Pertemis: A Wolf’s Tale novel Chapter 36

Artemis’s point of view

"We found you" one of them said. "Werewolf"

Artemis stepped back in defend mode and gripped her dagger tight. She knew Zeus had dispatched many of them throughout the world in search for Perseus. Who would've thought this group would locate near her camp. She was so careless for not sensing their presence earlier. Percy now turned cautious, he wanted to step up but Artemis shielded him. He was not their opponent, they were well trained and immortal, even gods have to struggle if they come in large numbers. No matter what, she just can't let them both die here.

Artemis shot an arrow in front of them, the Olympian warriors stopped.

"Another step and this will in between your eyes" Artemis warned and drew another arrow.

"Lady Artemis" he bowed. "We came by the order of the king, your revolted action can be tolerated, but don't utilise it ere Olympus shall be on you"

"This man is no werewolf" she told them. "There must've been a mistake"

"We have fought with them Milady" the leader spoke. "Not until we die will ever forget their scent."

She could feel tension behind her, Perseus, he was angry. Though she didn't know of the history of her race and his. She knew they were ancient, but she was born after their time and had known not of their existence. Whatever happened in the first war, it had destroyed the alliance between her race and Perseus's forever.

Artemis was now in the corner, she could not run or lie no further. Either she let them capture him or kill them, the only problem is that if one of them escaped, Olympians will be chasing her the next day. Worst, these guys have tendencies to retreat when they see the situation is disadvantaged to them.

She shot another arrow as her answer at a guard, but it flew through him like he was just air.

"We are the king's soldiers" they said at once. "Unless there's order for us to be slaughtered, we won't die by immortal's weapon. Your action rebelled Olympus, we shall let the king's judgment decide thy fate"

So that they marched, their swords raised high, its celestial bronze gleamed intimidating in the night, their large shields protected them as their thunder feet advanced closer and closer. Artemis kept shooting as many arrows as possible, but it seemed to have no defect in them, even if it could, then it was just their shields that bounced off the arrow.

Artemis was panic,

she had no plan of how to save them both until a hand squeezed her shoulder, her muscles gave out to that squeeze. Percy stepped up as she looked at him.

"No" it came out just as a breathe.

"It's ok" he smiled. "I've promised to protect us both remember?"

Before Artemis could speak, he focus his attention now to the marching warriors and roared in that tremendous powerful sound that vibrated the ground and air, as the trees rustled that birds scattered from their nest.

He started running, straight towards the warriors as he lunged with his final push, the wolf presented under the sky. His black fur had Artemis long not seen, that lethal claw she witnessed the day on that island and the red eyes of lasers. The Warriors made a shield wall, but was no match for his brutal strength, crashing on them like an arrow from a ballista, destroyed their formation. He attacked with his claw, pushed them away with the snap of his teeth. He had taken down a few of them, but no matter what, he was by himself.

Slowly but surely he was surrounded. They made a circle around him, with shield as wall, spears centred him that confused his senses. And the first howl came. Tears streaked down Artemis eyes as she watched their spears piercing his flesh, the Ichor wet the ground as the pinned him down to his knees. She tried to run up, but two swordsmen clashed on her and held her at place.

"NO!" She screamed. "Let him go! Don't hist him!"

Yet they continued their cruel job. Their swords slashed as he managed to kill one, yet another made contact with his skin and blood was shed. He was taken down soon enough, as his face pressed to the ground, the wolf stared at her as Artemis cried. He could recognise her, even in that form he could. Her image reflected him his eyes as now it had turned green, yet he did not turn normal.

"Carry out the order and law of Olympus" one of them stood behind him as he declared, a sword at his hand.

She knew that was it, nothing could be done by now as the two just looked at each other but unable to help the other. She wanted to tell him how she felt, at last to let him know that she had that feeling dwell inside her for a time, but as if the situation had blocked her. She struggled under their chain, wanted to come up and hold his cheek, whispered to him that it was ok, to protect his vulnerable heart. Yet she had fell again, her duty and responsibility to protect him.

"You are executed at the spot if found" the warrior raised his sword, the blade of fate as it now aimed at his neck.

"No" Artemis cried as she tried to lung forward, as she shook her head but unable to stop them.

That the blade came, little by little as the time slowed down, it was closer to his neck and would end his life perhaps forever. She could feel him talking to her, yet she could make no word of it. The blade at last came dangerously close at his neck, until the executor frozen. Other warriors looked at him in confusion even he himself, even he fell flat on his face and an arrow with pink feathers struck at his back.

A horse's  neigh vibrated the sky as they all tried to loon for the course. Then suddenly, the light dropped as it landed on one of the warrior. From the crater, a figure raised and Artemis eyes filled with hope. The Olympian warrior left Percy as they formed in new formation, ready for a new attack.

