Lykos Redemption
Ch. 2: Arcadia
Coulter DarkClaw
Melaeneus
and Nyctimus--the eldest and the youngest of the sons of Lycaon--traveled into
the city. Their eyes wandered, taking in the sights and sounds of so beautiful
a city. The streets were paved with marble. The buildings were all high quality
marble, even in the slummier area of the city. It was a city of riches and a
city so vastly different than the way that they had left it when they were
kids. In their time in the City of Arcadia, there was only one paved road, only
one building so richly developed. It was the building they could no longer
enter. No matter how much they wanted to visit their childhood home. Zeus'
warning had been clear. And they weren't ones to try the patience of a god.
"It
looks so different from when I was last here Nyk. I can't believe how much has
changed." Melaeneus said to his brother. It was obvious that Mel was
nervous. Even with his cloak covering him. Nyctimus knew by the slight quiver
in his voice. The plan was simple. He would go door to door and apologize for
the things that he and his brothers had done.
"It
is still the city we grew up in. Even if it looks a little...fancier than I
remember. Do not let the guards catch us, though. I am pretty sure that the new
King has put a price on my head. By being associated with me, you would surely
be in danger, too. He thinks that I want the throne for myself, seeing as I am
the 'rightful heir'. I could not care less about the throne. Only the people of
Arcadia could make me take up the throne again. I care nothing for that
power." Nyktimus replied nonchalantly.
"Brother?
Why do you not want the throne? The people of Arcadia loved you if I remember
correctly. Why would you give up a role for which you were born?"
"Mel,
I know my destiny and it isn't to lead this city. It is to lead my brothers on
a path of redemption for what they have done."
"How?
Apollo's Oracle? When did you go to Delphi?"
"No.
This is the path that I have chosen for myself." Nyktimus replied as they
approached the first house of one of the citizens which the Lycaonids (name
given to the sons of Lycaon) had wronged. If Melaeneus remembered correctly, it
was the house of a fairly effeminate man, whom they knew was dating one of the
palace guards. Demeas, Lycius, Macednus, and Portheus--if Melaeneus remembered
correctly--had raped this man. They had taken turns raping him viciously and at
the end had even castrated him. Melaeneus had chosen this house, because it was
one of the most horrific of the acts committed by his brothers. One of the most
horrific events that he'd ever watched, too scared for his own life to actually
stop what had transpired. Nyktimus knocked on the door and waited.
The
door opened just enough to allow the person inside could see who was at the
door. "YOU! Why would YOU come back? Finally work up the courage to fuck
me yourself?" The man at the door almost screamed at them. Then he noticed
Nyctimus, "Your highness? What are you doing, my King? Why would you pass
any time with this monstrosity of a brother?" He directed at Nyk as he
bowed.
"I
am not your king. I am here in support of my brother, who is trying to make
amends for the wrongs committed by our brothers, and his own cowardice."
The
effeminate man feigned surprise, "He seriously doesn't think that he can
walk up here to THIS house and beg of ME forgiveness?"
"Leon,
listen to me. I didn't think that they'd go as far as they did, I know that's
no excuse and I know that I cannot give you back what you have lost, but I still
must beg your forgiveness. I do this because it wasn't right what they did to
you. It wasn't right for me to stay back and watch like a scared little pup
while they did what they did to you. I am sorry that I wasn't stronger, that I
didn't stand up fo what was right when I should have. I cannot say I am sorry
enough. However, I won't say anymore because words will not bring back what you
lost."
"WILL
YOU JUST SAY IT?! THEY RIPPED OFF MY TESTICLES, GODSDAMMIT!" Leon screamed
at the top of his lungs; surprisingly this didn't attract as much attention as
Nyctimus thought it would have. Obviously people were used to this man's
outbursts.
