Chariot of the Sun

Chapter Four | Happy Ending

"Perseus!" Apollo singsonged, appearing in Percy's cell with a flash of golden light. It had only been a few hours since Hermes had left and Apollo was clearly already set to use the so-called love potion on Percy. The god was beaming mirthfully, twirling the glass vial of pink liquid between his fingers. "I have a surprise for you, my sweet."

"Would it happen to be my freedom? Or perhaps at the very least you'll stick your head down the toilet for me?" Percy quipped, crossing his arms and refusing to look at the sun god before him.

"Something much better, I'm afraid," Apollo purred, approaching Percy like a jaguar approaching its prey. "I see no reason to hide what is about to happen so I'll make things clear. There's an easy way to do this and a hard way – I'm sure I already know what you will choose, you persistent fool, but here we are."

"What's in the vial?" Percy demanded.

You act for your fucking life.

"Observant. You're truly so brilliant, my love," Apollo said with a sickly sweet smile. "This, dear, is a real-life love potion. Fascinating, hm?"

"What? I– no!" Percy gasped. He knew this was going to be happening and he knew it wouldn't work, and yet he couldn't help the impending sense of horror that was sinking deep within his chest. He pushed himself against the wall by his bed, hating ever so much how he cowered and averted his gaze from Apollo's growing leer.

"The hard way then," Apollo chuckled. "So predictable, love."

"You don't have to do this!"

"It's the only way to make things right – of course I have to do this. Hush, darling, you will understand soon enough," Apollo assured. The sun god snapped his fingers and just like when Percy had spit on him, Percy's chains magically attached to the headboard before beginning to retract and leaving him in a compromised position once again.

He immediately began to thrash and yell profanities, hoping he wasn't overselling it but imagining this was pretty accurate to how he would really react.

"You're acting like a fool and wrinkling your himation. Enough of this, Perseus," Apollo suddenly snapped.

"Fuck you! Rot in Tartarus you piece of shit! You fucking insane nutjob! Absolute dickwad! Fuck!" Percy spat, giving his chains a hard tug and then another and another. They didn't come close to giving, of course.

Apollo's hand thrust forward, gripping around Percy's throat, similarly to before once again. Only this time, Apollo was much more forceful with it, using the momentum to shove Percy against the headboard and hold him there. Percy continued to struggle, of course, but his movement was more than just a little restricted with his arms locked above his head and his neck being choked.

Another chain appeared from seemingly nowhere and wrapped around Percy's neck, holding him tight against the headboard. With his newly free hand, Apollo reached forward and pinched Percy's nose shut. Percy struggled at first and decided that if he were actually in danger of a real love potion he would rather pass out than take it, but he eventually gave in, opening his mouth to suck in a large breath of air. Apollo immediately used the moment to his advantage, pouring the pink contents of the vial into Percy's mouth and clamping his hand underneath his jaw to force it shut. Apollo pinched his nose with his other hand again. Percy almost continued to struggle before remembering what Hermes had said, that the potion is supposed to kick in the second a single drop touches his tongue.

He froze, blinked, swallowed, and eventually looked around curiously, much to Apollo's delight.

Now, Apollo waited, and Percy wondered how long he should act like he was in a confused daze.