Adonis

Apollo.

The god of health and knowledge is quite possibly the only man in both divine and mortal existence whose good looks rival my own. His skin is fair as the forenoon sun's pure iridescence, his locks a gilded tincture-- so wonderfully scaffolding his chiseled, godly countenance, and coiling handsomely to the corners of his pliable velvet lips, that their blunt ends brush softly against his fixed jaw.

They accentuate the creamy, lean contours of a neck which gives way to a broad, powerful chest, solid shoulders, muscled arms, a lean waist, and sturdy legs of bronze. He is a rightful god in both name and physical form-- no other god nigh encompasses the beauty he possesses.

Except me-- but I am no god.

To olympians, I am no less than a tolerated nuisance, fortunate enough to have encountered Love's sympathy as a babe, and her temporary affections as a young man. It seems that no matter my skills as an experienced hunter, my reputation as a philanderer will always precede me, sabotaging any attempts at appearing as a man deserving of godhood to the citizens of Olympus.

Indeed, I have been granted immortality as atonement for Aphrodite's disgracing of my mother, but what is the purpose of it if I am continuously perceived as inferior? Would I not be offered respect and praise if I were perhaps... ruler of a third of the cosmos?

Bringing a hand to rest upon the satchel winded about my shoulders, I feel for the pouch carrying my arrows-- a fine weapon that will prove useful on my journey to the Underworld. If it is not a god's mission to conquer and assert dominion over that which he desires, then what does entail the ascendancy of a divine man over a mortal one? What better means of demonstrating my merit to becoming a god?

Yes. This is divine opportunity-- forthcoming directly from the Fates to honor me for all my years of yearning and vying for the attentions of a godliness I could not acquire.

Perhaps my only query is the precise medium through which I will gain access to the Crown. How can I reach the ruler of Hades and strike him down? Gods can not be killed... therefore, any attempts at overthrowing him will be fruitless if he does not willingly relinquish his jurisdiction. And as of now, I have no thoroughly contemplated plan-- I can not embark on a senseless journey.

Returning to my mother's shade --where I caught Apollo and Death's interaction-- I move to sit at the rough base of her jagged roots, reaching for an apple I had brought with me, lifting it to my lips as I gaze out into the lush, open fields and the cloudless creek running boundlessly within the secure, hidden hills of Olympus.

Unlike the other trees of her species, she was not planted in dry land where mortals could easily find her-- no, she was placed in a location where only the divine retain knowledge of her existence, where no one can mock her for the foolishness Aphrodite influenced her into.

Biting into my apple, I savor the saccharine nectar that exudes from its mainstream onto my chin, chewing slowly to fully appreciate its taste as the crunching sound of approaching footsteps reaches my ears.

"Come now, Artemis! You know as well as I that we do not adhere to the laws of nature as mortals do!"

A second pair of footsteps shuffle about.

"I am well aware, brother. Leave me be! I have reiterated this multiple a time! Why must you be pester me further on the matter?"

Their footsteps near me, their voices becoming much more distinguished in their proximity.

"Please! What about this mortal man fascinates you so? What does he possess which I do not?"

"My own ichor! Why can you not simply accept my refusal?"

Curious, I angle my body to hide myself behind the tree, obtaining ample glimpse into a rather intimate moment as I observe the movements of their shadows-- the warm caresses of Helios pronouncing their features sharply on the ground.

The larger shadow moves to embrace the smaller one, hands firmly clutching the thin forearms of the second-- shaking her lightly.

"I am in love with you, sister! I have been for the past millennia! I will strike down all mortal men to approach you as I did Orion until I possess your affections!"

The goddess of the hunt pushes him off herself, becoming evidently agitated.

"Apollo! My answer will not change! Leave me be!"

"Please, sister! Will you not at least consider my affections?"

"No! Go bother some other poor mortal woman as you used to!"

Turning to leave, Artemis halts as the god reaches for her wrist-- bringing her back to him.

"I will cede to you anything you ask! I have brought you an enchanted bow and arrow from the Underworld-- as you asked of me a fortnight ago! We can--"

"I ask of you to leave me be! No gift in this world or the one below will make me change my mind! If you continue to beleaguer me, Apollo, I will not hesitate in striking you."

With that, she shoulders past him, walking away from her twin.

"It has been forged by Hephaestus himself, and is fabricated with a blunt end made of a noxious substance! So well has it been assembled, that even the gods will be affected by its apex! You will be the deadliest of the Olympians, sister!"

At his words, Artemis turns, weighing her sibling's desperate remark. Sighing, she crosses her arms.

"And where would this enchanted weapon be?"

"At Hephaestus' forge! I will accompany you if you wish!"

"If we go morrow's day, will you finally leave me be?"

Both figures fall into silence for a brief stage, and then a man's exhale.

"Yes."

"Very well, then brother. Remember you have said we will drop the matter after this."

The god's shadow nods, and he extends his hands to place them upon the woman's waist, curling his fingers about her hips to bring her closer, leaning in to lower his countenance atop her own, and lifting a palm to her jaw, pressing his lips to hers so charitably, it is almost a foreign gesture to the god's nature.

They kiss for but a moment before she pulls away, agitated once more.

"I must leave, now brother, for I've matters to tend to."

Apollo is swift in following her, leaving me to ponder his claims of a deadly weapon-- perhaps the very one I heard him request of Thanatos in return for tending to the sick child.

How potent is the substance? It can not kill an immortal, but will it be sufficient to deliver me ample chance to seize a throne?

Perhaps.

And for that chance, I fasten my satchel, abandoning my mother's shade.