AN: As promised, chapter 7 is here! i finished earlier than expected so here it is! Please do not forget to review and check out my profile for possible update schedules.

Oh, I remember that this is the third poem in this story (I used three in the prequel to this too)….don't be irritated by my poems, I just love rhyme :)

The Bound Obsession

"The line between love and obsession is drawn by only circumstance."
-Anonymous

O blessed river

How long has it been

Now we sing of the weeping

Of our sacred queen

"Liasa! Liasa!"

Liasa looked back, irritated.

"Shh…I am listening"

"You cannot blame us Liasa," Vysis said, "after what happened with Minthe…we were just worried. And it is freezing, we have to go home."

"This pink snow is becoming more and more of a nuisance, even if it is my preferred color," complained Iste.

"What are you listening to?" Naesi asked, remembering.

"Come here," Liasa gestured, "come closer."

O blessed river

Listen to our cry

For we sing of a notion

Of a love that could die

"What is…" Iste began.

"Shhh!" Belytia reminded.

Dear River of darkness

Take heed of our woe

For a soul of ambition

Has sunk in too low

Our mistress, dear mistress,

Lady of spring

Queen of Asphodel

Has gone into weeping

For an insolent soul

Of scheming and lies

Hidden in golden locks

And piercing blue eyes

Resides in our realm

In her luxury ways

As our dear Queen of Mercy

Sits in utter disgrace

So great river of Hades,

Forgive our contempt

For desires unacceptable

And grievous attempts

Of a love of so impure

Of a lust so unbound

By rank or respect

Such obsession abound

But when punishment comes

To those souls delirious

And the time comes to judge

The condemned and capricious

The world shall rejoice

For it shall live again

And the goddess may stop

Those scarlet tears of heaven

But for now dear river

Keep this sorrow so deep

For time alone can end

All misfortunes we weep

The voices sounded farther and farther until they can hear no more but soft humming and the quiet flow of the river as if it was singing in harmony to the voices.

Liasa looked at the slightly uneasy expressions of her fellow naiads.

"You do not suppose…." Iste started.

"Yes," Liasa replied.

They all looked at each other in understanding.

There she was, brushing her long blonde hair with a comb of wrought iron and opals.

"Do I look beautiful Adelpha?"

"Yes, my lady," the servant replied.

Minthe looked at herself, admiring. She looked at every angle of her face.

"Do I look like a queen?"

The young servant, wiser than she looks, replied, "You look like a goddess my lady."

Minthe, too busy looking at herself, didn't seem to notice that it was a safe answer.

"Tell me, Adelpha, how is the queen, what does she like, what does she do?"

"I do not work directly for the queen my lady; I cannot answer your questions."

Minthe frowned then she smiled playfully.

"Adelpha, get me a dress of silk and diamonds."

I will show this queen how a queen should be.

"Yes," she continued,"a dress of such beauty: as white as the heavens, as beautiful as snow, as glorious as the flowing seas."

The servant just meekly nodded.

"I need it by the end of this week, when the queen returns."

"Yes, lady."

Yes, when this queen returns, she thought with scorn.

Belytia looked in awe at the sight above her- she was very much in awe that she forgot to call the others to see the splendid display. When she did, it was almost above her.

"Iste, Liasa, everybody!"

Liasa and the others ran outside to see.

"What is it Belytia?"

"Look," Belytia said, pointing to the magnificent spectacle above them.

Liasa and the others looked in wonder at the scene above them: a glorious carriage made of granite, gold and other precious stones were being drawn by black steeds with manes that were black as ebony and lustrous as the night. In it sat two servants sitting meekly in either side of a woman.

The woman, they noticed, had a beauty of such a high degree that they were sure she rivaled Aphrodite's. She had flowing locks with, to their amazement, streaks the color of cherry blossoms in full bloom, skin as white as ivory, flawlessly formed nose and cheekbones, striking lips, a slender body, clothes fit for a queen and, to crown it all, bright, emerald eyes that stood out even in the backdrop of the perfectly blue sky.

But Liasa noticed something else. Was that sadness in her eyes?

And as the carriage passed by, realization all struck them: It was the Lady Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. They looked around; the ground was still full of the peculiar snow.

"If she has already been to Olympus then why has the spring not come and now that she is going back to the Underworld…" Belytia thought out loud.

"I wonder too, there is no spring, no summer, it has been winter for almost half the year."

Liasa faced them all and said grimly," clearly, this is the work of the Lady Persephone."

