Olympiad is Falling, The Rise of Artemis

Trying on clothes had never been more fun. I got to watch Artemis try on almost a hundred different pairs of clothes and lingerie which was my favorite part. She was a bit shy about me buying her clothes, but I wouldn’t take her objections.

“Shouldn’t we go leave everything at your place first?” Artemis asked.

“Mandy will send everything.”

She nodded and glanced back at the smiling angel. I wrapped her in my arms again and walked her out. Now she blended in with her long fitted dress with sleeves. I still needed to keep the barrier up. Just in case a sneaky angel tried to discern what she was.

“So how many times have you been in there Daylen?”

Her question nearly made me trip.

“What?”

She arched her brow. “You heard me.”

“Well… I-”

“Mandy seems pretty used to you.”

I scratched the back of my head.

“I may have come in a few times.”

“Did you sleep with her?” She bluntly asked.

I gripped her hip. She knew I wasn’t a saint. I knew I wasn’t a saint. Why was she pushing.

“It doesn’t matter. You’re the one I want to sleep with.”

She strutted out of my hold and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Good luck with that.”

“Careful Artemis, that sounds like a challenge.”

She looked over her shoulder, teasing me with her grin. Damn Alpheus and his blood bond.

“Where are we going anyway?”

I slung my arm around her shoulder and turned us into an alley.

“We’re going to see an old friend of mine. He’s going to help us get rid of the blood bond.”

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Ranger lived on the outskirts of Paradis. He was an old friend who was in Solaris’ court before me. I knew I could trust him to help us out. His house was the only one for miles. It was protected by invisible barriers to keep out creatures of darkness.

“How are you sure he’s even home?” Artemis asked as he stepped up to the front door.

“He never leaves his house.” I hammered on the door, ignoring the doorbell.

“Open up Ranger I know you’re in there.”

“I’m not drinking!” The man inside yelled.

“I don’t care about your alcohol.”

“Are you sure about this.”

“Trust me a little Artemis.”

I hammered again this time the door swung open. Ranger stood on the other side, in plaid shorts and a vest stained with soup. Artemis frowned at me. He’d changed a lot since I’d last since him. Which was maybe eight years ago. He had a pot belly and a bread half as long as Artemis’ hair.

“Daylen? What the hell I thought you were dead.”

“Why would you think that?”

“It’s not like I’ve heard from you all these years.”

“Yes, my bad.”

He focused on Artemis. His cool blue eyes narrowed and turned turquois then went back to their normal shade. Bewilderment filled his face.

“What the heck is she doing down here?”

“That’s what I need to speak to you about.”

He nodded, “Alright. Inside, quickly.”

Ranger’s house was full of beer bottles. Every cheap kind. I wondered how he got them when he never felt the house. He locked the door behind us. I squeezed Artemis’ hand, guiding her to the dining room which was the only place we could actually sit. I kept her hand in mine seconds later Ranger joined us at the table.

“I must say it’s an honor to have an Olympiad god in my house. I just don’t get it. It’s dangerous for you lot to be down here when Hera’s killing gods. She killed two more up there. Her soldiers managed to capture two. It’s getting worse.”

“Fuck.” I ran a hand through my hair. And Artemis said she wanted to fight? I’ll lock her in my house if I have to. What am I going to do when I have to leave for Olympiad? I can’t trust anyone to stay with her and she won’t stay without a fight.

I quickly explained to Ranger how Artemis was not with the rest of her enormous family fighting for Olympiad and how Alpheus mated them together I didn’t think I needed to explain that she was wrestling her way into my soul.

“Can you help?” She asked.

He stroked his bread. “Damn Alpheus is a real opportunist. Sooner or later Daylen that blood bond’s going to come into effect and she won’t be able to be near you.”

“Why not?” She asked before I could say anything.

“It’s a way to force the promise to come into effect. They’re very difficult to break.”

“There has to be some way we can break it. I don’t want to be a dark angel queen.”

“It could be worse than that love.”

Her shoulders slumped. “How?”

“Marriage or any bond is a union of two souls and in this case of two kingdoms.”

“Damn him, he knew what he was doing this entire time. It was more than the power Hera wanted.” I spat.

“What? He thinks he can use me to get to the throne?”

“Well, with marriage there’s already allegiance. Your Zeus’ daughter he can lay claim to the throne with you as his queen. It’s a scenario no one wants.”

“That won’t happen Artemis.”

“Daylen.” Her voice came out small.

I took her forehead and pressed it to mine. “We’ll figure this out.”

Without regard to Ranger’s presences I pressed our lips together, hungry and passionate. I wanted to assure her that everything would be fine and we wouldn’t break.

“How do we break the bond?”

“Well, other than death-”

I frowned at him.

“Other than that option that we are not exploring. Alpheus himself can let her go, I doubt he’d do that. I’ve got to do more digging otherwise I’ve never heard of a blood promise being broken.”

“We’ll be in touch-” my pod cut me off. Damn it another emergency meeting.