The First Son of Artemis Book 4: The Lost Hero

Jay III

"MEDIC, I NEED A MEDIC," He shouted with the unconscious girl in his arms, he looked down towards the green and saw Nikki. "NIKKI, NIKKI!"

He saw Nikki whirl around, almost decapitating one of her students before locating him. She seemed to see what was going on, because she sheathed her sword and took off in a run towards him and the Big House. He readjusted Piper's body and felt her shallow breathing on his neck.

"Not again, not again…" He said spurring his legs on as fast as he could.

Jay had always been the fastest person he knew. He remembered when he battled the Manticore in Maine, during the quest to rescue Nikki from Westover Hall. When he was younger, he had to be under the moon or in the forest to gain his full speed, however as the years went on as with all his abilities his speed grew. He urged his feet forward, the run from the Hera cabin up the hill to the Big House wasn't far, and in reality, Jay probably only took a minute to get there. His feet however felt like they were moving through quicksand. He left Annabeth and Rachel in the dust, he collected Piper into his arms and took off.

When he got to the deck of the Big House, he wasted no time in plowing through the door to the living room.

"CHIRON!" He yelled.

Chiron was in wheelchair form, sitting across from Jason who looked pale. As soon as he saw Piper in his arms however he shot to his feet.

"Jay, what happened child!?" Chiron asked frantically.

Jay as gently as he could laid Piper's head down onto the couch. He turned to Chiron and Jason, his knee's all but clacking together.

"I… I don't know, we were in the Hera cabin, Rachel started spouting a prophecy-." He was cut off by the door swinging open again.

"Jay what-. Oh gods." Nikki said pressing the center of her necklace.

Her armor and sword retracted into the amulet of the sun, she was wearing a pair of joggers and her camp shirt. Her loose ponytail almost fell apart when she knelt down next to Piper. She looked over at Chiron and the two nodded. Chiron rolled into his room to retrieve his medical supplies as Jay slumped into a rocking chair.

"What's wrong with her!?" Jason asked frantically kneeling down next to Nikki.

Nikki shot him an uneasy glance. "I don't know, but I need space, take Jay and get out of here." She ordered Jason.

"But-."

"Do what I said!" She demanded.

Jay could hear the edge to Nikki's voice, it was clear that she wasn't asking him.

"Hold up Nik, there's no way I'm-."

"Don't you start with me too Jay, I know exactly what's going on in your head right now, she'll be fine. Chiron and I will take care of her, now go!" She demanded of him.

Jay didn't want to leave, but felt himself being pulled away by Jason, who seemed to understand that Nikki was not someone you wanted to make angry. You would end up with a sword wound in your gut and a nasty sunburn. Before he could blink, Jay was pulled out of the living room, just as Annabeth and Rachel darted in, and Jay felt his knees finally give out. He keeled over onto one kneel and held onto the railing to keep from faceplanting.

I'm not worried Jay, I'm with you.

She was so confident, so confident you would protect her.

Jay… I don't… I don't want to die, please… Jay.

"Jay, you okay man?" Jason asked coming up next to him.

Jay took his hand and he managed to steady himself. He leaned over the balcony and looked out over the cabins again. The green torches of the Hecate Cabin seemed to be burning brighter then usual. He harbored no resentment towards the magic goddess's children, however the goddess herself wouldn't dare show up at camp half-blood he knew that. If she did, no matter if she was a goddess or not, he and Nikki would have died to try and cut her down where she stood. The two would have died trying, which they probably would, Hecate wouldn't let the two get the best of her a second time.

He didn't mind the goddess's children, but whenever he saw the cabin, resentment boiled up in his gut. He gripped the railing on the deck so hard his knuckles began to turn white. He looked over at Jason, who seemed to have a mixture of confusion and worry. Jay sighed, it was good of his new friend to be worried, he appreciated it.

He looked down at the wooden boards of the deck and gathered his breath before looking back up at him.

"Yeah I just… I'm worried about Piper." He said honestly.

His face turned to the valley, and for once Jay could see the worry in his eyes as well. The boy truly had no idea what he was doing there. He tried to rack his brain for anything that could possibly explain the sudden appearance of a demi-god. He spotted the Hecate cabin again and for a split second thought it may have been a trick from the goddess. As revenge for how Nikki and he defeated her, she took away Percy and planted Jason there to kill him.

He shook the thought from his head. Jason had taken a blast of lightning to the chest for him, if his memories were truly gone, he would've died for Jay then and there. As much as he hated to have to compare the two, that was a very Percy like thing for the boy to do.

Jason sighed, "I'm worried about her too, I know I wasn't really there for all the memories she has. I… I feel bad for it. I feel like whenever I try to remember anything my head is about to explode!" He stammered.

"Did Chiron figure anything out?" Jay asked.

Jason shook his head, "He knows something he just won't tell me. When he first saw me, he looked right into my eyes and said, 'You should be dead.'."

Jason went on to explain his conversation with Chiron. Jay was baffled. The old centaur would normally do anything to help a demi-god in need. Why would he be so secretive now? He had to hope perhaps Annabeth could get it out of him.

