Chapter Six-
As I catch sight of where my moon is, I jump to my feet and away from my hunting companion, causing him to jump a little. "Does something trouble you?" he asks, looking up at me with a look of worry playing across his handsome features.
"Stay here," I instruct. "I will just complete my job then I will come back here, to Island for you and we will go back to Olympus for the ceremony."
A slight smile graces his lips and he nods his head. "I look forward to your return then."
I return his smile and rush to my chariot as casually as possible. I call my horses to me and swiftly tack them back up, then jumping into it and not throwing a glance back at the beach once as I make my way into the sky.
I leave it until the beach is a mere golden speck in my vision until I change into my semi Godlike state, just whilst I transport my moon. Only a few more hours and my form will be much more almighty and, to be honest, I will also have more freedom to do what I wish instead of being ordered about by mother all the time.
Once I feel a slight drag on the back of my chariot, I allow myself to relax a little. My moon always relaxes me and puts me into a state of serenity. It is due to how much power is concealed in its smaller form, in comparison to the sun. Its simple yet alluring silver shine draws me in too, reminding me of something I cannot quite put my finger on.
Time seems to speed for I soon find my chariot returning to the beach where I left my fellow hunter. Somehow as well, I have changed back to the form that he can see me in, drawing out a small smile onto his lips at the sight of me when I arrive back in front of him.
"My lady, do you bathe in the beauty of your moon or do you just naturally absorb it every time you draw near to it?" he accuses.
I just smile too, finding there no point in replying to his foolish compliments. He shall carry on, regardless of anything I say, any arguments against his words that shall protect myself from anything that my mother will say when she finds out, which she probably will tonight. My mother is not one to miss anything.
"And I think we both take the traits of which we are related to. My father is the God of the seas so I am like the tides. You control the moon, so have the same attractiveness. On top of that, I think you may draw me to yourself like the moon draws the tides," he adds.
I roll my eyes and stop a groan from leaving my lips. I eternally wish that this is the remnants of our challenge earlier because I doubt he will stay sober later and therefore he may be even worse.
"Now, shall we stay here forever or will you and I soon return to Mount Olympus so you may complete the ceremony for your powers?" he asks. "I do not mind whichever you choose, just as long as I am with you for the duration of the time."
"Stop attempting to seduce me and perhaps then will I tell you my plans," I finally answer.
He laughs gently as his smile grows, his feet walking him in slow, ever tightening circles around me. "I was not aware that I was doing such a thing."
"Touch me once and I will certainly ensure that you know," I challenge, watching each of his movements carefully, silently daring him to try something that I will make sure that he regrets.
"You are just too much of a temptation," he complains, stopping just in front of me and raising a hand to stroke my cheek.
"Yet I will not let you fall into such a trap. It would be unfair to let you do so," I promise, catching his hand and bringing it down to where it naturally falls. "I may be a Goddess, but I am not such a cruel one that I would trick you."
"I do not know, I have the feeling that some tricks have befallen me from you," he argues quietly, attempting to pull his hand out of my hold.
"Perhaps it is a matter of opinion," I suggest, keeping my grip on his wrist tight as I slowly walk backwards, my heels soon touching the cold metal of the chariot. "Or perhaps you speak a little of the truth too."
He does not have time to prevent the slight slip of his smile to a look of confusion before I have pulled him into the chariot behind me, sending it off towards our destination.
"The only time that you are allowed," I remind him softly, wrapping his strong arms around my waist so that he stays in place for the duration of our flight. "Any other time and I will kill you."
His sweet chuckle escapes his lips as he leans down, resting his chin on my shoulder, his warm breath tickling the side of my cheek. "If that is what you so wish, I suppose I am not often one to break promises."
"You would certainly regret it if you broke this one or even enchanted me to do the same," I agree, gently placing my hands on his arms.
"I am sure I would not," he whispers, the tone of his voice soft and alluring, playing with the emotions I have forced away from men.
I do not bother replying again, laying my own head back against his shoulder so I can stare at the lightening blue sky. For now, it is a deep sea blue but it will gradually change to the colour of the sea as it hits the shore, but no sea foam will cross the sky today.
At a slight sudden pressure change on my neck, causing a shiver to run down my spine, my head snaps to side, my eyes falling on the only other occupant of the chariot, his eyes focussed where mine were a few seconds earlier.
On feeling my gaze set upon him, he glances to me. "Is something wrong, my lady?" his words sounding as genuine as his small smile.
"Did you not say something? I thought I heard you speak," I lie.
He shakes his head. "I apologise that I unfortunately did not," he replies.
"Oh right," I mutter, turning my head back to the sky. I knew he had not spoken in the first place but I needed some form of excuse.
As my eyes slowly settle down, back onto the cloudless sky, I feel a repeat of the slight pressure against my neck but this time, I do not stop it. My eyes flutter shut as I feel his warm breath brush against my skin, his lips gently leaving a trail of kisses. His lips gradually fall to my collarbone, earning another shiver to run down my body and a soft sigh to escape my lips.
