Alec & Circe
Circe sat at the edge of Hedera’s bed, combing her daughter’s silky black hair back as she sang with the music box sitting in her lap.
The three girls had made it back to the castle without anyone noticing. Though Circe didn’t want to, she had to pretend the night of her near escape hadn’t happened. The Only way to survive was to abandon her heart, she thought as she sang a song into the music box for Hedera Sotiras.
“But Mama, what about the adventure?” Hedera asked.
Circe dotted her tear so her daughter wouldn’t see. “I suppose the gods don’t believe it’s the right time. At least, Not this time.”
Noticing her mother crying, Hedera sat up and crawled closer to her mother. “Don’t cry, Mama. Daddy can take you on Every adventure. He has a boat.”
This caused Circe to look away as another tear Fell. Hedera didn’t know about the cruelty of her father. In fact, anyone who didn’t look hard enough didn’t know about the cruelty of Circe’s husband. To Hedera, this man was her knight In shining armor and would Never hurt her. To Circe, this man was the Anchor weighing her down at the bottom of the sea. Often times, she looked outside herself, hating herself.
“Circe, a word,” a man said in the doorway of her daughter’s room.
Circe’s heart thundered, and she looked at her daughter. “Hedera, it’s time to sleep. Hurry, hurry, under the covers, nice and snug,” she said, forcing a smile, wrapping Hedera up inside the quilt. She placed the music box on her nightstand, and turned the knob, hearing her own voice pour inside the room.
“But I can’t sleep. That man said there are monsters in nightmares.”
“You will not have nightmares. You will dream of adventure.” Circe kissed her daughter on the forehead. She held her kiss a little longer this time, inhaling her daughter’s scent, wishing it would soak into her skin. “I Love you, my Sotiras.”
“I love you, Mama.” Hedera stroked her mother’s arm. “Don’t be sad, all right?”
“Circe,” the man demanded.
“Get some sleep,” Circe whispered once more, then stood and pushed the Bag she’d packed deeper under the bed so that it wouldn’t be seen. “Lacie,” she said to her maid who sat in the corner of the room. “Join me.”
Circe and Lacie followed the man down the stairs and through the house until they Reached the tunnel entrance, and fear consumed her. “What are we doing here?”
“He’s waiting for you in the chamber,” the man said.
The two women Exchanged glances, and Lacie took her hand. “Everything will be all right, Circe. I will be with you every step of the way.”
A flame lit their path through the tunnel, and after so long, they reached the Forbidden Cavern. Circe watched her husband walk along the edge of the Forbidden Spring, its brilliant cerulean blue sending spotlights across the cave wall.
Fear held her hostage, and she stepped forward, holding her breath. A dark, terrifying gaze drifted over her. Each time she looked upon his face, she wondered how he could sleep soundly every night. She wondered how he would feel if she made him wish he would die.
“You embarrassed me,” he said, walking around the iridescent blue spring. “How long?”
“I don’t understand.”
The guards descended, leaving the three of us Alone.
“Tell me the Truth!” he shouted, and Circe stepped back from it. “I would have brought something of his to show proof of his death, but the man has nothing.”
“What are you talking about?”
“My men killed him.”
Absolute rage consumed Circe in that moment, and she attacked her husband, her fists flying into his chest, beating him as heart-fisting pain spilled out of her. “Please, no. Tell me you didn’t!”
He snatched her up by her throat. “You see, I have the truth now.” He walked her backward toward the spring. “You committed adultery and treason, and you tried to escape with my daughter!”
Mr. Cantini dropped Circe onto the ground, and her spine slammed against rock. “How dare you whore around in my name,” he spat, saliva spraying across her face. “I will see to it that your daughter will not remember you. That your existence will be wiped from this town. That your name will be forgotten.”
Circe clawed at his hand, then pushed her chin down until she found skin and bit him. Her husband pulled back, taking her necklace with him. The chain ripped from her neck, and he threw it against the stone wall.
The sapphire broke into pieces, sinking into the spring.
Devastation stole her entire being.
“You cannot erase me,” she cried. “My love for Hedera and Alec is far more fierce than your evil. Our love casts shadows, demanding to be seen. Even if you look away, these shadows will grow cold until you have no choice but to feel it. Bereave my blood with my blood in your hands, no one can escape it.”
With a snarl, her husband grabbed her throat again and dragged her across rock, the roughness of it scraping against her spine, until half of her was suspended in air, Hovering the spring.
Circe’s eyes went wide, and she reached for Lacie, wishing she’d do anything but stand there. But Lacie did nothing but watch as Mr. Cantini squeezed her throat and plunged Circe’s head under water, holding it there.
Circe screamed under the water, bubbles floating around her, the spring rushing into her mouth, swimming down her throat. She screamed, hatred for him filling her chest. This hatred sank its claws inside her, latched on, buried. Though, so did love for her little girl and Alec, a peaceful warmth sliding through her.
Their happily ever after was so close, she thought.
They were so close.
Once the pieces of the broken sapphire hit the floor of the spring, everything went still.
Circe stopped struggling.
Her arms lay limp at her sides.
Her hair floated with the gentle rocking of the spring.