CHAPTER SIX
I SLIPPED out of the sleeping chambers and towards the bathhouse. This was just what I needed after a day like today. I shouldn't do this, but I found that this time of night was the best time to take a dip. No one else was around, and there wasn't anyone to ask me to do anything.
Like dance tomorrow. I groaned inwardly at the thought. I was going to be in pain and aching for days if I went through with the stupid plan, but not only had the dancers gotten drunk, one of them had fallen and twisted her ankle, leaving it to me to take her place.
I wished I didn't have the training that meant I could step in. Or that I was cruel enough to let them suffer whatever fate Seth decided for them based on the lack of entertainment.
But that didn't matter. I was here to relax and let my stresses disappear.
My robe dropped to the floor on the side of the pool, and I slowly walked into the water. It slipped against my bare skin, taking away the dirt and grime of a long day's work. A lot of people around here didn't feel like they needed to bathe daily, but that just wasn't me. I enjoyed being clean. Especially as a bath was the only time in my day when I was truly alone.
I tipped my head back and let the water soak through my dark blonde hair. Not the typical colour associated with Egyptian women, and one of the reasons I figured I was from slave descent. Other than being sold. That was the other good indicator of that.
Someone cleared their throat so loudly, I could hear it from my position under the water. I jerked my head out and spun around to face the man.
"Can I help you?" I asked. I didn't bother to cover myself. The harem girls walked around wearing more revealing things than the water surrounding me. And nakedness was the sort of thing I'd gotten over a couple of millennia ago. It was hard to feel exposed when you were a slave, and Seth had gone through a phase of demanding everyone be naked all the time. There'd been a lot of burns to heal.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you." He stepped forward, and my eyes widened.
Golden eyes looked straight at me, searching every corner of my soul.
"You coughed loudly, I'd say that was the definition of disturbing me, would you not?" I raised an eyebrow.
"My apologies, my lady." He dipped his head into a bow.
I scoffed. "I'm a slave, not a lady," I pointed out.
"Can one not be both?"
"Not in this temple," I muttered darkly.
"I shall treat you the way a lady deserves, regardless."
A blush spreads to my cheek. I wasn't sure how to deal with that. I'd had many gods and priests treat me like the slave I was, but none of them had ever treated me with the respect this man already was. It felt odd. I wasn't going to deny that.
"Is there a reason you're lurking in the bathhouse?" I asked. I wanted to go back to my routine, but I also wanted to keep talking to him, it was a perplexing situation for me to be in. But this man had me tied up in knots the moment our eyes first met.
Being alone with him probably wasn't wise.
"I was hoping to be able to have a peaceful bath. But it seems like I wasn't the only one to have that idea."
I chuckled. “You weren’t. But if you're open to company, you can join me." The moment the words were out, I regretted them.
What was I thinking? Just the way he was looking at me did something strange to my insides, and yet I wanted to put myself in a situation where both of us would be naked, and just the water protecting our dignity?
"If you wouldn't mind. It was a long day travelling, and I chose not to bathe before the feast."
"I don't blame you," I retorted, shuddering at the mere thought of all those naked and sweaty bodies in a bath. It wouldn't have been a pleasant experience.
"May I just ask one thing?"
"Of course," I responded instantly.
"This is a communal bath, right?" He seemed a little jittery, but I wasn't sure why.
"All of them are. And even if they weren't, no one is around at this time. You're perfectly safe."
He nodded and started to undo his robe.
I turned around. Even if I was fine with nakedness, it was still rude to stare, and I didn't want to make him too uncomfortable that he stopped. I was enjoying having him around already.
"Do you have a name?" he asked as he got into the pool. The water bobbed slightly as he walked towards where I was standing.
"I believe it is customary to have one, yes," I responded, a light laugh in my tone.
"I've not met any of Seth's slaves before. I don't know if he banned you from having one." A sadness I couldn't place sounded in his words.
"We're allowed to have names," I assured him.
"Will you tell me what it is?"
I turned around so I could meet his gaze, and almost lost my breath in the process. He almost radiated light. That couldn't be. I didn't recognise him as any of the major gods. It must just be a trick the bright moon was playing on us.
"Rhodopis," I whispered.
"That's pretty, Greek origin?"
"I have no idea." I frowned. "I've been here for almost as long as I can remember."
"It sounds Greek. Did they tell you where you were born?"
I shook my head. "I know nothing about my life before. My first memory is standing on an auction block."
"How did a goddess end up there?" he mused.
"I'm not a goddess," I responded instantly. "None of the slaves here are, just unlucky demi-gods."
He frowned. "Are you certain about that?"
"Yes. I know what I am."
"A lot
