Chapter XVIII

Percy woke up feeling like he was still on fire. His skin stung and his throat felt dry as sand.

He examined the place he was in. He felt the comfy feeling beneath him and he realized he was on a bed. From the open window, he heard waves that were gently lapping the shore. Percy thought he was dead but he knew better. If he was in the Land of the Dead to which he visited a few times, he would probably see Achilles in the river Styx beforehand.

He slowly got up even if his muscles felt like they were melting.

"Stay still. You're too weak to rise." A feminine voice said.

Percy's eyes darted to his right where he saw a beautiful girl. No. Not a girl but perhaps a lady. She had this mature air in her. The lady had luscious auburn hair and dazzling blue eyes. Her skin had a familiar paleness to it like she liked nights better than the sun.

Percy felt like he should know her. Her features seemed so familiar in his mind. Especially that timeless face she had.

"Rest and heal. No one can harm you here." The lady's voice was soft and gentle.

Percy felt that his body was feeling better every time the lady beside him would speak. Obviously, the lady was using some sort magic through her voice.

"Who are you?" Percy croaked. He could feel his eyes closing once again. The voice of the lady was so soothing that he felt like she was singing a lullaby.

"I am Leto."

(Few hours before the earthquake)

Annabeth and Bianca reached a weird place with a cattle guard right behind a steel gate made out of metal pipes. Written on the wooden sign were the words: Triple G Ranch. They ended up in such place because Bianca felt ominous presence of the dead in that particular ranch.

The two girls sneaked inside and trekked their way to a big house. Their lead was Bianca's homing radar for the dead. Near a dug up hole, the two girls found Nico. He was chanting some ancient Greek words. Bianca's eyes widened as she understood every word her brother uttered. A child of Hades would be so familiar to it. Her brother was summoning the dead.

"Please show me Maria di Angelo," Nico murmured as he poured a diet coke in the hole. "Show me my mother!"

"Nico!" Bianca called. "Stop!"

Nico perked up and his deep concentration over the ritual was broken. He paled upon seeing his sister. "Bianca, why are you here? You do know this place is dangerous." He said as if he was the older one chastising his younger sibling.

"I came here to bring you back," Bianca said. "Why did you leave camp?" She assumed that Nico left because her younger brother was wandering here alone.

"I ran away from camp," Nico confessed. "I don't belong there. I don't have anyone on my side. You joined the Hunters of Artemis. Percy didn't live on that camp. I'm alone"

"You should have told me! You should have contacted me!" Bianca reprimanded.

"I want to but the dead approached me," Nico replied. "One particular ghost told me he can help me bring back our mother."

Both Bianca and Annabeth's eyes went wide with surprise. "Impossible… that's not possible. Even father who is the lord of the underworld cannot bring back the dead."

"But the ghost said I could!"

"Indeed my lord, a soul for a soul," A faint outline of a man in robes materialized a few meters away from them. "If you capture that man's soul—someone who cheated death—you can exchange it for any soul you want."

"Minos…" Annabeth said the name with consternation.

"Oh what do we have here?" Minos growled.

"Nico come with us," Bianca pleaded. "It's dangerous for you to be alone here."

"Don't trust them my lord," The ghost said with rage. "Having me as your company is enough, the Labyrinth is my property!"

"So, you know where Daedalus is?" Annabeth asked.

"HA! Of course I know where that bastard is," Minos gloated. "The only thing preventing me from haunting him is because I don't have a physical body."

"I see, so you coaxed Nico into joining you," Annabeth answered trying to use Minos' arrogance to make him spill a hint about the maze. "to use him in navigating the Labyrinth."

"Lies…!" was the ghost angry reply. "With the help of those mortal born with the gift of sight, finding your way inside the maze will be an easy task. Just like my precious daughter Ariadne. My poor daughter…taken away by that bastard Theseus…"

Minos' ghostly form flickered as he realized what he had said. "You and your companion is disturbing Nico. I will turn your minds to madness!" Minos' ghastly eyes glowed with power.

"Minos! That's enough!" Nico commanded angrily. "You will not harm my sister or Annabeth!"

"I beg your forgiveness," Minos backed a little but his rasped voice didn't sound sorry at all.

Suddenly, the ground shook violently. The ghost all over the place stirred and became restless. The tension in the air rose in a very alarming rate. From afar, a buff looking guy with a huge hound was running towards them, not exactly friendly at all with that huge club of his.

"Orthus, seize the trespassers!" The buff guys yelled.

"Nico," Bianca called her little brother again.

"The camp isn't for me. There's a reason they didn't put a cabin for our father, Bianca. He's not welcome, any more than he is on Olympus. I don't belong either."

Bianca looked saddened. "At first I looked like I didn't belong in the Hunt. I don't hate boys. I really don't have any particular hatred on them. But they accepted me. You just need more time to be with the campers."

"We have to go my lord," Minos said. "I'll lead you to where you want to go."

"I'm sorry, Bianca. I have to go." Nico said as he dashed away to where Minos went leaving Annabeth and Bianca.

"Bianca, we have to go too," Annabeth said. "You've tried your best to convince him. At least we have a lead. We will come back for Nico. We will bring him back. I'll devise a plan."

When Percy woke up a second time, the beautiful lady, Leto, was not there. The first thing he did was to look for his weapons.

'Riptide, check. Two hunting knives, check,' Percy thought as he felt all three weapons of his beside him. When he passed a mirror inside the room he froze.

"Holy Poseidon," Percy muttered. He didn't look disfigured. He simply lost like twenty pounds.

Percy heard a soft chuckle behind him. "You're finally healed? You're recovery speed is astounding." Percy turned and saw Leto carrying a metal tray of cookies. Unfortunately, it wasn't blue.

"Uhm…how long I was out?"

"About two weeks," Leto came beside him and poured some juice in a glass. Nectar of the gods. "Here have some. Your wounds are healed but your strength isn't fully recovered yet."

Percy nodded warily. He racked his brain for the name Leto. He was so familiar with the name but he forgot when or where did he hear it. "You're not an evil sorcerer aren't you?"

