Zoe sat in the same corner she woke up in. Her face showed no signs of emotion while tears stained her cheeks and her puffy eyes almost seemed permanently blurry.
Her hair was a mess of dirt and knots. In any other circumstance she wouldn't have minded her hair being this way but in this one she just longed for Korina to come and detangle the rats nest.
Everything about her felt hollow. She couldn't move, she couldn't blink, and she could barely even breathe. The only thing that seemed to be functional was her memories.
Her memories of Paris replayed the most in her mind. Each one brought on a new set of silent tears.
He was so young. Too young to be consumed by the consequences of war. Sure he brought Helen home, but it was for love. Had her teachers not told her of such stories of passionate romances, never have one of them been frowned upon.
But this was reality. This was the world of adults. Greedy, bloodthirsty adults. Why did her father encourage her to enter such a world? Why did Hector enter it so willingly? All these questions ran through her mind and no matter how much she figured or solved, they never made sense.
Achilles walked into his tent seeing Zoe still sitting in the corner. She was even staring at the exact same spot. It was as if she were a statue, never to be moved, never to speak or feel again. It was pure torture to him. Worse than a thousand wounds to his body combined.
He knew he should tell her that the Prince was still alive. Well at least that he was never killed during the two man battle. But something held his tongue.
He didn't know exactly what and until he figured it out he wouldn't tell her anything.
Achilles finally looked away from her and went to rest upon his furs.
After awhile his eyes couldn't help but wander over towards her figure once more. She still hasn't moved. Will she ever?
Why did she cry for him? He was nothing but a coward. One that steals the wives of another, did she not know this fact? Maybe even this information was held from the princess's ears. But something told him she knew of her brothers actions. She was too smart not to know, and yet, she stilled grieved.
Would she grieve if I had been in that position? Achilles found himself thinking. Would she care if I entered battle? Even if more equipped than Prince Paris, would she long for my safe return? Something inside told Achilles no. But he refused to listen. His only chance now was to hope, something he never relied on before.
Hope was for the weak. It was for the ones who couldn't do anything else. Achilles always could do something else. Always.
Although here he was stuck between love and war. Not knowing what to do.
No, he didn't love her. He couldn't. Love did not overcome the great Achilles. This was just pure want; she was just a prize to be won, nothing more…
Night had fallen and Achilles finally stood from his furs. She had been grieving long enough.
"Get up. You need to eat something." He said in a soft but firm voice.
Zoe was still. Not even a blink came upon her as she sat numb on the ground. It was like the words ran right through her head and out the other side, never having time to register.
Achilles stared down at her worryingly. Impatience edge its way through his body little by little.
"Zoe." He stated a bit louder trying to get her attention. She still didn't move.
Frustrated he bent down to her level and took hold of her upper arms. Her body moved like a rag doll as he shook her.
"Listen to me!" He said angrily, trying to look into her empty eyes. Even with her staring right at him it was like she had her eyes closed. He couldn't see anything in them. His heart sank not being able to see the shiny blue sparkles.
"You will eat, even if I have to shove the food down your throat girl." He tried threatening her; he would have done anything to get a reaction. But her hollowness never left. It consumed her, like the Greeks consumed the beaches of Troy.
Angry, upset, and frustrated Achilles searched for any sign of feeling from her. His eyes scanning every inch to see just the slightest movement. When he found none he did the last thing he could think of.
Zoe's first action in a long while was a gasp. A gasped muffled by the man in front of hers mouth.
When she came back to reality of everything she found Achilles kissing her, hard and roughly.
Her eyes shut instantly and involuntarily. While she sat stiffly on the ground.
His dry hot lips moved against hers. His hot breath brushed a crossed her face as in attempt to dry the tears.
Why did her stomach go from numb to upset? It churned and waved as if it were out at sea. What was happening?
Achilles hands slowly loosened his grip on her arms while he let his fingers fan across her soft skin, caressing each inch of flesh she had to offer.
