A/N: Right so... this is hopefully getting better as I go? haha we shall see. Patrice arrives thousands of years before she was born and has to accept her fate, as well as Psyche's. Now the plot thickens. I know most of it isn't very accurate, but I didn't do much research, I just wanted to get to writing. I am an impatient writer. Please review if you read! I would really love some feedback!

CHAPTER THREE

Patrice Beck / Psyche

"Is she waking up? The sun is almost high in the sky. I understand she is feeling feverish and sick, but today is not the day to dawdle."

Voices overhead came back to me first. Next was sight. I blinked my eyes open and immediately squeezed them shut as sunlight flooded in, momentarily blinding me. Every limb of my body felt stiff and heavy, as if I was filled with sand rather than soft tissues and bones and organs. I groaned and rolled onto my side, putting my arm over my eyes to try and make the light go away.

"Psyche? Dearest, now is not the time to be sleeping in. I know, it was a long day yesterday, but really, today is the day. We have a long journey ahead of us and—" I cut the woman off rather abruptly.

"What did you call me?" I sat up straight and looked around me. Familiar faces looked back at me: three women and a man. They all looked at me with curious eyes, as if I had done something unusual.

"Psyche? Are you feeling alright?" The youngest of the three women leaned in and looked me dead in the eye, her brow wrinkled. She gently brushed a few curly blonde locks of hair from her blue eyes and leaned back, her hands going to her hips. A worried look crossed all of their faces as I blushed under their gaze. Four unfamiliar people were staring at me… and yet, as I kept examining them, they all looked familiar in their own way. The youngest woman, who had just bent over me, had the same round, merry face of Abbi, as well as the same hair and rosy cheeks. What I assumed to be the second youngest of the group resembled Rachel in her longer facial features and elegant, lengthy physique and busty chest. She as well had a head full of blonde curls and cool, judgmental blue eyes. Even the man, tall and royal looking, resembled my own father: his hair was a dark black with strands of grey starting to poke their way through. He had the same critical yet loving grey eyes, and crow's feet at the corners of his eyes, evidence that a smile was present more often than not. And lastly, the eldest woman. She held a regal beauty, and, like my own mother, had the soft, age worn face every child loves to see. Her lips were puckered, mimicking an expression my own mother often wore, and she even wove her red hair in a long French braid down her back. The scene was the same, and yet the scenery around us was all together other worldly.

My sundress had disappeared and instead I found myself clothed in a simple white linen under garment. I noticed the people around me looking at my attire and the eldest woman, the mother I assumed, shook her head and took my hand in her own. "Come, dearest, lets get you up and ready for the day." It was at that moment that the two girls rolled their eyes and left the room. The man as well left, smiling wearily at me before leaving. Only the eldest woman stayed behind, relieving me slightly. I wasn't good in crowds, and I had no idea where the hell I was. Speaking of which…

"Where am I?" I asked nervously as a few maids filed in, one carrying a pile of cloth, the other a pitcher and bowl as well as a small box. The woman laughed and shook her head.

"You fell asleep as soon as we arrived yesterday, I am not at all surprised you don't remember. Delphi, dearest. We are hear to speak with the Oracle…" A sad look fell upon her face just then, but she dismissed it and ushered me over to the corner of the room. I looked out of one of the many windows at the bustling city below, in awe of what I was seeing before me. It was only then, when I realized that the men and women were all sporting togas and not a car was to be seen, that the shock of it all hit me in the chest like a bag of bricks. What was going on? I obviously wasn't in the twenty first century anymore. The woman who had been approaching furrowed her brows in concern at seeing my face. I could feel the blood draining from it, and a sense of longing and wanting to know what was going on caused me to speak out without thinking.

"Please, ma'am, where am I?" I pleaded softly, my eyes growing larger by the second as I took in the new spectacle. "I just… one minute I was at the museum, and there was cupid and… the next thing I know I'm here, surrounded by strangers…" The woman now looked very concerned and placed a hand on my shoulder. I shook it off, and turned from her to look in a small mirror that hung from the wall. I looked the same and felt the same, it was just a different place…

"Psyche, I –" I cut her off.

"My name is Patrice. Patrice Alma Beck. I was born December 12, 1992, and I am from the United States." I squeezed my eyes shut and hit my palm to my forehead, hoping it would help. I opened my eyes and the woman was just staring at me, her mouth hanging open.

"Psyche, dear, what has gotten into you?" Her face had a look of concern, one that I couldn't resist. I wasn't sure where I was, or how long I was going to be here, but it seemed that the best thing to do was just play along with this whole big charade. I immediately decided to play off the craziness as nothing, accept that I was now called Psyche, and realize that whatever had happened couldn't be undone as easily as trying to get someone's help. I would have to figure this out on my own.

"I'm sorry, mother, I… I'm not quite sure. Please forgive my outburst I just haven't been feeling myself today." She smiled then, and hugged me close. I inhaled deeply, nervous butterflies fluttering around my stomach. What the hell was going on? Everything was upside down. I inhaled deeply and sighed, causing my new mother to pull away.

"Let's get you ready for the day then, shall we?" With that the first maid came over. She immediately grabbed the hem of my night gown and pulled it over my head, exposing every inch of my flesh to the hot sunlight as well as their gazing eyes. I had little time to feel embarrassed and exposed, thought, for almost immediately she brought over a long piece of silk. To be honest, I had no idea how she folded and pinned the thing, but eventually I was totally covered in the soft white silk in what I would call a toga. "Have a seat, dear." The woman pointed towards a plain stool in the corner and I hesitantly sat. I didn't know what they quite did, but after about five straight minutes of pulling and weaving and patting, my hair was twisted down the back of my head and pinned, letting the extra length flow down my back. A simple golden band had been placed around my head, as well, probably to hold back loose ends. I looked away from the small mirror one of the girl's was holding for me, back to my so called mother.

