Half of you, Vulcan!

"Ma, father is awake."

His weary eyelids flickered firstly then flipped open like the pages of a book. He closed his eyes again after that call had waned out. Then the voice came again. Twas a wonder how the gentle, still, small and feminine voice persisted and kept the call coming.

He opened his eyes again. He couldn't confide in the sleep again. That was what it seemed like to him.

The last thing he remembered was that he was standing by the sea and was waiting for Athena. Then not long after, he had seen a lady standing in the waves, her back to him, few metres into the waters.

He had gone after the lady, calling at the name, ATHENA but the lady didn't look back at him. Then he had kept on walking till he got into the waves. He had kept walking on and fighting his way through the waves. The water had swallowed him up to his chest.

But as soon as he got behind the lady and touched her from behind, she had melted into a warm and salted water which disappeared into the length of the crashing waves.

He had stood there smothered by surprise but hadn't seen a huge wave coming before him. Before he could run out, he was hit and had sank into the depth of the water. That was all.

Then he had opened his eyes to see a lady seated on the bed not far from him. She had her back to him and seemed to be reading from a book.

He had touched his hand to her back and caressed her thinking that twas one of the encounters with Athena or a Nymph or probably the lady he had seen in the water the previous day.

But then the lady had called at a mother and had referred to him as a father. He remembered vividly that he didn't in no wise impregnate any Nymph back in the depth of the ocean. He was as confused.

Then came rushing in, was a middle aged but beautiful woman dressed in a long milk gown with hair braided stylishly. He could hardly remember her. Beside the woman was another lady who was almost the size of the one sitting on the bed.

As soon as the lady seated on the bed saw the woman and the other lady, she stood up and intended to hide the book.

"What's that, sister?"

The other lady hurried to the first lady.

"It's nothing. Father is awake."

The first lady seemed to had fought her way round the trick. The second lady ignored the book and went rushing to the head of the bed and sat close to Vulcan.

The middle aged woman too was already by the bed to the left.

"Oh, goodness! You didn't want to wake up, Vulcan? Everyone's been here wanting to see you after the scene you made at the cave of Myclops yesterday."

The second lady helped Vulcan sit up as he watched the middle aged woman in surprise. He had no faintest idea what she was talking about.

"What scene?"

Vulcan shot, sitting up. He wanted his voice deep and fierce but all he got was a mild and unseasoned counterpart.

"I told you that he didn't do it."

The second lady shot in Vulcan's defense. Vulcan looked from her to the middle aged woman who glared at the lady and looked back at Vulcan, more determinedly.

"Now you don't want us to start with an early morning quarrel again."

The middle aged woman shot. Vulcan didn't know what to say to the three. It seemed as though he was in another phase of Fantasy. He didn't know what to believe.

"And by the way, how'd you get this robe. We all know that you're poor and can't even afford the food for your own livestocks. Plus we didn't see you dressed in this last night."

The woman kept reeling. It seemed as though she was a barrel of words. Before Vulcan could say a thing, the second lady had had her take,

"We can't be sure, ma. We could barely see him amidst the dark yesterday. Plus he was drunk. Like dead drunk."

"He's our father, watch it."

The first lady, who had been silent all along hurled. She seemed to have a hidden beast in her though she seemed reserved.

In that short period of time, Vulcan had made hypotheses but he was still smothered by confusion and didn't know if he would survive.

He looked quickly around the room. Twas like a shithole, though there were few items necessary for a family. He was fed up with the view. He ignored and looked back at the three, sharing his worried gaze.

There was only one question wielding at the base of his consciousness. He couldn't help but ask,

"Who are you guys?"

He watched as the surprise which had been seated in his face all along switched its place, and was spread across the faces of the three.

But why did they seem that surprised? He had asked the right question, he didn't know them.

"Is this some game, Vulcan? Is this your own new trick of running away from responsibilities? We are caught in the claws of whether to call off the wedding ceremony of our first daughter and now you're asking who we are. I'm sure you're about to ask what her name is."

