"When I give you something to do, you do it!" Zeus snarled. "You don't go riding off to who knows where acting like some rebellious buffoon."
"I have limits," Artemis glowered, aware of Apollo nervously watching them from the table. "I cannot exist solely to work. If you want something done do it yourself."
"You watch your mouth. I provide for you. I gave you this house to live in and I give you the food on the table-"
"You didn't build this house by yourself!" Artemis protested, fists clenched. "You had help. You had mom. And don't give me any shit about the food on the table, you make a point of tossing my food in the garbage for the pigs."
"If you don't like it then go." Zeus' eyes looked like storm clouds were dancing around inside of them.
"You won't be able to live without me," Artemis snorted, arms crossed.
"Watch me," Zeus spat. "I lived without you for years. Your mother and I both did. In fact, she may have been happy here if it weren't for you."
"Take that back." Artemis' voice trembled. Her anger gone in a flash.
"She liked roaming as much as you did but the moment you were born she was tied down forever. Destined to be miserable," Zeus insisted, his smoldering gaze burning into Artemis'.
"That's not true and you know it. She loved us. She loved me." Artemis whispered, unable to fight the tears in her eyes.
"She loved the idea of you. That was it. Nothing more, nothing less. You were a liability!"
Silence settled over the room that was louder than any thunder Olympus had ever heard.
"Maybe she couldn't stand someone like you. Someone suffocating and rigid and cold. No one wants to be married to a corpse." The Auburn haired girl bit at her bottom lip to keep it from trembling. "There's no point in trying to find life in something already dead. If she stayed you'd have killed her like you're killing me."
Before Zeus could mutter anything else, Artemis ran from the house and to the stables. There, she managed to saddle Stella up quicker than she ever had before, and set off for the edge of town. Part of her knew that she wasn't really going to vanish. She couldn't do that to Apollo, or Winnie, or Matilda, or Benson. They all needed her. But she wanted her father to be afraid. To feel some real fear at the thought of losing her.
"Come on Stella," Artemis mumbled, wiping her nose on the back of her sleeve, "let's ride."
— — —
"Hey there Cowboy," a soft voice whispered. Artemis blinked harshly against the sunlight. Calypso's young and freckled face came into view.
"Small One?" Artemis rasped.
"Zoë found you out here last night. What happened?" Calypso asked as Artemis processed her surroundings. She was beneath a tall, wide tree with a blanket tucked about her and a folded blanket beneath her head.
"Nothing..." Artemis swallowed. "I guess I fell asleep in the saddle or something."
"Well, did you whack your head on something?" Calypso frowned, sitting back on her heels.
"Maybe," Artemis admitted, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I should be going though. I have to get...home."
"No! Stay for breakfast," Calypso pleaded.
"I can't Small One," Artemis shook her head, "your sister doesn't want me here."
"If she didn't then why'd she give you a blanket?" Calypso asked, arching a brow. "She just...she's a prideful person. That's all. She doesn't trust easy. But that's not the point. The point is that I'm inviting you to breakfast and it's rude to say no. That's how hospitality works."
"Okay, okay," Artemis smiled faintly, "I'll stay. Just because you asked nicely."
Grinning from ear to ear, Calypso tugged Artemis to her feet, and taking her by the hand tugged the cowboy to the house. Tromping up the front steps, Artemis hesitantly followed Calypso inside.
The place was cozy. It had a low ceiling, shuttered windows, a few chairs and cushions, a nice fire place, and two small rooms branching off to the right. In the kitchen was a tiny table, and a small stove.
"Cally-" Zoë started, turning around with a plate of eggs only to freeze when she saw Artemis.
"Morning," Artemis stammered, taking her hat in her hand, "ma'am."
"Did you invite her for breakfast?" Zoë glowered at her younger sister.
"Maybe," Calypso admitted with a coy shrug. "Oh come on, she's hungry! Look at her! She had a tough night Zo. Please? Let the Cowboy stay."
"No," Zoë insisted, her voice firm along with her expression. "She can manage on her own."
"Why are you turning her away like Olympus turned us away?" Calypso demanded, her brown eyes earnest. The two siblings held each other's gazes for some time before Zoë looked away. Her dark eyes smoldered as she regarded the auburn haired girl.
"You're lucky she likes you. If I had my way I'd have left you out there."
"Thank you for the blankets," Artemis blurted. This took the other girl back. She looked almost embarrassed.
"Whatever. I'm not gonna have someone's death on my hands because they were stupid enough to be on the plains at night without anything to keep warm." Zoë glowered, passing the plate of food over to Calypso who eagerly took it to the table.
"If that's your way of calling me stupid I'll accept it."
"You can stay after breakfast on one condition," Zoë replied, ignoring Artemis' remark.
"And what's that?"
"You stop showing up when you aren't wanted."
"That's unfortunate. She seems to want me around a lot." Artemis mused, gesturing to Calypso who wore a shit eating grin. "And maybe, just a little bit, you want me around too."
"What makes you say that?"
"You'd have shot me by now if you didn't." Artemis grinned.
"Oh, I want to. But I have my own reservations about murder," Zoë frowned. "Unfortunately for me it doesn't allow me to shoot Cowboys."
"I said she couldn't," Calypso bragged. "I like them so she can't shoot them."
"Your dynamic is...strange. I love it," Artemis laughed, taking the seat beside Calypso. For once, she had no chores to worry about, and God was it amazing.