BLACKOUT
Welcome back.
Two chapter's in a row makes the reviews flow... maybe :P
I'm sorry if this seems like it is dragging on and on, it's vital for the plot for me to introduce as many character's as I am. And I do want to make a bit of plot every now and again. This part of the story is based around Troy, so don't worry, there will be some of the Trojan War in it, maybe. After all. Asha is there to change thing's, not let them stay the same.
Input and idea's are always welcome.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Taste the meat on the Tangerine
Troy was the epicentre of trade business. Helikon had told Asha about the many countries that traded with the Golden City, and that constant feed was the life-force of the great city. King Priam had dedicated most of his life in forming the city into the way it now was.
Ships were moored in the harbour as they trotted by on their horses, and Asha could find many banners of all the city states of Greece, and other's that she couldn't recognise.
It was so strange, seeing the city so bustling and calm, at peace even. That only in a couple of year's one mistake could destroy it all. A single mistake made by a child that didn't know better.
After all. Was it worth it? The pain of your family being killed and destroyed in front of you, the guilt of knowing that it was all because of you that your beloved city was torn down. The blood and sweat of the people on your hands. All because you couldn't keep it in your pants.
Asha sighed, wringing her hand's nervously in her borrowed mounts mane. She hoped that when she finally met Paris, that he would listen to her. Otherwise she would have to force Hector to vow not to take him, and have to explain why. Which would lead to him wanting to go to war with Agamemnon.
"The endless cycle." She sighed, glancing over to the Prince, who had stopped to talk with a concerned citizen. If she played her card's right, and sorted through this whole mess, he would make a great King one day, she just hoped that she would see it happen.
Hector cleared his throat, she had been staring at him long after he finished talking to the citizen. They were by themselves, Kyle had asked for another hour of rest, he had drunk even more then Hector, "Are you okay? You look distant."
"I always look distant." Asha stated, "Maybe." She waved away his concern, "I was just thinking that you would make a great King and got caught up in my thoughts."
"Thank you." Hector said, he look pleased that she had said something of the sort, "I hope I live up to your expectations."
"Heck, you already have! I read all about you in history books and..." Asha trailed off, not sure if she was allowed to disclose the information to him or not.
But it was too late, the Prince turned to her, his aqua blue eyes wide, "So I really am a big thing huh?"
"Yeah, well... I can't tell you why, well maybe I can. Urgh I don't know!" Asha squirmed under his gaze, "Please just don't ask me any questions regarding this era. Maybe the one next or something. Or before. Or hey, how about my own era?!"
"What was your home like?" Hector asked, kicking his heel's into his horse, he seemed a bit down that he couldn't know about his own future. Asha had to have a talk with Lupaz, and straighten out all this business about what she could disclose.
"It was... nice. Family was okay. But come on! I'm boring ask something, like if people in my time have been on the moon or not?" Asha said.
Hector cocked his head, "Have they?"
"Yup. About fifty year's before I was born or something. I don't look up those facts. We also have..." She paused not sure how to explain it, "Smart people who have discovered millions and billions more planet's then just this one."
"That's, hard to take in Asha. I don't think my mind can comprehend that information." The Prince said, he close his eyes, like he had a headache.
"Gosh, sorry. I know it's a lot to take in. Really, even the smallest thing in my time would be hard for anyone here to comprehend. Even the God's would have trouble." Asha said, then she gestured around herself, "Tell me about yourself. What is it like being a Prince?"
"Well for starter's I haven't travelled to the moon like other people have," He winked at her, ellicting a giggle from Asha, "But I didn't spend my childhood in Troy, I spent it at our Summer Palace, in the open field's. The palace is beautiful. It's where my brother Paris is staying, and my youngest sister, Kasandra. It looks out to the sea and isn't surrounded by wall's, father thinks it's impractical, afterall it's hard to defend. But I cherish it."
"It sound beautiful." Asha sighed, her mind wondering where she had heard of Kasandra before, but coming up as a blank.
