Disclaimer: Still don't own anything, not writing for profit, don't sue...:)
A/N: I haven't really read all the other stories that are Achilles/Briseis, but I know a lot of them have many similarities. So if my story starts to look exactly like another, tell me, ok? Well, I've come really far with this story; I mean 7 chapters is a lot for me. I usually write really short stories, but this has been really fun! So there are some chapters to come, but it's getting closer to the end now, at least according to my plans for the story plot.
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Chapter seven
When darkness falls
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She was so caught up in her destructive thoughts that she didn't even notice the shadow that crept over her shoulder, or the shadowy, black hand reaching for her ankle.
¤¤¤¤¤
In one sharp pull, the hand at her ankle yanked her off her feet, while the other slid across her face to cover her mouth. As it made contact with her skin, the only thing she could feel was an unpleasant cold, as if it was draining her skin from heat. She was filled with a deep disgust at the sensation, before panic overtook her emotions. Briseis tried desperately to scream, but what escaped her mouth was barely enough to convince herself that she had made a sound.
As another hand appeared, sliding up her stomach, reaching for her neck, she struggled even more desperately to escape, but to no avail. The hand had now gotten a firm grasp of her neck and was starting to squeeze. The grasp was growing increasingly tighter, and it was becoming harder to breathe. Moments later, Briseis' vision was blurring and her surroundings suddenly seemed so much... brighter. Had it not been for the unpleasantly cold hand at her throat, she would have almost felt strangely comfortable.
Then she heard distant footsteps, and a vague vibration in the earth indicating a hasty approaching. 'Achilles' footsteps,' Briseis thought, a strong feeling of relief surging through her. She would have recognised those footsteps anywhere. He was running towards her holding a piece of burning firewood in his hand used as a torch, poised for action.
But as he neared her further, she could see the hands holding her prison were starting to fade. 'They must be reacting to the light,' she thought. And by the time Achilled had neared her completely, the shadowy black hands had crept back into the forest, and her throat was relieved of the suffocating grasp.
Throwing away the torch, Achilles descended by her side, lifting her head into the proper position for her to breathe. Coughing violently for a while, Briseis could finally feel her airways clearing up. There was no permanent damage done. Physically at the very least.
Hearing her breathing return to normal, Achilles lifted her further up, placing her firmly in his lap, both of them still breathing heavily. Despite her anger, his calming voice in her ear was soothing her, reminding her of her desperate need for human contact.
And again, she lost control of her emotions and the tears were no longer held back. The things he had said, they were appalling! And they had made her so mad. But the things she said were just as bad.
Maybe she was just afraid of happiness.
Maybe se was destined to live alone and miserable for the rest of her life.
Maybe she did not deserve him.
It hurt to even consider the possibility that it might be true, but the reason for her stupidity did nothing to convince her otherwise. Why else would she be picking a fight with the man she loved, and desperately wanted to be with? For problems that did not even exist?
"I'm sorry, Briseis," came a hushed apology from behind her back.
After a long, silent moment, Achilles still rocking her slowly back and forth in his lap, came the muffled response.
"I know."
¤¤¤¤¤
Achilles had stood there in the forest for a while, pondering on whether seeing Briseis at the moment would be a good idea. He was longing to take her in his arms and tell her that he was sorry, but maybe that wasn't the right thing to do at the moment. Considering what she had been through the last time, a little time apart would maybe do them some good. But then his mind shifted back to the sign; 'Beware the perils of darkness'
Briseis was out there all alone, unable to protect herself if anything should happen, and neither of them actually knew what they were up against.
He decided to follow her, picking up her trail, and as his worries increased, so did his speed. Soon he was running, trying to find the way she had gone, holding a torch in front of him to light up the rough, wooden path ahead. Stumbling slightly on a stub, his thought trailed back to how Briseis could have found the way through the forest in complete darkness, when a warrior such as himself could hardly do it holding a torch.
Then he had seen her. Lying on the groung, apparently being held down by some sort of hands, though he could not see whom they belonged to. A sting of fear ran through his body and made him involuntary slow down his pace momentarily, his worst suspicions had come through. Briseis was in danger, and it was all because of him.
Seeing her, lying on the ground so defenceless, so weak, had reminded him of when he first met her. But this time, he had not felt the same as then. Never before had he been so panicked, so frightened for another person's life and for a while he just stood there, stunned.
A little voice inside his head that he had been trying to suppress for some time spoke to him.
You love her, you fool. So much you can't even fight without being distracted. Imagine that, the great Achilles made weak by a woman.
Then he pushed those feelings aside and rushed to her aid. He would never be weak, if anything; Briseis just made him stronger.
¤¤¤¤¤
They had made it back to the entrance of the maze to spend the night there. They were still not sure what had attacked Briseis in the forest, but Achilles was not willing to risk his lover's life trying to find that out.
