The Battle of Olympus | III

3. Athena Third Wheels On My Death Date

In which I have about ten tests, debate, AND my SATs all in less than two weeks and yet I'm still writing because... why not?

Also, to all my readers who like a little bit of cliché: here you go! The title is so, SO bad but that's okay.

"I'll take my leave."

I barely registered Zelus slinking away, a coy smile playing on his lips.

Apollo was staring at me in surprise, like he hadn't been expecting me, so, of course, the only thing I could think of saying was, "I thought you knew everything, Pretty Boy."

"Eden," he breathed, and then he was suddenly in front of me, pulling me into a hug.

I stiffened in surprise, not expecting that, but after a moment's hesitation, I returned the gesture. He looked a little more stooped and tired, his face a little more gaunt, but when he pulled back to smile at me, his expression was a little brighter, his eyes that strange blue-gold again. His fingers brushed against my cheek before he withdrew his hand quickly, as if he had been burned.

"It's good to see you," he said awkwardly, taking a couple steps back. "I... Athena was worried."

"Oh."

Why was it so strange to see him? Hadn't I wanted to? Perhaps it was because I so desperately wanted to ask him why he took the sun out of the sky, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was afraid of the answer. Or perhaps it was strange for another reason. I wasn't sure, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

"Artemis asked for me?"

"Nope." I blinked in surprise and turned around to see the goddess in question leaning against the gates to her own home, smirking at us. "Trust me, I'm pretty surprised to see you here too." Her eyes glinted mischievously. "Though I'd say—"

She yelped. Hopping on one leg, she rubbed her other with a slight wince, glaring at her brother who had somehow appeared next to us. Apollo just gave her an innocent look while Artemis muttered something under her breath in a language I didn't know, though judging from Apollo's narrowing eyes, I had a pretty good guess at what she said.

"Yes, yes," he said, as if he hadn't just kicked his sister in the shins. "Anyway, you probably... well, you know the souls that escaped the Underworld. Obviously. And you know what Claudius' plans are. The others... they're shielded from our sight, but I did see one of them. Paris. He was in... well, Paris."

Artemis frowned, all teasing gone from her expression. "You saw Paris and you didn't say anything during the council?"

"Even if I did say something, you think Father would listen to our council? His fear blinds him to truth and reason. I spoke with Athena, and she thinks..." he hesitated, turning to look at my still form. "Well, you know him best. Hel—Ella doesn't know what he was like on the battlefield. You do. Athena and I agreed... if anybody knows what Paris is doing in... uh, Paris, it'd be you."

"Yeah, other than being a coward and unworthy of the Trojan royal family, it's not like I was that eager to be friends with him. I don't know anything."

"Eden."

He wanted answers. I didn't blame him. Everybody wanted answers, and I did too. And maybe they were right. Maybe I could figure out what Paris was doing in such a major city, yet halfway across the world from where I was. But I didn't want to. Selfish? Sure. But thinking about him... it made my blood boil. Whenever I pictured his stupid, smirking face, I had a nearly irresistible urge to punch something. Actually, thinking about the situation in general made me want to punch something.