Chapter 1
Antinous’ ears rung as he felt something pierce through his neck, gasps and some screams coming from some of the suitors that watched. Blood poured from his mouth as his vision blurred and head spun, while his legs trembled.
Last thing he saw was the beggar…rugged, dirty with no other clothing other than a cloak which left his legs bare. A thud was heard as the dark-skinned mans’ body dropped against the table.
Mismatched eyes fluttered open as a sharp pain shot through his head, emitting a cry of pain from Antinous as he slowly sat up.
Where was everyone? What had happen- His questions were somewhat answered as his hand reached to his neck..an arrow…straight through the side of his neck. How was he alive?
That beggar…how he wished to kill him. His eyes widened as he stared at the ground, some bodies of suitors he never bothered to learn their names.
Slowly, but surely Antinous arose from the table, carefully setting his feet on the ground. His head ached. His body ached. His ne- There was a loud shriek of pain that echoed through the halls, a shriek that sent shivers down the dark-skinned mans’ spine as he debated whether he should follow the sound.
Antinous stumbled down the halls, dagger in hand as he leaned against the walls. He felt like he was going to collapse any second.
Though he came to a halt as he peeked over a corner…the beggar, as expected…though he had a sword plunged in Melanthius’ chest, who stood over the prince.
“F-fuck…” the dark-skinned man whispered to himself, his voice hoarse and weak. It was a miracle he was still able to talk with an aroma plunged in his neck. Was it natural or divine? No clue. But it was the least of his worries as he heard the beggar speak while he shot the other suitors.
“You plotted to kill my son! You planned to rape my wife!”
Those words rung through Antinous’ ears as his heart dropped down to his stomach. Could it be? How? 20 years later? The dark-skinned man had a million thoughts running around his head.
How could he escape? Anyone seen would be shot the moment the begg- no…Odysseus, laid his eyes on them.
Could he run? Antinous’ eyes darted across the place as he desperately tried finding someway to leave. He couldn’t kill this man. He was well aware. Another wave of pain washed over him as he hunched over, everything hurt.
Antinous clutched the dagger once more, holding onto it as if it was a lifeline. He couldn’t think properly, not with how much his body hurt.
A shaky breath made its way past his lips as he tried sneaking his way out, it worked a little bit, mainly because Odysseus and Telemachus were having a revolting reunion. It worked until Antinous tripped over a limp arm and dropped the dagger. The father and son duo snapped their heads to stare at him
Pure shock on their faces, more so Telemachus. There was anger an disgust on Odysseus’ face as he drew his bow once more. Antinous took that as an invitation to flee as he managed to limp down the palace stairs. Where was he going?
Odysseus was close behind, chasing him like a wolf to a sheep. Antinous did not like being the sheep in this situation. He was used to being the wolf. How ironic.
The dark-skinned man ran as fast as he could, his legs burned. His muscles begging for a relief. Nothing could relieve them though. Other than death. However he had too much pride to die by the husband of the very woman he wanted to rape.
“It would be wise for you to stop!” Odysseus called out, malice and disgust tainted with his voice as he gradually drew closer. Arrows flew by Antinous as he ran, warning shots…
Antinous however ignored this and ran till he was met with a ledge. Beneath it? The ocean. Only the ocean and I will know! Exact words he spoke of when suggesting the murder of the prince. This just kept getting worse and worse. Everything he said was getting thrown right back at him.
The dark-skinned man abruptly turned around, he was met with the face of an angry father, husband and king. Great. Either he would be shot and killed right away or he would be tortured.
Fear forced its way into Antinous’ gaze as he stepped back onto what little of then ledge was left, pebbles falling down and dropping into the water.
Odysseus spoke, Antinous had no idea what he said though. His mind was clouded. Ears were blocked. As all he could hear were the sound of crashing waves. Quite comforting, but nothing worked in this situation.
The dark-skinned man watched the old king draw his bow and step closer.
Jump
“What…?” Antinous thought to himself as that word rung in his head.
Jump
It repeated, he stared down at the water. He couldn’t swim. He would drown.
