Chapter I

Chapter 1

Above the Hamlet of Hayshire, Equestria

All those years spent plotting, scheming, and draining countless beings of their energy were about to pay off. My sisters and—well, I should point out that I was the leader and hence, the brains behind the entire operation—had become powerful enough to rival the pony princesses. Sonata & Aria helped me achieve that goal… somewhat. Credit where credit is due, I suppose.

I won’t deny that we worked well together as a team but—ah—let’s not kid ourselves. I wasn’t about to share MY EMPIRE with the likes of those two bumbling buffoons. Hmm. I should point out that Aria wasn’t too bad but she still got on my nerves for being so angsty all the time. Seriously! She complained about EVERYTHING! Sonata was, unfortunately, a dimwit. If she wasn’t fawning over some cute, furry creature, she was content to devour her own bodyweight in greasy slabs of mutton. Mutton Mondays is what she called it. Ugh…

However, I digress. In order to attract Celestia & Luna’s attention, I thought it best to destroy a settlement filled with their precious pony subjects. Those soft-hearted fools wouldn’t stand for such an egregious slight, even though we had a numerical and mystical advantage over them. With a wicked grin, I savored the fear I felt radiating from the townsfolk. It made my entire body quiver in ecstasy. What an exquisite flavor! Just like the sweetest ambrosia~

Sonata looked over at me with a puzzled frown. “Hey, Dagi. How’s come the princesses haven’t shown up yet? We’ve practically leveled this entire village and… nothing. What gives?”

Aria rolled her eyes and snorted. “Yeah! I like mayhem as much as the next siren but this is starting to get old. Like, real fast. Why aren’t they fighting back? Do we have to eat some—”

I let out a long, suffering sigh. “Patience, sisters. Celestia and Luna are busy trying to rule a newly formed, and dare I say, still-dysfunctional principality. In all likelihood, their advisors are still debating what course of action to take. You know, the joys of bureaucracy and all that.”

“Just like ponies to bicker amongst themselves over stupid crap like politics,” Aria scoffed, “is it any wonder that the windigos almost managed to wipe them out?”

“Be that as it may, we can’t afford to underestimate them.”

Sonata clapped her hooves together. “OOH! Lookie there, Dagi! We’ve got company!”

Sure enough, a team of notorious do-gooders swaggered into town (or what was left of it) while my obnoxious sister squealed with excitement. I wouldn’t go so far as to call them proper knights, but they had a reputation amongst the ponies as an elite band of warriors capable of defeating Equestria’s foes. They were known as “The Pillars” because they represented the greatest virtues of ponykind or some nonsense like that. Quite pretentious, if you ask me.

We’d run into them before, so it’s not like this scenario was entirely unexpected. However, I was disappointed that Celestia & Luna hadn’t bothered to get off of their fat, lazy plots and face us themselves. Oh well. I guess we’ll just have to make do with vaporizing these whelps into dust before assaulting the Castle of the Two Sisters. The three of us began charging our gems for a beam attack, until I noticed that something was off. My hackles were raised even further when Flash Magnus decided to fly directly in front of me. All he did was hover in place. How odd.

“What is the meaning of this?” I asked.

Flash rubbed his hooves together and smiled. “We’d like to parley with you if possible.”

Aria looked like she was about to have an aneurism. “Parley?! UGH! I hate parley. Why is that even a rule? C’mon, Dagi! Let’s just fry these little shits and get on with our day.”

Sonata raised her hoof. “Technically, it’s part of the siren code. That’s why we gotta follow it.”

I growled in annoyance. “As much as I hate to admit it, Sonata is correct. I am honor bound to hear any requests made during a parley. What say you, Flash Magnus? Have you come to beg for the lives of your comrades and fellow Equestrians before we destroy them?”

“Nope. I was just distracting you. Thanks for the chat, though.”

Before I could so much as ask what in the name of the Mother Kraken was going on, a black hole materialized behind us. Or more accurately, a magic portal created by none other than Starswirl the Bearded. That smug bastard had the UNMITIGATED gall to laugh at us while he cast the spell. I fired a red-hot beam of pure energy at him in an attempt to stop the portal from staying open, but it was no use. He’d already had more than enough time to stabilize the damned thing.

“To be honest, I expected more of you, Adagio Dazzle. But it seems that you aren’t quite as clever and deadly a foe as you make yourself out to be. Pillars! To me! We shall vanquish these wretched creatures by ridding them from Equestria forevermore. Heed my words, sirens! Never again shall you set hoof in these lands. I BANISH YOU!”

Anger and bitter hatred clouded my mind. I wanted nothing more than to snap Starswirl’s horn clean off and watch him squirm in agony before me, powerless and helpless, begging to end his miserable life. Yet, it was not to be. We fired a barrage of sonic attacks and beams at the ponies, but they managed to evade them all somehow.

What happened next would haunt my dreams for many years to come. I was sucked into the magical, swirling vortex against my will. I could no more resist its pull than I could stop the ocean’s crushing depths. In a mere instant, Sonata & Aria disappeared into the void and all I knew was searing pain and darkness. Shortly thereafter, I lost consciousness.

Silence fell upon the hamlet of Ponyville. Though the buildings were reduced to rubble, and the ponies who lived there were shaken with fear, they let out a cry of celebration. The Pillars had managed to get rid of the evil sirens once and for all. A tired sigh escaped Starswirl’s lips. It had taken every shred of magical power that he possessed to create the highly dangerous trans-dimensional portal. Such magic should only be practiced by the most powerful and wizened spellcasters, on pain of disaster. He decided that the notes he’d written for the spell matrix would be locked away in the restricted section of the library as soon as they returned to the castle.

Flash rubbed his hoof along Starswirl’s back. “Are you ok, buddy? You look really worn out.”

“Indeed. The spell was very… taxing on my mana reserves. Worry not, though. For I shall be fine. Given some time to rest and nourish myself, of course.”

Rockhoof whistled softly. “A damn impressive spell if I’ve ever seen one, Starswirl. Where do you suppose it sent the buggers?”

“Faust only knows. That was the first time I’ve ever opened a portal to another universe.”

Everything was a muddled blur while I slowly regained consciousness. The mother of all hangovers assaulted my poor brain when I tried to get up, and to be quite honest, it made me just want to give up and assume the fetal position. So, I did. At least for a little while. When the headache finally began to dull, I immediately realized something was off. What you may ask? Oh, only that my ENTIRE being had been transformed from how I’d known it for centuries.

I wiggled my new digits experimentally. They resembled a minotaur’s fingers but were far slenderer and more delicate looking than was typical of their race. I’d apparently become bipedal like them too but instead of hard hooves, my legs ended in soft, squishy feet that, for the life of me, looked completely impractical for walking anywhere. What in Tartarus had I become?!

A quick look down at my chest revealed a pair of protruding breasts that were roughly in the shape of a teardrop. I gave them an experimental squeeze and determined that yes, they were indeed quite sensitive to the touch. Just like the female minotaurs claimed. To me, it seemed like an absurd place to put them as it would have left both the nursing young and mother vulnerable to attack. In any case, I should count myself lucky that the blasted things were relatively compact and didn’t jiggle around much while I moved. Otherwise, they would have caused me a great deal of discomfort and impeded my dexterity.

After falling flat on my ass more times than I’d care to admit, I managed to stand up, albeit in a shaky manner. It finally occurred to me that my beautiful golden scales had been replaced by a thin layer of skin (at least it was of similar complexion to my scales). My entire body appeared to be hairless, save for the amber-gold locks that flowed from my head down to my lower back. Oh and—erm—a curious little tuft of the same color was nestled between my legs. Why these creatures would have hair covering their genitals was beyond me. It didn’t make much sense from a practical standpoint. Then again, nothing about their physiology did.

I rubbed my temples and sighed. “My gem’s gone too. How could this possibly get any worse?!”

The one pleasant thing about my banishment was that the portal had managed to drop me off on a beach. And a beautiful one at that. The air was warm, pleasant, and tickled my skin whenever the sea breeze came drifting on by. As for the water itself, the ocean looked like one, giant topaz that stretched across the horizon. I desperately wanted to dive in but I just couldn’t risk it. I had no idea how to swim in my new body and didn’t want to risk drowning. Ironic for a siren, I know, but it was apparent to me that the form I now possessed was not built for the sea.

Instead, I settled for wading in the shallows. It was just enough to get wet and wash off all of the gritty sand that covered my skin. Before the transformation, sand hadn’t bothered me too much, but now it was just coarse and irritating. Again, it only served to further the notion that these strange creatures were ill-suited to live anywhere near the ocean. I’m not even sure how they even managed to survive at all, given their weak physical attributes.

I crossed my arms underneath my breasts and looked around once more. “Still no sign of Aria or Sonata. As much as they can get on my nerves sometimes, I… I’m rather fond of them. Oceans, it really sucks being all alone. Especially in an alien world…”

Ok, so maybe “fond” wasn’t the best term to describe how I felt about those two. They were my sisters and it wouldn’t be unusual at all for a siren to admit that she loved her kin. Nope! Not at all! I just… preferred not to express such sentiments aloud. I’m sure they knew I loved them… right? UGH! Fine. Maybe I wasn’t the most affectionate big sister around, but I’ve always provided for them without a shred of hesitation. That counts as love in my book!

My reverie was rudely interrupted by a loud gurgling sound, followed by a sharp pang deep within the pit of my stomach. Oh great! Now, I’m hungry too! This day just keeps getting better and better. Next thing you know, I’ll accidentally break my ankle, bleed out waiting for help that will never arrive, and die all alone in an alien world. Seriously, fuck my life!

I took in a deep breath to try and calm myself. It worked to a certain extent. “Get it together, Dagi. Focus on surviving, not cursing the unicorn bastard that put you in this shitty situation. Fishing in the ocean is a no go, so I guess I should try to find some shellfish along the rocks. But I’d better be careful. Wouldn’t want to get cut up by them.”

As luck would have it, I managed to find some clams in the shallow pools of water that had collected atop a rocky crag. With no tools or magic at my disposal to start a fire, I gambled on eating them raw and hoped that this new body would be able to digest them properly. After carefully slurping down two globs of clam meat, I decided that they were ok. The clams didn’t taste bad, per say, but I had a difficult time getting over the snotty texture. As a siren, this wouldn’t have bothered me, but my current palate didn’t seem to like them very much.

I soon discovered that consuming clams may have sated my hunger, but it also made me terribly thirsty. The great irony was that I was surrounded by water, however none of it was drinkable to me. Had I still been a siren, my scales would have filtered the salty seawater and taken care of this problem. Now… not so much. I smacked my parched lips a few times, trying to wet my mouth with saliva. It didn’t do me any good. My mouth still felt like a giant ball of cotton. After letting out an irritated sigh, I dragged my weary carcass along the shoreline to try and find a suitable source of hydration.

Imagine my surprise when I happened upon a recently wrecked ship. I’d seen enough of them in my long lifetime to recognize that it had once been a trireme. Or, at least, the shattered remains of one. If I had to guess, it had gotten caught in a nasty storm and broke up on the rocks. I looked around and spotted a few bodies sprawled out along the sand. They were creatures like me, except they were dressed in what looked like bed linens. Poor bastards. They’d probably drowned.

One of them had a wineskin attached to his belt. Seeing as how he had no use for it anymore, I ripped it off and shook the thing. Thank the oceans, it seemed full! I tore off the cap and guzzled down the wine, its tangy flavor hitting the back of my mouth as I did so. Alcohol wasn’t the best thing to keep hydrated with but it was better than nothing at all. Besides, the stuff seemed watered down anyway so I wasn’t too worried about getting drunk off of it.

Then it hit me. I could sense the faint whisper of a being’s emotions. What it implied was mind boggling! Perhaps, by some quirk of fate, I had not lost my magic after all. I concentrated hard and followed the trail of greenish, magic vapor. It led me to the most intact portion of the upper deck where I found another creature surrounded by bronze scroll tubes and scattered writing implements. However, this one was still alive.

To say that he (I assumed he was a male) was alive was a generous definition. More like he was barely clinging on and struggling to even draw breath. Unlike the rest of the creatures, his features were softer and less weather beaten. A clear sign that he was not a sailor. It was at that moment; I noticed his badly mangled legs. They were bent at unnatural angles and his blood soaked the wooden deck planks beneath him. Given that the mast of the ship was lying just a few paces away, I deduced that it must have fallen on him at some point. A pang of sadness and pity filled my heart. No creature deserved such a fate. Well, an innocent creature like him, anyway.

I knelt beside him and held his hand. “I’ll make sure you don’t die alone.”

“Η θεά Αφροδίτη μου χαμογελά.” He rasped.

I simply nodded because I had no clue what he was saying. Then an errant thought occurred to me. What if I could use my magic to absorb all of his knowledge? That way, it would give me a better understanding of how this world worked and, by extension, increase my chances of survival. Because let’s be honest, I had no idea how long I was going to be stuck here.

The process began slowly. I didn’t want to overexert myself and compound the problems I was already facing. I closed my eyes and searched for my mana pool and after a few moments, I finally found it, albeit in a decreased state. Not surprising, given what I’d been through. I placed the palm of my hand on his forehead and began to sing a soft lullaby. Was it necessary to implement the spell? No, but it went a long way calming the man down. Judging by the serene smile on his lips, I’d say he enjoyed every second of my song.

My mind reeled at the sudden intake of information. Thousands of images flashed before me and at one point, I felt like I was going to throw up due to how overwhelming it all was. But I grit my teeth and carried on. This was the price of survival and I would gladly pay it. Before long, the man’s eyes glowed green, indicating that he was completely under my thrall. However, I did not rob him of his free will. I did it to dull the excruciating level of pain he was in.

I ran my fingers through his hair and spoke to him in his native tongue. “Rest now, brave scholar. Know that your knowledge will be put to good use. The gods will see to it.”

He smiled at me one last time and closed his eyes. I’m not sure why but I wept at his passing. Perhaps it was because the reality of my situation had finally caught up with me. I felt exhausted, terrified, and ashamed that Starswirl had gotten the better of me and my sisters. A significant amount of time passed before I stopped crying and was able to pull myself together again. I needed to focus on creating a new life for myself in this strange world. Feeling sorry for myself and the poor creatures that died would not benefit me in the slightest.

I confiscated any items of value from the dead. Like coins, provisions, those sorts of things. I bundled them together in an impromptu sack and slung it over my shoulder. While I walked further inland to find a “human” settlement (that’s what the creatures called themselves), it occurred to me that I was still nude. Quite frankly, I detested covering myself up. Why would I need to? Sirens are a proud and noble race. Even transformed ones. We do not wear clothing!

From what I gathered from the scholar’s mind; most humans tended to cover their bodies from head to toe. It made a certain amount of sense, given that they were practically hairless. I, of course, saw no pressing need for them myself. Magic would keep my body warm should it get too cold and the same applied to physical protection. Problem solved! Well, for the most part.

I got the impression that nudity in human culture wasn’t outright taboo (in fact, they seemed to revere the body in its natural state), however it would be seen as unusual for a woman such as myself to just show up naked. At least… without a good reason. I thought back to what the scholar had called me and came up with a brilliant plan. I could pose as a child of the Goddess Aphrodite and a mortal. A demi-goddess, if you will. It would also help explain my magic, abilities, and physical attributes without arousing suspicion. A solid plan, indeed.

Apparently, I am what many humans consider an exceptionally attractive female. Their alien physiology and bizarre body proportions still eluded my understanding, but I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. You’d be surprised at how much one can accomplish with raw sex appeal alone. No magic or coin required! Just a wink and a wiggle of what you’ve got and bam! Instant persuasion. I intended to take FULL advantage of my feminine physique. Oh yes~

Before I got too far into my journey, I took a moment to open up one of the wineskins I’d confiscated and filled it to the brim with fresh water. Given that it had come straight out of the stream and there were no animals nearby, I figured it was safe enough to drink without further treatment… but I sterilized it with my magic anyway. Better safe than shitting your guts out.

While I was using the spell on the wineskin, it made me realize that I ought to take stock of what I was and was not capable of with my new body. Both in the physical and magical sense. Any sort of emotion-based spells would have to wait until I had a willing (or unwilling) sapient subject to test them on, so I decided to focus on my physical prowess instead. I happened to notice that the land immediately inland from the coast was hilly, covered in long grass, and full of craggy rocks. The perfect inanimate object for me to test my strength on!

I picked up a manticore-sized boulder and hefted it around with relative ease. “Huh. I guess I’m not exactly one-hundred percent human, then. Must have kept some of my siren strength.”

I tossed it up into the air and waited until the right moment. With a somewhat awkward kick (cut me a little slack, I was still getting used to this whole bipedal thing), I managed to pulverize the boulder into dust without breaking any bones. I’d call that a success, wouldn’t you?

Granted, it still stung a bit but I wasn’t much worse for wear. Next, I tried a similar experiment but with my fist instead. The result was consistent with my first test. Since no one else was around, I allowed myself to squeal with girlish glee and dance around. Which resulted in me falling flat on my ass again. I’m sure I looked ridiculous but it was totally worth it.

I got up and dusted myself off. “Perhaps this whole demi-goddess act won’t really be an act. I got the whole ‘enhanced strength’ part down to a science. Well, except for the fact that Aphrodite isn’t technically my biological mother. BUT! I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. Besides, I don’t imagine any of these humans would have the balls to call me out on it.”

The tests served as a much-needed ego boost in an otherwise, uncertain situation. Had I truly been as weak and feeble as those sailors from the shipwreck, I would have been ki—ehem—it’s probably for the best not to dwell on such dark, depressing thoughts. After freshening up a bit, I continued walking through the countryside in search of a town.

At some point I would need to find more supplies, more money, and maybe even a place to live. I guess I could even try to find employment. A woman of my distinguished talents was always on the prowl for an easy way to make coin. HEY! No judging. Prostitution wasn’t the most glamorous profession but at least it was honest work and there was always a demand for it. Paid well too if you got the right clients. Look… let’s just say that I had to do some pretty terrible shit just to get by during the days of my youth. I wasn’t always the alpha bitch I am today.

With my rucksack in tow, I continued along a rough dirt path that appeared to have wheel ruts gouged into it. My guess is that it was some sort of primitive road used by humans to transport goods between towns and villages. Still, I hadn’t seen another living soul since the shipwreck and it didn’t look like there was anybody around for miles. My gut instincts screamed at me that there was something strange about that but I kept moving along the road anyway.

I began to sing, for no other reason than to pass the time.

♪ ‘Twas a monster, so big and bold ♪

♪ He lurked in caverns, dark and cold ♪

♪ By light of day, oft he kept hidden away ♪

♪ But in the moonlight, he stalked his hapless prey ♪

I was just about to start the next verse when I spotted something or rather, someone in the distance. Mind you, I’m not an expert when it comes to the beings that inhabit the world of men, but I’d wager an entire basket full of black pearls that this… creature was not commonplace. No, I got the distinct impression that he was an alpha predator that preyed upon the humans.

It was a grotesque looking thing. The creature was extremely tall, grey-skinned, muscular, had sharp claws, and a set of pointed fangs that jutted out from underneath its jaw. Oh, and it only had a single eyeball for some reason. I’m not sure why. Whatever the reason was, it didn’t seem to have any trouble lumbering over to where I was standing. As it drew closer, I swear it leered at me with the most lascivious grin I’d ever seen in my entire life. Eww… it just slobbered.

The one-eyed monster reached down, scratched his crotch and snorted. Ugh. I guess that settles what gender he is. “What do we have here? A pretty little human bitch, lost on the road, naked and alone? HA! How very considerate of you. Saved me the trouble of having to rip off your dress before I drag you back to my cave. I’m gonna enjoy spreading your legs apart and—”

“Fat chance of that happening, you smelly oaf.”

The monster waved his massive wooden club at me threateningly. “Watch your tongue, wench! Do you know who I am? I could flatten your puny little human body with a single swing of my club. That’s all it’d take. SPLAT! Then you’d be nothing but a red smear. You stand before the mighty cyclops, Euandros! By right of might, I always take what I want. So, prepare yourself.”

I put my hands on my hips. “First of all, if you want to win the affection of a woman, you should start by bathing. By the oceans! You smell like a whale’s asshole after an all you can eat squid buffet. Second of all, I’m new around here and I don’t give a fuck about who you are. If you get in my way, I won't hesitate to kill you. And trust me, it won’t be quick or painless.”

Euandros bellowed with laughter. “Feisty! I like that. Very well then. Let’s make this interesting, little bitch. I’ll let you take a free shot.”

I cracked my knuckles and grinned like a shark. “With pleasure~”

The sense of satisfaction I got from slamming my fist into the dopey bastard’s testicles was indescribable. Watching him double over in pain, clutching his manhood—erm—cyclopshood just made me laugh. In fact, I didn’t even bother doing anything else to him for a few moments. I wanted him to understand who was the real alpha and I was not to be underestimated. On shaky feet, he stood at full height once again and let out a tremendous roar. I guess it was supposed to be intimidating but I honestly didn’t care. It was all macho bluster as far as I was concerned.

“YOU’LL PAY FOR THAT, LITTLE BITCH!!”

Considering how big Euandros was, it wasn’t difficult to predict where he would strike next. Had I squared off against a human-sized opponent, I don’t think I would have lasted very long. Was I strong? Yeah. Could I take a few hits? Sure. But the fact remained that I was still getting used to my new body and it would take some time before I truly mastered my reflexes. In any case, I decided that it would be foolish to drag out the fight, so I resorted to what I do best: fighting dirty. While he was distracted, I grabbed a clump of sandy soil and threw it at his eye.

All I had to do was step out of the way while he stumbled on some craggy rocks and proceeded to hit the ground with a resounding thump. See? I let my surroundings do all the work for me. No sense in exerting myself or risking injury. I casually walked over to the cyclops and kicked his ribs a few times just to drive the point home. He moaned but otherwise did not attempt to get up.

“It’s been a long time since you’ve had a real challenge, huh?”

The cyclops growled at me. “There’s no way you should be that strong!”

“If I were a regular human, I’d be inclined to agree with you.”

Euandros swung his club at me and, with a fair amount of effort, I managed to block it with both of my arms. I wrenched the club out of his hand, threw it away, and proceeded to kick him in the stomach as punishment. “I would’ve let you live had you let me go in peace. But now… I’m REALLY pissed off. And I’m not feeling particularly merciful today.”

I didn’t even give the oaf a chance to retort. Instead, I concentrated on summoning the nastiest drain spell I knew and blasted it straight at his eye. In a matter of seconds, images flashed in my mind, the knowledge he’d accrued became my own, and… the power. Oh, yes. Such great power! My entire body quivered with excitement as an orgasm blossomed in my loins. The electric thrill shot up my spine and clouded my mind with thoughts of lustful violence.

When it was all said and done, the cyclops was nothing more than a drooling husk of flesh and bone. Technically, he was still alive, but for all intents and purposes, he could no longer be considered a sapient being. My mind finally returned to normal after a few moments and I couldn’t help but notice that my crotch felt breezier all of the sudden. I reached down, and sure enough, my fingers came back wet and sticky. Had I really just cum from draining a cyclops?

I let out an irritated sigh. “This is why I miss living in the ocean and not having to deal with hair. Whatever. I’ll just head back to that little stream I found earlier and wash up.”

With all of the excitement going on, I’d failed to notice a human hiding behind one of the rocks. I wasn’t in the mood for socializing but he looked frightened and in need of someone to talk to. I tried to make myself look as unthreatening as possible… which was damn near impossible given the disheveled state I was in but it’s all I could do. He approached me with cautious, hesitant steps and the expression on his face was somewhere between awe and sheer terror.

By human standards, I suppose he would have been considered a handsome specimen. Not too tall, well built with plenty of muscle, scruffy red hair, and bronze skin. He was bare chested and wore some sort of armored kilt, sandals, and a helmet that he held in the crook of his arm. Along his back, held in place by a leather strap, was a copper-hued shield. The only weapon he carried was a large dagger equipped to his belt. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he bore a striking resemblance to Flash Magnus had he been a human instead of a pony. How bizarre.

“Hey there. I was just about to go wash off in the stream. You can come join me if you’d like. You know, we can schmooze, chat, carry on. Typical human activities! If not, that’s alright too. My name’s Adagio, by the way. In case you were wondering…”

Oceans below. I know that look. Did he just blush too? By the Mother Kraken, he did! “Hello, Adagio. I’m Flash Magnus and—uh—well, I was sent out here by the villagers to take care of the cyclops. But seeing as how you did that already… I guess I don’t have to?”

“Huh. Is that so? Do I get some kind of reward for slaying him?”

Flash rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. There is a bounty.”

“How about this: we can split the bounty 50/50.” I proposed.

Flash scrunched his brow in confusion. “But why? I didn’t do anything…”

“Because I need a guide. Somebody who knows the area. Let’s just say that I’m new around these parts and haven’t gotten around to familiarizing myself with them yet. You can cut off his head and I’ll give you half of the proceeds to be my guide. Sound fair?”

Flash let out an adorably awkward chuckle. “Sure. I’m ok with that.”

I clapped my hands together. “It’s settled then! Come along, Flash. There’s no time to waste.”

All things considered, I felt proud of myself for not punching Flash Magnus into a nearby cliff. The more rational side of my brain argued that this world’s Flash was a completely different being, and thus, had done nothing to invite my ire. Other than the fact that he’d been ogling my naked body non-stop ever since the fight with the cyclops concluded. This despite me not looking my best in terms of personal hygiene. Boys will be boys, I suppose…

To be fair, it was partially my fault. I’d chosen to remain unclothed and his less-than-considerate behavior was the inevitable consequence of my decision. Even so, I felt that it would do us both a world of good to have a little chat regarding boundaries. He seemed like a good kid and I didn’t want him to get the wrong impression about my intentions. Don’t get me wrong; I wasn’t completely opposed to the idea of having sex in this body. Just… not yet. I was tired, dirty, sweaty, and covered in dried up cum. A girl’s gotta have her priorities set straight, after all.

I made the process of cleaning up brief. Seeing as how I didn’t have anything like soap or scented oils at my disposal, I hoped that I didn’t smell too bad until I got the opportunity to take a proper bath. While we walked along the road, Flash kept trying not to glance over at me to be polite but failed miserably at doing so. I closed my eyes and sighed. We were going to have that conversation about boundaries sooner rather than later, it seemed.

“Flash. I know you’re just trying to be polite but it’s not working.”

His cheeks became rosy in an instant. “What? I’m not—”

“Yes, you are. You’ve been staring at me for a while now. Look, there’s no shame in it. I know you’re a young man with needs. Really. I don’t mind.”

“You… don’t?”

I flipped my hair in an attempt at being sexy. It must have worked because Flash’s eyes widened to a significant degree. “Of course not. I am a child of the Goddess Aphrodite. My body is meant to be seen (worshiped too) and I’m damned proud of it! However, I should point out that while I am fine with people looking at me, touching is a no go. So, don’t get any funny ideas because I will strangle you with your own innards if you so much THINK about grabbing my ass.”

Flash let out a hissing squeak. I had to practically bite down on my own tongue to hold back from laughing. He knew damn well that I could follow up on my threats. “Can I be honest with you, Adagio?”

“I don’t see why not. Go ahead, Flash.” I encouraged.

Flash rubbed his hands together. “I’m a demi-god too. The son of Zeus to be more specific. But—erm—I wasn’t raised on Olympus or anything like that. Just by my adoptive parents. They’ve got a nice pottery shop in town! Best amphora you can buy, hands down. So... yeah.”

“Hmm. Interesting~ Very interesting indeed. I have to ask, what in the world were you doing out here if your parents are potters? Killing a cyclops doesn’t seem like a great career choice for you. Not unless you had a decent amount of training first. Strength isn’t everything, you know.”

Flash blushed furiously and sighed. “I know. Everyone keeps telling me that I’m a terrible hero. Because of my strength, I have trouble making pottery too. I can’t seem to do anything right.”

Shit. In a single sentence I managed to shatter this poor kid’s self-esteem into a thousand tiny pieces. Way to be friendly and supportive, Adagio. “It can’t be all bad, right? I think you just need someone to show you the ropes. Practice makes perfect and… all that.”

“Exactly! But how do I find someone like that to help me? Hero trainers aren’t in great supply if you haven’t noticed. Besides, what would I use to pay for the lessons? I’ve only saved up a little bit of money from all of the odd jobs I’ve done around town.”

I placed my hand on his shoulder. “Well, maybe we could become partners. You know, travel together, fight monsters, that kind of stuff. Does that sound like a good idea to you?”

“Yeah. I think… I’d like that, Adagio. Could you maybe even teach me how to fight?”

I shrugged. “I suppose I could teach you what I know. Mind you, I’ve never been much of a warrior. I’m just good at fighting dirty, taking advantage of terrain, and being crafty. Sometimes, you have to know how to outwit your opponents instead of overpowering them. Tactics 101.”

“That doesn’t sound very honorable…”

I laughed. “Hate to break it to you kid, but honor can get you killed.”

Flash scowled at me. “I’m not a child! I reached my eighteenth season last summer.”

“Sure, kid. Whatever you say.”

Flash grumbled underneath his breath but I didn’t hear him complain about my offer for the remainder of our journey. At least I’d managed to find a kindred spirit in this strange world. For whatever that was worth. Who knows? Perhaps, this partnership would prove fruitful. I mean, it’s not like I had anything better to do or anywhere else to go. My first priority was to get some decent food in my belly, drink a shitload of wine, and sleep for however long I pleased. Training a demi-god could wait a few days. I needed some Adagio-time first.

Chapter II

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Chapter 2

Town of Kosontos, Seuthian Kingdom

Let me just say that taking a hot bath and relaxing after everything I’d gone through was exactly what the doctor ordered. The water was heated to the perfect temperature and I felt like all of my troubles were going to melt away like butter. Of course, it helped that I had a plate full of cooked meats, cheese, fresh fruit, and a goblet of wine by my side to enjoy whilst I bathed. A few generous swigs later, the pleasant warm of intoxication overtook my entire body. I closed my eyes and let out a contented sigh. Maybe this new world wasn’t so bad after all.

Much to my surprise, the townsfolk seemed to accept our story without question. Then again, lugging around a severed cyclops head tends to remove any doubt in people’s minds that you’d accomplished what the bounty asked. We took our gold, split it in half as agreed, and proceeded to celebrate our new partnership. As for convincing them that I was a demi-goddess, that took a little bit more elbow grease on my part.

Sure, I looked the part of an exceptionally attractive (don’t forget nude) woman in her prime. But only after I’d performed a few healing spells did the townsfolk truly believe that I was the daughter of Aphrodite. Word spread quickly of my kind acts and I wound up receiving all sorts of offerings. Including, but not limited to: free lodging, food, drink, and coin. How I felt about being praised was… complicated to say the least. On one hand, I reveled in it, and the other, it embarrassed me and filled my heart with an indescribable sense of unease.

For centuries, I’d only known what it was like to be feared, misunderstood, and reviled. Ponies and many of the other races that inhabited Equus saw sirens as nothing less than a dire threat to their peaceful existence. We—I—was looked upon as a monster. With no other options at our disposal, sirens lived up to our namesake and terrorized those weaker than ourselves. We pillaged and plundered whatever we desired. Yet, it was never enough. What we wanted, nay, what we needed as a race was not something that could be put into materialistic terms.

I lifted my leg out of the water and wiggled my toes. “No hooves or fins. Can I really be considered myself without them? Do I deserve happiness after everything I’ve done?”

As with any rhetorical question, I did not receive an immediate answer. GAH! Pondering the great mysteries of life and philosophy had never been my strong suit. I left those sorts of things for the soft-scaled scholars to worry about. My concerns were almost always anchored firmly in the present. How to get food, money, plan an attack etc. I rarely had the chance to think about the bigger picture. If I was to be stranded here, I’d need to do just that…

So lost was I in my own thoughts that I’d failed to notice Flash’s arrival. One thing that I’d quickly learned about humans was that they had very expressive faces. The way he looked at me spoke volumes more than any conversation could in the same amount of time. That is to say, in a mere instant. I must have seemed like I was depressed because his eyes softened with concern. He walked over to the edge of the bath, knelt down, and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Is everything ok, Adagio?”

I jumped a little at his touch. Despite my embarrassment from being startled so easily, I tried my best to give him a convincing smile. “Yes, I’m fine. You managed to catch me while I was deep in thought. Was there something you needed? I’ve got plenty of food and drink to spare.”

Flash stood up and adjusted his kilt. “Not really. I figured you might… want some company.”

I chuckled. “Oh? That’s a rather bold assumption on your part.”

Flash looked away while I slowly spread my legs apart underneath the water. Sure enough, he took a quick peek when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. You poor boy. Give up this silly charade of politeness and just enjoy my beauty. “I-I don’t mean THAT kind of company.”

I took a big gulp of wine and laid back. “Oh well. Your loss~ In all seriousness though, I appreciate that you want to spend time with me instead of gallivanting about with the locals. However, I do have one rule. You have to get naked. It’s the proper way to enjoy a bath.”

To his credit, Flash gave into my demand albeit hesitantly. I’m not sure why he was so reluctant to show off his body around me. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it at all. In fact, I believe I was beginning to understand the appeal of the human physique. Then I noticed. I mean, REALLY noticed. I couldn’t help biting my lip. Sweet… oceans. I can’t, in good conscience, continue to call him a kid anymore. Not after what I’d seen dangling in-between his legs.

FUCK! I shouldn’t have stared so intently… but I did. What?! I couldn’t help myself! Flash had such a magnificent cock, after all. It was thick, veiny, and had a slight curve to it. His member looked nothing like a siren’s but I was somehow drawn to it, as if by instinct. Human instinct. Had I really started thinking like one of them now? Why does this have to be so confusing? Why can’t life be simpler for me? I blinked hard a few times and drank more wine. It didn’t help.

Flash stood behind me, awkwardly shuffling his feet. “May I sit next to you?”

“Sure. Relax. Have some wine and enjoy yourself by all means…”

I hope he didn’t notice that I was blushing. Of course, that could have been the alcohol going straight to my head. Flash wasn’t—I didn’t mean to—look, my emotions and body chemistry were a complete fucking mess. For all I knew, these sorts of feelings were commonplace for human females and I was just being dragged long for the ride. So much for pride and dignity.

Flash cleared his throat. “So… do you need help cleaning yourself?”

“Not really. I got all of the practical stuff out of the way ages ago. Would you like to scrub your back or something? I’m pretty good at it. Promise I’ll be gentle too~”

Flash’s lips puckered and I swear it looked like he was fighting an internal battle with himself. “I—ok, I think I’d like that. You know, so long as you are too, Adagio. Hehe. Scrub away!”

With a shrug, I grabbed the nearest sponge and lathered it in scented oil. True to my word, I made sure to be as gentle as possible so that Flash could enjoy the experience to the fullest. Despite my best efforts to make him more comfortable, I could tell that he was tensed up. The muscles in his back felt taught against my fingers. It just made me feel sorry for him.

“Flash,” I asked softly, “what’s wrong? You don’t seem very relaxed.”

“I’m sorry, Adagio. This is the first time I’ve ever… bathed with a woman before.”

I began rubbing his shoulders. “I assure you, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Well, I’ve never been very good at talking to women either. You must think I’m the most pathetic man alive, huh? A demi-god who can’t do anything right. I’m such a failure…”

I took hold of his cheeks and looked him directly in the eyes. “Do you know what I think?”

He looked back at me with a sorrowful expression. “What?”

“Failure is a natural part of life. We all experience it. Rather than wallow in self-pity, pick yourself back up and start over again. Live and learn. It really is that simple.”

“I never thought about it that way. Thanks, Adagio.” Flash replied with a warm smile.

“You’re quite welcome, ki—erm—Flash. Now, quit moping and eat some roasted pork. Might as well drink some wine too while you’re at it. Enjoy all of the victuals you can before we hit the road again because there’s no telling how long we’ll have to survive on prepared rations.”

While I nibbled on a chunk of cheese, Flash’s hand crept closer to my own underneath the water and grasped it gently. The gesture surprised me a little, so I didn’t react to it immediately. However, I took it as a sign that he was beginning to trust me and I felt that showing some of that trust in kind was the best approach to strengthening our bond as partners. Therefore, I took it upon myself to grasp his hand firmly and intertwined my fingers with his own.

“Since I’m paying you to be my guide, I expect you have some sort of plan for us?”

Flash chuckled sheepishly. “I do have an idea but I’m not sure if you’d like it.”

“Oh? Well, how do you know that I won’t until you explain it to me?”

“Fair enough,” Flash admitted, “The Olympic Games are scheduled to be held in the town of Goskopeion this year. We’re only about a two day’s journey from it.”

I blinked owlishly. “Ok. What does that have to do with anything?”

“Are you serious?! Who doesn’t know about—oh… right. Not from around here. Basically, the Olympic Games are a sports festival made to honor my father, Zeus. That being said, those who compete and win in the events can make a name for themselves as well as earn some prize money. I figure it’s the best way for us to kill two birds with one stone.”

I rubbed my chin in thought. “An interesting proposition. I assume you intend for us to participate in these ‘Games’ somehow? If so, I’m obligated to point out that we aren’t considered normal humans. I don’t think it would be wise for us to reveal our true strength.”

“No, you’re right. We’d have to operate at a handicap. To do so otherwise would be dishon—”

I laughed at him. “Why are you so damn obsessed with honor? Learn to loosen up a little. Regardless, I see your point. I’d rather not draw too much attention to myself by showing off. In my own personal experience, such displays of power tend to make more enemies than friends.”

Flash shifted uncomfortably while he chewed on a grape. “I should also mention that all competitors, regardless of gender, must participate in the nude. It’s a rule the Olympic Games have had in place since the very beginning. Disobeying the rule is grounds for disqualification.”

I raised my brow. “Do you honestly believe I’ll have an issue with showing off a little skin?”

“N-no but… I just—I’m not sure if I’m comfortable with the idea of showing off my body in front of hundreds, maybe even THOUSANDS of spectators. It makes me nervous, Adagio.”

I traced my finger along the center of his chest and teased his nipple a bit. “I sense that you’re not telling me the whole truth. Out with it, Flash! What’s really bothering you?”

Flash blushed and clamped his legs together. “Well, you see… the Olympic Events aren’t distinguished by gender. Men & women compete against each other on equal grounds.”

“Hmm. That doesn’t sound so bad. What kind of events are there?”

Flash began counting on his fingers. “Running, discus throwing, swimming, and wrestling. You know, the kind that you have to get oiled up for first and g-grapple in close quarters. The competition is pretty fierce in that regard…”

A savage grin spread across my lips. “Oh ho~ Now that is interesting! What? Do you get excited at the mere thought of our glistening, oiled bodies rubbing against each other for all to see? Or perhaps… you’d prefer to wrestle with another man? Not to worry, Flash. I don’t judge.”

Flash’s face turned a lovely shade of crimson. “IT’S NOT LIKE THAT!!”

“Sure. Keep telling yourself that,” I teased, “But the erection I see poking out of the water says otherwise. Haha! There’s no need to feel embarrassed, Flash. Your body’s just being honest.”

After covering himself up, grumbling under his breath, and avoiding eye contact for a while, Flash finally began to relax and enjoyed a cup of wine with me. About twenty minutes later, I got out of the bath and dried off, bidding him a good night. If we were going to be traveling by foot for the next two days, I needed to get as much rest in a comfortable bed as possible.

The journey to Goskopeion wasn’t too bad, all things considered. I hadn’t gotten nearly as much beauty sleep as I would have preferred but at least I didn’t feel like death warmed over. It gave me the unique opportunity to get to know my partner better. Unfortunately, despite our intimate conversations with each other, Flash remained apprehensive about entering the competition. I tried my best to convince him that performing feats of athleticism in the nude was honorable and that he had nothing to be ashamed of. He was in superb physical condition, after all.

