Daughter of the Sky, Son of the Earth

Chapter Eigtheen

Water

My muscles still ached, and my back still felt stiff from the fight with the wild monster I had encountered in the woods. I felt much better, and I was sure it had something to do with Artemis's elixir. She gave me a cup to drink every few hours and I felt it work quickly as it healed me. 

I was sure I had broken bones after the attack yesterday, but they didn't feel broken anymore. Just sore. I shrugged the thought away, thinking it was probably going to go away soon if I kept drinking the elixir. 

I knew I should probably leave soon, there was a nagging feeling at the back of my head urging me to leave this place and find the girl in the picture. I felt her transformation getting closer, but it was not just that. There was something else. Something dark lurking around.

I didn't know if it was coming from me or something else. I just had a bad feeling, and it was going to get much worse very soon. 

The wolf's soft growl made me return to reality and I jumped slightly. I wasn't used to being so close to animals, much less wild animals that were much bigger than their normal size. Oak and Willow were sleeping on the wooden ground. They snored and fidgeted slightly as they dreamt, and I couldn't help but wonder what they were dreaming about. 

Artemis came into the cabin a moment later, it was midafternoon, and she had gone out to scout the read by herself. She said she was going to go out and look for my blade that had fallen where I had been knocked unconscious. 

I had insisted on going with her, but she told me it wasn't safe for me. I had a target on my head and now more monsters were aware of my presence in the forest. So she left me alone with two wolves to guard me. I chuckled and rolled my eyes.

"Did you find anything?" I asked as I got to my feet to greet the hooded woman in front of me. 

Artemis took off her hood before reaching into her brown crossbody bag. It looked so much like Aileen's. She pulled out my familiar small-sized blade and I sighed in relief. Truthfully, a part of me believed I had lost it for good and I was glad that wasn't the case. 

"I thought it was broken but then I remembered Poseidon liked to ask Hephaestus to make him elaborate blades," she said with a smirk as she handed me the blade. That's when I noticed she wasn't holding it directly in her hand. There was a thin piece of fabric around the knife.

Artemis must have noticed my questioning look since she sighed and took off her coat. "Each of us gods has our own symbol. The symbol gives power to us and to the artifact we weld it upon. In your case, your blade is branded by the Lord of the Seas. He is a very powerful god, and he has claimed this sword for himself and any of his descendants. Only you can use it. Just like Aileen can use artifacts with my symbol and Hades’," she explained as she took a seat next to her wolves.

Meanwhile, I pulled out my compass and analyzed it closely. If this compass had been branded by Athena, how come Aileen could use it as well.

Artemis's chuckle filled the room. "Athena isn't like that. She's doesn't usually place her symbol on things. For instance, that compass was meant for a greater purpose than to just use it for herself. That compass is meant to give answers to anyone who wields it. She is not greedy; Athena likes it when people prefer to find answers by themselves rather than ask someone else for them. I admire that about your mother."

I smiled and that's when I noticed a branch-like tattoo going up to her arm all the way to her shoulder where it connected with a circle with a moon inside. Noticing my attention, Artemis showed me her tattoo and smiled. "This is my symbol. I use it for protection mostly. Being a lone goddess out here can be dangerous and I have to make sure I take all the precautions I can to avoid any accident. I have my wolves of course but still, all of my weapons have my symbol, just in case a monster with thumbs tries to use it. It will backfire," she said with a faint smirk and I gulped. 

Aileen was so much like her mother. 

"Anyway, I have the feeling you're about to tell me something," she said as her eyes locked on mine. 

"Yeah, I was actually. Thank you for bringing back my blade and for saving me and all this. I don't know how to repay you, but I must really be going. I have a bad feeling that won't let me stay put. I think this girl is in danger," I explained as I showed her the image of the platinum-blonde girl in the compass. Her eyes widened and she inhaled sharply before looking at me.

"So, you have to go after her, huh. You're going to have your hands full with that one. Zeus loves his children, and I am almost positive he didn't cut himself from her life. A lot of monsters catch up to those trails that the connection leaves behind, especially when she is about to go through her transformation."

My eyes widened as I realized what she was saying. I was going after Zeus's daughter. Before I could say anything, Artemis was already asking me a question.

"The feeling you felt. How did you feel it? Can you describe it in some way?" she asked as she pulled out a small book from her pocket. The leather cover was worn out and the pages were wrinkled and yellow after many years of use. 

Shaking my head, I tried to think of some way to explain what I felt but it didn't even make sense to me. "I just feel a darkness and if I try to think of it, I see a black sort of smoke form in my mind. It's just floating there and if I try to touch it, it feels cold and... dangerous. After looking at it for so long, I see my own reflection staring back at me," I said as I focused on the image I was describing.

