DamiRae Entries

by karencow

COLLECTION: My DamiRae Entry for Tumblr. JLDAW AU. Other AUs. Damian x Raven.

26. Olympians

Author's Notes:

Disclaimer: Greek Gods AU, Boring (so bad I feel asleep several times editing this), I just wanted this done.

Word Count: 16,465

~.~.~.~.~.~.

A grassy plane for miles and no houses in sight with a simple dirt road dividing the land. There was a big tree by the dirt road which had dense vines of leaves curtaining its trunk with some of its tressed leaves brushing the ground.

A sole willow tree in a quiet place. Far from people and civilization.

The sun was high up and the willow tree gave more than enough shelter from the scorching heat. When one looked closely at the ground beside the willow tree, one could see the hem of a white dress.

A black dot from the distance quickly approached the tree and as the black dot got closer, the figure inside the willow tree could hear the loud galloping of the horse and the loud command of a male voice.

The figure inside the willow tree was intrigued by the sudden disturbance within this quiet patch of land. A pale, frail feminine wrist stuck out from the curtain of leaves and then gently pushed them aside, as a woman in a white dress stepped out to take a peek at this passing traveler coming her way.

The black spec became clearer at this point. It was a man in a brown horse with bronze armor and a red cape flapping behind him. The scorching sun made his armor glisten and it looked rather stuffy.

The man approaching with caramel brown skin noticed a tree from the distance and hoped to stay under its shade as he had been riding in the heat for many hours now. His green eyes were surprised to see a womanly figure step out from under the tree's shade.

Even though he was very far he could see her pitch-black hair tied up in a high ponytail and how her long locks stopped way past her hips in soft curls. The man felt the helmet on his head was burning his scalp and decided that he must stop at that tree.

The woman's violet eyes locked into the figure that was nearing her. When he was about ten meters away his horse's gallops became a steady walk. He then removed his bronze helmet, revealing his black hair.

The man and woman stared at one another silently. And when he was five meters away he stopped his horse from proceeding any further and stepped down his mount.

"Greetings," He said as he guided his horse closer to the woman as he walked towards her. She nodded silently in response. "If I may be so bold, may I accompany you under the shade of the willow tree?"

"Well, this tree is not mine, traveler. It is not my place to say who enjoys its shade or not." She replied quietly and he smiled at her politely.

"Then if it is not a bother, may I enjoy its shade with you?" He asked gallantly and she smiled back at him.

"You seem to have traveled far. If you don't mind accepting an offer from a stranger, I have some food and water inside that can help replenish you." She offered and turned her head to the space inside the curtain of leaves.

"I would be so thankful that you are sharing your food with me." He replied with sincerity as he stepped onto the shade of the tree with a sigh.

His green eyes adjusted, to the rather dark shade that the tree provided, almost instantly. He studied the tree and gazed at its branches and leaves. It seemed to be a rather big willow tree, and it felt rather peculiar. His gaze then noticed varying rock sizes near the trunk. He noticed that there was a basket by one big rock and it had a lit candle. On either side of the big rock there were smaller rocks that could be used as a little makeshift seat.

"Did you expect company?" He asked her, feeling bad if he had disturbed her plans.

"No, I'm always here alone." Was her reply and he gazed upon her, whose violet eyes were looking at the candle's flame. She did not appear sad but he couldn't help but feel bad for her.

"Come, let me give you some food and water." She said as she approached the rock with the candle and took a seat on the smaller rock by its left.

The man noticed a low branch a little further away from the table and chair made of rocks. He approached it and wrapped his horse's reins on it as he heard clattering sounds from the woman in white. He stole a glance and observed her take a wooden plate and a cup and then bread and a small jug of water.

He approached her, baffled at all the things she carried in the woven basket.

"That seems quite heavy." He remarked as he sat across from her and she smiled.

"When you carry such a thing regularly it becomes quite light." She replied. "I apologize that it is nothing grand." She added as she pulled out a slice of cheese and offered it to him.

"No, I am very thankful for the food that you are willing to spare. I have been riding for a day and I cannot seem to find a town. I had already run out of water a few hours ago and could not even seem to find a river. So, please excuse me if I may seem like I have not eaten for hours." He humbly spoke, accepting the cheese and she gave him a small bow signaling to him that he may eat if he so wished, and he did.

She watched him take the first few bites and gulps of water heartily, that even she felt that the bread and cheese must have tasted like some grandly cooked and grilled meat.

"What brings you here in this place, traveler?" She inquired when he slowed down his eating pace.

He took a sip of water before replying. "I have traveled far and wide in search of something."

She chuckled, "What would be so worthy for you to have come to this desolate place?"

He looked at her seriously, green eyes that seemed to be alive and violet eyes that seemed to glow in the dark were staring at one another in a surprisingly welcoming silence.

"I seek for the Flower of Death." The traveler saw how the woman's violet eyes looked startled for a second and then avoided his gaze the next.

"Why would you seek such a thing- a legend?" She spoke as she crossed her legs and placed an elbow on her leg as she waved her wrist.

"Judging from your reaction, you have heard of it." He replied, setting the cheese in his hand down on the plate.

"Who has not heard of that legend?" She scoffed. "The Flower of Death, Hades' most treasured flower– of the Underworld." She scoffed again and rolled her eyes. "It is believed to grant death to whoever possesses it."

"But judging from your reaction you know what it truly does." He said unhurriedly and her eyes flickered to glance at his green eyes and she smiled thinly. Their gaze locked onto one another.

"Contrary to popular belief, it does quite the opposite, and I suppose it's ironic and it's likely how the wrong tale is widely spread," She observed his serious countenance. "But in truth, it saves people from the brink of death."

"Yes. It appears that you have heard the legend I have heard of- the truth. Which is why I am seeking the flower." He said the seriousness in his body was captivating to the woman.

"There are only a few who know of this version of that flower's purpose- and yet, there are no leads as to where to find it. How are you sure that it is here?" She inquired with a raised brow.

"Hades' Flower, that is what I seek, the other name for it." He spoke and he saw how her violet eyes widened. "It blooms by the gates of the Underworld." He added and he saw how her lips barely mouthed the same thing he just said.

She looked him in the eyes, she was mulling over the topic.

"I thought I was the only one who knows of this information." She confessed quietly after some time had passed.

"Have you sought it out before?" He inquired a little too excitedly and she merely sighed in reply.

"It would be best if you stop seeking this legend, I should know it does not end well for you or whoever you shall use it on." She sincerely advised.

"But I must find it. I just have to look for the gates of the Underworld." He spoke and she observed the stubbornness of the tan-skinned man before her, his bronze breastplate that reflected the pale woman across from him with the help of the light of a candle that she had lit. She couldn't help but internally sneer at her reflection.

"Aren't the markets in the bigger cities selling Hades' Flowers?" She mocked with a shake of her head, and he looked at her and placed a hand on the stone in front of him, the one they were using as a table.

"You and I know that the Flower of Death I seek is not those silly things they are selling." His tone was firm but not unfriendly and she simply shook her head.

"Traveler, I truly advise that you do not proceed any further, this quest you are doing will do you no good." She advised yet again but in a rather gentle manner, her gaze shifted at the horse behind her newfound companion.

He sighed aloud which brought her attention back to him, "My name is Damian." He spoke, putting a hand on his right chest and giving a respectful bow to the lady.

"Raven," She replied, extending her hand for him, and with his eyes locked on hers, he brought her fingers to his lips and placed a light kiss. "Very much unrelated to the God of Sun- Apollo."

Damian felt that the quick contact of their skin was rather intoxicating and that she exuded a certain smell that he could not identify. But ultimately, he chuckled at her comment and then stared at her with hope in his eyes. He gently released her pale hand when she retracted her wrist.

"I cannot believe I have met someone who knows this version of the legend- of the Hades Flower- the Flower of Death." He shook his head and chuckled and then gazed at the food she had offered. "Our meeting must be fate, a gift from the gods."

Raven slowly grabbed the jug of water and refilled his cup, "I still strongly think you should stop searching for the flower."

"No, I need it." His tone was firm and she gazed at the tree's trunk.

"Perhaps a cure for your lover?" She whispered and he did not reply. "I suppose I cannot stop you." She shrugged.

"Did you try looking for it?" He asked and when she glanced at him and then quickly looked back to the tree, Damian found himself looking at the cup of water. A sense of guilt flooded him.

"Such a thing would not matter." She finally replied.

"I have been searching for this flower for so many years now. Most of my leads have been nothing but dead ends and debunking different variations of the flower's origin. But this one," He tapped the stone. "This one is the real thing, I know it."

