Apollo (Contemporary Mythos Book 2)

I’d worn a circular trail in my living room carpet, waiting for Apollo to make an appearance. I chewed on my thumbnail to the point of shredding it and drank two glasses of wine. Was this how wedding day jitters felt? Not regret or doubt, but a mixture of excitement and nerves over the thought of changing your life? Sharing it with someone else?

A whoosh sounded behind me. I smiled, turning, expecting to see Apollo. The smile faded once long red hair came into view.

“Artemis?” I shifted my eyes. “Where’s Apollo?”

“He’ll be here shortly. You and I need to talk.” She placed her hands on her hips.

“About what?”

She held her hand out. “Come on. I want to show you something.”

“You’re not going to try and talk me out of this again, are you?” I squinted.

“No. You’ve made up your mind, but doesn’t his twin sister get a chance to know her future sister-in-law before they go through it?” She raised her brows, wiggling her open hand.

I bit down on my lip and slipped my palm against hers.

She transported us to a forest thick with emerald leaves. The sun peeked through the canopy, casting curved shapes across the ground. Sparkles floated within each sunbeam.

“Where are we?” I trailed my hand through the mystical light.

Artemis touched a tree trunk. The wind tousled through the branches as if the plant were greeting her. “My forest.”

“Your forest? Did you create this?”

“Yes.” Her eyes gleamed.

She produced a golden bow with matching arrows and quiver, holding them out to me. A deer, its coat a calming chestnut color, emerged from a nearby thicket.

“I’m not much of a hunter. I—” I gulped, taking the bow into my shaking hands.

She shook her head. “Relax. I wouldn’t ask you to hunt these creatures. They’re my family.”

“They’re other gods?” I blinked.

Her serene laughter carried into the wind, harmonizing with it. “No. A separate family. One who doesn’t betray, plot, or connive.”

I held my arm out, and she slipped the strap of the quiver over it.

“I brought you here to talk and shoot some arrows.” She conjured her own bow, a metallic silver one with ornate leaf designs. “Because if you’re going to be a part of this family, archery is a must.” She grinned.

“Fair.” I smiled back.

Artemis splayed her hand, a circular target formed from surrounding twigs, leaves, and tree branches. “I want to apologize for ever coming between you and my brother.”

“Your heart seemed to be in the right place.”

She notched an arrow and let it loose, slamming it into the bullseye with ease. “We’ve been around a long time. Save for Daphne, who was forced on him by Eros, I’ve never seen my brother in love.” She peered at me over her shoulder, her thin auburn brows raising.

My heart sang. Love was a strong word—yet it didn’t frighten me. What we shared, the sun god and I, couldn’t have been described as anything else.

“Aside from the fact he’s a Greek god, I’ve never met anyone like him. My heart reacted to him the same way it does to music. Captivation.” I raised my bow, remembering the tips Apollo taught me and loosed the arrow. It hit just to the right of the bullseye.

Artemis bowed her head. “You’re a natural.” She twirled an arrow in her palm. “How much do you know about me, Laurel?”

Would she take offense if I told her next to nothing?

“Goddess of the hunt. Lunar connections?” I scratched the back of my head.

She chuckled. “It’s alright. I’m used to Apollo being center stage. In the literal sense anymore.” Launching another arrow, she split her first one down the center, gaining bullseye number two.

“When I was a child, I told Zeus I wanted to remain a maiden forever.”

“A maiden? You mean, like, a virgin?”

“Yes.”

“And have you?”

She laughed. The skin at the corners of her eyes creased as Apollo’s did. “Yes. You don’t ask for something from the King of the Gods and not uphold your side of the deal.”

The concept in my brain was bizarre yet admirable. “I commend you. That’s—well, it’s rarely heard of in the mortal world anymore.”

“I don’t judge you if that’s what you think. Besides, no virginal goddess would ever work out with my brother. He drives passion into everything he touches.” A snarky grin played over her lips. “But I suppose you already know that.”

My cheeks warmed, and I wrapped both hands around my bow.

“No man has ever tried to—” I paused, pursing my lips together, unsure how to finish my question.

