I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT POSTING RIGHT AWAY! FORGIVE ME MY FAITHFUL READERS! I'VE HAD A LOT OF PERSONAL CRAP GOING ON IN MY LIFE AND MY LAPTOP BROKE BUT THIS CHAPTER IS A LOT LONGER THAN THE OTHERS. I WILL GET THE LEMON OUT ASAP AND IT WILL BE IN JAPAN. ENJOY!
Steel Blades and Cherry Blossoms II
Artemis's POV
You and Zoë walk back into camp and you scan the site for your newest recruit. "Akira, can I talk to you?" You call and the girl looks up at you with a slight frown. "Yes, goddess?" The girl walks up to you and bows respectfully. "I need you to translate a text for me."
"Into Greek?" The girl asks and you nod. "Or English. Whichever is easiest for you." You add and Akira nods. Zoë hands her the scroll and she bows again. "Yes goddess." She unfurls it and squints before her eyes widen. "The Nue?" She asks and you nod. "It is terrorizing a village. I won't force any recruits to go who aren't ready." You assure and Akira sighs in relief. "We shall discuss this in my tent. Come Akira." Your lieutenant and the recruit follow you into your tent and to your war table. "This says the Nue came down from a black cloud into the emperor's palace at two in the morning and plagued him with nightmares that made him ill when he woke up." Akira starts, spreading the scroll on the table and furrowing her brow. "It has been slain before though." Akira adds and you nod. "How so?"
"A samurai named Minamoto no Yorimasa. He staked out on the roof of Emperor Konoe's palace and fired a single arrow into the dark cloud. The dead Nue fell from the sky and Yorimasa sank it in the Japan sea. The Nue is said to bring misfortune and illness to those who breathe in the essence of the dark cloud." Akira shivers and you rest a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I suppose the luck it brings with its death is the misfortune and illness ending?" Zoë asks and Akira nods. "I won't require you to go on this hunt Akira." You remind her and she nods. "Thank you goddess. Is that all?" She looks up at you and you nod. "Yes, thank you."
"Of course goddess." Akira bows before hastily exiting. "So a single arrow brought this creature down the first time?" Zoë clarifies and you nod. "That is what Akira said. We should bring a small group just in case."
"Indeed." Her hand slides around your waist and you lean into her side. "Let's have no surprises like the Euryale." You look up at her and she nods. "Of course my lady." Rising up on your toes you peck her lips and move your hand to the back of her neck. Zoë leans in and reconnects your lips to hers, positioning herself in front of you. Smiling you nip at her lower lip, enjoying the soft sounds your lieutenant makes. "We should be planning." You murmur against her lips. "We have five hours until nightfall. Two of them can be spent planning." Zoë replies, walking you backwards to the bed. "Three hours."
"Two and a half?" She asks hopefully and you straddle her hips. "Acceptable."
"A token for your bravery. She is called Honjo Masamune." A tall, fierce looking male steps up and presents to you a katana. The sheath is fine leather with Japanese characters and cherry blossoms painted on it and you bow. "We thank you for your gift." You say formally as you accept the sword. You buckle the leather belt around your slim waist, the sword coming to rest beside your hunting knives. "You should all go inside and lock your door. Burn incense if you have it." You say and the villagers bow before hastily retreating to their huts. "A katana?" Phoebe asks and you turn to face your hunters. "Yes, Honjo Masamune." You say as you draw the sword. It's a fine, silver blade and the handle fits comfortably in your grip. The tsuba, the part that separates the blade from the hilt, is carved with the phases of the moon protruding from the bronze disk and you smile. "Very well balanced." You muse as you heft it in your hand. Sliding the blade into its sheath you look at your hunters again. "We have five hours until the Nue shows up. This should be used to set up traps and protection for the villagers." You instruct and they nod. "Zoë, take Phoebe, Helena, Marie, and Chione to scout the outskirts of the village and learn the lay of the land. The rest of you are going to assist me in finding suitable places to position ourselves." You say and they all nod. "Shall we meet in the square in two and a half hours?" Zoë asks and you nod, leaning in and pecking her lips before both of you go your separate ways.
