𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒, apollo

𝐱𝐱𝐢. unpleasant encounters

I GASP AWAKE AS something cold splashes across my face. I open my eyes to see Annabeth holding a bottle of water, with both Percy and Grover looking at me anxiously behind her.

I ran a hand through my hair, "What the hell happened?"

"You passed out."

And dreamt of Apollo, I recalled. Suddenly, the anger boiled within me. How dare he lecture me for doing what I believed was right? One thing was for sure - there was no guilt weighing on my conscience. If anything, I resented Apollo and his stupid arrogance.

I stood up from the ground and looked around, we were in a forest, "Yeah, no shit. So, what happened?"

I took in my friends, Cy looked anxious and Grover was shivering, his big goat eyes turned slit-pupils and were full of terror. "Three Kindly Ones, attacked us. All three at once."

My lips slightly parted as my memories began to come back. I turned to Percy, the memory of his 'betrayal' coming back to me as Annabeth continued for Grover, "You used too much of your abilities. Ergo, you passed out."

I didn't even look at her, too busy staring at what was supposed to be my best friend, yet friends don't spill each other's secrets. "I figured it out myself," Annabeth said out of the blue as of she was reading my thoughts.

I turned to look at her. She shrugged, "I have read a lot of books, and I know that the children of Hades can display mastery of Umbrakinesis, illusion creation and even Simulacrum or Clairvoyance."

I nodded, glancing at my friend. I knew that Percy wouldn't do that, tell my secrets, yet my mind automatically thought otherwise. It was always like this, me always thinking the worst, and frankly, it was exhausting.

"Okay, so I did my thing and passed out. Then what happened?"

"Percy blew up the bus."

My eyes widened as I turned to the said guy, who scratched his neck, "The Furies were about to get to you. What was I supposed to do? Let you guys get killed?" He scoffed, looking at Annabeth, who rolled her eyes, "You didn't need to protect me, Percy. I would've been fine."

"Sliced like sandwich bread," Grover put in, "But fine."

"Shut up, goat boy," Said Annabeth and I snorted. I looked around suddenly and noticed something, "Guys, where are our bags?"

Grover and Annabeth turned to Percy, who blushed. "Oh, come on!" I groaned, sighing. This quest was going just amazing. Grover began rummaging through his pockets as the other two started to argue and I leaned against a tree, suddenly feeling dizzy.

Sit down. I heard his voice.

Fuck off.

I heard him click his tongue and mumble something in ancient Greek. Then suddenly, out of the clouds, the sun began to shine through the trees, one sunbeam landing directly on me. I felt as if a big rock had been rolled off my shoulders, the dizziness slowly disappearing.

Closing my eyes, I breathed in and out, enjoying the warmth. I was maybe still mad at him, but nevertheless, I sank down to sit on the grass, leaning against a tree.

I need you to understand where I'm coming from in our... disagreement. I heard him and scoffed. Disagreement? You're trying to control me, you have no right to.

I'm not- I heard him sigh. I'm trying to protect you. I don't want you to be all bruised and tired just as your quest began, pet.

I didn't respond at first, my eyes still shut, blocking out Annabeth and Percy, along with the sounds of Grover's pipe. He wants to 'protect' me. I rolled my eyes. So what were you trying to do back there? What, were you gonna punish me?