Sep 5, 2020
rehearsed relaxation
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rehearsed relaxation
Chapter III – Parallel Chronologies
Part IV – A Time to be Silent, a Time to Speak
The next day at the clinic seemed especially busy, keeping Dice inside the examination room while Helena ran about taking care of all the patients waiting outside. The buzz of patients talking and coughing outside quickly turned to frightened screams as soldiers descended on the clinic. Helena pushed open the door and ran into the examination room, she needed not say a thing, her face spoke for her.
Dice dropped what she was doing and ran past Helena and into the waiting room as the soldiers entered the front door.
“Run!” Dice yelled to Helena, who immediately rushed to a window in the back of the building. She climbed up and jumped out the small space as a soldier reached out and grabbed the hem of her chiton. As she fell to the dirt on the other side of the wall, her clothing tore, leaving a small rose piece of cloth in his clenched fist.
Inside another soldier grabbed Dice’s arms as the captain entered with a scroll. The patients watched in horror as he opened the scroll, sealed by the stamp of the council of the Areos Pagos.
“Dikeus of Athens, you are placed under arrest for seducing your patients while practicing the art of Medicine and ruining their good name.” He read before giving the order to haul her out in chains.
As she exited the building she saw ten soldiers, weapons brandished, waiting outside as if they had come to capture a violent criminal. Turning to her left she watched a soldier dragging a bound Hellen towards a carriage that awaited them for transport back into the city.
“Mina! Mina!” a winded voice called from the from the foyer. “They have Helena and Dice!”
Mina pushed open the doors and rushed to the stairs to look down and see Hippa looking up at her, her face white with terror.
“Who has Helena?!” she asks rushing down the steps.
“Soldiers.” She stops to take another deep breath, “soldiers grabbed them at the clinic.” another breath “they are headed to the prison right now!”
Mina runs outside followed by Hippa, Naeith, and her bodyguards just in time to see a small force of soldiers march by with the two women sitting tied in the back of the carriage.
“No!” Mina screamed as she rushed to the gate. Being stopped only by Naeith grabbing her arm.
“Mina no!” she cried gripping her bicep. Mina turned and looked at her head of the household, confused by her boldness.
“They want you to act rashly and without thinking.” The young girl sternly told her, looking her directly in the eyes.
“They have Helena.” Mina told her as her deep green eyes went from rage to sadness, welling up with tears.
“Why do you think they marched them by the house, there is no other reason.” Naeith explained calmly with the logic of a general, “criminals are paraded down the center road, to go through the agora. They want you to go out there.”
Her eyes changed from sadness to rage once more, as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. She looked up and watched as the marched by, scanning the soldiers one by one, looking over them with hatred in her heart and vengeance in her mind.
“Find out the crimes they are being accused of.” She told one of her male servants, who nodded and rushed out.
“Naeith, go and find out who is behind this.” She commanded with determination before turning to go back into the house.
“What are you going to do?” Hippa asked as she followed close behind her.
“I will prepare for war.” She replied as she pushed aside the decorations on the table, clearing it in order to be used for her war council.
The carriage arrived at the prison and the two women were dragged out and thrown into two separate dark and dank cells. The door slammed behind Helena as she fell to disgustingly filthy floor. She looked up to see a shadowy figure in the corner of the room slowly emerge. Frightened she scurries backwards into the opposite corner.
“Do I scare you little girl?” the figure asks as he steps into the small ray of light coming from the tiny window high above the room, illuminating his bald head. Helena whimpered unable to answer.
“Good.” He replies. “Fear is an important motivator. It can help us make the… right decisions.” He then walked closer so that he was literally standing above her looking down at her. “Now I will give you two options. Will you make the right choice?” he asks with a nefarious calmness.
She still was unable to reply, looking up at her captor, trembling, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Will you!!!” he yells angrily.
“Ye..yes" she sobs
“Good.” He smiles malevolently.
That same moment Mina was gathering information from her multitude of sources and mobilizing people and resources to build a defense for the both women. In all honesty her defense of Agnodice was only for the sake of Helena. She needed to do whatever it takes to get her beloved out of what was sure to be a death sentence. The trial already being scheduled for the next morning as her contacts within the Parliament informed her.