“Take it from me?” She cocked an eyebrow. “They have.” She pulled back the string of the bow, glaring at the target. “And they’re all dead.” Triple bullseye.

My grip tightened on the bow. “Apollo mentioned Ryan being your boyfriend. You haven’t—” I made a circular motion with my hand.

Her gaze dropped to the dew-covered grass. “Ryan is Orion. He’s my best friend. I do love him, but not in the sense one would think. I almost lost him once. If you ever hear versions of our story, don’t believe any of them.” She frowned, reaching her hand out to an approaching golden stag. “I, nor my brother, killed him. Gaea did send a scorpion, but it never pierced his skin.”

“How?” I extended my fingers toward the stag’s fur, glancing at Artemis for permission before touching it.

She bowed her head. “Because my arrow pinned the scorpion to a tree where it dried out and died.”

Brushing my fingers over the stag’s glowing fur, I paused at her words.

Artemis, goddess of the hunt, was intense. I liked her.

“I should take you back, Laurel. Apollo will get antsy at your absence.” A corner of her lips curled.

“He can’t come here?”

“Only if I bring him. It’s my little sanctuary away from everyone and everything.” She gripped my shoulder. “If you ever wish to borrow it, you need only ask.”

What started as my assumption of her being a conniving little sister blossomed into what I hoped to be the start of eternal friendship.

“I’ve never had a sibling,” I mumbled.

Her shoulders bounced with laughter, and she covered her mouth with the back of her hand. “Well, you’re about to get plenty of them. And most you probably won’t be able to stand, but I’ll tell you this…” She slid the moon charm of her necklace between two fingers. “You can trust me above them all.”

“Thank you. Truly.”

With one blink, I was back in my apartment. A radiating heat traveled down my back. I smiled and turned around to face him.

“You wished to see me, ma’am?” He bowed, twirling his hand in an exaggerated flourish.

I eyed him peculiarly. “Did you just get here?”

“Seconds ago. Why?” He cocked a brow.

I’d keep Artie, and I’s girl time to myself for now.

I stepped up to him, running my fingers over the taut muscles poking out from his shirt sleeves. “I have a request.”

“To the bedroom? Or maybe the kitchen this time?” He gave a devilish twist of his lips.

“Not that.”

He frowned.

“At least, not right now.” I stared at his chin.

He caressed my shoulder. “What is it?”

“You told me you hadn’t shown the full extent of your powers. Can I see it? All of it?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “If you’d like. I’d need to take us to the middle of nowhere, however. Not only do I need to avoid someone seeing, but—I don’t want someone getting hurt.”

“Hurt?” I gulped. “Alright. Show me. Wherever we need to go.”

He took my hand and popped us to a desert with rolling sands in any direction as far as the eye could see. The bright blue sky was cloudless—the sun, unrelenting.

“Isn’t this a bit overkill?” I squinted from the brightness.

My hair stuck to my neck with sweat, and I twirled it, holding it in a bun at the base of my head.

“No.” He splayed his hands and took a deep breath, staring at me. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” It almost came out more like a question, so I gave a firm nod.

He swirled his hands in a circle. Tendrils of fiery energy, shards of molten metal, and glittering wisps pulled from the sun gathered within Apollo’s palms. His eyes glowed orange as the swirls formed a sphere. The more he moved his hands, the more plasma pulled from the sky, creating a miniature sun. Vapors of orange and yellow gas drifted around it. He held back his arm with the orb floating in his hand and launched it forward. Like a fireball, it plowed into a nearby dune, exploding.

My jaw dropped.

He appeared beside me, his skin the bronzed metal of his true form, eyes still glowing orange. “My other powers involve fighting. It’d be easier to show the past if you let me.” There was no wind here. Not even a breath of it, but his hair moved like there was. He dipped his face closer. The glowing of his eyes vapored like the sun itself.

“Show me everything, Apollo.” I wasn’t kidding. If I was going to go through with this, I needed to know it all.

