Chapter 1
There's a knock on my door.
"Mother?" I ask.
"Yes, my son." she comes in. I smile, "It's been a while, Mother." She glides forward, "Yes... I've been busy. I'm sorry, my darling Orion."
"No, it's alright." I reply. I take a look at Mother. She's beautiful and elegant. She has black or sometimes auburn hair, tall, thin, physically fit, and had silver eyes. She was wearing a flowing, sleeveless white dress, with a small silver crescent moon on her head, holding a bow, with arrows on her back.
"You look beautiful, Mother." I grin. She smiles, "Oh, thank you, dear Orion. And you've inherited the looks of your father..." I eagerly plead, "Tell me about him! And how you two met!" She gently smiles, her eyes far away. She takes a seat, "Oh, your father's name was Orion as well... he was so handsome. Most handsome in the world. He was a might hunter, a hearty eater," she laughs, "And an untiring dancer. He had a caring heart and a generous nature. One day, he was hunting in the forest. I saw him... as I was hunting too. I had my hounds with me... we both hunted together."
"Then, we caught a deer, and he looked to me again, and saw I was who I was... as a goddess. He respected me, but I wanted him to see me as an equal. So, he eventually did, see me as a companion of the hunt." Oh, we passed the summer together. We hunted and sported, challenged each other to foot cases, storytelling, and archery. It was in the nights we told each other of our lives, lost loves, and secrets. We became such great friends. Then, someday... we fell in love, and Orion did announce it, during one evening." Then she trembles, "Then... my brother... the sun god, Apollo, your uncle, my Orion." she pauses to look at me. I squeezed her hand, "Oh, go on Mother."
"Apollo... full of fun, kind, and wise... vain, as well. He was angry... jealous, of our friendship. He asked me how I could love a mere mortal... anyways, he concealed his anger, put on a mask... a mask of friendliness and we invited him to eat with us. While I was away, they became good friends. Then..." she weeps, "Apollo... sent a scorpion to kill him... and sent me away, with his story of one of my priestess... being harmed... Apollo told me, that a man, in the ocean, had harmed by priestess, in a far distance from us, I shot him... as I saw the man... I realized it was my dear Orion. Apollo left me... and I grieved for him... To this day... I am still angry at Apollo. Alas, he is my brother and... we repaired our once broken friendship... but, still there is that single crack... in my heart, for Orion..." she wiped away her tears, "You see, my Orion... I named you after your father..." she takes a deep breath, "Oh, but my child, do not hate your uncle. He was simply jealous... although, that did make me kill my very own friend and love..." She closed her eyes, "I must leave, I'm sorry to say." I frown, "Then, Mother. Until the next time." She touches my cheek, lightly,"Oh, Orion. I'm so worried... and sad... to leave you. But no one will ever harm you, my dear, if you stay here. Now, the next time, perhaps we can have a picnic." She kisses my cheek, and waves goodbye as she shut the door, "All my love, dear son."