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She glanced up at him when he asked how she knew he wasn't married and raised a brow. Looking around the room, she shook her head. "Your entire livelihood is here, including your ship and your crew. Their livelihoods are as well. Were you married, you wouldn't have a servant climbing a hill every day to feed you and you wouldn't be living out of crates."
She tore a piece of bread off a fresh loaf and leaned against the table to eat as she watched him. He considered her before admitting there had been someone.. and that he'd even proposed to a prostitute. But she didn't laugh. It seemed rather sad to be so enamored with someone who would, for all intents and purposes, never return his feelings in such a way. She listened as he told his story about how he'd come upon that decision. What led him to that moment. And she ate while he reminisced; taking sips of water or wine in between. When he admitted that this girl he'd fallen for was like her, she raised a brow but he quickly corrected himself; clarifying that they were only alike in stature. The story he told was indeed similar to hers and had she been with another captain it may have gone about differently. She frowned and crossed her arms; losing her appetite.
Turning and wandering to the side of the temple; she nudged open one of the makeshift doors to look down at the camp through the vegetation that grew there. He told her about killing his captain and taking the ship but losing the interest to marry. It made sense. He had everything he could want then. Fortune, a reputable name (at least in his 'community'), and no one to answer to. A wife would change all of that. She couldn't blame him.
He stole away behind her; his arms sliding about her waist so he could draw her close from behind; brushing a kiss along her salty skin after moving her hair. Their bodies stuck together where their skin touched; still sweaty from their time outside. His attentions grew more adventurous as he spoke; distinguishing her from the others as he pulled up her skirt until her thigh was exposed enough for him to graze his hand over her skin. She bristled as he informed her she still wanted to kill him and a nagging feeling in the back of her mind sprung to life; satiated over the last days time with him. It was the anger in her; the need for revenge that clawed inside her chest; muted by her day on the island. When he nipped at her shoulder she hissed and twisted out of his arms. "I'm already free. I decide what I will or won't do.... But you're right. I won't settle."
She stepped around him and padded across the temple and out the front door; not really sure she knew where she was going, but not able to stay there anymore. They were getting too familiar. Too cozy. He was telling her his story and she was finding sympathy for her kidnapper. In a few weeks, Diomedes would find her or she'd make her way home and all of this would be a surreal nightmare. Including the captain who refused to return her. Then again, even if she was able to wrench her freedom from him, she'd be hard-pressed to forget those piercing dark eyes and broad shoulders. Or the way he felt in the springs last night. He was permeating her logic; invading her ability to reason and make sound judgments. She needed to stay alert and remember that he wasn't a suitor. He was a pirate and a slaver.
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She glanced up at him when he asked how she knew he wasn't married and raised a brow. Looking around the room, she shook her head. "Your entire livelihood is here, including your ship and your crew. Their livelihoods are as well. Were you married, you wouldn't have a servant climbing a hill every day to feed you and you wouldn't be living out of crates."
She tore a piece of bread off a fresh loaf and leaned against the table to eat as she watched him. He considered her before admitting there had been someone.. and that he'd even proposed to a prostitute. But she didn't laugh. It seemed rather sad to be so enamored with someone who would, for all intents and purposes, never return his feelings in such a way. She listened as he told his story about how he'd come upon that decision. What led him to that moment. And she ate while he reminisced; taking sips of water or wine in between. When he admitted that this girl he'd fallen for was like her, she raised a brow but he quickly corrected himself; clarifying that they were only alike in stature. The story he told was indeed similar to hers and had she been with another captain it may have gone about differently. She frowned and crossed her arms; losing her appetite.
Turning and wandering to the side of the temple; she nudged open one of the makeshift doors to look down at the camp through the vegetation that grew there. He told her about killing his captain and taking the ship but losing the interest to marry. It made sense. He had everything he could want then. Fortune, a reputable name (at least in his 'community'), and no one to answer to. A wife would change all of that. She couldn't blame him.
He stole away behind her; his arms sliding about her waist so he could draw her close from behind; brushing a kiss along her salty skin after moving her hair. Their bodies stuck together where their skin touched; still sweaty from their time outside. His attentions grew more adventurous as he spoke; distinguishing her from the others as he pulled up her skirt until her thigh was exposed enough for him to graze his hand over her skin. She bristled as he informed her she still wanted to kill him and a nagging feeling in the back of her mind sprung to life; satiated over the last days time with him. It was the anger in her; the need for revenge that clawed inside her chest; muted by her day on the island. When he nipped at her shoulder she hissed and twisted out of his arms. "I'm already free. I decide what I will or won't do.... But you're right. I won't settle."
She stepped around him and padded across the temple and out the front door; not really sure she knew where she was going, but not able to stay there anymore. They were getting too familiar. Too cozy. He was telling her his story and she was finding sympathy for her kidnapper. In a few weeks, Diomedes would find her or she'd make her way home and all of this would be a surreal nightmare. Including the captain who refused to return her. Then again, even if she was able to wrench her freedom from him, she'd be hard-pressed to forget those piercing dark eyes and broad shoulders. Or the way he felt in the springs last night. He was permeating her logic; invading her ability to reason and make sound judgments. She needed to stay alert and remember that he wasn't a suitor. He was a pirate and a slaver.
She glanced up at him when he asked how she knew he wasn't married and raised a brow. Looking around the room, she shook her head. "Your entire livelihood is here, including your ship and your crew. Their livelihoods are as well. Were you married, you wouldn't have a servant climbing a hill every day to feed you and you wouldn't be living out of crates."
She tore a piece of bread off a fresh loaf and leaned against the table to eat as she watched him. He considered her before admitting there had been someone.. and that he'd even proposed to a prostitute. But she didn't laugh. It seemed rather sad to be so enamored with someone who would, for all intents and purposes, never return his feelings in such a way. She listened as he told his story about how he'd come upon that decision. What led him to that moment. And she ate while he reminisced; taking sips of water or wine in between. When he admitted that this girl he'd fallen for was like her, she raised a brow but he quickly corrected himself; clarifying that they were only alike in stature. The story he told was indeed similar to hers and had she been with another captain it may have gone about differently. She frowned and crossed her arms; losing her appetite.
Turning and wandering to the side of the temple; she nudged open one of the makeshift doors to look down at the camp through the vegetation that grew there. He told her about killing his captain and taking the ship but losing the interest to marry. It made sense. He had everything he could want then. Fortune, a reputable name (at least in his 'community'), and no one to answer to. A wife would change all of that. She couldn't blame him.
He stole away behind her; his arms sliding about her waist so he could draw her close from behind; brushing a kiss along her salty skin after moving her hair. Their bodies stuck together where their skin touched; still sweaty from their time outside. His attentions grew more adventurous as he spoke; distinguishing her from the others as he pulled up her skirt until her thigh was exposed enough for him to graze his hand over her skin. She bristled as he informed her she still wanted to kill him and a nagging feeling in the back of her mind sprung to life; satiated over the last days time with him. It was the anger in her; the need for revenge that clawed inside her chest; muted by her day on the island. When he nipped at her shoulder she hissed and twisted out of his arms. "I'm already free. I decide what I will or won't do.... But you're right. I won't settle."
She stepped around him and padded across the temple and out the front door; not really sure she knew where she was going, but not able to stay there anymore. They were getting too familiar. Too cozy. He was telling her his story and she was finding sympathy for her kidnapper. In a few weeks, Diomedes would find her or she'd make her way home and all of this would be a surreal nightmare. Including the captain who refused to return her. Then again, even if she was able to wrench her freedom from him, she'd be hard-pressed to forget those piercing dark eyes and broad shoulders. Or the way he felt in the springs last night. He was permeating her logic; invading her ability to reason and make sound judgments. She needed to stay alert and remember that he wasn't a suitor. He was a pirate and a slaver.
"I'm already free. I decide what I will or won't do.... But you're right. I won't settle."
Thalia twisted away as she spat out venom that should have poisoned him against her. Instead, he simply let go and watched her storm off. The fingers of his hand curled into a fist and he stood there a moment, working his jaw, trying to decide how to proceed. She hadn’t whipped around to try and kill him but he wasn’t entirely sure why if she hated him as much as she just said. He stared at the place where she’d been a moment ago and then nodded to himself.
Walking over to the weapons crate, he wrenched open the lid and sifted through until he found a short leather sheath. After that he moved to the mattress, lifting it up to find his dagger still in place. Glancing back at the doorway, he took the dagger, stuffing it down into the sheath and affixed it to his waist before pulling his shirt down over it. That done, he set about eating more food, his eyes ever on the open temple door.
He took a long draft of wine before walking out to the portico. She was nowhere in sight but he didn’t trust her not to lie in wait somewhere. The sword that he’d been practicing with was still on his hip and so he set out, feeling fairly confident that if he was ambushed, he at least had a chance with the dagger. His first order of business should not have been sex with her this morning or sword play. It should have been checking the ship.
It was odd but she had not aroused his temper with her outburst. Instead he was perfectly calm, his eyes scanning his surroundings as he reached the docks. A large form appeared on the deck and casually leaned over the railing, watching. Lukos ignored him for the moment until he was sure that she was nowhere near. Only then did he spare Arktos a glance.
“Boring?” the big man called. “Like a fish?” His laugh rang out across the docks and lagoon as Lukos walked up the gangway, gaining the middle deck. Arktos had crossed to the other side of the railings, leering down at him. “If she’s such lady then why does Gorgoa say she found you two all nestled up this morning?” Arktos laughed again, stumping down the stairs and across the deck. Lukos watched him through narrowed eyes, arms crossed over his chest. The slave girl had wasted no time telling anyone within sight, apparently.
“What needs fixed,” Lukos asked, ignoring the goading but Arktos would not be put off.
“No tell me. Really. What’s she like? I can only imagine-”
“That’s all you’ll be doing,” Lukos’s gaze had gone flat as had his voice. Arktos regarded him a moment and then placed his hands behind his back.
“Yes, Captain.”
“Walk me over this morning,” Lukos said, his gaze moving across the water to the village where he suspected she may have gone. The two of them went down into the hold, going over the need for various replacement parts. In the dim light of the hold, Arktos sat down on one of the rowing benches, staring at Lukos who was crouched on a different bench, running his fingers over a board, trying to decide whether or not it would be worth the effort to have it replaced before their next voyage.
“When are we going to take Stravos up on his deal?” Arktos asked quietly as though there was anyone around that could not hear.
“We need that warship,” Lukos’s voice was far away as he moved onto another bench, inspecting the oar fitting.
“We have the wood,” Arktos stood to follow him as he moved further and further down the ship.
Lukos smirked over his shoulder. “You’re ready for blood.”
“I don’t like the idea of crossing the Stravos house.” Arktos was not normally this insistent and it made the captain pause. He stood up on the bench, taller than Arktos at last and looked down on him.
“Bears have no faith, it seems,” he said quietly.
“I just mean-”
“I have a plan and it involves the girl,” Lukos cut across him. “You see to the ship. I’ll see to her. Besides, we’ve already sank a few ships.”
Arktos shifted. “He said to sink every ship.”
At that Lukos’s smile took a decidedly wicked upturn. “Do you always do exactly as you’re told?” He bowed at the waist. “Master Stravos, what else can I kill for you? Want me to lick your sandals? Dress up in a pretty chiton? Turn around, Arktos. Let him fuck you, too.”
Arktos surged to his feet, eyes burning but Lukos laughed and said, “I decide who lives and who dies. Not that puppy. I’m the captain. Whatever happens falls on me. Not you.” For a long second he wondered if Arktos would back down. The man seemed to be considering taking a swing at him but at last, the big shoulders relaxed and he chuckled.
“He is a puppy,” he agreed. “Now how is the girl going to help us? You’re planning on more gold from her? Selling her?”
“She’d just kill whoever I sell her to,” Lukos hedged. The truth was he had no intention of selling her to anyone. Not since he walked off this ship only a few days ago to retrieve her. “Come. Let’s get Bianor and take stock of the warship.”
“So what are you-” Arktos began but Lukos ignored him, pounding up the stairs well ahead of him so that the rest of the question was lost down below.
It did not take long for Lukos, Arktos, and Bianor to make their way from the ship, around the docks, and through the village toward the ship boneyard on the white beach. It was separated from the last of the little houses by a long stretch of white sand. As they moved down the one street, he was hyper aware of every face around him, still on the defensive. Where had she gone? Part of him wanted to just confront her but it was a little bit of a game that he was playing with himself; to see how long he could mess with her fire before she burn him beyond recognition.
As they rounded the last of the houses, he stopped. Between them and the boneyard sat Thalia, surrounded by women. They each had baskets in their hands as they sorted through what the water traps set in the lagoon had caught from last night. Arktos shoved him with his shoulder. Lukos glared but reached down to his sword, resting his hand on the hilt as they walked forward. He watched her closely, not afraid but still wary. She could be unpredictable at times.
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"I'm already free. I decide what I will or won't do.... But you're right. I won't settle."
Thalia twisted away as she spat out venom that should have poisoned him against her. Instead, he simply let go and watched her storm off. The fingers of his hand curled into a fist and he stood there a moment, working his jaw, trying to decide how to proceed. She hadn’t whipped around to try and kill him but he wasn’t entirely sure why if she hated him as much as she just said. He stared at the place where she’d been a moment ago and then nodded to himself.
Walking over to the weapons crate, he wrenched open the lid and sifted through until he found a short leather sheath. After that he moved to the mattress, lifting it up to find his dagger still in place. Glancing back at the doorway, he took the dagger, stuffing it down into the sheath and affixed it to his waist before pulling his shirt down over it. That done, he set about eating more food, his eyes ever on the open temple door.
He took a long draft of wine before walking out to the portico. She was nowhere in sight but he didn’t trust her not to lie in wait somewhere. The sword that he’d been practicing with was still on his hip and so he set out, feeling fairly confident that if he was ambushed, he at least had a chance with the dagger. His first order of business should not have been sex with her this morning or sword play. It should have been checking the ship.
It was odd but she had not aroused his temper with her outburst. Instead he was perfectly calm, his eyes scanning his surroundings as he reached the docks. A large form appeared on the deck and casually leaned over the railing, watching. Lukos ignored him for the moment until he was sure that she was nowhere near. Only then did he spare Arktos a glance.
“Boring?” the big man called. “Like a fish?” His laugh rang out across the docks and lagoon as Lukos walked up the gangway, gaining the middle deck. Arktos had crossed to the other side of the railings, leering down at him. “If she’s such lady then why does Gorgoa say she found you two all nestled up this morning?” Arktos laughed again, stumping down the stairs and across the deck. Lukos watched him through narrowed eyes, arms crossed over his chest. The slave girl had wasted no time telling anyone within sight, apparently.
“What needs fixed,” Lukos asked, ignoring the goading but Arktos would not be put off.
“No tell me. Really. What’s she like? I can only imagine-”
“That’s all you’ll be doing,” Lukos’s gaze had gone flat as had his voice. Arktos regarded him a moment and then placed his hands behind his back.
“Yes, Captain.”
“Walk me over this morning,” Lukos said, his gaze moving across the water to the village where he suspected she may have gone. The two of them went down into the hold, going over the need for various replacement parts. In the dim light of the hold, Arktos sat down on one of the rowing benches, staring at Lukos who was crouched on a different bench, running his fingers over a board, trying to decide whether or not it would be worth the effort to have it replaced before their next voyage.
“When are we going to take Stravos up on his deal?” Arktos asked quietly as though there was anyone around that could not hear.
“We need that warship,” Lukos’s voice was far away as he moved onto another bench, inspecting the oar fitting.
“We have the wood,” Arktos stood to follow him as he moved further and further down the ship.
Lukos smirked over his shoulder. “You’re ready for blood.”
“I don’t like the idea of crossing the Stravos house.” Arktos was not normally this insistent and it made the captain pause. He stood up on the bench, taller than Arktos at last and looked down on him.
“Bears have no faith, it seems,” he said quietly.
“I just mean-”
“I have a plan and it involves the girl,” Lukos cut across him. “You see to the ship. I’ll see to her. Besides, we’ve already sank a few ships.”
Arktos shifted. “He said to sink every ship.”
At that Lukos’s smile took a decidedly wicked upturn. “Do you always do exactly as you’re told?” He bowed at the waist. “Master Stravos, what else can I kill for you? Want me to lick your sandals? Dress up in a pretty chiton? Turn around, Arktos. Let him fuck you, too.”
Arktos surged to his feet, eyes burning but Lukos laughed and said, “I decide who lives and who dies. Not that puppy. I’m the captain. Whatever happens falls on me. Not you.” For a long second he wondered if Arktos would back down. The man seemed to be considering taking a swing at him but at last, the big shoulders relaxed and he chuckled.
“He is a puppy,” he agreed. “Now how is the girl going to help us? You’re planning on more gold from her? Selling her?”
“She’d just kill whoever I sell her to,” Lukos hedged. The truth was he had no intention of selling her to anyone. Not since he walked off this ship only a few days ago to retrieve her. “Come. Let’s get Bianor and take stock of the warship.”
“So what are you-” Arktos began but Lukos ignored him, pounding up the stairs well ahead of him so that the rest of the question was lost down below.
It did not take long for Lukos, Arktos, and Bianor to make their way from the ship, around the docks, and through the village toward the ship boneyard on the white beach. It was separated from the last of the little houses by a long stretch of white sand. As they moved down the one street, he was hyper aware of every face around him, still on the defensive. Where had she gone? Part of him wanted to just confront her but it was a little bit of a game that he was playing with himself; to see how long he could mess with her fire before she burn him beyond recognition.
As they rounded the last of the houses, he stopped. Between them and the boneyard sat Thalia, surrounded by women. They each had baskets in their hands as they sorted through what the water traps set in the lagoon had caught from last night. Arktos shoved him with his shoulder. Lukos glared but reached down to his sword, resting his hand on the hilt as they walked forward. He watched her closely, not afraid but still wary. She could be unpredictable at times.
"I'm already free. I decide what I will or won't do.... But you're right. I won't settle."
Thalia twisted away as she spat out venom that should have poisoned him against her. Instead, he simply let go and watched her storm off. The fingers of his hand curled into a fist and he stood there a moment, working his jaw, trying to decide how to proceed. She hadn’t whipped around to try and kill him but he wasn’t entirely sure why if she hated him as much as she just said. He stared at the place where she’d been a moment ago and then nodded to himself.
Walking over to the weapons crate, he wrenched open the lid and sifted through until he found a short leather sheath. After that he moved to the mattress, lifting it up to find his dagger still in place. Glancing back at the doorway, he took the dagger, stuffing it down into the sheath and affixed it to his waist before pulling his shirt down over it. That done, he set about eating more food, his eyes ever on the open temple door.
He took a long draft of wine before walking out to the portico. She was nowhere in sight but he didn’t trust her not to lie in wait somewhere. The sword that he’d been practicing with was still on his hip and so he set out, feeling fairly confident that if he was ambushed, he at least had a chance with the dagger. His first order of business should not have been sex with her this morning or sword play. It should have been checking the ship.
It was odd but she had not aroused his temper with her outburst. Instead he was perfectly calm, his eyes scanning his surroundings as he reached the docks. A large form appeared on the deck and casually leaned over the railing, watching. Lukos ignored him for the moment until he was sure that she was nowhere near. Only then did he spare Arktos a glance.
“Boring?” the big man called. “Like a fish?” His laugh rang out across the docks and lagoon as Lukos walked up the gangway, gaining the middle deck. Arktos had crossed to the other side of the railings, leering down at him. “If she’s such lady then why does Gorgoa say she found you two all nestled up this morning?” Arktos laughed again, stumping down the stairs and across the deck. Lukos watched him through narrowed eyes, arms crossed over his chest. The slave girl had wasted no time telling anyone within sight, apparently.
“What needs fixed,” Lukos asked, ignoring the goading but Arktos would not be put off.
“No tell me. Really. What’s she like? I can only imagine-”
“That’s all you’ll be doing,” Lukos’s gaze had gone flat as had his voice. Arktos regarded him a moment and then placed his hands behind his back.
“Yes, Captain.”
“Walk me over this morning,” Lukos said, his gaze moving across the water to the village where he suspected she may have gone. The two of them went down into the hold, going over the need for various replacement parts. In the dim light of the hold, Arktos sat down on one of the rowing benches, staring at Lukos who was crouched on a different bench, running his fingers over a board, trying to decide whether or not it would be worth the effort to have it replaced before their next voyage.
“When are we going to take Stravos up on his deal?” Arktos asked quietly as though there was anyone around that could not hear.
“We need that warship,” Lukos’s voice was far away as he moved onto another bench, inspecting the oar fitting.
“We have the wood,” Arktos stood to follow him as he moved further and further down the ship.
Lukos smirked over his shoulder. “You’re ready for blood.”
“I don’t like the idea of crossing the Stravos house.” Arktos was not normally this insistent and it made the captain pause. He stood up on the bench, taller than Arktos at last and looked down on him.
“Bears have no faith, it seems,” he said quietly.
“I just mean-”
“I have a plan and it involves the girl,” Lukos cut across him. “You see to the ship. I’ll see to her. Besides, we’ve already sank a few ships.”
Arktos shifted. “He said to sink every ship.”
At that Lukos’s smile took a decidedly wicked upturn. “Do you always do exactly as you’re told?” He bowed at the waist. “Master Stravos, what else can I kill for you? Want me to lick your sandals? Dress up in a pretty chiton? Turn around, Arktos. Let him fuck you, too.”
Arktos surged to his feet, eyes burning but Lukos laughed and said, “I decide who lives and who dies. Not that puppy. I’m the captain. Whatever happens falls on me. Not you.” For a long second he wondered if Arktos would back down. The man seemed to be considering taking a swing at him but at last, the big shoulders relaxed and he chuckled.
“He is a puppy,” he agreed. “Now how is the girl going to help us? You’re planning on more gold from her? Selling her?”
“She’d just kill whoever I sell her to,” Lukos hedged. The truth was he had no intention of selling her to anyone. Not since he walked off this ship only a few days ago to retrieve her. “Come. Let’s get Bianor and take stock of the warship.”
“So what are you-” Arktos began but Lukos ignored him, pounding up the stairs well ahead of him so that the rest of the question was lost down below.
It did not take long for Lukos, Arktos, and Bianor to make their way from the ship, around the docks, and through the village toward the ship boneyard on the white beach. It was separated from the last of the little houses by a long stretch of white sand. As they moved down the one street, he was hyper aware of every face around him, still on the defensive. Where had she gone? Part of him wanted to just confront her but it was a little bit of a game that he was playing with himself; to see how long he could mess with her fire before she burn him beyond recognition.
As they rounded the last of the houses, he stopped. Between them and the boneyard sat Thalia, surrounded by women. They each had baskets in their hands as they sorted through what the water traps set in the lagoon had caught from last night. Arktos shoved him with his shoulder. Lukos glared but reached down to his sword, resting his hand on the hilt as they walked forward. He watched her closely, not afraid but still wary. She could be unpredictable at times.
Lukos had nothing to worry about while she was on the island. Thalia would be out of her mind stupid to attack the captain of the pirate ship that captured her. Well... at least to attempt to kill him. She had no allies here; no one that would defend her if she fought back against him. Her only recourse was to defend herself. And while she was skilled enough to do so, were Lukos to say the word his men would outnumber her and she could easily be thrown back in a cage. Her freedom was predicated on the relative good humor of the master of this island. Perhaps she should have catered to him more; stayed in his good graces and did as he asked. She could have turned to face him; let him gather her up and fuck her again. But Thalia had never been one to keep from speaking her mind or allowing someone to assert control over her when they weren't directly related to her. Even her father she would vie for her own interests even though, ultimately, he had his way. ...But she didn't hate him. ...Whatever her feelings were towards her captor had morphed after he'd dragged her back to the ship and admitted why he'd retrieved her. In his own twisted way, he was trying to save her. Coupled with what'd happened yesterday and this morning she really couldn't figure out how she felt about Lukos. Nor did she really care to think about it. .....Still, in the interim, it would be nice to keep him on his toes; never knowing how she would react.
She stalked down the path; careful to remain upright as she went as it could be tricky in spots. When the trail evened out, she went to the dock where Arktos's imposing frame moved between the ship and the boardwalk. She was on a roll and itching for a fight. "Hello, Pirate." Arktos glanced up at her and grunted as he moved a crate; a knowing look in his eyes. "Surprised you c'n walk, Princess.... Looking for seconds?" Thalia slowed as she neared the gangplank; crossing her arms as she stared at him. "Depends.. Where's my sheath? I'd really rather not repeat what I did to yesterday, but if I have to I will..." Arktos looked over the side of the ship down at her with a dark expression. "You got lucky, girl. That won't happen again." He stalked down the gangplank. "But tell you what.. Heard you were entertainin' callers. How bout a trade you...yer sheath fer a roll about the beach." He stopped in front of her and the implication of what Arktos said finally sunk in. Her cheeks turned red; spreading down through her neck and across her chest. At first, she considered Lukos told him, but he'd not left her side all morning. There was no way.....
The servant girl.
