Of Ambrosia and Stone: Pandora's Curse

20

Groggily, I contemplate waking up. But my eyelids feel too heavy. Too exhausted.

Throughout the night, my eyes would only open when Chiron would perform his rounds. Other times, dreams whisper along the edges of my mind. Nothing immersive.

The sudden feeling of being buried by rocks steals the last bit of air in my lungs.

My peaceful dreams vanish. Instead, I”m in a river. Dark and inky liquid surrounds me. Water flooded into me. Pressing against my chest. Throwing my eyes wide, I gasp. Blinking several times. I couldn’t figure out what was going on.

Artemis presses her face into my shoulder. Laying on top of me, she hugs me tightly, so tight that my eyes water.

I spit out the silver bobbed hair that found its way down my throat, as she blurts, “I thought you were dead.”

“Me too,” I gasp.

Broodingly, Apollo stares at me from his position in the doorway to the infirmary. Hands bracing at the top of the door, I glance away from looking at his impeccable biceps. “Chiron is the best healer in the land. If anyone could have saved you, it was him.”

“Sir, you”re too kind,” Chiron replies as he extends his front hoof and tucks the other behind him. Bowing as low as a seven-foot-tall centaur could.

Striding over, Apollo moves toward me. Holding his head high, his attention is off of Chiron. Eyes locked on me. Through the corner of my eye, Chiron rises from his kneeled position.

Pinching my face, Artemis snaps my face in her direction, staring at me intensely. “Don’t pull this shit anymore. You just about gave Apollo a heart attack.”

“I doubt that.” I chuckled. “It was probably the quicksilver.”

Snorting, Apollo grins. “Good to see that you are still you.”

“Apollo, stop being such a poser,” chides Artemis who’s curled next to me on my bed. “You should’ve seen him these past three days while you’ve been here. He has been insufferable. Terrified. He sat in a chair beside you. We practically had to drag him away for court business.”

I hear a grumble from over my shoulder.

Artemis chuckles at her brother”s annoyance. Gripping onto me like the fates may choose to rip me away from her any second. “I think you”re forgetting something.”

Gruffly, Apollo mutters, “Thank you for coming back for me.”

“I didn’t come back just for you. I came back for Artemis too,” I reply in a matter-of-fact tone. Pretending to be aloof.

Snorting, Artemis buries her face on my shoulder. “Pandy, careful,” she warns. “Please don’t break his heart. He has already had a whole lifetime worth of that. My brother doesn’t need any more.”

Clawing at the center of his chest, Apollo continues in a strained voice, “Regardless, it was a kind gesture… That you did for my sister. I”m relieved you weren’t mortally harmed under my watch.”

I nod softly. Analyzing the man before me. For being one of the brightest rooms in the castle, Apollo brings a dark shadow with him. “Why would you care if I was harmed? You didn’t seem phased about the satyr.”

“I know this may be difficult for you to grasp but I want you to be happy and healthy here. Our home isn’t your prison,” he states in a matter-of-fact tone. As though trying to remind me of what’s been told to me several times. “My heart maybe made of stone, but my soul is still here.”

I ask softly, “Is the plague spreading?”

Apollo stands, watching me. His look is unreadable.

Dang, what I wouldn’t give to be able to read minds.

Sitting up from her cuddled position, Artemis sits up and she demands, “Apollo, you should show her. She’s a right to know.”

“Know what?” Raising my eyebrow at the pair, the two lock eyes. Having an inaudible conversation.

Is it a twin thing?

Maybe an immortal thing?

Or maybe a twin immortal thing?

Bobbing his head once, Apollo begins unbuttoning his satin dress shirt.

“Wow, cut it out. Your sister is right here,” I throw a hand down, pointing in her direction.

Flat ignoring me. Apollo continues until he reaches the very last button. Hesitating, the god looks down on me.

Is he feeling modest now?

Tugging his shirt slowly apart, I focus on anything about his muscles but fuck, I”m only human.

Apollo’s center was chiseled. Reminding me of the marble statues in Karpathos.

As he shifts uncomfortably, a sly smile plays on his lips, hinting at his desire for acknowledgement. “You know,” I remark, meeting his gaze, “You can put your chest away and use your words.”

“Look harder,” he instructed.

“That’s what she said,” I mutter as Artemis elbows my arm. “Ouch! Not a god. Careful of the token mortal.” My voice was playful but there was an ample amount of sarcasm laced in my words.

Sitting up I look closer at his chest.

Since coming, the marble has spread like a disease progressing through his body.

Where it was once focused centrally on his sternum, it’s now further into his pectorals. The twins were deadly silent. Enough for me to know that I”m getting somewhere. I ask, “Why is it progressing so quickly?”

Artemis shrugs. “Unknown. We were hoping you”d have an idea on how to heal us.”

“Why would I know?” Arching my brow, I look between my companions.

“... Because the oracle said you would know how to stop it,” Apollo states hopefully.

Groaning, I correct, “Not necessarily me.” I remind them. “A maiden from the mortal world. Not Pandora.”

Apollo’s grip tightens slightly on my hand. “But if anyone could figure this out, it”s you.”

Gods, that’s a lot of pressure.

Pausing, I think back to the failed healing potion. “How do you expect me to find those answers when I”m locked in my room.” I give Apollo a pointed look. Raising an eyebrow, I challenge him to respond.

