The Forgotten Goddess

Sweater Paws

“Fancy seeing you here, Newman. Shouldn’t you be in class?” The blue eyed girl looks up at me from her spot on the floor. A mischievous smirk immediately finds its way across her face. I so desperately want to smack it off of there. It doesn't help that she looks irritatingly good today in her white shirt which has two buttons open, revealing a silver chain, tucked neatly in her black skinny jeans that hugs her long legs, combat boots, a black beanie and her signature leather jacket with a skull on the back.

“What do you want, loser?” The girl beside her asks. I roll my eyes. This girl cannot be older than 16. And I don’t want to engage in any kind of conversations with any of Rayne’s hook ups.

“I want to talk to you about something.” My hands tighten around my books due to the stress till my knuckles turn white. When she sits there looking at me expectantly, I can’t help but groan, “Alone. Without your… friend around.” I point at the girl beside her. The girl starts glaring at me. I roll my eyes at her.

“Excuse me-”  

“Hey, Amelia. Shoo. Leave.” Rayne says, staring at the girl with a stone cold face.

“What? But…” The girl starts arguing but Rayne gets up, completely ignoring the girl. Her full focus is now on me. The same electric blues that I think I saw last night are now filled with hope and curiosity. The girl huffs and walks away. 

“So, what’s up? What did you want to talk about?” She asks, her hands shoved in her skinny jeans’ back pockets. I stare at her, uncertainty clouding my head. She is surely going to make fun of me. I mean even I don’t believe myself anymore. It almost doesn’t make sense… My room is on the 2nd floor of the house and I have no tree where someone can climb up on. 

“You know what? Forget it. Sorry for disturbing your make out session.” I say, turning around to leave.

“Hey, no.” A hand wraps around my wrist and pulls me back, “Tell me what happened. It’s clearly bothering you.” The clear blue eyes stare back at me with concern and worry and a look that says ‘I will hunt down whatever is bothering you.’ I let out a sigh.

“It’s probably nothing. I am pretty sure you are going to make fun of me when I tell you.” I shake my head, looking at my scuffed sneakers.

“Why would I laugh at you?” She asks, confusion ringing in her voice. I look up at her.

“Because it’s stupid! That’s why. I am just… I am just really tired.” I say, my eyes averting to the trees outside the school. My mind racing through the last few weeks. I haven’t had one free day for myself. Being a straight A student with all AP classes and then helping my parents with things is so tough. 

“Okay… We are going somewhere. Come on.” My eyes focus back on Rayne. She looks very serious and my eyes widen.

“No. Really. You don’t have to pity me, Rayne. It’s okay. I will be alright.” I say, trying to pull my hand from hers but she doesn’t relent. Her grip is firm but not bruising firm. A gentle firm. 

“You are like an hour away from a break down. Just… trust me. I’ll bring you back after lunch break.” Her eyes soften to a degree that could only be described as puppy dog eyes and I can’t help but give in. 

“Fine. But promise me you won’t kill me. I have a lot to live for.” A smile lights up on her face as bright as the full moon with no other stars in the obsidian sky. And something in me shifts. I feel like I need to keep her this happy. Always. I frown at it but let it go as she drags me along out of the school and to her car. 

“So, let me get this straight. You think I was stalking you and was outside your window at 3 in the morning. Your window that is on the second floor.” She recounts, her arms crossed over her chest as she leans against the backseat of the booth. I nod, chewing the bigger than necessary bite I took. She stares at me before she bursts out laughing. I look at her offended.

“You said you won’t laugh at me.” I throw a fry at her which just makes her laugh harder. 

"I am so sorry but it's just really funny." She snorts, wiping the tears from her eyes, "Do you really think someone is following you? Is it Jackson? He could be trying to scare you. I can put the fear of God in him." She sips at her root beer, looking like a boss with her arm thrown over the back couch. 

"I don't think so. I mean the only thing he has done that's really evasive is sending me a d**k pic once in a while." Her nose wrinkles in disgust. 

"Boys are gross." She shakes her head. 

"I know… But getting back to the topic. I had the weirdest dream last night too." 

"Hmm. Do tell me. Was it a s*x dream?" Her eyes dance mischievously and I realize just how breathtakingly gorgeous her eyes are set off by her white shirt. 

"No. Do you know the myth of Kallisto?" Something in her eyes sparkles but disappears before I can figure it out what it is. 

“I have a vague idea but enlighten me. From what I have seen in our English classes, you always have a different insight.” She leans forwards and rests her elbow on the table, propping her head on her chin.

