Soul Bound by Courtney Cole

taken her life.  And Brennan was right.  If I had been mortal, it never would have been necessary.
    “You do not know what you speak of,” Apollo answered pleasantly.  “Eventually you will learn that all that you currently believe is flawed.  Once you are immortal, nothing will seem the same.  Trust me.”
    “Trust you?” Brennan answered incredulously.  “Trust you.  That’s funny.  I don’t even know you.  But I know that somehow you forced Em into a corner here today.  She never would have taken Branwyn’s life on her own.  I know that you want to send Empusa to the Underworld or even worse, you’d like her dead.  And for what?  Just so that you can control my abilities.  Did it ever occur to you that I won’t be controlled?”
    He was adamant, firm and very, very confident.  He stood proud and tall, the wind rustling through his honey-colored hair.  I had never felt so proud of him and I took his arm.  He was afraid, but fear is what makes bravery possible.  In overcoming the fear, you make yourself stronger. 
    “You certainly are my son,” Apollo replied smoothly.  “You think just as I do.  I would never allow anyone to control me, either, if I could possibly avoid it.  You and I are a great deal alike, Brennan.”
    “I doubt that I am much like you.  If you knew me at all, you would have known that you had a greater chance of winning me to your side if you just come to me and explained your position.  Trying to strong arm me by threatening the woman that I love… all that did was turn me away from you,” Brennan spit angrily.  “Go back to Olympus.  I don’t want anything from you.  Empusa just scored a point for us.  I daresay that we will win here and this entire conversation will be moot.”
    Apollo threw his head back and laughed. 
    “Oh, Brennan.  You still have mortal thoughts and naivety.  It is amusing, but you will not win.  And even if you do, you’ll have had to gain that victory by doing unthinkable things… as Empusa has just proven.  In the unlikely event that you do actually win, I guarantee that you will wish you had not.  You aren’t like the gods.  Your guilt will weigh you down.  You will wish you had never met Empusa at all.”
    “Never,” Brennan answered angrily.  “That will never happen.  Return to Olympus, Apollo.  Tell them that we are ready for whatever they want to throw at us.”
    “I do like your spirit, son,” Apollo chuckled.  “But you should learn to never poke at the gods.  You won’t enjoy it when we poke back.”
    With that, Apollo disappeared, although we could still hear his laughter for a moment after he left.  I stood quietly, facing Brennan while I avoided looking at Branwyn.
    “Are you okay?” Brennan asked quietly.  I tried to form an answer, but found that I couldn’t, not without breaking down.  Instead, I shook my head as tears ran down my cheeks.  I felt weak, but I couldn’t help it.  What I had just done was suddenly crashing down around me and it was all I could see.
    “Come here,” he said quickly, grabbing my hand and pulling me to him.  I buried my face against his chest, trying to block out Branwyn. 
    “You don’t understand,” I sobbed.  “I’ve taken souls hundreds of times.  But this was different.  She was alive and vital and healthy.  And worse, she would have just given it to me.  I think that’s what she expected.  She thought she was born to die for me.  And I think she was right…which makes it even worse.”
    I cried harder and Brennan stroked my back with strong hands, silently allowing me to cry all of my anguish out.   It took awhile, but finally my sobs died off to sniffles and then tapered off completely.  Stepping away from him, I wiped at my eyes and smoothed my hair.
    “I’m sorry,” I told him. “I didn’t mean to fall apart on you.  I have no right to be upset.  Someone just sacrificed her life for me.  If anyone should be upset, it