Vesta's Virgin

by Suzanne Ravelle

  Helios met fire with fire.

  ‘Well you’ll have to dig your own hole then and throw yourself in. I certainly have no intention of coming to your aid on this one!’ he spat back.

  ‘Or better still let’s wait for the next ship on its way to Rome and you can then share your sorry tale. At least you’ll get the pomp and ceremony you’re accustomed to when Rome’s pontiffs bury you in the ground!’

  Achillea’s ire went up a notch. How dare he! ‘Why are you the one angry at me?’ She couldn’t believe it. None of this would have happened if it hadn’t been for Helios.

  ‘Well let me think,’ he said, sarcasm dripping from his tone. ‘Let’s start with the beating I got merely for telling you the truth about yourself.’

  She snorted in indignation.

  Helios ignored her.

  ‘Not to mention my days and nights in the hold,’ he continued, ‘with the rats, and nothing but measly portions of barley soup.’

  His arm pulled tighter across her chest, his hand bit cruelly into the skin of her shoulder as he pulled her further back. Achillea could hear the pounding of his heart. He lowered his head an inch from her cheek. ‘Then, to add insult to injury, you tell me I should have let you die - despite the extreme danger I put myself through in trying to save you!’

  She felt a little bit sorry about the beating and the rats. But I never asked him to save me, she thought angrily to herself. ‘I can’t believe your self-pity,’ she snapped as she tried to pull out of his grasp. She turned her head to look at him. ‘Did you ever stop to think about me? None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for you!’

  To her rising anger, Helios started to laugh. ‘And there we have it, my little priestess. What have I ever done wrong other than merely being physically present? That’s my job isn’t it?’

  Achillea felt herself flush. Too late, she’d walked right into the trap. She looked away from his triumphant face. ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she lied. She had to get away. Never, could she admit out loud what she had only just begun to suspect herself over the last few days.

  ‘Let me go!’ she screamed.

  With a concerted effort she jabbed her elbow fully into his stomach and brought her bare heel down hard on his instep.

  Helios was momentarily taken by surprise.

  She managed to twist off his lap and started to scurry away on her hands and knees. Just as she was about to get to her feet, his hand shot out and yanked her ankle from under her.

  Achillea cried out in surprise as she went sprawling in the sand. Quickly she rolled to her back. Helios was already straddling her. She ground her knee into the underside of his taut leg, narrowly missing his groin.

  ‘I wouldn’t try that again priestess; hopefully we’ll be needing it soon.’

  Achillea felt like she’d turned scarlet at his innuendo. She looked at him aghast. Her hands flew up to rake his face. ‘How dare you-’

  ‘How dare I what?’ said Helios, catching both her hands and pinning them either side of her head.

  A trill of desire quivered through her body. Helios was looking down at her, waiting for her reply. His fair hair was dishevelled and roguishly framed his beautiful face. His eyes, sparkling from their fight.

  She bit her bottom lip in guilt, as she drank in the sight of him. A sensuous heat was fanning out across her belly. She was strangely moist between her legs. She felt conquered. Helpless to resist. She couldn’t fight him anymore.

  The truth was she did want him - had wanted him…from before she even knew it. All thoughts of Vesta, her vow, her shame and failings were gone.

  Achillea closed her eyes in defeat. She slowly licked her lips in readiness and waited for the inevitable.

  ‘So tell me, how is everything my fault?’

  By the gods, the man had chuckled! Achillea’s eyes flew open. Helios was actually gloating at her!

  And, to her increased horror, his mouth was curved in an unmistakable, self-satisfied grin!

  CHAPTER VIII

  Achillea was mortified. Pig! ‘Get off me! Get off!’ she yelled as she thrashed around trying to get free. Her body was hot from head to toe.

  She felt boiled in shame.

  ‘Bella.’

  Angrily, she noticed his face was still amused. She spat at him to let him know she did not share his humour. Luckily for him, she missed.

  ‘Bella!’ Helios gave an indulgent laugh and groaned as he buried his head in her hair. He slid her hands above her head and held her about the wrists with one grip. His free hand stroked the hair from her face and back over her ear.

  ‘When are you going to stop fighting me? You know you’ll never win…’ he said as he gently wiped away her tears of frustration with his thumb while his fingers played with the hair at the nape of her neck. ‘Shhh, Bella.’

  ‘Don’t call me Bella!’ She snapped, purely for something to say. Her body was a raging whirlpool of emotion. Her mind felt taut and frayed. Her body trembled with treacherous desire. She wanted him, craved him and needed him. But she didn’t know how to give herself to him.

  And the gloating! It was one thing to be willing to fall from grace but quite another to have to endure him actually laughing at her while she did it!

  ‘Why do you keep calling me Bella?’ she finally said, in irritation.

  Helios looked down at her. His eyes searched her face. ‘You really don’t remember?’

