Apollo taught me the myths, history, and the basics of performing arts. Down in the underworld, the only things that was available to me in my spare time was reading or fighting. I divided my time between the two, mornings were spent delving into books full of the ancient myths so I would know ever last detail of each major deity, and even some minor gods like Eros, Psyche, Nemesis, Ares' sons Phobos and Deimos, and Priapus. And many others.

As Apollo taught, I pretended to not know myths that have been burned in my brain since I could remember. I knew that Apollo and Artemis' mother was Leto, I knew that Metis had been swallowed by Zeus whole while she was pregnant with Athena.

Styx had specially trained me against Saffron. Her mother was a mortal concubine of Zeus, it was alleged that she was the only one he truly loved, as he had loved the old Titaness Metis. That's why he named Saffron's mother Metis, after his first wife. There was an old prophecy that the second child of Zeus and Metis would be a person so powerful that he was capable of overthrowing his father, the Lord of the Cosmos himself. The prophecy never specified the child's gender. Saffron, being the second child of Zeus and Metis, but this time a mortal slave Metis, was the prophecy child. She could overthrow her father and rule the world. Which is why my mother wanted her so desperately on her side.

When Apollo told me this, even though I had already known it for many years, it astounded me every time I heard it. Prophecies could never be avoided. Like King Acrisius of Argos, trying to evade the foretelling that his grandson would kill him and become the next king, by casting his pregnant daughter into the sea, only showed it all the more. Prophecies would always come true. If you tried to escape the fate it told, you would only end up building and stepping into your own trap.

After the history and myths came performing arts. Alright, in the underworld I could also sing, although the songs I knew were mainly battle hymns and songs that had lines against the gods. So I made up my own. I had a high clear soprano voice, and it was obvious that Apollo was surprised by my talent.

"Well, I have a few songs that you could probably master in a few days," he said, handing me a sheet of paper with words and rhythms on it.

After class I put the paper in my room. I'd look at it later, after dinner. I changed into a simple white dress with a little gold necklace and went down to eat.

My last dinner the night before had been only Saffron and me, one-on-one. Today the whole staff were gathered in the dining hall. I spotted Saffron, Jamila, Rachel, Keira, Daniela, and many others I hadn't met yet. I sat between Jamila and Rachel. As I looked around the room, I saw only girls present.

"Are all the staff members girls?" I hissed to Rachel.

"Yeah," she responded. "The boys work with male gods."

"Okay," I whispered.

Afterwards I went back to my room. I was at liberty to roam Olympus until it got too dark, so I figured why not go visit Daniel?

I'd promised him I would come see him soon. I put on a warm cloak, since it was getting colder as the sun set, and set out, telling Jamila at the front desk that I was going over to Lord Dionysus' place. She told me to be back before curfew at 9:30p.m. and just like that I was off.

In the dark I could barely see the street signs pointing to each god's mansion. I finally made my way to Dionysus' crib.

It was made out of wood and stone, with grapevines bearing their fruit wrapping around the whole place. I knocked on the door.

Dionysus himself opened it. He had light skin, frizzy blonde hair, and an overall lean figure. He gave me a smile, which I had no trouble believing could drive people and god alike completely insane if he wanted to.

"Hello," he said. "How may I help you, miss?"

"Lord Dionysus," I said formally. "I'm here to visit Daniel, one of your workers."

"Of course!" He said. "I'll send for him right away."

Not a minute later, Daniel showed up. He wore an olive green shirt under a leather jacket, jeans, and brown shoes.

When he saw me, he looked rather shocked.

"Um... hi Sophie."

"Hi," I said, giving him a little smile.

"May I go, sir?" he asked Dionysus.

"Yes, but be back by nine thirty." Dionysus said.

"Yes sir," he said earnestly, then stepped out and closed the door behind him.

We walked back to Saffron's garden and sat down on a stone bench.

"So..." I said, feeling kind of awkward, " what have you been up to?"

He shrugged. "Not much. I'm just a cleaner for Dionysus. I don't do much, since there are like twenty other cleaners who do everything before I can reach for a broom."

I laughed quietly.

"What about you?" he asked.

"I'm Saffron's personal maid. I clean her quarters in the morning and have lessons in the afternoon."

Daniel sighed. "None of Dionysus' staff have lessons. I don't either, but the others don't even know how to read and write. My parents taught me, but I'm the only one."

I winced. "That's sad."

"Yeah, it is," he agreed.

A cold wind blew, making me shiver in my cloak.

"Are you cold?" Daniel asked.

"I'm fine," I said, shivering again.

"No you're not."

He wrapped his arms around me, and I melted into him.

"You know, the time I've had at Dionysus' has been torture so far," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't have any friends there. You weren't there."

"Sorry," I muttered.

"It's not your fault," he said.

"Still," I murmured into his chest. "I have friends here, and an education. Saffron is kind, and I have been happier then I ever have been."

Stop talking, Sophie!

"What was your life like before?" he asked.

Don't you dare answer truthfully.

I shrugged. "I was an orphan," I lied.

"Sorry if I should not have asked you that."

"No, it's fine."

We sat there for a while in comfortable silence when the bell rang nine o'clock.

I sat up, shaking his arms off me. "We should probably get you back."

"Alright," he said, standing up.

He took my hand in his and put a finger under my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye. He smiled.

"This has been the one time I really felt at home," he said, his breath warm on my face.

"Yeah," I agreed. "Me too."

His face was close to mine, our noses touching. His lips were a millimeter away from mine.

I snapped myself out of it. I couldn't do this. I was on a mission. Everyone here was evil. I couldn't allow myself to feel anything but hate and malice towards them. As much as it hurt me, I pushed him away.

"Sorry," he said.

We walked back to Dionysus' mansion. As Daniel walked inside, he whispered in my ear.

"I love you."

Oh gods of Olympus.