Stalk the Moon

by Jessica Lynch

  “You let her think she was a target!”

  He waves my words away. “Please. We both know otherwise, and if you didn’t share that fact with her, you’re the one to blame.” Clucking his tongue, he adds, “Especially after the way she tended to you. Stripping you down, washing your wound, bandaging you up. You should be thanking me, you know.”

  “You were watching,” I accuse.

  “Of course, I was. Best show I’ve seen in years.” With a mocking tilt of his head, the archer claps. “Bravo. I almost believed you meant it when you told her to get out of here. As if that’ll save you.”

  It was a moment of madness. When I heard the bow sing and saw the arrow screaming toward her, I lost my head. I had to protect her. It didn’t matter that I got hit, so long as she was safe.

  Lying in the dirt, though, her slight body tucked under mine as I shielded her, I panicked that this was the way that the story might end. Artemis has never died before, but the magic in the Other is unpredictable. I’m so determined to make changes that I feared that losing her before I really had her is the change I’ve brought about.

  In that haze, I told her to go. And I’m still thanking my lucky stars that Noelle—stubborn, beautiful Noelle—disobeyed me. My fear got the better of me, I admit it. When my shoulder finished healing, I realized how close I came to losing her.

  I’ve done everything I could to keep her close and keep her safe ever since.

  “It’s not about me,” I tell him honestly.

  The air crackles and pops. The hair on my arms stand up and I rise up on my toes. I don’t know what it was I said, but I can sense Apollo drawing power in on himself.

  Suddenly, it’s hot. Really hot. I break out into a quick sweat under the weight of my leather cloak. I tighten the grip on my sword, eyeing him closely.

  His humorous facade is gone in an instant. His pale eyes are the color of molten gold, shiny and dark and reflecting my wary expression. His voice rings out and I know that this—this is the core of Apollo. His soul.

  Holy hell. I must ‘a really set him off. I wonder how?

  “No,” he booms. “It’s not. It’s about her. Remember that, Huntsman. And remember your fate. It’s written in the stars and you can’t avoid it any more than I can.”

  Thunder claps in the distance. A cool breeze rushes in, shoving all the heat aside. Apollo disappears with the warmth, like the sun’s disappeared behind the clouds. I’m back to facing off against—

  What did he tell Noelle his name was?

  Alex.

  Well, I was facing off against him.

  As soon as he regains control of his power, the archer turns and, whistling something under his breath, he starts to stroll away from me. Brave man. He knows I’m armed and he gives me his back as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.

  I guess, after that display, he’s shown me why he doesn’t. His power, like Noelle’s, is too great. How can I ever compete?

  But I will. I have to. I’ve gone up against the gods countless times before. Yeah, I’ve always lost, but I’ve still got to try. My soul is telling me that Artemis is worth it.

  My heart is telling me that Noelle is.

  And the archer is heading off in the exact same direction as she did, riding away on that buck.

  “Where you goin’?” I call after him.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  Olympus, I’d love to wipe that little smile off his face. My sword hand clenches around the hilt until my knuckles go white.

  I’ve never gone after Apollo—that’s always been his fate, I know, to come after me—but maybe that’s what I have to do differently this time to change the way our story is supposed to end.

  Hmm. It couldn’t hurt, yeah?

  No.

  Artemis has always been fond of her twin. No reason not to think that Noelle won’t be eventually. I admit begrudgingly that, while she also threatened to shoot Apollo, she stayed her hand when it came to him, too. It might anger her if I can’t do the same.

  Dang it.

  With a huff and a frustrated holler through clenched teeth, I put my sword away. My cloak flares around me as I stomp back to the cabin to get supplies.

  I’ll let her have some time to cool off, maybe an hour, two tops, and then I’m going after her. When I do, I have to make sure I have everything I need so that we can start the trek over and up the mountain.

  As much as it’ll kill me to even offer, I know exactly what I’ll have to do if I want to earn her forgiveness.

  Noelle wants a portal. I’m gonna give her one.

  Besides, I promised. And what kind of Hunter goes back on his word?

