14 Laughing Stars

You've got it all wrong; she's not just some Goddess, she's….the Abyss, the chaos that resides within every soul. Chained and restrained, yet always ready to burst out at her slightest touch.

- Dionysus, God of Wine, Madness and Festivity.

———

Apollo snatched a cup of nectar from the serving nymph stationed in a dim corner. With a single gulp, he downed the divine liquid, craving more. He didn't hesitate to take another batch from the startled nymph, clutching some tightly while allowing the rest to swirl around him as he retreated into the shadows of the banquet hall. He simply desired a brief moment of solitude to reflect on his recent confrontation with his stepmother.

It was reckless; there is no denying that. But it was also a mess of emotions—complicated, satisfying, and damn vexing. Honestly, he didn't have a clue how to put it into words. It was just what it was. Though regret wasn't part of the tangled mess, it did royally screw up the mood for the night.

Just when he thought his mood couldn't worsen any further, the universe laughed mockingly. Out of the corner of his eye, Apollo caught sight of a familiar, vibrant figure engaged in conversation with Persephone.

Apollo's eyes widened, his composure instantly snapping into place. He hastily willed all the cups of nectar back to the serving nymph, gracefully striding towards the pair.

————

Near the corridor of the hall, Persephone addressed the vibrant, unfamiliar girl she had discovered wandering aimlessly on the outskirts of the hall. "Who are you, child?" she inquired softly. "And how did you find your way here?"

This girl was weird and strange; that much was clear to her. But pinpointing exactly what made her different—that was a whole other story. She had this aura of immortality about her, but definitely not like any immortals she knew. Maybe she hailed from a different pantheon, but if there was a guest from another pantheon, her father would have surely made an announcement about it.

The vibrant girl responded, her voice carrying an otherworldly and unpredictable cadence. "I heard that there was a banquet on Olympus," she mused, her words dancing like whispered secrets. "Light should be here. the Bright One amidst the shadows. Apollo, they call him. Yet I can't seem to find him anywhere. Perhaps he's playing hide-and-seek with the lovely Night, always one step ahead. She loves to tease him, laughing and winking from her celestial playground." Her gaze wandered, lost in the realms of whimsy. "Or maybe Apollo's off chasing rainbow unicorns, or perchance he's enshrouded in sunshine, taking a nap upon a billowing cloud. Wouldn't that be Delightful?"

Persephone blinked. "What...?"

The vibrant girl giggled, her laughter straddling the delicate threshold between joy and sorrow. "But who can say where Apollo wanders? He's an enigma, a puzzle of words that refuse to align. Maybe he's right here, and we're simply unable to perceive him—a hidden radiance shimmering at the fringes of our perception, like Dreams we struggle to recall."

Apollo emerged before them, as if summoned by her very words. His sudden appearance jolted the already tense Persephone. He flashed her an apologetic smile, sensing the effect his arrival had on her.

"Apollo!" the vibrant girl exclaimed with uncontainable excitement, her heterochromic eyes lit up like stars. She immediately flung her arms open, enveloping Apollo in a tight embrace infused with unabashed Delight.

Persephone narrowed her eyes at the remarkable transformation that occurred the moment the vibrant girl's arms wrapped around Apollo. Her pale skin took on a sun-kissed glow, her riotous hair seamlessly blended into a cascade of golden waves, and even her features subtly shifted, aligning with the unmistakable and flawless characteristics of Apollo. In that instant, she could have easily been mistaken for Apollo's sister.

Apollo seemed taken back by her sudden transformation and her exuberant embrace, but ultimately he returned her hug with a hint of bemusement. "You found me," he said, leaving her embrace and winking at the vibrant girl.

The vibrant girl beamed at Apollo, her eyes sparkling with childlike glee. "I knew you couldn't escape my search forever, Apollo! You're like a sunbeam, impossible to hide for long." Her voice trailed off, as if getting lost in a whirlwind of thoughts. "But, oh, the journey it took to find you! Singing clouds and curious beetles accompanied me, sharing tales of forgotten realms and whispered secrets known only to the wind."