He grabbed my shoulder, his eyes glowed brighter, and the sand around us morphed into a battlefield. Smoke plumes floated off an ancient city in the distance. Sounds of arrows whizzing through the air, swords clanging against the metal of other blades and shields, and cries of anguish poured out. It was like watching the world’s largest movie screen. Soldiers stood in thinner metal chest armor, their legs exposed save for shin guards. The helmets had vertical black plumes with a piece that went over the nose bridge and wrapped around the face’s sides. All it was missing was Brad Pitt and Eric Bana, and I would’ve been in the movie Troy.

A man with golden hair dressed in gleaming golden armor stood in front of one army. I couldn’t see his face, but the way he carried himself, the bronze skin—Apollo. He removed a bow half the size of his body from his back. The golden sheen of his skin reflected the sun, giving him an iridescent glow. Several arrows materialized onto the bow. He pulled back his arm and loosed. Several arrows turned into hundreds, raining down on the opposing army. Their red plumes were recognizable from miles away. The Greeks. Did he fight with the Trojans?

As the arrows struck soldier after soldier, their faces broke out in sores oozing with pus. They dragged their hands down their faces in agony before choking and collapsing to the ground dead. Apollo kept the arrows flying, but the Greeks advanced with little relent. Apollo raised his hand, pulling power from the sun as he’d shown me. He brought his arm down, and several lines of Greek soldiers caught flame.

He threw his shoulder into an approaching soldier, using his bow like a sword as he fought through several with little effort. He darted through them like a shark, protecting as many Trojans as he could by deflecting blows, allowing the Trojan soldiers to run them through with their swords.

“Achilles,” a man from the back shouted.

Apollo looked over his shoulder and then back to the Greeks. A man stood motionless amidst the chaos, rolling the hilt of his spear in his palm. He raised it, pointing the tip at the man who’d shouted his name. The other man lifted a bow and arrow, shooting at Achilles. Achilles positioned himself, ready to easily dodge the arrow’s wrath.

Apollo raised his hand, taking control of the arrow. He redirected it and made a slashing motion. The arrow lodged straight into Achilles’ heel, and he dropped to his knees—defeated.

I blinked and stood back in the vast desert in front of Apollo. His hand fell from my shoulder, his eyes morphing back to normal as he gazed down at me.

“You were part of the Trojan war?”

He nodded. “Yes. They couldn’t see me, but I aided the Trojans.”

“If you were with them, then how’d they end up losing? Tricked by the Greeks?”

“The gods can only assist so far. Several factors come into play. Mostly humankind having freewill as well as The Fates.”

I shook my head, staring at my shoes sinking into the sand.

“Did I scare you with all this?” His fingers grazed my arm.

“No.” I laughed. “I think the fact you didn’t scare me frightens me more.”

“Why did you ask to see my powers?”

I ran my fingers through his golden locks, trailing down to his strong jawline. “Because I wanted to be sure.”

“Of?” He took my hand.

“That I wanted to spend the rest of eternity with you.”

His face softened, and his expression resembled someone who’d been blindsided. “Are you serious?”

“Did you think I’d say no?” I covered his pendant with my palm.

He touched each side of my face, caressing my cheeks with his thumbs. “I didn’t think anything. I didn’t even try to imagine what I’d feel like if you said yes.”

“You don’t have to imagine it.” I stepped closer and went up on my tip-toes. “Because I’m saying yes.” I kissed him, feeling his smile against my lips.

“I feel like the Fates wove you themselves.”

“All this time, I thought my muse was a woman, and here it was you.” I cocked my head to one side. “How does this work exactly? Becoming an immortal goddess?”

He held a finger up. “Before we get to that, I think you should meet a few friends of mine. Only two of them are available. The other seven are scattered across the globe.”

He waved his hand in the air. Two women with olive complexions, skin gleaming like metal, and wavy black hair down to their knees appeared. One woman fanned herself as she looked around.

“Why in Tartarus are we here?” She spotted me, and her eyes widened to the size of grapefruits. “And why didn’t you warn us there was a mortal?” She circled her hand around her head.

“You don’t need to disguise yourself. She knows.”

The other woman quirked a brow. “This is new, Apollo.”

