In a flash, I grabbed my bow. But unfortunately, I was unable to grab at least one arrow because Hera had grabbed my arm in a tight hold and was pulling me out of the room.

I tried to wiggle my arm out of her hold, but it was too tight. And with each jerk I made, her grip tightens until pain shot through my entire body.

I saw all eyes on us, staring with clear disbelief of what was happening. All of them could only be wondering one thing; what exactly was the great Queen Hera doing to Artemis?

Suddenly, a flash of movement caught my eyes. My eyes darted to Apollo, who had stood up from his seat and was running down the steps of the dais to me. But before he could take one more step, I was suddenly out of the ballroom and the doors slammed shut by some unknown force, which I immediately guessed has come from Hera.

I began to struggle again, like a trapped animal desperate for escape.

"LET GO OF ME, HERA!" I screamed. She whips her head around, her furious eyes glaring deep into mine.

"SILENCE, YOU INSOLENT GIRL! YOU HAVE OFFCIALLY CROSSED THE LINE!" she yelled, her ruby lips pulled back into a snarl.

As I shouted unintelligibly, Hera led me to the garden, where it was mostly empty except for a few guests mingling there. But once they saw me, they immediately cleared out of the garden until it was just me and her left.

When we were amongst some trees, Hera threw me onto the ground. I whip my head to see her just giving me dagger eyes, her lips pursed and her arms crossed.

I got to my feet immediately and faced her. Baring my teeth, I shouted, "WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM WITH ME, HERA?"

Then suddenly, one of her hands shot up and grabbed a handful of my hair. Pain pricked my head when she pulled my hair viciously. I used the hand that wasn't holding onto my bow to grip her wrist and try to pull it off my hair. I shouted in pain.

She brings my face closer to her's and she whispers, "Do you have any idea how much you anger me? Even a tiny smidge of an idea?"

With my teeth still bared, I whispered harshly, "I get the idea. I just don't get why."

With her other hand, she grabs another handful of my hair. I hesitantly let go of my bow and gripped onto her other wrists as I tried to desperately to get it off me. But I couldn't. She was really too strong.

Hera seethes, "One; it's because you are another one of Zeus' bastard children. Two; it's because you have no manners as a proper lady should be. Three; it's because you are one of us powerful Olympians, even though you clearly are nothing."

Then she pushes me back onto the ground. I fell on my back, but I was unscathed. In panic, I grabbed my bow, but Hera puts her foot on it.

Leaning in, she says angrily, "You are nothing. So why do you even bother to try so hard to show that you are worth anything?"

My blood boiled inside me as I glared into her light brown eyes. I was hot with anger all over. I let go of my bow and stomp closer to her.

"I am not worthless, Hera!" I shout in her face. "No matter how many times you say that, I am worth something!"

And then, she slapped me.

It was a very tight and hard slap across my left cheek. As my head whipped to the side from the force, I stayed quiet as images of similar slaps from my past flashed into my mind. I couldn't feel my cheek. It was numb. My left ear too was ringing.

I whip my head back to look at her, and saw that she was beyond furious.

"YOU ARE NOTHING!" she shrieked. "BLESSED VIRGIN? WE ALREADY HAVE HESTIA AND ATHENA! AN ARCHER? YOUR BROTHER AND EROS! AND WHAT OF THOSE WISHES YOU ASKED FROM ZEUS? MANY NAMES LIKE APOLLO? A BOW AND ARROW LIKE HIM? OWNAGE OF THE MOON, LIKE HOW HE HAS OWNAGE OF THE SUN? ADMIT IT, YOU BASTARD! YOU ARE NOT ORIGINAL! YOU ARE JUST A MIRROR OF HIM! JUST A WASTE OF SPACE ON OUR COUNCIL!"

When she spat all of that at me, hot tears fell from my eyes. I don't want to believe what she said. I don't want to believe that I am nothing. I don't want to believe that I am just a copy of my brother. I don't want to believe that I am a 'waste of space', as she referred me.

Hera continued to curse at me.

