Lieutenant

Chapter 18

Aphrodite was furious. She couldn't understand how in the world a girl such as Zoë could crack the stoic Artemis. Cause her to be so wrapped up in love for the idiotic girl. Aphrodite had tried for far too long to crack the goddess of the moon and she'd failed. Time and time again.

And there they were at the ball not only together but in correlating outfits. Perfectly in sync and so disgustingly protective of one another. That fiasco with Hercules had been entertaining but Aphrodite couldn't help but sneer thinking about Artemis and her blatant favoritism over a Titan's daughter.

It made her sick and it made her angry. Perfect little Artemis was the only one who could resist her charm. It was beyond infuriating.

"What troubles you?" Ares asked stumbling across his lover sitting on her throne with a glower that could kill anything in sight.

"Nothing. I'm thinking." She replied giving him a half-hearted smile.

"Well, I won't interrupt." With that Ares went on his way and she smoldered once again. Of course, Aphrodite knew what the two particular individuals had been up to. It was her business to know, her domain, but it felt like a purposeful mockery.

That Artemis could get away with such things and that it was some mutt of a girl that found her way into the moon goddess' bed. Of all people. It made her want to disregard her perfect demeanor and punch a hole into the marble pillars nearby.

Why some odd breed of a person and not some perfect individual? Hell, Aphrodite didn't care that it wasn't a man who'd charmed the young goddess, Aphrodite wouldn't have minded so much if it had been someone at least worthy of such a person.

Hell, she shouldn't have even cared but she did. That was even more infuriating than the couple at hand. She needed a distraction, to find something to ease her mind of the problem. There was always Athena to torment.

That thought drew a smile. Athena was always fun to play games with. She would get so angry. So that's what the love goddess did. She went in search of Athena finding someone else to trouble with her presence.

However, while the love goddess was struggling to maintain a happy composure it was not an issue for Artemis. Every time she woke up to find Zoë next to her it felt unreal. Like she'd made it up and then she'd have to remind herself that it was real. Which made it even better.

Zoë didn't seem to be remotely close to waking up which Artemis didn't mind. She was always so cute when she was asleep. Sighing, Artemis sat up slightly, observing the room. She did not expect to see it in such a state.

"In Apollo's words; what in Dionysus's horrible fashion sense?" There was going to be a lot that needed fixing. Still, it had been worth it, a day's work wasn't that much of a price to pay. The thought was actually quite amusing. She nearly laughed but kept quiet so Zoë wouldn't wake.

Artemis even doubted Apollo could have done such a thing. Trashing a room like this? It had been practically unthinkable once upon a time but accidents happen. This was just an amazing accident.

"What are you smiling about?" Artemis glanced over to see that Zoë had woken up and was squinting in the dim light.

"Nothing." Artemis laughed, lightly wrapping her arms tightly around Zoë and pulling her closer.

"Right." Zoë rolled her eyes hiding her face in Artemis' chest perfectly fine with the arrangement.

"Not a morning person?" Artemis mused running a hand through Zoë's tangled hair.

"I love the night do I not?" Zoë replied voice muffled and husky from sleep. "The sun is horrible."

"Awe he isn't too bad." Artemis laughed. "Though he did put snakes in my quiver once."