For the love of the Gods

One Week Later

Artemis paced through her woods, her huntresses trailing behind her silently, so silently even she almost forgot they were there.

Sighing she stopped and studied her surroundings, she had planned to hunt today….perhaps a stag? But ever since leaving Olympus a week ago she had been preoccupied completely by the tea she had gotten from Cupid.

The small pouch sat alone and untouched, tucked away in her personal belongings. She had barely seen Buffy or Theron for that matter…today was the first she was seeing her second and that was only because it was Therons team that was attending her today.

Cautiously peering behind her Artemis saw the regal creature a few paces behind her, alert and bow ready for any action. Clenching her jaw Artemis chose to ignore the small bruises that dotted Therons neck.

When they had all joined to head out on this hunt the shocking sight of those hickeys had spiked Artemis’s temper to the point that the nearby foliage had erupted in flames…that had surprised even her.

Ever since then Theron had remained professional but politely out of sight. It appears she was not subtle in her infatuation. Artemis’s senses suddenly spiked…there was prey nearby.

Crouching low she signaled for her huntresses to halt, studying her surroundings she sensed the life source coming from her left, raising her bow she carefully placed an arrow in place.


When the deer stepped into view Artemis fired, smiling as the arrow landed true she was surprised to see the deer suddenly fall dead to the ground but stand almost immediately and begin running.

Adrenaline pumped through her and she ignored the logical question of how that was possible, instead signaling for her followers to remain behind she broke into a sprint after the beast.

As Goddess of the hunt her heightened instincts often overtook her in her youth, making her notoriously reckless if not a prolific tracker as well as hunter.

Leaping agley through the trees and bushes Artemis rearmed her bow when the deer came back into view, stopping long enough to take aim she fired. Pleased when the animal slumped again and this time did not rise.

Stalking towards it she turned to see that Theron as well as two others had followed her at a distance. Frowning she turned again and peered down at the fallen animal. When she bent to yank her arrows free the deer suddenly jerked to life and before Artemis could react it had bitten her in the meat of her calf.

Yelping in shock and jumped back and watched as Theron swerved around her to cut the deer’s head from its body with her sword. Theron turned to stare at her mistresses wound incredulously…since when did herbivores bite humans? Let alone patron Gods?

Artemis stared down in shock as blood ran freely from her wound…it had been so long since she had seen her own blood….suddenly woozy Artemis swayed slightly on her feet before pitching forward as the world around her began spinning out of control.

She didn’t feel anything when Therons arms surrounded her or when the world went black.

*************************

Buffy laughed with Kit as the pair walked through the meadows, she was happy…actually happy. She still avoided most of the other slayers, preferring instead the company of the Satyr and Theron.

Bending Buffy sifted through the small wildflowers, selecting the prettier of the bush she stood and tucked them into her satchel. Kit had been a very avid teacher, showing Buffy what herbs and plants could heal certain wounds and what was best for cooking.
Daydreaming Buffy found she couldn’t pull her thoughts away from the cave where she had been staying with the dark haired centaur.

Blushing slightly when she recalled that morning’s antics that had almost made Theron late for her hunt with the Goddess.


They hadn’t had sex; although the attraction on both sides was admittedly unexpected Buffy was determined to wait until she was sure that Theron could be more than just a fling. And if she were honest the fact that Theron was a little…butcher than she was used to women being did factor in…although for some odd reason that part of Theron intrigued and aroused Buffy.

“Buffy…” Kit whispered, Buffy looked up and saw Kit staring off into the distance, a frown drawn on the younger girl’s features. Buffy was suddenly worried, turning she looked in the same direction but didn’t see anything amiss. What was it?

“What’s wrong Kit?” Before the satyr answered Pan, her brother came tearing out of the tree line Buffy took a surprised step back when the powerful creature stopped and bent over, panting in exertion.

