People looked at each other in shock and then Billy asked, “What do you mean?”
I looked at Ares and he nodded his head. I turned back to the group and said, “We’ve been kept in the dark for centuries about the existence of preternaturals. Now, the preternaturals are taking the world back, taking control. Millions of humans have already been killed as you’ve seen from the news reports. The mist is vampires and the wolves are werewolves.”
The group began murmuring loudly and then Glen, the oldest man in our town stepped forward. “How do we know you’re telling the truth? And if you are, what do you want from us?”
“I’ll prove to you that preternaturals exist and all I want is for you to trust me and do what I say.” I turned to the trees and said, “Come out. I don’t really think we need all of us, but it’ll be better to show them that it’s not just me who’s different.”
Koda, Achilles and Hera came forward, standing just behind me. I closed my eyes and focused on the flame within me that was my source of power. I opened my eyes and knew my body was glowing.
I dimmed the light so that they could see me as I pulled my wings from my back. The crowd gasped in shock and everyone took a step back. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t harm you.”
“What are you?” Skankzilla asked.
“I’m half werewolf and half sidhe, or fairy as you call us.”
“Werewolf?” Billy asked. “You don’t look like a wolf.”
His tone was mocking, as if he expected me to be lying about it. He could see me glowing with wings out of my back, but he still doubted I could be a werewolf. Had I been that dense?
Yes. Yes I had.
Ares said, “Artemis is telling the truth. She and I are the only mixed bloods. The only half werewolf, half sidhe.” He pulled his shirt off and I glared at Skankzilla who all but trampled those in front of her to get a better look. Ares kept his sweatpants on and took a half-shift. Koda came to stand beside Ares and changed into his wolf form.
A woman in the back screamed and I released my powers, letting my wings retract and said, “Don’t be frightened. Ares and Koda won’t harm anyone. They’re simply showing you the forms we can take. As you can see, werewolves do exist.”
Ares reverted back to his man form and shook his body like a dog flinging water off.
“In a short amount of time, a group of preternaturals, the vampires and wolves, will come to this town. They will give you the options of death, becoming one of them or becoming slaves,” I continued.
I took one of the brands from the box Koda was holding and set it on the ground in front of me. “If you don’t want to be turned, if you want to stay free, use this brand and they’ll know you are Prince Ares of the Werewolves’ slaves.”
“How does us being your slave make us free?” Glen asked.
“Because I won’t keep you as slaves. When things have cooled off we will let you go and you’ll all be free,” Ares said as he took my hand.
I looked at Billy and said, “Please. You have to listen to me. I lived with you all thinking I was human like you. What I’ve seen since then has changed me, but I’m still your friend. Please, do what I’m asking.”
Hera put her hands on us and Koda and Achilles put their hands on her. “Heed Artemis’ advice humans.”
I’d wanted to say more, but Hera had probably been right to make us leave. Though I would have liked to talk to some of the people in town whom I knew would listen to reason.
The nausea vanished and I opened my eyes to find us in a large plaza filled with people. I stood up on top of a table and yelled to get everyone’s attention. “Listen to me! Everyone!”
* * *
We traveled from place to place, only sparing an hour or so to nap once in a while. Once we went to the last places left in America, we returned to Europe.
I stood in the Coliseum and raised my hands and wings up. “They’re coming and there is only one way to stay free.” Achilles translated for me as I spoke. “Choose to be our slaves and we will grant you freedom once everything is settled. If you agree, just use this brand on your arm and you will be spared.”
Each time I finished my speech Hera teleported us out. It was great for time, but it also made our point to the humans that we really were telling the truth. We weren’t human and we had powers they thought were reserved for fairytales and movies.
I looked up at our new location and blinked in shock. Russia. Since fully gaining my sidhe powers, the cold didn’t bother me as much anymore so I ignored the cold and looked at the beautiful snow. I walked around and looked at the buildings in awe. It was night time and there weren’t many humans out so I couldn’t make my speech now. “Maybe we should wait until tomorrow?” I suggested.
Ares rubbed his thumb across my knuckles. “Tomorrow is our last day.”
I leaned against him, exhausted from the traveling and lack of sleep. “I know.”
Ares led us through the streets and to an older building. After talking with the security guard for a moment, he let us in. Ares took us the top floor where a large penthouse took up the entire floor. I looked at Ares and he smiled. “I have a few buildings around the world. This is one of mine.”
“You own this?”
He nodded.
I walked around and looked at the elaborate decorations and the set up. It was gorgeous and everything looked expensive. Even the light fixtures seemed to be made out of gold and jewels. I walked to the master bedroom and stared at the bed that seemed to be three king sized mattresses put together. The bed took up the entire room and I jumped up on to it as soon as I entered. The comforter was filled with down feathers and the mattress was like lying on clouds.
Ares hopped up on the bed beside me and kissed my cheek. “We should get some food before we go to sleep.”
I nodded my head and sighed happily. “I think this is the most comfortable bed I’ve ever laid on.”
Koda laughed. “It better be! Ares spent a lot to have this bed made.”
