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The storms outside raged, but inside Thalia was going out of her fucking mind with boredom.

Three weeks he'd been gone. Three weeks and he'd left her here with the other women to what.... weave baskets and learn how to bake?

When he'd pulled her from her hiding spot on the ship she was enraged. And for good reason. This wasn't her place. She didn't belong here and he was denying her any conceivable way of getting home by taking the ship and stranding her there with the other women and children. It wasn't right. It wasn't fair. But it was typical. She'd raged on the doc like a harpy as the Aceton pulled away from the harbor. Looking back on it now, she felt fairly ridiculous about it. It was no better than a child-like temper tantrum displayed for the entire village to see. But at the time, she couldn't think to care. These weren't HER people. Her people were Athenians and her family that she missed with growing intensity every day that passed.

The women left her at the edge of the doc as the ship sailed away; a few remained on the beach to watch it until it disappeared around the curve of the island. But Thalia wasn't done. As soon as she couldn't see it she tore off down the dock and up the hill to the temple where she raced through the dark interior, through the caves and up the hill that led to the cliffs that overlooked the other side of the island. Plucking up a few rocks from the ground, she hurled them as hard as she could at the retreating ship; screaming with each heave as she lobbed the few she could find into the ocean. But they were far too far away for the rocks to even get close to so instead she just collapsed in the thick grass that blanketed the edge of the cliff and sobbed. She was stuck here and now she was alone on top of it. The mixture of rage and anguish at not being able to go and regret that she couldn't say goodbye to Lukos the right way warred inside her. She hated that she was so upset that she didn't wish him off well. He didn't deserve any sort of affection from her.

Hours turned into days which turned into weeks. She'd gotten into this..monotonous groundhog day routine with him gone. If she continued with it she'd be like one of those birds in a cage that just rocked back and forth over and over because they'd lost their mind to insanity. In the mornings, Gorgoa would bring her food... something she found odd as Lukos was gone. She'd wake up and eat; having long given up trying to speak to the girl. She was a skittish little thing and never liked to linger overly long in the temple. The villagers' heavy superstition meant that she was never visited here. If she wanted any sort of human companionship, she had to go to them. As Thalia wasn't one to believe buildings themselves had supernatural inclinations, she found no guilt in staying in Are's temple. ....Still, at night in the dark and by herself, it could get rather lonely and creepy. She'd lived her entire life under a lavish roof full to the brim with her family and servants. Being alone was far more terrifying than the threat of a wrathful deity.

When she'd finished eating, she'd go to their hill and train. The exercise was helpful to help shake off the stagnation that seemed to settle over her, but after a few days, without having someone to fight, it just felt like she was going through the motions. Even training wasn't enjoyable without Lukos.

After training, she'd venture down to the village and keep company with the women there. As much as they tried to help her, she was just not the domestic sort. She'd burned her arms on the clay ovens trying to bake and cut herself a few times skinning fish. Thankfully, they continued to help as they had when Lukos was here with washing and cooking. Though as no one save Gorgoa would enter the temple, she was left to her own devices to clean there. And if she was cleaning, she was rearranging. Gone was the bachelor pad, helter-skelter randomness of crates and trinkets. Thalia had set areas inside the massive temple dedicated for the bed, the table, dressing, and sitting. There was even a small shrine to the God Ares, lest he truly became upset for their occupation. It was a little odd to have everything in one room without walls to separate living spaces. She'd managed to stitch together long panels of gauzy fabric she'd found in a few crates. Awkwardly, she'd used a rope to leverage herself up the columns to drape them between from the top between each column. With that completed, she'd worked on removing the makeshift doors; opening the temple back up so that the natural light shined into the interior room again. The thick doors and walls at the front of the temple were permanent, however and far too heavy for her to remove by herself so they were left, of course. The detail in the room and the reliefs along the top of the temple were magnificent in the natural light.

Those days she'd slept well after her work.

Having only a mass quantity of fabric to use as barriers, she'd also used the panels to delineate spaces. She'd moved the bed into an angle on the back left of the temple and hung drapes all the way around it, creating an ethereal room that was rather magical when the lamps were lit at night. She'd raided the homes of the villagers for nails and such to build rudimentary shelves in the caves to hold all of the soaps, oils, and linens so that she didn't need to dig around for them anymore, and fashioned a makeshift line to hang her chitons on behind another wall of fabric. Incidentally, any of the crates she didn't need were kept there as well.

At the front of the temple, and more for Gorgoa's sake, she'd set up the table to make it easy for her to leave food, But even with everything unpacked, the temple still felt... bare. It needed furniture. Things to sit on besides the bed. She'd draped fabric over a couple of the crates and created a small seating area off to the left of the table, but she wanted sofas and chairs and loungers. Rugs and chests.

In the evening, if she wasn't still in the village, she would venture up onto the cliff behind the springs and sit near the edge with a plate of food; watching the horizon for any ships that might pass until the sun set and the stars came out. But none ever came. So she would venture back in and clean up a bit; sweep the sand from the temple and then bathe in the springs before climbing into bed. Without the makeshift walls up, the temple was filled with moonlight at night after all the lamps had been extinguished. The sounds of the waves around the island lulled her to sleep and she'd wake in the morning at sunrise; the smell of sea salt and dew thick in the temple. Then she'd do it all again.

The day of the storm she'd been holed up in the temple; not wanting to get drenched on her way down to the village. As if the island wasn't tediously mind-numbing as it was, rain only made it that much worse. Not being able to go outside was tantamount to torture. She stood on the portico looking down at the village for a very long time before going inside to pick at some food left that morning and then she dug through a crate that had rather elaborate Egyptian jewelry that she tried on. Resplendent in gold cuffs on her wrists, arms, and ankles, as well as an elaborate scarab wesekh, she'd managed to entertain herself well enough by dressing up as an Egyptian female; thankful that no one came to the temple as it all felt rather ridiculous and far too scandalous to wear anywhere in public. The kalasiris she'd found was as sheer as the material Imbrascus had made her wear and covered even less, somehow. She had a gold belt that hung low on her hips, and she'd found a wig with hair as black as midnight and stick straight. It was bejeweled with a colorful headpiece that circled it like a crown.

She'd been a bit silly; dancing about to keep from growing bored and practicing seductive moves she'd seen slaves perform at a party... but she felt ridiculous, so she fell onto the bed and laid back to stare up at the ceiling with a long sigh. She hung her head over the side of the bed to watch the front door through the sheer curtains; willing them to open; for someone to come visit her. She missed home; longed for it....for her family and friends. Hell, she'd even take on a position at the palace again if it meant she could go home. And she'd do better this time... she wouldn't be so awkward around the princess. She just wanted to see and speak to her brothers... to let them know she was ok. .....And she missed Lukos. She hated that she missed him... but like every other woman on this Gods forsaken island, she missed the men. She missed fighting with him and training. She missed talking to him and generally annoying the living daylights out of him. ...But she also missed long nights twisted against each other; exhausting each other in passion until they were both weak from spent pleasure. The bed was deliciously luxurious but felt barren without him in it. The heated springs were soothing and refreshing, but she longed to feel his hands on her beneath the water.

When the door opened to the temple, she furrowed her brow; staring at it upside down through the drapes. It was pouring outside and she hadn't expected Gorgoa to make the trip to bring her lunch. Besides, there was always more than enough to eat at each meal to last several days. But Lukos's drenched and worn body stepped through the entry instead. Her heart went into her throat and it felt like her lungs lost the capability to draw breath. Staring at him as if he'd disappeared if she blinked, she rolled over and sat up. Pushing off the bed, she padded out of through the drapes like an Egyptian Goddess in her palace. When she reached him, she immediately slapped him as hard as she could across the face for daring to leave her the way he had. She'd imagined doing that and more since he'd left. She imagined him on his knees; begging her for forgiveness. But the satisfaction of the slap was fleeting. And with the same hand that still stung from the assault, she reached around his neck and pulled him down to kiss her hungrily. Fuck, she'd missed him. Now that he was here, it made it almost impossible to stay angry, even though she knew she was. She pressed against him; her hands twisting in his hair as his wet clothes saturated her own; she didn't care though. Goosebumps radiated down her arms and back but she curled closer as her tongue tangled with his. "Don't you ever leave me here by myself again..." She growled it against his mouth; clenching his hair in emphasis again. It was dizzying how much she missed him and it all seemed like it was flooding over her at once now that he was here.

