Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson series, those wonderful books belongs to Rick Riordan. I am just playing with his creations and world.
I want to thank anyone who reads this and I hope that it's ok. Criticism is always welcome.
Chapter Nine
Dear Athena,
Thank you for replying to my letter, I understand that you're very busy so it means a lot that you wrote back so swiftly. I hope you're not overworking yourself. I've been well, though school is becoming rather boring and repetitive. To explain to you how Iris and I first met, I must first confess to having a terrible sense of direction. Unfortunately, while on an outing with Rhea I wandered off and got lost, thankfully I stumbled across Iris's store and she looked after me until Rhea came to pick me up. It's rather funny looking back on it, but at the time I couldn't have felt more stupid. Also, the quote you chose comes from Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady by Samuel Richardson. Why don't you pick a harder one next time?
P.S
'I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.'
Faye had awoken with a scream in her throat and Hestia's arms around her. The sheets were tangled around her legs, constricting her movement. Cold sweat ran down her back and her heart felt as if it would jump out of her chest as she fought to control her breaths.
'Shhhhh Faye, it was just a dream. It was just a dream my sweet one." Hestia soothed as she had pressed kisses against the top of Faye's head.
She couldn't find it in her to respond as she reached up to tentatively touch her neck. It had been so vivid. Large hands had wrapped tight around her throat, jagged nails digging into the soft skin at the back of her neck as she fought to breathe.
Faye had felt a sharp throb in her spine from where the man had shoved her up against the wall and smelt the stench of sweat and smoke that clung to the man. His features were indistinguishable as his face seemed to blur before her eyes, his hair never staying a single shade of brown, constantly changing. Bile churned violently within her stomach and her mouth felt as if someone had shoved cotton balls inside of it. The mans hot breath tingled against the shell of Faye's ear as he leaned in towards her, sending shivers down her spine.
"Bitch." He had whispered to her, his voice deep and guttural, slurring due to the alcohol that was hot on his breath.
It had all been so real. Too real.
Her stomach churned and her eyes burned as tears threatened to spill over. Her hands shook as she had reached up to touch her neck, cautiously tracing her fingertips across the soft skin.
"Faye," Hestia spoke softly, as if speaking to a creature that was about to run away, "would you like to talk about it?"
Faye felt as if someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over at those words. She closed her eyes, took two deep breaths and counted back from ten. It wasn't real, it couldn't be real. It was just a dream. A vivid dream that had left her clawing at her throat and gasping for breath.
"No."
She had replied harshly and as soon as the word had passed her lips she wanted to take it back, to tell Hestia everything. But, she couldn't. She couldn't find the words to explain, perhaps she didn't want to. Either way, Faye had to witness the flash of hurt that passed over Hestia's face at her refusal. Before the Goddess had nodded her ascent.
"It's your decision Faye. It's always your decision."
And with those words Hestia tentatively loosened her hold on Faye, as if she was unsure whether she was allowed to even touch her. Bile built in Faye's mouth and she turned in Hestia's arms, putting her back to her before pushing off her arms. She hated herself for pushing her off, for refusing Hestia's love and affection. But, she couldn't accept it, didn't want it, Faye knew that she was attempting to self-destruct and wasn't that a beautiful thing. To know what you were doing to yourself and not changing a thing. She didn't want to deal with the ramifications of that dream and she certainly didn't want to talk about it.
When Artemis had arrived only a few days after the nightmare incident with a quiver of newly fletched arrows and a bright smile Faye had felt as if the weight on her shoulders had disappeared.
For the last two days both Hestia and Faye had been walking on eggshells around each other, both not quite understanding where they stood with the other. Hestia was still stung from Faye's rejection and Faye just couldn't, for all of her knowledge about psychology, find a way to explain to Hestia how she was feeling. Hell, she didn't even know how she was feeling.
Suffice to say that Faye had jumped at the chance to get out of the house for a few hours. Faye had unfortunately forgotten how much of a slave driver Artemis was when it came to archery. So, after four consecutive hours of attempting to shoot arrows Artemis finally called for a break.
Sweat had soaked through the plain grey shirt that she had been wearing and Faye's arms ached from shooting. While the inside of her left arm, even with the leather guard Artemis had gotten for her, stung slightly due to the bowstring snapping back against her. As soon as Artemis had mentioned taking a break Faye had decided to sit on the ground in a huff, lying back against the grass utterly spent. It was without a doubt the hardest workout she had ever had in this new life and perhaps even her old one.
