Chapter 4: Python
He was in the womb of his mother. He was hugging his precious sister. He didn't know much about the world, just that he loved the other being he lived with, the past nine months, and the woman who bore him was protecting them. He felt love. But he also felt fear, a feeling he didn't find pleasing.
It was from his mother. She was stressed, desperate, crying. But he could feel she was still trying to stay strong for them, her children. His sister could feel it as well and they prayed that everything would be alright.
He was not born yet, but he was precociously aware of many things. He knew that he and his sibling would have to go out someday to live their own life. But when?
This mother whom he could only fell, he loved her and wished he could protect her. He wanted to know why she was trembling. What was wrong?
Then, with his own powers growing, he was able to hear a name. A single name that he swore to never forget.
Python
Connected to his mother, he was able to catch an image. A blurred image but he could still see a shape. A huge monster with a long body that was running towards his mother. It looked horrendous. It acted as a hunter wanting to kill anything it saw.
And right now, it was after his mother. He felt her terror, her need for rescue, her begging for mercy. It made him angry.
How could this monster attack someone innocent and loving as the woman who was shielding him and his sister inside her belly?
He was furious! After love, fury was the second feeling the unborn baby felt so intensively. He only desired to go out there and erase the existence of this awful creature!
Python
He didn't how but as soon he would get out of his mother's womb, he would seek revenge! It was a promise he made to himself.
Then, his mother stopped shaking. She now felt calm. What was happening? Many hours later, he felt her pushing. The walls surrounding him and his twin were contracting to send them outside. It was not easy, yet.
And many hours later, his sister was gone. He was now alone in the darkness. Just why? Why was he unable to follow his sister? He then moved and his mother began to push again.
He didn't understand why but he was still trapped inside this womb for a very long time. No matter the efforts. He could feel his mother in pain. He hated himself for that. He swore to protect her but here he was only hurting her.
Time passed and he was still stuck there, almost believing that his fate was to never be born… Until he felt his sister close to the vagina offering her hands to help him. His dear and loving sibling was here for him!
And he came out.
As soon he was born, he kept his eyes closed. He must admit that he was afraid. He still remembered the only image he ever had in his mind.
A terrible and dark monster.
And it made him think again. What if the real world was like this vision? What if everything was just as ugly as Python? Until now, he just knew darkness and this bad picture. What he could expect from the rest of this world? Fear, sadness and sorrow just like his mother since the beginning of the pregnancy?
His thoughts were cut when he felt himself in a pair of arms. It was not his mom, he just knew that. But it was warm, protective and agreeable. He loved the way her fingers caressed his skin, the way her heart was beating. He heard her voice and was captivated.
Who was she?
He opened his eyes.
And there was no Python… Only bright and unbelievable beauty.
…
A few days after the birth of Leto's twins, Delphina went to visit Calypso to announce her they were both getting immortality! She reached Crete, the island where they grew up.
She perfectly guessed her dear friend would be at the beach, the same one where they were the day she created the dolphins.
There was Calypso. The braided black-haired woman was sitting alone on a rock, watching the landscape. It was a ritual for her to come here when there were nobody so she could enjoy the nature and feel at peace.
The new goddess came to her and shared with her the good news. At first, Calypso seemed truly surprised that her twin would dare to ask Zeus to give such a high gift to her as well. And that he would accept, no less!
But then, she was also feeling melancholic. And Delphina could easily perceive it in the eyes of her sibling.
"Calypso, what's wrong? Are you not happy?"
"Ah! Delphina, I… Sorry, it's just that I don't know how to tell you that."
"Tell me what? You can tell me everything, you know. I will never judge you!"
"I know. It is just that I recently took a decision. I travelled in the great sea recently and I have found a lovely island. It is small and there are not that much plants and animals living there, but I've still felt hugely attracted to it… And so, I have decided to go live there."
Delphina closed her mouth. She truly hadn't been prepared for that. It was so sudden.
"Which island? Where is it?"
"It is named Ogygia. It is near Sicilia."