Her smirk turned sardonic and she shook her head. "You know what I did this mornin', Pirate?" Arktos's grin turned up as his eyes trailed the length of her slender frame; lingering on her chest and the curve of her hips. "I think I could guess, wot.." Thalia paused a moment before raising her chin. Her world and his were two different places. She could never get by trying to falsely guard her purity here; it only encouraged them. So...if you can't beat 'em, join em. "Well...that, yes. But I also sparred with your captain for three hours. .....Three... long hours, Arktos. I wore him out and here I am. ....You couldn't keep up with me yesterday and you wouldn't be able to keep up with me in that way, either. ...Sides. I'm thinking your captain isn't to keen on sharing.."
Had she backed down.. had she gotten offended or angry it would have only encouraged him. Instead, she owned it and called his bluff; counting on the fact that, since she'd been with Lukos, she'd be off-limits to the other men. Much like his temple and all of the finery inside of it was. Arktos narrowed his eyes as he stared at her for a long moment before sniffing and turning his back. "You're an annoying little bitch, aren't you?" She grinned and followed him a few paces behind. "Mmm.... I am. And I'll keep on annoying you until I get my sheath." Arktos hoisted a barrel onto his shoulder and made his way up the plank. "You want it? Gotta see if Iairos still has it. Laid claim to it shortly after we caught you."
"...And who is Iairos?" Arktos grunted as he set the barrel down. "You figure it out, you get your sheath back."
He moved passed her again' down the plank and she watched him for a long moment before sighing and following him back down. She passed him and made her way into the small village instead. She knew a few of the women and they would know everyone else. First, she went to the woman who'd given her her cat. It was downright impossible to keep track of anything here. Cats. Swords. They all disappeared.
Children ran around the small hut laughing and playing and she followed them to the back where their mother was pulling clothes off the line. "Hello, Frona..." The woman looked up haggardly from her basket and offered Thalia a smile that she returned. "Your cat wandered back here the day y'all left on the ship. Been keeping her fed, but she's probably around here somewheres...hopefully catchin' some mice." Thalia grinned and followed her around the side of the house. "Oh good.. I was going to ask you about her.. I have another question too... Do you know who Iairos is?" She nodded as she swatted at one of the kids she passed by. "Aye.. he's shacked up with Pallas 'cross the street somewhats." She pointed to a hut in the distance before setting down the basket on a bench outside. "Wot chu want with him?" She stared at her curiously; by now the entire village was aware of two things when it came to Thalia. She was a hell of a fighter and she was fucking the captain. Both of which were feats in and of themselves on the island. Thalia patted her sword that she'd won yesterday. "He has my sheath. I'd like it back." Frona raised her brow. "Does he? Well, let's go on over there and get it back to you... I swear these boys sure do like to ruffle our feathers...but we need to stick together...give them the wot for when they ain't towin' the line, ain't that right?" Thalia looked down at her and the corner of her mouth quirked up a bit. "....Well... yes, I suppose..."
Frona frog marched Thalia across the street to Pallas's hut and called into her before walkin inside. Pallas looked up curiously as she kneaded some dough. "'Ey Pallas... Miss Phaedra says Iairos got her sheath for the fine sword she won yesterday. You seen somethin' like that around?"
Thalia muttered "..Lady.." beneath her breath, but not enough for either of them to hear. The less anyone knew about her the better.
Pallas looked at Thalia shrewdly before noddin'." Won that sword fair 'n square, you did.. Ain't no reason you shouldn't have the holder for it to. That fool brought it home like a trophy thinkin' I'd wear it.. could you imagine?? Me..with a sword.." She laughed at the idea and went to fetch the sheath; holding it out to Thalia who grinned as she took it. She pulled it over her shoulders and removed her blade from her waist so she could secure it on her back where it was meant to be. "That's so much better.. Thank you..." Thalia went to step around before Frona sucked in a breath and blocked her path to the door. Thalia looked down at her curiously and furrowed her brows. "...What is it, Frona?"
Frona looked outside of the hut for a second before ushering her back in. "...We heard you been takin' up with the Captain.." Thalia frowned; that familiar flush covering her skin and she stepped back towards the door. "I don't know how that's anyone's concern.." Frona waived her dismissal away and nudged her back towards Pallas who was digging through a basket for something. "Oh we ain't judgin' you, dear.... seems the natural course of things 'n all... Their code ain't like yours. ...Sides.. If Captain showed any interest in any of us we'd probably do the same thing. ....I'm thinkin' you won't be wantin' none of the wee won's runnin' around none-time soon though.. and that's just what happens when yeh take t'spreadin yer legs."
Thalia was mortified. She'd never been around women who'd ever talked so bluntly about such topics. Even her brothers were less forthright with such things. "I... hadn't thought about it..." Frona nodded decisively. "Didn't think you had, dear. ...Here..." Pallas handed Frona a small hand-sized satchel that she then handed to Thalia. "Inside there's an herb. You drink that in a tea once a month 'bout twenty days after yer cycle. Make sure you're consistent. It'll keep yeh from havin' any wee captains runnin' about if you know what I mean.." Thalia stared at her open mouth before looking down at the bag in her hand. The thought of getting pregnant never even crossed her mind.. but she was glad they'd thought of it. She had no desire to have children, let alone those of Lukos's . Frona patted her arm. "Course...ain't nuthin foolproof... but that's bout a close as yer gonna get..." Thalia paused before looking up at her. "How do I get more?" Frona chuckled. "That should last you a couple months....but you need some more, you come talk to me or Pallas.. we grow it in our garden. Menfolk just think it's a weed."
Thalia's mouth quirked into a grin and she nodded. "Thank you again... you've all been so kind to me..." Frona nodded. "Don't mention it, dear. After the show you put on yesterday every woman in this village thinks you're just about the damndest thing here. Now...c'mon.. We got a fresh catch comin' in. You can help sort through it with us...."
Thalia followed the women down to the beach and helped them bring the baskets of fish and shellfish to a sitting area. She sat down with them and moved her skirts aside so she could help go through the shellfish. Frona showed her what to look for and the rest of the women immediately welcomed her into their exclusive group. For once she didn't feel awkward or out of place with them. They didn't stare at her oddly for carrying a sword of laying with the captain. They laughed with her and ribbed her a bit like women did when trying to make friends and Thalia decided she didn't mind it at all. When Lukos walked by with Bianor and Arktos, she glanced up as she cleaned off a muscle; catching his gaze as he passed. There was a challenge there, but there was also something else. A hint of amusement. Frona caught her attention again and she looked away; only to be drawn back into their conversation.
She stayed with the women for the remainder of the day. Frona did her hair again the way she'd done it before, and she helped make some bread; something she'd never done before. She also helped gather some fresh eggs, and pick some vegetables in the garden. She found Artemis and the cat meowed at her like she'd found an old friend. When it was time to bring Lukos's meal up to the temple, Thalia said goodbye to the women and followed Gorgoa up the path with a basket of her own. Artemis quick on her heal. She hurried along so she could walk by the girls' side and glanced down at her; annoyed that she'd gone and spilled so much information about her captain so easily. "Gorgoa... Do you value your place on this island and your role in serving the captain...?"
The girl looked up at her a bit curious. "I....Yes....." Thalia nodded and adjusted the basket on her hip. "I thought you did.. and you do such a wonderful job tending to him... bringing his food and lighting the lamps. ...But a servant must also be discreet. Oh telling people about us isn't what one might be considered a transgression, but if it had been something else.... I should hate to see the captain turn on you and sell you off as he does the women he captures because you betrayed his confidence..." Gorgoa paled and glanced down at the path before nodding silently. Thalia smiled and followed her up the stairs into the temple. "...Oh good.. I'm so glad you agree... I'd would so hate to see you leave. Your whole family is here, are they not?" Gorgoa nodded and slowly set her things on the table. "Well.. You have nothing to worry about as long as you keep the captain's affairs private, do you?" She set her own basket down; pulling out the loaf of bread she'd made and some of the shellfish she'd helped clean.
Gorgoa nodded again and moved away to light the lamps while Thalia set the table with all of the food she brought. From there she went and washed up quickly in the spring after Gorgoa left, as she was still clammy from their exercises and the days adventures. She dawned a clean chiton; the other she set aside to be cleaned, but it was still in good condition. She was rather proud she'd made it through the day without destroying it. She set her sword on one of the crates and dressed all before Lukos returned that evening and when he did she wandered out smelling of scented oils; her skin glowing in the lamplight. Skipping a few steps in her haste to reach him, she jumped into his arms; her legs wrapping about his waist as her mouth found his hungrily. Holding herself up by his shoulders she purred against his mouth; clearly, any irritation she'd had for him earlier in the day had dissolved. Her fingers stroked down the column of his neck in that familiar way she always did and when their lips finally parted, she stared down at him as he held her. "....I made bread today.... I've never made bread..." Hazel eyes sparkled with amusement and she tugged her lower lip between her teeth bashfully.
JD
Staff Team
JD
Staff Team
This post was created by our staff team.
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Lukos had nothing to worry about while she was on the island. Thalia would be out of her mind stupid to attack the captain of the pirate ship that captured her. Well... at least to attempt to kill him. She had no allies here; no one that would defend her if she fought back against him. Her only recourse was to defend herself. And while she was skilled enough to do so, were Lukos to say the word his men would outnumber her and she could easily be thrown back in a cage. Her freedom was predicated on the relative good humor of the master of this island. Perhaps she should have catered to him more; stayed in his good graces and did as he asked. She could have turned to face him; let him gather her up and fuck her again. But Thalia had never been one to keep from speaking her mind or allowing someone to assert control over her when they weren't directly related to her. Even her father she would vie for her own interests even though, ultimately, he had his way. ...But she didn't hate him. ...Whatever her feelings were towards her captor had morphed after he'd dragged her back to the ship and admitted why he'd retrieved her. In his own twisted way, he was trying to save her. Coupled with what'd happened yesterday and this morning she really couldn't figure out how she felt about Lukos. Nor did she really care to think about it. .....Still, in the interim, it would be nice to keep him on his toes; never knowing how she would react.
She stalked down the path; careful to remain upright as she went as it could be tricky in spots. When the trail evened out, she went to the dock where Arktos's imposing frame moved between the ship and the boardwalk. She was on a roll and itching for a fight. "Hello, Pirate." Arktos glanced up at her and grunted as he moved a crate; a knowing look in his eyes. "Surprised you c'n walk, Princess.... Looking for seconds?" Thalia slowed as she neared the gangplank; crossing her arms as she stared at him. "Depends.. Where's my sheath? I'd really rather not repeat what I did to yesterday, but if I have to I will..." Arktos looked over the side of the ship down at her with a dark expression. "You got lucky, girl. That won't happen again." He stalked down the gangplank. "But tell you what.. Heard you were entertainin' callers. How bout a trade you...yer sheath fer a roll about the beach." He stopped in front of her and the implication of what Arktos said finally sunk in. Her cheeks turned red; spreading down through her neck and across her chest. At first, she considered Lukos told him, but he'd not left her side all morning. There was no way.....
The servant girl.
Her smirk turned sardonic and she shook her head. "You know what I did this mornin', Pirate?" Arktos's grin turned up as his eyes trailed the length of her slender frame; lingering on her chest and the curve of her hips. "I think I could guess, wot.." Thalia paused a moment before raising her chin. Her world and his were two different places. She could never get by trying to falsely guard her purity here; it only encouraged them. So...if you can't beat 'em, join em. "Well...that, yes. But I also sparred with your captain for three hours. .....Three... long hours, Arktos. I wore him out and here I am. ....You couldn't keep up with me yesterday and you wouldn't be able to keep up with me in that way, either. ...Sides. I'm thinking your captain isn't to keen on sharing.."
Had she backed down.. had she gotten offended or angry it would have only encouraged him. Instead, she owned it and called his bluff; counting on the fact that, since she'd been with Lukos, she'd be off-limits to the other men. Much like his temple and all of the finery inside of it was. Arktos narrowed his eyes as he stared at her for a long moment before sniffing and turning his back. "You're an annoying little bitch, aren't you?" She grinned and followed him a few paces behind. "Mmm.... I am. And I'll keep on annoying you until I get my sheath." Arktos hoisted a barrel onto his shoulder and made his way up the plank. "You want it? Gotta see if Iairos still has it. Laid claim to it shortly after we caught you."
"...And who is Iairos?" Arktos grunted as he set the barrel down. "You figure it out, you get your sheath back."
He moved passed her again' down the plank and she watched him for a long moment before sighing and following him back down. She passed him and made her way into the small village instead. She knew a few of the women and they would know everyone else. First, she went to the woman who'd given her her cat. It was downright impossible to keep track of anything here. Cats. Swords. They all disappeared.
Children ran around the small hut laughing and playing and she followed them to the back where their mother was pulling clothes off the line. "Hello, Frona..." The woman looked up haggardly from her basket and offered Thalia a smile that she returned. "Your cat wandered back here the day y'all left on the ship. Been keeping her fed, but she's probably around here somewheres...hopefully catchin' some mice." Thalia grinned and followed her around the side of the house. "Oh good.. I was going to ask you about her.. I have another question too... Do you know who Iairos is?" She nodded as she swatted at one of the kids she passed by. "Aye.. he's shacked up with Pallas 'cross the street somewhats." She pointed to a hut in the distance before setting down the basket on a bench outside. "Wot chu want with him?" She stared at her curiously; by now the entire village was aware of two things when it came to Thalia. She was a hell of a fighter and she was fucking the captain. Both of which were feats in and of themselves on the island. Thalia patted her sword that she'd won yesterday. "He has my sheath. I'd like it back." Frona raised her brow. "Does he? Well, let's go on over there and get it back to you... I swear these boys sure do like to ruffle our feathers...but we need to stick together...give them the wot for when they ain't towin' the line, ain't that right?" Thalia looked down at her and the corner of her mouth quirked up a bit. "....Well... yes, I suppose..."
Frona frog marched Thalia across the street to Pallas's hut and called into her before walkin inside. Pallas looked up curiously as she kneaded some dough. "'Ey Pallas... Miss Phaedra says Iairos got her sheath for the fine sword she won yesterday. You seen somethin' like that around?"
Thalia muttered "..Lady.." beneath her breath, but not enough for either of them to hear. The less anyone knew about her the better.
Pallas looked at Thalia shrewdly before noddin'." Won that sword fair 'n square, you did.. Ain't no reason you shouldn't have the holder for it to. That fool brought it home like a trophy thinkin' I'd wear it.. could you imagine?? Me..with a sword.." She laughed at the idea and went to fetch the sheath; holding it out to Thalia who grinned as she took it. She pulled it over her shoulders and removed her blade from her waist so she could secure it on her back where it was meant to be. "That's so much better.. Thank you..." Thalia went to step around before Frona sucked in a breath and blocked her path to the door. Thalia looked down at her curiously and furrowed her brows. "...What is it, Frona?"
Frona looked outside of the hut for a second before ushering her back in. "...We heard you been takin' up with the Captain.." Thalia frowned; that familiar flush covering her skin and she stepped back towards the door. "I don't know how that's anyone's concern.." Frona waived her dismissal away and nudged her back towards Pallas who was digging through a basket for something. "Oh we ain't judgin' you, dear.... seems the natural course of things 'n all... Their code ain't like yours. ...Sides.. If Captain showed any interest in any of us we'd probably do the same thing. ....I'm thinkin' you won't be wantin' none of the wee won's runnin' around none-time soon though.. and that's just what happens when yeh take t'spreadin yer legs."
Thalia was mortified. She'd never been around women who'd ever talked so bluntly about such topics. Even her brothers were less forthright with such things. "I... hadn't thought about it..." Frona nodded decisively. "Didn't think you had, dear. ...Here..." Pallas handed Frona a small hand-sized satchel that she then handed to Thalia. "Inside there's an herb. You drink that in a tea once a month 'bout twenty days after yer cycle. Make sure you're consistent. It'll keep yeh from havin' any wee captains runnin' about if you know what I mean.." Thalia stared at her open mouth before looking down at the bag in her hand. The thought of getting pregnant never even crossed her mind.. but she was glad they'd thought of it. She had no desire to have children, let alone those of Lukos's . Frona patted her arm. "Course...ain't nuthin foolproof... but that's bout a close as yer gonna get..." Thalia paused before looking up at her. "How do I get more?" Frona chuckled. "That should last you a couple months....but you need some more, you come talk to me or Pallas.. we grow it in our garden. Menfolk just think it's a weed."
Thalia's mouth quirked into a grin and she nodded. "Thank you again... you've all been so kind to me..." Frona nodded. "Don't mention it, dear. After the show you put on yesterday every woman in this village thinks you're just about the damndest thing here. Now...c'mon.. We got a fresh catch comin' in. You can help sort through it with us...."
Thalia followed the women down to the beach and helped them bring the baskets of fish and shellfish to a sitting area. She sat down with them and moved her skirts aside so she could help go through the shellfish. Frona showed her what to look for and the rest of the women immediately welcomed her into their exclusive group. For once she didn't feel awkward or out of place with them. They didn't stare at her oddly for carrying a sword of laying with the captain. They laughed with her and ribbed her a bit like women did when trying to make friends and Thalia decided she didn't mind it at all. When Lukos walked by with Bianor and Arktos, she glanced up as she cleaned off a muscle; catching his gaze as he passed. There was a challenge there, but there was also something else. A hint of amusement. Frona caught her attention again and she looked away; only to be drawn back into their conversation.
She stayed with the women for the remainder of the day. Frona did her hair again the way she'd done it before, and she helped make some bread; something she'd never done before. She also helped gather some fresh eggs, and pick some vegetables in the garden. She found Artemis and the cat meowed at her like she'd found an old friend. When it was time to bring Lukos's meal up to the temple, Thalia said goodbye to the women and followed Gorgoa up the path with a basket of her own. Artemis quick on her heal. She hurried along so she could walk by the girls' side and glanced down at her; annoyed that she'd gone and spilled so much information about her captain so easily. "Gorgoa... Do you value your place on this island and your role in serving the captain...?"
The girl looked up at her a bit curious. "I....Yes....." Thalia nodded and adjusted the basket on her hip. "I thought you did.. and you do such a wonderful job tending to him... bringing his food and lighting the lamps. ...But a servant must also be discreet. Oh telling people about us isn't what one might be considered a transgression, but if it had been something else.... I should hate to see the captain turn on you and sell you off as he does the women he captures because you betrayed his confidence..." Gorgoa paled and glanced down at the path before nodding silently. Thalia smiled and followed her up the stairs into the temple. "...Oh good.. I'm so glad you agree... I'd would so hate to see you leave. Your whole family is here, are they not?" Gorgoa nodded and slowly set her things on the table. "Well.. You have nothing to worry about as long as you keep the captain's affairs private, do you?" She set her own basket down; pulling out the loaf of bread she'd made and some of the shellfish she'd helped clean.
Gorgoa nodded again and moved away to light the lamps while Thalia set the table with all of the food she brought. From there she went and washed up quickly in the spring after Gorgoa left, as she was still clammy from their exercises and the days adventures. She dawned a clean chiton; the other she set aside to be cleaned, but it was still in good condition. She was rather proud she'd made it through the day without destroying it. She set her sword on one of the crates and dressed all before Lukos returned that evening and when he did she wandered out smelling of scented oils; her skin glowing in the lamplight. Skipping a few steps in her haste to reach him, she jumped into his arms; her legs wrapping about his waist as her mouth found his hungrily. Holding herself up by his shoulders she purred against his mouth; clearly, any irritation she'd had for him earlier in the day had dissolved. Her fingers stroked down the column of his neck in that familiar way she always did and when their lips finally parted, she stared down at him as he held her. "....I made bread today.... I've never made bread..." Hazel eyes sparkled with amusement and she tugged her lower lip between her teeth bashfully.
Lukos had nothing to worry about while she was on the island. Thalia would be out of her mind stupid to attack the captain of the pirate ship that captured her. Well... at least to attempt to kill him. She had no allies here; no one that would defend her if she fought back against him. Her only recourse was to defend herself. And while she was skilled enough to do so, were Lukos to say the word his men would outnumber her and she could easily be thrown back in a cage. Her freedom was predicated on the relative good humor of the master of this island. Perhaps she should have catered to him more; stayed in his good graces and did as he asked. She could have turned to face him; let him gather her up and fuck her again. But Thalia had never been one to keep from speaking her mind or allowing someone to assert control over her when they weren't directly related to her. Even her father she would vie for her own interests even though, ultimately, he had his way. ...But she didn't hate him. ...Whatever her feelings were towards her captor had morphed after he'd dragged her back to the ship and admitted why he'd retrieved her. In his own twisted way, he was trying to save her. Coupled with what'd happened yesterday and this morning she really couldn't figure out how she felt about Lukos. Nor did she really care to think about it. .....Still, in the interim, it would be nice to keep him on his toes; never knowing how she would react.
She stalked down the path; careful to remain upright as she went as it could be tricky in spots. When the trail evened out, she went to the dock where Arktos's imposing frame moved between the ship and the boardwalk. She was on a roll and itching for a fight. "Hello, Pirate." Arktos glanced up at her and grunted as he moved a crate; a knowing look in his eyes. "Surprised you c'n walk, Princess.... Looking for seconds?" Thalia slowed as she neared the gangplank; crossing her arms as she stared at him. "Depends.. Where's my sheath? I'd really rather not repeat what I did to yesterday, but if I have to I will..." Arktos looked over the side of the ship down at her with a dark expression. "You got lucky, girl. That won't happen again." He stalked down the gangplank. "But tell you what.. Heard you were entertainin' callers. How bout a trade you...yer sheath fer a roll about the beach." He stopped in front of her and the implication of what Arktos said finally sunk in. Her cheeks turned red; spreading down through her neck and across her chest. At first, she considered Lukos told him, but he'd not left her side all morning. There was no way.....
The servant girl.
Her smirk turned sardonic and she shook her head. "You know what I did this mornin', Pirate?" Arktos's grin turned up as his eyes trailed the length of her slender frame; lingering on her chest and the curve of her hips. "I think I could guess, wot.." Thalia paused a moment before raising her chin. Her world and his were two different places. She could never get by trying to falsely guard her purity here; it only encouraged them. So...if you can't beat 'em, join em. "Well...that, yes. But I also sparred with your captain for three hours. .....Three... long hours, Arktos. I wore him out and here I am. ....You couldn't keep up with me yesterday and you wouldn't be able to keep up with me in that way, either. ...Sides. I'm thinking your captain isn't to keen on sharing.."
Had she backed down.. had she gotten offended or angry it would have only encouraged him. Instead, she owned it and called his bluff; counting on the fact that, since she'd been with Lukos, she'd be off-limits to the other men. Much like his temple and all of the finery inside of it was. Arktos narrowed his eyes as he stared at her for a long moment before sniffing and turning his back. "You're an annoying little bitch, aren't you?" She grinned and followed him a few paces behind. "Mmm.... I am. And I'll keep on annoying you until I get my sheath." Arktos hoisted a barrel onto his shoulder and made his way up the plank. "You want it? Gotta see if Iairos still has it. Laid claim to it shortly after we caught you."
"...And who is Iairos?" Arktos grunted as he set the barrel down. "You figure it out, you get your sheath back."
He moved passed her again' down the plank and she watched him for a long moment before sighing and following him back down. She passed him and made her way into the small village instead. She knew a few of the women and they would know everyone else. First, she went to the woman who'd given her her cat. It was downright impossible to keep track of anything here. Cats. Swords. They all disappeared.
Children ran around the small hut laughing and playing and she followed them to the back where their mother was pulling clothes off the line. "Hello, Frona..." The woman looked up haggardly from her basket and offered Thalia a smile that she returned. "Your cat wandered back here the day y'all left on the ship. Been keeping her fed, but she's probably around here somewheres...hopefully catchin' some mice." Thalia grinned and followed her around the side of the house. "Oh good.. I was going to ask you about her.. I have another question too... Do you know who Iairos is?" She nodded as she swatted at one of the kids she passed by. "Aye.. he's shacked up with Pallas 'cross the street somewhats." She pointed to a hut in the distance before setting down the basket on a bench outside. "Wot chu want with him?" She stared at her curiously; by now the entire village was aware of two things when it came to Thalia. She was a hell of a fighter and she was fucking the captain. Both of which were feats in and of themselves on the island. Thalia patted her sword that she'd won yesterday. "He has my sheath. I'd like it back." Frona raised her brow. "Does he? Well, let's go on over there and get it back to you... I swear these boys sure do like to ruffle our feathers...but we need to stick together...give them the wot for when they ain't towin' the line, ain't that right?" Thalia looked down at her and the corner of her mouth quirked up a bit. "....Well... yes, I suppose..."
Frona frog marched Thalia across the street to Pallas's hut and called into her before walkin inside. Pallas looked up curiously as she kneaded some dough. "'Ey Pallas... Miss Phaedra says Iairos got her sheath for the fine sword she won yesterday. You seen somethin' like that around?"
Thalia muttered "..Lady.." beneath her breath, but not enough for either of them to hear. The less anyone knew about her the better.