"I will take you there." Hector stated, his voice stating that he meant it.
"You don't have to-"
He moved his horse over to hers and took her hand, "Asha, I want to take you there."
"I'm not sure." Asha sighed, "I don't know when something might happen, me being here might have changed things already."
"You don't have to be shackled Asha." Hector growled, "I want you to be free. Don't worry about the future, think of the present."
She shook her head, pulling the hand that was still clasped in his gentle grip away, "I can't do that until I am back at home, if I ever do get back. And if I ignore everything and don't change a single thing, something horrible will happen to you."
"How so?" Hector asked, calm as always.
"I... I can't tell you Hector." She kicked her heels in, and her horse galloped away. She felt tear's threaten to fall from her eyes and bit the inside of her mouth from doing so. She wished that she could tell him. For she thought of him as a great friend. Spotting the beach she slowed her horse down, looking around to try and find Sophia. She spotted her almost instantly, her friend was wearing a green string bikini and carried Zach, who was in matching green short's.
"Asha! Hey. The change room's are that way." She pointed to a small building with guard's posted around it, without even glancing up from making her sand castle.
"You are such a child." Asha stated, tying her horse where all the other's were tied, she walked to the change building, getting a few curious glances from the guards.
"Your not royalty." A guard stated, blocking her path, he cut an imposing figure, clad fully in plate armour, but as always Asha almost laughed at the armoured skirt that all men wore back now.
"She's with me." A voice said and Asha turned to find Andromache's green eyes, she hadn't changed yet, but wore a modest green dress that spoke of wealth.
"I'm sorry Princess." The guard said and stepped back, "Please proceed."
"Thanks." Asha stated, walking inside she found that she had to change in front of Andromache. Giving a sigh, her cheeks heating slightly she lifted her shirt up and undid her bra, before she could move on she glanced up to find Andromache appreciating her unashamedly.
"I don't mind helping you. After all, you saved me from the God." The Princess stated.
"Hmm. Yeah. No problem." Asha shrugged, turning around she stripped of the rest of her clothes, so what if a woman was staring at her with something else in her eyes. She shrugged the bikini on, now wishing that she had asked Lupaz for something more conservative. Andromache had changed too, a red one piece made her look like a fire goddess, especially with her red hair, "Well. Thanks again." She started to walk out only for Andromache to grab her arm.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Asha." She stated, smiling pleasantly.
"It was nice to meet you Asha." The Princess released her and Asha walked quickly out of the building.
Ignoring the looks the guards gave her, and thanking the god's that Lupaz had put the idea of swimsuit's into Trojan minds, she glanced over to where Sophia was.
Her friend was talking softly to Hector, who had changed into his short's, his chiselled body bronzed by the sun. Sophia glanced up, her eyes widening.
"Holy smokes Asha. Give me a twirl." Sophia laughed.
Hector looked around eyes roving over her, his cheeks burning bright as those eyes re-fixed on hers, "Asha..."
"Hey I wear stuff like this all of the time in my time." Asha laughed, she walked over to Sophia's sand castle, giving it a once over, "And when I was a kid I was a master at sand castle building."
"No way. I'm way better then you." Sophia growled, she sat back down and started adding things to her castle.
Asha grinned, accepting the challenge she kneeled over and started building her own one, Hector watching them and trying to keep his eyes from roving over Asha's body yet again.
The two women bickered about what made a castle great until Asha finished hers, it was shaped after an ancient medieval castle, with a moat filled with seawater all around it.
Sophia stared at it, "Why the water around it?"
"It could be either water, dry ditches or filled with traps so no one dared cross it. It's called a moat." Asha nodded, she stood back up, brushing her knee's off of sand she continued her lecture, "If an army was attacking the castle all the solder's had to do was pour oil into the water and set it a flame when enemies tried to enter. The bridge can be pulled back up, so there really is only one way inside. Though that means there's only one way out. Lords and so on used these to wait out their full armies, having the people inside nice and safe." She finished, looking to Hector.
