LYSSANDRA

I started running far and far from the temple, jumping from any obstacle with my heart racing, my face heated, and my mind. He was so close, closer than any other time. His soothing voice whispered in my ear, his hands wrapped around my waist.

I ended up on the lake and jumped fast with all my clothes, trying to swim.

The cold water made everything so much better even with my sickness.

Oh, Gods, Oh Gods Oh gods.

I smirked and looked above. He was a better actor than I gave him credit for.

‘’Alright’’I spoke out loud. ‘’You won today.’’I could feel someone was spying on me. I could look back at the rotten hemlock valley, expecting one figure to appear. Only for that white dove to fly on my side.

Thinking it would be anyone else it was his dove, smothering near my chest.

I grabbed it by the neck and the eyes seemed to pop up.

‘’Will he hate me if I cook you?’’

The dove began shaking and almost crying.

I pressed my lips to a thin line and let it free even though it started once more close to my chest.

‘’You are a strange one’’I muttered and moved far from the water with it following me now moving on my shoulder.

And the moment I stepped out there was a gray wolf, standing amongst the fallen hemlock.

Great do not panic, do not, do not.

The wolf started snarling with the dove flying like a coward far from me.

I should have run to the wolf moving even closer. But when I stepped back, the wolf fell far from me with a few steps coming from the forest. Then there was a fast sound and whine and…

Horses.

My hair was messy, my clothes were drenched, my feet had dirt and leaves. They would certainly think that I was an insane woman after seeing me like this.

Immediately, I found a hiding spot behind some bushes and waited for the sounds of horses and men to stop.

‘’You caught it my lord’’A calm man announced.

‘’It seems so.’’Perseus’ voice.

Heavy steps kept approaching on the blind spot of mine and by turning my gaze right at it I could see the wolf shed in red blood, panting slowly. The great king was approaching it with a sword in his hand. The wolf’s body was rising, trying to catch every breath until it was its final.

The great king’s back arched but there was no great blow of a warrior, a great end of justice from a king. There was a crack of an aching back.

The sword fell on the ground next to the wolf and Perseus began to hide his pain by gritting his teeth.

The healer who visited me before was the first one to move at his side. The great king, stubborn as he was, pushed the healer with his forearm and tried to grab his blade again. This time, the sword spat red perfectly on the wolf's fur. But the king kept panting all so heavily, sweat dripping from his brow.

‘’My lord Perseus’’An advisor came closer and Perseus wiped his face, forming a gentle smile upon his face.

‘’I believe that we need to speak about the reason for our staying here.’’

Perseus grunted and turned his head far from the man.

‘’Adara’’He called out a familiar name and the woman with silk dark hair jumped fat. Judging by the healer and the advisor’s gaze, they did not look like they were fond of her.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The woman did kneel down and waited for a command.

‘’Tell me, how do you find this place?’’

The woman stood up slowly and her lips opened only to spit the truth.’’It reeks. ‘’Her lips spat.‘’With Dishonesty, liars, and brutes.’’

The King arched his brow and his advisor spoke up once again.’’I believe that it is time for you to travel far from this village far from this kingdom, from this place.’’

Perseus hummed and turned his gaze to the wolf while Adara moved away from him.

‘’This place does have not enough people and yet conflict surrounds them…’’He made a long pause and looked down.’’The gods seemed to fight for each part of this world, causing innocents to die…what will happen If this plague finds my kingdom and I am not there to protect it?’’

That was what he was trying to find? A way for these battles to stop? If that was the case then I would be in more trouble. I did not want this cruelty to end so soon. There can only be so much spite to people and cowardness, to come to someone that is giving them more than a pleasing smile. Imbalance is needed to stay alive.

A stroke of the poison itched my arm and my mind began to rush with memories. In front of me, there was now a little girl with long dark curls with leaves stuck on them from all the running, beautiful green eyes and her face was simple perfection. No wounds or marks that could make her face look so much deformed. Her mind is so naive and kind. She would wish for a world of peace and for everyone to get along. She would want a garden to bloom outside a temple that she would be a great priestess of. This girl would be loyal to any king who would take a step on the marble floors. She would love her god more than her own life.

‘’Childish’’I grunted, looking at the girl and one voice spooked me out.

‘’Hello,Oracle.’’ Adara chirped and I let out a shout.

She had that wicked smile on hers once more as she could only look at my terrified expression. Her hair was now braided back with blue ribbons and her hand had a golden bracelet, shining like a sun being held on her beautiful presence.

My cheeks kept flaring as she moved closer to me.’’My, spying on my king?’’

Her body leaned closer and closer and I started covering my wounded arm.

‘’Or me?’’ seductively as she spoke, her gaze did not look anywhere else but my face.

Think of a lie, any lie. And yet I was a terrible mess and her eyes were scanning me from head to toe. Another confident smile and she jerked her head.’’They are gone, I will help you tied up.’’

As she was fixing my hair and gave me a cloak to warm me by, she tried to find if I saw everything. Everything? Like her king became old and tired? That he is buying time for something more? But what could it be? He said to me that he stayed because.

‘’There is a prophecy isn’t there?’’I looked above the woman whose lips now parted.

Now all warmed up and my hair braided with one of her ribbons we began walking back to the temple.

Adara seemed to be a kind woman, generous despite that she is a messenger and also a spy for Persues. She had that playful grin that in a moment it could turn to something captivating, and innocent. And so beautiful that could make my heart rush.

She explained that she was found by Perseus four years ago, trying to steal from noble men. When his soldiers caught her, instead of punishing her, he offered her a job.

‘’And you are alright with it?’’I asked her and she let out a pout.

I knew that she understood my question. I saw how most of the men, even followers of the king, felt about it.

Shouldn’t be here. She doesn’t deserve any favors.

She scoffed and kept walking. ‘’I have the king’s favor, it doesn’t matter what I feel or others feel.’’

A tight knot on my chest caught me off guard and I stared at her. Is this what I wanted to feel? So free from every worry?

‘’You have a kind king’’I spoke softly and tried to look away from her, clenching my wounded arm.

But Adara kept talking.’’I have a frightened king.’’

We both stopped pacing as we were near the temple. And she took one more glance at me before she explained.

‘’People say that the king received an old prophecy, so old that only his father could admit that it was true.’’

I rubbed my arm as she kept speaking with a harsher tone. As if she was also in pain.

‘’That one of his father’s children will manage to overthrow him. And he will be remembered as the greatest.’’

‘’The greatest?’’I asked her now even more curious.’’The greatest of what?’’

She did not reply with Paris now rushing to our side with his puppy smile around his face.

‘’Oracle’’He panted and took a look at me before he turned on Adara.

Suddenly his expression changed. His brow wrinkled with the light of his eyes vanishing and his mouth began to create a snarl.

He turned now on me with an arched brow.’’I did not know you were with someone.’’

What an expression and tone.

‘’Paris this is Adara, she is a messenger of Perseues.’’

Looking at her now, I could see her smile like a fool with her cheeks all flared up.