I wont say much, because i have to go, but I hope you enjoy this chapter!! Thank you so much for your reviews of last chapter, they are truly appreciated : )

After obtaining post war freedom, my surviving sisters had returned to Trabzon to find the same devastation I had beheld. Though the devastation was difficult to accept and my sisters grieved deeply, they thought of something besides the grief. They had thought of survival as well, for whom then would keep our heritage alive if we lost ourselves in the grief? Even amidst their grief they had taken the time to pack many precious objects from our Trabzon that could be sold later, when necessity rose. Exquisite weapons, superb jewelry, gold armbands wore in war, as well as circlets worn by our queens and our priestesses like myself. They had the mind to obtain myriad objects hidden in away from immediate sight, valuables which the Trojans failed to acquire.

My sisters had given me a share of my things. Warrior ornaments, priestesses' decorations, hand carved bow and my silver dagger. These were things I no longer had use for. These were things I did not care to look upon to be reminded of that which is long since lost. For that reason I sold them to highest bidder and kept only my bow. Those valuable items produced an income that would allow me to live modestly and well for years to come.

After my gain, I searched Argos for a comfortable home to call my own, but I found nothing to my taste. With the assistance of Hermes I found a comfortable house nearly a handful of leagues away from Argos, far enough to avoid smelling the streets and hearing the busy noise, yet close enough to obtain what I needed with no difficulty.

It was a house large enough to accommodate a family of four or perhaps even more, with large sitting area, three sleeping chambers and a large kitchen and dining room. It was a beautiful house. But my fascination from the house derived not from the interior, but the land; wild territory that surrounded the house blanketed in green fields filled with vegetations. I also had a magnificent view of the rolling sea, and I could ride with Kohl, bareback and not worry of trampling over a person.

Over the months, my home became my sanctuary.

***

"Your arm must be tired, you've been carrying him nearly the whole day." Cyrus reluctantly loosened his arms around my neck as his mother took him in her arms. My arms were indeed tired but it was worth it. There was true joy in the child as we watched performers in the streets as they juggled and did other simple circus activities. Cyrus would laugh out loud, true, simple joy and enchantment shining in his brown eyes.

"It's all right." I said smiling both at Annay and Cyrus.

We walked through the busy marketplace discussing latest political issues, such as the Romans involvement with Thracians.

"That's all very well, but do you really think the Romans will intervene?"

"Truth be, I hope not. Those Romans seem very civilized but I simply fail to trust them. It troubles me that they seek entertainment by watching as a warrior kills another. These Gladiators of theirs are men typically captured and forced to relinquish their humanity for survival. Bloodshed is necessary in war but never in entertainment."

A strange hooded figure crossed my path, standing before me. I thought of nothing of it, even apologized and tried seeking my way around the person, but the she would not let me pass. She removed her hood to reveal a beautiful young woman.

She was a small thing, with frail bones and dainty features that spoke of nobility. Her hair was long and dark, and her skin was pale and rosy. She was beautiful.

"I foresaw the misfortunes you would endure. But I am cursed not to be believed and if you do not now, then I can do naught for you." Her voice was high, almost child-like.

"Who are you?" I had stopped walking then to stare at her, but it was not only me who stared, for she was a spectacle in her beauty and her strange pattern of speech.

"I am Cassandra. The ill-fated seer…I came to tell you, that you must take great care. You and Ares both-

"I've not seen him in months." My lips tightened in a straight harsh line, before I took a deep breath and decided not to take my anger out on the seer. For if stories proved correct, she had much worries already.

"Your destinies are intertwine and you cannot halt that."

"Dear gods, lass, what are you speaking of?" The words that came from my mouth reminded me of Arsenios.

"I foresaw the battle against Troy," she lifted her hand to stop me from interrupting her, yet again. "But there is a truth that in your rage you fail to see." She grabbed my hands with both of hers. Her hands were incredibly cold.

"Ares against your people. It changed nothing. He played the part of a single soldier, a berserker more powerful than the rest but only one soldier. Despite his bloodlust, he does not intervene to change the outcome of a battle. God or no god, it was written upon the very wind that the Amazons would meet their end that day. And that Trabzon would fall soon after. He was simply one more berserker, one more soldier.

