-Artemis-

It was only day two, and Artemis wanted to blast the mortals into smithereens. Actually, she wanted to blast her siblings, but sadly, they would just reform. The problem with having an immortal family is that they always found a way to get you back. Every move was calculated to have far-reaching effects, possibly years or millennia, into the future. The only consolation she received was that she was free of some of her responsibilities for a while. Selene could drive the frickin' moon around while she had to deal with this all because of her brother.

Apollo was such a damned playboy. If he could learn to quit being such an obnoxious flirt, then maybe he wouldn't get into trouble so often. He got too attached to his mortals and children, and he always ended up overreacting about something. Artemis at least knew how to be discreet about what she did. He just acted, consequences be damned. Maybe that was why they worked so well together. Artemis was the planner; Apollo was the one who acted on it.

That was what got them into this situation in the first place. Apollo had taken it upon himself to organize a speed dating event for her. And to make it even funnier, he brought nothing but monsters. Apollo thought it was a hilarious way to get her back for her taking the wheels off of his chariot fifty years ago. He was always complaining about how uptight she was, and how maybe letting loose would cheer her up. Part of him was honestly trying to help, albeit a very small part. Mostly, he just did it to be funny. She was the goddess of maidenhood, for crying out loud! She couldn't date! Who would want to date someone who swore to be an eternal virgin!? There was only one person she had ever considered… but he was long gone now, probably spending his afterlife in Elysium. Artemis was furious at being tricked into her brother's shenanigans, and she had started firing arrows everywhere. Her brother, the coward that he was when it came to matters with her, had just let the destruction take place.

They probably wouldn't have gotten in so much trouble if it wasn't for a tiny accident. One of the monsters, a Cyclops, had fallen into Hera's prized cattle pen, sending the beasts running all over Olympus. It wasn't her fault that when she shot the Cyclops, he fell on top of the cow, killing it. Hera was livid, and she didn't like Artemis and her brother much anyways. After all, they were bastard children of her cheating husband. Aphrodite had sweetly suggested to Hera and Zeus that if her and Apollo were going to act like children, then they should be treated as such.

At first, they were going to make her and her brother start in middle school until they graduated, but after Artemis begged her father, she got away with two years. They would spend their junior and senior year in that high school. At least that was an improvement over what Hera had suggested.

Artemis needed to get away. She had already decided that this weekend, she was going to go on a trip with her hunters. She needed some distance from her brother and the others and to just go on a good hunt. She wanted to shoot something, to feel the smooth wood of her bow and the roughness of the string. She wanted to feel that rush of adrenaline right before she shot her pray. Artemis needed to feel like a goddess, like she could conquer the world. With that thought, a smile crept on her face.

"I know that look," a soft voice said from across the table. Hestia was beautiful, and a very good friend to Artemis. They could relate to one another about maidenhood, and Hestia cared deeply about others. That's what made her a good goddess of the hearth. She had light gold eyes, and dark tan skin. Her hair was a reddish-brown, and when Artemis looked at her aunt, she was reminded of the fire in the hearth she stood for. She radiated comforting warmth.

"What look?" Artemis replied. They were all sitting at a lunch table in the corner of the cafeteria, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. Artemis thought it was a little bit of overkill. With the mist, they would be able to hide anything suspicious, and mortals were easy enough to manipulate.

"Your scheming look," Hestia whispered with a wink. No one was paying them attention. Athena was working on a report on the battle of the bulge for one of her history classes. Hermes was on his cell phone, sternly giving orders about shipments. Apollo was walking this way, running his hand through his hair.

"Want to get away this weekend?" Artemis proposed. Hestia nodded her head eagerly, light flashing in her eyes. She had come on a few hunts with Artemis before. Hestia wasn't much of a hunter, but she loved to get out of Olympus. The Hunters always enjoyed when she came because Hestia made sure they had plenty to eat and felt right at home.

Apollo sat down on the other side of the table, looking thoughtful. He kept tapping his soda bottle against the table and muttering under his breath. Artemis knew that not much bothered her brother. He was pretty laid back for a god, sometimes too laid back.

"Something bothering you, Apollo?" Artemis observed sweetly. Apollo just rolled his eyes and took a swig from the soda bottle.

"You asking because you actually care or because you like seeing something bother me?" he muttered after he screwed the cap back on.

"A little of both. It's not often I seen your feathers ruffled," Artemis replied off-handedly. Her brother may be the most annoying person on the planet, but at the end of the day, he was one of her best friends. No one messed with Apollo but her.

"I'm fine, Arty. Just got a lot on my mind."

Artemis knew he was lying, but she didn't want to call it on him just yet. She popped a grape in her mouth, eyeing her brother. Something must have gotten under his skin. She shook her head, vowing to ask him at some point. Maybe she should find out who it was just so she could congratulate them later on successfully annoying her brother.

"I thought about joining the home economics club," Hestia ventured off-handedly.

"Why?" Artemis asked.

"Something to do. Pass the time," Hestia said as she swirled her drink. "While we are down here, might as well find something to pass the time."

"That's not a bad idea. I could join the archery team," Artemis muttered hopefully.

"Absolutely not!" Athena ranted as she slammed her book closed, glaring in their direction.

"And why not?" Artemis snapped. "Last time I checked, you weren't the boss of me." Athena rolled her eyes.

"Because we both know that you cannot stand to lose, and you can't go showing off your ungodly accuracy."

