Disclaimer: I don't own PJO, Rick Riordan does.

Sorry if I haven't updated in a while (a really long while). I got a lot of things to do in school, I don't even have time to think of the next chapter. The plot was messy in my head and I needed to think it through. Every time I try to think, my mind goes blank. Again sorry, I can't promise to update often, but I'll try my best.

She sprinted toward the woods and melted into the snow and shadows, off to go in the territory of danger.

Chapter 10

Percy's POV

"Don't go." I heard myself whisper. I lost her…again.

Apollo turned and grinned, jangling the car keys on his finger. "So," he said. "Who wants to drive?"

The Hunters piled into the van. They all crammed into the back so they'd be as far away as possible from Apollo and the rest of us highly infectious males, Bianca sat with them, leaving her little brother to hang in the front with us, which seemed cold to me, but I guess that's just how it is now.

-Time Skip-

So, aside from Thalia almost crashing the sun and killing us all, the ride to camp was good.

Nico stayed with me after a little talk with Bianca. His face was gloomy and dark when he came back.

"Hey Nico." I said, trying to get his attention. He looked up at me. "It's gonna be alright, maybe your sister just really needs this, besides," I ruffled his hair, "you've got me here at camp."

He managed a small forced smile, "Yeah". That was the end of our conversation.

-Time Skip-

"Bring it on, Pinecone Face!"

I raised Riptide, but before I could defend myself, Thalia yelled, and a blast of lightning came down from the sky, hit her spear like a lightning rod, and slammed into my chest.

I sat down hard. There was a burning smell; I had a felling it was my clothes.

"Thalia!" Chiron said. "That is enough!"

I got to my feet and willed the entire creek to rise. It swirled up, hundreds of gallons of water in a massive icy funnel cloud.

"Percy!" Chiron pleaded.

I was about to hurl it a Thalia when I saw something in the woods

'Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,

One shall be lost in the land without rain,

The bane of Olympus shows the trail,

Campers and hunters combined prevail,

The Titan's curse must one withstand,

And one shall perish by a parent's hand.'

My heart dropped when I heard 'Five shall go west to the goddess in chains'. Artemis.

I didn't notice the campers murmuring, all I could think was:

I have to be on this quest, Artemis needs help.

'And Annabeth too' My mind added. Guilt swirled in my stomach, I was focused on Artemis that forgot Annabeth, my best friend. Annabeth, whom I've been with through so much. She had my back all those years, it's time to repay the favour.

For Annabeth and for Artemis, I have to be on that quest.

-Time Skip-

"I have to go," I said, almost desperately. "I need to be on this quest."

"Why?" Zoë asked. "Surely, it must not be for Artemis," I almost choked on my spit, "Maybe thee just want to go for fame. Or is it because of thy friend Annabeth?"

I felt myself blushing. I hated that everyone was looking at me. "No! I could care less about fame, this is about saving Artemis and Annabeth. Annabeth is my best friend, and Artemis is a goddess, a goddess, she's important to Olympus as you said, and not just Olympus even, I can't just stand here and do nothing. I feel like I'm supposed to go."

Nobody rose to my defence. Zoë looked unconvinced and unimpressed. Mr. D was looking bored, reading his magazine. Silena, the Stoll brothers, and Beckendorf were staring at the table. Bianca gave me look of pity.

"No," Zoë said flatly. "I insist upon this. I will take a satyr if I must, but not male hero."

Chiron sighed. "The quest is for Artemis. The Hunters should be allowed to approve their companions."

'That's the point,' I screamed in my head. 'The quest is for Artemis, I have to be there.'

My ears were ringing as I sat down. I knew Grover and some of the others were looking at me sympathetically, but I couldn't meet their eyes. I just sat there as Chiron concluded the council.

I can't save them. I have to be in this quest. I have to be.

-Time Skip—

I didn't show up for dinner that night, which was a mistake, because Chiron and Grover came looking for me.

"Percy, I'm so sorry!" Grover said, sitting next to me on the bunk. "I didn't know they'd –that you'd- Honest!"

Truth was, I wasn't mad at him. He just wanted to help, just like me. Plus, he was starting to sniffle, and I figured if I didn't cheer him up he'd start bawling or chewing up my mattress. He tends to eat household objects whenever he gets upset.

"It's okay," I lied. "Really. It's fine"

Grover's lower lip trembled. "I wasn't even thinking… I was so focused on helping Artemis. But I promise, I'll look everywhere for Annabeth. If I can find her, I will."

I nodded in understanding. I was caught up in saving Artemis too, I couldn't blame him. I tried to ignore the big crater that was opening in my chest.

I have a bad feeling about the quest.

Chiron said it's probably best for me to stay here or to visit my mom. He said maybe Thalia and I wasn't the best combination. I tried to argue, but he nailed me when he mentioned the incident at the creek earlier.

He tossed me a golden drachma and told me to call mom. He told me my time would come, good or bad, I don't know. Then he left.

I stood at the saltwater spring, rubbing Chiron's coin in my hand and trying to figure out what to say to my mom. I really wasn't in the mood to have one more adult tell me that doing nothing was the greatest thing I could do, but I figured my mom deserved an update.

