Hades and Kassandra

Chapter One

~Colchis~

Kassandra stood on her balcony, watching the stormy gray-green waters of the Aegean Sea as they crashed against the rocky shore of Colchis. The cool salty air blew through her long black hair as she leaned over the railing, making her pale rose lips curve in a smile. She loved the sea, especially on days such as this, when a storm was coming. And perhaps the storm would discourage would-be suitors from coming to call...

"My lady? You're wanted in the throne room." Kassandra sighed and made a face. Apparently the storm hadn't discouraged suitors after all. "My lady Kassandra...?" Erudne said timidly. She did not want to risk her mistress' temper. Kassandra composed herself before turning to face her handmaiden.

"Very well, Erudne...lay out a chiton for me, then tell my father that I will be down directly..." she said without much enthusiasm. Erudne hid a smile as she did her mistress' bidding. She did not envy the suitors waiting for Kassandra.

***

In King Letas' throne room, four men were waiting to see the princess Kassandra: Mikas of Athens, Arian of Thessaly, Hanoch of Sparta, and Pestor of Crete. The four knew each other well; they had been in and out of each others courts since they were children...and more recently had been in each others company for days, courting Kassandra.

King Letas watched the men with a mixture of amusement and worry. There was a pleasant rivalry between them, but there was also an undercurrent of mistrust and anger. He was not eager to see what the other three would do if his daughter chose one of them.

Mikas was the first to speak after Kassandra's handmaiden brought back Kassandra's reply. "Do you think she'll send you three home today?" he asked the others with a grin. They all laughed at his remark, but Letas saw the gleams of anger in their eyes. It was fairly obvious that the suitors' patience with his daughter was running dangerously thin. They were still slightly awed by her beauty and charm, but it was quickly becoming not enough to sate their tempers.

"I would have you all leave, Mikas," Kassandra said as she came down the wide marble staircase. The four princes all looked up to watch her descent. Letas stifled a knowing smile. They would behave themselves, for a little while at least. They always did when Kassandra first entered the room.

And Kassandra looked particularly lovely today. She was wearing a chiton of deep violet, clasped at her shoulders with onyx and silver brooches, and tied around her slender waist with a braided cord of black linen. Her long black hair was pulled away from her face with hairpins that matched the brooches she wore. Mikas was so taken aback at her appearance that he did not immediately register what she had just said.

Arian caught her meaning first. "But my dearest Kassandra," he said, stepping out from the group, "You know we will not leave until you have chosen one of us as your husband." The words were courtly enough, but both Kassandra and her father caught the hidden threat in those words.

Kassandra did not respond well to threats, hidden or otherwise. "I have no desire to marry, Arian. I've told you all before: you're wasting your time here. I will not choose one of you...now or ever." These words caused a stir of anger amongst the suitors.

"King Letas, you would do well to remind your daughter of all we can offer her," Henoch said softly, his tone deceptively calm.

"Yes," agreed Mikas. "She will be well taken care of...provided for..." He looked toward Kassandra. "You need a husband to protect you, Kassandra."

Kassandra's gray eyes blazed with anger. Letas frowned. Mikas had said the wrong thing. And now he was going to regret it. "I don't think I need to remind you, Mikas of Athens, that the blood that flows through my veins is that of the great Helios...I need protection from no man. I will not marry you, nor any of your friends. I know that none of you love me. You lust after my kingdom, and see nothing beyond your own greed and desire." Mikas and the others stared at her, anger and astonishment mixed on their faces.

"And you needn't call on me again. I am going to the Temple of Hades, to serve as his priestess," she added. "Now, leave my father's house, or I will have the guards remove you." Mikas and Arian made as if to confront her, but the cooler tempered Henoch and Pestor restrained them.

"Think, Mikas. And you, Arian. She is entering the service of the God of the Underworld...would you risk angering him?" Henoch asked under his breath. Pestor nodded agreement.

"It would be a grievous error to harm the servant of one as powerful as the Dark God..." he added softly, glancing over his shoulder at Kassandra. Mikas and Arian looked at one another. Their friends spoke the truth.

"Very well, Kassandra. If you are certain of that decision...we will leave you," Arian said at last. He and the others bowed to Kassandra, then to King Letas. As the four left, Letas caught a few choice words concerning his daughter and her honor. But he chose to ignore them and stood, walking to join Kassandra where she stood.

"That was an excellent strategy, my daughter," he told her, placing an arm around her. "I see you have learned well from your teachers..." Kassandra looked at her father, a slight smile on her face.

"But, Father...I meant what I said. I shall never marry. And I am entering the service of Hades..." she told him. Letas looked down at her in surprise.

"Now, Kassandra...I know that you did not like those four...but if this is because I would not allow that breakneck cousin of yours Stephanos to court you... Well, I would sooner have you wed to him than serving the Dark God Hades..." Letas said firmly. Kassandra pulled away from her father.

"This has nothing to do with Stephanos, Father...I want to got to the Temple and serve Hades..."

Letas felt his resolve weakening. He could never deny Kassandra anything. She was his only child, his precious jewel...his heir to his kingdom... And as such, he did not want her to leave him. But if it was what she wanted...