The seas were rough. Even the harbor looked precarious that day. All she could see in the short distance where white caps and sheets of rain. How was he here? Had he crashed his ship and this was nothing more than a specter of what he was?? But he felt far too real to be a ghost. Beneath the chill of the rain, he felt warm. She pushed aside the damp fabric of his shirt and curled her other hand around his waist; tracing her nails against his flesh. "I hate you.. But I'm happy to see you made it back alive."

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Jul 4, 2019 10:29:49 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:29:49 GMT

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His back was to the temple path as he looked over the new warship, almost nothing but a blurred outline of brown in the storm. Someone stumped up behind him. Whipping around, he came face to face with Arktos and the stragglers from the Aceton. Before he could move, Arktos’s fist rammed into his chest, knocking him back a few steps. It was enough to take a bit of his breath away but not enough to lay him out; just the right amount of irritation from his bear.

“We could have died,” Arktos said, waiting until the rest of the men had gone into the village. They knew better than to stick around or look back. Lukos put his hands on his hips, and simply shrugged, a grin escaping from the corners of his lips.

“We didn’t. And we’re home today. Not tomorrow. Or the day after.” Sometimes a storm could linger for days and he had no interest in riding it out that long.

“I heard the crash,” Arktos looked away from him toward the warship.

“It’s…” he hesitated. The rain was nothing to either of them. They might as well be walking on the bottom of the ocean. “Salvageable.”

“It’s your ship,” Arktos said, a little irritation slipping through. He started to walk toward the village but turned around, a leer replacing the frown. “Should I bother to get up before noon? Or do you think you’ll be slumming down here with us before then?”

Phaedra had not met him on the beach or the docks with the other women. He glanced up through the gloom at the hulking shadow of the temple. Even from here he could see lights. It looked different somehow, like the lights were coming from places they shouldn’t. “I…” he trailed off.

“Mine give me shit too,” Arktos stumped back up to him, laying a heavy hand on his shoulder which Lukos immediately shook off. The hitting he could handle. Lately Arktos had taken to giving him unasked for advice about how to deal with Phaedra and her moods; something Lukos was not prepared to admit that he was out of his depth on.

“Listen. You’re being too soft on her. I haven’t seen a single new bruise on that woman. If she gives you lip, just,” and here Arktos made a backhanding motion. “But not too hard or they’ll kick you out of bed and there’s no coming back from that for a while. Just enough that she knows you’re serious but not enough to hurt her feelings.”

Lukos’s flat stare made his first mate shrug.

“It’s none of my business what you do but she wouldn’t scream like an unhinged wild animal on the dock if she was mine,” Arktos was looking at him as though it was his fault she’d done it.

“If she was yours you’d be dead by now,” Lukos rolled his eyes. “Whores are different than noble women.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Arktos laughed, turning away. “Remember, just a little back hand. All it takes.”

Lukos shook his head, thoroughly done with the warship, the Aceton, Arktos, and all of his crew in general. This was usually the way when they came back to the island, only this time, he knew he would not be alone in his temple. That thought alone was wearying but he couldn’t pretend that he’d change it. She would be there and likely just as angry as when he left.

Her screams of rage were still ringing in his ears though it hadn’t changed his mind about taking her. She couldn’t bully him into getting her way, whatever Arktos thought.

Water ran down the path in rivets, transforming the dust into slick mud. He moved onto the grass instead, still slipping every once in a while but much less filthy by the time he came to the stairs. It was hard to tell exactly what time of day it was but the sky was so dark and angry, it may as well have been night. Light cut across the bottom of the door and he might have hesitated for a moment if he wasn’t wanting to get into the springs so badly.

He’d brave any kind of retaliation from Phaedra just for the hot water.

He slipped inside, his eyes widening in shock as he leaned on the door, easing it shut. His eyes slid over a completely different temple. Gone was his stark, easily accessible living area. To his right was a table he didn’t recognize, laid with half picked through food. Ropes hung suspended between columns with opaque fabric pretending to hide items. Nothing was completely see through but he could make out shadows of his crates, trunks, and the bed.

From the bed rose a feminine figure he knew very well but she looked utterly different; just like his temple. As she brushed aside the curtains, his mouth fell open. No sound escaped as he watched her stride toward him. There was too much to take in. He did not like the wig but everything else she could absolutely keep.

Her body revealed what she was going to do right before she did it but he didn’t save himself. Instead her hand left an angry five finger print on his cheek. It stung. The force of it was a little more than he’d imagined she might do. Reflexively his hand shot out, catching her however he could reach her and spinning her around. He slammed her back against the door, not nearly as hard as he could but enough that he knew it would hurt and knock a little of the wind out of her.

Immediately her hand found the back of his neck and she jerked him down to her, kissing him as though she wanted to fuck him right there. Until that moment, he hadn’t realized he’d missed her. His life had been so easy aboard ship. There had been no one except Arktos to fight with and even if they argued it was done in five minutes, one of them bruised by the end but no hard feelings. With her it was different. They stayed angry longer, fought uglier, and made up much more satisfactorily.

It was a heated cycle that he was surprised to find he missed. Her bodily absence he’d missed since the second he left but there was something about the way her fingers curled into his hair and the angry fire that she used against him and for him that made him hug her tighter than usual.

"Don't you ever leave me here by myself again..." she growled against his mouth, breaking their kiss.

He cupped her face, forcing her back to him, tongue back in her mouth to avoid promising that he wouldn’t. If she was going to come to the temple door dressed like this, then he’d leave her every single time. Her fingers pushed aside his shirt, sliding along his stomach. His body pressed her harder against the door but she managed to break their kiss again to say that she both hated him and was happy to see him.

He grinned, the side of his face still stinging. “I missed you too.” His hands wouldn’t stay put any one place on her but he wasn’t looking at her anymore. Instead he’d caught sight again of the new table by the door, leading his eyes away. The initial shock of seeing her passed and he twisted, trying to see more of the temple without losing hold of her.

“What-” he began but trailed off, his eyes sliding over everything visible from here. One arm curled about her waist and he pulled her around so that her back was against his chest, while his other arm held her by her torso. “What happened,” he rested his chin on her shoulder, the scratch of his cheek against hers. “To my temple?”

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Jul 4, 2019 10:30:29 GMT

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She sucked in a breath as he spun her around and pushed her up against the door before she pulled him to her. He was immediately mollified and returned her kiss just as heatedly; showing her how much he'd thought of her as well. The sheer dress she wore provided no protection from him or the water that dripped off him. But she couldn't care. Because his hands caressed her face; trailed over her body and grasped at her curves. When he told her he missed her, a thrill went through her and she gave a soft moan as his mouth found hers again. She hadn't said it. She didn't put it in words...they never had words of affection for each other. But she found a sort of satisfaction in hearing him admit that he missed her too...even though she hadn't told him. It was a small admission but gave her a sense of power she didn't have after he left her.

She continued to kiss his face; his cheeks and jaw as he turned from her to look around the room; not paying attention to his inattention. Finally, he spun her around and pulled her back against him; his arms wrapping around her torso as his chin fell into the crook of her shoulder. Forcing her to look about the room. She wrinkled her nose at its sparseness...but she'd done what she could with what she had.

