︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

DAYS IN THE SUN

chapter nineteen
❛ 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚢𝚙𝚎. ❜

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

     FOR A MOMENT no one moved, only the swirling of snow and wind filled the air due to the helicopter blades. "No," Dr. Thorn finally muttered as he stumbled back a few feet. "It cannot be—"

An arrow suddenly shot past Amara, like a streak of moonlight as it impaled the manticore's shoulder. The creature staggered backwards, wailing in agony as a smirk grew on her lips.

"Curse you!" Thorn cried, unleashing his spikes in an assault of dozens in the direction the arrow had appear from. Just as quickly, arrows doubled the size of the spikes shot back and sliced multiple thorns in half.

Amara got to her feet, pulling the Jackson boy up with her as she recognized the handy work of the hunters. She couldn't count how many times they've pulled that same move off during their annual capture the flag game, it was annoying to say the least.

The monster quickly pulled the arrow from his shoulder as howl of pain escaped, giving Percy the opportunity to quickly lung and attempt to swipe him with Riptide. But Thorn wasn't that injured, using his tail he slammed against Percy's shield and sent the boy flying to the side somewhere near Thalia.

Finally, the hunters made their way out from the woods and let their appearances be known. The youngest seemed to be ten, and the oldest had to be somewhere around fourteen. An age Amara was soon to be in only a week. The archers advanced on the manticore, bows raised.

"The hunters!" Annabeth cried, a smile slipping onto the blonde's lips.

"Wonderful," Thalia grumbled, sending the brunette a knowing look. But much to her older sister's distaste, Amara didn't mind the hunters. They were clear about their beliefs and life choices, so she never made them angry when she personally didn't believe in living forever.

An older girl stepped forward, her bow raised and held up towards Thorn. She stood tall, with coppery colored skin as a silver circle decorated the top of her long dark hair. "Permission to kill," the old accent flowed off her tongue easily, Zoë Nightshade. "My lady?"

"This is not fair!" Thorn wailed like a child throwing a fit. "Direct interference, it is against the Ancient Laws!" Amara shared a look with Grover, the duo rolling their eyes at the creature's dramatic.

"Not so," another hunter stepped forward, except this time the youngest demigod recognized her to be the goddess Artemis. "The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere, and you foul creature are a wild beast." The goddess returned her attention to the Nightshade girl besides her. "Zoë, permission granted."

The creature growled, his eyes quickly glancing towards Thalia and Percy who laid in the snow struggling to get up. "If I cannot have them alive," he threatened. "I shall have them dead!" He lunged at the raven haired duo.

"No!" Amara and Annabeth's yells joined together to become unison, together they charged toward the monster with weapons drawn.

"Get back, half-bloods!" Zoë commanded, lowering her bow for a moment. "Get out of the line of fire!"

But the demigods didn't listen, instead Annabeth had leaped onto the creatures back. Her knife dug into his skin, successfully distracting him for a moment and giving Amara time to surround her sword with wind spirits. She lunged, digging her sword into his shoulder where the arrow had previously punctured it. The manticore hailed and began turning in circles while the electric blue eyed girl dug her leg into his ribs, the girls held on.

"They have given us an opportunity," Zoë spoke, raising her bow once more. "Fire!"

The daughters of Zeus and Athena froze, locking gazes with one another as a mutual agreement was made. Neither one was letting go, no matter what.

"Amara," Thalia called, attempting to get to her feet but only fell back down right away. "Move, get out of there!"

"Now!"

"No!" Percy screamed, collapsing to the snow as the children of Zeus and Poseidon watched helplessly as the arrows flew in the direction of the demigods. The first arrow landed in the creatures neck, then his chest, and one besides the brunette's head.

Thorn began staggering backwards as he attempted to regain his balance. "This is not the end, huntress!" He wailed. "You shall pay!"

Stormy grey and electric blue met eyes once more, but each were holding to their pack. The creature's heel reached the cliff as the screams of their friends echoed through the air, snow falling from their attempts to get up but failed. Finally, the trio tipped over the edge.

At least, until Amara pulled her sword out of the beast. Quicker than the blonde could comprehend, she had managed to twist her body around and thrust her sword into the cliff side. Her free hand quickly grabbed onto Annabeth's, and the daughter of Athena tightened her grip on the monster below.

The Grace was able to withhold the weight of the demigod and manticore for a few moments, the sound of gunfire ranging over head. "Beth," Amara breathed out, feeling the sword began slowly sliding through the rocks. "I can't . . . I can't use the winds, I'm too tired."

