9 comments/  21436 views/  24 favorites

Sacrifice Ch. 01

By: Lycandope



Maida grit her teeth as she lugged the heavily laden basket of potatoes back to her parent's house. The sun had not yet burned off the early morning fog and the young woman relished the cool mist. Summer had fully set in and the sun spared no mercy for those that worked the fields. Maida grunted and lifted the basket higher, lean muscles tensing under the load. Five strands of blond hair escaped the simple ribbon holding her hair back and she sighed as they lay against the front of her face. When blowing air at her hair failed to move them away from her eyes, Maida sighed again and lay her basket down.

The great keep with its towering wooden walls stood less than half a day's walk in the distance. The young woman watched the silent workers on the wall as she fixed her hair. As much as she hated pulling rocks and weeds, she would never join the men tending to the outside of the keep. Simple wooden platforms hung high above the ground with thick rope. Maida shivered and then knuckled her back before pressing her palm to her chest to pray to the Traveler for luck for the foolhardy men. Before she bent to her basket, she watched a group of horseback soldiers stream from the keep's open gate and then split off in multiple directions.

The farms, Maida thought. They're going for the farms. Two-by-two the men on horse rode hard for the outlying farms. She frowned, wondering if they were looking for someone - an escaped prisoner perhaps. Or, more likely, delivering news of raised taxes. Again. Maida frowned as she lifted her basket. Her silent curse for the local lord was said as no prayer. Lord Forun held the land in an iron grip and the high born inside the walls grew fat off of the back of the workers. As a child, she had dreams of living within the walls as a proper Lady. Now... now she wondered whether she'd even find a husband before her back was bowed and her skin was wrinkled.

The rest of her trip was uneventful as always and she began walking faster when a dull ache settled into her shoulders and back. The sun's harsh glare finally cut through the mist as she neared her small house. Two horses were tied to a small post by their front door and Maida could hear raised voices. Her father and mother and another man. She wondered if she should wait until they were done but she worried her father would think she was being lazy. She still bore the bruise on her back from the last time that happened. The young girl set her basket by the door and then entered.

The heated conversation inside the small house stopped as soon as the door opened. Maida's mother sat in the corner, silently shaking with tears. Her father stared stone-faced at the two men from the fort. The two soldiers turned to look at Maida. Both wore chainmail with the hawk crest for Lord Forun. The one closest to her was gray haired and he spoke but not to her.

"Is this the one?" He asked.

"Yes," her father answered. "My oldest girl."

Maida's mother hiccuped with a sob. "Please," she begged. "Please, no."

"Be quiet, woman!" Her father hissed. "She's old enough to marry and no man will offer! She's another damn mouth to feed when I have three others already!"

The older soldier looked Maida up and down and she wished her gray dress wasn't sloppy with mud. She felt herself unconsciously smoothing the wrinkles down the front. Her mind speculated wildly at what had gone on. Perhaps, she thought. Perhaps he is looking for a bride? He's older but handsome enough. And he has pips on his shoulder. Oh, why couldn't he have come earlier before I'd gone out?

"Fine," the old soldier said. Her mother wailed and then cried out as her father struck her hard across her face. The soldier strode forward and grabbed Maida by her upper arm. He was not ungentle with his grip. The younger soldier followed in the wake of his superior as they exited.

"Wait," Maida said, her voice trembling with fear of the unknown. "I... I have clothes and a few things. I-"

The soldier gripping her arm led her to the fine chestnut colored horse tied closest to the front door. "You won't need them. Have you rode before? No? I thought not. Hold tight to me and don't talk or you'll bite-"

"Wait!" Maida's father followed the men out of his house. He was larger than both but he shrunk back as the two men glared at him. "You said. You said there was coins."

The soldier holding her turned back to his horse. "Pay the man and then mount up. We need to be back."

The younger soldier grabbed a small bag from his belt. He sneered at Maida's father and tossed the bag on the ground. It burst open, spilling copper coins flew everywhere. The young soldier made for his horse while Maida's father dove for the coins, digging madly through the light mud. The old soldier mounted smoothly and then offered his hand to Maida. She gingerly reached for him and he pulled her up, his grip hard and sure. It took a moment for her to arrange her dress to cover herself and she was sure it ripped as her legs spread. Her mother would be furious.

"You said there was silver!" Her father looked up at the two men on their horseback.

The younger man spat down on the ground and half-drew his sword, stopping only when his commander held out his hand. Sheathing his sword, the soldier spat again. "Be thankful I don't take your fool head for calling us liars. One. One silver piece. Dig for it in the mud. That's what you dirty pigs do out here, isn't it?"

-----

The three rode hard for the fort and Maida clutched her man hard. As they approached the walled town, Maida began to hear the noise and talk of people working and going about their business. Roosters crowed, pigs oinked and a few rare ducks quacked from small cages atop loaded carts. All being led into the city. Four more riders joined them and each had a young girl or woman behind them. All of the women shared a look of confusion as they were led into the fort.

Maida had only been to the market near the gates so as soon as they left that area, she stared in wonder. Even the muddy streets were lined with straw while most of the pathways were clean. Fancy dressed men and women strolled about or were carried in carriages. A small, child-like part of her wondered yet whether she was being brought to wed but now she grew scared. It made no sense for the soldiers to round up so many young girls all at once.

The horse slowed to a walk so Maida chanced a question. "Please, sir, what is happening?"

"It's not my right to say. We're there soon." The old man grimaced and then yelled at a small child playing too close to his horse.

Round and round the small group continued to go as more and more riders joined them. Soon, the lord's keep lay straight ahead. People, high born and not, scrambled out of the way of the twelve soldiers as they formed into three lines. They all stopped short of the keep's tall doors and then dismounted. Each woman was helped down from the horse - some gently, some not. Maida eyed the lot of them, crowing quietly in delight that none appeared as pretty as she was. Although, a few were dressed better, perhaps. Here and there. But, none so slender of neck or high of cheekbone. Maida's soldier stepped to the front and the rest of the men slammed their closed fist to their chest in salute.

"Form lines and follow my lead. Quickly now!" And, with that, they entered the keep. Maida marveled at the paintings on the walls and how cool it felt. Young ladies tittered at the group behind lace fans and painted faces. Maida's momentary pride in her features fell quickly and she felt shame rise to her cheeks. No. I am quite plain after all, she told herself.

Everyone paused in front of large bronze doors. Her soldier (captain, the other men said) slammed on the doors with the hilt of his sword. After a moment, the doors swung open, revealing the keep's great hall. At the very end of the hall she could make out Lord Forun. At least, she assumed that's who it was. It was his keep, after all. All of the soldiers marched their women to the center of the room and then stopped. The man on the ornate stone seat stood and the soldiers went to their knees. One by one the women also bowed to bent knee. Maida's soldier, the older one, walked to stand by the lord's seat.

With a surprisingly melodious voice, the lord spoke. "Make them sit." The more intelligent women sat quickly. The slower ones were forced to sit by tugs and pulls. Maida looked shyly at the much hated lord. He was perhaps middle aged, graying with a widow's peak and very, very well fed. His clothes looked to be made of velvet and Maida felt jealousy rise like bile from deep within. Every time she'd been allowed to go to market, she visited the old woman that sold fabrics. And every time, she marveled over the feel of them all. Silk, velvet and more. But, she particularly loved the feel of velvet. She'd rub the fabric against her face with her eyes closed until the shopkeep began to glare at her.

Now the lord strolled among them, nose hidden behind a scented kerchief. Two soldiers stayed with the group while the rest fell back to line the walls. Maida bowed her head when the lord stopped to look at her. Was it just her fancy or did he appear to stay near her the longest? Finally, the man retired to his throne.

"Some of you may wonder while you're here. Most, no doubt, worry about your livelihood. Or your parents or brother or sisters. Worry no longer." The lord paused to sniff at his kerchief. "There is a dragon nearby."

The women gasped, hands to throat. The woman seated in front of Maida fainted and Maida caught her, gently laying her back down.

"I'll not cut hairs. You're to be sacrifices. All of you. One at a time until the beast is sated and leaves. You-"

An older woman shrieked and stood. Her eyes were wild and she pulled at her hair. With no other words, she made a run for the doors at the entrance to the hall.

Maida's soldier's voice rang loudly in the hall. "Men! Restrain that-"

The lord spoke and the captain fell silent. "Kill her. We've plenty more." Maida caught a brief glimpse of anger in her soldier's eyes.

The younger soldier that rode with Maida hefted a nearby spear and then, with a grunt, threw it full force at the wild women. It took her square in the stomach and the woman howled and tumbled awkwardly. Maida had a memory of her little brother spinning his wooden top and remembering it wobble and clatter made her think of the dying women.

The lord tsk'ed. "Someone shut her up, please. I've no time to listen to the wailing of women. If I wanted that, I'd bed my lady wife." Maida heard the sick crunch of bone and then a wet gurgling noise. "Now, again, it is your duty to your lord to give life and land when told and now you shall. I'll waste no time. You there. You." The lord pointed directly at Maida. "You shall be first as the prettiest of the lot. Perhaps that will appease the monster. You and you," the lord pointed at two soldiers on the wall. "Shall escort the woman. Now-"

The captain stepped forward and spoke. "My lord. I would take their place."

The lord cocked his head at the captain. He stroked a non-existent mustache while he thought. "Are you sure, captain?"

The old man went to his knee. "Yes, lord."

The fat man shrugged. "So be it. Pick one of the carts of food and take the girl. Leave now. The rest are to be taken to the cells below until as such time as they're needed."

Maida felt in a daze. She heard women crying around her as they were led off and she felt a hand on her arm but everything seemed a blur. Sounds, smells, voices - all a blur. Until, suddenly she was outside the keep. Maida now wore a simple white dress. Rather than horseback, she rode in a cart filled with small animals and crates of food. The captain rode next to her.

For the longest time, nothing was said. The captain stared straight ahead but finally spoke. "I'm sorry. I think this is a fool idea and it wasn't right to take you. Or any of the women. It's a mad plan doomed to failure."

When Maida tried to speak, she found her throat seized by fear. Now, suddenly away from the fort and in the countryside, on her way to a dragon, now her tears came. She felt the captain's hand squeeze her leg and she wished he would hold her and tell her it would be okay. Or to let her go.

Time passed and Maida's dread built. She tried to look at the sun and the trees and the earth in an attempt to have one last look before she was killed but her head ached from her tears and she just wanted to sleep. She opened her eyes when the cart jerked to a stop. The captain whistled quietly. "Oh, Father, look at the size of that thing."

And, she did. In the valley below them, a massive red dragon lay in the sun. Maida shielded her eyes from the sun shining off of the thing's scales. She couldn't even guess at how large it was. The fort was the biggest thing she knew and the dragon would easily fit within but... if it stood, it would easily stand taller than the massive walls encircling the fort. Thick black wings lay against the beast's side and even from here she could see it breathing. It had an array of short horns around the crest of it's head and it's long mouth was bigger than a man. Bigger than two men standing astride each other. Maida couldn't see its legs but the thing's tail was curled against its side. The tip of the tail flared into a thick triangle of scales. Large spikes lined the thing's back and they moved in a wave as it breathed.

"Father," the captain whispered. "Father above, give me strength." He glanced at Maida. "Give us both strength."

The horse whinnied nervously but moved when the captain struck it with a rod. Closer and closer they crept until the horse drawing their large cart simply stopped moving. No strike or word of cajoling would move it again so the captain dismounted and then offered his hand to Maida. She stepped down and then fell against the captain and her face was hot with shame and tears and fear.

"Please. Please, sir," she begged. "Please let me leave. Tell the lord the dragon swallowed me whole but let me leave." Finally she felt the old man wrap his arms around her. He kissed the top of her head gently.

"I cannot. I am bound by my oaths as we all are. Come with me, girl." She came and the fear left her. Everything left her.

The air in front of the dragon's head wavered and Maida could feel the heat of it. It's belly was lined by black scales in rows that disappeared under its body. She could now see the muscular legs tucked underneath. Its eyes were closed and the jutting bone above each eye was lined with scales and horns. The creature's lips were segmented, scaled and black. Faint smoke occasionally puffed from the huge nostrils and Maida wondered if she could fit within one. She looked for ears and found holes at the crest of its head, hidden behind more horns. It looked like its skull extended out in a flat, wide bony protuberance that overlapped its neck.

The captain stopped short. "Now what the hell do I-"

The dragon's eyes faintly clicked open. Huge vertical pupils dilated in the afternoon sun. Maida felt her heart tremble and her legs falter but the captain's hand gripped her tight.

"Lord Beast," the captain shouted. "I am-"

The dragon's mouth opened and a blast of heat roared over them. Dagger-like teeth, each as large as a small man and strikingly white, gaped through the maw. A large, black, split tongue worked behind the teeth and the creature sat up, pushing itself up with its front claws until it looked down upon them.

I am no beast. It rumbled. Maida knew there was no way it had made the words. The thing's mouth stayed open and the tongue lay quiet. Why are you here? Maida felt her skull vibrate and she wondered if she'd boil where she stood.

"We," the captain faltered. "We bring you tribute. To save our lands."

The dragon blinked with a click and its pupils shrank. To save them from what?

"From," the captain looked at Maida, as if she could answer for him. "From your royal self."

The earth rumbled around them in waves. The dragon's head pulled back and Maida could see its belly shaking. Laughing. It was laughing at them.

Of course. From myself. And why have you brought the female?

"She is to be a sacrifice. Our lord had heard that a sacrificed woman might appease-"

Would you die for your fellow men?

"I-"

Would you? Man of metal? Would you die for them if it kept me from killing everyone you know and love?

The captain bowed his head. "Yes." Maida looked at him. The man's eyes were tired. "Everyone I knew... for everyone I have loved are already dead."

And you, woman? Would you die for them?

Yes, her mind told her. You say yes now. Like he did. Now is when you do it. "I..." Maida swallowed. "I don't want to die." She whispered.

No. Of course you don't. You did not choose this, did you?

"No," Maida said with bowed head.

Sir knight. Tell your people that I will accept your sacrifice. Leave us now and never return. For your sake and hers, they are spared.

The captain bowed and then leaned into Maida. "I am truly sorry." He hugged her quickly and then turned and left.

Maida fell to her knees. Her head ached badly from her tears and her heart hurt. The dragon watched her while the captain left. She heard the horse stomp and whinny and then break into a gallop. Her last shred of hope fled her as he did.

What shall I do with you?

Maida looked up. "What... what do you mean?"

They suppose I shall eat you. I shan't. You are not wild. You are not free. You're the same as the small animals on that cart. Caged and made for sacrifice. If not me then in servitude to the lord. Or to your mate. Long have I lived and much have I learned of your people. Of you humans. Man and woman. Better for you if I ended your life here than for a man to take you.

An anger arose within her. "It's not like that!" She shouted.

No?

"No-" Maida thought of her mother. She thought of all the times her father struck her poor mother for daring to speak different. For trying to keep her children safe. "No," she finished, defeated.

You all make cages for yourselves. Your unions. Your forts. Your treaties and homes. Is that what you wish? A pretty cage for you?

"No."

And what is for you, woman? What is your want?

"When," Maida paused. "When I was a child, I wanted to live in the fort. I got to see it today. The pretty ladies all made up. The lord on his seat. I... There was no place for me. They looked at me with disgust and pity and like I wasn't a person at all. My father beat me and favored his sons, my brothers. I work from before sunlight to after sundown to eat half of what my brothers and father eat. I slave and I work and I... I... I get sold for a bag of coins! Sold away like a pig at a market! And my proud father on his knees looking for the silver promised to him. That... that is my worth. A thing. Meat to be sold so they can live another day. I'm tired."

The dragon's wings flared out to his sides, blocking the sun. The dragon roared and Maida covered her ears from the pain of it.

Your anger fills me, woman. We dragons, we few that are left are free! We are no one's meat! We hunt. Male and female. If a male mistreats a female, she punishes him greatly and he learns or dies. We are proud and free and the world is ours. To fly. To meld the world around us with the ancient words. To soar above everything and look down upon everything. We. Are. Free!


Sacrifice Ch. 01



Maida's heart roared with the dragon above her. Its words filled her to boiling and she raised her hands and yelled, wordlessly. Her throat became raw and Maida lowered her arms. "I... I envy you." She told the dragon.

The beast lowered its head and carefully watched her. Do you? Look upon me. The dragon unraveled itself, scales screeching and groaning as it stood. Taller and taller the dragon rose, wings spreading with front arms raised until it stood on its heavily muscled back legs. The pure black scales of its belly rippled its lean body and she wondered at the slit between its legs. Briefly she wondered if it was a woman and whether that was a dragon's sex. Wonder filled her as she looked at the creature. Wonder and fear.

Do you still envy me?

"Yes," she answered with hoarse voice. It regarded her from on high. It roared fire and a sudden song filled the air. Except, not a song exactly. The air become warm and soft and bright and there was a noise unlike anything she heard. And then, slowly, the dragon reached one of its five clawed fingers towards her. She stood, transfixed. With surprising grace, she felt the tip of its black claw touch her forehead. Her heart raced as she wondered if it changed its mind and would eat her. The claw looked as big as her head.

I name you Maideira. wild heart. Be free of your cage, Maideira.

The dragon took its claw back and then rested again on its belly. Maida touched her forehead and felt a trickle of blood. A warmth radiated from where the dragon touched her and she shivered slightly. "What-" Maida looked at her arms. Sweat. She was breaking out in sweat. The warmth from her forehead radiated down her body and she gasped as it suddenly roared through her belly and down to her feet. Maida clutched her stomach and fell to her knees, panting like a dog against the sudden fire raging through her. Sweat soaked her dress and dripped from her forehead to the ground. "What did you- Ungh!"

The top back of Maida's dress tore and she grunted. Something cracked deep within her back and she gasped in pain. Blood dripped from her mouth. She looked up at the dragon and tried to ask the question again but the pain inside of her was tremendous. Maida's spine bulged as muscles broke and regrew at a fantastic rate. The tear at the top of her dress split further and she gasped for breath as the dress tightened against her. No, as she grew against the fabric of the dress. Her heart burned with a pain she never knew before. Maida gripped the front of her dress and pulled, shamelessly exposing herself to the creature before her. Her breasts were soaked in sweat and she could feel her nipples aching as they grew erect. Her upper body was completely exposed and she didn't even notice or care. As she watched, the bones of her knuckles swelled. The skin at the tip of her fingers split, exposing raw flesh and bone. Through the redness came a deep black and she felt the way it cut through muscle and flesh. Claws grew from the tips of her fingers as her hands grew to accommodate them. The claws pushed until the tips of her fingers were bonded to the hard material.

Maida fell to her hands and gagged. She could feel the vomit coming and her body shook from it. Pain from her belly made her want to cry. Her stomach heaved and she felt her nose burn. With a fierce heave, she vomited, only instead of a stream of liquid and her breakfast, globs of liquid fire flew from her mouth. She screamed as her teeth instantly melted. Her awkward clawed hands reached for a mouth she'd sure no longer existed but the claws touched flesh. Maida heaved again and a stream of fire issued from her mouth while her nose burned in pain. She closed her mouth in panic and felt smooth gums touching. Her tongue was still there and she explored her mouth with it. Everything was dry. There was no spit or saliva in her entire mouth. As she explored, she felt a peculiar sensation at the tip of her tongue and then, it split. She felt the skin pull apart and then her tongue was touching different parts of her mouth. She screamed and another jet of pure white flame issued forth.

Hair fell in clumps around Maida and she felt the wind on her suddenly bare scalp. She had barely enough time to relish the cool feeling before a sharp pain crashed into her face. She felt and heard bones crack in her jaw and face and her eyes watered as her mouth pushed forward. She ground her jaws together and felt her gums itch as new teeth cut through her gums, leaving her mouth suddenly full of blood. Maida spat and the blood was consumed in the sudden red and yellow flame jetting from her throat. Sharp teeth clacked against sharp teeth as her jaw expanded even further. When the pain reached a point she didn't think she could handle, it stopped. Her long, split black tongue flicked out and she watched it touch her flattened nose and then curl around her expanded jaw.

The world flared bright and Maida closed her eyes against the sudden light. When she opened them again, the world was awash with colors and details she never knew existed. Everything was more vibrant and bright. She focused in the distance and watched a hawk catch a sparrow in flight. Her body pushed and lengthened, skin stretching as her breasts flattened, pulling against her chest. Her spine lengthened to little 'pop' sounds again and again and she lay against the ground, grinding her fangs against each other. New ribs grew in a row down her body, stabbing against her flesh as her body pushed out. From the base of her spine a mass of flesh snaked out and she could feel it sliding and pushing against her bottom. Flesh against flesh. Her bare feet broke and she felt the same tearing sensation at the tips of her expanding toes as she had in her fingers. Claws tore into the earth and Maida twisted, clawing at the bottom of her dress, nearly bent in half with the help of the extra muscles along her lengthened spine. Her claws tore ribbons into the simple dress and her legs were freed.

Maida rolled to her back. Her growing tail thrashed at the ground as she roared in pain. Gouts of flame shot from her mouth. Her claws explored her expanding body. Smooth flesh. She could no longer reach her lower belly without bending. Her breasts lay flat and, unseen to her, her nipples pulled to her chest and then untwisted, turning into pure white skin. Slowly, the flesh along her belly darkened. Pure white skin turned darker until the flesh took on the hue of onyx. Maida felt a million small tugs against her body as the skin hardened into scales. Black scales lining her chest and growing faster and faster until it reached her sex. Almost gently, the scales grew smaller around her moist, engorged vagina. The lips of her womanhood darkened to black as scales grew to cover her wetness. She felt new muscles connect to the scales and then those muscles tensed, pulling the scales open to reveal her still human sex.

Flesh tore and speckled around Maida's thighs and they expanded greatly. Golden scales grew in patches over the rest of her body. Maida rolled to her stomach and stretched, bones and joints cracking, thick tail crashing into the ground. She roared again in pain and a pure streak of white and blue flame melted everything in front of her. And then Maida howled as skin split in her back, tearing the newly formed scales. Wet black flesh pushed through the tears. Further and further until the leathery skin lay against the ground. Maida trembled and her new wings fluttered weakly. Golden scales covered her back and legs and she felt skin puckering and moving along her arms as the scales crept down to her fingers. Muscles bulged in her back and her wings lifted up from the ground.

For one brief moment, Maida was completely off of the ground, born into the air by her wings. Skin pushed from the back of her skull as it expanded, bone pushing out into the dragon's crown. In place of the antler-like horns the other dragon had, two long, black curved horns grew from other side of her skin. Maida could feel her tail moving - could feel the flesh of it against the ground. And, suddenly, she could feel the now-familiar growth of new scales down the length of it. Jet black scales that matched her smooth belly grew from the base of her spine and down and around her tail in a spiral until the very tip was covered.

Maida looked around and the world was different. She was half the size of the other dragon. With each breath, the furnace roared inside of her. She could feel the new muscles controlling her wings. She could feel the thick muscles of her tail undulating behind her. She could even feel the small and delicate muscles that controlled the scales covering her sex. The pain of her change lessened while she continued to grow. Maida went to her knees and looked down upon herself. Ribbed black scales covered her belly and chest. Her completely flat chest. She watched her tail whip left and right. Her dense claw-tipped fingers touched against her giant thighs and the screech of sound made her shiver. The sound... Maida touched the side of her head. Like the other dragon, her ears were gone. In their place was a bony growth around large holes.

The world made beautiful music around her. The wind sang, the grass hummed and the trees raised their voice in a harmony beyond anything she could imagine. Everything was just... more. She felt her heart swell deep within the armored cage of her chest.

Finally, she looked at the other dragon. He was no longer a beast. He? Yes, she could see it somehow now. Some subtle differences that told her it was a male dragon. The shape of the face. The cut of the jaw. The way the bones covered his eyes and ears. He was beautiful. Like a fancy smith's puzzle that suddenly came together, her mind now saw him for who he was. Fast. Beautiful. Slender. Strong. His green eyes were the color of the most perfect gem. The red scales lining his body caught the light in a way that almost made them shine with all of the colors of the world.

She didn't notice when she stopped growing. So caught up in her examination of the male dragon was she that she didn't notice her continual growth. The pain had become nothing. And now it stopped. Her tongue flicked out as her nostrils flared. She looked down and watched as the slit she'd noticed earlier between the male's legs parted. A giant, smooth bulbous penis bulged through the exposed flesh. She felt something inside of her expand and burn. Deep within her lower belly. A liquid fire poured through her bowels and, before she realized what was happening, the muscles over her sex relaxed, exposing herself.

I am Raida. Winged Glory. Raida reached a clawed hand out to touch Maida's jaw. Her tongue flicked out and touched his fingers. You are immensely beautiful. He told her. Spread your wings for me, Maideira. Show the world your might. Show the world how free you are. Roar, Maideira.

And, she did. Maida moved the muscles of her back and her wings cracked open. She felt her power. She felt the world around her. She roared and showers of flame filled the afternoon sky. She luxuriated in the heat of her breath and the gaze of the sun above her. The wind howled its greeting to her and she roared again.

When she spoke, the words formed for her from thought. I am Mai... Mai-deer... Mai-deer-uh.

Maideira. Raida said. The words will come to you. And? What shall you do now, Maideira?

She turned to look at the male. Everything was possible. But, where should she begin? What should I do, Rai-duh?

The male laughed. I am not your lord, Maideira. You are free. You are one of us, now. If you wished to take flight and leave me, I won't stop you.

Why me? Why have you done this to me?

The male settled onto his stomach, crossing his arms over each other. You are a blank slate. You have nothing left and I thought you could survive it. And, truth be told, the sky is more lonely that it ought to be. Now. What will you do, Maideira?

Maida thought and then looked to the sky. The sun was a complex mix of color and she felt herself drawn to it. By habit, she looked away but when she felt no pain, she looked back. It was a glorious sight. Dark reds, near orange, soft yellows and small whorls of deep blacks fought ceaselessly across the surface. A faint halo of white tinged with purple surrounded the globe. Maida closed her eyes. The heat filled her - every new gold and black scale sucked at the warmth and it flooded throughout her massive body.

When she opened her eyes, Maida surveyed the land around her. She could easily see the keep in the distance. It swarmed with people - tiny ants at this distance. Maida's claws flexed unconsciously in anger. Her great eyes blinked and the vertical slit dilated slightly. They were so small now. Everything was. Her tail lashed about behind her and it took a moment for Maida to realize it was even moving. She felt the muscles working along its length. She felt it pull at her back. And then, she felt small twitches in her long back as her folded wings acted to balance her from the tail's movement. Her frustration and terror and hatred of the lord and his treatment of her - his very indifference to her wellbeing played out in the movement of her tail. Maida concentrated and the tip of her tail struck out against a lone, old oak tree. She barely felt the impact as the thick trunk cracked, showering the air and ground with wooden shrapnel. A few brave animals that had watched her transformation now scattered. A few others lady dead and her sharp eyes could pick out the details of their death. Speared or crushed by her blow.

Maida pulled at the muscles of her lower back and her tail coiled around her feet. Something was different for her mentally, too. She'd considered herself fairly quick of thought before but now... now she felt as if she existed in a great expanse. When she closed her eyes and relaxed, she could almost feel her thoughts forming. Vivid memories immediately came to mind and connections were made where before, she wouldn't realize how actions mattered or what they meant. In her mind's eye she could still see the tree and the carnage around it perfectly. Now, her new way of thinking nearly formed thoughts for her. I react in anger and fear, not thinking of the consequences and, around me, creatures die. Am I so like the little lord in his keep?

The memories before her transformation were not nearly so clear as now but she could still remember sitting in the hall, waiting to hear what the lord would say. Wondering against all common sense whether he would announce marriage plans for the prettiest of the lot. The shame of her earlier pride still burned but, not so much as the dread she'd felt earlier. The dawning horror when with a single command, she was led away like the fattened sow to her slaughter. The lord knew not who she was - only that she was born and lived outside the walls. A small thing with a small life to live and die at his whim. Maida looked at her hands. Her fingers ended not in flesh but in deadly claws. Her very breath melted everything around her. Her teeth were made for ripping and tearing of flesh. And, despite her size, she felt extraordinarily light. She knew that once she was used to her new body, she'd be as fast as the wind. Her entire body was made for death. But, she wondered. Is that all I am now? Death? Maida raised her face to the sun with her eyes closed again. No, she decided. No, I am free now. Free to choose my own path.

Maida flexed and her wings unfurled behind her. She swayed briefly before the claws of her feet dug deep into the earth. She could feel the whorls of air current pressing and moving against the thick skin of her wings. The muscles in Maida's back moved smoothly to adjust for the sudden changes in wind.

Rai-duh. Will you teach me to fly?

The male's lips curved slightly in the hint of a smile. Yes, Maideira. The wind welcomes you.

-----

The captain lay his sword on the floor in front his lord. On bent knee he spoke. "My wife died while I was at war. My sons died fighting that same war. And now I have watched a young girl be sacrificed against her will. I am in exile. I will leave the kingdom. You have my sword and my honor. Do I have your leave?"

Lord Forun's face turned bright red. "My... my... my! You don't-"

The captain lifted his eyes. "Or, shall I take my leave?"

"Go!" screamed Lord Forun. "If I see you again, I'll have you torn apart! Piece by piece! I'll-"

 The captain walked away as the insults streamed from the lord's mouth. A few of the men most loyal to him threw their swords down and joined their captain. No one stopped them from leaving.

Once outside of the keep's wall, the captain made a stop at a small farm. There, he handed a crying woman a bag of coins. Gold glinted within. "There is a village three miles south of here that would welcome a widow of such wealth," he told her.

The woman looked confused. "But... But... I'm not a-"

The captain drew his long hunting knife. "Where is your husband?"

An hour later, the captain was cleaning blood from his knife when a shadow slid across the earth. He shielded his eyes and looked up. A golden dragon flew overhead. Golden like the young woman's hair, the captain thought. I'm becoming poetic in my old age. "Men, with me. We've a long journey ahead of us."

-----

Maida barely felt the arrows as they clacked off of her scales. She ignored the guards on the wall and angled herself for the keep. The wind streamed over her body and she instinctively closed a second set of transparent eyelids to keep her eyes from drying out. She twisted slightly and then lost track of the wind, suddenly crashing into the ground among a panicked crowd of nobles. When she stood, her body was covered in blood and entrails. She sniffed and her tongue flicked out. The hot copper smell made her belly rumble but she was not yet ready to try eating raw flesh. Maida awkwardly crashed her way towards the keep, unaware of the destruction her tail caused without her notice. Some brave soldiers swarmed her, striking at her body with their swords but she ignored them; she felt nothing but the faint pressure of their blows.

The keep lay in front of her and a platoon of soldiers guarded it. Faced with spears, Maida hesitated. She spread her wings and roared but the soldiers still stood their ground.

You stupid men. She told them. Their lives ended in a roaring torrent of blue flame. The front of the keep erupted into fire around a large, newly melted hole. Maida walked into the keep, cracking the top of the building open with her claws. The top of the building came to the middle of her black scaled stomach and she waded through the wreckage she caused. The great hall was easy to find and the lord cowered in the corner, surrounded by his few guards.

The lord's voice no longer sounded sweet to her ears. "I'll... I'll... please don't kill me! I have more women to send as tribute! More food! Gold! Gems! Whatever you want!" The man's crotch was stained with piss and Maida flared her nostrils in disgust. The air shimmered around her long jaws. Her anger burned deep.

Maida considered the lord as he hid behind his men. She knew she could bring the entire fort down around him. She could kill every single person here and then fly away, mostly unharmed. She could rain fire from the skies until the entire area was blackened. Or, she decided. Or I could send a message to everyone. There is something greater than you in the world. Something you can not buy or sell. Something even you can fear. And when you think yourself safe behind your walls, you can remember what happened here.




Sacrifice Ch. 01



"Please," the small man whimpered. "Anything. I'll give you anything. Please."

You already gave me everything, little man. Maida's jet black claws closed around the lord. She felt spears bouncing from the scales and spikes in her back as she slowly crushed the life out of the lord. Blood and flesh and guts dripped to the floor. Maida shook her hand, spraying the remains across the room. The rough skin on the palm of her hand was covered in blood. Feeling curious and still ignoring the swords and spears clanging against her, Maida's forked tongue flicked against her palm. Rather than recoil in disgust, she relished the deep and nuanced flavor of the blood. It tasted like nothing she'd had before and she wondered what it'd taste like when burned.

Ignoring her hunger, Maida bent low and tore at the floor. Sparks filled the air as her claws tore against tile and wood until she broke through. As gently as possible, Maida destroyed everything below her until she reached the cells two floors down. As carefully as possibly, she broke the bars holding the captured women. She wondered briefly if one had been chosen rather than her, whether she would be looking up at a dragon even now.

You're free now. As free as you can be. Return to your families if they loved you. Band together and make your own family if they didn't. The world is changed around you.

Still ignoring the few remaining fearless soldiers, Maida walked out of the keep. Once clear, she beat her wings once, twice and then took flight. Raida circled in the distance and she cried out a greeting to him. He looped around and folded his wings, screaming towards her before braking to swing beside her.

Are you finished here, Maideira?

Yes. She told him. Now I am free. Raida. Raida, now I am free.



Sacrifice Ch. 02



Caliope awoke very slowly and to a terrible aching sensation. Her whole body felt stiff and heavy and when she shifted to rise she felt a wince inducing pain between her thighs. She struggled to a sitting position, her vision still bleary with sleep. She groped for bed side table fruitlessly and was about to call for a servant when her hand encountered fur and she realized she was sleeping on a pile of skins and pillows instead of her linen bed. Caliope managed to blink herself into surprised wakefulness and her memory returned in a rush as she checked her surroundings. The stone walls and floor, the skins, and finally a telling stain beneath her served as efficient reminders of where she was and what had happened to her. 

The creature, Thelios he had called himself, was gone. She poked at the dried reddish patch on one of the skins and blushed. That would explain the soreness. She groaned herself onto her feet and made her way to a washing bowl she spotted on a small table in the corner. She dampened a cloth and carefully surveying the damage. Her thighs were streaked lightly with diluted blood and the folds of her sex were sore to the touch...or rather, more so. She ached badly enough that she found herself walking rather slowly as she moved to collect her things.

Her clothes were still in a pile on the floor, and therefore still damp, and not particularly wearable. She picked up one of the unmarked skins and held it in front of her as she tried the door that she assumed led to the hall. It was unlocked and she poked out her head, spotting the servant Demitri walking away from her down the hall.

"Demitri" she hissed after him. He stopped and turned, arching one dark brow at her. 

"Yes?"

"I need help." He turned and walked towards her, raising both brows as he spotted her hide covered form hiding behind the door. 

"I have no clothes." She explained, not quite able to cover the plaintive quality of her voice. His face twitched into a smirk.

"Got rough did he?"

"No," she said with a sigh, "my dress is wet, I can't wear it." He nodded and fingered his chin for a moment.

"Come with me."

"I can't." She pointed to the hide and he waved her off.

"Just wrap it around you. I won't look too hard." he turned and walked off down the hall. She hesitated a moment and followed with another sigh, it was that or nudity. He led her a fair ways into the tunnel before pausing at a locked room and letting her in. She entered and looked around in amazement. The room was stuffed full of all sorts of wonderful things. Tapestries, urns and vases, handsome chests likely filled with treasures, cloth, plates and bowls, gold and marble statues and ornaments. She ran her fingers over a small golden likeness of Apollo who stood looking gallant with his bow drawn back and aimed high, as if he would shoot down the sun itself. She thought of the nearly empty rooms she'd seen and wondered why more of these lovely things weren't on display. 

"In that chest there," Demitri said pointing to a box in the far corner, "you'll find clothing. Something might fit you." 

He threw something at her that she caught it one handed at the last moment, pressing it to her stomached to keep it from slipping. It was a key.

"Lock up when you're done."

She nodded and turned to the chest, finding it full of all sorts of clothing. Some were for men, though much of it seemed to be for women, and most of those were either very elegant or suggestively minimalist. There were only one or two pieces that seemed reasonable to work in. She took both but looked longingly at the other clothes. One of the reasonable pieces fit well and the other could be made to fit when double belted so she took both. She also gave into temptation and claimed an elegant deep blue dress made of a heavy rich fabric, telling herself it might be appropriate when entertaining his lordship, if that was indeed to be her role. This same argument applied to two of the more revealing dresses she also chose...though with slightly different connotations. 

She locked up tucking the key into a fold of her new simple white dress. The stone was frigid on her bare feet and she recalled taking off her sandals in the bath room. They were still there, though the bath had been drained, and everything else tidied up. 

What next? She thought looking back toward the room where she'd spent the night. She wasn't sure how she felt about the whole situation...let alone what she should do about it. Mostly she was just confused, and completely out of her element. It was not a place she enjoyed being.

Last night had been strange and unexpected, and she knew she should have felt some how used or unclean. He was, after all a monster...yet there was nothing really monstrous about him, except his size...which was apparently nominal, and his unusual coloring, which had little bearing on her circumstances. At least in so far as she was concerned. So she felt nothing. Well perhaps not nothing, she admitted hesitantly...but compared to her previous trepidation, she felt rather calm, normal even. Well...normal might be a relative term in this case. Still, she wasn't going to complain. It wouldn't do her much good if she did.

She gazed back into the drained bath and was drawn back into a remembrance of the evenings events, particularly her own aggression. She remembered his horns, how she'd caressed them. What must he think of her? Yet...they held a strange earthy appeal. Was that wrong of her to think so? She had to admit, after last night she found herself thinking of him in a distinctly new light. He had done things to her, made her feel things she did not know were possible. She sighed heavily resting her head on uplifted knees. She had much to consider.

The girls! She'd been so distracted she'd forgotten. 

"Selfish girl," she chided, getting to her feet and ignoring the slight ache. They must be terrified by now. She still had the key so she could go talk to them, let them know everything was alright. She checked the hall, it was empty. She had a vague sense of where she was going, the direction and the general distance down the hall, but she wasn't entirely sure which door it was. Luckily it wasn't far and the second door she knocked on got a response when she hailed them. 

"Hello?" A soft voice called from the other side. She unlocked the door and slid in, closing it carefully behind her.

"I can't stay long," she began looking around to check that they were all still there and all in more or less one piece. They were. "I came to tell you not to worry, that we won't be hurt, and certainly not killed or eaten." A few looked vaguely relieved, but most looked confused or suspicious. 

"How do you know, asked the angry girl from before who'd been so certain they would die. 

"I asked."

"And you believe them?"

"Yes. I think he only wants slaves."

"Who, that nasty man?"

"No the master, or...er, the giant."

"Slaves for what?" Asked another girl.

"Well, for the obvious reason..." she remembered they'd only seen him as a giant, "he can change his shape, you know. Become smaller if he wills it."

"Why young women though?" And this from the angry girl. Calliope had hoped that she'd at least figure that out on her own.

"Well," she started patiently, "he's male, we're female...don't any of your fathers have a young attractive slave around that you mother despises?" She saw the light go on in a few faces, but frowning confusion was still the norm. She sighed. "Sex, he wants sex."

The reaction was one of general horror, even the angry girl looked ashen. "I'd rather die, whispered one girl reverently.

"Really?" Calliope looked at her with open disbelief.

"Yes! Than be touched by that creature!"

"But...he's...he can be very pleasant." Now it was their turn to look incredulous.

"We thought you were dead." She turned and saw the doe eyed girl looking at her. "How did you get out?"

"I didn't. I mean I just stayed in the cave when you were taken back." Her eyes turned into plates.

"Alone! With the giant?"

"Yes. I..."

"What did he do?"

"Ah, well, ignored me, at first. But he was polite enough in answering my questions once I got his attention."

"And he said he wanted...you know?"

"No, he said he wouldn't kill us...the other things I figured out on my own." She had to admit she was hesitant to make any further admissions considering their initial reaction to the thought. Thankfully no one asked. No one said anything at all. 

"It's not so bad...I imagine..." She muttered. This was not going to work she decided despondently. All he could do was give it a shot and see. One or two of them looked slightly less horrified than the others, they might be amenable, she thought. 

God, what was she thinking? Was she so eager to throw them in his way? 'Better them than you then? She asked herself, more than a little disgusted. It wasn't her business helping him...though she did want to make it easier for the women if she could...what a disaster. 

"I have to go," she sighed "please, don't worry, things aren't so bad, and I'm sure you wouldn't Really want to die. Just, be calm and patient, things will work out, I'm sure." She turned away from the forlorn looks and slipped back into the hall, leaning heavily against the door. She hadn't expected them to be happy, but less appalled would have been nice. So much for being the bearer of good news. She jumped at the sound of a throat being cleared. 

"All done your little speech?" She pursed her lips tightly at him and Demitri grinned in response. "Didn't go so well eh? Well maybe public speaking isn't your calling." he motioned for her to move and she noticed he carried a platter of food. She stepped aside and opened the door for him and closed it behind. She imagined them watching him with silent suspicious eyes. He joined her again momentarily and took her by the elbow, dragging her back to the kitchen with him and plopped her onto a stool in front of what looked like her breakfast. She shifted uncomfortably in the stool. He chuckled at her. 

"Want a cushion?" 

"Yes." She admitted grudgingly in a soft voice. He left and returned with one of the pillows from the dining room. She shoved it under her with a violent primness that could only have been learned from her mother. 

"Eat up, you had a rough night." He winked at her and pushed the plate towards her.

"How..."

"You get noisy." She felt the colour drain from her face. If he heard her, then surely the others must have as well. But didn't they say they thought she was dead? 

"Was it that bad?" She whispered into her meal. 

"It sounded like you were being tortured, either that or having a really good time. Any way, old what's his name hasn't been so chipper since he took out the Myrian navy. His words not mine."

"The who?"

"That's what I asked."

"and?"

"'Exactly' was all he said."

"Ah."

"Indeed. So, good work." She felt a disturbing pang of pride.

"Stop, you'll give me a big head." she muttered into her food. He laughed again. 

"No that's your job lady." She smiled at her plate and shook her own head.

"You could have just told them everything." He said after a moment, looking at her thoughtfully. She appraised him. Beneath his constant shadow of a beard he actually had a rather pleasant face, perhaps in his early forties, and his rather penetrating grey eyes were softer than normal, the faint lines around his eyes crinkling with amusement.

"They would have stoned me. Did you hear their reaction?"

"Yes."

"Well?"

"Perhaps."

"Absolutely. Women are vicious protectors of the status quo."

"I've never heard it put that way before. I always just think, judging bitches." She half choked on her food, and let out a coughing laugh.

"That too. Listen, do you have any brushes for cleaning? "He pointed to a set of shelves behind him, 

"Yeah, why?"

"It was also messy." He winced and she shrugged. "Not my fault, I was an innocent bystander...but I'd like to get them clean nonetheless."

"Really? I don't have to?" He looked surprised.

"You shouldn't have to."

"You're the only one who thinks so. But I'm glad you do. Help yourself." He cleaned up the plates and she took what she needed and headed for the creek with her load. Inside everything was dimly lit and it was near impossible to tell the time, but outside the sun was bright and high, illuminating the jade grass brilliantly. The air was fresh and clear and she paused to appreciate the raw beauty of the place, the broken shoreline, and windswept pastures. 

She dumped her laundry, including the damp dress at the creek and settled herself into her work. By the time she was done she had a thin layer of sweat covering her skin. She hung everything out on branches to let them dry and air properly and removed her own clothes, laying them out on a small boulder by the water. The water was cold, but refreshing, and soothed the parts of her that were still tender. The ache was slowly ebbing away and the combination of the cool water moving over her skin and the heat caused by her memories of the previous night, memories that were insidiously slipping their way into her mind, were replacing that ache with tingling warmth instead.

She was considering turning her body up stream to sooth this new sort of 'ache' when a strange vibration ran through the ground beneath her. It happened again, and repeated itself, growing stronger until it felt as though it were directly beneath her before disappearing completely. She rose from the creek and wrung the water from her hair. As she reached for her clothes she felt the eyes on her again, and this time when she turned she was sure there was someone there. She called out nervously, and to her relief Thelios emerge silently from the trees. 

She was not insensible to the irony of that relief. Habit made her cover herself and her pulse raced. He was looking directly at her and gave her a small smile, but strode towards the water, leaning down and splashing it over himself. She pulled her clothes back on and sat on a nearby rock watching him. A number of ewes and lambs stumbled out of the trees behind him also looking for water. 

"Whose sheep are those?"

"Mine."

"Really?" She didn't see him as a shepherd.

"Yes, really. What did you think I was doing all day?"

She shrugged. She hadn't really thought about it, her mind had been otherwise occupied.

"Terrorizing a small village?"

He gave her a sharp look and she made a valiant attempt to bite back her grin until he smirked first, causing her to lose the fight.

"Did you console the others yet?" He asked washing his arms. Her heart sunk a little.

"Attempted." He looked back at the water. 

"I see. What did you tell them?"

"The truth...more or less." He gave her a sly smile. 

"How much less?"

"I didn't think examples were necessary." He chuckled slightly, but it sounded humourless.

"And they reacted badly. Let me guess, they'd rather die?" Had he already spoken to Demitiri? She was going to say no, but he looked at her, seriously this time. "And don't lie, it wouldn't become you." She closed her mouth and looked at her hands.

"Maybe if I sent you one at dinner, tonight, one of the less skittish ones, then they'd see...they'd believe me. I think they just have trouble believing me you see." He stood straight and came to stand over her looking like silver again in the sun. She resisted the urge to touch him, to test if he was real. 

"Somehow I don't think that will help. But do what you must. Keep in mind though, I will hold you responsible for the results." Her stomach twisted.

"You said no death right?" she reminded him, worrying the cloth under her fingers. He touched her face lightly and she blinked. 

"Don't be silly. I'll merely take my frustrations out on you instead. I'm sure you'll survive the second time as well as you did the first." The cold in her stomach melted, and her legs went with it.

"One can only hope my lord." He released her face and looked around at the strange hanging garden she'd created. 

"I'll be in shortly; there are a few more I have to collect." He gestured to the sheep. "Let Demitri know." She nodded her compliance and stood as he strode away, her knees wobbly and her face still prickling from where he'd touched her. 

She still hadn't decided what to do about the other girls when dinner rolled around, so she thought she'd let Demitri decide for her.

"The fair one then." He said rinsing the wine residue from one of the jugs.

"Any particular reason why?"

"Looks better? I don't know. You said pick." She'd given him a choice of three girls she thought were least likely to cry or break down in a fit of panic. She nodded, good enough reason. "Any reason you won't pick?" She shrugged and picked at the olives. 

"I feel like I'm prostituting them." He grinned at her evilly.

"Easier if I prostitute them for you?" She watched an olive roll off the plate and stopped it with her finger.

"Do you think he'll like her?" She was very pretty she thought, remembering the girl from the ride. She'd thought she was pretty then too, more than the majority of them, and far more than herself. 

"Depends. Hard to judge any mans taste, least of all one as odd and particular as the master. Why? Worried he'll take it out on you if he's mad? He won't you know, men that big don't need to beat up on women. Not when there's plenty of men out there who are more satisfying." He grinned and winked at her. She smiled back. He was turning out to be a surprisingly friendly fellow, brusque and impatient perhaps, but by no means cruel or as miserable as he initially seemed.

"No, I've been informed already of my... culpability...I just wonder if he'll like her, that is if she manages to stay calm enough."

"No, I knew none of you would do, too weepy...present company excluded, don't know what's wrong with you. They'll all need to be coddled and he doesn't have it in him."

"There's nothing wrong with me!" she defended. 

"Sure you're a deviant." She could feel the blood rising to her face.

"I am not. Just because I choose to be pragmatic and make the best of..." He was laughing at her and she stopped. "Don't laugh at me. This whole situation is very difficult for me."

"Girl you've got one rare set of balls on you. Chiding your captors." He was still mocking her.

"Well maybe they deserve it. Is she there yet?" Her mind flitted back to the dining room. 

"Not yet, just going to get her...want to come?"

"Should I?"

"Whatever you want."

"What do you think would be easier on her?"

"How should I know." She decided to go with him, and motioned him forward. She waited outside while he went in and picked her out. She heard wailing and winced, thankfully the girl in question looked stunned, but wasn't yet in tears. Calliope smiled encouragingly and took her hands in hers giving them a squeeze. 

"He wants to meet you...all of you. It's alright, there's nothing to be afraid of." The girl looked between the two of them questioningly. 

"He's just having supper now," she started leading her by the hand towards the dinning room, and felt guilty as hell looking into that terrified face. "He's really very nice, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"But you said he wanted..." Calliope winced inwardly. Perhaps she should have kept that to herself.

"It's more of a theory really, he never mentioned anything specifically." Well it wasn't totally a lie, but she was glad the girl had her back to Demitri who rolled his eyes. She shot him a look and put an arm around the girls shoulder, pausing at the door. She took the girls hands in hers again. "Just breath and stay calm, there's nothing to be afraid of. Really. Just be yourself and pretend it's just like any other meeting you've had. Alright?" She nodded, but Calliope had a feeling it wasn't the tiniest bit alright.




Sacrifice Ch. 02



She took her arm and guided her into the room. He must have just arrived himself because he stood in front of the table and turned when they entered.

"My lord, this is Alexia. She will be attending you this evening. "She felt real sympathy for the girl, he was a lot to take in at any size. He made her own stomach turn with nerves. She gave the girls arm another squeeze and gave him a look that she hoped said, 'be patient' before he nodded for her to go. She closed the door and stood close to it, hoping to hear what was said. Demitri, who had vanished stuck his head out of the bath room door and wagged a finger at her, she stepped away, abashed. He motioned her over. 

"You'll never hear anything through there, come here and be quite. He led her to a side door that was already ajar and motioned for quite. She crammed in next to him against the wall and peeked in. Alexia was frozen in fear. He had motioned for her to sit, but she wasn't budging. Finally he sat himself and motioned again.

"Please, sit." 

After a gut retching eternity she finally sat.

"Would you like something to eat?" He spoke slowly to her, obviously trying not to spook her too much. She stared back with wide eyes and said nothing. "Suit yourself. Wine?" Again she said nothing, so he just poured her a glass anyway. 'Say something', she willed the girl to speak. Thelios sighed and she wondered how long he would keep up the politeness.

"Why don't you tell me about yourself then?" he asked pushing a glass towards her. Calliope noticed her perceptibly recoil from the advancing arm in front of her and bit her lip. If she saw that from here, he certainly noticed it. She wondered if she had seemed so terrified when she first ate with him. He waited for her to respond. Finally she choked out a sentence. "My name is...Alexia." She whispered and paused again. 

When she didn't continue he looked wryly at her, "Yes, I caught that part." The poor girl looked up sharply, her eyes wild with fear. Calliope repressed a groan; this was not going to work at all. He saw it too and she saw his eyes darken as he leaned back with a sigh.

"You know, you don't have anything to fear from me, I'm not going to hurt you."

"I, I'm from Myconen...th-the nearest town." She was practically shaking now. "Wh-what will happen to us?" She rushed out. He sipped slowly on his wine. 

"I thought Calliope had spoken to all of you?"

"She said we wouldn't die..."

"And?" The girl swallowed hard.

"Th-the rest sh-she said was unsure..."

"Well..." he drawled out slowly, "I imagine you're all clever enough to deduce what my interest in twenty young women is." He appraised her momentarily, "though I had not intended for any of you to be so young, or...inexperienced." The girl was positively ashen now and was concentrating hard on her lap, her hands wringing themselves raw. He watched her for a few moments longer. Calliope was earnestly concerned that the girl might just pass out.

Demitri leaned in and whispered in Calliope's ear, "That was one of your top picks?" She nodded. "You aren't trying to sabotage it are you?" She turn to find his eyes glittering at her. 

"Why would I do that?" She asked somewhat affronted.

"Oh I don't know, female jealousy." She was about to scoff, but paused to consider it. It had gone badly, did she pick badly, for some motivation...no, she picked as best she could. And yet she had to admit, she had expected this, and if it had gone differently...would it bother her? Ridiculous.

"No, I wouldn't sabotage it, that would just make it harder on us."

"But you are jealous?"

"Oh, be quite."

She turned back to the torturous scene. The master was beginning to find it tiresome and was tapping a finger on the table. 

"Do you...have an opinion on this?" He asked looking for some kind of reaction.

"Opinion?" She looked horrified. 

That's a pretty strong opinion she thought to herself.

"Certainly. People's opinions interest me." She said nothing just stared in fear unsure of what to do or say. She looked like she was going to cry. He sighed again and Alexia practically jumped out of her skin. To Calliope's surprise he looked directly at the door behind which they hid and made a beckoning motion. Demitri prodded her forward and she slipped through the door.

"Yes my lord, how might I be of service?" She said as cheerily as she was able. He gave her a sardonic look and gestured to the terrified girl. 

"I think this young lady isn't in the mood to talk, will you escort her to a more comfortable location?" Damn she thought, he didn't look pleased. she smiled and made a little bow and took the girls arm, guiding her up and out the door. She said nothing but let her take her back to the room in petrified fear. She closed the door behind alexia and leaned against it one hand against her forehead. Now what? If they just accepted their fate, it wouldn't be so terrible, and they wouldn't have to be... she didn't even want to think about it. If you say yes, if you accept it, then there is no crime, but they wouldn't do that. 

Would he do that to them...he'd intimated that he might. She groaned in frustration. Her only other option was to convince him that perhaps he could make due with one or two girls and, she fantasized, let the rest go. She couldn't bare the thought of all that trauma if they were all raped. And the crying! She shuddered at the thought. And where would she fit in? As some sort of traitor, unfazed by her plight, even aiding their tormentor? It was too terrible to think on. It made her ill just considering it. 

"He wants you."

She looked up at Demitri and nodded pulling herself back together. She found him still in the dinning room staring at his food. He looked up. 

"Now what do you suggest I do?" 

She bit her lip. "I suppose that depends on your options." He cocked an eyebrow at her. "If you'd be willing to forgo your desire for variety..."

"Variety?" He interrupted.

"Yes...the twenty girls..."

"Ah. It was odds I was concerned with there, not variety."

"I'm not sure I follow." He patted the cushion next to him. She sat, brushing her arm lightly against his, and hoping he didn't see her blush.

"Let's say you want a new dress, and you send a servant out to get you one. You're not picky necessarily, but you're not sure which one will suit you until you've seen it. If you request ten different dresses, one is bound to be suitable, if you request one...well then you're stuck with whatever your given...you see?" 

She nodded. "You're looking for girls who...fit you, is what you're saying."

"Was that really the best option you could find?" He pointed at the door Alexia had left from. She sighed and leaned back next to him against the wall. 

"One of three...but the other two seemed about the same."

"None like you then?" She looked at him sideways, He was drinking his wine and watching the far wall. 

"Demitri thinks I'm a deviant." She said derisively. He smirked back at her. 

"Glad to see you two getting along." 

She sobered a little. "What will you do then, if none of the dresses fit? Force them to?" His face darkened again as well. 

"Not my fist choice." He muttered. 

"Well, I can't abide the thought myself...so I was thinking if there was another option..."

"As I see it I have two functional options that will meet my basic requirements. Either I use the lot of them, and give them all happy reprieves of a month or more...or force one or possibly two poor souls to endure for all of them. Though that seems some how more cruel."

She turned her whole body towards him. "You would consider keeping just one?" 

"I just said I would."

"And the rest would be free to go?"

"I suppose I'd have no other use for them."

Her heart leapt. They could all go free, she wouldn't become a traitor.

"Would you, I mean, could you consider— if it were not distasteful to you that is-- keeping me in their place?" Her heart pounded in her chest as he watched her carefully.

"You would stay, all alone, and let them go?"

"You and Demitri are here, I wouldn't be that alone." He chuckled.

"I meant to say you would shoulder the burden alone?"

"What burden? Is there something more you require of us?" That was something she hadn't considered.

"No more than you've already given."

"Then yes."

"Alright. I leave it up to you. If you will stay, then free them." She stood elated. 

"Thank you Master, this is very generous of you."

He frowned at her. "You're welcome, though I don't know why you're thanking me." She smiled and turned to go, pausing halfway to the door. Her smile disappeared when a new consideration came to her. She turned back, troubled. 

"You're sure my lord, that this will be satisfactory for you?"

"I told you it was up to you."

"Yes, and I appreciate that, but...I am still inexperienced, and...less pretty than many of them. I wouldn't nullify the tribute?"

"Unless I'm mistaken, you're now officially more experienced than my other nineteen options." She blushed and nodded. "And I didn't remember being particularly impressed by the looks of any of them. Or are you trying to make me change my mind."

"No!" She blurted out, "no I just wanted to make sure this is a satisfactory arrangement for you. I wouldn't want you to regret it."

"I know I won't. And you?"

"I shouldn't think so."

"Good, then go and play savoir to them." She paused, a bit taken aback by the statement. 

"Is that what I'm doing?"

"I can only assume. You seem to have a history of martyrdom." She looked down thoughtfully.

"I don't really mind though." She said softly, glancing at his face. His expression was unreadable, and she turned away uncomfortably, making a b-line for the captive girls. She opened the door triumphantly, and was greeted with wary looks. Already a traitor she thought. She ignored it.

"You're free to go." No one moved. "I spoke with him, and convinced him to let you go."

"But the sacrifice?" She shook her head. 

"It's alright, he agreed that I could...stay, in all your places, that he wouldn't need all of us."

"Truly?" Alexia looked ready to burst. Calliope gave her a gleaming smile.

"Truly. You can go right away if you wish...and I recommend you do, in case he changes his mind." Many stood, and all of them seemed ready to agree. "The town is straight east of here, if I remember." She addressed Alexia whose family she remembered from the last day. "Your family is there. Will they help these girls get home?"

"Oh yes, absolutely." She nodded eagerly. Calliope stood away from the door.

"Just straight down the hall and you'll be at the exit." Most of them rushed past not waiting for any more encouragement. She felt a hand on her arm and turned. It was the doe eyed girl. 

"What will you do?"

"I'll stay here...as his servant."

"Can I take a message for you?" She hadn't even thought of that.

"Yes, please, thank you." She gave her fathers name and city, and asked the girl to send her love to her family for her. At least they'd know she was alright. The girl paid close attention, and at the end nodded, giving her a little hug before leaving with the others. 

In a moment it was quiet again. She went back to the dining room. He hadn't moved.

"So, all done?" She nodded, but hesitated to approach, suddenly unsure of what to do with herself now that there was no immediate problem before her. He held out a hand to her and she moved silently forward laying her own hand in his, and was surprised when he immediately pulled her down onto his lap. He refilled his wine with one hand, while the other trailed its way along her spine. Her back arched involuntarily under his hand.

"Are you alright?" He handed her his wine glass. She took it making an affirmative noise. He pulled her against him, and she let herself lean into him. Now that she held the wine, his second had was free to explore her legs, and slid under her hem at the knee, cupping the back of her calves, and squeezing lightly. "May I make a confession?" 

She nodded, finding her voice suddenly unavailable.

