A/N: Thank you all for the great feedback! I'm really excited to introduce Artemis and dip further into Balem's destructive personality. For this chapter, I thought it was important to give you Artemis' POV. We'll have Balem's POV again next chapter, and maybe a little bit of Titus and Kalique.

Please tell me what you think of Artemis! Don't worry - she'll have her flaws. And there will be more on her and Balem's back-story later.


Chapter One

A young woman walked slowly along floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out at the swirling gases that made up Jupiter's center. She cast her eyes around the massive domain her dear friend had spent hundreds of years building, and now it was complete. The youth serum would be made beneath the very floors she stood on, and even though the thought of the serum made her cringe, she respected the sheer planning and technology involved in such an undertaking.

"It is quite impressive, isn't it?" her brother Apollo asked from behind her. She turned to spy him leaning against the nearest pillar. He was smirking, and his golden hair glowed like a halo in the light. "Lord Balem has outdone himself this time."

"Mmm," she hummed, glancing back out of the clear panels. Vast towers spanned as far as her eyes could see. "Of course it is impressive. He built this for his mother."

Apollo moved to stand beside her. "Not just for her," he murmured.

His response caught her off-guard, and she shot him a sharp look. There were things she would not discuss with her teasing, older brother, and Balem Abrasax was one of them. "He is my friend," she said. And he was. She had known Balem since they were children, and although he had a disturbing dark-side, she still counted him as one of her closest friends.

"You are blinded by your friendship with him."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked hotly, turning to give him her full attention.

"You are no 'mere friend' to him, darling sister. Balem is trouble. He and his family are consumed by their lust for power. They take what they want when they want it. I do not trust them, and I most especially do not trust Balem with you. Why do you think I came along?"

"To suffocate me, as usual," Artemis retorted, but there was no true anger in her words. She crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance, feeling put out. Her brother often insinuated there was something going on between her and Balem, but there was nothing happening that she wasn't aware of. Besides, thinking of Balem in a romantic way made her feel...off. "Worry not. There is nothing romantic going on between us."

"From your perspective perhaps, but not from his."

Groaning, Artemis closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. "I am eight thousand years old, Apollo. Please...try and trust my judgment."

Her brother sighed. "Very well," he said, holding his arms open for her. She did not hesitate to walk into them. He pulled her into a hug. "I am your older brother and you are my little sister. I always want to protect you. Never doubt that, yes?"

She gave him a reassuring squeeze. "I won't."

"It appears I have interrupted something," a familiar voice announced.

Artemis released Apollo and stepped back to see Balem standing at the entrance to the chamber. He had entered unnoticed, and was dressed magnificently in his usual dark colors. His raven hair was slicked back and his hazel eyes were bright. He looked well; the youthfulness of his face and skin shown in the light.

Artemis smiled at him. "Balem!" she said breathlessly, coming toward him. "This is truly impressive!" She gestured to the chamber and the entire palace itself. "You've outdone yourself."

Balem smirked. "It pleases you, then?" he asked in a low voice. She nodded, trying not to think about her brother's words moments before, and let Balem draw her into an embrace. He held her to his chest for more seconds than was necessary before drawing back to kiss her hair. His arm slid around her waist to keep her at his side. "And Apollo...what a pleasant surprise," he added, looking over her head at her brother, and sounding anything but pleased.

"Likewise," Apollo answered. He sauntered forward, his blue eyes cold. "When Artemis said you had finished construction, I had to come along and see for myself. Congratulations."

It was a feeble attempt at a compliment, but Balem was gracious enough to accept it with a nod of his head. A second later, his eyes were on her. They were piercing, full of emotions she could not rightfully name, and she found herself drawn in by them. "I am sorry I could not see you off your ship," he said softly. "I had business to attend to. Your journey went well?"

"Yes. The entrance to Jupiter's atmosphere is very clever, I must say." She had been surprised at the ingenuity of the gate. If unwanted or dangerous ships tried to breach it without the main tower's permission, the vessels would not be able to get in. The surrounding gases harmed the ship's mainframe and hull, so much so that they would have to retreat beyond the reach of the atmosphere. It was the perfect use of Jupiter's natural gases for protection.

She could see that her answer had pleased him. He clasped her hands and stepped back to properly inspect her. His eyes roved over her long, white dress and then alighted on her face. "You look ravishing," he murmured, offering her one of his rare smiles.

A blush tinged Artemis' cheeks. Balem was never this forward, and she felt slightly off-kilter at his attention and the possessiveness in his touch. "Thank you," she said, silently bidding her thundering heart to slow. She tried to free her hands from his, but his grip tightened on them and something dangerous flashed in his eyes. She had seen that look of warning several times before, but never had it been directed at her. And now that it was, she felt uneasy.

"Perhaps you can give us a tour," Apollo cut in, coming to stand at her side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and turned her toward the large double doors, making Balem relinquish his hold on her. "Artemis said she wished to look around."

Balem eyed her brother for a long moment before tilting his head to the side and, once more, smiling at Artemis. "Of course. Come," he said, gesturing to the doors. His voice was neutral, but she was no fool. She had known Balem Abrasax for thousands of years—since their childhood—and she could tell that he was angry, for he had never cared for her older brothers and their tendency to meddle in her affairs. He'd told her so thousands of years ago in the gardens of Feris.

