Olympiad is Falling, The Rise of Artemis

I woke up and Daylen was gone. I couldn’t tell if the darkness was day because I’d become custom to grey clouds. He could have just gotten up to get a glass of water, but I got up to check on him. I found him in the living room in stripped shorts and a white vest. He had his communication pod on the table.

His glasses were on the table near it. He rubbed his eyes and I smiled. He looked like any ordinary boyfriend. In the midst of everything that was going on was it foolish to want something normal with him?

“You’re not planning on sleeping here are you?” I asked, startling him.

“Artemis, no I got a call and I didn’t want to wake you. It was Marcus, but it’s nothing important.”

“Anything else on your mind?” I found the courage and sat on his laps.

He grinned and cupped my thigh. I was wearing one of his many white shirts.

“Mostly you.”

I rested my head on his shoulder. “What about me?”

“I don’t want to lose you.”

“Neither do I.” I whispered.

Blood bonds, castles and gods so many obstacles set in place to make sure we didn’t win the game. His fingers stroked my hair and we sat in comfortable silence. An idea popped into my head. I was powerful and my dad was Zeus he was supposed to be all powerful maybe he could help break the blood bond! I’ve never met him, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind doing this tiny favor.

“I just had an idea!”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

I turned so I was straddling him and placed my hands on his shoulders.

“Remember when I said I had something to tell you too?”

His brows dipped and he nodded.

I bit my lower lip, looking into his bright brown eyes I felt it was okay to tell him who I really was. After he told me the truth about him which was a hard pill to swallow. I was straddling a future king. I felt right to tell him what I was.

“I found out what I really am.”

“Yeah? When?” He practically barked.

“A while back…”

He sat up. “And?”

“Well… it’s funny I didn’t believe it either. Turns out my dad isn’t my dad and Rocky is only my half-sister. I actually have a twin brother and-”

“Artemis.” He grounded out my name.

“I’m a goddess. Zeus’s daughter.” I blurted out.

Silence. I could have sworn he got a little pale.

“What? That… no.” He carried me off his lap and stalked to the fireplace.

It felt like a slap to the face.

“This can’t be possible. Artemis you’re an Olympiad god?”

I nodded. “I guess.”

He ran two hands down his face. “You told me you grew up on earth. Why did you lie!”

“I didn’t lie!”

“Are you telling me you’re only a half-god then?”

“No… my mother’s goddess Sophia. That’s what Orion told me.”

He scoffed, “And you believe him?”

I looked away. “It wasn’t just Orion. An Elf with the power of the discernment told me first. Orion was sent by my parents to bring me home. I met Apollo when I was in Grin-land. I’m not making this up.”

He leaned against the mantle on the fireplace, his hands in his face. “No, it makes sense. Your power, your beauty. Fuck, Apollo’s your twin brother?”

I nodded, “You know him?”

He groaned, rolling his eyes. “Too well. He’s not going to like this.”

I stood to meet him by the mantle. “I thought this was going to help. Can’t the blood promise be broken now.”

“I don’t know… even if. You’re a goddess. You and I… are impossible.”

I swallowed. That felt like a punch to the face. I must have stared at him for twenty minutes before I came to the conclusion of leaving. I’d made a mistake.

“I…I should go.”

He grabbed my shoulders and pinned me to the fireplace before I could get any further.

“Just because our love was never meant to be born doesn’t mean it can’t live.”

Did he say love?

He pressed our foreheads together. “Blood promises, queens, kingdoms and gods, are only obstacles we have to get through. I’ve already made up my mind about you.”

“It feels so hard Daylen.”

“It’s going to be difficult, but haven’t we established we make a pretty good team?”

“We can’t blow our way through everything.”

He chuckled, “True, sounds fun though.”

Cupping my cheeks, he brought our lips together. Caressing my lips softly he wrapped me in his arms, seconds later I was off the ground and in his arms, being kissed all the way to his room. He placed me under the covers. I thought he was going to take thing to the next level instead he turned off the lamp and kissed my forehead.

