Title: Eyes On Fire

Rating: T for now, later so changing into M.

Warnings: Smut (Graphic sex scenes), Coarse Language, Violence, Mature Themes.

Summary: Fem!Percy/Apollo. "I'd rather be in Tartarus with you than in Elysium without you." Rachel Elizabeth Dare isn't the Oracle of Delphi. Persephone Jackson, the daughter of Poseidon, is. And for the first time of his life Apollo truly regrets that his Oracle has to remain a virgin forever, because all he ever wanted to do with Percy, since the time they met, was to throw her over his shoulder and carry her to his bedroom. But well, maybe she can help him find a loophole in those rules. M because of lemons, language, and all that stuff.

Genre: Romance / Drama.

Author's Note: So here it is. The story about Fem!Percy and Apollo that I've promised you. Oh my gosh, I hope you'll like it, because I've grown very fond of it. It's become like my personal baby to me, haha. I'm already a few chapters ahead, so I hope I'm able to update weekly for you. :) Also, you can see on my profile the links leading to the cover, the banner, and the polyvore site where I'll create Percy's outfits, what she's wearing and so on.

Just to sort out any misunderstandings: The first three chapters are going to involve the getting to know each better between Percy and Apollo, going through some important moments in the books so I can establish contact and feelings between them. And I'm going to stray away from canon every now and then, because after the first three chapters it's gonna be quite AU, I can tell you as much. And yes, Percy is sixteen by the time The Titan's Curse is happening. That means that she was fourteen, not twelve, when she got into camp. This has a really simple reason: By the time she would get together with Apollo, she'd be sixteen. And I would not feel very comfortable when writing about a sixteen year old girl getting all sweaty and naughty with an Olympian god. So she's going to be eighteen when The Last Olympian ends.

Well, I think that was pretty much my speech. Please let me know what you think, okay? Reviews feed my muse and inspiration, so updates could come even faster than first thought. Also, I apologize for every grammar and spelling mistakes, but English just isn't my native language.

EYES ON FIRE

CHAPTER ONE

they met in december

blue jeans, white shirt

walked into the room, you know i made your eyes burn

i was like james dean, for sure

i'm so fresh to death and sick as ca-ca-cancer

i was sorta punk rock, you grew up on hip hop

i fit you better than your favorite sweater

you know that love is mean, love hurts

but you still remember that day we met in december, oh baby

– requiem for blue jeans, by bastille

sometime in the future

It was one of those nights when Apollo couldn't quite find himself to be able to rest. His gaze was on the ceiling above him while his mind was going haywire, thoughts he couldn't shut down circling around in his head. There were always times when he brooded on about the past and the future, which wasn't quite like him. But he thought it was probably due to him being also the God of prophecies. He just wasn't the guy for letting his head lead, he always trusted on his instincts and his heart.

Impulsive.

Hot-headed.

That was what people liked to call him.

With a sigh, he sat up in his bed, running a hand through his tousled hair. Of course, gods didn't need any sleep, though sometimes it was just calming to be swept away by it. After a while of sitting, Apollo finally stood up, stretching his muscular arms above his head as he stepped toward the large window that also worked as one of the four walls in the bedroom.

The night was warm and quiet, the sea that he saw through the window crashed its waves gently against the shore. He couldn't help but smile in wistfulness. The sea reminded him of a girl with long, dark hair and green-blue eyes that held the whole ocean within them. The girl that he met many, many years ago, the one who'd captured his heart inside the palms of her small hands from the very beginning. Apollo could still feel her, see her, hear, and taste her just by closing his eyes and picturing her in his mind.

So when he did exactly hat, Apollo not only saw her behind his closed lids again but he also remembered how everything started many, many years ago.

.

.

.

many, many years ago

If Apollo looked back on the elapsed millennia he'd lived through, he would see a lot of horrible and good moments, but the one he memorized the most was the moment he'd had the privilege to meet Persephone Jackson. It was in Winter 2007 when his sister had called him for help. He had already heard of Persephone Jackson, of course – the first and only daughter of Poseidon, the one who had retrieved Zeus's master bolt, the girl who had kicked Ares's ass and his pride, the demi-goddess who'd found the Golden Fleece to heal the camp while also bringing back Thalia Grace in the process of it. The girl had been one of the most discussed topics in Olympus for two years.

Apollo himself hadn't met her yet. There just had been no opportunity for it. But it didn't mean that he wasn't curious, because hell yes – he was curious as fuck for Persephone Jackson, the girl who had rattled Olympus pretty good. Everyone who managed to kick Ares's ass was awesome in Apollo's opinion. And then she shot across the god's sky for a third time in Winter of 2007 and this time she not only caught Apollo's attention once again – but held it as well.

As Apollo slowly lowered his sun chariot, which was currently in the model of red Maserati sports car, to the ground and immediately saw his sister with her hunters and a small group of demigods and a satyr, he couldn't help cocking his eyebrows slightly. His sister hadn't told him much when she called him – she had just ordered him to move his ass to her camp as fast as possible. He turned off the heat of his solar car, parking on the snowy grass. Once Apollo stepped out of the car, he noticed the perfect circle to which the snow had melted, revealing lush, green grass.

"Wow," he heard a female voice whispering in the background, "Apollo is hot."