Annabeth offered a smile, one filled with exhaustion from the battle they just experienced. "It's okay, Am." The girls attention was immediately directed to their interlocked hands, the older girls fingers slowly slipping.

"No, no," Amara begged the blonde. "Come on let him go, someone can pull us up."

"We could lose him," Annabeth explained with a slow shake of her head. "And I'm not taking that chance."

With those final words the Chase girl let the Grace's hand go, and fell into the open sea with a smile still laced on her lips.

"Annabeth!" Amara screamed, her oldest friend disappearing from sight. She quickly began scanning the ocean for any signs of a blonde hair or a tail, but came up with nothing. She could hear yelling overhead but ignored it, debating if she should fall down towards the ocean despite being almost completely out of power.

She never got an answer as a hand gripped her wrist, and her electric blue eyes were directed to a hunter. The daughter of Apollo grinned, her ginger haired shaven on the sides as she spoke. "Long time no see," Phoebe's eyes twinkled with amusement as she effortlessly pulled the demigod up single-handedly.

"Come on," the hunter threw the brunette's arm around her shoulder and they began walking. "You need to get a check up."

"Annabeth and Amara," Percy yelled, unaware of the latter making her way over to the group. "You have to let us save them!"

The goddess's moonlight eyes landed on the demigod who walked besides her hunter, but said nothing. "I'm sorry, but your friend is beyond help."

Grover's eyes narrowed at the word friend, singular, instead of friends which was plural. Percy struggled to his feet, a couple hunters helping him stand. "You are in no condition to hurl yourself off cliffs, much like Amara Grace."

The youngest daughter of Zeus rolled her eyes at the hidden lecture the goddess held in her words. "Let me go," Percy demanded as he shook off the hunters. "Who do you think you are?"

"Relax, Percy," Amara spoke, earning her friend's attention to land on her. "The hunters are just doing their jobs, don't be so harsh."

A visible sigh escaped the boy as Zoë stepped forward, as if to smack him for his words toward the goddess. "No," Artemis stopped her hunter with a soft shake of her head. "I sense no disrespect, he is merely distraught and does not understand."

"I am Artemis," the goddess stated as her eyes glowed against the winter moon. "Goddess of the Hunt."

"Um," the Jackson boy lightly scratched his head with a confused look. "Okay . . ."

His answer was nothing compared to their protectors, the satyr had knelt in the snow and began yammering while Amara made her way to Percy.

"She's a goddess, Seaweed Brain," she whispered, lightly nudging him in the side. "Show at least a little respect."

But the son of Poseidon was too stunned by the fact she was alive, and standing right in front of him to make any comments.

"Get up, goat boy!" Thalia snapped, pulling the Underwood boy up by his shirt. "We have others thing to worry about, Annabeth is gone!"

"Hold up," Bianca spoke up, earning all eyes to land on her. "Who . . . who are you people?"

The goddess's expression softened as she began speaking. "It might be a better question, my dear girl," Artemis's tone was soft, like a mother talking to her child. "Is who are you, who are your parents?"

The eldest di Angelo spared a glance to Nico, but the younger boy was too busy looking around at everyone with amusement clear in his eyes. "Our parents are dead," she finally said. "We're orphans, there's a bank trust that pays for our school but . . ."

She faltered upon seeing the faces everyone was giving her, like they all knew better than what she was saying. "What?" Bianca asked. "I'm telling the truth."

"You're a half blood," Zoë explained. "One of thy parents was mortal, the other an Olympian."

"An Olympian . . . athlete?"

"No," the hunter corrected. "One of thy gods."

"Cool!" Nico finally voiced his thoughts, the excitement in his eyes seeming to glow.

"No!" Bianca threw her hands out, shaking them rapidly. "This is not cool!"

Amara felt sympathy for the girl, she had finally remembered where she knew the siblings from. The Lotus Casino, where Percy and Annabeth had to drag her away from there. And now, the oldest di angelo was finding out she was a demigod.

Nico, however, had a different reaction as he danced around the demigods, hunters, satyr, and goddess with glee. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for—"

"Nico, shut up!" Bianca snapped, grabbing her hair lightly. "This is not your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? There are no gods!"

Thalia stepped forward, kneeling to the eldest di Angelo's height with a sympathetic smile. "Bianca, I know it's hard to believe but the gods are still around. They're immortal, and whenever they have kids with human, kids like us," she shot a look towards Percy and Amara who stood side by side. "Well . . . our lives are dangerous."

"Dangerous," Bianca repeated. "Like the girl who fell."

Everyone turned their gazes away from the girl, Amara's fingers curled into a fists as her mind replayed the scene watching Annabeth fall into the unknown. She was able to hear her own scream not long after before Artemis spoke up, disrupting the girl from her thoughts.