She let her head fall to the side as her hands traced his forearms. The embrace was actually incredibly intimate; the entirety of his body pressed against her back as he held her against him. She bit down on her lower lip and glanced down at his arms; her fingers finding his to tangle into them. Her dress was soaked; it clung to her breasts and thighs; a poor barrier to any sort of modesty. She flushed a bit as nipples hardened in opposition to the clingy material.

She dragged his hand up to cover one breast beneath the fabric of the gown and drew the other down the flat of her lower stomach to press against the warmth of the triangle between her legs. Purring, she closed her eyes; unconcerned with what he thought of her redecorating. "You left me. I had nothing else to occupy my time and so... I rearranged a few things. Besides... it's mine now. You abandoned it and I've decided it suits me better this way." She grinned playfully as she held his hands; allowing him to caress her flesh while she felt him do it. Biting her lower lip, she stifled the desire to turn and face him. She felt exposed and seductive in the outfit and with his arms around her unlike she'd ever felt before. She'd never been one for jewelry or fine things, but here....like this, she could understand the appeal. The way he'd looked at her when he'd first come into the temple; like she was the specter and not him and the hardness against her stomach confirmed he liked what he saw. She'd never wanted to be alluring for a man.. not at home at least. ....But here? And with Lukos? That look stole her breath; made her think of all the times they'd been together and how good he was at showing her how much he desired her. It was worth the boredom today that forced her to find something to do with her time during the rain. "It's not as dark and damp and stifling anymore. ....And with the lamps, it's almost...." She tried to finish her thoughts, but his hands were.....distracting.

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Jul 4, 2019 10:30:56 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:30:56 GMT

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What had she done? Nothing was where he left it. Things that were supposed to be waiting to be sold were out, being used as decorations. The fabric too, had been going to be sold. Likely it still could be but the thought of having to undo everything she’d already done was wearying. She must have been incredibly bored.

Rugs that usually remained rolled up were flat on the floor, crates were draped with cloths to hide what they were; he doubted very much that she’d left the springs alone. Whatever mayhem she’d caused in here had probably been done elsewhere too. That’s when he noticed she’d taken down the makeshift doors.

Her hand found his hand drug it up to her breast. She was unabashedly ignoring his attempt to be irritated, distracting him from it. His fingers stroked her nipple through the thin fabric and he finally looked down as she pulled his other hand between her legs. There too the dress was in the way, the material following his hand. He could have pushed it aside but he didn’t. Instead he kept the barrier between them, letting her writhe against him as he turned his head to nip at her neck.

“Abandoned?” he murmured against her, pulling her with him as he moved to the side toward the springs. “I thought you didn’t like to steal things.” His tongue flicked her earlobe before he caught it in his teeth, his heated breath washing over her ear as he spoke. “And don’t say the temple isn’t mine.” His hand slid across her chest, pulling at the material just enough to expose one breast. Her soft skin was warm but he circled the goosebumps with his fingertips, teasing by staying away from the center until he could see it had reached its most sensitive peak. Only then did he cup her breast again, catching the nipple between his fingers.

“No one was using it when I took it over.” They were to the cave opening. He took away his hand from between her legs where he still hadn’t removed the fabric and turned her chin, guiding her mouth to his. The kiss was brief, more of an attempt at finality than encouragement to continue. “You’re acting like me.” Releasing her, he threw her a grin as he stripped out of his sopping clothes. “And I know you don’t want that.”

Without waiting for her to respond, he stepped down into the spring, sighing audibly at the sudden heat. These waters right here were half the reason he’d taken up in the temple in the first place, rather than building a structure and living a less sacrilegious life. Dipping under, he ran his fingers through his hair, ready to be truly clean for the first time in weeks. On ship, they would go days without a bath and when they did bathe, it was out of a bucket of sea water.

When he surfaced, he noticed the shelves that she had made for the soaps. He groaned. “Here too?” As much as he was trying, he wasn’t angry. This change especially was welcome. The other? He could have done without.

He didn’t care if the bed was in the center where it was fully visible from the door. It didn’t matter to him what Gorgoa saw and after her weird offer to just lay there for him, he rather wanted her to see what he’d rather have; that she would never take Phaedra’s place even if she ever left the island.

Moving to the side of the pool, he looked at her, and smirked. “While you’ve been stealing things, I think you’ll be a little proud of me. I bought something in a fair trade.” He went on to tell her about the warship but not what it was for. While he spoke, he reached for her, wanting to at least touch her but he did not want to take her in the water again. He was tired of being wet. For the last day and a half, his constant state of being was soaked. The only reason he was still in the spring was for the heat.

He told her about the storm and of the impetuous decision to head into the Hydra’s Teeth anyway. If she had questions, he answered them; being fairly blunt about his own recklessness. The hole in the hull of the warship would take time to repair but he was no stranger to the work and when the rain was done, he wanted to show her the ship.

“It needs paint,” he finished. “But that’ll be last.”

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Jul 4, 2019 10:31:46 GMT

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Unabashed was such an intentional word. Thalia hadn't seen him in almost two weeks. She'd missed his hands on her; his mouth on her skin. She missed the way he stirred every nerve in her body to a fever pitch. And having attempted to dance so seductively only a few moments before, she was feeling far more needy of his attentions than she may have if she'd simply worn her normal chitons.

Though that was doubtful.. she'd been anxious for him to return for days now.

And he failed to disappoint. His hands moved where she guided them and then took on a life of their own; kneading and stroking in all the right ways. She felt weak against him and she leaned back; fully reliant on his embrace to keep her up as his mouth breathed heated words against her. Slowly he moved her forward and she went without dissent. His words caused her breath to hitch and she grinned slyly; replying with a gasp. "Nothing has been removed.. it's all here...just... rearranged.." Which was true. It may not be in the crates, but it was still in the temple. She figured he couldn't fault her in that way. "If your very good to me I may share it when you return..." ....And he was being... so good to her right now.

His teasing was sweet torture. She arched her back; begging him with her body to stop toying. Her lips lay parted as his other hand pushed against the fabric of her gown; teasing her through the thin material against the sensitive folds at her core; raising her libido as they moved into the cave. And as she gasped; so very close to finding her release, he removed his traitorous hand to turn her chin and give her a quick kiss before letting her go. Were she a weaker person she doubted she could stay standing. As it was she stumbled back a bit as he gave her a sly and knowing smile; undressing a few steps from her as she was left to sort through the fog he'd left in her brain. "That's....not possible..."

She watched as he stepped into the pool and pulled her wig off; tossing it on one of the shelves before sitting down on one of the large boulders along the edge of the water like a mermaid calling him home. She shook out her hair as she struggled to regain control of her senses....though it was difficult. She leaned back against one hand and trailed her other in the water; the light from the lamps glinting off the fine gold cuffs on her wrist. She grinned as he groaned about the soaps, but didn't give a lick what he thought of it. It was far more convenient this way.

Finally, he moved back to her as he spoke; telling her of what he'd done while he was gone. How he'd bought a ship and the storm; his hand brushing against her unconsciously; as if she might disappear if he didn't. She sighed and pursed her lips; wishing she was there. Instead of stuck on this island. Even the storm sounded like an adventure.

She thought of their first night. When he'd challenged her and she'd accepted; walking above deck more bare than she was now in the middle of a treacherous storm. The memory made her grin... but more so, the look in his eyes when she'd pushed her dress off in answer to his bluff. She liked surprising him and she would make it her goal to always do so....even if he hated it.

She adjusted her seat on the rock and took his chin; pulling him toward her so she could brush her lips against his; her hands cupping the side of his face as the silence of the room settled in around them. When she pulled away, she leaned her forehead against his and smirked. "You're an extemporaneous fool and you almost lost your boat and your life. And you should have taken me with you. ....But you are here now. To hell with your new boat. It can be repaired. I'm glad your here."

