AN}—Thank you, everyone, SO much for the amazing reviews! You guys are amazing! And I passed one hundred reviews and I just want to thank you all so much. And preview? More jealousy, Astyanax, crazies and some 'oh holy! He's starting remember!' moments. MUAH

My Immortal
By BluWine

Chapter 14: All The Sanity In Me

"Stay with me?" Katri pleaded with her eyes when they reached her door. She was now in a new room, nearer to the suites of the royal family as she was a guest. She looked up at Acacius and she held onto his hand, smiling slightly at the uncomfortable look on her friend's face.

"I'm... I'm not sure if..." he stammered.

"Acacius, I'm not asking you to take my virginity," Katri laughed. "I'm asking you to stay with me here... just for the night. Nothing will happen, I promise." Her solemnity returned. "I just want someone here..."

Acacius sighed and slumped, knowing he'd never be able to say no to this woman. He looked behind him to make sure no prying eyes saw them. "Come on," he murmured, slipping themselves past the door and into the suite. Acacius slipped off his armor and watched as Katriana made herself at home, walking straight to the vanity in the bedroom to slip off the ribbons, plaits and beads that Andromache had decorated her hair with. He walked up behind her, helping her with the beads, chuckling softly to himself.

"What is it?" Katri asked, letting Acacius finish before taking a brush from the table.

"Nothing seems to faze you, does it?" Acacius grinned, as put down the ribbons and Katri began to brush her hair.

"What?" Katri looked at him confused.

"Do you not even realize that the instrument you brush your hair with is made of the purest ivory? And the room you're in is furnished with some of the most beautiful pieces in all of Greece?" Acacius asked. Katri looked around her and surveyed the gold and oak furniture and the cotton and silk pillows and sheets. Acacius could just smile in wonder when she looked back at him shrugging.

"I just... It doesn't really impress me, you know?" Katri murmured, putting down the brush and walked to a chair, seeing that a robe and a night dress was hanging on it. "Who would even think I would need so much?"

"Paris?" Acacius answered. Katri's head shot up. "He furnished your whole suite with nothing but the best things money could afford."

"B... But, he's been with me all this time. He couldn't possibly have done this whole... place on his own."

"Oh well, of course, he did get some help from Andromache who wants something to do so near her child's birth but Paris chose everything," Acacius said. Katri's eyes widened and she looked around again, seeing all the objects with a newfound appreciation since Paris had chosen everything especially for her. "Oh, so NOW you're affected?"

"It's a little more affecting when suddenly the reason why it's here for my use becomes personal," Katri blushed and picked up the nightgown and silk robe. Acacius sighed and stepped up, putting his arms around her.

"It's a little more affecting because Paris is involved," Acacius murmured into her hair. His hand went to her tracing the trail of a tear down her cheek. "He does not know what he has so foolishly given up." Acacius' head backed away for a second, trying to get Katri's eyes but her head remained down. "You don't deserve him, Katri."

Katri's hands reached up to cup his face and her fingertips brushed away some of the sandy blond hair of his forehead as she looked up at him. She smiled sadly, as her thumb traced the bottom line of his lips. "I have to get dressed," she murmured. She tiptoed and kissed Acacius, lightly, trying to convey to him that whatever he felt for her in excess of friendship, she couldn't return. Katri's hands let him go and Acacius just stared at her for a second before taking his leave of the bedroom.

Plopping down on the chair beside her, Katri exhaled the stress that pressured her from all sides. She looked at the dress in her hand and realized she'd never really worn anything so regal even on her most formal occasions. She shook her head.

"This is mad.. All just mad," she murmured. She hurriedly dressed and then poked her head out of the bedroom door. Outside, Acacius had taken shelter on the sofa while undressed to only a layer of thin wool.

"What are you doing there?" Katri smiled from the door.

Acacius' head popped up and looked groggily at Katri.

"Sleeping, of course," he grunted, replacing his arm over his eyes.

"Oh, come on, you prude!" Katriana stalked up to Acacius and grabbed him, pulling him to her bed. "I've got a bed large enough to house three people and have room enough for a kitchen and a den. You don't expect me to abandon you on the sofa, do you?"

