LYSSANDRA

I woke up from a surprisingly great sleep. I could feel every tense of my muscles be relaxed, my eyes ready to see everything until the sunset.

And then, I found three people inside my room.

Two kids and a giant. All of them looked at me curiously.

‘’Uh…’’ I drooled and wiped it fast as Myrto rushed to the room.

‘’I told them to wait’’She panted with her body still badged up.

I nodded and wrapped myself fast to the veil.

The giant got pushed surprisingly by Myrto and got out as now, Leon and the little girl, Dimaria were in front of me, both of their faces wounded.

‘’What’’My lips parted and turned to Leon.’’What did you do to her?’’

His cheeks turned red as Dimaria let out a childish grin. She seemed to get better after how everything went.

‘’She started it.’’He tried to back himself up.

‘’No, Orlacle’’Dimaria laughed.’’I did nothing he did.’’

I took one deep breath and stared at them until Dimaria gave up.

‘’I wanted to play with one of his statues.’’

‘’They are not toys’’ Leon barked at her.

‘’But they look all crappy’’She replied with a put. ‘’Only a child would do something like that so…’’

‘’I did them’’He shouted loudly, making my ears ring. I should have stayed asleep.

Dimaria laughed. ‘’precisely.’’, making Leon shout again so I patted their heads harshly, letting both of them whine.

‘’And who started that?’’I asked, looking at their faces. It seemed that, unlike Leon, Dimaria did not have many marks on her face.

They replied by pointing at one another.

This was pointless. I stood out of my bags, found bread, and broke it into two pieces. Both of the kids turned to me with salivating mouths.

‘’Alright here is what will happen,’’ I told them and turned to Dimaria. ‘’You will keep sharing a room with him and you won’t touch any of his toys.’’

‘’Statues’’Leon corrected but he was now smiling as Dimaria looked down. But it was his turn.’’You try to make her a toy. Understand?’’

Both of them nodded. I sighed in relief, tossed the bread, and thanked them before walking away.

Now, alone, I stretched my arms and saw back to my bed that the purple hyacinth was still there. I thought that I imagined what happened last night.

The king will find the truth after that. Dion’s words came back like a knife, making my wounded hand itch from pain. I grabbed it fast as another hit fell to it as if it was growing. I had to stitch it fast.

Now inside the room, another one appeared. The giant. Or rather the fur trader. His condition seemed better with his limbs wrapped with pieces of cloth. His eyes had now a healthy shade of white but even a few steps away, I could listen to his heavy breathing,

‘’I believe that you can rest,’’ I suggested. ‘’We can let you rest here for a few more nights or I will tell the others to help you back.’’

‘’Thank you’’His lips parted.

I frowned, confused.

‘’You don’t look like the followers of Zeus say.’’He explained, scratching his head.’’Or act.’’

I did not care what Dion and the others thought about me but it also seemed that the words found others to believe.

‘’They said that you were uhm…’’He looked down.

‘’Filthy Troyan?’’I replied with a laugh. Nothing that I hadn’t heard before.

But he nodded with a frown.

Maybe he did believe those words.

‘’Ruthless like a beast,’’he kept talking.’’And greedy?’’ He moved his hands down to his bet, revealing a sack filled with coins.

My eyes lit up but I hid my face deeper into the cloak and halted him.’’No, I am a prophet.’’I explained.

‘’I haven’t given you any reason to pay me.’’

Stupid stupid stupid.

‘’You did save my life…’’’He sighed and kept looking down, far from me. ‘’What if I return with fur for the winter?’’

That would be a good idea.

I hummed for a second, trying to make him believe that I was seeking something from Apollo. Then, I nodded.

His lips now moved to a gentle smile before walking away slowly.

When he left, I jumped back to the bed and took a look at the flower. What was his game?

Now fully dressed I walked around the temple and something was off. The spider webs and the dust were gone. The broken pillars were fixed, the statues seemed cleaner than they would ever be, and in front of all of that.

My lips twitched as I saw Paris dressed in black holding a broom.

‘’Good morning my oracle.’’ He said again, looking down at my arm. I looked at it and noticed that it was shaking. I grabbed it fast and tried to ignore him But Myrto and Alexios rushed to me.’’ Did you like my gift?’’

‘’I threw them out of the window’’I mouthed dry. His eyes opened wide before he showed once again his bright smile.

‘’Prophet, Prophet’’Myrto said fast and Alexios started moving his hands faster.

People, so many people.

Soldiers? The king? Followers of Zeus? Panic.

