Chasing Blue- The Final Saga (Book 4)

Chapter 12: Forgotten Lore

"I am not going to let you drown! I am not going to let you drown! I am not going to let you drownnnnn..."

 

The voice in my head was being drowned by the sound of water rushing to my head. I found myself tossed and battered by the waves in my escape from the ship. The same water I had awed and respected. They were the same waters that lulled me to sleep while pulling me deeper into the blue... before I realized something was wrong. I was chasing the blue but now it was consuming me, overwhelming me, even suffocating me as I fought for air between long breaths.  I sputtered the salty sea water as I fought to stay above the waves. No thoughts of anyone else or what I lost.

Just me. 

When my feet finally grazed against the grainy seabed, I knew I already won half the battle...

(Back in Aegea)

She combed her long black locks with her ivory brush as she gazed at her reflection through the polished mirror in her bed chamber. Her silky hair seemed to just glide through the coarse bristles. Just then several knocks reverberated through her walls. Startled she froze for a moment, before composing herself. With the brush still tightly in her grasp she walked towards the open doorway to behold...

            "Athena, what a surprise to see you," Priscilla said, releasing a nervous smile. Without a word, Athena strolled in holding her white stolla as it nearly swept the marble floor. She took in the presence of the young woman, her loose dark strands that escaped her bun swished around her bare shoulders as she walked.

            "Greetings Priscilla," she began, her eyes slowly gazing into Priscilla's direction.

            "Usually when you see me, you are all happy and excited," Priscilla teased. Athena rolled her eyes. "Any who, it is good seeing you again. What brings you here?" Priscilla continued.

            "Can I not stop to say hello to my friend? I had to get out that horrid place. It gets so lonely in that little home of mines. The only reason I stay indoors most days is that I am tired of everyone judging me. I just hate hearing the whispers of, 'where is her husband," Athena mimicked bitterly.

            "I think everyone has wondered that. You cannot blame them," Priscilla said, as she gingerly placed her brush on the nightstand.

            "I know. I have not heard anything from him since he left. He promised he would write me. That he would never forsake his vows. It is October now and still no word from him. I am starting to think he forgot about me!" Athena griped. Her petite shoulders shrank. Priscilla bit her lip. She wanted to be a good friend. She knew though that Maximus was never coming back, if he was even still alive that is. He was still charged with sedition and murder in connection to Troy's grandfather Miletus. That she knew from Titus. How could she tell her friend that Maximus had moved on with his life somewhere else...somewhere where she was no longer in the picture.

            "It is not fair! I just wished everything went back to the way it was before this nonsense. I see you and Titus holding hands and talking about the wedding and how happy you two seem. It just reminded me of how Maximus and I used to be. That is why I have been avoiding everyone because I did not want to be reminded..." Athena's voice abruptly broke into a sob. Priscilla bit her lip again. If she was not careful she was going to taste her own blood in a minute. Priscilla let out a deep sigh as she wrapped her arms around her friend. All Athena could do was release the pent up pain, as her tears wet Priscilla's red chiton.

            "I know how it feels to have someone you love walk away from your life," Priscilla said softly. She had to catch herself before her emotions showed in her crystal blue eyes.