Faye broke out into a grin, staring up at Artemis as she stood over her, not even having the energy to lift her arm and shade her eyes. Her arms felt like lead and she was sure that by the next day she would be sorely regretting letting Artemis train her.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're a slave driver Artemis?"
At her words Artemis laughed, tossing her auburn hair behind her shoulder as mirth danced in her eyes.
"You haven't been practicing have you? Your stance was alright considering you only have lessons once or twice a month, but you really should be practicing while I'm away. When you become one of my Hunters I want you at my side in every hunt and you'll have to be able to shoot for that." She said as she began putting equipment away.
"I've been a little bit busy lately." Faye grumbled as she tried to work herself into a sitting position only to give up halfway and crash straight back down onto the ground.
Addressing the Hunter comment would do nothing but add fuel to the fire Artemis was trying to build. It seemed that in the last few months Artemis had gotten the idea in her head that if she spoke about Faye becoming a Hunter as if it was already set in stone that she might suddenly wake up and decide to become one.
"And what exactly have you been busy with Faye?"
Artemis had questioned as she made herself comfortable on the ground behind Faye before lifting Faye's head into her lap and massaging her temples. Faye could have sworn she had died and gone to heaven as Artemis's hands massaged her neck and shoulders. Her eyes fluttered closed at Artemis's ministrations a sigh escaping her lips. It was like all the tension in her body was being leeched from her.
"Well, I met Persephone and Demeter...and Hades. In fact, Hestia and I are going to dinner with both him and Persephone tomorrow night." Faye replied tentatively, her stomach flip-flopping at the thought of how Artemis might react to Faye's newfound 'family members'.
Thankfully Artemis did nothing, only continuing to knead her fingers into Faye's sore muscles, causing Faye to flinch when she found a knot and began to work it out. A soft moan escaped her lips and she softened under Artemis's hands, her head lolling back into her friends lap.
"Do you need me to come with you?"
The words were spoken casually but Faye knew the weight that they held. Artemis was offering to go down to the Underworld, the realm ruled by Hades without any invitation or inclination that she would be treated with respect just because she thought Faye might want her to. Might need her to be there.
"No, we should be fine. Will you be staying the whole week?" She questioned, letting her eyes close as she relaxed against Artemis.
"Of course." Artemis had said with such indignation, as if her leaving wasn't even an option, that Faye broke out into giggles.
After a few moments her laughter subsided and she leaned back into Artemis's lap. The grass was tickling her calves and resisted the urge to sit up and scratch. Faye was too comfortable to move and she knew that if she did she would never get into the same position again. She felt safe in Artemis's lap, safe enough that she was sorely tempted to try to go to sleep, to see if the nightmares would come with her nearby to chase them away.
"Faye, are you alright?" Artemis suddenly asked, he voice quite, as if she was scared to ask the question and unsure whether she truly wanted an answer.
"Why wouldn't I be alright?" Faye replied back, raising an eyebrow up at her friend.
Did she seem different; she didn't think that she had acted any differently than usual when she had greeted Artemis in the morning. Or, had Hestia perhaps spoken with her beforehand, had warned her that there was something wring with Faye that she refused to speak of.
"You seem," Artemis begun, as if unsure of whether she wanted to continue, "off."
"I'm fine."
It was Hestia all over again, her short curt response leaping from her lips before she could say another word. She waited for the flash of hurt to fill Artemis's face, for her to fly into a rage for her rebuttal.
"Liar." She had said, so matter-of-factly that it was as if she had commented that the sky was blue.
It was a statement that held no anger nor heat. But it made her wonder if that's all she was. A liar. A woman living a lie, pretending to be a child, to be innocent to the world when in truth she was anything but that. Faye tried to remind herself that she didn't outright lie to Hestia, she just danced around the truth or ignored the question, it didn't help her conscious one little bit.
A sigh escaped her and Faye sagged against Artemis, as if all the endorphins from the exercise had left her body. "Fine. I'm not alright, but I just can't talk about it at the moment."
