The Backstage: Wow, time flies. I have lost inspiration for a while now, and while I don't expect to regain it soon, I had this chapter almost done and didn't want to leave it standing on my laptop. I don't know when chapter 8 will see the light, so I hope you enjoy this!

Chapter 7: A broken family

June 22 7.00 PM Athena's apartment

Athena was sitting on her bed, the phone in her hands. The number of Apollo was highlighted on the screen. What should I say?

"It's now or never!" chirped Widget.

"Oh, shut up." The girl pushed the "call" key.

The phone rang four times. For a moment, Athena hoped that her friend was unable to pick up.
Maybe he's busy. Maybe he's out and left the phone at the office..

On the fifth ring, Apollo answered. "Athena? Hello?"

Athena gritted her teeth. "Hey Apollo, it's me!"

"Yeah, I guessed that. How it's going?"

"Everything is fine, more or less. It's a slow day, we have too much free time on our hands."

"Good for you, I can barely breathe."

For ten seconds, neither of them spoke. Then, Athena understood that she could no longer hold it in.

"Apollo... I failed. I'm sorry."

She heard a heavy sigh. "It's ok, Tiger. I know you did what you could."

"Yesterday has been horrible." Athena was still dismayed. "I had already tried to talk about your mother, but he always dodged the issue. So, yesterday I tried a frontal assault."

"Risky. What happened?"

"He.. turned inside out! One moment he his calm and smiling, the next one he is piercing me with cold eyes, threatening me with a low voice..."

"Ah, I hoped you never had to see that part of Mr. Wright." Interjected Apollo.

Athena frowned. "Wait, you know about this.. Mr. Hyde side of him?"

"Unfortunately. A gift from my old mentor... it's a long story."

"You never told me!" replied angrily Athena.

"Yes, well, I don't like to talk about it, and the same goes for the boss. It was... a dark time."

"You will have to spill out the beans, someday." warned the girl. "Anyway, he crushed me. But I got something out. Your mother is alive, Apollo. Or at least, the boss believes she is."

"I knew it." Apollo's voice was harsh. "I felt it. How have you forced him to admit it?"

"I didn't. When I told him that your mother was probably dead, I heard a lot of disbelief in his heart.. like he thought that the possibility itself was silly. It was only for a second, but it was there alright." Athena shook her head. "It's all I could do. I'm sorry."

"It's ok, Tiger." Said Apollo, reassuringly. "We're talking about the Turnabout Terror here. No, to know for certain that my mother is alive... it's already an impressive achievement, Athena. I will channel my father... and with his help, I'm going to find her."

The girl sighed. "I wish I could have done more."

"Now, I do have something completely unrelated that you could help me with.." asked him, with an awkward voice.

"Of course! Tell me everything!"

"So, these days I put on Juniper's sweater a lot of times.."

Athena was intrigued. "Yeeeees?"

"And I thought, heck, this is a lot of work for her..."

"Aaaand?"

"Well, it is.. maybe... possible that she..."

"What?" Said Athena, worked up.

"Erm... perhaps she could be... interested in me?"

"EVVIVA! WOOHOO!" she yelled, pumping her fist in the air. "I won! Trucy will have to leave me be for a whole month! Thank you Apollo! Thanks!"

"What the hell are you saying?" replied the man, astonished.

"The bet! Trucy and I made a bet in December, she was certain that it would take at least one year for you to realize, but I trusted your sensitivity and now I have won!" said Athena happily.

"Of course, this still makes you denser than a cinder block, but who cares? For all of July, Athena Cykes is a free woman! "

"Wait!" cried Apollo, "You mean that she really..."

"Of course, you dunce! Junie has a BIG crush on you!"

"Oh."

"Yeah," said Athena, that was calming down. "It's so self evident that even her acquaintances noticed."

"Really?" answered him, surprised. "But... I never... there is no evidence!" he claimed.

"Ha! Evidence? I got tons!" The girl cleared her throat.

"First: Christmas eve, party at the office: she stayed all the evening under the mistletoe, waiting for you."

"Huh?" said Apollo, shocked. "I thought she was feeling sick and had to go to the bathroom!" He rubbed his head. "I didn't even notice the mistletoe."

"Well, ain't that a surprise!" replied the girl, snorting."Second: Valentine's Day. She sent you that huge box of chocolate."

"WHAAAT?" the horned attorney sounded desperate. "You mean, that box wasn't for the whole office?"

Athena chuckled. "No, Apollo, it was only for you."

"I can't believe it!" moaned him. "Trucy ate half of it! I dreamed that chocolate for days!"

Unmoved by her coworker despair, she went on. "Third: the Cherry Blossom. She told you at least three times how nice it would have been to have a picnic."

"I honestly thought that she wanted to have one with her friends!" argued Apollo.

Athena slapped her forehead. "See? that's why you've never been engaged: even when women throw themselves in your arms, you can't understand them. And don't even think that we are all straightforward like Junie: she's an exception, we're usually much more subtle."

The older lawyer groaned. " So, what I should do now?"

