LYSSANDRA

I wrapped my chest tight with a piece of fabric, making myself look all flat on the reflection with my yellow hutton. I hid my hair behind a cloak but before that, I cut a few parts from it, and with honey, I stuck them around my chin, trying to make a good-looking beard. Even if I had a hood to cover my face I could imagine few people finding me charming. But when Adamantious walked inside the room, one look he took and he turned his gaze away. No flushing cheeks, no admiration. Just pity.

I stung my tongue as I walked on his side.’’Come now, imagine me as a brave warrior, returning from his battles’’I lowered my voice as he followed me.

‘’A warrior?’’He laughed a bit harshly.

‘’Slayer of monsters, protector of women and orphans.’’I kept imagining myself with all the glory and amusement of a crowd.

‘’But just like any warrior I cannot say no to a good pleasure.’’I grinned at my friend whose smile faded once more.

‘’And what am I in your story?’’He sounded all serious, in that military tone.

I had no response. I just kept walking to the exit of the temple.

All those years here this was the second time I entered the village. But it was the first time I visited at night. I did not expect that the marketplace would still be open, with so many men around, selling delicious fruits and colorful fabrics. I moved slowly on one of the tables that had an extraordinary violet color that could be a splendid dress.

‘’Something for the wife?’’The man on the market laughed at me and Adamantious leaned on me. My face already got lifted up and the man blinked.

‘’Oh, I did not know that there were any more wars…’’He pouted.’’I thought that Perseus cleaned the fields of battles ages ago.’’

My lips smirked.’’Oh, this was an old scar from those forgotten battles’’’I tried to lie and I kept staring at the fabric.

‘’We shall go’’Adamantious whispered to my ear and his grip found my wounded arm.

I held my pain as I could see the idea of me wearing a dress that could belong to a queen. Dressed in gold from head to toe but not like chains, no. Like weapons. My hair was beautifully braided with bright ribbons that could capture everyone’s gaze.

Adamantious guided me with such ease to a dark alley where I could listen to each sound of pleasure and pain coming from a door right in front of us.

When we entered, smoke filled my lungs and the bright candlelight almost blinded my vision.

And then I saw everything that I was expecting to see. The movements of the women were either gentle or rough, with their faces being covered all slowly with one another and the fabrics falling from the ceiling. Lyres played in a hidden corner, making the atmosphere joyful for everyone who was either feasting on wine and meat or mortal flesh.

A happy man with golden bracelets approached us and I could notice that the first person he looked at was Adamantious.

‘’Welcome, welcome’’He said,moving his hand on the room.’’What do is your desire ton-’’

Adamantious coughed and tried to walk away but I grabbed his hand.

‘’Thank you my friend’’I forced a charming smile.’’It is my first night in this village and I would like your guidance you see…’’I leaned closer to him and pointed at Adamantious.’’My friend is quite shy of admitting he comes here often.’’

The happy man blinked and then nodded as he made sure I would follow his money-making joyful steps. ‘’We have whatever it can please you, women of any age, men,’’ He walked around and my gaze could not help but notice that the women he was talking about were either at their early age or far older than any other. And more of that, they were not as many as the men. Turning back on Adamntious it looked as if he had noticed it too. Of course, it wasn’t only that as one older blonde woman pushed her way into his broad shoulders and started to giggle with him. Even if she seemed twice our age she remained beautiful and enticing to gaze with your eyes. But her movements and the way she was leaning to him were not from the first glance. Adamantious had his guard low as the woman looked to have familiarity with him.

And there was his smile.

I simply wanted the poison to run right to my heart at that moment.

When he found the strength to stop looking at the woman’s chest, he found me taking more steps away from him.

‘’Or…’’ The man stopped and turned to me with a grin.’We can give you two a private room until you decide.’’

I answered with a grin and I gave him a few drachmas.

One of the eldest women guided us to an empty room where it had two jars of wine and a few poppies on a small table.

I clapped my hands with joy and was ready to jump on the wine but Adamantious caught me off.

‘’I thought that we came here to find the doctor.’’His brow arched.

‘’We did but..’’I removed the veil and jerked my face back to the wine.’’Come on, we never drink together.’’

His eyes lit up, and he sat down close to the table. I could feel my face itching from the hair and honey, but I did not care at that moment. I was just happy I was outside with him for a moment, as if I had time for everything. I took one of the jars, and I could feel how strangely cold the clay was. Winter was slowly coming, after all, and yet... My nose moved closer to smell it.

