Catalyst Read online

  Imperial Publishing House Presents

  Catalyst

  by Elisabeth

  Imperial Publishing House is a small press that specializes in publishing multicultural and urban fiction. We are currently seeking submissions. If you would like to submit your story, pitch us the idea by emailing the first three chapters and synopsis to [email protected].

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  CATALYST

  *Definition: An event causing a change*

  Prologue

  Centuries Ago

  Alana

  This can’t be! They can’t do this to him. He deserves to live.

  I sprinted through the forest searching for him. I moved as fast as my little feet would permit, even though my chest and lungs were burning. My tears trailed down my face as I continued to run. This wasn’t true. I passed the forest and ran as everything in sight became blurry. I would be in trouble, but I didn’t care as I continued the journey.

  Memories flooded my mind as I ran. I thought of when he came back from training while I was cleaning up the big hall where there a feast was going to be hosted in a couple of days. Helena and I were the last ones left in there as we made sure the tables were all wiped down. She hummed a tune, and I joined in. I swayed my hips to the rhythm as we were finishing up. I heard footsteps approaching closer and closer. I turned my head to the right of me, and there Achilles was, dirty as ever and messing up the floors we had just cleaned. My eyes widened at the floor, and I inwardly cringed over the hours spent cleaning the floors and how I would probably be the one cleaning the floors again. I glared at him that day, then looked at Helena who smirked while shaking her head. She waved as she tiptoed out of the hall.

  I remembered thinking, Gods! I knew I was going to have to scrub the floors again.

  “Achilles!” I shrieked.

  My anger getting the best of me. I walked out of the room not noticing his hands were hidden behind him. After getting the bucket and brush from the corner, I carried them back to where he was.

  “Move, move… go back the same way you came. I need to clean this now,” I said.

  He grunted, but I didn’t bother looking up at him. I was annoyed with him for not considering what I had to do.

  “Leave it, Lana,” Achilles demanded.

  I shooed him away and got on my knees, beginning to re-scrub the area slowly.

  “Do you know why I’m here right now?” Achilles questioned. “I came to give you this!” He yelled at me as he lowered to his knees.

  I stopped what I was doing to sit back on my heels and look at him. I noticed what he had as he shoved the wild flowers in my hand. I sat there shocked. He got me flowers. No one had ever gotten me flowers before. He stared at me. Then, I took in his appearance. He looked so worn out. As I truly looked at him, my anger dissipated. I’d missed him so. He noticed the change in my demeanor, and wrinkles formed on his forehead.

  “What? What did I do this time?”

  “Nothing,” I quickly replied.

  Before I could say or do anything, he yanked the brush out of my hand, dipping it back in the bucket. Then, he began to clean the dirt he brought in.

  “Wha— What are you doing? Stop,” I said as I tried to grab the brush.

  “No. I made this mess. Let me assist you. Let me do this much for you, Alana.”

  “I could get into trouble, Achilles! Just let me do it. I’ll come draw you a bath when I’m done.”

  “No!” He gruffly responded. “Admire the flowers I’ve given you while I finish this up. Go sit on my chair.”

  My eyes widened as I turned looking at the large chair that was his throne in this hall. Then, I turned back to look at him. “No, I can never.”

  He stopped what he was doing and looked up at me smiling. He leaned into me and kissed me. My lips immediately responded to his kiss, then he broke the kiss. I opened my eyes to look at him.

  “Everything that is mine will always be yours, Alana. Now, go sit in that chair knowing you are much worthy of that chair.”

  I bit my bottom lip slowly standing up. I turned, walking towards the chair, and, when I got there, I sat in it. I watched him as he got back to scrubbing the floor. That day, I whispered…I will always love you, Achilles.

  That lovely memory faded. I had finally arrived at his home and stared at the pillars. The smoke indicated he, my heart, was gone from me. Someone I saw as immortal had died. How could this happen to us?

  He was the great hero. The one with no weakness, but one only few knew about.

