“I would’ve expected you to be,” I say to Thor, and add when he scowls, “I don’t mean anything by that apart from you like to be in charge. That’s obvious.”
“Apollo was more… even-tempered,” says Triton, matter-of-factly. “Apollo never told us what to do, he was more the peacekeeper between us. He was very thoughtful.”
Again, this confuses me. “But aren’t you the thinker, Triton?”
“He’s too lost in history and academia,” puts in Loki. “Apollo watched the world around him and as he grew older, he began to strategize. His beliefs became stronger.”
I sip my wine, picturing the journal in my quarters. I want to say something, to ask questions about what I’ve read, but how do I know I can trust every god in this room?
“Which made him a threat.” Since I walked in, the mood in the room has dropped. The subject is still tender. “I want you to know I will do everything Apollo did, and more, to ensure his plans happen.”
Thor makes a soft sound in his throat. “But you’re not Apollo. You’re a—”
“Goddess?” I interrupt. “But I’m not an ordinary goddess, am I?”
“Definitely not.” Dion’s dark eyes meet mine. “You’re much more than ordinary.”
“What I mean is, I’m new to this world and, like my brother, I don’t accept everything about this society.”
“Or the dress code.” Loki waves a hand at me. “Although less skin on display today. How conventional. Although pants are a risk of their own.”
I smooth out my pants. Fulla wears dresses most days, all the goddesses do, in fine cloth and colors. I can’t see the practicality and prefer my old wardrobe from the woods. Fulla mentioned she’s finding a seamstress to make me more feminine outfits, whatever that means. I told her no skirts—they’re useless for training in.
“You dress like a boy,” says Triton, sweeping a gaze the length of me. “You eat like one too.”
“But you definitely picture Artemis as a girl under there, don’t you?”
Triton ignores Dion’s comment and closes his book. “So, Zeus hid his daughter away to protect society from her, and not the other way around?”
I frown at his strange words. Is there some truth in this?
“Yeah, perhaps he knew his daughter would bring change. Reckon a seer spoke to him?” Loki asks.
My pulse quickens. Loki’s words could also hold an answer; a reason my father separated his family and caused pain to us all. Was he protecting a future he envisioned, even then? A future someone told him might happen.
I shift in my seat and hug my knees to my chest. “Seer or no seer, I’m determined to win. Today I saw how arrogant and dismissive these elder gods are. Apollo’s right, we’re the future.”
“How do you know what Apollo thought or said?” asks Thor in a gruff voice.
“From what people have told me.” I look him directly in the eyes, hoping my lie is hidden. I have more to learn from Apollo’s journal—including more clues to his killer. Triton has his head back in his book. I can’t imagine any of the other guys interested in books and history. Maybe he can help me interpret the journal.
But I can’t figure the four out, or their true feelings about me; not yet.
Their curiosity is matched with more than a friendly interest. Dion doesn’t hide his, in words or how he looks at me. The others? I’ve seen snatched glances and I’m sure they didn’t spend as much time staring at Apollo’s legs as they did mine last night.
This doesn’t bother me, as long as they allow me to be their equal. Thor would never let me be a leader, but we could show the world what happens when gods and goddesses work together.
“Apart from Dion’s parties, what else did you do?” I ask as Dion tops my glass up.
“A lot of training, even before the Trials were mentioned. Some of us have been training since the moment they set foot in the Academy.” Loki points at Thor.
“Recently, we’ve spent more time in the local town,” adds Dion.
“Up to no good, I’ll bet,” I say and cock a brow at him.
He touches his chest with one hand. “Me? I’m always good.”
Triton shakes his head but doesn’t look up. “Uh huh.”
“We don’t want to be cloistered away up here,” explains Loki. “We want to see the world and be part of the human society too. Okay, maybe we spend too much time in parts of the town filled with fun, but Apollo would venture into the poorer areas. Triton would go with him.” He jerks a thumb in his friend’s direction.
My trust in him grows at Loki’s words. “What did you and my brother do?” I ask Triton.
He pushes hair from his face and fixes his eyes on mine. “There’s a lot of poverty in the town; Apollo hated how opposite their lives were to ours, especially for the girls.”
“So he gave them money?”
“No, we took books and spoke to the children. Few go to school, and they’re as much of the new future as we are.”
“Triton’s soft-hearted.” Dion pinches his cheek affectionately. “Always looking for a cause to champion.”
“That’s not bad,” I protest, my heart softened by this sea god whose harsh exterior hides a side I’d never suspect.
“I care about every corner of this world and everybody in it,” he mutters. “I’m not as self-centred as some.”
“But for now, our focus is on the Trials. A hundred percent.” Thor’s words are firm, cutting dead any more discussion about Triton’s activities.
“The judges aren’t giving Artemis much time to prepare before the next,” says Dion. “I don’t think that’s fair.”
“Not surprising.” I finish my wine and examine the platters of food on the table between them. Snatching up some grapes, I pop them into my mouth. At least they can’t look in horror at eating this with my fingers.
“Apollo and Dion both love music and performing. After a few wines, you could find the pair dancing in the local marketplace.” Loki smirks and nudges Dion.
“I like the sound of that!” I exclaim. “I loved when we had celebrations in the village. Only the women in the village were involved, and always wanted to see musicians and performances.”
“There are plenty in the town. A big festival is coming up that everybody is involved with—even the gods.”
I straighten. Yes, I’m here to focus on Trials and winning, but I’ve had little fun or frivolity in my life. I picture myself dancing with Dion; laughing and joking with the four. The idea of being around large crowds daunts me, even more so than a trial, but if I want to do everything my brother did, I can’t hide myself away from them. They need to know who Artemis is too.
“Then it’s decided. We’ll go.”
“Go where?” I look up to where Eros stands in the doorway, arms crossed.
“None of your business,” growls Thor.
“There’s no point trying to disguise yourself as a guy, Artemis. You’re not allowed in here.”
“I’m not disguising myself,” I retort. “I don’t care who knows I’m here.”
“You mean you’re not intentionally dressed like a man?”
I want to snatch the smirk off his lips.
“Don’t be such a hypocrite,” says Triton. “You have girls here all the time.”
“I’m watching you, Artemis,” he says in a low voice. “They might trust you, but I don’t. I’d love to know the real reason you’re here, because I don’t think you’re telling us the truth.”
He points at Thor. “Surely you won’t let a girl march in and take over your group. One who could cause more trouble than your dead friend.”
Thor crosses the room before I can blink; he grips Eros’s shirt and drags him closer, and the Norse god towers over the dark-haired one.
Eros sneers up at him and continues, “Maybe you’ll be next.”
“Thor. Ignore him.” Dion stands too and approaches the pair. “Why do you always let him get to you like this?”
A muscle tics in Thor’s jaw and he drops Eros’s shirt, then shoves him in the chest. “What did you want, anyway, asshole? You never come in here when you know we’re here.”
Eros’s mouth pulls into a sly smile. “I have a message for you all. The judges would like to see you. Now. They have a letter from Odin.”
“About what?” asks Loki.
“I’ve no idea, but it looks like Daddy might be upset with you.”
20
ARTEMIS