Page 23 of Arrogance
“What happened!? Who did this to you, mother?” I exclaimed.
My mother’s sweat dripped across every surface of her body. Her chest rising and falling deeply with every breath she took. I held my hands over each of her wounds. My powers of healing allowed her skin to retract and reform, closing her cuts and lacerations. Soon, she was coming to and able to respond to me.
“It was Python,” she revealed.
“Python!? What was it doing here? Why would it travel from Delphi all the way here?” I asked.
“I’m not sure. But there’s no way the serpent managed to make it here on its own. Only a god could have assisted in bringing it here,” Leto explained.
“But who would do such a…” I paused, realizing I knew exactly who would want to harm my mother. There was only one person who would wish such ill-will on her.
“Hera,” my mother answered for me.
The Queen of the Olympian gods had always had it out for Leto, as she did with any woman that had an affair with Zeus. My mother was no exception. Just when I thought Hera had put her grudges to the side, she was still holding onto them, ready to take revenge on any and all who she thought betrayed her.
“So, she waited until Artemis and I were too busy to catch her in the act. How devious!” I yelled. “Well, she won’t get away with it. I’m going after Python. In fact, I’ll make sure…” I stood up, turning my back to my mother, ready to leave the room.
“Apollo. No!” Leto interrupted. “You cannot kill Python. He is a son of Gaia. Blood on your hands will only lead to impurification. Your father will surely exile you from Mount Olympus.
“So be it.” My mind was already made up. There was no use in persuading me otherwise. “I will strike down Python myself.”
As I bolted out of her house, my mother called out to me, but I was not listening to anymore of what she had to say. She had given me enough information. I now set out to go to Delphi to slay Python.
I arrived in Delphi just outside the sacred temple. The structure was surrounded by vast hilly plains and mountains, with ever sinuous rivers running along its trenches. The land was lush, nothing but verdant foliage that covered every surface. It was among the mountains of Delphi that I learned Python presided. I furtively avoided the oracle and servants of the land as I trekked through the hills on the hunt.
If only I had Artemis here with me, she would find the creature and make quick work of it in no time. But this was something I needed to do alone. I needed to avenge my mother, and I could not allow Artemis to get involved in this with me. Who knows what consequences I would potentially face for murdering a son of Gaia, but I had no choice in the matter. Anyone who harmed my mother must be punished. Death was the ultimate price for such an act.
As I climbed Mount Parnassus, I began to discover numerous amounts of caves that entered into the mountain. It was within one of these caves that I knew Python had dwelled. In scanning each of them, my prophetic skills led me to the most northern cave on the mountain. Within this cave, I could sense the serpent’s presence. Covertly, I entered the cave, daring to make as little noise as possible as I progressed further into it. As the corridor narrowed, I became aware that I would be reaching a dead end soon.
It was time for me to reach to my back to draw my bow. Pulling a few golden arrows out of my quiver, I held them firmly against the bowstring, drawn back, ready to fire at a moment’s notice. Creeping further around the bend of the cave, I could spot the murky hide of the creature’s tail just a short distance away. Its glossy scales glistened as it laid down on the cave floor. Popping my head further around the corner, I was able to get a complete visual of Python’s entirety. The serpent was massive, almost dragon-like. Based on the nature of this beast, I was shocked that it had not managed to kill my mother. I was grateful she was still living and breathing, having survived the heinous attack from this monster.
Stepping out from being protected from the cave walls, I aimed at the dormant creature and fired all three golden arrows. I didn’t even give Python time to react to my arrows piercing it, for I was already drawing more from my quiver and firing more and more. The serpent flailed against the wall and screeched out in pain. Obsidian blood poured from the wounds I inflicted upon it. But I was not done with my pre-emptive strike, not until the creature was moving no more. It stood no chance against me. I relentlessly continued my assault against it. Soon, the thrashes of Python tapered off. Its howls becoming just mere echoes fading in the distance. It flopped to the ground, completely unconscious, with no trace of life.
With trepidation, I approached the vile creature and grazed my hand along its scales, verifying that the serpent was indeed dead. I retrieved my golden arrows from its body and returned them to my quiver. The deed had been done. This all could have been avoided if it weren’t for Hera. But she, too, needed to learn a lesson. She knew better than to go after the loved one of a fellow god. Even she was not above defying me or any other Olympian god for that matter and getting away with it.
As I exited the cave, inhaling the fresh, brisk mountain air, a loud boom was heard nearby. A lightning bolt had struck the earth just before me, killing the grass surrounding where it struck. It left a black burned char on the ground.
I let out a deep sigh, knowing that it was a sign from my father. I needed to return to Mount Olympus to speak with him, immediately. I had been summoned and knew that I was likely to face a brutal punishment for my actions.
“Apollo. How could you?” Artemis called out to me from behind as I approached our father’s palace.
“Python attacked our mother, Artemis. It nearly killed her. Had I not arrived any sooner than I did, she would be dead,” I explained.
My twin sister shook her head in disapproval. “Even so, you killing a son of Gaia will have catastrophic consequences. You know this, brother. You could be stripped of your title as a god and, even worse, banished to Tartarus for eternity.”
Artemis had changed over the years. Her innocence and morality were shunned the more powerful she became as a goddess. Now, the only thing she valued were her titles and appearances. But I was not going to bend to the other gods and goddesses like she had. No. If one of them expressed ill-will and harm to anything I treasured, then I would stand my ground, be brave, and confront them head on, which is exactly what I was doing now.
“Then, that is my burden to bear,” I informed her. “I would have it no other way. Python deserved to die. If Gaia is irate with me, then her anger is misdirected. She should have her dispute with Hera.”
Artemis shook her head with disapproval at my response. “Nevertheless, it was a foolish thing for you to do, Apollo. I only hope our father intervenes and lightens whatever sort of punishment Gaia wants for you, for killing her son.”
“Well, we will find out soon enough, won’t we?” I shrugged and then proceeded up the pallid marble stairs and into Zeus’ palace, a place I was all too familiar with these days.
Two of his younger male servants in pure white tunics escorted me to the throne room, where my father was waiting for me at. As soon as I entered, I recognized Zeus in the center throne with Hera to one side of him and the frail, decrepit Gaia on the other. Her skin was as brown and rough as the bark of a tree, while her hair resembled blades of grass. She was a great grandmother to many, including Artemis and me. Although we rarely ever saw her but twice throughout our lives. Those were under much better circumstances. This time, it was a different story.
“Hello, father,” I addressed Zeus directly, bowing down to him. “Hera… Gaia…” I only slightly lowered my head to acknowledge the two of them.
“Apollo, obviously you are well aware of the reason you were called here so suddenly?” my father questioned in a deep, tone that nearly made the ground shake.
