Chapter 2

Town of Kosontos, Seuthian Kingdom

Let me just say that taking a hot bath and relaxing after everything I’d gone through was exactly what the doctor ordered. The water was heated to the perfect temperature and I felt like all of my troubles were going to melt away like butter. Of course, it helped that I had a plate full of cooked meats, cheese, fresh fruit, and a goblet of wine by my side to enjoy whilst I bathed. A few generous swigs later, the pleasant warm of intoxication overtook my entire body. I closed my eyes and let out a contented sigh. Maybe this new world wasn’t so bad after all.

Much to my surprise, the townsfolk seemed to accept our story without question. Then again, lugging around a severed cyclops head tends to remove any doubt in people’s minds that you’d accomplished what the bounty asked. We took our gold, split it in half as agreed, and proceeded to celebrate our new partnership. As for convincing them that I was a demi-goddess, that took a little bit more elbow grease on my part.

Sure, I looked the part of an exceptionally attractive (don’t forget nude) woman in her prime. But only after I’d performed a few healing spells did the townsfolk truly believe that I was the daughter of Aphrodite. Word spread quickly of my kind acts and I wound up receiving all sorts of offerings. Including, but not limited to: free lodging, food, drink, and coin. How I felt about being praised was… complicated to say the least. On one hand, I reveled in it, and the other, it embarrassed me and filled my heart with an indescribable sense of unease.

For centuries, I’d only known what it was like to be feared, misunderstood, and reviled. Ponies and many of the other races that inhabited Equus saw sirens as nothing less than a dire threat to their peaceful existence. We—I—was looked upon as a monster. With no other options at our disposal, sirens lived up to our namesake and terrorized those weaker than ourselves. We pillaged and plundered whatever we desired. Yet, it was never enough. What we wanted, nay, what we needed as a race was not something that could be put into materialistic terms.

I lifted my leg out of the water and wiggled my toes. “No hooves or fins. Can I really be considered myself without them? Do I deserve happiness after everything I’ve done?”

As with any rhetorical question, I did not receive an immediate answer. GAH! Pondering the great mysteries of life and philosophy had never been my strong suit. I left those sorts of things for the soft-scaled scholars to worry about. My concerns were almost always anchored firmly in the present. How to get food, money, plan an attack etc. I rarely had the chance to think about the bigger picture. If I was to be stranded here, I’d need to do just that…

So lost was I in my own thoughts that I’d failed to notice Flash’s arrival. One thing that I’d quickly learned about humans was that they had very expressive faces. The way he looked at me spoke volumes more than any conversation could in the same amount of time. That is to say, in a mere instant. I must have seemed like I was depressed because his eyes softened with concern. He walked over to the edge of the bath, knelt down, and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Is everything ok, Adagio?”

I jumped a little at his touch. Despite my embarrassment from being startled so easily, I tried my best to give him a convincing smile. “Yes, I’m fine. You managed to catch me while I was deep in thought. Was there something you needed? I’ve got plenty of food and drink to spare.”

Flash stood up and adjusted his kilt. “Not really. I figured you might… want some company.”

I chuckled. “Oh? That’s a rather bold assumption on your part.”

Flash looked away while I slowly spread my legs apart underneath the water. Sure enough, he took a quick peek when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. You poor boy. Give up this silly charade of politeness and just enjoy my beauty. “I-I don’t mean THAT kind of company.”

I took a big gulp of wine and laid back. “Oh well. Your loss~ In all seriousness though, I appreciate that you want to spend time with me instead of gallivanting about with the locals. However, I do have one rule. You have to get naked. It’s the proper way to enjoy a bath.”

To his credit, Flash gave into my demand albeit hesitantly. I’m not sure why he was so reluctant to show off his body around me. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it at all. In fact, I believe I was beginning to understand the appeal of the human physique. Then I noticed. I mean, REALLY noticed. I couldn’t help biting my lip. Sweet… oceans. I can’t, in good conscience, continue to call him a kid anymore. Not after what I’d seen dangling in-between his legs.

