The two of them snuck away beneath the living room window where her father was still trying to figure out the letter from Andreas. Then, they crossed the back yard and followed a tight and rocky path deeper into the forest. They were climbing and Apollo led the way - a perfect excuse to hold her hand and occasionally, her waist or shoulders. She couldn't help a rush of excitement. Carina had heard stories from the daughters of some family friends about how they snuck out under the protection of the night to be with their lovers, or to attend small, private parties, and meet with men of all ages and status. She never thought she would find herself in a similar situation.

"Close your eyes," he asked her.

"It's not like I can see much as it is," she tried to argue.

"We're almost there. Come on, I want to see your reaction."

"Fine..." Carina closed her eyes. "You better not take advantage of this."

"In what way, precisely?" Apollo teased her. He let her go first, holding her waist to guide her as Carina took slow, cautious steps. Their climb had come to an end as the terrain felt rather flat now.

Soon, they stopped. "Can I open my eyes yet?"

"You haven't peaked, have you?"

"No," the girl replied honestly. Curiosity was flowing through her veins by then.

"Alright, open your eyes!"

Carina saw a dark sky with clusters upon clusters of stars. The moon was full and absolutely enormous, shining brightly over them. They were on a tall plateau overlooking the sea and the city, and there were a few flickering lights in the distance. Was that a ship? Somewhere, in the forest, she saw a campfire and several people dancing and drinking. Her eyes were unsure of what to admire first. The sky seemed much closer to them than the land, and yet, they had only been climbing for a few minutes.

Sitting beside her on the ground, Apollo had the brightest of smiles spread on his face. He had managed to impress the girl.

"What do you think?"

"This is so beautiful!" Carina sat down as well. The ground still held some warmth from the day that just ended. "The moon looks so close from here..."

He leaned back on one elbow, on his side. "It's one of my favorite places. I come here to think when I need to clear my mind."

"I can see why," she said in awe. The place was quiet, away from the buzz of the city. It was dark, but the bright moon helped her see just enough.

"You can lay down, I won't do anything. I noticed you're very cautious."

"I'll have to explain the green stains on my dress," she excused herself again.

Apollo didn't look impressed by that. Instead, he laid his drape on the ground. "You do what you want, but it's very relaxing."

Faced with the answer, Carina leaned back as well. The sky above was infinite and so clear, she could see many stars for the very first time. She also felt Amon's eyes on her the entire time.

"Are you trying to say something?" she asked while still gazing into the sky.

"You're the most beautiful woman I've seen in a very long time."

The ease with which the words rolled off his lips took her by surprise. She felt her blood rising to her already burned cheeks as she turned to look at him. "Um... Thank you," she managed.

Apollo's eyes were soft and loving. "Surprised? I was certain you would be used to hearing this phrase."

"I do get compliments, sometimes, but I always assume it's because of my father's fortune and position. People would do anything to be on his side, because he opens the door to the Emperor, though... I doubt you could have known this."

"Ah, yes, it makes sense, then, but my compliment is genuine. In fact, it's simply the truth." He rolled from his side to his back, looking at the stars as well. "To be completely honest, I've heard who you are in the meantime. There's something I need to tell you..."

Carina turned towards him. "What is it?" There was still some distance from their bodies, but he was shirtless and she couldn't help but notice as the moonlight outlined his body. He was harmonious in appearance and athletic, and his skin had that perfect tan that almost resembled the color of honey.

"I think... I may have fallen in love with your smile. There's nothing I'd rather do than spend time with you. When I saw your reaction to my music, my knees felt weak, and I don't remember the last time that happened. People generally appreciate my concerts, but nobody on that terrace mattered as much as you and your bright green eyes shining with joy and that genuine smile that you've shown me... And that has nothing to do with your father."

"I... I don't know what to say," she eventually uttered.

Apollo looked at her with a smile, but there was a hint of sadness as he anticipated her answer. "Anything."

"I thought... I mean, I was almost certain you would find out and ask my father to take you to Rome, so you could play for more people, earn more money... and that would have been fine, as long as I would have got to see you. You've been on my mind since the first moment I've seen you. Being with you makes all of my worries and sorrows fade like smoke."

The god took her hand gently in his and placed it over his heart. "Nothing makes me happier than to know that you want my company. I was afraid I might scare you away, but I had to see if you were still in town."

