Joanna Wylde - Dancing With Dionysus

"Your promises don't mean a lot to me," she said with quiet dignity.

"I know," he replied tightly. Then he turned and started walking again.

Unable to do anything else, she followed him again.

She hardly seemed aware of his presence.

Sabiniano had expected her to fight him when they arrived at the bathing room, located deep within the temple. It was fed by a natural hot spring, and was more cave than true bath. Glistening spears of crystallized mineral rose around the baths, and steam wafted to the ceiling. Perhaps most notably, it was all one room. There were no separate areas for men and women.

But she simply followed him without speaking. She seemed hopeless, her spirit broken. Almost as if she was still a shade in the underworld, not a living woman at all. She stood in the center of the room, waiting to be told what to do next.

"You'll need to take off your clothing," Sabiniano said quietly. "Do you need help?"

"No," she said quietly. "I don't need your help. Do I have to do this with you in here?"

"Yes, you do," he said. "I'm afraid that if I leave you in here alone you'll drown."

"I'm fine," she said, her face finally showing an emotion. Anger. He held back a smile, relieved to realize that she was still capable of experiencing strong feelings.More than a shade, he thought.

But as quickly as she showed her anger, it faded. In its place was a dull acceptance of her fate. Sabiniano gritted his teeth. If he was going to rescue her from the terrible fate his god had decreed, he would have to get more reaction out of her than that.

"Take of your clothes," he said roughly. She nodded and reached down to pull the drab and torn gown she wore over her head. She paused in her movements.

"Can you please turn the other way?" she asked in a soft voice. "I don't want to do this while you're watching me."

He nodded, and turned. He could hear her movements behind him, using his supernatural senses to monitor her as she pulled the gown over her head. She padded down the carved stone steps and entered the pool quickly, gasping as the hot spring water surrounded her. The heat took her by surprise.

"I can't believe how hot this is, it's burning me!" she called. He smiled. It was as if the water had awakened her from a dream. He was feeling more and more hope for the situation they found themselves in.

He turned, and she ducked down behind the rock ledge. Ignoring her discomfort, he walked along the edge of the pool until he reached the deepest area, then dove in cleanly. The heat of the water pulled him down, and he could feel the scratches the nymph had left on his back burning in pain. The pain ripped through him, anchoring him in his body as it always did. Hopefully it would do the same for her.

He swam underwater toward the woman, allowing himself a glimpse of her body as he swam. It was hard to see her through the bubbles welling up from the bottom, and he grimaced in annoyance. There were far more bubbles than usual.

The naiad of the spring must be playing tricks on him, he realized.

No sooner had the thought come into his mind, than the naiad herself swam up next to him. Her long, white hair spread out between him and the human woman.

She blocked his passage with her body, smiling and beckoned him to come with her. He frowned, and she spoke underwater, the sounds strange and difficult to understand.

"Come with me, Lord Sabiniano," she said, her voice caressing him like the tinkling noise of a stream. "Allow your servants to care for you and ignore this human. She is nothing to you, yet her presence causes you discomfort. If you but say the word I'll take her into the water with me, and she will never trouble you again."

He glared at her, annoyance welling up within him. Why were his people so determined to keep him from his human? And she was his, his to protect if at all possible. He may have hurt her once, but he was determined not to hurt her again. Not after what she'd been through because of his selfish desire.

Poor…with a shock, he realized he didn't even know the woman's name. What kind of monster was he? The kind who tried to rape humans, he thought in disgust.

"I want you out of here," he said coldly to the waiting naiad. A flash of displeasure washed across her face, but she bowed her head in assent. She would do as he had ordered. None of his people would dare risk his wrath, Sabiniano thought. They were far too frightened of him. She glided out of his way while he continued swimming toward the woman. He really needed to ask what her name was…

As he came closer, he could see her more clearly. She seemed agitated, bobbing up and down in the water, as if looking around the room. What was she doing?

He surfaced behind her after taking a moment to savor the sight of her tight, pink butt. She was adorable. Desire rolled through him but he tamped it down.

He would have to move slowly. He didn't want to scare her. He only had a month to convert her to Dionysus' worship, or he would lose her again. She would suffer terribly if he wasn't successful, he reminded himself. He couldn't allow himself to mess this up by being too eager.

She screamed as he surfaced. He shook his head, startled. Had her experience with death made her unbalanced? What was wrong? After her abrupt shriek she grew silent, staring at him with wide eyes.

"How did you do that?" she whispered. "It seemed like you were underwater forever. I though you must be dead."

Sabiniano started, then burst out laughing.

"I'm the son of a god, little human," he said. "I'm immortal. It would take a great deal more than water to slow me down, let alone kill me. I don't believe it's even possible, actually," he added thoughtfully. Could an immortal die?

It seemed a contradiction in terms. It might be worth researching.

He turned his attention back to the woman. She was staring at him as if he were a snake.

"What's your name?" he asked sharply, tired of thinking of her as "human." It suddenly struck him just how different they were. She would age. What if she got old and died before he tired of her? Anger rose in him again. He wouldn't allow it to happen.

"I'm Kalliara," she said, eyes wide. "Why are you doing this to me?" she asked in a rush. "Why are all of you doing this to me? I didn't do anything to deserve this! Please let me go…" she added in a whisper. A tear welled up in one eye.

He felt his heart twist. He didn't want her crying. He had no idea why it was so important, but it was. He had to distract her.

Not pausing to consider his actions, he reached out and pulled her against his body. Her form was warm and slippery in the water. She squirmed again him, whimpering. It wasn't working; she was still going to cry. What would he do if she were a nymph?

He pressed his lips against hers, willing her to respond. She twisted against him, whimpering. He pressed against her more firmly, gently moving his mouth.

He dropped little kisses, nipping at her lips and licking at her tears. His hands ran up and down the length of her back. She felt so good, so alive and beautiful. He wanted to pull her onto him, to drink up her essence, consume her.

He could feel himself hardening in anticipation, but he forced himself to move slowly. The last thing he needed was to scare her again. He wanted to comfort, to sooth. She was still tense in his arms, but she was responding to his touch. Her lips parted ever so slightly, and he pressed his advantage. He leaned into her, dipping into her mouth with his tongue. She seemed startled at first, but he kept up his assault.

He moved against her with inexorable purpose, refusing to give her the opportunity to breathe, to protest, to think about what was happening to her.