"I'm pleased with your choice." She felt a rush of warmth run through her. She took a sip of wine then put the cup down. She didn't need it, she was already feeling rather heated. 

She swallowed her nerves and touched his face hesitantly as his hand caressed its way higher up her leg until it caused her dress to ride up to the tops of her thighs. She looked down and watched his hand pushing at the fabric and was glad the table blocked Demitri's view if he was still eavesdropping. She moved her mouth close to his and brushed her lips against his bottom lip. His lips parted and she flicked her tongue against the exposed canines. He let out a low growl and slid his hand between her thighs pressing it up against her. She breathed a gasp and his tongue slid inside her mouth, his other hand capturing the back of her head. Her thighs parted in sympathy with her mouth giving him open access to both, and pushing the rest of her dress up her thighs.

His fingers parted her, sliding along the rapidly dampening slit making her writhe in his lap as he periodically pinched her and dipped his fingers shallowly inside, teasing her. Slowly he slid one thick finger inside of her until his knuckles pressed against her outer lips, then held it there making her violently aware of her own body and the foreignness of his moving inside of her. He released her mouth, and nuzzled the side of her neck. 

"You see, I was taken by the way you shared my glass without blinking."

His words caught her off guard and pulled half of her attention from the thick finger which rested heavily inside of her. "Really?" she asked breathily as his other hand slipped under the side of her dress in order to cup her already sensitive breast.

"Oh yes. It was a rare act" He rolled the nipple between his fingers forcing her to swallow a moaning whimper. She wanted to hear more.

"Anything else you liked?" She whispered against his ear as she clung to his head and neck, grinding half consciously against the hand between her thighs. 

"I like that you touch my horns as though you're thinking of fucking them." She gasped and pulled away in embarrassment, pulling her errant fingers from the objects of their affections. He laughed and grabbed her wrist as she pulled away, biting gently into the offending palm. "Do they fascinate you?" He gave her a hot smile, as she continued to ride his hand.

"A little." She admitted, blushing furiously. He laughed again. 

"How can you blush at that while the rest of you is doing just that to my hand." He grinned and her blush deepened. He slid his hand from her sex and drew her to her feet. 

"I am content," he sighed, "but there is still the matter of your punishment." She balanced herself against the table unsure and unsteady, her legs trembling from the intimacy of his recent touch. He pushed the table away and stood himself, causing her to stumble backwards. He smiled grimly and took her by the shoulders, turning her and bending her over the table. Instead of apprehension as last night, she felt only breathless excitement...or at least the apprehension was drowned out enough for her not to feel it so keenly. 

He held her down with one hand against her neck, and lifted her skirts with the other, tossing them up over her back, exposing her bare hindquarters. He ran his hand over her naked bottom and squeezed hard. She mewled in response but was otherwise compliant, shifting her hips anxiously. 

"Spread your legs" Trembling she obeyed. "Wider." Her breathing became harsh as she waited for his next move. Unexpectedly a hand came down, hard, on her backside, stinging and making her yelp. Before she could protest it was followed instantly by fingers sliding along her slit making her gasp and moan instead. Another loud stinging smack came down followed by more moan inducing caresses. She gasped and let out a confused half cry, not sure what he was doing, and too muddled by the mix of pain and pleasure to pull her thoughts together fast enough to complain. He repeated his blows, just hard enough to sting, following each one with an erotic caress until the landed blows themselves began to elicit broken cries of pleasure with or without the caress that followed and she pumped her hips in the air to meet his hand, understanding finally what his intentions were. It also occurred to her that, considering his size and strength, he was barely touching her, and not with any force meant to induce real pain, just a hot persistent sting, one which blended rapidly and confusedly with the heat of her arousal, and oddly, heightening it. She might have smiled if she could have managed it. 

Eventually it stopped and he pulled his restraining hand away. She didn't move, still using the table for support as her hips ground unconsciously against the air. She felt his fingers at her pussy again, stretching the lips apart. But he did nothing else and held her that way, exposed until her face burned with embarrassment. He released her when she began to rise and slid his fingers lower to pinch her clit instead. She let out a whimpering cry. 

Before she could gain her feet properly he pressed her back onto the table, taking her hips in his hands and lifting them until she felt the thick prodding of his heavy cock at the opening of her wet slit. She stilled again, her stomach tightening once more in anticipation, both excited and fearful of the painful stretch she knew was coming. He didn't thrust into her immediately, but ground the tip of his cock against her, catching on the tight skin, making her hot with impatience. She slid a hand between her and the table to spread herself for him and tipped her hips as he forced the head inside of her. The stretching made her groan, but it wasn't as searingly painful as the previous night. She gripped the table as he roughly worked himself inside of her, pushing without pause until he found there was nothing left to fill. 

He leaned over her, and bent his mouth to her ear. "Do you remember how the Minotaur was born?"

She shook her head, and ground her hips anxiously backwards. He felt so heavy inside of her, like lead. She felt unimaginably full, and she needed him to move, to relieve her of that overstretched sensation which was slowly driving her mad. It was as though her whole reality had become focused on the massive thing lodged inside of her.

"The wife of Minos fucked her prize bull..." he drawled as he slid slowly out of her until only his head remained inside. She turned her face to his and watched as he took one of her hands in his and slid it up his neck and wrapped her fingers around the base of one of his horns, giving her an almost sadistic looking smile. She more than caught his meaning, and returned his smile, gripping her fingers around him. "I'm not usually one to brag," he whispered, dragging his fingers down her arm and side, gripping her firmly by the hips, "but I imagine it might have felt something like this."

On the last word he thrust deeply inside of her, rocking her whole body and lifting her off the floor. He used one hand on the table to hold both of them up as he pressed her back against his chest. She tilted her head back as bent his head to her neck and shoulder and thrust into her powerfully. Her fingers slipped from his head to grip the table as leverage and pressed her body back to meet his pounding hips. She groaned and cried out, feeling like she was splitting open but unable to resist the immediacy of her need. He lifted himself from her, gripping both her hips again, his fingers pressing hard into her flesh and bruising it carelessly. He continued his thrusting, moving faster and harder. She could feel the pressure building inside her again and did her best to meet his thrusts, gritting her teeth against the jarring pain, unsure if she could bear it long enough to reach her own climax.




Sacrifice Ch. 02



The pulsing throb increased to a feverish pitch, near breaking, but somehow caught at an unending peak. 

"So close." She moaned.

She cried out his name with a pleading broken voice she could barely recognize as her own and thrust back against him, her fingertips gripping tightly the arm the held her so closely to him, her nails biting into flesh.

He growled again and thrust violently, releasing himself inside her. The hot pulse of him filling her finally pushed her over the edge into a series of fierce spasms which left her breathless and trembling. Her body broke around his until finally her climax eased enough for her to find her lungs and let out a cry before collapsing in a trembling heap on the table, gasping for air. 

He touched her back lightly. She remained stationary as the remaining tremors continued to course through her.

"Are you all right?" His voice sounded thicker and harsher, something between a growl and great deep drum.

She made an incoherent sound in response.

"Calliope?" 

He brushed the hair from her face and she felt him lean over her. 

She nodded finally, and he let out a deep breath. It felt cool against her heated skin.

He removed himself gently, a strange thing compared to his previous reckless passion, and she felt something cold and wet slip down her thighs. She wanted to remove it, but couldn't bring herself to move. She felt a cloth pressed against her and rubbed down her legs, making the cold sensation disappear. She sighed contentedly and remained that way, half conscious and murmuring her approval as he leaned over her and placed firm kisses along her neck and shoulder before finally pulling away. She forced herself back into reality and struggled to her feet, her skirts falling back down around her as she rose. She wasn't on her feet more than a second before she changed her mind and lowered herself back onto the cushioned seats behind her. 

He was cleaning himself off with the same thing he'd used on her and walked to the side door tossing it, she assumed, in the bath. She lay down on her side still trying to catch her breath. He returned and crouched next to her, still naked, and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. She smiled weakly.

"So when are you planning on punishing me then?" 

He laughed. "You should rest first."

"Yes." she agreed. "Where should I sleep?"

He raised a brow at her.

"With me."

She hadn't realized her chest had tightened up until she felt it release again. The sensation made her blink in confusion. Before she could think too much about it he smiled and lifted her to her feet, guiding her back to his quarters. 

He slid the dress from her shoulders, caressing her arms and smoothing her sides as he did. She looked up at him towering over her and leaned forward against his massive chest. He bent down and kissed her mouth, turning her chin up with his forefinger. The throbbing pulse of her blood was loud in her ears and she could feel her hands beginning to tremble.

He frowned at her.

"Is something wrong? You're shaking."

She wasn't sure what it was, but she could feel strange and unwanted sensations welling up inside her, making her chest ache. Was she going to cry?

She shook her head and looked down at her shaking hands.

"I must just be tired."

He lowered her to the skins that served as his bed and followed covering her body with his. One heavy arm draped over her and nestled her tightly against him. She curled, tucking her head against his chest, and felt her eyes burn and dampen. What was wrong with her? She wasn't upset. Maybe it was just the strain and confusion of the last few days.

"Are you crying?" 

Her throat was closed and she found she couldn't answer, and just shook her head instead, willing her tears to stop. But they wouldn't.

"Liar."

He pulled away to look at her and she sat up, turning away to hide her face. 

"I'm sorry" she choked out rubbing at her eyes with her palms. "I can't seem to stop."

"Are you hurt?" He sounded concerned, and she felt large fingers curling around her shoulder. She looked back, he looked worried.

"No, I'm not hurt."

"Then what's wrong?" She shook her head. "That's not an answer."

"I...I don't know. I just...I don't know."

His hand fell from her shoulder. The room become cold and she choked back another round of tears. 

"I'm sorry, I know you don't like crying." She stumbled to her feet and collected her clothes. "I'll leave."

"Stay where you are." his voice had lost its gentleness. 

She clutched her clothes to her and froze in place. 

"Now tell me why you're crying."

She sighed heavily. "I told you, I don't know. I just started, and I couldn't stop."

"You're upset."

"I don't feel upset."

"Then what?"

She shrugged, "Maybe, I'm just, overwhelmed." She gave him a crooked smile. His frown softened and he sighed as well dropping his eyes to the stone floor at her feet. 

"I should be sorry then."

"Why? You've not harmed me."

"Perhaps not, but I haven't been...very sympathetic."

Her lips parted and her heart quickened again. 

"No," she disagreed, "you've asked nothing of me. I did everything willi..." He cut her off with a wave of his hand.

"Just because you made no protest doesn't mean you weren't being used. I'm not foolish enough to believe you had, or felt you had any choice. I have a feeling your not so foolish either."

"I told you...I don't mind." She said softly. 

"Perhaps you don't mind your situation, and maybe it could, easily, have been worse, but that doesn't change your lack of control over it." He looked back up at her "Perhaps this is what upsets you. Now that the others are freed, you no longer have anything to have control over."

"Did I? Have control?" She wondered aloud.

"It may have felt like it at least." No then. Or maybe. Hell.

What he was saying made sense to her, but it didn't sit right, something was missing, there was something else, some other feeling she couldn't put her finger on that she knew was the cause of the her strange behaviour.

She let out a long sigh. "I don't know, it doesn't feel like that, but you may be right. I have no better explanation." She was glad that he didn't look pleased with himself and only shrugged.

"I'm only making a suggestion." He gestured to the empty place next to him. "Are you going to lie down? You're welcome to cry all you like." He smirked.

She laughed softly and wiped at her eyes. "You want me to stay?"

"I wouldn't suggest it otherwise."

She felt too tired to fight or question the relief that washed over her and she slid back down next to him and pressed up tight, not waiting for him to pull her close. She could hear his heart, heavy and slow, reverberating in her own chest. She lay quietly, listening to the unchanging rhythm. It was a long time before she fell asleep.



Sacrifice Ch. 03



Calliope woke early. She knew it was still near first light because Thelios lay asleep beside her, sprawled out on his back, his thick chest rising and falling in a lazy tempo. She rose, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, and washed up quickly and quietly as to not disturb him. She cast a quick glance back into the room before slipping out into the hall and making her way to the kitchen where she found Demitri just beginning his day. He looked up at her and nodded before returning to the shelves he was fiddling with. 

"Morning." He muttered without looking back up.

"Good morning. Does he take a meal in the morning as well?" She asking, thinking to preemptively assist. He shook his head. 

"I only feed him once a day...if that. He's on his own the rest of the time." She looked at him a little askew though with some amusement. 

"You make him sound like a pet." He shrugged and pulled a set of mean looking knives off of a shelf. 

"Feels like that...from time to time." He glanced at her again, and she could see a twitch of a smile momentarily later his gruff expression.

"What are those for?" She pointed at the knives he was now laying out on the work table.

"Bhaaa."

"That's morbid...and unsettling."She screwed up her her nose.

"Have to eat."

"Well, there's no need to be graphic about it." She murmured primly. 

He grinned at her and chuckled. 

"What should I do today? Anything I can help you with?" 

"Haven't swept or filled the oil lamps."

She nodded. "Consider it done."

"There's some bread and cheese and fruit over there if you're hungry. Just help yourself from now on. You'll figure out were everything is once you start poking around a bit. Oh, and what do you intend to do with those?" He pointed to a neatly folded pile of clothing she'd placed in a corner on a bench.

"I don't know," she said, picking them up, "I didn't have anywhere else to put them."

"You still have that key?"

She did. Calliope nodded.

"Second door to the right is an empty room."

"What is it?"

"Yours...if you want it."

"The master won't mind?"

"What does he care?" She didn't have an answer for that. This sounded true enough, she really couldn't see Thelios fretting over something like that. She smiled to herself, 'fretting' wasn't actually a word she could see applying to him in any circumstance really. 

She hadn't been around long, and still knew very little about either of these men, but she didn't see either of them as being terribly fussy. Which really, made for a much more relaxing atmosphere than she had been used to at home. Her mother and sisters had all been very particular about things being just-so, and her brothers demanding. She wouldn't call this carefree, but it was a darn sight closer to be sure. As far as she could see they both seemed more interesting in the practicality and functionality of things, something and couldn't help but approve of. Vain and excessive women were bad enough, their male counterparts were, in Calliope's mind, intolerable. 

The room was empty save for a small table and a built in bench along the wall, following the same simple design as the rest of the rooms. There was no where to put the clothes however. She remembered the chest where she found the clothes in the room with all the treasures, and thought she might remove it to this room as well. The apparent indifference of Demitri suggested it wouldn't be a problem, and the layer of dust she'd noticed on the chest itself indicated that no one else was using it anyway. She added a bowl and pitcher from the kitchen and a few skins she got from Demitri, and, she noted with satisfaction, had herself the beginnings of a comfortable and functional space. 

By the afternoon Calliope found herself with little left to do. The master had left at some point while she'd begun sweeping. After that she'd filled the lamps, beaten out the rest of the skins and scrubbed down the floors in the main living spaces. Most of it was easy and quickly finished as Demitri had clearly kept up with his work, and it was done with more than enough time to spare. She was heading back into the cave with water to boil for a bath when she heard a throat clear behind her. She set down the water and turned expecting the master and blinked in surprise when she saw a stranger instead. It was a man, similar in appearance and dress to Demitri, if a little less rough, but, she thought, there was an unnameable something in his mannerisms which disconcerted her. She decided it would be rude to let that show.

"Hello, how do you do?" Her voice was softened with surprise, but she retained her composure enough to hide her discomfort, displaying only mild disinterest, what she thought becoming in a servant.

"Hello there. Don't remember seeing you here before, lovely. Not that that's a problem." he leered at her and she felt her hackles raise a little in response, but ignored the sensation. "I'm here with the delivery...should I...give it to you." He continued with an obvious wink, still looking her over.

'Crass idiot', she thought, covering a grimace with a tight smile.

"I will fetch the master's servant for you." She replied with a polite head bow, choosing to ignore his inelegant come-on. The man moved closer, and she resisted the urge to step back.

"If you're not the servant, what are you?" His leer was starting to make her decidedly uncomfortable.

"A slave only." she murmured. The words rang strangely in her ears and made her stomach twist a little. Maybe Thelios had been right the night before. The man startled her out of her veering thought by grabbing her roughly by the chin and tilting her head to get a better look at her face, as if handling a mare in the market.

"Aren't you a pretty thing. Wonder where your master could have found you." This time she did step back, tearing herself away from his grasp and giving him an unrepressed look of horror. "Calm down pet." He reached out again and grabbed her wrist, jerking her towards him to prevent her from escaping and causing her body to be pressed suddenly tight up against his.

She barely resisted the urge to slap him hard across the face, managing at the last moment to remember herself, and her position, and remained calm. She couldn't keep the venom out of her voice though, nor did she try to. She rose up to her full height and squared her shoulders, tilting her head so that she could look down her nose at the slightly taller man, a maneuver her mother had perfected and passed on to her daughters.

"Remove your hand at once." She hissed in her most imperious voice, and reclaimed her hand with her most scathing glare, snatching her arm away with a jerk. He released her and gave her a sinister look.

"Awfully proud for a slave girl." He sneered. "Someone needs to teach you some respect for your betters."

How dare he! She felt the color rise in her face but kept her mouth shut by clenching her jaw, knowing arguing with the likes of him was an ineffective use of her time. She wanted him out of her sight, and the fastest way to achieve that was to remove herself.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll fetch the servant for you."She picked up her water again and disappeared into the hall before he tried grabbing her again and found Demitri in the kitchen.

"There's some odious person in the cavern wanting to make a delivery. I presume you know what for." He nodded and looked at her curiously.

"Odious?"

"Yes. Kindly tell me where he'll be."

"Why?"

"So I can be elsewhere." She plopped onto one of the stools and glared at the table top.

Demitri said nothing and left. When he returned he was grinning.

"Doesn't sound like he liked you much either. Thought I should beat you for your impertinence."  

"Why that..." the heat rose to her cheeks again and she suppressed her anger once more "...fool." She ended lamely. It wasn't the word she was going to say, but that wouldn't have been appropriate for a lady of good breeding and standing...or at least a former lady of standing. The feeling she'd had when she'd described herself as a slave returned again, pestering her. 

She'd managed not to think about the previous night, and her little outburst, but that horses ass had brought it to the forefront of her mind once more. Well it hadn't been him really, but it pleased her to blame him nonetheless. 

All day she'd busied herself as best she could, but now as she sat watching Demitri prepare the evening meal, she had nothing to do but think. Perhaps he was right, that she was upset that she was a slave, without power. Her reaction to describing herself as such supported the idea. Yet... something was still not quite right. As thought this were only a part of it, if that at all...but she couldn't tell what else it might be. His theory was the logical one. Perhaps if she just accepted it...then again, she'd thought she already had. She sighed inwardly and hoped silently that she hadn't irritated the master too much with her uncharacteristic simpering. He didn't like weeping and other such nonsense, and though he'd been sporting about it, she had no desire to push her luck. 

She'd not seen him since, and had no idea what his mood might be. 'How could I tell anyway, I've only been here a couple of days,' she mused. She brooded over the table considering how it was she was going to solve the dilemma. 

Demitri worked silently, ignoring her and letting her turn over her thoughts. When he finished and delivered his food to the dining room, she stirred herself as well and delivered her hot water next door. 

She paused at the door to her new room on the way back on impulse, remembering the skimpy slave-girl clothing she'd found in the chest. A sudden burst of inspiration struck her and Calliope decided that it might be used to improve his mood if it truly did need improving. And who knows, she thought as she fingered a bit of golden, diaphanous fabric, maybe dressing the part might lend her a sense of acceptance and quash whatever silly unreasonable sensibility was gnawing away at her gut. She was here now, she was what she was, and that was that. There was no reason to waste more time in contemplation, and so she didn't.

The fabric was somewhat opaque at least, she noted once it was on, and it did cover the most embarrassing parts of her body modestly enough...though just barely. She blushed hotly looking down at the expansive slit cut between the valley of her breasts and part way down her stomach, the fabric meeting just above the navel only to cleave itself at the sides instead, making the material swish between her legs when she walked, exposing her legs to the hip. She ran the back of a hand down one long naked thigh, still smooth since the last time she'd used sugar gum on them, and felt shivering tentacles of sensation run along her leg to her groin. She unpinned her hair so that only the sides were pulled up and the rest floated down her back and over her shoulders. 

If this doesn't make him happy, nothing will, she mused, and willed her self-consciousness into submission, as well as her burgeoning arousal. It would ruin the effect if she went around meekly blushing like a trembling little girl. She armed herself with a pitcher of wine from the kitchen and was just about to make her entrance when she paused at the door to slow her racing heart and overheard them talking. 

"He said you should beat her, then she'd learn a thing or two." The words froze her in her tracks, it was Demitri's voice.

"Is that so." 

"Indeed. Even offered to do it himself."

"Hm."

She steeled herself, her back straightening, and did her best impression of a mild, relaxed smile. Even if she was feeling anything but. 

Demitri was sitting where she had sat her first night, and was pulling at a hunk of bread, which, she noted with satisfaction, froze in mid tear as she slid through the partially open door. Thelios held a glass of wine part way to his lips, and ever so slowly put it down as she calmly advanced offering the wine in her hands. She held the carafe aloft a few moments before he waved a decline. She smiled softly, doing her best not to give herself away as she felt his eyes graze her skin, setting her on fire wherever they lighted. 

She turned away.

"Demitri?" She proffered the jug again. Very slowly he pushed his glass forward and she filled it, setting the jug on the table and stepping back, folding her hands before her with as demure a look as she could muster. 

Thelios cleared his throat. 

"Will you join us?" The thickness in his voice sent a wave of triumphant elation through her. She tried not to smile too much."Demitri tells me you made a new friend today." She may have been smiling but he wasn't. Her elation died a little. She adjusted herself on a cushion next to, but no too near, the master and gave Demitri a quick partially veiled look before clearing her own throat.

"If the Gods are kind, it will be a short acquaintance." She couldn't bring herself to look at the master, but Demitri was barely restraining a grin. 

"I trust you weren't impolite?" Her stomach flip flopped a little. It was maddening how unsettled he made her feel. She wasn't used to being phased all the time. She wasn't used to being phased at all. As casually as she could she reached in front of him and stole his cup.

"I didn't strike him. I think that was very polite of me. Though I will admit to being somewhat terse." She took a long sip and glanced again at Demitri who was watching with interest with those piercing eyes of his.

"I can't imagine what he might have done to deserve rudeness." Her ire rose faster than she could control it.

"Can you not?" She turned to Thelios, inflamed and ready to defend herself with proverbial claws if necessary. He was looking back at her. His face was cool, and serious, but his eyes were gentle, incredibly gentle. She melted instantly and her words died dryly in her throat. He wasn't angry then, or contemplating beating her. 

She felt the air let out of her, "I'm sorry,"she breathed, before looking away, suddenly guilty and embarrassed for having been affronted and turning her anger on him. "I just don't think anyone should be treated disrespectfully. Regardless." She explained and looked back up to his face. "I've always been irritated by those who don't treat slaves like people." She smiled a bit and her voice took on a sardonic note. "Especially when they don't even belong to them." 

He leaned over a little and plucked his cup back out of her hand, brushing his arm against hers and sending a shiver up her spine. 

Demitri leaned forward."What did he do anyway?" 

She tore her eyes from Thelios and took a bit of bread and cheese, feeling relaxed enough to eat at last. "Well the rudeness and leering made me civil rather than friendly...but being manhandled always makes me lose my temper."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing really, just pulled away, and when he persisted, told him to remove his hand at once."

"But what did you say?"

"Just that. Word for word."

"That's it?"

"Yes."

"How disappointing, He made it sound like you took a swing, or at least were terribly insulting."

"I'll try harder next time." She half grinned at him.

"Do." The masters voice sounded dark and she looked back at him. He looked angry and she felt instantly uneasy again. Her grin faded. 

"I don't think you'll have to worry about a next time anyway." Demitri interjected lightly. They both looked at him. "I figured he'd done something rash and made a grab at you, so I told him" he paused to chuckle to himself, "I said to him" and here he looked very stern and put on brusque airs, "I hope you didn't touch her, whatever you did. The monster, my master, ain't posh like the rest of 'em, and has a nose like a hound, so when he catches a sent he doesn't like on his things, he'll hunt down the owner and tear 'im limb from limb. He's a mean vicious beast that way, he is." He stopped again laughing and wiped a little moisture from his eye. Seemingly finding this terribly funny. "Then I added some gruesome details about foot long fangs and what not. The look on his face made my week."

Calliope looked at him in disbelief. Had he just called the master a monster to his face, and a beast? She checked Thelios's reaction only to find him smiling in grim appreciation of the story. 

"So," Demitri continued, "I told him to let others his way know the score and keep to themselves." He winked at her. "I'd wager everything he'll not be coming himself next time." He looked a little more seriously at her. "In all seriousness though, turn about is fair play."

"I wasn't really raised that way." She smiled self-consciously.

"Then consider it a command." She blinked and looked up at Thelios who was giving her a rather stern look. She nodded, swallowing hard. After a moment she excused herself and fetched the rest of the hot water, remembering herself enough to swish her hips on the way out. 

He wasn't in the bath yet, so she readied clothes and soap, wishing he'd hurry, as the longer she waited the more nervous she became. Finally he entered, tossing his wrap off to the side unceremoniously and stepped into the bath. 

He was already mast hard and slid his eyes appreciatively over her fairly exposed form. She didn't look away this time, but she could feel the blood rush to her face and breast. She blushed too easily, and in this dress it became a full body blush. Of course that thought only made her heat up that much more. 

Her mouth was dry again as she approached kneeling next to him, beginning the same process as the first night. He remained silent, and she could think of nothing to say. What's more her near bare breasts kept brushing his back as she worked making her nipples harden and ache, distracting her terribly. Her attention was otherwise occupied with the defined ridges of his arms, the solid mass of steely muscle under cool skin that was his back, and the throat tightening view between his thighs. 

By the time she'd tired her fingers out she was embarrassingly aroused and found herself squeezing her thighs together in a vain attempt to alleviate the aching of her sex. It only seemed to make it worse. She felt frustrated and what's more, irritated. It wasn't as if he was even doing anything to excite her, just ...sitting there...naked...and hard and...glistening. She was breathing rapidly and couldn't stop herself from running her fingers over the smooth, oddly pronounced tendons at the back of his neck, or from remembering, vividly, last nights rather vigorous activities. 

He must have felt the change in her touch, because he turned his head to look at her out of the corner of his eye. She stood and moved to the side of the bath, putting him out of reach. All she could think about was sliding her hands over that broad chest again, feeling the muscles bunch and flex, and his huge, rough hands gripping her body. The expression on his face, however, was anything but inviting. So she stood, and waited, torturing herself with her thoughts.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, master." She wondered if he was referring to her odd behavior from the night before.

"You look upset." She blinked. That was hardly the word she'd use to describe her current state.

"Do I, master?" She asked slightly dazed.

"Are you still upset about that man?" His face darkened again when he mention it.

"No, Master. It slipped my mind."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, master." He quirked an eyebrow at her. 

"Is that all your going to say to me now...yes, master?" 

She paused and her lips twitched. "Yes, Master."

He smiled back."Is this" he gestured to her vaguely "because of last night?" 

She paused again, thinking about it. "Partially. Yes."

"Yes, what?" He smiled more fully at her.

"Yes, Master." She said coyly, deepening her voice a little.




Sacrifice Ch. 03



"Are you angry with me?" That caught her off guard.

"With you? I thought you were angry with me."

"Why would I be angry with you?"

"Well last night and my...episode. Then that altercation this afternoon. I thought you might be displeased." He look her up and down, his eyes followed the length of her leg to her hips and paused. His eyes rose to meet hers and the waning throb of her sex that had been incited earlier by his nearness was reignited making her shift her hips anxiously.

"So that explains the outfit?"

"A little." She whispered thickly.

"A little, as in completely?"

She felt even hotter. She nodded.

"Take it off." His voice was instantly cold and commanding, and it shook her out of her daze.

"You don't like it?"

"No," he said slowly, "I like it very much, but there's one problem with it."

"What's that?" She asked, consciously taking the teasing bait of his words.

"Dresses like that aren't supposed to stay on that long. So...take it off." She felt a little thrill run through her. He looked very stern and the way his eyes took her in was intense and focused. He looked...determined. 

The now familiar excited fear made her hands tremble imperceptibly as she pulled the fabric from her shoulders, letting it slip easily to the floor, as it was no doubt designed to do. She stood there naked, and he leaned back and watched her. She held her arms at her sides, fighting the urge to cover herself. It was as nerve wracking as it was spine tingling to be standing like this in front of him, so exposed. At least that silly bit of fabric at her feet had given her the illusion of protection. Now she was just, simply, naked, and she felt the movement of his eyes poignantly. Her sex throbbed again. 

She couldn't will her arousal into submission, so she attempted to cover it with teasing instead, placing her hands on her hips and tilting them idly.

"Better?" She asked lightly with a coy smile, trying to alleviate the oppressive tension.

"Much" He growled, the force of his hot look slamming into her gut leaving her breathless and chasing off any thoughts she had about more teasing flippancy. She stepped forward, her paralysis broken by sudden desire, and stopped at the edge of the bath, hesitant. He reached over and wrapped his fingers around her ankle and slowly slipped his huge hand up her calf, lightly across the back of her knee causing a little shiver up her spine, and then up the back of her thigh, pausing and dipping forward between her thighs as he neared her still throbbing center. He grazed her sex with one of his fingers ever so lightly, causing her to inhale sharply. 

He paused and gave her a frowning quizzical look. She watched his face intently as he made another pass with his fingers, this time being anything but teasing and pressing his fingers firmly between the soft folds. 'And wet' she thought hotly as she felt his fingers slide easily across her, dipping ever so slightly inside. She shifted her hips in silent response, her eyes eyelids fluttering as she tried to keep her breathing even. He pulled his fingers away and cocked a surprised eyebrow at her. 

"Your very..." his voice trailed off. "How long have you been aroused" He looked a little taken aback. She swallowed hard and made a shrugging gesture.

"Ah, a while." His surprised expression twisted into something else. She did wrap her arms around herself then. 

"Why?" She was speechless. Why? 

"Why?"

"Yes."

"Well why are you?" 

He smiled. "You're naked."

"So are you."

"Seriously?"

"Well you are." What was he getting at? How could she be joking. He was sitting there naked and aroused while she ran her hands all over him. What did he expect the reaction would be? She told him as much. He leaned back again with a strange expression on his face.

"So. you're saying if I put you in a room with a naked aroused man you'd become wet?" Her face burned.

"No."

"That's what you said."

"No, I said You're naked and aroused. I've seen other naked...and occasionally aroused men, but I'm not some excitable little chit who jumps at the first sign of interest." She was irritated again. How could he think that?

"So I arouse you then." He placed the emphasis on I. 

"Well I..." She wasn't sure if she wanted to say yes to that. Especially with him eying her the way he was. It was true though she admitted reticently. She was attracted to him. He was a massive, grey, horned giant...and she wasn't becoming any less wet as she stood there thinking about that fact. "A little." She choked out, looking at her feet. Which was a bad idea, since it gave her a startling view of her naked body with his hand laying along her thigh.

"I'd hate to see a lot then." Now he was just teasing her. "Tell me why it is I arouse you so." She blinked at him. He wasn't serious...

"Your not really going to ask me to..."

"Absolutely. Come now, stoke my male pride." He slid his hand up and down her thigh and smiled mischievously. 

"Well," she breathed, not totally believing she was going to admit this, "you're very big..a-and hard."

"Yes, we've covered that." He drawled and grinned, still teasingly.

"No, the rest of you," she touched her own shoulder and collar bone to clarify, her expression serious. His grin subsided. "Muscular." She elaborated, her voice wavering. 

"I suppose you like this shade of grey as well?" It was meant, she sensed, as a self depreciating joke, but his smile was halfhearted.

"It looks like silver when you're wet." It was his turn to blink. "And when you stand in the sunlight." Her heart pounded in her chest, but the unsure expression on his face bolstered her confidence and gave her some semblance of control. He was becoming as uncomfortable as she, and that made her want to push harder. She pressed on, looking at him appraising, perhaps for the first time in that way, openly admiring him. "You're well proportioned...and the lines of your face are..." She took in the high forehead, the prominent brow and square, angular jaw and searched for a word. "Striking. Very...well, male." It was what she thought when she looked at him. Big, and male. 

She stepped down into the bath, and stood over him, though just barely. The water was still hot, and the back of her mind told her she could probably use a bath herself but she doubted that was going to happen, not with that look in his eye. Another shiver ran up her spine.

He was just watching her now, his smile gone, his eyes tumultuous. She ran her fingers over his skin down his collarbone to his chest, just as she had touched herself. 

"Your skin is a little rough." She felt his lungs fill beneath her hand quickly. "I like that." She added softly, watching her fingers and avoiding his eyes. Those burning golden amber eyes. "And your eyes make my skin burn." She looked up then, to find him already giving her that soul melting stare. His jaw was tight and clenched, and she could see his body tensing, his arms and legs like twisted cords.

"Are you teasing me?" His voice was thick and low, and the vibrations ran up through her arm and into her own chest. It was hard to tell if he was angry or excited. Her eyes dipped into the water. Either way his body was the latter, and that was good enough for her. She leaned into him, pressing her naked thighs firmly between his. 

"No." She whispered huskily and pressed her mouth to his, feeling it part slightly for her as she teased his lips with the tip of her tongue. 

He finally moved and wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her down into his lap, supporting her weight easily on one massive thigh. His erection pressed up against her, and she parted her legs, pressing one against his stomach, allowing his hard cock to slide between. She ignored her natural embarrassment and shifted her hips, letting herself enjoy the hot pleasure of the silky head sliding up against her extremely wet sex, parting the lips with its pressure as it slid by. She moaned softly and appreciatively into his mouth. He growled lustily in response.

"You're not cross with me are you?" She whispered against his lips.

He kissed her again, long and slow, making her body sag uselessly into him before answering. "Why do you keep thinking that?"

"Sometimes it's hard to tell," His mouth was working across her neck, nipping her ear "if you're going to yell at me...." he bit lightly at her neck and she sighed, "or if you're going to fuck me." Hearing herself say that made her electric with excitement. His own breathy growl against her neck told her it had a similar effect on him.

"Granted I haven't been given much time or reason...but how many times have I been angry with you?" His hands were pulling at her breasts, lightly thumbing the two small hard nipples. 

"None?" she asked with another sigh.

"Correct." He rewarded her with a pinch making her whimper into his mouth as he slid his tongue along hers in a slow luxurious manner. "And how many times have I fucked you?" She felt that delightful shiver again. 

"I'd say it's becoming something of a habit." She pulled away and gave him a hot mischievous grin of her own.

"I think that's about accurate. Also if I ever really do look like I want to yell at you, you can safely assume I'd still rather molest you." She grinned at him and ran a hand over one rough cheek. 

"So if I make you mad I should just lift my skirts and present, and all will be forgiven?" He laughed, stroking her back. 

"I can guarantee it."

"I'll remember that."

"Please do. I look forward to being angry with you." He reached over and grabbed a cloth and began to rub her back, streaming the warm water over her shoulders. She tilted her head forward and closed her eyes leaning into his firm touch. He repaid her work, rubbing down her back and arms, before moving down her legs to her feet, squeezing gently. She groaned, and opened her eyes sleepily, smiling up at him. His hands worked back up her thighs just missing the apex and slid up over her stomach with the cloth, slowly massaging the undersides of her breasts. Her slow relaxed breathing deepened and quickened again. 

He lifted her in his lap, repositioning her so that her back was to his stomach. His hard cock was pushed up between her thighs and pressed hotly along the parted lips, and rested against her abdomen. Abandoning the cloth, Thelios continued to caress her breasts, lifting them in his hands and thumbing the dusky colored buds at the tips. It was as if there was a direct line from her chest to her sex and every roll and pinch made her hips arch a little and the deepest parts of her throb until she was grinding in time with his hands, sliding along the shaft standing proudly between her legs. 

The thick purplish head bounced lightly against her belly and she caressed it with her fingers, covering it with the slick moisture at the tip. She was flooded with thoughts of the last two nights, and watched the thick weapon throb against her with hungry, glazed eyes. How big it had been inside her, hurting her, stretching her until all of her ached. Yet, she thought, stroking him deliberately with her own slick sex, her whole body wanted nothing more than to arch her hips until she could push all of him inside her, letting it take her, possess her. 

That thought vibrated through her, possessing her. It made her stomach tighten and back tense, wringing electric pulses through her limbs. Did she want to be owned? No, she never had...but that word, possessed, she shuddered again, was different. Somehow it meant something else. Possess me, she whispered in her head. His hands obeyed, pulling her roughly against him, hard into his chest, his fingers pulling at her sensitive nipples. She could feel the pressure building inside of her already, and she worked her hips needfully. She rolled the thought in her head, mouthing it silently, her eyes rolling as his mouth obeyed as well, claiming her neck and shoulders.

"Yes." Her voice came out in a broken cry. He growled behind her with what sounded like frustration, and the rapid building of what she knew to be an imminent orgasm caused by the delicious friction of his cock rubbing against her was momentarily threatened. That is until his hands grabbed her hips, making her gasp in surprise, and lifted her high before forcing her back down onto his rigid cock. 

He impaled her brutally, shoving the flared head up inside of her gracelessly. It pulled at her and rammed hard and painfully into the soft flesh, knocking the wind from her as it filled her. The startling suddenness of his thrust, and the sensation of her own torn body pulling greedily as it clamped down around its impaler made her shatter. Her body became uncontrollable and her sight was blinded with starry blackness. She roiled with sensation. All she could hear was the roaring of her blood in her ears. She shuddered convulsively in thrall of the intensity of her orgasm and gave herself over to it, going half limp in his arms. 

He continued to drive into her, lifting and spearing her with increasing intensity, prolonging the rolling waves of gut wrenching pleasure. Each new wave that crashed into her made it more unbearable, and she whimpered helplessly as she bounced in his lap like a rag doll. 

She thought she was going to break apart, unable to stand it any longer when, with one final thrust, he exploded into her. The warm flooding sensation and the forceful pressure of his climax sent a new wave through her body as her stretched cunt attempted to pull him even deeper, clenching and sucking at him tightly and painfully. He made an unintelligible sound and she responded with her own broken gasp. 

Her head spun and shone with stars, and it was a long moment before she could pull herself into reality. She was leaning against him, held in place with one large arm around her waist, and the slowly softening cock still buried deep inside her. She attempted to raise herself, but her head swam strangely and she could only shift making a week mewling sound. 

He crushed her into his chest letting out a long rumbling growl. What giants sound like when they purr she thought with a weak smile. She rested her head on his chest and gave up on trying to go anywhere. 

Her stomach cramped a little, and she was sore as hell, but the steady rise of his chest was calming and she felt a soft contentment spread over her. After a time he lifted her slowly, slipping wetly from her body, and lay her on the cool stone floor. 

He stood, dripping, and loomed over her sprawled body. He looked serious, and thoughtful. She wondered what he'd do, what he was thinking. 

Her heart sped, and she felt that strange emotion burning in her chest. Not again. She closed her eyes and turned her face away until it passed. When she opened her eyes he was gone. She sat up quickly, ignoring her cramp. Her relief when she saw him still in the room was instant, and unnerving. He looked at her curiously. She looked at his knees. 

"You alright?"She nodded and got to her feet, wincing. 

"Yes," She smiled wanly "Thank you." He watched her as she collected her scrap of clothing and slowly made for the hallway door. She was heading for her new room...but she was hoping he'd stop her before she got to the door. She stopped halfway. How pathetic this was. How pathetic she was. She was still naked. How obvious. She turned around. He was arching an eyebrow at her. "Wrong door." She said with a tight smile, and walked back past him to his chambers. Nice recovery idiot. Even she couldn't tell what game she was playing at. She wasn't usually the game playing type. What more could she possibly expect from him, if anything. He didn't follow, so she just folded her clothes carefully and lay down, curling onto her side and pulling one of the heavier furs up over her body. She wasn't cold, but the weight was comforting. She focused on that. 

She was beginning to drift when another weight joined her, settling in with a heavy sigh behind her. They lay there a long while before he spoke. "What did he do to you?"She frowned and turned on her back so she could see him.

"What did who do to me? I mean...who did what?" What was wrong with her? He smirked at her. 

"Rattled?" 

She gave him an arched look as a response.

"Your new friend." He continued, smirk fading.

"Oh. I don't know. Nothing much really."

"What?"

"Specifically?"

"Yes."

"Well," she turned up on one elbow and reached out grabbing his chin as the man had hers, "he grabbed me like this, and when I pulled away," she grabbed his wrist "he grabbed me and pulled me back to him." She tugged for effect.

"That's it?"

"Well he was being a little rougher than I was." She said defensively.

"Yes, but nothing more? He didn't do anything else to you?"

"No."He nodded clearly satisfied. Strange man she thought, or rather giant... and rolled back onto her back, grunting at a stitch in her side."Thelios?" She called softly.

"Hmm."

"Would you...would you mind... if I slept elsewhere tomorrow?"

"You can sleep elsewhere tonight if you don't like laying with me." She thought she heard something like annoyance hitch in his voice and repressed a smile.

"I like sleeping with you just fine...I prefer it even," she added almost inaudibly, "but I think I need a break from the non-sleeping part."

"I thought I 'aroused' you?" This time with humor. She smiled at the distant stone ceiling.

"Yes, and my body's beginning to regret it." She rubbed her stomach trying to ease the persistent cramp. "I was a virgin..." she added tentatively, not wanting to insult him. He softened visibly, in the corner of her eye.

"I promise I won't touch you." That was not, for some reason, what she wanted to hear. She sat up to look down at him. 

"Well, it's not that...it's just...there, to heal, you know. Only, maybe, one night."

"I said I wouldn't touch you." He looked at her askance, "you don't need to haggle with me. Now go to sleep." He turned over, giving her his back. She choked back a disappointed sting and lay down. She wanted to reach out to him, to re-establish contact. So she did, giving in to the strange urge and wrapped an arm around his lower torso and laying her hand on the side of his stomach. He rewarded her by capturing her hand in his. 

She melted into the back of him, wondering at the satisfaction coursing through her. Why did she feel the need to touch him all the time? Was she becoming attached to him? It did make sense, she reasoned after a moment considering the question. He'd taken her virginity and they'd shared very intimate acts and words. Such intimacy must breed some sort of affection, especially when the other is generally affable like he is. She nodded mentally and felt content with her analysis and slept unperturbed by the strange passions that had been troubling her.

**

"I'm leaving tomorrow."Caliope looked up from her stew with a frown and gave Thelios a quizzical look. Demitri kept eating undisturbed.

"Where are you going?" He looked at her mildly.

"No where special, just ...family business."

"I see. How long will you be gone?"

"Not long." Vague as always.

The past weeks had rolled on in peaceful repetition into months. She found this change in the rhythm unsettling."Who will look after the sheep?"

"They'll survive on their own."

"But you'll lose some."

He shrugged. "It happens."

She was no shepherd, but she'd sometimes tagged along for something to do, and knew that for the most part it was just a lot of sitting around and redirecting wanderers."I could do it." She offered tentatively.

He shrugged. "If you like."

"Well I think it's ridiculous to just leave them all alone."

He arched an eyebrow at her, "I've done it before."

"Perhaps, but it's wasteful. I can't abide that. No it won't do. " She stabbed at a piece of rabbit and missed.




Sacrifice Ch. 03



"I didn't know I needed your approval."He mused, looking down at her out of the corner of his eye.

She captured the errant chunk and pointed it at him. "Learn something new every day."

"You're awfully cheeky today aren't you?" He smirked. She'd been awfully cheeky most days lately, having discovered he was generally more entertained than annoyed by it. Which was a relief for her since her natural sense of humor had always tended towards the sardonic. It was a relief to not have to suppress it as she did with all but her closest siblings.

"My deepest apologies, I'd hate to make you angry my lord" she leered. 

Demitri made a disgusted sound. "Do you mind, I'm trying to eat here."

Thelios chuckled, though not before returning her look. She grinned back and returned to her food, and turned her thoughts back to where exactly he was off to. She decided it must be related to the messenger who had come two days ago, who true to Demitri's predictions was someone new, and did his best to keep his distance. Any who came had also done so. She felt a little bad, and tried to be pleasant with the others, but they only eyed her suspiciously. 

It would be strange having him gone, she considered, even for a few days. She'd become so used to him. Well it was a chance to sleep in her own room she mused, though that thought didn't cheer her up much. There wouldn't be much to do with him gone...there wasn't much to do with him here for that matter. As far as masters went, he was extremely low maintenance. With him gone she'd be bored silly. She'd have to look after the flock, otherwise she'd go mad. 

There wasn't much to do at home since she'd discovered what few other rooms existed were mostly empty and never used, and the depths of the caverns held only a cistern for rain water, which explained the clever plumbing. She'd pulled a few things out of the so called storage room, which looked more like a treasury to her, just to have something to keep her busy, even sneaking the golden Apollo into her own little room. Well, sneaking wasn't entirely correct. She'd actually marched it past them as they watched in silence and closed her door behind her. They never said anything, and it remained where she put it, so she decided they must not have cared one way or the other. It wasn't like they'd noticed it much before. 

A new and sudden thought interrupted her musing. What exactly was 'family' business for a giant? His Aunt the sphinx taken ill, a cyclops reunion? She knew very little about him when it came down to it. 

"Whats so funny?" Demitri was looking cockeyed at her across the table. She started and blinked at him.

"Nothing."

"Then what's with the grin?" Thelios was watching her too.

"What, do you two have nothing better to do but watch me for unusual facial expressions?" Thelios shrugged carelessly in afirmation.

Demitri pursed his lips, "pretty much." 

She sighed. "Family business."They both frowned. "I was trying to picture your family business." Demitri got it, but Thelios still frowned. "You know what sort of family business you'd likely have. You lineage isn't particularly banal I imagine," she continued when he just stared at her. Still nothing. "Sick aunty sphinx?" she offered. 

Demitri nearly spat out his wine and Thelios finally grinned. "Ah, I see. No nothing that exotic. Just checking in with cousins and brothers...not my idea, but they insist."

"Are they giants as well?"

"Most."

Interesting. She didn't want to pry...well didn't want to seem like she was prying, so she asked no further questions and no one offered any more information. She cleared the table and washed up. They were still talking when she returned. She paused at the door to see if she could catch a snippet of interesting information. She'd long ago stopped feeling guilty about listening since the two of them were terrible eavesdroppers. 

"And your father?"

"What does he care? And why should he. I can't imagine it becoming a problem, and certainly not for him. My cousin is an over confident fool, and he's managed, though apparently just barely. It will be a lesson to others." There was a pause. "My only real concern is if he compromised another as well. Specifically me."

"I see. What about you then? Are there many who know?"

"I can count the number of people on one hand."

"Does it include her? I've never heard her say it aloud." There was a longer pause, and she wondered if they'd figured out she was there.

"Yes" Thelios said finally.

"Is that bad?"

"I hope not." Beat. "No....I trust her." She knocked on the door and peeked in. They both looked up at her. 

"Goodnight." They nodded and returned to their wine. She paused a while longer but the conversation changed. It must have been the 'business' he was speaking of. She wondered who the 'she' was they spoke of. She headed to his room and undressed, tossing her dress over the top of a nearby chest and settled herself under the skins. There was an unusual chill in the air and it made her skin bump. She'd fallen asleep before he'd arrived and didn't hear him enter.

"Caliope?"The sound of his voice stirred her out of her light sleep.

"mmm"

"Asleep?"

"Was" she cracked an eye. He was already lying next to her, leaning over her on one arm. He looked serious and she sobered quickly.

"Do you remember me telling you not to tell anyone my name?" She blinked for a moment, wondering where the question had come from.

"I don't think," then she remembered, 'I have a reputation....' "Oh well, maybe. Yes. Yes I do, vaguely...why?"

"It's important that you don't." Perhaps it had something to do with what she overheard earlier.

"Alright." who would she tell anyway?"Demitri?"

He shook his head. "He knows."

She nodded thoughtfully."Any particular reason...besides your reputation?" She would have grinned, but his expression dimmed it to a wan smile.

"In the wrong hands it could be dangerous." His tone sounded final and she knew that was all she was going to get. For now, she thought. She'd squeeze him later when he was in a better mood. It usually helped if she was naked. Then again, under the covers she was.

"You smile at the strangest things."

She blinked again. She'd have to learn to control her facial expressions better when her mind wandered. His face hovered over hers. 

"I was thinking of something else." His expression didn't change, but one hand slid around and beneath her giving her rear a firm squeeze. She lifted her chin defiantly."Not necessarily!" 

He gave her another longer squeeze, pulling her up against him. He had her at the first squeeze, but she kept her chin up. 

"Presumptuous, aren't we?"He was sliding his way down her body as she spoke. She tried to contain her excitement, but her body wasn't interested in playing coy and was wriggling away in anticipation. He rolled her onto her back and ran his tongue down her body from neck to navel then teased her by pausing to kiss the round of her stomach, inching ever so slowly over her waist and hips. She sighed and caressed his head in a familiar manner, smiling softly at him.

"Will you miss me?" He paused to wait for an answer.

"Not at all, I'm sure." 

He bit her hip making her chirp a squeal in protest. "That's rubbish" he growled softly against the top of her thigh, his breath making a trail of heat which held her attention with frightening intensity.

Her smile shifted into a silent gasp as she twisted her hips under his hands. His tongue felt like cold water as it ran over her heat, soothing her and eliciting tiny pulsing, electric throbs at the same time. 

"Tell me again who it was that said you were a cold fish?"

She groaned. "Stop talking." 

"I asked a question..."

She slid her fingers over on of his horns and glared down at him with hazy eyes. "Less words, more tongue..."

He chuckled and crawled over her, his elbow at her head, and she sighed in disappointment. She'd already learned that he had an impressive capacity for patience. Indeed it seemed his favorite game to pause in the middle of proceedings just to make her crazy. She sighed again, this time in defeat.

"A few people...mostly my sisters....but no one had tried that yet so..." she raised her hips as a hint. He ignored her and brushed his lips against her cheek.

"Well you're a hell of a lot warmer than the others' women." 

Women? Which women? 

"Whose?"

"'Family business' others. They tend to keep little harems... mind you some tarry only with nymphs...and they're notorious." 

"Notorious for what?"

"Being cold fish." He was petting her stomach, and his teeth were nipping at her neck, but her mind was intently focused elsewhere.

"How would you know what their women are like?" 

He cocked a brow at her. "How else."

"You slept with them?" She fought hard to keep the surprise out of her voice.

"A few. They tend to keep quite a number at their disposal, most of them. Especially at these little get togethers. They like to show off." He chuckled as he caressed her sides absently. "They even have these ridiculous competitions to see who has the better slaves. They're like little boys arguing over toys. Though I'll admit, some of them are quite...talented."

That did it. She sat up and paused his hand."And you sleep with them at these meetings?"

"Sometimes." He tilted his head at her curiously. She felt an irrepressible heat flare up in her stomach. 

"And this time?" 

He shrugged "who knows." He slowly smirked. "Why? Jealous?"

"No." It sounded defensive to her own ears. "No." She said again this time less intensely, "Just asking." She lay down again and turned over, her interest having rapidly waned. He peeked over her shoulder.

"Do you want me to promise I won't screw any of them?" It sounded like mockery to her. 

"No. It would be pointless. Besides, why should I care what you do...I just serve here. It's none of my business." She sounded short, but she didn't care even if it was unreasonable, she felt irritated.

"You're right." He agreed. His hand returned to her side, but only for a minute before he sighed and rolled onto his back. She peeked over her shoulder when he didn't return his hand. His eyes were closed. Even if she was right he didn't have to agree with her. 

"Well, maybe a little" she muttered turning away into her pillow. 

"A little what?"

"Jealous." She was nearly inaudible.

"You'll have to talk to me, not the pillow." She could hear the amusement in his voice and let out an exasperated sigh and flipped over shooting him a nasty glare. He was already facing her, his head propped on his fist, smiling gently. She lost her steam and harrumphed, sitting up and crossing her arms over her breasts. 

"Stop smiling at me like that."

He chuckled and leaned up, capturing her neck in his hand and pulling her too him, melting the rest of her ire with a long deep kiss."I would be too." She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out."You're lovely...now go to sleep."   

She couldn't think of anything to say, so she turned over and tried to do just that. 

The next morning Caliope woke up alone. Thelios was nowhere to be found, and Demitri, she knew, had been planning to leave early to pick up supplies in town. She'd wanted to ask him to get her vine leaves and a few other things and had forgotten. She cursed mildly and shook off the sleepiness. The sheep were awake and grazing in front of the cavern entrance. She'd slept in too long and many had begun to wander. It took her a good hour to collect them from the shore line and the little creek, the natural boarders of Thelios's land. 

She'd learned, bit by bit, that to the north was a long ridge which defined the third boarder of the grazing land. The western tip of the ridge, the one that met the sea, was close by, so she started by heading the lazy fluff balls in that general direction. She knew she wouldn't be there until well after noon, so she let her mind wander as she half halfheartedly shooed errant lambs back into the herd. Her thoughts drifted first to her family. 

Her mother, who had survived four daughters and three sons and lived to see all but three of her children married, was a serious and quite women. Caliope often wondered at how little she knew about her mother, who had always kept her own council and who had been too busy tending her family and being the proper wife of a respected council member to devote much time to idle conversation. Caliope had always held the hope that perhaps when she was older and married her mother might open a little to her, as she had seemed to do with her elder sisters. It made her a little melancholy to think that this was no longer possible. Her elder sisters were both married, and the eldest with two young sons of her own. Demetra, the eldest, had always been like a second mother to her and Helena, keeping them out of her mothers hair and teaching them the skills that their mother had taught her: how to keep a house, how to sew and weave, how to cook, clean, and the most difficult lesson, how to sit quietly and be seen and not heard. Caliope smiled wryly at the memory of those lessons. Her sister, like her mother, was not shy with a switch. 

She'd adored her sister though, and was heart broken when she was married to the son of a family friend who lived more than a weeks journey from her little city. 'Well', she thought a little sourly, 'I'm three days closer to her now. As if that does anyone any good.' 

Her second sister Xanthipe was nearly as charming and beautiful as Helena, but not half as wild. She'd never been that close to her second sister, though it was her who had taught the 'little ones' as she called them, the more charming arts of singing and dancing. She had a naturally clear and high voice and her entertainment at dinners caught the ears and eyes of a wealthy, and very powerful councilman who asked their father for her hand the moment she was of age. She lived in the same city as her family, and she visited her mother now and then, but she was often busy with running a magnificent household for a man who liked to entertain. In the end Caliope saw as little of her as she did her eldest sister. As for her brothers, she had no real memory of her eldest, Aristophanes who, when he was very young and she barely out of her swaddling wraps, had left home to become a man, and returned on his shield. All that she'd known of him growing up was the spear and shield kept in his honor in the entrance of their home. Her second brother Pericles, younger than Xanthipe, had survived his first battle and had come home to marry and inherited a nice bit of land from his wife's family, off of which he made a handsome living from his wheat fields and olive groves. Her youngest brother, Hector, was two years her senior and still doing his civic duty as a young soldier. She was sorry she never had a chance to say good bye to him. 

She had always liked him very much. He was always a sweet boy, and had become a sweet young man. He'd been the only one of her and Helena's elders that had been their playmate, and not their teacher. He was wont to make her practice sword fighting with him since Helena was too dainty and his elder brother too unforgiving. By the time Calliope was 15 she'd become pretty good at not getting hit, if nothing else. 

Her mother didn't like her playing at such things, but it amused her father to no end. Most things did though. He and her mother were opposites in every way. Where her mother was calm and stoic, he was gregarious and emotive. Helena got much of her sense of humor from her father, and he doted on her. The whole family did. Caliope sighed heavily and kicked at a stone. How she missed her sister. 

She sat down on a small boulder along the base of the boarder ridge and watched as the sheep spread across a small ravine, collecting in the pockets where the grass grew thick and green, her mind wandering along with them before returning to her sister once more. 

She wondered how long it would be until Helena would make a marriage. She'd been made numerous offers already, but her father, she knew, was inclined to keep his favorite at home so made no fuss about her refusing the proposals. Helena had her sights set on one of the more youthful and handsome sons of the councilmen. Her father would undoubtedly let his little favorite choose for herself, much to the chagrin of all the older, and perhaps less handsome, men who'd already thrown their hat into the ring. 

Caliope felt suddenly restless and slid off the boulder, climbing the ridge to stand at the crest. She'd been here once before with Thelios, but she'd not seen over the ridge. 

She smiled at the memory of discovering him laid out in the long grass, eyes closed against the sun. She'd gotten bored and took to walking the shore until she'd come upon him. She'd commented on how hard he clearly worked and he only grinned up at her, eyes still closed and patted the grass next to him, inviting her to work equally as hard. The spot had seemed warm and cozy then, but now, standing alone along a ridge that ran as far as the eye could follow in one direction and that crashed into to dark blue sea in the other, it seemed incredibly lonely. 

It was a hot sun, but the ocean winds blew stiffly against her back, wrapping her robes about her legs. She turned pushing her hair back from her mouth and eyes, only to see a figure on the other side of the ridge looking with astonishment at her. She focused more clearly and saw that he was very young, at least 3 or 4 years her junior, and she could see, doing the same work as she. She smiled and waved down at him. He waved hesitantly back. She turned back to check the flock to see if she might go talk to the boy, but a few had already begun to climb another ridge to the east of the depression. She sighed and sent another wave towards the shepherd and climbed quickly down the steep slope. 

She managed to wrangle them quickly and took another peek over the ridge, only to find the boy gone. At home, with her family, she'd often liked being alone, but since she'd come here, she found it oppressive and found it difficult to suppress her disappointment at finding her potential company gone. 

The next few days passed quietly out in the meadows. She moved the flock along the ridge, climbing the slope periodically to see if she might spot the young shepherd. On the fourth day she did, but only just barely. She waved across the distance and eventually he saw her, but he was too far to call to, so after he returned her wave, they could only return to their flocks. The encounter pleased her, inexplicably, more than she thought it would, and she wondered at herself. 

**

"Demitri?" She called as she stood over the small cistern rinsing what few dishes there were to clean, her back to the kitchen.

"Yes?" 

"Are you going to town again soon?"

"Why?"

"There was something I wanted to make, but I forgot to ask you to buy the ingredients for me."    

He shrugged. "I wasn't planning on it, but I can just give you the money and you can go yourself. It's a pretty calm town, I don't imagine you'll get any trouble."

"Myself?" She turned to face him.

"Sure, why not?"

"No reason. I...I just, I've never been to a market alone before. Am I allowed?" 

He shrugged. "If you aren't then I won't tell any one." 

She grinned at him "That's kind of you."

"Here." He tossed a purse of money on the kitchen table. "That ought to cover it. Keep what ever is left over. " She walked over and hefted the little bag and opened the top to peak inside.

"That's far too much. I'll just take a few coins." 

He waved at her dismissively. "It's less than I could get for all the sheep that won't go missing because you're tending them. Just look at it that way." She looked at the little bag speculatively. 