"Did they now?" Apollo's amusement sparkled in his eyes as he smiled at her. "Well, tell me all about it while I guide you through the feast. Perhaps you'd enjoy a taste of ambrosia?"

The vibrant girl nodded vigorously, her golden locks bouncing with each movement. "Oh, yes!" she exclaimed. "Ambrosia is nice, but it doesn't compare to the stars. They were like mischievous little fireflies, desperately trying to slip away from my grasp. Dancing, twirling, and bouncing with laughter. I couldn't help but laugh along with them—it was utterly hilarious!"

Apollo remained unaffected, his smile retaining its gentle nature. "Persephone," he spoke up abruptly, "I'll look after her."

Persephone's heart pounded with trepidation as she silently questioned Apollo with her eyes. Listening to their conversation, she couldn't shake off the unease that settled within her. She hoped that the girl was simply troubled in her mind, as madness, though uncommon among immortals, was not unheard of. Perhaps that would explain her bewildering words—surely she couldn't have actually eaten stars, could she...?

Apollo dismissed Persephone's silent inquiry with a shake of his head. He gently grasped the hand of the vibrant girl, who appeared lost in her own world, absentmindedly playing with her golden locks, oblivious to Persephone's question.

Persephone watched in silence as Apollo led the vibrant girl through the shadows of the hall towards where the private chambers were located, purposefully leading her away from everyone.

The sight sent a shiver down Persephone's spine, a chill that clutched at her and left her with an unsettling sense of unease. Her body stiffened, an unfamiliar rigidity creeping into her being.

The Goddess of Spring turned and walked hastily towards her mother as she whispered to herself. "Just what in Tartarus is that girl?"

—————

Apollo's smile finally faded, his gaze shifting away from the vibrant girl. She sat at a table in a private chamber with him, savouring the delicacies cooked from ambrosia and losing herself in her own whimsical murmurs—a maddening and twisted world that belonged solely to her. He turned to meet the piercing silver eyes of his sister, Artemis, who immediately drew him close, their shoulders touching. She spoke in hushed tones, her voice a mere breath for his ears alone.

"Why is there a walking supernova on Olympus?" Artemis muttered, her words carrying a mixture of urgency and anxiety.

The Goddess of Hunt still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that she was actually sitting face-to-face with a cosmic entity, let alone one of the Endless that her brother had spun such terrifying tales about. All she wanted was to give her brother a piece of her mind about Aphrodite, but who could have expected she would stumble upon something like this?

Apollo said, "Calling her a supernova would be an understatement." He smirked with a touch of irony. "She probably eats them for breakfast."

Artemis rubbed her temples, releasing a prolong exhale."You aren't exactly being helpful, dear brother," she muttered wearily.

Apollo smiled wryly, turning to gaze up at the Night sky through the swaying curtains where the stars gleamed exceptionally bright after the arrival of children of Night, flickering and playfully winking at him as if they were observing his every move.

Artemis noticed where his eyes were fixed, drawn to the bright and twinkling stars. "What's got you suddenly so captivated by those stars?" she asked with a smile, but her voice held a hint of seriousness. "Are they saying something?"

"No, She," Apollo corrected, his voice filled with a haunting, low tone, barely audible in the stillness of the Night. "Night is laughing at us,"

Immediately, all of the stars in the Night sky together glowed with an intensified brilliance, only to quickly dim and lose their lustre, going back to their calm and peaceful state as if nothing had happened.

Ichor oozed from Apollo's ears, staining his hands as he clutched them in agony. His face displayed the visible strain he felt. "I shouldn't have done that," he scolded himself, the haunting echoes of her star-chilling laughter fading into the abyss of Night. If he weren't a God, he might have lost his mind just hearing the echoes.

