The Shadow Summoner | Book Three - PJO Universe

three

A GHOSTLY FRIEND TALKS TO THEM.

Ariana thought that Apollo expected Leo to sit at his feet and listen, enraptured, as he told him the story.

Instead, he waved vaguely towards the workshop. "Yeah, okay. I'm gonna check out the forges."

He left the duo by themselves.

Ariana sighed, sitting down on a nearby couch.

Apollo sat down next to her. "You know I never understood why you turned down becoming a god."

Ariana turned her head to face him. "Huh?"

"After the battle of Manhattan."

"Oh."

On the daughter of Hades sixteenth birthday, after the battle of Manhattan had ended and their side had come out victorious, the Olympian gods had offered her immortality.

Ariana had declined.

Instead, she became their ambassador and worked to try and salvage some of their relationships. Which, in short was very hard.

Who knew the gods could hold grudges from hundreds of years ago.

Ariana thought for a moment before speaking. "I didn't think I could do it." She admitted. "All of the pain and suffering you'd witness. All the wars, the heartache. Not to mention, I'd have to watch all of my friends grow old, if they even get that far, and then die." The girl shook her head. "I don't think I could ever do it."

"Dionysus did it." Apollo said. "Hercules did."

"And tell me," Ariana spoke, "how many nightmares do you have as an immortal god? Do you ever truly forget anything that has happened to you?"

Apollo thought for a moment. "I suppose not."

For the first time, Ariana properly looked at the former god and his appearance.

Lester's skin was the palest cream, though his features were sharp, giving him a somewhat haunted look.

With his sharp chin and high cheekbones there was no lack of beauty in his appearance.

His eyes flashed a bright blue, like Jason's, though there was something cold and calculating about them which made them difficult to look into.

His light blonde hair was kept cropped close to his head, though strands often fell in front of his face where he would brush them away impatiently.

Apollo caught Ariana looking at him.

He frowned. "You're judging me."

"I'm not." Ariana shook her head.

"Yes you are." Apollo said. "You have that 'i-am-silently-judging-you-face.'"

Ariana pulled a face at him. "No I don't!"

"Yes, you do."

"Do not."

"Do too!"

Ariana groaned. "You're insufferable."

"Thank you." Apollo grinned. "I strive to be."

Ariana rolled her eyes, yet with a smile on her face. When you got past the whole 'I'm-the-best-god-ever' personality, Apollo didn't seem all that bad.

"You know," Apollo started, "I remember the first time we met. You were what fourteen?"

Ariana gave him a slight nod.

She remembered the first time they met - very clearly, they had gotten a ride back to Camp Halfblood via him.

"Yeah well, I remember you rudely declined to drive my amazing car-"