"Yes..well.. I thought that maybe... Is it appropriate?" Acacius stammered, trying to protest but barely pulling back.

"Acacius, we are JUST sleeping," Katriana laughed. She let go of his hand and started to blow out the numerous candles around the room. Acacius just stood there, wondering where this girl got her audacity.

"Just sleeping?"

"Sleeping is all," she smiled, slipping into the covers. Acacius sighed in defeat yet again and slipped in after her, surprised when Katriana came in from the side and draped her arm over his chest.

"Are you sure it's just sleeping?"

"Well, there's the obligatory human contact, of course."

"Have you DONE this before?!"

"Yes..." Acacius chuckled for a moment before Katri's hand slapped his arm playfully. "Not like THAT, you perverted dog! As in... JUST this... No more than just having the comfort of someone's company while I sleep."

"Who did you do this with before?"

"... Alexander, of course." Her hand suddenly clutched tighter on his arm.

"And if the prince finds us in this position?"

"He found a new source of comfort..." Katri snapped bitterly. "He can't throw shame at me if I were to find the same." Katri hushed for a moment and her thoughts went to a lost friend. "Acacius?" Her voice softened.

"What is it?"

"I wish Briseis was here," she murmured. Her eyes closed and thought sadly about Briseis, whom none had seen since the Greeks' first attack. When Katri had heard of it, she was devastated but she had immediately seen that it was not only her that had lost someone she cared for in the battles. Many innocents had died that day and she just prayed that Briseis was both safe and unhurt, though chances of that were slim, or that she had died with the least bit of pain as possible.

"I know, Katri," Acacius replied, cradling her head to his. With that, the conversation ended and they both went to sleep.

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That night, the picture of Acacius and Katriana walking off together, their hips touching, their faces close, their limbs entangled with each other, it hadn't left Paris' mind. He was ready to throw some kind of tantrum as he now couldn't think of anything else but of how deep exactly was Acacius and Katriana's friendship.

... Deep... Not exactly the term he wished his mind had come up with. He buried his head in his pillow and groaned, frustrated. His mind began to conjure up the physical connotation of how 'deep' Acacius really was...

He could picture the bedroom that he had modeled exactly to how Katriana would love it. Mind you, even Andromache thought he went a bit overboard with the ivory brush, but he spared no expense.

Paris loved the bed especially. Intertwining oak and olive wood made the tall columns of the four poster bed. The head and foot board was carved and polished to shine beautifully and the mattress was made of the softest feathers and silks. Now all he could see was Katriana naked on top of the ruffled sheets and Acacius, (whom Paris, grumblingly, had to admit was a VERY well-built man), on top of her.

That night, Paris had tried to match... maybe, even erase!, what his mind kept on forcing him to see by making love to Helen with as much ferocity... and tenderness... and gentle care that the dream Acacius was using on his own beloved Katriana.

His imagination was painting such a vivid picture that, in the throes of passion... As he thrust into Helen, he began to feel like he was no longer in the royal rooms but in the guest suite just several doors down the corridor. His eyes were still open, seeing his wife beneath him, but as his hand went through Helen's hair, her golden hair became dark as night... Her skin turned from pale to a golden tan... Her muscles toned slightly... Her cheeks became slightly rounder... Her voice turned from the haunting, husky voice of the former queen of Sparta and started to ring clear in his ears as someone he loved dearly for all his life.

Paris cried out as he spilled himself, in reality, into Helen, but his eyes saw Katriana underneath him, dark hair splayed beneath her head. Katriana's hands caressed his hair, her lips pressing kisses on his sweaty forehead. She held him to her bosom and Paris sighed as he rested on her chest, both their heartbeats racing and starting to relax.

"Gods..." the voice murmured. Her hands caressed his face bringing her lips to his passionately. "I love you so much... Alexander"

"What?!" Paris head snapped up and the previously dark, black-as-night eyes were blue again. "What did you call me?"

"Nothing..." Helen murmured, still smiling softly from her previous high but it fell away when she felt Paris tense and slip out of her to lay on the bed beside her, instead. "What's wrong?"

