Memoirs of an Immortal (The Immortal Series) (25 page)

“Retract your blades, do it now!” she yelled.

When I did my wrists were barely hinged together, even the bone had started to disintegrate. I stared down at my wrists. This was the evidence of how hard we fought. So every time I would fight, this is what will happen to me. The more I use my swords, the more damage I dealt to my prey, the more injured I’d be.

I finally understood my new reality. I accepted it. I stood up not wanting the moment to be tainted, we did this and no matter what I was going to heal.

“What are you doing?” Zoe cried out “Sit down now and let me heal you!”

Zoe hovered her hands over my wrists and the pain started to subside. “This will take awhile” She said looking at my wrists.

“Zoe stop. It’s ok. Why don’t you heal everyone else, you could heal them quicker than me.” I wanted to be left alone with this pain. It’s a different feeling knowing that no matter what nothing can happen to me.

She reluctantly agreed and began to heal my sisters. I stared at my wrists for a moment, had I been mortal this injury would have kill me, but now I was different. It would only be a matter of time and all this would heal. I was no longer a human, this was proof of it.

After the initial mission it seemed that Athena and Apollon were pleased with our abilities. Soon after that, we were bombard with numerous assignments.

It had been months of fighting, at times there would be two attacks in one day. Even though our bodies could take the assault, it was exhausting.

“It appears that the Diavolis have come to understand that there is a new enemy and they are testing the quality of your skills. It’s only natural. They finally have an enemy to be fearful of.” Athena was telling me, while I was lying on the ground at our home underneath the olive tree, reeling from the battle I just had.

“An enemy! What about you? Are you not considered their enemy?” I asked.

“Most gods and I do mean most, don’t really care. We fight, but only if the battle calls for it. When it comes to small towns or villages, whether they are attacked or whether they kill them all, that doesn’t matter to most here, but now with you and your sisters, the humans finally have a champion to look out for them. You should feel proud. This is your calling, this is your fate. Only a few in this world can say they know what to do with themselves. Others simply let go of opportunities and their fate for something that does not exists in hopes that they are something more then what they are, it is a human trait I truly don’t understand.” For being wise, Athena was at times unaware, that wasn’t a human trait that was being human. The gods were children still unable to understand humans, even they themselves were full of imperfections.

Eva came outside and plopped herself next to me.

“Look at this!” She had a deep scar down her ribs. “It better go away soon.” She was clawed by one of the Diavolis.

“At least it’s a scar now, before all you had was shredded flesh with very little bone left.” I offered, trying not to make a face at how badly it looked.

“Athena, if you’re here to tell us about an attack, we need time. Eirene is still throwing up miasma, from the last fight. Agape’s ribs still need a few more hours and I need some time to heal my wrists. In this servant’s honest opinion perhaps we are being taken advantage of and I have to say at this point, I feel like seeing Zeus about this. I don’t mind us being the main attack force, but you have to be kidding me, when you think that we can do it all.” I had gotten myself up from the ground and walked over to her. “If you could just give us some time and just leave, I would appreciate it.”

Athena smirked. “Finally you spoke up. You’re right, the others have dropped their duties.” She stood up from where she was seating. “Soon enough, you will have more immortals to command and it will not be just you. I will speak to the rest. Take some time to regain yourselves.”

When she left, Eva turned to me. “Is she being serious? Regain yourselves?” Eva exasperated. “It’s been nearly three months and we’ve been at this every day. Why doesn’t she go fuck herself?”

“Eva!” I laughed.

“What? I’m right. ‘Oh you finally spoke up.’” Eva was mocking her “I’m sure it’s because you mentioned Zeus that she back down.” Maybe she was right, I don’t know.

“You know what Eva?” I said happily, “At the rate we’re going, I’ll make sure we’ll be able to do what we want soon enough.”

