ORPHEUS

Chapter 18

Katherine and Orpheus were back in the marketplace. They had purchased necessities and trinkets. They had filled Deimos' saddle bags with cheese, bread and meat on one side and fabric, along with four vibrant dresses and a sewing kit for Katherine. Katherine had wanted to see Orpheus' 'friend' right away, but Orpheus had informed her that he would only be available in the afternoon and that they had a few hours to shop and indulge. This time around, Katherine had brought her pouch of money, it wasn't much but she had insisted on contributing. Her coin had gotten her two dresses, which had immensely surprized her. Though she did suspect Orpheus had slipped in some of his silver. She would talk to him about that later, for now she was too happpy with her bright colored dresses to be angry at him.

Orpheus was buckling the saddle back that had the dresses when he announced that they would be heading to visit his so called friend.

Katherine felt her blood run cold. The dreaded moment had come. She would find out what she was. What if she was like the creature they had encountered yesterday? Her eyes had gone red, like hers had become golden. Would Orpheus have to kill her? She was struck with trepidation. She did not want to find out what she was. She wanted to love in blissful ignorance, but what if she had some sort of magic powers that would eventually lash out. She never wanted to hurt anyone. Specially not with Mellissa's blood already in her hands.

She shivered as she recalled the horrible memory. She had grown up along with Melissa in that dreaded village. They had been happy little children and had considered each other sisters. They'd had a merry childhood. Until they started to grow older. Melissa with her luscious white-blonde hair and her gorgeous ice-blue eyes had been the envy of the town. She had suitors comming for her from all over the country it seemed, since she was only fourteen. Every little village boy was swooning over the blooming beauty, while Katherine herself had made no progress what so ever. She had absolutely no attention from anyone, including her own mother. Her dear mommy had been too busy fawning over Melissa. But who could blame her. Katherine had always been so short and stubby, no wonder she didn't have little village boys fawning over her. She almost snorted with laughter at the thought, then she looked at Orpheus. How had that_ that angel ever looked at her. She remembered the breif moment they had yesterday, to say she hadn't expected it was an understatement, but when a man like Orpheus would want her, then who was she to stop him?

"Were here" announced Orpheus as he lightly squeezed her hand that was wraped in his. The anxiety returned.

"Come" he said, his voice had gone softer, as if cajoling an animal into a trap. Katherine knew that he was only trying to help, but in that moment she wanted anything but this.

She swallowed as he literally dragged her through the plain wooden door.

There were no windows it seemed, because the inside was as dark as night, illuminated by the few candles placed on the floor. One particularly tall candle was placed on a table. Behind the table, Katherine could see a cloaked man, his face though was visable. His face brought shivers to her spine, he caught her off guard and she almost screamed, but Orpheus had squeezed her hand in warning. She had attempted to school her features. The mans face was incredibly scarred. It was as if his head had been shoved into the burning flames of a chimney. One of his eyes were burned shut, though his nose and lips were untouched. Katherine thought about what could have caused such an injury, then she remembered that she was no longer part of the mortal world. His reasons were sure to terrify her.

Orpheus led her to a chair in front of the desk and had her take a seat while he stood behind her.

"Seer" said Orpheus, his tone respectful, his voice resonating within the dark confines of the room.

"Ah, Orpheus" said the 'Seer'. "I was expecting you."

"Of coarse" smiled Orpheus. Then without stalling, he got straight to the point. "This is Katherine. Yesterday, at night, I found her convulsing in the bed. Her eyes were wide open and they had turned to gold. Everything had become gold.
Tell me Seer, can you tell what Katherine is?
I know it's not a mere curse, I dont sense one, but I connot tell what species she is."

Katherine turned to look at him. He hadn't devulged that much to her. She was a bit disappointed at the fact that he chose to keep all this from her. It's not as if she would overreact or panic, was it?

Katherine then faced the Seer. His scarred face still making her uneasy, how was he living with the state of his face, she could never imagine being in his place, she would be too disgusted with herself.

He was looking at her. His lips no longer curved with that easy smile he possessed when he looked at Orpheus. He looked at her as if he could read her thoughts. Katherine's back stiffened.

"Give me your hands, child." said the Seer. His own hands were on the table, palms up.
Katherine glanced back at Orpheus, and when he nodded, she hesitantly placed her shaking hands in his.

They were not as she expected them to be. They weren't scarred or calloused, infact they were cool and so soft. His fingers even seemed more graceful than hers.

His stern features intact, he examined her hands as if they were an some exotic jems. His expression only grew more troubled as time passed. Katherine kept her gaze at him, her breath stuck in her throat. Suddenly his dark eyes flashed yellow. His features softened, he looked at Orpheus with sympathy.

"Son" he said with a sigh, "she's an abomination"

Katherine's eyes widened. She was going to panic. She looked back at Orpheus with horror as her eyes began to fill with tears. An abomination.

Opheus was not looking at her though, his eyes were still on the Seer. His features tightened. She could see the glimmer of anger in his onyx eyes. She swallowed rather loudly. What would now?