Olympiad is Falling, The Rise of Artemis

‘How much do you trust this guy Stella?’ Alfie asked the second we walked out of the bar.

‘He’s insane!’ I stalked ahead of them.

‘I was told he’s a very reliable source and it makes sense. Arti! You’re special, you’re not a mage, you’re a goddess! It’s so cool.’

I shook my head. It couldn’t be. I couldn’t be, what did that mean for Rocky?

‘No, Stella it’s not. It’s confusing and we didn’t get anything on Rocky.’

She scratched her head, ‘Right. We should go back.’

‘No, it doesn’t feel safe. There are places I hear kidnapped victims are held. Not nice places of course.’ Alfie said.

‘No, kidding, but that will take forever.’

‘Have you tried a locator spell?’

Stella and I exchanged glanced.

‘Would it work?’ I asked.

‘I’m not sure. We can try, I’d need a few things. I used my last stuff to find you when you were out with your Dinemus.’

Alfie shot me a side glance, though said nothing.

‘If it doesn’t work then we should move on to Hera’s castle.’ Alfie said.

‘Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,’ Stella mumbled.

There was nothing to do in the mean time. Alfie had to go back to earth and Stella needed to gather her ingredients. Whether it was true or not about me being a goddess, we agreed to keep it among us. It left me heading back to Stella’s apartment. If I was a witch I would have attempted a locator spell alone. If I could with my powers I hadn’t discovered how to yet.

I searched for a wet wipe to rub the makeup off my face. I had to settle with a rug and a bucket. The door bell rung and I hesitated.

‘Stella?’ I called.

She couldn’t be back so quickly and she wouldn’t ring the bell she could use magic to let herself in. No answer came.

‘Alfie?’ I whispered.

Pounding on the door made me jump. Someone must have followed me back. If it was a fight they wanted they would get it. I pulled the door open and stepped back.

A bullied Daylen leaned against the frame hugging his side.

‘What the heck happened to you?’ I gasped.

‘Took you long enough,’ he groaned.

He stumbled inside. I shut the door and attempted to help him to the couch, but he brushed me off. He was busy getting beat up to meet us earlier. He landed in a heap on the couch. I sat on the other end. His face was purple, his eye would be swollen shut if I didn’t ice it. He dragged his leg when he walked, he likely had a broke rib or two. I went to the fridge to look for anything frozen. Frozen vegetables was the best I could find. Stella was low on everything.

‘I don’t need that. I’ll heal in time.’ He said.

I should have slapped his hand out of the way and shoved frozen vegetables on his cheek.

‘Why did you even come here? You should have gone to a hospital. Don’t angels have hospitals?’

He scrawled, ‘We do, but we can heal ourselves.’

I signed. He probably had internal bleeding, could angels die from that? It didn’t look like he was healing at all. His wounds were only getting darker. I held my hand out.

‘Here.’

He raised his brow. I groaned and took his hand in mine. I scooted closer and set my hand on his cheek. His brows formed a curve, yet he didn’t pull away. Power flowed from my palm to his face. I hadn’t done this since Rocky started high school. The cuts on his face sealed and the colour went back to normal.

‘You can heal.’

It was a statement more than an obvious question.

I remembered healing my Dad when he came home battered by his gambling buddies. I healed him completely and he didn’t say anything the next day. He always denied our powers, despite knowing the truth all along. My entire life he never did anything magical, there wasn’t even a trace.

‘Comes in handy with a reckless sister like Rocky.’ I offered a weak smile.

I went to raise his shirt, his hand grabbed my wrist.

‘Relax I want to heal the rest of you!’

He watched me raise his white shirt to reveal caramel skin and a soft six pack. I cleared my throat and let my power search his injuries, free his pain. I had to be careful not to feel his pain or else I’d catch a glimpse of his emotional pain too.

When I finished and pulled down his shirt. I walked to the kitchen. I took in deep breaths and released. It was the closeness that rattled me.

‘You’re not weak or drained.’ He said.

I turned, ‘Why would I?’

‘Healing takes an incredible amount of energy. It takes most healers a few minutes to recover.’

I shrugged, ‘It’s never been that way with me. What happened to you?’

He sat up and didn’t grunt. ‘I was attacked at home.’

‘What? I thought you were the worst fight to ever pick.’ I grinned.

He shot me a dirty look.

‘I was ambushed.’

‘I’m guessing that’s why you ditched us today.’

