Of Waves and War

4: the most unhappy man alive

Eulises

"We found these weapons and a raft, out hidden in the woods, he's trying to escape the island," the nymphs buzz around me angrily. I, for my part, am bound to a chair in the great hall, but not gagged. Yet. Before me on the table lie my treasures, even the bow and arrows I had fashioned, as well as the many sharpened rocks. I'd weep for the loss of the near finished raft if I had the time or thought it would do any good.

Calypso stands before me. A beautiful goddess, with pale white eyes and flowing dark hair, skin pure as porcelain, dressed in robes the color of twilight. My captor. My torture. My nightmare who shall haunt me for the rest of my days.

"Do you care to explain just what this is?" she asks, gestures to the tools and such that I had so carefully prepared.

"What is it?" I frown.

She glares at me.

"Oh, you mean this? These things I was lucky enough to find? I have my theories that I would be more than happy to share with you at our leisure this evening, for now I think it would be best that I ensure no more things like that, whatever they are---,"

"Eulises—,"

"I honestly think we are lucky that I found them when I did. This clearly means somebody else is on this island. Risk not the nymphs, I shall go alone to search I may not be back till well into the evening but fear not for me—,"

"Were you trying to leave? Again?" she asks, folding her arms.

"No, no I would never leave you. Despite the fact that I do not at all want to be here," I say, very genuinely.

"When we found him he was talking to himself about his wife and crying," one of the nymphs says.

"That sounds like him," Calypso says, tiredly, "You're very ungrateful you know."

"It's true. You should get rid of me, send me on my way; find a different man—,"

"I am making you immortal, you can live her with me, forever. I don't see what more you want," she says, her voice dripping poison, as she comes over to me.

"My wife, for one," I growl, "My son for another."

"I can give you stronger sons," she says, wrapping her arms around my neck.

"Not that I do not appreciate the offer, goddess, but I'm quite attached to the wife and son I have and I would like to go home to them," I say, closing my eyes.

"Too bad you're staying here then," she says, musically soft fingers straying along my collar bone. "With me. forever."

"Why me?" I sigh, "You could have any man."

"Because you're a survivor, Eulises. Not every man could have lived through what you did. I like your strength. I just have to tame it. She did once, how did she?"

"She didn't; that's the point," I laugh, a little, "That's what you can't see. She did not tame me. Nor I her. We love the wild in each other. That's it."

"What makes you even think she's waiting for you? After all this time. why would she continue to wait? You're presumed dead, they all think you are gone. She'll have found another, you know this. So why do you still believe?"

"Because everyone, all of us, must believe in something in order to live through this mixed up world. And I choose her. I choose to believe in her," I say, "I did long ago. Not even time's cruel hands, nor your poison spells can break that."

"Even if you still want her, what makes you think she'd want a poor, broken, war torn mortal like you?" she asks, pressing her cold face against mine. "Surely there are even moments you doubt her."

"Of course I have doubts, they are what make me human. But what makes me her hero is I don't listen to the demons in my mind. And I return to her. As promised. It is for her to decide if she wants me then for this useless, as you said, broken mortal is hers until the end of our days whether she wishes me or not," I say, almost laughing, keep my eyes closed.

"I have seen the image you kept of her. She is plain, and small," Calypso purrs dangerously. She took the images I had of my wife and son. Water stained and withered and old as they were still took them and burned them my very first night.

"And she is perfect to me, your words cannot change that."

"No, I suppose not, but my words can keep you here until she's nothing more than a shade, and you, immortal, must forget her," she says, putting her cold, slippery hands through my hair.

"I take that as a personal challenge, goddess," I hiss.

"You think you can escape me?"

"I think if my wife is a shade that is a trivial barrier that shall not keep me from her," I say.

"Whatever did the mortals do to deserve you, Eulises? I'm not surprised they don't look for you. It's probably a relief you're here on my island not causing havoc for them with your lies and your spirit," she says.

"What makes you say I lie, goddess? I've never lied to you," I lie.

"Oh, it's very easy to tell when you're lying Eulises. You open your mouth for one, you speak for another," she hisses, knotting her hand in my hair, "Now, what do you suppose I should do with you after this ridiculous display?"

"Display? Me? Oh, you refer to these puzzlesome artifacts that I was lucky enough to find? Well since you're kind enough to ask I think thanks would be in order as I've clearly saved us from unknown horrors---," that's as far as I get before she pushes the chair. I hit the floor painfully, barely stopping my head from cracking it, tied up as I am to the old now broken chair.

"Bring me a drought. I am well sick of his mouth and must stop it up if I am to stand him," Calypso orders the nymphs.

"Bold of you to assume that will stop my lying tongue," I mutter.

"What was that?"

"If you stop up my mouth again you know you'll see the deception in my eyes as I think of things which are all together not true to confound you with so wouldn't you rather just hear them? It'll be less mystery and all together more relaxing for you as I speak of my horrid schemes and try to trap you in them, than wondering what my mind is conceiving in my silence," I say, trying to twist free of the chair and failing.

"You know. I'm probably doing you a service. I don't see what woman, mortal or no, would ever want you back," Calypso says, going to the table where the nymphs have brought her the drought.

"So release me to her for I promise you she will have me," I sigh, "I also promise you we can find you another hero much more tame and like to enjoy your godly presence I in my ugliness and stupidity do not appreciate you as I should and could not give you strong children. We could find you a man with ichor thick in his veins able to please you and content to remain here. I for one would be more than happy to do that you know I'm a man of my word, goddess I'd hunt you down whatever companion or companions, no judgment, you chose, and I'll deliver them mostly happily to you if you would just return me to she that has chosen to have me---," I do have more but she pours the cold, mucus like liquid in my mouth, instantly filling it and my throat. I can breath yes. That does not make it comfortable. I choke and cough.

"There, entertain yourself like that today and give our ears some peace. I should find your simple, shrew wife who you so long for and let her thank me for giving her a respite from your miserable company and running mouth," Calypso says, freeing me from the chair now that I am so disabled. I paw at my mouth trying to rip the now hard sap-like substance from it but it does no good, my lips are sealed shut and my mouth beyond them filled with the stuff which tastes of tar and sulfur. I stare at her with eyes brimming with hate.

"This is your home now," she whispers, in my ear, almost laughing, "Whatever made you think heroes get happy endings?"