Mind over Matter

You want me to what now?

Artemis POV

I sat inside of my own tent, waiting for my lieutenant to finish her conversation with her cousin whilst I pondered my recent actions. Percy didn't realise but when I blessed him I enabled myself to keep an eye on him much like I do with my own hunters. Whether he believes it or not Percy is the one good man on the planet and I would be lying if I said I didn't care about his well-being. That's why I had followed him. Keeping an eye on his soul whilst everyone else watched his heart and mind. What I had seen made me fear for the Son of the Sea.

His soul was becoming darker. He was filling the emptiness with hunting and whilst I do not disprove of his hunts for they are truly a spectacle to watch, he was throwing himself in too hard. He was becoming detached. That's why I had possibly helped make the manticore trail just a little bit more obvious. Whilst I had no doubt in the tracking skills of Phoebe I didn't want there to be any risk of failure, and besides the manticore killed a young girl, he deserved death. I know I will have to admit to Percy that I cheated in the bet. I can only imagine the wish he will request.

As I sat lost in possibilities and potential wishes I heard a knock at the door. I brought down my barrier of my tent allowing whoever it was to enter. Who should walk in but the boy in question himself. Perseus sat down and I couldn't help but notice a slight tear in his eyes. I wanted to hug him there and then but quickly reprimanded myself. He's a male and I have a reputation. Whilst I am not so proud like my sister Athena I did have my share of pride. The raven haired boy sat down in front of me and looked at me unblinkingly.

"You cheated." He said very matter of factly. How did he know? I wasn't going to lie to the boy, I had too much respect for him to do so but I was not going to let my actions go unjustified. "I wouldn't have had to if I hadn't been so worried for your own health. You've been losing yourself Percy. Falling into Shadow rather then Perseus Jackson. I told you four years ago that you are more then just the mask, that you must remember who you are, both aspects of you. (AN: kinda like what Oliver Queen did in the early seasons of Arrow) Now answer me this, How are you? After speaking to your cousin that is." As I spoke I watched his face, waiting for it to contort with some kind of emotion, something that I could see and hold onto but I got nothing.

He was an emotionless mask and one that he had perfected. It was then that I realised something else. I couldn't sense his aura. Demigods have known how to do this before sure but never for this long and not without sheer concentration. He sat here without even focusing and his aura didn't spike once. I had no idea what this man was feeling. And it terrified me. "I feel fine, when am I ever not fine? I laugh sometimes, I smile sometimes, I get angry when I see a truly horrendous monster. I am fine Artemis. Thalia seems okay now, I think she's glad to know that I am not dead, she also shocked me a lot because I was not dead so I'm not sure if she's happy to see me or not. Now I have a question for you huntress, one that you must answer truthfully." As he finished his eyes held meaning, he knew if I lied or not, he'd know. I had the ability too just not as strongly as my brother. I knew he had only told half truths the entire time. Something was wrong but right now. What was he gonna ask.

"Where is Nico? Thalia told me about what happened to him, where is he and is he ok? No one decided to tell me about him so I don't know how I was supposed to find out but I guess the fates wanted me to know today. Wanted to make today hurt that little bit more." There it was. The first emotions he had shown. Concern for his cousin and bitterness of the fates and what they had weaved for him. "Your cousin is still in a comatose state, he is currently in the underworld at Hades' palace. You can go to see him soon but first I would like to take you to Olympus. If I may?"

You may be wondering why I, a man hating Olympian goddess am asking him, a male demigod, for permission. Well I'll tell you. Percy Jackson is a terrifying man. I may not sense his aura but I know what it was. Even before the blessings he was powerful but now. I could not begin to fathom his power. He could probably go toe to toe with a Kronos himself and win without any help. So yes I ask for permission, because I don't want him to kill me. "Lady Artemis, you do not have to ask me for my permission, of the Olympian council you are one of a few that I trust. You have never voted to kill me and I respect the work that you do. Whilst it is not new knowledge that I don't harbour much respect for the gods, I do for you. Not just for what you have done for my soul cousin but for everything you do for women. When I was a child my stepfather Gabe used to hit me, he was abusive both physically and mentally, I have many scars that will never heal. For a while I believed that if he was hitting me it meant my mother was safe. Then one day he raised his hand and she flinched and I knew I was wrong. He had abused her and I later learnt he had raped her a few times. To say I was angry would be an understatement for my mother is the most important person in my life. Whilst I am not blaming you for I know your motive, there is no group that defends boys from such abuse and they are often expected to be tough and not talk about it causing a strong hate towards anything resembling weakness and so abuse comes more often. I am thankful my mother was so kind and taught me as such or else I could be just like that monster of my childhood. Even now I still have nightmares of him. But you help people from having to face that and so I have much respect for you."

To say I was speechless would not begin to cut it. I had absolutely no idea. The hero of Olympus, our two time saviour, betrayed and abandoned by the ones he knew, had been abused?! How was it possible for him to be as he is today after all he has suffered. That's when I knew. Without doubt the person in front of me was not only the strongest demigod physically but emotionally. He was a hero. And I would make whoever this Gabe was hurt.