Friend of Apollo
Sorry for the long update, and thanks for the reviews! Read the bottom note after you're done reading the chappie! Thanks for being so patient and enjoy!
Chapter 12: It Has Begun
Panic. Everyone was filled with complete and utter panic, except for those ondefense. To my surprised, they were actually delighted to be fighting. It was as if they craved for the feeling of mass destruction. The ships were getting closer, and I could say for myself that I was filled with fear and….. panic. Icould';t believe it. Icould notfind Briseis anywhere. I swear, I don't think she listened to me when I said 'don't go to the temple'. But, she's a priestess, filled with hope, passion and love for the Gods. Man, we said we were going swimming today. So much for that.
"Brie? Brie, where are you!" I called across the hall, when I bumped into Paris.
"You should be in your room. It's not safe out here in the open." Paris warned.
Ignoring his comment, I shook his shoulders….. in a sort of violent way, "Where is Briseis?"
"What? I thought she was with you." He glanced behind me, but could not see anyone. You could see his eyebrows arch and his expression turned into a worried one.
"I've got to find her. The ships are coming." I ran, but he grabbed my arm.
Paris frowned, "What if something happens to you?"
I broke free from his grip, but smiled from his concern. "Nothing's going to happen to me. Just… just trust me, I'm a girl. I know what I'm doing." I kissed him on the cheek and ran to 'my' horse discreetly. If anyone caught me, they'd send e right back. The ships weren't that close, but they weren't that far either. They looked like light beige towels soaking in the water. Then there was a random black one. That had to be Achilles. My throat became dry, remembering in the moviewhen he hadthrown the spear right intoTecton.
Ilunged onto the saddle and gently kicked the horse, "C'mon girl, let's go." I stroked her softly as she road. I led the horse around the outter rim ofwhere the defense would be going. They would never see me.I think Hector would have my head if he knew that I left. He was even worse than Paris. He started to become really protective of me. Not that I minded because I never had anyone like that in my life except for my two best friends.
The journey to the temple was quick-paced like pressing the forward button when you're watching a movie.I prayed that an epiphany of hope and realization would chase away the soldiers coming to attack but of course, I knew that was very, very unlikely. I jumped off the horse and briskly ran up the steps, not wasting a second of my time.
"Brie!" I screamed, but I was hushed by a priestess.
"We're praying to the Gods. The temple isn't a place that tolerates any kind of menacing, obnoxious people." Agneta, an arrogant priestess, who greatly disliked me whispered harshly.
I smirked, "In that case, you should leave before the others find out you're here."
Rolling her eyes, she straightened her tunic, "Briseis is at the shrine. Why do you bark here and cause disruption when all you need to do is talk to Briseis? You have plenty of time to do that later."
"Are you deaf? Did you not hear the bell?….. Please, as much as I hate you, run out of this temple, bring everyone with you and save yourself. The ships are coming." I advised her. No wonder she and the others died in the movie. They didn't even know what the hell was going on.
She laughed, buther shriekingcackle faded away as she saw my serious face, "Oh my, you aren't lyring are you? How far are they?"
"They're almost here. Now go, or else the whole temple will be splattered with your blood. I.. um… sense an evil spirit coming this way. Achilles, the warrior, he takes no prisoners. Now, run." I shoed her away, and she gathered all her comrades. They were taking the underground passage.
"Ariel, what is happening? Everyone is leaving." Briseis appeared, and I grabbed her.
"The ships have come. We must leave. Look." I pointed outside. We both jogged to the opening, and I was surprised to see Achilles ship already docking at the shore. "C'mon, we have to go!"
"Wait, my stuff is in the other room."
"But…. Okay, fine, but hurry up!" I sighed, and she got ready as I kept on watch. Achilles moved swiftly through the crowd, and even though he was the enemy, I could not help but stare in awe at him. He was so hot-'No!'I scolded myself.
