ATTENTION ATTENTION THIS IS A FANFICTION I DON'T OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS BUT MY OC I'M SURE AS HELL NOT RACK RIORDAN HE OWNS PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS NOT ME. I HAVE PUT SOME FORESHADOWING IN THIS CHAPTER AND I'VE DECIDED TO INCLUDE THE ROMANS IF THE STORY IS WELL REVIEWED. SO READ AMD REVIEW SO THAT I CAN FIND OUT MORE.

Chapter 2 The Last Day

Artemis's POV

It had been nearly the ten days that he needed to recover and learn to speak. In the time I was given I had sent up a tent and all the things he needs to live with us. I had also visited Aphrodite to talk (yell) about the feelings I had for the boy. She said that it wasn't lust or romance but motherly love. I talked to Hera which I was oh so happy about but she told me that I should adopt him or care for him because he had never had a good mother.

"His mother was a prideful, sick, and twisted person that used her own son to make a monster," Hera had said angrily.

I was walking over to Athena's palace and I heard sounds of fighting. I ran over there to see Ares and a boy were fighting. Ares with his giant sword, the boy with a strange metal hammer that seemed to ripple every time that I was hit. Before I could intervene a spear pierced the ground in front of them.

"Why is it that I leave you alone for a few minutes to go find Apollo to see if you could spar," she paused sighing. "And imagine my surprise when I come back to see that Artemis is watching you and Ares fighting each other."

"But grandmother he insulted you by calling you an old, book worm hag," a deep voice rumbled.

I turned to look at Athena but she was looking at the boy with an unhappy expression. I knew that wasn't Ares's voice because his voice was gruff but not that deep. I then looked to the boy and I saw his stoic face.

"I know how you don't want me fighting but in this day and age one must fight to survive," his voice rumbled.

"I know that you have learned a lot but that doesn't mean you can backtalk me and Artemis how could you just stand there and let them fight," Athena turned to me and scolded.

As if just noticing that I was there Niklaus stiffened and turned towards me. He dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

"I apologize for my disrespect the last time and I am willing to repay it in blood if needed Lady Artemis," he said emotionlessly.

I was saddened that he was scared of me but I was the goddess of virgins and the hunt, and hate men. He must have learned of me and was terrified of me. I decided to give him the respect that he had given me.

"You may stand and due to your ignorance I will forgive you this one time."

"Now Artemis I think that I still have one more day before he is released into the hunt," Athena said as if the hunt was a zoo.

I more than slightly unhappy that she would speak as if I was dangerous to his health. Ares started to chuckle and mutter things about virgins and morons. Before I could retort Niklaus shot forward and picked up Ares by his throat and spoke.

"Ares I am sick and tired of your asinine behavior but don't disrespect lady Artemis. Even through I'm still scared of woman lady Artemis protected me," he growled out angrily.

I felt happy that he liked me enough to stand up for me. I then thought of his other problem, he was scared of woman. He would have to get over if pretty quickly to live with the hunt.

"Now if your down teaching the brute a lesson yet I have to speak to you," Athena interjected.

"I know that you know that you will be staying with the hunt for the foreseeable future but I want you to continue your studies."

And before my eyes I saw him relax and have a grin on his face. He looked so cute when he relaxed then it was gone and he was stoic again.

"So grandmother how was that. I have gotten pretty good at acting happy and emotional," he said.

"My gods what am I going to do with you. You have to keep up the act and not tell anyone," Athena said annoyed.

"If you wouldn't mind I would like to talk to you, Niklaus about a very important issue," I said calmly.

He just nodded and we walked over to one of Athena's many courtyards. I turned and studied him. He dwarfed my twelve year old form by about three and a half feet. I wondered how he would react when I asked him if I could adopt him.

"So I you don't mind my question is so important that you needed to separate me from grandmother," he said evenly.

"Well, I don't want you to be angry but I would ah like to ah well truth be told I want to adopt you as my son," I said bluntly.

Niklaus's POV

When she asked me that I had a mixed feeling inside of me. I wanted to let her because she had saved me. But at the same I felt scared because my mother had destroyed me inside and out. I didn't want to feel the same way again.

"You know as well as I do that I can't and will never want a mother again after what that woman did to me," I answered after a while.

I watched her shoulders slump down in defeat. As she turned to walk away she said that she'd be back tomorrow morning after her nightly duties and bring me to the hunt. As I walked back over to grandmothers front doors of her palace I thought of what Lady Artemis had asked of me. I opened the palace's heavy doors and walked inside. No matter how many times I see the entrance it still amazes me. On the left side are woven tapestries of all the gods that are respectable so not Ares or Aphrodite. On the left were pictures of all of her children from the first to the latest. I walked to the main room which was the biggest library in the world, books were floating around and putting themselves on shelves.

"Every book that was even written is in here in Greek, Latin, and English so I have the treasure vault of knowledge," Athena said walking over to me.

"She asked me if she could adopt me grandmother," I informed her.

