Chapter Text
Thalia was the first one to break the silence.
“Why the fuck would you admit to that?” The words were all but snarled out by his older cousin.
Artemis had turned her head to look at her lieutenant. Her expression was eerily blank.
Even though Thalia was chewing him out most of his attention was on the former goddess. “None of us have said your dad’s name. He-“
And even if they had Percy had drawn out the Eye of H-
His words didn’t appease Thalia. “That is something you keep to yourself unless you want to be killed, Percy. Ever heard of two can keep a secret if one of them is dead? You should have stuck with that. If you die because you killed Ganymede-“
(“If you care so much about injustice then why are you not holding yourself to the same standards you hold gods to?”
Percy looked upon the god. He lifted his chin up because Percy was, despite the many years that gone by, still very much the twelve year old boy who was willing to fight a god. “You should pray that I never do.”)
Percy’s fingers shook. It wasn’t from fear or lack of sleep. It was from anger. “If I die then I fucking die-“
Artemis was still watching them both without a word. She didn’t fiddle with the hairband on her wrist or shift her weight from foot to foot. She was still as she waited. Even now, she was a hunter.
(Thump, thump, thump.)
“What do you think is gonna happen to Annabeth and Grover if you die? What about your famil-“
The hair on the back of Percy’s neck was raised. There were people who could step outside and smell that there was a storm coming despite the clear weather. Percy understood that feeling now. He couldn’t see the sky - he was a tent after all - but he knew the weather was about to take a turn because of Thalia’s temper.
“So you want me to, what, ignore his wish? If it Alex after what Aphrodite made her-“
“No, that’s not what I’m saying dumbass! I’m saying if you commit a crime you better keep your fucking mouth shut.”
“Stop arguing like children. I don’t have time for it.” The words weren’t loud. Artemis didn’t need to yell to get Percy and Thalia to shut up. Even though she was mortal both of them respected her; it wasn’t shocking though. Neither of them respected Artemis because she was a goddess. Thalia and Percy respected her based on her actions not her divinity.
Artemis inhaled some air. None of them spoke. Thalia still looked ready to throttle him. If she wanted to throw a punch then Percy would-
Artemis abruptly turned her face so she was solely looking at Percy. There were freckles scattered her face. He hadn’t really noticed that until now. Artemis exhaled through her nose.
“Did Ganymede ask for you to kill him?” There was nothing condemning about her tone of voice. Percy didn’t inherently trust that though.
He was going to evade answering though.
“Yes.”
A second passed. Then another. It was a few moments before Artemis spoke. “Thalia is right. If you value your life you will never repeat this. My father would have you killed.”
My father. Not me but my father.
Artemis lifted her chin. “I asked you a question earlier. Do I need to repeat myself?”
Something in Percy’s stomach twisted at how quickly Ganymede’s death was set aside. It made him angry at how no one wanted to admit why Ganymede had wanted to be killed.
His fingers were still shaking. Percy didn’t shove them in his pockets so no one could see that. He didn’t want his hands in his pockets. He didn’t want them to see him as a threat.
“….I haven’t had any dreams but I think he’s holding up the sky.” It would fit the pattern. First the Master Bolt had been stolen and then the fleece had been stolen. If history was repeating - and it fucking was - then a god would be need to be rescued from holding up the sky.
There was no surprise that flickered across Artemis face; he had been right - she had suspected it too.
Thalia, meanwhile, cussed under her breath. After cussing, she asked the question on her mind. “Why would he even take up the sky?“
Now that Percy didn’t have a guess for. Apollo had been different since his trails, yes, but Apollo wouldn’t recklessly take on
the sky. Maybe one of his kids had been tricked or forced into taking up the sky?
“Meg McCaffrey was missing.” Artemis admitted and her words made Percy’s head jerk up in surprise.
Well shit.
That answered that question.
He fucking hated being right. Especially about this quest being repeated. Two people had died on the original quest.
Would the Oracle give a prophecy that demanded more than three people like last time?
Apparently, he wasn’t the only one thinking about Bianca and Zoé. “What if we get someone else to bring the hunters to camp and we go get him now? No prophecy because this doesn’t have to be a quest. This can be just be a rescue mission.”
Artemis was silent. “Prophecy will not be prevented even if a soul attempts to avoid it. However, I am not asking either of you to-“
Percy shut that idea down fast. “You went alone to hunt down Bessie and you were captured last time. You were a goddess then. You‘re mortal right now. There’s no way you’re going alone.”
Thalia was the next to speak up. “You don’t have to ask my Lady. I swore my life to you and your hunt. I’m not leaving you just because your mortal.”
Artemis opened her mouth only to shut a second later.