As seas churn, a duel shall mark
the age of love and history will
be rewritten.
"I am sorry," the sea-green eyed man whispered, ichor trailing down the side of his lips onto his chest and disappearing through the thin armour. A gaping hole stood in the middle of his chest, where the heart would be.
A figure knelt next to him, brushing his raven black hair to the side so she could meet his slowly fading gaze. Silver eyes glowed from the darkness of her helmet as she held onto the dying god, her breath slowly beginning to emit a sound as she tried to keep her tears to the bay.
"No, I am," she finally gasped out, as she pulled his body to her, laying his head on her chest and bawled loudly. The skies, that were once light blue and bright, now resembled darkness while the moon, that was once as white as a dove, stained red as if it knew the blood that had been spilled.
Her gaze froze at the red moon as she struggled to remember where it all went wrong. Maybe it was when they first met…
Riding her chariot, the goddess of moon watched the world below her. It felt nostalgic as she wondered when she had last visited the world of the mortals. Zeus, the king of Olympians and her father, had all but neglected her when she had joined him and abandoned her mother Leto and even had the nerve to make her the goddess of moon to restrict her from visiting the mortals.
"Watch out!" a masculine voice echoed, effectively snapping her out of her reverie as she grabbed the reins and pulled with force. Gathering her bearings, she noticed how she had strayed from her usual path and had almost collapsed into the upcoming tide.
She muttered, "Grammercy-"
"My apologies m'lady," the same voice called out, laced with a sense of admiration, making her curious as she turned towards him and noticed the man standing before her.
Raven locks that seemed to glide with the slight breeze, tanned skin that reminded her of Apollo on a warm sunny day and sea green eyes that resembled those of an emerald. She held back a gasp as her eyes wandered lower, looking at his bare chest, the defined abs and a trident pendant hanging loosely across his neck. The toga that he wore flowed sideways, again due to the breeze and, she was with astonishment, as the waves seemed to move consistently beneath his feet, even if he stood at the same spot.
"Art thou riding a wave-?" she asked, mesmerized by the wave, her chariot pausing mid-air. It would be a long night for a few people.
The man responded with a glint, "yes m'lady."
"How?"
He stared at her in confusion before he asked, "doth thou haply not recognize me?"
Her response was silence to which he sighed. The wave underneath him raised till it reached the length of his knees and he calmly sat on it, the water continuing to build up to form a throne of water. A golden crown appeared atop his forehead, a rectangular sapphire stood proudly at the centre while the moonlight danced around it causing rays of light to reflect off.
He raised his arm and waited. For a second, nothing seemed to happen and Artemis was contemplating leaving the strange god to his own means till a trident shot out of the water and rushed towards the young man. She had to dodge the incoming trident and was surprised when the sea-green eyed god easily caught it.
The scene was captivating: a handsome man sitting on top of a constantly shifting water throne, droplets of water sliding down his defined muscles, while a golden trident with moss and fern covering slight parts of the handle and prongs.
"I am Perseus, son of Poseidon and heir to Atlantis, God of Waves and Tides," his voice boomed, causing the moon goddess to flinch momentarily. She regained her posture after a flush of embarrassment and replied, "I am Artemis, daughter of Zeus, Goddess of Moon and nature."
…she wiped off a tear that threatened to spill from the corner of her eye as she held onto the dying man, his face still as tanned as when they first met. His eyes though, seemed duller than they used to be and she had no one else to blame but herself. They had been losing their mischievous glint ever since they had met. Perhaps, she wondered, she was the cause of this outcome…
"Sister, crave to join me to delos today?" Apollo asked, his voice as warm as sunlight on a cold snowy winter. Like countless times before, she almost melted at the warmth and she had to wonder why he had turned out so… arrogant and presumptuous. Was it her father's influence or Hermes'?
She shook her head in reply, "Afraid not Apollo. I hast a meeting with someone today."
"Is it perhaps Perseus that you crave to meet?"
