Olympiad is Falling, The Rise of Artemis

My back hit the surface of grass greener than any I had ever seen. I didn’t know if it was the effects of getting sucked through a portal that left my body sizzling. I prompt my elbows up and searched for Orion.

‘What the hell was that for?’ I yelled.

‘I had to get you out of there. We have to find a way to get you to Olympiad anyway.’

‘I haven’t found my sister yet!’

‘You’ll be helping her by returning home. If things are okay in Olympiad, then maybe things in the mage dimension will get better.’

‘Is that true or wishful thinking?’

He didn’t answer. He grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet like a rag doll.

“Where did you bring me anyway?”

I dusted grass off my clothes. There were clear blue skies above me, not a cloud in sight. As far as my eye could see vibrant grass stretched on for miles. A line of trees went on, standing tall and proud. This place was alive I felt in the wind.

“Grin land. A dimension near earth.”

“What are we doing here then? Is this the passage to Olympiad?”

“This way,” Orion started walking, I’m guessing toward the three houses on top of the hill. Otherwise there was nothing other than grass and trees for miles.

“This is the only safe place to talk to your family.”

“Talk to them? How? Do you have a phone?”

“Not exactly. It works better than a phone.”

“How?” I frowned. What worked better than a phone?

“I also thought we could do a little training before we go to Olympiad.”

“What about the mage dimension?”

“Are you asking because of the dinemus angel?”

I don’t know, maybe. He was probably happy I was gone.

“Are you going to teach me how to use the arrow again? I had no idea I could do that. I mean I’ve caused damage before, but that just came out of me.”

“You can do a lot more Artemis. That’s why we need to train. If Hera caught you in your oblivious state it wouldn’t have ended well.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” I folded my arms. The wind was picking up and every stroke of wind on my skin was like a thousand tiny razor blades.

We got to the house. Orion knocked on the wooden front door. It took seconds for the door to crack open.

“Orion?” A soft female voice said from the other side.

“What are you-” A woman with brownish red hair stared at him then me. “Something happen?” She asked, opening the door wider.

“Who’s at the door Scylla?” An older man appeared behind the woman with grey eyes.

Was this his family? He did say he was a demi-god.

“Orion.” Scylla replied.

“Hmm, I didn’t think he’d ever come back here.” The man wandered out of view.

“Look, I don’t have time to explain. I need to reach Apollo. I need to get the princess back to Olympiad.”

“Princess? Which princess?” The old man asked. He reclined in a brown chair and lit one of those old smoking pipes.

Scylla eyed me as if she wasn’t buying his story. I didn’t buy it either. I raised my hand and gave a tiny wave.

‘Hi.’

Orion locked over his shoulder at me. ‘Princess Artemis. I was sent to retrieve her from earth I found her in the mage dimension.’

The revelation seemed to have stolen the air from the room. Scylla’s arms dropped to her side. She stared at her father to set his pipe down to his lap.

‘A goddess is the mage dimension? What were you doing there?’ He asked

‘I didn’t know… I was looking for my sister.’Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

‘Another goddess?’ The man’s eyebrows raised.

‘Step sister and only demi-goddess.’ Orion said.

‘Is that the only reason you’re here Orion?’ Scylla asked, she took a step forward. There was definitely some tension here. What did he do to her?

‘We can talk about us later. Right now I have a job to do. I have to speak to Apollo this is the only safe place.’

Scylla nodded, ‘Of course. This is Apollo’s territory. You know where to go.’ Scylla walked passed him, avoiding his shoulder.

‘I assume you’ll need a place to sleep tonight. Scylla will arrange your quarters.’ The old man said.

‘I appreciate it. Let’s go.’ Orion marched out of the house ahead of me.

He walked to the back of the house where the grass was brown and the trees were weaker. The branches turned to mush and the sound of a dying forest was making me weak. I reached for a tree, but it cracked fell into another sickly tree, sending them both crashing.

‘Artemis.’ Orion caught me before I hit the mud.

‘I don’t feel so good here. There’s something wrong with this place.’

He placed his arms under my knees and lifted me effortlessly into his arms.

‘You’re right. The land is dying. It’s good sign though.’

‘How the land is dying. It’s awful… I can almost hear it. I can hear the cries of this forest. It’s horrible.’

‘I know it is. It’s a good sign that you can feel it without any boundaries.’

‘I can help.’ I said. I’d healed plants before maybe not an entire forest but maybe I can do something.

‘We have to speak to Apollo.’ Orion pressed forward.

‘I have to heal the forest. I can’t take the pain. The animals are hurting too.’

