Acheron

Acheron looked down in amazement at the dark brown shoes lined in fur. They felt so strange against his skin. But they were incredibly warm and soft. 'Thank you.'

She smiled at him as if the shoes pleased her as much as they did him. 'You're welcome.'

The next thing he knew, they were in the center of town. Acheron gaped at the sight of them standing by a well. No one in the busy crowd seemed to notice the fact that they'd just appeared out of nowhere. He immediately drew his cowl lower over his face to make sure he was shielded from those around them.

'What are you doing?' Artemis asked.

'I don't want anyone to see me.'

'Oh, that's a good idea.' An instant later, she wore a richly woven cloak that was pulled up around her face in a way identical to his. 'How do I look?'

Before he could prevent it, a smile curved his lips at her innocent question. He quickly banished it. He knew better than to smile. It always got him into trouble. 'You're beautiful.'

'Why does saying that make you uncomfortable?'

Acheron clenched his teeth at the simple truth that had haunted him the whole of his life. 'People destroy beauty when they find it.'

She cocked her head. 'How so?'

'By nature, people are petty and jealous. They envy what they lack and because they don't know how to acquire something, they try to destroy anyone who has it. Beauty is one of those things they hate most in others.'

'Do you really believe that?'

'I've been attacked enough to know it for a fact. Whatever people can't possess, they try to ruin.'

Artemis was stunned by his cynicism. She'd heard such comments from some of the gods. Her father, Zeus, was always making similar statements. But for such a young human…

Acheron was strangely astute at times. She could almost believe his claim of divinity, but she knew better. He was just a little more perceptive than most humans.

'Where do we go?' she asked, changing the subject.

'The common gate is over here.' He led her toward a small door where a group of unwashed and filthy humans gathered.

Curling her lip in repugnance, she pulled him to a stop. 'Should we be going through the common gate with common people?'

'It costs to go through the others.'

How could that possibly be a problem? 'Don't you have any money?'

He frowned at her. 'No.'

Sighing, she manifested a small purse and held it out to him. 'Here. Get us decent seats. I'm a goddess. I don't sit with common people.'

He hesitated before he obeyed her. Hesitated. No one did that. Yet he seemed oblivious to the fact that she was divinity. On one level it insulted her that he could be so cavalier and on another it intrigued her. She liked the feeling of being nothing more than a woman with a man.

Especially one so incredibly handsome.

But he did need to respect her godhood. She was, after all, the daughter of Zeus. She could kill him if she chose to.

Then why didn't you? His dare echoed in her head and she again saw him so proud and defiant in her temple. He was definitely an odd human.

And she liked that second only to his beauty.

Artemis stayed by his side as he purchased their seats and led her to an area that was sectioned off from the peasants. The seats here were less crowded and filled with nobles and the families of senators. Acheron paid more money to buy her a stuffed pillow that he set down on the stone for her comfort.

'Aren't you getting one for yourself?' she asked as she took a seat on it.

'I don't need one.' He returned the purse to her.

Wrinkling her nose, she stared at the hard stone where he sat oblivious to the cold. 'Aren't you uncomfortable?'

'Not really. I'm used to it.'

He was used to a lot of things that weren't natural. Something odd went through her chest. It actually bothered her that he was abusing himself. He shouldn't have to do without things and most definitely not while he was with her. Snapping her fingers, she created a pillow underneath him.

He looked up with a startled expression that was almost comical.

'You shouldn't have to sit on cold stone, Acheron.'

Acheron touched the padded blue cushion beneath him in disbelief. Only Ryssa had ever cared about his comfort. Well, and at times Catera. But Catera's care had come from a desire to make more money from him. Artemis had no reason to care whether or not he was bruised or cold. He was nothing to her and yet she'd done something truly kind for him. It made him want to smile, but he didn't trust her fully yet. He'd been fooled too many times by people's kindness that had been motivated only by their selfishness.

His chest tightened as his memories surged and he recalled the time he'd been homeless after his father had cast him out of Estes's house.

'I'll give you work, boy…'

He squeezed his eyes shut in an effort to banish the horror that followed his blind trust. Truthfully, he hated people. They were users and they were cruel to others.

All of them were cruel to him.

'Wine for my lord and lady?'

It took Acheron a moment to realize the old vendor was speaking to him. Stunned by the show of respect, he couldn't formulate an answer.

'Yes,' Artemis said imperiously. She handed him coin and he in turn gave her two goblets of wine.

The vendor bowed low before them. 'Thank you, my lady. My lord. I hope you enjoy the show.'

Acheron couldn't speak as he took the cup from Artemis's hand. No one had treated him with such regard since the time he'd spent with Ryssa and Maia at the summer palace. And no one had ever bowed to him before.

No one.

His throat tight, he slowly sipped the wine.

Artemis paused to study him. 'Is something the matter?'

Acheron shook his head, unable to believe that he was actually seated next to a goddess. In public. Wearing clothes. What a strange turn of events.

Artemis dipped her head, trying to meet his gaze.

Out of habit, Acheron averted his eyes.

'Why don't you look at me?' Artemis asked.

'I do look at you.'

'No, you don't. You always avert your gaze whenever someone comes near.'

'I see you though. I learned how to see without looking directly at things a long time ago.'

'I don't understand.'

Acheron sighed as he turned the cup in his hands. 'My eyes make people uncomfortable so I try to keep them hidden as best I can. It prevents people from becoming angry at me.'

'People get angry at you for looking at them?'

Acheron nodded.

'What does that feel like?'

He swallowed at the memories that cut him all the way to his soul. 'It hurts.'

'Then you should tell them not to do it.'

If only it were so easy. 'I'm not a god, Artemis. No one listens to me when I speak.'

'I listen.'

She seemed to, and that meant a lot to him. 'You're unique.'

'True. Perhaps you should spend more time around the gods.'