"Umm... Nothing... I was just... I just need a bit of rest," Paris lied, his closed eyes replaying what he was imagining before.

"Well, if you haven't taken such care over that... Katriana girl, you wouldn't be so tired," Helen said. Her unpleasant view of Katriana was evident in her voice and Paris just didn't want to argue about who he just pictured he was making love to instead of the proper face of his wife.

"You're probably right," Paris murmured. "Good night, Helen." He dropped a quick kiss on her lips before turning his blankets over himself and burying his head in his pillows.

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In the high tops of Mount Olympus, a woman, beautiful to behold, immortal but of mortal origins, smiled down into what a small pool showed. The pool was filled from the sacred waters of the River Styx and blessed by the Fates. Through it, the gods had a view of all that went on below them.

The woman's bright dark eyes and hair spilled over her and sat back smugly, thinking about how well her present to Paris affected him just as she wished it to. She MUST remember to thank Hypnos and Morpheus for their brilliant work. Suddenly, twig cracked behind her and the woman's eyes became slits.

"What do you want?"

"That was a blatant defiance of how I deem the world to be," the tall blond woman snapped. "You were gifted immortality to stay with my son... And now you use it and its benefits against his mother?!"

"I'm not using against his mother but for his daughter!" the brunette retorted.

"We'll see about that!" The taller woman started for the water but the brunette held her back.

"What are you going to do? Make him forget again?" the woman scoffed. "You have to admit though that my tactics are so much more creative than yours."

"I offered the man something and I'm only here to see though with it."

"Leave him be, MOTHER..." the woman spat the name coldly at her mother-in-law. "Leave what I planted BE or I shall take it up with Zeus... or need I remind you that last time you tried to separate those whom the Fates have deemed meant for each other, Zeus made ME immortal?" She dropped the higher being's arm and walked away and the one who was left just huffed and hurried to her own palace.

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The morning came and Paris had very little rest. All he could think of was Katriana and what she might be doing. Finally, at dawn, Paris slipped out of bed and headed to Katri's room. The servants were just waking and no one saw Paris standing at her door, hesitant to knock. He stood there, shuffling his feet. His ears were keen on any sound he could have heard from the inside but for five... ten minutes. Only silence was heard.

Finally... a thump... more thumps... Paris' heart fell on his feet when he heard Katri's squeal of laughter. He stepped back, not wanting to hear anymore. Paris went to the corridor window and grimaced. He shouldn't have felt that way... He should not be feeling so... selfish... But there it was. He knew that Katri would find someone one day... but the reality of it never hit him until then.

After fifteen minutes, Paris went to the door and knocked. He could hear them shuffling behind the door until finally Acacius opened it.

"Good morning, your highness," Acacius said, bowing his head. His hair was tousled and his cheeks red from exertion. His armor was held at his hand and Paris was sure he was just doing something physical.

"Good morning, Acacius," Paris said, his regal posture straightening his back. "May I come in?"

"Of course, your highness. Katriana was only getting dressed," Acacius smiled, noting the unfriendly expression on his ward's face.

"I saw you leave with her before dinner. Did you stay here the night?" Paris asked, trying to keep his tone calm.

"... Yes," Acacius said, almost unable to control his laughter at the agitation in Paris. "The... Whole... Night." He saw the prince's fists clench. This is almost too easy!

"Did you find your accommodations pleasant enough?" Acacius grinned at what he knew Paris was doing. So you want to know where I slept do you?

"Yes, sir. The bed was quite comfortable," Acacius said truthfully. He thought Paris' head would snap off at the speed he turned to Acacius. Acacius thanked the Fates as they joined in on their punishment on Paris when Katri strode out, still wearing her night gown and holding up two dresses for Acacius to see.

"Wine or lavender... I could never really figure out which one I favoured more..." Katri babbled, never quite looking up.

"You would look more beautiful in the wine," Paris advised, but his tone was strangely bitter. Katri's head snapped up in surprise.

"Alexander! What are you doing here?" Katri smiled but Paris' face was less than welcoming. "What's wrong?"