Faye waited, holding her breath unknowingly, wondering when Artemis would snap. Saliva pooled in her mouth and she swallowed loudly. Faye didn't know if she could handle the anger of both Hestia and Artemis at once, it would be too painful.
"That's alright." The words came out in a whisper and Faye stared up into her friends beautiful silver eyes looked down at her with nothing but love and acceptance and Faye had to choke back a sob.
"It's alright Faye." Artemis continued, her hands once again threading through Faye's hair gently, as if she was calming a wild animal. "If you don't want to talk about it that's fine, but when you do I'm here."
In that moment all Faye had wanted to was sit up, wrap her arms around Artemis and break down sobbing. She wanted to tell her everything to confess what a mess she was, that her sanity was fraying at the edges and she had no clue what was a dream or a memory.
Instead, all that came out was a whispered 'thank you' that caused Artemis to smile down softly at her before leaning down to brush her lips against Faye's forehead.
"You're my best friend Faye. My only best friend. I'll always be here for you."
Artemis's words resounded in Faye's head like and echo, a reminder that she was important, that she was loved and needed. Sitting up rather violently, nearly head-butting Artemis in the process, she threw her arms around the little auburn haired Goddess, nestling her head into the crook of her neck. Artemis was her best friend and though Faye might not be a very good best friend, she was going to try to be, she was going to be better, for Artemis, for Hestia, for all the other Gods that made up her little family. Currently though, it was a work in progress.
Dinner with Hades and Persephone was very different from the first dinner that Faye had been to with them. The biggest difference being that Demeter had not been invited to attend, Hestia having taken her place. The entire atmosphere seemed to change when the Goddess of the hearth and home walked into the Underworld. Persephone, after throwing herself at Faye and smothering her in kisses, had enveloped Hestia in a hug that seemed much more natural than any that she gave her own mother. Hades had even offered a small smile to his sister and allowed her to embrace him, even squeezing Hestia's shoulder in return to her affection.
Once again Faye felt the need to dig herself a very large, very deep hole and bury herself. Guilt worming its way into her heart as she realised that though Hestia was smiling and acting as if everything was fine her smile didn't seem completely genuine.
"So, are you enjoying school Faye? Obviously I never went, but Athena sometimes attends university lectures and she informs me that they are highly invigorating mentally." Persephone asked as they sat down for dinner.
Faye had to quench the urge to groan at the question. School, her current dreaded nemesis along with her nightmares. Her face must have shown her absolute loathing of the subject since Persephone giggled behind her hand at her expression.
"School is rather dull and Athena would be right in telling you university lectures can be 'mentally invigorating', but it really does depend on the subject. Primary school on the other hand is a completely different topic."
Before Persephone could get another word in dinner was brought out and Faye nearly lost herself in the beauty of the food, chicken, roasts, lamb, beef, every meat that could be thought of was laid out beautifully, still steaming hot and tender on the table along with sauces, salads and an array of foods that Faye didn't know the names too. Suddenly Faye was very upset that she didn't properly get to experience an 'Underworld' dinner thanks to Demeter last time.
After the expected compliments about how the food looked they all began to eat, with Faye blushing as she helped herself to a large serving of chicken. She felt like a caveman among kings, the grace with which each of the three Gods ate putting her own table manners to shame. With any of the other Gods Faye could ignore it, but Hades was an entirely different matter, his eyes cutting through her very soul when she knocked her knife onto the ground by accident.
As soon as the dinner appeared to be finished Persephone, who had been conversing with Hestia all through dessert, the two of them constantly whispering in each others ears, stood up dragging Hestia with her.
"Darling, I'm going to show Hestia the gardens, the two of us haven't been able to speak privately in a while and I'm desperate to catch up. Would you care for Faye while we're gone?" Her words were sweet, but Faye could already sense the double meaning behind Persephone's words, she wanted to have alone time with Hestia and didn't want any disturbances. Not even from her beloved husband.
The two Goddesses left the room without saying another word, Hestia only glancing at Faye for a moment before quickly averting her eyes. Faye's heart clenched and she clenched her hands, her nails digging sharply into her palms.
The click of the doors closing behind Hestia and Persephone signalled that Faye and Hades were now alone in a room together and Faye's guilt and worry associated with Hestia was quickly replaced with nervousness. The tension seemed palpable in the air, and neither Hades nor Faye spoke for what felt like hours, but was most likely only a few moments.