Raven tilted her head and her black hair swayed. "But looking for the Gates of Hades is an even more impossible feat." She whispered.

Damian sighed, "I haven't given up on this flower yet. Those gates, they must exist. I have gone to other suspected locations of the gates- I have failed, but I know there is something here- with this much talk of the gates being here." His certainty made Raven admire him, she smiled faintly.

"Then I wish you luck." She sincerely said. "You can rest here for a while, you seem tired. It isn't the most comfortable but there is a spot there by the tree's trunk that is relatively comfortable enough to nap on." Her slender finger pointed at a spot by the tree, and Damian nodded.

"Thank you." He whispered and finished his meal as he observed the woman who looked a bit sad.

Damian wondered why she knew of the flower, but it was also clear that she would not discuss it. He thought that maybe she had sought it out for a lover which she had now lost. Which would probably explain why she was here as if waiting for someone.

"Here… have some fruit," Raven said as she offered an apple.

"I think I will feed that to my horse." He said with a soft smile on his lips.

"Let me feed your horse then while you sleep." Raven smiled sincerely and he nodded, uncharacteristically accepting someone else's help.

"Don't worry about cleaning up, I insist you go and take a nap. You look extremely exhausted." She gestured to the tree.

Damian had been riding under the heat for hours, he could feel how tired he was at that moment. He excused himself to rest and went to the spot she had suggested. But he recognized how odd it was for him to easily follow her suggestion.

"Don't you want to remove your armor?" Raven inquired as she thought he looked rather stuffy, sleeping by the tree with heavy armor on.

His hand touched his bronze plate and with pressed lips, he said, "You're right, that would be for the best." He glanced at his surroundings with a sigh as he took the armor off. He placed the armor near him as he settled against the tree, he saw Raven clean up and he closed his eyes.

He didn't expect that he was that tired.

When Raven was finished cleaning up, she pulled three apples from her basket and approached his horse.

~.~.~.~.~

Damian woke a couple of hours later and there was no sign of the woman who had welcomed him. The basket with food was still by the larger flat stone.

He searched for the female in a daze, after a few seconds his drowsiness disappeared and he stood up, searching for Raven.

She was nowhere to be seen.

He was now on high alert.

Dread filled Damian and he quickly looked at where he had left his horse, and thankfully his horse was still there.

"Lady Raven?" Damian called out cautiously.

"Oh, you're awake," Raven said as she entered through the leaves.

He wanted to ask where she went but figured asking would be too much. But now he couldn't help but wonder if she was an enemy- that something was in the food and that this was all a trap.

"You slept so well; I didn't want to disturb you." She smiled politely.

"Oh, yes, it was rather unusual," Damian replied as he picked up his armor.

It indeed was rather odd to be as friendly as he was with her, and willingly eat a stranger's food. But he had been riding for days and he was very weary, and had run out of water a few hours ago too.

The circumstances made him more amicable than normal. At the very least, that was his sound conclusion.

"I think I should get going." He said once he got his armor on. Still, even if he was amiable because of his circumstances, it was still hard to find that flower and he needed to spare all the time he could to extend more time to search for it.

"Why don't you eat a bit more," Raven suggested and he gazed at the basket.

"It's the same as what you had a while ago. I never ever feel hungry when I come here." She spoke gently, a tinge of longing in her body.

"Then why do you bring food?" He could not help but ask with the smallest bit of him hoping that he could alleviate that longing she seemed to be emanating.

"Habit." She chuckled coldly.

Another wave of guilt came to him. The way she acted seemed like she was waiting for someone under this tree. Likely a love that was lost.

He kept his silence but walked towards the rock and sat.

"I suppose eating would be the best." He replied and she smiled as she opened her basket and gave him the same food she had to offer.

Even if his rationality was telling him that she could not be trusted, he could not help but trust her. Damian ate and she smiled looking at him, a longing in her eyes that he could not help but detect.

She smiled faintly, "Are you serious about looking for Hades' Flower?" She spoke as she packed the food once he was done eating the second time around.

"Yes, I must find it no matter what." He responded to which she sighed instantly.

"I see…" She mumbled and packed her things quietly, "For the first time, the food that I brought was eaten. I must say: thank you." She glanced at Damian with such sincere eyes that he felt guilty again. And yet, he was very certain that she must have been mourning a lover and hadn't moved on from said lover. It seemed like all the clues pointed out to such.

"It is rather disheartening to return home with the same heavy basket…" She shook her head a little, "Well, I suppose you plan on going now."

Damian nodded his head but quietly studied her. He then picked up his helmet and went to his horse. "Did you rest well, boy?" He nuzzled his face against the horse's head. Then he guided his steed out to the dirt road. He could feel the lady's firm gaze on his back.

He turned his head to meet her gaze as he stroked the neck of his horse.

"Do you wish to find it?" She asked again and he couldn't help but furrow his brows at her repeated question.

"Yes, I am certain." His voice was tender but firm and she sighed aloud again.

"Alright." The sad gaze was replaced with an eerie gentleness. "There is a village over there, it is quite far, it might take you half a day to reach the village, but that is the closest village here." She pointed behind him to the horizon, but there was no path from where they were currently to this supposed village that she was kindly sharing about.

Despite that, he nodded, thankful for her help, "Thank you." He said and was about to sit up on his steed.

"Wait." She suddenly said as she took a step forward. Her gaze no longer held sadness. "If you are truly hellbent on looking for the flower and Hades' Gates, then come meet me there in six days." She pointed in the opposite direction from the village. "Till you find the foot of a cliff, with a line of Cypress trees. But for now, go stay in the village for a few days. It will give you time to think this through. Go and rest and if you are certain and still want to find the flower, come look for me by the cliff."

The man before her was skeptical, to say the least, but he supposed, with the way she was acting, it seemed like she knew something about the flower. Maybe she even knew where it was.

"Why don't we go there now?" He ventured and a small smile was on her lips as she shook her head.

"No, I insist that you go and rest. It is very clear that you are tired and quite frankly, it shows…" She wiggled her nose a little bit to his surprise and he couldn't help but feel a bubbling feeling go up from his chest as he contained a chuckle as best as he could. "I hope you don't think I am rude." She quickly added.

He laughed heartily at her small and yet, oddly adorable voice. "Oh dear, I must smell really bad, I have been out for days. I am now very much surprised that you were able to endure my sourness."

Raven's ears were pinkish and so were her cheeks and it made Damain's green eyes sparkle under the sunlight. "Well, I suppose a rest and a rather much-needed bath is preferred." He got on his steed and as he looked down on her, she stole a glance at him.

She mumbled, "You don't smell that bad…"

His laughing ceased quite abruptly and was replaced with a confidence that fitted someone who ruled, "I don't know if I should trust you. If you aren't lying about the village, at the very least I can try and get more information, and if it doesn't pan out for me, then I suppose your offer isn't a bad thing. After All, it is a lead." He smiled at her.

Raven gulped and nodded, "You are not wrong… It seems as though you are at the winning end of this bargain."

"If we do meet again, I will try my best to be more hygienic." A small smile was on his lips as he teased her.

She pressed her lips tightly trying to control the smile that was fighting to bloom on her face.

Damian leaned towards his horse's neck, "Well, boy, I think the bath extends to you too." He glanced at the lady who was pouting and he smiled. "Well, till we meet again, Lady Raven. It was a pleasure to have met you." He could not deny that he was tempted to wink at her.

He did not expect that she was capable of bringing out such a teasing nature from him. Little did he know that she also was surprised that the man before her would laugh at her little comment.

"It might take you half a day to get to the village." She reminded him and he glanced at her, the playfulness in his bright eyes was calling her.

"I think I can do it in less time." He smiled, "I wouldn't smell any worse than I already do." Her lips parted and she let him continue. "Don't worry I know you didn't mean to be mean."

Her ears at this point were bright red. "Meet me there at about midday if you can, I will wait till sunset." She mumbled.

Damian nodded and said his farewells.

~.~.~.~.~

In six days, Damian went to where the strange woman told him to go. The line of Cypress trees was not difficult to find, they stood out like a sore thumb. It was odd to find Cypress trees by the foot of a long stretch of cliff and without any body of water close by. The frown on the nicely chiseled face of the man was clear from miles away.

It was like an odd fever dream, even his encounter with the woman felt like that now that he thought about it.

He glanced around and did not find the long black-haired woman which made him ponder her existence.

He recalled the day he met her, particularly when he arrived in the town that she had suggested that he go to.