"Evil sorcerer? No." She replied, smiling affectionately at him. "I'm worse than that. Or so they say."

Percy poised to defend himself in alarm. "Worse…?"

"I'm a Titan," Leto answered nonchalantly.

Instead of attacking, Percy rushed to the window and looked outside. He made sure that he didn't fell on Mount Othrys although he could hear waves. What he saw was water, an endless span of water in the horizon. He realized they were in the sea.

They were in the middle of a vast expanse of ocean water. To top that, the island seemed afloat and not connected in land. The island was drifting to nowhere.

"You're safe here, brave one," Leto said. "If I want you dead, I've already do so while you can't move. Especially you have such dangerous weapons with you."

"You said you're a Titan," Percy said. "But the Titans are evil. You don't look evil to me."

"Are they? All of them? All the time?" Leto pursed her lips. "You can say I am one of the few peaceful Titans out there. Like Calypso for instance. This place serves as my prison even though I really didn't do something 'evil'."

"Prison?"

"Yes," Leto said wistfully. "Hera's jealousy compelled Zeus to imprison me here in Delos. You know, after I bore Zeus twins. Their place of birth became my sanctuary and prison at the same time."

"Twins?" Percy asked. Anxiety crept to his senses. Everything went clear by now. Of course, Leto had 'her' looks while 'he' got 'his' eyes from 'his' mother.

"Demigods these days," Leto remarked dejectedly. "Doesn't know anything. I'm Leto, mother of the twin archers, Artemis and Apollo."

"But you look so…" Percy said nervously. This could be his nightmare but the sadness in Leto's face caused Percy to sympathize with her. Just imagining to be separated from her children, Percy cringed.

"Young?" Leto supplied. "If you have a daughter who is stuck in a twelve year old body, I think you'll understand. I don't want to look like an old hag when she came to visit me."

Percy nodded. He was so used seeing Artemis the same age as him. So the goddess liked to appear in her usual twelve year old body. He didn't understand why Artemis would appear older in front of him.

"So, what's your name young one?" Leto asked as she bit a cookie. The sadness in her face disappeared and was replaced with concern.

"Percy…ma'am," Percy straightened up. He couldn't afford to lose face in front of Artemis' mom. In addition, he too took and ate a piece of cookie so as not to offend Leto. Leto's cookies tasted different from Sally's blue cookie. It had its unique flavor, buttery and that lemony taste that must have been nectar.

"You're so polite. Treat this place as your home and relax until you regain your strength," Leto chuckled affectionately before her eyes turned serious. "By the way, who is this Arty you're speaking of?"

"Huh?"

"You talk on your sleep," Leto said. "As far as I remember, Apollo calls Artemis 'that' sometimes. And Apollo would end up bruised after a major beating from her."

Percy blushed and his anxiety flared but he found himself unable to lie. Unable to deny it either. Something in those blue eyes of Leto's told him to watch his words carefully.

"It is Artemis. Your daughter I mean." He said truthfully.

"I see," Leto nodded with deep interest. "Are you acquainted with her?"

"Y… yes," Percy replied. Leto's questions made him nervous. Perhaps it's because Leto was Artemis' mom.

Leto gripped the metal tray so hard that it crumpled like tin can. "I never heard Artemis had a male friend."

"I'm surprised too when she acknowledged me as a friend," Percy said quickly. Mothers were scary. And the one in front of him was totally on a different level.

"How did you meet her or better say, how did you get acquainted with her?"

Percy didn't mention how he saved Artemis. He doesn't want Leto to think he was showing off so he said, "By Aunt Hestia's request, Artemis taught me the ways of being a hunter."

The glass Leto was holding broke into pieces. "Oops, my bad. This glass must be old and needed to be replaced. I'll clean it before you continue your story….hmm a hunter you say…"

This went for hours until Leto asked the question Percy feared the most. "Who's your godly parent? I have my guess but I'd like to hear it from you." The titaness placed her hand on the edge of the table and waited for Percy's reply.

Percy really wanted to lie or avoid the question but the glint on Leto's eyes told him not to. It was as if Leto already knew everything. Like testing him if we would dare to tell the truth or not. He could say it was Thetis but surely it would leave a poor taste on Leto.

Percy didn't want that. "It's Poseidon," Percy answered looking warily at Leto.

And there it was. CRACK!

The edge of the table Leto was holding was crushed into fine powder. Her strength alone was a testament that she was really a titan. Leto noticed Percy's pale face.

"It's just that you sound like Orion. I never thought that Artemis would befriend someone who greatly resembles that despicable man. A male hunter and a son of Poseidon no less," Leto explained. "Pardon my rudeness if I scared you but I'm surprised. For you to be able to befriend her there must be a special reason."

Percy didn't look at her in the eye. Leto had Apollo's mischievous eyes.

"I won't pry any more. Just finish your meal. I hate it when people leave leftovers."

Percy breathed out a sigh of relief. Leto was so scary and he couldn't feel his body from doing anything in retaliation. Leto simply had Artemis' commanding aura.

After he had eaten, Leto invited him outside. The gentle sea breeze touched his face. The nice feeling made him want to stay longer in this paradise, enjoying the company of a very lonely yet a very nice lady. Sadly, he had a job to do.

They toured the floating island of Delos and Percy wanted to take the opportunity to ask Leto. He could boldly ask all things he wanted.

"Can I ask something?"

Leto gave him a go-on gesture.

"Did Artemis like Orion?" Percy asked feeling his face hot.

Leto laughed serenely as if telling the demigod before her 'you're so obvious'. Luckily, she didn't toy with the son of Poseidon feelings.

"Artemis did like Orion. She may deny it but it was the truth." Leto told him listlessly. "If she didn't, she won't hate him. Men in general. What Orion did really left a terrible scar on Artemis' heart. As her mother, I understand that. She's always been a strong girl and everything went on falling down in just one incident. Not to mention, she was also tricked by Apollo."

Percy nodded. He kind of guessed that already but he couldn't accept the fact that Artemis had some sort of feelings for Orion.

"In actual fact, you need not ask me. Why don't you ask my daughter directly?" Leto offered.

