Zelus (Perseus Reimagined) (BXB)

Chapter 8

"You're Zelus, the daimon of envy."

???

 MY EYELIDS BURN BRIGHT, BUT that isn't convincing enough to open them. Another reason is that the alarm has yet to ring, indicating there's still time to stay under the covers.

That is if only my feet could find the covers.

Perhaps it has fallen off the bed?

I move slightly and turn to my side when something painful wedges my spine, causing my eyes to shoot open. I lie face to face with the wall, bricks that aren't cemented or painted. And as I recall, the walls of my room were navy-blue. My eyes climbed up to discover further unusualness, and I knew something wasn't right. I sat up, fully awake to notice I was not in my room. The panic within me builds up, believing I've been kidnapped, and I'm unaware of how or when it happened. The foreign room is spacious, but there's only a small cabinet by one corner of the room, a bathroom, and an empty desk leaning by the window. From the dust and cobwebs, it hasn't been touched for a while.

My palms are sweaty, but they're free to which I support my body off the bed, but my spine pulls again, providing an uncomfortable feeling. I turn around to see feathers, lots of them, stretched across the bed. Small ones followed by larger ones dangling over the edge of the bed. I refuse to believe they're attached to me. As I stand and step away from the bed—a musty single bed with only one pillow and no covers— the feathers drag along, adding more weight to my back. While walking, I could sense the rough, sandy texture of the ground. I stomp the tip, wanting to ensure this was real.

I cuss to the instant stimuli response.

I wanted to panic further, but I remained calm, realizing things could be worse. I'm not tied up, nothing is blocking my mouth to scream for help, and the windows are open wide enough for me to fit through if the doors are locked.

Keeping my eyes on the window, I move closer, afraid but curious to see what's outside. Judging from the ancient-looking building structures, no vehicles– excluding the use of horses and chariots—and the people's simple fashion choices, I'm no longer in the city.

Wherever this place is, I'm far, far away from home.

What's worse, I have no memory of how I got here.

I stare at my reflection in the window. I couldn't recognize myself with this large pair of green wings. On its shoulder are horns resembling a wild boar's tusk. Dark, firm, and solid. I have on a tunic. Or is it a chiton? Regardless, the base stops across my thighs, the equivalent length of a mid-thigh skirt. It's attached to the upper body fabric that hangs over my left shoulder and connects back to the base, exposing half of my body in the process. An additional fabric was used as a belt around my waist.

I felt naked regardless I was clothed. Sort of.

Though, the breeze blowing the base of my tunic up made my arms stick to the side. An act inspired by Marilyn Monroe.

I began placing the puzzles individually and remembered my encounter with Sulod Hyde. I was in Alex's house when we met, and he is responsible for everything that's happening. I knew it was him, and somehow, I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that this wasn't a dream. Everything is indeed real. I got my wish. A wish to begin anew where no one knows me. However, even I do not know who I am. These wings and long, light hair is a whole new identity.

Sulod granted my wish, but as with every magic, there's always a price to pay. So, what was my payment?

In frying my brain to figure out the payment I've made, the door pushes open, and a woman steps in. She's dressed in lemon-yellow peplos, and her dark hair drapes clumsily over her shoulders and back. She holds a tray containing food and water.