I am Artemis

Bait and Trap

Kaori(Artemis)

I was laying with Inu resting when I heard a voice. I groaned. I couldn't catch a break.

Artemis! Help!

I appeared where the call originated from. I found two Dark-Hunters surrounded by Daimons. They were being overwhelmed.

"No!" I snapped my fingers.

The Daimons turned to dust. The Dark-Hunters turned to me. It was Wulf and one other Dark-Hunter. I met Wulfs gaze. He looked calm. I glanced at the other one. She was calm as well. I had a bad feeling in my gut. I knew this was done on purpose. To lure me out.

"Artemis." I turned.

I found all of the Dark-Hunters that I had brought back standing before me. I saw the hatred on all of their faces. I knew what was coming. This was going to hurt.

"You hurt us. You need to face the consequences." I let my head fall.

"I already have," I looked up at them, "you lost your loved ones when you wanted revenge. I lost my best friend. I lost my family. I am facing the consequences! When I turned you all into Dark-Hunters, I hung your lives over Ash's head. I used you as leverage to force him to spend time with me. I used you to make him compliant. For that I am so sorry."

I barely saw the hand before I got hit. I fell to the ground and held my cheek. I knew this was going to be bad. I still hadn't fed. This was going to hurt.

"I am tired of your lies!" A boot connected with my ribs.

I coughed up blood. I didn't deserve this. Artemis did. However, Artemis was gone, but they deserved to get their anger out. I got hit in the head. The force made my head hit the ground and I got swarmed with Dark-Hunters. I felt bones breaking. I covered my face and gasped as my vision started going blurry. I didn't know how long this would last. I felt my eyes sting with unshed tears. I wanted it to stop already. I wanted to be anywhere except here.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I curled up into a ball trying to protect myself.

"Enough!" I didn't know who it was.

I couldn't hear well enough. My ears were ringing from the blows to my head. The crowd around me dispersed. I could finally hear one single set of footsteps coming towards me. It was kind of muffled though. I unfurled my body and slowly tried to stand up. Not the smartest idea. I hurt physically and emotionally. Not to mention my head was pounding and my vision was blurry. I stumbled backwards and fell back down to the ground. Everything was spinning when I was kicked again.

"I said enough!" I could hear Wulf's voice this time.

"Please no more." I couldn't look at him.

I didn't want to look at anyone. He did this. He lured me here. I wanted to hurt him. To blame him, and curse him. I knew that this was my pain to bear. I would blame Artemis, because she is the real reason this happened to me. I heard the thud of his knees hitting the street in front of me.

"Artemis. Look at me." I steeled myself for the hatred that would follow.

I don't know why else he would've lured me here unless he hated me. I looked up and met Wulfs gaze. I didn't find hatred. His eyes widened. I don't know what he saw. I had a good idea though. My eyes were most likely lifeless. A defense mechanism. I wouldn't hate the Dark- Hunters for this, but I wouldn't want to be around them for a while. Wulf looked concerned. I got my feet under me. It hurt to stand. It hurt to even breathe. I kept my gaze on Wulf.

"I am sorry that I caused all of you so much pain, that this is what you all resorted to. I accept whatever thoughts, however many punches, and however long you curse my name. Hate me because I deserve it. I was careless with all of your lives. For that I am sorry." I felt a pain in my side.

I fell in front of Wulf.

"You deserve to die a thousand deaths." I distanced myself from the pain that could ensue.

I felt a hand touch my chin. It was Wulf. He looked worried. It was genuine. I smiled softly.

"Let them." With that he was shoved out of the way.

I knew that the old Dark-Hunters would continue. So I  imagined myself safe with my brothers and my sisters. It was enough to distract me from what was happening.

Wulf

As I lifted Artemis's chin up I saw the dead look in her eyes. I had only seen it on the faces of fellow Dark-Hunters. Ash included.

"Let them." I saw a glint of fear in the lass's eyes.

Then nothing before I was shoved out of the way.

"What have I done?" I watched as they stabbed her repeatedly.

I pulled out my phone. This wasn't right. I know Artemis would've never let the Dark-Hunters do this to her. I don't think this is Artemis as all. Artemis would've killed us first.

"What are you doing?" I looked up at one of the Dark-Hunters that was brought back.

"What is right. The lass has had enough." The Dark-Hunter in front of me frowned.

"She hurt us. She abandoned us. She deserves this." I frowned.

"What if the lass isn't Artemis? What will ye do if you are attacking a victim herself? Would it matter if the lass has in fact experienced what all of ye have? Would you still be beating the lass this way?" The man looked troubled.

I dialed Ash. I knew he would be disappointed.

"Wulf? What is it?" I sighed.

"It's the lass." Silence followed.

"What do you mean? Are you talking about Artemis?" I heard the lass scream.

She was holding her head. She was in so much pain.

"Wulf? What was that? I'm on my way." He hung up and Ash was next to me.

"What the hell is going on?" I watched as every one of the Dark-Hunters froze.

Their heads turned to Ash. I glanced at him.

"What happened?" I looked down.

"I lured the lass here." He turned and looked at me.

"So she comes and saves your ass. So you decide to use yourself as bait? What the hell is wrong with you!" He rushed forward.

The Dark-Hunters move out of Ash's way. He stops in front of the lass. She looks bad. Ash glares at me.

"So she helps you and you lure her so they can beat her. This is not what we do. Did it seem strange that she gave you all a second chance at life, that she made your weakness disappear? Guess what? It's back. You all will be as before Artemis took your weakness to each other away. For how long, I don't know. I will make that decision when I see you all learned your lesson." He knelt down next to Artemis.

He reached forward to touch her. The lass shot up. She backed away from Ash. Every movement had to be painful. She looked so scared. I felt guilty.

"Artemis. It's okay. I won't," she shook her head, "No! No! I can't Ash! Stay away. Just stay away!" She looked so scared.

She vanished. Ash stood and looked at all of us. He met my gaze. He looked disappointed. I felt disappointed with myself.

I can't even begin to tell you how disappointed I am Wulf.

Ash took one look at all of us.

"We are better than Artemis. We have to be, because we clean up the mess she made. We don't potentially piss off the goddess that gave us our lives back." With that he was gone.