Pertemis: A Wolf’s Tale novel Chapter 34

Percy’s Point of View

Percy still hadn't gotten over that kiss on his wound by Artemis. Now and then he kept touching the place where her soft lips touched his skin. A sensation of happiness ran through him, yet he tried to make a straight face to bring down the suspicion.

He walked behind her, trying not to stay next to the goddess or the colour of his cheek would reveal everything.

He believed it was a sisterly kiss since he got beaten up by her hunters. Actually it was more like a pity kiss to congratulate him surviving their assault. Percy was glad though, it was probably the first male to be ever kissed by the goddess of man-haters.

"What's holding your legs?" Artemis turned to him, startled the werewolf. "You know the hunters wouldn't be pleased if you serve them late dinner right?"

Percy eyes widened at her words. Once to anger the hunters was enough, he wouldn't dare to be pinned down by arrows again. His legs found some motivation to catch up with Artemis.

"You know they went easy on you back there" Artemis started a conversation after awhile.

"By sticking me to a tree by arrows?" Percy sneered with sarcasm. "I'd really appreciate that"

"Oh stop being a grudge holder" Artemis groaned in annoy. "They were planning about punishment. I was surprised that they didn't carry out all of them."

"Save for the future maybe?" Percy glance at her from the corner of his eyes.

Percy didn't notice until he felt Artemis stopped. She looked at the ground for a while, her brows knitted together, her lips curled downward that made Percy heart fell.

Why was she sad?

"Hey...what's wrong?" He walked closer in front of her and said softly.

"They are still angry at me you know" Artemis mumbled. "Even when they don't talk or show anything about it, I know they still felt uncomfortable of why I stabbed you that day."

"Maybe you are just overthinking it" Percy tried to cheer her. He didn't believe that the hunters could actually angry at Artemis.

"Because you haven't been here long enough Perseus"

"Well I'm here now and I'm sure what ever they had in there mind back then have been ceased to exist." Percy smiled, clapping his hands. Percy then pointed at his chest with a smirk. "What can I say? I'm too awesome"

That got Artemis chuckled a little as she pushed him playfully. Percy grinned at her but turned serious after a while.

"It was practically my fault in there." He told her. "This time I'll make it right Artemis. I promise you that no matter what happens and how many more time I'm gonna land int he infirmary by you. I won't leave the hunt."

Her eyes sparkled. They actually sparkled at his words. That silver eyes reflected the sky and Percy's face as her lips slightly opened. He was afraid she was going to cry or doing something to avoid of crying. Normally getting angry and Percy ending up beaten. He immediately tried to clear the mood.

"Just don't abuse it and send me into the infirmary too often yeah?" He winked, holding up his hands.

She laughed at his words and did the most unexpected thing. She hugged him. A strong embrace that her arms squeezed around his back, her height made her only reached up his chest. Percy was like paralysed on the spot.

"Thank you"

He could barely get any word in, his brain was all messed up at the moment their. All the neurons transmitting the information just ran all over the place. Finally he managed to form some words.

"F-for what?"

"Promising not to leave" she whispered, giving him another squeeze before releasing him.

The moment she left the contact, Percy brain started to function again. He tried to make a joke to hide the blush that was starting to form on his cheeks.

"I guess you're already terrified from the troubles every time I run away?" He smirked.

And that got him a punch. It wasn't a playful one

"You stupid idiot!" She yelled and stormed off.

Oops, maybe she thought he didn't appreciate her words and made fun off it. Probably she was thinking how big was his brain and how much of her words actually get into that dense skull. Still better than let her discover him having a crush on her though. That would totally awkward and not to mention him being executed.

Percy sighed at the thought and hurried after her.

At the bottom of the hill that leads up to the dining pavilion, Percy heard cheers and glass clinking and yells.

He made his way to the dining area and the scene glued his feet to the ground.

They were having a party.

Wine barrels lined one after another at the corner of the hall. The hunters were fully emerged in the atmosphere of the party. Food lined up on the long table but no one seemed to be interesting in it as they devoured down that purple liquid. They jumped across the table, cheered with the others and dancing everywhere. Artemis seemed to be chilled, he thought she was still angry from the last moment they had.

Even Apollo and Aphrodite were there.

All the activities stopped and eyes turned to him and his foot shifted uncomfortably.