I worriedly look into the direction Briseis had went to, "Brie, hurry up. They're coming!"
"I'm hurrying!" She yelled and walked out of the room. With her were two big sacks of ointments and medicine.
"You've got to be kidding me. I understand your intentions but that's too much." I replied.
"Here, take some of the load." She pushed some to me, and I carried the sack over my shoulder. Suddenly, I heard marching coming from behind me. There would be no time to get both of us down the pit. I dropped my sack, grabbed Briseis, anddragged her to the pit. I opened it up and pushed her inside. I threw her sack inside and-
"Oh, crap." I breathed out as I saw the soldiers whisk themselves inside the temple. I was too late. My whole body felt numb, but I was able to push the Flat Stone over the pit to close it with my leg.
"Oh, look what we have here. A priestess." The sweaty, and not to mention, grotesque man walked up to me and grabbed my waist. I immediately backed away, but all of them started to taunt me and push me around. Out of rage, I punched one of them in the groin and kicked another, but that didn't work out so well. Another came to defense and kicked me in the abdomen. I gasped for air. It felt as if all the air had been sucked out of my body. Iwas about to getkicked again while I was on the floor, but another aggressively pushedthe other manaway.
"No, we'll save her for Achilles. It'll be his gift." He laughed, and the others agreed. I can't believe this. I was taking Briseis' place. I was going to be Achilles sex puppet? Don't get me wrong. If this was happening to me back at home I'd be all for it. But, this is…….its completely wrong. Suddenly, I was roughly taken by a soldier as everyone submerged into the shadows of the temple. Achilles walked calmly into the temple, an alluring smirk playing on his lips. Trojan soldiers led by Hector cautiously walked into the light trying to seek Achilles or his Myrmidons or whoever the hell these people were. I tried to scream, butmy captor kneed me in the stomach.
Just then, everyone, except the soldier and I, jumped into light and striking the Trojans unexpectedly. The Trojans were easily taken. Well, all Trojans except for Hector.
"C'mon Missy, we're going to bring you to camp." The soldier dragged me out and down the steps. I felt like road kill being dragged out of the road and out of harms way, even if I was already dead. In this case, I wasn't dead. I was just numb. I was numb with shock, frustration, confusion and fear. I was afraid because what if my path would lead to something bad. What if Achilles killed me?
"Cheer up, lass. We're not going to kill you. Maybe after Achilles beds you, but put a smile on." The man grinned, and I grimaced with disgust. He smelled of fresh blood from his victims. The smell was nauseating and my mind and body became weak. He just carried along though, not carrying about how I felt. I was not longer a human being. I was an object; a stupid sex toy or a dildo for men.
My legs felt all bruised and battered. I sighed with relief as we approached the camp that was already set up. My heart swelled with pain and my mind was a blur, as I was trying to think about the escape routes Priam showed me. It was how to get out of the palace, but in this case, I needed to get inside the palace. He dragged me to a circular tent, where he stopped to breathe. Then, he firmly tied my hands with rough rope. The fabric poked my skin, and some thread actually poked through my skin. Blood started to seep it's way through the rope but it was only minor bleeding.
"There we go. Right in there." He tossed me inside, and put his head through the opening, "You're welcome to step outside if you'd like, but the men might be feeling a little frisky. Your choice…….." And then he left, leaving my imagination to depict the excruciating or dirty things the men would do to me. Horror crossed my face. Not because of the painful positions fixated in my mind, but because of Agamemnon. What if he saw me? And I was just starting to get rid of all those nightmares about the guy too. Menelaus would want to spear my head off if he thinks I aided in the plan of Helen's escape. But, I'll just have to pray that the sympathy side story works out, and I'll have to make the first move and go up to them myself.