Hours after they had fallen asleep, Briseis was roused to consciousness by a hushed voice addressing her, and a finger prodding her hip.
"Wake up, Briseis, come on!"
Slowly, and almost painfully opening her eyes to total darkness, she could also barely notice someone moving slightly in front of her. But she only knew one person with such a recognisable voice.
"Hermes?"
Her voice was still slurred by sleep, but still louder than she would have intended it to be. Achilles stirred slightly at her side, but only tightened his grasp around her waist.
"Shh! Not so loud, it'll hear you!" Briseis' eyes had now adjusted to the darkness, and she could see her old friend in front of her, his features worried.
"You have to start now, you can't sleep any longer. It'll kill you both!" Hermes said, while speeding quietly around the area, getting what few things they had ready.
"Well, that is, he is already dead, but you know what I mean!" He murmured under his voice, but still loud enough for Briseis to hear.
'Typical Hermes to make any situation into a joke' Briseis thought before realising the severity of his statement.
"Kill us?" she said out loud, to silent protests from Hermes.
"But why? How?"
"I came as soon as I heard her telling someone about the 'clues' she had been leaving out for you, and how she really didn't think you'd be stupid enough to fall for it..."
Briseis was not surprised at all to hear that Hera was playing with them, after all - the goddess was known for being the most devious of them all, so she motioned for him to continue.
"This isn't any ol' normal forest," Hermes explained carefully, his whisper even lower than before.
"It's alive! Hera put a curse on it when she placed the necklace inside the maze, you know, to protect it. When the sun comes up, the forest will wake, and then ye'll never make it out of here alive!"
"But the shadow creatures..." Briseis interrupted; cringing at the thought of those hands being anywhere near her ever again.
"That's the last of your worries, they're nothing compared to the forest!"
"Now get out of here! You have to make it to the end of the forest by day- break, or Zeus knows what might happen!"
And then he was gone.
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Thanks so much for the reviews!!! Individual thanks here because I reeeally think you deserve it!!:) Baphomet, Mademoiselle Parfait, RC, Cassie89, StarAngel Caelum SunSoar, HentaiStar, Mrs.M, Yavannie, amal, Seishi Sairensuno, orliNkeira, Ace, PsychoSushi, KissFromARose14, MrsGeorgeWeasley, Nay, GoldenEcho7287, Trojans, Kelly, baphomet (again:)), danger-natnat, and Angel Gurl From Hell (for all the reivews:), I am forever grateful for you taking the time to review my story.
A/N: I haven't really read all the other stories that are Achilles/Briseis, but I know a lot of them have many similarities. So if my story starts to look exactly like another, tell me, ok? Well, I've come really far with this story; I mean 7 chapters is a lot for me. I usually write really short stories, but this has been really fun! So there are some chapters to come, but it's getting closer to the end now, at least according to my plans for the story plot.
¤¤¤¤¤
Chapter seven
When darkness falls
¤¤¤¤¤
She was so caught up in her destructive thoughts that she didn't even notice the shadow that crept over her shoulder, or the shadowy, black hand reaching for her ankle.
¤¤¤¤¤
In one sharp pull, the hand at her ankle yanked her off her feet, while the other slid across her face to cover her mouth. As it made contact with her skin, the only thing she could feel was an unpleasant cold, as if it was draining her skin from heat. She was filled with a deep disgust at the sensation, before panic overtook her emotions. Briseis tried desperately to scream, but what escaped her mouth was barely enough to convince herself that she had made a sound.
As another hand appeared, sliding up her stomach, reaching for her neck, she struggled even more desperately to escape, but to no avail. The hand had now gotten a firm grasp of her neck and was starting to squeeze. The grasp was growing increasingly tighter, and it was becoming harder to breathe. Moments later, Briseis' vision was blurring and her surroundings suddenly seemed so much... brighter. Had it not been for the unpleasantly cold hand at her throat, she would have almost felt strangely comfortable.
Then she heard distant footsteps, and a vague vibration in the earth indicating a hasty approaching. 'Achilles' footsteps,' Briseis thought, a strong feeling of relief surging through her. She would have recognised those footsteps anywhere. He was running towards her holding a piece of burning firewood in his hand used as a torch, poised for action.
But as he neared her further, she could see the hands holding her prison were starting to fade. 'They must be reacting to the light,' she thought. And by the time Achilled had neared her completely, the shadowy black hands had crept back into the forest, and her throat was relieved of the suffocating grasp.
Throwing away the torch, Achilles descended by her side, lifting her head into the proper position for her to breathe. Coughing violently for a while, Briseis could finally feel her airways clearing up. There was no permanent damage done. Physically at the very least.
Hearing her breathing return to normal, Achilles lifted her further up, placing her firmly in his lap, both of them still breathing heavily. Despite her anger, his calming voice in her ear was soothing her, reminding her of her desperate need for human contact.