  ‘No.’ Achillea was suddenly interested in hearing what he had to say. Her struggles and tears were forgotten. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I was fifteen when I first met you. You told me you were seven. I saw you sitting on the temple steps, your head buried in your arms. You were weeping.’ Helios softly stroked her hair as he spoke.

  Achillea felt like she was going into a trance. The ghost of memories that she couldn’t quite see started to tug at her mind.

  ‘I asked you why you were crying and you told me there could be no tears in the temple. Claudia, the horrible Vestal Maxima, those were your words, had ordered you to wait outside until you’d stopped your blubbering. Apparently, Vestal Virgins don’t cry.’

  Helios gave her a teasing smile.

  Achillea’s vision misted over. She could see the little child. She was the little child sitting on the steps. Her heart constricted as the memory of that day flooded her body and mind. ‘I missed my parents and my sister didn’t I? I wanted to go home. I felt, utterly alone.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Helios gently, still running his hands over her hair. ‘I told you that you were not alone. That I was going to look after you from then on.’

  She gave Helios a watery smile. ‘You said I reminded you of your sister.’ She paused, frowning at her recollection. ‘No, that you’d lost your sister and that you’d like it if I’d have you as a big brother. You said you’d always protect me and no one would ever hurt me again.’

  She winced at the brief moment of pain she saw fleetingly stain Helios’s features.

  His face cleared again. ‘Yes, that’s right. And you said you’d like that and to call you Bella - now that I was family.’

  ‘Oh Helios, I do remember. I’d forgotten but now I do remember. My poor parents -’ Achillea’s voice broke as the memories of her childhood; everything Vesta’s priesthood had tried to erase, engulfed her mind.

  ‘Shhh, Bella. I know. You told me everything.’ He was lying beside her now, his arms wrapped round her like a human cradle. She nestled back into him and wrapped her hand around his forearm to pull him tighter, savouring his presence and the warmth of his embrace.

  ‘They were so, so devastated when I was taken. I-I never saw them…again.’ Her words were barely a whisper. She was too ashamed to say she’d literally almost forgotten them - until today. She’d grown up believing she’d miraculously been reborn of the sacred flame. That they had been insignificant. Nothing.

  ‘How could I forget so much?’

  Helios swept the hair back off her face, exposing her neck.
‘It’s easily done Bella.’

  The faint touches of his breath sent shudders down her spine.

  ‘That’s why you’re all taken so young. It’s easy to shape you, mold you and tell you what is and is not part of your reality. If you’re told the same thing day after day – it doesn’t take long. Believe me, I’ve seen it.’

  His fingers took over from his breath, gently stroking the naked skin of her neck. Achillea turned her head away to offer more up to his touch. Helios stroked along her shoulder, the nape of her neck and made small circles on the top of her back.

  Her entire body quivered in response.

  ‘But you have me,’ he whispered in her ear before gently kissing it. She gulped in air. She could barely breathe. ‘I promised I would protect you. Save you,’ he rasped as he kissed the side of her throat.

  It was an exquisite, sharp burning pain wherever the heat of his mouth fell. The tip of his tongue, every now and then flicked across her exposed skin. She was pulsating and throbbing at her very centre. She wanted him. Needed him to touch her. To pour his very soul into her.

  Her life as a Vestal Virgin was over. She wanted him to fully release her – to help her entirely and completely break her vow and Vesta’s last hold.

  Achillea turned into Helios’s arms. She lifted her chin and looked him directly in the eyes. Her hand clasped the back of his head. ‘Free me,’ she said in a barely audible whisper as she closed her eyes. And, on a silent sigh, she offered him her lips, to be kissed…

  CHAPTER VIIII

  ‘You know I really have no idea where we are.’

  They were standing on the highest point of their small hilly island looking out to sea. Miles and miles of unbroken water was all that could be seen.

  ‘But I would imagine once we depart, it shouldn’t be long before we sighted some other land mass.’ Helios continued, ‘It couldn’t be more than a week – maybe two.’

  ‘Well at least we have everything we need,’ said Achillea, as she took his hand and leaned against him. She rested there contentedly, looking out to sea, savouring the warmth of the sun and the cool gentle breeze.

  They had been on the Island for a number of weeks now and explored it all. They had plenty of food sources and fruits and had salvaged a number of items Neptune, the god of the sea, had washed up for them on the beach. They’d even found several casks of wine and a box of exotic fruits. This peaceful isle had brought her nearly everything her heart desired. It only remained for Helios to fully claim her.

  Then, and only then, would her happiness be complete.

  ‘Yes, Neptune has certainly been kind to us too,’ said Helios, as usual, reading her mind.

  He slipped his arms around her and pulled her close. Her head rested against his chest.

  ‘But what about you? We can go onwards if you like - somewhere where you’re not known?’ He looked down at her upturned face. ‘But I can never take you to Briton or back to Rome.’

  Achillea briefly laid her head against his smooth, lightly oiled chest. She breathed in his intoxicating scent. ‘My old life is dead.’ She smiled up at him. She felt slight warmth prickling her cheeks ‘My home is with you now,’ she whispered.