The girl straightened her back. "You're away now, so not much can happen. But, when you will come back, assuming she doesn't grow tired of waiting, you'll have to take a decision. Just don't be a jerk, whatever you choose!"

"Of course. Thanks for the help, Athena."

"Don't mention it."

"I got to go now, tell Trucy she owes me a lot of chocolate!"

Athena giggled. "Will do. Bye!"

June 22 4.15 PM Audience Chamber

Apollo was standing in the middle of the chamber, rubbing his hands. Why is so cold here? Ga'ran is gone, you don't need the ominous feeling anymore!

Finally, from an almost invisible side door came out Amara Sigatar Khura'in, followed by Rayfa, that was holding her mother's left arm, while on the other side, the former queen was using a cane as support. She looks a lot worse than I thought, thought Apollo, but I can't wait anymore.

Amara walked slowly towards the lawyer, stopping a few feet before him.

"Horn head, " she began, "My son told me that you have an urgent favor you want to ask me. Go ahead, then."

"Your Mercifulness, I want to ask you to channel my father, Jove Justice."

Predictably, Rayfa stepped in. "What are you thinking, Horn head? My mother is too weak for this! Absolutely not!"

Apollo bowed his head and closed his eyes. "Your Benevolence, I thought you more than any should understand my situation. I... just want to know who my mother is. You found yours lately, you know what I'm feeling."

"I...do, but you can see the condition of my mother, Horn head!"

Amara chimed in. "Rayfa, I'm not dying. If Horn head agrees to keep the meeting short, I can grant his wish."

The attorney immediately accepted. "Of course. All I need from my father is her name... for now." Rayfa tightened her lips, displeased.

The former queen nodded. "Very well, then. I trust you have your father's photo?"

Apollo hesitated. "Before we start... Your Benevolence, I don't mean to be rude, but this is a... private conversation. Family business.."

Rayfa narrowed her eyes, getting angry. "Horn head, how dare you command me to leave my mother alone?"

Amara tried to calm her. " Rayfa, it's only for... ten minutes?" She looked questioningly at the attorney, that nodded. "It's just a few minutes, Your Benevolence. You can check, if you want."

Rayfa glared at the lawyer, upset. "Since my mother want to do this... five minutes, Horn head. That's more than enough to learn a single name. After that, I'll be back, whether you're finished or not."

"Very well."

Apollo watched the princess leaving the room, then he gave the photo to Amara. "Here it is."

She carefully viewed it, then gave it back. " Good, now I'm ready."

Amara closed her eyes, joined her hands, and began chanting.

"Oh spirit of Jove Justice, slumbering in the Twilight Realm... return now in the world of the living!"

The change was quick. Before Apollo's incredulous eyes, his father emerged, dressed in Amara's attire,panicked, his mouth twisted by his last scream.

"APOLLO! NO!" he cried. A second later, he noticed where he was. "Huh? What?..."

The attorney was frozen. Jove turned to him. "You! What's going on here? Where's my... son?" The bard realized the resemblance. "Who... are you? And where am I?"

Apollo roused himself from wonder, and spoke to his father. "I'm... Apollo. I'm your son. And this is Khura'in royal palace."

"You... you are?" Jove scrutinized his son face. "It's... impossible? Is this a dream, or...?"
The bard looked at his hands, seeing his dress. "What's this? Where's my jacket?"

"Father... we don't have much time. Amara can't keep up for long."

"Amara? Dhurke's wife? Wait a minute... you mean that he told me the truth? She can really summon the dead? Oh! Am I..?"

"I'm afraid so, father." Spoke gently Apollo.

"Damn." Jove rubbed his head, making it seem that the attorney was looking in a mirror.

"So... are you an angel or something?" asked the musician.

"No, no!" answered dazzled the young lawyer."I'm alive. It's just that... we were able to channel you only now. Some years have passed..."

"How many?"

"Err...now it's 2028."

Jove put his head in his hands. "2028? Holy cow."

Apollo looked at his watch, worried. "Look, father, we've only got few minutes. I will channel you again, with more time on hand, but now I need to ask you something."

Although lost, Jove nodded. "Of course. If I can help you..."

The young attorney gulped. "Father... I want to know my mother's name."

"You don't know?" the musician was even more shocked. " Well, it's no secret... Thalassa. Thalassa Gramarye. But, why you don't know? Where is she?"

As soon as he heard the name, Apollo turned pale, his mind trailed off. He didn't hear his father's questions, nor he heard Rayfa coming back in the chamber.

"Horn head! Time's up!" Rayfa reached the two men, holding a magatama of parting at hand.

The attorney came to his senses too late to stop Rayfa, that had already unceremoniously slapped the magatama in Jove's face. "Ow! Wait!..."

"Rayfa, stop! My father..."

"Your talk with your father can wait, my mother's health cannot." answered her, while looking at the queen. Amara was regaining consciousness, and didn't seem too fatigued. "Horn head, do you have your answer now?"

Apollo nodded at her, with a serious face. " I do. And now I need many more."