ALEXANDRIA

Taking 'That Dog'

Apollo's POV

"We've already tried sooooo maaaaany times." Artemis whined, running her hands down the sides of her face. "This is sooooo pointless. Let's just kill her already."

She is really starting to get on my nerves. I massage my temples trying to block her out and figure out where I am going wrong with the memory wipe. Meanwhile, Artemis' obsessive whining isn't helping.

"Artemis!"

She shut up and looked at me like she couldn't believe I just raised my voice at her. She huffed and sat in the chair in the corner of the room. She may be my twin, but that doesn't mean I can stand her. I tolerate her at best, if that. If it weren't for our mother, I'd already killed her. I rolled my eyes at her childish behavior and turned my attention back to Shelby on the bed. She's currently unconscious, lying on the bed. It is our latest attempt to wipe her memory.

"What is it that is going wrong to make her remember who she is every single time?" I said out loud, talking to myself more than my sister.

"What are you doing to her?"

"It's a spell that I got Gaia to give me."

"Can you really trust her on this?" She turned her head, leaning to look over at me. I can see her in my peripherals. Even the blur in the corner of my eye of her is annoying.

"Yes. I told her if I failed then I'd take my chances with the supernatural mutts myself. She knew I meant I'd 'dispose' of her." I looked at Artemis as I pointed at Shelby.

"How are you going to manage to play the loving husband if this works?" She scoffed. "You absolutely hate her and all of her kind. Although ... I think you've actually grown to love her too in some weird way."

A smirk went across my face.

"Just like you're going to play the best friend / sister-in-law." I chuckled, knowing she couldn't stand Shelby after they sent us to the underworld. "I may hate all of them but I hate losing more."

She made gagging sounds. "That b***h and her dog can both jump off a cliff. I'd separate them and kill them both slowly if I could. I'd make her watch her mutt go first."

That's when the realization hit me. Her mutt. I ran over and yanked Artemis up out of the chair and hugged her. I realized I was hugging my sister then throw her back down into the chair. I dusted her off of myself then I started to head to the door.

"What in the gods was that all about?"

I grabbed the doorknob and turned to notice she was dusting me off of her as well. We both shared a dislike for each other.

"Your blind hatred just made me realize that maybe it isn't me that is messing up."

I opened the door and started to walk down the hall. I was sure what I was thinking was correct.

"Explain." Artemis was at a jog trying to keep up with my long strides down the hall.

I stopped abruptly and felt my sister face plant my back.

"What the ... why did you stop?"

I turned around to face her with a huge smile on my face. She gave me a disgusted look at the evil she saw shining in my eyes.

"That dog!" I said excitedly. "I have to separate her from that dog inside her. It's her other half, so it might not be affected by the spell because it's it's own entity."

I turned around to continue to where I was keeping Gaia and the Fates locked away. I left Artemis standing there going over what I had just revealed to her. I got halfway across the castle when I heard her yell out.

"Oh My Gods! I'm a Genius!"

I shook my head and smiled at her idiocracy. She was the absolute opposite of that.

"Hardly, if at all, sister." I whispered to myself. "Possibly the dumbest sack of flesh I've ever encountered."

I reached the door and paused as I went to grab the doorknob ...

"Apollo."

I halted and turned to see my father approaching.

"I was on my way to have a chat with the Fates. What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way to speak with Gaia. I believe I know why the memory wipe hasn't stuck."

"Ahhh. Good luck with that. Don't let me down. I've done a lot to get you to this point. The gods are split because of you." He almost had a look of disappointment.

He stepped past me and went through the door. I can't stand his arrogance. I guess I get it honest.