APOLLO

I caught an apple from the nearest tree and took a good look at it. It seemed fresh and harsh. The shade of blood felt all over it. She would like it.

But the brute cut my steps back to the temple.’’Tell me’’His sword was around his waist. I smiled at him softly and that made him even more furious.

‘’What is your game?’’

My game? I did not speak as I was still holding the apple close to me.

‘’You are no peasant that is for certain. ‘’He kept talking. ‘’Or a priest so what-’’

I took a deep breath and put the apple right in my bag.’’I am a simple healer coming to see what this place gives.’’I started walking on his side but I stopped as strange footsteps echoed in my ears.

‘’You think that this lie works on-’’ Adamantious tried to speak but I covered his mouth with my hand. He kept resisting so I hushed him and he slowly understood.

In the nearest bush, there was a man dressed in white and gold, trying to hear everything from us.

The brute nodded and pulled himself away as we both watched the hidden figure now fleeting.

‘’What do you think?’’I suggested with a smile.’’Shall we follow him?’’

He replied with a heavy narrow but it was clear that he wanted to follow him too.

I patted his shoulder and I guided him to the forest.

‘’What is…’’The brute stuttered as I showed him my new disguise. For him, it might look simple by wearing makeup, making my body just more slimmer, and putting my hair in colorful ribbons. In truth, I had to use more energy than I imagined to make this body look like a woman. I wrapped myself with a dark cloak and I tossed on more to the brute’s face as he grabbed it before it even fell on his face.

‘’How did you…’’His cheeks started flashing.

‘’Come now dear do not be shy’’I winked at him and jerked my face to the side where the man went. ‘’Let’s go.’’

The road to follow the man seemed to be very quiet. I was trying to win paces while the brute was still behind me, walking slowly. So I stopped to turn to him.

‘’It i just a disguise’’I frowned.’’No need to be so shy.’’

‘’You said that you are a healer’’He trembled.

I simply nodded.

‘’Can you heal poison?’’ His light eyes stared at me with fear as I could feel something aching on my chest.

I opened my mouth but then shut it fast. He knew about her being poisoned?

‘’Or slow the process, anything, any herb.’’

‘’There is no herb in the world to cure poison,’’ I admitted.

I could simply heal her hand and it would be over. But Themis had warned me too many times.

‘’Yes but maybe you can find a way..’’

He moved to my side and I halted him. ‘’I am sorry’’Why did my voice begin to shake? I faced that brute man whose expression was drenched, panicked with fear and worry.

Why did I feel so weak?

‘’She is strong’’I tried to lie to him.’’She might survive it, have faith in her and Apollo’’The last word made my entire mouth bitter. And as we kept walking Adamantious laughed.

‘’She would hate those words.’’

I pouted and turned to him.’’Hating the gods so much?’’

‘’Well, she was found in a burning temple of Apollo and after that, she was forced to work as a servant to a temple of Ares. For years she was praying for a sign of him only for..’’He made a long pause. ‘’She doesn’t despise them, she completely denies their existence.’’

A burning temple of mine? So she was actually devoted to me before? Was it the followers of Ares who burnt the temple or…

‘’What about the scars on her face’’I pointed my own clear face.’’Where those from an attack or.’’

But Adamntious shook his head.’’I do not know when I first met her she simply had a wounded face. Maybe the archpriest of Ares hurt her face or she had it from an accident. but I do not know.’’

I blinked and let out a humming sigh.’’So you have known her for a long time’’I faced the sky.

‘’Yes, we have been close with her ever since we were children.’’There was a soft laughter coming from him. ‘’She always had a way to cause trouble for all of us and yet she tried to protect us when she was taking the blame. But even when punishment was coming she always found a way to escape it’’

His smile suddenly disappeared. ‘’She escaped the end so many times but…’’

‘’Why do you stay with her?’’ I asked him gently.

His eyes darted and he was ready to spit out words that I knew were lies.

‘’Do not say that you love her.’’

He cut off his words.’’But I do, she is wonderful and she has done everything for me and my sister’’

So that was it? Gratitude?

His smile began to disappear. ‘’We were just sixteen back then. She had that light in her gaze, a pure smile. Everyone could fall so easily for her. I did.’’One smile once more before it faded so instantly. ‘’But one day’’His voice suddenly broke.