No one slept that night, each house was filled with movement. The people of the city spoke of the trial of the century. Demosthenes gathered his politicians together in his Andreon, telling them that they must prosecute these criminals with the most severe punishment for the morality of Athens. Mina placed up and down the courtyard telling the people who were gathered there that they must be strong, and unflinching in the face of tyranny. The senators in their homes, lay in their beds, unable to sleep by the thought of having to condemn young people to death for character crimes.
Dawn came late that day, as all in the city waited for the sun to come up in order to take their actions. Demosthenes took his place at the head of his political group as the accused women were both brought out before the judges of the Areopagos. The opposing party led by Aeschinus watched anxiously because they new they would be made to choose between the law and sending two young people to their deaths. While the citizens watched not knowing who they were supposed to support.
Dice stood in her cell looking at the wall, thinking. Thinking about all her choices, reviewing her actions the last years, and remembering her years of study. “Was it worth it?” she thought. So many years of study and hard work, a life of sacrifice and selfless service to her patients. After thoroughly reviewing all her choices, she began to recite the Hippocratic Oath, coming to terms with the thought that tomorrow would be her last.
“My fellow Athenians, I stand before you, with great sadness.” Demosthenes began, “It seems that here we have before us two separate cases of immortality, and corrupting of the good people of our noble city. Each a display of blatant disregard for the laws of our city, for the laws of man, and for the laws of the Gods.”
“Here we have Dikeus, the physician who has given into his list, forsaking his oath to do no evil, and is accused of seducing his young patients.” He exclaimed pointing to Dice standing before them. “Tell them girl, do not be afraid, you should not be ashamed of the evil actions that have befallen you.”
“I am sorry my dear, I know how difficult it is for you to relive this dreadful experience, but you must so that no one else will suffer as you have.”
“Dikeus…” she began to say sobbing, “he took me in the examination room where he began to examine me. Suddenly he grabbed me in an improper way, and he told me that I must…” her words gave way to sobbing and sniffling.
He then called over a young girl, and taking her by the hand walked her the center of the large room.
“He… he said I had to lay with him!” she stated before weeping loudly.
The crowd looked at the scene stunned, as Demosthenes’ politicians started to call for a death sentence.
“For shame! For shame!” physicians in the crowd yelled out.
“Wait!” Aeschinus yelled out to stop the crowd's calls for death. “Have we become like the barbarians, driven only by emotion and not by the sacred laws of our great city? Have we not the civil duty to hear the accused speak to these allegations?”
“Yes, you are correct my esteemed colleague.” Demosthenes replied with a satanic smile on his face. For he knew that if Agnodice chose not to reveal she was a woman she would surely be given death, but if she did she would be given the death penalty even quicker and it would open the door to creating a precedence of hunting down the corrupting women of the city. “Speak.”
“I swear by Apollo Physician, by Asclepius, by Hygieia, by Panacea, and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to my ability and judgment, this oath and this indenture.” She began, quoting the Hippocratic Oath that was so dear to her. “As Hygeia and Panacea, divine healers of humanity, are women, so am I, Agnodice of Athens.” she declared letting her hair down.
Everyone watched in shock, unable to speak, until the physicians in the crowd as well as the politicians of Demosthenes began to cry out at how much of an outrage it was for a woman to practice medicine. The false witness looked in surprise, before bolting out of the room out of fear of being condemned for perjury.
“This revelation is quite troubling” Demosthenes nodded his head in disgust, “This woman has deceived her patients and the citizens of Athens, and in her deception has skirted the laws of our fair city, bringing shame upon us all with her immortality.”
Then he walked over to Helena who stood trembling a few meters away from Agnodice. “Now I will show you how this young woman's crime is not just some limited instance, but rather a plague of corrupt women spreading immorality and filth in our Noble city.”
