Author's Note: There's a twist in this story, could you guys guess it? No, there are no clues, so if you get it right, it will be luck, or you have an extreme imagination.
Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson.
Plans
I remember when I was little, I was the typical rebel princess. I used to refuse wearing those big, bulky dresses and high heeled shoes. I told my parents that it's stupid to look good when nobody would be able to see me anyway. I always told them that the only way I would wear those dresses were if they allow me to go outside.
I had to wear the dress all day, and they didn't even let me go outside the palace.
Of course I understand them, though that didn't stop me from being stubborn. But still, I always knew my loved me because of their overprotectiveness.
And now they're giving me away? I can't believe they're letting some perverted sun god marry me. I mean, they could've told me who my fiancée is, or just introduce me to him or something, but no. I only discovered who he was after he kissed me. Did they wanted my first kiss to be a surprise?
"Percy, I'm sorry about kissing you. I didn't mean to steal your first kiss. I should've have known your father didn't tell you about me. Your bewildered expression was enough of a clue." Apollo stated, laughing softly.
It registered in my mind that he is apologizing, and at the same time laughing at me. Besides, I didn't say anything.
So now he reads minds too?
"No, actually, you're saying those things out loud."
"Oh." I muttered. "Well it's true! I mean, all my life they forbid me to go out and meet people, because all along they planned me to have an arranged wedding." I turned to him. "What does it matter? It's not like I'm an heiress or something, so why do I need to marry a god? What difference does it make marrying you than marrying someone I chose?" My voice was laced with frustration. Apollo run his hand through his hair, thinking.
"Look, I know your upset about this whole arranged marriage thing. But, could you please just let me explain?" Apollo grabbed my hand and stared at me, unwilling to let me go.
I sighed, and nodded.
Apollo and I have been walking around my secret garden for a while, both lost in our thoughts. He wanted to give this marriage a chance, but could I? And how can he think that this is gonna work when we barely knew each other anyway? All I know is that he is the god of sun, music, poetry and other more stuff, and all he knew about me is that I'm the bratty daughter of Poseidon. None of those things are basis for a good relationship.
The path had turned to limestone, and ahead we could see a fountain embedded with seashells surrounded by a couple of benches. Still holding my hand, Apollo led me to one of the benches, and we sat. I rubbed my hands together, still not used to them lacking gloves. I wonder if my dad did it on purpose, making me marry Apollo because he alone can touch me. I feel so trapped, not wanting myself to be forced into something like this. It will only hurt both of us.
"Well, this is nice. The two of us sitting together and NOT slapping each other. " He started, chuckling. "This is a great start on being in a relationship."
I rolled my eyes. "We are NOT in a relationship. Just because we kissed each other and you CAN touch me, it doesn't mean we're together." I crossed my arms and refused to look at him.
"You're really not gonna give us a chance, are you?" He said. I couldn't tell if he was sad, angry or confused. His voice sounded sincere enough for me to turn at him.
"Have you been, like, in love before?" My voice was soft and fragile, like a teenager asking if her crush likes her, which might be true, except for the fact that I am NOT in LOVE with him!
"Well, not really. More like infatuation than love." He explained. "It's really hard to find the one, especially for a god. Spending an eternity with someone? That's the biggest commitment you can make." He shook his head, smiling a little. "One of them is bound to break their promise. Both of us are results of our parents being unfaithful, right?"
I nodded.
"How do you know?" I asked.
He frowned. "How do you know what?"
"How do you know..." I say. "When you're in love with someone?"
Apollo had a faraway look in his eyes. I don't know if he's reliving a memory, or simply thinking of another cheesy line to tell me. It was neither.
"Sparks." He whispers, looking at me with interest. "When you kiss the person you love, there will be sparks."
I didn't know what to answer that. A moment of silence passed between us, neither of us starting a conversation. As crazy as it sounds, whatever was between us during the first time I slapped him, has changed into something else in just a few hours. I have a feeling it changed into something more.
