Chapter Text
I sit on my throne across from Artemis. She’s attentively paying attention to our father speak. It was December 31st. A year tomorrow since I will have been cast down from Olympus. Ever since I was cast down and brought back up I had been keeping track of time in the mortal world instead of ignoring it. I hadn’t had enough time in the past half year to go down and visit everyone.
I had heard from Hades that his son, Nico Di Angelo, my son, Will Solace’s, boyfriend, and that they had gone down to Tartarus together. I wish that this meeting would finish already. This whole thing sucks and I want to go see Meg.
I drag myself away from my thoughts. Everyone was staring at me, Artemis gestured at our Dad, Zeus. I looked at him and he was glaring at me.
“Umm…yes dad?” I asked.
“I am the king, you will address me as such!” he roared, his eyes wide.
“S-sorry king…what did you need?” I asked again.
Since I was on earth I still hadn’t gotten used to the fact we had to call him king or lord. A father should be called Dad.
“Explain your form?” he said as if it was obvious.
I looked down at myself to see sneakers, jeans, and a led zeppelin shirt. My arms and hands had scars on them and I didn’t need a mirror to know I looked brunette and had acne all over my face. Because this hadn’t been the first time this had happened. Although all the other times had been in private except on the occasion when Artemis would walk in.
“Oh, I, umm…s-sorry king…” I muttered, willing my form to change back to normal.
I watched myself as I changed from civilian clothes back into a toga. And I knew the acne was gone and I had my shoulder length blonde hair back. Except the scars still remained and the toga revealed some of the scars that would be on my torso.
“Gods do not have scars,” he chided me.
“This god does,” I muttered.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” he asked amusement in his voice.
I looked around and all the gods were staring at me eyes wide. I looked at Artemis and she was shaking her head for me to not say it.
“I said…” I said, while I stood up. “This. God. Does!”
I punctuated each word. He stared at me appalled.
“Also I’m leaving early. I don't see a reason for me to be here,” I said, turning to the entrance of his giant temple where we held our meetings and left.
The second I stepped out I turned back into my Lester form and teleported to the Jackson-Blofis residence. I raised my fist and gently knocked on the door. Paul Blofis, Percy’s step-dad, opened the door and greeted me with a smile.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“It’s me Apollo,” I said.
“Oh Apollo, come in, we're watching a movie.”
He moved to the side to let me in, closing the door behind me. He then guided me to the living room. Sally Jackson, Percy’s mother and an absolutely amazing woman even if she’s mortal, sat on the couch with little Estelle in her lap. Percy and Annabeth sat in front of the couch curled up together.
They all looked up and Sally smiled at me. Percy and Annabeth however scowled.
“Hello Apo-” Sally started but got cut off.
“Apollo? Why are you here?” Percy asked, getting up and walking in front of me.
“I’m not here to send you on a quest, I promise,” I said.
“Yeah ri-” he started but got interrupted.
“Percy! You seem to have forgotten that Apollo turned a new leaf after what happened,” Sally said, handing Estelle to Annabeth.
Percy stared at me for a second then went back to Annabeth. Sally smiled at and patted the spot next to her. I gladly went over to her and sat down.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I can’t stand the gods anymore,” I whined, tears welling in my eyes.
“Well you are one,” I heard Percy mutter.
“That's the thing…I don’t want to be one…” I said to him.
He immediately turned around and looked at me.
“What! You love being a god!” he screamed.
“I don’t love it anymore… Multiple demigods died because of me…” I said, staring at my hands.
I could feel the tears slowly trickle down my cheeks. Sally pulled me close to her and I sobbed in her arms. I could feel Paul sit on the other side of me and rub my back. I knew Annabeth and Percy were watching me but I didn’t care. Nothing has been right in the world since a year ago.