LYSSANDRA

  I finally found them again. I returned to a place that could still feel like home. But something was strange.

  The cave was still filled with people who knew my face. But something was completely different. Everyone’s eyes were on me once again, but not like before. This time, they faced me as if Iweres someone to save them from their salvation. Kneeling and praying for me as if I were an actual god. I tried to raise them, but they still kept their bodies to the ground. There was a sudden pressure on my chest, with everyone looking at me as their savior. I should have been happy. Happy that I was free, happy that people were facing me with those faces. But what happened for them to be like this? Pup was moving so close to me, all frightened.

  I walked out of the cave with one golden thread of the last remaining sheep, and I found Anubis waiting for me with a small girl guiding him. His ears became sharp as he was now embracing me tightly. He seemed actually so glad to see me, and I was even happier to see that he wasn’t forgotten. And now all shocked, he turned to Pup, who they both now just stared at each other before Anubis gave up and started petting him.

  He told me about a man who promised a new god. And that he was the son of that god. He offered blessings and miracles, and even with his beggar form, everyone was worshipping him. But soon after, he was crucified. After that, more people got into fights, Roman were taking each part of the earth and were forcing people to see their religion. Anubis explained to me that sooner or later, as they had taken completely Egypt and Greece not long ago. They managed to even snatch people from this cave and take them back to their capital, making them their slaves.

  My chest ached at those words. They took them when they were out, he explained. And now, the people are afraid, thinking that if they pray to the Roman gods, they will be safe.

  The home that I once had, one village of a broken temple, was no more. It didn’t belong to the people of that land. But to those barbarians who could break any soul, weak and strong.

  ‘’I have to-’’I clenched the staff of Hermes, and Anubis stopped me, holding my hands.

  ‘’It’s been over fifty years’’He explained coldly to me.’’Even if they are alive, their spirits are already broken.’’

  My entire body was trembling from those words. The image of their once home, their families would be nothing more than a forgotten dream. And I could simply stand there and do nothing. My entire soul was breaking. I was outside, playing like a fool for Hermes to be entertained, travelling to the same place where those people might have been, and I simply did nothing.

  ‘’Why are you still here?’’I asked with a smile, and Anubis tried to look away with his frowning ears.

  ‘’Well, centuries ago, I met a woman in the Nile. With one glance at her, I completely fell for her charms. But we began talking, and she mentioned that she was from Gree,ce and I remembered a strange immortal woman who was also once from there. The woman informed me that she was a goddess and that she knew you. And she told me your story. The story that it was so terrifying to believe that it was true, and I couldn’t believe that you could escape from a god’s grasp. The goddess disagreed, and she swore to me that sooner or later, she would appear in front of me once again.’’

  His words were cut off and faced me. ‘’This is still irritating’’

  So, that was the wager of Aphrodite? I couldn’t believe that it was between her and him, but I was actually glad that she believed in me to get out.

  ‘’And what did you lose?’’ I asked him and wagged his tail.

  ‘’I simply have to help you and guide you on this path’’ He explained, and he opened his hands, making a hundred scrolls appear. What was that?

  What could it possibly be hiding in those scrolls?

  Rituals. Rituals to break curses so ancient that they belonged in the old times. Rituals that can break curses of the fates.

  Paris.

  My eyes lit up, and Anubis smiled. ‘’They once belonged to an ancient library that the Roman burnt’’He explained.’’Those are the few scrolls that remain’’

  I held them tight and then hugged him once again. I wanted to thank him for everything, for protecting the people as much as he could, and for never giving up on them. That he gave me a gift that I could hold for so long.

  ‘’What will you do now?’’Anubis scoffed and pulled me away.

  I looked back at the cave. I wanted to protect them. And with the Roman hunting them, it would be difficult to keep them safe for the rest of my time.

  ‘’I will need your help.’’

  Everything was perfect. We were all at peace.

  So, it began. With the jar of poison hidden in one of the rooms in my house, I was not a runaway but someone who came to help those people.

  I tried to find ways and rituals to completely vanish the traces from outside the desert to the cave. I even gave everyone of the people sacred necklaces to give them help from Anubis if it would be needed to. I was also now a medic for those people once again. With the years passing, with the burials I placed, I should be upset once again, crawling to my end. But something has changed now. Maybe I simply grew up.

  When everything was now on set, with everyone tired and exhausted, I began reading the ways for someone to break the curse. However, there was nothing. No solution, no spell, herb, nothing. I couldn’t free him. Gods already tried so many times, as I was simply resting like a pig, and I thought that I could do it? I couldn’tI do it?

