𝑷𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 ⚖️

The candlelight flickered weakly as the night deepened, casting shadows across the chamber walls. I sat on the edge of the bed, my knees pulled close to my chest, wrapped in the quiet stillness of the hour. The warmth of Hector's touch still lingered on my skin—moments ago, I had given myself to him. I had crossed a line I could never return from, and the weight of that decision clung to me like a second skin. I pressed my fingers to my lips, remembering his hands on my body, the way his mouth had claimed mine, the heat between us. It was everything I had imagined, and more. Yet now that it was over, the storm of emotions inside me felt even stronger. I wasn't sure if I regretted it, or if I was overwhelmed by what it meant for us.

Was I ready for the consequences? What would this mean now?

I tried to shake off the thoughts, but they lingered, refusing to let me go. Then, a sudden knock at the doorway pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. My heart jumped. For a moment, I thought it might be Hector returning. But no—the knock was too hesitant, too careful. I quickly adjusted myself, hiding the vulnerability that still clung to me. The door creaked open, and there stood Chapheris, her red curls spilling over her shoulders, her eyes hesitant as they met mine.

"Sabryna, I...I wanted to talk," she said softly, her voice careful, as if testing the waters.

I hadn't seen her in days. Ever since we had argued, our conversations had been clipped, tension simmering beneath the surface. I was unprepared to face her now, of all times, but part of me was relieved she had come. I didn't want to be alone with my thoughts.

Chapheris stepped closer, her eyes searching my face for something—perhaps for the friend she'd missed, or maybe to make sure I was still myself after all that had happened. She bit her lip, looking down, as if unsure how to begin.

"I...I hate the way we left things," she admitted. "I know you've been through a lot, and I've been distant. I'm sorry, Sabryna."

I forced a smile, though my mind was still elsewhere, replaying Hector's touch, his whispered words. "I've missed you," I said, my voice shaky.

Chapheris looked at me more closely, her eyes narrowing. "Are you all right? You seem...different."

My pulse quickened. Could she sense it? Could she see the weight of the choice I had made? I shifted on the bed, pulling the covers tighter around me, as if I could hide the truth.

"I—I'm fine," I lied, glancing away. But the words felt heavy in my mouth, as if they betrayed everything that had just happened.

She didn't press me further, instead moving closer and sitting beside me on the edge of the bed. Her presence was comforting, but it made my heart race. I could feel the truth bubbling to the surface, and before I could stop myself, it spilled out.

"I gave myself to Hector..."

Her eyes widened slightly, but she remained silent, letting me speak. "I thought it was right in the moment," I whispered, my voice faltering. "But now...I don't know."

She gently placed a hand on mine, her brow furrowing. "Sabryna," she began slowly, "do you see yourself marrying him? After all of this—after everything that's happening with Troy, with the war—do you think this is what you want?"

Her words cut deep.

Did I? Marriage had always felt like something distant, something I wasn't ready for, and yet Hector...The thought of tying myself to him now, of being thrust into another role, left me cold.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "I don't want to marry him, Chapheris. I don't want any of this."

Chapheris' eyes widened, taken aback by the certainty in my voice. "But...Sabryna, your family...they'll expect something. After—"

"I don't care about expectations," I said firmly, though my voice trembled. "I can't be tied down. Not right now. Not like this."

The silence lingered between us, heavy with unspoken words. Chapheris looked at me, her expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. "Sabryna," she said slowly, "do you love him? Achilles, I mean. Is that why you seem so torn?" Her question hit me like a bolt of lightning, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. Did I love Achilles? The thought alone sent a rush of heat coursing through me, memories of his fierce blue eyes and confident presence flooding my mind. His laughter echoed in my ears, his words wrapped around my heart like a vine. But how could I admit it when everything felt so complicated?

"I—" I started, my voice faltering as I searched for the right words. But nothing came out. My mind raced, grappling with the conflicting emotions swirling within me. I thought of Hector, of the intimacy we had shared moments ago, and then of Achilles, whose mere presence ignited a fire deep within me. A part of me was drawn to Achilles with an intensity I couldn't comprehend, his passion and strength like a siren's call. Yet, to love him felt like an impossibility—especially with everything happening around us, with the war looming like a dark cloud over our lives.

"I don't know," I finally managed to say, forcing a laugh that sounded hollow even to my own ears. "It's complicated, Chapheris. There's so much happening right now..."

Chapheris watched me closely, her eyes narrowing as if she could see right through my facade. "You can tell me, you know. I won't judge you. But it seems like there's something more between you and Achilles. You have this...fire when you talk about him."

The warmth spread through me again, igniting a flush on my cheeks. I bit my lip, trying to mask the surge of feelings that threatened to spill over. "I care about him," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. But even as I said it, I could feel the truth of it like an undeniable current pulling at my heart.

Chapheris raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across her face. "Caring is one thing. But passion? That's different. Sabryna, you need to be honest with yourself. What do you really want?"

I looked away, unable to meet her gaze. The truth was, I wanted both—Hector's warmth and strength, and Achilles' fire and passion. But how could I choose? The chaos of my heart mirrored the chaos of the world around us, where love and war intertwined in a dance of destruction.

"I don't want to think about that right now," I said, shaking my head. "There's too much at stake. The war, my family...everything."

"Exactly! You can't keep pretending this doesn't matter," she shot back, her tone sharp. "Do you love Achilles? Really think about it."

My heart raced at the question. Love? I felt a passionate pull toward Achilles, a fire that consumed me, but Hector had always been my first love, the one I had cherished since childhood. I met Chapheris's gaze, torn between two intense feelings.

"Sabryna, you need to stop playing games with yourself," she continued, frustration evident in her voice. "You've had feelings for Hector since we were kids! He's the one who's always been there for you. Don't let a moment of passion with Achilles cloud your judgment."

"I know what I feel for Hector," I said, feeling defensive. "But Achilles...there's something thrilling about him. I can't just ignore that."

Chapheris leaned closer, her voice low and intense. "Thrilling? That's lust, not love. You think you can just sweep away your history with Hector because of some infatuation? You're better than that. You owe it to yourself and to him to be honest about what you really want."

My frustration bubbled up. "What if I hurt them both? What if I make the wrong choice?" I asked, my voice trembling with anxiety.

"Life isn't about playing it safe," she said firmly, her eyes locked on mine. "You can't keep pretending everything is fine when it's not. You have to decide what you truly want. Lust will fade, but your feelings for Hector—those are real. You can't deny that."

I felt the weight of her words pressing down on me. "But...Achilles. I can't ignore how he makes me feel."

Chapheris softened slightly but still held her ground. "Then you need to figure out what that means. You have a deep connection with Hector, but don't let your feelings for Achilles confuse you. You need to sort this out before it explodes in your face."

"Okay," I finally replied, my voice steadier. "I'll think about it."

"Just be honest with yourself," she urged. "You're strong enough to handle it. Just remember that love isn't a game, and you have to consider how your choices will affect them both."