Well, we move on to chapter nine.

Note: I do NOT own PJO or HOO. Otherwise, I wouldn't be uploading this here.

Chapter 9:

Their day had already begun on a bad note, considering they woke up to a torrential downpour.

The nine questers trudged along the murky path, their shoes squelching against the newly formed mud. Since it had started right after they began their day's journey, there wasn't an option of seeking shelter. They simply bore the drenching, ice-like pricks against their skin, with Monaxiá trying his best to alleviate their discomfort. Even so, he couldn't afford to use too much of his powers due to the risk of alerting the enemy. The flaming sword was an exception, considering that it was mostly because of the Volcanic Steel present in the blade.

Little did he know they had already been found.

He made his way through the trees, weaving around the massive trunks. The rest of his companions seemed to be in a much worse state than himself, since unlike him, they had no affinity for water. He glanced towards them, noticing their discomfort. Dammit, I wish I could do something.

He noticed the trail was becoming far more rugged than before. Multiple hills loomed near the horizon, almost guaranteeing a bout of climbing some time later. He didn't mind too badly, but wasn't that keen either. If there was one thing he hated, it was how difficult quests were for absolutely no reason.

They were about to leave the tree line when he sensed something closing in on them. Oh shit, we've got company. He turned towards his companions, gesturing wildly towards a nearby thicket. "Get in, now!" he all bur hissed.

The demigods and Apollo obeyed, sensig that he had a valid reason for the outburst. Artemis and the hunters, on the other hand, simply glared at him. "And why would we do something like..." began Artemis, but she never got to finish her statement.

Monaxiá grabbed her arm, dragging her into the bush along with him. He angled his approach so that he conveniently crashed into both Thalia and Lara, knocking them into the thicket as well. Once they were inside, Artemis wrenched her hand from his grip, glaring daggers at him. She summoned a hunting knife, looking dead-set on skewering him at the very least. He, however, paid no attention, his eyes trained on a portion of the woods, ignoring the repetitive drumming sound of the rain-drops.

"Both of you, suppress your aura," he snapped at the twin archers. Upon seeing the older sibling ignore him, he almost completely lost his already thin temper. "Now!" he growled out, causing her to finally comply, grudgingly though it might have been.

Not even a second later, a gigantic beast crashed through the woods, causing him to suck a deep breath in. Dear Chaos, not now.

He stared at the massive lion, nearly the size of a small trailer. Its razor-sharp claws were hidden within its deceptively soft paws, but he didn't let it fool him for even one second. It bared its gleaming fangs, saliva coating its blood-red maw. Malicious eyes flicked across the forest floor, searching for its prey. The bastard's become even larger than the last time I saw him, thought Monaxiá.

He sent a mental probe towards the massive feline, but was buffeted by iron-clad barriers around the monster's mind. It's the same as yesterday, he thought. He decided to lay low for the time being, and gestured to the others to do the same. He received another glare from Artemis, but there was no verbal dissent.

The lion began sniffing the surrounding area, slowly edging towards their position. He could almost hear the frantic heartbeats emanating from the campers' chests. He himself remained calm, staying as still as he could. As the lion approached him, he slowly pulled back his right sleeve, exposing the bronze band just above his wrist. Just as the beast came within range, he flicked the band, summoning a powerful pistol into his palm. The lion jerked back, smelling the sudden metallic tang in the air, but he had already leapt into action.

He lunged, firing off a bullet aimed at one of the lion's eyes. The celestial bronze bullet found its mark, ripping through soft tissue before almost reaching its brain. The lion roared in agony, which he took as an opportunity to unload five more rounds into the back of its throat. It's vocalizations was abruptly cut off, descending into a pained whimper. He slowly lowered the gun, hoping that he had neutralized the threat.

He wasn't that lucky. In front of his flabbergasted eyes, the lion's injuries miraculously mended, the eye slowly reforming. He nearly dropped the gun in shock, realizing he was up against a much deadlier foe than he had anticipated, especially considering the restraint he had to observe.

He observed his surroundings, all too aware of the increasingly enraged roars of the rapidly healing monster. He noticed a stout branch hanging a bit lower than the rest. He began running, towards it, not having enough time to consider a back up plan. He pushed himself off the ground, almost flying through the air towards his target. He grabbed the branch and pulled himself up, almost slipping due to the wetness, before snapping his gaze back to the giant thrashing head of the lion.

