I love you...
Pushing Alexander aside, not caring when he laughed cruelly at her, not bothering to stop her, almost knowing that it was a lost cause. Minos didn't seem to find humour in the situation or remorse as he instead demanded to be helped up. Melione didn't care, she only had eyes for Asterion's fallen form.
"Asterion!"
Melinoe wailed, sliding, falling into the deep crimson puddle. Hands flapped around his back, trying in vain to heal the wound. Weak. Trembling. Her power felt like it was crushing her. After months of living in a sheltered lie of being mortal to protect Asterion, she'd forgotten how much of a toll it could leave upon her. Grasping hold of his shoulders, teeth gritted, not caring when the blood spluttered onto her lap, Melinoe turned Asterion over. Fear took her heart in a tight fist, squeezing to the bring her pulse echoed inside her head. Asterion;s face was pale. Eyelids fluttered. Blood pooled around his mouth, staining both teeth and lips. It looed like his face had been carved from an ivory stone. Shaking her head, trembling hands cupped his jaw, thumb rubbing soothingly across firm cheek bones, leaving bloody circles. Digging her palm into his fur covered scalp, shivering at the chill of his sharp horns. Melinoe lifted his head up, positioning her legs under allowing him to against her, while preventing from choking. Leaning forward slowly, her hair creating a secret curtain around both of their faces, she whispered soothingly. Lovingly.
"Asterion... Its alright.. Its alright.."
Despite sounding brave, her voice quivered. With her spare hand, nimble fingers travelled over his neck, pressing, searching for something that would give her hope. There. It was faint, but enough to cause Melinoe to beam weakly. A pulse. As the echoing argument between Alexander and Minos continued over her head, Melinoe wrapped her arm around Asteiron's back, pressing tightly against the wound. Feeling him shifting slightly underneath her, Melinoe tightened her grip.
"No.. Stay still.."
Silently pleading against his blood stained flesh. Feeling his hand twitch underneath her belly, Melinoe shifted her hand under, clasping tightly onto his fingers, not caring when his claws cut into her flesh. As Melinoe closed her eyes tightly, almost afraid they would give something away, Asterion's eyes began to open. Staring at Melinoe's blurry image above him, Asterion weakly looked to the side. Ears twitched. It was hard to hear anything. As the severed nerves along his back, burnt, sending pulse wave of agony throughout him, nothing else made sense. The strong aroma of blood burnt his leathery nostrils. When he tried to rise, Melinoe's grip tightened causing him to wince. Her words though faint, caused him great confusion. If he rose he could protect her, take her away from Minos's kingdom. As her scent mixed in with his own, along with the warmth of her lamp enveloping him in a sense of security, Asterion began to selfishly want to stay there. To hide away and never have to fight again...
All the while Asterion began to think and fight with his desires, Melinoe continued to cradle him. Even such a simple movement as rising his hand, brought tears to Asterion's eyes. Regardless he did it. Brushing Melinoe's quivering cheek with the tips of his claws, catching a few of her tears which trickled down his blistered knuckles, a weak smile tugged at his lips. Lost in the simple touch, neither Melinoe nor Asterion noticed as the room suddenly grew eerily silent.
It happened to quickly. As Melinoe leant forward, Alexander snuck up behind her, wrapping a sack over her head, twisting it tightly so that it pushed against her wind pipe causing her to choke. Panic. As she scrambled to breath, Asterion slipped out from under her. Wrapping his arm around her waist, Alexander hoisted her from the ground, before quickly grabbing hold of her ankles so she couldn't kick him. It was uncomfortable for them both.
"No! Let me go! Asterion!"
Screaming in fury and heart break, Melinoe kicked and twisted as Alexander hoisted her off of the ground. His foul breath caused the stitching to break.
"Thought we wouldn't realise did you wench?! It'll take a lot more than your sickening hair to shield the pathetic miracle of that creature still being alive.."
