The Luna's Gift

We Need to Talk

    Helena felt writer’s block on her simple update email to Jonas. She didn’t want to share any of the intimate details with him while she was still trying to figure out those details herself. She decides to leave it short and simple: 

Jonas,

I am settling in nicely, everyone has been incredibly kind, and the property is beautiful. Artemis has been away on pack business and will be returning tomorrow. Pack meetings are every Sunday, currently the Pack is out camping, and the residence is vacated for the weekend. 

I hope this e-mail finds you well,

Helena Flynn

    She feels satisfied with the email and hits send, falling back onto her pillows and looking up at the ceiling. So much still feels surreal, and she isn't sure what to do. Both her and Mags experience the same thing at the same time, with siblings? After centuries of nothing? Many people came forward as Fated Mates over the centuries, the Daae would investigate and document each occasion. While the Daae could never fully make a determination of fraud because it was such an intimate experience, Helena believes they were all faking it, and now she isn't so sure. 

A warm tugging feeling explodes in her stomach, and she knows immediately that Artemis is back home. She stands up quickly, remembering that Artemis is coming here to talk and after a day of sitting around in her PJs, she started to panic. Dirty dishes litters the bed, with notes and papers scattered, and her teeth remaining unbrushed. She quickly puts the dishes on the tray Ingrid brought and hides it on the far side of the bed, her notes and papers she stuffs in her bag, and quickly makes the bed. She decides she has time for a quick shower, the entire time having an internal debate on why she should even care about how she looks right now.

****

    “Can’t chat tonight, sorry. Super busy today. Tmrw?” Artemis reads the text from Apollo several times, irritated that he wouldn’t make time for her and this very, very important quest she was embarking on. He’s been gone a week, but if she was honest, he was gone even before he physically left. About a year ago, Apollo started acting differently, he became very serious about his faith, and talked to Artemis about some day joining the Tribunal. While Artemis didn’t believe the Tribunal were particularly men of faith, but rather men of power, she wholeheartedly supported her brother, even when he made the drastic decision to join the Tribunal sooner rather than later. Their parents used to talk about how the twins were Goddess sent, coming after so many years of trying for children. 

    The past couple of weeks have been a blur: Apollo deciding to leave, Artemis succeeding him, the Tribunal’s outrage, the arrival, and Helena. “Helena...,” Artemis thought, a small smile playing at the edge of her lips. Helena is smart and clever and very beautiful, even in her ripped pajamas, and Artemis would want her regardless of Godly intervention. “Woo her...charm her...you can’t do this without her...you need to mark her by the next full moon..Mates make you stronger…” Calliope’s words played through Artemis’ mind. Through everything that’s happened in the past few weeks, and even though her rational mind is still trying to process, a deeper part of Artemis knows this is her path, her destiny, and everything is now falling into place. She was born for this. Now if only she could get Helena to like her. 

    It was sunset now, and she decides to go down to the cottage and talk to Helena. Charm her... ran across her mind again. Artemis changes into some clean jeans and a plain white t-shirt with the front tucked in. She contemplates her leather jacket, which always gets her compliments, but she knows Helena has already seen it. Just wearing the t-shirt showed off her tattoos, which she also got a lot of compliments on, and she weighed the options of what Helena might like more. Decisions, decisions…

A knock at the cottage door led no results, but Artemis knows she was inside, she can feel her close by. A creaking noise from the pipes in the cottage, and Artemis solves the mystery quickly. Artemis smiles, Helena is showering...for her. Maybe there is hope for Artemis yet. She balances the weight from the dinner tray she brought with her, and slowly opens the door. She can hear the shower running and a soft voice singing an 80s classic through the door. She has a few minutes to stage the perfect entrance. Artemis sets up dinner on the small table in the living room, quickly lighting the few candles in the room for ambiance. Closing the shutters and blocking out the natural light let the candlelight fill the room with a soft and warm glow. Next, Artemis tries several different positions and poses for when she comes out of the shower: standing with her arms crossed against the door frame, sitting on the loveseat, and even sitting on the arm of the chair. She hears the water cut off, and Artemis quickly decides that she looks coolest standing against the door frame with her arms crossed, biceps and tattoos on full display. “Prepare to be wooed…” Artemis thinks to herself, her best smirk crossing her face, and then Helena opens the bathroom door, promptly sees Artemis, and screams. “Or not…” Artemis finishes her thought.

“Why are you in my bedroom?” Helena asks sharply, heart on her chest from the scare.

“I came to talk. And bring you dinner.” Artemis extends her arm backwards towards the table of food. 

Taking a deep breath and finally shaking off the startle, “you couldn’t have waited five minutes? I’m...in a towel!” Helena looks down to make sure her towel is covering everything, and thankfully, it is.

Artemis smiles brightly, “Yes, I can see that. Although truthfully, I was hoping you liked to air dry. I’m pleased to see you’re already...wet.”

Helena laughs, “does that usually work for you?”

“What do you mean?” Artemis ask, genuinely puzzled.

“This,” Helena moves her hand around gesturing to Artemis’ general area, “the cocky attitude, the innuendos, the pushed back hair, and dazzling smile?” She adds sarcastically. Helena hates to admit it, but it is working for her. Their connection sent flames through Helena from being in such close proximity, and she yearns to reach out and run her hand through that hair and to kiss that stupid grin right off her face. 

Artemis smiles even brighter, “and does that usually work for you? The walls you put up, the sarcasm, and that sharp tongue of yours...” Artemis takes a step towards her, and another, “you’re used to being the smartest person in the room, that’s obvious...do you ever just…” She is now standing directly in front of Helena, “...let go?” 

Artemis’ scent of cedar and sage engulfs Helena, making her pulse quicken. Helena takes a hard swallow, trying to regain her senses, “I let go. I let go when and how I want.”

Artemis smirks again, bringing a finger up to the top of Helena’s towel, playfully following the edge of the towel, just barely touching the top of her breasts, “Ms. Flynn...what do you want?”