Lies

Chapter 23

**Bianca**

It'd been a month since Thalia and Zoë escaped and Zoë still hadn't ceased to have nightmares, as does Thalia. Zoë's gashes, scared into her skin bled last night and she almost fell unconscious from lack of blood before Artemis healed her. Today however, Zoë was sparring with Artemis. The rest of the Hunters were watching her or sharpening their weapons. Despite being feverish and hungry, Zoë was holding her own, though she was more tired than she usually would be. Zoë stopped Artemis's knife with her own and threw it back at her. Artemis ducked and while she was moving downwards Zoë leapt forward, faster than what should've been possible for her, and bowled her over. Artemis landed a bunch to Zoë's cheek and she swore quietly. For a while they were a flurry of well-timed punches until Artemis gained the upper hand. She rained down a blow of punches on Zoë's gut and then, toying with her, let her go. Zoë's eyes flashed dangerously as she rubbed her cheek. She dodged a volley of arrows and retaliated by breaking Artemis's knife in half.

Artemis sighed. "Come on Zoë! Why do have to break them all? That was my second-to-last one."

Zoë smiled wryly. "Yes. I am sure thee would not impale thou if thee had thy chance." She spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

"You're speaking old English again," Artemis teased.

Zoë shrugged. "It's natural."

They began fighting again, picking up where they had left off. In the fight, one of Artemis's knives caught on the edge of Zoë's bandaids and pealed it off. With it came part of the scab and blood trickled down her face. Artemis winced and went to heal her but Zoë stopped her.

"No. I am fine. I want to beat thee this time."

Zoë had taken on Artemis hundreds times and only won once, by trickery. After that, Zoë was defeated numerous ways, and Artemis never fell for it again. Zoë wiped the blood away and flicked it at Artemis, laughing when it got in her mouth. Artemis attacked Zoë first, again, and in no time at all both had last their weapons. I could tell Zoë was struggling to hide a smile when Artemis heard her last knife snap. Artemis glared at the daughter of Atlas and leaped on her. Zoë shrieked and the next thing we knew Artemis was sitting on top of Zoë tickling her mercilessly. Zoë squirmed about underneath, trying to stop Artemis. In the end she succeeded—flipping Artemis off her using her hands. Artemis grinned at Zoë and nudged her with her foot. Zoë rolled away and stood up, hugging her sides. The two collided with each other, trying to harm the other as much as possible without killing them. Artemis grabbed Zoë's wrist and flipped her over her shoulder—a risky move, as Zoë could have easily twisted around. Zoë slammed into the ground and the second she touched it Artemis was on her. Artemis put an arrow to Zoë's throat and beamed triumphantly.

"I win," she said simply.

Zoë scowled at her and broke the arrow in two. Artemis grinned wickedly, an evil glint in her eyes. Zoë realised what Artemis was planning too late, and fell apart laughing as Artemis tickled her. Zoë pushed at Artemis but it was no use. Artemis simply took hold of her wrists with one hand and tickled with the other. I glanced at the other Hunters and noticed that they were all smirking and laughing between themselves. Zoë thrashed around uselessly to no avail. Eventually Artemis got bored of it and jumped off her, standing well away from the Hunter. Zoë stood up too and glared at Artemis as she hugged her sides. When she turned around to leave Artemis snuck up on her and hugged her from behind. Zoë stiffened and her whole body went rigid. I don't think her pride was injured so much as her sides the way she'd wrapped her hands around them. I guess that despite what people think, about us being a family, we have more fights than most other families, and some which go on for ages. I didn't know what happened, but Atalanta and Zoë held a grudge older than anyone else's, stretching to 2953 years old. When I joined, the tension between them was so thick you could feel it. Now it was down to curt answers and tensing. Anyway, by the time I looked up, Zoë was running towards the forest and Atalanta was standing beside Artemis, looking pleased and not really sure what to do.

"Was that really necessary?" Artemis asked coolly.

"No, I s'pose not," Atalanta shrugged. "Either way, I don't care."

"For the last time, Zoë did not mean to offend you, and you overreacted towards her!" Artemis yelled.

Atalanta looked unconvinced. "Mmm."

Artemis rolled her eyes and stalked away.