Fall of Apollo part six

The whole week Artemis and Asclepius took turns keeping Apollos condition stable but he wasn’t getting better.

He was vomiting up far less often than any other human who had the same flu but he was still horribly pale, barely able to stand and both deities worried that if they stopped their constant care he may die, fearing they were his only thread between life and death.

Both healers were exhausted, Kasandra and Georgio were beyond scared and Maria wasn’t allowed to see him.

And Dionysus hated that he couldn't do anything other than bring a smile to Apollos face, when he was conscious enough to perceive him.

One day both healers were aiding him and Artemis heard sniffling from the other. She looked, seeing tears going down his face and fear in his eyes. She softened. “He will live.”

“Will he?” He asked shakily, a tremble in his glowing hands that were a fixture over top of his fathers body.

Artemis wanted to hug him close but she couldn’t, not when they were occupied keeping her little brother alive.

Before she could give some speech about human resilience, he spoke quietly and tearfully. “It’s been days. It’s only because of us he’s still alive, if we stop he won’t make it though one day. I’m scared.”

Dionysus overheard this, walking over to them and kneeling. “We need more help.”

Artemis glared weakly. “We could get every healer and he wouldn’t improve. Asclepius is right. We’re the only thing keeping him alive. I bet the fates are livid.”

“That’s not what I mean.” He said. The healers looked confused, he continued. “I’m going to get Hermes. See if he’ll use that luck he’s so known for.”

Asclepius looked sharply at him. “Whoever you think will help improve him, bring them here. I don’t care if we need all of olympus.”

The wine god just nodded and disappeared to find the messenger.

He found him where he always is; in the underworld annoying Hades.

Hades was in the middle of the judgment of a soul, Hermes talking his ear off about something and the king of the underworld letting him as he finished the judgment.

Dionysus walked in and although Hades saw him first, Hermes announced him, flying down to him quickly. “Hey! What brought you here?”

Hades was walking next to him. “It’s about Apollo.”

Hermes looked between the two. “What’s going on? Is he ok?” Instantly becoming concerned for his friend and half brother.

Dionysus started. “Apollo is a hair away from death. The only reason  he has not passed is because of Asclepius and Artemis.”

“The fates have been rather angry with that.” Hades said, although they were necessary, he never liked to be around them too long.  “But why does that bring you here?” He asked.

“I need Hermes.”

Hermes just pointed to himself in surprise, even Hades looking over curiously. “Me? You want me? You know I’m not a healer right?”

“Yes but you bring a great deal of luck to those in need. It brought Apollo to a house of one of my patrons.”

Hermes frowned. “Yeah but I can’t control what the luck does. It’s not like I can magically cure him instantly with it, I have no idea what it will do once I bless someone.”

Dionysus walked closer to him. “Please, I’d rather not force you to help but we are desperate. If Artemis and Asclepius stop, he dies.”

“Can’t Zeus do something? It’s his mess.” Hermes said, he had never used luck to attempt to heal someone before and worries what it could do.

Dionysus huffed, crossing his arms. “I asked, he said it would be Hades problem.” He looked to Hades. “His words directly.”

Hades bristled but sighed heavily. “I am not surprised, that pompous Buffon.”

Dionysus turned to Hermes once more. “I’m giving you one more chance to come willingly.” He said, lifting his hand up, starting to glow an eerie purple with black tendrils curling around his fingers.

Hermes shivered and huffed, giving in. “Alright! Alright, I’ll go! I hold no promise this will work.”  He walked to Dionysus but went to his other side without his glowing hand. “Stay away from my head.”

Dionysus put his powers away and together they went back to Apollo.

When they arrived Hermes was taken aback by how bad the  sun god looked.

“You weren’t kidding. Sure he’s still alive?” He asked, worried and kinda terrified. Asclepius nodded. “Yes but only by our hands.”

Hermes swallowed. “I’m…I’m not sure my luck can help here. What if it kills him?”

Dionysus, being a bit taller than the messenger, leaned down to him. “It won’t.”

Artemis looked to Hermes, pleading. “Please, we need your help. Apollo needs your help.”

Hermes nearly groaned before sighing, getting close to Apollos bed. “Alright! Alright.” He put his hand on Apollos head, getting a gauge on how much luck he may need.

Hermes eyes got wide, looking to the other deities. “The amount of luck he needs is a miracle level. Ok, yeah, sure..”He started talking more to himself than the others as he opened his little pocket dimension that held all his collectibles, trinkets, offerings from worshipers and various things he’s stolen. “Just perform a miracle, no big right? Just might upset the balance of nature and bring the fates wrath on us- here we go.”

He ended up hefting out a golden cauldron and his staff. The other deities just watched, never seen him use his luck like this before but he said it would be a “miracle level” of luck which implies he would need a lot.

They never saw the chaotic deity so focused as he used his staff, wings down in the pot of what looked like molten gold, throwing in a few herbs to do it, with a seemingly precise calculation as he stirred.

