The only inn available wasn't exactly one that most ladies would stay in, but we were tired and I could see Apollo's chariot disappearing in the horizon.

I lit a candle as Deme prepared the bed.

"I still can't believe you let me lust over a god for a full day without telling me." Deme sniped, draping a sheet over the hay-bed.

"Don't worry, Sunshine takes that as a compliment." I smiled, inserting a nail into the candle to wake us up early tomorrow. "And I was too."

I laughed as Deme spluttered, "Don't call a god 'Sunshine'!" She shrieked.

"Why not?"

"It's not respectful!" She glared at me.

"Deme, darling, I think I'm past that. Besides, he should be flattered, I only give my friends nicknames." I waved her off.

She paused, looking at me. "You really are the daughter of a god, aren't you?"

I gave her a strange look, "I should hope so, where else would my powers come from?"

I've entertained Deme with my powers before: little water figures of dolphins that leaped around the room, slivers of water whips that tripped my foster brothers in pranks, the hurricane that drifted over Ithaca, the tidal waves that brought seashells that we would line against our window sills.

"I know… It's just-" Deme faltered, sitting down on the half-made bed.

"Different to see me actually interact with gods?" I offered, sitting next to her.

"Yes. You talked with him so casually, the entire time." She frowned, "Did you speak with the gods often when you were…?"

"In the future?" I said what she refused to, "Yes. Every weekend, I would travel to my Pati's palace in the Sea, and I would learn from him. Often, the Olympians gave me quests. I've met every Olympian, and even knew some of them as… Well, you could say almost friendship."

"Do you miss them?"

"Perhaps." I ducked my head, "I miss my family more."

Deme slinged an arm around my shoulders. "I understand."

I leaned into her, "Thank you."

There was a pause.

"...Rhea, since your father is a god, would he arrange a marriage for you?"

I laughed. Same old Deme, always a matchmaker.

"Perhaps, but one time Tri brought the subject up and he grumbled that I was too young for hours." I giggled, "And if he did, I would be lucky to be matched to a minor god. No, I prefer not to be matched with anyone."

"So you can do the matching yourself?" She wiggled her eyebrow, and I snorted and pushed her away.

"If it is love!" I shrieked, "Then I shall elope!"

We both burst into laughter, smiling at the ridiculous idea.

"And I," Deme declared, "Shall marry no one!"

I smiled at that. "Perfect! You can help me murder my husband then!"

Deme choked, "Rhea!"

"Deme!" I mimicked.

There was a pause.

"...Murder him for revenge or for his kingdom?" She asked, smirking.

"Why not both?" I smirked, "And then we can become pirates!"

We laughed hard enough to fall backwards on the bed, tears in our eyes.

"Moments in time pass so quickly, and when we look back, they are so immortal and yet so fleeting. Appreciation for every sunrise is a gift, the knowledge that you will be without regrets because you remember every happiness."

The ancient alarm clock- a single nail pushed into a candle that'll drop into the metal candle holder as the wax melted- woke up Deme all right.

But not me. Curse my stupid Achilles' Curse; I wish I could wash it off.

"Rhea, you lump, get up!" Deme demanded, yanking at my blankets.

"Nooo," I whined. "Too early, still tired."

"Up!" She commanded, then grabbed my leg and dragged me off the bed.

I yelped, then kicked out at her. "Deme!"

She giggled and dodged, "We have to be at the Temple of Apollo before the sun fully rises, up, up."

I poked my tongue out at her, then ducked my head in water. Like coffee in the morning, it wakes me right up.

"What are we wearing today?" She asked, peeling off her own shift.

"Our best clothing," I told her. "We're going to meet the Delphic Oracle, we have to look the part."

Deme quickly took out her lemon yellow chiton and orange peplos, and my navy blue peplos and a vermillion pink chiton, and laid them out on the bed. "Should I wear my red or yellow veil?" She asked, holding up the two.

"Yellow, the golden color balances the lemon and orange colors." I called back, pulling out a jar of olive oil. "I'll wear my crimson veil. Where did you put the perfume?"

"My pack, wrapped with the soaps." She replied. "Crimson with pink and blue?"

"It's expensive." I shrugged, "Besides, the colors work well together."

"Your eyes are green," She pointed out.

"Not if I-" I swirled a jug of wine around, "-do this!"