Jump
It repeated for the third time. Would drowning be a better fate than allowing Odysseus to kill him? Probably…
As Antinous took a shaky breath, he fell back…all he saw was an arrow flying right above him as the fall prevailed for a few seconds before he submerge into the water with a loud splash.
He also instantly started struggling, trying to stay afloat as he held his breath the best he could. Antinous could faintly make out the face of Odysseus and Telemachus staring down from the ledge in shock.
Though his thoughts were torn away from the father and son as his lungs and eyes burned while water entered them. And the water really stung the arrow wound. This was a stupid idea. He knew that. Only thing that could help him now was a miracle.
The dark-skinned man thrashed in the water as he sunk further, his vision blurring as he coughed uncontrollably. As the seconds ticked by his struggling slowly ceased as his eyes slowly shut. This was really how he was going to die? Pathetic…
His body went limp in the great below, that seemed to be endless.
The water contorted as it formed into something somewhat human, except it was was far from human. It was a god…It was Poseidon. “Curious” the god spoke as he poked the mortals’ cheek before forming a bubble of air around the unconscious form.
“Would be a shame to let a mortal as interesting as you to die so soon” Poseidon purred as he grabbed the mortal and traced down his eye scar. “Especially before I’ve had my fun” he chuckled before he disappeared with Antinous into the dark abyss.
There was a thud and splash as the dark-skinned mans’ unconscious body was dropped onto the drop of some place. Pillars and roofs stood tall as women and men moved in unison, no one batting an eye to the unconscious body on the ground.
“You” Poseidon snapped a group of women, “Tend to him, make sure he hasn’t died…don’t take the arrow out though” he added as he stared back at the body in the ground. The god smiled bitterly as he heard a choked cough from Antinous’ unconscious form as he spat up water.
With a snap of the gods’ fingers, most of the seawater which had entered the mortals’ lungs were gone, soothing the coughing fit. With one last spared look at the mortal as the women he instructed came over to do as told, Poseidon disappeared back into the dark abyss.
Eyes fluttered open as Antinous stirred awake, everything hurt. His mismatched eyes scanned the room as he slowly sat up, wincing as he felt a jolt of pain down his back. Where was he? An adorned room, well decorated with shells and pearls. Weird.
Once again he was hit with the burning pain of the arrow lodged in his neck as he brought his hand up to touch it. Where did this come from again? He couldn’t remember much, he had little snippets playing out in his head. But none of the origins of the arrow. Though it begged the question, how was he alive? Or well, was he even alive?
“Fuck…” the dark-skinned man groaned as he dropped his face into his hands, his locs falling down his face. Almost everything he said now seemed to be a swear.
He just sat there for a while, till he noticed the soft sound of water? Where exactly was he? Not like he could move, his body was killing him and he was starving.
“I’m gonna kill whoever brought me here…” Antinous muttered to himself as he turned his head and noticed a platter of food on the table next to the bed. What a coincidence! Th platter was nothing special, olives, bread and cheese.
Hesitantly, the dark-skinned man reached out and grabbed something from the platter, a slice of bread. Was this poisoned? Probably. But then again, whoever brought him here clearly didn’t want him dead.
Reluctantly he dug his teeth into the surprisingly soft bread. Wow…it was perfect. So soft and warm. Better than anything from the pathetic excuse of a kingdom.
His frustration and anger postponed as he continued to happily munch on the bread, it felt kind of weird eating. The arrow sort of made it so he had to chew more, but it didn’t bother him that much to the point of anger.
Antinous paused his eating as the doors opened and a two women walked in. Adorned in ocean like jewellery and blue, along flowy chitons that railed behind them. Great. More problems…
“Where am I?” The dark-skinned man asked without hesitation as he was unable to hide the annoyance in his voice, though it was quite rude as he kept eating without a care in the world.
“Atlantis” one woman with blonde hair, yellow eyes and light skin spoke as she walked over to the bed and checked the arrow pierce.
“What?” Antinous asked as he cocked his head, Atlantis? How? He was so confused. This had to be some kind of joke.