The people watched, hanging off of every word coming out of the orator’s mouth. They were shaken by the idea that their city was infested by a feminine malignancy that threatened their whole society. In their mind these women were already guilty of crimes against humanity, as they watched the trial, forgetting their own list of personal inequities.
“This girl, Helena of Samos, a friend and co conspirator with the accused, is a tribade, refusing marriage, and shunning her duties as a woman!”
The crowd gasped in horror as the idea of a woman refusing men brought in their minds the wild Amazon warriors of the past. Noble women began to fan themselves as they whispered amongst themselves, and the men started to call for the death of both women.
“Good people of Athens!” Aeschinus called out once more trying to hush the crowds calls for blood. “There is no evidence of this! She might have not even known that the physician she worked for was a woman. Besides should we cast all young girls to their deaths, accused of following the ways of Sappho, just because they have not been wed yet?!? Maybe, what Demosthenes is suggesting is that we should go through the city and round up all the unwed women and butcher them as well! My esteemed colleague, your misogyny shows no bounds!”
“Her own words are the evidence!” Demosthenes cries out, “Tell us girl, is it true?”
“She fears for her life, she will say whatever you want!” Aeschinus retorts
“Speak!” Demosthenes yells
“It is.” Helena replies, and the crowd gasps while Aeschinus grabs his head in shock at the girl's confession.
“But my friends, we must not be hasty to let a young girl die so easily. She was obviously corrupted in her youthfulness by more sinister forces.” He explained, “We must be merciful and fair in our dealings with this disease. We must separate the confused and misled from the ringleaders of the this corruptive cult of Lesbos.”
Everyone watched, captivated by the spectacle before them. Was there really a cult following of Lesbians amongst them, shirking their womanly responsibilities in an attempt to overthrow the natural order of the world? They looked amongst themselves, searching for who else amongst them was guilty of such high crimes, although most women were guilty of the practice in the Gynekonition and the men knew of it.
“Helena, daughter of Croix, do you regret your actions? Will you repent for your iniquities?”
“Yes, I ask for forgiveness from the people of the city.” She stammered, unable to look up, tears running down her face. “I have brought shame to my city, my house, and my father.”
“Will you marry a state appointed suitor, and bear children to be loyal and upright citizens of our city?”
“I will.” She wept
“Now tell us young girl, tell us who corrupted your innocence, and turned you away from the natural order of society?” he requested smiling wickedly.
The girl wept uncontrollably trying to utter the name he wanted to hear but could not bring herself to say. Just then chanting came from the crowd, at first quietly then louder and louder. No, it was not from the crowd, it was from behind the crowd. The spectators of the trial parted allowing a group of women chanting “Mer-cy, mer-cy, mer-cy!” to cut through.
Helena looks up at the group of rowdy women.
“Mina.” She whispers, seeing her love, in all her glory, at the head of the mob.
Phryne the Thespian was a notable hetaira, or courtesan, of Athens, who has been remembered throughout the millennia for her dramatic trial which she won
Phryne the Thespian was a notable hetaira, or courtesan, of Athens, who has been remembered throughout the millennia for her dramatic trial which she won by baring her breasts. Her real name was Mnesarete, but people referred to her as Phryne (“toad”), due to the yellow complexion of her skin.
Her story has survived for thousands of years, with the legendary model and courtesan becoming the ultimate symbol of freedom against sexism, as well as repression disguised as piety.
Phryne was born around 371 BC in Thespiae (Boeotia), but spent most of her life in Athens. Because of her impressive looks, she became a model, posing for various painters and sculptors, including Praxiteles, who was also one of her most frequent clients. One of the statutes Praxiteles modeled after Phryne was purchased by the city of Cnidus – after the city of Cos that had originally commissioned it objected to its being a nude – and the statue became such a notable tourist magnet that the city managed to pay off its entire debt.
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Venus Rising
Chapter 3: Parallel Chronologies
Part II - A Time to Reap, a Time to Sow
Unbeknownst to him and to Mina herself, were the occurrences of the last few days on the island of Kos. Apelles arrived and revealed his masterpiece, selling it after an hour long bidding war between all the aristocrats of the island. Gordos immediately recognized who Aphrodite was modeled after and wanted it for himself, but he lost to Talos, who although not as wealthy, managed to double Gordos' bid.