Perhaps, I was partially to blame for his nervousness. I hadn’t meant to read Flash’s emotions intentionally, it just sort of… happened one night. Controlling siren magic with my new body was proving to be much more difficult than I’d anticipated. The red gem embedded in my chest had always helped to store and concentrate magical energy, so now that I no longer had it, the lack of fine control made sense to me. In my human form, magic felt more like an amorphous blob swirling throughout my body. Difficult to draw upon and difficult to bend to my will.

Regardless of intent or limitations, an important detail became clear that night. Flash Magnus had begun to develop feelings for me. They weren’t serious yet. More like puppy love or a crush, I guess. He was clearly attracted to me in the physical sense and I got the distinct impression that I was one of the few people whom he considered a friend. An interesting combination, to be sure.

Sure, I teased Flash on occasion, but I tried not to make it seem like I was leading him on too far. It’s not that the idea of romantic companionship was completely abhorrent to me; I just wasn’t ready to open myself up to anyone yet. Building trust was difficult for me. It made me feel vulnerable when others knew how to exploit my weakness and insecurities. Was I being a hypocritical, paranoid freak? Probably. But it’s not easy to change your opinion on relationships when you’ve endured centuries worth of loneliness and heartbreak.

Besides, I was far older than him, and thus, my opinions regarding love were quite jaded at this point. There was also the matter of our lifespans to consider. I’d not yet tested whether I was still ageless in this world. Only time would reveal that to me. Flash Magnus may have been a demi-god but that did not necessarily mean immortality applied to him. I just couldn’t risk getting too attached. Not when his lifespan might very well be measured in mere decades.

I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath, and smacked my cheeks a few times. Dwelling on such thoughts would do neither of us any good and I needed to concentrate on the competition. When I arrived at the amphitheater for registration, I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of women present. The vast majority of the competitors entering were men. To be fair though, the whole point of the festival was to honor the God, Zeus and athletes in general. A profession that female humans had yet to embrace on equal terms with their male counterparts, it would seem.

Of course, me being one of the only females in the amphitheater meant that I attracted a lot of attention from all those present. Doubly so, considering my svelte physique and lack of attire. With every step I took upon the dirt floor, they coveted my naked body like gold, fantasizing what it would be like to fuck me. Keep on dreaming boys, because Tartarus will freeze over before I invite any of you into my bed chamber for a good time.

I put some extra sway in my hips and gave them all a sultry ‘come hither if you dare look’. Just to spice things up a bit, I projected a simple fear spell that instinctively raised their hackles. Like a rabbit spotting a fox hiding in the bushes. Prey that understood when a predator was afoot. I giggled at their discomfort. Flash looked like he wanted to object but chose to keep his mouth shut instead. When we finally got to the scribe, he arched his brow, sighed, and cleared his throat. I’m not sure if that meant he was used to these sorts of shenanigans or he just didn’t care.

“Names?” the scribe asked curtly.

“I’m Adagio Dazzle, and this is my partner, Flash Magnus. We’d like to enter the Olympic Games, if that’s alright with you.”

The scribe scribbled something down on the parchment. “Not my place to judge. Only the Gods can decide such things. Now, run along to the physician’s quarter across the hall and get yourselves checked out. Next!”

“What was his problem?”

Flash shrugged. “Don’t take it personally, Adagio. The poor guy’s probably just tired from having to write names down all day. I know I would be too, were our places reversed.”

It turns out that quite a few of the athletes had a massive stick shoved up their collective asses. Many of them shot us both nasty glares as we walked by. If I had to make an educated guess, they were either jealous that Flash got to spend so much time with me… or they were offended that a beautiful creature such as myself had dared to enter their manly competition. So, I did what any reasonable person would do in my position, I stuck out my tongue and blew raspberries at them. It was pretty fun!

Flash let out a deep sigh. “Adagio, could please try to act like a grown adult?”

“What? They’re being immature too!”

Flash placed his hand on my back and encouraged me to move faster. “Yeah but that doesn’t mean you should lower yourself to their level. I know you’re better than that.”

I crossed my arms underneath my breasts and huffed. “Fine. I’ll behave. However, if any of these guys touch me inappropriately, I shan’t hesitate to make them eat their own teeth for dinner.”

“Fair enough. Let’s just hurry up and get checked out by the doctor.”

Flash finally got naked once we entered the physician’s quarters. Everyone else was too while we stood in line to be examined. It was a fairly quick process for each person. The doctor would certify that participants weren’t wearing anything to give them an advantage, and opened everyone’s mouths to see if they were using drugs. I, of course, suffered the indignity of having my lips (the lower ones) spread apart and searched for illicit substances. But at least it was performed by a female assistant. Not that they gave me much in the way of privacy. Oh well.

Next, we were ushered into a large waiting room. Groups of athletes mingled and conversed while light refreshments were served. Mostly fruit and cheese. No alcohol of any kind was to be found on the premises. They provided us with juice instead. I tired some of it and found the stuff to be pretty tasty. Imagine that. After a quick look around, my hypothesis was proven correct. Nearly all of the athletes were men and in good as, if not better physical shape than Flash.

I really did try to keep a low profile for both of our sakes but you know how these sorts of situations tend to play out. Me, being the most attractive female (and one of the only) in the room, naturally became the center of attention. A dark-haired, mountain of a man by the name of Neofytos, shoved his way through the crowd and smiled at me in the sleaziest way possible. It made my skin crawl. With a great deal of effort, I choked down my juice and smiled back.

“Good afternoon, fellow athlete. What can I do for you?”

Neofytos licked his lips and pointed down towards his waist. “Get on your knees and suck my cock for starters. It’s funny, you know. I wasn’t aware that the council let temple maidens compete in the games this season. Then again, if you had the nerve to waltz around unclothed, I highly doubt that you’re still a virgin. How about it? Care for a quick fuck before we start?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. Oceans below, what a misogynistic asshole! “I’m not some common whore, you hairy oaf. Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to judge a book by its cover?”

He didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, Neofytos barked with laughter. “Sticks and stones, love. Your fiery tongue might work on other men, but not me. Now, we can do this the easy way or—”

Before I had a chance to retort, a lithe, well-toned young woman with seafoam green skin intervened and kicked the bastard right in the manhood. He crumpled to the floor, whimpering in pain while the woman led me over to a less crowded section of the room. Once I got a better look at her, I noticed that her orange hair was tied up in a neat little bun. It suited her; I must admit.

I rubbed the back of my neck and chuckled. “Thank you. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

The woman patted my shoulder. “You’re welcome. No one likes Neofytos anyway.”

“Ah, well I suppose he thinks with one head and not the other, huh?”

“Mhmm. That about sums it up, I’d say. The name’s Iliana. Who’re you?”

I took her outstretched hand and shook it firmly. “Adagio. As you might well have guessed, I’m new to the games. This is the first time I’ve tried competing. Any tips?”

“For starters, you can’t go out with hair like that. Don’t get me wrong; it’s pretty and all but needs to be tied up. Otherwise, it’ll keep getting in the way. C’mon. I’ll do it for you.”

While she braided my hair, I sighed. “Are we the only women here?”

“Afraid so,” Iliana confirmed, “The Olympic Games are traditionally a male dominated festival. Considering that the games honor Zeus and most women don’t grow up to be warriors or athletes, there are few who heed the call. I am different from them.”

“Forgive me, Iliana. But I’m new to these parts. Where were you born?”

“Sparta,” Iliana answered in a casual tone, “My father is King Alexandros II. I was raised from birth to exemplify the virtues of a strong, well-disciplined warrior race. To participate in the Olympic Games is to honor my ancestors and my family name. What about you, Adagio?”

Now that I had the chance to examine her physique in greater detail, I noticed how muscular Iliana was. Nary a trace fat to be found anywhere. Mother Kraken, even her breasts stayed firmly in place while she moved about. Dare I say, the scars that dotted her body only added to her warrior-princess allure. Was I supposed to refer to Iliana by her royal title? She didn’t seem bothered by my lack of honorific before so… it must have been ok, right?

“I came here seeking to build my reputation. Or rather, I should say, my partner and I.”

The orange-haired Spartan nodded. “Flash Magnus, correct? Then you must know that he is rumored to be the son of Zeus. My father told me to keep an eye out for him. For… various reasons.”

There it was. The change was subtle but I noticed it. Iliana blushed ever so slightly. “I imagine demi-gods would produce strong, capable children. Perfect for a warrior race. And being a strong woman yourself, you’d be able to bear them easily. Or am I overstepping my bounds saying so?”

Iliana’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of crimson. “Yes, well… you are correct in assuming that I am of marrying age. HOWEVER! It remains to be seen if I consider Flash Magnus a worthy husband. Besides, most men find my body undesirable. They want obedient wives with wide hips and ample bosoms. As you can plainly see, I possess neither of these traits.”

I chuckled. “Not even the obedient part?”

“Let us focus on the competition for time being, Adagio.”

Out of respect for my new acquaintance’s feelings, I did not press her further. It was clear to me that she was independent-minded and didn’t like men giving her orders, but at the same time, she had a strong sense of duty to her family. She had the makings of a great ruler in my humble opinion. It only served to amuse me further when Flash arrived and introduced himself to Iliana. Like the awkward, nude teenagers they were, the two of them avoided eye contact and stuck to the most banal of conversation topics. After we parted ways, I nudged Flash in the ribs playfully.

“I think the princess likes you~”

“How can you be sure of that?!” Flash blurted out.

“Oh, you sweet, innocent boy. You have so much to learn about a woman’s heart.”

Flash cleared his throat. “Well, maybe I do but she’s a princess and I’m a nobody. Why would she be interested in someone like me? Is it just because I’m the son of Zeus?”

At some point, I really needed to sit down with Flash and help him work through his inferiority complex. Even though what he said was essentially the truth. “Be that as it may, you have a unique opportunity to make a name for yourself here at the Olympic Games. Show Iliana—no—the world what you’re capable of. Make Zeus proud to call you his son!”

Flash cupped his hands over his privates, twiddling his thumbs while he did so. “Adagio, can you promise me something?”

“Anything. All you need to do is name it.”

Flash let out a long, shuddering breath. “If things go south during the competition and I manage to mess everything up, will you promise to stay by my side?”

I wrapped my arm around his shoulders in a half-hug. “Of course, I will. That’s what friends do.”

“You consider me a friend?”

I nodded. “Yes, I do. Is that a problem?”

Flash waved his hands. “No! I-I mean, I’m honored that you see me that way. As a f-friend, I mean. ARGH! Sorry, I’m still not very good at socializing with women, am I?”

I laughed melodically. “Nope! But I happen to think that’s part of your charm~ All joking aside, I think you’re a good friend, Flash. You stuck by me even though you knew that I wasn’t a normal woman. I would be remiss if I didn’t somehow return the favor. NOT… that I think any relationship should be based on a system of recurring favors. I guess what I’m trying to say is: thanks for accepting me for who I am, regardless of my faults and imperfections.”

Flash squeezed my hand and smiled. “You’re welcome, Adagio.”

Much to my relief, the little speech I gave him seemed to have bolstered Flash’s confidence. When I looked over at him, he became more focused, more determined. Dare I say, heroic. Hey! Don’t just assume I was being sentimental just to achieve a goal. I meant every word I’d said!

I’d had enough of playing the villain. A selfish megalomaniac obsessed with obtaining power, who’s always trying to force people to like her. Well, not anymore! New world, new Adagio. That’s the deal! Maybe those ponies were onto something with their whole friendship schtick. I won’t admit that it’s magic. But it does feel good to finally have… a friend.

Before long, we were standing outside in the amphitheater’s courtyard surrounded by hundreds of spectators and fellow competitors. There was much fanfare and a ceremony presided over by the priests of Zeus but I got the impression that everyone just wanted the games to begin. According to time-honored tradition, the first event everyone participated in was the marathon.

Based on what Flash had told me earlier, it was essentially a cross-country race against competitors and the winner was the one who crossed the finish line first. To be perfectly honest, it sounded tedious, tiresome, and made my legs begin to ache just thinking about it. Yet, I knew that I had to endure it. If not for my sake, but Flash’s. He was counting on me to give it my all.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Iliana. She looked every bit the warrior-princess. Her muscles tense, bare skin glistening with sweat in the midday sun, eyes locked forward and determined. I’m not sure why the men of this world didn’t find her desirable. She was beautiful in an untamed, almost animalistic way. No, it wasn’t fair to call her that. Rather, there was beauty in her strength. She commanded it, made it her own so naturally that I… couldn’t help but be drawn towards it like a moth to an open flame. I smiled and she smiled back at me.

“When this is all said and done, I’ll ask her to be my friend too.”

The officiator of the race stepped up onto the platform and raised his hand. “Sons and daughter of Zeus: we are gathered here today to honor his name, and the brave messenger who ran without rest to deliver an important message. Go now. Let your legs carry you onward to victory!”

Chapter III

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Chapter 3

Olympic Games, Goskopeion

We all went our separate ways at the start of the race. I didn’t even bother trying to keep track of Iliana or Flash after about twenty minutes. They were old enough to look after themselves without me acting like a mother hen. Besides, it’s not as though running was inherently dangerous beyond taking a spill in the dirt. Just… boring and tiresome. So VERY tiresome. Ugh. I already regretted agreeing to this race. Seeing as how human legs were a new appendage for me, I’d never had any reason to exercise them in such a vigorous manner before.

It was awful. My legs felt like they were constantly on fire and my skin had become clammy and gross from sweating so much. Combined with the summer heat bearing down on me (I just assumed that was the current season), I wanted nothing more than to augment my speed with magic and get the fucking race over with. But I knew I couldn’t use my powers to—wait a second. That’s not entirely true! Yeah. That was the caveat, wasn’t it? Technically, it’s not cheating unless I got caught. With a shit-eating grin, I proceeded to pump magic into my legs.

The results were almost instantaneous. I felt as light as a feather, the burning sensation turning into a cool, pleasant tingling that started in my thighs and spread all the way down to my toes. Not wanting to stop there, I extended the magic to encompass my entire body. Granted, I was still sweaty and gross but at least I didn’t feel miserable anymore. After taking a brief whiff of myself, I crinkled my nose in disgust. Yep. I stunk. Scented oil only did so much, apparently.

Despite feeling self-conscious of my body odor, I pressed on. It’s not like we had to stay within spitting distance of the other competitors. So, in that regard, I don’t think anyone would have been able to pick up my scent anyway. Still… it left me wanting to take a nice, relaxing soak in the bath. Cold water, if possible. I sighed to myself. It was times like these that made me wish I was still living in the ocean. Oh, how I miss my beautiful scales…

Not long after I’d begun setting a nice pace for myself, I heard someone groaning in pain. I had to strain my ears to hear it again, but there was no doubt in my mind that the sounds of agony had a distinct, feminine tilt to them. The only person it could possibly be out here was Iliana. I ran towards the cries, and sure enough, I found the Spartan Princess laying on the ground, clutching her ankle. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that she’d sprained it somehow.

I crouched on my haunches and placed my hand on her shoulder. “What happened, Iliana?”

“I was running along just fine and—agh—tripped over a rock. Must have landed on my ankle awkwardly and sprained it. Gods damn it! Now, I won’t win the race!”

“For the time being, let’s not worry about the stupid race. Your health is far more important. Are you able to stand up by yourself?”

Iliana grit her teeth and hissed in pain. “No. I already tried that. Didn’t work.”

With a bit of effort, I managed to carry her along piggyback style. She held onto my neck firmly, but I could tell that she would have rather crawled the rest of the way to the finish line. What is it with these humans and their pride—well—actually, I know exactly what it’s like to have a big ego. Were our positions reversed, I would have been embarrassed too. For quite some time, Iliana didn’t utter a single word, until I heard her cry out in pain. I was no doctor but even I knew that if she didn’t get her injury looked at soon, she might end up with permanent damage.

“Iliana, I know this is humiliating for you but we need to stop and rest.”

“No! We can’t! I’m already dishonoring the spirit of competition by relying on you to carry me, Adagio. But you can still win if you just leave me behind. I’ll manage somehow. Lay me down upon the ground and I’ll—”

“Absolutely not,” I admonished, “There’s no telling if or when another person will come along. It could be hours, days even. We need to treat your injury now or it will get worse. Do you want to become permanently crippled for the rest of your life just for the sake of fucking honor?! Seriously. How stupid can you be? I want to help you, Iliana. Just shut up and let me.”

Iliana began to cry. “I-I… if that is what you wish, Adagio. I am in no position to stop you.”

“Good girl. Now, we need to find a source of water. Did you happen to see any?”

Iliana sniffed. “Yes. I believe I saw a small creek a few paces in that direction.”

“It’s settled then. I’ll take you there.”

My first priority was getting us both properly hydrated. I can’t even begin to imagine how much moisture we lost from sweating underneath the burning summer sun and exerting ourselves. Come to think of it, I thought it was a bit asinine for us not to have been provided with a waterskin while we ran. Perhaps finding water along the way was part of the challenge? I don’t know. Seemed like a gross oversight on the Olympic Council’s part. It made me wonder how many of these honor-bound idiots wound up dying from dehydration every festival.

Healing magic wasn’t a specialty of mine, but I could perform basic spells in a pinch. Like back when Flash and I were staying in the village. Instead of mending bone or ligaments directly, I decided to augment the body’s natural healing process and let nature take its course. However, as with any form of magic, spells come with a price. Iliana would need some extra energy for it to function effectively without aggravating her injury further or cause her to become exhausted.

I ran my fingers through Iliana’s hair to try and calm her down. “Just sit tight for a little while and stay calm. I’m going to go find something for you to eat.”

The confused expression on her face was adorable. “Why? I’m not hungry.”

“Let’s just say there’s a lot about me that you don’t know, Iliana.”

The Spartan’s mood became increasingly more irritable as the seconds passed by. Pain, coupled with frustration, is not a combination most people are able to deal with for very long. She finally snapped after about thirty seconds and pulled me down so that I was close to her face. “What is it you’re not telling me about, Adagio?! I want the truth! You’re not a demon, are you?”

I shook my head. “No. More like a demi-goddess. I’m the daughter of Aphrodite. Look, Flash & I didn’t think it would be fair to the rest of the competitors if we used our enhanced strength, or magic in my case, to give ourselves an advantage during the events.”

“So, it’s true then. Flash Magnus really is the son of Zeus…”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Sure is~ Say, Iliana. Does this mean you’re more willing to consider Flash as a potential husband? I haven’t known him for very long, but he seems like a decent enough man. I mean, yeah, things were pretty awkward between the two of you back at the amphitheater but… it’s nothing a few more conversations can’t fix.”

Iliana blushed furiously. “Why must everyone see fit to intervene in my affairs?!!”

“I didn’t hear you say no~”

Iliana crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. “Fine. If you must know, I found him quite handsome and charming. BUT! That doesn’t mean he is worthy of my vows… or my virginity.”

I giggled. “Oh ho! The truth finally comes out. I presume you felt this way before finding out he was a demi-god? Ooooh that’s so precious! I think you two would make a great couple.”

If Iliana turned any redder, she might’ve passed out. Instead, she took in a deep breath to calm her nerves and sighed. “Suffice to say, I am not concerned about marriage right now. You mentioned magic earlier. What did you mean that I needed to eat something?”

“Ah, right. As with any school of magic, spells require energy to function correctly. Ergo, you would need to consume some food in order to fuel the healing spell I intend to use on your ankle. Not to worry; it is a simple one designed to enhance your body’s natural ability to heal itself.”

“Huh. That makes a lot of sense, actually. I didn’t realize magic operated in such a manner.”

Instead of replying verbally, I simply nodded. Without further ado, I concentrated on calling upon my magic to perform a different spell. This one, unfortunately, was a bit more complex and required my undivided attention to cast. The quickest way to find food, was to find a living creature. To do that, I would utilize a mystical echolocation spell. It was one that sirens used often when traversing the deepest parts of the ocean to hunt prey.

As I suspected, the task was much more difficult while using a human body. The amount of energy I required to cast the spell was significant, so it took about a minute of concentrating to achieve the desired level of power. An echoing blast of ruby-hued magic radiated from the center of my body and shot out in all directions. Within seconds, I received detailed information regarding the whereabouts of many living creatures. I chose a mountain goat grazing nearby because it would offer enough meat for the both of us to regain our strength.

About five minutes later, I lugged a goat carcass back to where Iliana was resting. I must have looked an absolute mess because the poor princess turned as pale as the snow. After giving my body a quick look over, I realized that I was covered in bits of gore and blood. Oops. I’d been so absorbed in the hunt that I forgot how much of a mess bashing a creature’s skull in with a rock makes. Plus, I typically hunted my prey underwater where such things didn’t matter.

Iliana winced when I began ripping off the goat’s hide. “Sorry if this is a wee bit messy. I need to properly butcher the goat and make sure you get all the nutritious parts. And just in case you’re wondering, yes, I can make magical fire. So, you won’t have to eat any of the meat raw.”

Within no time, the carcass was cleaned and the meat cut into manageable portions. I made sure she got the liver and heart, as they were packed with nutrients, while I took a chunk of leg myself. It tasted ok, I suppose, but it would have been so much better with seasonings. Whatever part of the animal wasn’t immediately consumed, I left in a pile for some lucky predator to happen upon. They deserved a break sometimes too.

Now came the hard part. The spell itself wasn’t difficult to cast, it’s just that it required incrementally larger amounts of energy from the user, depending on the severity of the wound. I had no idea if Iliana’s ankle was broken or sprained, so I had to assume the worst-case scenario. My hands glowed an iridescent shade of green while magic poured over her ankle like molasses. Iliana gasped but said nothing to me while I worked. I guess that meant things were going well.

After five minutes of continuous treatment, I felt like I’d run the rest of the marathon and went out drinking the night afterwards. Not the pleasant drunk part but the massive hangover that followed. I was even sweatier (if that’s possible) than before and wanted to do nothing more than lay down in the dirt for a quick nap. I shook my head a bit and tried to resist the temptation as best I could. The princess owed me big time after this. And you bet your ass that I’d collect!

Iliana laughed as she jumped up and down. “It’s all better! Adagio, you’re a miracle-worker!”

“Great! Now we can actually finish this shitty race.”

Imagine my surprise when instead of being met with grumbling disagreement, Iliana took it upon herself to wrap her arms around me in warm embrace. I’ll say this much, the experience was wholly unique from any form of physical affection I’d received as a siren. Even though we were both sweaty and covered in grime, the sensation of Iliana’s bare skin pressed against my own felt… nice. Unsure of what else I should be doing in such a situation, I settled for gently stroking her back with my fingers while we embraced each other. I rather enjoyed it to be honest.

Iliana cleared her throat and blushed. “Yes, we should be on our way!”

A few hours later, we reached the finish line. Flash had apparently gotten second place but given how many delays Iliana and I ran into; we just barely came in after the twelfth competitor. It didn’t bother me that much. I’d gained something far more valuable than accolades during the race: Iliana’s friendship. Now, that I’d gotten a chance to become better acquainted with the Spartan princess, I found that she was significantly more amicable towards me than before. Underneath her hardened-warrior façade, was a young woman still searching for her lot in life.

I just couldn’t see Iliana becoming the ‘obedient housewife’ most men expected her to be once she got married. She was independent-minded, stubborn, built like a warrior, and succinct to the point of being blunt most of the time. A true daughter of Sparta if ever there was one. Personally, I found her manner of speech quite refreshing when most ~~creatures~~ people I met in my life would lace their opinions with meaningless pleasantries instead of getting straight to the point.

However, I should also point out that she was still very much a naïve, idealistic maiden. Both in terms of her virginity (she told me for whatever reason) and desire to find romantic love. As princess, I reminded her that such a thing might not be possible because of her position in society. She was the daughter of a powerful king; whose army was the uncontested elite amongst their peers. A political alliance of that magnitude would surely be coveted by potential suitors.

My ruminations about Iliana’s future prospects aside, she did very well in the discus throwing contest. Not wanting to draw too much attention to myself, I settled for tossing my own discus just a smidge further than Iliana’s. It wasn’t my intention to outshine her, rather, I’d accidentally used too much strength during the throw. If anything, she didn’t seem upset by it. Instead, Iliana came running up to me and patted my back like we were old comrades. All I could do was offer my congratulations on her throw and accept the praise… undeserved though it may have been.

I won’t bore you with the details of Flash’s throw. It went a lot further than mine and just about all of the other competitors. What in the name of the Mother Kraken was he thinking? I told him to keep our powers on the downlow and he does something stupid like that. Maybe I wasn’t being fair. There was a chance, however small, that Flash didn’t have full control of his godlike strength. As in my case, he might have just used too much by accident. With the discus throwing event all but decided, I took the liberty of sneaking back to the refreshment area for a drink.

While I was enjoying my second cup of grape juice and a much-needed shoulder rub, the hairy baboon who’d tried to get me to suck his cock came sauntering down the hall. He looked about as smug and sleazy as ever with a big, shit-eating grin plastered upon his lips. In a fit of poorly contained rage, I crushed the clay cup I was drinking from. Grape Juice spilled over me and some of it even formed a little purple puddle on the floor. I wanted to scream.

Neofytos put his hands on his hips. “Well, lookie here! It appears that you had a little accident. Not to worry, sweet thing. I am more than willing to help you clean it up… with my tongue.”

I growled at him and stomped my foot. Much to my chagrin, it hurt like fucking Tartarus because the godsdamn floor was made of solid marble. Not a smart idea when you forget that your human feet are no longer hooves. I had to bite back a yelp of pain in order to maintain my scowl. “You might as well stop fantasizing about it because the answer’s still no.”

“Still playing hard to get, I see. No matter. You’ll come around. They always do…”

I huffed in exasperation. “What’s that supposed to mean?!”

Neofytos chuckled while stroking his beard. “You have no idea who I am, do you? Well, allow me to make it clear. I am a high-ranking commander in the Seuthian Army. Consider yourself lucky for attracting my attention!”

“Look, I don’t care if you’re the fucking king! No means no! End of discussion.”

Commander Neofytos waggled his finger. “My sweet, that’s the wrong attitude to have. Especially coming from a woman who prefers to flaunt her naked body in front of others like a common whore. Were we anywhere but on these sacred grounds, honoring Zeus, I would make you crawl on your knees and submit. Believe me; you’d love every SECOND of it.”

I poked his chest. “You’d better hope we don’t meet in the ring.”

As Neofytos walked away, he laughed at me. “We’ll see, sweet thing. We’ll see.”

All of the tension that had been massaged away came rushing back in an instant. That hairy bastard knew EXACTLY how to get on my nerves and I fell for his taunts. Even when I was busy cleaning the grape juice off of my skin, my mind fantasized about all of the nasty ways I could kill him. Strangulation, bludgeoning, stabbing… the list went on. As far as I was concerned, no matter how competent of a military commander Neofytos was, the world would be a much better place without another misogynistic pig running around in it.

When I turned around, Flash looked back at me with a fearful expression. “Adagio, is everything ok? You look like you’re ready to go out and murder someone.”

My cheeks turned red as I stared down at my feet. More out of embarrassment than anger. I was ashamed of myself for letting my emotions get the better of me. I didn’t want Flash to think I was some kind of wrathful demi-goddess. “Yes and no. I’ll be ok. That dickhead, Neofytos, got under my skin. That’s all. Just… give me a moment to calm down.”

Flash didn’t seem convinced but rubbed my back as a gesture of comfort. “Are you sure? If he’s causing you trouble, I could always—”

Wouldn’t you know it, that dickhead, Neofytos, had already moved onto one of the servant girls. She looked extremely uncomfortable while he had fun groping her ass and kissing her neck. Yet, no one made a move to admonish or stop him. It made me feel sick to my stomach. The mother fucker was actually starting to get an erection too! Blegh. How disgusting! My vision suddenly turned red and I lost all semblance of control over my temper.

“I SAID I’M FINE!” I barked after pushing Flash away.

Adagio, you are an idiot and a terrible friend. Yep. Totally the worst. Flash Magnus was just trying to help comfort you and you went and snapped at him all because that slimy bastard, Neofytos, pushed you over the edge. Suffice to say, I immediately regretted my outburst when I saw how hurt Flash was. Oh gods! Were those tears forming in his eyes? NO!! AGGGH! Don’t go shuffling away like a kicked puppy! I need to make things right between us!

Shit. I really screwed up big time, didn’t I? To make matters worse, Iliana had apparently seen the entire situation unfold (sans the harassment). Instead of cursing me out or knocking some sense into me, she just shook her head and shot me the most intense, disappointed look I’d ever seen in my entire life. It was soul-crushing and so much worse than being yelled at or beaten up.

I let out a heavy sigh and slumped my shoulders. “So much for making friends…”

Oceans below, did I crave alcohol. Part of me wanted to grab the strongest wine possible, crawl off to some dark corner, and drink until I couldn’t tell up from down. Yes, I know it’s not a very healthy coping mechanism but cut me a little slack! Besides my sisters, I hadn’t given a flying fuck about maintaining relationships in centuries. Why did I suddenly care now? Was I starting to grow soft? Emotionally speaking, the physical part was quite evident, thank you.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury of sorting out my problems. By drinking or otherwise. The Olympic Games were still going on and the next event was set to begin soon. When all of the remaining athletes gathered in the courtyard, the announcer stated that we were going to be partaking in wrestling matches. An icy knot formed in the pit of my stomach. The odds being what they were, I would no doubt be pitted against a male competitor.

My enthusiasm dropped to an all-time low when the pairings were announced. I was to face off against Neofytos. Was this some kind of cosmic joke? Why did the universe hate me so much? When I looked over at the commander, he was grinning at me like a shark who smelled blood in the water. I fought hard to keep my expression neutral, but I screamed inside my own mind. As tradition dictated, the athletes were supposed to shake hands before the event started. Begrudgingly, I walked across the field and did so.

“Don’t you see? This is fate. Zeus himself has decreed it so!”

I made sure to squeeze his hand extra hard. “Ha! Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

Neofytos laughed and squeezed my hand harder in return. “Care to make a wager, temple whore? If I win the wrestling match, you shall spread your legs for me without hesitation. If you win, I shall agree to leave you and your comrades alone and never lay a hand on you ever again. Are these terms agreeable or do you desire to negotiate further?”

I had no intention of agreeing to such a ridiculous wager. Instead, I spat in his face. “Fuck off! I’m not some timid servant girl you can bully. Mark my words, Neofytos. Do NOT underestimate me. If you do, it’ll be the last mistake you ever make. That’s a promise.”

“I’m going to enjoy breaking you, bitch.” Neofytos growled after wiping his face clean.

A judge from the Olympic Council stepped onto the field and blew an ornate horn (goat by the looks of it) signaling that the match was to begin soon. After our entire bodies were lathered up in olive oil (a task that I wasn’t particularly fond of but they insisted I do so), we stepped out of our respective corners and squared off.

Before the match could officially proceed, however, the judge stood between us and explained the rules. No gouging of the eyeballs, punching, biting, or purposeful harm to the genital region. All reasonable, given that this was an athletic contest and not a fight to the death. The final rule was more of a disadvantage to Neofytos than me but I agreed to it nonetheless. I could inflict plenty of pain and humiliation unto him without even touching his manhood.

Admittedly, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It’s not as though I’d studied up on wrestling before entering the Olympics. Well, that wasn’t one hundred percent true, I’d gotten the general gist of it from the scholar’s mind but it’s not as though he was an expert on the subject. In the end, I decided that taking a defensive stance and waiting for Neofytos to make a move was my best bet. There’s no way he was going to be able to overpower my super-human strength.

And attack he did. With a savage grin, the commander came in low and nearly headbutted me in the stomach. I yelped in surprise when he took hold of my thigh and shoulder and slammed me into the dusty ground. Although winded from the blow, I rolled to the side and got back up onto my feet. I managed to sprint fast enough to get behind him and lock his neck into a chokehold.

What I didn’t expect was that he had the strength to flip me over onto my back. In doing so, it broke my hold and he locked his legs around my waist to keep me from escaping. Then he grabbed my wrists and pinned them down so that I couldn’t move my arms. Or so he believed. I bided my time and waited to see what he would do next. Using too much strength to overpower him now would raise too many questions.

Neofytos panted. “I knew it! You are all bluster and no bite, temple whore. This is precisely why women shouldn’t be allowed to participate in the first place. Nothing but a distraction.”

Even though I was annoyed by his attitude, I chose not to respond to his taunt. I didn’t need to say anything at all, rather, I would let my actions speak for me. In the blink of an eye, I pushed forward, easily overpowering his hold. His back hit the ground with a meaty thud while he laid dazed and gasping for breath. I’m not sure if I broke any bones, but it’s highly likely that I at least bruised a few of his ribs. I got up, casually dusted myself off, and grinned at him.

“Impossible,” Neofytos wheezed, “There’s no way a woman could be that strong!”

“Maybe you should try being a bit more open-minded, Commander.” I taunted.

In a blind rage, Neofytos charged at me. I was able to step aside easily, and laughed while I watched him stumble onto the dusty ground. Tempting as it was to kick the pompous turd while he was down, I resisted the urge and kept the contest going. Neofytos was clearly being humiliated in front of his male peers and the crowd at large. That should have been enough for me. But was it really? A brilliant idea suddenly popped into my mind while he struggled to get back onto his feet. Was it dirty? Oh, yes. But it was still technically within the rules.

I walked up behind him and looped my arms underneath his armpits. Then I locked my hands behind his head to keep him in place while I began ratcheting up the pressure. Once again, I was careful to limit how much strength I was using, so that I would cause an excruciating amount of pain instead of outright killing him. Even though I was of the opinion that a disgusting pig like him deserved to die a thousand times over.

A sinister laugh escaped my lips. “How does it feel to be helpless?”

Neofytos was in so much pain at that point that he didn’t respond with much more than a grunt. I took it as a de-facto admission of defeat but… I wasn’t about to let his punishment stop there. Oh, no. I wanted to give him a little extra something to remember me by. I released my grip on his shoulders so that he would fall face first into the dirt. But I wasn’t done there. To make sure that I wouldn’t get disqualified, I made it seem like I lost my footing and drove my knee into his lower back, effectively (if temporarily) paralyzing him from the waist down.

The look of sheer terror on his face was priceless. Of course, I had to pretend that I was concerned about injuring him in front of the judge but in reality, I was happy to have taught that slimy bastard a valuable lesson about underestimating women. I was declared the victor of the match by default, since Neofytos was unable to continue. The cheers that came from the audience didn’t interest me in the least. After all, I didn’t cripple Neofytos for their amusement.

I looked around to see if I could spot Flash and Iliana but they were still nowhere to be seen. I suppose they were so upset with me that they decided not to watch my match. No matter. I could honestly say that I wasn’t prepared to speak with either of them just yet. Guilt was such a strange emotion to deal with. I’d never felt it affect me with such intensity before. It made me want to cry, rip my hair out, and grovel all at the same time. With no method to resolve my emotional turmoil (at least in the immediate future), I settled on taking a break and resting for a bit.

The servant girl that Neofytos had been harassing earlier came over to me and offered some refreshments. I partook of them and noticed a slight smile on her lips as she did so. Mind you, I was not an expert on human expressions but… this was more than just a polite smile. It was gratitude. How could I tell, you ask? Well, I’d chalk it up to instinct rather than knowledge. My gut told me to just roll with it, so I did. While I reclined on a pillow, I beckoned her closer.

“What’s your name?”

The girl bowed slightly. “Lisandra, honored Olympian.”

“Hmm. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Tell me, Lisandra. Do you believe what I did was wrong? Did Commander Neofytos get what he deserved? No need to be shy. Feel free to speak plainly. Upon my honor, I promise that I won’t harm you.”

She hesitated for a moment and rubbed her hands together. “Wrong? I don’t understand…”

“It’s quite simple, Lisandra. I injured his spine on purpose to teach him a lesson.”

I expected her to be shocked, but was surprised when she smiled instead. “Indeed, Mistress. I’ve seen enough wrestling matches to know that such a move is unorthodox and nigh unheard of. Even if it weren’t for that, the expression on your face was telling enough.”

“My… expression? Do tell.”

She placed her hand on my shoulder as if to comfort me. “Just before you ‘fell’ on him, your face reminded me of a gorgon. Cunning and full of mischievous glee. Please forgive my forwardness, Mistress. But you asked me to speak plainly.”

I sighed and took a sip of juice. “So, I did. Does that make me a bad person?”

“Given the circumstances, I should say not. You were an instrument of Aphrodite’s justice.”

I let out a humorless chuckle. “That’s certainly an interesting way of putting it.”

Lisandra picked up my hand and kissed it. “Regardless of how you may view the act itself, I am grateful for what you did. People like Commander Neofytos need to be reminded that they cannot act with impunity, lest they invite the wrath of the gods.”

“You’re welcome for what it’s worth. But I’d be lying if I said I did it just for your sake.”

Lisandra nodded slowly. “Nor would I expect that to be the case. He mistreated you as well.”

As Lisandra walked away to tend to the other athletes, I was left alone to stew with my own thoughts. Deep down, some part of me wanted to believe that what I’d done was justice but I also couldn’t help thinking that it was vengeance in equal measure. Perhaps, even a subconscious desire to dominate those around me and show them who the true Alpha Siren was.

I slammed my fist against the cushion in a fit of frustration. All this self-reflection was well and good but did little to solve my ‘friendship problem’. In the end, I decided that the best course of action was to wander around for a while and see if I could find out where Flash and Iliana were. Now that we’d all had some time to cool off, I figured that trying to apologize for the way I’d behaved earlier was more feasible than before. At least, that’s what I hoped.

Palace of Zeus, Mount Olympus

The Goddess Aphrodite wore nothing more than a pleased smile as she ascended the steps of her father’s house. She’d long since shed her mortal coil; that of a servant girl tending athletes. The daughter of Zeus was lithe of figure, olive-skinned, and her ebon-hued curly hair flowed just past her pert breasts. To many mortals she was worshiped as the scion of feminine ideals and grace.

Thus, she chose to remain nude so that all could revel in her beauty. Although it had infringed upon her sense of womanly pride, she’d allowed a mortal man to fondle and grope wherever he pleased. It had been an infuriating insult to her honor, but the goddess endured it for the sake of a greater purpose. A mission, if you will. It was the very reason she sought an audience with her father.

Aphrodite’s uncle, Poseidon, sat next to Zeus while they drank wine and dined on the finest meats. Despite the jovial atmosphere, the god of the sea seemed pensive and on edge. He wore a silken blue toga with gold accents, and sandals to match. Unlike his brothers and sisters, he preferred to keep his head clean-shaven. However, his long, dark beard was braided with colorful beads crafted from mother of pearl. He looked every bit the god of the seas.

Aphrodite had always been thankful for her uncle’s expressiveness because his stormy grey skin rarely ever had any color to it. Normally, this would have been a telltale sign of embarrassment or anger. Beyond the fact that he was notorious amongst the Olympians for having an extremely short temper. Ergo, she made a point to stay on his good side. Most of the time, anyway.

Zeus, the undisputed Lord of Olympus, looked over at his daughter and invited her to sit down at the table. He was every bit as tall, muscular, and mighty as humankind depicted. His skin was of a similar tone to his daughter’s, although his hair was not. Instead, it was of an ivory hue and grew just beyond his shoulders. His majestic beard cascaded down to his chest like an ivory waterfall. The god of lightning wore an elaborate purple and gold toga that stopped just below the knees. Like his brother, he too wore a pair of simple sandals.

“Welcome, daughter,” Zeus boomed, “You look as radiant as ever in your natural splendor. Come! Join us and feast to your heart’s content. There’s plenty of victuals to go around.”

