Updated: 12/4/2020

Happy Easter. Have a Happy and Safe One.

Chapter 2: Grief of the Moon

Artemis had teleported back to her Camp and straight too her tent. She was having a panic attack. Her twin was dead.

'Her twin was dead'

'How can I survive?'

'How can I breathe?'

Artemis was thinking as she collapsed into sobs rocking back and forward. She had lost the person that was MOST important too her. She had lost her beloved twin. Her protector. The one who saved her from Orion. If it hadn't been for Ap…him then she would have been raped.

She lost the one who had always comforted her in times of distress. Like when Zoe had died and when Orion had killed dozens of her Hunters.

The one who risked everything to help with a quest to save her from Atlas.

Ap…HE had always been there. ALWAYS. He had never left her till now. Now she was alone. She had only half her soul. Half her mind. Left.

To her everything was meaningless now. Her whole existence didn't mean anything to her now. She was being consumed by her despair and grief and pain.

How was she meant to face everyone at his funeral? How was she meant to say goodbye?

The answer was she couldn't…

Delos…

The Pyre for the God Apollo had been built. It was 16 metres high and was as Grand as everyone who helped build it could make it.
With his friends and children putting messages on paper into the Pyre.

Apollo laid on the top with a golden shroud over him. With his bow and Ukulele in his hands. Everyone had gathered but there was no sign of Artemis.

Zeus had asked Athena to find her. But she couldn't. And the sun was setting it was time for the ceremony to start.
Zeus realised they would have to start without Artemis.

"The children of Apollo and the Hunters will light the pyre", Zeus says with a heavily heart.

"What about Lady Artemis?" Thalia asks

"We can't wait for her anymore I'm afraid. It is time to send him off", Zeus replies sadly.

Many children of Apollo were angrily that their Aunt and their Fathers twin hadn't turned up. But put those thoughts away. At least THEY would be honoured to do it. At least THEY came to say goodbye.

"I would like to say something. Apollo, my son I am sorry for what I did. I hope wherever you are you can forgive me and hear our words. Be well my son", Zeus says placing flowers

Athena steps forward.
"Brother you were always the life of the party. Olympus will never be the same. I hope you are at peace wherever you end up. You will be dearly missed", Athena says softly putting flowers down.

Hermes's is the next one to step forward.

"I am going to miss you my partner in crime. Pranking and bar hopping will never be the same again without you. I hope you can be at peace. But I also hope you might somehow come back. Love you brother", Hermes states a tear falling as he puts the flowers down with a picture off the two off them.

Hestia steps forward.

"Nephew you were a ray off sunshine even on the darkest days. You will live on in our memories and in your children. May hope reunite us one day. Goodbye for now Nephew", Hestia says tears falling as she puts flowers down at the bottom of the pyre.

She was the only one to notice some moonlace at the bottom of the pyre.

Asclepius steps up.

"Dad you will be sorely missed by all. I hope I can do you proud and be the man that you were. I will watch over my demigod siblings. This I swear. I love you Father", Asclepius says putting down the flowers as a tear falls.

Will steps forward tears falling.

"You began such a great Dad. I on behalf of your children what to thank you for being our father. We love you day to the day we die and hopefully reunite. Love you Dad", Will says putting the flowers next to the others

The other children of Apollo do that too. Then Meg steps forward.
"You stupid man. Why did you have to do that? I never got the chance to tell you I loved you. Not as a sister but as a boyfriend. I hope you have found peace and found people you have lost. I love you Apollo and I will remember you too my dying days", Meg says kissing the flowers and putting them down as tears fall.

A few others go forward and say a little something and put flowers down. Before everyone have had their turn. But there was still no sign of Artemis.

Zeus knew he couldn't wait any longer. So he nodded to Will Solace to light the fire with the other children of Apollo.

"Archers ready!" Will calls taking over

The Children of Apollo light their arms and raise them in the air.

"Ready! Aim! FIRE!" Will yells

Dozens of arrows from the children of Apollo fly through the air. Followed by the Hunters. Soon the pyre was fully alight with fire.

Tears fall as everyone watches as the pyre, with the body of Apollo burns. Making gold sparks come up like a mist and rise into the Night Sky…

Nobody saw that behind them a figure on the cliff was watching tears streaming down the woman's face. Her black dress blowing in the wind as she freely cried.

"My brother, my twin, I love you please, please come back to me", the figure cried

As the figure falls to her knees as her arms wrapped around herself. Trying to hold herself together. Her head bowed as she cries silver tears.

Soon she begins to sing. For the first time in what seemed like forever. Since the last time the figure sung as her brother played the guitar along with joining his voice with hers.

How do I,
Get through one day without you?
Now that I have to live without you,
What kind of life would that be?
Oh, I...
I need you in my arms, need you to hold me,
You're my world, my heart, my soul,
If you ever leave,
Brother you have taken everything good in my life,
And tell me now
How do I live without you?
I want to know,
How do I breathe without you?
Now that you have gone,
How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live?
Without you,
There'd be no sun in my sky,
There would be no love in my life,
There'd be no world left for me.
And I,
Brother I don't know what I would do,
I'm lost now I lost you,
If you ever leave,
Brother you would take away everything real in my life,
And tell me now tonight,
How do I live without you?
I want to know,

How do I breathe without you?
Now that you have gone,
How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live?
Please tell me brother,
How do I go on?
Now you have left,
Brother you have taken away everything,
I need you with me,
Brother don't you know that you're everything,
Good in my life?
And tell me tonight,
How do I live without you,
I want to know,
How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go,
How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live?
How do I live without you?
How do I live without you brother?

Her words flowed through the night. Only for her to hear. As the figure cried as she sung a song for her brother. Her beloved other half.

How could she live without him?

How could she continue to breathe?

As she cried another strand of the figures auburn curls turned silver as another part of the figures self died…

Author's Note: What do you think? Please Review:)

The song is based on 'How do I live' by LeAnn Rimes.