A soft sigh escaped Hades lips and Faye stiffened, swallowing hard as a bead of sweat ran down the back of her neck.
"I do believe that my wife wishes for us to use this time to...bond" Hades said with distaste..
Bond. Persephone wanted Hades and Faye to bond, Hades had practically ordered her to call him Uncle, that was quite enough bonding for the two of them in Faye's opinion. She believed Hades shared her sentiments.
"And how exactly does she want us to 'bond' Uncle?" Faye questioned tentatively, not taking her eyes off of Hades.
The withering look that Hades sent her after her question made Faye want to disappear, either that or suddenly combust, both could work. Closing his eyes as if the action might bring him patience Hades stood up from his seat and began walking towards the door. Following Hades every movement Faye had to wonder if he was just going to leave her in the dining room with all of the food, if he was she surely wasn't going to complain.
"Come." The command cut through the tense silence that had formed in the room and Faye raised her eyebrow in response to Hades.
"I think you're missing a word there, Uncle, I thought we were meant to be bonding." Faye remarked and she very nearly choked when the words flew from her mouth as she waited for Hades to smite her where she stood.
Instead Hades just sighed disdainfully, as if he had lost all his patience, if he ever had any to begin with, to deal with anyone let alone some annoying mortal child. Turning to face her properly, his face an emotionless mask, Faye shivered.
"Please." The word was deadpan and held no sincerity, but Faye practically leapt from her chair and walked as fast as her little legs would carry her until she stood beside Hades.
Without any warning he began to walk, his long strides matching at least four of hers and Faye was out of breath by the time they had turned the second corner. They continued to walk for a few minutes and Faye's head spun as she tried to keep track of the way that they had gone.
"Where are we going?" Faye eventually questioned, she had fallen behind a few times and each time Hades had slowed his stride for for a few steps to let her catch her breath before continuing on at a fast pace.
Turning around towards her his perfectly manicured eyebrows raised in annoyance. Faye had to wonder whether he plucked them or waxed them…they were to perfect to be natural. Then again she reminded her, most of Hades was. In fact, a small part of Faye hadn't at all minded walking behind him the last few minutes, his derriere was perfection.
"Must you question me?"
In response to his question she quirked her lips upwards cheekily, shrugging her shoulders. It really wasn't her fault that he had taken her on a hike through the underworld with no proper explanation. Then, too quickly for her to comprehend, Hades stopped causing Faye to careen into the back of his legs. Grumbling under hear breath, Faye glared up at her dear 'Uncle', this had to be some form of child abuse.
"I seem to recall that children like dogs." Hades said, his velvety voice cutting through her complaints.
She realised then, that the corridor had changed slightly, opening up to become a small room. A gasp escaped her as she took in the large black female dog with searing red eyes that had to be the size of at least a grizzly bear or rhino. Though within a moment her shock turned to elation.
"Puppies" Faye cooed and stepped towards them.
A litter of five beautiful black mastiff puppies tumbled around on the floor. Three were play fighting, while the other two climbed over their mother adorably. At her gasp they had turned to look at her, big red eyes looked up at her, their tongues lolling out and tails wagging. The mother glanced at her momentarily before deeming that Faye was entirely unthreatening and not even worth her time, which may have had to do with the fact that Hades was standing right beside her.
"They're Hellhounds. You may play with them if you wish, but do not run crying to my wife or your mother if one of them bites you." Hades drawled, and conjured himself a seat, though it would be more accurate to call it a small throne, seating himself upon it like the King he was.
Faye loved baby animals, and there was no stopping her joy as she slowly sat down and scooted over to the litter of puppies. Within a few minutes the puppies had decided that Faye was the best toy in the world as they climbed all over her and playfully nipped at her fingers.
The two of them sat there for at least two hours undisturbed, completely in a world of their own. It was calming and certainly not an experience that Faye had ever thought she would share with Hades. But, for all of his implied annoyance and indifference towards her, Hades continued to sit upon his chair, never letting Faye out of his sight.
"If you find canines so endearing the next time you come for dinner you will have to keep Cerberus entertained, he rather likes playing fetch and it will keep you entertained."