Suddenly his eyes started to glow gold, his staff illuminating as the others watched in awe before his entire body started to glow, the staff disappearing as he brought it out of the gold, reaching his hands inside and kneading it like one would knead bread, getting the golden, godly herbal mixture in his hands as a big, golden ball of clay before managing to slap it between his hands, the ball disappearing.

Asclepius watched, stunned and confused. “Where did it go?”

Hermes showed him the large, golden coin with his staff depicted on it. “It’s all in here.”

The coin glowed brightly. He brought it to Apollos hand. Although his own hands went though, the coin didn’t, landing in his palm.

Apollo weakly held onto it, bringing it to his chest in his disoriented and half asleep state.

“As I said, I have no idea what it will do but he has the luck you requested.”

“How will we know it’s working?” Asclepius asked.

Hermes just shrugged. “I don’t know, I warned him that, when I use my luck I have no control over what it actually does. Could work in a few minutes, could work in a few days but considering the high amount of luck in the coin, I’d say hours. That’s just a guess though, do not come at me if that doesn’t happen.”  He finished, his hands up in defense.

Artemis smiled weakly, fatigue in her eyes. “It’s better than nothing. Thank you for your help, I promise to find a way to make this up to you.”

“Just next time you need help, don’t send him-“ he thumbed over to Dionysus who gave him a look and a raised eyebrow.  “He’s scary.”

Asclepius smiled weakly. “Scary? Him?”

Artemis looked over to her nephew. “You have no idea.” She said as a matter of fact and not just a passing saying.

Soon Hermes was gone. Dionysus coming and going, trying not to be clingy but wanting to know how it’s going.

Kasandra and Georgio did all they could, bringing cool clothes to his head, checking his fever, trying to get some food into him. Even though he’s barely vomited, he also has zero appetite and so much fatigue it makes it hard to eat.

While Kasandra was getting him to eat little bits of bread, dipped in some oil for some form of nutrition, she saw a shiny gold coin in his hands.

She didn’t take it out of his hands but turned his hands over to see it, knowing her or her husband never gave him a coin.

She nearly gasped, seeing the brilliant golden coin with Hermes staff on it. She felt her eyes water in gratitude, knowing even though she can’t see or communicate well with them, they are helping and watching over him. She made sure to keep it in his hands, going back to gently hand feeding him what he could handle.

Although still exhausted, Artemis and Ascelpious stayed and kept Apollo stable. They watched Kassandra help him best she could, even if it was only comfort.

Hermes ended up paying another visit, much to the healer's surprise. “You’re back?” Artemis asked.

Hermes walked over to them. “Well I realized the luck I gave him won’t mean shit if you fall asleep on him.”  He put his hands on both of them, a small splash of golden glitter falling onto the healer's head, disappearing into the air.

Asclepius blinked, confused but suddenly feeling better. “Oh, thanks.”

Artemis looked relieved as well. “That’s very thoughtful-“

There was suddenly a knock on the front door of the house.

All deities and Kasandra. Who was sitting on the edge of Apollos bed looked.

Georgio announced from the hall. “I’ll get it.” He walked to the front door, opening it and seeing a herbalist girl from town, holding a very large leather bag with a staff of Asclepius on it.

He raised an eyebrow. “Can I help you?”

“I was wondering if there’s any sick here in need of assistance?”

“Yes but how did you know that?” He asked. Kassandra overheard and rushed to the door. “Thank the gods, Hermes luck is true. Come in! Follow me!”

Georgio just watched his wife let this young woman in, Maria watching as well, seeing them pass by her bedroom.

The herbalist went to Apollos side immediately, feeling his temperature. “How long  has he had such a high fever?”

“About a week.”

The herbalist looked surprised but got a few things out of her bag. “It’s a miracle he is not dead. I’m going to give him a tincture for his fever.”

Georgio was suspicious, watching her from the doorway with his wife. “How did you end up here? It’s a good trek from town.”

The herbalist got out her bottle of tincture. “That’s exactly why I’m here. I realized It probably became forgotten, you’re not the only home suffering from this sickness. This tincture should help bring his fever down.”

It took a few hours but the herbalist worked, unknowingly alongside Artemis and Asclepius who watched and aided her.

But not only did the fever lower but it broke completely, leaving him sleeping properly.

She smiled, wiping his head of any sweat build up, using a cool cloth Kassandra brought her. “You’ll be right as rain in no time.”

Kassandra smiled weakly, fidgeting with her hands. “Will he live?”

“Oh yes. He’ll most likely feel pretty bad, his body went through a lot. They’ll likely be some aches and pains and fatigue but nothing they won’t do much harm and should go away within two days with rest.”

Kasandra couldn’t help herself as she  smiled, coming over quickly and hugging the young women. “Oh thank you so much! Thank the gods for sending you.”

The herbalist just went along with it, hugging back with a smile. “Always happy to help.”

Once the herbalist left, Kassandra and Georgio finally rested themselves, going to their own bed and fall into a deep sleep.