Destined by Jessie Harrell Read Free Book Online

unfold like a sick tragedy. The sheer stupidity of it was almost mind-boggling.
     
    How long had the Greeks believed they could rid their cities of the major problems — famine, disease, plague, drought — by casting out a Pharmakos ? It was ludicrous. Like just because some cripple left the city, everything else bad would follow?  
     
    As Eros looked on, four men wrestled the Pharmakos forward, driving him toward the gates. The surrounding mob readied their stones. Dragging his right foot behind him, the scapegoat struggled to keep up with his captors.
     
    With a final, unforgiving surge, the horde jostled the man forward past the gates. He tried to run, but his crippled leg slowed him down. Two stones caught him in the middle of his back, nearly causing him to fall, before he managed to scramble outside of their range.  
     
    Deciding he needed to get a move on before he lost track of the wretch, Eros hopped to his feet. He suddenly wished he could impose his mother’s sentence on the woman who’d basically chewed up his heart and spit it out. But, he reminded himself, there were certainly more painful choices he could’ve made.
     
    And at least this way, Psyche would never have the chance to destroy a man’s pride.
     
    When Eros arrived in Sikyon, he hid amongst the long shadows in a forest of evergreens. There, he disguised himself as a traveler, donning a pock-marked face, greasy dark hair, and covering his wings and quiver with a heavy cloak. As he looked in on Psyche with his second sight, he saw she was alone in an isolated part of her family’s garden. The time had come. Eros’s palms began to sweat as he silently crept forward.
     
    Eros told himself just to think of her — the one who’d shattered his soul. He would not let his facade crack. He’d accomplish his mission and move on with life. Once the task was complete, he’d never have to think about it, or Psyche, or her , ever again.    
     
    When Eros approached the garden alcove, he saw Psyche sprawled face-down across a bench. Her shoulders visibly shook from sobs. Soft ringlets obscured her face, tucking her hypnotic green eyes away from sight.
     
    Soundlessly, Eros slid his bow off his shoulder. Pulling an arrow from under his cloak, he brought it to his lips and whispered, “ Pharmakos .” Then, he repeated the familiar process of placing the arrow in the string of his bow and drawing back the missile. Eros took aim and prepared to release the arrow.
     
    But then he faltered.
     
    Something in the back of his mind - or perhaps the back of his heart - prevented him from actually following through. He’d been sent to destroy the second mortal who’d rejected him, but right then she already seemed ruined. He wondered why Psyche was sobbing. Had someone hurt her the same way his own heart had been crushed?
     
    In the seconds that he paused, Psyche raised her head. Wiping her tear-stained face with the back of her hand, she rose from the bench like smoke wafting from a fire.  
     
    “I don’t know who you are, but if you think a guy with an arrow is my biggest concern right now, you’re wrong.” She squared her shoulders and tossed her hair behind her shoulders. “Get out.”
     
    If he’d been listening, he’d have heard Psyche kick him out of her home a second time. But her words weren’t registering. How had he missed it? She wasn’t like the first girl at all. On the surface, they were so similar, but underneath — their cores were completely different. He’d dropped his guard long enough to really feel her, know her, the way he could any mortal if he payed attention long enough. Even with tear trails still fresh on her cheeks, Psyche glowed from the inside out.
     
    As a soft breeze carried her heady scent to him, Eros vaguely heard her repeat her command to leave. The words didn’t carry her intended message, but instead bore her soul. Her emotions doused him; poured over him in soothing waves. Her anger and fear