ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｔａｎｓ　ｃｕｒｓｅ

"CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?" Lucia asked as she stood up pulling up Bianca and Nico from the ground before bending down to hold Grover against her

"Language." one of the 'hunters' who Lucia assumed was Zoë said

"language my butt. I need an explanation." she snapped fed up with whatever the hell was going on, she put her free hand on her hip like her dad used to do when she was about to get in trouble

"I-i would like one too." Bianca asked, raising her hand "who are you people."

The girl who was apparently Artemis' expression softened. "It might be a better question, my girls, to ask who are you? Who are your parents?"

Lucia refused to speak as Bianca glanced nervously at her brother, who was still staring in awe at Artemis.

"Our parents are dead," Bianca said. "We're orphans. There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but..."

She faltered. it seemed that they didn't believe her.

"What?" she demanded. "I'm telling the truth."

"You are a half-blood," Zoë Nightshade said. Her accent was hard to place. It sounded old-fashioned like she was reading from a really old book. "One of thy parents was mortal. The other was an Olympian."

"An Olympian...athlete?"

"No," Zoë said. "One of the gods."

"Cool!" said Nico.

"No!" Bianca's voice quavered. "This is not cool!"

Nico danced around like he needed to use the restroom. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for—"

"Nico, shut up!" Bianca put her hands to her face. "This is not your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? There are no gods!"

"My head hurts" Lucia whined, "can I go to my dorm now."

"No, you can't leave. You have to come with us" Grover spoke up,  his head rested on her shoulder "You're a half-blood too."

"and why didn't you tell me this!" Percy yelled

"I can assure you I'm not." Lucia nodded "Nice reunion we have here but it's too cold out here for my liking. Nico Bianca let's go."

Lucia passed Grover to Zeus girl, who she now learned was named Thalia, and went to walk away

Bianca stepped forward ready to pull Nico with her when the three of them were stopped by 'Artemis'

"My dear girl, we are telling you the truth no matter how outrageous you may believe it to be you are the offspring of a god and a mortal."

"Well then. If you're so sure who is my parent?." Lucia asked sarcastically. Before she knew it a flash of light exuded from her in front of everyone. They all turned away at the sudden brightness. She heard people groan as warmth filled her veins. Then she gasped when gold glitter fell from the sky all around her.

"he's so annoying" Artemis frowned

"Who?" Lucia asked as the brightness went away.

She noticed the snow around her and only around her had melted away. She looked up to see a golden symbol: A sun with 21 rays made of arrows appeared over her head, It flickered before a lyre appeared in its place

"All hail Lucia Verano. Daughter of Apollo, God of the sun, light, poetry, music, truth, and prophecy." Thalia smiled "Congrats Lucia, you've been claimed."

"What."

"Your dad's Apollo!" Nico smiled "Awesome!"

"That is impossible." Lucia's hands started to tremble out of her control "My father is dead. Look if this is some kind of sic—"

"They're both your fathers." Percy explained quickly, he made eye contact with her and it was almost like he could see right through her. Know exactly how she felt.

"Biologically?" she mumbled stupidly

"Yes, divine intervention. We do not follow your rules. You were born from light." Artemis explained

"...light." Lucia only felt more confused

"I know it's hard to believe. But the gods are still around. Trust me. They're immortal. And whenever they have kids with regular humans, kids like us, well...Our lives are dangerous." Thalia explained

"Dangerous," Bianca said, "like the girl who fell."

Thalia turned away. Even Artemis looked pained.

"Do not despair for Annabeth," The goddess said. "She was a brave maiden. If she can be found, I shall find her."

"Then why won't you let us go look for her?" Percy asked.

"She is gone. Can't you sense it, Son of Poseidon? Some magic is at work. I do not know exactly how or why, but your friend has vanished."

"Oo!" Nico raised his hand. "What about Dr. Thorn? That was awesome how you shot him with arrows! Is he dead?"

"He was a manticore," Artemis said. "Hopefully he is destroyed for now, but monsters never truly die. They re-form over and over again, and they must be hunted whenever they reappear."

