Amari412: I don't think he would. =') Glad that you enjoyed that chapter. A bit more action in this one, hope you enjoyed it. Feel I kept you waiting long enough for what is about to happen next.

Judge. Jury. Executioner.

Blood red sheets no doubt made from silk, laid over Melinoe like a second skin. Fingers lazily traced over every crease, causing goose bumps to travel up her arms. The room its self was simple, though hid a silent grace of power. Shivering, Melinoe tugged at the covers so they rested under her chin. No matter how many times she closed her eyes, she couldn't bring herself to fall asleep. Body ached from the long trek back. It seemed Alexander wasn't used to having guests around. Even the young girl, Melinoe assumed to be a servant looked shocked. Though there was a hidden fire within the strangers eyes. Jealously? Melinoe huffed. She hadn't been left alone with the female, though already she knew she didn't like her.

Turning over on her side, hand serving as an extra pillow, Melinoe stared at the curtains which twitched against a light breeze. The moon just peeking behind them. A strange acidic feeling began to pool in the base of Melinoe's stomach. Softly whimpering she wound her tightly around herself, before burying her face deeper into the pillows, willing herself to fall asleep.

"You can't come in."

Melinoe's eyes slowly began to open. She didn't know how long she'd been asleep, judging on the heavy darkness from outside, she guessed it must've just been under an hour.

"I said you can't-!"

Sitting up sharply at the commotion coming from down stairs, Melione turned her head slowly, towards her bedroom door, expecting who ever it was that just entered to come into her room. They didn't. Brow creasing in confusion. The irritated voice of the maid, made Melinoe stand up pressing her body against the door in order to hear better. Sound of slapping against armour, followed by harsh thuds made Melinoe stumble backwards. Alexander's groggy voice filled the air. He sounded confused. Terrified. At the sound of his voice breaking out in a sob, Melinoe yanked the door open.

"No! Help me!" Figures ran in a blind panic. "You can't take my son!" Soldier's armour flashing. Swords pinning a screaming woman against the wall. "No! Alexander!"

Melinoe watched in horror as her vision began to come true. With cold iron hands, plastered against his shoulders, Melinoe watched as Alexander was dragged out of his home. Shaking her head, sharply Melinoe ran forward, fists colliding with soldiers armour. Yelling in anger, finding herself pinned against the wall, much like the two other females, Melinoe twisted in rage, neck stretching in an attempt to catch a glimpse of Alexander who was being marched down the stairs.

"You know the law. Every five years a virgin is sent to Crete. We already have enough males, but can't find a suitable female. Alexander has to come."

Starring in horror at Alexander's retreating back, what happened next made Melinoe's words thump between her feet.

"Take her! She's young enough! Take her!"

Melinoe's skin crawled as the maid pointed blindly in her direction. She wasn't even an from Athens. Looking up towards the soldiers who in return starred at her. Melinoe wanted to kick and scream. To tell them who she truly was. But no words managed to pass through her suddenly tight throat. Everything began to move slowly. As the soldiers tugged her from the wall, passing Alexander who buried himself in the warmth of his mothers hug. He didn't even look up when Melinoe called out to him. Melinoe felt tears pricking at the corner of her eyes. No one came to her aid. As she was pulled through the doors, tears began to trickle down her cheeks. She didn't know where she was being lead to or why. Hanging her head in defeat, Melinoe sobbed.

"Father.."

Two hours later...

"Blahh!"

The boat rocked viciously. Poseidon must be in a terrible mood. Laying on the floor, arms wrapped tightly around her stomach. Tears covered flushed cheeks. The stench made her want to gag.

"Here. Please."

Glancing up Melinoe sniffled. Crouched in front of her was a young female, no doubt the same age as her. Looking towards the girls hand she noticed a strange brown object in her hand. Melinoe curled her noes in disgust, not sure what to make of it.

"It's ginger. Suck on it, it'll help your stomach."

Taking the ginger, Melinoe placed it under her tongue, gently sucking, twisting around at the sharp bristles which felt like small needles. Though she wasn't able to complain as quickly, her stomach began to lessen its nausea flips. Looking startled for a moment, Melinoe attempted to stutter out a 'thank you', though her words would've fell on death ears as the girl, had monovered herself back towards the other prisoners. Sighing Melinoe began to take out the clumps of vomit from her hair. If it wasn't for the ginger she would've made the floor more colourful.

Looking through the small gaps of the boat Melinoe noticed that night had already fallen. How long had they been travelling for? Lying down, face towards the ceiling Melinoe flashes of her kidnapping from Alexander's house churned through her mind, like the angry sea bellow the boat.

Running the tips of her fingers against her bare neck. Her necklace which once rested there with pride, now long forgotten. Where it lay Melinoe could only hope her father would find it. Hushed whispers from the back of the boat, caused her to shift, eyes and ears strained as she started to listen.

"Did you here the rumours?"

