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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.”
