Mortal Longings ((Full))

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Iona

"Yen? Interesting name for a currency..." Iona nodded and followed Mari, nervously slipping her hand through the other girl's. They were about to enter a strange city that spoke a language Iona had never even heard of and was full of technology that far surpassed anything she'd ever experienced in her father's mansion. She figured it was pretty natural for her to be nervous as they headed out of the cave. "Wait a second... Tyrinus and Leirivious... Won't they be bored just waiting here for us?"

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Iona

Iona smiled and petted Leirivious's head, giggling at the sight of Tyrinus's illusionary form. "Well, Tyrinus, you clean up nicely," she teased, blushing when Mari kissed her. She tried to ignore the feeling that came along with the blush and began walking down the hillside path with her unlikely companions. The closer they got to the enormous metal city, the more nervous Iona became. They began to see people on the paths, and they were all speaking a language that sounded beyond strange to Iona, almost like music. It flowed, in an odd kind of way. "Is this... Japanese?" Iona whispered uncertainly to Mari.

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Iona

Iona blushed and clung to Mari's arm a little tighter, not used to so many people looking at her. She wished she'd thought to cover up more before leaving the house instead of wearing a dress that showed so much skin. She entertained herself in the currency exchange building by admiring the architecture and listening to the language, trying to pick up on the patterns present in any language. When Tyrinus handed her the paper container, Iona opened it to find... More paper. Quite a bit of it, actually, all covered in strange symbols and pictures. "This is money?" she asked uncertainly. "Paper instead of coins... No wonder they gave me so much for only fifty drachmas... Does every kingdom in this time use paper currency rather than gold?"

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Iona

Iona shook her head and held Mari's hand stubbornly. "No. I won't leave you, Mari, not this time. We'll talk to him together, see what he wants. I... I'm sure our family can be reasonable," Iona said, as if trying to convince herself as well.

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Iona

Iona stopped fighting and cowered behind Tyrinus when the Nereid threatened them with a sword. She covered her mouth with a hand, her eyes wide with horror, as she watched them fight. Iona barely bit back a scream when Tyrinus took the sea nymph's head off, shaking and still a bit shocked when the guardian turned back to her.

"I... I am... I'm not hurt," she finally managed, trembling with fear. She wasn't afraid of Tyrinus; far from it. She was afraid of the reason Poseidon and his daughter had come after her and Mari. "Why... What would the god of the sea want with me?" she asked in a small voice. Gasping when she remembered that Mari might be in danger, she grabbed Tyrinus's hand and ran back inside. Thankfully, Mari seemed to be alone. Shockingly, none of the humans seemed to have noticed anything. "Mari! Are you okay?" she asked the other girl in a worried tone.

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Iona

Iona drew back her hand when she saw Mari's trembling and realized that the goddess couldn't hear her because of her odd little music device. "Mari... What happened?" she murmured, more to herself than Mari. Then she saw the little double-crescent bruise on the girl's neck and understood. She knew from her studies the nature of Poseidon; violent and lustful, even worse than Zeus. She hissed and drew her dagger from the sheath on her thigh, running from the building, planning to run to the sea if she had to. "I'll cut him to pieces!" she shrieked in rage as she ran, determined to get revenge for her friend. She snarled when a pair of hands grabbed her from behind, lashing out at the unseen person furiously.