One Bite ✔️ (#Wattys2017)

Chapter 28...

"Let me go, Lily (Athena)!" Hermione pulled at the restraints as she glared at her best friend. Lily stood looking out at the beach, her green eyes watching the Amazon's attack Neville's army. Being the goddess of war, she noticed several flaws in both sides plans, but she knew that Ron (Hephaestus) would win.

    "What, so you can punch me again?" Lily looked back at the young goddess, a dark purple bruise disappearing slowly around her eye, "I don't think so," Lily loved Hermione like a sister, and would do anything for her, but Draco was right, Hermione needed to be kept safe.

    "Lily!" Hermione growled in both anger and pain as the ropes cut into her wrists, "Lily, please, you're my best friend!"

    "Yes, and you're mine," Lily walked toward the Queen of the Underworld sitting on the ground, "But this is for your safety."

    "Safety my ass!" Hermione cursed and for the first time in public. Lily's eyes widened at this, but she quickly recovered, "Let me go!" Suddenly, an arrow struck Lily in the back of her leg. She screamed as she collapsed to the ground, her hand yanking the arrow from her flesh. Hermione watched in horror as a tall man covered in blood splattered armor walked around a nearby brush and came toward Lily, "No!" Hermione pulled at her ropes as the soldier gave Lily an evil grin. Lily growled as she stood up, pulling her sword from her belt. Her wound healed up quickly as she stood and her pain turned into anger and humor. She turned to the soldier, a smirk on her face, and watched as the grin fell from the soldiers lips.

    "Do you know who I am, mortal?" Lily laughed lightly as she stalked toward the solider.

    At this, the solider seemed to be flooded with courage and he stood his ground against the war goddess, "I know King Harry of the Sky, will reward me with immortality, woman, and gold beyond all measure if I kill you and capture the Queen," he nodded to Hermione on the ground. He rushed at Lily and began to fight her, metal clashing with metal. Hermione looked at the metal and found that something was off about him; the way he moved was as if he was a god.

    "Don't move," a sudden whisper and a warm sword was pressed to her neck. Hermione froze, not quite sure what to do. The man pressed his body against her back, his rough chin rubbing against her neck. He chuckled darkly, "Well, aren't you pretty? I didn't know the goddess of springtime was a woman."

    Hermione growled and shoved her elbow into his groin, slight fear of what this man wanted from her, "Don't touch me!" and the man crumbled in pain, "Lily!" she called out to her friend.

    Lily turned and sprinted toward her away from the mortal when she saw the solider near Hermione. Take her sword, she sliced through Hermione's bonds and blocked the mortals sword all in one swift movement. Hermione ran out between the two warriors, but crashed into the waiting arms of the man who held a sword to her neck.

    "Got you," the man whispered in her ear, his hand pinning her arms to her sides. Suddenly the man moaned and rolled his hips against Hermione's behind. Hermione's heart raced in fear and in self-defense, she stomped hard on his feet. He cried out in pain once again and suddenly from the brushes, a brunette flanked by two dogs burst forth. Taking an arrow, her eyes bright and narrowed in as she killed the solider through the heart, spraying blood across Hermione's armor.

    "Astoria (Artemis)!" Hermione smiled, but Astoria rushed passed her and to the mortal fighting Lily.

    "Orion! No! Don't!" Astoria called out to him and the soldier froze, Lily stopping too.

    The solider slowly turned around in his spot and raised his head to look at Astoria, his helmet falling from his head. He had dark hair and blue eyes so white they looked like stars. He had a scar stretching from his right eye down his cheek to his chin, his whole being hallow and empty like all the happiness was drained from him. He reminded Hermione of what Harry looked like, "My Lady," his voice was low and was the type to send shivers down a woman's spine.

    "Orion," Astoria stepped before him, "Please, come with me," her eyes began to water, "Why are you doing this?

    "King Harry and Queen Hannah flooded my mind with images of a better Greece, a better way of life for all mortals," the way he spoke was odd and sounded too joyous, "Doesn't that sound better? A Greece ruled by immortals? We could hunt together forever, Lady Astoria, never having to worry about the mortals judging us."

    "Orion," Astoria reached out toward him and cupped his cheek in the palm of her hand, "This isn't you!"

    "This is me, my Lady," Orion replied calmly, his hand rising to grip her hip, "Don't you recognize me?"

    Astoria shook her head as tears began to slowly fall over her aristocratic cheek bones, "No, not anymore. The Orion I knew wouldn't fight for their side. He is more intelligent, courageous, kind, and more understanding than the mortal I see before me. The mortal before me is not the man I called friend and partner. The Orion I fell in love with is not the man before me."

    Orion suddenly gasped his grip on Astoria loosening and he collapsed to the ground. Lily and Hermione came up closer to the man and goddess. His blue eyes seemed to clear up, though they were clear to begin with, and he seemed to be glowing with happiness and life, "M-my La-ady," he said in a shaky voice as his blue eyes focused on her.

    "Orion!" Astoria cried out with joy and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, he gently hugging her in return. The last he could remember her ever hugging him was when they had that hunting accident in the northern mountains and found themselves surrounded by a pack of wolves.

    "What you said?" Orion said once they let go of one another, "Did you mean it?"

    Astoria looked out at the beach now covered with blood- Neville standing next to Ron completely defeated- and explored her heart. She looked up at Orion and smiled brightly, "I did."

    Orion's smile grew and he leaned toward her, "I love you, too," and his lips met hers, smile against smile. Hermione and Lily looked at each other with knowing smiles. Cleary, Astoria's infatuation with her brother, Blaise, was just a thing and the man she had always loved was always next to her.

    Lily cleared her throat loudly and the two lovers separated and looked at her slightly embarrassed, "I know you guys just found each other, but there's a war going on."

    Hermione gasped, "Draco!" and she went running off into the bushes to find the god of her heart.