"That is odd. During my time as a demi-god I've learned that gods and old creatures are normally vague but… Chiron? He's always straight forward with us, why would he keep a secret this big from us?" He asked Jason.

Jason shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know but I… I don't know what it is, I just… don't feel like I should be here."

It was Jay's turn to look puzzled. As far as he knew, camp half-blood and Brooklyn House were the only safe places for children with godly heritage.

"What do you mean, 'don't feel like you should be here?' You're safe here, I promise as long as-."

"That's what I'm trying to say! I… I feel like I'm in danger being here, like I'm about to be jumped at any second. That girl in there… Nikki? She looked like she's wanted to kill me since I got here. I just… really don't feel like I belong." He interjected.

Jay bit his lip nervously and sighed. "Nikki's… been through a lot these last few months don't take it personal. Part of it is my fault… but she's one of the best friends you could ask for. You have nothing to worry about from her." He promised.

Jason studied Jay and seemed to realize his words had deeper meaning in seconds. "Were you two… well you know-."

Jay felt his face go red and quickly nodded his head. "For a bit yeah, but it just didn't work out I just… that story isn't important right now. What is, is getting your memories back. The gods going silent, Percy disappearing and you showing up where Annabeth's message said to go can't be a coincidence!" He said, eager to change the subject.

Jason seemed to understand not to pry which Jay was thankful for.

"But how do we do that?" He asked me.

He sighed and shook his head. "I'm not sure, I've been doing this a long time but, I just can't figure anything out. Hopefully Annabeth can think of something. I just wish my mom would answer my prayers, she's never left me in the dark this long!" He said, letting his anger spill over.

He gripped the railing again. Piper another person who he cared about, was barely breathing, Percy was missing, his mom wasn't answering his prayers, he hadn't seen his sister Alex in months, he hadn't seen Nico D'Angelo since the battle of Manhattan, and worst of all… Bianca was still dead. He lost control for a minute, he whirled around and punched his hand into the side of the big house. The sun was almost set, so little whips of moonlight had curled around his fist and when he pulled his hand back there was a charred fist mark in the wall.

Jason nearly had a heart attack, he leaped back a good five feet. Jay turned and saw how startled he looked.

"I'm sorry," He said pulling back his smoking hand. "I've just got a lot going on…" He said.

Jason seemed to calm down and nodded in understand. "I get it… I'm sorry I've added to your problems." He said with a sincere tone.

Jay shook his head, "No it's not you… listen Jason you saved my life. I owe you for that, I know you feel like you don't belong and feel like your in danger but just know, that I got your back, just like your had mine. I promise that I'm going to help you, we'll get your memories back, we'll find Percy, and when I find out who did this to you both… I'm going to have arrows waiting for them." He said holding out his formerly charred hand.

Jason looked scared for a moment, like Jay's hand would start spinning and explode with moonlight again. He shook his hand though and gave Jay a look of sincere thanks, and for a rare moment in months Jay genuinely smiled.

"Thanks man… so, really no ideas right now?" He asked again.

Jay shook his head. "No… maybe Annabeth has-."

"Why are you being like this!? You've never kept something like this from me!" The two heard.

Jay and Jason turned just in time to see Annabeth storm out of the Big House.

Chiron who was in stallion form sighed and shook his head. For the first time ever, he seemed weary to Jay. It was as if the centuries were finally beginning to weigh on him. He seemed genuinely upset he couldn't help.

"I swore an oath… I'm sorry child." He said before slowly walking back inside.

Annabeth turned to them and had a look of rage on her face Jay had only seen a few times, none of them ended well for her enemies. She ran a hand violently through her blonde locks and locked eyes with Jay. She looked over at Jason, who seemed for a minute. Jay thought that Annabeth might tackle the boy, but she just sighed.

"Jason, do you mind if I talk to Jay alone for a minute? Go wait around the other side of the deck, I think I have an idea to help with your memories." She told him.

Jay knew his new friend wouldn't argue, as he walked around the corner of the deck. When Annabeth turned back, she sighed again, running her hand through her loose blonde hair and ponytail again. Her stormy grey eyes didn't look like they normally did. She seemed so anxious, full of worry and lack of sleep. Jay sighed as well. A lot was going wrong in his life right now, but at least he still had Annabeth.

Whenever someone asked who his best friend was, he always replied 'Percy Jackson' without a second thought. However, if he was being honest with himself Annabeth and Percy shared the top spot. If not for Annabeth saving him at Tranmere Private School all those years ago, he'd surely be dead. If not for all her brilliant plans he and Percy would have died years ago. If not for her figuring out the true meaning of the Grand Prophecy in the middle of the battle with Kronos that past summer, the whole world would be destroyed.