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Jul 4, 2019 10:32:16 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:32:16 GMT

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He leaned into her hand, letting her draw him close, meeting her lips without even pretending to fight. As much as he liked the aggression they had toward one another, he was beginning to learn that gentle had its own charms. Her hands were warm against his face and he felt content as she leaned her forehead against his, the words “To hell with your boat” making him grin. When she admitted verbally that she was happy to see him, he felt odd.

The thin linen of the dress was soaked, sticking to her and hiding nothing. He looked her over but not long. Instead he looked up into her face. The way she was looking at him was different. Something had changed.

Without thinking, he lifted himself up half way out of the water, kissing her just to feel her lips. His touch wasn’t hard or fierce. He didn’t use his tongue, nor did he use much passion at all. It was a kiss of exploration; learning what she actually felt like instead of just using her.

After a moment he lowered himself back down, looking up at her again. “Let’s see what else of mine you messed with.” If he teased her, she might ignore what he’d just done. In fact he was counting on it. He crossed to the side of the spring, and climbed out, wrapping a sheet around his waist.

He reached for her, tugging her to him as he’d done before, with her back to his chest, and walked them both back into the temple. Without really meaning to, he found his hands wondering over her again, directly against his resolve not to do so. Now that she’d tossed the wig aside, he could actually get to her face and he made the most of it. With one hand he forced her to tip her had so that he could get to her mouth while his other arm wrapped possessively around her.

Her front was still wet from him. The floor was slick and outside thunder boomed. Rain pelted the roof of the temple and the afternoon had slowly slid away to evening. Perhaps Gorgoa would brave the rain now that he had returned. Perhaps not. It mattered little since he didn’t plan on eating anytime soon.

“If I take you with me,” he said as he pushed aside gauzy drapes, bringing them closer to the bed. “You have to promise not to do this to my cabin.” Right before they reached the side of the bed, he turned her around, his hands moving from her hips to cup her face. He meant to kiss her hard, to shove her back, and to push into her without mercy. Instead he kept her close, kissing her as he did before, as though he’d never done it.

Ever so slowly he pressed her backward so that first the backs of her knees were against the mattress, then she’d be forced to sit down, and then finally lay back completely. He wouldn’t let her rush. This pace was new and interesting. Only once she was down on the bed did he move his hands, but all he did was reach down to take hers and pin them above her head.

He’d never simply felt her before. They were always in a hurry to come back together, test each other, rip each other apart. Now he didn’t want to do those things. Now he wanted to lay against her and just be.

Her dress was easily done away with and he removed the wesekh but left the rest of the jewelry. He climbed onto the bed beside her, pulling her to him, the sheet still about his waist. She was soft and smooth. The bracelets and rings made her look like the noble she was, even if they had a foreign appearance.

“You don’t want to come with me next time I go,” he murmured, running his fingers through her hair. “I’m not raiding. I’m plundering the Aegean. Any ship I see…” he shrugged, trusting that she would understand what he meant. That any ship he saw was going to be destroyed and most of her crew killed or left to drown. “It’s not what you want to be a part of.”

He shouldn’t be telling her. The agreement between Stravos and himself demanded absolute secrecy but who was she going to tell? They were on an island full of his own people. Aside from that he wanted her to know. For some reason it seemed important that she understand how barbaric he could be, as though she wasn’t painfully aware already.

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Jul 4, 2019 10:32:42 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:32:42 GMT

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Lukos's body language shifted almost instantaneously. To some, it wouldn't have been noticeable. But Thalia was dialed into him; sensing everything about him; his intake of breath..the way his muscles flexed beneath his skin. With a glance over her body, he looked back up at her; lifting out of the water so his mouth could claim hers. She leaned in as she'd grown accustomed to; ready to be swept up and away by his aggression. ....But he didn't force her to bend. Instead, his lips remained soft; gentle as he lingered long in the kiss. Her brow furrowed at the unexpected change, but she found it wasn't unenjoyable. Her shoulders eased and she raised her hand to his neck; not stroking it like she did before, but cupping it gently; fingertips playing into the soft curls of his hair at his neckline. She'd closed her eyes and the sensory deprivation of not seeing him just allowed her to feel the sentiment behind the kiss. Something in the back of her mind told her to push him away. To stop him.. stop this. That it wasn't what they did. ....But she couldn't. So she ignored that voice.

Finally, he lowered himself back into the water and pulled his lips from hers. Her fingers fell away from him and she opened her eyes; the spell broken as he gave a teasing retort. Her lips quirked up in a sardonic grin, but she watched as he moved to exit the pool and pulled a towel about his waist. She liked how they were unashamed of their bodies. Both walked about each other as comfortable in their skin as they were in clothes. It helped that they were both unapologetically attracted to each other. She enjoyed letting her eyes trail over the hardness of his muscles; the way his shoulders tapered into his waist and the ridges of his abdomen. The way his chest flexed when he lifted his arms and the thick muscles of his thighs. ...And that low V of his stomach that lead to his sex was... dizzying. Especially when he covered himself with the towel; slinging it low on his hips.

He rounded the pool and reached down for her; her fingers slipped into his and she allowed him to pull her up. Immediately his arms twisted her around and he pressed against her back as he had been before. His skin was heated from the pool and wet. Only the thin layer of linen kept his body from fully touching hers, but it provided little in the way of shelter. His hands moved possessively over her and she didn't fight him. She liked it in these moments. It was the only time she didn't challenge him for power...here.. now.. he could have it. She wanted him to control her; possess and dominate. To be the man he wanted to be.

they walked unevenly out of the cave; his hands moving over her body as if having never touched before. One hand lifted to her chin and pushed her jaw so his mouth could slant over hers. She leaned back enough so that their tongues could dance together; her heart racing in her chest as he pushed through the curtain of fabric that surrounded the bed. His mouth broke from hers and he teased her about the decor as he turned her around; taking her face in his hands. Her own fingers lifted to curl around his as she met his gaze. "I will not make a promise I cannot keep...." Hazel eyes glinted in amusement as his mouth found hers again; kissing her as he had in the cave. He was throwing her. She'd never kissed him this way before, nor vice versa. Their encounters were carnal; sometimes violent and passionate. It was all she knew because she'd only ever been with him. This kind of interaction felt more raw; emotional and deep. When he kissed her like this it wasn't just a precurser.. there was more. There was a need..a longing to connect and it appealed to her needs as a woman..however stunted they were. He stepped her back; slowly until her legs hit the mattress. And when she had nowhere else to go, she sat. His mouth continued to caress hers as he followed her down; leaning over her until she lay back beneath him; prone and vulnerable. Especially has his hand gathered her wrists and pinned them over her head. He was slow; deliberate; pulling away the thin fabric of her gown and removing her necklace. She felt exposed beneath him and the jewelry she wore, sans everything else, reminded her of what a temple priestess would wear. How apropos that they were here in Are's temple as she offered herself up to Lukos as a sacrifice. The rain pounded down outside and the thunder rolled in the distance; providing background noise as the lamps flickered overhead. Any attempt she made to move things faster were thwarted. He took his time; meticulously. As if memorizing every curve and how she felt. And maybe he was.

Finally, he climbed into bed and pulled her to him; her bare frame pressed intimately against him; only her arms tucked between them as she lay beneath him; looking up into his eyes. They were dark as pitch; soulless, some might say as the eyes were the window to see someone's soul. But his face held his soul. He wore his expressions on every fine line and scar. The slant of his mouth and the furrow of a brow. In an instant, his whole face could change and become terrifying. Or he could look at her like he did now; with soft acceptance; longing and something else she had no name for as it was new. Her fingers raised to press against his cheek and she offered him a forced smile. "I don't care if you're setting the whole world alight.... I'll be on that ship.... " She leaned up and found his mouth again; not interested in having this conversation now... not after not seeing him for so long. They wouldn't be leaving for some time. She would fight that battle when it became appropriate.

