Saved by The Prince

"What's the fuss? Silas? What's going on?" Several satyrs swarmed into the house of the satyr who had lost his Pulse by now.

"Oh my! These people killed him!" The satyrs turned furious and put on scary faces. Besides the pointy horns on their heads, and goat's legs that easily cracked their opponent's ribs when they kicked— they also pulled out daggers from under their clothes and angrily pointed at them.

"Calm down, can we talk?" Apollo responded calmly while raising both his hands.

"You killed Silas! Or you? Silas' new wife? You killed him, right?"

Erithea turned nervous. Silas's two wives now looked very sad and wept for their husband's body which had begun to turn stiff. She did kill him, but that was because she was defending herself. The mechanical butterfly that decorates her hair would not attack unless her life or honor was threatened. Kairos didn't want his daughter to be blamed for a wrongful assault or criminal charge. So he equipped his daughter with a pre-programmed robot butterfly.

"I killed him," Apollo said firmly.

"What? Why did you kill him?"

"An eye for an eye,"

"Kill for kill"

"Catch him!"

More and more satyrs were arriving and everyone was talking boisterously to no end. Mostly cursed Apollo without being willing to hear any explanation.

"Shut up! Or are you going after him to Tartarus? Don't you recognize me?"

"Keep your heads down! Disgraceful satyrs! Don't even try to touch him even if it's just a piece of His clothing! He's Apollo!" Pelias came bursting out of the crowd. His bulk and intimidating expression made the satyrs shrink and bow.

"Lord Apollo,"

"Lord Apollo,"

"Your Excellency,"

They started to squeak.

"This satyr has kidnapped a female Titan! You all know the consequences! I, Apollo—only enforce the law. If you don't like it, please protest to Zeus," Apollo looked at them sternly before turning back to Erithea and holding out his hand.

"Come here, let's leave this stinky nest," Apollo invited her.

"Wh—where?"

Erithea took his hand and obediently followed him. She was relieved to be free from the satyrs. But her heart started pounding again when she realized that her current situation might be even more dangerous. She met Apollo, Zeus' favorite son. That man never denied his father. That means, Erithea might actually meet Zeus sooner.

The satyrs didn't chase after them other than just watching the Titans leave.

"Those women— what will become of them?" Erithea muttered.

"They are humans, what happens to them is none of our business. Olympus is forbidden to humans."

"But—" Erithea felt pity.

"We can't save everyone, that's why we have brains to think," Apollo pointed at his head with his finger.

"Those women must not leave Olympus, they are human. They can spread the secrets of the gods," Pelias joined in.

"Maybe another satyr will take them as wives and take care of them,"

"That's too horrible, they must have suffered a lot," Erithea instantly paled. Had she snatched away the women's happiness? They seemed to have accepted their lives with Silas. Although they may be scared at first, they have been together for a long time. Now Erithea had killed their only protector on Olympus. Murder, whatever the reason, was never a good thing.

"This is your pegasus right?" Apollo pulled her hand away, and Erithea's face brightened slightly when she saw Atlas drinking voraciously in the satyrs' spring.

Erithea walked half-running towards it and hugged its neck gratefully.

"What's your name?" Apollo asked.

Erithea was silent. He didn't seem to recognize her. As a princess, Kairos did not often let her out. She might have been present at one or two Titan race parties but Kairos had always protected her. He knew that Erithea's beauty might be dangerous for herself.

"Erithea," She answered quietly. She wouldn't lie to Apollo. Lying to the princes and princesses of the rulers of Olympus like them had serious consequences. Erithea might be a princess, but she was only the daughter of a minor king in a faraway land.

While Apollo was very powerful. He had vast powers that only Prince Hermes and Princess Athena could possibly rival.

"I've heard that name, are you a noble? You have a pegasus whereas the Titans outside Olympus who have Pegasus can be counted on the fingers. So, which family are you from? Are you Daughter of Sigmarion? Atlanta or Kairos?"

Apollo named the minor Titan kings who ruled in regions far from Olympus. The prince was highly knowledgeable, although his demeanor seemed relaxed in fact he was calculative and organized.

"I'm from the Northern Forest," the girl confessed. She only hoped that Apollo would not ask further. It seems that the news that Erithea would be made a concubine by Zeus has not been heard by him. Because he didn't seem to really remember her name.

"Erithea, Northern Forest. I see! I remember now! You're called the prettiest princess of the Titans, right?" Apollo had a slight smirk on his face.

Erithea felt her heart flutter. Apollo quickly peeled off her identity one after another. If the news of Zeus' concubine reaches his ears then she will lose her freedom.

"What is Kairos' favorite daughter doing here? Olympus is dangerous even for the Titan race who didn't accept an invitation from one of the royal families,"

"I—I have an invitation," said Erithea nervously.

"From whom?"

"Artemis, I am here to be her follower," Erithea replied firmly.

"Artemis? Do you want to live like her? Roaming in the woods with a bow and barefoot? Not partying and talking to deer and rabbits?" Apollo showed a clear expression of displeasure.

"I've always admired her, I wanted to be like her," Erithea reiterated.

"What? You must not be thinking straight. It's a waste for a woman as beautiful as yourself to be a follower of Artemis. What's she doing anyway? Did you actually accept the invitation? You should be welcomed by her followers to escort you to Olympus," Apollo inquired.

"That— I just haven't had time to reply to the letter and come straight here," Erithea replied without looking the prince in the eye.

"I want to see the letter," Apollo asked.

"I don't know, maybe it fell over when I was kidnapped," Erithea reasoned. This was her first lie. She hoped she wasn't in trouble.

She couldn't show him Artemis's letter. Because that would immediately reveal Erithea's true intention to run away from Zeus. Apollo was not like Artemis, even though they were twins. Artemis was a bit of a dissident, while Apollo never disputed Zeus.

"That's not fine, it means you have no protector here. Then you will come with me, princess Erithea,"

"What? Where?"

"To my palace..I might as well make you change your mind about your life choice to become a follower of Artemis," Apollo said before helping her ride on to Atlas's back.