My Blood Moon

Chapter 19

Make sure to read the small AN at the end of the chapter :)
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Everything around me is red - the sky, blood, clay...all of it. It's enough to drive me insane at the very least. Not to mention, it's also very hot and then goes freezing for a second before boiling up again. If I were a fish, I'd swear someone put me in a boiler, took me out, and then threw me back in for good measure. Images of Derreck and the members of my pack go flying through my head before a white light shows up...I know that light, I've seen it once before...

"Hello, Bekah." Artemis greets me and I find I'm standing in the most beautiful forest.

"Where am I?" I ask, looking at an odd plant with golden apples shining at me invitingly.

"This is my special garden, the golden apples were a gift from Hera after a competition I won a few millennia back." She smiles, picking one from the vine and taking a bite from the fruit.

"Okay?" I say, watching as she nonchalantly chews something that should have broken her teeth. "Um, what am I doing here exactly?"

"Oh!" She starts and points to me as if she's just remembered something. "You brought yourself here about an hour ago, poor thing. You were out cold, mumbling how you lost him - took me a minute to realize who 'him' was. Then I went to see if I could find out what happened to your dear Derreck but he's hidden from me...weird, because as the goddess of the Hunt and all that other fun, I should be able to find anyone. I checked with a few others and no one can seems to find him. Even the fates were confused, saying 'he's clouded in the shroud.' I am very sorry about that, hon."

"So...even you can't find him." I say, heart sinking as I look at the ground.

"Yes, but you're body is finally healed and you can return in hopes he'll return. Although, I'm not sure if anyone has made it back from the shroud before." She says, tapping her chin.

"Are you alright?" I ask her, she seems different from the last time I met her - even though it's only been one time, it's like she's a completely different person.

"Oh, just fine darling!" She says, taking another bite. "But I will say that talking to a goddess - or any member of my family, as a matter of fact - as she gives a prophecy or just in ordinary occurrences as this will be completely different. But do not be discouraged, I am on your side."

"Thank you for that, Artemis. I'll take it from here, besides I think I'm more likely to be able to help her than you." Pherenike says, strolling in while giving her sister a look.

Artemis sighs and smiles at me before disappearing into a brown flurry of vines, leaves, and smoke. "Sorry, the family's a bit eccentric at times. I've lived with them forever and their mood swings, so don't be worried about that."

"Noted." I say, biting my lip.

"You got the joke, right?" She says, looking at me with a funny grin on her face. "I said I've lied with them forever and...nevermind."

"Oh, I got it...I just didn't know if I was allowed to laugh." I say, brow furrowing as I try to hide my embarrassment.

"Don't hold back with me - I like when someone can dish back at us every once in a while. It's refreshing really." She laughs easily and I feel comfortable with her around - like she's more like one of us than a scary goddess with ultimate power. "Anyways, you'll be looking for the way out...take that pathway and make a left, there's an archway that will return you to your body."

With that she's gone with a light blue shimmer.

"Bye." I tell the air before following her directions....