The Olympians: The Fall of Kin

Realization

            Athena's side burned. It burned really, really bad. "Are you sure you're gonna' be, okay?" Artemis asked as she used a shard of glass to tear the last enemy's throat open. He gurgled as he stumbled, fell onto his hindquarters, his blood emptying out in swift spurts.

Honestly, Athena wasn't really sure. They'd killed dozens of Syndicates Godkin and Mercenaries, but there seemed to be no end to them. Not a one of the bastards had been able to lay a hand on Artemis or Athena, but that changed nothing about her injuries from her fight with her father. Sure, she'd stopped the bleeding, but cauterization wasn't a hundred percent safe. The odds of the flesh being infected were getting exponentially higher the longer the wound went without cleaning.

But, regardless of her pain, she would trudge on. For her friends. For the people that came all the way out here—put their lives in danger for her for no other reason than they wanted to.

"I'll be fine, Artie. Could definitely use a drink." She spoke in a light tone—spoke to Artemis like she was her friend. It was something that she hadn't done in a while—if ever. Even she was surprised by it—but she wouldn't fight it.

"I'll buy if we make it outta' here." Artemis chuckled. Surrounding the two heroines were fifteen bodies, some unconscious, some dead. Some were Godkin, and some were mercenaries.

Athena looked down at the mangled corpses they'd helped create. "Funny. Humanity and Godkin fighting under a single banner for a change."

"Too bad they're the bad guys." Artemis said. "You ready?"

Athena, who leaned against the side of a Taxi, nodded. Her brown hair was streaked with dirt, her amber eyes harsh and exhausted.

Artemis chuckled as she looked at her friend. "You know, you're shorter than the taxi?"

Athena rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Let's get the hell out of here."

She pushed off from her nesting point and walked beside her friend, when, suddenly, Artemis pulled her to a stop.

"Actually, I'm a little thirsty now. How about you?" Artemis asked her as she diverted her gray eyed gaze to an abandoned bar, music still resounding from within its open halls.

"Artie, we don't exactly have time for—"

"Just c'mon."

Athena sighed but followed her friend.

They entered the bar, Artemis going behind it, grabbing a bottle and sipping from it. She smiled, looking at the bottle. "Damn. This is good shit."

"Artemis, what are you doing? There are people dying out there."

"People are gonna' die regardless. We can't save all of 'em."

It was true, Athena knew this. But she still wanted to help.

"What's going on?" She asked. This was odd behavior, even for her usually...enthusiastic friend. "With you I mean."

She let loose a bitter laugh. "Nothing. I mean...I lost my chance at revenge. It sucks. The man that tried to kill me. And nearly succeeded. The man who took my best friend from me."

"Kaliko?"

"Yup." Artemis ran her hand across the tattoo on her shoulder. Her seal.

Athena wondered a lot about that. About Banes. She wondered where they came from. What they were. Were they spirits? It seemed as if they were.