You and your hunters each walk up to a hut, scaling the side with hunting knives and you look to Diana. She jumps up and down a few times on the roof before giving you a thumbs up. The roofs are stable. You leap to another hut, noting the ten feet of space between the edges of the thatch cone covers. "I estimate that the farthest building is about a mile and a half from here." Zia squints and you nod. "I concur." Alyssa says and you nod, leaping to the next building. There are about 25 huts, a blacksmith, two farms, a statue of the young man you saw earlier in the village square and a temple at the north end of the village. You and your hunters move on silent feet from rooftop to rooftop, occasionally noting things out loud and glancing up at the position of the half moon.
The huts are in circles that close in closer and closer as they get closer to the center of the village. You've decided to stagger your hunters and if lines were to be drawn between them it would create the something akin to the Star of David. You are on the north temple while Zoë is on the southernmost hut; Helena, Zia, Marie and Chione are on the middle ring of huts on the northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest huts; and Diana and Phoebe are on the inner ring of huts on the east and west huts. Your hunters range with their bows covers the entire village and you look out at Zoë's silvery aura across the village. You sigh like a love struck maiden and pull your scarf up over your nose. All of the hunters have these enchanted scarves to protect themselves from poisonous air and communicate with ease with one another. With each breath a hunter will inhale their favorite scent instead of whatever pungent odors might linger with monsters.
Taking in a deep breath you inhale the smell of your precious lieutenant; her hair, her lips, her natural aroma of a garden you encountered on Olympus and smile. You look up at the moon's position and draw your bow, your hunters mimicking your motions silently.
It's close to two in the morning.
Very close.
Your eyes dance from constellation to constellation and you frown as you notice the head of Orion missing. Squinting you see the three stars reappear and a path of black dust moves to cover another clump of stars.
The Nue.
It's here. You nock an arrow and pull the string taut. Your hunters follow suit and you narrow your eyes at the black cloud. It covers a large portion of the sky, effectively blotting out any stars behind it. From what you can see it's swirling tendrils like a galaxy and it's getting closer. A chill settles over the village and you can see the crops behind the village withering and crowing decrepit and brown. You can't tell black sky from black cloud as the Nue maneuvers between stars. Two arrows, one from either side of you are shot in succession and manage to impale gray fog before falling back to earth. A high pitched howl slices through the silence of the night and you frown.
Why won't the blasted beast get close enough?
Raising one hand you turn it, angling the light to fall on the black cloud and seven more arrows catch the light of the moon. The cloud disperses and reforms as the arrows sail through the night. The moon brightens and you draw your bow, firing at the center of the swirl of darkness and a hole forms for the arrow to sail right through. Frustrated, all of you draw exploding arrows and fire. The smoke swirls into a tight tornado and launches towards the earth like a meteor. The arrows explode in front of the moon and a primal, chilling, roar shakes the temple you're standing on. Several arrows plunge into the cloud of dust and another roar clears the haze.
A very large, very angry looking, chimera-like creature is standing in a crater, baring hideous, human like teeth. The face of the monkey is growling, slaver dripping from its raw gums and the two snakes that make up its tale are hissing. Silver arrows are bristling from its mane and it charges into the village. Arrows accumulate in the beast and it leaps at Zoë before changing into a whirlwind and splitting at her hunting blades. "I don't like this thing!" Phoebe announces and you nod in agreement. You can't see the cloud and frown, straightening up. A presence behind you causes you to whirl around, a hideous monkey face in front of yours and the Nue rises up on its hind paws, swatting you off of the temple. You tumble before rising to your feet, raising your bow instinctively to fend off his claws. The snake tails lash out like a scorpion, ripping your bow from your hands and you leap backwards to avoid another strike.
