The red convertible twisted up the hill, the gentle hum of the engine soothing the acheing head ache I had gotten from lack of sleep the night before.
A tingle shot up my spine, unfortunately not going unnoticed by the guy sitting next to me. He stared at me with sky blue eyes, using his peripherals to steer the chariot through the gravely road.
"Rachel, I…" I didn't let him finish his sentence. Instead, I flung open the cherry red doors and slammed it shut, falling behind the car for a few seconds as I continued up the hill.
I felt my eyes start to tear up, and I hugged my messenger's bag tighter to my side and my right arm tighter across my stomach. The salty liquid dripped from my chin as a silent sob racked my body. The light, drizzling rain cooled the lingering fire that was biting at my arms and legs.
Up ahead, the pine tree came into vision, with Peleus wrapped around the trunk. The dragon had grown since I last saw him, and his head snapped up as I approached. Almost dog like, the giant reptile leapt up to greet me, and with a long forked tongue, he locked the salt off of my cheeks.
I smiled at the beast, patting his rough snout and whispering words of affection into his scales. It always surprised me how friendly Peleus acted around me. Then again, I was the only person to ever even approach the monster without a sword and or slab of meat.
In the distance, I heard a muffled shout. Turning to see who made it, I made out the face of Annabeth, carrying her signature celestial bronze dagger and a shield with an owl engraved in the metal.
I waved a hand at her, using my other to wipe the remaining tears away from my puffy, red eyes.
As she drew closer, she dropped her shield and put her dagger in her shoulder holster and gave me a quick hug.
"Oh my God's, Rachel! It's so great to see you!" she pulled back, a kind grin on her tanned features.
"Come on, let's get out of the rain." She led me passed the pine tree, and after a quick goodbye to Peleus, down the hill and into the boundaries of camp. As per usual, the weather was nice and sunny, the clouds parting around the borders like curtains around a stage.
We hopped the steps to the big house two by two, and walked towards the table where Mr. D, Chiron, and Apollo were sitting, engaged in a game of Pinnochle.
A Satyr was chewing loudly at a tin can in the doorway to the porch, watching the game intently.
The Light God noticed me first, but adverted his gaze by pretending to be engrossed in the game. Chiron at least had the decency to greet me.
"Ah, our very own Oracle of Delphi! How nice to see you again, Rachel. I take it the family is fine?" I nodded absentmindedly, but couldn't stop glaring at Apollo. My arms tightened around my stomach.
My mind strayed to the night about two weeks ago from today, when I had been taken to Apollo's temple.
The fire spread until it covered every inch of skin on my arching body, filling every crevice of my being with warmth and pain and pleasure. Every wave of flame that shot up my spine made me want to stop this, and begin this a new at the exact same time, but the sensation wouldn't allow me to think…
I took a shaky breath as I recalled the memory. It was so clear and vivid, like it had happened yesterday and not weeks ago…
"Rachel?"
I snapped out of my stupor, and realized that everybody- except for Apollo, that it – was staring at me.
"Yes?" I said, finally prying my eyes from the deity and placing my gaze on the centaur.
"Er, I was just asking whether or not you would like to sleep in the guest bedroom." I was about to speak, but Apollo beat me to it.
"Actually, Chiron, if it's okay with you, I would like to stay for the night. Business reasons." He shot me a look with his cerulean eyes, and my heart skipped a beat.
Chiron looked surprised for a second, before turning to Dionysus for approval. He offered him a quick nod.
"I'm sure that can be arranged, my Lord. But unfortunately, that leaves Rachel in need of a place to stay. Hermes cabin is not suitable, as it has become way to crowded with the new arrivals." He stroked his beard in thought. Then, Annabeth spoke up.
"She can stay in Athena cabin, Chiron. It's only Me, Malcolm, Jack and Sean. The others are all on that training mission Percy set up with Clarisse, and It'd be nice to have another girl in the cabin." I could hear the irritation in her voice at the last part.
It could be pretty hard to spend that much time around boys.
Chiron nodded and said something more, but I wasn't listening. I was too busy staring at the god of the sun.
Annabeth must have caught my stare, because she grabbed my hand and started pulling me down the stairs and towards the cabins.
When we were a safe distance away, she asked me in a hushed tone, "Why do you keep glaring at Apollo?" My eyes hardened, and I answered her question as best as I could.