She just shook her head stating how she knew because Hera had come to talk to her. I just nodded and walked over to table that had a single novel on it, Frankenstein. I loved to read this book because I felt connected to it because I felt like a monster sometimes. Next to it was a dictionary for when I found words that I didn't know. It was enchanted so that I could find the word faster. I decided to pack up my things so I put the books that I wanted to read and the needed items, the bag was also enchanted so I could fit more things in it then normal. I packed two sets of clothes, a flask of nectar, a 25 pound block of ambrosia, and a pair of hunting knives. Then my books; first was my dictionary, Frankenstein, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Death at the Ballroom, and finally my sketchbook.

"So are you all packed up Nikky. Do you have all your gear? Your war hammer, daggers, helm of...," Athena questioned.

"Yes grandmother, you're starting to remind me of when I was in the learning coma," I interrupted annoyed by my nickname.

"Yeah yeah but do you still remember the conversions of the time in that coma," she asked.

The learning coma as I had dubbed it was a coma that was forced by Morpheus and a god could enter your dreams. I answered that one hour in the real world felt like 2 days in the dreamworld. The eight days that she taught me really felt like 384 days. We walked over to Aunt Hestia's house for dinner. As we walked she asked me how I was feeling and all the medical things. As we went around the corner I saw the palace. It was so small it could have been mistaken for a large weapons shed. I had to duck to go inside the home. Once inside I was greeted by the smell of food and a feeling of warm that only Hestia and her hearth could produce.

"Well hello there you guys I just finished up dinner with all of your favorites," Hestia greeted kindly.

I smiled a small genuine smile that only happened when Hestia was around. Even if it was just a raising of the corners of my lips it was not forced. I walked over to the table and sat on the ground. Because of my height if I sat in a chair I would be too tall but on the ground I was the perfect height.

"So how has my favorite demigod doing," Hestia asked turning into her thirty year old form.

"I'm doing great Ares is annoying and I'm unsettled about staying with the hunt," I answered truthfully.

She just nodded her head in agreement and her food appeared on the table. In front of Grandma was a plate of grilled fish, a bowl of rice, and a bowl of miso soup. Grandmother enjoyed Japanese food because it was elegant and balanced. In front of me was a steak just the way I liked it, rare. I craved blood like a thirst that wasn't easy to forfill. Aunt Hestia had a bowl of mashed potatoes and a plate of strawberries. I cut three pieces of meat off and put them in the hearth for the gods; one for was Athena, another for Hephaestus, and finally one for Hestia.

"For the people whom I own my life to," I muttered.

After that I sat down and ate in silence for awhile but Aunt Hestia was childish as well as a kind person. I did not know how to express myself on the outside but I was grateful.

"So in the morning you are going to the hunt for awhile," she asked already knowing the answer.

"Yes, but I feel uneasy inside because they are said to be cruel to males," I stated matter-a-fact.

My grandmother having finished her food put down her chopsticks, and grabbed my hand trying to comfort me. Her hand was so small compared to mine that in was as little as a child's. We thanked Hestia for the food and walked out. As I was ducking down to go through the door Hestia caught my arm.

"Before you leave for the hunt me and your father have to give you something," she whispered to come before dawn.

Nodding I walked over to grandmother and we strolled back to the palace and into the sleeping quarters. As I lay down I felt a feeling that I couldn't describe. It was like I had something in my stomach moving around quickly. I dismissed it as the bloody steak. I finally drifted into the realm of Morpheus and prayed for good dreams.

_Line Break_

I stood in a dark cavern that seemed to stretch on forever as I turned to a swirl of gold it spoke,

"So boy how is the plan going," a raspy voice questioned.

"The camp doesn't know a thing and the Olympians are too rapped up in their own fights to notice your presence master," a young mans voice reported respectfully.

"Yes and in the end I will get my revenge against the Olympian council and for fill the promise I made," the voice said coldly.

I stiffened as I felt the overpowering presence turn its attention towards me. I felt trapped in its cold coils of golden power.

"Well what do we have here. A demigod that is powerful enough to appear before me."

I turned and ran out of the cavern and and at my back was cold scraping laughter. I was then blinded by a white light and then I saw two people standing in front of me. One was a woman who looked to be in her early twenties. She was about 6 and a half feet with indigo hair and icy blue eyes. The man standing beside her was similar to me in the sense that he was tall and broad. His hair was strange because it was a dark green with reptile slits for eyes.

"Well you must be the only one to survive because we have be trying to contact any survivors. It seems that we're the only one out of the thirteen," the woman said sadly.

"My name code name is Salamander and hers is Pisces we are the fourth and seventh success of the monster-human experiments respectively," the man introduced.

"Now you are probably wondering why we contacted you," Pisces said pausing. "A great evil is rising and we were made into monsters as soldiers for him, but we got free and now we fight for Olympus."

I nodded in understanding and we continued talking for a couple minutes and then they started to shimmer and fade out. Their last words were promises of future conversations and then of farewells.

