Titan Base | Mount Othrys
'What was she thinking?' is all that flooded Leto's mind as she made her way through the garden, heart hammering in her chest. If her father and Atlas found Artemis, she would not win, not against both of them at once and certainly not if her other uncles were called to help. Her daughter obviously wasn't thinking clearly. Apollo had mentioned of her headaches, her spells of dizziness. Whatever Hypnos had done to her had affected more than just her memories. They had to find her.
Traipsing through the garden the two titans were on high alert, Leto with her bow drawn and Zoë armed with the dagger the elder woman had given her. They crept through the garden, keeping to the shadows of trees and avoiding sticks and leaves on the ground that may give away their position. The garden was as beautiful as always, a paradise for those looking in, but Zoë knew the truth. After all, a golden cage is still a cage, and this garden was no exception.
Suddenly, the two titans heard the crunch of leaves. In unison they turned toward the source of the sound. Pausing for a moment all was silent, until the low murmur of both their fathers' voices came into range. They shot each other a look trying to work out what to do.
"We need to split up, we will find Artemis faster that way. She must be close. No matter what, do not tell Artemis the truth. Not yet." Leto whispered. With no time to argue Zoë found herself alone in the garden, Leto vanishing into the shadows. The sounds of her father and Koios' voices grew louder. She had to move.
Swiftly she darted through the trees. Her plan was to circle around the men and carry on toward the entrance of the garden, rationalizing that if she went back, she would have more chance of running into more unfriendly relatives. Running, she kept to the shadows, utilizing all the skills she had picked up over the thousands of years she spent hunting with Artemis. It came to her easily, as if the skills had embedded themselves into her being.
She knew she was getting close to the entrance by looking at the sky through the trees, the sky in the garden being always dusk, grew lighter or darker towards the entrance depending on the time of day outside. Judging by the darkness that licked the edge of the sky it looked like it was late into the night. Before she could ponder any further though, a body slammed into her from behind sending her tumbling to the floor. Using her weight and momentum she rolled forward, throwing the offender off of her back before standing and turning to face her attacker. It was Aegle. Growling she lowered her stance as her sister ran at her again, they were matched in strength and so she should be able to grapple her to the floor as she charged, giving her the upper hand. When her body hit her though, she was shocked by the strength her sister had. Easily she pushed Zoë up against the tree, the dagger she was holding flying out of her hand with surprise. As Aegle's arm pressed against her chest, she pulled the wooden shiv she had sharpened out of her dress and thrust the tip up into her sister's abdomen.
'What in hades?' She thought as the shiv splintered uselessly off of her abdomen, not even penetrating her skin. Aegle glanced down before looking back up at Zoë in confusion. Suddenly she grabbed a hunting knife out of a sheath concealed under her dress and held it to Zoë's throat. 'Wait a minute' she thought, 'since when did Aegle carry hunting knives?'. She relented that she hadn't been in the garden for thousands of years, but knives were not her sister's style. She, instead, preferred to use her voice, body and general feminine form to hurt people. Looking down at the knife pressed against her throat she noticed the intricate design on the blade, it looked like a thousand stars, with a black leather handle and a moonstone pommel. That was her knife. Her eyes flicked up, and that's when she noticed. Her sister's eyes were not their usual black blue, instead they were a silvery grey color, with flecks of gold.
"Artemis?" She breathed. Aegle seemed to falter at this, shocked at the Hesperides response. Slowly, before her eyes, Aegle's body shimmered and changed until it revealed the form of a 21-year-old girl. She had long dark auburn hair that was pulled back in a messy bun, a few loose strands framing her face. Her pale white skin contrasted to Zoë's lightly tanned color. She was wearing tight black sweats with a white t-shirt, light grey hoodie and a black bomber jacket. The uniform of the hunters of Artemis, Zoë recalled. Hunting knife holsters were strapped to her thigh while her upper right arm holstered a collection of throwing knives, her bow and arrows slung over her back. As her own dark eyes met that of her attacker, she let out a sigh of relief. It was her.
Artemis's own heart tightened at the sight of the girl. Up close she was even more beautiful, even with her dark disheveled hair and dirty dress, if anything it made her look more stunning. Like a wild thing running through the forest. It certainly looked like the girl from her vision, the same dark blue eyes, tanned skin, regal face. She smelt like pine trees and nightshade up close, a scent that stirred something deep inside of her. Shaking her head, she remembered where she was.
