The Stalker

[Apollo's Palace, Mount Olympus]

"Atlas!"

Erithea exclaims happily when she was finally reunited with her pegasus. It looks charming as usual. The girl was worried because Pelias couldn't possibly ride it. The girl thought Pelias had led it through the woods and hills on foot. Therefore he arrived later than Apollo.

It didn't take long, since Apollo contacted his followers—some people picked them up in horse-drawn carriages. The lake that Artemis and her priests used to use was located on a road large enough for them to drive comfortably. Of course ordinary man-made chariots couldn't penetrate the mountains. But the chariots belonging to the Titans of Olympus were able to float slightly above the ground so that there was no significant shaking even if they passed through rocky and uneven ground.

"Let Pelias escort him to my stables, Atlas will stay there for a while. He'll meet some of my pegasus, he won't be lonely," Apollo said again.

"Oh Okay then, thank you," Erithea was a little sad at having to part with the pegasus. It seemed ridiculous, but Erithea was alone on Olympus. Atlas was the only thing she had brought from the Northern Forest. Although friendly, Apollo was still a prince of Olympus. Erithea couldn't fully relax when she was around him. She was always worried that Zeus's messengers would come looking for her.

"Now I will take you to your room, Erithea,"

"To my room? But I won't be here long," Erithea sounded reluctant.

"You're still thinking about becoming a follower of Artemis? Don't you realize that it does not fit you?" Apollo was criticized.

"What do you know about me?" Erithea was a bit defiant. Apollo might be good at guessing and judging someone. But she had only met him one day.

"You can't even bathe in the open. The followers of Artemis bathe in the river, meditate all day and do a lot of physical activity. You're not thinking straight, Erithea. You've never even met Artemis. Why are you in such a hurry? So I want you to think about it carefully for a few days so you know how ridiculous your decision is," Apollo said again adamantly.

Erithea walked with Apollo beside her. Apollo's palace was quite spacious, he didn't plant many trees but he had a manicured flower garden and several fountains whose water sparkled in the sun. The palace was silent, in contrast to Erithea's shadow of Prince Apollo's life which might have been a little colorful.

Or was it because he didn't always stay at Olympus? Apollo likes to hang out with humans.

Erithea stepped on the cold marble floor of his palace and admired the great pillars that were there. This palace was very old. Apollo built it when he was only five hundred years old. There were several Apollo followers who seemed interested and looked at the two of them. It was a rare sight. Because Apollo for hundreds of years had never brought a woman to his Olympus palace. They wondered about Erithea's identity which seemed special to Apollo at this time.

Apollo seemed to adjust his pace, while occasionally observing the girl. Erithea was very beautiful. Even Apollo himself knew that there weren't many girls like Erithea. Apart from her reddish hair that's wavy like a river, she had curves that would make any man drool, her blue eyes reminiscent of Apollo's clear sky when dusk came. Her lips were symmetrical even though she's not wearing any make-up, it looks naturally bright pink. Her crisp voice made one's heart flutter just by hearing it.

Apollo had heard of Erithea several times. That said, men easily fall in love with her. Kairos didn't let her out of the palace too often to protect her. But what was that girl doing at Olympus? Did she really want to become Artemis's followers?

Apollo would not allow it. Erithea was too good to live a hermit life. She must not be thinking straight. Maybe she was running from something. Maybe she was tired of living restricted by her father. Maybe she just realized that she was an adult and for the first time had a teenage rebellion.

Erithea stopped walking, then looked at the god of prophecy firmly.

"I want to contact Princess Artemis," she said.

"I will, after a few days you stay at my place,"

"Why are you keeping me here? It's like kidnapping," said Erithea in a low voice.

"Kidnapping? I want to save you from a wasted and uninteresting life. You're too good to be a follower of Artemis. You're still young, you've never felt the weight of life. Those who follow Artemis are broken-hearted women, those who have lost or been dumped by their husbands and those who are disillusioned with Zeus' leadership. It's not you at all. I feel obliged to neutralize your thoughts before you meet her," Apollo folded his arms as if lecturing her.

"You're meddling too much," Erithea grumbled.

"Perhaps, but you'll thank me later," Apollo said confidently before continuing on his way.

Erithea didn't really want to be a follower of Artemis at all. But she had no other choice. She did not want to live in the Harem of king Zeus. If she vowed to live holy forever— it was said that Zeus couldn't touch her. But in exchange, she had to live like a follower of Artemis. Could she do it? She was a princess who had received luxury and comfort all her life.

"This is your room, Erithea," Apollo said as he led her, asking her to take his hand.

The room was very spacious, the bed looked comfortable and warm. The windows were large so that sunlight could easily enter and it gave a feeling of serenity. There were beeswax scattered in the desk, and a high, ornate ceiling. Her body suddenly felt tired, maybe the girl had been unconsciously ignoring it.

She had just arrived from the Northern Forest to Olympus. Then she immediately met the incident with the satyrs. Then she met Apollo, which ended in her dangerous encounter with the monster Cyclops. Her aching body from riding the pegasus for hours had not even had time to rest before encountering all these incidents.

She wanted to lie there immediately.

"My followers will visit you in a few hours, they will take you to a warm bath..then this—" Apollo touched her hair and grabbed Erithea's butterfly ornament.

"No! That—" Erithea wanted to forbid Apollo to take it. She dodged while protecting her head.

"I know you used it to kill the satyr just now. But you can't carry it around my palace. I'll keep it," Apollo said again.

"No, I have no other way to protect myself," Erithea shook her head reluctantly.

"I'll protect you," Apollo looked into her eyes trying to reassure her. Erithea hesitated for a moment. But she couldn't be stubborn all the time. After all, Apollo helped her escape the dangers of the Olympus forest.

Erithea finally took off her hair ornament and handed it to Apollo.

"Good girl," he said with a smile.

"I'll leave you now. I'll see you at dinner, Erithea."

***

As soon as Apollo closed the door— Erithea almost jumped onto the bed. She knew she was a mess right now. Her clothes were stained with dry earth. Her hair wasn't as soft as usual. She had to take a shower first to freshen up. But before Apollo's followers came to help her take a bath— she would lie down and close her eyes.

Erithea heard the sound of birds chirping, the wind blowing against the leaves making a rustling sound, and letting the sun's rays warm her skin. The girl smiled, feeling for the first time out of her troubles. She had momentarily forgotten that she was still threatened by Zeus and had yet to find a way out of it.

Then, in the midst of her current peace. Something climbed into her bed. Erithea opened her eyes, and saw a man with a sturdy build, golden eyes like an eagle, light golden brown hair and slightly dark skin looking into her eyes. She wanted to scream but the man immediately covered her mouth.

"Who are you? What are you doing with Apollo? Are you his new lover?" He asked in a tone of anger that made Erithea tremble.