"Her perspective will be biased I guess," Percy replied. "Her pride won't let it out either."

"Indeed," Leto chuckled. "You're a great hero, Percy. Not too proud. I like that. Perhaps, I can finally see my daughter find happiness."

Percy swallowed. It was too late to regret what he had asked though. After some minutes, they reached the shore. A raft was magically waiting for passengers.

"What are you going to do then?" Leto asked. The sun was almost down and that created a wonderful scenery in the waters surrounding Delos.

"I'll go back and finish what I started."

Leto nodded. "The raft will take you to your desired place."

"I'll get you off this island someday. I think Artemis and Apollo would like that." Percy said seriously.

"Are you aware that only Zeus can lift my punishment?" Leto asked him curiously. "In addition, you need Hera's approval as well."

"It's a promise," Percy said as he boarded the raft. 'Even if it cost me my life.' But Percy didn't voice it out.

"Even if you promise me, it's not like you'll get any favors, okay? Especially if it will involve my daughter," Leto said but her eyes looked longingly. She must be waiting for her freedom all these years. "Here I baked extra cookies for your journey. It'll help you recover your strength. Remember to rest when you return. You'll need it."

"Thanks," Percy blushed at comment but he took the food Leto gave him. She would always be mother. "To Camp Half-Blood."

The raft magically set sail itself. Percy bid his goodbye to Leto and the titaness did the same in a way Percy didn't expect.

"Farewell Perseus Jackson," Leto said. "I'll be keeping an eye for you."

Percy's jaw dropped as the outline of Delos vanished from his sight. How Leto did know his name? He didn't talk that much on his sleep, right? Leto won't be able to read his mind if she had the ability. Percy could only stare at that direction as he felt the magical barrier that sealed the floating island of Delos faded away from his senses.

After Percy's silhouette disappeared in the horizon, Leto walked her way back. She was mildly impressed by his attitude.

"So he is the Percy Jackson that Artemis keeps on talking about every time she is here," Leto mused. Now she had finally met the mysterious demigod and she had to thank Hestia for granting her request. She wasn't being overprotective since she couldn't really protect her children. She was in prison. The titaness merely wanted to meet this Percy Jackson and examine him herself.

After sunset, a Maserati Spyder landed in the island of Delos and the familiar sun god came out with a huge smile plastered on his face. Apollo hugged his mother in a tight embrace.

"I have some news mother," Apollo said, his cocky eyes glinted with delight.

Leto nodded smiling in return. "I'd like to hear that news of yours but I would like to hear about this demigod named Percy Jackson."

Apollo's smile vanished and his face darkened but he didn't disobey. "I'll tell you everything I know, mother."

After about an hour, Percy could already see the thin outline of Long Island.

Percy walked back into the camp but found it empty. He could see people gathered around the amphitheater and he sneak himself atop a nearby tree so he could see what was going on clearly.

"After twelve days and no word, we can only assume that he is dead. After a long silence, it is unlikely Percy survive. As Achilles mentor, his half-brother, I'll do the final honors." Chiron said sadly.

Percy's eyes widened as he looked around at the gathered campers. He noticed that most of the Hunters along with their goddess were present. Some were crying especially the younger ones. Zoe, Thalia and Phoebe had tears in their eyes. Artemis looked kind of okay but when he saw her eyes, Percy could only stare in shock.

What used to be full of luster, Artemis' silver eyes looked hollow and devoid of emotions.

Some campers especially the Ares cabin and Dylan didn't have that face but they didn't look smug about the ritual.

Whether he did it on purpose or not, Percy fell from the tree. He went rolling from the top of the amphitheater's seats.

"I didn't expect that my shroud would look so plain," Percy complained as he slowly stood up cleaning the dust in his clothes. "I was so shock I fell from the tree."

Heads turned. People gasped.

Percy saw all the looks of shock and happiness from his friends. He looked for Artemis and all of his build up confidence died out as the goddess trembled violently.

"PERSEUS!" Artemis yelled with such anger that every camper backed away. It took Zoe, Phoebe, Thalia and Bianca to successfully restrain the goddess. If Artemis would force her way through, she could easily dragged the four along with her.

The reaction from the goddess made the entire camp dead with silence.

Zoe whispered something in Artemis' ear and the goddess held her rage a bit. After a few seconds, the Hunters had let Artemis go.

Artemis rushed towards Percy and took the collar of his hunter clothes in a fist. "Where have you been?"

"I will tell you later," Percy said as he raised two hands in surrender. Even if it looked like Artemis was going to murder him, he smiled as the beautiful silver color of her eyes returned. Also, a few tears had formed at the corner of the goddess' eyes.

"Percy, how are you alive?" Chiron asked in shock.

"What do you mean?" He asked confused.

"You blew up Mount Saint Helens!" Artemis tightened her grip at his collar, pulling him a little closer.

Percy's eyes widened, "What do you mean I blew it up?"

Artemis' eyes narrowed. "You blew up the forge and caused the mountain to erupt. The forge was destroyed with nothing remaining."

Percy's jaw dropped before he recovered. "My bad." He said dumbly.

Artemis' pushed him by the chest. "What do you mean 'my bad'? Typhon is on the verge of escaping his chains. And Zeus is already planning on blasting you with his master bolt."

Percy shrugged at that. He doesn't really care about Zeus. There were several beings after his head already. Besides, he was mentally preparing himself for what he did on Artemis back in the Labyrinth. He violated her lips.

"Where have you been Percy?" Chiron asked concerned with the demigod.

"Well I landed in the ocean which was a lucky thing. I kind of floated around for more than a week until the water healed me enough to vapor travel back to camp." Percy explained but he sent a meaningful glance at Artemis that he would tell her about it.

She nodded hesitantly and continued to glare at him.

Once Percy explained what he remembered and received more hugs than he could handle, the campers slowly began to head back to camp until it was only him, Artemis and the rest of the hunt.

Artemis ordered her girls to rest in her cabin. She told Percy that the Hunt would help in the defense of the camp if the Titan army would eventually appear.

