-Artemis-
Coming back was not what exactly what she expected.
She probably should have blasted Orion for having the audacity to kiss her, like she normally did when any male or immortal ventured to close to her virtue. She was a maiden goddess, a protector of a girl's innocence. She couldn't possibly have any sort of relationship with a boy…yet, she finally admitted that maybe, just for a while, she wanted to see what it was like. She decided to give into her whims, to see exactly what kissing a boy felt like. The whole experience was…surprisingly nice. She'd even go so far as to say wonderful.
Freyja had a point after all. After all the years of being a good little goddess, for the most part, anyways, she deserved to have a little fun. What need was there for a maiden goddess these days? The mortals didn't worship her anymore, not like they used to. What harm would it be to have a little fun? Hanging out and experimenting with her closest male friend wouldn't be the end of the world. Artemis wasn't going to go that far with him, gods!
The thing that wasn't surprising? Coming back to her family.
After an hour or so with Orion, she had to go to Olympus. Practically all night, while still sailing on the high from earlier, she listened to her father and step-monster yell at her for abdicating her duties, almost causing an Olympian war, blah, blah, etc. There was nothing to do but sit and take the tirade. She did deserve it. Zeus wouldn't calm down until he said his piece. She cared enough that she didn't want the entire world destroyed by her father's wrath. After all, she and the hunters had to have some place to hunt. She didn't get punished, naturally. Artemis was quite good at getting out of things when it suited her, and her father liked her the best. This time, none of Hera's cows were harmed, which put things in her favor. The step-monster wasn't happy, but she'd get over it eventually… or come after Artemis. Whatever.
She was put back with the mortals to continue her sentence with the warning from her father that if she tried something like that again, she'd deeply regret it. Fair enough.
Now came the apology she was really waiting for. After all, this wasn't entirely Orion's fault. Mostly, it was her siblings and aunts.
They were scattered around the room, all with varying expressions of guilt. Hermes sat on the sofa, concentrating on his phone and typing faster than Artemis thought possible. Hestia looked like she was in physical pain, avoiding eye contact with everyone else. Athena stood by the window, watching the city with stern eyes and an unmoving expression. Aphrodite leaned against the wall, filing her nails with a bored expression. Her brother was the only one looking at her, his expression repentant and resigned at the same time.
"Ugh, let's get this over with, shall we?" Athena groaned as she turned to face the rest of them. Artemis couldn't keep the grin off of her face. Her siblings now had the same punishment as her until the school year was over. A minor inconvenience compared to the horror she had to endure for the near future, but enough to satisfy her. They all had to behave by the mortal rules. No more skipping, no using their powers to get out of things. Apparently, Themis was keeping an eye on them now. One infraction and their powers would be taken away. That was something that no one here wanted.
"Wait," Hermes said as he held up a finger. "I have to make sure this shipment gets to Olympus or father's going to have my head."
"I have somewhere to be before school starts," Aphrodite huffed as the nail file disappeared. "School starts at eight, doesn't it?"
"Seven forty-five, actually," Hestia hesitantly murmured.
"So, we need to move this along!"
"Fine. Hermes can go last," Athena ordered. She rounded on Artemis, her hands on her hips and eyes fierce. "Sorry I tried to keep you from ruining your reputation and becoming just as much of a love struck fool as blondie." Aphrodite sneered in her direction.
"First of all, I don't love him. I value his skills. Second of all, you call that an apology?" Artemis questioned.
"It's a poor excuse of an apology, honey!" Aphrodite stepped forward, bumping Athena far too hard for it to be accidental. "Athena can't see past all of her plans and deductive reasoning to understand the true issue here."
"Excuse me?" Athena snorted. "True issue?"
"That affairs of the heart can't be reasoned with," Aphrodite answered with conviction. She turned towards Artemis, her expression a little bemused. "Artemis, dear, I truly am sorry for all this. I'll admit, making the boy keep his memory a secret was a little over the top on my part."
"A little?!" Athena screeched. Aphrodite rolled her eyes.
"What? It's in my nature to make lo…relationships difficult. Trials make it stronger." She shrugged her shoulders. "And they make the reunions that much sweeter." She looked at Artemis with a knowing gaze.
"Fine, you are forgiven," Artemis stated before Aphrodite starting running her mouth too much. No one knew what happened in that glen and no one ever would.
"Great! I'll be off then. See you at school!"
She disappeared, the scent of the woods and summer hanging in the air. Artemis fought grinding her teeth in frustration. Aphrodite chose that scent for a purpose. Out of everyone here, she was the one that she was the wariest of. While she seemed weaker than her siblings, they all knew she was anything but.
"And what about me?" Athena questioned. "I was only trying to do what's best for you, to keep you honest with yourself. I do care, Artemis."
