Sweet Dreams Princess
Waking up to the heavy weight of gold draping from wrists, neck even ankles would've brought anyone joy. For Melinoe it only caused her stomach to twist in terror. The familiar coolness of her fathers birthday present forgotten. Lost. She could only pray that it was somewhere in the Labyrinth - to give Beast some comfort. She would return to him.
Rising her head slowly, grimacing as the cheap, tacky jewels began to jingle like playful rain drops. Not daring to turn her head in fear it would alert her captors, Melinoe looked as far as her eyes would allow. Fear coated her heart. Sat in the corner, fast asleep with his feet propped up - Alexander. The slimy bastard, how dare he show his face after everything he did. Crackles of magic danced across her finger tips. Black soot swirled around her feel, her hair shimmered. Even the jewels began to change colour - blood red, rich onyx. True colours.
"Alexander!"
A booming voice, caused Melinoe to pin her head down, hands slipped beneath summer designed covers. Just as Melinoe forced her eyelids to close, the door swung open.
"Alexand-"
"Shut up. You'll wake her."
Alexander spoke through a hissed whisper. He rose from the stool without a trace of sleep evident in his eyes. Walking forward slowly, his hand smoothed over Melinoe's brow: his thumb creating comforting circles just above her ear. Feeling Alexander's breath hovering just above her firmly closed lips, Melinoe was about to rise up only to freeze at the unknown males voice.
"We have to move quickly. The world is literally being sucked dry. Hades knows."
Father.. Father knows?
After being denied access to nightmarish realm, listening to his daughters cries of terror, Hades finally snapped. Over the last few weeks of Melinoe's absence, cracks started to form across the bleak countryside of Greece. At first no one noticed - A few cattle disappeared. Lambs wondered to far from their mothers, only to have the mother sheep wondering around, calling in distress till the dead of night.
Slowly things started to escalate. Cracks started to travel into the hearts of cities. Carriages fell. Market stools crumbled. Houses shook into rubble and ash. Sickening black smoke, escape killing anything that came in reach.
In the Underworld things weren't looking any better. Hades wounded mind had became harsh. Nearly every soul was banished to Tarturas. Children wept in terror as strange creatures dragged them away, wrapping chains around their shadowed forms. Women pleaded for mercy, falling to Hades feet desperate to do anything to ease their judgement. Men drew their swords pledging their alliance to Hades as un-dead warriors. No one was spared.
As darkness fell, a thick green smoke travelled across the floor, putting all those truly damned too Tarturas into a mindless sleep. Two shadowed figures cautiously appeared from the River Styx. One draped in onyx, the other in silvery blue, they walked close to one another only to pause before parting ways as they entered Tarturas.
The blue coat would've stood out against the shimmers of red, orange, yellow and of course black. But after the smoke, no one was witness to notice. A young child, huddled on the floor softly weeping into the crook of his arm, causing the figure to pause before slowly down behind him. A pale hand stretched forward, pressing it gently against the back of his skull.
"Hush little one.."
A soothing voice hidden beneath the blue cloak, caused a whimpering child to look up in fear. Wiping the soot from his flushed cheeks. The figure lifted him up cradling him against her chest. A low snarl caused the figure to turn.
"Easy boy. It's only Charon."
Keeping his hackles risen, the dog lowered himself onto his haunches, watching with weary eyes as Charon walked forward. Behind him, three woman and two young men. In his arms he carried a young sniffling boy. Hecate watched Charon with a weary glance: he'd done better than her. Shifting the young child in her arms, Hecate whistled. The dog quickly scampered towards them, rising its furry head sniffing in curiosity at the new shadowed ankles - deeming the souls safe it turned, trotting ahead of the pair. Charon walked along side Hecate in silence, hushing the small group whenever they whimpered at the sight of snoring monsters. He could only hope that Hecate's potion would last long enough for them to get away.
Setting down the children, Hecate watched in satisfaction as the group hurried into the Asphodel. One woman paused, turning to the ferry man, she gave his leather wrapped hand a gentle squeeze, whispering a tearful thanks before hurrying away.
