It was the sound of a child's laughter.
I got up and pulled my red woolen cloak around me before I walked to the window so that I could look outside.
There in the garden was Acheron with the cook's young daughter. They sat on a cloth with bread, meat, olives and figs while they talked and played a dice game. I couldn't hear what was being said, but the little girl would squeal with laughter every so often.
When the girl decided to stand, she reached out and touched Acheron's shoulder. He didn't cringe at all. To my amazement, he actually picked her up and set her on her feet so that she could run inside.
For the first time since I'd found him, he was relaxed. He ate without fear and his features weren't pinched. He glanced about openly and would actually look the girl in the face.
The girl returned with her doll which she handed to Acheron. He took it and pretended to feed it an olive. The girl squealed in delight.
Enchanted by their play, I headed outside to join them. As soon as Acheron saw me, the light went out of his eyes. I watched as he literally pulled back into himself and became instantly afraid.
"You should go, Maia," he whispered to the girl.
"But I like playing with you, Acheron. You don't get angry at me for being silly or asking questions."
"She can stay," I added quickly. "I didn't mean to disturb the two of you."
Acheron kept his gaze locked on the ground.
I sighed before I glanced to the girl. "Maia, would you fetch me a cup of wine from the kitchen?"
"Yes, Highness. I'll be right back."
As soon as she was gone, I turned to Acheron who was withdrawn and fearful again. "Have you been around many children?"
He shook his head. "It's forbidden."
"But you seem so at ease with Maia. Why?"
He wrapped his cloak tighter around himself before he spoke. "She wants nothing from me other than a playmate. To her, I'm no different than any other adult. She doesn't mind my eyes and she isn't aware that I'm unnatural."
"You're not unnatural, Acheron."
He looked up at me with those eerie eyes. "You feel the pull of me. You haven't acted on it yet, but you feel it just like everyone else. Your heart quickens when you watch me move. Your throat goes dry as your eyes dilate. I know the physical signs. I've seen them too many times not to."
It was true and I hated the fact that he could see inside me so easily. "I would never touch you like that."
A tic started in his jaw before he looked away. "Gerikos and others have said that, too. And when they can no longer resist it, they hate me and punish me as if I have control over it. As if I make them want me." This time when he met my gaze, I saw the anger that burned deep inside him. "Sooner or later everyone who's around me fucks me, Idika. Everyone."
His anger ignited my own. "And I will never touch you like that, Acheron."
The doubt in those eyes burned through me.
"What of Meara?" I asked, trying to show him that not everyone was an animal out to mount him. "She never touched you like that, now, did she?"
The look he gave me told me the answer. My stomach shrank.
"She was kinder than most."
No wonder he didn't trust me. How in the name of Olympus could I ever convince him that I wasn't like that when everyone else had used him? Yes, I felt that unnatural allure he spoke of. But I wasn't an animal unable to control my urges. It sickened me that others had so little control that they would have used him so.
"I will prove myself to you, Acheron. You can trust me. I promise."
Before he could respond, Maia returned with my wine. I offered her a kind smile before I took it from her. "You two play. I need to go bathe and dress."
After rising to my feet, I headed toward my room. At the door I paused to look back at them.
Acheron was rolling the dice while Maia held her doll. He was right, there was an unnatural something about him that called out to my body. Even when he was unhealthy in his appearance, he was beautiful. Compelling.
He looked up at me and I quickly glanced away before I entered my room.
"You're my brother, Acheron," I whispered. "I won't hurt you." It was a promise not only to him, but to myself as well.
December 15, 9532 BC
The mild winter continued. Warm enough some days even to venture outside without cloaks.
Over a month had passed since I escaped with Acheron. My letters sent to my father with false locations helped to keep us safe. As did the men and women I bribed to give false sightings of us in other cities. I just hoped he continued to buy into my ruse until spring when it would be safe for us to travel.
The drugs were gone from Acheron's body now and I scarcely recognized the boy I'd found chained to a bed.
His hair shiny and gold, he had gained weight and could easily be mistaken for Styxx now. All except those swirling silver eyes, and his quiet, introverted personality. There was no boisterous swagger, no annoying bragging.
Acheron was thoughtful and respectful. Grateful for any kindness shown to him. He could sit for hours and not move or speak. His favorite activity appeared to be just sitting on the balcony that looked out over the sea, watching the waves crash into the shore, watching the sun rise and set with a fascination that amazed me.
Or playing games of chase and dice with Maia. The two of them shared a bond that warmed my heart. Acheron never hurt her or raised his voice. He very seldom even touched her. And when it came to her incessant questions, he had more patience than anyone I'd ever seen. Even Petra commented on it and how grateful she was that Maia had found a willing playmate.
Earlier today, we'd been out in the orchard, trying to find fresh apples even though it was past season. Acheron had finally admitted to a preference for the fruit-it'd taken me weeks of trying before he would admit a preference for anything.
"Do you think Father will come soon?" he asked.
I swallowed in fear. I don't know why I'd kept up the lie. Except that the truth of Father's feelings was something I didn't think he needed to know. It was easier to tell him that his family loved him-that they all felt toward him as I did.
"Perhaps."
"I would like to meet him," he said as he peeled an apple with his knife. It was the only one we'd found and though it wasn't quite fresh, Acheron didn't seem to mind. "But it's Styxx I'd like to meet most. I can only vaguely recall him from before."
From before. That was the only way he'd refer to the time in Atlantis.