LYSSANDRA

  The boy had ears of a great white hare and a great smile, and we were playing together near the river. My feet were not as fast as his, but I could not blame myself. I was just a little girl.

  ‘’I will catch you’’The boy laughed while I was now in the deep, cold waters. The sun was on top of our heads, with birds playing a melody for us to have fun with as we played.

  I stood up and rubbed my nose, and I moved my hands behind my ears, pretending them to be rabbit ears. That made the boy’s olive-toned face turn red. What color were his eyes? Did he have any of them?

  ‘’Nah nah nah nah’’I stung my tongue out and the running began again. I got out of the river, breathing heavily, as the boy who was faster than me was now calling out to me. I could only laugh at the moment that I realized how far I was from him until my feet ended up at the edge of a dark cave.

  The boy stood right next to me and let out his annoying laugh.

  The boy grabbed my hand and began to drag me inside the cave‘’Let’s go’’His smile was beaming with trickery.

  ‘’I am scared.’’I said with honesty.

  ‘’Don’t worry, I will be there to protect you.’’He tried to assure me safety, but he did the opposite.

  ‘’Stop,’’ I cried, and the boy turned to look at me with a confused look.’’ It’s ok, I will protect you.’’

  But I backed away, letting my hand free.

  ‘’Wait’’His voice shifted to a heavy, brooding voice. I did not want to look at him. I did not want to look back as I was running back to the bright light.

  ‘’Oracle?’’ His voice called me away from the darkness. Opening my eyes, I could see a charming gaze facing me down, with each part of his existence now looking at me.

  My voice was dry, my limbs were becoming less numb, and the pain was vanishing, but I was not crying for that. I was shedding tears because I could see again. I could see because I was still alive.

  ‘’Paris?’’ My shout came to a soft question. A smile was drawn upon his lips, and his arms wrapped around my waist tightly, pulling me close to his body. ‘’ You are alright.’’

  I was alive, I was still alive.

  I pushed myself away from him just to see his face clearly. I cupped his cheeks with my fingers, trying to move except for one better blue light.

  I could feel my body getting better, my head in one piece, but I just couldn’t understand how I was healed.

  ‘’We shall go’’He whispered, and he tried to move the rocks with his hands. Suddenly, the rocks collapsed as if they were made of nothing. How could he find a way out now? His arms were strong enough to carry my body, too, even if I tried to disagree with his actions. He did not seem to care. Why was he so speechless?

  I tried to take a better look at him again. His eyes were painted in sorrow and forebodings. But it was him. I was so certain that it was him. The bright stones were now showing that the python was finally dead, with a rock cutting its body in half. After finally getting free from Paris’ grasp, I picked a few of the scales with my bare finger. Hope that it could be enough for Perseus to be satisfied. Then the festivities would begin, and I could have his blessing, and after that…

  What would happen?

  I turned back to Paris, who tried to avoid the snake’s corpse. Such a creature driven by hate from the people who punished him, wishing for everything to end. Maybe Paris was afraid of him because he knew the truth about it. What if he turned against him? Would he destroy the things he cared about, too?

  But I could only feel an understanding towards Python. The rage is a burning candle that can cause an internal blaze.

  ‘’If you are about to kill me, then can you do it after the solstice?’’I forced a smile upon my face.’’Or turn me to a daffodil, I always loved those beautiful buds.’’

  He kept his silence. So, I tried to approach him so my hand could touch his face again. Instead, Paris’ hand had now captured my face, touching close around my scars. His eyes leaned down to my wedding fabrics that were now shreds of red and dirt. My face was probably ruined too. Never wanted to be an actual bride, I never even thought of myself turning out to be one. But why was he simply standing and looking at my fake bride clothes, making my heart race?

  ‘’Who are you?’’I asked finally, and Paris blinked.

  ‘’Oracle, I cannot-’’

  ‘’Lyssandra’’I called out my name and held his hand.’’My name is Lyssandra, now tell me yours.’’

  His brow frowned deeply as he leaned away from me. He shouldn’t be the one in control. He shouldn’t have my name. He will not win.

  My lips were about to form words, but the ground opened with a bright light, and Paris pulled his hands away and turned to the light that was getting bigger and bigger while dirt was falling. When the hole was big enough, we could see a few soldiers right above us.

  ‘’We found them’’They announced loudly.

  Twenty soldiers gathered to find a girl and a boy inside the cave that we got out of using a rope.

  The general of the soldiers explained to me that the king received a message from a very fast girl that I had to go inside the cave to find the snake. And the girl was so fast that one couldn't catch her name.

