“I know some of the bars make beer. I never had that before but heard the soldiers speak of it. I only know of those two.”

“Mmm,” Kaia hummed as she beamed at Athenasia. “These bars of yours sound perfect.” Beer, wine, mead—she would take any and all of it. Kaia would drink Alexandros out of her mind if it was the last thing she did.

Upon making her verbal mistake however, Kaia doubled down into a fit of uncontrollable giggles. Had she always been so hilarious? She would have to ask Aea, but first to find another drink.

“Are you sure you aren't already there?”

Kaia’s gaze drifted back to Asia, along with a grin. “If only,” Kaia answered, before following Asia’s lead by tilting her head back to view the stars. The view was beautiful, as it always was. However there was something different about observing the view among friends instead of through the campfire smoke with her father and uncles. There was a clarity that Kaia liked, as well as a sense of maturity. Then again, maybe it was just the drink.

“We should get a few bottles of wine or beer and drink under the stars.. look how pretty they are.”

Pointing at Asia with the hand holding her stolen goblet, Kaia smirked at Asia, “yes, yes! We should certainly do that. This is why you and me are going to be good friends,” Kaia insisted with a genuine honesty that felt as real as her own name. Princes who? This girl—Athenasia—was okay.

Draping an arm around Asia’s shoulders and giggling at her new found stability, Kaia looked towards the rest of their group. “Let’s go! Beer and Wine await!”

’I have a better idea. We’re going inside that tall building there.’

Kaia looked up at the building in question and squinted slightly in thought. There were a lot of naked people in the design of the building. Did that mean…

Oh. Oh hello.

“Mmkay,” Kaia agreed with confidence. She’d never been to a whorehouse, but fuck it, if men could go and spill themselves in one without consequence, then she could too. Alexandros be damned. If he couldn’t put aside the needs of the thing between his legs, then she would allow her a night to act the same. She owed no one any explanation, certainly not him. He couldn’t give up his sex slave, but wanted her devotion.

Fuck off.

’Devote this,’ Kaia thought as she practically marched into the establishment with the rest of her group. Upon entering, Kaia nibbled her bottom lip and looked around in awe. It was a lot more elegant and beautiful than she’d been expecting. The furnishings were exotic and expensive looking, the fabrics and decorations too.

When Aea approached her, Kaia gave an honest and warm grin. At least she had Aea, and would always have her. She even said so earlier in the night. Alexandros could go fuck his slave and be the cruel master that he was, she had Aea. Someone who actually cared about her.

’Go pick out whoever you like. As many as you like, for as long as you like. Cost is no concern.’

Kaia pressed her forehead against Aea’s, a small smile pulling at her lips. “What about you? Will you not choose someone too?”

Kaia didn’t want to push the matter, given what happened last time she’d tried to get Aea bedded. This time though, at least they were safe, but Kaia dared not mention that either. She’d screwed up last time, she wouldn’t push Aea again.

With a glance around, Kaia observed the variety of beautiful people in the room. There were plenty of women scantily dressed—if at all—but it was the men that drew her eye. Some were rather impressive specimens. However the one that caught her eye was a man perhaps only a few years older than herself. His face was cleanly shaven and his dark hair cut short. What she noticed most about him though, was his silver/blue eyes and his nearly sinful smirk.

“Him,” Kaia murmured to her cousin with a nod of her head. She didn’t need to check out any of the others, Kaia knew that the sly looking guy was the perfect selection. He looked like fun and fuck it, she wanted that.

Night again. Always night. He couldn’t remember when he exchanged ray of sun for twinkle of star; long before this place, this time, these beautiful creatures, but exactly when? Such exacts escaped memory. He’d been born in sun, ran in it, shrieked with childish delight. He thought he would be great in those days.

Naked and baking after splashing in the Athenian waters, he would lay himself out to dry upon the knoll behind the home of his father, and his father before him. A glinting sword, he would think, a cry from passion-widened lips stained red from blood.

Well...at least that hadn’t been far from his eventual fate, though the blood was thankfully absent. What a comedy, what an irony the Gods played upon him. Instead of pain, he plied in pleasure. Rather than songs of his might, he heard sweet odes without rhyme, without lyric, and far beyond reason.