Zoe didn't realize but her lips began to move with his. She was experiencing something different. Her heart no longer ached with pain from the loss of her brother, but it now ached for something else. Something a young girl like her shouldn't long for. Something a princess of Troy shouldn't long for.
The heat built between them in the passionate kiss. Neither moved though, both sat away from each other, the only body parts touching were by his hands and both their lips.
After awhile of just kissing and innocent touches on Achilles part Zoe pulled away with a blush.
She looked towards the ground trying not to think about the burning gaze coming from Achilles. She didn't want to let this warrior have this effect on her.
Achilles just stared at her in amazement. He has had many kisses through out his life, ones that were much heavier and to extreme heats. But something about her kiss, something about her made this one last against his lips. His heart pounded in his chest, the very same feeling he would get before battles. The excitement and danger he was drawn too, never knowing whether he come out alive but knowing that he'd be remembered no matter what. Zoe was exactly like this.
He wanted more. He wanted much more than one passionate kiss. He knew that once she kissed him back he would have her. He would make her scream for him the way she cries for her family. But he would leave an impression, he would make her slowly forget and her memories slowly be replaced with ones of him. And only him.
Achilles stood again and peered down at the girl. She slowly turned her head so she was looking up at him. He smirked seeing the swollenness of her lips and the small glint of lust in her eyes. If her cheeks were not red from crying they would have been red from heat.
"Come. You must eat." He said softly and started towards the door. He didn't need to look back as he left. He knew she would follow.
Zoe sat there as Achilles disappeared out the door. She then let her fingers touch her lips gently. What had happened? Why did he kiss her? One moment she was lost in a memory the next his lips were on hers and he was all she could think about. Surely she did not care for Achilles.
Zoe sat for a moment and decided that she just got lost in the moment. She had little food and barely any rest, it was impossible for her mind to think straight at such a time.
Sighing she stood up on weak legs. Her head felt heavy as blood rushed to places in her body. She then made her way out the tent door to follow Achilles.
Days went by and Zoe's silence became the past. She spoke to anyone and everyone in the camp. She even became very close to Patroclus, Achilles young cousin.
Although Achilles wasn't too happy with her close relationship with his cousin, considering he was much closer in age to the girl than himself, he was still glad she had someone to talk to, someone she would talk to.
But Achilles warned Patroclus multiple times not to do anything to the girl otherwise he would suffer punishment from Achilles himself. Patroclus told Achilles many times that Zoe only talked to him so much because he was like her brothers but Achilles still kept a close eye on them when together alone, within the camp.
As for Zoe and Achilles relationship, it had gotten quite better. Once in awhile he was able to steal soft kisses from her lips and even a couple long hot ones. But as soon as his hands would venture too much of her skin Zoe would push away with a bright blush and her brilliant blue eyes would be unable to meet his the rest of the day. Achilles wasn't worried about it though, in fact he was happy. He would catch her looking at him during dinner, smiling after kisses, or she would gasp when Achilles would train his younger cousin, but she only gasped whenever Achilles came close to the strike of his cousin's blade, which wasn't too often. These little things made Achilles feel better than he has ever felt in a battle. Everyone seemed to notice the mood change.
And Achilles started to question his reason for being at Troy's beaches any longer. He wanted to leave with Zoe. Take her back to Greece and make her his. He even wanted this princess to meet his mother, he wanted to prove that he could love and be loved.
"There is no such thing. Do not speak such nonsense." Zoe crossed her arms and sat onto the moist sand as she watched Patroclus stand ankle deep in the ocean water. He was throwing small rocks and shells into the waves telling Zoe the stories of ocean monsters that he heard about when he was a child. He might as well have fun with the child while she was here he thought.
Zoe brought her small legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them while resting her chin on her knees. Squinting her eyes she looked out onto the water the sparkled and changed color from the sun set. There couldn't be monsters associated with such beauty she thought.