"Acacius, if you would be so kind as to take your leave," Paris ordered, his eyes never leaving Katri's. He surveyed her appearance and frowned. Her hair was just as disheveled and her cheeks just as red as Acacius. Her dress was wrinkled and to Paris' dismay, it was mostly wrinkled at her waist... Where it would gather... if Acacius didn't even have the decorum to undress the woman he bedded...

Acacius just grinned, nodded at Katri and then left without a word.

"Alex... That was extremely rude. I would have liked to dismiss Acacius myself as it IS the suite you've given me," Katri scolded.

"Ah Zeus, Katri! Couldn't you at least have given me a bit courtesy and presented yourself a little more decently?" Paris cried out as he shut and locked the door. He turned at her with nothing but disgust in his eyes.

"Decently?!" Katri hissed, her voice in a deadly whisper again. "I just woke up, ALEX! Of course, I look messy!"

"I hardly think it was your twisting while SLEEPING that caused you to look as you do!"

"Alex... Just stop before you start saying things you might regret... AGAIN." Katriana rolled her eyes and went to bedroom, shutting the door behind her. Paris heard the sound of splashing water and he just collapsed onto a sofa. Ten minutes later, he heard Katriana walking around her room. Her head popped into the living room.

"Can you give me my dress?" Katri asked. Paris looked down and saw the wine coloured dress on the sofa.

"Here," Paris walked over to the door and gave it to Katri.

"Thank you," she said coldly. The door shut again and Paris hit his head against the carved stone.

"Katriana, what in Hades' name was Acacius doing here all night?! In your bed?!" Paris roared from outside.

Katri's head popped out again, glaring at Paris.

"We just slept!! Nothing happened!" She slammed the door shut and quickly put on the dress Paris had chosen. She put on a bit of scented oil and decided that she would worry about her hair later when it dried.

"Oh, nothing happened, did it?!" Paris stepped back when Katriana stepped out of the room brushing her hair, furiously.

"Is that what this is about? You think Acacius and I actually slept together slept together?" Katriana asked.

"You can honestly say you didn't."

"Yes, I can! We slept together meaning sleep! As in closed eyes, deep breathing and all... Not sweat, thrusting and climaxes!" Katri waved the brush, threateningly at Paris. Her words seemed to faze him for a second, his dreams returning for the moment he let it take him by surprise but he caught himself and faced her again.

"What were those thumps I heard before I got in then? Why were you so unkempt... flustered!"

"Thumps?!"

"I hear SOMETHING."

"I refused to walk Acacius to the door when he was leaving. He decided to... to tickle me." Katriana stepped back, blushing. Her arms crossed and Paris' tone softened.

"Then why was he here?"

"Because I needed him to be here! I wanted someone near again. THAT I CAN COUNT ON!" The shouted answer made the heat resurface again and Paris was yelling once more.

"Why didn't you ask me!!"

"Because you were with HELEN, maybe?"

"Miss Katriana!" a voice called from the outside, interrupting the argument. "Miss Katriana!"

"Yes?" Katri greeted, opening the door to the pale servant.

"Miss Katriana, Andromache has asked for you urgently. She's about to give birth," the servant said. Katri's eyes widened and she set down the brush on the table by the door. Without even looking back at Paris, Katri was fast on the heels of the servant leading her to Hector's chambers. Paris froze but then hurried after.

"... Andromache... Are you all right?" Katri asked, her hand already in a bowl of cool water to wipe away the sweat at her brow.

"Where's... Where's Hector?" Andromache gasped, gripping Katri's hand in hers. "That man did this to me! He better be here to claim responsibility!" Katri chuckled and looked at the familiar face of Aristaeus.

"How far along is she?" Katri asked.

"Ummm... Several hours? She'll have quite a long way to go," Aristaeus said softly.

"What?!" Andromache snapped. "Aggghhhh!" A contraction went through her body and she screamed. "Where's Hector?"

"He's coming, Andromache," Katri murmured. She winced as another bolt of pain made Andromache's hand clench.

"Andromache, you're hurting her," Paris said from behind Katri. Katri turned around as Paris leaned in and gently extracted her hand from Andromache's.