“Our lord brought you to Atlantis after you jumped into his domain” a woman with black hair, dark skin and icey blue eyes explained, that just made it even more confusing.
“Your lord?” Antinous mocked as he let the amusement enter his voice, pathetic maids. He was probably in some random kingdom. Atlantis? Just a mere wannabe made to fend people away.
“You’ve been out for a few days” the blonde woman spoke as she back away from the bed.
“Few days?” The dark-skinned man repeated quietly as he stared down at the bed, “What kind of lies do you weave? Do you take me for a fool?!” He suddenly snapped as anger flared, though the women showed no fear, other than a slight flinch.
“We do not lie or see you as a fool, we only speak the truth” the black haired woman spoke as she bowed her head, though Antinous very obviously rolled his eyes.
“Don’t mock me!” He hissed in response, “Get me whatever pathetic lord you serve, I want to speak to him” he grumbled.
“Very well” the blonde woman spoke, “Though he does not like having his presence requested in such ways” she added.
“Yes yes” Antinous groaned while used his hand to shoo them away as he he threw his head back, hitting it against the back of the bed with a thud. A small sigh of relief exited his lips as he saw the women leave the room, closing the door behind them.
He was left alone again in silence. He lost his appetite. He wanted to get black out drunk right now. The dark-skinned man let out a groan of frustration as he knocked down a shell from the table next to the bed, it shattered into pieces as he continued to have a tantrum like a toddler.
“How mature” a voice spoke with little amusement, causing Antinous to whip his head around and find the source of the voice, however there was no one there.
“Curse this arrow” the dark-skinned man grumbled, thinking the arrow caused some kind of hallucination.
“Now now, what did the arrow do?” The voice chuckled once more while Antinous jumped as he felt a cold rough hand on his shoulder, his head instantly snapping to the side.
There…a ‘man’ stood, much more adored in jewels than the previous two women that were here, a pearl shoulder necklace, with a necklace made of seashells and a pearl necklace as well. Long curly light blue ‘hair’ flowed behind him, with a gold headband, while dark eyes bore holes into Antinous’ head. He had only a net draped over hand his body and himation wrapped around his waist, though it only covered his lower body. Strangely enough the himation looked much like sand.
“Who the fu-“ Antinous breathed out as he jerked away from the hand on his shoulder, it was as if the hand was calloused however looking at the hand and some exposed parts it was callouses…it was as if scales.
“I’m the one you requested so rudely” the being spoke up, “Must say you have the temper of a child” he added as he stared the shattered shell on the ground.
“That doesn’t answer my question, who are you? A divine?” Antinous gritted through his teeth as he clenched his fists,
“Isn’t it obvious?” The being sighed out exasperatedly as he gestured to his appearance.
“How am I meant to know?” The dark-skinned man snapped, he was really not thinking before he spoke.
“I suppose I can excuse your stupidity this time, that arrow must’ve dumbed you down” the being sighed out as he rubbed his temples. “Take a look at me, of course I’m a divine”
Antinous stayed quiet, so it was indeed a divine, but which one? Though it was best he shut the fuck up before he dug his own grave.
“You really are quite thick in the head, I can practically hear your thoughts” the god spoke up sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. “You spoke of me in your song, spoke of us as friends” he confessed.
The dark-skinned man blink and sat there for a few seconds, before making an ‘oh’ sign with his mouth.
“Oh…” he repeated.
“Oh…” this time it was more understanding as his eyes widened, fear and confusion painting his expression.
“Oh indeed mortal” the god mocked, amused by Antinous’ reaction. “However you’re quite stupid, what’s my name?”
“Poseidon…” The dark-skinned man whispered out, his voice shaky as he stared down at the bed. Well this was how he was going to die.
“Good, so it would do you well to watch that tongue of yours” Poseidon hissed, “I don’t appreciate you insulting my servants” he growled as he grabbed Antinous’ hair to make him look up.
The dark-skinned man let out a hiss of pain as his hair was pulled, though he was powerless against it. How does one go against a god?