There was a reason Percy and he believed she was the strongest demi-god of this generation. However, she was having a hard time being strong now. He knew in his heart Percy wasn't dead, he couldn't be. However, he remembered what I had felt like when Bianca had to join the Hunters of Artemis, he also still vividly was feeling the ramifications her death. He also remembered how he felt when he knelt over his father's corpse when he was twelve, the anguish and pain of losing the one person he was sure loved him in the world. He remembered holding Zoe Nightshade, his first love's head in his lap as his mother turned her into a constellation. Losing a person, you loved was the worst type of pain, one he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy, not even Hecate. It was powerful enough to drive even the most powerful demi-gods mad.

That was what Annabeth was currently going through.

"Hey," Jay said softly putting a hand on his shoulder. "We ARE going to find him, I promise."

'A lot of good your promises go." A small voice in the back of his head said.

Jay knew that was true, but he would die before he let this one fail. He was going to find Percy Jackson, he was going to find his best-friend and bring him home, so Annabeth wouldn't be upset anymore.

She took in a deep shaky breath and held her hand on top of her shoulder, gripping it so tight Jay felt it start to lose circulation, but he didn't stop her.

"Jay I… I know what losing Bianca put you through-."

"Annabeth…" Jay said, not wanting to subject brought up.

She stared at him with those intense grey eyes, and he relented.

"I know what losing Bianca put you through… but gods Jay with everything happening, I need you right now. I need you more then I ever have… please." She begged him.

Jay looked perplexed. "Annabeth you have me, I'm here for-."

She shook her head and cut him off again. "No, I need the REAL you Jay. Not what you've been the last few months. I know you've gone through a lot, but Gods Jay I need your help! The gods going silent, Percy missing, Jason showing up you know as well as I do that means something! Something is happening, and it's big, I need you please…" She said, with tears finally falling from her eyes.

He watched as his best-friend Annabeth Chase, the powerful, smart, genius daughter of Athena cried in front of him.

The real you.

He knew exactly what she was talking about. Ever since the battle for Olympus and the death of Bianca, Jay had been a changed man. He didn't train for months; he didn't even shoot an arrow until he and his friends rescued Gwen Stacey a few days before he was shipping out to the Wilderness School. He knew deep down in his heart she was right. If they wanted any chance of surviving whatever it was that was too come, he needed to go back to his old self.

It wouldn't be easy; he didn't even know how long it would take but he knew it was true.

It was time for him to be Jason Nicholson again. It was time for him to be the First Son of Artemis again.

He locked eyes with Annabeth and nodded, before pulling her into a hug. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed while he did the same around her waist. He felt her tears fall onto his neck and shirt. He nodded his head with her still embraced.

"Okay… I promise you have me. We're gonna find him, we will. Now… stop crying! Your getting snot all over me, gods Owl Head I know you need my awesomeness but there's no need to cry!" He said with a smile.

He heard a genuine laugh from Annabeth, and before he knew it for the first time in what felt like forever Jay laughed too.

She pulled back from the hug and kissed his cheek. It was a complete sisterly kiss, but it didn't stop Jay from feeling his face go red.

"Don't get too big of a head too soon silver head but… thank you." She said with a smile.

Jay sighed and nodded back. "I'll always have your back. Whatever happens Annabeth, after we find Percy, I'll always be there for you… always." He told her.

"You're a good friend Jay… probably the best I've ever had." She said trying to casual wipe her nose.

He smiled and put a hand on her shoulder again. "Annabeth, for you and Perce I'd do anything. I'd walk through Tartarus and back, no matter the danger."

She smiled at him. "Well I wouldn't want you in Tartarus! Remember when we went to the underworld? You almost died just from standing there! Then later mommy had to save you from Heracles." She said in a joking tone.

Anyone else who made a joke like that risked an arrow between their eyes but coming from Annabeth it made Jay laugh.

"Haha low blow owl head. I'm serious though… for you guys I'd do anything. To Tartarus and back." He said locking with her grey eyes.

She pulled him into another hug, with her arms around his neck he moved her lips to his ear.

"To Tartarus and back… I love you Jay." She said quietly.

"I love you too…" He said calmly, taking in her fresh lavender scent.

She pulled back and wiped the last tear from her face. Jay clapped his hands together and took in a fresh breath.

"Alright, enough with the mushy stuff, let's get to business! You said you had an idea for Jason's memories, also how's… Piper?" He asked the blonde girl.

She nodded, "She's stable, Nikki and Chiron will take care of her, Rachel's giving them the breakdown. Nikki says she should be back on her feet soon." She started, "As for Jason's memories, I wanted to take him to the Hypnos cabin, I was thinking Clovis may have some ideas to tap into his mind."

Jay nodded his head and also felt a little ashamed of himself that he didn't think of the idea. He brushed it off and realized over the years Percy and he normally left the plans to Annabeth.

"Alright, sounds like a good idea, did you come up with anything else?" He asked her.

She nodded again. "Yeah, I think you should get a hold of Alex. You never know, maybe some of that Egyptian magic could help. Also, she won't admit it to your face but, she really wants to see you."

Jay scoffed and nearly smacked himself. "Ha, I can't believe I didn't think of that, you got a point I'll get into contact with her tonight."

"Good, do you want to come with me? It's almost nightfall we should get this done as soon as possible." She asked him.