Apelles became an instant hit, his lesser known works were being sought after, and he was commissioned for work by many aristocratic households around the Greek world. In fact, there was such a high demand for his work, that instead of returning to Athens he scheduled to leave straight for Macedonia in the north.
Walking up to a Macedonian ship early one brisk autumn morning, he watched an Athenian vessel come out of the fog and pull up to the docks. He stood watching as some men put his luggage and painting equipment on board, and the crew of the other ship tied it down. As he observed the busy scene of men rushing around, a young aristocratic woman, dressed in the finest silk chimation, was helped off the vessel. She slightly stumbled slipping on the wet stones of the dock, and he rushed grabbing her hand to prevent her from falling.
“Thank you" she said quietly turning to see his face
“Mnesarete?!” he exclaimed looking at the familiar face of his model
“Apelles!” she exclaimed with a smile.
“Haha! I am so glad to see you here!” he laughs giving her a big hug “this is amazing, you are her, and I am here, and… we both are her right now!”
“Yes…” She replies with discomfort painted all over her face as she tries to break free of his bear hug, “we are.”
“You do not understand!” he explains after eventually letting go, “this is a Macedonian ship.” pointing over to the ship with the sun design on its' sails.
“You are going to Macedonia?” she asks genuinely surprised
“Yes! Yes!” he answers more excited than before. “I have been invited to the court of King Phillip himself! Can you believe it?”
“I want you to deliver a letter for me.” She tells him, before going back to her luggage and rummaging through it.
“No no, I am not a delivery boy…” he attempts to reject the request as she quickly writes a few words on a small parchment.
“Take this to Maximus who is staying at the house of General Cleitus.” She hands him the parchment, sealed with her signet ring pressed in the wax.
“I said n…” he begins but stops when Mina places his hand on her breast. “General Cleitus. Ok"
“Good.” She replies as she removes her hand.
Just then two men carrying a large square object covered by a brown sheet walk between them and board the Macedonian vessel.
“That is the painting!” Apelles informs her
“The Macedonians purchased it?”
“Actually, a merchant named Talos bought it and then, I think, he sold it to the Macedonians"
“Interesting” she thought aloud. The Macedonians here on Kos, an Athenian ally, means they are really expanding their influence.
“Where are you going?” he asks her
“Gordos" she replies
“His house is the large one right of the town square" he says illustrating an invisible map with his long thin index finger.
She thanked him and wished him well on his trip and new ventures before leaving to find Gordos' home. It was not a difficult search since the house was the most imposing building on the square, with its' enormous and intricate façade looming over the passersby.
‘hmm definitely trying to compensate’ she thought as she walked up to the gate.
“State your business" the burly, chiseled chin guard asked
“I will stay it only to Gordos himself" she replied, “tell him…”
“Mina is here!” he calls out running down the front steps with his outstretched arms.
The gate swings open and he steps out and hugs her, before guiding her into his home. They sat talking in his large lush courtyard as servants rushed around waiting on them. After a lavish dinner they went to the bedroom upstairs for a glass of wine. The wine flowed and when Gordos saw her getting light headed from the alcohol he made his move.
Kissing her on the neck and grabbing her everywhere in such an uncoordinated way, made her wish she was actually drunk. Yet she played her part, seduced by his charm and manliness, she had succumbed to his sexual advances. Clumsily he tore off her clothes until her naked body was before him in all its' glory, the woman who had defined Aphrodite.
She had no real interest with this client, physical or psychological, nothing made him the least bit appealing, it was strictly a business transaction. There were many clients like him, although there were a few she generally enjoyed the company of, and none she actually loved. It was neither the large belly nor the weak physique that disinterested her, but rather his weak character, the one that allowed her to control him.
