Walking out into the courtyard, I could still feel Helios. He was still in the throne room. Decided, I became like a hurricane and went into the desert where Lineo's palace was. I was not surprised that all the rooms were covered with thick curtains that prevented the sunlight from invading. Since he began to take blood from the simple folk frequently, he had become sensitive to light. I entered knowing that I was welcome there and he surrounded me with darkness, leaving me paralyzed. I was reassured, for I knew he must have been guarding against disguises that Helios could use to reach him. "It's me, Lineo. Stop this nonsense." I had to say when I realized he was taking his time with his assessment. He appeared and even amidst the darkness, I could see his bright red eyes stare at me inquiringly. "You're in trouble and so am I." I went on to say as soon as he released me from the paralysis. "I already knew there would be consequences, when I broke the rules.... What was
I was a street girl. My mother was a prostitute and had no idea who my father was and no means to support me. So, she abandoned me as soon as I was born, I learned about these conditions about my mother and my origin from the women who hated her and made sure to tell me horrible stories about her every time they saw me. They only thought about getting revenge on the woman who took away their husbands' fidelity and didn't stop to think that they paid for my mother's work and that she was no respecter of persons as long as they had money to pay her. They had no pity for my young age. What they did have was the fear that I was the daughter of their precious husbands. Rejected, I was raised on the streets of the suburbs. I don't even know how I survived. Each season, some wanderer would take pity on me and stay with me for a few months. But my constant companions were hunger and loneliness. But I did not resign myself to that fate. With a lot of willpower (because when I entered some pla
In Search of Redemption I took a shower and went out to the balcony where I started to watch the stars. I felt like them. Always close to each other, but always alone. Turning my thoughts to Gabriel, I remembered our conversation. In truth, nothing I could say to him would change his mind. I had long ago planted the seed of hurt and revenge in his heart, and it was rooted in him. Even though it meant his own destruction, the seed germinated. The fruit was not good. And I didn't know how to change our reality. How to prove to him that I had changed. I could even imagine my arguments and theirs; "I won't be that person you knew anymore, even animals evolve, why would I remain the same? Look at these last few lifetimes when we haven't met. I've done nothing bad..." And he would rebut; "You didn't because I wasn't there! You are like the sand. It never changes." And maybe he was right. But we would only find that out if one day he came back and
The King's Children The room, furnished with all the luxury the times allowed, was full of women running around, carrying bowls of water and clean towels, while the queen sweated on the bed, feeling the pains of childbirth that would bring the longed-for heir into the world. Her face transfigured a mixture of pain and pride. She knew that her husband, after being thrown out of the room by the slave girls, was waiting outside. A louder groan and a deep cry that would trouble the soul of any human being, was followed by laughter and applause. They brought the little baby so that the queen could see him, already wrapped in a blue blanket. He was a beautiful boy. The new mother only had time to smile and look with great affection at the prince, who was crying disconsolately in the arms of Martha, the queen's trusted slave, before he began to feel dreadful pain again, much stronger than that of the first child. And to the amazement of everyone, even the queen herself, another child ca
Dartan approached the bed as soon as the priest had left and sat down in the chair by the bedside, previously occupied by Ale. He took her hand, feeling her coldness, and brought it to his lips. "Oh, my dear.... What is this misfortune that has befallen our family? I would give anything to take your place, for you are the foundation of this family and your life much more precious than mine.... If only we knew what disease this is, so that we could treat you properly... The priest said incoherent things... I believe that everyone is at a loss as to what to do..." He whined, thinking Lea was asleep, and was surprised when she answered him, staring him firmly in the eyes. Reminding Dartan of his beloved's healthy days. "This illness is the result of care, for the past eighteen years... The priest knew well what he was talking about." "What does Lea say? Has the care I have been giving you made you sick?" Lea smiled. Dartan was too good to associate his words with his child
On hearing the king's cry, his sons and the doctors rushed into the room. Ale, realizing what had happened, could not hold back his tears and threw himself on his mother's bed, kissing her between sobs. The body was inert, but still with a little warmth, and he absorbed that warmth like someone clinging to a last thread of hope. Luc didn't shed any tears. He just watched his brother's sobbing with hatred. He thought his mother was an idiot and her death was a choice. The treatment was within her reach and she refused to receive it, out of an unacceptable feeling of loyalty. She approached her father and, helping him to get up, left, taking him to his quarters. There, she called her personal servant and ordered him to bring one of the doctors, because they had all been called to give an opinion, but they arrived too late. The doctor who was accompanying her left to advise her at the last minute that she had little time. Luc imagined that he was told to act this way. "Give my f
Luc knew that he was suddenly very quiet. Perhaps he was trying to hear what his heart already knew and wanted to tell him. He had fallen in love with that slave girl. He didn't understand how he could fall in love with her for a single glance that didn't turn into a minute. And he was really enchanted with the girl. It wasn't just her beauty, something about the way she sang the song was so... Sensitive. So sweet. And at the same time so sad that he felt like taking her in his arms and comforting her and not letting anything ever again disturb her peace. On the other hand, he noticed that Dete was also silent and thoughtful. Nothing in his physiognomy, accused that he was having negative thoughts. Quite the contrary. His gaze was one of hope. Luc didn't wish to feel, but he felt jealous of him. He knew the girl, and from the way he spoke about her, they were friends and should talk often. He was afraid she owned his heart, for if she did, he could not court her. He loved Dete and
Pamela arrived red-faced before her mother, who was waiting for her in her room. Martha stared at her worriedly. She knew she stayed behind with the prince and knowing her own daughter's beauty, she could imagine the issue that made her linger in the kitchen with him. "What did he want with you?" Martha asked as she sat her in the chair in front of the dressing table and began to brush her hair. "He said he wants to marry me..." "He knows he doesn't have to use that ruse to get you in his bed.... He must be wanting your cooperation when he goes to rape you, because he will use you. That was predictable since you started going in the kitchen and your eyes not abandoning your movements." "It's not that. He said he's in love..." "And you believed him? Nothing I told you about these people entered your head?" Martha asked thoughtfully. "There is still a way to save you from that fate.... I'm going to send you to live with a cousin, far away from here. He is three tim