The Child of Artemis

Chapter 14

"You called, my lady." Pyron and Azura knelt before Lady Artemis. The goddess had summoned them to her, saying only that it was urgent.

"Yes." Artemis looked anxious, something unusual for her. "There is something I must show you, but you must swear on the River Styx that you will not tell a soul. Is that clear?" She looked from Azura to Pyron, her silver gaze boring into him.

In unison they replied, "Yes my Lady. We swear on the River Styx."

"Good." The goddess took a deep breath, and appeared to steel herself. "Follow me." She turned and took off, moving so fast she became a silver blur, barely a glint amongst the trees. Pyron and Azura quickly transformed and followed.

They flew above Artemis, their fiery wings leaving thin trails of smoke in their wake.

"What do you think she wants to show us?" Azura's voice was full of curiosity.

"I don't know," he replied. "Perhaps a new monster to hunt?"

"Doubtful. I have not smelled anything that would suggest so. Have you?"

"No."

When she said nothing more, he simply continued to glide.

Below them, the silver streak that was Artemis disappeared. The Phoenix dove down, transforming a second before they would have hit the ground.

Artemis stood before the mouth of a cave, arms crossed. Pyron and Azura went to join her. "What did you want to show us my lady?"

Artemis pointed into the cave, a stoic expression on her face. A dank stance of moss and mildew made his nose twitch.

Fearing the worst, Pyron peered into the shadows and saw...

A child.

A toddler, to be precise. Artemis reached over and picked her up, brushing strands of dark hair off her face with a reserved tenderness.

"She is three years old." Artemis said quietly. The girl blinked, staring at Pyron with beautiful silver eyes. She seemed familiar in a way he couldn't place. And yet...

"She is my daughter."

Pyron's blood ran cold. Next to him, Azura stiffened. "My-my lady?" She asked. "I must have misheard you. It sounded like you said-."

"You did not mishear me." Artemis' eyes flashed dangerously. "This child is mine." The baby stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry, then giggled.

Artemis' child indeed.

"I- I don't understand."

Artemis sighed. She set the child down, and the girl toddled over to Azura. Azura gently picked her up and cradled her like a doll.

"I believe Prometheus is the cause of this." Artemis explained. "He cultivated mine and Atlas' essence to create her, shortly after he had been released. But now that he is back in the Fields of Punishment, there is no one to care for her."

"My lady, who will parent her?"

Artemis stared first at Azura, then at Pyron. Her silver eyes bored into him, and it was hard not to squirm.