Grove-of-Artemis

• Status: In Transit
• Cleared: 0/100
• Rank: Mark of Bravery 

• Please specify which theme you are doing when submitting entries.
• You may request for an update of your status bar any time. Feel free to put it in your signature for bragging rights.
• If I forget to update your status bar and badge, please don't hesitate to PM and remind me.

I hope this works as an introduction and that I didn't stray too far from the original idea!! Here it goes! :)

1.) INTRODUCTION

After a seemingly-irrelevant, recurring nightmare, Alexis begins another day of her simple life on the holy island of Delos. It is a small island in the Cyclades, mostly known for its convenient position along a busy trade route of the Greeks. It is also the mythical birth place of the famed Artemis and Apollo. They were twins; born to a beautiful Titaness and her old love and ex-husband, Zeus, Ruler of Olympus.

Alexis lived a simple life, assisting at the inn for weary travelers. She loved their stories of the faraway land of Greece, home to mythical beasts and magical gods. Her mother, however, was far more wary of strangers. She wanted to protect her daughter, Alexis, who does not look like the others. With her nearly-silver, ash blonde hair and striking green eyes, she stands out too far among the brown eyes and dark locks of the other residents of Delos, not to mention most travelers.

Little did Alexis know that she would soon be thrown into the middle of a treacherous conspiracy to overturn Zeus and end freewill, or possibly the world as they knew it to be.

Twenty years ago, just before Alexis was born, Hera, the estranged wife of Zeus, began hatching a plan. She wished to gain access to the Tomb of the Lost Art; but only the ruler of Olympus may enter unscathed. Zeus knew of his wife's desire for power, so he never allowed her to see what lay behind its heavy, stone doors. Angry with her husband, Hera began to think. Hera's twisted plot to overthrow her husband started to unfold as she went to the Moirae and sought the outcome of her devious plans.

Hera discovered that she will fail, for she will fall by a single silver arrow belonging to Artemis, Goddess of the Moon. Artemis is soon murdered, and Hera spends the next twenty years building an army to take Zeus down.

But something is in her way. . . again. How does Alexis fit into this adventure? Only few gods know. . . and the malicious Hera is soon to find out. . .

1. ) Introduction

2.) ECHOES (83)

Alexis awoke into pure darkness. The pain was instant.

“Why can’t I move? Why is it hard to breathe? How did I get here?” She thought to herself in a panic. She pulled in one small, raspy breath and tried to focus on anything; anything at all but the misery. The air was damp and heavy. The sound of water dripping into a puddle rang out like a small bell in a grand hallway, echoing off of the walls before returning its majestic chime. The feel of icy, coarse stone beneath her frozen fingertips gave little comfort to her broken body.

Her despair fueled her anger. She was going to get out of there. Looking around, she saw nothing. No light, no path to escape this unforgiving tomb.

Alexis felt helpless and alone. There was no visible way out. She closed her eyes, trying to wish this terrible place away.
Suddenly, she felt the warmth of sunlight on her cheeks.

3.) REALITY (94)

Alexis opened her eyes and turned her face toward the warmth. There it was. The beautiful rays of the sun painting a path back to her world.

A new-found strength rose within her. She lifted her broken body from the icy stone and planted her feet firmly on the ground. She took one slow, painful step after another; getting closer and closer to the light.

Her heart leapt in her chest as she caught the smell of the flowers and trees on the breeze. She drank it in. Was this real? was she going to get out of here?

Suddenly, she stopped. There in the light was a beautiful stag, who almost went unnoticed. His sleek, tan coat was, oddly, still riddled with fawn spots. His glorious antlers rose tall above his head. But his big, brown eyes weren't on Alexis. His neck was locked in place, rigid with fear.

Alexis' heart dropped. Her skin began to tingle with terror.The deer was looking behind her.

 

The graphics are charming, with nice little touches, e.g. in the 3rd one, the way she is holding her right arm with her left hand, just exactly what people do.

Thank you ksjp17!! :)

4.) SHADES OF GRAY (34)

Alexis suddenly feels a strange sensation all over her body. A pressure she had never felt before bore down on her. She looked down to find nothing. She gawked at the stag, dumfounded, as if he had an answer for her. But the stag's gaze was still chillingly fixed on the cave behind her that she was trying to escape.

Alexis slowly pivots her body to look behind her. She began shaking her head wildly. What she saw could not be explained.

There on ground, lay a body of a girl. Her green eyes were gray and lifeless. Her ash-blonde hair was caked with mud. She was looking into the face of herself.

