The Bane of Artemis

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 6:

The sparks and sounds of metal clashing together echoed throughout the valley. Perseus battling five demigods at once. The Romans and their eagles had been scouting the area for potential enemy scouts. But instead they found a caged goddess and a Gigante ready to battle for his escape.

"Young demigods, it is wise for you to retreat. Let the camps know of our whereabouts. Do not fight" Artemis spoke through the cage as she gripped the metal bars with such force her knuckles were whitening.

The Roman demigods took after their parents and sponsors. Arrogant to a fault. Believing that years of teamwork would be sufficient to take down an ancient foe. They were fighting admirably. But a difference between a demigod and an immortal was vast.

Perseus had been very irritated when Enceladus had revealed that he could no longer use the doors of death. It being used for transporting more monsters into their armies. Not only that, but Enceladus himself left him to tend to his own duties. Being the consul of their 'king' required him to make sure plans were set into motion. However, from their last exchange of words Enceladus seemed troubled. Stating that some of their brothers were not answering the calls for a meeting.

"I would heed to your goddess' orders." Perseus agreed as he toyed with the Romans. Only using a single dagger to fend them off.

"We can't. Our duty is to protect New Rome. We have been scouting further into the states in hopes to clear out any threats near Camp Jupiter. That means rescuing you as well Lady Diana." One of the Roman soldiers replied as he pressed his gladius harder hoping to push the eight-foot giant back.

"Yes, protect New Rome." Artemis uttered realizing that it was determination that kept them fighting for her release. Her Roman personality bleeding a bit almost altering her form.

Perseus swept his leg and with one swift leg motion knocked all five demigods on their asses. They were struggling to get back up with their cumbersome armor. They quickly got into formation to defend their vulnerable points of attack, now that they weren't engaged with the enemy. Perseus was fast and a blur as he knocked all five demigods unconscious with the underside of his fist. No blood needed to be spilled at the moment. The last thing he needed was to be followed vigorously for killing unimportant Roman demigods. In addition, killing wasn't to his taste. He held no grudge against them. Plus, if they were killed, they wouldn't reform like any other immortal.

He clutched his hand into a fist as the surrounding earth mirrored his movements. The closing of his hand made the earth envelop the demigods. An earth prison as the bump on the ground signified there were bodies underneath the soil and grass.

"To proud." Artemis whispered, the little hope she had was destroyed as the demigods lost to the giant.

"They take after their parents." Perseus reinforced her claims as he sheathed his lone dagger into its scabbard.

"That was our third skirmish with a demigod scouting party. That isn't good." Perseus whispered to himself as he looked at the goddess.

The party of earthborn his brother was willing to lend Perseus was minimal, at best. Only a dozen in total. Within their first skirmish with another Roman scouting party he had lost all of them. That particular scouting party was a larger one, it being ten legionnaires. Of course, it also had to be led by a Centurion from the legion. Centurions were the leaders for a particular cohort and were usually the best leaders and fighters among their cohorts. Which explains why a child of Venus was able to lead his scouting party to crush the earthborn.

Which also explained why the surrounding earth had large bumps on its surface. The Centurion Michael Kahale and the rest of the scouting parties also being imprisoned by the ground.

"You aren't as composed when you are alone." Artemis pointed out to Perseus.

"Quite the contrary. I just have a prisoner to monitor and carry." Perseus sighed as he had to lug the large celestial bronze cage alongside with him. It was very draining, who knew a goddess could be so heavy.

"It is best to let me go. I will have a slither of mercy when I destroy you." Artemis proposed as Perseus sat on the grassy floor. Crossing his legs and closing his eyes as the gentle winds whisked at the trees.

"It is a tempting proposal. I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I'd rather just destroy Porphyrion to speed up the process." The releasing aspect tempting him. Perseus looked into the vast wilderness he had decided to hide in. Traveling was more difficult since he had to carry his prisoner's cage. Even with the Earthborn they weren't travelling through the states as fast as he wanted to. Now without his brother's minions he was at stalemate.

"Why would you do such a thing?" Artemis posed the question. Not at all understanding why Perseus would destroy his leader.

"He's a weak leader and I have unfinished business with him. I won't be all surprised if one of my other brother's has supplanted him, aiming to get the majority share of our mother's territory." Perseus responded casually. He didn't care much to reveal some details to Artemis. Considering by the time the gods have any idea what was going on they would be falling to their demise.

"So, there are factions within your brotherhood?" Artemis quickly asked hoping to extract more useful information. Athena was correct that the Gigantes were fighting amongst each other. Who knew it would be for a petty reason such as territory?

"Hmm." Perseus responded simply.

"Which faction are you in? Porphyrion's or the brother against him?" Artemis continued to question.

"Which one of my brothers?" Perseus implied that there were more than two factions.

