Middle Ages (after the breakdown of the Roman society--because we can)
Where:
Italy
What:
Chase, chase, chase, hunt, hunt, hunt
Warning:
Rape
Roman society had started to crumble, a cry that the Greeks had known all too well when they started to put patrons and men in place of the gods they once served. It was something to become used to, but not something Poseidon had to like. The Islam and Christian stories were starting to become more frivolous, their popularity taking over where he and his brothers used to hold reign. It was a whole new clash of cultures.
Italy was closest to home in Greece. Their Roman predecessors had still held him in regard until now, the power of his stories staying alive in the minds of artists and painters. When the kids weren't drawing stories of these new gods they remembered the old stories.
Shoving his way through the crowds of what quite frankly smelled like sewage water, Poseidon made his way to the harbor where the sea still called out to him. He'd felt her there in the crowd, though the fashions had changed. The leather he wore felt a lot like an ancient wet suit. Slick like any fish in his once vast ocean landscape.
His head snapped around to see that pretty little face and large eyes scoot by. She'd gotten away from him once. Not again.
He wondered how fast that pretty little nymph would run now that she didn't have Artemis' forest to hide in.
Daphne had never made her official vow. She was still a virgin and hunted as she'd always done, but when things started to decline and suddenly she was moved along with her sisters she just tried to accept it.
The new Christian god was full of guilt she found though, and redemption through sacrifice seemed oddly...wrong. Even for a Greek nymph. She'd gone with the time, wore a lovely white gown that the new Christians saw as a sing of purity and so she was left mostly unmolested. Quite the change.
When she felt a familiar brush of power she frowned, making her companions pause. She smiled at the girls and glanced back to find Poseidon's eyes on her. Oh, balls.
Remembering their last encounter she sighed and turned back to her conversation. He'd intrude soon enough. The Greek Gods had yet to learn to curb their ego's.
Poseidon pushed his way through, anything but subtle with that sashay in his walk. She'd hid from him once, announcing her utmost devotion for Artemis with a vow he'd been determined to break before she'd ever let it leave her lips.
He greeted her and her companions with an eerie grin, dark thoughts lurking behind those still sea blue eyes. "Well, well," he said throwing an arm around her shoulders. "How is the little virgin nymph? Still pining away your future to the forest and your dreams?" He hadn't forgotten what she'd done to humiliate him, and he had every intention on taking it out on her now.
The arm was heavy around her shoulders, and she rolled her eyes. She was not trying to let it be known she was a nymph. Not everyone understood anymore. She smiled to her friends, letting them get away with a nod of her head. With a sigh she stepped forward, out of his arm so she could face him.
"Lord," she paused, almost daring in these new times, "Neptune I think they call you now?" She looked around and then back to him, "I am well, still a virgin and still letting the forest rule me. Unfortunately, none of us can afford to be away from the city anymore, despite my inherit dislike for it." And her father had been firm. She either made her vow, or found a husband. He'd all but forced her to come here, one last attempt to see her wed before everything changed.
She looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Rumors circulate you've finally managed to wed?"
His chin cocked out as she spoke, as defiant as ever. It still annoyed him that she refused to be as civil as any respectful nymph should be. "Perhaps," he said with that same eerie smirk. He pulled her around, his hand clasping tightly down on her arm as he forced her to keep walking. His vows didn't mean his sights were left untouched. There was still that big black and empty hole deep inside.
Scylla had been another nymph subjected to his passions in which his now jealous wife took her anger on. He loved Amphitrite, but even she couldn't fill the blackness inside.
He gave a dark glare to the other girls who still seemed to hang back and keep an eye on Daphne. "Still unmarried or did you finally give your sanction to Diana?" If she was still untouched his vengeance would be that much sweeter.
One of the girls stopped, catching up, not sure if she should feel attraction or fear to this man in black that Daphne seemed to know well. She mumbled to her friend if everything was alright. Her eyes fluttered but Poseidon's attentions were focused on one thing. He would taste her again.
Times were changing. Girls were supposed to be meek and seemed the blame for many things in the eyes of the Christians. She knew she should be cautious, but he struck a nerve inside her. Just as Apollo did.
What was it with Gods?
"Well I was only wondering Lord, seeing I'd owe her my congratulations. I didn't think anyone could make you wed." She winced as he gripped her arm, hurrying to keep pace with him. She was grateful for her friends company, that they knew where she had intended to go.
"Father is making me choose. Either I find a husband today, or at least a prospect, or I go to her Temple." she smiled sweetly, "I am on my way to her Temple. Well I was" she glanced to his hand before looking to her friend.
"I am fine, thank you. He is someone I know," not entirely true but then what could she say? But this was a good distraction, "Lord, surely you will not mind accompanying me and my friends to the Temple? Surely, you'd like to see us arrive safe and sound?"
"It's not up to you to think of things like that," he said tilting his head to gave her a sinister grin, "congratulate her and be done with it." He paused in his walk when she continued, that grip never moving. He wasn't about to let go after her display before. She wouldn't be able to shoot arrows at his feet and climb trees.
"Isn't that sweet," his voice low and gravelly, looking at the other girls for the first time who seemed more afraid of him than their friend. "I heard Diana's twin brother had eyes for you, even he couldn't pluck your innocence?"
He was someone they'd never heard of or seen before. He reached with his other hand to thread her hair through his fingers, tugging it lightly as he whispered in her ear, "You and I have some unfinished business," he looked up at one of the girls, giving her a creepy grin, "dismiss your friends when we get there and I promise not to make this painful." He sniffed that sweet head of hair, starting to walk again.
"Of course I'll escort you there," his grip never relenting.
