Chapter 41 Tale of Kinsman Blood


    Percy’s Point of View


    Dawn drew near as its sorrow followed the departing of the Red Moon. It sprayed and marked itsst


    presence upon the grey sky with red; and it shimmered afar  before being consumed by the lights of the


    fiery sun. Yet its warning did not cease to pass.


    For Artemis was now brought back to her camp, deep within the green woods and her life was


    stretched wide upon a thin rope. Percy steps were swift and yet heavy for his heart was filled with


    concerns. Paecus and Apollo managed to follow his tail, for Percy carried Artemis in his wolf form and


    none beings were said could catch up with the wolves.


    Her silver bed Artemisid upon, and the dreadful wound on her arm stained the bed sheet for the


    Ichor could not stop flowing no matter how they tried. The fire grew dim as her radiant slowly


    decreased and the Mooce at the sides of her throne darkened and dried with death. Percy tended


    her,  drying her sweat sodden forehead for now the poison was spreading. Her lips and skin was pale


    and cold as snow, the colour of her cheeks faded as her auburn hair started to turn white, like the


    colour of sheets. Yet her features still remained the beauties and fair of an immortal. But she was


    ageing. For the poison of werewolves striped away the immortality; and for years the gods aboded and


    made in that fair forms, but inside they were just ashes like of decayed mortal flesh. For their roots


    were once mortally, and with death, they returned to ashes.


    Another hour passed and they managed to stop her Ichor from flowing, for her essence escaped along


    with the golden liquid. Yet they didn''t have time, for her presence in the room seemed dismissed and


    they hardly sensed her power.


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    "Apollo" Percy turned to him as he watched Artemis trembled by the fever and it broke his heart. "Is


    there anyway to cure the poison, or at least to stop it for awhile?"


    But the god of the sun, of medicine and the father of Asclepius whom resurrected the deaths was silent


    and his face was darkened and just stared at the floor.


    Percy inside was tumultuous and patient he heeded little. The anger took him as he roared in


    frustration and held Apollo cor shirt.


    "Tell me dammit!"


    But Apollo was angered and he kicked Percy away.


    "Don''t tempt me Perseus!" He bellowed "you know I love her above all and I would doing anything to


    save her. But there''s none..."


    Thest sentence he sighed and spoke with despair and hope was lost within him. There he just sat on


    the floor and disoriented and the morning was dark that day.


    Paecus out of the three was calmest, yet he was troubled. He stood and traced far through memory the


    time he dwelled with the werewolves; of their teachings, their lore and medicines and yet it seemed to


    him that he hadn''t gained enough of their trust to obtain the cure of their bites.


    Percy legs stumbled and fell. He looked at Artemis from the floor and his eyes watery. The memories


    came to him of times they spent and he repented his curses and his angers toward her. For his love for


    her beyond the wide of the sea and sketched as far as the sky could reach. Seeing her in pain broke


    his heart and part of it was his doing.


    At that moment he wished Leto was beside him. To give him counsels and guidance for he was lost in


    despair and sorrows.  Then the Ichor of her that dropped on the floor spread toward him and wetted his


    shoes, a sudden memory flooded back to his mind and the hope filled his heart.


    Many years ago, before the discovery of Artemis in the times of the Romans, his mother had asked him


    for his blood. Though he did not know the purpose of her doing. But he found out her dreadful wound


    was healed few dayster after he shed his blood. At the time he did not know his identity nor his


    truths, so he thought the wound came from the Wolves within the forest. But now after everything he


    had known, it logically came back and fit into pieces. Leto did not ask for his blood that day for virtue he


    had assumed, but to cure the bite somehow he bite her in the full moon. The werewolf blood was the


    answer to their bites.


    The realisation came like fireworks in his mind and he was delighted with it. Without hesitation nor


    counsel with others, Percy stood and bite his own wrist and his blood stained the floor beneath him.


    Now Apollo and Paecus were astonished and confused when he pressed his bleeding wrist on Artemis


    mouth. A moment passed when Percy was assured she drank a potion of his blood and he removed


    his wrist from her tender trembling lips, which were now coated with Ichor and glittered under the light


    of the candles.


