Son of Perseus ✓

Ten

Athanasia just stared in horror at the captive. "W-what, what-" she began to stammer. She held her breath for a little bit, thinking, and trying to avoid Zephyria's gaze.

Zephyria Xenakis was... oh, how could Athanasia describe her? Mere words wouldn't do Miss Xenakis justice.

Athanasia had met Zephyria back nearly two-thousand years ago via her friend, Noaah Iomharsson.

Athanasia still remembered it as if it was yesterday.

"Athanasia," Noaah had began to say. "I see you came across someone dear to me."

Athanasia had nodded. "Yes. She fended off Manga for me." Her gaze had directed to the elder siren. "I'm very grateful for that."

"Athanasia," Noaah smiled. "I'd like you to meet my mother, Zephyria Xenakis."

Athanasia swallowed. Had nearly two-thousand years passed since then? No. She refused to believe that fact.

Athanasia sighed, reaching forward and pulling the tape from Zephyria's lips.

Athanasia slowly met Zephyria's gaze. Bad idea. The demon's heart started to race. She began to feel light-headed. She wanted to look away, but she couldn't--she just couldn't.

Dammit, Athanasia's mind cursed. The hellish ailment is back. Zephyria's made me ill. She always seems to do that.

Still, no matter how hard she tried, Athanasia just couldn't look away from Zephyria. She was... mesmerizing. 

Athanasia finally was able to force herself to look away, after minutes and minutes of awkward silence. Athanasia hung her head.

"I-" Zephyria began.

Athanasia's headache only got worse and she only felt more faint than before.

Dammit, even her voice is killing me, Athanasia huffed.

"Shut up!" Athanasia shouted, covering her ears.

"Is something wrong?" Zephyria asked

Athanasia didn't wanna listen, but she couldn't help but remove her hands from her ears and slowly look up toward Zephyria.

Zephyria's gaze...it wasn't hostile...it was something else. "Athanasia, right?"

Athanasia swallowed, nervously. "You remember my name? You remember who I am?"

Zephyria nodded, softly saying, "You're one of Noaah's kid friends."

That just angered Athanasia. She didn't know why, but it just did. She knew that Zephyria was a good thousand years older than her; but still, that comment pissed her off. 

The anger just kept building up inside Athanasia as the word "kid" echoed in her mind. Swiftly, she back-hand slapped Zephyria across the face. "I'm not a kid!" She growled.

Zephyria was surprised by this. She blinked a couple of times in disbelief.

Part of Athanasia's mind panicked, thinking, did I seriously just slap a siren? I'm dead for sure.

The other part of her mind didn't care.

Athanasia didn't want to be seen as lesser. She wanted to be seen as an equal. She wanted to be seen as worthy in Zephyria's eyes. 

She wanted to be worthy of Zephyria's love. Athanasia thought if Zephyria feared her, she'd fall for her; after all, that's how it worked for her.

"What's-" Zephyria began again. She was cut off by another slap across the face by Athanasia.

"I'm talking!" Athanasia snarled. "You poisoned me. Ailed me. And I'm not so fond of that." 

"You've fallen under my spell?" Zephyria asked, confused.

Once again, another slap.

"I'm the one who's interrogating you! I'm the one who should be asking the questions!" Athanasia barked. 

"What happened to you, Athanasia? You used to be such a sweet kid," Zephyria commented.

The sound of another slap filled the room. 

"I'm not a kid!" Athanasia then swallowed. "Now. You're gonna be a good little siren and answer my questions. Where is your little boy, Luka or whatever? I promise we won't hurt him too bad."

"Y-you m-monster," Zephyria stammered. 

Athanasia smirked. "They don't call me Athanasia the Ruthless for nothing." 

"They don't call you anything of the sort," Zephyria responded.

Slap.

"Now, where is your son?" Athanasia asked.

"I'm not sure where he is. And even if I did know what his location was, what makes you think I'd tell you? You- you heartless bitch!" Zephyria spat.

Athanasia knew her goal was to be feared, but that didn't stop her heart from being shattered into a million tiny pieces when Zephyria called her that. Athanasia then back-hand slapped Zephyria across the face with more force than before.

The chair slightly rocked back and forth from the force of the slap.

Small bits of black blood trickled from Zephyria's nose.

Athanasia chuckled. "Bleeding already? We were just starting to have fun."

─┉─¡! • !¡─┉─

After hours and hours of failed interrogation, Athanasia slipped out of the room and into the hallway.

"Anything?" Agnar asked, hopefully.

"Besides the fact that I may very well be in love with Zephyria? No. Nothing. She wouldn't give me jack-shit." Athanasia scoffed. She sighed. "Those interrogations were a dead end. I'm going to look for those kids myself." She turned away from Agnar and started down the hallway.

She then called over her shoulder, "And Agnar?"

"Yeah?" Agnar called back.

"Make sure to get someone to fix that damn chair. It wobbles."