“Hello, father. How fares your day with Uncle Poseidon?”

The sea god scoffed. “Terrible. I want answers, brother! You know as well as I do that we cannot allow interlopers from other realms to roam freely across our domain. Especially, when their abilities remain a mystery to us. Dare I say, she might be a threat to us! We must act!”

“Please stay your temper, brother. I agree with you wholeheartedly but we must exercise cunning and guile regarding this matter. That is why I sent Aphrodite to observe the interloper. Go on, daughter. Explain to your uncle what you have found out about her thus far.”

Aphrodite took a sip of wine and crossed her legs. “Her name is Adagio Dazzle. She travels with the one known as Flash Magnus. Like Magnus, I sensed that she has the strength and abilities befitting a demi-god. In fact, she goes so far as to claim that I gave birth to her. Plausible, considering how beautiful she is and that she came from the sea. Most amusing of all, she too enjoys frolicking about in the nude. Imagine that~”

Poseidon cocked his brow. “How odd indeed. However, we both know that you never bore a daughter. You are far too stubborn and prideful to allow a mortal man to place his seed into your belly. I mean no offence, niece. I am merely saying that you resemble your mother.”

“No offence taken, uncle. You are correct. However, despite the tale she has woven to explain her supernatural abilities to the mortals, I am inclined to grant her my blessing. Regardless if she is actually my legitimate spawn or not, she has demonstrated a willingness to honor my virtues and name. What kind of goddess would I be if I did not reward the faithful?”

Zeus stroked his beard. “I’m under the impression that she must not be aware of our presence.”

“I don’t believe so, father. At the very least, she uses the mortals’ belief in us to further her own agenda. Please hear me out. She could prove to be a useful ally to us against the titans should they ever rise against us. I suggest we leave Adagio Dazzle to her own devices for now.”

Poseidon slammed his goblet onto the table. “Subtly be damned! I want a real test to prove what kind of powers she possesses. Brother, allow me to send one of my minions to your games. Think of this as killing two birds with a single stone. You’ve always wanted to know how capable Flash Magus was too. He has never shown his true strength before.”

Zeus let out a heavy sigh. “Very well. I shall compromise on this matter. Send only one of your minions to test Adagio Dazzle and Flash Magnus. Nothing more, nothing less. But do not harm the mortals reveling in my name. They have done nothing to invoke your wrath. Am I understood, Poseidon?”

“Yes, brother. You have my word.”

“Good. As for you, Aphrodite, I am inclined to agree with your argument. Understand though, that should Adagio Dazzle step out of line, I will hold you accountable for her actions. For the time being we shall not intervene any further in her affairs and allow them to continue.”

Aphrodite hugged her father. “Thank you, father! You won’t regret this!”

“Indeed. See to it that I don’t.”

Chapter IV

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Chapter 4

Olympic Games, Goskopeion

The remainder of the Games went by as smoothly as one could expect. Having experienced my fill, I decided to stick around for the rewards ceremony to see if I could spot Iliana or Flash. Sure enough, the two of them were being praised for their athletic prowess by the Olympic Council. Apparently, it was tradition for their bodies to be anointed with olive oil (almost sounded like a fetish to me because it certainly made them look sexier) and a crown of olive branches placed upon their heads. As I suspected, the crowd went wild when they waved and basked in the limelight.

After a long soak in the bath, I felt like a new woman again. Squeaky clean and smelling like perfume instead of sweat. As it should be! Everyone else had scampered off to the post-game festivities to get drunk and do all the typical things humans did when they were looking for self-gratification. I liked food, spirits, and sex as much as the next girl but my heart just wasn’t into it. Being one of the participants myself, I was expected to make at least a token appearance… so I decided to indulge the masses for a little while at least. More importantly, however, I wanted to find my friends and apologize to them. Food and wine could come later.

To say that the party was slated for casual attire would be an understatement. Members of the crowd were clothed in simple togas while many of the athletes elected to remain nude. It didn’t really bother me, honestly, but the scene was a bit unusual by human standards. Then again, the whole point of the Olympic Games was to honor Zeus. Showing off the human form was somewhat of a religious obligation on their part, I suppose. With a noncommittal shrug, I padded over to the nearest table and grabbed a cup full of wine.

A few sips later, I scanned the room for any signs of my wayward comrades. By pure coincidence, I managed to spot Flash a few paces away from the crowd with his back turned towards them. I approached him slowly, not wanting to startle him unduly. The last thing I wanted to deal with was a black eye and the mild concussion that followed after being punched by a frightened demi-god. In the gentlest voice I could muster, I called out to him.

“It seems that you did well in the Games. Congratulations are in order.”

Flash turned around and gave me a half-hearted smile. “Hey, Adagio.”

My stomach felt like it was going to jump out of my throat at a moment's notice. My mouth went dry and, of course, my entire body became sweaty all of the sudden. Particularly in-between my thighs for some reason. Don’t ask me why! I had no idea. Then the blushing started. Oh, yes. I’m quite sure that I looked like an Adagio-shaped tomato. Why did I have to be such a prideful woman? Saying sorry was like swallowing molten glass.

I bit my lip and shuffled my feet. “Flash, I… the way I treated you before was… wrong. My temper got the best of me and I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that. I-I’m sorry.”

Flash closed his eyes and sighed. “I’m not going to lie, Adagio. What you said was very hurtful. But after seeing your match with Neofytos, I realized just how much of a creep he was. In fact, I asked some questions and it turns out that quite a few of the other athletes hated him too.”

“Even so, that doesn’t excuse my—”

Flash placed his hand on my shoulder. “It doesn’t matter now. What happened, happened. The best thing we can do is say we’re sorry, make up, and move on. I forgive you, Adagio.”

On pure impulse, I ran into his arms and hugged him tightly. I don’t really know why I was compelled to do so… it just felt right for some reason. I should mention that the hug itself lasted far longer than what was considered socially acceptable between friends. When I felt his penis become hotter and begin to stiffen against my thigh, we broke apart our embrace immediately. Believe me when I say, that the situation was terribly embarrassing for the both of us. The awkward silence that ensued afterwards was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Flash covered up his manhood and blushed furiously. “SORRY! That’s the thing with olive oil. It’s—uh—REALLY slippery. EHEHE. Your skin was just so soft and it felt really good rubbing up against my— did I mention that you smell fantastic today, Adagio? Because you do.”

I cleared my throat. “Well, that’s because I just took a bath.”

“Oh. Makes sense. You’re not… mad at me, are you?” Flash asked meekly.

I slowly shook my head. “No, I’m not. It’s partially my fault that you became aroused in the first place. I can’t expect a healthy, red-blooded male to stay calm after hugging a naked woman like that. However, I don’t regret what I did. It felt good. THE HUG… I mean. Not that there’s anything wrong with your penis—I, ok I’m just going to stop talking now.”

“Really? You don’t think it’s too big?”

This whole conversation was headed to places that I seriously DID NOT want to go. Curse my human body. Curse my human hormones. Curse my human brain. Why must they toy with me so?! Despite my reluctance, I knew that Flash deserved to have an honest discussion with me. So, I gave him one. “Why would the size of your penis matter to me?”

Oceans below, he was so flustered! “Because it’s… not ideal. A lot of people are of the opinion that if a man’s member is too big, he resembles a beast rather than a mortal. That’s why I wasn’t comfortable taking off my clothes for this. I was afraid that everyone would look down on me.”

I couldn’t help but blush a little. Yet, I found the composure to gently rub his arm. “Then they are fools. The size of your… member shouldn’t be how you are measured as a man, Flash. Let your actions speak for you. Besides, it looks perfectly functional to me (in terms of thickness and shape, oh yes~). Just don’t… let other people’s opinions get to you, is what I’m saying.”

Flash smiled. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.”

My little pep talk must have done the trick. Flash seemed to have grown more confident while we continued to mingle with members of the audience and fellow competitors. On more than one occasion, a few women even tried to flirt with him. A strong man makes for strong children, I suppose. A point that Iliana had expressed to me earlier. Many of them were quite attractive and wealthy by human standards, yet I sensed an air of indifference radiating from Flash.

No, indifference wasn’t the correct term. He paid attention to them all, conversed, and was polite as the situation dictated. He was a perfect gentleman, in fact. Either Flash just didn’t realize that these women were interested in him for more than mere conversation (more like a contract) or he did not view them as potential wife-material. Considering how awkwardly he’d behaved in front of Iliana & I; the former was more likely than the later. Flash, himself, had admitted that he didn’t interact with the opposite sex much during his youth. Come to think of it, why did I even care what kind of women he cavorted with? Was I… feeling jealous? Whatever!

I crossed my arms underneath my breasts and sneered at one particularly shameless woman. She was middle-aged and had somehow managed to reach around and give his butt a good, firm squeeze while they were conversing by the table. I’m certain that Flash noticed the unwarranted gesture because he blushed and looked very uncomfortable for a few moments afterward. What was it with these people and sexual harassment?! Did they not understand personal boundaries?

“If we weren’t in public, I’d smack that bitch into last week.” I muttered.

Iliana walked up beside me and rubbed my back. “That’s the upper class for you.”

“Aren’t you technically part of the upper class too?”

Iliana blushed. “Maybe… b-but I’d never behave like that woman!”

“Good. See that you never do. I can’t stand elitist assholes who think they can get away with anything just because they’re rich, powerful, and have a ton of influence. That being said, I feel as though I must apologize to you as well, Iliana. I wasn’t thinking clearly when we last saw each other. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry if my behavior strained our relationship.”

Iliana smiled. “It’s ok, Adagio. All is forgiven. Once we realized what was going on between you and Neofytos, it became apparent why you were so upset. I’d like to continue being friends with you if that’s alright. I rather enjoy your company. It’s refreshing.”

I cocked my brow. “Refreshing, huh? Makes me sound like I’m a type of wine or something.”

Iliana waved her hands in protest. “No, that’s not what I meant! Your perspective and the way you treat me as a normal person is what I look for in a friend. I didn’t mean to offend you in any way. I just wasn’t sure how else to express my feelings on the matter.”

“Ah, spoken like a true Spartan. To be fair though, discussing one’s feelings is often a difficult task. Trust me; I’ve been in the same position. Anyway… I forgive you, Iliana.”

Iliana breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you! Um—should we do anything to aid Flash? The woman molesting him doesn’t seem to be aware of the discomfort that she’s causing. If she continues, I shall be forced to defend his honor by—”

“As much as I’d love to kick the ever-loving shit out of that woman, we need to keep our tempers in check. Just follow my lead. I have an idea~”

In a not so subtle display of raw sensuality, I sauntered across the room, making sure to put some extra sway into my hips. The smile that formed on my lips was not entirely just for show. It made me feel good to have so many appreciative eyes trained on my naked body. Is this what it was like to be worshiped as a goddess? If so, I should probably restrain myself from doing these sorts of things too often… lest I become addicted to the attention. With my target in sight, I walked up to Flash and ran my fingers along his chest until I stopped just below his waist.

While playing with his pubic hair, I leaned forward and planted several kisses along his neck. “Hello, dearest. Are you enjoying the festivities so far? I hope you didn’t miss me too much~”

Poor Flash. His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. While he was distracted, I reached over to where the woman’s hand was resting on his ass cheek and gave it a hard squeeze. She yelped in pain, but did not try to resume her previous antics. Score one for Adagio, Zero for Pompous Bitch. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t mind kissing Flash as much as I thought I would.

“Hey, Adagio. I was just having a chat with Aggela. She runs a winery.”

I let out a haughty laugh. “My goodness! An entrepreneur. How fascinating~”

Pompous Bitch was not amused to say the least. She wrinkled her nose in disgust when I nuzzled my cheek against Flash’s chest. “A better one than you shall ever be, trollop. I wasn’t aware the Olympic Council allowed whores to service the athletes this year. Such shameful behavior!”

I gave her a non-committal shrug. “I’m an athlete myself. It’s expected that I be nude. Flash Magnus and I are lovers as well, so why wouldn’t I show him affection? We have nothing to hide or be ashamed of. Not from the gods, and certainly not from the likes of you.”

“Why, I never—” She sputtered.

Just like we’d planned earlier, Iliana showed up just in time to lecture the hag. “You would seek to dishonor my comrades? Ma’am, I must say, you’re the one who is acting shameless. Be gone or I shall drag you out of here myself, kicking and screaming if necessary. OUT!”

Clearly outmatched and caught red-handed, Aggela stormed out of the room in a huff. Once she was out of earshot, Iliana and I shared a laugh and bumped chests. A gesture of comradery intended to be shared between males, but neither of us cared one bit. It was glorious! Now that we’d avenged the slight on Flash’s honor, I backed off and got another cup of wine.

“Thanks for driving that awful woman away. I didn’t want to have to hurt her.”

I grinned and patted his shoulder. “It was my distinct pleasure to do so~ My apologies if things got a little weird between us with all the kissing and whatnot. I was trying my best to convince Pompous Bitch that we were lovers. Wasn’t sure how else to go about it.”

“To be honest, I didn’t mind at all. It felt nice.” Flash responded in a quiet voice.

“Hmm? What was that? I didn’t hear you.”

Flash nearly choked on a grape mid-chew. “Oh—um—it’s nothing, Adagio. I understand.”

Iliana clapped her hands together. “Let’s fill our bellies and head for the baths!”

“Come to think of it, my legs have been pretty sore ever since that stupid race. I don’t mind walking around to get from place to place but running is for the dogs. Hmm~ I wonder if we might be able to get a full body massage too? Worth a shot before we hit the road again.”

Flash chuckled. “Uh—yeah, I guess that would be nice. Lead on, girls.”

As luck would have it, Iliana decided to accompany us on our journey through the various city-states and kingdoms of this land. She apparently was free to do as she pleased before officially taking the throne. When I inquired about it, she said that in Sparta, future rulers were expected to become familiar with their neighbors so that they could hone the art of diplomacy and put it into practice when they became king/queen. Much more practical than sitting around, reading books, and relying on a tutor in my opinion. Way to be proactive, Iliana!

Neither Flash nor I really had much in the way of a solid game plan ourselves. We were making it up as we went along. I was more interested in soaking up the sights and experiencing what the human world had to offer while he was eager to earn renown as a wandering hero. Part of that came from his low self-esteem and tendency to doubt himself. And the rest? Probably the fact that he had some ridiculous expectations to fill. To be fair though, he did appear to have gained some confidence since the conclusion of the games. Not as much as I’d hoped, but it was a start.

Why was I so invested in Flash’s personal development, you ask? Well, the answer is really quite simple: he’s my friend. Any good friend worth their salt would wish the same thing. Come on now! Is it really so difficult to believe that a former siren like me could feel that way about someone else? It’s not as though my race was unfamiliar with concepts of love and friendship.

Quite the contrary in fact! Our powers were fueled by emotions, and consequently, we sought them in others like moths to an open flame. Anger, jealousy, and hatred were the easiest to incite amongst other creatures. Thus, we tended to sow strife wherever we went in order to keep our gems filled with energy. Is it any wonder why were we shunned and reviled by so many races? Now that I now longer had a gem, I saw no point in doing so anymore. Besides, I had no one else to call family in the human world. I needed people that I could depend upon.

Ok, so maybe that sounded a wee bit selfish on my part. Fair enough. I’ll admit that much. But on the other hand, I genuinely enjoyed Flash and Iliana’s company. And in turn, I tried to offer them the same level of comradery as they showed me. Think of it as a symbiotic relationship. Like how you let the cleaner fish into your mouth because there’s bits of old meat stuck in your teeth. Erm—something like that. Whatever! I’m still in the process of figuring things out.

I had to admit that I felt slightly disappointed when Flash and Iliana put their clothes back on after we left the amphitheater. Flash stuck with his armored kilt, sandals, and knee bracers. Iliana, however, wore a full set of bronze armor that covered a good portion of her body. A regal, blood-red cloak/cape thing wrapped around her neck and flowed just past her calves. She looked every bit the part of a Spartan warrior princess. To be fair, I got the same impression even when she was completely nude, but her attire simply drove the point further… I suppose.

Clothing was yet another social norm that I was still in the process of figuring out. Even after discussing the subject in depth with my friends while we walked along, I had a difficult time understanding why they were considered necessary by some and conditional by others. Then again, I’d only been a human female myself for a short time. Such concepts as social class and wealth weren’t relevant to sirens. The only thing that mattered to us was who had the most power and how she chose to exercise said power. Exerting dominance and strength was key.

Never, during the span of my protracted existence, had I ever felt so… unintimidating. Even with magic and enhanced abilities, my own body looked frail, hairless, and monkey-like. Humans had no hooves for stomping, no claws for raking, no sharp teeth for tearing apart meat and foes alike. Iliana went on to further explain that women who brazenly displayed their naked bodies in public were presumed to be lascivious. Even if they were a devoted acolyte of the Goddess Aphrodite.

To be perfectly clear, I was no prude when it came to fornication. I enjoyed the act and all the pleasure that came with it just as much as any siren did. However, that did not imply that I was loose by any means. Absolutely not! Ever since I clawed my way to the top, I was very selective about who I fucked. Only males who had impressed me sufficiently would—EHEM… you get the idea. At this point, it simply annoyed me that the males of this world were so easily distracted by my natural, human form. Why should I lower myself to meet their ridiculous standards?

Speaking of distracted, I had not escaped my notice how many times Flash peeked over at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. In particular, he seemed fixated on my backside whenever I happened to walk in front of him (I put some extra sway in my hips on purpose). Furthermore, it was rather amusing to see how flustered he would become whenever I bent down to pick something up and presented my flower to him inadvertently. I wasn’t bothered by the attention I received. It was only fair, after all. I’d seen his manhood plenty of times before.

Regardless if his attraction towards me was bothersome or not, a slight pang of guilt bubbled up in the pit of my stomach whenever I saw his eyes. They were so full of lust, longing, and the desire to take things just one step further beyond the edge of friendship. It was quite clear to me that Flash Magnus, despite being a demigod, was also an inexperienced virgin.

Technically speaking, I was too… in this human body. I hadn’t bothered to check if my transformation included a newly intact hymen yet. But if it did, well I guess I could get rid of the damned thing easily enough so long as the appropriate tools were available. Nothing like searing pain and blood to ruin the mood, I always say. But I digress. Teasing Flash was fun, admittedly, and it made me happy to know that I was desirable. Yet, I didn’t know how to proceed with him.

Was it wrong for me to feel a slight amount of attraction towards him? Don’t get me wrong; it’s not like I was head over hooves in love with Flash or anything like that. You know, maybe… just a teensy, tiny bit curious in seeing how things would play out IF we decided to pursue a different type of relationship. I suppose there was also the whole ‘Friends with Benefits’ route to consider. Unfortunately, the more I pondered the idea, the more disastrous the conclusion became.

Flash was naïve and inexperienced enough that he didn’t strike me as the type who’d be able to have sex with someone purely for the sake of fun. Granted, I didn’t have any hard evidence to support my theory but it was just a hunch I had based on how he’d behaved around me. Suffice to say, if I did eventually want to fuck him, I’d have to go about it the right way. Lest I damage his already fragile ego. UGH! Why do humans have to be so emotional and complicated?

Ok, so maybe I wasn’t being entirely honest with myself. There was some small part of me, albeit buried underneath centuries of loneliness and heartache, that yearned for a mate. It was the proverbial hole in my life that had gone entirely too long without being filled. That and I’d not been filled in the literal sense for quite some time either. Ugh. It really sucks being horny when you have to adapt to the proclivities of a new body at the same time. Oh well…

The point is: I’d been so obsessed with power and control that I sacrificed everything else to obtain both. Did I regret my decisions? I suppose in the sense that it’d blinded me to my basic emotional needs that I—unbeknownst to me, must have looked depressed and was sighing a lot because Flash placed his hand on my back as a gesture of comfort. Since I wasn’t paying attention, I let out an embarrassingly loud yelp and spazzed out. So much for my pride.

“Sorry, Adagio. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

I paused for a moment so that my heartbeat had a chance to slow down. “I know. It’s just that—FUCK ME—why did a little pat on the back scare me so bad? I nearly pissed myself!”

Flash looked like he was about to cry. I practically had to bite down on my own tongue to stop myself from loosening a stream of obscenities. Not directed at him, of course, but for allowing myself to get so caught up in my own thoughts. “Are you ok, though?”

My cheeks flushed a deep crimson while I attempted to regain my composure. “I’m… ok. Really, I was just thinking about important stuff. But, like an idiot, I spaced out. Seriously! You did nothing wrong, Flash. I want to be clear about that. I’m the one at fault in this situation.”

“If something’s bothering you, just remember that the both of us are willing to listen.”

Iliana came over and patted my back too. “Yeah! It’s the least we can do as your friends.”

Since I was already an emotional wreck, I decided that some undignified snuffling and tears wouldn’t tarnish my reputation any further in their eyes. “Thanks. I’ll be sure to remember that. I don’t… want to talk about my issues right this moment but maybe later, ok?”

What followed was a period of comfortable silence between the three of us. In a surprisingly sweet gesture, Iliana even went so far as to hold my hand while we walked along the road. Of course, her hand was rough and calloused from all the training she did but it felt nice regardless. Hmm. Must be a human thing to find comfort in another's touch. I’d noticed on more than one occasion that their skin was far more sensitive to tactile sensations than my scales ever were.

After a while, I finally managed to calm down and clear my mind. This inevitably led me to start thinking about what we're going to do about money, lodging, and food. That is, assuming, Iliana didn’t carry a stash of royal gold on her person at all times. For now, we made do with sleeping in tents or the occasional cave if we happened to come across one. They seemed pretty common in these parts. Made sense considering the rocky, mountainous terrain.

As for food, we were always close to the coast so there was a bounty of fish to be had. In that regard, I volunteered to go skin-diving because I felt like I wasn’t really contributing much to the effort otherwise. For whatever reason, Iliana and Flash seemed impressed that I could consistently catch sea creatures without even using a spear. I chalked it up to being a demi-goddess but in reality, it was my siren heritage/powers that made me an effective hunter.

I sat cross-legged by the fire while roasting an octopus. “The countryside is beautiful and all but I feel as though we’re wandering around aimlessly. Is there a plan? Do we have a destination in mind? Demigoddess or not, I still prefer the creature comforts of civilization…”

Iliana nodded. “There is a village up ahead, Adagio. I was thinking that we could advertise ourselves as roaming monster hunters—erm—soldiers of fortune if you will. I’ve found that most people just want to lead a peaceful life without being harassed for crops or animals.”

“Well, you two might fit the bill on that account but I certainly don’t.”

Flash raised his brow. “Oh? Are you sure about that?”

“My physical abilities aside, I don’t exactly wear armor or wield weapons.”

Iliana laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous, Adagio! You don’t need to wear anything at all. We can just say that you’re a travelling priestess of Aphrodite’s Temple… accompanying me. Since I’m a woman, it’s obvious that I would seek her favor. Simple and to the point.”

I began nibbling on a tentacle. “Eh, I suppose so. Far be it for me to judge which divine you wish to curry favor with. Being a warrior princess and all, I figure that you’d pray to Ares instead.”

Iliana shot me a confused look. “The worship of Ares is not prevalent amongst women.”

“Iliana, I was being facetious. Of course, he’s not popular amongst women. Neither should Zeus be considering that he goes around and rapes mortals whenever the mood strikes him. Which is like, always. But we literally just finished celebrating a festival in his honor. Go figure!”

The Spartan Princess blushed and shuffled her feet. “Oh—well—it’s not our place to question the Gods. Please be more cautious about how you speak of them… even if what you say is true.”

I waved my hand dismissively. “To each their own.”

Just as I was about to wash down another chunk of roasted octopus, a loud rumbling sound echoed in the distance. Before I knew it, a gigantic horse demon creature came galloping towards our encampment and let out an ear splitting whinny that sounded like a banshee scream. Not missing a beat, both Iliana and Flash were poised to fight, spears in hand. The only thing I’d managed to do was fall over and look like a terrified idiot. Then, something even more bizarre started to happen, the horse demon began shrinking and took humanoid form.

When the transformation completed, a naked young woman stood before us. By my estimate, she appeared to be about two years younger than Iliana but distinctly non-human. Her bare skin was a similar shade to that of an iceberg and glistened in the sun just as much too. A pair of modest, perky breasts protruded from her chest and were somewhat obscured by her long hair. To even call it that was generous. It was a deep blue color and flowed just like the ocean itself.

Otherwise, her body was completely smooth. Her ears were noticeably longer than a human’s and ended at a sharp point. However, the most disconcerting feature was her eyes. They were a vibrant shade of red that could have easily been mistaken for blood had there not been slits in the center. For the life of me, I had no idea what the creature was or why she decided to interrupt our dinner but my instincts warned me that she was dangerous. Believe me, it took everything I had to stop myself from yelling at her. She’d made me look like a fool…

In a move that surprised us all, she bowed politely. “Pardon my intrusion, mortals. I mean you no harm… yet. My name is Nomiki, hippocampus, and emissary of Poseidon. It is my sworn duty to serve the Lord of Seas and do his bidding as he sees fit. Pleasant tidings to you all.”

I let out a disgusted sigh when I saw Iliana making gestures towards Nomiki as if to say: ‘See! I told you so!’. Oceans below. I guess divine beings really were a thing here. Regardless of how much power they held, I wasn’t convinced that they were all knowing and all seeing. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have needed minions to gather intel on their behalf. Ha! Suck it Poseidon!

Not wanting to upset the horse-demon creature, Flash offered her some octopus. “Hello, Nomiki. My name’s Flash Magnus and my other companions are Adagio Dazzle and Princess Iliana of Sparta. To what honor do we owe your presence this evening?”

She happily chewed on a tentacle. “Wow! I was getting kind of hungry. Thanks for the food~”

I cleared my throat loudly enough so that she would look over at me. Honestly, I tried to be patient and polite but it’s incredibly rude to stuff your face with other people’s food. Especially when you interrupted their dinner in the first place. “Are you quite finished?”

Nomiki loosened a loud burp. “Oopsie! I didn’t mean to be rude, it's just that the octopus was super tasty! Hmm. Oh, yeah! I remember now. The reason I came here was because Lord Poseidon wanted me to test your strength. And that Flash Magnus guy too. Yep! That’s it.”

“Test my strength? Whatever for?”

The humanoid hippocampus shrugged. “I dunno. He’s the boss not me. But if I had to guess, it’s ‘cause the Olympians are afraid of you. Or more specifically, they don’t have any idea what you are. They think you might pose a threat to their rule in this world.”

An icy knot formed in my stomach. “The Olympians know about me?”

“Only in the most general sense. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent me to investigate.”

I bit my lip. “Ah. Is that so? How, pray tell, do you intend to investigate me?”

Nomiki jumped up and down while clapping her hands. “That’s easy! I’m gonna fight you!”

Chapter V

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Chapter 5

Coastline, En route to the village of Eresakros

I’m going to be perfectly honest with you. Despite knowing that Nomiki was a giant (and most likely powerful) water horse demi-creature in human form, I had a difficult time taking her challenge seriously. For starters, she reminded me far too much of my air-headed sister, Sonata Dusk. Her attitude, mannerisms, appearance, and hell, even her voice was eerily similar. Yes, Sonata could be VERY annoying at times, but not enough to send me into a sputtering rage.

What exactly was I supposed to do? She just stood there with a polite smile on her lips, waiting for me to make the first move. Up to this point, most of the spells/abilities that I’d utilized in combat were similar to those I’d made use of in my siren body. How strong was she? Did she have a healing factor? Would I even be able to keep up with her in my human body? Was Flash even aware of his own demi-god powers and how to control them? There were just way too many variables for my liking. I bit my lip and tapped my foot anxiously while she waited.

It was clear that she didn’t intend to kill me or Flash but I knew that accidents could happen all too easily. Given how new I was to this form, I could wind up using too much power and kill (however unlikely) Nomiki without intending to or she might do the same to us. Then there was Princess Iliana to consider. However tough she may have been, she was still just an ordinary human. After a considerable spike to my blood pressure, I sighed and stepped forward.

“How do you propose we do this, Nomiki? I’d like to avoid collateral damage if possible.”

Nomiki rolled back and forth on the balls of her feet. “Hmm. Well, that’s a good sign. At least you aren’t a bloodthirsty brute like Lord Aries. He’s all about causing maximum carnage and destruction regardless of the cost to those around him. That’s why we all try to keep him content at the parties held atop Mt. Olympus. With enough sex and wine, he usually—”

I rubbed the bridge of my nose. “Ok, we’re getting a little off topic here.”

“Oh! Right. Sorry about that. My mind tends to wander sometimes.”

“Yes, I… noticed. In any case, we need to establish some ground rules. Preferably, I’d like this contest not to involve any grievous injuries or dismemberment of limbs. Including Princess Iliana. Bear in mind that neither Flash nor I are particularly adept with our powers yet. We haven’t tested the upper limit of what our bodies are truly capable of. Does that make sense?”

Nomiki nodded emphatically. “Sure, it does. I mean, that’s the whole reason I was sent here!”

I closed my eyes for a moment to keep myself from getting too angry at the demi-creature’s blasé attitude regarding basic safety standards. “Who’s supposed to go first? Or are we to combat you as a team? Wouldn’t want to infringe upon your sense of honor…”

Nomiki shrugged. “Oh, that sort of thing doesn’t matter to me one bit. You guys can team up if you want. I’ll just wait until you’ve finished discussing what’s gonna happen amongst yourselves. In the meantime, I’ll help myself to some more of that yummy roasted octopus~”

I reluctantly padded over to where Flash was standing while Nomiki gnawed on yet another tentacle. The uncertain expression etched upon his face mirrored how I felt about the whole situation. Did I really want to fight this water horse-girl creature? No, but the bout between us would at least serve as a learning experience. I had yet to use my powers to their full extent. Let alone, figure out if I still had all of the same abilities I once possessed as a siren. So far, it seemed that a lot of them carried over to my human body, albeit in a diminished capacity.

It made sense. Human bodies were smaller and far more fragile than that of a fully-grown siren. How these hairless primates even managed to survive long enough to evolve and become the dominant, sapient race on the planet was beyond me. Save their guile, I suppose. Being the craftiest creatures around counted for something. After letting out a shuddering sigh, I placed my hands behind my back in order to hide how nervous I was. My skin had already begun to break out in sweat, of course, but at least that wasn’t as visible as me twiddling my fingers together.

“So… I take it that you got the gist of our conversation?”

Flash shuffled uncomfortably but nodded. “Yeah. Would you like to team up?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I don’t see that we have much choice in the matter. She’s a powerful servant of Poseidon and there’s no telling what kind of abilities she possesses. I know you’re supposed to be the son of Zeus, but let’s face it Flash: you and I are both novices in this whole questing hero business. We might as well take any advantage we can get.”

“Speaking of advantages, are you going to be ok fighting Nomiki like… well, you know.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Huh? What exactly do you mean by that?”

Flash blushed and gestured towards my chest. “You’re not wearing anything to protect yourself, Adagio! No armor. No sandals. Not even a weapon. Supernatural abilities aside, you’re still naked. What if you get hurt during the fight and—”

“In case you haven’t noticed, that’s literally the whole point of being a daughter of Aphrodite! Trust me, Flash; my body is far more durable than it looks. Armor and weapons would just end up slowing me down. Think of it as an agility and dexterity buff. I’ll take the lead since I have better control over my strength and you can be my support. How’s that sound?”

Flash didn’t seem convinced. He’d seen me fight the cyclops when we first met but I’d emerged the victor more due to the use of guile and dirty tricks instead of brute strength alone. This contest would be different. Although a bit air-headed, I had to assume Nomiki was at least smarter than a lumbering, one-eyed behemoth hellbent on satisfying his lustful urges.

My traveling companion bit his lip and looked as though he’d swallowed something bitter. “Ok. I saw what you were capable of when you fought the cyclops. But please… just be careful. Don’t underestimate Nomiki either. There’s no telling what other powers she might have. If at any point during the fight I feel like you’re in danger, I won’t hesitate to step in.”

“Well, aren’t you the noble, heroic little demi-god? Or is all that bravado a ploy to win over a fair maiden’s heart?” I teased.

At a loss for words, Flash blushed and avoided looking me directly in the eyes.

I gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze as a gesture of reconciliation… and perhaps, it was a little bit affectionate too. The gesture wasn’t as bold as, say, a direct kiss to the lips, but I didn’t hold myself to human standards. Never have. Probably never will. Who knows? My opinions regarding matters of courtship had much room to change, expand, and grow. Especially, now that I was no longer the predatory tyrant of the sea I once was. Let’s just say that sirens were never known for being romantic. More like… fuck or be fucked. But I digress. We had a fight to win.

I approached Nomiki with a sharp-toothed grin, cracking my knuckles all the while. “My apologies for the delay, sweetie. We can start whenever you’re ready.”

Instead of some flashy attack meant to bedazzle and awe, Nomiki simply ran at me at blinding speed. She was so fast that I barely had time to put up my arm to block an incoming spinning-back kick. The impact was so strong that I nearly lost my balance and fell flat on my ass. However, my legs absorbed most of the shock. Even though it was far from pleasant feeling all those tiny pebbles digging into my bare feet. With her momentum expended, I took the opportunity to strike back by kneeing her in the ribs. She managed to dodge it by just a hair.

Undeterred, I started swinging at her with the fiercest punches I could muster. Rather than dodge them, she intercepted each punch with her hands. Each time, the impact made a thunderous smacking sound as flesh met flesh. Had we been normal humans, I’m certain some bones would have been broken. More likely, however, the combatants’ hands would have been shattered into a bloody mess. Our bodies were made of sterner stuff.

Sensing that I was only exhausting myself and getting nowhere fast, I decided a change of tactics was in order. Brute strength alone would not win me the day. Nomiki was just too strong for me to overpower physically. I jumped back far enough to put some distance between us and concentrated on my magic. Or rather, I took in a deep breath and let my diaphragm expand. It was siren magic, of a sort. At least by human standards. I let it all out at once and an ear-piercing scream filled the air as I loosened a sonic attack at my foe.

Nomiki must not have expected that I was able to pull off such an attack. Her eyes widened in surprise as the shockwave hit her dead in the chest, sending her hurtling towards a rocky outcropping. I winced when I heard the rocks crumble apart. That had to hurt like Tartarus. Even so, she emerged from the rubble, slightly dazed but not much worse for wear, save for a few cuts and scrapes. With a savage grin, she called forth an undulating blob of compressed water and shot it out of her fist like a shooting star. Before I could even gasp, the damned thing slammed into my stomach.

My body skidded across the ground for what felt like hours but I’m sure it was only a few seconds. Pebbles, plants, dirt, and whatever else happened to be in the way scraped across my poor back. Fuck did it hurt. The burning sensation I felt all over my backside, surely meant that I was cut up badly and bleeding. With some hesitance, I reached behind my shoulder blade and it came back covered in blood. I hissed in pain and took a few shallow breaths to try and focus my resolve.

“Adagio! Are you alright? You’re bleeding! Let me—”

I held out my arm. “No. I can handle this. Just give me a second to catch my breath.”

Flash looked like he wanted to argue the point further, but kept his peace. “If you say so…”

Nomiki came bouncing over to where we were standing and clapped. “Wow! That sonic attack sure was impressive. It’s been a while since anyone surprised me like that. Kudos!”

My back still felt like I was being flayed alive but the skin and muscle were healing. Albeit slower than I preferred. Now, more than ever, was I grateful for not being your average, run of the mill, human woman. I would have bled out otherwise. “Thanks, I guess. Your little water ball trick threw me for a loop as well. Would you mind teaching me how to do that some time?”

Nomiki nodded emphatically. “Sure, Dagi! Uhh—well, that is if you can even learn how. I’m not exactly sure what you are, so… it might be impossible. BUT! I can manipulate any form of water at will since I am a servant of Lord Poseidon. Isn’t that just the coolest thing in the whole wide world?! I can be like PSSHEW and instant geyser!”

I rolled my eyes at her childish display “Whatever you say, Nomiki.”

Her ability to control water was unsurprising. She was born of the Sea God’s will, after all. For a moment, I closed my eyes and tried to plan my next move. What I really wanted to do was call this whole fight off, take a long soak in the baths, and guzzle down wine until I got shitfaced drunk. Maybe have a little sex on the side. I’d yet to experience what that was like for human females. It all depended on my state of consciousness and the ferocity of my libido. Alas, that was not to be. I was stuck battling a Sonata-like hippocampus instead. Joy of joys…

The sonic blast that I’d fired at Nomiki before was more out of instinct than a carefully executed attack. I’d merely imitated what I normally did when I was still a siren and it happened to work. Good to know, overall, but it left me curious as to what my human body was capable of. Some part of my mind, subconsciously, lamented that it might take decades of experimentation and accidental discovery to unlock my true potential. Ugh! I didn’t have time for that now!

I happened to glance back at Flash and notice the guilt radiating off of him. The worry etched upon his face said it all: he felt bad about not protecting a woman that he cared about. Damn him and his chivalrous sense of honor! As much as it annoyed me, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat flattered. It was the first time anyone had ever bothered giving a shit about my well-being. I suppose Iliana cared about me too in her own way, but it wasn’t quite the same. At least she had the sense to stay out of the fight. The last thing we needed was for her to become gravely injured because she was stupid enough to think that she could face one of Poseidon’s minions in combat.

Nomiki’s face suddenly appeared close enough to my own that I could feel her breath. And, yes, it was unpleasant smelling. Like fish left out in the sun. “Do you wanna continue the fight some other time, Dagi? You look like you’re thinking about something. Is it food? ‘Cause I’m getting kind of hungry again. Maybe you could grill up some more—”

I blushed profusely. Angered and embarrassed at having gotten so lost in my own thoughts as to ignore everything else around me. “NO! That won’t be necessary. I’m sorry for… being distracted. I promise that I’ll direct my undivided attention to our little contest.”

Satisfied with my answer, Nomiki didn’t hesitate to resume where we’d left off. Before I knew it, her foot swung towards my head at blinding speed. Completely unprepared to dodge the kick, it connected with my jaw and sent me stumbling onto the ground. Through gritted teeth, I struggled to get up, spat out a glob of blood, and tried to regain my composure. Fuck that hurt! I was just grateful that she didn’t knock out all of my teeth. With a feral yell, I charged at her.

We continued to exchange blows for quite some time. Adrenaline fueled my muscles to push harder, strike faster, and finish the fight quickly. Unfortunately, as amazing as adrenaline can be, it is not a proper substitute for martial training. As much as I hated to admit it, Nomiki clearly had the advantage over me in that regard. She was used to fighting in both her forms. I wasn’t.

The exhaustion I felt was only further compounded by the need for my body to use up precious energy to heal my injuries. Demi-goddess or not, if I didn’t rest soon, I’d collapse. I don’t think I was quite at the point of dying just yet… but I sure felt like shit. Achy muscles, blurring at the edge of my vision, increased respiration. Was I really that out of shape? No, I reasoned. It was more due to the fact that Nomiki had inhuman strength and wasn’t holding back when she hit me.

I probably looked like a mess too. What, with all the cuts and scrapes all over my body. Probably some bruising too. Not to mention, my hair was all sweaty and clung to me like a wet rag. Proud though I was of my golden-orange locks, I seriously contemplated getting them cut down to a length that was more manageable in combat. Or at least a tie. I suddenly realized why Iliana liked to keep her hair so short. It made her look a bit more masculine but didn’t get in the way.

Nomiki giggled. “This has been super fun, Dagi! But—umm—you don’t look so hot. Are you sure you don’t wanna call it quits? I mean, you’ve done pretty well so far. Had you been a mortal, there’d be nothing left of you but a bloody smear.”

My pride wounded, I screamed at her. “I’LL SHOW YOU BLOODY SMEAR!!”

