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Dancing with another woman. The woman has long curled black hair and bright silver eyes. Adorning head, along with a simple gold mask is a circlet of the moon phases.
Her features felt familiar, but I can't place how I know her.
Is she a Moon Goddess?
No. Artemis is the only Moon Goddess. If she sees me, I'm definitely going to be sent back to my room.
Our eyes connect. Recognition flashes over her face. I duck into the ground behind me.
Do I go home? But then again, Artemis doesn’t seem to be listening to her twin either. I don’t want to go back to being stuck in my room as much as she didn’t want to either.
Maybe Artemis didn’t see me? Yep, that's wishful thinking.
Artemis storms toward me. A sheen of sweat glows over her face. Even through the mask, I feel her frustration. She demands, “What in the bloody depths of Tartarus are you doing here?” Pushing my shoulder backward, Artemis crosses her arms around her chest.
“The same could be asked about you.” Eyes surrounding us flash in our direction. I pull Artemis to a quieter bit of the street, “It all makes sense now. No wonder you don’t want to marry Ares. Maybe you should tell Apollo—”
“Stop. We need to go back to the castle now,” she states as urgency floods her hushed tone. “Leaving the city all together would be the best course of action. I can’t lose you like the others.”
Softly she yanks my arm toward the castle, I remain rooted in place. “No. I wouldn’t want to force you to end your date so soon.” Freezing, Artemis cautiously flashes her eyes in my direction. Softening my tone, I ask, “What’s her name?”
Panic flashes in Artemis’s eyes.
“Relax. I'm not going to tell anyone. Your secret is safe with me, regardless of if you choose to tell me,” I reassure.
“I met her here,” Artemis replies as she shrugs. An uneasy look on her face said it all. She’s not being truthful.
“Which is also why you brush off your brother’s arranged marriages,” I clarify. Since coming to the realm of the gods, Artemis has told me about other attempts by Apollo to marry her off. All to older men like Poseidon.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she says as faintly as she could manage, “Yes.”
Keeping my eyes downcast, I make sure not to make unintended eye contact with anyone.
With a drink now in my hand, I sit on a firm wooden stool.
“We need to go, Pandy, before Apollo finds us,” whispered Artemis.
My eyes locked with a set of familiar gold eyes. We share a long gaze between each other. Approaching me, I contemplate turning to leave but that would be useless. He has spotted me. Pounding, my heart thunders in my ears. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I contemplate how to proceed. Grinding my core into the firm chair, I stop. it’s rubbing all of the wrong nerves.
“Why do I need to go? Isn’t this my whole purpose in this world? I was brought here for this night.” I state. This holiday is a strange mixture of jovial and somber. Frenzied and poised. All of which were present in the god staring at me from across the street.
“Pandora, you don’t understand. I don’t want what happened to the others to happen to you.” Artemis begs, “No one deserves that fate. Not you. Not any mortal. We still have time to get out of this city. We can even come back after this evening.” Frantically, Artemis floundered.
Arista whispers in my ear, “Artemis is the protector of maidens. She knows what’s best for you.”
I wistfully sigh as my curiosity of the festival takes hold. My bones crave to witness the festival firsthand.
My head is spinning from the wine and the magic. This world is intoxicating. I want more. To see everything this festival has to offer.
Maybe I don’t want what's best for me. I want to be here. In the immortal world with Apollo and Artemis. Even if these are my last hours, I don’t want to spend them fleeing. I want to enjoy myself. Living a full and eventful night.
Swirling pack festival goers, Apollo makes his way toward us.
Too late.
Between the magic and the ambrosia, I'm starting to feel the effects. My cheeks flushed and my core warmed. Not quite stumbling but not far off. Gracefulness is still entirely absent from me.
“Hey there my little flower. I was beginning to wonder when you’d be showing up. I have been looking everywhere for you.” His full lips curved into a stern but likable smile. One corner of his lips pops up into a cocky smile, drawing my attention to his strong jaw which is covered in blonde stubble.
