Double Your Pleasure Bundle (26 page)

Melis felt mingled frustration and relief when Theodoros released her and stepped back. She had felt the same way during her disappointingly brief encounter with Stathis.

Then Theodoros's words sank in. She had passed the first test!

Her knees felt weak with relief.

"The
philtatoi
auction will commence at sunset!" Theodoros announced.

Chapter Three - Advice

Agapaios came forward and touched Melis's shoulder.

"You can get dressed now," he said, in a friendly tone, offering her the untidily-folded heap of her garments. "And then, if you like, there's enough time to bathe and have a snack before the auction begins."

Melis hastily wrapped and pinned her garments around her. Her hands were shaking with nerves, making her fumble with the clasps on the brooches. She was painfully aware that her every move was being observed by the crowd gathered around the dais.

As she followed down from the dais and across the courtyard, the realization sank in that the Children of Lilith hadn't laughed at her, or sent her back down the mountain.

Unless this was a setup to a monstrously-cruel practical joke, she had actually passed the first test for becoming a
philtata
.

Melis released a long, shaky breath of relief.

All during her long journey to the temple, she had tried not to think about the fate that awaited her if she failed. The world was not a kind place for a penniless girl, disowned by her family and without a protector.

She was safe for now, but at what price? Her senses were still clamoring from the high priest's public inspection, and
auction
sounded very much as though she were about to sell herself into slavery.

It didn't matter. Not now. Melis had made her decision when she left her village, and now she must live with the consequences.

* * *

Behind the great sanctuary hall stood a cluster of smaller buildings. Agapaios led Melis to one of these, a long, low structure marked by a curl of wood-smoke from the back and tendrils of steam emerging from a row of tiny windows just below the roof.

One of the temple's acolytes, a blonde slender girl about the same age as Melis, met them at the entrance.

"Got one more
philtata
-candidate for you," Agapaios told the acolyte cheerfully. "I'll go to the kitchen to rustle up some extra food. Bye!"

He waved and turned on his heel before the acolyte had a chance to reply, his long legs quickly rounding the next building.

The blonde girl sighed as he disappeared, looking exasperated. "He's
always
late, and I always have to try to make up for it."

"I'm sorry," Melis said, guiltily. "But it really wasn't his fault. I only arrived at the temple a short while ago. I didn't know about the auction..."

The girl smiled brightly at her. "Oh, don't worry about him," she said, with a dismissive gesture. "He
likes
it when Lord Theodoros ties him to a pillar and whips him for tardiness. And Lord Theodoros likes it, too, so they're both happy." She giggled at Melis's shocked expression, and drew Melis inside the bathhouse's dressing room. "I'm Sophia. You've really only just arrived? What's your name?"

"I'm Melis. And I'm really sorry—"

"No, no, a
philtata
-candidate is always welcome here," interrupted Sophia, swiftly stripping Melis to the skin once more.

She put Melis's clothes, neatly folded, onto one of the wide shelves running around the room, and led Melis into the bathing chamber, which was paved with a warm black-and-white mosaic floor and filled with steam from a deep round pool at the far end.

With swift efficiency, Sophia gathered up various bathing implements, and began her work. Melis had always bathed herself in the village's communal bathhouse, with help from other women to scrub her back.

It was a new, luxurious experience simply to stand in the middle of the bathing chamber, while Sophia quickly scrubbed every inch of her skin with a mixture of coarse salt and fragrant oil, then rinsed her thoroughly with pitchers of wonderfully-hot water dipped from the pool.

As the travel-grime ran away down the drain in a long sluice of gray water, Sophia chattered away.

Melis learned that some of her fellow candidates had been living at the temple since the autumn. One of them had even traveled all the way from exotic Khem on a trading vessel, sent across the sea by a Child of Lilith who owed Theodoros a favor.

"What of the Children of Lilith? What are they like?" Melis asked nervously, as Sophia expertly scraped the remaining oil from Melis's skin with long sweeps of her curved strigil.