"Calm
yourself, Leon. I may have something to ease your pain. While I doubt you use
them, anyways, I may be able to give you your testicles back." Nyctimus
said as he looked in his bag. He was looking for one of his vials. He dug out a
long slender vial containing a golden liquid. There was a label written in a
heavily slanted Greek print. It read, "Aíma
Gorgónas*". "Ah yes. This was not easy to obtain, Leon. I have no
need of it. However, I think it will aid in your plight."
"Thank
you, your highness, I still am not willing to forgive this, "He motioned
over to Melaeneus, "his cowardice. However I must say that this act helps
alleviate some of the anger I have felt toward your family for quite some time.
It will be hard, your highness...but I will work toward forgiving your brother.
Of course it would not hurt if Melaeneus would possibly talk to Demetrios. If
he could get him to talk to me again, I would be more willing. His brothers
drove Demitrios away with that rape. I was 'never the same' after what they did
to me..." Leon replied, taking the vial. He uncorked the vial and tipped
it back.
"I
will gladly talk to him. Where is he?" Melaeneus said unnecessarily.
"Still
a Castle Guard. He is off an hour before sundown." Leon Replied.
"Are
you indeed healed?" Nyctimus asked looking at the young man's groin. He
was of a decent build. Obviously not wanting or in need of food--a change from
the descriptions of the 'scrawny bitch' that his brothers had described. Of
course seven and a half years can do that to a person. Especially under such a
generous king. He was built not like a warrior, but rather a sprinter or a
messenger. His face was handsome enough with a heavy brow and a hard chin. He
would have been fairly masculine if not for the way in which he carried
himself. That fact and the fact that he was indeed obviously ostracized by the
community were what told him that the man was the bottom in the relationship.
Which was probably what led his brothers to believe through their twisted, purely
evil logic that raping him was okay. After all--they would think--he gave up
his right to citizenship the moment he first let another man invade his most
intimate of orifices.
"Indeed
I am. Thank you, your highness. It means a lot for you to come here."
"Again,
I am not your king. Nor am I a prince of Arcadia. My family gave the throne up
the night my father killed me." Nyctimus said as he walked away. He didn't
catch the bow that Leon had given him.
***
Melaeneus
had given Demetrios ample time to exit the castle and show up at his home. So
it wasn't a shock to Mel, when a burly man, maybe a little over an orgyia** tall, and around four talents*** in weight. A pretty
well-built man. He fit the role of palace guard rather perfectly. It was a
surprise to Melaeneus that a man who was so masculine only appreciated the
company of other men (If you could even call them that). It was as he
approached his house that Mel got up and off the wall against which he was
leaning. He looked at the man and said, "Demetrios? It's been a
while."
"M...Mel...Melaeneus?
I thought... Zeus was pissed...How are you... Why are you..." Demetrios
looked at Melaeneus with a stern expression, "This is about Leon, isn't
it?"
"Dem,
look, Leon was severely wronged by my brothers. For you to leave him because
they gang raped him. That's just cruel. I know it's been eight years since you
broke it off, but in order for me to regain my humanity," Mel removed his
cloak revealing the semi-wolfish appearance of his body, "I need to seek
forgiveness from those who I've wronged and rectify their situations as much as
I possibly can. It is the only way in which I can redeem myself in the eyes of
Zeus. He is still very aggravated with my family and my returning to sapience
hasn't helped matters any. Even if Zeus said he's happy that I've regained my
humanity."
Demetrios
looked perplexed, then angry, then releaved, "Huh...You royals are all the
same. You only think of yourselves. Even when you are trying to help someone,
it is only because you have already figured out how it will benefit you. I am
not with Leon anymore, because he has refused to forget what it is that your
brothers did to him. I cannot be constantly reminded of what he went through
verbally, when I already see the broken and beaten Leon lying on that floor so
long ago. Every time I think of Leon, It's no longer the sweet man that I met
fifteen years ago in gymnasium... It is the image of him bloodied on the floor
eyes devoid of emotion. Do you know how terrible that is?"
