CHAPTER THREE
( BIANCA'S DECISION )

        THALIA STOMPED HER foot, frustrated. "The nerve of those Hunters! They think they're so. . . ugh!"

"I'm with you," Percy agreed. "I don't trust–"

"Oh, you're with me?" Thalia repeated. "What were you two thinking back there in the gym? That you could take on Dr. Thorn all by yourselves? You knew he was a monster! If we'd stuck together, we could've taken him without the Hunters getting involved. Annabeth might still be here. Did you think of that?"

Davina's jaw clenched. "If Jackson and I had waited for you guys, the di Angelos would be long gone!" She stepped toward the daughter of Zeus. "We were barely able to handle Thorn with just the five of us. You'd be a goner right now if the Hunters hadn't stepped in."

There was a moment of silence as the two girls glared at each. Thalia's eyes flashed dangerously while Davina crossed her arms challengingly. Just as Percy considered interfering, Davina rolled her eyes and walked away. She wasn't going to fight Thalia. Not because she was scared of the girl – she was the farthest thing from scared of Thalia – but because she knew it wasn't what Annabeth would've wanted.

Davina watched the Hunters set up a camping sight. Seven large tents make of silver silk rounded the bonfire they'd made. One of them blew a silver whistle and a dozen white wolves appeared in a matter of seconds, circling the camp like they were guarding it.

A few minutes later, a Hunter brought Davina her bag. She watched Grover attempt to fix Percy's arm by the bonfire and sighed. She stood and lightly pushed the satyr out of the way, taking over. She worked silently, only speaking when she needed Grover to hand her something.

Percy couldn't help but notice how she worked with such ease. It was most likely because of how much she liked to train and how when she wasn't with Annabeth, she was with Cassie Clark, an Apollo kid with a knack for healing.

When Davina was done, she pulled away and glanced down at Nico. He'd laid out figurines of gods and heroes in the snow.

"Big collection," Percy commented, following her gaze.

Nico smiled. "I've got almost all of them, plus their holographic cards! Well, except for a few of the really rare ones."

"Oh, so you must have been playing this game for a while," Davina assumed.

"No," Nico denied. "I've only been playing just this year. Before that. . ."

Davina furrowed her brows when he trailed off. "Before that. . .?"

"I forgot," he replied. "That's weird." He looked unsettled, but it didn't last very long. "Can I see your sword?"

"Sure," Davina grinned as she sat next to him. "So when I unclasp my bracelet. . ." She did what she said and watched the amazement in his eyes as it turned into her sword. She showed him the engraving and told him what it meant. "And then when I twist this part, it just goes back into my bracelet."

Unlike most people assumed, she actually liked kids. She appreciated their innocence.

"Will I get one?"

"Probably."

He turned to Percy. "Can I see yours?"

Percy pulled out Riptide and explained how it worked.

"Does it ever run out of ink?" Nico questioned.

"Um, well, I don't actually write with it."

"Are you really the son of Poseidon?"

"Well, yeah."

"So can you surf really well, then?"

"Jeez, Nico. I've never really tried."

The boy just went on to ask more questions after that. Did Percy fight with Thalia a lot since she was the daughter of Zeus? (Percy didn't answer that one.)  If Annabeth's mother was Athena, the goddess of wisdom, then why didn't Annabeth know better than to fall off the cliff? (That one caught Davina off guard and she could tell Percy had to resist the urge to strangle him.) Was Davina Percy's girlfriend? Davina wrinkled her nose and said I would rather die.

Zoë walked up to them. "Davina Sinclair. Percy Jackson. Come with me. Lady Artemis wishes to speak with thou."

She led them to a tent that looked the same as all the others. Davina took in the inside of the tent. It was warm – which was great since she was freezing. On the walls were animal pelts. For a second, Davina thought there was one right next to the goddess, but it was a live deer with glittering fur and silver horns.    

"Join us," Artemis greeted with Bianca sitting next to her. They sat across from her on the floor. The goddess studied the both of them, which made Davina a bit nervous. "Are you surprised by my age?"

The question was directed to Percy, who quickly looked around to see who she was talking to. "Uh. . . a little."

"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 patron, before they got astray."

"Go astray?" Percy repeated.

"Grow up," Artemis explained. "Become smitten with boys. Become silly, preoccupied, insecure. Forget themselves."

"Oh."

"You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you, Percy," Artemis told him. "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 Zoë. "Which one was it?"

"That boy in Colorado," Zoë answered. "You turned him into a jackalope."

"Ah, yes," Artemis nodded. "I enjoy making jackalopes. At any rate, I've asked you both here so that you might tell me more of the manticore. Bianca has reported some of the. . . disturbing things the monster said. But she may not have understood them. I'd like to hear them from the both of you."

Davina and Percy shared a look and began explaining. (That included them interrupting each other and, at one point, Davina screaming at Percy to shut the fuck up so she could say something.) When they were done, Artemis put her hand on her bow. "I feared this was the answer."

Zoe sat forward. "The scent, my lady?"

"Yes."

Davina's eyebrows furrowed. "What scent?"

"We came here tonight sensing the Manticore, but he was not the one I seek. Tell me again, exactly what Dr. Thorn said."

"Um, I hate middle school dances," Percy replied.

Davina sighed at him. "He said that someone called the General was going to explain things."