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

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

"She is gone, can't you sense it? It's a miracle Amara did not disappear too," with those words all eyes landed on the brunette momentarily. "I do not know exactly how or why, but your friend has vanished."

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

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

"Or," Amara explained. "They'll hunt us in return."

A shiver escaped Bianca as she shared a glance with her brother. "Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley back in DC?"

"And the bus driver," the younger di Angelo added to her story. "The one with the ram's horns, I told you that was real!"

"That's why Grover has been watching you," Percy reasoned. "To keep you safe, especially if you turned out to be half-bloods."

"Grover?" Bianca's eyes widened. "You're a demigod?"

"Satyr, actually," Grover kicked off his fake feet and shoes, displaying his goat hooves to the di Angelo's.

"Grover, put your shoes back on," Amara rolled her eyes at the satyr. "You're freaking her out."

"Hey, my hooves are clean!"

"That's what they all say,"

"Hey!"

"Bianca," Percy interrupted the old friends slight argument as he stepped towards the girl. "We came here to help you, you guys need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet, you need to come to camp."

"Camp?"

"Camp Half-Blood," Amara joined Percy's side. "It's where half-bloods learn to survive."

"You can join us," the son of Poseidon offered. "Even stay year-round if you'd like."

"Sweet!" Nico cried. "Let's go!"

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

"There is, another option." Zoë suggested, immediately earning a disagreement complaint from Thalia as the girls glared at one another.

A sigh escaped from the brunette as she met eyes with Phoebe, the hunter shaking her head at the Nightshade girl.

"Zoë," Artemis called. "We will rest here for a few hours, raise the tents, treat the wounded, and retrieve our guests belongings from the school."

"Yes, my lady."

"And Bianca, come with me," the goddess instructed. "I would like to speak with you."

"What about me?" Nico asked.

The moonlight eyed hunter analyzed the boy, before her gaze quickly turned on the satyr. "Perhaps, you can show Grover how to play that card game. And, he would be willing to entertain you . . . as a favor to me?"

A grin curled onto Amara's lips as their protector practically tripped over himself, just to make it to Nico's side. "You bet, come on, Nico!"

The Underwood boy led the youngest di Angelo through the woods as the younger demigod began explaining hit points. Artemis guided Bianca along the cliffs, and the hunters began following their orders by making camp.

Zoë shot Thalia one more glare, then left to go help whoever may need it. Once the hunter was gone, the eldest Grace stomp her foot. "The nerve of those hunters, they think they're so . . . Argh!"

"I'm with you," Percy stated. "I don't trust—"

"Oh, you're with me?" Thalia's rage turned on him while Amara's eyes narrowed. "What were you two thinking—"

"Hey," the brunette snapped, making her way to her sister who was pointlessly throwing her anger at anyone. "It wasn't his fault, I dragged him with me when he wanted to go back for you guys. So don't yell at him, Thals, yell at me."

A glare appeared in the older girl's electric blue eyes as a stare-off formed between the two sisters. "Fine, what were you thinking running off to fight Thorn all by yourself?"

A huff escaped from the former tree as lightning flashed over the ocean. "If you had just gotten us, we would've been able to take him without the hunters getting involved. And Annabeth would've still been here, think of that?"

The younger girls eyes flashed teal momentarily as her anger grew, at least until Percy picked up something blue from the snow. He held Annabeth's blue baseball cap, the sight alone causing Thalia to tear up before she marched away.

Rolling her eyes at her sister's dramatic, Amara plopped against a tree. Percy wordlessly joined her, scanning her for injuries or any sight of wounds.

"Percy," she spoke, causing his eyes to meet her gaze. "I'm fine, just a few scratches."

He said nothing, moving his attention to the hunters. "Thank you," he said. "For sticking up for me against her."

She shrugged. "Thalia has anger issues, something Annabeth mentioned during our first quest?"

Percy nodded.

"Children of Zeus have tempers, either you learn how to control it—"

"Like you," he said, earning a nod from the girl. "Or, you let it control you. Thalia does that, she becomes blinded by her rage and doesn't think. Been like that ever since we were kids, in fact there was this time Luke—"

She stopped herself, the memory racing through her mind as a sad smile curled onto the Jackson's boy lips from her words. "I'm sorry, Mara."

She waved her hand, "it's fine." And with that the two sat in silence.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

After awhile, one of the hunters brought the demigods their backpacks. Grover and Nico had come back, making a circle around the duo who hadn't move from their spot next to the tree.