He nodded, ‘Come up with anything?’

I shook my head and paced round the kitchen. ‘Nothing.’

Daylen stood. He towered over me I had to tilt my head back to look him in the face.

‘I needed to make sure you were okay.’

I folded my arms and took a cautious step back.

‘Unlike you Daylen, I can handle myself.’

‘Like I said I was ambushed. There were three of them.’

‘Why would anyone want to hurt you? What do you have?’

The door swag open. Daylen moved back to the living room. Stella froze a few steps in. Her eyes darted between us.

***

Stella drew a pentagram on the floor and positioned five candles on each point. She circled the pentagram with black salt.

‘I need your blood,’ Stella said to me.

She pulled out a small dagger from her bag. I rubbed my palm. I was about to give Stella my hand knowing the pain would fade and I was doing it to get Rocky back when Daylen pulled my arm back.

‘How are you sure Hera’s prisoners aren’t immune to magic?’

Stella grumbled and grabbed my hand. ‘She’ll be fine Dinemus.’ The blade ripped my skin, I pulled back and fisted my palm.

‘Here.’ Daylen took my hand. His brown eyes melted into gold. The whole in my hand stitched itself back together.

‘You can heal?’ I asked.

‘I told you I could,’ he murmured.

Drops of blood landed in the pentagram. Daylen and I stepped into the kitchen. His arm wrapped round my shoulders. He didn’t seem to notice.

Stella started humming, the lights flickered. Humming became chanting and a lamp behind her burst. Daylen pulled me into his arms. The black sand dispersed and grey smoke puffed up from the floor. It hit Stella in the face.

‘Damn it!’ She coughed.

‘What was that?’ I asked.

‘It didn’t work,’ Daylen released me.

He took his sweet heavenly scent with him.

‘What do you mean it didn’t work?!’ I blasted.

‘Hera probably has a cloak on her prisoners and territories. I highly doubt your sister’s still here.’ Daylen said.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head.

‘No, no please where else will I look for her? I can’t lose her.’ My lip trembled and my throat clogged.

Daylen’s hands slid down my shoulders. He looked into my eyes and I struggled to contain the heat circulating in my body.

‘Let me handle this-‘

‘Not a chance I’ve already got someone who’s going to help us.’ Stella raised her chin.

‘He better be a step up from-‘ I bit my tongue.

Daylen eyed me suspiciously. I couldn’t trust him with what may or may not be true.

‘Have you considered that someone else could have your sister?’ Daylen asked.

I yanked at my hair and sat on the sofa. My mind was as blank as a new notebook.

‘Who’d want Rocky?’ Stella frowned.

‘Who’d want me?’

‘Why you, Artemis?’ Daylen narrowed down on me.

I exhaled then looked at Stella. She shrugged.

‘Stella’s Mom had a premonition that people were coming after me. Except I went on a date and my sister was taken.’

‘Perhaps it has something to do with your true identity.’ Daylen closed the gap between us. I jumped off the sofa and paced to the kitchen.

‘I don’t know… I’m not sure.’

‘Look, the only man that could possibly tell us what Arti is, is now six feet under.’

‘Your father?’ He asked. I nodded. ‘What was his name?’

‘Archer… Archer Monroe.’

Daylen nodded. He looked more serious without the glasses. ‘I’ll do some digging.’

Stella went on cleaning her mess. Daylen headed for the door and beckoned me to follow.

I smirked, ‘Need me to escort you just to make sure you’re not ambushed again?’

He grinned then closed the door behind me. He rummaged in his pants pockets then pulled out a golden chain.

‘Daylen?’ I backed into the door.

It had a golden dove carrying a green heart that had to be pure emerald.

‘Why are… what’s it for?’

‘So I know when you need me.’

I placed my hand on my hip and here I thought it was a plain old expensive gift with possible feelings attached. It would be totally weird if it was though.

‘I can handle myself.’

‘Stop being stubborn and turn around.’

I sighed and turned. Daylen swept my hair aside, the cold chain landed on my chest. I traced the dove, no one had ever given me something so beautiful.

‘I know you can take care of yourself Artemis. Times will come when you need me even if you don’t like it. We’re working together after all. Hold it tight and call me.’ He smiled.

I looked at the tiny heart in the claws of the bird and nodded.

‘Make sure it’s important!’

I groaned and opened the door.

‘Daylen…’

He turned.

‘Thank you.’