Hera cleared her throat to get our attention. “There’s a café just down the street that stays open late.”
Ares helped me climb out of the bed and we all walked back out of the building and to the café. We all sat in a booth and I looked around at the faces of those with me and couldn’t help laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Koda asked.
“Here we are in the human world, sitting in a café with the Queen of the Light Court of the Sidhe, the Prince of the Werewolves, the Prince of the Sidhe and, well, me and you. It’s just funny to me that after so many years of being human now I’m sitting here with all of you and it feels like its no big deal.”
Ares slipped his arm around my waist. “You’re adjusting, which is good. If you weren’t adjusting that would be bad. Though, I do see your point and it is somewhat funny.”
My mood sobered and I asked, “Do you think anyone will listen to me?”
Achilles whispered, “It’s their decision now, Artemis. Even if they don’t believe you now, when the others come to capture them, they’ll know you were telling the truth. You’re doing the right thing in giving them a choice. Not many of the preternaturals would give the humans a choice.”
We ate in silence and then returned to Ares’ building to sleep. I only had one more day to travel, which meant only a few more places we could visit. Even though I knew Achilles was right, I felt as though I wasn’t doing enough. As if there was something more that I could do. Something I could do to save all of humankind.
* * *
Ares woke me up by gently rubbing my back. “Mmm,” I said half-consciously. He started to pull the blankets down, but I held on tight. “Cold,” I protested.
Ares nipped my earlobe, successfully waking me up. “Come on. I have a surprise for you.”
I wanted to groan and protest, but I was too curious to do either. After stretching and forcing myself up and out of the bed, I pulled on clothes and shuffled to the bathroom like a zombie, arms raised in front of me
to avoid running into anything and feet shuffling across the carpet. I think I even moaned a little, which earned soft laughter from Ares’ direction. I ignored him and hurriedly brushed my teeth and used the restroom before returning to him.
Ares hugged me against him and kissed my cheek. “I didn’t know that you were also part zombie.”
I snarled at him. “I am NOT a morning person.” I looked towards the window and my mouth gaped open. “The sun isn’t even out yet! It is way too early to be up.”
Ares’ fingers intertwined with mine and he kissed my lips gently. “Come on. You’ll forget all about the time when you see what I have planned.”
I doubted him, but obligingly followed him. Besides, any time I got to spend alone with Ares was worth the loss of sleep. We walked silently out of the bedroom, past Koda, Achilles and Hera, who were all sleeping peacefully, and out into the hallway. Ares pushed open a door that had a sign with some type of warning, but I couldn’t read Russian to decipher it’s meaning.
“Ares, where are we going?”
He smiled at me, his full true smile I cherished so much and said, “It’s a surprise.”
I hate surprises, but for him and for that smile, I’d endure. We walked up a set of stairs and then Ares pushed open a door and we stepped out onto the roof of the building. The view was spectacular, even at night. I walked around the roof, but avoided getting too close to the edge. Even though I had wings now, I couldn’t stand the thought of leaning out over the edge of the building.
Ares cleared his throat and I turned to find a blanket set on the snow covered roof with a picnic basket and wine. Ares had also set up two candles beside the blanket. I walked over to him and snapped my fingers, a small flame flickering to life above my finger, and lit the candles. I sat on the blanket beside Ares and watched as he pulled out bread and cheese from the basket. He ripped a piece of the bread off and handed it to me. “It’s come to my attention that we rarely have any alone time together. I intend to change that.”
I took a bite of the warm bread and listened to him. He was right. We hardly ever got to enjoy time alone together. If he could arrange more dates like this, I was going to be a very happy woman.
“I’m sorry the beginning of your life with the preternaturals has been so difficult. I hope you know that I will do everything within my power to make up for this once the world has settled down.”
I swallowed the bread and moved closer to him on the blanket, looking up into his blue eyes. “And how do you intend to make up for this?”
He smiled and my heart skipped a beat. “That is a need to know basis and you don’t need to know. Yet.”
I laughed and kissed his lips softly. “Tease.”
The sun began to rise and my breath caught in my throat as I watched the lights changing colors in the sky and saw the buildings around us light up. It was gorgeous.
Ares wrapped his arms around me and whispered, “I love you and every time I see the sun, I’ll think of you, my Sunshine.”
I relaxed against him and watched the sun rise, it was the best morning I’d had in a while. Ares and I ate the bread and cheese and then watched as the city’s inhabitants began to rise.
“Ares?”
“Hm?”
“I have so many unanswered questions and it seems like I never have time to ask them. I don’t want to ruin our date, but…”
Ares nodded his head. “You’re right. Ask away.”
I tried to think what to ask him first and my brain decided to draw blanks. I sat in the early morning light thinking for two full minutes until the first question popped into my head. “What’s the prophecy you’ve talked about?”
Ares shifted until he was leaning back on his elbows and squinting at the sun. “Two hundred years ago an oracle made a prophecy which rocked the entire preternatural world. The oracle said, ‘a mixed blood woman of great power will fight the evil which holds the world in darkness and right the balance of good and evil’. Many were confused since the current times weren’t in darkness and so, we took it as an omen for the future. Most people forgot about the prophecy and decided the oracle was losing her touch and simply looking for attention. Now, it seems you may be the woman she was talking about.”
