back with chapter three! and to whoever reviewed, thanks for it but don't assume my stories are like anyone elses. i hate sigfried, why the hell would i hook him up with anyone? but to all others, i hope you enjoy this one... possibly enough to review. wink wink. peace

Chapter 3

She stood before the statue of Hephaestus, lost in the moment. The overcast sky shielding her eyes from the glaring sun, the god-made streams flowing on both sides of the platform where she stood. She closed her eyes, she felt her mind go at ease to the point where she almost transcended the material and could faintly hear the whispers of the gods. Unexpectedly, she felt sad, at least, she thought they were her feelings, but she wasn't sure.

No, she concluded, they weren't hers. The gods were saddened, by what she wasn't sure. They had been all but resigned to fade into nothing as the people lost their belief. What then could it be, she wondered. A noise became known to her as she ended her meditation, a faint, consistent patting that was barely noticeable over the sound of the water. She could think of few explanations for the sound, less of them good. She quickly made her way to where the weapons made by the gods were kept. And with Omega and a shield on hand, she took to the noise. It's movements were hard to follow, but she caught up to it soon enough.

A figure, dressed darkly in a cloak that concealed all, stood, looking up into the face of the gods, just as she had but a few moments before. But the figure's eyes shone with defiance, and not adoration, as hers had. She couldn't help but wonder what fueled that defiance. But her wondering was cut short as she found herself locked, the figure staring deep into her eyes as she did the same. She almost forgot her duties, but shook herself mentally and called out, "I am Sophitia, protector of this place. What business do you have here?"

There was a long pause before an answer was returned. "There is something of which I am in need here."

"What is it you need?" she asked. "Perhaps I could assist you in some way."

A small chuckle came from the figure, as though he was amused by her offer of help. "I've no doubt that you wish to help," h said as he slowly removed his cloak, revealing more dark clothing, two weapons, a short, curved sword at the base of his back and a knife strapped to his thigh. But most confusing and intimidating was the mask he wore, a hideous expression frozen onto his faced, and the blue colored hair that she had never seen on another. The cloak was picked up in the harsh winds of the mountain, and was blown away and out of sight.

She became alert and ready as he drew the sword, sheath and all, from his back. "But I have several that your wishes will remain unchanged with the knowledge of my needs."

"Then I will stop you," she stated as she moved to about seven paces in front of him.

There was another short laugh that ended quickly as he made a short, jerking slash in her direction, sending the sheath of his sword flying at her. She blocked it from hitting her in the face easily with her shield, but it seemed it was only a distraction. He bolted to her left and cut down hard with his blade. She brought up her sword arm like she was throwing an uppercut to stop his attack. He attempted to knee her in the middle but earned only a bad bruise as she hit it with her shield. He groaned, and unconsciously slackened on his blade, which was easily turned away. Not letting this chance escape, Sophitia connected with a kick to the side that sent him tumbling to the ground, rolling close to the edge of the platform. He got up slowly, still intending to continue.

"Do you still wish to fight?" she asked despite his stance.

"With all that I am," he replied defiantly.

"As you wish," she whispered as she ran to him, he attempted to end the fight with a spinning cut aimed at her legs. But Sophitia was in no mood to be stopped, crouched down to block the blade, and propelled herself upward and backward with the legs he had tried to take out, and landed a kick straight in his chin. He was stunned badly, but didn't fall. Another kick, much harder than the one before, connected with his face, sending him up to fall unconsciously into the stream below the platform, as Sophitia landed gracefully on her feet.

Satisfaction turned to worry in her heart, despite his actions, she wanted to help him, and, throwing down her weapons, jumped into the water to save him before he drowned. With less effort than she though necessary, she was able to get him back onto the marble platform. She paused momentarily as she took notice of his hair, which was no longer blue, but a more natural blonde. Could he be Romanian? Whatever he was, he wasn't breathing. She removed his mask, plugged his nose, put her mouth over his, and blew deeply into him, forcing air into his body. He wasn't going to die before she got her answers.

Rothian came upon the scene, to see his wife on the ground with another man. Rage flowed through him like the streams to his sides as he quickly went to them. She looked at him in shock, as though she hadn't heard him coming, as he threw her roughly to the side. Angrily, he brought his boot down onto the wet man's stomach, causing him to cough up everything inside. Rothian landed another kick to the side of the man's face, sending him onto his belly. He was coughing like a madman as Sophitia grabbed hold of Rothian's arm and forcing him to listen to the cries he hadn't heard up till then.

"Rothian, what you doing?" she cried concernedly.

"ME!" he shouted back in her face. "What am I doing? How dare you ask that of your husband!"

He continued shouting, completely oblivious of the man retreating to the temple, stooped from the stomps and mask in hand.

"Never have I believed the rumors of your unfaithful ways, but no more."

"Rothian, please. You misunderstand the situation."

"How could that possibly be it? I caught you with him!"

"He was dying, he fell into the stream and breathed in the water. I was trying to save him," she explained.

"Really? Then why did he cough when I hit him?" he demanded.

"You must have forced the water from his body," she said after a pause.

He looked at her suspiciously, and said, "Well, I'm going to see if he tells the same story, where is he?"

"He must have run off," Sophitia suggested as they looked around.

"Why would he do that unless he was hiding something?" he returned, his suspicions back.

"He does," she answered, going to where she had thrown Omega. "He attacked me before he fell."

"What?" Rothian asked incredulously.

"I don't know why, but he attacked me to get something, something he needed."

"I can think of a few things men need," Rothian whispered angrily.

"What?"

"Nothing. Lets find him."

Sophitia nodded as she crouched down to pick up the sword. She could see a gleam of light from the corner of her eye, and reacted just quickly enough the stop the strange blade. She expected to see the man, but was surprised to see a girl, dressed in green before her.

"Aaaah, I missed," the girl said with an innocent smile. "You want to fight... sounds like fun!"

Sophitia staved off a couple of attacks from the girl's strange, circular blade. She looked into the girl's eyes...and pitied what she saw.

"You poor girl," she said softly. "You've never known happiness...have you?"

The girl's expression changed completely as her mask broke and showed not but hatred beneath. "You're going to pay for that," she stated, her smile returned. "I'll go get your children."

This time it was Sophitia who's grip faltered and the girl kicked her in the side of the knee, causing her to fall. Before she could get back up, the girl was gone. And she was left alone with nothing but Rothian, the wind ... and the fear for her children.