CW: death, begging for life, reference to past abuse/ torture. Poison. Chase. Getting caught. Forced to go somewhere against will.
Years Later-
Grey curtains fluttered in the cool, night wind of the small apartment of Jacob Crawford, who was laying dead right under the window, with an arrow lodged into the side of his neck. Tiny drops of blood dripped from the fletching of the arrow.
On the other side of the bedroom was a quivering figure, cowering in terror. Jacobs roommate, Derek Perkins, was cowering away from Artemis.
"Please, please," he whispered, his voice shaking with quiet sobs as he stared up at the archer. "I won't say anything-"
Artemis remained silent as he pleaded. She frowned underneath the white mask, which only showed her right eye and nothing else. She merely blinked at him, ignoring his pleads. She didn't have a choice.
With a long sigh, she loaded her bow and shot him. Directly in the neck, in the exact same spot as Jacob. But it wasn't in a spot to kill. No, the arrow was the carrier of the poison. The poison did the killing.
Derek gave a cry of pain and fell back, and Artemis turned away from the man. He would be dead within minutes.
She walked back towards the window, and jumped up on the ledge, right over Jacob's corpse. She leapt out, rolling on the building of the next roof over.
Back on her feet, she straightened up and twisted the watch on her wrist. A digital lost sprang up, the list of targets she had that night springing up. She crossed out Jacob and Derek, looking at the last name on the list.
What was odd was that she didn't remember seeing the name on the list, but it felt familiar still..
Paige Neoma.
She couldn't remember. Must still be loopy from yesterday's training..
She tapped on the name with a finger, the address springing up with the directions to where she was located. The Reaper's did the locating, and she did the killing. She was the one getting blood on her hands.
Her eyes narrowed and she traveled by the rooftops, running quickly and jumping from each one with ease. She passed the glowing lights of her city below, wishing she could look at them for forever. But she had a curfew. She had to be home by midnight, with all the targets gone.
As she got closer to the place, the lights got dimmer. Until there was none at all.
She at some point had gotten back down to the ground, landing in front of an abandoned warehouse. It loomed over the yellow, dead grass around it which was overflowing with weeds. It honestly looked like something right out of a shitty horror film.
She raised one eyebrow and stared, her head tilting to the side. This was the warehouse she went to for peace and quiet during the day, when she could.. She hadn't been here in months, as she hardly had any free time anymore. She used to come here with a childhood friend.. But she hadn't heard from him since.
Why are the directions leading here? No one lives here. I barely come here. She chewed on her knuckle on her index finger, her foot tapping on the crunchy grass. It must be another one of his tests.. Her heart pounded a bit faster at that thought. Oh, God. If he finds out- if he found out I snuck out to here back then..
She held her breath and took a step back, looking back at the rest of the city. Her throat felt tight. It didn't matter how long ago it was, he would still be pissed.
I could get away. Her eyes scanned over the glowing lights of the buildings and cars. No, they'd find me..
She looked down at her nails next. There had been many times where Vincent ripped her nails clean off for trying to run away. So many things had happened.. She shuddered, but not from the cool autumn weather. From the memories.
She shook her head and swallowed, pushing the thoughts away. She looked towards the big doors of the warehouse.
Whatever happens.. I can take it. Whatever it is..
She exhaled slowly and lowered her hand, walking up to the doors. She then forced the doors open with a loud creak before she stepped into the old building.
Inside, it was dark. Only one light was turned on, but she couldn't see anyone inside. That just made her more nervous as she slipped in, the door shutting behind her with an echoing slam. It smelled of mold and dust. But it was.. comforting. Better than the cleanliness smell of chemicals, trying to mask the stench of blood and torture at the Reapers base.
Artemis sighed and walked towards the middle, towards the light. The rest of the warehouse was dark, and she hated the way it looked like the shadows were crawling towards her, threatening and evil.
She walked up to the middle of the room and stood there for a moment, looking around quietly. She had come during the day, when it was oddly welcoming. But now it was just menacing and.. honestly? Scary.
There was a light ruffling noise heard and Artemis jerked her head towards where the sound had come from, her hand instinctively moving to her bow on her shoulder. But she knew fighting against Vincent wouldn't help, so she lowered her hand, curling it into a fist and digging her nails into her palms, trying not to spiral into a panic mode.
But then she heard footsteps behind her and she turned, to see her.. target stepping out of the shadows and into the small, yellow glow the lightbulb above gave off. Artemis stared at her. Almost never were her targets expecting her..
