Chapter Text
Chapter VII
The Temple of Apollo
The mortal air clung to Astra. After participating in her father’s council, she slipped away to enjoy the mortal realm for a time. She was wandering through the streets, disguised as a noblewoman. Even as she moved past others in her mortal form, she captured much attention. She had the fairest skin but her hair was blonde instead of its usual silver or chestnut. Her eyes were a cool crystal blue.
She came upon a beautiful marble temple and went inside. Inside, chants and hymns were heard. Murals of a certain Sun God defeating both monsters and kings alike, crowned with his laurel, holding his lyre. Everything sang Apollo’s praises.
Astra slightly shook her head, with both exasperation and amusement. Of all the places in Greece, she had to come here, to the Temple of Apollo headed by the Oracle of Delphi. The Fates were mocking her.
Part of Astra wanted to turn around. But curiosity got the better of her, and she came inside. She was noticed by the Oracle of Delphi, the High Priestess. “Are you lost, child?” She asked, her kind eyes glimmering. “You are quite beautiful. You were blessed by Aphrodite.”
Ah yes, blessed by that whore who bedded my brother, a man who swore to be irrevocably mine, Astra almost bit back. “Have you any offerings for our lord, Apollo?” Asked the Priestess.
Astra smiled and thanked the woman. “You are too kind. I am not lost. But I certainly did not expect to end up here, so I am afraid I am unprepared.”
“Don’t worry child,” the Oracle of Delphi patted her hands. “But it is best to give him an offering. It would not be wise to invite his wrath.” With that, the Priestess left her alone with her thoughts. Astra noticed Apollo’s statue and his face flashed in her mind.
Sighing, Astra wandered the temple before slipping into another room. Just then, a warm, divine presence seeped in and her stomach folded into knots of dread. Astra straightened immediately when she heard a low voice. “You know, most wanderers stop here to give prayers and offerings. Not slip away into the shadows.”
She whipped around, only to find a tall, muscular, lightly tanned man with long golden hair, proud molten gold eyes, and a very familiar, infuriating smirk stretching his lips. He was dressed as he usually was: a long white cape held together by his golden accessory, a gladiator skirt, and golden sandals. His abdominal muscles were on display and he alone could make anyone swoon.
Anyone except her.
Apollo, leaning against one of the pillars, inspected her face closely and suspicion flashed in her eyes. Astra hoped he wouldn’t recognize her. Oh may the Fates help her, she was alone in a room with the one God she couldn’t escape. And she was in disguise.
Play it smart, Astra thought to herself. “Apologies my lord, I did not think I would come here so I came unprepared. I didn’t anticipate that the God of the Sun would be lingering in his own temple. I assumed you lived on Olympus.”
He raised a brow. Astra’s pulse quickened. Whether he suspected anything or not, she couldn’t tell. He gave her an easy smile. “I sometimes like to see who wanders into my temple. Some are devotees, some are wanderers, some are thieves,” he walked towards her slowly. She tilted her chin up, stepping backwards.
“And which one do you think I am?” She asked.
He tilted his head. “Mayhaps a wanderer.” His next question threw her off. “Are you married?”
Astra stammered. “W-What?”
“Are you married?” He repeated his question.
Why the fuck would he want to know that?
“No. My Father is hesitant to marry me off. I am his only daughter so he is protective of me,” was her answer. This was partially true. Many offers for her hand had come Zeus and Hera’s way, but Zeus had been reluctant. Astra had solved the matter by taking her vow - that only a man or God who could be loyal to only her and devote himself entirely to her would wed her and have her maidenhead.
“I can’t entirely blame him,” Apollo murmured. He lifted a large hand, taking a strand of her hair and pulling it behind her ear. She was too mesmerized by him to stop him. “If I had such a beautiful daughter - an angel-faced girl like my mother - I would’ve adorned her in gold, kept her by my side, and doted on her every word.”
Astra’s treacherous heart had her imagine him cradling a little girl against his broad chest, arms wrapped around the child, holding her as if she was the last thing that was bright and innocent in the world.
No.
Apollo’s hand withdrew from her hair, only to reach back, bold and careless, in an attempt to graze her shoulder. “You wear mortal skin well,” he said. “Perhaps too well…”
Astra grabbed his hand with such speed. White hot power bled through her hand, burning into his skin. Apollo hissed and grunted in agony, freeing himself from her hold and looking down at her hand. Red burn marks now marred his tanned skin.
“Don’t touch me. You have been given no leave to do so,” Astra said, coldly. With that, she slipped away, leaving Apollo by himself.
Apollo clutched his scorched hand. He then let out a short low laugh, utterly charmed. Of course. Just as he had thought.
“Oh, Astra. Only you could be so powerful and brazen,” he murmured to himself. She would never bend easily to him, nor fall for his charms.
And that just made him want her more.
Apollo returned to Olympus soon after. He had bandaged his hand. On his way, he met Hermes and Dionysus, who were sitting at a table. “What happened to you?” Dionysus asked, looking at Apollo’s hand.
“Ah, I…got burned,” Apollo said.
Dionysus frowned. “But you’re the God of the Sun.”
Hermes’s teal eyes bore into Apollo’s soul. “Did you somehow manage to anger Father?” Hermes said.
“No,” Apollo responded.
Hermes’s eyes darkened. “There is only one other God capable of this,” he murmured. Then his voice got louder and stronger. “Dionysus. Leave us.” Dionysus shrugged and sauntered out of the room, leaving Apollo and Hermes alone.
