Olympiad is Falling, The Rise of Artemis

‘Leave me alone,’ I shoved Artemis’ hand away.

‘You’re hurt!’

‘I told you I can heal myself.’

She grumbled the pan with water and cotton balls rattled on her laps.

‘It’s clearly not working.’

I rolled back on the couch. It wasn’t working. My body ached and my bones cracked. If I stood, I’d collapse. I laboured to breath. I turned to Artemis, her lips parted and her eyes frowned.

I reached for her hand, moments ago I had her in my arms. Now I felt my essence flee me.

‘Let me try something, please.’ She whispered.

‘What’s that?’

Her hand trembled all the way to my cheek. My hand found hers there. I shut my eyes and relished her touch.

‘You’re bleeding internally Daylen.’

I groaned, ‘Fuck.’

She lifted my shirt to reveal where Avon’s magic did the most damage. My skin was raw and black. Her hand pressed against the injury.

‘Shit Artemis.’ I spat.

‘I’m sorry!’

She moved closer and guided my face so that I was right in front of her. She pressed her forehead onto mine. I shut my eyes. Every broken piece found its other half. The puzzle pieces clicked into place. Her lips pressed against mine. Sparks filled my head to the tips of my toes. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close.

The defences in my mind fell like flies. I pulled away from her before every wall was down.

‘I’m not finished.’ She whispered.

I scrutinized her, what kind of creature was she? She took out my defences in seconds and looked completely innocent doing it.

‘I think I’m good enough to heal on my own now.’

She nodded and bit her lip. She knew I found out what she was doing. At least I wasn’t the only one with secrets. I lay on my back and brought Artemis down with me. I had a damaged bar, I’d almost died and my neighbours were probably drawing up a petition to have me kicked out, but those were the last things on my mind.

‘Are you sure you’re not an angel?’ I asked.

‘I’m pretty sure I’d know if I was.’

How much better it would be for me if she was. Solaris’ words boomed in my mind. I had an obligation to marry an angel of noble rank. There were many in Paradis all very beautiful too. Most of them had their eye on Jason, I wondered what their reaction would be like when they discovered Jason didn’t have a hold on the throne. At the rate the attacks were coming Jason might inherit the throne after all.

‘Are you sleeping with the queen?’

My hand toyed with her hair. Damn Avon for interrupting one of the most important moments of my life. Damn this woman for becoming so important to me.

‘Don’t listen to him. He’s paranoid and jealous.’

‘That isn’t an answer Daylen.’

I exhaled. If only she knew how disgusting that was.

‘No, I’m not.’

She sat up. ‘That man was the king? The king himself came to kill you? There’s got to be more to it than just jealously.’

‘There isn’t. I got promoted and not a lot of people like it.’

She narrowed her eyes at me. ‘How did you get promoted?’

Not by sleeping with my mother.

‘I’m a hard worker. I’d like to think I’m an asset to the Queen’s court.’

She tilted her head. ‘Are angels supposed to be found at dangerous night clubs fucking strange women?’

‘What does that have to do with anything?’

She shrugged, ‘I just thought angels weren’t supposed to do stuff like that.’

‘Go to night clubs? I could have been undercover.’

She rolled her eyes, ‘Is sleeping with the workers part of the assignment?’

I pulled her leg so she sat on me. She looked anywhere but at me.

‘Are you jealous Artemis?’

She snapped her head in my direction and gasped. She wanted to jump off the couch but I held her thighs down.

‘Why would I be jealous? I’m not jealous!’

I sat up so I could hold her. The pain in my side felt like a hundred needles pinning down at once. At least it wasn’t like a fire was lit inside my body.

‘It didn’t mean anything. You’ve got not reason to worry.’

I kissed her cheek, breathing in the scent of her hair. My hand tangled in the curls.

‘You don’t want me around anyway.’

‘It’s not because I don’t like you… sometimes I don’t like you. I want to keep you safe.’

She nodded. I pulled her back down with me. I rested my chin on her head and caressed her arms.

‘It’s better if you left Artemis.’

It was the last thing she wanted to hear. I almost took her virginity now I was sending her away. It was for her own good and mine. My mother already doesn’t approve of us.

‘I’m not staying for you.’ She wiggled out of my hold and stood.

‘There’s nothing here for you.’

‘You’re wrong.’ She marched to my room.

I rubbed my forehead. Why were things so difficult with this one? I pulled myself up and followed her to the room.

Half of her was under my bed. I dragged her out by her waist.

‘What are you doing?’

‘You told me to leave remember?’

I ran a hand down my face. She struggled to put on her shoes. I didn’t want her to leave immediately. I still wanted to hold her to have her near until I had to take her back.

‘You don’t have to leave right now. I can take you back to earth in the morning.’

‘I’m not going to earth Daylen. There’s nothing left for me there, but debt and lies.’

She marched to the door I grabbed her arm and brought her back.

‘I can take care of the debt. You’re not staying here Artemis. You don’t understand what-‘

She stormed out of the room before I could finish.

‘Artemis!’

‘If you can prove to me without a shadow of a doubt that my sister is dead then I swear to you Daylen I will leave and I won’t ever look back.’

Leave and forget about me. Maybe I’d be able to move on once she was gone. She wouldn’t plague my mind with her memory if I knew she was safe in her own dimension. I wouldn’t forget the first woman to kick my ass even though I won in the end.

‘Done.’

Her hands slipped to her sides. ‘Really?’

I nodded.

‘Okay… take me back to Stella’s then?’

‘If that’s what you want.’

What we had would face giants and abysses. A part of me knew I’d gladly face it all. I’d been fighting all my life the easy way didn’t feel right. I took a step forward when she didn’t flinch I cupped her cheek. Artemis tried to wiggle out of my hold, but I her kept her head still and kissed her cheek.

‘I’m sorry.’