Mind Control
Curled up on the ground, palm flat, fingers trembling; grazing the ground with such care. She wanted to pound it. To scream till her voice became hoarse. A few ants bathed in the wet patch where her tears had fallen. Eyes rubbed raw. Cheek blistered in her emotional hysteria to dive through the ground, without bringing up the one man who could actually help her. To bring him here would cause a war between the gods. This wasn't just some stuck up mortal, sick on power. This was a son of Zeus. Sure he didn't hold as much power as herself, but his birth right was enough to subdue her. Rising slowly from the ground, hand wiping away any un-fallen tears, wincing as the raw skin became agitated. Not bothering to wipe the small stones stuck deep within the flesh of her knees, she limped forward slowly towards the other side of the room.
"This is certainly a fine piece of workmanship.."
Bile rose into the back of Melinoe's throat, hearing the kings voice echo through her mind.
"Certainly not of this world. Just who exactly created it, and for a brat like you?"
Falling onto her knees, hand risen, black smoke flowing freely from the palm of her hand. It circled a crumpled shadow.
"What cat got your tongue, or should I say Fury?"
Rising from the thick black fog, sunken eyes gazed around slowly before settling on the trembling figure in front of it. Stretching its withered arms, fingers cracking, shinning from the poor jewels dangling from aged fingers. Melinoe shuffled forward slowly, body racked with sobs she tried in vain to smother. Lowering its head, the strange figure wrapped withered arms around Melinoe's trembling shoulders, hugging Melinoe like a daughter.
"Lets change the subject. That 'servant' you harmed in your chambers. Clearly you gained your fathers temper.."
"And you, your fathers ego.."
Melinoe whispered under her breath.
Rising from the throne, his cloak acting like a second shadow, trailing slowly behind, like a well trained pup. Melinoe's eyes remained focused on the ground. Hissing angrily as her head was yanked back, hair clinging in vain to her scalp. Blinking back pained tears, she rounded her gaze just below Minos's eyes. Lips pulled back showing off blunt teeth. The only thing about Minos that wasn't pointed. Snorting in amusement, Melinoe barely flinched at the harsh tug to her hair.
"Do I somehow amuse you?"
Melinoe remained silent.
Waving his hand, the servant reluctantly let go of her hair. Raven curls spilled, partly covering her face. Natural silver highlights shone against glitter of jewels and Minos's throne. Even while her father's named possessed the essence of wealth, he didn't parade his throne room in such ugly designs. Rolling her head back, noes inches from 'her' necklace which dangled tauntingly from the tips of Minos's polished finger tips. Waving it slowly back and forth slowly, eyes trailing Melinoe's collar bone humming in approval. For a brief flicker of a moment, Melinoe's eyes betrayed her - she wanted her necklace back, longed to feel its cold presence just above her immortal heart beat.
"Allow me."
Unclasping the necklace, he opened it with delicately. Melinoe didn't back down; in fact she rolled her head back, exposing more of her neck, almost proud of the months of dirt which collected upon her ash coloured flesh. Feeling the heavy stone press hard, hope finally began to swell within her stomach.
Twisting against the comforting lap Melinoe moaned in pain, fingers tearing at the withered arms which only tightened. How could she have been so foolish? Minos wasn't known for his kindness. She was a fool. A stupid fool.
Staring dumbfounded, at all to familiar surroundings, cheeks flushing in humiliation hearing the sound of Minos laughing cruelly.
"Oh my.. what ever has happened."
Melinoe's eyes blazed with hatred. Lunging forward, having every intention to rip out his throat with her bare hands, she found herself being thrown back. It wasn't the servant; he looked down at her with a shocked expression. Rolling over onto her side, wincing at the throbbing pain, Melinoe looked up towards Minos, demanding an explanation. Stepping forward slowly, crouching down, pushing his crown back so that it wouldn't slip past his brow.
