Author's note: HAPPY EARLY VALENTINES' DAY, ALL! So, to celebrate Love's busiest day of the year, here's a new chapter. Anyways, thank you's and much love to all the readers that take the time to read and review my story! You all get a humungo box of Valentines' Chocolates and a cluster of pink and white balloons.

Source here for the "oracle speech":

(Revamped, 3/5-6/10)

Two

Finding the love of one's life is not an easy ordeal. I don't think the oracle can actually give me the love of my life, though.

I really should stop being so skeptical about the oracle.

My parents were—are—deeply perplexed on why I had no suitors when people (who believe that "someone so beautiful would have to be Aphrodite herself") admired me so much.

I have never had a suitor to call on. Not even one.

I don't think I'm a horrible person. I know I have my tempers, but I can be generally pleasant.

Oh, I don't know anymore. If I was generally pleasant, people would actually like me, wouldn't they?

I'm not sure if I'm even accepted by society.

My maids finish decorating my hair, and I take a step back from the mirror to observe my reflection.

Airlia, one of my closest maids, smiles and sighs.

"Miss, every girl would do anything to be you."

I smile wryly.

They would do anything to look like me, probably.

Some are jealous, and not all of the followers are friendly.

Everyone wants to bask in the clouds of love.

I smile, anyway. I should be excited. Today was the day where I may finally find someone that I could spend the rest of my life with.

Airlia just grinned and sighed, once more.

"You have something for the girl, don't you?"

I look up from my perch. It's Anteros, with his blue gown (toga) billowing around him, regardless of the lack of a breeze.

"What's not to like about her? You, too, would have had something for her."

"Brother, are you sure that one of those damned arrows of yours didn't pierce yourself?"

It really is very probable, considering how my heart always speeds up whenever I think of her…as if it was taking flight along with my wings. Is this really love? The love that poets have sang for ages? The love that comes at so high a price? The love that transcends all boundaries?

I see her now: her peaceful face with the tender pink lips, her hand as she brushed her hair, her eyes as they darkened when her tear slipped down her fine-boned cheek.

I wondered how she would look like when she smiles. Or even when she laughs. Or even when she—

Snap.

I blink and my head jerks back, just in time to hear my brother chuckle. Scowling, I realize that he had snapped his fingers right in front of my beautiful face.

...I think I just sounded like my mother just then. Am I really that vain?

"No, my arrows didn't pierce my skin. They were securely strapped unto my back when I saw her!"

"Mmm. And it really just isn't because she is spanking-ly beautiful?"

"No. Well, yes, it was what attracted me in the first place…But it really isn't just lust."

"Really."

"Yes. You wouldn't understand."

"I don't think I would want to."

"Then you don't have to."

"Alright, well, I assume I should leave you to your obscure daydreaming and scheming, eh?"

"Now would be nice."

"Hmph. How rude. Are you shooing me out? Well then, as your kind and caring brother, I shall wish you the best with your lucky damsel, and please, try to do something about that licentious mind of yours. At least, go slow on the girl the first night."

The first night? Shouldn't I try to impress her the first night?

The priestess limps out of the holy inner chamber, and I snap out of my reverie.

I have been admiring the artwork adorning the temple walls.

I can't believe that we had been waiting out here for so long!

"My…lords, and ladies…Here…here is your…answer…obey this, and…carry it…out, as soon…as possible."

The woman teeters back and forth on the balls of her feet. She does, however, quickly steady herself by leaning on a nearby pole. She hands my father a slip of paper with shaking hands.

She's really quite young. She must have given up many things to live here in the secluded temple.

"The…mountain."

She blinks owlishly and speaks.

"Let the maiden be placed on the top of a certain mountain

Adorned as for marriage and for death

Look not for a son-in-law of mortal birth;

He who will take her to his side

Is the serpent whom even the Gods are in dread of

And who makes the bodiless ones on the Styx afraid."

Now, I blink owlishly.

(Really, what kind of verse is that?)

My mother gasps.

My father frowns.

The priestess nods and walks slowly back into the chambers. Her eyes look tired and weary.

What have I ever done to deserve such a fate? I have done nothing! Nothing wrong! I have never angered the gods in any way. Why have they forsaken me? I worship them daily and offer sacrifices! Especially Aphrodite, too! I pray to her for forgiveness everyday.

A serpent husband. Wonderful. Would he prefer to eat me the first moment I set eyes on him? Or would he prefer to force himself onto me and earn the honor of bedding "the most divine mortal maiden in Greece" so he can gloat to his friends in the sea?

My stomach churns with a feeling of dread, and I could feel my morning meal swirl inside.

I think I am dying.