But there was no time to figure it out. No time to collect a single thought of what was happening. For out of the darkness, came a low, rumbling growl.

A large head of a beast came into view. . . then another. . . and another. Alexis could only watch in horror as the three-headed hell hound, Cerberus, began dragging her own twisted body into the darkness.

 

5.) DREAMER (36)

Alexis' own screams awoke her. She looked into the startled face of her dear mother, Leta. She reassured her mother that everything was fine, but her mother knew what was wrong. The night terrors had plagued Alexis since she was a little girl.

Leta gave Alexis one last, concerned expression before kissing her on the forehead and rising from her bedside in one graceful, sweeping motion.

Alexis sighed, untangled her legs from the sheets, and stood to join her mother in the dining chamber of their tiny home. She shivered, still trying to shake her nightmare away. She had given up years ago trying to understand what they were trying to tell her.

I like these, the way you build up the tension in entries #3 and #4 before resolving it in #5.  Well done.

Thank you so much!! ^_^ I love suspense!! ahaha!

6.) BREAKFAST (83)

Alexis made her way into the dining room of her small home. There were women from all of the surrounding homes merrily dipping their bread in their wine goblets and nibbling fruit, chattering like joyous hens. There was to be a wedding celebration on Delos today. Alexis was in no mood for breakfast, nor to visit with the guests.

She made her way passed the dining women and straight out into the courtyard. There was but a single tree in its center with a small patch of grass. It was the only tree like it in Delos' dry, rocky climate. Alexis took a deep breath trying to drown out the noise. She preferred solitude.

Just when she thought she was alone, she felt a strange sensation like she was being watched. She looked around, inspecting the connected homes that enclosed the area, when something caught her eye. A pale, eerie face stared back at her from the shadows across the courtyard.

Alexis shivered. That home was supposed to be vacant.

 

7.) SUMMER HAZE (76)
 
In the glow of the summer sun, she could make out the shape of a woman's face.
 
Before she could make out the face of the woman in the shadows, two familiar voices broke her concentration. It was her dear friends, Dawn and Meg.
 
Alexis looked back to the shadows after only an instant and the face was gone. She looked to her friends who sat down on the small patch of grass and asked them if they had seen the woman in the doorway of the abandoned home.
 
Dawn's eyes lit up as she held her pregnant belly. She always had a story to tell. The girls chattered amongst one another as they always did in the beautiful summer haze. Meg, her older sister, couldn't be more different. She rolled her eyes at Dawn and began to tease her about her story of the mysterious witch woman across the courtyard.
 
Alexis, however, was intrigued. Dawn continued, despite her older sister's mockery and explained to Alexis that for a small token, the witch can tell you your future.
 
"What kind of future awaits you, Dawn?" Meg teased. Dawn was unaffected.
 
"The witch told me that I am to have a boy and that he is destined for greatness," she said proudly. Her face then became more serious. her eyes darkened a bit. "She also said something bad is about to happen on Delos and that we should get off the island. Perhaps the witch can help you with your dreams, Alexis."
 
"She probably wants to trick you into her cooking pot," Meg teased.
 
Alexis' curiosity was not swayed. "What kind of token did this witch require from you?" She asked Dawn. Dawn shot a bratty look in her sister's direction before responding. Dawn's eyes suddenly grew wide as if what her sister said made her realize something.
 
"Alexis, I'm so sorry. . . " Dawn said in almost a whisper with terror in her eyes.

8.) FORK IN THE ROAD (41)

"Dawn, what are you sorry for?" Alexis asked, a little nervous to hear her answer. Dawn's mouth hung open, but no sound came out. Her eyes were filled with, what seemed to be, remorse. It made Alexis feel uneasy.

Just when Alexis was about to press Dawn further, They were interrupted by a thunderous voice.

"Girls, Girls!! Are you ready to join the festivities?!" it was Manny. Manny was a very dear friend to Alexis' mother. He lived just next door. His graying hair was a mess atop of his head. They all chuckled as he bounced around merrily. Manny loved celebrations.

For once, Alexis was sorry he interrupted. Manny began rushing them off back into Alexis' home where they were met by many women in the doorway with ribbons and flowers in their hands.

Dawn squealed with delight as she was swept off to have her hair done for the celebration. Meg ducked beneath the crowd and reappeared by the doorway to exit the home. She looked back at Alexis with a pitying grin. Alexis grumbled. If only she'd been as quick. But she had been distracted by Dawn's behavior.

