A/N: Well, guess who the smartest writer is? Me! Because I totally just have been spelling one of my character's names wrong. Marcus's name is actually spelled Markus, but I'll just use the spelling I am now, I don't want to confuse anybody.
The dawn broke over camp with the colors of red, orange, and pink. I opened my eyes feeling the cold space beside me. Marcus was gone. I sat up and sighed. Marcus always left. I tossed the covers off of my legs, wincing as my sore muscles screamed from yesterday's archery class. I carefully balanced my weight onto my two feet. Despite the end of summer morning, the New York air was filled with chilliness.
Walking into the bathroom I looked down at the sink and brushed my teeth. Now, if you've ever watched a horror movie, when the innocent girl looks up and sees a demon in the mirror behind her, well that's what happened to me. A gory, blood crazed appousa stared at me. Her glowing red eyes locked with mine, "What do you want?" I growled at her. The demon smiled, her lips curling into a beautiful, evil grin.
"You walk on dangerous ground. Your days my goddess, are numbered." In a column of flame she was gone. I felt myself start to shake. Her voice was filled with deep, poison and hatefulness. It was scratchy and rumbling, almost like distant thunder. My heart started to pound like a drum, my breath came out in quick, urgent breaths. Her voice kept echoing in my mind, "Your days my goddess, are numbered." I felt a sense of foreboding sink into my bones, washing me down to the core in fear.
It felt like forever when I blinked and moved my stiff legs to the door. I had to get out of here. I had to get out of the house; it felt like it was enclosing me in its walls. I couldn't breathe or think straight. I ran out of the house, stumbling to the soft, dewy grass. Campers who had suitcases, leaving camp looked at me like I was crazy. Maybe partially I was. I ran to find anyone who would comfort me. I found Marcus standing under an apple tree; he held an apple in one hand tossing it up in the air. He looked melancholy with a thoughtful expression upon his brooding face. He stared off at the distant New York skyline; his brown curls were crazed and softly drifting around his face. I forgot sometimes how beautiful, Marcus truly was.
"Marcus!" I screeched, he heard the alarm in my voice and within a second he was at my side. He held me to his chest,
"What is love?" His blue eyes met mine with so much compassion and love; I felt no fear no longer.
"I-I, an appousa came and told me-I, my days are numbered. I'm going to die Marcus!" I started to shake, but Marcus stopped me by gently stroking my hair.
"Shh, Penelope stop it. Look at me." It had been one of Phoenix's phrases; whenever I looked at him everything made sense to me. If I was lost one look into his dark blue eyes, and I would be shushed like a crying babe. "Penelope I was raised to protect people, I was raised to fight. No demon, mortal, or god will ever lay hand on you while I live. If it is my destiny to die while saving you, then so be it." I laid my head against his chest, feeling reassured I nodded.
"It feels like my death sentence. It feels like your death sentence." I looked up into Marcus's strong and gentle eyes.
"Why? All men must die, Penelope. If not now for me, then it will come one day. Even the gods themselves will face a day of their death."
"That's a horrible thought to possess; I don't know why one would."
"It may be, but it will happen my love."
"Why are you okay with that Marcus?" I backed away from him; the thought of dying once more drove a horrible knife through an unhealed wound. He gave me a smile,
"Because nothing is worse than losing you. If death is what it must be, then losing you is like the fires of hell." My heart filled with love for him, and I leapt into his arms. Our lips met and I gave him my heart. I knew then, I would never forget his words of protection. Marcus would protect me till his death, and that I had confidence in.
When I finally drew away, the horn sounded for breakfast. I smiled at him, and we parted. I was off to the stables; I had busied myself with training a new colt. He was only a year old; he didn't know his own strengths. But he filled me with utter joy, because of his free spirit. The Aphrodite children had not even given him a name yet. I had taken to calling him, Farson.
The stallion was in rare form today, he hoofed the ground with an excited manner. I opened the stall gate, running my hands over his fine body. Everywhere my hands touched, his muscle tensed. His pure black coat was shining in the dim light of the stables; his ice-blue eyes were filled with pure fury and unsteadiness. I slipped a halter over his face, clipping a lead rope to his halter. Farson stepped with an eager step; it was full of grace and elegance. He came to me and followed me into the corral. I unleashed the lead and sent him away, he sprinted around the corral. Every muscle under his shear black coat rippled under it. He was a beautiful pegasus.
It truly was a pleasure to watch Farson run. Every nerve in his body told his massive, feathery black wings to fly. Though I denied him the privilege, he wanted to soar so badly. He swiftly drifted over the sand of the corral, I sped him into a canter. His stride so wide and fine, it was amazing to watch. Breathtaking. Daughters of Aphrodite came and watched Farson run. He lifted up his wings, stretching them out into the morning sun. He shined brightly like a fallen angel.
