Chapter 13

What am I going to do now,I thought. If I leave,Paris will suspect. But will he even care? Why do I keep coming back after all the horrible things he's done to me? Next time,if I run,I'm going to run for good. I'm not going to come back and that's fine final. Paris isn't going to be able to stop me next time.

"Kikyo?"asked Andromache.

"Yes m'lady?"

"Please don't leave. He still cares about you."

I shook my head and half-smiled. "No he doesn't,and I'm not leaving. I'm going to fight."

"For what reason?"

"Does there have to be a reason? My lover left me for someone else,and now he's going to start a war. I have no other reason than that."

She sighed. "I can't stop you."

"I know what you're going to stay Andromache; women in Troy don't fight. Do you think I care about that?"

"I know you don't Kikyo. But what if you die?"

"Why would it matter? Where I come from,every one has the right to fight,even women. Nothing was ever complicated until...."I paused. I sat on the bed and didn't say anything. Father,why did you leave me,I thought. Why did you do this to me? I need your help.

"I know how much you hate her Kikyo. I hate her too. I think Hector is attracted to her too."

"But he loves you."

"At least I still think he does."

"But you have a child. He helps you take care of him."

"Not like you did when he was gone. That's why I want you to stay here."

"What help would I be?"

"Kikyo,I care about you. You've been like family ever since Paris brought you here."

"What about Helen?"

"She's only good for Paris and you're still here. Help me please."

"I'll think about it."

"Thank you,"and she left.

I can't help you,I thought. I have to think about how I can get out of here. Don't you understand that Andromache? You have Hector to help you now. He still loves you. He would never leave you. Trust him.

"Don't do this,"Paris said as he walked into the room.

"Paris?"

"You don't have to do this."

"Wouldn't it just be easier for you?"

He shook his head. "No it wouldn't."

"Why do you still care about me?"

"Because I made a promise to you didn't I?"

"That you would love me Paris."

"And care about you."

"But you don't love me anymore Paris. You promised to love me forever. You already broke that promise. You have the most beautiful woman in the world now. And she's waiting for you."

"I want to talk to you."

"There's no point anymore. I'm leaving and you can't do anything about that."

"You can't leave me. You still belong to me."

"What did I tell you before Paris? I belong to no one. And I don't care that women don't fight in Troy. I do."

"Things are different here Kikyo."

"Do you think I give a damn about that?"

"No. I guess not."

"I have no reason to live anymore Paris. I don't want to say this Paris,but I hate you! You've been to cruel to me."

Paris paced around the room for a moment and then left.

"Why do you hurt him?"asked another figure in the doorway. It was Helen.

"What?"

"Why do you hurt him so much? He cares about you. Isn't that good enough for you?"

"You don't know what happened."

"I know everything Kikyo. He told me everything."

"Leave me alone. You wouldn't understand. He stole you. He saved me. He promised to love me forever. I had no one. You at least had someone that cared about you and loved you. You know nothing."

"Why would you want to throw your life away for something so stupid?"

"It's not stupid Helen. I have nothing else to live for."

"At least he still cares about you,"and she left.

No he doesn't,I thought. He cares about you. That's why he stole you away from your husband. Everyone hates you Helen. Don't you know that? Everyone in Troy envies you because you're the most beautiful woman in the world.

I,on the other hand,wouldn't care to die. Maybe you do Helen,but I don't. Did Paris tell you everything about my past? Did he tell you how my parents died? No. You know why? Because I never told him. I never once told him how my parents died. Maybe if I had done that he wouldn't have loved you. No. He still would have.

I want to tell him how my parents died. Because maybe if I did that,he would give me sympathy and love me again. But he loves you now Helen. I'm nothing. Do you know what it feels like to be nothing? You wouldn't know. Why? Because everyone loves you. You don't have to worry about anything. So stop worrying about me.

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