At the sounds of Hades voice, Faye nearly jumped out of her skin in fright. She had grown used to the silence and it had been good for gathering her thoughts, a part of her wished she could have stayed in that small cave surrounded by Hellhound puppies forever. Animal therapy, in Faye's opinion, worked a thousand times better than human therapy, at least it always had for her. Though, as she digested Hades words she came to realise that he was offering exactly that. Hades was offering for her to play with more animals, specifically Cerberus, the three headed dog of the Underworld that guarded the entrance and apparently liked to play fetch.
"Thank you Uncle." Faye found herself murmuring as she cuddled one of the puppies close to her chest, gazing up into his eyes, trying to discern exactly what his motivation behind offering such a wonderful opportunity was. Faye discerned nothing.
"Perhaps, if you show enough initiative and responsibility, you may have one of the puppies if you like. They need to be at least 10 weeks, but afterwards, with Hestia's permission, you may have one." Hades drawled
A puppy, Hades was offering her a puppy. Faye could have hugged him if she wasn't sure that the moment she did she would have ceased to exist.
"It is not because of any compassion that I offer you one, I am doing this to appease my wife. Nothing more." Hades continued to speak, as if he didn't know the sheer amount of joy his words had given Faye.
She must have sat staring up at Hades for minutes because only when he cleared his throat, indicating Faye was meant to acknowledge his opinions and sentiments did she snap out of her thoughts, looking up to him in wonderment.
"Of course." She she replied, a small smile creeping its way onto her face as Hades nodded his head and stood up, vanishing his chair.
"Come now Faye, your mother awaits and I grow tired of your company."
At those words Faye scrambled to her feet and reluctantly patted the puppies' goodbye. Then, without any other word Hades began to stride away from her causing Faye to run to catch up with him, cursing him under her breath the entire way a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips all the way.
It was late when Hestia and Faye arrived home, Hestia bending to gently kiss Faye's forehead, her eyes never leaving the floor before whispering a soft goodnight. Faye went through her bedroom routine sluggishly before finally collapsing into her bed, attempting to roll herself up like a burrito within the blankets.
Unfortunately, all thoughts of sleep and staying wrapped like a burrito were dashed when Faye felt someone lie down in her bed, pulling at her blankets until they covered them as well causing for Faye to growl in response to the thievery and pull back against the blanket culprit.
"Give me some more blanket you hog." Came the muffled response of Artemis when Faye once again tried to wrench the blanket from her.
Grumbling Faye relinquished her blanket, pouting the entire time. At Artemis's snigger she new that the Goddess was enjoying annoying her far too much. Faye nearly fell out of the bed when Artemis pressed her cold feet against her calves in an attempt to warm them and within second the two of them were giggling into their pillows.
The two girl lay in bed facing each other catching their breaths and in that moment Faye felt vulnerable, she felt young and innocent. She felt carefree, as if all of her problems had disappeared. Faye wanted to talk to someone, she wanted to open up, even it was just a little, and who better she reminded herself than Artemis, her best friend who adored her and loved her. Also the same girl who turned people who annoyed her into animals, but she had never so much as threatened Faye with such a fate since their friendship had begun. And, after nearly two and a half years of knowing her Faye was confident that if she ever was threatened it would be an empty one.
Finding Artemis's face in the darkness she scooted closer to her until she could nearly perfectly make out her features, her silver eyes glowing as if they were stars. Swallowing she wet her lip, trying to figure out what she was even going to say. Artemis had sensed the atmosphere, had stopped giggling minutes ago and seemed to be holding her breath lest the slightest movement spook Faye.
"Artemis," the word came out croaked and Faye had to take a moment to steady herself emotionally and mentally before continuing, "I'm a terrible person."
The silence was deafening and Faye could feel the walls press in around her, suffocating her. Artemis was going to agree, of course she was, or if no she was going to tell Faye she had no clue what she was talking about. That she was seven and she hadn't had the chance to be a 'terrible person' yet.
"Why do you think that?" She had whispered back, her face was a mask, showing absolutely nothing.
"Because." Faye began and just couldn't seem to figure out what to say after it, refusing to meet Artemis's eyes.
Because I think I've done things in a past life Faye wanted to say. Because I wake up screaming in a sweat nearly every night because of a past I can't properly remember. Because I stupidly promised Hecate that I would give her whatever she wanted if she kept my memories of my past life in my mind and I've just realised I should have let them disappear. Because maybe Faye Edwards wasn't a good person and had done a lot of bad things and that's why she had been put in a body that wasn't her own.