He smirked to himself. Of course, he had heard it. Sharp senses came along with being a god. He was able to hear every whispered word in the background, but the demigods didn't need to know that little piece of information. It was probably already more than enough for the poor, little things to be in the presence of two Olympians.

His sister was obviously not thrilled to see him again which Apollo honestly couldn't understand. She had called him of her own accord. He was fucking awesome. Naturally, Artemis was upset about the fact that he was calling her little sister again. Apollo knew very well that he was younger than Artemis. She had been born first, but it was just too much fun watching her grimace and getting upset about it again and again – really, he wouldn't call her little sister as often as he did if it didn't annoy her so much.

"I need a favor," Artemis said with gritted teeth. "I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."

Apollo narrowed his eyes, taking a deep breath without the demigods noticing it. It was true – the air stank of monster. Worry for his sister bubbled up in him; he was aware that Artemis could perfectly take care of herself, but she was still his sister. It didn't make him happy that she wanted to do the hunting all by herself. But he also didn't want to upset the demigods by showing his worry openly, so curled his lips into a blinding smile.

"Sure, sis!" He raised his hands, snickering gleefully to himself as he heard the annoyed groans and sighs. "I feel a haiku coming on."

"Green grass breaks through snow.

Artemis pleads for my help.

I am so cool."

This one was probably his worst haiku. But Apollo had blown it on purpose, so it didn't really matter. By the Fates, he was the god of poetry and he could create poems and haikus much better, but it was glorious to watch everyone around him becoming desperate and annoyed whenever he recited those silly, little haikus. As he'd said – he wouldn't do it so often if it didn't annoy everyone so strongly.

"The last line was only four syllables," Artemis rebuked him.

He pursed his lips, looking at his sister with amusement dancing in his eyes. He was very aware of the fact that the last line had been only four syllables, but he didn't have to let everyone know that, right? "Was it?"

"Yes, what about: I am so big-headed?"

"No, no, that's six syllables," Apollo grinned and quietly began muttering different adjectives to himself until he found a suitable one. "I've got it! I am so awesome. That's five syllables!"

Artemis rolled her eyes and pointed toward the demigods who were standing in slight distance from the hunters. "These demigods will also need a ride. Some of Chiron's campers."

"No problem!" Apollo replied cheerfully, letting his gaze wander over the teens. The girl with the short, black hair and the leather jacket that was too large for her could be no other than Thalia Grace, Zeus' demigod daughter. Her shock blue eyes – like lightning in the night – were the exact copy of Zeus' eyes. "Let's see ... Thalia, right? I've heard all about you."

Thalia blushed to the roots of her short, jet-black hair. "Hi, Lord Apollo."

Apollo hid his amused smirk, knowing that she was the one who had whispered in surprise how hot he was. Not that he could blame her. He knew exactly what kind of effect he had on men and women.

"Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half sister." He knew that was probably something she didn't want to hear from him. "Used to be a tree, didn't you?" As he noticed that her expression darkened, he took pity on her. "Glad you're back." It worked indeed. Her face seemed to brighten a little, and for a moment Apollo thought sadly about Daphne who had turned willingly into a tree to escape from him. "I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember one time –"

"Brother," Artemis interrupted. Apollo threw her a quick glance, recognizing the silent warning in her eyes. She was right, now wasn't the time to talk about his former lovers. "You should get going."

"Oh, right."

His gaze wandered lazily, almost bored, from Thalia toward the other girl who was standing beside her. Apollo hadn't given her much attention since she'd held herself back quietly, but he knew right away who she was. Her eyes betrayed her, although she wasn't close to him, but again ... sharper senses with being a god and so on. Her eyes were Poseidon's, but the ocean in her orbs was ... more gentle, more vivid. Apollo wondered briefly if perhaps it was because her eyes were larger. It was certainly an intriguing play of colors that united fascinating sea green, deep ocean blue, and mysterious turquoise and black into one. It reminded him of a sensual game whose power he couldn't escape from. It got his heart racing.

"Persephone Jackson?" Apollo asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

He noticed that Poseidon's daughter was softly blushing, but this time he didn't feel like smirking. She had something about her that he couldn't completely understand. Although she was only a sixteen year old girl, he couldn't properly read her. She was beautiful, that fact was undeniable – her long, dark hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail, her pale skin and her delicate face with those big, deep eyes reminded him of a precious china doll. She was small and petite, about five feet, and Apollo wondered for a moment how the hell this tiny girl had managed to defeat the God of war.

"Yeah, I mean ... yes, sir," she said in obvious embarrassment. This time, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly upward. Her eyes were full of restrained curiosity which was directed at him.

"Well!" Apollo exclaimed, averting his gaze from Persephone Jackson. It would probably look too conspicuous if he didn't take his eyes off her. "We'd better load up, huh? Ride only goes one way – west. And if you miss it, you miss it."

He couldn't help taking another look at her. She was whispering something to Zeus's daughter and didn't seem to be aware of his gaze. Apollo had no idea what the girl had about her, why she was fascinating him this much, but she was definitely going to fucking complicate his life.

.

.

.