"You see, Melinoe, miss Hades, this necklace of yours, can be used in more ways than just sending you back home. It can be used to control you. It wasn't easy to work it out, but you see, I don't much care for my future to be cut short, by some wannabe fate.."
"What are.. What are you taking about?"
Minos eyed his reflection in Melinoe's necklace, relishing in her pained gasps. Immortal or not, she could still feel pain.
"A little birdy told me that someone, with your complexion and neckwear would bring my demise. Well, now that I have you wrapped around my little pinkie, I'll prove that only I control my fate."
Being dragged away by servants caused Melinoe's cheeks to flush. She kicked. Wriggled. But couldn't use her magic; she'd been ordered to not harm any of Minos's men. Angry tears spilled down her cheeks, trying in vain to twist away, in case their grip would slip and she could flee. Minos's words however soon ripped away any clever plan.
"Oh.. I almost forgot" - the servants paused, their faces split into wolfish grins - "When your Beast friend comes around, you're going to kill him. He's proven to be more trouble than he's worth."
"No.." - Melinoe whimpered. - "No! No, you bastard! I won't do it! I won't!"
Screaming at the top of her lungs, foot colliding with the door as it was slammed shut blocking away the vision of a retreating Minos, who cackled back up towards his throne.
A low primal growl, arose Melinoe from an unrestful slumber she didn't know she slipped into. Mind still in a daze, Melinoe tried in vain too see what had caused the sudden distress.
"Melinoe, if you could please, set your guard corpse down.."
Face darkening with a harsh glare, Melinoe managed to slip out from the protective hold. Rising her hand, causing the crumpled figure to remain still.
"I don't see why I should. You're the one who's caused all of this; showed me thing that make no sense!"
Melinoe began to yell, not caring if the guards outside heard her. It seemed the third figure didn't care either. Listening to the pained sigh, her upper lip twitched, forcefully swallowing down an apology. This wasn't her fault. Turning away, the crumpled shadow, rose slowly eyes glowing red as it advanced on the third figure. Hearing the sound of feet scrambling to get away, Melinoe turned her back, staring through a small crack in the darkened cell.
"You're an 'Oracle' surely your powers go further than that."
Melinoe's voice carried no emotion. The Oracle began to sweat under the collar. Dodging a swipe, jumping to the right, she flashed the back of Melinoe's head a harsh glare.
"That's what I came.. Minos hasn't told you everything..! Beast, Adrion, he was used to get to you, this whole thing was a set up to get you..!"
Brow furrowing, Melinoe rose her hand causing the crumpled, withered figure to stop its pursuit against the Oracle. Turning around slowly, dark eyes shadowed, Melinoe stepped forward slowly almost expecting an attack. Looking down her noes, as the Oracle trembled trying to catch her breath. Melinoe let her guard for a moment, before she noticed the Oracle's eyes changing colour, snapping her fingers the withered figure began to attack once more, causing the Oracle to jump a foot in the air.
"Alright! Alright I won't show you!"
Rolling her eyes, the figure became still once more. Folding her arms across her chest.
"Go on then. I have oodles of time.."
Eyeing up the shadowed figure with a weary eyes, the Oracle, looked towards Melinoe. She could see the pain in her dark eyes. This was all of her fault; without bragging about Minos's demise Melinoe wouldn't be found cornered like a rat. Side stepping around the shadowed figure, the Oracle began to wring her hands, feeling awfully tongue tied. Melinoe was mixing into the shadows, her necklace creating an eerie glow around her hollowed cheek bones.
"Minos. He planned all of this. You meeting young Asterion was a test. After Minos found about the boy, he saw the sharp horns and teeth. Already Asterion had attacked half of the guards, who kept watch over Minos's wife. Asterion couldn't gain nourishment like every other child, his complexion made it exceedingly difficult."
Melinoe narrowed her eyes.
"What does that have to do with me..?"
Swallowing down a snappish remark, the Oracle continued.
"He wanted Asterion to kill you. You were a child, your birth not known to the mortal man. Seeing you as an easy target, he wanted to see just how Asterion would hunt down and kill his pray."
