“You’re finally awake, soldier? You’ve made a grave mistake in coming here.”
The soldier awoke, seemingly blind. His arms and legs were shackled, and from the feel of the cold stone on his back he knew he never left the cavern. He tried to speak, but his tongue was stiff in his mouth. The raspy, feminine voice continued addressing him as he struggled to focus.
“Let me introduce myself.” Deliberate footsteps echoed through the cavern tunnel as she paced towards him in a meandering zigzag. Chained and without sight, the soldier’s senses were more finely attuned; he could feel the size and weight of the woman approaching him, carried on the sound of footsteps in the air.
“Although, you must already know who I am?”
More pacing. She was approaching him, albeit slowly with cautious precision.
“You and your men infiltrated my home.” Her words flicked out of her mouth, testing him, judging his presence as his metal restraints clacked dully as his body shifted.
“You attacked me. I was once a maiden, highly sought after. Mortals and gods alike could not find restraint in my presence. They did not use restraint. I was cursed by the goddess Athena, and now men like you hunt me down for your own selfish needs.”