Chapter 35
New Pharia City
Brir
I watched Artemis sleep for almost two days. Peter had been by to check on him as soon as the sun had risen the first day. He told me that Elex was weak but better, and Merrick and Soren stayed with Arya while she was sick. Elex had no idea why Artemis’s blood had attacked Arya, but at least now the blisters were gone.
I spent those two days watching over Artemis, not leaving his side. I watched as the flicker of the moonlight changed on his skin, shaping the shadows on his face with every passing hour. His peaceful expression never wavered, even as he slept through the fever that was burning through him.
Meta had brought food, which was set up on the little table, waiting for Artemis to wake up. My tail flicked in agitation from worry.
Artemis looked perfect. Every wound was closed. His skin was perfectly unmarred. Even his lips weren’t chapped. He looked pristine, absolutely perfect.
I reached out, tracing the smooth line of his cheek with my fingertips. His breathing remained steady, oblivious to the turmoil that raged within me.
It wasn't until blue eyes opened and looked back at me that I finally felt like I could breathe again.
His voice was hoarse, the result of days of silence. It was a welcome sound in our quiet room. I smiled at him as he said my name.
“Brir.”
“Hey, Butterfly, how are you doing?” I asked, pushing his dark hair out of his eyes.
He blinked slowly, opening and closing his mouth several times before words finally exited. "I'm ... okay, I think. Still a bit groggy, but the pain is mostly gone," Artemis managed to say with a weak smile, his voice a bit hoarse from the meds. “Just hungry."
I stayed quiet, letting him find his bearings. His gaze wandered around the room briefly, taking in the surroundings before finally resting on the food.
I got up from the bed and brought him the plate of pastries, pulling off the cover that kept them fresh.
I poured him a glass of water from the jug on the nightstand and helped him sit up to sip on it. He took the glass and drained it in seconds.
"Thanks," he murmured. His body sank back against the pillows in relief as he handed me the empty glass. "I didn't realize how thirsty I was," he said, his voice still raspy but stronger than before.
His eyes were on the pastries now, his fingers twitching slightly as if eager to reach out and grab one. But he held himself back, looking hesitantly at me instead as if seeking permission.
"You should eat. Your body needs the calories," I told him gently. "Meta brought them. They are all for you. I know how starved Elex’s healing makes a person.”
His eyes lit up at that, the ice blue of his irises warming with gratitude. "Thank you, Brir," he murmured. His long fingers reached out and picked a plump, sugar-glazed pastry from the plate.
He bit into it, relief washing over his features as the flavor spread across his tongue.
“Oh… damn,” Artemis swore softly under his breath. “This is fucking delicious,” he told me, his mouth full of pastry. A bit of fruit jam was smeared on the edge of his mouth.
I chuckled softly at Artemis's enthusiasm, watching him devouring the pastry with gusto. A warmth spread through my chest at seeing him enjoy something so simple after everything he'd been through.
"Slow down a bit, Butterfly," I gently cautioned, though I couldn't keep the smile from my voice. "There's plenty more where that came from. No need to choke yourself."
Artemis nodded sheepishly, swallowing his mouthful before reaching for another pastry. This time, he took smaller, more measured bites, savoring each. I couldn't help but notice how the sunlight streaming through the window caught in his hair, giving it an almost ethereal glow.
I chuckled at his reaction, my heart swelling with affection at the childlike wonder on his face. "I'm glad you like them. Meta is an amazing baker."
Artemis nodded enthusiastically, already reaching for another pastry. "These are incredible," he said between bites. "I've never tasted anything like this before."
As he ate, I noticed his movements becoming more fluid and less hesitant. The color returned to his cheeks, bringing life back to his features. It was a relief to see him looking more like himself again.
"How are you feeling?" I asked softly, watching him devour his third pastry.
Artemis paused, seeming to take stock of his body. He flexed his fingers, rolled his shoulders, and stretched his legs under the covers. A look of surprise crossed his face.
"I feel ... good," Artemis began between bites, his eyes curious. "What exactly happened? The last thing I remember clearly is being in that healing room with Elex.”
I met his gaze, weighing how much to tell him. His face was open, genuinely willing to accept whatever information I had to share. I took a deep breath and began.
