Chapter Text
One of the ancient primordial laws is that of 'The Game' in times of old, older gods sent armies to their death so that their battles wouldn't rock the foundations of the world they so lovingly built. Rarely is it called upon by the lesser gods of today, who prefer rocking the foundations for fun. Those that use it now prefers feats of skill or cunning. My patron prefers different games.
(An earlier lesson from ???.)
The rescue hadn't been going well before The Hunt arrived and their arrival didn't really improve things all that much. Sure Dr Thorn might have had us cornered but we had came back from worse... ok maybe I'm lying to myself about that bit but in my defence I really thought Annabeth had a better plan than 'jump on the monsters back'. Sure it worked and stopped us from getting killed and left the monster wide open for the Hunt to kill him for us but I just thought that we could have taken him after that. Annabeth falling and disappearing into the ocean hadn't been apart of that plan and as much as the Goddess of the Hunt had reassured all of us that she was alive I still had some doubts.
Doubts that hadn't been alleviated upon entering the goddesses tent and being interrogated by her and her second. The fact she only seemed interested in the 'Great Stirring' was a confusing thing to hear. The Oath Bianca made shortly before had been the most interesting thing about our little meeting at that point and only because I didn't know gods could do that. Maybe there's a troupe of immortal Ares kids roaming the world killing monsters as well and for some reason that seems like a big maybe. Really it's when I make my first move to leave that everything goes from a frustrating type of vague and mysterious to just frustrating.
"But before I go I must deal with another pressing matter."The Goddess of the Hunt states as I do my best to shuffle away from her (to the obvious amusement of her lieutenant) and then I freeze as her gaze turns to me and narrows. The symbol beneath my coat warms slightly.
"Does that mean I can g-"
"Silence" I shut up as her gaze bores into me. She waits a moment before continuing and I can't help but feel like I missed something. "The Hunt must go to Camp Half Blood and you fate cursed cannot join them on that journey when my brother comes for them." Seriously!? What the hades? What did I do? I'm not cursed, am I? My confusion must have shown because the man hating goddesses eyes soften just the smallest amount before hardening again. "Tyche seems to be against you boy and I cannot have such things on what will already be a perilous journey. You may stay on the camps borders until my brother arrives but from there you must make your own way to camp."
"But that's not fair! "I exclaim as a small childish part of me takes over.
"Be silent boy!" Zoe snarls "A goddess has spoken" before her face goes blank as her goddess raises her hand.
"Peace Zoe, the boy is distressed, clearly this days failing hurts him" I want to complain. Want to cuss out the unfairness of this situation but I think a part of me understands the truth she speaks even if only on a deeper lev- the amulet under my shirt warms and a sigh escapes me. Annabeth went over the side of a cliff, Thalia is injured and Grover seems more unsure every day.
Even the DiAngelos have kept their distance. Bianca shuffles nervously at her goddess side and what little anger I can feel for her dissolves as the apologetic look she sends my way breaks its way through my meager defences. She hasn't known me long enough to understand what her lady speaks of. With time she surely will. The goddess is silent, not judging simply content that she had got her message across. I take a moment I never would have just a month ago to collect myself and catch some stray thoughts before I say something that could get me killed.
The amulet warms silently underneath my shirt, either from approval of boredom I do not know. I had failed but that didn't mean I had to walk home with only the clothes on my back. A lesson I had been taught earlier comes to mind and I think maybe, just maybe I could be back in Camp before the week is out. First step to dealing with olympians and their ilk... make it your fault.
"Your right, I accept your judgement in this matter." I state not as firmly as I like, not quite used to the formal or polite way of speaking. The Goddess raises a single immaculate eyebrow. "Would it be presumptuous of me to kindly request some supplies for the road."
Zöe's eyes darken as her expression shifts into a sneer but before she can speak the goddess cuts her off. Her voice is firm and while not impolite seems almost on the edge of being so. "It would be." There is no pity there, no remorse, just simple hard logic. Her supplies are for maidens and unless some drastic change happens I am not a maiden.
Make it my fault.
Request with utmost respect.
Appeal to pride/Challenge.
