APOLLO

‘’She will live,’’ I told Adamntious and the rest of the women that the foolish girl had fallen asleep. Judging by the drink she had next to her, it had many mixed herbs as one of them being opium. I did not tell them that as they were already far too worried.

Then, I checked her arm, studying that the poison was already moving close to her shoulder. If that kept spreading…

Wait…why do I care? Maybe she will live long enough to see her ending. But then again..she had to leave.

‘’She will need rest for a few days’’I stood up, letting the ribbons fall from my hair, setting them free and taking notice of Thais’s cheeks turning slowly red.

I ignored her fast as I looked at her brother.’’You shall keep her company tonight’’I whispered and ambled outside.

‘’Wait’’Myrto caught me off.’’She cannot rest, what about tomorrow.’’

‘’Let people pray?’’I suggested.’’But she cannot give any prophecies.’’

Now, Alexious signed in disagreement. Everyone seemed to disagree with me.

What would happen if I killed them all now? One by one and the woman would wake up with blood in her room? Oh, she will be so…

‘’She has to rest’’I finally said once more. How could they not respect her being all tired?

‘’If she does not she will be far worse.’’Only scaring them could work. And yet it did not with Thais walking at me.’’You do not know what she needs’’She stated to me.

‘’I am a healer’’I reminded her.’’I am pretty sure that I know what she needs.’’

‘’She won’t like it.’’She kept talking.

I arched my brow, thinking of how naive the girl was. What this woman wanted did not concern me as she was already in a terrible condition. And now her little helper was telling me that she wouldn’t like to stay alive? Because she would rest?

She won’t like it. I mocked myself. She sounded just like my sister.

‘’He is right’’ Adamantious spoke up from behind, moving his hand and his sister’s shoulder.

‘’She needs to rest-’’

Thais backed his hand away and she stood now tall and almost rude.

Ultimately, they finally agree with Adamantious staying behind, sitting next to the woman’s mattress.

I love you. She said, over and over again. His gaze narrowed with a simple rose color dressing his face. His hand squeezes her wrist, his lips muttering a prayer to help her get better. How ironic. Praying to me to get her better.

And she kept smiling gently at him.

Of course, she did. And he loved her. Then why….

‘’Make them fall in love’’I shouted Aphrodite as I had her right in my hands like a pulp.

‘’He lost it.’’Artemis whispered to Ares. He answered with a hum. My cheeks flared and looked at them from below.

‘’They are certain in love,’’I explained and let Aphrodite sit on the tree.

‘’Unfortunately, something is blocking them.’’

‘’She is pretending to be a priestess’’Artemis explained.’’An oracle, a follower of yours…she does not have time for this.’’

Letting out a deep breath, I turned up on Aphrodite again.

‘’Come on now love, do something for me. Maybe your son can help us out?’’

‘’Our son’’Ares jumped to the conversation.’’Won’t try to help you out on your…’’

‘’What are you planning now?’’Artemis asked me and I fell right on the ground next to her and Aphrodite followed by flying.

They are in love, they both know it. It is in their eyes, in the tone of his voice, of their thoughts. Maybe they are even closer but something does stop them. A wall. What if the wall breaks? What if they end up closer and all so closer? What will happen if the brute suddenly doesn't love her anymore?

I let out a scoff.’’Love and desire is what destroys mortal lives.’’

Ares narrowed and turned to APhdite who was staring at him with her round eyes. And there was a smirk.

‘’You are right.’’He answered.

‘’What?’’ Me and Artemis asked in sync. He was agreeing with me? He lifted his heavy body and walked closer to me.

‘’The woman will lose by love.’’ He walked right behind me.

‘’But are you sure you want someone like…him to do it?’’ There was a flat tone.

Turning back, I scoffed.’’He is rude, loud, perfect for her.’’My shoulders rose.

Aphrodite answered with a nod. Ares kept smiling.’’But do you want her pain to come from him? Wouldn’t you like her to start falling for a more..’’

His hand found my shoulder.

‘’I tried to flirt with her’’I reminded him with a slap on the wrist. ‘’She did not fall.’’