Even if she didn't bother to look, she could imagine the cheeky smile that her little brother was projecting. Or maybe it was the heat that was emanating from the brightness of his teeth, strangely contrasting his dark tanned skin.
Her chariot slowly descended on the balcony of her temple and she bid Apollo farewell as the night began to replace the dusk. Grasping the reins, she straightened out her silver dress with sparkles that were no different that the stars glittering across the sky. She had to borrow it from Aphrodite after a torturous hour of one-sided discussion on Aphrodite's behalf.
"Lady Artemis," a familiar voice greeted and she smiled at her mention and, with a twirl, turned around. The dress floated up slightly, displaying her dark high heels and her pale ankles before disappearing under the dress again.
"Lord Perseus," she responded while she admired his tuxedo and light blue tie underneath it. His hair, that was normally ruffled, was considerably straightened but she had a feeling that Perseus was probably pushing it down with water subconsciously. It was amusing, she admitted.
Her chariot hovered over their spot and she slowly lowered herself to the surface of water, slightly afraid of falling through and getting incinerated for being in Poseidon's domain but fortunately, Perseus held her hand and she balanced on the water.
"What about you chariot?" Perseus asked, his hand continued to hold onto hers, whether intentionally or not, she had no clue. She just could not bring herself to break free so she pretended not to noticed and replied, "Hephaestus made arrangements so that it does not require me at all times."
"Did you perhaps do it for me?" he asked, smirking as he knew the truth but she refused, looking away so she didn't agree with him.
They continued to stand on the surface of water, hands grasped together till Perseus jumped slightly and broke the bond. Artemis felt a bit disappointed but she reminded herself that they were children of Olympians who despised each other.
Perseus spoke, looking at the distant chariot, "I met someone today."
…That was the catalyst to the events that would unfold to what was happening right now.
Her hand subconsciously grazed past the gaping hole as if memorizing the body once again. She had watched it countless times, including that time when she had told him to stop meeting the woman.
There it was. The ugly feeling, that she had long felt residing within her, bubbled within her as she stood on edge of her chariot, overlooking the land. Down, on the land of mortals, she watched as the man, Perseus, chatted animatedly with another female.
Her grip on the reins tightened with anger and she could hear the cautious grunt of the stags, causing her to breathe deeply and ease her fist. It would be alright.
"Thou wouldn't receive the things she told me today Lady Artemis!" Perseus spoke, as they sat together on top of the flowing water. It was moments like these that reassured her that Perseus still cared about her.
She replied, looking into the distance, "Want I remind thou that we, gods, are not allowed to interfere with the mortals?"
"And yet of what quantity times thy own father hath broken this law?"
He had her beat considering her own father, the King of Olympians, who had made the Ancient Laws, refused to follow them. It was his infidelity that contributed to about a half of Greek population. She had no idea why she was feeling whatever she was feeling but it wasn't pleasant. Not that she would admit it to him.
"I do lack thee to forbear her," she claimed, eyeing him from the corner of her eyes. He rubbed the back of his neck, so she continued, "she is a mortal. She shall die while thou live. Should thee crave to hast a relationship, hast it with someone whom can spend the time with thou."
She hoped he would understand that he should only be looking at her, not other women, even if she didn't understand what was happening to her for her to feel this way.
He stood up, speaking coldly, "Grammercy Artemis for thou input yet I ne'r asked. I would the meetest for thou."
Her eyes widened as he slowly dissipated in the mist, leaving her sitting alone on the water. 'Did Perseus choose another woman over me?' she wondered.
"Hey Perseus?" she whispered, bringing her head closer to his till they were breathing each other's breaths, his breath carrying the deep scent of mint.
He gasped lightly, "Ye…ah?"
"Did you know about my feelings?" There was no response as he lay on the ground, his breath slowly getting shallower, and she worried if he said anything, it could be his last words, and she didn't want it to be those words, "Don't answer that."
