Artemis: Prologue
Author's Note: Hello, reader! I would like to thank you for finding this story, and hopefully, continuing to read it, and maybe even dropping a review or two. I can promise you a dramatic, action filled adventure, which I hope will interest you, the readers. I can also promise that a sequel is in the works, for those that have enjoyed this story. By the way, a more complete description of Artemis is now available on my profile, but I would suggest reading that after the next chapter. I wouldn't want to spoil anything for you. : )
Artemis stood shivering, on an apartment building's rooftop. The city was laid bare below the twenty stories of glass and steel. The view meant nothing to her, though. The only thing that mattered was the person that would step through the only door that led up to the roof.
She couldn't even remember the city's name, just her purpose there. She shivered again. She wasn't cold, but rather, very nervous. She was also growing quite impatient. She had not tracked Atalanta down for almost four months to let her just slip through her fingers yet again.
She sighed deeply. Life was not supposed to be like this. Life was (supposedly) happy, and filled with joy. Life was not waiting on a rooftop, waiting for her ex best friend to find her. Life was not possibly killing Atalanta, just to draw Slade out of the shadows, with the bait of his apprentice's death. Life was not filled with unspeakable gore, and fatal suffering. Perhaps life in general is not this way, but mine is.
She shifted her weight from foot to foot anxiously. The air seemed dead and weighed down, like the air before a thunderstorm. She unsheathed her swords, the black metal reflecting the moonlight. She did not hold up her arms, or assume a fighting stance. The swords just hung heavily from her arms, which were hanging limply at her sides. The tips of the blades barely scraped the cement of the roof every time she moved. Her head whipped around in all directions, trying to identify every sound, no matter how small. Her heart beat feverishly, and her breathing was fast and shallow, as though she had just run a marathon. Then, after a few minutes of continuous effort, her heart rate slowed down. Her thoughts however, did not, and they continued to race in her head, tormenting her.
I'm only fifteen. she thought. I can't believe I'm doing this. I should hate my sister for what she took away from me. I should be hunting her down, with the same fury I have been chasing Slade. I hate Slade and Atalanta more, though. My village, my way of life was destroyed. By him, and the traitor that served at his side. My sister can wait; they need to go first.
The person I loved most was killed. My mother, my kind mother, the one who taught me about my gift. I never could have learned my gifts without her. She was killed by Slade's armies, along with my friends and other teachers. Because of him, my sister and I and I were separated. He was the one that told her to run away. She was only thirteen. She didn't know any better. Just as she didn't that day, that horrible day when she lost control. I'm her older sister; I'm supposed to take care of her. But I can't do that until Slade's out of the way.
I swear I will make him pay for what he did to my family. Then I will find my sister. We will make a better life for ourselves. I can't do that until Slade and Atalanta are stopped. I wish I did not have to make these choices. I know I must, however. I will fight for those I've loved and lost. I will fight for my mother and my father, even though I never knew him. I will bring Slade and Atalanta to justice. Or I will die trying.
END