Artemis sat silently as I spoke. I told him everything that had happened.
A flicker of fear crossed his face, but he nodded for me to continue. When I finished, he looked a little unsettled.
“Is Arya okay?” he asked.
"She's fine," I reassured him quickly, seeing the worry in his features. “That woman is incredibly strong. I’ve seen her do some amazing things.”
I moved over to the table, grabbed the bowl of cut fruit, and brought it back to him, sitting against the headboard. I set the bowl in his lap with two forks. Artemis picked up one and stabbed a piece of fruit before he popped it into his mouth. I stabbed another piece as I watched him chew and swallow, then held mine to his lips. He smiled at me with a soft laugh, opening his mouth and allowing me to feed him the piece of fruit. Leaning in, I kissed the corner of his mouth so thankful for having him back with me and whole.
He took another bite, looking around us. “Where are we?"
“The apartment in the city that Arya keeps for me.'' I looked around us. The apartment was always clean, and Arya had huge, thick, dark curtains around it to make it darker so that the light of this world didn't hurt my eyes.
“It's nice,” Artemis said.
I couldn't help but smile at his observation. "Yes, it is," I agreed. “Arya made sure it was comfortable for both of us." I reached over and took his hand, feeling the warmth and familiarity of his touch.
Artemis slowly took another bite of the fruit, his mind racing with questions. I knew we needed to talk about what had happened, but I didn't want to overwhelm him right after waking up.
Instead, I focused on making sure he was comfortable and nourished.
He chewed thoughtfully, his eyes drifting around the room. “What time is it?” he asked, swallowing another juicy apple.
I brushed a stray lock of hair away from his face, studying him. His eyes held a distant look, lost in thought perhaps. “It’s early. Arya hung curtains that wouldn’t let the light in.”
“She thinks of everything,” Artemis said with a smile. “I like being able to see your eyes.”
I hummed softly, leaning in to press a soft kiss against his forehead. "I like being able to see yours, too." I pulled back, studying those familiar grayish-blue eyes that had initially captivated me.
Artemis laughed a small but adorable laugh at my words, gently brushing his fingers over my arm. “I missed you so much,” he told me.
“I will always come for you, Artemis,” I told him, leaning forward and gently pressing my lips to his.
His eyes fluttered shut as he returned the kiss, his hand momentarily tightening in mine. It was a simple gesture yet filled with so much warmth and love that it made my heart flutter. When we pulled away, Artemis's eyes were glowing, the earlier confusion disappearing and replaced by a familiar, content sparkle.
His hands cradled my face, deepening the kiss and pulling me close. It was a sweet reunion kiss, full of relief and pent-up longing. When we parted, he looked at me with such intensity that I could almost see the storm of emotions inside his head.
“I love you,” Artemis whispered, his voice barely audible. His fingers traced the contours of my face, and his gaze was soft yet intense.
"I love you too," I replied, my hand covering his on my cheek. His skin was warm to the touch, a comforting presence that filled me with a familiar sense of belonging. I leaned into his palm.
His thumb gently swept over my cheekbone in a tender caress. We stayed like that for a moment, simply basking in each other's warmth, letting the silence speak volumes. Artemis's gaze remained on me, scrutinizing every inch of my face as though committing it to memory.
"I keep thinking," he began hesitantly, his voice a soft murmur in the quiet room. "That I'll wake up, and you'll be gone. That this is all some beautiful dream." His eyes bore into mine, blue orbs filled with raw honesty and vulnerability.
I shook my head at his confession, reassuringly squeezing his hand on my cheek. "I promise you, Artemis, this is no dream. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere." My words carried some weight as his worried expression softened slightly. His fingers twitched against my skin, a silent testament to the fear that still lingered in his mind.
"Look at me," I implored quietly, lifting my free hand to capture his. The warm weight of his hand in mine was real, as was the feel of his heart steadily beating beneath my touch. "Feel this," I whispered, guiding his hand to rest over my heart. "This is real. We are real."
His fingers pressed gently against my chest, a look of wonder flickering across his face at the rush of my pulse beneath them.
