ALPHA SIN

ARTEMISIA

I had been walking inside the woods for a while now. I couldn’t tell what the time was, but the night sky was still dark and due to how chilly it was becoming, I believe it might be getting to midnight.

Again, I noticed I was arriving at the same spot, which was starting to infuriate me.

I glared at the giant sequoia tree that I had passed before. I breathed out, shutting my eyes whilst trying to recall the reason I had come out.

But, I couldn’t remember. All I knew, was I had followed something out. But my brain was a bit muddled.

I tried racking it to get the information I was searching for. Whenever I think harder, no matter how hard the situation seems, I tend to find a solution or answer to it.

“A bright light!” I exclaimed as something clicked in my head.

I remembered seeing a bright light whilst looking out of the window, and it enthralled me. My legs had moved on their own, leading me here.

However, I couldn’t see the light any more when I got to the forest, all I saw was total darkness. And everything looks the same.

“What is happening?” I thought aloud, gazing at the sky.

The moon itself wasn’t out yet, which was weird.

Since my arrival at Merene, I had never encountered a moonless night. I had never heard of it as well.

Today was the first time I’d be glancing up without seeing the moon.

Glancing around the forest, I shook my head. Since what I had come out for was nowhere in sight, it was better I went back. So, that Sin wouldn’t get mad at me for leaving the comfort of the room without his consent.

I turned to leave, but halted when I noticed another movement.

My eyes narrowed whilst I tried to make out what was walking in front of me. All I could see was someone in a silvery toga floor-length dress and long flowy red hair.

A woman. What was she doing outside at this time of the day?

A bow was across her shoulder and I glimpsed a golden quiver that was filled with arrows.

Despite it being dark, her apparel, the bow, and the arrows shimmered.

“Hello?!” I called out but received no response.

“Wait,” I said as my leg began to move towards her.

Surprisingly, she halted and even turned towards me. Luckily, I was close to her to see what she looks like.

She appeared to be a bit younger than I was. But, I perceived she was older. And my eyes bored into her crystal blue orbs.

I could see someone that had lived a millennium, someone that was wiser than what her size and appearance depicted.

“Who are you and what are you doing out by this time?”

The girl stared at me, then away like she didn’t hear me.

“What is your name? It’s really dangerous out here.” I tried again. But, the only answer I received was a sigh.

She was acting like Emma whenever she believed my questions were irrelevant, she tends to ignore or act like she didn’t hear me whenever I speak.

It was always annoying, but I had learned to live with all of Emma’s annoying characters.

For a brief second the girl’s eyes and mine locked, we stared at each other and I could tell she was sizing me up.

I was taller than her, but I couldn’t say I was good in combat, not even a bow and arrow I could handle.

The girl didn’t look like she could fight hand to hand, but she looked like someone skilled in shooting arrows.

So, she had the advantage and could kill me with only an arrow, since I was an awful runner.

“I am the goddess of the moon.” The girl said when she finally decided to speak. “Wild animals, wilderness, hunt, chastity, virginity….”

I winced as she spoke. Her voice resounded throughout the forest and I felt like each word was spoken with spikes attached to it.

My knees buckled, and I crouched to the ground, groaning in pain. My ears were on fire and seemed like they would split soon. Despite the pain I was in, the girl didn’t stop.

“Stop!” I yelled, panting.

Fortunately, she did, and I lifted my head to glare at her.

Her apparel even shone brighter than the first time I saw her, and I noticed a wild boar that I hadn’t seen before next to her.

“W-who are you?”

The girl smiled, and I could have sworn I saw the moon when she did. Maybe, it was only my imagination because the sky was still moonless.

“It’s funny, you don’t know me.” She said, her voice calm.

“I don’t know everyone that walks about in the forest,” I said with an eye roll.

“You are right.” She beamed. “Anyway, I am Artemis.”

“Goddess Artemis?” I asked and she nodded. “No way!”

Even if she didn’t attribute the title to herself, I knew she was one. Despite my disbelief.

“You are my namesake!” I knew it wasn’t the right thing to say to a goddess who could kill me with a zap of her finger, but I was still stunned.

Seeing the goddess I was named after was more than an honour!

I feel over the moon.

“Of course, we are,” Artemis affirmed, smiling.

“What are you doing out here? Were you the bright light I had been following?” I asked, remembering the reason I was here.

“I am the light, and I am glad it attracted you, blessed one.”

