Pertemis: Mending Time

Chapter 8: Not The Same

Artemis's POV

The scene still haunted me until now. When I walked down the alley of deaths, I couldn't know what I was anymore. The blood of innocent people were crawling under my feet. I wanted to vomit right there when the amount of corpses were laying. I know I didn't kill them, but part of that was my fault. If only I could come a bit earlier, Percy wouldn't have murdered them like that.

About Percy. I couldn't believe and think he was the man I loved anymore. I was scared of him. He was like a monster. My legs trembling, my hands shaking when I saw his blood coated body. Even his voice made we want to jump up and yelp. It was cold, dangerous and full of madness. His face has changed, to a face of a murderer. I just....

"Hey are you ok?" Someone said as they sat in front of me.

I slowly looked up from the table and Jason's face came into view.

"Ye-yeah" I managed, wiping a single tear of my eye "I'm fine."

Jason gave me a suspicious look, then he didn't say more. Jason and I both knew what Percy did and done. I didn't want to reveal this horrible thing to everyone, especially right now since we're at war. They would lose their trust in Percy.

"There is some information about a force rising in San Fransisco" Jason said. "I believe that involves the person attacked you and Ares"

"Do you know?" I asked.

"Not quite sure" Jason shrugged. "If you can tell me anything you know about that person."

"Well i didn't see him" I reported. "I'm sure he's incredibly strong. With one shot and he could take Ares out of action. I think he might be even more dangerous than Zeus himself."

Jason nodded grimly. He was sure a responsible and capable leader. He knew how to lead people and all. I was actually relieved when Percy had him by his side.

"Well I will think abou-" Jason was cut off when Leo put his tray of food on our table.

"Hello you two" he said.

I'm seriously respected this guy. Even in the worst situation, he still sure keeps his optimistic self.

"Guess the inquisition is over" Leo said. "How's Percy doing, anyway?"

I sighed. "I haven't talked to him since we got back." I told them. "I just don't know what to say."

Jason sighed along with me as he looked back at his food. Leo shook his head and played with the food, seemed to lose his appetite.

"I tried to stop him" Leo said. "I just didn't know what to do at that time anymore. The villagers were panic and they broke out. Percy just kept...killing them."

My tears started to swell up. I just kept thinking it was my fault that they died.

"If only I could've come a bit earlier" I sobbed. "The this wouldn't have happened"

Jason leaned forward as he laid his hand on my shoulder.

"We're at war Artemis" he told me. "We all have done thing"

I just kept my silence. He was right. We all have killed countless people by far. My hands already tainted in blood. But those people. They were harmless, they didn't know what was happening and already...

"Hey" I heard a familiar voice behind me.

The person sat beside and I looked up to see Percy. I was actually moved a bit away from him. I just didn't know why, my body just did it by itself.

Jason looked around and found things awkward as he stood up

"Uh I have something to discuss with Nico." He said. "You guys have fun yeh?"

He patted Leo shoulder and walked away, leaving Leo staring at him confusingly before digging back at his food.

"I heard you guys were trying to find something" Percy tried to break the silence. "What's the plan?"

"Still planing on it" I said, though coldly and drank my water.

I knew that would make him sad. But didn't know what to say to him, after everything he's done. I just couldn't face him anymore. Despite Jason's advice, I still couldn't face it.

"Ah! Check this out." Leo exclaimed. "Trouble in paradise?"

I glared at him as he gulped down. Percy turned to me.

"Look Arty" he said. "I know I've done something wrong. But can you at least talk to me!"

"What do you expect me to say?" I snapped.

"It was an incident Artemis." Percy held my shoulders. "I tried to shove the problem but-"

"But you killed them?" I cut him off.

"Uh" Leo raised his hand. "Do you think it's a bit too loud?"

We both just ignored him as Percy turned back to me. "They kept running at me!" He said. "So you expect me to stand there and let them kill me? I did what had to"

"Just because they pardoned you" I poked his chest. "Doesn't mean I have!"

"Uh Artemis" I heard Leo tried to say something. I turned sharply at him.

"Shut up Leo" I snapped.

But then I realised our argument had caused tension in the Mess Hall. Everyone was looking at us strangely as I kept my stance. Suddenly Jason ran up to our table.