“What’s wrong Pan?” Kit asked urgently, already dropping her own bags of herbs and flowers. Buffy stood alert for whatever it was…

“It’s…its Artemis…she’s been hurt. Come…you must come.” Pan gasped out, turning he began sprinting back the way he came. Kit turned and grasped Buffy’s arm.

“Get on my back…it’ll be faster this way.” Kits tone left no room for argument and Buffy vaulted onto the chestnut colored satyr who immediately began running after her brother.

Buffy tucked her face into Kits neck, shocked as the trees around her blurred and all seemed to mesh together. This really was the way to travel…

***************

Apollo knelt over his twin as she writhed and moaned in agony, anxiety and fear filled him, both unfamiliar emotions to the God. As two slayers and Theron gently but firmly held her limbs to the bed Apollo, God of medicine urgently studied the bite mark, it hadn’t even been an hour and the entire muscle surrounding the wound was black and inflamed with infection.

Nearly crying out in frustration when his twin suddenly jerked causing him to lose sight of the wound Apollo glared at the slayer holding her leg who blushed and put more pressure on the limb.

Artemis howled in agony and Apollo bent over, pressing both palms to her chest Artemis suddenly went limp, now paralyzed from the neck down she wouldn’t feel a thing.


Apollo feared to let her faint again, the unknown poison that her huntresses had found on the gums of the deer’s teeth was something he had never seen before. Sighing he gently held a sharp blade to the raised wound, prodding gently his stomach recoiled when the blade pierced the skin and pus ran freely.

Looking up he saw the stoic centaur pale as she kept her hold on the Goddesses shoulders, pointless now but if it made her feel useful.

“Apollo…were here.” Pan announced as he, Kit and Buffy came into the main room where they had brought the Goddess.

“Good…I need clean rags and hot water…lots of it. And Pan go to my temple on Olympus and bring my medicine satchel. Not waiting for the satyr to acknowledge his commands Apollo began trying to drain Artemis’s leg of infection.

Looking up he saw Kit directing several of the nymphs and slayers to carry out his commands. He saw Buffy standing off to the side staring in shock at the broken skin. “Stop just standing there…make yourself useful dammit.” Apollo growled.

Buffy suddenly snapped out of her shock and came around his side to stand beside Theron, looking up she smiled reassuringly at her lover and looked down at Artemis, suddenly all through seemed to flee her when she saw the frozen expression of pain on the normally beautiful features of the Goddess. The copper hair was plastered to her tanned skin with sweat, agony was clear and Artemis’s mouth opened and reopened in silent screams.

“She can feel it?” Buffy asked uncertain. Apollo looked up and grimaced before nodding.

“Yes…whatever it is its working its way through my powers.” Choking back a sob Apollo grabbed the bag of medicine from Pan before the satyr was even through rematerializing from Olympus.

Shuffling through it Apollo pulled out a salve and began rubbing it all around the wound, Buffy reached out and gently took Artemis’s hand, looking down she was transfixed at how human the Goddess apearead. The aura of power and immortality was still all around her…but something was off.

“What happened?” Buffy asked.

“A deer bit her…it…happened so fast.” Theron whispered. Buffy looked up in disbelief before turning and spying the corpse of a deer on the far side of the room.

“A deer?” Buffy said disbelieving.

“Someone did this to her.” Apollo growled out as he began cutting a crescent shaped incision around the wound. “When I find him…I will kill them in a way that they will pray for tarturaus.”

Buffy looked down again at the Goddess, whatever medicine her brother was using seemed to be working. Already some color was returning but she still seemed so…fragile.

Concern and something very foreign enveloped her…the goddess HAD to live…she just had too.

“What now?” Theron asked.

“We wait.” Apollo said softly.

*********************************
Two Weeks Later

Artemis blinked as she struggled to open her eyes, swallowing she looked around her surroundings to see she was in her room. Her bedding which usually consisted of furs were replaced by linens and her left leg was elevated in a sling. Apollo.

Sitting she suddenly felt vertigo and dropped back down, her leg throbbed but it hadn’t been the blinding pain that she had felt after the first time she awoke.