Patroclus turned around with a smile while he looked at the girl. She was orange from the suns rays and he couldn't help but think of her beauty even though Achilles told him not too. With her golden hair curled and shimmered, she looked like a goddess the way it hung around her face. Her blue eyes focused on the waves behind him seemed to mirror the waters shine.
Her eyes then focused on him and she glared playfully and stuck her tongue out at him with a smug smile.
He laughed a turned around once more. He picked up a shell wiping it free of sand and admired the colors on it. He wanted to give her something special, he thought.
Zoe sat in the sand smiling at the back of Patroclus. He reminded her so much of Paris.
Looking down at the glowing sand she sighed remembering how happy she was to find out her brother wasn't killed. Eudorus was the one to tell her the news and she was so happy to find out that she didn't even think about her anger towards Achilles for not telling her.
Zoe let her bare feet dig themselves into the sand. The coolness and texture tickled her toes and made her smile and close her eyes. Taking in a big breath of ocean air she thanked the Gods for sparing her brothers life and keeping them safe during this time of war. While giving thanks someone appeared in her mind that she was not expecting. Achilles was something she wanted to thank the Gods for. But she did not know why. He did protect her from the harm of the camp and other soldiers but he was also the one that kept her in harms way by not letting her go back home.
Whenever she would question him he would tell her that she was safest with him… Lately she couldn't help but think he was right. What if Greece conquered Troy? What if her people were captured? She would have been taken as a slave or even killed for being royalty. At least with Achilles such thing would not happen, he wouldn't let that happen.
"Zoe."
Zoe opened her eyes and looked up towards the water seeing Patroclus facing her once more. He was looking at her confused but then looked towards his hands. He was fiddling with something between his fingers.
Zoe scrunched her eyebrows together in confusion and glanced at his hands once more, what was he holding?
"I… I just wanted you to know that no matter what I'll-"
"Patroclus."
Both Zoe and Patroclus jumped from the voice that spoke to them suddenly. Zoe looked behind her to see Achilles walking towards her and Patroclus. He wasn't looking at Zoe though. He was looking behind her, at his cousin.
Zoe looked at Patroclus who was also staring at Achilles but with a much less confident look as whatever in his hands dropped into the shallow water.
Zoe stared at the waters surface as she felt Achilles presence standing next to her.
"Leave us." He said and Patroclus stood still. He stared at Achilles with angry eyes wanting to speak but didn't dare to.
Seconds past and Zoe could swear she heard Achilles growl in a way. "Now." He said lowly and angrily.
This time Patroclus could not refuse and slowly trudged out of the water while glaring at his cousin.
Once his cousin was gone Achilles took a close seat next to Zoe. Close enough that his hip was touching hers and his arm rested behind her while it held him up to stare at the same ocean as she.
Zoe looked towards the water with a blank face. She knew that she not lead Achilles to think she cared for him and yet she had a feeling he somehow knew.
She did not mid the kisses, nor the touches. But when anything got too far she had to stop him. She was too scared to go further.
She was scared of losing a piece of Troy, the only piece of Troy she had left. As a respectable young princess she would marry any man who was her first, otherwise be frowned upon by her people. She was sure either way she would be frowned upon.
Another reason to be scared was because of Achilles himself. He was clearly experienced in everything as she was not. This intimidated her to no end.
And lastly… what if she was not good enough for him? What if she couldn't satisfy his need? This, although she hated to admit it, scared her the most. She wanted to please him but was afraid she wouldn't be able to.
"Tell me what you are thinking." Achilles spoke making Zoe snap from her thoughts.
"Umm." Zoe quickly tried to think of something. Anything. She didn't want to tell him the truth. "I was thinking about the Gods." She quickly said unable to look at him but from the corner of her eye.
He still stared at the ocean but a smile graced his lips as he turned to look at her. She instantly looked towards the sand with a blush staining her cheeks.
"You are a very bad liar. I thought I've already shared this with you." He questioned with a smirk.
"You would not know whether I was lying our not. It is my mind." Zoe spoke in a highly tone making Achilles smile wider.
