The Lost Soul's Nocturne (Sequel to The Solace Twins)

The Love of a Father

"A-Apollo?" Nico was the first to break the silence. Apollo stood before them with his sun-kissed skin, flowing golden hair and striking blue eyes. Currently he was dressed like a mortal in baggy jeans, a fitted yellow t-shirt and flip flops.

"Why are you here?" Isaac's hunter green eyes stared in disbelief before falling on the person in the bed. "Will? Oh gods." The son of Aphrodite runs to the blond's side. "Don't just stand there gawking! Help him!" He cries grabbing onto Will's hand and looking up at the god of the sun.

Will Solace was placed on one of the cots. His body was covered head to toe in hastily wiped soot. Blood completely soaked one of his pant legs. What was normally sunkissed skin turned an ashy white. His body was constantly shivering yet sweat collected on his forehead. Short rapid breaths came from his parted lips. His eyes were closed but he seemed almost awake. Teetering in and out of consciousness. Skylar felt ill seeing her brother in this state.

"I wish I could help him. The big guy in the sky forbid me from directly healing him. He's keeping us gods on a tight leash lately." Apollo frowns gazing down at his son. With a slight wave of his hand he makes a small glowing bottle appear on the counter behind the teens. None of them notice due to the events unfolding before them.

"So you're just going to sit by and watch him die because Zeus says so?! That's bullshit!" Isaac snaps, his eyes welling with tears. Thunder rumbled from outside after Isaac's words. He couldn't lose Will now. Not when they had finally found something stable.

"He doesn't have a choice." Nico asserted trying to excuse Isaac's rudeness to the god. "Isaac I understand you're worried about him but picking a fight with a god isn't the way. Calm down so we can think of a plan."

"Don't you dare tell me to calm down when Will is dying right in front of us." Isaac seethes glaring at Nico.

"The longer we bicker the less time Solace has so just be quiet." Nico growls giving him a glare of his own.

"I'm not able to help you but there is already someone who can. She just hasn't become aware of it yet due to shock." Apollo shifts his gaze onto Skylar who had been silently standing beside Nico staring at the floor. "Well kiddo what are you waiting for? A royal invitation?"

Skylar couldn't breathe. She could feel her head spinning and all the words she wanted to say died off in her throat. If her dad was here and it wasn't just to pop in and say hi. Will was in danger. Her brother was going to die and Apollo wasn't going to do anything about it. Now he was passing the pressure onto her. It was her choice to save him or to let him perish. Anger welled up inside of her.

She swallows hard. "Will's...a good person. I should've known the gods wouldn't help save one lonely boy that's saved countless of their children." She looks up eyes filled with a burning flame setting her gaze on Apollo and Isaac. All kindness and respect was being thrown out the window so she could counter the shock. "All of you get the hell out of my infirmary." She would worry about apologizing to the crestfallen boys and her dad later. Right now all that mattered was Will.

Instead of being angry like Nico had presumed, Apollo merely smiled ushering him and Isaac from the room. "We best listen to the little lady and skedaddle." He pushes them into the hallway and slowly closes the door behind him. "Let's go for a walk I'd like to have a talk with you boys regarding your relationships with my children."

Grabbing a pair of scissors Skylar cuts open the tattered pant leg of Will's jeans to fully reveal the hastily wrapped bandage. It was soaked in blood. Removing it carefully she tries hard to ignore the blood beginning to stain her hands. Biting her lip, she assesses the damage. From the corner of her eye she sees Nico tense up. The skin was torn around the initial bite wound as if he jerked around while in the monster's grasp. Dark purple blotches surrounded the affected area. Poison. Blood continued to seep from the area. Isaac nearly vomits at the sight averting his eyes elsewhere. If she didn't stop it soon Will would bleed out before they had a chance to stitch him up.