"Aph, let's cut the charade and get to the truth," Apollo said, his eyebrows raised in suspicion.

Aphrodite shrugged playfully, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, you got me. There's definitely another reason why I'm here, and surprise, surprise, it involves the two of you."

Apollo couldn't help but frown. What on earth could Aphrodite want with them? She was known to quickly lose interest in anything that wasn't related to her own domain. He highly doubted that she was here to help them.

"Really?" Apollo responded sarcastically, trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

Aphrodite gestured towards the window overlooking the archery field. "Just take a look outside, and maybe you'll understand."

Curiosity getting the better of him, Apollo glanced outside, only to freeze in his tracks. There, with a smile that could brighten the sun, stood a tan boy with brown hair. The way he handled the bow and arrows, the passion and skill in his every move—it reminded Apollo so much of Artemis.

"Wow, that guy can shoot. I'll give him that," Apollo admitted, still not comprehending Aphrodite's interest. "But I still don't understand why you're so captivated by him."

Aphrodite smirked knowingly. "Oh, Apollo, don't tell me you've forgotten about him?" she emphasized each word, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Forget about him? Apollo had never even met the guy. Why would he forget someone he didn't know? And yet, there was something hauntingly familiar about him. His features, his presence—they stirred memories of a person who had haunted Artemis for years. A person who had left a void in her heart. Apollo didn't want to admit it, but the resemblance was undeniable.

"It can't be... Orion?" Apollo whispered, hoping that Aphrodite hadn't caught his words.

To his surprise, the goddess of love nodded, a wide smile stretching across her face. "Yes, the handsome hunter who meant the world to your sister."

Apollo felt anger bubbling inside him at the confirmation. How was it possible? Orion was dead, and Apollo had been there when it happened. If only he hadn't boasted about his hunting abilities, he wouldn't have provoked Gaia, the earth mother, who sent a scorpion to kill him. Orion's death had shattered Artemis, and it had torn Apollo apart to witness his sister's pain.

People thought Artemis had moved on, but they couldn't fathom the depth of her feelings for Orion. His sudden death had left an indelible mark on her.

"For him to still be alive would mean..." Apollo's voice trailed off, a mixture of disbelief and exasperation.

"If you're thinking he's been reincarnated, you hit the nail on the head," Aphrodite confirmed solemnly, watching his reaction closely.

Her silence spoke volumes about her intentions.

"Why are you so invested in my sister's life? Is any of this your doing?" Apollo asked, his anger resurfacing.

Aphrodite rolled her eyes, dismissing his accusation. "You're being dramatic, darling. I don't have power over death, let alone reincarnation. I'm only here to enjoy the drama and fun of high school."

"Seriously? Are you sure it has nothing to do with the newly reincarnated Orion?" Apollo argued, unable to let go of his suspicions.

"Who knows? Even if I wanted to interfere, you know I can't. I'll leave it up to the Fates and see how this unfolds. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have P.E. after this," Aphrodite said, striding away from him confidently, leaving him speechless.

Apollo couldn't believe it. Just when he thought school couldn't get any more complicated, this happened.

If Aphrodite was telling the truth, then Apollo needed to make a decision. He could either tell Artemis the truth and hope for the best, or he could shield her from it, protecting her fragile heart from another breakdown.

Choosing the latter, Apollo decided to keep the entire situation under wraps until his sister was ready to know.

Artemis was too good of a person to be hurt again. As amusing as it would be to watch her reaction, Apollo couldn't bear to see her go through that pain. So, for now, he would keep the truth hidden, waiting for the right moment to unveil the secrets that had resurfaced.


Finally, after what felt like an eternity, school had come to an end. No more enduring the monotonous droning of teachers complaining about their students' grades. Artemis couldn't have been more relieved. Sure, she had a couple of biology and math assignments to tackle, but hey, that was a small price to pay for freedom, right?

Jumping out of her seat, Artemis made a beeline for the exit, eager to head home. She knew Apollo, her brother, must be waiting patiently in the car. It had been hours since classes were dismissed, after all.

Despite her elation, though, Artemis couldn't ignore the exhaustion weighing her down. It seemed like all that listening and note-taking had taken a toll on her. She rubbed her forehead, muttering curses under her breath about the teachers and their stupid assignments.

Lost in her thoughts, Artemis trudged down the hallway. Her mood grew even darker as she dwelled on the fact that it was all her brother's fault that she was in this mess. Just as she was about to continue her march forward, fate intervened with a vengeance.

