LYSSANDRA

His fingers were tracing my skin. They were so warm and soft. Delicate so delicate to belong to a man who had the strength and will to kill someone. Hands so soft that none who was a healer should have.

He knew each spot to heal, to rub, making the pain less. His hand even traced to places that I didn't even realize that were infected by the poison.

And his reflection on the water….

I could listen to his voice. I could hear it…But his lips were not moving.

What did I say to him? What have I done?

This is bad this is bad this is bad. I tried to take a few steps but a pain began to ache on my chest.

I walked inside my room and found Adamantious waiting for me. My body has gained its strength back but my thoughts..

Shit.

‘’About tonight.’’Adamantious tried to speak.

‘’Before you leave’’I interrupted him.’’I am going to ask the questions’’

He blinked confused before realising what I was asking.

What would happen if we fail?

‘’Where are we from?’’

‘’We are saying to locals from a variety of islands, Dion believes that you are from Sparta and…’’ I could study his lips as they were moving in sync with the sound. What if I was hallucinating? What if what I saw before was something else entirely?

‘’I told Perseuss that we are from north Macedonia panted.

Now it was his turn.

‘’Where is the money?’’

‘’Near Dion’s temple, hidden deep to the only oak’’I smiled. Enough drachmas for each and any one of you.’’

His gaze frowned.

‘’What will happen if they find me?’’I asked him.

‘’I give you up’’There was no fear on his voice, no tremor.’’That will make sure that the rest run away…’’

‘’And you with them’’I reminded him.

‘’Lyssa-’’He took a step closer to me.

‘’You can leave now, run away’’I felt my chest getting tighter.’’You might find a good woman make a family and have eleven babies-’’

‘’Why so many babies?’’He asked.

I threw my hands in the air, giving up. ‘’All I am telling you is that you can.’’

My voice stopped as my lungs began to be filled with a heavy ooze. I was ready to choke. My eyes watered and Adamantious rushed to my side, hitting my back.

‘’Breathe Lyssa breathe’’He instructed me like I was a baby/

The cough was dry even with the blood that I was spitting. And yet I still couldn’t breathe. I could not talk, I could not listen. I could just stare at my arm from my wounded side which was almost being painted with a purple shade.

Stop. THINK. The angle of my eye found a jar that was filled with purple petals and roots. I pointed out to him and showed him a jar of water.

‘’Why didn’t you tell me it was getting worse?’’He asked, now sitting on his knees and in my hands, we were carefully holding the jar of water and the hyssop.

‘’I didn’t even realize it,’’ I admitted and he hit my forehead. Or at least he tried to.

A deep disappointing breath came out of his lips.

‘’Why are you like this?’’

My face turned all red.

‘’Giving the whole antidote to me? Being alone in a brothel?’’

‘’Paris was there,’’ I explained but his face became pale like the walls behind him.

‘’Do not ‘’Trying to cut me off but he took a deep breath. ‘’Sometimes you are so careless.’’

Silence.

It was my time to speak. But once again he took the first line.

‘’I care for you just like you care for me.’’His voice was so gentle as his fingers stroked my cheek.’’But I know that you do not love like the way I do…’’

Speak. Speak. Speak.

I thought that you would have left me. Everyone is wanting something from me, expecting me to be something. Even my dreams won’t come true if I won’t be someone else.

‘’I will stay Lyssa’’His lips kissed my cheek, letting a heavy breath of relief escape my mouth.

‘’Because first, my sister would have killed me and second, you seem to need my help’’

My cheeks flared and I tried to slap him but he caught it right at the moment my fingers could touch his wild beard.

‘’Told you.’’He smirked.

He always had the answer to his questions. I hated that. Even if he was right I hated it. It felt that even if he loved me, I had no voice.

What did you expect?

I have had enough. Dying slowly and still stupid people around me trying to tell me what I want and what I don’t. What I can and I cannot.

‘’Paris knows about Deimaria.’’I announced painfully.

And his eyes opened wide.’’He won’t speak’’He explained as if he knew him better. First, he hated him and now he tried to defend him?

‘’I do not believe that he would because he…’’

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Another long pause as he tried to look away from me.

‘’He is not a mortal,’’ I spoke first.

Adamantious stood there, watching me. There were signs that I didn’t want to believe but tonight…when his lips were not moving…

I placed the jar on the table and I announced to Adamantious my plan for him.

‘’Go find Deimaria’s mother’’I cupped his face.

I made a mistake, I spoke. He is not a mortal what if…

I am tired. Tired of everyone, tired of myself.

‘’Take Thais with you too,’’ I explained and then he blinked.

‘’Are you certain?’’

No. But now, I had to take everything in my own two hands.

Shaking my head was all it took for him to believe me. He laid a kiss on my forehead before he left my room of course. He probably wished that I actually loved him. The way he loved me.

I know that I was cruel and lying to him for years. And I wished that he was upset, that he would have left me alone. He didn’t. Because I trapped him in all of this.

Letting out one more harsher cough, I faced down to the floor, noticing two pale daffodils tied together with a green ribbon.