Adamantious followed the panting with Thais laughing behind.

‘’Lyss…’’His words cut and glared to Paris. But he moved once again to me. Seemed that he was far too happy to be angry now.

I walked outside the temple and I saw. More than thirty people were moving to our side but not with weapons but with sacks filled with heavy belongings.

‘’There was a rumor about the Python attacking’’Adamantious explained and Myrto followed.

‘’Attacking followers of Zeus.’’She mimicked someone’ voice. ‘’Maybe he showed signs of his wrath. Maybe we will be next.’’

And they all come here for prayers and guidance?

I grinned and tightened my hand around my arm.

‘’Get ready.’’

I took all the information about Myrto from every person who wanted guidance. With Thais andAlexious moving the smoke fast I started telling them what they wanted to. After that, they gave out a few coins to one of the pillars and thanked me. then the next and the next.

As I was talking, telling lies, I took a glimpse of Paris who was sweeping but he was also looking at me… disappointed.

The sun became lighter as everyone had now left. Probably I saw more than forty people but I lost count after ten. I haven’t seen so many people in one day.

I grabbed a few leaves of Daphne and swallowed them up and watched Thais Myrto and Alexios dancing in secret of how much money and food we took today.

But after that, I had to think about everything I heard and said. What I had to do.

I rushed to my room and looked at my jars. Sick people, stolen things, bad crops… I had to make a schedule for each of them for the next few moons or more…

‘’That was disappointing’’Paris’ voice whispered from behind me, making me jump from my seat. I turned back and looked at him having a childish pout.

‘’What?’’I asked confusedly and touched my forehead. Why was I sweating?

‘’I thought that an Oracle like you would do something more than..’’He moved his hand around.

I let out a chuckle. ‘’Did you expect my eyes to glow?’’

He turned away with a smile.’’Maybe?’’

I took one more look at his clothes. Did someone die close to him? I did not expect that he had anyone here as it seemed that he was new in the village.

‘’Alright so you know that I am a liar’’ I admitted and waited for two things. That he didn't know and he would tell everyone. And I will be dead or worse. Or, he will say yes and he will kill me. Or worse.

But in the end, he let out a dramatic gasp.’’Oracle, what are you talking about? You?’’Then he laughed.

I narrowed, feeling the pain on my skin, my blood…

I sighed and took out my veil, revealing my badged wound.

But I could feel Paris’ gaze staring at me.

I poured some wine at the needle and revealed my wound. The wound was far from my reach as it was also heavily sharp. I should have called Myrto but my voice could not get out of my lips. Why was I tired?

‘’Would you like me to help?’’Asked Paris calmly.

I turned back to him covered my arm with the veil and shook my head.

I would ask Myrto later.

‘’But I am telling you, you are disappointing.’’He sighed.

I replied by sticking my tongue at him. Surprisingly, he stung it too like a child.

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But unfortunately, he was right. Usually, we had two or three people a day asking for prophecies but forty?

We could maybe do the ten today and the rest tomorrow but what if tomorrow they were more...

So I looked back at him. He hummed.

He did clean the temple. Even the roof with no help. I don’t know how but he did it. He knew my secret and he did not seem he was either of the sides that would kill me. Which was suspicious but right now I have no other choice.

I grinned at him and leaned to his side.

‘’Would you like to make a bet?’’ I asked, feeling my heart racing.

His lips drew a devious smile on his face. ‘’Bet?’’

‘’If you want to be my follower you will have to fulfill ten tasks until tomorrow.’’

He blinked with his smile disappearing. I started explaining each one of them. He said that he was a healer so I gave him only the parts that had to do with sickness or injuries. Even if he would make sure to sew stitches, he could not cure fever or any other sort.

‘’If you don’t succeed you will have to leave.’’

It was a bad bet but If he had to show actual loyalty he had to at least try. He left me and Myrto alone last night so I did not know how to fully trust him.

‘’And..’’He moved even closer to me and I could smell the aroma of sweet gladiolus coming from him.

‘’If I do succeed?’’ He whispered musically, his eyes capturing every part of me.

There was no way he would succeed. He would fail.

‘’Then’’I moved back with a disgusted frown. ‘’I will give you anything you may want.’’

‘’Anything?’’His voice gasped as he took another look at me.

Shit. I felt my stomach getting tied into a million knots.

’’Tempting. It is a deal then.’’

We both got out of the room with Adamantious ready to open it.

We all stared at each other before Paris let out a small bow at me and walked away.

Now just the two of us, Adamantious’ face glared at me.