"Most of them are very kind," Sophia assured her. "I grew up on Lord Isimud's estate, and he was a good master to us. His
philtatos
Silvanus drowned a few months ago—it was a terrible shock to all of us, and that's why my lord is participating in the auction this year. Let's see...who else will be at the auction?" She paused to think for a moment. "Oh, there's Lady Gula. She's only just reached her majority, and is looking for her first
philtatos
or
philtata
. I've heard she prefers men to women, so she probably won't bid for you. Lord Enlil doesn't care one way or the other, as long as his companion enjoys pain. Do
you
like pain?" Sophia cocked her head inquiringly.

Melis shook her head vehemently. A cold lump formed in the stomach. She might be auctioned off to someone who enjoyed
hurting
her?

"Tell Agapaios, and he'll make sure that Lord Enlil knows not to bid for you. From what I've heard, Rudjek—that's the youth from Khem—might be a better match for Lord Enlil, anyway."

"Oh," said Melis, faintly, as Sophia rinsed her hair with warm water.

Sophia reeled off a few more names as she led Melis to a heated stone bench and began briskly to massage her with perfumed oil. But Melis scarcely heard her in her burst of sudden worry about Lord Enlil and his requirement that his concubine or bed-boy
enjoy pain.

"Oh, and
the brothers
are here, too," Sophia was saying. The scorn in her tone diverted Melis's attention from her thoughts.

"The brothers?" echoed Melis.

Instead of answering, Sophia tapped Melis's shoulder to indicate the massage was finished, helped her to her feet, and began to wipe her down with hot, damp towels.

"You don't have time for a soak, I'm afraid," she said, apologetically, as she led Melis out of the bathing room.

Melis shivered slightly in the cooler air of the dressing room. She felt renewed after Sophia's quick but thorough treatment, her skin tingling and alive from the scrubbing and massage, her hair clean of dust and sweat for the first time in days.

It would be a pity to put on her travel-stained clothes again, but she had no choice.

But then she went to the cubicle where she had left her garments. It was empty. She stared at the space in dismay. What was she going to do now? She had no other clothes!

"Agapaios probably had them sent to the temple laundry while you were bathing," Sophia reassured her. "Here, you'll be wearing a candidate gown this evening, anyway."

Sophia pointed at another cubicle, and Melis saw the shimmer of scarlet silk folded there. She swallowed, hard. She had never worn anything but rough-woven linen and coarse wool, never dreamed that she would ever touch a silken gown, much less
wear
one.

When Sophia began to dress her, Melis discovered that her new finery was apparently meant to be worn without any kind of undergarments, not even a breast-band. The sensation of silk sliding across her nipples was a new and sensual pleasure.

Melis returned to her earlier question. "Who are 'the brothers'?"

Sophie's nose wrinkled. "Oh,
them
. They're a disgrace to the Children of Lilith. Everyone knows they're really wild—drunken orgies and hunting parties that trespass on the lands of other Children of Lilith, those sorts of things—and the Council of Oligarchs is constantly reprimanding and fining them for breaking all kind of laws. It's so undignified." Her voice dropped to a dramatic whisper. "I've heard they run around their estate
unveiled
, and that all of their mortal servants know what they look like. Can you
imagine?
" she asked, sounding scandalized.

"I wouldn't know," Melis confessed. "Today is the first time I've ever seen a Child of Lilith. I don't know what they're like."

Fuck the rules.
That rough voice echoed in her memory. Had she already met one of the brothers? Would
he
bid for her tonight?

Sophia paused in her efforts to tie a gilded leather girdle around Melis's waist. "You've never met a Child of Lilith, and you want to be a
philtata?
" she asked, in disbelief.

"It's a long story." Melis shrugged. "But...these brothers. Are
they
interested in pain? Are they looking for someone they can hurt?"

"I don't think so," Sophie said, after a long pause to consider the question. "At least I haven't heard any stories like that. But they're a thorn in the side of the other Children of Lilith and they'll probably be exiled to the Labyrinth if they don't shape up and follow the council's rules. If I were you, I would hope for Lord Isimud or Lady Gula. Or even Lord Senenmut. Though you'd have to leave Thessaly and move to the city of Waset—that's in Khem, and he's the governor there."

