Cosmic Love and War

What had Damian meant, when he said Artemis was going to die? He’d told me Art’s mom had died when she was young, and that Artemisia was going to repeat the process. But Artemis was rather old, even by vampire standards. The drive was quiet. I was greatly surprised that Artemis hadn’t said anything or asked what Damian had said, but then again, she wasn’t Caius. I watched my friend intently for a moment. She seemed okay, like she would heal. She seemed normal and healthy. “Art, are you okay? I mean, after everything that happened between you and Damian and Caius.” She looked stunned for a moment. “What happened to Caius? I thought he did something really simple to get me out like give them a few bucks.” She turned around to look at me. I felt so stupid; of course Caius wasn’t going to tell her about his stupid deal. “It’s nothing’, Art. I’m just tired and talking crazy talk,” I stammered trying to get her on her better side. Art’s eyes narrowed at me; she didn’t believe a word, but she said nothing. I knew her well enough to know that she had no intention of giving up; she was so like Caius. “So, what did the infamous Damian tell you about me?” I was dreading this question; Artemis wanted to know everything that everyone else knew about her. I thought about what I would say to her. I had three options. 1: I could simply tell Artemis that I forgot about it while I slept, but that would backfire as I’d mentioned Damian already. 2: I could tell her everything and say it was all pure rubbish, and that Damian had stripped me of my powers, and I’d been very groggy afterwards. 3: This was the most brutal of the three options. I could Artemis everything Damian had said, and tell her that I believed him, and that nothing she or anyone else said who make me believe otherwise. “I don’t really care what you know about me, Sara. Just please don’t… don’t tell Caius any of it, please? He would love to know everything, but it could really strain our relationship, at present. Caius doesn’t need to know all the gruesome details of my life, and when he does, I’ll tell him. I’d rather he heard it from me.” I was shocked; Artemis never expressed herself like before, ever. I smiled at her.