His skin was pale and covered in blood, his body cold and limp on the ground. His hair stuck together with blood and sweat as tears leaked from his dead eyes. 

I could only stare at him, my voice was raw from screaming every healing chant I could conjure, my hands covered in blood where I had tried to clot the bleeding in his head. The blood-soaked discus lay discarded at my feet as I stared at his body. 

Hyacinthus, the love of my immortal life, was dead.

The sun didn't rise the next morning. I couldn't will myself to leave his body so I just stood there, staring at the man I loved as he began looking less and less like he was simply sleeping and more like he was actually dead. 

I would have spent the rest of my life staring at his body if I weren't stopped. I felt the presence behind me but didn't bother looking away from him to address the newcomer. 

"Apollo, you're father wishes to see you. He wants to know why you didn't ride the sun this morning." Hermes' footsteps faltered when he stood over my shoulder and looked down. He let out a sharp intake of breath followed by a mournful sigh before a grieving hand was laid on my shoulder. 

"It was my fault," I sighed, my voice still raw, tears building up in my eyes. "I threw the discus too hard. Mortals are fragile. I thought I was being careful."

"We can't concern ourselves with mortal lives Apollo. As much as it hurts, they die but our duties must continue."

"I'm allowed to mourn him."

"Of course as long as the sun rises as you do."

"I'm not working until my grief is bearable."

"I'm afraid Zeus won't allow that. You'll need to speak to him."

"I don't want to leave him," I sighed, my hands buried in his hair as the tears I tried to hold back became too much and spilled over my cheeks. "He shouldn't have to be alone."

"I'll stay with him until you return," Hermes said gently as he kneeled beside me, the hand on my shoulder dropping down to cup my hand buried in Hyacinthus' hair. "I swear nothing will happen to his body until you come back."

I didn't want to leave, Hyacinthus never met Hermes; leaving his body with a random god seemed wrong but denying Zeus his summons wouldn't help me get my time to mourn. 

I sighed to myself as I blinked back the tears before leaning down, my lips brushing his forehead softly. "I'm so sorry my love," I whispered to him. "I'll be back soon, I promise." 

As I leaned back I summoned the magic from my palms, ignoring how they were stained from his blood. My fingers grazed over the blood-soaked grass by his head and I simply watched as a crown of flowers appeared in my wake, their petals the same color red as my love's blood. 

"Hyacinths," I named them as I stood up. "Protect him until I get back. I won't take long."

An empty feeling settled in my chest as I gave one last look at my love before closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. 

When I opened them again I stood not in a wide field but on the dark hill of Olympus' throne room, the sky was still covered in darkness but the gleam of the gold thrones gave off more than enough light, nearly drowning out the stars above. 

"You're covered in blood," my father stated as he stared at me, his eyes covered in a disapproving gaze. "A hunting trip then? Is that why you missed the sunrise today? Pathetic. I never want to see this again."

My eyes scanned the room. Every Olympian in their place on the thrones except me and Hermes. 

"Hyacinthus is dead," I managed barely above a whisper.

The air in the room grew thick. Aphrodite grew far too pale as tears fell from her eyes. Artemis, though she would never feel the burden of losing a lover, bowed her head in grief on my behalf. Hera allowed a look of understanding to flash across her eyes. Surprisingly even Hades seemed a bit touched. Other gods wore similar expressions but their eyes went back to Zeus only to see a cruel man, uncaring of my grief. 

"He was a mortal, you knew it would happen eventually."

"Yes but I thought I had years-"

"Mortals are fragile," he said for what felt like the hundredth time. "You know this. You know to be careful with them, they don't last forever."

"I tried to be careful-"

"And it seems you failed," he said harshly. "This is no excuse. I want the sun to rise as normal tomorrow."

"I'm in mourning father, even a heartless man like you must understand."

"I understand that the mortals need sunlight," my father sighed, anger still clear on his face. "Crops must grow, mortals need heat; you have a job to do."

"The sun will not rise until I am finished mourning," I declared as new rage filled my chest. 

"Father be compassionate," Aphrodite managed through her tears. "I grew their love from nothing. Their love was stronger than any I've seen and for it to end so abruptly- it isn't right."

"So you suggest I let more mortals die? They can't live without Apollo's sun. More love will be cut short at the expense of his grief."

"The sun will not rise until I am finished mourning," I repeat again. 

"You put this whole show on for a mortal? Apollo grow up. It's time you stop messing around with mortals anyway. You need a godly partner," Zeus scoffed as I stood in the middle of the room as if I were on trial. 

My mouth parted as I went to stand firm on my words but my mind went blank as three figures appeared in front of me in a billow of black smoke.

I recognized them as The Fates without having to look at them for long and my heart sank. No one could go against the fates, it was Law. They would send me back to work without care and tell me to bury Hyacinth when I have time. 

"Fates, please," I begged even though I knew it wouldn't help at all. "I loved him more than anything. I'm only asking for a few days to arrange the funeral. I'm all he has, without my doing he won't be put to rest peacefully."

"Tell him he's being foolish," Zeus said harshly. 

"Tell my brother Apollo has the right to bury his love how he wishes in due time," Hades scoffed. 

"The mortals need sun," Poseidon said calmly. 

"Gods need love," Aphrodite spat at our father. "Without it, we become heartless dictators! I won't allow us to succumb to that!"

"I can help keep the mortals warm for a few days," Hephaestus reasoned. "My forge burns hot."

"I can give the crops more attention in his absence," Demeter agreed.

"Apollo needs to do his job! I will not have others take on his burden for a mortal!"

"Silence!"