As Kurayami, the girls, his pets, and Nico spoke about Nico’s hobby and Nico even asked how they all met. The girls all explained how they had met and fallen in love with Kurayami. Annabeth just said why she joined Grigori and her time there. She even showed him her swords explained a bit about them. As for Kurayami’s pet’s most of them had grown huge.

While he still could carry them they were as big as a Kodiak bear. It was awkward to watch and he was a little sad he could no longer carry his pets, but they were getting stronger. Zhang’s scales looked like small black obsidian while Aurora’s metallic fur was even shinier and higher quality. Castiel was the size of a normal tiger and the more Nico heard the more he wanted some of his own

The girls took to Nico immediately as he was a happy kid and Kuroka hugged him. embarrassing him. “Kurayami, Can we adopt him?” Nico blushed. “I am not a pet.” She shook her head.. “I can be your new mom and Kurayami can be your dad.” Annabeth shook her head as Kuroka wanted kids.

Kurayami choked on his own spit. “Hey, did you ask him?” Nico nodded. “Yeah. You can’t just adopt me.” Kuroka pouted while hugging Kurayami. “I want my kittens.” Kurayami sighed and hugged her tight. “Just one more year okay.” She nodded sadly. While they were having a nice time it was interrupted by a certain Zoe Nightshade and seeing her Esdeath raised her hand in the air.

“What does lady Zoe want with us peasants. Maybe she came to sneer as we have a husband.” Zoe glared. “Thee is making a terrible mistake. Men shall lead thee astray.” Akeno shook her head. “Kurayami won’t. Now, what do you want?” Zoe glared.

“Kurayami, Lady Artemis wishes to speak with thee.” Kurayami, looked at the girls and they all stood. Zoe was annoyed. “I said only him.” Kurayami scoffed. “I’m not going if they don’t come.” Zoe frowned and just allowed it. “Thee can come, but the tent is only big enough for a few.”

Kurayami, the girls, and Nico all went with him while his pets followed from behind. Zoe looked at Shin and knew he was male. “Keep him from the wolves. I rather not castrate him.” Shin growled at her while Zoe led them to the last tent, which looked no different from the others, and waved them inside. Bianca was seated next to Artemis and seeing that made Nico nervous.

The inside of the tent was warm and comfortable. Silk rugs and pillows covered the floor. In the center, a golden brazier of fire seemed to burn without fuel or smoke. Behind the goddess, on a polished oak display stand, was her huge silver bow, carved to resemble gazelle horns. When Kurayami saw the walls were hung with animal pelts: black bear, tiger, and several others he knew as monster pelt he was impressed.

He looked at the deer with glittering fur and silver horns, its head resting contentedly in Artemis’s lap. It looked up and sniffed and got up. It slowly approached Kurayami who petted its snout. Artemis and Zoe were shocked as it never did that. Artemis needed to know. “How did you do that?”

The deer nuzzled up to him while he stroked its neck. “Since I remember I have had an affinity to animals of all kinds.” Another girl led Pery who walked in and looked at him petting a silver deer. It returned to Artemis and he sat down.

“Join us, Percy.” The girls just stayed back to hear what they had to say. Kurayami and Percy sat across from her on the tent floor. The goddess studied them especially Kurayami and looked at Shin as the dog was in no way afraid. He locked eyes with her and she looked straight back. “King of Arcadia.” Shin’s ears perked up, but he didn’t know why.

“Are you surprised by my age?” Kurayami shook his head. “No. Gods are known tricksters and can change form.” Percy nodded. “I was a little surprised.” She nodded. “Kurayami is right. I could appear as a grown woman, or a blazing fire, or anything else I want, but this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters and all young maidens for whom I am patron before they go astray. ”

Kurayami had Shin on his lap while petting the dog. “What do you mean?” He asked the goddess, so she explained. “Grow up. Become smitten with boys. Become silly, preoccupied, insecure. Forget themselves.” Zoe sat down at Artemis right. She glared at Kurayami and Percy as if all the stuff Artemis had just said was their fault like they invented the idea of being a guy.

Kurayami’s eyes began to go black as he was sick of her attitude. “Zoe. I will ask you to stop glaring before a soul-destroying blade goes through your heart.” At his words, the air grew cold and Shin began to snarl. Zoe felt her hair stand on end and felt nothing she did could make her win against him. Shin’s bright red eyes glowed like blood. Artemis patted Zoe on the shoulder.

“You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you. It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp. Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp…” She looked at Zoe. “Which one was it?”