"Big collection," Percy commented upon seeing Nico's figures he pulled out from his bag.

"I've got almost all of them, plus their holographic cards!" The younger boy grinned. "Well, expect for a few rare ones."

"You've been playing this game a long time?"

"Just this year, before that . . ." The youngest di Angelo's eyebrows knit together in thought.

"What?" Amara asked, tilting her head slightly at the confused boy.

"I forgot, that's weird." He wordlessly shrugged before his smile returned. "Hey, can I see that sword you were using?" He asked, looking at Percy.

A small grin curled onto Amara's lips as the son of Poseidon showed him Riptide, proceeding to explain how it transforms from a pen into a sword and vice versa.

"Cool! Does it ever run out of ink?" She had chuckled at this question, earning herself a look from Percy.

"Um, well, I don't actually write with it."

"Are you really the son of Poseidon?"

"Well, yeah."

"Can you surf really well, then?"

The raven haired boy's gaze turned to Amara and Grover, the curly haired duo failing to hide their grins but managing to keep back their laughter.

"Jeez, Nico." Percy sighed, turning his attention back to the boy. "I've never really tried."

He continued asking questions. Did he fight a lot with the Grace sisters since they're daughters of Zeus? Percy didn't answer that one much to Amara's dismay, she would've enjoyed that answer.

If Annabeth's mother was the goddess of wisdom, Athena, why did she jump off the cliff? Grover had to grab the brunette's hand, hiding the sparking electricity for that one.

And then he asked a question that threw the children of Poseidon and Zeus off, was Amara his girlfriend? Nico claimed to see them dancing at the gym, and they had physical contact when Thorn was leading them to the clearing. The duo shared a look, quickly looking away as the electric eyed girl attempted to stop the blood rushing to her cheeks.

"Percy Jackson," Zoë's appearance became known as she sent the youngest daughter of Zeus smile, the action quickly disappearing when her gaze returned to the Jackson boy.

Amara silently thanked the hunter for her amazing timing, saving the two the humiliation of answering the di Angelo's question. "Thee's presence, is summoned by lady Artemis."

Grover's mouth dropped at the archer's words, but Percy seemed glad for the escape as he hurriedly followed after the Nightshade girl without sparring the Grace a look.

"So," the satyr dragged his words as Amara's attention went to him, a teasing smile lacing his lips while his eyebrows went up and down. "You and Percy, hmm?"

Her eye twitched, a shot of electricity was sent the satyrs way as a yelp escaped from the Underwood boy. Laughter escaped from Nico as the young demigod fell onto his back, pointing at Grover's now static hair.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

It wasn't long until Percy returned, but he seemed off to Amara. It was like he had just been told something he didn't agree to, or was wrapped up in a situation he couldn't stop. Thalia had returned from her walk right after he came out of the tent, sparing her sister an apologetic smile.

"You got to personally talk to the goddess, and it's not a big deal?" Grover's eyes narrowed after the Jackson boy finished explaining what he just went through. "What is wrong with you."

The brunette rolled her eyes, smacking the satyr lightly. "Don't forget, the last time the Hunters showed up to camp." He froze just from her words.

"How'd they even show up here?" Percy questioned, watching the immortals quickly tear down their campsite. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia's face scrunched up in disgust at the thought. "It's all Zoë's fault, that stuck up no good—"

Amara went to defend the huntress, but Grover had beaten her to it. "Who can blame her?" The satyr sighed heavily. "Eternity with Artemis, that's a dream."

The eldest Grace rolled her eyes. "You satyrs, all in love with the goddess. Don't you understand she'll never love you back?"

"But she's so," Grover swooned. "So into nature."

"You're nuts."

"Nuts and berries."

"About time," Artemis's voice rang over the campers, stopping their mini argument. "He's so lazy during the winter."

Percy arched a brow, clearly confused on what the goddess was waiting for. "Apollo," Amara whispered, earning the boy's attention. "We can only get a ride once sunrise happens, since it's his domain."

Artemis nodded her head, "well informed, daughter of Zeus. Now, don't look until he parks." A sudden blast of light hit the horizon at her words, and the girl quickly shielded her eyes until the light died down a moment later.

Parked in front of the group was a convertible Maserati Spyder, red metal glowing due to the god flying too close to the sun. Apollo got out smiling, he had aged down to seventeen with his sandy hair and bright smile on full display. He dressed for the occasion of summer with jeans, loafers, and a sleeveless top.

"Wow," Thalia muttered, quickly closing her hanging mouth. "Apollo is hot."

Amara couldn't see it, instead her eyes quickly glanced to the boy next to her who stared at her sister with a dumbfounded look. "He's the sun god."

