Note; This is unedited and extremely gory so read with care!

For a few hours all that kept Artemis company were the crickets and frogs jumping about in the wet grass. Sitting and rocking in the porch chair, Artemis kept her eyes peeled for any sign of trouble. She didn't doubt Lycaon would be back. He was a man of his word on most occasions. He knew how to make good on a threat just like she did.
Thumb trailing over the barrel of her revolver, Artemis studied the stars with a careful eye. She knew most of the constellations by heart. She liked to imagine them as real moving and breathing creatures. All of them except for the one called Orion. She secretly hoped to see the day those stars imploded.
Running a hand through her hair, Artemis let her gaze settle back on the dark horizon. Fireflies fluttered about in the dark like sparks. She always admired their brilliance, but they didn't live very long. You could say they burned out quite quickly. It was tragic in a way.
Sighing, Artemis had half a mind to turn in for the night when she remembered Stella alone in the barn. It'd been a while since she'd gotten to take Stella out on a proper adventure. At least Artemis' loyal steed got to roam freely during the day. That was better than being pent up for hours on end like she would have been back home.
Getting up, the Cowboy ventured to the only sturdy stall of the dreary and misshapen barn. She was surprised to find Stella sound asleep laying comfortably on her side, occasionally kicking at something in a dream. Smiling, Artemis took note of the way Stella lay stretched out and nestled quite deep in a pile of hay. It was adorable. Laughing to herself, Artemis lingered for a moment to watch her first true friend sleep. Sure, Stella was a horse and maybe she was stubborn, but she was loyal. Stella was one of the few constants in Artemis' life and she wouldn't trade her four legged friend for anything in the world.
Satisfied that all was well, Artemis turned curtly on her heel to head back to the porch when she was met with the cool metal of a gun barrel on her forehead. Under normal circumstances a person would have been afraid, but Artemis wasn't a normal person and these weren't normal circumstances.
"You have a lot of nerve," Lycaon sneered, pulling back the hammer on his revolver.
"Did I hurt your feelings in front of your friends?" Artemis asked, staring coldly at the man.
"You really don't know when to stop running your mouth do you?" Came the growled reply.
"Consider it a courtesy of my father," Artemis retorted, slowly raising her hands in the air.
"I'm putting your body in a ditch. Then that stupid little farm girl won't have anyone to back her up. You should have known better than to try and fix something that wasn't broken!" Lycaon spat, grabbing Artemis by the collar and shoving her in front of him. He trained his revolver on the back of her head. For a moment, she remained quiet. Did he have friends or was he alone? Had they done something to Zoë and Calypso already? If so, what?
The answer to her questions came when she was forced to move outside of the barn. Just like before, Lycaon had returned with his posse but everything seemed unbothered and intact. It took everything in Artemis not to let out a relieved sigh.
Guiding the Cowboy out to the front of the house, Lycaon planted a foot in the back of Artemis' knees. She hit the ground hard, but there were still no signs of fear. Frankly, she'd expected their confrontations to come to a head at some point. She only hoped it would be done privately and not on her friends' doorstep.
"I'm gonna let scavengers eat your body," Lycaon grinned, jamming the end of his gun into the base of Artemis' skull. The cold metal caused her to shiver which only made Lycaon's grin worsen. "Awe, are you scared?"
"No, I'm bored," Artemis sighed, hands still raised in the air. An irritated huff escaped the scrawny man. Silence settled over the group as Lycaon's gang gathered around to watch. The silence served Artemis well. She heard his fingers shifting on the grip of the weapon. Heard the click as the hammer was drawn back once more as if he were making sure that when the trigger was pulled it would fall.
A sigh befell the man as he hardened his nerves. His grip adjusted again, and as his finger settled upon the trigger Artemis raised her hands even more. Her breathe was slow and even. She had to get this right.
"Say goodbye." As the last syllable fell from Lycaon's lips Artemis grasped his hand behind her head, pulled up and then down effectively smashing his elbow down on her shoulder. In a heartbeat she spun about pushing the dumb wolf man away as he cried out, "Don't stand there! Do something!"
As if given a brand new assignment, Lycaon's posse drew their weapons. Kicking aside her enemy's revolver, Artemis scooped him up to wrap an arm tightly about his neck. She placed him in front of her as a shield and held her own weapon aloft ready to strike.
