TAMING APOLLO | completed

17. the waterworks

G A Y L E

17. the waterworks

❝ONE MORE TIME, PLEASE." If Apollo is getting annoyed by my constant badgering, he's sure as hell not showing it.

"The gates of Ivory and Horn are like a door into the other realm. Going through them would take us from your mortal world and into my world, which is 10x more dangerous." He explains to me for the umpteenth time, not a trace of annoyance in his gentle tone.

I nod. "So after we get through this gate, we'll be in the Labyrinth?" I ask him and he shakes his head.

"No. We'll be just outside. Luckily, it's the closest thing to this entrance." He explains and I nod once again, finally fully understanding the game plan.

I can't help but shiver at the cold night-time breeze. Not only has Hermes zapped us into a place unknown, but he's also forgotten to zap the car as well, much to Thalia's dismay. He remembered the backpack, which convinces me that he left the car out on purpose, and now the four of us are in the middle of some deserted land, the same way it was when we were searching for Hades' safe house.

"I don't trust him." Hercules announces, treading behind Apollo and I with Thalia by his side.

Thalia nods in agreement. "I don't normally agree with assholes, but this one has a point." She states confidently, Hercules rolls his eyes, but even in the darkness of night, I can still see an amused glint in his eyes.

"He's not tricking us. Hermes needs us to win, and he knows we can't do so without my powers." Apollo shrugs as if this was the most obvious thing in the world.

"But why does he need us to win?" Thalia asks, eyes widening in need of explanation.

"Hermes sat out on the most important war of his life. Even though he wasn't on anybody's side, he was betting on Zeus dying so he wouldn't have to pay the consequences for it. Zeus is back, and how do you think he feels about one of his best players benching himself? You know Hermes, it's all in the spirit of self-preservation. Zeus dies, he doesn't have to pay the price of eternal torment and suffering."

Thalia nods at Apollo's sufficient response, which helps me understand his logic as well. "Now all we need to do is find those gates. Hermes told us he would zap us south of the gate, so we just need to keep heading north."

We all zone into a comfortable silence, the only sound for miles being our feet dragging against the wheat fields beneath us. I glance up at the moon, I hadn't even realised it had come up and it was so late.

I poke Apollo with a grin on my face. "You think your sister's stalking us?" I ask him and he smirks, looking up into the sky and shaking his head.

"More like watching those two." He points back at the two behind us, but drags my head forward with his fingers when I attempt to glance back at Hercules and Thalia.

"Don't look." He hisses playfully, and I have to wonder to what I owe this impish mood of his. Maybe it's the fact that we're making progress, and I have to admit that it makes me happy as well.

I shiver once again, ignoring the chill that races down my skin as the wind howls relentlessly. Apollo notices this and shrugs off his black hoodie. Before I can even say anything, he's put it on over my head, and his scent engulfs my nostrils as I pull it down, my cheeks warming up slightly at the friendly gesture.

"Thank you." I mumble, unable to turn it down, even though I really want to. It's too cold for stubbornness.

He shrugs in response and keeps walking. A few minutes later, I find that I can't hold it in anymore, and blurt out what I've been meaning to ask. "You seem happy." I drawl, one of my brows arching suspiciously as the good-looking boy besides me flashes me an award-winning smirk.