Oh.

But I could not let this gesture go to waste so I took a small sip, feeling the sweet taste moving from my teeth to my tongue on my throat. I let out a sigh of satisfaction and Adamantious laughed. ‘’Thais did tell me that you were a light drinker.’’

‘’She lied’’I narrowed but I could not help but smile as he kept smiling too.

‘’She would never lie.’’Adamantious gasped.

‘’Then is it true that when you were eight you found a bear and you thought it was Ares trying to -’’

He halted me with his cheeks being painted red.’’ Well…’’ He held his breath.’’Maybe she did lie once’’

‘’Once?’’ My brow arched and I kept smirking at his uneasy face. He was far too cute when he had that expression. All so vulnerable, making him be all so close to me.

And then, he…

‘’Why aren’t you angry?’’He asked me dryly.

My eyes opened wide and I tried so harshly to look away from him.’’Why should I be? I knew it for a long time.’’

‘’Why?’’He asked again.’’Why aren’t you upset? Why don’t you scream?’’His face began to tense up. I sat down next to him and offered one of the jars of wine. He took it slowly and moved one sip.

‘’I love you,’’I said again.’’And you love me, but I cannot give you what you..’’

‘’All those years'’He interrupted me.’’Me and Thais did everything for you, we gave up our lives for you…would you have done the same? Would you give up everything for us?’’

‘’Of course’’I replied fast.

‘’Then quit.’’He frowned heavily.’’Stop all of this search, those schemes and let’s just leave this place…’’

I could not say yes. I could… I could have given up this entire plan the moment I decided.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I was locked up in the temple for weeks. None could visit me with the windows hammered with wooden planks. Every sunrise and every sunset there was a prayer escaping my lips, letting Apollo know where I was to save me. Of course, Adamantious always visited me by sharing a wall or the door by telling me everything that I needed to know. The priests still looked for sacrifices while they were all reading in the nearest temples. Thais started having the hang of it with every weapon, making everyone cry. That made me laugh a lot but I couldn't help but listen to his tone breaking.

‘’I can help you get out ‘’He suggested.’’All three of us run away together, I have a plan where to hide and stay…’’

But I disagreed. Saying Apollo wouldn’t like it, that I would fail. Even when he begged, I said no.

There were a few sun threads touching my skin from time to time but when the food came with the door cranking so slowly I could see the man facing me with worry.

‘’Why can’t you be at ease?’’He rasped, giving me the broth next to me.’’I am giving you excuses but now…’’

‘’Why did you kill them all?’’I asked him with no tears falling this time. Not like when he found me, blood dripping from my face and one missing eye.

‘’That is not your question, is it? You know why I did…’’He muttered slowly.

‘’Why did you keep me?’’I asked next.

He rested his shoulders down and looked away.’’Every God is cruel…mortals like us have hubris.’’

‘’That does make no sense’’I pouted and the man laughed, letting my restraints down.

‘’Of course, it does not…I am no God, I am no cruel kid, keeping you alive is what keeps me…’’

‘’Gods are not cruel’’I disobeyed. ‘’Apollo is not cruel, ‘’

‘’Where Is he then?’’The man asked me calmly.

Where is he? Where is he?

That was always a question. Even at my best, was I not good enough for him? Even at my lowest? That money hit me. He never appeared. He never appeared for anyone, not even for the best of his followers. Not even when the whole temple burnt to ashes.

He would never show up.

I hate him.

The man glanced at my terrified expression as his lips formed a smile and his hand grabbed my face.

‘’He is such a cruel god…letting the petty pupil of his wander all alone…’’His eyes moved down.’’But, my God is merciful, and he has other plans for you.’’

Plans for you…

My teeth bared right on his fingers, making him gasp for pain then, back to the hot broth, my fingers grabbed the plate before tossing it on his face and I began to run.

‘’Lyssandra?’’ Adamantious woke me up from the memory and I looked up to him.

Looking down at the jar of wine, I closed my gaze.’’I love you…’’

‘’Words are not enough.’’He rasped.

‘’What do you want me to do then? Give up? Get on my knees and beg you to stay loyal to me?’’

‘’That would be the right thing to do yes.’’

My body searched up listening to him saying those words. And he regretted the words instantly, trying to hide his face from me.

