I am Artemis

Danger

Apollymi

"Akri!" I turned.

Xia was there with Kaori. She was in her dress she wore when she fulfilled her duties as Artemis. She looked terrible.

"Why didn't you come sooner," Xia shook her head, "she wouldn't come. She was focused on making sure her temple was locked down for anyone who would come into sanctuary."

Xia brought her closer to me. She was panting and sweaty. The ichor that Stryker used shouldn't have affected her this badly. Not even with the poison from my demons. I placed my hand upon her brow. She was burning up. She moaned and opened her eyes.

"Matera," I moved her hair from her face, "hush little one. Save your strength. I will get to the bottom of this."

She smiled at me, "thank you Matera."

"Xia, go put her in my room. I must call my son." Xia nodded.

"Matera," I looked down at Kaori, "please leave him out of this."

I saw a sadness in her gaze. Then she began coughing up black liquid. She coughed into her dress.

"I may not have a choice little one," Kaori shook her head, "no, please."

Why is she so adamant to leave Apostolos out of this?

"You should be getting better, little one." Kaori shook her head.

"I will be fine," she began coughing again, "just please leave Ash out of this."

I wonder why she's this weak. We only get this weak when we don't feed. Who had she been feeding off of?

"Very well, little one." I fear she has only been feeding on humans.

It's the only reason why she wasn't better already. I left the room. I heard a bark. I turned and saw a green eyed dog. It's tail was wagging. I knelt down in front of the dog.

"How did you enter my realm? Only my demons can come and go." It barked at me.

Akri.

It was Chatos. He had been missing for a long time.

Why is he here now? Does he sense that Kaori is ill?

"Chatos," it barked at me, "I command you to change back to your demon form. Now!"

The dog whimpered and then yelped in pain. In an instant Chatos stood before me. He looked confused.

"Akri, why am I here? Where's Kaori?" I tilted my head.

"Why," he looked surprised, "I'm looking for her like your son said to, Akri."

"Chatos, how long do you think it's been since you last saw Kaori?" He tilted his head.

"I don't understand," I shook my head, "Chatos, it's been a thousand years since that happened."

He looked worried, "I must find Kaori, Akri. Please, do you know where she is?"

I glanced at the door to my room.

"Chatos," he met my eyes, "would she feed herself human blood from a bag if it meant she didn't hurt anyone?"

His eyes glanced at my door, "is she here Akri?"

"She is." He was in my room.

Chatos(Inu)

I burst into my Akri's room. I saw Kaori curled up in a ball on the bed. She was sweating profusely.

"What are you doing here!" Xia began trying to shove me from the room.

"It is alright Xia. Follow me, please," Xia glared at me, "yes Akri."

Xia left the room, "Chatos?"

I met Akri's gaze, "be easy with her. She's been through enough because of your harmful words."

Akri closed the door. I turned to Kaori. The dress she often wore as Artemis was now stained black down the front. The last time I had seen her I had insinuated she was just like the man who hurt her and her sister. I watched as her temple essentially died without her. I knelt down next to the bed. Her breathing was labored and she looked so pale.

"Kaori," her eyes opened, "Inu?"

Her voice cracked. Her normally bright green eyes looked dull. She looked confused.

You were a dog. How are you back to normal? Why are you here?

"Akri," she smiled at me, "when was the last time you fed on someone who wasn't human?"

Her smile disappeared. She looked away from me. I gently gripped her chin. I made her look at me. She was afraid.

"I'm not mad. I'm not mad you didn't feed off a god or goddess. That's how you heal better. Humans can only sustain you for so long." She bit her lip.

I know, but I was in the human world. I didn't want to go to Apollo or Ash. I didn't want to come to Apollymi in case you were around. That left me with human blood from blood bags.

I couldn't be mad at her. She had been through so much over the past thousand years because of what I said to her. I sat on the edge of the bed. I picked her up and placed her on my lap.

"Feed on me, Kaori. So you can get better." She looked unsure.

Then she started coughing. She covered her mouth. Black started seeping through her fingers. A bucket appeared on the bed. I grabbed it and she threw up. It was a thick sludge like substance. She leaned into me once she was done. I set the bucket down.

"Feed please." She looked up at me.

She glanced at my throat. She looked unsure.

If I hurt you tell me.

"I will." Her green eyes turned red.

She bit down on my shoulder. There was pain, but she didn't snarl or move so it was bearable. After a while I began to feel lightheaded.

"Kaori, enough," I attempted to push her away, "no more Kaori."

She ripped herself away from my throat. She licked my throat so I would heal. My wound was gone in moments. I looked up at her. She licked her lips and met my gaze.

"Thank you, Inu. For everything," she leaned down and kissed my forehead, "I'm sorry I took too much."

I held her hips flush against me, "I'm just glad you're safe, Kaori."

Her face turned red. She tried to get off of me.

"No," she froze, "I am not letting you go anywhere alone again. I lost you because I opened my mouth. My words are the reason you disappeared. I almost lost you because I said something I should've never said."

She looked unsure.

I took her face in my hands, "I'm happy I finally found you. I know that you were hurt because of me. I owe you the biggest apology in the world. Will you forgive me, Kaori?"