The woman scoffed. But Vulcan was in the darkness of it all. He needed light and he seemed helpless. He couldn't ignite it on his own.

"But sorry, What's her name?"

Vulcan meant it, though he could see disappointment on the face of the second lady. But the first lady whose name he had asked for, didn't seem moved.

"Ok! Now I'm done here. You either stop playing this dimwitted games or leave the home for us."

The middle aged woman stomped off as the second lady followed but the first lady stayed.

She watched her mother and sister walked out then walked closer to the bed and sat near Vulcan.

"My name is Prium. I'm your first daughter. I don't know what happened to you in your sleep after yesterday. But one thing I'm sure of is that you're not doing this on purpose."

She said, her small lips canvasing the strength of her beauty, and the life in her round face.

Vulcan still didn't understand, but he felt deeply within him that he could trust Prium.

Then, soon noise started coming from outside the hut. Twas more of commotion.

"What's that?"

He asked, his face melting into concern.

"You raped the daughter of the King yesternight. Protest is being made before the judgement of the King. We all knew you were drunk and didn't do it on purpose."

Vulcan just watched her speak. He had no faintest idea what to think. He didn't know which sucked more, reality or fantasy.

Why should he believe that he did that? Well that didn't stop the noise from coming.

Suddenly, the door was broken open.

"Here's the infidel. The unfaithful slut. The shameless bull. Now you've seen the peak of it all. You shall be beheaded for that treacherous act. No one is ready to take your flimsy excuse. Very obvious that you're prepared for the walk. Who knows if you stole the dress also."

"Enough! I won't have you speak to my father that way."

Prium's face was fiery. Her button nose seeming to burst into phlegm and smear the leader of the protesters in the face. She had been keeping her cool since the while and she couldn't help it anymore.

She noticed that she had gotten their attention. Plus she was certain that they were surprised to see her flare up. She wasn't like her sister. She didn't talk all the time. She was always silent but when she was ready to go rogue, not even the priest could stop her.

She continued, meaning to enflame her guts and give the fellows more reason to wonder as well as ponder.

"The first thing was that you barged into our house. Probably because it's one of the poorest houses here. Probably because twasn't built with burnt bricks like the houses of y'all dickheads. But even after that, you went ahead saying all sort of abominable things in the name of wit. We've told you times without number that he didn't do it out of free will. How many of y'all haven't been drunk ever? We know what y'all would do after being drunk and here you are making a scene."

She paused. She knew that she still had a million and one other things to say to them. She could read detest seeped in their expressions. She was going to go again, but the leader of the protesters wasn't a cakewalk. He wasn't ready to back down easily.

"May the gods roast your tongue, Prian. How dare you talk to those who are of the same age as your father. I had no slightest idea that you're this rude. And trust me, if you keep being this way, we wouldn't only have your father beheaded, but you also. Retard."

You could tell from the expression of the leader that he felt on top of the world. Like he had said the best thing that could ever be spoken by any man. Plus he was boiling.

She smiled, because she realized that the man didn't know what was about to hit him. If that was anyway a burden,

"It's typical of a drunkard to forget names easily. It's Prium."

The leader's jaw dropped. Pruim looked away from him to Vulcan who was still seated on the bed and said,

"Sorry, dad."

Vulcan didn't know what to say. If the Prium lady was truly his daughter like she had said, damn! He was more than proud of her.

Prium turned to the leader and continued,

"And may I remind you that you're only to make a suggestion, while the king chooses what to do. And also, that you're the leader of a group that think the same way as you doesn't make you wise."

The leader couldn't take it anymore. He rushed towards Prium to smack her, but then Vulcan hopped off the bed and stood in his way.

The movement was smooth though he couldn't explain how that happened. Those who were present too were in awe, as well as Prium.

Vulcan noticed that he had gained more than the expected attention. He spoke up immediately,

"Nobody touches my daughter."

He looked back at Prium. She smiled. She was proud of him. But sincerely, he loved the way the word, 'daughter', sounded in his mouth.