"Was there?" I stared at Apollo, confused.
"Was there sparks between us, when I kissed you?" He asked.
I stared at my hands.
Maybe. "I don't know." I simply say. "I wasn't paying attention."
The sky underwater changes from blue, to violet, to black. I could never see the stars from down here, they aren't bright enough. Clouds always cast dark shadows, blocking my view. The sky was never interesting enough for me, it's just a blanket of darkness covering us.
I've never seen it sparkle before.
"Well, I hope you're paying attention now." Apollo smiled. He held my hands and suddenly, our lips are only inches apart. I didn't know what was gonna happen next until a loud BANG! interrupted us. I looked up and saw the underwater fireworks my dad prepared for my birthday, signaling the end of the party.
"It's late." I tell him. Apollo nods, disappointed. He offers me his hand.
"Come on, I'll take you to your room. You need some rest."
Before I can tell him that I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own, he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the palace.
"Dude, there's no way we can make it through this snow storm!" A boy exclaimed to his fellow hiker, while struggling to stand against the extreme weather.
"Yeah!" his companion squinted his eyes, but all he can see were the blanket of snow covering the mountain, falling fast like a waterfall of ice. "Nature's messing with us!"
"I think Mother nature wouldn't dare to enter my domain." An icy cold, female voice whispered across the tundra, startling the hikers. They frantically looked around for the source, but could not find anything except each other and the snow. Before they could say anything, the snow suddenly formed a tornado and immediately covered the two boys, wrapping them in a tight embrace. It was gone as fast as it came, leaving a pair of ice sculptures. Two hikers with the misfortune of passing through these snowy mountains.
Sinister laughing echoed throughout the place, and out of the snowy mist, a figure of a woman appeared. With her snowy, white hair, pale complexion and crystal blue eyes, she was none other than Khione, the goddess of snow. With a flick of her hand, the snow storm suddenly subsided, leaving her ice sculptures alone in the sea of snow. Grinning wickedly, she walked towards her new toys and happily traced the figure of one of the hikers. Satisfaction glittered in her face.
"You are quite happy with your new toys. I supposed ice figures are good company?"
Khione glanced around, and stopped her eyes at a tall woman wearing a sea green gown and pearl jewelry. Her flowing black hair was tucked in a braid, blue eyes sparkling with intelligence, and her face set in a regal manner, looking at Khione with a frown.
The snow goddess smiled. "The plan worked! My father is even more weakened at this state! Soon, he would no longer have the power to rule this kingdom, and by then I will be!" She laughed and twirled around, stopping and grinning maniacally. "Nobody will be safe from my wrath, thanks to you. I guess I owe you that one." She said to the woman while turning around to look at her ice sculptures again.
The woman sighed. "Ah, yes, the plan." She walked towards the snow goddess, standing beside the ice sculptures. "I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for a prophecy from the fates." She continued, tracing a line on the hiker's face. "I was about to be wed to my fiancée, giving me his powers. Of course, that is until the fates deemed I was unworthy, saying that a different child of the sea was destined for it."
She laughed, making Khione step back, uneasily.
"So after that, he left me, way more interested in someone he hasn't met over someone he has known for centuries!" She gripped the sculptures hand so tightly it cracked. "I wasn't about to let some sea brat ruin my plans, so I created a new one." She turned to Khione, glaring, making the snow goddess shift. "It was simple. You take out that brat for me, and in return I gave you the sun pendant, giving you the power to make your father weak. But still...that's just temporary."
Khione frowned. "You mean to say, as soon as it wears off, he'll be as powerful as before!?" A slight nod from the woman confirmed her suspicions. "I killed that stupid baby, you should've kept your part of the deal!" She exclaimed.
The woman was unfazed. "I could've given you something that could weaken your father permanently, but I need a certain someone to give it to me willingly. I would have had it if you weren't so incompetent!" She pointed a finger at Khione. "That baby you were supposed to kill!? She's in her father's place right now, talking to the person I was supposed to marry!"