How did he do that?

No time to think about what he wanted. Even if the memory of him being so close to me.

Begging me to kiss him. If he was a beast, a creature that meant he had power. A power that could destroy me in a second. And there he was, kneeling to the bath, like a wet cat, wishing that I would kiss him. Begging.

‘’This is bad’’My cheeks flared up, trying to hold my smile.

Focus stupid woman. I slapped my face with my poisoned hand and restrained my painful groan.

It was nightfall in the golden palace as the sun had disappeared hours before. The flames were lit in my room where maids were preparing me for bed. My hair was brushed down carefully, my garments were loose down to the marble floor. I could see my reflection in the mirror, a face fitting of a princess with bright crimson curls and a clean brown skin. My eyes were in the shade of gold, captivating everyone who could take the chance to look at me.

‘’Did you hear?’’One of the bronze maids whispered.’’Hector killed Achilles.’’

The maids gasped with joy but I stopped them.

‘’No, it was not him’’ All of them faced me.’’Hector killed his lover, Patrochulus’’

Their expressions were now terrified. Of course, learning news such as those was not something to be happy about. We all now know the consequences of taking something that others love.

In a second, the maids were gone and the flames were snuffing out fast. The room became all so cold.

‘’Am I interrupting?’’A sly voice asked me from behind. With each step, there was a loud echo. With each step, each flame was disappearing. Looking at my table, I could see right front a bright apple dressed in gold.

‘’Who are you?’’ I asked wry.

‘’You will know when you are ready..’’ One more flame remained and I stood up, moving to the balcony before the only light close to me would vanish too.

From down below, I could see a giant wall protecting the kingdom and further away camps of people who want it to be destroyed. Flames lighten up for the fallen. And one single scream of sorrow.

‘’You know’’The voice whispered close to my ear, and turning back I could see A figure dressed in black leaning to me.

‘’How all this will end don’t you?’’

I just nodded my head and I looked around, realizing that we were back to my bright room. All the flames had been lit once more.

The covered figure smiles as he plays with my crimson hair. Underneath the cloak of the figure, a pile of snakes began to crawl around his flesh, moving now on me.

I did not speak, I did not scream. Eleven when the snakes vanished, his hand cupped my face.

‘’Wouldn’t you like your end to be different?’’

This dream was not a nightmare. This dream shouldn’t make me scream from the top of my lungs. This dream shouldn’t make me cry. This dream shouldn’t make me realize what mistakes I have done.

I am in trouble.

The sun had risen so I got out to say farewell to Thais and Adamantious that had packed their horses together. Clothes, weapons, food, everything that would be needed. As if they were about to leave the village for good.

Thais, with braided hair, were the first ones to hug me all tight.

‘’Do not die’’She whispered to my ear.’’Alright?’’

I moved back and shook my head as I could see Adamantious trying to ignore me.

Thais shrugged.’’He will grow out of it, do not worry.’’There was a pout and one more hug from her.

I could see them now riding with their horses away and the sun moving higher. Until it was at the top and no horses to be found.

Perfect. I clapped my hands together thinking there won’t be any distractions anymore. One problem was out. More to go.

I told the rest about Adamantious and Thais leaving, giving them have a terrified glare.Of course, the only good fighters leaving was a bad idea but right now I was desperate. Deimaria was not there when I explained the reason they left as I told Leon to distract her. She already had suffered enough, making her think that there is a possibility that her mother is alive it….

Why were my eyes all stung?

Paris did not appear that morning.

Even if it was filled with people my mind was at what that woman said before. Missing girls. The snake. The damn snake.

People say that it is Python.

The woman said that Python attacked more times when Perseus arrived.

My head was aching.

Walking back to my room, I found Deimaria trying to ask me questions about the search I gave to the rest but I shut her off.

I had a terrible feeling.

My body feels right at my bed with no food, no water, nothing all day. I just had to think.

Python…What if the snake is Python?

A snake of myths…kidnaping young women? But why? Why would he do this?

I lifted my head to see a purple hyacinth waiting for me to take it.

And it hit me. How stupid I was.

Paris…a very old name. Someone who is not human. Appeared the same day with the king. Appeared at the same time as the attacks of the snake.

Could a snake transform…no he was there.

My thoughts became a hurricane and my heart started to rush like crazy.

What was the other myth about Python?

No.

No, it can’t…

Paris.

There was a heavy knock on my door, making me jump from my bed.

The door opened with Alexious having a wide grin on his face and a lyre on his hands.

I got it down to my bed and I could notice that it was practically new. No marks on the strings, no carvings, nothing.

‘’Paris and I fixed it together.’’He signed.

My eyes snapped as I noticed it and turned on the door where Paris was ready to enter with a gentle smile on his face.

Shit shit shit shit.

‘’I am going to teach him if it is alright with you’’He narrowed his gaze and I looked down to his green dress with golden threads stringing down.

There was a childish pout coming from his sharp face.’’What’s the matter my oracle?’’

I could not breathe. I could not think.

My oracle.

Stupid woman.

‘’It’s…no.. nothing’’I stuttered.