"No one moves!" She yelled, aware of a light flicking to life inside the house. The distraction was all Lycaon needed to elbow her in the ribs and drop to the ground,
"Give them hell!" He ordered. "Raze this place!"
Incensed with their boss' anger, the gang broke up with shouts of glee and mirth. All at once, lanterns were thrown into the fields as mounted men raced towards the barn. As the group of men scattered, Artemis dove for Lycaon's gun. Snatching it up before he could grab it she fired a single shot at a fleeing gang member. It hit clean at the base of their skull.
The man's body went rigid before toppling off of his thin horse and flopping to the ground disturbing a cloud of dust. Already, fires were catching despite previous rain. Oil lanterns had a way of making sure fire caught no matter the conditions of the tinder.
"What happened?" Zoë demanded, pulling Artemis to her feet from where she was kneeling.
"Long story. Right now we need to kill every last one of these bastards!" Collecting her hat, Artemis raced towards the barn that was now ablaze. She could hear Stella's frantic calls and panicked whinnies. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Artemis ducked through the flames and into the barn.
Smoke clawed at her eyes and throat but none of that mattered. She needed to get Stella out of there. Biting back a cough, Artemis squinted through the smoke fumbling for the stall latch. It had to be near her hand somewhere. When her fingers fell against the metal the burning sensation was immediate. Cursing, the Cowboy grasped the latch and threw her weight behind it. As soon as the door was free, Stella kicked it open and shot outside in a blur.
Stumbling, Artemis struggled to find her way outside aware of the fire licking at her hands and arms leaving burns behind. With a series of coughs she made her way out. Sucking in a series of short breathes, she raced back to the front of the house where Calypso stood watching in horror on the porch. Her light brown eyes held a terror in them that no child should ever possess.
Despite the pain in Artemis' hands, she snatched up the young girl and whistled loudly for Stella. Dutiful as ever, Stella ran nervously towards the Cowboy. With a grunt, Artemis settled Calypso atop Stella's back all the while keeping an eye out for trouble.
"Take her home Stella," Artemis ordered. Calypso was about to protest when Stella set off at a gallop forcing the young girl to hold on or risk falling off. Shotgun fire caught Artemis' attention. She was met with Zoē blasting a hole into a man's stomach. Preparing to aid her friend, Artemis was caught off guard as something tight settled around her neck. In an instant she was yanked backwards and the ground began to grate against her skin.
She'd been lassoed like a cow. The rope grew taught around her neck with each passing second. It chaffed and rubbed as hooves pounded by her head. The faster the horse went the more tension was put on the rope. All the while Artemis' clothes and skin were being shredded to pieces.
With gritted teeth, the Cowboy gave up on clawing at the noose. She needed to think. There had to be a way out. While she couldn't see the positioning of the horse or its rider she knew enough about her orientation to risk a shot. She couldn't do more than fire at an awkward and backwards angle.
Fumbling with her revolver and trying to remain calm, the Cowboy twisted painfully as a rock connected with her ribs. Stifling a cry of pain she fired and as the hammer crashed down a single bullet tore through the heel of the rider. His grip immediately released on the rope.
All at once Artemis skid to a stop. Rolling onto her stomach she attempted to get up from the dirt but spots decorated her vision. The noose was still around her neck. Gasping for air, she managed to hook her fingers beneath it and give just enough space for small breaths.
With a few more moments of struggling she shed the rope and scrambled to her feet. Just as she got her bearings she was met with a man attempting to rope her again. Flicking her wrist she fired a clean shot that hit him between the eyes. Blood oozed from the wound but he remained perched on his stead no more than a corpse riding off into the night.
Heart pounding and pulse reeling, the Cowboy made her way through the burning fields. Emerging from the other side she tackled a burly man on instinct. He was thrown off of Zoë who'd been wrestling with him for her shotgun. Fists flying, Artemis forgot entirely about her own weapon and proceeded to pummel the man until blood pooled at the edges of his mouth and nose.
The time for morals was gone. This was a game of survival. 
"Where's Cally?" Zoë demanded, firing off a stray shot.
"She's safe." Artemis gasped, staggering to her feet. Throughout the chaos she'd been unable to catch her breathe. She was aware of her consciousness being on the edge of fading. That wasn't going to stop her though, not when the man responsible for what was happening still hung around to watch. "Keep them away from the house or they'll burn it too!"
