In the darkness, there was a very small light. A pinprick - two pinpricks. Yellow and silver. They twisted together, holding on to each other in the darkness. At least they were together. Always and forever. Counterparts.

~ ☼ ~

"Do you know why I claimed him?"

It was Apollo. I felt woozy as I stared off into the woods from whatever tall perch I was on. He was beside me, in his immortal form, bright and blinding. I could not look directly at him, and I'd already forgotten how we got to this point in the conversation.

"No," I said.

Parts of it were coming back to me now, like the birds sailing our way on the breeze. He'd been searching for Alec to protect him. Because Zeus was looking for him, because he was afraid he'd turn on Olympus from the inside. And with his powers, that'd be a bigger cause for concern than just your normal spy.

But why did Apollo want to protect him?

"I did not see him as my son," he said. "And it wasn't an act of altruism. I felt a psychic connection to him."

"Really."

"Like one day, we were meant to be kin." He turned towards me, slowly, and held out a hand. "You're my daughter, Artemis. No matter what happens, whether you stay interested in the violin or you continue to wield Liakada, do not forget our core spirit."

He touched my shoulder, and warmth spread through me like - like -

"What?" I asked, still unable to look at him.

I felt his blinding grin. "Confidence."