89 Apollo and Nico's grudge.

Nico had not spoken to Bianca since she joined the hunt. Even though she wanted to say sorry to Nico, and 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 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 Bianca 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.

"No. Not at all. I am far worse than you. You are a goddess and I know that gods are not known to be good. I also know why you made the hunt and why you distrust men. I do not blame you, but not all men are scum. Tell me honestly, am I just as bad as him."

She remembered her past and looked down.

"No. I really do not. 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. I still thank you for sparing Zoe. It could not have been easy."

He sighed.

"That girl is more prideful than even Ares. You need to reign her in as I nearly lost it with her. If it was Ophis, she could have killed all of you."

He saw that she once again said no lie. That was all he needed to know. He stood up and towered over the goddess. As she was looking like a 14-year-old girl, 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 frown on her face out of shame. Only her brother Apollo 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 them up. We should go. This hunt needs to succeed for all our sakes. Well, our sakes. You will be just fine."

Tyrant looked up and all he could see was cold darkness. He scoffed in the beast tounge which he preferred. Artemis also still understood him.

"No dragon. I did not lie."

He roared again and she shook her head.

"No, I cannot hunt you. I would die if I tried."

He raised his head high and a rumble came from his throat.

"Your matter jus might be unbeatable. You can brag about that.

Everyone was also surprised as Artemis was talking to a literal dragon. Percy needed to know something.

"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 sat on Tyrant's huge snout and looked away from 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 however Tyrant glared at her to the point she walked back. 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 was looking at him with a look begging him to stop making her more depressed. He would have ignored her, but he stopped for Nico's sake. He could see how each time he was mean to Bianca, Nico felt bad.

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."

He walked next to her as he looked into the sky.

"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. 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 and he had black hair.

Thalia was impressed looking at him.

"Wow, Apollo is hot."

Kurayami looked over with a look.

"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, but reason made me older. She always called me big brother even before that."

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 to keep her cool.

"I need a favor. I have some hunting to do. 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 as he seemed chill. 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 did not get it. Apollo was disappointed no one appreciated 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 any god and win.

"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. She still tried to keep her words in check as she was on a rickety bridge as it was.

"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 his ancestor and lover. 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 on the present.

"She is one of my finances. She never told you."

He raised his right hand where a thumb ring with the sun was on it. Artemis was shocked as her friend had kept that secret or had never bothered telling her.

"No, she never told me. How did this happen?"

"You can ask her yourself. She is the one who came onto me though."

Akeno nodded.

"She is our ancestor, but she is a god. Incest is just a word in her vocabulary."

"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's 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, they can teleport themselves. I am going with Artemis."

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, Elissa, 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 as she did not want to go.

"I don't trust it, Nya."

Zesshi started to walk away and jumped on Castiel's neck.

"No thanks. Castiel can fly us."

Apollo blushed and held his heart when he saw Kuroka.

"I am in love. Marry me."

Kurayami began to snarl and shadows, flames, and scales climbed his body and Apollo held his hands up.

"JOKE. I jest. Don't kill me."

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 again.

"Like I said before, how will we fit in? That is a two-seater."

Griffon was about to claw his face off. Apollo nodded as the Qinoqi had been freed.

"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 giant beasts."

They 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. She just got in quietly to get away from Kurayami as he had become something of her greatest fear. Artemis tried to get them to stop before Zoe pissed them off.

"Brother, 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."

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. I got Kurayami and Shin to help so I am fine."

Kurayami patted her on the head again. 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 swatting his hand away frowning.

"I am not a child."

Kurayami ruffled her hair again without any hesitation.

"You look like one."

Apollo chuckled at how relaxed she got from her stress.

"I'll find out. I see all. Know all. You two will make a happy couple.

Artemis snorted and fixed her hair.

"Just drop them off, Apollo. And no messing around!"

Kurayami shrugged.

"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. Phoebe, you are now in charge of the Hunters. Do well. Do as I would do."

"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. Just before he left he glanced at the girs who were waiting for him to say something.

"Well, we are off. You all can go home if you want or go camping. You all can teleport after all."

Zesshi got in the driver's seat which made Apollo decide to teach her to fly. She waved goodbye to him.

"I will fly this thing. Maybe."

The rest decided to go camping for Nico, but they would go home soon after. Just before they left Shin smelled the tracks and found the right scent. Kurayami was confident in Shin's nose.

'Don't worry. You got us with you. Nothing can escape Shin's nose."

Artemis looked at Shin and thought about it.

"I will appreciate the help. Although I would like to ask, why do you not look at me or the hunters with any interest? I know Dragons the stronger they get lust after better women and treasure. What is your standard?"

He thought about it as he was very open.

"Well, first is strength. The second is personality. The third is character and drive. However, if you want me to be honest you are one of the few I feel is worth 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. Especially a virgin goddess who vowed to abstain from men."

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. I know Amaterasu did the same, and look at her now. Also you are right that it is my Dragon pride that makes me want to try."

She looked at him with a thoughtful look on her face, and in the end, she nodded at him.

"Well then, here is to a successful hunt for the both of us. Let's see where things go."

They sprinted toward the woods and vanished with how quickly they tracked the scent with Shin's help. As for Zesshi, she looked at the controls and as Appolo gave her the keys.

"Have you ever driven before?"

"Never."

When they heard that, everyone put their seat belt on. Apollo decided to teach her something.

"You put that key in this keyhole."

She did as he said and turned it. When the bus turned on she saw the peddles.

"You push that one for power, and the that one to slow down or break. You got it?"

She did not even nod as she hit the ignition and blasted off. Her first time driving anything was the vehicle of a god and she found it fun. If not for Apollo, Camp Half-Blood might have become Camp Burning Blood. That is a story for another time.