Her brows shot up. "Since when can you do that?"

I smiled proudly, "I've been practicing that for a month. Does it look correctly blue or is it more purple?"

She peered into my eyes, "Dark blue, the purple is very dulled."

"Perfect! Let's get dressed!"

The Temple of Apollo was both beauty and grace.

The foundations and walls were marble, something rather new for the current ancient times, and it was a great structure of 6 by 15 columns. The roof was plated with bronze, reflecting the sun's light in a clear dedication to it's god. The walls and roof were decorated by laurel wood; a carved depiction of Apollo's figure, hunting down Python. Laurel and cypress trees grew all around the temple, pathing the way to the front doors.

"Well, here we go." I smiled at Deme, hopefully looking more brave than I felt.

A woman was waiting for us at the door.

"Do you seek an audience with the Pythia?"

I snuck a glance at Deme. The temple was equally open to the public for prayer and talking to the Oracle, so for her to be asking meant that they were expecting us.

"Yes, I am." I raised my chin, "Will the Pythia receive us?"

She didn't answer me, simply turning around with a simple command. "Follow me."

I have to admit, I haven't been commanded around in a long while, and it did shock me to be ordered around so blithely. I've been a princess for too long.

The attendant took us to a separate side room, where two middle-aged attendants prepared us.

They took our clothes, then bathed us in one of the natural pools and smoked the room with bay leaves. They didn't answer any of my questions, but they did ask what offerings and gifts we were giving the Oracle. I presented the Phoenecian dyed veil, worth probably around 500 golden drachma, and they nodded and left the room.

Plain white chitons and veils were given to us to dress, and we were then left alone.

"Is this normal?" Deme asked tentatively, confused by the proceedings.

"No idea." I frowned, pinning the veil into place. "The oracle of the future didn't have attendants or priests, she lived plainly and met any demigod who asked. Any records of the oracle of today that survived didn't explain what happens when you meet her, nor how the priests prepare you to meet her. To be honest, the only records about the Pythia are from a thousand years from now."

"So you are walking into this blind?"

I winced, "Yes."

Deme sighed, "I should have expected this, shouldn't I?"

"Probably."

"My ladies," An attendant called. "The Pythia is ready to see you."

She led us through a tiny corridor, barely wide enough for me to walk through, and down a stairwell. We arrived in a giant chamber, where the floor was natural rock, and fumes rose from cracks on the floor.

A single tripod was elevated above one of the larger cracks, a singular laurel branch was curled around the tripod, and a heavily veiled figure sat upon it. Several young maiden attendants surrounded her, kneeling or stoking large braisers, a few curiously eyeing us.

My first thought was to worry about the health of these girls' lungs with all this trapped smoke. My second was awe at the underground cavern with the temple built so perfectly above.

"Apollon warned me you were coming." The veiled figure spoke, and I startled to realise that the Pythia was probably a young girl no older than ten.

"Yes, I met him on the way." I confirmed, finding my voice. Priestesses and attendants shared glances and murmurs.

"Princess of Ithaca, Daughter of Poseidon, Hero with a path chosen by the Moirai. Ask, and I shall answer."

I took a deep breath and raised my eyes, making contact with hers through our veils. "What is my journey home?"

Green smoke raises, and vapours exit her mouth. I refuse to be startled by the familiar sight of prophecy.

"You cannot return to where you once called home,

But a path, before you, lays to the East,

With the sun's rise, guiding, you roam,

When the battle's won, you are released,

To your hearth, immortal, family won."

The vapours receded. I closed my eyes

"Do you have your answer, princess?" The Pythia asked curiously, a childish undertone lilting.

I can never go home- to camp, to Mom and Pati, to Annabeth and Nico and Rachel, to everyone I once cared about- I am still the plaything of the gods, at least, until whatever battle I win gets me released from their service.

"Yes," I whispered. "I do."

"Fate is stardust: always was and always will be. Dust to dust, stars to stars, every action a reaction. Reach a hand out and feel the passage and creation of time. This is fate."

We were quickly ushered out of the Pythia's cave and back into the room we were in before, our clothes left hung up for us to redress and only those same two attendants there.

"Rhea?" Deme asked, slowly leading me into the cleansing pool. "Are you okay?"

