Chapter Four - Nightfall
464 Words
They camped near a ruined shrine overlooking the valley, the marble statue of Athena had been defaced , nose broken, eyes gouged.
Artemisia cleaned it with careful fingers as Drakon watched from the firelight.
“You revere gods who have abandoned you,” he said.
“They have not abandoned us.”
“They have not intervened.”
“Perhaps they are waiting.”
“For what?”
“For us to stand.”
He studied her.
“You are stubborn.”
“And you are unbearable.”
A faint shift at the corner of his mouth.
Almost a smile but it vanished quickly.
Night deepened.
She lay on one side of the fire.
He remained seated upright, back against stone, watching the dark.
“You do not sleep?” she asked.
“Rarely.”
“Why?”
He hesitated.
“Because I have seen what waits in dreams.”
Something about the quiet weight of his voice made her chest tighten.
“You were there the night Delphi fell,” she said softly.
“Yes.”
“You watched it burn.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
His gaze lifted to the stars.
“Because if I had stopped Rome, the seal would have shattered fully.”
Her breath caught.
“The Oracle knew this,” he continued. “She chose the temple over the prison.”
“She chose the world,” Artemisia whispered.
“Yes.”
A long silence followed.
“You think she would approve of you?” Artemisia asked.
“No.”
“Then why carry this burden alone?”
He looked at her then.
Truly looked.
“Because I am not made for comfort.”
The honesty struck her unexpectedly.
“You speak as though you are beyond redemption.”
“I do not seek redemption.”
“Everyone seeks something.”
His gaze dropped to her mouth briefly , then back to her eyes.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “They do.”
Her pulse stuttered.
She turned onto her side, facing away from him.
“I still do not trust you.”
“I know.”
“You are cruel.”
“I know.”
“You are infuriating.”
A pause.
“I know.”
She clenched her jaw.
“Stop agreeing with me.”
A faint exhale , not quite a laugh.
She felt heat rise to her cheeks.
Why did his smallest reactions feel like victories?
Why did she want more of them?
She hated him.
She reminded herself of that as sleep finally dragged her under.
But just before unconsciousness claimed her, she felt it.
His magic shift.
Not toward her.
Around her.
Like a barrier.
Like protection.
And she did not know whether that comforted her…
Or terrified her.
- Writer
