Twilight Angel

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"Are you a son of Apollo?"

I clenched my teeth as I struggled to answer. Or not answer, depending on how one looks at it; Surely, I'd thought, surely there would be no issue in pretending to be a son of Apollo. The requisite divine spark was there, after all.

Unfortunately, I hadn't anticipated Alabaster Torrington. Clever young man. Intense. Powerful. If only those strengths could be pointed in a more favorable direction.

That truth spell had my voice in a vice grip. I clenched my teeth and pressed the sides of my tongue firmly against my molars, trying to speak a single syllable. Sadly, my attempt at a YES escaped my lips as little more than a soft breath, as my larynx stubbornly refused to cooperate.

Pulled by some unseen force, the tip of my tongue crept toward my front teeth. Unfortunately, when my voice finally returned to me, it did not say what I wanted it to.

"N... no," I choked hoarsely. I closed my eyes, trying to shield myself from Luke's suspicious scowl. Even without sight, I could feel his gaze on me.

Alabaster pressed the business end of that Truth Trinket harder into my skin, its cold burn reminiscent of Tarquin's venom in my veins. "Who is your godly parent?"

Here, dear reader, is where I made perhaps my most greivous error. You see, I was so committed to the lie of being one of my own children, it simply did not occur to me that I could speak the name of my mother. In hindsight, uttering the name Leto could have prevented many of the problems I would soon encounter. What use would Kronos have for a demigod of motherhood? Moreover, in getting my mother's attention, I could easily convince her of my identity and obtain her aid.

Unfortunately, my mind was too occupied to properly think that through. I was instead desperately trying to come up with a line of logic that would allow me to say "Apollo" truthfully; But Alabaster's charm compelled an answer before I could do so.

By the time I felt the name on my lips, it was far too late to stop myself.

"Zeus."

The word hung in the air, surrounding us with a silence that felt strangely claustrophobic. The implications of what I'd just admitted would inevitably have terrible consequences, and I was terrified to find out what they were.

I glanced between my interrogators, hoping they couldn't see the terror on my face at that admission. Alabaster pulled away, looking utterly shocked, while Luke...

Luke's expression had softened, and he looked at me as if he recognized me. I clamped my mouth shut, turning away as he slowly approached.

Calloused fingers curled around my jaw, gently but firmly forcing my gaze back toward Luke, his face barely a foot from my own. His eyes did not meet mine, instead trailing along the edges of my face, scrutinizing every detail, and I could feel his warm breath as he leaned in close

Dear reader, please do not judge me when I say this may have triggered a butterfly or two in my belly. Yes, my life was in danger, and I'd long since learned from Commodus not to let attractive older men cloud my judgment. But if his thumb gently caressing my lips, coming to rest at the corner of my mouth, were to send a pleasant shiver up my spine, could you truly blame me? Even gods can enjoy close personal attention from a handsome older man.

Well, sort of older. Fully grown, at least, unlike Lester, who was me, who was unfortunately very mortal, despite a brain brimming ancient godly memories.

Perhaps the semantics didn't matter, anyway, as there was a distinctly un-romantic air to Luke's attention. The thumb at the corner of my mouth grazed upward toward my cheek, tracing a small scar I'd incurred in some battle or another. He knit his brow, and I could see recognition in his eyes, the kind of recognition one feels when they're right on the brink of solving a puzzle.

For a moment, I wondered if he'd somehow figured me out. But nothing could have prepared me for what Luke said next.