Chương 47: Apollo and Nico's grudge.(Edited)
(After editing, it turned into a 4k chapter. Enjoy for new readers.)
Nico had not spoken to Bianca since she joined the hunt. Even though she wanted to say sorry to Nico, and to explain to him why she needed to do this. However, he looked at her like she abandoned him which she in fact did.
As such he spent the time with Kurayami and the girls who all welcomed him in. They explained to him about other pantheons and how the Greeks were not the strongest around. They told him that to keep his mind from thinking of his sister as he focus went to other pantheons which some of which were quite cool to him.
As the girls were having fun with Nico, Kurayami sat on top of a big rock a bit away from them. He was thinking of ways to make Nico feel less useless. He did not blame Artemis as she just gave an offer, it was up to Biance to accept which is why his blame went to her.
Speaking of Artemis, she went to Kurayami and asked to speak alone with him. When she walked next to him they both gazed forward before she spoke to him.
"Do you think I am a bad person?"
Kurayami looked at the goddess and shook her head.
"Not so much a bad person, just a hurt girl. I know why you made the hunt and why you distrust men. I do not blame you, but not all men are scum. However, do you hate me and Nico? Are we that bad in your eye?"
She remembered her past and looked down.
"No, not anymore. You know my past and you should know why it is hard to let go of such a break of trust, but you are right about one thing. I do not see you as bad in my eye, or Nico. I just can't let a man in the hunt as they are now."
He stood up and towered over the goddess. As she was looking like a 14-year-old girl around his age, but as she choose a smaller height he was just that much taller than her. He did something that she did not expect not knowing how to respond.
He placed his hand on her head and ruffled her hair.
"I Understand, however you still look like a brat like this. Are you sure you take this form around the hunt to make them feel better or something?"
She waved his hand away with a small blush on her face out of shame. Only her brother Apollon was that brazen with her, but for some reason, she did not get mad at him. She coughed and looked at the sky.
"My brother will come to pick us up. I should go. This hunt needs to succeed for all our sakes."
Tyrant looked up and all he could see was cold darkness. He scoffed and Artemis understood him.
"No dragon. I did not lie."
He roared again and she shook her head.
"No, as you are not a wild beast I cannot hunt you. You have a master."
He raised his head high and a rumble came from his throat.
"Dragon, you are not the strongest, neither is your master. He is strong yes, but not unbeatable."
Tyrant looked shocked and looked at Kurayami who shook his head. Everyone was also surprised as Artemis was talking to a literal dragon. Percy needed to know.
"Where did you get him? You did not have him last time."
Kurayami looked at Tyrant with pure pride in his gaze.
"Remember Tyrant, my familiar? He evolved and this is what he became."
Artemis ran her hand on Tyrant's snout which very few people were allowed to touch. However, he just felt like trusting Artemis, as she had his lord's acceptance. Artemis looked at her Hunters and whistled.
The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they set it up. A few minutes later which resulted in Percy standing shivering in the snow, unlike the Hunters who were fine.
Kurayami's whole group had a giant heater named Tyrant. Artemis stared into the east like she was expecting something. Bianca sat off to one side, trying to explain to Nico why she joined.
He walked away toward Kurayami's group and ignored her
"Just say it. You are sick of me and now you just threw me away. You have a new family and I don't need you. I have a new big brother and no longer need you either. He won't leave me."
Binaca held her hand out with tears running down her face. Those words felt like knives in her heart. Artemis patted her on the back.
"He is young. He will come to terms."
Kurayami shook his head as he looked at Nico who was far enough away from Bianca.
"Grudges and abandonment are hard to get over, so don't get your hopes up. Why do you care anyway? I thought you wanted your new family so you left him behind. Not very carrying is it?"
Artemis looked at Kurayami and her look was asking him if he could stop making it worse. He squinted his hollow eyes and sighed. He did not want to make Artemis an enemy so he choose to stop making it worse.
Bianca looked depressed, but she should have thought of them before literally abandoning her brother. Finally, the sky began to lighten. Artemis muttered in both annoyance and relief.
"About time. He's so lazy during the winter."
Kurayami didn't dislike Artemis as he knew her story and why she was the way she was. It was one of the reasons he was more respectful with her than other gods. He just hated her hunters who acted like men were the root of all evil. At least Artemis could still treat men with courtesy if they did the same.
"You're waiting for sunrise?"
She nodded.
"For my brother, yes."
Kurayami looked over at the rising sun.
"So how do the legends of the sun stack up to him? What is true and what is a myth."
Artemis explained while petting Shin who allowed her to pet him. She ran her hand down his back with a slight smile on her face as she answered his question.
"It's not exactly as you think."
Kurayami was going to say what was it really, but a sudden burst of light on the horizon stopped him.
"Don't look, not until he parks."