"Wow! That's far."
And Delphina couldn't hide her deception. Her sister was leaving. Going far away from Greece, their home. But why?
"Why Calypso? I always thought that you will stay here in Crete. You realize that we will see each other less often if you go?"
"I'm sorry, my dear sister. I don't want to hurt you. But, look at you! You became a goddess! I want to find a purpose in life too. I don't know how, but this island calls me. I want to live there and make it grow. Maybe I can develop my own magic. I don't know. I've just felt a sense of belonging."
"But, are you not afraid to be alone?!"
"No, I found some nymphs of lower rank who are ready to follow me. They are nice. I trust them to bring me good company."
"Ho! I see."
Delphina was hurt. The way her sister spoke made her understand that nothing would make her changer her mind. She was leaving.
But then, she remembered when Calypso accepted her own decision to become the Mother of Dolphins and now a goddess! She would be hypocrite to not return the favor.
They were grown up now. Things would never be like they usually were during their childhood. It was just normal that they ended up following different paths.
"Delphina." Calypso whispered, wanting to comfort her sibling. "We will always be sisters. No matter the distance, nothing will break that bond between us. Ok?"
"Of course. And I respect your decision just like you respected my own. And I promise you that I will come to visit you frequently!"
And they hugged each other tightly. Love would always reign between them.
…
Delphina returned to the sea. She swam freely with the dolphins. She learnt to be at peace with the decision of her sister. Right now, she wanted to enjoy her first moments as a goddess. To be honest, she didn't feel that much different but the knowledge alone was something.
She was jumping playfully out of water with the marine mammals when she suddenly heard a call. She stopped. She heard it again.
As a divinity, her senses were truly precise. It was practical to listen to the mortal's prayers. But this was not a prayer.
It came from Delos!
The mermaid swam faster. Only one possibility could explain it. Leto must be having problems! Or maybe she just needed to ask her something. Well, she hoped it would be the second option.
But when she arrived at the island, she saw no one. Ok! To be exact, she only reached the beach, Leto might be at another spot. But usually, she hardly heard a call coming from a place not directly close to the water.
The mermaid thought that the best solution would be to swim the whole tour of Delos and, just after, to look in the middle.
But just when she was about to make a move with her tail, a deep voice broke the silence of the place.
"You are finally here."
Delphina totally got surprised. She turned to see behind her and couldn't believe her own eyes.
He was a man. A tall one but not too much. He was wearing a yellow cloak that was covering his waist and legs. Another one was covering his neck and shoulders. He was exposing his muscular chest that seemed to be sculpted by the greatest artists. Its skin had the texture of the marble and looked very soft.
He was beardless. He possessed blond curly hair that was long enough to land on his shoulders. However, it was not the same shade of blond as hers. Her hair was like the wheat. His was more like gold. Another thing that was golden was the huge bow he held in his right hand like a proud warrior.
She will be honest. He was the most beautiful man she had ever seen in her long life.
She swam towards him. She didn't know why but somehow his face felt familiar to her. But she was pretty certain she would remember if she would have met such a handsome being before.
Not wanting to be left in ignorance ever more, she decided to ask. "Who are you?"
He raised his eyebrows, seeming surprised by the question.
"You don't remember me?" He said with a melodious voice. "Well, it is true that I changed a lot since the last time we saw each other. I cannot blame you for not recognizing me."
Hum? She was supposed to know him? The goddess was definitely confused.
"Sorry, but can you just tell who you are?" She requested.
"I am Apollo."
"What?!" She jumped.
The revelation agitated her completely. Wait! That was impossible! Absolutely impossible! It was clearly just a good prank! But then, "Apollo" came closer to her and even entered the water.
She noticed his blue eyes and then she finally recognized him. She just knew it, but it was still insane!
"How can you be Apollo? Last time I saw you, you were only a baby and it was… Only four days ago!"
There was no way he could have grown up so fast!
Standing up before her, the god could just smile.
"Well, I grew up. That's it. As you can see me."
