Percy Jackson - Beyond the Gods

Although he was happy, Percy noticed that his friend was different from how he remembered him. He imagined it might have been due to the gift Luke had mentioned, as he seemed somewhat distant. While thinking about this, Percy followed Zoë, who led him to the last tent. It didn't look any different from the others, but she gestured for him to enter.

Bianca di Angelo was sitting beside the reddish-brown-haired girl, whom Percy still found it difficult to think of as Artemis. After all, his best friend once had a crush on her. Now, however, she appeared as a simple young girl, not the radiant woman he remembered from the meeting on Olympus.

The interior of the tent was warm and comfortable. Silk rugs and cushions covered the floor.

In the center, a golden brazier burned without fuel or smoke. Behind the goddess, on a polished oak stand, rested her grand silver bow, sculpted to resemble the horns of a gazelle. Hanging on the walls were animal pelts: black bear, tiger, and several others Percy didn't recognize.

He imagined an animal rights activist would have a heart attack at the sight of those rare pelts, but perhaps, since Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, she could replenish what she had taken. Percy noticed another animal skin stretched out beside her, only to realize it was a living creature — a deer with gleaming fur and silver antlers, its head resting contentedly on Artemis's lap.

"Join us, Percy Jackson," said the goddess.

He sat on the floor of the tent, facing her. The goddess studied him, making him uncomfortable.

For someone so young, her eyes held the wisdom of an ancient being.

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

"Uh… a little. It's different from what I remember from that mission to retrieve Zeus's lightning bolt," Percy admitted, feeling slightly awkward.

"I thought so... I could appear as a grown woman, a radiant flame, or anything else I desired. But this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters and all the young maidens I patronize before they stray," Artemis explained calmly, answering the boy's silent question.

"Stray?" Percy asked, confused by the term.

"Grow up. Associate with boys. Become foolish, anxious, insecure. Forget themselves," she replied, a bit distracted.

"Oh."

Zoë sat to Artemis's right, glaring at Percy as if everything the goddess had just described was his fault, as though he had invented the concept of being a boy.

"You must forgive my Hunters for not welcoming you warmly," Artemis said thoughtfully. "It is very rare for us to have boys in this camp. Typically, boys are prohibited from any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp, besides your friend..."

She glanced at Zoë.

"Who was it?"

"The boy in Colorado," Zoë replied firmly. "You turned him into a jackalope."

"Ah, yes," Artemis nodded, seemingly satisfied. "I do enjoy making jackalopes. In any case, Percy, I called you here so you could tell me more about the manticore. Bianca has reported some... hmm, troubling things the monster said. But she might not have fully understood them. I would like to hear them from you."

Percy tried to ignore the fact that the goddess had transformed a boy into an animal. He couldn't help but think how lucky his best friend was to have avoided such a fate. Considering the absurdity of Zeus's son, Percy was almost certain he could best the goddess in front of him even in animal form. Distracted by this thought, he narrated everything he could remember about the encounter with the manticore.

When he finished, Artemis placed her hand on her bow thoughtfully. "I feared this would be the case."

Zoë leaned forward.

"The scent, my lady?"

"Yes."

"What scent?" Percy asked.

"Things are moving that I have not hunted in millennia," Artemis murmured, concerned. "Prey so ancient that I had almost forgotten them."

She fixed her gaze on Percy.

"We came here tonight to monitor the manticore, but it was not what I was looking for. Tell me once again exactly what Dr. Thorn said."

"Um, 'I hate school dances.'"

"No, no. After that."

"He said someone called 'the General' would explain things to me."

Zoë's face paled. She turned to Artemis, about to say something, but the goddess raised her hand.

"Go on, Percy," Artemis said.

"Well, then Thorn talked about the Great Stirring—"

"Stirring," Bianca corrected.

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

The goddess became so still she could have been a statue.

"Maybe he was lying..." Percy said, uncertain. With his best friend now back, he was confident their chances in the upcoming war were much better, as though they had a god on their side.

Artemis shook her head.

"No. He was not. I was too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster."

Zoë seemed to struggle to remain fearless but nodded. "We will set out immediately, 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 begin my search. You cannot accompany me there."

"As... as you wish, my lady."

"I will find this creature," Artemis vowed, "and I will bring it back to Olympus by the winter solstice. That will be all the proof needed to convince the Council of the Gods of the danger we face."

"Do you know what the monster is?" Percy asked, not paying much attention to the conversation.

"Let us pray I am wrong."

"Can gods pray?" Percy wondered, intrigued. It was something he had never thought about.

A flicker of a smile played across Artemis's lips before she resumed her dignified demeanor. She glanced briefly at Zoë before turning back to Percy and saying, "Before I leave, Percy Jackson, I have a small mission for you."

"Does it involve being turned into a jackalope?" Percy asked, cringing.

"Unfortunately, no," Artemis replied, shaking her head. "I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They will be safe there until I return."

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

"Yes, I know," Artemis interrupted. "But I am certain Dionysus will not hold a grudge over a small... misunderstanding. It is your right to use Cabin Eight whenever necessary. Besides, I hear they've rebuilt the cabins you burned down."

Zoë muttered something about foolish campers.

"You couldn't ask Ikki to help?" Percy inquired, noticing the strange expression Artemis wore at the mention of that name.

"That man..." Zoë nearly spat the words.

"Zoë, it's not his fault... You know that very well. It's my fault," Artemis said, shaking her head. She looked at Percy and added, "He is more suitable in terms of strength, I won't deny it. But I do not think he would help me..."