You reach for the closest weapon which, strangely, is not your hunting knives but Honjo Masamune, the silver blade gleaming in the moon light. You raise it to parry another strike from those gnarled claws before raising it and slicing the Nue's monkey head clean off. The rest of the hunters come forward and slice off the remaining snake heads and the beast falls to the ground, dark blood pooling from the slices. "That's that." Diana muses and you nod. "Should we burn it my lady?" Zoë asks and you nudge the beast with your foot. "I believe that would be the best option towards disposing of this beast." You look at the blade in your hand and the dark blood coating it. "Phoebe, Zia and Chione will go and construct a fire pit, the rest of us will go back to camp." You say and they nod.
Zia and Chione are sisters from Egypt but it seems that Zia has an affinity towards flames and Phoebe is the strongest. Phoebe picks up the Nue and the sisters grab the decapitated heads. The sense of trepidation and anxiety that had begun late into the night still has yet to go away. "My lady, are you alright?" You almost jump at the sound of your lieutenant's voice but manage a simple nod. "Yes, I believe we all just want to get to bed." You say and Zoë accepts that answer a bit hesitantly. "I will oversee the burning. Zoë, return to camp with the others." Zoë nods and pecks your lips before leading the hunters away. You watch her retreating form for a moment before turning to the three hunters in beside you. "Shall we?" You ask before turning on your heel and walking to the border of the village. "I didn't know you could fight with a sword?" Chione asks and you stop in a clearing. "Neither did I actually." You admit and they drop the creature parts in a pile. "Can I light the pyre?" Zia asks and you look down at the pile of flesh, fur and bone. "Do you think you can control it?" You ask and she nods excitedly. "I've been practicing."
You take a step back and Zia holds out her fist, clenching her eyes shut in concentration and her fist sparks before flame engulfs her hand. "Holy Horus! I did it!" Zia announces excitedly, her amber eyes glinting in the fire light. "Congratulations." You praise with a smile and Chione pats her sister on the back. Zia brings her fist closer before thrusting it towards the Nue. The flames leap from her hand and to the Nue, swallowing the beast in orange fire. Zia and Chione grin and you smile in approval. "Can you extinguish it when it's done?" Phoebe asks and Zia looks at the fire. "I'm not sure." You hold the katana so the blood burns off the blade before withdrawing it. "I can do that. The three of you can return to camp." You say and they nod and bow. Your eyes are on the flames as your hunters leave on silent feet and you sigh. The smoke rising is an unusual shade of black and you pull your scarf over your face. As a curl of smoke rises to the sky you hear a faint, whisper of a hiss and frown. It isn't a language you are familiar with. Probably japanese and nothing to worry about. Right? Of course.
Your nose scrunches up at the thought of it being anything to worry about and you shake your head. With a wave of your hand you extinguish the flame, leaving a smoldering carcass and a few wisps of smoke. You sheath your katana and start off towards camp.
That teetering sense that something bad is going to happen has yet to evacuate the pit of your stomach and you frown. The Nue is dead, only luck remains from the creature's death. That and the satisfaction of knowing your hunters saved a village. You step into your tent to see Zoë putting both yours and her bows away. Did you really forget it in the village? "Greetings my lady." Zoë greets and you rise up on your toes to kiss the taller girl. Zoë's arms loop around your shoulders as your own snake around her slim waist. She breaks the kiss after a few moments and you step closer to her, leaning your forehead against her shoulder to hide the inevitable yawn. "Are you alright?" Zoë asks and you nod against her shoulder, turning your head sideways to nuzzle into her neck. "I'm simply tired. It's been a long night." You yawn again and Zoë chuckles softly. "Then let us go to bed. I, too, am exhausted." Zoë says through a yawn and you smile. The former Hesperides is already in her sleeping tunic and you unravel your scarf from around your neck, setting it on the war table.
Zoë pushes your jacket off of your shoulders and you pull your shirt over your head. A light blush covers Zoë's cheeks as she unwinds the wrappings of gauze that keep your breasts squashed against your chest and you lean back against the war table for support. "How are you feeling?" You ask offhandedly as your head lolls a bit to the side. "Tired and victorious. How about you my lady?" She sets the gauze on the war table in a heap and you reach around yourself to scratch the spot below your armpit where the frayed end of the fabric was rubbing against your ribs.