And Delphina thought she was probably overreacting. After all, should she be that much surprised? She heard about Athena being born fully adult from the head of Zeus and Aphrodite being born from the sea from Uranus's genitals. And herself, she saw Artemis helping her mother in the labour of her brother at only nine days old!
Seriously, she may be born as a nymph, Delphina could still be impressed by the craziness of the world of the Gods.
Ant talking about crazy things, she also thought about something else!
"Wait a minute! Is it me or you just affirmed that you remember when we met?"
"I do. I still keep in my mind the picture of yourself looking upon me while I was in your arms and will keep it forever in my heart."
Delphina almost blushed. This revelation was a little... weird. She meant… He was only a baby! He wasn't supposed to hold memories of this moment… just like he wasn't supposed to look the same age as her right now.
She was going to need time to get used to that new reality. But for now, she just wanted to know something.
"Ok. I got it. You are Apollo. Now, will you tell me why you called me?"
And suddenly, the young new god appeared truly serious, almost authoritarian like the powerful being he was.
"My father Zeus made my sister and I Olympian gods, the highest rank for a divinity after the big three. And so, it's time for me to make me known through the world and expand my own cult."
He looked ambitious, very ambitious. Like pretty much all gods, but for someone so young, such determination was still troubling.
"What it has to do with me?" Delphina asked.
"I need to travel around the world. Well, in fact I would like you to bring me to a specific place. And I want to go there in a particular form: the form of a dolphin."
"And why?"
"It is so far one of the most divine animals. One worthy of me to be known as in the eyes of mortals. But I also know that despite the fact I have the power of shapeshifting, no one can transform himself into a dolphin without your permission, not even my father, Zeus."
It was true. But still, it was an unexpected request. And a daring one! She knew that most Gods were arrogant, but still, at only four days old!
She crossed her arms.
"And what convinces you that I will agree?"
"You will refuse?"
"Well… Can I just know where you want to go?"
Apollo just smiled.
…
She did transform him into a dolphin and guided him to the place he sought to reach.
He desired to go to Pytho.
She just said ok and agreed to help him without asking any more questions. But deep inside her, she was troubled. Just what were Apollo's intentions? As soon they arrived at the beach not far from Mount Parnassus and took back their human forms, she saw him looking all serious and ambitious again. Very prideful and angry. And from nowhere, he also made appear his golden bow with arrows in his quiver attached on his back.
He didn't look young at all and stood up as a warrior watching badly his final destination.
It kind of scared her.
"Ok! I brought you to Pytho like you requested." Delphina mentioned. "But just why, you still didn't tell me."
"The center of the world is there, right?"
"Yes. It is."
"Then, this is where I am going to settle my sanctuary." He said with such fiery determination in his eyes.
Delphina looked at him without knowing how to react. He was far more ambitious than she gave him credit for! Athena and Poseidon were already ambitious to try to claim Athens, one of the most powerful City-State, but to claim the center of the universe? Was he crazy?
"Have you lost your mind?" She expressed. "Don't you know that this place already belongs to Gaia? And it is guarded by a powerful monster!"
At this last mention, his hand grasped more tightly his bow. She could even see his veins. Apollo was still staring at the mountain in an obsessive way.
"Python." He whispered with a frightening tone. "The one that attacked my mother."
"Apollo? Everything is alright?" A worried Delphina asked.
The new god turned and looked at her in a more comforting way.
"Don't worry for me, Delphina. However, I want to ask you to stay here. I would hate to put you in danger."
"Wait! Just what are you about to do?"
"I am going to avenge my mother… I am going to kill Python."
This affirmation stole the voice of Delphina for a while. Four days ago, she encountered a cute baby boy smiling at her. Now, he had been replaced by a blood hungry man. She didn't like it. Even if she could understand the motivations.
"Are you sane?" She said. "You are only four days old. There is no way you can be able to handle such a strong opponent!"
"Just like there is no way I can be an adult right now." He simply replied. "Don't underestimate me. You would be surprised by all the things I am able to do. But now, stay here. I promise you it will not be too long."
