Acheron

"What games are you playing, Artemis?" She smiled at me.

"No games, Acheron. Simply trying to be better." She stepped slowly to the balcony.

She gripped the railing until her knuckles turned white. The hound sat next to her and whined. She looked down at the hound and rubbed its head.

"I'm alright Inu. A little sore but I'll be okay. I promise, Inu," she was smiling down at Inu, "come ask your questions Acheron. I will answer what I can."

I moved to the other side of Inu. He took a protective stance next to her, but didn't growl at me. I looked at Artemis. She didn't look at me. I wanted to know why.

"What changed Artie," she cringed, "when did you care so much about the dark hunters or me?"

She sighed.

"I always have Acheron. I was a stupid naive goddess. I let my fear control me. In doing so I hurt you. I let fear and what you were, what you were forced to become affect how I treated you. For that I am so sorry. I will spend the rest of my life paying for that. I swear it. You were but a child. You should've been loved and protected. No one should've touched you like that," her voice cracked, "it's why I wear your symbol. I hide it from the other gods and goddesses, but otherwise I wear it in plain sight. I have hurt you, and I deserve to feel your wrath or your hatred for that. Along with the pain I caused. Or if I cause you pain in the future, I will experience it tenfold."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She put her symbol on her body and took an oath to never lay a hand on me. If she did, she would feel it ten times as much. I couldn't believe it. This had to be some trick. I turned her to me and gripped her shoulders.

"Stop playing with me Artemis! I've known you for too long! I'm done with your BULLSHIT!" Her pupils shrunk.

Her face went white. The symbol turned a deep red and she fell to the floor. She was whimpering in pain. I was so angry and I wanted her to feel all the pain I had ever felt. All the times she betrayed me. All the times she stood by and watched me gelded on the ground. I wanted her to feel all of it.

"Apostoles!" My mother rushed forward to Artemis.

Artemis looked up at my mother.

"It's fine, Matera. I deserve this." Artemis smiled at my mother before her body gave out.

The black hound shifted and turned into a Charonte demon. He knelt down and picked up Artemis.

"What is the meaning of this? Why is your Charonte demon protecting her?" Mother looked up at me.

"She didn't tell you?" I was confused.

"Why would I ever believe anything that came out of her mouth? She hurt me, Matera. She's a monster. I would never believe anything that she told me." My mother glanced down at Artemis.

"You foolish girl. Why? Why wouldn't you tell him?" She seemed troubled.

"If I may, Akri," my mother nodded, "she hasn't said anything because she doesn't wish to be around him. She wishes to minimize the pain or discomfort he feels every time he is in the room with Artemis."

The Charonte demon caught my attention.

"Who is this she?" My mother and her Charonte demon met each other's gaze.

Akri.

It was Simi.

What is it?

She was silent for a moment.

Simi?

I felt her move and then she was in front of me. She stepped forward to Artemis.

"Simi?" Simi cocked her head while placing her hand on Artemis's face.

She pulled away quickly. I rushed forward ready to wake Artemis up.

"Akri," Simi's voice stopped me, "y'know how Artemis would normally be really yummy with barbecue sauce for Simi?"

I nodded.

"Simi doesn't want to eat the mean Artemis anymore," Simi crossed her arms, "she's different, Akri. Almost like the Artemis who hurt you Akri, is gone. So no hurting her Akri and Simi can't eat her with barbecue sauce anymore!"

I looked at my mother.

"Matera is that true?" My mother stroked Artemis's forehead.

"It is. I wish she would've told you, however I think she didn't because she knew how you would respond. If she had told you, you would've assumed it was some sick game and she knew that. She knew it and kept her mouth shut. She swore that oath knowing very well this would happen. She knew and she didn't say a word," my mother pressed her forehead against Artemis's.

"What do you mean?" Matera stood up and looked up to her Charonte.

"Take her to her bed," a vial and dagger appeared in my mothers hands, "make sure she drinks this. I don't understand why she wouldn't feed if she knew everything about..." my mother drifted off.

Simi returned to me. My mother cut her wrist and filled the vial with blood. She put the stopper in the vial.

"Akri," My mother looked at her Charonte demon, "If she knows everything, wouldn't she know how painful feeding can be if you don't know anything about how to do it?" My mother glanced at Artemis.

"Matera?" My mother looked at me.

"She wouldn't feed if it meant hurting someone. It's why she hasn't healed." I stepped forward.

I wasn't an abusive man, I would never do that to another. Yet here I was wishing the worst onto someone, because the person who used to reside in that body hurt me. To learn an innocent was now in Artemis's body shook me to the core. I had noticed the changes in her temple, the way her hair was done. Her speech. I was so angry I never realized I never had to correct her.

"Apostoles," my mother placed her hand on my cheek, "do not blame yourself my son. She knew very well that your pain would be hers. She knew."

"How? How could she know Matera? Why wouldn't she say anything?" She smiled at me.

"She hates Artemis just as much as you do. She comes from a place where everything that ever happened to you is written down," I felt sick, "she would never reveal your secrets Apostoles. She herself went through what you did and she knows what it's like to wish the worst upon the people who hurt you. She also knows what it's like. It's the other reason she never said a word about it. She knows what Artemis has done to you. She wanted you to have the chance for Artemis to feel what you did. The oath she made prevents her or Artemis from ever hurting you now or ever again."

"Why would she not say anything?" My mother gave me a sad smile.

"Would you have believed her?" I looked at my mothers demon feeding Artemis the vial of blood.

Then I glanced back down at my mother.

"No I wouldn't have. I would've assumed it was another ploy of hers." Artemis sat up abruptly.

"You all have to go! Now!" Fear spread across her face.

Matera's Charonte demon turned into her black hound.

"No, no. Inu, Apollymi, Acheron. You all have to leave. Apollo is coming. This time he is not alone. If he finds you all here it will mean trouble. Go! Ash get your mother and Inu to safety now." I could hear the concern and worry in her voice.

The urgent look on her face was one Artemis has never had before when it came to my safety.

"The gods will not take lightly to other gods or goddesses from another pantheon being here. Or a Charonte demon. Go! You all must go!" She was scared for us.

I transported my mother and her demon from the room. I glanced down at the symbol on her collarbone. I walked up to her. She met my gaze. She was scared, but not for herself. For me. She feared for me and was trying to have me and my mother leave before gods from another pantheon found me here. She was protecting me where Artemis just stood and watched. I was sad. My symbol glowed blue. She bit her lip. I met her eyes as they began to water.

"Go Acheron. I don't care what happens to me. They cannot find you here. So please go, I will not be okay until I know you are far away from here," she looked to the door of her room, "please go. You know how violent Apollo is. He's bringing two other gods with him. Please go." She fisted her hands in her dress.

"Artemis!" Her eyes widened.

She snapped her fingers and a table for four filled with plates and treats appeared. Glasses and wine appeared.

"Go Acheron," she smiled, "stay safe."

She snapped her fingers and I was in New Orleans.