“Blessed one? Hold up!” I exclaimed.

“I don’t have much time to explain, I just need to deliver this and leave.” The goddess glanced back and forth as if in a hurry.

“I-I-I don’t understand!” I stuttered. But, she didn’t explain further.

She said some distorted words I couldn’t understand or explain and as soon as she said so, she vanished.

Though I didn’t see her vanish, I didn’t see her in front of me either.

I breathed out whilst glancing at the forest, which was now looking more frightening than ever.

Footsteps echoed, followed by some yelling sound.

Artemis had said something like she was in a hurry, was she running from the approaching people?

But, she was a goddess and not even a million mortal men could stand her since she had godly powers that could kill anyone.

Why did she look terrified?

I couldn’t tell and didn’t know even as I thought harder.

All I knew was, that I had to get out of the forest as well. If a goddess vanished into thin air because of them, I should run back to the palace, since I wouldn’t be able to stand a chance either.

*****

I jerked awake and let out a loud groan as my head smacked into another head.

I heard a painful howl followed by some swear words.

“I’m so sorry!” I said, gazing at Julie apologetically as she clutched her head. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“It’s fine,” Julie assured, caressing her head. “I wanted to see if you were okay because you began to hyperventilate.”

“What happened?”

“You passed out, and you’ve been here for five days.”

My brows creased as I gaze at her. I had been out for five days?!

“What happened?” I asked again. “Where is Sin?”

I noticed he wasn’t in the room when I woke up. I only saw Julie and a glimpse of Rhoda, who had gone to prepare what I’d eat.

“We were attacked,” Julie murmured.

“And?” I tilted my brows, waiting for more information from her. But it seemed like she was reluctant to say anything to me.

“What is going on, Julie? Did I bang my head or something?”

Perhaps, I did because I could not remember what had happened, not even what might have caused me to be asleep for a long while.

My eyes darted to the door as it opened.

“Thank goodness,” I mumbled as Sin stepped into the room.

He stood by the doorway and hesitated a bit before walking closer. “How are you feeling?”

“Better now that you are here,” I said. I removed the duvet that was covering my body and climbed down from the bed.

“You are not allowed to move.” Julie protested, trying to nudge me back into the bed.

I glared at her and shrugged off her hands.

“Why are you scowling?” I asked, noticing the change in his demeanour. He was acting weird, and he didn’t even bother to come closer than he was.

I saw him gritting his teeth as well as averted his gaze, so I wouldn’t look into his eyes.

“You should be in bed.” He finally said. His gaze hardened, and he led me to the bed, pushing me into it gently.

“You and Julie are acting so odd,” I mumbled. “Did something happen during the attack?”

“You don’t remember anything?” Sin asked.

“Stop answering a question with another question. It’s getting annoying that both of you are acting so mysterious.”

“We are not acting mysteriously.” Sin mumbled. “I believe you have temporary amnesia, as the doctor stated.”This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

I hadn’t got that before. It was strange I was having amnesia even though it was temporary. I must have banged my head so hard.

“My lady,” Rhoda said, coming into the room with a tray.

“Stop, please,” I said, halting her in her tracks. My nose wrinkled, and I gripped my stomach as nausea danced around in my throat.

I eyed the bathroom and thought of how I’d get there before barfing all over the floor and on Julie and Sin’s bodies as they were in front of me.

“Take that away!” Sin ordered before Rhoda could set the food on the table.

Sin strode towards me and tugged me into him. “Breathe in,” He instructed with narrowed eyes. “Then out.”

My eyes widened as I gaze at him. But I did what he said, and I took two considerable gulps of air and then puffed it out slowly.

I felt the nauseous residing slowly as he continued to instruct me to take in more breaths.

I believe the vomit stopped because Rhoda had left with the food.

“What is wrong with me?” I asked, gazing at him. I felt tears sliding down my face as I stared into Sin’s black eyes.

“You’ll be fine, darling.” He said, leading me to the bed once more. “You need to rest for a bit.”

Sin was right. A little more rest was what I needed to get my sanity back.

A while later, I came awake again. I recalled everything that happened and the dream as well.

But it was still confusing, as I didn’t remember what Artemis had said or what she wanted me to do.

I recalled doing some things I didn’t know the meaning of. Now I had got a snippet of my memory back, I was certain Sin would help in explaining things to me. And maybe Julie as well because they seemed like they wanted me to gain my memory fully before they would say anything to me.