The Silver Ring (PJO)

Epilogue

"Jackson!" Rosaline called from outside of my room. "Come outside!"

"Go away," I muttered into my pillow.

Which was an answer I had been saying a lot for the past few days while being cooped up in my room, feeling sorry for myself.

"You haven't eaten a bite for half a week!"

"I can sustain myself on water," I said flatly, flipping myself to face the ceiling. 

I hadn't been showing much emotion lately. Or even taking care of myself. Just one thought was repeatedly crashing into my head: Artemis.

"I'll give you one more day, then I'm forcing you out of there!"

"Go ahead," I dismissed, not having a care in the world.

I sighed as Rosaline's footsteps faded down the corridor. I knew what I was doing was not the best way to deal with my emotions: I would have to face them sooner or later.

But I hoped it was later as I snuggled back up into my blankets.

~~~

True to her word, Rosaline appeared the next day. "This is your last chance, Perseus!"

I merely gave an incomprehensible response as I sank deeper into my bed, resigned to my fate.

And then . . .

"Percy?"

Her beautiful voice came out soft and I felt a twinge of guilt as I knew the worry in it was because of me.

"Artemis?" I called back tentatively, wondering if this was a dream.

I could almost hear the smile in Rosaline's voice as she said, "Just open up already!"

I scrambled off the bed, twisting blankets and pulling sheets. I wrenched the door open . . .

To see Artemis, looking as stunning as ever. (And Rosaline, but she didn't matter that much at that moment.)

I rushed into her arms, my tears soaking into her clothes as she walked into my room and gently led me to the bed, sitting beside me. But I immediately enveloped her in another hug.

"How are you here?" I asked, my voice thick with emotion.

"Well, I didn't die when you killed Void," Artemis said. 

I paused in my mission of hugging the life out of Artemis, shocked at what she had said.

"How do you know about that?"

"I got all of Voi—my memories back." 

She sighed, slowly laying flat on my bed, forcing me down too.

"So you aren't dead?" I asked, making sure.

Her laugh sounded more like a song. "You're never going to get rid of me." Her light tone turned more serious. "Rosaline told me you weren't eati—"

"Can we not talk right now?" I muttered, cuddling up closer to Artemis. "Kinda ruining the moment."

"You know, I don't think any male excluding Apollo has cut me off without repenting it," she said, playing with my hair.

"Are you going to do anything about it?" I retorted sleepily.

"Maybe I'll let it slide, just this one time."

"That's what I thought. Now let me sleep. And you better be next to me when I wake up." The last word was blurred by a yawn.

"As you wish, my love," Artemis murmured as I slowly entered the most peaceful sleep I had ever had.

~~~

A/N-That about completes the book! It was a long but satisfying journey. Thank you all for the amazing support and have a nice day! The first chapter of the next book comes out on Saturday!