One day? What happened that day?

But Adamantious snapped and he stopped talking to me. Like it was not my job.

We found an open valley with a temple standing at the top of it. Unlike mine temple of course this was actually sculpted and treated in perfect condition. The golden statues were shining with the light, the columns were pearly white and all of the followers seemed devoted perfectly. But then, I saw the sculpted eagle at the top of the temple.

I let out a heavy narrow.’’Of course’’I muttered. Even like that, I cannot hide from him.

The brute took a step in front of me and tried to push me near the bushes.’’Stay here and I’’

I held his hand.’’Listen, you are cute, you have made an oracle fall for you’’I moved around him until we both shared a glance.’’You are such an idiot. ‘’I took a deep breath and turned to the temple. What would happen if I went there? Will my father see me? Will he even notice me?

‘’Stay here, I will need a strong backup, got it?’’I asked, patting his shoulder. He glared at me with a heavy pout before giving up with a groaning ‘fine’.

With that, I smacked a kiss on his right cheek.’’Good boy.’’ And I started rushing away, watching the brute’s face getting red.

As my face was covered with a cloak, I flickered my fingers, trying to make my hair and eyes change color. The moment I took the first step on the stairs I simply wanted to disappear. The pressure on my skin was as harsh as a million arrows pierced all over. I could feel each scream I could get out of my lungs. I could sense each part of my organs wanting to explode. But I had to keep moving.

The statues inside were painted and once again in perfect condition. People all over were praying with the scent of peonies and oak being smoked all over the building. Forced my knees to sit on the cold floor as my ears managed to get used to the sounds. The whispers, the candle burning smoke moving. And somewhere behind all of this.

‘’I am sorry they noticed me.’’ A pathetic voice cried.

‘’Did they follow you?’’ Another familiar annoying voice.

‘’No Dion I checked.’’Lied terribly to the man. ‘’But I found nothing about her. Everything seems…real.’’

‘’And I am telling you she is not I have seen women like her, trying to trick innocent people.’’

Well, I could agree with him on this part.

‘’What about the snake?’’ The follower asked.

‘’What about it? We will kill it and burn it to the Solstice.’’

What? My chest started shaking with a silver eagle falling down to the window and watching me with a…Was that eagle smiling? I could not tell. Was this all part of his plan? Did he actually try to send one of his sons here to kill my child? All this for what? For a misunderstanding?Or for what happened years ago?

Pain started growing at me as I let out a pathetic sound out of my mouth. People started moving on my side but I wanted them away. Do not look at me, foolish people. Do not look at me like that.

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When I was still a few decades old, when Artemis was still far from meI decided to sleep in a valley. It was so beautiful with the sun falling down to my skin, making me feel warm. Mortals were playing music in the valley while I was dressed in a mortal form. None was interested in me. I could stay like this forever. None would look for me. None would care.

But then, the ground started shaking. The earth erupted, and my eyes opened only to find a snake the size of a mountain. His dark coils glistened with the light as if night was trying to catch me. Right from his mouth there was a purple liquid dripping down to me.

And suddenly I could feel everything inside me shake.

I heard people trying to get out, mortal crying. But he was looking at me, staring at me.

‘’Who is that kid?’’Someone asked, trying to call me.

I swallowed harshly before I spread my fingers open and a sharp bow appeared in front of me.

Clever spawn of Zeus. The snake growled and his strange eyes seemed to narrow. Hera was right about you.

I gulped as he told me those words and then, his mouth opened wide.

‘’Hey.’’ A voice tried to reach me. ‘’Hey’’Again.’’ Get up peasant this is no place for sleep.’’His words at me were harsh, that was for certain.

‘’Not now brother’’I said, slapping someone’s face. But instead of leaving me alone, they dragged me by the cloak. Well, opening my eyes now I could see Dion glaring at me.

‘’Do I…know you?’’He asked.

Right, different hair, eyes. And women.

‘’I am so sorry’’I gasped, realizing that I had passed out. But the man kept staring at me.

I had to think of a lie. ‘’I just wanted a sanctuary here and…’’

They couldn’t hurt me if I asked that right? Not here at least.