Then from the darkness of the trees, he emerged.

Percy stared at him, the golden armour, dark pink cloak and as well as the colour of the Mohawk on his helmet. His golden sword glowed with a slightly pink light, as it was magnified in the night. His shield of that golden precious metal at his side, a lion head in the middle looked intimidating as the also mini lion heads at his chest plates. A spear he hid at his shield, its blade craved in a mark of a dove. He was tall and muscular with blonde long hair that is tied delicately and deliberately in flocks by colourful bands, from afar without that helmet, he would have looked like two legs walking lion. The darkness of the helmet hid his face, yet sparks of red still gleamed in that sockets above his cheeks.

He charged at the warriors, his sword held high as the Olympians seemed to be aware as they locked their shields tighter. He did not crash onto their formation to crumble it, it was his roar, that tremendous roar that cracked the ground, that pushed back the standing ground of the Olympian warriors. He crashed in between the hole of their formation, fighting with that almighty form, the skills Percy had never witnessed. He moved like wind, as if his toes never once touched the ground, Percy could see his movement, but the weird thing was that as he wield his sword, Percy could never catch up with it, as so see where he attacked to block. Even in his wolf ability, that sharp eyes never once picked up the movement of his sword. He used the shields so effectively, that no a single blade from the Olympians could manage to touch his skin not armour, as if he had trained his entire life for that moment.

Artemis rushed over to Percy's side as she tried to help him up, brushing his cheek to check for more damage but now Percy attention was more towards the saviour or is it?

He fought like a lion in battle, although as he knew what formation the warriors were going to form and destroyed it before they even started. One by one, their number was shrunk and many fallen at the golden warrior's blade, yet only his sword that was tainted in their blood.

"Do not escape!" He demanded, glancing at all the remaining warriors.

As his word came out, people was confused even more of why the wavering troops did not escape but put all their might to attack him. Even from afar, Percy could feel the effect that he was urging just to lay there and await his fate.

As last it came just the last soldier, he was broken, yet couldn't escape because of a demand that forbid him from carrying it.

"You will not get away from this" the Olympian warrior snarled. "Your mother won't save you this time!"

"Actually" the new comer dropped a dead warrior on the ground and looked at the last man of his group. "I got this order from my mother"

The Olympian warrior widened his eyes in shock as the mysterious man wield his hand, pink smoke came from nowhere and surrounded the broken warrior as he tried to run, but the smoke came thicker and denser until he was choke in it to dead.

For awhile, everything seemed to be silent as he just stared at the carnage he had shed and stood there with his back facing us. Then suddenly he spoke.

"Artemis, why can't you never stop getting into troubles so I can have a decent holiday?"

He turned back and removed his helmet, Artemis was shockingly grinning the moment she saw his face and moved from Percy's side towards him.

"Paecus you little bastard" she said and the next thing she did confused Percy's the most, she embraced him into a tight hug as he gave her back the equal strength.

"How did you know I was in trouble?" Artemis gave out and asked.

"Pray to my mother" he told her. "She watched over you and since she could not fight the warriors, I got sent into this mess instead."

"You didn't have to make the entrance there you moron!" She punched his chest only to have him smiling.

"I came just in time ok" he said. "My Pegasus had flew an entire distance from Paris to here. You better treat me with something nice or I won't let this over with"

Then his face turned to Percy, as his eye stared at him and Percy's mouth wanted to drop. That eyes, it was unmistakably whose blood he was carrying. Who would have thought Aphrodite's kid would be warlike such as this, even Piper he met wasn't like him. He was good looking obviously from his mother, a man about twenty as he walked closer to Percy, Artemis folded her arms as smiled at the confused wolf.

"So...this is the werewolf I was appointed to save?" He said disbelievingly. "I thought your kind must be as strong as the gods"

Percy was insulted by his words and wanted to protest, but Artemis spoke before him.

"He was not raised with his people Paecus" Artemis said. "He has Titan blood as well so the werewolf power is not fully inherited."

"Hm" Paecus scratched his chin, as if he had known something but surprised by the new, his eyes narrowed. "Interesting"

With that he turned to Artemis, startled her.

"So what do you have for dinner?"

Jealousy now surged all over Percy and for the first time he had to admit it. Not that Artemis was so close to Paecus, but even the Hunters were so happy when they do him, as if he was there long lost cousin. Percy's attention was shifted from their eyes. After dinner, which Percy had never seen the hunters and Artemis happier than ever, they sat at the fire camp area and burnt marshmallow, a young hunter sat on his laps, some other scooted at his side and Percy had never thought they would allow themselves to be close to a man like this before. That just irritated him even more that Artemis was comfortable with it and her eyes gleamed at the stories he told them.

