The Oracle of Tartarus [malexmale]

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

We appeared in Apollo's temple from the escape route in the underworld in a split second.

The temple was empty, even the throne room was scarce. Only Apollo's empty chair sat there with wine and a bowl of fruit sitting on the stand beside it. There were no nymphs or humans there to lavish him with their attention. In fact, even Apollo wasn't there.

"Where is he?" Malachi asked in irritation, looking around. Abel snorted, folding his arms over his chest.

"Probably hiding because he's as scared of Hades as anyone else." He responded mockingly.

"Actually, I'm right behind you, stupid." Apollo's voice sneered. Abel yelped and whirled around, taking a few quick steps back and taking Noe, pulling him in front of him as a shield. Malachi and I glared at him before I looked at Apollo, who raised an eyebrow, looking down at him.

"So you're the oracle." He stated. Noe swallowed hard and just gave a timid nod. Apollo studied him, then looked up at me until his eyes shifted to look behind me at Callias. His eyes widened slightly and he cocked his head, gesturing for Callias to come forward.

"Who's this?" Apollo demanded, studying Callias from head to toe. Callias stared at him, but didn't answer, so I responded for him.

"You said you wanted a lover. I won't do it... But he will. He offered." I added with a frown. Apollo narrowed his eyes for a moment, then came forward and circled Callias slowly to study him, like a vulture circling its prey. Callias didn't react at all. Just stared straight ahead obediently. Apollo came to stand in front of him, lifting his head up high so he was looking down his nose at Callias.

"And what are you called?" He asked.

"Whatever you wish to call me." Callias responded. Apollo raised an eyebrow at that. For a moment, I swore he was just going to vaporize Callias on the spot. Noe cleared his throat, making Apollo look at him pointedly.

"Uh, I call him Callias, if that helps any." He offered. A smirk curved Apollo's lips as he turned back to face Callias, amused.

"That's a fitting name for someone like you. You are pretty for a man. It's too bad you don't have Zelios's red hair." He commented, glancing sideways at me. I tried not to grimace at the hungry stare in his eyes that assured me he was still going to torment me. However, Callias reached up and ran his fingers through his hair. As he did so, his black hair began to change slowly as his fingers thread through it. It went from midnight black to the same shade of blood red as my hair. We stared at him in surprise, even Apollo did. Callias stared at Apollo as he finished coloring his hair red.

"Does this suit your tastes, my lord?" He asked. Apollo shivered a little, running his tongue over his bottom lip before biting it, obviously aroused by Callias's obedience.

"You're a nifty little thing, aren't you? And what are you?" He asked. Callias gazed at him.

"Whatever you want me to be, my lord." He responded. Apollo hummed at that, glancing at me out the corner of his eye.

"Where did you find him?" He asked. I almost answered that I had discovered him in the House of Hades, then thought better of it. He was sure to be alarmed when he found out he owned a prisoner of Hades.

"Along the way." I responded. Apollo seemed to accept that. He looked back at Callias, who just met his gaze levelly, but blankly. And while I was glad that Apollo seemed to accept Callias over me, there was still an uneasiness inside me for giving this man over to the god. Callias had offered, and yet, something in me was guilty. I was treating him as an object, not a person.