"You imbecile!" Artemis rushed to cover his ears with her hands, her fingers emanating a faint, pale light as they worked to heal him. "Why are you always like this?"

"I'm fine." Apollo pulled away from her touch, his sister and his own light having already healed his ears. "Lady Nyx bears no ill will towards us."

"So?" Artemis snapped. "Does that warrant you to act like that?"

"At least look on the bright side, sister." Apollo attempted a forced smile. "We finally have some privacy."

Artemis stared at her brother in utter disbelief. "You're going to get yourself killed if you keep this up," she said, her voice raw with concern.

"I know," Apollo replied, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Curiosity's to blame, I suppose."

Artemis sighed wearily, shaking her head. "Well, for now, let's concentrate on her." She glanced sideways at the vibrant girl, her brother by her side. They hadn't forgotten about the cosmic entity, but thankfully, she still appeared lost in her own world.

"She seemed attached to me for some reason," Apollo admitted curiously.

"Obviously," Artemis scoffed, her eyes rolling at her brother's comment. She couldn't help but steal another glance at the vibrant girl, who, strangely enough, seemed to resemble Apollo more than she did.

"Enough of your attitude, sister," Apollo muttered, a slight frown creasing his face. "I know you're still angry with me over Aphrodite. But we can't afford to alienate ourselves from the council. We need allies—someone who can watch our backs. As for Night, I wasn't exactly thrilled about being monitored."

"I get it," Artemis said, intertwining her fingers gently. "I understand," she added, but as the Goddess of Maidenhood, she couldn't just leave it at that. "But Aphrodite, really?" She asked sceptically.

"Seems like both of you really didn't exactly hit it off," Apollo countered. "And I know your spheres of divinity clash, but there's more to her than meets the eye. She can actually be a useful ally."

Artemis grumbled begrudgingly. "Just be cautious."

"No worries; her charm doesn't affect me much," Apollo chuckled.

"Oh?" Artemis arched an eyebrow, her brother's confidence piquing her interest.

Apollo, however, didn't elaborate. "Enough about Aphrodite; we're straying from the matter at hand," he said, and both of them turned their attention back to the vibrant girl, slipping into pensive silence.

In case you hadn't figured it out yet, the vibrant girl happened to be none other than Delirium, the embodiment of Madness and Sanity, and the youngest of the Endless.

—————————

"What should we do?" Artemis pondered, resting her chin in her palm. "Should we tell someone?"

"No," Apollo quickly shot down the idea. "Even if some are aware of the Endless, I highly doubt they've seen all of them. So, let's just leave it at that. Sharing it with others might just end up making things even worse."

Artemis nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "You're right," she agreed. "Nobody would be comfortable knowing there's a supernova-eater lurking among us."

Apollo chuckled lightly, his laughter carrying a sense of lightness in the air. "Well, that's one way to look at it," he remarked. After regaining his composure, his tone became more serious. "Honestly, there's not much to debate about. I'll keep an eye on her, sis. It's clear she has some kind of attachment to me and listens to what I say," he paused, a trace of doubt creeping into his voice, "or, well, at least it seems that way."

Artemis leaned closer, lowering her voice to a hushed tone. "This is dangerous."

Apollo affirmed, his voice filled with certainty. "Yes, it is. But if things go south, I have a plan to send her back to her family."

His plan was straightforward: he would contact Destiny and request that either he come himself or send someone to retrieve his little sister from Olympus. Apollo had intended to reach out to Destiny earlier, but Delirium's presence had proven to be a persistent distraction. Moreover, Artemis had stumbled upon them, amplifying her already exuberant energy. Delirium had engaged in vibrant discussions about various topics, some of which were downright terrifying. She spoke of a serpent imprisoned in the abyssal void, ready to be set free and consume the children of Khaos in a vengeful act. However, she reassured them by confidently stating that Apollo would valiantly conquer the serpent and save the day like a superhero.

