I held true to my promise, and a couple of weeks later, word of a talented young singer had spread. It was quicker than the days long since passed. The creation of the internet and social media made my mission all the easier. All I had to do was whisper in the ear of several influencers who did the rest.

Despite her hesitancy, Cassandra flourished in the spotlight. The shy student who was hesitant about her talent quickly brightened like a sunflower in summer. She booked gigs first in small, local haunts like cafes and speakeasies. The crowds were smaller but supportive. They followed her to her various shows, growing larger in numbers each time.

For a while, we were in bliss. I was the director behind Cassandra, pulling people into place and exposing them to her beauty. Cassandra was my masterpiece, who beamed at the end of every performance. She would look at me with wonder and adoration, and my heart would swell.

Her most popular song was titled Apollo's Love. It was the one she had sung for me that fateful night. The song was beautiful, encompassing our love for one another. It was her confession to the world.

And yet, with each show, Cassandra pulled further and further away. She would go out and party with her fans well into the early hours of the following morning. She never invited me to join her.

I don't know if she realized it, but I could still see what she was up to even though I wasn't physically present. It started off harmlessly enough. Drinking, dancing, club hopping.

Until she met him.

His name was Leo and Cassandra met him at a club. He was a fan of hers, and after a few drinks and countless dances, they discovered how similar they were.

By that point, Cassandra and I had drifted apart. Now that she had fame, she had little time for me. And yet, just the night before, she assured me that our love was still strong.

Watching her kiss Leo was worse than being stabbed. My heart bled from the wound. She twisted the blade, letting the blood gush between her fingers.

It was more agonizing than any other lovers in the past... save one.

"I told you, brother dearest," Artemis sighed. She stood next to me on Mount Olympus. "Nothing good comes from getting close to a human."

"She promised," I said. The hurt boiled with the anger, creating a sour soup in my stomach. "The one condition was we'd always love each other, and she promised."

I sounded like an insolent child, whining, but I had been played. Cassandra's sweet charm had all been a facade. I thought she was different, but she was like every other human. She couldn't resist the gift a god had given her.

"They always promise us the world until they find someone on their level," Artemis explained. "No matter how hard you try, no matter how different she is, she will never see you as a human." She placed a hand on my shoulder. "End this Apollo."

She was gone.

I clenched my fists and glared down at the humans. Cassandra laughed at something Leo had said. I imagined her sweet, bell-like laugh and anger flared through me with dizzying speed. She had made a mockery of me. Artemis was right. I could never be like the humans because I was better than them. I would never got back on my word.

I was waiting for Cassandra when she returned to her apartment. I stood in the window, staring out at the city. It was draped in harsh shadows and irritating lights. When lighting became a widely practiced invention, Artemis despised it. Her beautiful nights were now smeared with ugly neon lights and smog.

A light flicked on behind me, followed by a startled gasp. Through the reflection of the window, I saw Cassandra standing in her doorway. A young man, Leo, was moving around her protectively. The worm who had wriggled his way between me and my human.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. He did not provide much defence against the will of a god.

"Leo, it's okay," Cassandra assured him. She pushed past him to confront me. "What are you doing here?"

Despite knowing who I was and all that I had given her, Cassandra did not shy away from my cool stare. Though, for all her composure, her chocolate eyes betrayed the fear. Fear of me and what I might do if angered.

She knew she hadn't held her end of the bargain, which infuriated me further.

"We need to talk," I said, casting my icy glare at Leo, "alone."

"Anything you say to me can be said in front of him." As if a witness would make me hesitate.

"If you wish." I smiled then, a vicious thing that cut through Cassandra and hit Leo. "Has she told you who I am, Leo? What I've done for her and the bargain we've struck?"

"You call what we had a bargain?" Cassandra sputtered.

I raised my eyebrows. She fell silent while the worm watched us, confused.

"You see, my name is Apollo," I continued. Though I was speaking to Leo, my words found their mark on Cassandra. My focus was on Leo, but I saw her pale. Tuck her hair behind her ear with a trembling hand. "I am an Olympian, a god, and Cassandra and I fell in love. Well, I thought it was love."

My eyes were on Cassandra now, who fumbled with the hem of her shirt. Fame had done wonders to her confidence, yet she slipped back into her shell at the first sign of conflict. Despite the anger burning heartily in my stomach, I still wanted to pull her into my arms and comfort her.

I refused to give in to such temptations.

"What are you going to do?"

Cassandra's voice was barely more than a whisper, but it snapped Leo into motion. He stepped forward, his face twisting into protective anger. His hands were clenched, ready to defend Cassandra. Against a god. It was so comical I laughed. He didn't find it very humourous and lunged at me.

I moved so quickly he never saw it coming. My fingers found purchase around his neck, and I hoisted him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. Cassandra screamed and tried to pry me off, but I pulled Leo close enough that our noses touched.

"You fool," I hissed, "this does not concern you. You are nothing but a gnat."

He fell like a heavy sack of coal. I wiped my hands on my pants as I stepped over him. Cassandra shrunk away from me, her face an open wound of fear and desperation. Those eyes, so delicious like melted chocolate, were glossy. Her skin was pale and dotted with beads of perspiration.

"S-stay away from me," she begged.

"This is not a good look for you, Cassandra," I sighed, "first betraying me and now begging. I never thought you'd be the simpering type."

"I never betrayed you," she said, her eyes clearing a fraction. "I never stopped loving you, Apollo. Leo, he's just a friend–"

"Silence!" I grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. "You are just like the rest of them, Cassandra." Her name dripped like poison from my lips making her flinch. "You never loved me, you just used me. I saw you with him. I'm not an idiot."

Her expression cleared then, the frightened fog lifting. She lifted her chin defiantly, or perhaps in resignation. There was no point in denying it any longer, though her words were surprisingly callous.

"Fine, so what? It's not like I'm the only human you have hanging on you." She moved, so her lips hovered over mine, her eyes like spears aimed at mine. "You're a god, Apollo. You can go anywhere, do anything, be with anyone. I'm well aware of the stories of the Greek gods. You can't honestly think that I believe you sit around pining for me."

"Well, you certainly think you understand the situation." I cupped her cheek. I tightened my hand around her wrist when she tried to jerk away. "But you are wrong. I love you, Cassandra. Only you. There was only one other person I ever wanted as badly as you. He has been dead for thousands of years."

"Apollo..."

She looked at me imploringly for an explanation. My anger was starting to cool, so I had to act fast.

"No. No more. I am not going to let you get away with this. You spurned my love and gift. It's only fitting that the punishment matches." I glanced down at Leo.

"Punishment? Apollo, you can't do that–"

"You will be forgotten."

The silence that filled the room was louder than any words. Cassandra stared at me, confused and afraid. How I wanted to hold her...

"You, alone, will remember the talent and fame you acquired, but no one will believe you. You will be a laughing stock at your next performance. Without fame and talent, Leo will leave you. That's all he was really after anyway. You will have nothing but a memory of what could have been."

"You're a monster." Her words had no bite. She knew she would never win against me.

My smile was grim as I turned from her. "You embarrassed me, I think the punishment fits. Goodbye Cassandra."

And with that, I left her, standing alone and in tears, clutching the fragile pieces of my shattered heart. 

****

Word Count: 4,648

Very close to the end now! Just one small chapter (epilogue, really) and then it will be submitted!