"Why are we going to the Oracle?" I asked quietly, hoping that I could play it off as a slip of the memory. I watched as she looked around nervously, almost as if for an escape route.

"We're just here to inquire about your future, dearest. Father wants to find you a suitable husband as soon as possible, after all. And what with all of this new found glory, and this worshipping yet lack of a suitor, he thought it best to come and ask the Oracle." She absently fixed one of the sleeves of my toga and brushed a loose curl back from my face.

"Oh…" I furrowed my brow in thought. I had no idea what she was talking about… New found glory? Worshipping? Huh? Ah, well. I didn't want to ask for fear of imposing, as well as not wanting to ruin poor Psyche's reputation and seem as if my memory was horrible. I guess I would just have to wait and see.

"Are you ready?" My mother asked. I shook my head yes, unsure if I really was ready or just wanted to get everything over with as soon as I could. I followed her down some stairs and through a few rooms, then through what could only be the atrium and the front door. The man and two other girls were waiting for us outside, and all three turned to look at me with sympathetic eyes. I chewed my lip as I averted my gaze, feeling both stupid and in the spotlight. I didn't like having all of this attention on me. I nervously scratched the back of my neck and looked down at my feet, waiting for someone to say something. It didn't take too long, though, because almost immediately, the man spoke.

"We should be going," He murmured. I looked up and he was looking at me with sympathetic eyes. I couldn't help but feel a stabbing sort of feeling in my chest. Was it nerves? Probably. I was just feeling overall overwhelmed by this whole situation. I was in a totally different culture, a new time zone, a different part of the world. I had no idea what was going on, or how to fix it. All I wanted to do was cry and go home. Instead I just had to stick this out, because I couldn't think of how to fix it. I followed as this new man I could only call my father walked down the street. I could feel eyes turning on me, and I felt as if all attention was on me. People stopped and watched as I walked, my eyes down. A few men even came up to me, offering flowers of different assortments. I did nothing more than take them and nod graciously, unsure of how else to react. My whole body felt numb due to culture shock as well as not even knowing where I was. I just wanted to sit in a corner and cry until my real mother came to take care of me.

But there was no time for that. It seemed as if we had arrived at this so called Oracle, and it was time for my father to go and speak with… who ever it was he spoke to. I honestly had no idea how this tradition worked. All I knew is that all of us women-folk had to stay out here and wait for him to come back. He kissed us each on the forehead, and me on both cheeks, for luck I supposed, before entering into a rather large, ornate temple. I didn't know where I was or what my new fate might be, all I knew was that it was in the hands of this Oracle, and I sure as hell hoped these people would take care of me.

Eros

"So you can do that for me?" My voice was grave, something unusual for me. I was known for my boyish ways, and yet here I was in a very grave situation. "I just need you to tell them that –"

"Yes, Eros, I know. That she is doomed to be wed to a monster that both man and gods fear. Why should I do this again?" Apollo sighed as he looked down at the King who was now talking to the priests. They had wagered a price, and now he was moving towards the priestess with the priest. I impatiently shifted my weight from one foot to the other and fluttered my wings.

"Do you not remember what happened with Daphne?" I saw the flash of pain on Apollo's face and then a serene peace. A wicked grin crossed my face. It was a rather mean trick I pulled on the god, but he had deserved it. I watched as he sighed and looked from his perch on a cloud down below to look at the father's weary face. I saw his eyes travel then to the face of my beloved, and my heart skipped a beat. She was so beautiful, perfect, gorgeous in every way. My fingers itched to gently trace every inch of her body, my arms longed to hold her close, and my lips longed to feel her smooth skin beneath them. I wanted her- no, I needed her.

"Right, well then… is there any specific reason why this must be done for you?" Apollo was prolonging it. He probably saw a better future in store for her without me involved, but I would make myself a part of her life, whatever it took.

"This is none of your business, Apollo. I just need you to do this one thing for me and you will not regret it." I sighed and fluttered my wings a bit more, my eyes glued on Psyche. Everything she did she did with an elegant grace. She held herself so delicately, and cast a gentle eye upon everyone who passed her. A placid smile caressed her lips that I so longed to kiss as she talked and laughed with her sisters. Oh, how I longed to be the reason for that heavenly laughter. I knew that as soon as they were given the news that their daughter was to wed a monster on the top of a mountain she would be handed over to me, laying and waiting, unbeknownst to her who her real husband was. I would get Zephyrus to deliver her down to the palace I had created in the hills, and there we would live, happy forever. As long as she didn't know who I was. It pained me a bit, that I had to hide my identity from her, but this was how it had to be done. I wanted her to love me for who I was, not because I was Eros, the god of love. There was also the problem of my mother. Oh, she would be livid if she ever found out… That was why she wouldn't find out. And then me and my dearest Psyche could live together, forever happy.

"Alright, alright… so I am telling them that she is to be wed to a monster, one who both man and god fear. They are to take her to the mountain top and leave her there. That is all?" I nodded stoically. "At least I'm not having to lie," Apollo murmured under my breath. A flash of fury ran through me, but I calmed it. If I were to anger Apollo, then I would not get my way. Instead, I inhaled deeply and nodded. Without another word I flew off to go prepare the palace that would greet Psyche when she arrived tomorrow.