He immediately looked for an inn and once he had freshened up and rested, he had gone and asked about the flower to no avail. And it was even odder when he asked about the peculiar woman that he had met under the willow tree.

"The lady in white under the willow tree?" One man had whispered his face growing pale, "She-she, they say she is a ghost."

And for a day or two, he was more curious about the woman than the flower that he had spent years hunting down.

"You decided to come." He suddenly heard her voice, bringing him back to the present, but did not see the woman and searched for her with his eyes.

Damian spotted the familiar pale wrist of the woman behind a Cypress tree. With furrowed brows, he approached the tree and was startled to see a small cave perfectly hidden behind the big tree, fit for a sole person to pass through, particularly someone of his stature.

When he got closer, he was startled to see the woman holding a sword, "What's going on?" The uncertainty in his voice was quite clear.

"Do you still want to find that flower?" She asked him with a small tilt of her head exuding a cockiness.

"Yes." He replied instantly and she smiled and nodded at his response.

"Well, then follow me." Raven turned and entered the cave and he followed her, bringing his shield and sword.

He was surprised to see that the cave was significantly bigger than what the entrance would make you assume. But what shocked him was the ease with which she carried her sword.

"Quite odd to see a woman with a sword." He remarked and she chuckled and turned her head at him.

"I suppose that is why I am here in the first place. In here no one judges me for waving around a sword." Then suddenly she swung a sword in the dark. Damian blinked and barely noticed a black thin figure.

When she slashed it, it gave a ghostly yelp.

Raven turned her head to her guest, "I assumed those are Hades' cronies, though I cannot be sure. The deeper we go, the more these things cluster and attack. I think they are here protecting something."

"The Gates." He breathed with her explanation and she gave him a small shrug.

"Perhaps." She turned to look at the darkness, opposite from where they had come from. "The flower… it grows there, just…I never saw any gates."

Damian raised his brow, "And what are you doing here? How did you stumble upon this place?"

She smiled faintly, "I was like you looking for this phantom flower. The flower of Death– Hades' Flower, whatever it is you call it. And whatever properties it is said to have. I chased all those many versions and iterations of that flower. Now, I seek to see the Lord himself, I figured the more I attack his men, then maybe this God would finally come down or up," A playful glint in her eyes, "And see me."

She turned to look at him fully. "Spoiler alert, I have been here attacking these ghouls for a while now, and this God of the Underworld has not graced me with his divine presence."

Damian frowned, it seemed that whatever it is that she wanted from the God of The Underworld, it was something important. The only thing that made sense was a dead lover, though in all honesty, it could be a parent. But the way she prepared food and waited at a sole willow tree– it seemed quite far-fetched that she would be longing for a parent.

He had seen the kind of longingness she had displayed at the tree and here– with women who lost their lovers on the battlefield.

"I don't know why you want that flower but I assume it is for a lover." She suddenly said and he couldn't help but chuckle as their thoughts seemed to align and he vaguely smiled in response. "Well, let's go." She tilted her head towards the darkness.

In the silence that followed it was clear that she was more than willing to help him, in fact, she was going to guide him to the flower.

Raven crouched behind a big rock and his eyes followed her while studying the darkness behind her.

"If we want to see in the dark, we'd need this." She pulled out a lamp and he was surprised. "I've been here long enough to know what we'd need."

"And what would that be?" He ventured to ask and she smiled.

"All we need is a weapon and light." Her violet eyes glazed beyond the darkness. "These creatures, they do not really put up much of a fight. Their attacks and movements become quite predictable with only a few encounters. On occasions, there are some worthy opponents here and there."

Damian looked beyond the darkness too, hoping to glimpse what they would be fighting. "You have been clearly in this cave for way too long."

She glanced at him, but it felt like she studied every little inch of his face by that mere one-second stare. "Eventually, some things become so habitual it is like breathing."

He detected the faintest sorrow in her tone, but perhaps it was all in this head.

"We should get going, the deeper we go, the more they cluster and the higher the chances of being attacked." She reminded him. "And I will admit, I am not sure how deep we have to go for those flowers to appear. I do not exactly come here for those."

"Anymore?" He quipped, and she glanced at him with a hooded gaze but she did not reply.

Raven walked into the cave in small steps, using the light to guide their way, "We must not walk in long strides, it is better to keep this pace, especially since you are new to this place. The darkness sometimes feels like it will consume you." She studied him.

"Are you trying to scare me?" He chuckled not one bit afraid.

She shook her head, "No, it is better that you know this now. The exit is, after all, closer, if you wish to leave."

His eyes left her face and he looked beyond, "I will not leave this place until I get that flower."

Her sigh was loud enough to echo through the caves.

"If that is your wish." She turned her head, sword still in hand.

The two had been walking for hours, and they had slashed a number of those almost skeletal creatures that would come their way. And they knew just as little of each other as when they had started this trek into the abyss.

They both knew that being as quiet as can be was preferred so that they could hear the slightest movements in the dark. They did not say it aloud but it only took a single glance for them to understand such a thing.

"It seems you are not mistaken. This adventure is taking longer than expected." He finally remarked, slashing the grayish creature and kicking it as it turned to dust.

She chuckled as she evaded one potentially good opponent and then slashed it before answering, "I think that is quite the funny remark, as you have been searching for this flower for far longer. A little trekking in the darkness is not scaring you, is it?"

The teasing tone in her voice did not escape him and the curl on the corners of his mouth did not escape her eyes, even in the darkness of the cavern.

"Well, I hope this walk into the darkness is not fruitless." He smiled at her.

"I promise you; it won't be." She turned her head away from him.

He did not comment any further.

She took a step forward and he felt that something had changed. "I think we are near." She squinted.

He furrowed his brows as he too squinted, observing the darkness. His brow twitched and he grabbed her wrist pulling her to him. She crashed into his chest and he swung his sword.

"Sorry," He pushed her gently off of him, looking down at her. Her eyes seemingly glowing and he blinked and she turned away. He thought that perhaps, what he thought was her eyes glowing, was an illusion because of the dark.

"There." She pointed and he followed where her finger was pointing at, but he could barely see anything.

He heard her chuckle, "Trust me, it is there." She glanced at him briefly. And indeed, her eyes were not glowing, but it was an unusual shade.

"Perhaps it is because I have been in these caves long enough, I am used to the darkness. But there is a faint glow there." She explained as she continued to walk slowly to the direction she pointed at. "The glow will be clearer and the flower will be there."

"Only one?" He asked and she glanced at him with a little shake of her head.

"If you are really lucky you might get a few more, but I rarely see a cluster of those flowers. Finding one with how long you have searched– is more than enough." She gently said.

"I wasn't complaining." He followed her, keeping an eye out on their surroundings.

"I know." She replied.

"I truly just need one." He reaffirmed and she stole a glance.

She stopped, "Are you certain that you want this flower? You still have the chance to turn back."

He shook his head firmly, "I need to leave with that flower." His tone was quite stern.

Another sigh from the lady's lips, "If you say so."

They headed towards where she claimed she saw a glow and after a few meters and minutes of walking straight ahead, he could faintly see a bluish glow.

"There." He said breathlessly as he pointed, his forearm close to her face. Her eyes studied his protruding veins before following his golden arm to where his fingertip was pointing at.

"See, I told you: you will find the flower." Her lips curled a little and he watched her long lashes.

"Thank you." He looked at her, the sincerity so very clear in those green eyes that Raven found herself rather startled.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Go and collect your reward." She tilted her head towards the faint glow.

Her companion nodded and he jogged his way there. He froze a few feet away from the flower.

"What? Is something wrong?" She asked, covering for him, sword ready for what lurked in the dark.

"It's–" He took a step forward and she observed him. With shaking knees, he moved closer to the flower.

Its petals were three shades of blue, the innermost part being the lightest while the tips were the darkest shade. It seemed to glow.

He turned his head at her, eyes surprised.

"There are about a handful here." Damian said and Raven moved closer to him, back still against him unable to see the sheer glee in his eyes.

"Well, it seems that you are indeed lucky." Raven studied the flowers briefly.

Damian knelt to a flower beside a rock, "It is beautiful," His hands were shaking as it neared the plant.

"Well, as much as I want you to take your sweet time, it would be better if you hurry a little." The woman urged.

"Will you not take one?" He glanced up at her for a moment and then returned his gaze on the thing in his hands, studying the flower with silent excitement.

She shook her head, "You should know, that flower– it doesn't do what you think it does." Her voice was low and as if in pain.

He took note of the vague sadness in her eyes and tone, "Don't worry about that." He studied her lips that parted a little but she said nothing.

