Memories

Apollo

We stood in what looked like a throne room that belonged to King Midas. Everything was golden and bright, with engravings of the sun everywhere. Traditional Greek columns formed a wide pathway to golden steps that pointed to a magnificent throne where the god himself was reclined, headphones plugged into his ears.

My friends shared quick glances to check that we were all okay before we walked towards Apollo, Nico on my left and Annabeth on my right. When Apollo's eyes caught sight of us marching towards him, he sat up straight and eyed us with confusion before erupting into brilliant, bright laughter.

"What's up, demigods?" He leapt off his throne, plucking out his earbuds, "Haven't seen you three in a while."

"Always a pleasure, Apollo," Annabeth smiled kindly, but I noticed that her eyes were weary. Probably just scared that Apollo was going to dedicate another haiku that compared her hair to the colour of the sun.

"Of course it is," Apollo agreed. "Nico, how's Will?"

Nico spluttered in a stunned response, unable to form a word. Since coming back from the fight with Gaea, it was no secret that Will and Nico had been spending a lot of time together- but were yet to actually confirm that they were dating.

Apollo took Nico's speechlessness as a good sign and clapped him on the back before turning to face me and embracing me unexpectedly. "My main man! How are you?"

He leant back to look at me properly and tutted, "Tartarus was not kind to you- although I don't suppose it would be. How many injuries do you have? Are you sleeping? When was the last time-"

I decided to cut him off before he embarrassed himself by sounding less like concerned god and more like a fretting mothing, "That's kind of what we came to see you about. We need your help."

Apollo held a hand up to silence me in the same way that Hecate had done to Annabeth, only friendlier. "I sense a haiku coming:

'Demigods need aid,

The mighty Apollo helps

Because he is so awesome.'"

"Apollo, I think that last line had too many syllables," Annabeth said, but I jabbed her in the ribs to shut her up. All she did was glare at me.

"I believe you're right, Annabeth," he began to count out syllables of his fingers.

"Apollo," Nico cut in, "we really need your help."

The sun god must have sensed the urgency in Nico's voice as he hesitated only a second before flipping his hand, summoning four chairs. I flopped into my seat gratefully.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes as Annabeth launched into the explanation of how we ended up here for the fourth time, "We'd appreciate it if you didn't tell any gods about this; we're trying to keep this on the down low for Percy's sake."

When Apollo looked up at us, his eyes were filled with sorrow and despair for us, "I'm so sorry for what you had to go through- all of you."

He waved his hand and behind us materialised a small table for four with piles of food thrown on top of it. Everything was haphazardly thrown onto the table and it looked like a feast worthy of the gods. "I will help you," said Apollo. "Before you sleep, you must eat: there's no telling how long you will be sleeping for."

And eat we did.

After devouring the table in its entirety, Apollo lead us to a room with three vacant beds laid out side by side. The room itself was extremely plain, white walls with a mirror hanging above a desk and a bathroom off to the side. It was nothing exciting, but I guess it was enough to store three unconscious people.

"So, you guys just do what you have to do," Apollo said, folding his arms and leaning against the doorway. "Good luck."

I smiled at Apollo in thanks before switching my full attention back to Annabeth who handed me the vial with my name written on in her elegant cursive writing. Since Annabeth had discovered that riptide could write, I had wondered if the ink could run out- that'd suck.

We lay down on our beds, Annabeth on my right and Nico on my left. I looked at the liquid hesitantly as I sloshed it around the vial. "Apollo, if this stuff kills me, could you pretend that I didn't die from drinking a pink potion. Make up something cool."

"Shut up, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth scolded, shaking her head at me, but a small smile tugged up the corner of her lips. "I think you'll survive."

"Besides, I'm pretty sure it's red," Nico frowned at the vial. "Are we going to find out that you're colour blind when we jump into your mind?"

I simply scoffed, Annabeth grinned, and Apollo just looked on with an amused expression, but the mood quickly sobered.

"After three," I announced to my friends, the smile dropping from my face. "One."

"Two," Annabeth continued the countdown, laying back on her bed.

Nico prepared himself before sighing, "Well I suppose I have to say three then."

I necked the vial in seconds and collapsed backwards onto my bed, the vial tumbling out of my hand. The last thing I heard was the shattering of the glass.