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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.
