Kaori(Artemis)

I transported myself to Paris, France. I appeared at the top of the Eiffel Tower. My eyes began to water. I had always wished to travel the world at least once in my old life. I never got to because I never had the money. I sighed. It was time to go to Styxx. I knew that this could go really bad. I willed myself to Styxx. I found myself in a desert. Sand was already in everything. I completely forgot that after losing Bet'anya, Styxx isolated himself where no one would ever want to go.

"Oh you have got to be fucking joking me! Styxx!" I squinted and eventually saw a shape.

I ran towards it and found a house. I knocked on it.

"Styxx let me in!" I yelled.

I heard a squeak, but I couldn't see anything. I started feeling around. I felt a grip around my wrist and I was pulled forward. I heard a thud. I wiped the sand out of my eyes and turned to find a man with the spitting image of Acheron. The only difference was he didn't have Acherons silver eyes. His were blue.

"Who are you and what do you want? How the hell do you know me anyway?" I took a deep breath.

"My name is Artemis. I came to find you because I have information about Bethany." I was shoved back against the wall really fast.

"You lie! She's dead! She and my son are dead! They died the moment I was killed. That bastard's goddess mother killed her!" I could hear the heartache and pain in his voice.

"She's not dead," I looked up at the ceiling, "she's been turned to stone, but I have a way to bring her back to you. We need to speak first."

He added more pressure and I closed my eyes. This wasn't going great.

"I'm the reason she was turned to stone! I'm also the reason Ryssa is dead!" That loosened his grip enough for me to slip from his grasp.

I took a deep breath and turned to him. This could go either way.

"Will you listen?" He glared at me.

He sat upon the floor. He looked at me and then the floor. I sat down. This was a good start.

"You have five minutes." I frowned at him.

"It will take longer than that Styxx. I know everything about you Styxx. Even the things you don't know about yourself. Please let me help you." He glared at me.

I looked away from his eyes. Seeing all that hatred pointed at me was unnerving. It was how Acheron was when he came back. When Artemis went to the underworld and tricked him. She brought him back against his will.

"Why would the goddess Artemis help me? If you're really her why haven't you smited me for attacking you?" I looked down at the floor.

"Many reasons Styxx. One, if it were me I would have done the same thing. Two, I don't expect you to believe me, but what I have to say is true." I met his gaze.

He tensed. He was waiting for me to do something. To end him. I hated how these gods acted to us humans. I could see that Styxx was afraid I would hurt him. Like Apollo did all those years ago.

"I will never do what they did to you Styxx. I am a goddess, I will not let the touch of another goddess make me want to defile you. I swear upon my mother that I would never do that to you. You have my word." He cocked his head at me.

"Go on then. Tell me your little story." I frowned.

If I had been a human telling this story he might be more relaxed. Not so full of hate. Then again we gods haven't done anything for him besides hurt him.

"First of all what I have to tell you isn't a story, it's facts. Secondly don't be a jerk. I am here offering you what you want most. I am not like the other goddesses. So you will listen and ask questions as we go along." I met his gaze.

He was cautious. I smiled and made some food and drink appear.

"Please eat," he looked unsure, "yours and Acherons story begins months before you were born. A god and goddess were in love. Their love was legendary. Until it no longer was. The goddess was pregnant at this point. However the god came to love another and her daughters spoke without knowing the grave danger they had put their half sibling in. They gave a prophecy about him."

I paused to see if he was listening. He was. I smiled and reached for a sandwich. I ate it slowly.

"How does this have anything to do with me?" I met his gaze.

He no longer looked angry, he looked understanding. I looked down and bit my lip. He reminded me of my siblings. I wish I could've seen them grow up. I shook my head to focus on what I was telling him.

"How much of what happened in my life happened in yours?" I smiled sadly.

"I will save that story for another time," I looked away to compose myself, "those three little children spoke that the goddesses son would be a god of destruction and that he would destroy this world."

He gasped. I looked up. He was surprised.

"Do I need to tell you what the father of that unborn child and the rest of the pantheon decided to do to the pregnant goddess and her unborn son," He shook his head, "no. I think I can figure that part out."

He grabbed a piece of food. I smiled.

