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6
Let This Soul Remain
Not once had he looked away if only to blink or scratch his unburnt hands. "Answer my question. On the wood, on the ship, I asked one. Answer it," he slid his feet across the cold floor until they rest next to mine.
"Because I knew you would push away and keep me from helping you if you knew what I am, who I'm associated with. You may not know it yet Perseus but you will embark on a great quest and you need me," breathe again, slowly. He leaned against the wall as the same colors, that constantly watched over me, shut tightly.
"I also know that if we separate, you won't be as strong as you are now. And that goes the same for me. We have to be together," move closer to him, on the side, keep going. The side of my head rest softly against the brick, admiring his strong jawline. "I don't think I can handle being away from you. You're the only one who keeps my soul exactly where it needs to be."
He turned. Responding with his same gesture, I shut him away, not wanting to face the effect of such genuine and horribly truthful statements. But what I felt left it in contrast. He softly stroked his worn thumb in a smooth circular motion around my cheek. Staring as if forcing my lashes to rise to his. Undefeated, they did so.
"You say your soul cannot leave mine? That we must be together?" he leaned forward with a cloud haze shimmering within his pupils in a passionate manner. "I would not leave if you forced me away. The pain you've felt, the lost of breathing, I've experienced it all. I've only kept it hidden because I didn't understand it. Until now. Everything that has just poured from your lips has been the answer I've been searching for. Those same lips that call for me every second that I'm with you. The lips I've desperately felt the need to cling to with mine."
And they were dangerously close when a guard pounded on the thick, dungeon door. Opening, banging against the old walls with Draco behind. "You have a visitor but she only wishes to talk with the girl."
"She?" Perseus stood, I didn't want him to.
"Make it quick," he ignored the question. I stood as well but went no further.
He stepped aside to reveal the same woman who had saved me from Hades. She kindly stared upon Perseus before finding my own. Bringing her hands together and placing them against her mouth, tearful and lovely. Her long hair was pulled back, enhancing her pale skin. Only in this moment had I observed the similarity of our hair color. It held the same appearance, yet mine was lighter and contained more waves. But it felt so familiar.
"Who are you?"
She lowered her hands and dismissed Draco who grunted before leaving. "Not once have I forgotten your face. The slight shade of gold within those green colors, innocent lips, your curved nose, even the artistic arrangement of your thick waves. They've haunted me all these years. All the years that death has become a natural being that has taken everything from me, but I still had you."
"You-"
"May we talk alone?"
"No."
She nodded as if she understood why I said so. "My name is Io," she entered further. "And I believe you're my sister."
Perseus looked to and from, thinking this was another factor he had yet to unveil. But I no nothing of this woman. "I have none-" but I was confused with the hidden context. She held no lies nor trickery.
"Rosephina," she edged closer. "I was there when you were born, the Gods cut our hands and blended our blood together. They made you as they made me your sister," she snatched my hand and placed hers over. "Look."
The mysterious slash over my palm throbbed as our hands slightly touched. Ached with the same pain. Vision blurred. Images flashed in a hasty manner, all in chronological order: birth, surrounding gods and goddesses, this woman, Aphrodite dragging the knife across our palms, Hermes separating our bond and then Hades. Vision returned, Perseus' warm body was the first to feel.
"Io."
She nodded, finding what she's been waiting for: recognition."We're finally together, just like they promised," she smiled. "And I'm not only here for you, Rosephina. But Perseus as well. I've been in this world for a long time and during so, I've been keeping an eye on you. The god of flight told me when he brought me down from Olympus. That there was going to be a child, you Perseus, that I would need to watch over. And if I did so, I would be reunited with Rosephina," Io swiftly finished her sentence before the guard opened the door.
"That's enough. You must leave."
She didn't acknowledge him, merely pulled me into her arms and whispered. "I shall see you soon sister," she let go. "Perseus," he nodded in farewell.
She passed the guard closing the door to expand the night's darkness.
αδελφή
"Rise up!"
A voice boomed through the small room as Perseus and I lay asleep. Draco stood before us. Perseus with his arm dangled across my waist. I was already attentive, enjoying the feel of his touch for quite sometime yet didn't dare wake him. "Good, the King requests your presence in the training room. Come."
The halls were filled with frightened whispers being the day after the God's rage hit the throne room. Many of the witnesses passed with nothing but endless fear amongst themselves as the soldiers guided us through the palace. They reached the doors and opened them with King Kepheus pacing back and forth. He stopped as we entered and stood unsteadily by a stack of swords. "Welcome demi-gods," he solemnly exclaimed. Draco took us further in and positioned himself next to a few soldiers who were sharpening their weapons. "I must inform you of why I've sent for you. The god of the Underworld, Hades-"
"Will release the Kraken upon the city of Argos unless your daughter is sacrificed to the monster," Perseus interrupted. "We overheard your people whispering in the halls."
Kepheus painfully looked away, fidgeting with the handle of a sword. "I am weak," he admits. "I do not think I can convince you with force and I will not allow my soldiers to do so. I love my daughter and will respect her wishes."
In truth, I needed no further convincing. It was Perseus who needed it the most. I felt pity and protection for the kindhearted princess who had been doomed by her own mother's foolish mistake. "Your Majesty," I bowed in respect. He nodded in grant permission to walk forward. Perseus remained behind. "If it means anything on our behalf, we had no association with Hades coming. And we do not wish to harm-" The king silenced the rest.
"My Queen has yet to come out of her quarters. But when I was with her, she said that I needed to do whatever I could to save Andromeda's life and I promised her I would. Please, you must find a way to save her. I beg you," he grabbed my hand and knelt. Draco removed himself and dismissed the other soldiers for the King's dignity. "Please."
Perseus stepped before us, removing our grip and left the king in dismay. "No, wait," he weakly called. Draco blocked the path.
"Move," Perseus scowled.
"Turn around," Draco ordered.
"Perseus," I held him in revelation. "Do you not see what this is? This is the quest. This is our path, to save Argos-"
"Why?"
There was no response to such a question.
"I cannot help them and I won't risk your life for their own mistakes. I care not if you have extraordinary powers. A part of you is mortal and vulnerable. I have no power to protect you, no war tactics, no experience. Nothing. I've never been to battle-"
"There's no leaving this place unless we help," how was he aware of my mortal vulnerability? "You and I must take this together. You have power Perseus. This is what you've been waiting for. You could do nothing to Hades yesterday. This will allow the chance to prove yourself once again."
He knows, he wants to make the Gods remember. Remember the strength mortal men have, the wrath he will bring to them for making him suffer. This was his chance for revenge and to honor his family. Being locked forever in a prison would keep him from doing so.
"Fine," he looked to the King. "We will bring an end to your suffering and save your daughter. We will discover a way to kill the Kraken but we will need your army."
King Kepheus rose in happiness. "I thank you, my kingdom thanks you. You will lead a band of my soldiers on the quest. Draco, prepare a team of our best skilled warriors. Make ready the weapons, supplies, everything."
Draco retreated to the back room where the soldiers were training.
"And if what I have heard from your woman then she will help you as well. With two demi-gods on the side of men, nothing will stop us!"