"Who are you?" She asked, knife pressing more firmly against the other girl's throat. The Hesperides eyes darkened as a sad look flickered over her face. 'It was true then' she thought. 'She truly does not remember'.
"I am Zoë, Zoë Nightshade. Daughter of Atlas and Hesperis. A Hesperide and-"She stopped, she was so used to adding on lieutenant of Artemis to the end of that. Now, it wasn't true. She was, once again, just a Hesperide.
"And?" Artemis questioned. She relaxed her grip on the other girl, as if sensing her sadness.
"Nothing. That is all" Zoë replied. Lifting her head slightly in a show of pride. Before Artemis could reply they felt a breeze come from behind them. Artemis turned toward the intruder, removing the knife from the Hesperides throat and instead crouching in front of her protectively.
"Artemis! There you are!" It was her mother. "Quickly, we need to leave." Artemis turned to look at Zoë, as if questioning her intentions. "Zoë too. Now hurry, both of you" her mother clarified as she made ushering motions to them.
Moving through the trees like shadows, Zoë directed them to the quickest route out of the garden, evading any further run ins. Once they were out, they ran south back towards where Artemis had originated from. Zoë's mind was still reeling, she was here. Running in front of her. But she had no memory. Yes, she had known her memories were wiped but still, to see it in person, it erased any hope she may have had in her mind. Though why did she turn to protect her when Leto turned up? Was it just instinct, turning to face the more threatening foe? Or something more?
"What in the name of Gaia were you thinking!" Leto seethed, whipping round to face her daughter when they had got far enough away from Mount Othrys. She stepped closer to the goddess eyes blazing.
"I-I don't know. I just had to-"
"Had to what! You nearly got yourself killed, got all of us killed!" Leto interrupted. "What was your plan? Why were you even in there?"
Artemis looked toward Zoë, as if the other girl would give her the answers she would need. The Hesperide felt a pang of sorrow for the goddess, never had she seen her look so desperate, so confused. This was not the person she left behind all those years ago. Aside from physically being older, she held a tiredness around her, like she hadn't rested since Zoë had been taken to the underworld.
"I don't know, I had a vision or something I don't know how to explain it" She stumbled over her words as her head started to pound. "Who even is she! Why is she with us!?" gesturing toward Zoë. 'Gods if only this headache would cease' she thought as her hand reached up to clutch her head.
"I told you who I was in the garden. Do you not remember?" Zoë asked, worried whatever had happened to her goddess meant she would never be able to even learn who she was.
"Yes, I am aware but who are you? How do you know my mother? Gods, can't someone just tell me what is going on!" She yelled, her aura flickering, threatening to reveal her divine form.
"Artemis you need to calm yourself, Zoë is a friend it's okay-" Before Leto could say anymore Artemis let out a groan of pain as both her hands clutched her head.
"Zoë is a friend, she is always welcome here" Leto said as she smiled at the Hesperide. Artemis looked on, proud that her mother approved of her companion.
"Thank you mother, that means a lot." She replied as she squeezed the hand of her lieutenant. Sharing a smile with her, the one she reserved for her only, she turned back to her mother. "Now, who's up for some hunting?" She grinned as her mother and lover laughed at her childlike enthusiasm.
"Alright Artemis, we will humor you. We all know who will win though." Her mother sighed as she rose from her seat, leaving the room to fetch her bow and arrow.
"Artemis?" She opened her eyes to find herself kneeling on the floor. One hand was on the grass in front of her, fingers digging in the earth as her other hand clutched her head. Zoë and her mother were crouched in front of her, concern spreading on both of their faces. Just as usual her vision faded before she could cling onto it, forgetting everything she saw. Fortunately, it dulled the pounding in her head too and she was able to sit back on her ankles, taking in a deep breath as she calmed herself.
"I am fine mother, do not worry." She answered. Closing her eyes, she continued to breath as her aura faded. Zoë exchanged a glance with Leto. Neither were expecting this. She didn't know what to say, so she stood back up from where she was crouched and surveyed the area. If Artemis were incapacitated, they could not stay here, it was still far too close to Mount Othrys. She turned back to see Leto rubbing her hand on the goddesses back, shushing her like a child.
"We cannot stay here, it is too dangerous." Zoë stated. Artemis's eyes opened and locked onto the Hesperides own. Studying her for a minute the goddess sighed.
