I hope you enjoy this next bit.

David was showing Rein some moves with his sword when Artemis walked back into the hideout. Rein immediately hugged her around her legs while greeting her in his normal manner. David noticed that Artemis looked a bit nervous as she tried to smile at Rein.

They sat down to eat and even Rein noticed that Artemis seemed to be nervous and didn't talk much. Finally Rein plucked up courage to ask,

"What's wrong Auntie Arty?" Artemis smiled nervously,

"Why would you think anything's wrong?"

"Arty, I'm a big boy now, I'm five years old. I can tell you're telling a lie and that's a bad thing."

Artemis's smile disappeared and she looked down at her hands. After a long while she finally answered.

"I met a King's Citizen yesterday."

David gasped, and said, rather harshly "What did you do?"

"I gave her a chance to recant." she said, hating the look that Rein was giving her, "And when she didn't, I threw her in a cage."

Rein looked tearful as he looked at her and David was looking at her with something just short of contempt on his face. Artemis wished the ground would swallow her up, she didn't even know why she cared so much about their opinions, but she just felt so shameful.

"I should've known."

Artemis's head jerked up and saw David glaring at her.

"I should've known, it's like that one visitor said, no one in Lucifer's army will ever be anything more than an evil murderer."

Artemis's guilt was rapidly replace by anger. How could he say that? They both were alive only because of her goodwill. If she hadn't put her life on the line they both would be dead, most likely by her hand. She stood up and her eyes radiated anger.

"You know, my opinion of you King's Citizens was rising over these past few days but you just made me realize how you're a bunch of narrow-minded, snot nosed, HYPOCRITES!"

David stood to his face matching, hers in anger, "Oh, just because I can remember all the dead bodies in the town that makes me a HYPOCRITE? I remember even though Rein doesn't that you were part of that raid and that you killed them and countless more! I saw from my window as you shot my best friend in the back of the head! I was stupid to even think you could ever change!"

Suddenly they both heard a squeal of fear and anguish and they both looked down to see Rein climbing up on the table shouting "Stop it! Please stop fighting! Please STOP!"

Artemis's anger was immediately overturned by guilt again; the sight of Rein on the table between them seemed to be like a burning sword being run through her heart. Both she and David looked back at each other and gave each other glares of pure hatred and then Artemis swept on her heels and walked out of the hideout.

But barely 10 paces from it she felt something grab her leg and looked down to see Rein on the ground, clawing at her foot and sobbing.

"Don't go, Arty . . . please don't go."

Her heart which had seemed to be on fire a moment before, suddenly felt like it had been doused in a pitcher of water. She knelt down, picked up Rein and carried him back to the hideout. David had obviously gone to another room. Artemis sat down and Rein hugged her even closer whispering.

"Don't go back to those bad people . . . stay here with me for a bit more . . . please?"

"I will," she whispered, "I will."

They held on to each other like they were at sea and could only stay afloat by clutching each other. Finally after awhile Rein stopped sniffling and his grip began to loosen. Finally he said something that rocked Artemis to her core.

"David was wrong, I do remember."

Artemis blanched and looked at him in fear, but she only found a small smile that she wouldn't have dreamed of.

"I saw you killing people out of the window. That's why I was hiding. I saw you coming. The Spirit said not to be afraid, that it would work out and I thought I would die. But you let me and my brother live. I never forgot that you'd shot my best friend's dad in the street but my mom told me Jesus wanted us to forgive. So I forgave you."

Artemis looked into the child's eyes and now she found that tears were beginning to form on her eyes. Not in the habit of crying she tried to blink them back but Rein reached up and wiped her eyes, saying, "Don't hold it in auntie Arty, let it out."

The dam broke and Artemis began sobbing. Rein hugged her and she cried into his shoulder. She didn't know how long she sat there, just crying into his shoulder but by the time she was done some of the weight that seemed to have rested on her shoulders ever since she began feeling affection for the boys seemed to have lifted a bit.

She dried her eyes and gave Rein one last hug. Then she left for the camp.

Megan was bored. Sitting in the cage nothing really happened. She sat like that for hours as the Demons alternated between watching her, switching off with others. Then, a few hours later, Artemis came back and ordered the Demon currently watching her to leave. She was dressed in her green-black armor still and she sat down right beside the cell and looked at the ground.

"So, nice weather we're having." Megan remarked.

Artemis looked at her with a strange look on her face. Then she turned back.

"What's your name?" Megan asked, she was sure she probably knew it already but just to be sure.

"Artemis."

"Wow, how'd you end up here?"

Artemis looked like she was debating whether or not to answer, finally she said so quietly that Megan could barely hear.

"I was fooled into thinking I was master of my own fate. I was stupid and got trapped by lies that I bought into."

"Well, seems like you've been doing a lot of thinking on this."

Artemis looked at Megan with a cautious look on her face, ". . . maybe, so what if I have?"

