Artemis lay in her bed, unkempt and unwashed, the events of the day still fresh in her mind. She had been forced to get an abortion, a procedure that left her feeling drained and violated. She let out a sigh, rolling over onto her side and pulling the covers up to her chin.
The sound of the door opening startled her, and she sat up, her curly brown hair tangled and wild. “What do you want?” she snapped, glaring at the figure standing in the doorway.
It was Apollo, her twin brother and the god of the sun. He held a tray of food in his hands, a concerned look on his face. “I brought you something to eat,” he said, stepping into the room uninvited.
Artemis scowled, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him. “I don’t want anything from you,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Apollo dodged the pillow easily and set the tray down on a nearby table. “You need to eat something,” he said, refusing to leave. “You can’t just lie in bed all day.”
Artemis snorted, insulted by his assumption that she was incapable of taking care of herself. “And who are you to tell me what I can and can’t do?” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “A meddling busybody, that’s who.”
Apollo ignored her jab and gestured to the tray of food. “Please, just eat something,” he said, his tone gentle.
Artemis rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t deny the rumbling in her stomach. She sat up, her body aching from the procedure, and reached for a piece of fruit.
As she took a bite, Apollo couldn’t help but comment on her appearance. “When was the last time you took a shower?” he said, raising an eyebrow.
Artemis bristled at his question, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “Mind your own business,” she said, her voice sharp.
Apollo shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “As a goddess, you have a duty to maintain your appearance,” he said. “You can’t just let yourself go like this.”
Artemis scoffed, insulted by his words. “And who are you to judge me?” she said, her voice rising. “You’re nothing but a golden boy, always playing by the rules.”
Apollo chuckled, undeterred by her insults. “Fine, if that’s how you want to be,” he said, his tone light. “Prove me wrong. Take a shower and show me that you’re still the goddess of the hunt.”
Artemis narrowed her eyes, challenging him. “Fine,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “If you’re so confident in your sun god powers, prove it. Heat the water for my shower.”
Apollo smirked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He raised his hand, and the water in the bathing chamber began to heat.
Artemis watched in amazement, her anger dissipating slightly. But she was still determined to prove her independence. “I’ll shower, but only on my terms,” she said, her voice firm.
Apollo nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Of course,” he said, his tone respectful.
He helped Artemis to her feet, teasing her about her stubbornness. “You know, you could have just asked me to heat the water for you,” he said, his voice light.
Artemis rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through her at his touch. “I can take care of myself,” she said, her voice softer than she intended.
Apollo nodded, understanding her need for independence. “I know you can,” he said, his tone gentle. “But that doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone.”
Artemis allowed Apollo to lead her to the bathing chamber, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. She was still angry and embarrassed, but there was also a small spark of gratitude and affection towards her twin brother.
Apollo left Artemis to shower, promising to bring her more food later. As she stepped under the warm water, Artemis couldn’t help but think about the complex relationship she had with her twin brother. It was a relationship filled with love, frustration, and respect, and she knew that it was something that she would always cherish.
End of Chapter One.
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