A/N: I apologize for this being a few days late. Also, for the mistakes/typos I most likely missed. It is one am my time! More at the bottom!
-Artemis-
"Artemis, please sit down."
Artemis turned on the spot, ready to unleash a whole barrel of pent up rage towards Orion. Her brother had lied to her, again. Someone had plotted against them during that damned Trojan War. Now, she had to deal with all of that, her punishment, and the hunters on top of figuring out whatever was going on with Orion. The fates had a sense of humor, it seemed. However, Artemis wasn't laughing.
"Tell me to sit down again, and I will skin you alive," she snarled.
Orion held up his hands in a placating gesture. Artemis eyed him for a moment before continuing her path in front of the windows. She felt his watchful gaze for another moment or two before getting up and heading to the kitchen. Why, Artemis had no idea. She and her brother never really used it. Being immortal meant that they didn't have to eat anything other than the occasional sip of nectar or square of ambrosia. There was some decent human food out there, like French fries, for example, and if they wanted it, all she had to do was think it, no cooking required. Perks of being an immortal goddess.
Artemis turned and almost collided with Orion, who held a burgundy can in his hand. He held it out to her, his lips turned up in the barest hint of a smile.
"How do you know I like Dr. Pepper?"
"Because you always make it appear, and your fridge is full of nothing but that, along with some orange juice and green tea. We both know the latter aren't yours."
"What do you want? A gold star? Good for you for paying attention." She took it from him, popping the top and taking a deep swig. It was past seven now, several hours after her brother went after the mortal. She glanced up at the night sky, painfully aware that the moon was darker than usual. It matched her mood. What if her brother had gotten into trouble with another pantheon? What if he was hurt? Other immortals could hurt other immortals, and if her brother got himself hurt over a mortal girl of all things…
Orion placed his hand on her forearm, giving it a brief squeeze before dropping it. He stood silently at her side, letting her brood. Orion knew her well enough to know that words weren't going to help. That fact alone kept her somewhat calm. How was it after all this time, he still knew these things, that he paid enough attention to her to know things you couldn't just tell someone? Artemis took a step closer, brushing her fingers against his arm. She appreciated the gesture, even if she wasn't sure how to respond. Didn't people typically seek solace in the arms of a lo…respected friend when things were going badly? For just a moment, Artemis thought about having Orion's arms around her, laying her head against his shoulder, basking in the warmth of his skin. Part of it sounded nice. It also sounded scary enough that she'd avoid him for another millennium. That thought almost turned into an action before a familiar ping reached her ears.
"Someone is coming."
Artemis and her brother got this particular penthouse for a reason. It provided the security they needed, thanks to a few important magical alterations. No one, not even an immortal, could just barge in. They had to have Artemis or Apollo's permission to enter. Not even their father could come knocking on their door without an invitation. Plus, they occupied the whole floor, so the elevator only opened to their foyer. It gave them the retreat, the privacy, that they needed. Also, it was a very handy way to keep wandering mortals out of their business. Artemis ran to entrance just as the familiar creak of the double doors to the foyer opened.
"Apollo, where in the gods have…you…"
Cas walked in, Apollo trailing behind her. He carried a duffel bag, most likely the girl's, on his shoulder. She looked up at Artemis, her expression beyond exhausted. Her face was pale, the skin around her eyes swollen and red. Orion finally caught up to her, standing by the huntress.
"Cas?" he whispered, his voice laced with worry. Cas's eyes widened before taking a step back from Artemis. The anger hit Artemis a moment later.
"What is she doing here?" Artemis snapped, jealousy fueling her attitude. A dagger appeared in her hand, which she pointed towards the girl. "Someone who throws knives at my brother has no business in my house."
"Sorry about that," Cas murmured quietly to Apollo before looking down at the floor. Cas looked down at the floor, pulling into herself while her brother took a step closer. He placed his hand on her shoulder before giving it a comforting squeeze.
"I deserved it. Just don't make it a habit," he added teasingly. "Cas is going to be staying with us for a while," Apollo answered to Artemis, his voice firm.
"So glad you cleared that with me first!"
The look Apollo gave her almost made her cringe. Even he looked tired, but that glare made her take a step back, right into Orion. He placed his hands on her shoulders, sending a comforting yet annoying flutter through her chest.
"I told you to warn her," Cas whispered, her voice thick and raw.
"My sister knows when she's being irrational," Apollo countered as he sent her a knowing stare. Artemis crossed her arms in front of her chest. In the back of her mind, yes, she knew it was irrational. Cas being here had nothing to do with Orion and everything to do with her brother, but Artemis needed to hear it. The practical side of her had vacated for the moment. Orion's hand came to Artemis's back, rubbing soothing circles, a comforting weight that kept her tethered. Why did it feel so intimate all the sudden? How many times had Orion rubbed her shoulders, her hands? It tamed the jealous monster inside of her, made her practically purr with contentment.