FUCK! I shouldn’t have stared so intently… but I did. What?! I couldn’t help myself! Flash had such a magnificent cock, after all. It was thick, veiny, and had a slight curve to it. His member looked nothing like a siren’s but I was somehow drawn to it, as if by instinct. Human instinct. Had I really started thinking like one of them now? Why does this have to be so confusing? Why can’t life be simpler for me? I blinked hard a few times and drank more wine. It didn’t help.

Flash stood behind me, awkwardly shuffling his feet. “May I sit next to you?”

“Sure. Relax. Have some wine and enjoy yourself by all means…”

I hope he didn’t notice that I was blushing. Of course, that could have been the alcohol going straight to my head. Flash wasn’t—I didn’t mean to—look, my emotions and body chemistry were a complete fucking mess. For all I knew, these sorts of feelings were commonplace for human females and I was just being dragged long for the ride. So much for pride and dignity.

Flash cleared his throat. “So… do you need help cleaning yourself?”

“Not really. I got all of the practical stuff out of the way ages ago. Would you like to scrub your back or something? I’m pretty good at it. Promise I’ll be gentle too~”

Flash’s lips puckered and I swear it looked like he was fighting an internal battle with himself. “I—ok, I think I’d like that. You know, so long as you are too, Adagio. Hehe. Scrub away!”

With a shrug, I grabbed the nearest sponge and lathered it in scented oil. True to my word, I made sure to be as gentle as possible so that Flash could enjoy the experience to the fullest. Despite my best efforts to make him more comfortable, I could tell that he was tensed up. The muscles in his back felt taught against my fingers. It just made me feel sorry for him.

“Flash,” I asked softly, “what’s wrong? You don’t seem very relaxed.”

“I’m sorry, Adagio. This is the first time I’ve ever… bathed with a woman before.”

I began rubbing his shoulders. “I assure you, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Well, I’ve never been very good at talking to women either. You must think I’m the most pathetic man alive, huh? A demi-god who can’t do anything right. I’m such a failure…”

I took hold of his cheeks and looked him directly in the eyes. “Do you know what I think?”

He looked back at me with a sorrowful expression. “What?”

“Failure is a natural part of life. We all experience it. Rather than wallow in self-pity, pick yourself back up and start over again. Live and learn. It really is that simple.”

“I never thought about it that way. Thanks, Adagio.” Flash replied with a warm smile.

“You’re quite welcome, ki—erm—Flash. Now, quit moping and eat some roasted pork. Might as well drink some wine too while you’re at it. Enjoy all of the victuals you can before we hit the road again because there’s no telling how long we’ll have to survive on prepared rations.”

While I nibbled on a chunk of cheese, Flash’s hand crept closer to my own underneath the water and grasped it gently. The gesture surprised me a little, so I didn’t react to it immediately. However, I took it as a sign that he was beginning to trust me and I felt that showing some of that trust in kind was the best approach to strengthening our bond as partners. Therefore, I took it upon myself to grasp his hand firmly and intertwined my fingers with his own.

“Since I’m paying you to be my guide, I expect you have some sort of plan for us?”

Flash chuckled sheepishly. “I do have an idea but I’m not sure if you’d like it.”

“Oh? Well, how do you know that I won’t until you explain it to me?”

“Fair enough,” Flash admitted, “The Olympic Games are scheduled to be held in the town of Goskopeion this year. We’re only about a two day’s journey from it.”

I blinked owlishly. “Ok. What does that have to do with anything?”

“Are you serious?! Who doesn’t know about—oh… right. Not from around here. Basically, the Olympic Games are a sports festival made to honor my father, Zeus. That being said, those who compete and win in the events can make a name for themselves as well as earn some prize money. I figure it’s the best way for us to kill two birds with one stone.”

I rubbed my chin in thought. “An interesting proposition. I assume you intend for us to participate in these ‘Games’ somehow? If so, I’m obligated to point out that we aren’t considered normal humans. I don’t think it would be wise for us to reveal our true strength.”