There it was again. The ancient siren magic that had been my closest ally for centuries. Its eldritch power flowed through my veins like an eerie green fog, rejuvenating my body and focusing my mind. Unlike the harmonious magic that Equestrian ponies favored, its strength came from emotions. Somewhat similar to the type changelings used, but more specifically, negative emotions. That’s not to say, siren magic could not be powered by positive ones, such as love. Rather, negative ones were more efficient when it came to overall output. Wrath being the most prevalent. However, lust came in a close second. Not ideal but it worked in a pinch.

I was never known for being a patient creature. My temper had always been short, and it took little effort to grate my nerves. Yes, I was fully aware of my flaw and openly admitted that it could be troublesome when dealing with other sapient beings and whatnot. Nomiki was no exception. Everything about her annoyed me. Eyes glowing red, I laughed at the confused expression on her face. That airhead had no idea what she was in for.

It happened so quickly that I barely had time to react. While charging at her with what I can only assume was a terrifying, predator-like visage, Nomiki formed yet another one of those water balls in between her hands. Except, this time she did something different. Instead of it shooting forth at me, it turned into a beam of crystalized ice. That bitch was trying to freeze me in place! There was no possible way I could avoid the beam. It was coming at me far too fast.

Time seemed to slow down as it drew closer. I was prepared to feel the freezing cold hit my skin, until I saw Flash jump out in front of me. That idiot! Damn his stupid sense of honor. I watched on, utterly helpless to stop him, and cried out when the beam struck him in the chest. In a matter of seconds, he was entrapped in a massive chunk of ice up to his neck. This wasn’t your ordinary run of the mill ice either. The distinct, blueish glean indicated that it was enchanted.

Nomiki looked upset. As though she felt bad about hitting Flash instead of me. I didn’t give a shit about her feelings. Instead, I concentrated as much hatred as I could muster (which was a lot) into the palm of my hand and blasted her with reckless abandon. A screaming torrent of emerald-green light surged forth and knocked her back into the cliff she was standing in front of.

Ignoring the resounding crunch of shattered rocks, I rushed over to Flash’s side. “You fucking idiot! Why would you do such a thing?! I don’t—you might die!”

Through chattering teeth, Flash smiled. “I-I didn’t w-want you to g-get hurt, Adagio.”

“Fine. Just shut up and save your strength. I’m going to try and melt the ice. Hold on.”

Drawing upon my hatred of Nomiki once more, I enveloped the ice chunk with my magic. So long as it was under my will, the flames would not harm Flash Magnus. It took every ounce of strength and concentration I possessed to melt that damnable ice. I’d been pouring out a continuous flame for over a minute when it finally started turning into a puddle of water. Shaking and utterly exhausted, I collapsed onto the ground next to Flash.

“Fuck. I can barely see straight. This sucks….” I rasped.

Iliana ran towards us and wrapped Flash up in a wool blanket. “Are you ok, Adagio?”

“Quite frankly, no. But I’ll manage. Just make sure Flash gets warmed up as quickly as possible. Otherwise, he might die of hypothermia. I’d suggest building a fire.”

Iliana’s brow scrunched in confusion. “Hypo-what?”

I growled in annoyance. “It means his body will get too cold. Keep Flash safe for me.”

“I… can do that. What will you do in the meantime?”

I cracked my knuckles. “Servant of Poseidon or not, Nomiki will pay. I’ll see to that.”

Iliana placed her hand on my shoulder. “Adagio, I strongly advise against this path of vengeance you are so intent on following. The Olympians are not to be trifled with. Surely, you have seen firsthand what even their minions are capable of. Please, be reasonable about this…”

Tendrils of green haze flickered out of the corner of my eyes when I turned around to look at her. Iliana was terrified of me. Not only could I see it on her face, but I could sense it too. I had to hold myself back from savoring her terror. “What do you know of reason, Iliana? I’m thousands of years your senior! A mere mortal cannot fathom what I have been through!”

“Perhaps not. But I know when your stubborn pride is getting the better of you, Adagio.”

“My pride,” I screeched, “You have some nerve calling me—”

Even though she was still frightened, Iliana stood up and stared directly into my eyes. “Yes! It blinds you to what truly matters. Rather than sate your lust for violence, tend to Flash Magnus. Is his life more important to you than petty revenge? Ask yourself that, Adagio. Then speak to me.”

In a mere instant, all my anger faded away. Replaced by gut-wrenching guilt and embarrassment. How could I expect Iliana to take care of Flash while I went on a murderous rampage? It sounded completely foolish when I thought about it… mostly because it was. Ugh! Why did I have to start growing a conscience now of all times? After a heavy sigh, I shuffled over to Flash and slung him over my shoulder as gently as I could. Yep. His skin felt as cold as winter’s snow. There was no doubt left in my mind that we needed to start a fire immediately.

While Iliana was gathering as much wood as possible, Nomiki came scampering over to where I was sitting. For the time being, I was using my magic to spread flames across Flash’s body until we were able to get a regular one started in earnest. It was exhausting since I hadn’t gotten a chance to rest yet but I had to keep it up, lest he die. The hippocampus offered me a look of sincere concern when I peered over my shoulder. All I offered in return was a dismissive snort.

“I was going to rip you to shreds but Iliana stopped me.” I informed her.

Nomiki shuffled her feet. “Yeah. I kind of got the impression you were SUPER pissed off.”

I scoffed. “That’s putting it mildly, sweetie. Can we just call it a day? I’m tired, sweaty, and ache in about a thousand different places. Plus, Flash needs to be taken care of.”

Nomiki nodded slowly. “That’s ok with me, Dagi. I’ll let Lord Poseidon know how powerful you are. But—um—do you have any plans to, like, usurp their thrones or anything like that?”

“How the fuck should I know? I’ve barely figured out how to function as a human, let alone make a power play against a gaggle of gods and goddesses. You go tell your master that I am content to let the Olympians do whatever they please, so long as they don’t meddle in my affairs. Have I made myself clear? I’d rather there not be any unfortunate misunderstandings.”

Nomiki rubbed the back of her neck and chuckled. “Sure. Crystal clear. Is Flash gonna be ok?”

“That remains to be seen no thanks to you. However, it helps that he is a demi-god.”

Nomiki made a sound that was somewhat of a cross between a burp and dry-heaving. “Sorry, I get queasy whenever I’m nervous. Like, you don’t understand how much trouble I’ll get into if he dies! Please, Dagi. You gotta try your best to save him!”

“And I will but I need you to go away and let me concentrate.”

Nomiki let out a dejected sigh but complied with my request. “Fair enough. I’ll just… go back to Lord Poseidon and let him know what happened. Hey—ah—Dagi, I wasn’t trying to kill you either. Sometimes, I underestimate my own strength and go overboard. Hehe.”

My annoyance with her lessened. Only slightly though. “You do that. But I expect you to honor our agreement. The same goes with the Olympians. If they fuck with me, I fuck with them.”

“Yeah, I know. Good luck and I hope that Flash Magnus feels better. Bye!”

Nomiki at least had the decency to transform into her natural form a few paces away from where I was tending to Flash. And just like that, she was gone. It was as if she’d never been there to begin with. Meanwhile, Iliana came back to our makeshift camp with a bundle of firewood. Mostly dried up twigs and scrub brush. Flammable enough, I suppose. Once she set up a stone fire pit, I ignited the tinder with my magic and laid Flash onto a blanket next to the flames. Only time would tell if he’d recover or not. Deep down, I couldn’t help but feel it was my fault.

Iliana stared daggers at me while I took off Flash’s armor. “What are you doing?!”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m going to share my body heat with him. It’s easier if we’re both nude.”

Iliana blushed and coughed. “Right. I knew that. Just don’t get any funny ideas!”

While I snuggled up behind him, I raised my brow. “What sort of idea would that be, Princess?”

Iliana huffed in frustration. “Don’t play coy with me, Adagio! You know what I mean.”

I chuckled. “Perhaps~ Did you want to fuck him first? If so, we could come to an arrangement that suits—”

“No, I’m not interested in that sort of thing. Erm—with Flash, anyway. All I’m saying is that I don’t want you to take advantage of him while he’s vulnerable. It’s dishonorable and shameless.”

I ran my fingers through his hair. “There’s no need to get your toga in a twist, sweetie. I would never do such a thing to the man whom I owe a life debt. And, if Flash happens to be interested in such an activity with me, then we’ll discuss it. On our own terms.”

Thus mollified, Iliana stayed quiet for a moment then sighed. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Adagio. He is love struck. Hopelessly smitten with you. Considering how beautiful you are, is it any wonder why he feels that way? Do you harbor such feelings for him as well?”

The only sound between the three of us was Flash’s soft snoring. I’m sure that my cheeks were turning red but hoped that in the dim light of the evening, Iliana wouldn’t notice. “I… don’t know. I suppose he is handsome enough for a human.”

“You are dodging the question.”

“Cut me a break,” I groused, “Being human is a new experience to me, Iliana. Even when I was still a siren, finding a mate was never high on my list of priorities. Do I love, Flash? No, I can’t say that I do. At least… not yet. I have, however, grown increasingly fond of him.”

Iliana smiled. “That is enough. I can see that the flame is there, growing slowly.”

I scoffed. “Fine. Whatever. Go make yourself useful by finding us dinner or something.”

With a smug expression, Iliana laughed and set off into the wilds with her bow. I presume it was so that she could hunt down some hapless creature for our nourishment. No matter. I was perfectly comfortable where I was, sitting next to the fire, and snuggling up against Flash. Wait. Did I just admit that I—Mother Siren, I did! Ok, so maybe his broad shoulders and muscular frame made me feel at ease somehow. Why did my feminine instincts have to kick in now?!

His skin was still a bit chilly, but much warmer to the touch than before. I paused for a moment and took in a deep breath. The musky, manly scent of his sweat filled my nostrils. It was oddly pleasant to me. Did humans have pheromones? They must have. Or at least, to a lesser degree. Just as I was about to ruminate over the direction of my life, Flash groaned softly and began to open his eyes. I froze, not knowing what to do. How would I explain the situation?

“Ugh… Adagio, is that you?” He rasped.

“Yes, it’s me. We’re cuddling by the fire, so that you can warm up. Don’t be alarmed but I took the liberty of stripping you out of your clothing. Sharing body heat is easier that way.”

“Oh. That would explain why I feel your breasts squishing up against my back.”

I let out an amused chuckle. “Quite the charmer, aren’t you? Are you always this smooth with the ladies or am I special?”

Flash’s face turned beet red. “I-I’m not… used to whatever this is.”

“Well, neither am I. But here we are.”

Flash took hold of my hand and rubbed the back of my palm with his thumb. “Just to be clear, I think this is nice. And I’m glad that you’re trying to help me.”

“Mhmm. I can agree with that. Flash, I… want to thank you for saving my life. If you hadn’t jumped in front of Nomiki’s beam, I’d be the one in trouble. So… thanks. I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

I leaned forward and kissed his neck. “I’m sure you would. Is there anything I can do to repay your act of valor? I don’t like owing someone a life debt. My pride as a siren will not allow it.”

“Adagio, you don’t owe me anything. Saving someone’s life isn’t like buying livestock.”

“Of course not. But I want to do something for you. Just name your price.” I urged.

“I don’t know what to tell you. Surprise me, I guess…”

I couldn’t very well offer him coin, that would have been a pointless gesture. Flash wasn’t the type of man to be swayed by gold anyway. For an embarrassingly long time, I stewed in silence, trying to come up with a suitable reward. An idea finally popped into my mind… but I was hesitant to go through with it. After screwing up my courage, I shifted my position and told Flash to lay flat on his back. He looked confused for a moment until I slid my hand in-between his legs, cupped his ball sack and began massaging it with my fingers ever so carefully.

“Just relax. I want to make you feel good in the best way I know how~”

“Adagio, I-I’m not sure if this is—” Flash whimpered.

“Are you telling me to stop?”

“No. Keep going. It feels great…”

He was still only semi-turgid, so I grasped his shaft instead and began pumping it up and down with the gentlest touch I could manage. After continuing this routine for a little while, his cock became erect and increasingly hot to the touch. I’d nearly forgotten how sturdy he was down there. It was just so thick and veiny. I giggled when a tiny little bead of precum formed at the tip. I must have been doing something right. This was totally different from how sirens did it. Yet, I somehow, instinctively, knew just what to do. How strange.

I brought my lips closer to his head and took in a deep breath. Sweet Oceans! That musky scent I’d smelled earlier was so much more intense. “What would you like me to do, Flash?”

“I-I don’t know!” Flash squeaked.

I ran my tongue along the underside of his shaft and licked off the precum from the tip. “You shouldn’t have to think too hard~”

Now that I was starting to feel frisky, I took his length into my mouth and began sucking. I had to be careful not to take in too much at once, lest I wind up making a fool of myself by gagging. What? I told you he had a monster cock. I wasn’t lying about that! After a while, I really started getting into it, making all kinds of lewd slurping noises as I bobbed my head up and down. I could tell it was driving Flash wild because he grabbed my head and started moaning.

“Adagio, my—oooh—that feels so good—I don’t think I can last much longer…”

Rather than stop my ministrations, I just kept going faster and faster. For extra measure, I played with his balls too. Human males seemed to enjoy that for some reason. In no time at all, he was panting, pushing his hips upwards, and curling his toes. After a loud groan, my mouth was suddenly filled with a few globs of thick, sticky cum. I nearly choked on his load.

I’m not sure what I was expecting as far as taste was concerned. For the most part, his cum didn’t have much flavor to it. A bit salty with a somewhat fishy aftertaste. With some difficulty I swallowed all of it and cleared my throat afterwards. Honestly, I didn’t mind the taste. I’d had worse. I suppose men must love it when a woman swallows their baby batter because Flash looked like he was in a state of utter bliss.

His semi-turgid penis rested upon his leg, red and shiny with a little bit of cum oozing out the tip. I took it upon myself to clean up his mess by carefully squeezing his cock and licking up the rest that came out. When everything was said and done, I laid back down next to him and snuggled up against his chest. He responded by sighing contentedly, pulling me closer, and placing an affectionate kiss atop my forehead. To be honest, snuggling like this was kind of nice.

“Did you enjoy that, Flash?” I purred.

“Yeah. It was great. One thing though. I’d like to make you feel good too if—”

I placed my finger on his lips to silence him. “Not right now. You’re still recovering. Perhaps later, when you’ve gained back some of your strength, we can discuss my needs.”

“Ok. I just didn’t want to be rude, since you seem pretty excited…”

Absentmindedly, I realized that my crotch was pressed up against his leg. And sure enough, when I reached down to check, my lips were wetter than the ocean. “Ha… so I am. Like I said: normally, I wouldn’t hesitate to take you up on your offer but these are extenuating circumstances, Flash. I can afford to wait a little while longer.”

Flash hugged me tightly. “Don’t hesitate to ask me when the time is right.”

I chuckled and nibbled on his ear. “I’ll hold you to it then. Who knows? Maybe next time we can make each other feel good by fucking properly. It’s about time you popped your cherry, hero.”

Flash’s cheeks flushed pink. “Oh—erm—wow that’s… you’d want to do that with me?”

“Sure, sweetie. If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t have suggested it in the first place. Is there a problem?”

“No! Of course, not. I’ve never—you know—made love a woman before. Especially, not to one as beautiful as you, Adagio. I don’t know if I’m up to the task…” Flash muttered.

Now, it was my turn to blush. “Sex isn’t that complicated, Flash. You get me nice and wet, then you slide your marvelous, demi-god cock into my clamshell. Obviously, you have to time your thrusts with some finesse but I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it with enough practice.”

Flash began coughing violently. “Enough… p-practice?!”

I was just about to tell him that it wasn’t a big deal when Iliana decided to show up. The smug expression on her face told me that she’d stayed out hunting longer than what was strictly necessary in order to give us some private time. She had a goat slung over her shoulder, so I guess we at least had something substantial to eat for dinner. Choosing to remain silent, she simply walked over to the fire and began butchering the carcass. I stared daggers at her, daring the Spartan Princess to make some witty comment about the situation between Flash & I.

Iliana pointed her dagger towards us. “I’m going to give Flash the heart, liver, and a section of haunch. He needs the nutrients. What part do you want, Adagio?”

“I’ll take whatever. I’m not picky.”

Iliana smiled. “Very well. It shouldn’t take too long to cook. Enjoy each other’s company in the meantime. You both deserve some rest after the fight.”

I was a little pissed off at her cheekiness but I held my peace. Instead, I focused my attention on cuddling Flash and resting my head against his chest. Before long, I felt my eyelids begin to get heavier and heavier until I could no longer stay away. I dozed off in Flash’s embrace. Maybe, just maybe… it wasn’t so bad to be vulnerable every once in a while.

Chapter VI

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Chapter 6

Poseidon’s Villa, Mt. Olympus

As was his custom, the God of the seas enjoyed a relaxing bath after eating dinner. While the hot water did soothe his temper somewhat, he liked to indulge in his other vices. Mainly, of the carnal variety. It was a different kind of appetite and one that he shared with his fellow divine siblings. Most of the time, he would just take on the form of a beast and find some comely, young, mortal woman to fuck. This day was different. Poseidon didn’t feel like dealing with all the hassle of mounting a weak human. They tended to scream and fight, which was fun to a point but still bothersome. Today, his loyal minion would serve her master well.

Nomiki giggled with excitement as she spread her legs apart and braced her hands against the wall. It was a rare occasion that her lord wanted to partake of her body. She offered it willingly and without hesitation. That was what it meant to serve him, after all. To say that his sexual prowess was that of a god was an understatement. Nomiki whimpered when she felt Poseidon penetrate her from behind. He began thrusting his hips almost immediately, causing the hippocampus to shiver with pleasure as the sounds of flesh meeting flesh echoed in the bath.

Poseidon grinned while he gripped Nomiki’s firm buttocks. “Ah, yes! Tighter than a clam as always. It is as though my cock is being milked by the velvety lips of a python.”

“Thank you, Master. But you created me as such. Nevertheless, I’m just glad that I could be of service to you and help sate your lustful desires~” Nomiki panted.

The sea god leaned forward and nibbled on her neck. “That’s what I like about you, Nomiki. You are obedient and docile. Unlike those petulant mortal women. They always scream bloody murder when you try to fuck them. Well, most of them anyway. What right do they have to refuse me?! I am their superior in every way possible. THE NERVE OF THEM!”

Nomiki let out a squeaky moan when she felt an orgasm blossom within her loins, sending waves of electric pleasure throughout her body. She was grateful that Lord Poseidon was holding her up. Otherwise, she would have collapsed onto the marble floor. “Unhhh… no… they don’t understand what a gift it is to—AH—receive your mighty member.”

Poseidon flipped Nomiki around, pinned her against the wall, held up her legs, and began thrusting at a faster pace. “Ha! I can feel your arousal dripping onto my legs, you naughty thing. Mmm. Good girl. You shall have my seed soon enough.”

Not one to let her master’s good mood go to waste, Nomiki wrapped her legs around Poseidon’s back and hugged him tightly. What she shared with him was neither love nor intimacy by mortal standards but it felt good all the same. With weakened breath, she loosened one final moan as her master grunted and filled her with his divine seed. A few errant globs of sticky cum dripped onto the floor but neither of them paid the mess any mind. The servants would come by later to clean all of it up. Panting and quivering, Nomiki barely had the strength to stand up but luckily, her master saw fit to carry her over to the bath and sit next to her.

Nomiki leaned over and nuzzled his chest. “That was wonderful, Master.”

The sea god nodded and rubbed her head affectionately. “Indeed. You served your purpose in sating my desires quite nicely. Now, we must discuss what you learned about the interloper. But first, a goblet of wine for us both. Tis only fitting after a good fuck. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Whatever you say, Master.” Nomiki agreed.

Once the two of them had a cupful of wine, Nomiki went about washing Poseidon to the best of her ability. She wasn’t as skilled at the task as a servant girl, but good enough to wipe away all the sweat. Unabashedly blunt, Lord Poseidon cared little for “pillow talk” after sex, so Nomiki wasn't surprised when he didn’t say anything for a while and simply let her wash him. She hesitantly took another swig from her goblet and wondered if he was brooding. That was never a good thing. He also had an explosive temper that often resulted in literal typhoons.

“Is there something wrong, Milord? You seem… pensive.”

The bearded Olympian let out a soft sigh while Nomiki carefully scrubbed his semi-turgid penis with a washcloth. “Not exactly. Forgive my brooding. I have been trying to curb my temper as of late, Nomiki. Tell me; what did find out about our mysterious demi-goddess?”

Nomiki moved onto washing his inner thigh. “Her name is Adagio Dazzle, as you know. She kept pace with me during the entire fight but she lacked any sort of training. The techniques she used were crude and unrefined, definitely of desperation rather than tacit choice.”

Poseidon rubbed his beard. “I see. She is no warrior, then.”

“No, Milord. But—ah—I’d say she’s more like a predator trapped in an alien body.”

“How so?”

Nomiki tapped her chin in thought. “It is… difficult to articulate. However, I got the distinct impression that she was not always a human. A predator of some sort, given her aggressive attitude towards me. Her strange magics spoke to this as well.”

With furrowed brow, Poseidon sat up. “Magic you say? Of what sort?”

“None like I’d ever encountered before. A green miasma fueled by her rage.”

The sea god immediately tensed up, clenching his fist into a ball. “Hades…”

Nomiki rubbed her master’s shoulders and tried to calm him down. “I don’t think so, master. It was not even of this realm or of Olympus. Trust me; I would have known if it was.”

Seemingly placated, Poseidon relaxed. “Zeus clearly doesn’t understand how much of a threat this she-devil could be to us. I can’t have Adagio Dazzle running around down there with wild magic at her beck and call. What say you, Nomiki? Do you believe she is a threat to us?”

“She did mention, and I quote, that if we fuck with her, she would fuck with us. Granted, Milord, I must agree that she is dangerous and powerful. But not to a god like you! Surely, you could squash her like an insignificant insect.”

Poseidon frowned. “Then you have learned nothing, Nomiki. The mosquito may be small and weak compared to the bull, but once bitten, the bull can become sick and die. What I am saying is that it is unwise to underestimate Adagio. She might not have realized her true potential yet.”

“What do you propose, Master?”

“Another test,” The sea god suggested, “I will summon a great typhoon so as to drive them to seek shelter from the wind and rain. The old temple of Athena should serve well for this purpose, I think. Yes. Within its crumbling walls, resides an old acquaintance of mine. I imagine she won’t be thrilled to receive unwelcome visitors. Haha!”

Nomiki’s ears lowered slightly. Even though she wasn’t very fond of Adagio Dazzle, the two humans who accompanied her were innocent as far as the hippocampus was concerned. Zeus would not be pleased if one of his sons were to be killed inadvertently. There was also Ares to consider. He treated the Spartans like they were his own children. If the princess was killed too… who knows how far his wrath would spread. Nomiki felt her stomach twist in a knot.

“Please be careful, Master. We don’t want to upset your brothers and sisters.”

Poseidon laughed and patted Nomiki’s head. “Let me worry about them.”

Rain was never a concern back when I was a siren. Most of the time, I lived underwater which was already wet… so yeah. Big deal, right? Now, not so much. Humans could barely swim, let alone survive under the waves for more than a minute. An anatomical fact that I now had to contend with in my new body. If I haven’t said it before, I’ll say it now: getting caught in a torrential downpour sucks whale dick. Sure, the water felt refreshing after the first five minutes, then it became annoying and downright miserable. Apparently, even demi-goddesses aren’t completely immune to hypothermia. Ok, maybe it wasn’t THAT bad but I was cranky, hungry, and tired. Did I mention drenched to the bone? Yep. Fuck typhoons.

Iliana looked over at me with her judgmental Spartan Princess stare. The kind of look that said: ‘I told you so’ without needing to utter a single word. In my current state of ultra-crankiness, I growled at her. “How much longer is it going to take to start a fire? I’m freezing my ass off over here!”

Iliana rolled her eyes. “Have patience, Adagio. We are all wet and cold right now. Just be thankful that we were able to find shelter in this ruined temple.”

I sighed while trying to dry out my soggy hair. It made me feel like a drowned dog. I glanced over at Flash, who, for some reason, was looking at the faded frescos on the walls. “Aren’t you supposed to be chivalrous towards downtrodden women? Get over here and snuggle me.”

“I would, Adagio. But—um—I’m just as wet as you are. It would do neither of us much good until Iliana gets the fire started. Sorry.”

My annoyance piqued, I willed as much of my anger and frustration at that damp pile of wood as I could possibly muster. Much to my surprise, a blast of raw magic came out of my eyes and lit the pile on fire instantly. Iliana looked terrified and well… I honestly couldn’t blame her. What? It’s not like I blasted her with heat-beam eyes on purpose! With a sheepish chuckle, I sat down next to the princess and offered her the sincerest apology I could come up with on the spot.

Iliana put her hands closer to the fire. “I suppose that solves one problem.”

“Wow, Adagio. That was pretty intense. I didn’t know you could use a spell of that nature.” Flash added.

“Neither did I. From this point forward, I really ought to be more careful. Or at the very least, try to keep my temper in check. Siren magic is fueled by strife and anger. Just so you know…”

Iliana shook her head. “So, we're not supposed to get on your bad side, I take it? And here I was wondering what it might be like to be barbequed alive. Better than the screaming bull, I guess.”

I stomped my bare feet in a petulant fit of rage. Of course, it hurt like a bitch because the floor was solid stone vs flesh. Marble, most likely. Not very smart of me, I know. “OW! FUCK ME! I said I was sorry, Iliana! ARRGH! I’m still not used to being in this body yet. There’s no telling how many of my former abilities may or may not have crossed over. Cut me some slack.”

“I can see that you’re not in the mood for my legendary Spartan sense of humor.”

I sat down closer to the fire and hugged my legs to my chest. “No, I’m not in the mood. I can appreciate dry, sarcastic humor as much as the next girl just not right now. Not when I’m cranky. Again, I apologize for my outburst and blasting you. I’m not exactly used to roughing it.”

“It would probably help if you wore sandals and a cloak. Just a suggestion.”

“Not going to happen. I don’t need them.” I affirmed.

When Flash sat next to me, his face was completely pale. Like he’d seen a ghost lurking about in the shadows. I scooched a bit closer to him and placed my hand on his shoulder. “Are you ok? If you’re cold, there’s plenty of room and—EHEM—I wouldn’t mind if we shared body heat…”

Flash shuddered and smacked his lips a few times. “I appreciate the offer, Adagio but it’s not that. I mean, I am a little cold to be honest. That’s not what’s really bothering me.”

“Then what is it? Did a rat spook you or something?”

Flash shook his head. “No, the frescos. They depict Athena. A little faded to be sure, but I can definitely tell it’s her. Do you understand what that means?”

“I’m not the best person to ask when it comes to Gods and Goddesses. We’ve been over this.”

Flash let out a dry, humorless chuckle. “Right. I forgot. There’s a legend about this place. Of a beautiful temple priestess who was transformed into a hideous monster by Athena. The story goes that she was raped by Poseidon during a terrible storm, one night. As punishment for the violation, Athena cursed the priestess to live out the rest of her days as a terrifying, sub-human creature. I don’t know exactly what she looks like, but I heard rumors from some sailors.”

Iliana rubbed her hands together. “Never trust sailors. They tend to stretch the truth.”

I looked around in the dimly lit sanctum and noticed a few statues. Out of curiosity, I walked up to one to get a better peek at it and gasped at how life-like it was. What struck me as odd, however, was that it was a warrior and… his armor and sword were rusty? That couldn’t be right. Wouldn’t the sculptor make everything out of stone? Something wasn’t right. A shiver ran down my spine when I saw a flash of red in the darkness. When I spoke, my voice sounded a bit squeakier than usual because I was nervous. If Flash or Iliana noticed it, they didn’t comment.

“For the record, I am getting some MAJOR creepy vibes from this place.”

Before I knew it, I heard a strange hissing noise echo along the walls. When I turned around to speak with my companions, they were frozen in place. Petrified. As in solid stone. The statue I’d investigated earlier made a lot more sense now. They weren’t sculpted. Rather, they used to be flesh and blood humans. The only creature I knew of that could do such a thing was a cockatrice. But they shouldn’t have been in this world. Or were they? I had no idea. Anything was possible.

A deep sultry voice laughed in the darkness. “What do we have here? Guests? In my temple?”

I orientated myself towards the sound and tried to look threatening. “What did you do to my companions?! I’m warning you! Don’t fuck with me right now! I’m not in the mood.”

I shuddered when something slithered across my leg. “My, goodness. What bold words! Especially, coming from the likes of some naked human whore. Oh, dear. Did I interrupt you as you were about to fuck? Hahaha! Color me terrified~ I’m quivering in my scales.”

Despite the sickening sense of unease I felt churning deep within the pit of my stomach, I got angry at her quip. “I’m not some mortal wench! Don’t just lump me in with them.”

“We’ll see about that.”

The creature finally revealed herself when she got closer to the fire. She was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. Muscular build, ashen white skin, bountiful breasts, pointed ears, fangs, and a pair of crimson, slitted eyes that could pierce your very soul. The worst part was that her hair seemed to be composed entirely of asps, each one with a functioning head on the end. When I looked down towards her lower half, it only got worse. She had a fucking snake tail! No legs. It was the same charcoal black color that the rest of the snakes writhing around on her head were.

Much to my embarrassment and shame, I backpedaled a few steps and managed to trip over my own feet. Which, you guessed it, made me fall flat on my ass. Way to be brave, Dagi. “Aww~ Where’s all the fiery bravado I witnessed earlier? All gone, huh?”

The snake bitch reached out, grabbed me by the neck, and hoisted me into the air. “Ack! You could at least introduce yourself before you swallow me whole. Rude much.”

“Hmm? Ah, yes. Where are my manners? I am not accustomed to having conversations with anyone, so you’ll have to forgive my lack of decorum. Behold my terrible glory! For I am Medusa, former priestess of Athena. This shall be the last face you set eyes upon, girl.”

The strange hissing noise I’d heard earlier seemed to come from snake bitch while she was casting some sort of spell. Similar to a cockatrice, her eyes glowed ruby red and I felt my body stiffen, weaken, and become less responsive to my commands. It became much harder to move but I could still manage it if I concentrated hard enough. With as much strength as I could muster, I kicked her right in the fanged snoot. She snarled in rage and I took the opportunity, while she was distracted, to escape her clutches and hide. I needed to formulate a plan.

A monstrous shriek echoed throughout the chamber. It was like hearing a banshee. “I don’t know how you resisted my gaze but you won’t be so lucky a second time. You cannot hide forever!”

I took a few moments to catch my breath and take stock of the situation while I hid behind a fallen pillar. A quick once over revealed no obvious external injuries. The stiffness that I’d felt before seemed to have faded away and I regained fine motor control of my body once again. Although, I’m not entirely sure how I’d managed to resist her petrification spell. It might’ve had to do with the fact that I wasn’t one hundred percent human. Or native to this world like my unfortunate companions who’d become garden decorations. Perhaps, even to a certain extent, my siren magic might have protected me against her stare too. Who knows? Pondering could wait.

Much to my chagrin, I had to admit that the situation looked grim for me. I was at a clear disadvantage in terms of terrain and armor. This Medusa, as she called herself, didn’t seem to wear much in the way of clothing either (that I could tell under the dim lighting), but she certainly wasn’t human. Judging by how muscular she was and the girth of her tail, I’d imagine she could break my bones with very little effort. She was probably venomous too. I didn’t want to take any chances getting bitten by those fangs. Tartarus… could she spit venom too? Ok, so I was pretty much stuck up shit creek without a boat or a paddle. Yay! It’s great being me.

Medusa laughed melodiously. “I can smell your fear, whore. Thick and cloying like a perfume made of ambergris. Yessss~ The flavor is quite pungent. You can try to resist all you want, but consider all of those around you who have fallen by my hand. It is folly, I’m afraid.”

“You have no idea who I am, snake bitch. If you’re so powerful, come and—”

I didn’t get the chance to finish my sentence before she swung her tail at me. It snapped the pillar in half and sent me skidding across the floor, along with chunks of marble. With a meaty thud, my back hit the wall and I cried out in pain. Fuck did it hurt! I cracked a few ribs for sure because it was incredibly difficult and painful when I tried to breathe. After letting out a wet cough, I tried to stand up and found that my vision was a bit swirly. A wave of nausea hit me like a hammer to the stomach. I promptly vomited all over myself and the floor.

Medusa slithered over to me and wrinkled her nose in disgust. “You’re tough; I’ll give you that. But oh, how pathetic you look right now~ Dirty, grimy, and covered in your own vomit. What a sight to be behold for an otherwise, attractive human. It almost makes me sad that I’ll have to kill you. But I am hungry and the pickings have been slim as of late…”

My anger gave me strength, making me feel slightly less like chopped liver. Still not strong enough to take snake bitch head on though. I waited until she let her guard down. It wasn’t much, but I sensed an opening. If getting smacked into marble hurt me, chances are that it would hurt her too. I took a chance. With a chunk of marble gripped tightly in my palm, I threw it as hard as I could at her head. It made a sickening crunch noise and I ran down one of the corridors.

Medusa was surprisingly fast for a creature with no legs. Of course, I was already exhausted and injured so… maybe that factored into her catching up with me so quickly. Regardless, she was pissed and looked like she was ready to tear me apart. An act I’m quite certain that she was capable of. I took in a deep breath, focused my hatred, and let it flow through my body. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, giving me the much-needed focus, I sought.

I charged at her full tilt, using my shoulder as a battering ram. The only thing I’d managed to do is knock her slightly off balance. She was big, heavy, and covered in tough scales. I’m not sure what I expected but… it served to piss her off even more. Hah! As if that was even possible. She took a swipe at me and raked her claws against my breast. I gasped in pain, clutching at my bleeding wound. That scaly bitch nearly tore my nipple clean off! Through magically augmented muscle, I punched her in the stomach as hard as I could. She didn’t exactly go flying across the room but it was enough to make her lose her breath and start coughing.

“I have to hand it to you, whore. You’re the first mortal who’s given me a challenge in centuries. But these games have come to an end! Tonight, I shall feast like a queen!”

My magic finally wore out, making me feel weak and tired again. I collapsed onto the floor in a boneless heap, still bleeding from my chest. “You truly are a monster, Medusa. The three of us were never a threat to you in the first place. We just… needed shelter from the storm.”

She chuckled mirthlessly. “True. But the strong take from the weak. It is the way of things.”

I held up my hand. “Wait… I… know what it’s like being in your… skin.”

“I VERY much doubt that, you little whore. You’re surprisingly tough for such a pampered beauty but we are nothing alike!” Medusa screeched.

“I didn’t always look like this. My—it’s a long story but… suffice to say, I was sent to this world against my will. Transformed into a human female by a spell cast by a powerful sorcerer.”

The gorgon narrowed her eyes. “Really? Well, isn’t that interesting? I must admit, your unusual resilience piqued my curiosity. Most mortals die rather quickly from my attacks. Go on.”

I coughed hard and spat out a wad of clotted blood. “Yes, it’s all true. I was once a beautiful, majestic siren. A predator of the sea, unparalleled in my dominance of creatures beneath my station. My sisters and I, we—made the mistake of hubris. We underestimated the sorcerer’s craftiness. Now, I’m stuck here in this strange world full of humans and annoying deities who won’t leave me the fuck alone! Can I just live my life in peace? I guess that’s too much to ask.”

Medusa grabbed my chin and looked directly into my eyes. She wasn’t using magic but it still creeped me the fuck out. I was backed into a literal corner with no escape. Did my little story make her reconsider eating me alive? I hope so. Otherwise, I was irrevocably screwed. It was taking all of my strength just to heal all the damage she’d done. I was in no shape to fight my way out of the temple. Let alone try to figure out how to reverse the petrification spell. Fun times.

“I sense no deceit in your heart, Adagio Dazzle. What you said was… true. All of it. If your hatred of the Olympians is as strong as my own, then we might be kindred spirits. Hmm. Very well, then. I shall not slay you and sup on your carcass. Instead, allow me to offer a tale.”

I collapsed onto the floor and let out a shuddering sigh of relief. “Thank the Mother Siren! I was totally fucked for a second there. At your mercy, Medusa. What changed your mind?”

Medusa grinned, showing off her sharp, pearly-white fangs. “Back when I was the head priestess of this temple, I was taught a few sacred magic techniques. One of them being a way to detect lies. Called ‘Athena’s Judgment’. I am inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt at this point. After all, as you said, you and your companions did not enter my lair with malign intent.”

“Yeah. Sorry for not asking permission. We didn’t realize anyone was living here.”

The gorgon flicked her tongue with amusement. “My reputation as a goddess-cursed monster has spread throughout the land. Many would-be heroes have sought to slay me, and present my head as a trophy. But look and see, Adagio. Where has that gotten them?”

I shuffled my feet nervously. “Are the legends true? Did—ah—Poseidon rape you?”

“Aye. That he did. And I was cursed by the very Goddess I served because I failed to defend my honor in her house. HA! As if I had any chance of fending off a lustful God. The Olympians are rotten and corrupt. They’ve had it too good for too long and act like mortals exist only as their playthings. Athena’s curse turned me into a monster, but it also made me strong and ageless. I consider it somewhat of a blessing now. An everlasting symbol of my defiance against them.”

“Iliana seems to revere Ares, but I still think they’re a bunch of shit heels.” I spat.

Medusa coiled her tail. “The Spartan? Ah, yes. Faithful warriors to the end.”

I played with a strand of my hair. Yep. Still damp and gross. “Now that we’re on speaking terms, might I ask if you’re willing to free my companions? I don’t think they deserve to be statues for all eternity…”

With a simple nod towards Iliana and Flash, Medusa turned them back into flesh and blood humans. There weren’t any cracking noises or anything. Just poof! Back to normal. “It is done. However, in return, I ask that you provide sustenance for me. A fair trade, I think.”

My own stomach gurgled loudly in protest. I blushed. “Heh. We were about to find something for dinner anyway. Let me talk to them first. I don’t want them freaking out. No, offence.”

Medusa crossed her arms underneath her breasts and slithered towards a dark corner of the temple. “It is alright. I am used to mortals scorning and fearing me. Go to them, then.”

I shuffled over to the fire and sat across from Flash and Iliana. They didn’t seem any worse for wear other than mild memory loss and complaints of soreness. One I got a little bit more comfortable, they both looked at me with concern. I should mention that my body did heal at an accelerated rate, well beyond a normal human, but it wasn’t instantaneous. Not to mention, it took a great deal of energy on my part to provide the fuel for such an ability. That’s precisely why I still looked and felt like shit. The worst part was the cracked ribs. Made breathing a bitch.

Flash’s eyes widened in horror when he saw the huge gash across my chest. “Adagio, what happened? Are you ok? Hold on! I’m going to help you clean those wounds. Otherwise, they might fester and you’ll get sick. Hang tight until then, ok?”

I let out a raspy cough. “Long story. Let’s just say that the story you told me was true.”

Iliana’s face turned as pale as the snow. “Ares, help us! There’s an actual Gorgon lurking about? We can’t—none us are—the simple fact of the matter is that we are no match for a creature like that. Even if you and Flash are demi-humans. We must leave this place at once!”

I hissed in pain while Flash wiped a warm washcloth over my wound. “Stop being so dramatic, Iliana. I have the situation under control. We may have gotten off on the wrong foot initially, but Medusa isn’t all that bad. Just make sure that you show her the respect she’s due.”

