The Beginning Of Solangelo

I finally just gave up trying to find a place to sleep and started walking to Delphi.
Thirty minutes later, I had reached the city limits. Delphi was a rather small town, with many old buildings. Now, I thought to myself, if I was an Oracle, where would I hide?
After walking around for another thirty minutes, I finally found it. A smallish cave that was barely noticeable from the sidewalk, especially in the dark. It was only a couple feet high and was surrounded by a thick layer of tall trees. I set by backpack down on the ground and pulled out the small knife that Apollo had put in there. I swung my backpack back over my shoulder and starting slowly walking towards the small cave. About halfway there, I could just make out a faint blue glow if I squinted my eyes. It was coming from the very back of the cave, which seemed unnaturally deep.
Just when I was two steps away from the mouth of the cave, something large dropped from one of the trees above the cave with a loud thud on the ground. It took me a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the new dark object, but when they did, I recognized the thing that was in front of me. It was at least the length of two buses, maybe three when uncoiled. It was dark green with faint yellow spots that were barely discernable in the darkness. The thing was as thick as a tree trunk and was sitting up, coiled like a rattlesnake being charmed.
“Python,” I whispered.
“Ahh, one of Apollo’sss whelpsss,” Python said, surprising me. I hadn’t expected it to talk. But, I guess this was Greek mythology. Anything could happen. I didn’t answer, but instead took up a defensive stance. One of the ones I had learned when I was younger, but had failed to ever use in a real battle. My arms felt awkward and my muscles were starting to get tired from not being used enough. I readjusted, hoping that my fright wasn’t showing. Hopefully my natural fighting skills that I got from simply being a demigod would kick in soon. I don’t think Python would be able to be healed to death.
Python started to laugh. It was a scaly laugh that sounded like a sprinkler sending off small jets of water at regular intervals. Sss sss sss sss sss sss sss sss.
I re-readjusted my stance, now positive that Python could see my fear. I had no idea what to do.
“I almossst feel bad that I have to kill you,” Python said. “You’re sssuch a pathetic demigod. Why would Apollo choossse you over sssome of hisss other children? You can’t even use a bow, ssso you have to sssettle for a sssmall knife. Ssso pathetic.” That got me angry.
“Shut up. Shut up!” I yelled, throwing the knife at the snake’s face. It sailed through the air, blade tumbling over hilt, and I thought, for just a second, that the knife would hit home and pierce Python’s thick skin or maybe his eye. The handle of the knife bounced harmlessly off of the snake’s neck.
Python started to laugh again, sss sss sss sss sss sss sss, and I was starting to get really annoyed.
I balled my fists up and clenched my teeth with anger. Just then, my hands got really warm. The small area in front of the cave was bathed in a shower of light. Unfortunately, I was momentarily blinded, but, fortunately, so was Python. I looked around for the source of the light, and found that it was myself. My hands, more specifically. Light was pouring out of my palms like a beacon. The light was situated in a circle so that it looked like somebody had put round headlights on my hands. I moved my hands and pointed them towards Python. The beams of light followed and fell on Python’s body. Python hissed and slithered away. There were round burn marks left where the light had touched him. I took a couple hesitant steps toward Python and showed him my palms. The light hit the back of his head. Where is this new power coming from? Have I always had it and I just didn’t ever use it? Is this a one-time thing from Apollo?
I kept running around and hitting Python with the beams of light. The air eventually started to reek of burning snake. I was thankful that I was so athletic or else I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with Python as he weaved in and out of the trees. Eventually, I caught up to Python’s tail and held fast. This earned the loudest hiss out of Python. I kept my grip on his tail, even as he began to thrash around. I could feel Python’s skin melting underneath my hand.
I finally felt like I could win this battle. Like I could beat Python and get the Oracle back. Like I could finally prove to everyone, including myself, that I wasn’t just a healer.
But of course, everything started to go wrong.
I lost my grip on Python’s tail when he quickly flicked it up and to the side. I went flying through the air and hit by back and head on a tree. Dizzy, I stood up and felt the back of my head. My hand came back warm and red. On the bright side, literally, light was still flooding out of my palms. Python slithered over to me and wrapped his body around mine, pulling me back towards the tree that I had hit. He wound himself around the tree and me several times and stopped when he was able to look me right in the face. I tried to squirm and struggle out of Python’s grip, but he was much stronger than I was. My hands were pressed firmly above my head, and I was unable to move them so that I could touch Python. He started to laugh.
And then, darkness.

Notes

Hey guys!! I hope you like the new chapter. I really like the headcanons on tumblr that Will can bend sunlight, so i kind of mashed mine with the powers from I Am Number Four by Pitticus Lore.

Anyway, see you all next week!!