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Jul 4, 2019 10:33:09 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:33:09 GMT

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He didn’t pursue the issue. Instead he allowed her to kiss away the concerns of another day. If they didn’t actually speak, they could fall into the false sense of unity they had only when in the temple. This was what bonded them together; the way she pressed her hips against him, how he responded. No matter their differences, they were able to put them aside for this and even this was changing; had already changed.

This time he was not rough. Every kiss he gave was testing, tasting. He was in no hurry to leave her mouth but eventually he trailed downward. One hand slid down her side as he worked his way between her breasts, over her stomach, to her thighs. He’d never kissed her here before because up to now, most of what they’d done had been struggles for power. A bid to dominate the other.

He pushed her legs apart, pressing his lips to the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh. None of what he did was designed to startle her but he could feel she was a little tense, her body waiting for the next unexpected touch, confused as to whether it would be welcome. Turning his head, he flicked his tongue against her folds. This he had not done in a long time but there was nothing to remember. All he wanted to do was taste her but he found he didn’t want to stop.

His tongue swirled over her, while one hand reached up, massaging her breast as his other hand gripped her bottom. There wasn’t enough of him. He wanted all of her at once. Here, her mouth, her touches and caresses on him. He licked her, staying with her as she started to press against him. Usually this was not something he would have thought to do but he was starting to find that there was a bit of power here too.

She panted just as much with him down here as she did when he used his hand, if not more. He stayed with her if her hips lifted off the bed, not stopping until he felt her body vibrate. When she seemed to be coming down, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and moved up, pushing inside of her, knowing that doing so wouldn’t hurt her now. Her legs around his hips and the way her chest moved erratically up and down were enough to undo him.

He came inside her, kissing her as he did, using one hand on her jaw to keep her with him. Yes. She would definitely be going with him when he left again. There was no way he could go another three weeks without her even if they fought the entire time.

After a while, when they both lay side by side in the bed, he looked over at her, still wondering about her plans. They seemed so contradictory. She’d never said she wanted to stay here, but she everything she’d done, from giving herself to him to changing the temple suggested that she might want to. Yet the look she’d given when she told him that she would be on the boat with him, also said she still hadn’t given up on going home.

“Still hate me?” he asked with a half grin, stroking her hair. If the answer was yes, it made everything a lot easier. But he didn’t wait to see if she would say it. Instead he got up, going on a search for his clothing trunk until he found it and pulled on his pants. This needed to be over. He knew what he was doing and it would only make the inevitable more bitter.

“Food,” he said, clapping his hands once, fully trying to break the mood of what they had before. Pushing aside the curtains, he left her there, going to the table by the door, pretending to look over the food but after a moment, he simply pulled open the front door of the temple and stepped out onto the portico, closing himself out away from her. Crossing his arms over his chest, he glared at the rain that showed no signs of slowing down. Nor was there the slight form of Gorgoa traipsing up the slope to give him something to yell at.

What was he doing? He sighed in irritation. Somehow he'd gotten lost and he desperately needed to claw his way back out to find himself again.

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Jul 4, 2019 10:34:16 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:34:16 GMT

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Gods she'd missed him. She hated admitting it. She'd missed being curled up to him at all hours of the night; how he'd pull her to him unconsciously in his sleep even after a particularly heated row. The temple was far too quiet without their fights and the sound of making up afterward. The nights were almost unbearable. At least in the village, there were other people around. At night it was pitch black when the lamps went out and more silent than she'd ever been used to. Save the sound of the ocean breaking on the cliffs in the distance, not even the birds would make themselves known. And Artemis was a cat who liked to hunt. She was often out searching the hills for mice. Thalia was constantly chasing her back into the temple just so she wasn't alone, only to have her slink off again.

His mouth dragged from hers and trailed down her throat; over her chest and between her breasts. Her hands splayed in his hair; tangling in damp locks as she arched her back beneath him. Still, he moved lower; over her torso and stomach; pushing her legs apart to position himself between him. Her breath was erratic. His mouth grazed her inner thigh and she moaned as her head fell back. Her heels dug into the bed and she almost lost her mind as his mouth teased at the apex of her sex. She muttered a few unladylike curses and let him go so her hands could graze over her torso; tangling in the sheets by her side; gripping the fabric as if she might fall off the bed if she didn't. He was wrong... with what he was doing he held all the power. She felt lost to his touch; dependent on every flick of his tongue to give her release. His hand moved up to take hold of her breast and she whimpered; arching her back beneath him. Her hand grabbed his wrist on her backside; holding on to him tightly as he teased her; drawing her closer and closer to her ultimate release. She was lost; out of control; reliant on him to finish her. She shouldn't have liked the level of intimacy this entailed. She felt exposed to him and his gaze; having glanced down to catch him watching between the valley of her breasts. He saw every gasp of breath; the pink flush that painted her skin. How easily he was able to pleasure her and he enjoyed it.

It undid her.

She fell apart and shivered against him with one of the most intense releases she'd ever had. She buried her face into her pillow to keep from screaming as he continued his ministrations until her hand pushed him away because her body pulsed sensitively. He shifted and slid between her legs; already quite ready to take her and pushed inside her without preamble. She arched her back beneath him and stifled a moan with her fist; her legs tangling around his hips as he thrust against her. Pushing the pillow aside, her fingers lifted to graze against his hard chest; tracing his lower lip as he drew closer to his end. And when he did, she gathered him to her as he fell apart; his weight pressing down on her as she buried her face into his neck; nipping and flicking her tongue over salty skin.

Finally, his body stilled against her and she kept her legs wrapped around him; unable to let him move away. He felt far too good hilted inside her; his heated breath panting against her own neck. Her arms tangled tightly around his shoulders; hugging him to her as she closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath herself. In time, she released him enough to roll off her and turned to her side to face him; fingers tracing his jaw and chin as they basked in their afterglow; content in each other. With a glint of humor in his eyes, he asked if she still hated him before pushing himself up to get out of bed. She smirked back and turned enough to watch him over her shoulder. "Always.." But the vehemence she once had in her voice when she said the same thing was gone. Now it was merely a novelty.

He broke the spell of their coupling as he moved about the room energetically and she climbed from the bed; slipping into the cave as he went to find something to eat. She washed up a bit but pinned her hair above her head to keep it from getting wet and then left the pool to towel off and apply scented oil to her skin. After dressing, she padded barefoot out to the front of the temple behind him; slipping her hands around his waist so she could press her frame against his back. Her lips brushed against his shoulder and she stared over it through the rain down to the harbor. The clouds blotted out the sunset and it was already too dark to see properly, but the shape of a second ship sat low and dark near the Aceton; mere shadows in the rain. "You need more men...."

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Jul 4, 2019 10:34:44 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:34:44 GMT

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Mist from the rain clung to his skin by the time she came out onto the portico. He didn’t turn toward her. Instead he kept his gaze on the shadowed ships as her arms draped around his waist. Her soft kiss on his shoulder and the way she pressed against his back made him close his eyes for a moment. “You need more men.” She murmured.

He nodded. “Almost twenty,” the uncertain tenor in his voice betrayed his thoughts. Where would he put them all? Could he round up that many in time? Bringing new men here made trouble for his little paradise; every time, without fail. Until his current crew, and the new one established a pecking order, they had their own battles. It was a nightmare of bloodshed sometimes, forcing him to get new men and start the process over again.

“I need to fix the ship...hire another crew.” His hand slid absently over her arms as she hugged him. It shouldn’t take more than a week to repair the hull damage but until the storm cleared, there was no way to get a proper look. Thunder grumbled overhead, less ominous than before. The rain didn’t let up but it was the last of the lightning.