‘’You tried to charm her and it did work’’Artemis now spoke, realizing slowly.

I stood up on my hooves and let out a small laugh. What was he thinking? Did he even think?

‘’Her, falling for me?’’I laughed all bitter.

‘’You have a reputation’’Artemis added with a smile. Was she agreeing with them?

‘’Yes sister he has’’Ares agreed.’’But maybe he is…afraid. Of falling too.’’

Not this again. Him thinking that I was falling in love? With someone like her?

But making her fall for me…That was something different.

Her gaze admires me, every time that I am even close to her. Her body trying to be near mine, her voice speaking my name, her lips.

‘’Fine’’I woke up from my dream.’’I will make her fall for me, I will make her mine until the end. No matter how she will end up.’’

And both of them looked quite satisfied.

But Artemis moved her hand on my shoulder.’’Brother as much as I…’’She made a long pause.’’Approve your plan…Do you believe you have time now?’’

I looked up at the night sky. Now with the time passing the nights will be longer, the time that I will be there will be far less, and…

‘’What are you suggesting?’’

Artemis’ shoulders rose and suggested the most insane words she could even say at that moment.’’Talk to mother’’

My lips parted and faced behind the idiotic couple who were staring at us confused. Right, they do not know.

I started walking far from them but Artemis followed fast.

‘’No’’I cut her off and she frowned.

‘’She protects the golden sheep now. She must have one of them to spare a thread, to make you invisible or-’’

‘’I do not need her help’’I growled at her. ‘’I never needed it.’’

That struck a nerve on her as she stared at me dead in the eye.

Artemis always cared for her. And she always cared for my sister. But as much as childish as it was…

I let out a deep breath and rested my forehead on hers.’’I will think about it.’’

She exhaled with relief with her hands finding my ear, and flicking it .’’Good.’’

The sun rose and I calmly started doing my job as I usually did. Cleaning the temple with a broom, and climbing to each statue to make sure my sculpted face was in perfect condition so anyone could see it. The first one to come out from their rooms was those two little brats.

As much as I tried to avoid them, they both dragged me to another room, telling me to prepare them breakfast.

‘’Here’’I tossed a loaf of bread to the boy and two figs to the girl. All three of them fell on the floor.

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‘’Eat them’’I commanded them and I tried to walk away.

At that moment, the boy grabbed me. by the dress, wearing his big puppy eyes.

‘’Please eat with us’’He pouted.

I raised my left eyebrow.’’Boy, is this the best you have?’’

I can remember myself even transforming into a fox, trying to make Helios pay attention to me while he was working on his chariot. Barking, swiping everything until he gave up and gave me his chariot to ride for the entire day. Unfortunately, it ended up crashing next to his sister's chariot, making the sun and the moon meet for a moment.

Now, the young girl coughed and turned to me with even bigger eyes her skin heavily scarred and her hair uneven making her look like a mut. And yet she spoke with such an innocent tone.

‘’Please…’’She stuttered.’’Eat..with us.’’

I looked at her and turned my head away, feeling the need to cry about how adorable she acted, reminding my little daughter.

‘’You win.’’

She let out a wide smirk towards the boy who was now trying to look away ashamed.

‘’Father never let me eat so much’’The girl said with her mouth full of honey and bread.

‘’Always loved your brothers more?’’I guessed, slowly eating one of the apples.

She nodded and took one more bite.’’He was always rough with me’’She admitted calmly. ‘’But my mother always tried to give me as much food as my tummy could bare.’’

‘’Hm’’I shrugged and looked at the boy who was staring at me, eating nothing from what I gave to him.

‘’Shoot your question.’’

‘’Are you married.’’

I coughed.

‘’You look in the age of being married.’’

I started laughing, feeling that I had choked on the apple.

‘’I am not no,’’

‘’You intend to marry?’’

Why was he asking those questions?

‘’Will you marry the Oracle? Is this why you are so close to her?’’The girl asked and the boy seemed to smile with eyes driven with hope.

‘’If he does’’He laughed.’’She won’t be an oracle anymore and she…’’

She won’t do any of this. Such a young brat did not like for that woman to act with that mindset.