His parents were the finest in the stable, Blackjack and Kelmby. A pure white Pegasus, with wings of gold. Farson was made for battle, but it was unknown when the battle would strike. I truly wished with my whole heart, his rider would be someone to respect him. A light flashed behind me, distracting me completely from Farson. A pretty girl with a flowing, white dress bowed to me.
"My goddess, Penelope, my lord Apollo requests your presence." I nodded and handed the training whip to Kathrine. A blond haired daughter of Aphrodite. I followed after the tiny angel, leaping over the fence of the corral and followed her up a grassy hill. Apollo stood with his back to me; his glimmering blond hair was pulled into a ponytail. Short strands of white-blond hair escaped from it and quivered in the breeze. I walked up next to him. His hands were clasped behind his back, eyes staring at the harbor.
"Penelope," He acknowledged me with no look of kindness or charm, as he used to do.
"My lord, Apollo." He turned to me, and to my surprise anger burned within his dark blue eyes. They were Phoenix's, so intense and loud. So very beautiful and dangerously dark.
"You used to value him, what happened?" He was angry at me. His fierce blue eyes seemed to focus on seeing into my soul.
"Apollo, if you are referring to Phoenix, I still value him with so much love."
"Have you forgotten the promise he made to you?" I stared at him.
"My lord?" I ran through every memory I had ever shared with Phoenix. I desperately wanted to know what he spoke of, the promise. What promise had he made? Apollo had so much hate in his eyes.
"You don't remember!" He snapped at me. I felt hot tears rise to the rims of my eyes, they brimmed over. His expression softened, and he wiped away a tear of his own. "He promised to protect you forever, to never hurt you. At your coronation." I sank to my knees, sobbing into my hands. I had completely forgotten Phoenix's vow to me, it had been right after my first kiss with him, with anyone for that matter. I was caught up in his warm arms, in his love, his heart beat next to my ear…
"Apollo, I-I love him with everything within me." He nodded, he did not speak. His mouth was a tight line.
"I only ask you Penelope, that you take up the task at hand and find him. Bring him home to me, to you, to Olympus." I stared up at him,
"My lord, I cannot follow an impossible trail to bury him."
"He is not DEAD!" Apollo cried in anguish, slamming his powerful fist to a tree. I backed in fear, bracing myself for a blow. It did not come; just a soft sob erupted from the god. I have never seen a strong man like Apollo crumble to emotion; I reached for him wanting with all my heart to comfort him.
"My lord, I saw the blade pierce his body with my own eyes. Why would I lie of something like that? The death of my own soulmate?" The words were out of my mouth before I could grasp them back, Apollo looked at me with desperate eyes. I could only sigh and nod.
"It's true, my lord. Phoenix and I are-were joined by destiny. The Fates have chosen their plan, but I think sometimes it was cruel that they gave me him. Then took him away as if he is…is…nothing." I stifled a sob inside my aching chest; Apollo looked at me with concern in his eyes, took my hand, and hugged me. It was as if he was a loving father, I could never have asked for more. He pulled away and slumped against a tree, his eyes looked old. Apollo looked like he was aging. Grey was starting to leak into his golden ponytail, his once youthful skin was beginning to form wrinkles around his eyes. Phoenix's death was taxing both of us beyond our years.
"Please just bring him home…" He whispered. I nodded and took on the heavy burden that hung onto the sun god's shoulders. Determination was what it would take me to go on this quest. I had to though; I had to relieve myself and Apollo. I turned and without another word left Apollo on the grassy hill in his grief.
I came back to Farson. Kathrine was having a difficult time, trying to get him on his hooves. I grabbed the whip from her and slammed it on the ground. Come Farson. The time has come. I spoke into his mind, he stopped automatically. Dust rose up from his abrupt stop, he turned to me.
Then let it be done. I walked away and he followed, everyone's jaw dropped as the untamed colt followed in my wake. He tossed his head and his glossy mane whipped in the wind. I brought him to the stables; I was going to back him a year early. I put a saddle on his back, he unsteadily acknowledged it. I patted his neck and continued on. I set the girth around his belly. Then led him back out into the corral, I pulled myself onto the stirrup, slipping my foot through the other one. Farson hoofed at the ground with uneasiness.
Then it broke, his perfect stride came that I had seen him do many times. I squeezed into his flanks, allowing him his head; he sped into an increasingly fast speed. His long legs moved with such grace and fluency. I let him open his wings, but just as he spread them to fly, I denied it. He stopped and breathed heavy. I leaned down to whisper into his ear, "Up Farson." He sniffed the air and in one fleeting moment leaped into the morning sky.