Episode 13

Hera

"Take it from someone who has seen more years than you'll ever dream of spending on earth. Constantly trying to ruin somebody's life will end in your own ruin, Hera. I have no interest in Ajax and for your own good, Hera, leave him be. I see where you're headed and it's not going to end well. Not for you at least."

Elpis's words replayed in my head, over and over again.

"Do you think her words are finally coming to pass?" I asked,putting the needle I held into the piece of cloth I was almost done with embroidering.

"No,Queen Mother. Do not worry about these things. You did what you had to do." The needle suddenly dug into my index finger and I dropped the cloth abruptly. I winced and sucked on the finger.

"Are you okay mother?" Dameon asked as he rushed beside me and knelt in front of me. I pulled out my finger from my mouth and brought it down to look at it.

Dameon took it and rubbed it,worry etched on his forehead.

I observed him for a while before speaking again.

"Why Dameon?" I asked. He looked up with confusion on his face.

"I do not understand, Mother."

I withdrew my hand from his and caressed his right cheek with it. His face was not as smooth as I remembered it to be. His beautiful green eyes looked so tired. He looked just like his father.

"Why do you care so much for me,Dameon? I was never able to give you what you rightfully deserved as my child,yet you stood by and with me. I gave it all to Teris and you still remain here with me. Why Dameon?"

He clasped my hand with his calloused fingers and brought it down to his lips,kissing it.

"Mother, no one has loved me the way you have and I am forever indebted to you for it. I will remain at your side. I will remain with you. I will forever fulfil your wishes and commands. I will lay down my life for yours,mother." He said,causing my eyes to sting with hot tears.

I blinked them back. I could not appear weak in front of my son.

"Hera!"

I looked up at King Ajax walking towards me fuming. I stood slowly and so did Dameon.

"What has gotten into you Hera?!" His voice boomed across the room as he approached me with a very angry demeanor. He looked like he would hit me if he got near me. As if sensing my distress,Dameon stood in front of me.

"What is it Father?" Dameon asked,blocking my view totally from a boiling Alec.

"Leave us." Ajax commanded.

"I'm afraid I can not do that."Dameon said,standing his ground.

"I said leave us!" Ajax shouted and pushed Dameon so hard he fell to the side. I gasped and knelt to pick him up.

"Dameon,please leave. I will handle it." I whispered.

"But Mother..."

"I was not asking. It is an order from the Queen Mother herself. You will obey me." I said sternly. He swallowed and nodded hesitantly.

He straightened his tunic before walking out of my chambers.

I dared a look at Ajax who took a quick step forward and captured my jaw between his thumb and second finger.

He pushed me backwards until my back hit the wall. I winced and tried to struggle out of his hold but he clutched more tightly making my cheek hurt. I felt tears sting my eyes.

"I warned you not to do anything that would get her hurt." He said with an evil glint in his very green orbs.

"I did not mean to-"

"Silence." He said pressing my jaw even harder I felt my teeth would break.

"I warned you Hera. Now she is hurt. You will pay."

I placed my hand on his,trying to peel it off my face but he did not budge.

I slashed the back of his palm with my nails and he set me free immediately, wincing.

"Do not disrespect me Ajax. I watched you obsess over Elpis and now her daughter? You are lusting after your son's woman? Please Ajax,have some shame." I said,biting down on my lips to prevent myself from crying.

"I loved her and you know it. I wanted to be with her and you knew that too. I could never love you like I loved Elpis and even now,you know that too."

I snorted. "The same way your love drove her into the arms of another man. You were mad! Bewitched! Insane! She could never have loved a monster like yourself. Does it hurt now the way it hurt when she ended up with Aeschylus? She is with Teris now you can not bear it?! Disgusting!" I spat out.

He hit me across the face so hardly,causing me to fall on the bed. I held my cheek and remained there fore a while as I was stunned. The tears I did not want to set free sprang out.

He walked towards me and yanked my hair hardly from behind.

"Ajax...please..." I cried.

His lips crashed down on mine roughly and nearly knocked all the wind out of my lungs. I hardly had a moment to react before he pressed his tongue to the seam of my lips and at my grant of success,he delved into my mouth. He bit down on my lips, causing a moan to escape my lips. It had never been gentle. Never.

"You are nothing compared to her." He mumbled against my lips as his hands undid the ropes of my garments.

"You are nothing compared to her,yes?" He asked as he shed the last of my garments.

A tear dropped from my eye as I stared up at him speechlessly.

"Yes?" He asked again,more urgently. I sniffed and nodded. "Yes."