Was it this hesitation that led to what she had done after he had told her to back off from him?
"How dare thou interact with mortals?" Zeus bellowed, lightning crackling around his white beard as he scowled at the son of Poseidon.
The latter replied, without a pause, "I was doing what every god or goddess doth."
"Thou dare speak back to me?"
"Isn't that how thou talk to people?" he raised his eyebrows with dramatic effect, making everyone snicker slightly while the Goddess of Moon refused to meet his gaze as she looked away guiltily.
Poseidon, sensing Zeus' killing intent, raised his trident and declared, "Perseus, that's enough. Return to the palace. Thou art forbidden from meeting that woman again."
Artemis noticed how they both looked similar unlike Zeus and his children, which made her envy the duo because she could only claim to be Zeus' child but without proof whereas the father and son were exact lookalikes, albeit one had more wrinkles.
Perseus opened his mouth to retort but one look from his father shut him up and he closed it, taking a spare second to leave a glare directed towards Artemis before disappearing in a bright flash. They were going to talk about it at night when they would meet again.
"Thou told him?!" Perseus shouted, the flowing water rippling from the intensity.
Artemis could only look away as she wished to return to her chariot and shrink away from the angry god. He had every right to be furious as she had betrayed their trust by revealing his secret and essentially, meddling with his life that potentially led to him never being able to meet the woman.
She defended, "I had no choice. Thou were making a mistake 'i love and I was helping thou!"
"I ne'r asked thou to help me!" he countered, his fists balling and she could sense the fury behind the rapid movement of water, even though it stayed calm under her.
"I didst it because we are friends!"
"Then we shouldn't be friends!"
Silence followed that statement. He had said that in spite, but he knew that he did not want that to happen, but he never took his words back. Meanwhile, Artemis watched blankly, hesitating from stepping forward and slapping him to knock his senses back. The dark-haired woman was not worth their friendship!
Nobody spoke anything about what had happened as Artemis gently stroked Perseus' ruffled hair, the rough texture contrasting the silky feeling that she could feel rubbing against her palm.
"I always wondered how you had such hair," she commented, focusing on his hair and away from the dark memories that were slowly unfolding in her mind.
He chuckled but did not answer the rhetorical question and the goddess of moon could feel the body of her former best friend slowly start to fade.
"Please help her."
Artemis couldn't bear to watch as Perseus pleaded before the King of Olympus and her father to rescue Danaë. The prophecy about how Danaë's son would slay his grandfather was a common topic of discussion and Acrisius' reaction to it was, in her opinion, overdramatic.
"Thou brought this by yourself. This is Styx's revenge for breaking her vow," Zeus replied calmly.
"Surely, thou doth something!"
"It doesn't matter what he doth, Acrisius shall murder Danaë if behoveful," Athena interjected.
Poseidon looked at his son with pity before he spoke, "There is something that can be done yet Perseus, if thou hit together to this, Danaë can ne'r forsooth be yours."
"What doth thou mean?"
"Acrisius fears no man lest it is the king of Olympus so if Zeus were to, mind mine language, lay a child within Danaë, Danaë had been able to 'scape and live happily," Poseidon continued, earning nods from several Olympians and an eager look from the subject of the conversation.
Artemis had to admit that the logic was sound but the conflicted and defeated expression on Perseus' face broke her heart.
"Very well then," Perseus muttered and disappeared in mist.
The next day, there was news that Danaë was pregnant and that King Acrisius was furious with such a course of intervention but since there was nothing that could be done, the latter had cast his daughter and her unborn son into the sea.
The night came and as Artemis strode through the sky on her moon chariot, she watched as the waves slowly calmed down around the wooden casket. Danaë sat on it, bawling loudly as she held onto her gut and, maybe it was Artemis' illusion, but she could see the pained face of Perseus under the casket before it disappeared in a blink of an eye.