They watched the rain for a while, speaking intermittently about the ship and what would be needed to bring a whole new crew onto the island. Darkness fell. The storm eased and Lukos tugged Thalia to bed with him again. Life was certainly interesting; earlier this morning he wasn’t sure if he would make it to nightfall and now he couldn’t imagine not being alive to lay here with her.

Sleep was slow in coming. His mind was too active, his body alive with energy. It was well after midnight before he finally drifted off to sleep. He kept his arms around Thalia, entangled with her constantly after being so long without her. Unlike her, he did not mind the silence of the temple. It was familiar, its darkness comforting. There was almost a sensory deprivation, wholly different than when he was in his cabin aboard the Aceton; where the whole room was in constant motion and the sea made silence impossible and either moonlight or sunlight streamed through the small window.

He awoke in the morning, blinking rapidly to clear his vision and instinctively looking toward the half open door. Gorgoa’s shadowed form slipped through, laying out food. She moved around the temple, lighting lamps and even through the gauzy curtains he could tell her eyes were upon them. Without being as exposed as they used to be, he felt no reason to get up as she moved around. Instead he turned over onto his side, burying his face in Thalia’s hair and waited until Gorgoa shut the door, sealing them in again.

Though he tried, he couldn’t go back to sleep, despite the earliness of the morning. He nipped at Thalia’s neck. The soft, intimate caresses of last night were gone; a one time slip up that he would not make the mistake of doing again. When she purred against him he smirked. This morning when he took her, he was not gentle. His mouth was hard against hers, his body demanding. She did not seem to mind the change, matching him with nails and teeth.

When they finally lay side by side, panting, with her a little bruised over her hips and him nursing teeth marks on his lower lip, he grinned over at her. “Morning.”

The energy he’d felt last night had only intensified after he’d taken her again this morning, especially after the fierceness of it. He sat up, looking her over, smoothing his hand down the center of her chest before leaning down to give her a real kiss. “I want to show you the ship,” he said, pulling away to get off the bed. He pulled on clothes, pushed through the curtains and pulled open the temple door, staring out down at the harbor below.

A lazy drizzle covered the island but it was nothing at all to the storm last night. He breathed in the wet scent of rain, pushing the door open wider to let it in. Daylight peered weakly through the heavy steel curtain of clouds. The path was slick with mud but he was impatient nonetheless to be outside, down at the beach.

He wanted to take her by the hand, showing her his newest possession. She likely wouldn’t care but it didn’t matter. Truth be told, she was the entire reason he’d bought it, rather than stolen it. That, he felt, should make her a little more satisfied with it.

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Jul 4, 2019 10:35:10 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:35:10 GMT

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Thalia fell asleep almost immediately when they laid down for the evening; wrapped around him with the warmth of his body against her and his arm draped across her shoulders; the sound of his breathing and heartbeat against her ear instead of the eerie silence of the temple. It was like coming home. He came home. Their evening had been spent in rare companionable silence and relative comfort; speaking of the boats; eating some of the food left on the table. Thalia listened to him as he told her of his plans; what he wanted to do with the ships; his ideas made him dreamy-eyed and gave a light in his eyes she didn't often see. He was an ambitious man; thriving on growth and expanding his fleet. And while she didn't agree with how he gained his wealth, she appreciated his desire to become more powerful. ...Without admitting it to him, she actually sort of admired it.

When he rolled over into her the next morning; burying his face into her hair as the door closed behind Gorgoa, she gave a soft purr of protest as he'd expected. His demands were less exploratory as they were the evening before; he was harder; more assertive and she met his aggressiveness with that of her own. When the sheets clung to them and she fell off him to lay at his side, they struggled to catch their breath; skin flushed, bruised and marked from nails and teeth. Her eyes sparkled as he finally gave her a greeting and she buried her face in the pillow to stifle a self-indulgent smile.

She rolled over and took a deep breath to stare up at the ceiling. The room felt thick and humid, but cool as the night air clung to the island. His finger grazed down her skin intimately; causing the bud of her nipple to harden of its own accord. She felt ultra sensitive; every brush of his hand tickled and she pushed his hand way; curling her fingers in his instead as he leaned down to kiss her swollen lips. The glint in his eyes showed his excitement and she wanted to be excited for him. So he informed her that he wanted to show her his ship, and then climbed quickly from the bed. Thalia followed slowly; wandering to the pool to ward off a chill and rinse off before dressing. She braided her hair loosely as she wandered over to the table; plucking up a few things to eat and some fresh water that tasted like the rain smelled. Having eaten enough, she gathered some bread and followed him outside to the portico to look at the new ship that sat low in the water; the mist shrouding it from full view, but it was enough for her to raise her brow. "....If you don't work on it today, it'll be under water." It was stating the obvious. She was rather surprised it hadn't sunk the night before.

She broke off pieces of bread as she followed him; taking bites as they strolled casually down the wet hill; careful not to slip. She kept her gown lifted so it didn't drag in the wet grass. It was completely impractical for such ventures, or even living on an island. But he hadn't exactly taken them for practicality, and now they were the only thing she had. Following him out onto the dock, she slowed as they wandered to the new ship; looking it over. It was smaller than the Aceton with a large front curve wrapped in iron. It was sleeker in line and likely didn't have much space below deck. Her brow raised and she looked over at him as Artemis wandered over to them; complaining about having been caught in the rain the night before. Thalia finished her bread and plucked her up to rest her beneath her arm as she followed him onto the deck of the ship to look it over. She turned around and look at him. "This is a warship..." She wasn't proficient in naval vessels, or sailing at all, for that matter. But she'd seen ships coming in and out of port or high in the hills at the palace. That was the distinct difference between this ship and the Aceton; with its large hull and heavy girth that wasn't built for speed. "....Whatever do you need a warship for?"

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Jul 4, 2019 10:35:41 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:35:41 GMT

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"....If you don't work on it today, it'll be under water."

He gave her a flat stare in return for stating the obvious. It was a lesson well learned from the last damaged warship currently underwater in his harbor. If not for the storm, he would have set about making repairs immediately. Instead, he’d had to risk this ship too but it had stayed mostly afloat; a promising omen.

Together the two of them descended the steps, avoiding the muddy path by choosing the grass instead. He followed Gorgoa’s trail. Her footsteps had left the grass flat and silver looking. By the time they reached the bottom of the hill, their damp clothes stuck to them like a second skin. Glancing back, he watched as she tugged at her dress. Never once had he given a second’s thought to what she wore but if she was going to come with him, they’d need to find her something else.

It was early enough that most of his crew was still eating their breakfast. He passed through the village, ignoring the peering eyes until he came to the beach. Theirs were the first footprints in the sand and as they drew closer to the ship, he bit his lower lip, glancing over at her to see what she thought. She was distracted with her cat.

He frowned, watching as she pulled Artemis into her arms before she finally looked over at him. Her eyebrows were raised in question. Arching a brow, he said, “Come on.” They climbed the rope ladder still hanging over the side and stepped onto the single long deck. It was narrow, with nothing but the mast and the rudders on either side to take up space. Below deck was only enough room for rowers with a seat at the end for the drummer to keep time. Only a few compartments were dedicated to supplies and the compartments were miniscule.

This ship was meant for speed, able to turn quickly. Its design made it agile; able to cut through the water to batter its opponent into submission. He was immensely proud of it, even with the gaping, ragged hole in the hull. Crossing his arms as she took in the ship, he waited for her to say something. At last, she did.

"This is a warship..."

“Yes,” he said slowly, preparing himself for the fight she was likely going to give him. Last night, when he’d warned her what it was for, she’d brushed him aside, declaring she didn’t care if he set the world on fire. All she’d wanted was to tangle up in the sheets with him. Now that they were here, it seemed she was a little more concerned.

"....Whatever do you need a warship for?"

