TW: While this story does not follow the same plot of assault like the source material "Lore Olympus," the following has themes of an abusive/toxic relationship and descriptions of panic attacks. This story will explore themes of generational trauma, abuse and toxicity in relationships, and mental health topics like anxiety. Please read at your own discretion.
She paced the room, her feet traced a path in the rug. She heard the door open, his steps were light, care free. "So, you're chasing after Daphne now? My roommate?" Her voice was firm but quiet. She had practiced this speech all day long.
His face twisted in confusion. "Hello to you, too," He said with a scoff. He seemed annoyed. He hated when she rushed into talking before greeting him. He rolled his eyes, "Kore, be reasonable. What we have just isn't working for me." His voice was pleasant, melodic, and yet the phrase fell out of his mouth like rocks. He walked over to the refrigerator, retrieving a beer.
"What do you mean this isn't working for you?" She asked, sheepishly walking towards him as he took a swig.
"I'm one of the Pantheon's most important gods - and you expect me to ignore everyone around for an unknown flower goddess?" He asked, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
Her eyes filled with tears. "Daphne's a nymph, what's the difference?"
Apollo pushed past her, settling into the couch. "Daphne isn't asking me to quit being me, Kore." He brought his phone to his eyes and scrolled through the beautiful faces on the screen. The university apartment began to feel smaller.
"So, asking for a committed relationship keeps you from being you?" She said with more conviction. "Then why did you pursue me? That's shitty." Venom wrapped around her words like the angry red vine creeping over her collarbones and up her neck.
Apollo kept his attention on his phone. "Oh, baby, come on… pretty girls don't talk like that," He said, taking another sip. He avoided her gaze, holding the power of the room. He felt her weakening from embarrassment. She hated disappointing him. He sighed, "Do you really think you're committed enough, little goddess?" He put his phone down, and stood up, walking over to her. He lifted her chin, "Do you really think we're at a level where you can just ask for my full attention and affection?" He kept a smile plastered to his face, but his eyes were stony, cold, no longer gleaming.
A tear dropped from her large eyes. "What else do you need for me to seem more committed?" She asked with a hint of desperation in her voice. "I don't want to date anyone else, only you. Is that not exclusive enough?" She asked, holding his arms tightly.
He didn't speak for a minute. To her in felt like an eternity. He watched her, making his eyes mimic hers. His stare bore into her as his irises tinted with gold."We could take it up a notch?" He suggested with a sly smile. He ran his finger down her soft, round cheeks. "Maybe let's take a tour of our sacred temples, catch my drift?" He whispered in her ear, sweeping his hand down her throat, his other held against the small of her back.
"I don't know if I'm ready for that…" She said quietly, pulling away from him.
Her pull made him want her more. He brought her in closer, arms wrapping tighter around her. "Kore, I can't deny my love for you. Your beauty is enchanting, and I long for you… Is that what you want to hear?" He breathed in her ear.
She stopped fighting him. "That's nice, if you mean it," She returned, quietly into his chest.
Apollo ran his hand through her hair. "I do. I would give you all of me, if you will do the same in return," he bargained.
She looked into his eyes, they glistened gold. The gleaming eyes of the sun god were persuasive and powerful. "And if I give you what you want, you-you'll ask my mother for my hand?" Her voice sounded so small when she was surrounded by him.
He kissed her lips, softly at first and her heart leapt with contentment. "Of course, my little flower. Whatever you want." He whispered in her ear. The next kiss was more forceful than the last. The euphoria in her chest was fleeting, quickly replaced with the loneliest night she'd ever known.
"Persephone, it's so good to see you again."
"Persephone?" Artemis nudges her roommate's shoulder. "Hello…?"
Her breathing hitches, Persephone tries to maintain her soft smile, keeping her expression calm.
Their eyes meet, his grin is so bright. Artemis rushes to greet her brother, hugging him tightly around the neck. Persephone waves, meekly.
Apollo stands tall, proud. His handsome smile and strong exterior could melt anyone if they stared too long. His eyes flicker with a golden gleam. I can face him…stand taller. Persephone takes a deep breath and straightens her spine, nerves churning in her stomach.