He created a set of shades from shadows and could see clearly. He did the same for the girls who all had their shades. The light died out and what was left was a red convertible Maserati Spyder. It was red hot and the snow melted like the area around Tyrant.
The dragon approached the car and nudged it slightly pushing it. Apollo got out, smiling even as a slight nudge would not damage the car. He looked about seventeen or eighteen. Apollon wore jeans and loafers and a sleeveless T-shirt.
Thalia was impressed looking at him.
"Wow, Apollo is hot."
Kurayami looked over with a smirk.
"Figurative or literally."
She looked over and smiled.
"Both."
Apollo called out when he saw Artemis.
"Little sister! What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"
Artemis sighed in shame.
"I'm fine, Apollo. And I am not your little sister. I was born first anyway. I helped deliver you, you fool"
He grinned.
"Does that not make me older."
She glared at him with pure annoyance on her face.
"We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue—"
Kurayami stopped her.
"Then she is older. You know me and Akeno are twins, and she called me big brother, right?"
Akeno blushed and looked away as she was more than his little twin sister.
"Meanie."
Apollo gave Kurayami a thumbs up at his words.
"So what's up? Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"
Artemis grit her teeth.
"I need a favor. I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."
Apollo grinned.
"Sure, sis! I feel a haiku coming on."
He raised his hands to the sky. The Hunters all groaned. Apparently, they'd met Apollo before. Kurayami liked him at he seemed chill, more than Ares anyway. He cleared his throat and held up one hand dramatically.
"Green grass breaks through snow. Artemis pleads for my help. I am so cool. "
He grinned waiting for applause. Kurayami clapped as he felt it was funny. Apollo nodded that someone appreciates his haikus."
"Why can't you be more like Kurayami? How is old man Azrael by the way?"
Kurayami nodded.
"Fine and strong, you do know she is his granddaughter right?"
Apollo looked at Raynare who made the cut-throat motion with her thumb as Apollo looked like a flirt. She was taken and even a joke was not up to her ally. Apollo raised his hands in surrender so she did not try to kill him. He could feel she could challenge a god as strong as she was already by herself.
"Good for him, you must be a lucky man to have his approval to take his granddaughter's hand in marriage. I feel another haiku coming up after my perfect one."
Artemis shook her head as he messed up.
"That last line was only four syllables."
Apollo frowned and thought of it.
"Was it?"
Artemis gave him a suggestion.
"Yes. What about I am so big-headed?"
He muttered to himself.
"No, no, that's six syllables. Hmm. "
Zoe turned to explain to them why Apollo was like this.
"Lord Apollo has been going through this haiku phase ever since he visited Japan, and before most male gods were banned from Japan. Tis not as bad as the time he visited Limerick. If Id had to hear one more poem that started with, There once was a goddess from Sparta—"
Nico looked at Kurayami as he had told him the story.
"You said Ametaerasu banned most male gods because of Zeus right?"
Kurayami nodded and Artemis looked over.
"Kurayami, do you know my friend?"
He nodded as he thought of the Japanese goddess. She looked a lot like Akeno and her family, but it made sense as the Himejima clan was considered to be descended from her. Akeno really inherited her beauty from Amaterasu so he focused back at the present.
"One of her clans pissed off grandpa and he purged one of the clans."
Artemis shivered as you can never mess with a being in the top ten world's strongest. The hunters all were shocked as their goddess showed fear.
"I've got it!"
Apollo announced.
"I am so awesome. That's five syllables!"
He bowed, looking very pleased with himself.
"And now, sis. Transportation for the Hunters, and Kurayami and girls, you say? Good timing. I was just about ready to roll."
Kurayami shook his head as he had a better way to go there.
"No, we will teleport to camp."
Apollo appeared next to Kurayami.
"Come on, man. It will be fun."
Natsume looked at the car with confusion.
"How will that take us? I mean it is a two-seater."
As if ignoring her he went on rambling
"These demigods will also need a ride,"
Artemis said, pointing to Percy, and Thalia.
"Some of Chiron's campers."
Apollo seemed like a chill guy as he kept a smile on his face.
"No problem!" Apollo checked everyone out. "Let's see… Thalia, right? I've heard all about you. "
Thalia blushed.
"Hi, Lord Apollo."
he looked at her carefully before winking.
. "Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half-sister. Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad you're back. I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember one time—"
Artemis called out to him to get him focused.
"Brother, You should get going."
"Oh, right."
He looked at Percy and his eyes narrowed.
"Percy Jackson?"
Percy shook in fear.
"Yeah. I mean… yes, sir."
Apollo studied him, but he didn't say anything, which was a little creepy.
"Well! We'd better load up, huh? Ride only goes one way—west. And if you miss it, you miss it."
Esdeath looked over and her instinct told her to not go on the ride.
"I got a bad feeling about this."
