Daughter of the Moon

IV. Son of Apollo

*Andreas' Mark of Apollo*

Anastasia and Andreas sat there for what seemed like hours, staring at the other. Their spirits entered each other's minds and the presence of the other was known, as they felt everything the other was feeling.

Finally, Anastasia shook her head to regain control of her mind. She slowly turned to look at Selari and her father, a scowl on her face.

"Tell me what is happening," she demanded lowly, breathing heavy to control the Goddess rising up in her.

"He has been marked by Apollo," Selari stated in awe, staring at the boy who's eyes were now glowing yellow. "The God of the Sun and light, of truth and prophecy. The God of healing and music; the Archer."

"So you're telling me," Anastasia began, slowly standing as her eyes burned red, "that this man, a man that has been around for nearly 10 years, this entire time... has been a God?! How have we not known before this day?"

Anastasia was breathing heavily, her anger becoming unbearable. Andreas could sense this, and he reached his hand out to touch her arm. For a split second Anastasia felt warm, but once her anger had suppressed, she ripped her arm away and stared at him confusedly.

"He is just like you. But of course, he does not have but one God in him, your Mother's twin brother."

"And so how am I supposed to take the fact that we are each other's other half?" Andreas piped in, deep in thought. "Wouldn't that be... incestuous?"

Selari chuckled, and Valerio rolled his eyes. "No, my dear boy, for you are not biological. These Gods and Goddesses are not in your blood stream. They are just in your mind."

Andreas nodded, still confused. Anastasia shook her head as she was pacing, throwing her hands up in defeat. "So what, he is part of my destiny or something?! How come the prophecies did not state this clearly?"

"The prophecies we hold are not the complete message of the Gods," Valerio explained to his daughter. "They are just what our sorcerers and historians have recorded."

"I just—" Anastasia began, and Andreas could feel that she was far too overwhelmed. He got up to comfort her, but she stepped back and shook her head.

"I need to go."

With that, Anastasia left the presence of the three men. She felt too overwhelmed with what was happening. As she walked out to the training grounds, she could feel the fire building within her, and flames danced in her irises. Before she knew what she was doing, fire was projected from her hands, and she had burnt every wooden figurine that stood before her.

She fell to her knees, holding her stomach as sobs began to escape her.

Anastasia was a strong girl, but when your entire life is nearly mapped out for you, change is not a welcome visitor. A man she saw as a business partner, an ally, was now to be the man she spent the rest of her life with.

Her younger sister Allera was soon beside her, as she had just finished training herself. Allera grabbed her sister's shoulders, kneeling beside her with worry spread across her features.

"Ana?" She whispered to her sister, rubbing her back.

"It is alright, Allera," her sister stated hurriedly. She could still feel the rage inside her, but she was also unbelievably sad and confused. She could feel her companion's worry in the back of her mind, and she knew he would soon find her. But the emotions that pooled inside of her could only be calmed by his touch. She was scared she would hurt her sister.