Sacrifice Ch. 03



"Does this money come from the tributes?" 

"One way or another."

She frowned as an odd thought occurred to her. "I always thought we were paying to keep him from destroying our towns...but I don't think that would happen...do you?"

"No."

"Then why did this business start"

"Way I hear it, he did some service to the people in these parts way back when. I suspect it's got something to do with keeping this coast clear of invaders, though I honestly couldn't tell you." He was chewing thoughtfully on a piece of cheese. 

"So it's payment then...not blood money?"

"Well, it is now. That's how folks see it, so that's how it is. I don't think he much cares one way or the other. Just wants to be left to his own devices."

"He doesn't even use most of it," she mused, thinking of the room full of forgotten treasures.

"Well that's why he started requesting specific things. Sheep he can use....statues of Apollo however..."

She laughed. "I think it's a delightful statue."

"Clearly. But it does us little good out here, you can't eat it, and it's too pricey to barter easily."

"Has he ever requested...people before?"

"You mean women?" He looked up from his dinner. She shrugged at the sink, missing his grin. "No. This was a first."

"Wasn't he worried it would upset people too much and they'd stop making tributes?"

"You'd have to ask him that."

"Why would he...after all this time?"

"Who can say. Lonely I guess."

"You're here."

"There's more than one kind of lonely girl, and I'm pretty sure you and I ain't providing the same kind of services."She looked over her shoulder at him to see his wry look.

"Why doesn't he just...dally with nymphs. He said his brethren do that."

He shrugged again. "You'd have to ask him that...why you so interested any way. Trying to get yourself off the hook?"

"No, just curious. He told me they were cold." 

"Who?"

"The nymphs."

"Well you already have an answer then, why are you pestering me."

"How did you come to be here?"

"Nice subject change."

She rolled her eyes. "No really, you weren't a tribute...and everyone in these parts is terrified of the master. I mean I thought he was a hydra... until I got a little older and decided he must be a flesh eating cyclops. So how did you get past the scary rumors and end up living here.?"

"That's easy. I ain't from around here, and I met him before I heard about him." Her curiosity was peaked and she sat at the table with him, her drying cloth still twisted in her hands.

"How did you meet him?"

"I was a soldier for a long time, and it took me all over the place. Mercenary." He added. "I got a bum leg from an injury that just wouldn't seem to heal properly, and couldn't do that kind of work anymore-- least not so well as I used to--so I started wandering and looking for odd jobs... drifting. Eventually I found myself following the coast here looking for port towns when I climbed a cliff to find a twelve foot demon lookin' right back at me."

"What did you do?" She leaned forward imperceptibly, eager to hear the rest of the tale.

"I said 'pardon sir, but you don't know if there's a town nearby do you?'" 

She grinned at him."You lie."

"Swear on my life."

"What did he say?"

"He explained that there was and that it was just a few hours east. Then asked me what I was looking for. I said work and he told me that if I didn't find any in town, he might have something for me. So I went to town, found little or nothing going on and decided to go back. Of course in town I asked about the giant and that's when I heard all the crazy rumors. Course I'd spoken to him already and I've got a knack for sussing people out, so I didn't take much of what was said to heart."

"Did you ever correct them?"

"Why should I? I imagine he prefers it that way."

She harrumphed. "More flies with honey."

"Who wants flies?" 

She smirked back at him. "Duly noted." 

The next day she dressed herself in the simplest dress she could find. It wasn't seemly for women of standing to enter the market place, but servants were allowed, so she wore the most servant like thing she had. That wasn't saying much since the material was still a little too fine for a servant. It would have to do, she mused as she stepped lightly through the pleasant woods. 

How strange the change now. barely a season had passed since she came here and everything that had been foreboding and strange was now familiar, benign. The woods which might have been pretty to her that first day were now delightful. She remembered the fear in the faces of the girls as they were marched through these very woods, and she remembered the same suppressed terror in the soldiers as well. She'd been too scared herself to note it then, but in her memory it was palpable. 

The memory gave her a twinge. It was sad that Thelios should be so reviled. It didn't seem fair. Then again, she reminded herself, he did take twenty girls from their families. She sighed and watched the grass turn to tracks and then into a proper road beneath her feet. 

The town looked vaguely familiar, though she was entering it from the opposite side this time. She paused in front of a particularly familiar house. It had belonged to the pretty fair haired girl she'd tried to introduce to Thelios. She felt a passing urge to knock...but resisted the urge easily. What would she say to the servant who answered? 'Hello your mistress and I were sacrificed to a giant together...I just wanted to say good morning', not likely. She sighed and kept walking. 

The town was relatively small, no doubt because the high cliff leading to the water made for a poor port. She could see a number of fishing boats lashed to the dock below...but the narrow stair way leading down wasn't conducive to trade. The cost of labor and time would seriously cut into the minimal profits of trading this far North when there were so many more natural ports nearby. She smirked at herself. Maybe her father had been right about her being a merchants wife. 

The town wasn't very large, and before long she found herself at the entrance of the market. It was much smaller than the one in her own city. But she was delighted to be there walking through it instead of stealing glimpses while being escorted past. It was invigorating the sight of all those people milling around, haggling bumping one another...she remembered herself suddenly and carefully tucked her full little purse under the folds of her dress, recalling stories of thieves and pick pockets. With that thought she collected herself and headed to a merchant who looked like he might carry what she needed. She bought her vine leaves and a few stuffed olives that she couldn't resist and moved to be on her way. 

Before she could leave another merchant called to her and held up a beautiful necklace made with what looked like coral and aquamarine. She went over and politely admired it. 

"It's lovely sir, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate for a servant." He eyed her.

"Though I don't recognize you miss, you don't carry yourself like a servant."

"If I wasn't it would be highly irregular for me to be in a market unescorted."He gave her a look that told her he didn't believe her for a second. Perhaps he thought her a lady who was playing at being a servant to be in the market place. It wouldn't be unheard of."I assure you sir, I am what I say I am."

"Whose your master then?" he grinned at her challengingly. She cast her eyes down at his wares, hiding her expression under the guise of examining them a little more carefully. 

"The giant, sir." There was a long moment of silence before she looked up. He looked agape and she fought the blush that crept up her throat. His look turned from surprise to wariness.

"I didn't know he kept another servant, just that dark looking fellow."She cleared her throat and fiddled with one of the bracelet's. 

"Demitri."

"Whats that?"

"His name's Demitri....the servant."

"I see." His expression darkened even more. She let out a little sigh and looked him in the eye squaring herself.

"I was part of the last sacrifice."His expression changed again, and he blinked at her while taking a step back. If it was possible she felt even more uncomfortable under his gaze. She hoped it hadn't gotten out what the sacrifice had been for. "This is very nice." She said holding up the amber bracelet she'd been toying with. "How much is it?" He still looked stunned, but answered quickly, automatically. 

"Half silver." He was a professional after all. She nodded and slid the appropriate amount over the counter and tucked the bracelet into her purse, deciding not to bother haggling. 

"Thank you," she replied smartly. He nodded back at her and she turned to leave. Her movement must have snapped him out of his shock as he called to her.

"Miss, wait." She paused and looked back."You're the one who stayed for the others?" Well that much had gotten out at least. It made sense, as an explanation was needed when this own towns offering had suddenly come home the very next day.

"Yes." She waited for a response, but received only a nod. She nodded back and adjusted her basket. She kept her head straight and avoided looking back, but she couldn't fail to see the merchant speaking to his neighbor and pointing her out as she turned a corner to leave the market square. 

She was careful to keep her eyes to herself and her head pointed forward as she made her way back to the cart road, so it wasn't until she felt a hand on her shoulder that she noticed Alexia approaching her. She turned in surprise toward the hand and recognized the face in front of her with a start.

"It is you!" the pretty girl breathed with wonder. She was clearly one of the very wealthy of the region as she wore a rich red and gold dress with golden stitching. They had all been wearing simple white robes the day of the sacrifice, so it had been difficult to see who was the most affluent. 

"Alexia." She replied with a pleasant smile. "I'm glad to see you well."

"Yes. And you." She stopped and frowned. "You are...well?"Calliope smiled softly.

"Yes. I'm fine thank you."

"Are...are you still..." She trailed off unable to will herself to speak of their unusual circumstances.

"Yes."

"I see." She look down at her hands and they both just stood there a while. There were two more women with her, one was older and the other about the same age and clearly a servant. Calliope smiled politely at them. Alexia noticed and introduced the older woman as her mother, and realized she didn't know Calliope's name.

"Calliope" she offered and bowed slightly. The woman wasn't quite elderly, but the years had begun to diminish her so that she stood shoulder height with the two younger woman. She more than made up for her height with her presence however."Alexia tells me you convinced the monster to let the others go. I'm curious as to how this was accomplished. The elders were concerned they would have to send the women back, that there was some sort of trickery." Calliope did not miss the accusation in her voice, but remained placid and bowed again slightly.

"I assure you, there will be no repercussions. He merely agreed that he would not need so many...servants. I convinced him that one might suffice. It was not difficult, considering everyone was quite upset, something he finds somewhat distasteful." She arched her brow at that, but seemed more curious than suspicious. 

"And how was it you were chosen?"

"I volunteered."

She nodded. "That is what Alexia and the others said...but it seemed odd that anyone should agree to stay there alone." Calliope had nothing to say to that and merely tipped her head noncommittally."Well, at any rate I'm glad of how it turned out for our sake, and you have our family's gratitude." 

She nodded again and returned the warm smile that Alexia gave her after her mother's words. Calliope bowed again. "I should probably be going, I'm expected..."They both bowed and nodded conciliatory.

"Of course...and if you should need anything.." Alexia added with a blush.

"Thank you, you're very kind. Good day to you both."She took her leave and continued back down the path , waiting until they were out of sight before exhaling. 

She wondered how her own family had taken the news that the other girls had been returned, but not their daughter. She sighed....probably not well.

She remembered the bracelet her sister had gave her again...which caused her to remember the one she'd just bought. She retrieved it and put it on, lifting her wrist to the sun when she away from the eyes of the towns people. The amber shone a deep golden red. It reminded her of Thelios and those strange gleaming eyes. A shiver ran through her and her mind wandered to what he might be up to...and if there were any nymphs involved. She started to feel irritated and angry, but stopped herself and chided herself for her ridiculousness. What should she care? She was just a slave. She should be happy, no... ecstatic, that things turned out as well as they did. She was treated well, given food and fine clothes, and had pleasant company. That was more than many had. 

She entered the caverns again reminding herself that the first time she'd done so she'd been expecting death. This time she was merely looking for lunch. If that wasn't an improvement in circumstances, she couldn't think of anything that was. She tended the sheep for a few hours, collecting them from where ever they'd wandered while she was gone and went inside to clean up. 

Demitri came in to find her in the kitchen arranging little green bundles in a pot."So that's what you wanted vine leaves for." He muttered over her shoulder.

"Do you like dolmades?" He shrugged as an answer. "Well good, more for me then. They're my favorite." She smiled and wiggled one in the air. "These were my last meal you know. My mother made them for me my last night at home. Hers are better than mine of course...but beggars can't be choosers." She put the last few in and poured water over top and slid the pot back over the oven. She was wiping her hands on a rag and turned to find Demitri giving her an odd look."Are you alright?" she asked frowning at him.

"Yes. Are you?"

"Yes...why are you looking at me like that?"He shrugged again and turned away, packing up some tools he'd left out on the table. She stood and watched him silently; she worried he might be cross about something."I have the rest of the money...did you want it back?" He shook his head at the tool bag. 

"That's yours." 

She looked down thoughtfully, and noticed her bracelet. "Are you upset about the bracelet?"

He turned to look at her blinking, "what bracelet?" She held her wrist up. "Why would that bother me?" 

"I don't know...if it's the dolmades, you don't have to eat them." She offered hopefully. 

He laughed. "I'm not upset."

"Then why do you look like you are?" He sighed and paused, looking at her. "It's just...often I forget your... circumstances. You've taken it all in stride so well, it's easy to do. When you mentioned your last meal..." he shrugged, "I guess I just felt bad is all." 

Her heart softened even more towards the gruff man."It's not your fault."

"Well, not technically...but I'm partially to blame."

"How is that?"

"It was my idea." She was more curious then upset and pushed him to continue...which he did, if reluctantly.

"Well it's like this...I can avail myself of professionals when the need strikes me...but Old whats his name can't and went awful long stretches without companionship. Sooo... I told him he ought to do what the others do and get him a few women to have around. He didn't take to the idea at first...but I guess after a time it grew on him and he decided he had plenty of sheep, and more than enough gold to last him a few lifetimes, so he figured he'd ask for women."

"Clearly they misunderstood the request."

"Clearly." He cleared his throat. "So that's probably why I was looking at you funny. Just guilt getting to me is all."

She smiled at him."You know...I thought you were a bit of a prick at first, but your really very sweet." She walked over and gave him a peck on the cheek making him laugh at her again."I'm calling dibs on the tub though" she added with a grin, "I smell like sheep."

"Get used to it" he muttered morosely.



Sacrifice Ch. 04



Calliope slid slowly into the piping hot bath and eased in with a deep sigh. The hot water felt incredibly good as the heat slowly seeped into her aching body. Her body, and in particular her legs, had been well used chasing errant sheep all over the lovely, but uneven and rocky, terrain surrounding the caverns. Over the last while she'd been introduced to parts of her she didn't even know she had. She knew now because they hurt. One spot in particular, at the back of her thigh...she wished, and not for the first time over the past few days, that Thelios was back with those strong hands of his. He'd have the knots worked out in minutes and would be well on his way to...no, she was not going there. She was not going to moon over Mr. Nymphs-are-cold-fish.

She rubbed her leg absently and closed her eyes, forcing out thoughts of large, strong hands and replacing it with recollections her previous encounters in town. Bumping into Alexia had been awkward but not intolerable, and even if she did get strange or dirty looks the next time she went out, she wouldn't find it all that intolerable either. She was quite capable of rising above her discomfort, and as much as she'd grown to like both Demitri and Thelios, and enjoyed their company, it was nice to be in the world again even as an odd sort of outcast. 

That thought naturally turned her mind to Thelios again. It must be lonely to be feared all the time, unable to find companionship. It was no wonder he resorted to sacrificing women. Or rather having them sacrificed to him. And she was that sacrifice. 

She sighed and sunk into the tub, submerging her head and enjoying the buzzing silence as long as she could before emerging and pulling strands of hair from her eyes. When was he coming home? She wondered and absently soaped herself, lathering her hair and staring blankly at the water as she let her mind wander through her thoughts of her new master, or rather only master. 

She'd never imagined a life like this, as a servant to an infamous monster. Who would? Being a wife perhaps, like all the other women in her family, all her friends. A merchants wife as her father had suspected, keeping books for her husband and tending his business in his absence. Then again what did she do here that a wife wouldn't? Even in the wealthiest homes a wife is expected to at least organize or oversee the cooking and cleaning, even if she didn't do it with her own hands. Though her own marriage, like her eldest sister's, would have no doubt seen her doing quite a bit of it herself. And of course there would be the 'other' responsibilities of a wife, which she was forced to admit were quite a bit more pleasant than she'd ever suspected, or even fantasized. She was aware that it was often painful, especially in the beginning. She had been prepared for that. 

It was rather. Pleasurable that is. Sometimes painful, yes...usually a touch of both. She flushed deeper.

And he was not a delicate lover by any stretch of the imagination. By no means cruel or selfish, but not particularly gentle either. She imagined this was the norm, she'd been made to understand that there was sometimes pain involved, and that could only be intensified by the fact that he was significantly larger and stronger than most men. 

In his own way, she considered, he was probably handling her carefully, even if he did leave her a little bruised and raw from time to time. Though she rarely noticed that until the next morning. And, of course, that ache was very different and Much preferred to the one she currently felt. There was something oddly satisfying about that particular kind of 'morning after' ache and it left her with a buzzing tingle from her top of her head to the tips of her toes.

Her lips twitched. She had no one to compare notes with, so she couldn't say if she was normal or if perhaps she had a higher pain tolerance than some women. The truth was she did find that the mild pain of it often accentuated and sharpened the pleasure of the act. It usually just resolved itself into one undifferentiated mass of overwhelming sensation by the end anyway. So with this, she could only be satisfied. To say the least. She shifted her thighs as an involuntary twinge accompanied that thought.

"I thought we agreed not to go there?" She muttered to herself. Her 'self' declined to answer. She gave a mental shrug and gave into her forbidden distraction knowing that it was pointless to fight the inevitable.

What else was there then to differentiate this life from the more expected sort...except for providing an heir? She paused and frowned. She'd never even considered that possibility...but then perhaps it wasn't even possible? 

Many things were possible. Hadn't he said that once? She ran her fingers over her stomach contemplatively, automatically counting back the weeks of her cycle. It had been at least a month, more even. Maybe even nearing two...but then she was notoriously erratic in that regard, so she had no reason to get worked up. Though, she'd been skipping breakfast more and more lately...but again, she'd never had a strong stomach in the morning. It could be nothing...it was probably nothing.

Either way, the thought was now there, firmly embedded in her mind. She knew it would drive her mad until she could tell for sure. 

'What would that be like? Should she be worried?' She had always assumed she'd have children some day, did it matter that they were his? She smiled faintly again. Yes, it did matter. But that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He had a commanding presence, yes, but also a calm demeanor to complement it, as he was neither rash in his judgments nor, in her experience, quick to anger. He was easy in his manners, but still firm in his convictions. She nodded, mentally checking off what she felt to be necessary prerequisites for respectability, and confirming to herself her decision that he would make a fine father. 

Eminently suitable. But, she frowned, would he be content with it? Wasn't there something women take to prevent pregnancy? She'd heard of such things...had he been expecting her to be using something like that? Some kind of poultice or concoction? She hoped not, otherwise they'd both be in for a nasty shock if it turned out she could become pregnant and he wasn't expecting or wanting it. 

She grunted with disgust and pushed the troubling thoughts out of her mind. This was just the sort of thing she had been avoiding thinking about. There was no use getting all worked up over nothing or over that which was too late to change. It was illogical.

She dunked herself again and shook the suds out of her hair with her fingers, hoping her thoughts would join them. She popped out again and stood up slowly pushing the damp, lanky strands behind her ears. 

She rubbed the water from her face with her palms, blinked opened her eyes, and gasped.

"Hello little girl. Miss me?"

She usually gave him an arched look when he called her that-- 'little girl' indeed-- but she couldn't help but grin this time. He looked so unabashedly arrogant, leaning up against the wall with his arms crossed over his massive chest, giving her that smile that said her missing him was obviously a forgone conclusion. 

"When did you come in?"

"When you were soaping up." He smirked at her surprised look.

"I didn't hear you."

"Not surprising, you looked deep in thought. What were you thinking about?"

She crossed her arms and blushed, shrugging."Not much. Everything."

"Well which is it?" He left the wall and sauntered towards her crouching at the edge of the tub across from her, not waiting for an answer. He beckoned her forward and she waded over, pausing in front of him. She wanted to reach for him, to close the distance between them and satisfy her sudden and overwhelming need to touch him, an urge she'd never quite purged...though if she admitted it, she had never really tried all that hard. She resisted this time however, not wanting to appear too eager. After all, the nymphs and their charms were by no means forgotten. They both stood there for a moment looking at one another. He was smiling down at her and she returned his smile. 

He moved first and wrapped his arms around her, hauling her out of the bath and up against his chest. He lifted her off her feet easily, no feat really, considering his great strength. She squealed embarrassingly as she dripped all over him. It only made him chuckle. She was about to order him to put her down but he cut her off with a long hard kiss. 

He broke the kiss just as abruptly as he started it and growled hotly in her ear while sliding one massive hand under her bottom and running the other up her back.

"I think I've been spoiled by you."She wrapped her legs around his waist since he didn't look like he was going to let her down anytime soon.

"What did I do?" she asked softly nuzzling his jaw with her mouth. His skin was salty where the tip of her tongue flicked out to taste him. He tasted of the sea. More so than usual. She had found out rather early that she quite enjoyed the taste of him. And the smell. 

He rumbled with pleasure, a sexy sound that sent shivers of anticipation through her. It still surprised her how quickly he reduced her to a weak kneed state of trembling desire. She seemed especially affected right now. Perhaps she had missed him after all. 

"Well I'd gotten used to having you whenever I wanted you."

"What about your little nymphs?"He chuckled, no doubt at her sardonic tone and tightened his arms, squeezing her to him.

"Looks like you spoiled me there to...so now I'm feeling a little pent up." He lifted her and nuzzled her neck in return with a low growl. "What do you plan on doing about it?"

She felt an incredible thrill and wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed her body against his, grinding her hips suggestively. He wanted her, and what's more he waited for her. She could feel her stomach flip flop disconcertingly at the thought and she couldn't keep her voice from catching when she answered.

"Why don't you put me down and find out."He smirked and lowered her to her feet. She blushed and smirked back sliding her palms down his thick neck and over his broad, hard chest. She glanced up into his golden eyes and caught her breath. His flesh was cool as always, but his eyes were the fire of the sun itself, like smoldering embers flecked with shards of molten gold. His hands on her waist held her but lightly, yet she felt pinned to the spot.

His smirk faded and they stood there, for how long she couldn't say, but the intensity of his gaze was too much to bear and she looked away with a blush, something she hadn't found herself doing for quite some time. He caught her chin and drew her eyes back to his and smiled gently. 

"What's wrong?"

She blinked. "Nothing," she rasped out, remembering herself suddenly and letting her hands drift lower until her fingers found and followed the edge of his wrap. She removed it deftly with now practiced fingers, and found his arousal, wrapping one hand around his thickness and dancing the finger tips of the other lightly over the already swollen head. She carefully set her eyes at his curved lips so as not to lose her nerve. Those lips parted in a low sigh as her hands moved automatically along his rigid shaft, finding the sensitive places she knew he liked best, along the underside and that spot beneath the ridge of the helm. He groaned. She smiled and her eyes traveled to the exposed points of his canines as she ran her tongue along her own teeth. She lifted her slightly parted lips to his and he met her part way opening her mouth more completely with his tongue.

She marveled, as she always did at how smooth and hot he felt in her hands as they caressed him, it contrasted the cool rough hands that wrapped tightly around her waist and pressed her hips to his. 

He made love to her mouth slowly and thoroughly before capturing her hands and sliding them back up to his shoulders. Her body followed his lead and she hitched a leg up his thigh and wrapped her legs around him as he lifted her to him once more, having clearly changed his mind about putting her down and letting her show him how much she missed him. Calliope didn't mind, she was already anxious to feel him inside her and she couldn't help but let out little excited mewls of eager anticipation as that excitement built until she could no longer control it. His mouth captured the sounds with a groan and she tugged his lower lip with her teeth and ground against him in response. 

He had taken her like this before, lifting her body and impaling her on his engorged cock while she clung to him as he stood braced and powerful. Usually it was in response to some pressing, immediate desire which demanded instant attention and that couldn't be postponed for even the few moments it would take to reach the nearest bench, and which usually meant he was going to take her hard and fast as a result. The memory made her squirm against him more fitfully with the usual contradiction of apprehensive eagerness. But, unlike the last time, or in fact anytime before, he didn't respond with his usual rough passion, but continued to mate his tongue with hers and pressing her tightly to him so that she could feel the heavy pounding of his heart in her own chest. 

He cupped her and held her groin against his so that she could feel his hardness against the soft folds of her womanhood and slid the length of himself along her rapidly dampening slit making her mewls metamorphose into low moans. He turned slowly backing her up against the cool wall and lifted her so that the smooth head of his cock teased at her entrance. He paused there and caressed her breasts lightly, crouching over her to take one in his mouth. 

He suckled, pulling nearly half of it into his mouth, his teeth grazing the smooth, globe of flesh as he tugged with long easy motions while his free hand still played over the other with light, teasing caresses. Her own hands merely gripped his his neck and shoulders, her fingers digging into his skin as she waited for the voracious attack that never came. 

She gazed down at him with half glazed eyes, wondering at his deliberate gentleness, at the strange, almost tender, caress of his touch. A surge of intense feeling...affection, threatened to overwhelm her. She tensed and clutched him even more tightly with her hands and thighs, swallowing the sensation, but found that even when she had her hands still trembled as she released her grip and returned his gentle touch with her own light fingers, running them along the tendons of his neck from the base of his skull to his muscular back. 

Calliope smoothed her palms along the broad span down as far as she could reach and closed her eyes dreamily as his mouth released her and his rough tongue flicked the stiff tips of her breasts. 

He rose finally from his ministrations to recapture her mouth with the same unhurried thoroughness as before. This time, instead of more heady caressing, he lifted her again and let the thick head poised between her thighs part the now slick folds of her sex. Her hips shifted automatically, angling to take him inside of her. He responded in kind and bucked upward, forcing himself up even as she dug her heels into his back to leverage herself against him. She gasped against his mouth as they managed to filled her completely in one swift and eager movement. 

He'd only been gone about a week, yet it felt like an eternity since she'd felt him inside of her like this. The sensation was incredible. The slow lingering stretch as he buried himself inside her set every nerve on fire and she could feel her body throbbing around its invader and gasped her pleasure, tearing her mouth from his and burying her face against his neck.

God it feels so good, she thought as he began to withdraw. He groaned into her hair.

"Yes it does." He agreed thickly. 

Had she said that out loud? She moaned his name as he pulled his cock from her body entirely with a popping sensation before pushing inside her once more. She tried to arc her hips to meet him, to impale herself, desperate to feel him, but he kept her pinned easily to the wall with his body. He continued his slow assault, entering her completely before withdrawing all but the head, torturing her with his excruciating patience.

"Damn it, Thelios, I don't think I can take much more of this" she gasped into his ear. He chuckled back, but it was a broken sound. He too was nearing the end of his restraint. 

"I love when you pant my name like that." He murmurer with a low grunt as he bottomed out inside of her, pressing his cock head against her deepest walls and grinding into her. She could only dig in her nails at the excruciating pleasure-pain his slow grind caused, and made various incoherent sounds as she twisted her hips against him, trying and failing to get him to move.

"Easy pet...I wanted to enjoy you. Don't want it to be over too soon, do you?" She pulled her face from the crook of his neck and looked up into his eyes. The strange mixture of amusement, affection and desire she saw there made her heart skip and her chest ache. She threw her mouth and body against his, and felt him take a step back in surprise, but he still managed to hold her steady in his arms. 

He moved from the wall, his cock sliding from her body and walked them through the open door of his room, his mouth never leaving hers. Not that she was giving him much of a chance. Some nagging corner of her mind was aware of the display she was making of herself, and embarrassed by her emotional, and yes...even needy, response as she pressed kiss after kiss to his mouth, and face, and jaw and neck...but it was a tiny corner, and easily overwhelmed by the sudden urgency of her desire.

He lay her down on their bed of skins and followed quickly, covering her body with his and dragging his mouth away from hers and down her body. She closed her eyes again, relishing every kiss, every caress, and every press of cool flesh against hers. Her thighs clutched at the leg pressed between them and her fingers dug into the muscles of his shoulders. True to his word he continued with his careful and deliberate attentions. She could do little but give in and lose herself in his touch, which was by no means a difficult thing as her uncontrollable moans and whimpers testified. 

His mouth finally found her heat and within seconds her hips were bucking madly against him. When his tongue was joined by his hands and he parted her once more with his thick fingers, her body clenched down around him and throbbed in sudden release. He curled his fingers inside of her and stroked her silky heat as she continued to twist and grind her hips like some desperate and half wild thing. 

She writhed agonized against him, begging him, though for what was unclear to either of them as her heels were digging into his back, pulling him closer, even as her hands pushed against his shoulders as if trying to roll him away. Slowly he withdrew from her, watching her shudder beneath him with obvious relief. 

He leaned back up over her, squaring his huge hands over her shoulders and dragging his mouth over hers. She caught her taste on his lips, and flicked out her tongue to capture the tangy flavor. The erotic scent made her moan low in her throat, a moan that elicited a deep rumbling sound from the massive body above her. 

Her moan was followed by a gasp as he thrust into her, this time with the deliberate insistence she was accustomed to. He entered her easily and filled her quickly. She was jolted by the sudden thrust but wrapped herself around him immediately, threading her arms and legs about his torso, clinging to him as he drove into her again and again. 

Her body broke quickly around his and in her sudden passion the emotions that had threatened her earlier reared up and overwhelmed her. She choked back a sobbing cry and clung even tighter, hiding her welling tears against his chest. She felt his muscles tightened under her fingers and was pushed into one last orgasm which left her weak and trembling. She released him, unable to find the strength to hold on, and went limp as he pumped his seed into her with an animalistic growl. 




Sacrifice Ch. 04



He held himself over her with his elbows to keep from crushing her and she could hear him panting harshly in the wake of his release. She glanced up at his face to find his eyes still closed. 

She breathed a sigh a relief and turned her face away to wipe at an errant tear before he saw it. But it wasn't her hand that wiped it away. She looked up at him to find him frowning back. 

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" His voice was rough, still horse with passion and exertion.

Calliope turned away and expelled a harsh breath, running the back of her hand against her eyes before swallowing hard and turning back to face him. He was still frowning...and for some reason, the combination of that frown, the tightness in her chest, the throbbing of her sex, and the feel of their slick bodies still pressed together even as his even slicker cock slowly softened and slid wetly from her as he pulled away...well it all seemed so strange and overwhelming to her just then that ...she laughed. 

Not hard or loudly, just a soft, gasping chuckle. His frown of concern turned to one of confusion, which didn't help the bout of mirth, and she wiped the dampness from her eyes and took his face in her hands with a shaky smile.

"Woman, you've gone mad." He rumbled softly.

Still laughing she nodded and pulled his face down to hers to plant a soft kiss on his parted lips. "Yes...it would seem that I have," she murmured back. She sighed and shook her head with a pained expression. "I don't know what came over me, I'm fine...I just..." She huffed out a sigh. What was wrong with her?

His expression cleared and he gave her a little smile of his own. "Are you going to get in a tizzy again and try to run off like the last time?" His smile twisted a little into a smirk.

She pushed at his shoulders lightly and smirked back when he didn't budge in the slightest. "Doesn't look like I'll be able to. A vicious, fanged beast seems to be blocking my path."

He sighed theatrically. The sight made her laugh in earnest. It was such an absurd thing, this huge, horned, and yes, fanged giant engaging in melodrama...and with her laughing watery eyed beneath him...completely absurd. Even without the sweating, sticky, and thoroughly sated bodies thrown into the mix.

"I suppose I'm stuck with an annoying, teary wench all over again." His eyes rolled heaven ward as if praying for deliverance. "The gods give me strength." He muttered. She slapped his chest, still laughing lowly. 

"Get off me you brute." 

He laughed heartily and complied, rolling onto his back. She rose with a groan and was about to pull herself to her feet to clean herself up when his arm caught her about the waist and pulled her down on top of him. She wriggled to get free, but it was useless. There was no escaping that grip. Even one of his arms was enough to encase her waist and keep her pinned. She poked at the thick bicep which pressed against her ribs. Instead of giving, it flexed and crushed her tighter against him. 

She scrunched her nose and pursed her lips at him in annoyance until his other hand came up and chucked her chin, and he slid the pad of his thumb over her lower lip. She softened against him and gave in with a sigh, propping herself up on his chest with one arm and adjusted so that she was leaning against him instead of sprawled across in every which way. 

"You're fine then, truly?" He wasn't frowning but his expression was serious. She nodded and leaned froward to kiss him lightly. 

"Yes. I'm fine. Really. I just....I don't know." She shrugged embarrassed, but the arm around her waist kept her from turning or pulling away. "I guess I just got a little...emotional...or something" she added lamely. She hadn't meant to say that, but the way he was looking at her..well it just came out on its own. It felt strange saying that...but it felt like the truth as well, and an uncomfortable truth at that. She flushed and chuckled nervously. "I guess I'm just a little mad, as you said." He stared at her with those intense fiery eyes and her stomach clenched as the silent seconds started to drag on.

To her relief his lips finally twitched into a smile. "Just my luck. Twenty girls to choose from and I get stuck with the crazy one," he drawled, tightening his grip and pulling her a little closer.

She arched a brow at him, pleased that they had moved away from awkward admissions and back into the much safer and familiar realm of teasing one another. "Well Sir, you know what they say..."

"Hmmm...what is it they say?"

She closed a little more of the gap, until her she could feel his breath against her lips and fought to control her own twitching smirk. "If the dress fits..."

He laughed and his arm flexed around her again, squeezing briefly. He threaded a hand in her hair and tilted her face up to his so that he could see her eyes. He grinned and his eyes darkened, sending a shiver up her spine. "If the dress fits?" His brow arched suggestively and the shiver coalesced somewhere in the pit of her stomach and spread out into the rest of her in an all out shudder. 

"Wear it?" She had meant it to be taunting and flippant, but her words came out as a tremulous whisper instead. 

He let out that low purring growl which never failed to tie her stomach in knots and his fingers tightened in her hair, tilting her head back so that the length of her neck was exposed to the heat of his mouth.

"What a novel idea," he rumbled in a low tone against the base of her throat, "I think I shall." He released her hair only to pull her across his body and onto the skins beside him.

She managed to get out a broken "O-oh" of surprise and nothing more before finding herself on her back with her wrists over her head wrapped in one massive fist and the rest of her trapped under his equally massive body. His semi-hard cock rubbed against her thigh as he reached down and hitched her leg up against his hip, forcing her open beneath him. She managed another inarticulate stutter and glanced down between their bodies.

He leaned in and brushed the edge of her ear with his lips. "What's wrong? Afraid I'll wear it out?" Though he taunted her, his voice was hardly more than a deep growl. She wanted to respond with something clever, but she got stuck on "oh god" as he hooked her thigh over his forearm and thrust back inside of her swollen but still receptive channel. He paused, buried oh so deeply in her quivering, sensitive flesh, and leaned in again and pressed his mouth to her ear. 

"I don't think we can...but it gives us something to aim for, doesn't it?" 

He chuckled, but the soft sound was soon lost beneath her breathy cries. 

@@

"I have to go back again."

Calliope started, and looked up from her washing. Thelios was standing in the door way, filling it with his impressive bulk. She frowned at him.

"Go back?" He nodded. "So soon? But...you just got home?" She let the plate in her hand slip back into the tub of water and turned to face him as she dried her hands on the towel hanging from her belt. He stepped into the room with a small smile, and folded his arms across his chest, mimicking the stance she'd taken. She in turn uncrossed them self consciously and rested her hands on her hips instead, cocking her head at him as she waited for an answer. He just smiled that odd smile. "Well?" She prompted. 

His smile widened just enough for the points of his fangs to show. "I only came...home, to tell you I would have to be away for some time, and, before you ask, I'm not sure for how long." 

She was able to school her features enough to hide her reaction, but she couldn't stop the tightening in her gut and throat. "So...no idea at all?" He simply smiled at her again. She was starting to get irritated. 

"Why on earth are you smiling at me like that? This isn't funny."  

"No, it's not." He agreed, his smile dimming and falling slowly into a frown. "It's damned inconvenient is what it is, but it can't be helped for now." He huffed out a sigh. "We have three days, and at sunrise on the fourth, we leave. You and Demitri will go by boat and I'll meet you at our destination." He paused and looked her up and down thoughtfully, completely and casually ignoring her look of shock as only he could. "Dress nice." he grunted before he turned and made to leave. 

But he didn't quite make it, and paused in the door way once more and looked back over his shoulder. "And I don't mean the gold dress." He added giving her an unusually stern look, before turning away once more and denying her the opportunity to question him further. 

Calliope loosened her rag from her belt and tossed it on the edge of the wash tub, shaking her head at the grayish water. Such a strange, infuriating man. But...he was taking her with him? The corner of her mouth twitched up...then down again. What did he mean by not wanting her to bring the gold dress? It didn't matter, she wouldn't have anyway...but it was odd that he should mention it. 

She shrugged. "Mine," she murmured to the piece pottery she'd rescued from the dish water, "is not to question why." She rinsed the plate, and dried it with the raggedy towel, and slid it into place among its fellows on the shelf above her. "At least not until he's had enough wine" she amended with a small smile and flicked out her drying cloth to catch and hang from its little hook. 

She eyed the even stacks of plates and bowls along the overhead shelf critically, nodded her approval, then turned and headed to her room, considering what constituted 'dress nice' in the mind of a grey skinned giant who spent the vast majority of his day in a state of near undress. "Not the gold one, at least." Or its fellows, she surmised. 

A sudden thought occurred to her which made her freeze in the door way.

"Whose going to look after the sheep?"

@@@

The day was clear and air had a peculiar sharpness to it which encouraged the use of a light cloak. The sharpness was made all the more poignant by the brisk wind whipping up from the sea. Calliope cursed again the deceptive sun which shone so brilliantly overhead, but seemed to give precious little warmth...at least not enough to counter the native chill of the morning's air. She wrapped her cloak tighter about her shoulders and scanned the field blow the rock-studded ridge. When she finally spotted what she was looking for, a grin spread quickly over her face. 

She waved and let out a laugh when the figure waved tentatively back, the surprise on his face evident even from where she stood.

As she picked her way down the side of the ridge, sliding and skidding over the small loose stones, the young shepherd made his way toward her. His youth became evident the nearer he approached. He didn't look a day over 14 winters, and that was a generous surmise. She waved again as they came within speaking distance.

"Hello there. It was you I saw earlier, wasn't it?"

The boy blinked and nodded. His arms hung limp at his sides, one clutching a long staff. She couldn't help but notice the strength of his grip was slowly turning his knuckles white. His expression made his uncertainty more than evident as well. "Please," she continued, "don't be frightened."

He blinked. "How...how is it...why are you on the beasts land?" 

She blinked back. "Oh, yes, ah...well," she cleared her throat, "I'm one of his servants." In her haste and her eagerness to get on with her business, she had forgotten the awkwardness of her position, but now that she'd recognized it, she was determined to push past it. She straightened her shoulders and pasted a warm smile on her face. "I don't know if you noticed, but I have, on occasion, tended my lord's flock for him." she paused to allow him time to respond. He only stared.

"Well," she continued staunchly, "I'm not going to be able to for a while, and was wondering if you might consider taking them on."

His eyes widened, and she pushed forward before he could protest. "I wouldn't expect you to do it for free...or course. I could pay you. In coin, or in sheep if you prefer. I know there are several who are due to deliver...to start I would offer you any lamb which is born in your care...of either sex, and one adult for each week we're gone...would that be satisfactory? Or would you offer some other price? Either way I'm afraid my time is short, and would know your answer relatively soon." She paused and sucked in a long breath, then watched him with hopeful eyes.

It took him some time, but eventually he managed to sputter out a response. It wasn't encouraging.

"W-What?" He gasped, staring at her as if she were the one with the horns. She sighed and mentally counted to five to compose herself. It wasn't the boy's fault after all, seeing as how unsettling this must be for him.

"I had thought," she smile, "that since your land boarders ours...or the master's, rather, that you might not find it too difficult to take them on. You'd be welcome to use these graze lands for your flock as well of course while you do so." He held up a hand to stop her.

"I...yes...I mean, that's a more than a fair offer... but, ah, I..."

"I know. It's a little strange isn't it?" She chuckled. "You should try living with him." She shook her head when fear replaced confusion in his eyes. "I don't mean that it's frightening or the like...just...occasionally strange. And you wouldn't have to meet him." That seemed to ease his anxiety somewhat.

"Ah...I suppose I could." He looked at his feet with a frown and rubbed the back of his neck. He took a deep breath, looked up, and plastered on his own smile, thrusting a hand out toward her. "Eschelus, son of Caemon. Nice to meet you miss..."

She grinned and took his offered hand. "Calliope. Just Calliope."

"Like the muse? Do you sing?"

"Yes. Just like that. And no, I don't."

His smile turned lopsided and he flushed. "You hear that a lot don't you."

"You have no idea....and before you ask, my skill with the lyra is only fair to middling. Unfortunate really."

"Well...if you tend sheep you should at least be handy with the pipes, yes?"

"When sheep fly my friend."

%%%%%

Calliope returned to the cavern in one of the better moods she'd ever been in. Not only had her new acquaintance agreed to watch the flock, but even offered to teach her to sheer the little beasties when she returned. She'd learned to wash and pull and spin the yarn from her mother, essentially everything which came after the sheering, but not that vital step of actually getting the stuff off the sheep in the first place. Once she did she could create a new source of income...one that didn't involve sacrifices.

Of course she hadn't mentioned the idea to anyone yet, as she was hoping to put it to work first, to make sure it was really and truly a profitable course...but she was hopeful. Thelios didn't seem to care where his money came from, and if it meant not having to deal with people, which seemed his preference, then so much the better. Right?

Maybe. She was still cautious, and even though he treated her well and was amused by a little playful insubordination from time to time...her position was still that of a slave, and she was not anxious for that first moment where she crossed the invisible line and overstepped her bounds. 

The fact was, she liked pleasing him. It wasn't hard, and he tended to please right back. The thought of angering or disappointing him didn't sit terribly well with her, and it was not fear that drove that desire or fueled her anxiety. Not of him at any rate. The thought of him really hurting her...maliciously and intentionally was, well, unthinkable. 

Her thoughts dampened her mood slightly, but only until she saw Demitri hauling a chest into the caverns entrance and was reminded of the trip they would shortly be taking. Nerves warred with excitement as her mind began envisioning the wondrous sights she might soon see. Where were they going? Who or what would she see?

"Hey. You packed yet?" Demitri called gruffly, pulling her from her distraction.

"Ah, yes, mostly."

"Well hurry up, I want to get everything together as soon as we can. I don't intend to be tapping my toes while you scurry around looking for jewelry or shoes."

She arched a brow at him. "Demitri, do I honestly seem like the sort of woman who scurries or worries about what jewels she should wear?" She frowned as another thought followed on the heels of the last. "Can I ask you something?" He shrugged which she had learned to translate as permission. "He told me to dress nicely, but not to wear the gold dress...do you know what he might have been getting at?"

"Hell if I know." He paused though, rethinking the obviously instinctive answer. "Well...no, I don't know. Sounds like he don't want you showing off too much though. Too much skin or whatever. Makes sense. I was only half joking when I told that fellow you liked so much that he was a jealous sort. Doesn't happen often, but he can get possessive...and I imagine it'd be more so with you than with nick-knacks. So...he meant just what he said I imagine. "

She frowned. "He wouldn't be expected to ...share...would he?"

"If you're asking if he'd pass you around, I sincerely doubt it. And besides, whether they expect something or not doesn't hold too much water for him. In my experience, he could give a damn what the others want or expect of him. You'll see what I mean." He smirked. "He tends to rub them the wrong way, and I suspect he does it on purpose just for the pleasure of watching them squirm."

"Well that's not very polite."

He chuckled. "No darlin', I don't expect it is. And I'm sure he's quite fine with that."

"So. Nice clothes, no skin...should I keep to myself?"

"Probably...but it don't matter too much. I suspect that so long as you don't do anything foolish...which I know you're not inclined to anyway, then you'll be just fine. There isn't much to this really. Don't be surprised if the whole experience is a bit of a let down. Or maybe not. You might find it alright, but those people don't really do it for me, you know? One or two of the regular type servants aren't bad...but those women..."

Now her curiosity was really peaked. The infamous women...the fabled nymphs...her stomach twisted uncomfortably. "What about them?"

"Remember what you said about women being 'protectors of the status quo?'" She started, then smiled at the remembrance, then laughed.

"I can't believe you remember that."

"Yeah, well...remember my answer to it?" She flushed and chuckled.

"How could I forget."

"Well...they're pretty much just that."

She cleared her throat. "Judging..."

"--Bitches."

"Right." the twisting in her stomach settled into something like a nauseating lump and she sighed. "Sounds delightful."

@@@

The trip thus far had been uneventful. Painfully uneventful.

The first day was beautiful. The sky was clear, the seas placid, and the breeze gentle. Nothing but gleaming azure for as far as the eye could see, and it was all that could be seen once the land had become nothing but a distant gray shadow. 

The second verse was much the same as the first...and the third...and fourth...

To be fair they did come across islands, and distant shores could be spotted, but they never went close enough for them to be anything more than green-gray masses of non-sea and thus broke up the monotony in only the most nominal of ways. 

That, she admitted looking out over the rail of the small ship and down into the hypnotic swelling and falling of the undulating waters, wouldn't really be that bad if the men weren't avoiding her like she were some sort of plague carrier. She cast a glance over her shoulder to where the handful of crew were sitting and chatting while ladling out food and flat bread from a small clay oven. The few eyes that had been turned in her direction snapped immediately away, causing her to sigh and gnaw absently at the inside of her bottom lip. No one was rude, but any attempt to engage them was met with one word answers and pardons as the engagee made their escape. So she stopped trying.




Sacrifice Ch. 04



At least Demitri was there. Though, she thought, narrowing her eyes at him, it's probably his fault they avoided her. Then again, this might be better than the alternative if these men were anything like the one Demitri had originally threatened. Either way, what was done was done. No use moping too much about it.

He sat with the men, talking with the captain, but met her eye when she'd glanced back toward them a second time and beckoned her over. She steeled herself and obeyed, skirting the men to kneel by him, keeping her hands and eyes to herself. She had no desire to intrude or make anyone feel anymore uncomfortable than they already did. He nudged her arm and she met his questioning eyes as he passed her a bowl of what looked like baked fish on...something. If it was the same something as the day before, then she knew if tasted more appetizing than it looked. Still, her stomach lurched slightly. It had been doing that, but she attributed it to a mild case of sea-sickness. It wasn't as if she were used to this form of travel.

She thanked him and gave him what she knew was a self-indulgently pathetic smile...but she couldn't help herself. She was feeling a little sorry for herself. And if she was going to be really honest about it, she thought as she rose and left the group to sit apart, her increasing anxiety wasn't entirely related to the ship and its crew. It was more closely linked to where they were going and their increasing proximity to that place...whatever that place may be. The fact that she had no idea where they were headed, or what to expect, wasn't not helping matters much either. 

What little she'd gotten out of Demitri was not encouraging...and as usual, nothing at all could be gotten out of Thelios. Slowly the excitement and the eagerness the trip had bred, was leeching out and being replaced. First by the fleeting doubts: had she brought the right clothes? Should she be silent and keep out of the way...or behave as a proper servant would and oversee her own masters comfort. Her intentions were the later...but she was almost more inclined to the former...particularly if her reception from the other servants looked anything like this one. 

Thus far in her new role as Thelios's servant, she'd managed to translate most of what she had learned in preparation for marriage quite easily, especially considering no one involved was all that particular about what she did or didn't do. But this was another ball of wax entirely. This was different...wasn't it? There would be others like him, and their servants...and women. 

She glared at her untouched fish. And then, there was that. What she expected in that regard she didn't know, but it was by far the one aspect of this whole 'adventure' which obviously caused her apprehension to ratchet itself up to pure dread. At least until she could talk herself back down into a more rational state. Usually with a healthy dose of logic and an even healthier dose denial. When in doubt, pretend the issue didn't exist. Pretend there wasn't a nest full of beautiful vipers against whom she would have to stand and be judged...and invariably be found wanting.

Her stomach sloshed and she swallowed hard to keep any of its contents from climbing her throat. Her fingers found her belly, rubbing to sooth the discomfort. It did little to help, and only served to remind her of that other issue she had been trying valiantly to ignore. 

It had officially been more than two months. Two months and counting. Her belly was still as flat as it had ever been, with just that slight, gentle slope...but for how long? She wanted to deny it...but she couldn't. The more she considered it, the more she knew. She just knew. But what to do about it, that she didn't know. 

It was one thing to consider the possibility, but to face the reality was something totally different. She had heard of slaves who'd accidentally become pregnant. Some were allowed to keep them and they inherited their mothers slavery, but there were other, darker stories as well. About how they were hidden away and the child taken from them and who knows what done with it. Sold perhaps...or worse. Or how the women were cast out, or given away to another if the wife had been embarrassed. 

Her eyes stung and she inhaled sharply to keep herself in check. She shouldn't think those things. Thelios had no wife to be vindictive, and he couldn't be so cruel as to...No. She sucked in a deep breath and banished the thoughts. Pushing everything from her mind. She had to be rational. She merely had to discover his stance on that matter, and once that was known, she could then work out how she would deal with the situation. She would deal with it Then, not angst about it Now. Now she would focus on her duties...once she figured out what those were supposed to be.

A footfall beside her startled her from her thoughts, causing her head to jerk toward the shadow which fell over her and in the process sent a nasty jolt up her neck. She winced up at Demitri plaintively. He chuckled. "Scare ya?"

She made a noncommittal sound and went back to moving her fish around the bowl. He took it as an invitation and made himself comfortable on a crate next to her. They sat in a mostly comfortable silence until she broke it by setting her bowl before her and looking up at Demitri with a frown.

"Demitri?"

"Yes luv?"

"What am I expected to do when we get there?"

"Do?"

"Yes, do. My duties."

He shrugged carelessly. "I don't know. I rarely follow him to these places myself."

"Fat lot of help you are." She groused, glaring at her bowl. That only made him chuckle and she was hardly in the mood. "Well," she started again with a sigh, "what do You do?"

He shrugged again. "Not much. Mostly keep to myself, sometimes talk to people and keep my ear out for interesting news."

"What about the master? You don't do anything for him?"

"Sure, I guess. If he needs me too."

"Of for the love of—honestly Demitri, why do I always feel like I'm pulling teeth with you two. What?! What do you do?" She realized her voice had raised somewhat and that a few of the men were casting weary glances in her direction. Demitri had a bemused look on his own. She shrunk slightly and tried not to pout.

"What in Hades has your goat, eh? Red tide or something?"

She parted then shut her lips, suspecting that if she didn't she'd likely shrill at him like an overwrought harpy. So she glared at him instead, fighting the flush which was creeping across her collar. Eventually she managed to swallow most of her irritation and squeezed out a few words. 

"No. Nothing has my goat, I merely wish to know what will be expected of me when we arrive so that I can be prepared." She gritted out tightly, counting slowly back from 10 as she waited for the inevitably vague response.

He frowned back at her then slid down off the crate to face her on the deck, leaning in to close the conversation to the others. "Seriously woman...what's wrong. You've been jumpy for a couple days now, is it the sea? You getting sick?"

"Nothing!" She snapped, then closed her eyes with an internal reprimand. He was only being concerned, she needed to calm down. "I'm sorry...nothing," she repeated softly, "I'm just a little anxious about this trip and what's expected of me. If I knew more about what to expect, I would be more comfortable." He looked at her a moment, then nodded.

"Well, Ok. Look, I honestly don't know what he's expecting, but I doubt it's much."

She cocked a brow at that. "I hope that's not a comment on my abilities." She murmured dryly.

He grinned again. "Hardly. You know what I mean. He doesn't need much attention, and he ain't fussy like some other masters might be, so I wouldn't worry about it. Way I see it, he's taking you, not someone else, so just...be you...and quit your damned fretting."

"Be me? That's you brilliant advice?"

"Don't know what to say girl. If you can't manage that, you've got bigger issues to worry about."

She rolled her eyes, but sighed in defeat just the same. "I know what you're saying Demitri, but I guess I also know it's not going to be like it is at home. There it's just the three of us, and here there will be so very many others to deal with. Most households have strict hierarchies and I don't want to mistake my position in front of these people. It would be embarrassing for me, and worse yet, I might embarrass Th-our master." She bit her lip at the near slip. It had been re-emphasized to her by Thelios that she wasn't to use his name, lest it be overheard. She rarely used it as it was...and when she did it was when they were alone together. But occasionally it threatened to slip out...as it had just had.

He nodded in return, not acknowledging the slip if he had noticed it. "I catch your meaning as well. But I haven't an answer for you other than that you're best to stick with what you're used to. You were a lady, weren't you? Fine born and all that?" He asked, suddenly, it seemed to her, shifting topics. She nodded uncertainly.

"I was born into a wealthy family whose name was of some repute, yes."

"Don't get all stuffy on me now." She smiled despite herself. "Any rate, you were born a lady, and from what I've seen you're more or less lady of the house...or cave rather, with us, and that seems to suit everyone just fine. You do what needs doing without being told or asked, and are apparently quite happy to get bossy with us when you think its proper, and you don't hear us complaining 'bout that...tempting as it sometimes is." He grinned lopsided at her before continuing. "So stick with that. Don't go getting all shy and strange just because we're moving venues for a stint."

She frowned at his words. "Isn't that presumptuous of me though? I had no idea I was behaving so inappropriately. I...I just don't know how a slave is suppose to behave."

"So what? And so what if is it presumptuous? Presume away. It's worked for you so far."

She laughed. "I am, as always, awed by your feats of logic. But, the problem I'd like to point out with your suggestion is that no one else but you two nere-do-wells would let me get away with the liberties I've taken...and no one would take me seriously in the role if I tried."

"Says who? 

"I just know."

"Well you're right then. They won't if you don't go in believing it yourself. They have no reason to think otherwise so long as you don't make them."

"Fake it until you are it?" She offered with a smirk.

"Who said anything about faking it?" 

She sobered and watched his face for the joke...but he remained serious. "We both know I'm just a slave Demitri." She offered softly after a brief and unproductive stare off.

"Are you?" 

She pursed her lips, not sure what he was trying to get at. "Yes...aren't I?" He smirked at the sudden hesitation in her voice, and she narrowed her eyes at him in response. 

"If you say so." He shrugged and leaned back against the crate, resting his hands behind his head, and very deftly ignoring her steady glare buy turning his face to the sky and closing his eyes.

"You, sir, are impossible."

"You know it occurs to me," he began lightly, "that you're the one fixated on names and labels...'I'm just the help' sounds a little like an excuse to me."

"For what?" she challenged.

"You tell me."

"I swear to the gods and all that's divine, I am going to throttle you in two seconds Demitri."

He laughed out loud. "Well at least you're sounding a little more like yourself again." He cracked an eye and nodded to her food. "You should eat something, if you don't you might insult the cook."

She followed his gaze and crinkled her nose. "I'm not feeling all that well."

"Sea sick?"

She made an uninterpretable sound...even to her own ears, and Demitri looked more carefully at her. "Other kind of sick?"

She shrugged. "Probably just the sea."

"You don't sound convinced."

She sighed and looked away, poking once more at her fish. "Does it matter?"

"Could. If it'll make anyone else sick."

She rolled her eyes. Maybe they did think she was the plague after all. "Trust me," she murmured sardonically, "you're all very safe." She looked up to find him looking back at her...hard.

"What?" She was suddenly nervous and shifted under the gaze which had turned so piercing. 

"You're pregnant." The words came out as a low statement, and his gaze never wavered.

She gaped. "H-What?"

"You heard me."

"I-"

"Does he know?" 

For a moment she considered denying it...as she'd been doing all along to herself, but the look in his eye told her it was a moot point. The cat was well out of the proverbial bag. "I-I haven't told him...I wasn't sure..."

"But you are now?"

"Not completely."

"But mostly?"

She nodded begrudgingly, feeling her eyes prickle slightly. "Please...please don't tell him yet."

His expression softened. "Wouldn't dream of it. That's your prerogative. Just...don't wait too long." All Calliope could do was nod and swallow hard turning her face to her lap to hide her emotions. 

"How did you know?"

"Didn't. It was just a guess. But you didn't deny it. Does explain a lot though. I thought for sure you were on your cycle or something." He smirked.

"I hate you sometimes."

%%%%%

On the fifth day, they finally got somewhere. Literally speaking at least. In her thoughts Calliope wasn't any further along in figuring out her dilemma than she'd been days before. And perhaps there wasn't a dilemma, and she was making more of everything than she need be. Perhaps. Or perhaps not. 

All she could do was steel herself and hope for the best. Which she did. That, and help unload what little they'd brought with them... which she also did. 

There was no proper dock so they were loaded into a smaller oared craft which had approached them from the small island they were anchored near. From what she could see there was nothing of interest to anyone there. There was a sort of mountainous rise at the center which might have been obscuring something else...but she doubted it. Indeed, as they neared the shore, all she could see was a long stretch of sandy beach as it blended slowly into the short ash-green grass and low brush which covered the reddish brown stone of the island. Beyond that the land rose to its central peak from a ring of low growing trees. There was not even the faintest sign of anything else. 

They hit land with a dull thud and the two men who'd fetched them and piloted the small craft hopped out to drag the boat the last few feet. Fortunately there wasn't far to go. Demitri jumped down as well to help the men unload their meager belongings. One of the two paused and held out a hand to her which she took with a grateful smile. It was the first time anyone besides Demitri had unflinchingly offered to touch her in anyway. 

"Thank you."

He smiled, then went back to help Demitri with a chest he was struggling with. The second man, who had appeared suddenly beside her, waved to something in the distance, and she realized with widening eyes, that there were people walking toward them. The one nearest them seemed quite a bit taller than the others...and wider...and gray. Her face split into an instant smile at the realization and she had to clench her hands into fists to keep herself from making a scene by running off toward them, or waving frantically. She was a lady after all. That thought, and the reminder of her previous conversation with Demitri sobered her somewhat...though not enough to fully still the flitting of butterflies in her stomach. 

The figure continued to move towards them, outpacing those that followed with his long, measured strides. In no time he was before them, and she found all she could do was stare up at him. He looked taller than normal...he was taller than normal. She wondered why. He nodded down at her, taking her in with a raised brow as he passed her to approach Demitri.

"Any problems?" He graveled, casting a sharp eye over the unloaded chests and toward the ship in the near distance.

"Nope."

"Good." He slid another glance in her direction, holding her eye a moment before training them the men who had followed him. He pointed to the chests with a curt nod and crossed his arms over his chest as he watched them obey his silent command. The butterflies turned into something more like serpents and her insides roiled with uncertainty. She couldn't remember ever seeing him quite like this. Not only was he larger, perhaps ten feet...maybe more...his manner was gruff and commanding. It wasn't that he was impatient or angry...just...different, harder.

Normally he was so relaxed and good humored. This was clearly a side she had not seen, and it frightened her a little as it compounded her anxieties by reminding her that this wasn't at all what she was used to at home and dashing her hopes that perhaps Demitri had been right that she was fretting for nothing. For once she was disappointed to be proven right. 

Unsure of what was expected, she took her cues from her master and stood still and sober, attempting to mimic his seemingly icy detachment as the men took their belongings and started out back from whence they'd come. Thelios followed and she and Demitri with him. 

"Been here long?" Demitri asked after a few minutes of silence and once they'd made their way to the entrance of a partially hidden path into the bright woods. 

"No. I just arrived. Haven't even gone in yet."

Calliope frowned. "I thought you'd have made it long before us." The comment slipped out before she could stop it, but he didn't seem bothered by it. Only nodding.

"Yes, I would have, but I had other things to see to first." He was still looking ahead down the path, but she could see his eyes narrow and his lip curl ever so slightly. Perhaps whatever this business was, it was what had put him in this less than chipper mood. She hoped it was so, and not some dread of what lay ahead...or worse, some unknown annoyance with her. She frowned and glanced down at her dress. It was elegant in a simple, and slightly conservative way. Was it what he had wanted? She glanced back up toward his face and smirked inwardly at her foolishness. The last thing on his mind was going to be how she was dressed. Indeed, he looked miles away, his mind chasing distant thoughts.