The beast reared on its hind legs, its head almost grazing the boughs present twenty feet above the ground. It came crashing back down, the ground below trembling under its immense mass. Its fully healed eyes caught Monaxiá in their stare, unadulterated hate filling them to the brim. It opened its giant mouth, releasing the loudest sound they had heard from it. Birds in a five mile radius took flight, terrified of the monstrous noise.

It charged towards the god, its head bent low. Just before it reached him, it lunged, its powerful muscles pushing it off the ground so quickly that it almost seemed false. Monaxiá, however, didn't entertain such thoughts. He felt the hot breath of the beast on his face, rustling the fabric of his soaked hood. He dropped down from the branch right before the massive paws caught him, cursing the failure of his plan. He nearly stumbled due to the slippery nature of the floor, the now loose mud easily slipping out from under him.

He turned around, only to feel the lion's tail smashing into his side. He flew towards a nearby tree, the wind effectively knocked out of him. He gasped in pain, feeling a small bruise slowly form near his ribs. He hissed in pain, but felt the rain begin to mend the injury. At least some good came out of this gods-forsaken weather, he thought.

In his peripheral vision, he saw the others desperately firing arrows at the charging lion. Apollo and Artemis were two blurs in action, gold and silver arrows raining down on the creature's hide. The hunters were slower, but still firing at an incredible pace. Still, it seemed to be for naught. The projectiles simply snapped against the beast's body, looking to be as effective as toothpicks against their foe.

The immortal demigods were staying a bit back, cautiously watching the battle; their weapons gripped tightly in their palms. Their hair hung limply against their foreheads, rain trickling down their cheeks. Tanya was behind them, her eyes darting frantically from Monaxiá to the lion and back.

She had good reason to do so. Even when four individuals were relentlessly attacking it with their arrows, the beast's focus was trained on Monaxiá. It was barely five yards away from him, its eyes holding a sadistic triumph within them. Broken trees lay in a scattered heap behind it, unable to slow the charge. He just leaned limply against the trunk, his head bowed.

The lion was barely three feet away when his eyes snapped up, catching the monster off guard. He used the slight stumble to his advantage, rocketing off the ground in a breath-taking display of agility and power. He grabbed a handful of the lion's soaked mane, swinging himself into a sitting position atop the beast. He twirled the pistol, placing it right against the beast's eye.

Before it could react, he unloaded round after round into the socket, never letting up in his assault. The beast didn't even have time to roar in pain before a few bullets embedded themselves into its brain, finally ending its rampage. Its limbs slowly buckled before it finally came crashing down onto the wet floor, Monaxiá already having leapt off its back. Water sprayed in all directions upon impact. The carcass slowly dissolved into golden dust before their very eyes, mixing with the rain in the depression left by the lion.

Monaxiá approached the spot, kneeling down in the centre of the spot. He waved his hands over the dust, trying to glean all the information he could. Apollo came next to him, crouching to the same level.

"Where's the pelt? Shouldn't we have received the spoil?" Apollo asked, his hand wiping the wet golden locks out of his eyes.

"It's different now," muttered Monaxiá. "The energy is similar to what it usually is, but it's been multiplied ten-fold. This creature could have probably taken out a few lower gods. Still, there's something off. There's a dark tinge around the edges, but I can't pinpoint what it is."

Apollo looked at him, worry prominent in his features. "We really should tell them about our suspicions. We can't risk them being unprepared."

Monaxiá shook his head slightly. "I may be reading too deep into this. The apparent strength increase may just be because we've weakened after crossing the border. And the darkness... maybe I just misread it."

Apollo was clearly frustrated at this point. "Then do it once more for Chaos' sake!"

Monaxiá sighed. "It's not that simple, Apollo. I can only do it once, and that too within an few hours of the creature's death. Even then, I need quite a bit of dust to be able to do so. It would have been much different if we were not in either Canada or Alaska, but we don't have Tyche on our side."

The sun god grimaced, no trace of his usual cheery attitude present. "I hope you're right. I just have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach."

Monaxiá raised his eyebrow, not that it could be seen under the hood. "Does it feel like you're sensing the future?"