But the man kept studying me from head to toe until he tossed me to the ground. ‘’Take her away.’’ His lips made a snarl of disgust. ‘’This temple is not for people like her.’’

‘’Hey’’I shouted, letting my normal voice pitch. And Dion noticed it. Taking a look around the full temple he let out a whisper on one of his followers. ‘’Take him out and deal with him properly.’’

They actually dragged me to the opposite side of the temple, with one more push to the dirty ground.

‘’Alright’’I shifted back fast on my previous form. ‘’Stop ruining my clothes at least.’’

‘’Well’’The man laughed and revealed his sword to me.

I replied with a disappointed frown.

‘’What?’’The man mouthed dry.

‘’You will kill me..here? With the crowd inside?’’

He kept his silence before he took a deep breath and dragged me by the hair, lifting me up and still holding his sword but this time he knocked my head with it.

I could stop him so easily. If I had the power. But I had it. I had the strength to stop him. Then why did I not?

Opening my eyes now, I could listen to the heavy flow of the river right behind me. My eyes were right in front of it staring at the cold water with the destination being a heavy waterfall.

Looking to the other side, I found that Dion was grinning at my sight. Ready as I was to attack, someone pulled me from a tightrope back before pushing me to the ground again.

‘’This won’t work’’I explained to him clearly but then more of them appeared.

‘’Oh, it is a simple demonstration.’’Dion laughed with his hand holding a crimson apple. With that glimpse I took I tried to reach around my clothes only to realize the apple I picked from before it was gone.

‘’It is a gift’’I rasped. ‘’And definitely not for you.’’

The stupid man laughed as he let the apple down. ‘’Then what are you going to give me for your life?’’

‘’I asked for sanctuary’’I reminded him.

‘’You are not worthy of a sanctuary.’’Dion lifted his jaw and kept smiling as I was struggling to break free from the rope.

Why couldn't I get out? Why was this happening to me? I looked up and saw the sun slowly falling.

‘’What is your oracle hiding?’’Dion asked narrowly and the man who was holding me tried to push me lower to the river.

‘’Nothing’’I lied. Why did I lie? I should have told him the truth. Why was I protecting her?

‘’Maybe he doesn’t know a thing’’The man said to Dion.

‘’Nonsense, the woman seems to trust him’’His eyes kept glaring at me. ‘’Push his head to the water.’’ He commanded.

I could breathe on it. I could not feel any pain. But after the twelfth time, it felt annoying. My hair was a mess, my eyes were dripping, my skin was far too cold.

‘’I won’t’’I gasped, letting drops of the waterfall into my mouth. ‘’Say a thing and I’’ I turned to Dion. ‘’I did promise that I have far worse plans for you didn’t I?’’

He was still sitting down with arrogance, back against the tree, and kept his prideful smile.

‘’Fine, ‘’He waved his hand. ‘’Drop him to the riv-’’

‘’Enough now’’A rough voice broke from behind him and a black blade touched Dion’s neck.

‘’This is getting annoying’’He grunted and turned on Adamantious who was getting out of the shadows.

‘’Let him go’’He demanded as he looked at me.

Dion kept himself calm. Surprisingly a bit calmer than I expected.

‘’He is one of us, let him go,’’ Adamamntious commanded again.

Dion now narrowed disappointed as he moved his finger and the other man pulled me far from the river.

Cutting the ropes of my limbs, I moved closer to the archpriest of Zeus.

‘’Thank you, love.’’I winked before taking one more step and returning back to him with a harsh kick on his face.

Turning back I saw Adamantious trying to restrain his grin.

‘’Come now, I know that you wanted to do that too.’’

He shrugged as I followed him.’’Well, he is a pain.’’

As we kept walking I heard another order from the man.

Shoot them.

‘’Head down’’I whispered to the brute who quickly followed the orders. Everyone on each tree was an archer, ready to shoot. Ready to attack us.

The words of a king do not work.

The laws of ‘Father’ seem pointless to them.

And I am the one to get punished for it? Treating someone like an animal, someone who would require sanctuary. Treating me…Why was I so angry?

Take my head Themis I do not care.

