LYSSANDRA

Help me? I frowned upon the playful man whose eyes were beaming with excitement.

My fingers rested around my arm before I agreed with him in a nod.

Of course, someone seemed to disagree and he seemed that he was ready to argue right in front. So I glared right at Myrto who raised to my side.

‘’Come now Prophet, you need to get ready’’She tapped my back as Ι stood on my own two feet trying to avoid them.

Today there were the same amount of people as in the past weeks. I tried to keep everything in my mind after the moment half of the people were gone. But I found it interesting that there were some girls talking to Paris. One of them seemed to blush more than the others as she tried to hand him a red rose. Everyone around her grinned and elbowed her as he seemed to sniff the rose and then kiss it. That action surely made the girl pass out.

The door knocked and I opened it with Alexious showing me the jar that I wanted.

I thanked him with a smile and moved the hot jar back to my room. But he caught my strong arm and turned on him who was looking at me worried.

‘’It is too much isn’t it?’’

I replied with a whispering yes and kept smiling.’’I need energy.’’

He arched his brow and moved without even telling him inside my room and sat on my bed.

‘’I need your advice’’ His face was red.

I narrowed and sat next to him as I drank from my jar that was filled with hot herbs such as mountain tea, and the herbs the healer gave me.

‘’If this is about Myrto.’’

‘’You know?’’

My brow twitched and another voice jumped from the window.

‘’I thought that they were already together’’Paris hummed and smiled at the now frightened Alexious. I tried to ignore him by swallowing every part of the herbal but Paris seemed to jump close to my side.

‘’Have you tried flowers?’’He asked Alexious as he was also using his hands for signs.

‘’Mo…Girls love those’’ He tried to correct himself as he winked at me. What was he trying to refer to?

But Alexious shook his head. ‘’No, I want her to give something more.’’

Both me and Paris shared a glance as if we were having the same thoughts. He then let out a serious nod as he walked closer to Alexious.

‘’Listen to me boy this is important.’’

Me and Alexious stayed still as Paris was moving his fingers but no sound was coming from his voice. But his mouth was moving, making me understand a few words. But it seemed that Alexious' flustered face was enough.

‘’Creep’’I muttered to him and Paris seemed simply to not care about my comment.

‘’No, not like that’’His movements were still shaking. ‘’She once told me how much she misses…festivals. The music mostly.’’

I arched my brow, remembering the night we took her away from her house. She was crying at the back of the horse while Thais and Adamantious were in front and I was frankly drunk from the wine of the sack.

But then, I heard her voice humming a sweet tone. A tone that was not mourning or filled with horror. It was something that would not be sung to weddings either. It was a cherished song of romance.

‘’Well, we do not have lyres’’I pouted at him. And I certainly don’t know how to play an instrument.

My eyes fell to Paris who was dressed in horror.

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‘’Can you help me on it?’’

No response. I asked him again and I touched the palm of his hand. Now, that I got his attention he had let a heavy breath and he hummed a no.’’I cannot play music’’

It was the first time I paid actual attention to his hand. His skin was soft and easily squeezed like an infant. No healer would have a hand like that. I moved my fingers closer to the tips of his and then I found harsh movements on them. He said that he could not help that he could not play yet.

‘’How about’’I turned to Alexious. ‘’You will make a lyre and I will try to teach you a song?’’

Light came on Alexious's face and nodded in cheers thanking me over and over again.

‘’You can play ?’’Paris gasped as Alexious moved away from my room. One, two, three.

I fell to his side, holding him by his golden dress.’’Please teach me’’I gasped.

I was waiting for him to speak to say literally anything. Looking up, I saw an expression of him that was simply empty.

‘’Oh come now’’I stood back on my feet. You always said how much you want to help me.’’

‘’Yes, by assisting you on the snake’’He corrected himself. ‘’Not helping that boy flirt with…’’

I stared at him with a cold look. ‘’You are scared.’’

His face turned red and tried to look away from me with his lips quivering. That was definitely something new. His confidence in me was all gone since this morning and it seemed almost.

‘’Cute’’I muttered out loud and Paris faced me strangely.

‘’Listen to me oracle, you shouldn’t be bothered by tasks like these’’His hand fell to the top of my head, petting me like a dog.

‘’So you could be interested in more serious matters’’

I snatched his hand and pulled him closer to me with his gaze having a darting sore.

‘’I told you to. Teach. Me.’’I mouthed with a smile.’’ Please.’’

His embarrassed face turned away from me and walked back to my bed.

‘’Do you…have a melody of it?’’

I blinked and then nodded as I tried to sing the humming. His face kept being blunt even after I finished the song. ‘’Do you want the lyrics?’’

He shook his head.’’No, it’s…’’ His lips shook. Was he sad? I moved back close to my bed and sat on the floor.

‘’Then’’Can you tell me how to take care of a poisonous snake?’’

He blinked and smiled with his feet moving down to me.’’First and foremost you need to organize everything. ‘’He moved his index finger close to me.

I nodded and started thinking. Prophecies, missions, Alexious romance, taking care of the snake, and…’’

I snarled the thought that I had to deal with Dion too. He would definitely not leave me alone.

‘’I can leave the prophecies to the others I muttered. ‘’But the rest…’’

Paris sighed and started muttering some words before he said one clear.’’ Let’s go to a brothel.’’

I blinked. He blinked back. The door opened and everyone shouted with Adamantious front.

Everyone was talking out loud and Paris stood u moving to Adamantious's side. As usual, he was cocky and was speaking with arrogance even though I could not understand what he was saying. I could not listen to anyone. But Adamatnious seems even angrier as he tries to push him away with both Myrto and Thais trying to hold him down by the arms and Alexious holding his legs. My ears started ringing and I tried to stand up and then. Paris tried to hit Admantious’ body by moving his elbow behind his body, preparing it for a fist. But instead, his elbow caught my face.

I started losing my balance and I felt my nose almost running with…

Everyone’s eyes now turned on me with horror.

‘’Oracle’’Paris hushed and tried to touch my face but Adamantious tried to pull him away from me.

So many things, so much little time. I did not…

Such a nice sacrifice.

‘’Enough’’I barked and everyone looked at me.

I wiped the blood off my nose and took a deep breath before turning to Paris.’’Why a brothel?’’

‘’Half of the people will know information about everything such as information about that cute priest of Zeus.’’

Adamantious laughed. ‘’Dion is a priest he would not…’’

‘’Whatever you think’’I interrupted them with pain in my chest. ‘’Think of it out of here, I cannot have you two bickering’’And I tried to push all of them out.

Before even Paris tried to get out he jumped and held himself by the door and smiled at me.’’Come now Oracle, I thought that you needed my help.’’

‘’Then help by not fighting with him like children.’’I narrowed before closing the door.

I let out a heavy pant and revealed my wound, letting it take a cold breeze.

I kept breathing heavily with my mind still working. What did I learn today? What should I tell them?

‘’No time to rest’’I spat and forced my legs to move back to my desk. Instead, the ground made me fall into the darkness.

‘’I…’’My voice broke.’’Have no time.’’