JDisclaimer: I don't own anything.

Author's Note: Sorry it has been so long since my last update. Things got hectic with the holidays and then I got bronchitis. Now that I'm better I'm hoping that I can get back to updating much more frequently than I have been.

Searching

Eleanor looked around the filthy area that Aaron called home. There was evidence of his latest gathering that had probably been just that previous night. Puddles of wine were dispersed throughout while ambrosia was left out on different tables. On tables and under tables, on chairs and on the floor many maenads, satyrs and sileni were there. Undeterred by the nude figures and complete mess she made her way through the area in hopes of finding Blair. Realizing that her innocent daughter had been subjected to this lifestyle made her even more upset. Aaron wasn't going to last much longer. Perhaps a life in Hades would suit him well; surely Charles would be up for that. Although from all that was said about Charles he enjoyed a lifestyle similar to this, just in a much better fashion.

Finally she made it to the bedroom. Aaron was there with a few girls laying next to him. She threw the door all the way open banging it against the wall in the process.

"What? Who's there?"

"Where is my daughter?"

The dark haired God slowly sat up, "Who—Eleanor? What are you doing here? Care to join?"

The harvest Goddess moved closer to the bed, "I want my daughter back. I do not wish to join in this wretched life. Give my daughter back and I might go easy on you."

"Who are you talking about?"

"Blair of course. You took her." She leaned over the bed and grabbed for him, "Give her back."

"I don't have her. Why would I take her? I don't even know her."

"I know you do. She spoke of you at the festival."

He pushed Eleanor's hand off of him and he stumbled back onto the bed, "I didn't speak with a Blair. I was busy in outside of the festival."

She stepped closer to him, "Are you calling my daughter a liar?"

"No, not at all…it's just…I've been busy. You can ask all of these beautiful creatures, I've been with them. I had a festival after the festival."

"And I'm supposed to believe that?"

"You can ask anyone here, we've been at it since the festival."

"If you truly had then how am I supposed to believe that you weren't able to step away and steal my daughter?"

Aaron moved a bit further back on the bed from the loudness, "I wasn't. I was with someone at all times…sometimes more than one. You can ask any of them."

Eleanor stared at him for another couple of minutes before she looked back at the females still in the bed, none of them were Blair. She wasn't anywhere in the house. And yet Blair had spoken of Aaron. Aaron being persistent with her. But she was not here. "If I find out that you are hiding my daughter you shall never see any wine or women again." And with that Eleanor stormed out of his house.

If she wasn't there that didn't leave her much to go off on. Who else had Blair mentioned when she spoke of the festival? Nathaniel and Vanessa, however it was unlikely that either of them had taken her. Although Nathaniel was known for taking women that he wished to be with, especially to hide them from Vanessa. She shook her head; she would speak with Nathaniel, but only after any others.

She had mentioned Daniel; however his head was usually stuck in the clouds. Visiting Daniel did not seem like a necessity; however it would not leave her options. He was the God of light and truth, but it did not mean he might have done something horrible.

Trip.

Blair mentioned speaking with him. A few times. Now unlike with Daniel she could see Trip taking Blair without a single thought about how wrong it was. She would visit Trip next.

She easily made it to where Trip was staying at. He was lounging on a hill side watching a small fight going on. It probably wasn't any big way brewing otherwise he would be much more actively involved.

Eleanor marched up behind the brunette God, "Where is she?"

He jumped up at her arrival and quickly turned to her, "Eleanor? What are you doing here? Have you come to watch?"

"I came for my daughter. I know you have her."

He stepped back, "Me? I don't know who your daughter is. I have not seen Blair."

"If you do not know who my daughter is then how do you know her name?"

"Everyone knows her name." A sly smile came across his mouth, "Do you need help with her? I could help."

She stepped closer, "I wouldn't even think about that unless you perhaps wish to be punished."

"Eleanor, come now, it was just fun."

"Shall I show you my idea of fun, though I'm sure it is not the same as yours? Now where is my daughter?"

"I don't know who she is. I have not seen her."

"She said she spoke with you a few times at the festival. Surely you remember that?"

Trip stared off into space, Eleanor decided to give him some time before she brought him back. A smile appeared on his face, "She was wearing a pink chiton was she not?"

"You have her!"