"It's a bit overwhelming." I admitted, "I need time to think about everything."

"That is alright." Deme smiled, "I can help or I can wait- either way I'm here for you."

I quickly gave her a hug, whispering "Thank you," in her ear.

Then let myself float to the bottom of the pool.

I had to think: Prophecies are tricky things, and running around trying to escape or fulfill it without any sort of plan was something I never plan on doing again- five of those damn things have finally gotten that little tid-bit into my head.

You cannot return to where you once called home

That's the first line and the simplest: There's no way back to the future, just like Luke said.

But a path, before you, lays to the East

The East. Anatolia and beyond; from Turkey to China, the world's my oyster.

...You know what would be really funny? If I had to go to Jerusalem and help Jesus or something… but that's in another thousand years, so I'm guessing not.

East probably means Anatolia and, subsequently, Ilium.

With the sun's rise, guiding, you roam

The sun rises in the East and sets in the West- that's the opposite direction of the path, unless my path is following the sunrise? That would take me East.

When the battle's won, you are released,

To your hearth, immortal, family won.

These final two lines confused me.

What battle do I have to win? Perhaps the Trojan War, but that's a war not a battle. Is it a personal battle? And what, exactly, is released supposed to mean? Released from my curse? Released from life? Or released from being the gods' plaything? What hearth or family will I win?

Urgh, I hate prophecies!

I startled at the gentle shoulder tap Deme gave me, then nodded when she pointed upwards. Thinking Time is over, time to go back to the surface.

We broke the water gently, and the attendants stared as they approached with towels. Guess they've never seen any demigods use their powers before.

I quickly redressed, not wanting to deal with the winter chill for any longer than I have to, and wrapped my veil over the top of my head and around my shoulders like a shawl.

They lead us to the door, and bow their heads as we exit.

"What're you thinking about, Rhea?" Deme asked softly, threading her arm through mine as we walked away from the temple.

"I have no idea how I'm going to do this." I admitted.

Deme had fussed when we got back to the inn.

"I'm okay, Dee." I waved her off, taking my veil off myself. "I just need time to think."

She still looked concerned, but she let me brush her off. I do need just some space, too much has happened in too little time.

I moved mechanically through lunch and dinner, eating and cleaning up after myself, but chewing on my thumb as I kept pondering my options.

And as I grieved.

I will never go back to New York, never see camp again, never see mom or Pati or Annabeth and Grover and Thalia and- and-

They're gone. They're gone forever.

I fiddled with Luke's necklace, watching as the water in the bathtub swirled in a mini waterspout.

Deme was asleep on the bed, blanket drawn around her body, but my mind was too busy to sleep. I slipped out onto the balcony, pinning my veil to my hair and wrapping my shawl around my shoulders.

The cool night air made goosebumps rise on my arms, and I rubbed my arms, approaching the balcony rail, side-stepping a table and sofa.

The stars were bright, constellations of heroes and monsters spread across the skies.

"Rhea."

I turned around to spot a golden god, looking about 18 years old, blonde curls tousled and falling off his shoulder, a modest gold chiton wrapped around his body.

"Path to the left, path to the right. Robert Frost said that he took the path less travelled by, but all paths make the difference. Take the path that you will love the difference."

"Apollo," I greeted.

"What, no title?" He purred at my informality. I internally cursed myself, lack of titles is less a lack of respect and more of an implication of relationship in Ancient Greece, especially between a man and a woman.

"I apologise; Prince Apollo." I corrected myself, "It is 'prince,' correct?"

"I can be your prince if that is your wish," He smirked. "But, hm, my father is a king and I am his son, so I suppose so. Not that that stops everyone from preferring to call me 'lord.'"

I refused to respond to his flirtations, instead moving around him to pour myself a cup of wine and after a second of thought, him too.

"Well, what is the reason for this visit, Prince Apollo?" I handed him his cup.

He took a sip, "I told you I would watch you choose."

"I haven't made a choice yet."

"No, but that's why you are here now, yes? You came here to think and choose." He gestured at the balcony, sitting down on a sofa and spreading his arms.

"You are correct." I pursed my lips and leaned against the balcony rails.

He smiled, "Well, how about you sit here and tell me your choice." He patted the cushion on his lap.

"I have many choices," I replied instead. "I can return back to Ithaca, become a priestess here in Delphi, travel on to Ilium. I simply dislike all the choices."