She shook it off and focused on keeping it together, and preserving her calm, placid demeanor and forcing her nerves and the remains of her early morning nausea into the back of her mind. It didn't matter what was coming or what she'd see, she refused to quail or give away anything. She couldn't control her circumstances, but she could still control herself, and she'd be damned if she'd let her fear and insecurities get the best of her.

Her resolve was tested when the sun-freckled woods gave way to a towering wall of stone rising up to loom above them. The face of the cliff was not just the same rough brown stone however, but the facade of what looked like a grand temple, or palace perhaps, carved into the very face of the mountain. It explained where it had been hiding. Here she thought it might be behind the mountain, when it was actually 'inside' the damn thing. 

"You people have a thing for caves don't you."

She had muttered the thoughts lowly, and under her breath, but Thelios turned his head to look back down at her with a sideways glance. She met his eye and caught the upward flinch at the corner of his mouth, and the slight glint in his red-gold eyes. It was enough to break the ridged tension which had gripped her and she felt her spine loosen in relief.

Outwardly she showed no sign except to give him a faint smile in return. The doors were massive things, covered from top to bottom in elaborate carvings too numerous for her eyes to note with any detail as they swung slowly open. All she saw was a writhing mass of figures move past her vision, for her eyes were riveted on the ever widening gap between. Thelios was still striding forward, unfazed. She hoped no one had sen her hesitate, or how her step faltered.




Sacrifice Ch. 04



She straightened, took a deep breath, and proceeded, forcing her feet in front of her in slow even steps.

Calliope tried, with great difficulty, not to look too interested as the three of them entered the cavernous entryway. Unlike home, this new place was not literally cavernous on the inside. It was, in fact, palatial. The huge hall was tall enough to accommodate Thelios at his full height, and was opulent in the extreme. Far more so than her own imagination had managed to concoct. Every inch seemed to be covered in variously hued marble, tiled mosaics, or carvings of detailed scenes of a sort one would only expect to find decorating the walls of temples. It was breathtaking. Literally.

She fought to keep herself breathing evenly and normally as her eyes drank in the spectacle. 

No less stunning was the variety of living decor populating the hall and visible down side corridors and through the open doors of the rooms they passed. There were men, servants, and though there were some few like Demitri, the majority were beautiful youths as valuable for their aesthetic appeal, no doubt, as they were for whatever service they offered. 

And then there were the women. Many of them seemed not human, they couldn't possibly be, and their unearthly beauty was even more breathtaking than the statuary and mosaics they so easily outshone. Those who were human women were no less impressive in their exquisite clothes and jewelery, though often there seemed to be far more of the later than the former. She couldn't help but cast a furtive glance at one woman with dark brown skin and large almond shaped eyes who seemed to be wearing nothing at all but jewelery, strategically placed to leave at least a little to the imagination. She wasn't exactly in the minority either. Many of the women seemed to be wearing little more than a swathe of half-transparent clothe and were wrapped in bracelet's and necklaces of gold and precious stones, their hair twisted intricately with ivory and silver combs and colorful flowers.

She and Demitri looked very much out of place. It was impossible for her to ignore the gnawing of self-consciousness as she silently and soberly made the comparison between these exotic blooms and herself. They were too beautiful to be real and most were dressed so as to make the skimpy gold dress she occasionally dragged out when she was feeling daring— the one she had been specifically asked Not to wear— look dull and conservative. Their painted eyes followed her along the hall, and she forced her own eyes to remain on Thelios's back, afraid to look to closely, though why it should bother her as much as it did was a bit of a mystery. She was here for Thelios, and to do her job...that's all that mattered, wasn't it?

No, she reconsidered, no woman, however pragmatic, liked such a glaring comparison made of themselves. But, again she reminded herself, she was a servant, and it didn't matter. She'd just have to get over it. She pursed her lips at herself and sighed. 

Easier said than done.

As they proceeded through the halls, making their way from one resplendent sight to another, she dared another glance around and regretted it immediately when she spotted a group of creatures so lovely they couldn't even be called women. The sight of them made her stomach twist with nerves, their beauty causing much the same reaction in her as her first glimpse of the master. It was almost terrifying. She guessed they must be nymphs though she'd never seen one before. They too wore a few bits of jewelery and wound flowers and gold thread into their hair, but only a little here and there. They clearly needed no adornment. They were literally so exquisitely beautiful that, as trite as it sounded, there were truly no words which could have properly described them. They very literally made the breath catch and the heart flutter like a caged bird. 

If she were of the poetic bent she might attempt the heresy of describing them by saying that their skin was nearly iridescent, like pearls, their eyes like sapphires, emeralds, and onyx, and that their shining hair which fell about them in luxurious waves, looking as gleaming and soft as morning dew on the narcissus's petal. 

And probably just as vain, she thought idly, relishing her bitter little joke a moment before necessarily chiding herself for her obvious jealousy. 

She pretended not to notice the half hidden glances and occasionally openly amused stares and kept her eyes forward and chin up. Her own elegant, but simple, white, ankle length toga, leather sandals, and unadorned knot of braided, black hair, made her feel like a duck among swans.

Demitri had warned her they'd be opulent here, but she had honestly not been prepared for this. She'd brought the nicer clothes from her little trunk, as she had been bidden, but it was obvious to her she was going to be laughably under dressed...or overdressed, depending on your definition of the term. She was every inch the proper and well dressed lady...which was apparently not the going style. 

One of the ironies of this was that Thelios himself was as casually and minimally dressed as always, a fact accentuated by two creatures, giants also, who had appeared at the end of the hall to greet him. There were differences in their appearances, but they were without a doubt the 'family' he spoke of. One was significantly smaller than Thelios, with a more gracile face, long pointed ears, and curving horns which swept back from his forehead along with a thatch of thick reddish brown hair. He had an almost human look to his face though his skin was a reddish, light brown. 

The other was a cyclops...a proper cyclops, which Calliope found rather unnerving, so she didn't spend much more time than that examining him, no more than to notice that he was large like Thelios, and seemed taller...but that, she knew, was alterable. The thing that set Thelios apart however what the fact that the others both wore fine looking clothing, robes befitting the surroundings, whereas Thelios had kept his usual attire and looked like he'd just come in from another long day laboring in the sun. As per usual. And what's more, looking perfectly at ease with the fact...not a trace of self-consciousness. Also as per usual. She only wished she could master such self-possession, and though admiring of it, couldn't help but be irritated that she was alone in her discomfort.

She had no idea what to do with all this overwhelming information, so she fell back on her training. She stood back and folded her hands demurely in front of her and kept her attention on nothing in particular. She'd been brought up a lady, was dressed like one, so she'd act like one until told otherwise. 

But she'd be damned if she'd admit any of that train of thought to Demitri. It would be an intolerable excuse for him to barrage her with 'I told you so's.

Demitri himself had wandered off when Thelios stopped to speak to the other two creatures. So she lingered back from the group alone, that they might speak amongst themselves without being overheard, if they so chose.

She heard most of it anyway. The smaller one, it seemed, was the host, as he welcomed her master politely, though with little warmth and informed him of who had arrived, who was expected, and who had refused to join them. From what she could hear the names were not proper names, but some sort of code, a blend of nicknames and references. A few that had apparently opted to ignore the summons (as usual according to the cyclops) were Asta's daughters and "The favorites." She also heard Thelios's arched response, that this was because they were clearly smarter than he was. She didn't hear what was said to that, but the host didn't look pleased...Thelios still looked like he could care less. He did look interested, however, when a fourth party appeared in the massive doorway which stood partly open behind them. Calliope could see why. She herself could hardly keep from staring.

The creature was not so tall as the other three, but was significantly longer. The lower half of her body was that of a great serpent, and it gleamed in the brilliant light of the many lamps filling the hall. Black as onyx were her scales, and they made a soft shushing sound, like waves over sand as she twisted and coiled across the patterned marble floor. 

The top half of the creature was that of a woman, a beautiful woman, and completely exotic to Calliope in every regard. Her skin was also black, though not so dark as the serpentine length of her lower half, but her hair was a shock of silvery white, as were the fangs which descended to lay against her full bottom lip. Her ears were longer and pointed, but her face was exquisite...as beautiful as any of the nymphs that she'd seen flitting about the halls. 

In the corner of her eye, she saw Thelios's face break into a smile and felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach. The strange and stunning creature smiled back.

"Brother, I half expected you not to come. It's good to see you." 

Thelios chuckled and Calliope took a few more steps back from the grouping and averted her eyes from the scene to give them privacy, choosing instead to examine a wall length carving of acrobats next to her. 

"And I fully expected not to see you. This effects you less than most of us. What man could, or would dare to enslave a creature such as you?"

Calliope continued to feign disinterest as the creature's silvery laughter washed through the hall. She could see in her peripheral vision how the sound drew all of what few eyes weren't already watching closely, all except hers of course. She kept her eyes riveted to the bull's head carved into the wall at eye level, examining with studious interest the curve of it's ivory painted horn as it tossed a somersaulting tumbler over it's back. The woman being tossed, she noted, had a serpentine arm band much like her own. Inwardly she cringed at the snake reference.

Her efforts to appear distracted were a mistake however, and it did not take long to realize this fact as she glanced around furtively. She saw instantly that her disinterest had only brought down the attention she'd been so desperately avoiding. Many off to her left had turned to look at her instead, no doubt noting that she was looking in the wrong direction. She cursed her lack of subtly then stiffened slightly as she became aware of the burn of eyes to her right as well. She slowly turned and another soft 'shush' filled the air beside her, making her skin prickle and bump.

Her eyes were....violet, and there was a small smile tugging at her full, dark lips. "And who is this?" She tore her eyes from Calliope's to look at Thelios, but Calliope continue to stare. She could only be grateful her mouth wasn't hanging open in wonder or shock.

"Calliope." 

She waited a beat or two for him to elaborate...but he did not. Just...Calliope. The serpentine woman arched a fine brow at this as well, but made no comment, and only turned back to her with a coy smile. 

"Calliope." She repeated. "I have a cousin of the same name." There was a brief hum of light laughter from around them. Well, she thought morosely, it was slightly more subtle than the usual comments or jokes. "Tell me," she continued once the tittering had ceased, "I'm quite curious, you must have some very particular talent to capture my brother's attention. What is it that has caused you to stand out so, hm?" Calliope prickled slightly, hearing the teasing lilt in her voice, and the possible insinuation that whatever it was couldn't be seen from the outside. It didn't seem like she was being intentionally cruel or vicious, but with so many still looking on, she couldn't help but bristle. The second round of tittering didn't help either. 

Thelios, at least, looked unamused. 

No...this wouldn't do. If this were anywhere else...anyone else...in another situation...she'd not stand for it. But what should she do? Demetra would smile politely, plead ignorance, and check on dinner, Xanthipe would boldly lay claim to any and all of the graces, and Helena would giggle and blush and tell her that she'd would have to ask the gentleman in question. It appeared she was on her own, as none of those would work for her, not in the slightest. She would just have to take Demitri's advice. Calliope exhaled slowly, pasting a mild smile on her face and letting her shoulders relax slightly. She could at least appear calm, even if she was nothing near it as her mind hastily churned in a mad searched for words.

"My lady," she murmured politely, "I suspect only a fool would lay claim to any 'particular' skill in company such as this." She made a vague gesture to the hall. "Even if I had such presumptions, I'm quite sure there would be at least a dozen more worthy than I who would be quick and eager to disabused me of my arrogance." She smiled placidly and gazed back at the creature with as much unassuming guilelessness as she could muster in order to dull the slight edge of her words. "And, I do not think," She added after a very brief pause, "that such fruitless and obvious comparisons would be a useful expenditure of anyone's time. Wouldn't you agree?" She'd spoken in even, but clear tones, hoping those listening would hear and take the hint. Yes, they were very beautiful, and she was sure, very good at all sorts of things that she'd rather not think about it. Wonderful. Fantastic. She got it. Time to move on. 

The woman's smile had dimmed and her brow had arched imperceptibly higher, but after appraising Calliope a moment, her face settled and her smile returned. "How...politic of you. Surprising considering the company you keep." She added sardonically

What did that mean? Calliope felt her own brow arch before she could force her expression into neutrality. The woman's smile widened when she noticed the slip, but she brushed it off quickly enough. "Well, we shall say you are well spoken at least, and leave it at that, yes?" She didn't wait for an answer but turned to Thelios and made a dismissive gesture toward the door.

"You should come in and speak to the others before you get settled in your rooms...they are all anxious to hear what news you bring from our Father, and we have news you may want to hear."

Thelios made a low sound of annoyance. "He said exactly what I told you all he would. It was a waste of my time."

The finely dressed one with curling horns sighed. "Well they will want to hear it as well. It shouldn't take long." he added when Thelios' expression darkened.

"Fine. But if they start in on that long winded bullshit again, I'm leaving...if you're lucky I'll leave before I do something rash this time." The serpent woman smirked and the other two glanced apprehensively at one another.

He looked to her and she nodded, guessing he expected her to wait there. 

She was grateful that the exit of the rather fantastical looking group meant the slow exodus of gawkers as well. It surprised her really. She'd have thought living like this would get one used to such sights. After all, she'd been living a rather simple life but her time with Thelios had made her a little more easy with the whole situation. That wasn't to say she was comfortable, but at least she wasn't incapable of keeping her eyes to herself. Besides...it was rude to stare.

Sadly though, her peace was short lived, and after a time a familiar, and very unpleasant voice reached her ears. Worse...it appeared to be addressing her. This was rapidly becoming a very... bad... day.

"Well now, sounds like you still got a sharp little tongue then don't you? They still ain't taught you manners yet?"

She sighed, closing her eyes and praying for patience before turning and giving her best impression of benign indifference. It wasn't perfect considering the day she was having...but it was good enough for the likes of him. She didn't bother answering the question and just stared at the man. He had a couple of others with him, a fact which made her nervous. Dogs in packs were always more dangerous. Strength in numbers...it made them bold. And he was just the sort of scruffy cur to fit this description.

Still, he wouldn't go so far as to touch her again would he? Her eyes subtly darted about for Demitri, but he was no where to be seen. He must have been waiting to get her alone...the jackal. She clenched her jaw to keep anything untoward form spilling out, but her eyes narrowed into a hard glare.

He grinned maliciously. "What's the matter, snake got your tongue?" He asked, nodding toward where the serpent-woman had vanished.

When she only continued to glare he turned to his friends. "Maybe that low-class master of hers did slap some sense into the little bitch after all."

That did it, she couldn't hold it back, and the words slipped from her mouth despite herself. "I take it you fancy yourself the snake then?" She slid her eyes derisively down his body. "I'd think worm would be a more appropriate comparison...figuratively or...literally." She smirked, feeling suddenly as malicious as his grin had been. She made a fist and lifted her pinky finger, wiggling it suggestively. What had Demitri said after all...'turn about is fair play'? 

He seemed to catch the insult immediately and true to form, came at her, barking and snarling like any rabid animal. He snatched up her wrist and looked like he was readying the other hand to strike her. She had half expected it, and had already noticed the slim sword hanging at his hip. So while he was grasping for her arm, she was reaching for something else.

"Get your hands off me." She snarled, matching his expression with her own and stilling his hand the air. He obeyed. He didn't really have a choice once he felt the point of his own sword digging into his stomach. He looked furious, but took a step or two back, eying the blade warily. "Touch me again and I'll skewer you." She hissed at a whisper. His friends went for their weapons, but she only had to press the point that much more firmly against her target, causing him to wave them off. 

"Now, I'm going to lower the sword, and you're going to back away and never harass me again...yes?"

He sneered, so she poked him a bit, taking more pleasure in that then was appropriate. "Understood?" She prompted loudly this time, in case he didn't. He glared death at her, but nodded. She nodded back and lowered the sword. At which point he lunged at her, startling her.

Her wrist flicked up automatically to defend her and the tip of the sword caught the side of his cheek. He cried out and leapt back, clutching his face and cursing at the sight of blood on his fingers.

The instinctive move surprised her as much as it did her assailant, but she refused to let it show. Instead she stood stock still, keeping the weapon carefully trained on him as he gaped at her in shock. She recovered from the unexpected surprise and was about to tell him to stay where he was when the Master's voice rang out again. 

"What have you done?!" He growled at a near roar, his voice causing what few onlookers were left—all of whom had been watching the altercation with intense interest— to flinch and shrink away, making themselves scarce.

She too quailed under the power of it, her sword point dropping instantly as her stomach dropped with it. Conversely, her heart, it seemed, had decided her throat would be a more appropriate place to lodge itself. Her sword hand shook, and she threw the thing down on the ground between her and man, simultaneously cringing and turning to face the onslaught. 

The sight before her left her feeling a little light headed. He looked furious. More than furious. A faint whimper of fear escaped her throat and her arms wrapped tightly around her waist, but that was the extent of her reaction. But for that, she had completely frozen in fear. A heart beat later, she was gasping in surprised when she noticed it wasn't her he was looking at, and watched him stride past her to snatch the man up by the front of his shirt and dangle him by it as he sneered in rage, his face just inches away from the now terrified man. 




Sacrifice Ch. 04



It was Calliope's turn to gape, her reserve having dissolved, finally worn down by the unending volley of strangeness that had been her day. And it was, apparently, the man's turn to whimper....which he did. She might have been happier about that fact if she wasn't still reeling from her own fear. It didn't help that Thelios had turned his furious glare back on her.

"Is this him?" He asked gruffly, clearly attempting to keep himself from shouting as he spoke through clenched teeth. She caught his meaning and nodded. She felt as much as heard the growl which emanated from him. It caused a shiver to pass up her spine...she could only imagine what effect it had on the man who was now furiously, and futility trying to pull Thelios's hand off of him. "You were told, to keep your hands to yourself. He grabbed the man's arm, hard. "Need I remove them to help you resist the temptation?"

The man sputtered, but didn't give an answer. 

"Not quick enough." He pulled and the man screamed. He didn't quite rip the man's arm off, but there was a sickening 'pop' as his shoulder came dislocated. "Shall I keep pulling?"

"No...no...please." He begged, whimpering and panting with pain. Calliope winced, beginning to feel very sorry for the man, and not a little guilty that she was in some way the cause of his suffering.

"Who does this belong to?" He asked, still growling as he raked his gaze over those who'd come to see what the commotion was about. The Host stepped forward, calmly, but Calliope noted the tightness around his mouth. 

"I take responsibility for him, what has happened."

"It appears he can't seem to keep his hands to himself." Again his fiery eyes turned on her, feeling like a physical blow for all their intensity. "What did he do this time?"

"Oh...ah, um, nothing...really."

His eyes were merely slits of fiery red now. "So, you pulled his own sword on him simply out of boredom?"

She flushed at being caught out in the unintentional lie. "Well," she offered clearing her throat, "nothing more than before." He just stared hard. She sighed. "It's true, " she insisted softly, "I..." she winced, knowing he would not like her next words, "I stopped him before anything more could happen. I pulled the sword when he grabbed me."

She winced all the more as the fist tightened visibly around the man's throat. He was, she noted, gradually turning an ever brighter shade of pink. 

"Did you think to strike her then?" At first he seemed to shake his head in denial, but as the hand clenched around his throat he switched tactics and breathlessly begged forgiveness instead. It was awful to see, and made somehow worse by the audience. She was torn. On one hand she didn't want to question Thelios, not publicly at any rate. And, she had to admit, some not so small part of her was gratified to see him not only give her the benefit of the doubt, but to also come so immediately and fully to her defense. However, the sight of the man, gasping for breath and whimpering in pain...it was a little more than she was able to bear, not in the least because it was in part her involvement which had put him in his present situation. 

She stepped forward and touched Thelios hesitantly, her fingers falling lightly at the band of his wrap near the small of his back. "Please, my lord..."

He looked down at her and she gazed up at him beseechingly. "I think he has already paid more than the harm he did."

"I do not."

There wasn't much she could say to that. She wasn't going to contradict him in front of the others, and the look he was giving her was still hot with anger, and she quailed again in the face of it. But...he continued to stare down at her.

"Are you pleading for his life?"

She hesitated for a tremulous moment, then nodded nervously. "Yes."

"Why?"

"I..." It wasn't a bad question. He was a worm...but... "I don't like to see people suffer." The look in his eye didn't look promising, so she tried a more familiar tactic, one that usually worked on both of them. "Besides," she smirked with more good humor than she felt, "I'm sure our host would be most grateful not to have to clean the resulting mess off the walls, don't you think?" That did it. He didn't quite chuckle, but there was an almost amused grunt, and his fingers seemed to ease.

He turned his attention back to the man. "You should be grateful, she's saved your life." His growl deepened, "But this is the second offense, and there will not be a third." Before a response could be formed Thelios tossed him aside, letting him slam into a nearby wall.

She watched him with sympathy, but was also distracted by the massive hand which had come down around her upper arm, steering her away from the scene.

The 'others' were watching with curious apprehension. "Keep your dogs on a shorter leash, brother." he snapped out at the host as they pushed past the group. Or rather, he pushed past while she was dragged along behind. The notion of complaining about the rough treatment flitted through her mind, but dissipated quickly enough when she glanced up to see the expression on his face. She didn't have to say anything anyway, as the moment they were out of sight, he released her to her own volition. She had to move quickly to keep up, but at least she wasn't being dragged any longer. 

She barely had time to register exactly 'where' they were going- deeper into the maze being the only phrase which leapt to mind-- and none at all to note any of the wonders they passed, save for their purpose as a road map. Right at the statue of Persephone, left at the tile mosaic with the dragon...etc. 

She had no illusions about memorizing the route on the first try, but it couldn't hurt to have points of recognition for the inevitable times she'd find herself completely lost and turned around in this obviously massive, sprawling palace. 

She was so caught up trying not to get lost that she trotted right into Thelios's back with an undignified 'umph'.

He glanced back at her over his shoulder, but said nothing as he stepped to the side and gestured that she enter the doorway before him. She might have been awed once again by the glistening white marble chamber and its colonnades leading out into a small garden courtyard. She would have, if she wasn't too busy glaring a hole through the disappearing Demitri who was busy chatting up a cute little blond haired girl. He turned from his conversation to give her a questioning look as Thelios walked in behind her and stormed off to one of the side chambers. The girl gaped at the furious giant, then gave Calliope an anxious look before ducking her head and making a swift exit out toward the garden. 

"Where in Hades were you?"

Demitri cocked a brow. "What happened?" He asked flatly, not rising to her own frustrated tone. She huffed and plunked herself down on a bench by the door where she'd initially frozen. 

"This place is awful."She was trying to feel irate, but she suddenly felt as if everything had just caught up with her at once and her eyes burned as they slipped toward the doorway Thelios had vanished into. Demitri laughed, but his expression softened, and though still amused, he gave her a sympathetic look when she turned her face back to his. He strolled over and sat next to her.

"What happened?"

She swallowed hard. "Everything." She groused back petulantly. He chuckled again. She sighed. "I don't know. It's not just one thing...after that....gauntlet, there were the others like Th—like the master, and I tried to say out of it but...well that was awkward as hell. Then that slimy bastard showed up and..." She finished the thought with a growl of frustration.

"Which slimy bastard are you referring to?"

She shook her head and sighed. Some of the tension slid from her as Demitri's calm good humor began to wear down her anxiety. "Oh you know," she waved dismissively, "that idiot from before, the one who thought I should be 'taught a lesson.'" she added with more than a little derision.

She was about to add to this, but was stopped by the dark expression on Demitri's face. "What he do?" His growl was faintly reminiscent of Thelios's and it made her hesitate. 

"Don't you start too," she warned "there was already a scene when the master came back into the hall and found me holding the fool at the end of his own sword." 

His expression turned slightly more quizzical. "How did that happen?"

She shrugged. "turn about is fair play?" He did laugh at that. 

"You're not saying you started it?" She smirked, then frowned again in consternation.

"No, I...said some things...after he did mind you," she amended quickly, "then when I thought he might strike me I took his sword." She pursed her lips and looked toward the doorway again. "Then I cut him when he took a swing at me. He'll be... pissed. More so because of what the master did...in front of everyone. I had to beg him to stop."

"Why."

Her eyes widened. "He might have killed the man!"

"No, why stop him?" That caught her off guard. Surely he would understand...or so she thought.

"I won't have some one killed because of me."

"It wasn't 'cause of you. He was warned. He decided to take his chances just so he could be spiteful. It was all him, luv."

"Fine then, killed in my defense then."

He shrugged. "What did he do then?"

"Choked him, dislocated his shoulder...probably broke his arm, and threw him into a wall."

Demitri only nodded. "That it?"

She gave him a disbelieving look. "Yes?"

"Hm." He said nothing more and got to his feet, patted her knee in the process, then wandered off toward the garden leaving her alone, as bemused and discomfited as she'd ever been. 

She slumped against the wall then finally turned her attention to her surroundings. How in blazes did they get a garden to grow in a mountain?

She rose, feeling more than a little exhausted and walked in a daze across the smooth polished marble floor. It wasn't colorful or elaborately patterned as the halls had been, but merely simple squares of white veined with gray. The columns running about the edge of the spacious chamber were of the same make, as were the few pieces of simple furniture. Large furniture, she noted as her gaze raked over the room. 

As she neared the small garden, the mystery of its existence became apparent. Shards of light streamed down from overhead through shafts bored into the very rock. Or perhaps they were natural, she couldn't tell, but she could see by the distance that they must have been near the surface and not buried deep inside the mountain as she suspected. The light did not have far to travel and dropped like illuminating accents on the seemingly sporadic arrangement of flowers. It was all rather pretty actually.

She sat on one of the benches, near a pool of water, letting a shard of sunlight catch her face. It was warm, and felt lovely. Next to her a collection of iris's stood tall and still, their petals a deep, velvety purple, so dark that it nearly looked black around the edges. She reached out to touch one when a soft 'shush' caught her attention, making her freeze, her hand still hovering in mid air as her eyes, and only her eyes, shot up toward the sound. From the other side of garden, a dark serpentine figure emerged, moving slowly around the edges of the column lined walk way which led to the open chamber...which led to the private rooms beyond. 

Calliope watched the snake-woman until she disappeared into the same room Thelios had. It didn't appear that the creature had noticed her...but then she might have just been ignoring her, just as she'd ignored the garden, or the furniture. She ripped her eyes from the doorway and turned them back to the flowers. They suddenly irritated her. What the hell was the point of a black flower anyway? Weren't they supposed to bright and colorful? Weren't they supposed to cheer you up?

She huffed and stood, squaring her shoulders and brushing her dress out. Enough of this. She had a job to do...it was time to stop whining, and figure out how to do it. First she'd try to find Demitri and wring some answers out of him...baring that...she'd wring them out of someone else.

She shot the black iris one last dirty look and was on her way, a woman with a mission.



*******

Thanks for reading and sorry for the wait folks. There's more to come, and hopefully quicker than the last. 

-Uncle P.



Sacrifice Ch. 05



It was unnerving, and frankly a touch annoying, how easy everything had ended up being. After the nerves, the apprehension, the fiasco with that idiot messenger, and the resulting scene in the hall...she had been expecting a fight, and she had been ready for it. But a fight was not what she had gotten. She was a little disappointed. 

Demitri had seemingly vanished again, his newest trick apparently, denying her the pleasure of demanding answers from him once and for all. So she made up her mind to see if she couldn't find some way to make herself of use as any half decent slave would, and, as much as it pained her to do so, make he and his guest as comfortable as possible.

The little blonde Calliope had seen Demitri speaking with, and who had run off in such a hurry when she and Thelios had appeared, was apparently already on her way back with the very refreshments she had been planning to ask for. What's more she was even considerate enough to ask Calliope's preference in terms of who brought it in to him. 

Her evident relief when Calliope volunteered did suggest that her primary motivation wasn't necessarily courtesy or kindness. But, regardless of her reasons, the effect on Calliope was the same. The young woman was, to her continued surprise, more than forthcoming in offering her an overview of their system, 'since she was new', and without being prodded for it. It was all fairly straightforward really, painfully so, and she mentally cursed Demitri for being right yet again. Damn him. 

The girl, Silva, and a man named Kal were the 'emissaries' for this particular set of suits. Yes, set, as they were shared, like a household, and the personal servants made requests directly from these 'emissaries'. So that was one issue she didn't have to fret about any longer. Of course the 'household' issue created a whole new set of concerns, particularly as she could guess fairly easily who they were sharing with.

As it was, the ease with which she'd passed this recent— semi-nonexistent— hurdle was suggesting to her that perhaps her fears had been exaggerated. That didn't mean she was about to dismiss them completely. After all, one positive example did not a rule make, and she wasn't anywhere near forgetting the incident in the hall, nor Thelios's changed demeanor...or the fact that there was a giant serpent with the face and body of an incredibly beautiful...and naked...woman keeping him company on the other side of the door. They'd been alone close to half an hour by her guess, and she was loathe to interrupt, but it was unseemly to allow a guest to go without refreshment any longer than she already had. Once more she was forced to swallow her anxieties and do what needed to be done.

She adjusted the tray and rested it on her shoulder to knock. He called for her to enter from the other side. So, with a deep, settling breath, she did. She went in expecting anything, a wise course of action when one was in as unique a situation as she, and also precariously balancing wine on a rather large tray. 

She needn't have been worried. 

He was slouched in a chair on the other side of the room, his chin resting on a raised fist...brooding. The snake...woman...'no, snake' she smirked mentally, was draped over a low couch, her chin resting on the backs of her bare arms which were in turn crossed over the chair's back. She was staring at him. He was staring blankly across the room. Or, more accurately, he was glowering across it. Calliope hesitated a moment seeing his dark expression, but didn't let it stop her from proceeding as intended. 

She averted her own gaze to the tray when she felt their attention shift toward her, but kept them both on the edge of her vision. The room wasn't very large and held just the one arrangement of furniture, consisting of two low couches and the one wide, throne like chair. At least it looked that way, with the way he sat on it...his arms now laying along the rests and his legs braced symmetrically before him. And of course, there was the glowering. He looked very much like the king of hell himself.

She knelt next to the table at the center of the arrangement, setting down her burden and noting the open doorways, one beyond Thelios, and the other to the right, which she guessed were the less formal living quarters. The little blonde servant had indicated that her things had been taken to a room just off of the master's sleeping quarters; directed there by Demitri, apparently. 

Calliope had managed to stifle her self-consciousness at what that fact might connote for the other household slaves. Namely, that she was the master's bed-warmer. It helped that the girl seemed utterly unfazed and indifferent to the fact. It was, after all, none of their business how a master chose to keep his slaves...but still, she valued her privacy and it seemed like such a public announcement of her role in Thelios's household.

She continued to peruse the room out of the corner of her eye as she set about serving the wine.

She also noted the way Thelios's eyes had shifted back to the wall, ignoring her once more, and the way his guest's had not. The snake's eyes watched her as she, still kneeling, poured the wine into two glasses and were still waiting as Calliope turned and met them with a polite smile as she offered the first glass. She returned Calliope's polite smile with an amused one of her own. 

"Thank you." 

Calliope blinked in surprise, but otherwise kept her reaction to herself. It wasn't the words alone, but the low purr in her voice which had caught her off guard.

"You're welcome." She murmured, breaking her gaze and returning her attention to the other glass.

"Calliope," she continued, still purring, "perhaps you would have more luck than I have..." Thelios waved off the offer of the wine.

"You take it." He muttered. The snake scoffed, but she was looking askance at Thelios and not at Calliope.

"I have been trying to explain to my 'dearest' brother that there is absolutely no reason he can't relax for five minutes and stop being such an uptight prig. I understand you don't want to be here brother, but I mean really, how do you survive if you never let yourself have any fun?"

Calliope frowned at that. The master? uptight? That was...completely absurd. 

The snake seemed to notice her confusion and looked back down at her. "Don't you think?"

Calliope blinked again and felt her lips part, as if instinctively trying to answer the question. But she was stymied for a response. "I...ah, I suppose." She finally managed with some uncertainty. 

"You don't agree." It wasn't a question but the look in those violet eyes was more curious than anything else. 

"Well...I...suppose it's a matter of perspective..." she hedged, glancing at Thelios for some indication of what she should or shouldn't say, but he gave her nothing. He wasn't really glaring at her though, and his frown seemed more one of general annoyance than anything aimed in a particular direction...so that was something at least.

"Oh come now. I'm sure you can do better than that. Tell us what you really think. Be honest." She grinned and shifted so she could face her fully. It was quite a bit to take in: the sly, fanged grin, the amused violet colored eyes, the bare ebony breasts which, if they were differently colored might have belonged to Aphrodite herself, and of course, the long, twisting serpent's tail, the tip of which was wavering in the air, just as a cat's might when it was waiting for the unfortunate mouse to make that one fatal move.

Calliope flicked her eyes back to Thelios, still saw nothing helpful, and sighed with a mental shrug. If she wants honest, that's what she'll get. 

"Alright," she offered, straightening her back a little more and folding her hands in her lap, "Honestly, I don't think 'not' being a silly prat warrants the title of 'uptight prig,' and just because what constitutes 'fun' for the silly prats of the world isn't fun for the rest of us doesn't mean we don't know how to have our own sort of fun. But then that assertion probably makes me an uptight prig, which I admit I have been accused of...after a fashion. Therefore I'm probably not some one who should be commenting on the matter."

Thelios's head jerked sharply to the side and away from his sister, his arm bending up so that his fist obscured his frown. Her own eyes shot anxiously to his, but instead of the anger she feared to see, there was a much more familiar glow. She bit the inside of her cheek to suppress her smile. 

It wasn't a frown he was hiding after all. A flood of relief made her want to laugh out loud, and she inhaled sharply as she tore her eyes from his. 

His sister looked between the two of them with an uncertain smile. Calliope allowed herself a mild smile as well and settled into a much more relaxed position with her legs tucked beneath her. 

The snake took a sip of her wine and chuckled softly as she toyed with the rim of the glass. "I suppose I can agree with that, but I wouldn't say simply agreeing to come to dinner and allowing oneself to be entertained is for the silly and the pratish alone. No?"

"I suppose not." She conceded. It did seem reasonable enough.

"Traitor." Thelios mumbled from behind his fist.

She decided to take exception to that and looked sideways at him. "Hardly. I'm merely conceding that it isn't necessarily all that ridiculous. I never said you should do it." She frowned thoughtfully. "Why....why aren't you going? If I may be so bold." She added carefully, for proprieties sake. He still had company after all. 

He dropped his clenched hand back to the arm of the chair and looked at her straight on. "Because I don't want to. Do You want to spend an evening with my useless brothers while they preen and flaunt their wealth?"

"There are sisters too..." The other interjected lightly.

"They aren't half as annoying, and don't pester me with questions about when I'm going to come to my senses about— "

"—When Will you come to your senses, by the way?" 

"I take it back— useless brothers and sisters. Well? Do you?" He turned back to Calliope.

"Not really...I guess." She answered dazedly.

He looked satisfied, as close to smiling as she'd seen all day at least, and back to his usual level of smugness. "Good. It's settled then. I'm not going."

The snake made a disgusted sound and turned on Calliope as well. "Fat lot of help you were." She bit out sullenly, before catching up her wine again with a pout. "Now I have to face the vultures alone. You're not a very nice brother." 

"The vultures are also your brothers...take it up with them."

"Yes, but I Like you. And I like listening to you shut them up. If you're not there to stopper them, who will? " 

"Feel free. No one is keeping you from it."

"You know they don't listen to me." To Calliope's surprise she addressed her directly again. "They don't think I have anything to worry about because of who my mother is, so I get vetoed, which is preposterous."

"I can't say I know much of why you're here, but if you have nothing to worry about and find them difficult to deal with, then why bother coming at all?" Calliope offered in return.

Thelios said nothing but nodded his agreement.

"On the off chance they're wrong. Isn't that why you're here brother?"

He sighed. "Yes. You could just do what I do and not show up."

She shrugged. "I suppose I could, but it's easier in the end if you just play along a little. Path of least resistance and all that. Besides, I'm a little more out of my element here than you are, and I've been away for so long. I do need to catch up." Again she addressed Calliope. "I've been traveling abroad, but my children insist I come back every now and then for a few years. I'm heading back home to Libya when this is over with. I want to see what little Hero –you've met Herophile?" She glanced at Thelios who nodded, "...to see what she's been up to. I heard a rumor she's made quite a name for herself. Does a mother proud that one."

"How are the rest of them?" Thelios asked, now looking more relaxed and in a somewhat better humor. 

"Alive, well, and very much uneaten, thank you."

Thelios chuckled and Calliope frowned. "Uneaten?" she ventured carefully.

"Yes, uneaten. Hera can't keep her husband on a leash and the rest of us have to suffer for it. In my case she waited until I left for greener pastures, then, in my absence, started all kinds of vicious rumors about me. One of which was that I left because I'd gone mad and eaten my own babies. Can you imagine? The crazed bitch. If she wants to punish someone, she should punish him. I hate it when people blame 'the other woman.'"

"That's because you're usually the other woman." Thelios graveled with a smirk.

"Oh, shut up. Who isn't the other woman with that bloody man. And he keeps getting away with it because he's so damned charming. Just when you think you've built up a tolerance he comes out with some new trick. That's why she picks on the women...he's got this little smirk-smile thing he does and after a few 'I swear she didn't mean anything's...Lo! All is forgiven...anyway, that's not the point.

"The real point is that they, the rumors, hardly help our reputation, those of us of the serpentine persuasion that is. People are always trying to vilify us. It's patently unfair. If you don't want the dragon to eat you, then don't try to steal from his horde...is it really that difficult to understand? If you don't bother us, we won't bother you...that's how it works. 

"That's the real reason I left. They're so much more respectful in the East. And the farther East you go, the better the reception. They call me Mistress Nagi, and everyone is under the impression that I'm some sort of pillar of wisdom and knowledge...which works for me." 

"I imagine." Calliope murmured when she paused for a response. She couldn't think of much else to say since her mind was rapidly reassessing her impression of this creature. She was actually...sort of pleasant, and certainly charming. And she kept speaking to Calliope, explaining things to her as if she were part of the conversation and not, as Calliope had assumed, part of the furniture. She had been prepared for almost anything...or so she thought. The truth was she was prepared to be upset...not to be please, so now she was confused by the fact that nothing seemed to be painful or going horribly wrong. If that wasn't the most absurd thing she could think of...she didn't know what was. 

"It's lovely there. Dragon's everywhere, so for once I fit right in. And so friendly! I met this lovely dragon, Jiaolong—he does these really amusing impressions, shape-shifter and all— who spotted me while I was sunning on a beach and once he found out I wasn't a local insisted on showing me around. Any human's we ran into were down right pleased to see us. Practically started throwing a party, wanting to give us gifts and ask for blessings. They're really very charming people.

"You don't get that here. I mean, everywhere you go it's evil snake this, and evil snake that....just look at the gorgons..." She paused with a smile, then rolled her eyes when they both just looked back, "oh come on, that was funny. Look at the gorgons....? 'Look,' get it? You know what, you two deserve each other. No sense of humor."

"Oh!" Calliope sat up straighter, startled out of her spinning thoughts when the joke hit her. "I get it." Calliope smiled as she—Nagi?—gave her a disgusted look.

"Too little too late my dear. But I appreciate the effort." She took another sip of the wine then slid it onto the little table and rose from her position, her tail curling beneath her then unfurling behind as she left the couch. The glistening black scales were so close she could have simply stretched out her hand to touch them and the lamp light flickered on their smooth obsidian surfaces like winking stars. It was vaguely hypnotic. Calliope watched fascinated as the 'Nagi' slid around the couch and came to pause behind Thelios, her slender hands resting on his shoulders.

"So you're not going to be talked into coming tonight?"

"Not for your life."

She sighed. "Fine. Let me tell them you're thinking of coming tomorrow, if I don't they'll just spend half the night asking me why I couldn't convince you."

Calliope noticed the slightly sneer which darkened his face. "I knew they sent you."

"Don't be an ass. I told you why I want you to come. If it had just been for them, I would have come, drank your wine, chatted about the weather, and left without once mentioning the blasted dinner. You know that."

"Fine. Tell them what you want."

She looked pleased. "Good. Calliope, would you walk me to my suit?" That must have surprised Thelios as much as it did her, because he turned back to look at the Nagi over his shoulder with a cocked brow. He didn't object however, so Calliope felt there wasn't much she could do but acquiesce and rose to her own feet with an obliging nod. 

She cast a glance at Thelios as she turned to follow, but his expression was unreadable, if somewhat pensive. 

There were a few moments of awkward silence. Awkward for Calliope at least, for whom the silence was filled by the soft, and unnerving hiss of scales against the smooth marble floor and the incessant pounding of her own anxious heart as she wondered what the creature could possibly want with her. They were already entering the walk around the garden when she glanced down at Calliope with a sly smile.

"You might want to breathe at some point. I'm sure my brother would be most unhappy with me if I had to have you carried back to him unconscious because you fainted for lack of air."

She inhaled and suppressed a blush, while making a bowing nod and keeping her eyes in front of her. 

"Of course, Lady Nagi."

When the serpentine woman stopped abruptly beside her, it forced Calliope to peel her eyes from the marble tiling to see what was wrong. The Nagi was looking at her with a curious expression and a strange half grin. And just as suddenly as she stopped, she began to chuckle. "You know, I like that. Make sure you say it next time we're in a public place together. I think I'd like it to get around. I'm tired of being referred to as "That Snake." She smiled, her teeth looking startlingly white against her dark skin. Though the fangs, Calliope realized, didn't seem to bother her that much. No doubt as she was used to Thelios's...they were very similar now that she thought about it...the teeth were...but that seemed to be where their similarities ended...well, maybe their sense of humor...

She began to move again, and Calliope followed obediently. "You're probably wondering why I asked you to accompany me." She paused for an answer, so Calliope nodded.

"I admit, I am."

"It's nothing sinister. I merely wanted to appeal to you for assistance." She arched an eyebrow as she gazed down on Calliope, "He's very stubborn, so if there are at least two of us cracking away at him then we might actually convince him to see the light...or at least have him do it just to shut us up. Which is more likely, but equally acceptable."

"Might I ask why you are so anxious for him to attend?"

She shrugged. "You were there when I told him. I want some one to have my back covered...someone to put between me and them if it becomes necessary. They tend to get ahead of themselves...and even though they should know better, they are laboring under the delusion that I have some sort of influence with my mother...as if anyone does. I have no ulterior motives. 

"It's purely selfish, I admit...but really what can a girl do? Well, there is the entertainment factor as well I suppose. He isn't any fun in the traditional sense...but I get a sadistic sort of glee watching him glare them into submission." She grinned at Calliope with a smile that was brimming with just the sort of glee she was talking about. Calliope's own lip twitched in response. 




Sacrifice Ch. 05



That might be something to see...now that she was sure the glare wasn't meant for her. In fact...it was down right intriguing. In the back of her mind Calliope was already trying to remember the events of the day...this time without her own fears and insecurities coloring them and blinding her to whatever else had been happening. They began moving towards the other set of suits, and she was pulled once more from her thoughts.

"I doubt I would be of much assistance. He seems adamant...and honestly, I have never known him to be unreasonable, so I have to trust he has a logical reason for not wanting to be there."

"Well I'm not really arguing with that, I'm just looking for an ally."

"I..." What could she say? "I suppose I could try, if he seems receptive to the idea."

"I guess I can't ask much more than that...considering."

"Considering what?"

The Lady Nagi eyed her sideways with a wry smile. "When I put you on the spot earlier...I was expecting quite a different reaction. I had assumed you were the usual sort of courtesan, and it surprised me as it's something which was unexpected coming from my brother...so really I shouldn't have expected it. Clearly I was mistaken...unless I'm not? Are you a courtesan after all?"

"I'm not a courtesan, no. Just a s-servant." She stopped herself from saying slave at the last second, though she didn't quite know why. One thing was a good as the other. 

"Oh? He hired you did he?"

"No, he...he receives tributes every several years. This last time, instead of gold or livestock—"

"Oh, yes...the sheep. I really don't understand the appeal of that...go on, I'm sorry for interrupting."

"Ah, well, instead of the usual tribute, he received people."

"What on earth for? Don't tell me he's decided to give up the glamorous lifestyle of a troglodyte and is opting for something more civilized..."

"We were meant as servants...but only I remained in the end...as he had no use for so many, and there is Demitri of course, but the addition of one person is hardly noteworthy."

"You'd be surprised. Especially in this case. The addition of one to many is nothing. The addition of one where there had been nothing...now that Is something. This is another reason I wanted to speak with you. I don't know what you are to him," she paused and came to a stop, and Calliope realized they were now standing in a mirror image of the living area they had just left, "and I won't pry too much, at least not yet, but his reaction in the hall when that man was pestering you was telling enough. Enough for me to know there is no 'just' involved in whatever it is you actually are. You can tell people what you want, toward whatever end you want, but I wasn't born yesterday. I'll play along with the 'just a servant' thing if you like, but don't insult my intelligence by trying to sell it to me as well."

Calliope really had not response for that. She stared, a little shocked, finally managing to stutter something out to answer the scrutinizing gaze that the Lady was aiming at her. "I...I didn't mean to infer you were. Born yesterday...that is. I meant no insult..."

She surprised her even further by laughing at that, almost gleefully. "No, of course you didn't." The Nagi's eyes narrowed and she lowered herself enough to look Calliope in the eye as if examining them for something, "You probably half believe it yourself, don't you. Regardless," she straightened out and smiled, "my purpose in bringing it up was because I wanted to warn you. Your presence caught my attention, as you well know, and it will most certainly have caught the attention of others, particularly after the scene in the hall."

"Yes." She agreed absently, her mind trying to re-figure the moment from the perspective of the other observers. It was difficult considering the heart stopping terror she'd felt at the sight of him bearing down on her kept getting in the way. No, not at Her, she reminded herself once again, he was angry with the man...mostly.

"It's unavoidable, and there are a few who are not overly fond of your master, and who would take special interest in you as a way to needle him, or as an opportunity to take something from him. But, having said that, you seem to have a sort of...oh, I don't know how to describe it. I want to say an 'iciness' about you, but that's not quite the word. I think you should continue to use that, whatever it is. Perhaps aloof is a better word...whatever you want to call it, I think it will work well for you here."

"A cold fish," She murmured softly, frowning in thought at the floor.

"Pardon me?"

She looked back up. "A cold fish. That's what I've been called, among other things. If that's what you mean to say."

"I didn't mean it in insulting way. It's just an aura you have, that you are here for your own reasons and business, and not for our entertainment. That in itself is atypical and will catch some attention, but as I said you can use it to keep them at arms length. It will keep them out of your hair and more importantly, out of his line of sight. We're going to be trapped here together for a bit and the last thing we need is Him taking someone's head off because they misinterpreted your attempt to be friendly as an invitation. Better to wound a few egos and have them dismiss you as a frigid bitch than have to deal with That fall out.

She nodded. She wasn't insulted. After all, it wasn't the first time someone called her that. Everyone thought there was something off about her...something unapproachable and distant. Well, no...that wasn't entirely true was it. Demitri had never made comments like that. He'd teased her about other things...but not that. 

And then there was Thelios. He'd never even hinted that there was anything wrong with her. He'd certainly never said she was cold...and had gone so far as to deny it outright...though it probably didn't hurt that he'd been between her legs at the time, busy making her feel very warm indeed. But then maybe he had odd standards.

Even when she'd become strangely emotional those few times, something he said he had little patience for...he'd merely accepted it and shrugged once he was sure she was neither hurt nor truly upset. It was a bit confusing.

Was she so different with everyone else than she was with him? Perhaps so. She certainly felt comfortable with both of them, at home when it was just...family? Friends? No...it was that and something else, something more than that as well... 

"Are you quite alright? I haven't upset you have I?"

"Oh, no, not at all. I just have quite a bit to think about. I'm sorry."

"I wouldn't fret too much. Just keep near him and he'll hold you out of trouble, I'm sure." Calliope blinked as the woman laid a hand on her shoulder. "Now, go back to him with one last request that he join us. Yes?"

Calliope gave a half bow and bid the Lady a pleasant evening. She wasn't sure she was quite ready to be thrust back out there with all those overwhelming people, and much preferred the idea of spending the evening quietly with Thelios, but she had to admit some curiosity as to what these dinners entailed.

Then again, it didn't follow that just because he went, she would be going as well. In which case, she might stay in the rooms and have her quiet evening regardless. She was forced to admit that she'd definitely prefer to have him with her though. Especially after a day like today. As pathetic as it was, she felt she required some consolation. 

She'd seen a glimpse of his usual humor before Lady Nagi had left, and she was now almost positive that none of his frustration was with her...but it would put her mind at ease to see some definite confirmation of it.

He had been so cool toward her when he first arrived...but then perhaps that wasn't for her benefit at all. He'd been very direct in ordering the men, and very no nonsense. Which was a good thing really...appropriate for his rank here, and if he was truly trying to cultivate his dominance over these brothers of his so that he could keep them from pestering him overmuch, then it was what he needed to do. She nodded mentally, her mind rearranging the situation in her head in a much more logical and cohesive fashion until she almost felt her usual self.

Her mind finally managed to conjure him in her memories without the taint of her own insecurity...and the image wasn't unappealing. What he lacked in his usually easy, confident manner, he made up for with sheer commanding presence. While not comforting, she had to admit...it was a little bit exciting. It was pleasing to see others defer to him, to see her master respected...feared even. But she needn't fear him, did she? It wasn't as if he was unreasonable, and so long as she was reasonable, what offense could a reasonable person take? It seemed logical enough to her.

On that last thought she found herself back at the door to his private rooms. She hesitated at the door for a moment, noticing a shifting movement out of the corner of her eye. She glanced toward it, half expecting to see Demitri, but instead she caught a glimpse of blonde hair disappearing into one of the rooms at the end of the greeting hall. She watched to see if the figure would emerge, but there was nothing, no sound or movement to disturb the simple, clean, whiteness of the space. Even the flowers in the strange courtyard were as still in the dimming twilight. 

Another glance told her many more lamps had been lit, and she decided that must have been what the girl was busy doing. Satisfied she turned her attention back to her master and his current mood. 

When the door was fully closed behind her, Calliope turned and leaned against it as she watched Thelios. He was watching her back, and brooding again from the look of it.

"Why Are you glowering, really?"

"I don't want to be here." If she hadn't been sure he was incapable of it, she might have suggested she saw a pout somewhere in his expression.

The corner of her lip twitched. "So you're just being petulant?" She teased softly.

He glared at her, but her small smile didn't dim. There was something more familiar in that glare...she could see that now with her new perspective, and she couldn't be upset by it any longer.

"No. I am not petulant. Irritated...Annoyed...Frustrated. Never petulant." He cocked a brow at her waiting for a response, but she had nothing to say to that. So he sighed and closed his eyes, rubbing his brow with one hand. 

"Tired perhaps?"

"That I'll readily admit to." He muttered, still massaging his forehead. "I've been to Hades and back trying to get information I already knew just to shut these people up...so I've no desire to spend any more time in their company than I absolutely must." He must have read something in her expression because he smirked and added, "Figuratively speaking of course. I haven't actually been to Hades...it just felt that way." 

She finally moved from the door and approached to slip in behind him, dragging her fingers across his broad shoulder, feeling the skin respond to her touch, until they found his neck. He grunted softly as they began to knead the tight muscle and tendons which ran from his skull back down to his shoulders. 

It wasn't easy work, it never was, but he was clearly tenser than normal...not surprising, and with the added size, there was just that much more to deal with. She quickly became focused on one particular knot, just behind his right shoulder, and was frowning hard at the spot as she dug in with the heal of her palm to push it out. She could hear his breath hitching when she pushed especially hard, but other than that, he made no sound and didn't even shift as she pushed against him. He was like one of those statues out in the hall, just as silent and just as hard.

It was because of her focus that she was startled when her laboring hand was suddenly captured and pulled forward over his shoulder. Her own breath hitched and her lips parted in silent surprise as she watched him turn his head to press his lips to the now aching palm of her hand. 

He turned away again, but didn't release her. She couldn't say how long she stood there, staring at her hand caught in his before she felt herself slowly melt into the back of him, wrapping her free arm around his shoulder, and pressing her own lips to the back of his neck.

He tasted of the sea. More than he usually did, anyway.

She told him so. He chuckled softly and told her she did as well and that they should both probably take a bath.

"Now?" she asked.

"Not quite yet."

After another long moment she moved around the side of the chair, letting her arms drop from around him. She noticed that the glass she'd poured him had remained untouched. "Do you want that wine yet?"

"No. Not the wine."

He reached out and caught her by the arm, pulling her back toward him until he could grab her by the waist. She chuckled as his hands literally encased and lifted her, depositing her in his lap like a sack of flour. She perched easily on one of his massive thighs, her own legs falling to either side, and let herself lean back against his chest.

For a time they merely sat like that, unmoving. His chest rose and fell slowly behind her, lulling her into relaxation until everything began to feel normal again...at least normal for them. She sighed and closed her eyes with a small, crooked smile. 

One of his thumbs began making slow circles against her stomach. Her smile faded and she literally felt her heart begin to beat faster and harder in her chest, fluttering against her ribs like a caged bird. She'd allowed herself to be distracted by everything else, but now that they were alone, in the quite, still room, the issue she'd been avoiding for the last week or so had once again reared its unavoidable head. 

The fact was she'd have to tell him sooner or later...better sooner...but she was inclined toward later. Completely out of cowardice of course...she had no better reason than that. She was afraid of what he'd say...or do. That he would be upset, or unhappy with the news. She liked to think that he would be his usual calm and reasonable self, but then she'd thought that about her fa...no...this wasn't the same...

Perhaps not today then...but soon. It couldn't be put off too long. Once she'd found out a little more about his views on the subject it might be easier. She could find a way to ask, subtly of course, and then she'd know better what she was getting into.

She looked down to see her hands on top of his. She couldn't decide if his added size made his look bigger or hers smaller. At the moment, it felt like the later, though she knew it was only her perspective playing tricks on her.

Why are you so much bigger than usual?"

"Not that much bigger...a foot or two at most." 

"It seems like more than that."

He didn't answer, but she smiled as she felt his mouth against the back of her bare shoulder. "You have had a great deal to take in, everything probably seems like more than it is. I imagine this is all somewhat overwhelming."

She couldn't argue with that. "I have to admit," she considered aloud, "I'm relieved to hear you say that. I...I'm feeling a little lost at the moment, and it's comforting to know that you aren't blind to it."

"No, I'm not. I'm sorry for what happened in the hall, I shouldn't have left you alone." His mouth was now grazing her ear. She felt what she knew to be one of his fangs brushing against her neck, just below her earlobe and shuddered. It definitely wasn't fear that caused the tremor this time though. "And to answer your question, I like to make sure they remember that I can choose to be this size or that...and that I can become much larger if I need to. So I keep them on their toes by constantly changing. It's a thinly veiled threat."

She smiled at the admission. "Can't they do the same?"

"No. Well...one of my sisters can shift forms...but it's not all that common. It's not something we inherited from our father."

When he refrained from saying more, she offered another thought. "You seem...seemed different as well...not just your size...perhaps that effected my perceptions as well."

"Perhaps." He didn't deny it, but he didn't confirm it either.

"Can I assume that it wasn't for my benefit?"

"You may. But we're not so dissimilar in that regard I think, you and I. What we are with others isn't what we are when we're alone."

"Or when we're with each other, it would seem." She agreed, remembering his sister's observations...and Thelios's own private comments to the contrary. 

"That's what I meant by alone, Calliope."

She shifted in his lap, turning sideways to see his face. It was still sterner than normal...his brow slightly troubled, but nothing she wasn't familiar with. It was the look he'd get when he was trying to decide which pasture to take the sheep, when what he wanted was to take them east to avoid the winds on a blustery day, but knew the exposed fields nearer the water needed to be rotated in to avoid over-grazing, and soon. It was the same mildly irritated look of chagrin she'd seen a dozen times before. It meant something was bothering him, but nothing she couldn't handle.

"What is it?" she asked, curiously. He lifted a brow, and then smirked. 

"It's nothing." She watched his face a moment longer then decided she'd accept the answer and leaned into him. He responded by pulling her legs up over his other thigh and pulling her tighter in against him. She felt his hand slide under the hem of her dress near her ankle and winced.

"No, no, no." She pulled her calf out of his hand...or tried to, but his grip only tightened.

He looked amused. "No?"

"I...they...leave my legs alone." She tried to cover them and push his hand off at the same time. It didn't work. "I haven't had time to..." She winced as his hand climbed up her calf. She'd been on a ship in close quarters with almost a dozen men...there had been no place or time to make herself presentable. He grinned and chuckled, making her blush. 

"Because of your prickly legs?"

She blushed harder and tried in vain to pull away. "If you'll let me go, I'll go clean myself up."

He didn't. He laughed, and his hand climbed up over her bent knee and back down her thigh. She instinctively held her breath as his hand approached and cupped her sex, despite her best efforts to squeeze off his access. It was no use, so she gave up and relaxed a little in his grip...though her face was no less pink and burned no less hotly. His thumb lightly brushed over her mons, making her grit her teeth. She tried to keep herself covered, but his arm was making it all but impossible. He only made it worse by sliding the other hand up to reach around her and threatened to tease one of her breasts as well.

"What if someone comes in" She breathed.

"Then I'll tell them to leave...unless you want them to watch..."

"No!" 

He laughed softly at her response. She let out her own nervous laugh, but still kept pushing at his hands. Pointlessly, as she was still also attempting to hold herself up and her own hand was so much smaller than his. 

"Not an exhibitionist then?"

She flushed and tried to wriggle out of his grip...equally pointless. "Perhaps we should go to your rooms?" she offered feebly.

"These are my rooms." His fingers were now tugging at the fabric of her dress, and inching his fingers toward the pin fastened at the shoulder to hold the material together. 

"Here as well?" He murmured. 

"Where?" She asked in confusion, still making a valiant effort at remaining at least partially clothed.

The hand between her thighs squeezed, causing one or two fingers to dig into her sex. "Here."

She swallowed a gasp and was about to repeat her offer to remove the offending hair, but he cut her off before she could. "Why?"




Sacrifice Ch. 05



"Why...why what?"

"Why did you remove it?"

"Um..." For the hundredth time that day, she was stymied. "Well...that's what one does. I've always done so."

"Even before you were sent to me?"

"Yes."

"Who were you doing it for? You weren't married, and I happen to know for a fact that you hadn't taken a lover...so why?"

She frowned, his caressing thumb still pressed against her sex was making it hard to think straight, even so she tried to consider the question. "I don't know. I suppose because smooth skin is more pleasant to the touch...and it makes one look younger and more beautiful. Humans and virgins...remember. I've believed you've complained about that to me a dozen or so times...probably more."

"But you don't remove all of it."

"I don't?"