Apollo slammed his fist against the wet ground, growling in frustration. "I don't know! Ever since I entered this thrice-damned country, I don't feel my foretelling powers as I used to. All my other domains only dimmed slightly, but that one's almost completely blank."

Monaxiá frowned, thinking hard. "Why would that happen? The only beings with more control over the power of prophecy are..." he paused, realization crashing into him. "Those damn Fates!"

Apollo jerked back, shocked by the outburst. "What's gotten into you, man? You don't curse the Fates!"

He just growled, uncaring of the advice. "I should be saying much worse, everything considered. They know what's coming next, and they know it will not come to pass if your powers were still present. You can't even trust your gut feeling, Apollo. You're the most susceptible to their influence, since you're the God of Prophecy."

The god stumbled back, a slight amount of fear present in his blue eyes. "So you're saying... they intentionally reduced my powers?"

Monaxiá nodded. "Exactly, Apollo, exactly. This is why we shouldn't tell the others, at least for now. They won't react well if they get to know that three of the most powerful entities are directly interfering with our quest."

Apollo reluctantly agreed, seeing the logic behind the argument. Both of them slowly rose to their feet, heading back towards the trail; their companions already a fair distance away. Overhead, the rain finally began to slow.

Hephaestus relentlessly hammered the red-hot metal, the clangs echoing throughout the forge. Sweat ran in rivulets down his face, beads dropping to the ground continuously. His rough hands were slightly red after spending over twelve hours in the forge, but his attention was riveted on the unfinished weapon laying before him.

Zeus had wanted to brush off Monaxiá's final statement of preparing for war, but the other gods didn't wish to be unprepared in the wake of a potential threat to Olympus' rule. Still, Zeus and his pride forced a compromise among the council. They start preparing weapons and armour for the eventuality of the war, but no word of it leaves the Throne Room.

It's funny how Father will try to keep threats like this quiet, but the second he loses his thunderbolt, he will go everywhere in search of it, Hephaestus thought wryly. Even after the hot pile of a mess that was Monaxiá's, or Percy's, first quest, Zeus had still managed to lose his bolt once more around fifty years ago.

The whole of Olympus had been forced to begin searching for it, and most of them were interrogated by Ares himself. Zeus had conveniently overlooked the fact that it had been Ares himself who had stolen the bolt the previous time. The search had gone on for nearly a month before the King of the Gods attempted to rope the other Olympians into the search. Monaxiá had just sighed, risen from his throne and then dragged a struggling Zeus back to his bedroom, the other gods simply looking on in amusement.

Once they had reached Zeus' bedroom, Monaxiá simply pointed towards the bed. Zeus looked askance, wondering what the young god meant. Monaxiá released a long-suffering sigh and simply put his hand under the bed, pulling out a slightly dusty Master Bolt. He dropped the bolt into an incredulous Zeus' hand and then simply walked away.

Hephaestus laughed softly at the recollection. Zeus had been the butt of most jokes on Olympus for nearly a year. Even now, the incident would probably be brought up if he got especially annoying during council meetings.

During one of their weekly meetings, Hermes had asked Percy how he had found the bolt so easily. The god simply laughed. "Well, I am the God of Weaponry, and that bolt shines like a beacon when I sense how powerful a weapon is. I tried to tell Zeus the same thing, but he was too busy running around like a chicken with its head chopped off. Still, it was hilarious while it lasted."

The forge god pulled himself out of his reverie, dousing the blade in water. He held it for a few seconds, keeping an ear out for any pings or cracks. Hearing none, he drew it out, instantly moving over to the next table. He locked on the guard , hilt and pommel and then wrapped a strip of leather around the handle with incredible speed and dexterity. He placed it on the finished stack of swords nearby, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a wet towel.

He counted the number of swords once more, checking to see if had reached his self-imposed target for the day. Satisfied, he took off his protective gear and donned his shirt once more. He leaned backwards, hearing the cracks and pops coming from his spine. He headed towards the exit, rubbing his sore hands together.

He would always be thankful to Apollo for healing his disfigurements. Ever since they had begun meeting more frequently and the God of Healing noticed just how much discomfort Hephaestus felt due to the problems, he decided to run a few tests. Apollo had initially not hoped for much, since most of the gods believed them to be incurable, but he had to try. To their surprise, the injuries were actually quite simple to remedy for the sun god. Within a month, Hephaestus had discarded his braces and had forgone his usual stoop. He would never be considered dashing by any means, but he was not so unpleasant on the eyes anymore.

