THE INSUPERABLE: a close betrayal

Part 9: a strange sight

The two men approached the gate of Acastus' estate, from the outside it did not seem haunted or abandoned, it seemed well-tended. The grass was short and neatly cut as if it was trimmed recently, the rose bushes in full bloom and also trimmed. "Are we at the right estate Acastus?" Kalib asked rather confused. "Yes Misthios, this is where I was dragged out of by that horrid beast," Acastus expressed fearfully. "Strange I don't know many beasts that tend to the garden of the house they just raided. I mean look at the place there's no sign of damage or anything, it's as if you never left, what game are you playing Acastus?" Kalib asked with a strange look in his eyes. "I swear to you Misthios, I have no reason to deceive you, I'm speaking the truth, there really is a monster," Acastus replied quickly. Kalib noticed a figure by the window, the figure quickly closed the curtains as soon as it saw Kalib. "There's definitely something in there," Kalib said as he walked towards the gate. "What should we do Misthios?" Acastus asked while slowly walking towards the gate. "We are not going to do anything, my dear Acastus, you will remain out here and I will deal with whatever haunts your estate is that clear?" Kalib said in a serious tone. "I like that plan Misthios but please be careful, you're my last hope." Kalib took the gate's lock in his palm and squeezed, crushing it in his hand. He then opened the gate and proceeded to enter the courtyard.

Crossing the threshold he heard a mechanism turn and out of nowhere six arrows flew towards him. Kalib made no attempt to evade the oncoming arrows, he simply stared at them. The arrows broke the moment they made impact with his body. "Hhmm clever but not very monster-like," Kalib murmured growing ever more confused. He continued to make his way towards the estate. Once he was halfway across the walkway through the garden, he heard another mechanism turn. This time however it was not arrows but two large stone slabs shooting up from the ground, almost like a book slamming closed. The slabs smashed into Kalib from both sides but once again broke at the mere touch of his large body. "Even more clever but still not something a monster will do..." the mercenary shook his head and once again continued on his way towards the house. Before entering the estate he observed his surroundings, making sure the...thing... was not lurking outside.

He opened the door and crossed the threshold. This time the slight vibration of an activated mechanism was felt and then from above he heard a rope snap. A giant boulder fell towards him and like those before was no match for the large man's impenetrable body. "Okay, that one was just plain lazy!" Kalib shouted. He positioned himself in the center of the room, calling out to his faceless adversary. "Hey, if there's anyone or thing lurking inside these walls, show yourself now! You best be a monster because if you are what I think you are I will thrash you so hard even Nemesis will deem it too much!" The sound of footsteps running down the stairs could be heard, then all of a sudden they stopped. A bright light appeared out of nowhere, so bright it blinded Kalib.

A thundering voice started to speak: "Who dares enter my lair of doom." Kalib still covering his eyes started to grow suspicious, "Lair of doom? By the gods if you call that doom then I don't even want to know what Hades has been cooking up down there in the underworld," he smirked. "Do you mock me mortal? You will pay for your..." the voice suddenly grew quiet. "Umm, you will pay for your uh..." the voice faltered, it seemed as if it was desperately trying to remember something. "Insolence?" Kalib offered, still sheltering his eyes. "I know that!" the voice yelled, "Flee mortal and never return, for if you don't I will unleash the wrath of the gods upon you!" The large mercenary removed his hand from his eyes, he noticed two humanoid shadows emanating from the other room. That of a small man and another of a female. Kalib let out a bemused smirk.

"No thank you,". He politely declined, a smile on his face. "I do not jest mortal, I will tear your arm off and beat you with the bloodied end!" the beast roared and growled. "Then do it already!". Kalib extended his arm, "Come on, give it a yank." The voice suddenly grew quiet. After a short moment of pause, it proceeded to speak once more, "Flee mortal, I won't ask again," the voice demanded, less thundering this time. "Then stop asking, just come here and kill me!" The ensuing silence was deafening.

"I say Mr monster, sir," Kalib mocked as he moved towards the two shadows. "Have you ever seen a man walk through a wall?" No answer followed. Kalib stopped short of the wall separating the two rooms from one another. He made his hand into a fist and without any effort punched a hole straight through the wall. The wall collapsed and two human figures jumped with fright on the other side. Both fell to their knees and started to beg, "Please sir, have mercy!" cried the boy. They were young, Kalib guessed no older than nineteen. "By the gods, you are a terrifying pair of beasts, aren't you?" Kalib smirked. "Sir I beg you, we did not mean to provoke you," the girl expressed tearfully. "Oh so the arrows and giant rocks were just friendly gifts? The two of you better start explaining yourselves or I'll feed you to my horse." Kalib folded his arms in front of his chest waiting in anticipation. "No sir please," the young man begged, "I am Argus and this is Iris, my beloved," Kalib's eyes widened, "Argus? Acastus's son? Your beloved Iris? Acastus's wife? By the gods! What in Hades is going on here?" Kalib asked with a confused expression on his face. "Sir," Argus implored, "What you speak is indeed true, I am Acastus's son and she is indeed his wife, but sir we love each other. When father brought her home, I thought it would be just some random lady close to his age, but in walked Iris and my heart started to glow," a dreamy expression in his eyes. "We did not mean for it to happen, sir," the girl interrupted, "Argus and I are the same age, it's only natural that I'd take a greater liking to him than his father. For months we tried to deny our feelings, we avoided one another like the plague, but one day it just happened..."

"Please sir 'tis not our fault," the girl said, tears in her eyes. "Uggh children!" Kalib rolled his eyes, "Look I can not deny, the fires of love burn strong, especially in young people, your father was a fool to try and wed a girl so young, but that does not explain nor dismiss your actions. What's with the beast and the traps?" Kalib asked. "Well sir," Argus explained, "When we realized our love for one another, we immediately knew my father would not approve, he would be furious. She would be sent back on the first ship to Athens. she'd become a slave once more. I finally found love, we both did and we were not prepared to lose it. So we devised a plan to remove my father from the estate and keep him out, as well as receive a steady income to boot. It was perfect. We bought a helios crystal and shined it in a mirror. I used a Minotaur horn gifted to my father long ago by the king of Sparta, to alter my voice to sound more menacing. Never have I seen a man run so fast, the old Malaka."

"Everything was perfect, we lived in peace and my father would pay us a hundred thousand drachmae each month. One day a Misthios like yourself showed up, claiming my father paid him to kill the beast haunting the house." Kalib chuckled: "Not quite like me..." Argus stared at him for a moment and then promptly continued: "I had to pay that greedy Malaka two hundred thousand drachmae just to leave us be and keep his mouth shut, Malaka!" the boy swore. "I knew my father would not give up. And would keep sending Misthios's. So I came up with a more affordable method of keeping them away. You see sir, I'm pretty handy, I booby-trapped this entire estate, every opening, and corner, but not well enough seeing as you just waltzed in here," the boy was perplexed.

"No," Kalib replied, "The traps were really impressive, I must say, truly masterful work. Don't feel too disappointed, I'm... a special case," Kalib smiled. "Clearly". the boy shrugged uncertainly. "So, what will you do now, sir?" Kalib's chestnut eyes narrowed in thought, "I believe your story. I sympathize with you both, really I do. I admit I do know what it's like to be in love under difficult circumstances, however your actions I can not excuse. Argus, you betrayed your father's trust, you stole his wife and drove him from his own home, you set traps that potentially could have killed him. I will take you to your father, only he can decide your fates."