And armed with his bow and arrows, he took the road, leaving her there.
Delphina was speechless. She still had difficulty to digest the way her day was going. Here, she just met Apollo, one of Leto's babies, as a full grown up handsome god. And that same Apollo was now going to slay Python to claim one of the most mystical sanctuaries in the world!
She still remembered her first and only encounter with the dragon snake. She never saw it with her own eyes but the rest was enough to traumatize her and make her shake with the thought alone. It didn't improve on her own phobia of snakes!
But there was a strong voice that couldn't bear the idea of him facing that monster all by himself. She didn't care that he was the son of Zeus, a new Olympian, he was still only a child in the logic of lifetime!
Reassembling all her courage, Delphina made her decision. She moved her feet and went to the same direction the bright god took.
…
On the left side of the same river as last time, Delphina ran. She soon joined the god that was advancing on his way towards Mount Parnassus.
"Apollo! Wait!"
Shocked to hear her voice, the young one turned his face to watch her coming to him. He didn't seem pleased at all.
"What are you doing here?! I told you to stay there! Why did you follow me? It is dangerous where I go!"
Delphina almost growled. She hated being talked to like if she was a child, in particular when she was far older than the other one. Keeping her own pride, she defended herself.
"Listen. I passed nine days of my life helping your mother to give birth to you and I would dislike to have my efforts wasted by having you killed four days later."
"I am immortal. How could I be killed?" He replied, amused.
"You know what I mean! You still can be seriously hurt. Does your mother at least know what you are intending to do?"
"She knows but she could do nothing to prevent me. And my sister accepted my decision."
"Artemis? Don't tell me she is grown up too!"
"What if she is?"
"Ok! I got it. But I am still not letting you go there alone."
"Delphina, don't make me repeat." He said seriously. "It is too dangerous for you."
"Python only attacks bad people. If I don't treat him, I am ok. This is not going to be your case."
"You believe that? Well, I think you heard the wrong things about this monster."
"What do you mean?"
"Python's purpose is truly to protect the Oracle of Pytho, but… It also attacks any person it meets. No matter if they are good or not. And sometimes, the snake goes out for a walk and kills any unlucky mortal on its road. This is why only courageous people dare to go to the Oracle."
Delphina was truly horrified. That explained why there was no mortal last time she went there. Python was a real monster after all in any sense of the word!
And she trembled in fear when she realized that, in her naivety, she tried to go to Pytho last time…still being a nymph, and so able to die. Now, she was immortal but still how close she had been to death!
"So, are you going to go back to the beach where it is safe?" Apollo asked again.
But still, it didn't make her change her mind. And so, in her stubbornness, she looked at him with determination.
"No, I am still coming with you or else, I will be hugely worried. I may be helpful in some way. I am full of resources."
Apollo sighed. But then he smiled.
"Your concern really flatters me. So I will let you come. Just stay close to me at least."
Delphina had won. But she couldn't celebrate. She was still scared but refused to let the god know it.
And they continued to walk.
…
They stopped just before a cave dug inside Mount Parnassus. The atmosphere here was everything but comforting.
Skeletons were scattered. An awful smell dominated the air. Not a single plant was growing around. The ground was black…probably of dried blood.
Fear increased inside Delphina's body. She still remembered the shadow. She cursed Apollo for desiring a shrine so heavily guarded. But at the same time, it was her own decision to follow him. Was it really a wise idea?
She felt Apollo taking gently her wrist. She looked at him. He appeared really worried.
"You are scared." He said as an affirmation.
Delphina couldn't lie to him.
"You have been brave enough to come here. But please, just go hide behind a rock. I promise you I will be fine."
She hated to be told what to do, but she knew she would be unable to confront her own fears. She doubted that Apollo would be able to slay the snake, but somehow, his presence reassured her and made her feel safe. So, she obeyed him and chose to trust him.
Hiding behind a big stone, she watched the scene. Apollo was holding his bow with an arrow, prepared to shoot. He was screaming in front of the entrance of the cave.