The sun god was not at all what Percy had expected. She had expected someone who had an attitude like Zeus or Ares, but Apollo resembled neither. She also couldn't find any similar characteristics in behavior between him and her father. Apollo seemed to be a relaxed and easy-going guy, and she was surprised at how young he looked – probably in the beginning of his twenties. Though Percy knew, of course, that he was so much older than he appeared.

He was tall, probably about 6'2 if not even more, and hellishly built. His smile was crooked and playful, revealing his perfect white teeth. His eyes, the color of molten gold, held a spark that showed his good-natured humor. He had the chiseled facial features of a marble statue, but he was so much warmer than such a description. Percy caught herself thinking about running her hands through his tousled, golden-blond hair, only to find out if it was really as soft and thick as it appeared to be. His skin was sun-kissed, a golden tan that almost seemed to glow.

In other words – she saw at a glance that he was cocky, sexy as hell, and straight-up Trouble with a capital T. And she was suddenly very, very, very glad that she didn't accept Artemis's offer to join her.

"Cool car!" Nico exclaimed, hopping from one foot to the other. He seemed to be the only one who still had enough energy to jump around like a kitten on caffeine.

"Thanks, kid," Apollo replied with a broad grin, proudly patting the hood of the sports car which actually was – still pretty hard to comprehend for Percy – the sun.

"But how will we all fit?" She asked with a frown as she surveyed the Maserati that was, indeed, a two-seater. Apollo threw her a quick glance that had Percy biting her lower lip in nervousness. The sun god was hellishly handsome, that was true, but he had something about him that unsettled Percy deeply. The glance he had given her had been fleeting, but so incredibly intense that it felt as though a hot finger was being pressed against her cold skin.

Apollo scratched his head and sighed. "Well, yeah, I hate to change out of sports-car mode, but I suppose ..." He took out his car keys and pressed a button. The car flickered a few times before it turned into a yellow school bus. "Right, everybody in now!"

Cocking her eyebrows, Percy watched Zoë ordering the Hunters to get in. Apollo offered the hunter very flirtatious to help her with the loading of her things, causing her to draw back and glare at him furiously.

"Brother," Artemis said in warning, "You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart."

Apollo held up his palms defensively. "Sorry, I forgot. Hey, sis, where are you off to, anyway?"

Percy had to suppress a small grin. Apollo seemed to be rather arrogant, it was undeniable, but he was quite amusing. And those haikus everyone else found so annoying ... she considered them to be pretty awesome – they were hilarious, at least. And she liked people who had humor. She grabbed her backpack which was filled with her weapons, making an effort at not batting an eyelash. Although she was able to carry heavier loads than normal mortals with being a demi-goddess and so on, she was already rather exhausted and the backpack seemed to be much heavier in her hands now.

"Let me get that, sweetheart," she heard Apollo's voice behind her.

Surprised, Percy turned around and saw that he was looking at her with a charming smile, pointing at her backpack. She tilted her head slightly, wondering briefly if she should really let him carry her backpack, but eventually she decided to do so.

"Sure," she said with a shrug, dropping the heavy backpack into his hands. Apollo didn't even bat an eyelash. He grabbed the backpack as though it was merely a feather. The corners of her mouth twitched slightly as she fought off a smile upon seeing a slight hint of surprise on his features. Apparently, he hadn't expected her to actually take his help.

She smiled, "Thanks."

"No problem, sweetheart."

And back was his charming, flirtatious smile, but his eyes still didn't lose their unreadable look. Apollo might seem like an easy-going guy; however, Percy realized that he wasn't easy to figure out. She watched as he said goodbye to Artemis, carried her backpack into the bus, and made his car keys reappear. They jingled loudly and clearly through the bus, causing the Hunters who had sat at the back of the bus to throw nasty looks at the sun god.

Percy pursed her lips as she noticed how Nico looked insecurely at Bianca who was sitting with the Hunters. She still wasn't able to understand how Bianca could just leave her younger brother like that. Percy would never, ever leave her family to join Artemis; above all, she didn't understand this decision because Bianca had learned about the gods only a few hours ago and had thought the idea of it to be ridiculous. Yet, shortly after that she had joined the Hunters, taking immortality without even properly thinking what it actually meant for her ...

Whatever, Percy sighed mentally. It wasn't up to her to judge the life-changing decision of a twelve year old girl.

"So," Apollo called through the bus, waving his car keys around his fingers, making everyone fall silent and turn to him, "Who wants to drive?"

Percy perked her eyebrows – he doesn't ... seriously? Apollo would allow one of them to take control of the sun? Thalia who sat beside her blanched a little; so fortunately it wasn't only Percy who thought that the idea of letting a teenager drive the sun chariot was a little irresponsible.

"This is so cool!" Nico was practically jumping up and down in his seat. "Is this really the sun? I thought Helios and Selene were the sun and moon gods. How come sometimes it's them and sometimes it's you and Artemis?"

"Downsizing," Apollo replied. "The Romans started it." Percy tilted her head slightly as she noticed a dark shadow passing over his face at the mention of the Romans. "They couldn't afford all those temple sacrifices, so they laid off Helios and Selene and folded their duties into our job descriptions. My sis got the moon. I got the sun. It was pretty annoying at first, but at least I got this cool car."

"But how does it work?" Nico asked, practically hanging on Apollo's lips and eagerly soaking up every single piece of information. Percy thought it was rather cute. "I thought the sun was a big fiery ball of gas?"

