We had not long gotten into training when I realised something was wrong with Daphney. Her eyes strayed from my straining hands and her shoulders were more tightly strung than held high with the mysterious elegance of an Oracle. When her jaw ticked I dropped the swirling ball of water I had formed and waited for her to notice more than five minutes later.

‘’Jackson, I think this storm has to do with you. Poseidon is just as confused as every other God.’’

‘’Me?’’ I paced the training room. ‘’How could this be me?’’

‘’Well, you are the son of Poseidon. He can control ill weather so it’s only natural you’d inherit that along with your water control.’’ Her shoulders seemed to take on a more natural pose as she continued to pat her octopus, the slow, hypnotic movements of its tentacles trying to calm us but failing.

I looked at my hands, flipping them over and back again trying to figure out how this was my fault. I didn’t even realise I was doing it but now that I think about it, it could have been because of my emotions the same as how my emotions affected the water.

‘’It could be the appearance of Hermes disturbing your thoughts.’’

‘’That’s when it started. When I saw him.’’ I nodded and looked at her but her eyes were locked behind me. ‘’What?’’ I turned and locked eyes with a confused looking Chandler.

‘’Apollo? Poseidon? Hermes? What’s going on Jackson?’’ He stepped further into the room but a larger man stepped up with him and wrapped his arm around his shoulders.

‘’Hello, cousin. I’ve been wondering where you were hiding and I think I found it.’’ He pointed at the necklace that was lying above my clothes.

‘’Cousin?’’

‘’Apollo.’’ Daphney stepped beside me. ‘’It’s always a pleasure.’’

‘’Ah, Daphney. It’s been far too long; a century if I’m not correct?’’ The God walked in tandem with Chandler as they made their way toward us, Chandler’s eyes never leaving mine but his steps faltering every few feet.

What the hell was he doing here?

I looked over the large man that had come with him. The brightest blue eyes that looked like they glowed jewelled his face and his hair fell in golden waves over a golden and white cuirass. He was what you’d expect of a flamboyant God who bathed in music and the sun’s rays.

‘’My dearest cousin.’’  He raised his hand to let it lay on my cheek. ‘’You’ve been hiding and messing with my sun. Why?’’

‘’I didn’t know I was.’’ My eyes locked onto his arm that was lying on my angel’s shoulders and he seemed to notice as he smirked and pulled Chandler closer.

‘’He’s gorgeous isn’t he? You certainly know how to pick them.’’

‘’Why did you bring him here?’’

‘’It’s quite a funny story actually. I found him wandering around whimpering your name throughout your…’’ his eyes wandered. ’’…dwelling. I’d expect more from you with such a beauty. You should take care of such irreplaceable gems.’’ He released Chandler and smiled at him, urging him into my arms.

‘’Jackson. What’s going on?’’ His eyes locked on mine as I rubbed his arms but before I could answer, Daphney cut me off.

‘’How did you find him, spawn of Zeus?’’

‘’He must have taken off this precious necklace for far too long. I doubt I’m the only one who noticed this either.’’

‘’Does your father know?’’

‘’My father? He’s too busy frolicking with nymphs to pay attention to the mortals and my precious sun. More importantly, why have you strayed from your master? I doubt Poseidon would allow one of my stolen Oracles to stray too far.’’

‘’Will somebody listen to me!?’’ We all fell silent as Chandler heaved in anger, his eyes locking on all of us. ‘’What the hell is going on!?’’

‘’Ohhh. Well I think it’s time I caught up with Daphney. This is all you, baby cousin.’’ Apollo clapped me on the shoulder and Daphney didn’t hesitate to abandon me as they made their way out of the room and towards the entrance of the cave.

I stared after them for a few minutes, the silence of an empty cave deafening me. I was reluctant to look back and see the expression on Chandler’s face. For once, I didn’t want to see it.

‘’Well?’’ He pleaded with his eyes for the truth and I crumbled.

I took a deep breath and walked him over to a large boulder, sitting down and gesturing him to do the same but he refused and stood in front of me where I placed my hands on his hips and dropped my head for a moment’s breath.

‘’Please. Tell me.’’ He placed his hands on my cheeks and made me lock eyes with him. ‘’I’ll listen.’’

‘’My name is Jackson, and I’m Poseidon’s secret son.’’

True to his word, Chandler listened to my story until the floating lights grew brighter signalling nightfall had taken the sky.

He had taken to sitting beside me, his shoulder resting on mine and his head nodding occasionally to show he was listening and not just staring blankly at me.

I watched as his expressions changed between sadness, anger and pure fury whenever I mentioned my father and how I had grown up. Not once did he show pity for me though, for which I was incredibly thankful. I didn’t want the one I love to pity me. He just understood and felt emotions along with me as I recounted my journey to this moment.

‘’And that’s how I came to be here. I need to control this…whatever it is.’’ I looked around the cave as if I could see through it to the rumbling storm outside.

‘’I’m going to help you.’’ He didn’t miss a beat as his body turned confident and his eyes sparked assuredly, making his small boyish face seem older, more mature.

‘’Chandler-‘’

‘’No. I want to do this. I need to do this.’’

‘’But-‘’

‘’You heard him, cousin.’’ Apollo stood to the side of us, staring at Chandler and smiling at him, the action mirrored by Chandler out of appreciation.

I sighed and smiled at my angel and not a second later his arms were wrapped around me in such a tight embrace, if I wasn’t of God decent I would have been crushed dust and ash.

Not a moment later, Daphney came back through a further passageway we had yet to venture as it was so deep into the cave, no light would shine bright enough to illuminate our path.

She had taken to it as a den for her octopus to bask in the dark when out of water. He seemed to enjoy it enough.

‘’You understand you can tell no one of anything you have learnt tonight?’’

‘’Yes ma’am.’’ Chandler pulled back from me and smiled at her.

‘’Not even your sister.’’ His smile faltered a little before it picked back up and he nodded his agreement and it took her not even a second to change her serious face into stone and she waved her hand for us to stand. ‘’Back to training.’’

‘’My baby Oracle has become bossy in her old age.’’ Apollo sighed out and lounged on an uncomfortable looking rock, holding and chewing grapes from Gods only know where. ‘’Begin.’’

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