Enchantress

Finally. One shot away. Like Siproites peeking at Artemis, I aimed from between the bushes, her beauty was intoxicating. Yet it didn’t even make my hand quiver, I was sure of what I wanted. Her death. Her bounty.

“What if I could give you something else?” I heard a female voice ask suggestively. I knew it was her. There was no question. A voice like that could only belong to a woman like her.

“There ain’t nothing you can give me. I want your head, and that’s all I need from you, witch!”

“Witch? You mock me.” Still, she didn’t turn, I saw her snow-white back, her dark hair swept forward, a sliver of her enchanting face, but enough to beguile the strongest-willed of men. My bow still aimed at her, unmoving, waiting for the perfect opportunity. A small twist in her torso, just enough to expose her chest, and with one arrow I’ll take her down. “I could run, no?”

“You’d have to turn either way” I replied, a cocky grin escaping my smooth façade. I couldn’t help but enjoy as she ran out of options, as the finality of her situation dawned on her. She was facing a waterfall, too tall to climb, either direction she chose to escape in, with a quick release she’d be dead before her fifth step.

“Then maybe you should run.”

“Me? I believe I’m in no danger. No allure of yours could charm me, no word of sweetness can poison me. I have a strong will, but better yet I have a motive, one that would be hard to bargain away.”

“Ahh. You’re one of those. Well, I see no other option then.” A creature like herself judging me? Felt unreasonable, someone from the landscapes of the underworld calling my motives out?

“Those? You dare speak of my people that way? You’re just some creature sent from hell, and you dare sit in judgment of us? We’re the highest race, the closest to gods!”

“Anger me further and you’re life will be over.” She warned.

“Not just judgement I see, threats as well. Big words from one staring down an arrow.”

“Oh, you mere mortal. Always so full of yourselves, always so sure you have everything figured out. Well, it seems like it’s high time for some lessons to be taught to your race.” Throughout our whole conversation, she stayed facing away, hidden, talking to my reflection in the water, rather than face me. I only stared at her back, intent on killing her soon. Now, however, I turned to look at her face, as more of it began to show, her head turned, before her body. It had a malicious smile on it, nothing but hostility behind it. Even so, she had a beauty uncatchable by words. My vision began to swim, as if underwater. Her face however stayed crystal clear, her eyes piercing my skin, hurting me without laying a hand on my actual flesh. Even a man of desires like mine had to catch their breath, had to close their eyes just to find reality again, find his mind, his thoughts. What was I talking about before? What was my intent? Why am I here? Where am I? I struggled to guide myself towards my true goal, the one that brought me here. The one that burned through all these illusions. As I tried to catch it, it burned me. My hand felt sore, as I pulled away. As if on a cliff I felt myself fall, down deeper and deeper within her allure. She took over every corner of my consciousness, I lived at her hand. I moved at her will. I saw nothing but her.

“How about that? You’re not so different from other mortals now are you? Deprived of self-control in just one glance. Told you to run, as I did with the others. Didn’t they tell you? The smart ones, who saw beyond my innocence?”

“Those cowards were shot down before they could pass through the gate.”

“Hmm, I see. Still, a better way to go I guess. Then at the hands of a woman, right?”

“I will not die today.”

“Oh yes, you will. You insulted me, belittled me, and for that, you do not deserve a plea. But for your everlasting love for the one who sent you here, you get one. I rarely see a bond tight enough to not be severed by my charm. So let me hear it, go on. Beg.” She whispered the last word, joy spreading across her face, an expression I wore not so long ago.

“I will not grovel to a demon, much less to you. An enchantress, nothing more.” Fury ripped across her face, breaking her perfect mask of elegance, the smile became a snarl, the straight posture bent down a bit, her eyes narrowed. Only a second later the picture of grace returned, once again she stood tall as a goddess herself.

“What would Hegio say? How would he process the fact he sent his lover to his death? Have you thought about that? Or has your ego overridden all your empathy?”

“How dare you speak his name! After what you did to his family? I would die any day knowing I did not bow my head to the one who orphaned him.”

“Orphaned him?” She chuckled, amused by her crimes. “I did no such thing. How could I? I’m just an enchantress, nothing more, isn’t that what you said?”

“Trivial characters can still change the story. And who says you worked alone? As easy it is for you to manipulate certain men, you could’ve had dozens of assassins working for you.”

“He never told you of my terrible crime? Not even how it happened? Odd. But no odder than you not even asking? You risked your life for a half-truth? A story that has more blanks than words?”

“I gave my life to him, to do as he pleases with it.”

“And he chose to throw it to the lions? Isn’t that…hurtful?”

“Tell me the story then, if you’re so sure I need it in full.”

“I won’t tell you anything. Why would I? You will die the moment you bore me. I owe you nothing. In fact, I think it’s time for you to leave. See you in hell!”