"What's wrong?" He felt a nudge at his side and turned to see Thalia, chewing her marshmallow.

"Nothing" Percy muttered as he focus back to the burning stick, he didn't even pay attention to how dark his marshmallow had become, it was like a chunk of charcoal stuck on a piece wood now.

Thalia followed his gaze and smirked. "Look who's jealous here" that sneer as she jerked her eyes to him just irritated Percy even more.

"I'm not jealous" he said, though his tone revealed much of how he felt.

"Oh stop hiding already" Thalia laughed as she slapped his shoulder. "It's written all over your face"

It seemed he couldn't keep up arguing with her, it would just embarrassing him even more so he just kept quite. After awhile, Thalia seemed to be serious.

"Paecus is a legend amongst our world Perce" She said, smiling at the fire. "Don't think that you are the first male that is allowed to live in the Hunt. You should be appreciated that Artemis warmed up to you earlier than any others."

"I don't see how impressive fighting skills and live in the hunt make someone a legend" Percy said bitterly, even though he hated, he had to admit Paecus fighting skills was far no one can catch up.

"Long story short" Thalia glanced at him at the corner of her mouth, sensing his jealousy intrigued her since she rarely see him like this. "You guys have a similar Fate and story"

"Ok just don't compare me with him please" Percy said and but Thalia pulled him up with reply and dragged him across the camp fire.

"Where are we going?" He tried to catch up to her speed.

"Bedtime story" Thalia winked as they stopped in front the guy he didn't want to talk at the moment.

Paecus stopped playing with a young hunter on his laps and his grin turned into a smile, but his eyes showed that boredom to Thalia as a mockery.

"What is it now Thals" he said.

"Uh just this guy right here wants to know how you become a celebrity amongst the gods" she pointed her thumb at Percy which he looked at her in surprise.

"No I did hmmmm" Thalia clapped her palm on his mouth, prevented his protest.

Paecus startled laughing, holding his knees. "Good old Thals never change with the dealing matters by force"

"Oi" she yelled at the hunters behind her. "Wanna hear Paecus story again?"

And that they settled, Thalia dragged Percy despite his struggle to the ground in front of Paecus, the hunters form a smaller circle as the fire dancing behind them. That got Percy uncomfortable the most was that Artemis made her seat next to him.

"So what do you want to know Perseus" Paecus smiled at him, but he knew that Percy was forced to do this. This is cruelty!

"Your origin please" Thalia spoke for him, her palm still locked on his mouth, forbidden him to talk. At last he managed to yank it off and glared at her, only to receive a snicker.

"Ok" Paecus clapped his hand. "So I assume you know about Roman and Greek camps?"

Percy nodded, but not entirely sure. All he knew from Artemis that she had a counterpart as Roman named Diana. The Romans and Greeks never liked each other until the recent war.

"My great grandfather, started back in the 80s was a son of Mars, Roman counterpart of Ares, the god of war. That year where their Praetor Michael Varus led the fifth cohort where my great grandfather stationed to Alaska in search for a prophecy book."

He stared at the fire, it seemed all the war he had experienced rippled from his shirt as Percy tried to see more.

"The entire cohort was wiped out, and lost forever. Fortunately, before they advanced to their doom, my great grandfather was left behind because he wanted to save a someone, happened to be a demigod but he did not know and was thought to be dead. After finding the new of his cohort, he tried to return to New Rome, but was afraid to be punished by retreating from the battle without permission. So he stayed at the northern border of America. The person he saved happened to be a daughter of Mars, and that my family established from their. My great grandparents, both children of Mars and half-blood mean they attract monsters. Years they fought and protected their home, but they knew they could not protect their children forever and if their blood is mixed with mortal, Mars power would decrease in them. So they allowed incest, to keep the blood of Mars pure, my grandparents were actually brother and sister and as their children, they would continue carry half of their blood from Mars."

Percy glanced at Artemis direction. He realised what he felt for her was a taboo, it was incest he had to commit. Even though he never wanted to think about it, sometimes, truth blasted him like ice.

"Until my father's time that he had no interest in staying at the West, so he left the family and travelled East to New York, that was when he met her."

"Although I have not seen my father face, he died before I was born, but Aphrodite told me they lived together and he was one of the first demigods ever since the civil of Greeks and Romans to discover the existence of both camps again. He though had promised to not reveal the secret, and I believe they had a happy life together for a time."

"Wait" Percy stopped him. "If your father is half Roman half mortal and your mother is a Greek goddess. Then what are you?"

Paecus smiled as some young hunters still confused by what Percy mentioned.

"I know it can be confusing, but just say I've only 25% mortal in my body, the other 25% from Mars and 50% from Aphrodite. I'm the first hybrid to ever born and the first proof that connection of Greeks and Romans is possible."