  The bright sun gave a sweet taste to my mouth as the cold made my cheeks all red and itchy. But it did not matter. I was still alive and healthy, and my fingers were digging into the cold grass. The general was also very kind to offer me his gray coat as he noticed the looseness of the fabric.

  The great king Perseus appeared with his horse while a certain priest of Zeus was following him with a cold expression on his face.

  We all bowed to the presence of the king. All except Paris, who was taking further steps away from everyone until he was gone. What was the matter with him now?

  But Perseus' attention was drawn to me, his hand touching my chin, focusing me to stand up on my feet. His eyes were a storm of interest when I showed him the scales, and I explained to him what I did. Most of it was a lie about me finding the snake asleep and killing it with a spear, with venomous herbs. I did not want to say the rest to him or anyone else. The ruined wedding dress was half-life, too. I saw a vision of women dressed as brides and vanishing inside a cave.

  ‘’Apollo sent me the gift of that knowledge, telling me how to lure the snake to the trap.’’

  Perseus looked like he believed me as he fixed his grayish beard before taking a deep breath.

  ‘’Seems that you were wrong about her, Dion.’’A smile curved on the king’s lips while Dion tried to hold his anger and hatred. His pale face had turned already red from just taking a look at my victory.

  Right at the moment I was about to mock him, Perseus caught me off guard by getting his hand on my shoulder.

  We both moved down to the cave with the rope again, facing the great Python, now dead. I wondered if Persues could listen to the boy asking for help. Or that he believed my words while he was staring at the corpse.

  ‘’You were right for everything’’Perseus muttered in almost disbelief as his eyes fell on Python’s grip orb. As I also looked down at Python, I could see the poison spilling from his mouth.

  ‘’Can this poison still be used?’’ Perseus asked

  I did tell him that I used poison to kill it, would he think that I was aware of herbs and healing? Did he want the poison to fight against his enemies?

  A slow agonizing pain paralyzes you, only for you to wish for your end.

  I would never give it even to my worst enemy.

  ‘’No,’’I lied.

  Perseus nodded, and he drew his bronze blade out, letting the light of the stones shimmer across the edge of the weapon.

  ‘’My King?’’I tried to speak, but it was too late. Perseus’ hand was high up, and when it fell, the blade cut Python’s head like it was nothing.

  Golden and purple liquid began to fill the ground, and the king’s face was painted with the spoils of the snake.

  My heart raced from the snake being now actually dead. At the beginning, I thought that I would be happy, but now…

  ‘’You will be the head priestess at the solstice’’Persues turned back, and I saw his stormy eyes getting darker, losing any path of kindness or humanity.’’I thought that head would be enough for the common people to parade it around, isn’t it?’’

  ‘’You will still be there?’’ I asked him.

  I was waiting for a gentle smile to come from him, but even when his lips moved up, there was no warmth coming from him.’’Of course’’

  My body was shaking while I was trying to catch my breath. The image of Python’s head being paraded, laughed and his corpse being celebrated as an end of terror made me sick. Even at his death, he couldn’t be at peace. Wonder if I was being found out, will the people parade my dead body like it too?

  ‘’Is something wrong, prophet?’’Perseus walked close to me, and his bloody fingers touched my hand.

  ‘’No, my king’’I lied. I could feel a wave of foreboding arrive close to me.

  Winning this run did not feel like I was expecting. Killing the snake should make me feel joy and satisfaction. Taking Persues’ blessing and protection should have made me happy. Why was I so upset?

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  Maybe it was because Dion was escorting me back to the temple with his white horse. At least, thanks to Persesus’ orders, he was forced to be the one on his feet and I on horseback.

  ‘’Who’s a good boy’’I pouted, petting his horse in the dark of the night.’’You are, you are…’’

  ‘’He isn’t a dog’’Dion scolded me.

  I let a winning smile.’’Apologies, I must have mistaken you with him.’’

  He did not reply, but I could see from the torchlight that he was not mad. A shame, I was expecting him to be furious or at least… sad?

  But he was smiling.

  ‘’You know’’I tried to make another lie.’’I think I got it from here on, I remember the way.’’

  ‘’You remember a lot of things, Oracle. The way back to your temple, the way of herbs and even…’’ Dion’s compliments stopped.’’ Aphrodisiacs?’’

  Oh, he figured it out.

  ‘’I was dozing for two days before realizing what happened. And then out of the darkness you appeared, confirming that you have scales of the ancient serpent.’’

  Something is wrong.