He squared up with her. “War.” Whatever Stravos was planning, war would factor into it. The man hadn’t divulged details but he didn’t need to for Lukos to take the two unbelievably heavy chests of gold. Once he’d answered the man’s summons, he hadn’t had much of a choice. He did not fear the noble families but he wasn’t a fool; the Stravos were not crossed and if they were, the punishment was severe. The gold was in his possession, and he needed to hold up his end of the deal.

“Let’s go down,” he took her by the hand and led her to the steps leading from the deck into the middle of the ship where it was the same narrow set up, only this one had rows of benches stretching all the way back. Where water had been at his lower thighs last night, it was at his hips now. Tugging her with him, he moved down the line until they came to the splintered hole. “It’s pretty bad. Pitch and new timbers should see us sailing before week’s end.”

Turning to her, he took her by her upper arms, gazing intently into her eyes. “I will allow you to come if you wish, but this isn’t a slave run. I’m sinking ships. It’ll be violent.” Even in the weeks he’d been away from her, he’d trained with his sword every day, forcing his men to do the same. They were all better than they had been and there was not the slightest doubt that they would best any ship they happened to find. Already he’d overwhelmed vessels in the past with great success. Their training would only ensure a cleaner victory.

“You would be happier if you stayed here. Rearranging the temple.” There would be no cabin for them to sleep in together. This ship meant sleeping in the open air on deck. He looked her over, knowing she was a creature of comforts. The oils on her skin and in her hair that made her so alluring to him were also what convinced him that her place was on the island; sword skill or no sword skill. Without tempering his words with kindness or attempting to soften them, he explained the hardships aboard a vessel like this. Though he'd never been a soldier, he well knew what ship life was like without a captain's cabin.

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Jul 4, 2019 10:36:11 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:36:11 GMT

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Climbing a rope ladder in a dress was no small feat. Climbing a rope latter in a dress and sandals was darned near impossible. And climbing one with a cat? Well, that was just asking for trouble. Luckily she was able to climb a couple of steps before setting her up on the rail and manage the rest of the way without tripping or getting her skirts caught up in the flimsy ladder. It was the first time she wouldn't have minded much if Arktos had hoisted her over his shoulder and did all the work. Granted, thinking back to that first day, she remembered how much she felt like she was about to pitch off his shoulder and plummet into the hard surface of the small boat below. Perhaps she could manage in sandals well enough on her own.

Straddling one leg, and then the other over the rail, she slid down onto the ship; plucking up the cat. With her questions, Lukos stared at her as if expecting a fight and he had good reason to. With his vague answers, she gave a frustrated huff. "Yes, I see that. War with whom? Against whom?" She wouldn't let this go. Because whatever he was planning with only one small ship was incredibly fool hearty. It was one thing to slip into a quiet cove at the dead of night with one ship to pillage and steal from ports. It was quite another to take down a ship on the open sea full of experienced pirates, or soldiers. It was a death wish. "You do realize, when you go to war with someone, they usually come with more than one ship." Her voice took on a tone of sarcasm; as if she was explaining things to a small child.

She sighed as he took her hand to lead her down the stairs; a frown set on her face and a nagging feeling in her stomach. She set Artemis down and protested as she got to the middle rung; not exactly wanting to climb down into the cold water of the Aegean in a dirty ship. But he didn't take no for an answer; tugging her down into the hull as she gasped; the cold water didn't come to her hips as she was shorter than him, it came to her mid waist.

Well. ..So much for that dress.

She pushed through the water; her arms held up to at least keep them dry and she shook her head; growing more and more frustrated. Angry and she didn't herself understand why. What was it to her if he wanted to run off and kill himself?? It made no difference to her, after all.

Except that it did. If she went with him, she'd likely go down with him and the rest of his crew. If she stayed, she'd be stranded on what only amounted to a deserted island after said ship sank. Either way, she wasn't getting home. He pulled her to him; taking her arms so he could stare at her sternly; warning her of the risks in sailing with them. Of the hardships of being on such a boat and her plush lips flattened into an irritated line; cheeks flushing despite the chill of the water. "You're out of your damned mind." She pushed his hands off of her and turned to slosh through the water back to the stairs; harping like a banshee at him as she moved. "There are thirty women in that village who sit and stare at the water for days on end waiting and watching for the father of their children to come home.. who depend on them...on you for food and supplies." She pulled up her wet dress and started to climb the stairs out of the water. "And you want to risk every man on your ship..every life on this island... for what?" She sludged up the stairs. The more she spoke the angrier she got; thinking of the women who sat at the edge of the dock for the last week on the lookout for the ship. ...For sitting atop the cliffs herself and doing the same damned thing. He had no idea what it was like being left behind. He left and he had purpose. He had the promise that he would return. And if he didn't? He knew his fate. He wasn't left to wonder what'd happened to him for days and weeks on end. He wouldn't be left to starve because they had no supplies. But he had crates of useless trinkets, fine drapes, gold and silver jewelry and fine gowns. None of which amounted to a hill of beans if they couldn't get off the island.

Rearrange the temple. She couldn't see straight she was so enraged. She'd rearranged the temple to keep her mind off his absence. Of sitting on the edge of that blasted cliff going out of her ever-loving mind. And the worst of it? She had no justification for her concern. No reason for the worry and the anger at him leaving her there and now to do it all over again, but with a much greater chance of not coming back? She bent down to remove her shoes and hoisted up the soaking fabric of her gown before she climbed over the edge of the boat and jumped down to a crouch onto the dock; forgetting the cat; forgetting Lukos. Except she couldn't forget Lukos. It was the only damned thing she thought about anymore.

She sidestepped a few of the crew that had seen them walk through the village and thought Lukos had wanted an early start. When she reached the edge of the dock her hurried steps turned into a run. And she ran. all the way back through the village; up the hill and through the temple; to that same cliff she'd sat on almost every night for the past three weeks. She sank into the grass on the edge and took in deep gasps of air to keep the tears at bay. Because she had no right to cry. The women in the village. The wives and their children. They had a right to cry. She had no hold on anyone on that ill-fated warship. Least of all Lukos.

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Jul 4, 2019 10:37:23 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:37:23 GMT

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He didn’t correct her when she assumed he meant a literal war and his own anger ignited at her reaction. She must think him an idiot. She knew nothing of naval battles and yet she was the one attempting to explain to him how they worked. Truthfully he knew she wouldn’t take this well and he’d hoped not but it didn’t stop his temper flaring anyway. As she shoved off his hands, accusing him of being a lunatic, he glared at her retreating back.

She slogged through the water and he followed her, faster than she could move but he didn't reach for her. It was too tempting to let her stoke the flames of his temper into outright fire. It could be argued that he truly liked to fight with her. It was a state of normal to him. Playing nice was entirely alien and whenever they got along too well, he found himself finding ways to push her buttons, give her reasons to hate him so that he could hate her in return. It was easier than facing other uncomfortable truths.

He pursued her up the stairs, his breath practically on her neck as she ranted about the women and children who were stuck on this island, fully dependent on their husbands - on him. Things he already knew and he supposed with fresh irritation that she assumed he took the responsibility lightly. “Of course,” he growled, finally gripping her arm again to forced her around to look at him. “The princess descends from on high, taking pity on the lowly and poor.”

“I’ve told you before,” he hissed. “They’re whores. They know what this life is. None of us were raised without a slap to the face or half starving most of the time. Don’t pretend you understand them. You don’t.” The fire blazing behind her eyes seared into him but he wouldn’t stop.

"And you want to risk every man on your ship..every life on this island... for what?" she wrenched out of his grip.

“It has nothing to do with want!” he exploded, his voice rolling over the water. “Zeus almighty!” he raked his hands through his hair, shaking his head at her in wonder, his fury white on his face. “There is no choice!”