"My father due to his God of war blood couldn't hold himself, and my mother let him go to a mortal war, he never came back. Although it was possible to form, my existence is not acceptable and must be destroyed. But Aphrodite went against the rules and raised me in her belly, I drank the goddess milk as she carried me and lived under the Olympian for years without them noticing. By getting the gods food and essence directly from Aphrodite, I'm stronger than any other demigods and my power would match with any of the gods. But my secret couldn't be kept forever. Fearing that my identity would be discovered, Aphrodite birthed me when I was now 5 at the time and sent me to Rome, hoping Mars would accept. But who would've thought he had sworn to eliminate the thread that would led to the destruction of both camps. Venus, Aphrodite counterpart hid me and brought me back to Aphrodite on the East, but now the Olympians had heard the news and Zeus sent out his mighty warriors to hunt for me. On the west of my father land Mars wanted to kill me, on the east of my mother land, the Olympians wanted to eliminate me. I had no home at the time."

Now Percy knew why Thalia said they had similar story, they both had no home now, everyone wants to kill them from East to West.

"My mother in desperate took one risk that would reveal her crime and my safety. That is when this lady came into the scene."

Paecus smiled as he nudged his elbow at Artemis, who just smiled as she played with the stick.

"Artemis at the time did not participate in the hunt for me, and had no interest to do so."

"That's why Artemis and Aphrodite is so close" Percy made an attempted guess.

"Probably from that time when Artemis accepted me to take refuge in her hunt." He smiled.

"Stop the smug" Artemis solved him. "Your mother promised me the location of the last white deer, that's why I accepted you."

"You never found it anyway" Paecus shrugged.

"So" he looked back at Percy. "I lived and trained in her hunt for a time and trust me, it never once pleasant, but at least I knew their pranks were better than Zeus lightning."

"Then Artemis was involved in a war between the gods" Paecus continued. "My safety was no ensured, so Artemis and Aphrodite decided to send me to Hades, king of the Underworld the most neutral god at the time. I trained under him for a time and if you wonder my fighting skills? You should've seen how Achilles fought. Despite my mother never liked Achilles, due to his disrespect in the past to her, I was still allowed to be taught by him."

He stared at the fire for awhile, suddenly Paecus eyes widened as he snapped his finger.

"Dammit I nearly forgot to tell you this" he turned to Artemis sharply then to Percy. "Aphrodite noticed Hades before your mother is sent to Tartarus, so now she's living in his palace. I can promise you your mother has never witnessed the terror of Tartarus."

"Y-you are serious?" Artemis mouth hung opened, trying to get in the words.

"Talk to my mother then" he smirk.

"You should've told me earlier you moron!" Artemis slapped his head nearly knocked Paecus to the ground.

"Is that how you treat your saviour!?" He ground, brushing the back of his neck as he glared at her.

"I saved you first."

"Told you" Paecus grinned at Percy. "Seas can be emptied, mountains can shrunk but Artemis's stubbornness will never change"

That got the hunters laughed their heads off since they never dared to speak about their own goddess, but well Paecus had to pay for those words.

After applying some ice on his purple right eye, he continued telling the story as Percy tried to calm Artemis down first.

Now he knew that Leto was saved, even though Aphrodite was annoying sometimes, but besides Artemis, Hestia and Leto, she got his respect. Countless time had him been saved by her, he now felt bad for never prayed to thank her once.

"I participated in the second Titans war, both on Greek and Roman. Why name was that time known by the demigods, but the gods knew not of my participation."

"It was funny how they thought Peter and Jason took down a number of Titans and actually decided to watch over the them in

case if they rebel against the gods." Artemis chuckled.

"I was known by the Olympians by the second Giant war with Gaia and for my distribution in the war, I was finally accepted as the Greeks and Romans were now united." Paecus at last finished the story.

"After that you've become your mother pawn and servant and is called to do her missions." Artemis continued ranting with a playful voice, Paecus just glared at her.

"That's because you gave me the stupid partly immortality like your hunters" he protested.

"You have a bunch of them here Paecus" Phoebe said with a smirk. "Watch your words."

"The point is Percy" he sighed and suddenly adjusted to the werewolf, startled him. "There will be time your existence will be known. Just be patient and let time decides, your and mine fate have similar aspects, and I know one day, your time will come just like mine. Ten thousand more years or not, you will eventually be accepted."

Percy looked at him, as he fell silent. All the jealousy towards Paecus was now filled with respect. He had lots to learn from this person, and now he had accepted why they call him a legend. As Artemis smiled at him, it just lifted his spirit and ensured Paecus's words that the day would come true.

"Ok girls!" Paecus clapped his hands. "Bedtime story is finished, it's time for bed"