Chapter Text
POV: Apollo
(between Ch. 12 and Ch. 13)
After speaking to Hector I close my eyes and leave with a flash of light. The air changes from the humid breeze of the mortal land to the familiar cool sensation I’ve grown used to in my years. I open my eyes and smile at the familiar sight of Olympus ahead of me.
I float lazily past the clouds and marble into one of the main temples. A nameless one just for gatherings and such. I follow the smell of iron, the sound of seafoam, the crackle of the hearth, and the familiar sound of arguing and drunken laughter bouncing off the halls. A charming smile settles on my lips as I float over to one of my favorite siblings and lean down. “Oh Dionysus, I know something quite interesting.”
The drunken god pauses in his laughter and looks over his shoulder. His hair messy and wild, his lips tilted up in a dazed grin as he squinted at me. “What is it that you know, my friend!” He slings his arm around my shoulder with a joyous laugh as he pushes his glass into my hands. The wine bubbles uneasily as Dionysus continues. “Come join us! Share what gossip you know.”
I take a sip from his glass. The wine is both cool and boiling on my tongue as I whisper to the drunken god. “There is a new prophecy. Our father has another daughter. Our uncles have bore sons as well.”
Dionysus chokes on the wine he was drinking. A mad laugh leaving him as he curls forward still giggling away. “You jest! Perhaps you are the one who’s grown mad, dear Apollo? Both our uncles bearing sons? The sea I can believe. But the one below? Oh you mean to fool me.”
I sit up straighter and laugh with a hand clapping against Dionysus’ back. “I speak no lie, friend. I’ve met the girl. I’ve seen her speak to the young men. Our eldest uncle harbors his son below, while our other uncle is unaware of his perfect image running about.”
Dionysus giggles a bit more as he lifts his glass to his lips and takes a slow sip. A delighted sigh leaving him as he peers up at me with a raised brow. “Well that is interesting.”
“Truly it is!” My head whips around to stare down at Hermes in surprise. His smile is mischievous as he flutters on his winged sandals. Leaning forward he trails his fingers along Dionysus’ glass. “Such an interesting bit of gossip.”
I stand up and stare down at Hermes as he continues rambling. “In fact it’s so interesting that I’m sure you would love to share it with the others! Rest easy my friend I can assist in just that!” My hands shoot out reaching for the swift footed god who swiftly rushes away. He ducks below my grasp and goes flying through the temple in a blur. I quickly grasp my bow and smack Dionysus on the back, spilling his wine. “Get up and help me, you drunk!”
He rolls his eyes but gets up with a laugh as the two of us go rushing down the halls. A blur of light and the sound of mad laughter chasing after the winged foot menace. I notch a bow and send it flying out towards Hermes; it just barely grazed him when the little bastard went swerving into one of the rooms.
We’re about thirty feet away and by time we’re turning into the room Hermes is whispering away to Aphrodite and Ares. The three fall silent for a moment before Aphrodite giggles and disappears in a burst of seafoam while Hermes rushes away to another room in the temple. Ares smirks before sauntering past me and Dionysus with a laugh before he disappears with the smell of blood shed.
I don’t pay those two any mind. No one would believe them without proof as much as they love gossiping. So I drag Dionysus along chasing after Hermes. Each room we follow the little pest into we end up a few moments too late as he whispers the news to any god there. Athena, Hestia, Demeter, Eros, even Pan.
Eventually Hermes comes into view again and I release another arrow. It pierced through his shoulder and hit the wall, splintering the marble as pieces fell to the floor. I rush forward and grasp Hermes’s neck tight. I feel the appearance he’s chosen flicker beneath my grasp as my knuckles turn white. The smell of burnt flesh beneath me makes my nose wrinkle as I finally let Hermes go. The human appearance the god us chose melts away leaving the mischievous true form fluttering about irritatedly. Hermes crosses his arms. “What was that for, friend? I only did my purpose.”
I squint at my half brother before sneering and aiming another arrow at him. “You know perfectly well I did not wish to spread the news just yet. We both know you did this just to pester me you insufferable little nuisance.”
Hermes mockingly places a hand on his chest and clicks his tongue. “Oh you wound me dear Apollo. I only meant to help. Surely our uncles and other friends should know the interesting discovery you’ve made. Unless you mean to hide such a thing?”
I open my mouth to speak only for it to snap shut when a voice I certainly did not want to hear speaks from behind me. “You mean to hide what from me and mine, Apollo?”
I turn around and my golden eyes lock with sea green. Wild raven hair moving as though he was in water rather than air. There’s both constant rage and endless calm in his gaze as I charmingly smile up at him. “Lord Uncle! God of the sea, it is wonderful to see you. You see me and Hermes simply jest! Don’t we Hermes…”
I wait for the god I caught to speak up only for silence to greet me. Turning back I feel the urge to tear at my hair and burn down a city when I see Hermes no longer where he was pinned. All that’s left is the arrow I shot dripping golden ichor off its tip. I clear my throat as I turn to look up at Poseidon who simply tilts his head. His hand tightly gripping his trident as he looks down at me. This is gonna be a long day.