𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄

𝐓𝐖𝐎

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐒 quickly left the palace, trying their best to mingle in with the other campers. Daphne was terrified, but a part of her was desperately screaming for revenge against her dad, against all the gods.

"When we leave the camp, tell Chiron you want to visit your mom whilst you're here," Luke mumbled, "Then meet me at Fifth Avenue, where that coffee shop is."

"Got it," Daphne said.

"The gods will notice their items are gone soon," Luke said, "I give it an hour, maybe less. We'll have to move quickly. If we need to, you act as a decoy. Look suspicious and when they catch you, you'll have nothing in your bag."

Daphne grabbed her rucksack, and shoved a couple rocks in it so it looked full.

"Luke, what's your plan with these?" she asked.

"I'll explain later," Luke answered, "Just trust me."

After a couple minutes, Chiron finally came. He rounded up the campers and then they began to leave Olympus.

"Chiron?" Daphne asked nervously, "My mom lives nearby. Can I visit her quickly and then come back to camp on my own?"

"Alright then, dear," Chiron said, "Off you go."

Daphne nodded and said goodbye to her friends. She put her bag on and quickly made her way down to Fifth Avenue. As she was getting there, thunder could be heard around Manhattan. Zeus must have discovered his missing lightning bolt. Or he was having his daily tantrums.

As she arrived at the meeting spot, Luke was already there waiting impatiently. The thunder was getting louder and louder, Daphne's heart thumping harder and harder.

"The gods know," Luke said, "We have to split up. Go that way. Quick."

Daphne nodded and began to run. She knew that the gods would be looking for her. If she was caught, she could prove herself innocent, but the gods might still punish her. Daphne began to regret her decisions, she hadn't thought through this properly. She didn't even know what Luke's plan was!

Daphne made her way through the city she knew so well, dodging through cars and people. The thunder would rumble the occasional time, causing Daphne's heart to leap to her throat.

Just as she was starting to feel safe, Daphne felt a presence following her. She felt warm in the itchy way the sun sometimes felt, as if it was burning through her skin. She quickly slid into an alleyway and grabbed her ring carefully.

As she felt the presence get closer, she transformed her ring and grabbed the person, pushing him into the wall with her sword on his neck before she even looked at who it was.

The man she was holding was... perfect. No words could be used to describe him. His messy blonde hair complemented his eyes perfectly. They were blue, but had a hint of gold in them that proved to Daphne that he was not a human. His skin looked like it had been kissed by the sun and a scent of hyacinths followed him, in a masculine and powerful way. Even with a sword on his neck, an effortlessly gorgeous smile was etched on his face, as if he was amused by Daphne.

"Calm down, sunshine," the man said.

He lifted his hand and lowered the sword down. Daphne tried with all her strength to keep it up, but the man was ten times stronger than her.

"You're Apollo," Daphne stated, massaging her arm.

"Yes, I am," Apollo answered, "And you're in trouble, you know that?"

Daphne blinked. The god said this matter-of-factly, as if he already knew what Daphne had done. She decided she would have to act innocent.

"What do you mean, Lord Apollo?" she said, as she quickly feigned a sweet smile.