Tangles and Temptation

by India-Jean Louwe

  “Oh, but you will see, if you haven’t already,” Alta interjected. “Let me put it this way, our women have ravenous appetites for sex. They will not willingly submit to a single partner night in and day through. It would simply not be enough. They require the stimulation, the vigor, of multiple partners. Our Kyra may have been timid to begin with, but the core of her lust has been ignited. She shall crave, and she shall have that craving satisfied.”

  Eris raised a brow and shook his head. “I still do not see your insistence upon Sparta.”

  Alta tossed forth her response as one would a challenge. “The people of Sparta are in possession of a very generous trait. Consider it however you will, but we, people of Pandora, appreciate and agree with their definition, which is, they have such a heightened state of love and acceptance that they are capable of overlooking just about anything as long as their partner is kept happy. They will welcome various individuals to their beds just as they would permit their own partners equal freedom. They are not jealous, Eris. They are not possessive.” More quietly she added, “A passionate woman with insatiable pangs for sexual contentment in the hands of a possessive man is as good as dead.”

  Eris barely heard anything after that statement and took his leave as the women’s conversation veered toward reminiscing. The long night, wrought with unwelcome images, of men resembling Thyone’s temperament leering at and caressing his sweet Kyra, drove away the respite of sleep. Her mother was right. He would rather kill than accept any male companionship Kyra sought. He had a jealous streak. It would boil down to a simple ultimatum, either eliminate the competition or allow himself to slowly waste away in grief and frustration. It would be kill or be killed.

  * * * *

  Eris stared down over the valley stretched below. The view was breathtaking but wasted on him. His mind was otherwise occupied, consumed. He seemed to have moved from situation to situation with Kyra. First he was faced with the dilemma of the possibility of her being a promiscuous partner, welcoming all manners of different lances to her bed. Then he faced the prospect of her forever living in fear of his beast. She would never see him, the complete man he was, as her eyes would always be shadowed by fear, dread, and terror she felt at just a part of him. Thereafter he had faced an infernal hell. Having to doubt that he stood a chance at having her for his own had cast him into the very bowels of a dank, dark, flame-consumed pit. Thankfully that worry had been alleviated, only for him to return to the problem number one. Would this cycle of uncertainties ever cease? He was back to fearing her taking multiple lovers to her bed, flagrantly flaunting her appetite as she sheathed hungry, eager lances within her soft warmth. Never before had the idea of sharing a woman bothered him. Until now. Lying awake in bed had brought no change to his opinion. He was consumed with rage at just the thought of sharing her willing body. His blood boiled at the prospect. The fact had to be accepted. He was insanely jealous, possessive. She could become his worst nightmare and he her worst enemy.

  “My mother means no harm with her direct speech.” Aleka stepped forward in the bold strides that were uniquely hers and added, “In fact, she would see the opposite result. She seeks only to save anyone from undue harm by issuing warnings.”

  Eris turned his attention to her fully. He did not wish to speak of his desperate position, least of all to Kyra’s sister. Firstly, he knew not whether she would keep his confidence and not run straight to Kyra with all the gory details. Secondly, he just did not believe in opening himself up to anyone, trusting anyone. And thirdly, these people seemed to speak on a whole different level. She would, in all likelihood, misconstrue everything that spilled from his lips. He answered curtly, “Accepted.”

  Aleka smiled broadly. “Ah, you wish to keep your rather apparent problem private. So be it.” She strode to the high wall and peered over as she stated in amusement, “However, I have no compunction with speaking my mind over your dilemma. I believe one should not give in so easily. If given my own way, I would never surrender—ever. But then that is a trait that rules over our people, the people who believe steadfastly in Hope.”

  Eris scowled. His tone did not hold any warmth. It was, in fact, filled with enough chilly undertones to send a visible shiver through her. “I know well what your people worship.”

  Aleka turned and assessed him closely. “Are you in the habit of judging people you know not?” Eris shrugged. Aleka stiffened in irritation. “I had equated you with an intelligent individual. How remiss of me. You see the beauty of my people and see only the surface, expecting nothing to lie beneath. How contradictory. You appear a man of depth, brute strength and valor, but apparently possess equal emptiness within.”

