Chapter Twenty-Five

I woke to the warm sunlight streaming through the billowing cream curtains blanketing the windows. My eyes flickered open and I blinked a couple times before I focused in on the sight of Apollo laying beside me. He no longer slept sprawled and out in the open. He slept curled up around me tightly, his arms embracing me all through the night, and his cheek resting on my head. It was a rare moment when he wasn't flinching or cringing away from anything.

Atlan's torture had left a severe scar on Apollo's heart and soul. He could no longer stand loud noises and he was constantly checking everything around him to make sure there was no danger. I wasn't sure how long this mental damage would last, or if it could ever be healed. It was so frustrating to once again be trapped in the place of being a protection god, a god of healing, and being unable to do anything to help him.

"You are helping me," Apollo had told me last night before we fell asleep, "Before I met you, I'd have to do all of this alone... and I don't think I could." His words warmed me, but I felt guilty that he was trying to reassure me when it should be the other way around, so I ceased my complaints to cradle him in my arms, listening to his breathing finally even out as he fell asleep.

I had felt him rise this morning to do his job, to grace Greece and her people with his presence, to provide Olympus with a reason to get out of bed, and then he returned to his own bed and held me as he fell back to sleep.

Smiling, I ran my hand through his thick auburn hair, twirling a lock of his soft hair around my finger as I watched him sleep. He looked so boyish and charming when he slept.

Did he sleep well? I looked up at the soft voice carried in on the wind that blew through the windows and I felt a breeze pass over my back. I smiled at Hyacinth's presence. The ghost came to check on Apollo frequently. I had almost expected the ghost to be offended by my relationship with Apollo, but Hyacinth had given me his blessing in his own way.

"Yes," I answered quietly, so as not to wake Apollo, "He's exhausted..."

He's so sweet when he sleeps... May you kiss him for me, Anexius? I nodded at his innocent request and leaned in to place my lips against Apollo's forehead. He sighed in his sleep and snuggled closer, wrapping his arms around my torso and pressing his head to my chest. I smiled at that.

Please take care of our Apollo, Anexius... He's fragile.

"Of course, sweet Hyacinth. That goes without saying." I stroked Apollo's hair for a while, feeling Hyacinth's presence pull away, leaving us alone. A few seconds later, Apollo's eyes flickered open and looked up at me sleepily.

"What time is it?" He asked.

"Nearly eleven." He groaned at my response and I chuckled as he rolled onto his back now, throwing an arm across his eyes. I rolled over with him to lay against his chest, tracing my finger around his nipple, watching it harden and his breath hitch.

"Are you ready for breakfast?" I asked. Apollo growled and rolled both of us over so he was above me, leaning down to capture my lips in a passionate kiss that nearly blinded me. He pulled back, leaving me breathless as he brushed his nose over my cheek.

"I've been waiting for breakfast all night." I laughed, then moaned as his lips clamped on my throat and I arched my back, dragging my hands along his bare back. I swallowed as a moment of sorrow descended upon me at the feel of his puckered scars. I leaned up and kiss one particularly jagged scar on his shoulder, making him shiver.

"I love you," I murmured, tears welling in my eyes. For the first time in such a long time, I could finally say those words again and mean them. I closed my eyes and cradled Apollo to me as he kissed and suckled his way down, further until... his wet mouth engulfed me and I moaned, throwing my head back against the pillows, reaching down to sink my hand in his soft auburn hair. His tongue did a wicked dance over me, his hands stroking my hips and thighs. I trembled and bit my bottom lip as I felt myself nearing my limit until he pulled back abruptly and I groaned as he drew back up to smile in my face.

"I hate it when you do that," I grunted, reaching up to give his ear a small playful pinch. Apollo appeared perfectly satisfied with that and leaned down to kiss my lips quickly before he conjured a small bottle of gel. I frowned curiously as I watched him douse his fingers, expecting him to prep me until I realized he was reaching back behind him, hissing as he inserted a finger.