‘’What is he doing here?’’

‘’He is a follower’’I explained.’’He knows everything but he wants to help.’’

‘’And you believe that?’’He laughed, looking down at my clothes and then back on Paris’ shadow. ‘’Or is it for other reasons?’’

Rage found my cheeks and looked at the side where Paris left. He was no longer there.

I opened my mouth to speak but my wounded arm started twitching.

I let out a shout and Adamantious rushed to me carefully. His hand wrapped around my back as he pulled me closer with his eyes trembling at the sight of my wound.

‘’It’s just a scratch’’I tried to comfort him. But he did not seem calm.

‘’Who did this?’’

Right, he didn't know.

He kept looking at me, waiting for an answer but I had no strength. Did I catch a fever? But Adamantious took the courage to speak.

‘’Let me help you’’

He was very slow doing the stitches and he was poking the wrong part of my skin, making me bleed more. But in the end, he found a way to sew my wound with me sitting on my bed and him down to the floor with his knees kissing it.

After I told him everything he sighed.

‘’I see so she was in danger’’His fingers shook around my arm.’’And then you were too…’

‘’Hey, do not hurt any more of my skin’’I grinned at him and he gasped and looked back at the stitches.

‘’I had to be…’’

I tried to play like a fool. ‘‘Where were you actually? I didn't see you before I left.’’

Another gaze from him, trying to hide the truth. ‘’Huntin.’’

‘’Hunting’’ He lied. ‘’But I found nothing…’’

I nodded and kept feeling the needle and cloth moving around my flesh as if someone was trying to create me from the beginning.

‘’What will we do now?’’He asked calmly after completing the sewing. I moved a fabric around them and wrapped it tight before I cupped his face.

‘’We keep moving.’’ I explained. ‘’Whatever happens.’’

Adamantious’ hand found my wrist and pulled me closer. His lips kissed my knuckles softly and moved closer. ‘’We made it.’’He laughed.

I smiled with the realization hitting me. People finally started coming. The king was there. We made it. It finally starts.

‘’So’’He stood up with a deadly gaze.’’Why was this man inside your room again?’’

I laughed and took a glimpse of the purple flower.

‘’Is that from him?’’ barked Adamantious

‘’Do not be jealous, he is trying to play kind, but I gave him an errand.’’I smirked back and stood up too, facing him with millions of thoughts coming to my mind. He would not succeed but it would be nice to have an extra hand. Maybe if he would do at least half of them I might pity him and keep him.

‘’Now, here are two for you’’

He gasped.’’Two? They were more people than..’’

‘’I will make a schedule later but make sure, it is going to have a lot of pressure.’’

I could listen to Thais laughing

I nodded and felt another wave of dizziness striking my head and making me fall down.

Maybe I lost too much blood. I touched my forehead once again. My heat encased. But Adamantious kneeled and took another look at my hand with a pitiful gaze.

Or rather sad…

‘’Take rest’’He suggested.’’You will need it for tomorrow.’’ And his lips kissed mine.

‘’Wait, I need to tell you what you and the others will do.’’I forced myself to stand and explained everything before everything became black.

The dream was just a voice. A voice was calling me from afar.

Come now prophet. Your God awaits you.

Someone was singing with a snarky voice. A melody that it felt like I heard it somewhere before.

Come now… A knife to my throat appeared in someone's shadows. Light flickered making the figure look as if it had something on the top of its head. Were they horns? Wings? I could not tell because my eye fell on his face that was covered with snakes.

‘’Who are you?’’I asked him in the dream.’’What do you want?’’

‘’You will find soon enough oracle..’’He said with his fingers scratching my face, making my skin shed blood. But instead of crimson liquid, the color was gold.

I woke up sweating and patting with the sun still hiding in the night. My heart was racing fast as my forehead was burning in front of the heat.

Time for rest? No, I could not.

I had three jobs to do. Listen to the people, give the others their assignments and find a way to defeat the snake.

I did the first two but now I had to search for more. I returned to my tablets, to my herbs, to everything that could make me solve this problem.

The king will find the truth soon enough.

The candlelight started melting and felt like my life did too.

The sun appeared and the first one to come was Paris with a grin. I blinked slowly as he had once again the broom in his hands.

‘’I did them all’’His smile brought ten more suns with him.

‘’I don’t believe you.’’I replied with a raspy voice,

‘’You can ask, your friend’’He said softly. ‘’Who spied on me.’’

