AN: I don't own Sherrilyn Kenyon's books so obviously I don't own Acheron or Artemis. I do own Gabrielle though. Oooo. Big deal. Anyways. Read. Enjoy. R&R please.
Acheron Meets His Match
"You're afraid of me." It wasn't a question. "Almost everyone is."
"So?" The tone of her voice did not show her fear. "Just because they're afraid of you doesn't mean they can't stand up to you. It's just a question of weather or not they're a coward at heart."
Acheron thought on that for a moment then said, "But what if they were my friends yet still afraid of the power I possess?"
Gabrielle answered without a moment's hesitation. "Then I guess it just depends on how much you piss them off. If they love you than they fear your power like you said and therefore they wouldn't have a reason to stand up to you, now would they?"
Ash smiled. "No. I suppose not in most cases." He was amazed by the defiance in this woman. It was equal to his own. She never backed down even when the fight was lost and if she were somehow forced to bow before someone she did it grudgingly and defiant just like him.
"What are you staring at?"
Ash snapped out of his thoughts to find her looking at him suspiciously. "Just admiring a beautiful woman."
Gabrielle snorted. "Please. Don't try to be charming with me Acheron you're not getting anywhere near my bed and besides if you want sex go back to your bitch goddess."
Acheron glared at her. Gabrielle only smirked. "How do you know about that?"
Gabrielle met his swirling silver eyes with her ice blue ones. For the first time in his entire eleven thousand years of existence, Acheron had never felt like anyone could see through him down to the very truth. Until now.
"I know everything about you Acheron Parthenopaus. Even your real origin."
Acheron raised an eyebrow. "How?"
Gabrielle smiled a little and unlocked their eyes. Even Artemis could not stand staring into his swirling eyes for as long as Gabrielle had. What was she?
Gabrielle sighed. "That is a conversation for another time I'm afraid. For now, lets get back to training."
A sword appeared in her hand and she tossed it to Ash. It held powerful magics in the blade. How many more abilities did they have in common?
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If not for both of their healing abilities, Acheron and Gabrielle would have been cut, bruised, and bleeding everywhere with their clothes in shreds. Well, for what little clothes they had. Ash wore only his black leather pants he seemed to like so much. Gabrielle wore tight black jeans and a corset that showed off her curves very well not to mention her breasts were barely covered.
If Ash had seen any other woman wearing that outfit his first thought would have been that she was trying too hard to get someone in her bed that night. But not Gabrielle. Gabrielle carried a look and an aura about her that immediately dared any man to try and seduce her.
"You fight well. Who was your teacher?"
They were walking across a field in New Zealand to relax their muscles after hours of training. It was Gabby's favorite place.
She smiled sadly. "My father. He was one of the greatest Trojan soldiers who ever lived."
"A Trojan? You don't run into one of you very often. There are so few of you left."
"I suppose we can all thank Artemis in a way for being so deceiving."
Acheron scoffed. "How's that?"
Gabrielle looked at him as if she was shocked. "You mean in eleven thousand years you haven't figured that out?"
Acheron looked at the ground. "I tend to see the glass half empty when it comes to Artemis's games with people."
Gabrielle couldn't blame him. "Well if it weren't for her Dark-Hunters then all traces of wonderful bloodlines and cultures like mine would have died long ago. Now they have a chance to live on."
Ash smiled softly. She had a point. She was definitely an optimist. She never stopped seeing beauty in everything no matter how bad it was. "So who was your father?"
"Hector of Troy."
Acheron was actually surprised at that. He had tried to see her past and future but had failed for some reason. It was complete darkness like it was when he tried to look into his own. He didn't understand. It was almost as if, she didn't exist. "I thought Hector had a son."
"He did. My little half-brother. I was the result of a one night stand when Hector was only 16."
"And your mother?"
Gabrielle grinned. "I can't tell you. Because like you Acheron, I don't like giving away all my secrets."
They walked in silence for a long while. They both seemed to be at peace listening to the soft wind while lost in their thoughts.
"I'll meet you here tomorrow for some more training. Maybe this time we can use whips."
Acheron almost shivered at the thought of Gabrielle with a whip. He hated whips. "I'm afraid not. Artemis will have returned by then. I'm under house arrest."
Gabrielle rolled her eyes and shrugged. "Maybe. We'll see."
This was the one person who could tell Acheron something and him actually not understand her intentions. It aggravated him to no end. Especially since it was a woman. It aggravated him while at the same time making him hard for her. Acheron couldn't believe it! After almost eleven thousand years he had actually found a woman who made him hard by what she did rather than just his lust for her blood between his lips.
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"Acheron", Artemis whined. He had gotten up out of bed and she was too lazy to get up and retrieve him.
"Oh shut up Artemis. I'm so sick of your whining."
Ash whirled around at the familiar voice. Gabrielle was standing there glaring down at Artemis who seemed just as shocked as he was about Gabby's sudden appearance.
Gabby continued. "All I ever hear out of you is "Acheron! Ash do this, Ash do that! Ash come fuck me!" You're so annoying Artemis! I don't know how he puts up with you!"
Acheron was baffled. Gabby had more guts than anyone he'd ever known except for himself of course.
Artemis lashed out a bolt of power at Gabrielle. Ash went to block it but then realized Gabby had already done that herself. She held on to Artemis's bolt of power for a moment before throwing it back at her. Artemis slammed down onto her bed with a grunt. She was about to sit up when she suddenly fell unconscious.
Gabrielle raised an eyebrow at Ash. "What?", he asked innocently.
"I could have taken her."
Ash grinned. "I know. But I hate fighting."
Gabby rolled her eyes and they teleported to New Zealand for more fun training.
