AN— Does Paris deserve major castration or what?
My Immortal
By BluWine
Chapter 17: To Tell Myself That You're Gone
The sender of Paris' dreams was livid, throwing dirt into the calm waters that she saw Paris in. Her rich brown hair swayed in anger and her beautiful face was contorted with fury. Yes... she was very, very angry. It was as she looked when she had stormed the higher immortal's palace. The golden haired woman was sitting on the throne, watching smugly as her daughter in law glowered.
"Yes?" the woman asked, complacently. She fingered the hand mirror she held, admiring her reflection before setting it down.
"You evil bitch!! How can you do that to her?!" the brunette screamed. "If it were at all possible, I would kill you!! Have you no heart, no LOVE for any one... Any thing?!"
"Ha... Did you really think that your little daydreams were working?" the blonde scoffed. "My power was not even dipped into to stop your foolish meddling in my affairs. What's done is done, woman. You can do nothing to stop it."
The dark-haired immortal shrieked in frustration before turning away and leaving. The blonde bit her lip. In that brief moment of pure human outburst of emotion, the immortal deeply resembled the woman in Troy who was suffering her undeserved consequences of the goddess' promise and Paris' actions and words.
Acacius led Katriana through the streets, his arm around her waist as they went on to the gates, open for the first time in years. Katriana looked around and saw the bits of happiness the population of Troy was allowed to relieve itself in. There were celebrations everywhere, and for the first time, children were laughing and playing freely down the streets and outside the confining walls of the city. Beyond the wall were even more celebrators. Some children, she saw, were born in the midst of the war and were seeing the ocean and expanse of the mountains for the first time in their young lives. It almost cheered her up to see the wide eyes of the children, staring in awe at the power of Poseidon's waters... Almost.
They walked the stretch of beach and the people began to thin. The Greek camp was nearing and Katri could hear the loud revelry of the Greeks. She didn't really understand how Briseis could have survived... and for so long as well. She was terrified that she would only find an empty shell of the beautiful, bright priestess she had known so long ago. She stopped on the sand, and Acacius felt her halt.
"Acacius... I'm not sure... Not about this," Katri said, terrified of the figures dressed in black, dancing around fires, in the distance.
"Katri, will you please trust me?" Acacius asked, holding both hands in hers. "I've already been there. I'm not going to go so far as to say I've made some friends, but I've made connections at the least."
"They have killed your comrades! Your friends! OUR people! How can you fraternize with them like this? And so easily?" Katriana almost shouted.
"If you think that I don't honor the blood of my own brothers in war, then it was a mistake to bring you here..." Acacius snapped. "Go back on your own..."
"I'm not... I didn't mean it that way," Katri hiccupped, her hands clutching Acacius' arms. Her tears welled again, still vulnerable after that morning.
"Damn it..." he sighed. "I'm sorry I snapped... I'm just... Your little escapade with Paris hasn't left me without a bit of vengeful energy. Just... I'm not fraternizing with the enemy..."
"I know," she murmured, wiping away her tears and slightly lifting her chin up. "I'm sorry I'm being like this. I'll try to stop crying." Acacius frowned but knew there was no way to keep Katri from acting like her stupid stubborn self.
"You don't have to stop crying... you have the right to cry as much as you could possibly want..." Acacius whispered in return. "Why do you always have to act like you're strong?"
"Are we going to Briseis or not?" Katriana asked without acknowledging Acacius' question. He just sighed and took her hand leading her back to the Greek camps.
Immediately, Katriana felt the eyes of the Greeks fall on her. She was under their scrutiny and observation. She could tell that some were merely curious about her just like she was seen in yesterday's reception. Others, however, were less than honorable with their thoughts. The gleam in their eyes was evidence of that.
"They're staring at me," Katri said, lowly.
"I won't let them touch you," Acacius promised, tightening his hold on her waist and leading her past the Thessalian soldiers. Over a crest of sand were the forces of Ithaca, headed by Odysseus. Next to this group was the rowdiest of any set in that fleet: the Myrmidons. Katri was unnerved when they came to a stop at a hut in the Myrmidons' camp, leather strips hanging down for a door. There were soldiers' shields hanging on its walls. Only one of the soldiers could have caused such a great amount of casualties.
