LYSSANDRA

  Did he just…

  I turned to the window to see that the dove was gone too. He left me in an instant after…

  My fingers moved on my lips as I could still feel the heat of his skin. How dare he leave me after that?

  ‘’This is terrible’’I panted, feeling his heat on my skin.

  Am I not enough?

  Looking back to the skin milk I realized that he was right for one thing. I had to leave. So I wrapped it around the poisoned hand and felt a rather refreshing cold against my skin.

  Wish that could last forever.

  I took a stroll outside to the halls with a torch in hand and I sat on the feet of the statue of Apollo. I could not look up to see that facade of a face people imagined he had. I lay down on the cold marble floor and tried to close my eyes. If Paris was not mortal could that mean…

  I knew that if he wasn’t real I could tolerate it. That it was not my fault that everything happened but now?

  ‘’Was I not enough?’’ my voice broke, feeling the pain growing again. There was no answer of course. What was I expecting? He wouldn’t come now, just like he…

  I hated him so much. I just wanted his name to be forgotten.

  My eyes closed slowly as my head felt all drowsy from the poison. Just a few minutes.

  The minutes turned to hours before realizing I returned to my bed, sleeping all heavily with the sunlight hitting my face. But the first person to be in my room was Myrto, accompanied by a hidden woman right behind her, dressed in a dark cloak.

  Myrto did not speak to me she simply gave me a narrow glare. Was she mad at me?

  I was about to speak as the woman revealed her auburn hair from the cloak.

  ‘’What are you doing here?’’I whispered with panic and as I held her hands she almost backed away.

  What was the matter with everyone?

  ‘’Paris came yesterday to the brothel’’She explained to me.

  Oh.

  The woman’s brow arched and she shook her head.’’No, it’s not like this.’’

  Seems that I had no energy to hide my emotions.

  ‘’Believe me, I tried’’Her face flushed.’’He seemed like a wealthy, charming customer.’’

  He also tried to kill you. But maybe some people have fantasies like this.

  Then again, Who was I to judge?

  I backed away from her as she took a deep breath.’’He told me that you have something for me. And he won’t be able to send it.’’

  Oh yes. I almost forgot everything going around and moved on to my table, giving her the sake with herbs and…

  The women gagged. ‘’It’s all wet’’

  I nodded.’’ It’s oil for your body, make sure to rub some of you when Dion arrives.’’

  There was a laughter.’’How do you know that he comes this often?’’

  I could tell her that the time was running out for both of us or that he failed to get rid of me and he would need somewhere to relieve his energy. Unfortunately for her, it will be some difficult nights.

  ‘’I am prophet’’I whispered, waving my hand to thin air.

  Another laugh. ‘’Of course, you are…’’Her eyes fell to the oils. She didn’t even ask what they were. Was she asking for a quick death?

  I gave her one smaller sack that was a mix of herbs. ‘’Eat that before you rub the oil. So it won’t affect you.’’

  Her eyes snapped as she took the small sack opened it and sniffed it.

  ‘’That means…’’

  Does she know her herbs? Only natural for a woman in her position, she was probably drugged against her will or…Stop thinking like that now.

  ‘’Thank you.’’Her voice parted and looking at her dry eyes I could understand how tired she was. I stood up and held her hand to walk together out to the kitchen.

  I handed her a few apples and nuts and looked all bright like a beautiful ray of sunshine.

  ‘’No, wonder these handsome men work for you’’She said, taking a bite from the apple.

  Oh?

  I tilted my head and broke one of the pomegranates in two, taking one seed at a time.

  ‘’Adamantious looked in shame when he was coming as if he had a love at his house.’’

  Right…I did not like where this conversation was going.

  ‘’I am glad that you made him happy…’’I turned to her and saw a soft smile curving on her face. She did try to kill him before, didn't she? I was with her but…

  ‘’It was funny that every time we were done, he preferred talking about you. ‘’

  Oh, right. I turned my gaze to the seeds and numbed four of them.

  ‘’One might love you but the other wants you?’’

  I let out a laugh. He probably wants me dead now. Or maybe both of them do.

  ‘’You are lucky, some people cannot gain something like this in a lifetime.’’

  Should I be thankful that she was telling me those words? I could not tell. And what was with that smile? Was she envious of me because Adamantious loved me or something else?

  I could not tell and it was killing me.

  ‘’Also…’’She let out a dry cough and revealed under her cloak a piece of fabric. ‘’ His sister arrived yesterday telling me to give you this.’’

  Thais? What was she doing there? Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if she…

  ‘’She was quite pretty’’ The woman admired me and let out her gaze right behind me. ‘’But the girl who is spying on you right now is even cuter.’’

  There was no need to turn back as I knew if Myrto wanted to be found out by her, she didn’t want to simply spy on me. She just wanted me to feel bad that I lied to her.

  After taking it from her shaking hands, the woman walked away with one more apple in her mouth. Surprising as it was, I could feel Myrto’s gaze right behind the walls.

  ‘’I have some figs for you’’I smiled at her and she walked inside the kitchen, carrying an old wooden box.

  ‘’I found what you wanted Oracle.’’ She spoke dry. Why was she so upset?