"Cas…. are you okay?" Orion questioned.
Cas looked up, her expression still sad, but Artemis could have sworn there was a smile somewhere in her eyes, deeply lurking.
"Not really," she murmured. Orion let go of Artemis, taking a step towards Cas.
"Look, I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but- "
"I don't care if she wants to or not," Artemis interrupted. "I think if she gets to stay at our house, then we should get to know what the hell is going on."
Cas shrank back even further from them. What little color she had, that sparkle of light in her eyes faded. Artemis could feel the fragile wall around the girl's heart crack, letting some of the warring emotions pour through. Anger, jealously, regret…so much regret and pain.
"Tomorrow," Apollo proclaimed. He placed his hand on Cas's back, steering her away from them, leading her to the guest rooms nearest to Apollo's. "Come on, let's get you settled in."
"Apollo!" Artemis called, her indignation tainting her voice. He turned to look at her over his shoulder, his eyes alight with burning light, glowing with godly power.
"Enough, Artemis." The look her gave her, unwavering and patient, wasn't to be questioned. "Give me a moment and then we'll talk."
Artemis knew the smart thing was to wait for her brother, to let him explain things. Smart wasn't really her forte this evening. She was tired of her family playing their games, tired of everyone selfishly acting on their own agendas. Artemis needed answers, dammit, and like hell was anyone, even her brother-
"Artemis."
She turned in Orion's grasp, ready to snap his arm in half for even daring to think he could stop her. His eyes were narrowed down the hallway, his expression steely calm. "Do what he says."
"If you think for one minute- "
"Not for him, Artemis. Cas needs the quiet. Besides, if I don't have you here to stop me, I might go in there myself. Do you really want your brother to kill me?"
Artemis narrowed her eyes. "Are you asking me for a favor? What happened to please? Or offering a lifetime of servitude?"
Orion's mouth twisted to the side in a smirk. "If I thought the please would help, then I would have added it. We both know groveling is your preferred form of appeasement."
"And begging. I do enjoy begging."
"And that," he agreed, reaching quickly for her hand. He laced their fingers together, pulling her back into the living room. "As for the lifetime of servitude, you've always had it. All you had to do was find me."
That declaration brought a blush to Artemis's cheeks, made her heartrate skip and race. She followed Orion to the couch, where they both took a seat. Artemis made her Dr. Pepper appear in her hand, taking a sip while willing the remainder the blush away. "You really don't like them together, do you?"
"With your brother's reputation? No, I don't. I don't even want to think about them being friends."
"You really had no idea she was cursed?" Artemis questioned. They'd talked about it earlier today. Troy was after Orion's initial death. He was small when it occurred and in Greece. She explained everything that happened, what she suspected. Orion filled in some of the blanks for her, but to be certain, it needed to be confirmed by her brother.
"What curse?"
Gods and Tartarus above, this was going to get annoying. "She's got the sight. Cursed to never be believed by a mortal, dooming you to continually forget. Remember?"
"Um…a little." He concentrated for a moment, no doubt rethinking memories with the newfound knowledge. "No," Orion whispered. "I mean, there were times that she said things that seemed so outlandish, so crazy. But who am I to judge? I've been a toddler over a hundred times."
Artemis huffed a laugh. She leaned back and studied Orion. A question burned on her tongue, one she would hate herself for asking. It would make her seem so weak, so mortal. Disgusting.
"Cas was special. I always knew it," Orion sighed. "I knew her parents were demigods when I met them. I thought that was what I always felt, a trace she got from them."
Special? That word, the reverence in his voice, poked at an already tender spot. "I suppose she's talented enough for a mortal. And decently pretty…" But special? The question burned even harder. What good was it being a goddess if she couldn't know the answer to a question without asking?
Orion twisted towards her. "Are you jealous?"
"Excuse me!?"
"You are. Wow."
"I. AM. NOT. JEALOUS." Anger dripped from every syllable. Her eyes glowed silver, but Orion didn't shrink back. "I am a goddess, the master of the hunt and wild. Why would I ever envy a meager mortal?"
"Because they can have something you can't have. They can love."
Artemis really didn't know what to say to that. She balled her fists in an effort not to blast Orion to pieces. "You care for her. I know you do."
"And you are right. I do care for Cas, a lot. But it's not the same way I feel about you." He leaned towards her, tucking a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. "You forget how intense it is, how wild and awful human emotions are. You have no reason to be jealous, Artemis."
"So, you've never…you've never even thought about-?" She wanted to blast herself for even uttering part of her thoughts.
"Not even once. Cas is like my annoying younger sister, kind of like how you feel about your younger brother." A laugh left Artemis. She loved being reminded that she was the older sibling. "She'll never be in the same league as you, Artemis."
"Well, she can't be," Artemis reiterated. She pointed towards the other side of the penthouse. "Mortal." Then, she pointed at her chest. "Goddess. I win. Every time."