Together they walked towards the canoe lake. To start a conversation with the grumpy goddess, Percy chose a question carefully.

"How did Annabeth and Bianca get out of the Labyrinth?" Percy asked.

"Those two brave maidens found an exit and prayed to Athena who got them back to camp. Unfortunately, they hadn't had the chance to find Daedalus." Artemis explained.

Percy nodded. "Then I'll go back on the Labyrinth with Zoe and the others. We can't let the Titan Army get the string."

"Hephaestus was rather impressed than angry for what you have done in his forge. How exactly did you do that anyway?"

"I was overwhelmed when a bunch of those Telkhine charged into the room. They began pelting lava at me until my body was on fire. I heard my mom, Thetis, spoke in my mind and told me to summon the sea within me. I really don't know what I did." Percy explained.

"Thetis?" Artemis growled.

"She isn't really gone," Percy said. "I mean, part of her essence is inside me. Maybe, part of my power comes from her as well."

Artemis's eyes widened before she shook her head, "Even if she is still there, you are powerful Percy. The most powerful demigod I've ever met. If not restrained by Aunt Hestia, your aura isn't much weaker than a god's. Perhaps on par with an Olympian." She explained seriously. "The only thing that kept your mortal was that Thetis is in human form when she conceived you. You're also the son of the Earthshaker. You don't know your own strength."

Percy scowled. "I never asked for any of this, Arty. The Fates loves messing up with my life."

Artemis shook her head and smiled. "You are really different. I've never met a man who wished for less power."

Percy rolled his eyes. "I'll die when I turn sixteen. What would be the use of such power?" He sighed in frustration.

Artemis frowned. "Do you really believe that? That you will die?" She asked in exasperation.

Percy looked at her disbelievingly for a minute before he started laughing. "Is the great goddess Artemis worried for a man?" Percy smirked.

Artemis reddened before she slapped Percy across the face. "Just so you know, I haven't forgiven you for what you did. I'm letting it go for now since Zoe and the others need you for the quest."

"I'm sorry," Percy said sadly. "I thought I'm going to die and I won't be able to see you…all of you again."

"You're getting full of yourself sometimes," Artemis softened a bit. Those words calmed her down. She didn't specifically hear the word 'all'. "Never mind, at least you're back. You have to make it up for it though."

Percy nodded. After some time, he remembered the cookies Leto gave him and brought it out. "You want some?"

Artemis didn't bother asking anything and immediately took one. The scene seemed like a night picnic. She looked contented at the time. However, the moment the goddess tasted the cookies, she stopped eating at once.

"Percy, where did you get this?" Artemis choked as if the cookies were hard to swallow.

"Hmm?"

"I said…Where did you get these cookies?" Artemis asked slightly vexed.

"From the ocean?" Percy answered stupidly but Artemis reaction was so indifferent. It was not like Artemis believed it but Percy thought that the goddess kind of guessed where he was when he was missing.

She disappeared abruptly in a flash of silver, leaving a bright red face as an after image. Percy stayed there bewildered. Despite that, he stayed by the lake as he looked at the illuminating moon in the night sky.

Percy woke up the next morning in the crowded Hermes cabin only to find Zoe, Annabeth, and Bianca waiting for him outside. Zoe informed him that Artemis went to Olympus as the gods gathered for an immediate war council about Typhon's stirring and also about Annabeth's idea of acquiring help from a clear-sighted mortal.

"Thou have a knack of making Artemis upset," Zoe whispered on Percy. "I'll tell thee, Percy. If thou hurt Artemis, I'll kill thee painfully first that thou will regret that thou ever lived."

Percy grimaced. "Why, what did I do again?"

Zoe shook her head but she didn't answer his question. "I've already turned a blind-eye on what thou did in Artemis back in the Labyrinth. But I do hope thou wouldn't do something that pathetic. You don't know what Artemis had gone through these two weeks you were gone."

"Yeah, I know. She is still the one of the mai—"

"No, not that one. I mean pulling a foolish stunt in the Labyrinth like thou did in Mount St. Helens." Zoe's face was blood red. However, Percy could see sadness in her eyes.

"Do know any mortal that can see through the mist?" Bianca asked.

Percy raised his hand. "I know one. And I think she lives nearby."

Argus, the hundred-eye security of the camp, drove them to the city. They found Rachel in a café after calling her using Annabeth's phone. Fortunately, no monsters chased their way to them.

"You sure do have a lot of female friends," Rachel mused as she inspected Percy's three girl companions. They were all seated inside the café.

"Not really," Percy replied. "By the way this is Zoe, one of Artemis' lieutenants. Bianca, she is a hunter. And Annabeth, daughter of Athena."

"Come to think of it, I've met the goddess before," Rachel answered. "I thought they hate boys."

"We hate them, there is no doubt about that," Zoe said firmly. "The Hunt made an exception for Percy. Just think of him as a girl."

"Very funny Zoe," Percy said grimly.

Rachel didn't ask more about the Hunters. "So, what did you come here for? It's not like you're going to kidnap me because I know about gods and monsters?"

"Actually, we need thy help."

"I believe that those who can see through the mist clearly are the best option to show the way in the Labyrinth," Annabeth explained.

Rachel looked back and forth from Percy and the others. "Okay, I'm in. This is the best offer I've gotten yet. So what do I look for?"

"We only need to find a Delta symbol, the mark of Daedalus, glowing in blue."

"I think I've seen one. In a hotel I stayed once with my family."

No one argued and once again the questers with a mortal as a guide delved in the darkness of the maze once again.

As the five of them walked inside the Labyrinth, Annabeth noticed that the paths Rachel chose didn't fall in her expectations. Instead of choosing the older, more archaic tunnels, the mortal picked paths randomly.

"There is a different brightness in the floor." Rachel explained as she felt the weird stare Annabeth was sending her way. "I can't explain but this is how I see the path.

"Wait," Percy and Zoe said in unison. They stood defensively and in front of them two dracaenae, all in Greek armor materialized from the darkness. Standing in the middle was Kelli, the empousa cheerleader.

"Handsome as ever, Percy. I really like to suck your blood dry." Kelli licked her fangs.