"Hurting her?! Hah! Foolish little prince... I'm the one that's hurting her?!" Andromache scoffed. Her words trailed off as a contraction distracted her but she came back on track as the pain receded for the moment. "You are such a prat! Like a month's devotion and a fancy room could make up for what you did to her!"

"Andromache, that's enough," Katriana protested trying to hush the bordering-hysterical woman.

"I'm having a baby, am in pain and so shall I say what I want," Andromache snapped.

"It was one argument, Andromache! Why do you speak like Katriana and I had a severe falling out?" Paris asked, confused.

"It is nothing..." Katri tried to say but Andromache interrupted, still heaving from the labor's pains.

"It is NOT nothing... That bastard of a future brother-in-law deserves to be put right."

"Fine!" Katri said standing up from her chair. "But I refuse to be present when you just ramble on about things that we can already do nothing about. Why can't you just let it be?" She started out the door and could still hear Andromache screaming half in pain and half at Paris. Hector passed her at the corridor, looking paler than he did before he went out to the front lines of war.

"How is she?" Hector asked, halting for a moment.

"Hysterical... Go comfort her!" Katri smiled, shooing him away. Hector nodded and ran off. Katriana looked after him and noticed that she was the only one heading the opposite direction of the room. Shaking her head, she just started wander, wanting to see the rest of this grand palace on a hill.

The palace was grand, indeed, in appearance and size. There were endless corridors of door to rooms and closets. Each hallway was lit by fragrant oil and flame giving its light something sweet to smell as well. Katri moved through the halls and a few hours later, found herself in the military wing.

Paintings and sculptures of wars passed and won covered these walls. Katri was a bit uncomfortable at the sight of what appeared to be a young King Priam slaying a Cretan warrior. It was extremely graphic and Katri could swear that the blood spilling from the Cretan was real but Katri couldn't help but admit the beauty that was created in these paintings. She even smiled sadly when she saw that a whole corridor was dedicated to the men whom they know have fallen in battle.

At the end of the memorial, there was a darkened staircase. Katriana went to move near it and suddenly heard a voice of a woman humming. Katri heart began to race a bit with trepidation but she was never one who could ignore her curiosity. She found herself drawing closer to the staircase and down to the bowels of the palace.

The walls were no longer beautiful but dry and rough. There was very little light and the air was old and stuffy. Now the walls seemed to push together, making room for only a line of men to pass through one after the other. The humming was growing louder and louder and Katri was sure that the voice was real. Finally, the narrow staircase ended into chamber. One end was a wooden table, and the opposite end was a wall of bars. A tiny window set itself high on the opposite wall. Sun beamed a tiny sliver of light down to a girl with dark wavy hair, huddled at a corner, humming to herself.

"Hello?" Katri called, nearing the bars. The humming stopped and the girl turned to her. "Cassandra?"

"You!! From last night! I know you!" Cassandra called scrambling to the bars. Katri stepped back, worried that the princess would grab her through the iron. "You who has the Eye!"

"I don't.. I don't have the Eye," Katri said shaking her head. "Princess, what are you doing here?" She looked down, pityingly at Cassandra, feeling like she looked so out of place... Still holding the regal beauty bred inside her blood, and within dusty, hot walls. "What charge do they have against you?"

"Treason..." Cassandra answered. "Treason when I speak nothing but the truth! Katriana... you saw it. I know you see it. Why can't you just tell them?" Cassandra slipped down to the floor, her hands still clutching the bars as she began to sob.

"Tell them what?"

"You see it! The destruction, the death! My lovely little nephew will be killed. I see it. I see it ALL but I'm imprisoned for it when those in Delphi are revered for their prophecies..." she cried. "Katriana, just tell them!"

"You have no nephew, Cassandra," Katri replied.

"Stupid woman!" Cassandra shrieked, rising again. "What do you think my future sister-in-law is doing right now?! Giving birth to a cow!?"

"You don't know if it's son or not, however..."

"Aren't you listening to me? Damn it all, Apollo! Couldn't you just have killed me!?" Cassandra screamed. She backed away from the bars and began to scream at the sun she could see outside. "You arrogant goat!! You're not all that wonderful, you know? That is why you only govern the sun but do not rule the skies, you filthy embarassment of a god!!!"

