Page 24 of Charmed By Apollo

“Of course. But her name isn’t Lola, it’s Conching. We call her Lola Conching, meaning Grandma Conching,” Kanlaon explained.

“I know where she lives,” Castalia declared, grabbing hold of Apollo and Geri with surprising strength. “Let’s not waste any time. Apollo, bring us to the town. There’s a street there with one lone hut at the end, the one with the giant balete tree in the yard.”

“Alright.”

When they materialized on the street outside a small bamboo hut, Geri found herself tightly pressed against Apollo, with Castalia’s slender form pressed against them. Geri shifted uncomfortably, feeling more annoyed than ever by Castalia’s impulsive actions.

“Could you give me some space, Castalia?” Geri snapped, her gaze narrowed on the water nymph.

Castalia chuckled, her breath warm against Geri’s ear. “Oh, come now, darling,” she teased, her playful tone grating on Geri’s nerves. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”

Apollo gently extricated himself from the tangled embrace.

Geri sighed, her annoyance simmering even more when she heard Castalia’s laugh as she followed Apollo toward Lola Conching’s house.

“Well, my work here is done,” Castalia announced and gracefully walked away. The locals along the street gawked and cast puzzled glances at her.

Geri sighed in relief as she watched Castalia disappear into the crowd, grateful for the temporary reprieve from her presence. However, as she turned to Apollo, her annoyance resurfaced like a sudden storm cloud. “Interesting friends you have,” she muttered under her breath. She didn’t even try to hide her frustration.

Apollo reached a hand toward her, but Geri shrugged it off, her irritation propelling her toward the hut. With determined strides, she marched past him, her footsteps heavy with pent-up anger.

Beside the hut stood a magnificent balete tree, its ancient branches reaching toward the sky like outstretched arms. Beneath its sprawling canopy sat Lola Conching, a figure of quiet strength and wisdom, her presence commanding respect. She fanned herself gently in the warm afternoon sun, her expression calm and composed.

As Geri approached, her anger began to ebb away, replaced by a sense of solemn determination. She knew confronting her was the next step in their journey, and she steeled herself for the conversation ahead. With a deep breath, she squared her shoulders, and addressed the powerful witch.

“Lola Conching,” she began, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging within her. “We’ve come seeking your guidance. We need your help. We’ve traveled a long way seeking your guidance and assistance. My grandmother…we believe only you can help us.”

Lola Conching regarded Geri with a knowing gaze, her expression inscrutable as she responded in a language Geri didn’t understand.

Frustration bubbled up within her, anxiety mounting at the prospect of not being understood.

Before Geri could voice her confusion, Apollo stepped forward, his demeanor calm and composed. “Apologies, Lola Conching,” he interjected, “allow me to assist.” With a graceful wave of his hand, he cast a subtle enchantment, bridging the language barrier between them.

Geri was surprised as the words spoken by the witch suddenly became clear to her, their meaning unfolding in her mind with startling clarity. She still brimmed with annoyance toward Apollo, but beneath that turbulent emotion lay a kernel of gratitude for his timely intervention. She turned toward him, her gaze meeting his for a fleeting moment before she offered a silent nod of acknowledgment.

He smiled back at her, and it sent a jolt through Geri. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, forcing herself to refocus on the matter at hand. With renewed determination, she turned back to Lola Conching, repeating her plea for assistance.

The witch regarded Geri solemnly, her eyes reflecting the weight of her age and wisdom. “Child,” she began in a voice weathered by years of experience, “I am weary, and my powers wane with the setting sun. Return at dawn, when the world is fresh and my magic is strongest. Then, and only then, will I be able to aid you in your quest.”

Geri felt a pang of disappointment at the delay, but she knew better than to question the request. With a respectful nod, she accepted the witch’s directive, understanding that patience would be key in their pursuit of a solution.

As they bid her farewell and made their way back to the road, her thoughts lingered on their encounter when Apollo’s voice broke through the silence, interrupting her thoughts. His words, however, struck a nerve, eliciting a surge of anger within her. She turned to face him, her brows furrowed in frustration.

“What did you just say?” she demanded.

He blinked in surprise, taken aback by her sudden intensity. “I…I was just suggesting that we find a place to rest for the night.”

“Rest?” she exclaimed, her voice rising with each word. “How can you talk about rest when my grandmother’s life hangs in the balance? We can’t afford to waste any time!”

“I understand your frustration, but we need to be practical. You were already falling over when you summoned me to Alaska. You need food and sleep.”

“I’m fine. I’m a shifter and?—”

“You’ll be of no use to your grandmother if we exhaust ourselves before dawn.”

Her anger simmered beneath the surface as she considered his words. Though she begrudgingly acknowledged the wisdom of his advice, her impatience gnawed at her, urging her to press forward relentlessly.

“Why did you bring me here?” she demanded, her voice edged with accusation. “Was it just to make me jealous about Castalia?”

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