My mother goes hysterical, and my father tries to ease her distress.

If it is the gods' will, then we have no choice than to do as they say.

The gods must find us amusing…they probably do spend some days watching our actions and mock us, like how we watch the plays performed in our theatres.

I would really rather get this all over with. My existence is anything but meaningful, anyway.

Hmm? What existence?

I'm probably going to be one of those names that are only written down in scrolls. Devoid of everything life offers.

Except, my life doesn't offer me anything.

It's a nice day, isn't it?

I smile.

Although, my heart does ache at the sight of her, crestfallen. However, she will not be sad later on. I will make sure of it.

My plan will work! The mortals would never disobey an oracle, especially when a direct order is given.

I am standing outside my temple in the skies. Soon, she will be brought by my servant, Zephyrus. All the arrangements are complete.

My grin grows wider.

Spreading my wings and taking the arrows and bow from the floor, I take off to tend to my duties, with my mood growing happier by the second.

"Miss, this is the perfect dress. Please try it on."

Airlia hands me a bundle of some kind of silky, satin-like material.

My mother had finally gotten over her hysteria, and ordered the maids to swiftly change my clothes when we arrived home.

I step into it, feeling the cloth glide over my skin.

The gown is indeed a splendid one. The creamy, beige color loops around my neck, comes forward across my chest and fastens right beneath my breasts with a short girdle of ribbons that fit my waist.

Ribbons wind like lattice work, binding the cloth loosely to cover my breasts just so. My dress leaves my back bare, covering only the lower portion and beyond; the thin satin ribbons spread over my back in a cross-wise pattern. Ribbons keep the slits at the sides intact.

I frown a little; the loose dress cinches tight at the waist, but it looks too revealing for my taste.

Airlia applauded, grinning.

"I said it was the perfect dress."

Sighing, I succumb. I am supposed to be fit for the wedding that would be my death. First wonderful impressions must be made.

These are one of those times that my mind is just so clearly blank. I really can't find it in me to be emotional at all.

It's probably not a good thing.

Anyway, here we are, at the designated hill.

"Psyche, dear…"

"Daughter…"

I bid a teary Airlia goodbye and step over to my parents.

"Father, mother: please don't weep for me. Don't spend the rest of your lives grieving for me. Please take care of yourselves."

I embrace my father and mother—I don't believe I'll ever see them again.

I think I will welcome death as it is. I could have had a husband. I could have had a fulfilling life, really.

I walk carefully to the hilltop, waiting for my "serpent" groom (and my impending doom). That certainly does have a certain ring to it.

Then, a gentle breeze brushed across my face, sweeping my hair across my cheeks.

A man—no, angel, appeared.

All I could do was gape; was this my husband? The man had curly brown hair, laughing grey eyes, and a pair of large, white wings.

"Miss Psyche?"

"Y-yes, that is me…"

"I am Zephyrus, the gentle wind, servant of your, ah, new husband. My orders are to bring you to your new residence with him."

"I s-see…"

"Then, shall we go?"

"Of course."

How he was going to take me, I don't know, since he didn't have naught a chariot or carriage, but I s—

Instead, in the blink of the eye, Zephyrus swept me into his arms and soared off into the air.

This Zephyrus does not even feel like a real person; yes, he was solid, but his person is unnaturally warm, and I can feel a wind brush against my legs, blowing at my dress tenderly.

He wasn't called the gentle breeze for naught. I just never really expected to meet him.

Now, do know that humans, mortals, weren't meant to be in the air like this. Yet, I've wanted to see the world in a view like this. I always wondered how it would be like if I were a bird. It would be nice to see, but not be seen, wouldn't it?

Would I be able to see our villa? Our garden? Would I be able to look for my love from above? Again, that had a certain ring to it.

I grasp his arm and look over his shoulder down at the land.

It is so very picturesque; Greece looks gorgeous from up here. The greens of the fields, the blues of the rivers, and I can even see our acropolis!

I brace closer to him and lean out over his shoulder more as Zephyrus holds me tighter, for fear of me falling out of his grasp.

I sigh. "It must be nice to see this view everyday."

My carrier laughs heartily.

"Indeed it is."

"I wish I could see this everyay."

He chuckles. "Perhaps you could ask your new husband to take you for a flight like this sometime."

Before I could say anything more, however, we land.

I turn around as Zephyrus releases me. I'm really not surprised he's not there the moment I look back. Who is my husband, if my carriage is the wind?

It was such a marvelous building; it looked liked a large temple for an immortal.

I felt my sarcastic mood resurface; my husband stood out among others like an olive tree against the plain green grass.

Well, there's really no use looking back anyway. If I am going to die, I might as well die quickly and cleanly.