“Laurel, this is Thalia, the muse of comedy, and Euterpe, the muse of music.”

The actual muses. I pressed a hand to my chest. Like a rabid fangirl, I tripped forward, grabbing each of their hands to shake. “It is a true honor to meet you.”

The two muses exchanged perplexed glances, shaking my hands.

“You must be a special woman, Laurel,” Thalia said, eyeing Apollo sidelong.

Apollo slipped his arm around my waist. “You have no idea.”

Euterpe put her hands on her hips. “Is she why you called for us?”

“Yes. I wanted you all to meet because if she accepts, I wish to make her your new leader.”

I snapped my head in his direction with an open mouth. The two muses held similar expressions.

“A kind sentiment, sir, but she’s mortal,” Thalia responded, pointing at me.

Euterpe pressed a finger under my chin, lifting it to align our gazes. “You’ve agreed to become a goddess, haven’t you?”

“Really?” Thalia asked, leaning in.

“I have. Am I crazy?”

Euterpe arched a thin brow. “Yet to be determined.”

“She’s a ballet dancer and is moved by music, unlike any other mortal I’ve seen. Inspiring people would suit her.” Apollo rested his hand on my lower back.

“She’s certainly pretty enough.” Thalia grinned.

“You’ll understand, my lord, if we have a moment or two with her? Alone?” Euterpe swirled her arm around me.

The last thing I saw was Apollo stepping forward, his arm outstretched before I stood in a white room with no walls, floor, or ceiling. It was boundless.

My heart thudded against my chest, watching the two muses circle me.

“Close your eyes, Laurel Berg,” Euterpe said, her voice silky and smooth.

I did as she asked, clenching my jaw to keep it from chattering.

“I want you to inspire us without looking at us,” Euterpe whispered. Her words fluttered over my ear like the vibrato of a string.

Thalia giggled. “Euterpe, how is she—”

“Shh,” Euterpe answered.

Music played—steady percussion followed by bellowing violin and cello strings. A woman’s soprano voice flowed in—charismatic and soulful. My chest swelled, already feeling my sinuses stinging.

“What are you feeling, Laurel?” Euterpe asked.

“I—” I shook my head, pinching my eyes tighter. “I can’t describe it in words.”

“Try,” she urged.

Two male voices entered, their tone deep and brassy. The euphoria in my chest coursed down my arms. They sang in Latin, their melodies blending like cream and sugar.

“It’s like an electric current sizzling across my brain, sending signals all over my body to succumb to the music.” A lump formed in my throat. “Here is where you’re safe, the music says. Here is where you escape.”

A tear rolled down my cheek, and I curled my hands into fists. The music stopped, and a hand pressed against my face. I fluttered my eyes open. Euterpe stood in front of me, tears flooding her eyes. Thalia was behind her, hands clutched under her chin, cheeks stained with tears.

Euterpe pulled in a deep breath. “So much passion flowing through you with nowhere for it to settle. I understand now what our lord sees in you.”

“I haven’t felt like this in—” Thalia made a shimmery handkerchief appear and blew into it before continuing. “Ever.”

We appeared back in the desert to a nervously waiting Apollo. He rolled his shoulders once spotting us, his eyebrows raised in anticipation.

“You’re right, my lord. This mortal form wastes her abilities,” Euterpe said.

Apollo reached for my hand, pulling me to his side. He kissed the top of my head, curling his arm around me.

“Well, I certainly approve. I’m sure our sisters will too, right, Euterpe?” Thalia bounced on the balls of her feet.

“Yes. If Laurel becomes our leader, we’ll accept her with open arms,” Euterpe replied, bowing her head. “You’d be an asset.”

A breath hitched in my throat. A muse stood before me, a real-life muse, telling me I’d be an asset. If I hadn’t convinced myself before, that would’ve settled any doubt in my mind.

“I couldn’t agree more.” Apollo trailed a finger over my cheek, soothing my still bubbling nerves. “Thank you both.”

They both bowed their heads. Thalia giggled and clapped her hands together before she and Euterpe disappeared in a flash of light.

