A/N: For Asukai101

Vanni felt herself being gently lowered onto grass and tried hard to remember what happened. Blinking, she propped herself upon her elbows and stared accusingly at the figure before her.

"Apollo, you little liar," she spat.

Apollo managed a weak smile of triumph before silently falling to the ground.

Well, she felt no pity for him. She had only respected the gods' rules placed on man because she had believed that they too followed their own doctrine. But if the god of truth could tell falsehoods with ease, what gave them any right to punish a human for stepping out of bounds? Like Dane, she thought murderously. And all he did was crash a party.

"What do you want with me?" she asked when Apollo didn't speak. "Didn't have the nerve to capture my brother, so you settled with the next best option, huh?"

"Tell me, pretty girl, whether your brother will want to find you."

Vanni paused, a tremble of fear betraying her bravado. "Why? Where am I?"

"Answer me."

She considered lying, just to be spiteful, but her loyalty to Dane was too strong. "He won't need to find me. I'll find him."

"But if you were in grave danger?" asked Apollo immediately. When she didn't respond, he continued, "I already know the answer. He would do all he could to save you. Even lay down his life."

Vanni turned and slapped him hard against the face.

Apollo made no motion to defend himself. "You don't understand; no one does," he said. "I have no desire to kill you or even that bothersome boy."

Vanni thrust her face daringly near his. "Then tell me why you hunt us." Her voice grew soft and appeasing. "To face the knowledge of our future, of everyone's future, including your own, is a very lonely thought. What are you afraid of, Apollo? Whose future do you have strapped heavy against your back?"

Apollo's lips parted, and for a moment, Vanni thought she saw bitterness in his eye. But as soon as the thought even passed her mind, he spoke again in his impartial manner. "I'm afraid that you've taken too much of my time already. I've led you to the care of someone that I'm sure you'll grow to tolerate." Apollo lifted a hand and gestured to Vanni's back. She turned around, ready to scoff.

A man stood tall and strong, his eyes wickedly dark and his lips twisted in an arrogant smile. Vanni felt something ram hard against her chest.

Lust. This was the most beautiful man she had ever seen.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, his hand slowly reaching towards the hilt at his belt.

"I don't know," she said, embarrassed at her own breathy voice. Trying to clear her mind, she said, "Apollo kidnapped me and took me here."

"Taken by a god, eh? Well, aren't you lucky. Standing before you is a man who was blessed by a god."

Vanni tried to copy his careless manner. "An honor to meet you then," she said with as much sarcasm as she dared.

With a quick flick of his hand, his thumb grazed her face. "What cheek," he said. "Aren't you afraid?"

She felt her skin on which he brushed burn with longing. "Why should I be?" It was an honest question.

Gruffly, the man seized her by the wrist, half dragging her higher upon the hill. Fear evoked her common sense. Would he toss her off the pinnacle?

"Look down," he commanded.

She did so and gasped at the ocean of soldiers that swelled in the valley below.

"Welcome to the army, little lady. I'm Achilles, your new commander."

A/N: Please review...it provides so much encouragement! Many thanks.