"Apollo, you don't have to," I said when I realized his intention, "I'm alright with taking you--"

"No, you're not," Apollo said dryly, then grunted as he added another finger, leaning down over top of me and a shiver went through me as I watched his cheeks flush as he struggled between concentrating on the conversation and stretching himself, "I remember... all those times you cringed, all those times you refused, but I made you. Besides, I love that thing you do when you bite me." I was surprised by that disclosure.

"I thought you were always too drunk to notice that," I commented. Apollo laughed breathlessly.

"Oh, please. My half-brother is the god of excess. Getting me drunk isn't that easy, Anexius. Now let's quit talking," he leaned down to brush his lips against my ear, "I want to feel you inside me now." I smiled faintly at that and obeyed without question, rolling him over and taking the gel from him to add a bit more myself, watching him moan beneath me. Gently so as not to hurt him, because I could tell by his twitching muscles that he was still in pain from his attack, I slid myself inside him and gasped, almost forgetting how warm and soft he felt. I looked down as Apollo's face became uncomfortable for a moment before he relaxed around me.

"Are you good?" I asked him softly.

"I will be when you move," Apollo purred in response. I smiled and began to roll my hips against him, watching him gasp and bit his lip before baring his fangs in euphoria as I picked up the pace. I leaned over top of him, lowering myself down so I could capture his lips. His fangs pricked me, but the little sting of pain succeeded in bringing me closer to the edge. I held back, though. This was mostly for Apollo. I wanted to make him feel better, and I wanted him to know how much I loved him. I reached between us, taking him in my palm, stroking him and his breathing came ragged gasps and whimpers.

And he finally cried out, closing his eyes and tilting his head back against the pillows, legs sliding up along my hips and I ground myself against him, hissing in relief as I came, watching him spasm and tremble beneath me before we were spent. I withdrew from him and let him roll over to press his cheek against the pillows, trying to catch his breath. I smiled as I slid the blankets back, admiring his backside.

I slid down on the bed and sank my teeth into Apollo's left cheek. He hissed, then moaned and rubbed his cheek against the pillow. I kissed the small bruised spot before kissing a path to the small dip of his lower back. He purred contently, rubbing his legs on the blankets.

A knock on the bedroom door startled me out of my fantasy and Apollo growled, smashing his face into the pillow. I smiled at that and sat up on my knees.

"Who is it?" I called, too lazy to bother with my powers to check.

"Arikos! I'm getting ready to head out, just waiting on Menoetius. Could you do me a favor and check on his wound? You know, just being paranoid." His concern for the Titan was oddly endearing.

"Yes, I'll be there in a minute."

"Thanks!"

I scooted to the edge of the bed and stood up as Apollo rolled onto his side, propping his head up and watching me intently as I went to the wardrobe to grab a pair of pants and a shirt.

"Don't stay gone too long," he said. I pulled my shirt on over my head and went to the bed, leaning over to kiss him gently on the forehead. I started to pull away, but he dragged me back and kissed me on the lips, tongue taking control of my mouth for a moment before we broke apart and he peered up at me with a sly smile.

"You tease me," I accused him and Apollo shrugged innocently, laying back on the bed and tucking his hands beneath his head. He happily showed off every naked part of him and my mouth watered to bite down on that soft sun kissed skin again.

I left the room, though, before I ended up distracted for the rest of the day. I went down the hallway to Menoetius's room, opening the door without really thinking about it. The moment I stepped in the room, I pulled up short, my eyes widening.

Menoetius was standing near his bed, picking up the same black shirt I'd seen him wear almost every day. But it wasn't the fact that he was extremely ripped that caught my eye, but the rows upon rows of scars that ran up and down his forearms. Very deliberately. But Menoetius had only been brought back recently, and in a new body that shouldn't be scarred at all, save for the one at his stomach where Ulenon had driven his blade. And yet, there was no denying what I saw.