Pallas looked at Thalia shrewdly before noddin'." Won that sword fair 'n square, you did.. Ain't no reason you shouldn't have the holder for it to. That fool brought it home like a trophy thinkin' I'd wear it.. could you imagine?? Me..with a sword.." She laughed at the idea and went to fetch the sheath; holding it out to Thalia who grinned as she took it. She pulled it over her shoulders and removed her blade from her waist so she could secure it on her back where it was meant to be. "That's so much better.. Thank you..." Thalia went to step around before Frona sucked in a breath and blocked her path to the door. Thalia looked down at her curiously and furrowed her brows. "...What is it, Frona?"
Frona looked outside of the hut for a second before ushering her back in. "...We heard you been takin' up with the Captain.." Thalia frowned; that familiar flush covering her skin and she stepped back towards the door. "I don't know how that's anyone's concern.." Frona waived her dismissal away and nudged her back towards Pallas who was digging through a basket for something. "Oh we ain't judgin' you, dear.... seems the natural course of things 'n all... Their code ain't like yours. ...Sides.. If Captain showed any interest in any of us we'd probably do the same thing. ....I'm thinkin' you won't be wantin' none of the wee won's runnin' around none-time soon though.. and that's just what happens when yeh take t'spreadin yer legs."
Thalia was mortified. She'd never been around women who'd ever talked so bluntly about such topics. Even her brothers were less forthright with such things. "I... hadn't thought about it..." Frona nodded decisively. "Didn't think you had, dear. ...Here..." Pallas handed Frona a small hand-sized satchel that she then handed to Thalia. "Inside there's an herb. You drink that in a tea once a month 'bout twenty days after yer cycle. Make sure you're consistent. It'll keep yeh from havin' any wee captains runnin' about if you know what I mean.." Thalia stared at her open mouth before looking down at the bag in her hand. The thought of getting pregnant never even crossed her mind.. but she was glad they'd thought of it. She had no desire to have children, let alone those of Lukos's . Frona patted her arm. "Course...ain't nuthin foolproof... but that's bout a close as yer gonna get..." Thalia paused before looking up at her. "How do I get more?" Frona chuckled. "That should last you a couple months....but you need some more, you come talk to me or Pallas.. we grow it in our garden. Menfolk just think it's a weed."
Thalia's mouth quirked into a grin and she nodded. "Thank you again... you've all been so kind to me..." Frona nodded. "Don't mention it, dear. After the show you put on yesterday every woman in this village thinks you're just about the damndest thing here. Now...c'mon.. We got a fresh catch comin' in. You can help sort through it with us...."
Thalia followed the women down to the beach and helped them bring the baskets of fish and shellfish to a sitting area. She sat down with them and moved her skirts aside so she could help go through the shellfish. Frona showed her what to look for and the rest of the women immediately welcomed her into their exclusive group. For once she didn't feel awkward or out of place with them. They didn't stare at her oddly for carrying a sword of laying with the captain. They laughed with her and ribbed her a bit like women did when trying to make friends and Thalia decided she didn't mind it at all. When Lukos walked by with Bianor and Arktos, she glanced up as she cleaned off a muscle; catching his gaze as he passed. There was a challenge there, but there was also something else. A hint of amusement. Frona caught her attention again and she looked away; only to be drawn back into their conversation.
She stayed with the women for the remainder of the day. Frona did her hair again the way she'd done it before, and she helped make some bread; something she'd never done before. She also helped gather some fresh eggs, and pick some vegetables in the garden. She found Artemis and the cat meowed at her like she'd found an old friend. When it was time to bring Lukos's meal up to the temple, Thalia said goodbye to the women and followed Gorgoa up the path with a basket of her own. Artemis quick on her heal. She hurried along so she could walk by the girls' side and glanced down at her; annoyed that she'd gone and spilled so much information about her captain so easily. "Gorgoa... Do you value your place on this island and your role in serving the captain...?"
The girl looked up at her a bit curious. "I....Yes....." Thalia nodded and adjusted the basket on her hip. "I thought you did.. and you do such a wonderful job tending to him... bringing his food and lighting the lamps. ...But a servant must also be discreet. Oh telling people about us isn't what one might be considered a transgression, but if it had been something else.... I should hate to see the captain turn on you and sell you off as he does the women he captures because you betrayed his confidence..." Gorgoa paled and glanced down at the path before nodding silently. Thalia smiled and followed her up the stairs into the temple. "...Oh good.. I'm so glad you agree... I'd would so hate to see you leave. Your whole family is here, are they not?" Gorgoa nodded and slowly set her things on the table. "Well.. You have nothing to worry about as long as you keep the captain's affairs private, do you?" She set her own basket down; pulling out the loaf of bread she'd made and some of the shellfish she'd helped clean.
Gorgoa nodded again and moved away to light the lamps while Thalia set the table with all of the food she brought. From there she went and washed up quickly in the spring after Gorgoa left, as she was still clammy from their exercises and the days adventures. She dawned a clean chiton; the other she set aside to be cleaned, but it was still in good condition. She was rather proud she'd made it through the day without destroying it. She set her sword on one of the crates and dressed all before Lukos returned that evening and when he did she wandered out smelling of scented oils; her skin glowing in the lamplight. Skipping a few steps in her haste to reach him, she jumped into his arms; her legs wrapping about his waist as her mouth found his hungrily. Holding herself up by his shoulders she purred against his mouth; clearly, any irritation she'd had for him earlier in the day had dissolved. Her fingers stroked down the column of his neck in that familiar way she always did and when their lips finally parted, she stared down at him as he held her. "....I made bread today.... I've never made bread..." Hazel eyes sparkled with amusement and she tugged her lower lip between her teeth bashfully.
All three men eyed her as they walked by the circle of women. Lukos didn’t flinch away from her gaze and he lifted an eyebrow at her expression. He also couldn’t figure out how the village women had put her to work without her fighting them tooth and nail about it. Shaking his head, he simply kept going, his focus being redirected as Arktos pointed out that the warship could, conceivably be seaworthy again with more time and effort.
Lukos let his dark eyes wander over the ship, his doubts mounting. That he’d ever half convinced himself that this scheme would work was laughable. Half of the ship had been pulled onto the sand but the back half was destroyed and submerged besides. The timbers there were waterlogged and wouldn’t even be fit for firewood. He stood with his hands on his hips, barely listening to Arktos as the big man proposed dragging the whole thing out of the water and starting reconstruction.
“We don’t have enough gold on the island to make all the repairs this wreck needs,” Bianor cut across him.
”Captain, we have a warship right here. Why not use it? We can’t take one. We’re no match for soldiers,” Arktos complained.
“You’re right,” Lukos said, still looking at the ship. “You’re both right. But Arktos you’re wrong about one thing. We can and we will take a warship. And Phaedra will help us do it.”
“Good luck getting that bitch to do anything,” Arktos muttered. Lukos eyed him and then looked away, pressing his lips together in a hard line. He coughed after a moment, trying to cover the momentary sound of laughter that managed to slip past his defenses. It shouldn’t have been funny, and perhaps it wasn’t, but Arktos was right. Phaedra did absolutely nothing she did not want to do. Which was precisely why he’d have to keep her wanting to train him, and in turn, his men. But this couldn’t wait long.
“I know a way,” he said when he trusted himself to speak.
“Oh yeah?” Arktos arched a brow at him. “How? Keep fucking her until she says yes?”
Lukos thought back to his last encounter with her and shook his head. “We’ll need this boat ripped apart. Save the timbers.”
“You’re really not going to tell me?” Arktos demanded. Bianor also glanced at him, naked curiosity on his wrinkled face.
“I’d have to fuck you too,” Lukos looked him up and down. “And I’d rather drown.”
Akrtos frowned for the space of several heartbeats before he howled with laughter. Lukos patted him on the arm and turned around, walking back up the beach and trusting the other two to follow, which they eventually did. The three of them walked back past the group of women but this time he didn’t check to see what she was doing. His mind was far ahead, envisioning his new warship. The remainder of the afternoon was spent with his crew.
The men swarmed the beach, gutting the ship with tools and in some cases, brute strength. They dismantled the railings and the mast but that was all. This project would be the work of several days and then some. He would also have them dredge up the wreckage from the bottom of the lagoon. His new ship would need somewhere to rest.
The sun began to sink into the watery horizon by the time he left the beach. All he wanted was to go back to the temple but he turned on the path instead and headed back to the ship. Walking up the gangway, he drummed down the stairs and went into his cabin. Once he was by the bed, he knelt down and pried up the floorboard, taking out the coinpurse he’d taken off her a few days ago. That done, he left the ship and began the long trek up the hill.
He climbed the steps, wondering all the while if he should keep his dagger in his hand as he pushed open the door but in the end he opted not to. As soon as he entered, he looked up to find her flying at him. For a split second, he nearly reached back for the knife but instead, he caught her as she jumped into him. She wrapped her legs around her waist and he slid his arms around her, locking her in place.
There wasn’t time to think or wonder at her reasons. Her lips were on his and he found himself kissing her in return, just as lost in her as he ever was. His hands slid over her backside and he didn’t fight her hands on his neck but she didn’t seem to want to continue indefinitely. She pulled back, the first to initiate the kiss and the first to break it, looking down at him with excitement. He returned her look with eyes narrowed in suspicion but when she said she’d made bread, he smirked.
“Look at you learning to be useful.” He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, considering pulling her in for another kiss but he walked over to the bed and laid her down on it instead. Her legs were still wrapped around his waist and his hands were on either side of her. The thought crossed his mind to take her again but he had things to discuss with her. Things that he didn’t want to wait for.
Leaning down and, he kissed her again, just in case she flipped on him like she’d done this morning. Whatever he pretended to her or to Arktos, he rather liked having her here. When she was in the right mood, her presence was intoxicating, like now. She invaded his senses, making it hard to think of much else. “Phaedra, I have something for you,” he said as he reached around for the pouch of gold. “Here.” Taking the it, he placed the pouch on her stomach, and leaned back, disentangling himself from her.
He sat beside her on the bed, watching her reaction carefully. “That’s the gold that you took from Imbrasus.” Likely an explanation was not necessary but he meant it as a way to tell her it wasn’t payment. It was just being restored to her. “You’ve won everything else,” he said in a teasing tone. “I didn’t want to wait to see what public embarrassment you’d come up with for me.”
After a moment, he said “Did you bring this mythical bread of yours?” She’d filled the entirety of his vision since entering the temple that he hadn’t thought to look around. “I’m starving.”
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All three men eyed her as they walked by the circle of women. Lukos didn’t flinch away from her gaze and he lifted an eyebrow at her expression. He also couldn’t figure out how the village women had put her to work without her fighting them tooth and nail about it. Shaking his head, he simply kept going, his focus being redirected as Arktos pointed out that the warship could, conceivably be seaworthy again with more time and effort.
Lukos let his dark eyes wander over the ship, his doubts mounting. That he’d ever half convinced himself that this scheme would work was laughable. Half of the ship had been pulled onto the sand but the back half was destroyed and submerged besides. The timbers there were waterlogged and wouldn’t even be fit for firewood. He stood with his hands on his hips, barely listening to Arktos as the big man proposed dragging the whole thing out of the water and starting reconstruction.
“We don’t have enough gold on the island to make all the repairs this wreck needs,” Bianor cut across him.
”Captain, we have a warship right here. Why not use it? We can’t take one. We’re no match for soldiers,” Arktos complained.
“You’re right,” Lukos said, still looking at the ship. “You’re both right. But Arktos you’re wrong about one thing. We can and we will take a warship. And Phaedra will help us do it.”
“Good luck getting that bitch to do anything,” Arktos muttered. Lukos eyed him and then looked away, pressing his lips together in a hard line. He coughed after a moment, trying to cover the momentary sound of laughter that managed to slip past his defenses. It shouldn’t have been funny, and perhaps it wasn’t, but Arktos was right. Phaedra did absolutely nothing she did not want to do. Which was precisely why he’d have to keep her wanting to train him, and in turn, his men. But this couldn’t wait long.
“I know a way,” he said when he trusted himself to speak.
“Oh yeah?” Arktos arched a brow at him. “How? Keep fucking her until she says yes?”
Lukos thought back to his last encounter with her and shook his head. “We’ll need this boat ripped apart. Save the timbers.”
“You’re really not going to tell me?” Arktos demanded. Bianor also glanced at him, naked curiosity on his wrinkled face.
“I’d have to fuck you too,” Lukos looked him up and down. “And I’d rather drown.”
Akrtos frowned for the space of several heartbeats before he howled with laughter. Lukos patted him on the arm and turned around, walking back up the beach and trusting the other two to follow, which they eventually did. The three of them walked back past the group of women but this time he didn’t check to see what she was doing. His mind was far ahead, envisioning his new warship. The remainder of the afternoon was spent with his crew.
The men swarmed the beach, gutting the ship with tools and in some cases, brute strength. They dismantled the railings and the mast but that was all. This project would be the work of several days and then some. He would also have them dredge up the wreckage from the bottom of the lagoon. His new ship would need somewhere to rest.
The sun began to sink into the watery horizon by the time he left the beach. All he wanted was to go back to the temple but he turned on the path instead and headed back to the ship. Walking up the gangway, he drummed down the stairs and went into his cabin. Once he was by the bed, he knelt down and pried up the floorboard, taking out the coinpurse he’d taken off her a few days ago. That done, he left the ship and began the long trek up the hill.
He climbed the steps, wondering all the while if he should keep his dagger in his hand as he pushed open the door but in the end he opted not to. As soon as he entered, he looked up to find her flying at him. For a split second, he nearly reached back for the knife but instead, he caught her as she jumped into him. She wrapped her legs around her waist and he slid his arms around her, locking her in place.
There wasn’t time to think or wonder at her reasons. Her lips were on his and he found himself kissing her in return, just as lost in her as he ever was. His hands slid over her backside and he didn’t fight her hands on his neck but she didn’t seem to want to continue indefinitely. She pulled back, the first to initiate the kiss and the first to break it, looking down at him with excitement. He returned her look with eyes narrowed in suspicion but when she said she’d made bread, he smirked.
“Look at you learning to be useful.” He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, considering pulling her in for another kiss but he walked over to the bed and laid her down on it instead. Her legs were still wrapped around his waist and his hands were on either side of her. The thought crossed his mind to take her again but he had things to discuss with her. Things that he didn’t want to wait for.
Leaning down and, he kissed her again, just in case she flipped on him like she’d done this morning. Whatever he pretended to her or to Arktos, he rather liked having her here. When she was in the right mood, her presence was intoxicating, like now. She invaded his senses, making it hard to think of much else. “Phaedra, I have something for you,” he said as he reached around for the pouch of gold. “Here.” Taking the it, he placed the pouch on her stomach, and leaned back, disentangling himself from her.
He sat beside her on the bed, watching her reaction carefully. “That’s the gold that you took from Imbrasus.” Likely an explanation was not necessary but he meant it as a way to tell her it wasn’t payment. It was just being restored to her. “You’ve won everything else,” he said in a teasing tone. “I didn’t want to wait to see what public embarrassment you’d come up with for me.”
After a moment, he said “Did you bring this mythical bread of yours?” She’d filled the entirety of his vision since entering the temple that he hadn’t thought to look around. “I’m starving.”
All three men eyed her as they walked by the circle of women. Lukos didn’t flinch away from her gaze and he lifted an eyebrow at her expression. He also couldn’t figure out how the village women had put her to work without her fighting them tooth and nail about it. Shaking his head, he simply kept going, his focus being redirected as Arktos pointed out that the warship could, conceivably be seaworthy again with more time and effort.
Lukos let his dark eyes wander over the ship, his doubts mounting. That he’d ever half convinced himself that this scheme would work was laughable. Half of the ship had been pulled onto the sand but the back half was destroyed and submerged besides. The timbers there were waterlogged and wouldn’t even be fit for firewood. He stood with his hands on his hips, barely listening to Arktos as the big man proposed dragging the whole thing out of the water and starting reconstruction.
“We don’t have enough gold on the island to make all the repairs this wreck needs,” Bianor cut across him.
”Captain, we have a warship right here. Why not use it? We can’t take one. We’re no match for soldiers,” Arktos complained.
“You’re right,” Lukos said, still looking at the ship. “You’re both right. But Arktos you’re wrong about one thing. We can and we will take a warship. And Phaedra will help us do it.”
“Good luck getting that bitch to do anything,” Arktos muttered. Lukos eyed him and then looked away, pressing his lips together in a hard line. He coughed after a moment, trying to cover the momentary sound of laughter that managed to slip past his defenses. It shouldn’t have been funny, and perhaps it wasn’t, but Arktos was right. Phaedra did absolutely nothing she did not want to do. Which was precisely why he’d have to keep her wanting to train him, and in turn, his men. But this couldn’t wait long.
“I know a way,” he said when he trusted himself to speak.
“Oh yeah?” Arktos arched a brow at him. “How? Keep fucking her until she says yes?”
Lukos thought back to his last encounter with her and shook his head. “We’ll need this boat ripped apart. Save the timbers.”
“You’re really not going to tell me?” Arktos demanded. Bianor also glanced at him, naked curiosity on his wrinkled face.
“I’d have to fuck you too,” Lukos looked him up and down. “And I’d rather drown.”
Akrtos frowned for the space of several heartbeats before he howled with laughter. Lukos patted him on the arm and turned around, walking back up the beach and trusting the other two to follow, which they eventually did. The three of them walked back past the group of women but this time he didn’t check to see what she was doing. His mind was far ahead, envisioning his new warship. The remainder of the afternoon was spent with his crew.
The men swarmed the beach, gutting the ship with tools and in some cases, brute strength. They dismantled the railings and the mast but that was all. This project would be the work of several days and then some. He would also have them dredge up the wreckage from the bottom of the lagoon. His new ship would need somewhere to rest.
The sun began to sink into the watery horizon by the time he left the beach. All he wanted was to go back to the temple but he turned on the path instead and headed back to the ship. Walking up the gangway, he drummed down the stairs and went into his cabin. Once he was by the bed, he knelt down and pried up the floorboard, taking out the coinpurse he’d taken off her a few days ago. That done, he left the ship and began the long trek up the hill.
He climbed the steps, wondering all the while if he should keep his dagger in his hand as he pushed open the door but in the end he opted not to. As soon as he entered, he looked up to find her flying at him. For a split second, he nearly reached back for the knife but instead, he caught her as she jumped into him. She wrapped her legs around her waist and he slid his arms around her, locking her in place.
There wasn’t time to think or wonder at her reasons. Her lips were on his and he found himself kissing her in return, just as lost in her as he ever was. His hands slid over her backside and he didn’t fight her hands on his neck but she didn’t seem to want to continue indefinitely. She pulled back, the first to initiate the kiss and the first to break it, looking down at him with excitement. He returned her look with eyes narrowed in suspicion but when she said she’d made bread, he smirked.
“Look at you learning to be useful.” He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, considering pulling her in for another kiss but he walked over to the bed and laid her down on it instead. Her legs were still wrapped around his waist and his hands were on either side of her. The thought crossed his mind to take her again but he had things to discuss with her. Things that he didn’t want to wait for.
Leaning down and, he kissed her again, just in case she flipped on him like she’d done this morning. Whatever he pretended to her or to Arktos, he rather liked having her here. When she was in the right mood, her presence was intoxicating, like now. She invaded his senses, making it hard to think of much else. “Phaedra, I have something for you,” he said as he reached around for the pouch of gold. “Here.” Taking the it, he placed the pouch on her stomach, and leaned back, disentangling himself from her.
He sat beside her on the bed, watching her reaction carefully. “That’s the gold that you took from Imbrasus.” Likely an explanation was not necessary but he meant it as a way to tell her it wasn’t payment. It was just being restored to her. “You’ve won everything else,” he said in a teasing tone. “I didn’t want to wait to see what public embarrassment you’d come up with for me.”
After a moment, he said “Did you bring this mythical bread of yours?” She’d filled the entirety of his vision since entering the temple that he hadn’t thought to look around. “I’m starving.”
The apprehension in his eyes as she closed the distance probably should have either thrilled her or given her pause. Neither was the case, however. Where he to stab her in her attack, she would likely die and then where would he be? But thankfully, for both of them, he made no attempt to pull the knife; instead, he caught her weight easily; as if catching a sack of flour. His hands immediately wrapped around her and he returned her kiss. But let us not read any more into it than it was. Lukos did things to her that made her weak. She'd been mad at him the majority of the day, but the friendliness of the women and her time apart only made her dwell on what happened between them; reliving flashes of his touch or a kiss...the way he felt above her and when he was inside. She watched him near the old ships; how he moved when he was with his men...when he worked. His arms flexed and he had his own unique gait that she found.. desirable. For a time the women she was with all stopped in their chores to watch them work and more than one set of eyes was on the captain. He was a bit of royalty here and, judging by what they said and how they talked to her about him, not the type to form attachments.
Whatever irritation she'd had earlier dissolved under the heavy weight of lust until the only thing she could think about was having him again.
She told him of the bread in excited and breathy tones and he smirked in amusement at her. With his reply, she shoved him as he moved back towards the bed. "I can be quite useful when I'm not in irons.." Laying her down, she drew him with her; making no objections to where he placed her. His hands placed on each side of her head made her feel small and she found, oddly enough, that while she had no desire to be commanded outside of the bed, she rather liked when he took charge inside of it. It would be the only place she allowed him such control.
When he leaned down to kiss her again, her hand went to his cheek; caressing his jaw and the bottom of his earlobe as she kept her legs wrapped around him; her bare feet twisted about each other. She gave a contented whine as his lips slanted over hers. He smelled like sweat and salt water. His skin was still sticky from his long day of labor. She should have found it distasteful as a lady. No courtier would ever approach her in such a condition. But she rather liked how hard he worked. She liked the hardness of his hands and the callouses there which were rough against her soft skin. And his skin felt thicker; less prone to the average injury. The scars from various battles on his back were a testament to that.
On a physical level, Thalia found him to be quite intriguing. But she would never bend to him. He could never own her as she was her own person.
When he leaned back, she sucked in a breath as if coming up for air. It took her a moment to realize he was speaking to her and not about someone else when he mentioned he had something for her. The false name she gave to him still didn't fit. The sound of metal clicking together as he took out the pouch caught her attention and she opened her eyes; staring at him as he set the bundle on her stomach. She stared down at it in confusion and pushed up onto her elbows as he unwrapped her legs from him. Sitting on the bed beside her, she plucked up the bag and flipped it over in her wrist. He mentioned it was Imbrascus and she looked up at him a bit exasperatedly. She was aware. But he continued; clarifying why he was giving it to her. She tried and failed to stifle a grin as she pushed herself up to her side so she could brush kisses along his jaw; holding the satchel between them. "Mmmm...rest assured it would have been truly mortifying... " She grinned against his jaw as he asked her of the bread and she gasped; clambering from the bed to retrieve the small loaf. She'd wrapped it in a cloth in an attempt to keep it warm. Taking the gold and the bread back to the bed, she sat back down and unraveled the cloth and showed it to him. On the outside, it was quite a delicious loaf. "Go ahead, tear off a chunk.."
Upon taking the loaf, however, it became abundantly clear that the look of bread was all it had as it was hard as a rock. When he struggled, she took it back and attempted to tear some herself, but it was near impossible to break through the hard outer shell. Leaning over, she pounded it against the floor and, from the sound of it, it wasn't going to crack open either. She sat back up and stared at the offending loaf angrily. "I don't understand... I did exactly as they told me to!" ...At least she thought she had. In hindsight, she may have added too much flour... but it didn't seem like a lot at the time!
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The apprehension in his eyes as she closed the distance probably should have either thrilled her or given her pause. Neither was the case, however. Where he to stab her in her attack, she would likely die and then where would he be? But thankfully, for both of them, he made no attempt to pull the knife; instead, he caught her weight easily; as if catching a sack of flour. His hands immediately wrapped around her and he returned her kiss. But let us not read any more into it than it was. Lukos did things to her that made her weak. She'd been mad at him the majority of the day, but the friendliness of the women and her time apart only made her dwell on what happened between them; reliving flashes of his touch or a kiss...the way he felt above her and when he was inside. She watched him near the old ships; how he moved when he was with his men...when he worked. His arms flexed and he had his own unique gait that she found.. desirable. For a time the women she was with all stopped in their chores to watch them work and more than one set of eyes was on the captain. He was a bit of royalty here and, judging by what they said and how they talked to her about him, not the type to form attachments.
Whatever irritation she'd had earlier dissolved under the heavy weight of lust until the only thing she could think about was having him again.
She told him of the bread in excited and breathy tones and he smirked in amusement at her. With his reply, she shoved him as he moved back towards the bed. "I can be quite useful when I'm not in irons.." Laying her down, she drew him with her; making no objections to where he placed her. His hands placed on each side of her head made her feel small and she found, oddly enough, that while she had no desire to be commanded outside of the bed, she rather liked when he took charge inside of it. It would be the only place she allowed him such control.
When he leaned down to kiss her again, her hand went to his cheek; caressing his jaw and the bottom of his earlobe as she kept her legs wrapped around him; her bare feet twisted about each other. She gave a contented whine as his lips slanted over hers. He smelled like sweat and salt water. His skin was still sticky from his long day of labor. She should have found it distasteful as a lady. No courtier would ever approach her in such a condition. But she rather liked how hard he worked. She liked the hardness of his hands and the callouses there which were rough against her soft skin. And his skin felt thicker; less prone to the average injury. The scars from various battles on his back were a testament to that.
