Memoirs of an Immortal (The Immortal Series) (6 page)

“Pro?” It was the first time I spoke his name and it made me feel like I was finally acknowledging this lunacy. “I can’t stand all this trickery. You speak to me in riddles and right now I’m not in the mood, not for you and not for anyone else. If you want to keep an eye on me do it quietly where I can’t hear you or know that you’re there!” I bit out.

The flame no longer flickered and no voice came from it. I waited and still nothing. I began to feel sorry for what I had said. I didn’t want to hurt him, but rather all I wanted was for him to leave me alone.

I figured he was gone and I was alone with my thoughts again. I missed my sisters. I really wanted them here right now, but I had to live with the choices that I made and learn that I couldn’t depend on them anymore. The whole time I was here I hadn’t felt as home sick as I did at that moment.

I heard some footsteps and realize that someone was in the courtyard. I looked down and it was Leonidas. I reached my hand out and began to caress him through the air. I began to cry again, but this time there were no tears. My eyes simply burned, I had no more tears to give him. He looked up in my direction and caught me off guard. I lowered my hand and met his gaze.

I had finally succumbed to him. I no longer had any fight left. If it wasn’t for my heart, I think I would have fought longer and harder. But it was my heart that ruled this world of mine and it decided when enough was enough. I forced my eyes away from him and looked at my bed. My body exhausted my emotions spent. I lay down on my bed wanting to forget what had happened today. After a few long moments, the flickering flame went out.

A few days had passed since my fight with Leonidas. I had ordered the girls to summon the musicians and dancers my father had sent me. The courtyard was for my private use today, so I could prepare for the ceremonial dinner. When the musicians and dancers finally appear they all bowed to me. I had missed my home and my people. They were far friendlier and outgoing than the Spartans who were a cold and reserved people. At least to me they were.

We practised all morning and I had prepared a few new dances and songs. I was finally looking forward to it. With my father not around I could finally get to sing the songs he always forbidden me to do. I could also dance the seductive dances that my sisters and I always did in hiding. I even got Cynisca and Eupolia into it. They were naturals.

After a few dances and songs, I walked up to one of the larger musicians. I knew he wasn’t sent here for my ceremony.

“Did my father send you for music because you don’t appear to be very musical?” I asked knowing my answer.

“He said you would know right away. I with one other was sent to train with you. He said you would be craving your fighting.” As he spoke he opened a large box that held the larger instruments. Inside the box, there was another compartment which held my weapons from home.

We were trained in all method of fighting and weaponry, but we each had to choose a style to perfect. I chose the double swords. I preferred to be offensive with my attacks. You needed to be quicker to finish your opponent off and that idea excited me more. I loosened the cloth that covered my swords. The sun’s rays flickered as the blades became exposed. They were simply gorgeous. My father had made them just for me. He had made all our weapons, specific to each of us and our skills.

My swords were very different from traditional Greek weaponry. My father said that he saw this style in the east. They curved inward and were smallest at the hilt and gradually became larger at the point. As I continued to unwrap them, a letter came out:

Dear young one,

It is quiet now that you are gone. Your sisters have asked about you, but I haven’t said anything. I want you all to learn to be independent of each other, I know it may be wrong, but I cannot bare it if one of them ran away to go see you. Use your swords well.

Your father

“What are you doing? What if the king finds out?” Eupolia began to panic.

“Then don’t let the king find out!” I answered. “Eupolia, I cannot simply sit and be something I am not.” I stood up and tore at the bottom of my dress.

“Psykhe your legs!” Both girls screeched. I ignored them both. I had torn my dress until it reached my upper legs.

I suited my swords up and made my way to the middle of the courtyard. I took in a deep breath began with the basics. I wanted to fist fight first. I picked up the ratted pieces of my dress that I had torn and began to wrap my hands with them. My father had always taught us to mix our weapons with our fighting skills to make a deadly combination.

I stood in the middle of the courtyard, with my eyes closed and began to make an effort to focus on my breathing. Each breath grew deeper as the feeling began to resonate through my body. I felt alive in that precise moment. That’s when I knew I was ready. I opened my eyes and there stood one of the fighters my father had sent me. He nodded and I grinned. I was ready.