Khem!
That sounded impossibly exotic and distant. And about as far away as you could get from the fishing village of Kitros without falling off the edge of the world.

Sophia held up a pair of sandals with straps gilded to match the girdle. "These should fit you—if they don't, tell me and I'll fetch another pair from the storehouse."

The sandals fit perfectly, the leather so soft and pliable that Melis knew that there would be no breaking-in period needed.

She looked down at herself as Sophie combed out her damp hair and twisted it up in a neat knot, fastening it with long gilded hairpins tipped with red carnelian. The gown was a deep red hue that flattered her tanned skin and dark chestnut hair.

It looked like something a noblewoman or princess might wear, not Zeno the fisherman's daughter. Wearing it made her feel like an imposter.

Agapaios reappeared, his hands filled with food and drink.

"Ready?" he asked anxiously, offering Melis a plate piled with thick slices of bread smeared with soft white cheese.

Her stomach rumbled. This morning, she had finished the last of the food she had packed, and she had used her last coin at noon for the ferry across the river.

As Melis bit eagerly into one of the pieces of the bread, which was fresh-baked and still warm, Sophie complained, "But I haven't put any eyeliner or rouge on her yet!"

"She doesn't need it," Agapaios said, airily, leaning against the doorframe and watching Melis eat. "I heard Theodoros say she's got a really bright aura, so you know the Children of Lilith would be bidding furiously for her even if she were ugly as sin. Which she's not!" he added hastily, as Melis stopped chewing to stare at him.

"You're really pretty," he reassured her. "You've got nice eyes and smooth skin, and kissable lips, and your breasts—"

Melis felt her face grow hot and she looked away from his knowing gaze. Of course he had seen her breasts.
Everyone
at this temple had.

Sophia smacked his shoulder. "Agapaios, stop that! You're embarrassing the poor girl."

He grinned unrepentantly, and handed Melis a silver goblet. It proved to contain cool watered wine, refreshing after the heat of the bathhouse. "Drink up, my lady. The auction awaits!"

"Tell Lord Enlil not to bid for her," Sophia told Agapaios, as Melis hastily finished the food that Agapaios had brought for her.

As Melis followed him out of the bathhouse, her full stomach churning with anxiety, Sophia waved farewell.

"Remember," she called after them. "Lord Isimud or Lady Gula! Those are the ones you want!"

Chapter Four - Auction

The sun had nearly set when Melis once again stood on the dais in the great courtyard of the temple. Finding herself alone on the marble platform, she looked around uneasily. Where were the other
philtatoi
-candidates?

There were already plenty of spectators gathered in the courtyard. Children of Lilith stood nearest the dais, then mortals wearing temple white, and then behind them, a crowd of well-dressed folk who might be household members of the Children of Lilith, or perhaps just lingering festival attendees.

Trying to distract herself from her rising nervousness, Melis looked over the small group of Children of Lilith gathered for the auction, and realized she had no idea who any of them were.

Lord Enlil, Lady Gula, Lord Isimud...the wild brothers...how could anyone tell them apart? All she saw were long flowing robes in various colors, and veils that completely covered their heads and faces.

The sun had just sunk below the western mountain ridge, leaving the sky smoldering in volcanic shades of orange and red. In the rapidly fading light, Melis could tell that some of the Children of Lilith were male, others female, but that was it.

No, wait
. Melis narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the three male figures who stood together, a little apart from the others. Were these the hard-drinking, rule-breaking brothers that Sophia had warned her against?

Were their robes sky-blue? It was hard to tell. In the deep shadows of twilight, everything looked grayish.

If so, least one of them had shown her kindness earlier today. She was grateful to him for the chance to become a
philtata
, when the temple guards had clearly wanted to send her away.

And, from Sophia's description, the brothers sounded interesting rather scary, unlike the mysterious Lord Enlil and his desire to inflict pain. Perhaps it wouldn't be too bad if she became the concubine of the rough-voiced Child of Lilith who had aided her.