    The hope was high in his heart and Percy looked at her with wonder. Her pale cheeks slowly but surly


    gained back their colour and her hair like Spring returned to Winter that ice melt and give ce to


    green grass. For its white colour faded and her hair returned to its silver, auburn colour. Paecus and


    Apollo were d and filled with joy. Her eyes did not opened, yet Percy was filled with hope for their


    separation came near its end.


    But a sudden convulsion took her and everyone''s excitement dropped. Artemis seemed not to adapt


    nor ept the blood of Percy and she started vomiting them out as it flowed out from the corner of her


    lips. Then the colour of her cheeks faded and the ageing began and her hair dyed back to its colour of


    snow and death followed her one more time.


    "What happened?" Paecus grimaced. "Didn''t your blood just cure her?"


    "I-I don''t know..." Percy stood with confusion and delirium. "My mother was cured by my blood before...I


    thought it could do the same for her."


    "Then why she''s not healed yet!? Why did her body reject it!?" Apollo yelled.


    "I DON''T KNOW OKAY!" Percy ranged back.


    "I don''t know..." and he said with a low and sad voice as his legs gave out the second time.


    There they sat silently in the room filled with sorrow and wariness. For Percy heart was filled with dread


    and repentance and sadness. For Apollo heart was darkened without hope. But there Paecus heart still


    lingered to find the light, despite Artemis muttering with illusions and shivers by the poison. Hope still


    with him and he spoke.


    "What if the cure muste from the one that inflicted it? Your mother was bitten by you wasn''t she?"


    There Percy understood and his eyes widened as he stood from his wooden chair. Werewolf bloods


    indeed was the answer but it had toe from the one that craved the bite. And now the fire of the


    room plunged with high me for the discovery carried hope.


    "I''m going to find that bastard" Apollo was the most impatient for the love to his sister was great and he


    picked up his bow and attempted to leave.


    "Stop!" But Percy responded. "Enough death has been made. You alone can''t defeat him Apollo."


    "Then Paecus wille with me" Apollo suggested, his eyes were full with me of fury and they


    challenged those that opposed him. "Didn''t he fear from your presence Paecus?"


    "Yet I did not fight him" the powerful man reminded Apollo, for he also loved the werewolves and would


    noty his hand upon them.


    "With that I shall go" Percy now stepped up from the quarrel and fumbles of Apollo. "For he''s still my


    blood and I shall persuade him with my best."


    Without choice, they agreed with Percy.


    After a moment of preparation, Paecus and Apollo left Percy alone in the tent. Percy walked up to her,


    whom was shaking and trembling by the poison that was torturing her. He held her cheek and tears


    swelled up his eyes. At the moment he would trade everything just to be switched with her, for she was


    too fair and good to endure this. She suddenly grabbed at his hand and held dear on it even in her


    consciousness, his scent still protected her. His heart that moment was hardened and made stronger


    and filled with determination. His love for Artemis was too great to measure, and seeing her suffer he


    would not ept. So he leaned close to her and whispered.


    "Lay and sleep my love" and his kissed her forehead despite the sweats coated it. "I shall return and I


    won''t give up until I see your beautiful eyes again."


    He leaned closer, to her lips but he just kissed at the corner of her lips. Because even though she


    wouldn''t notice if he made any attempt, he didn''t want to take advantage of it and he respected her. He


    poured very thing he felt for her into that kiss and for a short moment, life returned to her again. He


    held her hand, for his heart also afraid he would bete and she would disappear forever. He never


    wanted to let go. But his heart told him time was not in his favour. So he left the tenderness of her skin.


    There Percy set out in haste and before he left, he entrusted the camp to Paecus that none could leave


    it. There he slipped into his wolf form and ran toward the shadowy woods.


    For days he tracked for Lucien. Through woods and streams and upon hard roads Percy sprinted.


    There Percy noticed a confused tracks, as if Lucien purposely left behind or out of carelessness.


    Nheless, it made it easier for Percy to find him.


    It was already night when he halted in a wood somewhere around Virginia. For the dead trees there


    drew a sensation of intimidation. He walked in his human form, across the dead trees and crunching


    leaves. The crescent moon shimmering shined on his back, but its colour was not bright as usual; and


    it was a sign to Percy that Artemis was waning and it urged him to move faster.


    He was vignt at all time. Percy didn''t know if Lucien was still epting him as one of his kind, or ever


    since that bloody night, Percy was no longer recognised as a Shapeshifter.