Seeming to take the sound as consent to carry on, I feel him smirk against my skin, causing his kiss to grow slightly more adventurous. As he does so, my hands leave his wrists, sliding further up until they are behind his own neck, pulling him closer towards mine. His smirk grows and I run my hands back to his arms, prying him off without him noticing until I let go and he stumbles back.
"My lady," he begins, staring deep into my eyes as he fumbles to take of a hold of my wrist.
"Try that again and I will actually let you go," I warn, closing my fingers around his wrist and pulling him back up behind me. "Do not even attempt it if you wish to see another few hours at the most." I put his arms back around my waist and look forward, not meeting his desperate gaze.
He sighs and does not say anything for a few moments, whilst I hope he thinks back over what he did. Eventually, he mutters, "You can take me to another piece of mortal land if you would prefer. I do not have to come with you if you do not want me to."
"You are one of my hunters. You need to be there to see what I will do," I answer, my voice now hard and without emotion. "Though, I will ask you to behave yourself better than you have been."
He nods slowly. "I am sorry, my la-"
"Do not apologise," I interrupt. "What is done is done. For now, I will not hold it against you. But if you do repeat your actions, as you are one of my hunters, I may not be able to overlook your deeds twice."
"Yes, whatever you ask," he says, any confidence or flirtatious manners now disappeared from him.
I bite my lip as I see the golden haze in front us becoming clearer as we draw closer to it. I take a deep breath in and then release it, steadying my breath to clear my strangely fluttering nerves. However, I do not know why I am like this because no one should really make assumptions about me without having any proof to secure their beliefs, and they have none of that.
As soon as the wheels of my chariot hit solid ground, I peel my companion's arms away from me, stepping onto the cobblestones and turning briefly to him, not meeting his gaze. "I will be gone for a few moments, to get ready. Amuse yourself."
I hand the reins of my horses to one of the nymph maids and then begin walking to the palace, only realising what a bad idea leaving Orion alone is once I am a distance away. However, I dare not turn back or invite him elsewhere because I know that he will cause trouble wherever he finds himself. I believe he must find it a challenge.
I swiftly make my way to my room, shutting the door behind me before I glance in the mirror. Unfortunately, I do not think Orion was really lying early. If I am being honest, I do look more beautiful. I knew I would grow older, hence the reason for my curves and height, but I also have a slight silver sheen across my generally pale skin. Then a frown flits across my face at the sight of the redness on my neck, which was hidden under my golden curls.
"He is your lover?" screams my mother as she suddenly appears behind me, causing me to drop my hair as soon as possible so that it hides anything she could use to support her accusation.
"No, he is merely my new hunting companion," I reply, keeping my voice steady as I turn to face her.
"But he is Orion, a giant, the son of Poseidon, you should hate him!" she reasons. "You should not be off gallivanting with him instead."
"He is my new hunting companion," I repeat.
"Apollo and you work well at hunting!" she argues.
"He is my new hunting companion," I say for the third time, beginning to lose patience. "And, though Apollo and I are good hunters together, he never has the time anymore."
"He has other things to do," she begins.
"And one of them is women," I mutter, looking down from her eyes as I accuse my brother.
"Your "new hunting companion" is a man," she reminds me.
"Yet he has proved himself to me," I answer, lying slightly now. "He is a good hunter and he would never try anything."
"You have never thought the same way about a man before," she replies, crossing her arms over her chest as she stares at me.
"And I doubt I will again," I agree. "Now, will you please excuse me? I have a power ceremony to prepare for."
She huffs and mutters a complaint under her breath as she exits the room as quickly as she came, seeming to begin leaving almost as soon as I spoke.
I smile slightly at her absence and strip myself of my hunting clothes, throwing them in a pile for a maid before I wash myself of any forest dirt. I glance at my reflection in a mirror and raise my hand to the simple necklace from my brother that lies around my neck. Its simplicity is possibly what makes it so beautiful, that or the situation in which he gave it to me.
I turn away from the mirror and walk to the dress that has been lain out for me; this is the one time that my outfit will not be practical. I slip it over my head, the simple white fabric falling gracefully to my heels, the silver embellishments focused from my right hip, up my back and front, and then to my left shoulder. It is pulled in slightly at my waist, the rest falling naturally.
I step into my plain silver sandals, buckling them at my ankle. Then I return to the front of the mirror to fix my hair into place. Usually, and after a few days following today, my hair will be the least of my priorities but it is rather important now that my neck is concealed. I sigh, securing my golden curls so that they cover the redness, settling over the single strap of my dress.
As soon as I have done, setting my silver circlet on my head, I exit my room too, leaving my bow and arrows in their holders, against my better judgement. I try making my way back down to the courtyard without seeming too desperate and I do quickly find myself stepping out from under an archway. I glance around as I walk out, avoiding everyone's eyes until I spot the cause of my troubles.