Five women and three men, all dressed in the red garments of the
philtatoi
-candidates, appeared in the courtyard, and climbed the dais to join Melis.

They all looked calm but eager as they came to stand near Melis. No one was weeping or cringing in terror. That reassured Melis.

She traded quick, assessing glances with the newcomers. They all looked healthy and well-fed. No one looked injured or abused.

A lithe brown-skinned, black-haired youth, who was surely Rudjek from Khem, smiled at her in a friendly way.

There was no time for introductions before the high priest Theodoros appeared on the dais. He was accompanied by Agapaios, who caught Melis's eye and winked impertinently at her.

"Candidate, here is how the auction works," announced Theodoros as he approached the dais. He cradled a wide-mouthed jug. "First, you will all draw lots, which will determine the order in which you are presented to the Children of Lilith assembled here.

"Those Children of Lilith desiring a
philtata
or
philtatos
will then bid for your companionship. The bidding for each candidate will continue until only a single bidder remains."

"Where does the money go?" Melis asked softly, turning to the young woman standing next to her.

"Didn't they tell you?" the girl whispered back.

Theodoros overheard them. "The money belongs to the candidate, of course. But as one of the
philtatoi
, you'll have no real need for it, so most candidates choose to send the sum home to their families. If you have no family—" His blank, veiled face turned to face Rudjek. "—then you can choose to invest it, perhaps in a trading voyage or as a loan for a business venture. Or you can endow a temple of your choice with a votive donation." He paused. "One of our candidates last spring endowed the Temple of Asklepios in Pergamon with a fund sufficient to pay for a year's worth of medical treatments for the poor."

Melis pondered this. She would have normally sent the money home without hesitation...but her parents had disowned her.

The memory of her father's anger and her mother's disappointment still stung, and perhaps the venom of their parting words would never go away.

But her younger sister Khryssa wasn't to blame for Melis's mistakes. And with money for dowries, all of her little sisters could make good marriages when they reached womanhood. Their prospects would be better than Melis's had been.

Yes, that's what she would do, when her turn came.

But first, she had the ordeal of the auction to endure. What if no one bid for her? Or worse: what if Lord Enlil bid for her, after all...and won her? Would she be forced to go with him if she refused to accept his money?

Melis nervously chewed on her lower lip, and cursed the fact that she hadn't had time to ask these questions beforehand.

Then Theodoros was standing before her, and offering the jar.

Melis reached in and withdrew a shiny black-glazed token. Some of the temple staff had brought torches to the courtyard to light the rapidly-deepening dusk. Melis turned her token in her fingers, examining it in the flickering light. It bore a single streak of unglazed red.

"You're the first candidate," Agapaios told her, then followed Theodoros down the line of candidates.

Each candidate took a token from the jar. A few moments of reshuffling followed as Agapaios directed them to line up in auction order.

At his signal, Melis stepped forward. Her mouth suddenly felt very dry, and her heart was pounding madly.

"Please state your name and why you're here," Agapaios called.

The crowd fell silent at his words.

"I—" The first syllable emerged as a dry croak. Melis swallowed, hard, trying to force some moisture into her mouth, and started again. "I'm Melis of Kitros. And I want to become a
philtata
."

"Are you here of your own free will, Melis of Kitros? No one has threatened or compelled you to offer yourself at this auction?"

She shook her head. "No, no one made me do it. I'm here because—"
I have no other options.
"—I want to become a
philtata
."

Theodoros inclined his head. "Very well. Let the bidding commence at 200 drachmas."

Melis gulped. That was a larger sum than she'd ever seen in her entire life. On a good day, her father might earn a half-drachma, barely enough to buy the day's food for his family.

And the bidding hadn't even started yet.

Almost immediately, one of the male Children of Lilith raised his white bidding rod. A deep male voice called out, "220 drachmas!"

Melis stared at the speaker, hoping that this wasn't Lord Enlil. And how would she know if it was?

"240!" said a woman's voice, and Melis saw the flash of white as she raised the rod. Lady Gula?

