“Artemis?” I questioned his name as he appears to be human;I only remember Artemis as ablack panther. Why is he here? He’s supposed to e with his “master”. That’s what he calls my love, which is quite hilarious.

“So, Marybeth, what hath do you feel? You have tears streaming down your freckles cheeks. What has happened to my master? Where is she?” Artemis rambled on about. 

“I-” I start, but stop myself from talking any further. My thoughts racing; confused; curious; angry and saddened. I feel alone, but yet I’m not. I don’t understand why these people; my neighbors and my family found Lilith guilty of “devil’s work”. 

I started to to think to myself: Why did I let this happen? Why did I just sit there and cry at my beloved’s death? Am I to blame for her death? Did I cause the deception of Lilith infront of my family and neighbors? Is it wrong to be intimate with the same sex? Why is it wrong, we didn’t even harm people with our displays of affection towards eachother? Am I next to burn since I partook in a forbidden relationship? All these questions scatter my brain. I didn’t even notice my mother hovering over me with a sad smile. She saw me shivering with anxiety. 

Barely breathing, hands shaking, quivering non-stop, and thoughts racing everywhere. My mother holds me close and told me; “Ye be fine; breathe slowly. Trust thou mother.” 

“I. . . no, I’ll never be fine. Lilith’s-” I say as tears start to fall again. My mother. . . why was she here? Hovering over me again, she tries to pull me up, but I don’t budge.

“No. Let me stay here a while longer, mother.” I tell her. She stops pulling my arms. Of course, she crouches down to sit beside me. 

“Mother? Am I a fool to believe such a lover? Be truthful at least.” I asked her nervously awaiting her brutal answer. She must be disappointed in me -- since I fell for the softest touch known to man. My heart will forever yearn for those soft and subtle light pink lips. Tears shed as memories of Lillith flood my mind. I sniff up the mucus that’s running down my nostrils; I notice my mother left me to talk to Artemis that’s walking away from the crowd. Disappointment washed over my face as my mother never answered the question I asked. I understand if my mother was uncomfortable with or or did not understand my question. I would’ve explained the question to her, but no, she had to walk away. Hurt is all I felt as I begin to stand up to try to follow Artemis.

“Artemis! Slow down, I want to follow you!” I shout as Artemis dissapears into the woods. I never get to catch up to him. I notice one of my dearest friends, Fae, is in the outskirts of the crowd; wondering what has happened here to cause such an uproar. He slowly walks over to me.

“What has happened here, Marybeth?” Fae asked me out of curiosity. I just stood there… silent while he’s expecting an answer. I stood there, until I made the choice of breaking the long dreadful silences with such horrid news. Noticing Fae’s dead silence, I took it as a reaction. For some reason, there was a small smile that krept in the corner of his mouth. Having a eerie feelingtowarss Fae now; I decide to push him away from me before he could try to touch me. 

“What was that bloody for?” Fae asked me angrily. Anger, hate, and wrath fell upon my face. Fae looked at me shocked and scared.

“Why do you bloody think, Fae?” I exclaim, my hands clenched up until I felt my fingernails digging into the palms of my hands. Biting the inside of my cheek; I knocked over Fae. I knew it! Fae was jealous of Lilith. Jealous of our magnificent bond with each other. Anger fueled my movements; my body moved on it’s own. My right hand formed a fist connected with Fae’s rough and chisled face.

Knuckles bleeding as I look at Fae in disgust. Fae’s nose bleeds as well. He scoffs as he walks away from me and the crowd. Everyone looks at me; confusion loomed over their hateful grimaces. I too, walk away from the crowd and into the woods.