LYSSANDRA

  I slammed my hands on the top of the table, feeling my mouth giving me a bitter taste. How could I lose? Again and again, he was sitting right in front of me with a victorious smile.

  ‘’What’s the matter, dear?’’ sighed Hermes and leaned closer to me.’’Disappointed in your defeat?’’

  My brow twitched as, with all of my frustration, I threw the board of backgammon at his face.’’

  ‘’Rematch’’I shouted at him, and I moved even closer to his red face now.

  ‘’It’s the tenth time you lose to Lyssandra'’He chuckled. ‘’And how many times did you win?’’

  ‘’You are the god of gambling’’I reminded him of the true statement. ‘’If you stopped controlling-’’

  ‘’Excuses, excuses'’clicking now his tongue, the god offered me a golden jar that was filled with a green liquid.’’

  We play ten times each year. He announced it to me. Lastly, the one in defeat has to do whatever the victor wishes.

  It was the second year we were playing like this, and of course, I lost in both of them. The first thing he decided to do was to drink hot water with hemlock. To see the way my body would react, he explained to me. To be honest, even I was excited to feel the side effects, but nothing actually happened.

  ‘’And this is?’’ I asked curious.

  ‘’A secret’’ He whispered like a snake. I sniffed the liquid slowly, and surprisingly, it had a sweet floral scent. Well, what doesn’t kill me…

  So I drank the entire liquid all at once, realizing the sudden bitter taste at the center of my throat, forcing myself to spit it out.

  ‘’What was…’’My throat began closing up.

  ‘’Oh, I don’t know,’’ he replied. ‘’I just found it near a temple at Ithaka.

  My face twitched as I heard that ad throw the goblet at the center of his nose.

  ‘’You are not funny’’I replied dryly, and he began laughing.

  ‘’No, but I enjoy your reactions…’’ He pouted and leaned closer to me. ‘’Adorable’’

  My gaze moved to the fabric that was covering his eyes and then right below his collarbone, where his sceptre was being hidden. For the past years, I managed to get closer to him, and I must admit. I didn’t dislike it. Hating to admit it, after all those years of isolation, it was nice to gain a friend. Even if it was…

  ‘’I should have given you urine’’He muttered behind his teeth.

  Him.

  ‘’What are you doing?’’ Hermes shouted as he flew angrily near the garden.

  Meanwhile, I was quite enjoying the new garden I was making. I tossed half the flowers he had planted for me to watch, and I let hemlock and daffodils grow on each sight for me to feast. I mean, what was he expecting from me when I asked for seeds like those?

  ‘’You ruined it’’ He gasped. ‘’All of my hard work.’’ A whine and turned to Pup, where he was digging holes wherever he could find beautiful flowers.

  ‘’Control your mutt, woman’’ He ordered me.

  ‘’Hey, you gave it to me, remember?’’ I asked with a smile on my face.

  Looking at him now, it seemed that his clothes and form had changed. Heavy green clothes with black sheep wool around his neck and at the top of his helmet, two round horns grew strong.‘’Well’’I took a sickle and handed it over to his chest. ‘’Now you can help me and put all your hard work here.’’

  He didn’t disagree as he knelt down and began digging a hole, and later placed a few seeds in it. And I kept watching him to see how gently he was moving his hands around the dirt.

  ‘’I can feel your stare, my dear’’He said, grinning.

  ‘’I never expected that you would do hard labor.’’

  A god, dressed in fine fabric, golden jewels, and with a face that could belong to the richest mortals… was now moving his clean hands to the rough dirt.

  ‘’I wasn’t always an Olympian, my dear.’’He explained to me and placed the remaining dirt on the grass.

  ‘’I was born in a cave with only my mother to welcome me. She tried to tell me that everything will be fine, and a solution will appear.’’

  ‘’Lies’’I whispered.

  ‘’Of course, a naive thought’’He agreed with me. ‘’Even if I was three days old’’

  ‘’Pardon?’’ My jaw dropped.

  ‘’I knew that I had to do something. So, I stole a few cows of Apollo to gain his attention and…long story short, here I am.’’

  I tried to imagine Hermes as an infant, grabbing grown full cows and running away with them like a kid finding his new favorite.

  Just the thought made me laugh from it.

  ‘’What did he do?’’ I asked about Paris. ‘’When he found out?’’

  ‘’Oh’’He chuckled. ‘’He was furious, he still holds a grudge, but I think that..’’

  He cut off his words.

  Did he miss his brother? The one who was trapped in Tartarus for eternity? The one who couldn’t escape from his prison? The prison that Hermes did not want his brother to get free from?

  What was family to the gods anyway? What was love?

  Alright, next question.

  ‘’What happened to your mother?’’

  His smile faded.

  He had a mournful expression, one that he could not hide.

  ‘’Oh’’ My lips parted.

  Still silent.

  ‘’She was…is, a nymph, you could have seen the flowers bloom each spring with the pollen and sweet aroma wrack your nose. The colors being kissed by the bright sun, and her dancing with the baby in her arms as she was singing her lullabies.’’

  A small sting found the center of my torso as he was explaining in a calm tone what happened.

