Pertemis: A Wolf’s Tale

Chapter 8 Tale of The Night

Third person Point of view

Perseus and Artemis arrived home where Leto was already waiting at the table, a bored face resting on her hand.

They both walked in cautiously, closing the door quietly by Perseus. They knew they had screw up for arriving late. But the night on the island was the most extraordinary moment in the world. The Stars freely expressed their beauties and mights. Clearly Perseus had seen this all the time, but somehow with Artemis next to him, it felt much better. About Artemis, never in her life she had lost track of time because of a male. They kept on chatting, forgot their initial goal to reach home before dinner. Now, I had to pay for their mistakes.

"What did I say about home before dinner?" Leto asked, folding her arms.

"It's my fault mother" Perseus stepped up. "I took her a bit far away from the house and I got lost."

Leto gave him a suspicious look. Perseus, of course couldn't hold eye contact with her and revealed everything.

"You have been living under this roof for too long Percy" Leto sighed. "Do you think with that little effort in words could trick me?"

Artemis stood there, not knowing what to say. If she didn't get him mad, they could've gone back already. On this way, she kept persuading him to dart here and there. This had made their time to get home to be longer. Now Perseus was taking all the blame for her.

"It wasn't his fault mother" Artemis suddenly stepped up. She didn't know why was she so stupid like that. For a moment, she didn't have control over herself and that brain of her did it by itself. It's not like she didn't care for him anyway, but she wouldn't mind to set him as a shield. Though he had proven her

that he wasn't that bad, but her expectations were still more for him to cross. Yet, she did that to help him.

"We-uh-kinda had a fight and I...well accidentally scratched him a bit?"

She didn't know if she was asking or answering. She couldn't tell lie or she would make it worse. But by telling the truth, it didn't help much either. She was trying to keep it as peaceful as possible with the incident earlier.

"Scratched him a bit?" Leto asked, rising her eyebrows, urging Artemis to say the true injuries she had caused.

"I'm fine mother" Perseus spoke up immediately. "Look! Healthy as a horse! Beside I provoked her to be anger at me. It was my fault!"

"Don't take a blame on yourself Perseus." Artemis said. "I was the one to cause the problem in the first place!"

Again Artemis couldn't control her own mouth. She kept repeating in her mind that to let him take all the punishment. It didn't matter to her as long as Leto not put that punishment on her. Yet, somehow part of her couldn't let that happen to him.

Leto stared at them, quite for a moment and suddenly, a strange smile spread on her lips. Artemis and Percy looked at her confusingly, still anxious of the meaning of that smile.

"It's good to see you guys defending each other's" Leto said. "Look like the trip was really worth it"

"Woa...What!?" Artemis frowned. "No mother. I didn't defend him, just I didn't want to be called a cruel, heartless and coward goddess that's all. I wouldn't mind him getting any punishment anyway."

Perseus gave her a hurtful look, and she took all her will not to glance at him or she would start playing with her fingers again. She didn't want to do it, they were totally happy and fine before stepping into the house. But she wouldn't let her mother to think that she was that soft and could allow herself to talk to someone that easily. Her pride had taken over her, the maiden goddess couldn't let her be an easygoing person.

Leto didn't say anything, she just gave an exhausted sigh and turned back to the food on the table.

"Aren't you guys joining in?" Leto asked. "The food already this cold."

Hearing that, they both jumped in immediately, digging into the food like just came out from starvation and the dinner kept on like that.

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"Mum that's my room!" Perseus groaned. "Why would I let her to be in there?"

"Oh please" Artemis sneered. "That room was officially claimed from the day I was born. Early birds get the worms boy!"

"But I sleep there most of the time!" He argued. "Shouldn't it be mine when you only come once every two months?"

"Yes but I claimed it first and besides a girl should be served more than boy!"

"But-"

"You two enough!" Leto bellowed and the house suddenly turned quiet.

Artemis and Percy glared danger at each other, but didn't dare to open their mouth or no one would be sleeping in the house the night.

"Perseus you should let Artemis sleep in that room for tonight" Leto gave instruction and Artemis smirked. "You do that all the time so just get on with it."

"But mum those times were different!" Perseus tried to argue. "Artemis didn't know me back then."

"Yeh but you could do it right?" Artemis said. "And besides, what is it in that room anyway?"

"That's enough!" Leto raised her voice and stopped Perseus from speaking up. "That's the instruction and obey Percy."

He huffed and walked away. It was just unfair to let her sleep in there. He had to keep his secret back then, but now she already knew it. Why would he be sleeping in another room? Also why was she acting like a stubborn and arrogance girl again anyway. He had come to like her few hours ago and now that had already faded away in his mind. And because of that, he wouldn't let her win no matter what. If he couldn't sleep there, she wouldn't be either.

"Hey but I won the racing game!" He suddenly turned back. Leto glared at him but he kept his gaze. "The prize is for me. Artemis, you shouldn't be a cheater!"

"Woa Woa what!?" Artemis stepped up. "We hit the goal at the same time boy! So do no-"

Suddenly, the vision came back to her. There they were, laying on the grass with her on top of him, staring down at his mesmerising sea green eyes. Their breath dancing with each other and their fingers interlocked. It quickly slide into the kiss she had for him, the most embarrassing moment of her entire immortal life. Her cheek suddenly burned hot and she noticed that Perseus was looking at her weirdly and expectedly to say more.