"Where are you going?" Zoë asked, her dark eyes reflecting the inferno that surrounded them. Her hair was wild and dirt clung to her cheeks. She was beautiful.
"I'm taking Lycaon's head." Planting a foot down onto the unconscious man's face, Artemis smashed his nose back into his brain. His breathing quickly stopped. Wiping sweat and lingering tears from her eyes, Artemis set forth towards the large tree and it's hill.
Gun poised, Artemis took as many lives as she saw fit. One by one Lycaon's men fell at her hand, but there were far too many of them. He had come with an army that he didn't previously possess. What he'd said to them in order to convince them to follow him, she had no idea, but it must have been something good.
The sound of hooves alerted her to an approaching opponent when pain flared across her temple. Blood flowed in a warm trail from her forehead down her cheek. A horse neighed loudly, the sound somewhat distorted before a second hit followed, this time across the jaw. Vision swimming, Artemis attempted to struggle against a set of calloused hands that latched onto her and forced her backwards. With another violent shove she was pushed down.
Cold water drenched her. It was nearly enough to knock the air out of her lungs but something told her to keep her breath. Head dunking under, Artemis had the brief realization that she'd been thrown into the water trough. Then panic set in.
Her hands gripped at large forearms trying to pry them free but it was no use. Once more she was unable to breathe. It was a terrifying experience the first time, but this was somehow worse.
Every instinct in her body told her to give in to the burning in her lungs. To let the crushing pressure take over. Bubbles made their way to the surface as oxygen fled her lungs and water made its way in. Sure, she was an ace of a shot, but that didn't do anyone any good when you were drowning.
At last, the air in Artemis' lungs forced its way out. There was a brief moment of fear and hesitation as she nearly sucked in a lungful of water. Gritting her teeth, she clamped her mouth shut again but her willpower could only last so long.
Up above the water rippled and with it the grip vanished. The water's surface was stained red with blood. Two smaller hands snatched the front of Artemis' shirt and hauled her towards the surface. Up and out,  Artemis fell from the large trough like a dead fish. Her stomach coiled and with it she vomited up any bit of water that had invaded her body.
"That's your idea of taking Lycaon's head?" Zoë asked, a tiny smile biting at the corners of her mouth despite the chaos at hand. Artemis would have given a snappy remark if she wasn't trembling from head to toe.
A dead body with a massive chunk missing from its neck lay in a pool of blood right before her. Already she could imagine the flies that would make their home in the wound. Removing herself from the puddle of sticky warm blood, Artemis had just enough time to catch a glimpse of someone lurking in charred corn stalks behind them.
A bullet ripped through the air plunging into the side of Zoë's leg followed by another that hit her side. The farm girl fell to her knees with a cry of pain so feral it made Artemis shiver. Scooping up the discarded shotgun, the Cowboy fired instinctively. The man's face disappeared as blood spattered Artemis' pale features. Now painted red, she no longer resembled her former self.
Attempting to fire a second shot for good measure, she was forced to discard the empty weapon and draw Lycaon's. Hers had been lost somewhere along the way. With a firm but gentle hold, Artemis tucked the injured farm girl into her side and stood protectively between her and any external threat.
Whether or not Artemis lost her mind she wasn't sure. She fired as many rounds as needed dropping Lycaon's men like flies. One by one their bodies piled up until the ground was drenched in blood instead of rain. Then she saw him.
Lycaon stood with his back to the last burning field. His eyes were wide in surprise and horror as he stared down the nuisance of a Cowboy he'd spent so long trying to get rid of. Gun raised, Artemis settled her finger on the trigger. She wanted to watch him die and burn. With narrowed eyes she fired, but no bullet emerged from Lycaon's gun. The chamber was empty.
It seemed a cruel twist of fate. One that nearly made her cry. Still with the gun raised, face painted red with blood that was not her own, and rope burns about her neck, Artemis stared down her enemy. There was a feralness in her eyes that made Lycaon's blood run cold.
"If I ever see your face again I will kill you! Law be damned you sick bastard!" The words were said with a venom so fierce that the wolf man took a step back before hesitantly retreating into the shadows and the fire he had started.
Turning her back to the scene, Artemis became painfully aware of Zoë's condition. Blood had stained her clothes a nasty red, but there was so much of it Artemis couldn't tell what was hers and what wasn't. Half carrying and half dragging the farm girl back to the house, Artemis took the steps slowly and ventured inside.