    Suddenly he heard turmoil between the trees on his side, as if a fast object moving through the trunks


    of the trees. Percy knew he was in Lucien territory and werewolves were master at ambushes and


    hunting, especially an veteran like Lucien.


    So Percy ran, for his skills were more efficient in the clearings. There he came to an open area circled


    by the ck leafless trees in all directions. Now from a better view, the trees in front of him looked like


    giant arms of undead men arose from the earth and their slender fingers attempted to touch the sky. Or


    if they were calling him to join them.


    Leaf crunches from behind came to Percy ears and he immediately turned. Lucien from there walked


    out from the shadow that was rippling on his grey coat.


    "I didn''t expect you toe" Lucien said with a sneering tone. "Or perhaps you have discovered


    something?"


    Thatst sentence struck Percy and his anger rose.


    "You bit her purposely didn''t you?" Percy gritted his teeth, his fists folded so tightly to the point the nails


    drew blood in his palms.


    "She was foolish toe against me. Didn''t I just lift a burden off your shoulders Perseus?" Lucien


    clicked his tone.


    "You know why I came" Percy managed to control his anger. "Just give me what I need Lucien and I''ll


    be out of your sight for good"


    "What I need is you Perseus" Lucien folded his arms across his chest. "I don''t care if she dies or not.


    That goddess carries a curse Percy, and those follow her will be caught in her doom!"


    "And for that I shall endure"


    Lucien growled with frustration, for no matter how many times he tried to persuade, Percy would not


    understand.


    "Fine!" Lucien bellowed. "If you give me no choice then I won''t give you. Choose between your people


    and her. Either you step on my corpse and forsake your blood and save her, I won''t shed my blood for


    a god."


    There Person stood and frozen, but Lucien did not stop there.


    "What say you Perseus!?" He roared. "Your people or her!"


    There Percy was pushed to the wall and he was afraid how to counter Lucien. The decision he had not


    decided and now Lucien was forcing him to.


    "Pathetic" Lucien said and that snapped Percy.


    For a moment the wind was still and Percy growl vibrated through the woods and set the crows flying.


    There under the crescent moon, he leaped into his wolf form, the ck fur absorbed the light of the


    moon and his red zing eyes was ming with fury. Percy attacked Lucien. But as quick as lightning,


    Lucien transformed into his grey wolf and his colour unlike Percy reflected the moonlight and he shined


    in the dark wood and under the dark sky.


    They growled to show their intimidation and circled around to check for the opponent weak spot. But


    Percy was still a young fighter and patient was what he did not have. So he charged first, lunging at


    Lucien and despite his lightning speed, Lucien dodged with ease. There Lucien took his turn and made


    a long scar on Percy back that forever he would embed it. Percy roar of pain filled the dreadful air and


    the fogs of the wood was blown away by that roar. But he did not give up, for the damage increased the


    anger of werewolves would also be, and they would fight to the bitter end. So Percy made a counter


    attack again. But each time he managed to made a scratch on Lucien, he took back two or even three


    scratches and all of them were lethal.


    Not for long until Percy strength betrayed him and he was pinned to the round. Lucien stood over him


    with might and victory and he stared down at the ck wolf with disappointment and furry.


    There Lucien left him.


    But Percy, for the promise he took that he would return to her arms one more gave him back strength.


    And he crawled as much as he could, despite the wound that was bleeding and screaming with agony


    all over him. And he grabbed Lucien fur, pulling it and his blood coated hand stained the grey fur.


    Lucien halted and turned his neck with a frown as Percy kept holding on him and did not let go.


    "I won''t give up" he growled and talk as his werewolf voice was deep. "Until I see her eyes open again."


    Lucien as if volcano erupted in his mind and his face turned with even more dangerous. That golden


    eyes red with intense st and kicked Percy away.


    Percy slowly, but surely made back his stance and he stood facing Lucien. Though Percy ribs were


    broken some and he could barely stand, yet the fire still burned deep in him. There Lucien marched


    with fury towards Percy andnded a punch on his cheek. His punches were like crushes of hammers


    and Percy was threw side to side each time a punchnded. At the point Percy eyes were barely


    opening, even though he would not yield and turn human, yet his strength had left him.


    Lucien jumped up and made hisst strike, attempted to knock Percy out cold but something happen.


