1864 words

Just a warning, there will be a lot of dialogue in this chapter. Enjoy and feel free to comment! :D

"Rise, Child," Artemis said to me.

"Should you not address the King of the Gods first, girl?" a man thundered.

"Peace, Father," Artemis said to the man, and he calmed down a bit. "She is simply recognizing who her parent is."

Her voice stirred one of my oldest memories; one that I had not known I ever had.

*Flashback*

I stood in a forest where Zoë, a 23-year-old Dad, and a woman who looked exactly like me stood. I assumed that was Artemis.

"My lady, are you sure this is what's best for them?" Dad asked Artemis.

I suddenly realized he was holding two bundles of blankets with pink, wrinkly heads sticking out in each arm; it was Baby Aidan and I.

"I am sure, Orion," Artemis said in a dangerous voice, looking at Baby Aidan and I. "You will be able to explain everything to them when they're old. To help you protect them, I will send two wolves with you."

Artemis whisted and two red wolves came running to her side; it was Agro and Pher.

"You two," Artemis said. "I have a mission for you: serve as companions to my children and protect them at all costs."

Agro and Pher sank their front knees down and bowed to Artemis.

Yes, my lady, Pher barked.

Of course, my lady, Agro barked.

Agro and Pher ran to Dad and sat on each side of him, silently picking who they would protect.

"Zoë," Artemis said. "I am trusting you to not any other Hunters or anyone about my children until they come to Camp Half-Blood."

Zoë nodded and said, "I swear upon the River Styx that I will not tell anyone about them."

"Thank you," Artemis said.

"Of course," Zoë said.

"Snow," Dad said, speaking to a white wolf I hadn't realized was there. "I can't bring you with me. I'm sorry."

But, why?! Snow barked sadly.

"I need to protect my twins," Dad said gently and sadly at the same time.

I understand, Snow barked, though I was sure she would be crying if she could.

With tears in his eyes, Dad handed Baby Aidan and I to Zoë to hold, bent down, and hugged Snow goodbye.

"Goodbye Snow," Dad said sadly, and then he turned to Zoë. "I'll miss you, but I promise I'll visit."

Bye, Orion, Snow barked sadly. I'll miss you, too.

Artemis took Baby Aidan and I from Zoë, so Dad could hug Zoë goodbye.

"Goodbye Zoë," Dad said. "I'll miss you, too."

"Bye, Orion," Zoë said. "I'll miss you, too."

Then, he let go of Zoë, took Baby Aidan and I from Artemis, bowed to her, and said, "Goodbye, my lady."

*End of flashback*

I stood up, raised my head up, and looked into Artemis's eyes. They were the exact shade of silver as my own. She had her auburn hair gathered back into a ponytail and was wearing an elegant silver dress. Artemis sat upon a silver throne with full moons above, two date palms on the back, and a wolf-skin cushion and some other wild animal skins underneath her. Artemis, actually all of the Olympians, were twenty feet tall and quite imposing. Artemis was quite beautiful.

When she saw the bandage wrapped around the right side of my head covered with blood, her expression turned worried.

"Daughter," Artemis said with some difficulty. "What happened to your face?"

My mouth went dry, and anger began to bubble in my throat. With great difficulty, I forced the anger down and slowly, I unwrapped the bandages.

Artemis's expression turned to one of anger and then back to worry when she saw my eye. I put my hand up and felt it gingerly; it had stopped bleeding but there was still dried blood all over it, and I could feel the scar.

"Ainsley," Artemis said, with barely controlled anger. "What happened to you?"

I forced myself to speak in a calm tone. "Aidan did it. He scarred me."

"Your brother did it?" Artemis thundered.

"Yes," I said, my voice rising with anger. "Aidan fought me and tried to stop me from getting the hind."

Artemis frowned. "Why would he do that?"

"Because he joined Kronos," I said.

At the mention of the Titan Lord, the air seemed to grow cold and the Olympians began to shift uneasily and whisper amongst themselves.

"What do you mean 'he joined Kronos,' girl?" a man thundered to my left.

I walked over to the speaker. He was very imposing, muscular, tall and had a gray-and-black neatly trimmed beard and shoulder-length black hair. His eyes were serious and proud but very handsome and brilliantly electric blue. He was wearing a dark blue pinstriped suit. He had a strong smell of ozone, and his gaze seemed to as far away as the ozone layer.

I supposed this was Zeus.

"Lord Zeus," I said. "Grandfather. May I explain what happened?"

"I suppose," Zeus harrumphed.

I explained everything that had happened from my dreams and the prophecy to every battle and my power surges. For nearly 30 minutes, I spoke to the Olympians.

"Mother," I said, looking at Artemis. "Here is your hind."

I stepped aside, and the hind came forward.

Artemis nodded her head in approval and snapped her fingers. The hind vanished; I assumed Artemis had sent it back to the wild.