There was silence for a few minutes, Poseidon clearly waiting for Antinous to say something.
“What do you want from me?” The dark-skinned man eventually spoke up, breaking the silence.
“You see I’m intrigued of how you spoke of me as a friend, as if I would voluntarily hide the body of the prince instead of letting it wash up on the shores of Ithaca” The god began as a twisted smile formed on his face, “Many mortals speak of the gods as friends however they’re always the ones damned”
“Are you the reason I’m alive? This arrow should’ve killed me. The water should’ve killed me!” Antinous’ anger began to flare again, has temper getting the best of him as he clearly forgot who he was talking to.
“Mind you tongue” Poseidon repeated through his teeth, “However I have nothing to do with the arrow, but from the water yes, you jumped into my domain meaning you’re my property and what I say goes” he explained.
“How am I alive then?” The dark-skinned man sighed as he tried controlling his temper and lifted his hand to touch the arrow pierced through his neck.
“No idea, but perhaps you’re just lucky” the god answered as he smiled sharply. “And it’s not like you can go back to Ithaca, unless you wish to be killed by that sorry excuse of a king” anger flared in his voice at the thought of Odysseus.
“I’d die any other way than to him or his son” Antinous grumbled.
“So that settles it” Poseidon spoke, “You’re staying here” he added, the dark-skinned man looked up at him in surprise and anxiety.
“What?”
“Unless you wish for me to throw you back to Ithaca”
“What am I meant to do here?” Antinous questioned as he cocked his head, he was really confused.
“Be my cupbearer” Poseidon answered bluntly as he cupped the dark-skinned mans’ cheeks.
“I’m sorry, what!?” Antinous hissed as his eyes widened, a fucking cupbearer?!
“You heard me, become my cupbearer I’m growing bored of my old one either way” the god repeated, he was silently basking in amusement at the mortals’ reaction.
“A cupbearer is basically a servant! I don’t want to be a servant! I’d rather die!” The dark-skinned man shouted as he pulled his face out of Poseidons’ hands.
“I could always throw you back to Ithaca” the god spoke up, he wasn’t angry yet if it was any other mortal speaking to him like this he would kill them, but Antinous was fun to mess with and his reactions were always so over dramatic.
“Fucking hell!” The dark-skinned man groaned as he threw his head back against the headboard.
“You enjoy testing me” Poseidon said as he trailed a claw down Antinous’ scarred eye, causing him to let out a shaky breath as he went quiet. Silence filled the room as the god continued trailing his claw down the scar.
“What’s the story behind this one mortal?” Poseidon questioned, breaking the silence and causing Antinous to glare at him.
“I’ll answer almost everything you have, but that’s off limits” the dark-skinned man gritted through his teeth.
“Oh? And how do you intend to stop me from making you tell me?” The god chuckled darkly.
“No idea, but I won’t tell you” Antinous mumbled, he really hated talking about his eye.
“Very well” Poseidon sighed out, “So was that a yes to my offer?”
Antinous was silent for a minute before begrudgingly nodded, he hated this.
“Good boy” the god chuckled, receiving an annoyed glare from the mortal. “Don’t be so disrespectful, just because you’re not saying anything doesn’t mean your face is any better”
“Yea yea” Antinous sighed out.
“Say, I’ll get some maids to draw you a bath and then I’ll go find you some clothes…i refuse to allow my toys to wear such terrible clothes” Poseidon spoke, the dark-skinned man just nodded he wasn’t going to get anywhere by fighting.
“Don’t run away” the god joked before he got up and walked out, closing the door behind him.
“Fuck…” Antinous grumbled as he buried his face in his hands, how did he get here?
This was shameful. He went from being served and spoiled by servants in Ithaca to serving a god. He had an arrow in his neck. And had no idea how he survived it.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by a knock at the door, “Come in!” Antinous called out, as much as he wanted to be alone, it’s not like he couldn’t let whoever is knocking in.
