Artemis! Artemis! Are you in there?!

Artemis groaned at the cacophony of shouts from outside her bedroom window. Who on Earth would dare disturb a goddess's slumber at such an ungodly hour? Clearly, someone was in need of divine retribution.

But hold on a second... how does this mortal know my name?

It didn't take long for Artemis to pinpoint the source of the noise. Peeking through her window, she discovered none other than Orion, wildly waving his arms in her direction.

"Orion?!" Artemis gasped, opening the window without hesitation. "What on earth are you doing here?! And... how in the world did you find my apartment?" Her surprise was palpable.

"It wasn't all that difficult, really," Orion replied, a mischievous smile adorning his face. "I simply asked some friendly locals about the Omega twins and managed to get your address."

"Still... that doesn't explain why you're here, you know it's the middle of the night, right?" Artemis questioned, a hint of concern creeping into her voice.

"I'm fully aware," Orion responded, his tone serious. "But I have something important to ask you."

"Alright then, what is it?" Artemis inquired hesitantly.

"After that bizarre accident, school is officially out for two weeks, right?" Orion asked, his eyes filled with hope.

Of course, Artemis knew that. She had just received a letter from the school about it before she went to bed, and she was fairly certain her brother had received the same notification.

"And your point is?" Artemis pressed, her patience wearing thin.

"Well..." Orion scratched the back of his head sheepishly, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. "Would you like to go on vacation with me?"

Wait, what?

"I know it's rather sudden, but I really want to spend time with you," Orion continued, fidgeting with his fingers nervously.

Artemis blinked several times, her mind struggling to process what had just transpired. For a moment, she was rendered speechless, her thoughts racing to form coherent words.

It was almost as if Orion was asking her out. And goodness gracious, the fluttery feeling inside her was starting to erupt with joy, like a volcano ready to burst.

"I-I... are you sure you're okay with me?" she finally managed to stutter.

"Of course!" Orion beamed at her, his smile radiant. "I really want to hang out with you!" His sincerity was impossible to miss.

Artemis chuckled softly at the genuine expression on his face. If only he knew.

"Okay, I'll go out with you," she agreed, her heart lighter than ever.

"Really?! That's awesome! Are you sure your parents won't mind?" Orion asked hopefully, his excitement contagious. Artemis couldn't help but smile at his reaction.

Why would her Dad, the almighty king of Olympus, worry about her going out with a boy? Well, there was the vow thing... but who cares? Mortals had long forgotten about the gods, and what harm could come from spending a day with a friend?

And her Mom... she hadn't heard from her since she decided to embark on her own travels. Artemis didn't blame her; just because she was allowed to visit Olympus from time to time didn't mean she was always welcome there.

So, there was no need to worry about them.

"Don't worry, I can assure you they won't mind at all," Artemis reassured, her smile never faltering.

"Great!" exclaimed Orion, his enthusiasm contagious. "So... I guess I'll pick you up tomorrow. I can't wait!" With a wide grin, he turned and walked away from her house, leaving a stunned Artemis in his wake.

For the first time since meeting Orion, Artemis felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. Sure, hunting with the Nymphs and teasing her little brother brought her joy, but this feeling was something entirely new. She never thought that spending time with boys could feel this good. In the past, she would have laughed at the mere thought, always avoiding them and ensuring they knew she meant business (Actaeon could attest to that).

Sure, there were a few exceptions, like Hippolytus, Daphnis, and Scamandrius. But none of them held a candle to Orion.

"I guess I better start preparing..." Artemis murmured to herself, her heart aflutter. With that, she readied herself for bed, her mind filled with anticipation for the days to come.


Apollo was at it again, desperately attempting to summon his vision of that menacing mountain monster. He racked his brain, trying every trick and technique he could think of to achieve success. But of course, it couldn't be that simple.