  It took me some time to know his weakness, and I swore with my life I would never tell a soul, even on my death bed. We didn’t deserve this. I dropped to my knees as I gripped my robe so tight, I could rip it. My other hand dropped to the ground, to my source of life, earth. I sunk my fingers deep into the earth, praying to the gods for his survival. But, this was the answer they gave me. This was what they promised their daughter. We were meant to be happy, even if I didn’t have a right to be his. I let out a sob so deep my core shook.

  His mother heard my sob and stepped out with her mourning clothes on. The reality hadn’t set in for me yet, and I refused to let it. I would wait for him until he came out to greet me from inside. I watched her with tears in my eyes as she glared back with hate, sorrow, grief and something I learned later to be regret. I didn’t flinch when she yelled for the guards.

  “Guards! Guards! Get her and lock her up, now!”

  I could’ve ran and hidden, but for what? My only reason for being was gone and now I was alone in this world. He’d made me complete, and now… Now… I’m completely empty.

  The guards came out, and I knew they would treat me like the dirt I resembled. One yanked me by my hair while the other one grabbed my shoulder. The pain they caused me didn’t equate to the pain in my heart.

  When we neared his mother, I begged her, “Please. Please, let me see him. Just this once. Please!” Everything in me shook as I pleaded, but they dragged me away.

  I just needed to see him. He would be disappointed I showed up here, knowing I could die, but I didn’t care. I was already dead without him.

  When we reached the dungeon, they threw me in. My knees scraped along the cold, wet cement. I wasn’t sure if it was pee or water. I crawled into a small space far away from the other prisoners. There was a small fire outside the dungeon making it hard to see anyone in the dark. I rested my back on the frigid, stone wall pulling my knees up to rest my forehead. Tears fell as I heard the laughter of the guards leaving the dungeon area.

  Achilles

  When she heard the news of my death, I begged her not to go there, but she couldn’t hear me. I’m now a ghost.

  I didn’t believe in such a thing, but there I was, in spirit form, begging the love of my life not to go to my lifeless body.

  I hurried behind her. “Alana! Alana, my love, please! Please, turn back around. Run away. You won’t survive this. Please!” My voice rang out, but all it seemed to do was intensify the wind blowing around her.

  I knew she wouldn’t stop, but I couldn’t help myself. I tried stepping out in front of her, but she went right through me.

  My heart ached as she dropped to her knees. She wanted to see me. To see my body and believe I was truly gone. As her fingers sunk in to the earth, I felt them on me as I was now part of the earth. My soul was no longer in my body. I dropped down to my knees in front of her, trying to get her to see me, but she looked right past me. I knew the moment my mother stepped out that there was no way out for Alana. I stood up quickly. Still in the armor I died in, I ran to my mother.

  “Mother please…” I begged. I never begged for anyone. But for Alana, I would do anything. “Mother, please let her go. Don’t do this to her. She doesn’t deserve this.
”

  My mother loathed her because she was beneath her, and she was the color of the dark earth. Yet, to me, she was beautiful. Alana’s face glowed in the sun when she smiled. Her brown ringlets of hair draped around her shoulders when she took them out of the halo braid she wore, making her as beautiful as a goddess. Her brown eyes called to me no matter where I was. I couldn’t look away from those eyes; they spoke of love to me. Love I wanted to get back to. Her small figure, compared to my much larger warrior size, felt good in my hands. She wasn’t as small as all the other Greek women. Alana was curvaceous in every way. Her hips and thighs warmed me whenever I was between her legs making rough love to her. Her bosom spilled out of my large hands when I captured them. Everything about her brought me alive. Now, I am dead.

  Dead to the world. But, to her, I was alive, and she was seeking me out.

  The moment my mother gave the order to bring her to the dungeon, everything inside me turned into ice. I was frozen in place until those guards grabbed her like she was a piece of cloth. I roared like a mighty lion, and the only thing that responded was a torch blowing out on the side of the pillar. Her sweet voice and pleading words dragged my roaring to a halt.

