Chapter 18: Fire and Ice
Luna and Artemis appeared mid air and dropped to the forest floor. Artemis groaned underneath of Luna and she threw a hard punch to his jaw before she got to her feet.
"What was that for?" Artemis yelled.
"That's what you get for not telling me." Luna snapped and stormed away from him.
"Luna…" He called out for her and reached out for her wrist.
She pulled away, "Don't touch me!"
"Then listen to me," Artemis begged.
"You had your chance, Artemis," Luna looked away, "Now it's too late."
"Luna…" Artemis was cut off by Luna's open palm to his face. He was silent.
"Don't you dare speak my name, you coward." Luna teared up in anger. She felt like she wanted to hit him again and again and again, just to let out her anger.
"I thought I could trust you," She let out at last with a sigh, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was scared, Luna," She heard the pain in his voice, "I gave myself as a pawn, Luna, because I was scared."
"Why?" Luna shook her head confused,
"I was scared of what would become of the village after that girl was killed."
"That girl?" Luna shocked, "Matt's daughter?"
Without answering the known question, Artemis continued, "And I didn't tell you because I was terrified of what could happen to you."
"That gives you no right to hide that information from me." Luna turned her back to him and started to walk away.
"Luna!" He stopped her again and forced her to face him, "Luna, I love you."
"No," Luna felt a lump in her throat, "No, you don't." She pointed at the ground and controlled the vines beneath her feet. Luna commanded the earth below her feet to trap Artemis in a bind. Luna watched Artemis struggled, tugged, and pulled at the tight vines, but he could not get out, and that is what Luna wanted.
"Luna, please, don't do this…" Artemis begged.
She could see the distraught and tiredness in his face and his bewitching ocean blues. "If you really are a wizard," She swallowed her hurt, "Then those vines should be easy for you to break out of." Luna turned her back again and continued to walk in the opposite direction,
"You won't be able to find the last Harvest Sprite without me!" Artemis cried to her.
Luna chuckled to herself, "I can't believe him." She rolled her eyes and zipped up her own lips which caused a spell that zipped up Artemis's lips.
Artemis mumbled and grumbled as loud as he could and he pulled harder at the vines.
"Hey Luna," Mars showed up at Luna's side, "Don't you think you should free him?"
"Yeah Luna," Mercury added, "He's right, you know."
"About what?" Luna continued on her path back towards the village.
"You can't find the last Harvest Sprite without him." Mercury explained, "The last Harvest Sprite is Venus, the planet of love."
"Love is a two way street Mercury," Luna ducked under a limb, "And I don't love him."
"But you can't just leave him like that!" Mercury pulled on Luna's disheveled braid.
"Yes," Luna flicked Mercury away, "Yes, I can." She was tired of hearing the Harvest Sprites bicker so she transported herself back to the village.
Written to "Secrets" by The Pierces, "On My Own" from Les Miserables