On a physical level, Thalia found him to be quite intriguing. But she would never bend to him. He could never own her as she was her own person.
When he leaned back, she sucked in a breath as if coming up for air. It took her a moment to realize he was speaking to her and not about someone else when he mentioned he had something for her. The false name she gave to him still didn't fit. The sound of metal clicking together as he took out the pouch caught her attention and she opened her eyes; staring at him as he set the bundle on her stomach. She stared down at it in confusion and pushed up onto her elbows as he unwrapped her legs from him. Sitting on the bed beside her, she plucked up the bag and flipped it over in her wrist. He mentioned it was Imbrascus and she looked up at him a bit exasperatedly. She was aware. But he continued; clarifying why he was giving it to her. She tried and failed to stifle a grin as she pushed herself up to her side so she could brush kisses along his jaw; holding the satchel between them. "Mmmm...rest assured it would have been truly mortifying... " She grinned against his jaw as he asked her of the bread and she gasped; clambering from the bed to retrieve the small loaf. She'd wrapped it in a cloth in an attempt to keep it warm. Taking the gold and the bread back to the bed, she sat back down and unraveled the cloth and showed it to him. On the outside, it was quite a delicious loaf. "Go ahead, tear off a chunk.."
Upon taking the loaf, however, it became abundantly clear that the look of bread was all it had as it was hard as a rock. When he struggled, she took it back and attempted to tear some herself, but it was near impossible to break through the hard outer shell. Leaning over, she pounded it against the floor and, from the sound of it, it wasn't going to crack open either. She sat back up and stared at the offending loaf angrily. "I don't understand... I did exactly as they told me to!" ...At least she thought she had. In hindsight, she may have added too much flour... but it didn't seem like a lot at the time!
The apprehension in his eyes as she closed the distance probably should have either thrilled her or given her pause. Neither was the case, however. Where he to stab her in her attack, she would likely die and then where would he be? But thankfully, for both of them, he made no attempt to pull the knife; instead, he caught her weight easily; as if catching a sack of flour. His hands immediately wrapped around her and he returned her kiss. But let us not read any more into it than it was. Lukos did things to her that made her weak. She'd been mad at him the majority of the day, but the friendliness of the women and her time apart only made her dwell on what happened between them; reliving flashes of his touch or a kiss...the way he felt above her and when he was inside. She watched him near the old ships; how he moved when he was with his men...when he worked. His arms flexed and he had his own unique gait that she found.. desirable. For a time the women she was with all stopped in their chores to watch them work and more than one set of eyes was on the captain. He was a bit of royalty here and, judging by what they said and how they talked to her about him, not the type to form attachments.
Whatever irritation she'd had earlier dissolved under the heavy weight of lust until the only thing she could think about was having him again.
She told him of the bread in excited and breathy tones and he smirked in amusement at her. With his reply, she shoved him as he moved back towards the bed. "I can be quite useful when I'm not in irons.." Laying her down, she drew him with her; making no objections to where he placed her. His hands placed on each side of her head made her feel small and she found, oddly enough, that while she had no desire to be commanded outside of the bed, she rather liked when he took charge inside of it. It would be the only place she allowed him such control.
When he leaned down to kiss her again, her hand went to his cheek; caressing his jaw and the bottom of his earlobe as she kept her legs wrapped around him; her bare feet twisted about each other. She gave a contented whine as his lips slanted over hers. He smelled like sweat and salt water. His skin was still sticky from his long day of labor. She should have found it distasteful as a lady. No courtier would ever approach her in such a condition. But she rather liked how hard he worked. She liked the hardness of his hands and the callouses there which were rough against her soft skin. And his skin felt thicker; less prone to the average injury. The scars from various battles on his back were a testament to that.
On a physical level, Thalia found him to be quite intriguing. But she would never bend to him. He could never own her as she was her own person.
When he leaned back, she sucked in a breath as if coming up for air. It took her a moment to realize he was speaking to her and not about someone else when he mentioned he had something for her. The false name she gave to him still didn't fit. The sound of metal clicking together as he took out the pouch caught her attention and she opened her eyes; staring at him as he set the bundle on her stomach. She stared down at it in confusion and pushed up onto her elbows as he unwrapped her legs from him. Sitting on the bed beside her, she plucked up the bag and flipped it over in her wrist. He mentioned it was Imbrascus and she looked up at him a bit exasperatedly. She was aware. But he continued; clarifying why he was giving it to her. She tried and failed to stifle a grin as she pushed herself up to her side so she could brush kisses along his jaw; holding the satchel between them. "Mmmm...rest assured it would have been truly mortifying... " She grinned against his jaw as he asked her of the bread and she gasped; clambering from the bed to retrieve the small loaf. She'd wrapped it in a cloth in an attempt to keep it warm. Taking the gold and the bread back to the bed, she sat back down and unraveled the cloth and showed it to him. On the outside, it was quite a delicious loaf. "Go ahead, tear off a chunk.."
Upon taking the loaf, however, it became abundantly clear that the look of bread was all it had as it was hard as a rock. When he struggled, she took it back and attempted to tear some herself, but it was near impossible to break through the hard outer shell. Leaning over, she pounded it against the floor and, from the sound of it, it wasn't going to crack open either. She sat back up and stared at the offending loaf angrily. "I don't understand... I did exactly as they told me to!" ...At least she thought she had. In hindsight, she may have added too much flour... but it didn't seem like a lot at the time!
He closed his eyes as she leaned toward him, slowly trailing kisses along his jaw. Perfume drifted over him. Her fingers were soft, her hands warm and her body was tantalizingly close. All he had to do was reach out and pull her to him. By now he knew the feel of her pressed against him but he resisted. What he wanted was to get her to agree to daily training so he wouldn’t have to beg or threaten every morning.
In a last ditch effort to redirect her thoughts, he asked about the bread. After a moment she had pulled away, leaving the bed entirely to go get it. He took the opportunity to steady himself. For the last two days she’d made it very difficult to remember that she was not here to keep him satisfied. She was here to teach him to kill more efficiently. Yet, she was proving that she could do both. It was distracting.
He was unable to suppress a smile as she came back, excitedly thrusting the bread at him. Her eyes sparkled in triumph and as he looked at it, he had to admit that he was impressed. When she told him to take a piece, he nodded obediently and attempted to do as she asked. Except that his fingers met rock. Quirking his eyebrows, he tried again and then looked up at her to see if she was joking. For a wild second, he thought she really might have found a rock and painted it just to trick him but her confused concern made it plain his difficulty was not the reaction she’d expected.
She took it back and gave it a few good knocks on the floor. It smacked against the marble, proving just as hard and unforgiving. He looked away, pressing his lips firmly together but his shoulders were shaking as she wondered aloud what she’d done wrong. As soon as she sat back up, a small laugh slipped out but he stopped it. Until he made the mistake of looking at her angry expression and then he lost control entirely.
“You never do exactly what people tell you,” he laughed. Reaching out, he caught her by the wrist and drew her to him, kissing her temple and burying his face in her hair as he laughed some more. Slowly his laughter subsided and he found himself kissing along her cheek and then her mouth. His hunger suddenly didn’t seem to matter. The gold between them clinked and spilled out onto the bed as he pushed her down, finally giving up his fight to maintain some kind of distance.
“I need to go to the springs,” he said against her lips before pulling away to rid himself of his clothes, but he made no move to leave. Instead he slid his tongue into her mouth. Sliding his hands down the length of her body, he inched her chiton up her thighs until it was bunched at her hips. Taking her legs, he wrapped them around his waist like she’d had them before, his resolve to go fading faster with every second.
This was not the languid affair of the morning. There was very little thought involved except that he couldn’t quite get enough of her kiss, of her heated breath against his skin, of her hands over him. He kissed down her throat to the hollow right above her chest, unclasping her dress as he did so and drawing the material down until she was exposed beneath him. Sex with her was different than what he was used to with other women. She didn’t lay there, intimidated and just take whatever he did. If he bit her, her breath caught or when he slid his hand down between her legs, she responded.
He shifted them both so that he was sitting on the bed with her straddling him, her chiton pooled around her waist as he entered her. They moved together, momentum building, everything about the day forgotten as he nipped at her chest. One arm held her tight against him while her hips rolled and his fingers kept up a steady rhythm. She was as sticky as he was by the time she cried out. He pulled her down to him, kissing her as she rode out the wave, his own happening in the middle of hers.
His chest rose and fell rapidly as he fought to get his breathing under control. Running his hand between her breasts, down to her stomach, he said, “Make horrible bread everyday.” He grinned and rose, still keeping his hold on her. Without asking, he moved toward the springs, taking her with him. The scented oils were still fragrant on her skin but she was slick with sweat and he didn’t figure she would mind a second trip into the water.
Once there, he set her down so that she could work herself out of her clothes as he slipped into the pool. He ducked underneath the water, letting the heat work itself into his muscles. Today had been harder on his body than most days. First his time with her this morning, their training, his work on the ship, and then just now. But it was a pleasant kind of ache and one he wouldn’t trade if given the choice. Work was what he knew, what he liked. Sitting around debating laws or waiting on servants to fetch everything would turn one into someone who looked like Imbasus by middle age and he had no desire to ever be soft.
As he surfaced, he pushed his hair back and whisked away water from his face. He looked her over as he leaned back in the water, before his eyes drifted to the ceiling. “I was thinking,” his voice echoed a little in the cavern. “Are you wanting to stay here in the temple or would you rather be down in the village?” Water surged over his arms as he moved them to and fro, creating gentle waves. His gaze was still directed upward, rather than on her. “We have enough timber from the warship to build you your own little house. If you wanted.” After a moment he went on. "I noticed you seemed to like being there."
He allowed himself to relax fully in the water but resisted reaching out to her in any way. They were at a strange, in between kind of place where he wasn't sure what she wanted anymore; whether she hated him or liked him or both. And he was in the same predicament, although he had to admit that his hatred of her was long gone. There were times he could feel himself grow irritated with her, but nothing to warrant trying to make her subhuman in his mind anymore. She'd fought and won the battle of demanding respect and he realized that she'd finally earned it from him. His eyes fell on her then, a little surprised to find that he did not completely mind the change.
“If you stayed here, we would train every morning. Like we did today. Well, every morning I’m on the island,” he amended. What he did not add was that even if she chose to leave and go down to the village, he would pursue her to train him in the mornings anyway. It would just be a longer trek for one of them. “I’m leaving in a week.”
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He closed his eyes as she leaned toward him, slowly trailing kisses along his jaw. Perfume drifted over him. Her fingers were soft, her hands warm and her body was tantalizingly close. All he had to do was reach out and pull her to him. By now he knew the feel of her pressed against him but he resisted. What he wanted was to get her to agree to daily training so he wouldn’t have to beg or threaten every morning.
In a last ditch effort to redirect her thoughts, he asked about the bread. After a moment she had pulled away, leaving the bed entirely to go get it. He took the opportunity to steady himself. For the last two days she’d made it very difficult to remember that she was not here to keep him satisfied. She was here to teach him to kill more efficiently. Yet, she was proving that she could do both. It was distracting.
He was unable to suppress a smile as she came back, excitedly thrusting the bread at him. Her eyes sparkled in triumph and as he looked at it, he had to admit that he was impressed. When she told him to take a piece, he nodded obediently and attempted to do as she asked. Except that his fingers met rock. Quirking his eyebrows, he tried again and then looked up at her to see if she was joking. For a wild second, he thought she really might have found a rock and painted it just to trick him but her confused concern made it plain his difficulty was not the reaction she’d expected.
She took it back and gave it a few good knocks on the floor. It smacked against the marble, proving just as hard and unforgiving. He looked away, pressing his lips firmly together but his shoulders were shaking as she wondered aloud what she’d done wrong. As soon as she sat back up, a small laugh slipped out but he stopped it. Until he made the mistake of looking at her angry expression and then he lost control entirely.
“You never do exactly what people tell you,” he laughed. Reaching out, he caught her by the wrist and drew her to him, kissing her temple and burying his face in her hair as he laughed some more. Slowly his laughter subsided and he found himself kissing along her cheek and then her mouth. His hunger suddenly didn’t seem to matter. The gold between them clinked and spilled out onto the bed as he pushed her down, finally giving up his fight to maintain some kind of distance.
“I need to go to the springs,” he said against her lips before pulling away to rid himself of his clothes, but he made no move to leave. Instead he slid his tongue into her mouth. Sliding his hands down the length of her body, he inched her chiton up her thighs until it was bunched at her hips. Taking her legs, he wrapped them around his waist like she’d had them before, his resolve to go fading faster with every second.
This was not the languid affair of the morning. There was very little thought involved except that he couldn’t quite get enough of her kiss, of her heated breath against his skin, of her hands over him. He kissed down her throat to the hollow right above her chest, unclasping her dress as he did so and drawing the material down until she was exposed beneath him. Sex with her was different than what he was used to with other women. She didn’t lay there, intimidated and just take whatever he did. If he bit her, her breath caught or when he slid his hand down between her legs, she responded.
He shifted them both so that he was sitting on the bed with her straddling him, her chiton pooled around her waist as he entered her. They moved together, momentum building, everything about the day forgotten as he nipped at her chest. One arm held her tight against him while her hips rolled and his fingers kept up a steady rhythm. She was as sticky as he was by the time she cried out. He pulled her down to him, kissing her as she rode out the wave, his own happening in the middle of hers.
His chest rose and fell rapidly as he fought to get his breathing under control. Running his hand between her breasts, down to her stomach, he said, “Make horrible bread everyday.” He grinned and rose, still keeping his hold on her. Without asking, he moved toward the springs, taking her with him. The scented oils were still fragrant on her skin but she was slick with sweat and he didn’t figure she would mind a second trip into the water.
Once there, he set her down so that she could work herself out of her clothes as he slipped into the pool. He ducked underneath the water, letting the heat work itself into his muscles. Today had been harder on his body than most days. First his time with her this morning, their training, his work on the ship, and then just now. But it was a pleasant kind of ache and one he wouldn’t trade if given the choice. Work was what he knew, what he liked. Sitting around debating laws or waiting on servants to fetch everything would turn one into someone who looked like Imbasus by middle age and he had no desire to ever be soft.
As he surfaced, he pushed his hair back and whisked away water from his face. He looked her over as he leaned back in the water, before his eyes drifted to the ceiling. “I was thinking,” his voice echoed a little in the cavern. “Are you wanting to stay here in the temple or would you rather be down in the village?” Water surged over his arms as he moved them to and fro, creating gentle waves. His gaze was still directed upward, rather than on her. “We have enough timber from the warship to build you your own little house. If you wanted.” After a moment he went on. "I noticed you seemed to like being there."
He allowed himself to relax fully in the water but resisted reaching out to her in any way. They were at a strange, in between kind of place where he wasn't sure what she wanted anymore; whether she hated him or liked him or both. And he was in the same predicament, although he had to admit that his hatred of her was long gone. There were times he could feel himself grow irritated with her, but nothing to warrant trying to make her subhuman in his mind anymore. She'd fought and won the battle of demanding respect and he realized that she'd finally earned it from him. His eyes fell on her then, a little surprised to find that he did not completely mind the change.
“If you stayed here, we would train every morning. Like we did today. Well, every morning I’m on the island,” he amended. What he did not add was that even if she chose to leave and go down to the village, he would pursue her to train him in the mornings anyway. It would just be a longer trek for one of them. “I’m leaving in a week.”
He closed his eyes as she leaned toward him, slowly trailing kisses along his jaw. Perfume drifted over him. Her fingers were soft, her hands warm and her body was tantalizingly close. All he had to do was reach out and pull her to him. By now he knew the feel of her pressed against him but he resisted. What he wanted was to get her to agree to daily training so he wouldn’t have to beg or threaten every morning.
In a last ditch effort to redirect her thoughts, he asked about the bread. After a moment she had pulled away, leaving the bed entirely to go get it. He took the opportunity to steady himself. For the last two days she’d made it very difficult to remember that she was not here to keep him satisfied. She was here to teach him to kill more efficiently. Yet, she was proving that she could do both. It was distracting.
He was unable to suppress a smile as she came back, excitedly thrusting the bread at him. Her eyes sparkled in triumph and as he looked at it, he had to admit that he was impressed. When she told him to take a piece, he nodded obediently and attempted to do as she asked. Except that his fingers met rock. Quirking his eyebrows, he tried again and then looked up at her to see if she was joking. For a wild second, he thought she really might have found a rock and painted it just to trick him but her confused concern made it plain his difficulty was not the reaction she’d expected.
She took it back and gave it a few good knocks on the floor. It smacked against the marble, proving just as hard and unforgiving. He looked away, pressing his lips firmly together but his shoulders were shaking as she wondered aloud what she’d done wrong. As soon as she sat back up, a small laugh slipped out but he stopped it. Until he made the mistake of looking at her angry expression and then he lost control entirely.
“You never do exactly what people tell you,” he laughed. Reaching out, he caught her by the wrist and drew her to him, kissing her temple and burying his face in her hair as he laughed some more. Slowly his laughter subsided and he found himself kissing along her cheek and then her mouth. His hunger suddenly didn’t seem to matter. The gold between them clinked and spilled out onto the bed as he pushed her down, finally giving up his fight to maintain some kind of distance.
“I need to go to the springs,” he said against her lips before pulling away to rid himself of his clothes, but he made no move to leave. Instead he slid his tongue into her mouth. Sliding his hands down the length of her body, he inched her chiton up her thighs until it was bunched at her hips. Taking her legs, he wrapped them around his waist like she’d had them before, his resolve to go fading faster with every second.
This was not the languid affair of the morning. There was very little thought involved except that he couldn’t quite get enough of her kiss, of her heated breath against his skin, of her hands over him. He kissed down her throat to the hollow right above her chest, unclasping her dress as he did so and drawing the material down until she was exposed beneath him. Sex with her was different than what he was used to with other women. She didn’t lay there, intimidated and just take whatever he did. If he bit her, her breath caught or when he slid his hand down between her legs, she responded.
He shifted them both so that he was sitting on the bed with her straddling him, her chiton pooled around her waist as he entered her. They moved together, momentum building, everything about the day forgotten as he nipped at her chest. One arm held her tight against him while her hips rolled and his fingers kept up a steady rhythm. She was as sticky as he was by the time she cried out. He pulled her down to him, kissing her as she rode out the wave, his own happening in the middle of hers.
His chest rose and fell rapidly as he fought to get his breathing under control. Running his hand between her breasts, down to her stomach, he said, “Make horrible bread everyday.” He grinned and rose, still keeping his hold on her. Without asking, he moved toward the springs, taking her with him. The scented oils were still fragrant on her skin but she was slick with sweat and he didn’t figure she would mind a second trip into the water.
Once there, he set her down so that she could work herself out of her clothes as he slipped into the pool. He ducked underneath the water, letting the heat work itself into his muscles. Today had been harder on his body than most days. First his time with her this morning, their training, his work on the ship, and then just now. But it was a pleasant kind of ache and one he wouldn’t trade if given the choice. Work was what he knew, what he liked. Sitting around debating laws or waiting on servants to fetch everything would turn one into someone who looked like Imbasus by middle age and he had no desire to ever be soft.
As he surfaced, he pushed his hair back and whisked away water from his face. He looked her over as he leaned back in the water, before his eyes drifted to the ceiling. “I was thinking,” his voice echoed a little in the cavern. “Are you wanting to stay here in the temple or would you rather be down in the village?” Water surged over his arms as he moved them to and fro, creating gentle waves. His gaze was still directed upward, rather than on her. “We have enough timber from the warship to build you your own little house. If you wanted.” After a moment he went on. "I noticed you seemed to like being there."
He allowed himself to relax fully in the water but resisted reaching out to her in any way. They were at a strange, in between kind of place where he wasn't sure what she wanted anymore; whether she hated him or liked him or both. And he was in the same predicament, although he had to admit that his hatred of her was long gone. There were times he could feel himself grow irritated with her, but nothing to warrant trying to make her subhuman in his mind anymore. She'd fought and won the battle of demanding respect and he realized that she'd finally earned it from him. His eyes fell on her then, a little surprised to find that he did not completely mind the change.
“If you stayed here, we would train every morning. Like we did today. Well, every morning I’m on the island,” he amended. What he did not add was that even if she chose to leave and go down to the village, he would pursue her to train him in the mornings anyway. It would just be a longer trek for one of them. “I’m leaving in a week.”
Before she could protest, he'd pulled her by her wrist back towards him. The low grumble of his laughter against her temple as he kissed along her face made it very hard to stay mad. "It's not funny...." Except that it kind of was. And before she could help herself she was laughing as well. His mouth trailed over her jaw before slanting over her mouth and she let the loaf of bread fall to the floor. It hit the marble tile with a thwack and rolled away which only made her giggle more as he pushed her down on the bed. She dropped the bag of coins and wrapped her arms around him; forgetting about it entirely as it spilled out by their side.
He told her he needed to visit the springs but made no move to go, nor did she encourage him to. Instead, he pushed off his clothes and kissed her more passionately. Fingers helped him remove his shirt absently as he pulled up her dress. This time she didn't stop him as his hands moved over her thighs. She arched her hips against his and he shifted between them as he'd been before. Their actions were hurried; feverous and eager to get to the best part. Nails dragged against his skin as his own hands grasped at her curves. He tugged off the shoulders of her gown and she shrugged out of the sleeves so that he could flick his tongue over the tips of her breast. Her hands buried in his hair; holding him close as he lingered over them; paying homage. Her back arched as bolts of lightning coursed through her body and down to her toes.
He rolled her and in one motion, pushed into her. Hissing, she buried her nose against his temple as he sank fully inside her. She gave a slow purr of pleasure with that first thrust; her body adjusting to accept him. She'd decided those first moments were the best. Grazing kisses along his rough skin, she found his mouth and kissed him deeply as his hips moved. She rocked with him; allowing him to pull out and then propel back into her. It was heated and demanding and selfish and amazing. He held her close as he grazed kisses over her upper torso; against her nipples and along her collarbones; ignoring yellow bruises that were faded in the lamplight. When she fell apart against him, she cried out; unencumbered by propriety or who would hear; they were far enough from the village there wasn't much she needed to concern herself with.
His mouth stifled her scream and she returned the kiss until her body stopped trembling atop him; finally slumping against his chest; her arms curling beneath her as his hands trailed over her breasts and torso. She chuckled as he told her to keep making horrible bread and she nipped at his collarbone. "Stop..." She was content to settle there, but he shifted and pulled her up from the bed; carrying her away towards the springs. Her skin was sticky and clammy and she lifted her arms to wrap around his shoulders as she buried her face against the curve of his neck. He set her down in the cave and she pushed her gown off; lifting it off the cave floor to drape over one of the crates. She climbed in after him but didn't get her hair wet as Frona had braided it so lovely she didn't want to mess it up.
She was still content in their coupling; here body buzzing warmly afterward as he rinsed off. When he surfaced and spoke, she looked up at him. Her brow furrowed curiously as he attempted to explain being here, or having her own hut built for her. Her mouth quirked up in reply to his musings and she shook her head as she spoke incredulously. "I don't see why that's in any way necessary.."
He relaxed for a moment before continuing; laying out the terms of her staying...or at least until they left the island and she stared at him. "....Yes... and I'll be on the ship with you as you will be taking me home. So there's really no need for you to build an extra house. Save your lumber." She shifted and climbed back out of the heated pool; plucking her gown off the crate as she left him alone in the springs.
Dropping the gown atop a crate, she took up a clean sheet and dried off before pulling the chiton back up her hips. she padded barefoot back to the table and plucked up the loaf of bread on the floor before she made a plate of lamb and fresh vegetables... the bread being a lost cause. Her hands trembled slightly and she flexed them and shook them out before pouring a glass of wine. Artemis nudged into her leg; rubbing against her as she meowed; asking for food. She made a plate of fish for her and put it down on the floor before taking a long drink from Lukos's chalice. She needed to calm her nerves and the anger that was slowly bubbling in her chest.
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Before she could protest, he'd pulled her by her wrist back towards him. The low grumble of his laughter against her temple as he kissed along her face made it very hard to stay mad. "It's not funny...." Except that it kind of was. And before she could help herself she was laughing as well. His mouth trailed over her jaw before slanting over her mouth and she let the loaf of bread fall to the floor. It hit the marble tile with a thwack and rolled away which only made her giggle more as he pushed her down on the bed. She dropped the bag of coins and wrapped her arms around him; forgetting about it entirely as it spilled out by their side.
He told her he needed to visit the springs but made no move to go, nor did she encourage him to. Instead, he pushed off his clothes and kissed her more passionately. Fingers helped him remove his shirt absently as he pulled up her dress. This time she didn't stop him as his hands moved over her thighs. She arched her hips against his and he shifted between them as he'd been before. Their actions were hurried; feverous and eager to get to the best part. Nails dragged against his skin as his own hands grasped at her curves. He tugged off the shoulders of her gown and she shrugged out of the sleeves so that he could flick his tongue over the tips of her breast. Her hands buried in his hair; holding him close as he lingered over them; paying homage. Her back arched as bolts of lightning coursed through her body and down to her toes.