"I have no use for it anymore…" She looked back into the darkness covering for him. Making sure they wouldn't be attacked by the things that they had been fighting to get to these mysterious flowers.

He honestly felt bad for her. He pulled out a gold hilted dagger and carefully uprooted the flower. "I only really need one. I shouldn't take more than this."

Raven observed how seriously and carefully he tended the flower, softening up the ground with a significantly big radius. Her eyes glowing in the darkness. And she lets him take his time.

"I am stealing from Hades'- one is seriously more than enough." He explained absent-mindedly.

The woman nodded, not that he noticed, "I think he would not mind."

He turned to her and put a halt on his task, their eyes locked.

Her eyes no longer aglow.

"I've been here long enough for him to be annoyed at me for killing his men– I assume they are his men–" She waved her sword a bit with a small move of her wrist, "But he has not graced me with his presence." She shrugged and the scene of those shoulders rising a little bore into Damian's green eyes.

"I've even taken one of those flowers– he still did not show up." She added and Damian detected the slightest hint of annoyance in her eyes before she turned to look at their surroundings.

It really did seem that she tried to use the flower to save someone. In the very least that was what the young man had thought. But he would not pry, it was not his business. And so, he continued with his task.

He successfully uprooted the plant, not even one root was cut from how careful Damian was.

"You should know, that flower doesn't last very long once you leave this cave." Raven shared.

Damian nodded, standing up as he took a small pouch and nestled the roots of the plants carefully in it. The stem and the flower poking out from the pouch, "Thank you." He looked at her.

"I hope it works for you." She couldn't help but say and he smiled at her.

"Thank you, again." He said standing beside her, just staring at her pale face. And the two stayed like that for a moment until they heard a rustling sound.

"I'm glad to help." She turned her head to where the sound was, her stance ready for a fight.

One slash here and another there. And the two were on their way, fighting to the exit that was also their entrance. Damian took extra care of the flower that he strapped to his chest with every slash and ghoul that came their way.

Raven laughed seeing him with his shield on his back and his free arm carefully cradling the flower.

"It's like you're holding your child." She shook her head.

He gazed down at the blue flower and smiled, "I suppose I see it that way."

The woman's violet eyes were fixated on something, "The exit is there." She said using the tip of her sword to point to the faint light.

"Oh." He muttered, he kind of wished to spend a little more time with the woman, maybe get to know her. Their adventure in this cave was rather quiet– but it was a stillness that brought peace in him. He welcomed the silence and just enjoyed her presence.

But the two met by chance and she happened to help him with his quest. And now everything has come to an end.

He moved forward toward the light and took a few steps more before realizing that Raven did not move from her spot.

He turned, "Are you not leaving, Lady Raven?" His eyes widened at the sadness that was on her face.

She shook her head, "No, I still plan to annoy Hades, perhaps if I killed more of these creatures he would finally show up."

Damian's green eyes studied her, every curve and inch of her body as if he was memorizing her and also seeing through her soul.

"I understand." He glanced at the faint light in the distance and then turned to look at her. "I hope you find what you are looking for."

She nodded at him and smiled as he too did the same in response.

As much as he wanted to see her again, they were from different parts of the world. The likelihood of meeting each other was so slim.

He took one step forward and then stopped, "Who knows Lady Raven–" He turned to her, "Perhaps you've already met him."

Raven laughed so openly that he was startled for a moment.

"Who knows, perhaps." A bright smile was on her lips.

~.~.~.~.~.~

It was the laughter and the smile on her lips when they parted that haunted Damian for longer than he'd admit.

He'd often think of that chance encounter. Of a woman under the shade of a willow tree. Who told him to go to a town and rest and if he had not changed his mind about his long quest, then she'd meet him and help him with that very quest that he had wasted so much of his youth on.

He recalled when he went to town and inquired about that woman and the mystery that seemed to surround her. The possibility of her being a ghost still imprinted in his mind.

But his short adventure with her proved to him that she was very much alive.

He admitted that he even doubted her existence and her willingness to assist him immensely at first. But he had to take the chance and see her offer through. He had traveled far and wide for that flower.

And it was fruitful.

The black-haired woman named Raven haunted his thoughts as a result.

So, it was quite a surprise when he saw her on the streets of Athens.

Damian was a great distance away when he noticed her and even so, she still caught his attention.

Her black hair was up in a high ponytail with some braids, and her back bent a little as she studied a stall. Her dress was the color of muted purple figs that reached the dusty ground. There was an elegance in the way she stood that he had just noticed now.

But he wondered if he was mistaken. It couldn't be her. This was miles and miles away from where they had met.

There was a taller man with black hair and blue eyes who approached her. He placed a black cloak over her shoulder and she looked up with a warm smile on her lips.

Damian was taken aback by Raven's gentleness. The blue-eyed man was wearing a white tunic that ended above his knees with a streak of blue on the hem, his cloak was longer and was a darker shade of blue. He leaned into Raven's ear and whispered something, she smiled at him and nodded as she adjusted the cloth over her shoulders.

The man then leaves her.

Damian wore a dark green tunic that also ended above his knees with some gold designs on the hem and even on the extra fabric that was slung on one of his arms. This was a far cry from what he had worn when they had first met.

"My lord, is something the matter?" A man beside him in black inquired, and Damian glanced at him.

"I do not know yet." He said as he took a step forward to the black-haired, violet-eyed woman. The only one in his eyes.

When Damian got closer, he realized that she was studying accessories, particularly hair accessories. A stray black strand slipped forward and her pale fingers gently held it so that it may not obstruct her view.

Her black brows were furrowed, "Hmm…" Her other hand touched a silver hair comb adorned with violet, purple, and blue gems.

"I think it would suit you." He said standing beside her, the violet-eyed woman tilted her head to his side with a small frown, but when those same eyes studied the man, the frown became a teasing smile.

She stood up, "How surprising to see you, Damian." Her smile was soft, but nothing compared to how she smiled at the black-haired and blue-eyed man mere moments ago.

"Lady Raven." He placed a hand over his chest and gave her a bow which was followed by her soft laughter. The same laughter that haunted him since they parted.

"How was it?" She asked him, turning her body to fully face him. His brow raised and so did hers, the corners of her lips curled, "The flower?"

Realizing what she meant, his eyes widened a little but the way she was studying him made him feel like his soul was being evaluated.

"It is thriving." He answered and the clear confusion she had startled him a little.

"That is impossible, that flower can only grow at–" Her eyes briefly studied their surroundings, "That place."

He smiled; her cautiousness was something he couldn't help but admire. He turned to where he had come from while extending a hand. "Would you like to see it for yourself then?"

For a moment, she stared into his green eyes then looked down at his extended hand, her hand already raised to hold him, "But my companion, how will he find me?" She turned her head in the direction where her companion had gone.

"Do not worry, my men will inform him where you are." He said, glancing at a man in black and nodding, Raven followed his gaze.

Damian took a step forward and she followed his lead.

"Oh, in that case…" And she described her companion when the man was close enough. And by the way, she described her companion, it seemed that she memorized everything about him.

It did not sit well with Damian.

"He is like the sun, the center of the universe." Raven had a small little smile and her tone was almost laughing. Like the two had a secret that only they would understand.

Again. It did not sit well with the green-eyed man.

Once she was finished, her free hand touched his fingers that were holding her other hand, "Is it truly alive?"

He realized that her touch was so cold, his brows furrowed but he smiled and said, "Yes."

The two smiled at one another and he bowed his head a little, "Let me show you."

The two walked to Damain's mansion and he noted how Raven studied every little corner as they passed through. Pure amusement in her eyes.

"Is this your first time in Athens?" He inquired and she glanced at him.

That small teasing little smile on her lips again, "You could say that."

He nodded, she had always been rather cryptic since he met her, "And how do you like it thus far?"

She stopped and her sparkling eyes stared at their surroundings, "Alive."

He chuckled at her words and she added, "The bustling of life. The interactions of each person. The subtle exchanges and glances– everything– it's lively."

He studied her, their hands still connected. Her cold fingertips trace his warm calloused hand. "Quite lively." She glanced up at him from under her long black lashes.

Damian cleared his throat. He was truly enamored by her.

The two would eventually arrive at their destination, his not-so-humble abode. Raven's surprise was clear as she remained planted on the road as she gazed at the enormous building.

"I think I should be calling you lord." She quietly laid her eyes on him and he smiled, shaking his head.

"Oh, please don't," Damian insisted gently.

Her eyes returned to the building, "I think it is time that I go."

Damian chuckled, "Oh gods, please don't." He shook his head and her eyes were on him again with a thin smile on her lips.

