#Chapter1
Eyes... Scales... And snakes. Everything would always starts with a dream like this. She's in a cave filled with poisonous snakes, and a woman whose hand were outstretch always pointing towards her, always waiting for her to take it, always waiting for her... The woman's voice was low and sultry, her giggle would echo around the cave and touch her, it would caress her ears and it would make her shiver.
Statues were seen in the cave, with faces of an angry men, with their sword thrown into the air ready to strike, but amidst their advance, cold rippling sensation would roll upon their bodies and before they know it, they have turn into stones.
Then she would feel the woman's cold hand wrap around her waist and the hissing sound of the snakes will became louder. The woman would then wrap her body around her and she would whisper.
/"Look me in the eyes, look me in the eyes./" She would smile then.... And then she would open her mouth and it will swallow her whole.
/"My lady? My lady?/" Lyra gasp and opened her eyes, her breathing was ragged and she could feel the sweat in her body... Her body still tingles from the sensation she had felt, it's as if she wasn't dreaming at all.
/" My lady? Are you okay?/" She blinks her eyes and followed the voice of her trusted friend.
/" Yes, yes i'am fine. /" She said reaching out for her friends hand who quickly held hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.
/"You must get ready now my lady, or you'll be late for your morning worship, the Goddesses wouldn't be pleased if you are late./" Slowly her friend helped her to stand up. She was then given a water to drink.
/"Are nightmares plaguing you again? You must pray for the Goddesses to take it away for you./" Her friend Gwen said again as she gently guided her out of her room. Lyra was never born blind, when she was young, she still could see everything, but then she got sick, everyone thought she wasn't going to survive. Hell illness made her eyesight poor, she wasn't completely blind, but the only thing she could see is a person's silhouette.
/"Would you like to take a bath before you go to the temple?/" She turns her head towards Gwen and smiled.
/"I would like to pray first./" She said as she relays on Gwen to lead her to the temple, she could still walk without someone guiding her, as long as she had a cane to poke the ground she could do just fine, and she had already memorize the layout of their castle, But her friend, Gwen always insist on Guiding her. Upon arriving to the temple, Gwen allowed her to walk by herself and left her their. She walks five steps before stoping, because she was sure that she is in the middle of the temple. Inside the temple there were three gigantic statues of The three Goddesses whom the kingdom of Pragma consider as important. It was the Goddess Hera, Athena and Artemis. These Goddesses are said to favor them and protected them against any enemies.Euryale would pray to them every morning, Afternoon and evening.
/"Please hear my prayers./" She would murmur as she clasp her hands together and kneel she would then closed her eyes and spend at least a good hour of praying, but mostly of her prayers weren't of asking but of giving adoration and praises.
Suddenly a soft breeze pass her by and she felt a soft caress against her cheeks, she remained kneeling and closed her eyes tightly as she kept on praying. She wasn't alarmed, because she knew...that it was one of the Goddesses, just greeting her a good and blessed morning. Once her prayers are done the soft caresses she received had also disappeared.
/"My lady, your bath is already ready for you./" She smiled at Gwen and once again let her lead towards the Bath house. Once inside she was Left alone again with a small bell in her hand that she would ring when she's done bathing.
The water was warm, and she could still remember that the bathhouse is actually open and facing towards the sea, you could see the sun rising from the horizon. Lyra sighed and closed her eyes as she relax in the water. She was busy bathing when she heard someone getting in the water. She turn around to try and to look as to who is it, but not even a silhouette could be seen. She gasp when she felt a strong yet soft hand touched her shoulder.
/"Shhhh...fear me not/" the woman whispered as she gently pull her towards her until Lyra's back pressed against the woman's front.
/"Fear me not child, fear me not./" The woman whispered again with her low voice that send goosebumps to Lyra's body, The woman then proceed to bathe her. Lyra should feel scared, she should be screaming but this isn't the first time a deity had visited her. She actually recognize her voice.
/"Goddess Athena./" She whispered, she could feel her hand wondering through her body, touching places that men are not allowed.
/"I have come to visit you. I have heard your prayers and I'am delighted by your words./" She felt the Goddess lips on the back of her ears.
/"You have grown into a beautiful woman. Aphrodite would grow jealous of you if she sees you./" She suddenly tensed when she heard the Goddess name.
/"My beauty is nothing compared to the beauty of the Goddess. I do no wish to anger her./"She heard a soft chuckle, before the touch of the Goddess disappeared only to return a moment later.
/"Your mare existence is enough to make her mad at you, to make her want to hurt you... But she can't do anything when you are under the protection of the Goddess Hera. Not even the great Zeus could do anything to you. Here in your kingdom we the three Goddesses have favored you. We gave you our blessings./" She felt a light kiss on her shoulder and a light kiss on her nape.
/" Hera will protect you against the eye of the other gods, while I will protect you against the harsh grip of men./" She felt a little relieve to hear that. The Goddesses would often make their presence known to her when they wanted to talk to her or join her in her activity. But the one who always visit her is Goddess Athena. She would always surprise her, she would even bring gifts and sometimes exotic foods to please her.
/" Thank you./" She said, the Goddess chuckle and kissed her on her cheek one last time before she disappeared. Once Lyra was sure that she is gone she rang her bell and waited for her friend to fetch her. Her friend quickly came in and help her to dry her body, once done she then dressed her and led her to the grand hall where her family gathers to eat breakfast.
/"What do you mean by that?! How did she manage to enter our kingdom without anyone knowing?!/" She heard her father shouted followed by the breaking of glass and plate.
/"Hunt her down! Kill that wicked wench and bring it's head to me!!!/" She jumps when she heard another crash.
/"My dear, please calm your self./" She heard her step mother said. She could tell that her step mother is in distress too.
/"Sister, come over here./" She felt her older sister's hand on her shoulder before she followed her.
/"What's the matter? Did something happen?/" She asked her older sister, Alexandra. She puts her hand on her sister's shoulder and allowed her to be guided.
/"Another attack have happened to the city, One of the Gorgon sisters attacked our troops that had been doing scouts in the forest./" It wasn't a new thing for Lyra, one of the Gorgon had nested in there city, they have made half of the forest that surrounded there city their lair.
/"Why did she attack them? Maybe they have trespass./" She said while following her sister down to the series of stairs.
/"No one knew why, there were no survivors./" Alexandra made her sit to one of the chairs in their balcony.
/"Anyway, I want you to be careful, refrain from wondering around the city or the forest. I would rather prefer you explore the beach./" She nods her head, she felt her sister touch her cheeks and smiled.
/"Anyway, let's change the topic. How have you been adelfí?/"
/" I'am fine, nothing much have changed, how about you? How are you?/" They were silent for a while, and again she heard her sister sighed.
/" Father is sending me away to a foreign kingdom. To help their kingdom to win a war in exchange for alliance. I will be gone for a long time little sister, and their is no guarantee that I will return again./" Her sister reached out for her hand and held it tight together before she kissed her knuckles.
/" Pray to the Goddesses for me, Pray to the God of Seas for my safe passage, pray and above all, pray for Athena's guidance over me and my men./" She gave her sister's hand a small squeeze and smiled.
/" I will pray for you. That's a promise./" After their conversation the two proceed to enjoy their breakfast.