"You wish," Percy lunged at Kelli so as to draw the attention of the monsters in front of him. What he didn't expect was that the others were captured by four demigods that appeared behind them.

Percy stopped on his tracks. "You harm them and I'll send you to Uncle Hades right now."

The demigods remained unfazed and proceeded to chain the girls. Percy went ballistic, changing in ice demon with a split second. All four demigods died on the spot, their throats were slit open, burning with lava. Percy had his magical celestial bronze knife in hand. Annabeth, Rachel and maybe even Bianca wanted to vomit but they couldn't. Shaken with fear, they remained still.

However, giants poured inside the path and Percy couldn't move to attack once again.

Kelli had her vicious talons on Rachel's throat. Her neck already had a light scratch.

"Still going to resist?" Kelli said. "Now march. Or you all die here, starting with the mortal girl."

The group was led through the tunnel until they came to two large bronze doors. They were ten feet tall and emblazoned with two crossed swords. The cheering of a crowd from behind the doors made everyone, including Percy, a little nervous about what they were walking into.

Percy took a quick glance at his friends and gave them a reassuring smile before the demigods pushed the doors open, revealing a large circular arena. The floors were dirt and the arena was large, close to the same size as the sword fighting arena at Camp Half Blood. In the center of the arena, a fight was going on between a giant and a centaur. The centaur looked panicked. He was galloping around his enemy, using a sword and shield, while the giant swung a javelin the size of a telephone pole as the crowd cheered. Benches wrapped all the way around the arena, and every seat was full. There were giants, Dracaena, demigods, Telkhines, and stranger things: bat-winged demons and creatures that seemed half human and half you name it-bird, reptile, insect, and mammal.

The creepiest things were the skulls. The arena was full of them. They ringed the edge of the railing. Three-foot-high piles of them decorated the steps between the benches. They grinned from pikes at the back of the stands and hung on chains from the ceiling like chandeliers. Some of them looked very old-nothing but bleached-white bone. Others looked a lot fresher. In the middle of all this, proudly displayed on the side of the spectator's wall, was something that made Percy confused—a banner with a Poseidon's trident as the symbol.

'What does Poseidon has to with this?' Percy thought. His relationship with his father was not that great but at least they had properly met and talked to each other. Poseidon wasn't that bad. What Percy's mom Sally told him about Poseidon was more or less true in his opinion.

Percy was pushed forward by Kelli the empousa while his friends were herded towards a cage in the side of arena. A booming voice from the stands made the loud crowd silent.

Percy turned around to find only the giant remaining along with a pile of golden dust with a single hoof on the giant's foot. Percy's eyes caught sight of an even bigger giant seated in the front row of the stands, his eyes locked on Percy.

"Who do we have here?" The giant asked. He sounded like a booming mountain.

Percy looked to the giant's left and saw Luke Castellan saying something to the giant that Percy couldn't hear. Disregarding those two, Percy's blood boiled with hate when he saw Orion just right behind Luke.

Suddenly, the giant's eyes widened before he raised his hand for silence. The cheering crowd immediately fell silent and turned to the giant with anticipation.

"It appears we have an honored guest with us today." The giant announced so loud that the crowd erupted to cheers once again.

Percy eyed the giant warily. "Who are you?"

The giant grinned. "I am Antaeus, son of Gaia and Poseidon. You can say I am your half-brother. Same goes for Ole Orion here." Antaeus said while pointing Orion with his thumb.

"My men have brought your brother Percy Jackson to entertain you Lord Antaeus. We hope that his death will be enough to grant us passage." Luke said hopefully.

"I never knew you were a son of Poseidon, demigod" Orion said from the sides. "Nice meeting you, brother."

"You are no brother of mine," Percy glared at the Hunter. If not for his friends' safety, he had already wreaked havoc in this place.

Orion furrowed his brows in question. The sheer enmity given off by that guy, Percy, was so strong that he wondered why that half-brother of his was hostile to him. He remembered picking a fight with the demigod in San Francisco but it wasn't justifiable to receive such degree of animosity.

"Stop this Luke! Let us go!" Annabeth yelled from the cage she and the others were imprisoned in.

Luke turned and noticed Annabeth for the first time. For the first time Percy had ever seen, Luke's expression looked pained, like he was actually regretting what he was doing.

"Ah, the woman can fight after my brother has had his turn in the arena. Perhaps I'll grant passage if they entertain me." Antaeus bellowed.

Luke regained his composure and bowed to Antaeus although he looked irritated about not being assured passage.

"Now for round one, what weapon will you choose Jackson?" Antaeus asked from his seat.

Percy shrugged. "Depends on the opponent." He said in a nonchalant voice.

"Open the gates!" Antaeus bellowed as a Dracaena slithered out into the arena with a trident and a net in hand.

"Now, your weapon Jackson!" Antaeus asked.

Percy simply held up his pen.

The monsters and demigods in the stands began laughing until Antaeus silenced them, "Enough! I don't know what you're thinking, brother. Just try not to die quickly. Remember to entertain us well."

The Dracaena charged towards Percy, jabbing at him with its trident experimentally. Percy dodged the first strike and then sidestepped the second before he split the trident in half when Riptide grew to full size. Evading the net thrown by the monster, Percy drove his sword through the Dracaena's throat. The monster let out a gurgled scream before it disintegrated to dust.

"No!" Antaeus bellowed. "Too fast! You must wait for the kill. Only I give that order!"

Percy looked at the giant. "My bad. A lot of people said that I'm not good at following orders."

Antaeus glared at Percy who met the giant's glare with the same intensity.

"Round two!" Antaeus yelled. "And slower this time! More entertainment! Wait for my call before killing anybody. OR ELSE!"

The gates opened and Percy froze on his spot. A familiar demigod in aviator's jacket, black jeans and T-shirt with dancing skeletons in it and a Stygian sword dangling on his side came marching into the arena with a look of fear on his face.

"Nico? What are you…" Bianca cried but her terrified voice was drowned in the sea of cheers from the audiences.

"Your weapon Jackson?" Antaeus bellowed.

