𝐇𝐘𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐒

Chapter 11

i woke up today and i read the clock as seven eleven. 

"Then come with me." Zephyrus held out his bronze hand.

(i really wanted to put in a "how about a no." moment.) 

"Excuse me?" Hyacinthus said. "I barely know you, just met you about five minutes prior, and Apollo is coming back, so you should scurry off and go back to your cloud." He had gotten this remark from Apollo.

"You understand that takes more than a snap of his fingers to fix the oracle, right?"

"Ancient laws clearly state there cannot be any romantic interaction between Apollo and his priestess." 

Hm, Hyacinthus had been thinking about that? Zephyrus had an instinct to curve his mouth in his signature crooked smile. He was going to move on to his monologue of continuing to batter this mortal of his god's fragile love, but this could prove an invitation to break his spirits apart. 

He knew he could easily break apart this couple, but something in his heart told him not too. He was so entranced by everything this boy did, the curls of his hair, the flecks of gold in his eyes- Zephyrus wanted the best for him but he didn't want him to be with Apollo. 

He just knew Apollo wasn't the right one for him. "This would only be a fling for a major god. Apollo's  other loves never end up well. Just look at Daphne, the tree nymph who he had chased relentlessly until she called out to a goddess to turn into a tree. And then Coronis, who he had struck down himself with his golden bow." 

"Other loves?" Hyacinthus said, yanking Zephyrus from his thoughts. Oh great, he had said it out loud. 

Zephyrus almost laughed. He did laugh, actually. "Did you think that you were the only one who was cursed to have Apollo's affection?"

Well, yes, that's what Hyacinthus thought. His mother had told him stories of his father's fidelity, and naturally he thought that was how gods were. Hyacinthus thought he was special, like he was also Apollo's first kiss, like it was true love just Daphnis and Chloe. 

Hyacinthus's knees felt wobbly, trembling slightly. Was he standing too long? No matter, he just had to postpone this until Apollo... returned. He was tempted to say he was special, but that thought was both childish and foolish.

"I- It's not like that." Hyacinthus said, forcing himself to look the deity in the eye. "He won't leave me so easily. If what you said was really true, he did fight you for me! He wouldn't abandon me so easily!"

"And to your offer, I have to decline. I have to be with the one I love-"