Alexander's words turned into white noise. All around her everything began to shake, the ground cracked. Even her forgotten necklace started to heat with fiery rage. Twisting, wriggling, Melinoe leant forward grasping a chuck of Alexander's flesh within her jaws. Even with the sack over her head, the painful pinch of her canine teeth didn't go unnoticed. Alexander howled. His large hand, pressed blindly over the sack trying to find a pressure point that would make her let go. Squeezing her eyes tight, when Alexander pushed and scratched, Melinoe twisted her head sharply to the side. A sickening 'Rip!' tore through the air, as Alexander's grip slacked causing Melinoe to tumbled painfully onto the floor. Cracking her head hard. A dizzy sickening feel, swelled within Melinoe's lower stomach. As she rose up on her hands and knees, it took all of her strength not to collapse. Turning, looking through the criss cross vision the sack provided, she wanted as Asterion was slowly starting to rise up only to fall followed by a pained wheeze, when Asterion whacked him upon the back or stomach. Breathing heavily through her nostrils, Melinoe rose her hand slowly. Straining to keep herself up right, her fingers flexed causing the air to ripple as Minos was flung to the side. Slipping down onto her left elbow, Melinoe stretched out her right hand, her face hovering inches from the ground. A pained sob from Alexander caused her to look up. A hidden gleam of amusement flashed within her eyes.
Stumbling, staring down in embarrassment and anger, at the pulsing wound, Alexander looked down. It wasn't only the sack that had ripped... Two sharp square shaped pearls stuck out from beneath the sack. But what made Alexander's stomach churn was the large chunk of pale pink flesh, sticking out between them. Turning her head slowly (mockingly) Melinoe spat: the flesh Alexander's flesh landing perfectly on his large toe.
Lunging forward, Alexander wrapped his fingers around Melinoe's throat, forcing her painfully onto her back, he started to squeeze while smashing the back of her skull against the ground. Melinoe gurgled. Flashes of white danced in front of her vision.
"I may not be able to kill you, but I can wound you enough to make you beg for it!"
Melinoe said nothing. She couldn't. With each painful bash, her jaw bit down over and over on her tongue. A rich taste of copper and gold exploded in her mouth. 'Run Asterion... please.. run' pleading silently within her mind, Melinoe's eyes looked up towards Alexander, watching his face twist with every toss. What pleasure did he gain from this? Minos's pained cackle echoed, as Asterion's hooves thudded against the ground as he finally rose up. Were they squaring each other up again?
"What are you waiting for? Go and save her..."
Minos wheezed, waving his hand. Clothing covered in dust from the rubble, a pained wince upon his features from where he hit the wall. Possibly a broken rib. Stumbling towards Asterion, who despite his wounded state managed to keep his horned head high. Turning large blood shot eyes, watching as Melinoe turned more into a puppet than a human being, Asterion swallowed thickly. Could he save her? What if Alexander wounded him even more or worse... Who would save her? Ears snapped towards Minos, while his eyes didn't.
"Of course what will you do, when you do? Marry her? Have children...?"
Minos doubled over, as his laughter turned into sickening coughs.
"You can't... Of course you have the equipment but even so... What will your off spring look like. I'm sure her father wouldn't want to have little versions of you running around his palace, if he doesn't banish you on the spot..."
Minos's further quivered. His face turned greyer as a blush ran from the tips of his horns down to his hooves. He had been thinking far into the future. If Melinoe even loved him like that, what would they do? He was cursed. Forced in this forsaken body.
"No.."
Asterion snarled. Lowering his head, Asterion charged. His horns easily hugging Minos's thin body as he pinned him against the wall. Minos's cry, followed by the tremble of Asterion's charge caused Alexander to pause. Tears spilled across Melinoe's cheeks. A pained gasp passed her lips, as Alexander squeezed her lower jaw, forcing her up awkwardly before turning her hand towards the scene. Alexander began to brag that Asterion was nothing more than a Beast, something inhuman, but Melinoe saw through it. Asterion wasn't killing Minos, or even attempting to do something like that. He was pinning him down... Melinoe couldn't understand what was happening but that didn't matter. She needed to give Asterion time and there was only one way to do it.