  19

  Noelle

  Tucked in the middle of the trees, so deep in the woods I never would’ve found it on my own, there’s a lake. It’s shaped like a donut, complete with a rocky knoll rising up from the center like a munchkin being plucked out of the hole.

  Munchkins. My mouth drools. God, I’d kill for a Dunkin’ Donuts. My empty stomach grumbles. I’d even take a two-day-old bagel from Stop and Shop right about now. Since I’m finally away from Hunter and Alex, my queasiness is gone. I’m beginning to feel hungry again.

  First things first. I asked my new buddy for water and damn if he didn’t provide. The scene is absolutely gorgeous. The sun is tucked behind the wide copse of trees that border the lake so there’s a few dazzling rays drifting through the breaks in the leaves, making the crystal clear water sparkle. Tall grass wafts in the breeze. Surrounding the edge of the lake, though, is a fine dirt that reminds me of sand down at the shore.

  It’s darker here, a little cooler, and I bet the water’s going to be chilly. I shrug. I’m already thinking of the beach. I’ve gone skinny dipping when I was a teen, sneaking out at night during wild trips to the boardwalk in Point Pleasant. This won’t be that much different.

  My shimmy off of the buck is super awkward. The hem of my nightgown rides up high as I try to slide downward. He’s a champ. He didn’t seem to mind the way that I grabbed at his antlers, and he waits patiently for me to land on the ground with a wobble and a thump.

  I rub my fingers across his hind leg. “Thank you, Bambi.” A sudden surge of affection and an inexplicable hum deep inside has me moving in front of him and recklessly taking his face in my hands. My voice goes raspy again. “You’ve served me well.”

  His eyes gleaming, he dips his head, almost like a bow. Without even a nip at my fingers, he raises his head royally, breaks free of my hold, and trots off back into the trees.

  I shake my head. Okay then. That was… odd.

  Part of me wonders how I’m going to find my way out of this oasis. I drown out that part by basically chanting, “Clean. I’m gonna be so clean,” inside my head as I move toward the water.

  I refuse to think that it’s still daytime, or that there’s a good chance that someone could find me bathing here. And who the hell knows what could be lurking beneath the innocent facade of the serene lake? Snakes. Could be snakes. Or fish. Hopefully not piranha or something like that.

  This is the Other. It could happen.

  No. Another shake of my head, this one stubborn. This is just another afternoon at the beach. I strip off my dirty nightgown until I’m standing there in my bra and my panties and the damn sandals I can’t take off.

  There. Just like a bikini.

  I still have my knife slipped under the waistband of my panties; that hiding spot is the only reason I still have it since I couldn’t whip it out in front of Hunter and Alex. Because I don’t want to risk stabbing myself as I wash, I slide it out now and toss it on top of my nightgown. I make sure to leave it near the “shore” so it’s close enough in case I need to grab it.

  Then, before I wade into the water, I dig into the bag Alex threw at me. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little curious to know what he packed in there. Crazy bastard has this stupid idea that we’re related somehow so the gift kind of makes sense. And if I hate it? I gue
ss I can put my nightgown back on after I’m clean.

  Please, please, please don’t let me hate it.

  The first thing I pull out is a dress. I muffle my snort. It’s short and white and sleeveless and, wouldn’t you know, it looks a lot like my nightgown. The only difference is that, when I stick my hand underneath the slick, silky fabric, I can feel that it’s much thicker. It’s not see-through, either, so that’s a plus.

  He’s also included a length of braided rope, as thick as my pointer finger and a shining vibrant silver color. I wrap it around my arm and reach for the heavy weight at the bottom of the bag.

  It’s smooth against my hand. From the heft and feel of it, it’s made of metal. I yank it out and roll my eyes. Alex packed me a necklace—no, a torque exactly like the one he’s wearing. It could be its twin.

  And, surprise, surprise. It's silver.

  “Yeah, right.” As if I’d actually wear that. “Nice try.”

  I shove it all back in the bag and toss it next to my nightie and the knife. Then, with a deep breath and a prayer that the water isn’t freezing, I move toward the edge of the lake. The water laps at the toes peeking out from the top of my sandal.

