In the midst of a new beginning, troubles start to arise. Thrown into a world she thought was fantasy. Artemis now has to learn how to live with a new being inside of her. She needs to learn to trust people if she wishes to survive.
Will you join as...
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Song of the chapter, Lone Wolf by Egzod (feat. Wasiu).
Artemis
"Ari, be careful!" Dean and Victoria yell in my head. My breathing is heavy, my arms are shaking, and my heart is racing. This is it. This is the turning point of my life.
My body goes rigid, and I duck just as a fireball flies above me. I create a shield around me, not that I know how I do half of the things I have done so far. My body is reacting to danger, I'm just rolling with it.
I redirect another fireball back at him, and he dodges it. Heaving in frustration I take the little knife I carry and throw it at him.
"Really? This is what I am worth? My arrows were a lot better than this." He chuckles darkly. I stop breathing, remembering the nightmare of his poisonous arrows and shudder. A burst of power knocks him off his feet, and I take the opportunity to try to make sense of the powers I have.
"You're not alone. You have us; use us. You are not weak, Artemis; you never were."
"If you're here for your sisters, why did you save your mother all those years ago? You could have left her for dead; your sisters would have been a mess. Why wait? Why save her?" I use my powers and imagine the vines on the tree behind him binding him like cuffs.
"How do you about this? No one was there to see." He snaps. I guess I hit a sore spot. The vines push back onto the dirt as I stare while he tries to fight them. His pupils suddenly dilate, and his mouth falls open. "How haven't I noticed it before? You look just like them."
"Who?" I ask, confused while keeping a steady pressure on the vines. "The king and queen; you are a spitting image of that pathetic queen."
I falter, my power slipping as a bile rises in my throat. I don't see him moving, but suddenly I am lying on my back. Nothing breaks through the fog in my mind until I feel the blade in my stomach. I groan and try to roll to my side.
I can feel the tears on my cheeks and his disgusting breath in my ear. "I won."
Not today, Satan!
I push him off me, take out the knife, and stab his thigh. Imagining a ring of fire, I stand up with difficulty. Letting the fire surround us, I embrace the heat and let it heal my wound. "This is the last time your presence will terrorize this world. Your sisters made you sound so strong and mighty, but you are no match to me, even with my powers still on the downside. Death is an easy out for you. You will be stuck in limbo for eternity. For everything you did to me, my family, my friends, and the world!"
I can feel the magic running through me, the energy it takes from me. Yet, it's worth it, he will never bother me again, and I know for a fact; that no one will be able to get him out of there but me and the gods.
Blood drips from my nose, but I don't stop. I won't stop until he's stuck with no way out.
He screams, but I pay no attention to him. Feeling the portal opening, I take a step back. I focus on his magic essence; she's much more powerful. I strain to contain it, but I won't back down.
Everything turns quiet, the trees are still, and I don't hear the battle in the background or the water from the lake. Time stands still as I open a portal for a limbo, a tear in space and time.
I drag him by his hand and shove him to his feet. "May you suffer forever, bye."
And just like that, time moves again, but my ears are ringing, my eyes are cloudy, and my nose is still bleeding. I crash to the floor while heaving, my body too weak to do anything. I give up and close my eyes.
"Artemis".
"Ari"...
"Babe, wake up".
I groan as I try to open my eyes, but everything hurts. Why does everything hurt? "Are you ok?"
"W...What? What happened?" My head is pounding; at least it's dark outside. Wait, the ceremony! I gasp and try to sit up, but Dean pushes me down. "Easy there. What do you remember?" He asks in a gentle voice. I lean into his hand and sigh.
"Ari, you don't remember David?" Nyx asks with concern, and just like that it all rushes back. The ceremony, the battle, the limbo. "Fuck! Are you all ok? I saw you all fight..." I crock, my voice hoarse from yelling. "I...I...He's gone...He's gone...I did it." I sob, the stress finally leaving my body. After three bloody years of fearing he will pop again into my life and ruin everything, he's gone.
"Hey, hey, hey, you did it. I'm so proud of you." I leech onto Victoria's arm, my whole body shaking with tears down my face. She lifts me and sits behind me while Dean sits in the front. Caging me as they hug me. "He can't hurt you anymore, Ari. You defeated him; all on your own. I am so proud of you!" She kisses me on the forehead as my sobs quiet down.
"Let's get you a shower and some food," Dean says while lifting me.
Elli waits for us at the door with a blanket to cover my naked body and a proud smile. She kisses me on the cheek while she covers me, "I'm proud of you, bestie."
Dean sets me on the counter as Victoria draws a bath. He brings out bath salts and both boom. He undresses and gives me a little rinse in the shower. We all get in the bath more like a jacuzzi. They sit one on my left and the other on the right.
They caress my body and brush my hair while my body washes out the adrenalin. I relax fully.
We get out and eat. By this time, everyone gathers in the dining room. Anxiety creeps up. While he was my abuser, he was also a brother, and they can't even have a body to mourn.
"I'm sorry." I cast my eyes down. "Why are you sorry?" Elli asks, baffled. A pair of shoes come into my vision as a face crouches in front of me.
"Listen to me, Artemis. You save us; you saved yourself. He brought it on himself. You have nothing to be sorry for. Thank you." Rowena puts a hand on my knee, and her voice wobbles near the end.
"He said I look like them," I whisper. I look up and meet Elli's eyes. Her eyes widen as she understands my words. "Look like who?" Alpha Lydia asks.
"Like the king and queen."
To be continued...
So this is the end of the first book. This book is one of the ways I cope with my trauma, and ending it brings out so many emotions. I want to thank you all for taking the time to read my book. I know that most of the time, the worst enemy is usually at the end, but I wanted Artemis to first deal with her abuser. This was one of the steps I went through before I was able to move forward.
It will take time before the next book as I am very busy these days but be on the lookout. I will also keep editing this book to make it the best I can.
