Chapter Thirty-Eight

-Bell POV-

This was some kind of sick one from the universe.

And I never wanted to sink my dagger into it before, until now.

Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, chastity, and childbirth, looked like Suzune.

Some things were different, obviously the hair, and the eyes, but everything else reminded me of her.

"I don't think it's necessary to inform Loki of all people about what's happening..."

I looked back at him and he visibly flinched.

"Nobody asked for your opinion."

Turning back to the road, I kept walking, making sure that my face was impassive.

"Is that how you talk to all gods?"

He muttered and I just rolled my eyes and kept walking.

"Well, you're not his god, so I don't see a problem with the way Bell is talking to you."

Hestia pointed out helpfully, pulling the words right out of my mind and I heard the dejected sigh coming from Hermes as we finally reached the gates of the Twilight Mannor.

Ais and Lefiya were with us so they let us pass through without any issues.

My hand clenched and unclenched absently, trying to distract myself but overloading my brain with hyper-focusing on the muscles in my arm.

It did not help.

We made our way inside, heading to Finn's office. My mind whirled with thoughts, even as we entered the office.

"What do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Bell?"

I looked up at Finn and pointed at Artemis.

"No idea, she has some mission and I thought you would like to know the situation."

I didn't want to go anywhere right now, I was hoping Finn would step in and deal with whatever world-ending mission Artemis had for me.

He looked at the blue-haired goddess and I crossed my arms, leaning on the wall, waiting for Artemis to start explaining what she wanted.

She looked over at me, clutching the weird spear in her hands, holding it close to her chest. Her figure was replaced with another, long black hair, kind eyes, a beautiful smile of adoration directed at me...

I never wanted to kill anyone more.

I breathed in, closing my eyes as she started talking.

I listened absently, noting the important parts like a monster called Antares, and dismissing the irrelevant parts like her Familia that went to take it on.

She was hiding something, it was obvious. Most likely, since she was the only one here, that meant that everyone in her Familia was dead, and since her divine signature was weaker than Hestia's, this wasn't her real body.

She wanted me to go fight a monster, and she was hiding information.

"I think Loki should hear about this..."

Finn muttered, and probably looked over to Lefiya, because a set of footsteps went over to the door and left.

"What do you think, Bell?"

I opened my eyes, looking at the Prum for a moment before sighing.

"Anteres is a problem, yes, but I don't see why it's my problem."

I shrugged, ignoring the small gasp that came from Artemis.

"I could go alone, but I can't leave my Familia alone after recent events, so I'd rather focus on what's important to me."

Finn nodded, and I could tell he was curious about what I meant, but he decided to refrain from asking, I could appreciate that.

"But Orion-"

I cut her off right there.

"Bell. My name is Bell, I'm not Orion, I don't care for your troubles and I don't care for your plight, Deal with it with your own Familia."

I narrowed my eyes at her as she flinched, it was a low blow, yes. I was calling her out on leaving out the status of her Familia and jabbing at their probable deaths.

Did I care? No.

"My Familia... They're waiting for me."

I rolled my eyes.

"Waiting where Exactly?"

She hesitated and I stared at her impassively, unimpressed by her behavior.

"They're gone."

Hestia gasped, but I scowled.

"And whose fault is that?"

She took a step back, away from me as I remained in place, still leaning against the wall.

"They're dead, you came to Orario and were hoping for what? A scapegoat? Get them to fight, and if they fail, it's their fault?"

I tilted my head to the side, curiously.

"Is that what you wanted? Or did you want a hero to save you? Ristink their life and friends just to kill a single monster?"

I looked at the spear she was holding.

"You called that down from heaven, didn't you? Why didn't you use it to kill the monster? Or did you not think about that?"

I was going to continue, but a voice cut me off.

"Bell. That's enough."

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