She always tried to prove him wrong. He loved it.
"It maybe your mind but it is not your thoughts. Well your truthful thoughts that is." He said looking back towards the ocean.
Zoe glared at him and then smiled slightly. He had a point. He most of the time always did, yet she always argued.
"Tell me great Achilles." Zoe spoke mocking his greatness. "What were you thinking of?"
He turned his head to look at her and smiled. "Your lips." He spoke lowly and seductively without a hint of doubt.
Zoe eyes widened in shock and she got caught in his cool blue orbs. They just coaxed her in like a snake would trance its prey before strike. He was the snake and she was the helpless little mouse.
Achilles didn't waist any time. He captured her lips in his feeling the comfort of them in an instant. They were soft and smooth and tasted of the berries she ate for dinner. The scent of her drove him insane with need and he was starting to lose his control.
He started to lean towards her, pushing against her lips more and forcing her to untangle her arms and legs and lean back.
Ever so smoothly he had her back against the sand with him leaning over her. He didn't care that they were putting on a show for basically everyone in the camp. He's been without bedding a girl so long and he wanted her so bad. He thought about just taking her right then and there.
The heat built along with the warmth from the sun on the beach. One of his hands held her hair tugging on it softly to move her head in ways that made his abdomen cringe with desire.
He shifted himself until he was completely between her legs.
She gasped from the weight and he took the opportunity to shove his tongue into her sweet mouth. Zoe struggled for a moment trying to use her tongue to push his out but this only built up the intensity for him and while one f his hands held her hair the other grabbed her hip pulling it towards him while he thrusted his hips downward.
Zoe felt his erection on her thigh. Korina explained to her such things of sex and what a man would do. But she didn't think that it could feel so addicting, so erotic, so pleasurable.
Again his hips pushed against her and she pushed against him creating a stronger friction than before.
Achilles kissed her harder building the heat even more.
Zoe's hands moved around Achilles neck and found there way into his golden hair. She copied his gentle tug only to make Achilles growl into her mouth.
The vibrations moved through her body and built in her lower stomach. The heat there pooled together and with each thrust built and shook more. It was so uncontrolled and so hot at the same time. Zoe couldn't find it possible to think straight.
Achilles lips pulled away from Zoe's letting her take deep breaths of much needed air. Achilles didn't rest though. His wet swollen lips moved over her chin and down the hollow of her throat feeling her gulp. Once he made it to the crook of her neck he began to bite and lick at her sensitive sick.
Zoe's breaths were heavy and deep and she turned her head to the side to give him better access.
Achilles pushed his body into hers and was angered by the clothing that separated them. Letting his anger turn into lust he bit harder at her neck.
Zoe couldn't stop it; she let out a moan as she felt Achilles torture her body in such ways. So many feeling rushed through her at once and her mind tried to comprehend the things that were happening.
Slowly she opened her eyes in order to sort out the confusion in her mind and her heart almost stopped when she saw the camp right there. Some men were sitting and continuing to work or lounge as if what Achilles and she were doing was nothing but as normal as the waves against the sand.
Other took glances but quickly looked away when they noticed Zoe's wide eyes.
Instantly Zoe shoved Achilles with such force that she was actually able to get all of him off of her while he was caught off guard.
Before he could grab onto her scorching skin again, before he could speak, before he could even breathe Achilles saw Zoe get up and run towards the tent trying to carry herself across the camp without looking at any of the on looking faces.
Achilles sat shocked in the sand as he watched her hide herself away in his tent. He couldn't pinpoint the emotion he was feeling, it was all jumbled along with the heat.
But anger seemed to be the strongest. It was always the strongest.
Without a word Achilles stood and swiftly walked towards the tent.
Men stopped in there tracks staring wide eyed at the very angry Achilles. What was even more shocking was the fact that he was stripping his clothes while he went towards his tent.
He knew that he would have her tonight. Whether she liked it or not.