I silently make my way up behind him, taking in his altered appearance as I move. He is wearing a clean blue tunic, which is a similar colour to the pale blue, almost white, sky. The sleeves of this outfit barely cover his shoulder, his leg equally hidden, leaving no need for imagination for his looks and abilities. His hair has been swept to the side in a style as well, leaving just his belt and sandals unchanged.
I smirk, climbing onto the wall behind where he stands against, leaning down to his ear and shouting, "Son of Poseidon, I need to talk to you."
My outburst causes a few heads to turn in my direction, though the only one who speaks is the one who I caused to jump. He turns to face me and mutters, "Please note that had you been anyone else, I would have killed you for that."
My smirk turns into a smile I motion for him to follow me, away from any prying eyes so I may complain at him alone. "You are my lover?" I question eventually into his ear.
He smiles now too, his eyes taking in my appearance slowly before he replies. "Who could resist you when you look as you do?"
"You know that I will never take a man as my own," I reason. "But did you say you were my lover?"
"Has that rumour been floating around?" he asks, pretending to look shocked.
"No, I just felt like making it myself- Of course there has been a rumour going around about us two," I snap.
"I was not the cause of it," he begins.
"But you are not saying you were not a part," I finish.
"I suppose I did not," he agrees, shrugging his shoulders as he nods his head slightly in agreement of my point.
"Please do not fuel their rumours," I plead softly.
"If you so wish, my lady," he promises, bowing his head. I begin walking away until his words call me back. "However, if you did not keep taking me away so I was on my own with you, there would not be any rumours to fuel."
I frown, turning on my heel to look deep into his eyes, just a few inches away from mine. "I never take you alone anyway."
"The Island?" he suggests. "The forest on the Island, your chariot, this area of the courtyard? No one else was there or is there now."
"You are my hunting companion. If there was a huge number of us, we would not be able to hunt," I argue.
"Explain that to everyone else then," he suggests, walking back past me, his arm once again brushing against mine.
I sigh, soon following him back out but choosing to make my way over to Apollo rather than to the hordes of giggling Goddesses. I arrive next to my brother, throwing a scowl in Orion's direction, then do not say anything.
"So, is he the one with whom you had a date yesterday?" Apollo asks quickly as I settle at his side. "I heard he and you get on well."
"No, he is my new hunting companion," I say, and I doubt it will be for the last time today.
"He is the reason why you told me that you did not need me yesterday, even after you begged me for an age?" he accuses.
"Yes, though not for the reason that everyone suspects," I answer, my gaze still focussed in a scowl to the other side of the courtyard.
"You do not really give everyone another reason that could act as an explanation," he reasons, causing me to sigh.
"He thinks the same thing," I mutter, standing up straight as I catch sight of our mother making our way over to us.
"Apollo, Artemis, you should really be mixing with everyone else, as this is the party for your powers," she complains.
"I just needed to speak privately with Apollo first." The truth is I do not want to talk to anyone else particularly.
"Well then," she begins, "as it seems that you have finished that, you may talk to others later. Right now is when you will get your powers."
I look back up to her face from where I had been adjusting the embellishments on my waist. "Now?" I repeat. "I thought we were waiting for nightfall."
"No, that is when you must have to have your powers by and they are usually received before midday," she informs me. "So, I will call order and bring silence to the courtyard, and then we shall begin."
I just stare at her back as she walks away, only being brought back to reality when my brother lifts a soft hand to gently squeeze my shoulder. "Do not worry about it, Arte. We do not really have to do much."
I pull a slight face but nod anyway. "I know," I mumble, allowing myself to be lead forward by him as everyone else around us falls silent.
The ceremony is over sooner than I had expected and, surprisingly, nothing went wrong. In addition to that, I feel no different to how I was before, when I was not officially a full Goddess. As I stand at the side of the courtyard, letting relief flood over me, I do not really have the chance to take in what everyone is saying to me, the excitement of the whole thing still kind of sinking in.
"Perhaps now, you will be able to actually beat me in a hunting competition," challenges Orion, his smooth voice pulling me out of my daze and putting a frown on my face.
"I still do not really believe I lost that," I disagree, looking up to meet his eyes.
"Maybe we will try it again and I will tell you if you have improved," he suggests.
My frown just deepens. Something in the tone of his voice tells me that he has already lost any chance of staying sober for the night.
Just as I go to reply, the magnificently beautiful Goddess Eos appears at my companion's side, laying a golden hand on his shoulder, slowly running it up to the side of his face. "My congratulations to you and your brother," she whispers, paying more attention to distracting the hunter than to me.
I roll my eyes, not expecting anything else from her. "Why, thank you," I answer. I push myself away from the wall, forcing a smile onto my face as I slip past Orion, muttering, "You do remember the terms of your position as hunter, of course," then walking away before he has the chance to reply.
I guess that I will just have to wait until tomorrow to see if he really does remember.
Author's Note: So I didn't actually do the writing bit for the "power ceremony" because I have no idea what it would be like... But I just thought I'd write something... To be honest, if I don't get any new reviews, I'll just do a few more chapters and then finish it. I just don't have the motivation for it really anymore :/