“But the world isn’t really unbalanced right now. I mean, I know the humans aren’t ruling anymore, but that doesn’t mean that the balance of good and evil is, well, unbalanced.”
“Perhaps not right now, but if Maurice succeeds, he may tilt the balance.”
Of course. “So, he wants me because he believes that after his plan is underway I will be the only one capable of ending his tyranny?”
Ares nodded his head and then wrapped his arms around me growling softly. “I won’t let him have you.”
It was a very possessive gesture, but I scooted closer to him and allowed myself to relax in his hold. Strangely I enjoyed the possessiveness he showed. “I know. I trust you.”
Ares rubbed his face against my hair and growled again. “Mine.”
I leaned against him with all my weight, surprising him and forcing him onto his back. I straddled his body and pinned his arms down with my hands. “Mine.” I nuzzled his neck and flicked my tongue along his pulse.
He smiled happily and pulled me down to squish me against his chest in a tight hug. “Yes. Forever.”
I struggled out of his hold and then nipped his ear playfully before jumping away from him and squatting down. Ares sat up and smiled. I had to stop myself from shaking my butt since I didn’t have a tail to wag and instead put my hands down in the snow of the rooftop and whined. Ares dashed towards me and I tossed the snow I had in his face. He sputtered and wiped the snow off, but I was on the other side of the roof already, gathering up a snowball. He turned to me and I threw the ball, hitting him in the center of the chest. He looked down at the watery ball and watched as it slid down his chest to his stomach and then to the ground.
He squatted down and began packing snow into a ball. “You asked for it now. You do realize this means war?”
I giggled and packed my own ball. “Bring it on, Your Highness.”
His ball hit me in the stomach just as I threw mine and hit his shoulder. We both grabbed more ammunition and continued firing at each other. I packed my ball and aimed carefully, throwing it and watching with pure delight as it hit him on the head. The ball slid down his hair and plopped onto his shoulder.
I couldn’t help it, I doubled over with laughter.
“You think that’s funny?” Ares asked. I looked up at him, but couldn’t stop laughing so I just nodded my head. His body blurred and I watched as he covered the distance of the roof to me in under one second. His body pressed up against mine as he smashed snow on the top of my head and squished it into my hair.
I gasped in shock and pushed away from him, shaking my hair and trying to get the cold snow out. He laughed and returned to his side of the roof. I noticed he was inching towards the door and quickly threw the ball at him. At that moment, the door flung open, Achilles stepped out, and the snow ball hit him right in the face.
I gasped and my hands covered my mouth as I fought not to laugh. The fight didn’t last long as both Ares and I broke down and laughed hysterically. Achilles wiped the snow from his face and looked from me to Ares. “Now I understand what all the raucous was.” He bent down and started making a large snow ball.
I shook my head and held up my hand. “No, Achilles, don’t you even…” He tossed the large ball with deadly accuracy. It hit me in the chest and knocked me off my feet. I groaned as I sat up and glared at the laughing Princes who seemed for the first time to have forgotten their differences as they shared a laugh at my expense. I made two balls and threw them at the two men, making them stop laughing and wipe at their faces.
Achilles looked at Ares. “Alliance?”
Ares smiled at Achilles. “Alliance.”
Well that couldn’t be good. “Hey, no teaming up its not…” I screeched as I was forced to duck from
the first few balls they tossed at me. I glared at the two men, but when I saw their smiling faces and saw them working together for the first time in who knew how many years, I couldn’t get mad. So, I dodged as many of their balls as I could while throwing my own at them. We were all laughing and smiling until Hera walked out onto the roof with Koda and ruined our escapade by glaring at us. “It’s time to eat and then you will speak to the last group of humans before we return.”
“What a buzzkill she turned out to be,” I muttered under my breath. Unfortunately I’d forgotten that she had enhanced hearing just like everyone else with me. Koda snickered then tried to play it off as a cough, while Achilles and Ares tried their best to keep straight faces.
Hera rolled her eyes and huffed, “Children.”
~~~
Chapter Nine
I was exhausted from all of our traveling. None of the humans had tried to attack me, though some had been frightened. I couldn’t know how many I’d saved, if any, until after it was all done, but I felt good for trying. We returned to the Light Court and Achilles’ chambers.
I lay in the bed between Achilles and Ares who had agreed to share the bed with me so that both could touch me while they slept. I stared up at the ceiling and wondered how we were going to work out something between the three of us. I knew I couldn’t be with both Ares and Achilles, but my heart and the magic binding us didn’t. Achilles suggested a fifty-fifty trade where I spent half the week with Ares and half the week with Achilles, but Ares refused to let me out of his sight, especially with our new knowledge that Maurice was after me.
Ares, Achilles and Koda sat around a table inside Achilles’ chambers discussing what to do next. I’d been sitting idly by, letting them debate with each other, but I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“There’s only one clear choice, but we need Victor in order to do it.”
Kiss of a Star Artemis Lupine Page 13