  Eris hissed angrily. “What would you have me believe? Your people worship Epimetheus. I have a bit of insight to share with you, a God named ‘afterthought’ is so titled for a purpose. If not for his ignorance, his arrogance, the world would hold no evil, no sorrow, no misfortunes, and no plagues.”

  Aleka’s eyes flashed dangerously as she spat out, “You are convenient in your forgetfulness. You forget to mention Hope. Was that not the one precious possession that spilled forth? We worship not Epimetheus. We grasp and cling to a value grievously absented from those who worship his brother Prometheus alone. Yes. He was the upstanding brother, the intelligent one. But he provides all values except Hope, and where is everything without Hope?” Being equal to him in height, she hissed in his face, “We worship not the foolish Titan. We value what he delivered. We embrace Hope. Seek knowledge and enlightenment first before you pass judgment.”

  Eris drew back. She spoke with vehemence and rage but also passion. She had given him exactly his due. He had insulted her and her people. And he had no right to do so. He lowered his voice, truly remorse filled. “I apologize. I did not seek to offer insult. I shall refrain from commenting on your people’s beliefs until I am more adequately armed with sufficient knowledge.”

  Aleka studied him in silence. Eventually she sighed. “I suppose you echo what the rest of the world utters about us. You appear sincere, especially with that adorable lisp. I shall forgive you, under the condition that you educate yourself on my culture. My culture is Kyra’s culture. You may forget that fact while glee fills your loins whilst you thrust your lance eagerly into her depths. Insult her as you did me and I believe no amount of Hope in the world would help your cause thereafter.”

  Eris grinned, chastised. “Agreed.”

  Aleka turned away. “However, continue with those charming smiles, and just perhaps you would succeed in disarming her.” She turned her gaze and perused the view. “It bothers me still the method of Kyra’s abduction. It is not an easy feat to make someone simply disappear and then reappear with no memories whatsoever.”

  Eris slammed his fist against the cold stone. “That was no simple abduction.”

  Aleka regarded him beneath lowered lashes. “Why do you say that?”

  Eris stared at her fully. “Why would someone abduct her and then deliver her to the very place she had been en route to? You said she was on her way to Argos, so why abduct her and deliver her to her very destination? It makes no sense. Added to that, why does she recall none of her past? My brother mentioned a bruise on her forehead, but what was the purpose of that?”

  Aleka nodded. “I see what you mean. It is most unorthodox.” She sighed. “But a mystery that shall not be solved easily. I just pray to the Gods that something of this nature does not happen again. You have no concept of the worry we underwent when news arrived of her disappearance.”

  Nodding as well, Eris agreed, “It is unnerving not knowing whether she could just as easily disappear again. We shall have to keep a keen eye on her.”

  After a long pause, Aleka stated with authority, reminding him once again of her elevated status, “I have given my consent concerning this undertaking you pursue. My heart is filled with fear for my people and home. They could easily be vanquished by this enemy from Cronus you seek to trap here.” She raised h
er hand as he attempted to alleviate her fear. “I have fear, but I also see the necessity of your quest. The world would be in disarray should Cronus succeed. However, I have a grave concern. You seem to have placed many of your men away from the south entrance. The lives of my people lie in my hands, and I have in turn placed my trust in you, so I must inquire as to the wisdom behind this. Are we not now vulnerable to the south?”

  Eris accepted her query with a sense of admiration. “I understand your concern and shall explain to the best of my ability. I am Erpo, the snake, and my demon is what awaits me. I am guardian of the plantations, and that is where it would strike from. Therefore I place greater numbers where I expect greater threat, facing the plantations.”

  Aleka stretched her arms and gestured to the fields below. “You mean these plantations?”

  Eris frowned. “Yes, unless there are more that you own.”

  She shook her head. “You misunderstand. We do not own plantations.”

