"Fabulous." I threw another stone into the sea and watched it skim away. "Bloody fabulous."

Zeus had given me a right dressing-down over the 'disgrace' that was The Daphne Story. Blimey, no-ones ever going to forget it, are they? Mind you, the one person that I would expect to be taunting me with every embarrassing detail would be my sister.

Artemis, of course… that was who I was waiting for, on the beach and not happy despite the sunshine and the fact that the sea was calm. The reason for my annoyance was not only the rollicking I had received from Zeus about the whole Daphne Incident (apparently, it's 'giving the Gods a bad name.' After his behaviour? Great) but the fact that my sister was monumentally late even by her standards.

Whenever I was supposed to escort her anywhere, I would tell her that we had to meet up an hour earlier than we actually did – then turn up when I had to and wait for her a little longer. It was the only way to get her anywhere on time, and none of the other Gods had realised yet how I managed it. Someday they were going to get wise, but until then I had the upper hand when it came to dealing with her.

I sat down on the sand, letting the water lap at my feet, and tried not to think about how late we were going to be for the council today. After my disagreement with Zeus earlier (perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned some of his own conquests) it would be the last thing that my standing needed.

o-o-o-O-O-O-o-o-o

I was concentrating so hard on not thinking that I very nearly didn't hear the voice on the beach behind me. As I twisted, everything seemed to slow as I only managed to take in what I saw one item at a time.

A general, milling mass of hunting hounds, a noticeably number of them the silver-white colour that my sister always insisted on; two chariots, one definitely Artemis's, the other a human one with the spear-stand full; my sister, her arm through Orion's as they wandered amiably down the beach, talking between themselves.

"I need to go," I could just about catch Artemis's words, "I promised that I'd meet Apollo here and he's probably more than a bit annoyed with me now. I'm late."

Before either of them could see me, I flipped over onto my back and pulled my hat down over my eyes, feigning sleep.

"Alright," Orion replied grudgingly, "but we'll meet here again, tomorrow?"

There was a moment's pause. "I can't do tomorrow." Artemis admitted finally; "If I dodge the nymphs for one more day then they'll start to get suspicious."

"Those bloody nymphs… Mind you, I suppose they have a right to get a bit annoyed after the vows that they made when they chose to follow you."

I gritted my teeth against Artemis's silvery laugh and forced myself not to react. "Oh, you are ridiculous at times." She replied. There was a moment's silence, and I could barely stand not twisting round to see what was going on. "The day after tomorrow, here. Happy now?"

"Not quite."

This time I couldn't help but look round as discreetly as possible when they went quiet again. I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe a awkward moment of silence, or a formal handshake as they parted as two hunters happy with a days work. I did not expect Orion to lean over and kiss my sister on the forehead, and for her to stroke his cheek before she turned around.

I shut my eyes again and listened as Orion gathered his hounds together, harnessed his horses again and set off along the firmer ground at the top of the beach. Artemis watched him go in silence, as far as I could tell, then turned and almost tripped over me as I lay on the beach.

"Whoops!" she said, "Sorry, 'Poll."

I dusted sand off my tunic and stood up. "You took your time turning up. What time is it, anyway?" I added suspiciously.

"I'm not quite sure. Does it matter?" Artemis smiled as if the incident with Orion had never occurred. "Father is used to us turning up late to the councils anyway, or at least cutting it fine, so I'm sure he'll forgive me this once. Come on, let's take the chariot."

"You think I intended to walk?" I didn't mention that Zeus would probably eat me alive if I turned up late one more time. "Come on, let's try and make up some time."

And try and work out what's going on between you and the mortal.