Hello and welcome, dear readers to my new story! I truly hope that you enjoy it. I would ust like to say, that even though it is my first attempt at an ancient greek based fanfic, I happen to study the subject. A lot.

Disclaimer: Is this for real? How the hell is it possible for me to have been alive three THOUSAND years ago!

Onward!

Anassa dragged herself out of the doorway of her father's house, coughing up blood.

Tonight had been worse than the other nights. Her father had been exceptionally drunk, and had vented his anger at the dishonest traders who had cheated him by beating her till she could barely crawl. How her father had come to hate her so was beyond Anassa's knowledge, but barely night or day seemed to go by before her father came crashing through the doors to her chambers, seething with anger.

Heaving herself into a seating position, Anassa leaned pathetically against the courtyard wall and drew in one ragged breath after another. The well-placed blow her father had delivered to her chest must have cracked a few ribs. Or more.

She nursed her shocking wounds in the dark, hidden from the rest of the world, wondered why the Gods had cursed her. Her father, Acastus, was the owner of a large area of land, and despised the very sight of her. Anassa was the very image of her deceased mother, with the same long brown hair and bright green eyes, and the fact caused Acastus to remember what had been stolen from him. That fact also caused her stepmother, Caryatis, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, to loath her with an unrivalled passion. Caryatis treated Anassa as though she were nothing more than the lowliest of slaves. The woman's smile as her father backhanded her to the ground was imprinted in her mind.

Anassa burst into helpless tears, the action causing her to choke on the vile mixture of blood and bile which had formed in her bruised throat. She spat a mouthful of the bitter red liquid onto the ground.

Since her father had thrown her out of the house, declaring it not fit for animals, Anassa knew that she could not go back there. It would give him another reason to abuse her.

Having no friends or companions, Anassa knew there was only one place for her to go, and that was Cora, the village healer's hut. Anassa's mother had been a friend to the woman, and Anassa had always treated her with respect in honour of that.

Using the wall as support, the beaten young woman attempted to heave herself off the ground. And failed, the pain of the feat causing her chest to restrict and her head to throb unbearably.

Anassa knew she had no choice but to crawl on her hands and knees.

Cora lifted her eyes from the herbs she was crushing and stared in the direction of the front door. A faint banging was resounding from it, along with the sound of soft sobs.

The healer frowned. This situation was not something she was unused to, but at this time of night? It must have only been a few hours before dawn.

Nevertheless, the middle-aged woman removed herself from her straw rug, and walked to the other side of the room. Cora opened the door, and lifted a bemused brow when she saw no one on the other side. The healer then felt a hand brush weakly against her ankle, and gasped with shock when she saw the state of the culprit. Anassa was lying prostate on the ground, her hair spread before her, covering most her arm and face. What was more horrendous still, was the state the girl was in. Her chiton was torn and stained with filth, and there were bruises of every possible variety marking her skin. Anassa's visible eye was swollen to a horrible extent, and her nose was bleeding and obviously broken.

Cora immediately her knees in front of her friend's daughter, gathering the half-dead female into her arms.

"Oh, my dear, what has been done to you?" The healer murmured softly into her air.

"P-p-please…help…m-me…," was the croaked answer, before Anassa fell into merciful oblivion with an exhaled breath.

"I will, Anassa, I will," Cora answered quietly, despite knowing the girl was unconscious.

The healer gently moved Anassa's still form inside of her hut, and began preparing to treat the ruthless injuries inflicted onto her undeserving body.

Well, that's it for now! Sorry it was short, but it was just a test run. Please review, they honestly make my day.

Anyway I have to go now, ta ta!

Artanisofavalon.