Apollo, the charismatic and charming young god, found himself in a rather unexpected situation. Normally, he was notorious for his flirtatious nature, always ready to sweep mortals off their feet. But something was different this time. As he gazed upon the mortal girl, a strong desire to help her overwhelmed him. He couldn't explain it, but it felt like destiny had intervened.
Approaching her with casual confidence, Apollo couldn't help but notice her surprise, which caused her eyes to widen ever so slightly. Intrigued by her unusual reaction, he raised an eyebrow. "Hey there, you okay?" he asked, genuine concern in his voice.
Confusion clouded her face as she looked at him. "I'm sorry, who are you?" she asked, her voice filled with bewilderment.
With a boyish grin, Apollo introduced himself in his typically playful manner. "Name's Apollo, seventeen years young, and I live for hot dates and pleasant music," he said, his smile contagious.
Much to his surprise, the girl giggled lightly, shaking her head as she looked him up and down. "You're pretty funny," she commented, the sound of her laughter music to his ears.
Apollo couldn't believe his luck. Was this girl for real? Most of his family and friends found his introductions annoying or weird. Yet here she was, appreciating his playful nature. For the first time, he felt a genuine respect in someone's gaze. It was both flattering and bewildering. "Well, that's me. The super funny go—I mean, guy," he corrected himself, clearing his throat.
With a bright smile, the girl introduced herself as Sienna. Apollo couldn't help but think she was absolutely adorable. That much, he could certainly acknowledge.
Concern etched across his face, Apollo gently probed, trying to figure out the best way to approach the situation. "So uh... sorry for asking, but you seemed upset. Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice filled with compassion.
Sienna nodded slightly, her voice tinged with hesitation. "It's... nothing, you shouldn't concern yourself with me. It's a family matter," she explained, her eyes conveying a desire to end the conversation.
Apollo was about to argue, but the look on her face stopped him. She seemed resolute in her decision to keep things to herself. "I see... if you say so..." he mumbled softly, his concern still evident.
Unable to let it go completely, Apollo offered a sincere gesture. "But if you're ever in any trouble, I'll be happy to help. I know we just met, but I want to offer my support in any way I can," he said, hoping she would understand the depth of his words.
A genuine smile graced Sienna's face as she thanked him. "Thank you, Apollo. You're very sweet. I'll consider it," she replied, her bright smile melting away his worries.
As he let out a relieved sigh, Apollo couldn't deny the effect this girl had on him. She had managed to ease his restless heart and put his mind at ease. This unexpected encounter had brought him a sense of peace he hadn't realized he was missing.
As she walked away, she stole one last glance at him. Apollo released a long exhale, his mind still reeling from their encounter. Sienna, he mused to himself, was truly a captivating soul. It wasn't every day that Apollo crossed paths with someone so genuinely sweet and innocent. Most people he encountered, no matter how charming or polite, eventually harbored resentment towards him for simply being himself and doing what he did. And, of course, those people usually displayed an unpleasant demeanor.
Although most of his past relationships had ended amicably, he couldn't deny the disasters that lurked beneath the surface. Shaking his head in an attempt to dispel the negativity, Apollo redirected his thoughts to Sienna. What was it about her that ignited the desire within him to help? He rarely felt such a pull towards a mortal he had just met.
With a quiet sigh, he proceeded towards his biology class. Finally arriving at the classroom door, Apollo abruptly paused, his mind consumed by a vision. Taking a brief moment to ensure he wasn't hallucinating or misinterpreting, he saw a towering mountain overlooking a town. A surge of déjà vu washed over him, leaving him unsettled, and as he peered closer, he noticed a shadowy and disquieting figure lying beneath the mountain. Whatever it was, it exuded restlessness and a palpable danger.
A sense of dread enveloped Apollo, his apprehension growing with every passing moment. Yet, as he attempted to delve deeper into the vision, it abruptly dissipated, leaving him standing near the biology class door once more. Even for Apollo, the god of prophecy, this vision proved unsettling and terrifying. While he often received glimpses of future events, he had never encountered anything quite like this. A sinking feeling settled within him, convincing him that this wasn't merely a prophecy, but a grim omen.
