Alone with the Moon
By: Shannon Master
She was never afraid of the night.
Yet as she walked down the cold street, she realized just how very alone she was. Usually she enjoyed her walks home from work; this small town was unlike any other place she had ever lived in that the light pollution was so small she could actually see the stars. She loved walking beneath them, feeling safe as she walked by only the beautiful light of the moon.
However, tonight was a new moon, and the sky was covered in clouds. Without the celestial bodies to guide her, she suddenly felt very alone - and extremely exposed. Just as the thought crossed her mind, she caught sight of a shadow shifting in the corner of her eye. She turned and saw a completely silent car with its lights turned off slow to a stop a few feet behind her. She pretended not to notice and simply began walking more quickly, but she could hear a figure exit the driver’s door and walk directly toward her at a faster pace than her own. “‘Skinda late for a pretty girl like you to be out walkin’ huh?”
The husky male voice from behind her sent ice through her veins. She couldn’t respond, her throat was closing in on itself and she knew there was no way she could reach her apartment two blocks away in time.
Suddenly a hooded figure stepped out of the alley a few feet ahead of her, blocking the way forward. There was something strapped to the figure’s back, and a glint of silver in their hand, barely hidden by the long cloak around their shoulders, nearly made her heart stop. She yelped loudly, stumbling into the road to try and get away.
The figure ahead on the sidewalk did not follow. Instead, their gaze appeared to be locked on the man who had been behind her on the pavement. He pulled out his own knife and charged the newcomer, startling the girl who had thought she was being surrounded by kidnappers.
There was a flash of the cloaked figure’s blade and encounter was over in seconds. The man was facedown on the concrete, blood pooling around his head, and the figure turned toward the girl in the middle of the street. Before she could pull herself together enough to run away screaming, the figure said, “Finley, wait.”
The fact that this stranger knew her name should have horrified Finley. However, the gentle, almost musical voice calmed her immensely. The mysterious woman took a cautious step toward Finley and ever so slowly reached up to lower the hood covering her face.
She was... luminous. Her hair was a silvery white and each gentle curl that fell over her shoulders glowed with an inner light. Her ice-blue eyes sparkled even from this distance. Finely now realized the object on the woman’s back appeared to be some kind of bow, and as she walked, her black cloak fluttered around the quiver of arrows and knife holster strapped to her thighs. “I... uh... who...?”
“I am Artemis. You may call me Diana, if you prefer.” Artemis’s gentle smile seemed to hold back a boundless sadness. “I am sorry we were forced to meet in this manner.” “Artemis as in... the Greek goddess? You’re real?”
The laugh that flowed from her lips was so genuine, Finley couldn’t even feel embarrassed for asking.
“Yes, Finley. I am real. It is incredible that I may finally contribute to our conversation.” “Conversations?” Finley’s face suddenly flushed and her eyes grew wide. “Wait, the goddess of... the moon? The moon? You could... hear me?”
Flashes of memories flooded Finley’s mind. She had been talking to the moon on her late night walks for months now, ever since she had moved to this town. It has always been comforting to think that perhaps someone was watching over her...
She glanced up at the sky, remembering that it was the night of the new moon, when none of the moon’s face was visible to Earth. Yet when she looked back at the beautiful woman before her, the sight felt familiar.
“The moon...” she whispered.
“Indeed, Finley.” Artemis’s smile was kind and warm. “I longed to respond and assure you I was listening...” she trailed off, glancing nervously up at the sky. “However, the present rules of the gods are far more strict than those of antiquity.”
Finley could barely breathe. It all seemed so surreal, like it had to be a dream. But she was confused by Artemis’s words. “So... why are you here now?”
Artemis’s smile sank and she looked back to the body on the sidewalk behind her. Finley’s heart started beating faster as she remembered that she had in fact witnessed a murder, and that right before that she had thought she was going to be kidnapped, mugged, or even killed by that very same man.
“My brother foretold that you would be in grave danger this night. I could not bear to leave you prey to that monster.”
Suddenly Artemis was in front of Finely, inches away from her face. Finley’s heart raced once again, this time sending a hot blush to her cheeks as she watched the goddess’s gaze roam her face and land on her lips. She met Finley’s gaze with eyes so intense, the weight of the world must have been on her shoulders.
“I must not put you in greater peril.” She whispered. Finley didn’t dare to breathe as her eyes once again drifted down and she gently bit her lip. Finally she sighed deeply and said, “Yet I cannot help myself. May I kiss you, Finley?”
Astonished, Finley stared at this gorgeous woman, this actual goddess who was literally glowing and yet somehow standing in front of her and wanting to kiss her?? All she could do was nod.
Artemis wasted no time and quickly pressed her lips against Finley’s. She was soft and tasted sweet, and as she wrapped her arms around her, Finley could feel just how incredibly strong she must be. Yet her touch was controlled and gentle as she clung to her as if she couldn’t bear to let go. Of course, after a few long moments with their lips intertwined, she did let go.
The breath she didn’t realize she had been holding finally released and Finley felt like she was panting, struggling to breathe normally again. Artemis did not pull away, but instead moved closer and to the side until her lips were brushing Finley’s ear.
“Please do not forget me.”
And then she was gone. Finley couldn’t tell if she had run away or simply vanished into thin air, but she was gone now. All she could think was, “How could I ever??”