A God's Mercy (Apollo x OC)

Chapter 16

In all honesty, this town wasn't so big. Being a bit lively came naturally from being a port, obviously. Of course, Melantriche wouldn't have known that. With the simmering red dusk came the shadows that lurked thereafter. There were hardly any children running amok anymore. No women, either, save for a few dodgy ones sashaying around on the arm of a sailor. There was one with auburn curls who winked at Melantriche as she passed, and the burly man with her guffawed throatily. Melantriche gawked. She tripped as she attempted to hurry her step, desperately averted her burning face from the whore's melon-sized bosom which looked fit to burst from her tight-pinned wools.

By the time that the pair returned to the main alley, it was even worse. The less savory stalls had opened up and there were crowds tussling against each other in enormous black waves. Melantriche was shoved numerous times, nearly jostled off her feet as she fought to break through the crowd, but Aegeus constantly bit at her heels, keeping her upright. She squealed as she was almost sure that among the rabble, someone had brushed their hand up her backside. Wave after wave they broke free, and the first thing she saw was Aegeus' block face staring disapprovingly down at her as if to say, this is what you wanted to see?

Aside from that, Melantriche and Aegeus' adventures in the market were relatively swell. To see all the things she'd ever eaten and used in one place, all at once was... a bit surreal, really. Not set on a clean wool cloth or perfumed but being made right there in front of her. It kind of smelled bad, the dust and the bloody slabs of meat and the thick stench of sweat building heavily in her nose. Some people sold items of wood like dinnerware and combs and grizzly statuettes. And then there were some stalls that were selling things like cloth and some sold big chunks of candlewax and others sold jewelry. The merchants waved them, exasperatedly as they shouted from the top of their lungs and when Melantriche passed by, she would find the products being thwarted into her face. Letting out a small cry of alarm, she'd nearly fall back on her butt if Aegeus weren't there to catch her. How curious.

"Young lady, who'd look like a goddess in the flesh with this necklace if not you?" The wooden-painted beads clicked in the man's grasp. "I simply insist that you try it on."

"S-sir, I'm only looking." The man shouted after her, but she was too busy hurrying away. They were such forward individuals, weren't they? More forward even than Belenus, those merchants. But it was normal to be accosted in the market, but that was scary too. Melantriche's face burned. Those beads almost slapped her. It was embarrassing, and—Gods on Olympus—this roiling flesh pit was so hot. She was aching to remove her shawl, but decided against it. Granted that she didn't exactly feel like she was being watched, but still...
The least she could do was get out of the street completely. It was a lot cooler in the alley, and how else was that old witch going to find them? But between the hustle and Aglaia, it was hard to select which was more favorable. Melantriche weaved herself between people, turned about. No sign of an alleyway anywhere. And here she thought it would be a lot easier.

"Aegeus... I think we've spent enough time around here—," but well, she wasn't paying that much attention to where he was. Well, it was his job to keep up with her, wasn't it? So why was it that no one around her looked familiar?

"Guh..." she turned this way and that, glancing in every direction. Not an Aegeus in sight. That's... peachy. Should she be panicking right now? It didn't come right away, but something thick and heavy began to slosh around in her chest as she stumbled through. She hadn't realized that the man's presence was somewhat of a reassurance to her safety. She just accepted it, probably because that's what was expected but... this is a bit new. Being completely alone, she means. Suddenly she wasn't feeling so confident anymore in her stride, which was slowly turning into barely a slither.

"Aegeus! Aegeus! Aegeus..." strange humiliation scorched her cheeks, as if she was drawing everyone's attention(even though who else isn't screaming in the market?) except for that giant bird brain. He was supposed to be with her. That was his job. Where was he right now, leaving her in lurch like this? Slowly, her voice became weaker and weaker till gradually she just didn't bother at all. Maybe this was her chance to make a break for it... for where? To where? She felt like a lost child crying for her mother. Maybe he'd actually just thought she wasn't worth the trouble and bolted, the miserable blighter. And... Aglaia could be doing the same. They did entrust her with the money, after all, didn't they? That probably wasn't the smartest choice. Oh dear.