As Alexander's grip slackened reaching towards his belt, Melinoe reacted. Despite the painful throb of her skull, she willed her body to move: rising her foot she smashed it straight onto Alexander's groin. Before the pain became noticeable, Melinoe cracked his jaw with a swift punch. Scrambling out from beneath him, ripping the sack from her head, her rich ebony hair shinning with crimson blood. Alexander's head rolled back, a twisted grin stretched across quivering lips.
"You want to hurt me so badly... Then come and get me..!"
Melinoe snarled before she turned running in the opposite direction, leading Alexander away from Asterion and Minos.
Everything burned. Pain shot through her legs like knives, head throbbed violently; Melione wouldn't be surprised if her entire back was covered in the thick gooey liquid. The scenery seemed to stretch on for miles. The echoing pound of Alexander's feet, chilled Melinoe stumbling over her own two feet, hand stretched out palms cutting deep into stone stairs. Unlike the once beautiful golden carpet leading to the throne, there was nothing covering the chilling stairs. Not having time to think how they came to being here, Melinoe scrambled up them just as Alexander's blade stabbed the ground where her ankle was seconds before.
Knees became grazed, ankle twisted, Melinoe didn't give up. Continuing her scramble, Alexander's heavy breathing sending a disturbing chill down her spine. Daring a glance over her shoulder, Melione's throat grew tight watching as Asterion was tossed onto his back, arching in agony. Her heart clenched. Forcing herself to look away, feet no longer rising as the long stone stairs turned to flooring. Large cracks, littered the path. Leaping forward, a strange tingling travelled up the back of her calf. Power. Looking down, eyes grew larger than saucers seeing the familiar black smoke.
"Father...?"
Melione's heart soared. Could it be that he was helping her. There were parts of the world that even he couldn't dwell upon, even after helping with various wars... Not having time to dwell upon it, as Alexander cried out, Melinoe looked around franticly. Only two paths lay before her; one straight ahead while a second turned sharply to the right. A crisp smell of sea air floated from the second one. Clenching her jaw tightly, Melinoe sprung towards it, feet slapping against the ground, as icy cold air hit her sharply in the face along with droplets of rain. The dark sky peeked through the cracks, as moon light shone through the broken roof. How long had they been in battle? Dampening her lips, Melinoe swallowed thickly, jumping to the side she hid within the shadows just as Alexander's foot steps slowed down.
"Melione...? I know your hiding here. Come on out, maybe we can talk. Allow me to explain how I know your, Beast.."
Melione remained firm. Biting back harshly on lower lip, she glared through the darkness as Alexander stalked past her. Slowly stepping out from the shadows, following his footsteps Melione failed to notice Alexander's primal grin. Spinning around, blade rose, Alexander frowned. Nothing, only mocking darkness. Glaring, Alexander turned around, only to freeze. A burning sensation travelled through his lower stomach like stepping into a warm bath, jaw slackened. Heat highlighted his cheek bones. Stuttering he lowered his head, gazing with wide eyes towards a small pale hand embedded within his flesh.
"You don't know Beast, like I do. You, never will."
Hissing out the words, Melione yanked her hand back. In her tight fist was Alexander's weapon.
A loud crack of thunder, illuminated the hall way in blinding light. Melione whole body glowed, as Alexander watched in horror a terrified scream passed his lips. The top part of Melione's face turned into a skull. Stumbling backwards, his back pressed against the window, Melione marched forward snapping out her hand sending Alexander soaring out of the window, crashing down into the angered sea. Staring out of the broken window, looking down the jagged rocks, hid body no where to be seen. Washed away, maybe onto land. Rising her head up, features darkening Melinoe prayed that he'd been literally sucked into the foulest pits of Tarturas its self.
