Artemis stood in the doorway watching Hades and Kore consume one another. His lips on every part of her body, hers on every part of his. Artemis's face reddened, but instead of walking away, she continued to watch. She needed to understand what it felt like to be as desired as Kore was to Hades.
“You’re so lucky…” She whispered low, touching the collar of her jacket.
Closing her eyes, she absorbed the sounds and pretended they were coming from her mouth. The thought of Zeus’ hands on her body, of him in the throes of passion with her. That it was her whose name he called out as he climaxed. She licked her lips and tried her best to concentrate. Her hands no longer felt like hers, but the strong ones of her king.
“I guess we’re not the only ones affected by Dionysus's power.” Artemis's eyes shot open to see Derrick standing in front of her grinning.
“Mag-”
Connecting his hands with her stomach, he shot pure lightning through her making every hair on her body stand.
“My name is Derrick,” he sneered as the electricity tore into her. She gritted her teeth and using as much force as possible, she shot the sorcerer away. As Derrick landed against the opposite wall, Artemis double over in pain.
“Dionysus! Dionysus! They’re awake!” She heard nothing in response, and then a small laugh.
“Sorry honey, he’s a bit preoccupied with a redhead known to hold a deadly grudge.” Kore fully dressed, walked towards the God.
“I have to give it to you, you are as great at hunting as they said.”
Artemis laughed breathlessly, “I’ve had deer that were more elusive game than you all.”
Kore tilted her head and her eyes blackened. “Can you stand?”
“Why!”
Kore gave her an evil grin, “Well, it’s no fun killing my prey when it down. Come on Artemis get up, and when you do, I suggest you prepare yourself for the hunt of your life.”
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“Fuck, you’re stunning,” Dionysus murmured eyeing Evie’s entire body. Pulling him deeper into the wooded area, she ran her nails over his skin.
“Thank you,” she replied sweetly, her eyes darkening with desire. “Are you sure I’m not dreaming? I could never imagine being able to be with such a-” She ran her fingers down his arms. “Strong…virile…”
Dionysus groaned under her touch. “No…I’m really here goddess.”
She smiled, “Good.” Pulling him down to her, she ran her hands through his hair, smiling as he shivered. “Would you like me to keep going?”
“Oh…. yes…please…”
Evie bit her bottom lip. Standing on the balls of her feet, she leaned into the God. “I just want you to know that after today, I’ll never think of you again…but I will think often to that amazing sex marathon my husband and I performed.”
Dionysus's eyes widened, “Wha-”
Evie clasped his face. Eyes the color of moss, she pulled her body to him. Dionysus's face began to constrict as she drained his life.
“GET OFF OF ME!” He screeched and Evie laughed.
“What’s the matter?! I thought this was what you wanted.” Going as far as she could, Evie released Dionysus. Her body weakened as she fell backwards into Thanatos’ arms. “Reaper…” She smiled weakly as he covered her with a blanket.
“You alright baby?” She nodded and snuggled closely to him. He looked up and seethed at Dionysus, who struggled to catch his breath.
Adam placed his hand on his uncle's shoulder, “Take care of Aunt Evie…I promise, he will suffer.”
Silently nodding, Thanatos carried Evie away.
Adam shook his head, “Hasn’t anybody ever told you to look but NEVER touch. Then out of all people, you would try on the Grim Reaper’s soul tie?” He shook his finger, “You should lay off the wine, it’s clouding your judgment.”
Dionysus stood, still dazed by his encounter with Evie. He squared off with Adam. “I’m not afraid of you.”
Adam grinned, “Good! Besides, I wanted to introduce you to some friends.”
The ground shook and Dionysus’ eyes widened seeing six large oak trees circling him. “Now them, you should be afraid of. They HATE being awakened…and from what I gather they aren’t too fond of Gods.”
“EXCEPT THE ONE WITH THE HAIR!” One jested.
“Oh, Hades! I’ll make sure to tell him you said hello.” Nodding in acceptance, the six oaks stared back down at their victim. Turning away Adam paused, “I promised my uncle he would suffer.” He heard a menacing laugh.
“AND WE WOULD NEVER WISH TO DISAPPOINT FAMILY.”