  But I couldn’t let him go either. I cannot let him be a dream that I once loved. I couldn’t let it.

  I could see in one decade who died the people felt around the cave now. There was no celebration as they were afraid of the Romans noticing them and appearing. But I talked to Anubis, and I managed to make him help me with my plan.

  One couple in the cave wanted to get married, and I suggested a celebration. They all faced me confused, but I already had the plan right in my mind.

  I managed to take all the wool from a few of the sheep and covered it to the door of the cave. Then, I had to learn with the help of Anubis to teach the people their music with the rusty instruments their ancestors had. One of them asked me if I could play, and stood there stunned. I never played actual music before, how could I do it?

  But when the celebration came, I helped them get married, get their faces painted, make offerings to the gods of Egypt, andbindd them with a scarf on their wrists. The entire crowd cheered as they kissed, and the music began. Dances around the fire once again, with kids painting masks from meat bones, trying to pretend to be monsters. Anubis walked inside and told me that nobody was near us, and he stood right next to me, letting his host drink with the rest.

  I let out a smile from the image of joy, finally erupting from the cave. Music and dance to keep the danger and worries out of their soul. I couldn’t help the souls I lost, but I could still help those here.

  Suddenly, a little girl with a deer mask gave me an old lyre.

  ‘’Sing Oracle’’She said with a pout.

  ‘’I do not-’’I tried to speak, but everyone there was looking deep into my soul.

  I took a deep breath and went to the center.

  I didn’t know any songs to play. I didn’t know how to sing or to play the instrument. I knew nothing. What could I possibly do for them except to hide them like rabbits? Was this their only salvation? To simply wait for-

  It is fine. A familiar voice spoke out in my mind, warm and Everything is alright.

  My fingers moved by their own to the old lyre, and each brush created a soft melody.

  Words escaped my mouth. Words that I didn't even know I could say.

  There was a story not long ago. Within the woods and streams, there was a meadow.

  There, I was waiting to see. Your smile, your eyes, your entire soul to speak.

  Speak to me, Muse, speak to me. Tell me that you still seek me.

  So I can rest with the hope of you. The hope of the meadow to shine with you.

  Everyone faced me, amused, and they began to celebrate again while Anubis walked closer to me and tried to help me stand up.

  But I began rushing outside so none could see me. I was shedding tears.

  ‘’I am sorry’’I wept. I should have been happy. I should have. I got out. And yet, what was this feeling lurking on my spine?

  ‘’I cannot save you, I cannot I…’’I fell to my knees. ‘’I do not want you to wait for me. ‘’

  And Anubis walked right next to me and sat close.

  ‘’ It will be alright’’He whispered. ‘’You will find-’’

  Pup appeared right between us and rested his face on mine for a sweet nuzzle.

  ‘’It’s funny’’I sniffed and let out a laugh. I haven’t felt like this for a long time. I haven’t felt so human.

  Years passed, and the Roman army grew bigger around the desert. We had to hide each ship, cattle, and child with every help when we were getting outside. I did everything to help them while Pup tried to attack the horses. Such a strong dog he was. Because everything changed when Anubis began to get forgotten. The charms were not working anymore, and I was seeing him.

  And those Barbarians were not Barbarians at all. They were smart on the strategy of war, surrounding each and every one of us like rats, trying to make us show where we were hiding. I wouldn’t let them. But the rest of the people were mortal. One attack and they would die.

  There was panic in my chest as I was looking at their disgusting, pale faces behind the masks.

  And then, behind the stones, a wave of arrows and spears began to attack the soldiers.

  Each and every one of them was dead.

  The people from the cave celebrated, hugging their loved ones. I looked at one of them who was in charge, and I grabbed him by his cloak.

  ‘’You can’t kill them’’I shouted at him.

  He faced me, confused and for a moment scared. And then, there was arrogance.

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  ‘’Why not? They already tried to kill us before’’

  Why?

  My fingers clenched on my necklace, thinking of one terrifying thought.

  My body began to tremble from one single thought, one name, as I was watching the dead bodies surrounding us.

  ‘’Just hide them’’I pushed the man far from me and commanded everyone to hide the bodies.

  The years passed the same way, but the people got reckless. They were messing up the burials, and I had to fix every one of them as fast as they could.

  I could also hear whispers of people telling the rest that I began to get paranoid.

  When I entered the room where they were speaking, everyone was facing me, scared and angry.

  I couldn’t say those words. I was not their leader or their savior, and I cannot tell them the truth that worried me.

  ‘’I am sorry,’’I said. ‘’I want you to be careful.’’

