AN: I'm sorry that it took so long to get this chapter up. I know you have to do annoyed at me. But here it is! I also finished my main fanfiction (the one eating up all my time) so, I will now have much more time to devote to this story. Hope that somewhat makes up for the long wait.

Disclaimer: This story is based off of the book of Ester located in the Old Testiment of the Bible, as such any plot or characters who overlap are not of my creation. Other than that, enjoy!

9

Sin and Instruction

I realized as I moved quickly back to the harem that I did not know where to find Xylon. If I had not been in such a hurry I might have laughed. Now, I merely found it an inconvenience.

"Rena," I implored as we continued towards the harem's entrance.

There was an unusual quiet from behind me. I frowned and glanced back at my servant. "Rena." I said a little louder.

She looked up and I noticed her eyes were still clouded with thought. Though only a second later, they lost that far off look. Chagrin etched on her face.

"Forgive me, Milady." She said as if she might die of shame.

"Rena," I ignored her mistake to show I did not mind. "Do you know where I might find Xylon?"

She seemed even more put out by my question. "No, Milady. I do not. Cynthia's knowledge resides in such matters." She replied.

"Very well, we shall stop by my chambers to seek the answer." I said gently.

"Yes, Milady."

We traveled in silence for a little while. My thoughts rested on exactly how I would ask Xylon my question. I had asked very little from the Harem keeper since my stay began. It wasn't that I was afraid of him; I just had very few wants. Living as I had before, I found that instead of wants, in the palace I lived in excess.

No, I was more concerned as to my behavior. I worried that my haste to see Angeliki had caused me to breach my station. Though even when I thought hard, I could not seem to find any mention denouncing what I had done. Yes, the inability to see the King was strictly warned against in all scrolls pertaining to my conduct as a member of the harem. Yet, there was not a single mention for or against seeing his children. I hoped that as with the Lord's silent answers to my prayers that this silence was also an affirmation.

"Milady?" Rena's voice pulled at me, drawing me from my anxious thoughts.

I turned my head to her. "Yes"

She seemed to be warring with herself, fighting against her blunt personality that did not seem to fit her servant station. But, that was silly. I cared for all three of them as more than servants. I did not keep the stark boundaries between us. I kept them closer to my heart than that.

"Milady," She said slowly and bit her tongue, "how long have you known Angeliki?"

My eyes widened in delight, and I smiled. That was what was troubling her. I caught the lack of status on Angeliki's name. They were close. It made my smile grow.

"You know of Angeliki?" I asked happily.

She looked at me, saw my delight, and emboldened by it continued.

"Yes, she lives with Cynthia as they are the same age. I see her there often. I did not know that she knew you, Milady."

"Yes, I knew her. We were fairly close."

Rena's eyebrows furrowed. "I remember Angeliki talk of her friend outside the palace walls a long while ago, but…" She paused as if her thoughts confused her too much.

Only then did I realize what I had said. The façade that I was so careful to keep seemed to evaporate before me. I was glad she was deep in thought, for I knew the horror I felt had made it to my face. My blood was turning cold. You must keep you identity secret. My mind was already trying to find the right words to fix my mistake. My eyes closed in disgust. I would have to intentionally sin again.

"Angeliki's friend was named Seana." Rena continued in her keen voice leaving no doubt that she believed she was right. And she was.

Lie.

"Did you know her?" She asked.

Lie!

"No, Angeliki was my childhood friend. Unfortunately, I have not seen her in many years. It almost seemed as if she didn't recognize me." I laughed. It was a little off in my ears, but Rena seemed appeased.

"Oh, perhaps that is why she didn't mention you."

"Perhaps." I said again as the cold lump hardened in my stomach.

I hated to lie. I hated how easily the words slipped from my tongue. It only enforced to me their evilness. For did not honey attract more bees than vinegar? Sin was too tempting.

Oh Urian. Forgive me, Lord.