In reality there were twelve factions. Considering there were thirteen Gigantes bred to oppose the Olympians. Neither brother nor sister liked to be led. They all wanted the largest share of territories once the straws or divisions of territory would be set. However, the main threats to Porphyrion were Polybotes and Clytius. They were always subjectively disobedient to their king even from a young age. Whilst the others wanted to be leaderless and respond only to themselves.

All of that was an afterthought to Perseus. Perseus would only use them for the downfall of the Olympians. Then one by one punish all of his siblings for the transgressions done to him and Damasen. Perseus didn't care much for territory. He very much was more interested in vindication. The gods just another hurdle in his plan.

"Yes." Artemis reinforced her response hoping for an answer.

"None. I'm in this war for my own personal gain. I will not respond to Porphyrion, Clytius nor Polybotes. They are nothing to me." Perseus coldly said as he looked at the goddess.

"Won't the armies follow Porphyrion?" Artemis continued to pry information from the too casual gigante.

"They follow whoever gives them the opportunity for the most destruction. Porphyrion is cemented as the leader. But once that goes into chaos, they will be leaderless. The demigods can massacre them for all I care." Perseus felt that was true. The monsters weren't loyal. They would switch sides and allegiances as long as they were on the winning side.

Artemis scoffed at Perseus' distant nature from his siblings. Perseus didn't value loyalty. No… he had never experienced loyalty. Even his siblings didn't exhibit loyalty. Artemis correctly figured this out, by the method that he quickly disassociated himself from his siblings. After Damasen's death, he had no other longstanding bonds. He was a loose cannon.

"Loyalty is a good aspect. Not negative." Artemis found herself having to explain that loyalty was something special.

"My maidens pledge loyalty to me. In exchange they join the sisterhood of being hunters. They eradicate the evils of monsters. While also saving quite a few demigods." Her nose wrinkled at the mention of saving demigods. It wasn't their duty to do so but they do it anyhow.

"Loyalty is won. It is earned through respect as well." Artemis reminisced at the countless maidens that have joined her hunt throughout the centuries. She remembered every one of them, those that perished, those that still live, and those that have broken their vows.

"It is a shame. It is a wonderful thing." Artemis contently concluded.

"Perhaps even someone such as yourself may one day experience it. However, that is highly unlikely." Artemis passively spoke her statement. Realizing that if through countless years he hadn't found someone that would give him their loyalty, he never would.

"Hmm." Perseus' low voice murmured as he couldn't believe such thing. It was nothing more than a sham. Loyalty was bought or promised.

"Enough with your experiences. We haven't eaten for a while. Why not go on a hunt?" Perseus asked the goddess whose eyebrows shot up.

Perseus rose from his seated position as he walked up to the cage. Artemis had still been clutching the bars. Her dark black hair was mess. Strands of hair stuck up in various places. Her silver parka and silver camouflaged cargo pants were soiled with dirt stains. Her face a mess, tired from the sleepless nights.

As Perseus looked into the distance, he almost failed to notice the volley of arrows engulfed by harsh flames. They fell in an arch as he managed to dodge them. The harsh flames engulfing the grassy floor. The wild vegetation and trees being swamped by hellish flames as the somber ash began to float from its destruction.

"What is that?" Perseus yelled through the roars of the fire.

Artemis didn't bother to respond as she could feel relief course through her body. The sun's harsh flames being a perfect distraction. The fire keeping the gigante away whilst her twin brother Apollo destroyed the cage with his bare hands. Her assembled hunters in the back covering for Apollo. The silver arrows decorating the entire floor and crisped trees. Never had she been so delighted to see Apollo, under any other circumstance he would've been nothing other than a nuisance.

Perseus looked on with his eyes as the fire roared with ferocity. These particular flames being more potent than a regular flame. They were harsh, enough to cause damage as he felt his divine skin began to burn and sting.

He brought out his crossbow as the malignant black mist engulfed his bow. His anger rising with the flames. This particular figure destroying life sprouted by his mother. He could forgive humans for such sins. They had no beliefs in the ancient myths anymore. But the Olympian who willingly did this atrocity would pay.

As he took aim, he witnessed the cage's celestial metal bars spread apart and bent. Artemis nowhere in the surrounding vicinity. From the corner of his eye he saw a divine figure donned in a golden robe. Alongside an elegant quiver of golden arrows slung over the figures back.

With the flames surrounding him, he doubted that he would be able to capture Artemis again. So, he took aim with his crossbow. The crosshair mentally appearing in his sights. He pulled the trigger as the dark bolt flew to its target. Perseus heard the figure give a harsh grunt as the bolt drilled itself through the figures lower back.

Perseus escaped the valley, one that was full of life. As he looked back, he couldn't help but feel partially responsible for the destruction. The flames would soon spread throughout the entire valley. Soon enough, the only things that would remain would be the ashes and the mark of destruction caused by an Olympian.

