𝙄 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨

Reveal

Her loyalty to him would be officiated through a ritual.

He said he wouldn't touch her until then and allowed her to go to the training grounds and meet James.

A brief sense of freedom before being permanently tied to him.

She would become a slave to him essentially...unable to resist his command, forced to be used how he liked.

She tried to rid herself of those thoughts and remember the reason behind her actions.

Rhea.

An image of her teary eyed friend, flashed through her mind and her hands rolled into fists.

"Tal!" an all too familiar voice made its way through her ears and she looked up to see an excited James running towards her.

Before she knew it she was engulfed in a tight hug.

Normal her would've pushed him away.

But until now...she didn't know how much she needed it.

"Where have you been? I haven't seen you in a week!" he exclaimed, a worried expression on his face when they pulled away from each other.

She looked at him.

Tired and sweaty and clearly overworked.

Athena was training him hard.

But...despite that...she could see a glow in his eyes...a sense of purpose..

She smiled to herself.

"I've been...resting...trying to regain my strength..." she explained, which wasn't completely a lie...only part of the truth.

He smiled, looking her up and down.

"You look well. All scars gone. They're really advanced here, aren't they?" he concluded.

Tal smiled, soaking in his cheerful demeanor.

If she was honest with herself, she'd missed it.

His brows furrowed as he looked at her expression.

"Are you...sure you're alright?" he asked, resting a worried hand on her shoulder.

A knot in her stomach.

Should she tell him?

"I..."

"James, quit slacking! There's still a lot for you to learn!"

That voice...

Their gazes locking.

Eyes widening.

"Agh..That god...getting on my nerves...maybe I should test my powers on him more.."James muttered under his breath, taking his hand off Tals shoulder.

She had to stop herself from grabbing him by his wrist and pulling him behind her.

" James...I...I thought Athena was training you.."she murmured, eyes still on Ares.

James scratched his neck awkwardly.

" Uh...they take turns. Torturing me.."he said begrudgingly.

Tals eyes widened as they returned to James concerned.

James raised his hands, in defense.

" I-I'm only kidding! They're nice...Even Ares..." he explained, briefly calming her down.

Her eyes went back to Ares.

He was looking at her with his mouth half open, as if he wanted to say something.

"I'll see you after your training then." she said briefly before walking away.

She could still feel his eyes on her as she walked.

Her heart was racing, mind filled with memories, rapid breathing that hurt her chest.

As soon as she was out of viewpoint, she leaned against a tree and let her senses overflow.

All the things he told her...the promises he made...

She was so stupid to trust him again.

She let him and he tore her from the inside out.

She was shaking uncontrollably, trying to fight her tears.

Her nails were digging in her palms, opening old wounds.

She punched her chest again and again, hoping to get rid of these feelings, punishing herself for her choices.

And then...

Then she just screamed.

Screamed her heart out.

Screamed until her throat hurt.

Until she had no voice left to use.

It wasn't much later until her tears spilled out as well, like a flood that couldn't be kept at bay.

Feelings she held tightly on a leash all these years...finally breaking free to bite her.

Every time.

Every fucking time she trusted someone.

"Oh, child... How have you come to be so broken..." a gentle voice and a tender hand on her cheek.

Blurry vision through her tears.

Honey eyes and blond curls.

"Artemis?" she let out, voice groggy.

Somehow, her gentleness made everything worse.

She sat down in front of her and before she knew it, she was pulled into a hug.

"I should've never left you alone." a whisper in her ears.

A sob struggling its way.

A motherly stroke of hair.

And so she sobbed, holding on for dear life at her sense of comfort.

Soothing caress to ease her trembling, washing all the pain away.

After a while, she slowly pulled away and hugged her knees, her eyes stuck to her fidgeting fingers.

Artemis smiled gently at her childish disposition.

She leaned forward and tugged the stray strands of her hair, behind her ear.

Tal looked at her, the tenderness in her eyes that she didn't expect.

" Don't you...hate me?" she asked.

Artemis frowned.

"Hate you? No...child..I could never.."she whispered, planting a tender kiss on her temple.

" I fought for you. Fought with Ares and Zeus. But...I couldn't get in the way of the Fates...or their plans. I...failed you.."she confessed, eyes cast down in shame.

" You..fought for me? " an unknown feeling on her chest.

Artemis raised her eyes to look at her.

Her eyes softened of pain and tenderness filled them again.

" Oh...darling...You must know by now how much I love you. How much I loved you from the start...ever since I held your tiny frame in my arms." she said, stroking her cheek.

Tal frowned, more questions forming.

"You...found me?" she inquired, heart beating fast.

Artemis smiled, her hand moving to stroke her head.

"I did. And I tried to protect and raise you the best I could...and even though I've failed in more than enough ways...You are by far...my greatest achievement..And this time I won't fail you. "she stated, lovingly.

Tears welled up in Tals eyes again.

She hugged Artemis again, burying her face in the crook of her neck.

" Thank...you.."she murmured, tears escaping her.

But after so many sad tears, these few were happy.