  Suddenly, the mutiny stopped as I gave them pride in their souls.

  ‘’We will be careful Oracle’’One of them held my hands.

  We promise.

  And then…something happened, making me lose them.

  The hundredth year came.

  I was outside taking care of the sheep while I was returning, and seeing roman flags outside the cave. Golden sheep shedding red blood, and the threads are now turning pitch black. And at the top of all, there was a silver hawk, watching me.

  That thought came to me once again, and I began rushing inside, only to ignore every massacre. I wanted to find survivors first. Survivors, I needed to see that they existed.

  Pup barked and showed me that in the house that I was hiding the poison, there were one boy and one girl hiding, terrifying.

  ‘’Shh..’’I whispered, trying not make them cry. I showed them the necklace and tried to imagine a place where they could be safe.

  ‘’I will find you a place, I will-’’A sharp hand squeezed my shoulder, and I panicked, making the children vanish. Where did I send them?

  Where did they go?

  I tried to jump away from the creature, and I managed not look at it.

  But the massacre was unbearable to watch right in front of me.

  Their bodies were facing me from above as they were hung right on their roots, tied from their intestines with their stomachs slit right open. Men, women, children….

  My heart shatteredwhent I realised that they took none back to the capital. Everyone was there. Each and every one of them, facing with eyes that were once filled with hope.

  ‘’Times up’’ The creature growled right behind me.

  I love you, Oh how much I want to stay with you. Please let me be with you, I belong to you.

  ‘’And I must admit’’ Like a snake, he was crawling deep into my skin while Pup began to bark at it. I did not want to see it. I did not want to see him.

  ‘’They did a phenomenal job. ‘’But he now moved, and I could see the body of a once broken, turned apart Ram crawling around the room with wings growing on his back and head as if his head was simply a skull of a once dark ram. And right around his dark wool, there were eyes. Bright green multiple eyes that were staring deep into my soul.

  ‘’I simply found one lost soul, killed by your people, and it was all it took to find your hidden place.’’ He laughed, and I tried hard not break down. My skin was burning me, my soul and mind were rushing in so many ways. I wanted to cry. But I wouldn’t let him have the satisfaction.

  ‘’Do you want to learn their last words?’’ He flew back to my side.’’Where are you my Or-’’

  ‘’Stop it’’My eyes flared, and I rushed back to the house, took the poison and Pup, and tried to escape far from this place.

  ‘’Where are you going, my dear?’’

  Corinth.

  I appeared with the sun now gone, near one of the temples of Athena. She might help me. She will hide me. Only if I could speak.

  Ask her for help. Why aren’t you asking? What was that invisible rope holding my neck?

  ‘’You cannot escape from me’’Hermes growled and grabbed me by my hair, and the bottle escaped my hands, but Pup got it.

  Hermes did not seem to notice it as his sharp talons moved on my neck.

  I love you, I need you

  ‘’Not again, no, no no.’’

  ‘’Phes-’’I tried to speak, but his talon managed to tear down my throat. Blood. I could still bleed, I could still be in pain, but only for a few moments. Pup ran back to my side, and I tried to hug him tight.

  ‘’A hundred years and you thought you could have escaped me.’’

  Crete.

  He was so fast. How could he be so fast? His talons grabbed my leg and tried to pull me closer to him, with my body being scratched on the sharp stones.

  ‘’I mean, you are quite pathetic. A hundred years gave me so many ways to punish you’’

  That wasn’t Hermes. No, that was something else. It was simply his fury. Souls are surrounding his body all around.

  ‘’And you played house. So beneath for your greatness, Did you really think that I didn’t know what you were hiding for all those years?’’

  I kicked his right to his skull, and he finally let me go as I began running once again.

  Let me stay with you. I want you.

  Macedonia.

  ‘’And for what? To be free from me? To have the illusion of escape from what you truly are?’’ His claws scratched my back, ripping my clothes apart.

  Cyprus.

  ‘’You are a cruel woman, a lying thief, but not only that.’’

  I am sorry. I love you

  Troy.

  His claws finally grasped my arms as I was in front of a once ruined palace wall that was now simply an entire desert. Each eye of his was facing me, while he was now trying to walk right behind me.

  ‘’You are me.’’

  My gaze snapped, and I tried to hold my scream as I was facing that creature that was smiling with such interest.

  ‘’ Fabricated from the fates themselves, you are the only one who could understand me, because you are me.’’

  I tried to struggle to get away, but he was so much stronger than me. I haven’t felt this small in my life for so long. I wanted it to stop.