  I let out a narrow and as I tried to get down from the horse, Dion rushed to my side and his hand touched mine gently. He didn’t even squeeze it tight when he helped me get down. His smile was as fake as my visions, but he did send me right outside of my temple, where two soldiers of Perseus were waiting for me. They both faced me with a heavy bow. No wonder Dion didn’t try to attack me, and he played all nice.

  Their hard, beautiful armor and sharp spears were not just for decoration; that was for certain.

  ‘’Goodnight, oracle Lyssandra’’He said, moving closer to my ear and whispering.

  ‘’Tonight I would suggest for you to pray to your god, you filthy whore’’His shape word found my spine quite interesting, so they decided to itch it.

  ‘’Cause none of these people will protect you from me.’’ His lips moved back and left a cold, slurpy kiss on my cheek. I wanted to throw up at him at that exact moment.

  After Dion left, the two guards faced me with a worried expression as his sick kiss left a glossy mark.

  Finally, one of them spoke.

  ‘’We are sent by King Perseus himself. My name is Makardios’’His eyes were bright green like the spring leaves of an oak tree.

  The other one was a bit taller with a darker shade than Makardios, and he did not seem to have the attitude to talk. Taking a look behind his horned helmet, I could see the dark locks that were sticking between his bright golden eyes. Eyes that could magnetize everyone, even the gods themselves.

  ‘’He is shy’’ Makardios tried to laugh and elbowed the man right to his armor.

  ‘’Tigran ’’ His voice was clean with a bright, loud tone around his name.

  I let out a smile to both of them as Makardios explained that they were sent to guard me and my people until the solstice.

  Walking inside, I asked myself what the other expression would wear? Alexious would be thrilled to see me, and the kids wouldn’t say much as they probably wouldn’t understand what happened. Now, Myrto, on the other hand. Just her being upset made my stomach curl into a ball.

  But the moment I entered the main hall, it was she who jumped right at me, embracing me tightly. We both fell to the floor.

  ‘’You are here’’She wept dry, her fingers shaking.

  Moving my face up, I could see the rest standing straight and shaking, restraining their smiles.

  Myrto’s hand moved on my once-wounded arm and squeezed it tight.’’ It’s...’’ Her voice let out a gasp.

  ‘’I am fine,’’ I let out a whisper, and Myrto’s eyes brightened with hope.

  I envied someone like her. I envied that her eyes could still look like that. I wish that I could find it again.

  Finally, Tigran cleared his throat and pushed Myrto away from me. I explained to the guards that they were my people and followers. Both of the guards looked disappointed. Especially Tigran. They probably expected someone who killed the snake as a great Prophet with dozens of priests and followers.

  They were even surprised when we gave them dinner. Well, figs and three pheasants did not count as dinner, probably to them, but they did not comment on it. Even when they took out their helmets, they seemed friendlier. Marcadios, at least, who was playing now with Leon and Dimaria, was telling about his twelve victories.

  ‘’I was surrounded by a hundred Egyptians, all dressed pare, their weapon had the shape of a crescent moon’’

  My gaze fell to Tigran, who was sipping his chalice of wine slowly as if he had heard the story over and over again.

  ‘’I took with my spare the lives of ten, but it was not enough as they had pinned me to their hot desert’’

  ‘’What happened?’’Leon asked now, all curious, and Markadious turned to Tigran.’’This shy man came out of nowhere and saved my life, stopping the fight with one blow.’’

  Trigan stayed silent about those thoughts, and he walked out of the table while everyone was wooing and admiring his bravery.

  Strange man.

  I wanted to know more about him, but I was vanishing from hunger. And then, Myrto took a step closer to me and whispered in my ear.

  ‘’There is a surprise for you in your room.’’

  ‘’Lyssandra?’’ Adamantious’ voice echoed inside the room. Even if he was missing for a moon, his body looked lighter with his hair and beard growing all wider. His eyes had a tired color, with his clothes now being filthy and rugged.

  ‘’Ad-’’My lips broke as everything came back.

  The blaze outside the temple looked like a message from a god, trying to show its wrath. But only I was the one to set the message. I did not know if anyone was still alive or praying for help. Because the only thing I could listen to was my thoughts.

  He will die, he will die, he will die.

  I want all of them to die, I need them dead and gone, rot to the ground like worms.

  ‘’Lyssandra?’’ Adamantious's hand reached down to my shoulder, and I turned my gaze to him. His sister was trying to hug me while he was pushing her far from me, staring at me with eyes filled with fear.

  ‘’I want them dead’’My eye lifted to see that his face twitched.

  ‘’Who?’’ He asked, but I hit him with my shoulder, walking right past them.

  My feet are getting pierced from broken jars and hard marble stones, my mouth is dry from the muttering, and my back is wet and red.

