Aaanndd...Chapter 2 is up.

She was the enigma that caused him the most pain. Not even Daphne, who had captured his love long before the girl was born, caused him to become so wretched and fearful for rejection, could compare to the pain this singular girl caused. He was perhaps the most ill-fated god when it came to love, and whether or not he could blame it on the dismal Aphrodite was a debatable hatred for the goddess. Though, to be honest, the whole Daphne incident could be traced back to Eros, and really Aphrodite had nothing to do with that particular incident in question. Eros had no right to poison his arrows of love with lead-tipped hatred. Sure, Apollo insulted Eros' archery abilities but it was understandable! Apollo is the most awesome of all archers! And so Apollo told Eros that, and Eros took revenge by poisoning Daphne's love for him.

Even the loss of Hyacinth was not as heart-wrenching as the loss of her. The Spartan prince who had claimed the affection of two gods, the better of the two, the Olympian Phoebus Apollo and a wind god, Zephyr. It was jealousy that caused the death of beautiful, precious Hyacinth.

The great Apollo had lost a precious lover to jealousy, and another to revenge. However this loss confused him. None of the other godly beings he knew felt anything towards the girl. And although he was a spiteful youth, at that time he was peaceful and agreeable. His own sister took the side of the maiden rather than standing by her brother. Poseidon took to the girl's defense; he was her father after all. Not only had he lost a lover (and he still wasn't sure why he had lost her so easily when he had almost succeeded where he always failed) but he also lost an uncle he was actually amiable with; it would be several centuries later for the pain to dull that Apollo could be within the eyesight of Poseidon again. He also lost the compassion and trust of his sister, Artemis. She had been repulsed with the actions of her brother, and as the Patron of Maidens, it was in her duty and obligation to protect young maidens from the fate her own brother had thrust the girl into.

He even told his sister, time and time and time, again that he didn't force himself onto the girl. He had always been a spiteful youth, pillaging as time wore on in his immortal form as an Olympian. However he did not force the girl into anything. Certainly, and he would never deny it, he did take the girl into his domain without her consent, however she did not once ask to leave the domain. She had nothing left in the mortal world; the "hero" Hercules had murdered her own mother, and she had no mortal companions, having lived a sheltered lifestyle. Even though she had no choice in coming into the domain, she had every chance to leave it, yet she never did. He didn't keep her locked up in chains and shackles. He allowed her to roam freely, keeping the Nine Muses as companions.

When she first arrived in his domain, she had been closed off and nearly catatonic. However with the assistance of his Muses, Apollo had opened the girl's vacant heart. She slowly but surely opened up and allowed him in. She was once again becoming the girl he had fallen for. She chose not to leave his side; she was the one who opted to remain by Apollo's side, for he was the one who saved her from herself, and when he was no longer there to keep the darkness away with his ever-constant light, she fell back into the shadows that had claimed her mother. It wasn't hatred towards Apollo that caused her death, or trauma over the experience, but rather the loss of her beloved.

She had been one of the few to respond to his feelings, and in doing so, had caused a fire to ignite within him. He was careful with her; passionate yes but he would never force himself on her or harm her. No, she was the enigma which allowed him to be a peaceful lover for a change; the virulent Olympian had finally found someone to remain by his side, to keep him grounded and in peace with himself. However he had lost her, alongside his twin sister. The loss of Persephone of the Seas was far greater than any lost lover before her; for he had truly loved the girl and was not infatuated with the lustful thoughts of a lover.

He had taken her from Delphi, away from her guardians who incidentally served the oracle who he controlled; he had stolen her away from the pain and agony of a world where her mother did not exist; he stole her from her own father, who she had only met once before yet was considered his favorite daughter; he had stolen a potential Huntress from his sister; but he had gained a love so profound and natural that Aphrodite had endorsed and applauded from the distance, taking the chance that the two lovers would work out and live happily.

Persephone is his lover, for now and for eternity. Though many may believe the falsities, based on is youthful experiences which none (including himself) were proud of, he knew the truth. He had never once harmed the girl, he only whispered sweet nothings into her turned ear. He allowed her to fall for him, as he fell for her. A love that came naturally and was lost too soon.

I lost my love far to soon,

the beautiful Persephone,

who I had loved and lost with such ease that it felt too destined to be true.

The girl who had won my heart, with beauty and personality,

so that I, Phoebus Apollo, hoped to wed the girl,

so that she would remain by my side for eternity.

Hopefully, in her next life, I will remain her ever-constant light,

so that I can guide her out of the shadows of the past,

and towards our shared love once again.

Yes; the story told with the assistance of Apollo. Hope you enjoyed it.