Under the veil of night, many schemes are in motion. After all, darkness was the only thing representing those people. Mystics of the faith, grasping for things prohibited to them… Even dangerous… But, witnessing the changes that this event could cause… It was difficult for mere mortals to withstand this sensation of… seduction.

The ritual was sacred, secluded, secret… forbidden. The woman was wearing a semi-revealing grey hue chiton. She was dancing seductively towards and around the man she laid eyes upon. Her target. At least for tonight. She could sense he was special. He could be of great use to her plans.

However she had a rival in her pursuit. A woman that once thought of her to be her mentor. A guide to help her through the struggles she faced during her early years in the cult. But now? Now she was nothing more than an obstacle to her mission. But she had her ways. She knew how to prevail, something that she always did.

*

He joined the cult’s rite uninvited, though he knew these kinds of rituals. Rarely the thought of joining crossed his mind. After all it was explicitly forbidden for his kind to enter those. Of course he knew that many of his own participated. But this time, it was different. He felt different. A desire was slowly burning inside him, the heat building up. Some-kind of curiosity triggered his mind. A weird but familiar scent… The burning sensation tingled him, but not pleasantly. Was that… Could he ever be jealous of him?

He kept on, his mind fogged, his thoughts blurred. The event took place outdoors, past the vast fields of the kingdom of Macedonia, far away from even the outskirts of the city of Pella, in a forest, hidden, secluded and accessible only for those who knew of its existence. The dark rituals that were performed gave an ominous aura, but that did not stop the members from falling into the influence of alcohol and the dark sorcery. Things unspeakable took place. This wickedness of these humans had to be kept hidden. Under wraps. The mighty and influential leaders of the Greek realm had to keep their involvement a secret.

He was not invited, but that did not stop him. Who could stop him after all? He was lurking in the river nearby and once he laid his eyes upon her, felt her aura and scent of divinity on her… he was determined! Proud and full of confidence, with some arrogance that everybody from his family had, he walked towards her, with only one goal in mind. It was the first time since too long that those primal instincts took over him and there was nothing he could do to control them…

*

She was dancing, with a slow pace, following the rhythms of the lyre. It was easy to realize from the corner of her eye that he caught his attention, dancing seductively like all the other women around her. But her rival was obviously in the lead. Like a siren, she was slowly approaching, luring him into her bosom. The probability of losing to her made her sick… There was no way that she would lose once more to this shrew. Determined she took action, dancing in circles like everyone else. But unlike the rest, she hid a knife in her garmanets, a dagger familiar to her, given by a priest of Apollo to her. She kept it tight, ready to strike her adversary. These were by no means sacred grounds, so did not have to fear divine consequences, or in their case, chthonic.

It seemed like she accidentally bumped into her, with the wine cup she was holding falling into her clothes. She fell to the ground, unconscious. Nobody gave her a second glance. She was just another drunken lady, tired and sedated by the laurel steam. No one looked twice and no one understood that the red stain on her dress was actually blood.

With the sounds of the cithara, lyre and all the singing, no one cared to notice the murder, and went on continuing their drunken pandemonium. And just like that she had a rival no more. Although unfamiliar with the concept of murder, the prize made her calm and indifferent to the heinous crime she had committed. she continued to dance erotically, approaching her target slowly, captivating the gaze of the man, or rather the god that she aimed to seduce…

*

The moment he entered the event a strong aura filled the area, everyone sensed it instantaneously, but that did not stop anyone from having fun. Everyone was so drunk after all… Every step he made, he felt that he was losing himself. Some sort of primal instinct was taking over him. Or it could be magic. Maybe it was the influence of this dark ritual that made him feel like that. He could never know. The only thing he did know was that the Fates decided to bring him there. And his desire was part of their plan.

He hadn’t felt like this for a long, long time. Before he had met his wife he was like this; primal, direct, aggressive. This ancient cult did awaken those feelings. Every step he made felt like an earthquake was about to start, the night full of stars turned to become a night full of ominous clouds covering the sky. Nevertheless, his mind had but one though, one desire only at the moment. To take that woman. His eyes were fixed on his prey. His prize.

*

She reached him, danced around him. She exchanged glances with him, biting her bottom lip every time she looked directly in his sky-blue eyes. Truth to be told, she did not have to try hard to get him. She knew she was desirable to any man and beyond and she already made clear her intentions. She had not only his complete attention, but his desire as well. He has ripe for the taking.

After making the first move she fell into his arms and whispered seductively, softly biting his left ear. He had to put great effort to stop himself from making a move on her, that could expose his identity to others. He did not wish for others to witness his presence.

“My lord, I was longing for your heavenly arrival…”

“What is your name… girl?”

“I think anonymity will keep us both… safe, my lord. Don’t you think?”

*

The sea grew reckless by his every step. Like a reflection of his inner self. He felt drawn to her, with each step. he pushed everyone out of his way, his eyes grew blurry, seeing only and only her. Her scent was intoxicating. Driving him crazy. He wanted her. But the scent of the other made him want her even more. Finally, he would not be denied. Not from him. Not again.