  ‘’Thank..’’ I was about to speak but she caught me off by grabbing me by my wounded hand, revealing the poison on my skin.

  Oh, right, I did not tell her.

  ‘’Myrto, let me explain.’’

  ‘’No,’’She shouted. ‘’Do not lie, not to me,’’Her face turned all red.’’Was this the reason you are helping Al…’’Her words were cut off.

  I let out a small scoff, trying to change the subject.’’If you are certain about him, you have my blessing, you can elope far from here I heard that Athens…’’

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  ‘’I know about your plan.’’She interrupted me and my act dropped as her face was painted in sorrow.

  ‘’You were spying on me?’’I let out an irritating tone.

  Myrto flinched as I realized that I raised my voice too much. I exhaled heavily and covered my hand with a cloak and my gaze found a reflection in one of the mirrors. No wonder everyone was shocked about my appearance. My color faded, my eyes were dressed with a dark cloak underneath them and my lips were dryer than raisins. If my jaw would be more relaxed I would have been a wonderful corpse.

  ‘’I am sorry’’I coughed dry and took the box from the table.

  ‘’Don’t do it’’She begged as I was almost out of the kitchen.

  ‘’Hello, my dear’’Paris was inside my room with that beaming smile. I wanted to ignore him but his appearance was rather peculiar today. His hair was completely free from any thread and ribbon, his clothing was plain silver, covering every detail of his torso and his scent…

  ‘’Good morning’’I said dryly, trying to ignore him as I opened the box on my desk, revealing the crimson red fabrics.

  ‘’You seem lost today.’’Paris jumped right next to me as he gasped with fascination of the fabrics.’’A wedding dress?’’He asked me with a wide smile.’’My, oracle you shouldn’t.’’

  I replied with a glare and his eyes snapped open. At that moment, Paris coughed and he tried to crawl back away from me.’’About last night…’’

  Oh, he finally spoke up.

  ‘’I am terribly sorry.’’

  Eh?

  I turned to him in confusion as he took a deep breath.’’I wanted this for a long time and based on your…title’’He scolded his head to the right as he sat on one of the pillars. ‘’I thought that you wouldn’t even think about it…but when you did’’ Another deep breath as his brow was shaking.’’I didn’t want you to think that I lured you in.’’’

  I was finally speechless as he spoke those words. I never imagined him to be so sincere and apologetic…

  His eyes drew at my table and leaned to me even closer.’’Would you like anything else? I hope..’’His eyes drew down as he showed me a crimson rose at his fingertips, offering it to me.

  A rose from him? Maybe he was serious. I never saw that side of him.

  It almost…caught me believing him.

  That’s not Paris. I realized. He looked exactly like him. He sounded like him. But he was not him. Most of the flowers he was offering me contained poison in their core. Roses were not capable of containing that.

  A sort of panic grew in my mind. What was this? Another creature?

  ‘’Are you alright?’’He moved closer to me with his eyes beaming with care. Not Paris.

  I lied by nodding and turned to the box once more. I did not know this man’s true intentions. Then again, did I know Paris’s? But once again, if he wanted me dead I knew I would already be on river Styx.

  This guy wouldn’t let me breathe. And then I found Alexious watching us in secret. A smile appeared on my face and turned to the imposter.

  ‘’Oh, Paris’’I held his hands and turned completely red. Whoever he was, he might be related to that stupid man.’’Please help Alexious with his lyre, I remember that you promised him. ‘’I let out a pout that made my entire body ick.

  He nodded and he turned to Alexious.’’I am coming in a second.’’He spoke. Not a sign. He was definitely not him. Eleven Alexious noticed it.

  When he was finally out, Myrto appeared again with a skeptical look.

  ‘’Would you fix me?’’I asked her gently.

  A light appeared in her eyes and she nodded fast.

  Sat on the pillar now, she showed me the box that she had given to me and the items it was continuing. Too many gold pieces of jewelry as for pallets of white and red.

  ‘’If you…’’I noticed her hands trembling.’’ Feeling.’’

  She shook her head.’’It’s fine, it’s simple…’’She told me to stand up and she took out my clothes. I could feel her eyes gazing at the wound.

  ‘’How long?’’

  A week. I couldn’t say it to her. Not after all of this. She dressed me and tickled me in gold as it was time for the makeup. A heavy powder on my face, covering me in heavy white. I thought that if the snake was interested in brides, I would trick him by dressing as one. And after that, giving him sleeping poison and then…I could kill it with a crescent blade.

  The difficult part of it was how to get rid of that blonde priest. Making an aphrodisiac isn't easy especially if that man already had the same intention as me before. But there are other ways of being intoxicated by them without eating them. The candles that were used in the brothel also contain another aphrodisiac.

  ‘’Now still still’’Myrto whispered as she placed red pain on my cheeks and forehead. Then she moved on my lips, holding my chin up.

  When she was done, I could not recognize myself. I could not breathe. I wondered if Myrto felt like that once.

  ‘’You are beautiful’’Lied Myrto and I embraced a wide smile at her, thanking her and embracing her tight.

