22
Being discharged for a second time in only a couple of weeks, I was confined to my rooms based on healer’s orders. The centaur recommended that I rest for the next week in bed.
Much to my surprise, in the coming days Apollo brought me bouquets of irises. Vibrant violet blossoms coupled with slender leaves. With a new vase each day.
With each visit, Apollo’s nervous small talk makes me grin. He’d ramble about the funniest of things, the weather, the flowers, and many other random topics.
Was he anxious? A god?
As I sit up against my headboard, I hold a book, though I”m not reading. Lost in my thoughts, I contemplate the Sun God.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
“Come in,” I cast my eyes back down to my book. Flipping through the pages to my dog-eared page, I read:
He further solidified his place amongst the Gods by becoming the consort of Demeter, Lady of Arva. Their union produced one child, Persephone.
His years with the Olympians eventually came to an end when he stole the sacred fire and gifted it to man. The fire sparked in mortals a passion, curiosity and creativity which is composed of their spirit. For his reckless disregard of the orders of Olympus, Zeus banished him to live amongst the humans, leaving his wife and then teenage daughter.
The door creaks open to reveal who I had hoped. “Enjoying yourself?” Apollo chuckles. Standing tall, he gingerly holds a vase and on the other hand a brown paper wrapped bundle of flowers.
Snapping my book closed, I scrunch my nose as I grin. “Yes. I find reading peaceful.” Nodding, he places the day-old vase of flowers on the coffee table. Irises are filling up my room. On the mantle of the fireplace, on both end tables, in the bathroom, and any other surface that he deems proper.
Pursing his lips, he replies, “You’ve had a lot on your mind.”
“Oh?” I challenge.
Placing the bundle of flowers on the bed, he opens the flowers, letting them breathe. Grasping the container, he walks to the bathroom. Drawing some water, he returns to my side, grinning wickedly. “You haven’t changed places in your book.”
My eyes flash with shock, snapping my eyes down to my book, I calculate what he is saying.
He was right. I have not moved from this spot in days. “I suppose I have been lost in my thoughts.”
Grinning wickedly, he places each flower, one by one, in the vase. The container looks to be solid gold. Etched into the surface are wildflowers.
“You know,” I muse as I change the subject, “Flowers are hardier than you think. You don’t need to change them every day.” Sharing his mischievous grin, I watch him arrange the last violet blossom.
Stepping back, Apollo blushes as red as rhubarb, “Well… erm. I know. Just… Back in the infirmary, you shared your love of flowers, and I figured the more flowers, the better.”
Apollo was paying attention to me. In exhilaration, my heart races. “Thank you. That’s very thoughtful.”
Sitting beside me, his careful stare rests on me.
“Do you like them?” He asks earnestly. “If you’d prefer something else, I could get you a different kind of flower. Irises have always been my favorite. A beauty for a beauty.” Apollo’s flush deepens.
Is he flirting with me? I hope so.
True, they weren’t my favorite, but they’re a lovely addition to my room. “I like them. They add a pop of color, don’t you think?” Taking his hand in mine, I give him a gentle squeeze.
Warmth fills me. Reaching down into my soul. Closing my eyes, I feel like I”m basking in the sun during a midsummer’s day.
“Yes, I agree. Now how are you feeling?” Cracking my eyes peacefully open, I observe him through heavily lidded eyelids. His hand is still in my hands. Careful. Like he is afraid he”ll spook me if he moves a muscle.
“Much better.” I grin. “Thank you for stopping in to check on me. I have been enjoying your company.”
The words fell out of me before I recognized what I was saying.
My cheeks burned as I watched the god.
Shifting, he wraps his arms around me. Pulling me close. He smells like a bonfire in the summertime. Smokey and rich. I wanted to bury myself deeper into him.
Just as quick as the hug came, it left. Leaving me craving more.
Taking a step back from the bed he averts his eyes as he runs his fingers through his golden curls.
Contorting to face the God of the Sun, I recognize a heavy crimson tone painted across his cheeks.
I made Apollo blush.
Gods, I want to climb on top of him and never let go.
Awkwardly, he shifts his weight between his feet. “Good! Because we’re going on a trip.” He grins widely down on me.
“Where to?” Pulling my legs over the edge of the bed, I close my book and set it on the end table.
“It is a surprise.” He grins excitedly.
“A surprise?” I ask, “What’s sparked you wanting to surprise me?”
Apollo rocks back and forth on his feet. “It is my way of thanking you. I know you’ll love our destination.”
His excitement is palpable. “Okay, let me pack,” I reply.
“No need. I”m sending a servant to come and pack for you. They’ll transport your luggage to us. Then you won’t have to try to hold onto a suitcase while we’re irising.”
“Hold up… irising?” Giving him a skeptical look, I ask, “What’s that?”
“It”s how immortals travel.” He smiles, “Trust me?” Apollo extends his hand.
I pause briefly.
Do I trust him?