I blinked and turned back to see Myrto hiding behind the pillar. She nodded a yes.’’I did not see him..’’ She explained and I turned back to Paris with a smile.

‘’But all of his assignments were done.’’

My smile dropped. How could he do that? My heart started racing and Paris kept looking at me with victory drawn all over his face.

‘’Now, for my reward’’ He leaned closer as he parted his lips.

Creep.

I halted him. ‘’How about another bet?’’

He blinked and smiled before his hand moved to my side, showing me what he was holding. Few broken small green stones. Not stones. Gemstones.

‘’For your eyes.’’

Eyes? I took another look at the stones and then at him who was waiting to realize what he was saying. Oh.

‘’You want me to use them to make your eyes glow?’’ Alexious asked me as he was sitting down the stairs, with his hands trying to polish Thais knife.

‘’I took you for a craftsman correct?’’

‘’I made weapons sure , Thais and Adamantious are pleased but to make your eyes glow…’’He faced the stones and his eyes lit. He took them fast and rushed inside the temple.

‘’Hey’’I barked and tried to follow him. I kept running as Thais got out of her room.

‘’He took my mirror.’’She shouted and then I jumped into his room and saw Alexious using a hammer to Thais’ mirror.

‘’What are you doing?’’

He did not reply as he broke it but not entirely as he took out only a few pieces.

He turned on me with blood on his hands and a wide green. ‘’I will need honey.’’

‘’You need treatment’’Paris shouted from behind me and pushed me away.

‘’How careless are all of you?’’

Was there panic in his voice? He turned on me with a glare. ‘’You go fetch..’’He cut off his words, realizing how he was talking to me. So his act could drop?

He cleared his throat.’’Oracle can you..’’

‘’I am going to get some medicine and badges.’’I said, walking outside the room but I found a glimpse of Alexious facing Paris with such an interest. As if he did not get used to someone taking care of him with wounds. His body was already scarred either by attacks or by his own clumsiness like today.

‘’This’’Alexious showed me the mirror now with half of the parts being restored by gemstones and his fingers being now treated. Then, he moved the mirror close to the light and it fell right at my eyes, making me almost lose sight even of the other one. But I could see Alexious smiling.

‘’It worked. You are green. Just put it down to the pillar and the light of the sun will reflect up to you.’’

I gasped and smiled at him and hugged him tight. ‘’I knew that you could do it’’

My eye faced him and he seemed to blush. ‘’But do not do that again without mentioning your plan. Got it?’’

He nodded now petrified of my expression.

A whistle came from outside the room. ‘’Scary.’’ Paris chuckled but I walked out, completely ignoring him. It would be better for possibly both of us.

That’s how the next few weeks went. Prophecies with my green figure , prayers, rewards, scheming, researching. Again and again with Paris returning with joy. Everytime was asking about a reward and every time I told him next time.

Over and over again everything as I had to keep every word of them. And over and over, my body started getting more tired and the heat wouldn’t give up. But I did not sleep. I could not sleep as I always had the candle with me keeping me company.

Even when Thais tried to knock me out by putting a few herbs on my cup.

‘’You put hemlock inside’’I rasped at her and her face turned red and her eyes darted, ready to apologize.

‘’If you want to drug me do it properly do not try and kill me.’’

Paris knew how to clean the temple, I could give him that. And it did not seem that none paid attention to him. A lot of people were taking a good look at him and blushing deep red as he was replying with a grin. Some of them even thought that he was a beautiful woman or even made bets to listen to his voice to make sure either was a man or a woman. Who would blame them as every day he was coming with a different outfit and his hair was treated differently? Either he had them free or restrained back with colorful ribbons. Maybe a lot of them were coming to just see him cleaning.

When a few hours were quiet I could also see Alexious talking to him fast. But Paris also was replying by using his hands. That made Alexious smile and kept moving his fingers fast.

Other times, I would find Thais trying to talk to him near one of the statues. Surprisingly, he also seemed to enjoy her company.

Good grief finally. I let out a sigh of relief as I moved back to my room. Found someone else to terrorize. I started getting used to avoiding him or just ignoring him completely.

Even a few times we just got right passed each other and didn’t even talk. Not even our eyes met each other.

I could not help but smile at that with victory. He was done with me.

‘’For you’’ Paris appeared in my room with gladiolus as the sun was ready to fall.

I tried to find the strength to look at him or even try to snarl. Maybe talk? To tell him to go away?

Instead, I fell down with everything becoming dark.

‘’Oracle?’’His voice echoed.’’Oracle.’’ Was that panic? Panic for me?