The three main things I had been taught when it came to situations like this. I needed something, she had it and no doubt she would kill me if I took it. That and the Hunt would turn me into a pincushion if I dared insult her in any way. Quickly I run this situation through my not Annabeth level brain. What did I know about Artemis? Protective, Ruthless, Wild, Prideful, Traditional but only in the Greek way. Godsdamnit.
Fuck she's going to kill me but the other option is a horde of monsters jumps me and I'm dead anyway. Why is my luck so horrific? You hear me Tyche if we ever meet were going to be having some words! Focus Percy. This might suck and you might die but you need to think through this like a greek. Be daring, its the only way you'll win. Ok less win and more be able to make it back to camp. Think like a greek Percy.
"Surely there's something I can do, a gift, a challenge, a game, a wager?" I let it come out quietly and don't bother hiding the terror I feel about the thought of leaving here with nothing. I can't deceive someone like this, I'm just not smart enough but I can be honest. The small goddesses eyes shine with a minute amount of interest before dulling. Her second simply rolls her eyes and continues to glower. Bianca is looking particularly uncomfortable like she heard me and doesn't want to acknowledge it. So joining the hunt gives them super hearing I'll keep that in mind if I ever need to use that. Does that mean they can be deafened or does their goddess blessing stop that?
"You surprise me Jackson, few dare barter with the old laws let alone know they exist. The daughter of Athena has coached you well it seems." She pauses and a faint smile crosses her features "Your friend would make a fine huntress if only you did not drag her down." I try my best not to flinch, glare or even move a muscle in response.
"I wish I could argue." I try my best not to sound whiny but a voice break promptly destroys what little dignity I could have scraped from that act of self awareness (in her eyes).
"Humility or simply defeat one wonders what it could be." The Hunts Lt rattles off sarcastically and I am once again reminded of her dreaded existence. She winds up for what seems to be another scathing remark before her goddess raises her hand. Silence falls.
I raise my gaze to meet that of the eternal huntress and find myself frozen in place. Silver eyes that could be described as beautiful bore into me with a narrowed near predatory zeal. Oh godsdamnit.
"It matters not." She stands and her small form might as well be minotaur size with how miniscule it makes me feel. No Mom to go home to now Percy, buckup and focus. "Tell me Jackson do you think you could slay a Drakon?" I can't remember what that is and after more than a seconds silence I realise she expects an answer. I shake my head, she hums thoughtfully but I can tell it's only for the amusement of her second. "Do you believe yourself fast enough to beat me in a race?" I shake my head "A hunt?" Another shake of the head. The thinly veiled amusement in the air grows thinner still. It's not thin enough to choke on but I can feel her patience already running thin.
"I doubt he could outrun even our youngest, let alone shoot if what we have heard is to be believed this one cannot even shoot forward let alone hit a target. " The goddesses second comments idly as she inspects her knife. If the eternal huntress is surprised by that conclusion she doesn't show it, she simply continues to air her thoughts. Which are frankly demoralizing.
"And you have little to trade, a blade that none but a water spirit can use and a cap that isn't even yours, so tell me Perseus Jackson what can you offer for the supplies you require?" She smiles sweetly and for a moment I am reminded that I'm bartering with not just a goddess but a huntress. The sort of woman that'll turn you into an animal, kill you, skin you and wear you on her belt. A moments thought reveals nothing and then the symbol beneath my shirt heats slightly and words spill out of my mouth.
"When you word it like that I very much doubt I could even win a game against any of you..." A deliberate pause, either for dramatic effect or something else I don't know "-but the alternative is scrounging for food and then dying horribly on the road so... " The words tumble out and I can't stop them even as I see the goddesses eyes narrow "-I suppose all I can do is try my best." I conclude much to my own horror as the symbol warms happily hidden away from all eyes. Artemis the Goddess of the Hunts eyes narrow to pinpricks as she smiles faintly and I am yet again reminded that I am in incredible danger. Something stops the nervous laugh that would have fallen from my lips as that small grin gains teeth.