A silence settled between us as we continued toward my chamber. Rena seemed content again while I was too busy trying to control my emotions. We were almost to the chamber when we were interrupted by a servant.

"Lady Eleni," She began with a bow.

I slightly inclined my head in acknowledgement.

"Master Xylon wishes for me to give you a message. Will you receive it?" She inquired.

"Of course."

She looked up and gave her message.

"The four Chosen Virgins are to report to their inner room for a special lesson at midday. Please do not be late." She finished and waited for me to dismiss her.

I nodded, and she bowed again before leaving.

"I wonder what this lesson will be…" I pondered aloud as Rena and I continued the short distance to my chamber.

Rena opened the door as my mind stayed on the new lesson. It had become a normal occurrence throughout my stay in the Harem. Since I and the other contestants knew little to nothing on what was required of us here, these lessons were to adapt us to our new home.

Some dealt with appearances, though I did not excel in those. Others dealt with customs. My favorite had been the reading and writing lesson which was still continued once a week. As it was essential that the Queen be able to do both, we had been given private tutor to teach us the language of paper. It had been almost a moon cycle since my last new lesson. There was little left to teach us.

About this time, Cynthia came in with a slightly upset look on her face. Her lips were pressed in a thin line.

"Milady!" She protested.

I vaguely wondered what I had done this time before I noticed the tray in her hands. Lunch? I looked out the window slightly startled. When did it get so late?

"Do you know what time it is? Milady, you must pay more attention. A servant came looking for you over an hour ago. It was from Master Xylon!"

I sighed and nodded. "Yes, we just saw her."

"Milady, you have to eat quickly so that you are not late to the lesson!"

"Yes, yes." I smiled.

She huffed in exasperation and put the tray on the stool. She glared at Rena.

"I expected you to at least pay more attention." She fumed.

Rena looked boldly back. "I was caught up in my thoughts."

Cynthia let out a heavy sigh knowing it would do no good to fight her. Layna giggled behind her hand.

"That is no excuse and you know it." Cynthia could not help the reprimand that fell from her lips. Her tone was the usual grumpiness that accompanied a talk with Rena..

"What was on your mind, Rena?" Layna asked quietly, knowing as she always seemed to that something important had happened.

"We met Angeliki. Milady and Angeliki were friends." She said.

Cynthia looked horrified. I wondered how she could worry so much. I did not think it a good thing. No not at all.

"Angeliki! Pray tell me she was not in the presence of the King!" Cynthia exclaimed fearing the worst.

"No, no, Cynthia, she was attending his children." I supplied between bites.

It was only as her fear drained away that Cynthia seemed to register the last of Rena's statement.

"Milady," she paused again. Unsure as with Rena if she could ask such a question of me.

"Yes, I knew Angeliki. We were childhood friends." I conceded.

"I do not…" She stopped as Rena had. I sighed.

"It seems we were not as close as I had thought. She barely recognized me." I said to appease her. The knot again formed in my stomach. I found it left no room for food. I stood up.

"Well, let us head for the inner room." I flashed a smile at Cynthia. "I cannot be late."

She huffed again for emphasis then moved to clean up my almost untouched lunch. I missed her frown as Layna moved to open the chamber door. She would accompany me so Rena could complete her daily chores.

We stepped into the inner room which was the first room that I entered as a Chosen Virgin. The small round room seemed to carry a special presence which made me feel important. I moved to the center of the room to wait while Layna moved to the side as her position dictated.

I had only to wait a moment before a low chuckle forced me to turn around. I smile blossomed on my face.

"Xyleena" I said contently. It was good to see her again. I marveled that it had been a full month since I had last seen the Serh warrior.

Her feline walk moved her quickly to my side. She grinned down at me.

"Eleni, how have you been?" She asked with a slight tilt to her head.

"Good, good. How has your training been?" Xyleena had refused to give up her warrior mindset. After an extremely heated argument with Xylon, Xyleena had been allowed to practice with a private tutor as long as she stayed in the Harem walls to do so.