"Something feels off. I'm not sure what it is though." You admit, reaching over to the side to grab your tunic and slide it over your head. Zoë's nimble fingers undo your belt and you remove Honjo Masamune and its sheath, hanging it beside your bow. Zoë sets your hunting knives beside hers, within reach of the bed should an emergency arise. Her blush deepens as she slides your leggings down and you turn your head to look away from her should she look up, a blush overtaking your own face. You kick off your boots and step out of the leggings and Zoë straightens up.
"Thank you." You murmur against her lips, and Zoë runs a gentle hand through your hair. "Thou is welcome my lady." Zoë presses her lips to yours and you draw back again as another yawn overtakes you. "I'm sorry Zoë." You apologize suddenly, startled with yourself and blinking several times in a vain effort to evade the magnetic lull pulling your eyelids towards one another and your lieutenant simply smiles. "Let us go to bed." She guides you to the cot and you curl up on yourself, looking up at Zoë. Your lieutenant climbs into bed behind you and pulls your body tightly against hers. "Good night." You yawn, long and wide before grunting softly in satisfaction and snuggling closer to her. "Good night my lady." Her soft lips press to the spot behind your ear before you promptly lose consciousness.
Darkness surrounds you as black smoke fills your lungs. It's hard to breathe, each breath falling shorter than the last as a creature steps into view. It's the Nue, it's lips curled back in a devious smirk and you reach for your weapons, only to find them gone. "This is the maiden who has slain me." He snarls and you back away from him. "The one you love is dead." He hisses and your heart stops. "No she isn't." You gasp and he steps closer. "Not yet. She will be; Zoë Nightshade is as good as dead when four children of the most powerful gods cross your path." Your heart plummets as tears well up in your eyes. "I killed you. Upon your death I am supposed to receive luck." You try and he lets out a soft, hummed chuckle. "I am giving you luck. It will be a few millennia until her painful demise. It will however be because of you." This sounds like Sage all over again except you didn't have a Japanese monster hissing at you. "No. It can't be!" You shout at him and he steps closer. "But it is. And there's nothing you can do to stop it Artemis." It hisses.
Your eyes snap open with a scream and you bolt upright in your bed. Zoë is jolted from sleep and your eyes dart around for any sign of an intruder, your chest heaving and your nightclothes dampened by a cold sweat that flattens your hair against your head and sticks to your neck. "My lady, what's wrong?" Zoë asks and you whip your head around to face her. Images of Sage lying in the snow with her torso mutilated and eyes dead flash across your mind. 'It will be a few millennia until her painful demise. It will however be because of you.' The Nue's words echo in your skull and tears begin to leak out of the corners of your eyes. "Artemis, what has troubled thee?" Her hand cups your cheek and horrific scenes of Zoë in the jaws of some horrific beast fill your mind.
You open your mouth to say something, anything but can only gape at your lieutenant. She looks seriously concerned but who can blame her; she woke up to a goddess screaming. You try to say something but all that comes out is a soft whimper. "Y-you..." It's as soft as a whisper and Zoë frowns. "Thou hast slain the Nue. My lady, thee has nothing to worry about." Zoë says and it feels like a fist just squeezed your heart tight.
In a few millennia, four of the Big 3's children will meet you and cause Zoë's death. "Can we talk about it in the morning?" She asks gently and you nod. Zoë lays down on her back, pulling you to lay down beside her and you curl up to her side, holding her tight and burying your face in her chest. You can feel her warmth, hear the beat of her heart under your ear as her arms wrap around you and hold you close. "I love you." You whisper and Zoë's fingers run gently through your hair. "I love you too my lady."
FORESHADOWING! I'M ÜBER SORRY FOR POSTING SO LATE BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HECTIC CRAP IN MY LIFE. I WILL TRY TO GET THE LEMONY GOODNESS OUT TO YOU ASAP AND AS ALWAYS; REVIEWS SIL VOUS PLAIT?