He came at me and I dodged him, I stood tall, confident in my abilities. The second one joined us, now there were two against one. I waited to see their next move, it didn’t take long. The first one ran towards me while the other came from behind. I flipped myself into the air and kicked the one from behind me. When he went down, I reach for the opponent that stood in front of me and grabbed his right shoulder with both hands. I kneed him in the stomach. As they both lay down on the ground writhing in pain, I drew out my swords quickly and mock stabbed them both.

“You’re dead!” I had pointed out the obvious.

“You’re smiling and you’re in the palace!” Cynisca yelled from across the yard. I looked up at her and laughing. “That was amazing! I didn’t know you could fight like that!” She said like a proud mother. I laughed at her silliness and at her excitement of it.

As I put my swords back into their sheath, a few Spartan men showed up on the outside of the courtyard and proceeded to close in. I looked up and onto the second floor to see Leonidas with Dienekes. He had watched me this whole time.

“Let’s see how well you fight against a few of our men. It’s a basic training drill we Spartans do. The first to hit the ground is out!” shouted Dienekes.

“She our leader’s daughter and your queen, how can you gang up on her, it’s not right!” One of the fighters that my father sent began to protest. I reached out my hand for him to stop.

“It’s fine.” I smiled at him “I will show them our ways. They are not the only fighters in this world. Now move.” I nudged my head.

“But…” He continued.

“I said leave!” I ordered.

My blood was pumping, I was eager for this. I was going to show Leonidas what I was made of.

As his men grew closer, my girls grew more scared. I’d like to think it was because they were scared for their men and not for me. I drew one of my swords and used it as a mirror to count how many men were behind me and then sheathed it again.

There were three men behind me and three up front, six in total. It must have worried Dienekes because I could see from the corner of my eye that he leaned in to say something. Leonidas simply stood there with his arms crossed and answered him calmly and continued to watch. I waited. I was not going to do the first move.

One of the men in front lunged at me. I lowered my body and used the momentum to throw him across, to the men behind me. He knocked out two as a result, leaving me with three. The other drew his sword. I jumped into the air while there I drew my weapons. I landed with them drawn and ready. I used them to block his attack. He was too preoccupied with trying to knock me down that he didn’t see the other fighter was coming from behind me. I quickly moved out of his way and tripped him. He knocked the sword out of other fighter’s hand. I kicked the sword away and sheathed mine.

“No sense in fighting an unfair battle.” I smiled.

I ran across the yard where they followed. I kicked the chair and broke off two pieces of woods. I armed myself and waited. As they charged at me, I hit one across the face with my new found weapon which pushed him back. The other found his way behind me and grabbed me. I broke free and elbowed him in the gut. As he lowered his head I used my knee and hit him in the face, his blood gushed forward.

I was the last one standing. I looked around to the men I hurt both physically and mentally. I was proud of myself, but before anyone could say anything a large dark mass began coming forth from the ground. I looked at Leonidas, his worried face made me realize he had no idea what was going on. I could see that he tried to move, but he couldn’t. No one could.

As the dark mass began to take form, I could see its likeness was that of a large human, but it was grotesque, its shape deformed. Here it stood in front of me, a huge monstrous figure almost two stories high. A foul smell of spoiled and rotten flesh came from it, as it growled and snarled. I was the only one who was able to move. There was a barrier blocking me from leaving.

“Psykhe!” cried out Leonidas.

I had never seen him look so helpless. Everyone looked stunned. That large thing was coming at me. I never knew fear until that very moment. It was one thing to fight a human. Another to fight something that I had never seen before let alone something that materialized in front of you. I gave myself permission to look at Leonidas one more time, just in case. He was afraid and I could see it in his eyes. I’ll be fine I said to myself I have to be fine. Nothing matter anymore not our fights, not my loneliness, nothing. All I wanted to was to live through this.