"Stop it!" Katriana snapped, stepping nearer to bars more than she should have. "You would do much better if you did insult the gods so. You shall only be harmed." Katri didn't even see Cassandra with how fast she moved, going to the bars and grabbing the neck of Katri's dress and slamming her into the metal as Katri was pulled in.

"Like you know anything about that goat?" Cassandra asked in deadly whisper. Katri froze, looking in fear at the erratic movements of Cassandra's wide eyes. "You know nothing! You've never seen them! Never heard them! HOW would you know?" Katriana remained silent and she almost literally saw the mood swing in Cassandra. "You... You... You know... You... so much more divine than me or anyone else! I'm so sorry!" Cassandra dropped to her knees, kissing the hem of Katri's dress. Katri fell back, horrified at the change of the princess.

"I... I need to leave," Katri stammered, needing to get out of the stifling dungeon.

"My lady! Forgive me!" Cassandra pleaded from her prison. Katriana ignored her screams and heard the change as it suddenly became hostile. "TELL THEM! THEY ALL WILL DIE!! THEY WILL DIE AND YOU WILL SUFFER FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE YOU LOSE!!!!"

Katriana ran out, blindly and almost screamed in fright when she bumped into Thanos, one of the guards of the palace.

"Miss, the guards are looking everywhere for you," Thanos said, roughly in his deep voice. "What were you going in the dungeons?"

"Nothing... I got lost and ended up there," Katri gasped, catching her breath. Thanos noted the dust in her hair and dress and frowned.

"Are you hurt?"

"No... You said the guards were looking for me?" Katri said swerving the subject.

"Yes..." Thanos said still unsure about Katri's demeanor. "The lady is almost about to give birth... We were called to summon you. If you will follow me?"

Katri nodded and started to follow as Thanos led her back to the royal corridor. She couldn't help but sneak a look back to dungeon entryway and think, 'The curse of Apollo has finally driven her mad...'

AN}—Just wanted to tell you that the next chapter, I sort of stop wallowing in the sadness and heartbreak. Hopefully, you'll like it. Just remember! Don't get used to the happy!

Review Responses =

Jack Sparrow Savvy = Ha! Another Helen hater! Yea. Never liked Helen as well. That obvious I don't eh?

Nevasaiel = Weirdo is the nice, diluted version! Yup, Cassie is a weird one. And weird IS a cool word and rambling very much welcome here. I ramble... alot.. so I'd be a hypocrite if I penalize anyone for rambling!

starry-eyed = And here is what happens next!

Maren L P = Jealousy's fun! Paris has to do SOMETHING other than neck Helen this whole story!

TalkIsCheap = Here is another chapter! Hope you enjoyed!

amanda = haha.. Roman souvenirs is right! Haha.. But we'll have to share both of them. hehe. I don't think I'll be satisifed with JUST Paris... Hector needs to do SOME satiating and you know Acacius? Well, I never got the chance to describe him... But in my head, he's pretty freaking hot. Haha. Yea I take him as well. =) And thank you so much for the compliments!

pierced-belly-button = The hanging idea DOES fit, doesn't it? =laughs= And Jealousy? It's so fun to make Paris suffer still. Maybe both ways can work.

Angel = As usual, thank you for the review. =) And here's an update, Hope you enjoyed.

Elizabeth = Thanks for teh review, first off. Helen's fall? I can't really say anything at all without giving everything away. Sorry!

rose-eye-blonde91 = Thank you for the review. Review again? hehehe.

Stardust Angel2 = HOPEFULLY you haven't died from suspense yet? =laughs=

ellegirl104 = Magic leaves. I was sort of watching Pocahontas with my eleven year old cousin so if You've seen it, you'd remember the old willow character with the magic leaves and vines. Haha..

Larrikin = Hope this chapter warmed your heart again. =) And here's another GARGANTUAN chapter... (Well gargantuan by my standards.)

babyg2988 = Score another for the home team! Paris has a LOVELY imagination doesn't he? And it just... RUNS. Haha.