"AND WHAT TYPE OF GODDESS ARE YOU? A HUNTRESS? PROBABLY TO MOST OF THE MORTAL FEMALES, YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A FERAL CHILD WHO DOESN'T KNOW EVEN THE PROPER TABLE MANNERS! AND ALL OF YOUR FOLLOWERS ARE PROBABLY THE SAME! YOU DARE TO SHOW YOUR SO-CALLED 'GRACEFULNESS' BY PERFORMING THAT STUPID DANCE? HOW PATHETIC ARE YOU!"

I couldn't take it anymore.

My tightly-clenched fist flew to the side of her face.

She gasps in utter disbelief. I backed away from her, grabbing my bow quickly. But then, she stomps towards me and slaps me again. The force of the slap sends me falling to the ground and the bow was torn out of my grip by the mad woman.

Before I could recover, she begins to repeatedly kick me in the stomach. I cried in immense pain and tried to move away. But like I had expected, she keeps coming back for more.

She grabs a handful of my dress at my chest and screamed at me as she slapped repeatedly and painfully hard.

"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME, YOU BLOODY BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU! BURN IN TARTARUS, YOU FERAL GIRL!"

Suddenly, a masculine voice shouted in rage, "GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY SISTER!"

Hera was suddenly pushed to the side and she fell to the ground. I fell as well, but just then, warm arms were wrapped around me.

My eyes were full of tears that blurred out my vision. Everything was hazy. I couldn't see anything but a fuzzy image.

But when I can finally see, I realize that it was Apollo who was holding me, cradling my head to his chest. He whispers into my ear, "Artemis… Sister... It's alright…. I'm here…."

I didn't respond. My throat was tight. It was too painful to speak.

"Hera! What is the meaning of this?" another voice from behind Apollo demanded to know. It took me a few seconds to recognize it to be my father's.

"SHE HIT ME!" Hera screamed. "YOUR BASTARD OFFSPRING. HIT. ME!"

Apollo, who held me firmly, shouted at her, "SHE HAD EVERY RIGHT TO DO SO, HERA! EVERY! RIGHT!"

She points a finger at Apollo. "SILENCE, YOU IMBECILE! PHYSICAL ASSAULT TOWARDS THE QUEEN IS PUNISHABLE BEYOND REASONS! THERE IS ONLY ONE PUNISHMENT THAT IS SUTIED FOR HER!"

My heart starts beating rapidly and furiously.

"SHE."

Heart beat increases.

"MUST."

Tears streamed down quickly.

"BE."

I shut my eyes.

"BANISHED!"

I felt as though my heart had stopped.

I stayed silent as my brain repeated that last word, torturing me to no end.

Banished! Banished! Banished!

"SHE MUST BE EXILED FROM OLYMPUS AND STRIPPED OFF HER TITLE AS AN OLYMPIAN!" Hera yelled in furious rage.

I thought that I can face any punishment given to me. But the thought of being banished from Olympus just makes me shut down completely.

Apollo started screaming, "NO! SHE CAN'T DO THAT! SHE CAN'T!"

Then he turns to Zeus and begged him, "FATHER! DON'T LET HER DO THIS! DON'T LET HER DO THIS TO MY SISTER!"

My eyes move to Zeus and I saw many others were there; Hermes, Ares, Poseidon, Hestia, Athena and Hades.

Great. As if being in this state wasn't already humiliating, there had to be an audience.

Zeus looks at Apollo, and then to me, and then to Hera. In my head, all that I could think of was Please... Don't let Hera do this to me… Please…

Zeus shuts his eyes and clenches his fists. Apollo, me and the others stayed silent, but Hera kept on yelling, "DO YOU DARE LET YOUR BASTARD FERAL CHILD DO THIS TO ME? YOUR WIFE?"

Her constant screaming was now deafening my ears.

Finally, Zeus opens his eyes.

Turning to look at his wife, he murmurs, "As my queen wishes."