"Meet me tonight by the docks. I have something I must tell you. I think I have done something wrong, Alexis. Don't go and see the witch. Not just yet," Dawn breathed quickly under her breath.


 

9.) NEVER AGAIN (21)

Just before the women could pounce on Alexis, she felt a warm grasp on her arm leading her away. Alexis sighed with relief. It was Grace. She was the best friend of Leta and the wife of Manny.

Back in Alexis' room, Grace began to twist and weave Alexis' hair with delicate flowers. She smiled warmly at Alexis before she spoke.

"What has Dawn told you about the woman across the courtyard?" Grace asked. Her voice was regal and authoritative.

"How did you-" Alexis began before she was abruptly cut short.

"No time for that my dear, answer my question," Grace demanded.

"She just said she could tell your fortune and that the witch woman told her she would be having a boy," Alexis replied, a little confused at Grace's curiosity for this stranger.

"Nonsense!! That is impossible. This woman is a swindler. From Greece, I would imagine. Greece is full of them," Grace scoffed, sounding disgusted at the very mention of Greece. Alexis wasn't deterred.

"You've been to Greece?!" She asked excitedly. "Please, tell me all about it! I hear there are forests just bursting with trees like the one in our courtyard. Only they are so big you can climb them to the sky!"

"Nonsense, child. Trees do not grow THAT tall. Greece is full of swindlers and thieves. There is little to be desired there, Alexis. You must take my word for it."

" But what about Mt. Olympus? I have read that that is where the gods themselves reside, in castles of marble and gold; and magical nymphs roam the lands making rivers run and gardens grow; and the cities are so grand, the gods must hover high in the sky just to take in all of its borders! I pray for the day I will be able to cross the sea." Alexis said excitedly.

"Listen to me very carefully, for it is the only time I will speak of it. There are more evils than wonders across this ocean; evils that I cannot even speak of. If you are ever presented with the opportunity to travel across the oceans to that barbaric continent, Poseidon himself will come upon your ship with all of his wrath; for I shall wish it. He will then deliver you, battered and fearful, back to these shores where I will stand to welcome you with my own wrath. For I love you like my own granddaughter and I am telling you now, I forbid it. I forbid the very mention of it again."

Alexis fell silent, as did Grace. She continued to weave flowers into Alexis' hair. Grace thought she had won. But what she didn't realize, was that she only lit a fire in Alexis. A burning curiosity for the woman across the courtyard.
 

Hello all who may or may not be following my story!! lol. So sorry it has taken so long to post anything, a pic is coming soon!! I am in the middle of doing a free release novel of the darker version of this story, so I have been a little busy! Don't count me out! I will see this through, I promise!! :D

Good to hear!  I've been keeping an eye on your thread, so it's good to know you're going to see this through!  :)    Now you've got me curious about your darker version.

yay!! thank you!! I followed yours all the way, it was GREAT!! ^_^ Ahaha yeah, the story gets a little more gruesome than I will put in this version, but I can send ya the title when it is free if you want! ^_^ I don't know if I can do it in the comments, I read something about self promoting? not sure! ahaha! :)

10.) PARTY (50)
 
Grace finished With Alexis' hair and the two swept off into the hallway standing before the grand mirror that hung on the wall. Grace looked into the mirror at Alexis and gave her an affectionate squeeze on her shoulders before sauntering off to the end of the hallway.
 
Grace exhaled in distaste at the other women squabbling in the next room before he glided to join them. Alexis paused for a moment before she, too, followed.
 
Alexis was met by Dawn who had been given an elaborate up-do resembling a beehive. The girls complimented one another before gathering around the baskets of offerings to get ready for the party.
 
It was very strange for there to be a wedding on the island from strangers, so everyone was running around excitedly, ready to join the fun.
 
Alexis grabbed the basket to load up with flowers while Dawn raced for a basket of bread. She dug in, shoving a large amount of freshly baked bread in her cheeks. Leta gasped, shaking her head in disapproval.
 
"Ladies, no!! that is to be a gift!!" Leta exclaimed.
 
The girls laughed and they all swept out of the doorway onto the streets of Delos.

@Groveofartemis - I found this on Amazon!!!!!!! It is cool to see that you did drawings in conjunction with your novel about "Artemis: Poison of Hera." This is what brings me back to RPGMaker forums. It is so neat to see what people do across genres (i.e. writers, gamers, designers.) I wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing more artwork and reading more excerpts!! :)