“Get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow.”

***

“Where are we going?” I asked as we walked the street outside his condo building.

“I think it’s a good idea to get you a disguise. Most angels can sense an outsider a mile away. I need you to blend in. We might have to stay in Paradis a while.”

I looked at my clothes. They were the ones Orion’s wife lent me. They really did make me stick out like a sore thumb. The women here were gorgeous, they had to be they were angels. I gathered white was the theme of this dimension because almost everyone wore white or a very light shade of other colors. I stuck closer to Daylen, hoping he would shield me from everyone else.

Two women approached us. One had chestnut hair and the other one had black curly hair. They had one white body hugging dresses that showed off their smooth long legs. A contrast to me who had a free slowing dress that screamed nature. Daylen wrapped his arm around me. The women smiled at him as they passed. I couldn’t help the heat that rose to my face. I wasn’t jealous, but I didn’t like it.

Daylen walked us into a store. The main theme was white and almost every piece of clothing on the ranks was white. We were welcomed by an angel in a white bandage dress. She had tiny white wings sticking out of her back. Made me think of Daylen’s majestic wings and how he always had to keep them hidden.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Hello Daylen.” She smiled then she realized he wasn’t alone and cleared her throat. “Welcome to Angelic Affairs. I’m Mandy, I’ll be helping you find whatever your heart desires.”

Looking around I couldn’t even tell what my heart desired. I didn’t remember the last time I went shopping. It made me think of Rocky. She would have loved all this. She would have known what to do. My heart still wouldn’t come to the conclusion of her being dead.

“Pick whatever you want.” Daylen said.

“I…” I didn’t even know where to start. I turned to Mandy for help.

Her eyes turned a shade brighter and I almost gasped. Daylen put his arm around my shoulder and her eyes turned back to normal.

“You are stunning. I have a ton of stuff for you to try. You can wait in the changing room.” She scurried off.

When Daylen and I were alone I asked, “What was that? With her eyes.”

He reclined on the white couch. He looked awfully comfortable.

“She was trying to discern, but I stopped her.”

I swallowed. “What happens if she knows?”

“You know gossip spreads. Hera will find out you’re here maybe my mother too.”

“What’s your mother going to do? She doesn’t want to kill me too, does she?”

He shook his head, “She just might send you home. If that’s what Orion said.”

Mandy came back with a pile of clothes so high that we couldn’t see her.

“Do you mind adding a bit more color?” I asked.

She nodded and dashed off. It was one huge pile of white.

“Try this on.” Daylen held out a set of lingerie. I pulled a face.

“I just want to see you in it.” He tossed it at me.

“Fine.” I slipped behind the curtain into the changing box.

I thought it was lame how I’d never owned lingerie before. There were so many strings I didn’t even know how to get in. When I finally managed to get into the white underwear set. I walked out. It felt a bit big.

Daylen diverted his attention from the seat and up to me. He leaned back for a second before he stood and walked over to me. He pulled me close and ran a hand down my hair.

He sighed, “Mandy was right, you are stunning.”

His hands wandered to the back of my bra.

“Daylen not here.” I whispered.

He chuckled, he played with the straps before running his hands down the sides of my breasts and resting them on my hips.

“How I’d love to do that here.” He said close to my ear.

“You know, I thought I was help out here before going back home.”

His face twisted in discomfort. “Don’t get involved in this fight Artemis.”

“I’m already involved Daylen. I was involved the day I was stolen then when my sister was kidnapped.”

“I’m not going to hand you over to Hera, but putting you right where she can grab you.”

“I think you underestimate me.”

“It’s not that. I’m trying to keep you safe.”

“I have a duty to these people too. The gods can’t come down and stop Hera so I might as well do it.”

He growled. “You’re insane. We’ll talk about this later. Try on a dress.”

“Daylen.” I narrowed my eyes at him.

He picked up a dress too short to be holy and held it out for me.

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

He smirked. “Try it on.”