How embarrassing…a fucking DEER bit her…her reputation would surely never recover.

Looking around her she saw her brother asleep, slumped in a chair beside her, his face was drawn and it appeared as if he hadn’t been sleeping well. Through there connection she sensed his worry and fear.

Turning she looked about her and was surprised when she saw no one else in the room but Buffy. What was she doing here?

“Your awake.” Said Apollo, Artemis turned and smiled.

“So I am…how long have I been out?” Artemis asked.

“Two weeks…the infections gone, now you’re healing.” Apollo said softly. Artemis frowned in confusion.

“What was it?” Artemis asked, it had never taken her so long to heal after any wound and she had had more violent wounds than a poisonous bite.

“I don’t know what the poison was…but it seemed to be draining your godhood. Zeus has never seen it before either…we were able to stop it from spreading but now that you’re awake there are things we must discuss.”

“What kind of things?” Artemis asked softly, feeling a very human trickle of fear run up her spine.

“The poison…it…made you incomplete. Even with the infection gone…well it’s taken your immortality.”

“I’m mortal?” Artemis asked in disbelief. Apollo nodded sadly.

“No…that’s impossible…brother I’m one of the twelve high gods…I cannot be mortal.”

“There is a way…your body can be restored to its natural state…I’ve spoken with the fates on this.”

“Well what is it!” Artemis ignored her sore muscles, sitting up she stared at her twin not bothering to hide her fear.

“I don’t know what the poison is…and the Fates weren’t much help…however Aphrodite was. We Gods are god down to our very souls and it seems when the poison ate that away…your soul can no longer thrive on its own. Aphrodite thinks that for you to regain your Godhood you need to find your soul mate.” Apollo said softly.

Artemis stared blankly at her twin, unable to fully grasp the meaning of his words. “What?”

“You…you have to find your soul mate and you have to fall in love with each other. Once that happens…you will be Goddess again because then your soul will be complete.”

“What?”

“Artemis please listen.” Apollo pleaded, he feared for her health as she began paling very rapidly.

“How…long do I have?” Artemis asked.

“One week to find her…Aphrodite believes if you are in proximity to her that the aging process will decrease.Artemis you cannot hide from this…mortality is not natural for you or me.”

“There is no way to fall in love in a week brother.” Artemis snapped.

“No you don’t have to love each other just…be around one another…constantly.” Apollo whispered. Fearing her next question.

“Is there anyway I can…track her down?” Artemis asked. Suddenly suspicious when Apollo blushed and looked away, running his fingers through his hair.

“Aphrodite did that for me.” Apollo said softly. “She doesn’t know anything yet.”

“Who is it?” Artemis asked, praying she was wrong, her connection to her twin almost told her before he did.

Instead he didn’t speak, instead looking across the room at the prone figure of Buffy asleep on the sofa.

Looking back and forth between them Artemis refused to acknowledge the implications of this. “So basically I fall in love or I die?”

“Yes.”

“With her?” Artemis asked. Apollo nodded and reached into his chest plate and pulled out a golden bracelet. “What’s that...Apollo…is that…NOOOO!!!” Artemis shrieked, however she wasn’t strong enough o fight off her twin.

Before she could stop him Apollo had fastened Hephestauses prized shackles on her wrist…it didn’t take a genius to figure out where the other one was…

“You know the rules sister…and I don’t trust you do be stubborn about this and simply ignore the poisons affects versus giving in to your fate….forgive me.” Apollo whispered before teleporting from her presence.

“Artemis…your awake….what’s wrong?” Buffy asked, waking when she had heard the Goddess shriek.

Glowering over at the slayer Artemis lay back in her bed. “You are not to leave my presence for more than twenty feet.

If you do…my meddlesome family has ensured that these” Artemis held up her wrist. “Will join together the second we are more than an inch apart our allowed space.”

“What?” Buffy gawked

“That’s what I said…” Artemis muttered.

TBC
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