"A monster. That's what mother said when she tried to hide me..."

The voices were young, just deep enough to symbolise young maturity. What would anyone want with them? Slavery? Melinoe's stomach twisted in a knot of anger. How ever what was waiting for them at the end of the boat journey, was something that no rumour could prepare them for.

Something wasn't right. As the boat docked the sound of cheers filled their ear drums. Stepping down a wooden plank, Melinoe looked towards the crowd. If they knew who she was, Melinoe didn't think they would cheer so loudly.

Glancing over her shoulder, Melinoe noticed relief on everyone's faces. Were they that easily gullible? Melinoe was relieved to notice that at least the girl who helped her seemed torn to believe the friendly welcome. Before anyone could question what was going on, the crowd died down as a skittish yet well formed male walked forward. Dressed in a thick purple robe with gold hanging from his neck and fingers; he made Melinoe's blood turn sour. This man was the king of Crete. Melinoe wondered if he had any resemblance to her father Cronos. She'd heard enough tales about him and his greed.

"Welcome, to Crete."

The King clasped his hands together, looking towards the young adults in front of him.

"You must be starving. Come. A feast has been made in your honour."

Food? Melinoe curled her lips to stifle bubbling laughter. It reminded of her the tale of King of Arcadia. It would explain why the King made such a hearty meal.

Melinoe hated to admit it; but the food smelt delicious.

A variety of bowls and plates filled to the brim with; beef stew, thick potato broth. Fried egg plant. Along with multi coloured fruit. Melinoe didn't know half the name of them. She wanted to hold her stubborn judgmental status, but with half of her stomach's contents on the ship, Melinoe tucked into the food just as greedily as everyone else. The only thing Melinoe did differently was put what food she could, into her inner pouch.

No one seemed to notice that the king wasn't eating anything. Peering towards his guests over stappled fingers, no one rose their heads as servants poured wine into goblets, the size of their heads. Standing from his seat, the King brought an 'awe' of silence, as messy mouths became wiped with the back of hands.

"A toast; to you the people of Athens."

Rising his goblet in the air, everyone copied like a bad dance. Cheering 'Athens' heartedly before gulping down the wine. It twisted sweet with a twisted tangy scent to even it out.

Pulling the goblet away from his lips, without even taking a sip, the King seated himself back, hands clasped firmly on his lap, allowing himself to slouch, watching with a poker face mask, towards the so called 'honoured' people of Athens, his gaze settled on a young female with ebony silver hair. Melinoe. There was something different about her. Not that he needed to worry. She would be dead within the week. If she was lucky enough to last that long.

Placing the goblets down, some went back to eating while a few others started to slouch. No on seemed as excited like they were at the start. Melinoe examined the slice of cheese she so fond of just amount ago. Now all she did was drop it; smiling childishly at the splat it created. Glancing through half lidded eyes, it was clear everyone was suffering the same fate. Only half of them had fallen out of their chairs in a heap on the floor.

Rising slowly the King poured the wine into a plant pot. Three guards came into the room, they glanced at the unconious forms. None of them grabbed their weapons.

"What are you waiting for? Get them outside."

Melinoe felt her wrists being grabbed. Every fibre in her body screamed to fight. Her body betrayed her. As the guards marched through the double doors, dragging her across a faint blood stain, Melinoe blacked out.

Melinoe didn't understand what was happening. Pain coursed through her body, as her world began to spin. Literally. Thumping. Banging. She fell down stone steps, as gravel tore through her clothing, exposing flesh which bled freely, causing her clothing to stick like a second skin. Landing with a heavy 'Thud!' Melione didn't have time to raise her head, before a body came crashing down on her very sore back.

No one helped one another. They all scrambled up, causing fingers to crush and ankles to twist.

Looking around only to have jagged stone stair back at them. Panic began to travel faster than a bush fire. Many of the group began to scramble back to up the stone steps. Sounds of their fists banging against a wooden door, they all swore wasn't there before echoed. Melinoe ignored everything. It wasn't easy. With her stomach once again shaken up, head still swimming from the drugged alcohol, she leant tiredly against the brick wall, eyes closed in an attempt to calm the terror racking through her body.

Dragging her fingers through her hair, Melinoe's knuckles scrapped against the brick wall. It wasn't smooth like palace walls. More harsh. Coarse. Her knuckles began to trace the wall slowly, noticing that every so often a jagged line would cause her hand to dip. Turning around for a better look, confusion creased Melinoe's brow. If she didn't know any better she would say they were marks made from..

"Finger nails.."

Whispering in a hushed tone, Melinoe's eyes began to widen as she backed up, noticing something else. Splatters of crusted liquid. Blood. Pain travelled through her skull. It wasn't just from the fall down the stairs.

"The doors are locked! We're trapped!"

