Pertemis: Chasing Time

Chapter 13: Wait For Me

Percy's POV

I woke up on a bed in some kind of an infirmary. The place was built in a cave for sure with Greek marble columns holding the ceiling and torches for light.

I jumped down from the bed and started wandering around. I had to find Artemis. Who ever took me here, I don't care if they are friend or enemy. My heart can only relax if when see her.

As I got out of my ward, I found myself standing in an alleyway filled with doors. I decided to try my luck and went into the room opposite me. I opened it, only to find a room filled with many beds. Artemis wasn't in there; to be exact there was no one. I went to check subsequence rooms, only to be faced by the same thing. I went through at least a dozen rooms, before finally finding the right room. Unlike other rooms, there was only one bed with Artemis lying on it. Apollo, who was tending to her, turned over and looked at me.

"Glad to see you're alright." He said, but without the usual happiness or cheerfulness in it.

"Apollo, I..." I started.

"Don't worry. I know everything Percy. I won't tell Zeus or the other gods." He told me, made my shoulders dropped a 'little'.

"How's Artemis?" I asked and walked up. She was simply lying there motionless, which wasn't a good sign, and her pale face wasn't helping at all.

"She's weak, extremely weak. She's just hanging there by a thread." He said sadly and held her hand tightly.

"But why? All she did was healing my wounds." I asked unbelievingly. That's what she did right?

"She didn't just heal your wounds back there, she used her own godly essence to make you a god, or tried to." He placed her hand down and turned to face me.

"What do you mean? Why would she use her own essence to heal me?" I continued to ask.

"I presumed she must be shackled when she was captured?" He asked, and I simply nodded.

"When a god is shackled, you know that he or she is unable to use their powers. But one is able to use his godly essence in those shackles." He explained, but I was still unable to make any sense out of it.

"Without being unable to use her powers, the only way she could save your live was to turn you into a god." He explained further.

"So I'm a god now?" I asked yet again.

"Not exactly." He replied. "To make someone a god, the god has to use his own essence to override your mortal essence, and it costs a lot of essence. Being not as powerful as we used to, all of us Olympian will do it together, to make it easier on us. And Artemis..." he turned to looked at her.

"She tried to do it on her own." He said sadly.

"So what's happening to her now?" I looked at Artemis's pale face with pain and sadness.

"She's still hanging there. But if she is unable to restore her goldy essence... she will fade." He said grimly.

"Why not extract the essence from me and return it to her?" I suggested immediately. The idea of her fading, it just eats me up.

"We can't. Like I said she tried, but she failed. Now you're somewhere in-between a demigod and a god. We don't know what will happen if we extract the essence from you."

"Then why can't you gods transfer your own essence into her?!" I raised my voice.

"It's different. There's a reason why there is a difference in the colour of our powers. It's because of the difference in our essence." He said calmly.

"THEN WHAT CAN WE DO?!" I screamed at him.

"I DON'T KNOW!" He shouted back. "I really don't know." He said sadly and took a seat by her bed.

"I'm not going to accept this" I shook my head in disbelief as I dashed out of the room, out of the cave. There I stood in a valley surrounded by forests, with zero clues on what to do. If Apollo himself don't have the answer, who would?

I dropped on the ground and cried. Why would the Fates be so cruel. After everything thing, I've finally made up with her. And now they wanted to take her away from me. Why don't they take me instead?

Suddenly, a hand laid on my shoulder. Turning back, there stood a man behind me with curly black hair and beard with a pair of kind sea-green eyes staring down at me.

"Dad?" I said.

Poseidon sat beside me as he sticked his trident on the ground. I turned to me with a concerned look.

"What's wrong son?" He asked.

Seeing him just made me happy. I felt hope, like he would bring me something. After all, he has saved my life before. I wouldn't be standing here without him.

"Dad, Artemis is fading." I said sadly as tears were swelling up in my eyes. "She used her own essence to save me, and now she's dying from it. I want to help her, but I cannot do anything..."

I broke down at point. Normally, I wouldn't cry in front of anyone. But that was to much for me to hold. I couldn't contain my tears. I just let it out.

Dad pulled me into a hug as he patted my back. "Son, you have to be strong. No is time for you to be strong. We will figure out how to save Artemis."

"B-but how? She's weak, really weak. I don't think she can hold it for long."

"You said she used her own godly power to heal you right?"

I didn't say anything but just nodded.

"Well, I know one thing that might help. The Golden Apple from the garden of the Hesperides." The Golden Apple... if I'm remembered correctly

"I thought the apple is supposed to make one immortal?" I questioned.

"Yes, that is if it's consumed by a mortal. If a god ate it, he or she not only have most aliments cured, but also be at full power for a few hours. It's like nectar and ambrosia to you guys, but slightly stronger." He explained clearly.

"How do you know all of this. I mean Apollo doesn't even know about that."

Poseidon chuckled. "Percy. I have lived far longer than Apollo. Of course I would know many stuff."

I stood up and smiled brightly. I can still save Artemis, I can still save her. "Thanks dad"

"Percy wait." He called for me and I turned back.

Dad summoned something one his palm. When the light died down, I left a blue glowing pearl. The teleport pearl.

He put in on my hand. "We have only five of these pearl in this Atlantis. Three have already given to you by Triton. This is the fourth. I'll teleport you to the Garden of Hesperides. Once you get there, I can take the apple or not is depends on your Fate. Use this pearl to return."

I hugged him one more to for his kindness. He's the best ever.

"Stay safe Percy and remember. Leave one head for the Ladon. We need it to guard the tree." He told me.

I nodded, remember his words as he laying his hand on my shoulder. With that, he disappeared before me.