He was about to say yes, then remembered Piper laying unconscious in the Big House living room. He bit his lip nervously again.

"I think I'll stay here with Piper; you know give her a familiar face when she wakes up." He said, feeling his body tingle.

Annabeth gave him a knowing look but nodded. "Alright, she should be up in time for the campfire tonight, you and I will meet up and figure out what we can."

"Sounds like a plan, good luck not falling asleep Owl Head." He told her.

She laughed lightly. "And good luck with your 'friend.'." She said to him.

Jay felt his heartbeat faster but shook his head. "You know how it is for me now."

She chuckled and nodded. "I'll see you later Jay." She said, before walking around the corner to find Jason.

A few moments later she saw the two blonde demi-gods walking towards the cabins. He watched Annabeth start explaining things to Jason. It made Jay feel a little better, at least they weren't in the dark anymore. They had a plan, and as soon as they found Percy, they would more then likely figure out what's going on. He felt something begin to well up inside his gut, the feeling of apprehension had frequently been there before a major battle or quest. He knew Annabeth was right, if they were to succeed in whatever was coming, he had to get his head straight.

However, there was also a part of himself that said he shouldn't even bother. He would let them down, just like he did with Bianca in the end.

He sighed and made his way back into the Big House to check on Piper.

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When he got inside, he found only Nikki leaning over Piper. She had her hand extended over the unconscious girl's forehead, a faint golden light emanating from her hand. She was softly chanting words in Ancient Greek, the hym of Apollo. He knew it well, it was how Apollo's children healed the injured, she had used it on Jay multiple times. When he walked in, she stopped chanting, and took in a deep breath before slumping onto her but beside the couch Piper was on.

"How is she?" Jay asked sitting down next to her.

Nikki only met his eye for a moment before checking Piper's temperature again.

"She should be fine in a little bit. Rachel told me what happened… it was kind of unsettling." She said.

"Have you ever heard of a prophecy coming out like that? You probably would know more then most." Jay asked the daughter of the prophecy god.

Nikki twirled her blonde/brown ponytail in her hands. "From what it sounds like? I don't think there was any kind of prophecy in what Rachel said. What did she say exactly? Annabeth told me some, but she was busy arguing with Chiron."

Jay recalled the raspy feminine voice that came from Rachel, telling Piper to free her. How she said if we didn't free her, the earth would swallow us, something about a fiery one being the first, and a king rising. The one line that resonated with Jay however was when the voice said, 'it must be by the solstice' Jay knew the importance of the Solstice for the gods. It was when they had their annual meeting. To Jay it meant something very simple.

They had a deadline for something.

He relayed what had happened to Nikki. She nodded in understanding, and the fiddling with her ponytail became more aggravated.

She said a few choice words in Ancient Greek that Jay didn't care to repeat.

"That's worrisome. My hunch was right, there was nothing prophetic about what Rachel said, that was a warning," She said standing up and helping Jay to his feet. "Only a few beings could be powerful enough to take control of the Oracle Spirit inside Rachel. I don't think it was my dad, it had to be a goddess."

Jay bit his lip; he had started to think the same thing as she spoke. The last time he had gone on a rescue mission for a goddess he had fought the Titan Atlas to save his mother. Anything that could somehow capture and hold a goddess, scared him.

"So, you think we have a trapped goddess on our hands?" He asked, hoping he was wrong.

Nikki's icy blue eyes met his for the first time he knew that she knew how bad this was as well.

"That's exactly what I'm saying…" She told him.

He sat there staring at her for a moment. He felt his face go hot; he could tell she was waiting for him to say something else. Ever since what had happened a few months ago, this was the first time he had really been with Nikki alone, if you didn't count the unconscious Piper.

He bit his lip so hard he felt the irony taste of blood. "Look Nik I… I think we both know something big is coming."

"What gave it away?" She said sarcastically.

He shook off the jab and tried to formulate words.

"I… I think that if we wanna have any chance of stopping it me and you we need to… um… be on the same page?" He said cautiously.

Out of all his friends, Nikki had the best eye rolls when she was annoyed. So naturally she rolled her eyes at him. "Get to the point Jay, what are you trying to say to me?"

"That I'm sorry for breaking up with you!" He said so quickly he fumbled over the words.

For a second, Jay thought that he was going to be turned into a golden pin cushion. Either that or he would be sliced up like a ham or be burnt to a crisp. Nikki almost ripped her ponytail from her scalp. She turned to the window for a moment and took a deep breath to compose herself. She twiddled with the amulet around her neck, and for a second Jay thought she really was about to bust out her sword Dawn, to cut him in half. However, she took another calming breath and turned back to him. He could see in her eyes she was trying to keep calm.

"So, you think I'm upset with you because… you broke up with me?" She said in a tone of disbelief.

Jay felt a lump form in his throat. "Um, well yes? Kinda, I don't-."

She laughed in disbelief, "Haha, I really thought you were smarter than this Jay! I'm mad at you for even asking me to DATE YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE!" She erupted at him.

"Wha… what are-."

