Hi! Okay I know i'm supposed to be studying for exams but this is more fun :D Ok this week the Thrilling conclusion! Ok not really. . .but you get to see who or what was next to the river. And at some point during this chapter we meet a new character. It's a bit of a funny story how I developed her. I wasn't sure about what her personality should be like at first but then before I knew it she was modeled after one of my best friends :D. Let's see if she notices. Ok since this chapter has a different feel to it than the others I just want to say that while I'm writing this I'm imaging Persephone to be in her late-teens to early twenties, Hades has chosen to take the form of a man in his early to mid twenties and his daughters are somewhere in their teens. Maybe like 15 or 16. Ok, this week's shoutout goes to: Dawn Willow! Congrats! Ok, keep reviewing guys! Thanks

At first I wasn't sure what I was looking at. I had never seen anything like this before, so I was quite confused. I was sure that she was female though. The shape of her body, the way she wore her hair and clothes definitely indicated female. I knew it was rude to stare but I just couldn't grasp the idea of what sat before me. Finally I found my voice.

"What . . .?" I managed to say.

She must have heard me because she turned towards me, her face appearing over her shoulder. Her face was round and two big, bright eyes peered out at the world. Her eyes were the most beautiful shade of blue-green. Like the color of Poseidon's ocean Eos' first light. They were blue with and underlying shade of sea green. Her lips were full and it looked as though they had a slight blue tint. Her long hair extended to just past her shoulders. It had been separated into two ponytails and secured with pieces of green seaweed that was tied into bows. Her hair was pink, but it was a gentle pink, like a light coral. She had slim shoulders and a tiny body. She only looked to be about twelve or thirteen. Over her chest she wore a strapless top that was the same color as the seaweed in her hair. Her shirt stopped just above her waist. Below that, her body seemed to melt straight into the water. The water shimmered with blue light and that light seemed to be reflected over her skin. Her entire body was tinted blue but it was more pronounced at her waist. In the area where her lap would be she held a large gold colored harp. Her fingers lingered on the shimmering silver cords of the harp.

I had no idea what I was looking at. I had never seen someone so . . . strange before. But strange as she was she held a kind of serene beauty. Like the reflection of the moon on the surface of a lake.

For a moment her eyes were filled with confusion, they darted over me, searching for an answer as to who I was. Then suddenly realization dawned on her. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth opened in a silent gasp. Quickly she set aside her harp and stood hastily.

I watched in amazement at this seemingly simple movement. I watched as the water swelled up as she stood. Within seconds the water dripped away leaving smooth, bare legs in its place. With a single flick of her hand, her simple green top grew longer and became more of a chiton. It remained strapless but it extended father down, almost to her knees. It accentuated her skin and hair nicely. She clasped her hands in front of her and bowed from her waist.

Without rising she said, "It is a great honor to meet you." Her voice was beautiful, melodic, it sounded as though she was singing though she was merely speaking. She straightened then, "You are Lady Persephone, correct?"

I quickly shook my head, clearing my thoughts and then answered her, "Yes. Yes I am, just Persephone is fine. Um, if you don't mind me asking, who . . . what are you?" I was afraid I had offended her with my questions but she simply smiled.

"My name is Styx. I am the naiad of this river. I have heard a bit about you from Calantha. We are good friends and she came to visit me after you arrived." I must have still been staring because she checked herself and asked, "What's wrong? Am I half formed or something?" After a moment she said, "Oh I get it! You've never seen a naiad before, have you?"

I shook my head. "We didn't visit a lot of bodies of water. Even when we did visit one, the naiads usually weren't there or had already formed. I'm sorry I keep staring. You must think I'm incredibly rude." I tilted my head down and avoided her eyes in case she was angry; my hands were gripped tightly in front of my waist. My hands were clenched so tightly that my knuckles were turning white. But to my surprise she laughed. I looked up at the sound of her light, sweet laughter.

In between her giggles she explained, "Of course I don't think you're rude! Most of the people who see me are upset because they're dead and call me names! I know you don't mean anything by staring. I could never be mad at you; you're just so cute!" She continued laughing then. And soon I had no choice but to join in. Her joyous laughter was contagious. By the time the laughing fit had passed, we were both sitting on the ground, leaning against each other for support. My cheeks were bright pink and I was somewhat surprised to see that hers were blue. When I asked her about it she told me that all naiads blush blue instead of red.

"The same thing goes for nymphs. Except they blush green; all that chlorophyll, you know?" She smiled at me, "you know it was really great meeting you today."

"Yes, of course. I really enjoyed it."

"We should do this again. We should do something together, all three of us. You me and Calantha. You guys are friends right?"

The question took me by surprise. I had never really thought about it; sure Calantha was very nice and she always seemed happy to be with me. I certainly thought of her as a friend but I wondered if she considered me a friend or just someone who her father brought home. I was still trying to come up with a decent response when I heard another voice behind me.

"Of course we're friends! Right, Persephone?" I turned to see the smiling face of Calantha standing behind us in the doorway. "Styx that's a silly question." She walked over and hugged her friend before sitting down so that we formed a small triangle. "I heard all the laughter and figured something fun was happening. What's up?"

Styx answered, "Well I was just telling Lady Persephone –"

"Just 'Persephone'" Calantha and I said in unison.

"Fine, fine. I was just telling Persephone, that the three of us should do something together."

"Oh which reminds me," Calantha turned to me. "Persephone, did you see what Father made for you in the throne room?"

I felt myself blushing again. "Yes I did, that was very, very sweet of him."

"I'm glad you liked it."

Styx seemed to be bursting with curiosity. "What?" She practically screamed, "What did he make you?" She started tugging on Calantha's arm. "Tell me!"

Calantha stuck her tongue out at Styx and then turned to me. "What do you think," she asked, raising one eyebrow, "should we tell her?"

I caught her drift and smiled, "Oh I don't know about that. Do you really think she would want to see that?"

Next to me Styx was literally bouncing with eagerness. "Yes! Yes I want to see it! Yes, yes, yes!" Then she turned to me and looked up at me through her eyelashes, releasing the full power of her sparkling blue-green eyes. "Please?"

"No fair, Styx! You can't do that to someone you just met!"

"I can and will, Calantha. So what do you say, Persephone? Pretty please, let me see it?"

I tried to go as long as I could without giving in to Styx. Unfortunately that was only about ten seconds. "Alright! I give up!" Styx grinned in triumph. "But," her grin disappeared. "I'm still not going to tell you what he made."

"No fair!" She pouted.

"Instead I think we should show you. What do you say?"

Her eyes instantly lit up, "Yes! Yes, yes, yes!"

We all laughed. Styx jumped to her feet and was instantly impatient. "Come on you guys! You're so slow!" As soon as we were both on our feet she slipped her arms through ours. So off we went, linked arm in arm in arm, to the throne room to show Styx what Hades had made for me.

So what did you think? I know it's different than the other chapters so feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!