like he was looking form something, or maybe someone. He always came back to watch a specific spot so I decided to leave him alone for a second.

I had followed him to an abandoned warehouse and watched as he looked around confused when I decided to actually hide my presence and keep him in the dark for a while. He seemed scared of something, other than me of course, so I wanted to see what it was that caused him such fear.

I shifted and unsheathed Death to mess with and we waited for an hour. I was rewarded not too long after, wanting only to just jump down and lop off Kronos' head. Deciding to wait was worth it as another man stepped through an amber portal and into the center of the area. Kronos knelt quickly before the figure and I scowled. They had an aura like that of father, but it seemed a bit more reigned in and controlled, a balance of forces.

"I see you have come on time for once Kronos," the figure spoke, male, and with a slight ring to it like it was trying to force the very sound of their voice to come out as perfect. "Good, now were you followed?"

"I—"

"Actually I don't care whether you were followed or not. It's not like they're going to be able to stop me anyways," The man looked around pointedly. I stuck to the shadows and did not move. "Anyways is everything ready?"

"Yes sir," Kronos said still looking at the ground, "everything has been prepared and events are proceeding as planned."

"Good," the man turned to Kronos and Kronos lifted his head finally, "now that everything has been prepared for me I don't seem to have any further use for you." Kronos' body exploded into a silhouette of firework light and a large boom tore through the middle of the warehouse.

I growled in suppressed rage at the stolen kill, but I had gained a bit of info on the person but not what they were planning. Stupid white cloaked entitled prick, I wanted to kill them now but I knew they had a good chance of overpowering me. 

I climbed to the roof as the building groaned around me and jumped to another roof just as the entire thing crumbled and collapsed straight down. All that was left of it was rubble, the scent of one dead Kronos, and that trace of the new player in this war.

I smelled Artemis and her group before I saw them. The air on this roof came through plentiful and strong, and with the wind in my favor nothing was going to get past me as long as it came from the north or west. Artemis leapt into the roof with her bow drawn and an arrow ready to fly at whatever was near. I just faced her and crossed my arms defiantly. Where were the other three that I smelled? Surely Amelia and Thalia would be trying to surprise me somehow, but I would've thought that Phoebe would be with Artemis all of the time. Though it's not like hers nor the others' weapons could kill me anyways, hurt maybe, but not kill so I wasn't worried about a potential ambush.

"What do you want?" I asked, "You're late if you had a mark on Kronos. He's already dead, much to my displeasure."

"We actually came here looking for you," Artemis said and I looked at her confused. Why would she be looking for me specifically? I don't remember leaving on bad terms when I brought Amelia over.

I was still keeping tabs on the area around me for the other three and suddenly Phoebe came up over the building's lip and joined Artemis at her side. It just so happened that Amelia and Thalia thought that this would be the perfect time to attack.

There was a sharp glint of light and I stepped back as a knife came zooming towards me. I looked over and saw Thalia, finally. It seemed that she was in a semi-bad mood. I grinned at her, flashing my fangs purposefully as my chains wrapped around my hands and wrists. She was momentarily surprised before grinning back at me and shooting forwards.

It seemed that she didn't think a bow would do much in this situation, and she was right. Three arrows came flying at me in her charge and I slapped them all away and stepped aside as she came zooming past.

She jumped over my feet and dropped the bow to take off the shield and spear that were on her back (please tell me if these are her weapons). The bow disappeared before hitting the floor and I was stuck dealing with a mid range melee weapon. Man spears were annoying.

Her jabs came quickly and precise, leaving no room to attack even if she left openings that I could see. I was put on the defensive for a good three minutes before getting a chance, I grabbed her spear as it came toward my chest and moved it the the side. Her balance was offset and I got the opportunity to punch the center of her shield. Screw Medusa's face, she may have been a good distraction, but I've deal with the gorgons too many times to care about that. I was immune to their effects anyways now.

My punch ripped her away from her spear and her shield arm took the brunt of the attack and it was more than likely still broken. She was now on her back at Artemis' feet. Her mistress smirked down at the fuming fuse box but didn't do anything to help her up at all.

