Fire and Fantasy: A Limited Edition Collection of Urban and Epic Fantasy

by CK Dawn

  “My bow? I would never give up my bow. It was a gift from my father. If that is what you ask of me, I will find another way to get to Earth.”

  A hollow laugh escaped her lips as she tipped her head back in mirth. "Go right ahead. I think you will find I hold the only key to Earth and passage for your sacred stag’s return to Olympus."

  “You are not the only one who can move heaven and Earth. Plenty of other gods and demigods have made their way back and forth.” I had a mind to take out one of my arrows and shoot her dead in the center of her white, cold, frozen heart.

  She whipped her head back in my direction, her eyes whiter than ever and burning with fury and resentment.

  “How dare you mock my place and my existence in this world and the next? If you knew of another way to reunite with your precious creature, you wouldn't be here. But here you are, and I expect you will not only respect me, but you will bow before me and give me any such thing I ask of you.” Her long white hair rose around her like a small snow storm.

  “I am not prepared to do any such thing.” My feet slowly moved, one by one, away from her stone altar.

  Elysia seemed to grow as her body levitated off the ground. Her arms spread wide, and blue sparks of electricity bounced between her palms.

  “You have used my time, and now, you must pay the price. I will give you what you seek and what you're missing.” Her voice rose loud enough to shake the tiny hairs on my arms.

  “Your offer may be very generous, and I appreciate it, but I think it is time for me and my maiden to find other options. We will be on our way now.” I turned with my arm extended as I grabbed a hold of Karina's hand.

  I had never experienced the oracle’s wrath, and I wasn't interested in finding out. Five thousand years may have been a long time to go without my stag, but I possessed the fortitude to go on another five thousand if that's what it took for me to reunite with him.

  A flash of blue light came crashing down between Korina and I. Blue rocks came flying up around us, and our hands disengaged.

  I reached over my shoulder, grabbing my bow and an arrow faster than the human eye could witness. I knocked my arrow into place and drew back the bow string. I closed one eye and targeted Elysia with the other on.

  “The Huntress aims her bow at me, the one person capable of making her one real wish come true?” Her finger waved back and forth. “Eh, eh, eh! Careful now. I am certain you won’t miss, but I warn you to be discerning of the consequences of your action and be ready to live with them.” Her eyes darted to Korina.

  Blue lightning still sparked between Elysia’s hands, and I realized she was prepared to use her devices. From the look on her face, I guessed that Korina was one step away from becoming her next victim. I couldn’t risk losing my maiden. Not in this way.

  Although I wanted to do what was necessary to get back Ceryn, I wasn’t interested in trading one life for another. Korina had been a loyal follower for eons. She deserved more from me as her superior.

  Squaring off my shoulders, I removed my arrow from the arrow rest and lowered my bow as I took a step forward.

  “What do you want, Elysia? Tell me your proposal, and I will choose whether I stay or go. With or without your threats.” I didn’t put the bow back over my shoulder. If I wanted to get out of there alive, I needed to stay on my toes.

  With a smug look on her face, she chimed, “That’s what I thought.”

  Elysia backed off and lowered her feet to the ground. She rubs her hands together, causing the sparks to simmer down and dissipate.

  "You may not realize what holds you back or what you value most, but I do. If you want passage to and from Earth, you are to give up the chastity you covet so dearly.

  I will give you forty-eight hours to not only find your stag but to find love. Not the kind of love you possess for the wild beasts that walk on all four or for the women with children in need."

  “What?” I couldn't give that up. I had no desire to fall in love with a man—or a woman for that matter.

  “Your duty to uphold your chastity and to protect woman has interfered with your own happiness.”

  “That isn't the kind of love I desire. I quite like having my heart sheltered here in Olympus. My strength comes from within. I don’t need love from anyone else. Besides, I closed that door a long time ago. My eyes witness the pain and violence men continue to inflict on women. I am only interested in offering the victims a place to find solace, inner peace, and love.”