Bent over with her legs spread, she held onto the base board of his extremely large wooden bed as he took her from behind, while she thought about her plans for tomorrow. Anyone listening wondered what sexual magic he had done to her to make her utter the words, and cry out as loudly as she did. Luckily the ordeal was as short as his member was, and he collapsed on the bed in a sweaty mess. Laying beside him she played with his curly black hair until sleep over took him, while she wondered what the Macedonians were doing so far south.
The next morning, Gordos, rejuvenated and jovial, made his way through the house, greeting all the household staff. Together they had a breakfast of honey covered fried bread and an assortment of seasonal fruits in the courtyard while laughing and making small talk. After the meal she requested a tour of the island where the famed first physician, Hippocrates, was from, to which he was overjoyed to give. The carriage was readied and sitting in the back with his arm around her they began their excursion.
She met all the aristocracy of the island as well as all the important merchants bringing goods to or through the island on their way to all of the other Greek cities. Here was the hub of the silk trade for all the Mediterranean. Every strand of silk coming from beyond Persia made its' way to Kos where it is woven into fabric and then finally sewn into the finest clothes the world had ever seen.
The clothing from Kos was sold to aristocrats and nobles, kings and pharaohs, all over the Mediterranean world. Her tour included silk factories where she was able to see how everything was manufactured.
“It is simply amazing!” she exclaimed, her voice full of enthusiasm.
“Yes, it is.” Gordos smiled haughtily.
“The fabric is so soft and wonderful.” She stated petting the sheets of silk being woven.
“You really love silk baby, eh?” he asks laughing
“Oh yes I do!” she purred, rubbing a emerald green piece of cloth on her cheek, “you do not have enough silk for me.”
“Oh, I am sure I have more than plenty of everything for you my dear.” He rebutted
“ummm…” she stopped and looked around at the bustling factory with a blank stare, like a pigeon looking over the square for crumbs, “no.”
“Hahaha” he laughed nervously with his hands at his sides, “What do you mean, no?”
“Well, that there is not enough silk for me here.” She stated in a building literally filled with silk, in any form you could possibly imagine.
“Honey… I have more silk than anyone in all of the Mediterranean!” he declares with outstretched arms. “Beautiful but not very bright.” He whispers to the tall skinny man standing next to him, who was most likely the manager of the factory.
She skips over like a little girl, and just as if she were actually ten years old and asking for a toy, lays on his chest and looks him in the eyes.
“Then you can give one to me can't you?” she implored him.
He looked at her stunned that she would ask such a thing, not knowing what to reply.
“If you really have so much, then a little for me is nothing for you.” She stated sweetly.
“Umm… I… ummm..” he muttered
“Oh! If it is too much, then it is fine I understand.” She said standing back up, and turning to walk away “most men cannot afford such gifts for their lovers"
“But I am NOT most men!” he declared pompously, “Alpheos! You work for Mnesarete now!”
The man looked at him stunned, unable to utter a word, unable to move, catatonic state stunned. Mina ran up to Gordos and wrapping her arms around him, planted a big kiss on his cheek.
“Oh thank you Gordos!” she exclaimed in a very airheaded fashion.
Alpheos brought over a scroll and Gordos handed it to her, telling her that if she needed any help he would be there for her. What he actually meant was, that in a month when she had her fun he would take it back. They walked out the front door and toward the carriage, but as Gordos was stepping in, she ran back with the excuse of ‘forgetting something’ to which he laughed at her silliness.
Inside she found Alpheos, and sternly called him over to her.
“I want you to bring me an account of what we have in stock here. Everything from the last fiber to the finished clothing, as well as clothing designs” His mouth dropped at the sudden personality change.
“Y..yes… my lady.” He stutters, perplexed by the strange level-headed female.
“I also need a list of where we received the last shipment of silk from, how much, how much we sell our products for and to who.”
She walked off without waiting for a reply, but fully expecting Alpheos to get it done and bring the documents by Gordos' house that evening. She was sure that he knew he would be fired if he did not perform to her expectations. Outside she put on her smile and jumped on the back of the carriage.
"Did you find what you were looking for baby?" he asked
"Yes, I did." she replied as the driver whipped the horses and they proceeded to their next destination.