Zoë's face went white. She turned to Artemis and began to say something, but the goddess raised her hand to silence her. "Go on."

Well, then Thorn was talking about the Great Stir Pot–"

"Stirring," Davina and Bianca corrected, the former rolling her eyes.

"Yeah," Percy nodded to them. "And he said soon we shall have the most important monster of all – the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus."

Artemis didn't move.

"Maybe he was lying," Percy suggested.

The goddess shook her head. "No. He was not. I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster."

Zoë's face was still pale. She looked like she was trying very hard to not show that she was scared. "We will leave right away, my lady."

"No," Artemis denied. "I must do this alone."

"But, Artemis–"

"This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me."

"As. . ." Zoë faltered. "As you wish, my lady."

"I will find this creature," Artemis vowed. "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."

"You know what the monster is?" Percy asked.

Artemis gripped her bow. "Let us pray I am wrong."

Percy cocked his head. "Can goddesses pray?"

Artemis softly smiled. "Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you."

Percy winced. "Does it involve getting me turned into a jackalope?"

Davina gave a dry laugh. "I would pay so much money to see that."

Artemis's smile grew a bit at that. "Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return."

"What?" Zoë exclaimed. "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there–"

"Yes, I know," Artemis interrupted. "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. And now there is one last decision to make – perhaps, two." Artemis looked at Bianca. "Have you made up your mind, my girl?"

Bianca hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it."

Davina immediately understood and frowned. What about Nico?

"Wait," Percy said. "Thinking about what?"

"They. . . they've invited me to join the Hunt."

"What?" Percy exclaimed. "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 how to survive."

"It is not the only way for anyone who identifies as a girl," Zoë narrowed her eyes.

"She's right, Jackson," Davina agreed. "Camp is a great way to train, but so is joining the Hunters. This is Bianca's decision, not yours."

"What do you even get by joining the Hunters?"

"To begin with," Zoë started. "Immortality."

Percy stared at her and then turned to Artemis. "She's kidding, right?"

"Zoë rarely kids about anything," Artemis informed him. "My Hunters follow me on my adventures. They are my maidservants, my companions, my sister-in-arms. Once they swear loyalty to me, they are indeed immortal. . . unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely, or break their oath."

"What oath?"

"To foreswear romantic love forever. To never grow up, never get married. To be a maiden eternally."

"Like you?" Artemis nodded at him. "So you just go around the country recruiting half-bloods–"

"Not just half-bloods," Zoe interjected. "Lady Artemis does not discriminate by birth. All who honor the goddess may join. Half-bloods, nymphs, mortals–"

"Which are you?"

Her eyes flashed dangerously. "That is not thy concern, boy. The point is Bianca may join if she wishes. It is her choice."

"Bianca, this is crazy," Percy insisted. "What about your brother? Nico can't be a Hunter."

"Certainly not," Artemis agreed. "He will go to camp. Unfortunately, that's the best boys can do."

"Hey!"

"You can see him from time to time," Artemis reassured the young girl. "But you will be free of responsibility. He will have the camp counselors to take care of him. And you will have a new family. Us."

"A new family," Bianca repeated dreamily. "Free of responsibility."

Davina knew that it was Bianca's decision, but that was crazy. "Free from responsibility or running from responsibility? Bianca, you're all that Nico has. Camp counselors are not the same as having your sister. You'd basically be abandoning him!"

"Thank you!" Percy said.

"Shut up!"

Bianca looked a bit guilty at Davina's words but she turned to Zoë. "Is it worth it?"

"It is," Zoe confirmed.

"What do I have to do?"

"Say this," Zoë told her. "I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis."

"I. . ." Bianca's eyes flickered to Davina. Deep down, she knew the girl was right but she'd been taking care of Nico since as long as she could remember (which, to be honest, wasn't very long). The idea of being able to let go of that responsibility and put herself first shouldn't make her a bad person, right? "I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis."

"I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt."

"I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt," Bianca repeated the lines. "That's it?"

Zoë nodded. "If Lady Artemis accepts thy pledge, then it is binding."

"I accept it," Artemis said.

The fire grew brighter, casting a silver glow over the room. Bianca sucked in a deep breath and she opened her eyes wide in amazement. "I feel. . . stronger."

"Remember your pledge. It is now your life," Artemis turned to Davina. "I ask you, Davina Sinclair, to consider this opportunity as well."

"Me?" she choked out. Sure, she had a list of reasons why joining the Hunters could be a good idea and she'd wanted this when she was younger and first found out about them. . . but she didn't know what she wanted now.

"You may think about it," Artemis then closed her eyes. "Dawn is approaching. Zoë, break camp. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother."

Zoë didn't seem like she liked the idea, but she simply nodded and told Bianca to follow her. As she was leaving, Bianca stopped and looked at the two 14 year olds. "I'm sorry. But I want this. I really, really do."

Davina bit the inside of her cheek and watched as Bianca walked away, leaving them with the goddess. "So, we're going to get a ride from your brother then, huh?" Percy questioned her.

Artemis's eyes gleamed. "Yes. You see, Bianca di Angelo is not the only one with an annoying brother. It's time for you to meet my irresponsible twin, Apollo."

𝒎𝒆𝒍 𝒎𝒆𝒍 !!
davina with abandonment issues🙈🙉🙊