He tugged at her wrist a little, "Did you not come here to see the flower?"

Raven's eyes sparkled at the reminder, "Yes, why I did."

With a smile he guided her into his home, carefully and slowly weaving their way into where he had grown the flower while still holding her hand. And she had no complaints as he did so.

When she saw the flower on an elevated square ledge with dirt around it, she released her hold of his hand as she rushed to the platform. The tip of the flower was at the same level as the middle of her torso. She circled it once, eyes locked on the blue flower before she stopped and bent a little, fingers hovering around the flower but not close enough to touch it.

"This is impossible," Her violet eyes appeared to shake a little as she glanced up at Damian. "This flower cannot grow outside of Hades' domain."

Raven's interest and shock were so very clear. In Damian's eyes, it kind of reminded him of a child who discovered something new for the first time and they just find it so mind-boggling.

"Well, it is not the case." He softly spoke, eyes locked on her as he watched her amazement with this anomaly.

"How quite odd." She remarked again and they both stayed silent. Damian signaled his men to quietly leave them.

"Your companion, who is he?" He would come to ask after letting her be lost in her thoughts for a few minutes.

Raven was surprised by the sudden voice that echoed when she had unconsciously gotten used to the silence. She blinked and then glanced at him with a teasing glint in her eyes, "Oh?" She placed a hand on the ledge that surrounded the flower.

"Well, that would depend." She studied his furrowed brows and continued, "Sometimes he is my brother, my cousin, my lover, my husband." She wanted to laugh seeing his confused face get even more confused at her words. She contained her laughter, however the intent of wanting to laugh did not go unnoticed by Damian.

"It depends on the city we are traveling to." She glanced back at the flower's petals, "I was kidnapped once."

Raven properly stood up, placing her hands behind her, her black hair swaying a little, "It was why my companion thought it would be better to pretend to be spouses in bigger cities."

The two studied each other, and then Damian asked, "Why would anyone kidnap you?"

She smiled at him coyly, "Isn't it because I am quite the beauty?"

He shook his head laughing a little, "Oh, how humble of you to say that."

Then her laughter accompanied his laughter. Damian could not help but think that it was rather nice to hear their voices blend.

"But it's true, they saw me and thought that I would be a great wife." She shrugged as if it was no big deal.

Before he could respond another man spoke as he entered the space, he knew the voice as one of his subordinates.

"My lord, the lady's companion–" A man in black approached Damian calmly but could not finish his sentence.

"Raven!" Came the hurried call of a man unfamiliar to Damian. He couldn't help but frown as he turned a little to the hall to have a better view of the intruder.

"Raven!" The blue-eyed, black-haired man came into view. Damian's frown deepened at how the stranger addressed Raven without the word lady before her name.

Blue eyes met green ones, but the intruder only brushed Damian off, when those blue eyes met Raven's violet eyes. The newcomer walked to her with a sigh. The relief was clear when his eyes laid on her person.

"Jon." Raven smiled, the expression on her face relaxed but bright. "This is the flower I was talking to you about."

Jon seemed to have just noticed the flower that Raven was standing in front of, and he glanced at the blue thing. And then his eyes moved to the man wearing green.

"You must be Damian." Jon simply stated and Damian looked surprised and turned to look at Raven for a moment.

As if recalling something Jon took long strides to Raven as he said "I'm glad you are fine!" He hugged her tightly.

There was an internal fight inside Damian that came about because of his guests' affectionate exchange but he knew he had no place to be upset over how the two interacted. And thus, he schooled his face to perfect indifference as the two embraced one another.

Raven suddenly laughed and patted Jon's shoulder, "Don't worry, I told him about our little roles."

Jon pulled away, clearly confused as he looked at Raven. She simply smiled at him and he nodded as he looked back to Damian and bowed.

"I see that she trusts you with this information. Please keep it between us. We have not experienced a third kidnapping attempt thus far, since we've used that system." Jon simply supplied the information nonchalantly.

"A third?" Damian raised a brow to look between Raven and Jon.

"Oh? I only mentioned that one time? Unfortunately, it happened twice, nothing we couldn't handle really." Raven shrugged and Jon sighed.

Jon glanced down at the flower and then at Raven saying, "That is impossible. I recall you said that the flower cannot live long outside of Hades' domain."

"Well, I stand here now, corrected," She gazed at Jon and he stared back.

To Damian it seemed like the two were having a conversation with their eyes alone. A show of how close the two are.

"You are right," Jon suddenly said, placing his hands behind him too. He was much calmer now than when he had just arrived. "Raven, are you staying?"

She looked confused and he added, "Something came up. I must go. I am glad nothing untoward happened to you."

"I can take care of myself." She told him, but to Damian, it seemed like a gentle reminder for the other man.

"Yes, I know." He agreed and the two stared at one another again in silence.

Damian was displeased with the little glances between them.

"I will stay. I would still like to know more about how this flower was raised." Raven replied, glancing at Damian.

"Alright." Jon sighed and looked at Damian too. "I hope you take good care of her."

Damian's brows were furrowed, "Of course."

Jon did not have to ask Damian this and Damian could not help but feel insulted.

"Please, she is really important," Jon stressed, the worry clear in his voice and on his face.

Damian frowned and Raven broke the tension with her laughter.

"Don't worry about him, Damian. He is overreacting, I can take care of myself." Raven said then afterward placed a hand on Jon's chest, pushing him gently while shaking her head in disapproval.

Damian secretly disapproved of their closeness too.

"Well then, Jon, you said something came up." Raven reminded Jon who blinked and his gaze darkened.

"That's right." He stared at her intensely then turned to Damian with a warmer gaze. "I will have a carriage pick Raven up before the sun sets." He turned to Raven. "That should be more than enough time for you, right?"

Raven studied him quietly for a second or two and then smiled, "More than enough."

Jon nodded and Damian quietly studied the two. They seemed to have done this quite often. It seemed that the two also had some form of system in place already.

Damian wondered if Jon was her resurrected lover. The thing she must have been wanting Hades to return to her.

But he can't just ask about such a thing. It was none of his business to begin with.

"I won't be seeing you out," Raven said, walking closer to Damian who was pulled away from his thoughts.

Jon shook his head and chuckled as he looked at Damian again, "I understand. Please be good to her. She is rather scary when angered."

Damian studied Raven who looked calm despite the accusation. And from his interactions with her, he found it hard to believe that she would have a temper when angered. He was certain she didn't know how to be angry based on their interactions thus far.

Raven truly did not send Jon off. The poor man had to go out by himself. When Jon left, Damian and Raven got to know more about each other after discussing how Damian was able to raise the flower in detail.

Damian was currently giving her a tour of his compound. He explained every pillar, tapestry, and even the origins of the stones used. At the moment, he was explaining why the pathway in his garden was made the way it was when one of his subordinates came to them.

"My lord, a carriage has arrived for Lady Raven." The man in black robes bowed.

Damian glanced outside and noticed the sun was starting to set. Jon had sent a carriage before sundown just as he promised. It seemed that Jon was the type to keep his word.

"Oh?" Raven too glanced at the sun and faintly smiled then chuckled. "I didn't notice how quickly the time passed." She glanced at Damian, "I enjoyed your company." She raised a hand to him and he held it. He gently brushed his lips on the back of her hand.

"No, the pleasure was mine." He answered, his eyes locked on her face which did not hold any emotion.

Still holding her hand, he took a step forward and smiled at her politely, "Let me escort you to your carriage, Lady Raven."

She responded with a slight nod of her head and the two made their way out of Damian's mansion. The carriage looked quite plain. He helped her up the carriage, something he was known not to do for any woman.

"I enjoyed my time with you," Raven said again, drawing the curtain away from the window to talk to the green-eyed man.

The smile on his lips was charming her, that much she had to admit.

"I would love to talk more about your hobby…" She found herself saying and was surprised momentarily at her own words. He noticed the brief emotion on her face before it was masked by neutrality.

"I would love to have you here again." He answered, pretending that he had not seen the surprise that washed her face.

She smiled at his words, "That would be lovely. I shall have Jon arrange another meeting on my behalf."

Raven missed the annoyance that passed on Damian's face at the mention of Jon. He smiled tightly and said, "It seems that he is quite an important friend."

For a moment her eyes looked distant as if recalling something, then she stared at him intently, "If it weren't for Jon I would refuse to go out. I am not quite familiar with…" She paused, "The customs, so I often rely on him for such menial tasks."

Damian frowned, as he analyzed her words. She was truly odd.

"Lady Raven, Master Jon instructed us that we must depart before the sun sets." The guard that came with the driver spoke and she chuckled at the information he gave.