Lavinia shivered.
"I rather not go in a solar car. I am more of a cold person."
Esdeath backed away in worry.
"I agree. Magic is good for many things. We will just meet you there."
Kuroka hid behind Kurayami.
"I don't trust it, Nya."
Apollo blushed and held his heart.
"I am in love. Marry me."
Kurayami began to snarl and shadows climbed his body and Apollo held his hands up. "JOKE. I jest."
Kurayami stopped and Kuroka stuck her tongue out at Apollo from behind her fiance.
Nico was impressed at both the car and Kurayami.
"Cool car, dude."
Apollo held his head high.
"Thanks."
Natsume frowned and got his attention agin.
"Like I said before, how will we fit in? That is a two-seater."
Griffon was about to claw his face off. Apollo nodded.
"Well, yeah. I hate to change out of sports car mode, but I suppose…"
Apollo took out his car keys and beeped the security alarm button.
For a moment, the car glowed brightly again. When the light died, the Maserati had been replaced by one of those Turtle Top shuttle buses like the ones used for school basketball games.
"Right, everybody minus the dragon."
Tyrant scoffed and returned to the familiar space. At Zoe's order, the Hunters start loading up while she picked up her camping pack, and Apollo being a flirt.
"Here, sweetheart. Let me get that."
Zoe recoiled. Her eyes flashed murderously. Kurayami played along.
"Please lovely lady, you will hurt your hands. Let us men help a delicate flower like you."
Both guys started to laugh while Zoe wanted nothing more than to shoot both of them. Artemis tried to get them to stop before Zoe got too mad at them or pissed them off.
"Brother, Kurayami. You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart, or mock them. Kurayami, please, for my sake."
Kurayami scoffed.
"Hey, she started it."
Artemis sighed.
"Are you a kid?"
He nodded.
"I'm 15, so yes. However, I will stop as you asked nicely."
Everyone looked at him funny as he was huge. Dense muscle, short black hair, dark violet eyes, and a black cross on his neck. He looked like he was 20 and older than Apollo.
Apollo raised his arms in apology.
"Sorry. I forgot. Hey, sis, where are you off to, anyway? Need help."
Artemis sighed.
"Hunting and It's none of your business."
Kurayamu patted her on the head again. Zoe and the hunters saw him touching their goddess and were pissed. Apollo looked at Artemis who did not seem to mind it as much as before.
"Don't be so cold. He is just looking out for you like a brother should."
Artemis was bright red and swatted his hand away frowning.
"I am not a child."
Kurayami ruffled her hair again without any hesitation.
"You look like one."
Zoe drew her bow and shot him. One pair of his wings popped from his back and swatted it away. Apollo chuckled at how relaxed she got from her stress.
"I'll find out. I see all. Know all."
Artemis snorted and fixed her hair.
"Just drop them off, Apollo. And no messing around!"
Kurayami smiled.
"Sorry, you just look like a little princess." Apollo nodded.
"You should stay older. People just want to pinch your little cheeks."
Artemis glared at both of them as two wicked hunting knives appeared in her hands.
"Shut it."
Artemis took a deep breath before putting her weapons away.
"I will see you by the winter solstice. Zoe, you are in charge of the Hunters. Do well. Do as I would do."
Zoe straightened and put her bow on her back.
"Yes, my lady."
Artemis knelt and touched the ground as if looking for tracks. When she rose, she looked troubled.
"So much danger. The beast must be found."
Kurayami patted her on the shoulder.
"Should I go with you? I am probably in the top ten. I could help you."
Artemis looked at Shin and thought about it.
"No. This is my hunt and my job. I thank you for the offer. Although I would like to ask, why do you not look at me or the hunters with any interests?"
"I don't seek out to pursue women. I just am myself and see where life takes me. However, if you want me to be honest you are one of the few I am actively pursuing."
She looked at him with shock as he admitted to being interested in her even though they just met. She actually did not mind at all as she looked at all the girls with him.
"You have a lot of guts Kurayami, not many will tell a goddess they are pursuing her, more so to join a harem."
He nodded as he knew how it sounded.
"I see how it may sound disrespectful, but I mean no offense by it. You are an interesting woman, and I see why I should not try. For now, I wish you luck, may your hunt be successful, Artemis."
She looked at him with a thoughtful look on her face, and in the end, she nodded at him. She turned around and sprinted toward the woods, and melted into the snow and shadows.
Apollo turned and grinned, at him jangling the car keys on his finger.
"Seems she accepted your pursuit of her. That has not happened in thousands of years, so don't let the hunters know. I kept them from hearing about it with a little trick. If you succeed you better treat her like a queen."
Before he could react the keys were in Kurayami's hands.
"I will. She deserves that much, however, I will drive us, teach me the basics and I will get it."
