Dreams

Chapter 12



Artemis does not let me go anywhere for a few weeks. She was really shaken after the hydra fight. She explained to me how serious my wounds were and told me how close I came to dying. Another hour and I would have most likely been dead.

Since I could not go anywhere, I stay on Mount Olympus and enjoy my time with Raine when she is not off on a mission for Athena. We have grown so close over the short amount of time we have known each other. I will just put it this way, where you find one you are extremely likely to find the other because we are hardly ever separated from each other unless we are with our respective goddesses.

One day, Artemis finally comes up to me to tell me she has an errand for me to run. “Faith, I need you to take this to Aphrodite’s temple in Athens. Don’t get hurt on this mission.” She hands me a wrapped square object. “I’ll just drop you off at my temple in Athens that way you can walk and explore if you like. Raine will be coming down later today to do some shopping. Something about Athena not having any edible food besides ambrosia. You might want to join her.” She hands me a couple of bags of gold coins. “Oh, and go by the clothing shop and pick up the cloths I had made for you.” She takes me in her arms and kisses me while taking us down to her temple. We do not separate for a few minutes, and when we do we have an audience in the temple watching us. They all fall down on their knees and bring their heads to the floor when they see that we have spotted them. Artemis shakes her head in disapproval, “They eat dirt and eat floor… What’s going to be next?” I make my way towards the temple exit and wave goodbye to Artemis.

I walk down the short wooded trail that leads to the city of Athens. I go through the open, arched, city gates and enter the city of Athens. The city is thriving and people are everywhere. Vendors yell out and try to get anyone they can to stop and view their goods. Walking down the cobbled streets through the crowds, I approach Aphrodite’s temple. The towering white temple is overdone. I enter and see men and women in the temple. Some of them having sex where anyone who walks in can see. I go up to the altar and call for Aphrodite.

After waiting a few minutes I call again. She finally comes down. She is blonde with blue eyes. A view of beauty to almost any mortal eye. “What did you want? I was in the middle of something.” She eyes me up and down. I hold out the wrapped package that Artemis had given me to give to her.

“Artemis sent me to give this to you.” She takes the parcel out of my hands.

“Oh, tell her I said thank you. I have a pretty good idea what this is.” She reaches down and kisses me on my forehead. I start to turn to leave when she starts to whisper in my ear. “You would make better working for me at my temple you know. You would make a very good priestess.”

I start to laugh and she gives me an odd expression. “No thanks Aphrodite. I think I’m perfectly happy with Artemis.” She glares at me before she disappears to go back to whatever it was I interrupted. I quickly leave the temple because some of the men’s looks are a little to presumptuous. I look back behind me as I walk down the steps that lead to the entrance of the temple to make sure no one is following me. That is when I run into and knock someone down. I pick myself up off of her and offer my hand to help her up. She takes it, and when she looks into my eyes I get lost. She is one of the most beautiful girls that I have ever seen. Dark brown hair cascades down her back and frames her face. Emerald green eyes look into mine as she stands there in a form fitting red dress. “I’m sorry about knocking you down… I should’ve been paying more attention.”

She smiles at me. “It’s ok. Just pay more attention next time.” Her voice entrances me and for some reason I just want to hear more of it.

“Would you let me make it up to you? Would you like to go eat some lunch with me or something?” She looks up and thinks about my offer.

“I’m through with my errands for the day, so why not?” I smile as we walk through the crowded streets side by side.

“What would you like to eat?”

“Hmmm… I know just the place.” She takes my hand and leads me through a few side alleys. We end up on another crowded street, but she leads me through a door that not many people are entering. “This is one of my favorite places to come. It’s usually pretty quiet and the food is great.”

“I’ll take your word on that.” We make our way to a table and seat ourselves. A waitress comes over and asks what we would like. She orders something that I am not quite sure what it is, but it sounds good. I tell the waitress I will have the same. She gives me an odd look. “So, I’m sitting here fixing to eat with you and don’t even have the pleasure of knowing your name.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. My name is Arecia. What’s yours stranger?”

“My name is Faith.” We talk and learn a little about each other. The waitress brings over two plates and sits them down in front of us. We both eat in silence and wash the food down with ale. We sit there and talk for a while longer. I don’t know what to make of this girl. I could listen to her talk all day. She’s extremely beautiful too. Chatting back and forth, we both end up losing track of time. She raises her eyes to the window and looks outside.

“We talked for a long time. The sun is already starting to set. I guess I should be going.” She stands from the table, and I stand up with her. “Well… I guess this is goodbye.” She starts to walk away, but I grab her hand and pull her back to me. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know… I… I just don’t want you to leave.” I lean down and press my lips lightly against Arecia’s. I pull away and my eyes widen at what I just did. “I’m… I’m sorry…” I go to leave and start to walk around her. She grabs my arm and twists me back around.

