For the Love of God

σ | eighteen

I LOST TRACK OF TIME. Talking to Blissia felt like much needed therapy and it did me good to unburden the weight on my shoulders for a while. Only when she finished sewing all the flowers onto the strap did I realize it might have been more than an hour. I rushed outside, sparing Blissia a messy goodbye and went to find Tyhi.

When I took a right turn to cut through to the tunnels, I ran right into a familiar chest. Tyhi's arms came around me almost instantly and gripped my shoulders to steady me. "Mae, where are you off to in such a hurry?" He asked, laughing at my ruffled state.

He pushed away the hair that fell onto my eyes. I pressed my finger to his chest. "You. I was looking for you," I mouthed.

His gaze softened. He took my hands in his and led me outside to the backyard, away from suspicious ears. "Did something happen?"

I shook my head. "Lady Aphrodite wants me to deliver this note," I waved the scroll in front of him, "to Lord Ares and she wants me to take you with me since I don't know the route. She said she'll ask Zoyn to take over for you."

Tyhi raised his eyebrows. "Is this your way of stealing me away for yourself?" He smirked and then leaned close to my ears, "Because I'm not complaining."

I shoved his chest back gently. "Maybe. I-I um, have something to tell you," I whispered. My face warmed.

"What is it?"

"I'll tell you once we deliver this to Lord Ares. It's already late and I should get back to help Lady Aphrodite dress for tonight," I said, pulling him forward. He smiled and led the way.

Walking with him on a lonely road, our fingers intertwined, smiling at how his eyes crinkled at the glaring sun-- these were simple things that made my heart feel so full. Even harsh sunlight, when met with Tyhi, looked gentle and beautiful. "How was work?" I asked, making small talk.

"Lord Hephaestus is working on creating a fine bronze net that would be very hard to escape from. He said he wanted to present it to Lady Amphitrite in return for her kindness. He is working on adding suspenders and inputting a different mechanism to snare a trap with the net."

Bronze net? My mind tingled with the familiarity of the concept but I couldn't place my finger on it. "Do you like working with him?" I asked Tyhi.

"No. I can make myself useful whenever the need comes and I do my best. But, my heart doesn't lie parallel with forging and metallurgy. It is too violent for me."

I glanced at him. "What are you interested in?"

Tyhi didn't answer immediately. I let him take his time.

"Healing," he said, at last. "I want to heal people. I have the gift."

I stopped him and came around to face him. "Then why aren't you applying to Lord Apollo's school? Tyhi, you can become someone significant in this realm because you have the potential to do something good. Why don't you?"

His shoulders dropped. "I-I can't."

I placed my hands on his cheek and made him meet my eyes. "Tell me why."

He enclosed his palms over mine and closed his eyes, as if savouring the warmth. He kissed the insides of my wrist and a shock shivered through me. "I can't bear to live in the same place as Helios. I can't do it again."

"Tyhi..."

"No, Mae. I can't go through that again. I am happy where I am," he said, letting my hands fall from his face. "This is why Lady Aphrodite called me a coward."