Well, marrying her will make both her and me miserable.

I moved myself closer to the table.’’I believe in free love boy,’’

‘’Free love?’’His small eyes opened wide and a pair of steps approached us.

‘’Ignore him’’Thais spoke and turning to her I noticed that she had her hair down and she faced me with a strange, empty gaze.

‘’Ah, good morning’’I smiled, trying to take a few things from the sack to give them to that woman.

‘’Leon, ‘’She caught my moves with those sharp words. ‘’Go and bring breakfast to Adamantnious and the Oracle’s room.’’

The boy nodded and moved his hands all over, taking everything that he could find.

Then she ordered the girl to give breakfast to Alexious’ room where he and Myrto were…

‘’Ha’’I smirked with Thais sitting on the opposite seat of my table of mine.

‘’Myrto stayed in Alexious' room.’’I tried to irritate her. But she looked away, taking the pear from the table. ‘’Your Brother on the oracle and you..’’

A smile formed on her tired face. ‘’I did my assignments’’She explained.’’What about you?’’

I was plotting to either make your brother sleep with that woman or she could fall for me.

‘’Oh, I do not believe that you care.’’ I sort of blushed.

‘’I do.’’ Her voice became rough, with a pitch of force, trying to intimidate me.

Did she always speak like that?

Her face flinched and she stood up, trying to walk away.

I had to let her go, but this change of character took my interest. What happened to this flirtatious woman from before?

I grabbed her arm and pinned her slowly against the wall. Her eyes snapped, dressed in a sudden fear. What expressions are I making now? Oh, how wished this woman was now someone else. Her hair would be raven curls, scar upon her face.

I let her free to move, taking a few steps away.

‘’Forgive me’’I said to her and her fingers traced on the other wrist.

‘’For the past months’’She finally spoke dry.’’From the moment you came in people got wilder, they are starting to attack us worse than ever before and she got in such a terrible condition….’’

‘’Are you suspecting me now?’’I laughed wickedly.’’First your brother’’I moved near her.’’Now you…’’My fingers touched slightly her jaw.’’You came from the same tree…’’

Her gaze turned further from me.

‘’Tell, me is your type in women the same as his?’’

And then she turned once more on me. her heartbeat loud like an instrument.

How can everyone in this entire place be attracted to that mere woman?

‘’What is it?’’I asked her.

She blinked.

‘’Her beauty is reachable with and without those scars, she is loud, vulgar, insane…’’I kept rattling and noticed that she looked at me now even more curiously.

‘’I see’’She pouted and moved far from me, gesturing to follow her now.

People kept coming for prayers and trying to contact that woman. Even if Thais and Myrto explained that she could not speak today, people got upset, trying to give them more money to let them see her. And my flirting with them did not work this time. Their need for answers and hope was greater than lust.

That day, Adamantious and the woman did not leave the room. They had Myrto go to give them food and inform them of everything that happened that day. Thais decided that we would all complete the assignments that had been left.

‘’What is…this?’’I asked, pointing at the table that was far from the other rooms. There was a map-wide enough, conquering the whole furniture. Drawn by a piece of coal, Thais explained that she and her brother drew it representing the village. There were colorful rocks on different parts for each category they would need. Red stealing, black poisoning, white or gray framing…

It seemed that unlike me, the woman had a different strategy for them. Was it because she was trusting me more? Or that she did not want me to see this place.

I took the parts that had green rocks, representing anything about the healing. Thais and Myrto took the parts that evolved mostly from scamming and Alexious stayed behind and I took mine to do.

Sick animals, missing sheep sickness, sickness…

One of the trails ended up being at night, letting me stand in front of my son's cave.

And I held my breath, facing it confused.’’Who are…’’I tried to speak.

The next few days were the same. The brats were dragging me to make them breakfast before even finishing my job. Thais, Alexious, and Myrto, trying to make me feel interested in their conversation.

Prayers, complainers, over and over. A flirty gaze of some man or woman but what was the point if none could see me? Then, jobs at night for none to see how I was formed.