He smiled and his other hand slid down to her lower back and he dragged his knuckles up and down her spine. "Here."

"Oh! I'm sorry...I guess I couldn't have seen it...I'll get rid of it as well..."

"Don't you dare." he smirked. "I like it. It's so fair that it's very hard to see, but it feels like down when I run my fingers over it. His knuckles uncurled and he spread the pads of his fingers his hand spanning nearly from hip to hip. She felt the heat in her cheeks spread slowly down her throat and across her chest. She couldn't tell if it was embarrassment or arousal.

"You're very strange, you know that?" She murmured thickly.

He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "No more so than a woman who can disarm a man and face my sister, and then an hour later gets squeamish about hair."

"Yes, well about that... I still need to clean up...so please...let me go do so."

"I don't care, it doesn't bother me."

"Well it does bother me."

"Again, I ask why."

"Because," she gripped his wrist firmly and he finally allowed her to pull his hand from between her legs so she could sit up straight, "as surprising as it might sound, those of us who are merely fair to middling also like to feel desirable, even when the competition is literally Olympian, and the point is utterly moot." 

He only laughed at that as well, but to her surprise lifted her off his lap and back onto her feet. He rose as she straightened her dress, and literally loomed over her. She was forced to tilt back her head somewhat to see his face. 

"Start a bath. I'm going to see about getting us a proper supper, and then I'll join you."

She nodded and watched him go...then started looking for the bath. 

It was quite easy to find as the first door she checked was a private sleeping quarters. It was a huge room with a large elegant bath on a raised platform in the corner surrounded by hanging censors. This room was quite different from the sitting area. The floor was a darker stone, and the furniture made of carved and gilded wood, and covered with pillows and cushions. The walls were hung with heavy weavings, elaborately patterned, and in the other corner of the room was a large bed, also hung with cloth and covered in pillows. 

It was lovely, but she could see why Thelios wouldn't feel all that comfortable here. It just wasn't him. She couldn't help but think of the simple but comfortable bed they shared at home...which was nothing more than a thin pad of stuffed wool made comfortable with skins and furs. 

He had a room full of gold—all of what she now saw before her—and yet he chose to live simply. That was who he was. And as comfortable as the extravagant looking bed seemed to be...she felt a sudden and powerful desire to have that simple bed of skins and fur back, if just for tonight.

She shook off her thoughts and turned her attention to the bath. It was an elaborate affair; the pipes already heated and needing nothing more than a hand to turn the latches to release the water. It was nearly ready when Thelios returned. He wasted no time and was stripped and in before she'd finished filling it, and had already stepped out when she was soaping and rinsing the smell of salt water from her hair.

"Aren't you going to soak?" She asked as he roughly and perfunctorily toweled himself off. "The heat might help loosen the muscles in your shoulders."

He shrugged and tossed the towel on the steps leading to the bath. "I've spent too much time in the water today. I'll find some other way to relax." He turned and grinned devilishly at her over his shoulder. She looked away, but wasn't able to suppress her own smile. She decided there was no point in loitering in the bath if he was out as well, and frankly he was right. She'd had enough of water for quite a while. Plus the sight of her bared stomach was beginning to make her nervous. She kept thinking she could see a slight thickness there that she'd not noticed before. It was silly...there wasn't anything to see...probably.

She climbed out of the bath and dried herself quickly as well, letting her hair fall as it would in wet curls, and opting to wrap a loincloth about her hips and between her thighs instead of dressing completely. She still had every intention of using sugar on her legs before she let Thelios anywhere near them again, so there was no point in dressing. Besides which she was generally used to being naked with him now, not like those first few days. Even so, it was still easier for her to make at least a gesture of modesty, even if it was halfhearted. 

When she went to leave the room to find her things he stopped her, asking her to stay with him, still grinning suggestively.

"I told you, I'm going to do it whether you care or not." Her mind briefly flitted to Demitri joking about how bossy she was with them, and momentarily regretted her words, that is until she noted the expression on his face and decided there was no harm in it after all.

"Fine...just do it in here."

She frowned. "Why?"

"I want to watch."

"Again I have to ask...why?" She smarmed, turning his own words back on him. He grinned, revealing his fangs.

"I'm curious...humor me."

"It's rather embarrassing." She hedged, sincerely unsure about why he would want to see such a thing. It was her understanding that men didn't want to see the process of 'beauty' in all of its awkward and often painful glory...just the pretty, uncomplicated results.

"I promise to make it worth your while." He gave her a smirking grin, half charmingly boyish, and half devilish, and she was forced to capitulate. Maybe that was the smile Nagi had been speaking of when she referred to Zeus. She frowned again as she left to collect her things. Certainly that wasn't the father they spoke of? No...it couldn't be...but she was curious about who it Could be. And she was rapidly becoming all the more curious.

When she returned, still wearing just the simple hip wrap, though with the minimal addition of her few and simple pieces of jewelry as a gesture to the opulence of her surroundings, she found him lounging on one of the oversized couches. Oversized by her standards, it still looked small under him. He was wearing his usual wrap, and she was surprised that he had bothered to dress at all until she noticed the platter of food on the low table next to him. She caught his eye then looked pointedly from the platter to his cloth wrapped hips.

"Not an exhibitionist either?" She asked archly as she passed his couch on her way back to the bath. 

"Well, I didn't want to frighten the poor creature...I'm a lot to take in."

She bit back her laugh, glad she was facing away. 

Literally and figuratively she thought, only half joking to herself. "Indeed you are my Lord." She agreed, toning her voice with mild indifference. "To be frank, I'm not sure how I've survived you thus far...I can only hope your ego doesn't swell with the rest of you, or you will most certainly be the death of me."

"It's really not my ego you should be worried about."

"Well," She countered, still looking away to hide her smile and busying herself with heating the honey mixture, "it's a good thing I don't frighten easily, isn't it."

He laughed. "You must be joking. Your legs snapped together so tightly that first night, I thought I was going to need a chisel to get them apart." She couldn't help but chuckle at that and threw him an amused look.

"You can hardly blame me for being a little hesitant. Besides, I thought I was remarkably stoic about the whole thing. Don't you? I could have run screaming from the premises."

"For a moment I thought you might." He teased.

"Hardly."

"Aren't you glad you didn't? You would have missed out on all this." He waved dismissively to the room around him. His sarcasm was palpable.

"Yes, well, this I could have done without." She paused and smiled a little more sincerely, "But I am glad nonetheless."

"Obviously. Because I arouse you." It wasn't a question. She shook her head, laughing.

"You're incorrigible."

"I think you mean encouragable."

"That isn't even a proper word."

"That's because there aren't words to describe the wonder that is I. At least...not proper ones."

"Stop it." She admonished, laughing outright now, and unable to contain it. "I'm not going to be able to do this properly if you keep distracting me.

He said nothing but waved her on to her task with an imperious arch of his brow. The effect was ruined by the slight spasm at the left corner of his mouth.

"Are you sure you want to see this?" He nodded. She shrugged. "Fine." She was forced to turn partially away from him so as not to be unnerved by the sight of him watching. She knew it was silly to be embarrassed about it...but she felt oddly exposed by the whole thing. No doubt, she thought as she began, because of his earlier comments about exhibitionism.

"Did that hurt as much as it looked like it did?" He asked after she'd pressed and ripped the first strip of cotton cloth.

"Yes. More, probably."

"It's amazing that women will willingly submit to that, and yet, as you noted, run screaming from me."

"Don't take that too personally." She offered sympathetically. "The first time I had to, I literally begged to put it off, and was crying before it had even started. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't as awful as I imagined. And really, like anything, you get used to it and it becomes easier each time you do it. Inured, I think, is the word."

"I really hope you're still talking about your legs." He muttered. She laughed. "Yes...but you weren't so bad either. You said yourself they should never have sent virgins. How were we to know anything about anything." 

"You seemed fine."

"I thought I needed a chisel?" She teased.

"Well, 'fine,' comparatively speaking."

"Ah. How kind. You know, in all honesty I'd made up my mind to be stiff lipped about the whole thing...and I was expecting to die. Everything else seemed like a major improvement."

"Not as bad as death. What a charming thought. You can be very hard on my pride sometimes, you know that?"

"I'm not worried about your pride. It will be fine, I'm sure. Lord knows there's plenty of it to go around."

He had nothing to add to that, and simply watched her in silence. She could feel his eyes on her, and watched him back from the corner of her eye. When it came time to attend to her...more personal areas, she turned her back to him completely. 

He said nothing at first but she could feel the burn of his eyes even more intensely...or perhaps that was only in her imagination. Gods knew she'd never been quite so aware of what she was doing before, the strangeness of it, or the intimacy. It was always just something one did...a painful chore...now it was, she had to admit...oddly sexual. She kept catching herself lingering, her fingers sliding through the slippery folds of her sex more often than they needed to, or catching for a moment too long against the rapidly hardening nub at the apex. Even the pain was in a small, strange way erotic, as if his presence in the room was conjuring those other associations, other moments when the line between pain and pleasure was obscured...or even obliterated. 

"Are you enjoying yourself?" She asked softly when she was nearly finished, her voice sounding a little rough to her ears, but remarkably even considering the rapidity of her breathing. 

"I would be enjoying myself more if you were facing the other way."

She smirked even though her skin flushed even hotter with...with what, she couldn't quite say. Was it excitement, at the idea? Certainly shyness...aroused embarrassment...what did it matter, the effect was the same...and she half considered indulging him. Indulging him or yourself? She thought, with a surge of something she definitely recognized as clear, burning shame.

"Perhaps next time." She conceded, her voice nearly a whisper.

There was another long silence before she ran a cloth once more carefully over her skin and rose with a small secretive smile. She was embarrassed by the intimacy, it was true, but there was also something so very appealing about him watching her the way he was, as if there were something intensely fascinating about her. It made her feel alluring...like an object of desire, even with more exotic and lovely objects filling the halls around them. 

Not a small feat after the day she'd had, one that started with her nauseous and ill on a boat full of men who wouldn't even look at her, which had been highlighted by the gauntlet of stunningly beautiful women, one of which was some sort of half serpent demigod and their apparent housemate, and which had ended with her tired, confused and in no condition to be appealing to anyone. 

And yet the look in his eyes as she slowly crossed the room toward him told her very much otherwise. 

That look still seared her insides and made her skin prickle and flush, no matter how many times she'd seen it, but she had weathered it enough to keep her head. She intentionally rocked her hips as she walked, hanging on that feeling...to the idea that she was as enticing as any other. She slid one hand down her stomach to the edge of the silk cloth, and pulled the end loose, letting it unravel as she moved and casting it to the floor behind her. By the time she stood before him her skin was on fire and her breathing quick and shallow. Even her nipples had hardened, making her arousal painfully obvious, if it wasn't already.

Boldly she lifted a leg and propped her foot up on the edge of the couch, her hands on her cocked hips. Her wry smile was more confident than she felt, as she exposed herself to him. 

The look in his eyes was indescribable...and physical in its intensity.

"Well? Tell me how it feels." Her heart pounded in her chest as his hand slid up her calf. "Good?"

"Very." He rumbled, leaning in toward her to wrap his fingers around her leg and hold her still as his mouth found her skin. His lips felt unusually cool against her skin, and she moaned softly as she felt his broad tongue trace a short path up the soft flesh of her inner thigh. He pulled away with a curious expression on his face. "You taste like sweet citrons."

She chuckled. It was a low, dark sound filtered as it was through her arousal. "The mixture had both citrons and honey...the scent lingers." His mouth returned to her thigh and his free hand reached up to cup and grip her ass. She couldn't help but wonder at and delight in the fact that his sheer size allowed him to hold her so easily. More remarkable was how gently he did so, and how light and teasing his cool caresses were when he could quite literally snap her in half if he was of a mind to. Something which had never been so apparent, at least not since she'd first seen him at his full height...and then she'd certainly not been naked with his hands wrapped firmly around her, and his mouth sliding up over her hip and stomach. She had to wonder how she'd managed to put that aspect of him, the dangerous part of him, out of her mind for so long. Was it so easy to forget? 

Perhaps it was, she thought with a shiver as his lips brushed down over her mound until his tongue could reach out and lightly flick the exposed and achingly sensitive nub of flesh beneath. She gasped and reached out to clasp the back of his head as he pulled her closer and his teeth joined his tongue. He wasted no more time with teasing and his mouth moved to cover her smooth sex completely, his thick tongue digging deeply between the folds. She let out a gasping sigh and immediately tilted her hips to allow him better access. 

He pulled her closer and leaned back, forcing her to steady herself against his shoulders. Her free hand slid up the back of his neck, her fingers trailing over his skull until they found his horns. She grinned between gasps, fighting to keep her head as his hungry tongue attempted to burrow inside of her. 

She wrapped her fingers around one of his horns, gently squeezing and sliding her hand along its length and base. She felt him chuckle against her sex, and nearly lost her balance when his shoulders began to shake with mirth. 

Giggling breathlessly, she kept it up until he was forced to tear his mouth away from her.

"Woman, are you trying to tell me something?"

She laughed more fully and released him as he released her, and moved to straddle him on the couch instead. He shifted to allow it, though with his size, there was barely any room for her to rest her knees...even if they could have reached. Instead her legs dangled over his sides with her toes brushing the floor. He was lying back now, but the couch curved up on either side, elevating his shoulders...as it was they were nearly eye to eye. 

She was straddling his waist and leaned forward to brush her lips against his. He leaned in a little to help, making an appreciative sound when her tongue flicked out to trace the gap between. 

"I think it tastes more like regular citrons— too tart for the sweet ones."

He grinned, grasping her hips and grinding her down against his stomach. "I don't think you're tasting what you think you're tasting."

She gave him her own grin, which she had intended to be enticing but knew was at least partially ruined by the flush which accompanied it, and leaned in again, letting her mouth linger a little longer, flicking her tongue against his playfully. "Aren't I?"

He growled and forced an end to her teasing by jerking her hips forward and crushing her mouth against his. 

She melted into him, into his heat. She surprised herself. If she'd been flushed and warmed before, she was on fire now and writhed against him as she fought him for control of the kiss, nipping at his lips, lashing his fangs and tongue with her own. She could still taste a trace of herself on his lips and the thought made her that much hotter. She pulled her mouth from his, drawing needful trails over the line of his jaw, down his throat and collar and chest, grazing the rough skin with her teeth and scoring it lightly with her nails. 

Before long he made it clear he'd had enough and she gasped harshly as a fist reached up and tightened in her hair, pulling her mouth from his body and angling her head back so that she was forced to look panting up into his fiery red eyes. Fierce red eyes glared down into hers, but he made no other move and said nothing...just held her in his grip and gaze. Only seconds passed, but it felt like hours. Her skin prickled and tightened and suddenly she could feel her own heartbeat pulsing in the tips of her fingers, a staccato counter-point to the much slower, heavier rhythm reverberating the chest beneath her palms. 

It was suddenly very hard to breath.

"You want me, don't you?" She whispered in a trembling, almost frightened voice.

The words, and the sentiment behind them, were unexpected and they surprised her...even as she heard them spilling from her mouth. She instantly regretted them and wondered where they were coming from. A moment of panic, bred from too many days of fear and anxiety? 




Sacrifice Ch. 05



His brow creased, and that fleeting moment of fear become a solid knot in her throat, a knot which dropped hard into the pit of her stomach as he shifted to rise, pulling her off of him and leaving her kneeling uncertainly on the couch.

She gaped up at him, still searching for the words to apologize, when he froze her racing thoughts by undoing his own wrap and tossing it to the side. She couldn't help but stare at the large, erect cock which stood proudly before her. The knot of fear melted along with the rest of her insides until she was sure there must be a small pool of her slowly running down her thighs. The sensation was only increased by the low, heated growl of his voice as he spoke.

"You tell me."

Her eyes darted up to his and saw something her addled mind chose to interpret as understanding. Though it was hard to tell with all that fearsome, raw lust simmering there as well.

She had two choices, she decided. She could give into the emotion which was rapidly clawing its way up her throat and threatening to turn her into a weepy disgusting mess, or she could channel her sudden rush of relief and gratitude into something a little more productive. 

He grunted as her lips came down around the head of his cock, and his hips jerked instinctively forward, causing him to press roughly against the back of her throat. She swallowed to keep from choking and just pressed back until her eyes watered, desperate to get as much as she could into her mouth. It wasn't much, considering he had been right about it not being his growing ego she need be concerned about. But she could care less. Instead she sucked and licked at the thick head as if her life depended on it, her hands gently squeezing the unattended shaft, sliding lower as her mouth followed, eager and adoring. 

He groaned above her and she felt him capture her hair, lifting it away from her face to better watch her progress. She looked up to see his reaction just as her tongue was flicking teasingly up the seam of his heavy sack, her hands still sliding along his now wet cock. The sight of him standing over her, his powerful chest heaving in time with her own, pulled a low moan from her throat. 

He pulsed against her hands, jerking as if to wrest out of her control, but her mouth followed, moving wetly back up the shaft, even as she dropped one of her hands down to her own thighs. He wasn't the only one pulsing like that. The needful throb had rapidly built to a demanding ache, and she could only groan in relief and buck her hips as her hand found her swollen clit and pinched it hard between her fingers. 

His eyes dropped also, watching intently as she worked her hand between her clenched thighs. A horrible, wonderful thought occurred to her and she pursued it before she could think better of it. Slowly, almost hesitantly, she shifted her knees apart, leaning back a little farther as her thighs spread wide. 

She watched his face carefully and realized that he didn't seem to notice that her mouth had left him. Nor did he seem to notice when she also released his cock in order to lean back on one hand. She was practically shaking, feeling a level of terrified excitement she hadn't felt since her first encounters with him. 

That excitement only grew as she bit her lip and slowly pressed two slim fingers into her own slick center. Her eyes fluttered closed and her breath caught in her throat as she felt the walls of her excited pussy clamped down hard around her fingers. She ground against her palm, working faster, and pushing her fingers as deep as they would go...but it wasn't deep enough...not anywhere near enough.

She opened her eyes again, looking for that which she knew would most certainly satisfy the intense ache. The sight that greeted her nearly sent her over the edge, and pulled a low sound of want from her throat. Thelios had his hand wrapped around the base of his cock, slowly pumping the thick shaft as he continued to watch her grind desperately against her fingers, his gaze burning down into her but impossible to look away from. She couldn't begin to explain why, but the sight of him stroking himself like he was...was just...so...

Calliope gasped in surprise, nearly falling backward as his other hand lashed out and pulled her wrist from between her legs. His grip kept her from falling, and he pulled her back up toward him, forcing her up on her knees and surprising her again by taking her two fingers deep into his mouth and lashing them clean with his tongue.

"Oh god..." she rasped, and reached out for him. She didn't quite get the chance, as instead of pulling her to him, he snatched her up by the waist and near tossed her over one massive shoulder. He knocked the breath from her completely as he tossed her a moment later on the soft, over-sized bed.

The bed frame groaned as his weight join her, and his massive hands wrap around her hips, turning her onto her stomach and pulling her up to her hands and knees. She grasped the silken covers beneath her, half-holding her breath as she felt the thick head of his cock rudely grind against her exposed sex. 

He shifted her weight so that her stomach rested over his arm, freeing his other hand to aim and press the tip of his head deeper into her folds. She groaned in response and thanked what gods she could that she was as wet as she was. Even after having taken him so often...this was almost like being with him that first time. He was indeed larger and the added girth stretched her right up to that point of near pain. 

But that was the only mercy she was to receive, and once that heavy crown was fully inside her, he held nothing back, shoving the rest in with a breathtakingly quick thrust before slowly withdrawing, letting her feel everything...and then thrusting again. And again.

Relentlessly he pounded into her with ever greater speed and insistence, lifting her hips well off the bed as she clutched at the sheets, whimpering and crying out like a feral cat in heat. She could feel herself clenching around him with each thrust, could feel herself jerk and spasm with breath taking intensity. She could hardly tell if the tightness clamping down around her heart and clutching at her insides was some sort of torturous, unending climax, or the warning of immanent death. 

At some point she felt her knees hit the blankets once more, and felt his body slide over hers, his arm still pinning her as he fucked deeply into her. The other held him over her on one elbow, letting her fall to the bed. His mouth came down, just as hard and hot as the rest of him, against her shoulder, his teeth nipping at her skin. 

"Have I told you how good you taste?" He growled against her ear.

She let out what would have been a laugh if she hadn't been too busy panting for air.

"Not...in...so many...words..." she managed, causing him to let out his own broken chuckle, even as he continued to drive into her. "Y-you were...right. It wasn't y-your...ego...I had to...ah..." She gritted her teeth and whimpered at another round of stomach twisting spasms caused her to arch her back and press her hips desperately into his body.

He paused inside of her then shifted, rolling them both onto their sides, holding her tightly to him from behind with one arm around her waist and the other hooking under her knee to open her wide. 

She looked down and gazed breathlessly at the view of her naked sex as it seemed to spread almost obscenely around the thick, dark shaft. She moaned as the glistening cock stretched her flesh impossibly tight, finding herself almost as aroused by the sight as she was by the sensation. 

She continued to watch, rapt, as the hand around her waist caught one of her own and slipped lower. Both of their fingers moved to her stretched pussy, lightly caressing the taut flesh, and resting at the juncture of their bodies. The sight, the wonderful ache of his slowly fucking...and now the sear of his cock sliding beneath their intertwined fingers...it was all too much. With one more keening gasp she writhed against him, gripping his fingers tightly as her body clenched around his in climax. 

For a moment he held her there, pressing deeply into her to keep from being forced from her body...but as soon as she began to relax he moved again inside of her, even faster than before, keeping her riding the edge of pleasure until it began to bleed back into pain. She wasn't sure if she should beg him to keep going or to stop and end her torment. 

His arm released her leg, letting it fall over his thigh and crossed over her breasts, hooking around her shoulder so that he could drive into her that much faster. "You were wrong." He murmured. She frowned slightly in confusion, but couldn't muster much more thought or response than that as she continued to buck against him.

"Fair to middling." He explained in another harsh whisper, never slowing his thrusts. "You are neither fair...nor middling. You are dark...and you are exquisite...and you are mine."

For a brief and stunning moment his words cut through the haze of her lust and arousal, shocking her into awareness, grasping her heart and squeezing it hard, and then they thrust her right back into it, and then over the edge— past the edge: a moment of gasping awareness followed by a sheer plunge into blinding darkness as her body crashed around his.

"Thelios...I—" 

The sound of her broken cry brought her back even before she felt the hand come down over her mouth. 

The dismayed cry that followed was muffled and lost, as were her confused whimpers as her body submitted to the continuing after effects of her climax, even while her mind began to race. She could feel him pulsing inside of her, hot and pounding, and knew he had joined her and was pouring his seed into her. The sensation...or the thought...sent her into another series of spine twisting tremors. 

For a long time after, she merely quivered against him, stunned. Eventually his hand eased off her mouth, his fingers trailing down her throat, as the rest of him shifted next to her until she was leaning back against him. She turned her face to his, but the angle kept her from seeing his expression. 

"I...I'm so sorry. I...master...I--" He cut her off by sliding his hand back up to briefly cover her lips, tapping them lightly with one of his fingers. She turned a little more and they slid away. His eyes were closed, but when he opened them, there was no anger there. "I'm sorry." She whispered again.

He moved again, settling her onto her back. He sighed and his hand came down over her hair and traced down her cheek. "It's fine. It's not likely anyone was close enough to hear. And it was hardly intentional." He leaned in and kissed the side of her cheek.

He said nothing more and simply rolled onto his back, releasing her and closed his eyes with another heavy, sated sigh. 

She lay where she was, unmoving, watching him. She'd said his name...loudly. She'd cried it...practically screamed it. God...what a mess. He'd told her it was so important not to. Thelios, she thought, the moment slipping back into her mind as she watched him breathe. That hadn't been the whole thought. She felt that old inexplicable feeling crawling back up her throat, that strange emotion which needled her and made a mess of her sensibilities. But it wasn't so inexplicable or strange, not now that she knew exactly what it was. She knew because she'd just about said it out loud.

'Thelios,' she thought as his eyes cracked open slightly and he gave her a side long smirk, and reached out to pull her back up against his side, 'Thelios...I love you.'

@@@

Last night had been wonderful, and awful...but mostly wonderful. Calliope grunted in unladylike annoyance at the cacophony of irrational and distracting thoughts which kept filling her head. All morning she'd been trying to shake them, but they just wouldn't leave her alone, no matter how hard she tried to push them into the back corners of her mind.

She had slipped from bed early, letting Thelios sleep and dressed in the other room so as not to disturb him. She'd also made sure she had a few moments alone to be ill if it became necessary. Unfortunately it had, though it was mostly just nausea as she'd eaten nothing the night before and therefore had little to lose. Not that it made the experience any more pleasant.

After that she'd busied herself checking what few belongings she'd brought. It wasn't much to check since Demitri and his own things were in another room, a thought which sent her exploring a little once her stomach was sufficiently settled and up to the task. 

Most of the rooms in the suite seemed to be set up with the idea that the occupant would be both entertaining a good number of guests and supporting a small army of servants. Naturally they were all empty and useless in Thelios's case. She couldn't imagine him using any more space than he already had. 

She returned to the small room just off of Thelios's where she'd been more fully introduced to his sister, and found a fresh platter of fruit, bread and cheese. She picked up a date, stared at it contemplatively, and then dropped it back onto the platter with a sigh.

"Damn stomach. Why won't you behave?" She groused, glaring at the offending platter.

"What's that?" She jumped with a start and a gasp and whirled to find Thelios emerging from his room.

"Ah, nothing."

He wandered over and took a handful of the rejected dates.

She looked up at him speculatively and squinted. "You changed again."

"Yes."

"A little smaller?"

"Just a little." He smiled, and she smiled back...then she frowned. "What is it?" he asked, watching her curiously.

"I...ah...never mind...it's none of my business I guess."

"Well, why don't you let me determine that?"

"You won't be offended?"

He cocked a disbelieving brow at her, and she grinned sheepishly. 

"Alright, you're right." she took a breath and went for it. "Are you ever going to tell me what's going on? I mean, why we are here...and this thing with names...also, why am I here...clearly I hold no candle to these others and am only a weakness, if last night proved anything. If I can't even keep my mouth shut about that one thing you've--though it might help if..."                        He held up a stalling hand and she slowly sucked in her breath to stem her words, though her thoughts kept rushing on ahead in her mind in a veritable torrent. He walked over to the wide throne-like chair and sat, spreading his knees and laying his arms along the rests as he had before and subsequently making it look even more so.              

His face didn't reveal anything, but it looked stern. Finally he beckoned her over. She hesitated briefly, wondering if she'd finally crossed a line in some way, but she didn't linger long enough to make him repeat the gesture. When she reached him he extended a hand and pulled her down onto one knee, a little like he had the night before, though the connotations were different this time.

"I feel like I'm going to get a talking to" She jested with a levity she didn't quite feel. He smiled wryly.

"I only want you nearer to me so that my voice doesn't need to carry." He gestured around the room, "Walls having ears, and such." She nodded, flushing slightly at the reminder of her mistake from the night before, however unintentional. But, he was going to tell her, and that was a step in the right direction. She took a breath and steeled herself.

"Let's move backward shall we." She raised a brow at him this time, but didn't interrupt. "First of all, or I should say last of all...I have no problem gagging you as I fuck you," He smirked at her and she felt her face turned all shades of red, "so I don't really see that as a problem or a weakness...and it's also the answer to why you're here as well...fucking you that is, not the gagging....that's just an interesting byproduct of our circumstances and your inability to control what comes out of your mouth when you orgasm." 

"I'm sorry about that." She whispered roughly.

"Don't be, listening to you scream as you cum one of my favorite parts. You've always done that, you know."

She shook her head. "I honestly don't notice it. I'm...distracted I guess." She answered thickly, her voice catching.

He paused to watch her face, looking amused. "Am I embarrassing you?"

She could only nod, not being quite able to make her throat unclosed itself just at that moment.

He grinned wider. "Good. That's a sweet shade of pink, and it suits you."

She cleared her throat. "Well...ah...now that we've covered That..."

He laughed. 

"Fine, yes, moving on." He grew suddenly serious and forced her gaze back up to meet his with a finger along her jaw. "As far as trying to measure up to anyone, don't. You're here to keep me company, and because I'd rather have you with me than sitting alone back at home...you're not here to be part of..." he waved off towards the courtyard without breaking her gaze, "that nonsense. Understood?" 

She nodded, though she wasn't entirely sure she did. He seemed to know that and continued. "I don't want you to be involved in any of their games or contests or what ever ridiculous infantile bullshit they come up with in their pathetic attempts at one-upmanship. I'm only here because I'm stuck with them. This is business and nothing else. Yes." She nodded again. 

He didn't want or expect her to compete. Not shocking really. It wouldn't turn out well anyway, and would be embarrassing and pointless. And it was sort of silly when you thought about it, despite its glamorous appearance...and he was anything but silly. Devilish...yes, playful even, but by no means excessively so. She nodded again to confirm to herself his lack of silliness and their abundance of it and he let out a satisfied grunt as if he'd been watching the progression of her thoughts along with her.

"Now...about what's going on." His voice lowered again and she leaned in so that he could speak as softly as he desired, the result of which was that he leaned in as well and brushed his lips against her temple before continuing. "It was one of the oracles. Not the human ones like those at Delphi, but one of ours. One of the gorgons, in fact. It appears someone pulled an Odysseus on the poor, foolish creature and managed to get their hands on the methods to a sacred form of magic...one that uses names. It was a secret passed on from the Goddess of magic to her closest followers. "

"Wait," she paused him by placing a hand on his broad chest, "pulled an Odysseus?" 

He smiled wryly. "Yes, that's what we call it when some 'hero' type pulls a fast one on one of us 'monster' types. It's embarrassing really. And patently unfair. When we win, no one writes a story about it." She must have been gaping at him because he paused and grinned. "There really isn't much of a difference between us. All of us are usually the grand children, and great grand children of Gods, or the product of some human/ not so human encounter. They just happen to look more human than we do." He paused and looked away, then around the room. "Of course we here are of a particular lineage...one that seems to have gotten buggered this time around." He glanced back down at her. "My father, you see, was the intended recipient of the spell, but he's too old for that sort of thing to be used against him by anything less than a full blooded god...and they have little reason to. He's in the service of one as it is."

"And he has many children, your father?"

"Enough."

She waited, but he merely sat and brooded, staring off into the distance. Vague...always so damnably vague. If he wouldn't tell her anything, how was she supposed to know what was growing inside of her, or whether he'd be happy about it? "Oh?" She prompted. 

He grunted again in confirmation; it was one of his, that's-all-I'm-going-to-say grunts. So much for that, she thought, then veered toward another tack. "And your mother?"




Sacrifice Ch. 05



He shrugged. "She's fine. Even if it could affect her, she's powerful enough in her own right, and has friends and admirers in high places. Plus she keeps to herself now. Has since Troy fell....the Helen episode, not that last time." He shook his head and chuckled...still gazing off into some unknown distance. "Amazing how they just can't seem to keep that city in one piece. And they just keep asking for it." 

He smiled and looked down at her again. "The problem is: what works on our father, works on us...and it takes less effort to do so. Hence the concern, we're fine so long as no one knows our name or lineage...but it has come to light that some of us are known...which puts the rest at risk. 

She nodded. She was listening, but her mind was still else where. "So neither of your parents is human then." He was silent and she blinked, her eyes focusing back on his. She realized her hand was covering her stomach and she moved, pretending she was smoothing wrinkles from her dress. She should tell him...she really should. What if it could affect the child, this spell? 

"No." he answered slowly. "Why?" He tilted his head giving her a curious look. It was her turn to shrug. No...she couldn't, not yet. He might not even want...

"No reason. Just curious." she smiled, though it felt strained to her, "this is all quite remarkable to me." she moved to get off his lap, but one of his arms had slipped from the rests to pin her where she was. She frowned at him, he smiled back. "What is it?" He didn't answer. She pursed her lips. "Can I ask you something?" He nodded. "Are you intentionally vague?" 

He laughed, and then nodded, still chuckling. "Yes, sometimes I am...why? What is it you want to know?"

She shrugged, folding her hands in her lap. "I...just wonder about who and what you are."

"Would you like me to tell you?" She tried to restrain her excitement at the prospect, but she could tell by the glint in his eye that she hadn't done it well. Well, he couldn't know why she would be excited...could he? Then he frowned.

"Is something wrong? You have a rather odd expression on your face."

"No...why would there be?" Oh dear. He looked suspicious. Perhaps she should just say it...

She opened her mouth...

'Thelios I have something to tell you...' No she couldn't use his name...

'Have you ever wanted children? Well too late now if you didn't...'

'I'm pregnant...surprise!' Oh dear lord. How the hell was she supposed to say-

"Calliope."

She gaped at him. "Yes?"

"What in Hades is wrong with you?"

"There's nothing wrong with me!" she defended. See! He thought there was something wrong with her, he wouldn't want a child with her. What would she do if the child's father didn't want it?

He laughed. "No woman, there isn't. I meant why are you so distracted? It's like your mind went and wandered off without the rest of you. What's going on in there?"

She flushed. "Oh...oh sorry...I don't know. I've been sort of preoccupied lately."

"I've noticed." He didn't add anything, or ask her what was wrong...just looked at her. It wasn't an unpleasant expression. It was simply thoughtful. She stared back, talking herself in and out of just opening her mouth and forcing the sound out. Ultimately, nothing came out but a sigh. She smiled and patted him on the shoulder. 

He looked faintly amused.

"There is something bothering me." She admitted. "I'll get it out eventually, I promise...but I need to figure it out in my head first. I...just need a little time." She looked at him questioningly, and after a moment, he nodded, and smirked.

"Promise?"

She tried to smirk back and laid her hand over her heart. "Promise." His smile faded and he tipped his head to regard her, his fiery eyes searching her face. Eventually he released her, saying nothing, but lightly slapping her ass when she slid off his lap. 

She gave him a disgruntled look over her shoulder as she walked to the door, and he grinned back with a wink. "By the way," he called after her, "any preferences?" 

She frowned and paused to look back at him. "For what?"

He continued to grin. "Gags." She stared, then whirled back toward the door and hurried out of it to keep him from seeing her blush as his laughter chased her from his rooms. It was only once she was at the end of the hall that she realized he'd never told her what he was. Damn him.

@@@

"Left at the statue of Persephone...or is it right?" Calliope frowned at the statue trying to remember which side of the hall the damned thing was supposed to be on. It stared placidly back at her, one hand gripping a scepter and the other offering up a startlingly well carved pomegranate. She sighed. 

"A little too late for that." she muttered, running a hand briefly over her stomach. She'd have at least one more month before she'd even start to show...that is if she were anything like her eldest sister. And then what? 

They'd already been here for several days and she had yet to work up the courage to tell him about the baby. Everyday had seen her coming up with another transparent reason not to tell him. Tomorrow and tomorrow...but tomorrow never comes. She sighed and glared accusingly at the statue. 

She decided to go right. First find the bloody rooms, and then worry about everything else. One thing at a time. 

Calliope was beginning to regret her attempted exploration of the underground palace. She'd only meant to take a look around and get acquainted, and alleviate her boredom, but had instead found herself lost and had spent the better part of the last hour wandering about in twisting circles in an attempt to find her way back. Now, and not for the first time, she found she'd chosen the wrong path. Not right. She should have gone with the first instinct. 

She looked about the unfamiliar hall, her eyes searching for something which could mark it out as unique for her...but at this point it was all just blending together. The eye could only take so much gold before it was simply blinded by it. One mosaic bled into another, and the elaborate patterns in the tiled marble floor were just an unending series of bright colors now. 

She sighed and turned back toward Persephone as nothing leapt out at her as familiar. Just as it came back in sight, a sound from a side corridor caught her ear. There was a pained cry followed by the timbre of an angry male voice. She found herself stopping to listen. There were voices, but too low to make out, save for the tone. The pleading sound of the woman's voice drew her, and she followed it instinctively, not pausing to consider her actions, or to worry about losing herself further in the maze of halls and rooms.

The voices stopped, and Calliope started as a man came around a corner to stalk past her, his face contorted with a mixture of anger and disgust. 

Calliope, paused a moment to watch him pass, but he hardly looked at her. She let out a small gasp when she looked around the corner and saw a woman slouched against the wall with her face buried in her hands.

Thinking she was hurt Calliope went to her, dropping down beside the weeping figure and reaching out to run a soothing hand over her blond hair as the other gently grasped her shoulder. 

She felt a momentary pang. The almost strawberry shade of her hair somehow reminded her of Helena's, or perhaps it was the youthful roundness of her face, or maybe just the weeping...Helena had always been one who was easily upset or hurt. Regardless, she couldn't help but be caught by the flash of resemblance.

The girl looked up with a gasp of her own, startled by the unexpected contact. Her eyes were watery, and the kohl around them had smudged slightly around her blue-green eyes, but other than that, she didn't look too ruffled.

"Are you alright?" The young woman blinked, then seemed to come to herself and gently waved her off. 

"Ah, yes," she continued clearing her throat, "I'm fine...it's nothing." She rose to her feet, allowing Calliope to let a supporting hand linger at her elbow before she pulled away completely, tidying her hair and smoothing herself back into order. She then underwent an odd transformation in which her head and body tilted and her eyes slanted darkly. She looked suddenly like all of the other women she'd seen in the halls. 

It had never, until that moment, occurred to Calliope that one could 'perform' beauty. She'd just assumed it was innate. She considered for a moment her own sister Xanthippe and wondered how the thought had never occurred to her before. After all, she was, in truth no more beautiful than Demetra had ever been...and yet she was considered at large to be the greatest beauty of them all. Indeed this woman had become no more beautiful, and had changed nothing but her posture and the expression on her face...and yet she seemed an utterly different person.

It was a stunning revelation, and it brought a smile to her lips even as she watched the fair haired woman warily. Something in her expression must have caught the woman off guard because her new face faltered slightly for a moment. "Thank you." She offered.

Calliope's smiled back gently. "It's nothing. You're not hurt?"

Her face flickered again before her lips twisted sourly. "No." It was one word, but it was filled with venom. Calliope could see it was not directed at her, however. So she tilted her head and waited, feeling that there was more meant to be said on the subject. The woman sighed and her expression broke completely as she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Not hurt," she muttered to the floor, "undone, ruined, destroyed...but not hurt."

"That...doesn't sound promising." She offered uncertainly, getting a humorless laugh in response. 

"No. Not at all."

"Do...ah, is there anything, I mean, could I do anything for you? To help?"

The woman finally glanced up then, giving Calliope a strange, searching look. "Help?"

"Yes."

"Help me?"

"Yes?" Calliope frowned, uncertain as to why that should be unclear.

"Why?"

"Why? I don't know. It seems the polite thing to do. I mean," she continued, "who knows if I could help you...but if I can, I don't see why I shouldn't. Why don't you tell me what the issue is, perhaps I can help resolve it."

"I very much doubt it."

Calliope smirked wryly. "Can it hurt to try?"

She returned the expression. "It might. Penelope...by the way."

"Calliope. I meant what I said." She reiterated softly, watching Penelope's face as it flickered with apprehension.

"I can see that...I just don't understand why. But..." she sighed again, "I don't suppose it could hurt to tell you." She nodded down the hall. "That man you passed, he is a slave dealer...and I belong to his...stable." Calliope noticed her jaw tighten. "Unfortunately I am not the only one." She glared down the hall a moment before she looked back at Calliope with a half sneer of a smile. "We're offered a percentage if we can pull in one of the highest prices...so naturally the competition can become fierce. And that, you see, is my problem. We perform in order to capture the eye of a potential owner and if we cannot then we are more than likely out of the running and certainly have no chance at the best prices."

"Wait...you compete to be owned?"

"Yes." She arched a brow at her. "These are coveted positions...surely you've noticed the vast wealth of this place, and the power of those that control it? The blood of actual gods runs through their veins."

"Yes, I suppose." 

She let out a laugh. "You suppose?"

Calliope shrugged, a little put off by the track of the conversation. "I honestly didn't know these people...these beings, existed until a few months ago...and I wouldn't have pictured any of this, even after I became aware of their existence. I had assumed they would be much as my own master." She gestured to the opulence around them. "I was simply given to my master as part of a tribute...I can't imagine competing for it."

"Well, that's how it works with the professionals. I imagine it's different for the regular slaves." She nodded to Calliope to indicate she meant her. Really Calliope couldn't argue with the assessment. She wasn't the singer, dancer or the 'actress' that these women must necessarily be. "Back to the point, I've been sabotaged by some of the others who have convinced the musicians not to play for me. Probably promised them all favors." She huffed out an annoyed puff of air. "I'm really very good you know. That's why they did it...the cowards. They wanted me out of the running." 

"Is that what has upset you? Why don't you tell the dealer? Surely it's in his best interest to make sure all his options are presented well?"

"I know!" she agreed, "exactly right! That's what I tried to tell him...but he won't listen...and I can't understand why. He...he said some things that make me suspect someone's been feeding him tales about me. I'm just..." She made a frustrated sound and clenched her fists before deflating completely. "I don't know what to do."

Calliope gnawed her bottom lip thoughtfully for a moment. "So...the immediate issue is that you need a musician?"

"Yes. For now."

"Surely there must be numerous among all these slaves and servants. Even one would be better than nothing."

"Yes, but you don't just go around asking to borrow peoples servants. It's not done." 

"Well...I'm sure my master wouldn't care all that much...but that is of little help considering he has only the two of us, and neither of us are professional musicians. I...I do know how to play...a little...but I'm no expert." Xanthippe had been her teacher, and an exacting one at that. If half her sister's criticisms had been accurate, then she was at the very best of middling skill. Her performances always too wooden apparently, even if they were technically correct. But then she needed only provide the notes...it would be the dancer they would be watching. Surely she had provided accompaniment for Xanthippe and no one noticed her playing one way or another. It was simply a means to an end, and served its purpose well enough.

"You'd be willing to help me?"

"Ah...yes, I'd like to help actually...but I'm not supposed to...participate...exactly."

"Why not?"

"I don't know specifically." She chuckled, "Probably because I'm no good at it and would make both myself and my master look ridiculous." She smiled.

Penelope soften even more. "Who Is your master?" 

"Ah, well, I'm not sure how to explain, since I can't say his name."

"Well what is he called?"

"Called? I just call him master." She smiled.

"Ok, well, what does he look like?"

"Grey, horned, giant with reddish-gold eyes...doesn't wear much."

"The Shepherd?" She looked shocked.

"Ah, he is a shepherd, yes..."

"But I thought he didn't keep slaves?"

"So I've heard."

"Strange," She shook her head as if to clear it, then smiled, "but it doesn't matter...you could always wear a veil..."

"Perhaps. When is it you need a musician."

"Well, um, tonight actually. Which is part of the problem. I can snatch one of their cithara's for you...that would be easy enough, and honestly I can dance to just about anything. Do you know the "Song of Danae", Or "Bright Lily"? "

"I know them." Calliope took a deep breath, held it, then exhaled slowly. "Ok, I can't make any promises, but let me see what I can do." 

@@@

"Come to dinner"

"No."

Calliope hid her smile by turning back the way she'd come, hoping that neither of them had noticed her at the door way. Instead of entering she slipped back next to the door and leaned against the wall hoping to hear something of what was being said...though from what little she heard she could already guess. This was the fourth night Mistress Nagi had returned to try and talk him into joining her for dinner with the others, and the fourth night he'd refused.

"I'll have Kara dance for you. You'll love her, she's wonderful. My absolute favorite."

"I'm sure."

Calliope heard her sigh. "But..." she paused,

"Not interested."

"Well what in Hades are you interested in?"

"Hearing something useful about what's going on so I can leave."

"We have to be patient until they find him."

"His people are taking too long. By now I could have already found the little weasel and—"

"Yes, yes, we know...but it can't be one of us...just in case—"

"Yes, fine. I understand that. It doesn't mean I have to like it. Nor do I have to like the way they are treating this as just another excuse to throw a party...this is a serious situation."

"Well what else are they going to do? Sulk like you?"

"It's working for me."

"You're impossible."

"..."

"What can it hurt, really?"

"..."

"It's not like you've never joined us before...why do you seem so much more reluctant now?"

Calliope heard him sigh. "I don't want her involved. You know what they're like."

"Her? Ah...of course. I don't really see the problem. Come sit with me...I'll scare them away for you."

"I thought you wanted Me to scare them away for You?"

"Strength in numbers, dearest brother. It will be fine, trust me. If you like I'll even mention it in casual conversation. You know, 'oh and by the way, look at the mistress the wrong way and you'll loose an eye.' That at least should keep Blink on his toes."

He chuckled. "He hates it when you call him that."

"Too bad for him. There are worse things I could call him. I have about a dozen penis jokes based on the eye theme alone. But I keep them to myself...because I am Lady."

"You're a pain in my neck is what you are."

"But you love me anyway. Consider it, will you?"

"Fine."

"Fine, you'll come?"

"Fine, I'll consider it."

"Ugh. Bastard. If you really cared for me you wouldn't leave me dangling like this every night."

He only grunted in response and soon Calliope heard the tell-tale sound of scales brushing against smooth stone. An experienced eavesdropper, having learned well from Demitri, she didn't panic but merely made her face neutral and took several step backward from the door and started back toward it when Mistress Nagi appeared before her. 

They exchanged brief smiles and Calliope gave a perfunctory bow, but that was the full extent of the interaction.

"Trying to talk you into going to dinner again?" She asked upon entering.

"As if you didn't know."

"You saw me did you?"

"I saw the flicker of something, so I knew it was one of you."

He was seated in the throne-chair as usual, so she deposited herself down on the couch next to it, taking much the same position she imagined Lady Nagi had been in before she left. The twist in his lip and the gleam in his eye told her she had succeeded.

They watched each other silently. 

"You know," she began after a long moment, "I am becoming vaguely curious about what goes on at these dinners. Wild orgies?"

"Not while they're eating. It's best to allow time for digestion first."

She looked at him sideways. "I can't tell if you're joking."

"I'm not."

She winced. "Oh." Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea after all. She was quite prepared to swallow her discomfort...but that might be a touch more than she was ready to deal with at this juncture. "I don't suppose one could just go to the non-orgy part?" 

"One could. Why?"

She shrugged. "Eh...like I said, I'm curious. But I understand that you don't enjoy it."

"I don't." 

She nodded once. 

"But you'd still like to go?" 

"Yes."

"Fine."

"Fine?"

"Yes. Fine."

"You...you'll go?"

"Yes."

"Just like that?"

He arched a brow at her. "Yes...just like that. You want to, don't you?"

"I...do, yes."

He shrugged. "Then we'll go."

"Oh."

"..."

"Thank you."

@@@

Calliope cast a discreet, and somewhat apprehensive, glance about her. 

She hadn't thought it was going to be this easy. She had thought that Thelios would say no, and that would be that. As it was she found herself trailing her master through the halls toward...well, toward wherever it was they were going. Some sort of great hall, she imagined. They weren't alone either. Thelios's sister was with them, and was trailed by a few servants of her own. 




Sacrifice Ch. 06



As the night drew on the air in the hall grew thick and hazy from the hundreds of brightly burning oil lamps, and was almost choked with the scents of cedar and juniper. A thin, fragrant smoke slipped slowly from the censers that hung from the ceiling, adding to the heady vapor and obscuring the painted designs and figures dancing overhead. 

The drums had begun again, and their soft patter was joined quickly by the rhythmic tinkling of bells. 

Three dancers had taken the floor this time, having emerged from one of the island-like congregations. They were similarly attired; all three wore broad belts of thin, layered gold just below their bared breasts, which in turn secured the translucent skirts that fell to their slender ankles. The silvery din of bells came from the strings wrapped around those same ankles. 

Time is a strange creature, Calliope reflected to herself as she glanced between the dancers and watched Penelope signal to her from across the room. The truth was the evening had begun to drag on the more she had anticipated that signal, and yet, now that it was given, it seemed as though it had gone far too quickly. 

The signal indicated that Penelope would be ready to dance in another song or two, and that Calliope needed to extricate herself as soon as possible if she wished to uphold her agreement to help the young woman. 

She glanced at Thelios who was leaning back, talking to Lady Nagi, who was herself lounging on the couch next to theirs. His hand was still circled around the ankle resting between his knees, his thumb rubbing absently over the back of her calf.

She sighed and glanced back to the floor. She couldn't say the evening had been uninteresting, it wasn't, but the entertainment thus far had been surprisingly tame with the usual assortment of acrobats and dancers, music, and food. It was more elaborate and exotic than anything she had witnessed herself, but she had expected something a little more...well she couldn't say what she expected, but considering the audience, she was less shocked or stunned than she thought she'd be. 

Though of course she'd already had several days to acclimatize herself to the general ambiance of excess which permeated the place...so that might account for something as well.

There were such gathering at home as well, though women like herself would never have been allowed to attend. Only whores, slaves, and courtesans. She could understand why, as a number of the dances could be considered down right lewd...not what a man wanted his wife or daughters to see if he wanted to maintain their respectability.

For her part, Calliope had rather enjoyed it. The performers were all skilled, and many easily rivaled or surpassed her sisters, who until now had been the yardstick against which all were measured. 

Perhaps it might have been because, as Thelios had suggested, they were competing...either for their master's sake or for attention, and in a way that her sisters and friends never would have. Certainly not with such energy and intensity at least. Most of the time they would only play and dance for each other.

As entertaining as it was, however, the proverbial hourglass had run its course and she had things other than her amusement to consider now. 

She took a deep breath and leaned in, touching Thelios's knee. He glanced at her and paused his conversation.

"Would you mind if I walked around a bit? I need to stretch my legs and get a little air."

"Did you want to leave?" He rumbled.

She smiled and shook her head. "Not just yet, it you don't mind, I'd just like to move about for a bit."

He simply nodded. "Be careful." He added as she rose.

She smiled again. "I will."

She sewed her way through the crowds, losing herself easily so that no one in her group could have seen where she was going and slipped out of the hall. Penelope was waiting for her down one of the side corridors, wrapped in a sheer bit of nothing which left precious little to the imagination. It seemed to be standard enough fair for dancers, and was more than some wore. It was rather flattering on her...especially the way it pressed up and displayed the rise of her chest, not always an easy feat with a slender dancer's body.

"There you are! Here." She handed Calliope a veil and pulled a pin from her hair, gesturing for Calliope turn around.

As Penelope pinned the veil to her hair to keep it from slipping off, Calliope removed her blue tunic so that she was only wearing a plain white dress, one which would blend in easily with the other slaves and be more or less unrecognizable. She folded the tunic and hid it behind one of the statues in the hall.

"So, what is the plan?" Calliope asked, taking the instrument from Penelope which had appeared from behind another statue, obviously placed there by the dancer earlier in the evening. 

"Well, honestly, this is going to be a good deal more difficult than I thought it might. I've insinuated that I won't be dancing, but they've been watchful all night."

"Remind me who 'they' are again."

"A handful of spiteful little bitches who are conspiring to keep me out of the running."

"That's not a helpful description. I've been lead to believe that could describe half the room."

Penelope laughed at that. "Far more than that no doubt. I might even include myself if I could be bothered with tiresome things like self reflection."

Calliope chuckled as well, tugging the veil into place. "Perhaps if I could recognize them I might be of more help."

"In that crowd I doubt I could give you a description which would allow you to recognize them."

"That's true enough, I suppose. Will they try to keep you from the floor, or hamper you in any way?"

"I don't doubt it."

She considered it a moment. "Perhaps if I act as if I'm the only performer, rather than accompaniment, they will let down their guard long enough for you to jump in and take over without interference."

"It's as good a thought as any I've had. What do you plan on doing?"

"I haven't the slightest. I'm hoping my muse will strike me with sudden inspiration." She gave Penelope a wry smile then realized her expression was obscured by the veil. "But I'm sure I'll think of something." She added as assurance. 

She wasn't completely sure about it herself, but she was as confident as she could be given the circumstances. She'd lost count of how many times she'd played for her sisters, and more than once been party to some clever ploy to sway eyes in their direction. If she couldn't come up with anything between the corridor and the feast hall on her own, then she'd just fall back on some trick her sister Xanthippe, or even Helena, had used to use to pull the attention of the room. 

They agreed to enter separately, and for Calliope to make a move as soon as she saw an opening. The signal to start in earnest would be the tossing of a bracelet Penelope had lent her into the center. It would be an unmistakable, and hopefully distracting, gesture and would allow the dancer to get into position as she slipped in to retrieve it.

Calliope waited a moment in the hall, allowing Penelope to lose herself in the crowd. She was going over the song she intended to play but was distracted by harsh voices at the end of the corridor. They were coming from the other end of the hallway...that is, away from the entrance of the feast hall. 

Curious, she moved slowly closer to the voices. As she neared she could make out three distinct voices. They sounded insistent and upset. She considered letting it alone but amidst the half intelligible garble she heard a few recognizable words, and one of them was "Thelios." It wasn't something she could ignore.

She moved that much closer, dangerously so, straining to hear what was being said. 

"--scaped by ship? Ship!? He could be anywhere. Once he gets to water he'll have such an advantage...even you could not work magic to counter his." The words were spoken in an anxious rush.

"Anywhere but at sea I could...it's most vexing. Curse him and his dam both. Bloody Nereid." A female voice this time.

"But I thought you said they'd cornered him in Priene? I thought this was taken care of?" It was the first, anxious voice again.

Priene she recognized...it was a city very near hers, and one which had participated in the sacrifice she herself had been part of. Who was it they'd found there? What did Thelios have to do with it...and who were these people to be speaking his name like that...what if someone overheard who shouldn't? After all if she heard it, who else might?

Most vexing indeed.

"Cornered is not caught. They tracked him there, but he's apparently eluded them. If we do not get to him first..." the speaker, the woman again, trailed off, but the threat was clear in her voice. The outcome would not be good, whatever it was.

"There is one who could find him. In truth I wouldn't mind finding a reason to get rid of him. I'm sick of him breathing down our necks."

"Absolutely not...that would be the worst thing we could do. Why do you think he's here?" Muttered the woman again.

"I don't see why."

"And what was he doing that far north, do you think?" She hissed in reply

"Calm yourself sister. It may not be as it appears."

"I fear it is exactly as it appears." A third voice interrupted. It sounded strangely familiar, though she couldn't quite place it as they had begun to speak in softer, more normalized tones.

"Both of you now? You're paranoid. Besides, what would happen if the little brat said something before we could stop him. It's his word against ours after all."

"And who do you think he'll be inclined to believe? Us? He has no love for us." The woman again, and sounding as insistent as before.

"Pfft. He has no love for anyone...but we can at least take consolation that Phineas is not one of us, one of our kind, as much as he plays at it. Why would any of us listen to him?"

"Enough you two. She's correct...that pig headed bastard will side against us if given the option...and for precisely the reason you believe he won't. Neither of them is quite one of us. They are both outsiders, if for different reasons...but that gives them shared ground, and makes them both dangerous. Not to mention their mothers. There is only one thing to be done."

"But not yet, surely...it's too early to..." 

the voices hushed, and she only caught snippets once more. 

"..and if he believed it was..."

"Never..."

"It's just a matter of finding it."

"I suppose if there is nothing else to be done..."

"...and see..."

Their voices dropped once more, and though she strained again to hear, she couldn't make anything out. Instead she opted to back away, seeing as how nothing was gained by staying so close but being caught in the act of eavesdropping.

It was lucky she did as only a moment later a women appeared from around the corner and swept past her in the hall. Calliope recognized her instantly as the sister of Thelios with the burning red hair...the daughter of Hecate supposedly. At a glance, and through the obscuring veil, her hair did look suspiciously flame like.

The woman didn't seem to notice the veiled slave, thankfully, but Calliope bowed low as she moved by her, as any god fearing slave might. Literally in this case perhaps. She didn't seem to notice that either. So much the better.

She was half tempted to walk back down the hall to see if the others remained and slip casually through the hall to get a better look at them...but she had left Penelope alone long enough. Besides, she hardly knew what they were talking about...only that her Master was involved somehow...maybe...and that the overheard snippet had left her with an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

But then it was all so vague...it might be nothing at all...

She sighed and took a deep, settling breath before pulling herself to her full height. First things first. It was no use fretting about what she had no control over...not when there were more imminent things to be fretting about.

She settled the instrument in her arms as best she could, and adjusted her veil one last time. 

Here went nothing.

She briefly considered her options and decided to play it by ear, opting for flexibility rather than any set plans. There were too many variables for set plans. 

She paused at the door and noticed that a few eyes glanced in her direction. She realized instantly that the veil was making her conspicuous. No one else went veiled...not when most of the women were trying their hardest to have their beauty appreciated. Every inch of it in some cases...

She decided to feed the curiosity it a little and remained where she was, standing dead center in the door way, like some ghostly statue...a ghostly statue with an instrument in her arms. It seemed to be having something of an effect. Eyes began drifting toward her, and flickered curiously. She was half tempted to allow herself an internal moment of triumph...but she knew she hadn't gotten to the hard part yet. A flicker of interest was a start...but that's all it was. The real trick was keeping that interest.

So she stood...until she felt the interest begin to wane. It was then she moved. As slowly and smoothly as she could manage...imagining she was balancing slates on her head as she had as a child...her elder sister snapping a switch at her back every time she began to stoop. Strange how such lessons could eventually become useful, despised as they were.

She found herself at the bottom stair of the sunken stage a moment later, watching a young male dancer bend himself so far backward his head nearly grazed the ground, and his stomach undulating in an unending wave as he rose back up, seemingly effortlessly to his feet. It was an impressive display of flexibility and control. Especially considering the undulations were keeping perfect time with a pair of enthusiastic drummers. She could see Thelios off to her left, out of the corner of her vision...but dare not look in any direction but ahead. She prayed the veil hid her adequately. 

Patiently she waited at the foot of the stair, still attempting her impression of a statue. Even the dancer cast a furtive look at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. So far so good.

Eventually he finished, made his bows and his leisurely way off to the surrounding steps. Calliope was about to compose herself and continue to the center when she caught sight of two women moving forward...clearly intent on taking the stage. Well, that would be the day.

Instead of making her way to the center as planned she stopped where she was, whirled around, and struck the strings in the most god awful way. They screeched in a high pitch whine which made her wince. 

She stepped backward toward the center...and struck the cords again again. The second time, however, she added a hint of an actual melodic cord. The third time, it almost sounded like music. She could see the women who had been vying for her position. They were frozen on the top step looking confused and unsure...as were the rest of the eyes on her. At least, those she could see. 

She plucked a few nearly random notes, clearing her throat as softly as she could, and bowed her head like a penitent. She picked a song, a strange little country tune she'd always been fond of, and began to sing. 

It was a melancholy song, and the rural dialect made it difficult to understand for many, so it was not something a gathering like this would be expecting—but it had an interesting variance to it which made her rather like it. It seemed to do the trick and the room became subdued and for the most part attentive to the strange scene. 

She continued to walk slowly backward as she sang until she found herself nearly at the other end of the rectangular space. At the same time she spotted Penelope making her way to the stairs.