It ran quickly at me and picked me up with one hand. It had me by the throat, its grasp tightening. I could hardly breathe, as I was trying desperately to get it to let me go. I reached for my sword and stabbed its arm. It threw me and I slid across the yard. As this thing was wailing in pain, I picked up some dirt from the ground. I ran to it and launched myself into the air. I threw the dirt into its eyes and blinded it. I landed on the ground and unsheathed my swords and ran to his leg. I quickly climbed its knee to help me get on its back. When I reach its shoulders, I stretched out my arms and stabbed it simultaneously in its throat. Where blood should be coming out, only a green goo spewed out as it hissed and then became dust again. I fell to the ground landing on my knees, dazed with what just happened.

Within seconds Leonidas was next to me. He had picked me up from the ground and put his hands around my face.

“Are you ok? Are you hurt?” he said in a panicked tone. I could sense his fear. I had to stay calm.

“Yes, I’m fine, I’m just tired.” I wanted to get to my room. If anyone knew what was going on it would have been Pro.

Leonidas picked me up and carried me to my room. Eupolia had followed us and opened the door. Without looking at her, he ordered her to ready a bath for me in my room. He gently placed me on the bed and held me.

“You can let me go now.” I whispered. His grip only grew tighter.

“No! Not until I make sure that you’re alright. I’m not leaving tonight. I’m going to stay with you.” He reassured me.

He was angry now, not at me, but angry that this happened. He summoned Alpheus to my room and he ordered him to speak to the oracle to find out what was going on. I finally broke free from his hold. I needed to speak to Pro, but how?

An idea finally came to mind. I stood up and walked over to where my clothes were, I pretended that I wanted to change. I looked over at him and smiled.

“Do you mind if I get ready for my bath?” I figured since we’re not technically married he would leave, but not Leonidas.

“No I don’t mind and I’m not going to leave if that’s what you’re thinking. What if something happens again?” He seethed.

“Well I took care of whatever that was. So I think I can handle anything else that comes at me.” I challenged.

He didn’t like my reply, but thank the gods, for Dienekes. He knocked on the door and told Leonidas that the oracle wanted to speak to him alone and that it was urgent. I sighed in relief. Dienekes looked at me with concern and mouthed. ‘Are you ok?’ I nodded in response. He gave me a faint smile and winked. Leonidas ordered him to stay outside my door in case I needed help.

“She’s fine. Didn’t you see for yourself? If anything that thing was more frightened of her.” Dienekes mocked, but Leonidas glared at him. “But if you insist my king, I will remain here.” Dienekes turned his head at me and widen his eyes and whispered “That was scary.” I chuckled at his response as he closed the door.

I called out to Pro and the fire pit lit.

“What going on?” I demanded as I knelt down to face him. The flame didn’t do anything. “Pro please!” I begged, still nothing. “Look, I know you’re there since the flame lit on its own. Please Pro.” I waited, but then I realized he was still upset. “I’m sorry. I was wrong to yell at you when all you wanted was to look out for me.”

“That’s better.” He began. “Now was that so hard for you? Maybe next time you’ll be a little nicer to me.” If I could I would have knocked him out.

“Listen!” I yelled. A faint knock came from my door. It was Dienekes.

“Is everything ok?” He asked.

“Yes, sorry I walked into something, I’m fine.” I looked at the flame took a deep breath and lowered my voice. “Do you know anything about what happened before?” I whispered.

“You mean the creature. I think it was more of a test from Ares. He wanted to see your abilities. But rest assured it’s never going to happen again. He had to deal with the big man and let’s just say you don’t mess with him.” He said cautiously.

“Who’s the big man?” I asked. “Honestly Pro, I realize you have all the answers, but I don’t understand anything you’re talking about!” I said somewhat defeated.

“It’s Zeus. He was angry that Ares took it upon himself to make such a creature appear in front of mortals. In our world that’s not a good thing to do. We are supposed to have as minimal contact as possible.” He answered.

“So, now what?” I asked.

“Well did Leonidas go to see the oracle?” Pro asked.

“Yes he did, why?” I asked. Pro took a minute before he answered. I was whispering for him to hurry up, afraid that Eupolia would be back for my bath.

“He’ll be told that it was a test from the gods to see if you were fit to be queen.” Pro finally answered. I must have looked annoyed because he answered my look.

“Ares was testing you. You were his target, but this way we can say that it was a onetime occurrence meant for Leonidas, not you.” He sighed. “You need to be careful now. Some of the gods seem to have an eye on you.”