"Your brothers are pests," he'd said while they leaned against a balustrade.

She had laughed. "They are my brothers and I am their only sister. Of course they are pests."

He had not thought the matter as funny as she. "They seek to separate you from me and end our friendship," he had told her very seriously.

"Nothing could separate us or end our friendship," she'd reassured him, taking his hands in hers and giving them a gentle squeeze. "Do not take their actions or words to heart, Balem."

It had been the first time he'd expressed his disdain for her brothers, but it hadn't been the last. He never went so far as to say that he hated them, but the more her brothers interjected themselves in between their friendship, the more she got the feeling that he wanted them gone. It was because of this feeling that she'd asked Apollo to stay behind on Ferisca while she traveled to Jupiter. Yet her brother hadn't listened to her, and had followed her aboard her ship the Basilius V. Now they were here in this tense situation.

Balem led the way out of the chamber. He directed them down a long hall made of glass and thin columns. The reinforced glass gave them a perfect view of the remaining palace and the towers and buildings beyond. Just above the tallest building was an expanse of glass and sturdy bars that circled the entire station. She realized they were in their own bubble—their own artificial atmosphere—and a thought struck her. "Is the air inside all of this breathable?" she asked, walking ahead of her brother and Balem to peer out at the structure that made up the atmosphere.

"Yes. The oxygen is somewhat thin, but if you walked outside, you would be able to breathe well enough," Balem answered, moving to stand behind her. "The process will be perfected in time."

Artemis placed her hand against the window and slowly exhaled. Technology had always fascinated her, and when she saw the momentous scientific advances Balem had achieved in this place, her breath was taken away. "This is all so amazing..." she whispered.

"It will be my leading factory—the pinnacle of my dynasty."

"It is spectacular," Apollo grudgingly admitted beside them.

Unable to help herself, Artemis rested her shoulder against the nearest stone pillar and traced the glass with her fingertips. She could stand and stare at the view forever, but Balem's warm hand on her shoulder reminded her that there was more to see. She let him coax her from the glass, and when she was once again walking between him and Apollo, she felt his hand move to the small of her back.

He took them all over the palace—showed them the landing docks, the harvesting floors, the storage vaults... The vaults would be filled with containers of the youth serum after the serum had been purified on the main floors, he explained. From there, the serum would be packed and shipped all over the universe to buyers willing to pay handsomely for more time. Prices would vary depending on the quantity of the serum and the quality of the humans used in the harvest. The absolute purest portions of the serum were to be stored separately from the rest. Only the wealthiest families would be able to buy it.

The thought of all the slaughtering and harvesting that took place on worlds less fortunate than theirs unsettled Artemis. While she understood the necessity for harvesting humans and had been using the serum for almost eight thousand years, she still felt uncertain at times. It was Balem who initially convinced her to believe that the harvest was the natural cycle of things. In their first life cycle, he'd told her that survival of the fittest was part of the natural order. Those who fought for power could attain immortality and provide stability and services in the universe. Her family had agreed with his mentality; in fact, it was the only thing Balem and her brothers saw eye-to-eye on.

"You should be proud of yourself, Balem," Artemis said as she walked about the room. They'd made it back to the main audience chamber, and this time, Apollo was gone. He'd returned to the Basilius V several minutes ago to respond to an important message from their father.

Balem stood watching her from the center of the room. "I am," he murmured.

"Has your family seen this?"

"Mother will arrive tomorrow. I imagine Kalique will accompany her and Titus will make a clever, uninvited appearance."

Artemis could not help but laugh. She was well acquainted with both of Balem's siblings, and knew how often they annoyed their older brother. "I believe you are right."

Balem smirked at the sound of her laughter. He moved to guide her to his personal divan, and when she sat, he leaned against the armrest. She stared out at the towers, mesmerized by the scenery, while he stood there, studying her reaction. There was a calmness between them that had not been there while Apollo was present. And now that they were alone, Artemis felt relaxed. She eased against Balem's side like she used to do when she was a child. "I missed you," she admitted, putting his earlier possessiveness out of her mind. "You have spent so much time building this facility and I have been elsewhere constructing ships. I fear we do not spend as much time together as we used to."

His hand stroked her hair. "You should stay here with me," he said. His voice was seductively soft, and she found herself lulled by it.

"Perhaps..." she whispered, closing her eyes.

"Dine with me this evening."

"Mmm," she agreed, keeping her eyes closed. She was used to his demanding nature.

"Alone. Without your brother acting as your guard dog."

Artemis chuckled. She opened her eyes and tilted her head up to meet Balem's serious gaze. "I am sorry about him, you know. But, yes, I will dine with you tonight. Alone. We have a lot to catch up on without Apollo nipping at our heels. It's been fifty years after all."

"Too long," he said, cupping her cheek. His eyes had that piercing look again, and she swallowed at the emotions swirling in them.

"Too long," she agreed carefully. She rose from the divan to stand in front of the windows.

Suddenly, she was not so sure any more.