Olympiad is Falling, The Rise of Artemis

I wish there was a way I could help this town heal. I wish there was a way I could awaken the earth; make the flowers bloom again and open up the clouds. If I truly belonged in the sky maybe there was a way, I could. Stella locked up the apartment and beckoned me to follow her. I didn’t even know how she got home last night and she wouldn’t cough up any explanations either. It was all business with her lately. Even after I told her Daylen was searching for proof of Rachel’s life harder than he did before because he wanted me gone, she insisted we go out into the dangerous mage dimension.

There was no time for candy and slumber parties with her. I’m starting to think I’m getting on her nerves more than this mission.

‘Where are you taking us this time?’ I followed after.

‘The Spirit Veil.’ She said.

I hope she isn’t taking me to my death, because that’s exactly what I believed I would find at a place called The Spirit Veil.

‘What the heck are we going to do there?’ I threw my hands in the air.

Stella didn’t even turn to look at me. She kept walking at the speed of light.

‘Spirits are our best bet at this point.’ She said.Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

‘Like Callista’s Saloon?’

She scrawled, ‘They’re nothing but useless ghosts. We’re going to find real power.’

‘But you were keen on going to them in the beginning.’

She finally stopped allowing me to catch up to her.

‘Hurry up Artemis, the faster we get there the sooner we get answers and we all get to go home.’

A shiver went through me as she spoke. I thought I saw a shadow pop up in her eyes. I looked behind me, but there wasn’t a soul in sight. Stella turned and proceeded sprint walking. This area was getting under my skin the way the little light in this world faded out, leaving the area in deep darkness. It had to be the only place lit up by gas lamps during the day.

A man who resembled a shadow more than a man stood outside a two story building smoked a cigarette. He stomped on it when he saw two girls who clearly didn’t belong here. He vanished into thin air. I wrapped my jacket around myself and bumped the necklace Daylen gave me. We weren’t on talking terms but it was too expensive to throw away.

All the buildings looked the same in some sort of way they looked like they weren’t there. Like memories of something that stood before meeting a devastating end. That’s all I thought of this place; a devastating end. There was one building that looked solid and out of place. ‘Sara’s Fortunetelling Table.’

‘I didn’t know your mom had a place here!’ I stopped.

Stella froze and glanced at the one story building with her mom’s name in purple lights. The only lit up sign in the whole neighborhood.

‘We don’t have time for this we’re getting close.’ Stella turned away from the building. There was something definitely wrong with her.

‘Come on, she’s your mom. We haven’t seen her in weeks. We can spare a second.’

She faced me and practically growled. Something was not right. I took a cautious step back but tried to contain my fear so I didn’t set her off. Whatever was wrong Sera could help.

‘We’re wasting time!’

‘Oh, come on Stella. Let’s go say hi.’ I turned and practically ran up the stairs to the moss infested front door.

Stella was right behind me, her eyes blazing her chest heaving. I kicked the door and the lights in the main room burst to life. I stumbled back outside and shielded my bleeding eyes.

‘Welcome, welcome darlings! Don’t linger outside. Come in and have your fortune read.’ Sera appeared in front of a round table dressed in a blood red table cloth and a purple crystal ball. She wore a royal blue head scarf and a black and white overlapping dress.

‘We’re not really here to have our fortunes told.’ I said, rubbing my eyes.

‘Then what ever are- Artemis? Goodness, child what are you doing in this part of town?’

Before I could tell her Sera burst in and grabbed my forearm. I swallowed, but Sera dashed through us and shut the door.

‘We’re leaving now.’ Stella hissed. I yanked my arm free and scurried to the other side of the round table.

‘Stella, I haven’t heard from you for days! Would it hurt you to call your mother?’ Sera planted her hands on her hips.

Stella bit her lip and kept her eyes rooted to the wooden floor. Sera waved her away.

‘You know you girls shouldn’t be here either. What are you doing here? This place is dangerous only evil spirits live here.’

My eyes went wide, ‘Then why are you here?’

‘My business is a pop up one. I stay a few days then the house chooses another location. This is a high paying neighborhood too.’

‘I… well we just wanted to say hi. We’re on our way to some veil it was Stella’s idea.’ I couldn’t find a way to lay it out innocently that I thought there was something wrong with Stella, but Sera eyed her daughter would still hadn’t lifted her gaze from the floor.

‘Well… why don’t you girls have a seat? Stella… sit down and tell your mother how you’ve been.’ Sera’s said slow and precise.

Stella nodded and moved to the round table, her gaze shifting to her palms on her lap.

‘Artemis dear, go into the kitchen and get some biscuits they’re brand new. Let me show you where the cups are so we can have tea. Stella dear, please take the ball off the table. I don’t want it to get smudged.’

Sera’s hand pressed on my back and shoved me into a small hall that led to a small kitchen. Sera looked over her shoulder, panic in her eyes. She pushed upright a slanted plank of wood that blocked a back door.

‘This door leads into the streets. You can’t leave the way you came, but you’ll end up in another town.’

‘What why?’ She shoved me towards the door.

‘I know my daughter I gave birth to her and that thing isn’t Stella.’

Oh shoot. I knew something was wrong.

‘Artemis, it’s time we left.’ Stella’s voice sounded in the other room, but we heard her footsteps heading to the kitchen.

‘Hurry, I’ll hold her off. Don’t go back to Stella’s apartment. I’m sorry my dear.’

‘I can’t just leave you here.’

Sera pulled the door open and pushed me out into the bitter world.

‘I’ll be fine. Now go, don’t look back.’

As Stella arrived with blue blazing eyes and black veins popping out of her face Sera slammed the door on me.

‘What have you done with my daughter shifter!’ Sera blasted then pots and glass clashed and clattered.

My first thought was to burst through the door, but Sera yelled through it for me to get away. My heart beat faster than it ever had. I feared it would give out on me so I ran, with no destination in mind. There was no place for me to go. I ran though blinding fog that felt like a thousand finger tips clawing at my clothes, sinking into my hair, caressing my skin.

‘Someone help me.’ I whispered.

I couldn’t see the line where this nightmare began and where is ended. Escape was far from it. I was trapped in mist so thick light couldn’t penetrate. I backed up until my back hit solid form. Man or brick wall?

‘Hello your majesty, we’ve been looking for you.’

I followed the laughter to the parting of the mist. The shadow man from earlier. He waved his hand and the mist lifted. He lifted his mouth and his head to reveal his black eyes.

‘I’m here to take you to the Queen.’

I turned and a dozen men in cloaks surrounded me. The streets were quiet, not a soul in sight nor evil or good.