I am so sorry that I haven't updated sooner. You guys have been so amazing with the reviews, I have absolutely no excuse. I hope you can forgive me! Just a heads up this story is not going to go on for much longer. I always intended it to be around 5 chapters. I really just wanted it to be a prequel to the one-shot I wrote called "Bound to You." Anyway, here's the next chapter. I spent a lot of time on it because I just couldn't seem to get it right. I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but I figure you guys have waited long enough. Please, read and enjoy :)
Hide & Peek
It was a beautiful day. The sun was warm and bright. The grass was lush and green. The birds were singing sweet and lilting melodies.
But Artemis was blind and deaf to all of it.
She sat cross-legged in a meadow somewhere while Persephone braided her long, dark hair, humming a happy tune as she did so.
"Must you do that?" asked Artemis.
"Do what?"
"Make that noise." The last word was spoken with annoyance.
Persephone's hands stopped and she leaned forward to look Artemis in the eye. "I am only trying to cheer you up. You need not grouse about it and darken my spirits as well."
Artemis sighed heavily. "Forgive me, Kore… You have been such a good friend these past few days. And ever since…that night, I have been nothing but—"
"You have been coping with an abhorrent situation as best you can," Persephone interrupted before Artemis could finish her sentence. "I will not hear you claim otherwise."
At that, the elder goddess smiled. Her half-sister's words filled her with such comfort and gratitude.
"Then what shall we speak of to pass the time?" she asked.
"Perhaps you could teach me to hunt…"
Artemis barked out a laugh. "You, the Goddess of Springtime, Bringer of Life, wish to learn the art of hunting?"
"What is so unreasonable about my request?" Persephone sounded somewhat hurt—the way a child does when she is denied something she wants.
Artemis made no reply, simply allowing the implied argument of her words to settle. After a minute, Persephone sighed.
"I suppose you prove a fair point," she said resignedly. "I was merely interested because you make it seem like so much fun. Have you a better idea?"
Artemis hummed sort of contemplatively. "I find myself rather weary. Would you fancy a nice, relaxing bath in a nearby pond?"
Persephone smiled and nodded. "I know the perfect spot. There's a waterfall, not a mile from here that I often bathe in. It's lovely at this time of year, not to mention very secluded."
"It sounds divine," said Artemis as the two stood and headed into the forest, followed by their attending nymphs.
Apollo was sitting at the edge of a pool, his feet swaying through the crystal clear waters aimlessly as his mind wandered back to the same thing that had been troubling him for the past several days: Artemis.
It had been over a week now since she'd last spoken to him and it was starting to worry him. Certainly they'd gotten in some pretty heated arguments before—what siblings didn't fight every now and then?—but this time was different. This time she hadn't forgotten about it by the next morning and she hadn't even acknowledged his presence when he'd tried to apologize—any of the times he'd tried to apologize. But it was hard to apologize when he didn't even know what he'd done wrong. He was at his wits end and he felt like an ass.
He had finally resorted to sulking, which was something he considered utterly ungodly and worthy of disdain. There was very little in the world he loathed more than sulking. And yet that was exactly what he found himself doing. He'd stumbled into the one place that always reminded him of his sister (the forest), sought out the most uninhabited and soothing place he could find (the waterfall pool), and sat himself down on the mossy bank to sulk because that was all he could think to do.
He was deep in self-pity mode when suddenly he heard voices approaching. His head snapped up and he froze, unsure what the best course of action would be. He felt kind of silly fleeing, but he was even more strongly opposed to letting anyone see him in his current sorry state, especially some nymphs or—Zeus forbid—mortals.
He decided on hiding in the bushes.
From his position, crouched behind some shrubbery, Apollo watched as the very woman who had been plaguing his thoughts strode through the foliage accompanied by her nymphs in waiting and the young Goddess of Spring.
He knew it was a terrible idea, but something held him to that spot. Call it instinct or curiosity…or desperation if you're feeling harsh, but whatever the urge it was compelling enough to keep him from abandoning the scene before him despite his better judgment.
He continued to watch, enraptured, as the nymphs carefully disrobed the two goddesses, neatly folding their garments and laying them in two perfect piles on the ground. Well, really he was only watching Artemis. His widened eyes never left her form as she entered the pool, first testing the water with a dip of her dainty toes. How had he never before noticed how lovely her figure was? He'd seen her naked plenty of times. He was immortal; after so many years there wasn't really much of anything he hadn't seen. But it was as if he was seeing her for the first time. And it felt strangely taboo, like the fact that she was unaware of his gaze made the whole situation wrong. Of course, when he thought about it that way it did seem kind of immoral and perverse. But apparently his conscience had taken a momentary leave of absence.
