Chapter Twenty-Four
Abandoned
-oOo-
Life couldn't possibly get any worse for Damalis at this point. Her former friend and master, Astinos was angry with her for a reason she could not fathom, he was marrying a total harpy of a women and it was likely she would be forced to leave Adelpha and the strange existence she had under the Captain's roof.
With all this pain and sadness swirling about Damalis' heart, she found it a miracle she was able to rise from her bed the next day. Adelpha had no school this morning, but she was to help her mother find some material for new dresses for the wedding. Even though it was a distance away, they both wanted to be prepared and revelled in the experience as they didn't often get to spend time with one another.
Damalis was dismissed from watching her ward, as Hesper would be accompanying both of them, so Penthea was left in charge of the female servants. Every servant girl signed in relief to be free of Hesper tyrannical rule for a few hours and allowed themselves the freedom to talk with one another whilst they worked without fear of being reprimanded.
Penthea once again too Damalis aside to check her wounds, but for Damalis, they were nothing compared to the painful scars she now harboured inside herself. It seemed she no longer needed the bandages now and it felt good to have the air against her flesh once more, despite the ugly, jagged cut gouged into her upper arm.
"The badge of a true hero" Penthea had said as Damalis had eyed it with disgust.
"A fool more like" she had replied, thinking of the night she had earned the first cut across her arm. Fighting Astinos.
After Penthea had scolded her being so negative, she instructed she help Haidee in the kitchens, for tonight Circe and her father were coming for dinner to celebrate the engagement.
If possible, Damalis did feel worse, for she would have to endure a night of watching Circe and Astinos moon at one another, with everyone around them celebrating their upcoming union. What was worse was that no one could see the nastiness that lurked so near the surface of her. The way she had regarded Damalis and her own servants, she seemed to know she was a beauty and used it to ensnare any man in her presence. She was nothing more then a Medusa and Damalis wanted nothing more then to chop off her vicious head.
Depressed, she went back to work, kneading the dough, picking the grapes from the orchard down the road and shopping in the market place for honey. It was late afternoon when Enora and Adelpha returned with Hesper at the rear carrying a basket full of materials. She passed them to Penthea who went about organising the dressmaking as Damalis prepared Adelpha for a bath.
The bathhouses were only a short walk, Adelpha was talking rapidly of her day out shopping with her mother and how she had contributed a few coins to the homeless man they often passed on their way to school. Apparently Hesper hadn't been too impressed from the look on her face, which made Adelpha laugh.
"We saw Circe too" Adelpha chimed as she skipped beside Damalis, "She's bringing some of her families wine and said she would slip me a bottle when my mother wasn't listening"
Damalis forced a smile; jealous that Circe had been able to win over Adelpha so easily. But she was a young, impressionable young woman. Circe would be the big sister she never had, even though Damalis had always thought she would be enough to fill in that role, she was still just a servant and not a 'real' person.
It took a lot of scrubbing and brushing to get Adelpha's hair just perfect. The bathhouse was quiet and allowed them to take as much time as they needed. It was a much-needed break from the dramas of home, though it was hard to stop Adelpha talking about the party.
When they returned back home, the house was buzzing with activity, servants were adding finishing touches to the dinning table, sweeping the floors and cleaning any surface that was home to a speck of dirt. Adelpha was swept up in all the enthusiasm and danced her way to her bedroom to fetch the dress she had put aside for the occasion. Enora was already in an elegant ivory dress robe with a simple pendant hanging from her neck. The Captain was writing furiously on a scroll, his smart grey shawl was wrapped tightly under his arm and over his shoulder, clasped together with a golden pin. He looked positively regal and it was not hard to see he was a highly, esteemed friend of the King.
"It seems as if we're no closer to finding Theron's murderer," he said over his shoulder to a Spartan warrior she recognised as Stellios.
"Well Captain, if you believe the gossip, it was the man who attacked your daughter and her servant" he smiled with a swagger in his lean.
The Captain flashed him a look, "I don't believe in gossip, Stellios. And if you remember, it was a woman who killed Theron"
"I simply cannot believe a woman was able to infiltrate the Halls without being intercepted. Perhaps Astinos was wrong, Captain" Stellios chuckled, earning a very severe glare from Enora.
"Would you admit to having fought and lost against a female, Stellios?" The Captain asked off-handedly.
"But Captain, I would not fight a woman" he said, smiling over to Enora who starred at him intently, "They are far too precious to harm" he grinned.
Enora smiled and returned to playing with the heads of the wild flowers lying in front of her.
"Besides, she should be long gone from Sparta. I should think we will never learn of her identity"
"All the shame. I would only wish to meet her as to shake her hand"
Enora tutted "Be careful, my husband. You would not want talk that you encourage the murder of our councilmen," she warned.
"Of course not, Enora. Just that one particular councilman" he smiled sickly over his shoulder at her. Enora shook her head disapprovingly, but smiled as she turned away.
-oOo-
It didn't take long before the house was crowded with people, all talking and laughing, some where even dancing to the music of the musicians the King had sent as an engagement present.
