Chapter 17

For the fourth time, Demeus thought he would scream at the top of his lungs if Helena cooed over the beauty of the temples one more time. She acted as though she had been trapped for a long time in a dungeon and this was her first chance at seeing the light and the things it contained. However, he did not know that he wasn’t so far from the truth. Helena’s life at Mount Kpamos could be described as a prison of some sort since she could not do whatever she wanted back at home without being reminded of the wife of who she was. For the first time in a long time, Helena felt genuinely happy and free. The world held a bigger, brighter light that held her transfix and every time she looked back at Demeus and he smiled at her she wanted to grab him and kiss him and thank him for doing this for her. He was so patient, so kind and his ear was open to her every talk. Often times she caught herself reaching down to hold his hand then she caught herself and linked her arm through his. It pained her to take things so slow with him now since she knew, just like Likia said, she was definitely in love with this man and his kind heart and before she went back to Kpamos she’ll make sure she did something about her feelings for him.

At last, they stood outside the square yard of the temples’ square and Helena looked around at the beauty of Eyrotia again. She took a deep breath as though trying to make the most of this moment for now. Just as she started to tell Demeus that she was ready to go home her eyes caught the last temple. She frowned suddenly and just quickly her frown disappeared and was replaced with a radiant smile. It was the first very majestic temple she had wanted to explore first.

“Ramus,” she said sweetly. “We have yet to explore that temple and it is the most majestic of these.”

Demeus forced his heart to stay calm. It had been relatively easy to talk about the other gods as he showed her their temples but talking about himself was not something he loved to do so much and he found himself fretting like an old woman who lost a goat. This wasn’t like him but he couldn’t help wondering if Helena would see a statue of him and make the connection that he wasn’t who he said he was.

He looked down at Helena’s face and saw her looking up at him. “Well? Are you coming?”

“Of course,” he heard himself say a moment before she pulled him inside.

The temple was glamorous and luxurious in every sense of the word. The people held nothing back in the building of this one temple. The columns holding the roof up were made of pure gold, polished to a point where they reflected images of the people inside the temple. The arch ceilings were ornate and so beautiful that even though he had been here millions of times to bless the people of Eyrotia he had to admit with Helena that this temple was by far the most beautiful. The ornate ceilings had gold and silver adorning different corners of it and there were images of the Eyrotian pantheon and the gods of the people painted into the canvas that stretched from one point of the temple’s ceiling to the other, along with these were the pictures of flowers and mystical creatures like dragons, fairies, giants, golems, there were even Valkyries with their flaming red hair and double-edged ax, there were goblins and so much more painted in the canvass. This temple was not as half empty as the others. It was almost too full for Demeus’ liking. Sacrifices were being made in his name all over the place and he had to be careful to keep his powers in check because the reverence shown to him was beginning to heighten his powers, there were also sightseers like he and Helena, most of whom were foreigners, tradesmen and women who were known to mix business with pleasure. Temple prostitutes moved among the midst of the people vying for favors from both tradesmen and women alike. And among all of these were the priests who were taking the offerings and sacrifices of the people there to worship.

There was a very huge statue of him in addition to the several other statues that stood alongside the golden columns. He feared looking at it for long to avoid drawing attention to himself. Helena was already making her way toward one of his statues and he hurried to join her.

The statue was relatively huge and it depicted an image of him with his arms raised from his fingertips the sculptor had made what looked like thunderbolts appear. His knees were bent as though he was in pursuit of something and his eyes blazed. All in all, he had to agree that the sculpture was a very impressive one.

Helena reached out and touched the powerful thighs of the statue. Demeus swallowed hard as though she had touched him instead.

“This must be the supreme god of Eyrotia.”

He wasn't feeling very supreme at the moment but he nodded at her. He looked around in hopes that no one noticed how uncomfortable he looked.

“Look at his solid muscular thighs,” she ran her hands over them. “So powerful. Isn’t it amazing how well sculptors can design something so impressive out of stone?”

Again he nodded tightly as he fought to keep his desire under control. She talked endlessly about the beauty and splendor of the statue until Demeus thought his ears would pop.

Just then he felt the rush of power reach into his own powers and the hair on his arms rose as the powers in the air crackled. There was another god here. His attention was shifted from Helena as he started to look round. It wasn’t unusual for a god to be among mortals but this one had willingly channeled his god powers to Demeus as though trying to let him know there was another immortal present. Demeus stepped back a little and the energy seemed to grow stronger just as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned sharply and came face to face with Torlan, the god of thunder and storm of Eyrotia.

“Easy Demeus,” Torlan said under his breath. He was a friend of Demeus and her enemy to Oya since her powers crossed with his. “Easy old friend.”

Helena was no longer talking, she had a look of curiosity on her face as she watched the exchange between Demeus and this stranger.

“Ramus?” she said quietly.

Torlan raised a brow at both Demeus and Helena and his lips lifted in a smile. “Ramus, ehn? Why don’t you introduce me to the beautiful lady.”

Demeus smiled but he narrowed his eyes at Torlan who he knew was a ravisher of mortal women. Torlan was known to enjoy the company of women which was why he frequented the Eyrotian villages quite often.

“Helena this is my friend Torlan, we were childhood friends.”

“And are still friends,” Torlan said. “And you are a very beautiful woman Helena.”

“Thank you very much Torlan,” Helena laughed.

“Yes thank you, old chap,” Demeus growled and took Torlan by the shoulders leading him away from Helena to a safe place where they could talk. “We will be right back Helena,” he said over his shoulder.

“You have moved on quickly my friend, I told you you would.” Torlan was laughing as he patted Demeus on the shoulder. “And my word what a beauty.” He raised his brows at Demeus. “I never thought you would love the company of mete mortals women but it looks like you’re enjoying the company of this woman.”

Demeus fought a smile at his friend. “Torlan mind the way you speak about her. And what are you doing here?”

“I went to your temple and found you were not there and you haven’t been there for a while.”

He knew what temple Torlan was referring to. The one in the pantheon he called home.

“And I see why now. And don’t worry no one else suspects that you have not been in your temple.” Torlan slapped at Demeus shoulder one more time. Then he stopped smiling and looked beyond his shoulder. “I think you should see what is happening to your woman.”

Demeus looked and his heart almost stopped beating. Helena was surrounded by a group of suspicious-looking men in worn-out clothing. Temple thieves, they were called and the way two of them held Helena by the arm was anything but friendly. From where he stood he could see Helena look around frantically for him, her mouth opened ready to scream but before she could one of the men clamped his hand around her mouth and stifled her scream before the rest pulled her out of the temple. Demeus felt his heart drop an instant before a red haze fell across his eyes and in the next instant he found himself running outside to save Helena.