The next day I hurried through my responsibilities. I could not wait to see Laura tonight. I wondered if she had thought about my hint. The poem, the arrow, all of it, I wondered if she had figured it out yet.
I thought it was obvious who I was through the hints but my brother's kids weren't exactly known for their brains. Not that my crowd was a bunch of scholars either.
I made it to the Camp some time after dinner. I parked my chariot in my usual spot in the forest and walked down the beach. I was going to try and catch Laura as she made her way out of the pavilion.
I was saved from the long, and undoubtedly tiring, walk, when I saw a girl with long black hair, half pulled back, come jogging down the dunes. I smiled at her as she came closer to me. She slowed slightly as she came closer, but she kept moving.
"Hey, sweetheart," I greeted falling into step next to her.
"Hi." She said. Her foot slipped and she started to fall. I quickly grabbed her arm, mostly out of instinct. Again, her life flashed before me. The waves of color and emotion slammed into my mind. The crimson came sooner this time. Her time of peace was running short.
"So did you get my hint?" I asked to cover my vision. She nodded.
"I've given it some thought, the poem, arrow, and glow of it suggest something to do with Apollo but you weren't with the cabin all week, and none of them know anyone who goes by Fred anyway. Are you a god?" I smirked. She was so close it was almost painful.
"You only guess that because I am too handsome for a mortal, but you are right, I am in fact a god." She scowled. It was a weird expression to see on such a young face. It didn't really fit her small stature and delicate features.
"No, I knew I was right because no mortal, demigod or not, has as big a head as you." I scowled, for a moment, filling with anger. Then I saw how scared she looked and felt immediately guilty. I wasn't here to scare her. I didn't want her to be afraid of me.
I laughed, or rather, I tried to break the tension that had for,ed between us. Laura visibly relaxed at the sound.
"My sister says that often actually," then I let out a string of profanity. I hadn't planned on letting so much slip. Laura smiled, evilly, if you ask me.
"You just said sister, right?"
"Possibly," I groaned. I could practically hear the gears in her mind whizzing.
"You're Apollo, aren't you?"
"Took you long enough," I grumbled. "I mean is it really that hard to believe that I am an all powerful being."
"Actually, it kinda is when your in this form, you kinda look like my brother did," she shrugged. Then she frowned, looking distant. The thought had obviously lead her to a dark place.
"You're not the first person to say that," I said, remembering the time after the war that Hermes could barely look at me in this form without needing to visit his living children. I wondered if Laura remembered that time.
"So, ummm..." she said, trailing off. I could see that she was unsure how to continue after the last piece of information.
"Hey, just call me Apollo, sweetheart?"
"Alright, Apollo. Why are you trying to get to know me?"
"Life's been boring lately, so I decided to make some mortal friends," she raised her eyebrow at me.
"There was just a huge prophecy not two days ago, and from the sounds of it, it refers to a child of yours, and, not to be rude, but whenever gods make mortal friends there's a new demigod running around nine months later..." She trailed off looking uncertain. She was right about the prophecy but it was something I really, really didn't want to worry about.
"Well, one I am the god of prophecy and I already know what will happen, at least to an extent," she opened her mouth to interrupt but I continued on. "No, I won't tell you. And second it's illegal for anything to happen between us, so no worries you won't become a teen mom, at least I wouldn't be my fault, I just want to see what mortals are really like."
"Alright, so why me?"
"Well, I can't like you more than a friend so that helps the whole 'hanging out with mortal girls without sex' thing easier. You seem pretty cool, not as cool as me of course, but still. Plus, your dad told me to stay away so it was kind of an invitation to hang out."
"Yeah, he told me not to talk to you, now I know why," She laughed. It was a nice sound (not to sound cheesy)"Do you think he realized that his warning would only make me more interested?"
"Your father isn't an idiot, but he probably thought you would listen to him, at least a little." I laughed.
"You do know, I'm not exactly a normal mortal, right? I mean I've only been in the mortal world a handful of times since I got here."
"That might be true, but you are probably more in tune with it than another god would be." I smirked. "Now, tell me, what do people like you do when you have nothing else to do?"
"Well, we kill cats." For a minute I was slightly scared, but then I realized she was teasing me. I could see the twinkle in her eyes as she said it. I decided to play along for the moment.
"Why would you do that?"
"I think the real question is: why don't you?" Then she started laughing again.
"I'm kidding," she said in response to the face I thought looked startled, but probably looked like I was trying not to crack up with her. "But seriously when I'm free I like to go swimming. Running is fun. I like to read. Oh, and practical jokes are a must."
"You like swimming, huh?" I smirked, an incredibly stupid idea popped into my head. She started to back away slowly.
"Don't you try anything!" She said already tensing to sprint. I just smiled.
"I would never," I said with mock hurt. Then I jumped forward and grabbed her waist. I tossed her into the water, but I didn't notice her grabbing my arms and dragging me in behind her, until I hit the water and sunk below the surface.
"You are so going to pay for that," I said once we both reached the surface again. I shook the salty water from my hair. Then quick as a flash I tackled her pushing her further into the water. She kicked at me with all her strength, but somehow I managed to wrestle her toward the bottom. With a final push she hit the bottom and I pushed myself back toward the surface.
I took a deep breath once I reached the surface. I flipped onto my back and looked toward the sky. I was looking toward the sunset when I realized that Laura was not next to me like I had figured she was.
"Laura?" I called flipping myself back over.
"Where are you?" Still no answer. I started to get worried and had to stop for a second to clam myself.
Taking a deep breath I dove beneath the waves. I cleared my mind and listened for nearby thoughts. There were two boys raiding the Demeter Cabin, a girl thinking about her boyfriend, but no Laura.
Just as I was beginning to loose hope I found her. She was tangled up in, for lack of a better word, a sea tree. Her head lolled limply to the side and a single bubble escaped her mouth.
As quickly as possible I propelled myself forward and grabbed her arm. I yanked her free of the thing and felt something pop but figured if she survived I would fix whatever it was later.
I don't remember the swim to shore very well or ny attempts to help her. All I remember is clearing her lungs as best as I could and healing her leg before sprinting in the direction of the Demeter Cabin. As I barreled through the door the two boys snapped to attention.
"there's a girl on the beach and I don't think she's breathing," I shouted. The two exchanged looks and I vaguely remembered seeing them before.
Before either of them could respond I took off back towards the beach. The two boys chased after me shouting at me to stop, but I only picked up the pace as we raced back to Laura.
When I reached her she had stopped breathing again.
"Laura," one of the boys shouted behind me. The taller one reached me first and shoved me out of the way. I watched as he started doing chest compressions and yelled at his brother to get Will.
I took that as my cue to leave, making myself flash to my waiting chariot.
A/N I know I know long time no update but I promise soon I will be back on schedule with all my stuff.