"Raiden Kairos," Zeus thundered, his gaze as dark as a thundercloud, and I jumped. "Give me one good reason why I should not blast you to smithereens right where you stand!"

I noticed suddenly that Zeus was gripping a two-foot-long cylinder of high-grade Celestial Bronze capped on both ends with what looked like god-level electrical explosives. The cylinder was crackling with electricity and looked ready to explode.

Raiden looked nervous but spoke defiantly to Zeus, "Lord Zeus, I want nothing to do with Kronos. Yes, it is true that I worked for him, I don't deny it. But-"

"Then, you cannot be trusted!" Zeus thundered, and he raised the cylinder, ready to fire. The ends of it emitted crystallized electric bolts, which made it look like a classic lightning bolt.

"Wait, wait!" I shouted, stepping protectively in front of Raiden. "Lord Zeus!"

Zeus scowled and said, "Yes?"

"Yes, it is true, Raiden used to work for Kronos," I said hurriedly. "But, she returned to our side. Raiden never wanted to work for Kronos in the first place. She was just too scared to face him."

"I sense what the girl says is true," Zeus said, lowering the cylinder. "I will let you live, Raiden Kairos."

Raiden bowed to Zeus and said, "Thank you, Lord."

"What of a reward for these godlings?" a woman with stormy gray eyes asked, sitting next to Artemis.

I walked back to Artemis and faced the goddess who had spoken. Other than her intelligent gray eyes, she had raven-black hair and was wearing an elegant white dress. She was quite elegant.

"I can handle this, Athena," Artemis said to the goddess on her left.

"Very well," Athena said.

"First," Artemis said. "Orion Theron."

I stepped aside as Dad came forward and bowed before Artemis, Snow doing the same at his side.

"Rise, Orion," Artemis said, and Dad stood up and faced Artemis.

"I offer you, as a reward, your place back in my Hunt," Artemis said very seriously.

I could tell that at these words, Dad was very excited, but he managed to keep his emotions under control and said calmly, "I would be honored to be one of your Hunters again, Lady Artemis. Thank you."

"Zoë Nightshade," Artemis said, and Dad stepped back, so Zoë could come forward and she bowed. "My faithful lieutenant."

"Before thy says anything my lady," Zoë said. "I am already honored to be thee's lieutenant, so I need no reward."

"Are you sure?" Artemis asked.

"Very sure, my lady," Zoë said.

"Very well," Artemis said. "Raiden Kairos, come forward."

Raiden came forward looking very nervous and bowed to Artemis.

"I offer you a chance to become one of my Hunters," Artemis said.

Raiden opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. I knew what she was thinking.

I quickly locked eyes with Artemis and silently explained in my mind.

"I see," Artemis said, thinking. "What would you wish for a reward, Raiden Kairos?"

Raiden looked stunned for a moment, but she recovered herself and thought for a moment.

"I would like a new weapon," Raiden said finally, taking off her scythe and staring at it. "I do not wish to be connected to my father any more than I have, too. I know that I do not wish to be a Hunter of Artemis, but may I stay in your cabin?"

Artemis thought for a moment before she said, "Very well. You may reside in my cabin at Camp Half-Blood. I shall consider as an honorary Hunter."

Raiden smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Lady Artemis."

"As for your weapon," Artemis glanced at Athena, who nodded. "What do you desire?"

"I wish for an axe," Raiden said, and Athena snapped her fingers.

Raiden's scythe disappeared from her hands, and an axe replaced it. The axe's head was made of Celestial Bronze, and the handle was made of cherry wood with a leather grip at the bottom.

"Thank you, Lady Artemis and Lady Athena," Raiden said, bowing before the two goddesses, her eyes lighting up as she looked over the axe.

"Finally," Artemis said. "Ainsley Theron, my daughter."

I stepped forward and bowed before Artemis.

"I offer you a place in my Hunt," Artemis said, her eyes glinting dangerously. "As my Lieutenant alongside Zoë Nightshade."

I was stunned. Artemis was asking me to lead her Hunters, even though I only had just completed my first quest. I glanced at Dad; he nodded at me. I thought about everything that happened and came to a decision.

"I accept, Mother," I said.

Dad smiled at me, and Artemis nodded her head in approval.

"Here's what thou has to say," Zoë said. "I, say your name here, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt."

Everyone, including all the Olympians, was staring at me, waiting.

"I, Ainsley Theron, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis," I repeated loudly. "I turn my back on the company of men, accept maidenhood, and join the Hunt."

"I accept your oath," Artemis said to me, and she smiled at me very briefly before disappearing in a cloud of silver vapor.

The rest of the Olympians disappeared, too.

"Welcome to the Hunt," Dad said once everyone was gone. "You'll enjoy it."

"Zoë," I said, though she was looking somewhat unhappy. "I will need your help. I have no idea how to lead Hunters."

Zoë smiled at me. "Don't worry. I'll help you."

"We should go," Dad said. "C'mon."

And so, I headed out of the throne room toward my new life.