  Please don’t do it. She whispered.

  I did not speak as I wanted to sit down and never get up. I wanted to sleep for eternity, to crawl to a cave and…

  What was I saying? I could not stop listening to that beautiful melody. I wanted to follow it.

  What melody?

  ‘’Kni…’’ My voice trembles, turning to Myrto who looked all petrified of my appearance.

  ‘’Knife..’’ I tried to speak as my body felt like walking away.

  But there was no blade around my room until she found it. I bit my lower lips harshly, letting blood and salt fall to my tongue. The music stopped and I could see now that I was right outside of the temple. How could that happen?

  No, calm down Lyssandra, calm down.

  ‘’Are you alright?’’Asked Myrto and then Paris came right behind her, pushing her away from me. What was wrong with that guy?

  ‘’What happened?’’He asked with panic and care. That was not him.

  ‘’I am fine.’’I lied completely and took a turn to see that the sun was already falling.

  I had to hurry. I dressed myself up with a dark cloak and took my sickle with me. Embracing Myrto, Alexious once more felt like a final goodbye. I turned to Leon and Deimaria whose eyes were full of curiosity. I was about to tell them the truth. Yeah, I will destroy an ancient snake that swallows everything and everyone.

  As I walked away, I noticed that Paris was following me too, jumping step by step. Where have I seen this before?

  ‘’Why are you following me?’’I asked.

  ‘’Why shouldn’t I?’’He replied back, moving one step closer, his head leaning on my shoulder as with his other hand he was holding a bright torch.

  Even with the fire on his face, beaming all so bright, I could see a few details that were off with him. It almost felt like a perfect copy but I knew it was not him. ‘’You are a beautiful bride Lyssandra.’’

  ‘’I never gave you my name.’’I gasped.

  ‘’Didn’t you?’’ Paris winced.

  Who was this man?

  ‘’Who are you?’’I asked and his eyes opened wide.’’A friend.’’He lied and moved his head to the right, letting his locks fall to the ground.

  ‘’Let’s get moving. ’’ I narrowed it down, and he followed like a dancing puppy. Maybe I had to rule him in, revealing his name. Then again, I prefer all my limbs in touch.

  ‘’Why should you go there?’’He asked me.’’What if we just…run away, go to a different place?’’ His lips and voice were in perfect sync.

  I clenched my arm as I bit my lip.’’You know why.’’My voice turned to a heavy rasp.

  ‘’Shame…’’ His voice shifted. ‘’And what if I told you, I could heal you with a snap of my fingers?’’

  Not, Paris. Not Paris. Do not trust…when did I start trusting Paris?

  ‘’Go on…’’I turned to him, curious.

  The man smiled.’’Well, I can’t heal you precisely but…’’He showed himself with an amusing movement.

  Did that mean that Paris…No, stop thinking about it, if he would he….would he?

  The man smiled wider and I knew that I had fallen into his trap.

  But two people can play that game.

  ‘’What else can you do?’’I asked, leaning closer to him. Paris’ eyes opened wide as his beautiful eyes opened wide.

  ‘’Careful, Lyssandra’’One more breath closer to me as the fire was far away from us. But I took the opportunity to grab the torch, thinking I wanted to hold hands with him. I hated the way he was calling out my name.

  ‘’If you want a price, I have something that you will…’’If I moved any closer I would say farewell to any dignity I had left.

  His hand relaxed. Perfect. I grasped it now tight and threw the torch right at his face.

  Run.

  I began running as fast as I could while listening to the man’s screams echoing in the dark woods.

  ‘’You filthy woman.’’His rasp echoed to the woods.’’You think he will save you?’’

  Ignore him, Ignore him.

  ‘’Do you want to learn what he thinks of you? All those things he wants to do with you?’’

  Ignore him. Follow the music. The instruments follow them, nothing else. Follow the melody.

  ‘’He doesn't love you, he simply despises you.’’

  ‘’Well, he should get in a line’’I shouted back and my heart sank where the music led me to. A dark stoic cave, calling my name.

  No, no, no.

  But whatever was out there was coming closer. And the sound became louder. Whatever the imposter was…he wanted me dead and gone too.

  So I walked right into the dark of the cave, hoping that the creature behind me wouldn't catch me. My sandals were almost ripped off and trying to catch a breath was pointless and I kept running to the dark walls. How dark and close the walls were. Even by touch I could feel the slippery ooze that was dripping from above.

  The running made my condition worse too. My body warmed up and I took the cloak out as well as the gold and weapon down. I could not breathe. There was no air, there was no light.

  I can't die here, I can’t. My hand tried to reach for a glimpse of hope. And then someone grabbed me by the wrist, pulling me higher.

  ‘’Oh dear.’’ A feminine old voice called out and a fire bloomed at her face.

  Her long blonde curls fell right down to her waist as a poor excuse of black fabric was trying to cover her face. But it was such an old delicate beauty, how could she hide a face like this? Each small expression she tried to make reminded me of a she-wolf, protecting carefully her young. Her eyes beamed like two crescent moons and then she finally spoke clearly.

  ‘’Are you lost?’’

  Her mouth did not move.