“No, you’re right. We’d have to operate at a handicap. To do so otherwise would be dishon—”

I laughed at him. “Why are you so damn obsessed with honor? Learn to loosen up a little. Regardless, I see your point. I’d rather not draw too much attention to myself by showing off. In my own personal experience, such displays of power tend to make more enemies than friends.”

Flash shifted uncomfortably while he chewed on a grape. “I should also mention that all competitors, regardless of gender, must participate in the nude. It’s a rule the Olympic Games have had in place since the very beginning. Disobeying the rule is grounds for disqualification.”

I raised my brow. “Do you honestly believe I’ll have an issue with showing off a little skin?”

“N-no but… I just—I’m not sure if I’m comfortable with the idea of showing off my body in front of hundreds, maybe even THOUSANDS of spectators. It makes me nervous, Adagio.”

I traced my finger along the center of his chest and teased his nipple a bit. “I sense that you’re not telling me the whole truth. Out with it, Flash! What’s really bothering you?”

Flash blushed and clamped his legs together. “Well, you see… the Olympic Events aren’t distinguished by gender. Men & women compete against each other on equal grounds.”

“Hmm. That doesn’t sound so bad. What kind of events are there?”

Flash began counting on his fingers. “Running, discus throwing, swimming, and wrestling. You know, the kind that you have to get oiled up for first and g-grapple in close quarters. The competition is pretty fierce in that regard…”

A savage grin spread across my lips. “Oh ho~ Now that is interesting! What? Do you get excited at the mere thought of our glistening, oiled bodies rubbing against each other for all to see? Or perhaps… you’d prefer to wrestle with another man? Not to worry, Flash. I don’t judge.”

Flash’s face turned a lovely shade of crimson. “IT’S NOT LIKE THAT!!”

“Sure. Keep telling yourself that,” I teased, “But the erection I see poking out of the water says otherwise. Haha! There’s no need to feel embarrassed, Flash. Your body’s just being honest.”

After covering himself up, grumbling under his breath, and avoiding eye contact for a while, Flash finally began to relax and enjoyed a cup of wine with me. About twenty minutes later, I got out of the bath and dried off, bidding him a good night. If we were going to be traveling by foot for the next two days, I needed to get as much rest in a comfortable bed as possible.

The journey to Goskopeion wasn’t too bad, all things considered. I hadn’t gotten nearly as much beauty sleep as I would have preferred but at least I didn’t feel like death warmed over. It gave me the unique opportunity to get to know my partner better. Unfortunately, despite our intimate conversations with each other, Flash remained apprehensive about entering the competition. I tried my best to convince him that performing feats of athleticism in the nude was honorable and that he had nothing to be ashamed of. He was in superb physical condition, after all.

Perhaps, I was partially to blame for his nervousness. I hadn’t meant to read Flash’s emotions intentionally, it just sort of… happened one night. Controlling siren magic with my new body was proving to be much more difficult than I’d anticipated. The red gem embedded in my chest had always helped to store and concentrate magical energy, so now that I no longer had it, the lack of fine control made sense to me. In my human form, magic felt more like an amorphous blob swirling throughout my body. Difficult to draw upon and difficult to bend to my will.

Regardless of intent or limitations, an important detail became clear that night. Flash Magnus had begun to develop feelings for me. They weren’t serious yet. More like puppy love or a crush, I guess. He was clearly attracted to me in the physical sense and I got the distinct impression that I was one of the few people whom he considered a friend. An interesting combination, to be sure.

Sure, I teased Flash on occasion, but I tried not to make it seem like I was leading him on too far. It’s not that the idea of romantic companionship was completely abhorrent to me; I just wasn’t ready to open myself up to anyone yet. Building trust was difficult for me. It made me feel vulnerable when others knew how to exploit my weakness and insecurities. Was I being a hypocritical, paranoid freak? Probably. But it’s not easy to change your opinion on relationships when you’ve endured centuries worth of loneliness and heartbreak.

Besides, I was far older than him, and thus, my opinions regarding love were quite jaded at this point. There was also the matter of our lifespans to consider. I’d not yet tested whether I was still ageless in this world. Only time would reveal that to me. Flash Magnus may have been a demi-god but that did not necessarily mean immortality applied to him. I just couldn’t risk getting too attached. Not when his lifespan might very well be measured in mere decades.