No one paid attention to his clear intentions. They couldn’t even care for what he could do to her. After all, it was that kind of a cult event… Everything was permitted. Hedonism was nothing else but means to an end.

He reached her from her rear. Grabbed her, startled her and with force turned her towards him. He came face to face with her beautiful face. Clearly, she was royalty. The light colours of her symmetrical face could not hide this fact. He looked into her eyes. Those captivating blue eyes. She could not escape his grip no matter what. She was now his, forced to accept the situation she was in, after realising who he was. So strong, so powerful. Like an untamed horse. Raw, untamable power… And certainly unreasonable. She was his conquest. Plain and simple.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Your name girl!” he demanded, his voice followed by a thousand echoes of the abyss.

“O… Olympias… My name is Olympias!”

*

“Where is he?!” he asked his old comrade.

The general bowed before his king. Although in his forties, the hardships of numerous battles and campaigns had taken a toll on him. His hair started to become grey, while wrinkles grooved his face. Marks and totems of enemy weapons were visible. The king was in a similar condition himself. Plus the deformities he had to withstand.

“Follow me, my lord. This way”.

They walked down the corridor. The king was breathing heavily. First he was exhausted. He came all the way from Chalkidike, alone, never stopped galloping his steed. He left the horse downstairs, to a stable boy. The poor animal was out of breath too, probably on the verge of death. But the birth of a son, to his own royal family, put the horse in a secondary fate. After some moments they reached the door of his wife's chamber.

“She is tired, sire. You should tread silently and carefully around her for the next couple of days…”

But the general’s words never reached the ears of his king.

“Out of my way, Parmenion!” he shouted and stormed into the room.

He saw him in his small bed, sleeping, oblivious to the worries of the world. The king let his helmet fall to the ground, as he undid the leather straps of his breastplate.

“Husband… Please. It took us a great deal to put him to sleep”.

He ignored her, as he usually did. Maybe there was a time when she loved her, but now she was just a tool. Means to an end. And with the birth of their son, the heir to the Macedonian throne, she had fulfilled her usefulness. The king picked up his son gently, because he did not wish to wake him. Not that he intended to listen to his wife, but rather he did not want to deprive his newborn of his rest. He kept him near his chest, feeling the warmth of his soft skin against his hardened and scarred chest. The king tried to hold his breath, in order to hear the heartbeat of his son.

“Phillip?”

He didn’t respond.

“My king?”

“What is it, Parmenion?” he asked, in a hushed tone.

“What name will you give him, Majesty?”

Phillip stood silent for a moment, before smiling broadly.

“His name will be Alexander!”

*

Apollonia was out in the woods, picking up mushrooms. It was pouring heavy rain, but that didn’t matter to her. She knew from her books that rain was good for the soil. She was almost done when she came across the girl. She was young, not too young. More like in her third decade. She was wandering the wilderness, with her belly swollen and full. It was clear she was pregnant and in her last month. It seemed to her that the young woman was in great pain.

“Do you require assistance, younglin?”

The woman was not startled by Apollonia’s voice. She grabbed her belly. She was in great agony.

“Help me… Please…”

She was compassionate. It was the way of her people to treat anyone who passed from their territory and required assistance. Apollonia took her in, helped her lie down on a bed made from soft feathers. She helped the woman get comfortable with blankets, while she prepared hot water for the imminent birth of her child.

“Do I know you from somewhere…?” Apollonia inquired, but the young woman’s face shot daggers towards her.

The old herbalist understood that she should not ask further. Such action could prove fatal. She seemed like royalty, from her fierce gaze and delicate hands.

“Are you from around here, girl?”

“Epirus is my homeland… The king is my kin” she replied.

“That’s why you are out here?”

The young woman smiled weakly.

“Do you believe in Gods and sorcery, my dear woman?” the young woman asked, amid her pain.

Apollonia shook her head.

“I’ve seen too much for my age, but the gods are not among the things I witnessed,” she answered.

“Then you cannot completely understand my situation”

The old herbalist helped her sit on the bed. With careful and slow movements started massaging her belly.

“Your child is on the way now. Be strong and push hard. Is this your firstborn?”

The young woman seemed reluctant to answer this question. But she nodded, positively. When the baby started to come out, she struggled a lot. Pain and agony were evident in her voice, as she plunged her fingernail into the hand of the old herbalist. But Apollonia did not even flinch, but rather she kept encouraging the young woman to keep pushing. Finally, after some time the woman gave birth to a son. She was weak but restless. Apollonia knew that she was searching for a way out. Although reluctant, the old herbalist managed to get her cleaned up, while she wrapped up the baby in linen cloth. After a while, the young woman got up from the bath, with a determined look.

“I have to go,” she declared.

Apollonia gulped. She knew it was for the best not to get in her way.

“Where will you go now?” Apollonia asked.

The young woman with her legs still trembling from the agony of birth, managed to get clothed on her own, while she covered her face once again.

“I will go back to my life” she said, with a cold look on her face.

“And the baby?”

“It’s in the hands of the Gods now…”

She went on to open the door and head outside. She stopped. Took a dagger, a golden one and left it on a wooden table.

“My legacy… to my son”.