Chapter XXV

Day 14

I thought I saw Ultraman in the hallway today. It was the first time in 14 days. Lunchtime had crept up on me. I left my 'quarters' as I'd done so for the past two weeks and then I saw him. He was floating in the open atrium in the middle of the building. His head was angled up towards the sky as his whole body basked in the midday sun. There was such a look of peace about him as the sun caressed every inch of his skin. At that moment he looked like a sun god. As those words formulated in my mind, I suddenly felt a hot hand press down on my shoulder. Oh, no… I knew who had overheard my thoughts

"I meant no disrespect…" I muttered under my breath.

The molten hand pressed down even harder on my shoulder. A soft whimper parted from my lips.

"Brother…"

"What you meant has no bearing on what your thoughts actually did," his voice hissed.

"Forgive…"

My brother sighed, "It never had to be this way…"

Out of the corner of my eyes I saw him, the sun god Apollo, my elder brother. He stood behind me. He's gaze was locked on Ultraman, but his face was blank. The gods were unpredictable. Especially, anyone who chooses to walk the earth. They never did without reason.

"You are safe here," I tried to reassure myself.

I repeated those words to myself over and over again, but the searing pain built back up in my shoulder. I bit down on my lower lip to keep myself from screaming. Apollo's heat grew closer behind me.

"Look at him sister," Apollo hissed into my ear as his hand grabbed me by the throat from behind.

The warmth from Apollo's breath and touch scorched the back of my neck.

"He's weak," he added as he tightened his grip. "I've seen your dreams dear sister... What can that boy do to protect you from Darkseid?"

Apollo pressed his body up against mine. His hands wandered my body. The sensation of pleasure wasn't there. My flesh crawled. As he brought our bodies together I elbowed him in the gut and took a step away. As I created some distance between us he met my actions with a smirk.

"Feisty," he growled.

I rolled my eyes.

"How long are you going to keep this up Apollo?" I replied. "I've made my choice…"

13 nights...

It had been 13 nights since Ultraman had J'onzz remove me from his bedroom. J'onzz carried me outside of Ultraman's room while I was asleep. The next day when I woke I was in a different room. He had moved me to the farside of the Ultraman's complex with my brother Apollo lying next to me.

"A choice made under duress isn't always the wisest sister," he hissed.

"I wasn't in duress!" I replied coldly.

My voice echoed off of the walls. Apollo reached out for me and brushed my cheek. I took another step back from him, but he followed.

"I remember these tears," he cooed.

"They were because of my sisters dying…"

Apollo laughed coldly, "You can lie to yourself but not to me. I know how badly they treated you sister…"

"Now it is you that lie…" I replied.

The air around us grew extremely hot. Apollo's pale flesh turned as black as night.

"You know father kept things from me!" he hissed back. "If I'd known I would have…."

Apollo took a few deep breaths as his hue turned back to normal.

"You speak as if I knew father or his ways," I replied. "He left me to fend for myself. I don't know him."

"And for that I am sorry," he said as he once more reached for my face.

He held my gaze to his. His eyes lacked the warmth of Ultraman's. Even in his rage there was something behind them that made me feel safe.

"I am the head of our family now and I will make this mess up to you Diana, I promise," he added.

Promises… What are the promises of a god to me?

"My choice has been made brother," I reiterated as I brushed away his hand.

I turned my back to my brother and returned my gaze to Ultraman. Apollo growled as the sun above started to dim.

"I am the only one who can get you out of that foolish deal your mother made with Darkseid…." Apollo hissed.

Apollo's words hit me like a ton of bricks as the atrium turned completely dark.

"My mother would do no such thing," I snapped.

I turned around to look at my brother but he had vanished. Apollo's laughter surrounded me.

"Your mother was more like our father than you know," he cackled into my ear. "Darkseid equals power and your mother craved..."

Those he was out of sight I felt him smile behind me. As he spoke I turned around in a circle looking for him.

"You know I am right Diana," he added. "Just accept that I am here to help…"

Suddenly I stopped and our eyes met. Ultraman standing before me. The rage in his eyes was clear.

"Did he..." he growled.

I shook my head, "No…"

"Get your things," he said coldly. "You're coming with me…"

"Where?"

"My room…"