  I get it. You don’t know what you have until you have had it. People of Earth say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, but I believe the opposite is just as relevant.

  "If you do not fulfill your end of the deal, the stag will remain on Earth forever and will suffer being brutally hunted over and over again. I will see to it. You now must make the choice to go to him and save him or forever lose him to the hunt."

  “You wouldn’t!”

  “The covenant was set in motion the second you walked into my cavern. It looks as if you are being given an opportunity to decide how you will react to the circumstance presented to you. Time is ticking away, my lady.”

  Korina grabbed my forearm, pulling me back. “You can’t, Lady Artemis. You are the Goddess of Chastity. You are at the core of making many a woman suffer for not honoring her vows. You wouldn’t dare go against the word you have made your bond all these centuries.”

  “Korina, how dare you speak to me like that? I am also the Goddess of the Hunt and of all things wild that walk on our world and theirs. Your life is as valuable as Ceryn’s is.”

  I hitched my bow and arrow back into place behind me and stepped up to Elysia’s altar.

  “If you cross me, I will hunt you down and end your miserable life if it is the last thing I do.”

  Dipping her hand into the pool of tears, she pulled out an arrow that shone like nothing I had ever seen before. The sheen was as brilliant as the stars sparkling above.

  “You will need this. Since you never miss a shot, you shouldn’t have any trouble hitting your mark. If you shoot your stag with this arrow, he will return to Olympus unharmed. Even if you find him when you first get to Earth, you will only be allotted forty-eight hours to learn what that heart of yours was really meant for.

  "It’s not acceptable for you to say you are in love with someone. It will need to be mutual and as clear as day. If you betray me, or our arrangement, I will strike down that golden-horned stag and brand him with the mark of eternal suffering, making him relive the same brutal death on and on , over and over again. And I will leave you to suffer alone with a broken heart on Earth until I decide I grow bored with watching you."

  I reached out across the swirling waters. My palm faced the ceiling, waiting for the magical arrow. The swirling liquid caught my eye as the tall green evergreens of Earth danced in the center of the pool, hypnotizing me. It showed me the path I would need to take. I had more than one kind of hunt ahead of me.

  Two

  Dropping down into a crouch, I pulled my bow and an arrow. My toes wiggled against the blades of emerald green grass. My nose flared as I inhaled the scent of pine and moss, and a hint of damp mud coated the scent wafting my way.

  Rich with life, the trees and shrubs pulsed with vitality and the most vibrant array of greens and browns. I may have lived in the heavenly city of Olympus, but there was nothing quite so entrancing as the deep forests of Earth.

  My reflexes were on high alert. A snap of a twig had me spinning around with my arrow notched and my eyes scoping for whatever might be approaching. Friend, foe, or creature, either way I was always ready to take it down if need be. I hoped that Elysia had sent me down close to where Ceryn would be easily spotted.

  So far, all I had witnessed were trees, more trees, and a few bushes. At least I was in a big enough clearing to efficiently scan my surroundings. I may have been an immortal goddess with the ability to kill with precision, but I still didn’t know what I was getting into on Earth
. Having lived in Delos and Olympus most of my life, I hadn’t had many encounters with humans, certainly not human men.

  My shoulders slouched down at the thought of needing to fall in love with one. As if not knowing how to do that wasn’t bad enough, I didn’t even know where to find humans. The only ones knew of were actively hunting my precious Ceryn. I wanted no part of getting to know any of them.

  Another sound of crinkling leaves and twigs crackled to my left. Crouching in the tall grass, I closed one eye to make focusing on my potential target more precise. The blades tickled my bare skin.

  Golden-flecked red fur came in and out of focus between the brush about twenty-five yards out. A wave of excitement spread from the center of my stomach, triggering my heart to beat at a quickened pace.