"Because," Faye continued, "I think I've hurt Hestia."
Because Faye wasn't ready to tell her the truth and she had hurt Hestia and she was sorry for it, so it was a rather good excuse. She startled as she felt a warm hand touch her shoulder gently and glanced up to again meet Artemis's eyes
"How could you have done that?" Artemis questioned as if the idea that Faye could hurt Hestia was utterly impossible in her opinion.
At that Faye felt a small smile twisting at her lips, it was kind of Artemis to have such faith in her. To believe that she could never hurt the woman that had very quickly become akin to a mother figure to her. Or perhaps Artemis still didn't quite grasp the concept of remorse when you hurt someone you loved anymore.
"She asked me about something and I told her to leave me alone." Faye told her, it was simple, the truth and it gave nothing away.
Artemis didn't seem to mind her rather dodged answer too much, in fact Artemis's face seemed to have softened slightly at her response taking on a curious expression. It was as if she didn't quite understand how Faye's rejection of talking to Hestia had created in her head the idea that she was horrible.
"So, you didn't want to talk about it. That doesn't make you a horrible person Faye." Artemis said bluntly as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Faye's stomach churned violently at Artemis's words. She didn't understand, hadn't seen the way that Hestia's face had fallen and become closed off, how she now worried she was constantly overstepping an invisible boundary between the two of them when Faye hadn't even realised erecting one. Faye wanted the uncertainty gone, the guilt that both of them felt.
"You didn't do anything wrong Faye; you may have said the words a bit harshly," Artemis continued to say, "and as much as I hate to admit, you have a right to your privacy. Besides, I'd bet she's more worried than upset."
Faye's mouth fell open at Artemis's words and she reached out towards her friend to grasp her hand tightly. Artemis squeezed back reassuringly, the soft smile on her face barely visible in the dark.
"We all make mistakes Faye, I've made a few thousand of them. We learn from them, we have to." She said, her words gentle, understanding.
Artemis had done terrible things, monstrous things. Faye had read about them in the books Rhea had written for her. But, there was a distinct difference between herself and Artemis. Artemis was a Goddess, a divine being who would live forever, who could forget the mistakes she made after a few hundred years. Faye was a human, a blip in existence and her mistakes would haunt her to her grave.
Wetting her lips and swallowing the saliva that had gathered in her mouth Faye whispered to Artemis tentatively, unsure she wanted to hear the answer that Artemis would give. "Do you ever wish you could go back and change just one thing?"
"No." There was no pause, not a moment of consideration, Artemis was so sure of her answer, so sure of herself.
The two of them were silent for a while, neither wanting to address Artemis's response to the question. Faye had so many regrets and she dearly wished she could change them, that she could be a better person, and if she was to believe her memories, to change the person that she once was. It annoyed her that Artemis couldn't see that some of the actions she had done in the past should be changed, atoned for, but perhaps that was what made Artemis, Artemis. Her ability to be so sure of herself, to be filled with a confidence that Faye envied. Eventually, unable to handle the silence between the two of them Faye changed the topic to archery, something that Artemis could prattle on about until the end of time. That in turn lead to a subject that Faye had wanted to address for awhile but had been hesitant to bring up.
"Artemis," Faye began, breaking Artemis out her rant about how one should never focus on just the short bow, but also practice with a long bow, "you know how you've been teaching me archery these last two years?"
Artemis nodded in response to her questions, the furrow between her brows made it clear that she was not at all happy at being interrupted and that in her opinion Faye's rhetorical question was rather annoying.
"Well, I'd like for you to teach me how to use it in combat, how to fight, to protect myself." Faye said quickly. She knew it was better to get the question out quickly rather than slowly, just like ripping off a band-aid.
The indignant squawk that Artemis made to the question nearly had Faye falling out of the bed and she was sure if it had been asked while they were both standing up the Goddess in question would have made a big deal of stomping her feet and crossing her arms in outrage. Faye was sure that since meeting her Artemis had become more prone to dramatics than she had been before. Their friendship had brought a shared childishness to the both of them that was not exactly a good thing.