  ‘’You hurt everyone when you come near Lyssandra. Family’’

  He was forcing me to see memories. Memories that I wish never appeared again. I was at the temple, fire was in blazes, everyone was facing me as if I was to blame.

  ‘’Your dear friends.’’

  Thais and her cold body, Myrto, Adamantious, and the others face me, broken with disgust.

  ‘’Even the one you fell in love-’’

  ‘’Stop it’’I squinted my eyes, wishing I wouldn't see his face.

  ‘’Do you know about his punishment’’The god of mischief aughed and moved his tail close to my neck. And his long slim hands begun to grab mine, turning me around as if I was a broken toy for him, forcing me to move on his tunes. I could listen to a voice, commanding me to dance, my body turning so light from the movements with my waist turning round and round until it snapped. I could listen to one more voice. Telling that I belonged ot him. That I loved him. And I craved to be with him. And looking right now, I could see the one who was speaking those words was me.

  Hold you scream.

  I could not, as I tried to fall to the ground, crying. But Hermes caught me before that. And his talon pulled my head closer to his neck.

  ‘’Collecting sunlight. Every night until the sun falls and the threads vanish from the heavy basket that he collected for so many hours to simply vanish’’His tallon begin to wrap my limbs and cracking them slowly.

  I could not stop aching from the pain. I wanted to beg him to stop. I wanted to plead. But I also wanted him to stay unsatisfied. His nails digging to my flesh, scratching it to rip it off.

  ‘’All because he fancied you.’’

  ‘’I said stop it’’I muffled from the burning pain.

  ‘’And now’’He laughed and forced my eyes to open with his thumb and saw the image of the people hanging once again.

  ‘’Now, you did it again’’He laughed. ‘’All your fault-’’

  ‘’I said stop it’’I screamed with my voice breaking completely as I pushed him far from me.

  Thessaly.

  I was far too one of the cliffs with my body now broken. My limbs were shattered, my back still bleeding, and my soul slowly giving up.

  I couldn’t give up. But I had no other choice. I touched my face, feeling that I could rip off my skin, maybe he would leave me alone. I hated him. I hated each part of it. Because he was right. He was right about everything.

  ‘’Come back Oracle’’Paris’ voice spoke right behind me.

  You once called me a friend. Hermes’ voice spoke inside my head. It seemed that I couldn’t satisfy you more, but this-

  That wasn’t Paris. My misery was melting deep into my skin simply by thinking of his twisted ways.

  ‘’I will become better.’’

  You will love me like this, right? You will never leave me if I am like this.

  ‘’We can both learn’’He kept approaching, and Pup was replying by growling.

  ‘’Stop, Pup’’ I commanded him, and he followed.

  I stood up and turned my head to see his blonde curls and gentle face. Waiting for me to reply.

  Aphrodite was right. The love of the gods was cruel. And yet, it seemed to draw me so close to them.

  ‘’You once asked me if I loved you, and I replied that I don’t hate you’’

  His smile appeared on his fake face.

  ‘’Now, I know it's clear’’I looked above him with my burning eyes. ‘’I pity you.’’

  His smile faded.

  ‘’What are you-’’

  ‘’What kind of god is doing all of this pain and suffering because someone like me doesn’t love him?’’ I wouldn’t cry in front of him. So the only thing I could do was laugh.

  ‘’In fact, I pity you so much that you should better perish than live another second with the thought that I will be yours-’’

  I pushed my hair to the back and kept walking further and further, close to the cliff.

  ‘’What kind of pathetic monster are you are’’I kept smiling widely. I did not care if I kept provoking him. He had nothing to hurt me anymore. Because he now knew if he hurt me, he would prove me right. I was him. And he was me. He wouldn’t let his pride fall.

  ‘’Tell you this, all so great herald of the gods.’’I spat at him. ‘’I will rather die than ever be with you one more second.’’

  And so, one leap it took for my body to lose balance. up followed with the poison, and I embraced him in my arms, and I waited for my mind to rush into thoughts.

  ‘’Lyssandra, please’’ Hermes was the one to speak. ‘’Don’t leave-’’

  ***

  ‘’What happened after?’’ Dimitri spoke to Odysseus. ‘’At the desert.’’

  Right. He did not tell him the whole truth. His gaze turned to Hermes, who was still hiding his face. However, Odysseus snarled at the idea of him still being there.

  ‘’The Romans found us. I only managed to help two survivors. And after that, I began running until I found myself in Gaul. I was so terrified when I heard people fighting. So scared that…’’He made a long pause and heard Hermes’ steps fading.

  ‘’I opened the bottle that had the poison and each and every one of them perished.’’