Flash gently ran his fingers through the bedraggled rat’s nest that was my hair. It was a very intimate gesture and I found myself blushing despite all the pain. Ever since my fight with Nomiki, I’d come to see him in a different light. He seemed more manly, perhaps? I don’t know. It was difficult to put into words. He seemed to care for me even when I was at my worst. I cared for him too, in my own way but… was it enough? Me, being an idiot when it came to matters of the heart, did what I thought was appropriate. I placed my hand on his thigh and stroked it affectionately. Flash seemed to like that because he reached down and held my hand.

“I’m sorry that we don’t have any proper bandages or balms, Adagio.”

I grimaced. “Don’t worry about that. My body will heal on its own eventually.”

“How? Those claw marks look pretty deep…”

I closed my eyes and nuzzled his thigh. As it turns out, lap pillows were pretty nice. “I’m not a normal human, remember? However, just because I can heal even the most grievous of wounds doesn’t make the process instantaneous by any means. I require energy to do so. Like, a shit load of it. Law of equivalent exchange and all that.”

“What are you talking about?” Flash asked with a confused expression.

“Basically, it means that you can’t get something for nothing. Everything has a price.”

Flash looked embarrassed but nodded in understanding. “Right. So—um—how can we help you get back on your feet? Do you need food? Rest would probably be good for you too.”

“I imagine that filling my belly would help speed up the process. Although, I’m not sure where you’re going to get food. Our rations are nearly depleted and in case you’ve forgotten, there’s a storm raging out there. Would you be willing to brave the tempest just to get me some fish?”

“If it comes down to your survival, yes.” Flash affirmed without hesitation.

I felt my cheeks heat up again. There was that blasted fluttery feeling in my stomach again. Ok, to be fair, I barely noticed it between all the other painful sensations I was dealing with but still! Fine, Flash. Go be the gallant hero. I hated owing people favors, but I didn’t have much choice. It’s not like I was in any shape to go hunting myself. And Iliana was just a regular human. She might have been a strong swimmer but not in currents like that. I had no doubt that she would drown out there within minutes, possibly even seconds. With great reluctance, I nodded.

“Ok. If you must. Just be careful out there. I can’t save your ass if you start drowning.”

Flash smiled. “Don’t worry; I promise I’ll be careful. Besides, it looks like the storm is clearing up. That’s a good sign, right? Uh… even though it’s dark outside.”

While he was taking off his armor, I held up my hand. “Wait! I need to tell you something before you go. It’s about Medusa. I… didn’t exactly kill her. She’s still lurking around and I promised her that we’d share some of our food with her in exchange for staying in the temple.”

Before Flash could object, the gorgon herself came slithering out of the shadows. She approached Flash and coiled her tail around his legs, while using her upper half to embrace him from behind. It pissed me off a little when her forked tongue darted out of her mouth and licked his neck a few times. She showed off a fanged grin and rested her head upon his shoulder. Hackles raised, Iliana jumped to her feet and pointed her spear at Medusa, poised to attack.

“Stay your weapon, Spartan. I mean you no harm. Surely, your fetching companion has explained our agreement?”

“Iliana, it’s ok,” I informed her, “Medusa won’t harm us.”

Flash whimpered while Medusa ran her claws all over his abs, going lower and lower until she began playing with his pubic hair nonchalantly. “What an interesssssting man you’ve been traveling with, Adagio Dazzle. I can see why he’s captured your undivided attention. Hmm. Strong build, brave, and a caring heart. Having a sturdy cock doesn’t hurt either. Hahaha~”

“Adagio, I-I don’t like this! She’s n-not going to eat me, is she?” Flash stuttered.

Medusa kissed his cheek. “Of course, not. Not in the way you’re imagining, anyway.”

My face flushed crimson with anger. “He’s not your plaything, Medusa! Back the fuck off!”

Medusa let out an amused chuckle. “While I haven’t had the pleasure of a man’s company in my bed for quite some time, I’m afraid that he wouldn’t be able to satisfy me as I am now. What I said earlier was merely in jest, Adagio Dazzle. I’ll let him to his task, then.”

Flash scampered out of the temple towards the coast with an awkward gait. The light was still dim, but I swore that he was sporting a rather hefty erection. Seriously, Flash? How can you be scareroused at a time like this?! I huffed in frustration, but let the matter pass. He was a man, after all. Once I collected myself, I invited Medusa to join us by the fire. She obliged and coiled up like a—well, big ass snake. With a smug grin, she flicked her tongue at me.

“Color me surprised~ I was not aware that men still found me alluring.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “You were all over him. And your top half is still human enough.”

Medusa made a show of spreading apart a scale-covered slit along her bottom half with her fingers. It was a dull eggshell color and resembled the inside of a pussy but I wasn’t an expert on humanoid reptile monsters. “Not down here. My cloaca is quite large and deep as you can see. Yet another aspect of my curse. Mortal men cannot satisfy me.”

Iliana blushed furiously. “Are you always this shameless around others? Teasing Flash in that matter was uncalled for and unnecessary. Would it kill you to be a bit more civilized?”

Medusa waved her hand. “What do I have to prove, Spartan? My shame and humanity died centuries ago when I was cursed by my once beloved Athena. I live only for my own sake now. Not the Olympians, and not yours. Your banal opinions don’t concern me in the slightest.”

“Are you looking for a fight because I can—”

The gorgon scoffed. “Hardly. You are no match for me, Spartan. That spear of yours wouldn’t even pierce my scales. The only reason I am not eating you right now is because of Adagio Dazzle. So, be grateful for my mercy. It is not a courtesy that I extend to many mortals. Especially ones who I have released from petrification.”

I shot Iliana an annoyed glance. “That’s enough. Don’t antagonize her.”

Thus mollified, Iliana grumbled and went back to tending the fire.

The three of us didn’t say much while we waited for Flash to get back with dinner. I mean, what were we supposed to talk about? The awkward tension hanging in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife and I didn’t have the energy or the will to clear it. Before long, Flash came back with a net full of assorted shellfish. Clams mostly, but I couldn’t complain. He tensed up as soon as he saw Medusa curled up by the fire, looking him over with a bemused expression. As much as I hated admitting it, I was jealous and protective. I wasn’t about to let snake bitch use Flash like a pet or some toy for her own amusement. Nope. Not a fucking chance.

Against my better judgment, I hobbled over to where Flash was standing and embraced him. He seemed confused for a moment but returned my hug willingly enough. I gave him a brief, but heartfelt kiss to the lips and invited him to lay down next to me. I couldn’t help but notice that he hadn’t bothered to put his armor back on. I’m not sure if it was a sign of bolstered confidence on his part or simply that we’d seen everything that he’d had to offer plenty of time before. No matter. I rather enjoyed cuddling him in the nude. Not that I’d bother doing it any other way.

“Adagio, you shouldn’t be moving around yet.” Flash admonished.

“I know but… I had to show my gratitude somehow.”

He caressed my stomach with his fingers. The warmth of his skin pressed against my own made me feel safe, somehow. I let out a contented sigh. “Ok, but take it easy from now on.”

Medusa chuckled. “Well, aren’t you two sweet together? It’s hard to find a good husband in this world, Adagio Dazzle. If I were you, I’d hold him tight and never let go.”

I bit my lip and blushed. “We’re not—I’m just…”

“Deny it all you want. I can practically taste the love blossoming between you. There is no shame in caring for someone. Don’t let your pride prevent you from experiencing what your heart yearns for. Hubris is a sin reserved for the Olympians. Don’t let it consume you as well.”

I didn’t feel like arguing with the gorgon, so I merely held Flash closer to me. “What about you, Medusa? What is it that your heart desires most?”

Medusa swished her tail back and forth along the floor. “I’m sure it comes as no surprise to any of you that it can get lonely, living in this temple without anyone to talk to. To be honest, I have grown weary of this place. I wish to experience the world again, like I did as a human. Alas, it cannot be. I am a monster. Mortals will never accept what I am without fear and consternation.”

“You could travel with us.” I offered.

Iliana sat up suddenly. “You can’t be serious, Adagio!”

I let out an irritated sigh. “Why not? I’m already posing as one of Aphrodite’s nude acolytes. Flash is the bastard son of Zeus, and you’re a Spartan Princess. Face it, Iliana. We’re already a merry band of misfits. What’s adding one more going to hurt?”

Medusa wore a strange expression. It was somewhere between wistful and uncertain. “Even after what I did to you, Adagio Dazzle? Think about what you are offering. Do not take it lightly.”

“I already have. You’re going to travel with us and that’s final.”

Iliana frowned. “I must protest. Inviting this… creature to come along with us is unwise. She will only attract the ire of villages and armies alike. Not to mention the Gods. Can you at least rest on the decision first? Given the extent of your injuries, you are not of sound mind and—”

“Shut up, Iliana,” I snapped, “I know it’s difficult for you to accept non-humans, but that’s part of the problem. People around here are too xenophobic and paranoid about beings they don’t understand. I’m not interested in saving face with villagers, or pandering to the Olympians. Medusa comes with us. If she wants to, that is. I’ve made my choice.”

Medusa flicked her tongue a few times and sighed. “We shall see. For now, let us eat and rest.”

Chapter VII

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Chapter 7

Edge of the Folóï Woods, Southern Provinces

I was elated to finally get out of that damnable deluge. More often than not, it was sunny and pleasantly warm most days, if a bit dry for my own personal preferences. I wasn’t trying to be a prissy princess about the weather. Honest! What do you expect from a former sea creature? Of course, I was still fond of water. But not enough to be soaked to the bone like a drowned rat.

My luscious, golden-orange locks made me look more attractive (by human standards) but it was one of the worst aspects of my borrowed form. I never had to worry about it getting dirty, tangled, or wet when I was a siren. That’s why fins were superior! Suffice to say, it was a pain in the ass to constantly fret over how to style my hair and maintain it, so it wouldn’t become a liability. Perhaps, I should consider cutting it short like Iliana does at some point.

Medusa sure seemed to be enjoying the arid weather though. Whenever we weren’t walking together as a group, she’d curl up on a rock and sun herself for hours like a… well, an overgrown snake bit—woman. She claimed to have spent several centuries living in her “cursed” form. By this point, she had both the mentality and appearance of a cunning, reptilian predator. Go figure.

Iliana was still deeply mistrustful of our new traveling companion. If I had to wager a guess, it was because Medusa represented what she hated most in life: a faithless monster who disparaged the very beings she was taught, from birth, to revere. That’s precisely why I could relate to the gorgon so much, on a personal level. The Olympians had done nothing to curry my favor as of late. I would continue to be suspicious of their motives and schemes from now on. They saw me as an unknown. A wild card. A potential threat to their dominance of the human race.

Ok, so I may have been a few of those things. Honestly, though, I had no desire for humans to start idolizing me like I was a high priestess of carnal desires and the personification of physical beauty. That was Aphrodite’s schtick. However, I was more than willing to ride her metaphorical (since she had about as much use for clothing as I did) coattails and invoke her name whenever it suited my needs. It made me wonder if she knew that and if so, why I hadn’t seen her yet.

Let’s be perfectly blunt about Aphrodite. She’s obviously a lover, not a fighter. It’s not like she was going to come hurtling out of the sky and smite me like Zeus or Poseidon would. Look, I don’t know! Maybe she was stronger than she looked. Erm—whatever it was that she looked like. Super sexy, if her visual depictions are anything to go by but—anyway, I digress.

Flash was just about the same as always. The more time we traveled together, the more I saw him become comfortable with his powers and accept as his role a demi-god. I took it upon myself to spar with him on occasion, as it wouldn’t have been fair to pit him against the likes of Iliana or Medusa. He seemed to enjoy our sessions and I did too, surprisingly. Nothing strengthens a bond between friends quite like sweat and blood! We’d also begun sleeping together on a regular basis. Cuddling mostly and the occasional kiss. Even though we’d been far more affectionate towards each other since Nomiki’s trial, I don’t think either of us were prepared to go beyond that stage of our quasi-relationship (I’m not sure what else to call it) yet.

Was I a coward for hesitating? Participating in a bit of casual sex shouldn’t have been a big deal for me, but it somehow was when my intended partner was one Flash Magnus. Why?! Was this another one of those having a human brain and the emotions that go with them deals? UGH! I don’t recall ever feeling this way about anyone when I was still a siren. Somehow, it made me angry, horny, frustrated, and embarrassed all at the same time! Stupid hairless monkey creatures. You can keep your monkey-brain driven feelings!

With a grin upon her fanged lips, Medusa slithered up behind me and placed her hand on my shoulder. It took every shred of self-control I had not to shudder. She still creeped me out. “You seem troubled, Adagio. Care to tell me why?”

“How could you possibly know that?”

Medusa flicked her tongue and chuckled. “Humans have distinct scents about them depending on what they’re feeling. It is carried through their sweat. Like pheromones. Yours indicates high levels of anxiety, stress, and hmm… the tiniest hint of sexual frustration, I think.”

“Are you seriously going around sniffing me all the time? That’s just fucking creepy!” I groused.

“I know that you don’t quite trust me yet, Adagio. In fact, none of you do. Particularly, the Spartan. A prickly one, that. However, I want to make it clear that I don’t wish to become your enemy. Let me help you. Even if that only goes so far as having someone to talk to.”

I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed. “Fine. Maybe you’d understand what I’m going through.”

“Oh? Do tell. I’m all ears.”

I waved my hands in the air. “It’s these damnable human feelings I’m experiencing as of late. When I was in my original body, everything about my life seemed clear. I was an apex predator. The world was my oyster. Now, I’m not so sure anymore. Everything has become muddied, complicated, and… confusing.”

Medusa rubbed her chin and nodded. “Yes, I am familiar with what you’re going through. Quite simply, what it means is that you’ve allowed yourself to care about others. The ruthlessness you once professed to embrace has given way to compassion and empathy. Humans are complex creatures, Adagio. It is to be expected that you feel… conflicted.”

“Yeah, well… I don’t like it.”

Medusa laughed. “Humans seldom do either.”

I let out an annoyed groan. “You aren’t doing a very good job at giving me practical advice.”

“Patience, my dear siren. I’m getting there. You have your eyes set on the demigod, correct?”

A pink blush colored my cheeks. “What does it matter to you if I do?”

“There’s no need to be ashamed of your desire for companionship. He’s handsome, strong, and virile. Or at least, I assume the last part. What else can one expect from the offspring of an Olympian? From what little time I have spent around him, I can tell that he cares for you a great deal as well. Why do you hesitate to express your feelings for him? I’m not sure what it is, exactly, that you’re waiting for. Make him your lover before someone else snatches him up.”

I twirled a strand of my hair. “Because there’s no telling how much longer I’m going to be staying in this world. I didn’t want to… get too attached to anyone or anything.”

Medusa waggled her clawed finger. “I’m hearing excuses, not reasons. Try again.”

“It’s the truth!” I shouted in frustration.

“Only a convenient one. Tell me, Adagio. What do you have to go back to? From the place whence you came, I mean. Is it even worth consideration compared to what you’ve gained in this world? Because it seems to me, like you were merely existing, not living.”

I bit my lip, trying desperately to think of a good reason. “I don’t—that’s not a fair question…”

Medusa flashed me her trademark fanged smile. “Ah~ There it is. You’re struggling to come up with a good reason. Deep within your heart, you know what you must do. What you must say. And who you must say it to. I suggest you act upon your feelings sooner rather than later.”

My shoulders sagged. “But I… don’t know if I can be what he wants.”

“Do you think I did back when I was the High Priestess of Athena’s temple? I had to give up my maidenhood and finding love for a goddess who forsook me during my most desperate hour of need. No, it's not about living up to the expectations of others. I learned that lesson far too late in life. But you don’t have to repeat the same mistakes I did. Live for your own sake, Adagio. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.”

I wanted to be angry at Medusa for goading me earlier, but of all beings, I knew that what she was saying came from personal experience and not just hyperbole. She was simply stating the facts. Loathe as I was to admit it, perhaps the time had come for me to open myself up completely to someone else. To place my trust in another. It went against the very (siren) nature of my being but I knew there was no other way I could move forward with my new human life.

With dogged determination in my step, I caught up with Flash. He was surprised to see me since I’d abruptly interrupted his conversation with Iliana. “I want to set up camp soon.”

Iliana rolled her eyes. “You really need to work on building up your stamina.”

“I didn’t ask your opinion, Princess Super Soldier! So, can we rest up or not? I’m tired, hungry, and my feet are killing me. I hope I didn’t get any blisters…”

Iliana scoffed. “Perhaps, if you wore sandals that wouldn’t happen.”

I glared at her. “Again?! You know what, I’m too tired to argue about the merits of footwear.”

Flash stepped in-between the two of us and offered a sheepish smile. “That’s enough, ladies. It’s been a while since we took a break from walking, so I think it’d be a good idea to rest for a spell. What do you think, Medusa?”

The gorgon gave him a non-committal shrug. “Suits me just fine. Could use a bite to eat.”

I clapped my hands together. “It’s settled then! Let’s set up camp in the woods!”

While Flash went about building the fire (there was plenty of dry wood just laying around), I was surprised to hear Medusa volunteer to go hunt down our next meal. Before I could ask what she intended to bring back, the gorgon was already slithering away into the brush. Since my mind was predominantly fixed on thoughts of food, the inevitable stomach grumbling began anew. By the Mother Siren. How long had it been since I enjoyed a decent meal that didn’t consist of field rations or whatever animal we happened to catch during our travels? Weeks, easily. Then again, it wasn’t exactly a mystery why. Villagers tended to react negatively to Medusa’s presence.

I imagine she wasn’t too thrilled about the situation either. Maybe she didn’t care. Who knows? To be perfectly honest, I had my own issues interacting with the common folk as well. More often than not, I was accused of being a licentious whore simply because I was a woman who preferred to live without a stitch of clothing. Even after we told them that I was an acolyte of Aphrodite, the leering and sneering continued. Hmph! Humans were such judgmental creatures.

And no, it was never flattering to receive unsolicited offers from lustful men looking for a quick fuck just because they assumed I was easy. Thank the oceans Flash and Iliana were around to dissuade them. Otherwise, I might have gotten violent with them or… worse. Suffice to say, I still had trouble keeping my volcanic temper in check during certain scenarios.

It was even more difficult for me because I knew that I was far more powerful than them. Like a lion hunting a mouse, it would have taken little effort on my part to decimate them completely. Petty, but oh so satisfying! I suppose humans had, at the very least, a penchant for violence and bloodlust like my kind did. Weak though they were compared to sirens, they reigned supreme in this world. Well, for the most part. Divine beings notwithstanding.

I was just starting to relax by the fire, enjoying the warmth it provided, when Medusa came out of nowhere, hauling a pair of deer carcasses over her shoulders. How had she caught them so quickly? Then I spotted the rather large, bloody puncture wounds on their necks. Well, that answered the question of if she was venomous like the snakes that writhed around on her head. I shuddered when she plopped the does unceremoniously next to Iliana. She glanced over at me with a curious expression, as if to ask why I was so freaked out over a couple of dead animals.

“What’s gotten your hackles raised, my dear siren?”

“YOU! I mean, how little time it took you to not only track, but kill two deer. Not only that, I didn’t even hear you approaching camp. GAH! That creeps me the fuck out!”

Medusa slithered over to me and used the tip of her tail to caress my thigh. I let out a squeaky, involuntary whimper. “First and foremost, I am a predator. Like you were. What good would I be if I could not hunt my prey swiftly and silently? I have a reputation to uphold, you know.”

I closed my eyes and snorted. “I don’t care about your stupid reputation. Even as a former predator, I don’t appreciate having the shit scared out of me. Well, whatever. What’s done is done. The only other question I have to ask is… did you inject them with venom?”

The gorgon shook her head. “I could have. But no. Had I done so; the meat would have been inedible for the rest of you. A single drop of my venom is potent enough to kill a full-grown elephant. Causes the nervous system to go into overdrive and then shut down. Excruciatingly painful too. Haha~ Or so I’ve seen based on observation.”

My face turned pale. It almost made me lose my appetite. “How VERY interesting.”

“Indeed,” Medusa agreed, “Still, it was quite easy to sneak up on them. All I had to do was sink my fangs into their throats and snap their necks. A clean and merciful kill that prevents damage to the meat and entrails contained within. Hmm~ I’m rather fond of the liver and heart. What about you, Adagio?”

“I—uh—I don’t have a preference when it comes to… deer parts. Used to eating things whole.”

Medusa chuckled. “Ah, yes. I forgot that you once lived in the ocean. Pardon my ignorance.”

I waved my hand. “Don’t worry about it. Thanks for getting dinner. Appreciate it.”

She moved closer to me and did that weird tongue flicking thing. I felt it tickle my neck. “What’s wrong? I can smell the lingering scent of fear upon your skin. Are you… frightened of me?”

I hesitantly reached over and patted her arm. “Yeah, I am. Sorry if that upsets you, Medusa but it’s like a knee-jerk reaction for me. I’m having a hard time getting over it or understanding it.”

The gorgon let out a long, hissing sigh. “To be perfectly honest, your fear does upset me. However, I understand why you feel the way that you do. Primal instincts, forged over countless millennia have been ingrained into the fabric of your being in order to protect you against dangerous predators. I can’t expect a bunch of humans to overcome the very forces of nature in such a short period of time. Despite my best efforts to show you all that I mean no harm…”

I watched as Iliana and Flash butchered one of the deer carcasses together. “Like you, I didn’t have a choice when it came to my destiny. It was thrust upon me in a matter of moments. Regardless of how I feel about it, I’m human now and have to make the best of my situation. Even though it comes with a ton of complications and conflicting emotions from what I was once accustomed to.”

Medusa coiled the lower half of her tail around me and pressed her chest against my back. It made me panic for a moment because I thought she was trying to constrict the life out of me, but I calmed down once I felt her wrap her arms around my stomach. She proceeded to place a gentle kiss upon my cheek. “I can’t remember the last time I embraced someone. To feel their warmth in my arms. To bask in their scent. Such bittersweet memories. Please pardon my forwardness, Adagio. It seemed like an opportune moment to offer you some… physical comfort.”

One you got over the whole ‘terrifying snake demon’ bit, it felt pretty nice to cuddle with Medusa. I’d half expected her skin to be cold but that wasn’t the case. Although it did feel pleasant to the touch, the texture was vastly different from that of a human. “No worries. I just wasn’t expecting to get a hug from you is all. Do you—erm—use scented oils by chance?”

Medusa causally played with a strand of my hair in-between her fingers while she hummed a wordless tune. “I must admit, I miss having real hair sometimes. Yours is quite beautiful and voluminous. No wonder people mistake you for Aphrodite’s spawn. Hmm. Oh, yes! I’m sorry for getting distracted. My favorite oil comes from a mixture of olives, dates, and roses. Helps to keep my scaly hide from drying out. Does it smell pleasant? I certainly hope so.”

I tried my best to return her affectionate gesture in kind. Truly, I did. It wasn’t easy though. My entire body screamed at me to escape from her clutches, yet I managed to suppress the urge to thrash about. “Have you ever fallen in love? From what you said earlier, it sure sounded like it.”

The gorgon flicked her tongue a few times, saying nothing. I suppose it was her version of deep thinking. She only answered my question after a rather long pause. “Embarrassing as it is for me to admit, no I have not. One has no time to consider such things while in the priestess-hood. Besides, even if I had thought about it, I would have been executed for betraying my vows.”

“If that’s true, then why did Athena let you live?”

Medusa looked up at the stars. “I asked that very same question for decades. It was her version of cruel and unusual punishment, I suspect. Transforming me into an immortal monstrosity so that I would live with the shame for eternity, rather than receive the mercy of a swift death. That, my dear siren, is why I hate the Olympians with all of my heart.”

I pointed my feet towards the fire so that they could warm up a bit. “Do you think it’s possible?”

“What is?” Medusa asked with a confused expression.

“For crea—people like us to find love?” I answered hesitantly.

“Anything is possible, however improbable. I expect that you’ll have a much easier time of it than I. How long has it been since I’ve even had people to call my friends? Quite frankly, I never gave finding a lover of my own much thought. Ha! I’m not exactly what one would call a handsome catch. You know, I’m not sure if there are any male gorgons out there either…”

I rubbed her hand encouragingly. “With all the weird shit I’ve seen so far, it’s possible.”

Medusa flicked her tongue a few times and curled the tip of her tail. “Perhaps. I very much doubt it though. My punishment was quite unique, shall we say. IF I should decide to pursue a partner, they would need to be ageless like me. I couldn’t bear to see them grow old, wither, and die within a few decades. My heart isn’t nearly as cold as you might believe, Adagio.”

“No, I understand where you’re coming from. Being lonely sucks.” I admitted.

There wasn’t much else to be said after that. We simply cuddled together by the fire while Iliana went about cooking the deer. I got the distinct impression that Medusa saw me more as a surrogate daughter than a friend at this point, given the similarities between our situations. I’d never admit it aloud but it felt nice being wrapped up in her warm, scaly embrace. When the meat was finally done roasting, Iliana approached us with a perplexed, almost disgusted expression. She took a seat next to us, said a quick prayer to Ares, and began eating.

“Do I want to know why you two are snuggling like a pair of lovers?”

Medusa relished the roasted deer heart and licked her lips with a smile. “Oh? I wasn’t aware it was any of your business, Spartan.”

Iliana pointed the tip of her sword towards the gorgon, waving it menacingly. “Out of respect for Adagio, I have tolerated your presence, monster. But I will not allow you to manipulate her with one of your diabolical schemes. Whatever it may be.”

Medusa hissed with laughter. “Come now, Princess! We’re merely enjoying each other’s warmth. A friendly embrace shared between comrades. Aww~ Do you feel left out, perhaps? I could cuddle you as well if loneliness has struck you tonight.”

Iliana’s face turned noticeably redder in the firelight. “I desire no such thing!”

Medusa shrugged. “Oh, well. Your loss~ I rather enjoy cuddling, Adagio. She smells divine and her skin is as soft as freshly woven silk. I can understand why Flash prefers to sleep with her. Haha. And why he desires her. Even now, I can practically taste it in the air.”

It was Flash’s turn to blush. “How could you possibly know that?”

“Hmm? I wasn’t using a figure of speech, dear boy. I mean what I said. A snake’s sense of smell is connected to their tongue. But to answer your question, the scent comes from your sweat. That is, if your behavior around her wasn’t enough of a dead give away in the first place.”

Flash quietly nibbled on his deer haunch. “Adagio, am I really that obvious?”

I glanced over at him while twiddling my fingers but not without feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me. Bah! I hate it when people force me to talk about sentimental crap. “Well—um—yeah, sometimes. Look, don’t misunderstand! It doesn’t really bother me, per say. Just keep doing it, alright! There. Happy, Medusa? I went and made a fool of myself.”

Medusa patted my head, successfully making me feel even more embarrassed. “Don’t you see, Adagio? This is an excellent first step. You’re being honest with him. It’s rather endearing, if I do say so myself. Have you two gone beyond cuddling yet or—”

I crossed my arms underneath my breasts and huffed. “That’s none of your damn business, Medusa. And not the kind of conversation I want to be having in front of everyone either!”

Iliana poked the fire with a stick, sending a few crackling embers into the air. “I agree with Adagio. Whatever they have going on between them is their business. Just do as all a favor and try to be discreet if you do decide to start copulating. I’d rather not be woken up by your moans.”

It felt like my entire body was flushed at this point. Medusa must have felt the rise in my body heat because she chuckled aloud at my expense. “I DO NOT MOAN THAT LOUDLY!!”

Medusa laughed even harder. “Perhaps not, but I don’t hear you denying that you make noises in the first place! Tell me, Adagio. Are they petite and squeaky or loud and guttural?”

“Shut up! All of you,” I screeched, “I swear, the shit I have to put up with…”

Ever the valiant defender of my honor, Flash stood up and placed his hands on his hips. “Alright, that’s enough ladies. You’ve had your fun. Leave Adagio be.”

Without missing a beat, Iliana shook her head and began preparing her bedroll. “I’m going to sleep. Try not to make too much noise.”

I reluctantly escaped Medusa’s embrace and grabbed some toiletries from Flash’s knapsack. I also happened to take a knife with me as well. “Since we’re all keen on sleeping, I’m going to find some water to wash up in before bed. I’ll be back in a little while.”

Flash simply nodded and Medusa grabbed my wrist before I could start walking away. “Why do you need a knife? Trying to assassinate someone in the forest?”

“Hardly. I just need it to cut my hair. It’s getting too long.”

Medusa blinked owlishly. “Oh… well, alright then. Just be careful not to injure yourself.”

“Thanks, Mom. I know where not to stick the pointy end.”

Medusa waved her clawed hand. “No need to be sour about it, Adagio. I’m merely looking out for your safety. Accidents can happen, even to the most experienced blade masters.”

“Right. Well—erm—I’ll see you later, I guess.”

Part of me was glad to have gotten away from everyone and have some time alone to myself in the forest. The teasing, while in good nature, made me feel very self-conscious and therefore fanned the flames of my explosive temper. Yes, I know. It’s not a particularly healthy habit to lash out at your companions when they make fun of you under any circumstances. That’s why I had to walk away from them in the first place. Besides, I didn’t like sleeping in my own grime.

Being a creature of the sea, I was used to dark and spooky places. But walking through a forest in the dead of night was a different kind of creepy. A cacophony of sounds seemed to echo from all directions. Chirping insects, owls, little vermin scurrying around. I obviously couldn’t see them very well but a small part of me felt afraid of what else could be lurking out there. Look, I know that I had magic and was a demigoddess of sorts, but if this world taught me anything, it was that there were plenty of other magical beasties out there far more powerful than I.

Based on what Iliana told me, the Folóï Woods were considered sacred. That’s why there weren’t any people living here or any attempts to cut the trees down for lumber. Why? I have no idea. Probably because some god or whatever resided here or some bullshit like that. I honestly didn’t care. All that mattered to me was finding a suitable source of water to bathe in.

Almost as if by design, I spotted a cluster of luminescent mushrooms. They glowed a blueish-green hue that reminded me of the bottom-dwelling creatures that lived within the depths of the ocean. Sure enough, as I drew closer, I noticed that they were growing along the shore of a little lake. I set down my knapsack (the only article of human apparel I used) and dipped my toe into the water to test the temperature. I was expecting it to be a bit chilly but it was actually warm.

With a shrug, I decided to just dive right in. Not literally, mind you. I wadded into the water until it reached my waist. I didn’t want to make a lot of noise and attract the attention of some demonic bear or whatever creatures happened to be lurking about. After a cursory glance at my surroundings, I was satisfied that I would not be disturbed. Thus, I began to bathe myself.

It only took a few minutes. I wasn’t there to enjoy myself, per say, rather… it was an exercise in efficiency and practicality. There’s no telling what might sneak up on me if I lingered too long. At least the mushrooms provided some lighting while I looked at my reflection upon the surface of the water. Blade in hand, I began cutting my hair carefully, so as to avoid snags. When it was all said and done, a pile of curly, golden-orange hair sat by the shore and the style which I now wore mimicked Iliana’s. That is to say, I kept it in the Spartan style. My hair had initially grown all the way down to my lower back. Now, it barely went past my neck. I shook my head a few times to test out my new-found mobility. To my delight, it felt so much better than before.

“Good. Now, I don’t have to worry about my hair turning into a sweaty, tangled mess anymore! I can see why Iliana prefers to wear it this way. Way easier to maintain. Honestly, I should have cut my hair ages ago…” I said to no one in particular.

I allowed myself some time to bask in the warm water. It felt nice and helped soothe my sore muscles. Just as I was about to close my eyes and drift off to sleep, I spotted something moving towards the pond at a pace that screamed danger. My hackles raised, I practically leapt out of the water and summoned as much magic as I could muster into the palms of my hands. Ha! I must have looked quite the sight. A wet, unarmed, naked woman was oh so intimidating.

Or so I assumed. The blur I’d seen earlier presented itself to me in a meek and cowing manner. When the glow of the mushrooms illuminated my visitor, I was surprised to see that it was a naked girl. Well, not a human girl at any rate. She was significantly shorter than any person I’d ever seen before, save children. And yes, it was quite obvious to me that she was an adult. The tiny woman had viridian-hued skin, plump, bouncy breasts, almost comically over-sized nipples (I know it’s very rude to say that about someone’s body but they looked like fucking sausage slices) and a physique that could only be described as curvaceous.

However, that’s where the anatomical similarities ended. Her hair, if it could be called that, was composed entirely of vines and leaves. I couldn’t help but notice that there were even a few flowers in full bloom, dispersed atop her head. I had to do a double take when I looked down towards her waist. Where pubic hair was supposed to be, a little tuft of dark-green moss grew instead. Cute but a bit bizarre. It became increasingly clear that she was some kind of humanoid plant-creature. Just my luck. I ran into another one of this world’s oddities.

I recalled my magic to appear less threatening. It seemed to work because she stopped hiding behind the tree. “You can come out now. I promise I won’t harm you, little one.”

The plant thing hesitantly walked towards me with an uncertain expression. “Please forgive me for disturbing your bath, great sorceress. I meant no offence.”

Mother Siren. She even sounded adorable. I just couldn’t possibly stay annoyed at her. “Umm—don’t worry about it. I was just finishing up anyway. Not to sound rude, but what in the seven oceans are you doing out here?”

She shuffled her bare feet in the grass. “I am being pursued by a group of men with iron weapons and fire. As are my sisters.”

“What… so you thought that you’d just approach a random stranger for help?”

She blushed a vibrant shade of green and bowed. “Your magic is… unusual but I did not sense that you are an evil person. Your intent, I mean. Please, I beg you! I cannot rescue my sisters alone. I am not strong or powerful enough to take on the humans directly. But you are!”

I groaned. “I don’t recall agreeing to anything, little one. If you expect me to—”

“It would not be for free! I am willing to offer you what they wish to take from us.”

I ran my fingers through my shortened hair and sighed. “Look, before we get down to business, I’d like to know who and what you are first. Does that sound fair?”

“Of, course! How rude of me. My name is Willow. I am one of the caretakers of this sacred forest. To humankind we are known as Dryads. What is your name, o great sorceress?”

“Just call me Adagio. No fancy titles needed because I’m not great at anything. Listen, Willow… I don’t know that I’m the right person for the job. For one thing, I have no idea who’s chasing you or what kind of weapons they have. They might overpower me.”

Willow whimpered and began to sniff. “But I do not know who else to turn to…”

I rubbed my temples and groaned. Why did she have to be so fucking adorable? I can’t say no to that face! “Ok, fine! Just stop the caterwauling. I’ll take you back to my camp where all of my companions are and we can try to work something out.”

Without a shred of hesitation, the plump little Dryad hugged my legs and began nuzzling her cheek against my stomach. “OH, THANK YOU! I AM EVER SO GRATEFUL!”

I patted her head. “You can stop hugging me now. We’ve got some walking to do.”

When I finally reached the camp, Iliana and Medusa were fast asleep. The only one awake was Flash, who presumably, was waiting for me to come back. He saw that I was holding Willow’s hand and shot me the most dumbfounded expression I’d ever seen him make. Normally, I would have found it humorous, but I couldn’t help but agree with him. This was a weird situation.

Flash approached slowly. “Adagio, is there a reason you brought back a Dryad?”

I rubbed the back of my neck and chuckled awkwardly. “Funny you should ask…”

“At least she doesn’t seem to be afraid of us. What’s the problem? You have to understand that Dryads aren’t known for interacting with people. They prefer to keep to themselves.”

Willow nodded in agreement. “We do. My apologies, good sir human. I am the one who insisted that Adagio take me to your camp. My sisters are in grave danger and we need your help. They were captured by a roving band of marauders, intent on collecting our nectar.”

Flash furrowed his brow in confusion. “Nectar? I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

Willow blushed and played with one of her vines. “While the nectar provides us with vital nutrients, it is known to have… certain side effects. The nectar—um—causes an overwhelming sense of euphoria and arousal when ingested by humans. That is why the marauders wish to capture us, I assume. From what I understand, our nectar is a highly valued aphrodisiac.”

I growled in annoyance. “Fan fucking-tastic. Just what I wanted to do in the dead of night. Chase after a bunch of horny, greedy mercenaries and save a couple of plant midgets. Don’t you have anything else you could pay us with, Willow? Like gold or something?”

The Dryad bit her lip. “I am afraid not. We do not require human custom. Please! The nectar is all that I can offer for your assistance. Perhaps, you could sell it in a human town later?”

Having been roused by all the commotion, Medusa slithered behind Willow and placed her claws on the poor little Dryad’s shoulders. She let out a terrified squeak. “Or I could just eat you.”

Willow sank to her knees and began sobbing. “Anything but that, mighty gorgon!”

“Relax, kiddo. I was only joking,” Medusa assured while patting Willow’s head, “You’d probably taste like shit anyway. In any case, we should help her, Adagio. Having a couple of Dryads in our debt could prove useful. Not to mention, their nectar is quite valuable to the right clients. Surely, you see the value in that, no?”

I let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. We’ll help them. But not without a plan! I want details.”

Willow tackle-hugged me once again and burst into a fit of giggles. “Thank you! The Dryads will sing of your kindness for ages to come! Adagio, protector of the forest!”

I blushed profusely at the commotion she was making and coughed. “Yeah, well… don’t get ahead of yourself just yet. One step at a time, Willow.”

Chapter VIII

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Chapter 8

Folóï Woods, Southern Provinces

Iliana and Flash barely had time to equip their armor and weapons when a flock of birds flew towards the sky, obviously spooked by something or… someone traipsing around the forest. I made sure to keep Willow behind my legs because she was in no condition to fight a band of heavily-armed mercenaries. To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure that I was either. Demigoddess-like powers or not, I wasn’t keen on charging into battle without proper intel. Medusa gracefully slithered over to my side a moment later, claws at the ready, fangs bared in a savage grin.

The gorgon flicked her tongue a few times and let out a low grunt. Given the grim expression on her face, I had to assume that something was wrong. “I detect a great deal of magic emanating from the south side of the forest. Take heed, Adagio. We mustn’t underestimate our foes.”

“How powerful are we talking? Can that tongue of yours tell the difference between them?”

Medusa nodded. “Several humans. Possibly a cyclops or two and… an additional scent I’m not familiar with. These are no ordinary mercenaries. That much is certain.”

“Mother siren. I HATE cyclopes. I only faced one once before but it was more than enough to color my opinion of their race. Willow, listen to me very carefully. You must do what we say no matter what happens. We’ve fought plenty of monsters before and you haven’t. Have I made myself clear?”

Willow hugged my thighs and practically buried her face in-between my ass cheeks like a pillow. Ugh! She even started nuzzling me. I know she was just scared and wanted someone to comfort her, but that didn’t make the situation any less awkward for me. Clearly, dryads had a very liberal definition of what constituted personal space. “Of course, great sorceress!”

I patted Willow’s leafy head and offered her a weak smile. “Good. Erm—would you mind letting go of me now? I need to be able to move around freely in order to fight the mercenaries.”

The chubby little dryad complied and scampered over to Iliana. I couldn’t help but notice that she treated Willow like a frightened child. Despite the Spartan’s battle-hardened façade, there was kindness in her voice and she made sure to be gentle with Willow as well. It made me think that, perhaps, she would make a decent mother some day in the future. The far future, mind you. I wonder if Spartans even saw their offspring as anything more than tools for war?

I wasn’t particularly interested in producing any offspring of my own. Never was. Childrearing was the responsibility of beta females, not alphas like me. While I had no doubt that my genes were desirable, finding a worthy male partner to breed with had been… difficult to say the least. Sex was a transaction, not an act of intimacy amongst sirens. But now that I was finally freed from the constraints of the Siren Social Hierarchy, I could pursue any partner that I desired.