Tactfully, he avoids my comment, questioning Chiron about my treatment, healing progression, and the expected release date.

Turning to Artemis, she shrugs knowingly.

Feeling exhausted, I chose to change the subject. “What happened after I passed out?”

“When you hit the floor, the mercenaries from Stormhold lashed out. Sure enough, they had the weapons you discussed.” Apollo sighs. “The quicksilver would have put me down for the count. I”m grateful you took the drink from me, though you will never pull a stunt like that again.”

“A stunt? You were the one who drank the wine off the floor. Was saying that the wine was poisoned too subtle for you malaka? Stupid immortals,” I mutter.

Artemis challenges, “Watch it. There are more immortals than my malaka younger brother.”

“I”m your lord!” Apollo stated indignantly.

“You”re also my brother,” retorts Artemis.

“You”re also the one that practically licked the floor at the sight of the spilled wine.” I sighed, “What happened to the mercenaries?”

“They were taken care of,” Apollo says blankly.

Nodding, relief spreads through my chest. A tension that I didn’t know was there.

Apollo moves closer to the bed, giving Artemis and Chiron a pointed look. To which, Artemis blurted, “Chiron! I forgot that I wanted to show you some… flower clippings that Apollo gave me. Do you think you could identify them?”

Arista whispered, “Oh for cute. She’s trying so hard to assist him. The Moon Goddess is a budding wing woman for her twin.”

Missing the not-so-subtle cue, Chiron raises an eyebrow at the shenanigans of the twins and states, “Flower identification was never my strong suit.”

Artemis smacks her forehead at the centaur”s response.

Playing along, I offer, “Well if you can’t identify them, you can bring them to me. Back in the mortal world, I was kind of a plant girl.”

Turning I see the stressed face of the god sitting inches from my feet. The Sun God pinches the bridge of his nose at his sister’s antics. “Thank you.” I giggled at his groan to which he turned to observe me. “Yes Chiron. Maybe you and my twin will take a look first.”

Artemis reached up and linked her arm with the centaur. Which is quite a sight. Even with her being fairly tall, her arm was craned at an uncomfortable upward angle. She practically drags the healer out of his infirmary. “Hey!” Chiron bleats, “I have things to do.”

“Yes, and plenty of time to do it later,” Artemis states while winking.

Suddenly, a look of understanding extends across his face. “Ooh! Yes! Let’s go look at those bark samples.” The centaur attempts to play along.

“... Flower clippings,” Artemis corrected.

The healer blushes. “Um, yes.”

The two hurried out of the room. The door creaked shut with a loud CLANK!

Smiling broadly, I returned my gaze back to the god who looked like he was going to have a stroke. Warmth radiances from him. Comfortably spreading up my legs.

Delicate and regal eagles spread across the ceilings. Their bright paint shockingly crisp marble walls. Coughing softly, Apollo regains my attention. Pulling at his toga’s loose collar. “I”m not good at showing gratitude. In fact, it’s one of the few things that I suck at.”

I snort, “But humility is certainly your strong suit.”

“As modest as a god can be.” He smirks. His voice has a low timbre. Gulping, his Adam’s Apple bobs. Two golden orbs stare at me. Like gazing at the sun. Reaching toward my hand which clasps the pale woolen sheets. Halting, his hands fell millimeters short of me. “Thank you, Pandora.”

Apollo has a way of looking at you. An intense look that makes you unravel inside. My insides melt like gold burning in a fire.

Taking his hand softly, he doesn’t flinch at my touch. I”m certain it must be frigid compared to his. Giving him a tentative smile, I say, “You”re welcome… But I have some requests. Things that will make our time together easier.”

“Anything.” His eyes were as large as the sun. Full of light.

“I don’t do well staying in any one place for too long. I know you want to protect me, but I need to be able to explore. Even if it’s the palace.” Watching him, I look at how he’s taking my request.

“Was that why you were trying to leave?” Hurt leaked into his voice as his hands surround mine. Like he was preventing me from disappearing before his eyes. “If you need the freedom to move around the palace in order to be happy, it will be done.”

“It is something that I need.” I nod. “Growing up, I moved around a lot. Sitting still, planting roots… It’s all foreign to me.”

Plus, there’s dad.

“But I didn’t leave because of you… During the solstice before we met, my dad was taken by another god.” Tears spill down onto my cheeks. “I- I- I- wanted to find him.”

My shoulders begin to shake, but even now a weight feels like it has been lifted from them.

“Pandy,” his voice dropped to a soft and comforting tone. “Had I known that I would’ve had my informants looking into this. I”ll have my liaisons in the other courts be on the lookout for him.”

This was a pain that I won’t need to bear alone.

“Thank you,” I whisper as my voice cracks softly.

“Don’t mention it.” With his thumb, he dries my tears.

His gold eyes pour into me.

Drawing my hand to his lips, he kisses each of my fingers, he adds, “I have a gift for you, but it will be best received when you”re in full health, only if you choose to accompany me.” Raising an eyebrow, he begs for me to answer.

A wishful look that I couldn’t explain.

This Apollo felt different.

Kinder than before.

Nodding, I reply, “Yes, I would like that.”

Apollo grin gleamed. Brighter than anything that I have ever seen.

Hope. The look was full of hope.