I sighed, lying down with my aching hands still bleeding. This was even worse than the time I lit a match and put it down Chelsea Samuel's dress when I was twelve. It was priceless, but the aftermath was what killed me. No charges (or burns) pressed, just 2 months of grueling housework. Did I mention that their house is a mansion, and that her greenroom, tennis court, basketball court, and other facilities in her gigantic backyard count as her home? It was completely horrible. They even let their maids chill-out and suntan in garden, while they watched and critiqued me.
Suddenly, he appeared. Out of nowhere, without warning, he appeared. Tanned skin, muscular body, dirty blond hair, piercing blue eyes; yes, it had to be Achilles.
Eudorus smiled, "The men caught her off guard……..They thought she'd amuse you."
"Leave us." Achilles says removing his shield. Eudorus walks away, just as Achilles walks up to me. He comes with a dagger carelessly gripped in his hand, and with one strike, he cuts all the rope.
"What is your name?" He asked, changing into more comfortable garments. He ran a cloth over his skin to clean himself from the blood. When he didn't hear an answer, he shrugged, "You're safer in this tent than out there. Believe me."
"Why did you come here? Glory isn't worth all of the lives you have thrown away." I rubbed my wrists, but that didn't help the irritating pain or blood go away.
"I didn't ask them to fight me and I don't fight those who are not armed. Self-defense isn't murder." He put on his poncho-like shirt, "They seek for challenge and I am the challenge. That is not my fault. They come here yearning for the same thing only I want it more."
"Since when did killing become a contest?" I asked.
He laughed, "Why do you think men fight? For your safety and the journey. Winning is not about the prize you get in the end. It's about the journey, the obstacles you endure, and the satisfaction of finishing."
"Then why am I here?" I glared.
"I haven't won, nor have I finished yet." He smiled, and I rolled my eyes. I can't believe I'm going to be stuck with this lunatic. There is no way I'm going to have sex with him. I'm going to make his so-called 'journey' the most uneventful boring one he's ever had.
"You're not a Trojan, am I right?" He asked. I furrowed my eyebrow. Did this man know everything?
I shrugged, "No, but somehow I got stuck protecting them. I was a mascot, bringing them hope. Now, I'm here, waiting for my journey to end."
"Mascots do have names, don't they?"
"Ariel." I stated plainly.
"My Lord," Eudorus called from outside the tent. Achilles signaled him to come in, and then he continued to speak, "King Agamemnon wants to see you."
"Why would what I want to see him when I can look at her?"
"But all the Kings are there. They're celebrating the victory." Eudorus persisted, and Achilles stood up.
"You fought well today, Eudorus. Rest well." Achilles smiled, as his trustee bowed and left. He walked out, but left me with his words "You do not need to fear me….. very few can say that." Then, he left.
I lay my head down on the unfurnished tent. By tomorrow, it should be filled with furs, fruits, and other glorious honoring items because the great Achilles must always have reminders of his victory…..such as myself. I sigh. This was the biggest adventure in my life. No doubt about that. But, now it has become an adventure I must beat to save my own life.
"This is the shittiest day ever." And just when things seem like they can't get worse, they do. I feel my veins pop with the amount of pressure the two invading guards press onto my arms. I know where they want to take me. To Agamemnon, their king. Will this ever end? But, I know the answer to that already. It never ends.
Okay, I know what you are thinking….. "What took her so long?" Well, I wanted to make everything perfect for you guys. I was thinking so long and hard about what to do with this. I didn't want to make a bad move, but don't worry. I have a feeling the next chapter will be coming around shortly! That's because I know where things will go from there. The chapter after that, I'll have to think a little. But this one took a long time because wasn't sure if I wanted to take this route into the journey. It's so difficult! But, this route intrigued me. Writing about Achilles was and is fun. I have to add the dry humor, comments that will provoke Ariel, and- wait; I'm not going to give everything out! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. There are probably major spelling mistakes and I'm really sorry for that! Bear with me! Thanks for your patience and time. I love you guys. You're great supporters!
Keep the reviews coming and you're most welcome to give suggestions or ideas if you'd like! Thanks again,
3SoHaPPy