Orion sighed, but he set me down. He held me by the waist in case I tumbled. I felt like puking my guts out. I placed my hand on a shriveled oak tree, careful not to press too much.

‘You’re stronger than you know. Your mind will tell you you’ve reached your limited, but you’re an Olympiad god. You have no limitations. You’re connected to all of this Artemis. Nature and its elements are one with you. You can call it back from it depths and so much more.’

Reaching the forest was like falling into the black hole. It felt like falling into death. I couldn’t get back, couldn’t find anyone, but I heard them scream. Orion was right my mind told me it was enough. But with each push of power leaving every point of my body I felt roots and leaves reach out and hold me up. They were trying to help me save them. I straightened my back and the resistance was shattered.

‘You’re doing it.’ Orion laughed. ‘It’s working.’

I opened my eyes and the oak tree filled out. The grass regenerated. The branches straightened out and reached for the sky. The cries of pain turned to orchestras of jubilation.

‘You actually did it.’ Orion folded his arms over his chest. A cocky grin plastered on his face.

‘You sound so surprised.’

We walked a couple more minutes. I wondered if I would be hearing singing forests forever. When I asked Orion he laughed at me. Daylen would have too. This was a side of me he didn’t know. Would he accept me if he knew? What kind of life would we have if we stayed together? As I allowed to date guys who weren’t royalty? He was in the royal court, that had to be noble enough.

Would we have a chance when all this was over?

‘This is your-‘ Orion started, but was interrupted by vines swinging together between two crossed branches. The curve the branches made was filled by new vibrant vines.

A hologram or a spirit one of the two appeared in front of the vines. Towering nearly over six feet.

‘Your brother Apollo’s shrine.’ Orion said through clenched teeth.

‘Artemis.’ The giant figure said.

His dark eyes stared at me. His face smiled at me. I couldn’t help smiling back. He wore red tights over black boots. A red jacket was over a white shirt.

‘Apollo.’

His smile grew brighter. I felt a line grow between us, but not born. It grew tighter like extra layers were added to a thin line.

‘I felt you heal you the forest. All my power’s going to this war I’m struggling to keep my territories thriving.’

I couldn’t believe I was staring at my brother. My twin brother my other half.

‘We’ve been connected all along haven’t we?’ I asked.

He nodded, his attention went Orion.

‘Orion is the one who told me where to find you.’ Orion said.

I placed my hand over my beating heart. He knew where I was?

‘You better not have slept with my sister Orion.’ Apollo snapped.

‘What? No!’ I startled.

Apollo laughed.

‘No need to worry about me. She’s tangled with someone else.’ Orion grinned.

I couldn’t believe them!

Apollo smirked, ‘The dinemus. Of course.’

‘How do you know about that?!’ I gasped.

‘I’m basically your other half. Ever since your arrow shot through the Olympiad skies I started to feel you a lot.’

‘Couldn’t you feel me before that?’ I asked.

He shook his head, ‘No. That’s why we thought you were dead.’

‘You’ll have time to catch up when we get back to Olympiad.’ Orion said.

‘You can’t. All portals to Olympiad are closed Orion. Nothing comes in or out. Dark angels are trying to penetrate the portals too. Scum!’

‘What? I need to be there. I’m the general.’

‘We all know that Orion. You don’t let us forget. We can’t risk opening the portals. You’ll have to take refuge in Paradis until we figure something out.’

‘The deal was I brought Artemis home. I have a job to do and it isn’t babysitting.’ Orion spat.

I frowned. I didn’t need sitting. If anything he only got in the way!

‘I know Artemis’ and your presence would boost our odds of winning the war. We just can’t bring you too home now. It’ll be difficult telling my mother you have her and can’t bring her home. Just go to Queen Solaris. Help her with her war plans if you must.’

‘Fuck. I didn’t sign up for this.’ Orion marched down the path we took to get here.

‘Don’t mind him. He’ll get over it. Just know I’d open the portal right now and bring you home if I could.’ Apollo said. He lifted his hand I reached up, not knowing if I could touch him.

My hand hovered over his. I giggled. It was like he was actually here.

‘What are you going to tell mom?’ I swallowed the word down. I’d never called anyone that.

Apollo shrugged. ‘I have no idea. Hey, it might even be good for her to know you’re alive.’

‘I can’t wait to meet her.’ My throat started to grow tight.

‘I can’t wait to hold you. I have to go now. I know you’ll be with us soon.’

The hologram started to fade. It felt like I was losing him all over again. How would I see him again?

‘Wait Apollo.’

‘Goodbye Artemis.’