I want to trust him so badly.
So, I take it. Now fully curious as to where we will be going.
With a whoosh of the blinding rainbow spreads around them. My stomach was being pulled in every direction.
Lights flashing, I feel the world being ripped from around us and being thrown elsewhere. Gripping tightly onto Apollo, he laughs at my side.
I could picture the grin he was giving me right now.
“Open your eyes,” he whispers against my ear. “You don’t want to miss this.
Forcing my eyes open, I watch the world twist. Every shade of color flowed around us.
Holding Apollo even tighter, I shout, “Don’t let go of me!”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he shoots me his crooked grin.
Just as quickly as the world shifted, it untwisted, the rainbow colors fading.
We stand underneath a beautiful pergola of honey blonde wood shining in the warm sunny day. Healthy green vines curl and twist around the structure, offering shade and the perfect frame for the villa beyond. Wildflowers, and fruit trees of every description surround us.
I whisper, “What’s this place?”
Apollo pulls at my elbow. Guiding me along the paver laden path.
“Phoebus Lodge. It’s my hunting cabin,” he explains leads me away from the covered pergola.
Winding paths follow a lazy route around the garden, competing with the small stream full of playful curves.
Flowers still grow here unlike the palace.
The colors of the flowers, the fruits, and the stones in the path truly capture the rainbow, as wonderfully full of life and joy as the palace seemed to be short of it.
The sweet scent of fresh fruit hangs in the air. “My little home away from home.”
Little isn’t how I would describe it. This ‘cabin’ is a magnificent manor. With perfectly trimmed shrubbery in the front garden. Topiaries of all kinds of animals are scattered in the grounds. Both mythical and ordinary.
The two storied building is equipped with large panes of windows. It has steep roofs and is nearly fully made of large timber beams.
Compared to the marble of the palace, the lodge was a welcomed break of what has become my monotone world as of late.
I pat the arm of Apollo which holds my elbow securely to his body. “Very lovely, Apollo.”
Apollo’s mannerisms are lacking the normal exuberant confidence that naturally springs from him. Currently, he acts almost demure, uncertain, and hesitant. Descriptors that Apollo would profusely protest. “Just wait until you’ve a peek inside.”
Guiding me to the front double doors, Apollo twirls his fingers. The smell of fire smoke overpowers the fruit trees and invades my senses. At the signal of his magic, the doors spring open for Apollo.
Snapping his fingers, candles, torches, and fireplaces spring to life. Taking my coat, Apollo shows me from room to room. Sitting rooms, parlors, a private dining room, a formal dining room, ginormous kitchen, and guest rooms.
Gesturing down the hall, Apollo states, “My quarters are straight down this hallway. Artemis offered her quarters on the opposite side of the hallway.” He gestures to the far side of the long hallway. “Though personally, I recommend these rooms closest to mine. Artemis typically won’t come here with me. Ages have passed since she’s been here. Those rooms have been used more recently.”
His room would do.
Though I don’t have the balls to say that to him.
Turning toward the rooms he recommends, I ask “Which one is better?”
“South room. You still get a good amount of the sunrise,” Apollo adds. “Not as much as my room as it’s facing directly east.”
I scrunch up my nose, “Hmmm. Maybe I need the northern one beside yours.”
“Why?”
“I”m not a morning person.” I shrug.
Back home, I was a morning person out of necessity. In Olympus, I can rest about as much as I want.
Apollo chuckles, “It will come with time. Being around the Sun God has that effect on people.”
Letting out a long moan, I give him a fake pout.
His crooked smile makes my heart leap.
Gods above.
“…But I”m around Artemis way more than you.” Giving him a challenging smirk, I raise my eyebrow in his direction.
Contemplating his answer, Apollo pauses, “Perhaps we will have to change that little fact.”
Part of me wants to groan. The other part of me thinks of the Spring Equinox.
“What? Is that getting a bit too ahead of ourselves,” Apollo jokes.
“There’s nothing to get ahead of,” I giggle mischievously.
Laughing loudly, he takes my mischief in his stride, flashing me a lopsided crooked smile. A charming but impish smile. A dimple is the only mark on his otherwise smooth skin.
The cocked smile was enamoring. Made me feel warm and happy. Like it’s the two of us in the world. He guides me to the large living room. The walls, floors, and ceilings are covered in the same timber as the outside. The pitched roof ceilings are higher than the hallway.
The focal piece of the room is the stone fireplace. Warm and rounded large rocks climb the wall around the large hearth. Rugs are scattered along the floor. Brightly patterned red. Even the furniture is made from logs of wood and cushioned fabric.
The chandelier caught my eye. A ring of antlers. Furs of animals scattered around. As rugs, as blankets, and mounted on the walls. Internally, my gut reels at the sight of the ‘trophies’ around the room. Growing up, when we hunted, we used as much as we possibly could. Hunting for vanity was not an option.
Give him a chance. You two grew up in completely different worlds.