The door opened and the woman with black hair from before came in. “Your bath is ready” she spoke, the dark-skinned man just nodded before reluctantly getting up and stretching, he hunched over as he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. “Are you alright?” She asked softly.
“I’m fine” he grumbled as he just walked past her out of the room, she just sighed and walked in front of him leading him to a separate room and opening the door.
“Here you go” she spoke as she let him in and closed the door behind her.
Antinous grumbled before stripping of his clothes and sinking in the water, it was nice and warm and soothed his aching muscles. He wanted to stay in here. Would Poseidon come in if he was taking too long? Probably. But he couldn’t careless and sunk deeper so that his head and the arrow were just peeking out of the water.
To the dark-skinned mans’ surprise there was a knock sooner than expected as the door opened, “What?” He asked as he saw Poseidon.
“You’ve been in here for an hour” the god sighed out as he walked over, Antinous looked surprised, “And did you even clean yourself?” He groaned.
“Maybe…” the mortal grumbled.
“Of course you didn’t” Poseidon groaned as he sat on a chair near him, “Sit up properly”
“Why?” Antinous asked.
“If you won’t clean yourself I will” the god growled, causing the dark-skinned man to protest only to be shut down immediately by a dark glare from Poseidon.
The god grabbed a rag and bar of soap and just began washing Antinous, as much as the mortal wanted to protest, he couldn’t. Not without pissing Poseidon off. So, grumpily he just sat there, allowing his body to be washed. He looked like a sad wet cat.
“Don’t be so grumpy dear” Poseidon chuckled as he massaged Antinous’ shoulders.
“Don’t touch me like that” the mortal snapped in annoyance, he was well aware Poseidon could do anything to him do he wanted to.
“Or what?” The god whispered into his ear, his teeth nipping at the dark-skinned mans’ earlobe, causing him to shakily breath out.
“S-stop” Antinous spoke as he pulled away, Poseidon just chuckled and stopped continuing washing the mortal. The two sat in silence while this happened before the god stopped and got up, throwing a panistron at Antinous.
“Get out, I’ve got clothes ready for you” Poseidon spoke, the mortal rolled his eyes before getting out and wrapping the towel around his waist, he could feel prying eyes staring him down.
The two walked out and Poseidon took Antinous to this room with clothes and jewellery laid out on the bed. “Are you competent enough to get yourself dressed?” The god mocked.
“Yes I am” Antinous sneered as he sat on the bed, “Now get out”
“But what if I wish to watch?” The god teased, causing the mortal to shoot him another glare as Poseidon laughed out before leaving the room. This mortal was fun to mess with. Such disrespect from a mortal was rare and yet the god enjoyed it, it didn’t bore him, but he had limits and when they were pushed he would make the mortal remember his place.
The dark-skinned man sighed as he rubbed his temples before staring at the clothes, it was much like his old chiton with half his breast exposed, but it was fancier. It was dark turquoise with maroon edges that sort of looked like scales. One side was also longer than the other, strangely enough the shorted side was slit in half. It wasn’t that bad, but if I had been all turquoise he would’ve been annoyed.
Quickly he got dressed, it fit quite well much like his old one, but the slit side was a bit annoying most of his thigh was exposed. However he didn’t dwell on those thoughts as he put the jewellery on a seashell necklace with gold arrow earrings. How ironic.
He didn’t hate the outfit as much as he thought he would, it was quite nice. Antinous thought of just staying there for a while, letting Poseidon think he was still getting dressed, but he wasn’t that bothered and just opened the door and saw the god standing there.
“Don’t you look just divine” the god purred as he trailed a claw down Antinous’ neck.
“Yes I do” the dark-skinned man answered smugly, if he couldn’t choose what to wear, might as well enjoy it.
“Now then, would I be best to have someone teach you how to respect me?” Poseidon asked.
“Don’t care” Antinous scowled.
“Then we can deal with it some other, right now I would have someone show you around, but you are a special one” Poseidon spoke as he put an arm around Antinous’ shoulders and began walking.
“Then go ahead…show me around” the dark-skinned man sighed out as he followed along, muttering swears to himself…