Aphrodite's Fall (Rewritten) - Prologue
The sea raged against the cliffs, pounding them furiously as the moon above poured her silvery light onto the world. Along the cliff tops birds screeched, circling over a young woman walking below. She was barefoot, wearing a modest white dress that covered everything, except her arms. She held a bow in her hands, strung and with an arrow ready to fly. The moonlight gave her strength, but she was still wary; her eyes darting about within her striking face. It had been many years since she was able to walk the earth without protection.
A scream echoed across the island and Artemis smiled. Good, she was still bound. Letting loose the tension in her bow, Artemis returned the arrow to the leather quiver on her back. She glanced up and dismissed the birds with a flick of her eyes. They wheeled away, finally returning to their nests for the night. Artemis headed deeper into the centre of the island, her feet taking her along a forgotten trail, towards a temple hidden among the trees. The scream sounded again, and Artemis could make out curse words and phrases within the noise. She approached with caution.
“Artemis, I know you’re out there!” a delicate voice shouted. It was beautiful, the sort of voice that should be singing for the stars to shine brighter, and enchanting flowers to bloom in the dead of winter. The sort of voice that should not be screeching at a goddess.
Artemis smirked, stepping into the temple light, the soft glow of candles enhancing the radiance of the woman in the centre of the room.
She was… Breathtaking. Her eyes were a pure, brilliant blue; the colour of summer skies mixed with sapphires. Her long hair sparkled and shone like dawn sunlight, the blonde tones contrasting with her fair skin. She wore a simple red skirt, floor-length; her upper body covered by a sleeved corset of red and black. The fine silks emphasised the flawlessness of her light skin; her ensemble accentuating the dip of her cleavage, showing far more skin than Artemis was comfortable seeing. Her lip curled back slightly, showing her obvious distaste for the young woman before her.
“I see you’re still as brazen as ever, little sister,” she said. Her voice was mellow and smooth; the voice of a hunter used to speaking to injured of frightened animals.
Aphrodite let out a bitter laugh.
“Come to beg me to confess and repent?” She sneered at the elder, her attractive face twisting into an expression of rage.
“Or have you returned to taunt me with stories of the women who lay in my bed during my enforced absence?” For a moment the mask slipped, and Artemis saw the heartache hidden by her sister’s anger.
“No, Aphrodite. You really consider me to be that cruel? I wanted to see if you’d changed your ways; I was considering granting you more freedom…” Artemis paused while Aphrodite looked at her suspiciously.
“Really?” questioned the younger, “Oh sister, I knew you wouldn’t leave me here to-”
“But I’ve changed my mind,” Artemis’ words were quiet, but Aphrodite still heard them. Rage once again clouded her features.
“You’re here to gloat! You simply want to remind me that I’m still under your control; that I’ll never be released until I’m a copy of you!” Artemis was forced back a step by the sheer force of Aphrodite’s anger. Her eyes narrowed and silver chains snapped onto Aphrodite’s wrists, matching the delicate bonds that lay wrapped around her left ankle.
“If you don’t change, you’ll never return home,” Artemis spoke sharply, turning around to leave. Aphrodite screamed after her.
“Fine, go! Someone will release me eventually!” She cried out.
“Come see Aphrodite, bound forever in these mortal chains, punished by her sister for a crime she didn’t commit! Watch her weep stars and bleed fire! Love cannot be tamed Artemis, I know better than anyone! Someone will break my bonds, and I’ll make you regret ever trying to imprison me!”
The island began to shake as Aphrodite’s rage expanded outwards. Animals everywhere ran for cover as birds took to the darkened sky. Along the cliffs rocks crashed into the ocean below, and Artemis stepped out into thin air, and vanished.