It’s been a month since Amilios started to call on me. Though, at this point, I don’t think it’s me he’s coming to see. Yes, he escorts me around the property and for walks in the city. But Rea is always with us. And even if he insists on having me hold his arm, which irks me since I am not inept and have Alexis, I can always sense his attention is more on Rea. And I know she finds him handsome. She gushes about him often, even though she’s trying to disguise it as encouraging me to be interested in him.
As always, the highlights of my weeks are the two days I get to spend with Androkles. He isn’t overbearing in the way Amilios is. He is so encouraging of my independence. I think, in a way, for him, my getting more freedom holds more value than anything.
"Why does he want her followed?" Androkles demanded. Ilias gulped, trembling in fear, unable to look at Androkles, or me for that matter. "Who…who said that." He stammered as if trying to take back what he's already told us. "You were rather specific. You said 'she.' Who else is following her? Do you or others follow her when she's not with me?" Androkles questioned. I could tell by his tone that he was holding back much anger. "I... I do not know why. It is not for me to question the orders of Lord Ares." Ilias said. I feel bad for him. I know I shouldn't. He's been told to follow me, which should anger me as much as, if not more, it angers Andy. But I can't help but feel sympathy for Ilias. He is a soldier of Ares. His lord gave him a command, and he must obey no matter his personal feelings. I don't want to begin to imagine the consequences of disobedience in Ares House. "I repeat. Who else is following her? Do you or others follow her when she's not with me?" Androkles practi
I sat down under the tree I’d punched to wait. Mostly I tried to listen. I couldn’t hear what Ismene-Eirene and Ilias were saying. But if she called out for help, I would hear her and be ready. And if she calls out for help, Ilias will be dead. I don’t like this. And it isn’t like I have any authority or power over her. But I have to trust she can handle things herself. I raised my head as I heard footsteps right before Alexis started nudging me with his muzzle giving a bark to indicate he had found me. “So?” I asked, looking up at her. The way the rays of the sun filtered down through the trees made her seem to glow. She’s beautiful. Wait, why am I thinking that? Focus, dumbass. She patted Alexis, then reached over, placing a hand on my shoulder. “It wasn’t just Lord Ares that gave the order. It was Lord Nikos as well. And apparently, they hired five- people. Ilias couldn’t see their Houses, but they all had armor with the symbol of a hydra. Five brothers, he thinks.” she explain
I sighed as Androkles left. Turning my attention back to Amilios, I removed my hand from his arm. “Will you kindly not do that,” I said as politely as possible, walking past him into the house. Alexis growled softly when passing Amilios. I wonder if he reflects my or Androkles’ feelings. “Not do what, Miss? I was giving you my arm to help you find your way.” Amilios questioned, honestly clueless as to why I was annoyed. “That is not necessary. I know the layout of my own home. And with Alexis, even if he is not fully trained as my seeing-eye dog, I can find my way anywhere in the city without needing someone’s arm.” I stated. “Yet you walked up on the destroyer’s arm.” Amilios pointed out. I know that he doesn’t know Andy the way I do. And that, like most, he sees him that way. But it angers me to hear him so casually call him that. “Don’t you dare call him that!” I rounded on Amilios in my anger. “But it is what he is. The prophecy even says so. My brother is certain he is.” Am
I’ve had Ilias reporting to me, in secret, for the last few weeks. I haven’t asked him to give the names of those others assigned to follow Ismene-Eirene. But he has at least assured me that none of them observe her while she’s inside her home. So all private moments are kept that way. He realized I’d kill him and every other soldier sent to spy on her if they observed her in private. As for the Pompeius brothers, I instructed Hypatos to find and retrieve the gold-enchanted sword. So far, he hasn’t found it, but I’m waiting impatiently. I want to put an end to them. Just knowing they are out there sets me on edge. Today I had a visit scheduled with my father. I want to dig up something. I can get him to admit to anything illicit regarding Ismene-Eirene. I don’t think he suspects anything. If anything, he was eager for this visit, probably to discuss my marriage prospects. As I entered his retirement home, I stopped hearing voices from his office. “What do you mean void!? You’re the
“For your nuptials to Amilios." I grounded out. The very sentence left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm sure I'd have hated saying those words no matter whom Ismene-Eirene married. But something about it being Amilios, the brother of Zeno, served to piss me off more. Zeno only wants to secure control over her family's business, and her parents only want to ensure she marries someone in Poseidon House, all the better that he's related to the current Poseidon. I hate the idea that she was married over to that oatmeal of a man for political gain. Ismene-Eirene giggled. She laughed at me. Why is she giggling at me? Does she find this amusing? Just what I need today. She thinks my jealousy is entertaining. Fuck I am jealous, aren't I? I'm jealous that Amilios married her. I'm jealous that this will mean I get even less time with her. I'm jealous because even if it's a political marriage, she has the chance of being happy, and it's not with me. "Androkles. I'm…. I'm not whom Amilios married.
Before I went to bed last night, I prayed for the souls of Lady Kyltië and her child. I may not have known her nor been part of House Ares, but it is still tragic. She was not much older than me. So to not only die so young but to die while trying to bring a new life into this world? A life that also didn’t make it. I couldn’t help but feel sorrow. I hadn’t slept well last night, plagued by nightmares. Often my nightmares are of the chimera. But last night, it wasn’t. I don’t know the source, but an intense power engulfed the city and the world burning everything. I’d woken in a sweat. I don’t know what the nightmare meant, but I know it was not a good omen. And in my heart, something told me that I was the one who could stop it. “Miss…" Rea called, hurrying into my room. I furrowed my brow. What was Rea doing here at this hour? Shouldn’t she be at home still warm and safe in her bed with her new husband? “Rea? Why are you here at this hour? Shouldn’t you be home with your husband?
It had been a whirlwind since the revelations last night about Eugenius, and that Lady Hades is his daughter, a daughter he discarded and is trying to cover up her existence. How dare he treat her that way. She is his daughter, and she is the heir of Hades. There are rules we are to follow, especially in presenting an heir, and Eugenius violated that. He cannot lead this House, and I won't let him. I'm sure my late-night letters to the council members caused an uproar across Olympia and spread outside the city. I don't care. Dio was pounding on my door before the damn sun threw my armor at me from where I slept in my bed. We've been out here ever since. Not that I mind. Of sparring partners, Dio is the best I'll get. He's faster and stronger than Eugenius, so I'll be better prepared. Plus, I wanted to get a few hits on him after his bullshit white lie about Ismene getting married. We've been at this for hours now. I refused to quit, however. I have to win this fight against Eugenius.
“I know you don’t intend it to be. But I don’t trust Lord Ares,” Ismene-Eirene sighed as she moved from her chair. I furrowed my brow, not sure what she was doing at first. And blinked in surprise as she sat on my leg, having used her hand to be sure of where my lap was. Am I dreaming this? Did Dio knock me unconscious in training? I froze, probably not breathing for fear of startling her or waking up from a fever dream. Her arms wrapped around my neck and hugged me like if she let go, I was the one that would disappear. “You have to be careful. And you have to win,” Ismene-Eirene said softly. “You're fighting for a good reason because you're a good man. And I won't stop worrying until I can talk to you after the fight and hear your voice," she said, muffled slightly as she buried her face into my shoulder. I was not prepared for this. I've been hugged by... well, Dio was the only person I could remember hugging me, which was VERY different. This was Ismene-Eirene hugging me. Thi