  The beating of Eris’s heart picked up in pace. Confusion marred and creased deep lines on his forehead. She smiled in understanding. “You wonder at our food source and the ownership of those fields. One of the ills you mentioned earlier being unleashed by Epimetheus’s foolish opening of Pandora’s Box was evils. We have that in abundance, the root of all evil—wealth.” She gestured to the far-reaching hills and explained, “We possess overflowing coffers of gold mined from within those hills. We need not break the backs of our slaves while they bake in the sun planting our food. We simply purchase it from agora, marketplaces”—she pointed once again to the plantations Eris had been watching—“and from our neighbors. Those plantations belong not to us but the neighboring city.”

  Eris frowned in consternation. “Is this common knowledge? Does the city of Sparta know this?” His heart pounded furiously as he awaited her answer and dropped like a ball of lead to his belly at her answer.

  “Yes.” She stepped closer and inquired, “Would the creature still seek entrance to our city through a plantation not of our ownership?”

  Eris shook his head and answered truthfully, “I do not know.” They turned as one and stared at the endless stretch of yellow and gold before them. Eris repeated beneath his breath, “I simply do not know.”

  A shuffle from behind broke their contemplation. They both stared around them, but nothing stirred. Uncomfortably, Eris placed his finger to his lips and crept forward. He jumped back at a sudden voice. “I am sorry to disturb you, Eris, but the high priestess of the temples wishes to speak with you.”

  Eris smiled. “Indeed. And what would she want of me, Kyra?”

  She shrugged and shook her head. “She would not say, but she did urge you to make haste.”

  Eris stepped forward. As he stalked past her, he whispered, “Pity you were not successful, my curious little sprite. Then you would simply tell me the news and save me the walk.”

  Kyra watched him stride away with a smirk. Aleka laughed. “You simply cannot pry information out of the priestess Negara. She does not crack under pressure. But I must say, Kyra, you are immature in your eavesdropping. Just how much have your keen ears managed to hear?”

  Kyra scowled. “I have only just arrived.” As Aleka raised a single eyebrow, she interjected with irritation, “Truly. But I will admit to trying to pry information of Negara. I wonder what she could possibly want with Eris.” She turned suddenly on her heels. “Your false accusations of eavesdropping inspire me. Aikaterina sees me well occupied, and I must see to my errands while I can.”

  Aleka raised her eyebrows. “Princesses have no errands. Either you have reverted to her childhood fantasy, portraying a slave girl again, or”—she laughed as she called after Kyra’s fast-retreating figure—“you are off to snoop.”

  Chapter 8:

  SAGA Okt`o

  The temple was not dark and shrouded in shadows as he had expected, being situated at the foot of a great mountain. It was light and airy instead. Another glaring difference was the distinct absence of gold. For a city rife in the precious metal, they obviously did not squander it on statues. Everything was bathed in soft lights of numerous torches. Everything held color. Stiff material, gauzy fabrics, and smooth stone were dyed and brushed with vibrant shades. As he stepped in, there was no whisper of his footsteps. This place, abundantly filled, allowed no echoes but also boasted plush carpeting, allowing no betrayal of his steps. He stared in wonder as he descended huge stairs. Everything here was rich and wonderfully textured. Everything but the person he sought here. Eris’s feet stumbled as he drew to a halt at the foot of the stairs.

  The voice of the woman was equally brittle and grated against his teeth. “Step forward. I would see with my own eyes what has become of you.”

  Eris scrunched his face. She had so many wrinkles it was unclear whether her skin was pale or dark. Her hair, snowy white but shimmered with silver as she moved, was pulled back into a severe knot. Eyes, watery yet keen, assessed him with hawklike precision. Her apparel did nothing to lighten her ghastly appearance. Heavy, dark folds of an overlarge robe of coarse fabric wrapped around her body, leaving her actual size difficult to guess at. He stood directly before her but could ascertain nothing. He could not see the true color of her hair and eyes except what age had transformed them into. He could not make out her size or height as she stooped before him. All he saw was age. Before he could hold in his curiosity, he asked, “How old are you?”