At the end of the short song, she pulled the bracelet from her wrist and tossed it into the center of the room, not waiting for any sort of response from the audience.

Penelope was there in a flash, and as per their plan was now kneeling over the bracelet. Calliope settled herself quickly on the floor, and was grateful to have the awkward instrument in her lap instead of having to hold it and play it at the same time. 

On the first few notes of the new, sweeter song Penelope rose up slowly, slipping the bracelet over her wrist in a long and luxurious movement, extending her arms before her, like an offering, her whole body leaning into the movement. Her gestures were light and airy as she rose to her feet, buoyant even, and Calliope attempted to play to that, and make her notes crisper and more playful.

Calliope was no expert, but it seemed to be the correct choice. Once on her feet Penelope kicked high, held it in an obvious display of her strength and agility, and as a promise of more to come, then fell into a series of dainty skipping steps that carried her across the floor in the blink of an eye. 

As the song progressed the notes came more quickly and Penelope responded in turn, quick stepping and swaying in time with notes. It was in this, Calliope could see, the dancer excelled. Her slower movements, while graceful enough, were filled with tension...a desire to be moving. And as the song quickened it became clear that it was speed which best suited her. 

So faster she played, and faster the dancer moved, responding wonderfully to the tempo. She had agile feet and she was able to spin and trip with remarkable ease, keeping her lines and her control even when she seemed so close to losing it. Or rather, when she gave the illusion of losing it. Calliope didn't doubt for a moment that Penelope was in complete control, and like any good dancer, she made it look far easier than it was.

When the girl literally lept into the air in a high split, one which gathered a murmur of appreciation from the crowd, it was obvious why the other women would want her out of the running. She was good...very good. 

But at that point, Calliope could give little attention to anything more than her playing. For the most part she ignored the flamboyant performance, except to keep an eye on Penelope's responses. She did her best to remain focused, and on keeping her fingers moving and doing what they were supposed to do. 

Calliope pushed, picking up the pace, and letting the whole room and performance fade into nothing, allowing her fingers to fall automatically where they should, praying to her favorite Gods that they continue to do so. 

To her relief they did, and the end of the song came upon her almost as a surprise. She exhaled with a relived sigh as she struck the final cord definitively, and slid her hand over the stings to still them. Her heart was pounding a little harder, and her breathing a little strained, but it was nothing compared to the sight of Penelope. When Calliope glanced up, she could see the woman on her knees, her arms held before her in a reflection of that first offering pose, her chest heaving. Even through the veil it was clear her skin glistened with a fine layer of moisture from her exertion. 

For a beat..or two, or even three..silence hung heavily in the air around them. She held her breath again, then let out a second exhalation as applause erupted around them. Thank God for that. She'd been so caught up in what she was doing, she'd lost track of whether or not it was any good. The enthusiasm of the applause was a sure sign Penelope had made the impression she had wanted and was back in the running. Calliope beamed.

Instinctively her eyes darted to Thelios. It was a terrible mistake as he was looking in her direction. Directly at her in fact. Her heart jumped up into her throat and she froze...then realized what she'd done, and looked away to the other side of the room, desperately hoping her glance had seemed random. Unfortunately her eyes landed on the 'firey' haired sister she'd seen in the hall—and overheard—and the uneasy feeling she'd pushed away before returned with a vengeance. Especially since she too was also watching her.




Sacrifice Ch. 06



It was suddenly very important to her to get out of as soon as possible and change back into her tunic. 

Without another moment's hesitation, she stood and quickly abandoned the floor, her eyes scanning for the nearest doorway and intentionally ignoring all else. As soon as she was through the door she veered into a nearby hall. For some reason she found she was breathing hard and her hands had begun to shake slightly. No doubt some strange after effect of her nerves just now catching up with her. 

Once she'd settled and felt certain she'd not been followed or found out, she made her way back to the statue where her tunic was hidden. She replaced it with the veil and instrument for Penelope to collect later, and was in the middle of refastening her tunic when a throat cleared behind her, making her jump and causing the pin of her broach to stab the meat of her thumb as she slid it into place.

Subsequently her cry of surprise came out more like one of pain. She turned to see who had startled her and found herself staring open mouthed at Demitri who was looking questioningly back at her. 

"You!" She explained, still near speechless.

"Me." He replied dryly, then handed her a kerchief which she looked dumbly at, not sure what it signified. Had he seen her? Recognized her? Followed her? Did that mean others recognized her as well?

He shook the cloth at her and nodded to her hand. She looked down and realized it was bleeding, and that a rivulet of blood had already run down over the pad of her hand and across her wrist. She blushed at her silliness and took the cloth with a grateful nod, attempting to pull herself together.

"You startled me."

"I noticed."

"I was adjusting my tunic..." she explained, and reached up with her uninjured hand to touch the offending object.

"You're the girl with the veil then?" Well..no beating around the bush for this one, she thought morosely. But then that was one of the many things she liked about him...if she were to be honest with herself. In a way it was almost a relief that she'd been caught...the sneaking about hadn't been sitting well with her to begin with.

"Was it obvious?" She asked, deciding to be as straightforward as he. 

"Not really...but it was a rather eccentric performance...which caught the attention of a few people. Including myself, obviously, so I followed you. I assume you didn't want to be identified, so you'll be happy to know no one else did."

"Are you sure? I didn't see you at all."

"What can I say? You're not terribly good at intrigue."

She smirked and let out a humorless chuckle. "You're absolutely right. I was just thinking that I'm actually glad you caught me. I don't like the idea of sneaking around."

"It doesn't suit you."

"No, not at all." She agreed.

"Then what are up to exactly? What was all that about? And why don't you ever play for us?"

She laughed, a little more earnestly. Mostly because the most accusatory and emphatic question had been the last. "I hadn't thought you'd want me to...and I don't remember ever seeing any musical instruments around to play as it was. I suppose if it were a particular skill of mine I might have made more of a point of it, but as it is..." she shrugged. He gave her an odd look she had trouble reading...but 'skeptical' might have been a word she'd attribute to it. "As for why I was bothering to do this in the first place...well," she sighed, "it's not that interesting a story. The woman, the dancer, was in need of accompaniment as the other dancers somehow made that impossible for her. I happened upon her while she was quite upset over the matter. I felt sorry for her and was compelled to help, and, well, one thing led to another, and hear I am."

"Alright...but why the veil?"

"The Master didn't want me competing with the other slaves, and probably embarrassing him, so I thought it safest to go hidden so no one would know. I'm going to tell him after...better to ask forgiveness and all that." He gave her that look again, and she decided to interpret it as censure of some kind. "I know, I shouldn't have done it at all...but I promised without thinking...and I didn't know what to do after that."

He just looked at her another moment. "And the other news?"

She blushed, knowing immediately what news he spoke of. "Actually I was thinking of telling him tonight as well. He seems to be in an unusually good mood, so I thought that might soften it."

"What does that matter? Soften what exactly? It is his, isn't it?"

He leaned in as he spoke and took her arm, guiding her back toward the hall with him. She accepted his arm, noticing the firm muscle beneath her hand. It was a subtle reminder of what he used to do for a living before he came to work for Thelios. It wasn't something she thought about often, but looking at him now it came back to her. There was so little she knew about his history, and he was never forthcoming on his own. She would have to ask one of these days for a few war stories.

She met his eye and smiled sadly, answering his question finally. "Of course. Yes...it is. Obviously." She shook her head. "I don't know, I worry he'll be upset by the news. That he won't want the child."

"That's foolishness." he muttered gruffly. "Why wouldn't he? A man likes to pass his blood on. It's the way of things."

"Well, that may be so with legitimate children...but most owners don't like their slaves pregnant and will usually take measures to prevent it. At least in my experience. No one wants the cost of raising the child when it's cheaper to buy a new slave."

He shrugged casually. "Well if that's the case he has no one to blame but himself. He was giving a damn good impression of trying to get you with child otherwise. Had me fooled at least."

She let out a very unladylike like snigger at that. It caught the attention of a nearby flock of women and men lingering at the doorway. She covered her mouth and glared at Demitri who only smirked back, completely unapologetic.

"So, where have you been anyway? I've seen so little of you these last few days." She asked, changing the topic to a less sensitive one as they entered the crowded hall. 

"Around."

She rolled her eyes. "Very helpful. Do you and the Master conspire to make me insane with your ambiguity...or is that just happy chance on your part?"

He laughed at that. "Oh, conspiracy, to be sure. We were so bored before you came along, now we spend every waking moment devising ways to make you miserable."

"I thought as much." She noticed Thelios had spotted them, and she smiled in his direction. "Really though, where have you been?"

"I doubt you'd want the details. I've been taking a moment to enjoy myself a little...when I'm not keeping an eye out for interesting developments. You'd be surprised what you might overhear in these halls. Speaking of which," He nodded at Thelios, who they were headed toward, "you might want to tell him your piece early in the evening if you get the chance. I may have overheard something earlier this evening, not a moment before you put on that little performance in fact, from some of our host's men which might dampen his mood."

She frowned. "Phineas?" She asked tentatively, remembering the anxious conversation she herself had overheard.

He frowned back and stopped them, making her stumble slightly. He looked suddenly very stern, and she watched him warily. "What is it?"

"How do you know that name?" He asked, his expression darkening and his voice hushed.

"I...ah, overheard people talking as well...in the hall not a moment ago. They sounded very upset about someone named Phineas escaping them...is that the one? The one who is causing all the problems?"

He let out a breath, relaxing slightly, but not completely. "What else did you hear?"

"Oh no you don't! Answer my question first."

She was hoping that would crack him a little, but he didn't come any where near smiling. "Yes, he's apparently the trouble maker."

"Apparently?"

His brow furrowed deeply. "That's what they're saying...and if it's true, it's going to have what's his name riled up something fierce. They were friends of a sort...at least as much as any of these people are."

"Wait, he's one of them? One of their own is threatening them?"

"Sort of...he ain't quite one of them. A nephew, actually. He don't look it, but he's got the blood in his veins.

She tried to lighten her tone as it was unnerving to see him looking so upset. Grumpy and sardonic she was used to, but this was something completely different.

"Well, I did overhear the master mentioned...but the context was unclear. They said this Phineas fellow was spotted near Priene and there was some concern about why he was so far north...oh! And they were worried he was going to get to, ah...someone they called a stubborn bastard...or was it pig-headed...I can't remember. But there were three speaking, that I know of, and two were in agreement that the said 'bastard' was going to be a problem." She smiled mildly. "But that's as much as I recall off the top of my head. I didn't stick around to get caught listening in...and it was a good thing too, as one of them came around the corner a moment later. And she is certainly not one I'd fancy crossing."

They had begun walking again while she spoke and she tipped her head in the direction of the red haired sister. "The daughter of Hecate." She murmured to clarify her meaning. When she turned to gauge his reaction, he was staring strangely at her.

"I take back what I said about you not being very good at this sort of thing."

She chuckled at that. "Don't. You're right...I just stumbled onto the information."

"But how did you know who her mother is?"

"Kara told me."

"Ah. Kara knows more than she should then."

"Oh, very likely."

"I'll have to have a little chat with her and see what else the little minx knows."

A moment later they'd joined the group. "Look who I found." She announced happily. Thelios who had no doubt been watching their progress from across the room, raised a questioning brow. 

"I noticed. Everything fine?"

She nodded and slipped around his couch, kneeling on a large pillow next to it and used the couch seat as a prop for her arm. 

He glanced out at the dance floor then back down at her. "You were gone quite a while." 

"I apologize. I was distracted."

"No need. Anything interesting I should know about?"

She opened her mouth to respond, then thought better of it. A number of servants were milling about nearby so she decided to leave it for the time being. "I did overhear some interesting conversation....but it can wait." She smiled lightly, but cast her eyes at the one of the ever present slaves lingering near Lady Nagi as a hint. 

He arched a brow but left it alone, returning his eyes to the floor. She did as well, and her own brow arched slightly as well at the sight of several dancers undulating suggestively against one another not five steps away. Well, suggestive was the polite euphemism for it at least, explicit might have been more accurate. Of course she used the word dancer in a loose sense as well, much as she might use the word clothing to describe what most of them were wearing. 

She sighed.

"I can't imagine what the point of that is." She mused out loud. Thelios chuckled behind her.

"Can you not?"

She smiled at his tone, still eying the group critically. "Don't misunderstand me, my lord. I know very well why they're attempting that poor imitation of a sex act..." she tilted her head sceptically as one of the male dancers began crawling, crab-like, between the legs of two others, one of whom was behind bent backward at the waist. It had a rather unsettling effect of making them appear as some sort of three headed monstrosity. "If that's what it's supposed to be... rather...it's the purpose of the clothes which eludes me. If what little there is must be so perfectly transparent, why even bother at all?"

"One might say the same thing about the dancing."

She laughed out loud at that, covering her mouth when she noticed several heads turn in her direction.

"I meant literally transparent."

"Likewise." He murmured.

She rolled her eyes and turned to make a comment of her own about it not being literal at all, but he was already focused somewhere else. She saw the appreciative heat in his eye and followed the line of his gaze back to one of the dancers. 

Her oiled skin was dark and gleamed in the bright lights of the hall. Not as dark as Lady Nagi, more the color of a roasted Sardinian nut, and just as gleaming and smooth. At the moment she was on her knees and had bent backward toward them until the fullness of her lips and the rise of her naked breasts came into view. She arched her back, displaying their dark tips and perfect roundness most admirably.

Calliope sighed again and slouched slightly into the pillows and back against the couch. She felt an urge to dislike the girl...but suppressed it easily enough. It wasn't her fault she was beautiful. 

It was just... that she'd seen Thelios looking at her with...that look he gets. But there was nothing that could be done about that. She'd merely have to swallow her jealously and make her peace with it. Still, she couldn't help but wonder if he would look at her like that if she danced for him.

Her lips twisted into a humorless smile. It was most doubtful...she'd never danced like that in her life, and she probably couldn't if she tried. And if she did, he'd probably think it a great joke and tease her mercilessly for it. To this day she couldn't wear that one gold dress without him getting that glint of wicked humor in his eye followed by him asking what she'd 'done wrong this time.' 

She was startled out of her thoughts by a large, heavy hand coming down to grip her shoulder. "Come, we're leaving."

"Leaving?" She twisted to look up at him as he rose from his seat.

"Yes." 

And that was apparently that. 

He did offer her a hand, which she took as she too rose to her feet. 

A glance in Demitri's direction told her he wasn't planning on going anywhere. He was still sitting with Kara and the two of them seemed to have started a running commentary on the dancers they were watching. Based on their expressions she imagined it was a mixture of scathing and appropriately lewd observations.

He spared her a glance and a nod as they turned to leave. Lady Nagi, made a halfhearted gesture at asking them to stay. She didn't press the issue, and thanked her master for 'deigning to join them.' She gave Calliope a little smirk and a mouthed 'thank you' once Thelios had turned his back. For some reason that embarrassed her, but she simply bowed with as much good grace as she could manage. 

Thelios was silent as they left, and she followed just as silently behind him. She felt eyes on them as they left...many in fact, but it was significantly easier to ignore now. She was almost used to it, and it had simply become more background noise, much like the beauty and brilliance of the palace and its inhabitants. 

Besides, they were staring as much or more at him, as they were her. They were both displaced here: her by her prim, citizen-class modesty and he with his simple workers garb and obvious, blanket contempt for their excesses. She smiled lightly at his back. At least she was in good company.

As they neared the rooms she took a deep breath and composed herself. Demitri said she shouldn't delay too long in telling him her news...and now seemed as good a time as any. He left her a moment, ordering her to wait, and went looking for a servant. So she was obliged to wait until he returned and they were in the enclosed sitting room outside of the private chambers. 

She looked nervously up at the solid wall of muscle that was his back and cleared her throat. "My lord, I have something I wanted to tal-a-ah!" She stumbled as he turned rapidly on her, grabbing her by the waist and hauling her up against him. 

She made another smothered sound of surprise against his mouth and clung to his shoulders as she felt herself hefted up into the air until her legs dangled uselessly beneath her. His hands practically encased her middle and held her close enough that the tops of her thighs brushed against what felt to be the incontrovertible evidence of his arousal.

He broke the kiss just long enough for her to gasp for air but didn't spare her long enough for anything more than that. 

There was very little tenderness in the kiss. It was all heat and teeth and tongue, and she had to fight to keep up with him, just to breathe. She was flushed and panting by the time he pulled his mouth from hers, lingering just long enough to pull at her lower lip with his teeth. 

The sensation sent an especially fierce shard of heat directly from her swollen mouth down through her belly and straight between her legs. Legs, she realized, which had wrapped themselves around his waist and were now squeezing him like grapes through a wine-press. 

He squeezed back. Somehow her tunic had made it's way to the floor and his rough hands had made their way under her thin dress and were gripping her hips and ass tightly, pulling her hard against him. She could feel the length of him as he ground against her. Even through his wrap she could feel his incredible, searing heat.

She grasped the back of his neck as roughly as he was grasping at her, and pulled him back into the kiss, this time ensuring it was her tongue leading the charge. 

She'd made only minor headway in the war when he regained the upper hand by pressing her a little too hard against the nearest wall. It knocked the air from her, forcing her to gasp, and allowing him to reclaim his lost territory. Plus some.

Calliope dug her heels into his lower back in retaliation, but faltered all the more as his fingers casually brushed the soft folds of her sex from behind as his large hands cupped her bottom and kneaded it mercilessly.

Desperate, she went directly to the heart of the matter. 

He groaned against her throat as her hand squeezed the thick shaft through the wrap. She thought for a minute she might have him, but it soon enough it became clear that it had only spurred him on. His groan became a growl and he hefted her higher in his arms so that his mouth might go lower, obliging her to release the pulsing heat of his cock and wrap her arms about his neck instead.. 

She let out her own throaty sound as she felt his fangs graze her shoulder and neck, and a shudder as his fingers continues to tease at the cleft of her ass and lower to the sensitive flesh of her sex and thighs. 

"I really hope this isn't because of the dancer." She whispered brokenly. He pulled away, frowning at her.

"Who?"

Calliope looked down at him from her new height and smoothed her fingers down the back of his skull. She smirked, satisfied with his response. 

"Good enough."

He didn't try to stop her from leaning in and playing her lips across his, but he was still frowning when she pulled away. 

He cocked a quizzical brow. "I'm not following. Enlighten me."

"Doesn't matter. I shouldn't have interrupted." He chuckled as she used her hold on the back of his head to pull him back to her throat. He obliged her. She purred happily as his downward momentum continued and toyed suggestively with one of his short horns to show her appreciation.

He turned from the wall, still carrying her, his mouth never entirely leaving her as it moved down her body, his teeth nipping at her breasts through the thin fabric of her dress. To her surprise, he deposited her roughly on the nearest couch. 

His hands pressed her back and completed the work of pushing her skirts up over her hips. He took a brief moment to take in the view then gripped and lifted her hips up towards him until only her upper back and shoulders were still resting on the bench. She couldn't be certain, but his dark laugh sounded unnervingly triumphant.




Sacrifice Ch. 06



She groaned and let her head flop back in defeat as she felt his tongue run up the length of her slit and burrow its way into her already slick flesh. "Alright," she breathed, "you win. I surrender."

He chuckled again, but didn't stop lashing her. Thelios was relentless, as always, and easily held her pliant body up to his mouth as if she were some sort of...of girl-shaped cup. She giggled at the image, then moaned again at the sensation. It crossed her mind that he was apparently determined to get to the very center of her using nothing but his mouth and tongue.

He lifted his face to look down at her. "Something funny?"

"Girl-shaped cup." She murmured languidly, arcing her hips in response to his pulling away.

He grinned and lowered her hips to the couch before leaning over her. "Perhaps I should fill you with wine."

She laughed— though with less certainly when he cast a suggestive glance at a pitcher of wine sitting on the table next to them. 

She did grin, however, as she spotted a telling sheen on his chin. He looked very much like he was up to no good. 

"You've got a little something..." she quipped pointing to his chin.

He reached up and wiped it off with another chuckle and moved to kiss her. Feeling playful she turned her face and whispered in his ear instead.

"Missed a spot." She took his face in her hands and before he could stop her, or pull away, ran her tongue up from the bottom of his chin and languidly across his bottom lip. She bit it playfully, with another giggle of her own, and pulled away, expecting him to be returning her suggestive leer with one of his own.

He wasn't. 

Her own smile faltered...or rather it melted. Anything would have melted in the heat of the look he was giving her just then. As proof positive she felt her entire body from navel to knee turn into a pool of liquid heat. The same liquid heat swirling in those fiery, golden eyes.

A loud knock on the door jolted her, and tore her out of his eyes.

"Sir!" 

Calliope blinked and struggled to sit up just as the door to the sitting room swung open. She was grateful she had managed to pull her skirt back down to her thighs, but her half prone position with one of Thelios's knees between her legs was rather telling. Her face burned as Demitri's head appeared in the doorway. 

He nodded to her with a wince. "Sorry." He turned to the master and looked appropriately contrite. "I know...I wouldn't have bothered you if it wasn't important." As embarrassed as she was, she felt worse for Demitri. She would hate to be on the receiving end of the glare Thelios was giving him just then.

"Phineas again?" She asked unthinkingly.

Thelios gave her a sharp look, similar to the one Demitri had given her earlier. "That conversation I mentioned earlier." She offered as explanation. "I overheard someone talking about it, and told Demitri. I was going to tell you but..." She gestured helplessly to his form still looming over her.

His gaze lingered a moment, then, with a sigh, he disentangled himself from her, and assisted in drawing her shirt lower down her legs as he withdrew. 

"Hold that thought" he murmured as he rose and turned to walk away...then paused and leaned over her to impart kiss on her forehead before leaving. It was gentle...and oddly chaste, considering what they'd just been doing.

She heard other voices besides Demitri's and was unspeakably grateful it had been he who'd opened the door. It was a little embarrassing to be caught in such a compromising position by him, but it would have been untenable to be seen like that by anyone else.

She adjusted herself in case someone did decide to enter and waited. It didn't take long.

When he returned, however, there was a very different fire in his eyes. The playfulness which had at first mitigated his intensity had vanished. Now his face was nothing but hard lines and shadow, and his expression was punctuated by a dark scowl that would probably set even an experienced soldier's knees to quaking. If memory served, it was very much like the one he'd worn just before he'd nearly ripped that man's arm off the first day they'd arrived. 

So much for telling him tonight, she thought with a sigh. And it had seemed like such a good time for it. His mood had been so perfect. Ah well.

She wasn't surprised when instead of rejoining her, he poured himself wine, drank it, repeated the process, then turned and paced with his back to her. She watched him silently, sensing he needed a moment to consider whatever was troubling him. 

When he finally made up his mind to quit his pacing and sit, she decided to speak. She watched as he poured another cup and settled into what she was coming to think of as 'his' chair. 

"Trying to get drunk?" She quipped lightly, hoping humor might alleviate some of the dourness of his mood.

He gave her nothing but an ambiguous grunt at first, but she was heartened when he eventually added a derisively snort and spoke. "It would take a hell of a lot more than what's in that jug to do it." 

"Then I shall call for more."

He cast a side long glance in her direction as she rose from the couch and retied the cord holding her dress in place beneath her breasts, allowing the sides to hang partially open. Since he hadn't reacted to her announcement other than to finally look in her direction, she made good on the offer. The girl wasn't around but she caught the eye of the man from the other side of the garden. He hastened over when she waved.

"Would you be so kind as to bring more wine for my master?" He made a half bow in response and made to do so. Half way to the door she called after him as an after thought. "Make it a large carafe if you don't mind..." He simply glanced back to acknowledge her voice and tipped his head. She eyed the door to Thelios's rooms, simultaneously anxious to rejoin him and see if she might be of help, and hesitant to return until she felt more certain about how on earth she could do so.

Well, there was nothing for it, she decided. If history proved true he'd be tight lipped about what ever was bothering him, and just glower. So all she could do was wait and see. She found it difficult to repress her smile when she saw him emptying the carafe into his cup with a jerk, as if trying to shake every blessed drop from it.

"You shouldn't drink that," she chided gently, "you'll just get dregs...wait a moment for a fresh pitcher." He gave her a rueful look and tossed it back anyway. She winced, but said nothing. His expression was still grim. Calliope watched and waited, not knowing what else to do. He stared back, then after a silent eternity straightened. "Demitri told me what you were going to tell me."

She felt the color drain from her face. "Oh?" she asked softly. Was...was this anger for her then? Had he told him about the child. She felt her eyes prickle. "I...had intended to tell you tonight..."

"I know." He interrupted, and sighed, shaking his head. "The bastard. I still don't understand what he was thinking, or how he could have done this. It's so unlike him."

Him? Phineas...oh thank gods. She felt the color return to her cheeks in a rush and it made her light headed.

"I'm sorry. Demitri said you were friends."

"Past being the operative tense."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"No." He looked down at his empty cup and placed it on the table, then beckoned her over. She was pleased to obey, even more so when he pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. Confirming once more that his mood has nothing to do with her.

She touched his face lightly. He said nothing more but simply held her there while he stared contemplatively at the far wall. Eventually she gave up waiting for him to speak and leaned in against him. There was a tension in him which made it less comfortable than usual. It didn't seem to get any better as the time passed...if anything, it became more palpable the longer she let him stew. She was grateful for the interruption when the wine came but since he seemed determined not to let her off his lap and instead called the man in, it did little to alleviate her own awkward position. It simply made it worse. 

The young man was deferential...more so than usual. No doubt because of the irritable giant in the room. He seemed almost fearful in fact, and kept his eyes down until he was able to beat a hasty retreat. Once he'd gone Thelios deigned to move, though still without letting up his death grip on her.

"Here, let me." she offered when he tried to lean forward for the wine. He finally allowed her to slip off his knee to fetch the jug. She opted to stand as she poured, and when she was finished continued to do so, though this time she maneuvered herself between his legs.

Because of the way she'd tied her dress, the sides were open and allowed easy access to the skin beneath, access he wasted no time in taking. He slid a hand beneath the fabric and across the small of her back, up to where the high belt halted him, then back down over the curve of her hip and buttock, finally stopping to grasp the back of her thigh. 

She could help but notice his grip was a little harder than normal. Hard enough to make her suck her breath in through her teeth and to cause her back to arch involuntarily. 

It was becoming apparent that he'd lost interest in the wine.

He glanced up at her when she flinched, watching her eyes, but didn't seem all that interested in relenting. For some reason she could feel her pulse echoing in her temples. 

His hand slid higher, this time slipping between her thighs from behind until his fingers were pressing tight against her sex. She arched again, but made no move to escape the touch. He was eying her as if waiting for something, and she was watching back, trying desperately to determine his mood or what exactly he was waiting for.

Again he squeezed, his fingers digging into her flesh. Still he seemed to be waiting, ignoring his wine and watching her with a strange intensity.

The thought gave her an idea...well several, in fact. 

She took the wine from him with both hands, and sipped from the broad cup, watching him over the rim as she did so. Still holding the wine in her mouth, she climbed back into his lap, this time straddling him with her knees on his massive thighs so she could look down into his eyes rather than up. 

His eyes bore into hers and she smiled back as well as she could without losing the wine. Tipping his face back with her free hand, she angled her mouth over his, teasing his lips with her own. When they parted accommodatingly she pressed her lips firmly to his, letting some of the libation slip through into his mouth. Not much, just enough to let him know her intent. 

She felt his cock jump against her leg and his lips parted further, inviting her to continue. 

Calliope took the prompting and let the rest pour carefully from her lips to his. His now growing erection twitched against her again, and her own body responded in kind with a warm, deeply felt throb. She took more wine in her mouth, glancing at him over the rim again, feeling more playful and mischievous now that she knew he appreciated her game. 

He tipped his mouth up to meet hers willingly this time. His eyes were still intense but she could see the smile he was suppressing. It made it hard to suppress her own...but she was determined. Still, she was fighting to control her breathing as she parted her lips against his. Most especially because his hands had begun wandering over her once more.

Just before the last of it had left her mouth, she tipped her chin and let the last few drops spill against his lower lip. She let it fall to his chin before she caught most of it with her tongue, gasping as his fingers dug that much deeper into her bottom and thighs. 

She glanced into his eyes, hoping he'd understand what he saw in hers. "Oh dear." she whispered. Her voice was already growing thick, "Forgive me, my lord. I hope you won't punish me for my clumsiness." She paused and hoped her eyes helped convey her intentions as she added, "unless...that's your wish?"

She could feel herself growing hotter and wetter with each second that he silently stared back into her eyes, his own becoming progressively darker until she felt like she was staring into two burning red pools of pure, raw, lust.

His hands left slipped out from under her dress and one moved instead up her back while the other shifted forward to slide slowly up over her stomach. In one swift move he clenched his fingers around the nape of her neck, holding her still, while the other pulled the cord from around her waist. 

She inhaled sharply at the suddenness of his movement, but didn't struggle as he held her, or as he then tugged the loosened material down over her shoulders and breasts until the material hung loosely around her hips.

With a far more leisurely caress, he ran his fingers back over her belly and lightly over the swell of one breast. "And how do you propose I do that...slave?" He growled lowly. 

She felt something inside of her pulse...something warm and electric. She knew that her skin was probably flushed pink and that she was half panting for breath, but she could hardly bring herself to care.

"I wouldn't presume to instruct you, master." 

She gasped again as the fingers around her neck rode higher to tangle themselves in her hair, tilting her head sharply back. She couldn't see what his other hand was up to, but she certainly felt it when he pinched her nipple, hard, and twisted until she couldn't hold back the whimper of pain it produced. She refused to cry out. Even when he pinched harder, pushing her she knew, and daring her to cry out and end it.

"You're sure?" He rumbled. "No preferences?" She shook her head as he gave her other breast a similar treatment. What could she say after all? She had proposed the game, but he knew best what would amuse him most.

He saved her the effort of responding further by lifting her off of him and setting her back on the floor. Her dress made the rest of the journey down her body on its own, leaving her standing nude in the pool of cloth.

He stood as well, forcing her to step back to give him room. Her hands flew to cover herself instinctively. She knew her whole body must be bright red from the flush of heat burning through her. 

Thelios towered over her, filling her sight with his powerful, intimidating frame, his eyes piercing down into hers from above. Part of her was pinned to the spot, anxious and afraid, but another, stronger part just wanted to melt into him completely. It was a curious feeling. 

The later impulse must have been stronger for when he reached out and pulled her arm from her body, uncovering her, she acquiesced easily. Nor did she hesitate when he turned and bent her over the chair. She knelt on the seat and leaned over the back. Already she was beginning to tremble with nerves and excitement.

He didn't tease her or make her wait. She jumped and winced in surprise and pain as his hand came down firmly against the soft flesh of her hindquarters. It came down again, then again, and again. She bit her bottom lip and tensed against the next...which didn't come. She shifted anxiously and heard him chuckle behind her. His hand smoothed down over her ass, lessening the sting somewhat. But then his fingers bit into her roughly, negating the effect.

"Is this what you want? Did you enjoy it when I spanked you before?" He teased, leaning in so she could feel his breath against her neck and ear.

She could feel a different kind of heat rising up her throat and into her cheeks. She didn't answer...she couldn't bring herself to.

His hand came down again. Hard. Harder than before. She couldn't hold back her cry this time.

Another excruciatingly long pause followed. Her fingers gripped the back of the chair and she clenched her jaw, determined not to let it unnerve her. She failed miserably. 

"Well, is it?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Why do you want me to do this?"

He struck her again when she didn't answer. 

"I thought," she gasped, "it...you seemed upset. I...thought it would help...improve you mood."

The hand gripping her left. There was a terrible silence which followed. One in which her head spun as she waited on pins and needles for his touch...what ever that touch entailed. It became more than she could stand. She turned and looked back over her shoulder. 

He was gone. 

Concerned, she rose from the chair and entered the bedroom proper. She shivered and covered herself with her arms. He wasn't there either. The room was dim, as only a few lamps were still lit, but there were few shadows which could hide someone as large as he.

"Master? Thelios?" She called out softly. He appeared in the far doorway, the one which led to what was ostensibly her room. She watched him as he approached, tilting her head questioningly.

He pointed to a couch near her. "On it. On your knees." He held something in his hand. It looked like cloth of some kind, but she was more concerned by the expression on his face. He no longer looked amused. 

She frowned but nodded and knelt. Suddenly she felt very uncomfortable with what she had started and her stomach flip-flopped accordingly. 

His next words did nothing to ease her nerves. "Hands behind your back." Once again she obeyed, swallowing hard. She was more than a little surprised when he stepped behind her and tied the cloth he was holding over her mouth, and took her wrists in one of his hands. 

Her nervousness turned to real fear. She panicked and tried to pull away but his grip was like steel, and her struggles ended with her cheek pressed into the silken cushion beneath her and her hips high in the air. She didn't go completely still, however, until his hand came down against her backside with a resounding crack. She screamed against the gag, half in shock, and half in pain. It didn't stop at one either. Though she couldn't have said where it did stop either. Twenty? Thirty? It felt like hundreds.

It wasn't at all like the first time, when he'd "punished" her on their second night together. Or like any other time he'd playfully slapped her rear. This time it was so much harder, and the omission of the erotic caresses which had accompanied them before was a glaring one. 

Was he actually punishing her? She wondered as she wracked her brain, desperately trying to figure out what it was she'd done to upset him. Was it goading him? Was it what she said about his mood? Did he already know about what she'd done that night? 

Calliope grit her teeth and shut her eyes tight, trying desperately to swallow her cries as he continued to strike her bottom and hindquarters, and to think of something other than the intensely hot burn beginning to suffuse her skin. 

What ever this was, she was determined to bear it. She had begun this, after all, and even if she hadn't...she was his to use as he liked, wasn't she?

But then he stopped...and the caress was back...confusing, but back. His fingers even slid between her thighs to test her sex. To her horror she realized how readily they were slipping through her sex, and as they probed deeper into the swollen, aching flesh. She could even hear the wet sound his fingers made as they slid in and out of her body in a slow, easy rhythm. It was humiliating to think that she was that wet, practically dripping, when he'd done nothing that should have brought her to that point. Pleasure mixed with pain she could comprehend...but just pain? 

The only thing that consoled her was the evidence that he wasn't upset after all. At least not with her. Not really.

The now damp gag was pulled from between her lips and she felt hot breath against her ear. "Are you sure that was the only reason? To 'improve my mood?'"




Sacrifice Ch. 06



He was taunting her. She could hear it in his voice. His fingers were still moving inside of her, and her body was responding far more readily than she was comfortable with. "Well?" He pressed, with an uncharacteristic edge to his voice.

"No." She finally whispered. "No, I'm not sure." She waited for him to press her again, to further her embarrassment by making her admit the humiliating truth, a truth so obvious to them both as he plied her with his fingers and as she began to buck uncontrollably against them. 

But, apparently, that had been a satisfactory answer and he released her wrists completely. 

He moved away and as she turned her head she saw him straddle the couch behind her, his wrap discarded. Taking his cock in hand, he guided it towards her now slick folds. She closed her eyes again and groaned as she felt it make contact. It was as if a shock of lightening had flown straight up her spine only to explode somewhere in the back of her skull. Her eyes shot open again when a rough hand came down against her ass cheek even as the probing head of his cock forced its way inside of her with an indelicate surge. 

The mix of sensations set off another explosion...this time much, much lower.

At another time, in another moment, she might have called it a climax. But it was too different, and she was too distracted by the new bloom of pain erupting across her skin, and by the heavy cock thrusting firmly inside of her to contemplate it. She could hardly think or do anything at that point. It was too different from any previous experience to be made sense of...or at least so much more than any other experience...

Too much. It was simply too much. 

It was as if she lost all sense of time and place. As if she had slipped into some other space, some other way of being. To be completely in her body, completely inside the sensations...and yet removed as if watching from the outside, feeling everything and nothing. 

There was nothing...nothing but the hot persistent throbbing along and under her skin, and a matching pulses of pleasure echoing from within. Deep within. He was there as well, pounding into her, spreading and impaling her. It seemed each time he filled her anew, another explosion went off inside of her, making her contract around him...but then perhaps that was the pain she was feeling...it was impossible to tell.

There was a voice, like a distant storm, coming from somewhere outside of her, but she couldn't make sense of it. The of her own labored breathing filling her head and blocking everything else out. 

She couldn't be sure how much more she could take. Every second that passed, every thrust, pushed her that much further past whatever edge she had long ago plunged over.

She hardly realized it when he stopped. Not until she felt the palm of his hand pressed lightly against the small of her back and a trickle of cold sweat running up her spine...and the wetness between her legs... which was more than just her own.

Calliope blinked her eyes open, but they were blurred with tears and she was still resting her forehead on the couch. She could feel his hand, dimly through the red ache, as it caressed over her backside and thighs. The muscles of her legs trembled and she found herself unable to muster the energy to lift herself from her penitent position. She did manage to turn her head so that she could catch him in her sight. 

He was breathing hard himself, staring down at her as he ran a hand up and down the length of her back. Despite the throb of pain and the involuntary shaking in her limbs, she felt herself calmed and soothed by his touch. 

He knelt beside her.

One hand threaded into her hair, pulling her face up to his, the other ran gentle fingers over her cheek. Her heart pounded high and fast in her chest. 

His mouth was light against hers, and his tongue almost tentative as it teased at her lips. She parted them and met his tongue with her own.

"You still taste like wine." He murmured. She managed a shaky smile as he pulled away to look into her watery eyes.

"Girl-shaped cup." she whispered. Her voice horse and uneven.

He chuckled and reached around her, pulling her limp, damp body against his. She was amazed at how cool his skin felt. Cool and damp, she noticed. It matched the shiver inducing dampness glazing her own body. "Woman-shaped" he corrected against her hair as he hefted her up into his arms. He grunted, "Name one 'girl' you know who could handle me half as well as you?"

She wrapped her arms weakly, around his neck and buried her equally weak smile against his neck. She was grateful he'd lifted her...she wasn't sure she could have walked if she tried. "I can't." She murmured.

"Damn right you can't."

It was hard to tell if he was bragging or trying to give her a compliment. Probably both she decided with a sleepy yawn. 

She could hardly believe how exhausted she felt. It was as if she'd swam the length of the Greek sea. Those parts of her which didn't ache were as heavy as lead weights. She couldn't even find the energy to be upset or confused about what had just transpired. She just felt...comfortably numb. Well, save for the persistent throb in her backside.

She was even more grateful when she was lowered, rather gently, onto the bed and covered. She felt another smile twitch at the corners of her lips as their sweat-slicked bodies pressed and tangled together under the light sheets and she used the last remnants of her strength to slide a foot along the length of one of his thickly muscled calves.

He growled appreciatively against her shoulder, making the expenditure of the last bits of energy well worth it.

She hadn't come out unscathed, but it appeared her plan to ease his mind had worked, even if it had admittedly slipped well out of her control. 

At least, it had mostly worked. He was certainly much calmer now she noted, but she could still feel a strange tension in him. It was radiating from him, like a palpable aura and it kept her from drifting off to sleep as she desperately longed to do.

"Master...are you alright?" she asked after ignoring the tension became impossible. It was a silly question, but she couldn't think of anything else to say. She wasn't awake enough to think straight, never mind be clever.

"No."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

"No." Forthcoming as always.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

That, at least, earned her a chuckle. "You already are." He shifted, nestling his softened cock into her still heated backside and stroked the palm of his hand against the plane of her belly. "Now go to sleep." He muttered against her ear.

That did sound like an excellent idea. But still..."You'd feel better if you talked about it."

"Calliope..." he warned.

She smiled into her pillow. "Fine. I'll go to sleep." 

They both fell silent and eventually she drifted off. She couldn't be sure, but somewhere in that gray haze before true sleep she could have sworn she felt cool breath against her ear and a distant voice whispering something softly into it.

She thought at the end she heard a pause and a soft and barely audible "thank you."

But she couldn't be sure.

@@@

"Calliope" a voice hissed softly behind her, making her start and turn.

"For pities sake Penelope, you scared me witless."

Penelope smiled and surprised her by leaning in and giving her a quick hug. "You were perfect...they loved it. My owner has already had two inquiries. Both other slavers, "she amended with a shrug, "but they seemed very interested. Now I just have to keep up the interest...which is where you come in again." She grinned and Calliope felt her stomach knot.

"Ah, I'm not so sure..."

"Don't fret, I'm looking only for advice."

Well, she thought, it couldn't hurt to help in that way. "Alright." She agreed. 

Penelope clapped her hands together delightedly and took Calliopes arm, guiding her down the hall. "The first thing we need to discuss is what I owe you for this."

She shook her head. "There's nothing..." she paused, suddenly thinking of something. Why waste the opportunity after all. "Well, you're not obliged of course, but if you'd like, There is something you could do for me. I'm rather concerned about the state of affairs regarding why my master has been brought here. If...I was wondering if you hear anything, about him, or about the one they are searching for, if you would be so kind as to tell me?"

Penelope's smile took on a 'knowing' quality. "Is this for your edification, or his?"

She considered that. "Both," she answered eventually. "What benefits my master, benefits me."

"That isn't always the case." Penelope's eyes glinted but she still nodded in agreement. "I shall keep my eyes and ears open."

They wound through the halls quickly, passing that blasted statue of Persephone which always gave her a pang, and very soon came to the rooms where she and the other girls were staying.

"Don't worry, we'll be the only ones here." Penelope whispered as they slipped into the rooms. They were rather different from her master's. There was an open common room, surrounded by a number of doorways, beyond which rows of cots could been seen. It looked like the slave quarters in her own home...or rather her father's home. Of course this one was larger and more elegant, but that was to be expected.

She was led into one of the back rooms. Penelope deposited herself before a bench littered with cosmetics and polished mirrors and gestured to one of the cots.

"You have a seat and get to thinking. I'll show you some ideas I had for makeup, perhaps it will inspire us. I was thinking something a little more dramatic...darker maybe..." She trailed off and began shuffling through the pots and brushes looking for something in particular.

Calliope glanced around the room, taking in the various paintings on the walls. They were mostly erotic, the sort you'd find in private bedrooms. Images of Aphrodite and Adonis, Leda, Europa, Eros and Psyche ...and Persephone, eternally ravished by Hades. And we all know where that leads, she thought morosely. Though it was ironic that a goddess of fertility never had children of her own. She winced again at the reminder and glanced back to Penelope.

Although she barely knew her, Penelope was really the only one Calliope had to ask about these sort of things. Demitri she trusted, implicitly...but he was, in the end, a man. He would simply dismiss her concerns...understandably since as a man, they couldn't be thoughts that would ever plague him. She couldn't say if she could trust Penelope, but she was at least a woman, a woman trapped in the same world as she...trapped simply because they were women. She decided to ask.

"Penelope?"

"Hmm?" The soft, round face turned up to smile at her, the paintbrush she used to color her lips pausing mid swipe.

"Have you ever had children?" The hand holding the brush dropped to the table upon which her many and various cosmetics sat and her mouth dropped almost as low.

"Children?!" She laughed musically. "You must be mad. Who would want a dancing girl who'd been knocked up? It'll ruin your figure you know."

She didn't wait for a response and lifted the brush back to her lips, carefully drawing it along the bottom curve of her lip. 

"So do you use something then?"

"Use?"

"I've heard there are things one can eat or drink that prevent it."

"Ah, yes. Most do, as far as I can tell. Even if we didn't use them I've heard that the divine ones insist on it for their human slaves and servants. Apparently they aren't keen on diluting their blood line with human blood if they don't have to."

"I see."

Penelope paused again and turned to look at her, setting the polished mirror on the little table before her. "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious. I...was thinking of finding something to use.."

"For prevention, or to solve a present dilemma?"

Calliope blinked in surprise. That wasn't even an option she'd considered...and as she did, she realized she didn't want to. The thought made her blood turn to ice. "Oh...ah...to prevent...in the future." 

Penelope stared at her long and hard, her eyes searching Calliope's face. After a tense moment for Calliope, she merely shrugged and picked up her mirror once more. "I can have something sent to your room later if you like. I don't know how to concoct the stuff myself, but I hear there are all sorts of herbs one can use. I just use what I'm given. I warn you now, it does taste like hell."

"That's very kind of you."

She shrugged. "It's the least I can do."

"I don't know how my master will react to a child, and it worries me." She admitted softly.

"It's different for everyone. My first master was somewhat unusual in that it didn't seem to bother him much when a slave turned up pregnant. Many human masters are careful to keep slaves from getting pregnant, as there's no guarantee the mother or child will survive. As I'm sure you know it's cheaper in the long run to purchase new slaves, or take them as prizes in battle, than to rear them up. I was a house born slave myself."

Calliope knew this to be true and nodded. "Your parents were slaves then?"

"My mother was. She was a household slave."

"Who was you father?"

She could see the smirk on Penelope's face in the reflection of the mirror. "A king. But you'd be surprised how many slaves can claim something similar. And really who in this world isn't a slave? Citizens. That's it."

Calliope had to chuckle at that. "Freemen." 

"Over thirty."

"And holding land." 

Penelope chuckled as well at that. "And for every master, how many slaves?" She continued.

"We had fewer than many families, but still at least thirty if you count field workers.

"You were wealthy once then?"

"Not extremely, but respectable enough."

"Were you taken in war?"

"No. Traded to my master as part of a gift."

"Hm. That's unfortunate."

"It's not so bad."

"No, the most can be made of our circumstances sometimes if we're cunning enough, but it's still unfortunate that you had to lose your status."

"I imaging in some ways it wasn't much different than being given in marriage. I even have more freedom as a slave. As a wife I couldn't be alone with men, slaves or not, nor could I leave the house unescorted. I would be prisoner in my home, under constant guard. In some ways my new life has been...liberating. And I have been fortunate to have the master I do."

"Yes, but your sons at least would be born free, and have a chance to remain that way, if the gods so will it. Which is an easier proposition than trying to work your way back to freedom, hoping your master will be so generously inclined to free you."

"It's very frustrating."

"Yes." She turned and tilted her head back and to the side, sweeping one arm up over her head and holding it in a dramatic pose, her eyes rolling slowly and alluringly toward her, strikingly bright against the background of coal, and her glistening red lips parting slightly in a silent gasp, reminding Calliope vaguely of sex. 

"How do I look?"

"Terrifying."

Penelope laughed and lowered her arm. "But beautiful?"

"Of course."

"Good." She rose and posed again, her hands on her hips,"Listen. I expect nothing, but you've helped once already, and to my great benefit, so I am going to ask if you will help me again."

"With what exactly? If you need me to play..."

She shook her head "No, now the musicians are willing to do business, provided they get a cut of my percentage...which is natural."

"That's not very kind of them."

"Of course it's not, but fully expected, and they asked for less than I was willing to pay, so I'm ahead really. My problem now is that I need something...extra to really close the deal this time. There are so many fine dancers who are more beautiful and just as talented as I am, so I need to find a way to get noticed."

"With your dancing?"

"There, or wherever."

Calliope frowned, pondering the issue, trying to think of what her sister would recommend in a situation like this, but coming up with very little. "I suppose we should evaluate whose performances are the most engaging and go from that point. Who did you like?"

"Usually it's the really exotic dances that get the most interest...and that's my problem."

"Well, I can't help there, but my sister always asserted that a good dance should be a story, if it is meant to be entertaining to others that is. So why don't we think of a story to tell...preferably something with some variety--"

"--and sex, mustn't forget that..."

She chuckled and sighed. "Yes, that too." She glanced around the room and caught the image of Persephone which had been plaguing her. Now there was a thought. "You should be Persephone, it would suit your looks and your dancing style perfectly. You could begin as you normally do," she smirked, "half naked and with your regular style, and then half way though you can wear a dark veil over your hair, and wrap yourself in it and change your style of dance to match." She grinned. 

"In fact my sister had a dance which would be perfect...it was very slow and used no music whatsoever, but whenever she did it, the room would go so quiet and everyone would watch her so carefully. I dare say it was probably just the one that caught her husband. It's dramatic, but not too long as to drag on."

Persephone gave her a mawkish grin of her own. "You know, that's not half bad. Cutting the music could be very dramatic. Show me the dance."

"Ah, well I'm not much of a dancer, so you'll have to bear with me. Here, give me those bells." she gestured to a string on small bells tossed on the counter.

Calliope wrapped them around her left ankle. "So you don't need music, but the bells do help keep the attention of the audience." She straightened and stood perfectly still and straight, her head level and eyes forward, took a deep breath, then began to move— a slow, sliding walk. She was careful not to let the bells sound until she was ready for them to.

The dance was excruciatingly slow, but it was always one of her favorites. The lines were always so long, which suited her lankier build and long legs, and the arm movements were careful and graceful rather than a flurry of moving flesh and jewels. It was proud and elegant. A dance suitable for the queen of the dead. Another thought occurred to her as well...it was suitable for an experienced woman comfortable in her own body, rather than an excited girl just discovering how to use it...and made her glad she'd suggested it. It seemed perfect suited to the role.

"If you're wearing a dress that opens at the side then the legs look better...obviously." She commented as she shifted one leg quickly, causing the bells to tinkle. "You can always alter the movements to suit your own style...but the pauses are the most important part." She rose up slowly to her toes and lifted her arms over her head as she bent ever so slightly backward, turning her head to the side. "See?" She held the pose, then let it fall into a few quick steps which fell again into another slow walk and leg extending turn. 

She finished the dance silently, then turned and smiled at Penelope who stared back silently. "So? What do you think? Would it be useful to you?"

Penelope took a deep breath and tented her fingers before her mouth. "You have to do it." she said finally.

"What?"

"You have to do it." 

Calliope stared at her, trying to figure out if she was jesting with her. She appeared to be perfectly sincere. "Penelope...I...I just can't. You're not serious are you?"

"Deadly serious. You have to. You must. It's perfect. I have to have it...but I can't do that. Not without more time to prepare."

She shook her head. "Penelope I've seen you. You're very good, and this is so much simpler than what I've seen you do...and it needn't be exact."




Sacrifice Ch. 06



"Don't you see? That's why I can't. I need music, rhythm...I'd look childish and silly if I tried that without weeks of practice. I just don't move like that. That's you...that's how you move." Calliope sighed. Perhaps she wasn't wrong, it had taken a long time to be finally able to perform it to her own instructor's satisfaction.

"Well, perhaps you're right...but I still can't. It's bad enough I played for you...but to dance?" She shook her head, half in denial half in wonder. "Besides, I don't think I would help you...unless you seek to make a comparison to show off your own skills."

Penelope's eyes went wide. "You're mad. That was brilliant!"

"It's really very simple" She countered, uncomfortable with Penelope's enthusiasm. 

"That's why it's so perfect. It's the polar opposite of what I would do and everything else they're going to see. What is it they say, less is better?"

"More. Less is more." She murmured distractedly. She was almost considering it...no, no she couldn't. "No, Penelope, I can't, I'm no dancer-"

"Nonsense that was exac—"

"And more than that," she insisted, "my master has told me not to engage in these activities."

"You already have though." She pressed.

"That doesn't make it right if I do it again."

Penelope shocked her by suddenly launching from her chair and falling on her knees before her, grasping her hands in her before she could pull away. "Calliope, I'm begging you. You have to do this. I can't make it work without you. It'll be a triumph, and I'll be free of those witches once and for all"

"Please, don't—"

"Don't do it for me then...do it for him. Your Master."

She rolled her eyes. "That doesn't make any sense. I'd be disobeying him."

"Such a small thing to forgive compared to the pleasure he'll have watching you. Dance for him, and he'll know it's you and who you dance for, even veiled."

"I've...I've never danced for him. He..." 

"Then what a pleasure it will be to see how well you do it. And you do. It's wonderful to watch."

"You're just saying that to get me to give in."

"Yes, but it's also true." She grinned up at her, still holding her hands against her breast. "He won't be able to keep his hands off you....and to know its you he's watching and not one of them...do you have any idea what that feels like? The excitement of it...the power..."

Calliope faltered, and Penelope must have seen it because she kept pushing. "And the way he'd want you...that's why they do this. It fills them with pride to possess what everyone else wants. You'll be magnificent, and you'll be his."

The words resonated in her...almost the same words he had said... "alright." she whispered, almost too softly to hear. She wasn't even sure she'd said it aloud until she saw Penelope's face. "Oh, no." She moaned to herself and closed her eyes.

"Thank you! This is perfect. Thank you!" Penelope squealed as she gripped her tightly.

Calliope patted her back awkwardly as she threw her arms around her. "Think nothing of it." Her eyes glanced up to see Hades' dark, stern face, and Persephone's equally frightened one looking back at her. 

She used to think of herself as being a rather reasonable, logical person. So how did she get to be such an idiot?

%%%

They had decided on the following evening to go ahead with it. Despite regretting the decision, she couldn't bring herself to say no when Penelope seemed so eager and excited. And, she could admit, she'd been thinking about what the dancer had said about dancing for Thelios. It was an appealing thought, especially after seeing the way he'd looked at that other dancer. The notion that he might look at her like that...

She shook the thought from her head. It was silly to be so jealous.

Oddly enough it was apparently assumed that they were now going to be attending the dinners regularly. Indeed, after speaking further with Persephone she came back to find Demitri waiting to walk her to the hall. 

Thelios had gone on ahead meaning to meet them there. 

So at least convincing him to take her there wasn't going to be a problem.

She was happy to see Demitri and glad for the company. She hadn't been pestered again since the first day, but she felt far safer on his arm than she would have walking in there alone. That evening had passed uneventfully, though Thelios seemed to brood somewhat more than usual and was less apt to jest with her. 

She was content enough, however, to make herself comfortable on the pillows scattered over the floor, and he seemed equally content to have her there quietly leaning against his leg. At least his occasional touch— stray fingers caressing her shoulder or neck— made her suspect this was so. 

It was hard to tell just how content he was with the way he was glowering and scaring all the poor servants and slaves. Even Lady Nagi seemed disinclined to prod him too much.

But, as far as she was concerned, he could glower all he wanted so long as it wasn't directed at her. It was terrible of her, she knew...but a small, somewhat sadistic corner of her was even secretly amused by the way people seemed to cower and scatter before him. 

Aside from that, and thankfully not being obliged to excuse herself, the evening proceeded in much the same fashion as the last. 

There was one more added bonus of getting to see Kara dance. It was, like the rest of her, strange in a perfectly wonderful way. She had an unusual style. Sometimes she would mover her whole body in impossible, serpentine, and achingly slow ways. At other times she would seem to make a game of holding perfectly still while just her hips and stomach were manipulated sharply and precisely, showing off her immaculate control. 

It was similar in many ways to the others that had danced before and after her, but there was some unnameable quality which seemed to elevate Kara. Indeed, despite her being nearly naked from the waist up with only a thin strip of material covering her breasts her dance seemed almost completely devoid of the overt sexuality which seemed to typify the vast majority of the performances. It was fascinating to watch. 

The night passed, and most of the next day as well, until she found herself staring uncertainly down at shocking expanse of naked flesh, her flesh, which was now quite visible for any and all to see. 

The black, ankle length dress she'd been given by Penelope to wear wasn't, technically, that much more revealing than her gold dress, but not only had she never worn that publicly, she'd been expressly told not to.

"I really don't know about this." She murmured softly as she examined the sides of the dress, which were held together —barely— by silver clasps just above and below her waist. It was enough to keep it from billowing out but it also allowed for almost the full length of her sides and all of her legs to be exposed.

"Don't worry, you look great. You have a fantastic back for this dress." Penelope reassured brightly, once again pinning a veil to her braided knot of black hair. The veil was black this time, and much longer. 

Looking 'great' wasn't exactly her primary concern just then and the reference to her back made her wince since there essentially was no back to the dress at all since it dropped down almost to the dip in her tail bone. 

Calliope thought back to Thelios who was still sitting in the feast hall and felt a nauseating flutter in her stomach. She had excused herself just a moment ago, pleading mild illness. It wasn't totally a lie. Her nerves were certainly making a mess of her insides.

He had offered to leave with her, but she and Lady Nagi had bid him stay, which ultimately he did, if reluctantly. The concern she'd seen in his face had come very close to making her back out of this insanity completely...but he'd nodded and hadn't pressed it. So here she was.

With her veil in place they made their way toward the hall, only this time they took a rather circuitous route through a number of back rooms and halls, coming into the main hall itself from a door the servants were using to come and go. 

Just before they entered, however, Penelope gestured she wait, then returned a half-moment later with a rather imposing looking fellow with darkly tanned skin and a shaved head. He wore loose pants but his broad, well-muscled chest was left bare. 

He wasn't nearly as prodigious in size as Thelios, but he was rather daunting, and she was obliged to tip her head back in order to meet his eye as he loomed over her. Calliope gave them both a questioning look, forgetting that neither of them could see her expression through the veil. He seemed placid, but Penelope grinned. 

"This is Lot. He's agreed to help us."

"With what exactly?" Calliope's voice came out more sharply than she had intended. This hadn't been part of the plan. 

"To be Hades of course. It's perfect. He'll just stand there looking terrifying in this," she held up a mass of black cloth, "and he's so huge we can just hide inside it with him and then switch off."

Calliope must not have seemed convinced. "Don't worry," she added quickly, "I told him not to get grabby with you." she chuckled. "But I don't think it'll be a problem anyway, he's apparently already heard of you. Knew more than I did actually." She winked.

That threw her off even more. She glanced up at him warily. "And what is it you've heard?"

"That men who get handsy with you loose said hands. Literally." Penelope answered giggling. The man grunted in acknowledgment, and Calliope wondered if he could speak at all. 

Calliope looked between them hesitantly. "Well....I suppose..."

"Excellent. You should hide now, that way it'll be a surprise." 

"Wait, he knows who I am? You know who I am?" they both nodded. "Penelope, it has to be a secret..."

"I know, don't worry it's taken care of." She grinned wickedly but didn't elaborate. He wasn't any more forth coming, though there was a hint of a smirk at the corner of his mouth that she was pretty sure she recognized. It was a smirk she'd seen countless times on Thelios's face...usually when she was naked.

The man was already throwing the floor length cloak over his shoulders and pulling the hood up over his head. He held it open, as if to invite her in, and in truth he did look frightening. A proper Hades to be sure. 

She stepped forward and was caught very much off guard when he swept her up into his arms. Before she could sputter out a protest, a deep, brusque baritone, one she felt down to the soles of her feet, explained it was easier to carry her and instructed her to lay her head against his shoulder.

For some inexplicable reason her complaint died on her tongue and she felt compelled to do as she was asked. It wasn't so terrible really, and as soon as they'd maneuvered into position he lowered her carefully to her feet. She barley came up to his chest, so it was a simple thing for him to cross his arms high at the shoulder and give her room to stand inside the cloak without being crushed against him. 

Of course it wasn't that much room, and she was painfully aware of his nearness and the fact that she couldn't help but brush against him with even the slightest movement. It was somewhat unnerving.

She couldn't see what was going on, but she could hear the relative silence. The music hadn't started so she knew that all they were seeing was this massive figure draped in black. She tried to picture it in her mind, and after a moment decided that it was probably a stroke of brilliance on Penelope's part. The continued silence confirmed the thought.

