Once they stepped inside, Apollo made a beeline for the couch while Artemis decided to fix herself a cup of coffee. She reached into the cupboard and grabbed a glass before setting the kettle on the stove to boil some water. Once it started heating up, she sprinkled in some instant coffee and took the steaming mug with her to join Apollo on the sofa.
"Here," Artemis offered him the coffee, causing Apollo to raise an eyebrow at the unexpected gesture.
"Wow, are you feeling alright? Did you poison it?" Apollo joked, a playful grin on his face.
"Not funny, brother," Artemis retorted with a smile, taking a sip of her own drink. Apollo watched her quietly, his own smile lingering on his lips.
As they sat together, enjoying the comforting silence and the warmth of their drinks, Artemis decided to break it by speaking up.
"I'm heading out to hunt with the Nymphs after this," she mentioned casually, her gaze fixed on the swirling steam rising from her mug.
"Always on the move, aren't you? Never one to stay in the same place for long," Apollo teased, a smirk playing on his lips.
Artemis clicked her tongue in response. "I get restless, alright? After endless boring lessons about things I mostly know, I deserve some fun."
"Fair enough. And while you're off having your adventures, I'll finally have some peace and quiet without you nagging me all the time," Apollo remarked matter-of-factly, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Artemis narrowed her eyes at him, a warning implicit in her gaze. "Don't push it."
With that, she stood up and, in a flash of magic, disappeared from the spot where she had been sitting earlier. Meanwhile, Apollo let out an exasperated sigh, setting his empty cup down on the table. He picked up his cell phone and dialed a familiar number, his thumb absentmindedly tracing the rim of the mug.
"Hello?" a voice answered on the other end.
"Hey, it's me. We need to talk," Apollo said, his voice calm but tinged with urgency.
"Already? Can't wait to discuss that homework just so you can flirt all day long?" the voice replied, amusement mingled with annoyance.
Apollo sighed deeply. "No... surprisingly, it's not about that. It's about... Artemis," he confessed, his thumb rubbing against the side of the mug as if seeking comfort.
"Artemis? Is she okay?" concern now evident in the girl's voice.
"Yeah, she's fine. For now..." Apollo trailed off, a hint of worry creeping into his tone.
"For now?" the girl pressed, confusion coloring her words.
Apollo wasted no time in explaining how he had discovered Aphrodite's knowledge of Orion's reincarnation and her plan to keep Artemis in the dark. That's why he was calling for advice, because the girl on the other end of the line was known for her wisdom.
"I see... I should have been the one to tell you. I need to have a serious conversation with Aphrodite," the girl huffed lightly, causing Apollo to almost choke on his words.
"Wait... what do you mean 'before you could tell me'?" Apollo questioned, a tinge of offense lacing his words.
"Um... actually..." she began, hesitating.
Suspicion gnawed at Apollo's mind, a feeling that there was something they, he and his sister, had been kept in the dark about. And that thought alone ignited a slight pang of irritation. Forget seeking advice, now he wanted answers.
"Go on," Apollo replied flatly, his tone devoid of its usual warmth.
"You're going to be even more annoyed when you find out... we've known about it since the 19th century," the girl revealed, her voice turning stern and serious.
Apollo felt shock ripple through him. "And you didn't think to tell me?!"
"You can't even keep a secret from your sister if you tried!" she exclaimed.
And, well, she did have a point...
Off on a hunting trip with her trusty gang of girls, Artemis was ecstatic to leave the bustling city behind. It was the ultimate remedy for shedding off the stress that had built up throughout the week. Oh, how she missed their company! And what a day it had been in the forest. Even though their critter hunt had turned up empty-handed, their shenanigans kept Artemis smiling from ear to ear.
"Thank you, girls. I don't know what I'd do without you," Artemis declared, wiping the sweat off her forehead and letting out a deep sigh.
"The pleasure is ours, Lady Artemis," one of the Nymphs assured, while the others nodded in agreement.
"I should probably head back now. I promised my brother we'd tackle our homework together," Artemis said apologetically, getting up from her spot.
"Oh, no worries. We understand," another nymph replied, giving Artemis a warm grin. Artemis returned the smile with equal warmth.
Gathering her weapons and preparing to teleport back home, Artemis watched as the Nymphs slowly disappeared into the forest. Just as she was about to leave, a melody reached her ears, catching her attention immediately.
It sounded like a boy...
Curiosity piqued, Artemis followed the tune, which led her to a small clearing. As she got closer, she noticed a figure sitting in front of a tree stump. It was a teenage boy, just like the ones she saw back in high school. He leaned back on the stump, singing softly. Instantly, Artemis felt a sense of familiarity, yet struggled to put a name to the face.
But it didn't take long for her to realize why he looked so familiar. The way he dressed, his hair color, and even the way he sang—it was unmistakably the same person from her memories of that dreadful time when she lost someone dear.
As she took a step closer, her voice trembled, "Orion...?"
The figure in front of her bore a striking resemblance to him, but there were subtle differences. He was dressed in a stylish dark blue turtleneck, a sleek black denim jacket, and fitted indigo jeans that hugged his long legs. White converse shoes completed the ensemble, giving him an air of casual charm. Despite looking younger than Orion, his eyes and facial structure mirrored those of her long-lost friend. Catching her voice, he turned his head slightly, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.
"Do I know you?" he questioned, his voice filled with curiosity.
Taking a closer look, she spoke with a glimmer of hope, "Orion, your name is Orion, right?"
His hesitation was palpable as he replied, "Yes... And you are?"
The anticipation in her voice was tinged with disappointment as she confessed, "It's me, Artemis. Don't you remember me?" His head tilted slightly, studying her face intently.
"Sorry... I don't recognize you. I think this is the first time we've met. Do you live around here?"
Her heart sank, and she instinctively placed a hand over her chest, as if trying to hold the fragments of her shattered heart together. The silence that followed was suffocating, weighing heavily on Artemis as she felt her hopes fade away.
Oh, how could he not recognize her? After all those years of yearning, Artemis had never forgotten him. He had been a constant presence in her dreams, etching himself into her mind. But here he stood before her, acting as though their shared memories were mere figments of her imagination. Was this some cruel joke, designed to break her heart?
Artemis felt her hand instinctively clutch the hem of her skirt, desperately seeking something to ground her. She could feel her sanity slipping away, like sand through her fingers. But her grip on her clothes was the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.
Orion, finally noticing the distress etched on her face, spoke up, concern lacing his voice. "Is everything alright, Artemis?"
That was the final straw. Unbeknownst to her, tears streamed down her face, as her emotions overflowed. She was not just upset or hurt, she was completely devastated. How could he not remember her, or the life they had shared together? It was incomprehensible, and it cut her to the core.
Artemis began to utter his name, but her words were swiftly silenced as a hand covered her mouth. It took a moment for her to process the shock, only to discover that the hand belonged to Apollo himself. He was gently hushing her, his touch tenderly caressing her tear-streaked face, as if trying to wipe away her pain.
