Yes. Sadly this is my last and final update. Then this story is officially finite. But hey, I hope it was (or is) something good to read. Enjoy! Oh and thank you to everyone who has read this, added it to favourites, reviewed etc…. Much appreciated.
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I lost count of the seconds that Apollo held me gently in his embrace. My mind had again returned to the mist like haze as he drew me close to him, my robe now slipping down to my midriff, leaving the top half of my body exposed and bare. I breathed in his mild scent of vanilla and smiled against his bare, marble-like chest as he kissed the top of my head and played with my hair.
Slowly, I felt Apollo's hands move down my back and settle just above my hips. Then he leant forward to kiss me. It was exactly the same way as all the other kisses had started. Fiery and intense. I responded, although a little hesitantly as I wondered what he was going to do next. I had never been this close to a man before and I couldn't think of what to do. It made me realise, that for all I thought I was a grown young woman; I was still really a child.
Apollo must have sensed my hesitancy and he held me closer and whispered softly;
"Don't worry Cassandra. You have nothing to worry about."
That made me worry more. A floodgate of questions broke through the clogging haze in my mind. But only one stood out.
What the hell was I doing? NO.
I drew back and tied up one side of my robe. I had to think of something, and quick although tricking a Greek God would prove VERY difficult.
"I have to go my Lord. Should we meet tomorrow? I am not quite myself..."
There was a silence, then Apollo smiled and my heart slowed down its pace a little.
He had fallen for it! I was sure…
"Yes, my dear Cassandra."
With that I turned to leave the temple, picking up and tying my robe round me tightly. I felt as light as air, and a small smug smile twitched at the corner of my lips. Nearly there. As soon as I got out of the temple…
But then Apollo said those dreaded words I would never forget as long as I lived:
"One last kiss?"
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I don't know what made me do it. The intense magic of the God's maybe, but whatever it was I couldn't ever hope to escape it.
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Turning I walked, as though in a trance, towards Apollo, and took his hand in mine. He tilted my head back and kissed me softly on the lips. But this kiss was certainly different from all of the others I had ever experienced. My mouth opened up and I felt my saliva mix with his. With a shock I realised what he had done.
He had spat in my mouth.
Instantly I drew back and spat on the floor, horrified.
Apollo had now drawn himself up to his full Godly height and he look absolutely perfect yet painfully beautiful. It almost hurt to look. He spoke and his words reverberated round the temple, shaking the ground.
"Cassandra, as I promised you will certainly be the most talented prophetess in the whole of Greece. But, you will never be believed for as long as you shall live."
Shock ran through my whole entire body as I sank to the floor in disbelief.
"I have placed a curse on you. It will teach you never to defy me, or any of the God's again. You have had your chance to give yourself to me and in return I would give you something. But you are a trickster and a liar." He paused as he drew a thin cloak round his body and turned his face away from me.
"Good night to you, the Prophetess whom nobody believed."
As soon as Apollo left the temple, the fire flickered back into life but I could barely see it. Tears blinded my vision and shook my body. I let out a low moan and curled up into a ball.
Now, despite the fire in the temple, I truly felt cold and alone, and I knew, that it was only get worse.
I stayed on the floor for a while, until I could will myself to stand up and busy myself around the temple. Within the pit of my stomach, I knew I could never go home. The temple was my home now. If I stayed within the palace walls I would surely bring shame and dishonour on all of my family and God's knows Apollo would LOVE that.
No. I shook my head determinedly as I tried to straighten out my crumbled robe as best as I could.
I now knew my destiny.
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As I always said, I was either born to a cursed or a blessed life. Never could I have guessed just exactly how it would turn out. Some Prophetess I was.
Apollo moved on. I never did. I still remain with this deadly curse, forever bound to it until the Fates decided to snip the small and insignificant thread that it my life.
I do not fear death. I shall be ready when it comes and when it does:
Apollo shall fear me.