"That's the first time anyone has thanked me for delivering them anywhere in the Underworld.."
Hecate briefly forgot herself, as she laughed loudly.
"I'm sorry Charon.."
Hecate spoke as she tried in vain to wipe away her tears. Body quivering as laughter bubbled. Charon could only smile. During the past week things had been tense: it was nice to see some humanity being brought back.
Gaining composure over herself, Hecate let out a shaky sigh. Her blue hood, lay spilled across her shoulders. Clearing her throat, as cheeks remained bloomed, Hecate looked towards Asphodel. It gave her small satisfaction to know that the souls were now safe: if only the same could be said for Melinoe.
"Come on. We better get back to our posts."
Whistling her loyal companion away from the Asphodel edge, Hecate turned smiling as Charon collected his lantern: the boat could be seen bobbing against the low Styx current - It always returned to its master.
"Thank you for helping me, Charon."
Charon bowed his head. Sadness gleamed in his left eye, which his smile was unable to hide. Turning, his lantern swaying between his finger tips Charon climbed into the boat, collecting up the oar which he used to push himself away from the bank. Hecate stood motionless listening to Charon's silent mumbles, a playful smile tugged at her lips.
"As long as Hades doesn't find out, we won't be in trouble. What am I saying.. I'll be in big trouble.."
"Thank you Hecate.."
The words whispered, dripping in sorrow. Hecate turned slowly. Standing a few feet away, Hecate's loyal dog wagging his tail happily as he was scratched behind his ear.
"Persephone."
Hecate bowed in respect. Persephone waved off such a formal gesture. Hecate was her friend. Standing to her full height, Persephone folded her arms across her chest, pulling her onyx coloured cloak tighter around her frame. Red rimmed eyes, looked towards Asphodel watching as the new souls looked around in wonder at their new home: Even from this distance she could see the fear sketched upon their faces. Persephone tore her gaze away, feeling her heart twisting in guilt for allowing this to happen.
"You've nothing to feel guilty over Persephone. You're going through a difficult time, we all understand."
Persephone let out a laugh, though it sounded more like a snort. Though Persephone knew Hecate meant well, much like Hades she'd become sharp in accusation.
"To bad, it can't be fixed this easily.."
Persephone swept her hand accusingly. Hecate felt her face heat, while her eyes swam with concern, hating to see Persephone in pain. The dog let out a pitiful whimper, lightly bumping his head against Persephone's knee. Persephone forced a dull smile to stretch her lips, as she gently patted his head. Persephone's eyes looked towards Hecate's lips, feeling to ashamed to stare into her friends eyes.
"Hades thinks he knows were Melinoe is. He's been trying for days. Nothing. She has her necklace Hecate... She was wearing it.. She was wearing it.."
Hecate didn't allow Persephone to finish her sentence. Watching as the young goddess's legs began to tremble, Hecate ran forward catching Persephone before she was able to fall. Wrapping her arm tightly around her shoulder, while her hand imbedded its self in her hair, Hecate began to gently rock Persephone. Closing her own eyes tightly listening to the heart broken cries.
"We'll find her.. We'll find her.."
Hecate wanted to promise Persephone, to make the words seem more real than they felt. Hecate couldn't do that. She'd been watching the souls coming into the Underworld: hearing their muffled mutters of a beast. Hecate could only hope that Melinoe was some place else. Hecate was half right.
Melinoe wished for nothing more than to transport herself out of this hell hole. Without her fathers present, and lack of knowledge on how Melione was trapped. For the last eight hours, she'd fought off every wench that dared take her arm, to drag her somewhere else. This time felt different. Listening to the gentle creak of the door, followed by muffled sandals tip toing across the smooth marble floor, Melinoe straightened her back.
"My lady. If you're ready, I'll escort you now."
Turning around slowly, Melione eyed up the young girl. She looked no older than thirteen - yet her posture and softly spoken voice proved, that age didn't matter. Looking down at the girls hands, noticing that they remained by her sides, Melinoe looked up towards her moss coloured eyes.