A cold, nervous sweat broke out across my skin, despite the balmy evening air. Flash stood resplendent in his kit, every bit the demigod he was supposed to be. I wanted to walk over and kiss that goofball passionately on the lips for good luck, but my legs refused to budge another step. It was as if they were hammered in place by some cosmic force. Why was I even thinking about mushy human nonsense like that before battle?! Keep your head in the game, Dagi. Don’t let thoughts of intimacy and romance cloud your mind. That’s it. Breath in and out. Nice and slow. Focus your hatred on those assholes causing trouble for the dryads instead.

I let out a loud yelp when I felt Flash place his hand on my shoulder. “Hey, Adagio. Are you ok? You seem a little… distracted somehow. Is there anything I can do to help?”

I cleared my throat. “No, I’m fine. Thank you, Flash. I’m experiencing the joy of pre battle jitters is all. HAHAHA!”

He didn’t seem convinced but took me at my word. “Oh—um—yeah, I get it. Happens to me sometimes, well actually, most of the time before battle. You’re not alone, is what I’m trying to say. Just remember that we’re here to lend a hand if things get dicey. Good luck out there.”

The best I could offer him was a platonic pat to the back. Way to show you care, Dagi. “Same to you. Flash, when this is all over, do you think we could talk? In private, I mean. I’ve been meaning to get a few things off of my chest for a while now and—”

Flash drew his sword and held up his free hand in a placating gesture. “Sure. But we have to focus our attention on the mercs for the time being. They’re almost here.”

As if summoned by royal edict, the band of mercenaries came stomping towards our camp. The clattering of armor and snapping twigs heralded their arrival. Ten in total by my count. The vast majority of them were humans with two armored cyclopes plodding along, shaking the ground and a large centaur in the middle. Every single one of them was armed to the teeth. Long spears, short swords, and metal clubs for the cyclopes. And judging by how shiny and well-maintained their equipment was, they preferred to employ only the best available on the market. Just our fucking luck. We get to fight consummate professionals. Yay!

The burly centaur raised his hand and everyone in the company stopped. Even in the dim recesses of the Folóï Woods, the moonlight glistened off of his silver armor. What little skin he showed was crimson (at least along his arms) and black fur covered the equine portion of his body. A pair of wicked, curved horns jutted out from holes bored into the sides of his helmet but I couldn’t get a look at his face since he wore a visor. He stomped his mighty front hooves once, making a loud thud and kicking up leaves and other debris.

“Just when I thought this fine evening couldn’t get any more interesting. A merry band of misfits show up. What do we have here? Let’s see… a gorgon, two human warriors and, by the gods, a whore! Hahaha! What? You didn’t have the decency to slip on a toga before we arrived?”

Tendrils of green magic flared from my pupils when I placed my hands on my hips, puffed out my chest and tried to look imposing. I’m quite certain that he noticed. The magic, I mean. The intimidating part needed a little—ok, a LOT of work. There was only so much I could do as a naked human woman. “Are you finished insulting me yet? I want to get this conversation over with because I’m tired and want to sleep. Preferably, in peace if it’s all the same to you.”

The centaur grunted but did not make a move towards us. He reached into a saddlebag that hung over his back and pulled out a compass with a large emerald embedded in the center. He held it towards me and it began to glow, making a soft chiming noise as it did so. “My mistake. You’re a magic sorceress whore. Tell you what, sweetness. I’m feeling merciful tonight. If you hand over the dryad without a fuss, we’ll be on our way. None the wiser. You have my word.”

I SO wanted to kick this impudent wretch in his hairy, horsey nutsack. Mystic power surged through my veins as my anger reached a boiling point. It felt good. Almost too good. I had to reign myself in a bit. “What do you want with the chubby little welp?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but we’ve been paid a princely sum to capture the dryad hiding behind your friend and her two sisters. Need them as a set of three or we don’t get the rest of our delivery fee. The price of business, you understand. What’ll it be, sweetness?”

I huffed in frustration. “For starters, my name is Adagio. Not sweetness.”

The centaur let out a bellowing chuckle. “Of course! How rude of me. Adagio it is, then. While we’re doling out introductions, I am Lord Tirek, leader of the Silver Scythes. No need to bow or kiss my hooves. I’m not the type to hold noble titles over the common folk.”

“Good. Because I wouldn’t kiss anything that belonged to you.”

Tirek waved around a pouch full of coins. “Not even if I paid you? Come now. I don’t believe you’re the type of woman who’s adverse to a quick suck and fuck before battle, are you? I have to warn you though, Adagio. My cock is a lot bigger than you’re used to dealing with. Hahaha!”

I felt the veins along my temples pulse slightly while my skin flushed. What an asshole! “Not interested, Lord Dipshit. You can take your coin and your cronies elsewhere because we’re not letting you lay a finger on Willow. And we’ll be taking back her sisters too. How about that?”

Tirek laughed and cracked his knuckles. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you? Well, I just so happen to enjoy a challenge! Prepare yourself, Adagio. Because I’m going to enjoy breaking you.”

The first ones to attack us were the cyclopes. I suppose the mercenaries considered them expendable to a certain extent. Possibly because of their brute strength and heavy armor. Tirek stood still, with what I can only imagine was a shit-eating grin on his face, were it not covered by a visor. The rest of his men followed suit, staying perfectly still at attention. While I tried to figure out how I was going to take one of them down, Medusa sprang into action without a moment’s hesitation. I was dumbfounded for a moment simply because I had no idea that she was capable of jumping so high without a pair of legs. Yet, the evidence presented before me suggested otherwise.

What unsettled me the most was how little sound Medusa made. Once she dug her claws into the vulnerable flesh of the cyclops’s armpits, Medusa coiled her tail around the unarmored gap near his waist like a boa constrictor. The big brute thrashed around, screaming wildly in pain, trying to throw her off. But it was no use. Medusa was dug in good. When the opportunity presented itself, she sank her fangs into his neck, injecting deadly venom into the cyclops’s bloodstream.

Within a matter of moments, the cyclops began to seize and fell to the ground with a resounding thump. He convulsed for a little while longer until he started frothing at the mouth, and with a watery gurgle, the life drained from his eyes forever. He hadn’t stood a chance against a gorgon. Clearly spooked by what they’d seen, the remaining soldiers readied their spears and marched towards us in a phalanx formation. Flash was busy fighting the remaining cyclops while Medusa and Iliana stood by my side, ready to defend Willow with everything we had.

“Do you think Flash will be ok on his own?” I asked.

Iliana held up her shield with one arm and drew a short sword with her free hand. “The way I see it, he’s just going to have to manage. What about you, Adagio Dazzle? Are you prepared to work your magics against the mercenaries and their leader? I dare say, it is the only advantage over them that you possess right now.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Iliana splayed her feet and took a defensive position. “I mean that you are naked and unarmed.”

I growled in annoyance. “This crap again? How many times do I have to tell you, Iliana? I’m not your run of the mill human woman. With a little finesse, I could easily—”

“Like your battle with the hippocampus or Medusa? I remain unconvinced. Your reckless attitude will get you killed in combat, Adagio. Regardless of your abilities as a demigoddess. Not to mention your insistence on not wearing any form of protection. You would have been flogged for your insolence; had you been trained as a Spartan soldier.”

I rolled my eyes. Because getting lectured by an uppity princess in the middle of a fight was so much fun! Iliana seriously needs to get laid at some point just to loosen up those puckered lips of hers. “Ok, you’ve made your point. What do you suggest then, o master strategist?”

“Go for the exposed areas in their armor. Such as the neck, armpits, and behind the knees. Even with your enhanced strength, I wouldn’t suggest trying to punch their armor directly unless you wish to break all of the bones in your hands. I’m fairly certain that their armor is enchanted with hieroglyphic runes meant to nullify damage and physical trauma.”

Sure enough, as the group of mercenaries drew ever closer, I noticed what Iliana was referring to. Internally, I screamed to myself. Why did everything always have to be so damn complicated? It was at that point; I heard a tremendous thud in the distance. I looked over towards the commotion and realized that the cyclops had Flash pinned to the ground. A shallow crater outlined his body. He was bloody, bruised, and clearly in pain. The one-eyed bastard was grinning ear to ear with his metal club raised high in the air, ready to crush Flash into a pulp. Tears of bitter frustration filled my eyes while I continued to watch.

My heart was torn between two choices. Should I trust Iliana & Medusa to hold off the mercenaries and protect Willow while I rescued Flash, or stay behind and hope that he would somehow recover? The latter was highly unlikely, in my opinion. What happened next took my breath away. Flash must have pretended to be injured (or at least to a greater extent) so that he could trick the cyclops into letting down its guard.

In a single, mighty swing, he sliced the cyclops’s right leg off just below the knee, causing the giant to stumble sideways and crash into the ground. While it struggled to get its bearings, Flash wasted no time grabbing its other leg. He swung the cyclops straight into a tree trunk, breaking the creature’s neck with a sickly crunch. So much for enchanted armor. Showing off that loveable, boyish grin of his, Flash began approaching us to offer his aid… until Tirek blasted Flash square in the chest with some kind of magic beam that had emanated between his horns.

I screamed Flash’s name while I made a mad dash towards his motionless body. While I ran, Medusa attempted to use her petrification spell but it didn’t seem to work on the mercenaries. Apparently, their enchanted armor prevented it from functioning as intended. In desperation, Iliana shouted aloud, urging me to stand my ground and help fight the mercenaries instead. A pang of guilt wracked my stomach, causing me to feel queasy but I just couldn’t risk staying behind with them. Flash was in no position to defend himself currently, and I needed to make sure that Tirek wouldn’t kill him while I was distracted. Onwards I went, oblivious to the rocks, roots, and twigs that scraped against my bare feet while I ran.

Minor though they were, my wounds would heal soon enough. Flash’s safety was far more important to me at the moment. Just before I was able to see if he was ok, Tirek came galloping towards me and slammed his elbow into my gut, sending me hurtling into the ground with a meaty thud. Of course, it hurt like a bitch and managed to completely knock the wind out of me. However, the strike wasn’t hard enough to render me unconscious. With a few labored, wheezing breaths, I staggered back onto my feet and wiped a dribble of blood from my lips. Great. I think Tirek managed to crack a few of my ribs.

The centaur bellowed with laughter. “You’re tougher than you look, sweetness.”

“Save your flattery for someone who cares.” I spat.

Tirek ignored the barb and continued. “This all could have been avoided had you simply cooperated with my demands. All I wanted was to collect the dryad’s nectar. Well, perhaps a little more than that. The creatures would have been held captive at the behest of my employer.”

“What? So, you can milk them dry and dispose of them when they no longer serve a purpose? Disgusting. You’d treat them no better than cattle! Dryads are living, thinking beings, Tirek.”

The centaur waved his gauntleted hand dismissively. “Ironic, considering the charade you’re playing. Don’t look so surprised, Adagio. I can tell that your magic isn’t from this world. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that you weren’t born a human. Not with that kind of power. Frankly, I could care less what you were and where you came from. I’m going to kill you all the same. Hmm. Perhaps, I should have a little fun breaking you first. We’ll see~”

I grit my teeth as my ribs slowly began to mend themselves. Yep. A few were definitely broken. I just needed to stall him for a little while longer. “How… did you figure out my secret?”

“It’s quite simple, really. I have a magic detecting artifact with me. A compass, to be precise. According to the merchant I bought it from, he claimed that it is of Atlantean make. It doesn’t matter. The compass suits my needs just fine. That’s how I was able to track down the dryads.”

I put on a façade of false bravado by placing hands on my hips and struck a confident pose. In reality, I was scared shitless. Tirek’s power was no joke. Even with my magic and enhanced abilities, I wasn’t entirely certain that I could defeat him all on my own. Believe me, I was trying my best to come up with a strategy that didn’t involve getting beaten to a pulp, raped, then killed. Out the corner of my eye, I noticed that Flash was recovering from his injury at least. Even so, there was a nasty scorch mark on his chest and his skin looked like one giant, reddish blister.

There’s no way in Tartarus I was going to let myself become charbroiled, if I could help it. I bit my lip while looking around for any advantages I could use against Tirek. There were plenty of trees around, but with all that armor, hitting him with one would do me very little good. That left exposed spots in the armor itself. The only place that I could strike and would have a noticeable effect was underneath his carriage. Preferably, a swift kick to his horse cock (I could easily tell it wasn’t human-sized despite the dim lighting). I doubt he would be expecting that. Ha!

Unfortunately, my battle plan came to a screeching halt when Tirek galloped over to where Flash was and grabbed him by the neck. Flash struggled to break free of his grasp, since he was using most of his demigod strength to heal the chest wound. If that wasn’t bad enough, Tirek slammed him into the trunk of a tree, showering the area with splinters and blood. Flash let out an inhuman howl of pain and stopped struggling. He didn’t have the energy to resist anymore.

“PUT HIM DOWN! YOUR FIGHT IS WITH ME!” I bellowed.

Unperturbed, Tirek waved his finger and clicked his tongue. “This boy means a lot to you, doesn’t he? More than a comrade, I’d wager. A lover, perhaps? I told you I would break you, Adagio. After all, I’m a centaur of my word. Let’s see how much punishment a demigod can take.”

My desire to protect Flash overwhelmed all of the other instincts I had rattling around in my brain in that moment. Time seemed to slow down as golden-hued magic swirled around my body like a burst of sunlight on earth. Something had changed the nature of my magic. The contrast wasn’t just visual; I could feel it. Although much shorter than before, my hair seemed to billow around as if caught in an ethereal wind. Not only that but… it was decidedly more sparkly. Dare I say, it was not unlike the manes of the prissy pony princesses. In any case, I could indulge my curiosity later. Saving Flash was my only concern at the moment.

I couldn’t tell what kind of expression Tirek wore, but he hesitated for a moment upon seeing me. Somehow, I felt much lighter and stronger than before. It was almost as if my body had become weightless. All of the exhaustion and pain seemed to have disappeared too. I dashed forward and grabbed Flash out of Tirek’s clutches, setting him down gently in the grass. Flash was struggling to stay conscious, but he managed to raise his hand and brush my cheek. Happy that he was still alive, I crouched down on my haunches and planted a kiss on his forehead.

Tirek finally must have come to his senses because he fired a beam of concentrated magic straight at my head. Sensing the blast before actually seeing it, I held up my hand and imagined a picture of Iliana’s shield in my mind. As I predicted, a golden shield deflected his attack with ease. Don’t ask me how I knew that would work. It was instinct. I suppose you could say, a little voice in the back of my mind assured me that it was a good idea. While he was distracted, I lunged forward and slammed my fist into his chest. Even with all the enchantments, a big dent formed in the center of his armor and he flew into a nearby tree with a sickening crunch.

The centaur slowly rose to his hooves and coughed. “Can’t say I was expecting that. No matter. I’ve faced far more fearsome creatures than the likes of you. I’ll just have to be a bit more careful and alter my strategy. It’s what any soldier worth their salt would do in a situation like this.”

I surrounded his body with a golden aura and raised him in the air. “Don’t underestimate me, Tirek. I can destroy with a mere flick of my wrist. Surrender now, and I might let you live.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”

My eyes widened in surprise as the aura began to flicker and I felt my grip on him fading. Damn that enchanted armor! It was like trying to take hold of a stubborn, slippery fish. Before I could muster a defense, Tirek blasted me again. This time, the bolt struck me right in the stomach. While it didn’t hurt as much as I anticipated, my feet gouged a shallow track in the dirt when I was sent back a few steps. Did I mention how much I hate twigs and pebbles?

My scorch wound healed almost instantly, thank the Mother Siren. But the pain was enough of a distraction to make my temper flare. I concentrated my magic and fired a continuous beam of my own until Tirek’s armor glowed red-hot. He howled in pain, as the smell of singed fur filled the air. In a frantic attempt to escape being burned alive, Tirek removed his breastplate, revealing just how much of a muscled, hulking brute he was. His gold pupils stared back at me with an expression of pure hatred. He was severely outmatched and knew it.

I sprang into the air, flipped to gain more momentum, and pointed the balls of my feet downward so that I could kick him square in the back. My attack had the desired effect, to say the least. In fact, I’d managed to pound him straight into the ground. However, I yelped in surprise when he managed to roll over, grab my ankle, and pull me down to his level. In the midst of my confusion, he pinned my wrists and began reigning blows on me with his front hooves. More than a few strikes battered and bruised my poor, beautiful face. I’d had more than enough of that bullshit and did the only thing I could think of. I took in a deep breath, concentrated my magic, and aimed a sonic blast right at his chest.

The shrill sound of my scream echoed throughout the forest. Consequently, it blew away the leaves of any trees standing nearby and sent Tirek flying off to parts unknown. Given that I’d just had the shit kicked out of me, I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate my triumph. Whatever sparkly magic was running through my veins, saw fit to start healing my body again. Well, enough to take the edge off and make me a functioning Adagio Dazzle at least.

I hobbled over to Flash and propped him up against my shoulder. We began walking, albeit slowly, towards the other battle raging on between our comrades and the mercenaries. “Thanks for saving my life, Adagio. I didn’t think I was going to make it for a while there. That centaur was a lot stronger than I thought he’d be. Uhh… why is your entire body glowing?”

I blinked my swollen, black eye and sighed. “Fuck if I know. Something’s changed about my magic, I think. Because it sure as Tartarus isn’t the usual kind. Feels different.”

Flash coughed and let out a weak chuckle. “It’s a good look for you.”

Despite the situation, I felt a blush color my cheeks. “You really think so?”

Flash clutched his ribs and groaned. Even so, he managed to show off a boyish grin. “Yep. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re one step closer to being an actual daughter of Aphrodite.”

“Well, I think you should concentrate on walking instead of keeping your eyes glued to my incandescent, golden honeypot. We both need to converse our strength, so that we can heal our wounds. In all honesty, I’m not sure that we’ll be able to help Iliana and Medusa in time.”

“I wasn’t staring that much. It’s just impossible to miss…” Flash mumbled under his breath.

“Huh? Did you say something, Flash?”

“I was simply agreeing with what you said. We should take a break.”

As we drew closer, it immediately became apparent that our aid was unnecessary. Iliana was covered in dirt, sweat, and blood but looked like a proper Spartan warrior. That is to say, she was definitely in her element. Six of the mercenary’s corpses were strewn about the forest floor in no particular pattern. One was missing his head, and another had his arms torn from their sockets. I shuddered, knowing full-well that the latter must have been Medusa’s handiwork. Fun fact: humans evacuated their bowels when they died. So, yeah. It smelled like a fucking sewer. Yay!

Flash suddenly looked ill, so I rubbed his back while he poured his guts out into some bushes nearby. Wonderful. The acrid stench of vomit made the ambience of the battlefield so much more majestic. Iliana didn’t say a word but her stony expression suggested that she thought Flash was weak for reacting to the corpses in such a manner. Who could blame him though? Flash may have been a demigod but he wasn’t raised, from childhood, to be a battle-hardened soldier. With one final pat to the shoulder, I left him to his own devices and padded over to Iliana. She offered me a waterskin. I squatted in the grass next to her and took several greedy gulps.

“I assume you must have defeated their leader.” Iliana bluntly stated.

“It wasn’t easy, but we managed. I don’t know for sure if he’s dead or not because I sent him flying through the forest but he won’t be bothering us for a while, at least. And you?”

Iliana wiped her sword in the grass, and once she was satisfied that it was clean enough, she put it back into the sheath with a sharp click. “I killed three of them. Medusa did most of the work. You know how strong she is, right? The results speak for themselves, if you’re not convinced.”

“Where’s the seventh soldier? I only see six of them lying around.”

Iliana jabbed her thumb towards a cluster of trees. “Medusa’s busy interrogating the sergeant.”

Not but a moment later, the ebon-scaled gorgon came slithering towards us in that silent, predatory way that never failed to send shivers down my spine. She was covered head to tail in blood and gore. I hope that was mostly from the battle and not because she’d just tortured a man to death. There were lines that not even I would cross on the worst day. She coiled her tail and leaned forward, the gorgon version of sitting down, you could say. After heaving a loud, protracted sigh, Medusa rubbed her eyes and looked every year her age.

“I found out where the other dryads are being held.”

I walked behind Medusa and began rubbing her shoulders as gently as I could. Her muscles were incredibly tense and bunched up tighter than a sailor’s knot. While I continued to work out the kinks as best I could, a wave of fatigue washed over me all of the sudden. My skin lost its luster and my golden-orange locks went back to being plain, old Dagi hair. Apparently, my transformation had been a temporary one… until my energy ran out, that is. A loud yawn escaped my lips and my eyelids felt like they weighed as much as a whale.

“You sound about as tired as I feel.” Medusa commented.

“Yeah. Whatever happened to me when we fought Tirek must’ve burned through a ton of magical energy. Mother Siren, I… can barely… stay awake. Before I end up passing out in the grass, you mentioned that you found out where Willow’s sisters are. How far and where?”

Medusa let out a hissing moan when I rubbed her neck. “By the maker, you must have magic fingers, Adagio. Mmm. Yesssssss. That’s the spot. Oh—ah—pardon my reaction. Yes, the dryads. We won’t have to worry about going out and retrieving them.”

“How’s come?”

Medusa laid down in the grass and stretched out her tail. “Because I threatened to petrify all of the sergeant’s limbs and leave him in the middle of the forest for predators to find if he didn’t release the other two dryads. I did not harm him beyond the injuries he’d already sustained during the battle. Which were minor, I dare say.”

“I guess that means they’ll be able to find Willow out here.”

Medusa closed her eyes and nodded slowly. “Most likely. The forest is their home.”

A chorus of giggling and girlish squealing answered my unspoken question. I glanced over towards the campfire that Iliana had built and spotted Willow blubbering like a baby and cuddling her sisters affectionately. They looked almost exactly like she did, save for slight variations in their “leaf-styles” and different colored flowers. It was incredibly sappy but I couldn’t help but crack a smile. I was happy for them. Once they had a chance to calm down a bit, Willow came scampering over to me, pounced at my chest, and hugged me for dear life.

It started to get awkward when she began nuzzling my breasts. The sensation wasn’t unpleasant, per say, but my nipples were starting to get a wee bit too sensitive from all the nectar that had oozed onto them. Again, what’s with the lack of personal space? I let out an irritated sigh and patted Willow’s head. “You can stop now. I know how much you appreciate what we did.”

The chubby little dryad snickered and stood up. “From now until the end of time, your name will be sung with adoration and praise by our people. Adagio, Defender of the Forest! Join me, sisters! We must perform the traditional dance of celebration.”

Blushing furiously, I waved my hands in the air. “Hold on a second! That won’t be—”

Seemingly out of nowhere, her sisters produced a wooden flute and a drum. When Willow started singing and shaking her jiggly green rump to the beat, I wanted to bury my head into the ground like an ostrich. The worst part was that her voice was angelic and the song was ridiculously catchy. Flash and Iliana even clapped along while they danced, embarrassing me to no end. Medusa looked like she was sleeping but I could tell she knew what was going on.

When things finally started to settle down, Willow approached me while I was sitting, cross-legged beside Flash, enjoying the warmth of the fire (and his body too). She informed me that her sisters had already retreated deeper into the forest where they lived. In her hands, she held a glass vial filled with amber-colored liquid. I blinked owlishly when she placed it in my lap.

“The nectar, as promised. We hope that it will give you great pleasure, Defender of the Forest. There is one other matter. I would like to show the both of you a special place that only we dryads know of. It is a hot spring grotto. A place of healing and rest. Please, follow me.”

I pointed to Flash. “You mean just the two of us, right?”

Willow nodded enthusiastically. “Don’t worry; my magic will get us there in an instant.”

Before I could offer any protest, we were whisked away in a puff of viridian-hued magic. When I finally came to my senses, the air smelled strongly of sulfur and pine needles. An odd combination, but not entirely unexpected, given that we were near a hot spring. Willow handed me a pinecone and told me to think of the campsite whenever we wished to return whence, we came. Apparently, the laws of time and space didn’t apply to this sacred grove. I nodded dumbly after she placed a kiss on my cheek and gave me one, last hug.

“Just remember that you and your friends are always welcome in these woods. Farewell, Adagio. I hope that we can meet again someday.” Willow whispered in a husky voice.

And just like that, she was gone. I turned to Flash and chuckled. “I guess that means we’ve got the hot spring all to ourselves, huh? Care to join me for a nice, long soak?”

After a bit of mandatory scrubbing (blood and dirt tend to ruin the mood), Flash sat in front of me while I got comfortable behind him. We’d slept together in the nude a few times before, of course, but pressing my chest against his back and wrapping my legs around his own was a feeling that I never grew tired of. The gentle warmth of his skin, the broad muscles of his back, sparked a series of human instincts within me that I was only beginning to understand.

Or at least, that’s what I assumed. Not wanting to ponder the subject too deeply, I slid my arms around his stomach and hugged him closer to me, relishing the flowery scent of rose oil in his hair. After the chaos of battle, a moment of peace and quiet was what we both needed. As I rested my head on his shoulder, my mind began to wander. Just what did Flash and I have?

Reluctant as I was to admit it, I cared about him a great deal. The same applied to Iliana and Medusa, but not to the same extent. My stomach did backflips while I tried to wrestle with the onslaught of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. Did he care about me in the same way? By all indications, he did but was I prepared to take our relationship to the next step? A natural-born predator such as myself did not relish the idea of letting her guard down for anyone. That was the problem with humans, they were too soft and trusting. However, if I couldn’t trust Flash with my life, my… h-heart, then these feelings I harbored were bound to drive me insane.

Flash placed his hand on mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Adagio, what’s wrong? You’ve been awful quiet since we got here. Is there something on your mind?”

I sighed. “I’ve been thinking about us and where we’re supposed to go from here.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I huffed in annoyance. “I think you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about.”

Flash must have been considering his answer carefully because he didn’t say anything for nearly a minute. Upon clearing his throat, he began caressing my thigh. “You’re right. I do. The more time I spend with you, Adagio, the more I’ve come to care about you. After what you did for me today, I can admit, without a shred of hesitation, that I… love you. I know you’re still getting used to the whole ‘being human’ thing but I promise we can work—”

To hear him actually utter the phrase I’d been waiting for was like a dam breaking. So overwhelmed was I with emotion, that my mouth refused to work properly. I tried, believe me. But no words would part my lips. Instead, I began sobbing incoherently, like a child would if they’d been injured. I was embarrassed, confused, happy, and terrified all at the same time.

Even though my face was probably covered in snot, I grabbed Flash by the cheeks and kissed him as passionately as I dared. If nothing else, my actions would convey the feelings that my voice could not. It didn’t take long before he got the message, and things started to get a bit heated. While we continued kissing, I reached down, groping blindly in the water for my target. When the shaft of his penis brushed up against my palm, I began stroking it up and down, making sure to use my fingers to carefully peel back his foreskin and tease his head every so often. Flash really seemed to like it when I did that. I was rewarded with a shuddering moan.

Just before I could get started in earnest, Flash turned around and grabbed my wrists. I wriggled in his grasp, confused as to why he would want me to stop. “Adagio, I appreciate what you’re doing and b-believe me, it feels amazing but I… want to make you feel good this time around.”

Talk about a military grade mood-killer. Damn it, Flash! Why do you have to be such a gentleman? “Alright. What exactly do you have in mind?”

Flash gestured to a bed of moss nearby. “Just lie down over there and relax. I’ll do the rest.”

With a shrug, I did as I was told. And what do you know? The moss was actually quite cool and comfortable. While I was getting settled, Flash climbed out of the hot spring and hobbled over to where I was, his stiff erection bobbing along as he did so. I know he was trying to be sweet and sexy but seeing him like that just made me break out into a fit of girlish giggles. He blushed furiously, of course, but after gaining back some of my composure, I raised my foot and brushed it up against his leg affectionately. I made sure to follow it up with a sultry smile.

“Well, I’m waiting, lover boy~” I teased.

Flash swallowed hard and coughed. “So—um—could you spread your legs apart please?”

“Like this?” I asked while giving him a generous view of the treasure he sought.

Flash nodded and lowered his head towards my clamshell until I could feel his breath tickling me. A shiver of excitement shot up my spine when he buried his nose in my hair and took a deep whiff. It was more than a little embarrassing and my subconscious siren voice screamed at me for putting myself in such a vulnerable position. I was literally exposing my most delicate, sensitive organ, at the mercy of another being. It meant that I had to trust another being implicitly other than myself. With a frustrated snarl, I shook my head and tried to drown out centuries of predatory instincts, lessons learned, and pain. I wasn’t that Dagi anymore.

I closed my eyes and rested my head against the moss while his tongue explored inside of me. Despite not having any sexual experience as a human, even I could tell that Flash was an amateur. His technique was timid, hesitant. Almost as if he was afraid that he would hurt me with his teeth somehow. An endearing thought, but if he wanted to give me pleasure, he’d have to learn how to do it properly. After all, female sex organs are a universal constant no matter what creature they happen to belong to. You can quote me on that.

“Flash,” I whispered while ruffling his hair, “allow me to give you a few pointers.”

His pained expression made me feel a little guilty inside but I kept my cool and waited patiently for him to respond. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Not exactly. But—erm—your technique is a bit lacking; shall we say. Hey! Don’t feel bad about it. You’re still a virgin. I don’t expect you to be an expert at pleasuring women. Just relax. I’ll talk you through the process. I promise that by the time we’re finished, you’ll be a better man for it.”

“Sorry, Adagio. I keep forgetting that you’re a lot older than me.”

I rolled my eyes. Not exactly the compliment I was hoping to hear. In any case, I reached down and spread my lips apart with my fingers, so that Flash could get a better look at the glistening, pink folds contained within. “You want to make sure that you twist your tongue in there. Kind of like an eel writhing around in the mud. Kisses along the edge are good too. But most importantly, make sure you play with my pleasure pearl.”

Flash furrowed his brow in confusion. “Your what now?”

With an annoyed groan, I peeled back the thin hood covering my pleasure pearl. “I can’t believe no one taught you about basic female anatomy! That little pink bud you see there is my clitoris. It’s kind of like the head of your cock, except smaller. Lick it, pinch it, nibble on it. Gently, remember. Girls love it when that happens. Trust me. Any more questions?”

Flash simply stared at me for a moment. The longer he did so, the more self-conscious I became. I’d never had any qualms about showing off my human body; nude was my default state of being, after all. But this kind of attention was different. I was purposely exposing myself to someone I cared about. I was just about to scold him for taking too long, when I felt Flash plunge his tongue deep into my clamshell. Oh, Mother Siren! He took my advice to heart. The warm, slithering sensation sent electric jolts of pleasure everywhere, it seemed. I could barely think straight. My brain had been reduced to mush. All that mattered was living in the moment.

He continued his ministrations for quite some time. It didn’t escape my notice that he’d play with my pearl every so often, pinching it between his finger and thumb, pulling on it gently. Since I was already in a compromising position, I decided to let go of the last vestiges of stubborn pride that remained, and moaned out loud as an orgasm rocked my body. I could feel my walls trying to milk his tongue as if it were a cock, while my toes curled and my hips thrust forward. Even as my first orgasm began to subside, Flash continued without any signs of slowing, causing another one to occur mere moments later. After that, I felt like a boneless heap, sweaty and panting for air. Only then did he stop. I had just enough energy to pull him in for a kiss. I could taste my own arousal on his lips, musky and slightly tangy like citrus, but I didn’t care.

Flash cuddled up next to me, his hot erection rubbing against my thigh. “Mmm. That was amazing. I’m glad you decided to take my advice. But…”

“What’s the problem? Do you want me to pleasure you again? I can if—”

I reached over and began stroking his cock, making sure to tease that sensitive little strip of skin underneath the head. He gasped in response. I giggled when I felt a sticky glob of precum coat my fingers. “You want to fuck me. It’s as plain as day. What kind of woman would I be if I denied you the pleasure of entering me? Let me get comfortable and we can begin.”

I rolled over and got onto my hands and knees, lifting my rump slightly in the air. To make sure that there was no misunderstanding as to what I wanted him to do, I took my finger and rubbed my glistening lips, showing Flash exactly where he needed to put his cock. Let’s just say that I didn’t want any unfortunate misunderstandings as to where it was to be placed. While I wouldn’t say that I was opposed to the idea of having my asshole played with, having an entire cock shoved in there without proper lubrication would not have been a pleasant experience.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Flash fumbling around with his cock, scooting closer to me. By the Oceans! Just penetrate me already! I wiggled my rump in protest, then let out an involuntary gasp when I felt the tip enter me. At least he hadn’t shoved the whole thing in all at once. My suspicions about being a virgin were laid to rest when I felt something tear inside me. Yep. That was definitely my hymen. A tiny bit of blood was followed by a sharp sting of pain. I don’t think Flash noticed because he was too busy bottoming out inside me. Once I felt his balls press up against me, I took a moment to adjust myself to Flash’s prodigious girth.

“Are you ok, Adagio? I heard you cry out in pain.”

With a rosy blush (a combination of embarrassment and arousal), I gripped the carpet of moss below me and whimpered. Why did his manhood have to be so damn thick? “It’s fine. I just need a second to get used to your cock being inside of me. I’m technically a virgin. Or was…”

“But I thought you had experience with this sort of thing.”

My temper flared for a moment, but I managed to clamp down on it. “Yeah, I did. Back when I was a siren. New universe, new everything. That means my freshly formed human body never had sex before. Look, Flash, don’t worry about it, ok? I had a feeling this was going to happen.”

Flash relaxed his grip on my ass cheeks, stroking them tenderly with his fingers as a gesture of affection. It made me shiver with excitement. “Can I—erm—start moving now?”

“Mhmm. Make sure you do it slowly at first, then build up later.”

For a demigod, Flash certainly knew how to be gentle when the situation called for it. I was more than a little concerned that he’d be unaware of his strength and get carried away. But that didn’t happen. Instead, he slid his cock in and out of me at a languid but steady pace. For a while, the two of us seemed to be in our own world, caring for nothing but the pleasure we shared. The only sounds that echoed through the forest were the chirping of insects and the squishy slaps of flesh meeting flesh as our carnal dance became more intense. Had I not been in the throes of ecstasy, I’m certain that I would’ve been embarrassed by the whole scene.

Who knows how long we continued to fuck each other with reckless abandon? It could have been hours or maybe even just a few minutes. I honestly couldn’t tell. But then again, we’d been transported to some pocket of the forest where the rules of space-time didn’t apply. All I knew was that I was edging ever closer to having the most intense and satisfying orgasm of my entire human existence. Before I had the chance to catch my breath, I moaned like a damn banshee and felt my walls constrict around Flash’s shaft, milking him for all that he was worth.

My legs became weak and I nearly let Flash slip out of me. Instead, he grabbed my hips and pushed forward with all of his might. A moment later, I heard him grunt loudly and felt the warm, gooey goodness of his seed fill my belly to the brim. Oceans below! Just how backed up was he? The virility of demigods must never be underestimated! After what seemed like an eternity, he extracted himself and laid down next to me. I rolled over, wrapped my arms around his waist, and nestled my head against his chest, content to close my eyes and listen to his heartbeat. I felt safe. I felt satisfied. I felt loved.

Flash kissed my forehead and began running his fingers through my hair. I didn’t have the energy to raise my voice, so I returned his affection by placing a kiss on his neck. There was a gap in the trees where we lay, and above it, a vast expanse of stars stretched across the horizon. While I breathed in the musky aroma that was Flash’s natural scent, my mind began to wander. Did I have the courage to utter the four-letter word dancing on my tongue? We were alone, save the crickets and cicadas. No one else was around to judge me. Damn these human emotions! I never felt this way about anyone before. Not even Aria or Sonata came close.

With my heart pounding in my chest like a war drum, I cupped his cheeks in my hands and made sure that he was looking directly into my eyes. “Flash, I wanted to say that I… enjoyed what we just did together. And it made me realize how much I… l-love you. That’s not a four-letter word I take lightly, you understand! So—uh—consider yourself a very special human.”

Flash smiled in that boyish way that made my stomach flutter. “I had a feeling that you did. Heh. You know, if risking everything to save my life wasn’t proof enough…”

I blushed like a tomato and curled my toes. “When you put it that way, I guess it was obvious.”

Flash kissed my cheek and started rubbing my back. “It’s alright. I know you have trouble expressing your feelings with words. You’re a woman of action. I can respect that.”

I poked his chest playfully. “You’d better. When do you think we should head back to the campsite? Iliana and Medusa are probably starting to get worried about us.”

“For starters, I think we should clean up first.”

I chuckled. “No shit. Alright, a quick bath then. Afterwards, we head back.”

Chapter IX

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Chapter 9

Costal Camp, Beyond the Folóï Woods

I suggested to everyone that we all needed some rest after fighting Tirek and his band of goons. Iliana protested, saying we would never get anywhere if we maintained our erratic pace of stopping and going, but she was outvoted three to one. Got to love democracy! Exhausted as I was, I slept like a babe and awoke as the sun crept over the horizon. Flash was still asleep and I took the opportunity to plant a quick kiss on his cheek before I vacated our bedroll. A smile spread across my lips while I stretched out my limbs and walked towards the edge of the cliff. We’d fucked again last night for good measure because—well, I don’t need a reason to copulate with my mate, boyfriend, or whatever Flash & I are considered together in the human world.

It was much livelier than our first time in the forest. I took position atop him, grabbed his cock, and—you get the idea. We were obnoxiously loud and should’ve tried to find a more secluded spot away from camp to fuck but we were so horny that consideration for our companions became moot. Mother Siren… did Flash have stamina to spare. Must have been his demi-god strength or maybe he was just a proficient partner. I don’t know and I don’t care. We fucked until our bodies felt like limp noodles and promptly fell asleep in each other’s sweaty embrace.

My own abilities being what they were did not make me immune to muscular fatigue. In particular, my oyster was seven kinds of sore. In a good way, though. Ok, not really; it fucking sucked, but there wasn’t much I could do but bear the pain. At least the cool ocean breeze felt refreshing on my skin. I would feel infinitely better after a swim. Saltwater wasn’t exactly the best for bathing, but it would have to do since we were far away from civilization. I dove in head first, and swam around for a bit, just to enjoy the sensation of being underwater.

Mainly, I wanted to wash away all the sweat and other unmentionable body fluids. Once I was satisfied that my skin didn’t feel unpleasantly sticky and gross anymore, I emerged from the surf to retrieve a bit of scented oil from Iliana’s pouch; lest I smell fishy for the remainder of the day. A few dabs here and there, and quick scrape from the strigil made me feel more confident about my sent. Predictably, my stomach growled in protest. It was time for breakfast.

I crouched on my haunches by the fire, where Iliana was busy roasting something she’d just killed. A leaf nearby held a handful of berries for us to enjoy along with the meat. I knew better than to ask what it was we were eating. Quite honestly, I’d eaten some pretty questionable things while I was siren. Like half-decayed whale carcass. And yes, it tastes about as good as it sounds. I looked around for Medusa, but she was nowhere to be seen. Probably off hunting a deer or sunning herself on a rock by the cliff. Who knows? She’s a grown woman—erm—gorgon.

With one last nibble, I finished the meat, stood, and belched. “A fine breakfast, Iliana. Thanks.”

She looked up at me with bloodshot eyes and grunted. “You’re welcome.”

I absentmindedly scratched my crotch and yawned. “You look tired.”

“I am. No thanks to your antics last night.” Iliana groused.

My cheeks reddened slightly while I cleared my throat. “Oh—um—sorry about that. I suppose we were a lot noisier than I initially thought. Did we keep Medusa awake last night too?”

“She slept fine. Or so I assume. Medusa neglected to elaborate on the subject.”