"That's, brilliant." He stated, "you could last out a long siege and repel attack's because the whole enemies army wasn't attacking you at once, only a few soldier's."
"Only downside were that if the enemy had trebusches." Asha mused.
Hector shook his head, "I'm not sure if I want to know, my head hurts already."
"With great knowledge comes great pain!" She grinned, putting a hand through her hair Asha looked out to the ocean, it really was a perfect day. Nobles frolicked in the water, playing and laughing together. A shame that it could end so suddenly.
"You have that look again." Hector and Sophia both stated.
Asha shook her head, "It's called my thoughtful look! I'm going swimming."
"Ha! I will beat you!" Sophia gave a look to a nurse that it was not her job to look after the child, and set off at a run.
Asha rolled her eyes, poked her tongue out at Hector, and took off. Overtaking Sophia and tumbling into the waves, hoping to god that her bikini stayed on. Someone wrapped strong arms around her and Asha was lifted above the water by Hector. Giving a cough laugh Asha shook her head.
"With great speed comes great crashes." She stated, grinning from eye to eye.
"That's what you get for poking your tongue out at me." Hector laughed, he placed her back down.
Asha pushed at his chest and poked her tongue again, "Oh no?! Did I do that again? Bad me." Then she twirled away, wading out to the depths, hearing Sophia try to run after her, and Hector chase her. Asha grinned, diving head first into the water she swam, eyes open she found that the water was crystal blue, the sand beneath her so white that it hurt her eyes, or maybe that was the sea salt. Ignoring the biting sting she swam on, holding her breath for as long as she could muster. When she broke back up, she found that she was about twenty meter's out. Sophia and Hector looked quite panicked that they couldn't find her. Giving a grin and a wave she called out, "Slowpokes!"
Their head snapped up and Hector grinned, he started to swim after her. Asha shook her head, staying above water she swam as fast as she could to the east of Troy, to where they had first started out at. The current was strong and she hoped that she wasn't swimming against a rip. There were no red and gold flags in this time. Pushing herself harder, after noticing that Hector had started to catch her she felt her finger's touch sand and leapt out of the water, jogging over to where Sophia sighed and shook her head, water cascading down from her hair.
"I noticed where you were headed. So I told Hector to herd you here. You are now trapped."
"Not without a fight shall I ever be captured!" Asha laughed, dodging Sophia and almost slamming into a passing person, "Sorry!" Asha laughed, eyes finding Lupaz's laughing at her.
He wrapped his arms around her, "Caught her. The prize is mine, and that prize is Asha." His black hair tickled her shoulder as she struggled to get free.
"Unfair! Release me at once you barbarian!" Asha laughed, "Otherwise I shall make you pay!"
Lupaz laughed, "Hand me the coffer's your doing a lot of time for the destruction you have wrecked on the kingdom of Avalon!"
"Avalon?" Asha asked, then glanced to where the sand castle's were, "No! My people! I am so sorry. I will cherish your memory til the day I die! I must cleanse myself of my disgusting ways and join a clergy."
Lupaz released her, then turned her to face him, "No Asha! Think of the children!"
She blinked, "What?"
"Our children need us! We are the King and Queen of Avalon, I must make sure that our line continues, come let us go and make sure that it does." He grabbed her hand.
"OMG no!" Asha yelled, "Someone help me!"
"What exactly are you two doing?" Silva's distinct voice asked, they looked over to him, breaking contact and smiling sheepishly.
"Renacting something." Asha smiled, "I think."
"You think?!" Lupaz asked, "But don't you remember when we first came together, the passion, the flames the-"
Asha slammed him in the stomach and instantly regretted it, "God-damn it!" Shaking her hand in pain she winced when Silva sighed and gently took the hurt hand, instantly the pain was gone, "Thanks." Asha said softly, "We were playing around, afterall this is a fun place to be."