"And why should I go with you? I refuse to do as Alexander bids. The man is lower than the serpent who bit Eurydice."
Melinoe watched as a fearful bloom heated the young maids cheeks.
"Please, My Lady, you mustn't speak of him like that. Alexander travelled many miles to save you. He's a great man."
Feeling her stomach twisting in knots, as acidic chunks crept up the back of her throat, Melinoe rose her head: never before did she look down on mortals, as she saw them as something fascinating, but this maid was proving to be irritating. Had her young mind been so blinded by Alexander's wealth that she didn't see what was right in front of her?
"He's a liar, coward and a mothers boy. No man would allow a woman to walk unknowingly into.."
Melinoe trailed off. Thoughts of Beast entered her mind. She couldn't label him as a 'danger', of course at first she'd been terrified of the smell of rotting flesh, even flinched away from his dagger shaped claws. A rude snort from the maid, caused Melinoe's eyes to snap up in distaste. The maid clearly seeing her mistake rose her hand, eyes travelled down in submission.
"Forgive me. But you must've misunderstood. Alexander saved you from that.. that thing. No man has ever done that before."
"Thing..?" - Melinoe hissed like a viper -
"Why yes.. We've all heard tales. Every disgusting creature lives in the shadows, I'm not even sure the Underworld would want something as foul as it."
Melione lunged. Wrapping her fingers tightly around the maids throat, she pinned the young girl against the wall, hoisting her a foot above her normal height. Eyes grew large. Melinoe could smell the fear radiating from the maid's quivering body. Melinoe didn't care.
"My lady.."
The maid gasped. Her hand wrapped tightly around Melinoe's tensed wrist, trying in vain to pull it away. Tears prickled the corner of her eyes, cheeks began to turn an unnatural grey - thick black veins stood out against the rapidly aging flesh. Melinoe watched cowly. Seeing the maids blonde hair, turn crisp white. Eyes filled with mockery, becoming greyer than decaying trees. Rising her hand (which didn't hold her throat), Melinoe began to stroke the withering flesh. Tugging at once tight skin which now hung like broken ropes.
Soft whimpers, sounded more strained. Staring down at the maids hands, which reminded Melinoe of old pomegranate skin, Melinoe finally realised her. The maid landed with a painful 'crunch' on the ground. Though not life threatening, the position was awkward. Crying out in pain, clutching tightly at her ankle, Melinoe tilted her head, seeing the way the flesh looked swollen.
"A broken bone. You best slink into the shadows. Its the only place you'll be safe - King Minos, hates old wenches."
Turning around, as the door opened Melinoe looked casually towards the soldiers who in return starred down with a mixture of horror at the gasping maid.
"Help me.. Help me.."
The maid pleaded, stretching out a quivering, aged hand. The soldiers paid her no heed, either not realising that it was the young maid they sent down just moments ago, or to fearful to stare in case they suffered the same fate. Stepping forward, the solider stretched his hand out towards Melinoe, jaw clenched.
"Come. Alexander is waiting for you."
This time Melinoe agreed. She twisted her body, away from the soldiers hand, walking confidently out of the room. As the second solider guided Melinoe down the corridor, the other solider looked down towards the quivering elderly female.
"I'll bring someone to escort you from the palace. Your services are no longer needed."
Re-joining the pair, the solider gripped his sword tightly as thick golden painted doors swung open at their arrival. Dancing. Music. The people of Crete celebrated, for Minos demanded it. Melinoe's jaw clenched at the foul smell of alcohol. Her eyes trailed a large looking table with a suckling pig in the centre. Snapping her gaze away, her face heated seeing Alexander standing tall and proud at the bottom of the stairs, leading towards a large throne. Following the steps with her gaze, Melinoe looked towards the sinister grinning face of King Minos. Dangling from the tips of his fingers was her birthday present.
Truly sorry for the delay in reply. I was tempted to give up on this story, but luckily imagination struck. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review.
- Signed The Broken Ghost