Menoetius snatched his shirt from the bed and tugged it on quickly, trying to appear natural about it, but he was a bit too frantic for it to seem normal. I cleared my throat, though, pretending I hadn't seen what I did.

"I'm here to check on your wound." Menoetius shot me a wary look at that.

"It's fine."

"I just want to double-check."

"It's fine."

"Menoetius, it won't take more than a few seconds," I said. Menoetius studied me suspiciously, then finally sat down on the bed, but slowly, like he didn't trust me. I came over and lifted his shirt. His eyes darkened at my close proximity, and when I laid my fingers against the puckered scar on his skin, he flinched away and dropped his shirt.

"See? Fine," he grunted, trying to get up, but I stood in front of him, refusing to back down.

"Yes," I said, "You've healed well. There anyway." Menoetius's eyes glinted, but he said nothing as he went to a small backpack sitting on the bed. I frowned as I watched him pack the uniform Hades had given him, and then zip the bag up.

"Where's the rest of your things?" I asked. Menoetius scowled, hoisting the bag onto his shoulder.

"I don't have anything else," he said.

That's impossible. Menoetius had been on Olympus for nearly two weeks and all he had was the uniform and the one pair of pants and shirt he was wearing? I opened my mouth to ask about it, but the door to Menoetius's room opened and Apollo stood there, looking irritated in a pair of bleached jeans and a long sleeved navy Henley.

"Trouble with thunderass. We're getting called up," he said. I nodded, turning back to Menoetius, who narrowed his eyes in irritation. At what, I wasn't sure.

"Menoetius--"

"Thanks for the room." Without another word, Menoetius vanished on the spot. I watched him go, confused before I turned back to Apollo, who raised an eyebrow.

"That was fast. If I'd known that would work, I would've said it sooner. The guy reminds me of one of Zeus's temper tantrums; making the skies dark and the clouds weep." I shook my head at him and approached him so we could teleport as one unit to the main temple where the other Olympian gods had already gathered in the meeting hall. Zeus's new temple... looked exactly like the old one. Except the new leather chairs set up around the crescent shaped table. I also noticed that Hannibal was still present, as was St. John. Though, Hades and Lucifer were nowhere to be seen.

"It's strange to see St. John without Lucifer," I said. Apollo frowned.

"From what I've heard, Hades couldn't get out of here faster. Doesn't surprise me. He's always hated Olympus." I couldn't imagine why given the beauty of the place... then again, given his relationship with Zeus, it wasn't too surprising.

I spotted Hannibal standing near Ares and St. John near the head of the table, and Zeus was approaching them, looking positively irritated.

"What's going on?" I asked as I came over with Apollo beside me. Ares looked up grimly.

"Where's Menoetius?" He asked instantly. I frowned.

"Back in Hell, why?" I asked. No one answered. Zeus cursed and Ares sighed, wiping a hand down his face before leaning on the table, looking at the others.

"He's safe there," he said, making Zeus snort, "Once we get word to Hades and Lucifer, he'll be safe. Atlan wouldn't dare break into Hell just to get his hands on the Key."

"I beg to differ," Zeus exclaimed indignantly, "Once he figures out who Menoetius really is, he'll be clawing at the gates of Hell just to get at him." Confused, I looked at Hannibal, who was pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"What's going on? What are you talking about?" I asked. Hannibal looked up at me, his expression dire.

"St. John finally told us what Menoetius is." St. John didn't look as alarmed as the other gods, but he didn't look too happy either as he folded his arms over his chest.

"Not what, but who," he corrected.

"He's the Key, isn't he?" Apollo asked. Hannibal started to nod before Zeus burst out angrily.

"The Key isn't a good thing! This entire time we've been lead to believe the Key was some helpful playing piece to the hybrids in their bullshit destined battle against Atlan, but that was never the case!" My eyes widened and I looked at Hannibal, who looked at me grimly.

"The Key isn't meant to be our weapon. He's meant to be Atlan's."

TO BE CONTINUED...