  Sharp, brittle laughter sliced through the air and seemingly clear across his brain. She answered without humor, “Should the truth drip from these aged lips, your youthful ear would reject it as ps`evdos, falsehood.”

  Eris tapped his foot in impatience. He had grave matters to see to, and now time was being wasted. His voice held no warmth. “What do you want of me?”

  The wizened woman hobbled forward and peered at him closely. She ignored his question and stated, “You may call me Negara. I am high priestess of these temples.” She nodded, finally satisfied with her scrutiny of him, and lumbered away. Her body lowered painfully on a stiff, hard chair.

  Eris wondered if she purposefully sought to make her hardship harder or if she was not in complete possession of her senses. Surely a soft cushion in such a richly decorated room should not be difficult to find. Yet she tortured her already-ravaged body by choosing such harsh seating. He sighed as her chair teetered precariously on its three legs. Surely Kyra would have given him some sort of warning were she not of sound mind. He waited.

  “I have called you to see for myself the results of the fruit produced of my womb.”

  The offhanded statement had Eris reeling. Either Kyra had thought it humorous to conceal this woman’s madness from him, or this woman concealed her madness from everyone, everyone else but him. He shouted angrily. “My parents…”

  She interrupted him softly, “Left you and your twin in a basket at the gates guarding Argos.”

  Eris stared at her, dumbstruck. He reminded himself that what she revealed was not something commonly known.

  She tittered. “I had known you were destined for greatness, but you have far exceeded my most ardent expectations. The snake. A very gladiator of the House of Andromeda. I still find distrust in what is right before my eyes.”

  Eris growled in disgust. “You expect me to believe I am of your womb? Was there a glimmer of truth in your outrageous words I would still deny it. Seek not to insult me or yourself any further.”

  The old woman cackled. “Insult as you wish, but my heart is filled with such pride even a mountain would not crush it. Now tell me, Eris from Argos, serpent gladiator of the House of Andromeda, have you not lain awake enough nights pondering your birthright? I tell you now it was not in a basket outside the gates.”

  Eris shook his head in disbelief. “Speak you mind, old woman, but for your own peace not mine. My birthright lies at Argos, the bosom that fed me, the hand that tutored me.”

  Negara nodded. “Then I shall speak, and you may believe at you will.�
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  “It rained long and hard the night I left the basket containing you and your brother at those gates. The skies had opened, showering down its blessing of the Gods. Shelter was nowhere to be found. I had to make do with a useless covering, a simple blanket, one that I wove of my own hand. Whatever has happened to it, I wonder. It was of the color sky blue with dainty pictures of fluffy white…”

  Eris filled in with a frown, “Snowflakes.”

  Negara chuckled. “Ah, I see it exists still.”

  Eris knew well it still existed. It was the only connection he had left to his parents, and he had guarded it well. He asked, his voice holding a note of curiosity rather than belief, “Why then did you do it, leave us at those gates?”

  Her eyes blazed an unholy green beneath the watery sheen as she whispered, “My visions. I have had visions of your coming long before the fact. I had expected and accepted that I was naught but a vassal through which the Gods would see you entered into this world. But further then that they have provided for you themselves.” She leaned close and asked, “What has become of your brother?”

  Eris grunted. “Why do you not tell me? You seem to be in possession of an inordinate amount of personal information.”

  A toothless smile flashed briefly as the look in her eyes turned inwards. “I recall the hardship you both put me through in my pregnant state. One part of me longed for the basking sun while the other raged for the cooling shade beneath a ledge. I would surmise your brother to be the contrast to you, mayhap the scorpion.” Eris shrugged, not wanting to give her any further information. Negara imitated his shrug and continued, “As you wish. I shall know soon enough. I have waited a lifetime for word of you and am prepared to wait another for news of him. You must bear in mind, Eris, while I accepted the fact that you two could never be mine, I never lost hope that I would one day meet you again. The Gods play a cunning game, do they not? They have lured you back to your birthplace with aid of an enticing mate.”