"Why would you want that Faye? You know that I'll never let anything happen to you, that I'd tear apart anything that hurt you. You don't need to learn how to fight when you have me" Artemis fumed, and if it hadn't been for the fear in her eyes, the undisguised love and adoration, Faye would have been furious.
Artemis gripped onto her hand like it was a lifeline that she was afraid Faye would be wrenched away from her. Faye reached out with her free hand, gently running it up and down her friends' arm in an attempt to calm her, squeezing her hand back and making no attempt to remove herself from Artemis's tight grip.
"I know," Faye began softly, "but what if you're not there? Besides, I want, no, I need to do something. If I can vent some of the emotions I'm currently feeling through exercise I'm sure that I'll feel heap better. And wasn't it you who wanted me to become one of your Hunters?"
Faye would have crossed her fingers, but, being unable to do so, settled for crossing her toes instead in the hopes that Artemis would listen to her. She knew she had practically won the argument as soon as she brought up Artemis's desire for her to become on of her Hunters. It was an underhanded thing to say, but it would get her what she wanted.
Fortunately, she was correct in her assumptions, since as soon as the last few words had escaped her mouth Artemis had turned a dark red, eyes going wide in wonder as her mind jumped to conclusions. Faye knew that she shouldn't have given Artemis false hope, but if it got her the training she needed to keep herself going, to survive in this dangerous new world filled with Gods and monsters, she was willing to let Artemis take her words however she wished. Faye had made no promises, only using Artemis's own desires against her.
"Well, I suppose if you insist." Artemis stuttered, a bit taken aback.
"I do." Faye was quick to respond, a smile curling her lips up.
It would be excellent to know how to shoot arrows at moving targets, to be able to use it in the defence of herself and also to vent her emotions that writhed and churned within her gut. After all, as one of the favourite movies of one her daughters had once stated, exercise created endorphins and endorphins made people happy, being a psychologist Faye knew how exercise could help positively impact people and from her previous life, exercise had been her reprieve and outlet, hopefully it would be the same in this one.
"Then, I am honoured that you have chosen me to teach you how to defend yourself Faye. We'll begin lessons tomorrow and I'll organise a training routine for you. Now, you must tell how your dinner with Lord Hades went tonight." Artemis told Faye, her grip around her hand loosening and her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Faye nearly laughed as her friend smiled widely back at her, she wondered what she should tell her about Hades exactly. Should she tell Artemis of the way he watched her, as if he wasn't quite sure was to make of her or do with her. Should she tell Artemis the the Lord of the Dead loved his wife so much he was willing to extended an olive branch to Demeter, who had insulted and belittled him if only it made her happy. Instead she settled on what she believed to be her favourite part of the dinner with Hades.
"It went well…he offered me a Hellhound puppy after they're weaned and asked if I would come and play fetch with Cerberus." Faye whispered to Artemis playfully, expecting for her friend to accuse her of lying or even be stumped in disbelief.
Instead Artemis's face seemed to grow purple at the thought of Hades offering her a Hellhound puppy and her playing with Cerberus. It was as if she believed Hades was trying to steal her away like he had Persephone, which Faye had been told by Persephone was entirely inaccurate, she had ventured to the Underworld herself and refused to leave. Poor Hades would be in for a shock that was for sure if he ever spoke to Artemis. Faye couldn't help the giggles that erupted from her as Artemis's face went through a myriad of expressions each more hilarious than the last.
"He offered what?! No, no, no. I forbid it! No. Now stop laughing at me." She told Faye, her voice getting louder with each word she spoke.
Her words only caused Faye to laugh harder and Artemis to grow redder, as she informed Faye she 'had' to stop laughing. Oh, Artemis was too much for her to handle sometimes, too quick to anger, too quick to embarrass. But, she was oh so easy to calm down Faye had found. Artemis responded to bluntness, to the truth, and if done so correctly, could loose all of her anger as quickly as it was created.
"Oh for goodness sakes Artemis, you can't forbid me from doing anything. You're not in charge of me. Now calm down. I'm not laughing at you without reason, you blew up quicker than a balloon attached to a helium tank, but I'd much prefer to be laughing with you."
At her words Artemis pouted, like a child that had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Which only caused Faye to bite her lip in an attempt to keep from laughing at her friend again. Though Faye knew that she wasn't angry with her, the tight hold on her hand let her know everything she needed to.