She rolled her eyes to that, still fighting despite knowing she was already paying for her insolence. Quietly she was saying goodbye to everything she knew. A god's wife was never kind to those he took, willing or not, and she was only a nymph. "If I should meet her I shall."
She was looking for an out, not thinking she would find one. She spend years doing what she liked. Why did it need to stop now? She smiled at the girl before shrugging, "I told him what I told you. I shall either be someone's first or nothing at all. He said my laurels would bring triumph."
She winced to the tug and glanced to the girls. She'd not have them harmed. She just nodded, letting him take her to the Temple. Once there she bid her friends farewell, watching them leave.
She bit her lip, refusing to let him see her cry and looked at him, "not in there." she'd rather not be a bear once he was done with her. "If you must be an uncivilized cretin, I'm sure anywhere else will suffice."
The girls reluctantly stepped away, one of them asking Daphne if they needed to get her father. There was something vile and unsettling about this man in black. When no more was offered they scurried away leaving her alone to Poseidon.
"And he let you go without a chase?"
She wasn't trying to bolt which was already a sure sign of giving in. His grip loosened, eyes looking upward at the temple, places that were becoming as old and shaken when they used to be new.
"You've avoided any man's advances for this long." He took a gloved finger, pulling it off with his teeth to touch her cheek with his bare hand. "Still haven't thought about it?" he whispered in her ear, his breath hot. It wasn't even about wanting her anymore as much as it was his personal gain of vengeance. Athena had insulted and rejected him, Medusa had been his bait to humiliate Athena by using her temple as his tramping ground.
She shook her head. Her father could do nothing. He was a river-God, and as such bowed to Poseidon's whims. Even if they involved ruining his daughter. And she would be ruined, and then his wife would probably make her life hell.
She hated Gods. She wanted them to leave her alone. Her eyes met his and she glanced to the sun, "I never said that. I've just avoided him." She wondered how that would end up for her. She'd have to deal with Apollo's rage too. She knew he wanted a taste.
"I don't want any advances. Not from any man. I'm happy with my choice. I had high hopes." She leaned out of the touch, "I have. I wanted something special. A care. I wanted what is rightfully mine, although no one sees it that way. You can do with me what you like, and you'll forget me. I'd rather travel to Hades' court then invite a touch from a man who only wants to get back at a nymph who should mean nothing to him. You are childish, and cruel. But you'll hurt my friends and defile Artemis' Temple otherwise. I don't have a choice."
She moved back and his lip twitched, seething at the rejection. Poseidon made a shushing sound as he pulled her to him, back to his front, arm cradling around her chest while the other hand slid through her hair.
"Not even a struggle?" he asked letting that hand slide down her neck. "You, my dear girl humiliated me before." He clicked his tongue. "I don't like that," was the dark reply.
She sighed and set her eyes on the horizon as he pulled her close, trying to ignore his touch and wishing he'd just get on with it. She was already saying goodbye to her peaceful life.
"Why? It's all pointless anyway. Gods will take what they want, regardless of what anyone says. Serves you right to be dethroned." She scoffed, "You can all do with some humiliation. If only it would get through your skulls."
"Then why mouth off to me as if you have any choice to?" he turned her around abruptly, hands clasping against her arms forcefully. He tilted his head. "Be nice."
"I could have really liked you had you just let me lay claim then." It was a pity she was so outspoken even now. He'd rather she just keep quiet. "I know your father taught you better than that."
He pressed her against him, arm securing her in place. "It wouldn't kill you to pretend," he said in a huff, looking down on those porcelain features.
"A kiss," he demanded. He was toying with her.
"Because if you must do this, if you must be petty like the child you are I'd rather it be known I didn't cower. That I stood up to you, and wasn't just some other nymph." She raised her chin defiantly, choosing to go out with a bang. She huffed, "only if you are."
She leveled a look at him, "my father also encouraged me to speak my mind and be my own being. I would rather speak out, deny you then be just another conquest. But it's not like you care, so just get it over with. I'd like to have some form of peace before I get punished for your lechery."
She scowled, "no. I will not." She shook her head, "rather kiss a snake."
His brow darkened over his eyes, snatching her chin in his hand with gritted teeth. "You're not being nice," he hissed. He could have been sweeter, softer, perhaps a gentle---but then he wouldn't have been the monster he was known for. Poseidon didn't take kindly to her nasty words, his own spit back in her face. "You will!" he demanded.
He didn't care, he was cold. No nymph had ever surpassed his heavy hand except Amphitrite. She'd been lucky to have caught more than his lust, but Amphitrite wasn't here.
That grip tightened on her jaw before he forced her mouth open, crushing his own onto those soft lips.
She winced to the grip, feeling his fingers bruise her skin. Her hands curled into fists, suddenly preferring to take the fighting way out. Maybe he'd kill her for it. At least she'd have some satisfaction in hurting him. "Neither are you." She clenched her jaw, "I will not pretend to enjoy anything you do to me."
Then he kissed her and she decided to do the foolish thing. Her teeth bit down on his lips and her knee sprang forward to catch him in the groin. At least he'd stop manhandling her so, even if she'd pay for it.
Poseidon sneered hatefully, tounge lapping at the blood that now stained his lips. Her knee was thrown towards his groin, but it never made impact. "Ohhhh," he growled, "You just don't know when to quit." With his opposite, glove hand he backhanded her across the face. Hard.
He didn't let her fall to the floor before he yanked her by the arm, slamming her against the temple wall. "You want to play rough, I'll be rough," he threatened eyeing her with spite. No more playing fair.
He lifted one of her legs up forcefully ripping the white gown back. She was pinned to the wall now, no getting away.