"There are choices to be made. And there is a bigger battle to be fought. Twisted gods will be lurking upon you. There is darkness ahead of you, but you must prevail at all costs, because your survival means his survival. Remember that even when the night seems the darkest, there are still lights somewhere."

She let go of my hand then and simply walked away, at a pace that could nearly be running.

"She's is the strangest woman I've ever seen." Annay said, not being one for holding back anything.

"Yes. And mayhaps I've gone daft, for I understand nothing."

***

The night had been a beautiful one, with fresh air and clear skies with bright stars. Such a night reminded me much of Trabzon. It even smelled like home, and thus to complete the feeling I mounted on Kohl and rode bareback at a neck-breaking speed as I did at home. Kohl was a wild stallion, untamable; I could feel his heart beat in his powerful body as we rose through the night. The animal seemed to be just as glad to be able to ride through the wild night. Yet upon our return he became stubborn, and jumpy. It took incredibly long to guide him to the stables.

I fed the horse, gave him water, and then combed him, whispering soothing words, till he appeared to calm.

Only when Kohl appeared at peace, did I make my way inside my house. I walked in through the rear door, removing my dirty sandals and leaving them in the cooking quarters. As I approached the sitting room I felt agitated, something bothered me yet I failed to distinguish the source. Perhaps it was that which had bothered Kohl. There was a strange feeling contained in the air which only seemed to intensify the closer I came to my sitting room.

Not one to run from danger I quickly returned to the cooking quarters and seized a finely made broad sword I had purchased weeks ago from a blacksmith in Argos.

There were two men in my living room, identical men but for the length of their hair and the expression on their faces. They both had hair so black it appeared to have a tint of lapis in it. Their skin was unnaturally pale, the color of a ghost of those long dead, and their eyes were so pale a blue they nearly appeared colorless. They were large men too, larger than I've ever beheld. They were larger than even Ares who appeared a giant among men towering over him with an estimation of five inches making them nearly seven feet tall.

They would be beautiful, almost like statues taller than men, but there was an air of brutality around them that was tangible. While Ares was war and its glory, hardheaded, impulsive and ill tempered these deities simply appeared a very danger to humanity. Ares would crush your skull with his bare hands and bathe in your blood, but these gods would keep alive while you suffered and continue the suffering even after death. Ares at least will give you honor in death; these gods would defile the human race without much thought.

One of the men sat on my sofa, sprawled as if it was his god given right. He was the one with longer hair and a wild expression on his face. He appeared ill-minded just waiting for the right instant to attack. I detested the way he looked at me, for it caused a terror within me that I had never experienced before. It was a primal fear that caused my breath to catch; my heart beat to increase dramatically and gave my body an irrational instinct to run far and away.

The other had the look of an observant and smart…man, for a lack of better term. And yet that made him all the more petrifying than his identical brother. The calm expression in his face and cold look in his eyes spoke of rash, devastating decisions without even blinking an eye. United they caused such panic in me that a deep part of myself yearned to have Ares by my side. To feel his warm reassuring body in front of mine as I sought shelter behind him from the gaze upon these foul gods. Where any of the words Ares spoke as Brennus true? Would he protect me from even these corrupted gods.

"What business have you in my home?" I was proud of my voice, for it was steady and lacked the fear that I truly felt inside.

"I am Ephialtes and this is Otus, We are the Aloadae, sons of Poseidon." The god who spoke was he who stood against the wall. "And we have a proposition for you." His voice was deep and strong, almost soothing.

"I am not interested in any dealings of Gods. Get out of my house." I said, lifting my sword.

Otus made a gesture to rise from the sofa but Ephialtes simply looked at him and he stayed where he was.

Ephialtes approached me, his powerful form made me feel child-like and frail. "Stay back!" I told him, but he did not listen to me, simply approached me with the look of coldness in his eyes.

I was distrustful of any gods, especially these two giants.

When Ephialtes crossed the distance between us I attacked, creating a long cut against his abdomen. The wound immediately stained his dark robes and I could see the torn skin through the tattered garment. My eyes did not miss as the skin knitted itself back, almost instantaneously. My eyes widened at the sight, for I had seen Ares bleed but he had not healed so very quickly. This seemed impossible.