"You were right," said Persephone, "This is heavenly."
Apollo held his breath, straining to hear his sister's reply above the roar of the waterfall.
"Yes, I think this is exactly what I needed," said Artemis.
The nymphs waded into the pond fully clothed in order to tend to their mistresses. They ran their fingers through the goddesses' silken locks and rubbed the scented oil of crushed flower petals over their bodies. The whole scene was unbearably erotic in Apollo's opinion. He found himself breaking a nervous sweat just watching them.
Persephone then struck up conversation. "What do you think of this marriage our father has arranged?"
"You mean between Peleus and Thetis?" asked Artemis.
"Yes… Do you think them a wise match?"
Artemis shook her head. "You and I both know that love is not our almighty father's forte. His intentions were noble, but his decision was foolish. I doubt very much that Peleus and Thetis will be happy together."
"Such harsh words!" exclaimed the younger goddess. "Why do you doubt their compatibility?"
"They are far too…different."
Persephone's gaze fell. "Do you truly believe that romance cannot exist between two people simply because they are different?"
Artemis observed her sister with curiosity with suspicion. "Are you still referring to Peleus and Thetis…or do your words hold deeper meaning?"
Persephone's eyes shot up to look imploringly at her elder sister. "Artemis, you must hear me out. I've tried to let it go, but my strength of will has failed me in this matter. You cannot give up on Apollo—he loves you—I am sure of it."
Her words came out rushed, her tongue practically tripping over itself to get them out fast enough. But Artemis understood her all too well. Her face grew solemn and stern as she listened to her sister.
"How would you know of his feelings?"
"Is it not obvious to you?" asked Persephone. "Everyone can see that something is wrong with him! He drags himself around the palace looking so sullen it makes you want to cry! It's not like him…"
Artemis remained silent, her jaw stubbornly clenched tight. Only her eyes belied the wavering of her conviction.
"I know that you have always had your differences and I know that he hurt you, but I beg you to at least hear him out. After all, he was not aware of your feelings when he slept with Aphrodite—he is still unaware. You promised me you would tell him—"
"Alright, alright," Artemis cut her off. "I have not forgotten my promise."
Persephone looked to her sister with hopeful eyes. The elder goddess smiled back fondly.
"And I am a goddess of my word, if nothing else."
Just then, there came a noise from the forest: the sound of a branch being snapped in two by a heavy, careless footfall. The two goddesses froze. Their nymphs sprang out of the water and dashed for their mistresses' clothing. A dog barked somewhere close and then whimpered when its master forcefully silenced it.
"Who's there?" called Artemis as she stepped out of the pool and into the chiton the nymphs held out for her. "Show yourself or you will be sorry you ever crossed our path!"
A man crept out of the foliage, a small pack of hunting dogs cowering at his heels. He looked hesitant, fearful, and awed all at the same time. One look at him and the goddesses both knew that he was nothing more than an innocent human.
"You—mortal—dare to gaze upon two goddesses whilst they bathe?" Artemis spoke with the resonance and authority of a deity. "Such a violation of privacy demands punishment."
The man was stock still as he stuttered a reply, "I-I apologize, p-p-please forgive me—I was simply o-overcome by your beauty and I—"
Artemis rolled her eyes, although Persephone seemed more amused than anything.
"Flattery will not merit you mercy," said Artemis.
The man just stood there with his jaw slack and hands trembling, resembling one of the animals he hunted. He could form no response, though he knew his life most likely depended on it.
There was a moment of awkward silence, filled with an almost unbearable tension. Then, unable to stand the hunter's terrified look any longer, Persephone spoke,
"Artemis, let the poor man go. We've better things to do than devise a proper punishment for the likes of him."
Artemis was about to reply when suddenly the man began to cry out in fear. The air around him seemed to shimmer like the horizon on a hot day. His form began to fade and shift into something entirely different. One minute he was a human being, and the next he was a full-grown stag.
Then the two goddesses watched in horror as his pack of hunting dogs did exactly what they were trained to do: they attacked. The hunter was torn limb from limb by his very own hounds.
Persephone's voice was small and fearful, "Sister…what have you done?"
He was not remiss, nor ashamed nor frightened, for he knew there would be no consequences for his actions—he was a God of Olympus after all. Yet, something in Apollo told him he had wronged an innocent man. Perhaps it was the fact that all matters concerning justice and legality fell within his godly domain. He knew by the divine powers endowed unto him that his deed was tainted by rage, maybe something even darker and more malevolent.
He had killed that hunter because the man had seen his sister, Artemis, as no man should ever be allowed to see her. He had defiled her with his unabashed and unworthy gaze, trespassing upon her privacy in a moment of vulnerability. This was an inexcusable offense alone, but when Artemis had expressed her outrage it was made all the more reprehensible.
