Olympiad is Falling, The Rise of Artemis

After taking Artemis back to the mage dimension, making sure her friend was home and making sure she remained there. I returned to Paradis. I brushed sweat off my brow. Lesser members piled into the court, whispers and murmurs following them.

Marcus closed the door behind me. He didn’t bother to acknowledge me. He’d patched up the spot damaged in battle. The Queen and King graced their thrones alongside their elders. I took my seat. Another attack? Eternal winter? Hell the sun barely woke in the mage dimension.

‘I have an important announcement to make,’ Solaris said almost in a whisper.

General Storm and the prince sat across from me. My eyes searched for Marcus he better not have turned her in or else I’d forget he was my friend.

Solaris gripped her throne, ‘With the chaos be falling our world’s I’ve discovered my court is lacking.’

No. I swallowed my eyes darted to the king, prince then the general. She wouldn’t.

‘I’ve brought it upon myself to promote a lesser member. I believe this person deserves to sit in my court more than anyone else.’

‘Who is it your majesty?’ The haggard woman sat on the smallest throne asked.

The Queen’s eyes shifted from her then scanned the room until they landed on me. Shit.

‘Daylen.’

‘Your Majesty,’ Storm rose, his cape wrapping around his legs.

‘You have something to say General Storm?’

‘But- Yes your highness- this boy is hardly fit to stand in your presence… he allowed a fugitive to escape!’

‘Yes, darling perhaps this isn’t a wise decision.’ Avon’s hand landed on top of hers.

‘You call me unwise Avon?’ She spoke without looking at him. She slid off the throne, blonde hair caressing the floor. Her blood thirsty gaze darted through the room. This was exactly what I was afraid of.

‘You’ve all chosen to defy me?’ Thunder rumbled outside.

‘He’s not fit to sit in her Majesty’s Royal Court. Forgive me your highness I shall not allow it.’ Storm’s rage landed on me.

‘You favour the boy too much Solaris,’ Avon appeared behind her.

‘What are you trying to suggest Avon?’ She challenged.

‘It is the boy that needs to be reminded of his place.’ Storm crossed the room, the members either side of me scattered.

‘I know my place Storm, you should remember yours.’ I said.

‘No one has ever seen you draw your wings, how can you fight for her majesty.’ He spat.

‘What I choose not to do has nothing to do with you.’

Storm stepped back and pulled out the sword from his side. I rose and held his gaze. He pointed the blade at my throat. I kept my face from my mother.

‘Draw your wings boy,’ Storm ordered.

I clenched my fists together.

‘That’s enough Storm, your death will be by my hand if you so much as lay a finger on him.’ Lightening burst from the ground and caged Storm in. He withdrew his weapon it wasn’t the end of this.

‘You fight his battles too, Mother.’ Jason gazed at our mother. He was like a dog denied of attention.

Solaris held her tongue and merely stared at him.

‘Any of you defy me again, speak out of line even once you’ll all die by my fire.’ She said, her expression fixed on the king.

The ring around Storm depleted.

‘Surely the option of your husband and the dimension’s general mean something to you Solaris?’ Avon said.

‘You continue to defy me?’

‘I can assure you I stand with the King.’ Storm said.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

‘Then fire it is.’

Before Solaris could rise, pull fire from air and make a decision she’d regret forever. I knelt before her throne. A second too late and I would have been roasted too.

‘I accept your offer your majesty.’ I kept my head down.

‘As you should. Now get out all of you we have plenty to discuss.’

***

I’d only been in the military room in my mind. Long drunken nights imagining what it would be like to lead an army. I know it’s my destiny, but it always seemed she was against me. My mother paved the way in, but I’d have to fight to remain there.

Marcus looked at me like I was a traitor, everyone else looked at me with disgust. If only they knew the half of it. There was only one person I wanted to be with and she didn’t understand why I wanted to be close to her.

‘The dark angels will arrive in Lord Ryker’s kingdom in three days. The Dark Fae aren’t working with Alpheus we’ll arrive a day earlier and disarm his troops. The old Lord wouldn’t deny our help.’ Solaris moved the feign soldiers towards The Fae territory.

A solid stone table protruded from the ground, taking up half the room. A map of the mage dimension and Paradis was plastered the stone table.

‘Is it too late to negotiate with Alpheus, mother? He might listen to reason.’ Jason stood by her right while Avon observed on her left.

Storm and his seconds took up the rest of the table. For my first day I watched in the background. I doubted anyone in the room wanted my option anyway.

‘You’re too weak Jason. Your brother’s gone and the sooner you accept that the better. He’s the king of his own scum now.’

Jason nodded.

She turned to Storm next, ‘Tighten your troops in Laurelle. Hera’s miscreants destroyed a bar today, left dozens injured.

I scratched the back of my head. Solaris wrapped up her tactics and dished out her orders. Jason bowed and left the meeting, I was about to leave the room when Solaris stopped me.

‘The rumours flying around did have truth to them after all.’ She had our full attention. ‘Hera hasn’t managed to kill one god, but two. If we don’t stop her she’ll capture Olympiad. If I know my son he’ll be vying for the same thing. You don’t steal a couple of jewels when the whole chest’s up for grabs.’

‘Surely the Queen’s no match for a kingdom of gods!’ Storm exclaimed.

‘If she’s found a way to drain the life from two Olympiad gods then she’s got that part of her plan well figured out.’

‘Daylen… a word.’ Solaris’ words stopped me two feet from the door. Avon shot me a warning glare on his way out. My life would have been equally as painful if I grew up in the castle with him as a step father.

I closed the door behind him. Solaris smiled and I sulked.

‘How was your first day?’

‘Were you really going to destroy your husband? Storm I can understand.’

She chuckled, ‘I would never hurt my husband no matter how much he tempts me to do so.’

‘You left me no choice in this,’ I said.

She walked the length of the table and cupped my cheek.

‘You deserve to be here. Soon you’ll be commanding everyone remember that.’

I nodded. surrender now battle later.

‘That energy… it’s always around you. Whose is it?’ Her hand slipped from my face.

‘What?’

‘Essence Daylen. It’s like a scent all over you. Must be a woman.’

I ran a hand through my hair. ‘I’m only helping her.’

‘Why do I find that hard to believe? What’s she like? Tell me about the woman that’s captured my son’s heart.’ She smiled.

Was this what a normal relationship with a parent felt like? Did light innocent conversations feel like this? It was always pressure and desperation when I was around her.

I chuckled, ‘She’s… she’s different, she has no problem kicking my ass. She’s beautiful and full of wit. There’s a lot I don’t know about her, but I want to. A part of me doesn’t want to go that far.’ There’s a possibility she might never return to my world.

‘I take it she isn’t an angel.’

‘No, I don’t know what she is. She’s powerful and I have to keep her safe I promised her I would.’

Her smile wavered and she gripped my hand.

‘You’re going to rule the whole of Paradis, you know that son?’

My brows burrowed, ‘Of course.’

‘It comes with the great burden of marrying the right person. Daylen as a dinemus with Royal blood you’re bound to marry an angel of noble rank.’

I shook my head, ‘I’m not thinking of marrying her yet mother.’

‘It’s still better to forget about her. Get her out of your mind before you make a mistake.’

I stepped back. ‘Like you did?’

‘Daylen-‘

I was already marching out the door. Her affair with my father was an abomination, so disgraceful she couldn’t have kept the spawn born from it. Her mistakes wouldn’t be mine.