Then the bids were coming fast and furious.

Melis listened, disbelieving, as the sum of money quickly grew impossibly large. Enough to buy a horse...
two
horses...a small house!

But she didn't hear the rough voice from this afternoon, and felt disappointed.

Her mysterious helper probably wasn't even here. He might already have a
philtata
or
philtatos
, and therefore wouldn't need to participate in the auction.

Oh gods, the bids were already up to 800 drachmas! Enough to buy Papa a big fishing boat, and move her family to a large house.

"860 drachmas!" The deep male voice again. Melis hoped fervently that it was Lord Senenmut or Lord Isimud. Not Lord Enlil.
Please, not Lord Enlil.

There was a long pause after that bid.

"Lord Enlil offers the highest bid so far," Theodoros called.

Melis's stomach clenched in sudden terror. Enlil!

Oh, gods, I thought Agapaios told him he wasn't supposed to bid for me!

As if a semi-divine being would listen to a mere mortal, even one who was a
philtatos!
She had been foolish to think otherwise. Lord Enlil had clearly decided he wanted her.

And, at a price of 860 drachmas, he would probably feel entitled to do whatever he wanted to her. 

"Does anyone wish to submit a further bid?" asked Theodoros.

There was a short burst of furious, whispered conversation between the three male Children of Lilith who Melis had decided must be the notorious brothers.

"900!" one of them called. His voice was smooth and calm. A stranger's voice.

"920 drachmas." This time, Lord Enlil's voice sounded like a growl.

"940!" came the taunting reply.

"960!" Enlil shot back, his voice deeper yet.

Melis's fists were clenched as she listened to the sum rise and rise. How long could this continue? And how could she possibly live up to the expectations of the one who finally ended up buying her? She was just a fisherman's daughter...

Another burst of rapid-fire murmuring between the brothers.

"One thousand," said the calm-voiced one, his tone firm.

Silence fell over the crowd. Melis felt like she couldn't breathe.
A thousand drachmas!
Her family could build a house to rival the residence of their town's richest merchant.

And with a generous dowry, Khryssa could marry a nobleman's son. In any case, she and the others would never want for anything.

"Lord Enlil, do you wish to bid?" inquired Theodoros, after the silence had stretched for what felt like endless moments.

All eyes turned towards the tall, dark-robed form of Lord Enlil. He made a disgusted sound, and shook his head. The bidding rod remained at his side.

Not Enlil!
Melis's knees quivered, shaky with relief.
Not Enlil, all the gods be thanked!

"One thousand drachmas to Melis of Kitros, to be paid by—"

"Agreus, Nomios, and Phorbas, of the Panes Clan." The three Children of Lilith walked forward into the torchlight. Melis saw that their robes were indeed sky-blue, and her heart rose.

Then it sank in.
Wait...all three of them bought me? Which one do I belong to?

Melis noticed that the other candidates were all bowing, so she copied them.

As they passed him, Enlil said angrily, "You cheated, you scoundrels! Only one Child of Lilith can bid for a candidate!"

"Oh, shut up, you old pervert!" one of the blue-clad ones snarled back. "You should be thanking Lilith that each of us isn't separately bidding on a
philtata!
Lucky for you, there are still seven candidates left."

It was
him
, the one with the rough voice!

"That's Phorbas," whispered the female
philtata
-candidate standing next to Melis. "He's an ass, but everyone says he's very skilled with his mouth. You'll see."

Melis nodded, numbly. She didn't care about anything at this moment, except that Enlil had
not
won her. 

"We just got the
best
one," one of the other three told Enlil in a taunting tone.

"And that's Nomios," whispered the
philtata
-candidate, a wicked smile curving her lips. "I've heard he likes to make you beg for it before he gives it to you hard and fast."

"It's true," Nomios called, turning to face the dais. His hearing was apparently preternaturally sharp. "We'll make you scream with pleasure and beg for more, little honeycomb."

"W-we?" Melis asked faintly.

"My brothers and I," answered the third Child of Lilith. His voice was clear and confident. "My name is Agreus and we share
everything
."