Please note that the following 3 parts take place simultaneous in the same timeline.
Kassandra tore through the thick vegetation with heightened urgency. Her blood was thick heavy adrenaline, continuing to beat at an accelerated pace from her deadly encounter with Thaletas. She never wanted to hurt the Spartan, and even begged him to reconsider his actions, but he wouldn't listen to her.
"I had no choice." She told herself over and over. But the lies wouldn't heal the guilt that she felt. She did have a choice. She could have run. She could have disarmed him. But no. She chose violence.
She reached the mouth of the cave and forced herself to a halt, sucking in as much of the cold air as she could. Beads of blood and sweat dripped over her defined features, stinging into her already burning eyes. She was so torn, so broken. All she wanted to do was sail away from the silver islands and never look back.
But she couldn't leave just yet. She still had a mission to complete and loose ends to tie before making her departure. It was not an easy decision to make, but after her brief conversation with Thaletas, she understood that cutting ties with Kyra was necessary. In all honesty, Kassandra could just leave after killing Poldarkes, but given their history and their feelings for one another, an explanation was paramount.
Kassandra inhaled a slow breath, calming her racing heart. She stared down into the cave as though it was the entrance to the underworld. She feared how Kyra would react, already knowing she would be displeased with what she had to say. But what would she do with her rage? Would she lash out against her, like Thaletas? There was only one way to find out.
As soon as she crossed the threshold of the hideout, Kassandra could feel that all eyes were on her. She kept her head down, determined to speak to Kyra alone and avoid any unnecessary conflict.
"Care to tell me where you've been?" Kyra's drunken voice parted the sea of mercenaries. She approached Kassandra, stumbling only a little before finding her stability, " We were supposed to attack Poldarkes tonight, or did you forget about that?" She looked her up and down, the sight of blood only enraging her more.
"Kyra, I need to talk to you," Her eyes shifted between the glares of over 2 dozen men, " Privately."
"Ha! You think I want to be alone with you after you abandoned me?" She sauntered towards Kassandra, snatching a cup of wine out of the hands of one of the rebels, "Whatever you wish to say can be heard by MY men." She pressed the vessel to her lips as the men began to cheer in agreement.
Kassandra's nostrils flared, this was the last thing she wanted, "please." she said softly, placing a hand on Kyra's arm, "What i'm about to say is meant for you alone."
Kyra shrugged her away, "you think flirting can change my mind? I may be weak for you Kassandra, but I'm in no mood for your advances."
"My what?" Kassandra blinked a few times out of shock, sex was the furthest thing from her mind and Kyra's perjury was starting to infuriate her, "Fine." she growled. She plucked the cup out of Kyra's hand, as if to say she had had enough. " There's no easy way to say this, but Thaletas and his Spartans never returned to Sparta, they have been here, on Mykonos the whole time." Kassandra turned her back and placed the empty cup on the table, allowing Kyra to process the information.
"You lie misthios! That can't be true" shouted one of the rebels, a man named Laphanes.
"You told us they sent reinforcements!" called another, Kritias, who directed his anger at Kyra.
The cave erupted with debate. Men arguing left and right. Some believed what Kassandra had said while others refused to accept it. Kassandra didn't know what Kyra had told her men about why the Spartans had withdrawn from the rebellion, or if she told them at all. But what she did know was that Kyra's narcissistic behavior had backed her into a corner.
"Now do you understand why I wanted to speak to you privately?" Kassandra asked shrewdly. She leaned against the table and crossed her aching arms.
Kyra stood absolutely still. She became all too aware of her surroundings as if instantly sober. She had to think of something to say, and fast "Why should we believe you? If Thaletas was here he would have come to help us, not abandon us!" Her dark eyes burned with rage. She refused to take responsibility for what had occurred. Not wanting to admit that she lied in order to save herself from the rejection of her men.
Kassandra pushed herself off the table and approached Kyra with her arms outstretched beside her, " Whose blood do you think covers my hands?" She asked sarcastically. A hush fell over the cave as everyone waited for her to continue."Thaletas attacked me at the Archgesion of Delos. Because of us! I don't know if.."