He sometimes wondered what he might say to his child self if ever they met in dream. “You will be brought to your knees, boy, but not by steel of death. And you will like it.” The boy that used to be wouldn’t believe the man that was, likely. But it was no matter, he would learn. There was a whole world beyond these pillars of hedonism, he could see it from where he stood against the wicker screen, and yet...he could not bring himself to desire it more than this never-ending cycle of indulgence.

Freedom was just as costly as subjugation. 

From the tips of his toes to the front entrance, a path cut along the marble floor to spread ever north, far beyond the yawn of the wide and welcoming archway. He could leave, escape. Clever he was, and he could find a way to disappear if he wanted. If he wanted. But he did not want it.

He should be ashamed. Men did not enjoy being under thumb or foot. And if anyone asked, he would deny it. Unless, of course, they paid for his truth. And then he might show them how well he liked an excuse to live and breathe in nothing but desire and life and release and death–so many small and precious deaths.

Will he or won’t he? Of course he will, for you’ve paid him...but he is happy to make you forget it. Some he is happier to fool than others.

“Xane.” A woman’s voice danced enticingly through the air, wrapping around his neck and shoulders like a lazy snake. He turned his head to the sound but his eyes stayed upon the siren incandescent in pearl and sky. It was as if she might simply disappear if he dared look away, and he could not in any case. Every time he looked upon someone or something else, his attention sought the woman before the draw of his next breath.  
“Not now.” He said in that hushed tone of his that so often quieted those around him. There was an intent in it, one that lived low in his chest and rolled past his lips like the purr of a jungle cat.

“Lord Valis--”

“I’ve an appointment already.” He didn't. 

The woman in blue strode in not minutes before, less than elegantly and clearly not as sober as he preferred, but he supposed it mattered not. He caught her glance when he strode across the room and took note of her then, measuring her first to see how much coin she looked to have on her, then measuring her again to fully observe her as a man observed a woman.

Or, in Xane’s case, whatever pretty thing caught his focus regardless of what did or didn’t fall between their legs. As long as he did as well, he was quite content with whatever beauty the Gods saw fit to tease him with. 

For no matter how many times he lay with another warm body, the cruelty was that it could never be more, even if he wanted it to. Xane could have these darklings in all the ways they liked, but if he sought a heart or a soul, either or both would break in his search. At least he could still experience them in carnality–any taste was better than no taste at all.   

It wasn’t often he was given the opportunity to be intimate with beautiful things, for they usually didn’t need to visit brothels to begin with. And yet...here was a woman who he should instead be paying for the pleasure of her company. What pretty golden hair, such a fresh face, such an open expression. A blank canvas ready to be painted.

He wanted her to look at him again. He wanted her to choose him out of everyone in the building. It wasn’t likely; the stars didn’t often align to give him what he wanted without some cruel twist. Still, he wished she would. He was a slave to his master, a slave to his flesh, and for a night, if she would have him, he would be her slave too.

For no matter how much he wished to see the sun once more, here was the very dawn delivered to him. How could he not want to warm himself in her arms? Or better yet, coax her to sink into his bed and show her all the ways the sun could be loved. Such a perfect alter should not go without worship, and allowing her to go without tribute would be akin to spitting at the feet of the Gods.  

Thick incense ribboned from the tables and flirted around her. Dyes of deep purple and blood red draped against the world behind her. When the woman moved, it seemed as if she were the only misplaced thing in the room.

She was a dove among pigeons, a faraway dream. A thousand and one ancient nights burned just below the surface of her fair skin, nights that could be read like the words on a piece of parchment if only the woman would bare it to him. The woman moved and despite her wine-stained lips, her hips swung with a natural grace that most did not possess. Her sharp blue gaze held all the mysteries of the Gods, promising secrets of lands unknown and unspoiled by man. Xane wanted to see it–feel it–all. 

“Xane.” The woman’s voice came again, sterner this time.

Finally, he let his gaze roll from the woman to the figure standing behind the wicker screen, her eyes and face and form hidden save for the most minute flashes of dark bronze and rich blush.

Xane waited for the girl to speak, and though she did not for a small timer, she certainly did when he began to turn his gaze back to the divine.

“That is Lord Elias of Stavos’ party.” She whispered. “And what looks to be Princess Athenasia, though I could be wrong. I have not looked upon her for years.”

Xane might have claimed not to have noticed the others, but that would be a lie. One learned to be aware of which creature would best serve as the next shuffle forward to freedom. He didn’t, however, expect any of them to be a Colchian princess.

