Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Daughters of Artemis ❯ Chapter 5

The Daughters of Artemis:

Survivors

 

"Egypt is dead," the elegant cat-woman took the shallow cup of cream and drank, licking her lips sensuously as she blinked golden eyes, "at least to it's old gods. Of our pantheon I am one of the few who remain, if only an echo of what I once was."

 

"Well, I'm glad that you're still around, Bast," Diana answered the Egyptian cat-goddess seriously, her brown hair tied back in a ponytail. Her skirt hugged her slim body, the matching black leather top cupping her breasts and gently pushing them up.

 

"There are times," Bast sighed, her mostly human features bearing a decidedly feline cast, "I wish I had followed my kin into oblivion. It can be lonely, being one of the last." Her hair fell into her eyes, the strands the oddest shade of gray.

 

Diana smiled a very grim little smile, "There are worse fates."

 

"Indeed," Bast agreed.

 

Diana hesitated, "You know about...?"

 

"I can not assist you, old friend, " Bast sighed as she shook her head reluctantly. She smiled at her wryly, "I am barely a ghost compared to the height of my power, now only the last fragments of cat-worship still sustain me."

 

"It doesn't mean you're not still a target," Diana reminded her. She smiled grimly, "Just consider it, please."

 

Around them the bar was busy, many of the men and woman of the community retreating here to escape the winter chill. Diana and Circe had been serving customers on and off most of the night, each taking short breaks to talk with friends or grab a fast bite to eat.

 

Circe smiled to herself fondly as she watched her lover talk to an old friend. Personally the blonde haired sorceress didn't think too much of the old gods, but Diana seemed to feel the need to maintain a connection to those beings. 'And at least she's quieter than the Asgardians were,' she mused, 'bezerker gods are always trouble.'

 

"So how's the army building going?" Circe asked as Diana excused herself from her conversation with Bast and joined her.

 

"I'm not building an army," Diana started before the front doors crashed open.

 

All eyes turned as the three young women stood in the doorway, battered and bloody. They seemed like mirror images of each other, antique robes hanging limply over their strong bodies as they swayed there weakly. One gently supported the most wounded of their group as she looked up to the bar and cried, "Sanctuary!"

 

Circe took charge instinctively, clapping her hands to get the attention of the customers even as Diana rushed to the women's side. "I would strongly advise anyone leaving who doesn't want to get involved with potentially big trouble," Circe called out seriously.

 

In a few moments all the customers were mostly gone, only one or two people still lingering to help. Dr. Katherine Delafield looked over the badly wounded woman with a critical eye, her gray streaked hair tied back roughly then commented, "If I didn't know better I'd say she was attacked by someone using a sword."

 

"It wouldn't surprise me," Diana said bleakly.

 

"Here," Elizabeth carried over the medical kit, the pretty blonde hurrying as much as her dangerously low dress would allow. Along with her facial scar and back tattoo a new insignia had been added to her upper arm, the brightness showing it was new.

 

"Thanks," Katherine grabbed the kit and began to clean the injured triplet's wounds with alcohol, drawing a hiss of pain from the woman.

 

"Please save our sister....." one sister started.

 

"....without her we would surely die." the other mostly unhurt one finished.

 

"I don't think the injuries are fatal," Katherine replied, frowning at the depth of some of the cuts, "but a hospital wouldn't be a bad idea."

 

"I kind of doubt they'll do that," Elizabeth said dryly.

 

"Are they who I think they are?" Circe asked Diana softly, her whole body tense.

 

"The Furies," Diana nodded grimly, "the three spirits of Vengeance that predated even the gods of Olympus."

 

"Wait a minute," Circe looked surprised as she asked her lover, "I thought that they were created by the gods?"

 

Diana smiled bleakly, "Just more lies from Zeus, love. He may have taken credit for their existence, but they owe their true allegiance to ancient powers."

 

"So why are they here?" Circe scowled.

 

"I can take a good guess," Diana dropped her voice even more as she continued on, "I think they tried to strike out at Zeus to avenge those that he's slain, as they are compelled to do by the powers that they serve."

 

"Three god-like beings going up against Zeus?" Circe sighed as she tried to imagine it, "They must have been slaughtered."

 

Katherine rose, wiping off her bloody hands as she looked over to the other two sisters and tiredly said, "The worst wounds been sealed and I think they're clean. Baring unforeseen complications she should be fine, once she sleeps this off."

 

"We thank you for your help...." she bowed.

 

".... ask a boon of us at any time, it will be granted," the other Fury bowed, too.

 

"Thank you," Katherine nodded gravely. Under her breath she muttered, "And to think, I was just here tonight looking for Hunter...."

 

"You aren't asking what's going on?" Diana looked at Katherine curiously.

 

"I don't think I really want to know," Katherine replied as she headed back towards her table and the stiff drink that awaited her. Elizabeth hesitated, the young woman clearly tempted to ask, then she decided to follow the other woman's example.

 

"I'm almost glad that mostly everyone left," Diana commented as she and Circe watched the two Furies carry their sister over to a couch and lay her out there.

 

"So what are their names?" Circe asked while they accompanied them over there.

 

"They don't have names, exactly," Diana answered honestly, "just descriptions of their functions. One searches, one judges and finally another punishes the guilty party."

 

"Lovely," Circe sighed.

 

The leader of the Furies left her sister watching over her wounded sibling and walked to their side, her eyes grim. "I'm sorry to bring this to your door," she said simply.

 

"You knew about Zeus' oath not to harm this bar or anyone in it," Diana sighed, not even making it a question.

 

"I am the searcher, the gatherer of wisdom," the Fury said frankly, "of course I knew."

 

"This could bring on a confrontation with Zeus," Diana looked like she was restraining her temper, "there is no way we're ready for that."

 

The Fury raised her chin in a proud gesture, "We hurt him, milady, even as he tried to strike our dear sister down. It will take some time before he ventures forth from his palace again, even with his greater abilities."

 

Circe put her hand on Diana's arm to calm her as she asked, "Will Zeus hold to his oath, with us sheltering these three in here?"

 

Grimly Diana shrugged, "Breaking his oath would hurt him, in his standing among the other Olympians. Most still remain unaware of his true nature, and he needs to keep them in the dark for as long as possible."

 

"And if he does attack?" the Fury asked, for a moment looking more like a frightened young woman than a deity of Vengeance.

 

"Then we pray that mortal forged sorcerous defenses can hold up against a god's might," Circe said to her flatly.

 

Diana put her hand on her lover's arm, calming her. "We've got some breathing room," she reminded Circe, "we'll just have to wait and see."

 

To be continued....