For Damalis, there were too many people, too much noise, too much activity that it made her head hurt and she found refuge in the kitchens. The kitchens were quiet for now as all the servants were serving the guests and Damalis found a quiet spot under the window.
She recalled the moment that Circe had joined the party. A sudden hush had fallen over the guests as she glided in with her golden smile and beautiful, flowing gown and everyone had cheered and rushed to congratulate her. Astinos had been sitting in the dinning room with Stellios and Admes before Circe made her way over to him and placed her hand tenderly on his shoulder. Damalis had looked away at this point to refill the goblet of the Captain, but when she looked back, Astinos eyes jerked back to Admes as if he had been caught starring at her. It was then that Damalis found Circe was looking between Astinos and Damalis, a look of furious realisation etched into her face.
Leaning back against the wall of the kitchen, Damalis opened her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew now that she just couldn't serve under Circe and Astinos, she couldn't live under their roof and see the misery she would bring to both Damalis and Astinos. If ever Circe finally decided whether to take Damalis, she would run away, leave Sparta forever and begin her life anew somewhere where she would forget Astinos, forget her part in the deaths of two men and forget all about Sparta, even if that meant forgetting Adelpha, besides, Circe would be happy to step in as her elder sister, just as was right, just as it should be.
Urging back the desire to cry and got to her feet. It was time to return to the chaos feeling a little better, but what was life without Astinos? She could hardly imagine how she managed before he arrived back from the Agoge, before she had felt her heart soar whenever he smiled at her or touched her bare skin. Now those memories only served to burn her heart from the inside out, but it was a sweet pain that she could not bring herself to try and heal.
-oOo-
The evening had worn on well in the early hours of the morning and when the guests finally disapated it felt as though Damalis had only just rested her head on her pillow before she was violently shaken awake.
"Wha'?" she mumbled, trying to push away her asailent, but as the fog over her eyes cleared she could see Hesper looking down at her.
"Wake up, you need to pack your things" she hissed quietly, casting a wary glance over the other servants. However Damalis believed she was still asleep.
"Pack?" she mumbled, trying to sit up in bed.
"Yes, you're to start your new post this morning and it cannot wait"
A suddenly coldness penetrated Damalis' very bones. New post? What was happening?
"I don't understand"
Hesper pulled a face as she went about pulling Damalis out of bed and tossing the linen sheet at her to put in all her things.
"I haven't the time nor energy to explain, Miss Circe is outside and she will explain it to you, now be quiet and get packed!" she hissed again.
Damalis couldn't react at first, so it had been decided she should go with Circe and Astinos. But why now? Why months before the wedding? And why in the small hours of the morning? But Hesper was standing firm with her hands on her hips waiting for her to pack, so with no choice, she went about throwing the few items she possessed into it which Hesper gathered up as soon as it was done.
"Come" she said, striding out into the hall, Damalis followed, her heart in her throat.
"Wait!" she called, "Can I not say goodbye to Adelpha?"
Hesper stopped and huffed, "Of course not, we haven't the time, the rest of the servants will be rising soon and you have to leave"
"But why so urgently? Can I not at least leave a note?"
"And I suppose you can write?" Hesper snarled causing Damalis to blush. She had, of course, meant to ask Penthea to write the note, "Ridiculous child, come on!" she snapped and grabbing Damalis by the arm, hauled her through the lobby and out of the house.
Every nerve in Damalis' body screamed for her to wretch her arm out of Hesper's grip and run back to her ward, but she was too scared of what punishment would await her if she did. Had Astinos agreed to have her sent away without saying goodbye to Adelpha? Surely he wouldn't do that to his sister.
The sun had not yet risen and the cool, morning air was causing goosebumps to rise on Damalis' arms as she realised Hesper had not even given her time to change from her nightdress.
There was a horse with a cart waiting for them and in the back sat a small figure wrapped tightly in a cloak. Hesper ushered Damalis onto the cart and unceremoniously threw Damalis' things in after her.
The cloaked figure looked over at Hesper and threw a purse to her, the servant smiled greedily and without so much as a glance at Damalis, she turned tail and returned to the house.
Damalis was shaking, both from the cold and fear of what was happening, the figure in front of her lifted delicate hands up and threw back the hood of her cape to reveal the perfect, but vicous face of Circe.
"Miss Circe?" Damalis breathed, "What is happening?" she asked.
But instead of answering, the young woman turned her head to the driver and with a nod the elderly man clicked his tongue and the cart began to move off quietly down the road.
"I am trying to help you save face, Damalis. Your foolish disregard for proper etiquette has forced me to take action"
Damalis blinked, perplexed. Circe rolled her eyes impatiently, "Honestly, it is no wonder why servants are so dense" she breathed, "I saw how you looked at Astinos last night, as did a few other of my friends who were in attendance"
Before she could restrain herself, Damalis felt her eyes widen as she recalled the moment she had caught Circe watching her. "You must have misunderstood, mistress"
Circe rolled her eyes, "Please spare me the excuses. Why, even now I see you blushing"
She was right of course; as soon as Circe had mentioned Astinos her cheeks had suddenly felt warm.
"I assure you, mistress, I-" but Circe had put up a hand to silence her.