  This wouldn't stop me.

  ‘’All of them,’’ My gaze found the glimpse of the moon.’’I will take their power as mine and I will crush them all I-’’

  ‘’What do you want us to do?’’ He was the first one to speak as Thais was right next to me, holding my trembling hand. She was holding her grin up as if she wanted the same thing as me. She was too taken away from her home, just like her brother.

  Even when I tried to push them away for months, trying to run away from them or even give them money to leave…they still stayed. As if they were waiting for a future that I would make

  It all started with those two, I suppose. Maybe in another place we would have lived in peace.

  He now moved close to me, trying to push his warm hand on mine, and my knuckles could now touch his harsh face. It took me a while to realize that I was now far taller than he.

  ‘’You look tired,’’ I whispered, and for a second, I was about to kiss him. But everything felt off. His eyes looked away from me.

  ‘’Where is Thais?’’My heart skipped a beat, and a million thoughts began rushing through my mind.

  ‘’She is fine, it’s just we are still trying to find the...’’ He looked around and he started whispering. Right, guards. We will be in trouble if they find the truth.

  Everything was simpler than I expected. Maybe that was what Thais wrote in that unread letter.

  They found almost nothing, but Thais seemed that still want to look for her while he decided to return to…

  ‘’See me?’’I asked shakily.

  ‘’Yes and now tell me’’He smiled all so beautifully.’’What happened?’’

  After telling half the truth, he looked easy that the poison ‘wore out’ after the snake was gone and lay with me in bed, trying to find every opportunity to embrace me, his fingers pushing my skin tight. I missed his company, but something felt different around him now. And I didn’t know why.

  Why is everything so complicated?

  And then I smelled myself. Rotten snake and dirt. I needed a bath.

  Walking in the hall, I found Macardios snoring off to a corner while Tigran was facing the statue of Apollo with such interest.

  So, I walked right up to him. The angle of his gaze turned to me and then returned to his calm stare. No bow or acknowledgement this time.

  ‘’Seems that Makardious is on your debt?’’ I forced a smile, remembering what he said at dinner.

  Tigran stayed unbothered as he spoke. ‘’He’s on Horus' debt, not mine.’’

  ‘’Horus?’’ I asked, curious. Tigran finally took a look at me and showed Apollo.’’My god. My patron of healing, light, and protection.’’His gaze grew wider.’’Just like your patron.’’

  My curiosity grew and turned to the statue of Apollo, and I tried to imagine two versions of him. I heard that people in Egypt are describing their gods with animalistic expressions.

  ‘’That day’’Tigran took a deep breath.’’Horus’ host appeared near me, telling me to go save a stupid pale soldier who was on a diplomatic mission. I followed his orders, and after that, right before I knew it, I ended up in King Perseus' tent, offering me a place in his army.’’

  ‘’Host?’’ I asked again, and Trigan took a deep breath.

  ‘’Your gods can take the forms of humans, of animals. My gods need flesh to take over.’’

  My brow arched. ‘’Sounds cruel’’I muttered, and Trigan scoffed.’’Sometimes, cruelty is the solution.’’

  He was a guard, and surely he had seen battles. Even if he had a calm tone, this man was just any other soldier.

  ‘’And why did you join Perseus? Surely you had something in your kingdom to fight for-’’

  ‘’I was a priest of Horus who fell for a blacksmith.’’

  ‘’Oh’’My gaze opened wide.

  ‘’My people castrated me’’

  Then, I looked down between his legs.’’My condolences.’’

  ‘’Thank you’’ He was trying so hard to restrain his smile, and it was almost adorable.

  ‘’After King Perseus heard my and Makardious’ story, he offered me a place and the opportunity for my partner to come with me to Greece.’’

  Wonder if the blacksmith is also happy with Trigan’s new condition.

  ‘’Oracle, you are still staring’’Tigran scolded me, and my face turned red.

  ‘’I am sorry, I must go now’’I said and tried to rush to the bath house.

  ‘’Have you seen him?’’His voice became calmer. I turned my gaze back and looked at the Egyptian priest who was facing the statue of Apollo.

  What could I possibly say to him?

  Maybe I had seen him, maybe I saw Horus inside the body of someone.

  The image of a blonde, bright embrace came to me.

  And then, my mouth opened wide.

  Healer, protector, musician, bright smile.

  Your Gods can take the form of humans.

  ‘’Paris’’, the name of the Trojan prince, according to stories say that he managed to murder the best of all the Greeks. And other stories were because a certain God was next to him.

  Stupid, foolish woman.

  ‘’Yes’’I muttered with honesty.