"Apó tous theoús... what was that?" Apollo murmured under his breath, desperately pushing aside the unease that clawed at his chest. "That figure... where have I seen it before?"
Artemis couldn't believe what had just happened. How could she have let herself be so vulnerable, especially in front of a boy? If her brother or any of her half-siblings were to witness this side of her, she would never hear the end of it. Especially Athena, of all people. Just the thought of it made her cringe.
"I must be losing my mind... I completely lost control," Artemis muttered to herself, despair washing over her as she rested her head on her knees. That moment was too intimate, too revealing. She had acted like a complete idiot.
But he had been so kind, so understanding. His smiles and gentle words had become her lifeline, keeping her afloat in the challenging days. She knew she needed to regain her composure. It was just a temporary outburst, nothing to make a fuss about, even if she had never been this close to a boy before.
Right, it was nothing.
"I can't stay here for too long. I have another class. I should..." Artemis turned around, ready to leave the bathroom when an unsettling feeling churned in her stomach. Something was wrong.
Roar!!!
"What in Hades?!" Artemis cried out, her eyes darting around the restroom in horror. Her heart raced as the sound of a roaring beast reverberated from outside. What kind of creature could make such a terrifying noise?
Another roar shook the building, even louder than before. The screams echoed through the halls, and Artemis knew she had to do something. Class could wait.
"I should investigate," Artemis resolved, her determination guiding her out of the bathroom. As she neared the main hallway, the growling became even louder, emanating from outside. It was a fierce, animalistic sound, and Artemis didn't dare question why it sounded so angry. She opened the door that led to the outside and gasped at the sight before her.
In front of her stood a massive, red furry beast, snarling and growling with all its might. Artemis recognized it instantly—a Chimera. But what in the world was it doing here, at the school? Artemis couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that crept up her spine. She had no idea that monsters still lived so close by. They had been pretty calm and had avoided mortals for so long, so why would one of them choose to make an appearance now? It was beyond her comprehension.
But now wasn't the time to ponder such things. Artemis needed to get that monster far away from the school. And she had just the thing. Summoning an arrow, she took aim with practiced ease, her eyes locked on the creature. With a swift release, the arrow found its target—the Chimera's eye. It fell to the ground, unconscious. Artemis observed for a moment longer, ensuring it was safe to approach. It appeared harmless enough.
Artemis knelt down beside the beast, checking to see if it was still breathing. Thankfully, it was dead. "Great, that should do it. I'd better send you away before any mortals wake up or come back with reinforcements," she sighed with relief. She certainly didn't want that to happen. With a snap of her fingers, the Chimera disappeared in an instant. Satisfied that it wouldn't cause any more harm for the time being, Artemis made her way back inside.
As soon as she stepped through the doors, she was met with the gazes of Athena and Aphrodite, each sporting a different expression—anger and excitement, respectively. "What are you two doing here?" Artemis asked, annoyance evident in her tone. Their presence was clearly irritating her.
"We both sensed a monster outside and were surprised to see that you had handled it... irresponsibly," scolded Athena.
"Really? That's the thanks I get for saving the school?" Artemis sighed, exasperation lacing her words.
"Yeah, Ena, cut her some slack. She was pretty heroic," Aphrodite chimed in, nodding in agreement. The two of them stared at her, their raised brows silently questioning why she had even gotten involved.
"Well, whatever. I did what I believed was right, and I'm glad I was the first to sense its presence—otherwise, it could have destroyed this school in five seconds," Artemis stated matter-of-factly, brushing off their reactions. "We'll talk about this incident later. My gut is telling me that something even worse is going to happen..."
Though the two goddesses wanted to continue their conversation, they simply nodded, agreeing with Artemis's statement. This was definitely going to become a much bigger problem than they had initially anticipated.
