a/n: Okay, back with the next chapter. Please keep reviewing! I love reviews (who doesn't?).
Disclaimer: Familiar; not mine. Unfamiliar; mine.
Chapter Three
Lost and Found
Hector felt his mouth go dry. No, this couldn't be happening to him. This couldn't possibly be happening...
"Hector?" Nikias asked. "What is it?"
"Paris isn't here," he heard himself saying, turning around to face them dazedly.
Zoticus's face contorted. "What?"
"He- he ran off," Hector continued. Some of the shock was starting to wear off now, only to be replaced by an intense surge of anxiety. "I- I didn't even notice it..."
"Paris!" Alexius shouted, looking around wildly. "Paris!"
"Calm down!" Nikias licked his lips nervously. "Are you sure you don't remember him asking you if he could go anywhere?"
Hector shook his head, swallowing against the lump slowly building in his throat. "No. I don't even remember him walking off. I should have been watching him!"
Alexius was hopping from foot to foot, biting on his lip. "Maybe we should go get your father or something...Maybe he would know what do..."
"He's going to kill me," Hector whispered, grimacing. "I'm going to be in so much trouble...Especially if we can't find Paris..."
Zoticus wrung his hands. "What if...What if he gets kidnapped by somebody, and they take him away on a boat to Greece, and they make him become a slave, and he has to wash the floors on his hands and knees everyday, and-"
"Stop it," Nikias snapped. "What we really need to concentrate on here is finding Paris. Hector, do you know where he might have gone?"
"N-No, he never said..."
Nikias scowled, running one hand over his face. "All right. Let's split up into pairs. Hector, you go with Zoticus. Alexius, you come with me. We'll search this side of the market, while you two look for him on the other. Understand?"
Hector and Zoticus took off running in the other direction, Zoticus trailing behind. Hector didn't even know where to look first. He could be anywhere.
(Space)
"Little boy! Little boy, let me read your palm!"
Paris frowned, looking down at his hand. "I don't know...My brother said that you can't read pictures, you have to read letters..."
The woman leaned forward eagerly, gesturing for him to enter her stall. "Come, come, let me tell you your future! Shall you be a warrior, a farmer"-
"I'm not going to be a farmer," he informed her quickly, skipping over and holding out his hand. "My Mother says that only peasants are farmers."
"Mmm." She ran one rough, leathery finger over his smooth palm, murmuring to herself every so often. "Ah!" she cried out suddenly.
"What is it?" Paris asked eagerly.
"It says...It says that you shall be favored by Poseidon, the earth-shaker, and that you will become a fisherman, and survive a destructive storm, returning a hero and being paid many riches!"
Paris frowned, pulling his hand from her grasp. "You're lying! I'm not going to become a fisherman!"
"You cannot deny the Fates, boy. What is made shall take place..."
"Liar!" he shouted. "You lie! I'm not going to be a fisherman!"
"Silence, boy!" She glanced around nervously. He was starting to draw people's attention. "The Fates have made it this way, you cannot change it..."
"You're lying! You're lying to me! I'm not going to become a fisherman, and you can't make me!" He pitted on his heel, rushing through the crowded streets, ignoring her protests and claims that he hadn't given her any money for her service.
(Space)
"Alexius? Any sign of him?"
Alexius shook his head, not even turning to look at Nikias. "Where do you think he could be? Maybe he went to see the sword-swallower..."
"Alexius? What's wrong?"
It was Melissa. She was with a group of her own friends; Alexandra, Phile, and Andromache.
"Melissa," he breathed, grasping her arm. "We've lost Paris."
She arched one eyebrow higher than the other, perplexed. "What?"
"Sister, he wandered off! You must help us look for him, please!"
She nodded curtly. "Don't worry, we'll help you look."
(Space)
"Are you going to buy anything, young one, or are you just surveying?"
Paris glanced up at the shop-keeper, continuing to run one hand through a wispy scarf. He examined the small, golden embroideries thoughtfully, thinking that it would look pretty on his Mother.
"Do you have any coins, boy?" he pressed.
"I'm a prince," Paris explained proudly. "I have lots of coins...at home."
"Oh, really?" The man looked bemused. "How about I give you a gift then."
Paris frowned at the handful of clay beads that the shopkeeper dropped into his palm. They were plain, orange, balls, nothing special about them. He rolled them around in his hand for a moment before handing them back to him.
"I don't like them." He folded his arms across his chest. "I want this." He waved the scarf he was holding.
"What!" the man cried, taking it from Paris's grasp. "This is a very expensive scarf, made from the finest material..."
"I'm a prince!" Paris cried. "I want it!"
"You must be mad. Go on back to your parents."
Paris stamped his foot, his face growing red. "I want that! I want it!"
"Get out of my shop!" the man roared, drawing himself up to his full height.
Paris's lip quivered. "Hector!" he shouted, stumbling out of the stall.
(Space)
Andromache craned her neck. "Wait, I think I see him! Is that him, Melissa?"
Melissa paused before shaking her head. "No, that's not him." She sighed. "Hector must feel terrible..."
"Paris! PARIS!"
Andromache whirled around. "Melissa, I think I see Hector! Come on!"
Hector and Zoticus looked up. "Melissa!" Zoticus cried. "Have you seen Paris? We can't find him."
"No, but Alexius told us what happened, and we've been looking too. I suppose you haven't had any luck?"
"No," Hector admitted sadly. "We've looked everywhere. I can't believe I lost him like this! I made him promise that he wouldn't leave."
"Don't worry, we'll find him," Andromache said reassuringly. "Let's keep looking."
All four of them hurried through the narrow street, their eyes searching for a flash of Paris's tunic. Zoticus and Melissa went over to a stall that had a large crowd, thinking that maybe Paris had joined them. Unfortunately, he wasn't there.
"It's getting late," Zoticus muttered, looking up at the setting sun. "We need to find him, before nightfall..."
"Hector!" a small voice called.
"Is that him?" Andromache pointed at a small child behind Hector, who felt a wave of relief pass over him.
"Paris!" He hurried over to him, kneeling down and embracing him shakily. "Paris, are you all right?"
"Hector," Paris sniffled, grasping his brother's tunic, "I'm going to be a fisherman..."
"Never do that again! Paris, you had us all so worried." He took his hand, trying to smile. "Come on, let's go home."
(Space)
Priam smiled, both of his sons sitting in his lap. His glowing eyes turned to the eldest.
"Hector, I am very proud of you. You have shown me how responsible you are."
Hector flushed, adverting his eyes. "Thank you, Father."
"And you, little one." He kissed Paris's dark locks. "How did you enjoy yourself?"
Paris's lip wobbled before he buried his face in Priam's chest.
"There, there, tell me what's wrong."
"I'm- I'm going to be a fisherman!"
TBC...
