Nikos has gone too far if he hired mercenaries to kill her. And ugh, Amilios already being at her house.
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
Two days. Two days of worry and nightmares. Even though I got to speak with Androkles and learn why he was doing this, I couldn't stop being unsettled. I don't trust Lord Ares. I kept fearing that he would not stop and would kill Andy. That is my biggest fear. I don't think I would survive losing him. Which only leads me to more questions. Andy is supposed to be my friend. That's all. Yet I worry for him and fear losing him as much… maybe even more, than I did for Alkaios. How is that possible if Alkaios was my soulmate? Rea has gone to the Ares training ground to be my eyes and ears. She told me he was still diligently training with Lord Zeus, always drawing a large crowd of soldiers. My parents were livid to find that I'd gone to see Androkles and have since found ways to keep me busy at the house. I'm glad that Lord Zeus is in his corner and helping him. I know I'd be of no help to him in preparing. But today is the day. Today he faces Lord Ares in the arena. "He will be okay. L
I’d sent Helene to find Ismene-Eirene as soon as I got to the changing room. That is, if she’s in the arena. If Helene can’t find her here, I told her to go to her family’s home to fetch her. I promised we’d talk, and there is much on my mind I want to speak to her about all of it. How strange is it that the girl I saved from the ruins months ago in the wake of a chimera attack would have become so important to me? Before her, I would have said I didn’t have any friends. Then Dio would have interrupted and introduced himself as my best friend. But now, if someone were to ask who my best or dearest friend is, I would say Ismene-Eirene. There are no secrets between us. There are no lies or half-truths, either. Ismene-Eirene is the one person in Olympus I feel I can be myself. She makes me feel comfortable in letting my guard down, sharing my mind, and sharing my heart. When I am with her, the world feels brighter. It feels like a place I belong. I want to bask in her warmth forever. W