"Oh?" He cocked his head to the side. "It sounds like you don't have a choice about your choices."

I sent him a scathing look, and his flirty smirk disappeared.

"I suppose you won't like my counsel then? I have a few ideas."

I frowned, "What are your thoughts?"

He offered a hand out to me, and when I took it he gently pulled me down onto the sofa next to him. His flirting demeanor was gone, but there was something else in his eye that made me shiver: Amusement. Like I'm a particularly interesting toy, he's playing with me, yet with a gentleness one reserves for fine china.

"I heard your little prophecy, and while one doesn't ask me to explain a prophecy just like you don't ask a poet to explain his poem, I have a few suggestions."

I forced myself not to roll my eyes. I am fully aware that you don't know what your own prophecies mean, Apollo, you told me that in the future.

"Your battle- the one that you have to win- you don't know what it is. And I think it's not happening anytime soon, and from the look in your eyes, you don't think so either. In fact, I think that little battle has something to do with Troy's little war problem." He surmised, sipping his wine, fingers coming to dance against the hem of my shawl.

"So, that means that you need something to pass your time until that battle comes. And, great for me, it seems that I'm your guide in your path to the East, and I have a path you will like."

"Oh?" I say, discreetly trying to flee his wandering fingers.

"Yes." His fingers drift up my shawl and to my veil, pulling it away from my face so he could look in my eyes. "Would you like shelter? To stay at my hearth this winter?"

I froze, and his fingertips brushed against my skin. I pulled back.

"Your hearth? Do you wish for me to be your priestess, Prince Apollo?"

"No, that'll be interesting, but I have a task for you yet, and one can never run from a prophecy. No, If you agree to do a quest for me, I will allow you and your servant to stay in my temple for the winter." He smiled, like a cat who got the canary.

My first instinct was to deny, and tell him to keep his hands to himself, but I didn't. "The sun's rise, guiding, you roam"- He's offering to guide me, to be my ally in this godly world. I roam, but I am guided, not lost. Papa has a god in his corner with Athena, Achilles has Thetis, Aeneas has Venus, Herakles has Hera, I need a god in my corner and I see that it can't be my Pater anymore like in the future.

"What kind of quest?" I ask, letting his stupid fingers tuck my veil behind my shoulder as he smirks.

"An important one." He responds simply, "Do you agree?"

I smiled back, eyes sharp. "I do."

He knocked back his wine cup and stood. "Good. Return to my temple tomorrow at noon and my priestesses will welcome you, and I will tell you your task."

"Very well," I stood.

He bent down with the obvious intention of a goodbye kiss, and I stepped back and offered him my hand instead. A flash of annoyance appeared in his eyes, but then amusement at my attempts to refuse him appeared.

He kissed the back of my hand, "Until then."

"Until then."

He disappeared in a flash of godly power.

I sighed and collapsed against the sofa, draining my cup. So much for not fighting the gods' wars anymore.

Fuck.

"Agape and Eros are the loves everyone lauds: 'O to love someone you are furor for, to love someone you are selfless for.' Yet no one comments on Philia, the love of our friends that transcends blood and bone, sex and passion, heat and flame. Philia, that lovely flickering candle we light for our friends in our heart."

The Temple of Apollo is busy at high noon, a difference to yesterday's whisper at dawn.

A smiling priestess, probably some thirty years old, greeted us at the door and introduced herself as Ledeia.

"The Pythia said you are Lord Apollon's sacred guests and that you are staying with us this winter." She took our shawls and bags.

"That is correct." I smiled.

Her eyes lit up, "Fascinating! We've prepared our lord's personal room for you, as per his request."

His WHAT?!

My teeth grinded against each other, "Pardon, could you repeat that?"

She looked confused. "Apollo's personal room was prepared for you to stay in, as he requested."

That little-!

Deme put a hand on my arm, silencing my outrage. "And we are thankful."

"Yes." I gritted out, "We are."

Ledeia, baffled at my reaction, led us into the stupid room.

How dare he make us stay in his room? The nerve of him! Practically screaming that I'm his-his- his whore! I don't belong to him, he could've left us in the servant quarters and I'd have been perfectly happy, but instead he has to humiliate me- and Deme- by implying that we are sleeping in his bed with him!

