Shattered

Safe

"What did you want with my lieutenant?"

Artemis's voice was filled with rage. Yet, she was curious about what Aphrodite could see in Zoe Nightshade, her sworn lieutenant. She had confronted the love goddess as soon as Aphrodite and Ares had returned to Olympus. Artemis really hoped that Aphrodite wasn't up to one of her old tricks... No one would want a repeat of happened with Troy.

"Nothing Arty! Just gave her some proper English. That's it!"

Aphrodite's silky voice was whiny, almost like she had been repeatedly answering Artemis...

Which she had been doing, for the past thirty minutes.

Honestly, Artemis' frustration was growing. Every question she threw out was dodged deftly, she didn't know what else she could say that would make the love goddess spill.

Artemis glared at her for the thousandth time, "You'd better not try anything with Zoe!"

Her voice was laced with venom. She knew of the huntress's fate. Percy told her that Zoe was meant to die at the hands of her father.

Artemis was truly troubled by the news, regardless of whether Percy had promised to keep her safe or not.

"I've told you this a million times! I can't create love! Zoe liking Percy was none of my doing!"

Both Artemis' and Aphrodite's eyes widened at the statement. The love goddess probably hadn't meant for that to slip.

Artemis froze.

"What!"

Aphrodite giggled, "Oops, that was meant to be a surprise."

Artemis glared at her. She prayed that what the other goddess had said had merely been a joke.

She wondered if it was possible for gods to pray.

"Zoe likes Percy, Artemis, and I had nothing to do with it." Aphrodite said. Then the love goddess's voice turned serious. "He is a good guy."

The woman cladded in pink disappeared in a puff of perfume, leaving the moon goddess frozen in her place on the gardens of Olympus.

Artemis was frozen there, unable to comprehend or understand.

She didn't know what to think.

Zoe Nightshade was her most trusted hunter.

She was her lieutenant.

She was her daughter.

She was her friend.

Her best friend...

If Aphrodite's words were true, then Artemis would have no other choice, but have to let Zoe go. In spite of how much it would pain her, Artemis would be forced to discharge Zoe from her hunters.

Artemis half-heartedly hoped that Zoe would choose her family, over her heart.

Artemis didn't know if she would want to let Zoe go. But she would have to, if Aphrodite's words were true.

And there was no reason why the goddess of love would lie about such a thing.

How hypocritical would it be if she allowed Zoe to stay with the hunters if she held romantic feelings for a boy.

She had to admit, Percy was good for a man.

Probably the only one close to being worthy of her huntress, but she was still unsure.

What if the boy changed? As unlikely as it was, Athena always told her that even the slightest possibility was quite still, a possibility.

Deep in thought, Artemis continued her stroll through the gardens of Olympus.