The Silence of the Girls *** [Celle + Artemis]
@amoderngorgon, @artemis-iokheaira
It was Belle’s pregnancy that had reminded Belle of Artemis.
She had sat, researching for Celia, as she had been doing the past few weeks (and making little progress, to her great frustration), when she had suddenly remembered the strange person who had claimed such dangerous (and useful) powers. Artemis had left them with her phone number when they had turned down her offer, so Belle still had it, and was glad to find that she was still in town.
Now, Belle had a solution. It was imperfect, but, perhaps: better than a sorcerer.
Belle trusted Artemis in that way of hers that had to do more with instinct than logic, but if her own mother’s heart (ever protective of Opal), had trusted Artemis at her most vulnerable, she certainly trusted her now. She had consulted with Hades, wondering his opinion on it, before she called upon the nymph.
It had been a relief when Artemis had readily agreed. Now, the two sit at the kitchen table, Opal in a highchair, watching this stranger intensely, chewing on strawberries. Artemis watched Opal just as intensely in return, which might make Belle uneasy, but she found it rather funny.
When the doorbell rung, Shuck barked and bounded forth, Belle quickly on his heels, leaving Opal with Artemis.
“Hullo, Celia. Thank you for coming,” she told the woman as she opened the door and stepped back. Shuck stepped back too, though he sniffed at Celia’s shoes as she crossed over the threshold. Belle smiled reassuringly at the woman, whom she had texted a day or so ago saying that she may have a possible solution.
“Would you like tea? I’ve just put the kettle on,” Belle asked as she led her way into the kitchen.
“Opal, cherie, say hello to Miss Celia,” Belle told her daughter, who was still focused on Artemis. Artemis, however, turned to look up at Celia. “Artemis, this is Celia. Celia, this is Artemis. The solution I’ve told you about.”