In Athens, with Mina gone, Helena spent more and more time at the clinic with Dice. The endless line outside the clinic was always filled with sick and injured women and children in need of care. Why did so many people flock to Agnodice for care instead of the dozen or so other physicians in Athens? No one was really sure, but maybe it was the quality of care, or maybe it was the level of caring, nevertheless they found their way there, and every night the girls would finish later and later.
"Do you ever feel tired of working so many hours?" Helena asked the doctor as they cleaned up after a long day's work.
"No, not really." Dice answered with a smile while putting some tools in a basin for cleaning.
"What about the fact that you recieve no recognition for your hard work, no one really knows who you are, no one really knows how much of an amazing physician you are?"
"They all know." she replied pointing out to the waiting room, "everyday more and more people come because they know I will not turn them away, that I will treat them no matter who they are. This is enough recognition for me. It does not matter to them what is between my legs, what matters is the good I do for them every day."
"You are truly amazing." Helena expressed, in awe of the woman.
"I am not." Dice retorted bluntly, "I am simply doing what I love, for the people whom I love."
Helena admired her, Agnodice was intelligent, stoic, and completely selfless. She truly lived to serve the people, in stark contrast with the other physicians of the city who saw each patient as a sack of gold. She treated so many people for free that it became almost strange when patients offered to pay.
"When you were in Chalcedon learning medicine, did your colleagues treat you differently?" Helena inquired
"Medicine is very competitive" Dice began, "the other students, who were all men, tried to cause problems an account of my sex. Yet Herophilos, my teacher, made it clear the first day we all entered the school."
"What did he do?"
"He stood before all of us and said, ‘I do not care who you are or who your parents are, if you are man or woman. What I care is that you enter as children and you will leave as physicians. Anyone who cannot handle my style of teaching and anyone who is unworthy, I will throw you out without a second thought. Prove your worth and stay.’ and I proved my worth."
This was enough to satiate Helena's curiosity for the moment. They finished their cleaning, and readied the clinic for the next day. Walking out, Dice closed and locked the door behind them, while Helena looked around at the sleeping city. What she failed to notice is the cloaked man across the street watching them, taking into account everything they do.
Venus Rising
Chapter 2 - Noble Houses
Part V - Noble Servants
Naeith walked back into the house with new duties and responsibilities bestowed upon her by Maximus as he departed. Immediately she set to work managing the household so that upon his return he would find everything just as he left it. She did this all for him, as she did everything for him. She woke in the morning for him, she breathed for him, she lived for him, because the first time he took a life he did so for her.
Although Maximus was born into this household, growing up and learning all he knew, she was bought and brought there to assist the lady of the house as a lady in waiting at the age of about sixteen. In Egypt she also tended to the lady of her household, but was sold because the man of the house had the habit of visiting her room late at night.
No one knows how long this was going on, but when discovered she was promptly beaten and sold at auction. She did not mind the beating, since it meant she would leave behind the nightly molestation of her former master.
She was purchased by Persian nobleman for his harem and packed onto a ship with other goods on the way to Anatolia. The ship was captured by pirates as it sailed past the eastern edge of Crete, and she was taken, along with all the other property on board, to Athens to be sold.
That is how she came to become part of the same household as Maximus. While she would take care of the Lady of the house, Maximus tutored the children. For a long time he had four children in his care, two boys and two girls. The eldest boy, Adonis, had already left for military service when Naeith arrived, leaving at sixteen he was expected to return in six months at the age of eighteen. He was the pride of the household, beloved by all, and especially by his tutor Maximus who was ten years his elder.
Maximus would see Naeith as he passed her in the halls of the large house, and he was at once captivated by her beauty. Sometimes he would recite poetry so she would hear and be impressed, other times he would try to speak to her in an attempt to make her smile or laugh, but it seemed to him nothing interested her, although sometimes she would smile when he was not looking. The truth is, she was never treated kindly or with respect, so she did not know how to react to his gentle advances. She feared all men, lowering her head and passing by as quickly as she could. Much like a dog that has only known abuse, if a hand is raised to pet it, it scurries away for fear of being beaten, all hands to it are weapons of evil.