"Fine." Artemis replied petulantly, and moved closer in the bed to Faye until their noses were only a few centimetres apart.
"Oh stop being so grumpy. You'll be known as the Goddess of Grumpiness soon." Faye retorted sticking her tongue out at Artemis.
Artemis's mouth twitched at her words and soon the two of them were laughing with each other, the world was right again and it was as if the heavy conversations they'd had only moments before was forgotten completely. The both of them attempting to quiet the other one, trying not to be too loud lest they woke Hestia and got into trouble. Faye stuck her hand over Artemis's mouth in an attempt to prevent her friend loud laughter which echoed around her room loudly, inciting her own giggles.
Unfortunately, Artemis had grown up with a twin brother and knew all the tricks to get a persons hand off of their mouth, namely licking it. So Artemis had no qualms at all in slobbering all over Faye's hand, which she quickly wrenched away with a squeal.
"Urghhhh, Artemis, you're disgusting." Faye complained, wiping her hand on Artemis's arm before the two of them broke out into laughter and the fight for the blankets once again began.
Dear Faye,
Touché, you constantly surprise me, let us hope you never cease to do so. Your quote may be found in the book 'The Outsiders' by S.E Hinton. A terrible sense of direction must be swiftly fixed, I have sent with this letter a set of books on navigation and geography, hopefully they will aid you as you endeavour to have a better sense of direction. It is intriguing and admittedly quite humorous how you came to meet Iris. Perhaps you could tell me some more entertaining stories as I quite enjoyed your last one. It has been terribly dull lately and work is never-ending. I hope you are safe and well.
Kind Regards,
Athena
P.S
'Light a candle instead of cursing the darkness.'
Thank you WelcomeToTheLoser'sClub, chello baby, A Week of Sundays, Death Fury, FieryWaters, xenocanaan, lululillie, theriz35, Shadowing, Raider500 and pendore59 for your reviews, you guys are are why this chapter was written!
I am so sorry for not having this chapter out sooner, real life has been super busy with major event after major event. Hopefully the next few chapters will make it out relatively faster. Also, just so you all know this story will be split into three Arcs. The First Arc will deal with Faye and her relationships with the Gods (and also delving into the mystery behind why she is in a book universe), the Second Arc will delve into the PJO books and I'm pre-warning everyone now, Faye is going to change some things, the Third Arc (which will also be the last) will deal with HoO books and will conclude this fanfic.
I cannot explain how thankful I am to the amazing reviewers, follows, favourites and kindness that you are all showing me. Thank you so much! Seriously, a part of me is kind of waiting for you all of you to turn around and tell me that it's a joke and that you all hate it.
I am so happy that you enjoyed 'Uncle' Hades chello baby :) and don't worry WelcomeToTheLoser'sClub, I freak out a little every time I write his name too.
FieryWaters, thank you for bringing that up! You are incredible! I was originally going to go with the idea of her writing everything down, but I thought that if she was technically loosing her memories she would also be loosing the emotions and feelings tied with those memories. Faye, being the character she is would take that as 'loosing herself', as 'loosing Faye' if that makes sense. By keeping her memories she stays 'Faye', she doesn't become someone who's just reading memories of their life everyday (and she surely would have missed something :P). Sorry if that didn't make sense, but thank you so much for asking! I loved answering this question :)
Shadowing, your comment made me laugh so hard! I love the harem comment! One of my friends who I discuss this fanfic with told me the exact same thing and it's so true about the Greek Mythology thing, I'm definitely going to tell you now as Faye gets older the rating on this story may change because of this. I also have to inform you that this fic will include mentions of yaoi and yuri.
Raider5000, Percy and Faye shall meet and their stories will cross, though it'll take awhile since I want to delve into the relationships Faye will gain/already has with the Gods, Faye is going to make a lot of changes in the PJO (and eventually Heroes of Olympus) series, she just needs to get in a position to make them without getting blown up. Also, Faye is seven years older than Percy (she's actually the same age as Luke Castellan). I can promise you that Faye will be meeting Percy properly when he is fourteen, though there may be a few cameos here and there before that.
Anyways, thank you again everyone (I'm sorry if I say that too much and if this authors note was too long).
