Beauty of Thebes - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Cursing Eutostea  

As Apollo drew out the arrow without hesitation, Eutostea screamed as she vomited blood.  

Apollo’s hand poked through the wound and measured its size. Artemis’ hunting arrowhead was a broad iron rod. The arrowhead spun at a rapid pace and poked itself through the inside of Eutostea’s flesh.  

Eutostea had a big wound that would be difficult to regenerate even with human resilience. In this case, it was better to cut off her arm. Otherwise, she’d not be able to recover and she’ll only meet Hades.  

Man was weak. Truly weak.  

Apollo leaned back.  

Eutostea sobbed, enduring the pain with her teeth clenched.  

A tremor could be felt in Apollo’s hand as he touched her back. Slowly, he kissed her bloodshot wound. Just as Aphrodite was born from the foam in the waters of Paphos, on the island of Cyprus when the Titan Cronus slew his father, Uranus, the large puncture wound of  Eutostea  began to regenerate again in similar shape.  

Apollo licked his lips, blood mixing with her saliva.  

He pulled out the next arrow.  

“Ungh!”  

Eutostea gasped in anticipation of the incoming pain. The arrowhead, which had crushed the deep of her bones and scattering inside her flesh, had been pulled out with a terrible thud.  

Eutostea fainted without screaming.  

Apollo’s fingers went inside the wound of her hole and shook off the bone debris.  

Then, he bowed his head like a ritual and kissed her wound. It had been covered with holy blood.  

The arrow that pierced her limp ankle was the last left.  

When Apollo stood up to cure it, Artemis stood behind him.  

“Move. I’ll shoot her dead.”
 

The hand pulling her silver lining raised. Artemis’ cheeks were filled with tears. The tips of her nose were also red.  

Apollo drew back his lips and wiped the stain with the back of his hand.  

His appearance, whose blood dropped down to his chin like a monster that sucked human blood, was uncannily unfamiliar at this moment to Artemis.  

“Get rid of the bow, Artemis.”  

“I’m not aiming at you, so get out of my way,” Artemis said.  

She looked at the back of the mortal woman lying at the foot of Apollo. Her treatment had almost been completed.  

‘Why do you pity her, brother?’  

Artemis’ eyes glowed horribly.  

Apollo stood still, staring at his sister’s bow.  

“Can’t you hear me? Get out of the way. No, there’s no need to move. I’ll just shoot her through the crotch. Instant kill.  

“She’s my woman.”  

“What?”  

Artemis fumbled.  

When she asked blankly, Apollo sat on his knees. Not for Artemis, but for treating Eutostea’s ankle.  

The arrowhead nibbed half of Eutostea’s slender ankle. As expected, when the arrow was pulled, pools of blood bled out. The bursting of blood hit his white face, leaving behind a red stain.  

Artemis thought her brother had gone crazy.  

With his mouth on her ankle, Apollo raised his red eyes and looked at Artemis.  

“If you touch her, I won’t take it easy. I’ll drag Helios’ Chariot out. Not only your b*tches, but your fairies who follow you around will burn in the woods and die a joyful death. I’ll turn this forest into a desert where you’ll never see spring again. And you’ll only have one of my laurel trees that survived in Hyperboria.  

As if that wasn’t enough, Apollo pulled up the corners of his lips and chuckled.  

Artemis shook her hands and lowered her bow.  

“You dare insult me in front of my fairies? Are you swearing at me, Artemis, the hunting and chastity god?”  

Apollo ignored Artemis and wrapped the black cloth he was wearing over Eutostea’s body. He was confident that Artemis would not be able to hurt her.  

Eutostea’s treatment was nearing completion. She was breathing, fortunately. Her hot breath and the rise of her chest was proof.  

“Apollo!”  

A furious Artemis called his name.  

“Then I, Artemis, will curse you to the ends of the earth! The wounds of my arrow may be curable, but I will  never  stop cursing you and that woman! She’ll never be happy beside you. I’ll find her and kill her even if I have to chase her to the underworld. No matter what you’ve done, no matter how much you’ve given her affection, know this… she’ll never remember you—neither your name, your face, your history together, or the fact that you saved her today will be remembered. Your existence in her mind will be erased! You, Apollo, will soon feel bitter. The affection you poured into an empty jar will end up a waste!”  

In response to the goddess’ anger, a stream of thunder boomed and lowered from the sky.  

Apollo’s two bloody eyes glared at Artemis reproachfully. Without saying a word, he headed to his temple located in Delphi with Eutostea in his arms.