"I understand. Next time, consult me on what's best for me before you decide it for yourself."
Artemis never said she forgave Athena, which her half-sister noticed. She just wasn't ready to forgive her yet. Athena took a deep but resigned breath before nodding her head. Thoughts flew behind her eyes, already calculating something else, Artemis imagined. She left the room, muttering something about revising the plan. Hestia stood slowly, taking tentative steps towards Artemis.
"I'm sorry, Artemis. I just didn't want to see you hurt again. I should've said something to you, instead of just assuming that was for the best."
"I think that might be the first truly sincere apology I've heard today." Artemis took her Aunt's hands and gave them a squeeze. Hestia always seemed like one of them, the second generation of Olympians, rather than their volatile and power obsessed predecessors. "Thank you."
"Can you forgive me?" she questioned. Artemis nodded her head, and Hestia let out a relieved breath. "Let's talk later, in Math, okay?"
Hestia made her way to the kitchen, no doubt to fix everyone's lunches. She always cooked when she was upset. Hermes stood and stretched before shoving his phone in his pocket with a satisfied sigh. Artemis gave her half-brother a reproachful look, which he returned with a sheepish smile.
"In my defense, Athena kind of backed me into a corner. I've only known for about two hundred years, and she swore she'd tell Dad that I was the one that messed up Demeter's temple on the solstice if I told you."
"I could've told Dad that."
"Yeah, but then I could've told him that it was you that hid Hera's crown in the Andes. I had something on you. Athena is his little honor student. I've got nothing on her except where she likes to get her subscription of Battle Tactics Monthly." Hermes ran a hand through his hair. "We should've said something. I owe you."
Hermes was never one to really apologize. It wasn't in his nature, so the favor was his version of practically begging for forgiveness. He looked between Artemis and Apollo, offering them each a small grin before following Hestia into the kitchen.
As much as her brother annoyed her at times, he was someone she could count on. Out of all of them, his lie was the one that hurt the most next to Orion's. Artemis took a deep breath. Her brother took a seat. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees with his hands together in front of him. The tension between them felt thick, like one of her arrows would never break through it.
"So, I'm guessing Freyja told you what I said."
Artemis's lips twisted. "She told me what her brother told her." Apollo nodded his head and looked back down at his hands. "When did you find out, exactly?"
"Our first day here. Athena pulled me to the side and explained. I didn't like it, but I didn't argue with her, either."
"Because you didn't want to see me feel that pain again?"
Apollo nodded his head. "I remember, Artemis. If I could've gone to Hades and brought him back for you, I would have."
Artemis studied him. Her brother was there for her when no one else was. She couldn't explain to her hunters how she was feeling. It betrayed everything that they stood for, that she stood for. Her brother… Apollo knew how to keep a secret. He understood how she felt, even if she didn't fully understand it herself.
"I know," she admitted, her voice thicker than she would have liked it to be.
Apollo's hand tensed, parts turning white from the pressure. "I'm sorry, Artemis. I'm with you until the end, sis. Whatever you want, I'll help you get it."
"Even if it's to trap Athena in Tartarus without Dad knowing for a few years?"
"I think he'd notice for a few years. Definitely think we could pull off a week, though."
Artemis grinned. "I think we could pull off more with Hermes's help."
"Probably," he answered with a smile of his own.
That tension eased between them, not quite disappearing, but it would soon. He was the only one to make it close to finding her. "So, I have to ask… how did you know to go looking for Freyr?"
Apollo's expression softened, his lips turning up at the corners, like his was trying to keep a full blown grin at bay. "I had a tip."
"Of course you did. Are you sleeping with one of the Valkyries or one of Arthur's knights now?"
"Neither, actually. I get why your head's in the gutter, little sister, but not all of my friends are lovers." This time, Apollo didn't hide his grin. Something about him seemed a little different. Normally, he had no issues sharing his love life with Artemis.
"Then who was it? Someone I know?" If it was, Artemis needed to tighten up on her skills. She thought there was no way anyone could have tracked her.
"You might."
"Come on, Apollo!"
"Just a little bird, Artemis. Don't worry, you did a fabulous job of escaping us," he added with a softer smile. Still, his eyes were full of a warmth that Artemis hadn't seen in a really long time. She could keep asking, but something in his demeanor told Artemis that this was one secret he wouldn't willingly give up.
Guess she would just have to do a little investigating on her own.
A/N: A little filler before we officially get into what I deem part two of this story! I hope you enjoyed it!
Sorry I didn't get to post last week. Things are a little crazy right now, so I think it will be safe to say that I'm going to try and update every two weeks at a minimum. Hopefully, I will be able to give you something every Sunday.
Thanks for reading! I really appreciate the reviews and follows. You are all beyond amazing!
See you next Sunday! :)