  Coming to Earth to hunt may not have been the plan, but how could I help myself. It was who I was at my core. Running wild through the mountains as a child had been my absolute favorite thing in the world to do. My only lifelong possession was my bow. It was a part of me and always would be.

  Premeditating my every move, I deliberately stopped breathing and stalked my prey with the stealth of a jaguar. I couldn’t pounce on that fox, but I could shoot him dead with one arrow straight to the heart if I could get the right angle. An arrow straight through the eye would be just as formidable.

  That’s right, little fella, just a little bit to your left. Go ahead and turn to look at me. I don’t want to hurt you, but I do want to wear your hide.

  Yes, good job. Only a few more of your curious footsteps will have you and your heart in my sites.

  As I extended my left arm with a slight bend in the elbow in front of me, my right eyelid gently shut. It closed part of my periphery, but my hearing was so good that I didn’t worry about any potential threats. Besides, I was an immortal in the land of humans and small creatures, most of which were not even remotely threatening or dangerous. Had I been hunting a Catoblepas, I would not have shut my right eye all the way.

  Hooking my thumb and pinky together as I griped the string, I pulled back the arrow against my cheek anchoring at the crook of my mouth. Allowing my lungs to expand slightly, I inhaled preparing to take my shot.

  The fox didn’t know what he had coming. He was about to meet his maker, which had to be better than life on this planet. I could feel his energy from where I stood, so I knew that the fox was not female. Had it been a vixen, a pregnant one at that, I would have let the poor thing go on with its foraging. Holding the bow steady and level with my left hand, I released a breath and the arrow.

  The second I released the arrow, I spotted a flash of brown blur darting in front of the fox. It moved so fast, it took me a few heartbeats to realize it was a large grizzly bear. He was faster than any bear I had ever seen. He dove out in the line of my arrow as if to protect the fox.

  The arrow hit him in the front of his thigh, taking him down on contact. My arrows were the best that could be crafted in Olympus, and the shot had been fortified with my power and precision. He was lucky had been aiming low to his the fox and not any higher.

  In one swift, over-the-shoulder motion, I secured my bow out of sight. The trees blurred and adrenaline surged, tingling my extremities as I ran to him. The uninterrupted pounding of my bare feet echoed against the forest walls. My legs propelled me forward, sprinting to aid the fallen bear.

  Hunting for the kill was one thing. Leaving an injured animal to suffer was unacceptable and no way to respect the precious gift of life—not to mention the bear hadn’t been my intended target. Hearing his cry as my arrow had hit his leg had rocked me at the center of my heart in an unfamiliar way.

  My breathing strained as a burn set into my already afflicted lungs, and they felt as if they would burst. Before I had steadied my bow for the shot, I had been holding my breath—not the best idea before attempting a twenty-five-yard dash.

  Still, I savored the rush of wind pushing back my hair and dancing across my face as I sprinted through the field. Even though my breathing was strained, I didn’t take for granted the hint of wildflowers and smashed berries scenting the air. Once I had assessed the bear, a walk through the woods to enjoy my surroundings would be in order.

  My pace steadied as I cautiously approached the bear. He sat, hunched forward with his front paws around the area beside the projectile. Blood soaked his dark fur, causing it to look black from the slick wetness.

  “Okay, buddy. You are not going to like it, but I am going to need to get that thing out of your leg.” I spoke to him in a way that I expected him to understand. At one time, speaking to animals had been like my second language. After losing my good friend, Callisto, I’d stopped coming to Earth. So much had changed since then.

  I shook my head to myself, still flabbergasted that my own father had tried to seduce my best friend and most loyal devotee. His wife had been almost as infuriated by his actions as I had been. She’d turned one of the few people I had ever truly loved into a bear.

  Hera had thought I would be vengeful enough to hunt her down and kill her with my own bare hands. I was hurt and angry with her, but I was not a monster. I have never killed a bear, and I certainly would never have killed a bear who was pregnant with what would have been my half-brother.