Eyes travelled towards the sky, watching as pitchfork shaped lightning soared across the air, striking above the room where Asterion and Minos continued to fight. Melinone didn't understand the sudden terror which swallowed her whole, but it was almost as if something was trying to warn her.
"Beast..."
Whispering his nick name, Melinoe turned and fled.
Flying down the steps, heart pounding while a familiar fearful sick feeling began to swell in the pit of her stomach. Melione heaved as she ran. She saw them... Just up ahead. As her legs began to burn and throat became tight, she stumbled to into an ungraceful stop. Large eyes looked up towards the pair, clinging onto one another at the foot of the throne. Both bleeding, wounded. Melinoe stepped forward, only to freeze when Asterion turned to look at her. His eyes wet, muzzle damp. Despite this, he bravely smiled. Melione didn't know what to do, a part of her wanted to race up towards them, to tear Minos away and hug Asterion. What stopped her wasn't fear of Minos, as the once 'great king' of Crete stood on his tip toes, face bruised, a mask of the terrifying man who used to rule with an iron fist. Melione would've laughed had the situation been any different. Instead she turned towards Asterion, her eyebrows rose in the middle, face twisted in confusion.
"What... I don't understand.."
She stuttered. Above them the thunderstorm grew louder. Melinoe briefly flinched, remembering the cold nights when Beast during their first few awkward days would give her an extra blanket, or remain awake, watching over her. Back then she knew how she felt about him, it was her own stubborn streak and stupidity that prevented her from saying anything. Asterion didn't respond, instead he glanced up towards the trembling ceiling above them. Despite the builders best effort, the ceiling still held the scar where the first lightning bolt came soaring through, changing his life forever. As Melione looked up, following Asterion's line of vision she was hit with a feeling of dread. Being the daughter of Hades provided her with abilities that were hidden the typical mortal eye. She saw everything...
'A lightning bolt travelled violently through the air, its sole purpose to punish a wrong doer of Zeus. A young boy standing in the wrong place at the wrong time... Pain.. Anger.. Fear..'
Tears began to spill down her face. Realisation began to dawn on Melinoe. Her shoulders began to grow heavy as if she carried the weight of the world upon them. While her body burned her franticly beating heart felt like ice. Beast. Her Beast turned. Eyes boring deeply upon Melinoe as his body shook, with the effort of keeping his father in place.
"I l...l..ove y.. you"
Melinoe said nothing. Turning slowly, looking down his muzzle towards Minos who's knees began to bang together in terror. Asterion rose his eyes towards the painted ceiling. A sharp sound of crackling carried through the air. Closing his eyes slowly, Asterion held his breath. A single tear trickled down his cheek. Crashing through the roof, sending dust and rocks scattering, a lightning bolt hurtled towards Asterion and King Minos. A blinding white flash filled the room, causing Melinoe to close her eyes tightly, arm risen. Ears burned as a strange high pitched noise which seemed to go on for hours, echoed the empty throne room.
At first Melinoe couldn't bring herself to move. Eyes slowly peeled back once the bright flashing of red ended. Glancing around the room, hoping against all odds that what she saw was nothing more than a cruel sense of an over active imagination; Melione was proved wrong. Everything remained the same; blood stains, the oracles decapitated body. Even the throne was still one piece. There was one thing missing. As her heart travelled up her throat, pained pants passing suddenly dried cracked lips, Melione moved. Stumbling forward, tears pouring as her lips curled, whimpering feebly.
"No.. no, no, no..."
Repeating the word over in denial didn't change the facts. Rising her hands, cupping her mouth, Melione fell onto the ground, knees banging harshly against the steps.
"Asterion!"
Sobbing out his name, Melinoe curled in on herself. Heaving. Rocking. Heart broken. Asterion was gone.
As most of you have come to notice, when violence spurs up between an Underworld resident and a mortal it usually means its almost the end. But sadly for Melinoe this is only the beginning of a heart breaking race to the finish. Do hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review.
- Signed The Broken Ghost