I spun my sister's ring around my finger, fidgeting as I studied him. I now knew of the human tradition of marrying. When I asked about the ring in his hand, Merrick explained it to me. Would Artemis like the only ring I had? Calea’s ring. The one I had forged when she had taken her place at the council table.
A soft knock ripped me out of my thoughts. Artemis looked towards the door. The knock sounded again.
"Come in," Artemis called, his voice a tad shaky as he told the person at the door to enter without getting up.
“You shouldn’t just yell for people to come in,” I told him. “You don’t know who is at the door.”
“It can’t be anyone bad,” Artemis said with an eye roll. “We are in New Pharia.”
“Can I come in?” Arya asked me when I answered the door. “You guys aren’t naked, are you?”
“Seriously, Arya,” Artemis grumbled, cheeks tinting with a faint blush. She shrugged unapologetically and entered the room, her gaze skimming over us before settling on Artemis.
With an arched brow, I glanced at Artemis, then back at Arya. "As you can see, we're fully clothed," I said.
Arya walked through the door and moved towards the kitchen. I watched silently as she opened cabinets and pulled things out to make coffee.
“You know I don't drink coffee,” I said, sitting in the chair at the counter.
“Yes, but I do,” Arya said, pouring water into the coffee machine. She shut the top and clicked on the button. Arya turned from the machine and pulled some things out of the fridge. I watched as she started heating food on the stove while the smell of coffee slowly filled the room.
“Is that coffee?” Artemis asked from behind us, slowly shuffling over to another stool before slumping into it, head resting sleepily on his hand propped up on his elbow. “Why don’t you have coffee at the bunker?”
"Because it's a human thing," I replied, shifting my gaze from Artemis to Arya. “Besides, you never seemed interested in it before," taking the seat next to him.
“That's because there is no reason to ask for something you don’t have,” Artemis told me, kissing my cheek as he turned back to Arya, watching as she started pulling ingredients out of the fridge.
“You don’t keep coffee at the bunker?” Arya said. The subtle jab seemed to amuse Arya; a smirk danced on her lips. “What do you drink?”
“Leakous. Why, what do you drink?” I answered, frowning at Arya.
“How the fuck do you have leakous?” she said, her surprise written all over her face.
“I grow it in my garden,” I told her. “Doesn’t Meta grown toldson?”
“No, we never found seeds,” Arya told me as she pulled the pot from the machine when it started to hiss.
Arya poured a steaming cup of coffee and placed it in front of Artemis, along with a plate of food. "Eat up. The sugar will do you good. You'll need your strength," she said reassuringly before turning to me.
I leaned back in my chair, watching Arya move around the kitchen with a sense of practiced ease. She always had a way of taking charge of a situation; right now, that was exactly what we needed. I felt a wave of comfort wash over me. Having Artemis awake and Arya here brought a sense of normalcy back into our lives, even for a moment.
Artemis sat at the counter, his eyes still heavy from sleep, but he showed a hint of curiosity as he observed Arya's movements. I couldn't help but smile at his gentle presence, grateful for every moment we got to share.
"Thank you, Arya," I said softly, meeting her gaze. She simply nodded in response before returning to the stove.
Artemis took a sip of the coffee, relishing in its bittersweetness.
"How are you feeling, love?” Arya asked. “Any better after some rest and food?"
Artemis nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Much better, thank you," he replied, taking a hesitant sip from his mug. “Brir told me that my blood attacked you. Are you okay?” Artemis looked nervous as he looked her up and down, inspecting her for injuries.
"I'm okay, Artemis. Really." Arya raised her hands in a gesture of reassurance. "It would take more than that to take me down. It's not as bad as it sounds. I just needed some rest, too."
Her gaze fell to me over the counter. “Soren told me what he can do. I hear he provided a great distraction,” Arya said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
I chuckled, taking a sip of my coffee Arya placed in front of me with a grimace. "That's one way to put it," I replied. "He's got a knack for causing chaos.”
Artemis shared a quiet laugh with us, the tension in the room easing slightly. Our easy bantering seemed to relax him, and I was glad for it. He had gone through enough distress over the last few days; he deserved a moment of lightheartedness.
Arya looked at me seriously over her coffee cup. “I'm going to need your help training him.”