He did not fail to realize the blatant hypocrisy in his words, yet he brushed his conscience away with excuses; he was her brother and therefore there was no shame in it, he had seen her naked countless times before, he was a god who could do whatever he pleased.
No one was allowed to look at his sister the way that foolish mortal had—no one but him.
Apollo paused on that last thought. What was he saying? He sounded as if he had been threatened by the hunter. That was a laugh. Him, God of the Sun, Music, Justice, and Light frightened of some puny human? It was absurd. No, perhaps "frightened" was not the right word… It was more like someone had thought to steal one of his mares and he had suddenly realized that that mare was his favorite. But he was certain his sister would kill him if he put it like that.
How could he explain this to her?
Well…perhaps she need not know.
"What's this now?"
Apollo whipped around at the sound of an all too familiar voice. "Hermes."
So much for this being kept a secret.
"Why hello, brother," the younger god bowed at the waist with a mock flourish of his hand, "Happy to see me?"
"Be quiet," Apollo whispered angrily.
The Messenger God cocked his head ever so slightly, donning a quizzical look that was too exaggerated to be genuine. "Is there some pressing reason for our silence?"
He hadn't lowered his voice at all, so Apollo shushed him yet again. "Our sisters will hear us if we—"
"Our sisters you say?" Hermes' eyes lit up in a way that made it obvious to Apollo that he was well aware of the situation long before he made his presence known. "Is this some new fancy of yours, brother, or do you oft come spying on bathing goddesses? I must say, I'm rather impressed; I thought that such surreptitious behavior was beneath you. But then again you have been out of sorts lately—perhaps this explains why."
Apollo was seething, the fury radiating from him like heat waves. Hermes chuckled and clapped him on one bronzed, muscular shoulder.
"Relax, Apollo, I meant no harm. It was but a jest."
"Your jokes grow more stale with each passing day."
Hermes' hand flew to cover his heart, his face a picture of pain. "You wound me, brother."
Apollo's eyes narrowed angrily. "Leave now, Hermes, before I—"
"Now, now Apollo," said Hermes as he waved his index finger in a patronizing manner, "I do not think you're the one in the position to be making threats here. After all, I found you spying on our beloved sisters. Not to mention I also caught that bit where you turned a poor mortal into a deer and got him savagely killed by his own hounds. I'd say that's quite a lot of good threat-making material for me to work with..."
"Speak plainly, brother," Apollo ground out through teeth gritted in frustration, "I am losing my patience."
"I am only trying to say that I think it would be in your best interest for you to…do me a favor. In return for my discretion, that is."
Apollo hesitated, assessing his half-brother with a critical eye. Hermes was known for his cunning, and one did not simply enter into an agreement with him without proper knowledge and understanding of what was being agreed upon.
"What is it you want?"
Hermes gave a smug little grin. "I simply need you to do what you do best."
"And what is that?"
"Why, charming young women, of course."
Apollo glanced over his shoulder at the goddesses to make certain that they were still too preoccupied with the dying deer to notice his presence. Once he saw that they were adequately distracted, he turned back to his brother with a striking frown.
"Care to elaborate on that?"
Hermes' gaze turned to his fingernails in a nonchalant manner as he began to walk circles around the Sun God. "Well, you see Ares and I have found ourselves in a bit of a predicament… We've placed a wager on who will succeed in claiming Artemis' maidenhead."
Stiffening noticeably, Apollo ground out one sentence from between his firmly gritted teeth, "I fail to see how this has anything to do with me."
"Obviously, I would like to come out victorious in this venture. So, you are going to aid me in doing so." The Messenger God came to a halt in front of his brother and produced a golden apple seemingly from thin air. "You are going to create a distraction during the upcoming wedding feast so that I may spirit our lovely sister away to a more…private setting."
Apollo stood there, fists clenched in unbridled anger. How could Hermes call him brother and yet so boldly betray him? It was the nature of the gods he supposed.
Although, acknowledging the fact of the matter did little to sooth his rage.
"What say you?" Hermes asked despite knowing full well that Apollo had little choice but to comply with his demands.
And, in that moment, Apollo hated him for it.
Hermes repeated his query somewhat impatiently. "What say you?"
In answer, Apollo snatched the golden apple from Hermes' outstretched hand and stormed off into the dark recesses of the forest without so much as a backward glance.
Hermes stood empty-handed and still, a satisfied smirk playfully tugging at his lips.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this chapter was satisfactory :) Just so you know, I've got the next chapter pretty much finished so I'll probably post that one very soon and then wrap up the story shortly after. The writers block I was experiencing for ages finally ended (YAY!).