Finally the music began and the silence melted back into a light hum of conversation and laughter. She tried to pay attention to the music but the large, warm body behind her kept distracting her. 

It reminded her that she'd never really been in this sort of extended, intimate proximity to anyone but Thelios. 

Of course this train of thought brought back the waves of nervousness and excitement which had been plaguing her all day. And, instead of warring with each other, the excitement and nerves conspired against her, leaving her breathless and near shaking with tension. She could feel her face heat and her skin prickle, and was more than grateful for the veil which obscured her features. She could only hope the flush wasn't visible on the skin which wasn't covered as well...gods knew there was enough of it. 

She tensed again as she finally heard her cue and felt suddenly light headed. This was madness, what was she thinking? 

But it was too late. 

She pressed back against Lot's hard body as the the cloak abruptly opened and swallowed Penelope up inside of it. There was a sudden crush of bodies as Penelope seized her by the hips and twisted them so that she was the one pressed up against their 'Hades' instead. Of course that meant that Calliope was poised with her back to the audience, and would be visible once their little make-shift tent opened up again. 

The applause petered out and even in the dimness she could make out Penelope urging her on. 

One more deep breath. 

She tapped her heel to sound the bells and slipped one bare leg backward out of the cloak, pausing to sound the bells once more before she felt the cloak part just enough for her to duck out slowly. Her heart thrummed loud and high in her chest as she turned and straightened in one slow movement, settling into a not quite stiff, statuesque pose. It wasn't unlike the one she'd taken in her last performance. Only this time there was no instrument to hide behind.

Knowing they couldn't see her, she closed her eyes and pulled herself together. It didn't matter where she was, or who they were. It wasn't any more difficult than dancing for her sisters, she reminded herself. Besides, they didn't know who she was. For all they knew she really was the queen of the underworld. 

She smiled at that, a small secretive smile. That's what she would be then.

She settled more comfortably into her stance and scanned the room with a tip of her head. There were few who weren't watching. She extended an arm before her, as if being led by an invisible escort and made her way to the center of the floor, careful not to let the bells do more than tinkle with the faintest of whispers. 

The dance itself was made up primarily of highly stylized movements, gestures, and poses. The stillness of it suited her usual reserve, and the gestures, her long limbs. And yet, as she began to move through the long practiced routine, they felt somehow wrong. 

It was stately enough, and elegant as always...her eyes glanced toward the still looming figure cloaked in black, then slid further left as she dipped backward. Till now, she had avoided looking in her master's direction for fear she'd lose her nerve. 

That wasn't the sensation which accompanied the glance however. It was more like a warm, familiar twinge in her belly. She glanced again and felt another twinge. He seemed to be watching her. Intently. 

Calliope was strangely inspired by the sensation and decided to modify the dance. She turned to face the cloaked figure and focused on the twinge. Instead of continuing with the usual movements, she brought her hands to her thighs and drew them up her legs and over the bared skin of her stomach, shifting her hips and luxuriating tin the feeling until the twinge became a vibration.

She wasn't totally sure about what to do with what was now obviously arousal, so she just gave in and went along with it. She didn't go so far as to sink into lewdness, but when she stretched out her arms to the figure and moved away, she could feel the beseeching quality of the gesture in a way she hadn't before, and when she walked, it was with a new languid heaviness, her hips rocking slightly.

This felt right to her. This made sense. The aspect of Persephone who ruled along side Hades, was also a wife, a fully fledged woman, a fertility goddess. It wasn't hard to imagine what waking up so changed could feel like. It hadn't been so long ago that she had woken up like that... no longer a virgin...having become aware of her body in ways she could never have imagined. 

She was still becoming aware of it. He still managed to do...things...to her that surprised her...that she had trouble finding words for. And that wasn't even beginning to consider the implications of her pregnancy.

It was as if every rote gesture of the dance was given new meaning by this knowledge, was given new depth, and she found herself profoundly moved by it.

She continued, this time letting her arousal build and fill her belly and limbs, and even stoked it with stolen glances in her master's direction. 

By the time she came to the height of the dance she was breathing hard from nothing but her excitement. She found herself suddenly on her knees and almost doubled over, as if overcome...well, perhaps truly overcome. 

Her hands clenched in the material about her loins and her eyes clamped shut. 

She had to get a hold of herself. She'd let it go on too long and too far. 

Hoping to salvage what she could of the performance she flattened her hands and smoothed them down over the material and straightened, then rose to her feet with as much pretended dignity as she could muster. It was difficult with the buzzing of her arousal still making a mess of her head and body.

Goddess, she reminded herself as she resumed in a more stately manner. After all, a goddess wouldn't let something like a minor break down inhibit or embarrass her. Still, it was easier said than done. 

The dance was almost over...but after that strange little moment she'd had, she felt she needed something else to make it work. She spotted a bowl of fruit nearby and across the room from where Thelios sat. She smiled triumphantly under the veil. If she timed it right...

She made her way over to the table, noticing too late that it was sitting before the 'flock' which had attached itself to their red haired host and his equally red-haired sister. It didn't matter. 

She could see Thelios's brother smile and chuckle as she delicately plucked a pomegranate off the top and presented it to him on the tips of her fingers, then gave him her profile and lifted her arm higher to reveal it to the room in general. 

She then made her way around the edge of the floor....more quickly and lightly this time, letting the bells jingle as they may and adding one or two quicker turns. Nothing requiring any particular skill, but playfully enough to hint at the other version of herself, Penelope that is, who was waiting hidden for her return. 

Before she did return however, she paused directly before Thelios. It was across from the host, so she was certain the symmetry would keep her motives hidden from everyone else. From him...well, she wasn't sure she wanted to keep it hidden from him. In fact she hoped very much he would see through the disguise and understand her meaning.

He was sitting partially reclined, resting his chin on his fist in such a way that his expression was obscured. She had no idea if he knew or not, and he gave nothing away. 

She swayed and turned her back to him, rising to her toes and stretching her arms over her head with the dark red fruit still held in her fingers. It was the move she should have performed instead of falling to her knees as she had. Waste not want not, as they say. She tilted backward and caught herself from falling, or at least gave a good impression of it, but before moving away again, she paused once more and looked back over her shoulder at him. 

She held the fruit out for him as she had the host, only this time instead of slipping away with it still in hand, she lightly tossed it toward him. 

He caught it easily, as she knew he would. Another second's pause, and then she moved, fearing that lingering much longer would give her away to more than just her intended audience. 




Sacrifice Ch. 07



Black. 

Flowers weren't supposed to be black. Right?

They should be bright, and cheery. They should calm you, or make you happy—or at the very least, content. Black flowers were just...wrong. The iris bobbed on its stalk as if nodding in agreement.

And that wasn't the only thing wrong with this place, Calliope mused as she ran her fingers over the inky petals she had been eying. She glanced up from the flower and back to the sitting room door, beyond which Thelios and Lady Nagi were still engaged in a heated debate. Over what, she wasn't sure, though she could easily guess. 

She'd come in to find them already at it, again, and at the sound of half-raised voices had opted to wait politely in the expansive entrance hall until they were done. 

She looked back down at the flower and placed a hand over her stomach. Her frown deepened. She wondered when she'd begin to really show, and how long the pleats of her dress would hide it. She didn't care what Thelios said, she was most definitely beginning to show. It was still just a little bump, a slight swelling that one wouldn't notice if they weren't looking for it, but it was there. But when she'd asked, Thelios he'd said it was her imagination. Perhaps he simply didn't want to think about her all lumpy and blown up like a ripe pea pod. Either way she'd like to be done with this and back home before it became apparent. 

The thought of the others knowing did not sit well with her. Not at all.

Calliope pursed her lips thoughtfully as she adjusted the pleats of her dress. 

Perhaps he didn't see it because it was still so subtle, but maybe he just didn't want to. He wasn't angry with her, but he hadn't expressed any pleasure over the pregnancy either. In fact, he was rather silent on the subject, causing her to be so as well.

"How's old what's his name?"

She blinked and looked up at the voice, and smiled thinly. "Go listen for yourself."

"Thanks, but no thanks. I already heard enough to know to turn around and walk in the opposite direction. You know what they're on about?" Demitri brushed past her and made himself comfortable on a nearby bench.

She shook her head. "Same as before...no doubt."

They had been arguing for four nights consecutively over whether he should stay or go. He wanted to leave, but his sister seemed to think he was in some danger if he did. His other siblings seemed to agree, however none but Lady Nagi had braved coming into his rooms to tell him to his face. Calliope was fuzzy on the details, but the crux of the matter seemed to be that whatever power this Phineas fellow had stolen could be used against Thelios as well as the others, and they were all convinced there was safety in numbers. Thelios was not inclined to agree. But then he rarely was.

"I must admit...I don't want him to go." Calliope offered softly. "I don't like the thought of being left here without him."

"I wouldn't worry about that. I'd just take you home myself if that were the case. Though I suspect we'll be leaving soon enough. I'm surprised they've kept him as long as they have."

She smiled a little more warmly, then sighed. "You know I thought I'd feel much better once I'd told him about...my news...but I've had this awful sinking feeling that I just can't shake."

Demitri shrugged. "Makes sense. I've got my own idea that something is going on here that won't bode well for any of us. I don't know if it's because they lost track of Phineas or what...but good feelings have been hard to come by."

"Well that makes me feel much better."

"What do you want me to say?"

"Something to make me feel better. Obviously."

"So, lie?"

"Ok, fine, something to distract me then." She moved to sit next to him on the bench. "Tell me a story."

He chuckled. "Like a bed-time story?"

She laughed. "Yes Uncle Demitri, tell me a bed-time story."

He sobered and put his hands on his knees, scowling thoughtfully at the ground. "Alright," he said after a moment, "here's one. Once upon a time, there was a young slave, who didn't know her place. She was always chiding and bossing and making a nuisance of herself. One day she got herself knocked up...and then she was really intolerable."

Calliope laughed and shoved his arm. "Stop it. I'm not really that bad."

"Who said I was talking about you?" He cocked a brow at her and looked perfectly serious, but the glint in his eye was telling.

She wrapped an arm around his. "Fine. Be difficult, you awful man."

"Done and done."

The sat in a companionable silence for a while, enjoying the little shafts of sunlight which spotted the garden.

"Demitri?"

"Hm?"

"Do you ever think of having children?"

"I have children. Had."

She stared at him. He looked levelly back. His sharp blue-grey eyes were cool and stoney.

"Oh. I'm...I'm sorry. Were...did they..." she couldn't quite bring herself to finish the thought and turned away, embarrassed.

"I don't know."

"What happened?" she dared a peek in his direction. He was looking straight ahead.

"War. I was from a small village. It was hit while I was off fighting elsewhere. It's likely they were taken as slaves."

The silence they returned to wasn't quite so comfortable.

"I don't know what to say." She whispered.

"Nothing to say."

There was another long silence which lasted until Lady Naga broke it by coming out of the sitting room with Thelios on her heels. They both wore dark expressions. 

"Well there's a cheery lot" Demitri muttered.

She allowed herself a silent chuckle, but kept the bulk of the smile from her face as the other two neared them. She didn't think they'd appreciate her amusement at their expense. They were both glowering, and where Thelios was intimidating enough, massive as always and stalking like a irate lion, Lady Nagi cut an even more daunting figure. 

Calliope had never seen her face so hard. Her movements were quick and sharp, causing the usually slow, hypnotic whisper of her long, serpentine body to turn into something more akin to the sound of a blade being suddenly drawn from its sheath. 

"How goes it my lord?" She asked mildly as he neared them. He glared. She smiled gently. 

He looked like he meant to pass them by, then paused, allowing his sister to continue on ahead of him. "Demitri, find out about transport. You might need a ship..." Lady Nagi stopped and cast her own glare back toward her brother, "if," he continued, emphasizing the if and dimming the lady's ire somewhat, "we need it. Which we may, and on short notice. See what you can do."

Demitri nodded soberly and rose. She caught his eye briefly and noted the told-you-so expression lingering there. She tilted her head in concession. She was hardly surprised. 

Her eyes flitted back to Thelios a half-second later and found his expression significantly less legible. She stood as well, positioning herself on the edges of his personal space. He no longer seemed immediately upset with her after the dancing incident, but his temper had been short in the days that followed, and she had been careful to step lightly around him.

There was also the matter of his not having, well, touched her since that night as well. She had attributed it to his lingering disappointment with her, and hoped that it too would eventually pass. He still expected her to share his bed as they slept, so she had decided that it couldn't be as bad as all that. 

"Is there anything I might do to be of assistance?" She offered, already knowing he wouldn't say yes.

"Not as of yet." His words were clipped and his glare unabated...and still, despite this, she felt an inexplicable desire to shift closer to him. She resisted the impulse, not forgetting they were in company, but she couldn't push it completely from her mind. 

It was distracting enough that it took her a few moments to realize they were simply standing there watching each other in silence.

Demitri coughed and excused himself, and she blinked, wondering how long she'd been staring. She cleared her own throat and stepped back with a curt bow of her head. 

When she caught Thelios's eye again she could see his gazed had gentled significantly. She might even admit that it seemed almost...warm. Her cheeks heated and she turned away, hoping she was giving the impression of hastening off to important business. Of course by the time she'd reached the haven of the bedroom she realized she had no reason to be there and, after a minute or two of puttering and consideration, returned to the main entrance hall of the suites. 

Luckily Thelios and Lady Nagi had moved on, though they were replaced by another, stranger figure.

It was a woman. A woman wearing a concealing white veil similar to what she had worn when she played for Penelope. The figure seemed to look around then paused when she saw Calliope and approached her. 

Calliope grinned when the woman lifted the corner of her veil and revealed it was Penelope herself hiding under the disguise. "What's all this for?" Calliope asked with a laugh, gesturing to the covering. 

Penelope shrugged. "I didn't know who knew about the dance, so I thought it best not to give too much away by advertising our association. Didn't want to get you in too much trouble.

Calliope looked down, recalling that she hadn't spoken much to Penelope since that night, and hadn't brought up the argument with Thelios. It didn't seem like appropriate information to be sharing with others. 

"I suppose it was a wise precaution then." She offered, "Though my master knows now, so I don't suppose the veil is necessary."

Penelope pushed it back so that it fell down the back of her hair instead. 

"You look like a priestess like that."

She laughed. "Well if I can't make my way here, perhaps I'll be sold as a temple whore. I'll have the clothes at least. But to the point. I came to talk to you." 

"About?"

"You asked me to keep an ear out, yes?"

She nodded.

"Well, I don't know if it's helpful, but I heard that some of the others are rather cross with your master. I overheard one of the slaves complaining to one of the girls in my...cohort, that his master was about ready to do something himself to spare the rest of them."

Calliope frowned. "Do something?"

"Well he was talking in generalities, but the gist seemed to have been that they're worried that if your master leaves he'll cause problems for the others. Who knows how. The going opinion is that he'll put himself in danger," Penelope gave her a serious look, "and you for that matter. Which is something to consider."

"I see." This wasn't really news. "Anything else?"

She shrugged. "Not really. If you like you should come spend some time with me in our quarters, you might hear something else that's pertinent. After all you know your master's business better than I."

If only that were true, she thought sardonically. She nodded. 

"Come, why don't we take a walk at least, you can tell me what your master thought of your dancing. I bet I was right, yes? He loved it?" She led her out into the hallway and they worked their way back to her rooms, with Penelope chattering away and Calliope giving ambiguous answers. After all, he had never given an opinion on her dancing other than to express his anger and disappointment that she hadn't been honest with him about it. She was loathe to bring it up again by asking if he liked it. Her curiosity couldn't quite overcome her shame or her desire not to irritate her master any more than she already had.

As they made their way through the maze of corridors Calliope looked around them thoughtfully, realizing once more that the palace no longer overwhelmed her. She passed by its wonders almost blind to them...though two women she recognized as nymphs of a sort still made her breath catch in her throat when she sighted them. She wasn't sure she'd ever get used to them and their ethereal perfection. 

The many household slaves barely even caught her notice. Kara had been right about that. When one paid attention it was rather interesting to see the differences in how they all moved and carried themselves. You could tell the regular slaves from the...specialty slaves. Or at least that's how she'd been coming to see them. Women like Penelope, who had some particular beauty or skill which made them more useful or entertaining, and therefore more valuable than others. The fact they knew their worth showed. It showed in the way they walked, regally and smoothly, and sometimes lightly, their chins up, their lips curled into a ghost of a smile, their eyes easily meeting those that dared meet theirs. 

Unless they belonged to a simple household slave, in which case they were ignored. This seemed to suite the poor creatures who kept their eyes to the floor, and who, in comparison, seemed to stoop and scurry as if half-expecting to be struck. They were the most mouse like around the inhuman masters and mistresses of the place, but, she noticed, were wary around the slaves of higher standing.

Speaking of which...

They paused to greet a number of 'specialty' slaves, women of Penelope's acquaintance, and Calliope was obliged to contribute to their joint exercise of contrived politeness. 

She was quickly distracted, however, when she spotted Thelios's brother, the Host, lingering with what looked like a number of human men. Two of them looked like the sort of servants that had been sent to Thelios with messages and another appeared to be a regular household slave. That is if their manner of dress was indicative of anything.

What was keeping her attention was the fact that he seemed to be watching them back, and as she flicked another glance out of the corner of her eye, she could swear he was looking specifically at her. She looked again and felt sure of it. There was an odd expression on his face, one which made her gut clench slightly.

"Penelope," she leaned in, whispering under her breath, "am I daft or is he staring at me?"

Penelope waited a moment then gave a discreet glance of her own. "Can't tell," she muttered, "could be looking at anyone here."

Somehow that wasn't convincing or comforting. "Mm." Was all she said, still watching cautiously out of the corner of her eye. She watched as he smirked and made some comment to his men. Then he looked right at her, catching her gaze and causing her mind to freeze up.

"Calliope?"

"Hm?" She started slightly, turning to the sound of her name.

"Anahita was just asking a question..." Penelope prompted.

Calliope smiled apologetically at the slender, dark haired women across from her. "My apologies, I was momentarily distracted. What was it you asked?" 

The look she got in return was somewhat disdainful, but Calliope chalked it up to being put out at having been ignored. Besides, it was a common enough look, and she was no longer bothered by it. She kept her own expression as sweet and guileless as she dared without it seeming forced...even if it was rather.

The woman's dainty chin lifted sharply, causing her strait, shoulder length hair to undulate like an inky, silk sheet. Calliope wondered if it was practiced movement, and then though of her own mass of incorrigible black curls and wondered how Anahita managed to keep her hair so incredibly smooth. Her only recourse was to simply force it into tight braids using a touch of oil and a good deal of practiced expertise. 

"I was simply asking after your master. I noticed he has been missing in the evenings again. Has he taken ill? Or is he fighting with the other masters again? I noticed they seemed to be having terse words a few days ago...more than usual that is."

Calliope tried to keep her face placid and mild as she regarded the woman. Internally she was watching her face, looking for some hint at what she might be driving at, who she might serve...oh god but she was becoming paranoid. 

"I cannot say. It amused him to come, now I suppose it does not. His reasons are his own, and it is not my place to question them."

"I doubt you'd get much of an answer if you tried." A deep, male voice smoothed from behind her. 

She started and turned to find the Host standing next to her. His startling nearness made her take a step back, a movement she tried to cover with a quick half bow. "Forgive me my lord, you startled me." She husked. He, like the rest of Thelios's relations here, was rather large compared to the humans, and she was obliged to look up at him to meet his gaze. Of course he wasn't nearly so tall or broad as her master, so his size was less intimidating than it ought to have been.

He smiled, exposing wolfish teeth, not too unlike Thelios's, if not more subtly arrayed. She decided she didn't like the smile. It was too knowing. It seemed too personal...like something Thelios or Demitri would tease her with. She definitely didn't like it coming from him.

He continued, not bothering to acknowledge her apology. "I'm sorry to hear we no longer amuse our dear brother. Though, if you were to grace us with a performance some night soon, that would certainly draw his interest. Don't you think?"

She tipped her head in a conciliatory manner. "I did not mean to say that he doesn't enjoy the entertainment offered, my lord." She hastened, "I was simply expressing my lack of knowledge where my master's motivations and desires are concerned." 

He looked amused by that. "Oh, somehow I doubt that." The expression he wore was most definitely one to make her blush and she winced internally as she felt it begin to creep slowly up her throat. "But won't you come and entertain us? My brother would not object to that at least, though he finds so much else to object to."

She cleared her throat softly. "I am sorry my lord, but I have little to offer in that regard. For the rest, I cannot answer but for my own part; my master would indeed object to my performing. He has forbidden it." That ought to put that notion to rest, she thought hopefully. 

A strange look came over his face and the knowing quality in his smile seemed to intensify. "Is that so? How strange. I must have been mistaken."

The nerves she had managed to suppress returned and it took every ounce of will to hold it in check. He didn't know. He couldn't...could he? "Mistaken, my lord?"

He looked pointedly at Penelope and she felt her stomach fall. "It's nothing." He smiled more broadly and made a dismissive gesture. "I know how hard it is to talk your master into anything, but do try...it will do him a world of good, I'm sure. If not, you might come anyway, without him." His gaze returned and raked over her.

"I would not be so bold, sir, to abuse my Lord's honor in that way." She clipped out as politely as she might. "Nor my own," she added, "with such flagrant disobedience."

He arched a brow and brushed a long red lock of hair from his brow, then smiled again. The motion drew her eyes to the long, curved horns sweeping back from his forehead, like a rams. "And what of hidden disobedience?" He challenged with a smirk.

She lifted her chin in response. "They say, my Lord, that honor is a public currency. Private fault is just that: private—kept between the concerned parties. And it must remain so...or else it is not what it is. Don't you think?" She silently dared him to answer that, refusing to quail under his direct gaze.

It wasn't he who answered, however. Penelope laughed lightly, taking her by the arm again. "Dear Calliope, such a heavy thought for so light a thing!"

The tension broke somewhat as the Host turned a curious gaze on Penelope instead. "What thing do you speak of?"

"Why, honor, of course!" She smiled brightly between the two of them. 

He chuckled. "I've heard it called many things, but not light."

She too chuckled, then rolled her eyes at Calliope. "Don't look so stern." She chided, before turning her bright smile back on the Host. "It is indeed light, my Lord. As light as air. For what is honor but a word, and what are words but a hot breeze between the lips."




Sacrifice Ch. 07



Another woman, no doubt seeing how amusing the Host found this, and not to be outdone, pipped up as well. "That is it exactly! And to add besides, what have we women to do with honor," she pouted prettily, "since we cannot fight for it as men do?" Then added, looking slyly to the others, "And since what little we are born with is such an easy thing to lose."

"Yes, a fruit so easily plucked." Quipped another.

They laughed. "Or pricked. As it takes just a little nudge from the daintiest prick, and it is gone." Agreed Anahita, to their continued amusement.

"So you see, it is a light thing." Penelope finished with a pleased smile and airy gesture.

The Host chuckled and turned back to Calliope. "Are you convinced?"

She sighed mentally and gave him a mild smile. "I suppose I must stand down before such a united front. I yield..."

He opened his mouth to speak, and she quickly added, "In theory at least, if not in practice."

His mouth twitched into a frown for a half-second before manufacturing another smile. "Well...I suppose that is the best we can do...for now." He offered with a shrewd glance, then turned a warmer smile on the other ladies. "Perhaps if you ladies continue your siege, you will yet break her down."

"We shall do our best, lord." Penelope chimed. He nodded to Penelope, and then Calliope with another, more gracious smile.

She couldn't find a voice to speak with, or words worth saying, so she merely bowed again and watched him go. He left behind him a sense of dread that hung over her shoulders, as heavy and stifling as a woolen rug. She hated how discomfited he'd made her feel.

"Really Calliope, you should be more careful." Chided Penelope. "Your master may not be fond of him, but you won't help matters by being so stiff and awful."

She blinked. "I was perfectly polite."

Penelope rolled her eyes again. "Well, your supposed good breeding did very little to hide your contempt."

"I'm not sure what you mean." She hedged, noting the sardonic look in Penelope's eye. She knew full well, obviously...but truth be told had no real desire to disguise it, even if it was in her best interests. The looks she received from the other women varied from person to person, ranging from amusement, to the very contempt Penelope spoke of. 

"But perhaps I should take my leave of you as it is." Calliope didn't wait to be excused and gave them a brief half-bow. "Good day to you all."

**

"Good evening Master."

Calliope was standing in the bedroom, lost in thought, when she heard the door open behind her. He entered silently, but she somehow knew who it was.

He returned her greeting with a grunt. 

"I filled the bath if you like." 

Another guttural sound of...not quite annoyance, but not pleasure either. 

She ran a hand over her stomach. The movement was becoming something of a habit.

"Did you know Demitri had children?" she murmured as a large shadow encroached on the edge of her vision.

"Yes." 

"Oh." She turned toward the flash of silver-grey which appeared in the corner of her eye. She had to tilt her head back to look up into his eyes as he loomed over her. His gaze was directed, pointedly, at the placement of her hands over her belly. She felt a twinge, but left them where they were.

"Why do you ask?"

"I don't know. He just told me about it. It...it's very sad. How many did he have?"

"Three, I think. He doesn't like to talk about it. Unsurprisingly."

"Do..." She trailed off, uncertain.

"What?"

She shook her head. She was thinking nonsense. Being pregnant really was making her daft and sentimental.

He sighed. "I hate it when you do that. Spit it out. What were you going to say?"

"I honestly don't even know. I was speaking before the thought was fully formed. I'm just...fretting is all."

"About what?"

"Everything...apparently." She muttered despondently. 

He chuckled. "Don't."

"Easier said than done."

"Consider it an order."

She half-rolled her eyes. "Yes, Master. Your every wish is my command."

He smirked. "Don't get smart."

"Why whatever do you mean, my Lord?" 

She let out a surprised yelp as he passed behind her to the bath, smacking her rear lightly as he did. 

She turned in order to give him a put out glare, but he was facing away as he stepped into the bath. The glare would have been wasted, so she didn't bother.

Instead she found herself watching him—examining the broad expanse of his heavy shoulders, the long swathes of muscle along his back and sides...the way the faint wisps of steam were licking up around his thick calves as he stepped into the water. Her eyes followed where it collected along the thigh and the hard planes of his flexing...

She flushed and turned away, her hand instinctively brushing her neck, as if expecting to find similar droplets of steam there as well. 

When she glanced back he was seated with his elbows propped casually along the baths edge and had turned his head to look back at her. He wasn't grinning like a wolf, so she could only assume that he hadn't seen her staring. 

He turned away. "Join me." He commanded gruffly. Always so demanding. She suppressed her smile.

She arched a brow at the back of his head. "I'm busy." She returned lightly.

He snorted. "Doing what?"

"Things. Things and...stuff." She knew he could hear the teasing smile in her voice. She certainly could. She reached up and unpinned the knot at the back of her head, uncoiling the braid and slowly tugging it loose through her fingers.

"Horseshit." He still didn't turn around, but he lifted a hand to wave her over. She obliged and sat on the wide ledge surrounding of the bath, still loosening her dark curls.

"You beckoned, Master?"

He reached up, smirking again, and grasped the side of her thigh, leaving a wet splotch on her dress.

"At-ta-ta-ta..." she winced and pushed his hand away. "You'll get my clothes wet." 

"Then take it off." 

It was her turn to scoff. "So that was the plan, was it?" 

He didn't smile, and she wasn't sure what to make of his serious expression. She shrugged and kept him in the corner of her eye. He watched her as she pulled away and untied her belt... only to refold her skirt at the waist to lift the hem to mid-thigh.

She noted that his face was still strangely impassive. "It seems to me it would have been easier to just take it off." He rumbled.

"And let you get away with that? Hardly." She soften her rebuke by slipping in closer. She leaned against the back of his shoulder, bending one leg beneath her and letting her other foot dangle down into the water. He accepted the conciliatory prize and massaged the offered calf. She considered reciprocating but found she was presently too comfortable to consider moving. So she simply rested her arm and chin on his shoulder and enjoyed the moment as it was. Besides, he had made himself bigger again, so rubbing his shoulders seemed like far too much work at the moment.

She smirked a little. It seemed that he was getting a little larger each day...as if his frustration was linked to his size. It was, she considered, though not in that way. It was no doubt a conscious effort to display his growing impatience and encroaching ire to his brethren, and to do it through sheer intimidation. It amused her somewhat, even if she feared what the reaction of said brethren might eventually be.

But then his size did have other benefits. There was something inexplicably wonderful about being able to wrap herself around him completely and still not encompass him fully. She closed her eyes and smirked, even in his smallest form he was a proper giant in that respect. Currently, draped as she was over his shoulder, that fact was more than obvious. 

She slid her foot along his thigh, tracing its thick length. As she did, a snippet of some half remembered poem tripped brokenly through her mind: I know the shape of his leg; this is his hand; his foot mercurial; his martial thigh...

Her own leg, her foot, felt small and delicate pressed against him. 

She opened her eyes again and found his eyes closed, allowing her to freely examine and admire the broad angles of his profile. At least until he sighed deeply, upsetting her perch.

"What's troubling you, my Lord?" She asked softly, her eyes lingering on the heavy line of his jaw and the point of his tooth indented against his bottom lip.

"I'm bored. I hate sitting and waiting. I've been here too long as it is." She could tell by the edge in his voice that it was far more than boredom weighing on his mind. 

She ran her fingernails up the back of his neck and felt him shudder slightly beneath her touch. She pressed her lips against his shoulder and smiled, if sadly.

"You're going, aren't you?" It was barely a question.

His fingers tightened around her ankle. She looked down at it, wondering at how his hand dwarfed her. "This upsets you." He wasn't going to deny it at least.

She hadn't thought she sounded upset, but maybe he just knew her well enough to tell. "I can tolerate this place when you're here..." She left the thought half finished, and saw him nod slightly.

"I'm afraid." She added after another silent moment.

"I have no intention of leaving you here."

She lifted her head at that, and searched his face with her eyes. "When will we go then?" 

He tilted his head toward her and she could see the light in his red-gold eyes and the flicker of subdued fire. "Soon." His hand slid up her calf, twisting to draw his finger tips across the backs of her knee. It was her turn to shiver. 

She pressed her body more tightly to his. "I want to go home."

"With me?"

She frowned and pulled away enough to meet his eyes. "You mean instead of with Demitri?"

"I mean to clarify which home you mean." He eyed her with a side long stare. "There is your father's home..." It was his turn to leave his thoughts incomplete. She pulled away and straightened, cocking her head to the side and frowning deeply. 

"I fear I don't understand your question, and if I do...I don't think I like it."

His cool expression faltered and he raised a brow. "No?"

"No."

She thought she saw his lip twitch.

He turned toward her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her in closer. "Calliope, I want to ask you something." She could feel the damp of his arm filtering through the cloth, but the look in his eyes made it hardly worth mentioning. Something was wrong.

She wet her lips and eyed him uncertainly. "What is it?" 

He ground his jaw and looked away, expelling a harsh breath, then back into her eyes. "If something were to happen—"

It was her turn to look away, "—Thelios, don't say such—"

"Listen." His voice was low, but insistent. His hand gripped her hip tightly, prompting her to turn back to him. She didn't want to hear what he had to say, but she held her tongue. He noted her compliance and continued. "'If' does not mean 'when,' Calliope."

"I know." She offered softly when he seemed to require a response.

"It's perfectly reasonable to make contingencies." Again, he paused.

"I know."

"We need to discuss the possibility that something could happen to me."

She remained silent, even when he prompted her to speak by squeezing her hip again. "Well?" He finally asked.

"I don't want to talk about it...or discuss it, or...consider it." She swallowed hard to keep back the hot tears she knew were creating a lump in her throat. Thelios opened his mouth to argue and she help up a stalling finger. "But...I will."

He looked at her a moment, thoughtfully. "It isn't just you I'm trying to protect." He added in a low rumble.

She didn't know what to say to that. He hadn't really mention the child since she'd told him, even indirectly, and there was something about what he'd just said that sent a strange warmth through her limbs. 

Protect. He wanted to protect the child. And her, she thought with a faint smile. She blinked the moisture from her eyes and nodded. "What was it you wanted to ask?" 

"If something were to happen," he paused to eye her and make sure she didn't interrupt, "would your father take you under his protection?"

She opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again. She honestly didn't know. She thought a moment then spoke her thoughts plainly, unsure of what else to say. "I...don't know. My first thought was to say yes...but a second later, I wasn't as sure. If..." she hated to voice the words, but pressed on, "if I were a wife...and widowed, and with no father to claim me, then I do not doubt it. It would be his duty. But...I am not that, so I don't know where I stand."

"Even if I were a man?" He pressed. She nodded. He made a displeased sound.

"I fear you being...what you are," she continued, "would not help the situation. But to return as a pregnant slave, no matter who the master...well, I would be relying on affection alone to secure me a place in their home." She tipped her head thoughtfully. "I think if my younger sister were married I might be able to go to her, and hope her husband's affection for her would over-ride whatever shame my presence could bring into his home."

He shook his head. "Such idiocy." She arched a brow at him, and he returned her quizzical look with one of annoyance. His voice came out in a growl, "Forced from your home, pressed into service, and under duress...whether it be duty or fear, and for their sakes..." he paused to fume and shake his head again, "And somehow you could bring shame to them? Idiocy." He made a sound not dissimilar to a snarl and glared at the dark, tiled wall across from him. 

His expression was dour, and should have been unnerving, but she couldn't bring herself to be put off by it. Not in the least. That tingling warmth which was still lingering in her veins had bloomed and washed all else away. She leaned into him again, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and attaching herself like a limpet to his side, and pressed her head back against his shoulder.

She felt him start when she gripped him, but he relaxed easily enough into her. A moment later she smiled as rough lips brushed lightly against her forehead. "It's...it's not fear or duty which compels me, my Lord." She murmured softly against his shoulder.

"Wasn't it?" He challenged, his voice as low as hers.

"It was. It hasn't been...for some time now." He said nothing. When she looked up, he was glaring at the wall again. She smiled sadly and took his face in her hand, turning it to face her. Her lips parted, to say something reassuring...but she forgot the words when her breath was stopped against his mouth. 

She shivered and wrapped her arms that much tighter around him, pulling him closer until she was crushed against him. He did the same, threading fingers through her loose curls until they tightened at the nape of her neck. His mouth over hers was hard and hot...as always. And as always she melted happily into it.

How long since he'd kissed her this way? Since she'd felt like this? Days? It seemed an eternity. The joy she felt, the gratitude even, to have it back again...there weren't words to express it. 

She found herself on her back with urgent fingers tugging her dress down her shoulders. The jasper tiles of the bath were cool against her already heated skin.

Her own half-frantic fingers left him just long enough to find and release the pin holding the cloth together before reaching back for him. She gasped as her dress fell open and his mouth found her throat. 

Calliope tightened her grip around the straining, corded tendons of his neck and shuddered as her nails bit into skin. He returned the gesture with a growl, biting lightly into her shoulder and wringing another delighted shiver out of her, one that made her back arch against the huge chest pinning her to the floor. 

She grinned at the ceiling and let her eyes flutter closed as his mouth moved lower and his hand higher between her thighs. They fell open at his touch, her hips lifting to induce him further. However, her coo of delight as his finger tips found and pressed between the the slick folds of her sex turned to a hiss of pain as his mouth found her hard, tender nipple a moment later. 

His eyes shot up to hers, questioning. She rocked her hips against his hand encouraging him to keep going. "It's ok," she whispered thickly, "they're just....tender..."

He pulled away and leaned back, bringing the hand that had been wound in her hair down over her shoulder to gently cup her other breast. Normally they didn't quite fill his large hands, yet even with his added size, they seemed fuller than normal...and he must have recognized this since he seemed to move his hands over her experimentally, testing their weight with his palm. His expression darkened and he began to pull back completely.

"No! Don't stop," she gasped, reaching for his hand to pull it back to her.

He chuckled. It was a dark, thick sound...and it made her tug that much harder at his wrist. 

"I must." He rasped as he easily resisted her. She groaned in disappointment.

"Why on earth must you?" she demanded, with a more than plaintive note hitching in her voice.

He returned her glare with a rueful smile. His hand slid up her thigh, making her buck hopefully, but it passed over her hip and smoothed with a firm touch over her stomach, stopping there as his smile turned to something else. She blushed at the insinuation. 

"Do you find me so undesirable already?" She asked with a trembling smile, attempting to keep the hurt and fear from her voice.

Thelios kept his hand where it was on her belly, his thumb caressing the soft skin, but lifted himself to sit next to her on the edge of the bath. He turned towards her and gripped his now evident erection with his other hand. He looked her over with a hot grin, a grin which widened when her eyes did. He was...rather large. Or larger, she should say. In fact she quailed a little at the sight, and wondered if it might not be a little bit more than she could handle just then. 

He released his manhood and leaned in over her, eclipsing her with his massive bulk. He brushed his mouth lightly against hers. "I think you can put that ridiculous thought out of your mind." She heard the smile in his voice and returned it.

He sat up again and turned serious. "I wish you'd told me sooner." Her blush deepened and she nodded. She was still flush and breathing deeply, but his words cooled her ardor somewhat.

Calliope nodded again. "I know. I'm sorry. It was foolish of me to be so anxious about it."

He shook his head slightly. "No, I don't begrudge you that..." He flinched, almost imperceptibly, and turned his gaze away. She bit her lip and covered his hand with one of hers, leaning up on the other. 

"What? What is it?" She pressed.

He frowned. "I'm not exactly gentle with you...the last time especially. I could have..." his jaw tightened as his words fell off.

Her own expression of concern melted and she smiled warmly at him, lifting her hand from his to lay it against his cheek. "I'm fine. We're fine." She added.

"Perhaps. This time." He grumbled. "I'd rather not take that chance again."

Her stomach dropped. "I'm...I think if we're careful...I've heard it's only in the last months that they advise against it..." She flushed and looked down. "We'll just be careful."

"What, are you so eager?" He smirked. 

"Aren't you?" She whispered roughly, meeting his gaze. His smirk faded and the fire in his eyes flared. Perhaps he thought she would deny it. "I've missed you. Missed this." She added. Her cheeks burned, but she refused to look away, even when his eyes darkened and seared into her.

She felt his hand leave her stomach and slide lower. She dared not breathe, nor break his gaze as his fingers found her slit once more and cupped her sex with a firm squeeze.




Sacrifice Ch. 07



There was a sudden knock at the door that caused them both to start. She laughed brokenly, both at the consistency of Demitri's poor timing and the expression on Thelios' face. It was clear he was thinking along the same lines as she.

"Damn it, Demitri! You had better be bleeding to death out there." He growled out.

She tried to stifle her laughter behind her hand. She ended up choking on it since his hand was still squeezing between her thighs.

Even through the door the smile was evident in Demitri's voice.

"There's someone here for Calliope my Lord. Should I send her away?"

He turned and arched a brow at her when she tried to wriggle out of his grip. He sighed and released her, allowing her to rise and collect her dress. "I suppose not." He grumbled. She caught his baleful glare and tried not to smile. 

"I'm sure it won't take long. And it might be important." 

He answered with another glare and an unconvinced growl as he finally turned away and slipped back into the bath. 

She paused in her adjustments, realizing the dress was half soaked and discarded it, looking about for something else to wear. She also found she had to take several calming breaths before she felt the flush was sufficiently out of her skin to present herself to others. The last thing she needed was a lot of smirking and knowing glances. She got that enough from Thelios.

She found Demitri gone and Penelope waiting in the next room... not veiled, but a little more covered up than usual.

"Penelope, what brings you here?"

"I have news!"

"News? About me or about you?"

"Well me, of course. Don't you know? Everything is about me. This is my play, and I'm the title character!" She flared her arms dramatically over her head and posed for a moment to be admired.

Calliope chuckled. "I suspect it'll be more comedy than tragedy."

She lowered her arms and nodded her agreement. "Quite. Or so we can hope. I've not the look nor demeanor for those tragical heroines." She tipped her head and eyed Calliope. "You might just be able to pull that off though."

"Fie on you." She chided gently. "One would think you wished me ill."

"Don't blame me. It's those stern looks. You'd be prettier if you smiled more." She eyed her again then surprised Calliope by taking her face in her hands and tilting it as if to critique it.

Calliope allowed it with a bemused smile. "See that's better already. Your cheekbones are a bit high, which can make you look severe if you're not careful. But you've a lovely, full mouth. I could see men wanting to do terrible things to it." She grinned as Calliope made a disgusted sound and pulled away with a sardonic shake of her head. "But not if you grimace like that all the time," she added, "it makes you look absolutely terrifying."

She squinted at her again. "You're a little pale, though not unfashionably so...though you might pluck your brow into a more curving arch, not so pointed. That would help soften your look. And brown eyes aren't very interesting, but you could try a little coal to make them more dramatic...and you have short lashes too. They're nice and black, but you could use horse-hair to--"

"For pities sake, enough!" Calliope laughed. "This was the way I was taught, so this is the way I will continue." She added more mildly.

Penelope looked unconvinced. "Well, who taught you? Your mother? Or some crusty old nurse?"

Calliope shifted under her gaze. That was exactly right. "More or less."

"She must have been a prude."

Calliope's lip twitched. "More or less." 

"What was she trying to do, get you married off to some dull, ancient of high repute? No doubt one whose solemn reputation demanded only the most pious and restrained of wives," she intoned gravely, "who," she added with a sly smile, "must nonetheless whore herself for the sake of providing an heir...thanks to his equally dull and ancient member.

Calliope was laughing despite herself by the time Penelope finished. 

She sobered quickly with a cough, and did her best to change the subject."But you came with an announcement. What is your news then?"

"Ah, yes. I have a buyer!"

"A good one?"

"Oh god yes! Our illustrious Host himself!"

"You're jesting!"

"No. What, you don't think I'm good enough?"

"No...no...of course not. Nothing like that." She frowned, remembering the incident in the hall. Perhaps she'd been wrong after all. He must have been watching Penelope and not her. The rest was no doubt simply meant to irritate Thelios, as Lady Nagi had once warned her he or the others might try to do.

"Well, why do you frown then?" 

Calliope blinked and let her frown melt back into a smile, and laughed, shaking her head to clear it. "Oh, no...it's wonderful. Congratulations. I...I was just remembering when we were in the hall...he must have been looking at you, not me." 

"Oh...well, perhaps." She brightened. "Yes, indeed he must have! Or at least I was so very charming once he met me, he couldn't help himself." They smiled at one another a moment when Penelope seemed to remember something. "Oh, I almost forgot. I brought you a present as well. You obviously can't be trusted to remember such things so I took it upon myself." Penelope shifted her tunic to reveal a purse hanging by her hip then retrieved from it what looked like a small ointment pot. "It's popular enough, and won't be hard to replace. It's a cream made from the oil of some sort of nut. Out of Ethiopia I think." She opened it and held it up. "It smell's nice too. Better than oil."

"It does." She agreed. "What's it for?"

"You're stomach of course, or anywhere else you like. You rub it over your skin. It's going to stretch out soon, and you don't want it to leave marks." She was about to continue when her eyes shot up and widened. "Oh, my Lord, good day." She rushed instead, bowing.

Calliope stiffened and turned. "My Lord." She added, bowing her head, and noting the dark expression on his face. When she rose he looked between them and gestured to Penelope. Calliope immediately understood his expression and meaning. She knows? He was asking. She was having the same thought.

"I...My lord, forgive me, but I said nothing. I thought only Demitri knew," his brow shot up at that, "and he deduced it himself, I swear." She added quickly.

Penelope, catching on immediately pipped up as well. "Lord, you must forgive me as well for being so indiscreet. And it is I and not Calliope who have been so. What she says is correct, she told me nothing, I discovered it on my own. I've seen it in enough women. But I've told no one else, you may be assured of that."

"Sounds like something terribly interesting. What did you discover, my dear?"

Both their heads snapped to the sound of the voice. Calliope's so hard it made her neck ache. Calliope winced as much as the pain in her neck as at the sight of Lady Nagi, then Kara, passing through the door way. She glanced at Thelios and watched with a silent groan as his scowl deepened. 

Kara looked between her and Penelope and smirked as she walked toward the two women. "That she was the veiled dancer, of course. The musician too no doubt?" She pointed, waving a finger between Calliope and Penelope. "I knew it was you in the black, and seeing her here only confirms it." As Kara neared them she winked and mouthed what looked like "and pregnant."

Calliope's eyes went wide.

"That was her? That was you?" Lady Nagi asked, looking delighted.

Calliope sighed and closed her eyes in defeat. Thelios made a sound of obvious displeasure. "A farce, my life is definitely a farce." She murmured under her breath. She heard Penelope's subdued chuckle beside her.

"I should have known it." Lady Nagi mused, ignoring both Calliope's discomfort and Thelios's annoyance. "Considering the way you ran off, brother. It's no wonder of course," she let out a low chuckle, "no doubt after a performance like that you couldn't wait to get her alone."

Calliope dared to meet lady Nagi's amused stare, but couldn't handle it long. She turned her pained look on Kara instead. "How on earth could you have known? About the dance." she added quickly, still uncertain about what the woman had mouthed at her.

Kara shrugged. "I told you before, very few women here move like you do...or have your precise height and bearing...plus you left just before the dance. It was sort of obvious. Wonderful legs by the way."

"Aren't they though?" Quipped Penelope agreeably. "They definitely go all the way up."

Calliope winced and cast an apologetic glance toward Thelios who had settled into his chair. He didn't seem to notice as his attention was on his sister who had taken her usual place on the couch next to him.

"And you? What are you glowering about this time?" Lady Nagi asked him.

He cocked a brow and graced her with a wry smirk. "Do I need a reason." She smirked back, then turned on Calliope, "Why didn't you tell us? I can't imagine why you'd keep something like that a secret. Can you?" She challenged Thelios, who stared silently back. 

"No one was meant to know." Calliope offered softly.

"Yes, but why?"

She wasn't sure how to answer that without openly admitting she'd disobeyed Thelios. It was bad enough that Demitri and Penelope already knew she had.

"You know how they are." He rumbled, saving her from answering. His eyes flicked to hers briefly and she hoped he saw her gratitude. "What they don't know, can't hurt me." He added with another smirk.

Lady Nagi chuckled. "Indeed. Speaking of whom, are you coming tonight? That's what I came by to ask. We're on our way there now." 

"No."

"No?"

"No."

She sighed. "You haven't been for several nights now." She looked to Calliope, perhaps for support, but Calliope found herself suddenly rather preoccupied with adjusting the dress pin at her shoulder and smoothing the wrinkles from the material. 

Lady Nagi rolled her eyes."So that's it...just no?"

"That's it."

"Hmph. Fine. It might calm them down a bit though if you came. They're getting rather antsy."

He said nothing but gave lady Nagi what Calliope thought was a very pointed look before letting his eyes drift in her direction.

Calliope straightened. "Well," she began, in what she hoped was an air clearing voice, "thank you very much for the gift Penelope, it was very kind of you to bring it to me."

Penelope took the hint gracefully. "Oh, my pleasure. But I really should be getting along." She turned to Thelios and his sister, "My Lord, my Lady, good evening to you."

They both nodded and Penelope made a quick exit. Calliope thought it best to do the same. "If you'll excuse me as well." She didn't wait for a reply but bowed and slipped away into the bedroom.

She busied herself draining the bath and removing the damp clothes she'd left on the stone steps. She also stepped out briefly to find one of the household slaves in order to procure a proper dinner since they once again wouldn't be leaving their rooms for the evening. When she returned to the bedroom he was already there lounging on one of the couches, a game of Senet sitting on the low table before him and another empty couch waiting on the other side.

She couldn't help but smile. They'd been playing it, and other games, to pass the evenings. She was relieved to see it again as it meant he wasn't unduly irritated with her just yet. She also noted that he seemed to be a much more manageable size now that they were alone for the night. 

"I'm sorry. I had no idea I'd been found out. It was as much a surprise to me as to you."

He was already watching her. "On which account?"

"Both." There was another pause and she shifted uncomfortably as she sat across the table from him. 

He simply nodded and reached for the counting sticks laying next to the board. Nothing more was said that did not pertain to the game before them, and she was happy to leave it thus. They were half way through the game when Demitri knocked and called out on the other side of the door, only opening it once he was sure all within were not indisposed.

She rose and took the tray he was carrying as he turned to fetch the other one. 

"They left it in here." He explained as she unloaded her platter, arranging the smaller bowls and plates so that they wouldn't interfere with the game.

Demitri did the same with his own, adding a few plates of fish to the mix. It was relatively familiar fare, and she easily recognized most of it, including the grilled octopus, a personal favorite. There were two other small bowls she didn't recognize, one a kind of dark mollusc, and the other she thought might be eel, but she couldn't tell. What ever it was it was half drowned in oil. She eyed it askance and opted to snatch up a chunk of the octopus instead. 

Thelios was watching her, and she wondered what he was smirking at as he accepted a cup of wine from Demitri. Demitri then helped himself to the wine— as well as to her seat. She gave him a 'look', which he returned with a wink. However she was more than happy to settle in next to Thelios when he motioned for her to join him. 

They ate in silence, though it was anything but uncomfortable and everyone seemed content to let it stand. Demitri made himself at home on her vacated couch while she and Thelios restarted their game between bites. 

She lost and Demitri took over her part as she reclined with a sated sigh, stretching out along the couch and sliding her feet behind Thelios. He was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees but reached over to run an absent hand over her bent leg, never taking his eyes from the board. She watched as he threw a three and chuckled at his sound of annoyance. 

She leaned in and stole his wine cup from where he'd left it on the table and rubbed her ankle against the small of his back. 

They continued to play in relative silence. Thelios ignoring her save to steal, and steal back again his cup of wine. Though that was also the only time his free hand left off its distracted exploration of her calf and thigh.

Calliope let her mind wander, fluctuating between ruminations on her and her master's present situation and dwelling on warming memories from earlier that evening ...and other evenings. The light caress of his fingers against the tender skin at the back of her knee and calf did little to discourage such thoughts. More than once she had to fight to keep the flush from her cheeks.

They were on to a third game when she felt his caress turn into a grip. It wasn't painful, or even obvious, but she noticed the change in pressure. 

"What?" she asked, examining the board when he made a sound of irritation. She couldn't see why. It looked as though he were winning.

"It doesn't make sense. This is all wrong."

"What is my lord?" She asked looking curiously between him and the board.

He sat silently and they both watched him.

He grunted. "Phineas. This just isn't him. It...." he made another sound of frustration. "What do you think Demitri?"

Demitri shrugged. "I have to agree, based on what I know of him...but sometimes you think you know someone..."

He shook his head. "I've known him a long time. Since he was a child."

"I don't know what to say. I'm not arguing against him, but sometimes people surprise you. It would be nice if people wore their hearts on their sleeves, but they don't always. Rarely in fact. I knew a general, smart, capable, but he was still fooled by an officer of his...thought he was all goodness and love, we all did. We discovered he'd been conniving behind everyone's back, setting them against each other in order to advance his own career...but not before lives were ruined and innocent men put to the sword."

"Indeed, none of us three are prone to display our outward feelings...unless they do us some service." Calliope offered.

"I'm not saying he's perfect, or forthcoming about all and sundry...but he's just not power hungry. And if he wanted something of me, he could just ask. He knows that. Something is going on, and I'm not going to discover what it is by sitting here and waiting." 

"Well, who did they hear it from? That he was the thief?" Demitri pressed.

"The Gorgons, you know that." Thelios growled irritably.

"I don't suppose there's any way you can check that information for yourself then?"

"Too dangerous. Callea has ways of protecting herself, I do not. Ironically I would have asked Phineas to go check for me since he was always so friendly with them."

"You don't think he might be controlled by something else, do you?" Calliope asked toying with the cup of wine in her hands.

He gave her a sidelong glance. "Honestly, the thought had crossed my mind. What makes you think that?"

She shook her head and shrugged. "I don't know my Lord. But I've never known you to be unreasonable about this sort of thing. If you think something is wrong, then something is probably wrong. If he's not capable of this sort of thing, then maybe it isn't really him, despite appearances to the contrary. Perhaps someone is pretending to be him, or manipulating him with magic."

"It's possible." Demitri mused. "But then what do we do? If he's being controlled by someone, he is still dangerous..."

Calliope turned back to Thelios with the intention of adding her thoughts to that, but hesitated when she found him gazing at her with a strange expression on his face. He looked slowly back to Demitri. "I'm not all that worried. His advantage is my advantage."

She frowned. "The thing he stole?"

"No, the water. We're on an island...that makes my brethren a little nervous and I bet they're wishing they'd chosen something a little more land-locked to hole up in."

"I don't understand." She leaned toward him, resting her arm on her bent knee. He paused a moment then let out an almost imperceptible sigh. 

"Our mothers are both Nereid. Sisters. Making him both my cousin on that side and nephew...or great nephew I suppose, on the other. I can't say I know how it works exactly...I've never been all that interested in finding out, but it seems like our abilities, the abilities of our dams and sires, are drawn from the elements. Callea uses fire, it seems to be the core of her sorcery. Phineas...and I, water. In water neither of us have the advantage of power over the other...but my strength is more immediately available to me. He's more...a seer. He can use sorcery, can manipulate the element in ways I cannot...but his manipulations have little affect on me. Not, at least, the way it affects others. He can control the element in a limited way, but not against me. Not effectively at any rate."

"So your affinity to the element protects you then?"

"Yes."

She nodded, satisfied. That, at least, was a comforting thought. If he wasn't worried then there was less reason for her to be. In fact he seemed more upset by the fact that his friend was implicated in a betrayal than that he could actually hurt him. He seemed calm enough, not made rash with anger or fear, so there was no reason to doubt him. 

Demitri let out a heavy breath. "Well, it'll wait until morning I suppose. I'll meander a bit before I settle in for the night. One of the cyclops's girls has a loose tongue." He smirked. "Maybe I'll find a way to loosen it all the more, eh?"

Calliope rolled her eyes and Thelios chuckled.

Demitri sobered. "Put it from your minds. Get some sleep...both of you. I don't want to be a pessimist, but I've got a feeling it's going to get ugly before long, and I don't doubt you'll need your strength."

She smiled tiredly and nodded. "Good night, Uncle Demitri." 

Thelios raised a brow at her and Demitri grinned. "Good night, Cali-girl. Don't fret too much. I know you're wont to." He smiled warmly at her and she felt suddenly very grateful to have a man like him for a friend. 

"Let me know what you hear Demitri." Thelios rumbled. "And good hunting." He gave the man a final, smirking grin before he left.




Sacrifice Ch. 07



When the door closed, Calliope drew her legs back under her and knelt before her master on the couch. "You shouldn't encourage him."

"Why not?' He still wore his grin, and her censure did nothing to abate it. Quite the opposite in fact.

"It's immoral." She belied the sentiment with her own poorly hidden grin. 

"Is that so?"

"Mmhm. You're a terrible influence." She leaned forward on the palms of her hands and tilted her chin up to meet his hand as he reached out to grasp it. He leaned in as well, his sun colored eyes burning into hers, and she found herself wetting her lips automatically, her eyes flicking to his mouth and back again.

"I had no idea you thought that about me. That I am a bad influence." 

She resisted the urge to grin wider when his own eyes also flickered downward. "Yes. You're a very, bad, man. You told me yourself once that you weren't a very nice person. Remember?"

"I might recall something like that." He surprised her by releasing her and pulling away. But his smile took on a new heat as his eyes raked over her. He turned himself to face her fully, sitting so as to straddle the backless couch, and leaned back. "Do you know what I think?"

"What, my Lord?"

"I think that behind every bad man there's a very bad woman."

She laughed. "What, corrupted you? Not I?"

"You." He sighed theatrically. "I had so much potential, but you've ruined me."

She did grin at that...and slid a hand up one of his thighs, letting her fingers tease beneath the edge of his wrap. "It can't have been me."

"I say it is you. And it just so happens that I'm always right." She watched his face carefully, but he showed no reaction to her exploring hand.

"Ah, but my Lord, it's not possible. You see I'll admit to having been in front of you, above you, and more often than not, beneath you...but never behind you. I haven't the right...parts, for such things."

He chuckled again, though his expression told her it was despite himself. She reveled in the victory. 

"Do you know what else I think?"

"What, Master?"

"That you're a little overdressed for the occasion."

Her own grin turned tremulous as she felt the heat of his gaze suffuse her skin. She found herself biting her lower lip as she pulled the pin from the shoulder of her dress and held the bunched cloth against her breast. 

It wasn't as if she were unused to being nude before him, or unused to the dark, fiery expression slowly claiming his features, but still, she couldn't ignore the nervous fluttering in her stomach, nor the hot flush of anxious excitement crawling over her skin.

"What occasion is that my lord?" She asked in a soft voice as she dropped the fabric and allowed it to pool loosely around her knees. Her eyes darted away from his and downward, catching for a moment the sight of her own already blushing breasts and the pebbled flesh gracing their tips. 

She gazed up at him through her lowered lashes, fighting the sudden inclination to cover herself and escape those burning eyes.

He didn't answer, but reached for her. Yet, instead of pulling her into his arms or up to his lips as she expected him to, he turned her so that she was seated between his legs, her shoulders resting against his chest.

She relaxed into his embrace as his arms wrapped around her, and let out a contented hum of pleasure when she felt his lips brush against her ear and trail hotly down the length of her neck. "Well," he began again, his voice a deep rumble that echoed beneath her skin, "the occasion that I learn you how to be bad."

"Bad, or very bad?" She whispered distractedly, her mind only barely keeping up with his words, and not at all able to come up with anything clever...though really, he sounded like he was having the same problem.

"Very, very bad."

"As bad as all that?"

"Worse." It was more growl than word, and she swallowed hard.

"And h-how do you propose to do that?" She stuttered breathlessly as he suckled lightly on the flesh of her throat. 

"If you don't have the part...I'll just have to give it to you, won't I. And teach you through example. Do you think you can keep up with the lesson, sweet?"

She let out a sound that was something like a laughing moan and pressed firmly against him. She could feel the part in question rubbing against her back.

His arms squeezed her once before loosening, letting his hands smooth over her sides and across the tops of her legs, his fingers curling in to grip the insides of her thighs, pulling them apart until they were pressed to his. The flush of her skin became a burn as her full focus was drawn to the sensation of cool air against the rapidly dampening folds of her sex and the pulsing throb within. 

He didn't stop there but pulled her higher against his body, and shifted her legs so that they rested over his, dangling and stretched wide on either side of his spread thighs. 

She squirmed as his teeth grazed her shoulder and reached up run her palm along his rough cheek. His hands left her and she felt the cloth between them pull away, leaving his smooth, hot length pressed against her back. His hands returned, this time capturing hers and pulling them up by the wrists to wrap around his neck. 

Her legs remained where he'd placed them, held apart by his own, leaving her unable to squeeze her thighs to satisfy the persistent throb at their apex. She ground her hips instead, half in frustration, half in encouragement, earnestly hoping he'd accept the invitation. 