  Helios took a sharp intake of breath. His arms tightened their hold. ‘If I take you Bella, they’ll be no going back. You will be mine completely.’

  His eyes searched her face. Achillea’s stomach fluttered and clenched. Her pulse doubled.

  ‘You will accept my authority and control absolutely. Remember, I will never release you. I will never let you go.’ His intense aqua eyes sparkled in the sunlight. ‘Is this what you want?’

  She eagerly nodded, smiling through her glistening tears. This was what she wanted. She was glad Vesta had forsaken her. She wanted to be born anew. Her entire being yearned for him. She wanted him to take her and eradicate her former vestal self. Forever keep her.

  She wanted to tie herself to him for all that remained of eternity.

  Helios cupped her upturned face. ‘Do you consent to be my bride?’

  ‘Yes,’ she breathed, her body trembling in anticipation. ‘I do.’

  ‘Do you consent to be my husband?’ she whispered back, as was the age old custom.

  Helios simply nodded. His eyes blazed with un-slated desire. ‘It will be tonight then. Adorabella Achillea, my darling Bella, I take you as my wife.’

  And with that, his mouth descended on hers and thoroughly consumed her.

  CHAPTER X

  It was a perfect night for a wedding. The stars adorned the black mantle of night. The air was humid and warm. The distant sound of waves, crackling wood and the birds’ evening songs were as sweet as the music of any lyres.

  A feast of fish, seagull, coconut, mango’s and berries were laid out on beds of palm leaves all around them.

  Achillea stood facing Helios in front of their ceremonial fire. She wore her beautiful roman bridal gown - the one she’d always worn for festivals and ceremonies. But, she was no longer a bride of Rome.

  She was Helios’ bride and would never again be any others.

  Her long, warm-honey hair, with glints of red, was wound high upon her head with soft tendrils around her face. A few trailed onto her breasts.

  Helios was wrapped in a cloak of sapphire. He was such a beautiful sight. Achillea struggled to keep her breath in her chest. She could barely wait to give herself to him.

  She watched, mesmerised, as he stepped toward her.

  He briefly knelt on one knee at her feet as he took up the hem of her dress. ‘I take you as my bride,’ he said as he rent the fabric. And then he was at her side, tying the material round her left wrist and around her waist. ‘I bind you to me.’ His eyes were riveted to her face.

  Achillea, raised her arm and looked at her wrist. She ran her hand over her waist and hips. Her heart jumped in her breast. She was almost his now. She returned his gaze as she whispered the final words.

  ‘As with this cloth, so am I bound to you. I am now your wife.’

  She stood staring up at him, her fingers fiddling with her gown. Save, for crossing the threshold of their dwelling, the ceremony was over.

  She was not sure what to do next.

  ‘Wife,’ he said, with a twinkle in his eye.

  Achillea smiled shyly back at her husband.

  ‘You may now take off your dress.’

  She nearly choked. ‘What!’

  ‘Are you questioning me already?’ Helios chuckled.

  Achillea felt totally flustered. ‘No, it’s just that… I just thought…I thought we’d eat and drink and then…perhaps a bit later…you know…start with-with a kiss.’

  ‘I’ve waited years for you.’ He half laughed and half growled as he clasped her wrists and pulled her to him.

  She obediently wound her arms around him although her body gave a tremble of dread.

  ‘I’ve wanted to touch you, feel you, to be inside you, for so long,’ he groaned against her hair as he pressed her closer to him.

  She could hear his deep sigh as he inhaled her jasmine-flower scent. His hands started to gently move up and down her back in a slow sensual caress before untying the cord at her waist.

  The effect was causing havoc to her already trembling body.

  ‘I cannot wait a moment longer Bella. You have to give yourself to me entirely.’

  Achillea gave an involuntary shiver as he kissed the base of her neck and along her sensitive collarbone.

  ‘Turn around if you like,’ he said as he gently turned her by her shoulders so that her bottom nestled against his thighs. ‘But I want you, completely, naked. Strip for me Bella, let me feast my eyes.’

  His husky tones were intoxicating.

  She could feel his hands already undoing her clasps and broaches. He wasn’t even giving her a moment to think. His hands came to rest again on her shoulders, his thumbs circling over her flesh.

  He brushed the hair away from her face and whispered huskily into her ear. ‘Take it all of
f.’

  Her stomach fluttered in desire and, trepidation. He was her husband now and she must do as he commanded. In truth, she wanted to obey. Her body was trembling with longing now. She no longer felt fear.

  She remembered dancing naked at the Harvest festivals with the other vestals, albeit away from prying eyes. She could do this. Her body was beautiful and untainted. She would be bearing her soul for him now and not Vesta.

  He would not find her lacking.

  Achillea slowly slipped the gown off her shoulders and let it fall discarded to the ground. She heard Helios let out a gruff sound of appreciation as he hurriedly unclasped his cloak but, she could not turn around. She continued to stand with her back to him, quivering in the moonlight, waiting for his touch.