Chapter 1 The Arrival of the Goddess Artemisa.

Original Author José Bryan Jiménez Hernández

In the Skies of Elyon.

Chapter 1 The Arrival of the Goddess Artemisa.

"A full moon night in the month of April. Under a starry sky, clear of clouds, a stream descends from the hills and the gentle countryside breeze caresses the face of a little girl, who is standing at the window looking at the sky. The year was 1828. Caterina is a girl with curly, brown hair. She observes the stars with her gaze lost in the night firmament."

The wind blows and shakes Caterina's hair while her back is turned; her sleepwear rustles as well. The scene changes to the next day: sunlight filters through the windows and Caterina wakes up, stretching her arms.

Caterina: Oaaaah! (Yawning deeply).

Caterina rubs her eyes and then blinks a couple of times.

Caterina: It is already morning... Mmmmmmh! (Complaining listlessly about having to return to her daily routine).

Caterina covers herself with the sheets for a moment. Scene change: Caterina prepares to fulfill her daily tasks.

Caterina is an orphan who works as a servant in one of the villas located on the outskirts of Siena. She was orphaned at the age of six and was sent to live with an aunt; she is currently twelve years old and is working for one of the noble families of the Tuscany region. Now she prepares to go to the market in one of the villas near Val d'Orcia. While she heads there along the path, she encounters a rabbit that is being chased by some dogs and decides to help it.

¿?: Waf! Waf!

¿?: Rauf! Rauf!

Caterina: Those dogs are chasing that poor rabbit!

Caterina runs after the dogs to scare them away with the basket she carries in her hands while holding onto her straw hat. The dogs go fleeing from the place.

Caterina: Get out of here and do not return!

Caterina waves one of her arms in the air; then she bends down and holds the rabbit with her hands.

Caterina: Are you okay, little friend?

The rabbit releases itself from her hands and runs away.

Caterina: Goodbye, little friend.

Caterina walks to the market in Val d'Orcia. Everyone there knows her and greets her as she passes by.

Pietro: Good morning, Caterina.

Caterina: Good morning, Mr. Pietro.

Caterina always has a smile on her face, even though her life is not easy. The girl's aunt was never a good woman and always treated her badly. Caterina has to work to send money to her younger brother, who stayed in Genoa under the care of other people. After fulfilling her daily tasks and as night falls, while she is praying next to her bed and under the moonlight, the gray rabbit she helped in the morning appears next to her window.

Caterina: Hello, little friend, what are you doing? Did you come to thank me?

In that moment, the rabbit answers her.

¿?: Something like that, Caterina.

Caterina: What?!

Caterina falls to the ground on her back and points at the rabbit with her finger.

Caterina: Y-y-you shouldn't b-b-be able to speak.

¿?: Come on, do not be afraid.

The rabbit transforms into a woman with silver hair and eyes of the same color, fairy wings, and hair long down to her ankles.

Artemisa: I am the goddess Artemisa.

Artemisa extends her arms to the sides while the moonlight enters behind her.

Artemisa: I have seen you look at the night sky every night and share your secrets with me.

Artemisa glides through the little girl's room without touching the floor. She floats in the air with her platinum gray medieval-style dress. The goddess has her hair down, and it rises in the air, floating by itself.

Artemisa: Tell me, little Caterina, what is it that your heart desires most in this world?

Artemisa stands in front of Caterina and brings her face close. The girl shrinks back a bit while looking on in amazement.

Caterina: None of this can be true. Gods do not exist!

Caterina closes her eyes and places her hands in the shape of a fist over her temples while moving her head from side to side.

Caterina: No. You do not exist, you are not real. This must be just a dream. Come on, Caterina, wake up.

Caterina whispers. Her voice shows frustration at the situation while she paces back and forth over her own body.

Caterina: Come on, get out of here! Disappear, disappear!

Upon opening her eyes, Caterina realizes that the goddess is no longer there and places a hand over her chest.

Caterina: Phew! What a relief. Surely I imagined it. How foolish.

At that moment, Caterina turns her head toward the bed and her blue eyes open wide. The goddess is reclining on the mattress, resting her head upon her hand. She is on her side and with her eyes closed, when suddenly she opens them slowly. Caterina retreats quickly; she is on the floor and crawls backward on her back.

Caterina: What are you still doing here?! I thought you had already gone!

The goddess Artemisa rises slowly and sits on the bed, resting her hands upon the blankets.

Artemisa: Do not think you will get rid of me so easily.

Artemisa stands up and this time walks toward the front.

Artemisa: I will follow you wherever you go, child.

Caterina: No, not that! That will never happen! Did you hear me?!

Caterina quickly stands up.

Caterina: Why are you so interested? Is it just because I helped you? It is not necessary for you to be with me all the time.

Caterina crosses her arms and frowns.

Caterina: Besides, I do not want you to follow me anywhere.

Artemisa gets on her knees in front of Caterina and joins her hands in a pleading gesture.

Artemisa: Please, let me stay with you, I swear I will not cause you any trouble!

Caterina's expression transforms and now she feels somewhat bad for the goddess.

Caterina: There is no need for you to do that. I do not understand why you want to be with me.

Artemisa: What happens is that I am very lonely.

Artemisa separates her hands and lowers her gaze. The atmosphere of the place is bathed in a bluish light. The wind blows between the hills.

Caterina: What do you mean by that? Do you not have a family?

Caterina separates her arms and leans forward.

Artemisa: No, I do not have one!

Artemisa hurries to answer; she is clearly lying and Caterina knows it. Caterina narrows her eyes while remaining leaned forward and with her hands on her waist.

Caterina: Mmm! I do not know whether to believe you.

Caterina: I do not know much about gods, but I once heard of a goddess who had a name similar to yours.

Artemisa joins her hands, intertwining her fingers. She moves them a lot, clearly nervous; the goddess closes her eyes and maintains a fake smile on her face.

Artemisa: How interesting! I bet it was about a poor, misunderstood goddess.

Artemisa begins to hum a melody. Caterina narrows her eyes even more.

Caterina: What did you say your name was? Artemisa or something like that... And you say you do not have a family?

Artemisa stands up and opens her eyes; then, she places a hand on Caterina's back.

Artemisa: Forget that name, you can call me Diana.

Caterina pulls away from her quickly.

Caterina: Aha! I knew it, you are that goddess!

(Artemisa's thought: But how foolish I am, that is the name by which I am most known here).

Artemisa: That does not matter, I want to be with you.

Caterina takes a step backward.

Caterina: But why?! I do not understand what you want from me.

Artemisa walks toward the window and places her hand upon it. Caterina observes her as she moves. The deity looks outside.

Artemisa: You would not understand. It is more complicated than you think.

Artemisa turns to look at Caterina. The window opens by itself and the wind enters the room; the goddess becomes small and flies away, leaving the place. Caterina runs toward the window and leans with her hands looking outside, while her hair waves with the wind.