******I am back with another update. I've been MIA for a bit. I work better and get better ideas under pressure. Please enjoy and review. Thanks! Again, I will go back and correct chapters when I am completed with the story. Merina has two brothers and two twin sisters. Patroclus does have a love interest. Sorry for any misunderstandings. *****
Vitanzia watched Merina sleep. Her eyes shinned a bright red. Vitanzia had the ability to see people's dreams. She smiled as Merina dreamt pleasant dreams.
"Her brothers are handsome." Vitanzia said as she watched Merina laugh with the pair in the dream. Vitanzia knew who Merina was by peering into her unconscious mind. She knew everything. Vitanzia's eyes returned to their normal color as she felt Merina become conscious. Merina turned on her side before waking up. She sat up and looked out the window across from her bed. There was still no sun. Merina looked around her room. She felt the presence of someone; however, no one was there.
Patroclus sat at the dining room table in the gloomy dining hall.
"I am sorry. This is all we have to offer." Dazius said as the maids placed a piece of bread and bowl of porridge on the table in front of Patroclus and Menilos. "We can eat human food, but we survive off blood. We don't get the same nutrients from food like humans do."
"This will do." Patroclus said taking a spoonful of porridge. "Thank you." Dazius smiled.
"Dazius? Your father doesn't seem too fond of Greeks. Why is that?" Menilos asked.
"It happened a few years ago. A Greek killed my mother. Out of fear, he burned my mother after seeing her feast upon animals' blood."
"That's awful." Menilos said staring at the porridge in his bowl.
"Since then, my father does not trust Greeks. He only keeps trade with Greece for the humans of this country. He doesn't want a war between both the Dacian humans and the Greeks."
"So, why is he stopping trade from Obulenses and Crobyzes?" Patroclus chimed in.
"It wasn't him who stopped it." Dazius replied.
"Then who did?" Patroclus asked.
"It was me." There was an awkward silence.
"I don't understand." Patroclus said.
"I found out it was the king of Mycenae who took my mother's life." Dazius said becoming slightly enraged.
"Agamenon?" Patroclus and Menilos asked at the same time.
"Yes. Him." Dazius responded. Patroclus sat for a while deep in thought.
"That son of a bitch. So, he does know that you all are vampires?"
"Yes." Dazius nodded.
"He doesn't only want the land and the resources; he wants to exterminate the Strigoi as well. He's sending Achilles in because he thinks the people of this country are all vampires. It makes sense as in to why he didn't come here his self."
"And why he said to leave no one alive." Menilos added.
"That's his game plan huh?" Dazius said twirling a strand of hair around his finger.
"Don't worry. We won't let that happen. Achilles will arrive shortly. We will discuss this with him."
"Don't worry." Patroclus and Menilos jumped at the sound of the soft raspy voice.
"Vitanzia. Nice of you to join us." Dazius smiled. Vitanzia was holding two silver grails in her hand. She handed one to her brother. "Thank you." Dazius said taking a sip from the grail. Patroclus snarled when he saw Dazius's lips become stained a deep crimson. Dazius laughed. "Don't worry. You'll get used to it." Vitanzia touched Dazius's shoulder. "I see." Dazius said. "So, the Egyptian woman, Merina, she spoke with father?" Vitanzia nodded her head yes. "So, it's taken care of." Vitanzia touched Dazius's shoulder again. "I see. Very well."
"What's going on?" Patroclus asked.
"My dear sister and I could communicate with each other using our minds. She could also hear people's thoughts and peer into their dreams." Dazius replied. Vitanzia's eyes turned red as she gazed at Patroclus. She smiled.
"Chiara. You want to finish here so you could go back to her?" Patroclus was shocked.
"That's incredible."
"It is isn't it?" Dazius asked taking another sip from the grail. "The only downside is that Vitanzia can't read impure thoughts. Only pure. So, if someone is planning to do something vicious, she won't know. It will be just as much as a surprise to her as it is to you and I."
"The fire tamer." Vitanzia began.
"Merina?" Menilos asked.
"Yes. Her. I peered into her dreams last night. She is a very important person."
"What do you mean?" Patroclus questioned.
"Protect her. Make sure she gets home to Egypt. She is a jewel. A precious one. If anything happened to her, it wouldn't be good for you." Vitanzia smiled. Patroclus and Menilos looked at each other. Patroclus cleared his throat.
"Is there something that Merina is hiding? Something else besides her being able to spit fire from her hands?" Vitanzia smiled twirling a piece of her long hair in her fingers.