But with the time passing, the conversations felt bearable, making breakfast for them was not such a chore and the whines did stop. And yet, there was something empty. I started getting warmed up around those foolish mortals of hers. Olympians never have the time of actual enjoyment of conversation when everyone has hate for each other. The jokes were funny, the ideas were useful and I could not feel all so alone…And yet something was missing.

My dreams were always around her. At first, she appeared all so sweet and beautiful. It was nightfall, satyrs were playing music for the firelights to rise. I was sitting on a bush, created to be a great seat with blooming flowers and my lips and mind were drunk with Nektar and she was dancing around the campfire. Her dress was long in the shade of light purple with a dark belt wrapping tight her waist, exposing perfectly every detail. Her hair had fallen white flowers and her face was simply extraordinary with the moonlight reflecting every part of her harsh details.

Her movements were calling everyone around her, to follow her, to mimic her, to join her. And then, her eyes caught me. But instead of me moving to her, she moved to me. As if I was the one who was controlling her now. Her lips let out a smile with her hips sitting on my lap. Raven curls of hers falling close on my chest with her gaze being all drunk just facing me. I could just smile as she kept moving on me with her lips falling on my neck. Energy flowed all around me and I laughed, thinking that she was all there for me to wander. But the energy became sharp, cutting me from my neck. The pain grew so much with the night being covered by dark clouds. Another pain was found in my chest. This time, the woman moved her head back, exposing her lips that were drenched in ichor, her tongue trying to lick the fallen gold. Looking down I found a black dagger pierced in the middle of my torso.

My eyes darted as I tried to speak but the woman was smiling so beautifully with victory dressing her body. And my pain kept moving all over me, feeling everything break.

After five sunrises, I got to the kitchen first, expecting Leon and Drimaria to be there, waiting for me to give them breakfast. The brats were spoiled.

But instead, there was the woman, standing great, wearing a green dress and a white veil upon her face. Her lips were parted as her hands were cutting out bread with pomegranates being on the bowl next to her.

‘’Hello’’She smiled and looked away from me.’’I know, I shall get more rest but I am fine.’’

My eyes snapped open with the light of the sun dancing on her face. And I rushed right at her, embracing her tight.

‘’What are you doing?’’The woman gasped.

‘’Oh thank the gods’’I parted out, trying to look breathless. She had the scent of fallen leaves all around her beautiful curls.

‘’You are finally alright.’’I gasped out and I felt her heartbeat bumping against my chest.

‘’She wants to be a goddess’’ Thais admitted a week ago as we were standing on the opposite side of the temple. I arched my brow, feeling a sort of pinch on my chest.’’You cannot be serious.’’

‘’That’s what we said to her when she told us.’’There was a grin with her hands fixing her hair.

‘’We first stuck with her because we cared. We thought that she would die without anyone, sooner than later but…’’Her lips parted and turned on me with the wind becoming harsher.

‘’It felt that we wouldn’t be alive now without her. She did everything to keep us alive, took the others from worse danger than before…’’Another long pause.

‘’It sounds insane but for a moment I thought, what if is she actually a goddess? Surviving from everything all those years, taking people by her side…’’A laugh and tried to move away from me.’’So, we both stayed because again we knew we could not leave her, we loved her from the start, but we can only do from afar, like a…’’

She wanted this. People admire her, people love to look at her as if she was the only one that mattered. But if she was a goddess as Thais said, loving from afar was not enough.

I stroke a few curls of her, moving her even closer, letting myself feel her cold body. Oh, maybe Ares was right. I did want this. I wanted to embrace her so tight that I could listen to her heart beating like beautiful music. And yet in the back of my mind, I wondered what would happen if her lungs got all weak..will the music stop? I wanted her lips on mine and only mine until she would bleed. I wanted her to be all mine. I wanted to kill her, swallow her whole.

I moved back and I let out a fake stutter. Her eyes had snapped wide with a light moving on her green one.

‘’I am sorry I…’’I faced away all so acting in shame.

But she shook her head with her cheeks flaring red. ‘’No, I..’’She leaned her face down and walked slowly away with no full words coming out of her mouth. Finally, she fell. Her pain would be all mine. I could feel my chest tightening with just that thought.