Artemis's face paled and she clenched her jaw together. "That can't be possible, can it?" She whispered in a low voice, and I couldn't tell if the question was directed at me or not.

"What? What does that mean?" I asked as my body stiffened.

Artemis looked at me and got to her feet. "For months I have felt a dark presence roaming the Earth, but I could never find the source. I didn't find much though, just the feeling. But from what you tell me, I think it's worse than we think." Her face had paled greatly, and I could see the wariness in her eyes.

"What? what does that mean?" I asked warily as I stared at Artemis. 

The huntress turned to me and hesitated before responding. "I think I know what's causing all of this. The monsters' sudden retaliation, the Elemental Children, the weakening powers in Olympus, and the way the Earth seems to be acting strangely. All of that happened Eons ago when Typhon tried to take the throne from Zeus. In the end, he was locked up in Tartarus and buried with his followers. Somehow, he must have woken up and he is preparing to attack. I don't think he takes what happened during the last war lightly. Zeus did the despicable to win."

I stiffened, unsure if I wanted to hear what came next, but I had a feeling that it was important. "What happened?"

Artemis shook her head and waved her hands in front of her. "I shouldn't speak of it. I was sworn to secrecy when it happened because only I and my brother caught Zeus. He is not what a lot of myths make him out to be. He's not entirely good, none of us are, but at least we have the decency to admit failure and show responsibility for our actions."

I didn't say anything as I watched the goddess pace around her living room like a caged mouse. She looked restless and scared, something I would have never expected from someone like her. 

"Who was Typhon? What could he do?" I asked after a moment, I wanted to know what we were up against. 

Artemis jumped at the sound of my voice as if she had forgotten I was even there. 

"Typhon was a giant, a very powerful one at that. Among the monsters, he was considered as their father, their creator, and lord. He was cruel, bloodthirsty, and terrifying. He knew how to get into people's minds. Literally. He makes you think he's there to help you, to guide you, and give you strength, but once you let him in... It's like an infection. If you let him in, the longer he lives inside of you, the harder it is to get rid of him. Apollo, my brother, developed a serum that helps take him out but it takes strength from the host. I will give you some, just in case. Face-to-face, he is the most horrid creature I have ever seen. Imagine the most terrifying monster you possibly can and even then, I don't think it comes close to Typhon. The giant had no apparent weakness, at least not that we knew of at the beginning. I told Zeus to talk to the giant, to negotiate terms, but Zeus is too prideful and when his throne and reign were questioned, he decided to defend his pride. The war took years and cost a lot of lives. Much bloodshed could have been prevented if they'd just talked, I think. But it doesn't matter now, if Typhon is back then we must prepare. The sooner, the better. I'll send a message to Olympus and try to get a lead. You should find the girl and train her as soon as you can. When you see Aileen again, tell her to find me or contact me, please. There is something I must speak to her that I don't think she'd appreciate in a letter. Once the four of you are together, head to the Sun Volcano where the sun meets the land. There you will find Hephaestus. He will provide you with weapons. Oh, and take one of my wolves with you. You might need the extra help," she said quickly as she began to walk around the house, looking for all sorts of items that seemed random to me and put them in her bag.

"I can't take one of your wolves. It'd be too much," I said sheepishly as I noticed Oak eyeing me closely. 

Artemis smiled and placed her hand on my shoulder as she stopped in front of me. "You're a very humble boy, Andrew. Smart, humble, attentive... I'm happy to know you are the one who is with my daughter."

A fluttery feeling coursed through me as her words sank in. I blushed and tried to keep myself from worrying about Aileen and what she might be doing at this precise moment. I wanted to talk to her, to tell her everything that had happened, but most importantly, I just wanted to feel her next to me. Her strength, her fire. 

I sighed and Artemis smiled. "Alright then, take this," she said as she handed me a silver whistle. It looked just like the ones humans used to train their pets, I didn't know what would be different from this one. "No matter where you are, no matter how far, my wolves will find you and help you if you ever need it. Good luck, Andrew. I must be going to find the nearest stream to contact Olympus and I don't know when I'll be back. I packed food for you and don't worry about it going bad under the sun, it's magical. And I added your last dose of the elixir as well as some of the serum I told you about if you ever need it."

I nodded my head and smiled at the woman in front of me. "Thank you, Artemis. For everything."

Artemis smiled and waved me off. "It's nothing. I just wanted to help. I must go but you can leave anytime you want to." She quickly grabbed her coat and weapons before heading towards the door.

I nodded my head once again and, in a moment, I was alone.

I stood there in the living room just looking at the two wolves on the ground. They stared back at me with anticipation, and I let out a sigh of defeat. Better sooner than later, I thought to myself before grabbing my backpack and knife and walking out of the cabin.