"How
do you think I feel? I had to watch my brothers rape your paramour because I'm
too much of a coward to have tried to stop them. I don't see Leon bloodied on
the floor. I see his face in utter pain and agony with my immediate younger
brother over him. I can't get that image out of my head..." Melaeneus
shook his head sadly, "Leon he still feels for you. It would mean a lot to
him if you would at least try to rekindle what you once had before my family
ruined your lives."
"Your
journey will be a long and arduous one, Mel. I bid you farewell. I bear you no
ill will, I hope you know, Mel. You were never as cruel as your brothers. You
just never had the balls to be the older brother that they severely needed.
It's nice to see you finally grow a pair to some extent." Demetrios looked
at Melaeneus and sighed. He walked toward Leon's house as Mel stayed behind.
***
Nyctimus
found Melaeneus sitting on a bench in the central forum in the city. His cloak
and hood were still on, but Nyctimus in some way could tell that there was a
change in his brother. He was sitting stiller than Nyctimus remembered around
the camp fire they sat at the night before they came into the city. Sitting
next to him was a woman in a golden silk himation****
with blood red borders and a brooch with a pomegranate on it. Around the back
of her head and resting on top of her ears were golden laurels. Her hair was a
beautiful golden blond like the color of the setting sun reflecting off the
ocean. Her skin a perfect, unblemished olive. Her eyes dark and sad. It was
Hera. "Mother Hera? To what do we owe the pleasure?" Nyctimus bowed
deeply out of respect for the goddess.
The
goddess eyed him keenly with some level of respect, "Lord Zeus sent me to
see your progress. It appears that my oaf of a husband is good for something.
He punished your family in a way that he reserves for the cruelest of men. I
heard your oath, young Nyctimus. Hecate relayed it to me. That was a very
dangerous thing that you did, I hope you know. Taking on the role of redeeming
your family. That, young lad is an enormous goal. I suggest starting small.
Start with Melaeneus and then try and redeem the rest of your family. It will
take time. Understand that. Also understand that it will not be possible for
you to redeem them all.
"Now
come and see what progress was made today. Melaeneus has indeed redeemed his
cowardice some today. He still must deal with much more before he regains his
full humanity. However, he stands before you with more of himself human then
before." She reached out and delicately and lowered the cowl of Melaeneus'
cloak. What was shown was the fully human head of his brother Melaeneus, if a
little bit scruffier than when they were younger.
Nyctimus
gasped. "Brother! Your ears! They have returned to their human
shape." And it was true. Instead of the pointed more wolfish ears he had
before coming to the city, Melaeneus' ears were just as round as the day before
he was turned into a wolf. His lips were turned up into the shape of a smile
that was reflected in his dark brown eyes.
"Yes,
that is right, young one. His redemption is just starting. He has in front of
himself now a long journey. In which he will be challenged and opposed. It is
the way of things, child. Those who seek to redeem themselves will always face
those who will hold onto grudges with all their ignorant might. I leave you
with this, that you may survive your next encounter." She said as she set
something delicately on the bench next to where she had been sitting and lifted
herself off of the bench before leaving in a burst of pomegranate leaves.
"Brother,
what do you think she meant, ‘survive our next encounter?'" Melaeneus
asked as he picked up a silver knife, dropping it immediately and yelping as
the rather pungent odor of burning flesh reached both his and Nyctimus' noses.
Melaeneus looked at the blade as if it were possessed and looked at his hand
where a significant burn was slowly healing itself. "By the Gods!"
"Let
me see that." Nyctimus picked it up and looked at the handle. From what he
could tell, the handle was made from aconite root. It had been dried and
lacquered, however, it was apparently still poisonous to his brother. It was a
knife of the finest quality and craftsmanship. Its blade was silver-plated
bronze. The blade was in the shape of an elongated tear drop with the round end
near the handle and the pointed end the tip of the blade. The blade itself was
around four and a half kondoloi^ long
by about three daktyloi^* wide.
Inscribed in the blade was the word “Akoníto^**”.
Nyctimus chuckled. It was going to be an interesting couple of months...
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