She scoffed and slammed her foot on the ground, "I guess it should be my fault, I should have known! I should have known you weren't ready!"

"What are you talking about not ready!?" Jay spat back, wanting to defend himself, but not make her angrier.

She laughed again. "HA look Jay I KNOW that you loved with Bianca with all your heart I really do! She was my friend too so that's why when I started to develop feelings for you, I kept them smashed away!"

Jay remembered the battle for Olympus, when before the final battle Nikki had revealed her feelings for him. It had caught him so off guard at the time, especially because Bianca arrived an hour or so later.

After she had died, about a month later he remembered what Nikki said. He thought perhaps he… could feel the same way, and maybe being with her would take the pain away from Bianca's death. He didn't tell Nikki that when they started dating, and he regretted it ever since. Finally, around a month later he couldn't stand leading her on anymore. The only thing being romantically involved with Nikki did was make the pain increase. It hadn't been pretty when he did it, he got a vase to the head and Alex had to fix a few statues in Brooklyn House, but Jay knew he deserved it.

"I… I've told you I'm sorry…" He started.

"NO," She cut him off. "You're going to listen to me now! You can't run away from this, you USED me Jay, do you realize that!?" She shouted.

"I didn't mean for it to be like that!" He tried to reason.

She shook her head, Jay looked out the window. He knew the sun should be going down soon, but with every word Nikki said the blow of the sunset glew brighter. He had, had no doubt before she was the most powerful child of Apollo in eons, but this just reinforced it.

She scoffed again. "I don't want to hear that! You knew what you were doing, you told me! I should have known your feelings didn't just go away so soon after she died… you're my best-friend Jay. You saved my life, showed me who I really am, trained me, you always will be my best-friend," She said, she wasn't angry anymore, Jay could see the tears trying to hold in her eyes, "So when you used me like that? It really… REALLY hurt me."

She said turning away from him. She wiped her sleeve to her eyes Jay knew what she was doing. She didn't want him to see her cry.

She turned back to him, "And now, you think I'm mad at you because you broke up with me? What do you think I'm just some girly girl whose, so upset like her boyfriend broke up with her, I don't wanna talk to hm anymore." She said doing her best valley girl impression.

Jay almost laughed at the spot-on impression but managed to suppress it. The guilt and shame he felt out-weight any desire to laugh.

She shook her head, the tears threatening to escape again. "I don't care that you broke up with me Jay. If you had just told me 'Nikki I don't think I can feel the same way as you do.' And told me more about the pain you were going through… do you really think I would've been mad?" She asked him.

Jay was flabbergasted. He realized he had been lamenting the loss of so many people and forget to stop and realize who he still had left. Annabeth, Alex, Nikki… he loved them and the rest of his friends with everything he had.

And he had devastated one of them.

"N… no… Nikki, I… I'm so sorry." He finally said, feeling tears well up in his eyes as well.

She looked at him and shook her head. "Like I said Jay… you're my best-friend. I… I forgive you but, it'll be a while before I forget."

Jay nodded and felt like his insides had just been smacked with a sledgehammer. He nodded at her, and she did the same. He wanted to pull her in for a hug but didn't know if it was right for him to do so. He didn't have to decide because Nikki wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed. He heard on long shaky sigh and sniffle before she pulled back. She looked him square in the eyes. He thought maybe she was going to say something wise and prophetic.

He was proven wrong when she slapped him across the face as hard as she possibly could.

He got hit so hard he tumbled back into one of Chiron's reclining chairs.

"OWWWWW!" He yelled holding his hand to his now red cheek. "Was that necessary!?" He asked.

She sighed like she was content and nodded. "Absolutely, now come on we need to try and figure out what's going on. I just hope Annabeth can get something out of that Jason kid, something about him is just… off. I can't tell what it is."

Jay after shaking off the initial shock of being slapped, stood up rubbing his cheek. "You don't have to worry about him. He saved my life Nik; I'd be dead if not for him."

She looked at him skeptically. "If you say so to me, he just… doesn't feel right. It's just a really bad feeling that… he's my enemy. I couldn't tell you why." She said leaning down to Piper's side to check her temperature again.

Jay stood there and watched Piper's chest slowly rise and fall. The dark-haired girl snored lightly, and Jay sighed. He just wished that they could get some kind of sign. He felt like in his head he was doing a puzzle. He had a few pieces, Percy disappearing, Jason's arrival, the message to Piper from the voice that took over Rachel, the gods going silent, the feeling Nikki had about Jason. They were all pieces of the puzzle to figure out what was going on. He also felt like to complete the puzzle there were a ton more pieces missing that he didn't have.

"Jay, Jay, where are you, I need you!" He heard clear as day in his head.

He turned over to Nikki, "What is it, I'm right here?" He said to her.

Nikki turned and gave him a puzzled look. "What are you talking about?" She asked after feeling Piper's wrist.

"You just said my name? I heard you." He said.

"No, I didn't." She said with a shake of her head.

Jay felt his blood go cold, "Okay, now I'm hearing things, you might need to check me out-."