She was half way over the railing, straddling it and clearly not paying him attention. This was the flipside to bedding a noble woman. He liked how haughty she could be; how she fought back when they were alone, tangled up together. What he did not like was when she inserted opinions where she had no business. Lukos grit his teeth, watching her as she turned her back on him, preparing to jump. "Are you fucking kidding me?" He demanded but the words were barely out of his mouth when she pushed away from the ship, dropping out of sight.

"Phaedra!" He hissed, darting to the railing and hanging over, fully expecting to see her splayed out, hurt.

She'd made it safely to the beach.

The drizzle eased into constant mist. He wiped at his face, glaring daggers as she walked away, not looking back at him. Her dress stuck to her legs and backside, revealing the shape of her body for all to see. A few of his men walked onto the beach, giving her odd looks as she passed them. He wanted to hurl insults at her just to get her to turn around but he held his tongue. The men glanced up at him in uncertainty, knowing the kind of day they were about to have. His black anger always promised back breaking work.

From here he could watch her full progress. She maintained a mostly dignified, if emperious walk, before breaking into a run. He was unable to pay attention to anything else except her retreating form until she disappeared inside the temple. His anger still burned hot but it had turned on him, burning the wick at both ends; for her and for himself for goading her.

“Captain?” Hedrakles called up. Lukos tore his gaze away from the temple.

“I want Arktos,” he snapped.

Hedrakles shook his head. “He’s still abed, captain. Should we-”

“Get your sorry ass up here,” Lukos barked. Hedrakles dropped his head and climbed the rope ladder, followed by the rest of them as they climbed single file. Once the fat little cook was on deck, Lukos took him down into the hold, showing him and the others the hole and explaining quickly what he wanted done. “I want it floating again by nightfall,” he said. Hedrakles’s head bobbed up and down like a cork on water, agreeing to anything and everything Lukos said.

Sloshing his way back up onto the deck, Lukos left the men to it as he headed into the village. His quick steps were loud as he barged up to Arktos’s door. It was unlike his bear to be asleep when the sun was rising. Slamming his fist against the door, he shouted, “Arktos!” Shuffling inside greeted this and a woman’s voice but no man’s. Misplaced rage smoldered in his chest. “Open the damn door. Now.” More shuffling and then the door swung open.

Calliphana stood there, naked and leaning against the doorframe. Her body blocked his view of the gloomy interior of the hut. “Move,” his through gritted teeth, reaching out to push her aside but she merely stepped into his way, an anxious smile on her lips.

“Captain,” the tenor of her voice was meant to soothe him but it only made him irritated. He didn’t like being toyed with. “Why don’t you come with me? I’ll keep you busy while Arktos gets himself ready.”

Lukos put his hand flat on her chest and shoved her back. She stumbled out of his way as he moved into the hut. It was larger than most of the village, having three rooms. A main room where the cooking, sitting, and eating were done, Arktos’s bedroom, and the spare room for the girls to do their own business.

Calliphana hurried after him, snaking her arms around his waist in an effort to draw him back with her to her room but he moved as though her strength was nothing. As he was about to push open Arktos’s door, she slid in front of him, again blocking the room with her body. Before she could attempt to distract him again, he wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck. From this position he had control and he used it to force her aside.

“Captain don’t,” she finally pleaded, her fingers curling in his shirt as he opened the door. It swung open and inside the tiny room lay two naked bodies, one considerably larger than the other. A mighty snore rolled toward him. Periboea rose up from Arktos’s side, rubbing her eyes and looking momentarily confused by Lukos’s presence and Calliphana hovering behind him. In an instant her face cleared. She scrambled over Arktos, unashamedly naked like Calliphana, and began the same routine; attempting to distract Lukos from the fact that the bear would not be rising before noon if he was lucky.

“Get me water,” Lukos growled as Periboea flung herself against his chest, her hands roving his body. Arms came around him from behind with Calliphana pressing her lips to his neck. “Now,” he hissed, shoving his shoulder backward. Calliphana let go, glaring at his back as she grabbed a bucket from beside the door, now in a temper herself. Periboea stood on her tiptoes, kissing at his jaw but he brought his hand up to her throat, keeping an uncomfortably firm hold there and forcing her back until she sat on the bed beside Arktos.

“Do not touch me again,” he warned. She glared up at him, openly angry now but sat obediently with her hands in her lap. Arktos snored on, completely unaware of his whores, or his captain staring down at him. At last Calliphana returned with the bucket, shoving it into Lukos’s hands and intentionally sloshing water down his front. He’d have backhanded her but his arms were full and she gave him a little smirk.

“Arktos. Wake up.” Lukos upended the bucket over the bear’s face.

Arktos gasped and sputtered, his arms flailing out, catching Periobea with a hard smack. She yelped, leaping up, ignoring what Lukos had said about about not touching him, and caught him about the middle, hiding behind his back. He didn’t bother to follow through with his unspoken threat because his attention was on Arktos, who stared up at him through bloodshot eyes.

“Captain,” he greeted hoarsely.

“It’s daylight.”

“Aye,” Arktos blinked slowly. He was still drunk.

“Get up. And slosh to the beach. You’re carrying the timber for the ship,” Lukos clenched his hands into fists. Periboea let go of Lukos and went to sit on the sopping bed beside Arktos. She smoothed her hands over his wet face, purring words of encouragement to him, attempting to get him to sit up but it was obvious to Lukos that his bear was in no condition to carry anything. He couldn’t even orient himself fully awake.

“Sober him up,” he turned to find Calliphana eyeing him with something between want and hate; not dissimilar to Thalia. Unlike Thalia, however, he didn’t want her in return. “I want him on the beach in an hour,” Lukos told her before making his way out of the hut, slamming the door behind him.

The misting continued. He glared straight ahead at the medicine woman in the doorway of her own hut. She gave him a look he didn’t know how to interpret. It was judging and yet she clearly didn’t want his anger directed toward her because she turned and disappeared back into her house. Turning his gaze up the hill, he sighed. As it was clear that very little work would be done by either him or Arktos until closer to noon, he decided to follow Thalia at last.

He walked through the village, his steps purposeful. His anger had cooled a bit but it left him grim. At any moment he was ready to flare up again and he wasn’t entirely sure that he was looking for her to make nice. Arktos was yet another problem but by the time he walked through the temple onto the cliffs, his bear was mostly forgotten. The sight of her so miserable pricked at what little conscience he had.

“Phaedra,” her name left his mouth in a frustrated sigh. He didn’t know what to say now that he was here. Instead of apologizing, he reverted back to their argument before. “Do you think anyone on this island is here by choice? None of us have a choice. Not you. Not me. Not Arktos. Not his whores.” The familiar anger at her naivety was beginning to surface again and he realized he was aiming for a real fight with her. She needed to understand what she seemingly refused to see.

“I go out on that fucking ocean because it’s all I have. My father isn’t some rich bastard sitting in his mansion reaping the rewards of his slave labor. He’s dead from rocks collapsing on him in the fucking mines. My freedom is dependent on those ships. On that gold. I’m never going back.” He clenched his jaw. “You get angry all you want. No one fucking chooses this. No one. We’re sold into it. Born into it. Or stolen into it.”

This was driving him crazy. The thought that she honestly assumed he did this for some kind of sick pleasure. That he got up every morning and drove his body to near exhaustion, falling into bed at night, because he, what? Liked back breaking work? Did she assume that he liked killing people? Or that he enjoyed ripping them from their families? The way he was ripped from his own? Did she even know? She’d never asked and he realized with startling clarity that she knew absolutely nothing about him and it was obvious now that she didn’t care to.

“Stay up here,” he said, forcing down actual emotion he didn’t want. “Stay away from my people. Don't keep filling the women's heads with your superior noble ideals. You’re not doing them any favors by stirring up ideas they can’t use.” With that, he turned, walking back toward the caves.

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Jul 4, 2019 10:38:31 GMT

Posted In Red Sun Rising on Jul 4, 2019 10:38:31 GMT

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