The Light Of Apollo's Love

Chapter 2

Myrrh awoke with a splitting headache, squinting as her eyes adjusted to the bright light of the sun. She was laying on the ground and felt the cool stone of the fountain against her back. Had she passed out? She was not sure. Her hickory curls were messy as usual, as she swept them out of her face. She soon realized there was a large, woven ruby-colored object swathed across her body, and as she sat up it tumbled off her shoulders and onto her lap. She grasped her head in her hand as a sharp pain shot through her skull, making her vision slightly disoriented. She gazed down and withdrew her hand from her throbbing skull and traced the fine golden details of the fabric. At first, she had thought it to be a blanket, but soon realized it was a cape of some sort. She heard the clink of a ceramic cup against a saucer and looked in the direction of the noise. Standing there was a man with golden hair and the most alluring amber eyes. He had finely toned arms and was wearing a crisp white tunic. he had a patent look on his face that was framed by his golden curls, But there was a mixture of tenderness and consideration behind his eyes.

 "I'm truly not supposed to be here at the moment, but," his voice quieted, "I couldn't just leave you here like this," He spoke in a mellow tone as he carefully set the saucer with the small cup of tea down on the edge of the fountain, being cautious to not startle Myrrh. She had not seen another person before, at least that she could remember. Apollo slowly kneeled next to Myrrh, her eyes studying his every movement. He had to be slow and methodical, and he slowly reached out to her. She flinched back from him with a small gasp, seeming confused and fearful at the same time. 

"Shh, I'm not going to hurt you, it's okay." He spoke gingerly, trying to coax her into letting him touch her. Myrrh eyed his every movement, and he slowly caressed her head with the palm of his hand. She leaned into the sudden warmth, feeling comforted by it, and slowly relaxed.

 "There we go, hold still." Apollo slowly placed his thumb on her temple, and slowly drew out what looked almost like a golden strand of light. Myrrh felt the throbbing in her skull slowly diminishing until it was faintly there while observing what he was doing. The light wrapped around his fingers before dissipating into nothingness. Apollo removed his hands from her. 

"Better?" His voice was like honey as he studied her face. Myrrh slowly nodded, still slightly dazed from what had just happened and from Apollo's pleasant touch. Apollo took the teacup from its perch on the fountain edge, and carefully slipped it into Myrrh's small, frail hands. 

"Thank you," She said in a mild voice, letting the tepid cup warm her palms, before taking a small sip of the flavorful tea. Her eyes widened at the familiar taste of it, yet she had never drunk something like this before. Why did it taste familiar? She contemplated this but soon looked down as she saw the man trying to take the cape that was upon her lap slowly away. She had a feeling it belonged to him, and she grasped it tightly after setting her cup down. 

"Can I have that back?" He looked her in the eyes as he spoke, his voice like warm honey. 

"No," Myrrh stated bluntly. Apollo was slightly taken back by this but also confused at her response. She had no reason to keep his cape, so why was she? 

"Why not?" He questioned with his eyebrow raised. Myrrh looked away from him and her voice was quiet as she spoke.

 "Because you'll leave, and I'll be alone again."

Apollo looked at her with a melancholy-filled expression, but it was also mixed with guilt. Of course, she had become lonely, he thought to himself. Even with her memory having lapsed, she still felt loneliness despite not having even known other people existed outside the walls of the garden.

 "Darling, you don't even know my name, yet you want me to stay with you." Apollo moved some of her dark curls from her face and tucked them behind her ear, yet a few strands still escaped.