Finally, I took a deep breath and threw the coin. "O goddess, accept my offering."

The mist shimmered. The light from the bathroom was just enough to make a faint rainbow.

"Show me Sally Jackson," I said. "Upper East Side, Manhattan."

"Mr. Blowfish?"

"Blofis. He'll be back in a minute, Percy. Tell me what's wrong."

She always knew when something was wrong. I told her about Annabeth and Artemis. I didn't want her questioning me about Artemis, so I kept the details about her to a minimum, it mostly boiled down to Annabeth.

My mother's eyes teared up. I could tell she was trying hard to keep it together for my sake. "Oh Percy…"

"Yeah. So they tell me there's nothing I can do. I guess I'll be coming home."

"Percy as much as I want you to come home"—she sighed like she was mad at herself—"as much as I want you to be safe, I want you to understand something. You need to do whatever you think you have to."

I stared at her. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you really, deep down, believe that you have to help save her? Do you think it's the right thing to do? Because I know you, Percy. Your heart is always in the right place. Listen to it."

"You're… you're telling me to go?"

My mother pursed her lips. "I'm telling you that… you're getting too old for me to tell you what to do. I'm telling you that I'll support you, even if what you decide to do is dangerous. I can't believe I'm saying this."

The toilet flushed down the hall in our apartment.

"I don't have much time," my mom said. "Percy, whatever you decide, I love you. And I know you'll do what's best for Annabeth."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because she'd do the same for you."

And with that, my mother waved her hand and the connection disappeared.

-Time Skip—

I don't remember falling asleep, but I remember the dream.

I was back in that barren cave, the ceiling heavy and low above me. Annabeth was kneeling under the weight of a dark mass that looked like a pile of boulders. Her legs trembled. Any second, I knew she would run out of strength and the cavern ceiling would collapse on top of her.

"How is our mortal guest?" a male voice boomed. It wasn't Kronos, Kronos's voice was raspy and metallic, like a knife scraped across stone. This voice was deeper and lower.

Luke emerged from the shadows. He ran to Annabeth, knelt beside her, then looked back to the unseen man. "She's fading we must hurry."

The hypocrite. Like he really cared what happened to her.

The deep voice chuckled. A meaty hand thrust someone forward into the light, and to my horror it was Artemis her hands and feet bound in celestial bronze chains.

Her silvery dress was torn and tattered. Her face and arms were cut in several places, and she was bleeding ichor, the golden blood of the gods.

I wanted to scream and give them a piece of my mind. I wanted to kill Luke and whoever owns that voice. I wanted to rip Artemis out of her chains and carry her to safety. I wanted to help Annabeth and tell her I'm here, I'll keep her safe. But I can't it's just a dream, and I can't risk them seeing me. I could put my friends in danger if they found out I knew what was happening.

"You heard the boy," said the man in the shadows. "Decide!"

Artemis's eyes flashed with anger. 'Artemis, why can't you flash yourself away or break the chains?' I asked in my head, but then I thought something must be up, maybe the chains prevented her, or some magic about this dark, horrible place.

Artemis looked at Annabeth and her expression changed to concern and outrage. "How dare you torture a maiden like this!"

"She will die soon," Luke said. "You can save her."

Annabeth made a weak sound of protest. My heart felt like it was being twisted in a knot. I wanted to do something, anything, to help them.

"Free my hands," Artemis said. The knot in my heart twisted even more.

Luke brought out his sword and with one expert strike, he broke Artemis's handcuffs.

Artemis immediately ran to Annabeth and took the burden from her shoulders. Annabeth collapsed on the ground and lay shivering. Artemis staggered, trying to support the weight of the black rocks. I wanted to run to the both of them, but I couldn't move.

The man in the shadows chuckled. "You were as predictable as you were easy to beat Artemis."

"You surprised me," the goddess said, straining against her burden. "It will not happen again."

"Indeed it will not," the man said. "Now you are out of the way for goo! I knew you could not resist helping a young maiden. That is, after all, your specialty my dear."

Artemis groaned, "You know nothing of mercy, you swine."

I know this is really inappropriate, especially at the moment, but she was strangely hot when she said that. I mentally slapped myself.

"On that," the man said, "we can agree. Luke, you may kill the girl now."

"No!" Artemis shouted.

Luke hesitated. "She—she may yet be useful, sir. Further bait."

"Bah! You truly believe that?"

"Yes, General. They will come for her. I'm sure."

The man considered. "Then the dracaenae can guard her here. Assuming she does not die from her injuries, you may keep her alive until winter solstice. After that, if our sacrifice goes as planned, her life will be meaningless. The lives of all mortals will be meaningless.

Luke gathered up Annabeth's listless body and carried her away from the goddess.

"You will never find the monster you seek," Artemis said. "Your plan will fail."

"How little you know, my young goddess," the man said. "Even now, your darling attendants begin their quest to find you. They shall play directly into my hands. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a long journey to make. We must greet your Hunters and make sure their quest is… challenging."

The man's laughter echoed in the darkness, shaking the ground until it seemed the whole cavern would collapse.