"Of course." She answered back with a little wave of her wrist. She noticed the displeasure in Damian's eyes. "You must understand, Jon is looking out for me in fear that another kidnapping might happen." Her tone was light and joking.

Damian raised a brow at her, "Oh? How often do you get kidnapped?" He crossed his arms.

"With a beauty like me?" She smiled teasingly, a playful glint dancing in her violet eyes and Damian fought the smile that wanted to appear on his lips. "Unfortunately, more often than I'd like."

Before he could respond to her, the guard spoke again, "Master Jon would have picked you up himself but he is still rather occupied, my lady." The guard bowed and Raven waved her wrist, the playfulness in her eyes gone.

"Oh, your master just seems to love to overreact. He knows I can take care of myself." She spoke casually, staring at the guard and when she looked at Damian again, he had cocked a brow at her as if challenging her words.

She smiled at him, "Oh, it is true, you have seen me with a sword."

Damian's face brightened up at the recollection and he chuckled, "Oh, how could I forget." He shook his head.

Raven's eyes glanced at the guard, "I should take my leave, I wouldn't want them in trouble." She sighed and Damian nodded. She studied his abode and his guards in black behind him before saying her farewells again. With a commanding voice, she told the driver to go.

Damian watched the carriage roll away for a few minutes before putting his hands behind him and turning around to enter his huge home.

"My lord, would you like us to tail the lady's carriage until they pass the city borders safely?" One of his guards asked and Damian stopped in his tracks for a moment in thought.

He nodded, "I think that would be best. I would not want anything untoward to happen to her. After all, she is my guest."

Then proceeded to enter his home and made his way to the flower that he painstakingly searched for years. He could still recall the black-haired woman who was here studying the flower as if she was still in the room.

He stood there and took care of the blue flower. His chance meeting with Raven replayed in his mind too.

Suddenly, "My lord!" One of his subordinates came barging in and breaking his reverie with his panic-stricken voice.

Damian raised a displeased brow at the man but kept quiet.

"The lady was ambushed!" The man reported and Damian frowned. He placed the pot he was holding on a table nearby and stalked out of the room.

"Get me my sword and my horse." He commanded another man who was walking toward him.

Was Raven really that beautiful? He couldn't help but wonder.

"Yes, my lord." Another guard replied as he ran out of the house quickly.

The first guard continued his report, "We have the carriage surrounded and the bandits have not attacked nor have we."

Damian nodded and by the time he got out of his house his horse and sword were ready for him. "Let us depart." He said once he sat on his steed, the same one that met Raven that one sunny day.

~.~.~.~.~.~

When Damian arrived, he witnessed a very odd stand-off. His men surrounded the bandits who were surrounding the carriage. The driver and guard were guarding her door. And as if Raven knew he had arrived, the door to the carriage opened and she stepped out. She glanced at him almost instantly.

"You did not need to have your men follow me. I could take care of these people myself." Her eyes seemed to glow, but it must be a trick of the setting sun.

"And yet, you have not dealt with them." He said, dismounting his brown horse, the bandits' eyes on him. And the fear was clear, it seemed they realized whose men had them surrounded.

"But you put so much effort into keeping me safe." She smiled ambiguously. "And besides, I would like to be the damsel in distress from time to time." Her tone was teasing and so was the small smile on her lips but her gaze was firm and observant.

"I didn't think you would want to be a damsel in distress." He approached her casually.

The bandits were still unmoving, but it felt like they weren't there to begin with.

Damian stood beside Raven and faced the bandits.

"So, what do you want with this lady?" Damian asked as he glanced at one of them. He frowned momentarily when he noticed the man shaking and that his comrades did not even move a millimeter from their stance as if frozen in place. And there was something about their shadows that seemed peculiar.

The man that Damian was looking at moved. His knees shook as he sighed aloud. "Look, we just want the girl. Our master saw her and wanted to have her. He will treat you well, my lady." The man bowed and Raven glanced at Damian as if to say, 'I-told-you-so'.

The man beside her shook his head and remarked cockily, "Well, I hope you didn't put this show just to prove a point."

Raven laughed at his words but was cut short by a yell, "What kind of spell is this!" One of the bandits said as he fell to his knees gasping.

Damian and Raven both raised a brow at the man.

"What do you mean?" Damian asked, narrowing his eyes at the fallen man, his eyes scrutinizing each bandit. He noticed how they were sweating as they stood frozen.

"I won't follow any of you and won't hunt you down." Raven suddenly cut in and somehow, they were released from whatever spell rendered them immobile.

Damian's head snapped in her direction, wondering if she had anything to do with their predicament.

"What kind of magic was that?" One hoarsely whispered and Raven raised a brow unamused.

Then rolled her eyes and glanced at Damian with a teasing smile, "I told you that I was quite the beauty."

Her remark made him forget his suspicions about her. The gentle smile on her lips was rather distracting and indeed, she was beautiful, but he could not admit that as it seemed like the woman was a tad vain. He didn't want to fuel that vainness and her lack of situational awareness. This was a dangerous situation and yet she was joking around.

"Raven!" A familiar voice yelled in urgency that made Damian frown.

From the horizon, with the setting sun behind the figure on a white horse– was Jon.

Damian noticed how Raven shook her head a little and sighed exasperatedly.

And the next moment, Jon was by her side cupping her face, "Are you hurt?" His blue eyes wide and Raven struggled to free herself from his grasp.

"Don't be so dramatic." She rolled her eyes, taking a step back. Damian gave the two some space but somehow, she walked closer to Damian.

Jon sighed, "What is this? The third time?"

Raven glanced at Damian, and the black-haired man seemed to understand what that simple glance meant. Another 'I-told-you' moment. She was relentless it seemed and it brought a smile on his lips.

It seemed to be that she was a coveted beauty.

"Relax Jon, you and I know that I can handle myself." Raven reminded him and the glance she gave him was quite unfriendly. Secretly it brought happiness to Damian.

"You tend to overreact and exaggerate things," She looked away, eyes landing on the group of bandits. "You know I can handle myself. But Damian, being such a great host, kept me protected."

Jon turned to Damian, "Thank you." He gave a short nod of his head and then turned to the bandits, "If it is alright with you, I will take them off your hands so I may deal with them."

Damian wanted to protest but opted not to after seeing Raven's disinterest in the topic.

"Alright, you can have them," Damian said, and Raven's eyes flickered at him with a hint of surprise. All of which she quickly hid but did not go unnoticed by observant green eyes.

Jon smiled and thanked the man, "I think it would be best if I take them from you after I get Raven home. I hope you do not mind." He placed his hands on either side of Raven's shoulder and she just shook her head.

"You are overreacting," Raven whispered gently, peering at Jon.

Jon continued to smile at Damian's direction, "Thank you so much and I apologize for the trouble. I will send for them as quickly as I can."

Damian nodded with crossed arms and simply replied, "Take your time." The corner of his eyes kept track of where Jon's hands still rested on Raven's body.

"We should take our leave. The sun is setting. We would not want to get stuck in the dark." Raven prompted and Jon nodded.

They said their goodbyes again with Jon helping Raven up the carriage. Once she settled in her seat she glanced outside to stare at the green-eyed man, who was also staring at her. Her gaze then shifted to the bandits that had been gathered and cornered by Damian's men.

A vague smile was on her lips and then Jon and Raven departed into the setting sun.

~.~.~.~.~.~

It was odd, Raven and Jon seemed to have just appeared out of nowhere. Well, at the very least, that was what Damian's investigation was implying. The only people who could give him clear answers about them were the two in question. But he had not seen them for days.

Just when he thought that he didn't have a means to contact her, his subordinate called his attention.

"My lord, there is a letter for you. It merely has an inked drawing of a bird." The man bowed, extending the letter to his master.

Damian glanced at the papyrus and his eyes widened a little as an amused smirk bloomed on his lips. It was a raven. He took the note casually and signaled the man with his eyes that he may leave. He turned to his window and studied the papyrus.

When he unfolded the papyrus, he found that the words he was looking at were rather feminine. The image of the long-haired woman seated by a desk as she wrote came to his mind. And it was quite a beautiful image, and so were the strokes of each of her letters.

I must admit I was unsure if I should send you a letter, but I think that having met twice already by chance proves that our destinies are entwined. I often think of the impossible feat you have created at your home and how much I enjoyed your company. I would love to see how the flower will continue to strive as you look after it.

If you do not mind, I would love to see you again.

He couldn't help but smile at the recent sentence that he read. She was bold; he'd give her that.

