Lieutenant

Chapter 7- Orion

Zoë despised the newcomer. She did not like him one bit from the top of his head down to his smallest toe. He was large and loud and rambunctious. Only she did not have a say in the matter.

Zoë did not understand why Artemis had allowed him to join, he was a great hunter and did have great skill with the bow, but he was a man. More importantly, however, his presence overshadowed hers.

He was forceful in conversations and smothered her voice with his own. When she was standing, he stood in front of her. When she sat, he was a wedge between her and the only person Zoë ever wanted to sit by.

Everything about his existence seemed to be made to foil and crush her own. She was familiar with men who talked too loud, who seemed bigger than they were, she was wary of them. She did not trust them, and so her anger which had once abandoned her returned.

Her silence was sharp like a knife and when she spoke it was harsh, but never to her, only to him. He deserved no toleration from her, he had not earned it and he most likely never would.

So Zoë sat off to the side, watching the flickering flames. The other girls of course were uncomfortable with his presence, but they were not vocal about it. Zoë observed and watched with a careful eye.

He chewed with his mouth open and spoke with little breath between words. What a pig.

"Why do you glare at the fire? Has it wronged you?" The voice was familiar. Zoë did not shift her eyes from the figure who was on the other side of the fiery brazier. Yet her shoulders were no longer stiff and her expression was not nearly as stony as it had been.

"It is not the fire I despise," Zoë mumbled, glancing up at the goddess who stood observing the antics of the others with a warm glint to her eyes. Zoë felt guilty for criticizing the goddess's new family, yet when a family has an infiltrator amongst its ranks it was difficult not to.

"So you've said," Artemis spoke softly and glanced down at her companion. "You have never told me why."

"It is not my place to vocalize such thoughts. Your opinion surpasses mine," Zoë explained as the pest caught her gaze. His eyes flashed with an irritated recognition. Zoë knew she held no love to him. The feelings were mutual.

"When will you learn that is not true? How many times have I iterated that you alone are my equal?" Artemis asked at last, sitting down next to Zoë, their shoulders brushing as they had seemingly done forever.

"How many times have I told you that I do not deserve the honor of being equal to a god?" Zoë countered with a claim of her own, eyes still transfixed on the man behind the flames. She did not notice the almost wounded expression from Artemis.

There was a moment of silence and hesitation that passed between them before Artemis reached out with the carefulness of a python trying to remain hidden, and traced the curve of Zoë's shoulder blade. "Tell me your opinion. If change is required for your comfort, I will not hesitate to do so."

"I do not wish to force decisions upon you," Zoë insisted, eyes still staring with a gaze returned from the man. His eyes studied every movement, assessed it like a hunter, let the irritation cloud his features. Zoë knew things that he thought she was oblivious to.

One being his infatuation with the young goddess. Two, that he knew Artemis did not return the same ideas and his anger was clear whenever Artemis was not at his side, but at Zoë's.

"My decisions are still my own, but they do require awareness about things I have not observed myself," Artemis noted, which was a fair point and at last Zoë gave in with a sigh.

"He reminds me of the reason I am here. He is nearly the same, blessed with unparalleled skill, boastful, strong in nearly all aspects. I do not trust him. I have learned from my mistakes," Zoë explained, letting a bit of the venom she held for the man to seep into her voice. Artemis took note of this.

However, despite Zoë's intelligence, there were things she did not know. For instance, Zeus's approval of the new arrival. Which distracted from his disapproval of her oldest companion.

"I see." Artemis sighed, her fingers playing with a blade of grass, twisting it back and forth until it broke.

"Those are my own feelings, they do not reflect your own. I have noticed there is a reason behind this as there always is. You are wise. Most likely due to your sister." Artemis smiled, her thoughts shifting to Athena who was always guiding her. Sometimes Artemis believed they were closer than she was with Apollo.

"You flatter me, but I understand your position, perhaps if I talk to him he will understand." Artemis's suggestion was not what Zoë wanted to hear. Zoë knew a third thing, one that had not happened yet but would inevitably.

She was aware that the man who'd infiltrated her family had night time fantasies. And while he acted on his own behalf in his own quarters his actions would soon affect those elsewhere. Such an idea made her sick.

Zoë knew however that she was pushing the boundaries with her next remark, but she could not refrain from stating it.

"If it isn't too much to ask, I would feel comfortable if I remained beside your tent in the evenings." Zoë braced for the lecture to come only it didn't.

"I would not mind. After all did we not do the same at the start of this all?" Artemis questioned, earning a slight smile from Zoë.

"Right. I'll move my things." Zoë stood and dusted off her hands, making a move across the way to where the cluster of tents rested.

As Zoë stood, so did the topic of her fears. She knew what was coming, but she sprung the trap. Heading off on her own to where the others were absent.

She did not have much to collect before shifting her tent next to Artemis's, but as she began to settle her things back down a familiar thundering voice rolled through the silence. "What schemes are you brewing in your head, little girl?"

"I have no schemes. I am not deceitful," Zoë retaliated, stepping outside of her tent to face the giant.

"Certainly, you must have learned a few spells from your witch sister." That was the wrong thing to say. No one ever, ever, insulted her sister.

"I am no witch, and neither is my sister. Do not insult her if you do not know her!" Came the growled reply, earning a smirk from the antagonist.

"Then enlighten me. How is she wrapped around your finger? You, of all people." His eyes were dark as the night sky, but they glowered with an intensity of hellish fires.

"Artemis is as independent as they come. You would be wise to recognize such a thing. She does not follow the romantic tendencies of her father or brother." It was true. She was very different from the other gods. Almost an outcast amongst them for such repulsion when it came to romantic ideals.

"We will see. I plan on winning this. I do not take competitions lightly." Zoë's eyes narrowed into near slits at the remark.

"Artemis is not a prize to be won. I will participate in no further antics of yours." Zoë attempted to leave when a large hand caught hold of her arm.

"You would be wise in doing so. I don't play fair."

"I wouldn't expect you to." Zoë tore her arm from his grip and turned to face the large brute. "I will not hesitate to hurt you if you inflict pain on anyone in this camp."

The threat appeared to be idle as her enemy simply chuckled to himself and turned curtly on his heel, sauntering off.

"Do not think what I have said is a joke," Zoë mumbled. "Your name, I can guarantee, will not be remembered in a glorious light, Orion."