  Legend has it that I shot her, but I did not take her life. In a sad twist of fate, the hunter had shot her dead, unknowingly killing his own mother. At least Zeus had had the decency to send her up to the heavens, turning her into a constellation for us all to enjoy and honor her memory.

  The bear growled louder, the closer I got. Once I stopped running and got close enough to him, I knew he was a male. I’m sure, deep down, it was wrong to care a little bit less since he was of the opposite sex. But I had never met a man or a god worth what they promised.

  If I’d had to count how many women I had rescued from the grips of selfish, greedy men over the years, I would have been there all day and night—losing any opportunity to find my stag.

  First, I would see to it that the bear would be well enough to make it out of there. If not, he would take another arrow to his heart. However, I didn’t want to see another bear lose its life because of my careless mistake. I should have been paying more attention now, just like I should have been paying more attention to Callisto then. Both discrepancies could have been avoided.

  Keeping my bow at bay, I circled the bear, looking for the best possible angle to approach him. He couldn’t have taken my life, but he sure could have messed me up long enough that my chances of fulfilling my quest would be ruined.

  “Be still, bear. By no means did I aim to injure you. Feel my intentions now, they are to assist you and help make you better. I am going to come closer and remove the arrow. It will hurt, but I need to twist the shaft to make sure the arrowhead is not lodged in your femur.” Trying not to make a noise, I took small steps, closing the distance between me and the beast. There was no way to tell if he understood what I was saying to him. That wouldn’t have happened with a female. She would have instinctively resonated with my words, at least on some instinctual level.

  I channeled the lifeforce and energy I had used time and time again to help ease the pains of women in labor. I had never attempted to use those gifts on a man, or in this case, a bear.

  Using my right hand, I gently pressed his shoulder, leaning him back—grateful he didn't take an immediate swing at me. His claws would have cut through my flesh as if it were a stick of butter.

  “I wish I could say that this won’t hurt, but it will. Possibly more than getting hit in the first place.” I braced my hand against the top of his thigh and used my left hand to gently twist the shaft. It spun with enough ease I was confident it wasn’t lodged in his bone.

  “I’m sorry I don’t have a blade with me. I would normally cut a small incision around the shaft to give that arrow tip some room to come out. Believe me, it will pain me just as much as you.” I cringed at how much pain I was about to inflict on the helpless creature. At the same
time, I was amazed at how calm he was.

  “Okay, on three.” The counting was more for my own benefit than for the bear since he likely couldn’t count. “One. Two. Three.”

  Grabbing the lowest possible spot I could grip on the shaft, I pulled with all my might. I overestimated the force of traction that would be needed to remove the arrow. As the tip just about dislodged, my arms went up over my head, and my feet went out from under me.

  The power of it knocked me onto my back a good foot or two away from the wounded bear. My first instinct was to rush back to my feet, but I couldn’t breathe.

  The bear hadn't made a sound as I’d attempted to remove the arrow. I didn't even hear him grunting.

  Perhaps he passed out from the pain. That would have been a blessing for him.

  Before I could manage to get up, I heard movement. A vibration traveled under the dirt and over to my back as the beast shifted his weight. If could have caught my breath, I would have gotten up to flee backward. He would need assessing, but only after I’d assured my own safety.

  The grass around my legs shifted as he neared me, inch by inch. The only sounds were his ragged breath and the rustling of the leaves overhead. Against my every instinct I relaxed my body. If my mission was to end, I would at least close my eyes and go down peacefully. Unfortunately, I would return home with a broken heart.

  “Are you okay?”

  My eyes sprung open at the sound of a man's voice only inches from my face.

  Three

  “What on earth are you doing out here?”

  The heat of his breath warmed my bare skin, causing something to awaken inside of me. My gaze descended down toward my feet, and the sight before me caused my eyes to widen. His voice had rumbled with a deep, human drawl, but he was less than mortal looking. Predominantly bearlike at first, his facial features slowly shifted into that of a human.