  “Please, let me see him.”

  She was begging to see me just once more. I looked at my mother as her icy, green eyes didn’t waver. I turned my gaze back on Alana.

  “Please, Mother,” I begged through clenched teeth. “Let me feel her touch once more, just once more.”

  Alana’s sobbing broke me as they dragged her to the dungeon. I followed, trying to pry them off her, but my grasp went right through them. The gods were playing a sick joke on the both of us. I just wished they’d stop soon.

  As we got to the dungeon, I went to her. I watched as she scurried like a scared little mouse to a corner. She brought her knees up to her chest and laid her head on them.

  “My love,” I called out to her. “I’m here. I’m here with you.” I looked up to the heavens and, for the very first time, prayed an earnest and sincere prayer.

  “I beg you, gods, please let her see me just once more. Allow her to see ghosts like me, so we can part the right way. Let me profess my love to her once more. I beg of you.”

  I sighed, not knowing if my prayer was answered. I looked back down at my love and hoped she would make it out of there in one piece.

  ***

  The first time I saw Alana, I came back from training with my men after days of preparing ourselves. We were loud and rowdy as we sat down in the hall. We drank plenty as the slaves refilled our goblets. I looked at the women walking around us, some feeding us, some filling up our drinks and others there for our entertainment. The woman that usually occupied my bed sat in my lap. She was slender with a slim waist and a bosom that filled my hands. Her creamy skin was soft to the touch. Her blue eyes complimented her skin as the tiny spray of freckles decorated her face. She was beautiful to say the least. I enjoyed the way her small, soft hand felt on my thigh as she caressed it each time, moving closer and closer to her target. I smirked at her as she ran her fingers through my locks. That felt good, especially since I hadn’t been with a woman in a while. I was enjoying the way her mouth felt on my neck, until I heard a squeal and something crashing to the ground. I turned my head and looked in the direction of the noise. I observed the situation as one of my men had Alana in a chokehold hanging in the air. Her feet dangled, and her hands gripped his wrist. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but then he squeezed a bit harder.

  “Cyril, put her down,” I commanded.

  I didn’t particularly know the slave, but he was killing her for no reason. He was a bit too drunk, and he was too strong for his own good. He let her go, and she dropped with a huge thud. She started to cough so hard, I thought more than just her lungs would come out from her mouth. She didn’t move as she kept her eyes downcast without saying much else. Cyril looked my way, and I shrugged my shoulders.

  “I was having fun,” he said.

  I shook my head. What was so fun about asphyxiation? Cyril looked away from me and back to her. He eyed her up and down, not hiding the lust from building up inside of him.

  I finally took a good look at her. I couldn’t see much, but her body was in full view with the see-through dress she had on. I could see her heavy bosom leading to a stomach that wasn’t flat. I couldn’t properly see anything else, as she was still on the floor. She must’ve felt my eyes on her because she looked up at me. When she looked at me, my breath caught in my chest. She didn’t just have an angelic face, she was much more beautiful than that. Her face should’ve been rendered sinful to look at. Her big, brown eyes seemed to see me. I tilted my head causing my golden mid-chest length hair to move with me. I studied her, not hearing when Cyril called out to me.

  “Achilles!” he bellowed.

  Finally, snapping out of it, I turned to look his way. He had a weird look on his face I couldn’t interpret. He stood up and reached for the slave.

  She said nothing, but her eyes widened. She didn’t want to go with him.

  “Unhand her,” I demanded.

  Cyril was visibly surprised I even told him that. I never asked for him to unhand any woman he wanted, or took, but there was something different about her.

  “What?” he questioned me. “She’s mine for the time being,” he said as if he was warning me.

  I didn’t like that.

  I lightly maneuvered the maiden from my lap as I stood up. I had height on Cyril and was much stronger than him. I took the simple steps toward them, standing toe to toe with Cyril. I reached for his hand on her upper arm and forcefully removed it. She took a step back as if to run and then thought better of it. I looked back up at Cyril and cocked my eyebrow, daring him to challenge me. He said nothing, but I could tell he was fuming. I grabbed her wrist and attempted to walk away, but Cyril stepped in front of me once more.

