Page 39 of Arrogance
“I know. But I do remember the entire scene. And the gods know I didn’t lay a hand on Merope. Still, no one believed me. The King had me blinded as a punishment and banished me from Chios. I was nothing without my eyesight. I needed desperate help to regain it. Therefore, I managed to travel to Lemnos to visit my loyal friend, Hephaestus. With his assistance, he helped me visit Helios, who would be able to restore my vision. However, your father learned of this service he was offering me and the reason behind the loss of my vision. Therefore, Zeus made an offer to me. He explained that if Helios restored my vision, I would need to still repent for my actions. Zeus knew of my hunting skills and therefore, he likely thought of you. So, he set his terms and told me he wanted you to have a watchful eye on me for at least a year. I sense that it is a way of having mepurified.”
I was completely befuddled. How dare the gods think that they can walk all over me and expect me to guide Orion without even seeking out my permission? It riled me to no end. I had no time to have to deal with this meddlesome demi-god and his sordid behavior. My hands clenched into fists. “I cannot commit myself to having you by my side, demi-god. It is out of the question.”
And with that, I took off, deep into the forest, sprinting away from him.
“Wait!” Orion shouted. His voice becoming a faint echo as I further distanced myself from him.
I ran for minutes until I reached a nearby spring at the opposite end of the island. I came to a halt and leaned against a boulder to catch my breath. Out of instinct, I turned around, expecting to have completely lost Orion, but I was mistaken. I let out a startled gasp at his sudden appearance just behind me.
“How did you…” I began to ask, but he interrupted my line of questioning.
“I told you, Artemis, I am one of the world’s best hunters. My agility is far greater than that of most other demi-gods and even gods, for that matter.”
So, I had underestimated Orion. Evidently, he wasn’t just all bark. There was some bite to him as well. I was fairly impressed, but still needed to hold my reservations about him.
“It seems no matter what I do or say, you won’t take no for an answer, will you?”
He shook his head. “No. And trying to get rid of me any further will likely bring displeasure to Zeus and Poseidon.”
I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply. There was no way out of this for me. I would have to allow Orion to stay in my company for the inevitable future until my father deemed him purified. “Very well. What I will do is give you a few hunting tasks. If you pass them, then I will allow you to stay with me. How does that sound?” I knew I had no power to contradict the King of the Gods. Whether Orion succeeded or failed in my tests, I would have to accept his presence here in Delos. However, I did not want to act as though I had lost all control. My pride would not be shaken by him and the other gods. So, this was my attempt at gracefully showing I had some form of an upper-hand.
Luckily, Orion obliged. “Very well. Let me know what the tasks at hand are and I will surely complete them.” He gave me a bright ivory smile and a wink as he stated this.
For a second, my heart skipped a beat because of his reaction towards me. I sensed a warm rush of blood flow to my cheeks. Dare I say that Orion was actually quite charming when he smiled? What was coming over me? This was unconventional. I was supposed to be celibate and not be seduced by any man. Yet here Orion was, making me slightly entranced with him. I twisted around to avoid eye contact with him any further. My immediate way to negate these corrupt thoughts about him.
Still, I maintained my coolness when addressing him. “Come. Follow me. You have until dusk to prove to me your worth.”
Chapter 19
Apollo
I held Adonis’ hands to my chest. We stood on the shore. The sun cast its final glow of the day on us at this exact time I commanded it to, every day. It pained me to no end to say what I was forced to have to tell him. My sister had the audacity to threaten me, telling me that if I continued my affair with Adonis that she would ruin me. Artemis would reveal to Zeus and Phoebe about how Adonis and I desecrated the Shrine at Delphi. This revelation would likely cause us both to be separated, anyway. The King of the Gods would no doubt commit us to a lifetime of agony and torment for our unscrupulous behavior.
I had no other option but to cut all ties with Adonis. It is what’s best for the both of us. “There is no way around this, Adonis. You know we cannot be together.”
A single tear streaked down from the corner of his eye to his cheek. I couldn’t bear to look at him in such a painful state, but I knew I had no choice. I must endure watching the anguish I was causing him. “But there must be a way. You are a god, after all. Do something, Apollo!” he shouted aggressively, with more tears erupting from him.
I closed my eyes, shaking my head. “Believe me. I have mapped out all possible ways for us to be together still, but none of them will pan out. Artemis will learn that I went against my word. She will inform Zeus of what we have done. There will be no place in the world for us to run and hide. It’s impossible, Adonis.”
“But I cannot live without you, Apollo. I’ve never felt this way about anyone else in my entire life. I love you.”
His arms reached to wrap around my back, pulling me into him. Adonis turned his face to the side to rest his head against my chest, still sobbing uncontrollably. I placed my arms around him as well, holding him in what may be one of our last embraces. “I love you too. But you know what we must do. For if we defy the gods, we will only remain together for a short while longer before we are found and then separated. We can at least live the rest of our lives out peacefully without having to fear their wrath.”
“So… this is it, then?” Adonis sniffled in between his words. “There’s nothing more for us to do?”
I nodded. “This is it, Adonis. But know if I ever do see you again, I am always longing for you. A deep surge of pain will overcome me every moment I lay eyes on you. I will never love another mortal like you ever again. I will forever remember the times we spent together. Those were the most memorable moments of passion and pleasure I will ever experience in an eternity.”
My hands retracted from him and swept beneath his chin, tilting it up so that his cerulean eyes were locked with mine. I leaned into him for one last kiss. Our last moment of passion that I would put my all into. One last waft of his scent, his taste, his touch. I knew it would be a challenge to keep away from Adonis, but the risk was not fully worth the reward. I could not give into temptation any longer with Adonis, for it could lead to his death.
I pulled away from him and let out a deep sigh. “I don’t expect you to not love anyone else, Adonis. You deserve to find love beyond me, whether it be with Aphrodite or someone else you may come across in your life.”
“I know. And I expect the same for you. Well, you’re a god. So, I know you’ll wind up loving another.” Adonis attempted to chuckle past the tears.
Even I had to laugh at his comment. It was the only way to alleviate at least some tension from this entire situation. “That may be the case, but there will never be anotheryou. I am certain of that.”
As I released my full grasp from him, it took all the strength and restraint I had to not grab him once more. This was going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to let go of. I could not stand it.
“Well then, there’s nothing more to say or do, is there?” Adonis asked with a poignant tone.