"Don't flatter yourself, I could never regard you as a threat" she said with a soft, little laugh which angered Damalis, but she kept her mouth shut. Circe held her future in her tiny, perfect hands and she could not afford to insult her.
"Even so, Astinos did not take too kindly when I told him"
Damalis panicked, "You told him?!"
A light glittered in Circe's eyes and she gave Damalis a little smile, "Well of course, it is entirely inappropriate for you to even think such thoughts about your master, let alone abandon your duties as a servants to stand idle and ogle him!" she exclaimed with a chuckle. She really was a monster, thought Damalis.
"What did he say?" asked Damalis, keeping her gaze firmly on her clenched hands.
"Well what do you expect? He was horrified, and he confessed to feeling a discomfort in your familiarity with him"
But he had asked to be called Astinos?! Damalis thought, he had asked it!
"Perhaps he did accidentally convince you of some affection he felt toward you, I have warned him against familiarizing with servants, it does rather put in their heads that they are of greater importance then others and – Zeus forbid – are of equal status to their master" she smiled as though she had not just insulted Damalis.
No words could form in Damalis' dry mouth, she felt empty, like a shell washed upon the shore. Astinos was now aware of her feelings towards her, so he had cast her out to save face.
"I cannot begin to understand why he befriended you, perhaps out of pity or maybe out of boredom, but surely you could not fulfil all of his needs, nor offer much in way of conversation having spent all your days cleaning and cooking" she smiled sweetly, though there was a coldness in her eye that her smile could not melt.
Damalis had been unable to move, nor to feel anything but sadness, even at Circe barbed and vicious comments, she simply felt abandoned and foolish at having allowed her feelings to show so evidently. Had she learned to show some self-control, perhaps she would still be sleeping amongst the servants back home.
"But why take me away? You and Astinos will be wed in a few months and he will leave"
Circe shrugged, "Perhaps he felt uncomfortable having you around the house while the wedding is being planned. Unfortunately we had already expressed our desire to take you as a servant for our new home, it would have looked strange to suddenly change her minds and we wouldn't want any questions asked, would we?" she said condescendingly, "Astinos asked his father last night if my father and I might take you on for now, as one of our servants recently died" she said carelessly as if she were talking about the death of a stray animal, not a person, "We thought it would be best so everyone involved could keep face"
"So I am to live with you until the wedding"
"Oh goodness, no. That was a lie for the Captain, the truth it we have no need for a servant, but you cannot continue to serve where Astinos might be, it would cause an unnecessary awkwardness. No, you will be going to my father's cousin's house; he is in need of a new pair of hands. He also happens to live on the other side of the city, so no paths will be crossed"
"So I am never to see Adelpha again?"
Circe's eyes suddenly went very dark, "Astinos and I are going to great lengths to protect you, should it be discovered a servant is in love with her master, you would be punished most severely"
"But Adelpha-"
"Will recover, she is the Captain's daughter and should not be befriending servants anyway. Besides, she has gained me as a sister, that will be more then enough for her"
"But could I not leave her a message"
Circle huffed and closed her eyes for a second before glancing back at Damalis, "Fine. What is it?"
Damalis struggled to find her voice, there were many things she wanted to have said to Adelpha, how she had thought of her as the sister she never had, that she was beautiful and smart and that one day soon she would find her happiness, but instead she answered, "I will never forget you".
Circe smiled, amused and then suddenly the cart came to a stop and Circe got to her feet. Damalis followed suite but Circe shook her head, "This is my stop, you still have a long way to go and I suggest you do not damage this second chance Astinos has graced you with. You owe him at least that much" she added darkly before lifting her hood back over her head and disappearing into one of the large houses nearby.
Cold, confused and empty, the cart moved on towards her new home. Damalis could not think that fifteen minutes previously, she had been sleeping in the comfort of her bed and had now been so cruelly ripped from her life, however imperfect it was, she still had Adelpha and Astinos in it and now she was left with nothing.
A beam of light erupted over the roofs of the houses lining to road, but to Damalis, they offered neither warmth nor hope.
-oOo-
emogirl1790 - Yes, Circe is well and truly a little *****, thanks for reviewing.
Katzey - Thanks for the good wishes, hopefully I'll get my exam results soon.
Vampirebaby13 - Sometimes things get worse before they get better, Damalis might still have a chance. Fingers crossed.
sparkie34 - You're welcome, hopefully it won't be too long before I update the next one.
Ellelaia - Circe certainly deserves to die in my mind...well, maybe a powerful back hand across her smug face.
Morgana - Hey thanks, I appreciate the kind words. I always find the characters are the hardest part of writing a story, coz if they're not believeable then the whole story doesn't.
Lily xox - Yeah, she's not getting an easy ride is she.
Axel Blaze - You always need to have a good villian and I've had a lot of reviews to tell me what a ***** people think she is. Thanks!
Kaylee - Wow, love the enthusiasm, keep it coming!
A/N: Hey folks, sorry for the late update but I've been a little preoccupied (ie: My dog, Ice, passing away, going to Spain for a bit and not having a computer and now working more shifts at the surgery) So I'm a bit knackered, but I'll keep going until I finish it, no worries there!