"Python! I am Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto! Two weeks ago, you chased my mother… It was a mistake. And now, I am here to let you know why. Show yourself!"
A loud noise resounded. A huge shadow was coming. The goddess was almost holding her breath.
And then, she finally saw it.
A head as big as a cow was rising and coming out from the darkness. It possessed big eyes with vertical pupils. A black forked tongue was sliding and agitating continually from a hole in its mouth. Its long body was covered of scales of different colors forming a motif of irregular brown diamonds surrounded by dark lines with a white belly. Its body was contracting to move, its small legs being almost useless if it wasn't for the claws.
Delphina trembled. She always hated snakes but this creature will forever haunt her nights. It looked so deadly!
And yet, Apollo looked calm and ready to fight. It was about to shoot an arrow when Python suddenly charged at him in a fast and strong move that provoked a large cloud of dust.
For a moment, Delphina could see absolutely nothing. She panicked. Was her friend hurt?
"Apollo!" She called.
But she realized too late her mistake. Python rose from the mess at the sound of her cry and was now bigly interested by the woman.
Knowing herself in danger, Delphina began to run. Like she predicted, Apollo couldn't fight it and now the dragon snake was after her!
The hissing monster was fast. The goddess needed to hurry! But sadly she ended up in a cul-de-sac. Again! But this time, she was surrounded by rocky walls. There was no water where she could escape.
She cursed her own limited powers. Far away from the sea, she was pretty weak.
But she couldn't think about it longer. Python was straight behind her. She turned around and moved backward until her back hit the rock. She was trapped. She fought strongly to not cry. She knew she was now immortal but she could still feel pain. She now regretted to have followed Apollo. She was the stupid one here!
The snake was coming closer. She could almost feel its forked tongue. Her heart was furiously beating.
And suddenly, an arrow passed quickly, rubbing Python's nose. It didn't completely attain its target but it was enough to make the victim scream in pain. Delphina turned her face to see Apollo standing on a rock and holding his golden bow, proving he was the one who shot the arrow.
"Leave her alone!" He screamed, angrier than before. "Your opponent is me!"
And provoked, Python hurried up in the direction of the god who, confident, ran with a godly speed.
The Goddess of Dolphins tried to calm her nerves. She was safe now. She owed it to Apollo. Maybe he was tougher than she gave him credit. She was still unsure. She decided to follow them, keeping in mind to not do the same mistakes and avoid attracting attention.
She ran. She prayed Zeus to protect his son. He was still so young! What if he got hurt and traumatized from this experience? What if his pride was destroyed and he got difficulties to gain self-confidence again?
But she was totally wrong.
She heard a cry so loud it could even be heard in the Underworld. And thankfully, it wasn't from Leto's son. She ran faster until she reached the famous village of Pytho.
And then, she saw something she will remember forever.
Python lay down in front of the entrance of the Temple of Gaia. An arrow pierced its head. Over the dead monster, he was standing.
A god more handsome than any other. A god as strong as the big three. A god shining under the light of the sun which illuminated him with great majesty. Powerful, graceful, athletic and proud.
Victorious, Apollo looked purely magnificent!
The habitants of Pytho bowed and knelt before such splendor. They were aware they were in presence of a being far greater than them. A being who freed them from the tyranny of Python.
And Delphina finally stopped to underestimate this four days old divinity.
She now understood that Apollo was destined to be one of the most powerful, important and influential gods of the Greek Pantheon.
Thank you for reading.
The location of Calypso's island is not very clear so I just picked one by myself. By the way, it is said that the reason she was on this island was that she helped her father during the titanomachy. So, she was punished. Of course, it is not going to fit in this story, so I changed it.
I am very lucky that the fight between Apollo and Python was very short. Damn, I hate to describe battles!
I am quite happy with my depiction of Apollo (really not easy) but feel free to let me know your own opinion.
If you know that myth very well, you will be able to guess what is coming next chapter!
See you soon!