He walked into the dim twilight, the stars twinkling softly in the sky. He made his way towards his palace, intent on relaxing for some time. The Fates, however, seemed to think that he had gotten off too easy that day. Just as he reached the threshold of his home, he was distracted by a sudden movement in his periphery. Usually, he would have ignored it, but for some reason he felt compelled to look.

Across the street was Aphrodite's palace, one of the most graceful constructions on Olympus. The slim, delicate pillars were studded with an array of opalescent gems and interlaced with gold. However, his attention was drawn towards the entrance. The massive doors swung smoothly on their hinges, allowing Ares out of the palace. From is rumpled clothes and dishevelled appearance, it didn't take a genius to realize what had occurred within the confines of those walls.

Hephaestus sighed. After millennia of the same treatment, he had become used to such instances, but that didn't mean he never hurt because of it. He shook his head slightly, entering his abode. He simply lay down on the couch, breathing softly. The tension slowly left him, allowing him to finally relax after a hard day's work. He was finally about to doze off when he felt another deity enter his home.

He cracked open an eye, glancing around for the intruder. His gaze finally fell upon Hermes. The messenger god was leaning against the wall, an amused smirk on his face.

"Come on, Hephaestus. I thought you were going to go out to a bar with me today."

Hephaestus shook his head slightly. "Sorry, Hermes. Got carried away in the forge today. I'll make it up some other time." He then swung himself up into a sitting position, opening his other eye as well. "But I don't think you're here just to bemoan the fact that one of your options for clubbing has become unavailable."

Hermes lay a hand over his heart, a look of mock hurt on his face. "You wound me, my friend. Just so you know, you were my main option." A small smirk flashed across his mouth, but was quickly replaced by a more sombre expression. "Well, I'm actually here with some bad news. Zeus demands an emergency council meeting."

Hephaestus grunted, a small spark lighting in his beard. "What's happened now? Lost his lightning stick again?"

Hermes shook his head. "I wish. It's more serious this time. Nemesis and Eris have gone missing."

He shot out of his chair. "What? Are you serious?" He felt an uneasy sensation settle in his gut. Oh dear Chaos, it can't be.

Hermes winced, confirming Hephaestus' worries. "Come on, we need to be there now."

Monaxiá leaned against a large trunk, gazing at the stars. Most of the others had already hit the sack, but he wished to watch the night sky for some time. His eyes lingered on the huntress once more, recalling the dream he had the previous night.

"No, Perseus. Thou will not fail. I have faith in thee to be able to overcome whatever arises. Do not break my trust."

He was weary of how his life seemed to revolve around one prophecy after another. He had hoped that he could have avoided it once he ascended into godhood, and for a century, he had retained that hope. Then the latest prophecy came and his wished came crashing down all around him.

He sometimes wanted to just disregard everyone else and focus on his own happiness, just for once. But thinking of the fate awaiting those closest to him if he shirked responsibility always brought him back to his original path. He had thought over what Athena had once told him.

"You would sacrifice the world to save your friends."

He knew that might be true, but that wasn't what made loyalty his fatal flaw. What made it so dangerous was that he would thoughtlessly throw himself in danger's path in order to save his friends. And also because betrayal crushes you like a falling boulder, whispered a traitorous part of his mind. He brutally crushed the thought, unwilling to dwell on the past at the moment.

However, all his attempts were for naught, as he spied Thalia marching towards him, contempt clear on her face. She sat down a couple yards away from him, watching him intensely. Most would have cowered under the ferocity of her glare, but he was virtually unfazed.

"You wish to ask something?" he intoned emotionlessly.

She glared even harder than before. "Yes, why the Hades do you shield your face? Are you afraid that you'll lose your oh so intimidating persona if anyone happens to see your face?"

He replied without deigning to look at her. "First, please don't use Lord Hades' name as an insult when I'm nearby. I respect him greatly and will not tolerate anyone besmirching his name. And as to why I cover my face, those reasons are for me alone to know. I may divulge it to others, but it will only be if I have absolute faith in them. Currently, you don't fit that category."