Why I ought to throw his offer back in his fa- Oh.

His room was the most elegant and luxurious thing I've seen, and I've spent a year and a half as a princess. The walls were ivory, and by that I mean real ivory; ivory was carved up in detailed images on top of the marble walls. The ceiling was painted a bright blue, probably worth thousands of drachma to paint, and crystals on lines, like suncatchers, were strung up. The bed was silk, with curtains of what appeared to be spun gold giving privacy, and made of laurel wood. Furniture, beautifully crafted probably by Hepheastus' own hands, were placed around the room. The open balcony, yet private with it's view over the Temple's gardens, was tiled with blue, gold, and white depictions of arrows and bows. Perhaps the most beautiful thing in the room, a golden harp and a golden lyre rested by a red velvet couch.

"By Olympus!" Deme gasped, her hands flying up to cover her mouth. I had to agree.

Okay, so maybe I'm not going to demand a room change as soon as I see that stupid Olympian, but I am still pissed at him.

Ledeia puts our bags down on top of a mahogany chest, and smooths her skirts down. "My ladies, I was told to let you get comfortable for an hour, and then lead you, Lady Rhea, to the private meeting room of Lord Apollon."

Deme gives me a look. I sighed, guess it's time to let her shower me in perfume in preparation of speaking with him.

"Rhea!" The god smirked as I entered the room. "I trust your new living arrangements are to your agreement?"

I leveled a glare at him. "When you said that I was welcome at your hearth, I didn't think you meant literally."

"Oh? But I always mean what I say- god of truth, darling." He stood to welcome me, to my ire.

"I dislike the implication."

"And what implication is that?"

I let him kiss the back of my hand, the pull away. "Aren't you also the god of knowledge? You are quite aware of what I mean."

He laughed. "Fond of your reputation, aren't you?"

I raised an eyebrow, "A demigod without any heroic stories to my name, what else do I have to keep my head above the water in this world?"

"You're a daughter of the Sea, and now, my champion. I suggest you stop focusing on keeping your head up and more on what I want you to do."

I leant forward, stealing his nectar cup from his hand and taking a sip, smiling at the taste of mom's blue cookies. "And what is it you want me to do?"

His eyes were wide at my audacity, "I want you to escort my daughter to Athens."

"Not the typical quest," I took another sip then handed the cup back, careful not to burn myself up. "Is there a catch?"

"No, I just thought the quest needed a feminine touch." He offered a seat with the wave of his hand, and I let him pull out a chair for me.

"Does your sister know you said that?" I said, then paused at his glare. "Sorry."

"I am trusting much to you with this task, do not make me regret it." He sat down opposite me, leaning back on his chair to assess me.

"I understand."

His face hardened, "My daughter is pursued: she is born with the rarest of my two gifts, Prophecy and Plague. Chiron has, of five months ago, lost his two students Achilles and Patroclus, and will be making his way south towards Athens to meet his newest student, my sister's son, Zethus. I want you to take her to meet him there."

I nodded, "Has he been notified that she is to be his student?"

"Yes, he's consented to it already, even with her being much younger than his usual students." He sipped his nectar, then frowned down at it. I'm guessing he can taste my lip tint.

"When do I have to leave?" I asked, "And may I meet your daughter beforehand?"

He relaxed, a smile returning to his face. "When I return to this Temple after Winter. Yes you may, in fact, I will be giving you primary guardianship on her for the winter." My mouth dropped open, but he just smiled and whistled. "She has been raised for the past two years here after I brought her when her mother died."

The whistle must have been a signal of some kind, because a priestess suddenly led a little girl, probably no older than five, through the door.

She was a sweet, cherub faced thing, all chubby cheeks and wide blue eyes. Her hair was thickly curled, a light brown that I know would shine gold in the sunlight. She looked shy and curious, and my heart melted.

I crossed the room, kneeling down and smiling at the adorable child. "Hello, what's your name?"

She smiled shyly, and offered a sweet "Apollide."

I laughed. "Your name, sweetling, I know who your father is."

She just looked confused at me, "I'm Apollide."

I glanced up at Apollo, concerned. "What's your daughter's name, Apollo?"

He drained his cup with a wince, "Her mother never told me before she died, and I see the priestesses neglected to do so either."