Apollo chuckled and ruffled Nico's hair. Percy had to admit that was cute, too. She didn't think that many gods would take the time and explain everything for a ten year old boy. "That rumor probably got started because Artemis used to call me a big fiery ball of gas. Seriously, kid, it depends on whether you're talking astronomy or philosophy. You want to talk astronomy? Bah, what fun is that? You want to talk about how humans think about the sun? Ah, now that's more interesting. They've got a lot riding on the sun ... er, so to speak. It keeps them warm, grows their crops, powers engines, makes everything look, well, sunnier. This chariot is built out of human dreams about the sun, kid. It's as old as Western Civilization. Every day, it drives across the sky from east to west, lighting up all those puny little mortal lives. The chariot is a manifestation of the sun's power, the way mortals perceive it. Make sense?"

"No," Nico said but to Percy the explanation made strangely a lot of sense.

She watched with a frown as Apollo chose someone for driving. Nico was too young, Grover was apparently too furry. Finally, his gaze remained hanging on her, and Percy made every effort not to show how nervous it was making her. But she returned his gaze, looking at him in question, not wanting that everyone in the bus noticed that the sudden sparkle in Apollo's eyes was doing weird things to her.

"Percy Jackson." A small smile appeared on his face. "Became sixteen years old four months ago. Perfect age to finally learn driving, I'd say."

It bewildered her that he knew when she had her birthday, but the shock that his other words had caused was larger. Apollo wanted her to drive his chariot? Was he nuts?

"W-What?" She stuttered in horror. "No, I won't – I mean, I can't drive."

"Care to explain why?" Apollo raised his eyebrows. "I'm pretty sure you've already tried driving several times and found that it's not as hard as it looks."

She didn't want to admit that he'd hit the bull's eye with his words. His eye became more intense as he challenged her with his gaze to accept the offer. Her eyes involuntarily wandered over his chiseled face, his perfectly cut jaw, and his sensuous lips. Over his strong, golden neck and his broad shoulders that filled out his white tee pretty damn good. Slightly blushing, Percy turned her gaze away as she realized that she just had checked him out.

If Apollo had noticed, he at least didn't let it show.

"C'mon, sweetheart," he challenged her. "It's not as bad as you think. Zeus wouldn't dare to shoot the sun chariot from the sky; especially when his daughter's sitting in it." He briefly indicated in Thalia's direction.

When she turned her gaze back to him, he jingled his keys, studying her with a little smirk on his handsome face. Undecided, Percy glanced at her friends. Thalia shrugged innocently, Grover stared at her in worry, and Nico looked as though he would jump out of his seat and run to the driver's one at any time. The Hunters were talking in lowered voices in the back of the bus, occasionally throwing nasty looks at Percy. She assumed they still weren't over the fact that she didn't accept Artemis's offer to join them.

But how could she have done that? Camp Half-Blood had become a second home to her, the safest place in the world for people like her. Her friends were there and she wouldn't leave them for nothing in this world. Nor could she ever leave her mother and Paul behind. And besides ... Percy was already sixteen. She knew what she wanted to have someday. A real relationship, marriage, children – she wanted it all. Her mother had always told her about how wonderful it felt to fall in love, to love another person truly and sincerely, and Percy didn't want to miss that out by joining the Hunters.

"Okay," she finally said, already knowing that she would regret this decision. "All right, I'll drive." The smirk on Apollo's face grew bigger, but before he could say anything, Percy said, "But please assure me that you won't smite me if I accidentally smash your car, Lord Apollo."

He laughed in amusement and she couldn't help smiling as she heard the sound. Apollo had a really nice laugh, she had to admit that – velvety, deep, pleasant. It rested deep in his throat and as the guttural sound escaped his lips, it brought a smile to her face and goose bumps onto her skin. "Don't worry, sweetheart," he smiled, amused, "Nothing's gonna happen. I'll watch out and take directly action if something goes wrong."

"Okay," Percy said again, allowing Apollo to lead her toward the driver's seat. As he handed the keys to her, she couldn't avoid brushing his hand with hers. The tiny hairs on her body immediately stood on end at the light contact. It felt as though she had been statically charged, the back of her hand slightly tingling. The tingle shot straight through her body and nestled deep into her stomach. Percy cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to calm her racing heart. Her stomach had virtually tensed with nervousness.

As she threw a quick glance at Apollo, she noticed that he was staring at her with a deep frown. However, once he saw her looking at him, the unreadable expression in his eyes disappeared, making place for the good-natured sparkle she had seen earlier.

"Take it away!" He called out exuberantly. "You're gonna be a natural, sweetheart."

Percy stuck the car key into the ignition lock, clutching the wheel with both hands as the engine started with a loud hum. "So," she said nervously, her voice slightly trembling, "Is there something important I need to know? Like speed equals heat or something?"

"Ah, beauty and brains, sweetheart. I like that about women," Apollo grinned charmingly, making Percy blush and avoid eye contact with him. Was it really necessary for him to say things like that when everyone else was able to hear him? When she sat behind the wheel, already more than nervous enough? The flapping of butterfly wings in her stomach became wilder. "But you're right. Speed equals heat. So start slowly, and make sure you've got good altitude before you really open her up."

