The blazing storm

Chapter 27

Darcy wakes to the sounds of worried voices.  She reached up and her hand skims someone's face.  "Shhhh..." She slurred, groping the person's face.

"She's gone loopy." Someone says. 

"I think she's acting more like a drunk." Another person snickered.

There was a noise of someone being hit.  "Shut up,  Leo!"

Darcy cracked her eyes open.  Her eyelids felt as if they were made of lead. 

"Hey," Leo whispered.  "I think she's waking up!"

Darcy forced her eyes open and three worried faces swam into view.  Her head spun and pounded as she tried to take in her surrounding.  They were in the infirmary and people milled around, tending to the wounded.  Three people stood over Darcy.  Leigh, Leo and...

"James." She croaked.  Her voice sounded like she'd stuck a hot wire down her throat then drank lemon juice.  In fact, that's exactly how her throat felt.  James's face was battered and bruise.  He had a split lip, a black eye and bruises all along his jawline.  She couldn't believe he'd gotten all that from a tree.  "Looks like that yree got you good, huh?" She laughed.  Her laugh l sounded like nails on a chalkboard. 

James smiled lightly.  "Also broke four ribs and dislocated a shoulder."

"I didn't die." Leigh volunteered.

"And I didn't set myself on fire." Leo announced proudly, crossing his arms and lookimg very pleased with himself. 

Darcy cracked a smile.  Her lips were dry and her tongue felt like sandpaper.  "How long has it been?" She asked. 

Leigh frowned.  "Two, three hours?"

Every bone and every muscle in Darcy's body ached as she tried to sit up.  James helped her up with his one arm that wasn't in a sling.  "Is everyone ok?"

Leo does some quick calculations in his head.  "About twenty wounded, including you, and no casualties."

Darcy breathed a sigh of relief.  As soon as she did, a handsome young man appeared in a flash of golden light.  In his arms was baby Amelia.  Everyone, except for Leigh, dropped to their knees and dowed their heads.  "Lord Apollo." James greets the young man.

Darcy blinks at the suden flash of light.  Apollo gently hands Amelia to Leigh and they exchange a smile. 

"All blessed and ready to go." Apollo says, smiling. 

Leigh smiles gently.  "Who blessed her?" She asks.

Apollo takes a moment to think.  "Me, your dad, Leo's dad, Hecate and creepy peacock lady." He counts them off on his fingers.  His gaze shifted to Darcy who was grimacing in pain.  "Let me help." He said.

Apollo came over and crouched so his eyes were levle with Darcy's.  He peered deep into her eyes, hmm'ing.  He then placed the heel of his hand on her forehead and Darcy felt a warm fuzzy feeling spread through her body.  Each of her pains staryed to fade.  The knots in her muscles relaxed and her bones didn't feel so brittle anymore.  Apollo pulled his hand away and smilled.  "All better." He said, standing up.  "Just drink a lot of water... and stay in school.  And don't do drugs.  Or flirt with monsters.  Or-"

"Ok Po!" Leigh cut him off.  There was a collective gasp. No one ever interupted a god. 

But Apollo didn't seem to mind.  "Well I need to get going.  Dad'll get grumpy if I'm not at the council meeting." He winked at Darcy. 

Oh yeah, Darcy remembered.  Apollo is a son of Zeus as well.  And just as he had appeared, Apollo vanished in a flash of golden light. 

Darcy turned to James.  "I need you to help me." She said.  James started to move to help her stamd up but she pushed him off.  "That's not what I meant."

James frowned.  "What did you mean then?"

Darcy stared at him.  "What happened nine months ago?"