Chapter Text
“Time cannot be stopped!”
The cruel titans' golden scythe tore space itself apart and ripped a deep bloody wound into Melinoe’s flesh. The warding effect of Hephaestus’s boons having done all they can to protect her, but ultimately being pushed too far beyond their limits.
“No!” The princess of the underworld felt her body drain of the last ounce of strength. She dug deep within herself and called forth her contingency spell, just as Headmistress had taught her, “Return to shadow, now!”
In less than an instance - too quick for the titan of time to seize her, Melinoe vanished into the darkness of the unseen.
Melinoe awoke within her grotto and let out a deep desperate sigh, “Damn it, I was so close. If I had just-”
“~Moonlight, guide you home tonight~”
Her lamentations of her own inadequacy were interrupted by the beautiful song echoing throughout the crossroads.
Melinoe gasped and turned to her beloved familiar, “Frinos! Artemis is here! I have to go, we’ll depart for the underworld before long.”
“Ribbit!” The familiar decried.
The young witch rushed out from her sanctuary and broke out into a sprint, paying little mind to the family portrait in the corner of her tent that haunted her so.
The dour shade, Dora appeared before her, “Woah! Slow down, Mel. What’s got you so worked up? Did-ya get him?”
“No time to chat, Dora! Keep up the good work haunting my tent.”
Melinoe barreled out from the flap of her abode and strided right past the fated list, where she spotted Doom incarnate.
“Good evening, princess. Any closer to the completion of your task?”
“I’m getting there, Lord Moros. I almost had him. I’m sorry to cut and run, but I have something very important to do before I depart again this night.”
“Understandable. May the Fates be with you.”
Finally, the princess arrived at the source of the singing. A small sequestered glade by the pier, where the reclusive goddess spent her idle time. There she was, sitting under the moonlight and singing her woes away, the ever graceful goddess of the hunt, and Melinoe’s beloved Silver Sister.
“Sister Melinoe! It’s a pleasure to see you. Please, come join me for a spell.”
“Sister Artemis…aren’t you disappointed with me? You offered me such a powerful boon, and I still failed…”
“No, none of that, Sister. You know the rules, this is our happy place. Come and sing with me. Let your grief go.”
“...Okay…”
That evening, the crossroads were graced with a duet by the sisters in arms.
“Don’t you feel better, Melinoe?”
The princess of the dead released a sigh of relief, “I do.”
“I’m glad. It’s time I set off then. I need to get a head start so I can thin out the titans forces-”
“Please wait, Artemis! I…I have something for you.” Melinoe offered a golden bottle of nectar to the Olympian.
The goddess of the hunt eyed the divine liquid, “Sister, we talked about this. I can’t drink on the hunt, and I don’t want to carry anything but my bow and my arrows. Most of these gifts you’re getting me are just being buried for later in Erebus.”
“I know, I know. But…this is important to me, Artemis. You’re such a calming presence in my life, and you’ve saved me more times than I can count. I have to do something for you.”
The goddess looked up in contemplation, “...Okay, how about this then?” She took the bottle from the princess’ hands and placed it gently on the ground behind the deer statue she straddled, “I’m going to leave this right here, if Eris steals it - or more likely smashes it over Nemesis’ tent, then oh well, that’s too bad. But if it’s still here by the time you’ve slain Chronos, I’ll bend my rules and we’ll share a drink here, together. Deal?”
Melinoe smiled brightly, “Yes! You have a deal, and I'm going to hold you to it. I hope you’re ready, Artemis. Because tonight is going to be the night.”
Artemis laughed, “Is that so? Well to prove that I believe in you, I really must be off now. I’ll clear a path through Erebus and meet you there. Good hunting, Sister Melinoe. Moonlight guide you. And remember-”
“Death to Chronos. May moonlight guide you, Sister.”
The graceful goddess vanished in a plume of foliage, and the princess of the dead turned her attention to her chores.
Tend to the garden, check on Hypnos, prepare a batch of Witches Delight for Frinos, visit the broker, and finally, kill Chronos.
Melinoe meditated at the Altar of Ashes, and grasped the Arcana she’d wield this night. The Strength of mighty Heracles, the Sorcery of treacherous Medea, the Vitality of her long lost Brother, all tremendous assets in their own right. But she favoured none above the Lethality of the Huntress, and the ease with which it delivered death to her foes.
She descended the steps past her altar and stood before the Silver Pool. She eyed the Nocturnal Arms and felt the cackle of Grave Thirst radiating off the Sister Blades; Lim and Oros. They hungered to rip and tear her foes asunder tonight, to drink deep of blood, ash and bone.
She focused her mind, and reached into the history of the Silver Blades, beckoning them to assume the aspect of the legendary huntress to whom they once belonged, “Aspect of Artemis, reveal yourself to me!”
She took hold of the Silver and Green weapons and held them across her chest, “With these by my side, I'll never falter again. This will be the night. Death to Chronos.”