She seethed at his reply, but still rolled on. "I want you to tell me why you forced Lady Artemis into a marriage with you. Even if you are a male, you should have had at least some semblance of decency to not rope her in."

He froze at her statement, anger roaring through his veins, albeit tinged with sorrow. Does my former cousin really think so little of me? He growled deeply, causing Thalia to shift awkwardly in her position. "I thought Artemis already told you decades ago. I had no say in the matter. Zeus and Poseidon arranged this wedlock as a symbol of peace between the sky and sea, even if it mostly was Zeus' pushing. Poseidon had initially attempted to find another means for a truce, but was unable to convince Zeus about any of them. Neither of us wished for this to occur."

Even as he said that, a small, sadistic part of his mind, far in the outer reaches of his psyche, whispered, Oh, but you did wish it. The only reason you say so is because she's not happy with you. He once again banished those thoughts, hating himself for entertaining them.

Thalia did not seem to be done. "But you don't act like it! We all know that Artemis destroyed her wedding ring over nine decades ago. Yet you still insist on wearing yours and keeping her trapped in this farce of a marriage."

Monaxiá felt another blow fall on his heart. If only it were that easy. Outside, he remained cool and collected. He replied softly, "So you'll have no problem if I destroy it right now?"

She scoffed. "Problem? I'll be dancing in glee."

He shrugged. "So do you also have no problems with your mistress fading?"

Thalia's face lost its colour faster that he could have ever anticipated. "Wh..what?"

He simply turned the ring around on his finger. "I can't blame you for not knowing; this is one of the most obscure marriage laws on Olympus. The rings were enchanted by both Poseidon and Zeus, and only their combined will can annul the marriage, and we both know how stubborn your father is. Once he's made a decision, Kronos will reform and become friendly before he rescinds it. If both of us destroyed our rings without their consent, we would be forced to fade within an hour. You should be thankful that we never consummated the marriage. If we did, she would have faded for destroying her ring alone."

The daughter of Zeus almost fell over in shock. "Are you fucking joking? What kind of bullshit is that?"

"The kind our father comes up with," said a soft voice nearby.

Both of them turned around to face the person who had spoken. Thalia immediately perked up, while Monaxiá drew further into himself. He watched cautiously as Artemis approached his spot, her skin glowing under the soft moonlight.

The moon goddess sat beside Thalia, her silver eyes boring into his hooded face. He shifted slightly, having never truly become immune to her stare. "Yes, Lady Artemis?" he questioned civilly.

She simply watched him, waving a dismissive hand towards her lieutenant. Thalia rose from her seat, inclining her head in respect before heading to their tent. They were enveloped by the peaceful silence for a few minutes, broken only by the sounds of wildlife around them. He leaned back against the tree, unable to look at her directly.

"Artemis, can I ask you something?"

"What is it, Monaxiá," she asked, barely keeping the venom out of her voice.

He sighed, knowing he wasn't going to be well-received. "Do you think we can call a truce for the duration of the quest at least? I don't think we'll get far on this quest if we're constantly at each other's throats." More like her being at your throat and you submitting like a wimp, whispered his traitorous mind. Once more, he paid no heed.

She didn't respond initially, simply watching him. He started fidgeting around, uncomfortable under her gaze. He began to think that she was about to outright refuse when she said, "I'll think about it. Don't expect too much."

Saying so, she stood up and swept off, his gaze following her trail. Well, that wasn't so bad. I didn't get shot at, at least. He himself got up, heading to his tent for some much needed rest.

The figure swept the dark mist away once more. "They're coming closer," he muttered.

The person on his right stepped forward. "My Lord, should we send out another one of our forces?"

He waved the opinion away, leaning his head back on his throne. "No, there's no need for that. They've almost reached the point where our troops roam the land en masse. We won't have to do anything."

The man bowed, turning to leave. Just as he was about to leave the dark hall, he heard his master call out. "Yes, my Lord?"

The figure scrutinized him, causing the man to flinch. "Make sure the army's preparation is sped up. I don't want my return to be marked by an order-less mass. I want to give Olympus a proper surprise gift."

Another chapter done! We have a long way to go before Percy and Artemis reconcile, but we have enough time. I may drop some more backstory next chapter.

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