"JAY! Please, I can't hold it for long, where are you!?" The voice said again, causing him to stiffen.

"Did you hear that!?" He said frantically to Nikki.

Nikki slowly shook her head. "No… are you okay? From my experiences, hearing voices in your head is a bad thing."

Jay shook his head, "I… I feel fine. Are you sure you don't-."

"Please Jay, we don't have much time, where are you!?" The voice asked more urgently.

Jay looked out the screen door of the Big House. He saw the cluster of forest that was just outside and turned to Nikki.

"I need to check this out… when Piper wakes up, tell her to wait for me okay?"

"Jay… me and you both know nothing good ever comes from a demi-god following voices in their head." She warned.

Jay paled for a moment, remembering a few years ago when Nico had been lured into the labyrinth by the voice of the Ghost King Minos. The voice now however seemed… desperate, afraid. It couldn't be a monster, they wouldn't get into the camp, it had to be something else, and he wanted to know what it was.

He took in a shaky breath. "Don't worry about me. Look on the bright side, can't worse than Kronos, right?"

"Don't jinx it." She said dryly.

He laughed and little and took off out the door. When he finally got out off the porch of the Big House, he heard it again.

"Jay please… please come to me! I can't hold it for… much longer!" It yelled in a pained voice.

It was a girl's voice, that much he could tell. He looked into one direction in the forest and took of into the forest, one of his mother's elements.

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"I can't hold her back for much longer, you need to find me now!" It yelled in his ears.

"Where!? Where are you!?" Jay yelled out from atop a branch.

He had gotten into the trees in seconds, he had been climbing them like before he even knew he was a demi-god. It felt so great to be in the forest again. The smell of the pine needles, the soil and mulch, the flowers and trees… it all felt like he was home. He felt at his most powerful in the forest, and at night under the moon. When the two were combined? He felt like he could fight any god, monster or Titan.

However right now, the voice grew more desperate.

"Here, I'm here! Come to me!" It shouted again, sounding more pained.

With his increased senses thanks to being in the forest his ears finally perked up. He turned right and leaped from branch to branch on the tree like he was playing those Assassin's creed games he like. He even talked to the Hephaestus cabin about forging him a 'Hidden blade' type weapon, but they weren't going for it.

That wasn't important now.

He leaped from tree to tree until he came to a familiar clearing. A long wall of stone with an old archery target on the ground in-front of it. There were a few discarded arrows tips and shaft along with tons of branches and old leaves. The target had several silver arrows in it, he remembered the place vividly.

It was the last place he had seen his mother all those months ago. After the battle of Olympus, the two of them had shot arrows together here. She had told him how proud she was of him, that she was honored to call him her child. He remembered despite how devastated he was feeling about Bianca when his mother hugged him and he smelled her scent, the scent of pine needles and a warm summer night, he had felt like everything may be okay.

The spot gave him a burst of realization.

He looked around frantically, "MOM!? MOM IS THAT YOU!?" He called out into the trees.

He pressed the wolf's head charm in his bracelet and his bow sprang to life. If that really was his mother's voice, she sounded like she was in danger. He scanned the trees around him, until he heard some rustling bushes between two tall pines, and he twirled around aiming his bow.

"Jay…" A voice said, the same voice.

Out of the bushes stumbled a young girl who couldn't be any older then 12. Her auburn hair was in a frazzled mess cascading down her shoulders. She wore a silver parka and a pair of jeans that had been torn to shreds. When she looked up, Jay saw the gleaming silver eyes of his mother. It was the goddess Artemis, and for the first time ever, and what would probably be the last he saw a look of pure fear on his mother's face. The oddest part however was her face. It kept… shifting vaporizing in and out, taking on a different form, one second it was his mother one second another girl.

"Mom!? What happened to you!?" He said rushing forward.

He took a step before she held up her hand for him to stop. "NO! Jay you must stay back I can't-. UGHHH!" She said clutching at the sides of her head.

This time her whole form flickered. One second he saw his mother, in another second he saw a different 12-year-old girl, one with a hard-sharper face, her gleaming silver eyes full of malice, wearing a… bed sheet? What looked like a bed sheet along with a pair of sandals? Within another second, she was back to the form he recognized.

"Mom what… what's going on with you!?" He asked desperately, terrified seeing his mother in such pain.

She shook her head. "I have very little time Jay, listen and don't interrupt me-UGHH," She said clutching her head and flickering yet again, she locked eyes with him, and Jay saw the desperate fear. "Listen my son, Hera's plan is crazy, but it may be the only way to stop-. UGHHHH!" She said keeling over onto her knees.

Jay couldn't help himself anymore. He tossed his bow aside, knowing it would appear again later. He knelt down next to him mom and tried to help her up, but the goddess shrugged him off and scattered feet away from him again.

"I told you, you must keep your distance! I don't know how much longer- GAHHH!" She yelled again, before stumbling up to her feet. "As I said, Hera's plan is crazy, but it is our only hope now. You will play a major role in what's to come my son!" She said through gritted teeth.