  “Alana is mine,” he repeated, this time causing my men to look towards our table. The room grew quiet.

  Ah! So, her name’s Alana. Alana… I repeated it in my head. Then, I looked at Cyril once more.

  I don’t know what came over me as I threw my head back and laughed hard. I laughed so hard tears threatened to escape my lids. As abruptly as I began laughing, I stopped. I looked Cyril in his eyes with my icy stare and dared him to challenge me once more. I wondered if he knew better or not. Everyone sat at their tables waiting to see what would happen. Cyril must’ve sobered up. He blinked rapidly and moved out of my way.

  Alana

  I was scared when the great warrior we all heard about, Achilles, grabbed my wrist and walked away with me. Even though he had my wrist in his big hand, I was still terrified. At this point, I was shaking with fear. I heard how rough he was. Most of the women said, ‘he was rough but worth it’. Some of them weren’t seen around until three or four nights after claiming they couldn’t properly walk. I didn’t want to be one of them. I wanted to be able to do my duties and keep my head low. Though I was thankful for him rescuing me from Cyril who tried to force himself on me more than once since I’d been here, I didn’t think I was getting anything better with Achilles.

  Everyone admired him, and the women wanted to be the lucky ones to be in his arms or bed. I just wanted to continue to do my duties as a slave in quiet solitude. I didn’t want to be used as I had been ever since I came here. When we stopped, I wasn’t paying attention because I smacked right into his hard back. It felt like crashing into a brick wall even with the armor on. I looked up, and we had entered his chambers. I stood there frozen in place as he moved around. His chambers were already lit with candles all over showing off the gold and black ensemble of the room. I looked around admiring the cleanliness of his room and how it was made for such a warrior of his status. A thud caused me to turn in Achilles’ direction, and I regretted it the moment I did.

  When I turned to look at him, he was removing his armor. He removed his breastplate first, it hit the floor with a clank. Then, the garment
he wore came next. The gods must’ve taken the time to carve his defined back out inch by inch. His broad shoulders seemed bigger without the armor, which shouldn’t have been possible. He rotated his shoulders causing his back muscles to move around. I couldn’t take my eyes off him, even when he turned around to face me. I must’ve looked insane as I stared at the definition in his arms, then his pecs, following down to his taut stomach. Only the gods who loved him could construct his abdominal area so well as a gift to mankind.

  I should’ve looked away, yet it became too late the moment my eyes traveled farther down. He was gloriously naked, and his member was at ease. I’d never seen something so big when it wasn’t demanding for attention. I tried to look away, but I couldn’t. I heard him chuckle.

  “Come here,” he demanded, his voice harsh and rough.

  I wanted to yell, ‘No!’ But, I breathed in a deep breath and exhaled, taking small steps toward him. When I finally reached up to him, I looked down at my feet trying to ignore the beast between his legs. It now made sense why most of those women claimed he ripped them apart. I didn’t want that at all.

  “Help me with these,” he said as he wiggled his foot.

  I looked down at his sandals. I didn’t say anything as I slowly got down to my knees and removed each sandal from his feet. I heard him make a sound that scared me. I looked up, which was a mistake. The top of my head knocked into his semi-erect member.

  “Beautiful,” was all that came from his lips.

  His face was even more handsome as he stared right at me. His green eyes contrasted, yet complimented, his golden chest hair. It seemed to make him striking and hard to look at all at the same time. He was tall; so much taller than me. I knew I didn’t grow past five feet, but this man towered over me like a pillar. Everything about him said he was a warrior, a great one at that.

  He must’ve not liked me staring. He turned away from me and went toward his private bathing pool that was as large as my room. He slowly sank into the hot, steaming water and I saw his whole body relax as I was still on my knees. He tilted his head back a bit, letting out a breath and closing his eyes.