The months passed and Adonis returned a hero, fighting in many battles against other Greek city-states in the region. Yet the sweet young boy who left did not return, in his place was a damaged man, scarred inside and outside. He spoke only of death and enslavement of his foes, how he made them tremble at his presence. Hearing him speak, everyone understood the sadistic joy he received from the pain of others. Even his siblings avoided his dead-eye stare, and the servants scattered to not find themselves in his presence.
One day he left the house to go to the agora, and immediately the household came to life, free to move about without fear. Naeith came out of the Gynekonition to get some cloth from the cellar when the front door opened and in the threshold stood Adonis. He looked at her and she froze, unable to move for a few moments due the bone chilling fear that overtook her. Adonis did not say a word, he simply walked up to her and grabbed her upper arm. Literally trembling in fear as he pulled her towards him, without saying a word he smelled her hair and neck like a wild beast sniffing a potential mate. He pulled the neckline of her loose-fitting chiton in order to take a look at her breasts, liking what he saw he reached in and grabbed one with an animalistic grunt. Next he lifted her already short chiton to reveal her nude buttocks, and after staring for a little while he let out another grunt before walking away.
That night was the first night Adonis entered her bedroom and brutally had his way with her. This occurred night after night for months, and the quiet but content young girl had become a shadow of herself. She never smiled again, she never hummed while sewing again, she never dreamed again, her soul was as bruised as her body.
Maximus had taken notice of her change in demeanor but could not understand why until one day Adonis became too brazen, knowing no one would touch him. Walking past the cellar he heard a struggle, like someone was pushing things around and knocking them to the ground.
“No… please…” he heard Naeith whimper before hearing a loud slapping sound.
“I told you what you get for saying no!” grunted Adonis before yet another slapping sound was heard followed by a loud bang, which could only be the sound of her head upon the wooden table.
Maximus peered through the open door, leaning over slightly so as not to be seen. He watched in horror as Adonis took out his dick and forced it into an incapacitated Naeith, as she cried bent over the table in the middle of the room. Tears streamed down her face as he thrust into her again and again, groaning with satisfaction at the pain he was inflicting.
“No!” Maximus yelled stepping into the room, fists clenched and eyes filled with rage. Adonis turned in shock to challange him, but Maximus had already delivered the first blow to his face, as he fumbled to cover his member.
“Go, now!” he yelled at Naeith who scurried out of the room, closing the door behind her, as Maximus moved closer to Adonis who stumbled to get up from the ground. Maximus grabbed him by the neck and lifted him into the air while Adonis frantically tried to hit him. Yet, like a rag doll, Maximus took the brute and bashed his head against the table killing him instantly.
Taking a flask of wine, he poured the contents on the floor and onto the corpse in order to conceal the murder. There was no investigation, for it was evident the boy met his demise after slipping and hitting his head while drinking. Yet for all the lamentation and grandiose funeral ceremony, the truth was that everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone, especially Naeith, who from that day on was finally free. She never spoke to Maximus about the incident, she never thanked him with more than a look, but every day she would dream of being able to one day build up the courage to thank her savior. Maximus' smile on the other hand was wiped from his face. From that day forward he became a man of few words, because every night the murder of his beloved pupil haunted him.
He thought about this and the second death that had transpired just days ago as he rode northward. His hands were once again stained with blood and now he had to leave his beloved city in self exile, possibly never again to see the home he grew up in, the woman that he loved, and the woman he had chosen to follow. This strange woman who he knew for such a short time would lead to his freedom and eventually his banishment. He wondered who this woman was, and where she came from.
He was not the only one pondering these things, Mina herself, bedridden and imprisoned in her mind, ruminated over her beginnings. How it came to pass that a wealthy girl with her own servants and fancy clothes embroidered with gold became someone else's property.
She remembered running from the burning house trying to flee into the forested mountains to the west. However the fates had another plan for this child, she was grabbed by a Theban soldier who was scavenging bodies in the field. Laughing as he raised his sword to end her short life, he stopped only when an officer called to him to bring the child over to him.
