by E J Pay
Captain Juri puts up his hand to silence Demetrius.
“I tell you, man,” Juri addresses the guard, “Isidiri is dead.” The guard plants his feet and reaches for the dagger at his waist.
“I’ll not listen to your lies,” the guard says as he squats low, ready to strike.
“Athena,” Juri says. “Why does this man think you are his sister?”
I cannot let him know what I can do. I can only hope to talk my way out of this one.
“I do not know, Captain,” I manage to croak out. “He began calling me by another name and undid my bands. That is all that I know.”
Juri clicks his tongue and two guards from the hallway enter the room.
“Take this man to the sick rooms,” he tells them. “He has gone mad.”
“He must be punished,” Demetrius interjects.
“He is not a criminal,” Juri argues. “He has suffered a hallucination. Time with the physicians will be enough to work the malady out of him.” I worry about what will happen to the guard. There is not much hope for him with doctors. I cringe at the thought.
The young guard looks over his shoulder at me and for the first time, sees me. He does a double-take and shakes his head.
“Isidiri,” he whispers. “Isidiri. What happened? Where did she go? What have you done with her?!” He drops his dagger and takes me by the shoulders, shaking me. “What have you done with her?!” he shouts into my face.
The other guards are on him in a matter of seconds. They wrestle him out of the room, the entire time he is calling out for his lost sister. As he is taken, screaming, down the hall, Demetrius lets out another low chuckle and follows behind.
The second guard returns, bearing a tray in his hands. Grapes spill over the edge of a bowl. The aroma of fine cheese reaches my nose. Olives and breads are piled high next to a mound of sliced lamb. Two wooden cups rest near the plate. The guard places the plate on the table, then resumes his post by the door. Another guard enters to take the place of the sentry I manipulated. I am beginning to think this place has a limitless supply of guards.
“Poor devil,” Juri says as he takes a seat at the table. He motions to the other chair next to him. I move to it slowly and take a seat. Juri watches my every move, tempting me to do something in front of him. “It is surprising,” he says. “I haven’t had a guard let a prisoner free from their bands before. I wonder what could have made him do it.” Juri wraps some olives and lamb in a slice of bread, dips it in a little bowl of oil and vinegar and takes a bite. He motions to me.
“Please, have some.”
His manner is unnerving. He is calm and collected in the face of his own guard turning treacherous. He welcomes a prisoner and offers her food. I fear what he is hiding. What is it he is capable of?
I reach for the food, eating from the same piles Juri ate from. If I am poisoned, he dies with me. If I am not poisoned, I will have sustenance to help me through the coming days.
“What do you think of the food?” he asks. “You are a cook, are you not?”
I only told him that I worked on the Spiro estate. I never told him I cooked there. Where is he getting his information?
“The food is good, thank you,” I respond. “I did cook for the family of Spiro.” I take just a few more bites, then a drink of water. I eat enough to kill the hunger and give me strength, but not enough to stuff myself and grow tired.
“Please,” I ask, “when may I see Gileaus?”
“I’m sure you will see the young master soon enough,” Juri responds. From somewhere in the building, we hear a scream. It is a man’s scream, the guard from my room. “Demetrius,” Juri says to himself as he shakes his head. “When will that man leave well enough alone?” He sets his food on the table, wipes his hands on a small towel and stands.
“I’m afraid our time together has come to an end today,” he tells me as he walks over to the chair I sat in when I first arrived. “I will be here again tomorrow. For now, you had better rest. I would like you to tell me about yourself and about the guards at the estate. Take all the time you need to consider how you want to tell me.”
He said ‘how I want to tell him,’ not ‘what.’ Does he already know I am the reason those guards suffered? Does he already have an understanding of what I am capable of? Have I given too much away?
“Please, Athena,” Juri says. “Come back to your seat. I promise to not make the bands as tight this time, but I assure you the knots will be better.”
I leave my chair at the table and return to the seat being offered to me. As I take my seat again, Juri pulls out a rope from his waist. He again ties my hands behind my back and each of my feet to the legs of the chair. But, as he promised, he does not make the bands as tight. My skin is not being rubbed as it was before, though it is still tender where the rope touches. Juri turns and walks to the door.
“If she is hungry,” he tells the guards, “feed her. When she needs to relieve herself, turn your heads away. Do not speak to her or in front of her.” He opens the door. “But be mindful of her. She is slippery.” He steps out and closes the door behind him.
I think about the interaction I’ve just had and the man I am being held captive by. Juri is cunning and manipulative with words. He is a good match for my powers, but he is still just a man. He cannot compete with me alone. I sit quietly and consider my next move. I need a plan to get out, find Gileaus, and save our lives.
After some time, I start sending feelings of affection and comradery to my guards who sit silently by my door. I send the emotions in small pieces, enough to tickle their senses, but not enough to be noticeable all at once. Finally, I clear my throat and ask for water. One of the guards stands and brings me a cup from the table. He holds it to my lips and helps me take a drink.
“Thank you,” I say.
“You are welcome.” Good. He is talking to me. He returns the cup to the table and resumes his seat. I start sending them both tired bodies. Their legs are twitchy and they need to move. Soon, both are up and pacing the room.