Kyra shoved her, preventing her from finishing her sentence. She looked around, Her men began to whisper, making remarks about their intimate relationship, which only heightened her aggression "Lies!" She shouted. She started throwing her hands frantically, but never had the chance to land a punch.
"Even if I was lying to you, Thaletas was clear that he would take these islands for Sparta, no one else. The victory would be his and his alone, he would never support the resistance after what we've done!" Kassandra held Kyra by her wrists, preventing her from striking. Admittedly, she thought Kyra would be more upset when hearing of Thaletas's fate, but the only thing that occupied Kyra's eyes was a fiery rage.
"That stubborn, bull headed fool!" Kyra pushed herself off of Kassandra, wanting nothing more to do with her, " I hope you killed him, Kassandra, because if not, I'm going to do it myself."
Kassandra bit her lower lip, resisting the urge to remark on Kyra's behavior. This was not how she wanted her conversation to go but she forced herself to continue, "There's more." She blurted.
"More?" Kyra turned around and crossed her arms, " What more could there be? We've already lost our most powerful ally! So tell me, what other news do you have for us?"
Kassandra looked around at the men, hoping they would walk away. But their loyalty to Kyra was imminent and it was obvious they also wanted to hear what she had to say, "I have been here too long, seen too many friends fade out of existence. Once Poldarkes is gone there will be no reason for me to stay on these islands."
Kyra's face drained of color, "You're going to leave?" Kyra's tone shifted and she became worried and scared.
Luckily Kritias interrupted before Kyra became too broken-hearted, "How are we supposed to defeat Poldarkes?" he asked, "without the Spartans, we don't stand a chance against him and his army."
Kassandra immediately responded, "You're not." In the chaos, she had failed to mention that Aleera and Poldarkes joined forces, "It seems that Poldarkes has found himself a powerful ally, one that will make it impossible to orchestrate a direct assault."
"That's just great!" Kyra threw her hands in the air. She looked to her small band of soldiers and could see the worry in their eyes, "what do you suggest we do? Do you even know who this affiliate is?"
Kassandra scoffed, she didn't even want to mention Aleera's name, for the pain of her deceit was still lingering, "Do nothing." she said avoiding Kyra's question, "Wait until Poldarkes is dead and then claim the islands as your own."
"Do Nothing?" Kyra repeated in frustration, " and who is going to kill him if not us?"
Kassandra did all she could not laugh but her smile already told the answer, "Poldarkes was my initial target from the start. I'll sneak into the fort and kill him under the cover of darkness, then you can claim your victory."
"And then, you'll get on your ship and leave," Kyra said softly.
Kassandra approached her, "yes." She confirmed. There was a drawn out silence, only the sound of the dispersing men could be heard. Kassandra took Kyra's hand in hers, "This is not how I wanted our last "goodbye" to be."
Kyra looked down at the dried blood that coated Kassandras firm hand, she felt her stomach turn as she knew the blood was Thaletas's and immediately pulled away, bringing her hands up to cher chest, "If I knew this was goodbye, I wouldn't have acted like such a fool." She turned and began leading Kassandra towards a makeshift office where they could finally be alone.
"You were angry, you had every right to be. I should have been here tonight, for the rebellion, for you. I'm sorry. '' Kassandra stopped. She didn't want to make this harder than it needed to be, for her sake and Kyra's, "I have done little but cause constant tension since I came here. Between you, Thaletas and Aleera, I have caused nothing but heartache. I think it's best that I take my leave before any of that happens again."
Kyra halted, she turned on her heel and gave Kassandra a questioning look, "Aleera? What does she have to do with any of this?"
Kassandra rubbed the back of her neck, "she's Poldarkes new ally." she said reluctantly.
Kyra frowned and crossed her arms over her chest in a guarded stance. She resorted to the only comfort she knew and that was anger, "That's why you asked me to do nothing? Because you think that I can't handle that supercilious bitch in a fight?"
Kassandra placed her hands on Kyra's shoulders in an effort to console her, " No. That's not it." She cupped Kyras face in her hands and forced her to look at her.
Kyra pushed her away, she shook her head in disgust and did what she could to hold back her tears, "I trusted you, Kassandra. And you disgraced me. Leave! I don't want to see you again!"
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