The young God held his hands up in front of him and took a step back, "I do not have her. Just because you think that…well perhaps you need to readjust your thinking. I do not have her and if she had come to me that would be on her and not me." He looked back, "Now that they have decided to call a peace I shall depart." And before Eleanor could say anything else Trip got on his chariot and left.

She was tempted to go after him but decided that he was probably telling the truth, and if she found out he wasn't…Still that didn't leave much for her to go on. Those were the names that Blair had spoken off. Both dead ends. Where had her daughter gone?

At that moment she decided that it was indeed time to pay Nathaniel a visit.

Blair watched from the bedroom as Chuck went over and sat in the dining room. She could smell the wonderful food being brought to him. Truth be told she did want to eat something but she would never eat any of his food. It wouldn't be worth it to have even a small taste just to satisfy her hunger. She was hungry that was true but she was not hungry enough to condemn herself to this wretched place.

Besides she wouldn't be down her forever, soon enough her Mother would find her and then take her away. Chuck would not be able to do anything about it.

Unable to take it anymore she went back to the couch and sat down. She grudgingly acknowledged that it was quite comfortable, almost as comparable to her couch at home. She curled her feet under her and waited. Surely he wouldn't eat too long. Tonight.

That was another reason for not wanting to stay down here, it was dark. There was some sort of a…light, but it wasn't the sun or the stars or the moon. It was an odd sense that something lit the place up, however it just felt wrong. She did not enjoy that she couldn't watch the sun rise or set. She wasn't able to listen to any bird songs. The only river she had seen so far was a dark river that seemed to personify death itself.

He wanted a bride so horribly bad then he should look for someone that was as dark as he was. She wanted to live in the sun, enjoying the warmth as she walked across a pretty green field. And there was also a mist that seemed to settle around the place too. How did anyone expect to live here?

Although surely if she had time she might be able to find the river and get Charon to bring her across, she could leave. She could merely convince Charon that she would get him a payment, much more than what the mortals had to pay him. Surely that would appease him and he would make an exception.

The only question was how to leave when Chuck seemed to know exactly where she was going to be. He needed to be distracted…however if he left the palace then she could just as easily bump into him.

The Chariot!

She couldn't believe that she had almost forgotten about that. She would just have to make it out of the palace without Chuck realizing it and then find either the river or the Chariot. If she found the river she would implement her previous thoughts, however if she found the Chariot she would attempt to drive it out of the dark place.

She heard a noise and looked up to Chuck walking into the bedroom. "You're sitting there again?"

"Where else am I to sit?"

"You could have had dinner with me."

"Tell me why I would even consider that."

"Because you and I both know that you wish to partake of it. I know you enjoy just the aroma itself."

She rolled her eyes, "Just because something might smell good does not make it good for oneself. In fact some things look good and then you discover that only horrible things come from it."

He smirked, "Are you trying to compliment me?"

"That was not a compliment! Why would I wish to compliment a deranged being?"

"I think you might find that easier than you realize."

"I'm sure you can find plenty of girls to fulfill your ego needs. I am not one of those."

He stepped closer to her, "That's true. In fact I can make you a woman in more ways than just saying you are my Queen," he took another step closer which brought him right next to her. He touched her cheek with his finger which caused that unexplainable heat to rush through her body, "It's up to you."

Blair pushed his hand away, "I'd rather not."

"Fine." He picked up a lock of her hair and let it run through his fingers, "But I might not keep asking."

Her eyes widened and she stood up, "I see. You wish to force yourself on me much like you forced me down here. A lot of good that did anyone."

His eyes narrowed and he leaned closer so that his lips were just inches from hers, "I'd say it did a lot of good." He moved away from her and she watched as he moved to the bed, "I'm going to sleep, will you join me?"

"Most certainly not!"

"The bed is quite comfortable, even more than the couch. I'm sure you will rest much easier on here than the couch."

"The next time I sleep in a bed it will be my own, not a disgusting place filled with who knows what from who knows who."

Anger flashed in his eyes, "Fine sleep on the couch, but only for tonight. You are my Queen and you need to start acting like one, including in this way." He gestured towards the bed before getting into it and lying down.

