Pertemis: A Wolf’s Tale novel Chapter 11

Artemis Point of View

Artemis walked through the street of Olympus. She had been gone more no longer than a week and it felt like years for her since she last seen it. Despite the fact she hated coming here, it was still part of her home. Talk about it, she hadn't gotten any contact with her hunters since she left to Leto's island. They must have been worry sick otherwise Apollo wouldn't have come and found out. Now with all the incident and problems she had in her mine, nothing really mattered to her besides trying to find away to keep Perseus's existence a secret.

As she walked pass the public square, where most the trades and activities usually held. She never liked the place, perhaps too many drunks and males around here. But everyone on Olympus beside her loved this boisterous place for her curiosity.

A nymph bowed at her as many people made way for her to pass made Artemis feel proud, yet a bit irritated since she had spent a lot of time treating her hunters equal as her. She smiled at the girls to show respect and her manner, glaring at any male who dared to steal a glance. And of course, they knew their stand so almost the entire male on Olympus in the public square bow with their eyes fixed on the white stones street wherever she came.

As she was walking up on the steps toward the throne room, her head was still trying to figure out how to convince Apollo not to spill or to draw to much attention, someone ran up from behind and locked their arm around  her neck. Who the hell have the guts?

"Good morning Artemis!"

Oh great the last person she wanted to see at the moment.

"Great" Artemis rolled her eyes. "What do you want Aphrodite?"

"Aw common" she pouted. "Is that how you treat your best-friend?"

Artemis got away from her hold and turned back to face Aphrodite.

"Ok first of all" she snapped. "I'm not your best friend because we have completely opposite nature. Second of all, just because we were in the same team in the pass doesn't mean now you're my best friend"

"Ouch!" She leaned away. "That's hurt. Common Artemis, you know I've always been on your side and help you. At least show me a little nicer greet and attitude."

"Fine" Artemis gave a sarcastic smile. "Hello my old bestie Aphrodite. How are you and how have you been with the males you bring into your room at night? Happy?"

Artemis ignored her and kept on her destination. Aphrodite ran up, dashed in front of Artemis to block her way.

"Seriously?" Artemis raised her eyebrows.

"Don't be such a meanie" Aphrodite whined. "What's the trouble you are having?"

Artemis stared at her in shock. Surely she never underestimated Aphrodite since she was one of the oldest person on Olympus. Everyone would've thought her being a slut around Olympus, but when coming down to business, she's as smart and reliable as Athena. In the past Artemis had experienced that with Aphrodite, of course she knew Aphrodite would be one of the first to notice the change. But she didn't expect to be that fast.

"N-nothing" Artemis said, giving her a straight face.

"Common tell me" Aphrodite caught her arm. "I've known you for more than three thousand years Artemis. There's nothing you can hide from me without me finding out eventually"

Artemis stared into Aphrodite's eyes anxiously. A single sweat rolled down her cheek. She knew she couldn't hold eye contact for long when she was lying.

"Oh can you let go of me!?" She yanked Aphrodite's hand off. "I have business to attend you know!"

Artemis got around Aphrodite and started walking up towards the throne room for the second time. Lucky for her, Aphrodite didn't chase after but instead she said some word made the stubborn goddess to freeze.

"Hm interesting. Is it about a male?"

Artemis was literally shaking at that moment. How could she find out so quickly? She didn't show any changes in behaviour, just a little signs of nervousness. But that wasn't  mean anything for Aphrodite to notice.

"What do you mean?" Artemis frowned, turning back.

"I can hear your heartbeat ya know." Aphrodite said. "That feeling is so strange to you but familiar to me. I know what it is Artemis. you can't hide something in your heart. Especially to a goddess of love."

Artemis turned, pushed Aphrodite to a fountain just next to the throne room but far enough from eavesdroppers.

"I swear to all the gods Aphrodite if yo-"

To her surprise, Aphrodite squealed, clapping her hands together in excitement, even when facing her danger.

"Finally, after many years. Finally I have provoked Artemis to be fallen in love with a man"

Artemis clapped her hand over her mouth, scaring someone could hear the love goddess's voice.

"It's not like that ok!" Artemis snapped. "You don't need know anything about Aphrodite. It is much more complicated than that."

Truly Artemis was aware of that confused feeling she was having. She wanted to have a conversation with Aphrodite about her strange feeling she had with Perseus. Imagine how ridiculous that is when a goddess of man-haters asking Aphrodite advice about her counter with a man. Of course she couldn't do it since she didn't trust to talk about Perseus to Aphrodite. It wasn't that she didn't trust her, she had put her faith in Aphrodite in the past and Artemis was confirmed Aphrodite wouldn't betray her. But with that jumpy personality and that talkative mouth of Aphrodite, she would spill something accidentally and Perseus would be in danger. She wouldn't risk it.

But now, slowly Aphrodite had noticed her. Also with that feeling she had for Perseus, she didn't know what it was and it really frustrated her. Yes she cared for him, she wanted to protect him. But her care for him suddenly got more than just that boundary. Never in her life she had put faith and care and respect in someone that fast. With Perseus, he did win her over.

Aphrodite was lurking, trying to look through her eyes while Artemis was distracted with her thought. Slowly Artemis noticed what Aphrodite was doing and pulled herself back to reality. She blinked, but didn't say a word.

"Well if you don't want to talk about it" Aphrodite said and Artemis's shoulder just dropped.

"Whatever that feeling you have Artemis" Aphrodite told her and was starting to walk away. "It's not like what you think. Think outside the square Artemis. Don't deny it, just let it flaw like the nature itself. It'll only bring you pain if you try to fight it off."

Artemis still stared at Aphrodite's back as she slept walked away toward the throne room. Her mind was fighting over what she was saying. Clearly she had no ideas what Aphrodite just told her and she knew it would be long for her to extract the meaning of it. But she was certain Aphrodite did gave her the treatment for the confused feeling she was having. But that treatment was mysterious and open-close so...

Just then, she saw her brother Apollo walking to the throne room with a depressed face. She rushed to him immediately.

"Hey are you ok?" She asked, clapping his shoulder.

"Well the fact that I just found out I have another half werewolf brother and my sister is helping him, also a male. Can you find anything better than that for me to think that I'm ok?"

Artemis jumped in front of him and stared at her brother. Apollo avoided her gaze.

"You have promised me right?" She said.

"Right right I have and that was the dumbest thing I've done in three thousand years." Apollo yelled, throwing his hands up.

"Look Apollo, I know you are not stable at the moment and I-"

"Just let me go please" Apollo waved her off. "I'll keep my promise because I want to protect you sis. But don't apologise and ask for my forgiveness because it'll take a long time for you to grant it."

"Then do it probably" Artemis held his toga and stared deep into his eyes. Apollo turned nervous. "Promise me that you won't do anything stupid so someone could suspect about it"

Apollo sighed and looked up to the blue sky above. He shook his head and looked down.

"I promise." He whispered as slow as possible. "I'll not say or do anything to reveal the secret of our so called brother. But do not threaten me again Artemis because I've been pushed to the edge."

Artemis sunk down in fear at his words as Apollo leaned closer at his last few words and the atmosphere around him turned dark and dull as well as the sky above.

"Now" Apollo said calmly. "Could you please step aside for me, sister"