I entwined my hands together behind my back and rolled a pebble with my big toe. It was my way of avoiding Iliana’s gaze. I was under the impression that talking about sex would be less embarrassing for me or that I wouldn’t care but my human physiology argued otherwise. No, it wasn’t that. The passionate moments we’d shared together last night was on a level far beyond casual sex. It was intimate. Plain and simple. Once again, I found my skin turning a lovely shade of red whilst I contemplated the complex array of emotions that swirled inside me whenever I thought about Flash. There was no way in Tartarus I was going to converse with Iliana about such things! A gruff soldier like her wouldn’t understand what it’s like to be in love.

I took in a deep breath to compose myself, and turned around to meet her eyes. “I’ve often wondered how she’s able to be so stealthy despite her size.”

Iliana poked the coals with a stick. “It is the nature of serpents. They ambush their prey.”

“She’s not a mere beast, Iliana. Surely, even you can see that by now.”

Iliana began taking off her armor, and unfastened the tie holding her hair in place. Her curly amber locks were surprisingly long when unfurled. They settled just below her shoulders. During the Olympic Games, I’d seen her in the nude, of course, but at the time, I hadn’t taken a really good look at her. The entire surface of her body was sculpted with taught muscle, it seemed. Not only that, but I noticed a rather nasty diagonal scar that traversed along her left shoulder blade. A wound like that could only have been caused by a bladed weapon.

She didn’t utter a single word. Instead, the Spartan princess strode towards the cliff’s edge with unyielding purpose. I took a few steps towards her and held my hand out to stop her, but she dove before I could say anything. A few moments later, Iliana surfaced, and pushed back the hair covering her eyes. She swam around for a bit longer, then made her way back to the camp. Like I had done so earlier, she anointed her skin with oil and scraped it off by the fire, not bothering to put her armor back on just yet. I assume it was because she wanted to dry off first.

I sat cross-legged next to her and tried to continue our conversation from earlier. “If I didn’t mention it before, you have the physique befitting of a Spartan. Care to share any tips?”

“Train hard. Eat nutritious meals. But not too much.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Erm—right. So, does that mean—”

“Your body is fine the way it is, Adagio. There is no reason for you to train as I have.”

“I may not be a warrior, but I want to be useful if we get into another fight.”

Iliana raised her brow. “You have powers. Just use them.”

Damn this woman and her irritatingly succinct nature! Clearly, my attempt at extracting any kind of ancient warrior wisdom from her was failing spectacularly. I huffed in frustration and crossed my arms underneath my breasts. Perhaps, I could try a different approach? “Having divine powers are all well and good, but what if we run into a situation where I can’t use them? Then what? I need something to fall back on, like… sword fighting or wrestling—I don’t know. You’re the warrior princess, you tell me what’s best approach.”

She simply shrugged and began roasting another meat skewer. “Stay out of the fight.”

We sat across from each other in awkward silence for some time after that. Since she obviously wasn’t going to start up another conversation on her own, I decided to leave the campfire and head back to my bedroll. Mostly because I couldn’t stand the silence, but I also wanted to check if Flash was awake yet. As fate would have it, I didn’t get the chance. Like the Kraken appearing out of the deep, Medusa slithered her way towards camp and plopped a net full of freshy caught shellfish on the ground nearby. The morning sun made her scales glisten like little black pearls.

She flicked her tongue and took a seat next to me, coiling her tail around my leg, in what I could only guess was a gorgon gesture of affection. “Good morning everyone. I trust you slept well.”

I scooched closer to her and slid my arm around her waist, until our naked bodies were pressed together as one. Say what you will about snakes being cold-blooded, but Medusa was warm and her scales felt sinfully soft against my skin. She allowed me to place my head upon her breast like a pillow, and began to run her fingers through my hair. I let out a satisfied sigh and placed a gentle kiss right by her nipple. Iliana, ever the stoic soldier, just glowered at us as Spartans are wont to do. Somehow, she managed to convey her disgust with a single stare.

“Being a child of the sea, I figured that you would enjoy eating clams for breakfast.”

I looked over at her haul and nodded approvingly. “They certainly look tasty. Thanks, Medusa.”

The gorgon smiled, revealing her fangs. “Don’t get too full of yourself, Adagio. I was already in the mood for them, and you just so happened to be a beneficiary of my hunt. Iliana and Flash are more than welcome to partake as well, if they so choose.”

Iliana tore off a chunk of meat from her skewer and chewed on it methodically. “My hunger has already been sated by roast rabbit. However, I appreciate the gesture… gorgon.”

Medusa’s tail tensed up a bit, then relaxed once more. “Ah… I’ve never seen you with your hair down before, Iliana. I must admit, you look rather fetching that way.”

“Dries out faster this way. I plan on tying it back up again afterwards.”

Medusa chuckled. “Allow me to venture a guess: it gets in the way during combat?”

“Yes.” Iliana replied.

“That’s one thing I don’t miss about being human. No hair to worry about.”

The Spartan princess cocked her brow. “Because a writhing mass of venomous serpents is far more appealing to have atop one’s head. I’ll have to try it out myself sometime.”

I sighed. “Iliana. I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t try to antagonize the newest member of our merry little band. Medusa’s just trying her best to strike up a casual conversation. Would it kill you to unpucker your asshole for five minutes and not be such a grumpy grouper?”

Iliana scoffed. “Compatriot or not, I find it difficult to trust the loyalty of a creature like her.”

The snakes that served as Medusa’s hair began to hiss while I felt her tail muscles coil tighter around my leg. Outwardly, her expression remained neutral, but I could tell that she was upset. When she finally spoke, her voice was low and full of venom. “Choose your next words carefully, Spartan. For you are easily within striking distance of my fangs and claws.”

Iliana stood up but did not make a move to retrieve her sword. Naked though she was, it made her no less intimidating. More so, I would wager, for all her battle scars and hardened muscle was on full display for all to see. I began to worry that she might actually wrestle Medusa into submission, when Flash approached the campfire. He was still uncomfortable exposing his body around us (not when we were alone~), so he wore a loincloth to cover up his dangly bits. I still don’t understand why Flash felt that it was necessary. We’d all seen his manhood before.

“Morning, girls. Is everything ok? Medusa and Iliana seem… tense.”

I offered him a few morsels of cooked clam and shrugged. “Iliana’s being extra bitchy this morning for some reason. Nothing to worry about. You hungry? I cooked some of these up for breakfast. They’re pretty tasty with a squirt of lemon juice and some salt. Go head. Try it.”

Flash accepted the meal graciously and began chewing. “Hmm. These are good.”

Iliana began donning her armor again, piece by piece, with meticulous care. Once she was fully dressed, she began tying up her hair. “Fine. I will admit that there is something occupying my mind. My apologies if I have been… less than cordial with you, gorgon. It is not personal.”

Medusa closed her eyes and flicked her tongue. “Like Tartarus it isn’t. You can’t just insult my appearance then—ahem—in any case, what’s bothering you today, Princess?”

For the first time all morning, she looked genuinely embarrassed. A slight blush colored her cheeks while she struggled to express her frustration. Upon clearing her throat, Iliana rubbed her arm and began to speak. “I must travel to Sparta. Soon, preferably.”

Medusa cocked her head. “What for?”

“My presence is… required for a festival.”

My attention piqued, I lifted my head from Medusa’s breast and sat up straight. “A festival you say? Will there be food, wine, and merriment involved? If so, I think we could spend a few—”

Iliana abruptly cut me off by holding up her hand. “I would prefer to do so alone.”

Irritated, I practically had to bite down on my cheeks to stop myself from barking at her and took in a deep breath through my nose. Temper, Dagi. Temper. “Care to explain why, princess?”

Flustered, Iliana twiddled her fingers, not expecting to have to elaborate. “Gymnopaedia is a yearly celebration held by my people in honor of the god Apollo. There is dancing, singing, and merriment to be had by all. As princess, I am expected to preside over the festivities.”

I crossed one leg over the other and began moving my foot impatiently. “Oooh, having a little bit of fun sounds SO terrible! A fate worse than death, it would seem. Whatever are we to do?!”

Iliana’s expression quickly grew sour once more. “There is no we, Adagio. In fact, no one is forcing any of you to accompany me to the festival. If I must, I shall go alone.”

“Why is going to a festival such a horrible thing? We don’t mind tagging along.”

Iliana groaned in frustration. “Because Gymnopaedia is also a celebration of the human physique. Everyone is expected to attend the festivities in the nude. While that alone would not bother me, it is a time meant to showcase one’s strength, comeliness, and virility.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at what she just said. “Let me get this straight. Spartans literally strut around naked, flexing their muscles, in the hopes that they’ll find a mate? HAHAHA! That’s just such a blunt way of going about the process. I expected humans to have more finesse than that.”

Completely embarrassed, Iliana lowered her head, unable to look me directly in the eye. “In principle, I cannot help but agree with your assessment. But that is just how my people are. Straightforward and to the point. Surely, you must have picked up on that by now.”

“Of course, I have. But the more important question is: does that mean every Spartan warrior in the kingdom is going to try and catch your eye?”

Iliana shuffled her feet in the dirt. “There is a distinct possibility of that happening, yes. A few may even be bold enough to seek my hand in marriage.”

Medusa adopted a softer expression and hummed. “You don’t want to get married.”

Iliana sighed. “Try telling that to my parents. I am of marriageable age, and considered the ideal candidate for bearing strong, healthy Spartan babies. If I were to accept a man’s proposal, I would no longer be able to travel with all of you. My fate would be that of a royal housewife, but a housewife all the same. That is why I have been so disagreeable as of late.”

Even though it was awkward, I sat down next to Iliana and began rubbing her shoulders. “I get it. You’re stressed out from having to deal with overbearing parents and inheriting a position of authority you never asked for. While I never had to deal with those issues personally—because sirens aren’t exactly known for coddling their young, I can empathize.”

“Can you really? I highly doubt it.” Iliana responded dismissively.

I grit my teeth, trying to keep my temper in check. Damn, this girl could be frustrating! “I’m doing my best to be your friend, Iliana. Is that not what humans are supposed to do?”

She clenched her fists and frowned. “Yes, but—I’m sorry. Dealing with emotions has never been my strong suit. Battle is so much easier and straightforward.”

Medusa slithered over and grabbed a clam from the sack. “Not all of life’s problems can be solved by the tip of a sword, Iliana. Hmm. As much as Spartans would like to think so…”

I glared at her and hissed under my breath. “NOT HELPING!”

In response, Iliana’s hackles were raised. She drew her sword and pointed it towards Medusa. “This is precisely why gorgons cannot be trusted. You can no longer think like a human.”

Medusa sneered then sucked the clam meat into her mouth. “Then you fundamentally misunderstand how the world works, my dear princess. Humans are capable of being far more monstrous than the likes of me, despite what their appearance may suggest. Ha! Don’t even get me started on the Olympians. They call all rot in Tartarus for all I care.”

“Such talk is blasphemy! Zeus might strike you down with lightening if—”

Medusa shrugged, looking up at the clear sky. “I am no longer a concern to the Olympians. The day I was transformed was the day Athena cast me aside like a soiled rag. Faith is what gives some people strength, but it’s not for everyone. You’d do well to keep that in mind, princess.”

I stood between them and held out my arms. “Girls, can we all just take a deep breath and calm down for a moment? Mother Siren, I feel like I’m lecturing my sisters again.”

Iliana finally sheathed her sword and sat down while Medusa slithered over to a rocky outcropping, laid down on her belly, and began to sun herself. Can’t say I blame her for avoiding another conversation with Iliana. “Very well. Am I to assume that all of you will be accompanying me back to Sparta?”

I placed my hands on my hips, puffed out my chest, and struck a confident pose. “Of, course! Who could pass up the chance to witness hundreds of Spartan warriors honoring the name of Apollo, dancing under his sun? They’ll be plenty of food and drink too. Don’t forget that.”

“Spartans do not frolic! We are a proud people who—” Iliana added.

I poked the tip of her nose. “Don’t ruin the moment, Iliana. Let me have my fantasies.”

Flash, now dressed in armor, got up and rubbed his arm. “So—um—are we expected to disrobe for the festivities as well? You know, even though we’re not technically Spartans. Sorry, it’s just that based on what you said earlier, we might receive a marriage proposal from someone.”

Iliana rolled her eyes. “To celebrate clothed would dishonor Apollo, and my people. If you are so concerned about marriage propositions, then stay close to Adagio and make it clear that she is your woman. Spartans may not be subtle, but a gesture such as that would be understood.”

I waved my hands in protest. “Now, hold on a second! I’m not his woman.”

Flash hesitated to say anything, keen on avoiding my wrath. When he finally gathered the courage to speak, he began rubbing my back. It felt nice and helped me calm down a little. Even so, I still didn’t like the implication that I was someone’s property. “I think what Iliana means is that we have to make it obvious that we’re together. As a couple. AN EQUAL… couple. Heh.”

I turned around and kissed him on the lips. I avoided using too much tongue because—we could always find a spot to do naughty things together during the festivities. For Kraken’s sake, it was one massive, community-wide blind date for all intents and purposes. Surely, the Spartans wouldn’t be prudish about a little casual sex here and there. “Good answer, Flash.”

He looked visibly relieved by my response. “I suppose I wouldn’t mind attending the festival, so long as you’re by my side, Adagio. It’s just that I’m—not as comfortable showing off my body as you are. The Olympic games were bad enough, but this is a completely different situation.”

His armor felt unpleasant pressed up against my skin with all its metallic, pokey bits. Yet, I decided to give him a hug anyway. I don’t imagine there would ever come a point where I could convince Flash to cast aside the notion of human modesty and live as I do. Seriously, though. He was a demigod. How much protection did that armor actually give him in battle?

I sat atop his lap and began stroking his inner thigh with my fingers. “When are you going to realize that there’s nothing shameful about your body? In my humble opinion, you have an excellent physique that cannot be admired if it’s covered up by all this armor. What a shame~”

He shifted underneath me for a moment. I smiled and licked my lips, realizing that I’d probably caused him to have another erection. It wasn’t obvious because of the armor, of course, but there wasn’t much room for little Flash to expand down there. Hence the awkward squirming. “Adagio, can you please stop doing that? It’s making me… uncomfortable.”

I cocked my head to the side innocently. “Stop doing what? I’m confused.”

“Teasing me!” Flash blurted out.

I laughed and kissed the side of his neck. “You’re just going to have to get used to it~ During the festival, a plethora of nude Spartan maidens shall be frolicking about, seeking to fill themselves with your divine baby batter. And, I might add, you lower half won’t be protected by amor. I’m not criticizing your lack of self-control, Flash. On the contrary; I’m merely saying that nature tends to take its course when young, virile females are exposed to a healthy male specimen.”

Flash swallowed hard, as comprehension dawned on his face. “A f-fair point. What—uh—do you propose we do about it… should the situation present itself?”

I grinned ear to ear. “We’ll fuck as many times as it takes to slake your lust… and mine. Anywhere and anytime, sweetie~ I’m sure the Spartans won’t mind. Who knows? They might even make a competition of it! What say you, Iliana? Would your brethren consider such an event appropriate during Gymnopaedia? Sex is a form of calisthenics, after all.”

Iliana’s face turned redder than a ruby. I suspect it was an equal amount of anger and embarrassment mixed together all at once. “HAVE YOU NO SHAME, ADAGIO?!!”

I blew a raspberry at her. “You already know that answer to that, princess.”

My temper eventually subsided, but I was still uneasy at the prospect of my traveling companions accompanying me to Gymnopaedia. The gorgon made a point to inform us that she would remain hidden once we reached the outskirts of Sparta. I could only nod and agree with her decision. There was wisdom in it. A serpent creature such as her would only invite trouble amongst my people. With so many warriors seeking to prove themselves a worthy sire, I had no doubt that a few of the more hot-blooded ones would try to attack Medusa and kill her on sight.

I’d witnessed her prowess in battle with my own eyes. There was no shame in admitting that she was a force to be reckoned with, regardless of my personal opinions. Considering that most, if not all of the warriors would be unarmored during the assault, they stood no chance against a monstrous serpent halfling. She would slaughter them like sheep and enjoy doing so at her leisure. I shuddered to myself at the thought. Adagio was a fool to place her trust in a gorgon.

I breathed a sigh of relief as we drew closer to the city walls. Comfort in the familiar, I suppose. Spartan guards stood armored, and at the ready to defend the people if need be. A necessary precaution, as we were at our most vulnerable. Those who volunteered for guard duty were exempt from participating in Gymopaedia, and it was seen as a great honor.

There was also the matter of customary tribute from citizens afterwards, if honor wasn’t enough for a warrior. They would be handsomely rewarded for their duty. I had no doubt of that. They stood at attention when I waved to them. Adagio snickered at their response. I’d half the mind to strike her for the insolence and disrespect she’d just shown, but I stayed my hand. Although tempting, it was unbecoming of a princess to do such a thing. If the guards were surprised by her state of undress, they certainly didn’t show it. Not that they would have under any circumstances, but nude citizens were a common sight during Gymnopaedia so… they focused their attention on me like a well-disciplined Spartan solider would. I pounded my fist against my chest in response.

“At ease. I return to Sparta with companions. They are here as my honored guests.”

The sergeant nodded. “As you command, Princess Iliana. I shall escort you to the palace.”

Sparta wasn’t as grand as other city-states such as Athens. We preferred to live simply without being too ostentatious. Houses were usually one to two stories high, and made of mud-brick or clay with tiled roofs. Colored red like blood. The more affluent among us painted their homes white to stave off the heat, and had a small garden in the center for fresh produce. We wasted no time arriving at the palace, as the main thoroughfare went straight to it.

Adagio rubbed the back of her neck, wearing a confused expression. “Where is everyone? I thought you said there was a festival going on in Sparta. From what I’ve seen so far, this is more like a funeral. What gives, Iliana?”

I cleared my throat. “It is nearing the midday feast. Most will have gathered in the fields.”

The sergeant bowed slightly and took his leave. Not but a moment later, a svelte servant girl with raven hair tied in a bun and a coppery complexion came to greet us. Her bare flesh glistened in the sunlight; evidence that she’d applied a coat of scented olive oil to her skin. It was customary during Gymnopaedia to look and smell one’s best, after all. Not to do so would offend Apollo.

I could not help but appreciate her lithe physique. She was pleasant on the eyes and tiny clusters of freckles bespeckled her entire body, from the neck all the way down to her legs. She’d even gone to the trouble of removing all the hair from her womanhood. Not something I would do, but I’d seen men and women alike practice such a custom. They swore it made wearing armor more comfortable and the summer heat more bearable during long campaigns.

She bowed to me as well. Yet, her petite, pear-shaped breasts stayed firmly in place. The women of Sparta were not known for being curvaceous beauties. Myself included. We conditioned our bodies in the same manner men did. The regimen helped to sire strong, healthy babies, future warriors; the backbone of our society. As princess, I too was expected to take on the scared duty of childbirth. Gymnopaedia and my parents would only serve to deepen my displeasure of it all.

“Greetings, your highness. I am Phaedra. Head servant to Queen Amaltheia. Would you like me to help prepare your body for the ongoing festivities? It would be my honor to do so.”

Caught off guard by her melodic voice, I blushed. “Yes. See to my companions as well.”

Without hesitation, she ushered us towards the bathing chamber where all the necessary oils were stored. Nearly all of the servants inside the palace were female, so it came as no surprise to me that there wasn’t a single man in sight to greet us. Like Phaedra, they too had disrobed as tradition dictated. I immediately began taking off my armor and sandals, setting them aside in a pile for someone to collect later. Phaedra poured some oil onto her hands and began lathering my skin indiscriminately, yet gently at the same time. The goal was to cover everything, after all.

Adagio took to the process like a fish in water. For as vulgar and crass as she was, the woman did enjoy being pampered. Flash Magnus, on the other hand, was completely miserable. He looked visibly uncomfortable at the prospect of having a naked stranger rub her hands all over his body. Or rather, I believe he was trying his best not to become aroused in front of us.

Sensing her lover’s discomfort, Adagio strode across the room and took it upon herself to complete the task. There was no malice in her expression. Only compassionate understanding. I would have believed the gesture to be heartfelt, had she not begun to vigorously stroke his penis within her grasp. The slippery olive oil made him become erect quickly and his strained voice spoke of his growing excitement. She whispered sweet nothings into his ear, and giggled with glee while he clenched his cheeks together, grunted, then coated the floor tiles with semen.

Aggravated at their shameless behavior, I growled. “Are you two quite finished?!”

“I wanted to make sure Flash was taken care of before we venture outside. Walking around with a bobbling erection all day would be uncomfortable, if not outright painful, wouldn’t you say?”

Skin flushed; Flash shuffled his feet meekly. “Sorry, Iliana. I’m not very good at resisting my urges. Especially, since there’s so many attractive, Spartan women just walking around—uh—naked. I promise that Dagi and I will try our best not to embarrass you in front of your subjects.”

As they were wont to do, the servants kept on smiling, never uttering a word. I’m certain they’d witnessed similar acts between couples during the festival and more. Now that my skin was completely lathered in scented oil, I decided that it was best to get on with my duties and join the rest of my people outside without further delay. While we walked together, side by side, I discarded my hairband, and let my curls flow down past my shoulders. In all likelihood, I would attract more attention this way, but I wanted to make myself as approachable as possible.

I glanced over at Adagio, and noticed that she’d looped her arm around Flash’s. She kept him close to her breast, as if she were hoarding a treasure. It seems as though she’d taken my advice to heart. Just as well, I suppose. Given his sturdy cock and muscular build, many Spartan women would be eager to bed him. If for no other reason than to imbibe his seed into their bellies.

It did not take long for us to arrive at the celebratory field. All in attendance were similarly disrobed, mingling, and performing feats of athleticism when appropriate. A few even wrestled for sport and wagers. I was a recognizable figure in Spartan society, so it came as no surprise that a great deal of admiration was directed towards me as we walked by. Adagio winked and gave me a thumbs up to show her approval. I let out a tired sigh and plodded ever forward.

The ceremonial tent set up for Spartan royalty was ostentatious by any standard. It was made of fine red cloth and the pillows inside were surely woven from silk. An exotic thread from the faraway lands to the east. I was never one for such trappings, but my father always said that when one is the ruler of a nation, it is sometimes necessary to represent power by projecting it visually. Speaking of my father, he was nowhere to be seen. Only my mother was present.

Queen Amaltheia was a hale woman. Tall, strong, and brimming with taught muscle. We shared the same complexion and hair color. Yes, even the curls. Often times, during my childhood, people would remark that I was the mirror image of her. Given her physique and stature, there were many who believed that she was an Amazon, who had heard rumor of my father’s martial prowess and offered her hand to him in betrothal. I am here to assure you that the rumor is unfounded, however plausible it may seem. She was born and raised as a true Spartan.

In fact, she hadn’t become royalty until she married my father. Prior to that, she was the daughter of a blacksmith. Don’t let her humble beginnings fool you; forging metal and weapons for the Spartan Army is seen as an honorable, and highly respected profession. Without them, we could not thrive as warriors. Like her father, she too worked the forge. King Demaratus became smitten with her at first sight when he wished to have a shield made for his next campaign. On that day, he promised to marry her if he returned victorious in battle. The rest, as they say, is history.

My mother still enjoyed working the hammer and anvil when time allowed. She was never the type to laze about and allow herself to be pampered. Today was no exception, despite the festive atmosphere. She greeted me with unconcealed affection, wrapping my body in a bone-crushing hug. I blushed, feeling a slight twinge of embarrassment in front of my companions. Mother smelled pleasant enough, I suppose, but her skin was coated in a thin sheen of sweat. No doubt, she’d been outside competing against anyone who’d wished to challenge her. When our embrace concluded, she ruffled my hair, laughed, and took stock of Adagio and Flash.

“Welcome all! I am Queen Amaltheia, but you may call me Theia if you wish. I can’t have my daughter’s friends acting formal in front of me. HAHAHA! Please, enjoy yourselves. There’s plenty of food and wine to be had. I would highly recommend the chicken. It’s quite tasty.”

Adagio didn’t waste any time pouring a goblet for herself and slurping it down in a most uncouth manner. She belched not but a moment later and smacked her lips. “I must say, your highness, the wine is exquisite. Sweet, but not cloyingly so. A girl could get used to this kind of spread.”

Mother shrugged. “Imported from Athens. I prefer beer myself. So, what’s your name?”

“I’m Adagio Dazzle, and the man next to me is Flash Magnus. We’re your daughter’s traveling companions. She was kind enough to extend us an invitation to Sparta during Gymnopaedia.”

Mother rubbed her chin in thought, appraising Adagio. “Hmm. A fetching creature, you are. What’s your profession, girl? If you don’t mind me asking. I have you pegged as a dancer.”

A smug grin spread across Adagio’s lips. It made me want to slap her. “I appreciate the compliment, your highness. Dancing is something I can do, but my true profession is that of a devoted servant to Aphrodite herself.”

Mother chuckled. “Makes sense to me. Be wary, Adagio Dazzle. You might catch the eye of a few young Spartans with a body like that. Fine, child-bearing hips, I say. Of course, I assume that your role as a priestess of Aphrodite permits you to have sex in the first place.”

Adagio started nibbling on a chicken leg, and waved her hand dismissively. “Of course, not! Lady Aphrodite never forced me to take a vow of chastity when I entered her service. While it’s true that my vow of disrobement tends to attract the attention of passersby wherever we go, Flash keeps me safe from those who’d wish to insult my honor. Isn’t that right, sweetie?”

Flash merely nodded, distracted by Adagio rubbing her foot along his inner thigh underneath the table. I swear to Ares, this woman’s lust had no limit! At least wait until there was no one else around to do things like that! Mother got up from the table and began loosening up her shoulders. The loud popping noise her neck made caused Flash and Adagio to wince. “A fine man you’ve got there, Adagio. I’m sure you two will make plenty of handsome children.”

Adagio began choking on a piece of chicken and chugged a mouthful of wine to try and clear her throat. Once her coughing fit subsided, she wiped her mouth and blushed. “We haven’t quite—erm—discussed having children just yet, your highness. Our relationship is a new one, you see.”

Mother slapped her back in a show of comradery. It wasn’t meant to harm Adagio, but Mother was an incredibly strong woman who often forgot the power behind her blows. I had to stifle a giggle when Adagio wobbled off balance and nearly fell flat onto her face. “There’s no time like the present, girl! Best to be fruitful and multiply while you’re still young. If I were you, I’d ride that boy like a warhorse. By the looks of it, his third leg is sturdy enough to handle it. HAHA!”

Flash was horrified that the Queen of Sparta was openly critiquing the size and girth of his manhood. Although Mother had meant it as a compliment, he subconsciously cupped his hands to cover up his loins and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Yes, I’m very happy that she chose to be with me, of all people. But like Adagio said… we’re not ready to raise children yet.”

Mother crossed her arms behind her back and observed a group of army recruits wrestling outside in the ring. Traditionally, a martial art reserved for male warriors, wrestling taught them how to fight without weapons. During the festival, however, it showcased their strength and glistening, muscular bodies underneath Apollo’s sun. Unsurprisingly, a crowd of young women had gathered to watch them compete. Though they did not titter and giggle like Athenian girls, their eyes were, nonetheless, enraptured by the sight as they considered who was worthy.

I had no doubt that some of them would surrender their virginity by Gymopaedia’s end. One girl, a particularly fetching blonde with slate grey skin and golden eyes, offered the victor some sort of lumpy pastry as a token of her affection. The young, brown-haired warrior accepted it without hesitation, clearly interested in her as a partner. After some awkward shuffling around and snippets of conversation, the blonde took his hand in her own, and they began walking together towards the baths. In all likelihood, they would bathe… just to get sweaty all over again after physically expressing their affection for each other in a most vigorous manner.

In a sense, I envied the simplicity of their relationship. They were free to choose who they loved. The topic had not come up yet, but I knew that it would only be a matter of time before mother and father started introducing me to potential suitors. My stomach clenched in a terrible knot, making me uneasy despite the jovial atmosphere. Loathe as I was to admit, I was jealous of how close Adagio and Flash were as a couple. I too felt lonely at times and craved companionship of that nature. A sigh escaped my lips, unconsciously. One that mother had not failed to notice.

She turned around and raised her brow. “Why do you act so glum, daughter? This is a time for celebration. I know you have always been a surly child, but do try to lighten up.”

I looked down at the floor when she placed her hands upon my shoulders. “Everything about this festival just reminds me of the expectations I must constantly live up to. I did not choose to be born a princess; it was thrust upon me by the fates! I wish to pursue my own destiny, mother.”

“What, pray tell, would that destiny be, Iliana? Everything a girl could possibly want is right here in Sparta. You could wed any man you wish, and they would accept your proposal willingly with honor. Cast aside these childish notions of living like a wandering vagabond and stay.”

My temper flared in that moment. A surge of heat washed over my skin, causing an unpleasant prickly sensation all over. Yet, my voice remained icy cold. “I am not destined to become a royal baby maker. I am a proud warrior of Sparta. Surely, even the Olympians must see this!”

“No one disputes your prowess in battle, Iliana. However, there comes a time in one’s life when a crossroad appears, and they must take a different path. Your father and I, we only want what’s best for you. The time for travel is over. Resume your duties as princess.”

I ground my feet into the gravel. “You mean for the kingdom? I’d wager you even have a suitor picked out for me already, and have yet to introduce him. Don’t take me for a fool, mother.”

Mother coughed awkwardly, a sure sign that I’d hit the nail on the head. “Come along, Iliana. Let use join in the festivities. Perhaps that will help clear your mind of all this spiteful anger.”

It was clear, by the looks on their faces, that Adagio & Flash could sense the tension between Mother and I. For my part, I chose to remain silent as we walked towards the arena. What more could I possibly say that hadn’t been said already? My point had been made. Even so, Mother chose to willfully ignore it and continue on as if nothing had been said at all between us. It made my blood boil! The impulse to hit someone or something became overwhelming. Before my temper ran out of control, we came upon a group of Spartan girls that offered a welcome distraction. Lithe, handsome, and their bodies radiant in the sun, I smiled at them and waved. In return, they looked upon me with naked admiration, bowing slightly in our presence.

Mother retrieved a gourd from the pile nearby and tossed it in the air a few times. “While the men wrestle each other for dominance, we women have a different approach for showing our strength. Adagio, Iliana, you both are welcome to join me in this contest if you please.”

Adagio blinked owlishly, unsure what the game was. “Do you plan on cooking the gourd?”

Mother laughed aloud. “Of course, not! We sit upon the ground and crush it betwixt our thighs. Whoever does it the fastest is deemed the mightiest amongst Spartan women. Observe.”

It was no secret that my mother was blessed with thick, muscular thighs. They were on display for all to see, after all. Without a shred of hesitation, she assumed the position, and squeezed the gourd with all her might, causing it to break apart all over the ground in a mere moment. All the girls applauded her efforts, proud of their queen’s strength. I would not debase myself by participating in such a foolish contest, but Adagio seemed willing to give it try. She sat down in the dirt, legs spread far apart and asked one of the girls to hand her a large gourd.

Adagio made an honest attempt at crushing it. She grunted and strained for a time, clearly struggling to make the gourd yield to her strength. After taking in a deep breath, she focused her will power and with a primal yell, the gourd splattered all over the arena, showering everyone around her with sticky pulp and seeds. While I was wiping away some remnants from my face, Flash Magnus stood a few paces away, his hands cupped around his ball sack. He was trying to act nonchalant, but a towering erection jutted upward from in-between his forearms.

I rolled my eyes. The rest of the girls giggled, blushed, and whispered to themselves. Yet, there was no shyness to be had amongst them. They were eager to find a man worthy of bedding, and here one stood in the arena with them. Once Adagio was able to stand again, she flicked away the remaining pulp from her inner thighs and scampered over to Flash, grabbed his arm, and pulled him close to her breast. She shot the girls a wrathful stare and stuck out her tongue at them. It was an incredibly immature thing to do, but it got the point across, I suppose.

“HE’S MINE! SCRAM AND GET SOME COCK ELSEWHERE!”

My eyes widened in surprise when she took it even further by pinning Flash to the ground, so that he couldn’t go anywhere. For a man who was being held down in the dirt by a woman, he didn’t offer much resistance. And then she—erm—clasped her fingers around his manhood, lined it up with her slit, and proceeded to mount him in front of everyone. She didn’t waste any time bouncing her rump up and down rhythmically, pleasuring herself as much as her lover.

Irritated and embarrassed by their lack of discretion, I grit my teeth and felt ashamed that my companions were copulating like a pair of wild beasts. That certainly didn’t stop her from moaning loudly enough to make the rest of the girls gathered in the arena blush with envy. I’m certain that Flash was uncomfortable ‘performing’ in front of a captive audience, but his desire for privacy was overruled by Adagio’s aggression and lust-addled brain. Shortly after they reached orgasm together, the shameless strumpet made a show of dismounting him, making sure to let all of the girls see that Flash was her man and his seed belonged to her alone. It was impossible to miss the milky globs that were leaking out of her and onto the dusty ground below.

While they shared a tender kiss and entangled their bodies together in a mass of limbs, Mother clutched her stomach, laughing. She walked over to them, crouched down on her haunches, and nudged Adagio’s side. “For not wanting children, you two sure know how to make them well enough. HAHAHA!”

Adagio ran her hand through her sweat-slicked hair and smiled. It was wide and filled with teeth. That of a predator. “I had to show those girls who’s the alpha female around here. Besides, I don’t imagine Flash minded me fucking him silly in the arena. He enjoyed every second of it~”

“You’d make a fine Spartan, Adagio. In fact, I may even consider bestowing an honorary title some time. Too bad my daughter isn’t motivated to find a suitable husband as you have.”

Flash pulled Adagio closer to his chest and kissed her forehead, which caused her to blush. Either that or she was still recovering from the orgasm. I don’t know which. “We aren’t married yet, your highness. Although, I wouldn’t mind making her my wife. Uh—if she’d have me…”

This time, I knew that Adagio was embarrassed. She coughed loudly and looked away from my mother, instead choosing to caress the rigid muscle of Flash’s abdomen. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, sweetie. We’ve got other things to worry about! Like monsters… and whatnot.”

Mother placed her hands on her hips and grinned. “Should you change your mind, I’d be honored to officiate the wedding. By Ares, I’ll even throw the two of you a celebratory feast. Enough rolling around in the dirt! Go take a bath and make yourselves presentable again. Meet Iliana and I back in the palace once you’re finished. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

Adagio and Flash returned to the palace quicker than I expected. I assumed their lust had been quenched for the time being, and they had focused solely on bathing. She didn’t cling to him quite so closely as they walked together towards the throne, but they held hands. It was hard for me to deny that there were genuine feelings of love shared between them now. However unorthodox their relationship might be.

I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath, and slowly let it out through my lips, trying to alleviate the roiling ball of jealousy that seethed within my belly. Why did I desire what they had so desperately? I was a proud Daughter of Sparta. These feelings were unbecoming of a princess. I had to look—no—be strong for my own sake and everyone else’s. This was weakness. Cracks in my armor. Damn it all to Tartarus! Why must emotions be so difficult to manage?

My reverie was broken when a man entered the palace after Adagio and Flash sat down. I was under the impression that mother had been referring to father when she mentioned that there was someone, she’d like everyone to meet. Instead, it was the visage of Captain Theophilus. Even in the nude, his presence radiated an aura of quiet confidence and military discipline. A set of three ragged scars ran across his chest. Testament to his fight with a lion.

His ochre-hued skin glowed in the candlelight, outlining the taught muscle that rippled just below the surface. He was built like Apollo; a god sculpted from the finest marble. The captain kept his silver hair cropped short, as was customary amongst military men. So too did it apply to the fuzziness covering his manhood. I won’t go into lurid detail about the size and shape of what dangled betwixt his mighty legs, but know that it was proportionate to a man of his stature. His eyes, grey as iron, were kind… yet stern. He knelt before me, took my hand, and kissed it.

“Greetings, Princess Iliana. It is an honor to see you once more. I am at your service.”

My cheeks became rosy pink. I detested being treated like some dainty maiden! “You needn’t be so formal with me, Theo. Are we not childhood friends? Rise and meet my companions.”

“Of course, Illy,” he responded with a roguish grin, “I am Theophilus, Captain of the King’s Guard. A pleasure to meet all of you. I trust you’ve enjoyed the ongoing festivities so far?”

Flash rose from his seat and clasped Theo’s wrist. “Yes, sir. Very much so.”

In an uncharacteristic move, Adagio got up and bowed theatrically. “A lovely city you have here, Captain. And even lovelier people. Truly, you honor Apollo with such fine displays of athleticism. Handsome all, men and women alike. Yourself included; I must admit~”

“Such kind words. I appreciate them. I heard rumor that you’re the infamous Adagio Dazzle, a traveling priestess of Aphrodite. Is this true?”

Adagio puffed out her chest with pride. “Why, yes I am. I serve Lady Aphrodite whenever possible and she provides me with her blessings in return. If you don’t mind me asking, where did you acquire your intel from?”

Theo rubbed his bearded chin. “From the Olympic Games, of all places. Word travels fast from there. I heard that you were quite spirited amongst the other athletes. Even managed to take a noble ne'er do well down a peg. Impressive.”

Adagio tittered in a most annoying manner. She clearly enjoyed having her ego stroked. “I may not be a super solider like the rest of you lot, but I can hold my own in a competition.”

Theo let out an amused chuckle. “Care to make a wager?”

Mother leaned back on the throne, unabashedly spread her legs apart, scratched her pubic hair, then drummed her fingers out of sheer boredom. She was never one for pleasantries and small talk. Neither was I. Patience was not a virtue held in high regard within our family. “Pardon the interruption, Captain Theophilus, but I believe that everyone is eager to know why I summoned you to the throne room in the first place. Allow me to explain. Iliana, meet your husband!”

It took me a few seconds to process the words she’d spoken. Since when was Theo supposed to marry me? More importantly, why was this decided without my express consent?!! I practically jumped out of my seat and glared daggers at mother, my skin flush with the heat of rage. “LIKE TARTARUS HE IS!!!”

I had nothing against Theo personally. For many years, our relationship had always been a friendly one. But I had no desire to be his wife. To become nothing more than his personal cocksleeve for pumping out little Spartan warriors. Make no mistake; I wasn’t angry at him. No, this was clearly all mother’s doing. She decided to play royal matchmaker during my absence. From a political point of view, the marriage made sense. A Spartan guard captain was as good a candidate as I could hope for, in leu of getting married off to some foreign stranger.

A pair of strong arms wrapped me from behind, preventing me from moving. “Calm down, Illy. The queen is only looking out for your best interest. Think of your duty to the people of Sparta.”

I had to admit, his scent made me feel nostalgic. It was that of sweat, leather, and cedar oil. My mind raced back to those carefree days where we would wrestle each other to test our strength and play with wooden swords out in the wheatfields. In honor of our bond, I did not attempt to resist his embrace, but I wanted to make it clear that I was against our betrothal. My shoulders sagged as I let out a heavy sigh. Expressing my true feelings was a difficult task indeed.

“Theo… I cannot accept your proposal.”

Mother finally got up and walked over to me, her arms crossed underneath her breasts. “Why not? Have I not selected a suitable husband for you, Iliana? Theophilus has known you since childhood. Surely, you can find it in your heart to love him. Why must you be so stubborn?”

I bit my lip. “Mother, it’s not as simple as you make it out to be. I don’t—”

“Want to be a princess,” Mother finished, “Yes, I know. I’ve always known. What you desire is irrelevant, my daughter. You were born into this world as royalty, and so you must adhere to Sparta’s ancient customs and traditions, lest you invoke the wrath of Ares. Swallow your pride and accept what the fates have in store, child. I’ll have no more of this defiance of yours!”

“A wrestling match then. If I win against Theo, then I’m free to continue living as I please. No conditions attached. If he wins, I shall swallow my pride and accept my place as his wife. It is my right as Princess of Sparta to invoke the sacred writ of challenge during Gymnopaedia.”