"This is Achilles' hut," Katri stated, knowing it to be true.
"Yes," Acacius said calmly. "I met him last night on the beaches... On the shallows, near your old house..."
"And he didn't kill you on the spot?"
"Surprisingly enough," Acacius nervously chuckled using his free hand to rub the nape of his neck nervously. "He mentioned some prisoners so I went with him to see if I could barter some of their freedom with some goods..."
"And you saw Briseis?"
"You could say that... yea..."
"What are you talking about? She's all right isn't she?"
"Let's just say our worry was unwarranted..."
"What?" Katri said confused but before she could say more, the soft accent of a long missed voice reached her ears.
"Katriana!" A girl... a woman now, really... had emerged from the great Achilles' home. Katri was surprised to say the least that Briseis looked healthy and well-cared for. Nothing like the way she would have thought that Achaeans would have treated their prisoners.
"Briseis..." Katri murmured, putting her arms around the missing priestess. They held each other for awhile, one happy to see the other, the other still surprised but Briseis' welcome presence was beginning to unwind the feelings she had managed to rein in some moments before.
When they finally let each other go, both had tears in their eyes, though Briseis mistook Katri's tears of pain to be of happiness.
"Katri, you have no idea how good it is to see you," Briseis whispered, cupping her friends face, and laughing and crying at the same time.
"I thought you died," Katri sobbed. "I thought we would never see you again... I thought... You were just gone and I didn't understand it." Katri shook her head and held Briseis' hands in her own. "And all this with Paris... I had to deal with it by myself. I thought you just couldn't come back!"
That was when Briseis began to realize that something else was wrong with Katri. She looked at Acacius and he just shook his head in regret. His hand was on the small of Katri's back. Even from the front, she could see that his hands were trying to soothe her.
"What happened with Paris? You said they were getting on fine..."
"I was wrong," Acacius said, regretfully.
"Come on inside, love. I have some tea brewing." Briseis tugged Katri into the hut but she felt her friend's resistance. "What's wrong?"
"This is Achilles' hut. Is he... Is he inside?" Katri asked, keeping her ground. "I don't understand. Why are you even allowed in there?"
"I'll explain inside, love. Promise," Briseis vowed and Katriana followed her in with Acacius close after.
Inside, Katriana settled on some animal skins serving as a bit of a couch. She had to admit that, though the pile smelled shady and it was obviously well-worn, it was comfortable, like it was a large comforting embrace, enveloping you from all sides as you sank into it. Briseis had poured her a cup of tea and had started to break the ice to explain what had gone on with her since her narrow escape.
"Agamemnon had tried to take me as a prisoner because, actually, Achilles had found me first when they had ravaged Apollo's temple. Agamemnon and Achilles seemed to have a falling out and a week after Achilles had taken me, Agamemnon took me for his own will..." Briseis said it with such bitter emotion that Katriana was surprised that her beautiful and always kind friend had such negative passion inside her. "He had handed me to men after he ignored me for almost a month. Achilles had only realized what had happened through Odysseus of Ithaca. I've never seen anyone so angry." Briseis squinted her eyes to remember the incident, Achilles cutting and slashing at the men that had meant to rape her and brand her with a hot iron 'alpha'. "He saved me... He never handled me roughly, never took me by force, fed me, kept me company, and tried to comfort me on my worse nights. I knew he couldn't let me go... But he made it livable... And it's strange..."
Katriana looked at Briseis, curiously. "What's strange? His caring?"
"No... Not that THAT is normal either, but being a Trojan? Shouldn't I HATE these men?" Katri tilted her head, in response but said nothing. "I should but I don't... I came from Troy and so I know that those soldiers are human only trying to do what is good for their country. If I didn't come here, I would have thought that the Greeks were horrible, hollow shells of men, who felt nothing but their kill. Don't get me wrong, there ARE men like that here, namely Agamemnon and his perverted pedophiliac of a brother, Menelaus... But many of them... They're still human. They fight for what they believe... Some because they're under Agamemnon's power and can't do anything about it. Actually, most of them are here for that reason. It's... strange. I don't hate them... Achilles included."
