Acheron 9529 BC–7382 BC 9 страница

She reached to heal him. Before she could touch him, he caught her wrist in his hand. His grip surprised her. She wouldn't have thought he'd have such strength in this condition. "I want nothing from you."

"I thought you'd betrayed me."

"I don't break my word, Artemis. Ever."

"How was I to know?"

He laughed bitterly. "What? You think a few lashes are enough to break me? You're a goddess. How can you know so little?"

"You have no idea how hard it is to be a god. The sniveling voices that are always crying out for help for the smallest things. 'I want a new pair of shoes. I want more grain at harvest.' You learn to turn it off."

"Those things may be petty to you, but to some humans even something as innocuous as one moment of peace can make all the difference in a life. One smile. One tiny act of kindness. That's all it takes for us."

"Well, I'm here with my kindness."

Acheron scoffed. "I'm tired of being your pet, Artemis. I've nothing left inside to give you."

His anger ignited her own. "You are a human. You don't order me about."

Acheron sighed. She was right. Who was he, a worthless maggot, to say anything to her? Besides, he was in no condition to argue with anyone. "Forgive me, akra. I forgot my place."

She smiled and brushed a hand over his bald head. "That's the Acheron I know."

No, it wasn't. This was the Acheron who was bought and sold. The hollowed out shell who performed for the amusement of others, but who felt nothing inside. How pathetic that his heart meant so little to anyone, that she couldn't even recognize the fact that it was missing.

Releasing her hand, he lay still as she healed him. For once he tolerated the pain.

Once done, she sat back to look at her handiwork and then grimaced. "Oh, this baldness has to go. I like your hair too much."

It grew in perfectly and still Acheron didn't move.

In a tiff, Artemis folded her arms over her chest. "Can you not at least say thank you to me for healing you?"

Given the fact that she was the reason he was beaten so badly, the mere thought of thanking her stuck in his throat. But then he was used to such things as this. "Thank you, akra."

Like a child who was unaware she'd broken her favorite toy, she smiled in satisfaction. "We should hunt today."

Acheron didn't speak as she took him to her private forest and dressed him in red as if he was her doll and not a flesh and blood man. Her face was bright as she handed him a bow and quiver. He slung the quiver over his back without comment and followed her as she headed off in search of deer.

She chattered away about nothing in particular while he did as she asked, and tried his damnedest not to feel anything at all.

"You're being awfully quiet," she said once she realized he wasn't participating in her conversation.

"Forgive me, akra. What would you like me to say?"

"Whatever's on your mind."

"There's nothing on my mind."

She huffed at him. "Nothing? You have no thoughts whatsoever?"

He shook his head.

"How can this be?" She stuck her bottom lip out petulantly. "You're trying to punish me, aren't you?"

He kept all emotion out of his voice, especially the anger he bore her. "I would never seek to punish you, Goddess. It's not my place."

She grabbed him by his hair, making him grimace before she forced him to meet her gaze. "What is wrong with you?"

Acheron took a deep breath as he braced himself for what was to come. One thing he'd learned while living with his uncle, lust overrode anger. She might still beat him later, but if he pleased her enough the punishment wouldn't be as severe.

Stepping closer, he kissed her.

Sure enough, she loosened the grip in his hair and melted in his arms. Strange, he felt more like a whore in this moment than he'd ever felt before and he didn't understand why.

Perhaps because he shouldn't have to use his body to bargain with someone he'd given his heart to. Yet here he was, using his touch to lighten her anger... as always.

Disgusted with himself, he offered her his neck and died the death of a coward as she took it.

But what else could he do? It was either fuck or be beaten. Though to be honest, he could no longer tell which of the two was the most painful for him. One left scars on his body.

The other scarred his soul.

September 14, 9528 BC

Acheron sat on the railing of his balcony, drinking. He was mystified at how Artemis had managed to make him feel so unclean and yet as the days passed by he felt more and more like what his uncle had made him.

"Brother?"

He leaned his head back to see Ryssa approaching him. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm in so much pain from the baby. Could you please do that thing you do that makes me feel better?"

He snorted at words that could so easily be misconstrued. Thank the gods his father hadn't heard it. "It's called a massage."

"Can you do it?"

"Sure." Like everything else, he'd been well schooled in every muscle of the human body and taught how to loosen and please it. Sliding off the railing, he had her sit down on the floor and lean forward so that he could ease the tension in her back.

"Mmm," she breathed. "That is the most magical thing you do."

Not really. He was just glad to be able to use it on someone who wasn't going to turn around and start humping him over it. "You're really tense."

"I can't get comfortable. I'm aching all over."