As she stepped out, the girl unfolded her wings. They were black, but the outsides of her wings were white. She was dead serious, but there was a kindness to her face. "Artemis.." Her voice was calm, and warm.
Artemis just stared at her stupidly, her hand moving to her dagger now. She glanced at her wings. I'm not allowed to kill Mythics.. She shouldn't.. be on the list- What was happening here?
"I.." And then her brain clicked, and she understood. "Ah.. It's a trap, isn't it?" Her face broke into one of understanding and she smiled, oddly.
Paige nodded, moving forward. Over her shoulder, Artemis could see the handle of a sword holstered on her back. Artemis didn't move back, but the girl paused again. "That's right. You're pretty smart, then.. I didn't think you would figure it out that fast-"
"Nah. People have tried this before, that's all." She twirled the dagger in her hand, around her fingers. "Sometimes they catch me.. But they always end up dying when they try."
Paige's head tilted. "Oh yeah?" She didn't seem hostile, her arms crossed. "Look, Artemis.. I'm going to give you a chance to come with me willingly. I'm not taking no as an answer."
Artemis's eyes narrowed slightly. "Mmm.." Artemis hesitated, like she was actually thinking it over. She rubbed her chin with her other hand. "I.."
Paige stared at her expectantly, her eyebrows raised slightly. She smiled a tiny bit.
"Nah."
And with that, she reached into her pocket and threw down three marbles, which exploded into colorful smoke bombs. Paige gave a cry out surprise and staggered back, her arms going up to cover her face.
Artemis ran out the door, running out back into the city, where cars were driving in the road, the lights sparkly and bright. She ran directly into the road and leapt up onto a car with such agility, only to leap off and taking her grappling gun out from her belt.
A line shot out from the gun and connected to the building, and Artemis soared into the air, swinging up high. When she was really up there the line retracted and shot out again, as she flipped and continued to 'fly' around the city. She moved smoothly in the air, flipping up in the sky.
As she was swinging she glanced behind her and saw Paige, her wings spread, flying towards her quickly. Artemis grinned and turned back around, atattching to another building and making a sharp turn to the right. Her hair blew back out of her face, flipping and turning. She hadn't had this much.. fun in a while.
She was grinning, weirdly. When she was swinging around the city like that, it was like the wind rushing against her simply blew all her worries and issues away. And her heart sped up, but always in a good way. Not in fear or terror like usual.
The chase continued for a while, and Artemis glanced back once more, to find that the winged girl was no longer following her. Satisfied, but a little sad at the end of the chase, she turned back around in front of her-
To find Paige directly in front of her, slamming into her. Artemis's eyes widened and she let go of the gun. She squeezed her eyes shut as they collided, wind rushing through her ears. In the next second her back slammed down onto something hard, a roof, and she tumbled with Paige.
The two girls rolled on the roof Paige had tackled Artemis upon, and when the two finally stopped Artemis opened her eyes and wheezed, and the two girls scrambled up onto their feet, Artemis whipping out her dagger yet again and standing, the tip right by Paige's throat.
But the next thing she knew, she heard the shing of Paige's sword being unsheathed, and felt the cool, sharp blade against her own neck. Her eyes flit sideways to the blade. It was intricate, and the blue designs on it were so bright they seemed to be glowing. Futuristic and modern.
Artemis's eyes ran along the blade and back up to Paige's face. The winged girl had sweat running down her face, strands of hair sticking to her forehead and her wings ruffled behind her, curling and uncurling.
"Go ahead and do it, Neoma," Artemis said coolly. The wind blew small strands of her own hair into her face and she smirked. "You won't get what you want if you do. But I will. I'll get death so it's a win for me-"
Paige's eyes narrowed slowly. She was covered in bright colors from the smoke bombs. "And if you kill me, you'll create extra problems for yourself, wont you? You aren't allowed to kill me."
"No. But what makes you think I wont drag your ass back to my people? Huh?"
At that, Paige's eyes softened and she half smiled. "You won't. You don't even want to wear that uniform, do you?" With her other hand, she gestured to Artemis's stark white uniform. She moved her blade up and sliced the mask she was wearing. It fluttered to the ground.
Her eyes widened slightly and she flinched away from the blade slightly. She pressed the blade against Paige's throat. And yet, the winged girl didn't move an inch. Artemis glanced down at herself, to the mask, then at Paige. She held the blade tighter. "You don't know anything about what I want, lady. Honestly, I want some mental stab-"
Paige sighed, cutting her off. She looked exhausted. "Look.. one more chance to come willingly."