"Uh- anyway" she tried to cut it off, more of to stop her blush. "I'm taking the room and you do as mother said."

Percy glanced back at his mother only to receive and stern look on her face. He knew he should better be off than to argue.

"What is wrong with him and the room anyway?" Artemis stated "and why did he even choose it? There are plenty of rooms here. You let that happen purposely didn't you mother?"

"Don't blame him Artemis." Leto soothed. "He has a strong connection with you. The moment he saw your room, he didn't want to leave it no matter what. I did explain and moved him to another room. But at night, he would be sleep walking back there. Maybe some of your scents draw him in or something that could be linked to you. Or maybe because of his personal hobbies about the room. That's why I always wanted you to know him."

Again, connection with him. First he told her he liked her and admired her. Now even her scent couldn't let him get away. Was she really that drawing to him? The thought made her happy a bit, like somehow her heart skipped a moment of excitement. Then again, she restrained herself, why would she have such a thought? It didn't matter anyway, she had what she wanted already.

But then, she some how felt guilty a bit. If he admired her that much that even her scent control him. Then why did she have to push him away. This was well, part of his room after all. He did take good care of it while she was away and he would eventually sleepwalking back here anyway. Maybe other time he had locked himself, but now, she didn't feel right about taking his room. She wouldn't like it if someone did that to her also. And she did hurt him back there, maybe she should be a bit easy for him.

"If he likes this room that much" Artemis suddenly said. "He could live in there for the night"

"Wow" Leto rubbed her ears. "Am I hearing things wrong or you just allowed him to sleep in same room with you?"

Artemis rolled her eyes, her mum was annoying sometimes. "You know what you heard mum. He's gonna sleepwalking back here anyway. I don't want to be weakened in the middle of the night with

someone banging on the floor. At least letting him sleep on the so far wouldn't pestering me more that that"

"Ok if you fine with it then I will go tell Perseus." Leto smiled. "I bet he's pitying about my decision earlier."

"Boys" Artemis rolled her eyes for the last time and closed the door behind her.

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Artemis woke in the middle of the night on her bed. The fact why did she sit up was still in figuring process. She looked out of the window, the moon light was the only thing that help her to see through the room. The wind swirling through the window, made her shiver a bit. She followed the light of the moon of the silver carpet to the blue fancy sofa at the far wall. Perseus was sleeping soundless on it.

Now she had regretted what she said earlier. She had hair shown her mother her softness. She had again, broken her rule of keeping distance from male. She had purposely destroyed her reputation. But somehow, something made her uneasy.

She kept rubbing her inner thighs together, kept blushing all the time when Perseus in here. From the time she had left that cave, she kept having those mysterious feeling more often. She wanted to be closer to him a bit, yet she didn't allow herself to express it. She wanted to talk nicer to him, but she had to remind herself of who she was.

And somehow, her feet were landed on the carpet and she found herself walking towards him. The moonlight was shining at her back made her auburn hair to be glowed in the dark. The breeze wouldn't stop her from shivering.

She stopped in front of him, her shadow tower over him. If he woke up right now, he would be dead from a heart attack because of her standing like a ghost in the middle of the night. But he was already sleeping like a dead person.

This Perseus was really a mess when he slept. Perhaps because of size of the sofa was too small. One of his leg was dangling over the edge along with his upper half body. The blanket he brought with was dropped on the flag.

Artemis sighed, she couldn't let him be like this. Even if he didn't feel cold, it would be warmer to have a blanket covering in winter. She bent down and pulled the blanket up to cover him. Moved him back into the position that suitable for the design of the sofa. She didn't know why she was doing this, suddenly cared for him.

When everything was done, she kneel down next to him, her chin rested in her forearm as she was staring into his closed eyes. His breath came out frequently as peacefully as a smile came on her face.

She then noticed a bit of drool came out at the edge of his mouth. In normal circumstances, she would've found that disgusting. But right now, somethings possessed her that she found it adorable and chuckled a little.

Being alone with him like this felt great. Of course only her to be the one awakened. Her lips suddenly trembled, urging her to move closer to his. Why did she have this feeling now she didn't know. Those lips of his were drawing her in like a magnet. Was it because of that experience she had with him in the cave? The kiss to save his life?

She took control of herself and pursed. Why would he be such a fuss even when he was asleep?

The thought made her smile. Clearly she had come to accept his presence more. Some how her feelings were still comprising about it, and also her pride kept her from opening to him.

"You know I don't really hate you right Perseus?" She muttered, her finger played with his hair while staring at him.

Part of her wanted to wake him and talk to him the entire night. But the majority that she wanted to be like this. But more than that, she couldn't face him directly without being blushed and angry. This peaceful moment was just how she wanted.

Slowly, Artemis eyes couldn't keep open until she felt asleep while still sitting next to Perseus. Her head laid on her folded arms next to him and she enjoyed his warm and peaceful breath dancing along with her. The moon shined in upon them.

N/A ill be updating more frequently from now because I'm having a holiday for over 2 weeks. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter although nothing much really excited. It will get better overtime though so keep voting and comment if you like it. Thank you and love you guys. ???