At least rumors of Athanasia's attendance in the halls of pleasure would not reach the streets. The royals and nobles of Greece preferred brothels that did not allow their secrets to pass among the commoners, after all.

And this was, after all, a reputable establishment, not some back-water Athenian fuck house.

“And a Marikas.” He added, a small, satisfied dimple pressing into one of his cheeks. The woman–Kussakan of Lands Afar–stayed silent for a moment before nodding her head once she spotted the owl pendant resting upon the woman’s chest.

“The other two” He muttered, finally able to turn his attention to the woman in blue once more.

Kussakan shook her head, “They are nobody. Not that I’ve seen or heard tell of.”

Nobody. He would see about that. Xane was, after all, a nobody. And yet all of Midas knew his name. The clever thing would be to seduce the obvious royals. Stravos and Marikas weren’t names he heard grace these halls very often...unless of course, it was in hushed whispers of rumor. Not even the Kotas bothered to leave their palace of all things gold and beautiful just to come here.

And yet…

The blonde looked up and her cool gaze met his. Xane held eye contact and a slow, shameless smirk accompanied the warming of his blood and raw imaginings digging into his mind, nay, into the marrow of his very bones. Come here.

Athanasia was indeed buzzing hard as she and Kaia leaned against one another while looking up at the stars. Asia was in no rush to do anything at all, if she was honest with herself. She didn't want to think how she got in trouble for doing exactly what any of her brothers would have done. Thinking about anything specific was becoming harder to do, if she was honest with herself. Even moving almost felt like work as the alcohol relaxed her with every sip of wine. She didn't even pay attention to where they were going as Aea spoke going in a tall building. It was then she lifted her head as she looked around.

Seeing Elias, she could not stop the blush as a hand slid around her waist. For a moment she wondered if she imagined Elias tugging her along till she looked over and saw Aea, making Asia's smile grow even wider. She still could not explain why she felt such a bond with this woman, but it was there and it was stronger than ever the more time they spent in each other's company. "I am glad I almost shot you in the woods that night." Athanasia giggled before laying her head against Aea's shoulder. "I got to meet you because of it and your hello. Remind me to send the gods a thank you.." Looking around the room they were now in, seeing the beautiful room and so many colors, Asia could only blink as she looked at her new surroundings.

The scent in the air was intoxicating as Aea started making requests of lines of credit and more drinks. The glass in her hand was taken and a new one replaced it filled with the red liquid. "Aea..?" Asia's voice came out as a soft whisper that was lost among the murmur of the room and Aea was gone to her cousin Kaia.

Athanasia found herself standing alone for a moment in a room full of strangers. Her mind didn't register that Aea, Kaia, and Dani were mere feet away from her, or that Elias was right behind her. She just knew that no one was near her and she was out of her element. Having never had so much wine before and now in a room with many people, Athanasia could feel her panic slowly build as she spun the ring on her index finger while looking around for her companions.

Her head moved quickly till she found Elias, he was standing there looking at her as he spoke her nickname quietly. It was all she needed as she focused on him, moving almost instinctively closer till she was almost leaning into him. If he moved his arm, it would easily be able to wrap around her shoulders with no stretching out needed. The budding panic washed away as if it never were there and Elias was her anchor to keep her from floating away. When he asked if she was partaking, Athanasia's cheeks burned as she shook her head quickly. "No.. I.."

Athanasia felt hot all of a sudden as she looked up at him, studying his features. From the coolness of his eyes to the shape of his lips, Athanasia took her time to just look at Elias. How could she tell him that she had never been with someone before and yet there they were in a brothel? That standing where she was next to him, it was the closest she had ever been with a man. When he told her that he would also not partake, it surprised her. "You aren't? Why not..?" The alcohol made her blunt, the surprise clear in her voice that was also mixed with a tone of being pleased with that. Was it because of her? Taking a sip of the new wine, Athanasia felt it burn as she swallowed. It was then that she allowed the alcohol to bolster her boldness as she laced her fingers with Elias' and held his hand.

Looking over at Kaia, Aea, and Dani; Athanasia smiled as Kaia picked her man. "We're going to go sit over there, if any of you wish to come sit with us, but that couch looks comfy." And she wanted to sit down, so with Elias' hand in hers, Asia made her way to the seat and pulled Elias down next to her. Taking another sip of the wine, Athanasia leaned against him while looking up at Elias. "Would you like a drink?" Holding up her glass, Asia offered Elias a drink from her own cup.