"That's not what I meant."

"Little sister!" The sun god called, his smile widening at her figure. "What's up, you never call or write. I was getting worried!"

The goddess sighed, running a hand briefly through her hair. "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, a grin forming from causing her frustrations. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"

Artemis gritted her teeth. "I need a favor, there's some hunting I need to do alone. Can you take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."

"Sure, sis!" Apollo raised his hands in a stop gesture, his eyes glowing slightly. "I feel a haiku coming on." The hunters groaned, some even going as far to plug their ears.

"Green grass breaks through snow.
Artemis pleads for my help.
I am so cool."

"The last line, only four syllables." The goddess pointed out, sparing Amara a look that showed her condolences.

"Was it?"

"Yes. What about 'I am so big-headed?"

"No, no, that's too many." Apollo began muttering to himself while Zoë turned to the three demigods and satyr. "Lord Apollo has been through a haiku phase since his visit to Japan, tis not as bad as his visit to limerick."

"I got it!" The sun god announced, interrupting the hunter. "I am so awesome, that's five syllables!"

Amara could feel her eye twitch at the god she was supposed to technically call a brother, preferring the eight hour car ride then him.

"Transportation for the hunters, you say?" Apollo grinned. "Good timing, I was just about ready to roll."

The goddess pointed at the campers. "These demigods will also need a ride," she instructed. "Chiron's campers."

"No problem," the sun god began inspecting them slowly. "Let's see . . . Thalia? I've heard about you."

Blood rushed to the older girls cheeks. "Hi, lord Apollo." Amara couldn't help the snickers that left from her sisters blush.

"Zeus's girl? Makes you my half sister, say you used to be a tree once. Man, I hate it when pretty girls turn into tree. Once there was this time when—"

"Brother," Artemis called, stopping her twin. "You should get going."

The brunette quickly nudged the raven haired girl, the latter's face completely flushed in red. "You have a crush," she sang lightly, ducking the swipe of Thalia's hand.

Apollo moved onto the son of Poseidon, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the boy. "Percy Jackson?"

"Yeah? I mean, yes sir." Apollo said nothing before turning onto the younger Grace.

"Amara Grace, Zeus's youngest daughter." She arched a brow at the god, watching as a sudden smile appeared. "So your my half-sister too then, but I must say you're a cuti—"

"Not my type," Amara immediately shot the god down, earning a smile from Artemis and an unseen sigh of relief from Percy.

Apollo held his hand over his heart. "Too harsh, you really are his daughter." He faked a groan before standing up straight once more. "We'd better load up, ride only goes one way and if you miss it, you miss it."

"Cool car," Nico said, indirectly addressing the elephant in the room.

"Thanks kid,"

"But how will we all fit?"

"Oh," Apollo's smile pulled into a frown as he slightly pouted. "I hate to change it out of sports car mode . . . but, I suppose."

With the beep of an alarm, the car glowed brightly and Amara believed she would go blind from the energy. The glare died down a moment later, the sport car had been replaced by a shuttle bus.

"Right," he mumbled, still pouting. "Everybody in."

Zoë began ordering the Hunters, organizing their load as Apollo volunteered to help carry her luggage. The huntress recoiled visibly at the idea, her eyes flashing murderously.

"Brother," Artemis lectured. "You do not help my hunters, look at, talk too, or flirt with my hunters. And, do not call them sweetheart."

The sun god held up his hands innocently as a smile laced his lips. "Sorry, sorry. Anyway, sis where are you off too anyway?"

"Hunting," the goddess spoke bluntly. "Which doesn't concern you."

"I'll find out," Apollo tapped his temple with a cocky grin. "I see all, know all."

Artemis snorted at her brother's antics, causing a small grin to curl onto Amara's lips as she thought of a silent question. Would her and Jason's relationship had been like that?

"Just drop them off, Apollo." The goddess ordered in a stern tone. "No messing around!"

"No, no! I never mess around."

Artemis rolled her eyes, turning her gaze to the campers, hunters, and satyr. "I will see you by the winter solstice, Zoë," the huntress instructed. "You are in charge of the hunters, do as I would do."

"Yes, my lady."

The goddess touched the ground beneath her, like she could already sense the tracks. "So much danger," she mumbled when she arose. "The beast must be found."

Artemis took off into the woods, melting into the shadows as Apollo returned their attention back to him. "So," he grinned, jingling the car keys. "Who wants to drive?"

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7-04-23

     hello hello ! i hope you all enjoyed this chapter and happy fourth of july for all those who celebrate ! have a safe but wonderful day and i will see you all thursday <3