“Would it make you happy? Leading the muses?” He asked.

“Happy?” My heart raced, and I hugged him, shoving my face into his shoulder. “A part of me, something deep and buried, is telling me it was what I was meant for all along. This—” Taking both of his hands, I raised them to my lips, kissing across his knuckles. “All of this.”

His eyes twinkled. “Are you ready, Sparky?”

I nodded. “Yes. You said there’s three with the power to turn me?”

“I’d like to avoid my dad at all costs. My uncle Hades well, I doubt you’d like where we’d have to go to see him, so that leaves the other uncle.”

I raised my brows, waiting for him to finish his sentence.

He chuckled. “You’re going to be a Greek goddess, and you don’t know much about our world. It’s ironically funny.”

My cheeks blushed. “Wait. I know this. Your dad is Zeus, and his brothers are Hades and…” I tapped my finger against my lips, thinking back to high school. Snapping my fingers, I pointed at him. “Poseidon.”

“Very good. Ready to meet him?”

“It’s almost unfair to ask me that anymore, I think.” I winced and wrapped my arms around him, waiting for him to port us to wherever Poseidon was.

We appeared by an ocean of clear blue water. I pressed a hand to my stomach, willing it to keep its lunch down.

“Please tell me I won’t get sick anymore every time we pop somewhere once I’m a goddess?”

“You won’t. Promise.” He shielded his eyes with his hand from the sun. A comical gesture to me, considering he was the sun.

“Where are we?”

“Florida.”

It shouldn’t have surprised me Poseidon lived near a beach as a mortal. Was he also disguised as a mortal? Maybe he was a merman or something?

“Ah. There he is.”

A surfer rode a wave in the distance, dragging his hand through the water as he dipped into the curl. When he came out of it, he flopped onto the board, letting his legs dangle off the sides. He dragged a hand over his spiky blonde hair, trailing it down his face and ridding it of water.

Apollo put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. Poseidon looked over and cocked an eyebrow before paddling to shore, curling the board under his arm. He had a broad, chiseled jawline and a longish face with a cleft in the center of his chin.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” he said, shoving the board into the sand. “Long time, brah. What are you doin’ in Florida?” His ocean blue eyes shifted to me, unabashedly scanning me from head to toe.

“Can we talk somewhere private?” Apollo asked, resting his hand on my hip.

Poseidon cocked an eyebrow at Apollo’s hand placement. “Follow me.”

He led us to a lifeguard tower, and once we all climbed the wooden stairs, he ushered us inside. Poseidon peeled off the top part of his wetsuit, letting it hang from his hips. He was cut, muscular, and wide. His pecs bounced as he crossed his arms and sat on the edge of a desk in the corner.

“I came to ask if you’d turn her into a goddess,” Apollo blurted.

Poseidon looked at me then back at Apollo and burst out laughing.

Apollo frowned before rubbing the back of his head.

Poseidon’s laughter faded away, and he stood up. “Dude. You’re serious.”

“Yeah. I am,” Apollo responded.

Poseidon prowled over to me, keeping his arms folded. “And you’re on board with this?”

I managed to squeak out the word “yes.”

A wicked glint formed in his eyes as he stared down at me, his gaze narrowing. “The answer’s no.”

Apollo’s fingers flexed. “You’re going to make me go to him, aren’t you?”

“Why not? What’s it been neph, a hundred years? You’re lucky you’re his favorite son, or he might’ve forgotten about you.”

Apollo sneered. “Favorite? Ares hasn’t worked into his favor yet?”

I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling like an intruder in the conversation.

“Ares? Please. The dude’s a complete buzzkill, as always. Oh, boohoo, there aren’t any more epic wars to fight. He seriously needs to get a hobby.”

“So, you’re not going to do it?” Apollo gave a subtle shake of his head.

Poseidon slapped him in the shoulder. “Don’t be such a barney. I’m shitting with you. I’ll do it.”

“Thank—” Apollo started.

“On one condition,” Poseidon added, holding a finger up.

Apollo’s eyes lifted to Mount Olympus. “Of course, there is. Out with it.”

