Prologue

Nine gods of Olympus paced the hall of the mighty Zeus, anxiety rolling off them in waves. A lithe figure, blonde and draped in silver, dropped from a beam, her bow glinting dully in the dusky light.

"Father," she intoned, "are you sure this is wise? If this should fail and the child die before her time, all hope shall be lost in the battle to come." Artemis narrowed her sky-gray eyes in irritation, half wishing to prick him with his own lightning.

"Father!" With a snort, the great form shifted in the throne. A man, imposingly tall with hair white as a cloud and eyes the color of a winter's day, chuckled darkly at her impudence.

"Patience, Huntress. I have lived for countless millennia, and in that time, never before have you dared contradict my bidding. Why now this sudden change in demeanor?"

"Never before have our children faced a foe such as Gaea. She is old as time itself and bound to the very earth beneath their feet." Artemis paused, the half-smile on her face belied by the sharpness of her tone. "And never before have you concocted a plan half as ludicrous as this one! Creating a mortal shell within which you wish to encapsulate the very essence of our power, is at best, lethal!"

"Artemis, perhaps you should hold your tongue."

"No brother! You will permit me to speak my mind!" Apollo glanced warily between his twin and father, all too aware of the consequences should Zeus's temper flare. A shadow darted from column to column, and he smiled. That child is far cleverer than her family realizes.

"Take care in how you speak, daughter. My patience wears thin."

Artemis snorted. "Do not threaten me, Zeus; I am no longer a child, frightened into silence with one look from your stormy countenance." Apollo, do they not realize that it is my choice to leave? Why does she not believe in my abilities?

I know not the reason, little one. However I do know that if this does not stop soon, your mother may soon cease to exist.

How often has Father threatened to destroy her now? A million times since I was born? He loves her too much to actually follow through with his threat, of this I am certain.

Apollo snickered. I fear you give Zeus far too much credit in the self-discipline department.

"Peace, Artemis!" The command reverberated around them, ominous as thunder.

"No! I will not be 'at peace'! You wish to send the young ones to their death with naught but a human shell and a son of the sea to guide them! It is suicidal!"

"Do you forget, niece, that it was my son who saved us all when your sister's daughter failed to accept what was right in front of her?" Athena bristled angrily, her grey eyes flashing.

"Kronos was far more cunning than she was prepared for, Poseidon, she was a young girl."

"Yes, a young girl infatuated with the vessel carrying the Titan Kronos within him! I would not underestimate my son, or our enemy, if I were you." The great hall erupted into a cacophony of angry, shrieking voices, one rising above the din; clear as bell, yet hard as crystal.

"Enough, all of you!" Another figure stepped from the shadows. About time you stepped in.

Hush, Apollo. Nyxus Moon glared at the gathering. "You all should be ashamed of yourselves, fighting over my fate like children over a toy! Do I not get a say in what I do or don't do?" She turned to Artemis, a sad glimmer of fear in her shining violet eyes. "Mother, I understand your fear far better than you think. You care for your half-blood children, and believe that all will fail if I do not remember." She grasped Artemis's hands in her own slim unlined ones. "But you must have faith in me. I will remember, I give you my word." Turning, she faced the shimmering portal, a small, shabby apartment awaiting her on the other side.

"Be safe, daughter. May Fortuna smile on your quest, and the blessing of your family go with you wherever you roam. Good luck." With a final kiss from Artemis on her forehead, Nyxus Moon's eyes turned glassy, and she fell sideways through the gateway.

"I still don't trust her."

"I have had quite enough of your insolence for one lifetime, daughter. Begone!" With one final cry of frustration, Artemis vanished in a shard of moonlight. The god's shoulders slumped, exhaustion showing plainly in his eyes.

"Leave me now, all of you. I shall keep watch over her tonight."

"Fare thee well, Zeus." When the hall was emptied, Poseidon strolled over to where his brother stood, stony-faced, by the portal and gazed with him upon a young girl of sixteen, hair the color of amber and eyes the color of the restless sea.

"Zeus, if she truly is of as volatile nature of the skies, only pray my son has the fortitude to tame not only her spirit, but her heart. For all our sakes."

"As do I, brother. As do I."