unforgivable lovers

the aftermath

       It was the time of year for the annual spring solstice ball. Anya did not feel much like celebrating despite the ongoing festivities. She was still shaken by the death of her girlfriend, Heinya, who was slain by Apollo only three months ago. Sadness, anger, and blind rage boiled inside her every time she remembered what had happened. Yet, here she was dressed for the occasion. Her friends had insisted it was time for her to get out of her dorm and have fun at the ball. They had forced her to get dressed, trying their best to cheer her up. It was not their fault; they did not know the truth of what had happened.

"The ball will be fun!" Blair insisted.

"You look beautiful in that dress!" Alex chimed. Leia and Esme nodded in agreement.

It was with great resignation that Anya reluctantly let her friends dress her for a ball. She knew she would get an earful from her mother, Hera if she did not go. Truthfully, that probably was the final factor that sealed her attendance. Still, Anya wished terribly that Heinya was by her side. She gently touched the necklace gifted to her for their three-year anniversary, tracing the outlines of the two flowers and their silhouettes. Apollo would be there tonight. Her face hardened as she left the room and braced herself for the confrontation.

⚜

The spring solstice ball was held on Mount Olympus in Zeus and Hera's castle. The decorations were all of pure gold, and statues of the many Olympian gods towered over every corner of the ballroom. Flowers were everywhere in celebration of springtime. It was only fitting in honor of Persephone, after all.

Everything was so grand. Anya had to admit that it was hard to not get caught up in the moment, and she found herself enjoying the company of her friends. She chatted with her fellow demi-god students and spoke politely to the Olympian deities who ran her school, Diana Academy. There was food, music, laughter, and light. The shadows that had been haunting her for the past few months slowly crept away.

In fact, Anya was feeling close to happy for the first time in a while. That was until she saw a tall, blonde, green-eyed figure out of the corner of her eye. It felt like the weight of the past three months would suffocate her, and Anya choked back tears. She closed her eyes, remembering the last thing Heinya had said before she died.

"I love you, my sweetness."

Anya could still see her perfectly—a daughter of Aphrodite with long, fiery red hair and bluish pink eyes. Heinya was the sweetest and kindest person Anya had ever met. Despite her love for books and reading, she lit up every room she entered and was exceptionally skilled in combat. This made it especially painful now that she was gone. Anya clenched her fists in frustration, remembering how everything went down.

The memories came back in waves. First was Hades explaining Apollo's motive to Anya and Hera. Apollo was apparently outwardly supportive but secretly jealous of Anya and Heinya's relationship. He had killed Heinya out of pure jealousy and peer spite. Heinya had just returned from a date with Anya and was surprised by Apollo in her house. She pulled out a knife that she always had on hand just in case a monster or anyone tried to attack her. Before she could attack Apollo in self-defense though, he sent his chariot at her and killed her with a bow and a poisonous arrow to her heart.

Next came the memory of Zeus supporting what Apollo had done. "Kids will be kids" was his first response. "No daughter of Hera should ever be happy." It was a shining example of his unending hate.

Lastly, there was the decision from the Olympian Council stating that it would be best for everyone to forget what had happened. Apollo was a god after all and on the Council too; Heinya and Anya were only demi-gods. It simply would not do for anyone to think poorly of Olympus or their gods. In the end, only a small group of people knew the truth about Heinya: Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Persephone, and Aphrodite. Only Hera and Aphrodite opposed the Council decision.

Anya let out a shuddering breath and steeled herself for the confrontation.

⚜

Apollo approached. Anya tried to gesture to her friends saying that she wanted to leave, but it was too late.

"May I have this dance?" There was that raspy voice she dreaded. Zeus was watching from the dias, so Anya hesitantly took Apollo's hand. It would not be wise to anger the head god. Apollo led her to the dance floor as Danse Macabre played from the music stands. He grabbed her hips and forced her into rhythm with him. Anya felt nauseous.

"Hey, I want to apologize for killing Heinya. Again. I was acting out of spite." Apollo's voice was arrogant. Anya could tell that he did not mean it.

She muttered under her breath, "For the thousandth time, I do not accept your apology. I do not want to dance with a murderer, especially with you. Let's get this over with so Zeus is appeased."

Apollo smirked and continued dancing. His grip tightened on her, and it felt like a prison she would never escape. It was clear he did not care about her rejection. It was clear he was not sorry. Unfortunately, he was a god, and every one stood at attention. The room fell quiet watching the two of them waltz across the floor.

"How pretty!" one woman whispered to her friend.

"What a beautiful couple," Hermes remarked to the crowd.

Anya steeled her resolve and drowned out their voices. Most of them did not know what was going on, so she could not be upset. She just had to get through this song.

⚜

After what felt like an eternity, the song finally came to a close. There was joyous applause from the crowd. Apollo waved to his admirers, grinning widely. Anya turned around to walk away, but the cheers boiled up rage within her. She abruptly turned and punched Apollo in the face. She punched him hard. Her dark, raven-colored hair flew around her face, and her chocolate eyes filled with rage. The audience gasped in horror.

"How dare you come up to me and force me to dance with you and expect me to forgive you for killing my girlfriend." Anya seethed with hate. "You're a low-life god." She turned tail and fled. Zeus's fury burned a target into her back as she left.

⚜

Anya's friends ran after her.

Alex, a daughter of Poseidon, screamed "What the heck were you thinking punching him like that? He did nothing to you!"

Anya angrily responded, "What do you mean? He deserved that! After everything he did, are you seriously going to take his side?"

Emma, Alex, and Esme all said,

"Yes, of course, we are going to side with Apollo because he did nothing wrong."

Leia, daughter of Hades, was silent. Anya paused. Could it be that she knew the truth because of her psychic abilities?

⚜

Anya proceeds to look at friends and say in a deep whisper

"you don't get it, do you."

her friends are confused all except Leia who chimes in and says

" I get it I know what happened that night."

Esme says

"What are you talking about Apollo did nothing he didn't kill anyone and your overacting Anya.'

Anya knows that what she's about to say to them is going to be shocking but she doesn't care she fed up with Zeus and everyone gaslighting her into believing that Apollo did nothing wrong and tells her that Heinya died because of an accident not by Apollo.

Anya says

" Apollo murdered Heinya, he shot a bow and arrow at her out of pure jealous and spite." there all in shock, Emma, Alex, and Esme all said,

" So our parents lied to us when they said Heinya died in an accident."

Leia then chimes in slightly shaking

" Yes, they lied to you they didn't want anyone to know so that Zeus was not forced to punish his own son." T

hat's so cruel he deserves to be punished. But they can't do anything because Zeus will defend his son, they know for a fact everyone will agree with him because he's the king.