I am Artemis

Letters

Acheron

I was sitting in my temple when I felt a disturbance. It came from where I kept the statues of the god's. I transported myself down to the basement where I kept the statues of the gods that Matera had turned to stone. I glanced at them and froze. One was kneeling; none of the statues were ever kneeling. I walked over and knelt down in front of it. It was Artemis. I could see the wet tear stains still on her face.

"No. What did you do?" I felt guilty.

Wait guilty? Why the hell did I feel guilty? I should be relieved that I never have to deal with her again. That Artemis would never be able to touch me again! However, knowing that it wasn't Artemis in stone before me hurt. This woman had given me everything I had ever wanted. All I felt was guilt. A warm light radiated from the stone statue and an orb appeared before me. A letter floated down into my hands. My name was scrawled across the top.

"No." I grabbed it and opened it.

Dear Acheron(Ash),

By the time you read this it means you have found me turned to stone. I do not want you to feel guilty or think it is your fault. It's not. None of it is. The day I woke up as Artemis, I knew what I had to do. I knew what I was going to do and nothing or no one could have stopped me. Its why I kept to myself. Stayed isolated. I also never introduced myself, I am Kaori. I never told you my name the day you found out I was a different person. I didn't want to because for my plan to work I needed to be just Artemis. I was 15 years of age when I came across the legend of Acheron and Styxx in my world. You and your brother had your own legends written from your perspectives. I knew everything, and I knew what I could and couldn't fix.

There are many things you do not know about your brother or he, you, but it is imperative that you know Estes did not only do those things to you.

I froze. Not only to me? He did that to Styxx? It was as though someone had wrenched everything I knew about my brother and thrown it in the river Styx. I glanced down and carried on.

I know it is a shock to find that out after all these years, but his actions make sense now. You don't remember because of Estes. The drugs he used made you forget. He sold you and your brother at the same time for a period of time. You should also know the day you were gelded for Nefertiti's lies, that was not Styxx. Simply an imposter pretending to be Styxx. I know that it's hard to hear, but I know so much. I know what really happened during that year that someone was pretending to be him. You had Rhyssa. Styxx had no one. Until he met Bet'anya. The goddess I freed. I understand you might be angry, as will Matera, but Bet'anya is different from the rest of her pantheon. She is the rare one who was planning on becoming mortal to spend the rest of her life with Styxx. That is no longer necessary because you and your brothers life are connected.

I didn't do this for me. I didn't free Bet'anya just because I could. I did it because her being turned to stone can be traced back to Artemis's selfishness and cruelty. I did what I did and told you these things because sometimes you only have part of the story. There are two sides to everything. I felt a connection with you and your brother through reading your legends. I understand your pain and the things you went through. You are who you are today because of the evil things those people and gods did to you. You and I are people who no longer are under the thumb of our captors. We found our freedom, even if the road to it was hard. We are understanding where others are not. So be free, Acheron. Live your life and love. Live in the moment. Live the life you should've when you were human. Be happy Acheron. Lastly, never ever feel guilty for this. I did this, it was my decision. My decision to right the wrongs of Artemis. Just as it was when I had to save my brothers and sisters from my fathers rape. I was Ryssa. I knew the struggle she went through to protect you. Except I succeeded. I was the eldest of six. I may have saved them from ever having to go through what I did, but it didn't come without pain and sadness. So be happy okay? Live life for yourself. You will never have to feed from me again. It is my final gift to you.