The officer dragged her by the hair and tossed her to the feet of the second man. He lifted her up and took her off the field while the first man berated him with insults. She was not sure if it was kindness or just greed that spurred the officer to save her life only to sell her to a merchant for a few silver coins, but she did not care, she was alive.
The merchant then sold her to a family from Euboa as a house slave. There she served for several years, cleaning and taking care of the garden. She was taught how to take care of the house so that one day when the daughter of the household would come of age she would become her lady in waiting. Although this was never to come, because a friend of the house, Arete of Cyrene, would visit and stay with them.
In the week that the philosopher from North Africa stayed with them, she befriended the young girl who was assigned to make sure she was at want for nothing. They went for walks and talked about her school of philosophy, where she taught about hedonism and it’s path to greater wisdom and happiness. She taught that the meaning of life was pleasure and thus the pursuit of pleasure was the noblest path to dedicate oneself to. They would have deep philosophical discussions while sitting by the fire at night, astonished by the deep cognitive abilities of the young girl.
One morning she took her to a spot overlooking a pine forest.
“You see that forest over there?” Arete asked pointing to the deep green expanse. Mina nodded ‘yes’. “What do you see flying above the tops of the trees?”
“An eagle" the girl of about ten replied
“Now over here” she added pointing to a chicken coop to the right of them, “what do you see?”
“Chickens.” She answered
“Now tell me, which you would rather be?”
“The eagle"
“Why?”
“The chicken can eat its' fill, it has no worries, but it lives for the whims of others. It lives in the pleasures of eating and becoming fat. The eagle struggles to survive, nothing is given but it takes what it wants, it flies free above all the rest. Its' pleasures are freedom and strength of will.” she explained.
That day Arete purchased Mina's freedom and took her with her to Cyrene, in North Africa, where she studied philosophy, literature, astronomy, and math.
Mnesarete, the memory of virtue.
(A very old OC.)
Recently, my character Mnesarete Aerendian was voted as having the most bonkers name out of my OCs. It was a competitive field, but I think she won it fairly.
Mnesarete is the primary antagonist of a book series I wanted to write, but never really got into. 2008-2009 was a really turbulent period for me, and my original writing just wasn't working at that point.
Even though her books will never be written, I still like Mnesarete. She was a lowly messenger, but an ambitious one with the ear of the local ruler, and she used her traveling and quick mind to gather secrets and political advantages on behalf of the ruler -- her goal wasn't overt conquest, but to support and direct from the shadows. Her design, with her pale skin and hair, her intricate skull-cap, and above all her piercing gray eyes, was meant to be somewhat off-putting.
And the absurd name? The series was going to glance at colonialism. So Mnesarete was born in a culture that natively spoke Greek which was overtaken by an empire that natively spoke Old English. Her name was hybridized, Mnesarete (Greek, roughly meaning "memory of virtue", as in she once had honor but has deliberately left it behind) Aerendian (based on the Old English word for "message" because she serves the colonial government as a courier). This was a case where I felt symbolism and world-building trumped... basic readability for a name. Probably the wrong call, but I couldn't think of her as anything else now.
Anyway, I love amoral, strategic female characters. So while Mnesarete will not herself survive into any books, she may still serve as building blocks for another character.
Venus Rising
The tale of Mnesarete, one of the most influential woman in Ancient Greece, and one of the first LGBTQ heroines in history.
Intro:
Enslaved at a young age, she clawed her way up the male dominated ancient world using anything available to her. Known for her extreme beauty she was the model of many famous statues and paintings that still exist today, like that of Aphrodite above. Yet her real skill was her mind, which she used to bring about real change in a time where women were not even permitted citizenship. One of the most famous LGBT figures of the ancient world, she was as strong and bold as Head Priestess to Aphrodite, as she was controversial in her role of guiding political outcomes using her femininity and wealth. She became so important that those who feared her decided to accuse her of crimes she did not commit in order to have her sentenced to death. Filled with love and passion, intrigue and betrayal, loyalty and sacrifice; this is her story.