"She is right, we need to go." Artemis stood from her position on the floor, her mother catching her arm as she swayed. "My chariot is near here, I will call for it and I can take both of you back to Olympus before I continue on my hunt."
"No!" Leto and Zoë cried at the same time. They looked between each other as Artemis looked on in confusion.
"What we mean to say is" Leto started, looking to Zoë for backup. "We cannot go to Olympus, your father will be furious with you for ruining my cover and Zoë is a titan. She does not belong on Olympus."
"Well then where does she belong? We will take you there Zoë, and then we will face my father together mother." Artemis stated, clasping her hands together in front of her. Saying the Hesperides name felt oddly familiar and to Zoë it sounded like the most beautiful thing she had ever heard.
"Well, I was thinking Zoë here could help you with your hunt. She is an avid huntress, and you could use her help with the monsters. Meanwhile I have some errands to run before word of my departure reaches the other titans, then I will see to Zeus." Leto explained, hope glinting in her eyes as she looked between her daughter and the Hesperide.
"A huntress? I suppose it would help, at least until the amazons send reinforcements." Artemis turned to Zoë, the same hopeful glint in her eye, though she wasn't sure why she wanted the other girl to come with her so much.
Before Zoë could respond Leto clapped her hands together. "It's settled then. Zoë you will go with Artemis, and Artemis dear, we need to have a word about what is happening with you. But not now, there are more pressing concerns I'm afraid. I will meet you in Chicago in a few days. Your brother said you would be there, we will talk then."
"Alright mother, and for what it is worth, I'm sorry about what happened. I don't know what came over me, I-" Artemis stumbled over her words, as if she too didn't know why she had ran into the titan base.
"Shh daughter, while I cannot condone your actions what is done is done. I just pray your father feels the same. In the meantime, let's keep the fact that Zoë is with you to ourselves hmm? Just until I have had time to run these errands and speak to your father myself." She explained, nervously looking toward Zoë. Who knows what Zeus would do to the girl if he found out she was with Artemis?
"Of course, I understand. We best be going." Artemis moved to hug her mother, Leto squeezing her tightly in an embrace.
"Look after yourself, both of you." She looked pointedly at Zoë as if to tell her to watch over her daughter. The Hesperide gave her the slightest of nods behind the goddesses back, then the titaness stepped back into the shadows, vanishing from sight.
Left alone for the first time since their encounter an awkward silence fell over the two girls.
"Look I'm sorry for- well I'm sorry for everything." Artemis sighed as she turned to face the taller girl, hand rubbing the back of her neck.
"There is nothing to apologise for, I am uninjured." And true to her word, the cut on her neck from where the blade was pressed into her had already healed. Perks of being a true immortal again she supposed.
"Still I-"
"My lady, it's fine. But we must get moving." Zoë replied. Artemis shook her head, as if the honorific had reminded her of who she was.
"Yes, of course. I'll call for my chariot if you would avert your eyes?" Zoë did as she was told and felt the tell-tale cold breeze of the chariot landing. What she didn't expect was the cold hand on her arm. "You can turn back now" Artemis said quietly, her hand lightly touching the arm of the hesperide. As she turned back, she saw how close the goddess had moved to her, an arm's length away. The breath caught in her throat as she gazed into the huntresses' eyes. Suddenly, shouts could be heard coming from the direction of Mount Othrys.
"Ah, we should go" She stuttered as the goddess moved back.
"Yes, after you please." She gestured to her chariot and the Hesperide climbed aboard, staying to the left-hand side instinctively knowing Artemis preferred the right. The goddess joined her, taking the reigns in both hands. "περαιτέρω" she urged the stags on in Greek and into the air they flew. Higher and higher over treetops and mountains until they were in the night sky, far from anything that could touch them. They travelled north, taking a longer route flying around Mount Othrys to evade detection. Lamia was heading this way before Artemis had gone, instead, to the garden of the Hesperides.
"Where are we going first?" Zoë asked when they were settled in the air. Artemis turned to look at her, as if she had forgotten the other girl was there.
"I was tracking Lamia before I- well you know." She turned away, shame evident on her face.
"I would not worry my lady. Your mother didn't seem too mad. She will be able to handle whatever will happen next." Zoë tried to reassure her, reaching out as if to touch her before thinking better of it.
