Olympiad is Falling, The Rise of Artemis

“You need to hold a hearing with the King and Storm.” I told Apollo.

“Difficult because they don’t want to see me. It was hard enough getting into Paradis.”

“Tell them you support a Paradis without Solaris. That should get their attention.”

Apollo bobbed his head from side to side then nodded. “Fine. If you hear explosions know your time is up.”

“Fair enough.”

We went our separate ways. The castle was crawling with guards and unfortunately Marcus wasn’t around to get me inside. He found a lead on Stella’s whereabouts. Apparently the shapeshifter has a cave where it stores all its victims.

“You’re not thinking about getting in through the front entrance are you?” Artemis asked me.

I eyed her and wondered how dumb she thought I was.

“I’m just asking Daylen.”

“Of course not. The castle as weak spots. We’ll get in through one of the sides.”

She nodded. We got up to walk along the street when a spark between our palms jolted us apart.

Artemis winced. “Ouch.”

“I’m sorry.” I said, holding out my hand. I wanted her to return to me instantly, but I saw the reluctance there.

“Maybe we shouldn’t… let’s not provoke it.”

“Artemis…” I sighed.

“Come on babe.” She walked ahead of me as if she knew where she was going.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Artemis.” I said.

“It’s getting worse Daylen. Maybe we should get used to not touching then it’ll be easier to separate!”

I sighed and grabbed her elbow. Thank goodness there was no lightening to blast us across the street.

“I was going to say you’re going the wrong way.”

“Oh, right.”

“We’re not going to separate… unless that’s what you want.” This time I walked away from her. At least I knew where I was going. There weren’t any guards.

“Come on I didn’t say that!” She wrapped her arms around my left arm and tugged.

I stared down at her and looked into her mystical eyes. Would I really be able to live the rest of my life with her? But could I live without her? My life was certainly much more boring without her.

“Let’s get inside.”

I held her get through to the window that led into the castle basement. It was a small drop. No guards secured this area because it led my secret room with Solaris. She didn’t want anyone ever hearing our conversations. It was pitch black down there that was until a fire lit behind me. I ducked unaware of where it came from.

Artemis held an orb of red fire in her palm.

“Don’t throw it at me.” I warned.

She narrowed her eyes, “Behave and I won’t.”

“Come on, knowing Apollo he’s probably running out of time.”

“Do you know where we’re going?”

“Of course I do.”

I reached for her hand. We made it up to the surface of secret labyrinths. Another floor to go until we got to the dungeons. I hoped that was where they kept her.

“Daylen, what about the guards?”

We stopped on the corridor to the dungeons when we heard voices. I recognized my mother’s voice.

“We’ll just to take them out.”

“Can I do it?”

“I said take them out not break down the building.”

She frowned, but she knew it was true.

There was no way to do it we ran in, prepared to knock the guards down. We caught two of them off guard. Using my power they both slipped down the wall and feel asleep.

“Daylen.” Solaris gripped the bars of her cell door.

“Why are you still here?” I demanded.

“Can’t you see I’m locked up?”

“This isn’t funny Solaris. You can easily break out, what’s wrong with you?”

She leaned back on her little stool and shrugged. She could be the most difficult person sometimes.

“I wanted to see if my son would come for me. Your brother Alpheus came.”

“What? What for?”

She shrugged, “To taunt me. Jason hasn’t been down since. He’s ready to take the throne.”

“Let him have it.” I spat.

“Daylen,” Artemis frowned.

“So help me Daylen I will strike you dead if you say that again. The throne is yours… besides if you have no noble rank I doubt Zeus would let you marry his daughter.”

I saw Artemis’s cheeks go a shade pink. “You… want to marry me?”

“This wasn’t the way I wanted to say it. I love you and… I doubt my life will have any meaning without you.”

She dropped her fire orb and it disappeared. She ran into my arms and I held her tight.

“First we have to get Solaris out.”

She shook her head, a ghost of a smile on her face. “I can take care of myself and my kingdom. Go.”

An explosion came from above that rattled the foundation of the castle. Apollo. I called for a portal to open.