Katriana, strangely enough, found this easy enough to swallow and THAT Acacius couldn't understand. Didn't she just scold him for 'fraternizing with the enemy'? Now she looked almost like she approved of the way Briseis viewed the Greeks. There was something so strange and unnerving about this girl, Acacius thought. Like there was something more underneath her skin that no one else knew of and was guarded so fiercely and diligently that it was futile to even attempt to learn her secrets... Acacius knew. He tried for years and never even managed to crack those specific walls.
"I understand..." Katriana said. Briseis looked up and finally met Katri's eyes. Briseis was afraid that admitting she had feelings towards these people... Towards the one man that managed to even make her reconsider her celibate vows... and then break them entirely, would make her look shameful in front of Katriana. Acacius didn't understand the underlying subtlety of her story so Briseis wasn't very worried of him. Katri was a woman as well... She would see the emotions in her eyes and Briseis was glad that Katriana understood.
You can't help whom you love... It's blood, Briseis. I could never condemn you for that, else I be a hypocrite.
"What of you and Paris?" Briseis asked, taking out some of the salted meats, breads, and cheeses in a chest for lunch as the day was getting late. Katriana turned away this time, her hand reaching out for Acacius'.
"Nothing surprising... He doesn't love me... as usual.... He loves Helen... as usual... Same old, same old," she lied but Briseis saw through it. Briseis took Katri's other side and they all sat there, curled up, ignoring the heat, as they ate and gave comfort to each other.
"Don't lie, Katri... You were sobbing when you got here... What happened?"
"Nothing..." she sniffed, popping a piece of bread with cheese in the middle into her mouth.
"Katri..." Acacius said warningly and she sighed, defeated.
With that, Katriana began to pour out everything in the last three years. Paris' slightly-heroic moment... The month in which he treated her like a princess... the grand suite that had become her home... His nearness and sometimes annoying earnest to do all he could to make her comfortable... The good things he's done, loving glances and protective embraces and all. However, it concluded with how his actions had put her emotions into turmoil. She had refused to talk about it, prayed that it would dissipate. She mentioned his constant tendency to forget her existence when he just glimpsed Helen... And she finished with last night... How he had so lovingly taken her virginity, showed her the very physical epitome of what it felt like to be loved and how he said that last night was purely a physical encounter... Strings unattached.
"... it was my stupid fault for being so weak," Katriana finished. "I couldn't bear to see it like that so I left... I ran and I didn't look back."
Silence befell them and the sun was already in its late afternoon position. Briseis looked horrified that Paris would even say such things. Acacius was staring out through a window and gripping his tin cup in his hand. Beside him, Katri could see that Acacius' indignant anger was causing the slight collapse of his cup, his knuckles white.
"I need to get back..." Acacius murmured. "I still need to check in for guard duty." His teeth were still clenched and he stood up stiffly, offering his hand to Katri's. She, however, shook her head and was a bit terrified at the thought of returning to Paris' presence.
"I don't want to go back..." Katri said.
"I'll keep you away from him, love. I promise. If he even comes within a kilometer of your sight, I'll personally make him pay, consequences or none," Acacius vowed. "You have no other place to go..."
"She can stay here!" Briseis exclaimed, eager for some female company. "Just for awhile." Acacius looked wary and even Katri was unsure.
"Are you sure it's safe here?" Acacius asked.
"Yes... Achilles wouldn't let anything happen to us. THAT I promise," Briseis said confidently. Time was running out and he had to leave before he was set for retribution for tardiness. In this free time, that was NOT how he wanted to spend his days.
"Are you sure you'll be all right?" Acacius dropped to his knees and looked at Katriana, wiping away the remnants of her tears. "Because I promise to take care of you..." Katri looked up and saw Briseis and realized she should stay for both her own and Briseis' sake.