Still facing away, Artemis continued to speak. "I do not know what came over me. I am not usually like this, it's just these visions-" She snapped her mouth shut as if she had said too much.
"Visions?" Zoë urged her on. She had heard her mention visions before. Unsure whether to say any more Artemis bit her lip before seemingly coming to a conclusion and turning to face Zoë.
"There was a…incident on Olympus. Something happened to me. My sister Athena and brother Apollo are still trying to figure out what it was. Since then, I have been having headaches and visions. At least I think they are visions. I can never remember them, its like as soon as they enter my mind they are gone. All but one, it was of you and Atlas on Mount Othrys, it's the only thing I've been able to remember so far. That and your name. That's why I had to go to the garden, I had to find out what it was that was drawing me there. My headaches, they've been getting worse the closer I got to here. The one you saw was the worst I've had." She glanced up at the girl's face, aware she had started to ramble. She never rambled. Shaking her head, she stood up straighter, it was as if Zoë could see her put her walls back up. "I apologise, I do not usually ramble. You do not want to hear of my issues" She tensed her shoulders as her jaw clenched, hands tightening on the reigns.
"There is nothing to excuse my lady, I was the one who asked." Zoë replied, trying to soothe the goddess. News of visions and headaches was troubling. Especially the fact they were getting worse. Whatever her father had done to her, had more repercussions than first thought.
"Regardless, it will not happen again." Artemis concluded. Her voice left no room for negotiation, and they remained silent for a little while. It gave Zoë the chance to really look at her. She was definitely older than she used to be. Around their hunters she would stay around 12 years old. Even among other gods she chose to be young, claiming it would keep their perverted gazes off of her. But with her she generally took the form of an 18-year-old girl, a similar age to her brother. Now, she looked more like an adult, one that had seen too much. Her once carefree and youthful face looked weary, her eyes no longer sparkling like the stars that surrounded them. It's like all the life had been sucked out of her. Her heart ached at the thought that she was the one who caused this. Maybe if she had let Artemis try and heal her all those years ago this would never have happened.
"I assume you are tired?" Artemis' voice broke through her train of thought. The goddess could sense the titan looking at her, but for once she didn't want to recoil in disgust at someone's eyes roaming over her. No, instead she felt calm, like it was normal. The other girl was beautiful she had to admit, with her long black hair and dark eyes, her tanned skin and toned arms. She was one of the loveliest creatures Artemis had ever set eyes on. But still, she couldn't shake this feeling that they had met before. She assumed it was simply because she was in her vision. That the fates had wanted her to save her for what ever reason. But something deep inside her told her it was something more. She couldn't dwell on the issue though, she was tired from her travels. Her headaches had fatigued her. They needed to find a place to rest.
"Yes, my lady, I could do with some rest." Zoë replied, facing her eyes forward afraid the goddess had caught her staring.
"We will land here tonight then" The goddess stated as she directed her stags to land in a clearing between trees. "We will continue the hunt for Lamia at first light."
"Very well my lady." Zoë agreed. Soon they were on the ground, Zoë gathering firewood while Artemis used her powers over the wind to clear the area of debris. Shortly after they found themselves laid next to each other on the forest floor, a small fire next to them. They lay in comfortable silence, Zoë looking up at the stars while Artemis turned her face towards the flames. Watching them dance. It was just like it used to be, or close enough Zoë thought, as she turned to face her goddess. Just as she did the other girl turned to face her. She gave her a soft smile, her eyes growing sleepy.
"May I ask you something Zoë Nightshade?" Artemis said softly.
"You may ask my lady" Zoë replied as she looked at the goddess in curiosity.
"Where did you get the name Nightshade from? Did your father give it you?" She questioned.
Zoe chuckled softly as she turned back to face the sky. "No, someone far more important than my father gave me that name" she said, her heart clenching. Artemis had given her that name, claiming she reminded the goddess of the flower being both beautiful and deadly. She remembered that night fondly, it was the first time she had called her beautiful and had made the Hesperides heart soar. From then on, she adopted the moniker. Eventually using it as a last name. As she turned back to the goddess, she saw her eyes were closed and her breathing had evened out. Smiling, she rolled onto her side to face her goddess. "Καληνύχτα αγάπη μου." She whispered, and had she kept her eyes open a second longer, she would have seen the smile that graced the goddesses face while she slept.