"All you need to know is that I might need to make a trip to Aphrodite cabin later on…"
oOo
I wished this could be easier. But the last time I had been in the Aphrodite cabin was during the few weeks I had left at camp last year.
Normally I wouldn't be caught dead with girls- and in this case, boys as well- like the Aphrodite children. But the year before I met someone who wasn't like the others. His name was Spencer Hollis, and he had pretty much been one of my best friends at this entire camp besides Annabeth and Percy.
He was probably the best person to talk about this certain issue. I mean, he was a son of Aphrodite who wouldn't go about flaunting my secrets and personal life with the other campers.
I stood at the door of the cabin, my fist hovering hesitantly over the wood. I debated whether or not to knock it.
If I didn't, I would face uncertainty the rest of the summer.
If I did, I might not like the answer to my curiosity.
Exhaling a quick breath, I rapped on the pink oak several times. At first, nothing happened. But the sound of muffled footsteps and voices came through, and the door opened. Spencer stood there, flipping his curly brown hair out of his face with a jerk of his head.
"Hey! Rachel. What's up?" He smiled a kind smile, and I noticed the face of Katie Gardner come up behind him.
"You must be Rachel! Everybody's been talking about you." My eyes widened. Was it possible that they knew about Apollo and me?
"W-what do you mean?" I asked, stuttering slightly, my voice portraying my fear perfectly.
"Just that everybody talks about how you're a mortal and the newest Oracle of Delphi! It's like, totally awesome."
I offered her a small smile, relieved that my secret was safe. For now, at least.
Spencer wrapped an arm around his girlfriend's waist and gave me a sheepish grin.
"What can I do ya' for?" he asked, and my cheeks heated up. This was going to be embarrassing.
I coughed into my sleeve, and was surprised to see flecks of red on the fabric.
My heart skipped a beat as I stared at the flecks of blood on my sweater.
The fear that had risen into my throat was interrupted by the sound of Spencer calling me back into reality.
I looked up, hiding the sleeve behind my back. Time to focus and leave the obvious health issues for later.
"Well, it's sort of a… private matter. Can we talk about this inside?" He nodded, opening the door a bit wider so I could enter.
The pinkness of the cabin didn't surprise me at all, and the soft sound of music from an iHome in the corner was providing a nice, soothing atmosphere.
I realized that nobody else was in except for us three, and couldn't help the smile that crept its way onto my face. Sometimes it was hard to believe it was even possible for two people to love each other as much as they did.
I heard Katie shut the door behind us, and Spencer sat me down on a bed beside his.
Katie sat next to Spencer on his bed, and leaned up against his shoulder.
"So, what's this private matter you want to discuss?"
I bit my lip, suddenly taking an interest with the wooden floor boards below our feet, which were, surprisingly, not pink.
I took a deep breath, and started.
"Well, Spencer, you are the only person I can tell this to due to the facts that you can help me and that you are my friend. Katie, as long as you only discuss it with Spencer, I guess I can tell you…"
They both looked intently at me, waiting to find out what horrible deed it was that I did to come to them for help.
I tried to appeal to the romantics inside of them so that they wouldn't take this the wrong way.
"Well, and I know this may be personal, but, I need the truth. Have you guys ever… you know… done it?"
Both of their faces turned crimson, but they nodded slightly. Gods, this was going to be hard.
"Well, that's sort of' why I'm here…" My cheeks reddened a bit.
Time to get this over with…
"I need a pregnancy test."
oOo
My eyes widened as I stared at the blue negative sign on the little stick.
I was, to say the very least, overjoyed. But the reason I didn't jump up the walls in happiness was because a small part of me felt…
Empty.
I shrugged it off and disposed of the test. Of course the Aphrodite cabin would have pregnancy tests. I mean, they were all about romance. Even in its truest form.
I shut my eyes, a small grin on my face. As soon as I did, I saw his face. Shivers ran up my spine, and I remembered the night once again.
The burning heat dulled to slight warmth as he collapsed to the bed beside me, whispering one thing that echoed through my mind like it would through a cave.
'I love you'.
And for some reason, I didn't mind.
A faint pain in my stomach brought me back to reality, and I clutched it with my hand tightly.
Wincing, I stepped out of the pink bathroom. I squeezed my eyes shut, and his face jolted into my vision, increasing the pain every time I even blinked.
It started to become too much to bare. I felt like I was being torn up from the inside.
And it was all because of his face.
The pain ran it's icy fingers across my nerves, and I thirsted for a certain warmth that I shouldn't even need.