He rolled her and in one motion, pushed into her. Hissing, she buried her nose against his temple as he sank fully inside her. She gave a slow purr of pleasure with that first thrust; her body adjusting to accept him. She'd decided those first moments were the best. Grazing kisses along his rough skin, she found his mouth and kissed him deeply as his hips moved. She rocked with him; allowing him to pull out and then propel back into her. It was heated and demanding and selfish and amazing. He held her close as he grazed kisses over her upper torso; against her nipples and along her collarbones; ignoring yellow bruises that were faded in the lamplight. When she fell apart against him, she cried out; unencumbered by propriety or who would hear; they were far enough from the village there wasn't much she needed to concern herself with.
His mouth stifled her scream and she returned the kiss until her body stopped trembling atop him; finally slumping against his chest; her arms curling beneath her as his hands trailed over her breasts and torso. She chuckled as he told her to keep making horrible bread and she nipped at his collarbone. "Stop..." She was content to settle there, but he shifted and pulled her up from the bed; carrying her away towards the springs. Her skin was sticky and clammy and she lifted her arms to wrap around his shoulders as she buried her face against the curve of his neck. He set her down in the cave and she pushed her gown off; lifting it off the cave floor to drape over one of the crates. She climbed in after him but didn't get her hair wet as Frona had braided it so lovely she didn't want to mess it up.
She was still content in their coupling; here body buzzing warmly afterward as he rinsed off. When he surfaced and spoke, she looked up at him. Her brow furrowed curiously as he attempted to explain being here, or having her own hut built for her. Her mouth quirked up in reply to his musings and she shook her head as she spoke incredulously. "I don't see why that's in any way necessary.."
He relaxed for a moment before continuing; laying out the terms of her staying...or at least until they left the island and she stared at him. "....Yes... and I'll be on the ship with you as you will be taking me home. So there's really no need for you to build an extra house. Save your lumber." She shifted and climbed back out of the heated pool; plucking her gown off the crate as she left him alone in the springs.
Dropping the gown atop a crate, she took up a clean sheet and dried off before pulling the chiton back up her hips. she padded barefoot back to the table and plucked up the loaf of bread on the floor before she made a plate of lamb and fresh vegetables... the bread being a lost cause. Her hands trembled slightly and she flexed them and shook them out before pouring a glass of wine. Artemis nudged into her leg; rubbing against her as she meowed; asking for food. She made a plate of fish for her and put it down on the floor before taking a long drink from Lukos's chalice. She needed to calm her nerves and the anger that was slowly bubbling in her chest.
Before she could protest, he'd pulled her by her wrist back towards him. The low grumble of his laughter against her temple as he kissed along her face made it very hard to stay mad. "It's not funny...." Except that it kind of was. And before she could help herself she was laughing as well. His mouth trailed over her jaw before slanting over her mouth and she let the loaf of bread fall to the floor. It hit the marble tile with a thwack and rolled away which only made her giggle more as he pushed her down on the bed. She dropped the bag of coins and wrapped her arms around him; forgetting about it entirely as it spilled out by their side.
He told her he needed to visit the springs but made no move to go, nor did she encourage him to. Instead, he pushed off his clothes and kissed her more passionately. Fingers helped him remove his shirt absently as he pulled up her dress. This time she didn't stop him as his hands moved over her thighs. She arched her hips against his and he shifted between them as he'd been before. Their actions were hurried; feverous and eager to get to the best part. Nails dragged against his skin as his own hands grasped at her curves. He tugged off the shoulders of her gown and she shrugged out of the sleeves so that he could flick his tongue over the tips of her breast. Her hands buried in his hair; holding him close as he lingered over them; paying homage. Her back arched as bolts of lightning coursed through her body and down to her toes.
He rolled her and in one motion, pushed into her. Hissing, she buried her nose against his temple as he sank fully inside her. She gave a slow purr of pleasure with that first thrust; her body adjusting to accept him. She'd decided those first moments were the best. Grazing kisses along his rough skin, she found his mouth and kissed him deeply as his hips moved. She rocked with him; allowing him to pull out and then propel back into her. It was heated and demanding and selfish and amazing. He held her close as he grazed kisses over her upper torso; against her nipples and along her collarbones; ignoring yellow bruises that were faded in the lamplight. When she fell apart against him, she cried out; unencumbered by propriety or who would hear; they were far enough from the village there wasn't much she needed to concern herself with.
His mouth stifled her scream and she returned the kiss until her body stopped trembling atop him; finally slumping against his chest; her arms curling beneath her as his hands trailed over her breasts and torso. She chuckled as he told her to keep making horrible bread and she nipped at his collarbone. "Stop..." She was content to settle there, but he shifted and pulled her up from the bed; carrying her away towards the springs. Her skin was sticky and clammy and she lifted her arms to wrap around his shoulders as she buried her face against the curve of his neck. He set her down in the cave and she pushed her gown off; lifting it off the cave floor to drape over one of the crates. She climbed in after him but didn't get her hair wet as Frona had braided it so lovely she didn't want to mess it up.
She was still content in their coupling; here body buzzing warmly afterward as he rinsed off. When he surfaced and spoke, she looked up at him. Her brow furrowed curiously as he attempted to explain being here, or having her own hut built for her. Her mouth quirked up in reply to his musings and she shook her head as she spoke incredulously. "I don't see why that's in any way necessary.."
He relaxed for a moment before continuing; laying out the terms of her staying...or at least until they left the island and she stared at him. "....Yes... and I'll be on the ship with you as you will be taking me home. So there's really no need for you to build an extra house. Save your lumber." She shifted and climbed back out of the heated pool; plucking her gown off the crate as she left him alone in the springs.
Dropping the gown atop a crate, she took up a clean sheet and dried off before pulling the chiton back up her hips. she padded barefoot back to the table and plucked up the loaf of bread on the floor before she made a plate of lamb and fresh vegetables... the bread being a lost cause. Her hands trembled slightly and she flexed them and shook them out before pouring a glass of wine. Artemis nudged into her leg; rubbing against her as she meowed; asking for food. She made a plate of fish for her and put it down on the floor before taking a long drink from Lukos's chalice. She needed to calm her nerves and the anger that was slowly bubbling in her chest.
"....Yes... and I'll be on the ship with you as you will be taking me home. So there's really no need for you to build an extra house. Save your lumber."
He said nothing in response to this and she didn’t seem to require him to speak. Instead, she simply turned, pulled herself up out of the water, and left. For a moment he listened to the sound of her feet padding on the marble before he submerged himself under the water again. It wasn’t that he’d forgotten that she probably still held out the belief that she’d go home, but he’d hoped she was content for the moment. She was crucial to what he wanted. If he took her back now, his dreams of an armada would stay just that; dreams.
Again he surfaced, sucking in air. He had no desire to follow her and to postpone it, he dug around in the crate of soaps until he found one without much scent to it. There was only so much washing one could do, however and within only a couple minutes, he found himself just drifting in the water. From here he could sometimes catch a glimpse of her long shadow sliding along the wall as she moved about the main temple room.
He narrowed his eyes as the shadow slipped away again. What was he doing? These were his springs. This was his temple. If she wanted to leave, he’d let her but he realized he was allowing her to indirectly affect him. There was no reason to hide from a fight with her. There were no feelings to preserve. She would be angry; he knew it. Let her. Let all her rage come down on him; she was not going home.
Hauling himself out of the spring, he stood there a moment, letting the excess water slide down his body. He clenched his jaw as he walked out of the cave and down the short passageway into the temple. She was drinking out of his chalice and he stopped for a long moment, watching her do it. Before two days ago he would have been angry at such presumption but she had cause now and more than that, he still needed her.
“I'm not sailing for Athenia,” he said, not bothering with a sheet. By the time he passed her and went to his trunk for clean pants, he was almost dry anyway. “I'm headed back to Colchis. Or Tangea.” Anywhere but Athenia. Again, he realized he was trying to avoid direct confrontation with he struggled with why, when he’d never shied away from it with her before. His eyes slid over her as he came to the table but his appetite seemed to have gone. Instead, he wrapped his fingers around the chalice and took it from her, finishing in three swallows what was left it it before setting it back down between them.
Clay lamps flickered, casting shadows over both his face and hers. He’d thought that perhaps the gold would keep her satisfied for the time being, or perhaps the option of having her own living space. Obviously he’d been wrong.
She was not happy like she had been before. He poured more wine and drank it quickly, moving away from the table, eyeing his dagger on the floor where his other clothes were piled. Walking back over to the bed, he bent down and picked it up, looking at her a moment before slipping it back under the mattress. For all he wanted it, his desire to fight her was simply not there. What he wanted was to be tired and to sleep but he was neither of those things. Instead he was tense, waiting to see how her mood might shift next.
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"....Yes... and I'll be on the ship with you as you will be taking me home. So there's really no need for you to build an extra house. Save your lumber."
He said nothing in response to this and she didn’t seem to require him to speak. Instead, she simply turned, pulled herself up out of the water, and left. For a moment he listened to the sound of her feet padding on the marble before he submerged himself under the water again. It wasn’t that he’d forgotten that she probably still held out the belief that she’d go home, but he’d hoped she was content for the moment. She was crucial to what he wanted. If he took her back now, his dreams of an armada would stay just that; dreams.
Again he surfaced, sucking in air. He had no desire to follow her and to postpone it, he dug around in the crate of soaps until he found one without much scent to it. There was only so much washing one could do, however and within only a couple minutes, he found himself just drifting in the water. From here he could sometimes catch a glimpse of her long shadow sliding along the wall as she moved about the main temple room.
He narrowed his eyes as the shadow slipped away again. What was he doing? These were his springs. This was his temple. If she wanted to leave, he’d let her but he realized he was allowing her to indirectly affect him. There was no reason to hide from a fight with her. There were no feelings to preserve. She would be angry; he knew it. Let her. Let all her rage come down on him; she was not going home.
Hauling himself out of the spring, he stood there a moment, letting the excess water slide down his body. He clenched his jaw as he walked out of the cave and down the short passageway into the temple. She was drinking out of his chalice and he stopped for a long moment, watching her do it. Before two days ago he would have been angry at such presumption but she had cause now and more than that, he still needed her.
“I'm not sailing for Athenia,” he said, not bothering with a sheet. By the time he passed her and went to his trunk for clean pants, he was almost dry anyway. “I'm headed back to Colchis. Or Tangea.” Anywhere but Athenia. Again, he realized he was trying to avoid direct confrontation with he struggled with why, when he’d never shied away from it with her before. His eyes slid over her as he came to the table but his appetite seemed to have gone. Instead, he wrapped his fingers around the chalice and took it from her, finishing in three swallows what was left it it before setting it back down between them.
Clay lamps flickered, casting shadows over both his face and hers. He’d thought that perhaps the gold would keep her satisfied for the time being, or perhaps the option of having her own living space. Obviously he’d been wrong.
She was not happy like she had been before. He poured more wine and drank it quickly, moving away from the table, eyeing his dagger on the floor where his other clothes were piled. Walking back over to the bed, he bent down and picked it up, looking at her a moment before slipping it back under the mattress. For all he wanted it, his desire to fight her was simply not there. What he wanted was to be tired and to sleep but he was neither of those things. Instead he was tense, waiting to see how her mood might shift next.
"....Yes... and I'll be on the ship with you as you will be taking me home. So there's really no need for you to build an extra house. Save your lumber."
He said nothing in response to this and she didn’t seem to require him to speak. Instead, she simply turned, pulled herself up out of the water, and left. For a moment he listened to the sound of her feet padding on the marble before he submerged himself under the water again. It wasn’t that he’d forgotten that she probably still held out the belief that she’d go home, but he’d hoped she was content for the moment. She was crucial to what he wanted. If he took her back now, his dreams of an armada would stay just that; dreams.
Again he surfaced, sucking in air. He had no desire to follow her and to postpone it, he dug around in the crate of soaps until he found one without much scent to it. There was only so much washing one could do, however and within only a couple minutes, he found himself just drifting in the water. From here he could sometimes catch a glimpse of her long shadow sliding along the wall as she moved about the main temple room.
He narrowed his eyes as the shadow slipped away again. What was he doing? These were his springs. This was his temple. If she wanted to leave, he’d let her but he realized he was allowing her to indirectly affect him. There was no reason to hide from a fight with her. There were no feelings to preserve. She would be angry; he knew it. Let her. Let all her rage come down on him; she was not going home.
Hauling himself out of the spring, he stood there a moment, letting the excess water slide down his body. He clenched his jaw as he walked out of the cave and down the short passageway into the temple. She was drinking out of his chalice and he stopped for a long moment, watching her do it. Before two days ago he would have been angry at such presumption but she had cause now and more than that, he still needed her.
“I'm not sailing for Athenia,” he said, not bothering with a sheet. By the time he passed her and went to his trunk for clean pants, he was almost dry anyway. “I'm headed back to Colchis. Or Tangea.” Anywhere but Athenia. Again, he realized he was trying to avoid direct confrontation with he struggled with why, when he’d never shied away from it with her before. His eyes slid over her as he came to the table but his appetite seemed to have gone. Instead, he wrapped his fingers around the chalice and took it from her, finishing in three swallows what was left it it before setting it back down between them.
Clay lamps flickered, casting shadows over both his face and hers. He’d thought that perhaps the gold would keep her satisfied for the time being, or perhaps the option of having her own living space. Obviously he’d been wrong.
She was not happy like she had been before. He poured more wine and drank it quickly, moving away from the table, eyeing his dagger on the floor where his other clothes were piled. Walking back over to the bed, he bent down and picked it up, looking at her a moment before slipping it back under the mattress. For all he wanted it, his desire to fight her was simply not there. What he wanted was to be tired and to sleep but he was neither of those things. Instead he was tense, waiting to see how her mood might shift next.
The problem with the gold was that, as they were on this island, she had no use for it. It wasn't like she could purchase her passage back home from here which is what she'd intended it for in the first place. Not to mention, Thalia had grown up with money. Her father had accounts all about the city and she was never without her own funds to pay for things. Money was not as valuable to her as it was to Lukos. She didn't grow up without it, so it didn't hold the same significance.
What significance it did have, aside from being able to purchase her way back home, was the fact that she'd vested it from Imbrasus after she killed him for torturing her. And while money held no significant value, Thalia had never disliked a prize or trophy.
She turned to watch him over the rim of the chalice; one arm tucked under her elbow as she held it to her lips. The tension had ratcheted up after what he'd said in the pool and it was so thick you could cut it with a knife. If there could be sparks of friction, they would be there. They'd both fought each other in the past; knock-down-drag-out fights that usually left one of them injured; usually her. Perhaps it was time for one. Since being on the island they'd enacted sort of an unspoken truce. Thalia wasn't going to try to escape or kill him simply because she had no idea where she was, nor anyone to take her away. And he? Well...aside from the physical perks, he seemed to find her skill with a sword useful. She wasn't an idiot. She realized he'd wanted her to train him and his men. To what end she didn't know. But all of her training with Diomedes would never be enough for them to best anyone of merit. She had no intelligence when it came to strategy and war games. Diomedes drew a line, after all. Though she was well versed on psychological games and torture thanks to Linos, her youngest older brother, and the family philosopher. He was also a strong proponent of thinking positively and receiving positive results and so far, while she'd been sold, she'd also refused to give up. To lose hope of seeing her family or surrendering to Lukos.
When he passed her he informed her that he wasn't going to Athenia and she clenched the chalice; shaking with the effort to keep from exploding. He informed her he would go to Colchis or Taengea before he stepped in front of her and took hold of the chalice. She loosened her grip on it to let him take it, but turned her shoulder to him and walked back to the bed; gathering the coins that had fallen out to place them back in the satchel. "It doesn't matter which port you stop in. I can get back to Athenia from either one. I'm not staying here, Lukos. I've already told you that. I will go home."
She dropped the gold on the crate next to her sword and watched as he leaned down and plucked up his blade; tucking it beneath the mattress. She hadn't noticed him wearing it before and studied him curiously for a long minute before she gave an exasperated laugh and shook her head. She sat down on the foot of the bed and plucked up her shoes; pulling the first on her foot. If he asked where she was going, she would reply with: "There are two reasons why you'd need a blade like that on the island. Either you don't trust your men...which I know isn't true.... or you don't trust me. And I'm not staying here if you're hiding knives from me in self-defense."
She stood, with her shoes done and went to the crate she set her sword on; plucking up the sheath and draping it over her shoulder before she rolled up the sheet she'd dried off in and gathered another. She padded over to the table and lifted Artemis up as she cleaned her front paws to move down to the captains quarters on the ship. Where, as far as she was concerned, she would remain until they left in a week.
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The problem with the gold was that, as they were on this island, she had no use for it. It wasn't like she could purchase her passage back home from here which is what she'd intended it for in the first place. Not to mention, Thalia had grown up with money. Her father had accounts all about the city and she was never without her own funds to pay for things. Money was not as valuable to her as it was to Lukos. She didn't grow up without it, so it didn't hold the same significance.
What significance it did have, aside from being able to purchase her way back home, was the fact that she'd vested it from Imbrasus after she killed him for torturing her. And while money held no significant value, Thalia had never disliked a prize or trophy.
She turned to watch him over the rim of the chalice; one arm tucked under her elbow as she held it to her lips. The tension had ratcheted up after what he'd said in the pool and it was so thick you could cut it with a knife. If there could be sparks of friction, they would be there. They'd both fought each other in the past; knock-down-drag-out fights that usually left one of them injured; usually her. Perhaps it was time for one. Since being on the island they'd enacted sort of an unspoken truce. Thalia wasn't going to try to escape or kill him simply because she had no idea where she was, nor anyone to take her away. And he? Well...aside from the physical perks, he seemed to find her skill with a sword useful. She wasn't an idiot. She realized he'd wanted her to train him and his men. To what end she didn't know. But all of her training with Diomedes would never be enough for them to best anyone of merit. She had no intelligence when it came to strategy and war games. Diomedes drew a line, after all. Though she was well versed on psychological games and torture thanks to Linos, her youngest older brother, and the family philosopher. He was also a strong proponent of thinking positively and receiving positive results and so far, while she'd been sold, she'd also refused to give up. To lose hope of seeing her family or surrendering to Lukos.
When he passed her he informed her that he wasn't going to Athenia and she clenched the chalice; shaking with the effort to keep from exploding. He informed her he would go to Colchis or Taengea before he stepped in front of her and took hold of the chalice. She loosened her grip on it to let him take it, but turned her shoulder to him and walked back to the bed; gathering the coins that had fallen out to place them back in the satchel. "It doesn't matter which port you stop in. I can get back to Athenia from either one. I'm not staying here, Lukos. I've already told you that. I will go home."
She dropped the gold on the crate next to her sword and watched as he leaned down and plucked up his blade; tucking it beneath the mattress. She hadn't noticed him wearing it before and studied him curiously for a long minute before she gave an exasperated laugh and shook her head. She sat down on the foot of the bed and plucked up her shoes; pulling the first on her foot. If he asked where she was going, she would reply with: "There are two reasons why you'd need a blade like that on the island. Either you don't trust your men...which I know isn't true.... or you don't trust me. And I'm not staying here if you're hiding knives from me in self-defense."
She stood, with her shoes done and went to the crate she set her sword on; plucking up the sheath and draping it over her shoulder before she rolled up the sheet she'd dried off in and gathered another. She padded over to the table and lifted Artemis up as she cleaned her front paws to move down to the captains quarters on the ship. Where, as far as she was concerned, she would remain until they left in a week.
The problem with the gold was that, as they were on this island, she had no use for it. It wasn't like she could purchase her passage back home from here which is what she'd intended it for in the first place. Not to mention, Thalia had grown up with money. Her father had accounts all about the city and she was never without her own funds to pay for things. Money was not as valuable to her as it was to Lukos. She didn't grow up without it, so it didn't hold the same significance.
What significance it did have, aside from being able to purchase her way back home, was the fact that she'd vested it from Imbrasus after she killed him for torturing her. And while money held no significant value, Thalia had never disliked a prize or trophy.
She turned to watch him over the rim of the chalice; one arm tucked under her elbow as she held it to her lips. The tension had ratcheted up after what he'd said in the pool and it was so thick you could cut it with a knife. If there could be sparks of friction, they would be there. They'd both fought each other in the past; knock-down-drag-out fights that usually left one of them injured; usually her. Perhaps it was time for one. Since being on the island they'd enacted sort of an unspoken truce. Thalia wasn't going to try to escape or kill him simply because she had no idea where she was, nor anyone to take her away. And he? Well...aside from the physical perks, he seemed to find her skill with a sword useful. She wasn't an idiot. She realized he'd wanted her to train him and his men. To what end she didn't know. But all of her training with Diomedes would never be enough for them to best anyone of merit. She had no intelligence when it came to strategy and war games. Diomedes drew a line, after all. Though she was well versed on psychological games and torture thanks to Linos, her youngest older brother, and the family philosopher. He was also a strong proponent of thinking positively and receiving positive results and so far, while she'd been sold, she'd also refused to give up. To lose hope of seeing her family or surrendering to Lukos.
When he passed her he informed her that he wasn't going to Athenia and she clenched the chalice; shaking with the effort to keep from exploding. He informed her he would go to Colchis or Taengea before he stepped in front of her and took hold of the chalice. She loosened her grip on it to let him take it, but turned her shoulder to him and walked back to the bed; gathering the coins that had fallen out to place them back in the satchel. "It doesn't matter which port you stop in. I can get back to Athenia from either one. I'm not staying here, Lukos. I've already told you that. I will go home."
She dropped the gold on the crate next to her sword and watched as he leaned down and plucked up his blade; tucking it beneath the mattress. She hadn't noticed him wearing it before and studied him curiously for a long minute before she gave an exasperated laugh and shook her head. She sat down on the foot of the bed and plucked up her shoes; pulling the first on her foot. If he asked where she was going, she would reply with: "There are two reasons why you'd need a blade like that on the island. Either you don't trust your men...which I know isn't true.... or you don't trust me. And I'm not staying here if you're hiding knives from me in self-defense."
She stood, with her shoes done and went to the crate she set her sword on; plucking up the sheath and draping it over her shoulder before she rolled up the sheet she'd dried off in and gathered another. She padded over to the table and lifted Artemis up as she cleaned her front paws to move down to the captains quarters on the ship. Where, as far as she was concerned, she would remain until they left in a week.
Athenia. He hated the very name. Every time she mentioned going home it set his teeth on edge. She didn’t have blind hope anymore that he would take her back some day. It was flat self delusion that he would. What she didn’t seem to understand was there was no inducement anymore to return her for any reason. He wanted her here. Here she would remain.
He watched her pluck up the coins from the bed, putting them back into the purse and setting it on a crate. The wine settled in his stomach but it felt a little sour. No food had passed his lips since early afternoon and he was starting to feel the effects of forgoing food again in favor of other things.
Lukos frowned when she glanced at him with a strange expression and his features only darkened when she let slip an odd laugh, shaking her head. She plopped down on the foot of the bed and started to put on her sandals. He rolled his eyes, asking where she was going even though he already knew. There was one other place on the island that she’d ever gone; his cabin.
Utter bewilderment and incredulity met her pious declaration that she would not stay here because he did not trust her. What was she going on about? He watched as she strode about, taking her things, including the damn cat he hadn’t noticed before now and headed to the door. In a second he sprang after her, slipping his half naked body between her and the door. His back was pressed against the smooth, ancient wood and he gave her a mocking smile.
“You don’t seriously expect me to believe that you thought for a second I trusted you?” It was his turn to laugh and he did it without a trace of humor. “You’ve tried to kill me twice. In fact, just yesterday, you reminded me how much you hate me.” His eyes traveled down her body and back up to her face. “Don’t misunderstand what we are or what all this is. I want you. You want me. That’s the extent of it.”
Everything he said was a lie. He realized it as he spit the words out but he didn’t care. They were designed to hurt her and he hoped he did. She wanted to leave? Fine. “I am never taking you back.” He watched the anger blacken her face. “Ever.” Without another word, he opened the door for her and stood aside, weathering her temper and watched her as she stormed down the hill. “I decide your fate!” he shouted at her back. At the moment he wanted her to hate him as much as he hated what he was doing but he couldn’t stop. She would not command him or dominate him or get her way with a flick of her hand.
As soon as she was half way down the hill he slammed the door. It crashed against its frame, thunder booming inside the temple. He wanted to kill something. Home. How dare she want to leave. There was nothing for her back there. He’d made sure of it and yet that’s all she wanted.
Stalking back out onto the portico again he shouted again, “They won’t want you anymore! You’re mine like everything else on this fucking island!” He slammed the door again feeling worse and even more enraged. He shook out his arms, ready to hit anything but there was nothing. His eyes landed on the cage. All at once he launched himself at it, shoving it hard so that it crashed onto its side, the lock springing open, damaged beyond repair. From there his anger led him to stalk through the temple and into the cave. The sight of the springs only heightened his fury and he marched around them, heading for the cliffs.