“It will have to wait until I help Artemis look for his sister. Did you see her in Artemis's memories?” I asked.
Arya's brows furrowed, her gaze shifting to the cup of coffee in her hands. “Yes, and I agree. I believe she is still alive,” Arya told both of us. “She looked sick like you were, but your transformation was faster. I agree with your hypothesis, Artemis. I think the drugs they had her on slowed it down.”
Artemis looked at her for a second before he recounted what happened at the hospital. I listened carefully, squeezing his hand for comfort.
As I listened to Artemis recount the story of his sister's kidnapping, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of anger, sadness, and concern. Clearly, this was weighing heavily on him, and I knew we had to do everything in our power to bring her back safely.
“So someone took her,” Arya said, studying him as she scooped another scoop of rice and some meat and sauce onto his plate.
“Yeah, that's what I think,” Artemis told her. “They had a picture. I could see the woman’s hand right at its edge.”
"Are you certain it was a woman's hand?" I asked, already mentally sifting through our list of known adversaries. Artemis nodded, his shoulders dropping slightly as he sighed.
"I'm sure," he said, his fingers tapping anxiously on the table.
"Then we need to find that woman," I said, setting my coffee cup down with a firm clunk. "We know they have her. We just need to figure out where."
“I think I already know where,” Arya told both of us.
His eyes were determined, and I could see the fire within him. I squeezed his hand in reassurance. "We'll find her. I promise you that.”
“I‘m sending Leonovus out to look for her. I think he would be the best person,” Arya said at last.
"Leonovus?" Artemis questioned with furrowed brows. “What? No!” Artemis started to argue, but Arya held up her hand.
“Leonovus is a trained hunter. He is our best tracker,” Arya said firmly. "You are not.”
Artemis looked at me, uncertainty flashing in his blue eyes. I tightened my grip on his hand.
“I promised Artemis that we—” I gestured between us “—would find her, Arya,” I argued.
"And we will," Arya responded, her voice firm but not unkind. "But we need to be smart about it.“
I watched Artemis’s back stiffen. He was struggling with the idea of trusting this to anyone else.
"That's my sister out there," he said, his voice strained. "I can't just sit here and do nothing."
I understood his reluctance; it was a risk to put his sister's fate in someone else's hands. However, Arya was right; we had to be strategic.
Arya narrowed her eyes at him. “Artemis, Brir almost died trying to get you here.”
Artemis looked down, his jaw set firm. "I know," he mumbled, sounding like a scolded child.
"Then you understand why we need Leonovus." Arya's tone softened, a hint of sympathy in her eyes.
"But—" Artemis began, but I cut him off.
“We can handle ourselves, Arya,” I argued, squeezing Artemis' hand reassuringly.
“Do you want to risk Artemis again?" Arya said, and her words made my back straighten. She was playing dirty. "He may not make it a second time. They were careful before. Do you think they will be again after you killed that man?”
Artemis's hand tightened against mine, his knuckles turning a shade paler. His eyes met mine, a mixture of fear and defiance in them. Arya's words had struck a nerve, and we both knew it.
Her words stung, but they were the harsh truth. A grim acceptance replaced Artemis's defiance.
“You are a trained fighter but not a hunter. You're not as skilled as Merrick or Leonovus. You know this. It isn’t your passion, and honestly, I could use you here. I need more hands to help with the city. Someone who can help rebuild New Pharia and train Soren. You trained me, Brir. He is going to need that, too. You know how wild this gift is. You know it could hurt someone. Merrick doesn't know enough, and I fear what could happen if Soren is left untrained.”
I could see Artemis wanted to argue, but she had shut him down with the thought that I had gotten hurt. I couldn't ask Merrick and Soren to go with me.
“You said you think you know where she is?” I asked Arya.
She nodded. “Yes. There is a military-controlled lab in North Dakota. I think she might be there."
"But how can we be sure?" Artemis asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He was grappling with the uncertainty of it all, the fear of failing his sister yet again.
"We can't," Arya admitted. "But we've got solid intel, and Leonovus is our best chance.”
Artemis went silent, staring into space. It was clear that he didn’t like the decision.
"Alright," I finally conceded. "We'll bring him in." Arya looked relieved, while Artemis seemed to crumple further into himself.