"Or they'll hunt us," Thalia said.

Bianca di Angelo shivered. "That explains...Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley in D.C.?"

"And that bus driver," Nico said. "The one with the ram's horns. I told you that was real."

"That's why Grover has been watching you," Percy said. "To keep you safe, if you turned out to be half-bloods."

"Grover!?" Lucia exclaimed, "this is the first time I've seen Grover in a year and a half?! why haven't I seen him before if he was here to keep us safe?"

"I didn't know you were here until a little while ago Lu." Grover explained "not until I saw you talking to Bianca and that's when I realized I finally found you again, but I know you, you ask too many questions and we couldn't afford that so I had to hide from you"

"You're right! Of course, I would ask questions! because this is all so confusing!"

Lucia cried again but everyone seemed to ignore her once again

"Wait so..Grover?" Bianca stared at him. "You're a demigod?"

"Well, a satyr, actually." He kicked off his shoes and displayed his goat hooves. Lucia could've fainted right then and there.

"Grover, put your shoes back on," Thalia said. "You're freaking her out."

"Hey, my hooves are clean!"

"Luz" Percy called, he stepped forward cautiously "We came here to help you. You, Bianca, and Nico need the training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet. You need to come to camp."

"Camp?" Bianca asked.

"Camp Half-Blood," Percy looked at Lucia as he spoke. "It's where half-bloods learn to survive and stuff. You can join us, stay there year-round if you like."

"and who says I want to go with you," Lucia said causing Percy's face to fall

"Aw come on Lucia! let's go!" said Nico, pulling on her jacket sleeve.

"Wait." Bianca shook her head. "I don't—"

"There is another option," Zoë said.

"No, there isn't!" Thalia said.

Thalia and Zoë glared at each other. Lucia didn't know what they were talking about, but she could tell there was bad blood between them. For some reason, they seriously hated each other.

"We've burdened these children enough," Artemis announced. "Zoë, we will rest here for a few hours. Raise the tents. Treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests' belongings from the school."

"Yes, my lady."

"And, Bianca, Luz come with me. I would like to speak with you."

"What. why." Lucia frowned "No offense but I have trust issues right now."

"It'll be okay." Grover nodded which slightly comforted her

"What about me?" Nico asked.

"Yeah, I'm not leaving Nico alone." Lucia refused

Artemis considered the boy. "Nico can show Grover how to play that card game he enjoys. I'm sure Grover would be happy to entertain you for a while...as a favor to me?"

Grover just about tripped over himself. "You bet! Come on, Nico!"

Nico and Grover walked off toward the woods, talking about hit points and armor ratings and a bunch of other geeky stuff. Artemis began to lead a confused-looking Bianca and a cautious Lucia along the cliff.

The inside of the tent was warm and comfortable. Silk rugs and pillows covered the floor. In the center, a golden brazier of fire seemed to burn without fuel or smoke.

Behind the goddess, on a polished oak display stand, was her huge silver bow, carved to resemble gazelle horns. The walls were hung with animal pelts: black bear, tiger, and several others Lucia didn't recognize. PETA employees would've had heart attacks looking at all those rare skins.

Lucia jumped when she realized there was a live animal among all the skins. A deer with glittering fur and silver horns, its head resting contentedly in Artemis's lap.

"When did you get time to set this up" Lucia gasped looking around

Zoe stood attentively next to the goddess's side, hands placed dutifully at her sides. "she is a goddess"

"Right, Goddess."

"You both have had an exhausting day," Artemis spoke,

"You could say that again." Lucia snorted

"I have a proposition. If you'd like, I invite you to join my Hunters." The goddess said, her silver eyes brightening.

"What does that mean?" Bianca asked politely

"The Hunters are my immortal hunting companions. They've sworn off love and the company of men in exchange, I give them protection, strength, and immortality. They can only fall in the instance of battle. Some of my girls have been with me for decades, centuries, even." Artemis said.