Melinoe felt her blood run cold. She remembered briefly playing with the young horned boy. How they would chase each other; he would never catch her almost as if he was torn. Running the tips of her fingers across her side, feeling the thick scar through her clothing. Hearing the small sigh from the Oracle, Melinoe rose her eyes seeing the conflicting emotions staring back at her.
"He did this to me.. didn't he?"
"Yes. Not by choice. Not harming you would mean punishment. Even with his twisted complexion he knew that. You were the first person not to show any fear towards him. He'd been locked up under ground for over five years before he was sent free. He never forgot you. Always keeping the females alive. They never pleased him."
Melinoe shook her head. Fighting back angry tears which threatened to spill. Marching towards the other side of the small cell, head pounding in confusion, she turned around sharply.
"This doesn't make any sense. How don't I remember any of this?"
Looking towards the heavy door, listening to the sound of the guards shifting around outside.
"Your father. After he found out what happened to you, he forbade you from ever going back outside. Taking away your memories of the outside world was his way of protecting you."
Leaning against the wall, body shuddering at the unnatural chill travelling down her spine, Melinoe couldn't believe it. Guilt began to fester within her lower stomach. She despised her father, even hated him for locking her up, away from the world where her mother would go. Tears began to slowly trickle down her cheeks. Hearing the sound of the Oracle's feet shuffling towards her, Melinoe spun around sharply eyes narrowed in anger.
"Get out. Get out!"
Screaming at the top of her lungs the shadowed figure, made sickening growling noises. Not needing to be told twice, the Oracle vanished on the spot, causing the shadowed figure to stumble falling over its own two feet. Shaking her head slowly, Melinoe snapped her fingers. Clothing pilled onto the floor. Stepping over what used to be her only companion, Melinoe flinched as pain travelled through her body. Eyes rolled down towards her neckline, watching in horror as the necklace began to burn causing her flesh to boil and blister. Clawing franticly at the necklace, trying to rip it away. A pulsing laugh travelled through her skull. Removing bloodied fingers from her throat, Melione began to claw at her hair, ripping it from its scalp.
"Shut up!"
Hollowing like a wounded beast, the laughter only began to intense, forcing Melinoe to roll onto her back, kicking her legs franticly in the air. Thriving, twisting, tears spilled down her face, the pain, blood and laughter vanished quicker than snapping fingers. Slowly, looking up towards the ceiling vision blurred from fallen tears. Staring down at her neck, fingers scrambling around, trying to feel any ruined flesh. Nothing. Sniffling, whimpering, Melinoe slowly pushed herself up. The door to her cell left open, handle gently tapping against the wall. No guards. Not even foot prints. Slowly stepping outside, eyes becoming larger than pools of fallen water.
She expected to be thrown onto the floor. Nothing. The ugly weight of Minos's power seemed to lessen; was he toying with her? Walking forward, body pressed against the wall expecting an attack at any unforgiving moment. Still nothing. No laughter from guards, over their crude jokes of women. Picking up the pace into a frantic jog, Melinoe stretched her arms, fingers curved as if being drawn towards the handle which rested innocently, waiting to be turned and opened.
"Roar!"
Freezing, body melting in sweat, Melinoe almost became part of the door, as she heard an all to familiar sound. Heart and body torn, part of wanting to leave while another hated hearing the sound of 'him' in pain. Scared. Minos's threat hung heavily over her head. Turning back towards the door, she grasped hold of the handle, twisting slowly before tugging the door open. Crete's breeze was no where near as comforting as the Underworld's. The moon hung heavy in the sky. A forming storm cloud slowly travelled across the rare calm sea. It was far to perfect.
"Roar!"
Stepping back slowly, tugging the door like a disobedient child, Melinoe closed the door making her way slowly to the sound of Beasts angered cries.
Terribly sorry for the late update. Hope this chapter makes up for it.
- Signed 'The Broken Ghost'