Apollo, well-versed in prophecies, recognised when one presented itself. He made a point to etch every single word into the depths of his mind, regardless of how seemingly nonsensical they might have been. Who knows? They might very well become keys to solving troubles yet to come.

Ultimately, it wasn't until they guided Delirium to a hidden chamber adorned with ambrosia-laden platters that she finally succumbed to the whirlwind of her own chaotic musings.

"Fine," Artemis agreed simply.

"Fine?" Apollo tilted his head in confusion.

"What else?" Artemis smiled, though a touch of heaviness remained in her eyes. "I trust you; just don't mess it up in the end, right?"

"I won't," Apollo promised, returning her smile.

Artemis shook her head, sighing as she poured two cups of nectar—one for herself and one for Apollo. They drank the sweet liquid, feeling the heaviness melt away like a candle in a flame. After all, dealing with an unstable cosmic entity was certainly tiring, no matter what.

The serene moment passed as quickly as it had appeared when their mother emerged from behind the chamber curtains. "There you are! Hurry up, Aunt Mnemosyne's daughters are preparing a tribute," she said, motioning for them to follow.

"The Muses?" Artemis placed her cup on the table and stood up from her chair, exchanging glances with her brother. A silent agreement passed between them.

Leto nodded, her gaze shifting between her children. "And it seems both of you have already made amends."

"Yes, mother," Apollo stood up and approached Delirium. "Artemis just can't stay mad at her little brother for long."

Artemis let out a derisive snort.

Apollo lowered himself, kneeling before the youngest of the Endless. "Delirium," he called out, his voice cutting through the cosmic essence of her realm. He extended his hand towards her. "Come on."

Delirium nodded, jolting back to the present moment. She clumsily placed her plate on the table, attempting to wipe the dirt off her gown-stained hands.

Before Delirium could clean herself, Apollo snapped his fingers, a gentle radiance enveloping her hands and cleansing them in an instant. "Thanks, Apollo," she muttered, her heterochromatic eyes darting between Apollo and Artemis. "Supernovas? I don't like their tastes. Too... boom! Explosions aren't really my thing. They're more my brother's style, you know? He's all about big bangs and cosmic fireworks. Oh, you'd love to meet him! He and I are like you and Artemis."

Apollo and Artemis didn't bat an eye at her words; it was as if they expected nothing less. They weren't foolish enough to speak openly in front of the lost Delirium without considering the chance that she could somehow still catch wind of their discussion about her. After all, she may be wildly unstable, but she was still a cosmic entity.

Leto's eyes softened as she took in the sight of the lively girl, her heart warming instantly. A surge of motherly instincts coursed through her, and the uncanny resemblance of the vibrant girl to her son only intensified those feelings. "Oh, really?" she asked, her voice gentle and kind, a tender smile tugging at her lips. "It sounds like you hold your brother dear to your heart."

Delirium's eyes sparkled like stars, her enthusiasm palpable as she clasped Apollo's hand. "Yes," she nodded. "And you must be Leto, the Mother of Light."

"Mother," Apollo interjected, his words slicing through the tender moment. He held back his thoughts and pressed on. "We should head out for the tribute."

"Ah, yes," Leto acknowledged with a nod.

Delirium's gaze drifted towards the window, capturing the sight of the dimmed stars as they made their way out of the chamber. A hint of confusion flickered across her face, followed swiftly by a wave of dejection. "Huh?" she uttered, her voice tinged with disappointment. "The starry lady is gone."

"She's still there," Apollo whispered, a certainty settling in his mind. Nyx, the embodiment of Cosmic Night, remained ever-present. She was never not there. The question lingered: why had he managed to capture her attention? Surely it wasn't merely because he had invited her children. There should be a deeper connection, something tied to his very essence. Gaea and Hera had both remarked on how he shines too brightly for his own good. Perhaps, he mused, it held a literal meaning after all.

"I know." Delirium replied, fiddling with her golden locks. "She is good, even if a bit cold."