Before I thought better of it I ran from them. Nearly two seconds later Otus was at my back, arm around my waist, nearly bruising my ribs in the process and threw me into the sitting room. I landed at the feet of his brother, on my knees and palms, scraping them in attempt to levy myself.

Ephialtes knelt before me. He placed his large face so near to mine that I could feel his cool breath caress my face. When I attempted to move away from him his place both his large hands on top of mine, not hurting me but binding me in place. There was no denying the fear I felt then, as he touched me. My breath came forth in shallow gasps and my heart nearly exploded from my chest.

"Ephialtes" His name came from my mouth like a breath.

"You fail to understand, Mistress. You've two choices in the matter and not one of them is neutrality. Let us sit and converse like civilized beings. What says you?" He stood then, and reached out his large hand, palm up. I stared at him with anger in my eyes, for anger was a much stronger ally than fear. When I did not take his hand, he grabbed my upper arm, enclosing the whole circumference of it in his large hand.

He guided to a chair and then brought another and sat across from me. There was no escaping him; he appeared to take ownership of the very room.

I could see Otus coming closer; I followed him with my eyes, weary of the gods. He went around me, so I could no longer see him and I felt his breath on my throat. I was imprisoned between the two brothers.

"Ephialtes, tell your ill-mannered brother to move away from me." I manage to sound simply annoyed.

It seemed I amused Ephialtes for he smiled at me and simply looked at Otus who I felt moved away from me.

"Well, Liah as I've said we have a proposition for you. Gods across the land and the world know of the Human woman who has managed to tame the God of War."

"Tamed is not the word I'd use for it." I replied.

"He is infatuated with you and he will come when you call. Do you not think that he watches you when he can, for I can assure you, beloved, he does."

"Why do you want him?"

"That is concern of the Gods." His pale eyes appeared to see right through me. "All I ask is that you call him. You call him willingly and we shall take care of the rest."

I did not say anything to his words and when I did not speak for minutes he spoke again. He made a strange gesture with his hand and a beautiful golden circlet appeared in his hand.

"You of course will be rewarded." As he spoke he leaned closer to me, his hands unbinding my hair and spreading it with his fingers over my shoulders. Where his fingers touched they left a strange warm feeling, which was strange for his skin was cool against my own.

"All the riches in the world would be yours, and you will have my protection thus no man or god could harm you. I would see to it myself and the world would be yours for the taking." His fingers trailed along my neck, his thumb caressed my lips. But I felt no lust only inquietude.

"I have no need for your riches and I do not have any desire to take part of your plans. Leave me in my long found peace, 'tis all I ask of you."

This close I could not miss the contracting of his pupils, the tightening of his jaw and as the muscle in his jaw jumped.

"Are you certain?" His voice raised the hair on my neck. It made me think of what the seer had said in the streets. I need not be a seer to realize that they would not leave me in peace and that something terrible would soon come to occur. The very air spoke of catastrophe.

"Yes."

In a quick control motion that I barely had time to register, he lifted his hand and backhanded me across the face. It was a hit that sent me sprawling along with the chair I sat in. I hit the floor with a hard thud before I rolled away and attempted to go for my fallen sword. But my body felt bruised and my lip was split. Ephialtes was on me, lifting me from the floor by my tunic and slamming me against the wall with enough force to take my breath from my body. I could see Otus further from us, with a maniac gleam in his eyes, waiting for blood to be spilt.

Ephialtes leaned against me, his face so close to mine.

"I wanted to give you riches for being our ally, I wanted to make this easy. But your cooperation is truly not needed." He leaned closer still and licked the blood from my lips. I leaned in to his mouth and bit his lower lip hard enough to draw blood. I tasted the copper tang of blood in my tongue. This appeared to excite him further for he then truly kissed me. But his kiss could as well have been a beating, for afterwards my lips felt bruised and swollen at such an attack.

"Rot in Hades." I said to him and his brothers, when he finally released my mouth. By the look in his face I knew that such words were not what he desired to hear.

"So be it." He replied.

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