She was terrified of abandoning Zoë in the house, but she was even more terrified of any stragglers setting the home ablaze. The last thing she wanted was everything she'd become familiar with burning to the ground, people included.
"I can't help you," Artemis whispered, grabbing pillows from Zoë's room along with a few blankets and making some sort of nest on the floor. She settled the half conscious farm girl carefully in the little cocoon and glanced nervously at the door. "Help should be coming though. Just hang on okay?"
"Cally?" Came the tired question.
"She's alright. I sent her away with Stella. They'll be back with help. I promise." But Artemis wasn't sure about her promise. If Calypso couldn't figure out a way inside Olympus' gate then things would fall apart. "I'll be outside. Call if you need me."
Reluctantly leaving her wounded friend behind, Artemis collected a long knife from the kitchen and moved to sit on the porch once more. She watched the burning begin to slow and prayed that everything would be alright. She needed things to go her way for once.
— — —
Darkness became a familiar friend to her that night. The hours couldn't go by fast enough. Each second was an eternity. Adrenaline and anxiety were the only things keeping Artemis from passing out herself.
On occasion she found her way inside to make sure her companion was still breathing. By now, a thin layer of sweat coated Zoë's skin and her brow was furrowed in pain. Her breathing was impossibly shallow but she was alive. That was good. Struggling to swallow, Artemis sat beside Zoë and gently nudged her. She didn't feel like talking but she wanted Zoë to know she was present.
"Outside," the farm girl rasped, eyes fluttering open to regard the Cowboy through a hazy gaze.
"What?" Artemis asked, her throat raw and tender.
"It's...hot in here." Face scrunching up in pain and discomfort, Zoë grudgingly kicked off the blankets she'd been wrapped up in only to whimper in pain.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Artemis reasoned, her words barely able to travel above a whisper.
"Please," Zoë pleaded, her normally confident voice afraid and tentative.
"Alright." With a hesitant sigh, Artemis managed to collect Zoë in her arms and support most of the farm girl's weight. Struggling their way outside, Artemis settled in her usual spot and cradled Zoë in her arms. She insisted on wrapping the farm girl up in a blanket albeit loosely. The weather was admittedly cooler outside than inside, and it slowly eased Zoë's sweating.
Eyes trained on the horizon, Artemis waited in pained silence. She counted fireflies as they came and went, aware of the way Zoë's fists lay balled up against her chest like when an infant slept. Every now and then, the farm girl would take too long to breathe and anxiety would ignite in the Cowboy's chest. The last thing she wanted was for her only friend in the world to die in her arms.
Biting her lip to keep from crying, Artemis did her best to distract herself from growing macabre thoughts. She adjusted her hold on the fading farm girl, pressing her tight against her chest. Maybe if Zoë could feel Artemis' heartbeat her own would continue to do the same. It was a stupid thought, a stupid hope, but it was the only one Artemis had.
Then, at last, the sun began to peek over the horizon and with it a black speck emerged from the dark. Clutching the long kitchen knife, Artemis tensed. She couldn't take anymore risks when it came to visitors. As the figure drew nearer, a sigh of relief passed through the auburn haired girl. There was Apollo appearing along with the sun accompanied by Calypso atop Stella.
Just seeing her brother almost made Artemis cry out in excitement. Stella gave a call of greeting as she drew near, leveling off with the porch. Calypso practically threw herself off of Stella's back and raced towards her sister.
"Is she okay?" Calypso worried, her voice enough to cause Zoë to stir.
"Hey there," Zoë muttered, sparing her sister a small smile. "You got help?"
"Yeah," Calypso nodded. "This is Doctor."
Apollo approached the porch with hesitation, his expression weary, alarmed, and concerned all at once. He carefully regarded his sister, noting the blood and brain matter that had dried on her face, the violent bruising around her neck, the gashes on her face, and the mess that was her hair. Then there were her eyes, wide, wild, and alert. She looked like a frightened animal.
"Put the knife down Arty." Apollo gently took his sister's hand in his own and pried the knife free. "There we go. Come on. Let's get inside."
He neglected to mention the amount of bodies laying about the property as he helped his sister carry Zoë inside.
"Be careful with her," Artemis warned, clearing a place for her brother to work. He perched Zoë in a chair at the dining table and set his supplies down.
