The Moon of Artemis

A Warped Society of Expectations

The Duke sent a request that I attend dinner with him in one week's time. Of course, I had to accept, seeming as I had no choice in the matter. The next week I spent in a stressful panic of emotional unsteadiness, anxiously awaiting the next week that was to come. I carried on as I normally would: delegating supernatural politics, writing poems, making music, painting art, and of course falling more in love with my girlfriend.

As soon as I had found out about the secrets that my parents had kept from me, I went straight to Sera and informed her all of what I had discovered. She was of course frightened at the thought of losing to me to someone that I didn't love whatsoever. But we both understood it was not up to us. And that was the most horrendous part of it all—it was my life and yet I didn't have a choice in it at all. How was the universe fair if I was set to marry a man I did not love, and yet I could not possibly marry a woman that I was willing to love for the rest of my life. The universe is so warped in its expression of social normalcy and expectations. It was wrong. I could never understand how loving another woman was considered "wrong" in the eyes of the holy. Ironic how we met in a holy place of worship when we ourselves are considered "children of the devil", as supernaturals. But yet, our love feels as though formed in the heavens.

In a frantic panic of emotions, I wept in her arms and expressed my deepest emotions to her. And as she always did, she calmed me down and tried to give her sound advice to me. She was usually ambiguous in passing her advice to me, but that's what I loved about her. She left it up to my interpretation of how I should live my own life whilst I also took her words into account. She told me that I should live a life where I make decisions for myself as well as for the greater good. Essentially, she pushes me to live a life where ultimately, I am the creator of my own manifestation. As subliminally vague as her message was, so was she.

The day finally came that I dreadfully waited for. Dinner with Duke Azrael was an hour of heightened tension, at least on my part. Although, the Duke seemed as if he was thoroughly enjoying himself. I could feel him relishing in the small crumbs of glory as we ate, feeling as if he had finally won over the girl he had been dreaming of for centuries. He was acting as if I had any choice in attending. See that's the thing with manipulative and twisted men in power: they act like they're giving you the power to have a choice, but the reality of it is you don't.

He talked as if we were to be wed in the following weeks. I see he meant haste in the progression of our relationship, and to that was no surprise. But still, I couldn't but hope that he might be able to see my point of view if I just explained how I felt. And so I did. But to no avail, my efforts proved futile in trying to persuade him to let me free from his grasp as his bride.

The duke stated, "It is set in the old vampire ways that if one wishes to marry the daughter of his sire, he shall be able to do so."

What a load of misogynistic patriarchy crap that was. But, I knew that in any dealings with the supernatural world, there was always a loophole, and in life there was always a choice. Knowing this, I had to find out what my options were.

I asked, "Just curious, but in the 'old vampire ways', what would happen if the daughter did not want to marry."

"Well, everyone she loved would be hunted down and killed, of course." He said so nonchalantly. "But you're a good girl, Artemis. You wouldn't want your entire family and your best friend, Seraphina, to be in danger now would you."

The anger that filled me was beyond measure. How dare he threaten all that I held dear. But he was arrogant in the fact that he thought he could control me. I would not be controlled by anyone.

He then proceeded, "'But I had a friend once. The girl that was promised to him was unexpectedly murdered by a supernatural. And as the ways of the old vampires were, if the girl died, it would fall on the hands of the suitor. Since he was not able to protect the girl, that would reflect on his incapability to be a good husband."

"Well what did he do after that." I asked.

"He compensated for the family's loss and promised to be at their disposal if they ever needed anything from him. And I give you my word Artemis, that if anything is to happen to you, it will be on my hands. As the man of our soon to be union, I take full responsibility for you. But until our day to be wed, you will be guarded by the very best of my sires. Starting tomorrow morning, I shall have guards to protect you day and night."

Protect me, he said. To control me, he meant. At this moment, I knew what had to be done. "So what if I went and just killed myself then." I said jokingly.

"Oh Artemis, I know you would never. When you were a human, you could not even stomach a butterfly dying. And even now as a vampire, you don't even have the guts to kill a human for fresh blood."

But that's where he got me all wrong. Yes, he was certainly right in the fact that I upheld my morals in hunting for blood. I only hunted animals, out of necessity. But he was wrong in thinking that I wouldn't do what was necessary for my own freedom. I should kill him and all that he stands for. But his clan would come after mine. That would cause a chain of bloodshed; and my own happiness didn't need to involve the death of others. This was a matter between me and him and I knew what had to be done.

He continued, "So I don't have to worry about you trying to kill yourself. Because I know what a good girl you are and how much you love your family."

He was arrogant in thinking that I wouldn't let myself have a choice in my life.