"You remember Persephone?" Artemis says to her brother.
He nods, "Of course, at university! You remember? When I dated Daphne." Daphne's name felt like a dagger to her chest. Keep your smile steady. She tried to swallow the feeling.
Artemis nodded, "Ah right, what happened to her?"
Persephone sees the gleam flicker in his eyes, "I think she went back to the mortal realm," Apollo says casually, like he doesn't remember the forest they met in. "How is the mortal realm, Persephone? You know, considering…" Like he doesn't remember the sacred grounds he destroyed in his pursuit.
"Apollo!" Artemis scolds her brother.
Apollo pretends not to notice his sister's reprimand. He eyes Persephone for another second and then pushes past her with a shrug. "Hmm? …Well, shall we get going? Hermes is waiting for us. Persephone, you still remember Hermes, right? He's currently on house arrest, you know." He speaks so innocently, letting his casual reminders sink into her with a big, toothy grin. "I tried talking Dad into letting him at least out and about in Olympus, but this one has been a bit tough." He feigns worry for his friend's social calendar. "No sense telling you about it, huh?"
Persephone doesn't let her smile falter. "Yeah," She says with the same artificial innocence.
"Kore! Look at you! I can't believe you're here!" Hermes greets his old friend with his famed enthusiasm. The messenger god beams over the goddess, pushing down his messy hair as to be slightly more presentable. "It's so good to see you. Arty, good to see you too. It's been awhile since we've had company." He can barely contain his excitement as the girls enter the home that has acted as his prison cell for the last month.
Artemis and Apollo walk further into the home, leaving the two at the door. Persephone can hear Artemis' complaints about the smell and condition of the fairly impressive Olympian apartment. Persephone breathes a quiet sigh of relief. "Hermes! It's been so long!" She says, squeezing her friend tightly around the midsection. "I'm so sorry you got caught up in this…" She mutters the apology to her feet.
Hermes lifts her chin. "It's ok. Apollo has been a good sport. He has things delivered to me, the irony," the playful god chuckles.
"I'm really sorry, Hermes."
He shrugs. "I could've said no," His kind tone is comforting. His expression is light as he makes his way to their overstuffed couch, flopping on the cushions. "The vacation is kind of nice, and I should be out soon," He says, sprawling across the furniture. "Anyways, I heard you survived a night with Hades?" Hermes wriggles his eyebrows at Persephone.
She sighs, trying to hide the wave of shame that seems to follow her. "So, everyone knows?"
Hermes shakes his head, his smile falling, "No one escapes the Olympus rumor mill."
"So it seems…" She looks down at her hands, still standing in the doorway.
He invites her to sit. "The boss isn't so bad, right?" He asks with a shrug and smile.
Persephone welcomes this conversation of her savior. The reminder of her morning steadies her breathing. "He seems nice enough."
"Ha. You must have some bewitchment over him… nice isn't the first word I'd use to describe him. But I like him," Hermes says as he fiddles with the remote, flipping through channels on the television.
Apollo clears his throat, entering the room with Artemis in tow. "Hermes, you know as well as I, Dark Zeus is only 'nice' to the goddesses he plans on sleeping with," He sneers, attempting a joke. While Persephone enjoys Apollo's disapproval of the King of the Underworld, another bout of shame crashes over her.
Hermes shrugs and frowns at his roommate. He returns his attention to Persephone, "He's been okay to me before, you know… just not the first adjective I'd use."
The night passes with an uncomfortable dinner and an entertaining exchange of stories between Artemis and Hermes. Persephone finds some relief in the shared laughter between the two, even under the heavy gaze of Apollo.
Hermes and Persephone move to the couch and he introduces her to some of his favorite movies, only watching minutes at a time, until his attention span runs out. The two stay on the couch, catching up and reminiscing into the late hours. The old movies and stories lull Persephone to sleep and Hermes retires to his room, letting his friend rest.
Sometime in the evening, Persephone's eyes flutter open. She finds herself under a blanket laying in the light of the old movie. The apartment is quiet, except for low murmurings of voices on the television. She lays there a moment longer, until she hears a sound of shuffling down the hall. She closes her eyes again.