Jay looked at her dumbfounded. He was trying to take in what she was saying, while also worrying about her.

"Mom what, what are you talking about!? Hera, a plan what!? Only hope for what?" He asked her.

She looked up into his silver eyes with her own. "You will succeed Jay… I know you will. Be wary, you… you will be tempted, she will try to-UGHHHH. She will try to consume your mind; she will offer what you want most in the world you, but you must not trust her Jay!" She said stumbling to the ground again.

"What… what are you talking about!? Mom, I need to know more I-." He was cut off by her hand, gently stroking across his face.

"I… I am so, so sorry I've had to be silent these last few months. You've grown so you must find your own path now. You will not- GAHHHH. You will not see me for a while, but know this… Jay, I believe in you and I love you… do NOT give in to the temptation Jay, you mustn't! You must resist- GAHHHHHHHHHHH!" She yelled falling to the ground again.

"MOM! What… what's going on, what temptation, what's coming, what's going on!?" He asked, kneeling down next to her.

Her form began to flicker, Jay reached down to put his hand on her back to help her up. As soon as he reached down however, his mother's hand locked onto his wrist in a death grip.

"AHHHHHH!" He yelled, feeling the blood circulation constrict.

He stumbled onto his knees, as his mother rose onto her feet. She wasn't shaking or gripping her head in pain anymore. She also… wasn't his mother. He looked up into the eyes of the other form that was flickering. This new goddess had her auburn hair tied tightly into a ponytail. He recognized a roman style toga over her body, with a crown of thorns and sticks, she squeezed his wrist and locked her silver eyes onto his. He didn't see love, kindness, or compassion in them like he normally did with his mother. The silver eyes were full of hate and rage.

For the first time ever, Jay's mother terrified him.

"M… mom? What… what's going on, what are you- GAHHHHHH!" He yelled as he felt bones in his wrist crack.

"Don't you dare!" She spat.

She lifted him up by the wrist and threw him backwards, he landed with THUD into a tree. He reeled in pain grabbing his broken wrist and feeling a new pain spread through his back from the impact. His vision started to go blurry, he tried to blink and clear it and with every blink his mother stepped closer, and closer.

"Mom… mom what are you doing, it's me, Jay!" He said desperately as she stood in-front of him.

"Your son…" He said weakly, trying to gather the strength to stand.

"So…" His mother said in a long drawn out tone, "You are the abomination that she created. I must say, I'm disappointed."

The 'abomination' word cut deep. He gently slid himself back up the tree, but as soon as he stood, he felt his insides churning like a pot of soup.

His mother gave a cold laugh. "You were never supposed to be born; our vow was eternal. I will put an end to this, and end to you-. GAHHHH!" She screamed gripping her head.

Jay back up gripping the tree. For a second his mother stumbled back, and again her form began to flicker. For a few seconds she flicked between her current form, and the girl with a silver parka and jeans again, how she looked when she first arrived.

"NOOO! YOU WILL NOT HARM HIM; I WON'T LET YOU!" She screamed, the girl with the parka yelled.

She doubled over grabbing her head again. "HE WILL DIE! HE IS A STAIN ON OUR LEGACY!" The girl with the toga yelled back.

His mother doubled over again and now the girl in the parka was back. Jay scrambled back and tripped when she looked at him.

"RUN JAY, I CAN'T-UGHHHH HOLD HER BACK, GO NOW!" She yelled, before falling over in pain again.

Jay took one last look at his mother, and with his heart ready to beat out of his chest, he turned and ran. He bounded through the forest, he tried to climb up a tree, but when he went to grip a branch, he broken wrist felt like it was on fire. He keeled over onto his knees again, and as he did, he hear a sound whistling through the air. He turned around just in time to see a silver arrow flying towards him! He ducked and the arrow hit the tree with such force half the shaft was implanted into the wood. He looked up and his mother was rushing towards him again, the form of the girl in the toga leaped through the forest with ease, a large silver bow in her hands. He pressed the wolf charm again and his bow came back to him. He tried to hold it up and pull the string back but as soon as he tried pain shot up his entire arm. His shot went well left and his mom was on him.

She slammed her bow from above and Jay just barely manage to deflect it.

"Come now! I thought you would have some semblance of skill being HER son!" She said as his mom slammed her bow into his stomach.

Right away his intestines churned, and he got sent flying backwards again and slammed into another tree, this time his head slamming into it even harder. He felt the irony taste of blood drip from his nose onto his lips as he laid back against the tree trunk. He felt all his power drained. He didn't know what to do, how could fight back against his mother, he loved her.

She was on him again before he knew it. She stood above him with an arrow knocked and aimed towards him.

"It's time for you to die. This mistake will be- UGHHHHHHHHH NO NOT AGAIN!" She yelled lowering her bow and grabbing for her head.

"NO! I WON'T LET YOU!" The form of the girl in the parka yelled flickering into the body.

"YOU FILTHY GREEK! HE MUST DIE!" The girl in the toga shouted.