"I'll be fine... I'll return tomorrow night." She kissed his thumb and smiled at him.
"I'll come by tomorrow afternoon to pick you up understand?" She nodded and after briefly hugging Briseis, he made to leave.
"Umm... Acacius?"
"Yes, Katri?" Acacius turned to look at her. She bit her lip and was unsure about her request but, as petty as it was, and as stupid her attempt for revenge would be, she knew it would strike a nerve on Paris and so was compelled to at least try. "Astyanax... He'll ask for me..."
"Yes..." Acacius smirked, knowing where this was heading.
"Just... tell him that Alexander had made me cry and made me go away... That's all. No lies..." Katri said. Acacius had to let out a chuckle. This girl was simply amazing. Even in such a state, she had a weird sense of humor. He knew that Astyanax adored Katriana and would probably humiliate the prince at dinner, if he timed it correctly. He knew this was her form of revenge and he happily said yes and then left.
"Astyanax?" Briseis asked, confused, knowing nothing of her nephew.
The two women started to chat into the night, ignoring the outside world, so that their own private lives were synchronized. Briseis loved hearing about Andromache and Hector and their son, Astyanax, and his hilarious antics. Mostly it was Katriana talking about the insides of the city and the family Briseis left behind. Finally, in the deep of the night, the bonfires were lit and the warriors became simple humans, indulging in earthly pleasures.
Katriana and Briseis stepped out of the hut, when music began to play. The whole camp was in the midst of a party, alcohol being passed down through the people. Women were also present, probably young girls, eager for some foreign company after years of captivity in Troy. Briseis pulled her into the dancing crowd, and Katri felt her stress slip away as the beat began to pound with her heart.
Katri's eyes closed as her feet slipped through the sand and moved with the rhythm. The music was getting the best of her. She twirled and sang... clapped and laughed, barely aware of some eyes on her now. She didn't care anymore. She just wanted to dance.
Katriana was in the middle of a pirouette when her body slammed into someone else's. Her eyes opened in surprise and she swallowed as the strong fingers gripped her hips. Her eyes looked up and saw blue eyes and blond hair, the face of one of the most beautiful men she'd ever laid eyes on but one of the coldest as well.
"Achilles," she exhaled. Katriana looked around and saw that her dancing had brought her away from Briseis. She looked up at the blond man again, a little unsure of herself. Achilles looked down at the dark haired woman, smiling down a bit in recognition.
"Katriana," he nodded. Katri gasped and tried to back away. "Don't act so surprised that I remember you. After your little incident in the forest, I couldn't possibly forget..."
"Katri!" Briseis voice carried out to them and Achilles' hold loosened.
"I take it they don't know about you?" Achilles murmured. "I've spoken with her... She's mentioned you. She doesn't know, does she?"
"Did you say anything?" Katri asked, quickly, her head snapping to him. Achilles spied Briseis' curls coming towards them but still out of earshot.
"You and I have similar origins, Katri. If only for that alone, I'll respect your decision for indiscretion," Achilles replied, gently. "Your secret is safe and hidden though I don't agree with its hiding."
"Thank you," Katriana said, ignoring his disapproval. "I was afraid you might have said something when I first arrived here..."
"There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you..." Her voice trailed when she saw Achilles beside her friend. "Oh! So you've met!"
"Yes..." Katri said, stepping up to Briseis and taking a cup from one of her friend's hand. "Very reserved man, this one..." Katri giggled and sipped some more of the alcohol she had a bit earlier.
"Should you be drinking?" Achilles asked, his eyes narrowing at how Katri gulped down her drink. "That's Greek vintage... Some of our strongest..." The comment was lost on her yet again. Ignoring others' comments seemed to be an ability she was a natural in.
"Let's make a toast..." Katri said, feeling the immediate effects of the liquor. Briseis and Achilles shared a knowing look and decided to indulge her. "You first, Briseis..."
"To better days, better men, and hopes that you won't be hanging a particular man by his family jewels anytime soon," Briseis smirked, laughing at Achilles' arched eyebrow.