And again, she lost control of her emotions and the tears were no longer held back. The things he had said, they were appalling! And they had made her so mad. But the things she said were just as bad.
Maybe she was just afraid of happiness.
Maybe se was destined to live alone and miserable for the rest of her life.
Maybe she did not deserve him.
It hurt to even consider the possibility that it might be true, but the reason for her stupidity did nothing to convince her otherwise. Why else would she be picking a fight with the man she loved, and desperately wanted to be with? For problems that did not even exist?
"I'm sorry, Briseis," came a hushed apology from behind her back.
After a long, silent moment, Achilles still rocking her slowly back and forth in his lap, came the muffled response.
"I know."
¤¤¤¤¤
Achilles had stood there in the forest for a while, pondering on whether seeing Briseis at the moment would be a good idea. He was longing to take her in his arms and tell her that he was sorry, but maybe that wasn't the right thing to do at the moment. Considering what she had been through the last time, a little time apart would maybe do them some good. But then his mind shifted back to the sign; 'Beware the perils of darkness'
Briseis was out there all alone, unable to protect herself if anything should happen, and neither of them actually knew what they were up against.
He decided to follow her, picking up her trail, and as his worries increased, so did his speed. Soon he was running, trying to find the way she had gone, holding a torch in front of him to light up the rough, wooden path ahead. Stumbling slightly on a stub, his thought trailed back to how Briseis could have found the way through the forest in complete darkness, when a warrior such as himself could hardly do it holding a torch.
Then he had seen her. Lying on the groung, apparently being held down by some sort of hands, though he could not see whom they belonged to. A sting of fear ran through his body and made him involuntary slow down his pace momentarily, his worst suspicions had come through. Briseis was in danger, and it was all because of him.
Seeing her, lying on the ground so defenceless, so weak, had reminded him of when he first met her. But this time, he had not felt the same as then. Never before had he been so panicked, so frightened for another person's life and for a while he just stood there, stunned.
A little voice inside his head that he had been trying to suppress for some time spoke to him.
You love her, you fool. So much you can't even fight without being distracted. Imagine that, the great Achilles made weak by a woman.
Then he pushed those feelings aside and rushed to her aid. He would never be weak, if anything; Briseis just made him stronger.
¤¤¤¤¤
They had made it back to the entrance of the maze to spend the night there. They were still not sure what had attacked Briseis in the forest, but Achilles was not willing to risk his lover's life trying to find that out.
Hours after they had fallen asleep, Briseis was roused to consciousness by a hushed voice addressing her, and a finger prodding her hip.
"Wake up, Briseis, come on!"
Slowly, and almost painfully opening her eyes to total darkness, she could also barely notice someone moving slightly in front of her. But she only knew one person with such a recognisable voice.
"Hermes?"
Her voice was still slurred by sleep, but still louder than she would have intended it to be. Achilles stirred slightly at her side, but only tightened his grasp around her waist.
"Shh! Not so loud, it'll hear you!" Briseis' eyes had now adjusted to the darkness, and she could see her old friend in front of her, his features worried.
"You have to start now, you can't sleep any longer. It'll kill you both!" Hermes said, while speeding quietly around the area, getting what few things they had ready.
"Well, that is, he is already dead, but you know what I mean!" He murmured under his voice, but still loud enough for Briseis to hear.
'Typical Hermes to make any situation into a joke' Briseis thought before realising the severity of his statement.
"Kill us?" she said out loud, to silent protests from Hermes.
"But why? How?"
"I came as soon as I heard her telling someone about the 'clues' she had been leaving out for you, and how she really didn't think you'd be stupid enough to fall for it..."
Briseis was not surprised at all to hear that Hera was playing with them, after all - the goddess was known for being the most devious of them all, so she motioned for him to continue.
"This isn't any ol' normal forest," Hermes explained carefully, his whisper even lower than before.
"It's alive! Hera put a curse on it when she placed the necklace inside the maze, you know, to protect it. When the sun comes up, the forest will wake, and then ye'll never make it out of here alive!"
"But the shadow creatures..." Briseis interrupted; cringing at the thought of those hands being anywhere near her ever again.
"That's the last of your worries, they're nothing compared to the forest!"
"Now get out of here! You have to make it to the end of the forest by day- break, or Zeus knows what might happen!"
And then he was gone.
¤¤¤¤¤
Thanks so much for the reviews!!! Individual thanks here because I reeeally think you deserve it!!:) Baphomet, Mademoiselle Parfait, RC, Cassie89, StarAngel Caelum SunSoar, HentaiStar, Mrs.M, Yavannie, amal, Seishi Sairensuno, orliNkeira, Ace, PsychoSushi, KissFromARose14, MrsGeorgeWeasley, Nay, GoldenEcho7287, Trojans, Kelly, baphomet (again:)), danger-natnat, and Angel Gurl From Hell (for all the reivews:), I am forever grateful for you taking the time to review my story.