I exited cabin ten, ignoring the questioning shouts from Spencer and Katie.
So, I did what any sensible Oracle would do in this situation. I sprinted away from the horseshoe of cabins, past the archery range and the volley ball pits, until I was running along the beach.
Collapsing in the sand, I clutched my abdomen in agony. His image danced behind my eyelids, and the thirst turned into a hunger. Tears streamed from my green eyes, and I let out a choked scream.
Help…
I thought, because I couldn't form the words to even speak out loud. And somewhere, somebody heard my silent plea for rescue. And he appeared before me in a blinding light, wrapping his arms around me. The freezing pain stopped and was replaced by a searing calm, his calm.
I sighed in defeat. It was impossible to escape his warmth.
The sounds of the waves at the shore was silenced as I faded out of consciousness.
oOo
I awoke in what I took to be a bright, bright room and to the sound of footsteps pacing.
My thoughts tried to place themselves, but the bare feet padding across the creaking floor distracted me from my task. I resorted to opening my eyes.
It was like lifting a thousand pound weight with your eyelids, but I did so after a few tries. I immediately wished I hadn't.
The room was familiar, with large windows with white silk curtains letting the sunlight through. The bed I was laying in was made of oak, much like the one I would sleep in the guest room at the big house. Almost exactly like that one.
I knew what that meant, of course.
I was in Apollo's room.
And the feet pacing across the floor in an almost worried fashion belonged to him.
I shot up from my bed, surprising the sun god into stopping his endeavor to burn holes into the wooden floor boards.
He started towards me, his china blue eyes filled with emotion, most of which I didn't want to identify. He stood above my frozen form, staring at me.
Much like when I would see his face when I closed my eyes, and how he was burned into my retinas, I couldn't help but think about that night. Only this time, he was here, and able to read my mind like an open book.
His breathing labored and quickened to match mine. I felt the fire as a blazing inferno now, devouring my entire body. I clutched onto the sheets with my searing hands, moaning as the sea of flames barraged wave after wave of pleasure into my skin.
I shut my eyes tightly with a gasp, clutching my stomach tightly. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. I cast my head downwards, feeling the hot tears flow down my cheeks. He put a hand on my cheek, and the warm blaze returned once again. But I pulled away.
And for some reason, I missed his touch.
I curled up into a ball under the soft sheets, sobbing softly under his prying gaze. I wanted to stop, but I couldn't, not with him here. The pain in my stomach had spread to my chest and lower abdomen.
Several minutes passed without us speaking. I had intended to keep it that way, but apparently he had other plans.
"Rachel, please, look at me." I didn't comply.
"Rachel, look at me!" his tone was commanding, and obviously he was trying to force me around. I hesitantly did so.
And suddenly, his memories flashed before my eyes like mine had for him.
The green smoke billowed out of my mouth like from a chimney, and my eyes glowed a piercing green. Apollo wrapped his arms around me to keep me still as I recited the words I had so desperately wanted to hear.
"The Oracle's God, of truth and light,
Will use the blindness of her own sight,
To give her a love that will never tire,
Engulfing her in an intimate fire,
And if flame is taken away without finishing the deed,
So will the last chance for the maternal seed,
For at the end of a summer beguiled,
The Oracle of Delphi will be with child."
I gasped as I awoke from my stupor.
The Oracle of Delphi will be left with child.
No. It couldn't be. The test had been negative. I wasn't pregnant. But that must mean that we were going to join again that summer.
"No, no, no, no, no. I will not. Not again, never again. I will never do that again." Tears fell down my face again, blurring my vision of the god before me.
"Rachel, this is not something you can avoid. I'm extremely sorry that this is happening-"
"No! Don't even think about saying you're sorry! I don't want your apology. I hate you."
He didn't seem angry as I screamed the last part out.
"You don't hate me." He said soothingly, taking my chin in his hand. The warmth returned, and I felt my stomach flutter.
He was right. I didn't. I couldn't hate him, no matter how much I wanted to.
How much I needed to.
Slowly, I stepped out of the covers of the bed and onto the floor. I was only inches away from him, and he stared at me with his deep, cerulean blue eyes. One, single thought passed through my mind, right when he was listening.
I love you.
And then I was gone, leaving my shoes behind.
oOo
The grass outside was nice and warm on my bare feet, the forest around me chirping and swaying in the wind.
I sighed, wiping the remains of salt from my cheeks.