I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath, and smacked my cheeks a few times. Dwelling on such thoughts would do neither of us any good and I needed to concentrate on the competition. When I arrived at the amphitheater for registration, I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of women present. The vast majority of the competitors entering were men. To be fair though, the whole point of the festival was to honor the God, Zeus and athletes in general. A profession that female humans had yet to embrace on equal terms with their male counterparts, it would seem.

Of course, me being one of the only females in the amphitheater meant that I attracted a lot of attention from all those present. Doubly so, considering my svelte physique and lack of attire. With every step I took upon the dirt floor, they coveted my naked body like gold, fantasizing what it would be like to fuck me. Keep on dreaming boys, because Tartarus will freeze over before I invite any of you into my bed chamber for a good time.

I put some extra sway in my hips and gave them all a sultry ‘come hither if you dare look’. Just to spice things up a bit, I projected a simple fear spell that instinctively raised their hackles. Like a rabbit spotting a fox hiding in the bushes. Prey that understood when a predator was afoot. I giggled at their discomfort. Flash looked like he wanted to object but chose to keep his mouth shut instead. When we finally got to the scribe, he arched his brow, sighed, and cleared his throat. I’m not sure if that meant he was used to these sorts of shenanigans or he just didn’t care.

“Names?” the scribe asked curtly.

“I’m Adagio Dazzle, and this is my partner, Flash Magnus. We’d like to enter the Olympic Games, if that’s alright with you.”

The scribe scribbled something down on the parchment. “Not my place to judge. Only the Gods can decide such things. Now, run along to the physician’s quarter across the hall and get yourselves checked out. Next!”

“What was his problem?”

Flash shrugged. “Don’t take it personally, Adagio. The poor guy’s probably just tired from having to write names down all day. I know I would be too, were our places reversed.”

It turns out that quite a few of the athletes had a massive stick shoved up their collective asses. Many of them shot us both nasty glares as we walked by. If I had to make an educated guess, they were either jealous that Flash got to spend so much time with me… or they were offended that a beautiful creature such as myself had dared to enter their manly competition. So, I did what any reasonable person would do in my position, I stuck out my tongue and blew raspberries at them. It was pretty fun!

Flash let out a deep sigh. “Adagio, could please try to act like a grown adult?”

“What? They’re being immature too!”

Flash placed his hand on my back and encouraged me to move faster. “Yeah but that doesn’t mean you should lower yourself to their level. I know you’re better than that.”

I crossed my arms underneath my breasts and huffed. “Fine. I’ll behave. However, if any of these guys touch me inappropriately, I shan’t hesitate to make them eat their own teeth for dinner.”

“Fair enough. Let’s just hurry up and get checked out by the doctor.”

Flash finally got naked once we entered the physician’s quarters. Everyone else was too while we stood in line to be examined. It was a fairly quick process for each person. The doctor would certify that participants weren’t wearing anything to give them an advantage, and opened everyone’s mouths to see if they were using drugs. I, of course, suffered the indignity of having my lips (the lower ones) spread apart and searched for illicit substances. But at least it was performed by a female assistant. Not that they gave me much in the way of privacy. Oh well.

Next, we were ushered into a large waiting room. Groups of athletes mingled and conversed while light refreshments were served. Mostly fruit and cheese. No alcohol of any kind was to be found on the premises. They provided us with juice instead. I tired some of it and found the stuff to be pretty tasty. Imagine that. After a quick look around, my hypothesis was proven correct. Nearly all of the athletes were men and in good as, if not better physical shape than Flash.

I really did try to keep a low profile for both of our sakes but you know how these sorts of situations tend to play out. Me, being the most attractive female (and one of the only) in the room, naturally became the center of attention. A dark-haired, mountain of a man by the name of Neofytos, shoved his way through the crowd and smiled at me in the sleaziest way possible. It made my skin crawl. With a great deal of effort, I choked down my juice and smiled back.