How had he forgotten how enraging she could be? For the last two days he couldn’t imagine a scenario where he would put the collar on her but he could now. If he thought for a second he could find it in time he’d tackle her on the path and close it around her pretty neck. She didn’t belong in Athenia anymore and he didn’t understand why she refused to see it. She’d killed people, stolen their gold, was sleeping with him of her own free will, and she’d earned her place here. Why leave? Why go back to people who tried to control her far more than he ever would?
His anger burned hot for hours. He stood on the edge of the cliffs, arms folded over his bare chest, glaring out at the water as the wind tore at his hair. Eventually he wandered back into the temple, feeling sick to his stomach from the alcohol and he tore into the food only to feel even worse. After a bit he went around, extinguishing the lamps, glaring at the door as he did so before finally flinging himself on the bed.
Sleep was fast to claim him and just as fast to leave. He woke up still angry; betrayed almost if he was honest. Yet, as he lay there, violently shoving the blanket off, he realized the accuracy of his own words last night. He wanted her. She wanted him. That was the extent, right? If that was all, and indeed it was, then he had no right to be this angry with her wanting to go home. Her wanting to leave was natural. She missed her family and he knew what that was like, although he had never been reunited with his.
His anger finally began to drain away and he just felt tired as though he hadn’t slept at all. Gorgoa tentatively pushed open the door and stopped short when she saw he was alone. He sighed in irritation at her as she slunk through the temple, constantly looking around as though Ares would appear to smite her. She was weakness itself and he couldn’t bear her presence this morning.
“Get out,” he barked.
“I have food…” she squeaked but turned and fled when he roared the same command over again. The door banged shut behind her and he wrenched it open only to find her bent over the steps, leaving the tray there instead. Her green eyes flicked up at him in abject terror and she turned, tearing down the hill in order to get away from him. A smile quirked up the corners of his mouth. At least he still frightened someone.
Coming out onto the steps, he sat down and picked over the food she’d left, finding that he was more hungry than he’d initially thought. There was more now than was usually brought and he realized that she’d brought enough for two. With a sigh he left the rest of the food where it sat and walked back into the temple, wondering how Thalia would get food if not up here. After what he’d said last night, he highly doubted she would come back on her own for a while.
He pulled on his boots and found a shirt before sifting through one of the crates to find a sheath that strapped to his back like hers did. Once he had this on, he put his own sword in it and walked to the door, pulling it open. The ship looked smaller than usual, farther away. Unlike last night, he was ready to make nice with her. Training, he felt, would do that. It would give both of them the chance to beat the hell out of each other like they wanted to and put everything else in the past.
The sun was just cresting the water by the time he walked up the gangway. No one was on board yet that he could see and it was just as well. He didn’t want any witnesses to what would surely prove to be an unpleasant encounter at first.
Drumming down the stairs, he whipped around the bannister and strode down the passageway. Without stopping to knock since it was his room anyway, he tried the latch and pushed but the door did not open. He tried again with the same result. Only then did he rap his knuckles against the rough wood grain.
“Phaedra?” he leaned his forehead on the door. “Please open the door. It’s time to train.” Inside he could hear movement. The ship bobbed up and down in the water like a great beast breathing beneath his feet, slow and steady.
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Athenia. He hated the very name. Every time she mentioned going home it set his teeth on edge. She didn’t have blind hope anymore that he would take her back some day. It was flat self delusion that he would. What she didn’t seem to understand was there was no inducement anymore to return her for any reason. He wanted her here. Here she would remain.
He watched her pluck up the coins from the bed, putting them back into the purse and setting it on a crate. The wine settled in his stomach but it felt a little sour. No food had passed his lips since early afternoon and he was starting to feel the effects of forgoing food again in favor of other things.
Lukos frowned when she glanced at him with a strange expression and his features only darkened when she let slip an odd laugh, shaking her head. She plopped down on the foot of the bed and started to put on her sandals. He rolled his eyes, asking where she was going even though he already knew. There was one other place on the island that she’d ever gone; his cabin.
Utter bewilderment and incredulity met her pious declaration that she would not stay here because he did not trust her. What was she going on about? He watched as she strode about, taking her things, including the damn cat he hadn’t noticed before now and headed to the door. In a second he sprang after her, slipping his half naked body between her and the door. His back was pressed against the smooth, ancient wood and he gave her a mocking smile.
“You don’t seriously expect me to believe that you thought for a second I trusted you?” It was his turn to laugh and he did it without a trace of humor. “You’ve tried to kill me twice. In fact, just yesterday, you reminded me how much you hate me.” His eyes traveled down her body and back up to her face. “Don’t misunderstand what we are or what all this is. I want you. You want me. That’s the extent of it.”
Everything he said was a lie. He realized it as he spit the words out but he didn’t care. They were designed to hurt her and he hoped he did. She wanted to leave? Fine. “I am never taking you back.” He watched the anger blacken her face. “Ever.” Without another word, he opened the door for her and stood aside, weathering her temper and watched her as she stormed down the hill. “I decide your fate!” he shouted at her back. At the moment he wanted her to hate him as much as he hated what he was doing but he couldn’t stop. She would not command him or dominate him or get her way with a flick of her hand.
As soon as she was half way down the hill he slammed the door. It crashed against its frame, thunder booming inside the temple. He wanted to kill something. Home. How dare she want to leave. There was nothing for her back there. He’d made sure of it and yet that’s all she wanted.
Stalking back out onto the portico again he shouted again, “They won’t want you anymore! You’re mine like everything else on this fucking island!” He slammed the door again feeling worse and even more enraged. He shook out his arms, ready to hit anything but there was nothing. His eyes landed on the cage. All at once he launched himself at it, shoving it hard so that it crashed onto its side, the lock springing open, damaged beyond repair. From there his anger led him to stalk through the temple and into the cave. The sight of the springs only heightened his fury and he marched around them, heading for the cliffs.
How had he forgotten how enraging she could be? For the last two days he couldn’t imagine a scenario where he would put the collar on her but he could now. If he thought for a second he could find it in time he’d tackle her on the path and close it around her pretty neck. She didn’t belong in Athenia anymore and he didn’t understand why she refused to see it. She’d killed people, stolen their gold, was sleeping with him of her own free will, and she’d earned her place here. Why leave? Why go back to people who tried to control her far more than he ever would?
His anger burned hot for hours. He stood on the edge of the cliffs, arms folded over his bare chest, glaring out at the water as the wind tore at his hair. Eventually he wandered back into the temple, feeling sick to his stomach from the alcohol and he tore into the food only to feel even worse. After a bit he went around, extinguishing the lamps, glaring at the door as he did so before finally flinging himself on the bed.
Sleep was fast to claim him and just as fast to leave. He woke up still angry; betrayed almost if he was honest. Yet, as he lay there, violently shoving the blanket off, he realized the accuracy of his own words last night. He wanted her. She wanted him. That was the extent, right? If that was all, and indeed it was, then he had no right to be this angry with her wanting to go home. Her wanting to leave was natural. She missed her family and he knew what that was like, although he had never been reunited with his.
His anger finally began to drain away and he just felt tired as though he hadn’t slept at all. Gorgoa tentatively pushed open the door and stopped short when she saw he was alone. He sighed in irritation at her as she slunk through the temple, constantly looking around as though Ares would appear to smite her. She was weakness itself and he couldn’t bear her presence this morning.
“Get out,” he barked.
“I have food…” she squeaked but turned and fled when he roared the same command over again. The door banged shut behind her and he wrenched it open only to find her bent over the steps, leaving the tray there instead. Her green eyes flicked up at him in abject terror and she turned, tearing down the hill in order to get away from him. A smile quirked up the corners of his mouth. At least he still frightened someone.
Coming out onto the steps, he sat down and picked over the food she’d left, finding that he was more hungry than he’d initially thought. There was more now than was usually brought and he realized that she’d brought enough for two. With a sigh he left the rest of the food where it sat and walked back into the temple, wondering how Thalia would get food if not up here. After what he’d said last night, he highly doubted she would come back on her own for a while.
He pulled on his boots and found a shirt before sifting through one of the crates to find a sheath that strapped to his back like hers did. Once he had this on, he put his own sword in it and walked to the door, pulling it open. The ship looked smaller than usual, farther away. Unlike last night, he was ready to make nice with her. Training, he felt, would do that. It would give both of them the chance to beat the hell out of each other like they wanted to and put everything else in the past.
The sun was just cresting the water by the time he walked up the gangway. No one was on board yet that he could see and it was just as well. He didn’t want any witnesses to what would surely prove to be an unpleasant encounter at first.
Drumming down the stairs, he whipped around the bannister and strode down the passageway. Without stopping to knock since it was his room anyway, he tried the latch and pushed but the door did not open. He tried again with the same result. Only then did he rap his knuckles against the rough wood grain.
“Phaedra?” he leaned his forehead on the door. “Please open the door. It’s time to train.” Inside he could hear movement. The ship bobbed up and down in the water like a great beast breathing beneath his feet, slow and steady.
Athenia. He hated the very name. Every time she mentioned going home it set his teeth on edge. She didn’t have blind hope anymore that he would take her back some day. It was flat self delusion that he would. What she didn’t seem to understand was there was no inducement anymore to return her for any reason. He wanted her here. Here she would remain.
He watched her pluck up the coins from the bed, putting them back into the purse and setting it on a crate. The wine settled in his stomach but it felt a little sour. No food had passed his lips since early afternoon and he was starting to feel the effects of forgoing food again in favor of other things.
Lukos frowned when she glanced at him with a strange expression and his features only darkened when she let slip an odd laugh, shaking her head. She plopped down on the foot of the bed and started to put on her sandals. He rolled his eyes, asking where she was going even though he already knew. There was one other place on the island that she’d ever gone; his cabin.
Utter bewilderment and incredulity met her pious declaration that she would not stay here because he did not trust her. What was she going on about? He watched as she strode about, taking her things, including the damn cat he hadn’t noticed before now and headed to the door. In a second he sprang after her, slipping his half naked body between her and the door. His back was pressed against the smooth, ancient wood and he gave her a mocking smile.
“You don’t seriously expect me to believe that you thought for a second I trusted you?” It was his turn to laugh and he did it without a trace of humor. “You’ve tried to kill me twice. In fact, just yesterday, you reminded me how much you hate me.” His eyes traveled down her body and back up to her face. “Don’t misunderstand what we are or what all this is. I want you. You want me. That’s the extent of it.”
Everything he said was a lie. He realized it as he spit the words out but he didn’t care. They were designed to hurt her and he hoped he did. She wanted to leave? Fine. “I am never taking you back.” He watched the anger blacken her face. “Ever.” Without another word, he opened the door for her and stood aside, weathering her temper and watched her as she stormed down the hill. “I decide your fate!” he shouted at her back. At the moment he wanted her to hate him as much as he hated what he was doing but he couldn’t stop. She would not command him or dominate him or get her way with a flick of her hand.
As soon as she was half way down the hill he slammed the door. It crashed against its frame, thunder booming inside the temple. He wanted to kill something. Home. How dare she want to leave. There was nothing for her back there. He’d made sure of it and yet that’s all she wanted.
Stalking back out onto the portico again he shouted again, “They won’t want you anymore! You’re mine like everything else on this fucking island!” He slammed the door again feeling worse and even more enraged. He shook out his arms, ready to hit anything but there was nothing. His eyes landed on the cage. All at once he launched himself at it, shoving it hard so that it crashed onto its side, the lock springing open, damaged beyond repair. From there his anger led him to stalk through the temple and into the cave. The sight of the springs only heightened his fury and he marched around them, heading for the cliffs.
How had he forgotten how enraging she could be? For the last two days he couldn’t imagine a scenario where he would put the collar on her but he could now. If he thought for a second he could find it in time he’d tackle her on the path and close it around her pretty neck. She didn’t belong in Athenia anymore and he didn’t understand why she refused to see it. She’d killed people, stolen their gold, was sleeping with him of her own free will, and she’d earned her place here. Why leave? Why go back to people who tried to control her far more than he ever would?
His anger burned hot for hours. He stood on the edge of the cliffs, arms folded over his bare chest, glaring out at the water as the wind tore at his hair. Eventually he wandered back into the temple, feeling sick to his stomach from the alcohol and he tore into the food only to feel even worse. After a bit he went around, extinguishing the lamps, glaring at the door as he did so before finally flinging himself on the bed.
Sleep was fast to claim him and just as fast to leave. He woke up still angry; betrayed almost if he was honest. Yet, as he lay there, violently shoving the blanket off, he realized the accuracy of his own words last night. He wanted her. She wanted him. That was the extent, right? If that was all, and indeed it was, then he had no right to be this angry with her wanting to go home. Her wanting to leave was natural. She missed her family and he knew what that was like, although he had never been reunited with his.
His anger finally began to drain away and he just felt tired as though he hadn’t slept at all. Gorgoa tentatively pushed open the door and stopped short when she saw he was alone. He sighed in irritation at her as she slunk through the temple, constantly looking around as though Ares would appear to smite her. She was weakness itself and he couldn’t bear her presence this morning.
“Get out,” he barked.
“I have food…” she squeaked but turned and fled when he roared the same command over again. The door banged shut behind her and he wrenched it open only to find her bent over the steps, leaving the tray there instead. Her green eyes flicked up at him in abject terror and she turned, tearing down the hill in order to get away from him. A smile quirked up the corners of his mouth. At least he still frightened someone.
Coming out onto the steps, he sat down and picked over the food she’d left, finding that he was more hungry than he’d initially thought. There was more now than was usually brought and he realized that she’d brought enough for two. With a sigh he left the rest of the food where it sat and walked back into the temple, wondering how Thalia would get food if not up here. After what he’d said last night, he highly doubted she would come back on her own for a while.
He pulled on his boots and found a shirt before sifting through one of the crates to find a sheath that strapped to his back like hers did. Once he had this on, he put his own sword in it and walked to the door, pulling it open. The ship looked smaller than usual, farther away. Unlike last night, he was ready to make nice with her. Training, he felt, would do that. It would give both of them the chance to beat the hell out of each other like they wanted to and put everything else in the past.
The sun was just cresting the water by the time he walked up the gangway. No one was on board yet that he could see and it was just as well. He didn’t want any witnesses to what would surely prove to be an unpleasant encounter at first.
Drumming down the stairs, he whipped around the bannister and strode down the passageway. Without stopping to knock since it was his room anyway, he tried the latch and pushed but the door did not open. He tried again with the same result. Only then did he rap his knuckles against the rough wood grain.
“Phaedra?” he leaned his forehead on the door. “Please open the door. It’s time to train.” Inside he could hear movement. The ship bobbed up and down in the water like a great beast breathing beneath his feet, slow and steady.
Thalia stopped short as he hurried to block her from the front door. She lowered her chin warily as his eyes narrowed at her; ready to drop everything in her hands if he so much as took a step closer to her. But he didn't. Instead, he chose to attack her with his words.
She clenched her jaw as her own eyes spit fire at him and her voice was low; challenging. And while her heart thudded heavily in her chest and adrenaline coursed through her, ready for a fight, she stayed her body. "You shouldn't trust me. I tried to kill you before and I'll keep trying until you let. Me. Go. But you're a bigger fool than I gave you credit for if you think for one second I'd do anything on this island surrounded by your men in the middle of the Aegean sea. I'm not staying around here waiting for you to knife me in the back if I breathe in the wrong direction."
She moved to step around him but he blocked her path; his eyes trailing over her as he told her not to make it out for more than what it was. It was a low blow, but it was true. There was no emotion in their coupling. It was purely physical, wasn't it? Neither had any attachment to the other. They could walk away at any time. She gave a dismissive laugh. "Don't flatter yourself. There are twenty men in the village who would gladly fill your shoes." ...Not that she considered any of them worth her time. But two could play this game. For all she was worth, she kept her anger at the forefront; clouding any other emotions she might have. As a woman, she was pre-designed to read more into intimacy. To cling to a protector. She knew this. She and Linos had discussed it. Her brothers had trained her well for this very event. She had to keep herself disconnected from Lukos. From everyone here. Because this wasn't her home. Nothing here was hers. Her home was in Athenia. And Lukos's words only emphasized how much she didn't belong here.
She would deny him his final word, however. As he opened the door he warned her; telling her he'd never take her back and she hiccuped a laugh as the cat stared on with saucer-sized eyes. "You never had me to begin with..." With that she walked passed him; down the stairs and onto the trail; her chiton flowing out behind her dramatically. She refused to look back; keeping her eyes on the ground below her as she dug her fingers into the cat's fur; scratching at the cat's scruff to give her something to focus on. She started as he bellowed after her from the portico of the temple but ignored him; continuing down the path. But it seemed the last word wasn't enough, he needed to drive his point home; letting her know her family wouldn't take her back. She frowned. That one struck home. She thought of her parents as she continued to the ship. Her fathers pride in her. Would he still look at her the same? She thought of her mother's soft-spoken timidity. Would she blame Thalia for doing what she always does? For venturing away from the safe confines of the garden walls? Would her brothers still treat her the same?
She climbed up the gangplank; carefully maneuvering onto the ship as it rocked in the water. It was always rather eerie at night. Especially when no one else was aboard. Like an ill-fated ghost ship. She didn't like sleeping here alone, or at all for that matter. ...But it was better than the dirt. She moved below deck into the pitch darkness and went on memory alone to find the door to the captains quarters. Pushing it open, she stepped inside and closed it behind her. Moonlight shone through the closed window and she set down her bundle on the bed before going to open it. She lit the lamp in the room and stared about the all too familiar space. Rubbing her arms, she plucked up the chair and nestled it beneath the door handle to keep the door from opening from the outside. With that complete, she pulled all of the old bedclothes off the bed and remade it with the soft sheets she'd brought from the temple. It wouldn't be as nice as the bed there, but it wasn't as bad as it was, either. Artemis explored the room on her own; not having been there in over a week and Thalia sat down on the bed; taking a deep breath. The adrenaline in her system was finally beginning to subside and she felt... weak and heavy. She blew out the lamp and took off her shoes before climbing beneath the top sheet and curling the pillow beneath her head; staring at the door....willing it to thud with the heavy fist of the captain. But it stared back silently.
Burying her head into the pillow she forced her eyes closed. He was right. He meant nothing to her. Everything they had was physical. It was solely predicated on selfish pleasure and desires. There were no expectations and she didn't want anything else. ....So why did she feel so rotten? Her stomach twisted in knots and her eyes prickled with tears she had no reason to have. She cursed her sexuality. Were she a man she could dismiss him just as easily as he'd dismissed her. She could tell him that she'd never take him back.. that it was physical. And she'd mean it. And she wouldn't dwell on it afterward as she was now.
When she finally fell asleep it was a restless sleep. Every noise on the ship woke her and she couldn't settle. She missed being curled up next to him. Even when they denied each other, they would still lay close enough to touch or curl against. She'd grown accustomed to his warmth and the hardness of his shoulder beneath her cheek. Of his heartbeat in her ear and the sound of his breathing.
She buried her head beneath the pillow.
Sensing her restlessness, Artemis curled up near her stomach; purring as she settled in to fall asleep. Sometime during the night, Thalia must have joined her as she didn't rouse until she heard someone walking above deck. She sucked in a deep breath; trying to remember where she was in her fogginess before sitting up groggily. The footsteps moved down the stairs and marched to the door and she knew it was him. Finding the door unable to open, he knocked and she dropped her feet over the side of the bed as he asked her to open the door in a polite, but weary tone. ......But only because they needed to train.
She gave a cynical laugh. He must be out of his mind. "Go to Hades."
JD
Staff Team
JD
Staff Team
This post was created by our staff team.
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Thalia stopped short as he hurried to block her from the front door. She lowered her chin warily as his eyes narrowed at her; ready to drop everything in her hands if he so much as took a step closer to her. But he didn't. Instead, he chose to attack her with his words.
She clenched her jaw as her own eyes spit fire at him and her voice was low; challenging. And while her heart thudded heavily in her chest and adrenaline coursed through her, ready for a fight, she stayed her body. "You shouldn't trust me. I tried to kill you before and I'll keep trying until you let. Me. Go. But you're a bigger fool than I gave you credit for if you think for one second I'd do anything on this island surrounded by your men in the middle of the Aegean sea. I'm not staying around here waiting for you to knife me in the back if I breathe in the wrong direction."
She moved to step around him but he blocked her path; his eyes trailing over her as he told her not to make it out for more than what it was. It was a low blow, but it was true. There was no emotion in their coupling. It was purely physical, wasn't it? Neither had any attachment to the other. They could walk away at any time. She gave a dismissive laugh. "Don't flatter yourself. There are twenty men in the village who would gladly fill your shoes." ...Not that she considered any of them worth her time. But two could play this game. For all she was worth, she kept her anger at the forefront; clouding any other emotions she might have. As a woman, she was pre-designed to read more into intimacy. To cling to a protector. She knew this. She and Linos had discussed it. Her brothers had trained her well for this very event. She had to keep herself disconnected from Lukos. From everyone here. Because this wasn't her home. Nothing here was hers. Her home was in Athenia. And Lukos's words only emphasized how much she didn't belong here.
She would deny him his final word, however. As he opened the door he warned her; telling her he'd never take her back and she hiccuped a laugh as the cat stared on with saucer-sized eyes. "You never had me to begin with..." With that she walked passed him; down the stairs and onto the trail; her chiton flowing out behind her dramatically. She refused to look back; keeping her eyes on the ground below her as she dug her fingers into the cat's fur; scratching at the cat's scruff to give her something to focus on. She started as he bellowed after her from the portico of the temple but ignored him; continuing down the path. But it seemed the last word wasn't enough, he needed to drive his point home; letting her know her family wouldn't take her back. She frowned. That one struck home. She thought of her parents as she continued to the ship. Her fathers pride in her. Would he still look at her the same? She thought of her mother's soft-spoken timidity. Would she blame Thalia for doing what she always does? For venturing away from the safe confines of the garden walls? Would her brothers still treat her the same?
She climbed up the gangplank; carefully maneuvering onto the ship as it rocked in the water. It was always rather eerie at night. Especially when no one else was aboard. Like an ill-fated ghost ship. She didn't like sleeping here alone, or at all for that matter. ...But it was better than the dirt. She moved below deck into the pitch darkness and went on memory alone to find the door to the captains quarters. Pushing it open, she stepped inside and closed it behind her. Moonlight shone through the closed window and she set down her bundle on the bed before going to open it. She lit the lamp in the room and stared about the all too familiar space. Rubbing her arms, she plucked up the chair and nestled it beneath the door handle to keep the door from opening from the outside. With that complete, she pulled all of the old bedclothes off the bed and remade it with the soft sheets she'd brought from the temple. It wouldn't be as nice as the bed there, but it wasn't as bad as it was, either. Artemis explored the room on her own; not having been there in over a week and Thalia sat down on the bed; taking a deep breath. The adrenaline in her system was finally beginning to subside and she felt... weak and heavy. She blew out the lamp and took off her shoes before climbing beneath the top sheet and curling the pillow beneath her head; staring at the door....willing it to thud with the heavy fist of the captain. But it stared back silently.
Burying her head into the pillow she forced her eyes closed. He was right. He meant nothing to her. Everything they had was physical. It was solely predicated on selfish pleasure and desires. There were no expectations and she didn't want anything else. ....So why did she feel so rotten? Her stomach twisted in knots and her eyes prickled with tears she had no reason to have. She cursed her sexuality. Were she a man she could dismiss him just as easily as he'd dismissed her. She could tell him that she'd never take him back.. that it was physical. And she'd mean it. And she wouldn't dwell on it afterward as she was now.
When she finally fell asleep it was a restless sleep. Every noise on the ship woke her and she couldn't settle. She missed being curled up next to him. Even when they denied each other, they would still lay close enough to touch or curl against. She'd grown accustomed to his warmth and the hardness of his shoulder beneath her cheek. Of his heartbeat in her ear and the sound of his breathing.
She buried her head beneath the pillow.
Sensing her restlessness, Artemis curled up near her stomach; purring as she settled in to fall asleep. Sometime during the night, Thalia must have joined her as she didn't rouse until she heard someone walking above deck. She sucked in a deep breath; trying to remember where she was in her fogginess before sitting up groggily. The footsteps moved down the stairs and marched to the door and she knew it was him. Finding the door unable to open, he knocked and she dropped her feet over the side of the bed as he asked her to open the door in a polite, but weary tone. ......But only because they needed to train.
She gave a cynical laugh. He must be out of his mind. "Go to Hades."
Thalia stopped short as he hurried to block her from the front door. She lowered her chin warily as his eyes narrowed at her; ready to drop everything in her hands if he so much as took a step closer to her. But he didn't. Instead, he chose to attack her with his words.
She clenched her jaw as her own eyes spit fire at him and her voice was low; challenging. And while her heart thudded heavily in her chest and adrenaline coursed through her, ready for a fight, she stayed her body. "You shouldn't trust me. I tried to kill you before and I'll keep trying until you let. Me. Go. But you're a bigger fool than I gave you credit for if you think for one second I'd do anything on this island surrounded by your men in the middle of the Aegean sea. I'm not staying around here waiting for you to knife me in the back if I breathe in the wrong direction."
