Chapter 17: So it Begins
Artemis and Luna sprinted up the stairs located on the far side of the witch's lair. They encountered weak guards that were no match to their strength. Together, they could accomplish tasks that one person would have difficulty in undergoing. Mars and Mercury flew ahead of them and assessed the battle ahead. They would call out how many guards and what obstacles were to come and how close they were to the top.
"Hey Luna!" Mars shouted, "The witch isn't up here!"
What do you mean she's not?! Luna gritted her teeth and slashed a guard's shoulder.
"It's just a empty room!" Mars replied, "There's a throne, but that's it!"
Artemis reached the top of the stairs first and kicked down the door that blocked their path to the room. Mars was right, the room was empty, just the throne.
"Something's not right." Luna huffed and tightened her grip around the handle of the sword.
Artemis nodded and carefully stepped forward without causing too much noise. Luna followed his path and felt Mercury's thoughts.
She's here…
I can feel her too, Luna felt the evil aura choking her, But where is she?
"Up top!" Mars shouted and Luna shot her head up towards the ceiling.
There was a gigantic tarantula crawling on top and once Luna caught sight of it, the spider dropped down.
"Watch out!" Luna shoved Artemis out of the way and then jumped backwards herself. The tarantula's land caused stone flooring to shatter like glass and sent stones flying across the room. Luna placed a weak shield over herself and she hoped that Artemis was smart enough to find cover.
"Now look what you have done," The witch floated perfectly onto the tarantula's back and tsked, "Now, I'm going to have to clean this mess up."
"Enough talk, witch." Luna lunged for her and the witch immediately attacked her with a powerful blast. Luna hit a wall and dropped to the floor, but she jumped to her feet and lunged for the witch again, to only be hit with the same blast.
"You're pathetic." Witch cackled and then snapped her finger, "I have an idea!" She jumped off of the spider, "I'll give you a free shot of magic." She winked, "You can either take it or keep doing your pathetic sword work."
Luna hesitated, I know this is a trap, but… She sheathed her sword and focused her energy, I have to at least try. Luna centered her focus on unleashing a powerful fire bolt at the witch. She thought about a memory of her father teaching her elemental spells.
"Focus, Luna!" Gale would order her.
"It's too hard daddy!" Luna would always whine with her eyes closed.
"Nothing is too hard... nothing is impossible." He would correct his daughter.
"But daddy…"
"Luna," He interrupted her, "Focus on what you love, who you love... focus on your feelings, your energy... and focus on what you want the most…
"Peace." Luna whispered and held her hands up to the witch, palms open, "Be gone Witch!" She screamed and released the bolts of fire. Luna saw a smirk on the witch's face and she was engulfed by flames. Luna felt her energy leave her body and empty out into the spell. That should've done it. Luna lowered her spell and waited for the flames to dissipate. Why do I feel a strong aura? Luna began to worry and she called worth the winds to clear the flames. Her heart stopped.
"You." She choked out.
Artemis lowered his shield of water and had a frown on his face, "I'm sorry…"
Witch laughed loudly, "You didn't know!?" She leaned over and clenched her stomach because she was laughing so hard, "How could you not have known!? The signs were blatantly obvious!"
"You…" Luna could not even make out another word.
"I'm under her control!" Artemis defended his actions, "I have to follow her orders!"
"And he's mine," The witch wrapped her arms around his shoulders and placed her lips on his cheek.
Luna's anger boiled, "You people sicken me." She growled and unleashed a wild magic attack.
Artemis blocked the attacked and unleashed one of his own by pulling back his bow string and releasing it. Luna dodged the attack and carelessly lashed out several more attacks.
"That isn't going to work Luna!" Mars shouted into her ear, "You're going to have to break the string!"
"A little busy right now," Luna snapped and dodged another attack given by Artemis.
"Find the thread that connects her to him!" Mars flew above to avoid the battle.