Orion grabbed Artemis's hand, quick enough that it surprised her. He placed a soft, chaste kiss on the back of it, his gaze searing her.
"Even if Cas was immortal, if a hundred goddesses were vying for my affections, they would never compare to you, my lady."
Those softly spoken words were almost her undoing. She leaned forward, wanting to taste his lips again, to feel his callused hands on her cheeks-
"We'll need to keep it down. I just gave Cas a sleeping potion, but it won't go into effect for a…um, am I interrupting something?"
Artemis pulled herself away from Orion, giving her brother a glare that almost matched the one he gave earlier. Apollo simply smiled in response before heading to the fridge to get a bottle of water.
"You have some explaining to do," Artemis reminded him.
"I'm well aware," he replied. "And I'll explain things to the both of you, but on one condition."
"What's that?"
"You don't talk to Cas about it until she brings it up."
Artemis was about to protest, but the brush of Orion's knuckles against her thigh sent her mind reeling.
"I can live with that," Orion agreed. "Artemis?"
Artemis nodded her head. Apollo recapped what Artemis already knew, that Cassia bore Cassandra's curse, that she had the sight but would never be believed by a mortal. He went on the explain how he found out, how Cas had seen Artemis's departure, how she tried to stop it from happening. For a moment, the knowledge made Artemis mad, but it was eased when he explained that she was also what brought Artemis back. He explained her background, the extent of her curse, how she worked for the Egyptians. Apparently, her brother attempted to do something valiant, to protect her from harm, and he ending up harming her instead.
"So, that's why she's here," Artemis mused. "You feel guilty. And she's got a bounty on her head." Plus, you care for her, a lot. She didn't say it out loud, but conveyed it with her eyes. Apollo's only response was a withering glare.
"She'd be dead if I left her in that house. She'd be in that house alone."
"Why?" Orion questioned. "Did something happen to Cas's parents?"
"No. To protect them, who I do not think are the least bit deserving of it after seeing how they treat her, we convinced them to go back to New Rome. The will formally disown her in front of the Senate. One of us will need to make a quick appearance there. It was the only way they would live."
"Your little fortune teller needs to be under the protection of a pantheon. Since New Rome is out for her, you volunteered us for the task. Goodie."
"I owe her, Artemis. For more than one thing," Apollo admitted uneasily. Gods did not like to be in the debt of a mortal.
"Yeah, you do. And, I must grudgingly admit, so do I. I'm the one that suggested Cassandra's punishment. You didn't come up with that curse all on your own." Artemis sighed. "If we are going to Tartarus, might as well do it thoroughly. We'll have to explain to the others, make sure this stays out of our Father and Uncles' ears. Better yet, the rest of the council. I do not want to deal with Hera." Apollo nodded his head in agreement.
"All those times, I didn't believe her," Orion marveled sadly. "I gave up asking her why after the first few times. She really meant it when she said I wouldn't believe her if she did."
"Yeah, she did," Apollo assured him. "But I'm going to fix that. At least, I'm going to try."
"We are also going to have to find a way to get the Egyptians off her back," Artemis pointed out. She had to admit, that part, a little bit of much needed action and rule breaking, sounded kind of fun.
"She has an idea about that, actually," Apollo divulged with a grin. "That, however, can be discussed tomorrow. I've had a long day, and it's time for some much-needed sleep. Goodnight, you two. Don't do anything I would do."
This time, it was Orion who threw a pillow at him. Apollo let out a halfhearted laugh before disappearing down the hallway. It was quiet for a minute, each of them lost in their own thoughts.
"Artemis, don't let me forget what she did."
She looked at Orion, confused at what he meant. "Are you talking about bringing me back?"
"Not only that. I didn't believe her. Every day she told me, she reminded me to the point that it was driving me insane," he explained, anguish tainting his voice. "We even fought about it."
"Fought about what?"
"I'd lost hope a long time ago, Artemis. I hadn't prayed to any of you in lifetimes. Cas kept telling me that the person I was meant to be with would come into my life. She kept on and on, and it just made me angrier and…I prayed to Aphrodite because of Cas. I prayed for the goddess of love to please shut her up or do something about it, that if there was a way for me to see you again, to speak to you again, I'd pay any price. And she listened."
"She saw it," Artemis whispered, realizing what the girl must have done.
"I think so. I guess we must ask her. Apollo said you would have to remind me. I know it will be annoying. Just don't let me forget. Please."
Artemis nodded her head. Now, it seemed Artemis was even deeper in Cassia's debt. She couldn't offer much in the way of lifting her curse, but she could keep her friend from forgetting. "I won't."
I hope you enjoyed this! It took me a bit to get it right, and I'm not 100% happy with it. I will be off work all next week, so I hope to get you another update just after Christmas. Thank you for reading, and please leave a review to let me know what you think! :)