I am Artemis

Apollo

Kaori

Apollymi looked troubled. I was in Artemis's body and the goddess had just disappeared. I could almost see the thoughts swirling around in her head. Was I a god of destruction? Did I destroy Artemis? I took her hands in mine.

"I am not whatever is swirling around in your head Matera. I did not destroy Artemis, I think I simply became her. I do not know where she resides, but I will figure it-"

Artemis!

I cringed.

"You need to go, Apollo is coming! Go Matera! Go!" I pushed her away.

I was shivering. I was afraid of Apollo. I knew how violent he was with Artemis. Not to mention humans. Apollymi didn't move.

"Matera, go. Please? I'll come see you when Apollo is gone. Please, Matera go! If he finds you here, he will know his sister is gone. NOW GO!" I snapped my fingers returning her to Kalosis.

"Artemis!" I flinched as the bedroom doors were thrown open.

"You better have a good reason for barging in, brother. I am busy." I saw the anger and he started to swing his hand at me.

I moved out of the way. He looked surprised then angry.

"You think that you can move away from my hand! You are a woman! You are nothing!" I snapped my fingers imagining a pack of rabid dogs in front of me.

They appeared. Apollo looked shocked. He looked up at me.

"I may be a woman, Apollo. However you forget I am a Goddess. The world is changing, brother. We must change with it." I summon a vial and dagger.

I slit my wrist and let it bleed into the vial. I placed a stopper and tossed it to Apollo. He caught it.

"Now leave." He narrowed his gaze at me.

"What about you, sister," disgust was plain in his voice, "do you have some man I should know-" I had a long sword in my hand pointed at his throat.

"You are my brother, not my lover. You have zero control over me. I am done with your pettiness and your lack of respect for women altogether, brother. I will feed from someone more worthy than you. A human would suffice better than you. Now leave my site brother. Or shall I release the hounds who wish to rip you to shreds." The hounds moved closer to my brother.

He looked scared.

"I will return Artemis. You will feed from me soon." I smiled.

"I wouldn't get your hopes up brother. If I ever feed from you again, I will make it miserable for you." I smiled and he vanished.

I dropped the sword and fell to the ground. The hounds turned to normal dogs. They came up to me and snuggled against me. I can't believe I did that. One of the hounds whined and I looked at it.

"I'm okay dear one. A bit scared, but I'm alright little one." I leaned against it and the rest surrounded me.

Finally, a moment by myself.

Artemis, I need to speak to you. It's urgent.

It was Acheron's voice. I spoke too soon.

Come to my temple. I swear I won't trap you, I'm just preoccupied with something.

I felt a gust of wind and my bedroom doors were blown open again. I looked up from the floor to find Acheron standing there staring at me confused.

"Why are you on the floor Artie?" I cringed.

"Please don't call me that. I don't deserve that nickname anymore. What is so urgent, Acheron?" The hound that whined at me stepped onto my lap.

It laid its head on my shoulder. Acheron cocked his head at me.

"Just tell me what you need." I croaked out.

He didn't say a word. I didn't look at him. I couldn't imagine what was going through his mind. Artemis never would've been caught on the floor snuggling hounds. This wasn't something I should be doing. I didn't care though. That was Artemis, not me. If I really wanted them gone they would be. I was taking deep breaths trying to calm down.

"I need you to give all those dark hunters who died another chance." I raised my hand and snapped my fingers.

I heard a gasp and then multiple voices.

"Artemis?" I looked up.

I saw all those dark hunters that had died due to Artemis's cruelty. I felt so much hatred towards Artemis. My eyes began to burn. I took a deep breath.

"I promised every one of you vengeance and you received it. However, I also left you in a new world with a new life without the knowledge you needed. I will not make that mistake again," I snapped my fingers, "new clothes and weapons. Plus all the information you should need as a dark hunter. Ash, I trust you can take it from here with the Squires." A funny look crossed over his face.

I felt a lick on my cheek. I looked to the hound in my lap. It had beautiful green eyes. I scratched it behind its ear.

"Thank you little one," I looked at all the dark hunters in the room, "if you should ever truly need me, call my name. I will come." I smiled.

They all looked a bit unsure. I looked at Acheron. He looked shocked. Like he was staring at a completely different person.

"I wish you all luck. Stay safe Dark-Hunters." I snapped my fingers and they were gone.

Acheron was not. I smiled at him.

"Go Acheron, they need you. Be free, Acheron." He looked surprised.

I looked away and hugged the dog on my lap. I hid my face from him. I started to feel overwhelmed. A shiver raced through my body as what Apollo had done finally started to affect me. I felt a tightness in my chest and my eyes started to water. I was in this world all alone. I gripped the hound tighter. The hound barked and all the other hounds were up on their feet. I heard growling.

"Please just go, Acheron. You will never have to see me again, just go." My voice cracked at the end.

His footstep came closer. The tears were streaming down my face now. I couldn't let him see Artemis this way. He would know something was off. I wouldn't know what to say if he asked.

"Just go!" I sobbed.

The toll of coming to this place had finally caused the floodgates to open. The fear of what I was doing, the place I was in. I made a decision. I wouldn't let him see it. I didn't want him to get the wrong idea about why I was upset. His footsteps receded. I heard the squeak of the door. I glanced up just barely. My eyes met his swirling silver ones. His eyes widened. I felt sad. He was the one person I connected with the most in his story. I connected just as much with Styxx. This would be the first and last time I ever saw him. Even though I had just gotten to meet one of my favorite characters, I knew he hated Artemis. I knew he would never want to see her again.

"Goodbye Ash." I smiled as best I could and finally looked away.

The door closed and the sobs came. The hounds began to whimper as I began crying into the one on my lap.

"I hate Apollo. I hate him." I sobbed.