Greek Blood

Chapter VIII: My Brother

Apollo nudges my shoulder, the warmth from his body disappearing momentarily before returning over me. "Dana, it's time to get up. We have to leave soon." His fingers trace the line of my cheekbone, but I don't open my eyes. With a sigh, he gets up, leaving me cold in bed. I listen intently to his footsteps as he walks across the room, unable to stop my sigh. I just want a little more time with him. He must think the same, considering he opens my door only to whisper to someone. "Give us a little while longer."

The person outside the door mutters something but leaves, and Apollo closes the door and walks back to me. He lies down in front of me, running a hand through my hair. "I know you are awake, you little minx. Open your eyes for me. We have more time."

I open my eyes and press my lips together, reaching towards him and clenching my fist in the fabric of his tunic. "Why did we sleep when it was our last night together? From a god I would have expected something quite different."

"We both needed our energy for today" he answers, sighing softy and slipping his fingers around to the back of my neck. "We could have stayed up talking, but honestly, it was good to get some sleep, even if it wasn't what we wanted. And besides," he smiles softly, a slow smile that has me thinking, "we had all those days in Heraklion to talk. I never lied to you there. Remember, I told you my family often fights?"

That pulls a smile to my face and I slip closer to him, enjoying his heat. "True enough. We have time now, right?"

He nods and lays his head down beside mine, smiling. "Not much. Zeus likes being on schedule." He closes his eyes for a moment before gazing at me. Even though he knows he will probably die today or tomorrow, he doesn't seem sad as much as tired. He strokes my cheek before pulling his hand away and folding his arm under his head. "What would you do if it was your last day of existence?"

"I would do whatever I want and not regret any of it" I answer, smiling shyly before sitting up. I run a hand through my hair and look towards the closet. "Can I wear my brown dress today?"

"Of course. I think it would be best. It suits you" he answers, rolling his shoulders and slowly standing up. He offers me his hand up. "You'll stay beside me until I have to fight?"

"Yes" I answer, feeling a stab of pain shoot through my chest as I accept his hand and pull myself up. I walk over to the closet and pull my dress out, and not wanting to go into the bathroom, I twirl my fingers in a motion for him to turn around. He does, and I change quickly, enjoying the feel of my dress. I love this dress. "So exactly how much time do I have left?" I turn around to face him, seeing his back as he looks out the window. Rain pelts against it mercilessly, showing no signs of letting up.

Apollo shrugs his shoulders, turning to face me and sitting on the window seat. "Honestly? About five minutes before someone comes to get us."

I nod and walk over to him, rubbing my bare feet on the floor. "Please tell me that I have shoes to wear today. I am not going on that hill barefoot."

He grins and holds out his hands. A pair of black flats appear in his hand, the pair I brought to Greece with me.

Taking the shoes, I slip them on and spin around, laughing. I almost forgot the feel of shoes. It's amazing. Yet it's weird because I think I prefer to be barefoot. But if it's raining that hard outside, I am not running around barefoot. "Why don't you guys wear shoes?"

"We do" he answers, holding up a foot. It's only then that I notice the gladiator sandals he's wearing. Oh. He grins at me like I did something amusing. "What? You thought we walked around barefoot all the time? That's only when someone steals our sandals." He laughs before getting up and jogging over to the door. "I'd cover your ears if I were you. Aphrodite is about to come raging in. And for once she's not mad at me."