Just a little something I found. I'll be putting this up in small parts.
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| Narcissus Flower |
The laughter of the nymphs reached my ears as I lay in the
tall grass enjoying Apollo’s light. Kalypso sat beside me, her golden hair spread out around her as she weaved flower stems together in a wreath. The aroma of roses, crocuses, and violets mixed with irises
and hyacinths surrounded me and I smiled sleepily, content in my grassy bed. I looked
up, blinking as someone blocked my light and found Artemis, standing with her hands on her hips. Her toga accentuated her athletic curves and her
black hair flowed behind her in the breeze.
“Persephone,
there is a boar further in the forest that I wish to hunt. The others follow
me. Do you wish to join us?”
I shook my
head and stretched my arms out. “I think I shall rest here for a while.
Apollo’s rays are so warm that I can barely keep open my eyes. Kalypso may wish
to accompany you.”
The nymph
nodded, smiling and laid her flowery crown on my breast. She stood, dusting her
dress off and joined hands with another of the nymphs.
Artemis
leaned forward, kissing me on the cheek. “Rest well, cousin. We shall return
triumphant.”
She set off
in a graceful sprint towards the mountain. The nymphs’ laughter once again
filled the meadow as they ran behind her. Soon their voices faded, replaced by
the songs of small birds. I drifted into a light slumber, listening to their
chirping.
The sweet
scent of a flower woke me as it drifted on the wind. It was unlike anything I
have ever smelled before. I sat up peering around the meadow dazedly. Unable to
locate the source of the smell I climbed to my feet and the green waves of glass, using my hand to shade my
eyes from the sun. A small amount of time had passed and Artemis had not yet returned
from her hunt. I was alone in the meadow.
Intrigued
by a flower would have such an intoxicating perfume, I followed the trail of
the scent through the high grasses. I passed the roses and violets without a
second glance, for I was quite familiar with their aroma. This was something
new and I wanted to learn everything I could about it. The scent of the flower
led outside the meadow and I paused, uncertain of whether to wait for the
others or continue my search. This meadow was protected by my mother, for she
feared my being alone. Even here she had me accompanied by Artemis and the
nymphs for Artemis was skilled in battle and had a strong dislike for
men. I sighed, torn between my curiosity and the inclination to obey my mother.
Knowing Artemis, she would be on her hunt for the rest of the day. When she
returned there would be no time to investigate my flower.
With a
nervous breath, I stepped out of the protective confines of the meadow. I
gained more courage with every step towards the forest as I tasted independence
for the first time. I slowed my pace, admiring the way the shafts of sunlight
hit the trees. The scent was stronger towards a small clearing and I stepped in
eagerly, searching for the source. To the left of the clearing was a group of
tiny white flowers. The shafts sprung up several inches with four or five snowy
blossoms each. I knelt down taking one of the delicate blooms between my
fingers.
“The
Narcissus.” A man’s voice murmured close to my ear.
I jumped back startled,
dropping the flower. My gaze traveled up the gold trimmed ebony toga to the cold pale face of my uncle. His
black hair was slicked back and fell to his shoulders. His lips held a stiff
smile, as if they were unused to such an action. That smile did not travel to
his gray eyes, which traveled with icy calculation.
I backed
away from him in silent uneasiness, searching for an escape route. I had seen very little of this uncle as my
mother discouraged much interaction with my male family members, but he always
frightened me with his aloofness.
“He waved
his hand to the collection of flowers. “It is called the narcissus. Beautiful,
aren’t they?”
I turned to
run and found him in my path, holding a bouquet of narcissi to me. “Please,
stay for a while? I would like to speak with you. Do you really wish
to end your exploration so soon when you have only begun to have your first
taste of freedom?”
I paused, biting my lip. While I was very wary of men, I did not
want to end my little adventure just yet. Sensing my wavering attitude, he took
a step back and motioned to a obsidian and gold chariot, pulled by a large
black stallion. “Have you seen the mountain from an aerial view? It is a wonder
that you should experience at least once. Shall we take a small tour?”
I stared at
the chariot. What was the harm in one little ride? I nodded my head. My curiosity had overcome
my wariness of him. I took the flowers and stepped into the chariot. There was
very little room for two people, so when he stepped into the chariot he pressed
close to me. His arms came around either side of me as he grabbed the reigns. I
shivered as I felt his warm breath of the back of my neck.
He flicked
the reigns with a “Hyah!” and the stallion reared and leaped into the air. The
horse’s hooves made no sound as it galloped through the sky. I gave a gasp of
amazement as we rose higher and higher. The large mountain covered
by a blanket of green trees and the peak was capped with snow. I started down
below as we circled the mountain and spotted the meadow. From here it was a
bright emerald patch surrounded by the deeper green of the forest and brown of
the mountain. I could make out small bursts of color which I guessed were the
flowers.
So caught up was I in the wonder of
seeing the area from the sky that I was completely taken by surprise when Hades
abruptly reigned the horse into a fast decline. I began to struggle in horror
as the ground rushed closer and he pulled me against him in a strong
grip. He spread the fingers of his other hand apart and the earth split into
two.
“No! Let me
go! Please!” I beat my fist against his chest.
“Silence
child! You should feel honored. I have chosen you to be my queen.” His voice
was now coldly arrogant and he tightened his grip on me.
I screamed and covered my face as we passed into the crevice. Darkness surrounded me as the
earth swallowed us.
To be continued next week in The Underworld.
About What Kills Me, Book One: An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race.
So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must battle to survive.
How will she convince the empire that she is just an innocent teenager-turned bloodsucker and not a creature of destruction? And if she cannot, can a vampire who is afraid of bugs summon the courage to fight a nation of immortals?
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About Wynne: Wynne Channing is a national newspaper reporter and award-winning young adult novelist. Wynne loves telling stories and as a journalist, she has interviewed everyone from Daniel Radcliffe and Hugh Jackman to the president of the Maldives and Duchess Sarah Ferguson. The closest she has come to interviewing a vampire is sitting down with True Blood‘s Alexander Skarsgard (he didn’t bite). She briefly considered calling her debut novel “Well” so then everyone would say: “Well written by Wynne Channing.”
