Forbidden

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Aria

"Artemis..." Her name was like a cobras venom to my throat and it burned my esophagus just to speak the foul word.

"It hasn't been nearly long enough." I spoke calmly but inside of my chest, my heart beat at an alarmingly rate to the point of where I felt the poor organ would simply fly from the constricting crevice. She chuckled at my wary unfriendliness, the sound overly rich for a woman or goddess or whatever the hell she was.

"Now, now, don't be that way Aria, I've only ever done what was needed to and what mother wouldn't want to see her precious children?" She cooed but instead of easing my worry, it only made my paranoia shoot up into the red danger zone.

"What can I get for you oh dear sweet mother?" The corners of her eyes crinkled in disgust at my sarcastic tone and effortlessly, she stood from the bed without a single sound.

"For starters, you can lose that terrible attitude before I force you too!" Powerful pressure echoed in the air from Artemis's voice and I flinched back, immediately becoming compliant under her sharp gaze. Artemis relaxed her body and smiled brightly.

"That's better darling, now lets have a nice little chat about your son." An undistinguishable pressure slammed down hard on my chest and I struggled to breathe.

"Mason? B-but t-the agreement..!" I swallowed down what felt like a rock and my legs began to buckle, all the while Artemis only stood there with a bored expression on her pretty face.

"Well, yes there is the matter of that pesky agreement that only stated I could not kill him." A wicked grin split her face with the malice of a woman gone mad. "There are things far worse than death Aria, you know this all too well."

When it seemed she was done making her point, whatever had had a hold on me release me and the air flowed back into my lungs and my body eased. I kept quiet but my mind was running in circles, I would have to tell Mason everything. It was the only way to ensure his and Eden's full safety.

There's a saying I've always heard as a child, that no matter how hard you try, sometimes you are just meant to fail. I never realized the truthfulness of that statement until I by chance glanced up to see Artemis towering over me in her wolfs form. When it was that she had phased, I will truly never know nor will I ever know why I didn't hear a single sound like the gnashing of teeth or smell the faint yet prominent scent of anger. Most of all, I would never know why the world suddenly turned black.

____________

Mason

I followed Eden blindly, after all, I had always done so before and I didn't really see a reason not to now. When I look back on the situation, I know that it should've dawned on me, from the glossy sheen over her eyes and the odd way she was suddenly so clingy.

It wasn't like Eden, we were always close just never that close. But I didn't ponder on the thought, I just bathed in the fact that here she was, alive and unscathed.

"Eden, where is Marx?" She didn't bat an eye at my question, showed no hint of worry or fear. She just turned her head up at me and beamed.

"We went our separate ways when we escaped Seranas and my dad, so I don't know exactly where he went but I know that he's fine."

Why didn't I question?

Why didn't I try to verify what she said?

Did I always take Eden's words at face value and never probed deeper?

I don't think I was always that way but perhaps I was.

We trekked down the clearing to what seemed to be a small wooden hut with square holes cut into it to act as glassless windows and Eden without a single word, went inside.

From a small moment, the most uncomfortable feeling slipped past my usual confidence at the thought of walking bare naked into this cabin with Eden. A fleeting glimpse of us laying together shot through my mind and I took a step back, uneasy and unclear.

A whisper warped inside my mind and it was full of sweet wanting and secret desires. I shook them from my mind and took a few more steps back.

I needed to find some clothes and quick, I also needed to see why the others hadn't followed me here yet. They were, from what I could tell very competent hunters and trackers, so why? What delayed them?

As I stood pondering, the breeze whipped by and cooled my skin just as Eden decided to pop back outside with a questioning gaze.

"What's taking you so long Mason? I need help and there's some clothes in here for you if you need them." A infectious grin sat on her face and I conceded, the uneasy flew away like an uncaged bird. Letting the quickly forgotten issues pass, I went inside and scanned the interior.

It was simple furniture in the bare walled hut, a cushioned beige sofa sat in the middle of the living room atop a Persian rug with a accompanying glass coffee table in the front of it. A large plasma tv was stooped on a homemade stand and from what I could see, a completely functional kitchenette.

Eden strolled out a what was a previously closed door to a room with a pair of jeans and a tank in her arms. She tossed them to me and gestured to somewhere inside the room.

"You can change in there if you want and when you're done, we can get started." She plopped down on the couch and I went to change. I stepped into the room which had minimal furniture as well. A small dresser, a full length mirror, a nightstand with a lamp but the most dominant feature was the enormous four poster bed with the red satin sheets and four large pillows. It overtook the whole room and practically screamed use me.

Narrowing my eyes in disgust, I put on the surprisingly well fitting jeans and too big shirt. I walked back out into the living room and Eden sat there with this underlining emotion hidden in her persona.

"What's wrong Eden?" Gently tugging on her curl as I sat down next to her, tears began to slip down her pretty face while the gloss of her eyes seemed to dissipate for a split second.

"Run Mason..."

A/N: ah, here we are people and I finally was able to get this damn chapter out. I'm not overly pleased with it but I couldn't get it put on the paper better but I hope you guys enjoy it anyways. 🤥