“Okay so, the myth goes like this. Kallisto was a nymph or the daughter of Lycaon. We don’t know for sure. What we do know for sure is that she was Artemis’ follower. One of her huntresses? Maidens? Whatever.” I shake my head in order to get back on track, “So, Zeus, the King of Gods and Artemis’ father and Egoistic AssholeTM, transformed himself to look like Artemis and lured Kallisto and seduced her. Then Kallisto got pregnant and Artemis was pissed when she found out because she didn’t know the whole story. She syced her hounds on poor pregnant Kallisto. Hera, who was mad because Zeus cheated on her for the unkempt time, transformed Kallisto into a bear. Kallisto escaped the hounds, gave birth to her son, who was taken away by Zeus. 6 years after all this, Kallisto got caught in Artemis’ hunt party. When faced with Artemis, she didn’t run but stood still and took the arrow. By the time Artemis realized what she had done, it was too late. Artemis then transformed her into the Great Bear or the Ursa Major, so she can live forever among the stars.” 

“All these Greek myths are so poetic and beautiful.” Rayne says, her voice very low and sorrowful It also sounds ancient and wistful. Like she has experienced something similar. 

“I think they are patriarchal and glorified.” I shrug, “But here’s the thing. There are beliefs that Kallisto was Artemis’ lover and companion and it makes sense because if this was not the case, why would Zeus take on Artemis’ form to seduce Kallisto and why would Kallisto be seduced if she wasn’t already attracted to Artemis?” 

“But Artemis was a maiden goddess, right?” She asks, playing with the shakers. I nod wistfully.

“‘Maiden’ means unmarried and in ancient Greece, virgin didn’t necessarily mean what we make it to be today. It meant unmarried to. Which also makes sense if we see Artemis’ character makes sense that she’d want to be a virgin. Marriage would have limited her freedom. Also, pretty sure she hated men. Like despised them.” 

“I can imagine why… What do you think the ancient Greek version of unsolicited nudes is?” 

“I would like to talk about that but let’s get back to my dream before I derail.” She nods at me to go ahead.

“Yeah. So, Apparently, I was Kallisto in this dream and I was in this really beautiful meadow. I was wearing a white chiffon dress like they do in Greek paintings. And Artemis came in. She was so beautiful and majestic and glorious. She was all decked out in armor with her Silver bow and quiver. She had this silver aura around her. It felt like the entire forest stopped breathing when she walked over to me. The grace and poise was just so awe inspiring and yet terrifying at the same time...” I trail off, my mind going back to the dream and the warmth that I felt in her presence. It was all so real. The way her eyes shone. Her smile seemed to ignite a thousand flames in my stomach. The way I wanted to do nothing but spend an eternity wrapped in those strong arms that would protect me from... 

I shake my head and bring myself back to the present.

“She had returned from a hunt and she was telling me how amazing it was and that I should’ve accompanied her. I told her that I hated killing things. When I turned back around to face her…” I trail off, my cheeks heating up. I look away from Rayne. My heart, beating faster than a Ferrari at full speed. A gentle hand on my fidgeting hands brings me back to the present. I look up into Rayne’s eyes. There’s a gentle look there that makes me feel like someone has let a zoo out in my stomach but also calms my nerves at the same time, “It was you. In a leather jacket. Then I woke up, had water and saw the eyes.”  

“Oh my… Those are some very big shoes to fill.” She ponders with a smile on her face, “Sorry to disappoint you, Sweater Paws but I cannot fill in Artemis’ shoes… That’s God’s work.” I punch her shoulder from across the table with a small smile on my face. 

“You don’t have to fill in anyone’s shoes. I am not interested in you.” I mumble, going back to my burger.

“And yet you dream about me.” She winks at me, going back to her root beer. I roll my eyes at her when something in her sentence catches my attention.

“Sweater Paws?” I make a confused sound at the back of my throat and she stares at me intensely. 

“Yeah. You always wear cardigans or hoodies and cover your hands with them. It’s cute.” She shrugs, “And endearing.” I blush a crimson red, dipping a fry in the ketchup and swirling it around. 

“You are stalkerish, you know?” I raise an eyebrow at her, nibbling at the fry.

“Or you are too beautiful not to notice.” She smiles, her thumb tracing circles on my knuckles. I had completely forgotten that she was still holding my hand, “Go on a date with me. It won’t be as awesome as a hunt with Artemis but I can show a girl a good time too.” I laugh, 

“Are you going to ever let it go?” I ask, still giggling as she looks on with a proud expression. She shakes her head with a wide grin, “Okay fine. How about you come to the town bar with me and my brother this Saturday? Then we can talk more about this date.” 

“I’ll take it. After all, I have to fill Artemis’ shoes.” I throw a fry at her again as she laughs her ass off. 

“Shut up!” I yell but cannot keep the smile off of my face.