Percy slowly moved the wheel. The bus lifted slightly jittery from the ground, rising into the air.

"A little slower, sweetheart," Apollo said, checking through the window if the things looked all right. So far everything seemed to have remained intact. "It's a good start, a bit jerky though. Now lighten up a little on the accelerator, dear."

She followed his command, slightly loosening her foot on the accelerator. A glance into the rearview mirror showed her that everyone was still in their seats, watching through the windows as she drove the sun chariot a little higher. Percy exhaled in relief and relaxed her grip on the wheel. At least she didn't hurt or burn down anyone and anything.

"We need to veer south for Long Island," Apollo noted. "Hang a left."

"Okay," Percy muttered, slowly turning the wheel in the predetermined direction. The car followed her command easily, turning, though a bit jerky, the other way around. Her gut told her that she had driven too high, so she lowered the sun chariot a little.

Apollo hummed in satisfaction. "You're doing fine, sweetheart. I told ya – you're a natural!"

She laughed a little nervously, but didn't dare to look at him. "Thanks."

And then he stared at her. He simply stared at her. He didn't do anything else, he just kept his eyes on her face profile the whole time, and it made Percy nervous as hell, causing her to accidentally drive a little lower. Apollo didn't even bother to hide the fact that he was staring at her so openly. His gaze slid over her face profile, over her jawline. A quick glance in the rearview mirror proved her that everyone was quietly chatting, not noticing what was happening at the driver's seat.

"There." Apollo looked away from her and pointed through the window. "Long Island, dead ahead. Slow down, dear. 'Dead' is only an expression."

Finally Percy was able to see Camp Half-Blood; the valley, the woods, the beach. She could see the dining pavilion and cabins and the amphitheater. They were only a few hundred yards away now. When Apollo ordered, "Brake", Percy braced her foot lightly on the brake. The sun bus sank deeper and deeper until it came a little jittery to a stop next to the camp's canoe lake. She saw through the windows that a few curious naiads came swimming toward the bus.

Percy exhaled in relief as she let go of the wheel and leant back against the seat, recovering from the ride. She watched through the rearview mirror how the others jumped out of their seats, taking their bags as they left the sun chariot. Feeling uneasy, she turned to Apollo who had a crooked smile on his face.

"There we go!" He said exuberantly, his crooked smile making her blush in embarrassment. "It went off awesome."

When Percy took her backpack and got off the bus behind the others, she stopped in surprise, staring dumbfounded at what was in front of her. Snow was everywhere. She hadn't noticed it earlier in the bus. She'd never seen Camp Half-Blood in winter before, and the snow surprised her. Frost covered the chariot track and the strawberry fields. The cabins were decorated with tiny flickering lights, like Christmas lights, except they seemed to be balls of real fire. More lights glowed in the woods, and weirdest of all, a fire flickered in the attic window of the Big House where the Oracle dwelt.

"Whoa!" Nico called out as he got off the bus. His black jacket was too large for him, virtually covering his slight body. Percy turned her gaze away from the beautiful view and grinned at Nico who was marveling at everything with wide eyes. "Is that a climbing wall?"

"Yep," Percy said smiling.

"Why is there lava pouring down it?"

"Little extra challenge. Come on, I'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoë, have you met –"

The hunter threw Percy a disdainful look. "I know Chiron. Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me!"

Percy raised her eyebrows upon hearing the hostility in the hunter's voice. Grinning in amusement, she watched as Grover demanded stammering to show them the way to Cabin Eight while practically jumping around them and stumbling over a few canoes every now and then. Sighing, Percy returned her gaze to the peaceful, snowy view the camp offered her. It was beautiful here even in summer, but now in winter it was just breathtaking.

"Beautiful sight, isn't it?"

Surprised, Percy looked to her right, seeing that Apollo had stepped next to her.

The sun god didn't seemed to freeze at all in his white shirt and his jeans, but it didn't bewilder her, because ... well, he was the sun god. He shone out with his golden skin and his golden hair in all the white around him. And she had to admit his face profile was gorgeous. High, prominent cheekbones, strong jaw, straight nose, chiseled facial features. Her eyes wandered quickly over his strong, tanned arms. She turned her gaze away in embarrassment as she found herself imagining how perfectly lean and muscled he had to be under his clothes.

"Yeah," she answered, clearing her throat, "It's truly a wonderful sight, sir."

"I mean, I'm all for summer and sun," he said calmly. "But I can definitely appreciate the beauty of winter."

Percy just smiled, not really sure how to respond to that. Apollo turned his head slightly to her, again gazing at her with an unreadable look in his eyes, and said, "I always appreciate beauty when I see it."

There seemed to be an important meaning in his words and Percy felt her stomach tensing further with nervousness. Her smile slipped a little. He had beautiful eyes, she couldn't deny it. They were the color of molten gold. So intense and blazing like the flames of the sun, but yet so warm like a fire on a snowy winter day. She couldn't decide whether to feel relieved or disappointed when Apollo turned away to speak to the Hunters and her friends.

"Take care, ladies!" He called after the Hunters, ruffled Nico's hair one last time, and jumped into the bus. As he looked back, catching Percy's gaze, he winked mischievously at her. "Watch out for those prophecies, Percy. I'll see you soon."

