Chaptex<br >The sun rose over the Acropolis， tinting the Temple oI ~me，a<br >Polias and the Erechtheum with soft hues of coral and gold.<br >This was a day like any other--except for the bindings about<br >Zephromae s wris~ and ankles--except for the black sail<br >gliding ever closer ~o Athens with its evil golden eye glaring<br > in 1 at the h~lpless city.<br >menac g Y. w to sting her topaz<br > Perspiration ran down Zephromae s bro<br >eyes. For hours she d struggled in frustrated rage against the<br > linen strips binding her. She stopped for a moment to catch<br > her breath. The small shed at the back of her house which<br > held her prisoner sweltered with heat. Not a breath of air<br > stirred. Only her youthful strength and nine long years of<br > sorrow and determination gave her the power to keep up her<br >ander as his cunning coconsplra~or.<br > She could hear Alexander s voice through the wall now as<br >he tried to reassure her parents. ~This plan will work. Wo~d<br > sink to such depths of deception， tell Zephromae that ~erpl0<br >I " ， a~o， her out in the night to be bound<br > ， if I weren t certain of my scheme s success? I do<br >love your daughter--more than I ve ever loved anyone. But<br >she still refuses me. And for what reason? She loves me; 1<br >know she does. Even if she hadn t told me so in words， I d<br > know from the look in her eyes when we re together. But stiU<br > 14<br >for her constant delays. ]<br >~io s departure for Crete<br > imagined fate. She still<br > "Mad scheme: he ce<br > back? Alexander had b<br > Crete with her， to he<br > furiously at her bonds<br > "I know you mean<br > Cretans?"<br > "We won t be found c<br > "Zephromae is safe. Pla<br > ding. I m sure she ll ma<br > is past."<br > Zephromae ceased h<br > her eyes， imagining her<br > quivered up her legs ar<br > thought of herself in<br > pressing against her ow<br > each other s love. She d<br > Alexander s voice sn<br > of her imaginings. His<br > face.<br > "Seruio is dead! The<br >years.-<br > Rene<br >through<br >I uromi，.<br >V~<br >mrougn me st<br >ankles. Starin<br >black cloud wi<br >axe grow ever<br >of the Aegean<br >was just maki<br >over the city t~<br >and take her，<br >word.<br > Zephro<br >bolder bro<br >OtnE<br >hnn<br ><br >