She nodded. "I think we will be leaving tomorrow. I've received a letter... It's from the son of a Senator, his name is Andreas. My father says I should choose a man and marry, but from all of those he presented to me, I like Andreas the least. I think I'm closer to hating him than anything else."

Pretending he hadn't heard anything before, Apollo gently led her closer to him. "Why is that? Did he do anything in particular?"

"He did many things... He's disrespectful of everyone when they're not around, even of his own parents or the Emperor. He even laughs at the Gods - especially at the Goddesses. He thinks women should have no rights and no word in front of men, he raped one of our maids and hit several others, and he tried to do the same thing to me last time we've met."

"Was there nobody else around?" he asked while listening closely.

"Servants, but they're mostly women, and they are scared of him. One of them informed the guards, but it took them long enough to arrive. He had asked for wine that day, so I took the jug from the table and hit him over the head. I didn't mean to smash it, but it did, and he was angry, dizzy, and soaked in red wine."

Apollo tried not to do it, but he ended up laughing. "Forgive me..."

"My father laughed too, when he heard," Carina smiled. "Andreas has been forbidden from entering our villa after that. This happened last month. Now though, he has sent us a letter saying that he tried to defend our villa from burglars and that my mother had died. He claims to be wounded severely, on his death bed."

The girl was now resting on her stomach by his side, supporting herself with one elbow and keeping her other hand over the man's chest. She could see the stars reflected in his eyes, bringing the most intriguing shades of blue to the surface. It almost seemed like his eyes were a reflection of the sky itself, but that couldn't be.

"I am sorry to hear that. I wouldn't want you to take this the wrong way, but personally, I doubt this Andreas could have been there fighting to protect your mother. I'm not saying anything else, but perhaps you should be careful when confronting him."

She felt his arm wrapping itself loosely around her waist, but it didn't feel wrong. "I expect that part to be a lie, as well. He is simply not the kind of man who would fight to protect someone - especially my mother."

"I'm curious about something. You said he mocks the Goddesses. Which ones, or for what reasons...?"

Unaware that she was talking to a God and that another deity was lingering at the edge of the forest, hidden by the dark and by the shadows of countless leaves and branches, Carina spoke freely.

"Well... for example, he thinks Juno being jealous of Jupiter for having lovers outside of their marriage is... stupid. He calls her crazy, and thinks Jupiter is a fool for allowing her so much freedom to speak and decide and, you know... basically to react to his deeds."

"You're talking about Zeus and Hera, right? Have you heard him say such things?"

"Yes, only worse. Everyone in his immediate circle knows this, it's not just me. If he gets comfortable enough to talk, he opens up, but if he's talking to a man who has authority, he would never admit it."

"What else did you hear him say?"

"Well... he thinks some deities are useless, like Minerva, or Venus."

Apollo didn't like what he heard. "Which Goddess was Minerva? I think I forgot."

"She represents wisdom and strategy, mainly. Venus is the Goddess born from the sea."

Alright... Zeus, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. This was getting worse and worse.

"Really? Does he see no point in wisdom?"

"I doubt he knows the word," Carina tried to laugh. She suddenly felt watched. "He's horrible..." she sighed as her smile disappeared.

"Did he call other deities useless or stupid?"

"A lot! Most of them, I believe. He praises Mars... Ares, you said?" She watched him nod in agreement. "And Pluto of the Underworld, though he thinks his wife returning to be with her mother every six months is ridiculous, and that Ceres should do her duties or leave them to a... more capable God."

That would surely anger Demeter. "Ceres is Demeter to us. Does he like any Gods? I suppose he isn't a fan of women."

Carina hummed to herself. "Let me see... Baccus, because he likes to drink and party; and he said once that he would do anything to get a sword from Vulcan, the God of the forge, so I suppose he thinks well of him. He also takes Neptune's part whenever someone talks about how he pretty much took whoever he pleased by force."

"Wine, by chance? That would be Dionysus, and Vulcan is Hephaestus. Right, I guess it makes sense he would approve of Poseidon. Did he say anything about his wife?"

"Pretty much the same as Juno. Why are you so interested? It kind of feels wrong to reproduce his ideas..."

"Sometimes, the truth simply needs to be said aloud. The world works in many ways... I've heard that the Gods don't usually answer to the Roman people because they use different names. If you were to speak about Jupiter, for example, nobody would pay attention, but if you mentioned Zeus's name, there's a high possibility that he will listen to you."