Apollo sighed as he wanted to have Thalia do it so he stoped blocking out the sound and now they could hear again.
"Fine, although I see you caught my sisters eye and vise versa."
Kurayami noticed the hunters all glared at him like he was filth. He glared at Apolo who looked away and played along.
Kurayami nodded.
"She is one of the better gods and I can see she treats her hunt well. I like Artemis herself, but not the hunt."
Zoe glared at him.
"Nor should thee."
Kurayami looked at her and saw her emotions were due to distrust, not so much malice. He sighed.
"Just stop assuming I am the worst thing to come and let's just respect each other. Can you do that? I do not want to kill you if I get too angry."
He extended his hand and she breathed and shook his hand.
"Fine."
Seeing that he was going to drive and as they heard everything made Esdeath sigh in relief.
"Fine, I will go if he is driving."
Natsume hugged Griffon infear.
"We won't die right?"
Lavinia smiled with a look of acceptance on her face.
"Say goodbye."
Akeno shuddered.
"Don't say that. I do not want to die even If I can fly, what if we crash."
Raynare had one hope in case they all ended up dead.
"I got grandpa on speed dial, so if we die maybe he can bring us back.
" Annabeth also did not trust the bus, but if Kurayami was driving she felt a bit better.
"Can I walk?"
The Hunters piled into the van. They all crammed into the back so they'd be as far away as possible from Apollo and the rest of the highly infectious males, Bianca sat with them, leaving her little brother to hang in the front with Kurayami's girls which seemed cold, but Nico didn't seem to mind as he was mad at her and the girls were nice.
"This is so cool!"
Nico said, jumping up and down in the driver's seat.
"Is this really the sun? I thought Helios and Selene were the sun and moon gods. How come sometimes it's them and sometimes it's you and Artemis?"
Apollo explained while he told Kurayami the basics of driving.
"Downsizing, the Romans started it. They couldn't afford all those temple sacrifices, so they laid off Helios and Selene and folded their duties into our job descriptions. My sis got the moon. I got the sun. It was pretty annoying at first, but at least I got this cool car."
Nico was confused
"But how does it work? I thought the sun was a big fiery ball of gas!"
Apollo chuckled and ruffled Nico's hair.
"That rumor probably got started because Artemis used to call me a big fiery ball of gas. Seriously, kid, it depends on whether you're talking astronomy or philosophy. You want to talk astronomy? Bah, what fun is that? You want to talk about how humans think about the sun? Ah, now that's more interesting."
His eyes seemed happy.
"They've got a lot riding on the sun… er, so to speak. It keeps them warm, grows their crops, powers engines, makes everything look, well, sunnier. This chariot is built out of human dreams about the sun, kid. It's as old as Western Civilization. Every day, it drives across the sky from east to west, lighting up all those puny little mortal lives. The chariot is a manifestation of the sun's power, the way mortals perceive it. Make sense?"
"Speed equals heat, so start slowly, and make sure you've got good altitude before you really open her up."
Kurayami gripped the wheel and thought about his driving days. He started the engine and lightly pressed on the ignition. He pulled back on the wheel and the bus lurched upward fast, but not insanely fast. It was fine and Apollo was impressed.
"You're good."
Kurayami focused on not going too fast, too high, or low and they all felt glad he was not a reckless person. Akeno slumped in her seat like putty.
"We are alive. Thank goodness for brother."
"We need to veer south for Long Island, Hang a left."
Kurayami turned the wheel left and Apollo facepalmed at his own mess up.
"The other left,"
Apollo suggested. Kurayamu just about smacked him.
"You mean right? How does a god not know left from right?"
Apollo nodded.
"Yeah."
The rest of the trip was easy and they all just looked out the windows. "
There, Long Island, dead ahead. Let's slow down, man."
Kurayami saw the camp and moved down while pressing the brakes. He landed on the shore of the big lake and a few naiads scrambled out of the water with half-woven wicker baskets as just being close heat it up. Apollo patted him on the shoulder.
"Well done, guess it was a better idea than Thalia."
She turned green and Kurayami looked in the rearview mirror to look at her.
"Afraid of heights?"
She just about puked.
"NO! NEVER!."
Kurayami got up and grinned which Raynare was right. it did look like he was about to kill someone.
"Oh, then would you like to fly with me? I plan to go fly on Tyrant. Who wants to fly on a dragon?"
Nico raised his hand.
"ME!"
Thalia grinned with absolute confidence on her face.
"I can do it."
She just about puked and he laughed.
"You are terrified."
She blushed and ran out of the bus.
"Well, that could have gone better. Nico this is a camp half-blood. Not as good as Nephilim though and where you would have lived."
Nico looked out and it looked like a normal camp if not for the lava fall. He felt that Kurayami did not see this place as very impressive and he wondered how good Nephilim was for him to not put it in his eye.
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