"Just breathe then. I'll get the knots out and you'll feel a lot better." He went down to the pressure point and dug his nail in.

Ryssa let out a satisfied moan. "How do you do that?"

"A lot of practice." And a lot of beatings anytime he'd messed up.

"I swear we should bronze your hands."

Most people felt that way, but for many other reasons.

She glanced at him over her shoulder. "Are you planning to stay hidden until your hair grows back?"

Acheron paused as pain cut through him at the reminder. The only time he had hair was whenever Artemis showed up—even though she was the cause of it she hated the sight of him like this. The moment she left him, his hair returned to its real state.

"I have no reason to leave. Period."

"I thought you enjoyed going to plays. Yet you haven't been in ever so long."

Not even they could ease the pain he felt inside. The betrayal. If anything, watching the plays made him even more morose. "I'd just rather stay in my room, Ryssa."

She opened her mouth to speak, but her words died underneath a sharp cry of pain.

"Ryssa?"

"It's the baby... he's coming!"

Acheron's heart pounded as he rose to his feet, then swept her up in his arms. He carried her to her room before he left to find her maids so that they could summon the midwives and his father.

"Acheron," she called as he started to withdraw. "Please, don't leave me. I'm scared. I know you can make the pain less. Please..."

"Father will beat me if I stay."

She screamed out as another contraction seized her.

Unable to leave her like that, he went to the bed and started massaging her again. "Breathe, Ryssa," he said in a calm tone, applying a counter pressure where she was tense.

"What is this?"

He cringed at his father's snarling voice. Ryssa turned to look at him. "Father, please. Acheron can help with the pain."

His father shoved him aside. "Get out."

Acheron didn't speak as he obeyed. He passed Styxx and a line of senators in the hallway who were coming in to witness the culmination of his sister's union with Apollo. Several of them sneered at him and made comments under their breath. A couple even made offers.

He ignored them and kept going to his room. Then he locked his doors to make sure no one followed him inside.

Wishing he could have helped his sister, he sat in his room and listened to her screams, sobs and cries that went on for hours. Gods, if this was childbirth it was a miracle any woman would endure it.

Why would they?

And yet having endured something so horrifically painful, how could a mother shun the very child she'd fought so hard, and suffered so long, to birth?

He struggled to recall his mother's face. All he could really remember was the look of hatred in her blue eyes. "You're disgusting." Every time he'd ever gone near her, she'd slapped him away.

But not all mothers were like that. He'd seen them in the market and in the stands during the plays. Mothers who held their children with love—like the one he'd stumbled into in Artemis's temple. Her baby had meant everything to her.

Acheron brushed the back of his fingers against his own cheek. Closing his eyes, he pretended it was a mother's gentle touch, that a woman was touching him so sweetly. Then he scoffed at his own stupidity. Who needed tenderness? All he had to do was walk near any human being and he'd have all the caresses he wanted.

But they were never loving and they never came without conditions and cost.

"It's a boy!" His father's shout was muffled through the walls and was followed by a massive shout that echoed.

Acheron smiled, happy for his sister. She'd given Apollo a son. Unlike their mother, she'd be honored for her labor.

Hours went by as he waited until he was sure everyone had left her.

Acheron headed to her room, but was stopped by the guards outside.

"We were told to keep you away. Under no circumstances are you allowed in to see the princess."

How stupid of him to think otherwise. Without a word, Acheron returned to his room. With nothing else to do, he took himself to bed.

A cheron?"

He jerked awake at the whispered call. Opening his eyes, he found Ryssa kneeling beside him. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard them turn you away, so I waited until I was free to come to you." She held a small bundle up for his inspection. "Meet my son, Apollodorus."

A smile curved his lips as he saw the tiny infant. He had a wealth of black hair and deep blue eyes. "He's beautiful."

Ryssa returned his smile before she set the baby in his hands.

"I can't, Ryssa. I might hurt him."

"You're not going to hurt him, Acheron." She showed him how to support his head.

Amazed, Acheron couldn't believe the love he felt inside him that swelled up.

Ryssa smiled. "He likes you. He's been fussing all night with me and the nurses, but look how quiet he is for you."

It was true. The babe gave one tiny sigh, then went to sleep. Acheron laughed as he examined the tiny fingers that didn't even seem real. "Are you all right?"

"Sore and very tired. But I couldn't sleep until I saw you. I love you, Acheron."

"I love you, too." Reluctantly, he held Apollodorus out to her. "You'd best go before you're caught. Father would be extremely angry at us both."

Nodding, she took the baby and left him.