_Line Break_

I woke with a start and looked at my clock on the wall and saw that it was 6:16 in the morning and I needed to get over to Auntie Hestia's for the something that I was going to receive. I put on a pair of cargo pants and my cloak. I moved as stealthily as I could but I didn't need to because grandmother was a heavy sleeper and I escaped the palace. As I walked over to the hearth I saw my father and aunt Hestia hugging but I didn't care because I was worried of what grandma Athena would do to me if she knew.

"Excuse me, if you are in the middle of coitus continue after I receive the farewell gift before I am sent to the hunt," I stated bluntly.

"No son, we weren't doing anything like that I was hugging her because of what she was going to give you," father sputtered.

If I could laugh I would because Hestia's face was like a tomato and they denied the accusation very strongly. I just nodded and sat on the ground. If they didn't want to tell me then I wasn't suppose to know.

*Cough* "Well son what I wanted to give you is a two part gift. First I give you Ferrokenisis, the ability to manipulate iron and only iron," Hephaestus grinned. "And lastly I will put two 50 gallon drums of molten iron..."

"But how will I withstand the 1400 degree heat of the metal if I need to use it on short notice," I interrupted.

"Well if you had let him finish then you would've heard that my gift is that you are going to be heat and fire resistant," Hestia said soothingly.

I nodded and then I began to think of all the applications of these blessings. I then felt a hand on on my chest as I looked down I saw my father who looked nervous. He said that the blessing would hurt a little but not to worry. As he glowed a black orange I felt like needles were prickling my whole body. I wasn't in pain but more annoying so I just grunted and looked at the moon as it set and my thoughts drifted to Artemis. Even after all that I learned about her I still wanted to repay her. Hestia stepped forward and put her eight year old form hand on my knee and a twirl of fire wrapped around her and then it moved towards me. I felt no fear because I had abandoned that feeling along with pain. In an instant the fire faded and I felt a warm feeling inside me.

"Well you should get going because Athena will probably have woken up by now," Hephaestus joked.

After that I took off running because grandmother was sure to be angry when she found out that I had snuck out. As I ran around the corner I saw that Apollo had just taken off and Artemis was probably on her way here to bring me to the torture camp. I finally got to the front doors out of breath but not sweating. I opened the door quietly and then the handles were wretched from my grip and the doors went wide open.

"Well my rebellious grandson has returned from Zeus knows where," grandma said.

"And Artemis how do you think we should handle this problem," she continued.

They were sitting at one of the tables and they looked angry. I was tempted to run to grandfather Zeus and ask for his protection. I had only met him a few times but he was nicer than he appeared. At first he thought because I had his daughters heart that I was a murderer. But after a talk (beating) from Hera he realized that I didn't have anything to do with it. He was pretty nice once you got through the arrogance and pride. He was just a lecherous old man who did enjoy his theatrics and jokes.

"Well I have no excuse but I needed to have my last walk of freedom before I am put back into servitude," I stated stoically.

Lady Artemis had a hurt expression on her face but it quickly disappeared and was replaced with a scowl. I just walked by after bowing to her and into my room. I picked up my bag with all of my belongings and walked over to the nightstand. It had a drawing of a salamander, a coi fish, and a skeleton all in a triangle of blood and fire.

As I got out to the entrance I saw lady Artemis and grandma talking about me. I just walked up without a care and asked.

"I want to get this over with so I can sleep because I didn't have a very good dream last night. And the hunters will try to kill me, take things from my tent, and humiliate me so let's just get this over with."

Zoe POV (wasn't expecting that now were you)

Milady hadn't showed up after her duties so it was safe to assume that she was going to pick up the boy. Shaking my head I still couldn't believe that we would be taking in a boy. We were the hunters of Artemis for gods sake. It was clear that him was somehow blackmailing Milady with something so that he could live. He was just another pig of that filthy race. He was probably no different then that oath breaking scum Heracles.

"Milady has returned and she has brought the boy," Phoebe said ending my train of thought.

"Yes we must go meet this new edition of the hunt," I replied.

"Even if he won't be here for long," Diana my second in command said grinning.

After that we walked over to the camp entrance to see to figures. One was Lady Artemis and she was as noble as ever, but the other one was a hulking seven and a half foot figure in a large black cloak.

"Well I can see from you glares that you don't want me here but I promise that I won't talk, attack, or interact with you unless you initiate it first," his voice rumbled stoically.

I knew that his time at the hunt was going to be hell because we were going to make it so. I will drive him away and protect the hunt no matter what.

AND THAT WRAPS UP THE SECOND CHAPTER AND WHAT A GREAT CHAPTER IT WAS. I THINK THAT I WILL MAKE THIS STORY AN [OCxZoe] SO YEAH. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER I WILL TRY TO PUT UP ANOTHER ONE IN A WEEK MAYBE LESS. I ALSO DROPPED A HINT ABOUT A FEW POSSIBLE COUPLES. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT HIS FEAR OF WOMEN IS MORE OF A DISTRUST THEN A PHOBIA. SO UNTIL THEN READ, REVIEW, AND SEE YOU NEXT TIME BYE~Ghost Operation Systems