Echoes In the Abyss

40|Healing|

~Artemis's Pov.

The Maldives had always been a faraway dream-a place where calm reigned, where chaos and darkness couldn't reach. Now, it was real. The past week here with Perseus had been something I never thought I could experience. A place to breathe, to feel safe, and for the first time in forever, I was with someone who truly loved me.

It was early morning, and the soft hum of the ocean waves greeted me as the sun rose over the endless blue horizon. Laying in bed, I felt Perseus stir beside me. Zeus was curled up on the other side, his warmth against my leg. The dog had never left my side since we arrived, his constant presence a relief after the horrors Damian had made me believe.

As I scratched Zeus's head, a small smile crept onto my lips. There had been a moment, back in that dungeon, when I thought I'd lost him. The sight of that grotesque cake with what looked like his head in it still haunted me. But now, seeing him alive, resting so peacefully, I felt a weight lift off my chest. Zeus looked up at me with those familiar, loyal eyes, and I whispered, "I'm so glad you're here."

Perseus shifted, pulling me closer as he blinked awake, his arms tightening around me. "Morning," he murmured, his voice rough from sleep. "How are you feeling?"

I turned to look at him, his dark hair messy, his eyes soft and warm in the morning light. "Better," I replied. And I meant it. The nightmares still lurked, but they didn't feel as powerful here. With Perseus, I felt... safe.

We spent most of our days like this-wrapped in each other's presence, away from the violence and constant threat of the mafia world. For a whole week, there had been no bloodshed, no plotting, just us, and the vastness of the ocean. It was like we had stepped into a different life altogether.

"Let's make breakfast," Perseus suggested, pulling himself out of bed with a stretch. Zeus jumped down and padded to the door, his tail wagging.

I raised an eyebrow, already anticipating what Perseus had in mind. "You mean, you're going to make me eat more Greek food?"

He grinned, his playful smirk lighting up his face. "Of course. You know you love it."

We spent our days indulging in food and laughter-eating way too much and talking even more. Perseus had taken it upon himself to teach me about Greek cuisine, while I introduced him to the beauty of Ghanaian food.

This morning, it was his turn. I watched as he pulled out ingredients from the fridge, effortlessly moving around the kitchen of our private villa. The air filled with the smell of olive oil, fresh herbs, and spices as he prepared a Greek dish-some sort of casserole that I couldn't pronounce.

"Okay, chef," I teased as he stirred the ingredients together. "You've been hiding this talent from me."

Perseus chuckled, shaking his head. "I only cook for people I really care about." His gaze met mine, and for a moment, there was no need for words. The way he looked at me said it all.

When the food was finally ready, he brought over two plates, placing one in front of me. "Enjoy," he said, his voice filled with pride.

I took a bite, savoring the rich flavors. "Mmm, not bad," I teased, though in truth, it was amazing. "Now it's my turn to show you how it's done."

I got up, heading toward the stove as Perseus watched me with curiosity. I could feel his eyes on me as I moved, preparing the ingredients for Anwamo(braised rice)with Kosua(egg)and pepper filling-the staple Ghanaian dish I had been craving.

He had fallen in love with it the first time I made it for him, but I still loved seeing the look of surprise every time he tasted it.

As I cooked, we chatted about our cultures, teasing each other about differences. Perseus told me about his childhood birthdays in Greece and how his family celebrated, while I explained that in Ghana, birthdays were full of food, music, and laughter.

At some point, Perseus grinned at me, saying, "You know, I think I was meant to be born here. I'm basically a Maldives boy."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Well, if you were in my country, we would have called you Kojo."

"Kojo?" Perseus asked, his eyes lighting up with curiosity.

"It's a name we give to boys born on a Monday in Ghana. So, since you think you belong here, it fits," I replied with a smirk.

He laughed, shaking his head. "Kojo, huh? I'll take it. What about you?"

"Artemis is just fine," I teased, giving him a wink."My local name is Ama."
"Ama as in your AI?"Perseus questioned.

"Yeah."

We spent the rest of the morning wrapped up in each other, talking, teasing, and simply being together. Zeus curled up at our feet as we ate, the sun streaming in through the open windows. It was peaceful, and for the first time, I allowed myself to believe that maybe... just maybe... This peace could last.

---

That afternoon, we took a walk along the beach, the soft sand beneath our feet, the ocean breeze in our hair. Perseus held my hand tightly, as if afraid to let go, while Zeus ran ahead, barking at the waves.

As we walked, we talked about the future, something we hadn't really dared to do before. "How many kids do you want?" Perseus asked, his tone casual but his eyes serious.

I laughed, shaking my head. "I don't know, maybe two? Three?"

"Three?" He raised an eyebrow. "I want a big family, you know."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Of course you do. You want a whole football team, don't you?"

He smirked, pulling me closer. "A football team doesn't sound too bad. I think we'd make pretty cute kids."

"Well, I'm aiming for boys," I teased, leaning into him. "I need some little warriors to look after me."

Perseus chuckled, his arm wrapping around my waist as we walked. "Whatever you want, Artemis. As long as we're together."

Later, as the sun began to set, we returned to the villa, where Perseus had another surprise for me. "Come here," he said, motioning for me to sit in front of him.

I raised an eyebrow but complied, curious about what he was up to. He gently gathered my hair and started braiding it, his fingers surprisingly deft.

"Where did you learn to do this?" I asked, my voice full of surprise.

Perseus smiled softly. "While you were gone... I needed something to distract myself. So, I practiced on a mannequin. Figured I'd be ready when you came back."

Tears stung my eyes as I felt the love and care in every movement. I couldn't believe this man-so powerful, so ruthless-could also be so gentle.

When he finished, I turned to face him, my heart full. "Thank you," I whispered.

He leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine. "You're mine, Artemis. I'm never letting you go again."

---

As we curled up in bed that night, with Zeus snuggled between us, I felt a deep sense of contentment. The darkness that had followed me for so long was finally fading, replaced by love, by warmth, by a future I hadn't dared to dream of.

"I love you," Perseus whispered as I drifted off to sleep, his hand resting protectively on my waist.

For the first time in a long time, I felt truly safe.
---------
Braised rice is my second favorite Ghanaian dish🤭. Comment, vote, and follow.
Follow my instagram@Jxt.ra.y
Word count:1308