"But Nico..." Bianca trailed off.

"He will be unable to join you on your journey if you choose to take it. He will go to Camp Half-Blood where he will train and grow up, and eventually become a hero. Your fates will no longer be linked." Artemis said, eyeing the girl carefully.

Bianca seemed at a loss for words, but not completely disenchanted at the prospect of no longer being responsible for her brother.

"No." Lucia answered quickly "Thank you for the offer, as much as immortality strength, and protection entices me. That's a huge commitment that I don't know if I'm willing to make."

"There is still time for you to decide at a later time, My Niece. If you need time to think about it you may."

Lucia nodded "Okay, thank you Mrs-ma'am? Lady Artemis."

smooth

"Onto other business, then. Can you recall anything the manticore said during your encounter?" She asked. 

"Besides him being psychotic and being afraid of being trafficked not really..."

Artemis nodded " Zoe, would you retrieve Percy Jackson?" Artemis requested, much to the Hunter's dismay.

Her mood visibly soured as she wordlessly exited the tent. 

She returned with the boy, who stumbled in before seating himself on the floor in front of Artemis. 

"Are you surprised by my age?" She asked, taking notice of how he stared at her. 

"Uh...a little." 

"I could appear as a grown woman, or a blazing fire, or anything else I want, but this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters, and all young maidens for whom I am patron, before they go astray."

"Go astray?" He asked.

"Grow up. Become smitten with boys. Become silly, preoccupied, insecure. Forget themselves." 

"what about girls," Lucia asked

"all kinds of love my dear."

"damn."

Zoe sat down at Artemis's right. She glared at Percy as if all the stuff Artemis had just said was his fault.

"You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you," Artemis said. "It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp. Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp..."

She looked at Zoe. "Which one was it?" 

"That boy in Colorado," Zoe said. "You turned him into a jackalope."

"Ah, yes." Artemis nodded, satisfied. "I enjoy making jackalopes. At any rate, Percy, I've asked you here so that you might tell me more of the manticore. Lucia and Bianca seem too shaken to have remembered much. I'd like to hear information from you."

And so he told her. When he was done, Artemis put her hand thoughtfully on her silver bow.

"I feared this was the answer." 

Zoe sat forward. "The scent, my lady?" 

"Yes."

"What scent?" Lucia asked. 

"Things are stirring that I have not hunted in millennia," Artemis murmured. "Prey so old I have nearly forgotten." 

She stared at Percy intently. "We came here tonight sensing the manticore, but he was not the one I seek. Tell me again, exactly what Dr. Thorn said."

"Um, 'I hate middle school dances.'"

"No, no. After that."

"He said somebody called the General was going to explain things to me." 

Zoe's face paled. She turned to Artemis and started to say something, but Artemis raised her hand. 

"Go on, Percy," the goddess said. "Well, then Thorn was talking about the Great Stir Pot—" 

"Stirring," Bianca corrected.

  "Yeah. And he said, 'Soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus.'" 

The goddess was so still she could've been a statue.

"Maybe he was lying," Lucia suggested, trying to lighten the mood. 

Artemis shook her head. "No. He was not. I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster." 

Zoe looked like she was trying very hard not to be afraid, but she nodded. "We will leave right away, my lady." 

"No, Zoe. I must do this alone." 

"But, Artemis—"

"This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me."

"As...as you wish, my lady."

"I will find this creature," Artemis vowed. "And I shall bring it back to Olympus by winter solstice. It will be all the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in." 

"So you know what the monster is?" Lucia asked. 

Artemis gripped her bow. "Let us pray I am wrong." 

"Can goddesses pray?" Percy asked.

A flicker of a smile played across Artemis's lips. "Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you." 

"Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?"

"I'd like to see that" Luz raised her hand.

"Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return." 

"What?" Zoe blurted out. "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there—" 

"Yes, I know," Artemis said. "But I'm sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge just because of a little, ah, misunderstanding. It's your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down."

Zoe muttered something about foolish campers.