Megan said a quick prayer in her head while trying to think of what to say.

"Well, I was wondering what was it you called me yesterday? A King's Citizen?"

"Yeah that's it, but how can you not know that?"

"I'm not exactly from around here. Where we come from we worship God and his son Jesus an-"

"Then you're a King's Citizen because they do the same. But what are you called?"

"Well, my name's Megan Morse."

"That's a strange name for a Martian."

Megan wondered how people here knew about Martian's but decided to play along, she realized she'd never morphed into her human form and was still green.

"Actually I mostly lived with humans so that was the human rendering. My real name is M'gann M'orzz."

Artemis began to speak but just then they heard a voice interrupt her.

"Well, Artemis, what have we here? Enjoying a little chat with the prisoner?"

Artemis quickly stood up and said "I was just telling this King's Citizen what I think of her."

Megan, to aid in the excuse, looked at Cobra (for it was he) with fearful eyes (though that wasn't necessarily acting) and crawled back in to the cell.

Cobra appeared satisfied and smirked at Megan. Then he turned to Artemis and put his hands on her shoulder while saying said "I'm proud of you my apprentice, keep this up and you'll be just like me one day."

I tried my best to pretend to be honored by Cobra's words but felt revulsion when he said it. I almost vomited when he touched me and was extremely happy once he left. She walked back and sat down next to the cage. She looked at Megan who was smiling at her. Artemis observed that, these Citizens were strange at times but far better than her.

I went and sat back down by the bars of the cage.

The two sat in silence for awhile, then Megan asked,

"Why do you serve that guy when you clearly don't want to?"

Artemis's answer sounded like she was reciting something.

"Nowhere worth going would take me in."

"I'm sure the King's Citizen's would."

"Yeah right, more likely they'd chop my head off before I got one step into a church." Artemis said, but Megan heard a note of uncertainty in her voice.

"If they're anything like the Citizens I knew then they'd welcome you with open arms. My friends believe that everyone should be given a second chance, no matter who they are."

"Would you be willing to give Cobra a second chance?" asked Artemis in a biting voice.

Megan looked a bit hurt as she glance back at where the man had gone

"Yes, I would."

Artemis felt her cheeks go red as shame filled her, why did she have to snap? She would much rather spend time with a person like Rein or even Megan than Cobra. She sat stock still at that thought, realizing again just how much she was starting to hate her life and the mess it had become. Some powerful forces must be at work to make her want to be with her sworn enemies after only a few days getting to know what they were like.

Artemis saw Megan flexing her hands in motions that she recognized,

"Don't try your superpowers; this cage was made especially to keep those in check."

Megan deflated a bit at that news, but then perked up and said,

"I once ignored the King for years and years, I forgot about him. But when I remembered and wanted to come back he was right there waiting for me."

"What's your point?"

"If he was willing to take me back after years of neglect, then don't you think he'd be willing to take you back?"

Artemis considered this. She had probably done a lot worse things than this girl but then again, Rein had told her that the King was willing to forgive all sins. Remembering all of her mistakes in her life made her feel shame again, she stared at the ground, she was unworthy of the attention of good people like Rein and Megan.

"Why would the King waste his time on me? I'm not worth it."

"You're right."

Artemis's gaze flicked upwards as she gaped at the Martian, but before she could say anything Megan continued.

"You're not worth it, but then again neither am I. None of us are worth it when you think about it, we all betrayed the King when we turned away from him. He didn't have to put all the effort he does into us. But he does and he gave us the free gift of salvation. We'd be fools to turn away that gift when he promised that we'd be redeemed by him."

Artemis was undergoing an intense internal battle, she did want to be redeemed from the awful murderess she'd become but she was just afraid. She couldn't really give what she was afraid of, it was many things but the fact remained that she was afraid. She was still thinking when Megan spoke again.

"The King's son died so that you'd be able to lay all your cares and worries on him. He died so that you wouldn't be faced with the enormous weight of every mistake and evil intent you'd ever had in your life. But most importantly, he rose again to prove that nothing was too big for him, that nothing could ever stop him. He said that the gates of Hell itself could not prevail against him and through him, you. Do you want forgiveness?"

Artemis thought some more and then said the most important words in her life.

"I want it."

Megan beamed, "Then pray with me, he can hear us wherever we are."

They both began praying and Artemis said as tears began leaking from her eyes "King, please, I've done horrible things against you. I've killed countless men, women, and children and slandered you too many times to count. But I don't want to do that anymore. If you could find it in your heart to forgive someone as unrighteous as me, please forgive me. I want to serve you and feel you; I want to be like Rein. I don't want to be Lucifer's slave anymore, no I don't want to Satan's slave anymore."

