The sunrise was bleeding across the horizon, and I could feel the heat beginning to reach me already in the orange and blood red glow. The hood of the convertible sports car was hot to touch, which wasn't surprising. It had spent years driving the sun across the sky. The heat didn't bother me as I slouched against the front of it. The windows were rolled down, letting the rock music blaring from the stereo thud against my eardrums. It was supposed to be stopping me overthinking things, but so far, it wasn't working.
Acacia Grace. The Daughter of Zeus. It was almost painful to think about. The idea that she could be caught up in not one, but two prophecies made me want to drive the car off the edge of the cliff and leave it there. And that was before I even considered the irony of me being the god of prophecy.
"Apollo."
I cast a reluctant glance sideways at my sister, Artemis. She was stood as far away as she could manage without being hidden from sight, with a slight scowl in her expression. Sighing heavily, I turned away again, folding my arms over my chest.
"You cannot act rashly," her warning came, the same warning she'd been delivering since the summer solstice. "If you're thinking about Miss Grace-"
"I'm trying not to."
There was a moments silence. "Oh, I see."
"No, you don't."
Artemis sighed, moving forward and stopping a few paces away from the car. "Apollo, even if she is the girl in the prophecy, even if she passes all the tests and is granted godhood, what do you expect to happen? However slight the connection is, she's part of the Great Prophecy. She's to stay with Perseus Jackson, and interfering in her life could interfere with his. You may be able to justify the first eventuality – presuming that Lord Zeus didn't kill you first – but not the latter."
"Is there a point?" I scowled.
"That no matter who or what you think Acacia Grace is to you, you can't go anywhere near her," Artemis said simply.
"I was aware of that," I said sharply, trying not to get too annoyed with her. I knew she was just looking out for me – and Acacia for that matter – but that didn't help much. It didn't change the outcome.
Artemis didn't look like she believed me. "There are ways to keep the two of you apart," she frowned.
I shot her a cool look. "Don't even think about it," I warned her. "If I have to stay away from her, so do you."
She hesitated for a few moments. "Very well. But I promise you Apollo, if you go anywhere near her, I will intervene, before Zeus and the others find out."
"And what if she doesn't want your help?" I snapped before I could stop myself, pushing away from the car and striding away from her before I did something I'd regret. I'd be waiting to meet Acacia Grace for almost four hundred years now, and now I'd met her, knew her even, everyone was trying to keep me away from her. The injustice of it all was killing me.
But Artemis's eyebrows had risen dangerously high. "You are a god. The girl is bound to be uncomfortable with the attention. The only reason that would change is you spending too much time around her. Whether she wants my help or not, even she will soon realise the danger you pose to her."
"Stay out of it, Artemis," I snarled through my teeth.
"No," she glowered. "Stay away from her, Apollo. Before you get the girl killed." Without another word, she turned and disappeared in a bright, golden light, leaving me stood with my muscles tensed and fists clenched.
The problem was, I knew she was right. The closer I got to Acacia Grace, the more likely it was that I'd get her killed.
And I wasn't sure how much longer I could stay away.
Author's Note: Just a head's up to those who have been asking, the sequel to The Chosen is on the way, the first chapter should be posted soon. It's called The Poison, so look out for it! PS. thanks for the reviews, it's great hearing your feedback! ~ HC