Athenian Arrow

Chapter XXIV

Alexi had summoned his father and the previous leader of Athens before him to a private room in their home. The Andron was perfect for seeking privacy from those who weren't invited.

Adonis was reminded that he had never experienced a forbidden love as his son explained how the Spartans caught him and Andreas who accepted the gift the goddess of love had blessed them with. 

He remembered that he refused to cave into Dionysus' desires that night. When screams of innocent civilians who just wanted to forget a time of war filled the room, Adonis was able to fully comprehend that there was danger amongst them. He scanned the room to see where the disturbance was coming from. The colour red was such an aggressive pigment against the blue and gold that softly decorated the room. He whipped his head quickly to look for the retired leader in order to pull him to safety. Nikolas was staring at the Spartans in a stunned and defenceless manner not too far away from Adonis. He pushes through the crowd and takes Nikolas by the arm to drag him through the back door. Telling him to make a run for it, Adonis rushes back inside to save his people as Nikolas calls out after him. 

Luckily, Adonis was armed, though that was not the case with every soldier in the symposium. There is no rule for Athenian soldiers to be armed at all times and as they wind down during symposiums, most of them did not. For the ones who weren't armed, they used pots, food, and glasses as weapons against the uninvited Spartans. The civilians managed to escape as their soldiers were successful in holding them off. 

It was during this time that Adonis did not know where his son was. Just before he could start to worry about his son, he spots Andreas being pulled by two Spartan soldiers down the stairs. When did Andreas come back to Athens? Adonis questioned himself. They never made eye contact as the Spartans were quick to escort the disobedient soldier outside. Moments later, the leader of Sparta descended the steps.

"Leave them. We have more important matters to attend to," Stefanos ordered his soldiers.

The Athenian soldiers were the only ones left in the symposium. Adonis stood there, in the middle of the room with a thought in mind. If Andreas had attended this symposium, then he was without a doubt watching over his son. Adonis ran up in the direction Andreas descended from. There were multiple rooms so Adonis took the time to check every room in hopes of finding his son alive. However, there was no luck. He stood in defeat and loneliness in the very last empty room. 

Little did he know, Alexi had quickly gotten dressed and fled from the window, running as fast as he could. The wind he felt from his motions felt like he was approaching closer to his escape from the earthly concerns that human existence created. People were the essence of his enemy now.

"They sentenced him to thirty lashes. By the end, he was lying there on the dirt ground drenched in his own blood, shaking uncontrollably from the pain. He looked like a skinned animal with patches of skin missing. They dehumanized him in front of his own people. I dare you to tell me that even our worst enemy deserves that kind of punishment." There was anger in his eyes but he still managed to let a tear out while he recalled the gruesome event. 

Alexi took the time to recuperate before he spoke again. "Tell me, father. His only salvation was to admire what the gods had to offer. Should that be so wrong?" Alexi's eyes beg.

Adonis stares at his son's begging eyes as he finishes recalling his memory from last night. It wasn't the same. Adonis' love died fighting in the war on the same side. Alexi's love is the enemy who does not belong. He can't help him.

Nikolas decided to speak his thoughts as Adonis was not responding. "Would you be so kind to explain as to why you let your emotions get the better of you and not protect the people who were waiting for your rescue downstairs?" Nikolas joined his hands behind his back waiting patiently for an answer.