The Fallen Goddess...PJO

Chapter 8

Armani pov

I drifted into a restless sleep, my mind swirling with memories and emotions. In my dream, I found myself back in my old house when I was a goddess, dressed in the same white dress I wore when I died, but it was brand new, untouched by the passage of time. I looked down at myself, noticing the faint godly glow that surrounded me, a reminder of what I once was.

Even in my dreams, my past haunts me.

I turned my gaze towards the balcony facing the cliff, I saw a figure in the distance. Curiosity and a strange sense of dread washed over me as I stepped outside. The cool night air enveloped me, and I walked towards the cliff, my heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and fear.

As I approached, the figure became clearer, and my heart clenched at the sight of Apollo sitting by the edge, his silhouette illuminated by the moonlight. I stopped right behind him, my hands clenched into fists at my sides as I struggled to contain the emotions raging within me.

"What do you want, Apollo?" I finally spoke, my voice barely above a whisper, yet it echoed in the stillness of the dream.

Apollo stood up slowly, turning to face me with a mixture of guilt and regret in his eyes. They stood there in silence, the weight of their unspoken words hanging heavily between them.

"Well..." I spoke, giving him the chance to explain himself, to say whatever he wanted to say.

"Oh, uhhh...sorry," Apollo stammered, his eyes avoiding mine for a moment before meeting my gaze. "It's better if we talk in person. Meet me at Zeus's fist."

Before I could respond, he disappeared, and the dream faded away, leaving me alone in my bed, my heart racing with conflicting emotions.

When I woke up, the memories of the dream lingered, and I found myself back in the cabin. Part of me wanted to ignore Apollo's request, to avoid the confrontation and the pain it would bring. But another part knew that I couldn't keep running from this, that I needed to confront him and end this once and for all.

With a heavy sigh, I slipped out of the cabin, dressed in a simple gray hoodie and sweatpants. The night air was crisp and cold as I made my way towards Zeus's fist, each step filled with uncertainty and determination. I didn't know what to expect, but I knew that I couldn't hide from this any longer. It was time to face Apollo, confront the past and find a way to finally move forward.

As I made my way towards Zeus's fist, a tumult of emotions churned within me. Confusion, fear, sadness, anger and above all, a deep sense of trauma. Apollo had guided me to the brightest place, only to leave me stranded in the dark depths of our past. That darkness mirrored the love that had once uplifted me, then cut me to the core, leaving scars that seemed to never fade.

With each step through the forest, memories flooded my mind. In the light, I saw our love: the magic, beauty and warmth. In the shadows, I saw our pain, anger and sadness. Our once magical love turned into greed, darkness and trauma; it was cold.

Approaching Zeus's fist, I saw him standing beneath the moon's gentle glow. There he was, the man I had loved and now resented. His blond hair shimmered like gold, catching the lights of the stars, his skin bathed in a radiant gold aura. Even in the moonlight, the dark, he looked almost unreal, ethereal, just as he did the first time we met beneath the stars.

But now, standing before him, all I could feel was the weight of betrayal and heartache. The love that once filled me with joy now left a bitter taste in my mouth. As I gazed at him, a mixture of pain and anger surged within me, a storm of emotions that threatened to consume me whole. He smiled.

"Armani. Thank the fates you're alive. I have so many questions, but they can wait. Right now, I'm just... I'm just happy you're alive," his voice trembled with relief as he approached me, arms outstretched, radiating warmth. But to me, all I felt was danger. A shiver ran down my spine as I quickly pushed him away, afraid that his touch would bring back the pain I had fought so hard to forget.