She moved to step around him but he blocked her path; his eyes trailing over her as he told her not to make it out for more than what it was. It was a low blow, but it was true. There was no emotion in their coupling. It was purely physical, wasn't it? Neither had any attachment to the other. They could walk away at any time. She gave a dismissive laugh. "Don't flatter yourself. There are twenty men in the village who would gladly fill your shoes." ...Not that she considered any of them worth her time. But two could play this game. For all she was worth, she kept her anger at the forefront; clouding any other emotions she might have. As a woman, she was pre-designed to read more into intimacy. To cling to a protector. She knew this. She and Linos had discussed it. Her brothers had trained her well for this very event. She had to keep herself disconnected from Lukos. From everyone here. Because this wasn't her home. Nothing here was hers. Her home was in Athenia. And Lukos's words only emphasized how much she didn't belong here.
She would deny him his final word, however. As he opened the door he warned her; telling her he'd never take her back and she hiccuped a laugh as the cat stared on with saucer-sized eyes. "You never had me to begin with..." With that she walked passed him; down the stairs and onto the trail; her chiton flowing out behind her dramatically. She refused to look back; keeping her eyes on the ground below her as she dug her fingers into the cat's fur; scratching at the cat's scruff to give her something to focus on. She started as he bellowed after her from the portico of the temple but ignored him; continuing down the path. But it seemed the last word wasn't enough, he needed to drive his point home; letting her know her family wouldn't take her back. She frowned. That one struck home. She thought of her parents as she continued to the ship. Her fathers pride in her. Would he still look at her the same? She thought of her mother's soft-spoken timidity. Would she blame Thalia for doing what she always does? For venturing away from the safe confines of the garden walls? Would her brothers still treat her the same?
She climbed up the gangplank; carefully maneuvering onto the ship as it rocked in the water. It was always rather eerie at night. Especially when no one else was aboard. Like an ill-fated ghost ship. She didn't like sleeping here alone, or at all for that matter. ...But it was better than the dirt. She moved below deck into the pitch darkness and went on memory alone to find the door to the captains quarters. Pushing it open, she stepped inside and closed it behind her. Moonlight shone through the closed window and she set down her bundle on the bed before going to open it. She lit the lamp in the room and stared about the all too familiar space. Rubbing her arms, she plucked up the chair and nestled it beneath the door handle to keep the door from opening from the outside. With that complete, she pulled all of the old bedclothes off the bed and remade it with the soft sheets she'd brought from the temple. It wouldn't be as nice as the bed there, but it wasn't as bad as it was, either. Artemis explored the room on her own; not having been there in over a week and Thalia sat down on the bed; taking a deep breath. The adrenaline in her system was finally beginning to subside and she felt... weak and heavy. She blew out the lamp and took off her shoes before climbing beneath the top sheet and curling the pillow beneath her head; staring at the door....willing it to thud with the heavy fist of the captain. But it stared back silently.
Burying her head into the pillow she forced her eyes closed. He was right. He meant nothing to her. Everything they had was physical. It was solely predicated on selfish pleasure and desires. There were no expectations and she didn't want anything else. ....So why did she feel so rotten? Her stomach twisted in knots and her eyes prickled with tears she had no reason to have. She cursed her sexuality. Were she a man she could dismiss him just as easily as he'd dismissed her. She could tell him that she'd never take him back.. that it was physical. And she'd mean it. And she wouldn't dwell on it afterward as she was now.
When she finally fell asleep it was a restless sleep. Every noise on the ship woke her and she couldn't settle. She missed being curled up next to him. Even when they denied each other, they would still lay close enough to touch or curl against. She'd grown accustomed to his warmth and the hardness of his shoulder beneath her cheek. Of his heartbeat in her ear and the sound of his breathing.
She buried her head beneath the pillow.
Sensing her restlessness, Artemis curled up near her stomach; purring as she settled in to fall asleep. Sometime during the night, Thalia must have joined her as she didn't rouse until she heard someone walking above deck. She sucked in a deep breath; trying to remember where she was in her fogginess before sitting up groggily. The footsteps moved down the stairs and marched to the door and she knew it was him. Finding the door unable to open, he knocked and she dropped her feet over the side of the bed as he asked her to open the door in a polite, but weary tone. ......But only because they needed to train.
She gave a cynical laugh. He must be out of his mind. "Go to Hades."
He grit his teeth and growled under his breath at her flat refusal. While he did not like it, he was not surprised at her reaction. Pushing away from the door for a second, he looked at the frame, checking to see if he could just take it off its hinges. No. That would be too simple. The hinges were on the inside. Stepping back up to it, he said,
“And I’ll see you in the Fields of Punishment. Now open the door.” It remained tight shut. “Phaedra…” He waited, her name coming out with an obvious effort to control his tone. Perhaps he should apologize but he didn’t want to. What he wanted was for her to open the door and have already forgiven him, ready to move beyond their mutual anger. After all, he’d already forgiven everything she’d leveled at him. Mostly.
What he still found grating was that she had, again, blatantly admitted that she still would kill him when and if the time came and yet, she was equally angry that he’d wrongly assumed she’d try it here. As though the distinction mattered. Essentially he could trust that he could not trust her, but if he acted on that assumption, then she was angry that she wasn’t trusted. It was confusing, contradictory, and he didn’t like it.
“You’re being a hypocrite,” he said, pressing his ear to the door with his palm pressed flat on the wood. “If it’s alright for you to kill me, I feel like it’s only fair I get the chance to kill you back. Now open up.” After a moment he sighed and pushed away from the door again. “Fine,” he said louder. Although he was far from giving up.
“You won’t come to me,” he muttered under his breath, turning on his heel. “Then I’ll come to you.” Going down into the hold, he looked for anything to block the door with and finally found a cage. It wasn’t heavy but it didn’t have to be. He drug it up the stairs and into the narrow passage, wedging it between the door and the wall. She might be able to get out but she wouldn’t be able to do it quickly. There would have to be significant pressure to make the cage move in order to allow her to slip through. It should be enough time for him to get into the room and trap her there with him.
They were going to talk this out face to face one way or another.
As he pounded back up the stairs onto the deck, he knew he could force her cooperation in other ways but they were slower and he was in no mood to wait. To him, the offer to train had been his way of an apology and she was being stubborn not to accept. Striding over to the stairs by the railing, he ascended these too, never for a second doubting that his plan would work. It wasn’t until he got to the back of the ship and had one leg over the rail that the first misgivings sank in.
Down below was the lagoon, sitting perfectly still like a piece of glass. He swallowed hard but he was unwilling to back down. Starving her out would be the safer option but he didn’t need to fear the water if he could just maintain his hold on the ship. Slipping off his shoes so he could get a better grip, he straddled the railing before climbing over it completely. His window was below him and a little to the right.
He glanced one more time at the water, his heart starting to thump a little faster. The worst part wasn’t the knowledge that dropping into it would likely mean death as he did not know how to swim, it was that he could see all the way down to the white sandy bottom. Fish swam in little schools, darting this way and that, totally unaware of the man staring at them. Turning his attention back to the ship, he crouched down, gripping the supports on the railing and lowered one leg at a time off the ledge.
The muscles in his arms bulged as he held himself up for a minute, now a little afraid to lower his body all the way down. Her haughty expression drifted across his mind and he clenched his jaw as though she was up on the deck, daring him to turn back. Slowly, he let go of one of the supports and took hold of the ledge, leaning all his weight on that arm before he did the same with the other. His body hung suspended for a moment as he moved his feet, trying to find the foothold above the window frame. The drop from here was equal to his height and at an angle that he didn’t trust he could make without some maneuvering first.
After a few seconds, he found his footing, lowering himself one arm at a time, wedging his fingers in the crevices between the boards. For one frightful second, he almost lost his grip but he managed to scale down until he was crouched on the thin ledge outside of the open window. He would have a hard time getting in and it would require him to wriggle a little but he could make it.
“Phaedra,” he said, his voice indicating he was ready to fight again if necessary. “What I said-” What he’d said. Where to go with that statement? There were a lot of things he’d said that, while he still believed some of them, he shouldn’t have voiced aloud. Her family, for example had been the low blow of the night.
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He grit his teeth and growled under his breath at her flat refusal. While he did not like it, he was not surprised at her reaction. Pushing away from the door for a second, he looked at the frame, checking to see if he could just take it off its hinges. No. That would be too simple. The hinges were on the inside. Stepping back up to it, he said,
“And I’ll see you in the Fields of Punishment. Now open the door.” It remained tight shut. “Phaedra…” He waited, her name coming out with an obvious effort to control his tone. Perhaps he should apologize but he didn’t want to. What he wanted was for her to open the door and have already forgiven him, ready to move beyond their mutual anger. After all, he’d already forgiven everything she’d leveled at him. Mostly.
What he still found grating was that she had, again, blatantly admitted that she still would kill him when and if the time came and yet, she was equally angry that he’d wrongly assumed she’d try it here. As though the distinction mattered. Essentially he could trust that he could not trust her, but if he acted on that assumption, then she was angry that she wasn’t trusted. It was confusing, contradictory, and he didn’t like it.
“You’re being a hypocrite,” he said, pressing his ear to the door with his palm pressed flat on the wood. “If it’s alright for you to kill me, I feel like it’s only fair I get the chance to kill you back. Now open up.” After a moment he sighed and pushed away from the door again. “Fine,” he said louder. Although he was far from giving up.
“You won’t come to me,” he muttered under his breath, turning on his heel. “Then I’ll come to you.” Going down into the hold, he looked for anything to block the door with and finally found a cage. It wasn’t heavy but it didn’t have to be. He drug it up the stairs and into the narrow passage, wedging it between the door and the wall. She might be able to get out but she wouldn’t be able to do it quickly. There would have to be significant pressure to make the cage move in order to allow her to slip through. It should be enough time for him to get into the room and trap her there with him.
They were going to talk this out face to face one way or another.
As he pounded back up the stairs onto the deck, he knew he could force her cooperation in other ways but they were slower and he was in no mood to wait. To him, the offer to train had been his way of an apology and she was being stubborn not to accept. Striding over to the stairs by the railing, he ascended these too, never for a second doubting that his plan would work. It wasn’t until he got to the back of the ship and had one leg over the rail that the first misgivings sank in.
Down below was the lagoon, sitting perfectly still like a piece of glass. He swallowed hard but he was unwilling to back down. Starving her out would be the safer option but he didn’t need to fear the water if he could just maintain his hold on the ship. Slipping off his shoes so he could get a better grip, he straddled the railing before climbing over it completely. His window was below him and a little to the right.
He glanced one more time at the water, his heart starting to thump a little faster. The worst part wasn’t the knowledge that dropping into it would likely mean death as he did not know how to swim, it was that he could see all the way down to the white sandy bottom. Fish swam in little schools, darting this way and that, totally unaware of the man staring at them. Turning his attention back to the ship, he crouched down, gripping the supports on the railing and lowered one leg at a time off the ledge.
The muscles in his arms bulged as he held himself up for a minute, now a little afraid to lower his body all the way down. Her haughty expression drifted across his mind and he clenched his jaw as though she was up on the deck, daring him to turn back. Slowly, he let go of one of the supports and took hold of the ledge, leaning all his weight on that arm before he did the same with the other. His body hung suspended for a moment as he moved his feet, trying to find the foothold above the window frame. The drop from here was equal to his height and at an angle that he didn’t trust he could make without some maneuvering first.
After a few seconds, he found his footing, lowering himself one arm at a time, wedging his fingers in the crevices between the boards. For one frightful second, he almost lost his grip but he managed to scale down until he was crouched on the thin ledge outside of the open window. He would have a hard time getting in and it would require him to wriggle a little but he could make it.
“Phaedra,” he said, his voice indicating he was ready to fight again if necessary. “What I said-” What he’d said. Where to go with that statement? There were a lot of things he’d said that, while he still believed some of them, he shouldn’t have voiced aloud. Her family, for example had been the low blow of the night.
He grit his teeth and growled under his breath at her flat refusal. While he did not like it, he was not surprised at her reaction. Pushing away from the door for a second, he looked at the frame, checking to see if he could just take it off its hinges. No. That would be too simple. The hinges were on the inside. Stepping back up to it, he said,
“And I’ll see you in the Fields of Punishment. Now open the door.” It remained tight shut. “Phaedra…” He waited, her name coming out with an obvious effort to control his tone. Perhaps he should apologize but he didn’t want to. What he wanted was for her to open the door and have already forgiven him, ready to move beyond their mutual anger. After all, he’d already forgiven everything she’d leveled at him. Mostly.
What he still found grating was that she had, again, blatantly admitted that she still would kill him when and if the time came and yet, she was equally angry that he’d wrongly assumed she’d try it here. As though the distinction mattered. Essentially he could trust that he could not trust her, but if he acted on that assumption, then she was angry that she wasn’t trusted. It was confusing, contradictory, and he didn’t like it.
“You’re being a hypocrite,” he said, pressing his ear to the door with his palm pressed flat on the wood. “If it’s alright for you to kill me, I feel like it’s only fair I get the chance to kill you back. Now open up.” After a moment he sighed and pushed away from the door again. “Fine,” he said louder. Although he was far from giving up.
“You won’t come to me,” he muttered under his breath, turning on his heel. “Then I’ll come to you.” Going down into the hold, he looked for anything to block the door with and finally found a cage. It wasn’t heavy but it didn’t have to be. He drug it up the stairs and into the narrow passage, wedging it between the door and the wall. She might be able to get out but she wouldn’t be able to do it quickly. There would have to be significant pressure to make the cage move in order to allow her to slip through. It should be enough time for him to get into the room and trap her there with him.
They were going to talk this out face to face one way or another.
As he pounded back up the stairs onto the deck, he knew he could force her cooperation in other ways but they were slower and he was in no mood to wait. To him, the offer to train had been his way of an apology and she was being stubborn not to accept. Striding over to the stairs by the railing, he ascended these too, never for a second doubting that his plan would work. It wasn’t until he got to the back of the ship and had one leg over the rail that the first misgivings sank in.
Down below was the lagoon, sitting perfectly still like a piece of glass. He swallowed hard but he was unwilling to back down. Starving her out would be the safer option but he didn’t need to fear the water if he could just maintain his hold on the ship. Slipping off his shoes so he could get a better grip, he straddled the railing before climbing over it completely. His window was below him and a little to the right.
He glanced one more time at the water, his heart starting to thump a little faster. The worst part wasn’t the knowledge that dropping into it would likely mean death as he did not know how to swim, it was that he could see all the way down to the white sandy bottom. Fish swam in little schools, darting this way and that, totally unaware of the man staring at them. Turning his attention back to the ship, he crouched down, gripping the supports on the railing and lowered one leg at a time off the ledge.
The muscles in his arms bulged as he held himself up for a minute, now a little afraid to lower his body all the way down. Her haughty expression drifted across his mind and he clenched his jaw as though she was up on the deck, daring him to turn back. Slowly, he let go of one of the supports and took hold of the ledge, leaning all his weight on that arm before he did the same with the other. His body hung suspended for a moment as he moved his feet, trying to find the foothold above the window frame. The drop from here was equal to his height and at an angle that he didn’t trust he could make without some maneuvering first.
After a few seconds, he found his footing, lowering himself one arm at a time, wedging his fingers in the crevices between the boards. For one frightful second, he almost lost his grip but he managed to scale down until he was crouched on the thin ledge outside of the open window. He would have a hard time getting in and it would require him to wriggle a little but he could make it.
“Phaedra,” he said, his voice indicating he was ready to fight again if necessary. “What I said-” What he’d said. Where to go with that statement? There were a lot of things he’d said that, while he still believed some of them, he shouldn’t have voiced aloud. Her family, for example had been the low blow of the night.
If he thought that his reply would have her magically sweeping the chair back to allow him passage, he was out of his mind. She leaned back on the bed and crossed her arms; her back pressed against the wall behind her as he railed outside the door. She had no intention of staying in there all day. She would go to the village; find comfort with the women there and eat with them. They didn't treat her as a servant or a slave. And then at night, return here. ...At least that had been the plan.
When he told her he had a right to kill her back she scoffed. He had to be out of his mind if he thought she'd let her in after that. Realizing she had no intention of leaving, he gave up and left...but he didn't go upstairs. She stared at the door curiously until she finally heard something heavy dragging and then banging up the stairs from the lower decks. It crashed down in front of her door and she gave a start. What the devil was he up to? ....She wasn't opening the door to find out...that was for damned sure.
She listened to him walk away again; this time going upstairs and across the deck. His footfalls were heavy due to his boots and he pounded overhead on the lookout. She stared up at the floorboards as if she could see him. The pounding ceased and she furrowed her brows curiously. Scuffling from the wall behind her alerted her that Lukos wasn't done. She stood from the bed and stepped to the window to see one foot and then the other dangle from above; seeking the ledge of the window. She stood back; part of her thrilled that he would do such a thing and part of her annoyed beyond reason at his stubbornness. When his feet landed on the ledge and he crouched down to enter, she stepped up as he called her name. With a hard shove, she pushed his knees so he fell backward. He didn't have any balance perched on his toes and he fell with hardly any resistance. She grinned as she heard the splash and hopped up to look down at the water. Laughing, she dropped back down; knowing he wasn't going to take that well at all. They'd likely row for the rest of the week. He'd be glad to get rid of her and she hoped he was.
Strapping on her shoes and her sword, she moved the chair and put it out of the way before opening the door which was blocked by a cage. She sighed and nudged it aside with her hip before squeezing through the opening and climbing the stairs to the main deck; wholly expecting him to be climbing out of the water in a tirade. But he was nowhere around.
She looked about the side of the ship near the dock and saw nothing and so she climbed to the top of the stern to look over where he'd gone in the water. In the crystal blue water, she saw his body outlined near the bottom. She laughed but noticed he wasn't moving or swimming. She gave a strangled cry and tugged her sword off; tossing it on the deck before she wrestled off her sandals. Climbing up the tall railing, she lept over the side and fell for what fell like ages. The drop between the back of the ship and the water had to be twenty feet. And just as she was ready to scream, she plunged into the water. Ignoring her need to surface and take a breath, she twisted around and dove to the bottom.
The water here was deep; fifteen feet, at least to accommodate the ship. She pulled herself down; fighting her body's desire to float up and ignoring the pressure that built in her ears. The world was foggy, but his dark form grew closer and closer before she was able to wrap her arms around him from behind and pull him back. Kicked her feet to the surface; her lungs screaming for air; she wasn't the most buoyant, person, but the salt water helped bring her up and just as her lungs almost convulsed for air, she broke the surface and sucked in a deep breath. With one arm over his shoulder and her hand tucked beneath his arm, she swam him back towards the rocky shoreline. She knew there was no way she could pull him up on the deck, but she could possibly pull him onto the beach. When her toes finally met the rocky bottom of the shore, she let him float as long as possible before turning to drag him across the sand. He was impossibly heavy and she fell twice in the sand in her efforts. But what worried her more was that he made no effort to help himself. Dropping him when he was halfway out of the water, she scrambled around him so she could check his breathing. Her stomach sank as he gave no reply and she heard someone saying "No...nononononono..." somewhere; not realizing it was her. She patted his cheek; softly at first and then harder. "nonono... Lukos.. Lukos wake up... HELP!" She stared around..searching for someone.. anyone. Didn't they all realize their captain was in trouble? "HELP ME!!" She climbed up and searched the dock; drenched from head to toe. The material of her chiton was almost see through from the water. Pulling her skirts of the dress up, she bolted towards the dock. Arktos was coming down from the village and she gave a strangled cry before running barefoot over the rocky shore and the old wooden plans. "Arktos!!! LUKOS!"
Arktos looked her over once but saw how panicked she was. Furrowing his brow, he hurried his step and Thalia turned to hurry back from where she came from; stumbling a bit on the sharp rocks of the beach to get back to the waterline where she'd left him. Arktos passed her along the way; having seen Lukos laying on the beach and when Thalia reached the soft sand, she closed the distance quickly; falling down beside him as Arktos listened for breathing. Thalia tried to control the well of panic that was setting into her chest. He couldn't die on her. He couldn't leave her. Not now.... What would happen to her?? She'd never get home.. she'd live here on this godforsaken island in the middle of nowhere and she wouldn't even have him to make it halfway interesting!
Arktos leaned down and breathed into his mouth and Thalia watched; mesmerized. He gave him a heavy thump on his chest before breathing into his mouth again. Unconsciously, Thalia took Lukos's hand as she watched helplessly. There was no way this could work. He wasn't breathing. Breathing into his mouth wasn't going to change that. How long had he been under?? Did he hit his head on the way down?? Was it only a couple minutes or was it more? She couldn't think clearly how long. She felt a knot forming in the back of her throat as Arktos continued to pound on his chest and breathe in his mouth. She was shaking her head; a part of her inside knowing that he was already gone...it was too late. His lips were blue. Death was on his face. And no amount of breathing into his mouth was going to change that.
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If he thought that his reply would have her magically sweeping the chair back to allow him passage, he was out of his mind. She leaned back on the bed and crossed her arms; her back pressed against the wall behind her as he railed outside the door. She had no intention of staying in there all day. She would go to the village; find comfort with the women there and eat with them. They didn't treat her as a servant or a slave. And then at night, return here. ...At least that had been the plan.
When he told her he had a right to kill her back she scoffed. He had to be out of his mind if he thought she'd let her in after that. Realizing she had no intention of leaving, he gave up and left...but he didn't go upstairs. She stared at the door curiously until she finally heard something heavy dragging and then banging up the stairs from the lower decks. It crashed down in front of her door and she gave a start. What the devil was he up to? ....She wasn't opening the door to find out...that was for damned sure.
She listened to him walk away again; this time going upstairs and across the deck. His footfalls were heavy due to his boots and he pounded overhead on the lookout. She stared up at the floorboards as if she could see him. The pounding ceased and she furrowed her brows curiously. Scuffling from the wall behind her alerted her that Lukos wasn't done. She stood from the bed and stepped to the window to see one foot and then the other dangle from above; seeking the ledge of the window. She stood back; part of her thrilled that he would do such a thing and part of her annoyed beyond reason at his stubbornness. When his feet landed on the ledge and he crouched down to enter, she stepped up as he called her name. With a hard shove, she pushed his knees so he fell backward. He didn't have any balance perched on his toes and he fell with hardly any resistance. She grinned as she heard the splash and hopped up to look down at the water. Laughing, she dropped back down; knowing he wasn't going to take that well at all. They'd likely row for the rest of the week. He'd be glad to get rid of her and she hoped he was.
Strapping on her shoes and her sword, she moved the chair and put it out of the way before opening the door which was blocked by a cage. She sighed and nudged it aside with her hip before squeezing through the opening and climbing the stairs to the main deck; wholly expecting him to be climbing out of the water in a tirade. But he was nowhere around.
She looked about the side of the ship near the dock and saw nothing and so she climbed to the top of the stern to look over where he'd gone in the water. In the crystal blue water, she saw his body outlined near the bottom. She laughed but noticed he wasn't moving or swimming. She gave a strangled cry and tugged her sword off; tossing it on the deck before she wrestled off her sandals. Climbing up the tall railing, she lept over the side and fell for what fell like ages. The drop between the back of the ship and the water had to be twenty feet. And just as she was ready to scream, she plunged into the water. Ignoring her need to surface and take a breath, she twisted around and dove to the bottom.
The water here was deep; fifteen feet, at least to accommodate the ship. She pulled herself down; fighting her body's desire to float up and ignoring the pressure that built in her ears. The world was foggy, but his dark form grew closer and closer before she was able to wrap her arms around him from behind and pull him back. Kicked her feet to the surface; her lungs screaming for air; she wasn't the most buoyant, person, but the salt water helped bring her up and just as her lungs almost convulsed for air, she broke the surface and sucked in a deep breath. With one arm over his shoulder and her hand tucked beneath his arm, she swam him back towards the rocky shoreline. She knew there was no way she could pull him up on the deck, but she could possibly pull him onto the beach. When her toes finally met the rocky bottom of the shore, she let him float as long as possible before turning to drag him across the sand. He was impossibly heavy and she fell twice in the sand in her efforts. But what worried her more was that he made no effort to help himself. Dropping him when he was halfway out of the water, she scrambled around him so she could check his breathing. Her stomach sank as he gave no reply and she heard someone saying "No...nononononono..." somewhere; not realizing it was her. She patted his cheek; softly at first and then harder. "nonono... Lukos.. Lukos wake up... HELP!" She stared around..searching for someone.. anyone. Didn't they all realize their captain was in trouble? "HELP ME!!" She climbed up and searched the dock; drenched from head to toe. The material of her chiton was almost see through from the water. Pulling her skirts of the dress up, she bolted towards the dock. Arktos was coming down from the village and she gave a strangled cry before running barefoot over the rocky shore and the old wooden plans. "Arktos!!! LUKOS!"
Arktos looked her over once but saw how panicked she was. Furrowing his brow, he hurried his step and Thalia turned to hurry back from where she came from; stumbling a bit on the sharp rocks of the beach to get back to the waterline where she'd left him. Arktos passed her along the way; having seen Lukos laying on the beach and when Thalia reached the soft sand, she closed the distance quickly; falling down beside him as Arktos listened for breathing. Thalia tried to control the well of panic that was setting into her chest. He couldn't die on her. He couldn't leave her. Not now.... What would happen to her?? She'd never get home.. she'd live here on this godforsaken island in the middle of nowhere and she wouldn't even have him to make it halfway interesting!