Damn it all to Tartarus, Athena had a point. She couldn't stand to lose, and if she was going to immerse herself among the humans, she would have to reign herself in a bit. Artemis had never given anything less than her best when it came to hunting and archery. The only person that could ever best her was Apollo, and she was better than him over half the time, not that he would ever admit it. Honestly, an off day for them was hitting a thousandth of a millimeter off. She could split a hair in half if she really wanted to, and she never missed her target.

"I actually think joining the archery team is a fabulous idea. Perhaps it will deflate that over confident ego you seem to suffer from," a voice said from behind her. Artemis knew that voice. Athena looked like someone had burned her battle plans.

"Aphrodite? What- what in Tartarus are you-" Athena started to ask. She was clearly shocked, which for some reason pleased Artemis immensely. She did not approve of the others being here. Hestia was fine, and Hermes would be good for her brother. Athena was just overkill.

"Doing here? You think I was going to let you have all the fun, my dear Athena?"

Aphrodite walked around, looking two seconds from getting laid, as always. Artemis had to admit that she was beautiful, but she it wasn't her taste of beauty. Artemis preferred someone that was naturally beautiful, not someone all glamoured up like Aphrodite liked to look. She sat beside Hermes, who had just ended his call.

"I leave the office for two measly days, and everything goes to Tartarus," he groaned. He looked over warily, realizing Aphrodite was beside him.

"Why are you here?" Athena challenged her.

"Just here to keep an eye on my favorite nieces and nephews," she replied genially. "This is such a good age for mortals. They are discovering themselves, falling in love for the first time. I absolutely adore young love!"

"And ripping it apart," Artemis carefully reminded her. She did not get along with the goddess of love at all. Most of her Hunters had joined her due to a broken heart. Thalia was a perfect example. She may have had her hand forced because of the prophecy, but Artemis knew it was because of Luke. Even Artemis had experienced heartbreak. But that was a long time ago. It was a silly crush, something she forced herself to get over. It was something she had to get over.

"I bring together just as many as I separate. Some loves are not meant to last. They are meant to teach a lesson. Other loves are meant to withstand the test of time, to last forever, in this life and the next."

"Oh, please," Athena snapped.

"Just because you've never been attracted to anyone doesn't mean the rest of the world can't," Aphrodite retorted back.

"If this is some sick, twisted plot of yours to get all of us in even more trouble with father-"

"Zeus has no idea I am here, and I plan on it staying that way. That's the way you want it, isn't it niece? I'd calm that temper. Worry lines are a pain to get rid of," she advised coldly. Athena just huffed and grabbed her books. She gave Apollo a look and then stormed off.

Aphrodite turned to the others, meeting Artemis's eyes with a knowing sparkle. Artemis was positive the goddess of love was scheming, she just wasn't sure how yet.

"So, the archery team?"

"Athena's right," Artemis admitted grudgingly. "I'm not going to downgrade myself. It is not befitting of the goddess of the hunt to make herself appear less talented than she is."

"You mean it is not befitting of you," Apollo reasoned. Artemis shrugged her shoulders, knowing that her brother was right.

"Well, I'm sure you can find something to get involved in," Aphrodite assured her. Artemis raised her eyebrows. Aphrodite was being awfully nice, too nice in fact, which meant one of two things. Either Aphrodite was plotting and it concerned her, or she was plotting and she needed Artemis to cooperate.

"Right," Artemis stated. The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch and the start of fourth period. "I've got to run to my locker before my next class," she sighed.

"I'll come with you," Hestia volunteered. "I'm heading in that direction anyways."

The pair walked out of the cafeteria, among the horde of students rushing to their classes.

"What do you want to hunt this weekend?" Hestia asked excitedly.

"Something dangerous," Artemis suggested. "I hate feeling like a mortal. I'm thinking maybe a chimera. Those are always fun. If you are feeling adventurous, maybe we could get out of the Greek monsters…"

"Don't you think your father would disapprove of that at the moment? My brother is not known for his patience," Hestia quietly reminded her.

"Father only said I had to go to school, not that I had to act like a mortal every day," Artemis declared. She didn't bother spinning the code on her combination lock. She simply brushed the metal with her fingers, and it sprang open. Hestia raised her eyebrows, but Artemis blew it off with a roll of her eyes. Like any of the mortals would notice anyways. Hestia gave her a significant look, and Artemis groaned as she slammed the locker door.

"Fine, we will stick to Greek monsters. I won't go pushing anything just yet."

Hestia smiled, and they began walking to their Latin class together. As she walked down the halls, she noticed someone walking in front of them, a bow slung across her back. Her dark hair was pulled into a messy bun. The bow was a black and gold longbow, and a quiver hung beside it. She could tell it was well made and extremely expensive for a mortal.

The girl stopped at her locker, pulling the equipment off of her. She set it on the ground and looked around quickly. Upon spotting Artemis and Hestia, she began grabbing her books.

"Nice bow," Artemis acknowledged as she walked past. The girl murmured her thanks, barely meeting the goddess's eyes. She was probably just a shy mortal. Artemis could tell that she was still a maiden, which was a rare thing for a mortal this day and age. She wondered if she would be interested in joining the Hunters. She didn't have an opening at the moment, but there were always exceptions. She could use someone who already knew how to shoot. That thought would have to wait, however.

"So," Artemis inquired of Hestia. "Chimera or drakon?"

A/N: So not a very exciting chapter, but I loved writing from Artemis's POV. I really hope you get how I picture her thoughts. I'm terribly sick, so if you see any typos or if I slipped into 1st person, please forgive me.

Thank you so much for the new follows and reviews! I try to respond to everyone, but to the guests, I'm not able to! You guys are awesome, and it makes me ecstatic every time I see one! You know how to make a girl feel special! THANK YOU! :D

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