"Why not? Ikki told me he'd formed a certain friendship with you. I don't think he'd refuse a friend's request," Percy said, noticing the offended look Zoë gave him, as though he had insulted her in every way possible. When he looked back at the goddess, he swore he saw a melancholic and sorrowful expression.

"I do not think we are... friends anymore," the goddess said, seemingly swallowing a difficult truth.

"Did something happen last year? Is that part of the reason he disappeared so suddenly?" Percy asked, noting Artemis's somber expression. He almost regretted asking, fearing he'd soon be turned into an animal and hunted by wolves and scout girls. Fortunately, nothing of the sort happened...

When Zoë was about to say something, Artemis raised her hand, silencing her. Speaking in a heavy tone, she said, "I believe I bear some of the blame for his sudden departure..."

As Percy prepared to ask another question, the goddess turned her attention to the quiet girl.

"Now there is one last decision to be made," Artemis said, turning to Bianca. "Have you made your choice, my child?"

Bianca hesitated.

"I'm still thinking about it."

"Wait," Percy said, distracted from the main issue again, feeling that something bad was about to happen. He looked at Bianca and asked, "Thinking about what?"

"They... they invited me to join the Hunt," Bianca admitted, her expression conflicted.

"What? But you can't! You have to come to Camp Half-Blood so Chiron can train you. It's the only way to learn how to survive," Percy said, concerned and convinced it was the right thing to do.

"This is not the only path for a girl," Zoë said with an emotion difficult to describe.

Percy couldn't believe what he was hearing. He tried to convince the girl. "Bianca, the camp is cool! It has a stable with pegasi and a combat arena and... I mean, what do you even get by joining the Hunters?"

"For starters," Zoë interrupted again, "immortality."

Percy stared at her, then at Artemis, and asked, "She's kidding, right?"

"Zoë rarely jokes about anything," Artemis said, shaking her head. "My Hunters follow me on my adventures. They are my servants, my companions, my sisters-in-arms. Once they pledge allegiance to me, they truly become immortal... unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely. Or break their oath."

"What oath?" Percy asked, puzzled.

"To forgo romantic love forever," Artemis said, with a certain feeling. "To never grow up, never marry. To remain a maiden for eternity."

"Like you?"

The goddess nodded.

Percy tried to imagine what she was saying. Being immortal. Spending his time only with school-aged girls forever. He couldn't wrap his mind around it.

"So, you just go around recruiting half-blood girls—" he started to ask before being interrupted.

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

"Which are you, then?" Percy asked, feeling increasingly annoyed by the girl. She was extremely irritating.

Anger flashed in Zoë's eyes, and she replied coldly, "That is none of your concern, boy. The point is that Bianca may join if she wishes. The choice is hers."

"Bianca, this is insane..." Percy said sincerely. "And what about your brother? Nico can't be a Hunter."

"Certainly not," Artemis agreed. "He will go to camp. Unfortunately, that is the best boys can do."

"Hey!" Percy protested, feeling that was somehow an insult.

"You can see him occasionally," Artemis assured Bianca. Her words sounded like the temptation of a great deal to someone innocent. "But you will be free of responsibility. He will have the camp counselors to care for him. And you will have a new family. With us."

"A new family," Bianca murmured dreamily. "Free of responsibility."

"Bianca, you can't do this," Percy insisted, feeling sorry for Nico. "It's crazy."

She looked at Zoë and asked, "Is it worth it?"

Zoë nodded, her conviction evident. "Yes."

Bianca thought for a moment, remembering the precious moments she had spent with her younger brother. He was the only thing she had in the world, and abandoning him at the first opportunity was not just foolish; it was cruel.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to decline. Nico still needs me," she said to the goddess.

Artemis looked at her, slightly surprised. Earlier, she had sensed that the girl was overwhelmed with responsibilities, seemingly desperate for an escape and a better life. She had offered that way out, yet Bianca still refused. It was intriguing, to say the least.

Zoë seemed even more surprised than her mistress, unable to understand Bianca's reasons for declining such an opportunity.

As for Percy, he was relieved to hear the girl's words. Thankfully, he wouldn't have to discuss this with Nico. He couldn't even imagine how the boy would feel if he found out his sister had abandoned him like that.

"May I ask why?" Artemis inquired, intrigued.

"Someone told me that family is the most important thing in the world," Bianca said without going into detail.

Indeed, the goddess in front of her had guessed correctly. To be honest, Bianca was somewhat tired of it all. Taking care of someone while neglecting her own life was exhausting. She had reached the point of considering accepting the offer of someone she had just met to escape her responsibilities. However, she remembered someone telling her that family was the most important thing in the world. She shouldn't have cared about a stranger's opinion, but she felt she didn't want to disappoint him in any way.

"I see. It's a pity..." Artemis sighed, curious to know who had influenced the girl's decision. She looked at Percy and said, "I have one more request, then. Show the Di Angelos your camp."

"Great," Percy said, trying not to sound harsh. "How are we supposed to get there?"

Artemis closed her eyes for a moment before opening them and sighing. "Dawn is approaching. Zoë, break camp. You must go to Long Island swiftly and safely. I will summon a ride from my brother."

Zoë, who had been silent since her mistress's proposal was declined, nodded and left the tent.

"So..." Percy said. "We're getting a ride from your brother, huh?"

Artemis's silver eyes gleamed.

"Yes, boy. You see, Bianca di Angelo, you're not the only one with an annoying brother. It's time you all met my irresponsible twin, Apollo."