She did not take her eyes off of his figure as he lay in the bed and she did not sit down. The young Goddess was still angry at herself for allowing his simple touch to affect her. She did not understand why it was that a heat filled her when he touched her or looked at her in certain ways, but it only caused more annoyance afterwards. In that moment sometimes she wished things were different, she wouldn't have to realize how much she hated the man who had taken her prisoner.

Her thoughts were conflicting because she hated him, but yet there was a pull towards him. That pull only caused her to be more annoyed at the situation she was in. Once she escaped she would ensure that nothing like this ever happened again. Then again it wasn't like she had willingly let herself be caught; she had tried to escape him. He was just…stronger than her. She hated admitting that, even to herself, it made her seem very weak and she did not like to be weak.

She hadn't seen him move in a while, perhaps he was actually asleep. If he was asleep that should leave her some time in which to escape this horrible place. She quietly stepped towards the door and then froze watching the figure on the bed to see if there was any reaction. When there wasn't she took another step which was a success.

It must have taken her ten minutes before she was right next to the door. He had left it open which was odd, but she wasn't going to sit there and contemplate why he had done that. He hadn't moved from the bed at all, this could be her only chance.

She moved backwards out of the door and waited for another couple of minutes before taking a small breathe. There was absolutely no sound from the room or behind her. Slowly she looked around her and discovered the center room empty as it had been before. Blair looked over to the hallway and then back to the bedroom, was it really going to be that easy?

She took a step to the hallway and paused waiting for a sound. When she heard only silence she continued down the hallway towards where she remembered the stairs were. The hallway seemed never ending, much longer than when she had first tried to escape. Perhaps it was that she was moving a bit slower, perhaps it was because she continually looked behind her expecting to see the God of the Underworld right behind her. When she got to the staircase she gave one final look down the hall and upon seeing nothing quickly made her way down the stairs.

The young Goddess took a deep breath when she saw the spacious throne room, she was almost free.

Free from the palace.

Once she was clear of the palace it just meant getting to the river or getting to the chariot, then working on the next part of her plan. She only hoped that he would stay asleep until she had accomplished her goal.

Moving still forward she soon found herself in front of the double doors that would lead her outside. Glancing back she saw that no one was following her and she quickly opened the door and went outside.

Looking around Blair saw the same bleak world that she had come across two other times…times she couldn't wait to forget. As she continued looking around she couldn't see any suggestion as to where either the river or the chariot was. She decided to pick a direction and hope that it was the right way. Even if it wasn't she might come across someone who could help her out.

Blair picked a direction and quickly headed that way.

Away from the palace.

Away from being a bride.

Away from Chuck.

Time seemed to pass in an odd way, so she wasn't sure if she was still close to the palace or not, she just knew that she couldn't see it. She didn't know how long she had been walking before she even came across another being. She wasn't sure how long she had been near the being; in fact she hadn't even seen it to begin with. Instead of seeing someone else the first thing that gave her the idea that someone else was there was a faint whispering.

"I didn't do it. Let me go."

Turning around she saw a shadow just behind her, it was in the shape of a man or woman. She stepped back and a gasp escaped her mouth causing the figure to look at her. Slowly it moved towards her and before she knew it she moved further from it. Though she thought she was safe she then heard another voice behind her, "Help me. I do no wrong."

She looked at this figure and the voice made it seem like a woman. The figure reached out to Blair and she took a step to the side. She glanced around to see what else there was and that was when she noticed mist all around and if she looked carefully enough there was figures everywhere, only a couple noticed her, but for the most part they wandered around her.

Blair took small step in the other direction where another voice could slightly be heard, quickly she moved to a small area that had to be one of escape. Once she was free she would be alright, however instead of finding herself rid of the horrible shades she saw that there was more.

She moved faster trying to get out of the area. Again she found more of the shades; this time more started reaching out to her. Terrified she turned around and started to head back the way she had come. More shades were in that area situated around her in such a way that she couldn't even begin to guess which direction she had originally come from.

All she could think at this point was how much she missed the sun and terrified she was. She then realized the last time she was terrified was when he had come and stolen her from the light and safety of her world. She desperately wished to be back there, but she was doomed. They were all around her, speaking, reaching, and she had no where to go.

At that moment she felt a hand grasp tightly around her upper arm and lift her up. She moved so fast that before she realized it she was back in the chariot in front of Chuck and he was leading the horses through the mist.