Before Percy had the chance to ask what he meant by that, he had already closed the doors and revved the engine. She turned aside as the sun chariot took off in a blast of heat. When she looked back, the lake was steaming. A red Maserati soared over the woods, glowing brighter and climbing higher until it disappeared in a ray of sunlight.

.

.

.

If Apollo was absolutely sure about one thing concerning Persephone Jackson, then it was this one – she was beautiful. As a male God, especially as one who had seen more than enough beautiful women and men in the last millennia and shared his bed with even more of them, he couldn't help but notice that Persephone Jackson was an incredibly beautiful girl. He knew that – when she'd be a little older, when she would become fully a woman – she would be even more gorgeous. He remembered her long, dark hair that had been pulled back into a messy ponytail, her milky-white skin, her soulful, big eyes where an ocean full of secrets, mysteries, and dangers had found its rightful place.

He didn't regret that he had allowed her to drive his sun chariot. To be completely honest, he had been even surprised at how well she had managed the job, how focused and determined she had been. Apollo had to admit that he'd found it pretty damn hot seeing her behind the wheel. He could only imagine now how much fucking sexier she would have looked if they had been in the Maserati.

As he teleported beside her in the passenger seat in the Lamborghini, he found her with her head leaning against the window. Her breath was painting little clouds on the fogged glass. She had tucked her legs up, her knees pressed firmly against the wheel. Apollo was aware that Grover, the little satyr, was sleeping peacefully behind them, but his attention was firmly focused on Poseidon's daughter. Her eyes were repeatedly falling closed and every time Percy forced herself to keep them open. She didn't want to fall asleep. Apollo had a strong feeling that she was afraid of nightmares. He wanted to see inside her head so badly, catching a glimpse of her thoughts, but something kept him from invading her privacy in such a manner.

"Oh, don't be afraid of dreams," he said calmly, finally making his presence felt.

Percy jumped slightly in her seat, turning her head to him. He had to admit that he was a little surprised when he didn't find any astonishment in her expression at seeing him there. Even though he was currently in the form of an old man. Dark circles were visible under her eyes, but even now they shone as brightly and vividly as ever. Sea green mingled with oceanic blue and he could detect small speckles of turquoise and black around her pupils. The look in her orbs was calm and quiet, but beneath the façade something was seething – like the sea on a gloomy, gray day when a storm was predicted for later. Long, dark lashes framed her eyes, casting crescent-shaped shadows on her cheekbones whenever she was blinking. Her hair was incredibly dark; a deep black which reminded him of spilled ink. They were pulled back into a sloppy braid with some wavy strands of hair coming loose, falling around her delicate face.

She was irresistible in a way he'd never felt before. Her draw was so intense that he noticed every detail – every scar, every mole, the delicate curve of her jawline, and the way her pulse thumped beneath the tender skin of her neck. He could see her right collarbone disappearing into her sweater, her slender, pale neck, and her plump lips that were slightly agape.

"If it weren't for dreams," Apollo continued, "I wouldn't know half the things I know about the future. They're better than Olympus tabloids."

Before she could say anything, he cleared his throat and held up his hands in a dramatic gesture.

"Dreams like a podcast,

Downloading truth in my ears.

They tell me cool stuff."

Percy raised her eyebrows, her plump lips curling up into an impish smile. She had an incredibly beautiful face, but when she smiled that mischievous smile with small wrinkles rippling around her eyes, she was stunning. Her whole face seemed to lighten, and her eyes became even warmer than they were usually.

"Lord Apollo?"

It sounded more like a statement than a question.

It was probably the first time that a person didn't react in annoyance to his haikus. Normally, everyone around him groaned in desperation whenever he held up his palms in warning, his sign for an upcoming haiku. Percy, however, was different. She even seemed to be cheered up.

Apollo put his index finger to his lips, winking mischievously at her. "I'm incognito. Call me Fred."

The smile on her face became broader, her eyes brighter. They were more dark than light, but something behind them made them incredibly vivid and expressive. Apollo exhaled deeply as he felt his heart skipping a few beats, then starting to thump faster than before. Something about her expression caught him right in the gut – perhaps it was her eyes. Perhaps it was her smile.

"A god named Fred?" Her words were not malicious, not even mocking, rather good-natured and teasing.

"Eh, well ... Zeus insists on certain rules. Hands off when there's a human quest. Even when something really major is wrong. But nobody messes with my baby sister. Nobody."

The smile slipped from her face, making room for a thoughtful expression directed at him. Her piercing, vivid eyes suddenly bore into his with a strong intensity and Apollo felt a little stunned that she actually had the courage to establish eye contact that strong with him. The way she looked at him ... it wasn't just that she felt the attraction between them, because he knew she did. It was that ... he felt she might see him, too. Beneath the layers.

"You really care about your sister, don't you, sir?"

His expression darkened as he frowned, for a moment feeling disbelief and anger that she dared to ask him such a personal question. "How exactly am I to understand this question, Percy?"

He heard that his voice had become sharper, harsher. Percy obviously noticed it as well as she broke the eye contact with him, turning her head away. "I'm sorry, Lord Apollo, I didn't mean to offend you. The question just ... came all of a sudden." She took a deep breath and wearily ran her hand over her face before she slightly turned her head toward him again. "Can you help us, then?"