She listens to the sounds of the floorboards creaking under his weight. Her bones stiffen like she's made of porcelain. Maybe it's Hermes. But the steps are too quiet, too smooth. She keeps her eyes closed, not too tight. If she's asleep, maybe he'll leave her alone. Her heart starts to race. The couch sinks beside her, he knows she's awake. "Artemis asked me to take you home, she had to leave for work," He says softly into her ear. The movie is loud enough to shroud their conversation in secrecy.
"Why didn't you ask me for help last night?" He asks, running his fingers through her hair. She struggles to breathe. "Did he touch you?" His hand makes its way to her shoulder, tracing the line along her collarbone. Apollo's voice is barely a whisper. "Kore…" His voice sounds playful, almost taunting. Tears prick at her eyes and she's brought back to the last time he said her name.
She doesn't answer, instead she stares at the television. "Persie, why are you acting like this? Is it because I didn't tell Artemis about us?" She doesn't respond, she holds her breath, trying to calm herself. "Why didn't you call me when you moved back? Don't tell me you forgot about me." His arms begin to wrap around her. She squirms underneath him, he can feel her panic, her power. "Are you mad because I told those other people about you?" He pulls her face closer to make eye contact with her. "I thought you loved me?" He whines, his gold speckled irises gleaming as if to spellbind her. She crawls out from under the blanket, attempting to loosen his hold on her. He holds her close, holds her still. "Think of what we could be…" His words are smooth, melodic, ringing in her ears.
Persephone is gasping, her heart in her throat. She tries to speak, but her mouth is too dry. "Our powers together…" he continues, "we could be unstoppable." He leans in to press his lips to hers.
"STOP!" The shriek echoes through the apartment. Surprised by the sound, Apollo pulls away, dropping her back on the couch.
"Hey, hey…" A tired Hermes runs out of his room, "What's all the fuss? What's going on?" He runs his hand through his wild hair, watching Persephone push away from his roommate. Hermes steps forward to intervene.
Apollo raises his hand to stop his friend. "Nothing. Artemis told me to take Persephone home." The confusion falls from his face, turning into a stony grimace. "I need to leave for work. Are you ready?" He asks Persephone, coldly.
She nods, keeping her eyes to the floor.
"Persephone, you're ok, yeah?" Hermes tries to catch her glance, but she keeps her head down.
Apollo waves his roommate away, ushering Persephone towards the door, "She's fine, can you make sure the movie's off?"
Hermes, slightly reluctant to leave, follows his friend's instructions. "Goodnight Kore."
Persephone sits uncomfortably in the passenger seat as Apollo muses over their past. Each street name reminds him of something he loves about her and each turn comes with an empty apology or a reminder of how good he was to her. His deep voice is like crushed velvet to her ears, trying to erase her memories of the past. Think of what we could be… think of what he did to Daphne. She pictures her friend's face in her mind. We can't be anything. She focuses on the road, feeling some hope when she sees Artemis' house.
Apollo parks the car and takes her hand in his. He brings her hand to his lips, saying, "This isn't over." Persephone keeps her gaze fixed down. He grabs her face, pressing his lips tightly to hers. "I'm going to do what it takes to win you back," He whispers, brushing his nose against hers.
Persephone pulls away, exiting the car. "I don't want you back," She says as she shuts the door.
She watches him drive away. A feeling of relief joins the shame she's been carrying. She makes her way into the house. The picture of Daphne's face follows her. In the dark, she can see the lifeless eyes again. She closes the door behind her, letting her body crash to the floor. The young goddess lets her body shake with sobs, until she can pick herself up and walk again.
With tears now silently streaming down her face, she distracts herself with her new phone, scrolling through the pictures of her peers. Finally, she comes across a familiar photo. His thin face is sharp and handsome, but she finds comfort in his eyes. "It's late, too late," she tells herself. She curls up in her bed, still studying his face. The emotion of the night gives her courage. "I know it's late, but I wanted to thank you again for your help, and for the coat." Message sent.
Persephone drops the phone on the bed, rolling over to stare above her. She can still see the eyes watching her, but she focuses on the lines in the ceiling, trying to draw his face in the darkness until sleep takes hold of her again.