After she took a deep breath she answered. “That boy in Colorado, that you turned into a jackalope.” Artemis nodded, satisfied. “Ah, yes. I enjoy making jackalopes.” She looked at Percy and needed to know what the manticore said.

“I’ve asked you two here for different reasons. Percy, I asked you here so that you might tell me more about the manticore. Bianca has reported some of the… mmm, disturbing things the monster said. But she may not have understood them. I’d like to hear from you. ”

Percy began his explanation from his point of view and the more Kurayami and his girls heard they were interested. Many of them were battle junkies and it sounded like something strong. Artemis on the other hand was worried she placed her hand thoughtfully on her silver bow. “I feared this was the answer. ”

Zoe looked at her worried. “The scent, my lady?” Artemis nodded. Shin barked and Kurayami had a thoughtful look. “Shin smelled something, as for what it is he does not know?” Shin barked and Artemis looked at him. “May I borrow him for the hunt. He may be needed.” Kurayami shook his head. “He is my sacred gear and he is not meant to be ‘lent out’.”

Artemis looked down at Shin sadly. “He might have made this easier. Monsters are rising that I have nearly forgotten about.” She spoke aloud to everyone. “We came here tonight sensing the manticore, but he was not the one I seek. Tell me again, exactly what it said.”

Percy tilted his head. “Um, I hate middle school dances. “Artemis shook her head. “No, no. After that.” What he said made Kurayami and Artemis look over. “He said somebody called the General was going to explain things to me.” Zoe’s face paled. She turned to Artemis and was about to speak, but Artemis shook her head.

However, Kurayami already knew who they meant. “Atlas is rising. How very interesting.” Kurayami had a wild snarl on his face while Zoe froze in shock. “How does thee know that?” Kurayami scoffed. “I have Azrael for a grandfather-in-law. He was around during the Titanomachia and he watched in person.” Artemis sighed. “Such a troublesome guy.”

“Anyway, Go on, Percy,” the goddess said. Percy continued. “Well, then Thorn was talking about the Great Stir Pot—” Kurayami corrected him. “Stirring.” Percy agreed. “Yeah. And he said, Soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus. ”

The goddess was so still she could have turned to ice. Artemis stood up. “I must hunt this monster.” Zoe looked like she was trying very hard not to be afraid, but she nodded. “We will leave right away, my lady.” Artemis refused. “No, Zoe. I must do this alone.” Zoe was determined to go. “But, Artemis—” Suddenly Artemis raised her hand. “This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me. ”

“As… as you wish, my lady.” Artemis got her bow. “I will find this creature, and I shall bring it back to Olympus by the winter solstice. It will be all the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in.” Kurayami leaned back and put his head on Lavinia’s lap. “You know what it is?” She began to leave. “Let us pray I am wrong. ”

Kurayami bagan to pray. “Dear God. Keep Artemis safe. Amen.” Kuroka held her head. “HEY! Devil here.” She looked in pain. “Sorry. I forget. A flicker of a smile played across Artemis’s lips. “Before I go, Percy Jackson, Kurayami Himejima, I have a small request for you two.”

Percy was worried. “Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?” Artemis shook her head. “Sadly, no. I want you two and Kurayami’s fiances to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return and Kurayami has an all-access pass.”

“What?” Zoe blurted out. “But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there—” Artemis grimaced. “Yes, I know,” Artemis said. “But I’m sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge just because of a little, ah, misunderstanding. It’s your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down.”

Kurayami shook his head. “Why? Mr. D is such a nice guy.” Percy just looked over in shock. “Cause he loves it when you steal demigods. It’s less work on his part and I heard he began to print the Nephilim cards and made sure to give one to every camper so they leave.” Artemis covered her face. “That drunk. Please do not take more campers.”

She coughed and got focused. “And now there is one last decision to make.” Artemis turned to Bianca. “Have you made up your mind, my girl?” Nico was worried and yet he prayed he was wrong. Bianca hesitated. “I’m still thinking about it. ” Nico spoke up. “What about?”

Bianca looked at Nico and the hope in his eyes. “They… they’ve invited me to join the Hunt.” Percy shook his head. “What? But you can’t! You have to come to Camp Half-Blood so Chiron can train you. It’s the only way you can learn to survive.” Kurayami shook his head. “You could join me, I can guarantee you will get more out of it.”