"And you, Achilles?" Katri asked, taking a sip to Briseis' words.
"To not being that particular man," Achilles toasted. Katri fell on her knees laughing. "Who is it, by the way?"
"Alexander..." Katri answered, holding her cup up as a boy, coming around with wineskins for refills came by.
"By his family jewels, eh?"Achilles grinned, taking up a log and sitting in front of Katriana and scooted over so that Briseis could sit beside him instead of the ground. "What did he do?"
"Some god-awful things," Katriana grinned, another gulp going down her throat already. "You ever heard the story? About the prince who left a girl, promising his heart's return and then returning with a blonde TART on his arm? How the girl was devastated, shattered and broken by that prince?"
"Wasn't that Prince Paris?" Achilles asked, nursing his cup slowly.
"And I would be the girl..."
Achilles frowned and looked at Katriana, worrying about what she might do and what he knew she was definitely capable of calling to her side. He didn't know then but Katri had thought of that at the same exact time as he had. She bit her lip and tilted her head as she thought about the damage that she could potentially create... and knew that caring about Alexander so much inhibited that potential. She could never hurt him... No matter how much he hurt her. It was a sobering thought and it was killing her buzz throughly. In the tense silence, Briseis felt it her job intervene.
"Katri... You haven't made your toast..."
Katriana looked up and watched the moon over the cliffs of Troy, seeing its light reflect off of its rocky walls and the palace that glittered over the city. Inside, she knew Paris was eating his supper or near there. She raised her cup to the palace, her teeth gritted in determination...
Acacius had arrived with time to spare at the palace. With a few minutes to kill, he decided to take a walk through the palace for a glass of water in the kitchens. It was on his way there that he found Paris, frantically running through the hallways.
"Acacius!" Paris called from behind him. Acacius recognized the voice without turning and kept walking. He didn't want to talk to this bastard. "Acacius, I know you can hear me so stop!" Acacius froze reluctantly and turned to bow to his prince.
"What may I do for you, your highness?" Acacius forced.
"Where is she?" Paris demanded. "I know that you know where Katriana is... Tell me."
"I don't know where she is, your highness." Acacius shrugged. "If that is all, then I take my leave." He turned to the kitchens but Paris his shoulder, pushing him slightly.
"Don't you dare lie to your superiors," Paris snapped seeing through the lie.
"Superior to my arse maybe and even THAT is a stretch," Acacius scoffed, knowing he was damn near being hanged.
"How dare you?" Paris, this time, shoved Acacius, his balance staggering but catching himself before taking a fall.
"Look, your highness," Acacius said sarcastically. "On the subject of Katriana, my respect for you has reached six feet under." His green eyes were blazing with anger and his fists were clenched. Paris, feeling his own anger, stepped up.
"You know NOTHING about what happened between me and Katriana so stay out of it," he growled. "Now tell me where she is."
"I sure as hell am NOT telling you so stop bothering me, prince. I'm late for my duties. I think it ought to be time you start thinking about yours, don't you think?"
The comment struck Paris as if he were physically slapped. The comment was a double entendre and Paris understood all the meanings underneath it. It was only as Paris was struck frozen did Acacius escape feeling quite proud of himself. Now... to only find that little boy.
It wasn't really until after dinner that Acacius came across Astyanax. The adults were having drinks around the dinner table and the children of those present were simply left to run around and play outside. Acacius saw little Astyanax running around with a wooden sword, playing war with some of the other children. They were in the gardens and Acacius smiled at the little prince.
"I am Papa, warrior king!" Astyanax screamed running after some other boys. A little blond child had his own sword and was defiantly standing against Astyanax.
"I am a nasty Greek! Fight me!" Then he turned and ran. It was their version of battle: a mere game of tag with wooden swords and wounds that could only come as bad as a splinter or a scraped knee. Acacius swallowed the bitterness in his throat, wishing it remained that way but the wooden swords became sharp and wounds prove fatal. He thrust his head higher and waited for the prince to notice at the garden gates.
"Acacius! Acacius!" Fifteen minutes later, the running had wiped the boy out of his energy. Acacius looked down and saw Astyanax tugging at his skirt, and he smiled.