A young male screamed, as he continued to pound on the wood while everyone else had given up. Some were weeping as they sat on the steps, sobbing for their mothers. Examining the group, Melinoe noticed the female who helped her on the ship, attempting to comfort another member. At least someone was doing some good. It started off faint. Then began to grow. The small huddled group had only just started to calm down, when an ear piercing roar came out of the dark shadows. Everyone seemed to freeze on the spot. Memories of rumours, they spoke about on the ship, came to Melinoe's mind. She didn't dare bring up her theory.

Another roar this one closer than the last, caused everyone to rise onto trembling knees.

"We have to move."

"But where?"

"Down there, the roar didn't come from there.."

In truth the roar could've from anywhere. But that didn't seem to matter. Once someone spoke through a stutter, loud enough fro everyone to hear over the many terrified cluster of voices, the group (Melinoe included) huddled together tightly, marching away from the steps down a corridor. Every so often they passed burnt out torches hanging from the walls. At least they wouldn't need to fear about walking in the dark. Their shadows still clearly viewable, meant they were still close to the steps. (The door though bolted tight still allowed the sun rays to push through)

A groan echoed. A dead end. Heads turned, looking fearfully over numerace shoulders back they way they'd come. There was no telling how many dead ends they would meet, but all knew they were sitting ducks remaining by the wall. Remaining close to one another, they advanced once more this time taking the corridor which lead straight rather than left. As their shadows became mixed with the sudden swallow of darkness, a hairy hoof slammed at the entrance of the tunnel.

Moments later...

No one knew how many dead ends they came across, or how long they'd walked. The group had started to grow tired. Restless. They snapped at each other. Even a simple elbow in the ribs was enough to bring one of them to tears. One thing was on all of their minds.

"We couldn't have all imagined it!"

Someone snapped like an irritated child.

"Well what is your expl-!"

Screams broke moments after the male was hoisted from the ground. Sticking out of his stomach a curved horn. His body swung around sharply, before he was pinned against the wall, fingers clawed franticly in a blind attempt to get away. The horn became yanked backwards, sending a spray of blood over the gawping group. As the males body slumped to the ground, everyone else turned fleeing down the corridor in a blind panic. Melinoe at the back, trying to understand what she saw was real or not.

"So much blood! Its all over me!"

Watching from the corner of her eye, Melinoe witnessed one of the female members of the group, attempting to get the blood off of herself.

'Clip, clop! Clip, clop! Clip, clop! Clip, clop!'

Walking slowly as if taunting them, steam escaping a velvet muzzle, teeth on show grinning sinisterly. Hanging from its left horn, strand of the dying males intestines.

A dead end greeted the terrified group, eyes swelled with tears. The echoing sound of hooves hitting the ground died down. Melione turned around slowly, for the first time in her life, Melinoe screamed in terror.

Down in the Underworld Hades laid on his back, holding tightly onto Persephone listening to her silent breathing, he'd only just gotten her back to sleep after another frantic nightmare. To many times, Persephone would have to do the same for him. Resting his cheek upon her head, feeling his eyelids becoming heavy, Hades found himself giving into sweet blissed sleep.

"Ahh!"

Both Hades and Persephone shot up; Persephone banged her head against Hades jaw, though neither showed any sign of discomfort. They only knew one Persephone who sounded like that.

"Melinoe!"

It happened so quickly. One moment they all heaved for breath, the next Melinoe witnessed as the female who helped heal her stomach on the ship, was torn to the ground by the beast, his body over powering her lower half. Melinone held onto the girls left wrist, while another held onto her right. They tugged. They heaved. The girl tossed her head howling like a wounded animal. Crouched in front of them, the same beast who killed the young male. Curved claws clung deeply into the females side. With every tug more flesh was removed. Inwardly Melinoe cringed. A loud tear went ignored, as they gave one final tug, the trio fell on their backs with a 'thud!'.

"Run!"

Melinoe shouted loudly watching as the beast began to rise himself up. Dirt stuck to his face, along with a look of humiliation which quickly turned into furry. Both Melinoe and the male, held tightly onto the girl as they ran, ignoring her screams not having the time to look.

"We're not going to make it!"

Melinoe inwardly rolled her eyes, though she knew the male had a point. As they rounded a corner, they were greeted with a bright light.

"Duck!"

Having no choice but to obey, they fell down causing the wounded female to howl in agony once more. Daring a glance, Melinoe watched as a flaming torch was swung into the beasts face, causing it to claw angrily at the burns and blisters, around its eyes; roaring angrily.

"Come on quickly!"

Rising to their feet, they ran as fast they could. Behind them the beast pulled his hands back slowly from his face, watching as the group ran away. His eyes lingered on the girl with silver ebony hair.

So... Melinoe is finally in Crete. After a rather quick sharp introduction to the beast or Minotaur, it seems that things are only about to get worse. Alexander will be making another appearance later on in the story, so please don't forgot him. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review.

- Signed The Broken Ghost