Blair wasn't sure what to say and decided to try and process what she had seen. They had seemed like people and yet…Chuck had known where she was…what would have happened had he not appeared?

Before she could finish any thoughts they were back at the dark palace and in no time. He moved with his hand still holding tightly to her arm, the area where he touched burned which wasn't a bad thing she realized. Then she scowled, she wasn't suppose to like her captor's hands on her.

Finally once they were back in his horrible room he let go of her, "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that since you refuse to take me back to where I belong that I would instead be the one to do it."

"Really? Well that didn't work out to well did it?"

"I was distracted."

"You were in the Fields of Asphodel. Your Mother taught you that didn't she?"

"It's the shades of heroes and other lesser spirits."

"After that it's Dread and you really don't want to go there."

"For all I know that is the way out and you are merely trying to ensure that I stay away from it."

He pursed his lips together, "I could be doing that. Although if I wanted to make sure you stayed in this room and never left I would tie you to the bed."

Blair took a step back, "Don't come near me. I'm warning you."

Chuck stepped closer, "What will you do to me? Punish me?" He smirked at her and then let his fingers run slowly through her hair.

Blair moved another step backwards, "Leave me alone." She had meant for it to come out loud and forceful but instead it came out more as a mumble.

"What was that? I didn't quite catch it." He leaned down and inhaled by her neck, "Your scent is simply divine. I wonder…" He trailed off and let one of his fingers trail down her neck and then move across her collar bones.

Blair wondered if he could hear her heart beating, it was so loud. She had never been touched like this before and she wasn't quite sure whether she liked it out not. He was her kidnapper, but that heat that seemed to come from him when she expected his touch would be like ice was simple exquisite. She almost gave in, gave in to let that feeling continue when she realized that he did this for fun. Serena and the others had told her. She was no exception, just another body to him.

She hadn't even realized that her eyes had closed until she opened them and saw him smirking at her still. His finger moved dangerously across her collar bone and was slowly moving downward when she slapped it.

"That's enough."

Anger flashed in his eyes, "It's enough when I say it's enough."

"Well then go entertain yourself another way. I would prefer other things."

"Really? Didn't seem that way when your eyes were closed. You were just begging me for attention."

"I was begging you? Please. If you want that release me and go find someone else that's easy."

Something else flashed in his eyes and before she even had a chance to consider what it was he put his hand on her neck and then she felt his lips on hers. His lips moved slowly against hers, the kiss was firm but not rough, as if he was testing something. She didn't like that he was kissing her without her permission. It wasn't that she didn't like the kiss. It was her first kiss and she realized very quickly that she did like it. His lips against hers felt right and yet so wrong. Even if the kiss did feel nice, she didn't like the circumstances. Finally she shoved against his chest, the action caused him to pull away and look at her curiously.

He looked into her eyes and she wasn't quite sure what he saw there but whatever it was it caused him to lean in towards her lips again, this time she slapped him, "Stop."

"Are you sure?"

Her mouth fell slightly open and she watched as his eyes moved to it and then back to her eyes. She took a deep breath, though she hadn't been expecting that question that didn't erase the fact that he was experienced and had been able to get through many women's defenses, meaning he knew how women were so it was quite possible that the response he had just given was a way to kiss her again. She pushed his arm and he released her neck finally allowing her to step back, "I am very sure."

The heat from his body that had been so near hers had left her feeling very flushed, she was quite sure she could feel that her cheeks were red as well. He still wore that smirk which at this moment she wanted to wipe clean. He stepped next to her again, "I don't think you're sure."

She held her chin high and glared at him, "I do not care for what you think for your thoughts mean nothing. Just because you are the ruler of this place, this place that no one else wanted does not mean that you are higher than anyone else. In fact I would think that you would realize since I did not even think about your name that I, nor many others, when you had first come to me. In fact I'm sure you're only a passing thought in anyone's mind. After all you were left down here alone. No one else around you but those forced to be."

She realized that she might have gone to far when not only anger but malice showed on his face and was not just a flash in his eyes. She did not want to show him fear so she stood where she was and did not move. Blair was unaware of how long they stood like that but finally he walked off slamming the door behind him. She heard him lock it and knew that she was still his prisoner. The young Goddess could only hope that was not going to be the way it was forever.