"Where's Auntie Katri?" Astyanax asked, his head tilting curiously. The little boy had observed the constant nearness of the two, realizing that if one was near then the other couldn't be too far behind. "She and me didn't have cakes."
"Well, princeling, your beautiful Auntie had to go away for awhile." He dropped down to his knee to level with the child.
"But I wanted to stay with HER tonight!" he whined, poking his wooden sword at the pillar. "Mama and Papa won't let me in THEIR room and Aunt Helen won't let me in hers ever... I want Auntie Katri."
"I'm sorry, your highness, but Auntie Katri NEEDED to get away..."
"Why?"
"Because... some stuff happened and it hurt your Auntie," he answered patiently.
"What happened?"
"Your Uncle Paris made her cry..." Astyanax took a step back confused.
"But Uncle Paris said you shouldn't make girls cry... He said he would never let Auntie Katri cry because he did that a long time ago and it made him sad so he won't do it again. Uncle Paris promised."
"Well, I guess he broke the promise..." Acacius slightly felt bad about turning Paris' own nephew against him... Slightly.
"Did he say sorry?"
"No..."
"How come no one's making him say sorry?"
"That's because no one will protect your Auntie Katri..."
"I can protect her!" Astyanax cried out, puffing up his chest. "I'm like my Papa. I protect the women and children of Troy." He stuck up his sword and Acacius grinned.
"So why don't you protect your Auntie Katri right now?" Acacius suggested.
"Fine! I will!"
The little boy began running into the halls. Acacius briefly looked at his partner and gave him the signal meaning he'd be right back. He wouldn't have missed this little performance for the world.
Acacius saw Astyanax going through the doors, sword raised high. The boy ran up the dining table and sharply jabbed his uncle in the stomach.
"What...?!" Paris jumped, holding his side. The boy had really dug in the sword and he wouldn't have been surprised if it left an actual bruise. "Astyanax!"
"Astyanax! Apologize to your uncle right now!" Andromache said, appalled at her son's behavior. She immediately scooped him up and frowned at him. "You don't do that, Astyanax."
"But Mommy," the boy griped. "He made Auntie cry and he promised he wouldn't do that anymore." Astyanax tried to wriggle out of his mother's arms and waved his wooden sword at Paris, who blanched at the child's words.
"What?" Andromache turned to Paris, scowling. "You said she was spending the day in the city..."
"I... Well, she did..." Paris stammered, taking a step back. Caught.
"Mommy, make him say sorry!" Astyanax pouted.
"Paris?" It was Helen now who stood up and was looking at her husband curiously. Paris realized that all eyes were on him. He couldn't say a thing without incriminating himself and making matters worse. His mother and father especially, were frowning from their seats next to him.
"Mommy!!"
"Helen... It's not what it seems to be..."
"He hurt her, Mommy."
"What DOES it seem to be, Paris?" Her own frown was creasing her perfect face.
Paris was looking around desperately around and found salvation in Hector.
"That's enough..." Everyone silenced, except for the little whimper from over Andromache's shoulder. Hector had stood up his regal presence in full force. "Andromache, please take Astyanax... Paris, a word with you?" Paris nodded and turned away. He was already beginning to walk towards the doors when he felt a sharp object hit him on the head. He turned back again and saw Astyanax's face retreating, his tongue stuck out, angrily.
"Meanie!" the boy yelled as he exited. Paris looked down and saw the sword, picking it up before Hector's hands guided him out.
"Where's Katriana?" Hector said, straight off.
"I don't know," Paris answered leaning on the pillar outside the dining halls.
"What happened then?"
"It's none of your business," he snapped. He stalked off to a window, overlooking the Greek camps. There were fires there in the horizon, and if you listened carefully enough, you could hear the murmur of their songs. Paris wondered if Achilles would be one of those drinking merrily.