"Indeed?" Silva asked, looking around he locked eyes with Hector, "Prince Hector of Troy. The first born. It is our first time meeting. My name is Silva, the God of the Moon."
Hector's eyes turned guarded, his eyes glaring at the hand Silva still hadn't let go of, "Your the one that-"
"Asha shared a bed with last night." Lupaz finished, "Silva, I know your not used to being in human form, so I will tell you something."
The eldest brother raised an eyebrow, his finger had started to trace circles on Asha's hand, "Go on."
"Normal people don't continuously hold a woman's hand, especially one they just met the night before." Lupaz finished.
Silva cocked his head examining Asha's hand, "What if he wants her to stay in his bed every night from now on?"
Asha choked back a cry of surprise, "I... what?!"
Silva nodded, his eyes meeting hers, she just noticed that his eyes hadn't roved over her body yet, "You make it so that I can sleep peacefully."
Hector growled, "No. Step away from Asha immediately."
"Hector wait." Asha asked, "Lupaz you just said that he isn't used to being in human form..."
Silva finally released her, "A god-damn witch placed a curse on me when I turned down her proposal." He shook his head, "I can't sleep because she sends me this continuous dream. She also cursed me to stay in this form until I agree to her proposal. The dream's wouldn't stop no matter what. Until one night..."
"Asha slept beside you and you had no dream's, she cancelled out the curse." Lupaz finished.
"Yes. And I tested out if it was just a fluke, that the curse had stopped, but it hadn't. That's why I am here on this Plane, walking around like a human." Silva sighed.
Asha nodded, "I understand. What was the proposal the witch asked?"
Lupaz shook his head, "Asha you don't need to-"
"She wanted to bare a child of mine." Silva stated.
"Oh. Why didn't you.. well say yes?" Asha asked. She felt Lupaz pinch her arm and glared at him.
"Witches are beautiful being's, magnificent even. But they do not attract me one bit. Why do you ask human?" Silva's carefree tone had changed, he seemed angry at her.
"Just wondering. Why not-"
"No more question's, come with me immediately. If I sleep for a couple of week's straight I shall have all of my power back. Then I can find the witch and end her along with the curse." He snapped, "I am tired of this body already. I do not have an idea how you stand it Lupaz."
The young brother shrugged, "It comes with some great advantage's, like being able to not frighten children. And to annoy Asha. Which also means you are not taking her."
"You can't stop me." Silva growled.
"I have more power then you right now Silva. Don't push me. I can easily call Goldem over too."
"He's here?" Asha asked, she looked around skittishly, she found him immediately, being fawned over by several women, his golden body gleaming and tempting her again. Giving a growl she turned away quickly and caught the look of surprise Silva gave her, "Damn."
"We can go to the cove." Sophia stated, gesturing to her nurse maid's that they were changing area's.
"No, don't bother." Asha stated, "He might turn to steam if he goes into the water, I wouldn't worry."
Lupaz laughed, and even Silva seemed slightly amused, "He is full of steam as it is." The silver God stated, giving his brother a glare, "I don't overly want him to see me here though. So I shall be bidding you goodbye for now." He turned to Asha, finger's tracing her cheek, "Come to my room tonight and we can negotiate the detail's of you sleeping with me."
"I uh... no." Asha stated, but it was too late, he was gone, "I see the family resemblance now. You both disappear when something important is being discussed. It's very frustrating."
"We live to annoy. Well I do at least." Lupaz grinned, he shrugged, "Silva won't try anything. He doesn't understand how humans work. Your innocence isn't in peril Asha."
Asha almost punched him again, but stopped herself, playing with a strand of hair she mumbled, "That's good then."
"I don't trust him. He's a God." Hector grumbled.
"Your just jealous." Lupaz waved a hand, "Silva is completely safe when it comes to women, unless they don't want him to be so. Or he doesn't... But he won't do anything. Just like you."
Asha cocked her head, utterly oblivious to what Lupaz was insinuating, she was lost in her thoughts, "Hey is there a cliff nearby."
