*Contest rules in author's note*

"Ever heard of the youth Hyacinth?"

Rachel woke in a flash. The change of scenery was thrown at her like a bad joke; lacking humor until further notice.

At the very least, the room was cozy. Regal, even. Rachel never was very familiar with Greek myth, but even she knew of this palace. Cupid's palace.

Rachel recalled the story that was told by Chiron one night at Camp Half-Blood's campfire. The campers were all sitting around the flames, staring like pyros into the embers and the story of Psyche came about. She was a beautiful woman that was said to outshine even Aphrodite's beauty. Long story short, Cupid fell in love with Psyche, and he brought her to his palace.

Alas, Psyche couldn't set eyes on him, for he was much too beautiful for a mortal to see. She feared he was a monster, though. And so one night, she shone a lamp on Cupid when he was sleeping, and startled by the beauty of him, she accidentally dripped the lamp's hot oil onto Cupid, waking him.

He fled from her. In Psyche's remorse, she submitted to Aphrodite, who forced her to do a series of quests to probe her worthy of Cupid's love; each time she couldn't complete the quest herself, she received divine aid, much to Aphrodite's distaste. On the last quest she did, she was to receive Prosperina's beauty. She opened the box on her way back from the Underworld, hoping to benefit from Prosperina's beauty herself. Inside the box was actually a deadly sleep, thus Psyche's death. Cupid found her in this state, and revived her: still in love despite himself. Zeus granted her immortality so the two could be wed as equals. Rachel wondered where in this presumably large palace Psyche was now...

"He was a lover of Apollo." That caught her attention instantly. She'd heard the name Hyacinth only in shallow conversation. "They played discus often, taking turns tossing it across a field."

Rachel never could get used to the sound of Cupid's voice. It was so deeply engaging, like a persistent wind that blew her coherent thoughts amuck.

"Once Apollo's discus throw was off course, which it never had been before, might I add. (I smell foul play on his part.)" The icy tone of his voice sent chills down her spine.

"Hyacinth was hit by the discus, killed; stripped of his only life. And his only consolidation? He was turned into a measly flower. Then much later taken to Elysium by Aphrodite, Artemis, and Athena. Apollo couldn't even be bothered to take his lover there himself."

Rachel's interpretation of common Greek stories were usually off target, but even to her, it sounded like something a god... Apollo was capable of.

"Lucky for you, I'm over the injustice. I've cast out the shadows and come into the light." The instant he said it, Cupid walked into the kingly bedroom.

His beauty was more than overwhelming. His soft curls caught the moonlight through the room's open windows, his pale skin the epitome of how radiant the stars burned. Cupid's wings ruffled slightly as he walked towards her, and Rachel willed herself to look back up to his face, not that it was much of a problem.

"You have a wife." she stated carefully, discreetly backing farther away from Cupid.

"You don't need me here-"

Cupid waved a dismissive hand, more of a Ha! Nice try, noob! "Three hundred year old debt. You wouldn't understand."

He strolled casually towards the bed, like this was an everyday occurrence for him, and began rearranging and fluffing pillows.

"Isn't that, well, my job?"

Cupid looked at her blankly and stopped his current task of making the bed. He knew he couldn't reveal the reason behind his bringing Rachel here. Should she find out he was involuntarily in such maddening love with her, she'd have the advantage.
Even in the midst of love, Cupid wasn't that incompetent.

After all, a crush was all about the unattainable. Cupid was counting on Rachel's being here to reverse his silly curse, and bring back his former self.

"You'll do well to keep yourself quiet."

He finished tending the bed.

"And Psyche," he added bitterly, "left me centuries ago."

Rachel averted his gaze, embarrassed and mentally kicking herself for not brushing up on her Greek history.

Cupid stared at her, observing beauty in its truest form. She wasn't the conventional kind of pretty. Rachel was a brand all her own. Her nose was slender, but not too slender. Her jaw was rounded, not visibly chiseled, but this complimented her cheekbones perfectly.

He walked to her but Rachel hadn't taken notice, still staring intently at the suddenly interesting wooden floor.

Cupid smiled slightly, feeling her blood course through his veins still. It was a small amount now, and the quantity had yet to finish diminishing, but as long as the magic held, the blood would never be expelled fully.

Rather unfortunate.

Without thinking too much, Cupid touched Rachel's chin with his thumb and pointer finger (skin as smooth as silk), he tilted her head back and kissed her longingly before she had time to react.

Not another word was spoken. Cupid had dissipated, leaving Rachel alone with a seemingly endless golden palace and her angry thoughts.

Big mistake.

It was confirmed now, Cupid was in love with Rachel Dare, Oracle of Delphi; truly and undeniably.
...

Artemis pursed her lips, staring for the first time at Vasilia, goddess of the wild. Vasilia was pretty... much a whore already.

She'd went out of her way to seek naive demigods for her own sexual pleasure. But naturally, Vasilia had gotten bored with half-mortals. Now she was fixated on finding the suitor Zeus himself recommended for her: you guessed it, Apollo.

Vasilia had gotten word of his impressive credentials and talented nature. She'd also heard of his unrealistically good looks. All signs pointed to go.

At any rate, Artemis couldn't be bothered with worrying now. Cupid was carrying out her bidding as a last favor to pay off his debt. Rachel Dare had been dealt with.

...

Apollo was angry... furious, actually. He was burning with such a rage it was starting to singe the tile of chariot he was standing on. Apollo had discarded his clothes in a haste the night prior, which admittedly stole some of his dignity away this morning.

He stood pacing on his chariot frustrated and naked.

Nevertheless, that didn't stop him from screaming bloody murder to the sky. But he ended up rationally forcing himself to sit suspended on the chariot for a while to cool down, lest he reach the ground and lash out against someone undeserving of his rage.

His beloved Oracle was still gone, however, and he was reminded of this as the seconds went past.

Apollo let loose a shout, and pounded the side of the chariot with so much force it left a dent in his divine wood. It was made to withstand thick and thin but Apollo supposed it didn't account for the blind fury of someone in love.

He wasn't entirely sure who had taken Rachel from him, but he'd find who it was.

"I'll get you back, Rachel." He said to no one in particular, certainly not Rachel.

"And I'll destroy whoever took you from me." Apollo blew out a last furious breathe. "I swear it on the River Styx."

A/N:

Okay, you caught me. It's a bit of a filler chapter. I'm very sorry. I'm going through a teensy bit of a tough, disappointing few days and it's starting to mess with my writing (as you now see). But still, I'm a day late on this chapter and I wasn't gonna leaving you guys hanging again. I do have a unique idea for you. READ READ READ READ: Right, basically if you can mention a Greek myth I haven't already heard of (I'll be honest, no worries), I'll let you steer the story for a chapter, so to speak. You can choose four events you want to happen in the story (Ex: _ saves Rachel from Apollo) and I'll happily oblige. I thought it'd be a fun little contest. You can PM me the story title or name of the Greek hero, or leave it in a review. I'll PM the winner right back. First person to name a story I haven't heard of is the winner. I think you should participate, it'll be great :)) Good luck! Thank you so much for reading and sticking around this long! I love you guys! Make sure to leave a review before you go, especially today, they're always appreciated and loved. So are there any characters you guys want to see more of in this story? Any characters I haven't brought in the story you guys want to see? How was the chapter? What do you think of the story? Whatever you feel like saying, leave a review. I'll see ya down there. Again, I apologize for the lame ass filler chapter. I'll make it up to you guys, I swear.

*THIS IS A 2 DAY CONTEST, CHAPTER SEVEN WILL BE THE CONTEST WINNER'S CHAPTER