“Thank you. I shall return you to your slumber after.”
As Adam sat in the woods, Dionysus screams of agony fed his soul. With every tear that spattered Dionysus's blood across him, Adam found his chuckle, turn into a laugh. And he couldn't help but wonder, how fine was the line that made him and Kore so different.
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“Oh come on Artemis…you no longer wish to play?” Kore stomped her foot. “That’s totally not fair!”
Bending down to the ground, she turned to Hades and motioned for him to still. Placing her hand on the floor, she waited and then heard a very small creak. Darting in its direction, she stood in front of a large closet and giggled.
“I would have never pegged you for someone who could have hidden somewhere so easy to find. Perhaps I have Uncle Derrick’s electric personality to thank for that.” She heard a ragged breath and she yawned. “Come out now, I told you I wouldn’t kill you yet. You’re the hunted, and I have always been one who demands my game put up a decent fight.” Reaching in, Kore grabbed the God by her jacket and tossed her to the ground. She bent down over her and grinned at the fear on her face. “I thought Gods feared no man.”
“Y-you’re not man…you’re an abomination that should have been destroyed.”
Hades saw Kore’s eyes darkened. “Say it again.”
Artemis spat on her face. “YOU HEARD ME! YOU AND THAT OTHER FUCKING MONSTROSITY SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXECUTED! Had he sent me instead of Hermes, I wouldn’t have failed.”
Kore leaned into her.
“Kore….” Hades could feel the rage thicken in the room. Ignoring him, her eyes turned the color of coal.
“Thank you, Artemis. I was waiting for you to say just enough to piss me off. Speak whatever about me but DO NOT EVER TALK ABOUT ADAM!” Kore's eyes bore into her and Artemis grabbed her head.
“IT BURNS!!!” She screamed and Hades saw her hair slowly singe away.
Kore laughed loudly as her gaze burned the God from the inside out. The smell of charred flesh permeated the room and Artemis's lifeless body dropped to the floor. Lips parted, smoke pooled from her mouth and disappeared into the air. Kore's hands shook, as Hades grabbed her.
“I got you…Kore it’s okay…. I got you.”
She closed her eyes to keep from hurting him. “Kiss me.” He did. Kissing her over and over, she finally nuzzled into his neck. “I won’t let anyone hurt my Da-Dem... we are NOT abominations...,” she whispered.
“I know. Just as I know he feels the same about you. You're perfect Kore...I think you're perfect.”
“What on the grill in here?” Adam teased and Aphrodite pointed.
“I think you cousin…cooked…Artemis.”
Evie’s eyes shot to Thanatos who shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t look at me Poppet! She got that from you!”
Hades smirked, “Actually, I’m pretty sure both of you are to blame.” He saw Thanatos glare and he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Oh yeah...tree warriors said HEY!" Adam said grinning.
Hades snapped his fingers, "Damn! I should have come out to say hello! Call me next time okay?...Unless you're using them on me, then it's teddy bears like you promised."
Aphrodite shook her head. “We should get out here…. how much further from here to Hestia?”
“Not too far and there is lodging…one that unlike this one, no one knows about.” Disbursing, the group quickly made their way from the hideout as Zeus appeared and leaned down to check out Artemis's remains.
“I thought the work he did on Dionysus was grizzly.” He pulled the remaining power from Artemis and absorbed it into himself.
“You always were too high on your horse. Perhaps if your obsession with me didn’t run so deep, you wouldn’t have been such an idiotic mistake.” He pretended shock. “Oh! You thought I didn’t know about your little crush? Everybody knew.” He moved a piece of brittle, singed hair from her face. “I always wondered how a goddess could be so hideous…and yet-they have such beauties on Earth.” He sat on her. “I mean of course Dionysus was also an idiot but seeing the necromancer up close…wow. I thought her daughter was something…but her…I finally understand Apep. I wonder how that would make you feel? To know that you could have brought me her head, and I would have punished you for being the ugly that destroyed something so beautiful.” Standing, he looked down at her in disgust, “I guess we’ll never know.” Waving himself away, Zeus pondered how he would deal with seeing Hestia after all these years.