And in all honesty, he was quite charmed by that fact too.

Raven was playfully confident and he couldn't help but be drawn to her because of it.

The smile instantly turned to a frown when he continued reading on.

Jon and I are traveling to a couple more towns for business. But he said that he plans to go back to Athens next month and if it is not a bother with you, I would love to see you when we return to visit your city.

If you want to respond, every Thursday, by the big Oak Tree at the market plaza. There will be a man there with a brown eagle that has golden wing tips. He will arrive by mid-day and he will be wearing a blue cloak, the same shade of blue that Jon was wearing when he was in the market with me. This man works for Jon and we can exchange letters through him.

I hope I get a positive response.

And then a small doodle of a bird, not as detailed as the one at the front. But he was sure that it was supposed to represent a raven, just like her name.

He read her letter over and over to the point that he had already memorized it. But in all honesty, he only needed to read it once to remember each letter and stroke of the words on the note. His perfect memory has served him well on multiple occasions.

However, the reason why he reread her note as much as he did was just for the pure enjoyment and entertainment it brought him. Maybe it was all in his head, but he thought he could feel that Raven was just as enamored by him as he was with her.

When he realized that he had been standing there by his window, just reading the letter that he knew he had read over five times already, he turned to go to his desk.

The cold breeze from the night felt warmer than usual as he carefully and cautiously prepared his response.

The next day was a Thursday and two hours before midday, Damian and a couple of his men went to the market. The green-eyed man stood from afar and instructed one of his men to give the letter to the man that Raven had described.

Damian wanted to observe Jon's servant from a distance, maybe even have him tailed. But the person in question had yet to arrive.

Damian had no reason to trust Raven or Jon. They were both quite suspicious. And just when he was doubting Raven, the man that she described came.

The man had curly brown hair and was rather thin. He wore a blue cape and there was indeed an eagle perched on his arm. He just casually walked through the market. But Damian did not recognize this face, though, the city was big and he could not possibly know every single resident. However, the man did look familiar with the path.

After they observed him for half an hour. Damian signaled for his own man, to who he had given his written reply to, to approach the man in the blue cloak.

He watched from afar as his subordinate handed his letter. Similar to how Raven placed a drawing at the front of the papyrus, he placed a very beautiful and detailed drawing of the flower they found together instead of his name.

The two exchanged words, his man doing as told. After a hearty exchange, his subordinate said his farewells then circled the oak tree and walked away circling the market and city to meet Damian.

When his man clad in black reached his side, he said, "He seems friendly and his responses were rather… rehearsed master."

Damian nodded, the suspicions he had laid thick, but he then recalled how Raven helped him find the flower. He sighed and lifted a hand, "We won't tail him." He bent a finger and turned his wrist, a signal that the men he had hidden should all retreat.

"I will stay here and enjoy the bustling market." Damian nodded to the man across from him, silently telling him that he may leave.

Damian strolled to a small outdoor eatery. He took a seat on the wooden stool, making sure he had a clear view of the man under the shade of the Great Oak Tree. A tree believed to be as old as the gods. Sacred in this city.

"What would you want, honey?" A woman came who appeared to be slightly older than Damian.

"Some wine would suffice." He answered coldly, eyes locked at the tree.

The woman glanced at the tree too, "What about some company?"

"No, the wine will do." He answered curtly not even sparing the woman a glance.

The woman smiled tightly and got him what he asked for.

Damian sat there observing the man, who would interact with a couple of people but remained by the tree. He would even groom the eagle and appear to talk to it too. Otherwise, he didn't do anything while Damian nursed his cup of wine slowly.

When the sun was no longer in the middle of the sky, the man seemed to start packing up. And Damian knew that it was time for him to leave too.

He gulped the cheap wine and left a gold coin, way too much for the actual price of the wine. His eyes met the lady that served him and he gestured to the coin, nodding at her.

Then he made his way back home.

There was a vague hint of disappointment that settled into his heart. He kind of hoped to see the long black hair of a woman that has occupied his mind for some days now. But alas, it seemed that they would have to meet some other day.

~.~.~.~.~.~

In a big room made of marble, there stood a man with black hair in white robes staring at the marble throne that was atop a platform.

"My lord, you must meet with the new god." A man who had blonde hair said, making the black-haired man turn around revealing blue eyes.

"Oh? Who is it this time?" Jon asked with a tilt of his head.

"The new Demeter." The man responded and Jon nodded, sighing.

"Just when I was about to leave too." He walked his way up to the marble throne and sat there. He crossed his legs and looked bored as he propped his head against his fingers. "Let them in." He waved his free hand in the air.

The blonde then opened the door welcoming the new arrival who had black hair too. His head bent down on the floor and his gaze lowered. And Jon raised a brow at the man.

"Greetings, My Lord Zeus." The newcomer in dark green robes said respectfully.

Then a sudden burst of laughter came from the man on his marble throne. The other man across from him frowned and looked up, his green eyes widened as he stared at the man on the throne.

"Jon?" Damian barely whispered and Jon continued to laugh as he raised a hand waving to the blonde that he was dismissed. Jon waited for the blonde servant to leave before talking to Damian.

"Since we know each other already, I will keep this formal meeting– well, informal." Jon smiled, eyes glittering with amusement. "I know the rules, we've heard them all and we've received our rules too. But let's get this over with. Among the personal rules we were given, the most important thing is the title and name of the God that passed us all this great burden." Jon shrugged and Damian just stared at this man, he expected a more formal and stricter introduction. And for a moment Damian thought he saw long black hair and a white dress by the wall behind Jon's throne, but when he blinked it was gone.

"Our title as a god is passed down to one god to their chosen apprentice. You have passed your test in accordance with your master's will. The mortals do not know that the gods they worship change faces and that most of us no longer meddle with mortal affairs as they have become self-sufficient. And thus, some posts are vacant and some of us have more than one name and title attached to us. With that said, I know you've heard this all, but it is protocol for me." Jon stood up and smiled at Damian and approached the man in green.

Jon placed his hands against Damian's arms and with a toothy smile said, "Welcome to the Pantheon."

Damian felt perplexed, he didn't think Jon would be Zeus and his mind wandered to the black-haired woman that Jon accompanied in the mortal realm.

"Since I have already said all that, for your actual welcoming party, it would be in your best interest to have all the major gods there. Poseidon is occupied which is why he isn't here but he'll try to make it if he can. Now, Hades on the other hand, I usually have to drag Hades out from the ground–" Jon shook his head and raised a brow at Damian, "Quite literally, if I may add. It would be best if we three are in attendance, only because of some old belief, you know brothers or whatever. I am sure though, with your looks you will have all the ladies swarming– in fact, some of the men too. You will certainly have a grand audience." Jon tapped Damian's shoulder, who grunted in response.

"Now to convince, Hades, that recluse." Jon dragged a sigh then suddenly looked at Damian with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh. I know. As your superior," Damian rolled his eyes at Jon, who just laughed at him.

"I will ask you to do a little grunt work for me. This will be good for you, see the other realms." Jon smiled.

Damian sighed and looked defeated. He was instructed to keep quiet before the god Zeus, but Zeus was Jon. Damian was also told to not cross the big three. Ultimately, he was at the losing end and he finally said, "What do you require?"

Jon smiled, "Go down to the Underworld and demand Hades' audience. Tell them I sent you. no one will stop you when you tell them Zeus sent you. And tell them: you have to give a message directly to Hades from me and that you cannot leave unless you see Hades personally." Jon then pulled an amulet with a lightning bolt, handing it to Damian. "If they put up a fight, show them this," Then his voice suddenly changed.

Jon's voice became deeper and louder as it echoed through the hall while his blue eyes glowed. "As Zeus, I give you my token, and the right to use my lightning with it." Then the glow in his eyes vanished.

Damian looked at the amulet, it was gold, with a lightning bolt in the center. He raised a shaky hand to accept it, this was a symbol that Jon was Zeus. This was not something that should be lent out so easily.

"This is important." Damian's fingers clasped around the chain.

"I know." Jon nodded, letting go of his amulet. "But I think you and I will become good friends." He then patted Damian and then made his way out.

"Please take extra care of my amulet. You can wear it around your neck. Maybe hide it till the last minute for some extra fun." Jon waved and Damian was left to just stare at Jon's back.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Damian was waiting in a room in Hades' palace. Jon was right, all he had to say was that Zeus sent him and he was able to waltz in like he owned the place. When he demanded that he had to see Hades himself and even casually pulled out Zues' amulet, the man who guided him, immediately guided Damian to this room and told him to wait for Hades there.

