APOLLO

Tall, young with dark brown curls. Lips painted in gold. A face filled with sins and a bright smile for him to wear on his bronze face. Fabrics so colorful as if they were gifted by the Goddess Iris. A great posture. Pretending that he was ruling the entire world.

Paris arrived in Sparta with gold and offerings to his hosts. Me and Aphrodite were watching each moment of his entrance to the ceremony and in his chambers.

Dressed like nobles we were now drinking wine in a corner.

‘’What do you think about my prince?’’Aphrodite smirked, taking a sip from her vase.

My brow arched as I tried to find the right word to say about him.

His eyes were stuck on Helen the moment he stepped into the palace. Eyes painted in hunger, in desperation to have her in that moment. If he had the power he would destroy everything to take her even if she was screaming. Even if she was crying back in Troy, he would be far too blinded to notice that it was not music that he was listening to.

I replied with a smirk.’’A tool,’’

The bronze man was being treated fairly with two beautiful servant girls bathing him, bathing his back with oils. Letting music of pleasure from his mouth he grasped one of the girl’s wrists, pulling her closer to his lips. The other tried to back away as he could listen to her friend’s giggles.

‘’No, stay’’I commanded her, entering the room in my noble form and Paris narrowed confused at me.’’Who are-’’

‘’I am a friend Alexandros’’I narrowed, letting my clothes loose, and entered inside the warm water. The servant girl rushed to my side, offering me wine and fruits as she moved her fingers back to the oils.

But Paris pushed his girl far from him. I let out another laugh.

‘’I can have them both I do not mind.’’

There was a smile from him.’’How can I resist you? Phoebus'’

I replied with a laugh and grabbed one fig from the plate as the woman was now rubbing my back.

‘’You are smart where it counts’’ I tried to complimented him

‘’She warned me about you,’’ He announced.

I tried to restrain myself as he was speaking so formally about me and Aphrodite. She probably had so much hope for that arrogant boy.

I took a deep breath backed away from the girl and looked at her gently, taking her fingers slowly to my lips.

Her cheeks flushed with the other girl turning into a pile of shame.

‘’You can now leave us alone.’’

Both of them nodded and rushed far from us, moving outside.

‘’Come on’’Paris laughed.’’I was not done with them.’’

But the young prince looked already so frightened with me. Such a beautiful expression.

‘’My…’’ I made a long pause.’’ ‘Father’ commands me to take your side.’’

‘’Take my side for what?’’Paris laughed with all his confidence that no one could stop him.

There he was inside a king’s palace, taking whatever he could find, ready to even take the host’s wife and he wondered what danger could happen.

What A foolish man, even with his charming sharp face.

‘’What can you offer me?’’I asked, taking a sip from the wine.

The young prince blinked and looked around.’’I can offer you temples, glory…’’His voice started to stutter.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

I have plenty of them. Glory so much that if it was raining I could bathe with it for centuries.

‘’Maybe you are right’’I stood up and his eyes fell right between my legs as I moved away slowly with a smile.’’Maybe you won’t need my help.’’

‘’Wait…’’He swam to my side and he grabbed me by the leg. For a mere second, a slight rage fell on my body, making Paris’ flesh burn.

His face is now painted in pain and despair. He will die either way without my help. Why am I here? Why did he send me to failure?

‘’I will make everyone…’’Paris rasped.’’Remember your name. Glory greater than Zeus’-’’

My hand slipped out of his mouth and I pulled him closer to me, letting light spread to my entire body.

How low was he thinking of the gods? Just because they asked him to choose…that he is equal?

Tears dropped from his face as he panted and got on his knees.

‘’I have..a sister.’’He blurted out. ‘’A priestess, she is as beautiful as the day.

‘’Enough’’I barked at him and fell right back into the water.

I let out a wisp of breath and walked out clothed for the servant girls to watch me all intrigued.

I replied to them with a smirk and I let my fingers rest on one of their chin, commanding her soul to lean closer.

‘’Now what did you list-’’

‘’My lord.’’ A young voice called me from behind. Turning irritated back, I found a beautiful young man with piercing eyes staring at me, ready to judge me.

I laughed back and showed the girls.’’Care to join?’’

His brow arched and I let out a disappointed groan. Moving far from them I could still listen to their whispers and the man kept staring at me.

‘’You didn’t need to frighten him like that.’’ Aphrodite’s voice came out from her form.

‘’You shouldn’t try to warn him about me’’I judged her.

‘’But he would give you anything to have you’’She smiled underneath her clean beard and looked at me confused.’’Why were you treating him like that?’’

I stopped walking and turned on the wide window.

‘’I do not know…’’I answered.’’I do not understand it.’’And my gaze turned back once more. to the servant girls.’’I will be quick’’My lips formed a smirk as I kept walking further and further.

Her brow arched and she moved further away from me.’’Enjoy your desire.’’

‘’You can join too’’I added with a smile but instead, she vanished.

What was her deal now?

+++

No, no, no… I wept with the fallen man staring at me with no light in his gaze. No heartbeat, no breath, no moving.

‘’What is.’’Harsh liquid fell from my eyes and laid down to his dark face. No reaction. As much as I tried I simply could not…I could not save him.

‘’What is this?’’My voice broke.

‘’Death.’’ A sharp voice echoed behind me. Turning slowly back I found Hermes standing all tall as he was moving slowly at me. And he leaned on his knees, trying to touch his eyes.

‘’Stop’’I commanded him.’’He cannot, he will not.’’

He kept silent and I kept crying. Why was I hurting so much?

‘’When he will get buried’’He mouthed. ‘’I will take him.’’

I shook my head. He could not. I would not let him. I embraced the man tight on my arms and my lips began to chant.

Light flickered from the ground with the man moving even closer to my body.

‘’Apollo stop!’’Hermes shouted and the earth started shaking.

‘’You will not take him,’’ I growled. The wind getting harsh around the forest

‘’He is mortal.’’He reminded me dry.’’There will be plenty of others.’’

A pair of hands were pulling me far from him, trying to make him let go. But I just kept chattering.

‘’You cannot stop it.’’He let out a spat.

‘’He is not buried.’’I rasped and turned on him with all of my force, pushing him far. I looked down at the man who was slowly dressed in gold.

I want him to live. I want him to live. I want…When I stopped speaking, the mortal man was no longer flesh. In the place where his corpse was once, there were flowers in the shade of purple. My eyes twitched and started digging my fingers into the dirt. Imagining that he was somewhere. Hiding, anything.

And the pain kept getting worse to worse.

‘’What did you do?’’I cried at Hermes.

And he let out a breath. ‘’Do not blame me for this.’’

I stood up and grabbed him by his dress, pushing him now down.’’I want him alive. I need him alive.’’That sharp pain kept growing more and more. ‘’He has to live.’’