The clang of the brass doors distracted me from the sight of Ares, and I pulled away to stare at the sudden entrance.
"Apollo, lord of the sun, archery, and music." The satyr that had introduced us earlier casually waved his hand, as if the entrance of the god was meaningless.
"Dear son, what makes you bide your time?"
"Why driving the sun, father." The boy had blonde hair that seemed to glow amber, with bright green eyes that stared teasingly at Zeus. "Did I miss something?"
"Yes, the crowning of the new goddess!" Zeus seemed irritated. "You must be punished for missing such an event. Hmmm…" Zeus stroked his beard and looked up at the white ceiling quizzically. A goddess with light blonde hair hidden by a gleaming bronze helmet rolled her eyes. "I know! You must dance wit the new goddess!" Gregorious stiffened against my leg as Hades sat a little taller. Then the familiar, harsh voice of Ares rang out.
"With all respect, father. Such a thing should be an honor." I couldn't help but drop my head as color crept into my cheeks.
"Then maybe you, Ares, should lead Antalent in the last dance?"
"With pleasure." Hot breath tickled the back of my neck as Ares suddenly appeared behind me.
"Ho! Brother! If she dances as well as you claim, then I shall lead!" I gasped as the light boy seized my hand and pulled me out onto the floor. Must they always be so rough?
"You're the great Apollo?" I said the phrase with slight mochary. I hadn't expected the god of archery to be a mere boy.
"Watch your words, for they might result with fear." Apollo dipped me suddenly down to the floor, and my skull rested a few inches above it.
"Oh! Don't do that!" I clung even more to his tunic than I did Ares. HE only smirked down at me.
"Why? Most shadows rest on the ground." I whimpered through the rest of the dance, never once opening my eyes. "The dance has stopped." I jerked away from the grinning god; but I was far away from grinning.
"You think you're so clever! Blah!" I silently sent shadows to curl around his ankles and up his legs. "What happens when sunlight is blocked, I wonder!?" Instantly they consumed him, creating Apollo into a whirling mass of darkness, searching franticly for some light. "It's not fun. Is it?" I willed more shadows to consume him. "Tell me, great god, have you had enough?" I knelt next to the broken dark figure of Apollo.
"Antalent! That is enough!" I jerked my head up at Hades, who was glowering down at me with a fierceness I feared my whole life. It seemed that all the other Gods portrayed the same emotion. Instantly, the shadows dropped, and a slightly frightened Apollo stared up at me. I felt a pain of sympathy for him.
"I apologize, sun god." Resting my hand gently on his arm. "I shouldn't have done such a thing." I quickly stood and scrambled back to the gray throne, avoiding all the accusing eyes.
"Why did you do that?" Hades seized my arm and whispered in my ear.
"I couldn't control my anger."
"Well until you can, you are never to step foot into Olympus again! Whether it be a year or a millennium!" My father's voice could clearly be herd. Many heads turned to look, and I felt even more ashamed than I already have. "Gregorious! Come!" Hades turned around in a full circle. "ANTALENT!"
"I'm here!" I said. But it only came out in a windy whisper.
"So help me, Antalent if you don't show yourself I'll cast you into Tartarus!" Franticly I looked down, but only saw shimmering darkness. With as much force as I could muster, I willed myself to take true form. And yet then, my true emotions only made me seem a shimmering image of the host.
"Father, I'm here!" My cry was a whisper, but Hades was able to hear my voice and see my ghostly image. As he ushered me out through the gates, I had a strange feeling it would be along time before I ever stepped foot in Olympus, not that I wanted to.