LYSSANDRA

There was a man not older than fifty down the stairs of the temple entrance. His body had given up after the scream as he was now passed out. His arms were painted in red blood with his eyes looking above the sky.

I held the panic as I got down on my knees near his side. His fingertips were bathed in dirt, teeth too. He seemed to have a heavy body, and yet someone who could carry rocks easily. Near his belt, he had a sickle. He had fields for sure but the sheep fur around his shoes could make him look like a shepherd.

His clothes had a scent of grass and for his feet had a shade of purple on the end.

Looking at his eyes I could see them turning slowly yellow.

I wanted to stay longer watching him, inspecting him but Adamantious pulled me away from him.

‘’Stay back’’He ordered.’’He might be dangerous’’

He was not dangerous. He was dying. I tried to walk back to him but Thais seemed quicker as he lifted his body and moved it on his shoulders, calmly carrying him while his legs seemed to shake.

‘’I can treat him’’I whispered to Adamantious and escaped his grip and turned it into Myrto.

‘’Go search if there is anyone watching ‘’I said to her calmly as Paris was now inside the temple.’’Trace his tracks until you find anything suspicious.’’

If it was any of Dion’s plan or Perseus to trap me I would need to know before treating him.

Inside my room, I found Alexious putting my back on the floor with the man lying on the bed. I smiled at him but then he moved his hands.

I have seen him in the village, he sells fur in the winter. He is… His hands started shaking. His frown was deep like he was holding a deep secret.

Please save him.

My eyes snapped and nodded a yes as I rushed to the bed and took out my medicine.

Poison in both arms and legs. I cleared the blood to see how he got attacked. Two sharp holes in each limp. Snake. I checked his pulse. Slow. His breathing? Harsh. Eyes yellow…

Snake poison. A big snake attacked him…

I rushed back to my desk and found some old fabrics. As I was rushing, I stepped my accident to an old cracked floor which opened, showing my red dress.

I held my breath as I tried to open it and close it. That’s where she hid it huh?

‘’Oracle?’’Paris asked behind me. ‘’Who is he?’’

‘’Fur trader,’’ I replied and opened the bag and I stopped after a hint of realization.

He was watching me. Watching me do…No, it was no time to panic not with someone on the line.

‘’Why are you trying to save him?’’There was a mock in his tone.’’A fur trader? The village will probably have more.’’

I ignored him as I tightened the fabrics around the limbs so the poison would not find his heart.

Poison. poison of a snake how could…

‘’I need an antidote’’I whispered out loud and Paris jumped to my side.’’What do you see in his future?’’

‘’I see that you walked away’’I replied coldly and that made him swoon down to the bed, next to the dying man. Slowly, it made me find out something more about him as he was smiling at me. The way he was smiling, every time I was staring at him, I was pushing him away, or pretending I was rejecting him and he was still smiling like he was entertained.

‘’Paris’’I sighed.’’Are you…’’

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

His eyes opened wide and I could see two sunsets staring deep in my soul.

‘’A masochist?’’

He blinked confused. And then, laughed loudly with his cheeks turning red.

Great. Another pervert.

I ignored him once more and I tried to look at my bag and jars. I had herbs for sickness, for wounds, for rashes but poison? Snake poison…

A few hours passed with Myrto showing no sign of existence while Paris had now fallen asleep. She was never that late. I thought worried. Where could she be? Smacking my face with my hands, I changed my thoughts, trying to believe that she was fine. And I turned on Paris. I tried to take a good look at him. He was sure charming in every way even if he was now drooling down to his dress.

Should I wake him up or…

A thought came to my mind that made me grin.

I took out a jar of pepper and slightly moved it on his nostrils. I waited for a few seconds before he opened his eyes wide and started sneezing and sneezing.

‘’What?’’ He asked and turned to me with a pout while I held my grin proud. He tried to speak but he kept sneezing.

‘’For an Oracle’’He sighed , wiping the drool from his face.’’’You sure don’t act like it.’’

‘’Now,’’ I Rested my head near the bed. ‘’I cannot always act like a wise woman’’I replied, not revealing the entire truth. Even though I could see the possibility that he might have known.

‘’Tiring isn’t it?’’He sighed with a smile.’’Trying to be perfect all the time and..’’

His voice became different, his tone, everything. I stared at him as he now snapped back and smiled.’’Well, you know, two of us, alone here’’ There was his flirty grin.

‘’Not interested.’’I replied.

‘’Does your brute follower know that I am here?’’He asked.

‘’You have your head so no’’I said.

There was an arch of a brow. ‘’Sure.’’

Did he actually believe that he could win? Then, again when he was fighting..

Suddenly, the man gasped out loud. His gas was harsh like he inhaled smoke but he was awake. He was mumbling and mumbling.

I jumped to his side and Paris moved away almost disgusted as the man was getting out red saliva.

‘’You are safe’’I tried to calm him down. ‘’I am the prophet of Apol-’’

The man grabbed my grip tight.

‘’Save the boy’’His eyes were darting. ‘’Save him.’’

‘’What?’’I gasped.

And the man coughed. ‘’Near Python’s cave’’He rasped slowly.’’I let my sheep eat and…there were screams inside the cave…a boy’s screams…’’

I tried to stay calm while my entire mind was in panic. Python? Seems that someone overheard Perseus’ words and rumors began to spread. Rumors that everyone believed that it was the truth.

‘’I went inside’’He gasped, his eyes dry.’’I could not…Python, Python’’He mumbled with his eyes almost closing.

I grabbed his face and pulled him close to me.’’No, you won’t fall asleep now’’I commanded him.’’Are you sure you heard someone inside?’’

‘’Help me, father’’He gasped.’’I do not want to die inside…’’He muttered with his grip getting loose.

‘’Prophet, please make your God listen, please…’’

No, no no no. Cold sweat showered my brow as the man passed out, eyes closed.

No.

I could listen to his pulse. It was steady. Was he just resting?

There was a sound of clapping hands and Paris sighed.’’Well, at least he is alive, now you shall go do your duties as an’’

Myrto hasn’t come back.

Trace his tracks.

She was not here. She was not…

Panic. Not her. Not her.

I stood up on my own two feet and moved away from him.

Away from the man, away from Paris, away from everyone. Away from the temple.Even when Alexious tried to ask me what would happen if I saved the man. What could I possibly say? Right at the exit, I found a glimpse of God Apollo’s statues. As if he was once again, staring at me back.

He did not listen. But I did.

‘’Myrto hasn’t come back’’I said out loud for Thais to hear. I could see from her shadow that she was right behind a column.

‘’So what’s your plan?’’

What was my plan? My plan…

The sun was still in place, hours away from falling. I still had time.

‘’I will find her, I will go to the cave.’’