Chapter#10- Artemis

On Olympus, Demeter, and her remaining three daughters still wept over Persephone's fate, as each god who had vowed to find the Goddess of Spring returned with nothing. 1

****** 2

The sun shown bright as its master, Apollo, watched his sister practice her archery. Artemis let her arrow fly but it missed its target. It was a very rare thing for Artemis to miss anything. One of the reasons she was the Goddess of the Hunt was for her archery skills. The sun must be in her eyes, he thought. So with a wave of his hand he moved the sun behind a cloud. Artemis looked at the arrow sticking out, just below the bullseye. Shrugging she fired another. This one too missed the center mark. One arrow, fine but two! 3

“Artemis, is everything alright?” Apollo asked.4

“Its Persephone,”5

“Artemis, everybody is worried about Persephone–”6

“That's only because they don't know where she is”, His sister interrupted.7

“You mean to tell me that you do”.8

“Of course I know where my apprentice is,” she said as if this was the most obvious thing in the world.9

“By the River Styx, Artemis! Why haven't you told Demeter?” 10

“Who am I, Aphrodite? To brake up a budding romance like that?”11

“You knew where she was all this– What budding romance?” 12

“Hades and Persephone, of course, little brother.” She laughed once again stringing her bow. Before she could shoot, Apollo pulled the bow out of her hands.13

“HEY!”14

Apollo ignored her reaching hands. “Seph has been in the Underworld all this time!”15

“Keep your shirt on, she was safe–”16

“WAS!” he boomed.17

“Well, you see...”18

“ARTEMIS!”19

“Hecate poisoned Persephone about a week ago. I... I thought Hades could cure her but,” she couldn't meet her twin's eyes as she spoke.20

“So, what are you going to do about it?”21

Artemis smiled, “I think its time we pay our dear uncle a visit.”22

“We?”23

“Yes we. Come on!” Artemis laughed, pulling her brother towards the River Styx.24

******25

The banks of the river that lead from the surface to Hades' kingdom were dark and noiseless. No shades waited with the twins of the sun and moon. The whole of the Underworld seemed to be holding its breath, waiting for Persephone to be well again. 26

The sound of a boat scraping rocks, broke the everlasting silence. Charon, Hades boatman, stepped out onto the bank. Charon was skin and bones. A snarled mess of white hair hung down his back. His face was old and wrinkled, with a nose that looked as if it had been broken numerous times, and eyes that seemed to bulge out of their sockets. 27

The man smiled a very toothy smile. “Well, well, live ones.” he chuckled28

“Charon please let us cross.” Artemis pleaded.29

“Nope, can't do that Missy.” He said giving Artemis a proud smirk.30

“Now see here! We must see the Lord Hades at once.” Apollo exclaimed.31

“Even more reason why I can't take yeah across”.32

Artemis reached for her dagger but Apollo grabbed her wrist. 33

“Perhaps this will change your mind.” He said pulling out a bag so full of coins that its seams threatened to rip. Apollo show the glint of greed in the boatman's eyes.34

“Well yeah see I 'ave my orders and, King 'ades won't be too 'appy–”35

“Is it a deal or should I let my sister convince you with the loss of an ear?”36

Charon looked from one to the other and the glint in Artemis' eyes told him she'd do it too.37

“Um, right this way M'lord, M'lady.” The Ferryman squeaked.