With that her armor suddenly gave a monumental glow of red so powerful that it lit up the entire clearing. Artemis stood to her feet and a feeling of supernatural joy raced through her, she felt so free, so alive and then she saw a white Dove, whiter than snow. It was on the ground before her and she instinctively and suddenly knew that this was the being that Rein had been talking to the day she had met him. This was the King's Holy spirit.

"You are forgiven, your sins are no more."
Artemis fell to the ground and prostrated herself before the Dove, then she heard pounding footsteps and saw Kobra rush into the clearing. His eyes slid directly over the Dove without a flicker, Artemis realized that it must only be seen by those it let see it. But as his eyes hit Artemis who's armor had turned a blood red crimson color his eyes widened with rage and fear, after trying to make him happy all these years with atrocious acts it was a great satisfaction for Artemis to see him so vexed by her conversion.

Artemis drew herself up and said in a loud and triumphant voice, "I realized something; I was your slave, not your partner. But I'm not anymore; I'm a King's Citizen now."

She grabbed her pieces of armor, the design of which was taken from the King's Armor, and began ripping it off. Any doubts she had before, when she took off the armor and saw the look in the Dove's and Cobra's faces, vanished. Cobra's face twisted into pure rage and the Dove looked bursting with happiness.

Kobra strode forward and grabbed Artemis by the scruff of her neck "I will always own you, I will make you recant your faith, no matter how long it takes!"

He threw her into the cage along with Megan and stomped off. When he looked back he was only further incensed by the fact that the two girls were hugging each other like sisters, this boded ill for him.

"Rein, you are not going out there."

"Yes I am David."

"Not unless I say so."

"No David, the spirit told me Auntie Arty needs our help so I'm going to follow him."

David scowled; he was surprised how clearly his little brother could see the spirit so many times. But this was a dangerous mission and his brother would need help.

"Then I'm coming with you."

Rein smiled at his older brother's protectiveness. They both snuck out of the hideout and began walking towards the campsite. Rein looked back and suddenly he saw a white Dove perched on a branch, it was the King's Holy Spirit! Rein immediately prostrated himself on the ground in a rather ridiculous fashion and David, upon turning around, knelt before the Dove as well.

"Rise."

The Dove didn't move its mouth but the voice sounded in their heads, the best voice they'd ever heard in their lives. Rein began speaking first.

"I'm doing what you said, I'm trying to find the bad guys camp but it's so hard."

"Do not worry Rein. I will lead you and I will show you that I AM. David, you have listened to your anger."

David ducked his head in shame and said, "I'm sorry."

"Be comforted, you are forgiven but do not forget that my ways are not your ways. Because I AM I would that no one will perish but have everlasting life. It is my will that my two disciples be taken out of here. You will accomplish this."

They both bowed their heads and mumbled acceptance of the task. Then the spirit spoke again "But fear not for you will not be alone. I have provided a friend to assist you."

It turned it's head towards some bushes and said "Come out my servant and take the task appointed to you."

A boy in red, black and white armor walked out of the bushes and walked towards the boys. He looked to be about 13 years old. He eyed the two boys up and down and then said in a friendly voice,

"Hi, my name's Robin."

Megan had fallen asleep some time ago. Artemis hugged her knees and watched for any cronies who might want to sneak up on them while they were sleeping. It was around midnight when something extremely unexpected happened. The demon guarding their cage suddenly gave a soft, strangled gurgling sound and keeled over. She crawled over and had a look. What looked like a throwing implement was stuck in it's throat, it was dead. Artemis didn't care for its life, she knew that demons had made their choice long ago and would never be redeemed but it made wary of what was going on.

She shook Megan awake and showed her the situation. Then we both stiffened as three figures snuck up to the bars of the cage. Then Artemis's face broke into a huge grin as she saw the face of Rein. Robin grabbed up the keys from the fallen body of the Demon and unlocked the cage as Megan stared at him, how many of these familiar faces would she see on her mission?

Artemis saw the Dove and knew that it had led them to her and she said, "Thank you."

Rein noticed this and asked excitedly,

"You accepted the King!"

Artemis nodded and Rein gave a squeal of delight and darted forward to hug her. Artemis gladly returned it and stroked Rein's hair, he was so precious. She knew then that she would even fight Lucifer himself to protect Rein. Robin looked on with a smirk and then cleared his throat. They all silently stole out of the campsite.

Cobra got up that morning and at his breakfast. He hummed as he looked at his torture devices, trying to decide which one he'd use to make the two girls recant today. He should've done it last night but he'd been tired, and besides what could happen in one night.

Finally picking the whip he walked out and towards the cage. Once he reached the clearing however he stopped dead and the whip slid from his grasp. He rushed forward and stared at the empty cage as though he could wish the girls back into the cage.

Lucifer was going to kill him, no doubt about that.

I hope you liked that. Sorry about the long update gap.

Again I suggest you read the fic this was based off of "I Still Believe."

The author who wrote it (Starvix) can be found on my favorites in my profile.