Luna searched frantically and could not see any string around his neck or anywhere. Luna landed in towards the front of the hall by the door and took a breath, Calm down, Luna. You know that this is no way to handle a situation like this.
"Had enough already, girl?" Witch smiled, "That was lame, we were just starting to have fun."
"Shut... up…" Artemis painfully snapped back at Witch.
He's resisting… Luna noticed, Or at least he's trying to resist.
"Finish her." Witch ordered and snapped her finger again. There was a small flash in between her fingers and then Luna saw it.
The string! It's around her finger! Luna gasped and unsheathed her sword once again. I can see it now! Luna walked slowly towards Artemis.
"Get away from me." Artemis warned Luna, "Please, run!"
"No." Luna continued to walk closer, "Running doesn't solve anything."
"Please," Artemis raised his bow and begged, "I can't stop it!"
"Just shoot me, Artemis." Luna said his name as calmly as she could, "And that's an order."
"No," Artemis panicked as his fingers trembled, "Please, don't do this to me." He summoned an arrow and charged it with a water strike.
Luna smiled, "Aim towards the ground, Artemis," She charged up another attack, "And shoot at my feet."
He struggled to lower his bow and the witch snapped, "Don't you dare defy me, Artemis."
"Artemis," Luna smiled, "Just shoot, it'll be okay."
He closed his eyes, and released the arrow. The bow aimed for Luna's feet and she almost did not have enough time to avoid it. "Woah!" She jumped, "A bit close there!"
"Run!" He pulled back for a second shot and released quickly after.
This time Luna met the arrow with fire and the water strike turned to steam.
Turn his arrows to ice and strike the witch! Luna smiled and her genius plan and carefully watched Artemis's shots. She measured the timing before the his arrows turned to liquid water and she watched the witch's actions carefully. The witch smirked stupidly and tapped her finger on her stone that hung low on her neck. Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone. Luna threw another fiery blast at a water arrow and thought, Come on… think colder… think ice.
"Artemis!" Luna had an idea, "Insult me!"
"What?" Artemis shouted in fear as he struck another arrow.
"Just do it, Artemis!" Luna took advantage of what power she had over him.
"You're just a loud mouthed idiot!" Artemis struggled with an insult and shot another arrow.
Luna threw another blast of magic and once again, fire burned the water to steam, "Is that the best you got?!"
"You're a heartless, arrogant, cold-hearted killer!" He gritted his teeth through each word.
Luna easily dodged that arrow and felt her fiery aura burn hotter. This isn't working...
"Stop, Artemis." Witch commanded, "This is boring me."
Artemis lowered his arrow and nearly collapsed to the ground when Witch appeared beside him, "My dear…" Her dainty finger grazed his cheek and she cupped his cheek, "Let me provide you with my strength." Her eyes glared hard at Luna, "Because that witch obviously can't do anything." Her eyes returned to Artemis and she kissed him hard on the lips.
Luna's jaw dropped, "Are you kidding me?"
Witch pulled away, "Jealous, sweetheart?"
"Hardly…" Luna snorted, "Good luck with your relationship though because you aren't going to live as long as him."
Artemis grimaced in disgust and hatred, "Go to hell, Witch."
She gasped, "Darling! How could you say that to me?!" She laughed and revealed her thin string that was wrapped around his neck, "You're so mean to me, love!" Witch yanked on his string and choked him.
Artemis gasped and coughed as his hands struggled at the thread that turned into a strong, taut rope. Luna saw her chance, unsheathed her Goddess sword, and sprinted towards the witch. With strong overhand slash, Luna broke the chain that tied the Witch to Artemis. Artemis hacked out air and the bloody witch screeched like a banshee.
Luna lunged towards Artemis's side and hurried through a transportation spell, "With no haste, we leave this place!" With one sweeping motion, she threw her hand from above her head towards the ground and released the spell.
Written to "Shot in the Dark" by Within Temptation