The Angelus Brothers Chronicles - The Golden Hind

CHAPTER ONE

Butterflies fluttered from flower to flower at the foot of the Parrhasius hill as the Ceryneian Hind herd played in the afternoon sun. It was a favourite spot of the five sisters and they were often found frolicking there after raiding the vineyards of Ceryneia. The hinds had beautiful delicate golden antlers and bright brass hooves that glinted in the sunlight. Their dappled coats looked so shiny and glossy that, to the watching goddess they looked like pure silk. Unaware of their godly audience the animals played chase and basked in the heat of the afternoon as the wine they had stolen and drunk made them lose focus on their surroundings.

Artemis smiled to herself and moved slowly closer to the beautiful creatures, they were truly stunning animals. Perfect in every way, beautiful, intelligent, and faster than any other animal in her forests. Pride swelled inside her, watching their strength and grace as they raced across the open grassland and darted through the trees at the edge of her forest. She had spent so much of her time observing the sisters over the years, watching them grow and learn. Crouching low behind a tree she conjured a golden lasso. The huntress goddess had decided the perfect, majestic animals would always be by her side and as a bonus, it would impress the other gods and leave Zeus unable to object, if they pulled her chariot, they were both stunningly beautiful and faster than any horse. Any god would want them as their own, Zeus could say nothing. She brushed her long blonde braid back over her shoulder and adjusted her shining helmet before stepping out from her hiding place and losing her lasso before the hinds could react to her presence. As she threw the rope four loops appeared and in one throw ensnared four of the five animals.

The four captured hinds screamed and grunted as they pulled at the golden ropes that held them but the goddess just smiled and held them with ease as she walked closer to the hinds. The last doe, the smallest, screamed and ran back and forth in fear, unsure if she should run or stay with her sisters.

"Shh, hush my beauties. Shh." Coed the goddess as she drew closer and held her hand out. "Shh. Do not worry my loves, I've chosen you for a great honour. My precious ones, shh, calm yourselves." Slowly the captured hinds quietened as they stared hypnotically at the goddess, she reached them and began to pet them, bending her head to kiss each deer on the forehead. Finally, when the others were calm, she turned her attention to the distraught still free doe.

"Don't worry, pretty one. I have a plan for you. You are perfect for one of my half brothers' labours. Once they are done you will join your sisters at my side where you should be. With some gifts, perhaps." She waved her hand toward the prancing creature.

The terrified hind screeched in pain as her limbs began to twist and stretch. Her hooves began to split apart and form fingers and toes. Her majestic antlers receded into her head as her ears shrank and lost their hair. Slowly her body morphed from a deer to a human-looking girl. Only two small golden horns on her forehead, tiny tufted points on her ears, gold strands in her flowing hair and her brass finger and toenails gave her away as not being of that species. Tying the other hinds to a tree Artemis approached the panting hind who lay naked on the floor, tears streaking her face.

"It won't hurt so much to change from now on, pretty one, I hate to hurt you, but it's something you should have always been able to do, now your body's learnt how to do it again. It will be pain-free in future. I promise" She stroked the girl's long golden brown hair from her back and inspected her bronzed sun-kissed skin. "My half-brother is a fool and needs as many chances as possible of spotting you as a girl." She touched a finger to her back and fine liquid gold lines danced across the girl's skin. The lines swirled and began to form the image of a majestic hind, its antlers held up proudly as it stared out of her flesh, the tattoo filled the girl's back glinting in the sunlight until the gold faded and black lines replaced it as the girl gasped for air. Again Artemis touched the girl and a simple white chiton appeared on her body to hide her nakedness. Taking the bewildered creature's hand the goddess pulled her to her feet. The terrified girl's large golden eyes stared at her sisters who stood as if in trance by the tree where they had been tied.

"I will give you one last gift to make up for my borrowing your sisters from you." Leaning down, the goddess kissed the girl's lips gently.

"This bow string will never break, it will always be ready to loose, you will be the greatest archer known to man, next to myself of course." She placed a polished wood bow with a shimmering golden string in the hind's hand. "When you change into a doe always ensure you are holding your bow or you will lose it." With that Artemis stepped back and took the ropes of the other hinds in her hand, they all vanished as if she and the deer had never been there.

Kaia stood staring in shock at the place her sisters had just been. What had happened? She looked down at the bow the goddess had given her and jumped back dropping it at the sight of her human hands. She turned them over and over then touched her face and gasped in shock at what she felt. What had the goddess done to her? The hinds had always been devoted to the huntress, they always left offerings at her temple when they raided the vineyards of Ceryneia. Why would she take her sisters and make her look like one of the humans? Tears pricked her eyes as she stood frozen in fear. How would she survive without her sisters?

Finally, she stooped hesitantly and picked up the bow the goddess had left her. Slowly her traumatised mind was recalling everything the goddess had said to her as she looked at the bow. It was long and elegant but she had no idea how the humans made them work. Thinking back to the times she had seen humans fire arrows at her sister's and her she pulled back the string, as she did a slender arrow with a golden head and pure white feathers appeared. Shocked, she dropped the bow and the arrow vanished as if it had never been there. For a moment she wondered if she'd imagined it. Cautiously picking the bow back up she gingerly pulled the string again, as before an arrow appeared. Marvelling at the goddess' gift and as if she had done it a million times before she aimed and loosed the arrow. It hit the centre of the tree her sisters had been bound to.

"How did I do that? How did I know to do that?" At the sound of her low melodic voice, she physically jumped and put her hand to her throat. Instead of the grunts and calls, she had expected when she spoke to her sisters she had spoken like a human. How had she done that? How did she know their language? How had she known the goddess' words? All she wanted at that moment was to be a hind again, she felt a strange sensation sweep over her, not the pain she had felt when the goddess had changed her but an odd stretching feeling in her muscles and bone. Looking down she realised she was a hind again and the chiton was on the ground, moving to a nearby pond she gazed into its sparkling water. She saw her usual face and body looking back at her, except around her neck was a golden chain with a tiny bow and arrow attached. She was still unsure what was happening but she had a sinking feeling in her stomach that her life had just changed forever.