Chapter 20
Ariston's point of view
I was alive, for whatever reason, I was alive. It made no sense to me at all. After the Nameless One left my cell, his minions held me down as they clawed my flesh, searing my soul while at the same time trying over and over again to bond with my soul. As much as it shamed me, I did scream, though only once. I felt my soul growing weaker and weaker as the pain built and built, then suddenly, they stopped and left my cell.
I was barely there, barely alive. I knew that if I were to let go, there would be no more pain, there would be no more anything. All I had to do was let go and let myself die, but I had too much to live for to be able to take the easy way out. I prayed Kallisto and Mera were safe. Oh my Mera, please forgive me, I thought to myself. Even if I wanted to connect with her, I was far too weak and if I were to let my soul go like that to reach out to her, it would be my end.
I heard footsteps. I love you Mera, I love you Kallisto, I thought, wishing they could hear me but knowing that I did not have the strength to make it so. I knew that they were coming back to finish me off and I prepared myself to die. The door creaked open and I knew that I was ready. I closed my eyes and thought of Mera, of all the beautiful moments we shared. I would die with her on my mind, with love for her within my soul because loving her meant far more than hating what has been done to me.
"Eat this." The Nameless One voice sounded close to me.
I opened my eyes and saw an ambrosia near my face. My eyes widened and I took it from his hand and bit into it, with just that first bite I felt my light and strength returning. I ate the lifesaving fruit down to the core, the juice dripping down my face. I looked up to see the Nameless One squatting next to me as he watched me, his eyes unreadable. He offered me his hand and I took it. He helped me sit up and get my back against the wall before handing me another ambrosia. Without any questions I ate that fruit as well as the Nameless One sat across from me in my cell.
"Why am I still alive?" I asked him when I was finished.
"Because as difficult as it is for me to accept, Mera loves you." He told me in his deep voice. "Killing you would destroy her and I will not hurt her like that."
"Why do you care for her?" I asked. "She is Pandora's last Descendant, she is the only thing standing in between you and your goals."
"Why do you love her?" He asked me instead of answering my question, his light blue eyes searched mine and I saw no reason not to tell him.
"Because she is the first woman, the first being, in two thousand years to give me a reason to live." I told him.
"I understand what you mean." He said to me. I saw something in his eyes that shocked me as much as it scared me.
"You…" I swallowed. "You are in love with her?" I asked, barely able to get the words out and completely dumbfounded. For the Nameless One to care about anything was shocking, but for him to love?
"Yes." He answered silently. "Talk about irony, my being in love with Pandora's Descendant." He shook his head.
"How? Why?" I asked, not able to understand. But at that moment he got to his feet.
"You are still not to contact Mera," The Nameless one informed me instead of answering my question. "I will be watching you."
"She needs to know I am alive." I told him. "If you care about her at all, then let me tell her I am alive."
"I cannot allow that to happen," He told me. "Not now." I let out a shaky breath, trying to control my rage.
"So you are going to try and steal her away from me." I stated and to my surprise he laughed once.
"You have that backwards," He said. "She was mine first, you stole her away from me." I was beyond confused and before I could ask him another question, he left my cell, closing the door behind me.
What could he mean? I wondered, while worrying for Mera. I have enough faith in her and in our love to know that he will not be able to take her away from me. But the knowledge in his eyes… it was more than clear that he knows something I do not.