"You guys come with me." He said. "I have something important"

~~~~~TIME LASPE ~~~~~

At the Big House.

Still Artemis's POV.

We arrived at the Big House a moment later. Opening the door, the room radiated out a tensing atmosphere.

Nico and Chiron were at the end of the table, rubbing their chins while thinking about something.

"Uh...hi guys" I said.

They both looked up in surprise. "Oh you're here" Nico said.

We all walked into our place at the ping pong table. I turned to Nico again.

"So what is it about?"

Nico gulped as he turned to Chiron. Chiron stared back at him like 'why me?' And turned his glance to Jason. Jason looked at Chiron in shock then sigh. He gave Percy a look and turned to me.

"We have found the location where the force is rising" Jason announced. "We need a scout to go there and bring us some information. So..."

"So?" I raised my eyebrows.

"This scout must be really good to not let the enemy notice us and..." Jason stuttered again.

"And you are the only relevant one to go on this quest since you hunters are best at this" Nico finished for him.

"That's it?" I asked them with a grin on my face.

Nico and Jason both looked at each other in shocked and nodded at me.

I laughed at their stupidity. "You could've just said it out." I told them. "No need to be nervous like that. I'm in"

Hearing that, I expected them to be happy. But they kept their silence like they knew that would happen and was expecting something else to come.

"I'm not agree!" Percy suddenly spoke up.

I saw Jason closed his eyes and ready to prepare anything Percy's gonna throw at him. Like he was expecting it. I glared at Percy.

"What now Perce?" I told him "haven't we got enough?"

"I can't let you go there Artemis" he said. "It's too dangerous"

I just rolled my eyes at him. "I've been to far worse than that Seaweed Brain" I said. "Besides I'm not your daughter to keep"

"But I can't afford to lose you again" Percy said. "Who knows what would happen?"

I sighed. "I know you are worrying about me. I'm really appreciate that. But I've already decided, I'll be on this quest."

Percy just stared at me. His face was red like a tomato. He clutched his hand still. He glared at Nico and Jason, made them to step back. He grabbed my hand and suddenly dragged me away.

"Percy let me go!" I screamed, trying to get his hand off. He dragged me into his cabin then slammed the door shut. He pushed me to the wall. I stood up and glared at him.

"What was that!?" I snarled.

"You're not going anywhere" he said. "You're under my protection."

"I can capable to protect myself Percy" I snapped at him. "I don't need your help."

Percy looked at the ground. He suddenly roared in range as he held my shoulder and pushed my back to the wall.

"You think I wanted to to that!?" Percy shouted. "You think I wanted to kill them!"

"Don't talk to me about that Perce" I yanked his hands off and yelled at him.

"Yeh and let you keep making distance from me!?" He threw his hands up in the air.

"Then look back at yourself" I yelled at him. "Do you think I can still love someone like this? Is this really you Percy? Is this the one that I called my hero?"

"I did it for you Artemis" he pointed at his chest. "Have you eve thought how worried I was when you went missing? Fine I'll accept I'm a murderer. That I've killed those villagers. But if they didn't run to me, that wouldn't have happened!"

I shoved him away. "You don't deserve to talk about them!" I snapped. "You say like this is not you fault."

"47 lives Percy" I stepped closer to him. "47 innocent and armless lives were killed by your hands. And you expect me to forgive you!"

Percy roar again. He pushed me the wall harder this time. He stared down at me, breathing heavily.

"Fine I'm a murderer, a monster, a devil do you happy?!" He snarled. "That's because I lost you. I can't afford to lose you anymore Arty. No one can separate us again...not anymore"

He licked his lips and his eyes were filled with madness and lust. Sweats were pouring down my forehead. I swallowed.

"Percy" I whispered. "What are you gonna do?"

Before I could say anything more. He attacked my neck and and kissed it like there was no tomorrow. He kissed roughly, not with love and passion anymore. It hurt me a lot when he did that. He bite it, making the blood to come out.

"You are my" he said. "No one can take you away from me."

"Percy stop!" I tried to shove him off. "You are hurting me!"

He gripped my shirt in half and his hand immediately grabbed on of my breasts, squeezing it so hard that I wanted to yell out in pain.

"Percy stop!" I cried. "It's hurt."

But he just kept on going finally I couldn't take it anymore. I kneeled him in the spot where Apollo doesn't shine. Percy groaned as he dropped on his knees, then laid on the ground holding his private spot.

I pulled my tattered shirt together.

"What's wrong with you?" I cried. "You're a monster!"

I tried to run away but he caught my hand. I was crying by now, tears were pouring furiously down my cheeks. I still didn't turn back at him.

"I'm sorry" I heard him whispered.

"When you were lost" he continued. "I was scared. I've been through too much. I've felt the worst pain in the world, but that wouldn't be nothing compared to losing you. I was desperate, scared, confused. I wanted to see you so bad and I couldn't. When the villagers attacked me, I was scared, scared that they were going to kill me. I was scared that I would never see you again. I'm a coward Artemis. I've killed someone that I shouldn't. I have...I have gone against what you told me. Then at night, their spirits came to me, to haunt me. I didn't know what to do or where to go. I needed you and yet you weren't there. I wanted to hug you, to know that you'll always be by my side and nothing could harm me. Yet you weren't there. When I saw them, when they asked me why I killed them. I just wanted to crawl in to a ball and cry. I wanted you to be there so that I could cry on your chest, to tell you that I've regretted that. And you weren't there. I really don't know what to do without you Artemis. Please don't leave again. I can only choose death if I lose you one more time."

I was crying by now. Be both cried silently in the dark room. He help my hand tight, scaring that I'd would leave him. I just dropped on the ground with that. I pulled Percy to my chest and cried on top of his head as he cried on my chest.

"I'm sorry" I whispered. "I'm sorry that I didn't know the pain that you've gone through. Not to be there to protect you. I've...I have break my promise and left you. I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."

"Please don't go Arty" Percy sobbed. "Don't leave me again"

"Percy" I told him. "You told me if you want to obtain something, you have to sacrifice something right?"

I felt him nodding. "So I'm doing this for our future. If we can defeat Zeus, then we both will achieve a peaceful life that we're dreaming of. That's why I have to go."

Percy to of the embrace and stared deep into my eyes.

"Then let me go with you" he insisted.

"Percy" I said. "But what about camp"

"I believe Jason can do it. We'll stay together no matter what. Till the end"

I nodded as he hugged me closer. Although the tension between us has passed. That we could go back like before. But the thought of his madness and everything he's done still stayed in my mind. Did I really forgive him?