1 Prologue

Ancient Greece, The island of Crete Maera, could feel the rope digging into her skin as the guards bounded her wrists together. The high priest was determined to be rid of her, and convinced the high Council that she was against them. That the only way to please their titan Kronos was to sacrifice her. Kronos titan and father of the three Greek gods Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. People of Crete once worshiped and sacrifice people to the creature the Minotaur. Half man, half ball deep beneath the palace in the labyrinth. The creature was defeated by Theseus long ago. Now the people of the island turned to another to worship, the Titian Kronos. Crete, it's people, high priest and king we're enemies of the small kingdom Naxos. Which had become Maera's home in the time she has spent there and in the time. Even though Naxos may be a small island it is a very fruitful and has a very powerful military force among the other kingdoms. The other kingdoms among the islands surrounding Naxos wanted a part of the share of resources and a wanted a hand in their impressive military and Navy skills. Which could almost suppress Athens. Small that it was, the men would be trained at a young age and became fierce warriors. It's king was a a powerful warrior himself and has seen many battles. His name is Aeolus. A man with a fierce green eyes, dark hair like a ravens and tall enough to tower over others. A man that she loved deeply. Maera never thought she would fall in love with a man like him. A man from the past. Ancient past, and she's not even of this time. "Lady Maera!" Maera snapped back to the present moment and the situation she found herself in. The high priest of Knossos stood in front of her. An evil man who only wanted power and the only way to accomplish that was to control her and use her gift of second sight. The power to see into the possible future. More like a curse that she was born with. The "gift" she wished she and the other female members in her family could take it back. Maera was taken against her will from Naxos, and forced to come to Knossos, create. "Lady Maera, I am giving you a second chance to come to your senses." The high priest Otos, is one of the many half human offspring of Poseidon. He is beyond jealous of his half brother Aeolus for their father favors him more than Otos. Which he now stood before her now looking down with her with a menacing glare. " I told you before and I will tell that to you again I will not be part of your plan. I will not help you gain power to overthrow your kingdom and the other kingdoms of Greece." She glanced back at Otos, the high priest showing him she wasn't afraid of him. "You could have become so much more if you've joined me." Otos reached out with his hand and touched a strand of her hair that hung loose from her braid. Maera pulled back from his touch. Otos sneered at her and turned away from her. "Guards! Take her to the main courtyard. She is to be sacrifice to our Titian Kronos. He will be pleased to receive a seer as an impressive gift." " What would your king believe to know that you are taking over his place?" "He is away in Athens, by the time he returns I will have officially taken over and the people will accept my rule." Otos nodded towards the guards, singling them to take her away. He turned his back from her and walked towards the throne room. The guards each took a hold of her arm and began walking down the long hallway that lead towards the entrance of the palace. Maera's heart began to race faster. There was no one here on her side or the left to the Knossos's king Catreus. She wasn't going to go without a fight. She struggled between her captors and even dragging her feet. It didn't stop the guards only delaying the inevitable. As she was being dragged to the main entrance there was not a single soul in the main hallway. The ever long hallway was barely lite with torches and it was very dim inside the palace. She could see a bright light up ahead the end of the tunnel. They had reached the main entrance of the palace. The main wooden doors were open and sun light shone through them. The bright light shone on her face as the guards continue to drag her through the doors. She looked around to find herself outside the main courtyard. There was a crowd of people surrounding the main area. In the center of the courtyard was impressive nine foot marble statue of Kronos. The people have turned to the titan to worship after the creature the Minotaur was defeated. Maera could see at the base of the statue were huge pieces of firewood. Fear gripped her and the feeling of being numb spread throughout her body. The high priest was determined to sacrifice her by burning her to death. "Let me go! This is a mistake!" The guards ignored her but continued to be pull her down the steps. The crowd of people were being held back by other guards in black armor. The people were shouting to the guards to let Maera go. The people kept trying to push past them. Maera was dragged through the main square where the guards lead her ever so closer to the statue. The people were still screaming for her release. The royal guards in black armor kept pushing back the crowd and shouting for order. Suddenly she was facing the nine foot marble statue. The guards suddenly turned her to face the crowd, the high priest Otos, and the Council. Otos had a menacing look on his face. He nodded to the guards and who then took her bonded hands and raise them above her head. A chain hung above her. The guards then attached her hands to it. When she was secured the they turned away and faced Otos for the next command. Otoss turned to face the crowd. "Silence! Our powerful titan has commanded that we give him a pleasing offer to him! I offer up a seer. The ultimate gift for an all powerful titan!" The crowd screamed and shouting for Maera's release. The people were on her side for they saw her as a gift of hope and closest connection to the gods. Maera's heart was racing knowing she will be burned alive. Otos will have his way and become king while the rightful ruler Catreus was away in Athens. "Any finale words before being sacrifice to our great Titan lady Maera?" Otos asked her and gave her menacing glare. He would get his revenge on her for turning down his proposal. He wanted to become king and make her his queen. Then use her gift a second sight to take over the other kingdoms of Greece. That's all over everyone wanted her once they knew of her dark secret. This dark gift of second sight that has done anything but took over her whole life. She couldn't trust anyone except for a few with her secret and only one man she trusted completely. A man who she has given her entire heart too. Aeolus, her beloved she thought of him in her final moments. She opened her eyes to see two guards in black approach her. They each carried a lite torch. Both guards lit the planks of wood surrounding her feet. She begin to feel the flames slowly grow and become hotter near her feet. She closed her eyes and thought of Aeolus and the time they had shared. Who would've thought she would find an everlasting love in the past of Ancient Greece? "Aeolus!" Maera called out, he would be her final thought. Smoke began to blur her vision, and her head begin to spin. The flames grew hotter and higher. Everything began to grow dark. "Maera!" Someone had shouted her name or so she thought. "Maera hold on!" She had to be dreaming. She swore she heard a familiar voice. The voice belong to Aeolus. The flames and smoke with starting to get to her. She opened her eyes but it was hard to see with all the smoke and flames. Maera could see not far from where she was chained, but a guard in black was running towards her. He was taller than the others royal guards of Crete. This man was no guard but was built like a warrior. One who has seen many battles. Aeolus, it was him. She wasn't imagining it. "Maria hold on!" He leapt through the flames, sword drawn and swung at the chain that held her captive within the flames. The metal clashed against the chain releasing her. The chain being cut was the only thing holding her up. She began to fall forward and all her strength had of left her. Suddenly two strong familiar arms caught her. She knew she was safe and Aeolus had come for her, to rescue her from this dreaded place. " "Maera hang on! I'm getting us out of here. Hold tight." He scooped up her in his arms and leapt through the flames. Maera looked up onto his familiar face and into the emerald color eyes. She will finally be safe she thought as darkness completely took over.

Next chapter