"You are not committing suicide Asha." Lupaz growled.
"I was going to push you off it, but... nah." Asha shook her head, she turned to the sea again and sighed wistfully, "What.. is that?"
All three of them glanced over to what Asha was pointing at and Lupaz gave a heavy sigh, "I knew he didn't have his presence contained. Damn it Silva!"
A huge snake was thrashing in the water's, screeching it slammed it's long tail onto the beach. People in the water screamed and ran for their lives. The beast resembled a huge water serpent, most likely because it was one. Huge fin's fanned out as it roared, two red eyes fixated upon where they stood.
"He's after Hector." Was all Lupaz said before the beast opened it's mount and a torrent of water was released at them. They jumped for the ground, but Lupaz was right, the torrent had been directed towards Hector. The Prince barely reached the sand in time. Sophia gave a cry of anger, clutching Zach to her, he cried, unhappy about the sudden movements.
Asha reached for her necklace, transforming it into a sword.
"You can't kill it Ash." Lupaz stated, "That thing was summoned by a witch."
"God's what's next? Vampires and werewolves?" Asha growled, "What am I supposed to do? Stand back and let my friend get attacked by some overfed guppy?"
"I uh... overfed guppy? I like that one. I would also say leave it to me, but he is the same element as me... so..." Lupaz pondered for a moment.
"You could ask me for a favour." Goldem stated, he had arrived just as the beast did another torrent, one that they couldn't avoid, he waved a hand and the water turned to steam.
Asha blinked, glancing to where the beast didn't look so impressed in the new fighter. It hissed, moving it's body forwards, "Can it come out of the sea?" Asha asked.
She felt eyes burn over her, "I like that on you Asha." Goldem stated, his voice thick, "And no, it cant-"
As if to prove him wrong, the serpent slithered out of the drink, jaw's going straight at them, they were big enough to swallow all of them whole.
Asha swiped her sword at it's face, making a sizeable cut on it's maw. The blood that dripped was golden and burned the ground like acid. The serpent hissed, missing them and slammed it's head into the ground beside them.
Lupaz laughed, "You never listen to me, do you?"
"Should I?" Asha asked, grinning, she spun around and readied to fend off another attack, but the serpent's face was charred by golden fire.
Goldem burned brightly, his bare body being clothed in golden armour, he held a huge longsword in one hand and grinned with animal like ferocity, "Little fish, coming out of the water wasn't a great idea." He leapt forwards fluidly, twice as fast as men half his size, the longsword slamming into the beast's neck. The serpent cried out in pain and then screamed as Goldem set his sword on fire, the golden blade glowing red hot, it's screams died away quickly and the serpent was still.
"You always make killing those thing's look so easy." Lupaz complained, moving over to the carcass of the dead sea monster, "This one was big."
"It will make a feast tonight." Goldem stated, "And you make killing fire serpent's look easy. It's size is because of the summoner. Someone powerful wanted Hector dead." The golden god then made his armour vanish, glancing over to Asha, who was inspecting the beast's mouth.
She kneeled down in front of it, grasping it's teeth and opening the maw.
"What is it?" Goldem asked, he walked over to stand behind her and placed a hand on her back.
Giving a yelp Asha jumped up into the air and spun around, "Can you not?!" She growled, "I found something in it's mouth." She held out her hand, in which lay a coin embossed with a T, Goldem took it from her.
"T." Lupaz growled, "Not again."
Hector looked pensive, he had walked to stand between Asha and Goldem, "I have heard of an organisation under that... is it a letter?"
"It's an English letter." Asha murmured, "Which is why I found it odd. It's a capital T, and you see the symbol etched inside the T? That's a cross."
"A cross?" Lupaz asked.
"It's from a religion from Asha's time." Goldem answered for Asha, he looked unimpressed that Hector was standing in front of him, "One where there is only one god."
"Yeah. And most of the world worships that religion. It's killed millions of people. But then again, so has many other religions." She sighed, "I have no idea why this would be here."