Hera suddenly starts laughing evilly. Shouts of protest came from the rest. Apollo started screaming. I stayed quiet.

"FATHER! HOW COULD YOU!" he shouts in anger. Zeus looks at the both of us, and whispers, "I am sorry, Apollo. And I am truly sorry, Artemis."

It was then I broke into fresh tears.

I knew this would happen. I knew Zeus would let Hera get away with it. But how could I still be so foolish to think that he will stand up for me this time? That I can maybe consider him as a father if he did so?

Suddenly, Hera grabs my silver bow. At the sight of my prized possession in her hands, I panicked.

"NO! PLEASE!" I begged her as I got out of Apollo's grip and crawled to where she stands.

Giving me one evil smirk, she brings the silver bow down on a stone nearby.

And I could only watch in horror as it broke into many pieces.

I watched as my most formidable weapon that had been with me for a very long time broke into many pieces of silver. The strong bowstring snapped as well.

Hera didn't stop. She continued to hit it against the hard rock. I grabbed the hem of her long skirt, but she kicks me away.

Finally, she drops it in front of me. I stare at in in a mix of rage and sadness. I cried as I took in the image of the beaten-up and completely destroyed structure that had once been my silver bow.

"Now there will be no item of recognition for you," she says in glee.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I couldn't take how evil she was to me.

I couldn't take how unfair Zeus was.

I couldn't take the fact that the others saw that.

I couldn't take the anger on Apollo's face.

I couldn't take Mount Olympus anymore.

I stood up and ran.

I pushed my way past the rest. Aunt Hestia, Athena and Hermes tried to stop me, but I was quick on my feet. I ran around the side of the palace. My whole body was sore from Hera's abuse. It screamed in protest. But I didn't stop running. The sooner I get out of here, the better.

Finally, I make it to the stables. I quickly grabbed the silver reins and brought my horses out. I beg them to be faster, and they obeyed me. I led them to my chariot and quickly tied up the reins.

I continued tying as a voice suddenly called out for me.

"NO! ARTEMIS! DON'T GO! PLEASE!" Apollo cried and begged as he ran to me.

I ignored him and continued tying the reins. I was making sure that it was secure when he suddenly grabs me by my arms.

"I WON'T ALLOW YOU TO GO! I WON'T LET YOU!" he shouted.

I cried again. "WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW, APOLLO! I AM BANISHED! I AM THROWN OUT! I'M NOTHING ANYMORE!"

I planted my hands on his chest and gave him a strong push. I climbed onto the chariot, but he grabs my hand.

I look at him and saw that his sky blue eyes were bloodshot and full of tears. His lips were pulled down and it trembled.

"Please, sister… Don't do this… Don't leave me…." he begs.

I didn't like to see Apollo like that at all. I wanted to stop whatever I was doing and comfort him. But I didn't want to spend another waking minute here.

I kneeled on the edge of my chariot so that my face levelled with his. My hands gently held the sides of his face. He holds them tightly, not wanting to let go.

"I'm sorry, my dear brother," I whispered sadly. "But I have to. I have no place here anymore."

I cried again for a short while, and then whispered, "Please. Take care of mother. She must always be your top priority. Is that clear?"

Apollo cries, but he nods his head.

"I love you very much. And I hope that you can forgive me one day."

I plant a kiss to his forehead before I quickly stood up and grabbed the reins. I yelled a command for my horses to move, and they did.

They galloped to the gates, their wings spread wide. I hear Apollo's voice calling out my name in anguish. He was chasing after me. I knew it.

But before he could even reach me, I had already taken off.

I didn't bother to wipe away the many tears in my eyes.

Author's Note:

Hey everyone!

I was back from camp a day early because my fever kind of got worked up. But miraculously, I was feeling much better the minute I got back home.

Anyway, like I have promised, now I can return to my basic '1 day, 1 chapter' rule! :)

And by the way, I have to say that this is the most angst-filled chapter yet. I kind of teared up a bit when Hera destroyed Artemis' bow. Poor Artemis... :'(

Muse of Fanfiction