Vysis added in disbelief," this is what we heard in the mouth of the cave, the Lady is mourning!"

Liasa nodded, "and these are her tears."

They all looked grim as they took in their surroundings now that they know what caused it.

Obsession. Extreme passion. Fixation.

These sum up what Minthe felt about Hades. It was not love. No, love is something noble. Hers was a sinister feeling, tainted, impure.

And slowly, gradually, such ominous thoughts fill her head causing her to strive harder, feel better but see indistinctly. Slowly, she convinces herself that she will be the woman he loves; worse, the new queen.

"Lord Hades."

He looked at the source of the voice.

"Ah, my dear, you are beautiful."

She smiled her radiant smile.

"It is good to hear that I am no longer child," she said gently, putting a little emphasis on the last word," I was worrying you would treat me as one my lord."

"I now know that I ought to treat you like a lady. But let us not talk about this, what did you need?"

"Nothing my lord, I have just remembered that the Lady will be coming home soon."

"Ah, yes, yes."

"…so I would like to keep you company."

Hades smiled faintly but he was distracted as a messenger came in and informed them that the Queen is back.

The smile was suddenly wiped off Minthe's face. It was followed by a look of pain.

"Is there something wrong, dear?" Hades asked.

"My lord," Minthe's frail voice said while clutching her chest, "I feel pain. But do not mind me my Lord, the lady is here."

"How can I not mind? Come now, let me bring you to your room."

He took her in his arms and brought her to her chamber. He nodded to the messenger on the way. The messenger looked dumbstruck for a moment then it altered to panic. Now, he was left to explain to his Queen why exactly the Lord Hades cannot come to welcome her.

"Where is Hades?"

The messenger fidgeted. The gaze his queen was giving him was ice cold.

"Tell me," she repeated.

"My…my queen," he stuttered.

Persephone sighed then reverted to calmness.

"Amus, just tell me and I will not be mad. I know you are doing what your work dictates you to."

This made him relax to some extent.

"My Queen, the lord Hades brought the Lady," he hesitated for a moment and then said," Lord Hades brought the…umm…nymph to her chamber."

"Why is that?"

"She suddenly felt pain in her chest My Queen. "

"And Hades had to bring her to her quarters, personally?"

"Yes, my queen."

Persephone sighed for the second time that day.

"Thank you Amus, you can go back to your post. Marpessa," she turned to her maid," bring her some medication."

Marpessa was taken aback.

"B…but my lady!"

Persephone looked at her, face impassive but what she said next would break anyone's heart.

"If she suffers, Hades will... surely, he will feel bad."

"My lady…"

"I will be fine, I have two feet, I can walk on my own."

Marpessa sadly walked away.

My lady.

"Are you alright dear?"

"Yes I am my lord."

Marpessa walked in.

"Marpessa," Hades said, surprised, "where is Persephone?"

"She has retired to your chamber my lord."

"Why are you here?"

"I have brought some medicine at the command of the Queen."

"Oh," he said slightly surprised then, he smiled, "I will thank her later."

Minthe's gentle face turned to a look of distaste and suddenly, Marpessa felt the urge to throw the vial of medicine at her. Minthe grunted to capture Hades' attention once again.

"Are you still in pain?"

"I feel only a little amount of pain now my lord."

"That is good, you will feel better soon."

Marpessa motioned to leave.

"I will have to go my lord."

"Wait, Marpessa, will you not take care of her?"

"My lord?" Marpessa asked in disbelief.

"Can you not do it? I need someone I can trust."

"My lord, I will do it because I have vowed an eternity of service to you and the Queen but please do know that I cannot do it without a heavy heart."

Hades regarded this for a moment but nevertheless said," I know Marpessa and I thank you for that."

"Where is Marpessa? Amus!"

The servant came running.

"Yes, my Queen?"

"Have you seen Marpessa?"

"My Queen, she is in the nymph's room."

"Why?"

"The King told her to do so."

Persephone went silent.

"Is there anything else I can do for you my queen?"

"Yes, I want you to go to Lady Hecate."

"My lady?"

"Oh Amus, forgive that I ask this of you. Do not worry, I will make sure you are safe. Just go to her and tell her to please come."

"Yes my lady."

I just need someone I can talk to.

"Do you feel comfortable enough?"

"Yes, I do."

Marpessa walked towards the window to look outside. "Just tell me if you need anything."

"Thank you, I will."