He turned back to the leader of the protesters and continued,

"You came for me. Take me. You want to do whatever we with me, do it. But if you dare cross your boundary with Prium, I'll be very personal with you. And I'm sure you have no faintest idea what that means."

Vulcan put his two hands forward in a manner to surrender. His wife and other daughter had just walked in. They just watched him in surprise. Like he had acted oddly. Probably he wasn't that kinda man.

"Seize him!"

The leader of the group ordered as three of the men laid their hands on Vulcan. They tried pulling him with them but they couldn't. He seemed not to be ready yet.

"You'll come with me, baby?"

He turned to Prium and she nodded her head in delight. She seemed to had been shocked by that name, baby, too.

The other men paved way as Vulcan, Prium by his side, walked out of the hut. He wished hardly never to return there but there was little he could do.

He smiled at his wife and other daughter as he walked out but the wife shot back a glare, and the other daughter, a feigned smile.

As soon as they stepped out, he was met by lots of the people, protesting and meaning to hurl stones and pegs at him. But the leader came to his aid,

"Peace! We are about the justice. We move to the palace now. Whatever the king says is the final. No stoning or beating. But well, cussing is allowed!!"

He laughed evilly and led Vulcan to a chariot and his daughter to another. Vulcan didn't protest, though Prium had her own scene to create.

Soon, they got to the palace and they climbed off the chariot.

The Castle of the Monarch was a in a lone settlement and was all by itself. There were few trees surrounding it and several statues.

Vulcan noticed his daughter rushing to him. They both walked past the guards into the castle, accompanied by the leader of the protesters and five others.

Inside the palace was a stray of the outside. The palace was the best definition of don't judge a book by its cover.

Twas well illuminated and the throne was to the North with stairs embroidered with cowries and lamps of fire on the right and left.

"Did he attest to the fact?"

The King asked as soon as they all knelt before him. Vulcan didn't. He didn't even before Poseidon or come to think of it, Zeus!

"He didn't say otherwise."

The leader of the protesters replied. The King stood up and walked down the stairs towards Vulcan. His flowing robe in three layers. Gold, wine and white. His face long and beardy. His voice thick and nourished. His accent, a little bit strained.

"Now you don't bow after violating my daughter?"

"He didn't your highness."

Prium defended immediately the King shot at Vulcan, but the king turned to her,

"This isn't your place, lady. Take her out."

Two guards grabbed her and took her out. She didn't call at Vulcan, Vulcan didn't act.

"Did you or didn't you?"

The King asked Vulcan. He was few steps away from him.

"You wouldn't believe my tale."

Vulcan shot back. The King nodded his headed. He seemed full of himself. He walked back to his throne.

"What do the people want?"

The King asked as soon as he settled into the throne.

The leader stepped forward and shot,

"That he's beheaded."

The King sighed and hurled,

"Couldn't had thought better and I won't touch the man who defiled my daughter. Behead him. Right away."

He stood up and walked off the throne to his chamber. Vulcan followed him with his haughty eyes, then saw a lady daintily dressed peeping at him. He didn't need to be told. That was the princess.

She looked away as soon as their eyes met.

The leader pulled Vulcan up and dragged him away.

"Now you see how powerful I am?"

The leader whispered into his ears and laughed.

Day 4. Earth.

"Father!"

The gentle but concerned voice of Prium was borne by the idle winds to Vulcan who was tied to two great poles. He had been tied up by twisted twigs and ropes fashioned from silk.

There were two warriors standing before him. One with a spear in hand, and the other with a sword. Two others were behind him with whips used on horses.

The process was about to commence and the leader of the protesters was few metres away from him. A generous smile seated in his rough face. There was a grace in his gaze.

The spot of execution was an isolated field which was meant for the purpose. Twas usually at the outskirt of the village until the new king had a change. Then twas brought to the front of the Colosseum.

There was a ring of iron thorns made around the person to be executed and those who were to carry out the process. At the consequence of that formation, all onlookers were to stand outside the ring and watch. Whoever move closer was at the detriment of his or her own life. Well, only if such person wished to accompany the one to be killed.

"Father."