  I sigh. Yes. It’s a friggin’ hot spring.

  Someone’s looking out for me at last.

  I haven’t been this relaxed since I fell through my mirror. After scrubbing all of the dirt and blood from under my nails and off my arms, I duck under the soothing, warm water and try my best to do something with my hair which—without shampoo—isn’t much. It’s gonna suck to have to comb out the tangles with my fingers when I’m done. I don’t care. I’m getting all of me clean.

  Turns out I might’ve let myself get too relaxed, though. I forgot about the infinite dangers that might be out there. Without meaning to, I dropped my guard. Which is why I only have myself to blame when I hear a cheerful voice call out.

  “Hello again!”

  I didn’t even realize that my eyes had drifted closed until they snap back open.

  And there’s Alex, looking perfect and refreshed. Not one strand of his white-blond hair is out of place, even though he had to have hauled ass to chase that buck and follow me here. How else could he have found me?

  Why did he find me? I thought I made myself clear. Guess not.

  I had waded in deep enough that my see-through, makeshift bathing suit is totally covered. He can’t see anything. Just in case, I bend my knees slightly, squatting until the water is at my chin.

  Alex might say he’s my brother. I don’t trust him one bit.

  “What are you doing here?” I demand. “I thought I told you not to follow me.”

  “To be fair, you did shout that order at the huntsman.”

  My gaze flickers over to my discarded knife. It’s much closer to him. I haven’t got a prayer.

  I’m also nowhere near as subtle as I’d like to think.

  Alex clicks his tongue. “Please. Relax. That won’t be necessary, and you’d only regret it anyway.”

  I sincerely doubt that. “Sure, bro.”

  The smallest squint, the tiniest wrinkles around his eyes. I think I touched a nerve. Good.

  “Anyway,” he continues, his tone light while his face is kind of tight, “I actually have a reason why I’m here. After you left, I realized I’d forgotten to add something to your gift.” He pauses, his smirk returning. “Great exit, by the way. I’d give it a ten out of ten.”

  He’s baiting me. I refuse to rise up to it. “What is it?”

  I surprise him. His open expression is way too easy for me to read. I’m willing to bet he’d deny it if I call him out on it, but there’s the smallest twitch as his smirk wavers when I realize that I’ve surprised him. He thought I was going to tell him to get lost.

  Alex thinks he knows me. Yeah, right.

  He recovers his composure almost instantaneously. Grinning now, he shows me his empty hands, the fronts first, then his palms. With a wink and a shallow bow, he twirls his wrists with an exaggerated flourish, folds his hands into fists, snaps his thumbs and middle fingers together twice before opening his hands again.

  Clasped lightly between those same two digits, he holds up a curved silver band in each of his hands.

  To hide how impressed I am, I roll my eyes and give him a slow clap. “Bravo. What’s next? Card tricks? When you said this place was magic, I expected something a little… more.”

  “And you’ll get it. Until then, arm cuffs.” He lifts one higher. A stray sunbeam bounces off the side. “Do you want them?”

  I’m done with saying no. Besides, he owes me. After the trauma Alex put me through, shooting Hunter and making me pull that arrow out of his shoulder—after making me sick over the fact that I was the target—I’m gonna take whatever he has.

  “If you’re offering, I’ll take them. Put them in my bag.”

  It’s Alex’s turn to surprise me. Without a word, he does just that. No smartass comments. No quips. He slips the cuffs into the bag, cinches it shut, and places it back on the lake’s edge.

  Hmm. That was easy.

  When he lingers by the bag, I make a shoo gesture in his direction. “Okay. You gave me the bracelets. Thanks, I guess. You can go now.”

  Alex tilts his head, staring at me like he’s searching for something. Who knows what he’s trying to find? He definitely won’t find it in me.

  “Before I leave,” he says, the overly friendly affectation to his voice missing all of a sudden, “I’m feeling... mmm, a bit generous. Your Hunter’s always been notoriously tight-lipped. Not me. Ask me one question. Any question. I’ll answer it. No tricks, no pretenses. You don’t trust me—”

  The way he’s still peering at me is making me uncomfortable. “Wow. Magic tricks and you can read my mind.”