“Good afternoon, fellow athlete. What can I do for you?”

Neofytos licked his lips and pointed down towards his waist. “Get on your knees and suck my cock for starters. It’s funny, you know. I wasn’t aware that the council let temple maidens compete in the games this season. Then again, if you had the nerve to waltz around unclothed, I highly doubt that you’re still a virgin. How about it? Care for a quick fuck before we start?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. Oceans below, what a misogynistic asshole! “I’m not some common whore, you hairy oaf. Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to judge a book by its cover?”

He didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, Neofytos barked with laughter. “Sticks and stones, love. Your fiery tongue might work on other men, but not me. Now, we can do this the easy way or—”

Before I had a chance to retort, a lithe, well-toned young woman with seafoam green skin intervened and kicked the bastard right in the manhood. He crumpled to the floor, whimpering in pain while the woman led me over to a less crowded section of the room. Once I got a better look at her, I noticed that her orange hair was tied up in a neat little bun. It suited her; I must admit.

I rubbed the back of my neck and chuckled. “Thank you. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

The woman patted my shoulder. “You’re welcome. No one likes Neofytos anyway.”

“Ah, well I suppose he thinks with one head and not the other, huh?”

“Mhmm. That about sums it up, I’d say. The name’s Iliana. Who’re you?”

I took her outstretched hand and shook it firmly. “Adagio. As you might well have guessed, I’m new to the games. This is the first time I’ve tried competing. Any tips?”

“For starters, you can’t go out with hair like that. Don’t get me wrong; it’s pretty and all but needs to be tied up. Otherwise, it’ll keep getting in the way. C’mon. I’ll do it for you.”

While she braided my hair, I sighed. “Are we the only women here?”

“Afraid so,” Iliana confirmed, “The Olympic Games are traditionally a male dominated festival. Considering that the games honor Zeus and most women don’t grow up to be warriors or athletes, there are few who heed the call. I am different from them.”

“Forgive me, Iliana. But I’m new to these parts. Where were you born?”

“Sparta,” Iliana answered in a casual tone, “My father is King Alexandros II. I was raised from birth to exemplify the virtues of a strong, well-disciplined warrior race. To participate in the Olympic Games is to honor my ancestors and my family name. What about you, Adagio?”

Now that I had the chance to examine her physique in greater detail, I noticed how muscular Iliana was. Nary a trace fat to be found anywhere. Mother Kraken, even her breasts stayed firmly in place while she moved about. Dare I say, the scars that dotted her body only added to her warrior-princess allure. Was I supposed to refer to Iliana by her royal title? She didn’t seem bothered by my lack of honorific before so… it must have been ok, right?

“I came here seeking to build my reputation. Or rather, I should say, my partner and I.”

The orange-haired Spartan nodded. “Flash Magnus, correct? Then you must know that he is rumored to be the son of Zeus. My father told me to keep an eye out for him. For… various reasons.”

There it was. The change was subtle but I noticed it. Iliana blushed ever so slightly. “I imagine demi-gods would produce strong, capable children. Perfect for a warrior race. And being a strong woman yourself, you’d be able to bear them easily. Or am I overstepping my bounds saying so?”

Iliana’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of crimson. “Yes, well… you are correct in assuming that I am of marrying age. HOWEVER! It remains to be seen if I consider Flash Magnus a worthy husband. Besides, most men find my body undesirable. They want obedient wives with wide hips and ample bosoms. As you can plainly see, I possess neither of these traits.”

I chuckled. “Not even the obedient part?”

“Let us focus on the competition for time being, Adagio.”

Out of respect for my new acquaintance’s feelings, I did not press her further. It was clear to me that she was independent-minded and didn’t like men giving her orders, but at the same time, she had a strong sense of duty to her family. She had the makings of a great ruler in my humble opinion. It only served to amuse me further when Flash arrived and introduced himself to Iliana. Like the awkward, nude teenagers they were, the two of them avoided eye contact and stuck to the most banal of conversation topics. After we parted ways, I nudged Flash in the ribs playfully.