I had sat myself back down, the sun was peering though the leaves of the olive tree, I could hear the familiar sounds of summer, it seemed that summer never really ended here. I finally succumbed to my thoughts, letting them take me away. I lied down on the ground, the sun hitting my eyes. I reached my arm over to cover them. Eva still sitting next to me had decided to stretch out her body and lay down with me. I was relaxing, when my thoughts brought me back to my reality.

I hadn’t seen or heard from Hephaistos in over three months. Would he be mad? Worried? I guess since I had the night to myself, I should go and see him, but the thought instantly stressed me. After all this time would he want to see me?

I called Anthousai and asked her to ready a hot bath for me.

“Me too!” Eva said excitedly.

“No not today. I want to be alone.” I stood myself up and followed Anthousai.

‘Why? What’s going on with you?’
Eva questions were fair, but I didn’t know how to answer them. I knew she wouldn’t share my secrets with anyone, but still for some reason I wanted this all to myself.

I walked into our bath house and there was Themis. I ran and hugged her.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” I screamed.

“In my visions I saw you ask for me, so I decided to come and visit. It is a nice home you have. I’m proud of you and your sisters.” Themis smiled and hugged me back. “Well get in.”

Anthousai excused herself. The water was nice and hot against my beaten body.

“You have quite a few bruises.” Themis stated.

“Yeah I know, they’ll be gone by tomorrow. I hope.” I was counting on how many I had.

‘
So I hear that you have a betrothed’
Themis thought. I froze.

‘
You know your silence speaks louder than your own words. Zeus tells me you haven’t been there in awhile and he’s not happy.’

I now was regretting wanting to see her.

“What would you like me to do? I have been fighting relentlessness for nearly three months. I hadn’t had time to heal properly! Did you really come here under the guise of a premonition or was it all for the sake of Zeus?” I asked angrily.

“Believe what you want, you always have.” Themis no longer touched the subject. “I just came to say, I was proud of you, you have done well.” Themis reached and touched my head and I relaxed a bit. She then vanished. I must have been in the water for a long while, as chills began to riddle my body.

Anthousai walked in as I stood out of the water.
‘Mistress, there is someone here to see you. I told him to wait in your room.’

In the three months that we lived here both Anthousai and Iakhe quickly learned how to deal with each of us, with me they knew best to use their thoughts.

“Thank you” I replied. She had gotten me a dress and helped me get ready. I had caught myself being somewhat excited, which surprised me. I was thankful that Hephaistos took the initiative to come see me first. I could then follow him back without it being uncomfortable.

As I walked to my room and grabbed the door, something felt different somehow, but I didn’t care I was too taken in by my excitement to notice. I opened the door and there he stood by the fire, but this, this wasn’t Hephaistos, it was Apollon.

“What are you doing here?” I asked pointedly.

“Well is this any way to greet a god?” Apollon was scornful. His smile was menacing, his eyes darted towards me. He waited a few seconds and walked over to where I stood. He reached and closed the door behind me. He leaned in, making me lean back onto the door.

“Psykhe.” he hissed close to my ear as he leaned into me. “I have been watching since you came here, but it’s the last three months that I have been taken in by you completely.” The way he spoke, the way his eyes looked at me, made me feel anxious.

Fear wasn’t something I felt often now, I slowly pushed him off and tried to walk away, but Apollon followed closely until he grabbed me.

“You have taken to this life like it was always yours to have and that excites me.” He grabbed me with such force I almost let out a cry. His one hand was now around was my waist pulling me closer while the other found its way to my face. His fingers softly traced my chin.

“Why haven’t you come to me? I’ve been waiting for you and you haven’t even thought of me. Why? Do you not want me? Do you not want me to help you with the Hephaistos? You only need to choose me and I will make it all disappear.” Apollon was now pulling me closer. I was finally able to push him away.

“Get out, get out now!” My quiet command sounded shaky at best. I reached for my door and tried to open it, but he appeared before me pushing it closed.

“Why?” He barked “WHY?” He now screamed. I walked away from him to gain some distance.

“You’re drunk. I can smell it on your breath. Apollon go now.” He reeked of wine, not only his breath, but his whole body smelled of it.