  ‘’I gave her a life of value when I became an Olympian. Riches and gifts that could make her stay away from the cold cave she once called home. And when she did, one tita took interest in her and her sisters. They wept for help, for rescue. I tried to help my mother, but the mighty king of all took a first step.’’

  His head moved slightly up, and we both watched the night with the stars dancing in the dark blue.

  And I realised soon what he meant. And he tried to look away from me again. How did he end up being so vulnerable? Years ago, I did ask a similar question when we both saw Persephine and Demeter hugging. Saying goodbye to her mother. And I simply wondered if a god like him could feel a loss like that.

  He was the unlucky one.

  I moved my fingers closer, trying to reach his stiff shoulder. With my gaze looking down at his necklace.

  Be on his side. Be sincere. You were pretending for years; you can do it again.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  But he jumped away from me.

  ‘’What…’’ His voice stuttered, and he shook his head. He slowly stood up, and it seemed that he wanted me to follow him. Such a strange god. I wanted to see more of it. More reactions to come from him. But I knew that it would be too good to be true if I ever did. And I was still wondering if he could see his mothers. Or his mother could see what he was doing to me or his brother.

  And then, my gaze found, near the great trees, a white dove spying on us with curious eyes.

  ‘’Ignore her’’He commanded me. ‘’Aphrodite doesn’t have any other work to do but to spy on us.’’

  Aphrodite. I still remember Paris having a white dove on his shoulder. A friend, he said once.

  ‘’And why is she spying on us specifically?’’ I asked God.

  He was about to answer me, but his hand covered his sharp lips, and he slowly turned to me. What was it now?

  It was alright, if he wasn’t answering, I would imagine a million scenarios. The goddess of love, seeing Hermes showing his charms, might have better advice for him. Or maybe..I did read a myth about her and Hermes, a while back, could it be?

  ‘’Was she good?’’ I asked him, and Hermes choked on the air. After a few coughs and three big breaths, he punched his collarbone tight.

  ‘’What on All Father are you talking about?’’ His face was all flushed.

  The god never stops surprising me with the lovers he has had. Surely, he had the face and the body of a sculpted statue blessed by the entire pantheon and a charm that could make anyone fall for him, but against those goddesses.

  ‘’I mean, was she a dove when you played together?’’My brow arched, and my gaze turned to Hermes and moved lower between the fabric of his waist and..

  ‘’That must have hurt’’I mumbled, and Hermes lifted his head, trying to hide his flustered expression. And then, he snapped by leaning closer to me.

  ‘’Always with the strangest questions’’He whispered to my ear. ‘’Why the sudden interest?’’

  My eyes moved to his cover and gaze as I tried to force a smile and not puke. ‘’You know everything about me. Isn’t it fair to know something about you?’’

  And his interest grew bigger with those words. I could now smile with satisfaction freely when this god took the bait. And then, he pulled away with a chuckle and looked left and right.

  And his hand moved at his necklace.

  ‘’Alright then,’’ He whispered so close to me that I didn’t even realize that we were in a different place. How did I not notice it with all the smell of sheep manure? Looking at the room now, it was filled with sleeping fat sheep, while there was hay all around me.

  As I was about to speak, Hermes swiftly moved his hand near me, and I could feel the green dress I once was wearing getting changed to a heavy red fabric with a golden veil on top of my shoulders. My hair, too, had changed, with my locks being tied into small braids, pushed up into the air.

  ‘’What is happ-’’ I was about to ask Hermes, but now, the man in front of me was someone beyond recognition. And yet, this bronze man with a height shorter than mine and a beard as long as his hand, was facing me as if he knew me for centuries.

  ‘’How do I look?’’ Hermes asked me by showing himself with his arms. I faced him up and down, noticing that the clothes of his choosing were beyond recognition. Bare chest and a long green fabric below his waist? How much had the times changed?

  ‘’Fine’’I shrugged, and I tried to walk out of the barn while Herme’s hand tried to reach mine. But it was far too late, as I opened the barn and threads of sunlight blinded my eyes. I could listen to people speaking to language that I could not understand, and the air had a thick scent that felt so unfamiliar. And when I finally got my vision back, I could see that the buildings of this world had a shape of mountains, that you could even climb with stairs. The people on the road were loud and carefree, selling items and scents that I could not describe with my mind.

  How long was I truly gone that I couldn’t even recognize my old home?

  That’s what was rushing through my mind before Hermes finally spoke.

  ‘’Welcome to Mesopotamia, Lyssandra’’His voice whispered to my ear.

  I once heard about the Kingdom of Literature that was eons away from Greece. With buildings tall as mountains and warriors of gods to protect their mortals. But I could only imagine it as a beautiful lie a drunk was trying to spread like an honest omen.

  And here I was, walking to the marketplace of that kingdom with Hermes, trying to explain to me that I should not be far away from him since he is not as powerful as he is back in Greece without his believers there.

  ‘’Back in Greece,’’ He explained to me while my gaze was moving left and right. ‘’Mortals and gods are involved in new wars each day. I think that I prefer to stay here for a few years, and I believe that you would prefer that to be closed into thin walls.’’

