It was a month later and Apollo's visits were frequent, three days a week at least. He still of course tried to persuade me to come to Olympus with him. I never accepted. Obviously.

I didn't know how but he seemed to he becoming more gentle as time passed. He had begun to give me more personal space when we walked together, just talking like friends would. I don't know why but i felt like the further space he let me put between us the closer i wanted to be to him. Stop it! I told myself. Falling for Apollo was not part of my plan.

We would talk about our families and lives. I told him more detailed about Artemis' offer, to which he cringed, "You know as long as I claim you, she cannot accept you." She was his twin, helping me free from him would be betraying him.

On top of these visits Apollo kept coming in my dreams. Each night he would visit me while I slept and try to persuade me to not join Artemis, to let him take me to Olympus or just to talk even. I could have sworn I awoke to find him sitting on my bed watching me, or feel his arms holding me numerous times.

Every time this happened it was the same, I would dream about him. He would plead with me. Then I finally opened my eyes. It didn't matter if he was holding me or watching me, he always said, "Goodnight, I love you," and disappeared.

When I awoke this morning something was different. When I dreamed he seemed scared. He warned me about someone.... "Appro," i think he said. I can't comoletely remember who, then when I woke up, there was nothing.

Even on nights I don't see him I would find a arrow next to me, or some other sign. But nothing at all. I couldn't help but feel that he might be in danger.

I know if he was I shouldn't care. He was a god who relentless perused me. Him being gone should be great... but yet part of me felt like I should help him. Find him.

The rest of me wanted to join Artemis' huntresses. I already had tracked down where the huntresses had recently set up camp and planned to go where I got the chance.

Around noon I found myself siting in the forest ground with Rachel and Haidar. Rachel had said something funny (and probably rude) about this guy Percy that she used to go out with making Haidar and I laugh.

"Why so girls even bother with guys," Haidar exclaimed still laughing.

"I certainly don't know." I declared.

They knew it was the truth and laughed with me anyway. When the laughter stopped Rachel just stood still looking at me.

Green smoke came from her mouth and I knew a prophecy was coming. "Where the mist meets the air, bows of colors do appears," the Oracle began speaking through Rachel, "the god of that realm shall find her near, the lost love of an olympian shall appear. No longer shackled by fear. She must choose a fate so near. To find her lover or choose another. By midsummer." Rachel broke the trance and stared at us.

Without a word we knew what we had to do. We had to find Chiron.

When we got to the big house I could tell something wasn't right, but I didn't know what.

Once inside we found Chiron in the meeting room, staring at a series of old manuscripts. "Chiron," I said trying not to startle him.

"Dana my dear what brings you by?" he asked but I could tell he already knew. "You know tell prophesy," his voice low.

"What does it mean?" I was firm and direct. I didn't have time for small talk. Midsummer was a week away.

"My dear..." he looked to the ground, "You should have known sooner, you are Daphne reborn,"

"What?" Haidar gasped, I barely remembered she was there.

"Iris plucked you from the laurel. She then gave your new-infant self to a man in Texas, hoping your distance from Olympus would help you." he continued and I couldn't believe my ears. "That man grew with fear and left you, from them on you were in the foster care system. Iris was furious when she found out." I was ready for him to stop talking but he continued. "She sent for you, and claimed you as a daughter for protection. That is also why she never speaks to you, so that she would not slip up and tell you of your origins."

"But, if I am not her biological daughter, why can I see color as I do?" it sounded stupid, I knew it was stupid, but I still wanted an answer.

"When she took you from the laurel you did indeed become her daughter, even biologically."

"So she is my mother," I don't know why I felt disappointed, I just found out that my mother kinda loved me, but I was still wary of her.

Indeed," this voice was new and feminine, it came from behind Chiron.

When he noticed he moved out of the way revealing a women. Her hair was like mine, eyes too. Her voice was colorful like a songbird and equally as beautiful. Her dress was so many different colors, all laid out beautifully. To the normal eye I assumed it might look quite drab, but not to me, not to her daughter.

My heart fluttered. I wasn't sure if I should run or stay put. Embrace her or spit on her. I felt like I was at a sports game and found out my favorite player was cheating.

"Mother," I wasn't even sure if my voice hit the air or if I mouthed the words.

Tears filled her eyes and she embraced me, "I am so sorry! I love you my Dana, I really do."

I believed her. Something about the way she smiled at me and embraced me made me feel safe, the same way Butch did.

When the hug was over i wanted to talk with her, ask her questions but there was work to be done, I had till midsummer to turn away from Apollo or be with him. And to start off I had to actually find him.

"Apollo's in trouble, I can feel it." I don't know where the words came from but I meant them.

"indeed he is, " my mother began, "someone had taken him."

"taken a god?" Haidar was in disbelief.

"it does happen," spoke Chiron.

"Who would know where Apollo is?" Haidar asked, "He is constantly moving around."

"Artemis," the words came from me so quickly I don't think on them, "she knows what her twins up to."

"Possibly," Chiron scratched his chin, "She may be our only lead. If only you had as much intelligence as your daughter iris we may have come to this conclusion sooner."

I had never heard Chiron insult a god, and I can't say i cared to ever see him do it again. I was half expecting my mother to burst into flames. Instead however she gave a much more terrifying reply. In the calmest voice I had ever heard she said, "Indeed, and if only the top of your body was horse rather than man, i dare say you may have been able to come to this conclusion as well."

Chiron scraped his hoof on the ground ready to charge at my mother. It had become extremely clear that their quareling was rooted in an age old rivalry.

Before he could charge I interrupted the conversation, "Shall we form a quest them?"

"If only my dear," Chiron looked over at me. "This task shall be yours alone."

I was expecting that to be his answer but that didn't make it hurt any less. I was to leave alone, find Apollo alone, make every decision alone. It was almost too much to bare.

I didn't say any more. I didn't even look at them. I left the Big House and went to my cabin. With my weapons and clothing in hand I took Izzy (Butch's pegasus) and went off in search of Artemis.