“You’ll owe me a favor.” Poseidon’s eyes narrowed with mischief.

What was with these gods and favors?

“Fine. As long as it doesn’t involve porpoises,” Apollo replied.

Poseidon frowned. “What’s wrong with porpoises?”

Apollo raised his brows.

“Alright, weirdo. No porpoises.”

Apollo gave a curt nod and reached for me behind him, leading me toward the King of the Seas.

I stared up at him, trying to imagine him with a trident in hand. “What do I have to do?”

Poseidon grinned with his Hollywood white teeth. “Just stand there and look pretty.”

Apollo growled, glaring at his uncle, but didn’t move.

“Calm down. She’s all yours. I’m not into the idea of a ball and chain anymore. Been there, done that. Didn’t bother getting the t-shirt.”

“Wait, this makes us married?” I widened my eyes at Apollo.

“Not in the sense you’re thinking, but it does tie you to him.” Poseidon winked at Apollo. “Fail to mention that part, did ya?”

“I thought it only applied to you three as kings. Needing your consorts and all.” Apollo played with the chain around his neck.

“She was born a mortal. To become a goddess, she needs a sponsor, if you will. And that’d be you. Crystal?” He turned his gaze back to me.

Connected for eternity. Hearing it from anyone else besides Apollo made it sound so…final.

Apollo cupped his hands around his mouth before dropping them to rest on my shoulders. “You’re absolutely sure about this?”

The warmth from his touch pooled in my belly. The inspiration tingled over my brain, and I remembered how it felt to move the muses themselves with my words.

I locked eyes with Poseidon and lifted my chin. “Do it.”

“Bossy. I like her.” Poseidon touched the tip of his finger to my forehead.

Ripples and tingles shot down my face and into my chest. My vision blurred. When the sensation reached my toes, I gasped. Poseidon’s arm caught me, preventing me from slumping to the ground. My eyes tried to focus, but I felt dizzy. All sounds muffled around me as the world spun.

“Your goddess awaits,” Poseidon said.

He shifted me to Apollo’s arms, and I buried my face in his shoulder.

“Give her this when she comes to.” Poseidon handed something orange to Apollo. “You should catch a wave before you leave. Rad barrels out there today, brah.” He gave a hang-loose gesture with his thumb and pinky before slapping Apollo on the back.

Something caught Poseidon’s attention in the distance. His smile faded, and he became transfixed on it. He didn’t bother to say goodbye or look at us as he walked away. I squinted at the shoreline, where a brunette woman poked trash littering the beach and shoved it into a garbage bag.

“Sparky,” Apollo whispered.

“Hmm?” I looked up at him, my eyes focusing.

“How do you feel?”

“Not any different. Should I?”

He held the orange object to my mouth. “Probably because you haven’t become immortal yet.” A rock-like substance brushed my lips.

“What is this?”

“Ambrosia.”

I opened my mouth, and he slipped it in, his knuckles grazing my lips. After chewing it several times, I gulped it down, and the reaction was instantaneous. My back arched, and light burst from my chest. A hum vibrated in my core. I felt revitalized—renewed. Ready to conquer the world.

I sat up, staring down at my arm, an iridescent sheen over it. My hair glowed. Not the kind of glow after a recent trip to the salon, no, an actual glow. Apollo smiled at me, tracing his fingers through my hair.

“You look beautiful.”

“This feels—” I took his hand and pressed it to my chest if for nothing else to make sure it wasn’t a dream. “Incredible.”

He pulled me to him, kissing me. The warmth I’d felt from him as a mortal intensified in my new body. It called to me, luring me in like gravity.

He leaned back. “I have an idea.”

My eyes fluttered open, lips still puckering the air.

“Why don’t you and I go on tour as a duet? I can play electric cello. You can dance. We’ll inspire people across the globe.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks, which surprised me. Goddesses cried?

“I’d get to be a principal.” I grinned.

“You’d get to be a principal.” He grinned back.

I jumped on top of him, sending us toppling to the floor. He landed on his back with a thud, laughing. I beamed down at him, the glow of my hair framing his face.

“When do we start?”