Chapter 3 : Memories of her

My mother, Helen was one of the many concubines of the emperor. Living in hellish torment disguised in luxury.

The emerald palace would often be filled with the agonizing scream of desperate women. It was quite hard to put in if they were screaming for freedom or love.

Like many ships that promised a treaty of peace, My mother was one of its sailors and like all women who saw the deadly beautiful man, The emperor. They fell.

They fell in love yet they didn't realise that actually they had fallen in a cage of monotonous life.

They weren't allowed to go out, love or be near the Emperor 's sight. Just like the  decorations in the emerald palace. They were crumbling, withering.

My mother was a foolish person, she never gave up on the emperor. She kept loving him on the sidelines even if she wasn't able to see him.

Her love was like a gentle flowing river, her eyes would soften and her cheeks would flush whenever she saw the emperor.

I felt helpless because I knew she was breaking inside, even if she didn't show it she knew Claude wouldn't love a woman, never

Yet her love didn't falter. She was foolish in love like Diana but she wasn't lucky.

"Athens, child , we live once like beautiful creatures. We only have limited time and unlike gods we do things so fiercely. We love fiercely. So in this small time called life Do what you want. Dont regret"

She would smile at me and hold me in her frail arms. The wind would blow on her delicate thin Silver hair and it would brush my own.

Our eyes would meet, hers red and beautifully strong and mine like a tragic poem woven. Purple.

The day when Lady Diana came to the ruby palace everything changed, no it was way before it. The wind changed direction and the once cold palace corridors were filled with a cheerful spirit.

Every brick of the palace which only tasted blood now began to feel the warmth of love. The emperor changed, he became lenient and everything seemed like it was a fantasy.

But the one thing that didn't change for good was my mother. The day she arrived she locked herself in her room and wouldn't talk to any of her maids nor eat anything.

She would ignore me and screams would surround the palace walls.

The last person whose scream I wanted to hear.

Yet this time I didn't let her be, I knocked on her door.

"Mother, I am Athen your son. Don't you want to see your child? I miss you" I mustered up my courage while tears swelled upon my eyes.

"Mother?" I spoke again, a quite longing whisper.

The door slowly opened and I saw crumbled pages and torn books, broken curtains and vases and on the corner of the bed a  disheveled figure. It hurt when I saw her lose all hope. It hurts to see her like this.

I ran to her and embraced her.

"Mother, you don't have to do this, The emperor isn't a tyrant anymore"

She was silent, cold as a tree left in winter.

She spoke barely a breath "You don't understand" she laughed.

Yes, I didn't understand even after two lives, I didn't. I would never.

I hugged her tighter " He isn't worth it " i cried.

She only pushed me away and smiled " You don't tell who is worthy or not"

The world was slowly spiralling, why is my mother so madly in love with a person who doesn't even acknowledge her? Why?

Her words were pricking my heart, I didn't dare to show my hatred towards my father because I knew she would be there to protect him.

My mother smiled again and handed me a ruby necklace carved into a phoenix. It shimmered in the dim room.

"Dear Athens, I am sorry, I couldn't be a good mother to you" Her smile spoke deep sorrow

"No, you were the best" I choked and hot tears started to flow down my cheeks, my throat swelled into flames and all I could do was tremble as to stop.

She then closed the door and I stood outside her door with a silent promise . I will save her after Diana safely bears a child.

Claude might leave me and my mother be.

I hoped.

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