To make matters worse, he knew he should have already been in bed. Artemis would surely scold him for not shutting his eyes and getting some rest. "Typical," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in frustration. He tried to focus his attention on the task at hand, but it was no easy feat.

However, despite the mounting tension, Apollo couldn't help but feel a sense of relaxation whenever he pictured his sister looking more vibrant and alive. And he knew exactly why. Orion. Just the mere thought of the guy made Apollo's guilt resurface. He still hadn't revealed the truth to his sister, even though he believed it was for her own happiness. Was keeping this secret truly the only way for her to find true joy?

Perhaps spending time with Orion wouldn't be so terrible after all. In fact, it seemed to make her less of a pain than before. Maybe, just maybe, there was a glimmer of hope in this tangled mess.

Apollo pondered the unimaginable consequences if his past relationships were to reincarnate, much like Orion. The mere thought sent shivers down his spine. Speaking of relationships, Apollo had never really pursued one, even in the 20th century. Sure, he flirted here and there, but commitment was not his forte. Every time he attempted to take it seriously, fate seemed to conspire against him, leaving him heartbroken and alone.

He longed for the company of someone other than his sister. Perhaps a girlfriend would bring some solace to his weary soul. But wait, a girlfriend? Apollo found himself puzzled by this sudden thought, accompanied by a vivid image of Sienna. "What's wrong with me?" he muttered to himself. "I can't summon my visions, but Sienna's face appears effortlessly."

It was in that moment of revelation that Apollo realized his desire to see Sienna. Something was amiss with her situation, despite her claims of not needing help or support. There was a nagging feeling deep within him, compelling him to uncover the truth. And the only way to achieve that was to search for her. The question was, how?

"Can I even do it?" Apollo questioned aloud, his voice filled with doubt. "What about the monster lurking beneath the mountain?"

Ding Dong!

The doorbell chimed, jolting the young god out of his reverie. Apollo sighed, still not accustomed to being interrupted from his daydreams, but he knew he couldn't ignore the bell. Who could be calling at this hour? With a leisurely pace, he made his way to the front door and unlocked it.

Swinging the door open, he found himself face to face with a familiar mischief-maker. The mischievous smile on the guy's face was enough to confirm his identity. Sporting ripped jeans and a pair of high-top sneakers that somehow managed to match his outfit, his blonde hair was even more tousled than usual. He looked every bit the annoying younger brother to Apollo.

"Hermes? What brings you here?" Apollo asked, taken aback.

"Hey bro! I hope you don't mind me crashing at your place. My winged shoes got completely wrecked and I need a place to stay until I can fix them. And your place is just perfect," Hermes replied, his cheerful smile never wavering.

Ah, the messenger of the gods, always showing up uninvited and without warning. Not to mention his knack for lying his way out of everything, just like when he stole Apollo's cattle as a baby. But Apollo could tell that Hermes wasn't fibbing about his shoes being in ruins. He couldn't help but wonder how that happened.

"If you're curious about my shoe mishap, you can thank a wild Harpy for that," Hermes casually added, plopping himself down on one of Apollo's chairs and carelessly propping his feet on its cushions.

"A wild Harpy?" Apollo repeated, incredulous.

Hermes launched into an explanation, recounting how he had been delivering some packages to Uncle HD (Hades) when he was suddenly attacked by a ferocious Harpy, possessed by some evil force. The creature had clamped onto Hermes's leg, determined to prevent him from escaping at full speed. Hence, the state of his shoes.

After finishing his tale, Apollo shook his head in disbelief and regarded Hermes skeptically. "This is insane! Why are there so many monsters going berserk?"

"It's a mystery, and hey... what do you mean it's not the first time a monster has gone mad?" Hermes replied, confusion evident in his voice.

Apollo blinked slowly several times before shrugging his shoulders. "I suppose it's only fair that I share my side of the story, but you have to promise to keep it a secret from the other gods on Olympus," he demanded, raising an eyebrow. Hermes raised his hands in mock surrender.