He smiled. "Good."

I sobbed silently as he pleasured himself. I had so badly wanted to be with him. In his arms,and here I was. In his arms but not in the way I had wanted or imagined it. Perhaps,I should have heeded her advice.

★★★

Persephone

I had been sitting up like that for hours and my belly ached. Not the bad ache. I was hungry. I looked around my chamber. No food. I stood. Luckily, my clothes had not been changed so I felt rather free. That was surprising though since Teris seemed to have a bad habit of playing dress up. I noticed a bandage on my wrist when I was straightening the tunic. The events of the day flashed back in my head. Eos. Where was Eos? I would have to find him first before I ate. My stomach growled suddenly. On second thoughts, food was the best option.

I opened the door lazily and walked out,not caring if I made a sound this time.

I dragged my foot around the castle for a while until I found a door that did not look like every other room in the castle.

I twisted the door knob and it opened easily. Too lazy to observe the environment, I followed the aroma of the roasted chicken I smelt. It led me to a banquet. There was chicken. My stomach churned and my mouth watered at the sight of it.

I walked towards it and stopped halfway towards it. There was not a chair there for me to sit on. I found a stool and pulled it across the marble floor lazily. It made a lot of noise but I did not care much for that.

I heard a sudden movement around the kitchen table. I stopped to listen. I heard nothing. I resumed pulling the chair then I heard the sound again. Someone was definitely here with me.

I left the stool and crept to the other side of the table.

I saw a black linen stick from under the table. I bent over to look under and I bit back a scream. Her dark eyes stared back at mine in shock as the chicken she held fell from her soiled hands.

She tried to move but her head hit the table,forcing her to sit right back under the table.

"Don't bother. Sorry for intruding. Please, carry on." I said and straightened. I covered my mouth to prevent laughter from escaping my lips. I had seen her before in the court room. She was one of the consorts. It was not heard of that a consort would hide away to gobble down food hungrily. Things that happened in the castle...

I walked around the table leisurely.

"E-excuse me?"

I turned to look at the woman. Only then was I able to observe her. She did not look like the rest of them. She looked rather mature yet innocent. The black gown she wore was nothing like what the rest wore to bed. Consorts always wore seductive dresses...even to bed, hoping that the King would end up in their bed one night. This one looked decent.

"I-i just wanted to..." She gulped,her eyes darting about the room. She seemed scared. Seemed like she felt she was speaking to a higher up.

"...there is never enough food for consorts and I...I...have a large appetite,your highness." She hiccupped.

Highness? Laughter escaped my lips. Why would she mistake me for Her highness?

"No no. I am not the princess. You have surely been misled." I said.

Her eyes widened and then a frown followed.

"Oh,you are not?" She suddenly snorted,causing me to frown.

"What? Disappointed?"I asked. She observed me from my head to my toe and her eyes seemed to rest on my hair.

"Interesting hair color...your eyes are beautiful...if you are not Her Highness then you must surely hail from another kingdom. Perhaps across the sea. You are not a consort. Whoever may you be?"She asked seeming more interested than before.

I did not have an answer for her question. Who was I to be here? A mistress? A consort? A pregnant helpless woman?

"Irrelevant." I said and turned away from her. My appetite was suddenly lost I headed for the door.

"Why are you leaving? Did I by chance say something wrong?" She asked and I heard the confusion in her voice.

I paused. "No." Then I continued.

She did not speak for a while and I assumed she gave up. I placed my hand on the door knob and twisted it.

"I was betrothed to someone else. I do not want to be here." I pausef as Adrienne's face surfaced somewhere in my head. It was not just his face that came along. His misdeeds too. My eyes watered but I blinked back the tears.

I suddenly felt her arm on my shoulder and I flinched. She withdrew her hand and sighed.

"I can tell. You do not want to be here too. We...we could help each other. Let us...we could ..."she trailed off.

I turned to look at her and I saw the restlessness in her eyes.

" Run away? Is that what you are saying?"I asked and her face brightened up. She nodded and smiled.

"That is not an option for me." I said and left the kitchen.

My belly churned as I walked back to my chamber. Shame. The aroma of the chicken dwindled as I approached my chamber.

I opened the door and shut it behind me. I sighed and rested my back against the door.

"Sneaking around again, Aeschylus?"

I jumped and gasped as I saw Queen Mother standing in front of my mirror in her night dress.

"What do you want? Why are you here?" I asked and folded my hands.

She walked towards me ,smiling. Why was she smiling? Why was she even here?

"Hmm...what I want...now that depends on whether or not you love your brother or not."