For once, I wasn't crying, even though my heart was heavy with precipitation.
A heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders, and I was grateful to be free from it for the time being.
A cold pain shot through my lower body once again, and I collapsed against a young Juniper tree for support. A line from the prophesy floated through my head.
So will the last chance for a maternal seed.
If I didn't get pregnant that summer, I would never be able to again.
The maternal side of me needed this, while the common sense side knew that it was unavoidable anyway.
Suddenly, the tree I had been leaning on morphed, until I was being supported by a young tree nymph that had just melted from the bark.
She had burgundy hair that reached down to the back of her thighs, with a forest green knit cap on top of her dark skin, along with pair of distressed denim jeans and a My Chemical Romance shirt.
Setting me down against her trunk, she sat across from me, looking me over for wounds.
"I see you have yourself a bit of a problem." Her voice was kind and soothing, and she flashed a small smile.
"I mean, you seem too young for baby drama. Whoever this guy is, he must be pretty special for there to be a prophesy about him and you." If I had been drinking water, I would have spit it all out by now, all over the nymph before me.
"H-how do you know?!?" I stuttered, my eyes like saucers.
She gave me a sly grin. "Whenever someone even brushes against my tree, I can look into their conscious mind at that exact time. You wouldn't believe the stuff I know from humans just passing. By the way, my names Juniper, the tree."
I smiled at her, looking down at the ground through my propped up knees.
"I'm Rachel. Oracle of Delphi." She nodded at me, looking to curious for comfort.
"Now, tell me Rachel. Who is the person you are supposed to be with?"
I knew I shouldn't have told her, but something about Juniper made me feel safe, like she could be trusted. Also, it would be nice to share the burden with someone else.
I smiled wryly. "You may know him as Apollo, God of the sun." her eyes widened, and she gasped loudly.
"Holy shit!" I immediately jerked my head around to a shrub a few feet away, where the obscenity had been emitted.
Juniper stood up, yelling into the clearing. "Who's there?"
Another voice came from behind the bush, a girl's.
"Nice going, Percy. Way to be stealthy." It was Annabeth. For a second, I was relieved that it was her. Then I remembered Percy.
The two stood up slowly from the bush, Percy scratching the back of his head sheepishly and Annabeth crossing her arms tight across her chest. She looked a little hurt.
"Rachel! Why didn't you tell me? I mean, I thought we were friends…"
I looked over to Juniper, and I felt stupid all of a sudden. Why did I tell her, a strange wood nymph, about my current affairs? Why not Spencer or Annabeth? I wiped newly formed tears from my eyes.
"Why? Because I didn't want you to… to…" I couldn't finish the sentence. It hurt to much.
"You didn't want me to what?" she said, her voice bordering on annoyed, which she had no right to be.
"I didn't want you to think less of me…" my voice was barely above a whisper, and I started to step away from the scene. My bare feet padded across the grass almost silently as I started to run. And then they became slightly more noticeable as I started to sprint.
They kept on going, as I didn't start to slow down at all.
oOo
I awoke once again in the bright, bright room, the faint blue of morning nipping at the edges of the silk curtains. I didn't remember how I got here, but I did remember running for hours, until it became too dark to even see three feet in front of me.
By then, the pain in my stomach had grown out to every part of my body. I recalled coughing up a large amount of blood, and due to the slight specks of red on the sheets over me; I had done it recently as well.
I cursed in ancient Greek.
How could this be happening to me?
Friendships, my entire life was crashing down around my feet, and there was nothing I could do about it.
What would I do when my father found out about me being pregnant? My mother? The rest of my family? Would they even care? How would I explain to them that my kid would be a fucking child of Apollo?
Tears stung at the corners of my eyes. I was scared, more scared than I had ever been.
A warm hand on my upward facing left shoulder reminded me of the god in my presence.
I turned my head slowly towards him, my tears staining the clean linen below my head. He leaned his head down, and kissed my forehead lightly. The skin around his touch sparked with the same burning feeling I had felt at his touch. Carefully, I tilted my head upwards, letting his lips once again come in contact with my own.
I pulled away. A kiss was all I wanted it to be, but heat was becoming too much. I could barely think straight, much less stop as he planted kisses down my neck and onto my collarbone. I let out a choked moan, trying to get him to just stop.
Finally, I mustered enough will power to just push him off of me, and once again, I was gone before he could even say anything.
oOo
I hope you like it so far. :)