Still the scent of the baby stayed with him, as did the image of innocence. It was hard to believe he'd ever been so small and even harder to believe he'd survived given the animosity his family bore him.

As he tried to return to sleep he wondered what it would be like to have a woman hold a child of his with such love and pride. Imagine a woman's face so joyful because she'd borne a part of him...

But it would never happen. His uncle's physicians had seen to that. His cock jerked at the memory of their surgery.

It's for the best.

As bad as it was for the rest of the world to hate him, he could imagine nothing worse than to see his child despising him. To have his own child deny him.

Of course, if he had one, he would never give it cause to hate him. He'd hold it and love it no matter what.

Go to sleep, Acheron. Just forget everything.

Closing his eyes, he let out a tired breath and tried to sleep again.

"What are you doing?"

He opened his eyes to find Artemis in his bed, beside him. "I was trying to sleep."

"Ah... Did you hear about our nephew?"

"I did. Ryssa was just here with him."

She wrinkled her face up. "Don't you find babies nasty and disgusting?"

"No. I thought him beautiful."

She scoffed. "You would. I think they're smelly and fussing. Never content. Always demanding. Yuck, I can't imagine going through all that to have something so nasty clinging to me."

Acheron rolled his eyes as he imagined all the poor infants that were given to Artemis. Obviously she gave their care over to someone much more maternal. "I'm thinking the Greeks should have learned this about you before they declared you the goddess of childbirth."

"Well, that's because I helped my mother give birth to Apollo. That was different." She reached down to cup him softly in her hand. "What have I here?"

"If you don't know by now, Artie, no amount of explaining is going to help."

She laughed deep in her throat as his cock hardened even more. "I was hoping to find you still awake."

Acheron didn't comment as she dipped her head down to take him into her mouth. He stared up at the ceiling while she tongued him. It would probably be more pleasurable if he didn't have to make sure to keep himself in check. But he knew better than to come with her like this. She liked the taste of him, but she didn't like it when he released anywhere except inside her.

Even then she only tolerated it.

He jerked as she nipped him hard enough to hurt. She curled her fingers in the hair around his cock. Sighing, Acheron wished he could go back to the beginning of their relationship. Back to when this had meant so much more than just her sucking on him.

She gave one long lick before she pulled back. He expected her to return to his lips. Instead she sank her teeth into his upper thigh, barely two inches from his sac.

Yelping from the pain, he had to force himself not to push her away and hurt himself even more.

The pain quickly passed into a wave of extreme pleasure. But she didn't allow him to come yet. "I want you deep inside me, Acheron."

Rolling her over onto her stomach, he propped her hips up on his pillows and obliged her request. He held her hips in his hands and buried himself deep inside her. He thrust against her until she'd had enough orgasms that she begged him to stop. Rolling over onto her back, she laughed in satisfaction.

Artemis sighed contentedly until she realized he was still hard. "Why didn't you finish?"

Acheron shrugged. "You were done."

"But you weren't."

"I'll live."

She let out a sound of disgust. "Acheron? What is wrong with you lately?"

Acheron clenched his teeth, knowing better than to answer her question. She didn't want to hear anything other than how wonderful she was. "I don't want to fight, Artemis. What difference does it make? You were pleased, weren't you?"

"Yes."

"Then all is right in the world."

She propped herself up on one arm to stare down at him as he lay beside her. "I really don't understand you."

"I'm really not complicated." All he asked for was the two things she couldn't give him.

Love and respect.

She dragged one long nail around his neck. "Where's my ring that I gave you?"

Acheron flinched at the memory of being forced to swallow it. "It was lost."

"How could you be so callous?"

Him callous? At least he hadn't thrown her gift back in her face and then had her beaten for it. "Where are the pearls I gave you?"

Her face turned red. "Fine. I'll get you another one."

"Don't. I don't need one."

Her eyes darkened angrily. "Are you shunning my gift?"

As if he'd ever take another gift like that from her. He'd had enough abuse. "I'm not shunning anything. I just don't want to take a chance on shaming you. Given everything that has happened, I really don't think it's wise I have something that is so clearly yours."

"That's a good point." She smiled at him. "You are ever loyal to me, aren't you?"

"Yes."

She kissed his cheek. "I'd best go now. Goodnight."

After she was gone, Acheron rolled over onto his back. Closing his eyes, he let his thoughts drift. In his mind he pictured a woman with kind eyes. One who held his hand in public, who was proud to be with him.

He imagined how her hair might smell, how her eyes would light up every time she glanced at him. The smiles they would share. Then he imagined her kissing her way down his body, imagined her looking up at him as she went down on him.

His breathing ragged, he thrust himself against his hand, pretending it was her he made love to.