She grinned, an odd glint in her eye. "I won't know till I kill someone."

"Oh." Was all I could say.

She looked down at my waist and shook her head.

"A sapling would rival your width. Have you shrunk more?"

I shook my head no. "But, I did have to visit Lady Stella again." I bit my lip and wished I had kept my mouth shut.

She made a tisking sound. "Why would you go see that beast?" She asked. Her annoyance made her miss my blushing face.

"I had to get a new top fitted." I said quietly.

Xyleena shook laughter. I tried to hide my embarrassment. I was very, very displeased with my still growing chest. I especially disliked how my new tops did not seem to cover more. The triangle of my exposed chest seemed to be growing.

"I missed your flushed face!" She said as she continued to chuckle.

Xyleena would never understand why I was so embarrassed. She lacked the modesty that I so wished to keep. Though, I did miss her too.

"I missed you too."

"Dear me, the peasant and the man. Why did they have to be here?" The shrill voice complained.

I sighed and turned to the new arrivals. I had already accepted that they would be here since the summons was for all Chosen Virgins, but it did not make their appearance less taxing.

"Good day, Tara, Jacinda." I replied with as much kindness as I could muster.

Tara merely blinked at me as if she could not believe I had dared to speak to her. Jacinda narrowed her eyes.

"It was a great day until I realized I would have to see you two." Jacinda sneered.

"Don't bother with them, Jacinda. We have more important things to discuss." Tara voiced.

They moved to the opposite side of the room as their serving girls quickly joined mine and Xyleena's. Their heads remained focused on the ground. Sorrow grew in me for I knew they were treated much differently than my own.

My gaze drew to Xyleena. Her muscles were tensing. I sighed again. Xyleena didn't like them at all. I didn't have time to remind her she could not kill them because it was then that Keeper Xylon appeared in the room.

He looked so much the same as the last time I had seen him. Though perhaps his hair had grown longer. His personality seemed to vibrate the very air.

"Good DAY!" He sing-songed.

I nodded back.

"I have a very special lesson for you four today." A Cheshire grin split his face.

I grew nervous. If there was one thing I had learned about Keeper Xylon it was that he loved mischief. I did not.

"To help you become more enchanting to the king, I have brought you a dancing tutor." He beamed.

Dancing? Oh dear.

He motioned to a curvaceous woman who stood by the door. Her deep blue eyes seemed to be assessing each of us. She must be the teacher.

"I will leave you in her hands. Bye!" He sang as he slipped quickly out the door.

I sighed. This would perhaps be the longest day in the harem so far.

"Welcome, Chosen Virgins." Her voice seemed to melt around us. "I was told by Xylon to teach you dancing." A musical chuckle parted from her lips. A slow smile split her face. "That is not exactly what I will teach you."

I was getting more anxious by the second.

"No, no, I will teach you how to seduce our King by the mere movement of your body." She said.

My eyes widened. She wanted me to do what? I almost fainted right then. Me sedu- No! I wouldn't even finish the word. She seemed to notice my terror. The slow smile reappeared.

"You do wish to gain favor with the King do you not?" Her voice cooed.

I didn't reply. She knew the answer to her question. Her eyes danced with mirth at my expense.

"I will teach you how." Her eyes moved back to the door where several musicians were sitting. "Begin." She said to them.

As music filled the inner chamber, my eyes widened again. The woman in front of us was giving a demonstration. My face flushed the darker than ever before. This was dancing? Surely it was not right to sway like that.

Xyleena seemed unimpressed and turned her eyes from our teacher to me. Her low chuckle only made my blush deeper if that was possible.

"Do you wish for me to cover you eyes?"

"Please." I breathed.

She chuckled and shook her head.

"Now," came the warm voice of our new teacher. "It is your turn."

Urian, help me! I pleaded as my teacher advanced upon us.

Ok. So please review and let me know how I'm doing. I promise that the plot will begin to pick back up soon, so have not fear. In the mean time, I hope that you enjoy these chapters. And that you review!