Exasperated, Mother stomped over to the table and chugged down a goblet full of wine. After grabbing a roasted pork haunch with her other hand, she began chewing on it slowly, gathering her thoughts. Adagio and Flash remained silent but appeared as though they were glued to their seats, both nervous by the looks of it. I could hardly blame them. The tension that hung in the air was thick enough to be cut with a knife. Mother swallowed a sliver of meat, then belched.

“By my authority as Queen, I recognize your challenge. Let the match begin posthaste.”

Chapter X

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Chapter 10

Amphitheater, City-State of Sparta

I hadn’t expected a festival held in honor of Apollo to turn into a drama-filled wrestling match between childhood friends that would determine the fate of a princess. There was no anger in Iliana’s eyes, only grim determination as we all made our way outside to the area. Given the stakes of the match, it became a spectacle to the revelers, drawing the disrobed denizens of Sparta from whatever it was they’d been doing before, flocking into the stands above. As honored guests of royalty, Flash and I got front row seats right next to Queen Amaltheia.

The great hulking matron reclined on a pile of pillows in surly silence while she nursed yet another goblet full of expensive wine, her expression dour as ever. Seriously! What was it with these Spartans and their aversion to enjoying all the pleasantries life had to offer? Ok, so MAYBE she had a valid reason to be pissed off at Iliana right now, but it wouldn’t have killed Amaltheia to show some enthusiasm in front of her subjects. I shrugged and continued to nibble on a leg of roasted chicken (why let good food go to waste?) while watching Theophilus enter the ring.

I must admit, Theophilus was well-built and well-proportioned. One of the perks of this whole Gymnopaedia thing. What you see is what you get~ I licked my lips and grinned. And no, it wasn’t just because they were covered in grease. Appreciating the male form was still fair game, in my opinion. The old Dagi would’ve jumped the captain’s bones in a heartbeat. With a body like that, I’d wager he has the stamina of an alpha bull. His veiny member dangled—get ahold of yourself, girl. It’s best not to drink Iliana’s beau in for too long. Lest Flash become jealous.

Speaking of drink, I took advantage of the wine being served just as much as the queen did. To make sure Flash didn’t feel left out, I slid my hand along his thigh and grasped his manhood, stroking it in a languid, casual manner. To my amusement, this caused his cheeks to flush red like a tomato. When he began to chastise me for being so shameless, I scoffed, then moved my hand away from his cock, wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him closer to me.

“Enjoying the show so far?” I whispered into his ear.

“The match hasn’t even begun yet! Already you’re drunk and lustful.” He deadpanned.

“I’m slightly buzzed; not puking my guts out onto the ground. There’s a distinct difference, Flash.” I didn’t bother denying the last part. Let’s chalk that up to the atmosphere of the festival.

Flash rolled his eyes. “Fine. Just don’t get carried away. This is important to Iliana.”

I huffed in annoyance. “I know! That’s why I’m here to support her. Mother Siren! You’re just as bad as that sourpuss queen skulking over there. Loosen up a little and enjoy the show.”

Flash tensed up suddenly. “I can’t, Dagi. Not with all that’s at stake. She might lose to Captain Theophilus and have to stay here in Sparta for the rest of her days. Aren’t you wor—”

I placed my finger on his lips. “The best thing I can do for Iliana is place my confidence in her. She’s a strong, capable warrior. I’ve no reason to doubt that she’ll leave Theophilus in the dust.”

“You don’t think that’s why the queen looks so… uh… irritated?”

I laughed after standing up to walk around and stretch my legs a bit. Flash continued to recline on the pillow pile, sipping some beer. “Queens and mothers alike aren’t keen on having their authority challenged. Especially by their own daughter. I’m sure she’s even more pissed off at the fact that denying the challenge would’ve meant going against ancient Spartan traditions.”

He didn’t respond to my comment, merely nodding in agreement while I sauntered over to the Queen of Sparta. My usual tactic for getting someone to loosen up was to… loosen up their muscles with a friendly massage first. Just the shoulders, mind you. Nothing untoward. For a moment, I was worried that she might take my invasion of her personal space the wrong way. But she didn’t give me much of a reaction at all beyond a single grunt of appreciation.

Massaging the densely packed muscles along her shoulder blades was like trying to knead a block of solid granite. No give at all, and the tension was unmistakable. Eventually, my fingers grew sore and I was forced to cease my ministrations. Unsure how to break the awkward silence between us while Iliana & Theophilus were being anointed in oil, I clapped my hands together.

“Regardless of how you feel about the terms of this wrestling match, your highness, I wanted to let you know that I think your daughter is a capable warrior and a stalwart ally. Iliana and I may disagree about things from time to time, but I wouldn’t have anyone else traveling by my side.”

Queen Amaltheia raised her brow after popping a grape into her mouth. “You continue to surprise me, priestess of Aphrodite. I suppose my ire is somewhat misplaced. By all rights, Iliana has become a woman. I simply wish for my daughter to live a happy, healthy life. One on the road, fraught with danger and uncertainty causes me to worry about her. It drives me to drink.”

I let out an awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck. “Ah—well—the wine is tasty.”

“One of the few things those milk-drinking Athenians are good for.”

This conversation was headed nowhere fast, so I decided that an abrupt change of subject was in order. Damn those Spartans and their succinct nature! I had no desire for relationship talk either, be it romantic or familial. “Forgive me, your majesty, I couldn’t help but notice that the king has been conspicuously absent since our arrival in Sparta. May I ask where he is?”

She sniffed then proceeded to scratch her frizzy tuft of pubic hair. “My husband’s duty is to lead the ceremonial worship of Apollo within the sacred halls of his temple. We would not be welcome there. Ergo, my place is here, to greet the common folk and officiate competitions.”

“Is there any chance we might meet him?”

The Queen drank deeply from her goblet and smacked her lips. “Perhaps. I do not know how long the ceremony shall last. Tradition cannot be rushed. Surely, you know this.”

I waved my hand. “Of, course! How silly of me. It looks like they’re about to begin.”

Theia stood up and addressed the competitors. “This is to be an honorable match. No hair pulling, biting, eye gouging, or maiming of the sex. In the name of Apollo, you may start!”

To be honest, I was more than happy to focus my undivided attention on them instead since the queen didn’t seem to be in a talkative mood. While the captain had a height and weight advantage over Iliana, she had more practical experience fighting opponents that were much bigger than her. Granted, I was no expert when it came to the ancient sport of wrestling, but I knew that in situations such as this, leverage was far more important than brute strength alone.

The two of them walked around in a circle, legs spread slightly apart, arms wide, eyeing each other. It was almost like watching a dance. Theophilus made the first move by lowering his head and lunging forward towards Iliana’s stomach. However, she side-stepped out of the way and placed him in a chokehold far faster than I thought possible for a mere human. For a moment, it appeared that she had the advantage… until he dug in his feet and flipped her onto the ground.

Iliana cried out in pain as a cloud of dust was kicked up in the arena. Theophilus sought to press his advantage as she laid flat on her back, only for Iliana to wrap her legs around his waist and flip him onto the ground with her. They struggled for a time, rising to their feet occasionally, neither gaining an advantage over the other. Both grunting like animals. Muscles straining. Teeth grit in sheer determination. Their skin became caked in a mixture of sweat, oil, and dust from head to toe. Poor Iliana would need a bath after this. And a good massage too, I bet.

Somehow, Iliana had managed to jump on top of his shoulders. The added weight made Theophilus stagger for a few steps while he tried to find his balance again. Unfortunately for him, Iliana was just too strong. With a meaty thump, she sent her opponent to the ground. Iliana coiled her thick, chiseled thighs around his head while she used her legs to keep him pinned down. The captain struggled for a while, limbs flailing in a desperate attempt to fight back… but it was to no avail. He passed out only a few moments later. Iliana released him from her hold and stood up to face her mother. Naked as she was born, covered in grime, but prideful all the same.

Queen Amaltheia stood up and placed her hands on her hips. “By my right as Queen of Sparta, I hereby declare: Princess Iliana of Sparta the victor of this match. Let the gods bear witness to her triumph. Let none contest it. Honor to he who brings light and victory in battle.”

The crowd intoned the same line afterwards, and cheered wildly, praising their princess. She was showered with gifts, mostly flowers and food. I’m sure there were even a few proposals, given the sheepish smile on her face and the blush that colored her cheeks. I thought Iliana’s reaction was rather adorable despite her ragged appearance. A well-deserved victory indeed.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted what I thought was the tip of a certain gorgon’s tail poking out from behind a boulder in the distance. So, Medusa had been watching the match. I suspect she’d been aware of everything we’d been doing from the start. You have to admire skills like that. She managed to evade an entire city-state worth of Spartans using stealth alone. Not that I blame her for sticking to the shadows, of course. In the back of my mind, I made a mental note to save her some wine and food for the road. If such luxuries interested her anymore…

Not one to stand on ceremony, I made my way down to the field and greeted Iliana with my friendliest smile. “You sure showed Captain Muscles who’s boss. I’d give you a hug but—ah—not until you’ve had a proper bath first. Ready to become the master of your own destiny?”

In a rare show of emotion, Iliana embraced me before I had a chance to react or voice my concerns. Figures. I wanted to take another bath at some point anyway. Might as well be sooner rather than later. “Thank you, Adagio. Discussing my feelings has always proven to be a difficult task… I want you to know that your support meant a great deal to me. The same goes for Flash.”

Now, I found myself blushing, twirling a strand of my newly shortened hair. “Don’t worry. I’m sure your mother will come around eventually. Just give her some time to process your—erm—new status in society. It’s funny because I can tell that’s where you get your stubbornness from.”

Iliana sighed. “I fear that it may take quite some time. Come. Let us bathe together and relax.”

Everyone was decidedly more perky after a good soak. Iliana still seemed a little uncomfortable being waited on hand and foot by a host of comely nude servant girls, but got used to their presence after a while. I’d had plenty of wine and food during the match, so I was content to cuddle with Flash on a recliner. This time around, I refrained from teasing him. However, it felt good to simply enjoy the warmth of his body pressed against my own, to breathe in his scent.

I was just about to doze off when a palace guard abruptly burst through the door. “Pardon the intrusion, Princess Iliana, honored guests. Your presence is required in the throne room at once! Queen’s orders.”

Sure, I was a little annoyed at having my cuddle time interrupted. Yet, I could sense that this was a potentially urgent situation. After all, Spartans weren’t known for practical jokes. We made our way to the throne room where Queen Amaltheia was seated, looking quite distressed. Beside her stood two men, clad in full sets of battle armor, equal to her height. One had long, flowing blonde hair that went all the way down to his chest. His armor was silver and polished so fine that I could clearly see my reflection in it. I swear, I could see a halo above his head.

The other man was decidedly less fabulous. His blood red hair was cropped short like many of the men I’d seen in Sparta. His armor was far less ornate and appeared to have the same shade as Ebon wood. The constant glower on his bearded face made me want to avoid talking to him altogether. Just looking at him sent shivers down my spine and gave me a sense of impending dread, as if he intended to kill me on the spot. Iliana and Flash immediately knelt on one knee before them, prompting me to do the same. Ah, so they must have been VIPs. I must admit the whole situation was a little awkward, given that the two strangers were the only ones clothed.

Blondie smiled, his pearly whites glittering in the glow of the torchlight. “All may rise. Let us not stand on ceremony. There is important business to discuss.”

Iliana was the first to speak. “Lord Apollo. To what honor do we owe your presence this day?”

“Is it not fitting for a god to attend his own festival?”

“I suppose so, milord. It is not my place to question—” Iliana stammered.

Apollo held up his hand. “Fret not; Princess Iliana. I am pleased by Sparta’s reverence. As is my brother. Although, he may not express his gratitude directly. I’m afraid I come bearing bad news. It is in regards to your father, King Demaratus. During the sacred ceremony within my temple, he was abducted by Hades and taken prisoner. Absconded to the bowels of Tartarus no doubt.”

While she remained quiet out of respect for the gods standing before her, Iliana’s entire body tensed with simmering rage. The look in her eyes alone could have melted solid stone into a puddle of goo. “May I ask the reason why the god of the underworld would do such a thing?”

The red-haired man scoffed. “In all likelihood, your father forgot to make an appropriate sacrifice to Persephone. Hades can’t stand when his wife is slighted by mortals.”

Apollo wagged his finger and clicked his tongue. “Mind your manners, Ares. One always attracts more flies with honey than vinegar. Please excuse my brother. He’s not the most tactful god. Hades captured your father to mock my festival and, by extension, the citizens of Sparta.

“Hades is jealous, you see. Jealous that you should be allowed to bask in the sun and celebrate my glory while he broods in the underworld. Should you be up to the task of rescuing King Demaratus, I shall grant you my boon. A fitting reward for a devout follower, is it not?”

Iliana bowed. “It would be my honor, Lord Apollo.”

“Indeed,” Apollo agreed while patting her head, “simply hold out your hand, princess.”

With a flash of blinding yellow light, an ornate golden tube inlaid with ivory and carved with majestic winged horses on either side appeared in Iliana’s hand. Unsure what exactly the artifact did, Iliana stared at it, brow furrowed in confusion.

“That, dear child, is Illuminus. A legendary spear crafted by Olympian hands and imbued with the power of the sun. All you need do is project your will and the weapon shall respond to your desire for justice. Go ahead. Try it out.”

Iliana held the tube in front of her and closed her eyes. She gasped in awe when a shaft of pure sunlight burst forth from both ends, illuminating the room in its radiance. “The spear is magnificent, milord. I do not feel as though I am deserving of such a treasure.”

Apollo smiled like a father would and placed his hand on her bare shoulder. “Humility. A refreshing trait amongst mortals. All the more reason you deserve to wield Illuminus.”

Ares cracked his knuckles, an odd expression on his face. He’d directed his attention towards Flash for some reason. Their eyes met for a brief moment, then the god of war nodded slightly. Why would Ares be interested in him? “Alright, brother. You’ve given the Spartan princess your toy. Let’s head back to Olympus. Spending too much time down here stokes my bloodlust.”

“Good luck on your journey to Tartarus, Princess Iliana. We expect great things from you!” Apollo said as they vanished in a mystical flash of sunlight.

Queen Amaltheia was the first to speak. Instead of showing pride, she sighed and rubbed her temples. “Just like the gods to leave us with a challenge then disappear. Iliana, I am afraid that I cannot help you when it comes to navigating Tartarus. But I can equip you for it. Guards! Escort her party to the armory. I want them adorned with the finest weapons and armor we possess.”

Unlike Iliana and Flash, I declined to wear Spartan armor; my reasoning, the same as when I arrived in this world. Rather than offend our hosts, they seemed to respect my decision, and dare I say, admire it as I had stuck to my oath as a devout priestess of Aphrodite. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Iliana didn’t berate me for traveling to one of the most dangerous places known to humankind, nude like the legendary hero Heracles. Technically speaking, Medusa was doing the same. But she was a gorgon. I didn’t feel like pointing that particular caveat out to my companions, lest my good mood be spoiled by an argument.

As for their new armor, it was finely crafted. Fit for the most elite soldiers in the Spartan army. A layer of dark, boiled leather for comfort and waterproofing, the outer layer composed of treated steel. Based on what Iliana said, the technique for working such metal was considered a state secret. What the armor lacked in fashion, it more than made up for in function. Very Spartan.

Unsurprisingly, Medusa knew how to access Tartarus. I was under the impression that a spell or incantation was required to do so, but apparently the entrance was just a cave. She went on to explain that the cave led to the river Styx, guarded by an immortal boatman, Charon. The journey through the cave itself wasn’t anything special. I’d seen plenty of those throughout my lifetime as a siren. Iliana’s spear provided more than enough light to navigate its vast darkness.

Traveling on foot within a cave is a vastly different experience than swimming through one. Not only was the surface FAR MORE unpleasant to walk on (I didn’t complain aloud, otherwise Iliana would have lectured me about wearing sandals), but it seemed like we weren’t making much progress at all, simply because the cave system was so vast. I suppose the Olympians didn’t want to make it easy for mortals to access the underworld, or something like that.

When we finally neared the lowermost portion of the cave, an eerie green glow lit up the path before us. I shivered, not only because it had become noticeably colder, but an all-encompassing presence that I couldn’t even begin to describe was giving me a serious case of the willies. After witnessing the massive, undulating river of mortal souls, I realized what I’d felt was death.

Medusa paused, holding up her hand. “Under no circumstances are any of you to touch the river Styx. To do so would be your death. Hence, why we need Charon’s help in crossing it.”

Iliana furrowed her brow in concern. “How do you propose we pay the boatman? Drachma alone will not suffice; we are not deceased. Does he even allow living beings to cross the river at all?”

“I have something that might pique Charon’s interest,” Medusa answered while fishing around in the animal skin sack she’d slung over her shoulder, “a golden owl statue with rubies for eyes. One of the offerings made by artisans to Athena when I was head priestess of the temple.”

I placed my hands on my hips and scowled. “You had that thing the entire time?!”

Medusa rolled her eyes and flicked her tongue. “For your information, Adagio, the statue is a sacred relic. I couldn’t very well pawn it off. Despite my disdain for Athena, I always got the sense that this statue would come in handy someday. It seems my intuition was correct.”

“Fine,” I huffed, “let’s hope it’s enough to convince Charon to grant us passage.”

We proceeded to walk towards a rather plain looking dock that wouldn’t have looked out of place next to your average, run-of-the-mill fishing village on the surface. The boat moored there wasn’t extraordinary in any way either. Save for the fact that it was floating on a river composed entirely of human souls. The whole situation made my skin crawl, only made worse by the unpleasant clamminess of cold sweat leaking from every single one of my pores, it seemed.

A tall, gangly man wearing a black robe with skin as pale as an iceberg pulled back his hood, revealing a terrifying visage. It was as though he barely had any meat on his bones. A living skeleton, if you will. Sunken yellow eyes observed us with curiosity, bordering on lechery. He smiled when his gaze shifted towards me. Ugh! What a creep. Did he just wink at me? With a raspy chuckle, he stroked his greasy black beard and introduced himself with a bow.

“Charon, ferryman of the river Styx. To whom do I owe the pleasure?”

Asshole puckered tight; I tried my best to offer our only means of transportation a friendly smile. “My name is Adagio. These are my companions: Princess Iliana of Sparta, Flash Magnus, and Medusa. We seek an audience with Lord Hades. I heard that you’re the man for the job.”

Charon grinned, his jagged teeth reminding me of a shark. I wanted to throw up. Or slap him. “Indeed, I am, Miss Adagio. Might I say, you’re a sight for sore eyes. Don’t see too many beauties like you down here. Heh. Living ones anyway~ Seems a bit suspicious if you ask me. What business does a band of merry mortals and a gorgon have with Lord Hades?”

Iliana stepped forward and glowered at him, pointing the tip of Illuminus at his throat. “My father was kidnapped. We’ve come to retrieve him. Do you have issue with that, boatman?”

Charon waved his hands in a submissive manner. “Not at all, Princess Iliana. However, I should point out that passage along the river Styx always comes at a price. So long as you’re willing to pay the fee, I’ve no quarrel with transporting your party. Even though you’re all still alive…”

Medusa let out an annoyed hiss and slithered forward, presenting the golden owl statue to Charon. He whistled in response, carefully inspecting the artifact with a greedy twinkle in his eye. “How’d you manage to get your claws on a temple offering and live to tell the tale? Athena ain’t exactly the forgiving type. Takes after her father in that regard.”

“No, she is not. I’m living proof of how Athena treats those who fall out of favor.”

Charon shrugged. “I imagine there’s a story behind that, but I won’t ask. None of my business.”

Medusa flicked her tongue. “Indeed. Will the artifact suffice as payment?”

“Like I said before: special passengers, special payment. I’ll allow it this one time. Just—uh—don’t make this a regular arrangement. Otherwise, Lord Hades is bound to punish me for it.”

Much to our surprise, Charon liked to sing while he captained the boat. The strangest part of it all was that he had a beautiful baritone voice, despite his sleazy appearance and manner of speech. It provided a slight distraction from the depressingly dark façade of Tartarus. Eventually, we came to a massive obsidian gate, guarded by a monstrous three-headed demon hound. Charon allowed us to disembark and without so much as a goodbye, he started heading back up the river Styx.

The black furred canine servant of Hades stood firm but did nothing to accost us, so long as we didn’t approach him. Iliana and Flash looked terrified and I honestly couldn’t blame them. Medusa’s tail coiled back and forth, a clear indication that she was trying to come up with a strategy to defeat the beast. It was at times like this that I felt utterly useless. I had no qualm against Cerberus. He was simply performing his duty as faithful guardian to the gates of Tartarus. Surely, we could come to an arrangement?

With nothing to lose, I stepped forward, heart thundering in my chest. Such was my fear that I nearly wet myself, but my desire to help my friends spurred me forward instead. I kept my arms spread wide, palms forward, to demonstrate that I wasn’t a threat. In this case, my nudity was an advantage, as it was obvious that I had nothing to hide and no weapons on my person. Cerberus lowered his three heads and took in a deep breath, analyzing my scent. His glowing red eyes pierced into the very fiber of my being. Mother siren! I could smell his putrid breath.

“Hello there,” I managed to squeak out, surprised that Cerberus would allow me to pet his coat, “I-I’m sure you’re a good dog. We’d all appreciate it if you’d allow us to pass. My friend, Iliana, has lost her father and we have reason to believe that he’s being held in Tartarus somewhere.”

Cerberus whuffed, tilting his head slightly as if expecting something from me.

I scampered back to our supply cache, nearly tripping over my own feet in clumsy desperation and fished out a wheel of cheese that I was planning on eating later. A tasty leftover from our time in Sparta, along with some wine, and dried meat. With cheese wheel in hand, I held it up to the massive demon hound, hoping that he would enjoy it as much as humans did. A bone-shattering bark echoed throughout Tartarus, causing me to fall flat on my ass.

Despite my sore posterior, I was relieved to see that Cerberus did indeed have a soft spot for dairy products. He proceeded to show his appreciation by licking me with all three of his heads, one at a time. Let’s just say I wasn’t too happy about being covered head to toe in a veritable bath of demon dog slobber. But at least I was still alive. My sacrifice was not in vain.

Medusa laughed aloud. “Looks like you made a new friend, Adagio.”

I glared at Iliana and Flash. “Not a WORD from either of you!”

Beyond our fight with Tirek and his band of mercenaries, I hadn’t tried to use harmonic magic since then. There wasn’t a real need to. Our lives had been surprisingly peaceful up to this point. My motivation to use said powers wasn’t heroic in the slightest, but I would rather practice them while solving a mundane problem than to have a spell, quite literally, blow up in my face during combat. Let’s be honest here: there’s no fucking way I was going to trapse around Tartarus covered in demon dog slobber. It was disgusting! My dignity and pride were on the line.

I took in a deep breath and concentrated on focusing my mana. Much to my surprise, it responded to my will immediately. Unlike my siren days, the harmonic energy I felt was pure and filled me with a pleasant warmth all over. Huh. I guess the ponies were onto something. A pink blush colored my cheeks when I let my (somewhat selfish) intent be known. In a flash of golden light, I hovered in the air for a few seconds, then gently touched down. My body didn’t feel all slimy and gross anymore. I gave my arm a sniff. My skin smelled like a summer day!

Iliana stood there, mouth agape. “What, in the name of Apollo, was that?!”

“Seeing as how there aren’t any places to bathe down here, I needed to get clean.”

Iliana shook her head. “I should have known that you would use powerful magics for such a mundane purpose. What’s done is done. I would advise being more discreet in the future.”

I shrugged. “Fair enough. But I’m going to have to train with harmonic magic at some point.”

Medusa slithered between us and held up her hand. “Let’s not get too distracted from our original goal. Iliana, do you happen to have something that belonged to your father?”

“What do you propose, gorgon?”

Medusa rubbed her chin in thought. “It stands to reason that Cerberus would have an excellent sense of smell, like all hounds do. Rather than wander around Tartarus aimlessly on our own, we could simply have the guardian track down your father’s scent. What say you, princess?”

“That is a sound plan. Adagio, do you agree?”

I ruffled the fur atop Cerberus’ middle head. “How’d you like to help us find Iliana’s father?”

Cerberus barked loudly once more, wagging his tail back and forth with glee. This time, the sound was not quite so frightening to us. He was essentially an oversized guard dog, after all. Iliana fished around in her rucksack and presented a small ivory figurine depicting a nude Heracles holding his fist aloft in triumph. For something so miniscule, it was exceptionally well crafted. She handed the figurine to me with the utmost care, cautioning me not to drop it.

“Am I supposed to use this?” I questioned.

Iliana nodded. “Indeed. Father gave me this figurine upon reaching my thirteenth season. He kept it upon his person as a charm of sorts, regaling me of how it brought him good fortune.”

I was afraid that the figurine wouldn’t have enough of her father’s scent for Cerberus to track, but I was proven wrong when he barked in acknowledgement, urging us to follow him. For a brief moment, I considered asking the massive dog if we could simply ride on his back to our destination instead, to which Medusa cautioned against as it might upset Hades.

Something about trivializing the guardian of Tartarus. I rolled my eyes, annoyed that we had to go out of our way to ingratiate ourselves with these Olympians. Regardless, I gave Cerberus some dried meat as a reward for being so helpful. He was a good dog, worthy of my respect.

It was difficult to discern how much time had passed. Such a concept in the underworld didn’t exist as we mortals understood it on the surface. Eventually, we reached our destination when Cerberus pointed his snouts towards a dungeon that had been hewn from the rocky wall. Sure enough, trapped inside was the King of Sparta. They hadn’t provided him with so much as a stitch of clothing. Even though he wasn’t bound, it was quite apparent that he was exhausted.

What little energy he had left was used to grip the bars and stare at us. “Iliana? Is that you?”

She didn’t hesitate to run over to the cell and take hold of her father’s hands. “Yes, father! I’ve come to rescue you. Along with my traveling companions. Are you injured?”

“Nay. Although proper sleep has since evaded me.” King Demaratus quipped.

Before we could figure out how to free him from his confinement, a specter emitting a brilliant golden glow materialized from the ether and challenged us. Judging by the elaborate armor and weapons he carried, the man must have been someone important back when he was still alive. I half expected the ghost to be a frail-looking creature, but he looked just as hale as King Demaratus, if not more so. Not that such things would matter for an incorporeal being. Speaking of, I’m not sure why Hades would choose a deceased mortal to guard a prisoner. There were plenty of more apt candidates, like Cerberus for example, who could do a much better job.

“State your business, trespassers.” The ghost warned while pointing his sword at us.

Iliana stepped forward to challenge him. “I am Princess Iliana of Sparta. We have come to rescue my father, King Demaratus of Sparta. Step aside and no harm shall come to you, specter.”

“Bold words for a woman made of flesh and bone. How do you intend to harm me?”

Rather than respond with words, Iliana summoned Illuminus, causing the specter to frown.

He stroked his ethereal beard. “Ah, a blessed treasure from the gods. You and I have that in common, princess. Back when I still roamed the earth, I was King Midas of Phrygia. Lord Dionysus bestowed upon me the gift of golden touch, a boon that has transcended death.”

Iliana scoffed. “Your tale is but a cautionary one. A children’s fable. Step aside or be destroyed.”

Midas chuckled. “Believe what you will. It makes little difference to me.”

I’m not sure if it was my new magic acting up or what, but something felt off about this guy. Given his golden aura, which was markedly different from the sickly green of the other souls, I was under the impression that Midas wasn’t lying about his “gift”. Iliana hadn’t even bothered to raise her shield to defend herself against the specter’s attack. Damn her cockiness! I scrambled forward to intercept Midas before he could touch her.

Did I ever mention how much it hurts to get stabbed in the shoulder by a sword? A lot. A WHOLE fucking lot. To add insult to injury, the spooky bastard grabbed me by the wrist and flung me to the floor, as if I were some minor inconvenience to him. In a pain-filled daze, I struggled to get back up, only to stumble again. How odd. I couldn’t feel my hand.

I let out a shriek of horror when I realized that from the wrist down, my arm had been turned into solid gold. FUCK! This was not good for any of us. Furthermore, I had no idea if Midas’ ability was reversible or if it would spread any further. I really didn’t want to cut off my own limb. “Iliana! Don’t let Midas touch you! He wasn’t lying about the gift he received.”

“Duly noted.” Iliana grunted while she sidestepped to avoid his attack.

Flash ran over to me, cradling me in his arms. “Adagio, are you ok? That wound looks nasty.”

I closed my eyes, using what little willpower I had left to summon harmonic magic. A warm, soothing sensation filled my body, easing the pain and healing my wound. Although I currently lacked the energy to do so, I squealed with joy (internally) when the gold became flesh once more. I wiggled my fingers experimentally, and what do you know, they responded. I could feel them again! I began laughing hysterically to the point of sobbing. This, of course, prompted Flash to worry even more about me. Apparently, men don’t seem to understand the concept of happy tears. Regardless, I embraced him and we kissed most passionately. Snot and all.

King Midas was unnaturally quick for a man of his size. Then again, he no longer had any physical mass to slow down his movements. As a result, Iliana had a difficult time dodging his attacks or getting in any blows of her own. From time to time, Midas would strike her with his elbow or hand, transforming the affected area into a patch of solid gold. Most of the transmutations were confined to her armor, since she was so adept at predicting his movements.

Despite her superb martial skills, it was clear that Iliana was losing the fight. Who could blame her? She was but a mortal woman. Several splotches of gold covered her arms, which I had no doubt caused her a great deal of pain. I wanted to help her but I was exhausted from using so much magic. Flash was in a similar position, as he had no weapons that could harm a specter.

The former liege of Phrygia ducked when Iliana jabbed her spear at his torso, then proceeded to use his leg in a sweeping motion to knock her to the ground. With a loud clatter, her armored body hit the floor, knocking the wind out of her for a brief moment. That was all Midas needed. He cackled with glee while he grabbed her ankles. In that moment of arrogance, Iliana managed to plunge Illuminus straight through his stomach, causing Midas to shriek like a banshee before he was consumed by Apollo’s holy sunlight. However, the damage had already been done.

A gut-wrenching cry of agony escaped Iliana’s lips as the curse spread. Before long, everything below her knees had turned to solid gold. Unable to stand, she crawled towards us, face twisted in an expression of pain and despair. Panting, she rolled onto her back, her skin coated in a sheen of sweat while she struggled to catch her breath. We gathered around her wondering what to do.

I ran my fingers through her hair as a gesture of comfort. “I’m sorry, Iliana. My harmonic mana pool will take a while to recharge. And I’m not sure if it will work on anyone but me.”

Iliana grit her teeth. “Then you must dispatch me. I refuse to live as a legless invalid.”

Medusa slithered over to her and scoffed. “Stop being so melodramatic, your highness. Do you not recall that I am a master of petrification magic? Be still; I shall attempt to restore your flesh.”

“What other choice do I have,” Iliana countered, “work your magic gor—Medusa.”

The gorgon leaned forward and looked her straight into her eyes. “You must maintain eye contact with me for the spell to take hold properly. Flash, fetch her something to bite on. I shan’t lie; this will be quite painful. Unlike anything you’ve experienced before…”

Medusa’s eyes glowed red as a similar aura enveloped Iliana’s body. Her cries of anguish were difficult to listen to but I could see the gold beginning to recede. After a time, the pain became too great for Iliana and she passed out, her face pale from the exertion. Finally, her limbs were restored to flesh and bone once more. At this point, Medusa collapsed to the floor, muttering something about needing to rest for a moment. The spell must have taken a lot out of her.

While Iliana recovered, I felt well enough to stand on my own two feet. For some reason, Cerberus was wagging his tail, all three heads alert. The chamber suddenly felt icy cold, sending shivers down my spine. An imposing figure clad in a jet-black toga materialized through the floor. His hair, composed of bright blue flames, flickered as he approached Cerberus. The hound barked eagerly as the man ruffled his fur affectionately, a slight smile crept upon his lips. His smile remained while he strode towards us with his hands clasped behind his back. Oddly enough, when he came closer to me, I half expected a pale-skinned ghoul like him to smell like death itself, but his scent wasn’t offensive at all. If anything, it reminded me of flowers.

“Adagio Dazzle, I presume?” He intoned.

My asshole puckered up tight once again. “That’s me. Uh—to whom do I owe the pleasure?”

A dry melodious chuckle escaped his blackened lips. “Hades. Master of Tartarus. Guardian of the Dead. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?”

“Oh… w-well… I-I must say, it’s an honor to meet you!”

Hades raised his brow. “Fear is a natural reaction when mortals meet the god who presides over the dead. I am not angry with anyone just yet, so calm yourselves. But you’ll have to pardon my confusion, for all of you are still counted amongst the living. I can’t imagine why a motley band of misfits would desire to visit Tartarus of their own volition. Care to explain?”

King Demaratus decided to speak up. “Pardon the interruption, Lord Hades. My daughter was simply trying to rescue me after I was kidnapped and brought here. Spare them your wrath, I—”

Hades pointed his bony finger at the king. “My wrath? Do I appear wrathful to you, Spartan?”

“Milord, I wouldn’t dare presume—”

The flames that served as his hair erupted into an inferno as he responded in a booming voice. “INTERRUPT ME AGAIN AND I SHALL ROAST THY FLESH FROM BONE!!”

After a few moments of terrified silence, Hades continued. “Once again, I find myself questioning your motives. That golden tube the Spartan warrior has in her clutches, it is a weapon forged by my nephew. Adagio, if you would be so kind as to answer my questions…”

“That’s correct, Lord Hades. Apollo gave it to her during Gymnopaedia.”

Hades paced back and forth, stroking his fiery goatee. “To what end, my dear?”

“Apollo told us that you’d—erm—kidnapped King Demaratus. Hence, our rescue plan.”

“Then we’ve all been made fools of. Observe.”

Iliana was just starting to wake up when Hades engulfed her father in a cyclone of sapphire flames, causing her to scream like a tortured soul. It made me want to cry along with her. We’d expected a pile of charred bones to be left behind, yet in its place was a bronze statue instead. Only superficially did it resemble the shape of a man. I’d never seen the likes of such a complex automaton nor understood its purpose. What in all the oceans was going on?

Hades scowled. “A homunculus. Designed to mimic mankind in every way. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Princess Iliana of Sparta, but your father was never here in the first place.”

“Lord Hades, I… do not understand.” Iliana whimpered.

With a paternal expression, Hades patted her head. “I suspect that my nephews wished to earn your unwavering loyalty with this ploy. No doubt, they seek champions in their campaign to unseat Zeus as the true ruler of Olympus. For what it’s worth, I apologize for all the trouble they’ve caused. There is little I can do to make amends, other than offer everyone safe passage back to the mortal plane, no conditions attached.”

Heartbroken and betrayed by the gods she once revered, Iliana collapsed to the floor and stared into the distance vacantly, her eyes glossy and unfocused. “I trusted them. All these years, I blindly obeyed their will, tried to be a devout warrior. Has my life been nothing but a lie?”

Hades knelt down beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “No, sweet child. Hubris is their sin to bear, not your own. Though it may be difficult, please try your best to move on. Dwelling on the matter will only cause more grief. Trust me; I know the feeling quite well.”

“What do you mean, Milord?”

Hades stood up and took in a deep breath, blowing it out slowly through his nose. “Long ago, I desired more than the lot I was given. To me, ruling over Tartarus was a punishment, while my kin frolicked in the world above, mortals eager to please them. Over time, I came to realize the importance of my role. Dare I say, it became an honorable duty, despite the lack of worshipers. Truth be told, I have no desire to return to Olympus. I am content to remain in Tartarus.”

I raised my brow in surprise. So, there was an Olympian out there who wasn’t a manipulative, power hungry, self-absorbed prick. Perhaps there were more virtuous examples among their ranks, but first impressions being what they were, I would always be suspicious of their motives.

Iliana prostrated herself before Hades. “There is truth in your words, Lord Hades. If you would have me, I am willing to devote myself to your worship.”

“Are you certain, Princess Iliana of Sparta? My name has carried a stigma amongst mortals for ages. To worship me is akin to worshiping death itself. Once I bestow my boon upon your flesh, there is no going back. Hmm. I shall give you a moment to consider your oath of fealty.”

Iliana walked over to the river Styx and watched its ghostly green current flow by. In her hand, she grasped Illuminus, tracing her fingers along its intricate carvings. Flash was still tending to Medusa, who looked paler than usual. She would need to rest for a while longer in all likelihood. I wasn’t the greatest when it came to delivering motivational speeches or dealing with heavy emotions like honor, duty, love—you get the idea. However, it was apparent that Iliana was in desperate need of a friend. Someone she could trust to help steer her in the right direction.

Mother Siren. Was that me? Oh, how times have changed! In my previous life, I never would have considered doing such a thing. Slowly, I approached Iliana, my feet pattering against the stony floor. I paused for a moment, mustering the courage to say what needed to be said, to do what needed to be done. After letting out a short puff of air through my lips, I wrapped my arms around Iliana’s waist and pulled her closer to me, resting my head upon her shoulder.

The hug was terribly uncomfortable considering that all the metal studs from her armor prodded my bare skin. There was little warmth to be felt from her either. A princess that smelled of sweat, leather, and blood. Just like a Spartan. A crimson blush colored my cheeks, as the embrace seemed to drag on for an eternity. Iliana remained stoic like a statue, unmoving and unresponsive to my affection. My eyes widened in surprise when I felt her calloused hand grasp my own.

In a quiet voice she whispered, “Thank you, Adagio.”

Still blushing, I rubbed my thumb along the back of her hand. “Have you decided what to do?”

Iliana’s expression hardened. “Lord Hades is the only one worthy of my devotion. He is honorable and just. I sensed no deception in his words. He even went out of his way to help us, despite intruding upon his domain. For this day forth, I spit on those who sit atop Mt. Olympus!”

Without warning, she hurled Illuminus into the river Styx. The artifact was now lost to the ages in place that no mortal hand could reach. “A pity. Such a weapon of fine craftsmanship. Yet, I shall not sully my honor by wielding the boon of a traitor! I curse your name, Apollo!”

“Quite the bold declaration you made there,” Hades remarked in a dry tone, “come to my side, Princess Iliana of Sparta. Kneel and swear your allegiance to me.”

Iliana did as she was told without hesitation. The lord of the underworld was not one for flowery prose, so he kept the oath short and simple. When she accepted, Hades pressed his finger upon her forehead. Iliana gasped as Hades began to pull a black thread from her flesh as though it were but a loose hair. He held it before her and smiled, tracing his index finger along its length.

“This is your thread of life. Subject to the whims of fate like any mortal.”

Iliana remained stoic but I could tell she was putting on a brave face for the sake of appearances.

Hades took a moment to observe the thread. “How curious. I’m surprised by its length. Most warriors perish in battle well before they reach eighty-five seasons. No matter. You shan’t need to worry about such trifling matters anymore. Observe!”

A blue flame trickled from his fingers, setting her life thread alight. Iliana screamed in agony while it glowed with an intense heat that we could all feel as it washed over our skin. Hades let go of her thread after what seemed like an eternity, patiently waiting until it retreated back into her body and she regained her senses. When Iliana rose to her feet, she looked tired but no worse for wear. Uh—well—that is except for her skin taking on an ashen gray hue and her hair becoming like that of Hades: an undulating collection of sapphire flames.

“I have infused your body with my essence. For as long as you remain my loyal servant, death shall hold no sway over you. Injury, sickness, and decay are no longer your concern. Do you understand, sweet child? This is what it means to worship me. You are a part of Tartarus now.”

Iliana bowed in reverence. “As you command, Milord.”

Aphrodite's Daughter

by Enclave2277

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X