With an unexpected force, Artemis collided with someone, the impact knocking both of them to the ground with a resounding thud. Groaning in pain, Artemis slowly sat up, cradling her throbbing head. "Ow... what the—" she muttered, raising her eyes to meet the person responsible.

"Oops, sorry, sorry," the culprit stammered, extending a helping hand to Artemis. As she pulled her up, their eyes met, and Artemis couldn't help but notice the girl's messy blonde hair, fashionably twisted into a bun atop her head. Despite her disheveled appearance, she managed to beam a dazzling smile at Artemis, instantly reminding her of her own brother. Surprisingly, seeing that smile didn't annoy her at all.

"It's all good, don't even worry about it. Just a little bump, no big deal," Artemis reassured the girl, flashing her a reassuring smile. The girl nodded back, seemingly relieved by Artemis' response. Artemis couldn't stay mad at her anyway, she seemed genuinely apologetic. It was one of the perks of being the goddess of maidens, after all, being able to sense someone's true nature.

"I'm Sienna, by the way," the girl introduced herself, extending a hand towards Artemis.

"Nice to meet you, Sienna. I'm Artemis," Artemis replied, shaking her hand with a friendly grip.

"Again, I'm really sorry. I hope I can make it up to you someday. But right now, I'm in a hurry to get back home," Sienna explained, a hint of urgency in her voice.

"Yeah, I figured. Take care of yourself, okay?" Artemis responded, offering Sienna a warm smile.

"Thanks again," Sienna nodded gratefully before continuing on her way towards the exit. Once she was out of sight, Artemis resumed her journey through the hallways, making a beeline for the school parking lot.

As Artemis stepped out of the school gates, she paused to take in her surroundings. Her eyes scanned left and right, searching for her brother's golden convertible. It wasn't hard to spot, considering the fact that it was actually a chariot in disguise. Apollo's chariot, to be precise.

And there it was, parked next to a flashy yellow Lamborghini. Artemis couldn't help but smile at the sight, striding confidently towards the car. She opened the door and hopped inside, immediately feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "Finally, out of that prison," she muttered to herself, pulling out her phone and plugging in her earphones. Settling comfortably in the passenger seat, she prepared to unwind during the ride home.

"So, how was your day?" Apollo's voice filled the car as he turned on the engine, breaking the silence.

"Terrible, actually. My teacher is a total jerk, and my homework is way harder than I expected," Artemis replied honestly, her frustration evident in her tone. Lately, she had been feeling particularly irritable, and Apollo knew better than to push her buttons any further.

"Alright, let's change the subject. Anything interesting happen outside of class?" Apollo prodded, genuinely curious.

Artemis let out a heavy sigh, running her hand through her tangled hair. Then, she remembered her encounter with Sienna, the girl who had bumped into her. It had sparked her interest, but she hesitated to share the details. After all, Sienna was just a mortal, someone who might not hold much importance in the grand scheme of things. And if she were to mention a pretty girl to Apollo, his playboy tendencies might kick in.

"Eh, nothing really. Just the usual," she admitted, leaning her head against the backrest.

Silence settled between the siblings as they continued their journey home, each lost in their own thoughts. Artemis brushed off the idea of mentioning Sienna, deciding it wasn't worth bringing up. After all, what significance could a mortal girl hold? And if she mentioned anything remotely interesting, again, she knew Apollo's playboy switch would be flipped on in an instant.

After what seemed like an eternity, Apollo broke the silence. His voice carried a tinge of excitement as he spoke up, hoping to sprinkle a little joy into Artemis's day.

"You know what? I've been thinking. Why don't I invite someone to lend us a hand with today's homework?" he suggested, his eyes lighting up with anticipation.

Artemis couldn't help but raise an intrigued eyebrow. This unexpected twist had piqued her curiosity. "Oh, really? And who might that be? A friend, perhaps, or maybe a classmate?" she inquired, her voice laced with curiosity.

Apollo's laughter filled the air, revealing mischievousness hidden behind his charming smile. "Well, my dear sister, you'll just have to wait and see," he teased, adding a playful wink for good measure.

Artemis simply shrugged, not letting the suspense get the better of her. But as they continued on their journey, her curiosity intensified. She couldn't help but notice Apollo stealing glances at her, concern etched across his face. It was as if he worried about her, his silent gestures speaking volumes.

The rest of the ride was mostly quiet, the only sound being the soft melodies emanating from Artemis's earphones. And before they knew it, they had arrived at their apartment, a mere few minutes later.