Page 56 of Charmed By Apollo

The shock of his confession made her entire body seize. “Excuse me?”

“I love you, Geri.” His shoulders sagged.

“You can’t…I m-mean…it’s not possible.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think so too, but here we are.” His blue eyes pleaded with her. “And it’s because I love you that I can’t let you do this. I won’t let you destroy your soul for this.”

“It’s my soul,” she shot back. “And it’s for a good cause. My grandmo?—”

“You loved her, I get it. But I have a feeling…that if she raised someone like you…someone as good, loyal, and brave as you, she wouldn’t want you to do this.” He reached out to touch her, but she recoiled. “Please, Geri. Let’s go home.”

For a moment, she thought about it. But her anger at him and how unfair everything was loomed in her mind, like a dark cloud that blocked all the sun’s rays from hitting the earth. “No.”

His expression faltered. “Alright then.” And with that, he disappeared.

A few moments passed before the feeling returned to her body, and it sunk in that she was alone. The weight of Apollo’s absence hung heavy in the air around her. She stared at the cup in front of her, the coffee now cold and bitter, taunting her with reminders of their moments together. Unable to contain the frustration building within her, Geri’s hand clenched around the cup, her nails digging into the ceramic surface. With a sudden burst of anger, she flung the cup against the wall, the liquid inside splattering in all directions.

“Damn it!” she exclaimed, her voice echoing off the walls of the room.

Why does he have to affect me like this? And how dare he say he loves me? And then leave me like this?

Feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her—anger, frustration, and a tinge of sadness—Geri paced back and forth, her mind racing with thoughts of him and their complicated connection. She cursed herself for allowing him to have such power over her emotions, for letting him into her heart in ways she never thought possible.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm the storm within her, reminding herself of her strength. But deep down, she knew that he had stirred something within her that she couldn’t easily ignore.

“I need to get out of here,” she muttered.

But then she realized that her only clothes were the pajamas she was wearing. Fuck, why can’t I have magic? She threw on a robe and hoped that the hotel’s gift shop had something she could wear.

As she stormed out of her room, frustration fueled each step, and she vowed to herself that she wouldn’t let Apollo’s absence derail her plans. Despite feeling abandoned and betrayed, she refused to let his actions dictate her own.

Entering the hotel’s gift shop, she scanned the racks of clothing, her jaw clenched in determination. She quickly dismissed the touristy T-shirts and souvenir hats, her anger rising with each fruitless glance.

“Excuse me, miss. Can I help you find something?” a voice called out from behind the counter.

Geri turned to see a hotel staff member smiling politely at her, oblivious to the storm brewing beneath her calm exterior. With a forced smile, she replied, “I’m looking for something more…suitable to wear for the day. Do you have any actual clothes?”

The staff member nodded understandingly and led Geri to a section of the shop with a limited selection of resort wear. As Geri browsed through the options, her frustration only grew. None of the clothing seemed to match her mood or the determination burning inside her.

Finally, settling on a simple sundress and a pair of sandals, she charged it to the room and left the shop, her resolve hardened. She may not have had the support she had hoped for from Apollo, but she refused to let that stop her from accomplishing what she set out to do.

She headed back to her room, determined to prepare for the day ahead, her mind set on finishing what she started, with or without his help. She couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal, of being left behind when she needed him the most. But beneath the anger, a fierce determination burned within her.

Back in the room, she shut the door behind her, willing herself to push aside the memories of Apollo that lingered in every corner of the room, focusing instead on the task at hand. She had a mission to complete, and she couldn’t afford to be distracted by emotions right now.

She quickly dressed and then took a moment to collect herself, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

I have to do this.

She reminded herself of her purpose, steeling her resolve as she prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Opening her eyes, she squared her shoulders and headed back out into the world, determined to continue her quest no matter what obstacles stood in her way.

Someone out there was already dying or deserved to die. There were also people who needed to find peace and solace.

Or justice.

She walked briskly until she reached the street, where the bustling sounds of Akumal greeted her. Passing by quaint shops and lively cafes, her mind raced with thoughts of her next move. She also couldn’t afford to let her anger consume her. She needed to focus and find a way to move forward.

She paused on the sandy sidewalk, taking a deep breath of the salty sea air. The sun beat down on her skin, warming her despite the turmoil raging inside her. “Okay, Geri,” she said to herself. “You can do this.”

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