"Uh I think I'm gonna take my leave" he said awkwardly , pointed his thumb to his back and started moving backward.

The next thing got him terrified.

Thalia matched up to him and had her arm swung around his neck.

"Where do think you are going Kelp Head?" She grinned, a gleam of evil sparked in her eyes.

Thalia started dragging him towards the party and announced.

"The guys of the party is here!"

Percy was pushed forward into the crowd after a cheer from the hunters. Thalia chuckled as she folded her arms and observed.

Cup and glasses of wines were coming to him. Percy was pushed from side to side , he was now more terrified and confused than before.

"Percy!"

He heard a familiar voice and turned to see Thalia smiling at him.

Gods what now?

"Come and sit." She ordered, patting the seat next to her. Apparently, her place was where the oldest hunters sitting and they hated his guts.

Reluctantly, he moved since he did not want to ruin their mood. Especially not now.

He stared at the normal seat that he used to sit everyday, but now they evaporated a sense of suspicion. There could be anything on that seat, super glue, undried paint or some itchy substances of a herb that would give rashes on his butt afterwards.

Before he could reject the invitation, which was not wise, Thalia already grabbed his collar and pulled him right onto that seat. Percy tensed.

R.I.P butt.

Thalia swung her arms around his neck casually and smiled mischievously at him.

"Tell me Kelp Head" she said. "How much can you drink?"

The facts that her cheeks were already tinny red had indicated how much wine she had consumed. Percy was half glad since she would probably forget about the troubles he caused, but the other part was that she was drunk. People bring out the worst of them when they are drunk.

"I could say a bit"

Immediately, a wooden jar was pushed towards him.

"No break between" Phoebe smirked.

Percy stared at the wine, swirled like a whirlpool in the cup as he raised it before devouring down.

Artemis watched Percy being surrounded by the hunters and smiled to herself. Though he was an idiot, at least he could survive the hunters. The party they prepared for him actually surprised her. She expected some severe punishment and was prepared to hospitalise him. Yet he survived safe and sound throughout the event.

She watched him being forced to drink, but she knew he wouldn't get drunk by these mortal wines. That was when Apollo brought out the wine bottle from Olympus.

"This stuff has no effect dude!" He made a seat next to Percy.

Apollo was pretty drunk at the point, since he drank too much of that wine mixed with nectar and other godly ingredients that can make the gods forget their primal instincts. Actually Dionysus shouldn't have invented this stuff just to fill up his pocket with drachmas. All of a while, she had to keep her eyes on that stupid Fried Brain seen he kept trying to sit next to one of the old hunters. Zoe actually did a good job of pushing him away.

"Apollo," Artemis made her way closer and warned him. She didn't know if Percy would be affected by the gods wines or not. But she knew that stuff was not quite suitable for a mortal, that's why she didn't let Apollo summon any barrel of it to prevent the hunters from drinking the wrong one.

"Relax sis" Apollo waved his hands as she glared back him. "This is his party, let him be wild"

He handed Perseus another bottle and raised his own before devouring down some more.

"Uh this thing is good right?" Percy frowned since Artemis kept staring at him made the werewolf a bit uncomfortable. Thalia tried to snatch it from him but got a direct glance from Artemis so she back down.

"Oh stop being a pussy" Apollo patted his back. "One sip wouldn't hurt."

Reluctantly, his eyes still stared at Artemis for permission but his hand already raised the bottle and already drinking it. He's going to regret afterward.

He grinned after the first, he looked at Apollo disbelievingly.

"Wow, this one actually has some effects" he blowed out and drank a bit more. "You should try some Artemis"

He looked at her and Artemis glowed within when Apollo smirked at the opportunity. All the party, he had been trying to make her drink that despicable wine but she refused. She knew how destructive that stuff could be. Now since Percy already offered, backing down right now would be soo embarrassing since it was in front of all of her hunters.

"Sis you scared?" Apollo tried to make a fake concerning comment. "Actually your age shouldn't be drinking this. Not for kids ya know"

Artemis head started smoking.

"Who said I'm scared?" She flared.

"Here" Percy seemed to catch Apollo intention and handed her the bottle.

That idiot! He's sure going to regret that later on.

"There's no way I'm gonna drink the same bottle with you" she snarled.

"Fine suit yourself" The idiot just surge and drank.

Urg he's so frustrating.