“That's across the country,” Artemis said with a shocked look.
“It is. Also, I'm sure the person who had you wasn’t meant to. From the folder on you, they were supposed to travel straight there in the orders, but Brir’s memories tell me they weren’t. There has been some chatter on the radio that a captain stole military property, and I'm pretty sure that property was you,” Arya explained, her gaze steady and unflinching.
Artemis's face paled. "Are you saying they're still looking for me? That captain... he’s—"
Arya nodded solemnly. “I know. I saw what Orion did in your memories. He’s dead. This means we cannot interrogate him to find out what he knew.”
Artemis's voice cracked as he breathed deeply. "So, there's a chance she might be there. In North Dakota..."
For a moment, the room was silent as the gravity of our situation finally set in.
“What did he do?” I asked Arya.
“The man holding me, Orion, wasn’t the captain,” Artemis told us. “He killed the captain and cut off his head. He showed me.”
“He was also like Artemis,” I said.
“I know. I saw. You three fought like hell to get Artemis back. I'm proud of all of you,” Arya said. “He was a hybrid. A very strong one. He said he was the first in your memories, Artemis.” Arya’s gaze fixed on him. “I still have no idea how the disease was created.”
"Perhaps it wasn't created at all," Artemis suggested, "but evolved... mutated.”
“No, Nothing evolves like this in nature.” Arya continued. “You have a tattoo on the back of your neck. May I see it?”
She waited for Artemis to agree before she moved around the counter. He held still as she lifted his hair and studied the number at the back of his neck. “I have a youngling here who has a tattoo like this,” Arya told him.
“What?” Artemis looked at her with wide eyes.
“Her name is Emily. She escaped a bus full of younglings that the military was transporting somewhere. We still haven’t figured out what they were doing to them. I think they were taking the younglings where they were taking you, Artemis. I’m hoping they will be there with your sister,” Arya told us. She looked nervous.
“That’s why you want to send Leonovus,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “You want to use his rage.”
"Yes," Arya confirmed, her tone devoid of apology. Her eyes darted back to Artemis and then to me. A sense of unease hung in the air, wrapping itself around us.
"But this isn't the way, Arya," I said, my voice standing out in contrast to the chilling silence. "You can't use one person's pain for the benefit of an operation. There has to be another way."
"I don't care how we do it," Artemis contradicted me, his fists clenching and unclenching. "As long as we get my sister back." Artemis didn’t understand the stakes, but if Arya was here talking to us she must have already talked to Leonovus, and he would never tell her no.
“What about the younglings?” I added
“We don't know they are there,” Arya replied. “Leonovus would never hurt a youngling. I've seen him in rages before—more than you. We need him on this one, and I need you here.”
A silence hung over the room again, heavy and suffocating. Arya nodded, her gaze fixed on the ground momentarily before finally facing Artemis. "I give you my word, Artemis. We will do everything possible to bring her back to you, but you can’t go. You don’t have the experience. I need someone on the ground that can handle this." Arya reached her hand out to Artemis, palm up. She was asking for his trust.
Artemis glanced at me momentarily, then back to Arya before he took her hand. "I'm trusting you."
“I won’t break your trust, Artemis. Leonovus is an amazing fighter. I will call a meeting in a few days to finalize everything. Everyone must rest briefly before I send them back out, but I swear. I will get her back.” Arya squeezed Artemis's hand before she got up and went around the counter to the door. She gave Artemis a small smile before she pulled it open.
I watched as Arya left the room, her shoulders stiff and rigid. The door clicked shut behind her, locking the decisions into place.
I turned my gaze back onto Artemis, who had returned to his seat, hunched over and looking painfully defeated.
"Are you okay, Artemis?" I asked, walking over to him. His face was pale, and a taut line of tension ran through his jaw. He didn't answer for a moment, sitting silently, his eyes far off and haunted.
"I'm scared," he finally admitted. "I'm scared that my sister won't make it back. I'm scared of what Leonovus might do to get her back."
His admission hung heavy between us, swallowed by the oppressive silence. I sat down next to him, placing my hand on his arm.
“Leonovus is the best. He will find her and bring her back.”