Goldem and Lupaz exchanged glances, "Nor do we."
Asha cocked her head, not believing them, but knowing that pressing them wouldn't help, so instead she focussed on getting the coin back from Goldem, "Finders keepers." She growled, holding out a hand.
He gave her a blank look, "A mortal doesn't need to have this in her possession."
"Give it back now." Asha growled, when he started to walk away she followed, "Give it."
Goldem chuckled, "No means no."
"Don't make me mad." She snapped, "Now give it back."
"Or else what?" Goldem asked, he turned around. They had walked to the water's edge and Asha's temper had already snapped.
Before he could say another word she splashed a bit of water at his face.
His hair dripped and he looked unimpressed, "Really?"
"Yes. Now give it-" Asha gave a yelp as he lurched forwards, his leg tripping hers and she slammed face first into the water, spluttering she sat up and glared at Goldem, rubbing the sand from her face, "How dare you."
Goldem laughed, and on the shore his brother and Sophia echoed the same sound, "You can't tell a God what to do." He offered her a hand.
She looked at it like it offended her, then took it, making sure she held on tight. She pulled with all of her body weight and managed to catch Goldem by surprise. He gave an annoyed sound as he fell forwards and on top of her.
"Damn it." Asha growled, realising her mistake, "God's your heavy."
Goldem laughed, caging her between his arms, "How dare you." He mocked her, then his hand shot out to caress one of her breasts.
Asha gasped and tried to kick him of, splashing water at him, "Goldem!"
"Just giving you back what you wanted." The golden god grinned.
Asha blinked, looking down and finding the coin tucked under her bikini top, it was cold and she glared at Goldem, "You could have just handed it to me."
"Then everyone would know you had it back." Goldem whispered in her ear, then he jumped up, splashing her with water, "Your boyfriend is ready to kill me Asha."
She looked to the beach curiously to find Hector trying to find a sword and Lupaz laughing non stop.
Goldem didn't look worried as he offered her a hand, "No pulling me down again, unless we are alone."
She gave him a glare and took the hand, "So never again?" She gave him a growl and started for the sand, the God close on her heels.
"Asha get behind me, I will-" Hector started but a glare from Asha silenced him.
"If someone is going to kill him it will be me."
Goldem gave a short laugh, "Asha I wanted to ask you something."
"Hmm?" She turned to find him glaring angrily at her, she felt so small in that moment and wished that she could run away.
"Oh the thing about Silva. Don't worry about it Goldem." Lupaz intervened, "Asha was just a bit drunk and nothing happened."
Asha noticed that he didn't speak about Silva's curse, probably knowing that if he told him, the golden god would siege the silver god and come out the winner, "I was pretty drunk." Asha admitted.
Golden eyes searched hers and finding nothing he shrugged, "Fine then. But if that stupid silver dragon does something like that again, I swear he will be dead before he can say anything." He growled, the anger dissipating, "What the hell was he doing in his human form in the first place? It's very unlike him."
"He sleeps in it sometimes. Says that sometimes he just feels like it." Lupaz lied.
"Hmph." The golden eyes settled on Hector and gave him such a cold glare that Asha was ready to jump in front of them. The God looked like he was about to kill the prince, "You would be long dead if not for your usefulness. Asha, I will see you later."
"Not likely." She snapped, crossing her arms.
His eyes drifted to her bosom, and to the side where the coin rested, "Oh I think I will."
Then he disappeared.
"Family resemblance." Asha sighed.
"We are all great looking, especially me." Lupaz laughed, then he poked her arm, "Don't be so sour."
"I like sour lollies."
"I could get you some. For a favour."
"I hate gods."
The beach.. ahhh. I should go there right now- No effing way. It's – degree's here. And I live in Australia. This is... THIS IS SPARTA!
Any-ways. Enjoy your hot summer's day as I shiver in misery here my dear European readers.
Next chapter will be in the palace. No more beach, no more serpents attacking them.
SB7 Reporting Out!