"I love you, Acheron..." He could hear her voice so sweet and calm... most of all, it would be sincere.

He gasped as his warm seed coated his hand and seeped between his fingers and not inside a woman who loved him.

Shuddering and only partially sated, he opened his eyes to the harsh reality of his life.

He was alone.

And no woman, mortal or otherwise, would ever willingly claim him.

October 23, 9528 BC

Acheron rolled over in bed, trying to sleep. Apollodorus was screaming so loudly that it echoed all the way down to his room. For hours the baby had cried.

He wasn't supposed to go near the infant, yet he couldn't stand the sound of so much anger and unhappiness. Unable to tolerate another minute of it, he got out of bed and dressed.

Quietly, he walked down the hallway to Ryssa's room, making sure no one saw him. He cracked open the door to find Ryssa and her nurse in the room, swapping the baby between them.

"Why is he doing this?" Ryssa asked in a voice that sounded as if she were about to cry herself.

"I don't know, Highness. Sometimes babies cry for no reason."

Ryssa shook her head at the baby the nurse was rocking in her arms. "Please, child, have mercy on your mother and rest. I can't take much more of it."

Acheron slipped into the room. "I'll take him."

The nurse's face paled as she turned away.

"It's all right, Delia. Let Acheron see if he can quiet him."

The nurse appeared dubious, but in the end she obeyed.

Acheron took his nephew and tucked him into the crook of his elbow. "Hello, little one. You're not going to fuss at me, are you?"

Apollodorus took a deep breath as if he were about to let loose another wail, then opened his eyes. He stared at Acheron for several heartbeats before he quietly cooed, then settled down to sleep.

" That is a miracle," the nurse breathed. "What did you do?"

Acheron shrugged as he placed Apollodorus on his shoulder.

Ryssa smiled. "That's it. I'm making you his nurse."

Acheron laughed at the thought of him as a nurse to anything. "Go to bed, sister, you look exhausted."

Nodding gratefully, she started off. The nurse held her hands up for the baby.

Acheron handed him back, but the instant Apollodorus left his arms, the baby woke up and screamed again.

Ryssa jumped. "For the love of the gods, let Acheron keep the boy. I can't take another hour of this."

The nurse obeyed instantly.

Again Apollodorus cuddled against Acheron and went to sleep.

"Where should I take him?" Acheron asked.

Ryssa paused. "You better not risk the nursery. Father or Styxx might venture there. Take him to your room." She looked at her nurse. "You go to the nursery and cover for us should they ask after him."

"Yes, Your Highness." She bowed and left them.

Ryssa patted his arm gratefully. "Wake me when he's ready to feed. In the meantime, I must sleep."

Acheron kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Rest. We'll be back when he needs you." He watched her climb into bed before he took his nephew down to his room.

"Well, it appears to be just the two of us, little one. What say you we get naked, drunk and find us some wenches?"

The baby actually smiled up at him as if he understood.

Acheron nodded. "So that's it, eh? Barely a month old and you're already lecherous. You are your father's son."

Sitting on the bed, he leaned his back against the headboard and lifted his knees so that he could lay Apollodorus against his legs to cradle him. Acheron tickled his belly, causing him to laugh and kick Acheron's stomach.

The tiny infant amazed him. He'd never really been around one before. Apollodorus took his finger into his tiny hand and led it to his mouth so that he could suckle Acheron's knuckle. The sensation of the toothless gums against his flesh was so strange, yet it pacified the baby even more.

How could anyone hate something so purely innocent? Something so helpless?

The thoughts chased themselves around his mind as he thought about his parents and tried to understand them. He could fathom some of his father's hatred now. It wasn't as though Acheron went out of his way to please the man.

But as a child...

How many times had he been slapped for nothing more than looking at someone? How many times had Estes tied his hands behind his back and put a scold in his mouth for asking a simple question?

But worse than his memories were the fears of someone hurting this babe in such a manner.

"I would kill anyone who hurt you like that, Apollodorus. I promise you, no one will ever make you cry."

The baby yawned and smiled before he closed his eyes. Still holding Acheron's finger, he fell asleep. Warmth spread through Acheron. There was no judgment or anger in the baby. He accepted him without malice.

Smiling, he placed the baby down on his bed to sleep more comfortably and covered him with a blanket.

Acheron lay for hours, watching him sleep in perfect repose. Exhausted himself, he finally nodded off.

"A cheron?"

Acheron woke up to find Ryssa standing in front of him. He was lying on his side with his hand still on Apollodorus's stomach. The baby had yet to waken, but by the rise and fall of the tiny chest, he knew the baby was fine.