Percy simply held his sword but for the first time, he didn't raise it. Any form of mercy didn't show on his face. Nico stood up trembling in front of him. The eleven year old son of Hades was shaking with fear; maybe because of guilt or because he was facing Percy.

"Begin!" Antaeus bellowed.

Percy rushed forward with blinding speed towards Nico. Nico tried to raise his sword to defend himself but Percy slashed him with such force that Nico was pushed down to the ground.

"What the Hades are you doing here Nico?" Percy whispered as he looked like raining an avalanche of strikes on a pinned son of Hades in the ground. "Bianca said you followed Minos."

"I'm sorry Percy, I really do," Nico whispered shakily. "I just want to see my mother. Minos told me that I should prove myself first here."

"You idiot," Percy stabbed the ground where Nico was, missing his head by mere inches. They could hear the loud gasped from Bianca and the others. Percy would apologize to them later for scaring them that much. "I'll only ask this once. Do you want to come with us or not?"

"I want to but…" Nico answered. "But I don't have a place that will accept me. Even at camp. Only the dead understands me."

Percy understood that kind of feeling. Living alone by himself in the woods and all Percy could think was to return to his mother. But of course, Percy endured that. "I do understand you. If you really don't want to come back in camp, I'll ask Aunt Hestia if you can come with me instead. You'll need Uncle Hades' permission as well."

Nico's eyes widened and nodded gratefully. "Thank you."

"Now, you better put an act," Percy grinned. "Fight me with everything you got."

As if on cue, Nico kicked Percy on the chest with renewed effort. Percy blocked it with his arm and shoved Nico away. He pulled his sword from the ground.

Nico stumbled back as Percy charged with the sword in his hand. They had to make this 'fight' convincing so Percy did a few bone cracking slashes carefully avoiding Nico. To his surprise, Nico was doing great parrying the attacks but all he could do was defend. Nico never retaliated with his stygian blade.

Percy glanced at Antaeus to see his red face was stony with displeasure, but he held up his hand and put it thumbs down.

Percy looked at Nico's face. The son of Hades was trying hard to look scared. Maybe he was really scared. Percy jumped down to grab Nico and pulled him away before he shoved him towards the side.

"Stay here. I'll think of a way for all of us to get out of here." He whispered that only Nico could hear.

"No one dishonors the games!" Antaeus bellowed. "Your heads shall both be tributes to Poseidon!"

"Fight me yourself Antaeus!" Percy challenged. "You said you got dad's favor right?"

"Lord Antaeus," Luke called the giant, loud enough for the crowd to hear. "You have been an excellent host! I have a suggestion that you'll surely grant our wish."

Antaeus raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Abide by Percy Jackson's request," Luke said. "It's a great opportunity to show Poseidon who's his most favored child, correct? And to make it more entertaining, I'll let the great Orion join the fray. A three-way fight."

"Excellent," Antaeus grinned. "They should fight well! Or die well! Two more skulls in the name of the Earthshaker!"

The crowd roared in excitement.

A displeased Hunter beside Luke bristled with anger. "Why you little…"

"Shut your trap, Orion," Luke said unfazed. "You failed already with your plan against the Hunters of Artemis. What we need is to gain passage for our army to be able to march in this territory. This is your chance to prove your usefulness for Kronos or else…"

Orion ground his teeth. "Very well."

"Winner takes all! I win, we'll all go free. You win, we die. But the terms must be sworn on the Styx; unless that is you're too afraid to swear on the damn river because a lowly little demigod like me told you so." Percy taunted the giant.

Antaeus laughed. "This shouldn't take long. I swear to your terms!"

Antaeus cracked his knuckles and grinned. "Weapons?" he asked.

Percy uncapped Riptide. Orion had his bow and hunting knife ready.

"You?" Percy asked.

Antaeus held up his huge hands and wiggled his fingers. "I don't need anything else. I've been wrestling since the first Pankration. Master Luke, you will referee this one. "

Luke smiled mockingly at Percy and a half-hearted encouragement to Orion. "With pleasure."

Even though Percy challenged Antaeus, he lunged first at Orion. Maybe it was a Hades' given opportunity to send Orion dead once again. Also, just seeing Orion made Percy's blood boil. Artemis did like Orion. She may deny it but it was the truth. He recalled what Leto told him. If she didn't, she won't hate him.

Orion released three arrows every shot. It also carried perfect accuracy. Each arrow would definitely hit a fatal spot if Percy won't block it with his sword.

"I thought I'm seeing stars," Percy taunted. "Used to be a group of stars might add."

"I'll teach you how to learn to respect your elder sibling, brat." Orion sneered.

"As if I would," Percy rolled as he evaded some arrows inches away from his head. He decided to pull his two hunting knives and switched stance like Artemis would.

Orion growled. "That kind of fighting… HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?!"

"None of your business, Hunter" Percy snarled as the two hunters fought with dancing blades. He noticed that Orion was a little bit slow that the last time but he couldn't bypass the legendary hunter's defenses. A knife's blade whizzed pass and grazed Percy's cheek.

Percy jumped back as fire flowed to one of his knives. "I like you better as a constellation."

The arena shook a little. "You two! I'm the host! Don't ignore me!" Antaeus bellowed as he charged at the other two in the arena.

Orion and Percy suddenly turned and aimed they're weapons at the giant reflexively.

"Argggh!" Antaeus yelled as two arrows hit his ankle and a small cut on his knee.

Where blood should've come out, there was a spout of sand, like if Percy had busted the side of an hourglass. The dirt from the arena floor climbed up his leg and covered it like a cast. When it fell back to the ground, the wound was gone.

Percy looked up with wide eyes to see Antaeus with a smug look on his face.

"Now you see why I never lose, you unbefitting sons of Poseidon!" Antaeus gloated. "Come here and let me crush you two. I'll make it quick!"

Percy paled a bit as he realized a son of Gaia wouldn't be able to be killed as long as he was in contact with the earth. Percy looked around wildly as he avoided the charging giant and blocking several arrows with his sword from the Hunter.

Right now, it looked like one against two. Orion was focused on him and so was Antaeus.