Suddenly I felt a presence next to me, closer than I would've liked and didn't get the chance to use my chains to knock them away before I was pulled into a hug by Amelia. She shocked me—because she had no intention of fighting or harming me at all, she was able to sneak past my senses and wrap me in a hug. I felt ashamed as an trained warrior for letting that happen, but since there was nothing bad about it the feeling quickly dissipated and I hugged her back.

"I see you got a new look?" Artemis said and I nodded

"Yeah, dad figured that since I didn't like the camps much it was something he could give me. Now that I'm dealing with the Warriors of Chaos, and the camps, I don't want anyone that doesn't already know my identity to blabber about me to the others."

"Yeah it really suits you," Thalia said, "if I didn't already know what you looked like I may have tried to kill you." She grinned and I rolled my eyes and blasted her with a fireball. One that healed her, but still proved my point.

"As if you could scratch me," I grinned and she growled in frustration, "Though I will admit that Amelia here did better than you."

"Huh?" The one in question stepped back from me and looked up at my mask.

"I didn't sense you until you were right on me," I said, "I assume that Artemis has been training you in their ways."

"Yeah! Lady Artemis taught me how to hunt and all of the other girls have been super nice to me," she beamed and I chuckled rubbing her head playfully.

"I'm glad. Have you seen your brother at all recently to tell him how you're doing?" I asked and she nodded.

"We went to Camp Half-Blood just last week and he almost got turned into a porcupine," she smiled mischievously and snickered. I looked at Artemis and she just looked at us with a smirk.

"Okay why did you find me?" I asked focusing my full attention on Artemis now that I was caught up enough. Thalia seemed to be sparking a little at my ignorance, but she was kept in check by Phoebe for now.

"I am staying out of this upcoming war," she said and I raised an eyebrow, "too many of my girls have died for pointless wars and the others aren't doing anything to make their children to feel any better about themselves."

"You do realize that this war may destroy the world right?" I asked and she nodded.

"Yes, and even so I still do this. I can stay with my girls and show them that I care about them all even if it's our last moments," Artemis looked down sadly, "so many of them have had horrible lives and none of their parents helped them at all. The ones that were abused, orphaned, left behind in time, or just forgotten about are more important to me than saving Olympus again."

"How do I fit into that decision?" I asked and she shuffled, was that nervousness I smelled? From the goddess of the Hunt, the one that hated most males? Impossible.

"You're the only male that I have ever seen as truly worthy enough to stay at my side. I know that you and Annabeth are still together. Even after what's happened to you both, but I just wanted to ask if you'll be our guardian. You don't have to join us, nor will you have to take an oath against women. I'm sure that Annabeth would want to join you if you accept, but I just wanted to come to you first before we all disappear."

I was speechless. Did Artemis, the Goddess herself, like me? That was certainly something that I did not expect to discover before the war started. But even so I couldn't join them and if I could I was going to try and convince Annabeth to join them.

"I'm sorry Artemis. I cannot join you," I said, "I admit that I'm surprised that you could like a being such as myself in that way, especially seeing what I've become, but I have been ordered to and want to stop Order and Chaos from destroying our planet in the midst of their warring." I looked at the four and saw that they were all upset: Thalia and Amelia were tearing up, Phoebe looked reluctant about something, and Artemis was clearly saddened by what I have said, but didn't do anything to try and convince me.

"Okay then. Girls I will give you a moment to say goodbye, and then we are going," Artemis said looking at the three in turn and Amelia and Thalia were the first in acting. Catching me in a hug, crying loudly. And it took a while to calm them down and say that I wasn't going to die and that I would come and see them again in the future.

When they went back to Artemis' side Phoebe stepped forwards clenching her bow and looking at me with determined eyes.

"I am sorry for treating you so horribly," she said and I nodded and pulled her into a light hug.

"And I forgive you," I said letting her go. She seemed a bit happier as she walked back and gripped Artemis' hand.

"Visit us when you win," Amelia said and I nodded.

"I promise I will," I said and Artemis nodded and smiled at me one last time before she flashed out with the girls leaving me alone on that rooftop.

Revised: 3-6-22