"What time is it?"

"Midmorning." She looked incredulous. "How did you get him to sleep through the night?"

"I don't know. We were talking about wenching and he fell asleep."

She laughed. "No, you weren't. Were you?"

"I suggested it and he liked the thought. Unfortunately, he had no stamina for it."

She laughed again. "Don't you dare corrupt my baby, scamp."

Acheron withdrew his hand so that Ryssa could pick the baby up. Apollodorus opened his eyes and smiled at his mother before he put one fist in his mouth to slurp it.

"Whatever you did, bless you for it. It's the first good sleep I've had in months." She glanced to the door. "Now, let me run before Father learns we were here."

Please. That was the last thing he needed.

Stretching, Acheron sat up in bed. It was later than he normally rose. He preferred to get up before the rest of the household and tend his needs without fear of running into anyone.

That being said, it was late enough that everyone should now be about their business.

He grabbed his clothes and razor and headed down to the bathing room. Luckily the large room was empty. As always, he placed his razor by the basin on the wall and hung up his clothes.

Naked, he descended to the steps to take him into the heated water that felt incredible against his skin. The pool was waist deep unless he sat in it and as large as a dining table. Acheron went down on his knees and leaned back to wet his cropped hair so that he could wash it. Closing his eyes, he sighed contentedly. This was the best part of his day.

He rose up and reached for the soap, then froze as he realized he was no longer alone.

Nefertari was there, staring at him with a heated look he knew all too well.

Acheron withdrew his hand and stepped back in the pond. "Forgive me, my lady. I didn't mean to intrude on your time."

She watched him like a cat eyeing a mouse and when he reached for a towel, she stopped him. "How is it you're so much more handsome than your twin brother?" She pulled the pin from her gown and let it fall to her feet. Her nude body was beautiful, but he wanted no part of it.

Acheron bolted from the pool, but she blocked his way to the door. "I need to leave."

Laughing, she wrapped herself around him. "No, you don't." She nipped his chin with her teeth.

"I'm involved with someone."

"So am I."

Acheron tried to pry her loose but short of hurting her, there wasn't much he could do as she grabbed at him. Wrenching himself from her grasp, he started away only to step on the soap where he'd left it by the pool. He hit the ground hard enough to knock the breath out of him.

Nefertari was on him in an instant. "Make love to me, Acheron."

He rolled over with her, and just as he was rising, the door swung open.

The blood drained completely out his face as he saw Styxx and his entourage there. They drew up short, their eyes not missing a single detail.

Acheron cursed as he realized how damning this looked. How damning it was.

Nefertari started screaming and slapping at him. "Don't rape me. Please!"

Sick to his stomach, he rolled away from her. She scrambled away and rushed to Styxx where she cried as if her heart were broken. "Thank the gods that you came when you did. It was terrible."

Styxx handed her over to his guards.

Acheron rose slowly to his feet to face his twin whose fury was so great his cheeks were mottled with red. He knew better than to even try to explain. Styxx would never believe him.

So he let them take him. They hauled him down to the cells under the palace. Acheron grimaced as he was wedged into a hole that brought back "fond" memories. He wrapped his arms around himself, trying to banish the chill. But nothing could warm the one on his soul that dreaded what they were going to do to him after this.

"Artemis?" he breathed her name quietly.

He could feel her presence even though he couldn't see it. "What are you doing in here?"

"I've been accused of rape."

He felt a severe pressure on his neck as if she were choking him. "Did you?"

He coughed. "You know better."

The pressure withdrew. "Then why are you here?"

"They won't believe my innocence and I swear on my soul that I didn't touch her. I... I need your help."

"With what?"

He looked up to where there was only a shadowed image of her and spoke the one thing he wanted most in life. "Kill me."

"You know I won't do that."

"They're going to geld me, Artemis. Do you understand that?"

"I'll fix it."

Acheron laughed bitterly. "You'll fix it. That's your answer?"

"Well, what would you have me do?"

"Kill me!" he shouted.

"Don't be so melodramatic."

"Melodramatic? They're going to chain me down, cut open my scrotum and remove my testes and then crush the channel. All while I feel every move they make and I can assure you they won't be gentle. How the fuck is that melodramatic?"

She scoffed at his anger. "And I will repair you afterward. So there's nothing for you to worry about."

Aghast at her attitude and dismissal, he felt her withdraw from him. Wanting to kill all of them, he banged his head against the stone wall.

I should have fought them...

But honestly what good would it have done him? They would have outnumbered him and beat him down until there was nothing left to fight with. Then he would have been dragged in here anyway.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30