The Lt mutters something like 'fool' under her breath, while Bianca just watches with wide eyes. I can't blame her, watching me organise my own execution must be kinda like watching a train crash. For a moment I feel like cursing the amulet before stopping as it pulses excitedly beneath my shirt. Oh gods, it has an idea and it never has one that hasn't ended up with me on stable duty (not that I minded, the pegasi were chill when they stopped yelling slurs.). I swallow hard and try my best to moisten my suddenly dry lips.
"I think the word your looking for Zöe is desperation, the boy from what I have seen has little to no survival skills." Hey! I resemble that statement... wait "-if he leaves this camp with nothing then surely he will perish on the road." The goddess gives me another soul staring look as she taps a slender finger against her lips thoughtfully before nodding to herself and gesturing to her companions. "Zoe if you would be so kind as to introduce our newest addition to the Hunt while I... barter with the sea spawn that would be fantastic." Zoe nods and moves to grasp Bianca's arm, the goddess catches the concerned look from her newest addition and responds with what is probably the most terrifying thing she could have. "Worry not for him Bianca, he has made his bed and if he does not leave assume his death was quick."
Wow real class act lady. Sometimes I wonder... the amulet vibrates with an overly excited tremble and I stop wondering. Dread pools in my gut as the goddess disguised as a girl sits down again and crosses her legs. The pair of us sit in silence for a moment as Zoe and Bianca leave with not a word. The tent flaps... flap (gods I'm bad at this) as they leave and I am almost tempted to run after them if only just to give myself the vague chance of not being murdered. I tap slap my jeans nervously as the goddess watches me with a blank expression again. "Two completed quests and a handful of casualties because of your actions." She twirls a small silver knife in her hand as she talks, passing it from finger to finger as if it is the easiest thing in the world. "Since Thalia's return many would see you buried Jackson, Athena especially would see you turned to dust before you harm her daughter more." The knife stops twirling, she examines it closely before pulling a small shining rock from nowhere and begins to sharpen it. "Until I saw your attempt at foolish action on that cliff edge I would have been among them. Part of me still is, loyalty such as yours is dangerous when not tempered by servitude or reason" Sparks fly as the miniature goddess continues her work. "And yet another part of me is curious, coupled with your bad luck there is also a wildness, a desperation that I am familiar with and while it doesn't make you special it can make one such as yourself interesting."
She sheathes the knife and it feels like she has come to a conclusion that I would rather not understand. Not like I was really following much that she said. The glowing sharpening stone and sparks had distracted me thoroughly. Did she even need to sharpen that? Surely gods weapons just didn't dull or am I being a dumbass again? "I uhhh, don't know what to say to that." I manage to force out of my mouth as I try not to concentrate on how dry it is.
"You need not say anything. If I was sure your foolish luck would not harm the hunt there would be a different option other than death or humiliation should you lose our game but I am afraid that it is simply not on the table." She rests her hands on her knees and her lip curves down into the smallest frown, like she's looking at me and seeing something or someone else.
"Would it be- Could I ask what that other option was?" I squeak and try to ignore how her lip quirks upwards in the most miniscule of twitches.
"You would have been changed and given a place in the hunt, effectively removing you from the prophecy and placing it in the hands of Thalia." I honestly don't know how to feel about that option and frankly its probably better off not thought about. Would girl Percy have long hair or would I keep my own hair? Would I be taller or shorter? What about- nope not thinking about it, not thinking about that that at all. Think of Blackjack Percy or of Grover, of anything other than what girl Percy could be. All gone? Good. Thank the gods.
"Ahh like some of the myths, how fitting." I intone wisely as the goddess nods and snaps her fingers. A worn hunting pack appears out of thin air, the rough leather thing sags and what looks to be hardtack and other small items fall out before the goddess snaps her fingers again and everything returns to the pack and its fastenings pull tight.
"Should you succeed, I will give you a single pack of supplies of which must be returned to my Cabin in Camp Half Blood. Until the pack is returned you will sacrifice one item you have foraged or hunted to myself every day until my boon is returned but let us not get ahead of ourselves." She places the pack behind her and places her bow to her side. "You cannot hope to beat me in battle, nor in any traditional competition, so as a gesture of fairness and this 'goodsport that Apollo is always on about I will allow you to pick the game but I must warn you Jackson, I am a competitive woman." She smiles with teeth. "Prove yourself a difficult or skilled quarry and the third option may yet be open to you on defeat."