"Ah... makes sense," the girl agreed and let her head down on his shoulder. "I think Andreas may have killed my mother," she said in a low voice, "or at least had somebody else do it for him."

"Are you afraid to return home?"

"No," the girl answered to Apollo's slight disappointment. "My father is a great warrior, and he's taught me to wield a sword."

"You may return into an ambush, though."

"That's true... I suppose our lives are going to be in the hands of the Gods, given that they will decide to intervene," she said with a faint smile. "I'm almost certain it was a divine sign today that stopped my father and me from embarking on that ship to Egypt."

"Perhaps it was... who knows?" Apollo smiled in contempt and began playing with her hair. He had one arm around her and his fingers tangled in her soft red curls. He spun them around and pulled them gently, just to feel them bounce back into their spiral shape. "I'll come with you to Rome."

Carina quickly lifted her head to see if he meant it. "What if we walk into a riot? You could be hurt, or arrested. We've got no idea what's going on in Rome."

The man's smile grew. "I'm a decent warrior myself. I'm going to make sure you're safe, you don't need to worry about me."

"But I do!" She looked away. "Andreas is very skilled, from what my father says. What if he kills you?"

"I'll die a happy man if you kiss me."

The girl looked at him in shock. "Do you think this is a joke?"

"So you won't kiss me...?"

"I-I never said that!"

Apollo brought her back to his level and caressed her shoulders and the back of her neck. "You're so tense... Nothing will happen to me, I promise." He slowly turned on his side before laying the girl down on his drape. Apollo took a moment to admire her beautiful green eyes expressing everything her mouth refused, as that delightful and strange mix of anxiety and excitement. He kissed her and watched her give in to it, closing her eyes, and trying to respond.

Hermes tried to sneak up on Arthemis through the shadows of the forest but was met with an arrow pointed at his throat.

"Easy there, it's me. So he is in love! I knew it!"

The goddess lowered her bow and set her arrow back in its carrier. "Is it true? Is Ares really helping such an arrogant mortal?"

With a shrug, the messenger leaned against the tree from where he could get a good view. "I know he's helping a murderer, but that wouldn't be a first. I didn't know he had these ideas. Anyway, Zeus is calling a meeting tomorrow after dawn."

Arthemis sighed. "I thought he would..."

"Will you join us?" he asked, as instructed.

"This time, I think I will, only to see what comes of this Andreas mortal. I doubt Ares will be punished in any way - he is the son of Hera." Her disagreement was showing in her cold dark eyes and in the way the last words slithered off her lips, dripping in repressed feelings resembling only the worst.

"Great!" Hermes was about to leave when he stopped. "...Are you really going to watch it? It's kind of... you know... creepy?"

Arthemis puffed in annoyance before turning into a deer and running off into the forest. Behind her, Hermes looked at his brother with a smirk. He was met with a brief glare in exchange.

"So much for being grateful..." he hummed to himself as he finally left. Hermes knew that Apollo had heard their interaction earlier. There was no need to disturb him. There was also a good chance that Apollo would have anticipated this meeting - after all, if a mortal spoke ill of one divine figure, they were usually met with cruel punishment. This bastard was insulting everyone! Well, almost. Something was surely going to happen.

Before sunrise, Apollo helped Carina back to the residence of their acquaintance and led her inside quietly. She was to try and catch a few hours of sleep, which would slow down their departure enough for Apollo to return. He told her he had to make some arrangements so they could leave and because of the euphoria of the moment, the girl didn't question it. He wasn't a good liar at all, being a patron of the truth and of the law, but he couldn't exactly tell her he was going to meet with Zeus and the rest of the family. Apollo was pleased with how their mortal interaction was evolving and didn't plan on telling her who he really was just yet. He wanted to hear one word from here before revealing his identity.

Carina walked into her room quietly, through the dark. She was nervous to be sneaking around, but she didn't plan on getting caught returning home so late - or so early? - when her father didn't even know she had left in the first place. Once in her room, she undressed and laid into bed, covering herself well over her head. She was afraid her face might still be red, while her heart kept beating out of pace whenever she recalled the past few hours.

Slowly, the sky began turning lighter and lighter, fading from black to blue, and red, orange, pink, violet, and yellow as Apollo raised the sun again. It looked like a rather cloudy day, and it smelled of rain. He hoped there won't be a storm, as that would make traveling less pleasant, but he had no say in that.