"I know a lot about her from her dreams. However, it isn't my place to tell you what she doesn't want you to know." The pale beauty replied. Patroclus had been observing Merina for a while. He paid close attention to her mannerisms. "Don't worry. She isn't evil. You can trust her. She has no bad intentions. Her heart is pure. I did see something in her dreams. Rather, someone." Patroclus raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"A woman and a man. The woman seemed to be divine. Long dark hair with a mischievous smile. Her eyes were deceiving. Then there was a man. Handsome. Golden hair and dignified eyes."
"Achilles?" Patroclus asked.
"It sounds like him." Menilos added.
"The woman is warning Merina. She's been following Merina for a while." Vitanzia continued.
"What is she warning Merina about?" Patroclus asked.
"All I was able to make out was something about a war." Vitanzia replied. Patroclus seemed more interested in the conversation.
"A war? Between Greece and Egypt?" he asked. Vitanzia replied sheepishly.
"I'm not sure." Patroclus soon was lost in thought. A goddess who loves strife. Dark hair.
"Eris!" Patroclus yelled. Patroclus stood up from his seat and ran off towards Merina's sleeping chambers.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Merina walked towards the loud sound that came from the door.
"Hold on. I'm coming." Merina said as she finished tying her hair up into a bun. Patroclus entered Merina's room without permission. "Well hello."
"Merina. We need to talk." Patroclus said in a stern voice. Merina sat on a chair beside the window that let in minimal sunlight.
"About?" Merina was confused.
"You show up in Greece in a wooden crate with no memory of how you got into the crate. You have this power to emit fire from your body when you please. You speak to King Drafius in private with out consulting me or Menilos. Now, I discover that Eris, the goddess of strife is speaking to you?" Merina looked at Patroclus with a shocked expression.
"How did you know that?" she asked. Patroclus evaded Merina's question.
"Just tell me this. Does my country and your country have the potential to go to war?" Patroclus said kneeling in front of Merina. Merina bit her lip.
"I really don't know." She replied.
"Merina. Enough with the secrets. I've been observing you for some time now. If the Gods are trying to show you a prophecy that could impact my land, I should know." Patroclus said sincerely.
"Patroclus." Merina began. "That goddess has been appearing before me ever since I came to Greece. Why? I don't know. She's been telling me things. Things like "Achilles is my doom". She's been showing me visions of a war in my dreams. The visions are blurry. I can't make out who is fighting in this war."
"Why would Achilles be your doom?" Patroclus asked.
"I really don't know. I'm not sure."
"Well, I can tell you this. Achilles would never harm you. That I know for a fact."
"I know. That thought never crossed my mind. This is all scary for me Patroclus."
"So, don't do this alone by hiding anymore secrets. Merina. Tell me. What else are you hiding from us?" Patroclus placed a hand on Merina's. He wasn't angry with Merina, he just wanted answers. Merina sighed.
"Patroclus. My name isn't Merina. Well Merina is not my full name. It's a nickname." Merina began. Patroclus held eye contact with Merina. "I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything. But it stays between you and I until I leave for my homeland. You have to swear."
"I swear." Patroclus said. "On my honor."
"Achilles can't know either. I know you two are very good friends. You two are practically brothers. I don't want him to know Patroclus." Patroclus hated to lie about information and keep secrets hidden from Achilles.
"I swear. I won't tell him either." Patroclus swore.
"Thank you." Merina smiled. Merina slowly told Patroclus everything. It took a while for everything to come out, but, it did. Patroclus was in disbelief. He sat on the floor with his legs crossed. There was silence for a few moments.
"Do you understand the situation you have put not only myself, but Achilles and all of Greece in?" Patroclus said holding his head in his hands glaring at the floor.
"Of course, I do. That's why I didn't say anything. I didn't plan on saying anything until I made it safely back home. I've wanted to say something for a while. However, you guys treated me with such kindness that I felt like I was at home. I got caught up in a life I wish I had." Merina said sadly.
"Yes. However, this doesn't look good Merina!"
"I know! I didn't ask to be here. Whatever happens, I will take full responsibility for. But that's why I wanted no one to know. To avoid a potential war. If what Eris is showing me in my dreams is going to occur because of me, I figured I keep it secret. To protect both lands. So please Patroclus. This stays between you and I. Get me home, to avoid this war to come. No one else besides King Drafius and you know." Patroclus thought about what Merina had said. She was right. If Patroclus told Peleus, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Menelaus or even his own father, he could predict what they all would say or do.
"I swore to you I wouldn't say anything. You have my word. Let's finish our business here and get you back home." Merina smiled.
"Thank you, Patroclus. Thank you."
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