Zelus (Perseus Reimagined) (BXB)

Chapter 45

"But sometimes, we don't get to choose what we want in life."

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AFTER DEPARTING FROM THE CAVE, we continued the journey to Medusa, or rather, to the Lake of Desire. While reading up on Greek mythologies in the library, I have never encountered such a lake. Or perhaps I did, and I've forgotten.

Perseus says the lake is homed to the guardian nymphs who are seen as gods by some people. Mortals, especially soldiers, would make the journey just to see them and pray for mercy as they headed to battle. Many soldiers who fought in the Trojan War prayed to these nymphs for blessings and strength, but no one knew if they really got what they prayed for.

"Here," my hand caught an apple. I look to see Perseus clinging to a sturdy branch while collecting apples in his saddle bag.

"You didn't have to do that," I flew up to him. "I can fly, remember?"

"I know," he said, jumping back to solid ground and leaning against the tree. I land in front of him. He took a bite of the fruit in his hand. "But you were lost in your thoughts; therefore, it would be rude of me to interrupt."

"I was?"

"Yes," he laughs. "You do that a lot."

"Nice of you to notice," I said.

"I'm very observant. It's the first lesson all future kings were taught."

"Future king, huh?" I raise the apple in my hand to see my reflection on its glossy skin, remembering that the person I'm seeing isn't me, as in Jonathan, but Zelus. This long blonde hair and green-eyed daimon will always be a mask to the boy he used to be. "Do you want to be king?"

His eyes searched the forest as though the answer was hiding somewhere and then on mine. He stood to his feet and walked closer until he was one meter away from me. Though, I could already smell the sweat on his forehead from all that climbing.

"Why? Do you want to rule by my side?" He teases.

"I'm no royal, nor would I want to be," I respond, taking a step back.

He burst into laughter, holding his stomach.

"I'm sorry," he's still laughing. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Not the word I'd use, but sure, why not.

"But to answer your question," his laughter fades. "No, I don't want to be king. When I was younger, I thought it would be great to become king. I get to rule the country, have riches, eat good food every day and sleep with any woman I want, but the older I get, the more I realize how boring being a king is. They have to attend balls each night, devise ways to keep the country safe, welcome new diplomats every third sunrise, care for their subjects, and many more."

"And you don't want those?"

"No," he scoffs. "I want to be free."

He wanted to say more, but he stopped. He turned on his heel, and our eyes met once again.

"Growing up in the castle, I've only known the proper way to dance as a prince, the proper way to wield a sword as a prince, the right words to speak in the presence of another royalty, and well, basically on how to be a proper royal."

He held my face in his hand, and I froze at our sudden closeness.

"But sometimes, we don't get to choose what we want in life," he said. I can feel his veins pumping around his palms. "Sometimes, life makes the choices for us. And there's nothing we can do about it."