Love or Fate by Clea Hantman

be in Tartarus, nor would he be caught dead wearing such absurd clothing. Good day.”
    With that, the worm slithered around a corner and out of sight, and Apollo was left to search for another inhabitant of Tartarus. Hopefully a friendlier and more helpful one.
    Moments later he came upon a young man. A very normal-looking young man. When Apollo tapped him on the shoulder, he jumped three feet in the air and let out a petrified yelp.
    “Oh, sorry to have startled you, sir. It is sir, isn’t it?”
    The man just looked at Apollo without so much as a blink.
    “Right, okay, my name is Apollo, I’m a God, and…”
    The man began to laugh hysterically.
    “No, really, I am.”
    The man didn’t seem so scared anymore. “Okay, then do a trick, Apollo. Perform some great feat. Prove it.” And he laughed some more.
    “Well, you see, I can’t. It’s really a very long story, and I haven’t much time, but trust me, I am the god Apollo. Now, I have a question of grave importance. Do you know where I can find a Secret Society Witch Tart?”
    The man looked frightened again. He shiveredand shook, and then he made a run for it. He was gone in an instant.
    Apollo thought about running after him, but what good would it do him?
    So he continued to wander along the unending halls of Tartarus. It seemed like he had covered miles of hallway before he came upon another soul. This time it was a woman. She was young and beautiful. For some reason, she was crying.
    “Excuse me,” said Apollo, “I don’t mean to interrupt. Are you all right?”
    “No, I’m not all right,” the woman said, looking up at Apollo with a mournful, tear-streaked face. “I’m stuck in Tartarus. And for what? What! Just because I turned a young man into stone!”
    “Well, that doesn’t seem like such a bad crime,” Apollo consoled, patting her on the shoulder. “Maybe you could…wait! Does that mean you’re a witch?” he asked.
    “Turning a man into stone shouldn’t mean you have to spend an eternity in Tartarus,” she cried. “You understand. Just because he was Demeter’s boyfriend, that’s still no reason!”
    “Oh, he was betrothed to a goddess? Well, that does get into sticky territory there. You know, you really shouldn’t mess with the goddesses.” Apollo realized they were straying from the point. “Anyway,you didn’t answer me. Does this mean, if you have the power to turn someone into stone, that you are a witch?”
    “Gods, schmods! I will mess with whomever I want! Wait till they see the damage I can do from down here. You just wait!”
    The young woman looked at Apollo again, like she was actually noticing him for the first time. And seeing him young and handsome, she quickly lost her angry look and smiled a flirtatious smile.
    But Apollo didn’t notice. “So you are a witch? Wonderful!”
    “Yes, I am a witch,” said the woman. She was twirling a piece of her long blond hair around her index finger coyly.
    “You aren’t, by chance, a Secret Society Witch Tart, are you?”
    The young woman wrinkled her nose. “Oh, heavens no, those old broads are ugly. In case you haven’t noticed, I am beautiful. That’s why Demeter’s boyfriend fancied me over her!”
    “Right, okay.” Apollo plunged ahead, not wanting to get off track. “Do you know where I might find a Secret Society Witch Tart?”
    “Well, you know, it’s secret,” she said as she batted her eyelashes.
    “So I’ve heard,” said Apollo, a little exasperated.“But do you think you could tell me ?” He made an earnest attempt to flirt back. He lowered his chin and looked up at her from under his long eyelashes.
    “Well, I don’t know. What can you do for me?”
    Apollo began to sweat around his shoulder pads. “Um, well, I am actually the powerful god Apollo, only my powers are not intact at this moment. Once I have regained them, perhaps I can speak with Demeter and get you out of here.”
    The young witch began to laugh. “You, a god? Hardly.