Ideas run back and forth through my head. Games she can't have played or things she can't have done and my mind comes back blank. We could play Monopoly but I was crap at that and I have no doubt Apollo would be here before we finished with how long it took me to decipher the cards. Twister was a death sentence with a maiden like her and even if I survived tangling with her, there was no doubt in my mind that someone as dexterous as her would wipe the floor with me. Jenga... nope I saw how steady her hand was when she was spinning that knife. Liars Dice, yeah with my luck that ain't happening. So what the hell did I even have a chance at winning, that wouldn't get me murdered midway throug- "Checkers" The name of a game I had never even played spills out of my mouth and I can only stare in horror as the Eternal Maiden nods and snaps her fingers before making the first move. The amulet vibrates happily under my shirt as I swallow hard and make my first move.
Wait, that wasn't the move I was going to make. Artemis makes her move and I reach out to make mine, that wasn't what I was going to do. I stare at the piece in bewilderment as the goddess raises an eyebrow and makes one of her own. Back and forth we go for longer than I ever expected a game like this could go. She takes my pieces with her sharp eyes and quick fingers while I can't ever recall making a single move where the piece actually went where I wanted it to. It's close for a while and then suddenly out of nowhere the Goddess of the Hunt tilts her head at the board. I look at her without even looking at the board and scratch the back of my head. "So do you just snap your fingers or am I getting an arr-" She holds up a hand and I quiet down. I look down at the board. Was I the gold or the silver pieces? The goddess snaps her finger and several hunters funnel their way into the tent before sitting down and looking at the board. They look about as confused as I do for a moment before their patron looks me dead in the eye and speaks.
"Best two out of three." I glance at the board as it reforms and blink harshly. Wait I was gold wasn't I? I had won. What the hades? I flinch as the amulet wobbles happily under my shirt and I feel dread as the Huntress gestures for me to make the first move. Zoe, Phoebe and Atlanta watch my hands like hawks as I fumble through this next game before soundly losing to their Patron. More hunters join the watch party as the next round begins and I find myself chasing down the Huntresses last piece. "Three of Five." She grumbles before resetting the board and we go again. "Best of Seven" She growls as more of the hunt join this confusing spectacle. "Nine" She strokes her chin as my companions enter the tent and the back and forth continues. The amulet beneath my shirt feels like it's on the verge of breaking my ribs with how happily it's vibrating.
I lose count after that point and for the life of me I can't tell how I'm still breathing with the weight of the glares boring into me. "So is Jackson playing to live or just not to die?" A melodic voice breaks through the tense board game combat before we resume at an almost breakneck pace. I'm moving faster than I ever thought possible and who that voice was doesn't even register until my hand starts trembling and sweat starts soaking my clothes. I dry them and continue until.
"Best out of 33" I read the goddess lip but don't really comprehend what she's saying as the cramp in hand takes over and my vision blurs. I yawn as I shake. Wow it really had been a long night. Hey Grover, wake me up when the bus gets to to Camp Half Blood. The world goes dark a moment after that thought goes through my head.
When I wake up the camp is gone. My friends are gone. The wildlife that had gathered to observe was gone and my head is pounding. The fur sleeping bag I had been bundled into has a thin layer of snow on it and the supply pack sags lazily against the remnants of a small fire. Beside it is a dagger inlaid in silver and a note that claims 'this is not over'. I stare groggily at the note for long enough that the shadow falling over me doesn't really register. It's as I get heaved out of the bag in such a sudden motion that it finally does and my hand instinctively reaches for Riptide before freezing as a scratchy voice breaks through my groggy mind. "Bro by my mother Styx that was totally tubular." The scratchy voice hugs me to her chest before throwing me up with a spin and catching me so that I face her. "Did you see the look on that OIympians face bro?" The Goddess Nike grins at me with her pearly whites on full display and I can already feel the headache coming on.
But I suppose I should take a step back. To just a week after Clarisse's funeral.