Rubbing her forehead, the woman calmed herself. "If we don't stop that marriage, they will find out about our plan, and send us both to Tartarus!"
Khione huffed at the snow goddess, rolling her eyes. "Please, there's no way she would survive. I placed the ice inside her. If she is still alive, it only means she has a few days left before it consumes her. By then, there is no reversing the curse I gave her." Khione laughed as she placed her hand on the sculptures face, turning to look at the woman.
The woman merely glared at her. "The wedding will occur next month, how can you be sure she'd be dead by dead?" She set her piercing eyes on the snow goddess.
"Relax." Khione whispered. "We can just postpone the wedding a bit. They don't know the deadline. She will turn to ice as soon as the winter solstice begins." She said confidently.
"She'd better, or else." She woman grabbed ahold of one of the sculptures, and with a snap, it broke into a million pieces. She turned around and disappeared into a mist.
"Father, I told you. Percy is as stubborn as a rock. See? She bailed faster than nymphs running away from Dionysus." Triton stated. He and his parents were sitting on their respective thrones, watching as the guests dance the night out in the ballroom floor. It has been an hour since Percy had left the palace, with Apollo following her. Apparently, their plan to make Percy fall in love by NOT telling her who she's gonna be marrying has failed. Now, they are keeping an eye on the door in case Percy has a change of heart and decides to agree on marrying Apollo. Their hopes are getting lower by the minute, as the party is about to end.
"Oh come on, its Apollo. We both know he's extremely good with women." Amphitrite said, trying to calm the nervous energy around them. Triton however, only sighed.
Poseidon rubbed his forehead. "I guess it's time we send someone after them. Somebody tell the guests the party's over, I would but-"
The sound of a door opening stopped Poseidon's thought, and the three of them stared at the entrance. Standing there were Apollo and Percy, both of them wearing a smile and Percy's hand looped around Apollo's arm. Slowly, they approached Poseidon, Amphitrite and Triton, with Apollo whispering something to Percy and making her laugh. Poseidon and Amphitrite stared at them in disbelief, while Triton smirked, impressed with Apollo. As Apollo and Percy reached her parents, he gave a slight bow.
"My lord, if I can have your permission to escort your daughter to her room? I'm afraid I have to leave now, and I think it's time we all get some rest, shall we?" He stated, still holding Percy's hand. Poseidon and Amphitrite continued to gape at their linked arms in shock. Triton cleared his throat.
"Of course." He said cheerfully, his tone suddenly turning serious. "Just don't get any stupid ideas." He warned. The sun god smiled and nodded, leading Percy upstairs, away from the crowd. With Percy's content expression and Apollo's charming personality, Poseidon and Amphitrite breathe out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness." Poseidon exclaimed. "I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Well, I think I'm going to bed. Come now, Amphitrite." With that, he and his wife rose from their thrones and disappeared in a green mist, leaving Triton alone with the confused guests, wondering what's going to happen next.
Triton smiled. "Party's over everybody!"
I opened the door to my room, breathing in the familiar scent. I stepped inside and turned around to look at Apollo.
"Thanks. It was...nice meeting you, I guess."
He smiled. "Of course." I smiled at him one last time, before starting to close the door. He raised his hand and stopped me.
Raising my eyebrows, he smirked evilly. "You do realize that even if you don't love me, we're gonna get married right?" I glared at him. I can't believe he's threatening me after he just tried to kiss me, twice!
"But don't worry, I'll make fall in love with me."
I gritted my teeth. "Oh really? Well let's see who outlasts who."
He laughed. "That's fine, I like challenges, and I like it when your playing hard to get."
With that, I slammed the door at his face, breathing furiously.
Oh, it's on. I thought.
Sorry for the late update, I'll explain on the next chapter:)))
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