THE LAVENDER ROOM

"Well, if you're not going to say anything, we'll be going around in circles here for eternity!" warned Kore as she took another turn in a strikingly identical corridor in Hades' palace and then gave a questioning look at the two designated guards behind her who had earlier been standing outside her chamber and had now followed her about in her quest for Hecate's room.

She stood straight, "I don't know about you, but I happen to be immortal," she stated, "I can go on like this forever."

Truth is, she can't. Her right ankle is beginning to hurt again and her uneven gait is becoming more pronounced. She needs a chair... and she needs to find where on Hades' enormous castle is Hecate's chamber located.

Looking at the two guard's unchanged expression, she acted on impulse, "Ok," she declared, "Since nobody is quite willing to say a thing, and I have no inkling where is Hecate's rooms, I might as well shout for her name," she announced, "In that way, SHE will be the one to find us! No more walking around blindly in the hallways. Does that not sound brilliant?"

Two blank faces stared back at her, and she sighed heavily. 'Trained to be just like their master!' she rolled her eyes.

'Hades!' Kore automatically bit her lower lip. It's unbelievable how the man can keep on stumbling back on her thoughts in a day.

She shook her head. 'Must be the flowers,' she reasoned defiantly, 'It really MUST be the flowers.'

She'd woken up earlier with a much healed swollen foot, and a vase sitting at her window table filled with those familiar, delicate, white flowers that had her so captivated in Sicily. Beside it, she found a note written in a neatly precise handwriting, saying quite simply

"They're called Narcissus."

The note was so unlike Ares' careless scribbles, or Apollo's easy sonnets that were meant to please the receiver. And although it was rather clear that his note was not even meant to please her nor was it an explicit show of apology for the harm done her, still she DID feel a little close to being... flattered.

As to why she felt that way... well, she's not really sure why.

She must've been silent for quite a while because she soon noticed that both her guards had furrowed their brows at her, and then she instantly realized that they were only reflecting what was registered on her face.

"What?" she shrugged off, composing herself, "Shall I start my shouting now?"

Both guards seemed to have hardened their resolve immediately. And summoning all the air in her lungs, she began calling out, "Lady Hecate!" she yelled, "Oh, Lady Hecate!"

She went on for about a second or two, and was about to break into a fitful laughter at how comical everything turned out to be - the surprised faces of her guards, her shameless demonstration of childish behaviour - when she suddenly heard someone behind her spoke,

"I can hear you quite well..."

Kore spun around and faced a tall, slim figure, clad in a long black gown, her wavy dark hair cascading at her back, stately standing at the middle of the hallway, carrying a handful of parchments. She looked like she'd just come out from one of the rooms.

"...there's really no need to be shouting about," she continued, "Let's not wake the entire household, shall we?" she said and then crossed the hallway to enter into the adjacent room.

Kore threw her silent companions an embarrassed look and then hurried off to follow the lady.

She was pleasantly surprised when she entered the chamber Hecate went in. Much like Hephaestus's workarea in Olympus, it was equally spacious, but instead of all the sculptures and metalworks, crafts and numerous tools, Hecate's chamber contains all the semblance of an alchemist's potion room. On one side, were a line of tables filled with all sorts of bottles, and experimental equipments – some of which, she had left concoctions brewing.

At the other side of the room, were bookshelves – more like a library – whose length rose to the very ceiling, with a wooden ladder at one corner, not a space spared from any books. A fireplace facing the shelves, cooled the room, and a dainty table with four chairs sat at the middle.

"I get it you were looking for me..?" Hecate's voice filled the room.

Kore had to crane her neck to check where Hecate had vanished at the end of the line of tables. She cleared her throat, "I'd like to thank you for the mixture you've provided last night."

Hecate emerged from the back of the room, "How's your ankle?"

The spring goddess twitched her right foot slightly and smiled, "Feels like I just tripped."

Her dark hazel eyes bore into Kore's for a good second, as if doubting her, and then came a momentous remark, "You need a chair."

Kore felt her shoulder slumped, "Oh, that would be lovely!"

Hecate nodded knowingly and led her to the table facing the fireplace.

As soon as she had settled herself on one chair, Kore blurted, "I'm so sorry for your attendants last night, I did not mean to be so rude."

