Aerin Academy - Apollo - Chapter 6

Aerin Academy - Apollo - Chapter 61

I ran back to my room, excited for the date. I was getting ready when I heard a knock on the door. I answered it, it was Artemis.2

“Hey,” I said softly.3

“Hey, you getting ready for your date?” 4

“Yeah.”5

“Do you want some help?”6

“Sure, thanks.”7

“No, problem,” She smiled, instantly going to my closet and browsing through my clothes. “Here we are!” She exclaimed. She stepped out holding a tux. I grabbed it and strolled to the bathroom, changing into the tuxedo. There was a loud crash and a shriek. I shook my head.8

“Careful!” I scolded, buttoning up the jacket, accidentally placing one in the wrong hold which made the sides uneven. I patiently undid the buttons and tried again. This time, without fail. I stepped up, ruffling my hair, and looking down. “Artemis? Does this look okay?” I said, slowly raising my head. A cold breeze ruffled my hair and my blue eyes widened.9

“Who are you?” 10

“Abbaddon,“ He said, slowly. His hand was covering Artemis’s mouth and her azure eyes were wide with terror. His orbs were coal black, with a green line coming down from each eye, like a tear. “We’ve come to take you under our wing, boy. You’re destined to be one of us.” He hissed. Artemis muffled something out of fear and he raised his free hand, hitting her right on her neck. She passed out. 11

“Artemis!” I said, racing forward to catch her as he threw her on the floor.12

“Apollo,” He said, his voice booming. “You are meant to be one of us. Oh killer of the mighty one.” I stared at him blankly. “Oh don’t tell me you don’t remember that day?” He chuckled. “Very well, I shall remind you.” He stepped forward and touched my forehead. Pain exploded from my head and I passed out. Images flooded my mind and began to mash into one to become a scene. It was that day. I was there, watching all of this, but I couldn’t be seen nor could I be heard.13

Looking back, I regret every minute of that day. Every second. And with each breath I take, I wish I wasn’t. I wish that I hadn’t ruined Olympus.14

It was a cold night. Mom was standing there weeping. I stood there my blue eyes wide, my white shirt stained with blood. Artemis had her head bowed in shame tears slowly rolling down her cheek. The moonlight was shining down, reflecting on the lake behind us. Dad held mom in his arms, shooting me a scathing glance.15

“You fool!” He cried out. “What have you done? Because of you, the Voda family will be cursed!” He spat, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me. I didn’t pay attention to the man in front of me. I looked to the floor, a bloody angel of death at my feet, on his death bed.16

He grabbed for my leg and pulled me down. He had enough energy to draw a symbol on my arm with his needle like nails. As he made the mark he screamed, “Take is vestigium of Angelus of Nex. Vos es unus of lemma vobis have praesumo neco mihi Zeus , Deus superum! Gero vestri vomica vobis have sinned obviam mihi , vestri prosapia quod Filiolus! (Take this mark of the Angels of Death. You are one of them for you have dared to kill me, Zeus, God of the Gods! Bear your curse for you have sinned against me, your family and the Gods! )“ I screamed in agony, blood streamed down from the wound and instantly sealed up becoming a mark that wouldn’t leave. Artemis screamed as if it had inflicted her as well. I looked to her with shock and saw that blood was streaming down her arm as well. What had I done? What happened? I didn’t know. All I remembered was that we were swimming in the lake and were going to stay the night and then an angel of death approached us. But it was no angel of death. I’d panicked and killed the former God, Zeus.17

Because of that day I’d caused tears, blood and shame for my family. It cast a large shadow over our place in the world of Olympus. I was no longer wanted, Artemis rejected. Zeus was warning my parents about the angel’s of death planning to attack Olympus. But he was dressed head to toe in black, masking his presence. How was I supposed to know any better? The difference between him and an angel of death was not much. My parents never told me about the difference. The never told me about Angels of death, nor what I was. They never told me. How I killed Zeus, I don’t know. All I know is that I did and that it was all my fault.18

It was my fault that the Court had been killed, my fault that they became vulnerable, my fault that they lost their leader and my fault that I’d failed to notice the difference. I was the reason that the new Court had to be created so quickly.19

Mine. Mine. Mine. 20

That day cursed me and my family for ages. Still has cursed us. Can I ever redeem myself? Though the mark has disappeared, can I ever repent?21

When I woke, Artemis was shaking me hard, and was crying. My blue orbs fluttered open. She hugged me tightly to her. “Apollo, he went after Athena.” She said slowly.22

“What?!”