    For his heart followed her, for the love burned even fiercer than the mes of Olympus and for the


    promise he carried. Percy caught Lucien punch and he looked at Percy with surprise. The next thing


    was even more unexpected when Percy palm felt so hot that Lucien had to wince from the burn. There


    under the crescent moon, under the dead trees a new wolf was born. His ck fur rippled, his eyes


    red with fire and so was his entirety. Lucien barely escaped from the fiery fist of Percy and looked at


    him with wonder. For Percy once swallowed the Eternal me of Hestia and now because of the fierce


    love for Artemis, he turned into me himself. He glowed like amp even though he was in the shape


    of werewolf, and the crackles of his me disturbed the silence of the night.


    Lucien face reflected Percy light and it was red like a man in fury. With a deep growl, Percy lunged at


    him. The battle was even more intense than thest and not less destructive. For now Percy was more


    powerful and Lucien had to put all his might. They fought out of the clearly and into the deep wood


    beyond. Trees were knocked down by their missed strikes and they crumbled around them. The rocked


    and ground vibrated and danced as a battle drum. Percy fistnded on Lucien and sent him to the


    ground. Percy jumped up and ready to deliver a fatal strike but Lucien immediately rolled to his side


    and Percy crashed unto the dried leaves on the ground and burned  them to ashes. Lucien knew now


    Percy was exceedingly strong and his power a long could not win him.


    Suddenly he heard a sound of hope.


    The running of water between the rocks came not far from them. A smile came to Lucien and as he


    looked at the terrify form of Percy, he started to run. Percy now was consumed by his own fire and in


    his mind was just an image of death and sacrifice for Artemis. Without hesitation, he chased after


    Lucien and the hunting for werewolf began. They ran through the terrestrials of the wood, through trees


    and bushes and Percy roar was so terrible that mortals shut their doors tight that night.


    Lucien was the stream appear before as the dim light of them moon dance upon the running water. He


    jump into the water and the coldness brushed his skin. About the middle of the stream, Lucien came


    into a halt and turned back to face the beast behind him.


    Percy appeared out of the woods and he left behind a path of burning trees and ruin. But Percy did not


    stop, for victory was gleaming in his heart and he charged straight into the water. But he came into


    Lucien trap.


    There his me was consumed by the power of Poseidon and Percy power was stripped offyer by


    layer. His waxing time hade to a wane and Lucien immediately took the opportunity.


    He struck back at Percy and sent into stumbling upon the rock. Lucien came back with his might and


    Percy did all he could to stay alive, but he could not get back what he had as long as the water was still


    around him. But Lucien made sure that Percy could not step out from that stream.


    "Is this the life you want?" Lucien roared andnded a punch that made Percy spitting out blood.


    "What what folly and love you desire so much!" There Lucien made another strike. "That even you


    forsook your own people! Your father!"


    But did not attack like the first time, or block him but just stood and endure.


    "Is it peace that you are seeking?!" Lucien bellowed. "Or destruction is what you are aiming at!?"


    "Both of you are the dooms for each don''t you realise that!?" There he kneeled Percy and set him to


    the ground.


    Percy attempted to stand but Lucien roared and grabbed his neck and threw him back into the water.


    Lucien came upon him and startednding every punch he could throw that Percy head crashed every


    time unto the rock underneath him, and crushed them in pieces. Percy held his fist, yet he did not cry


    nor yield.


    It was all him that caused this. For the ughter upon Olympus, the wound of Artemis and even now


    the disappointment and fury of Lucien. But he could not die now, for her survival he had to stay alive.


    "Pathetic! Weakling! Why can''t you be one of us!?" Lucien knocked Percy to near the door of death,


    and seeing himying hopelessly on the ground, Lucien sighed with disappointment. "I expected a lot


    from you Perseus"


    Their his ws grew log and lethal and Lucien attempted to snap his throat open and ended Percy life


    for good. As his brutal ws crashed down, a metallic sound of mechanism filled the air and Lucien


    stopped his motion.


    "Huh?"


    And he looked down, as for now a bronze de had pierced deep and though his chest. Its sharp


    de coated Lucien blood and they gleamed by the reflection of the moonlight upon the water. As for


    Percy in the critical moment returned to his human form and summoned Riptide to his cause and the


    sword deliver the result of the battle.


    There Lucien looked down at Percy, whose hand still held tight on the sword handle and Lucien blood


    traveled like a stream down the de and onto Percy hand. The grey wolf managed hisst strength


    and pulled himself away from the sword as it traveled across him.