  “Apparently,” he drawls. “It’s why I’m willing to do this. You’re woefully ignorant when it comes to this place. I want you to trust me. Eventually, you’re going to realize I’m the best ally you’ll have. Unlike the huntsman, I won’t lie. There’s nothing in it for me.”

  You know what pisses me off? He’s got a point. A couple of them, actually.

  Damn it.

  I’m stranded in this lake. There’s no way in hell I’m going to leave it while he’s here. He thinks my nightgown is indecent? That’s nothing compared to a lacy white bra and matching panties that are soaked through. I might as well be naked.

  Yeah. Not gonna happen.

  “Okay. Fine. I have a question.” The most pressing one, and the one I’ve been trying really, really hard not to focus on while I enjoy my bath. “Am I really… I can’t believe I’m actually saying this— look, am I really this Artemis chick?”

  Alex wrinkles his nose. “One question and you want to waste it on that?”

  I nod.

  “You already know the answer.” With a shrug, he says, “Yes. You are. One in a long line of the lucky ones who are Artemis reborn.”

  Denial’s not just a river in Egypt. I want so badly to tell him that he’s wrong. It’s on the tip of my tongue… but I can’t. I keep going back to the way I snapped, threatening Hunter and Alex with the bow. That wasn’t me.

  Then who?

  I don’t fucking know.

  “Thanks for the answer.” Lie. “You can go now. Buh-bye.”

  “Artemis—”

  The little humor I have left vanishes. “Don’t call me that.”

  “Too soon.” He lifts his hands. I refuse to look away, in case I see my arms and they’re glowing again. “Sorry. My fault.”

  “Whatever. Go.”

  “Not yet.” I start to argue and he quickly cuts me off. “One more question. All right? That first one didn’t count.” His eyes sparkle in mischief. “We both know that was a trick question. I either lie, or you accuse me of lying. I couldn’t win either way.”

  “It’s not a game.”

  “No,” he agrees. “It’s a story. And you’re the heroine.”

  “Does that make you the vill
ain?” I shoot back. “There. That’s my question. Did you appear out of nowhere today just to make my life hell? Because it sure seems like it.”

  “You know, most good stories have a villain. Is there one in yours? Gods, yes. Of course, there is. But it’s not me. I promise you this, it’s never Apollo.”

  “Apollo?” Just saying the name makes me shiver. I like to think it’s because the air’s much cooler than the steamy lake. I also know that I’m still lying to myself. “Is that who you really are?”

  “Depends. Do you accept that you’re really Artemis?”

  I glare at him.

  “That’s what I thought.”

  He shrugs, the gesture almost elegant. The sun shines off of his golden torque. “You’ll learn,” he says, and the way he does really grates on my nerves. “The story will play out no matter what—you can’t stop it, and I wouldn’t, even if I could.”

  “Spare me your fairy tales.”

  “You’ll see.” With a mysterious yet mocking grin, Alex starts to back up.

  Is he leaving? I friggin’ hope so. Having him here is confusing me. I mean, he seems like he’s trying to help me—and then I remember that Alex is the archer who shot Hunter after aiming at me. Except, if I believe him, he wasn’t really aiming at me? I don’t know. And I don’t like that.

  I lift my right hand out of the water, give him a wave. “You’re leaving already? Bye.”

  “You don’t have to look so happy. I’ll be back when you need me—”

  “I won’t need you.”

  He continues as if I hadn’t interrupted him. “—But, as much as it pains me to admit it, the huntsman is the best at what he does. You can bet he’s not that far behind me. Your warning to him only goes so far. You can’t keep him away.”

  Yes, I fucking can. I have no doubt in my mind that, if he’s tracking me like Alex says, Hunter will find me. My only option is to get the hell out of Dodge before he does. Seeing him is the last thing I want. He’s too damn sexy, sweet and kind, and generous. Without Alex here, egging on my anger, I’m not sure I won’t forgive Hunter.