MOONLIT [Discontinued]

New Chance: "It's Different"

Artemis POV

"Please kill me" continued Perseus between sobs.

"No" I replied, surprising myself. Most of us know me as a man-hating goddess...which is partially true but it was because I never found someone worthy enough to be called a man. All of them were self-righteous bastards. Always trying to run away and protect themselves when faced with problems, yet taking all the credit for a job they got help with.

Even though I hated males and enjoyed turning them into animals and castrating them, the same couldn't be applied to Perseus. He seemed to be...different.

To say he was handsome would be an understatement. Before we continue saying that I am a maiden goddess and I can't say stuff like that...well I am just describing him. Also, many people don't know my condition of the oath of maidenhood. Not that I want people to know...
So yeah, Perseus was downright handsome. He had a frame of about 6 ft with very prominent features. For once he had the face of a god, high cheekbones, well-defined nose, strong jawline, and very sea-green eyes that felt like even a ship can be lost in them. He had broad shoulders and pretty toned muscles and had a perfect beach-tanned body that showed out of the chiton he was wearing.

Hearing my reply Perseus was taken aback.

"Aren't you going to turn me into an antelope, Milady? Like you do to males." He asked with big watery eyes.
(A/n: no jackalope bcuz they were not created back at that time)

I couldn't help but take pity. I asked him to wait while I signaled Zoë to come over. She instantly came. Seeing him, she notched an arrow. But as soon as he saw the condition he was in, even her aim wavered. Although it was only for a second as she already had a strong grip on the bow and drew it. I waved her off.

"What is it about him, Milady?" Zoe asked.

So I explained to her what he told me his name, parentage and what he had told me about his mother and what he aims to become, the heartbreak of losing a family member. Zoe kept quiet and heard it all but never let the boy out of sight. Once I finished, Zoe started her barrage of questions. Some were normal questions and others were personal which even I didn't know the answer of. But then one thing struck me or rather one sentence.

"Why do you trust him milady? He could have been lying. He may be acting that way to gain your trust. After all, he is one male. All males are the same" Zoe suggested.

As much as I wanted to trust my lieutenant, the tug in my gut said otherwise.

"Tell me Zoe, have you ever heard a boy call another man 'Filthy Male'? Tell me, how many males have you seen who come to me begging to die just to join their adopted sister in the underworld?" I asked as Zoe shook her head and for the first time since she joined the hunters after the Heracles incident, I saw sympathy in her eyes for another male.

"What are you Perseus?", I thought, "You already not only won my confidence but also that of a huntress who you didn't even speak to. You truly are something. You have my respect Perseus Achilles."

Suddenly my thoughts flashed back to the previous Council meeting.

FLASHBACK

I arrived at the Olympus Throne room as my father called a council meeting. Hera, Demeter, Athena, and Dionysus were already there while others flashed in within 5 minutes. As it was a weekly routine meeting, Everyone started to fill in about their share of work and domain. I told them about me leading the hunt to take down the Nemean lion. All in all, it was another meeting of pure and torturous boredom. Soon I lost interest in the meeting and found myself lost in my thoughts about the monsters and animals I had hunted over time. All was good until Zeus boomed and brought everyone to attention.