    And Lucien fell.


    For the stream was dyed red by the werewolf bone and heid hopelessly upon the stream, the cold


    rocks, under the crescent moon and the starless sky. They bothid there, both exhausted but Percy


    was more of shock than Lucien.


    Then Lucienughed.


    Hisughed came out weak yet it wasn''t of despise nor pity but full of enjoyment. And Percy was


    shock. There he crawled and through the running of the water upstream toward Lucien. Upon the night,


    Percy casted a shadow on the dying wolf and Lucienughed; and thatughter filled the air yet the


    grass bowed with sorrow.


    "Finally" Lucien choked out blood but he grinned. "You''ve grown. You can survive by your own now."


    Blood was coughed out from his mouth and Percy now realised Lucien purpose. He grabbed the grey


    wolf hand, whom now had turned back to human.


    "Y-you set this up didn''t you" Percy now was filled with dread and realised the anger took the folly of


    himself. "Why did you do that? Why did you provoke me?"


    But Lucien swept his hand away and smirked.


    "Because you chose it Perseus." Lucien said. "I know now you cannot leave her no matter how I try.


    But I know you one day may die because of your love. Now you''ve proven that you can survive, you


    have realised that a werewolf does not always fight as a wolf"


    "But for what cost Lucien?" Percy cried and Lucien smiled, yet now his eyes were starting to show the


    sorrow, the softness of him.


    There he plunged his ne off and the metallic pendant as if were made out of silver in the shape


    of a fang Lucien held high. Then he grabbed at Percy sword and the de drew a narrow of blood


    across his palm and they poured into the water. Lucien let his blood poured into the pendant, which


    seemed to be empty inside like a container and sealed it close. He pressed it in Percy palm with all his


    strength that remained.


    "Save your goddess and the love you hold so dear." Lucien told Percy. Though now it came as a


    whisper for his moment wasing close. "For from now perils will follow you two paths so stay


    vignt. This is the first doom I have shown you. Yet you two will experience more in the future."


    For now Percy had no heart to what of his future nor the danger he had to face. Because arades,


    a kindred and a brother his hands had caused harm to him made Percy heart filled with dread and


    sorrow. So he cried and held tightly at the dying warrior of the North.


    "I''m so sorry Lucien" Percy said. "I''m so sorry"


    "Don''t be" Lucien shook his head. "For the Fates have decided my moment long ago. Go now and


    reunite with her Perseus, for that is the decision that you''ve chosen and still holding since that night we


    met...."


    There Lucien coughed out blood again. But this time he grabbed at Percy hand and held it will all his


    strength.


    "...However if your mind has change that you follow your brain instead of your heart....that you think I''ll


    be safer for both you and Artemis...and you seek to return to you blood again. Then remember this"


    And Lucien gathered everything he had left inside him, for all his power he let out and he sang. For his


    voice was weak and tired yet it filled the silent of the night and the moon dropped its tear to the earth.


    "On your pace follow the Northern Star,


    Tond of ice...gods leave afar...."


    But Percy immediately remembered the song, for long ago Paecus had sung to him. And its lyric and


    beat like the rally and it set the fire back in Percy heart, the fire of passion. There Lucien was afraid to


    not have enough strength to finish the song and he managed with his best. But Percy pressed on his


    hand, and he continued the two lines.


    "A legend race, once walked with grace.


    Their great journey tond Adar."


    Lucien was surprised, yet he was filled with relief for somehow Percy knew the song because it was the


    only map. There Lucien smiled, and he looked up to the moon and its light shimmering. He closed his


    eyes and they never open again.


    But Lucien died with relief, and for the fire of passion and adventure still in him. So it consumed Lucien


    and he turned to ashes; and they flew up to  the sky. So no trace of Lucien was remained, not his flesh


    was buried upon the earth nor Shin? the universe of the gods.


    There the trees were silent, the wind stop blowing and the running water seemed to cease as if they


    made amentation for him. For the son of the North that never returned.


    N/A so what''s up again guys and wee to the chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it and anyment


    will be appreciated. Still stun and await the next chap ?????


    Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to toooo.....


    LycanFan48


    thornjinx23905


    Congrattions guys????????


    Luv ya all and new chap wille out shortly