Artemis covered her face with the duvet, biting her lower lip in anxiety. King Xerxes and the four Queens were planning to become the sacrifices for the next sealing of the Devil. In all honesty, Artemis clearly understood their choice.
What bothered her was that they would be quickly forgotten; no one in Tytania truly knew of the Devil’s imminent threat. The ones who did know were trapped on the Devil’s chessboard, with the exclusion of young Irma.
It was impossible for her to sleep when she was already dead. The entire night, Artemis had tossed and turned on the queen-sized bed, fingering the pillows, curling her toes, and chewing on her lip.
Soon, rays of sunlight poured through the clear windows, filling the room with a sense of bright hope. Artemis huffily lifted herself off the bed, and rubbed her palms against her face.
She couldn’t feel any warmth.
With a disappointed and disheartened sigh, she turned the brass knob and stepped into the hallway.
-
Vesta led Arisa and Losse inside an unfurnished, windowless chamber. The three seated themselves circularly.
“This won’t require too much effort,” Vesta assured quietly, noticing the distress in Arisa’s demeanor. Contrarily, Losse’s jaw was tightly set in confidence.
“Where is she?” He questioned. Vesta donned a silk teal robe, and pulled her hair up with a ribbon of similar colour. “Inside the seventh Colis.”
“Seventh?” Arisa furrowed her brow, “That is too vague.”
“The smallest Colis,” the queen specified. It would be easier if they had been given names to identify them. Losse interrupted, “I understand.”
“You do?” Arisa asked confusedly. Losse nodded with a chuckle. He became serious in seconds, “Shall I?”
Vesta concurred, but not wholeheartedly. Her silver eyes conveyed hesitance to trust the mysterious man. However, the look of duty on his flawless face reassured her.
“I’ll require both of you to leave,” he smirked. “And a lot of space.”
“Her body is trapped as well as her soul,” Vesta informed, “Can you do it?”
Losse raised a brow. “Of course.”
-
Without intention, Artemis came to a halt in front of Losse’s room. From inside, she could sense Allegra’s presence. Why had she been in Losse’s room? As if on cue, Allegra’s voice made her jolt, “Come in, Artemis.”
She entered, arriving to her best friend covering her nude body- as Artemis guessed- with the silk blanket.
“Allegra, you-,” Artemis began incredulously. Allegra shot her a needle sharp look. She sighed, patting the empty space beside her for Artemis to sit.
“Why did you do it?” Artemis inquired coldly. Allegra blinked at her tone, “Is it a problem?”
Allegra’s bare arm showed the glowing horn of Losse’s control over her. Artemis herself bore the horn below her left breast.
“Do you think the Queens should really sacrifice themselves?” Allegra questioned in a low, expectant voice. Artemis shook her head quickly, “It’s wrong.”
Allegra laughed melodiously, brushing a mahogany curl from her cheek. “I really missed you, you know?”
Artemis’s demeanor softened, “I did too. I- Why had I become like that?”
“Fate always works in mysterious ways,” Allegra sighed deeply. “Look at what we are now… where we are… who we are.”
It was puzzling, to say in the least, Artemis thought with a frown. She lifted her pale, lifeless hand in front of her eyes.
“I want everything to go back to what it was before I changed,” Artemis whispered regretfully, “You should be living peacefully with Demetri.”
Allegra threw her head backwards, inhaling. “I’d have never met Losse.”
“Were you happy with Losse?” Artemis asked incredulously. Allegra nodded slowly, “I was.”
Silence ensued. Allegra flexed her shoulders, “You had changed as a result of my death. Demetri had joined the royal forces. Both of you were living without trouble.”
“Until the Devil’s tear came into the picture,” Artemis murmured. “You know something, Allegra?”
“What?” She urged.
“Even though we’ve been hurt, played with, and put through so much…” Artemis trailed off, and subsequently cleared her throat, “I don’t regret my decision of accompanying Rosy at all.”
Allegra let out a playful smirk, “You met Alexei, too.”
Artemis looked up in surprise, “What?”
Allegra’s gaze was piercingly strong, “The way he looks at you is the same way Demetri does. Did you know that we’ve met Alexei before?”
Artemis’s forehead scrunched up nervously, “We have?”
Thirteen-year old Artemis and Allegra sighed, wiping their foreheads. Practicing Elemental magic wasn’t as easy as Demetri had made it seem. Both of the girls had trouble grasping the concept of manipulating their surroundings.
They sprawled across the rich green grass, marveling at the cool breeze and warm sunlight that caressed their bare skin.
Across them was a boy- who looked around Demetri’s age, fifteen- engrossed in a leather-bound book. Allegra’s mouth fell open. The sunlight glinted off his damp golden-blonde hair, and his sky blue eyes twinkled with excitement.
As if noticing their stare, he looked up with a playful smile.
Artemis was silent, and continued to focus her emerald gaze on him. Allegra nudged her in the ribs. “It’s rude.”
“Who are you?” Artemis inquired loudly. The boy’s smile widened. “I don’t know. Who are you?”
Artemis’s mouth opened. “I’m Artemis Delara.”
He shrugged, standing up. “My name is Alexon.”
It was too late; the red-haired young girl was already deep in thought. She had been abandoned as a baby… but how had she survived with no one to care for her?
Who were the Delaras?
Who was she?
Allegra noted the distress on her friend’s features. Artemis’s strong demeanor had flickered considerably.
She had never really found her answer, and she probably never would.
A/N: Late chapter, sorry. Exams. :( I remembered that I'd never really explored Artemis's early life.. so I probably should before I forget again. ^_^