Nothing makes me angrier than a god claiming his son, just to get rid of him, or not him…I guess I should say mistake. Because that's all they think we are, just things they can use when they're in trouble…Well that's the way I see it at least. Not everyone will agree with me on that.
"Anthony Ross, we as gods have to own up to our…As you like to say, our mistakes. But Zeus is no fool, he must have seen something special in you if he has claimed you. In five minutes, you will turn sixteen, I have an offer for you." Artemis said and crossed her arms over her chest.
Her emotionless eyes made me want to scream, no! But at the same time…I wanted to hear what she has to say. My body aches, so I can't really do anything but listen to her. She said I have five minutes…Why? I mean it's not like I'm going anywhere…"I'm listening…" I said.
"My hunters...From two thousand years I have recruited them, meaning they are immortal. I make it a point to never allow boys to join my hunt, or even go near my hunters, the last one who approached my hunters was turned into a jackalope. By me of course." Artemis smiled like she found turning some boy into a jackalope, very amusing. I gulped, "Why are you telling me t-
"I am not done talking." She cut me off with a firm look. I stared at her a little stunned she could scare me so much with just a look. Artemis continued, "I still believe that no boy, or man, should join my hunt…But you're different, when I look into your eyes, I don't see a boy filled with lust for girls. I only see a man who wants to make a difference." She finished.
I straightened my head and just stared at the tents (ceiling? Roof?) And thought about her words, it's true I don't see these girls as romantic interests…I can kind of see what she has to offer me. "Can you tell me how this helps me? I'm a mistake, I shouldn't exist. But you said it yourself, he is no fool, he sees that I can do something about this 'prophecy' right?"
"You catch on quick." Artemis said and then she sighed, "If a child of the eldest gods reaches sixteen, they will either make a decision that will save or destroy Olympus. That is part of the Great Prophecy, but it will not happen to you, because I want you to join my hunt…" Her voice faltered with each word, as if she started to regret making this decision.
"Exactly how do I join your hunt?" I asked.
She walked over to me and kneeled beside me, "All you have to say is, 'I, state your name that is very important, okay back to what I was saying, I, your name, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of woman, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the hunt." She told me.
That was a little…Confusing, but I think I got it, but one thing doesn't set well with me, "Maidenhood? Why not manly…Oh I see, it doesn't really fit. How about youthfulness?" I asked. Artemis looked irritated, but she still nodded. I cleared my throat, "I, Anthony Ross, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of woman and men, accept eternal youthfulness, and join the hunt."
Artemis sighed like that was the dumbest thing she's ever heard. "I…" She groaned, glad she wants me aboard her hunt…"I accept" She finally said. I didn't feel anything at first, but after a few seconds, my body felt really, really good. It still hurt, but not as much as before, I slowly got up, "Whoa…" My legs felt weak, but not so much I'll fall over, "I'm one of your hunters…?" I guess you can say I still don't believe in the gods. Artemis nodded, but didn't exactly look excited about it.
She walked towards the exit, "I guess I should inform my hunters...They'll probably think I've lost it..." She muttered.
Her attitude changed dramatically, does she really hate accepting me into her hunt that bad? Man that kind of hurts. My legs still felt like jelly, but I decided it was for the best that they find out about me. When we walked out, the hunters of Artemis were waiting for us, it was like they already knew, because they had disgusted looks on their faces, except they directed that look towards me. They really do despise men. I thought Artemis would have introduced me to them, but she didn't, she just watched them give me nasty looks. Alright, they want to play like that, then let's play, I smiled brightly, "I am your newest member, Anthony Ross. I've been recruited to help you guys." I said smugly.
Their expressions changed to hatred, I'm going have fun staying in this group. I just bowed respectfully to get them angrier. If I act nice they'll hate me even more. I guess at heart I'm still a child, because all I want is to annoy them, I haven't done anything wrong, yet here they are giving me angry looks like I did something horrible.
If I knew anything about these gods and goddess's, then I would probably have a better understanding as to why they hate me. But Artemis did say that no man has ever joined her hunt, so I guess that's one reason why, and if I think about it, maybe most of the girls had bad experiences with men, so maybe that's why they hate them. Not sure if I should keep being an asshole or take it easy on them. They've been through stuff, but who cares, I've been through a lot as well.
"Uh…I'm still really hurt, are we moving out or something? If so, I don't think I can follow." I said.
I guess in their eyes I'm being really disrespectful towards Artemis, but I'm someone who isn't completely convinced about the gods, sure she demonstrated some of her powers, but that alone isn't enough. Zoe, the one who really hates me, step towards me, I kind of thought Artemis would stop her, but she didn't. I got slapped across the face. "You pledged thyself to thee goddess Artemis, yet thou little boy acts like this is all a game!"
The anger I was feeling was quickly replaced with confusion, "What?" The way she spoke threw me off, slowly I started to understand what she said, "Of course I'm going to treat this like a game, I'm hanging around little girls, you know how stupid that is?!" I said exasperatedly.
Zoe stepped up to me and stared me dead in the eyes, "I disapprove of him." And the rest of the hunters nodded in agreement. Why isn't Artemis stopping them? I wouldn't have acted that way towards them if they didn't look at me like I'm just like every other guy. So far I've proved them right, but I did that on purpose, because they really piss me off, "Yeah, well me too, because I didn't do anything to you girls when I first met you, yet here you are looking at me with disgust and hatred, like I'm the fucking reason why you hate men!" I snapped.
Artemis finally stepped in, "I've seen enough, clearly you both don't like each other."
"You can say that again..." I muttered, Artemis glanced at me at the corner of her eye, I sighed, "I'm sorry."
Artemis sighed, "Why do you hate woman?"
"I don't hate woman, I just hate people that look at me like I'm the reason why the world is going to shit." I said.
Zoe started to realize that what I said was true, so now she didn't look so angry, I guess even she knows when she's in the wrong. But clearly I'm at a disadvantage here, if what Artemis said is true, then I lose because Zoe has been with her for almost two thousand years. The more I look at these girls I realize that they look rather prideful, which means...They will never own up to their own mistakes. I guess it's back to not giving a shit about what they think, one thing is clear to me...I was offered to join this hunt because she wanted to avoid a war of some kind.
My body still aches, but not so much I can't do anything. "So all you want is for me to follow orders, right? If that's what it takes to stay here, then I'll listen." I said.
Of course the alternative is to just to betray them...But I'd rather not end up dead. I guess you can say I'm starting to believe the stuff they said about the gods. I'm sure it was my imagination, but for a second Artemis looked disappointed in my sudden change of heart. But soon she returned to her usual self. Cool and collected, "Then...Let is go, we have a lot of ground to cover." Artemis said, all the hunters nodded and still looked at me with hate, I ignored them, but one of them hesitated and had a look of doubt...Zoe.
I'm sorry this took so long. Ive been busy with a lot of things, and dodnt really have the time to work on this, but I did what i could.
Thanks for reading! I hope you all have an awesome day!
Rilurz~