His brow twitched as he looked down at the jar and started drinking the entire wine. I was ready to warn him but it was far too late.

‘’You big fool’’I slammed the top of his head and he looked at me confused and drowsy.

‘’What…’’ He mouthed, slowly losing the light on his colors.

One minute.

‘’It was poisoned,’’I whispered, taking out of my binder of herbs that I was hiding close.

‘’How do you…’’He began to panic as I was pushing mixes inside his mouth.

‘’Wait you drank too keep for your-’’

‘’It is fine,’’ I whispered to him and I moved more herbs inside his throat. He started struggling once more.

‘’Relax my darling’’I grinned, moving closer to him.’’The side effects of it now will be just sleep.’’

Thirty seconds.

‘’You are helping me?’’This foolish question came out of his pouty lips.

I let out a sigh and cupped his cheek, thinking that I had given the entire antidote to him. Just him.’’I care about you, of course, I am helping you.’’

Please just sleep. Please work.

Twenty seconds.

He began to fall on my body, his arms wrapped around my waist. His cheeks flushed…And his lower part.

My lips got pressed to a thin line.

I knew it. Poisoned it was.

Ten seconds.

His eyes looked up to me and there was a smile forming from his brute expression.

‘’You look so beautiful…’’

My face flared as I remember I took a sip as well. Stupid wretched girl, wanting to taste drugs like those.

No, nuh-uh, not today, never…

Finally, he passed out, making me fall down with his body right above me.

They knew who we were from the start. Even with a disguise, they knew and they did that. Adamantious did not expect it to be drugged.

Oh, the prophet, the priestess, and her follower, lying together to the brothel so close and dead by a divine punishment. I could imagine that eggplant nose blonde smirking as he made the plan.

And I could not make him go away.

Well, my reputation is ruined.

There was a sound of an opened door. Footsteps began to approach.

My eyes looked up as I found a half-naked woman with a cunning smile and a dagger in her hands.

‘’Do not move.’’She whispered with her red lips. Her long honey hair was falling to her chest as her olive skin was flawless, in each curve and detail. She had

I grinned at her and I tried to make my voice masculine.’’We did say to be in private but looking at you now,’’

The woman laughed, getting down on her knees, the blade aiming at my good eye.

‘’My friend fell asleep early but I cannot lie that I didn’t have my full fu-’’

I wanted to throw my words as my entire body began to flare. I used up all my herbs on Adamantious, thinking foolishly it could be equal to both of us if we got drugged but he took too much.

‘’He did warn me about you’’She sighed.’’All great oracle, Lyssandra’’

Of course, she knew, she was probably the one who also drugged the wine. She was not working alone though…He…

Checking her forearms I could see her beautiful golden bracelets with eagles carved on each.

I frowned in disappointment as I laid back my head. The woman pressed her lips to a thin line as she laughed once more, her eyes darting before moving the blade even closer now. Naturally, I should have tried to do anything but my body had become weak, numb so…

Was this the bastard’s plan? Twoliars, and deceivers, died by Zeus’' punishment.

All this back and forth…so tiresome.

As I was expecting the end to come there was another voice next to the woman.

‘’Put down that dagger.’’

The tone, the form of words…his…

Looking with all my strength at the girl, golden threads were falling on her body with a bronze grasp tightening her wrist.

‘’Let…’’ She tried to speak but the figure pushed her down to the floor. His fingers tracing on her throat.

‘’You really think that you…’’I could see his entire form perfectly.

The woman began to choke and he started laughing heavily, pushing his thumb deeper into her soft skin.

‘’W..’’I tried to speak.’’Wait.’’I gasped out.

The woman moved the dagger close to him but he stopped her by making her shout. Her hand. He broke her hand as if it was nothing.

‘’Such a whore like you…’’His tone was harsh, deeper. Nails pressing on the flesh.’’Thought that would get away.’’

‘’Please stop’’The woman cried out.

‘’Hurting my Oracle…’’ His grin grew even wider.

‘’Paris stop’’I shouted with my throat becoming dry and he immediately turned on me with his wicked grin fading.

There was a shower of cold sweat dripping on my body. My heart was racing as if any moment it would explode. Not because of the way he was behaving or the words that he used. Because for just a moment when he was speaking, his lips were unmoved, unbothered. Words were coming out but not from his lips.