Artemis
Chapter 1:The Dream
She was alone. Cold, dead hands were reaching from the grave, trying desperately to grasp her warm flesh. One grabbed her foot and started pulling her down. More hands came, grasping her tail, her other foot, her hands. Her screams went unheeded, there was no one out there. She was alone. The horrid, lifeless hands forced her down into oblivion.
—X—
Artemis awoke. She could still feel those hands. She shivered and wrapped her fluffy black tail around herself. She was a forest wolf, black with midnight blue eyes, like all forest wolves. But she had a white stripe running from her nose tip to her tail tip. She also had a strange, silver star-shaped marking on her chest. She got out of bed and put on a pink tank top and faded blue jeans. She brushed her glossy, waist length black hair, then put it into a braid. Artemis grabbed her wallet off of her desk, then headed outside. Artemis had been living in Harrison's Hotel for the last few weeks, waiting for Wednesday the 5th. It was the 1st, a Saturday. It was sunny out, 20 degrees Celsius. No wind. No wind meant no sailing in the harbor for her and her hyper friend, Sasha.
Artemis was 17. She had been orphaned at the age of 15, and with no relatives Artemis was basically on her own. When she was 16 she dropped out of school. Her family was rich and now Artemis, the last of the Dhervarr clan, had every cent of her family's riches.
Artemis walked down to Main Street. A strange looking store caught her eye. The sign was faded, she couldn't make it out from her side of the road. She crossed the street and stared at the sign. 'Niger Venalicium'. Translated from Latin it was a Black Market. Intrigued, Artemis went inside. An assortment of strange things ranging from shrunken heads to cursed necklaces were on the shelves. The room was dimly lit by large black candles with a bittersweet scent. The walls were a dark crimson colour, the floor was cherry wood.
"And how, my dear, may I help you?" Artemis span around. An elderly vixen dressed as a Gypsy stood be hind her.
"I was just browsing... how much is this bracelet?" Artemis asked, pointing towards a stunningly beautiful black bracelet.
"$15.00, and you'd want to buy two. If you wear only one, then the curse will be unleashed." Artemis didn't believe in curses and such, but it would look good if she wore one on each wrist.
"Alright, I'll buy them." Artemis said. She handed the vixen the money. The vixen put the bracelets into a dark red leather bag with black drawstrings. Artemis put it in her other pocket. She said thanks and left the Black Market.
Artemis carried on walking. She decided to go see Sasha, who lived downtown. Artemis was soon at a large, dark pinkish-red Victorian house where Sasha lived. Artemis knocked on the door. She heard footsteps running down the stairs. A second later a pretty otter wearing a powder blue tee and grey-blue jeans with dark brown elbow length wavy hair.
"Artemis!" She screamed, then hugged Artemis.
"It's nice to see you to, Sasha."
"So, where are we going? We should go down to the harbor and swim. It's so freaking hot today!"
"Sure," Artemis said, "I don't have a suit, though."
"We can just go in in our clothes." Sasha said as she closed the door. Artemis laughed. "Sure."
Short but sweet R&R people!!!!!!