Talking about terrible luck, Percy decided to go all out. If he lost, no… he couldn't afford to lose. It was risky but he believed on himself that he could finally control it.

Ice crept all over his body, forming his glacial armor. And he charged Anateus. Orion's arrow couldn't harm him anymore.

Percy slid under Antaeus' legs and stabbed the giant's left thigh. Antaeus' roared in pain as he fell in one knee. "WHAT IS THIS?!" The giant roared when felt his wound was not healing. The deep gash in his thigh was covered with ice.

The giant eyed Percy warily. However, Percy's seemingly wonderful idea was rebutted by a certain daughter of Athena.

"You stupid Seaweed Brain!" Annabeth yelled from the cage. "Cold will preserve the wound! He won't feel pain either! You'll just make him angrier!"

"You should have told me before!" Percy complained as he maintained his glacial armor. Antaeus broke the ice in his thigh and just as before, the ground came up and healed the wound, although this wound seemed to take long to heal. 'Ice won't work on him huh.'

Percy wanted to encase Antaeus in a huge block of ice but he doesn't have the energy to trap a giant. He was huge to contain. Besides there was no guarantee that he couldn't break free from an ice cage.

Antaeus turned towards Percy with a look of rage. "Come meet your death!"

Percy circled the arena, catching sight of the chains that hung with skulls above the arena when he did as a plan started to form in his mind. He sheathed his knives and sprinted forward, dodging the giant's hand as it came down to crush him and jumped, driving Riptide into the giant's stomach before he vapor traveled back several feet.

Antaeus cursed loudly before wrenching the sword out of his gut and tossing it behind him, leaving Percy seemingly weaponless. What he didn't know was that the sword would return on Percy's pocket.

Once the wound in his stomach healed, Antaeus turned to Percy with an arrogant smile, "You have fought surprisingly well but now is the time for you to die."

Percy steeled his nerves before he ran forward as Antaeus stooped over and held his hands near the ground, waiting to snatch Percy up. What Percy didn't notice was Orion's arrows.

Five arrows simultaneously hit one exact spot in his armor. The last arrow embedded in his back.

"Ugh!" Percy grunted in pain. He kneeled on the floor, trying to reach the shaft.

"Percy!" one of his friends shouted.

"Don't take away my glory you thieving bastard!" Antaeus growled as he punched Orion in the stomach. Surprisingly, Orion took the blow. It was as if his amazing speed as a hunter wasn't present.

Without hesitation, Percy pulled the arrow in his back and sweat poured all over his face. It was really painful especially Orion's arrows had anchor shaped arrowheads. It wasn't fatal but with that kind of injury, he knew he won't last long.

Thanking Annabeth mentally, Percy enclosed his wound with ice. The wound went numb and it doesn't hurt that much. "It actually works," He murmured. As of this moment, he needed to end the fight already.

And the only thing for it to happen was to defeat the host itself.

While Antaeus had shifted his rage to Orion, Percy vapor traveled on the giant's forehead, making Antaeus stand up straight. Percy used it like a springboard and jumped into the rafters where he grabbed the chains and pulled himself up.

Antaeus looked up at Percy in shock before it changed to rage

"Come down here, coward!" Antaeus bellowed.

Antaeus tried to snatch Percy who was just out of his reach.

Percy shook his head, smirking. "I think I like it up much better."

Percy pulled his lava induced hunting knife of his belt and cut the chains like butter. He quickly unhooked the skull attached to chain as Antaeus tried to reach up and grab him.

Antaeus growled and made another grab for him, catching a chain and trying to pull himself up.

While he was struggling, Percy lowered his cut-off chain, hooked first, and managed to hook onto Antaeus' loincloth.

"Ahhhh!" Antaeus yelled indignantly.

Quickly Percy slipped the free chain through the fastening link on his own chain, pulled it taut, and secured it the best he could. Antaeus tried to slip back to the ground, but stayed suspended by his loincloth. He had to hold on to the other chains with both hands to avoid getting flipped upside down.

Percy quickly cut a few more chains free and managed to loop them around Antaeus, entangling him further. Percy swung from a chain and hung next to Antaeus, just out of his restrained reach tangled up in the chains.

"Get me down!" Antaeus demanded.

"Free him!" Luke ordered. "He is our host!"

Percy held out Riptide. Most of the spectators was surprised that his sword returned.

"Oh sure, I'm not feeling rebellious today, I'll gladly obey." Percy said with a grin as he drove his blade through the giant's chest. This time, the earth did not come up to heal him. Antaeus let loosed a pained scream and sand continued to pour from his wound until he disintegrated, leaving only a dirty looking loin cloth hanging from a tangled mess of chains.

"So this is the strength of the demigod that messed with our plans several times? Not even Orion can match you, eh?" Luke said, sending a glare at the Hunter.

"You fool," Orion spat angrily. "You know full well I was injured by Apollo and Artemis. If I was at my perfect condition, I would have killed them both. You better watch your back son of Hermes."

"Don't call me that," Luke growled. "I guess your skills prove to be useful. Lord Kronos still wants you alive. And as for you Percy Jackson, your meddling had already reach its limit, I'll kill you myself right here, right now!"

Luke cartwheeled toward Percy with a dangerous sword at hand. Percy noticed its familiar blade: half-steel, half-celestial bronze.

Maybe it's because of Luke's noticeably pained body that Percy outmatched him in speed several times. Percy's burning knife sliced easily through the son of Hermes' stomach.

Or so Percy thought. His celestial bronze knife bounced off harmlessly on Luke's body. The only thing damaged was Luke's clothes. The fire didn't even leave a single burn on his skin.

Luke grinned devilishly. "Too bad, your weapon is not that sharp."

Without wasting time, Percy threw Riptide like a javelin and he hit Luke squarely on the chest. It was definitely a fatal hit, in the heart no less. But like the knife, Percy's sword flew to the side. No damage dealt at all. No blood and no wound present.

The son of Thetis didn't need to attack relentlessly again knowing that Luke had some kind of invincible constitution. 'Whatever keeping that guy invincible, better leave it for now. We better escape first.'

