Chrysanthe
(Chris-an-thee)
"No! No! You can not take Lysandra. Please, please sir, take me in her stead." Chrysanthe begged, falling to her knees in front of the thin scout. Tears fell like rain as the little blond held tight to the hem of the weasel man's scarlet robe.
"Why do you want to take your sister's place little one?" The man asked, eyeing her with curiosity and suspicion.
She looked down, afraid of meeting the cold, bottomless eyes of the man. "She is young and in love. Plus, Papa needs her more than he needs me. He is blind you know, and once she marries, she will be able to take care of him better. I can do nothing. I am not in love and I have no means of supporting my blind father. Please, just let me go."
Chrysanthe stopped breathing at this point, waiting for the scout to reply. Thoughts flew through her head as fast as Olympic runners ran. She disliked her sister as much as she disliked this man. Both were cold and calculating and never showed an ounce of emotion, except the night the scout came to their house.
Lysandra had always been the beautiful, responsible one. She took care of the house in their mother place, who had left when their father went blind. She was never warm toward her younger sister. She gave her chores and things to do, never hugging or encouraging Chrysanthe when she needed it the most. She could forgive Sandra for that. But what her elder sister did to her later, she could never forgive.
Aniketos was the town's most handsome, eligible bachelor. With looks of a god and strength as legendary as Hercules', Chrysanthe, like all the others, found herself attracted to this demigod. But, the most surprising thing was that he appeared to like her back.
He had little boys bring her flowers, he made jewelry for her out of shells, and he even bought her myrrh, a most expensive perfume. They spent countless sunsets talking about almost anything.
If Chrysanthe had been more attentive, she would have picked up the small hints of his deception. The continuous questions about Lysandra, his disappearance at odd times in the day, her sister humming in the kitchen, something she never did. But, being the optimistically blind type, Santhe never did, which is why it was much to her surprise when she accidentally walked in on Aniketos and Lysandra.
She had been searching for her kitten and wandered into the barn. She heard muffled groans and sounds of laughter. She climbed to the barn loft to see Sandra half naked and Aniketos buried in her full bosoms. When they caught sight of their watcher, they immediately stopped.
Lysandra pulled her robe back onto her shoulders, "Santhe, let me explain."
"No," she replied, her small hand held up, "There is nothing to explain." She climbed down and walked solemnly back to the house. She did not cry, but simply did her chores, sighed, and went to bed, hoping to have some respite from this nightmare.
She did not speak to her sister. When Sandra tried to explain, Chrysanthe said the same thing she always said, "It is nothing, sister."
When the Cretan man had come to their town, Chrysanthe secretly prayed her sister would be chosen. And when the man came to their home, Santhe knew that he favored Lysandra. She smiled happily and walked back to her room.
But, Lysandra followed her and in a hushed, tearful tone she told Chrysanthe something that melted her tender heart. "Santhe, I know I did you a great wrong, and for that I am deeply sorry. But listen, I am pregnant with Aniketos child. I can not go. He promised me he would marry me when he got enough money. But it will take at least two more months. Please, sister, help me."
Lysandra wept bitterly. Staring at the wall, the little blonde voiced a simple question, but one powerful enough to decide her sister's fate, "How long did you sneak around with him? How long?"
Lysandra choked out a small reply, "About two months after he started courting you. Santhe, he loved me. But he couldn't get close to me, so he courted you so he may make his love known to me."
"So, he planned it from the beginning. Now the pieces are all together. Leave me Sandra, I need rest."
Lysandra tearfully left the room. Chrysanthe sighed; things just got a whole lot more complicated. She tried to rest, but found no peace in her tossing and turning, so she got up and took a stroll in her small, but lovely garden.
Sweet smells of roses and daffodils entered her nose. Breathing in their sensuous perfume, Santhe's eyes filled with sorrowful tears, "I will miss you garden."
She picked a small, red rose and headed back in, finding comfort in the delicate blossom.
The next day was filled with a sort of anxious excitement as the villagers gathered around a large fountain in the middle of the market place. The weasel man stood on the edge of the pool, looking at everyone, and yet at nothing at all.
When the town's people finally came to a hushed silence, he announced the name of the chosen one. At that moment, the little pixie known as Chrysanthe rushed up to the fountain and begged that she be taken.
In all his long years as a Cretan inspector, he never, ever, had someone ask to be taken in someone else's place. For a moment he was dumbstruck, but almost immediately he regained his composure. He inspected the pretty little creature with dark eyes and golden hair, and deemed her worthy of the maze monster. He gave her a tiny nod and helped her onto a great, black horse.
Bitterly, Santhe cried, afraid of what her new future held for her. "What ever it is," she thought, "It has to be better than the heartbreak I faced here."
In Minos Palace
The pretty red head girl pointed at a large, bronze bull, and for a moment, I was frightened. Cleon put a large, protective arm around me, which made me blush slightly. But, our leader, Theseus, saw that it was only a large statue and laughed nonchalantly. "Do not be so tense, my young companions, it is only an imitation made of clay and stone."
We all breathed out and chuckled nervously at our silly mistake. The red haired woman, quite put out, exclaimed exasperatedly, "Well better to be safe than sorry, Theseus."
Theseus rolled his stormy blue eyes, "Zosime, calm down, tis only your nerves speaking."
Now it was Zosime's turn to roll her large, hazel eyes. "Is she the famed red haired Grecian princess that we have heard about?" I asked a lovely blonde next to me.
The pale haired girl looked at me, her eyes the brightest blue I had ever seen, "I believe it is. Poor girl, being demoted down to a monster's dinner" I smiled sadly. Yes, poor girl indeed.
"Who are you?" I asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the other's conversations.
She smiled brightly, exposing perfect, white teeth, "I am Sappho, daughter of Garret and Lysandra."
At the mention of my sister's name, I became quite somber. Worried that she had upset me in some way, Sappho voiced her concern, but I grinned at her and told her it was just a nostalgic feeling for home.
The ushers led us to a large dinning room, filled with rich food and expensive wine. "So they plan to fatten us up for the bull, eh?" I laughed at him and gently pushed him, which didn't accomplish much do to his immense size. A tall, regal looking man entered the room from a door opposite to our entrance.
"Welcome," he said in a kind, warm voice. "Young, fair Grecians, I am honored to be in your presence. Sit and enjoy your feast, but do not get to full, for there will be six more dinners like it."
I snorted, "So, the plan to entertain us for a week and then through us into a labyrinth to be eaten." Cleon looked at me in the utmost serious manner.
"I wont let that brute touch you little Santhe."
Color returned to my cheek as I wondered, out of al this women why he chose me. Indeed I was pretty with my dark eyes and golden curls. I had the famous curved nose that ran in my family and a full, lower lip. A band of dusty freckles ran across my nose, but was visually minimized by my tan skin. I was short and full figured, often described as adorable, which is probably how I lost Aniketos. There are plenty of prettier women here than me, especially that Agape and a quite auburn haired girl I didn't know, so why me?
Cleon pulled a cushioned chair out for me and I smiled, thankful to finally eat on dry land. This was going to be a very long week…
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Thanks to all my reviewers!
shanice