"I'm not an actual doctor Arty, you know that right? Father won't send me to medical school. I'll do what I can based on my independent studies but if this goes wrong-"
"Just try," Artemis insisted, watching Zoë pale with each passing second.
"Okay. My name's Apollo. I'm Artemis' brother. I'm going to have to take your clothes off so I can see your wounds." Apollo explained, moving to grab a pair of scissors when Zoë found enough strength to catch his hand.
"No. I-no." She whispered, a look of apprehension flashing across her features. Then her gaze settled on Artemis as if searching for some sort of approval.
"I promise, it's not due to romantic or sexual interest. I have my eyes set on a man in town. Don't get me wrong, you're beautiful and I can see why my sister fancies you, but you aren't my type," Apollo winked, his words seeming to ease whatever fear Zoë had.
"I wouldn't have him help if I didn't trust him," Artemis promised, watching as Zoë gave a small nod and released Apollo's hand.
"This'll be easier the more room I have," Apollo warned. Calypso, who had been glued to her sister's side since returning, grudgingly fled to the adjoining room. Artemis lingered for a moment before stepping outside.
The moment she was alone, the gravity of everything that had happened came crashing down. She stared intently at the charred ground, spattered with blood and dead men. Gaping holes riddled their bodies, and in the distance horses with saddles and reigns mulled about unsure of what to do without guidance.
The barn was no more than a heap of black splinters. All that had been spared was the orchard, but even that was tainted with a thick layer of smoke. For a moment it was hard to breathe, almost like cotton had filled her lungs. A shaky breath forced its way from chapped lips and Artemis was painfully aware of the pain in her chest. It was a strange type of grief, one cultivated by guilt.
This was her fault. She never should have challenged Lycaon. She should have kept her damn mouth shut and pretended like everything was fine. Instead, she'd destroyed someone else's home due to pride and passion.
With a set jaw, Artemis left the porch behind and began to walk. She didn't know where she was going or what was in store for her, but she needed to be alone. She needed to feel the weight of her actions to ensure she never did something like it again. As much as it hurt, there was a painful reality slowly setting in. Wherever she went and whoever she met, inevitably suffered because of her. She had a way of ruining people's lives.
Eventually, self pity turned into despair and with it came the tears that no one would know she cried. Wiping at her face, her hands came away red, a reminder of her actions. When she realized she couldn't scream, her throat wouldn't carry her voice that loud, she resorted to throwing rocks as far as possible. She watched them break apart with bitter satisfaction until any ounce of anger fled her bones.
Then came a tiredness so severe she barely managed to drag herself back home. Home? It wasn't her home. That was a lie.
Sulking up the steps, Artemis ventured into the house as the sun was reaching its peak in the sky. Apollo had expertly removed two bullets from Zoë's damaged body, dressed them, and dulled the pain with an herbal remedy. Already she looked to be in better spirits as a bit of color returned to her face. Her eyes which used to be hard and judgmental softened as she noticed the timid Cowboy.
"He's good," Zoë mused, earning a tiny smile from Apollo. Artemis simply nodded, before moving to leave once more when Apollo caught her arm.
"You're next. First we have to clean you up."
Some part of Artemis was aware of what was happening. She understood Apollo dragging her around to the back of the house and filling a tin tub with water. She could vaguely recall the way he gently washed her face and body like a parent would their kid. All Artemis did was stare ahead, flames flickering in her eyes along with people.
Eventually she ended up inside, bandaged and treated but how that had all happened she wasn't sure. Apollo hummed a light tune as he brushed his sister's hair before dutifully restoring her hat to her head.
"You're not gonna tell your daddy about this place right?" Calypso worried, watching Apollo intently as she ate a snack.
"I made you a promise that I wouldn't. So I won't," Apollo assured. "I'm tempted to stay to make sure you're all okay-"
"Father will get suspicious," Artemis interjected, her tone stiff.
"Maybe," Apollo nodded. Once finished, he stuck around to prepare some form of dinner before taking his leave. He lingered as long as possible, assessing Artemis for an upteenth time before hugging her and collecting Stella. Artemis moved to the porch to watch him go. Admittedly she wanted him to stay, but that wasn't an option. It was times like these she remembered how much of a comfort her brother was.
With a sigh, the Cowboy took her seat and drew the knife once more prepared for anything. It wasn't until a gentle hand settled on hers that her attention broke. It was Zoë.
