This month's prompt is Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My! Normally I would put together something new for the blog, but I'm really busy doing revisions on my current WIP. And while revising away, I came across a passage that fits into the theme rather nicely. So I thought I'd share a little of my current work.
Synthesis
Now
Alexander looks at me. His golden eye glitters in the light of the ceiling
lamp. Knowing who he is, he doesn’t look as sinister but definitely more
intimidating. “Emily, he is not what he appears. I am not the enemy. Achilles
won’t be able to protect you from what’s coming. He is a brute who fights for
the pure joy of killing. He fights for the underdog because it’s a challenge.
He does not care for you or your mother. I ask you to come with me.” He looks
almost human as he says it. “I will reunite you with your mother. We will keep
you safe.”
For
a second I don’t understand. He’s asking
me to come with him? Why would I do that? But if he’s asking, it suggests he
knows he can’t force me.
“Why
on earth would I trust you? You’re the only thing that I need to be kept safe
from. If you’re my friend, why don’t you just let my mom go and we can forget
all this ever happened. How does that sound?”
Alexander
dismisses my questions by looking back at Achilles. “You are a fool, you Hetairos halfwit. A mistake of the past. This time you will finally lose.” All humanity is gone.
“You
have never beaten me, Alexander." Achilles is no longer smiling. "Not in Babylon, not at Thermopyle, not at
Agincourt. You will never defeat me.” His whole
persona has transformed. As frightened as I have been of Alexander, I am
terrified by Achilles. The look on his face, the entire set of his body, is of
a wild animal ready to strike. He radiates power and strength in a way that no
one should. Sitting between these two men I feel like a fawn walking between a
tiger and a lion. If there is a fight, I will be slaughtered without notice
long before a victor is decided.
Alexander's hand shoots out like lightning and grabs the wine glass. Both Holden and I knock
over our chairs jumping back from the table. Achilles doesn’t move an inch.
Alexander raises the glass slightly to acknowledge his host. He drinks it in
one gulp and gently sets it back on the table.
“I
won’t be the one who beats you,” he says with a smile. He stands and quickly
walks back out the front door, closing it behind him with a solid thud. The
quiet he leaves behind is deafening.
*
And here are the other links in the chain:
orion_mk3 - http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com (link to post)
Ralph Pines - http://ralfast.wordpress.com/ (link to post)
ishtar'sgate - http://chickenscratchbc.blogspot.ca/ (link to post)
skunkmelon - http://www.jenniferponce.com/skunkblog (link to post)
pyrosama - http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/ (link to post)
julzperri - http://www.fishandfrivolity.blogspot.com/ (link to post)
dclary - http://hardhobbittobreak.com (link to post)
Sweetwheat - http://gomezkarla.blogspot.com/ (link to post)
MsLaylaCakes - http://www.taraquan.com/ (link to post)
Angyl78 - http://jelyzabeth.wordpress.com/ (link to post)
Wow, two famous warriors--Alexander and Achilles. The lion and tiger reference fits really well since I've always pictured them as blonds. Very intriguing premise.
ReplyDeleteThe symbolism is there and the reference to the lion and tiger fits. I can feel the tension! Very nice.
ReplyDeleteSo you're going with the "adversaries facing each other throughout history under a variety of assumed names" angle, eh? Very apt and abstract way of going about the prompt!
ReplyDeleteAchilles and Alexander wouldn't be one's obvious choice for rivals since they are both ethnic Greeks, but the more I think about it the more I think Achilles' individualism and quest for glory contrasts with Alexander's mutualism and savvy level-headed politics. Also, as they say, "for every two Greeks there are three opinions."
The conflict was made even better when I read that one translation of the Iliad had a character named 'Alexander' shooting Achilles with the arrow instead of Paris. The truth is their rivalry is just a side note to the story, but a fun one.
DeleteWow a really cool passage that really did fit the prompt well! I enjoyed reading this piece & it was nice, short and succinct which I think helped with the tone of the piece. I could almost feel the tension in the air between the parties, I think this scene is very well written. Thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I'm shallow. I like your lion picture :)
ReplyDeleteNice job creating tension between these two.
Very intriguing. You did a nice job of amping up the tension so that the moment felt very portentous. (And as is my impulse with almost every short I read..I want to ask for more.) :)
ReplyDelete