"Perseus," The woman whispered which garnered Artemis' attention completely as she wondered whether Perseus had broken his oath to Poseidon and Zeus, but it seemed that Danaë was talking to the unborn baby, "Thou shalt be Perseus."
"Perseus sure did wonders around the world during his time," Artemis recalled.
The origin of namesake could only smile in response. He had no energy left to speak so he resorted to mere expressions as he watched the red moon slowly turning to white – his favorite colour.
"I especially liked the fact that he was among the only heroes to get a complete life. He did justice to your name," she whispered as her lips brushed against his forehead.
'Why did we fight?' Artemis refused to delve into that specific memory, keen to focus on times before that, when they were happy.
And yet, no matter how much she struggled, the memory resurfaced.
"Perseus?" the goddess called out as she descended lower with her chariot, taking advantage of the fact that it was, what mortals called, low tide.
There was silence except for the occasional sound of water hitting the bank of the sand.
"Are you still angry about what happened millenniums ago with Danaë?"
"And what if I am?"
The water shifted near her, and the throne formed while Perseus sat on top of it, no longer having the playful glint in his eyes as he stared at her coldly. They hadn't talked since the meeting; she did not have the courage while Perseus was furious because of her intervention.
"I told you that what I did was for your own good," she tried defending her actions.
He shrugged, "I never asked for your help. You don't meddle in other people's business if not asked to."
"I could not watch someone I care about do something wrong!"
"And yet do you stop your brother or father from committing infidelity or assaulting women? Do you not care about them?" She couldn't reply to that. She knew she was making excuses and Perseus was forcing her to confront her conflicted feelings that she refused to acknowledge. Maybe, he sensed her refusal or maybe he grew tired of her as he spoke, "I think its best you leave. I trusted you once you ruined it."
The throne began to melt back into the water along with Perseus before Artemis managed to croak out, "W-Wait!"
He paused, his piercing gaze seemed to shoot daggers at her as she slowly broke her restraints and continued, "I-I did it for another reason as well."
"I know."
"You do?" she asked, hoping she wouldn't have to say it out loud.
"I do and I couldn't care less about it anymore. You killed my love and I have nothing to say to a murderer like you."
"I didn't kill her nor was that my intention! I did not want you meeting up because-" There it was. Another golden opportunity to profess her love but her hesitation returned as she stuttered at the end.
"I don't care anymore. You betrayed our friendship and trust and now Danaë is gone."
The sound of a slap resounded through the air as Perseus stepped back, his palm caressing his left cheek as the stinging sensation slowly registered in his mind. Artemis stood in front of him, her hand paused mid-air while she breathed heavily.
"How dare y-" She never finished as a huge wave of water crashed into her, the force sending her flying to the shore. Grimacing in pain, she saw as the sea began to churn and a murderous look on his face that sent chills down her spine.
She drew her bow and notched an arrow as Perseus brought out his trident and pointed at her, each prong looking deathly pointed. For a moment, nothing happened, and Artemis almost mistook the time to have stopped but that changed when high pressure of stream erupted from the middle prong and shot towards Artemis' direction.
Dodging it skilfully, the latter shot an arrow directed toward Perseus who easily formed a wall of water to counter it and returned it with another pressurized stream towards her. Each god traded blows one after another, not sparing any moment to breathe, their emotions clouding their judgement as they were hell bent on killing each other.
And, one of them succeeded, as Artemis watched with tears finally slipping out of her eyes as her best friend, no, her lover slowly faded. She would never see the raven-haired god ever again, not till she faded as well.
"Arte…mis…" he attempted to speak, "Th…ank…you…"
And just like that, the body dissipated in golden dust, floating away in the air and sparkling the sky, leaving behind his salty scent and a bawling Goddess of Moon. The next night, the moon did not rise, starting a cycle with new moon.
This submission was a part of an Emerald Library writing competition starting on May 16, 2022. To participate or vote in the competition, you're welcome to join the discord link we have on the profile.
Written by TidalMoon2003