She let out a moaning sigh and gripped his neck as his hands moved down her arms and body, one pausing to cup the swell of her breast, and the other passing lower to cover the heat between her thighs. She pressed against him, but his fingers refused to do anything but tease her thighs and outer folds with the lightest of caresses. 

She dropped a hand to press his more firmly to her, pushing his thick middle finger deeper with her own, and grinding her hips to slide him along her wet slit. She felt the vibration of his chuckle as he allowed her to use him to pleasure herself. But the allowance was short lived, and he caught up her hand, replacing it around his neck.

"Hang on. Don't let go." The whisper in her ear sent a shiver through her. 

"I won't." She whispered back, tipping back her head and turning her mouth until it brushed against his jaw.

His hand returned, still teasing, but she was content for the moment to let it be, focusing instead on the sensation of his other hand gently fondling her breasts. They were still tender and she bit back a wince when his grip became firmer. She could feel his lips and breath, incongruously light against her neck and she tipped her head to give him access to her throat.

"Still tender?" Another hot whisper, another shiver.

She couldn't bring herself to speak, but nodded breathlessly. He left off his caress, sliding his hand lower to rest over her stomach. She tensed, concerned that he might once again pull away. She needn't have worried however, as his other hand made up for the loss by finally squeezing her sex, pressing his fingers into the furrow and teasing her entrance with delicious pressure. They slid upward, pausing to firmly grip and roll her sensitive nub. 

"Tender here as well?" She could hear the wicked smile in his voice as she whimpered and bucked against him.

She opened her mouth to answer, but all that came out was a sharp cry of pleasure. It was almost too much, painful even, but she was loathe to stop him and would gleefully suffer worse. She bucked, hoping to impel him lower, closer to her center and that waiting, wanting emptiness. Despite her encouragement, he continued to pull cruelly on that captured pearl of flesh. 

She groaned and grit her teeth. "Please.." she breathed.

"Please?"

"Inside..." She gasped, "I-I want you inside..."

He let out another of those chuckles of his...the kind that made her want to hit him and kiss him at the same time. "Is that really what an bad girl would say?"

"Yes, dammit!" She panted, thrusting her hips up to him.

"Your going to be a difficult student aren't you." He rumbled against her shoulder. She bucked again in response. But to no avail. He continued to waver between light caresses of her thighs and outer-folds, and gripping and tugging her clit, but never gave her the satisfaction she craved.

She grit her teeth and dug her fingers into the back of his neck to keep from grabbing his hand and putting it exactly where she wanted it herself. "Do something." she groaned. "Stop teasing me!"

"Do what?"

"Oh for the love—fuck me already. Fuck me...with your fingers, your cock...I don't care, just do something!" Her words devolved into a frustrated whimper as her hips jerked once more under his fingers.

He made a terrifying, shudder inducing sound...one that made her insides clench with pure, desperate need. "Much better." He growled. 

She pushed up her hips, spreading herself as widely as she could, and this time was rewarded with first one, than two thick fingers pressed inside of her. He moved slowly inside her, drawing and stretching her flesh around him, pressing deeply and lingering there.

"Stop me if I'm too rough." His voice was harsh and tight.

She shook her head against his shoulder. "I wouldn't stop you for the world." She moaned, earning her a low laugh. 

"I won't stop...just..." His breath hitched slightly as she clenched down around his fingers and dropped a hand down behind her and between them to wrap around his cock. "I don't want to hurt you." He ground out as her hand squeezed him in sympathy with her body. 

"Calliope..." He warned, when she didn't respond, except to grip his cock more firmly. He began drawing his fingers from her. 

"Alright! Fine," she panted, "don't stop...I'll tell you...just don't stop."

He was laughing at her, she could feel it shudder through his chest. But his fingers didn't stop, so she decided he could laugh all he wanted. 

She tried to reward his acquiescence by stroking him in return, but the angle was awkward with him trapped behind her, so she simply limited her own efforts to the occasional encouraging squeeze. Eventually even that became too much to keep up as he quickened the pace. 

And quickened still. She could feel herself building, and her breath came with difficulty.

Somehow managed to remember herself and caution him as his thrusting fingers became rough and jarring...bordering on that wonderful-strange cusp of pleasure-pain where he'd brought her so often before.

"Careful..." she gasped in warning, and sorry to have to do it. She could admit, to herself at least, that part of her took perverse delight in his rough handling of her body. Never really hurting her, not usually, but always a little too hard, a little too eager...demanding. It excited her.

She groaned in disappointment as his fingers left her once more. They came up to cup her chin, letting her feel her own wetness still on his fingers. And the scent of it...it only rouse her further. The fingers tipped her head back firmly and she twisted in his arms until his mouth found and roughly claimed hers. "Good girl." He growled softly against her lips.

She let out a broken gasp of a laugh. Had he been testing her then? The bastard. 

"I thought good wasn't what we were aiming for." She returned, still half panting with arousal as she did her best to taunt him back.

"True. Thank you for the reminder." He patted her cheek and grinned in a way which made her rather nervous.

She let out an indecorous squeal as he took her by the waist and rose, hauling her across the room in a few long strides, only to deposit her stomach first on the bed. She had barely pulled herself onto her knees when his hands found and gripped the backs of her thighs and pulled them toward him, spreading her wide. 

She melted under his hands as they ran from her shoulders to her hips, encompassing and gripping her— the dip of her waist, the rounds of her breasts, the length of her arms, the curve of her hip and thigh—filling his hands with her. Everywhere he touched tingled with excitement...as if her body had been clay, not brought to life until he'd traced its shape with those zealous fingers. 

Her wits left her entirely when she felt his tongue join his hands and burn a broad trail up between her thighs and through the smooth furrow of her sex. She pressed into him as one of his large hands clapped over the globe of her ass, kneading it firmly in time with his wonderful, piercing tongue.

She gasped and felt herself burn with excited embarrassment as first cool air and then a hot, wet mouth passed over the small, hidden star of her anus. Then passed again...and again. 

Calliope bit her lip and held her breath. It wasn't the first time she'd felt his tongue or fingers brush or press her there...but this time he seemed to linger. She bowed her head and thrust her hips up, trying to ignore the conflicting urges to pull away and push back, and instead encouraged him back to safer grounds. She failed, and instead of sliding back to satisfy the throbbing of her sex, he paused and replaced his tongue with the pads of his fingers.

She shifted nervously as he toyed with the tight little knot of flesh, noticing, after a nerve wracking moment, that his fingers were slicker than they should be. She was certainly wet enough herself, but this was a different sensation entirely. 

"M-master?" She stuttered out in a horse voice, casting a nervous glance over her shoulder. She regretted it when she saw the small, dark smile on his face as he knelt over her, and even more so when she spotted the unstopped vial on a little table near the head of the bed. It was probably her imagination, but she thought the scent of olive oil had joined with the scents of incense and arousal suspended in the air around them.

She started to sputter something, but he hushed her and ran a firm hand up her back, massaging her neck and shoulders in a way not unlike their first night together. The parallel did little to ease her fear.

She gasped as one thick digit pressed into her. The pain was minimal compared to the strangeness...and shame, of the act. "Th-Thelios, please." She whimpered. "Not...I...n—" She choked on the already incoherent words as he worked deeper into her.

"Relax." He suggested calmly. She shook her head vehemently. He was sliding now, back and forth within her, the oil easing his way. All she could focus on was the sensation of his moving in her. A particularly deep stroke made her gasp, and made her empty cunt clench.

"Can't...this—this isn't right."

He paused his slow fucking of her ass, and she felt his body lean over hers. When he spoke his breath was hot against the nape of her neck. "Why not?"

"I-it's not done by..." she whispered softly, then fell off in a groan, both from the sensation and from the sudden wave of understanding. It wasn't done by women of repute...good women...wives. It was done by whores...or by slaves. He made it so easy to forget what she really was. She felt a lump in her throat and squeezed shut her eyes.

"Well?"

She nodded faintly. "You-you're right Master." She choked out, then added in a hoarse whisper, "I'll...try."

He said nothing more, but after another long pause was moving in her again. She offered no more resistance, only buried her burning face in her arms and squeezed the balled sheets into her hands. 

It was difficult to obey, to relax. Or it was until his free hand slid along the underside of her body, toying with her breasts before moving back to cup her sex, squeezing and massaging the swollen flesh of her pussy and slowly pressing into her to curl his fingers deeper inside her. The next sound that came out of her mouth was most certainly not one of fear or pain.

And indeed, despite the initial discomfort, she found herself rocking her hips against his two probing hands, doubly impaling herself on his fingers, giving in finally and allowing herself to chase after the gratification which had been eluding her. 

It was strange and unfamiliar, this way to pleasure...but she couldn't deny the effect it was having on her. How could she when, despite her flushed, embarrassed cheeks, she was panting and thrusting against him with feverish need.

It wasn't long before all pain faded completely and she was too distracted by this new building to worry about anything else...but then one finger became two.

She grunted softly, though her hips never ceased their restless shifting as he stretched her wider. The pain returned, but this time there was something else there now as well, something strange and dark....and utterly erotic. She found herself pushing back against him with panting groans, wanting that strange something even deeper inside of her, forcing herself past the pain to follow it.

Behind her, above her...all around her, she could feel him, could feel his own desire building. His breath was rough and harsh and his stroking fingers became that much more demanding. So close...she was so close...

And then it was gone, all of it. She cried out at the loss, grinding her hips in the air, her mind focused on nothing but the overwhelming sense of gaping emptiness she felt. So full...she'd been so full...

She moaned in both pleasure and fear as she felt him press tighter to her, wrapping an arm around her waist as he ground his hips into her ass, letting the thick length of his cock slide between the globes of her now well oiled flesh. The mushroomed head was so hot and hard against her that, despite her trepidation, she found herself rocking her hips against him whenever it pressed against that small entrance.

Calliope tried to relax, to accept it...but she couldn't. She tensed up and shut her eyes tight, waiting for the pain she knew was coming. 

She gasped in surprise, her eyes flying open as he slid into her...and as the willing flesh of her incredibly wet cunt fluttered around his more than welcome length. Her moment of shock was tinged with no little relief as he slid slowly in and out of her sex...but there was perhaps a pang of disappointment as well. 

She cast a glance over her shoulder at him, questioning...he seemed to have been waiting for it. His hand caught in her hair, pulling her face back toward him as he leaned in over her. She half swooned at the feel of him as the movement forced him deeper within her, and at the sensation of his teeth and fangs grazing the length of her neck...and the sharp tug of his fist in her hair. The moan that escaped her was rough and raw.

"Not tonight. But be assured, I will fuck this ass eventually." He promised her, digging his two fingers back into the tight, oiled flesh, filling her once more. So very full. She felt her insides clench, sending a warm, wet flood down his retreating cock. His dark laugh did nothing to stop the waves of heat and lightening running through her. "You like that, do you?" 

She didn't answer. It was hardly necessary when, as always, the answer was so humiliatingly obvious. She was grateful he didn't require she say it aloud and merely continued to slide in and out of her body in a slow and unhurried way. 

Her climax came over her in slow waves, as if from some distance place, radiating in a kind of strange dark energy out from her center, to some distant point far outside of her body, pulling and stretching her along with it. She heard a low, deep sound from that same far off place— distant, indistinct words, spoken in a low voice, a voice which itself became a consuming caress, filling her and wrenching from her that exquisite agony until there was simply nothing left in her to take.

Calliope could only hang on, half limp beneath him, marveling at the feeling. So full...she'd never have thought she could feel so...that he could fill her more than he already had...




Sacrifice Ch. 07



He pulled out and away from her, leaving her empty and trembling on her elbows and knees. She made no movement or sound, except a soft gasp as he returned, and without preamble slid back inside of her now hyper-sensitive flesh. Her eyes fluttered closed and she tried to breath deeply and calmly. He had to yet to find his own pleasure. They weren't done just yet.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up-right and flush against his chest as he rocked back on his knees. She groaned as the weight of her body forced her as far down his shaft as she could take him and waited for him to grab her waist or hips and begin to piston into her as he had done so often in the past.

But he didn't. Instead he remained almost still as she listened to his harsh breathing, and felt his cock twitch and throb inside of her. He merely held her there, filling her, with his arm wrapped tightly around her. 

"Thelios?" She whispered, her voice a tremulous rasp. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the embrace, or the feeling of him pulsing inside of her like that...but the longer he held her the more unusual the moment became, and the more uncertain she became.

"Mmm?"

"Is something wrong?"

His lips brushed her shoulder. "Why would you think that?"

"You....you're not moving." she gasped softly as he ground into her, his length pulsing inside her again.

"You don't enjoy this?"

She inhaled with pleasure as his fingers found one of her nipples and tugged it gently. She shook her head. "No...yes, I mean....I like it." She breathed, arching against his hand. "Do you?"

He made no answer except a humming sound of affirmation and pleasure. 

"But, if you're so anxious to move..." he offered after another moment, and shifted to extend his legs beneath them, "by all means."

Calliope was forced to find her balance as he released her and lay back, leaving her astride his hips with him still buried deeply inside of her. 

She glanced over her shoulder. He had made himself comfortable with one arm crossed behind his head, and was gazing down appreciatively at her bottom as his other hand lightly traced the shape of it. There was a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth. She couldn't help but find a smile of her own.

"How's the view?" She asked with a soft chuckle.

"Magnificent." He rumbled back, pulling his eyes back up to give her one of those soul melting looks of his. She looked away and leaned forward, simultaneously balancing herself with her hands on his thick thighs, and letting his length slide out of her until only an inch or two remained. She paused, then let it slide back in again. She grinned when she was rewarded with a moan of pleasure from the mountain beneath her. "I love watching my cock disappear into you like that." He growled. She flushed and swallowed a moan. 

She was happy to provide him with a repeat performance, working her body slowly up and down his shaft until she herself was near trembling with the desire to just ride him fast and hard until they were both spent and exhausted. She couldn't see his face, but she could hear his groans turn to growls and felt his fingers bite into the flesh of her hips and rear. 

Yet still he let her move as she would. She wondered if he was enjoying the torture, or was simply still anxious about hurting her. In the end it didn't matter. He might have been able to control himself, but she certainly wasn't...

She sped her movements, rocking her hips with increasing urgency...gasping as the head of his cock began to batter against the entrance of her womb in that wonderful, almost painful...

Calliope stopped with a gasp and a curse, her nails digging into his thighs, her hips shifting anxiously despite her attempts to still herself. Careful, she'd promised to be careful...they had to be...but how the hell was she supposed to do that?! She growled in frustration.

Thelios came to her rescue and pulled her back against him and turned to lean them both on their sides, never leaving her body. He lifted her leg up over his hip and held her tightly as he began to pump into her with quick, shallow strokes.

She was happy to have as much of him as she did...but she wanted more...wanted him deeper. She told him as much in a low and pitifully desperate groan. He didn't comply. Instead he nipped at her ear with his teeth. 

"Touch yourself." He ground out, still grazing her ear and neck with his fangs. "Touch your cunt for me. Now."

The words may have excited her, but the fierce snarl in his voice made her see red. Her fingers flew to the apex of her sex, and the moment she pressed against the hard nub of her clit the rest of her snapped as taut as a drum skin. And like that she was over the brink, gasping desperately for air as her sex spasmed wildly around him.

"Faster. Don't stop!" He ordered roughly, his hands tightening around her hips. She whimpered and bucked, but managed to heed him. Desperately she crushed her fingers into her flesh, gasping and jerking as shock after shock of literally gut wrenching pulses were forced through her body. 

He was moving faster in her, and deeper...her fingers could feel his thickness filling her each time he thrust back inside of her. Her limbs strained and shook. Her pulse pounded loudly in her ears, behind her eyes...throbbing to fill her panting mouth and swollen lips.

His hand came down hard over hers, suddenly, gripping her hard. His teeth dug into her shoulder as he thrust one last time, seating himself deep inside of her and grinding his hips as he pulsed, spending his seed with a long, low moan. 

The sensation sent another, deeper wave of pleasure through her. She arched and let out her own sobbing cry as her body clenched and shuddered uncontrollably. Her hips jerked fitfully as tiny after-shocks rattled through her center, leaving her whimpering and breathless.

Calliope shook and trembled in his arms for some time after, unable to find the will or energy to do anything else. He simply held her like that, cupping her body with his, until his own harsh breaths became slow and even once more. 

He spoke, but she was too groggy to make sense of it. "Hm?" She wriggled slightly tilting her head back toward his, though he still remained out of view. He tucked his arm beneath her head as she lifted it to catch him in the corner of her eye.

"I asked if you were all right."

She smiled tiredly and nodded. "Yes. Better than all right. Much better."

He returned the smiled and she felt the pad of his thumb swipe across her cheek. "This is something I haven't seen in a little while. I'd be worried if I wasn't sure I hadn't hurt you." She frowned at his strange words and lifted her own fingers to her face. She understood when she felt the wetness there. She had no memory of crying and wondered when it had happened.

"How strange" She murmured. "I don't remember it at all."

"I didn't hurt you...did I?" She smiled at the rare note of uncertainty ringing in his voice.

"No, you were right to think you hadn't. I'm fine." And she was. She tingled all over, and her muscles still twitched and pulsed now and then, but she lacked her usual heavy ache. She yawned and nestled in against him, making happy, if sleepy, sounds of approval when she felt him cover them both with sheets.

He made a satisfied sound of his own. "Then sleep well my sweet, teary wench."

She laughed softly, feeling his own near-silent chuckle reverberating in his chest. "And good night to you my handsome, fanged beast."

He nuzzled her with another, deeper chuckle. "I like that." He growled softly against her hair.

"I thought you might." 

As she began to drift he squeezed her tightly to him. He sighed contentedly."I...Good night, Calliope."

"You what?" she murmured, wondering what he was going to say.

He kissed her shoulder. "Nothing. Go to sleep...I command you." He added in a low drawl.

Calliope smiled against his bicep. "As you wish." She smirked, still wondering what he had begun to say...but too exhausted to do anything but comply. 

%%%

Calliope had decided that she was determined to help. However, this was easier said than done.

To begin with, there wasn't a great deal she had to offer. She tried to be attentive and supportive in the few ways she was able. Certainly he was no more inclined to discuss what troubled him than he usually was, but she was pleased to listen and offer her thoughts in the rare moments he was. 

But what she really wanted was to be truly useful to him. More....proactive, in her assistance. As far as she was aware, the only way for her to do that was by continuing to gather what information she could.

And indeed, she had managed to glean what she could from both Penelope and Kara but in the end none of it added to what Thelios and Demitri already knew. It was a frustrating endeavor since her circle of acquaintances was rather small, and she had done little to make herself liked among the women of the place. She had no one to blame but herself, however. Her reserve, though it seemed to amuse Lady Nagi, endeared her to no one. And she had been quite content to follow her master's example when it came to the others...and now she was beginning to regret it.

She'd also noticed, with chagrin, that the male slaves and servants kept their distance completely. Not that this should be surprising to anyone, all things considered. It was unlikely anyone had forgotten the rather dramatic scene in the entrance hall when they had first arrived. 

Still...something was going on and she wanted to know what, especially as it affected her master. It might have been her imagination, but it seemed as if far too many conversations came to abrupt halts as she neared people in hallways and there were certainly nothing to warrant all those sly, sidelong glances she seemed to be getting from all corners either. If she was with Thelios, certainly. It was hard not to stare at a giant wearing nothing but a hip wrap and a fearsome scowl. 

But then, she might just be becoming paranoid.

She was headed back to their rooms after trying, and failing, to find any new information from Penelope. The air seemed full of whispers and anxious glances, yet she could find nothing secure to pin the growing tension on, and nothing more on the movements of this Phineas character at all.

"Excuse me..." She blinked at the clear, male voice which cut through her musings.

She turned at the sound to find a man, dressed in a simple white toga and a dark green cloak. The cloak looked well worn with travel, and was tossed casually over his shoulder. He was also holding a walking staff, which was unusual in a place like this, but other than that he seemed innocuous enough. He had a pleasant countenance topped with a mop of sandy blonde hair, and his expression was mild. He was watching her with a faint frown...or rather watching about an inch or two to the left of her. She glanced over her shoulder but there was nothing there.

"Yes?" She continued to take in his appearance and noticed his eyes, still looking in the wrong direction, were the strangest shade of blue. So pale...almost...

"Oh, you're blind!" 

She clamped her hand over her mouth, aghast at her rudeness. "Forgive me!" She gasped. "That was intolerably rude of me."

His face split into a warm smile and he laughed softly. His smile made him suddenly handsome and she felt herself smiling back. "There is nothing to be sorry for my Lady...but if you're feeling penitent, perhaps you might assist me in recompense."

"Of course. I'd be glad to." 

He lifted his hand and patted the arm of a statue next to him. "I'm afraid I can't find my way around this infernal labyrinth." It was her turn to chuckle. She stepped forward, taking his hand from the statue and placing it on her own arm. He stiffened slightly at her touch, but relaxed quickly. He also got a strange look on his face...but that too passed. She must have startled him, and felt foolish for not warning him. He was blind after all.

"That, I fear, is the nature of this place." She offered gently as he fell into pace beside her after draping his staff across his back with a long strap. "It has nothing to do with you. Hades knows I can't seem to keep these halls straight either."

"Perhaps I should find another guide then?" 

She smiled. She could tell from his tone he was jesting, but he wasn't totally wrong. "Well, I'll do my best, and if that fails I'm sure I can find another slave who knows this place better than I."

"That's very good of you."

"Now, tell me, what is it you're looking for?" She asked as she led him slowly into the corridor with her.

"A friend of mine. He is a giant of a man, distinctively gray in hue, with short horns, stubborn streak a league and a half wide...I think he's known by most here as the 'Shepherd'." He paused and chuckled again. "I take it you know of whom I speak."

She glanced at him. "How...how can you tell?"

"We blind folk have other ways of seeing." He murmured enigmatically. Then he ruined the effect by grinning widely. "And you tensed up a bit there. You seemed surprised."

"Ah." She had been.

"So?"

"You're in luck, it appears. If I'm not mistaken the one you speak of is my own master."

He tipped his head toward her. "Then you might be mistaken. He doesn't keep slaves. And has no woman that I know of..." He sounded more curious than disbelieving.

"That's what they keep telling me." She murmured with a sigh. "What is it you want with him, if I might ask?"

He smiled pleasantly, falling into step with her. "I'm delivering an important message. For his eyes only." He tilted his head toward her and tapped the side of his nose with a chuckle. She smiled back, though with less sincerity. He seemed pleasant...and harmless...yet there was something strange...

She frowned. "It's lucky we ran into each other." she commented, watching his face. He tilted his head slightly toward her as if following the sound of her voice. "Convenient."

"Indeed. I couldn't have been more fortunate. Tell me...is Demitri still around?"

"Yes."

"Ah. Interesting."

|

|"Why's that?"

He shrugged. "Like I said...your master...if he is that, isn't one to keep slaves or servants really. Demitri was the exception...I thought perhaps you were a replacement of some sort. Can't imagine why he'd need more than one. He was just fine without Demitri for that matter... not that the roughian isn't excellent company once you get him in the drink. Thelios too for that matter. " He added, muttering absently to himself.

A comment Demitri had once made about that echoed in her head...something about them not providing the same type of 'services'. She almost reiterated it out-loud but caught herself with a faint blush. It might be the sort of thing she'd repeat to Thelios or Demitri...or even Penelope for that matter...but not to a stranger. She made an noncommittal sound which might have been agreement, but said nothing more.

He chuckled. She raised a brow at him. "Something amuses you?"

"Oh? Hm. No...just a stray thought is all."

She still had a creeping feeling something wasn't quite right, but couldn't put her finger on it. But then it was an odd scenario, and Hades knew she'd been a jumpy paranoid wreck these last few days, and getting worse...perhaps it was just that. She decided to ignore it. For now.

They had walked a little ways in silence, when he gripped her arm, stilling her. She paused and watched in confusion as he stepped back, keeping them from entering the next corridor and effectively hiding them in a nearby shadow with his movement.

Glancing down the hall she saw a small party pass by. It was headed by the cyclops and another whom she had seen at a distance at some of the dinners she had been party to. The second figure made her even more nervous than the cyclops did. That single, huge eye was unnerving, but this other one was tall and sinewy and covered in dark, greenish scales and his face elongated, his mouth full of sharp looking teeth. He looked caught between an oversized human and one of those giant lizards of the south...and had four arms. She had seen him before, but that didn't make him any less unnerving.

She shuddered and glanced away, only to notice the blind man was tugging at her arm and pressing his back to the wall so that a nearby statue was blocking him from their sight.

It came to her all at once and she recoiled as if struck."You're Phineas aren't you." She breathed. She glanced to the hall once more but the group had passed. 

He gave a humorless chuckle and stepped forward from the wall. "It took you a while. I thought you'd have figured it out when you noticed I was blind."

"Wh-why? I mean...no one told me you were blind."

He raised a brow and tilted his head at an odd angle. "It's a rather noticeable feature. I have trouble believing no one mentioned it."

"I guess no one thought to bother mentioning it. I doubt anyone thought I'd need to know." She stiffened, remembering herself. Then gasped as his hand lashed out to grip her wrist tightly. She wondered if he wasn't just pretending to be blind. How could he have known they were coming and to hide after all?

She felt something strange...like an...icy burn on her wrist. It wasn't painful...but it was frightening and she was forced to swallow back a surge of terror. He shook his head. "I wouldn't. It's not in your master's best interests. Believe me."

She hesitated, her jaw twitching as she considered calling out. Then again, if he was threatening her...she resisted the urge to wrap her arms around her stomach. She remained silent, but glared daggers at him. 

As if reading her mind his other hand came down over belly. She started and tried to pull away, only to find his too-cold grip on her wrist was like iron. He didn't even flinch when she tugged and merely looked off to the side as if seeing something down the hall. Her eyes followed his, but saw nothing.

"I see." He murmured.

"I don't." She growled and tried again to pull away. He let her go this time, his hands falling loosely to his sides. She watched warily, but he seemed suddenly distracted.

"Does he know it's his?"

Calliope returned the frown he was giving her and set her jaw. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm going to take that as a yes." He muttered dryly, then sighed. "This may complicate things. You will need to leave. It might not be safe here for you if they find out. Then again it won't be safe if they don't either I bet." He shook his head and grabbed her wrist again. "Come, we must get to him as soon as possible. We mustn't delay." He tugged her toward the hall, but she resisted. 

"What makes you think I'm going anywhere with you?"

"If you have any interest in keeping Thelios and that child safe you'll take me to him."

"Are you threatening me?"

He bowed his head and sighed heavily. "No, my Lady...warning you. It's not me you need fear."

She watched his face carefully. He seemed suddenly tired. Or perhaps she simply hadn't noticed it before. She kept her voice low when she asked, "How did you get here? I thought they were looking for you. Did you not steal something from the gorgons?" She stopped when his face twisted into a pained grimace.

His voice was low and rough. "No. I did not. Though there is no one to speak for me in any case. They...they're missing...I fear they may be dead." He turned his face away, but she caught the hard swallow and she felt a sympathetic lump in her own throat. 

"My Lord and Lady Nagi will be upset to hear it." She offered softly after a long pause. 

He turned toward her with a curious expression on his face. "Lady Nagi?"

"Um, his sister. The one with the dark skin and the serp—"

"Oh, you mean Lamia? The Snake, right? I'm surprised she's here, and glad of it...but then I suppose she might be at risk as well. It's hard to say with her kind. What a mess we find ourselves in." He shook his head again, as if to clear it. "But please, we should hurry."




Sacrifice Ch. 07



She bit her lip and watched him carefully, hoping there was something written in his face which would provide surety for the actions she knew in her gut she was going to take. He was anxious looking and insistent, but that was as much as she could see. Her gut was telling her what he said was true...though she also knew there were different kinds of truths, including half-truths which were oft as good as lies. 

Still...

"How...how do you know he, my lord, is in danger?" She took his arm again, leading him back down the hall and toward her master's rooms. She noted he looked more relieved than satisfied and decided to take that as a good sign. 

"I can't be sure, at least...not positive. But I've seen things, disturbing things and he's at the center of it. I saw them when the scrolls went missing...or thereabouts. I assume it was at the same time because it was a day later when I was myself attacked and captured. Luckily I saw that coming as well and was able to arrange a daring and heroic escape for myself." He smiled wryly before continuing.

"I went the gorgons to see if they had seen anything and use their scrying pools since my own visions are often times ambiguous, only to discover that they were no longer there. And I fear..." He sighed again, heavily. "I...I didn't know where they were or what had been taken from them, or that I had been blamed for it until I was cornered on my way to find Thelios. After having dealt with all that, I needed someone familiar, someone I could trust."

She frowned. "I really wish you'd stop using their names like that. Someone might overhear." Her rebuke was somewhat softened by the gentle tone his expression of pain evoked in her. It seemed sincere.

Then again, seeming and being were two different things, she reminded herself. She musn't let him sway her too much.

He let out a mild snort. "Too late for that." He muttered darkly. "I'd bet good money the ones who have the scrolls and plan to use them already know his name. I do, and a moment ago you were sure I was the threat."

"I'm still not so sure you aren't." She murmured.

"Well, it's good of you to take me to him if that's the case. Foolish too I suppose."

She cast a look at him, remembering too late that her glare was useless. "Not at all. I'm quite sure my master can handle you. He's been anxious to come after you, and he's not fool enough to do so if he didn't think he was more than capable of looking after himself. I'm merely shortening his trip."

His brow raised, but he said nothing to that. The walked in silence a moment before she prodded him to continue with his tale.

"Ah, well, after I was cornered and subsequently clued in to who was looking for me, I knew exactly where to come to find him."

"So, your vision showed you my master, and that was enough to conclude he was in danger?"

"Well, that and nature of the magic being worked. I've had time to mull it over and come up with a few theories on what's been going on. One of the better theories involved your master specifically, and since he was featured heavily in my visions, I tend to favor it.

"His mother was blessed, you see..or cursed, depending on how you look at it, to have sons who would be greater than their father...or fathers. It's fairly common knowledge, and more than possible that whoever has the scroll knows this and wants to use it against his father in that way. There's simply no way he could be turned on his father except through magical impulsion, so if that were the goal, then this would seem the logical course of action. 

"His father, in turn, has guardianship over a great many things of interest to a great many people; objects of power and great wealth that quite a few would love to get their hands on. Only they have to get past and through him to get to it, and he lets very few into his presence, let alone any he mistrusted...which is most people. Thelios doesn't really give a damn about power or wealth, everyone knows this, including his father. This makes him one of the few who can gain access to his stronghold without raising suspicion. He's a wily old worm that one, not much gets by him."

"That's quite the theory." she murmured, trying to sift through the unprecedented wealth of information, looking for inconsistencies...and finding none that she could discern. But then she didn't know any better. "Though," she considered aloud, "it explains why he would be sent to speak with his father and not one of the others. But...doesn't his father know about the curse, er, blessing? Wouldn't that make him wary?"

He shrugged. "Like I said, everyone who knows Thel—your master, rather, knows that even if he could, he wouldn't bother. He's too much like his father."

"In what way?" She pressed when he stopped, eager to hear more. It was rare that anyone was so forth coming with her, let alone about a subject which was as dear to her as her Master was.

"They're both content to just sit on their little hordes, play guardian, and be left well enough alone. That's not to say they're not both happy to expand when the opportunity arises, but they aren't either of them ambitious enough to put too much effort into it. They're more...possessive than acquisitive." He nodded thoughtfully, then chuckled. "Yes. I'd say that's it. I've never tried to put it in words before, but that—I think— is it." 

It sounded accurate to her as well. She couldn't help but remember what Demitri had said about him to the man that had grabbed her all those months ago, or her master's reaction when he had foolishly attempted it again. The thought of Thelios' hand sliding over her stomach...the way he held her at night...she felt a hot flush run up her throat and cleared it as if it might also clear the heat from her skin.

Phineas didn't offer anything more. "So...this is enough for you to think that some one wants to use him in this way?" She asked, persisting.

He nodded. "It's only one of many ideas, but it isn't a bad one, if a bit vague. Besides, even if it's not the case, Thelios is the only one who would defend me in this group. That might cause problems for whoever is behind this, and that in itself endangers him. Though I still think this has something to do with his father. I saw something...it was unclear, but it definitely pointed in that direction."

"And you said he only let's my master visit him?"

"Well, the dragon's are all welcome...the Favorites, they're called. For obvious reasons. I suspect it's because he understands their minds and motivations in a way he doesn't understand many of this other children. He has quite a few you see."

"But Thelios welcome as well as these favorites?"

"Yes..." He drawled uncertainly. He tipped his head at her and frowned slightly. He looked like he was going to say something but was cut short by her own sound of surprise.

They had turned into the last hall and Calliope stopped short, cursing under her breath. "What is it?" He asked, stiffening.

Before she could answer Penelope spotted her and waved, coming toward them. "I was just waiting for you to return. That grouchy fellow told me you were out." Penelope cast a curious glance at the man next to her.

"I see. Is something the matter? Have you heard news?" Penelope seemed to hesitate. "It's fine, go on, this is a friend of Demitri's...who I presume is the grumpy one you mentioned." She nodded to him, stalling for a moment as her mind turned rapidly, "This is Penelope. Penelope, this is Cassius."

They greeted each other politely. 

"Well, is something the matter, Penelope?"

"Ah, yes...well I overheard my new master speaking to one of his sisters. It seems..." she cast another glance at the man on her arm, "well, it seems they suspect the threat they had been concerned about might be on this very island. I'm, ah, sure your master will know soon if he doesn't know already...but I wanted to warn you." She smiled weakly. "But I must be going, I don't want to start off on a bad foot with the new master after all, I wouldn't want him looking for me and unable to find me." She grinned a little more fully. "And hopefully there is nothing to it after all, and things are just fine. Be well."

Calliope smiled as convincingly as she could, but it felt tight on her face, as if her cheeks would crack from the effort. "Yes. Indeed." She agreed. "Let's hope so."

She nodded and left, excusing herself once more. Calliope only watched her for a moment before dragging her charge into their quarters. 

"We haven't much time." He whispered. "That girl, she recognized me."

She frowned. "How can you know?"

"Trust me. I do."

She nodded with a sigh. For some insane reason she believed him. "I was afraid of that. She did seem a little out of sorts. Damn it, what am I doing?" She set her jaw and looked grimly between the blind man on her arm and the door to the private rooms. It was now or never.

She half led, half pushed him into the sitting room, knowing that in the entrance hall he might be seen by another slave and she had no desire to compound their troubles any more than she already had. 

Demitri was there already. She would have been amused by the look of open shock on his face if the situation wasn't already so serious. Before she could explain to calm him, he was across the room, pulling her away from Phineas and shunting her behind him. 

"Demitri, calm down..." she managed, trying to pull him away, worried he might strike the man before she had a chance to explain.

"You don't know who this is." He warned.

She sighed. "Yes, I do. I know exactly who it is. That's why I brought him here, so the master could question him once and for all....but I don't think he's the one Demitri."

Demitri looked shocked again and glanced over at her disbelievingly. "Wha-"

She gripped his arm. "Please Demitri, we must hurry. We were seen together and I fear he was recognized. Where is the master?"

"With Lamia." He answered softly, still staring at her in confusion...then blinked, realizing his mistake, "Ah, that is..."

She smirked. "It's ok, I'd heard that from others before. No one is very good at keeping secrets here it seems. Now that I think about it, I don't know why they even bother being so mysterious about it. Where are they?"

He looked back at Phineas, then pulled away from her and stalked up to the man, who leaned away slightly as if sensing the larger man bearing down on him. Again she wondered if he was truly blind. "What the hell have you gotten that rotten hide of yours into this time?" He growled.

Surprisingly Phineas seemed to relax a little. "Demitri, it's good to hear your voice." He smiled wryly. "I'm afraid I haven't determined the sort of trouble I'm in just yet, I was hoping you could tell me."

Demitri sighed and shook his head. "Nothing is ever easy with you is it." He pointed back to her, still looking at Phineas. "You probably figured it already, but she's off limits. So try to contain yourself while I'm gone." And then he left.

Calliope blinked. "Well...that was easy." She murmured.

"We'll see. I suspect he was playing along until he has proper back up, namely Thelios and dear Lamia."

"Oh."

They must have been nearby, probably across the garden in Lady Nagi...or perhaps she should say, Lamia's quarters because it wasn't a minute before Demitri returned with the dangerous looking pair behind him.

Thelios immediately did the same thing Demitri had and placed himself between her and Phineas, glaring daggers at the much smaller and rather unassuming looking man. "Explain yourself." He growled at him, quickly cutting off her own stuttering attempts to do just that. Apparently it wasn't her he cared to hear from.

So Phineas did. Just as he had to her, but with a good deal more hasty concision. Though when he got to the part about the Gorgons lady Nagi's sharp gasp made him pause. "What do you mean missing?" She demanded. 

"Missing, gone...no sign of them." He enumerated darkly. There...there was no blood. I...I'm hoping they merely....I don't know..." He swallowed hard and his face went a shade paler. "I...I haven't seen either of them since Stheno...well, you know." He ran a hand through his sandy hair, tousling it roughly.

"What, since you left her?" lady Nagi asked sharply, her eyes narrowing.

His pale skin flushed red. "She sent me away." 

"You didn't have to go...she loves you, you fool. She was just testing you."

He rolled his eyes. "And I her, but you do not anger Stheno, no matter how well disposed she might be...I didn't think..." He fell off again with a sigh.

"Enough." Thelios muttered gruffly. He turned away and took up his usual seat, rubbing his chin and frowning. Calliope decided to join him, standing at his shoulder as the rest fell silent. "So, you're here now because the Gorgon's were missing and I was missing...what then?"

"I'd been having visions...you know how they are when something is imminent, and I saw you, this place, your father...and snippets of all kinds of things I can't yet make sense out of." He waved, as if shooing the visions away. "Eventually some men tried to capture me...I knew they would, and my visions led me here...though it took them long enough to do it. I noticed this one," he gestured to her, "in the halls and that she had a familiar aura about her, so I stopped her to ask for help. Eventually she brought me here so, I'm led to believe, you could deal with me yourself."

"And here you are."

"Here I am."

"Now what?"

He paused and shrugged. "Well, I thought we could go to Thetis for a start, surely she will help." 

Thelios snorted. "That was the extent of your brilliant plan, was it?"

"I already asked him." Murmured Lady Nagi. "He doesn't think she'll be any more interested than my mother."

"Nonsense...she's a soft-heart if ever there was one."

Calliope noted the dark expression on Thelios's face and laid a hand on his shoulder. He glanced at it and took a deep breath. "She's selectively soft-hearted. She's still in mourning, and won't be seen, or so they say."

Phineas shook his head. "I told you to go see her ages ago. If anyone could console--"

"I'm not interested in consoling anyone." He snapped. "If she wants to waste away over the little prat then that's her business."

"She's your mother as--"

"Phineas!" It was lady Nagi who stopped him this time giving him a sharp look. "The matter is closed. Let it be."

Calliope frowned...his mother? Had he said Thetis? THE Thetis? One of the most powerful daughters of Nereus... and...and mother of Achilles? Did that mean...she couldn't help but stare at Thelios in wonder. He glanced at her again and seemed to shift under her gaze before ignoring it. 

"Why not ask your mother, Phineas? These days she has more influence then mine."

He rolled his eyes. "You know why."

"Enlighten me."

"Triton."

Thelios grunted in annoyance. "Still? I thought you sorted that."

"Yes, by leaving. That's how I sorted that." He grumbled sardonically. "You know there's no reasoning with that bastard. Not that I would waste my breath, the bigot. He does everything he can to keep me from her. He thinks of me as her great mistake. He's too good to be related to a 'mixed breed.'" He paused and pursed his lips. "I only hope he hasn't gotten wind that I'm back."

"That's a laugh," Lady Nagi mused. "Considering how many human women his father's had. Human and ...other."

"Yes, well apparently it only counts with his mother, not his father. The truth is he just doesn't like me and I don't like him...unfortunately he's the more powerful of us two, so he gets to be right by way of might. Plus that bastard father of his and I don't exactly see eye to eye."

"You did start it." Lady Nagi murmured.

Phineas' face darkened and his lip curled. "Did I? You know what he did to Medusa...to her sisters...and to see him with my own mother..."

Her face softened and she looked suddenly exhausted. "Yes. I know."

Thelios sighed heavily and rubbed his brow in obvious frustration. "We don't have time for this. You're here, they will know this soon if they don't already...what do we do?"

"Leave." Demitri grunted from where he was leaning against the closed door. "I've got what we need set up, like you asked. I can slip these two out without too many problems.

"I agree. Leave." Stated Lady Nagi plainly. "There's a chance they don't yet know he's here. If one of them is truly responsible then I don't doubt it's Callea. She's one of the few who could approach the gorgon's unharmed, and if it is her then I can think of at least three who, if they are not in her camp already, could likely be under her sway. That makes it too dangerous to stay here." She shook her head. "But why haven't they moved if it is them? What is she waiting for?"

Phineas shook his head sadly. "That is unclear to me as well. I fear Thelios is at the center of it, but why, or what they want with him...or why they bide their time...I just don't know." He frowned, thoughtfully.

"What if they simply aren't ready?" Lady Nagi offered.

Phineas blinked, then smiled. "Ah, of course! Even if it is Callea, who, being a half-sister of the gorgon's would have the best luck getting the spells to work, one has to know how they work and how to perform them. She's no enchantress. This isn't the sort of spell she's used to, and controlling some lesser creature, even a human, is much simpler than one of us..." he paused in his excited babbling and looked surprised, "and maybe that's why they targeted me. Not to blame me, but to use me. I know how the spells work. The sisters taught me many of their magics. I don't know....I don't know how they could think they would...but it stands to reason whoever has them might know that..." He trailed off and froze and his head tilted in a funny angle.

"Demitri," Thelios barked, stiffening under the hand Calliope had kept on his shoulder, "go keep an eye out, warn us if anyone is coming."

He nodded and opened the door...then shut it casting a warning look back at them. "Good timing." He muttered. "I'll try to hold them off as long as I can." With that he was gone. Calliope looked in alarm at Phineas and Lady Nagi who looked equally alarmed. She then looked to Thelios whose jaw clenched and eyes hardened, but who gave no other outward sign of either panic or action.

She cursed softly and was the first to move, closing the space between her and Phineas, snatching up his wrist to pull him after her into the bedroom. He started to say something, but she stopped him with a sharp shushing hiss. She had to think, and think quickly. She didn't need him distracting her with unnecessary complaints or nonsense.

She looked quickly around the room, licking her drying lips. The bath!

"Quickly," she whispered, pulling him up the steps to the partially raised cistern. "Watch your step."

"Thanks for the warning," he muttered sardonically, already stumbling as he felt his way over the marbled stone. He frowned. "This is the bath."

"Yes. Get in." She took his elbow and guided him to the wide, sunken ledge that acted as a bench inside the bath itself. "Lay down on the bench...here." She helped him arrange himself on the bench nearest the door, and therefore hidden from immediate sight. You'd have to be standing over him to see him. 

Now she just needed something to keep them from approaching the bath. Unfortunately only one thing came to mind. It wasn't fool-proof, but it might just be enough.

She leaned over and turned the tap, allowing the water to begin trickling down, filling the basin.

He raised his head at the sound. "Um..."

"Hush." He did, but she had to smile a little at the anxious look on his face. "Don't worry," she whispered, "it will take some time to fill. It is large enough for Thelios after all. Now don't make a sound." She warned.




Sacrifice Ch. 07



He seemed to relax slightly...but only slightly. But he needn't have worried, it was indeed a massive basin.

She stood and unpinned her dress at the shoulder, unwrapping the material as she moved across the room to the ante-chamber. She returned seconds later with a much smaller piece of almost translucent cloth in her hand, and wearing nothing except her almost ever present bracelet of amber and the silver serpent about her upper arm. 

She reminded herself over and over again that he was blind as she neared the bath, and breathed slowly and deeply in order to calm her nerves and force the threat of a blush from her now very exposed skin. She glanced down at him as she sat directly between him and door. He seemed relatively calm...all things considered. Well...good then, she thought, and adjusted the cloth over her lap...letting it dangle between her legs. 

It afforded her the minimum of decency by at least covering her sex, even if the entirety of her leg and hip were exposed for all to see. Not to mention the rest of her. Not that naked women were so shocking here...but she hoped that the unexpected sight of Her in the nude might give them pause...and if she were very lucky, give Thelios an excuse to make them leave. After all, he'd already made it clear he didn't like anyone touching or looking at her, so it would seem perfectly natural for him to overreact.

She looked down, still taking deep calming breaths, then tugged the material a little higher, letting it bunch in a way which obscured at least part of her stomach. She hadn't lost her waist, but there was a swell there that she would rather them not see. Just in case.

She heard voices outside...becoming combative from the sound of it. She took one last breath and steeled herself. She turned so that she was in partial profile and extended her exposed leg slightly, taking advantage of its length and making it appear that much longer. If she had one feature she knew was actually quite nice, it was her legs. A fact confirmed in recent memory. They had been skinny and coltish in her youth, but the length and shape and been complimented by her sisters and friends many times as her body matured. So, there was no reason to waste that fact if she intended to go through with this.

At the same time she raised her arms over her head, and began pulling the pins from her hair, unraveling the knotted braids, and letting the black curls fall around her shoulder. Thelios always seemed to like it like that. She rarely wore it down, except for him...but in that lay its great effect. If it had an effect, that is. 

Who knew how her gamble would unfold.

She gasped softly in natural surprise when the door flung open, pulling her from her immediate thoughts. She remembered herself enough to keep from starting or covering herself. 

She schooled herself, stretching languidly with pins still in hand, and turned her eyes to the door, earnestly hoping there would be no one there but her master. She tried to keep her voice mild and fearless. "If it please you my Lord, I've-"

She cut herself off and blushed hotly as her gaze met that of the Host, who now stood before her, and only a few paces away. She did not have to feign embarrassment or fear, and froze instinctively, giving him a long eyeful before she wrapped her arms across her chest with another soft gasp. 

There was a painfully long moment of silence while the two of them simply stared at each other. She in trepidation, he in obvious surprise...and, she thought, a good deal of curious heat once the surprise began to pass. This was not at all what he had expected to see, clearly, but now that he was here he didn't seem anxious to leave. Lady Nagi slid into the room behind him, then paused herself, rearing up a little on her snake part, her brows raising and her mouth twisting into a wicked grin.

There was another awkward pause in which Calliope listened to the thudding of her heart in her chest and felt poignantly the red throb of her blush as it seared her cheeks and throat.

Thelios finally appeared. "Wha--" His growl of irritation was cut off as he to spied her, and his face turned black. Her stomach dropped and she swallowed hard. "Out!" His bellow seemed to make the very air tremble, and she shivered with fear. The others seem no less affected, the Host starting with surprise, then hastily turning and exiting the room, hot on lady Nagi's heels. Or tail, rather.

When they were gone he paced to the bed, snatched up a sheet, and prowled toward her with a growl in his throat and a dark look still plastered firmly on his face. She wasn't afraid, necessarily, but it wasn't an encouraging expression.

She hesitant to say anything, and sat frozen as he leaned in and wrapped the sheet firmly around her, glancing into the bath to see Phineas still laying there, just as frozen as she. He hesitated, still leaning over her, and reached behind her to turn off the tap. 

He paused again as he pulled away, his lips brushing her ear. "My clever girl." He whispered against her cheek, then pulled back and turned away, storming off toward the door. The rigid anger apparent in his body hadn't left, nor his threatening aura...so she couldn't help but wonder if she'd only imagined his softly spoken praise. 

When the door slammed shut behind him she let out the groan of fear and embarrassment she'd been suppressing and let her flushed face fall into her hands. 

She was still sitting like that when the door opened again a few minutes later, though this time it was just Thelios. His face was still hard, but he didn't seem to radiate quite as much intensity as before. 

"Come, get dressed." He beckoned to her as she looked up. "We're leaving." He fetched Phineas from the bath as she rose to obey. She watched as he hefted the poor man out by his shoulders, and set him on his feet as if he were a child. He did look sort of child-like next to her master actually...but then most people did. Especially when he was as large as he currently was. She was looking forward to everything being back to normal, and him just being massive rather than literally gigantic all the time. 

When she came back, dressed this time, it was just her and the three men. Lady Nagi had gone, perhaps to cover their escape, she mused...or to prepare her own. She stationed herself next to Thelios, wanting, or perhaps needing, the sense of safety his presence usually lent her. Even when he made her nervous, she'd rather be next to him than anyone else—or alone, for that matter.

But that was apparently not to be.

"Take her." He immediately handed her off to Demitri, taking her arm and pressing her forward. She opened her mouth to argue, but thought instantly better of it. She recovered her sense and willingly pressed next to Demitri as his guiding arm came around her waist. After all if she couldn't stay with Thelios, this would most certainly be her next choice. 

"Where will you go?" She desperately wanted him to come with them, afraid of what would happen if he confronted his brethren.

"I'll distract them." He must have seen her fear in her eyes. "I'm just going to argue with them," he continued, looking directly at her, "and tell them I'm going to leave. I won't mention you, and will go alone by sea when it's done...hopefully they'll come after me if they're going to so I can lead them away..."

She wasn't comforted by that thought at all. "Come after you?" Her voice rose an octave or two. She felt Demitri's arm tighten around her, and Phineas' hand landed on her shoulder.

Phineas spoke softly, as if fearful she might panic. "Don't worry. Once he's at sea, there will be little they can do. At worst they will delay and distract him. I'll go as well, between the tw—"

"No." Thelios stated firmly, cutting him off. "No." He straightened his shoulders, making him look all the more imposing, and all but impossible to contradict. And who would dare? She wondered with an uncomfortable mixture of consternation and pride. 

"But--" Phineas began... falling off when a slow shake of her master's head gave him pause.

"You go with them. If you get away cleanly, then you're welcome to come play, but until then..." She watched them exchange looks, and felt the unspoken subtext deeply, even if she couldn't fathom its meaning.

Phineas straightened as well and nodded, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. All three men were standing in stiff silence, their faces dark and, unless she was mistaken, very determined. She felt as if something important had been decided and agreed upon without her, and unnervingly, that she was somehow at the center of it.

She turned to Demitri with a question in her eyes. He was already looking at her, but only nodded. "Come on then. There's no time for messing about." She wanted to argue again, demand an answer for her unasked question...but something in his own eyes changed her mind. Or rather, changed her heart. If they were determined to do whatever it was, then she would be to. Or be determined at least to help in whatever way she could.

She nodded firmly, setting her jaw and expression to match theirs, commanding her heart to steel itself and her stomach to leave off its fearful quivering. Now was not the time to be wretched, it was time to act, and she was determined to acquit herself well, both for her own sake and her Lord's.

She shot Thelios a final look as they turned for the door, and felt a pang as she suppressed the urge to run back and throw her arms around him. "Be careful." Was all she said. He nodded and watched them go. 

Demitri was good on his word and was surprisingly adept at slipping them through the halls and rooms without being seen. The nature of the halls and rooms shifted dramatically from the gilded, palatial luxury of the main rooms, to the less glamorous and far more functional spaces where the unattractive work of feeding and housing so many went on, to plain, stoney passages which reminded one that they were, for all that gilt and silk, under a mountain...in a cave. 

It was only on the last leg that they encountered a problem.

They were slipping out some back passage— part of a system of caves which lead out of the underground palace and left them, she imagined, on the opposite side of the island from where they'd entered— when a painfully familiar voice called out to them. 

She turned to see her least favorite person on the blessed green earth marching angrily toward them, his minions in tow. She recognized at least two from the incident with Thelios in the hall. From that day when they'd arrived and which felt as if it hd been ages ago, though it wasn't more than a few weeks.

Oddly she felt far more annoyance than fear at the sight of them. Truly, if it had been anyone else, she might have quailed. However, he inspired far different feelings in her, and whats more her usual irritation with this crude, foolhardy man was being quickly bolstered by the cruel smirk which appeared on his face as he neared them. The fact that his left arm was still in a sling and that he still bore the scratch from when she'd cut him only made it worse. It was hard not to despise him as an idiot. He inspired only derision.

She balled her hands on her hips and faced them fully, letting them come. "Should I count this as lucky coincidence, or are you actually a vengeful harpy, haunting me for some past wrong." She spat sardonically.

"Hold your tongue woman, or I'll cut it from you." He snarled back. His vehemence, and the look on his face concerned her...it bespoke a confidence born of righteousness. "You're harboring a traitor and you'll be punished. Believe you me." 

Ah. There was that, wasn't there.

She had no time to respond as the group was already upon them. Demitri had stepped forward to defend her, though he wore no sword. She wondered how he intended to do it. She didn't have to wait long to find out. 

The man was beginning to raise his sword arm, and was halfway through another obnoxious declaration when Demitri's fist planted itself squarely in his face. It had been so fast, and so brutally hard that no one had seen it coming until they were looking down at the man as he sprawled on his back before them. 

He wasn't moving...no one moved. His fellows were gaping down at his still form, she was gaping at Demitri, and he was staring hard at the other men, as if daring them to take their leader's place. 

But the shock passed, and one of the men lunged forward. Demitri seemed to catch him by the arm and turn into him, somehow disarming him and giving him a blow to the middle which bent him in half. A second man had his sword parried away a moment later, and Calliope blinked, jumping to action herself and snatching up the grounded man's sword. She leveled it in front of her, using it to hold two more at arms length and buy Demitri time by watching his back. The men hesitated, eying her warily, but didn't stop completely. She hoped silently that Demitri would be make quick work of the other men. She might be able to avoid getting hit with some grace, but she knew nothing of real sword play.

"That will be enough of that." Murmured a soft voice from behind them. She and all the rest turned as one, and gasped. Phineas was standing there, his eyes glowing with eerie white light. His hands, held palm up at his sides, seemed to glow with similar light. "Calliope, Demitri, step behind me please."

His voice was so even, so soft, but she didn't think she'd ever moved so fast to obey a request or command in her life. 

"Take her. Go." He said, just as softly. Demitri grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to the now visible cavern mouth and toward the almost Stygian darkness of the woods beyond. She tried to turn back to see what had happened, but Demitri's pull on her arm was insistent and she had to pay attention to keep from stumbling as she followed. In the end she saw and heard nothing.

They paused just at the edge of the woods and waited. A few moments later he appeared at the mouth of the tunnel. She pulled from Demitri's now much lighter grip and ran toward him. "Are you all right? What happened?"

He smiled thinly and accepted the arm she gave him when she arrived at his side. "Fine. I'm fine. And nothing happened. Never underestimate the power of a good bluff."

She raised a brow at him, not quite willing to accept such an answer off hand. 

"Where to now?" He asked. She decided to bite her tongue and leave it be, it was perhaps better she didn't know. 

"Come." She led him to Demitri and together they made their way to the shore. 

The moon was high and bright, and washed the shore in her pale light, illuminating two small ships, not much different from those they'd arrived on. A small boat waited on the shore.

"Two ships?" She asked, as they neared the water, hoping that this was not unexpected. 

To her relief he nodded. "Got us covered. One way or another." He explained, though somewhat enigmatically. Again...she'd probably rather not know, and decided it was wisdom not to press him further. 

They were in the small boat, rowing toward the first of the two ships before anyone spoke again.

"Let's split up then." Phineas suggested, as if responding to some unheard comment, "better odds." 

Demitri, unfazed, nodded. "I'll go north. You two go south."

"Wait...we two?" She interrupted, fighting a new surge of fear.

"He can protect you." Demitri explained.

She looked to Phineas who shrugged. "I do have a better chance."

"And what about you? Who's going to protect you?" She asked turning back to Demitri.

"I'm a big boy. I'll manage." Somehow she knew what that meant. Something in her chest tightened, crushing her from the inside.

She glared. "You're lucky I'm pregnant."

He raised a brow. "Why's that?"

"I'd have some choice words for you if I wasn't." She raised a stalling hand when he looked like he was going to start wrangling with her. "I'm not going to fight you on it, but don't think I don't know damn well that you're using yourself as bait. You're heading home aren't you...to draw them away."

His jaw clenched, but he sighed and nodded. She was grateful he didn't bother trying to deny it, but she couldn't help the distress and anger she felt at the confirmation.

Her own jaw clenched. "Damn it. Idiot." She cursed, not sure if it was directed at him or just at the world in general. She lurched forward, throwing her arms around his neck, swallowing back the urge to weep. "Don't die." She whispered fiercely against his neck. He released the oars and wrapped an arm around her back, patting her tentatively.

"I don't intend to, girl."

She pulled away and angrily wiped an errant drop from her cheek. They continued in silence. When Demitri rose to catch the ladder thrown down for him, they exchanged brusque nods. She didn't trust her voice just then...perhaps he didn't either. It was hard to tell with him.

Phineas said nothing as she took over the oars and sent them toward the second ship, praying to no one in particular that they were doing the right thing. An odd thought occurred to her as the little craft finally bumped the larger one and men above called and tossed out a ladder. 

Maybe there was someone she should actually be praying to. She leaned along the side of the boat and dipped a hand into the cool, lapping waters as Phineas climbed the ropes and was hauled up.

"Thetis," she whispered, "Silver footed Goddess of the calm sea, Goddess of protection and refuge...protect your child, and this child of his." She placed her hand over her stomach, biting her lip, and watched the little waves flicker with moonlight, her chest sizing almost to the point of pain with a wave of fervent desire, of need. 

A voice called to her, and she looked up, half-startled, and felt like a fool. Who was there to hear her after all? If what Thelios has said was true, his mother had withdrawn herself from the world. They were on their own. 

With a sigh she rose and gripped the rope ladder, its fibers damp and rough against the palms of her hands. She cast a last look behind her into the glittering waters. Still...

"I would give anything." She whispered, knowing she truly would.

**

Calliope watched the seas. It was pointless. She knew he was probably long gone, and in the opposite direction....but still, she couldn't seem to pull her eyes from it. Or from the other ship for that matter. It wasn't close, and slowly it moved farther away, but it was near enough that she could see the faint figures of men on deck. She wondered if any of the them were Demitri. By this time he would have hauled her below deck and made her sleep, grumbling about staring at the water like an empty headed halfwit. The thought made her smile. It also made her both glad and sorry he was on the other ship.

She liked that Phineas had left her alone to her own devices...but she missed Demitri, and it frightened her to be alone. And she was alone. Phineas had proven pleasant enough...but she had met him only hours ago. She reassured herself that Thelios and Demitri wouldn't have sent her off with him if they didn't think he was trustworthy. Something which had honestly surprised her. After all this, she thought they'd be more circumspect about trusting him, even if they were inclined to. That unexpected trust did nothing to erase her qualms, and nothing at all to sooth the fear she felt for their sakes. 

Then again perhaps they were not as trusting as they seemed and simply took the risk in order to get her out of their way. It wasn't as if she could help, and was more likely to just be a nuisance. Still...

She knew she was useless to him, but it was horrible not knowing where Thelios was or if he was safe...and that there was nothing she could do but wait. So she would, and so she did. Waiting and watching in the night. What else was there to do?