Vulcan looked towards her. Her face was pale and her nose busy, spurting phlegms and water. By heart, he didn't know her. He didn't know if he had been good to her sometimes back or not, but she seemed to be a worthy daughter. Given by how concerned about him he had learned her to be.

Vulcan looked past her to other people who were present. He was trying to see if the princess he had been accused of was present. But what he saw instead were his wife and his second daughter.

He couldn't say for real if his wife was glad about the situation or not. Her facial expression was quite ambiguous to decode. But he was sure that the other lady was concerned. She was crying.

Two strokes of the whips pushed his mind back into the state he was. The pain coursed through his nerves and spines but he couldn't even put his hand to his back to ease the pain. Two more came.

He just wanted everything to be over. He had been wrong. He thought living in his fantasy was the worst but he didn't know that reality sucked twelve bags of annoyances.

For how could you wake up, after several years of being in your fantasy. Only to wake to wake up and realize that twas just a day difference in the real world. Like a prolonged dream, a dream in series and episodes.

He remembered that Athena promised to come in search for him on earth. He didn't know if he could bank on that. He missed Jite and Kilp. He wished they could meet again. He wondered if they also were facing their own loads of problems. Probably they had woken to theft or murder instead.

Continuous strokes of the whips couldn't let him concentrate on the thoughts. He didn't want to confide in them again.

All he wished for at that moment was just return to his fantasy and return to being the only lover of Athena. The son-in-law of Zeus. And also, the threatener of Poseidon.

Such thoughts gave him goosebumps. Twas just the matter of time. The only channel between the fantasy and real life was just death. He hoped. But how about Prium? He was already liking her.

"Now is the peak of it all!"

One of the two warriors standing before him started a vociferation. His face perky and determined. He continued,

"We shall offer the head of Vulcan, the son of Enheduaviataa as a peace offering for the taboo he had committed. That his family wouldn't be haunted by the wandering spirits of the Lukiata of our land."

The fellow said and raised his sword up. As soon as the fellow finished speaking, all the people shot an echo in agreement, stomping their feet in delight. Vulcan wondered how ruthless humans could be.

Now, if a man was beheaded for raping a lady while drunk, what happens if he did it on purpose? He couldn't hold the thought for long.

"Father!!!!"

Vulcan heard his daughter cry out again. His face had been down. Before he could raise his head, he felt a sharp edged metal piercing through his stomach and ripping his veins and intestines apart. He could see his own blood gushing out. His robe drenched in his own blood.

Then succeedingly, he felt a blow on his neck and there went his head. Rolling down his body. His corpse made a thud on the earth. His body fell chest-down on his head.

"Father!!"

Prium tearing up really hard rushed towards the ring. She couldn't control her rage. She crawled her way into the ring and ran towards her father.

The four warriors tried to restrain her in vain.

"Let her be, she can't have much left."

The leader of the four warriors said to the lot. The warriors began to walk out of the ring. Their leader stopped at the exit and scorned,

"I'm quite sure you don't plan on fighting the vultures over your father's corpse, their meat."

Prium stood up immediately. She looked around quickly but there was no weapon in sight. She saw only a small granite stone. She swept every rage and detest in her into a whole and hurled the stone.

It hit the fellow on the nose and he wrenched in great pain. The leader resisted the other three from taking revenge. He said.

"Let her be. The pain I feel is only but a silhouette of what she feels."

They walked out. Prium heard what he said but didn't act. She turned to her father's corpse and resumed wailing.

She noticed her mother and sister outside the ring, very close to it but not willing to come in. She turned in detest and shot,

"Go away. It's such a good news for you, isn't it. Go get married to Myclops, the priest. You don't think I have an idea that you've been seeing him? Dad is poor and unworthy of you, right? Now, he's dead. Thank goodness, that's all you wanted."

She looked at her sister and tossed her up, then sideways.

"Follow your mother to your stepfather."

She turned away from them. She didn't care whether or not they'll remain there. All she knew was that she wasn't living that spot. Even come night!

Let the vultures come and eat her too.