“I know that this is your first night at home, your first night off, trust me, he knows too. Are you planning to see him?” His eyes drifted up and down my body. “Is that why you are dressed up so beautifully? Is that why your skin smells so enticing? Are you planning to sleep with him?” Apollon’s voice began to get louder and I was worried my sisters would hear.

“Stop it, stop it now.” I gritted out, trying to control my voice. He was quick to grab me.

“You are mine and mine alone. I want you.” He breathed. “I want you now. I want to touch you, to own you, why won’t you let me?” He pushed me against the wall. His strength was much greater now.

I was still weakened by all the recent battles, my body ached and was still too broken. My wrists still hadn’t healed completely. He grabbed me by my arms and began to push himself onto me. His lips were busy on my neck, his breath heavy with the smell of wine, which began to nauseate me. With his one hand, he cupped my breast. I fought hard, which made him fight harder.

“I like it when you fight me.” He murmured, as he licked my neck. He began to rip at my dress. His hand busy tried to find its way between my legs. The sense that someone I didn’t care for could touch me there had made me want to cry. I fought back my tears. His fingers were not gentle, but cold and hard, he then exposed himself.

“I will make you mine!” He whispered in my ear. He then drove himself into me. My body screamed out in pain, his movements were rough and hard. I shoved him with all the power I had left. He stood before me, his nostrils flaring and his body trembling under his heavy breathing.

He stood for a mere second then grabbed me quickly and pushed me on the bronze mirror, within seconds we were at Hephaistos’ home. A drunken stunned Apollon laughed out loud, everything seeming to make sense to him now.

“So this is how you hide your little tryst.” He mocked.

Hephaistos was in front of me, he stared at me then at Apollon. I lowered my head feeling shame for the way I must have looked like. I tried desperately to grab whatever was left of my dress, to cover me, tears now falling uncontrollably.

“See little brother, she is mine!” And with quick movement he reached down and bit my neck hard. “This mark will be with you tonight.” Apollon laughed and disappeared.

Full Circle

‘Finally! She’s waking up!’
Zoe’s voice echoed through my mind. I jolted up from my bed and began screaming. I looked around to see if maybe he was still there, but I only saw my sisters’ frightened faces. Zoe and Agape were next to me, grabbing and holding of my arms, while Eva and Eirene were sitting at the foot of my bed.

“Are you ok?” Eva’s concern face made me want to cry. “What happened?” She asked. I didn’t know how much they knew and the pain of everything was too great to share so easily.

“How did I get here?” My voice sounded weak.

“What do you mean? You came here yourself. Iakhe came to wake you, but you were dead to the world, lost in your dreams.” Eva answered. Agape must have caught my confusion.

“Did something else happen to you?” Agape asked, knowing I was hiding something.

“No nothing” I quickly replied. Eirene sighed.

“You must have just been worn out. We were all too tired from all the recent fighting. I know I fell asleep almost right away, after vomiting all that miasma. Well you are in perfect form today, so get up and don’t look so confused.” Eirene remarked.

“She still must be tired, so let’s just leave her alone.” Zoe motioned for everyone to leave.

I lifted myself up and sat in my bed, watching everyone leave. I could still feel the pain between my legs. Apollon must have really hurt me. I could feel myself wanting to cry, wanting to scream, but I did my best to stifle the feeling. I needed to gather my thoughts when Eva called for me.

‘
Psykhe, can I come in?
’

“No” I said, but she ignored me.

Both Eva and Zoe walked back in. Eva laid down on my bed next to me, while Zoe stood over me waiting.

“Well are you going to talk to us or what?” Zoe asked.
‘Psykhe, you’re not usually like this and if you think you’re hiding anything, you can’t. You said it yourself, there can be no real secrets between us.
’

I sat there with my head on my knees and my arms wrapped around my legs. I felt the pain and soreness that pulsated where Apollon had touched me mixed with the feelings of shame and anger.