Artemis tilted her chin up and arched one eyebrow. "Mm.." There was a silence. She could only hear the wind blowing in her ears, and the noises of the city below. "...Sure."
Paige's lips parted in surprise, her eyes blinking stupidly. "Wait, really?"
"Sure." Artemis lowered her blade, and Paige lowered hers slowly, putting it back into her sheath as Artemis stored hers away as well. She smirked. "Hey.. You're pretty cute, y'know.."
The girl with the sword stared, her cheeks flushing pink immediately. "Wh-wha-"
But before Paige could even finish her 'what', Artemis suddenly darted forward and kicked her off the roof. She would be fine, she had wings.
Artemis turned away and ran to the other side so she could travel home by roof. She could never go with that girl. She leapt on to the next roof, the adrenaline vanishing and now replaced with that dark, awful feeling. Vincent would lose his shit if she ever left the reaper's (and she had of course tried before.) and it would put Paige and whoever she worked with in massive danger. Not that she cared, of cour-
When she was mid-leap, she heard a loud whooshing noise. In the exact same second, arms wrapped around her as a body slammed into her. Son of a-
Yet again, the two slammed onto the roof together. Artemis rolled again, coming to a stop on her stomach. She tried to push herself up, but then felt a knee crash into the center of her back, and she was flat against the rooftop again, the side of her face smushed against the cool surface.
"Girl, give up!" Artemis hissed, wriggling. "I'm not going!"
"I gave you a chance, Artemis." Paige sighed softly, taking her arms and cuffing them behind her back. She cuffed her ankles as well. "I gave you a chance to do this the easy way. You're just being difficult."
Artemis felt fear now. And anger. Why didn't this girl understand? Who even was she? And holy shit, what was Vincent going to do to her when he found out and got her back?
"Let me go!" Artemis spat, as Paige lifted her up, bridal style. Paige shook her head, that calm look on her face again.
"Can't." She walked to the edge of the roof and spread her wings out, flying off. With Artemis twisting and struggling in her grasp.
The night air was cold and sharp, it whipped against the demons bare chest as he lept from the shingled roofs. His long lizard like tail clinging to a pole, he heaved himself up onto a windowsill. His shawl caught on the extending peice of metal next to the stained glass. Tugging on it, his gold starred horns tangled in his curly white hair. He let out a sigh of exasperation, and turned and tapped on the window. A blurry figure approached and threw them open, revealing a prince of short stature, with thick black hair, pale freckled skin and deep blue eyes. The demon dropped to the tile floor, and the boy rushed forward and embraced him in a tight hug. "Thank every star you are alright!" He cried, pulling back, his eyes glistening with tears, his face a broud smile. Cupping the others face in his hands, the prince pulled him in and kissed him, he ran his fingers through the curly white hair. "I have been so worried," he whispered, pulling away, his eyes blinking the teardrops from his long eyelashes. "I thought I wouldn't return to you this time," the demon admitted. "I bring news." The boy ran his hands down his lovers arms, feeling the pull and taughtness of the muscle. "Then tell me," he prompted, his bright face grinning. "The mark has appeared again." And the jubilant expression faded instantly, the horror he felt in that moment seemed ten times as severe due to the bubbling fear in the demons stomach. "You don't mean..?" The other nodded, removing his shawl and turning his neck, the prince met with a nasty sight. Glowing softly, and looping around his shoulders was a white-hot tattoo of a snake, once thought to be long gone. The prince swallowed nervously, his eyes drifting back up into his beloveds. "Can you not stop this?" The demon sighed, wrapping the cloth back around his neck and covering the mark. "My sweet Benjamin, I have done everything to be with you, but this I can't ignore. I have to return to my people." He turned, and the prince desperately choked back tears, as the demon nearly left he rushed forward and grabbed his hand. "Artemis, wait!" Benjamin sobbed, his shoulders shaking, but through the low mumble of his voice he spoke. "Kiss me hard before you go." Artemis obeyed, and pulling his prince close by the hips, and entwining his hand in Benjamin's, he collided with his lips, his breath slipping through the cracks as they hardly paused. And as the demon finally pulled away, the boy stared deep and sorrowfully into his eyes, green reflecting a stunning blue, he whispered again. "I will miss you my love."