“I think the princess likes you~”

“How can you be sure of that?!” Flash blurted out.

“Oh, you sweet, innocent boy. You have so much to learn about a woman’s heart.”

Flash cleared his throat. “Well, maybe I do but she’s a princess and I’m a nobody. Why would she be interested in someone like me? Is it just because I’m the son of Zeus?”

At some point, I really needed to sit down with Flash and help him work through his inferiority complex. Even though what he said was essentially the truth. “Be that as it may, you have a unique opportunity to make a name for yourself here at the Olympic Games. Show Iliana—no—the world what you’re capable of. Make Zeus proud to call you his son!”

Flash cupped his hands over his privates, twiddling his thumbs while he did so. “Adagio, can you promise me something?”

“Anything. All you need to do is name it.”

Flash let out a long, shuddering breath. “If things go south during the competition and I manage to mess everything up, will you promise to stay by my side?”

I wrapped my arm around his shoulders in a half-hug. “Of course, I will. That’s what friends do.”

“You consider me a friend?”

I nodded. “Yes, I do. Is that a problem?”

Flash waved his hands. “No! I-I mean, I’m honored that you see me that way. As a f-friend, I mean. ARGH! Sorry, I’m still not very good at socializing with women, am I?”

I laughed melodically. “Nope! But I happen to think that’s part of your charm~ All joking aside, I think you’re a good friend, Flash. You stuck by me even though you knew that I wasn’t a normal woman. I would be remiss if I didn’t somehow return the favor. NOT… that I think any relationship should be based on a system of recurring favors. I guess what I’m trying to say is: thanks for accepting me for who I am, regardless of my faults and imperfections.”

Flash squeezed my hand and smiled. “You’re welcome, Adagio.”

Much to my relief, the little speech I gave him seemed to have bolstered Flash’s confidence. When I looked over at him, he became more focused, more determined. Dare I say, heroic. Hey! Don’t just assume I was being sentimental just to achieve a goal. I meant every word I’d said!

I’d had enough of playing the villain. A selfish megalomaniac obsessed with obtaining power, who’s always trying to force people to like her. Well, not anymore! New world, new Adagio. That’s the deal! Maybe those ponies were onto something with their whole friendship schtick. I won’t admit that it’s magic. But it does feel good to finally have… a friend.

Before long, we were standing outside in the amphitheater’s courtyard surrounded by hundreds of spectators and fellow competitors. There was much fanfare and a ceremony presided over by the priests of Zeus but I got the impression that everyone just wanted the games to begin. According to time-honored tradition, the first event everyone participated in was the marathon.

Based on what Flash had told me earlier, it was essentially a cross-country race against competitors and the winner was the one who crossed the finish line first. To be perfectly honest, it sounded tedious, tiresome, and made my legs begin to ache just thinking about it. Yet, I knew that I had to endure it. If not for my sake, but Flash’s. He was counting on me to give it my all.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Iliana. She looked every bit the warrior-princess. Her muscles tense, bare skin glistening with sweat in the midday sun, eyes locked forward and determined. I’m not sure why the men of this world didn’t find her desirable. She was beautiful in an untamed, almost animalistic way. No, it wasn’t fair to call her that. Rather, there was beauty in her strength. She commanded it, made it her own so naturally that I… couldn’t help but be drawn towards it like a moth to an open flame. I smiled and she smiled back at me.

“When this is all said and done, I’ll ask her to be my friend too.”

The officiator of the race stepped up onto the platform and raised his hand. “Sons and daughter of Zeus: we are gathered here today to honor his name, and the brave messenger who ran without rest to deliver an important message. Go now. Let your legs carry you onward to victory!”

Author's Note

Just a quick note about the lore of the story:

While I do borrow heavily from Ancient Greek Culture and Mythology, the story is NOT intended to be an 100% historically accurate representation of Ancient Greece. Therefore, I am going to be using a fair amount of creative licence in regards to town names, people, food etc. The setting is an ancient version of the EQG world, not Earth. That's the primary reason I decided to add an AU tag rather than Human.

Thanks