Pertemis: Chasing Time

Chapter 14: Finally We Are Back

Percy's POV

Fighting with Ladon wasn't that hard though. Except I nearly lost my arm and leg. Surprisingly, I knew how to shoot an arrow. Don't blame me. Since I got stuck with the power of swordsmanship, I didn't know how to shoot an arrow. Artemis always angry at me when I came in term of archery. I have to say thank you for Apollo when I see him. I think he helped me with shooting arrows back there. Anyway, I came back to Apollo's palace via the pearl with the apple on hand.

"Apollo!" I shouted out loud in his temple. Immediately, he flashed before me with an angry look on his face.

"Don't shout so loud in my temple! Jeez you're becoming like my sis, always shouting at me." He complained.

"You forgot shooting." I teased. He looked at me and was about to rage.

"I got the Golden Apple." I brought out my hand and showed him the apple. "Poseidon told me that it able to restore a god's essence."

"You went to fight Ladon?" He widened his eyes.

"I thought you knew and blessed me with the ability to shoot straight." I inquired.

"I didn't." He shook his head. "I think it's probably because you have Artemis's essence within you, so you have part of her shooting abilities." He added. Yet again, I can't do anything without her, literally.

"Speaking of her, let's give her the apple already." I said impatiently and ran towards her ward. I have so much I want to say to her.

Apollo sighed as he took the apple from me. "Thanks and wait out here." Then he ran off inside, closing the door.

After what seemed like forever, Apollo came out.

"How's she?" I asked impatiently as I found my arm holding him down on his shoulders, as if he would run away.

"I'm sorry, but I did what I could." He said sadly and embraced me in a hug.

"No... it can't." I struggled out of Apollo's embrace, tossing and kicking him just to get free. I don't believe this. I didn't just risk my life for nothing. I still have so much I wished to do with Artemis. She said she would teach me archery.

"Hey hey hey! Chill bro. I'm just messing with you. She's going to be alright." He finally spoke the truth when he couldn't hold me down anymore.

"IT'S NOT FUNNY!" I screamed at him, but he kept laughing hysterically.

"Hey I have to do something to get back at you right? You are the reason why my lil sis is in this state in the first place." He rebutted, after he regained his composure. "You're lucky I only decided to mess with you." He added on. Then I realised, I've been so worried over Artemis that I forgot about Apollo. Although he's not injured or anything, he must have gone through quite a lot when he realised his "lil" sis went missing.

"I'm sorry. I..." I didn't know what to say. He was right. I'm lucky just to get pranked in return.

"No need to say sorry. At least you brought her back." He pulled in for another embrace. "Besides, I think Artemis will be more than enough for you to handle." He smirked and broke off.

"Go have a good rest, you deserve it." He told me "And you will need it." He smiled at me before flashing off.

I walked inside Artemis's room. She was still laying unconscious. I sat next to her bed and took her hand in mine. I rubbed it on my cheek as staring at her. She looked so beautiful when she's asleep. My eyes started falling and soon enough, I fell into a dreamless sleep.

I woke up the next day and felt fully rested. My hand was still holding Artemis's. She was still unconscious, but she wasn't as pale as she used to be.

Just then Apollo walked in, and before he could say anything,

"Why the Hades isn't she awake yet?" I immediately glared at Apollo. It's been a whole night already and she's still on the bed.

"I don't know, I just got here. Doctors also need their sleep ok." He shrugged me off and went to check on her.

"She seems fine-"

"Seems?" I tried to withhold myself from strangling him. Now I know why Artemis is always pissed off with him.

"Her vital stats are all fine. Maybe she's just sleeping." He explained his "seemed", though I didn't buy it. "I'm off to do my duties, if anything happens, CALL ME." He said sternly, empathising on the last two words and flashed away. I sat back down. I didn't know what I could do. I simply held her hands and held it close to my face. It's warm, and soft.

"I'm sorry." I said to her. I didn't know what else I could say. "Just wake up, please. The hunters needs you, I need you. Or else who's going to hold me back from doing stupid things." I looked down in shame.

"That's all?"

"Of course not. Who else am I going to-"Then I paused for a stop, and looked up. I see Artemis smiling at me!

"ARTY!" I burst out in joy and lunged at her, hugging her tightly.

"I missed you too Percy." She hugged me back with equal strength. Much to my reluctant, she pulled back after a while.

"What were you intending to say just now? Before you suddenly jumped at me?" She looked at me with glee, and I can't help but feel shy.

"Well... I was going to say who am I supposed to live the rest of my life with." I smiled sheepishly at her.

"Percy, that is so corny even for me." She rolled her eyes at me, but nonetheless she still leaned in and gave me a quick peck on the lips. "But I still liked it." She beamed at me.

She turned on the nightstand beside her bed and suddenly picked up something. She held it in front of me.

"What is this?" She asked with a frown.

On her palm was the thing I never wanted her to see. The golden apple. It was chopped in half, but yeah, it was still there. I'm dead this time.

"Uh...the Golden apple" I answered, scratching the back of my neck.

"What Golden Apple? You're not referring to the Golden Apple from the Garden of the Hesperides right you?" She crossed her arms and scowled at me.

"Uh, maybe? " I played with my fingers while looking at her closing her eyes, simmering in I presume would be anger.

"PERSEUS YOU i***t!" She burst out in rage. Although I'm expecting that, but it's still scary up front. What's worse was she was glowing sliver.

"Calm down first, you're glowing." I moved a bit from her and raised my hands in fear. The last time she wanted to turn me into a jackalope, she was glowing like that. It wasn't fun at all.

"Why did you risk your life, to get the Apple?" She said as humanly, or godly, calm as possible. "I didn't endanger my own life to save yours for you to risk it again." She added, still breathing heavily.

"You have any idea how I felt when you fainted on me back in the Labyrinth? Or I felt when I saw you on the verge of fading? You can risk your life to save mine, why can't I do the same for you." I poured out all that bottled feeling at her. I looked at her, but she looked away without muttering a word.

"I said it once, but I will say it again." I cupped her face, forcing her to look at me. "I love you Artemis, and I can't live without you. I-" I was cut off when she pressed her lips against mine.

Worth it. All of it was worth it. Just for this simple kiss. I drugged myself in her lovely forest scent. I wanted to deepen the kiss, but the moment I did that she backed off immediately.

"No you don't deserve this. Not after you just pulled and cheated on me with Reyna."

She looked at me seriously

"Artemis, I'm sorry. I know it's my fault. I won't do anything to hurt you again." I said to her.

She just closed her eyes. "Percy, you have hurt me too many time. You've made me worried too many time. I just-"

I immediately stood up and looked at the her. I held up one hand as I spoke. "I, Perseus Jackson, shall now make my oath that I'll never hurt Artemis or cheat on her ever again. If I break it, I shall be tortured for eternity, being sent to Tartarus, being despised by peop-"

Artemis stood up and put her fingers on my lips to stop me.

"Hey, don't make such a cruel oath like that. You know it'll turn serious. How can I live without you by my side?" She scowled at me.

I looked down and grinned at her as I held her arms. "So you've forgiven me then?"

She hit my chest playfully as she laid her head on it. "Of course I've forgiven long ago. I always believed in you Perce."

I didn't say anything but just hugged her close. Even I didn't finish saying the oath, I have made one in my mind, that I would never let this happen again. Artemis is the only one that I love, and I would never hurt her. Never again.