Artemis Novel Novels & Stories

Chapter Twelve The rain had been relentless all Friday. Sheets of water fell from the sky, drumming against windows and rooftops, as if the heavens themselves were mourning or warning. Nora sat in the art studio, trying desperately to focus on her presentation, but her brush hovered uselessly over the canvas. The colours and lines felt meaningless. Every stroke of paint blurred, smudged by the storm of emotions inside her.

The world exploded. She was falling—through memory, through pain, through lives she neverlived. Her body burned and reformed. The last thing she saw was Seraphine, waiting with open arms. “Welcome, Fireborne. Welcome home.”

At my question, Titiana’s gaze turns dark, and it looks almost as if a storm is raging within her. "I committed a grave sin." Titiana sighs, "I interfered with the great design for my own selfish purposes." "But I thought deities weren’t allowed to associate with humans; isn’t that why Artemis…" As Artemis’ name crosses my mind, I find myself reaching into my own psyche to find that she isn’t there. ‘Artemis?’ I call, feeling a sudden flare of desperation. ‘Artemis, where are you?’ "Artemis is currently trapped within the celestial realm by Mateo." Titiana explains. "She tried to interfere with the universe's design by leading your carrier right into Mateo’s grasp. Your bond with him is stil

I was close enough to the stage to hear Sophia encouraging her, “Caroline it makes sense you know what needs to be done and now you have the power to do it. Just be who you are a natural-born leader.” “Agreed Caroline, this is the perfect position for you,” Clara said as she squeezed her hand. “I can’t wait to make your dresses!” She laughed and giggled. Caroline was still unsure but I saw Laura pull her in and whisper something to her at length. I didn’t ask what was said but whatever it was it brought Caroline’s shoulders up broader and prouder. I saw her at that very moment embrace what was gifted to her by the moon goddess and looked up to the moon as Caroline did thank her for the gift

Her lips met mine with a force that took my breath away. For a moment, I froze, feeling the storm of emotions I had tried so hard to keep at bay. Artemis was a mix of rebellion and sweet defiance, and even though my mind screamed for me to stop, my body betrayed me. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

’ Marcus grinded his teeth. Too many people talking at the same time, too many problems to fix. I likely had bodies under the rumble. I knew General Storm was on his way. I meant what I said Artemis wasn’t going any where. I gripped her to my chest and opened the portal above us. I held my wings in and shot into the sky. *** ‘Is it even safe here?’ Artemis lingered outside the door. I sighed, ‘Is the high and mighty Artemis afraid? Can’t take care of yourself anymore?’

Artemisia thought the same. She used to love sleeping and being out of reality for a while, but she had spent so many days in the back of her own mind that she couldn't even stand her thoughts anymore. She sat carefully, feeling as if each muscle was tearing at every move. She didn't have much time to regret having moved her body, even if almost minimally, as in seconds she was sitting and with her back resting on what was supposed to be a bedside. It was a effort, but it was worth it. Artemisia could see every beautiful detail of the room in which she was placed, there were roots and plants growing on the floor and walls, the window was as delicate as that of a dollhouse. There was a though

“Now.” Lucian hovered nearby, eyes wide. “Did Artie do something bad?” “No,” I said quickly, pressing a kiss to Artemis’s hair. “Never bad.” But worry clawed at my chest all the same. That night, Artemis burned with a low fever, crescent energy fluttering beneath her skin like trapped starlight. I sat by her bed, refusing to leave even when Ronan tried to coax me away to eat, to rest. “She’s Moonborn,” he reminded me gently. “Different doesn’t mean doomed.”

Slowly, in the caress of his soft lips, flash after flash of memory showed how Artemisya died because of me. And, I lived taking over her body. "Actually, what kind of karma is the universe trying to give?"

“I brought you here to show you what's at stake.” Artemis appeared suddenly beside me, smiling mischievously. I peered at her incredulously. With a rough yank, she pulled me off my stool, and I felt like I was bobsledding into hell when the darkness swallowed me. Then I landed somewhere in a dead land; only Artemis’ hold on me kept me upright. The sun dipped low, casting shadows across the endless scorched land. There were no trees or vegetation. In its place resided a camp with shackled teens surrounded by dunes of blackened dirt, stripped of all traces of water.