“Don’t go just yet. I… Will you come back to my home with me?” I look at her for a minute, then nod my head in consent. She takes my hand in hers and leads me to a house near Aphrodite’s temple. She unlocks the door, and we both enter into a small living area. “You can have a seat.” I pull out a chair and sit down on it. She comes over and stands in front of me. Her hand moves a strand of hair out of my face before she leans in and kisses me. We slowly kiss, not wanting to push things to far to soon. Her hands wrap around and grasp the back of my neck pulling me into her. I pull away and fumble away untangling myself from her and the chair.

“I don’t think I can do this.” She comes to stand beside me putting her hand on my shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” She runs her hand down my back over the tattoos that grace it. “Oh, I see… You belong to Artemis don’t you?” She pulls my top off over my head. Running her hands over the whole tattoo.

While she looks at my marking, it makes me think about Artemis. Would she be alright with me doing this? I don’t know how she’d react. I just don’t know. “Yes, I belong to Artemis.” I feel her lips kiss the tattoo pattern.

“What’s this in the middle, the strange mark I’ve never seen before.”

“It’s a mark symbolizing courage.”

“Oh… I guess I should tell you who I am.”

I turn to look at her. “What are you talking about?”

“I belong to Aphrodite. I am the high priestess at her temple.”

“Hmmm… I want you, but I don’t know if I can have you.”

“What do you mean by that? Why wouldn’t you be able to have me even if you do belong to Artemis?”

“I more than belong to her. I am mated to her.”

“Oh, at least just stay with me.” She looks pleadingly at me. I nod, and we go to her bedroom. Laying on the bed, we talk about our goddesses and how they act. We fall asleep a little later that night unable to keep our eyes open anymore.



Artemis’ view



Where can that girl be? I told her she could explore, but it’s dark out and I figured she would be back by now. I go over to my sister’s temple and see Athena sitting with Raine talking. “Sister, have you seen Faith. I figured she would be with Raine.”

“No, I haven’t seen her all day Arty. Did you see her Raine?”

“Well, I didn’t talk to her. I saw her walking with a girl though. I don’t know where they went.”

“Arty, just give it until morning. I’m sure she’ll be back then.”

“Fine, I’ll wait. But I’m going to stay here with you and Raine.” They both roll their eyes at me.



Faith’s view



The next morning I wake up with a body on the top of mine. I look down and expect to see Artemis, but it is Arecia. I slip out from under her and slip my top back on. After I do that, I sit on the edge of the bed watching her sleep. I slowly reach out and gently nudge her into wakefulness. “I’ve got to get going before Artemis comes looking for me.”

“I’ll come with you. Just give me a second to get ready.” I wait a few minutes while she primps. When she is ready, we walk out the door. I head toward Athena’s temple. “This isn’t the way to Artemis’ temple.”

“I know. I want to stop by here and see a friend if she’s in.”

“Oh, alright.”

We enter Athena’s temple, and I see Raine, Athena, and Artemis all sitting there playing cards. “Hey guys.” They turn their heads and look at me and the girl I have with me.

Artemis comes over to me, “Where in the world do you think that you’ve been? You could’ve been hurt or killed for all I know!”

“I’m sorry. I met someone, and we got a really good start and lost track of time. This is Arecia.” Raine and Athena stand and make their way over.

“You look familiar. Have I seen you before?” Athena asks.

“Ummm… I’m Aphrodite’s head priestess, so you might have seen me before.” Athena nods her head as if she is confirming something she was thinking about. Raine gives me a hug and pulls me over to the side.

She whispers, “So, what’s up with the girl. I saw you two holding hands.” I give he a stunned look. “Act normal before one of the goddesses notices.” I put on a small smile.

“I like her a lot, but I don’t know how Artemis will take it.”

“Why don’t you just ask her?”

“Ask me what?” Artemis has come up behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist.

“Ask you a few things that need to be asked in private.” Artemis releases me and spins me around so that I am facing her.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ll explain later. It’s about Arecia, and maybe you should bring her with us.”

“You can explain now.”

“Arty, please…”

“Fine… But we are leaving right now.” She grabs my hand and drags me away from Raine and over to where Athena and Arecia are conversing. “Thena, I’m going back home. I’ll come by later. Arecia, you’re coming with us.” Athena and Arecia give Artemis very odd looks and then their looks fall on me.

“Yes, we need to talk sister.” Arty grabs Arecia’s hand and the next thing I know we’re both in Arty’s bedroom.

“So, start explaining Faith.” Oh god.. What have I just gotten myself and Arecia into?





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This seems like it's going to get complicated... oh well. more fun for me. lol

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ThunderHeart- hey, yeah. the bet was pretty funny. to bad no one really won technically.



Exile- haha. faith can be a smartass when it comes down to it, and arty... well, she's just arty. extremely over-protective. i'm trying to put a lot of different situations in it.