"And now there is one last decision to make." Artemis turned to Bianca. "Have you made up your mind, my girl?"

Bianca hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it." 

"Wait," Percy said. "Thinking about what?"

"They...they've invited me to join the Hunt."

"What? But you can't! You have to come to Camp Half-Blood so Chiron can train you. It's the only way you can learn to survive." He insisted.

"It is not the only way for a girl," Zoe said. 

"Bianca, camp is cool! It's got a pegasus stable and a sword-fighting arena and...I mean, what do you get by joining the Hunters?" 

"To begin with," Zoe said, "immortality." 

He stared at her, then at Artemis.

"She's kidding, right?"

"Zoe rarely kids about anything," Artemis said. "My Hunters follow me on my adventures. They are my maidservants, my companions, my sisters-in-arms. Once they swear loyalty to me, they are indeed immortal...unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely. Or break their oath."

"What oath?" Percy said.

"To foreswear romantic love forever," Artemis said. "To never grow up, never get married. To be a maiden eternally."

"Like you?"

The goddess nodded.

"So you just go around the country recruiting half-bloods—" 

"Not just half-bloods," Zoe interrupted. "Lady Artemis does not discriminate by birth. All who honor the goddess may join. Half-bloods, nymphs, mortals—"

"Which are you, then?" 

Anger flashed in Zoe's eyes. "That is not thy concern, boy. The point is Bianca may join if she wishes. It is her choice."

"Bianca, this is crazy," Percy said. "What about your brother? Nico can't be a Hunter." 

Lucia didn't think he had quite caught on that, to Bianca, that was the most appealing outcome of becoming a Hunter. 

"Certainly not," Artemis agreed. "He will go to camp. Unfortunately, that's the best boys can do." 

"Hey!" Percy protested.

"You can see him from time to time," Artemis assured Bianca. "But you will be free of responsibility. He will have the camp counselors to take care of him. And you will have a new family. Us." 

"A new family," Bianca repeated dreamily. "Free of responsibility."

"You can't leave him. He's only a kid Bianca he needs his sister. You're all he has." Lucia tried to remind her

"Bianca, you can't do this," Percy said. "It's nuts." 

She looked at Zoe. "Is it worth it?"  Zoe nodded. "It is."

"What do I have to do?"

"Say this," Zoe told her, "'I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis.'"

"I...I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis."

"'I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.'" 

Bianca repeated the lines.

"That's it?" 

Zoe nodded. "If Lady Artemis accepts thy pledge, then it is binding."

"I accept it," Artemis said.

The flames in the brazier brightened, casting a silver glow over the room. Bianca looked no different, but she took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide. "I feel...stronger." 

"Welcome, sister," Zoe said.

"Remember your pledge," Artemis said. "It is now your life."

Lucia held her hands at her sides, in an attempt to calm down, she inhaled sharply. "Congratulations. hope you'll be the one to tell Nico you left him because it sure won't be me."

Bianca frowned at Lucia's comment.

"Luz...are you..." Percy didn't finish his sentence but his question was clear to her

"No." Lucia responded, "I chose the camp."

Percy's shoulders visibly relaxed, he gave her a slight smile which she refused to return

"Indeed, but my niece is welcome to enter my hunt if she chooses to change her mind," Artemis said. "You will also still get to show the Di Angelos your camp. And if Nico so chooses, he can stay there."

"Great. How are we supposed to get there?" 

Artemis closed her eyes. "Dawn is approaching. Zoe, break camp. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother." 

Zoe didn't look happy about this idea, but she nodded and told Bianca to follow her.

As she was leaving, Bianca paused in front of Percy and Lucia. "I'm sorry. But I want this. I really, really do." 

Then she was gone, and Lucia was left alone with the twelve-year-old goddess and the son of Poseidon. 

"So, we're going to get a ride from your brother?" She asked. 

Artemis's silver eyes gleamed. "Yes, child. You see, Bianca di Angelo is not the only one with an annoying brother. It's time for you to meet my irresponsible twin and your father... Apollo."