[hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/MTWvaDS.jpg[/img][/center] [indent][sub][COLOR=5e74ee][I]THE BALL[/I][/COLOR][/sub][/indent][indent][sub][right][COLOR=5e74ee][b][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKKdy4ucD7Y&ab_channel=Panic%21AtTheDisco-Topic]all was golden in the sky, all was golden when the day met the night[/url][/b][/color][/right][/sub][/indent][hr] [color=gray][indent][indent] The garden behind the venue was well lit, and still devoid of most mortals. As the sun’s rays faded from view, Artemis gazed down at the city, from her vantage point behind a sculpted stone railing, and sighed. She had toiled after this wretched rock for centuries, and still, she was hardly any closer than when she’d begun. Could she truly be called the Mistress of the Hunt? Perhaps not… The sun had set just moments ago, and already, it rose behind her, a singsong greeting piercing her thoughts. [color=eed873]“You knoooow, if you missed me that much, you could’ve just come for a visit? You know where I live.”[/color] Artemis turned and rolled her eyes, placing a pale hand against the fine fabric of his tux and shoving him back. [color=5e74ee]“Personal space, Pollo,”[/color] she said, earning a chuckle from her twin. Despite her obvious annoyance, a smirk tugged at the corner of the huntress’ mouth. However much he vexed her, Apollo was one of the few people in this world that understood her, loathe as she might be to admit it. He didn’t need the ego boost. Apollo, grinning, took a spot next to his sister, leaning against the railing. [color=eed873]“Not quite so good as the ones I used to make, just saying.”[/color] This time, Artemis laughed. It was usually like this with them. If anyone could chisel away the stone that Artemis lived within, it was Pollo. [color=eed873]“How are you Arty? No bullshit, please and thank you.”[/color] Artemis sighed, looking everywhere until she was forced to meet Apollo’s eyes. [color=5e74ee]“How do you think I am, oh great Oracle?”[/color] Her brother was many things, but he was not her keeper. If he’d guessed her thoughts, she’d have no choice but to go along with it, but she would not offer him her plans so willingly, as much as she wished she could. If Apollo ever found out what she truly wanted with the Colossus, he would place that chisel through her heart, of this she was certain. [color=eed873]“Low blow,”[/color] Apollo said, miming a wound to his heart with all the melodrama befitting a god of the arts. Artemis’ scoff was all the applause he required, and he quickly regained his composure, nudging his sister playfully. [color=eed873]“I think, you’re tearing yourself up trying to find out who killed Hephaestus, because you can’t stand not having all the answers. Am I right?”[/color] [color=5e74ee]“It’s more than that Pollo, and you reducing it to something so trivial is foolish,”[/color] Arty replied, her mood quickly shifting. [color=5e74ee]“Someone has a god killer, don’t you see why that might be something we should try and control? Ignoring it won’t make it go away.”[/color] [color=eed873]“Why do you think I want you to drop it!”[/color] Apollo hissed. Artemis might’ve seen the two as being on opposing sides, but Apollo never seemed to. Selfish as he could be, he wanted his sister safe. [color=eed873]“You’re not invincible. Is it so hard to believe that I don’t want you to get hurt. Let Ares deal with this, you don’t need to be involved.”[/color] [color=5e74ee]“Oh, yes, because Ares ending up with a god killer is so much better!”[/color] Artemis threw her hands up in exasperation, a laugh brought on by the derangement of anger breaking through her lips. Apollo’s retort was cut off by a muffled shout behind them, followed by the doors they’d come through shuddering. Concern replaced anger on both of their faces, and the two shared a look that said, ‘I’m not done, but this is much more troubling.’ In unison, the two tore open the doors, and Timor and Thalia came tumbling outside, Timor falling on top of the Maiden, hands clutching her wrists. [color=4221b8]“Who sent you?”[/color] Timor hissed, only to be met by a swift kick to the side from Artemis. [color=5e74ee]“Get off of her, Dog. She’s mine,”[/color] Artemis said. Her words were thick with authority, a mother bear who’d caught a predator trying to make a meal out of her cubs. Timor grunted, growled, and stood to face her. He managed to take a step forward before Apollo spun him around. [color=eed873]“Hey, Sweeney Todd, this is not the place. Why don’t you go tell your daddy we say hello, okay?”[/color] Apollo said, smarmy as ever. Timor clenched and unclenched his fists, steely gaze boring into Apollo, surely imagining all the terrible things Metus would do to him if he asked. With a chilling grace, he brushed off his suit, and removed Apollo’s hands from his shoulders, before walking inside, gone like he’d never even been there. A shadow in the night . [color=eed873]“Which one was that? Fear or Terror?”[/color] Apollo said, eyes trained on the doorway. The scene might be new, but this situation wasn’t all that strange. The twins had been quite the team in a fight. Having each other's backs was second nature. [color=5e74ee]“Fear. Timor. Mars and Venus’, and apparently he’s the nicer one.”[/color] Artemis said as she helped Thalia to her feet. [color=eed873]“Fucking Romans.”[/color] Artemis focused now, on the girl in front of her. She was shaking, ever so slightly, but when Artemis brought a hand to her shoulder, Thalia pushed it away. [color=dadefb]“I’m fine, my lady. I can go back inside, if you want.”[/color] [color=5e74ee]“No. Go back to the car, Thalia. You’re done for the night.”[/color] Sympathy had left Artemis. She had a whole night left to get through, and Timor had already exposed one of her little birds. She didn’t have time to waste on Thalia’s ego. [color=dadefb]“But-”[/color] [color=5e74ee]“Go. Now.”[/color] Thalia didn’t hazard another word, and instead turned on her heel, slipping back into the ballroom, and presumably, back out to the limo in which she’d arrived. Once she was gone, Apollo turned to face Artemis, grinning despite the recent tension. [color=eed873]“Gods, that was exciting! We never get to do fun shit like that anymore.”[/color] Artemis rolled her eyes. If she kept speaking with Apollo, she was liable to lose them. [color=5e74ee]“I don’t know what you’re talking about. That was a fucking mess.”[/color] She pursed her lips and crossed her arms, pacing back and forth. [color=5e74ee]“If I’d known that Mars would’ve brought his hounds I’d have left the girls at home.”[/color] [color=eed873]“Oh look on the bright side, Arty. I think I agree with you now.”[/color] Artemis chuckled at that. [color=5e74ee]“I’m not surprised. You usually get there, eventually.”[/color] It was Apollo’s turn to roll his eyes. [color=eed873]“And they say [i]I’m[/i] arrogant.”[/color] [/indent][/indent][/color]