Arktos leaned down and breathed into his mouth and Thalia watched; mesmerized. He gave him a heavy thump on his chest before breathing into his mouth again. Unconsciously, Thalia took Lukos's hand as she watched helplessly. There was no way this could work. He wasn't breathing. Breathing into his mouth wasn't going to change that. How long had he been under?? Did he hit his head on the way down?? Was it only a couple minutes or was it more? She couldn't think clearly how long. She felt a knot forming in the back of her throat as Arktos continued to pound on his chest and breathe in his mouth. She was shaking her head; a part of her inside knowing that he was already gone...it was too late. His lips were blue. Death was on his face. And no amount of breathing into his mouth was going to change that.
If he thought that his reply would have her magically sweeping the chair back to allow him passage, he was out of his mind. She leaned back on the bed and crossed her arms; her back pressed against the wall behind her as he railed outside the door. She had no intention of staying in there all day. She would go to the village; find comfort with the women there and eat with them. They didn't treat her as a servant or a slave. And then at night, return here. ...At least that had been the plan.
When he told her he had a right to kill her back she scoffed. He had to be out of his mind if he thought she'd let her in after that. Realizing she had no intention of leaving, he gave up and left...but he didn't go upstairs. She stared at the door curiously until she finally heard something heavy dragging and then banging up the stairs from the lower decks. It crashed down in front of her door and she gave a start. What the devil was he up to? ....She wasn't opening the door to find out...that was for damned sure.
She listened to him walk away again; this time going upstairs and across the deck. His footfalls were heavy due to his boots and he pounded overhead on the lookout. She stared up at the floorboards as if she could see him. The pounding ceased and she furrowed her brows curiously. Scuffling from the wall behind her alerted her that Lukos wasn't done. She stood from the bed and stepped to the window to see one foot and then the other dangle from above; seeking the ledge of the window. She stood back; part of her thrilled that he would do such a thing and part of her annoyed beyond reason at his stubbornness. When his feet landed on the ledge and he crouched down to enter, she stepped up as he called her name. With a hard shove, she pushed his knees so he fell backward. He didn't have any balance perched on his toes and he fell with hardly any resistance. She grinned as she heard the splash and hopped up to look down at the water. Laughing, she dropped back down; knowing he wasn't going to take that well at all. They'd likely row for the rest of the week. He'd be glad to get rid of her and she hoped he was.
Strapping on her shoes and her sword, she moved the chair and put it out of the way before opening the door which was blocked by a cage. She sighed and nudged it aside with her hip before squeezing through the opening and climbing the stairs to the main deck; wholly expecting him to be climbing out of the water in a tirade. But he was nowhere around.
She looked about the side of the ship near the dock and saw nothing and so she climbed to the top of the stern to look over where he'd gone in the water. In the crystal blue water, she saw his body outlined near the bottom. She laughed but noticed he wasn't moving or swimming. She gave a strangled cry and tugged her sword off; tossing it on the deck before she wrestled off her sandals. Climbing up the tall railing, she lept over the side and fell for what fell like ages. The drop between the back of the ship and the water had to be twenty feet. And just as she was ready to scream, she plunged into the water. Ignoring her need to surface and take a breath, she twisted around and dove to the bottom.
The water here was deep; fifteen feet, at least to accommodate the ship. She pulled herself down; fighting her body's desire to float up and ignoring the pressure that built in her ears. The world was foggy, but his dark form grew closer and closer before she was able to wrap her arms around him from behind and pull him back. Kicked her feet to the surface; her lungs screaming for air; she wasn't the most buoyant, person, but the salt water helped bring her up and just as her lungs almost convulsed for air, she broke the surface and sucked in a deep breath. With one arm over his shoulder and her hand tucked beneath his arm, she swam him back towards the rocky shoreline. She knew there was no way she could pull him up on the deck, but she could possibly pull him onto the beach. When her toes finally met the rocky bottom of the shore, she let him float as long as possible before turning to drag him across the sand. He was impossibly heavy and she fell twice in the sand in her efforts. But what worried her more was that he made no effort to help himself. Dropping him when he was halfway out of the water, she scrambled around him so she could check his breathing. Her stomach sank as he gave no reply and she heard someone saying "No...nononononono..." somewhere; not realizing it was her. She patted his cheek; softly at first and then harder. "nonono... Lukos.. Lukos wake up... HELP!" She stared around..searching for someone.. anyone. Didn't they all realize their captain was in trouble? "HELP ME!!" She climbed up and searched the dock; drenched from head to toe. The material of her chiton was almost see through from the water. Pulling her skirts of the dress up, she bolted towards the dock. Arktos was coming down from the village and she gave a strangled cry before running barefoot over the rocky shore and the old wooden plans. "Arktos!!! LUKOS!"
Arktos looked her over once but saw how panicked she was. Furrowing his brow, he hurried his step and Thalia turned to hurry back from where she came from; stumbling a bit on the sharp rocks of the beach to get back to the waterline where she'd left him. Arktos passed her along the way; having seen Lukos laying on the beach and when Thalia reached the soft sand, she closed the distance quickly; falling down beside him as Arktos listened for breathing. Thalia tried to control the well of panic that was setting into her chest. He couldn't die on her. He couldn't leave her. Not now.... What would happen to her?? She'd never get home.. she'd live here on this godforsaken island in the middle of nowhere and she wouldn't even have him to make it halfway interesting!
Arktos leaned down and breathed into his mouth and Thalia watched; mesmerized. He gave him a heavy thump on his chest before breathing into his mouth again. Unconsciously, Thalia took Lukos's hand as she watched helplessly. There was no way this could work. He wasn't breathing. Breathing into his mouth wasn't going to change that. How long had he been under?? Did he hit his head on the way down?? Was it only a couple minutes or was it more? She couldn't think clearly how long. She felt a knot forming in the back of her throat as Arktos continued to pound on his chest and breathe in his mouth. She was shaking her head; a part of her inside knowing that he was already gone...it was too late. His lips were blue. Death was on his face. And no amount of breathing into his mouth was going to change that.
It all happened so fast he was hardly aware of the fact that she pushed him until he was airborne. His stomach dropped. His arms wheeled out in frantic arcs. His mouth gaped open but there was no time for any sound to escape before his back slammed into the placid water below. Stinging pain radiated up his spine but he barely noticed.
For a second he had the insane thought that he might be swimming. He thrashed his legs and swung out with his arms but he felt himself sink. Sucking in one last desperate breath of air, he plummeted beneath the water. Bubbles surged up, blocking his vision. Panic made him flail helplessly as he stared up at the undulating surface, the sun shining through, taunting in its nearness.
There were no thoughts. Only instinct drove his actions. He held his breath until his lungs burned and then he held on some more. His limbs tore frantically for any kind of handhold and his ears popped. Pressure built in his head. All at once he let out giant bubbles of air, only to suck back in water. A new burning seared down his nose and throat, filling his lungs as he inhaled more water. His mind was blank and his movements slowed until he ceased moving at all.
Fish darted away as his body landed gently on the sandy floor of the lagoon, his arms floating uselessly toward the surface as though he was still reaching for it. He was unaware of being lifted up through the water, or of being dragged onto the beach. Her screams did not penetrate the utter black.
Instead he was still floating, strangely comfortable. There was nothing to feel and so there was nothing to do. He simply was and on a deeper level, he knew that he soon would not be. This did not bother him particularly.
All at once he convulsed in pain. Something massive was sitting on his chest. A rock or a mountain, even. It hurt and his lungs were burning again too. Someone was trying to choke him but he couldn’t move. His arms were immobile, like he’d already left his body.
This wasn’t death. Death didn’t hurt. Water poured in warm rushes from his mouth and nose. He wasn’t quite conscious of violently turning away to vomit up ocean water. His body heaved and he pressed his face into wet sand, sucking in air, still not able to get control of his limbs. Dimly, he was cognizant of being forced up onto his hands and knees. Something huge and hard slammed against his back, over and over, forcing more water out of his lungs until he had nothing left to expel.
After that he fell sideways, not opening his eyes and pressed against something hard. He attempted to push away but he heard someone crying. It was deep, guttural, and familiar. It took some doing but he managed to crack open one eye enough to stare into the massive, heaving chest of Arktos.
“No.” The word came out thick and to anyone else, wouldn’t have been recognizable as a word at all. He weakly pushed and shoved and kicked until he’d moved himself out of Arktos’s wet embrace and found himself back on sand. His vision came in flashes and he wasn’t entirely sure what was happening. All he knew was that Arktos was bawling like a woman and had been holding him.
He shook as he allowed himself to lay flat on the beach, closing his eyes again, attempting to absorb the fact that he was alive. His chest hurt and every breath burned but it didn’t matter. The sun was hot on his back and the side of his face while the sand was cold and wet on the other. The last person he thought about was the one who pushed him out of the window in the first place.
But at last she did enter his thoughts. He muttered her name but it might have been as unintelligible as his other attempt at speaking had been. She’d tried to kill him. She’d actually tried. And if not for Arktos, she would have succeeded. There wasn’t any point in trying to move and so he didn’t.
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It all happened so fast he was hardly aware of the fact that she pushed him until he was airborne. His stomach dropped. His arms wheeled out in frantic arcs. His mouth gaped open but there was no time for any sound to escape before his back slammed into the placid water below. Stinging pain radiated up his spine but he barely noticed.
For a second he had the insane thought that he might be swimming. He thrashed his legs and swung out with his arms but he felt himself sink. Sucking in one last desperate breath of air, he plummeted beneath the water. Bubbles surged up, blocking his vision. Panic made him flail helplessly as he stared up at the undulating surface, the sun shining through, taunting in its nearness.
There were no thoughts. Only instinct drove his actions. He held his breath until his lungs burned and then he held on some more. His limbs tore frantically for any kind of handhold and his ears popped. Pressure built in his head. All at once he let out giant bubbles of air, only to suck back in water. A new burning seared down his nose and throat, filling his lungs as he inhaled more water. His mind was blank and his movements slowed until he ceased moving at all.
Fish darted away as his body landed gently on the sandy floor of the lagoon, his arms floating uselessly toward the surface as though he was still reaching for it. He was unaware of being lifted up through the water, or of being dragged onto the beach. Her screams did not penetrate the utter black.
Instead he was still floating, strangely comfortable. There was nothing to feel and so there was nothing to do. He simply was and on a deeper level, he knew that he soon would not be. This did not bother him particularly.
All at once he convulsed in pain. Something massive was sitting on his chest. A rock or a mountain, even. It hurt and his lungs were burning again too. Someone was trying to choke him but he couldn’t move. His arms were immobile, like he’d already left his body.
This wasn’t death. Death didn’t hurt. Water poured in warm rushes from his mouth and nose. He wasn’t quite conscious of violently turning away to vomit up ocean water. His body heaved and he pressed his face into wet sand, sucking in air, still not able to get control of his limbs. Dimly, he was cognizant of being forced up onto his hands and knees. Something huge and hard slammed against his back, over and over, forcing more water out of his lungs until he had nothing left to expel.
After that he fell sideways, not opening his eyes and pressed against something hard. He attempted to push away but he heard someone crying. It was deep, guttural, and familiar. It took some doing but he managed to crack open one eye enough to stare into the massive, heaving chest of Arktos.
“No.” The word came out thick and to anyone else, wouldn’t have been recognizable as a word at all. He weakly pushed and shoved and kicked until he’d moved himself out of Arktos’s wet embrace and found himself back on sand. His vision came in flashes and he wasn’t entirely sure what was happening. All he knew was that Arktos was bawling like a woman and had been holding him.
He shook as he allowed himself to lay flat on the beach, closing his eyes again, attempting to absorb the fact that he was alive. His chest hurt and every breath burned but it didn’t matter. The sun was hot on his back and the side of his face while the sand was cold and wet on the other. The last person he thought about was the one who pushed him out of the window in the first place.
But at last she did enter his thoughts. He muttered her name but it might have been as unintelligible as his other attempt at speaking had been. She’d tried to kill him. She’d actually tried. And if not for Arktos, she would have succeeded. There wasn’t any point in trying to move and so he didn’t.
It all happened so fast he was hardly aware of the fact that she pushed him until he was airborne. His stomach dropped. His arms wheeled out in frantic arcs. His mouth gaped open but there was no time for any sound to escape before his back slammed into the placid water below. Stinging pain radiated up his spine but he barely noticed.
For a second he had the insane thought that he might be swimming. He thrashed his legs and swung out with his arms but he felt himself sink. Sucking in one last desperate breath of air, he plummeted beneath the water. Bubbles surged up, blocking his vision. Panic made him flail helplessly as he stared up at the undulating surface, the sun shining through, taunting in its nearness.
There were no thoughts. Only instinct drove his actions. He held his breath until his lungs burned and then he held on some more. His limbs tore frantically for any kind of handhold and his ears popped. Pressure built in his head. All at once he let out giant bubbles of air, only to suck back in water. A new burning seared down his nose and throat, filling his lungs as he inhaled more water. His mind was blank and his movements slowed until he ceased moving at all.
Fish darted away as his body landed gently on the sandy floor of the lagoon, his arms floating uselessly toward the surface as though he was still reaching for it. He was unaware of being lifted up through the water, or of being dragged onto the beach. Her screams did not penetrate the utter black.
Instead he was still floating, strangely comfortable. There was nothing to feel and so there was nothing to do. He simply was and on a deeper level, he knew that he soon would not be. This did not bother him particularly.
All at once he convulsed in pain. Something massive was sitting on his chest. A rock or a mountain, even. It hurt and his lungs were burning again too. Someone was trying to choke him but he couldn’t move. His arms were immobile, like he’d already left his body.
This wasn’t death. Death didn’t hurt. Water poured in warm rushes from his mouth and nose. He wasn’t quite conscious of violently turning away to vomit up ocean water. His body heaved and he pressed his face into wet sand, sucking in air, still not able to get control of his limbs. Dimly, he was cognizant of being forced up onto his hands and knees. Something huge and hard slammed against his back, over and over, forcing more water out of his lungs until he had nothing left to expel.
After that he fell sideways, not opening his eyes and pressed against something hard. He attempted to push away but he heard someone crying. It was deep, guttural, and familiar. It took some doing but he managed to crack open one eye enough to stare into the massive, heaving chest of Arktos.
“No.” The word came out thick and to anyone else, wouldn’t have been recognizable as a word at all. He weakly pushed and shoved and kicked until he’d moved himself out of Arktos’s wet embrace and found himself back on sand. His vision came in flashes and he wasn’t entirely sure what was happening. All he knew was that Arktos was bawling like a woman and had been holding him.
He shook as he allowed himself to lay flat on the beach, closing his eyes again, attempting to absorb the fact that he was alive. His chest hurt and every breath burned but it didn’t matter. The sun was hot on his back and the side of his face while the sand was cold and wet on the other. The last person he thought about was the one who pushed him out of the window in the first place.
But at last she did enter his thoughts. He muttered her name but it might have been as unintelligible as his other attempt at speaking had been. She’d tried to kill him. She’d actually tried. And if not for Arktos, she would have succeeded. There wasn’t any point in trying to move and so he didn’t.
She watched as Arktos became more and more desperate to revive Lukos and she shrank back; dropping his fingertips as she buried her face in her knees. The sun was warm on her back and the salt water made her feel sticky as it dried. Her hair dripped around her face and down her spine. The pirate had a rhythm to what he did. THUNK THUNK BREATHE. Over and over he repeated it. Each breath he took she felt her safety drifting further away from her. What would she say when they asked what happened? That she'd shoved him off the ledge of the window? Did he hit his head on the way down? Did it even matter? If he didn't wake up then it didn't. His crew would rally against her; tie her ankles to rocks and let her suffer the same fate. Or sell her off again. She sucked in a breath. Because she needed him. She needed him to survive this island and her world away from home. She needed him to ground her to something so she didn't feel as if she was floating without anything to grab on to. She could fight him; argue with him and trade insults. They could bed each other and battle each other but it was always him. He had been her constant since he stole her away. Without him, she was truly alone.
Arktos stopped his pattern and she kept her face buried in her knees. She couldn't look. She couldn't see the big pirate give up. She'd never killed someone before who didn't deserve it. And while it could be argued that Lukos deserved it, she didn't think he did... at least not in her measurement. She could justify Imbrasus. Hyrtius was in self-defense. But Lukos? She hadn't intended this. She didn't want to kill him. At least not this way, or at all.
The sound of water gurgling and being choked out caught her attention and she glanced out as Arktos helped Lukos to his side so he could expel the water in his lungs. The bear of a pirate was sobbing in relief as he turned him over to bang heavily on his back. Thalia raised her head but remained frozen. He was dead! His lips were blue and his body lifeless! Yet here he was, gasping for air in front of her as Arktos wept over him. The bear held him as he fell back; weak but finally able to breathe. Thalia watched in stunned silence; unable to cry or to find any emotion right now. As Arktos sobbed, Lukos pushed himself away until he fell back in the sand; slipping in and out of consciousness.
Finally, she uncurled from her spot in the sand and climbed to her feet; stumbling away at a fast walk. She climbed back onto the doc and padded back to the boat; back to the lookout where she pulled on her shoes and her sword. After that, she hurried off the boat and followed the path that led through the village; past the ships graveyard and where the path ended and large jagged rocks jutted out of the ocean. She climbed along the edge of the rock face; barely having the footing in some places. She didn't know where she was going, she just knew she had to get away. She climbed until the cliff face leveled out and a cave formed along the wall face. She pulled herself up and then followed it into the darkness; expecting it to open up on the temple caves, but it simply took a sharp verticle turn and then ended. Years of water leaning from the top of the island through the rock face had carved it out. Finally, with the silence surrounding her and only the sound of the ocean outside, she collapsed in the dark earth of the cave floor. Great gasping sobs racking through her chest as she cried as hard as Arktos, if not harder. Because her tears weren't just for almost losing Lukos, but for the whole experience of the last two and a half weeks. She'd done so well at holding it together. Through the stress of every fight.. of being sold.. of killing two men and battling others. For her time with Lukos, both good and bad. For the weeks on the ship... She let herself think about never seeing her family again and it made the sobs even more gut-wrenching. Until the sobs turned into a mild panic attack. She climbed to her knees and stumbled to the edge of the cliff face to breathe in deep breathes of fresh air between tears. She would remain there well through the day; past the point of hunger and loneliness. Because she deserved to be both hungry and lonely.
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She watched as Arktos became more and more desperate to revive Lukos and she shrank back; dropping his fingertips as she buried her face in her knees. The sun was warm on her back and the salt water made her feel sticky as it dried. Her hair dripped around her face and down her spine. The pirate had a rhythm to what he did. THUNK THUNK BREATHE. Over and over he repeated it. Each breath he took she felt her safety drifting further away from her. What would she say when they asked what happened? That she'd shoved him off the ledge of the window? Did he hit his head on the way down? Did it even matter? If he didn't wake up then it didn't. His crew would rally against her; tie her ankles to rocks and let her suffer the same fate. Or sell her off again. She sucked in a breath. Because she needed him. She needed him to survive this island and her world away from home. She needed him to ground her to something so she didn't feel as if she was floating without anything to grab on to. She could fight him; argue with him and trade insults. They could bed each other and battle each other but it was always him. He had been her constant since he stole her away. Without him, she was truly alone.
Arktos stopped his pattern and she kept her face buried in her knees. She couldn't look. She couldn't see the big pirate give up. She'd never killed someone before who didn't deserve it. And while it could be argued that Lukos deserved it, she didn't think he did... at least not in her measurement. She could justify Imbrasus. Hyrtius was in self-defense. But Lukos? She hadn't intended this. She didn't want to kill him. At least not this way, or at all.
The sound of water gurgling and being choked out caught her attention and she glanced out as Arktos helped Lukos to his side so he could expel the water in his lungs. The bear of a pirate was sobbing in relief as he turned him over to bang heavily on his back. Thalia raised her head but remained frozen. He was dead! His lips were blue and his body lifeless! Yet here he was, gasping for air in front of her as Arktos wept over him. The bear held him as he fell back; weak but finally able to breathe. Thalia watched in stunned silence; unable to cry or to find any emotion right now. As Arktos sobbed, Lukos pushed himself away until he fell back in the sand; slipping in and out of consciousness.
Finally, she uncurled from her spot in the sand and climbed to her feet; stumbling away at a fast walk. She climbed back onto the doc and padded back to the boat; back to the lookout where she pulled on her shoes and her sword. After that, she hurried off the boat and followed the path that led through the village; past the ships graveyard and where the path ended and large jagged rocks jutted out of the ocean. She climbed along the edge of the rock face; barely having the footing in some places. She didn't know where she was going, she just knew she had to get away. She climbed until the cliff face leveled out and a cave formed along the wall face. She pulled herself up and then followed it into the darkness; expecting it to open up on the temple caves, but it simply took a sharp verticle turn and then ended. Years of water leaning from the top of the island through the rock face had carved it out. Finally, with the silence surrounding her and only the sound of the ocean outside, she collapsed in the dark earth of the cave floor. Great gasping sobs racking through her chest as she cried as hard as Arktos, if not harder. Because her tears weren't just for almost losing Lukos, but for the whole experience of the last two and a half weeks. She'd done so well at holding it together. Through the stress of every fight.. of being sold.. of killing two men and battling others. For her time with Lukos, both good and bad. For the weeks on the ship... She let herself think about never seeing her family again and it made the sobs even more gut-wrenching. Until the sobs turned into a mild panic attack. She climbed to her knees and stumbled to the edge of the cliff face to breathe in deep breathes of fresh air between tears. She would remain there well through the day; past the point of hunger and loneliness. Because she deserved to be both hungry and lonely.
She watched as Arktos became more and more desperate to revive Lukos and she shrank back; dropping his fingertips as she buried her face in her knees. The sun was warm on her back and the salt water made her feel sticky as it dried. Her hair dripped around her face and down her spine. The pirate had a rhythm to what he did. THUNK THUNK BREATHE. Over and over he repeated it. Each breath he took she felt her safety drifting further away from her. What would she say when they asked what happened? That she'd shoved him off the ledge of the window? Did he hit his head on the way down? Did it even matter? If he didn't wake up then it didn't. His crew would rally against her; tie her ankles to rocks and let her suffer the same fate. Or sell her off again. She sucked in a breath. Because she needed him. She needed him to survive this island and her world away from home. She needed him to ground her to something so she didn't feel as if she was floating without anything to grab on to. She could fight him; argue with him and trade insults. They could bed each other and battle each other but it was always him. He had been her constant since he stole her away. Without him, she was truly alone.
Arktos stopped his pattern and she kept her face buried in her knees. She couldn't look. She couldn't see the big pirate give up. She'd never killed someone before who didn't deserve it. And while it could be argued that Lukos deserved it, she didn't think he did... at least not in her measurement. She could justify Imbrasus. Hyrtius was in self-defense. But Lukos? She hadn't intended this. She didn't want to kill him. At least not this way, or at all.
The sound of water gurgling and being choked out caught her attention and she glanced out as Arktos helped Lukos to his side so he could expel the water in his lungs. The bear of a pirate was sobbing in relief as he turned him over to bang heavily on his back. Thalia raised her head but remained frozen. He was dead! His lips were blue and his body lifeless! Yet here he was, gasping for air in front of her as Arktos wept over him. The bear held him as he fell back; weak but finally able to breathe. Thalia watched in stunned silence; unable to cry or to find any emotion right now. As Arktos sobbed, Lukos pushed himself away until he fell back in the sand; slipping in and out of consciousness.
Finally, she uncurled from her spot in the sand and climbed to her feet; stumbling away at a fast walk. She climbed back onto the doc and padded back to the boat; back to the lookout where she pulled on her shoes and her sword. After that, she hurried off the boat and followed the path that led through the village; past the ships graveyard and where the path ended and large jagged rocks jutted out of the ocean. She climbed along the edge of the rock face; barely having the footing in some places. She didn't know where she was going, she just knew she had to get away. She climbed until the cliff face leveled out and a cave formed along the wall face. She pulled herself up and then followed it into the darkness; expecting it to open up on the temple caves, but it simply took a sharp verticle turn and then ended. Years of water leaning from the top of the island through the rock face had carved it out. Finally, with the silence surrounding her and only the sound of the ocean outside, she collapsed in the dark earth of the cave floor. Great gasping sobs racking through her chest as she cried as hard as Arktos, if not harder. Because her tears weren't just for almost losing Lukos, but for the whole experience of the last two and a half weeks. She'd done so well at holding it together. Through the stress of every fight.. of being sold.. of killing two men and battling others. For her time with Lukos, both good and bad. For the weeks on the ship... She let herself think about never seeing her family again and it made the sobs even more gut-wrenching. Until the sobs turned into a mild panic attack. She climbed to her knees and stumbled to the edge of the cliff face to breathe in deep breathes of fresh air between tears. She would remain there well through the day; past the point of hunger and loneliness. Because she deserved to be both hungry and lonely.
