The door opened and Apollo strolled in. There you two are.
Alex froze in front of the TV, like a wild animal that had just been encroached upon. Then she dashed across the room, ducking behind me. She huddled there, clenching the back of my shirt.
Apollo stopped short, blond eyebrows shooting up. Did she just hide behind you?
I glared at the god. Shes not the same. You know that.
He blinked all-white eyes. I know. Its just unexpected. Shes like a little nymph or something.
Hearing the word nymph come out of Apollos mouth grated at my self-control. What do you want?
Apollo cocked his head to the side and spoke low. Testy, testy, Aiden.
Her fingers dug into my back. I moved to the side, shielding her completely. If Apollo had had normal eyes, I was sure they wouldve rolled at that point. Ignoring him, I smiled down at her. Its okay. Apollo wont hurt you.
Or at least I hoped so.
Alex peered up at me through her lashes. For the first time since shed Awakened, I saw trust in her expression. Warmth poured into the cold cavern where my heart rested. Id never seen an indentured half-blood look upon their Master that way. It had to mean something.
Apollo cleared his throat. And I see some things never change.
I frowned. Whats that mean?
Oh, you know, the googly-eyed looks of love. Even when someoneahem, like me, a godis standing right in front of you two.
I rolled my eyes, prepared to ignore that comment, but Alex tugged on my shirt. What does he mean by that? she whispered.
How was I supposed to answer? The fact that Alex didnt remember a lot was key to keeping her away from Seth, but I wasnt sure how much information to share with her. And she was actually asking a question, which was huge. Ill explain it later.
Apollo chuckled. Id love to hear that conversation. My eyes narrowed, and he grinned. Sometimes I think his sole purpose was to get under my skin. Theres been a development I believe you should be aware of.
I doubted it was good news. I started to respond, but Alex tugged on my shirt once more and whispered, My head hurts.
Ill get you something for that in a few moments. Okay?
Casting her eyes down, she nodded.
I wanted this to hurry up. Shifting to the side, I shielded Alex. Does it have to do with. the other one?
Catching that I meant Seth, he nodded. Hes not happy about not being able to make contact. Dionysus spies have said that both he and the Minister are growing agitated.
I bet. No one really knew how Seth would react once the bond was broken. I felt Alex peek around me. She was watching Apollo with large eyes. He grinned at her, and she gave him a hesitant smile. Has he done something? I asked.
Hmm, if you count obliterating two Sentinels who refused to join their cause? Then yes.
Gods, I murmured, shifting again when Alex moved behind me.
Apollo craned his neck to the side, following Alexs nervous movements. They havent moved against the Tennessee Covenant yet, but about fifty of their Sentinels have broken away and appear to be heading toward the New York one. Hes with the Minister still.
And if they make it to New York, what will happen?
His expression turned grim. Ive let a few things out of Olympus, just in case those Sentinels are up to no good.
Dread blossomed. What few things?
A few of Hephaestus most interesting creationsnamely the Khalkotauroi.
I choked on my breath. I had to have heard him wrong. The Khalkotauroi were automationsbronze bulls that breathed firebut they werent what were known in the myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece. First off, there werent just two of them. There were hundreds of them, and they walked on two legs. Like all the creatures that belong to the
gods, they had been rounded up and sent to Olympus when the gods had retreated from the mortal world.
And what happens if a mortal sees them?
Apollo arched a brow. The Khalkotauroi know how to stay hidden, but if New Yorkor any of the other Covenantsgoes under siege, it will be a moot point. The mortal world will become well aware that some myths are true.
There really wasnt anything else to say to that, and my mind was already occupied with too many concerns to dedicate time to this latest development. Apollo left, but not before trying to talk to an edgy Alex who wanted nothing to do with him, much to his amusement. It amazed me that the whole world was on the brink of war and Apollo was laughing.
Granted, this probably wasnt his first time at the rodeo.
When Apollo left, she stared up at me, expression pinched. My head it hurts.
Ill get you something now.
As I left to find her some aspirin, she followed, never straying too far from my side. Taking the two pills without question, I realized then how such trust could be abusedand was with many other halfsin the wrong hands. A sick and twisted kind of fear rose with that realization.
The aspirin didnt seem to work. Alex withdrew further into herself, eyes squeezed shut through most of the movie Id put on. A dark voice picked up in the back of my head, remaining constant even after shed fallen asleep and I carried her to bed, her weight seeming nonexistent. Her headache was a sign.