He needed his strength for later. Their main objective was Daedalus after all.

By this time, the monsters and demigods were climbing down from the stands to attack. Percy stepped back finally decided to pull the stygian whistle out of his pocket, knowing that this will buy them time for their escape.

He blew the whistle hard but no sound came out. It shattered to pieces and melted.

Luke laughed. "What was that supposed to do?"

Several monsters got thrown and flew past the group. Laistrygonians and Dracaenas that took hold of the girls as captives disintegrated into ashes one after the other. Even Kelli the empousa was tossed like a Frisbee in the air by the five-hundred-pound black mastiff that appeared from the shadows.

Everyone was surprise at the sudden appearance of the huge hellhound.

"We've got to go!" Percy ordered his friends as he busted the cage with Riptide.

"This is for scaring Bianca." Percy was punched in the gut by Zoe.

"No need to do that Zoe," Bianca said with a few tears in her eyes as she hugged her little brother for dear life. "I'm glad Percy save Nico."

"Percy, are thou alright? How about thy wound?" She asked worriedly after she saw the blood colored ice covering Percy's back.

Percy looked grimly at Zoe. First, she was hostile about the way he saved Nico and now she was worried about him. "I know how to listen to a Wise Girl you know." He joked.

"Shut up," Annabeth replied.

"Heel, Mrs. O'Leary!"

"You've got a hellhound for a pet?" Bianca asked disbelievingly as they all reunited near the end of the arena. She was a daughter of Hades yet she doesn't have one.

Percy shrugged. "Technically Mrs. O'Leary is not my pet. The whistle is a price I've won in Quintus' activity."

"The world of gods is really weird," Rachel commented. Percy's megadog scared her a bit. It was really big.

"There's no time to joke around," Zoe said strictly. "We need to get out of here."

"Now that we save Nico, where should we go next?" Percy asked looking at Nico. He patted Nico's shoulder like a big brother would to his little brother. "Glad to have you back, Zombie dude."

Nico kept his head down but pointed a passage beside them. "Minos told me it was the way."

All of them looked at Rachel for confirmation. "It is. I can see the bright line in that passage. It's the right way."

Percy nodded and the six of them along with a huge dog bounded for the passage Rachel had identified as the right one. "I hope you guys are ready to meet the greatest inventor of all time."

Note:

Quite a long chapter I think so I hope it wasn't that bad. I'll just add some scene next chapter regarding Zoe and Artemis when Percy disappeared to conclude their feelings for the hero.

I bet that 99% of you thought that Percy will meet Calypso. Because of that, I apologize for bursting your lovely little bubble. However, I made sure that Calypso was mentioned. When I created an outline for this story (from the first chapter), I've already decided that Percy will get to meet Leto rather than Calypso. I do hope I've accomplished good results with this change.

Maybe I can add Calypso in HoO-Twisted Reality style if I ever continue the story that far. Truthfully, I want to see how Twisted Reality will fair until I finish it.

Now that I realized it, I think I wrote like a teaser rather than a real fight between Percy and Orion. Oh well. I'll just prepare a one on one in the future. Sorry about that.

gx257, brekken18, xRinneandSharinx, Shadowlord1295, Mockingbirds, MunonaKomusume, Bugga Bugga, michaelmoose1997, JACarter, Natsu is Awesome, skifast, Jewelz1642, Ronnie R15, Thanatos15, Kyranol1, ComfortablyInsane, UnderCoverismyname, supershot1, Percy696, LISTILLA.11, , JustLucky05, Newton22, hunterofartemis-daughterofhade, Whatsup1006, ZDragonswrath, percabeth endgame,Orion Is Awesome, Nibbles4138, Perseus47595 : thanks for the review.

Nouney, Inheritance1990, , Shuuwai: I'm sorry that Calypso didn't appear but hopefully my alternative lived up to your expectations. Thanks for the review

aLazyButSmartFanPJO: Just to add some more drama. Thanks for the review.

dragonsong2795: I have a plan to make a HoO based Pertemis but that would depend on the responses I will get in this story. Maybe until I finish Twisted Reality. I'll let you know guys.

tung98bill, MODDEF, crazy-man96, Ginocide02: I receive some pms suggesting to me to write a Percy x Artemis X Zoe pairing. If I've think of a good plot, might as well try it. Just don't expect I can write one since I'm no pro and I had a hard time writing. Thanks for the review.

Drust: I like it too! Well, Percy got so many girls after him in RR's PJO and some in HoO too. Thanks for the review.

Okiro Zangetsu, aeg1s54545: Now that you mentioned it, I get it now why that line has a nostalgic sound to it and the occasional kick. Although I didn't copy it intentionally, my memory probably subconsciously recollected it since I liked Rosario Vampire and the manga had ended already a long time. To avoid misunderstanding, 'know your place' is Inner Moka's catch-phrase in Rosario + Vampire. Well, thank you for reviewing.

TJRosenbluh504: Not so faraway but a little earlier than the canon. Thanks.

Davenportee: I hope I don't disappoint you in future chapters. Thanks.

Dragonhitter, Ash the Aura Guardian: if Artemis would act up, I'm sure Percy would die. Anyway thanks for the review.

ReallyInfinity: Thanks for the review. I hope I answered your questions satisfactory.

WhereTheWorldEnds: You stated my reasons why I can't do some a threesome. Indeed, it's those things you mentioned. Thanks.

B3ng3anc3: Sorry about that but I'll try my best to update quickly. Thanks for reviewing and the continued support.

Vail Ryuketsu: I really don't know a story I can recommend with a threesome pairing (PercyxArtemisxZoe). Most of them probably are rated M and focuses on lemon.

Dragonslayer1313: I'll think of a contingency plan for Zoe. Thanks for reviewing. I'll keep that on mind.

P.S.

I always read reviews, whether it's good or bad. Don't think I'm ignoring your reviews. Even if it's short, it's still appreciated. I'll answer questions/clarifications you might think of regarding the story to the best of my knowledge. No need to be shy.

P.S.S.

Don't ask for spoilers though.