The Blind And The Serpent

Chapter II

Alessia sees Cecil's astonished look.

- Greece? Two thousand and nine hundred years? – asks he, doubtfully - if you don't wanna tell your past it's okay – says he complacent, but hears a pessimistic sigh and starts to think about the way she spoke, she was not hesitant, either it was a lie she have been telling for a long time or it wasn't a lie at all - why doesn't your voice sound like an old grandma? You don't seem to be older than I am

- May I proceed? – asked Alessia, sounding unpleased.

- Yes... I'm sorry – said Cecil, forcing himself to remember saying that he would not doubt the truth of what she said.

- At Thessaly I was a priestess, just like my two sisters, adored by my beauty, I was so beautiful that it caught the attention of the gods - she hesitates, her voice fades and she continues - but also the attention of the goddesses. One in specific, Athena, cursed us taking our beauty, she made me so ugly that everyone who looked at me would be paralyzed so we ran away from Thessaly and hid in Crimea. I couldn't bear to stay hidden there so I wandered the world for centuries, even hideous, I was adored by other peoples from other regions, but people still feared my appearance, so I hid myself in a boat and crossed the ocean and that's how I got here. I've lived in this temple for four centuries, growing my own food, giving away what I don't need and avoiding everyone all the time... at least until you show up – says she, letting out a little smile, but unable to hide the sorrow in his voice and Cecil notices.

- It must have been difficult to wander around all alone... - He holds her hand that was on the bed.

She feels the warmth of his hand on her cold skin and different from what she thought the warmth is comfortable, it is not like a bonfire or a blaze, it is cozy warmth, and something she had never felt even living for almost three millennia.

- I'm sorry, there's a lot more than that but these are things I don't want to bring up, I even gave up my name to get away from my past – says she with teary eyes.

A single drop of tear flow down her cheek and she feels the same pleasant warmth of his hand again, but this time on her face, she doesn't even try to push him away, it is impossible to resist, that sensation is something new and she cannot understand, but wants to enjoy it.

- You don't need to be alone now, we can be friends, you know, I have no idea how you should feel but you are not as dreadful as you said - he lets his thumb slide down her cheeks to the end of her face.

- I think you already know enough about me to show your gracious side to try to take advantage of my emotional fragility – says she, laughing embarrassed.

Cecil, embarrassed by the comment, blushes, feels his face hot, and says:

- Is it working? – His face gets even redder and she laughs aloud at his comment.

Cecil hears her getting up and walking away still laughing, he starts to think about what she said, and he knew that story, but wondered why taking on such a tragic character. Unless that whole story was true, which was beyond his belief. She approaches on soft steps speaking in smooth voice, lacking the sadness that was already standard for him.

- Normally, I would consult the oracle of Delphi to know what would happen to my life if I let you come and stay just like that, but today I will appreciate the uncertainty - she sits down next to the bed again.

He perceives the sound of metal scraping and some liquid filling that mug and she places a jar on the table beside the bed. She puts a small cold goblet in his hand and says:

- This is the best wine you will ever drink, I made it myself – says she, proud.

He gets up with some difficulty and sits on the edge of the bed, he takes the goblet to his lips taking a small sip and the taste is strange, used to bitter red wine, the sweet flavor surprises him, as it goes over the tongue leaving a spicy sensation. His eyes widen up because he had never tasted something this good, he takes a deep swig and Alessia accompanies him.