Minthe raised a brow. She knew full well that the maid was not sincere in her task. She also knew that she was the Queen's personal maid. When Marpessa looked back at her, she reverted to the gentle face that fooled a lot.

"You seem to be very loyal to your mistress."

"Yes. Indeed I am."

"Why is that? Is she a good mistress?"

"Of course."

"Is she?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that she is a Queen, is she not high and mighty?"

"What are you trying to say?"

Minthe sat up, no longer concealing her smirk. Her once innocent face twisted into a cruel smile.

"I am trying to say that she is cold and consumed by power."

"What is this impertinence you talk about?"

"Is it not true? She is just like the other Olympians, so confident, so selfish."

"You are mad."

"Am I? But that is alright, for Queens cannot be blamed for this behavior, they are, after all, Queens."

"What is it you truly want to say?"

The fire in Minthe's eyes grew and her wicked smile betrayed everything her innocent façade has kept.

"I am saying that in the state your Queen is in now, she and Lord Hades are very unlikely to reconcile. The Lord Hades will grow tired of her and soon he will realize…" she paused, a look of triumph replacing her smile, Marpessa narrowed here eyes, "that it is not her he truly loves, that she is not fit to be a Queen."

"You wretched creature, you cannot talk of my Queen like this. You are a lowly woman and you will fail."

Marpessa started to walk away.

"Where are you going? To your Queen, to Lord Hades?" Minthe provoked.

"It is none of your concern."

"That is true but let me just tell you that Lord Hades will never believe you; and your Queen, she will just realize it is true. And you do not want your Queen to be hurt more than she is now, do you?"

Minthe's face turned gentle and innocent again. She lay down and pulled the sheets up her body. Marpessa continued walking away, fuming.

"Oh do close the door on your way out," Minthe added in a kind voice.

Marpessa slammed the door, leaving Minthe alone with her thoughts once again.

Adelpha suddenly entered.

"Your dress is ready my lady."

"Is that so? Then bring it in."

Another maid brought the dress in. Minthe smiled at the sight of the dress.

"This is exactly as I wanted it, thank you."

She smiled at both maids with gentle eyes and a grateful voice. Both motioned to leave and so, she was alone once again. She stood up, walked to the mirror and tried her dress on.

Beautiful, she thought.

And truly, she was. The dress fit her perfectly, it made her look like a Queen, it made her look so divine. She glowed and her beauty was like a representation of the heavens, of a perfect day.

Her golden hair spilled around her like sunlight, her blue eyes were reminiscent of the clear sky and her lips- they were of the beautiful red rose.

But she is a not a dimwit, the Lady Persephone was beautiful too. She knew that. No doubt Lord Hades would fall in love with her. Her beauty was unusual too: she exuded divinity in all aspects of her pretty face, it was like she was made of sheer beauty.

Truly an equal of Aphrodite. But I do not totally lose, she thought as she looked at herself, If it is beauty then I am a match.

And also, she thought, more sinister than ever, I have things she does not have.

Minthe smiled at her reflection.

I am not complicated whereas she is complex.

I am warmer as she slowly turns cold.

I could stay here forever when she has to ascend for half the year.

But most of all, Innocence.

Unquestionable innocence.

Imploring gentle eyes.

And that is why all will fall prey to me, that is why all my wishes will be granted.

Next Chapter Preview (Forgotten Weeping):

"I have always liked snow, look," the golden haired goddess turned to the god of light, "it is the lightest tinge of scarlet."

"Indeed."

"This snow stinks of love and weeping."

"Do you know why, my lady?"

The laughter loving goddess' eyes glowed with interest at having been asked such a question. She was simply itching to blurt out an answer. "I will tell you a secret Lord Apollo," Aphrodite said teasingly, "but promise not to tell."

Apollo, entranced by the unusual rain of ice, nodded without looking. "If it is of this divine phenomenon, then do tell me Lady Aphrodite."

Aphrodite's eyes crinkled to a smile that would make any mortal fall to his knees in veneration.

"Remember when Lord Hades said he would not hurt dear Kore?"(1)

Apollo nodded, now intrigued.

"Well, Lord Apollo, he lied."(2)

END PREVIEW

AN (again):as usual, check out my homepage for updates and I just have to say that my reviewers are wonderful and thank you very much to all of you. They are really very encouraging. The suggestions were greatly appreciated. If you have questions, more suggestions or any reactions, simply review 'cause I read them all.

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