"Shhh. I already have. Haven't you been looking outside?"

He felt a little put out that she apparently hadn't noticed the assistance he had provided her. As she turned her head to look through the window, she revealed the long, graceful column of her neck to him that he couldn't help but stare at mesmerized before he shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts. It almost annoyed him that he was behaving like a mortal teenager whenever he got a seductive glimpse of her skin.

"The train," she said, "How fast are moving?"

Apollo suppressed his chuckle as he heard the sudden eagerness in her voice and saw the expectation in her expression. A shaft of sunlight moved briefly over her face, lighting her mesmerizing eyes in a clear, radiant mix of sapphire blue and emerald green. Little hints of auburn and golden-browns were revealed in her hair under his sun.

"Fast enough," he said and didn't even bother to hide his fascination for her. "Unfortunately, we're running out of time. It's almost sunset. But I imagine we'll get you across a good chunk of America, at least."

"But where is Artemis?"

His face darkened again. He had no answer to this question, because he didn't know it himself, and he said as much to Percy who slightly tilted her head to one side. "And Annabeth?"

"Oh, you mean that girl you lost? Hmm, I don't know."

Anger flashed across her face for a moment, but she pulled herself together relatively quickly. Apollo had to bite his tongue to prevent himself from raising his voice against her, but ... he didn't think that she deserved it. When she asked about the monster, Apollo started feeling useless, because again he didn't know the answer, but then he remembered something that maybe could be of use to her.

"If you haven't found the monster when you reach San Francisco, seek out Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea. He has a long memory and a sharp eye. He has the gift of knowledge sometimes kept obscure from my Oracle."

Percy blinked in confusion, furrowing her dark brows. "But it's your Oracle. Can't you tell us what the prophecy means?"

"You might as well ask an artist to explain his art, or ask a poet to explain his poem," Apollo sighed. "It defeats the purpose. The meaning is only clear through the search."

There was a moment of silence between them. Her gaze was directed at him suspiciously. As she slightly tilted her head to one side, a sly look appeared in her eyes, the corners of her mouth raising into a wry smile. "In other words, you don't know."

Apollo tried to shift the focus from her statement. Somehow it felt like a weakness that he didn't have half as much control over the Oracle as everyone else perhaps thought. "I have to run now. I doubt I can risk helping you again, Percy, but remember what I said! Get some sleep! And when you return, I expect a good haiku about your journey!"

Fire blazed up in her captivating eyes, but after a click of his fingers she slumped into a deep sleep.

Another click, and he was gone.

.

.

.

As great and magnificent the celebration, which took place for her and her friend's honor, in Olympus was, Percy felt too tired and exhausted to be able to enjoy it properly. She wanted to go home to see her mother, take a long shower, and then fall into her bed to sleep for hours. The Muses were playing beautiful melodies and sang like sirens, and the food was beyond delicious, but she just wasn't in the mood for partying. Too many things were circling around in her head, taking up her thoughts.

She had managed to save Artemis. Had managed to get Atlas under the weight of the sky again. By Tartarus, she had carried the sky's weight all by herself. The single streak of gray in her dark hair proved it more than enough. But Zoë had died and that depressed Percy more than she would ever admit. She had grown fond of the grumpy hunter in the course of their quest. At the end, she had even thought they could become proper friends. But nothing would come of it now.

And Zoë wasn't the only one who had given her life. Bianca was gone, too. Whenever Percy closed her eyes, she still could still see Bianca running toward Hephaestus's machine without even thinking properly that she was sacrificing her life. Gods, how was she supposed to tell Nico? She had promised him that she'd take care of his sister, after all.

Sighing, Percy put her wine goblet onto the tray of a passing nymph. Actually, she wasn't allowed to drink alcohol since she was still underage, but Mr D had come to her earlier and practically forced her by threatening her with three months of kitchen duty in camp if she wouldn't drink a little wine for him. Just to console him over the fact that he couldn't take a taste of his precious red wine. Percy had simply rolled her eyes at that, accepting the goblet Dionysus had been holding toward her. She would bet a lot on the fact that Dionysus had only wanted to see her getting drunk in the throne room.

Nope, won't happen. She wasn't stupid enough to drink more than a few sips of the wine.

Well, at least the Olympians had chosen to let her, her friends, and Bessie live. The latter was currently swimming around in the aquarium her father had made appear as a workaround, mooing loudly through the throne room which brought her some amused looks. Percy smiled sadly at Bessie before she turned around, wanting to disappear as unobtrusive as possible. Her father had already talked to her. She couldn't imagine that anyone else would like to speak to her.

Just before she could actually leave the throne room, she heard someone calling her name, "Percy!"

It bothered her that she was able to recognize the voice in an instant. It was deep and velvety with a pleasant, husky timbre – a singer's voice, no doubt. Percy knew immediately who was behind her before she could turn around completely. Apollo was leisurely coming toward her. His gait was relaxed, easy but at the same time also proud and smooth. Bigger than life, like seeing a movie star in person, his charisma was staggering. He had an aura of pure, raw strength, every inch of him lean and muscled, which gave off the impression of being a man, but with a charming playfulness in his expression that made him look young and vibrant.

