good and evil can be such gray topics

[xhesika]

An excerpt, still needs a little work, but the dialogue sums up a lot about Artemis as a character.

Closing in on the final chapter, although I still feel leery of it for some reason despite it being something I think about constantly. I just can’t seem to type when I actually get to it.

“Clovis will eventually go hungry, and the riots will ensue. The people will wrap you in bows and set you on my doorstep, my dear. Mob
mentality is a simple beast.”

She backed away from him quickly and gave him a hard look, “It’s really going to be like this then?”

Van Dean watched her curiously as she went over to the sofa, “Like this?”

Artemis slumped into the cushions of the davenport, burying her head in the palms of her hands, and feeling stupid for going against Valerie Araceli’s wishes, “Mother is right. I’m an idealist and there’s no way I’ll ever be able to get through to you. I was stupid to hope.”

With a small smile Van Dean knelt at her feet, letting his hands rest on her knees to look up at her, “No. You’re wrong. It’s because of your idealism that I love you. The way you delight in the simpler things of life. Your childlike ability to forgive me and you continue to love me
despite it all.”

She hardened her expression at his accusation, “I do not love you.”

“Oh but you do. You love Nyles as well, but you do love me. I can see it every time I look, it’s there without fail.” Van Dean reached one hand up and found her hand, threading her fingers with his, “You love me, you hate me, and it’s tearing you apart. Give in.”

Artemis rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to place her hand on her side. The pain had been building up throughout the meeting and now
burned with each breath. She blinked away the thoughts and focused her attention on Van Dean, “You’re ridiculous.”

“You indulge me, what other proof do you need?” He smiled, “You allow me to be near you.”

“Affection and compromise have nothing to do with emotions.” Artemis said sternly.

Van Dean laughed, “For one as innocent as you it is the same.”

“It is not.” Her voice was harder now, “Actions are actions. Feelings are feelings.” She bit the inside of her mouth as the pain ramped upwards, “If I allow a man to kiss my hand, or if I give a smile to someone I pass, it doesn’t mean that I love them.”

“You’re a goddess incarnate. You love all you see.” His smile began to fade as he read into the pain clouding her mind, “They still haven’t
told you?”

Artemis ignored his comment, “I’m not a child. I can take responsibility for my actions, and I am free to love and be affectionate to whomever I choose, but affections do not equal love.”

Van Dean placed a hand on her waist, trying not to apply too much pressure to the afflicted area, and making an even more desperate attempt to not sound too panicked. “You’re worse than I thought. I can heal you in Dalia. We have the technology to save you.”

“I would rather die in Clovis than live with you in Dalia!” Artemis clenched her teeth and gave an angry sigh, “I don’t know why I even bother! You never listen!”

Van Dean wouldn’t have anticipated the action; his attention had been taken up entirely by the dread that Artemis would injure herself further in her anger and he almost did not notice when her hands held onto the sides of his face.

At the contact of her mouth on his in a kiss unlike any other she had ever given him, Van Dean reached out for her and pulled at her chin slightly for her to open her mouth and felt a rush of unreserved bliss when she complied without complaint and reached out to embrace him.

Artemis broke away from him and placed a hand on her side in an attempt to stop the pain as she gasped for air, “It means nothing. Don’t you understand? I don’t need to love a man to kiss him.” She pushed herself away from him and stood slowly, “To hell with you opening trade, you’re too thick for me to even bother to reason with.”

Meanwhile, Rei's standing in the corner, feeling VERY uncomfortable.