"Katriana is like a sister to me as well," Hector retorted. "She has been here beside me in the past three years, keeping me sane... Comforting me whenever I think that in one battle I couldn't possibly return to make it to yesterday's ceremony. She no longer just has you alone. Katri has me, Acacius, Andromache and Astyanax. We are her family as well now so if you hurt her like I think you have then you have several people to answer to."
"Three years is a mere drop in the twelve Katri and I have shared," Paris scoffed.
"But one night can cause you to drop below us..." Hector countered. "With that intimate relationship came the ability to hurt her like no one else can... Now what did you do? Tell me, that maybe we can aid you in regaining her trust again."
Paris couldn't bear to look Hector in the eye. It was too near the surface still, too close for comfort and able in hurting Paris if he thought about those consequences. He had to get one answer though.
"Katri loved me?" Paris asked, turning slightly to Hector. He was greeted by silence at first.
"Why would you ask that?"
"Answer me this and I'll answer everything else... Katri loved me?"
"Yes," Hector murmured in answer.
"For how long now?"
"Years... You know this, Paris... She's been in love with you since before we even went to Sparta... BEFORE you met Helen..."
"Bloody... hell..." Paris cursed.
"What?"
Paris refused to answer. He was trying to drown away what he was starting to realize again... He strained to hear the sounds of the camps beneath him and the wind seemed to be carrying one conversation.
'To better men...'
'To not being that man...'
'Alexander...'
Paris' eyes shot open in shock. His name was being whispered by the wind and it was strangely bearing the voice of the woman he had basically ripped the heart of.
"Do you hear that?" Paris murmured.
"Hear what?"
'... The girl was devastated, shattered and broken by that prince?'
'Wasn't that Prince Paris?'
'And I would be the girl...'
"Those voices..."
'Katri... you haven't made your toast...'
Paris' blood was running cold. That voice was unmistakably Briseis, but that was impossible.
'To Alexander...' a bitter voice replied. 'To tell myself that you're gone...'
The winds stopped and Paris felt his heart stop at the sound of the voice, so cold in his ears.
"I think..." Paris stuttered. "I think I finally did it..."
"What?" Hector asked worriedly.
"I think I finally made her break... I think I finally lost Katri..."
latebloomer04 - If you couldn't tell, I DO love the song. haha. The only downside is that there are so many song fics out there on My Immortal that i just get swamped...:(
Larrikin - My computer was acting up when you MSN messengered me so I send my apologies. I didn't mean to seem rude. My connection was just acting up so I'm sorry. I would have loved to talk to you though.
rose-eye-blonde91 – stupid eyes make me forgive him in a heartbeat. I HATE it. Urgh... But this time he has to WORK for the forgiveness.. muahahhaha!
Chibi - I hope by 'sorta' you meant that you hated Paris' behaviour... Because I would be broken hearted myself to find that you didn't actually like the chapter. :( haha kidding. If you didn't find that you liked it all that much, tell why next time. If you actually liked it, then thank you. :)
yuki - Here go! Hope you liked it... And I hope the Briseis thing did well in your eyes.
amanda – THANK YOU! Your compliments were very appreciated this side of the computer! You have no idea... Thank you so much. You, and reviewers like you, make my day!
Nevasaiel – That comment was pretty cold,wasn't it? But Happily Ever After eh? Haha... Am I REALLY able to do that? We'll see. Actually, know what? The ending's already typed and ready! I just need to type everything between the chapter now and then. HOPEFULLY you won't think it's crappy!
Shells - Oh EVERYTHING is still being connected, which is why updating's been a little slow. WHY OH WHY DID I EVEN LET THEM SLEEP TOGETHER!! Threw off my whole bloody execution of the plot!! But yea... everything still working out perfectly. I just need to actually think about what's going to happen between now and the ending.
babyg2988 - ooo Paris hunting! Sounds fun... I'm going more for tranquilizer gun though... Pan is too damaging. DAmn those eyes... Even when he's an idiot I forgive him
pierced-belly-button - 0o wow... that was HARSH... hahaha. Okay, so he WOULD deserve to be hung by his testicles... And in case you didn't notice, Briseis' toast was play on your review. Hehe. Tribute to my awesome reviewers.