Ashtium: City of Sun

GRETA

Enoch finally came the other night. His mother was very upset over Urdmin’s injury. Our eldest sister said it was a stab wound to his chest. I’m just glad the empress didn’t recognize me. It’s not like I dared to get close to her though.

Thankfully, I haven’t been the one made to care after Urdmin today. I’m still feeding the others. Since the false god has been hoarding my new bed I’ve been made to sleep in another much smaller chamber.

Everything has become routine. My belly no longer aches for urkmink. Enoch’s advice finally paid off and I can eat the mushy bowls of gruel the sisters make. It is rather tasteless, but sometimes they put spices in it. Eating is difficult to do wearing our veils -- which my sisters refuse to let me take off.

Nothing ever comes off they tell me. I don’t think their frowns ever change either. I’m afraid I’ve grown my own permanent one too.

There is not much excitement here. I agree with my sisters that it would distract me from worshipping my god properly.

Some days, we have stayed praying in my god’s temple all day. My knees still ache and my feet are sore from walking up and down those dreadful steps. It’s a miracle none of the sisters fell on their way up and down. I almost did a few times, but we always walk very closely together and someone would always be there to catch my arm or force me to keep walking.

I really am so relieved my sight has improved so much now. I can even see the thin cracks and fractures across the marble floor in here without having to bend down and squint my eyes. I had been keeping my gift in bed chamber, but a few days ago after Enoch visited me, it disappeared.

I’ve been looking everywhere for it. My sisters helped me look too and they seemed just as worried. They enjoyed looking at it and touching it as much as me. I think they liked it so much because they believed it was a precious gift from our god just like I did.

And now it is gone.

Well, I have already said my prayers this evening. I suppose it is time I turn in for the day.

“Ah!” I gasp seeing Enoch’s tall form hovering right beside the doorway inside my room.

He scratches his fluffy shoulder-length hair. “Hey, Greta. The sisters let me in about an hour ago. When are you going to be placed back in the other room with the rest of them?”

I pass by him with a shy smile. “I won’t be sleeping back in my bed until the false god heals,” I tell him while undoing my hair for the night.

He follows me in the small space to my bed, of which, his bag occupies.

Enoch sits down on my bed and bounces on it lightly. “That’s terribly inconvenient. This bed is like a rock! Are you sure you rather not sleep in my room...like you used to,” he asks with a frown. His tone softens, “Tunics are also used as bedding.”

He smiles at my discomfort when he begins unwrapping the top of his tunic and laying it out on the bed.

“I know, you showed me their use before.”

“Did I really? Well, my tunic is the most comfortable. Don’t you want to touch it a little and find out yourself?” he asks coyly.

I don’t mean to sound so blunt, “Yes.”

He lays down more, resting his hand on the surface of the cloth between us. I feel over its silky, soft surface. A fluttering feeling forms in my stomach as I settle down on it hesitantly.

He nods his head and I lay completely down smiling like a fool.

“It is wonderful!” I exclaim while rolling around on its surface. “I have never felt something so soft.”

“Your skin is much softer, but yes. I’m sure it very comfy for you. Are your sisters treating you well?”

“Yes.”

He reaches a long arm over me and grabs the pillow. Then he sets it down right next to his head on his spread-out robe for me to rest on.

“Enoch, you can’t stay the night here,” I warn him.

“I’m the prince, Greta. Of course I can. The old women here have no say over that.”

It’s not just what my sisters told me though. Things are different between Enoch and I. Everything feels so different now that I can see him for what he really looks like.

I guess I’m reminded of just how different we really are.

“What’s wrong?” he whispers behind my head.

I bite my lip, turning over to face him. He lifts the veil from my face with a mocking look of anger.

“Don’t-”

“What’s it matter if you sleep with it off? You’ve been wearing it all day.”

“I’m supposed to keep it on. I like my new sisters and I do not want to break their rules. Will you ask me to take off my robes next?”

“No!” he huffs while yanking his tunic out from under me. He wraps it back around his defined torso with a grunt.

“You are so moody.”

“And you are so naive,” he fires back. “What were you thinking going into my father’s temple?”

“You should go...” I whisper tired of this conversation.

“I’m protecting you. That’s all I’m doing, Greta,” he defends. He looks away from me as new lines form in his forehead when he sits up completely as if to leave. “Can’t you see that? Can’t you see I’ve given up on trying to convince you otherwise about my father by showing you this place to stay? I’m worried about you because I have a pretty good reason to be.”

“Why?” I ask having enough of his scolding and disappointment in me.

“Because I am a man and you are a woman! Why do you think my mother has lost her mind? It’s because of him -- Adler! What is it...what do you want with him?” his voice breaks down.

“Someone who forgives and understands me. That’s all I want.”

Enoch laughs, but it’s cold and makes me think I have somehow stooped even lower in his eyes.

“Don’t you trust me, Greta? Or do you trust him above all else? What if I told you your perfect god isn’t so perfect? He has slept with more women than he can keep track of. Not to mention, Adler drinks the blood of his victims and pours it in his goblet of wine every night! He laughs at the slaves and waits for our empire to die. My father knows exactly when Ashta will burst, but he is a selfish bastard and will do nothing about it!”

“Enoch-”

“He is a horrible person. He is no god, Greta. I have seen him kill his own personal guards right in front of me! My mother has hurt you once. You would be dead if my father didn’t intervene. When are you going to tell me why he bothered?”

Tears drip down my cheeks. Hastily, I wipe them away feeling his stare return to mine.

“Because he is my god!” I cry back.

“There is no god in Ashtium. Maybe somewhere else, but not here, Greta. Not here,” he tells me gently while laying back down beside me. “Tell me why he’s been protecting you.”

“He knows of our...relationship.”

“Yes, that is true. Besides that, I assume he’s known for a while about you, specifically, hasn’t he? Please, now is the time to tell me if he is any way threatening or harming you.”

Heat returns to my face feeling his arm wrap around me.

“You need to leave,” I whisper.

His hand pats my waist before sitting up. “Alright, if that’s what you want. I’ll go. You want me to come back tomorrow?” he asks in a sad voice.

I sniffle, feeling my body shake along with my faith in my god.

“Yes, please. I just need to be alone so I can have some time to consider your words tonight.”

Enoch nods his head in understanding while pulling me into a warm hug. I feel like dead weight in his hold and completely deflate against him.

Too soon, he gets up and leaves.