When The Goddess Fell In Love

"Boring, why must you sob about this all night long?" A voice said approaching the lake situated deep in a forest away from prying human eyes.

The lake water was a beautiful replica of the night sky and in the midst of the lake stood an ancient tree that had supernatural abilities.

A woman dressed in a dark coat stood by the water gazing at the reflection of the stars. She lifted her gaze towards a tree in the middle of the lake in which the petals lit up every once in a while.

When humans wished for something they desired, their wish would shine on one of the flower petals or leaves for a short period of time. Their constant wishes would flood the woman's ears whenever she stood close to the tree.

She glared at the tree tempted yet again to burn it down. Why must she hear what humans wished for? Their kind wanted nothing more than for Gods to go extinct.

Gods were here to protect them and humans were nothing but ungrateful. They thought they controlled the Gods and when the Gods denied them their selfish desires, humans decided the world could live without Gods.

A long time ago when humans decided the world would be better without the help of Gods they were granted fallen artifacts to slaughter Gods. In the end, humans killed them with no remorse as if they were nothing.

Of course, the Gods were powerful enough to fight back but there was a law from their homeland cast down from their elders, not to harm the humans. The same elders cast the fallen artifacts down to the humans to end their own.

The night Goddess Artemis scoffed, shifting her eyes away from the tree. She had no intention of following the rules her elders passed down. Times had changed and she would not die for the sake of a human.

They had caused her so much pain that ended with her living alone for years. She couldn't remember the last time she was outside of the forest and living free in a temple. Most of her memories were of the forest, her prison.

Artemis was a beautiful being whose black hair symbolized the night sky. Her hair swayed in the wind looking as though stars twinkled in each curly strand as it flowed but there was a darkness lurking within her, one that humans should fear more than anything. A spirit that was set on destroying everything in its path. It had made the war between humans and Gods worse than it needed to be and so it was sealed off.

She could have people begging at her feet for mercy. Take revenge on those who separated her from her family but she wanted nothing to do with this war, for now. They could kill each other for all she cared. She was destined to die soon and she wanted to avoid that as soon as she could.

"Please, please make him love me."

"I can't listen to this anymore," she said walking away from the lake.

Out of all the things they could wish for, they wanted romance? Why not money? Why not everlasting life? Why pick something as foolish as romance? They'll be back here crying for a new love soon. Their lives were so short and fragile, why pick romance?

"Should I corrupt her wish? Destroy her love?" Artemis shook her head at her evil thoughts. That would be too cruel. However, she couldn't help but think this way.

Love was a part of her curse.

Love was her downfall.

"We escaped the soldiers. Keep running this way."

She heard a voice called in the silent forest. There were loud footsteps of people running through the forest. It was out of the ordinary as no one ever came this far into the forest.

Artemis followed after them without making her presence known. Surely these men were up to no good. Why else would they be here in the dark dangerous forest?

"Tony! I think we've run far enough," one man stated as he hunched over panting. After catching his breath he motioned for his friend Tony to give him a bag. "That house was loaded. Too bad the guards showed up. We could've hit the next house."

Tony opened up a small bag taking out pieces of gold. "Steal from the poor and give to the poor ole us. Those palace guards were a pain in the ass. Didn't think they'd care about us robbing poor folk." He took the gold for himself and tossed the bag to his friend.

"That's one less tax paid and one angry king. We did good tonight."

"Really?" Artemis spoke up from the shadows causing the thieves to jump. Her voice sounded nothing more than a whisper in the wind.

It sent chills down their body hearing the voice in the wind. They were scared to enter the forest but it was their only escape from the guards. Had they ended their lives in the forest? They knew the stories of people disappearing in the forest. Were they the next case of being attacked for entering the forest?

"Who's there?" Tony said, looking around frantically in all directions. There were rumors of a monster living in the forest, luring you to your death. Was he really going to die tonight?

Artemis chuckled, closing in on the two men. It wasn't surprising these men were nothing but criminals who ran to the forest to escape their punishment. How typical. "Thieves, I'll spare your lives if you leave the money and run away to the hole you crawled out of. "

"For you to take? We aren't stupid!" The other man by the name of Paul yelled. "Show your face!"

No one was getting the gold he worked so hard for. The gold he stole would cost him his life if he had been caught tonight. He was so blinded by money he didn't care to worry about the rumored monster in the forest. Paul would go down fighting to protect his money rather than worry about whether he was up against a human or a monster.

"I have no use for money." She replied circling around the men in the darkness. Other than her voice was only the sound of fallen leaves being stepped on.

"Show your face!" Paul yelled once more pointing his dagger. His hands trembled as he did so. Was there really a monster here? His confidence was quickly decreasing.

Artemis stepped out of the shadows. "As you wish."

"A woman! By herself?" Tony laughed once he knew there was nothing to be afraid of. He threw a glance at Paul who also had the same idea. "The night just got better. Don't be scared, little lady."

"I am not afraid of you, however…." Artemis dangerously spoke, her eyes glowing white. There was a sudden gust of air that blew the trees and plants around.

"Demon," Tony whispered slowly, stepping back when he saw the woman's eyes begin to glow. He pushed Paul towards her and ran away from them both. It was him or Paul, but outside of stealing he didn't care for Paul too much to risk his life getting out together.

"Dammit, Tony! You traitor!" Paul screamed running after Tony. Of course, Tony would sacrifice him. If they make it out of this hell strangle the life out of Tony.

They ran for their lives through the forest hearing footsteps closing in behind them. The woman's sinister laugh sent chills down their bodies. They escaped the guards only to be chased by a demon.

"The road!" Paul said knowing they were almost out. He did not want to die like this.

Tony was first to exit the forest shortly followed by Paul but they had no time to be relieved as they had stumbled into the royal guards.

"Please! There's a demon in there," Tony begged just to collapse onto his knees exhausted from running for his life. The royal guards were better than a demon. They knew what fate was ahead of them with the guards compared to a demon.

A guard stepped forward inspecting the two men. "Alexander, we found the thieves. It looks like they were startled by something in the forest."

A man clothed in armor approached the men on his horse. His eyes settle on them for a second then to the forest as though waiting for something to come out.

"Arrest them," he ordered not bothering to look for whatever had spooked them. His job tonight was to capture the thieves and return to the palace. The forest was something for another day.

"What about the demon? She's in there!" Tony tried to get them to go fight the demon woman. Why weren't they listening to him? A demon was worse than a thief.

Alexander paid them no mind and led the guards in the direction of the palace.

"Demon? What an insult," Artemis muttered in disgust as she watched the palace guards take the men away.