A chariot quickly ascended to the heavens and that was when Perseus realized that the one that had come to save her was Apollo. Her brother, but why had it taken so long? The sun chariot was fast as it ascended to Olympus. The sun began to dim slowly as the chariot continued to rise. Only Perseus knew the reason why…

Apollo felt the unbearable pain of a projectile drill itself into his lower back. His drive to save his beloved sister more important than the pain. It had taken him so long because his proud father had denied his request to save his sister. The Romans and hunters had been praying to him to rescue his sister. A prayer he was more than willing to answer. Eventually Zeus was tired of his son's pestering before granting his request and letting him rescue Artemis.

Of course, he couldn't have gotten to her as quickly as he did if the Romans hadn't given him details of the last whereabouts of their scouts. They mysteriously halted communications when they entered Yosemite Valley. So naturally, that was where he would commence his search for his younger sister.

All of that was an afterthought as he laid on the golden fabrics on his bed in his palace. Artemis by his side full of worry. The bolt was easily extracted from his back. However, the dark bolt seemed to cause something in his wound. A black veiny mark began to spread from his original wound. It had progressed to the other side of his body. It nearly reached his chest. From the way it outlined his arteries, capillaries, and veins across his body it was a poison. But a poison Artemis had never seen. Being the god of healing, Apollo could've cured his ailment. However, he could only heal ailments he conjured up himself. Which was why his healing prowess had no effect on the wound itself.

From the bolt's stygian iron tip Artemis knew it was from Perseus' own hand. That and he was the only hostile within their radius. The sad reality was that her relief of her escape was short-lived after realizing that Apollo was suffering. No godly food seemed to improve his condition. Merely serving as a pain reliever from the stinging sensation the poison caused.

"You must track him down once again. I know it is much to ask sister. But this may cripple me for eternity. I very much love my features and do not want to end up like Hephaestus. I am much too beautiful to be crippled or considered ugly" Apollo's dark humor bled out as Artemis could only let a single tear stream down her cheek.

"You take this too lightly." Artemis scolded him halfheartedly. She knew it was her fault. If she hadn't gotten captured none of these particular events would've transpired.

"Humor can also heal." Apollo's bright smile reinforced her. His golden hair was darker due to the sweat building up on his forehead and body. The poison also causing a fever. How a poison managed to debilitate an Olympian was unknown.

Artemis left her brother to rest as he closed his blue eyes. The ones he managed to obtain from his father. They were softer than Zeus' but held the same electricity and rage when Apollo was upset.

As she exited his palace, she was greeted by her hunters who were standing guard on the outer gates. Artemis ignored their worried inquiries as she made her way towards the Throne Room. A council would be taking place soon. There she would reveal the new information she managed to pry from Perseus. Not only that, but where she would resume her tracking of the gigante. She needed to find him quickly, only he knew the cure for her brother's suffering. Artemis would get in any manner even if it meant stooping as low as torturing her adversary. Once someone hurt her brother she wouldn't mull over morals. She wouldn't give mercy….

Author's Note: Updated chapter six for those unsatisfied with the one I had previously written. Like always pardon my grammatical errors.

So, here's the updated version of Chapter six. I read various reviews that the release of Artemis was to non-logical. So, I decided to fix that by creating a separate plot to make her escape from captivity logical. I decided that who better to release her than her twin brother. Perhaps he does care very much for her sister. Not only that, but it wouldn't make sense for the altered Seven to release her considering their quest takes them to Ancient Greece.

Other than that, I don't think anyone else would save her. Zeus is a little bit to self-absorbed to care about his daughter. Poseidon is too busy fighting other ancient enemies in the sea. Athena is busy working battle plans and possible tactics on the Giant's assault. The rest of the Olympian council a bit too distant from Artemis considering she barely spends time on Olympus herself. Her hunters not enough to save her.

Yet her brother saving her proved to be a double-edged sword. She is now free, but now her brother is captive of an unknown poison. That can leave him damaged for his eternal life if it consumes his entire godly body. That or she can save him by getting an antidote or potion.

Perseus meanwhile returns on his mission to obtain leadership from his brothers. Perhaps he will make an appearance to the meeting his brothers have assembled. Perhaps the demigods will be there to interrupt who knows? Perhaps the fighting doesn't need to commence because there is already animosity amongst the brothers.

Who do you guys think will come victorious if a fight occurs amongst brothers? Which side will Perseus choose? Or will it be an all-out brawl amongst all thirteen siblings?

Now this is just some hints of things that may occur in the future. They are not set in stone. Some of these things may not occur at all. But it's nice to keep the readers guessing, I guess.

P.S this editing of chapter will be one-time thing. Chapter 6 was the only exception, after that there will be no edits to the plotline. Either you are on the ride for this story or you're not. So thanks in advance for those that continue the journey with me to finish this story.