45 Expected Betrayal....

"By the Gods!" Chiron was left with a dropped jaw. The other onlookers beside him were of the same condition, fear, awe, shock even relief in few as if realizing how lucky they were for having Nico on their side.

Why? Cause Nico was currently sitting on the shoulder of a giant monstrosity. It had the whole body of a chimera but was connected to a four armed giant each carrying a club made of bone, on its back as if riding the chimera. It was a frightening scene, the stuff of nightmares.

Their attention was torn away by a single long blast of a horn.

Even before Chiron could give the command, Thalia started running back to camp, shouting orders to any and all who would listen. "Nico, raise the remaining, its time. Form up, they are coming!"

In a short couple of minutes she reached the camp, "Campers! Its time! The fight is upon us. Take your positions. All teams follow your team leaders' orders. Team leaders you are responsible for your team. But remember... each and everyone fighting for your family and our friends. For Camp Half-blood!"

"CAMP HALF-BLOOD!!"

But her chest was in pain, tears were forming at the corner of her eyes. She realized this and quickly got down from the raised platform, lest anyone sees her tears. She had foreboding feeling, "Max..." she whispered to herself, "Please come back to me. I don't what I would...." the words stuck in herq

-----×-----×-----×-----

"Zeus! What have you done?!." Two brothers stood opposite their elder brother, the rest of the greek pantheon standing behind the brothers, staring at their leader in disbelief.

"I did what was necessary." Zeus was his usual impassive self and walked passed his family to his quarters.

-----×-----×-----×-----

Hecate was strolling back and forth in her room. The first time she felt fear in many a millenia. Fear born from the existence of one mere mortal. She felt what ever decision she had made these last few days were going to come back to bite her back.

She was at her wits end before. But now her nerves were taut like drawn string for some reason, a reason she couldn't figure out for the divine life of her. She had just taken care of the only threat to her life. The mortal, Maximus Morelli.

She was the Goddess of Magic after all, not of knowledge or wisdom.

-----×-----×-----×-----

"What t-the... uugg...imma puke...*blergh*"

Max was awake finding himself placed face down on a soft bed of sheep skin inside a tent. Bandage dressing all over his back and shoulders. He immediately started throwing up.

His noisy awakening alerted the person outside. He heard them shuffling around and after a moment someone entered the tent he was in. He immediately recognized the person, even if he had never met her before now. "Reyna, Dau..ouch... Daughter of Bellona." he tried getting up.

"You know of me?" She asked more curious than surprised or suspicious, after all he was someone who was trusted for by a goddess. "Of course. Those pets of yours are a dead give away." I said scratching Aurum under its lower jaw. She responded with lick my arm and wagging her small tail.

Now, Reyna was surprised. But before she could ask Max got up gritting his teeth, spittle glowing out his mouth from the sheer effort of trying to ignore the pain. He got up and hobbled out, pulling out his staff and leaning for support. Every head turned towards him as he pulled out his shepherd's crook from his stomach, watching with gaping eyes.

Jason came running, "You shouldn't be up, my best healers are looking to your injuries. You have yo stay in the infirmary for a while longer." Max stepped past him, his feet quickening, "That can wait. EVERYTHING can wait!" his grunts were almost animalistic and guttural.

He reached the edge of the mountain, where the chained goddess was imprisoned, "I'm sorry Maximus. I truly am. I-"

"I do not hold you responsible Lady Artemis, You're one of the good ones. Although his puny little lightning was little more than an inconvenience." he said smiling. Max stood up and turned, his back now almost fully healed and faced the romans, "Atlas is making his way here right now. He will prevent us from freeing Goddess Artemis, I mean Diana. Let him come. Lure him in, then bind him with these chains." He said holding up chains that where glowing orange where I was touching.

It was Artemis who spoke up, "Children, do as he commands. Son of Jupiter, daughter of Reyna, throw awake your pride and listen. It will do you good. Those are the Links of divine punishment. Forged by he God of smithing, use it well."