He was wearing his toga which revealed some hints of his muscular, golden body, his bow and quiver fastened on his back. A few strands of his fair, thick hair fell over his forehead, his golden eyes were as intense and flaming as ever.

Oh gods, Percy thought involuntarily, this guy seriously belongs on the cover of 'World's Sexiest Reasons to Drop Your Panties'.

"Lord Apollo," she said, surprised, feeling her cheeks beginning to burn as she noticed that she hadn't been able to hide the nervous tone in her voice. "What can I do for you?"

He came to a stop before her, not close enough that it would be considered inappropriate but still so close that she was able to feel the heat rolling off him in waves. Something clenched deep in her abdomen, making her blush even more. "I came to thank you, Percy," he said, his voice sincere. "For saving my sister. Even though it has cost you a lot."

Feeling a little surprised, she stared at him and swallowed hard, moistening her dry throat. She knew that he cared. She had already realized in the Lamborghini, when he had appeared beside her in the disguise of a homeless man, how much his twin sister meant to him. Luke perhaps might be right with his statement that the Olympians didn't care when it concerned a few other gods, but Apollo wasn't one of them. Percy had figured that much. He cared about his sister and even went against his father's rules to help her in her search for Artemis.

"Er, yeah ..." Percy said awkwardly, brushing a loose strand of her hair behind her ear in embarrassment, "You're welcome."

Apollo said nothing then. He just looked at her. And Percy looked back, trying not to let show anything of her anxiousness, trying to play it cool, but fuck ... his eyes made it pretty difficult for her to act cool. She didn't know if he was able to feel it, this ... thing – buzz, crackle, fizz, hum. Whatever it was, it was there in all its confusing glory, flickering between them like bees around honey and stinging the skin in a way that was, for Percy, altogether too pleasurable. Eventually, she averted her eyes when it became too intense, too much, and used the excuse of clearing her throat while she gathered her wits from around her fucking ankles.

Percy was very well aware of the fact how she was looking right now. She was still wearing her gray sweatshirt, dark skinny jeans, and her black leather boots, and her hair which she had pulled into a messy knot was greasy and unwashed, her clothes dirty. She couldn't picture that she made an attractive figure in this state, but how could she know that Apollo was thinking she had never looked any more beautiful than she did now?

"Oh!" Percy broke the tension filled silence as she happily remembered about something she had wanted to give him. "Before I completely forget it – I've got something for you, Lord Apollo."

She took out a folded piece of paper from the back pocket of her jeans, unfolding it hectically before she nervously handed it over to Apollo. "I mean, you wanted me to do one, after all ... and uh, it's probably not really good, but you, well, asked for one."

As Apollo grabbed the note with a vague suspicion in the back of his head, their hands brushed slightly against each other. This time, the contact was even more intense than it was when they had been in his chariot. It felt as though he was charged with static energy, the tingling sensation shooting across her skin and straight into her core. She lifted her head in confusion, seeing that Apollo looked at her with an unreadable expression, almost seeming bewildered as well. When he finally looked down at the piece of paper, reading the words as though he was a dry sponge soaking up the letters as if it was water, an incredulous grin appeared on his face.

Apollo helps me

He lets me drive his cool car

Thanks for your help, Fred

"You really ..." he said, blinking in astonishment, "You've really written a haiku."

Percy bit her lower lip, feeling a little unsure now that he'd read it. "Well, you said you'd expect one from me, and I tried to make something out of it. It's horrible, isn't it?"

"The haiku's just fine, Percy," Apollo assured her with a smile, still not really believing that she'd actually written him one. "You know, I was just –"

"You were just kidding when you said that you'd expect a haiku from me, I know," Percy interrupted him, immediately wondering if that was very rude of her. Interrupting him like that. He was a ticking bomb, like all the other gods, and she would never know when it was too much. "But nevertheless, you have asked ... and yeah ..."

She let her words fade away, brushing some loose strands of hair behind her ears. As she lifted her head, she saw that Apollo was staring at her with that expression in his eyes she couldn't name or read. And it was hard to breathe when the intensity in his gaze became so hot that it threatened to burn her skin in a way she would gladly enjoy. It felt as though a hot finger was being pressed against her tender skin and the sensation of it was thrilling and frightening at the same time. He had that magnetic energy that made her feel anxious and excited all at once.

"Well ... I have to go now," Percy said softly, burying her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, because otherwise she didn't know what to do with them, how to hold them. "My mother's surely already waiting for me. I don't want her to be even more worried if I don't show up at home soon."

Apollo nodded slowly, a little smile showing up on his face. He had dimples when he smiled and Percy couldn't help staring at them, because they got her heart racing faster than ever before. "Well then, have a good night, Percy. I'm sure we'll meet again soon."

"Thanks," she said softly, feeling a little disappointed when his dimples disappeared, "I'm sure we will."

And as she turned and left the throne room, Apollo stared after her until she disappeared wholly from his sight. Then he looked again at the piece of paper in his hands, reading the haiku once again. He ran a hand through his hair as a soft chuckle left him. It had been so long that a mortal managed to surprise him this much. And he had the vague suspect that it wouldn't be the only and last time. Persephone Jackson was definitely going to complicate his life and he couldn't be more excited about it.

He was definitely going to see her again soon.