“Tell me,” I say, “what kind of place are we in? Is it a castle or an estate or a government building?”
The guards pause their pacing and look at each other. They shrug at one another and turn to face me.
“It’s an estate,” the first guard says.
“Yes,” says the second guard, “It sits on a hill in the country. We are far from any major city.”
“The master only stays here on occasion. He has homes in several cities where he stays when he has government work to do,” the first guard continues.
“Is your master here now?” I ask.
“No,” the second guard replies. “But we expect him in a few days.”
“Who is your master and what does he want with me?”
The guards look to one another again before answering. I send them another dose of comradery and the first guard speaks again.
“This is Master Abraxas’ estate. He is the largest landholder in this region. He is working his way up in politics. He has his eye on Athens.”
“Athens?” I ask.
“Yes,” the second guard responds. “He wants to rule Greece.”
An overenthusiastic politician. Certainly one of Spiro’s enemies. Abraxas viewed Spiro as a threat to his political aspirations, so he had him killed? But why capture Gileaus? Gileaus said his father’s enemies were trying to gain his favor. And why capture me? I am not of much interest to them.
“Alright,” I say. “Then why does your Master Abraxas need me?”
Both guards shake their heads. “We don’t know,” they say together.
“I think you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” the first guard offers. “You got caught in the fray.” The second guard nods his head.
I just got caught in the fray. The other women and children were hiding in the house during the fighting. Alcmene and Heracles made it to safety before I found Spiro dying and Gileaus captured. Am I the only one of the househol
d who was taken?
“Were there others who were captured, besides me?” I ask.
The second guard shrugs his shoulders. “Don’t know. I just know you are here now with us.”
That isn’t good information to go on, but I would rather find a way out of here than to waste my time finding out all the details of the attack. If others were captured, I’ll have to discover that and find a way to free them. Until then, the best thing I can do is get Gileaus and me out of here.
I start sending waves of sleep toward my guards. I want them to fall asleep easily when I am ready to make my move. I just need a little more information.
“Tell me,” I say, “what is the layout of the estate? And where am I in relation to the young Master Gileaus?”
The guards both yawn and resume their places by the door.
“It’s like we said,” the first guard tells me. “This estate is huge. It’s shaped like the shoe of a horse, almost wraps back on top of itself. There is a courtyard in the middle with a large olive tree in the center.” He yawns and scratches his head.
“It’s also a very tall building,” the second guard interjects, “It goes far underground with lots of secret rooms.”
The first guard stands and smacks the arm of the second guard. “You aren’t supposed to tell people that,” he says.
“I’m not telling anyone,” the second guard defends himself as he rubs his arm. “It’s just Athena. We can trust her.”
I continue sending friendly feelings to my guards.
“I guess,” the first guard says. “Your master Gileaus is only a few doors down,” he says to me as he points to my right. He only has one guard outside. I watched over him earlier today.”
Excellent.
“And how do you reach the exit from here?” I ask.
Guard one answers again. “There are stairs at the end of the hall, but I don’t use those. Those are for servants.”
More good news. An exit with fewer eyes on it.
“We use the stairway at the center of this wing. Those take us to the front courtyard.”
Thank you, guard. That’s all I need.
“I’m getting tired,” I yawn out. “Could you untie me so I can sleep?”
The first guard looks at me. “That is definitely against regulations.”
“No it isn’t,” I reply. “Captain Juri said to turn your head if I needed to relieve myself. Well, my body needs relief. I need sleep.” The guard looks at his partner who shrugs his shoulders.
“I guess that’s okay,” he says. He comes over and unties my ropes. The throbbing isn’t as bad this time, but my wrists and ankles are still red and sore.
“Thank you,” I tell him when he finishes untying me. “I will just lie down on the floor to get some sleep.” I send more desires for sleep into the room. Both guards yawn again.
“You don’t have to stay up for me,” I say. “I’ll just be sleeping here on the floor. You can rest if you need to.”
Guard two chuckles and yawns. “That’s not a bad idea.”
“Agreed,” guard one adds. Both guards stretch and move around to get comfortable in their chairs. I lie on the floor, watching them as they fall asleep. I add all the rest I can into the room without making myself tired, and I wait.
Once the guards have been asleep for nearly half an hour, I get up off the floor. I keep my movements quiet at first, but nothing I do awakens the guards. I move toward them, stepping carefully. I reach the door and ask its favor to open as quietly as possible.
I wouldn’t if I were you, it says to me in response.
I must. I don’t have time to lose, I utter quickly.
I open the door slowly. It makes no sound.
Thank you, I tell it. There is no response.
I open the door wide and take my first step to freedom.
But I am greeted by Captain Juri, leaning against a banister, arms folded across his chest, three guards on either side of him.
“I was right,” he says to me. “You are a slippery one.”
A low chuckle echoes from somewhere down the hall.
Chapter 27
It’s been three days since I tried to escape. In my second two attempts, I gave away too much about myself. Now they know that I work with minds. They know I have to see the person I am manipulating. My feet are in irons, my wrists are as well. I am heavily guarded. I still haven’t seen Gileaus.