"The goddess had to act fast. She had her most trusted Charonte demon, her best friend, cut her child out of her body before it was time." He looked sad.

I gave him a moment. I knew that the same was done to Bet'anya. It broke my heart when Apollymi did that. However she did change one thing. She made sure the child would be safe and protected. He met my gaze and I felt the connection between us. Not as lovers. Just two souls who were dealt a similar deck of cards. We shared some of the same pain. We both lost a sibling, we both had been violated.

"So that means my brother was put into my mother, but not by a god?" I nodded my head.

"By a goddess who was powerless against her entire pantheon. A pantheon who wanted her son dead. So what was she to do? She did the only thing she saw as an option. She hid him among the humans to protect him. As any loving mother would." He glanced down at his hands.

"Why didn't he tell me? After we were revived?" His eyes met mine.

"Would you have believed him? Would you have listened? You had just lost everything." He thought for a moment.

"You're right. I wouldn't have. I would've accused him of lying to me." I smiled.

I could see why Bet'anya fell in love with him.

"No one knew. They had no idea which human woman the baby was placed into. None except one," I snarled in disgust, "Epithymia, goddess of desire. She was the midwife who birthed you and Acheron. She touched you both with her bare hands cursing you both to have people lust after you."

The look on his face was one of anger. It matched the way I felt. I hated Epithymia for doing that. He threw a glass of wine. I dodged out of the way. I understood why he was angry. He had every right to be.

"What the hell? Why? Why would she do that? What did I ever fucking do?! I should've never had to deal with any of that in my life! It's that bastard's fault! It's all his fault!" Tears came to my eyes.

I felt my gaze turn blurry. Tears gathered and I tried to blink them away. They began to fall. I raised my hands up to hide my face. I didn't want him to see me crying.

"Artemis?" My whole body tensed.

I looked up at Styxx. He looked troubled.

"Why do you cry?" I sighed.

"It's neither yours or Acherons fault. It never has been. The gods and goddesses of the different pantheons don't think before they act. They do not care and they resort to violence to fix their mistakes," I looked down at my hands, "I did the same to you Styxx. I am the reason why Ryssa and Apollodorus died."

I didn't look up. I knew by telling him, he would be mad at me. At Artemis. It was one of the moments I was most mad at Artemis for. They didn't deserve to die. If Artemis had never drugged Acheron, an entire race never would've been cursed to die so young. He was silent. I finally glanced up at him. He looked frozen. Then within a moment he had me a foot off the ground.

"How could you! That was your nephew! My sister! Why? Why would you send people to kill my sister!" The anguish in his gaze made me feel guilty.

It wasn't me who did it, but Artemis. I knew that, but it didn't matter because I was Artemis now. Her sins were my own.

"I'm sorry Styxx. I know that doesn't help. I didn't send anyone to murder your sister and nephew. I drugged Acheron the night of their deaths.." He froze.

"What does that have to do with their deaths!" I frowned down at my hands.

"I drugged him with Ambrosia against his will. If I hadn't he would've heard Apollodorus calling for him. He would've gotten up and helped. He could've saved them." I couldn't look at him.

I could feel his anger. It was so thick it felt like I was being smothered by it. I knew it wasn't my doing, but I resided in Artemis's body now. Her actions were now my responsibility.

"What," he had me pinned against the wall, "you're the reason they're dead! You not only caused the death of my sister and nephew, but you are the reason Daimons exist! You are the reason an entire race is cursed to die at such an early age?" He threw me down.

I flinched. I didn't like how he was acting, but I had to deal with it. This was the consequence of trying to fix what Artemis had done wrong.

"You're a monster. I'm done listening to whatever you have to say. Get out!" I looked up at him.

I didn't want to say this, but it was my last hope.

"I can save Bethany!" He spun to me.

"Don't give me your lies! You've caused enough damage! Get out!" He opened the door.

I stood up and stopped next to him. I met his gaze.

"I will bring her back to you." He slapped me.

"I don't want to hear your lies. Get out!" All that progress is gone.

I left and flinched as the door slammed behind me. I leaned my head on the door. I was angry and sad on Styxx's behalf.

"I'm sorry, Styxx. I'll fix this. I swear it." I left.