  In other words, he did not trust me being alone with all my scrolls. My gaze shifted back to his now-covered necklace. Demeter warned me about his staff, but he had no staff when we appeared here. Only a necklace.

  Taking it from him was already a difficult task, but now that he has his suspicions…

  ‘’And how shall I call you?’’I asked Hermes,

  His hand moved now to his very comedic long beard. ‘’How about Ea Nasir? It’s supposed to be a strong name. I will need a name like this here’’

  ‘’For what exactly?’’ I was confused as his voice now had a heavy accent. The god jerked his head to show me the marketplace and the traders all around. He wanted to be a merchant instead of a god?

  ‘’What will happen to your duties back in Greece?’’ My voice grew now curious while Hermes was trying to cover his mouth with all my force.

  At the end, he didn’t answer, while he now stopped at one tall building, telling me this is where we would both live. Right before entering the house, I could not help but notice that in the marketplace there were women at the front of the caravans, showing fresh fruits and fabrics as if they were owning the place. There was that stinging pain in my chest again that could make both of my eyes shed tears.

  Was it envy? Anger? Or perhaps both. Because in my heart, I could only wish to have the ability and freedom like them.

  The house was a bright palace with blue colors painted on the walls, as there were two people dressed in light brown fabric, which, compared to my clothes and Hermes, were poorly made. Their bronze faces were both looking down at their bare, dirty feet while Hermes was passing away from them. But I couldn’t help but look at them.

  One man and one woman. Both had similar features, like their hooked noses and dark curly hair. They might have been siblings or even twins. For a second, the man’s gaze lifted up to my presence, and I could see the strange color it had. Two silver moons were reflecting in his eyes, which were simply staring at me.

  ‘’Ensi’’ Hermes now shouted, and I noticed that his sharp eyes were glaring at me. So this was the name he had for me?

  I kept following him to the palace that he had for a current house, and I finally got the courage to ask him.

  ‘’How did you find a place like this?’’

  ‘’I bought it’’He replied. ‘’And the slaves the owner had before it.’’

  Of course, the people outside were slaves. I suppose some things weren’t as different as I was expecting from Greece.

  ‘’And what will you exactly sell, and you need a palace like this?’’ I asked once again, curious.

  ‘’Copper’’ He replied softly, and he stopped in front of a golden painted door.

  ‘’Your room’’He explained and began walking away. Surprisingly, he did not say that it was our room. And for a moment, I felt relieved.

  But honestly, I had even more questions than before.

  ‘’Why did you actually bring me with you?’’ My voice was steady when I turned my head to see his expression. His eyes were still sharp and dark while he kept his silence. He had left me for centuries alone. And now he was welcoming me outside the warm, beautiful sun, to a house and an unknown country, for what?

  Aphrodite appeared. Hermes did say about politics

  ‘’What is happening back to Olympus?’’ I demanded an answer.

  But Hermes’ teeth gritted.

  ‘’Get rest, Ensi’’ His voice whispered softly, and he finally walked into the darkness.

  The room had the heavy scent of lavender with bright flowers decorating the yellow cream walls. Moving closer to the bright barrier, I could see and feel with my fingers engravings of figures. People stayed in line with their fat animals, while at the end, there was an old bearded man, sitting on the throne that was made by the sun rays.

  Was this their god?

  At the temple of Apollo, I was considered protected by him. By the priests, by the people who were looking at me. That protection was giving me the freedom to actually learn things, study about the gods and the history of the world. I even managed to read.

  But when they dragged me to the Temple of Ares, I found the truth about people like me. Shackled tight with dirty clothes as I was trying to ignore each gaze that could mean everything and nothing.

  I once simply looked at the arch priest of the temple while he was letting out a prayer to his god.

  Telling me that my face was too intrigued and I didn’t have the right to learn more. Not like this. He would teach me lessons, he said. But not like this.

  The next day, Thais found me down on the floor with a new scar around my nose. At least she paid attention to that and not all the bruises on my back.

  But that didn’t stop me from trying to escape. To still live. Even while others were trying to beat me down, I managed to find knowledge, to take it, to find a way to escape.

  Where are you now, then? A voice screeched into my ears, forcing me to wake up and for my eyes to meet a man standing right upon me.

  I did not scream. I knew better as I kicked the man away from me, making him fall to the ground. The night fell into my room with a simple torch lighting everything, and I could see the man who was once on top of me.

  Now, all shaking like a leaf, the servant boy crawled to the corner of the room. Trying to hold my panic, I began asking him questions.

  ‘’’Who are you? What are you doing here?’’

  No response. I asked once again, but his frightened voice let out words that I could not understand.

  I tried to control my fear and anger by taking deep breaths, realizing what I was doing. His wide eyes were still shaking as he tried to speak once again.

  ‘’I am sorry’’I replied, and the man’s posture shifted from terrified to calm.

  ‘’It is alright, miss’’He spoke perfectly with a heavy accent as he stood up and walked close to the door.

  ‘’You speak Helenike?’’ I asked surprised.

  The man simply nodded, and as he opened the door, he jerked his head right at the light.

  Follow me.