Someone is coming into my room. I don’t look up. I don’t care to see who it is. I don’t care to try.
“Athena,” Captain Juri breathes my name into my ear. “I have something for you.”
I have grown accustomed to Juri’s promises. They are always twisted. Always broken. I know to mistrust anything he says to me. I am a prisoner after all. He is my captor. I keep my eyes on the ground.
“Don’t you want to see what it is?” he asks. My gaze remains on the floor. I will not look at him.
“This is very disappointing,” he complains. “I have been looking forward to giving this to you. I thought you would like to have it.”
Hunger growls within me, a fair warning to the man who is addressing me. I have been moved to a lower room. One of the secret rooms I learned about from my guards days ago. It is deep in the earth. No sound reaches me. My sound reaches no one. I am kept under constant vigil, always with at least five guards. I have done what I can to confuse or destroy all that I can. Any who succumb to my power are punished by Demetrius. The price they pay for their weakness. I am tired of sending men to torture within these walls. I am tired of straining to see into the souls of others. I am tired of fooling them all. I am hungry. I am weak.
“Well,” Juri continues, “I suppose that a little quiet reflection on your part is understandable. I’ll tell you what, I will give you the gift anyway. Think of it as a sign of friendship, my desire to be held in regard by you.”
“Here,” Juri reaches toward my neck. His fingers slip beneath the neckline of my robes. I shudder at his touch and brace myself. He finds what he is looking for and pulls slowly. My hamsa medallion pulls out of my robes, dangling from the tired necklace which has held it for years.
“I have a replacement for you, Athena,” Juri continues. A replacement for the hamsa? Impossible. It would be death for him.
Death.
My mind takes hold of the thought and I give it all of my energy. If I can focus enough of my anger, Juri will die when he removes the medallion. Many will die, but he is the only one I care about. He is the one who has dealt with me the most treacherously.
I focus my anger as Juri’s fingers snap the twine around my neck. The hamsa medallion slips from me, into his hands, and I look up into his face. It is only a split second before Juri realizes he has made a mistake. I see the fear in his eyes as the medallion drops to the ground. He reaches for the medallion, attempting to string it through the heavy chain he has brought, but it is too late.
My anger bores into his skull. I make him feel all of it. In a moment, he is screaming. He isn’t the only one. Three more guards - more than I have ever affected before - fall to the ground, hands on heads, blood dripping through their fingers, screams echoing through the chamber. They are an unavoidable loss. Collateral damage for the person I intended most to hurt.
Captain Juri writhes at my feet. Another guard, safe for the moment from my power, leaps toward Juri, taking the necklace and medallion in his hands. From the corner of my eye, I see him lacing the chain through my medallion. He is too late, of course. Juri stops stirring, the other guards in the room also lay still. The remaining guard brings my medallion to me, placing the necklace over my drooping head.
A blinding light flashes through the room. I rise to my knees as the medallion burns against my chest then cools in an instant. I collapse on the ground and look down at my hamsa, my protector. No longer is it the wooden image I have grown accustomed to. Now, it burns gold, glistening in this dismal space. But in the center, where its eye resides, is a shining black pearl. S
he is my pearl. She has come home to me.
Chapter 28
Ismell like smoke now, heat rising from the embers of my medallion. The black pearl burns against me. She protects those around me from the damage I can do. She is with me always. I can feel her presence, but she refuses to communicate with me. Instead, she has made herself a part of the thing that keeps me sane. Or as sane as someone like me could be.
Days go by before anyone speaks to me. The bodies are cleared from the room as I faint in the aftermath of my power. When I awake, there is a tray of food barely within my reach. I lunge for it, eager to fill my stomach with anything other than the gnawing hunger trying to eat its way out of me. I eat the bread, moldy. I eat the meat, rancid. I drink the milk, poisoned. I wretch on the floor and lie down on my side. Why torture me with a poison that won’t even kill me? What do these people want from me? As much as I want to know, I also want to run from the answer.
Finally, a tray is sent in with a foaming pudding in a bowl. The pudding is green with bits of fruit and grain mixed inside. It looks like something I’ve had before. I eat it eagerly, hoping that an end to my suffering is near. The food is sweet, delightful and light. I swallow and have a flash of memory: water, ocean, green, octopus. Why are those memories haunting me here? I finish the pudding, too hungry to care if it kills me or sustains me. I drink the water that came on the tray. It is fresh and cool, unlike the water they have been giving to me. I lick the bowl clean and fall asleep on my filthy floor.
The next time I am given food, it is pudding again, the same as I had before. But this time, bread has been added to my meal. Not the stale, molding bread, but the kind of bread I used to make for the Spiro family. I learned it while I worked at the inn. I eat it eagerly, wishing there were more and that my stomach could handle it. Again, sleep overtakes me and I give in to rest.
This time when I awake, I am still in chains, but I am no longer in the same room. My clothing has been changed, my robes are clean. The smell of smoke has been washed from my body and hair. I am not laying on a stone floor, but on a cushioned bed. A bed nicer than any bed I’ve slept on in the past 6 years. The room is white. The floors are covered in rugs and animal skins. Pillows support my head. The walls are covered in paintings.