‘’Stop’’I commanded them and every arrow fell to the floor before even trying to touch us.

Adamantious turned to me but I caught his hand. I tried to run faster than the followers who were still after us.

Hiding now in the bushes I managed to catch a heavy breath, watching the sun slowly falling. Adamantious kept panting and he tried to look at me.

‘’What are you?’’

I laughed mockingly and tried to think of a lie. Or at least to cover the truth.

‘’I am many things love what do you want-’’

‘’Are you here to hurt her?’’ His voice was heavy with emotions even if he tried to restrain them.

I blinked and touched my neck slowly. Each moment I was there the pain, the end, the consequences were so near.

‘’I do not care if you are a prince, a nymph, or even a God.’’He answered to me.’’Tell me you won’t hurt her.’’

Stupid brute. Do you really think that your begging would make any difference? I will hurt her, and I will enjoy it. She will endure her future as it was always meant to be.

‘’I would never dream of it’’I lied with a grin and finally stood up from our hiding spot. The brute followed and kept a gaze filled with anger. Then, he drew his sword.

‘’Come now I told you I ‘’

As he swung the sword on my side, I dodged by lowering myself and I heard a scream. But it was not any familiar voice. Turning back I saw a frightened follower of ‘Father’ who had fallen on his knees with a dagger next to him. His trembling hands tried to reach it but I kicked it fast far from him.

‘’We are supposed to be safe for the next moons correct?’’I turned to the brute and nodded.’’Yes, none of the temples shall attack each other.’’

‘’But they tried to kill me’’I gasped dramatically. ‘’Twice.’’

‘’I actually tried to hit you a little too’’Adamantious frowned and I nodded back. ‘’Nobody is a perfect friend.’’

I clapped my hands and kneeled down as I could the man perfectly. Then, leaning to his ear, I whispered.

‘’Have you ever tried to actually kill someone? Feel someone’s life in your hands’’I took a deep breath as I could listen to his fast heartbeat. ‘’Oh, it is the most wonderful thing when you can control someone’s life. It only took a simple’’I made a long pause when my fingers found his heart. And then.’’ Push.’’ For a second, his beat stopped. His eyes darted and kept looking at me. Yes, that's how you are supposed to look at me. That’s your place. I stood up and the man started breathing again before passing out.

I leaned up on Adamantious’ side and tried to breathe with my head becoming even heavier.

Dammit Themis, let me have fun at least.

‘’What did you do to him?’’Adamantious asked.

I tried to jest and smiled at him. ‘’You know few threats.’’

He kept looking at me as we were now walking far away. I could see the sun keep falling and I tried to rush away from him. But he seemed to be paying full attention to me.

‘’Here’’His voice echoed and I could sense something moving on my side. Turning back I caught whatever it was falling to my side fast and then I saw it. A red apple.

‘’Dion took one from you right?’’He jerked his head, showing the nearest apple tree.

‘’You know that I wanted to give it to the Oracle correctly?’’I smudged.

He rolled his eyes but he moved even closer to me. As if he was trusting me. Was it because I kept my mouth? Was it because I tried to save him or that I lied that I would not hurt that woman?

‘’You really love her,’’ I looked up to the sky and then at him.’’ Don’t you?’’

He let out a small nod. ‘’It is so easy for someone to fall for her’’He turned to me.’’What about you?’’

A memory of both of us being drunk in Perseus' home appeared. Her eyes glared at me as she was right above me, her breathing heavy, her heart pounding like a mythical memory. But I could not say those things to him even if he had a beautiful expression. So I tried to think of something else at that moment. Her hair was stuck on her forehead, her breath was stinking of wine. While I was looking at her piercing gaze my hands…

‘’She has soft thighs’’I muttered out loud and he stared at me with an idiotic look. I pouted and showed my empty hand as I was trying to squeeze something.’’Like figs’’

He rushed to me and grabbed my apple back. I let out a small scoff. ‘’It’s a joke, It’s a joke.’’I tried to lie but his cheeks had turned once again red.

So easy to tease.

‘’I mean you are already close to each other, aren’t you? You understand what I..’’

He pushed my head down and I could not stop laughing. His expressions became more ridiculous than before as we both kept walking to the same destination.