Apollo raised a brow. “Did I do something?” He asked. He normally got along well with Hermes, and they had become good friends, not just half-brothers who got along well. Hermes crossed his arms.
“One day you’re grieving a lost love, the next day, something like this happens. Astra burned you, didn’t she? Only she’s capable of something like this,” Hermes stated.
Apollo gritted his teeth and nodded. “She did.”
Hermes placed his fair hands on the table, leaning forward. “What the fuck did you do?” He growled.
“She wandered into my temple in mortal form. Needless to say, I had my suspicions. She seemed to think that I didn’t recognize her,” Apollo explained.
“What did you do?” Hermes pressed.
Apollo sighed, suddenly feeling a pang of shame. “I got her to reveal herself.”
“Why!?!” Hermes snapped. “What reason did you have? You could’ve just left her alone! You cornered her, didn’t you? By the Fates, she must’ve been furious. You got lucky she only burned your hand and she didn’t leave Olympus one sun short.”
“Brother, I didn’t do anything to her,” Apollo sighed. “Why are you getting so furious?”
“Because Astra is my sister. She’s treated me like I’m more than just a bastard. Called me her favorite brother,” Hermes said, waving his arms.
“Favorite brother? You must wear that title like you wear your helmet,” Apollo said, dryly.
“And you want her to wear the title of your favorite fling!” Hermes snapped. “Olympus may be blind to your rampant nature but some of us aren’t. Astra especially! You think you’re her first admirers. She’s had hundreds. Admirers, lovers, all of it. They all tried to claim her, to take her maidenhead. They all failed. You won’t be any different.”
“You point out my rampant nature, as if you don’t fuck everything that moves!” Apollo snapped back, pointing a finger at Hermes. “Let me guess, Artemis told you about my interest in Astra.”
“I met with Artemis and Athena. We put two and two together. And need I remind you, I’m not the one who has fallen for Astra. You have,” Hermes poked Apollo’s chest. “Artemis will kill you. Astra might help her. I believe this,” he gestured to Apollo’s hand, “is already proof enough that she doesn’t like you.”
Hermes turned on his heel and walked away. “Where are you going?” Apollo called.
“To find Astra and figure out what you did. May the Fates help you if you’ve really pissed her off,” Hermes called back. He turned to face Apollo. “Astra wants devotion. She deserves better than to be your next dalliance.”
“You think that’s all she is to me?” Apollo hissed.
Hermes looked at Apollo, his face softening. “Isn’t she?”
Apollo’s fists clenched. “No. Not this time.”
Hermes gave Apollo a sad look. “Don’t fool yourself, brother. You may think that now. But there’s no guarantee that you’ll think it tomorrow when you find someone else to dazzle your eyes with.”
Astra lingered in the woods. Leander waited by her side in the form of a great white stallion. She planned to return to Olympus soon. Looking around, she didn’t see Apollo, Ares, or Aphrodite, none of whom she desired to stay away from. She let out a sigh of relief.
“You know. To be fair - and I’m not saying you don’t look beautiful - I think you pull off brown hair much better. But nothing beats the silver hair. I admire your disguise though. I’m afraid your magic gave you away. I could sense it from miles away.”
Astra jumped and turned to see a much more welcome face. A bright smile spread across her face. “Hermes!”
Hermes gave her an apologetic look. “Apologies. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
She shook her head and the siblings embraced. “Startle me? You’re the first face I’ve seen today that does not draw my ire!” She laughed, shedding her mortal disguise, her hair turning silver and her eyes turning molten gold.
Hermes was the first of Zeus’s illegitimate children that Astra befriended. Since they became friends, he had introduced her to Dionysus, Athena, and Artemis. He had always been her partner in crime and was down for any fucked up plan her mind came up with.
“High praise indeed, sister,” Hermes grinned. His face slowly turned serious as he cupped her cheeks. “Did he do anything to you?” He asked.
“Apollo. You know,” Astra immediately realized.
Hermes nodded. “I do, but that’s besides the point. I need to see whether I’ll let him get off easy or if Athena, Artemis, and I need to band together and do something about him.”
“He didn’t,” Astra said. “Honestly, I think he suspected that I was in a mortal disguise. But he touched my hair. He was going to touch my shoulder when I stopped him. And that’s when I burned him.”
Hermes sighed, rubbing his temple. “Are you sure you’re okay?"
She nodded. “Yes. There’s no need to kill Apollo.”
Hermes nodded. “Good. Artemis told me everything about Apollo’s affections for you. She worries for you. Quite frankly, so do I. After what Ares did…” Hermes clenched his fists. “It took everything in me not to slap him in front of everyone.”
“You need not worry for me,” Astra smiled.
“But I do,” Hermes responded. “You’ve stood up for Artemis, Athena, myself, hell, even Dionysus, several times. You always looked out for us. We’re just doing the same for you.”
“I think he wanted to provoke me to prove his suspicions,” Astra said, the wheels in her brain turning. “He plays the role of the charming Sun God frighteningly well. Almost endearing if I’m being honest.”
“Don’t be fooled by him,” Hermes said. “You’ve captured his interest and he’s latching on like a parasite. You can refuse him many times but he’ll chase you. He’ll chase you with the intent of claiming you.”
Astra chuckled. “Let him chase me, Hermes,” she smiled. “I’ll simply burn him again.”
Hermes laughed. “I want to be there to see it,” he grinned. “Now come. Walk with me and we’ll stay out of the Sun’s sight. It is getting dark, and the night is for tricksters and starlight.”
She laughed and agreed.