"Enough of that. Get some sleep."
"He'll be back," Artemis frowned, turning her attention back to the darkening sky. "I'll be ready this time."
"Arty...Artemis, it's not your fault. I know you're blaming yourself but something like this was bound to happen. Lycaon is a despicable man. He was going to look for any reason to do something drastic. It's what people like him do." With a tiny wince, Zoë moved back to the door. "You're only a human being you know, you can't expect yourself to be perfect. Just a thought."
Nodding, Artemis set aside the knife. She knew Zoë was right but she wasn't ready to go back inside. Not yet.
It wasn't until the moon came out that Artemis seemed to return to herself. As tiredness swept her up in its arms, she ventured to her place on Calypso's bedroom floor. Sleep came quickly and with a dramatic flourish. Her body ached and seemed to sigh the moment true rest settled over her.
— — —
Calypso woke to raspy yelling and crying. Her heart raced with fear and in an instant her small feet pattered across the floor carrying her into her sister's room. While she knew Zoë was hurt and recovering she didn't know what else to do.
"Zoë!" Calypso whimpered, climbing into bed and practically wrapping herself around the older girl.
"Mm?" Zoë questioned, waking slowly to the sound of her sister's frantic voice.
"I'm scared. Something's in my room," Calypso whispered, her eyes settling on the doorway. Nodding, Zoë carefully got out of bed but not without pain. She was prepared to soothe Calypso's fear with a simple check of the room but she too heard the strange noises. She didn't understand it until she spotted Artemis curled up on her side trembling.
"Artemis!" The words were loud enough to startle the sleeping girl awake, but Artemis' breath was ragged and rushed. Her eyes were wild and panicked as her hands fluttered up to her neck.
"I can't-breathe." Artemis' face scrunched up in pain as her skin paled in color. She was hyperventilating. A strangled whimper escaped her as she lay back on the ground, chest heaving.
"Hey, hey!" Zoë managed to draw the other girl's attention by snapping her fingers. She moved to sit on the edge of Calypso's bed. "Breathe when I do. It's alright."
Nodding frantically, Artemis watched the rise and fall of the farm girl's chest, struggling to match her breathing. It was difficult and on occasion she began to panic again, restarting the sequence. After a handful of minutes, things calmed down enough for Artemis to formulate thoughts that didn't center on the idea of dying.
"I'm sorry. I was asleep and then I-" Artemis attempted to explain but was silenced when Zoë raised her hand.
"It's okay. I had a hard time sleeping too. It's not going to be easy anymore. Not when you've put a hole in someone's neck." Struggling to stand, Zoë gestured for Artemis to follow her. "Come on."
Shuffling out of the room like an ashamed child, Artemis followed Zoë across the way to her own room. There, Zoë assured Calypso that her room was safe and she could go back to sleep. With a smile of thanks, the younger sister scampered across the house to return to bed.
"I didn't mean to scare her," Artemis worried.
"I know, but just to ease her mind you should sleep in here. You can have a side of the bed so long as you stay on that side, understood?" Zoë asked, arching a brow expectantly. Nodding, Artemis moved to the right side, trying to take up as little space as possible. It wasn't until she was settled in bed that she noticed the drumming of Zoë's fingers on the covers. The Cowboy got the impression that she was trying to hide her pain for both of them.
"I'm going to fix everything you know," Artemis mumbled, rolling onto her side to study the other girl, "and when I do I'll leave. It's better that way. For everyone."
At this, Zoë's fingers stilled and a mood of conflict passed over her features. "If that's what you really want I'm not going to stop you."
"Oh please, don't tell me you want me around when you spent so long trying to get rid of me," Artemis snorted, her words perhaps too callous. She caught sight of the way Zoë's brow furrowed at her remark.
"You'll break Cally's heart you know." At this, two warm brown eyes met Artemis' gaze and they were nearly enough to make her reconsider her words. Then the fire returned along with the bodies and her decision remained firm.
"I've been told I'm good at that." Artemis sighed, turning her back to the farm girl.
"At what?" Zoë asked.
"Breaking hearts," Artemis whispered. "Maybe it runs in the family."
Silence settled over bother parties, and with it Artemis closed her eyes. She knew what she had to do no matter how painful it was. For once, she thought she understood why her mother had left. It was easier.