Jay felt all of his energy leaving him. He managed to get to his feet however and lean back against the tree. He had suffered worse injuries and been able to fight on, but this time was different, first off, his power has depleted over the last few months as much as he hated to admit it. Also, he couldn't take his eyes off his mother. He tried to process what was happening, but his vision went blurry again. He saw the two forms of his mother flicker, and for a few seconds the girl in the parka materialized, the original form of his mother he saw.

"Jay! I'm sorry my son, remember what I said! She will tempt you with what you most desire, but you must not give in! You will be what tips the scales in our favor Jay, do NOT let her turn you. I… I love-. GAHHHHH ENOUGH!" She yelled one last time, before a giant blast of silver light burned Jay's eyes.

When the silver light subsided, his mother was gone. A scorch mark was in the spot she had been.

"Tip the scales, what I most desire… what is she-. UGHHH!" He winced feeling a pain shoot through his head as well.

"I need… to get back." He whispered to himself.

He looked up; the moon was slowly rising. He focused the remaining bit of energy he could to figure out where he was. He got the direction of the camp in his mind and started stumbling towards it.

"She will tempt you with what you most desire…" He said lightly to himself.

His vision was getting blurrier and blurrier. His mind was wondering, but he was determined to remember what she had told him.

"Hera's plan… our only hope." He said stumbling forward.

He managed to stop himself from falling and slowly rise again. He saw the light of the dining and the sound of a large horn pierced his ears; it must have been the horn to switch activities. He had to be getting close.

"She will try to consume my mind… what I most desire." He said as he finally saw a large building, a cabin.

He slumped against the building and used it to support himself as he moved forward. He had to keep moving. He had to tell Annabeth and Nikki what happened. He had to keep going, despite the pain through his entire body.

"I will… tip the scales…" He said, with his legs finally giving out.

He felt onto the earth. He felt dirt get into his mouth as he fell right next to the cabin steps. His vision went in and out from black. He turned around to where he lay on his back in front of the cabin steps, he looked back into the forest from where he came, and he was sure he was hallucinating again.

A woman stood between the two cabins. She looked to be attached to the ground, with a black shawl and robes covering her entire body. Her skin was pale but seemed to drip into grains of dirt into the earth. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed to be asleep, but when she spoke, Jay heard it clearly in his ears.

"Ohhhh my sweet Jason Nicholson… my sweet little pawn. You will serve me, I know it, you will serve a great purpose for my plans. You will tip the scales in my favor… Hahahaha." She laughed gently.

Jay squinted to try and see her closer, but after a few blinks she shrunk more and more into grains of dirt.

"Who… who are you? What… what's going on…?" He asked desperately. All he wanted at that moment was answers, he didn't care about his injuries, he had just almost died at his own mothers' hands, what was happening?

"Jay!? Oh, my gods!" He heard another voice say.

The moon was starting to come up, but from the sunset that was left, he saw two heads of blonde hair come into his view as he looked up. He noticed the stormy grey eyes of Annabeth and saw Jason across from her. Jay almost laughed at the stroke of luck, he must have come stumbled right to the Hypnos Cabin.

"Jay what… what happened to you!?" Annabeth frantically asked, ripping off a piece of her camp t-shirt and wiping the blood from my nose.

Jay was still looking at the spot the dirt lady stood, and then finally to Annabeth. "Annabeth my… my mom… Hera… plan… tip the scales…." He said, before the blackness finally clouded his vision.

"MEDIC, WILL, SOMEBODY WE NEED TO MOVE-." Annabeth's screaming was the last thing he heard before he finally passed out.

A/N: Hey everyone! Yes, it is an update your eyes do not deceive you xD I have run into a major work load at school, I am in one of my last few years of college, so the work load is piling up. I promise I'll have these out as quick as I can, it won't be a month long wait again I hope, they should come faster but I can't promise once every week or so anymore unfortunately : (

However I am going to keep this story going I promise, just be patient with me haha.

So some MAJOR stuff happened this chapter, Jay finally hashed things out with Nikki, he had this encounter with his mom, and most importantly Gea for the first time! Please guys leave a review of what you think will happen an what you liked! I love all reviews but seeing decent length detailed ones no joke always make an author wanna write faster xD

My final announcement for you all is VERY important!

If any of you reading have a Twitter account I am BEGGING you, go visit the twitter page for The Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Musical! That would be LTMusical they have a tweet on there that if it gets 75k likes there can be a possible PERCY JACKSON TV SHOW WRITTEN AND CREATED!

Now I know what you're thinking 'How do we know it's real'. Well for context Rick Riordan himself has voiced his support for the musical, and with the new Disney+ streaming service coming, a PJO Tv show could be something they put on there! The Lightning Thief Musical is a very loyal adaptation and have connections with Disney and Rick himself!

Also in the end why the heck not!? All you gotta do it like the tweet they have for the TV show, and you can possibly have our favorite series turned into a TV show it only takes seconds!

Again go to LTMusical or search #PJOTvShow

Please go do this if you can guys, this is our best chance at a loyal adaptation!

Okay that promotion is over xD I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and I am REALLY looking forward to bringing you guys the next one! See you next time!