Echoes In the Abyss

5|Under The Shadow Of Vengeance|

~Artemis Pov.

The night is a quiet refuge compared to the chaos of our recent escape.

My apartment, with its softly glowing lamps and the familiar hum of the fridge, feels like a haven after the adrenaline-fueled intensity of Perseus's estate.

I close the door behind us, the soft click echoing in the stillness. The calm of my home is a stark contrast to the chaos outside, and I can almost feel the weight of the night pressing down on me.

Elion collapses onto the couch, his body sagging with exhaustion. The bruises on his face and the dark circles under his eyes tell the story of the past few harrowing days. His usually sharp demeanor is dulled by fatigue, but the intensity in his gaze remains unyielding.

I throw my bag onto the table with a decisive clatter, the sound momentarily breaking the silence.I grab the aid kit to patch his wounds and administer medication.

"Elion," I say, my voice steady but betraying an undercurrent of frustration. "We need to talk about what just happened."

Elion lifts his head, meeting my gaze with a mixture of weariness and defiance. "Sure, but can it wait until I've had a minute to breathe? That was one hell of a ride."

I run a hand through my hair, trying to manage the frustration boiling inside me. "No, it can't wait. Why didn't you comply with Deo. He would have left you to go."

Elion shifts on the couch, wincing as he tries to find a comfortable position. "I had my reasons. I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of breaking me."

I sigh, feeling the weight of our predicament. "You're stubborn, Elion. You could have made things easier for us. Now Perseus is going to come after us with everything he's got."

Elion's eyes harden, his expression growing more serious. "You don't get it. The man I was after was tied with human trafficking and client confidentiality is a priority.Who knows if the one who hired me is and enemy of Deo I needed to see him pay for what he did."

My heart clenches at his words. I know the depth of his pain connected to his past and the burning need for revenge that drives him. "I get that you wanted justice, but doing it alone was reckless. Now we're both targets. Perseus won't rest until he finds us."

Elion's gaze drops to the floor, the weight of his actions pressing down on him. "I didn't think it through. I just wanted to make sure he suffered. I should have known better."

I cross the room and sit beside him, the silence between us heavy with unspoken words. "You know how much I care about you, right? I would've gone with you if you'd let me. We're a team, Elion. We need to act like one."

He manages a weak smile, the flicker of the lamp casting shadows on his face. "I know and I appreciate it. It's just...sometimes, the need for revenge clouds my judgment."

I nudge him playfully, trying to lighten the mood. "And you're so modest about it too. Next time, maybe don't try to take on a whole mafia by yourself. Leave some of the action for the rest of us."

Elion chuckles, a pained but genuine sound. "Yeah, I'll try. And maybe you can give me a hand with that next time. Your motorcycle, after all, is a pretty sweet ride."

At the mention of my motorcycle, a frown tugs at my lips. "Right, my bike. I had to leave it behind. Now Perseus has it, and he's clearly not done making things difficult."

Just as I'm about to continue, my phone buzzes on the table, breaking the silence. I glance at the screen, frowning as I see an unfamiliar message. I swipe it open, and my heart sinks as I read the text: