Chapter 6 Tale of Privacy

It was another day at the on going silent wolf den. It's been many months I had last seen the sunlight and fortunately for me because I was goddess of the moon, so technically night is more of my domain. If Apollo was in my situation, he'd have been begging them to tie him outside the cave, where the sunlight can be reached.

The memories of Apollo saddened me. I was worried about the Hunt of how they would react the situation. I had been kidnapped before and they already went under a traumatic event. But now I assume that they thought I was dead instead of capture. None of the prisoner known had ever escaped before from werewolves, so there was no reason why not to accept that I was killed. Yet, I still wondered and hoped that they would come and look out for me. In fact that would be such a selfish desire and attempt to even think off. Having a scout near the wolf's border was already hazardous enough but infiltrate into their territory would be just a suicidal mission. Not taking into the account that someone is brave enough to even take the job. I know my hunters were brave and wouldn't hesitate to charge into the werewolves territory if they knew I was still alive. However, the fact that hoping for someone to rescue me was selfish and even absurd. But since I had nothing to do except counting the object in the room, I had the right to allow myself to imagine and hoping for the impossible.

I heard the other day the gods had reclaimed a state from the wolves, which was good for them but I didn't know at what cost. Lastly there had been movement of troops around the base and every morning I would hear their mailed amours chanting as they hastily marching by. I didn't know the gods would cause some serious trouble to these werewolves. I mean we lost left and right and not counting the fact that our technology and knowledge were inferior to the werewolves, and yet we caused these werewolves to start marching as if there was an attack at their door.

However, today I didn't see nor hear any movement at all outside. The room and surrounding was too quite for my liking as if I make a move and someone would just pop out and start yelling "Happy Birthday!". Freye surprisingly enough was not seen this morning and then again, she only just appear when her name was called. Percy left the room early in the morning and I barely got a chance to see him. Lately he had been softer to me with the demonstration of giving me a whole loaf of bread instead of half. He still threw it on the ground like feeding a pet, yet his expression towards me wasn't the resentment and disdain but rather the amusement and conceitedness. It was still abysmal to me  and looked pretty obnoxious of course because he never treated me this way and in fact I never expected him to be. He never spoke to be much, but expressed his curiosity in the a weird way. Sometimes he would just stare at me for hour, watching how I munched on the bread he threw on the ground. Sometimes he would intentionally threw something at me to annoy me and often it set me off. But I was glad I realised there was a limit and he knew when to stop. It usually ended up my having tears swelling up so it wasn't like not crossing the line, in fact he already way crossed it. We kinda shared that relationship and bond for the last couple of weeks and though we still had a long distance between us. Somehow, I felt, and still I don't know of that was information, that he was returning to his old self and we were getting closer like before any of this happening. He enjoyed teasing me as much as I enjoyed glaring at him. But surely I realised he actually wasn't not-laughable. The long horizontal line of his lips sometimes actually twitched over what I said. I knew he never took my words seriously and always thought of them as silly, but those words made his lips twitching upwards. It irritated me a lot about that smug face of his and his smirk really set me off. But it also set in fire in me when I realised he would only be that way around me. If someone just barge in between our little private time, his expression would suddenly change to a cold, emotionless and intimidating Percy. Often there wasn't many who would dare to barge in like that except some of his close captain, and often these event would change his mood for the rest of the day, and I wouldn't see his exasperated smuggling face again until the next day.

But as I said, this morning was unusually quite. No birds chipping outside, no movement of troops and even the dropping of water from the glittering caverns were ceased to existence.

The door creaked open and my head turned towards its direction. There normally wasn't anyone who would visit at this hour, especially when everyone knows Percy would be out. So the only person to expect was him.

Percy walked into the room in a good mood. I didn't know if something made that happen or just simply the fact he would be in good mood once he entered his room, in fact I'd seen that quite often when his mood would change completely once his feet are set in the room. He walked past me, his gaze still focus ahead and gradually turned to me. From the corner of his eyes, he could see me staring confusingly and the corner of his lips twisted upward. He sat on the chair casually and faced me, whom was sitting on the floor. He winked and my cheeks flutter. That jerk.

"Is my face that handsome or is there something else on it?" he asked, still with that smuggling face.

I faked a new gag and glared at him. "Handsome? There are fur all over it."

His eyebrows turned into a frown. "Now that's offensive goddess" he pointed his finger at himself. "I'm one of the most handsomest prince throughout the wolf clans and perhaps the world. Just because your heart is dying over me doesn't mean you have to insult it and deny it."

I sneered at him. Overtime spending with him, he was actually turning more into Apollo. Over confident and extremely high self-esteem. "If you are the handsomest than I must be Styx"

"Did you know I have Styx's blood?" he leaned closer, raising one of his eyebrows.

"Who cares what blood you have" I puffed and turned aside. Clearly he was trying to tease me and making me look stupid. If I kept on arguing with him, he would find way to grab my tail, so rather than continue to argue and satisfy him, I should just retreat and let him hold onto that dissatisfaction. "At the end you still have irritating blood anyway"

I turned my back to him and played with the pattern of the floor. Arguing with him just made my brain hurt. Clearly he made unreasonable points just to provoke me already irritating enough and with that twitching personality and also self confidence of his. If the chain wasn't there to restrain me, I would've grabbed his collar and slapped him to the point his face look like a balloon about to burst.

"Hey!" His voice came from behind like drum at my ears. "Hey, I'm calling you. Hey!"

I continued to ignore him. Sure I would love to share my time with him. We barely got private and perhaps free time like this. He was busy with work day and night and I felt bad for him. Now he had just again a little free time and I just wanted to waste in silence. It was already rare enough to have him speak to me like this.

"I'm bored goddess" he sighed, leaning back on his chair lazily. "Tell me something."

"What do you want me to tell" I responded, still not facing him.

"I don't know" he leaned his head on the table and stared at the ceiling. "A story?"

"What kind of story?" I turned my head to my side, but not filling facing him.

He sat there for a moment, looking at the ceiling in silence and until something came into his mind. He flipped back to the position like a constricted spring and leaned closer to my direction. A mischievous grin indicated something crazy idea that was twirling in his head combining with an fascinated look.

"How about the story about your imaginary boyfriend that had the same name as me?"

I must've looked stupid because I just sat there and saw stared at him with my jaw dropping to the ground. He still kept that look and the smirk on his face why observing me fumble out of my thoughts. I wanted to roll my eyes at him and say "duh, are you stupid or something?". But I knew his situation, even with diagnosis, I could predict he was suffering amnesia.

"First of all, he was my ex" I matched my tone. "Second of all, the imagination is actually in front of me right now"

"What? Just because I can't remember you, so you decide to break up with me?" He pouted.

I hitched a breath. Was that? Did I hear it right and was he meant what I think in my head? My mouth opened and closed like a fish trying to gasp some air. My eyes just stared at his face, the familiar cheerful eyes I loved. Did he remember his identity? Was that a hint he gave me that he actually aware who I was and was pleading for my help?  My mind was a turmoil of emotion, panic, confusion and fear. I had to formulate a plan, something to get him out. My heart bursted with hope, the kind of hope I had many months ago after his disappearance. A minute passed of heart thumbing against my rib, another minute passed of breath catching...another passed of mind twirling.

Suddenly he bursted in laughter and my face looked even more lost.

"Your face" he tried to catch a breath, clutching his stomach. I had never seen laugh like this. "That was the most hilarious thing I've ever seen"

"Tell you something goddess" he wiped his tear. "It was a joke to get you into the topic. Feeling better?"

No it's not Percy, and it wasn't that funny. I looked at him with tears swelling up my eyes. I felt humiliated, and worst of all he used my emotion, my love for him as an entertainment, an object. It was already painful enough for me to be in this state, being locked up and chained by him, being disrespected by him and yet, his action awhile ago shattered me completely. I clenched my jaw, preventing hard from sobbing. I couldn't show him to see it, I couldn't show him my weakness so that he could step on me again, play with my heart again. Yet, tears were what I could never control. They fell like blood from my bleeding heart, racing down my cheeks and yet not a sound of sobbing could escape from me. Only those tears were what came out.

His grin dropped.

"Hey are you alright?" He asked. Why is it so soft and gentle this time?

No! I can't afford to be played again. That was just another one of his acts. I turned away from him, wiping away my pathetic tears. Locking away that weakness in my heart.

"Common it was just a joke"

I didn't respond. I closed my eyes and swallowed down the pain at my throat. I was wrong when I put my trust in him for the last few days. He seemed to change his attitude around me, he seemed to be happy around me so I thought...no my pathetic heart felt as if he already changed, that his affection had gotten to a better prospect. He was changed and there was no way to change him back. The Percy I knew and loved was lost forever.

"Hey say something" I felt he leaned closer. His voice surprisingly contained some sort of concern.

It felt real...

My heart gasped. Could it be that he was changing? Could his heart also contain sympathy? I knew it was a big bet, a low chance of an assumption. Yet, deep down somewhere I could feel it, it touched me deep as if I could grab it and unfold it. It was the chance. He never spoke in this voice, nor had any affection to what I did or how I felt. But could my tears be the cure. Could I use my love to bring him back from the other shore? The risk was too high and it could end up me being killed....or even both of us. The chances were low and I wasn't assured if I could convince him. But if I succeed, I could bring him back. If I showed him enough feelings, love and passion....maybe, just maybe even if it's just like a tiny dust, I could bring colour back into him.

I should start slow, guide him to my world, my new world which he was the one that brought it to me. Now it was my turn to return the favour, to bring that colourful world back to him. I wanted to sweep away that cold dust, the grey colour of apathy, and melt the icy around his heart. Would it change I do not know, but it wasn't bad to give it a try.

"If you want a story? Then fine" I said to the floor, my back was still facing him.

Silence....

I reluctantly turned my head to see him looking at me expectedly, a little fascinated and excited as he clapped his hand together and carefully observed me. I crawled my way, itching my butts until my back was leaned against the wall. Where should I start I did not know. I wanted to tell him what his life was before, I wanted to remind him those memories. But would that capture him, would it change him or he'd just laugh and wave it aside. I never told a story to anyone and in fact I didn't know any story. Mortal's I never read and immortal's I never cared. All my life was into the hunt and chasing beast, telling a story was a challenge to me. My fingers traced circle on the floor as I stared at it and swallowed down a lump in my throat.

"There was a girl who was arrogant, stubborn, high self-esteem and took pride above all else."

That's right. If I couldn't bring him into his old life, then at least I could show him how he had changed me.

"She cared little and hated a lot. She never paid much attention to those around her, except those she had affection to most. She knew people didn't like her and she didn't care because she didn't like them either. She thought that was her life. It had always been that way and it'd always be."

With hesitation, my eyes traveled upwards from the floor to peek a look at him. He was still staring at my direction, still listening carefully. I shook my head and focus back to the floor.

"Then one day, by fate or not, her life was changed forever...."

I continued on. Of what happened that night on the island, of how I came before a beast that wanted to tear me apart. I couldn't say it was a werewolf so that he would know. The full moon I carefully constructed the story so that it wasn't more obvious. The day lengthened and words after words, memories pulling one after another out of me. The flame in the lantern danced with my words, and our shadow wrapped the cold air of the room. Time felt as if water flowing down a stream, stripping away the loneliness I felt. He carefully listened, no a single moment could escape from him. His eyes kept open big enough like a little kid listening to bed time story.

Then his hand suddenly moved to the table, grabbed a cup from the tray and started pouring tea into it from a teapot. Curiosity drew my eyes toward the teapot. It had been on the table ever since I had woken up. Normally Freye would change a new teapot every few hour throughout the day and yet this teapot had been for a really long time. I thought Freye forgot about it but then again, she was an experienced and responsible maid, it was a really low possibility of her forgetting it. It was her daily job. The stream of tea escaped and fell down from the mouth of the teapot. A fragrance traveled and filled up the room. I loved the smell of his tea, like a field of flower in springtime, fresh and wet in the morning when the dew still reside. Surprisingly enough it still kept the fragrance after a long day in the cold. My mouth did not stop fumbling and his attention never drift.

He brought the cup closer to his lips and drank in the first sip. Suddenly, a familiar smell came into me, a fragrance I could never forget. The first time he ran away from the hunt, the first time I failed my task, and the first time he was set on a rampage. The scent of that dreadful flower with pollens of gold, the flowers that Thalia once used and nearly suffocated him.

Wolfsbane

"No!" I screamed, reaching over to him.

He looked at me confusing until a second past and his eyes widened.

Glass scattered across the floor and my blood frozen. He dropped on the ground, holding his neck while choking out the poison that was at his throat.

"Percy!" I called his name, trying to crawl over to him.

A dreadful and painful growl escape him as he squirmed and writhed across the floor. His claws started growing long and already made scratches on his neck, shedding the blood and it wet his neck. If this continued on, he would tear his throat to ribbons. The situation was just like the time he first swallowed the Eternal Flame of Hestia, when he screamed in agony. But that time I was there to hold him, to comfort him and prevented him from killing himself. This time was was chained, and I couldn't reach him.

"Percy just hold on! Control your claws!" I screamed, trying to set those lethal claws down.

"Ahhhhh" he swept his hand, a force came out and broke the table into pieces.

I turned to the door, screaming my throat out for someone to hear. But no one came, not a sole footstep was heard.

A vase dropped on the floor and scattered in all directions. Its breaking sound pulled my attention back to him. He was still clutching on his throat, trying to choke out the Wolfsbane that was still inside him. I cried in panic, kicking, pulling, crying and yelling at the stupid shackle that couldn't break. My ankle scratched against the metal edge of the shackle, blood running down my skin. I wanted to use the wetness to slip my foot out of it, but I didn't work and it was painful.

He lost his strength and dropped on the floor, still choking on it.

"Percy" I cried, trying to crawl to him. The chain followed me like a snake crawling to its prey. His finger tried to reach me and I wanted to hold his hand, to tell him to hang on and reassure him. I wanted to show him I was there to help. But I was helpless. Our finger only a few centimetres apart and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stretch enough to touch him.

"Percy, please hang on" I begged, my tears uncontrollably fell as his strength wane and his growls gotten more quite. He was dying.

"Percy..." I kicked the chain, my blood spoor across the floor but no pain now could compare how I felt.

Suddenly a warmth embraced my hand. He gather all his strength left and crested over, wrapped his hand around me. His other was removed from his throat and shakily clapped on top of the other hand. On his finger there was a silver ring, a black rectangular gem was gleaming on it. He deliberately wanted to show me it, and waited no time, I immediately pressed my finger on the cold gem.

Power was sucked out from my body-I shuddered as it shot through me and glittering silver light like fiery thread rippled down around my forearm then into the ring. The beacon was set. Suddenly, footsteps were heard from outside the door and it was bursted open. My shoulders dropped somehow in relief as I saw soldiers in silver mailed amours rushed in and beheld in terror at the sight.

The next moment was a rush of movement. Percy was laid upon his bed and healer was summoned. At least ten attended and even Freye was shown at the scene. Her eyes was red from crying and it was the first time I saw that side of her. Her lips bit together in the sight of guilt as she clutched onto the wet towel. Troops were summoned and guarded throughout his room as more troops were heard marching outside. An assassination was discovered and now the enter cave was in chaos. I watched in anxiety as the healer chanted some ancient language as purple and golden light twirled and wrapped around him until they emerged into his body. My breath was only released when I saw their faces dropped in relief. He was saved. I couldn't help but wipe the tears that were pushing one another out of my eyes.

"The High Prince has arrived!" An announcement was heard outside. Everyone in the room turned nervous and hastily moved into two parallel lines in the middle of the room.

I didn't hear any footsteps and yet I could feel that tension and the an unknown and powerful power crippled its way into the room.

He had a warrior's body that had been honed over thousand of years. Tall and fair and wise he was. His golden long hair like stream of gold, like beams of sun rays striking down from his head. An ethereal face, so handsome that even I, Artemis goddess of man-haters had to admit and full of authority. A long cloak he wore, smooth as silk and glittering of diamonds like stars upon the night sky. Looking at the High Prince of the Seven Clans really opened my eyes. He looked like a primordial, someone even more superior than us. I wanted to bow, to pledge my bow to him the moment I saw him. He was mysterious, yet dangerous but really hard to detect it. He moved like wind in the wheat fields, gentle and smooth. All the presence in the room lowered their heads in a bow before him as he approached Percy's bed.

He spoke in a kind voice, like those leader whom all his subjects adore and love. I watched him held Percy's hand and patted his shoulder. I watched him talk to Percy and yet I could not hear what it was. After awhile, when the High Prince had heard report about Percy's condition from the healer, he nodded and left. On the way back to the door, his eyes darted towards my direction. For others in the room I must've looked like a pet that was chained in a dark corner, ugly and stinky. Yet this High Prince unlike all of his kin looked at me differently, and he nodded his head at me in acknowledgement and mouthed thank you as if he knew I was the one that set the alarm before disappearing out of my sight.

Many hours passed by and many people had left. Now the room was silent from chatter and the only sound was heard was the dripping of water as Freye attempted to dry the towel by squeezing it. She cleaned his face and body with the warm towel and I just sat there and stare. I wanted to have a look at him, to see how he was and ask if he was feeling ok. But I was harder than what I imagined. I saw Freye leaned closer as Percy whispered something into her ear. After that, she approached me slowly and crouched down in front of me. I stiffed and actually shifted back a little, not apparent though but I could feel myself actually moving. Freye leaned closer and grabbed at my shackle and I winced a little from the injury at my ankle.

Click

She turned the key and the my ankle felt the weight had dropped. The wind rustled against the skin that was wrapped around for so long, trapped for so long in metal. Though it was still bleeding and swelling, I felt much better with that shackle gone. Freye stood up and left the room after that.

Silence emerged and the fire crackles really made things more awkward.

"C'mere" I heard his voice. It was quick as much a whisper, but I could see his finger gestured me to come.

I set back on my feet after many months of not using. I nearly crumbled and fell forward but managed to mai to my balance. My ankle screamed in agony as I set my first step and I bit my lips from screaming. It felt as if it was broken. Blood already dried and clotted, but as I moved, some split open again and it was oozing blood. I managed my way to his bed and sat at the edge. Never in my life I had experienced trouble in walking five meters.

"Sit..." He pointed at his pillow and back. I leaned closer and changed his position. After he was comfortable with his back leaning against the headboard, a smile came back to his face again.

"You sure cry a lot goddess" he said, his voice was still recovering.

I chuckled and looked at my hands. His eyes always showed that amusement which somehow mesmerised me and I always tried to avoid contact.

"You haven't finished your story" he spoke again, after a long silence.

"We have time" I smiled back at him. Somehow my voice was small and surprisingly soft. I found the courage to look at his face.

"What is it name?" He eyebrows tilted. "The story"

Time for bushitting. I wanted to rolled my eyes at the situation.

"It's...uh...a Wolf's Tale" I stuttered, but still managed to get a ridiculous and two second made title.

He came into a frown. "I'm pretty sure there wasn't any wolf mentioned"

"It's...complicated" I told him.

We sat there in silence again. I kept staring at my laps while I had a feeling he was staring at me. It was embarrassing enough for him to do that, but out of the corner of my eyes, I could see a sparkle of his old in there. There was a lot I wanted to tell him. There was a lot I wanted to share but somehow being close to him now sealed my lips completely.

"Your ankle" his voice suddenly came and we both looked down at my bleeding ankle that was dangling at the side of the bed.

"It's uh nothing" I tried to hide it but his hand grabbed firmly on my thigh. I hitched a breath from his touch and went rigid.

His hand slowly and gently lifted my leg, the one with the injured ankle and placed it across his thighs. His cold finger traced the wound, the bleeding and I winced at his touch. At the time it was already in shreds, scratched and abraded and bruised and swollen. I closed my eyes, embracing in the care he was giving me, enjoy the moment that I thought was lost forever. It was too real for me to even dream. It felt as if the old Percy was there, caring my bleeding ankle.

"Why?" He suddenly asked, his eyes looked at me, pierced through me with those affection. "You could've left me to die. I mean I treat you badly, so why did you injure yourself to save me?"

"Maybe what you say is true" I sighed and shrugged with a grin. "I'm actually stupid I guess"

And I slept on his bed that night....