Chapter 84
"Alexander," George started walking towards the water to save his son he believed to be in danger. He kept his eyes on the woman who for some reason kept smiling at him.
"Father, it is alright," Alexander said in order to calm his father down since he saw the stance like his father was waiting to attack Artemis. "She is not a bad person."
"I swear the more you say that the more I feel the need to push you in that water. Go have your father and son time," Artemis stepped off the water going towards Leon's side with the intention of scaring him.
She did just that as Leon jumped when she stood right beside him.
"If you keep showing your fear, everything in here will continue to target you," she warned him. It was the reason why the ghost kept trying to steal his body.
"Noted," Leon said in a trembling voice.
"Son, why are you here of all places instead of in the palace with the king? That woman is no ordinary person. You should not be here son. You will be hunted for being in a place like this with a creature like that. We have to go before anyone knows of this-"
"No, father. It is already too late. Princess Catherine and Thomas know that I am with Artemis. She is a Goddess. It won't take long for Catherine to have the palace guards storming this place to avenge the king's death," Alexander explained the recent events to his father. He intentionally left out Artemis kidnapping him.
"The king is dead? My sources did not inform me of this. Whatever battles this woman will have against the palace does not concern you, son. Do you have any idea how high and low I have been searching for you? We will return home and forget this entire ordeal ever happened. The princess will be hard to get rid of but I can handle Thomas."
George had been looking to get rid of Thomas and his father for a long time since the two kept meddling in his son's affairs. They looked for any reason to frame Alexander for something he did not do.
"I will not be leaving, father. I will stay by her side and protect her from harm," said Alexander.
"Son, this is a bad idea. Staying here will only lead to your death. I am not going to lose you today or any other day. Come with me or I have no choice but to have my men destroy this place, chain you up, and take you home. Time is ticking. It won't be long before my men walk in here as I did not return. What trick did you place on my son?" George turned to Artemis.
"A bracelet on his hand to make him obey me but I never asked him to stay here to protect me. I wish to take off the bracelet now that I no longer need me but your son is stubborn," Artemis sighed.
"Too stubborn," George agreed with her.
"Good to see the two of you getting along. Father, I have made up my mind to protect Artemis and get her away from this forest safely. We have to protect people like her who are misunderstood. If she is evil for not being human, what does that make me? Is my mother a siren?" Alexander knew his father wouldn't lie at this point. Alexander had clear evidence sirens existed and they felt a connection to him.
"She was a siren, son. I found her body many years ago and had it buried on our property. I hid it from you to keep you out of this world of sirens and Gods. You would be killed for being different. Our family used to hunt down people like your mother for the king. I regretted it after falling in love and knowing what a kind soul she had. She saved me that day instead of drowning me."
George smiled remembering the day he met his wife. "I am well aware that not all creatures are bad after meeting your mother. I promised her that I would keep you safe from the moment she left us. You being here has death written all over it son. I raised you to protect others but it is time you look out for yourself. We must return home."
"I agree with your father, Alexander," Artemis stepped forward. "I said that I would free you. I'm sorry I brought you into my scheme to get rid of the king."
"You killed the king? A God cannot hurt a human," George said as he remembered this being one of the rules written in a book and passed around amongst humans.
"Yea, that is not true when it comes to her, and don't ask for proof." Leon was traumatized enough when Artemis placed over the lake with all the sirens. Seeing it happening to someone would make him pass out. He saw things under the water that he could not easily forget.
"Son-" George paused when he heard a splashing noise coming from the water. To his surprise, sirens came to the surface to get a look at the newcomer. "Why? How are they here?"
"They won't leave so I will protect them. They are the only ones here in the kingdom while the others are out to sea. This was once your wife's home. What a talented siren. How did she manage to grow legs and sneak past me to be with a human?" Artemis wondered.