My face went slack, then burning with fury, I stood up. "Nobody named her?!"

"Her mother did." He raised an eyebrow, amused at my indignant response.

I stalked up to his, ready to scream and shout, but refrained from doing so for the little girl's sake. "You!" I poked a finger at his chest to his disbelief, "Are her father! Your daughter! How dare you be so cruel?! Name her you- you-!"

His hand curled around my finger, lowering it, a smug look creeping onto his face. "And this is why I know you are a good guardian for my daughter- you are protective of her even after knowing her for a few seconds. The priestesses never showed such care, only awe; they never cared enough to find out her name."

My fury went from hot to cold, "You still haven't named her. You haven't shown much care either."

His head tilted to the side, eyes narrowing as he looked me up and down. "How about you name her then?"

He hadn't let go of my accusing hand, instead just holding it tightly in his own. I turned my head to the little angel watching us.

"Olivia," I decided, looking back into his watchful eyes. "Olivia Apollide."

He smiled, pure and genuine. "Olivia. After the olive trees?"

My lips twitched, "Olives are precious, expensive, a luxury. She is precious."

He beamed, and gently let go of my hand, stepping around me to bend down and hoist his daughter against his hip, the first fatherly action I've seen him do and it looked startling considering we both looked the same age.

He kissed the top of his daughter's curls. "Olivia Apollide," He whispered reverently. "My precious daughter. I'll be watching over you."

My fury vanished at the clearly caring parental display. Maybe he does care…

"Olivia, Rhea is going to take care of you, okay?" He told his daughter, "You listen to her like she's your own mother- you're her ward now."

He pressed another kiss to her forehead, then gently passed her to me. I kissed her forehead as well.

He smiled at seeing me carrying Olivia, "Good luck."

I gently shielded her eyes as he vanished.

"Is that a child?" Deme gaped.

"Deme, meet Olivia Apollide. My quest is to get her to Athens where she will meet her teacher, Chiron." I gave her a shaky smile.

"Sweetling, do you wanna sit on the bed?" I asked the little girl, who nodded and let herself be dropped on the bed.

"Athens? With a child, that's quite a long journey for us." Deme offered me a wet towel to wipe my makeup off.

I frowned, "Us? Only I have to do this quest, Deme, you don't have to come."

Deme stepped forward and grabbed me in a hug, "I want to come."

I buried my face in her shoulder, "It's dangerous."

"I don't care."

"It'll be a hard task: you can stay here and live in comfort."

"You're my best friend, you are my comfort."

We stayed in that hug for a few seconds, clinging to each other.

I pulled back slightly, "Want to go raid a god's bookshelf?"

"Rhea!"

I grinned, "There'll be some nice stories for Olivia, come on."

She'll leave me, I know she will, everyone does. At least I'll enjoy my time with her and I'll treasure it.

A/N

Hello! Here's a chapter that's a bit longer- I was tempted to end it right after the Oracle gives the prophecy, but that would be ridiculously short, so I'm nice! This chapter has a lot more dialogue and relationship focus, but that's important stuff! I'm going on holiday soon, so I might miss an update, but I get to have fun!

Deme and Rhea are friends, and when friends are left alone they plot murder and piracy! You guys loved Rhea and Deme friendship, so here's more! I'm also developing her relationship with Apollo, and she's much less awkward now that he's actually wearing a proper layer of clothing, the slut (I say lovingly! 3) Now, with the Oracle's prophecy, I'm leaving you guys to figure that out yourselves, I'm not going to give any hints (unless in my discord server), so have fun! Also, do you guys like Olivia? She was an idea I had from the start! Yep, that was a reference to the Song of Achilles, have fun with that!

Okay, so, with the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, the modern one whose ruins we see was built in 330BCE, but there was an older one that got destroyed in an earthquake, that one was built in 550bce, and we have no records of any temple from before that. But the Pythia (Delphic Oracle) was established between 1400bce to 800bce, so like,,, hmmm. From that, I took creative licence, made the Temple a mix of the modern one and the older one, and tried to keep the historical inaccuracy to a minimum. The priestesses, priests, and attendants who served the Pythia were real, and there were probably some 30-50 of them. We also have no detailed reliable accounts of what happened when you met the Pythia, so again, creative license.

If you want to join my discord server, just ask and I'll send you the link