Okay. So now we have chapter 10. This is shorter than usual and it took so long for me to update, but to be honest, I've lost my zeal for this story.

I do plan on finishing this story eventually, but it won't be the priority it used to be, and I'm sorry for that. I've lost my muse and I've kind of grown bored with this story.

It just seems like it doesn't get the views and comments it used to.

So yeah, I don't really know when the next update for this will be,

Anyway, here it is, and I hope you enjoy.

Day 6

Aria shot up in surprise when her alarm went off. She didn't bother to look at the clock. It was still dark out, and she really didn't want to get up. Aria laid back down in bed and sighed to herself.

Come on... You have to have everything ready before Apollo gets back.

Finally, she groaned and stood up. She felt her way through the dark, making her way to the bathroom. She flipped the light switch and nearly jumped when she saw herself in the mirror. She'd completely forgotten about her hair; the previous night she had dyed her hair blond. Not bleach blond, but a natural looking blond. It was weird seeing herself with her nearly natural hair color again. It had been years. And her eyes? Blue. She looked at the contact case on the counter. No. She wouldn't put them in. Not today. She had to get used to looking like she was born to look...No matter how hard it was.

She was going to surprise Apollo. Maybe he would even stay. Maybe. Maybe she could talk to Apollo, and even get him to remember how much he loved her mom. Maybe. Still, doubt and worry filled her mind. What if this was all a mistake? What if he got angry? What if he left again? No. He wouldn't. Things would work out. She had about an hour before Apollo got back from making his daily morning trip in the sun chariot.

Twenty minutes later, Aria was refreshed and fully dressed. She ran to her nightstand table and pulled out a notebook, which she had used one night previous, to write down what it was exactly she wanted to say to Apollo. Part of her wanted to throw it away, go back to bed, and pray-although not quite literally-for Apollo to leave. That part of her was scared. The other part however, couldn't wait for Apollo to get back so that she could ask him. Ask him to stay. She hated being torn. Aria glared at the notebook. This wasn't going as planned. Reading it now, she didn't like what she had written. It sounded like some stupid script for a freakin' Lifetime Network movie. But, it did express how she felt, didn't it?

"Apollo, I know that I've fought and argued with you, told you to leave, and that I want you gone from my life completely, but-"

Before Aria could even finish reading what she had written, the floorboard in the entryway of her room creaked. She panicked inside. She wasn't ready. Apollo shouldn't have been back for another thirty minutes! The light suddenly turned on. Standing in front of Aria was...

"I know you requested me to leave, but I am under the orders of Zeus."

Athena stood in the doorway and Aria's mouth went try. She'd been afraid of Athena before, but now, with Apollo not home...

"W-what do you want?" Aria asked, although she spoke so quietly she wasn't sure if the goddess would be able to hear.

Athena walked closer to the mortal girl.

"I only want to tell you something." She handed Aria something; a drachma. "Use this this in exactly a half hour."

"What do you mean?"

"At the proper time, you will use this to ask Lady Iris to show you the throne room on Mount Olympus. Do you understand?"

Aria quietly nodded.

"And Apollo will not be here," She nodded to the note Aria had left on her bed. "So you won't be needing that."

She looked at Aria for a moment, hesitating, and then the goddess disappeared.

The mortal girl sat on her bed nervously. She kept looking at the clock. She only had seven minutes until Athena's request was to be fulfilled. What was it Athena was trying to do? It made no sense. Where was Apollo? Why wasn't he here? Aria looked at the clock again. Six minutes. She began to think of how to Iris message. She decided maybe using the water from the shower might work. Five minutes. Four minutes. She quickly made her way to the bathroom and turned on the shower. A mist -not the magical kind- began to form. Aria hesitated, and then threw the drachma in.

"Iris, goddess of the rainbows. Show me the Mount Olympus throne room."

For a terrifying moment, nothing happened.

"Please?"

After a few seconds, an image suddenly appeared in the mist.

Apollo entered the throne room of Olympus. He could tell something was up, but he wasn't sure what. Yet, anyway. He looked at his sister, but her refusal to look him in the eye was a pretty good indication that something was wrong. All ten of the remaining gods were there as well. Hera looked bored, while Athena looked frustrated. Zeus sat up straight and although the words were directed at Apollo, the god looked pointedly at Athena.

"Alright, Apollo. Now we must talk."