"They understand," assured Hecate with a wave and headed back to her line of tables to get something.

Hecate hasn't even gone for a minute when the chamber door suddenly burst wide open and stormed in a raven haired beauty with a strikingly alabaster skin, her soft curls sitting just above her shoulders, which called to attention her arresting patrician features with a dainty chin.

"It's UNBELIEVABLE!" she cried out, "He placed her in the Lavender Room!" she exalted with all amazement, "Can you believe it? In the Lavender Room?"

She had already half-crossed the length of the chamber when she noticed Kore perched in the waiting area. She stopped and then straightened her shoulders regally, "Oh," she exclaimed, "Hello."

Hecate reemerged from beyond the tables, observing, "I see you've met."

Kore was unable to utter out any response other than a shy greeting, overwhelmed by the presence of the two women in the room. It must be one of the world's best kept secrets, she thought, Hades' realm should be acknowledged for their dark haired beauties!

"This is Nyx," Hecate introduced nonchalantly.

Kore perked up, "Oh, your Nyx?" she cried, "Morpheus and Hypnos' mother?"

The comment gained a wide smile from the short-haired beauty, "You've met my twins."

Kore gaped, she tried not to, but she can't help it. The 'twins' as Nyx so lovingly called them are years older than Kore and they're mother doesn't even look anything older.

"You look... so young," she commented.

Nyx laughed off, her laughter ringing sweetly around the room, "The advantages of being a goddess," she said, "I'm sure you're mother doesn't look any older as well."

"Yes, she doesn't," agreed Kore to the utmost.

"With us, dear, looks can be quite deceiving!" pointed Nyx.

Hecate had already crossed the space between them and interrupted, "Let me see your foot."

"Oh, that's okay..." Kore tried to protest.

"Come now," prodded Hecate, leaving no room for any more complaint. Extending her foot, Hecate made a careful examination of her ankle and observed, "Looks to me, Cerberus gave you quite a fright."

"Really, Hecate, who won't?" remarked Nyx, "You were startled yourself when Hades brought that dog in the palace when it was still but a sickly, thin puppy. Look at Cerberus now!" stated her, "And Hades is still treating that dog like it's still struggling for life! Men and their pets!"

"He's just a dog," Hecate reasoned.

"With three heads!" emphasized Nyx.

The conversation brought an immediate smile to Kore's lips. She'd heard this conversation before. If she's not mistaken, it was just last night.

Hecate suddenly exasperated, "What's wrong with the man?" she said as if talking to herself, "I specifically instructed him to spread the mixture up to the lower part of the leg so as to relax the muscles."

"He did not...?" Nyx asked, intrigued.

"Just the ankle," Kore recalled.

One of Nyx's delicate brows rose up, "Just the ankle?"

"Just the ankle!" Hecate scoffed. Kore felt the goddess' dedication to her medical craft as she began to vigorously apply the potion to the entire area surrounding her sprained foot, "Why, that's new!" Hecate continued, "The man rarely forgets anything I teach him."

Kore noted a meaningful look pass by Nyx's face, "Somebody's trying to be conservative," she chuckled.

Eaten up by her curiosity, Kore asked, "I hope you don't mind me asking," she started, "But, who's in the Lavender Room?"

Nyx got uncomfortably silent for a while, clearly not wanting to offer her any answer, waiting for the other goddess to address the question, until Hecate finally made out the reply,

"You."

It was more like a confirmation of what she'd already guessed, and continued, "But what's the matter with the Lavender Room?"

Hecate began wrapping her foot with a comfortably thin cloth, and replied, "Actually, there isn't," she stated, "Don't you find it to your liking?"

"To be honest, it's the most extravagant room I've ever been into," she admitted, "It's far from any chamber I've had."

"That's because it's special," Nyx blurted out, which gained her a narrowing look from the other goddess, "What?" she complained prettily, "It's better she knows..."

"Know what?"

"The Lavender room is special to him," answered Nyx.

Hecate stood up and cleared her throat, "The person who owns the Lavender Room is special to him," she clarified, "And it all caught us by surprise when he let somebody else occupy the room after a long time. Somebody else like you."