Part Two

Acheron tensed as he read the old diary that had been descovered, half convinced it was a hoaks. But he himself reconized the Atlantian writting, and the author, Agape apperantly, had no idea he would ever read this. The book was old, of course, so the spine and pages were brittle, and one or two pages were water damaged, but readable. So was it true? Had Artemas messed with his mind while he was still human? Eleven Millenea ago, he would have said no, but now, knowing who she was, he had no doubt. He'd erased his memories so he would be more open to her. That bitch.

He looked up from his bed in her temple. Now he was stuck here for two weeks while Zarek was juged and he paid his debt to her. Well, at least he;d get his answers. He stood an walked into the throne room, not careing it was empty and angry beyond belief. Apollo was there, sputtering about what Acheron was doing in Artemas's temple. Her Kouri all scattered, including Katra who gave him a secretive smile. He'd found out about her months ago. Another lie on Artemas's behaf, but the only thing she'd ever done right.

"Acheron, I have company." Artemas complained.

"I wouldn't care if it were Zeus himself." Ash growled, handing her the diary. "What is this?"

Artemas went pale. She stammered to answer but nothing came out, so Ash took a step forword.

Artemas squeaked, " Okay, I'm sorry, and yes, it's true. Would it calm you down if I told you she's still alive?"

"ARTEMAS!" an agry female voice shouted.

The last of the blood in Artemas's face drained as the woman came into veiw. She was a woman Ash hadn't met before. Her hair was golden blond and cut to her shoulders. It curled around the most beautiful, delicat face he had ever seen. She wasn't small, five foot ten and a strong build dressed in black jeans, t-shirt, and leather jacket, but delicate was definately the right word. Though, the wash of power he felt coming from her and the fire snapping in her emerald gaze begged to differ. Even Apollo looked a little intimidated.

Artemas looked around a little fantically for a way out, but she was trapped, "Um.. hiah cuz!"

The woman glared at her. "What have I told you? Your treating the Dark Hunters like toys. Again. And now I find out that Zarek still has his soul? He's spent who knows how many centuries in the dark when he could have been in the sun. And now Thanatos? I have half a mind to make my claim."

Artemas made to beg for forgiveness but Apollo snorted. "Who are you to lay claim to anything? All you'll ever be is a silly little girl who doesn't know her place."

"And if you don't shut up, I'll make you a vegetable."

It was then that the woman caught sight of the book in Artemas's hands. "Where did you get my diary? I thought that had been destroyed."

Artemas handed the book back to Ash. "Ash brought it back. Ask him. Acheron, this is Damatra Agape of Atlantis."

The beautiful woman had frozen and turned to look at him as if just realizing he was there. Her eyes only met his for a second, but all traces of anger were gone. Then she looked at her feet.

"Hi." she whispered.

Both gods used this to beat a hasty retreat.

"So you wrote the diary."

She nodded, still not looking him in the eye. "Yes."

"It was true."

"Every word, though I can't promise all the details are there. I was...unwell after....."

He knew what she meant. But, uncomfortable suddenly with speaking of the events in the diary, he changed the subject. "What did you mean, make your claim?"

She seemed relived. "I'm the goddess of the fallen. Fallen warriors, fallen hero's. That kind of thing, All of the dark hunters are the fallen, Atemis has no athority over them."

"And me?"

"Your a god, Acheron, I would assume you would get the choice of where to go."

He snorted, "A choice? Here?"

"If you wanted you could make your own claim." the woman objected. "They wouldn't refuse you now."

"I'm bond to Artemis. I have no choice."

She was silent a long while. "Yes, I'd heard about that."

There was a long, uncomfortable silence before Ash spoke up again. "Thank you."

She looked up at that, "For what? Letting you be killed?"

Her snappish resonse confused him at first. Then he figured it out. She held her self responsible. Why? Why would she even care after all these years. Then again, how had she gotten to be a goddess? So many questions. And still he wasn't sure to trust her or not. It could be a big mistake. Or he could find a friend he didn't have to hide from. Was it worth the risk?

"What do you go by now?"

"I stopped using Agape when mom... I go by Damatra Wyvern. Friends call me Demmi. Look, Ash, you don't need to act on anything you read. I don't expect to be instant friends or something. But, if you ever need help with the Dark Hunters, you can always summon me."

The sincerity in her voice told him that he needed those memories back. He needed to know for himself what had happened. But Artemis would never give them back. He knew her too well to make himself believe she would. He'd been quiet a long while now and her emerald gaze, soft now instead of angry, fell on his momentarily. She looked all the more fagile now.

"Akra?"

Ash turned to see a demon walking into the temple. He was a little taller than himself and had scruffy black hair. If it hadn't been for the red horns on his head he would have thought him human. It was obvious by looking at him that he was millenea older than simi, or himself, even. Because his eyes were wise and old and the look on his face was like that of a concerened older brother.

The demon stopped short when he saw Acheron. "Should I leave, Akra?"

"No, Ireneus. I want you to meet Acheron Parthenopeaus. Ash, this is the man who kept me sane."

Ireneus shook his head, "All I did was do my job. Besides, it was fun, tormenting Priapus."

That caused a musical laugh from Ash's female companion. "I'd forgotten about that. Yes I imagine it would have been."

They were interupted by Ash's phone.

"Must be Astrid. No one else could reach me here."

He waited for it to go to voice mail. But it was Zareks voice that spoke. "Hey Acheron it's me...I...I need your help."

"I can't answer." Ash said his face pained.

"But I can."

Before Ash could object she took the phone from his hand and flipped it open.

"Hey Z what do you need?"

"Demmi? What are you doing with Ash's phone?"

"He's bussy at the moment. I asume you're calling about Thanatose. I cant interfere much or Atemis would have a feild day and my ass would be grass. But I can send a friend over to help you out. His name is Ireneus, Astrid knows him. He's my best friend so be nice."

Än agonized scream ripped through the temple. "DAMN IT ALL!"

"What happened?" Ash asked alarmed.

"Ireneus is hurt, meaning Thanatos had an Atlantian weapon! I can't go down there, or Atemis will do who knows what!"

Suddenly a Golden flash appeared. It was Eros, supporting Ireneus. Immediately Demmi was at his side, helping to lay Irenus down and heal his wounds.

"Zerek and Astrid are still down there." Ireneus explained, trying to rise. " Thanatos too."

"I don't need to be down there to help out." Ash growled.

Hours later It was time for Ash and Demmi to take matters into their own hands. Zarek looked up when they brought him to Olympus.

"Hey Z." Demmi chirped. "Stop your moping. Time to go get your happy ending."

He shook his head. "She deserves better."

Ash was surprised by Demmi's next actions. She knelt besdie Zarek, took his hands and looked him dead in the eye. Something she hadn't been able to do to him yet.

"Zarek, look. For every person there is a soul mate. For that person, there is no one better. So set up off your ass, stop feeling sorry for yourself and lets go see her."

"I'm a slave, Demmi, I-"

"So am I. Goddess or no. So get up buster."

So they headed over to Themis's temple where the fates were comforting their little sister.

"Want us to kill him? Addy, go kill him!"

"No!" Astrid wailed, "I'll never forgive you if you hurt him!"

"Sorry to interupt." Zarek smirked. "But I have a star to talk to."

As they bantered on Demmi smiled wistfuly, Ireneus looked knowingly at her. "Another Fallen has risen again, Akra."

"As it should be." Demmi nodded.

"I've been thinking." Acheron murmmered. "If you want to take over the Dark Hunters, I'm on your side."

"Then it looks like I'm going to see Zeus."