Zoe looked over. “How?” Kurayami smiled. “We found a way to turn people into fallen angels and they live without aging. Percy didn’t want more campers to leave. “Bianca, camp is cool! It’s got a pegasus stable and a sword-fighting arena and… I mean, what do you get by joining the Hunters?”

Zoe spoke. “To begin with, immortality.” Percy was shocked. “She’s kidding, right?” Artemis frowned. “Zoe rarely kids about anything, my Hunters follow me on my adventures. They are my maidservants, my companions, my sisters-in-arms. Once they swear loyalty to me, they are indeed immortal… unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely. Or break their oath.”

Kurayami filed it in. “To not fall in love, not grow up, never marry and no sex.” Artemis looked at him oddly. “Did you have to say it so tact?” He nodded. “Eternal maidenhood, virgin, no sex. Isn’t it the same thing?” The goddess nodded yet not happily. “I mean yes, but saying eternal maidenhood sounds much nobler than saying ‘No sex’.”

Zoe never thought she would hear Artemis even say that word and felt her word shatter. She wanted to smash Kurayami’s head in for tainting Artemis’s mouth with his language. Percy looked down. “So you just go around the country recruiting half-bloods—” Zoe interrupted him. “Not just half-bloods. Lady Artemis does not discriminate by birth. All who honor the goddess may join. Half-bloods, nymphs, mortals—”

However, Kurayami smirked. “Which are you, then?” Anger flashed in Zoe’s eyes. “That is not thy concern, Fallen. The point is Bianca may join if she wishes. It is her choice.” Kurayami got up. “Do as you please, but what about your brother? Nico cant be a Hunter.” Artemis agreed “Certainly not. He will go to the camp or Grigori. Unfortunately, that’s the best boys can do.” Kurayami pointed at himself. “Excuse me?”

Artemis stuttered. “Well, you are an exception.” Zoe looked at Artemis who seemed to have a lot of respect for him. Artemis knew the power of Azrael as when Azrael went to Olympus she was there and was frozen in terror and Kurayami was close to the super fallen angel class. She had to tread carefully as he had two Longinus.

Artemis looked at Nico. “Bianca can see you from time to time but she will be free of responsibility. You will have the camp counselors to take care of you or go with Kurayami. And Bianca will have a new family. Us.”

“A new family, free of responsibility.” She muttered with longing. Kurayami lost all respect for her. Nico ran out and he went to where Tyrant was staying. Percy tried to talk her out of it. “Bianca, you can’t do this, It’s nuts.” Bianca was too caught up in her fantasy and looked at Zoe. “Is it worth it?” Zoe nodded. “Yes.”

Bianca agreed. “What do I have to do?” Zoe explained.” Repeat after me, I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis,” Bianca repeated after a while Kurayami and the girls all looked at her like she was selfish. “I… I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. ” Zoe continued “I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt. ” Bianca repeated the lines. “Is That’s it?”

Zoe nodded. “If Lady Artemis accepts thy pledge, then it is binding.” Artemis nodded. “I accept it.” The flames in the brazier brightened, casting a silver glow over the room. Bianca looked no different, but she took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide. “I feel stronger. ” Zoe welcomed her in. “Welcome, sister,” Zoe said.

“Remember your pledge,” Artemis said. “It is now your life.” However, her happiness was popped by two words. “Selfish bitch.” The peaceful attitude was interrupted by Kurayami who looked at her like she was shit. Artemis was left slack-jawed.

“So much for caring for Nico. I could very much want to eat his soul or sell him off and the next time you see him he might be in a casket. I hate people like you the most.” Kurayami left the tent and Bianca began to cry. Raynare scoffed. “You don’t deserve to cry.”

They all left and none of them felt bad for her. Even Shin scoffed on his way out and they all hear Bianca break down crying. The girls all noticed how Kurayami was unhappy, Esdeath patted him on the back. “You ok?” He shook his head.

“I mean she just left her own brother for a new family. That is like me leaving mom, Dad, and Akeno behind and becoming a devil. It is honestly sickening.” Natsume sighed. “I agree. That was her brother and she just left him.” Lavinia was especially mad. “Just like Glenda except worse as they were actual family.

They went to the spot where Nico held a small figurine while Tyrant kept him company. Kurayami patted him on the shoulder. “I am sorry Nico.” Nico wiped a tear from his eye. “No. You were right. I accept your offer. I join Grigori.”

Kuroka hugged him. “Don’t worry. You can count on us.” Tyrant nudged him with his snout and Nico ignored his hurt heart. He just petted Tyrant while looking down.