He wasn't entirely even sure why he followed Jon's orders, although to be fair, he was told never to disobey the big three, and then the main gods. Damian's position was rather low in the chain. He was left with no choice but to obey.

He admired the items in the room as he waited with his back to the door. He had an eye for expensive things and it seemed that Hades did too.

"What does Jon want this time?" An annoyed voice came into the room as the door burst open. It was a rather familiar voice.

Damian turned with wide eyes only to be met with violet eyes that were equally shocked.

The two were frozen for a moment as they studied each other. Damian in black robes and Raven in violet robes.

"Damian…" She whispered and he could only blink. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm… a newly appointed god– Demeter…" He replied sounding unsure and as he stared at those violet eyes, he could tell that something had made sense to her.

She chuckled, the playfulness he saw when they were on the mortal reals seemed to peek through, "Oh, I see."

"And you?" He asked even though he already had a pretty good guess.

"I'm Hades." She simply replied.

And he couldn't help but smile at her. He knew that she was destined to be someone big, but clearly, she always had been someone big.

"So, the flower…" She tilted her head a little, "Was your test?"

Damian nodded with a shy little smile on his lips, "I had to find the flower. Making it live out of its domain was just for fun." A playful glint was in his eyes and Raven laughed at his words.

"Oh? That was just a little extra thing to do because you can?" She shook her head, her long black locks bouncing a little. "Well, the task your predecessor gave you was not easy in itself already." She had a gentle smile on her lips.

But Damian remained focused on the task at hand, "So…Lord Zeus sent me–"

"Oh, don't say it." She rolled her violet eyes, cutting him off. "He wants me to go up on the mortal plane again? He already dragged me out." She walked to a couch and sat down, "You know, I need to touch grass, he tells me."

Damian pressed his lips containing a smile and laughter. He shook his head, "Sorry to disappoint you, no that's not why I'm here."

Raven looked surprised but glanced at Damian to let him continue. As she raised her legs and sat on her side, leaning on the couch's arm.

Damian thought that she looked quite beautiful, but he could not say that aloud, from his previous interactions, she already knew that she was quite the beauty to behold.

The thought almost made him chuckle aloud.

"Jon…" He paused, then lowered his gaze, "Zeus, told me to make sure you come to my appointment party."

Raven looked away and looked rather stubborn at that, "Must I? I hate those parties. No, I hate people in general." She sulked a little and Damian had to bite his lower lip to control his expression. Her head then turned to him. "You don't understand. In my case, my title comes with a natural dislike for me. Hades, the scary ruler of the Underworld. And you know that works well for me, interacting with a lot of people has never been a good trait for us Hades' gods. I suppose that is why I was chosen. Regardless, Jon knows if he asked me to go, I would…" Her eyes studied the man standing before him, his face twisted in confusion.

"Your purpose here is different." She frowned as she let the silence settle in as she tried to understand. "Why, please take a seat, Damian." She smiled faintly, her eyes telling him that she was trying to connect the dots.

Damian took a seat across from her as he studied her thinking face in silence.

Then something dawned on her and she laughed, shaking her head, "Gods, Jon is up at it again."

Damian peered at her in confusion, a frown on his lips.

"He's setting us up." She shook her head and laughed as she covered her lips. "He does this from time to time, telling me I need someone in the Underworld to keep me company. He enjoys matchmaking in his free time– it seems he has way too much free time if you ask me."

Her guest tried to process her words, then he said, "Would that be so bad?"

He did not like the thought of her being matched with someone else.

Raven was startled as she looked up at Damian.

"We planned to meet in the mortal realm in a few weeks. So, would it be bad if he set us up now?" Damian stated clearly and the receiver was speechless.

Violet eyes shyly glanced down, a blush on the woman's face, "I did tell you that it seems that our fates are entwined, and even meeting like this– I thought you were mortal."

Damian smiled at her and she smiled back.

She stood up and walked towards him, "You showed me your home, why don't I show you mine?" She extended a hand toward him and he greatly accepted it with a smile.

~.~.~.~.~.~

In the Underworld, it is always dark.

Raven sat on the balustrade that was part of the open window of her marble palace. Just like every other window. She gazed up looking at the moon, at least there was a moon here. Thus, making the Underworld not completely engulfed by darkness.

She was wearing white robes and had brought her legs up with arms around them on the balustrade, gaze still at the sky of her domain.

It was a beautiful sight for Damian to see. And the current Hades of this beautiful night world, only noticed him when he was a couple of feet away from her.

Her head turned, her face clearly showing her surprise, "Damian." She simply greeted, the corner of her eyes crinkling and then she turned to look back at the sky.

"Did you know that at first, this realm did not have a moon? But first Hades listened to his people who wanted more than just the darkness. And so he gave him what they wanted." Then she turned to him with a playful expression on her face, "But you know, I am pretty certain he did that because of his wife– Persephone, it must have been a tough adjustment period for her when she came down here. And giving her a moon in the Underworld was a rather romantic gesture, do you agree?"

Damian smiled at her, "I agree, it is a rather romantic gesture." He closed the distance between them. "It is cold, you should get back inside."

She chuckled in response. It should be him who should get back. He had stayed here in the Underworld for longer than even she expected, not that she was complaining.

"It's always cold here, but I have lived long enough to get used to this place. Not everyone can call the Underworld their home, but it is mine." She said calmly. "It does get lonely that much I must admit. But Jon does force me out of here now and then. And somehow it becomes less lonely. "

Damian chuckled. "I like it here, it's quite beautiful." He told her, placing a hand on her legs. And a pale hand overlapped his as Raven turned and placed her free hand on his cheek.

"You will become ashen if you stay here." She simply stated and he inhaled deeply as he leaned toward her.

"What a small price to pay if I can be with you." He said and she held her breath as their faces were just a couple of inches away.

"Grey won't look good on you." She whispered, her face turning pink. "I'll miss your olive skin." Her hand played with his.

Damian's free hand cupped her face this time, "But you would."

Raven's entire face turned bright red and he could not help but smile at her reaction. He had concluded that her haughtiness about her beauty was just for show as he got to know her in the days that had passed.

He caressed her cheek with his thumb, "What about it?" He inched closer to her lips and her eyes shyly looked at his lips.

Since she didn't say anything. He leaned in for a kiss while she closed her eyes. Strong arms caged her and pulled her closer to him to make sure she didn't tilt outward and risk falling out the balcony.

"You might fall," He mumbled and Raven's arms found their way around his shoulders as one of his arms scooped her legs up and the other wrapped around her shoulders.

"But you would catch me, won't you?" She asked and then kissed him.

"I think I would rather fall with you." He answered and Raven threw her head back a little as she laughed, then leaned back to cup his face.

"Either way works." She kissed his lips again, their tongues intertwined.

This was why Damian was still here at her palace, he was quite a seductive man.

He had the God of the Underworld smitten with him.

~.~.~.~.~.~

In the same room where Damian waited for Raven, was Jon, leisurely sitting on the couch.

The door opened and he groaned, "Finally!" He lifted his torso to glance at the door. And then raised a brow at Raven, a smirk on his lips. "I know you two would get along."

Raven narrowed her eyes at him then touched her neck, faint realization in her eyes. Damian had left numerous hickeys on her and since Jon came unannounced, she had no choice but to rush to him without even checking on her state but of course decently clothed, however as it turns out not enough to hide what she had been doing.

"I did not want to bother you two lovebirds, as this palace seemed to have become your love nest," Jon chuckled and Raven rolled her eyes, walking towards him. "But I do need my amulet. Your new lover has kept it away from me for far too long."

Raven sat on the chair across from him, "I figured that is why you are here." She pulled out the amulet from her robes and threw it to Jon.

He caught it, "Wow, this is an important item. You cannot just toss it around."

Raven rolled her eyes and crossed her legs looking away from him, gaze distant.

"You were quite smitten with that mortal man," Jon said and Raven brought her gaze back to Jon, "Well, thankfully he is not mortal." He shrugged.

"I was not smitten," Raven mumbled stubbornly.

"Oh, Rae. Trust me, you were." He winked, "The moment you came back- the first time you met him, all you could do was talk about him. I'm kind of glad I stood you up that day."

She rolled her eyes yet again, "You are exaggerating." She shook her head.

Jon shook his head and laughed, "Oh, I'm not Rae." He smiled. "Your eyes sparkled when you mentioned meeting such a fearless mortal man and you were so surprised by his drive for the impossible." He lifted a finger and wagged it at her, "You should have seen the look on your face when you saw him at the market too."

The black-haired woman pressed her lips tightly as he prattled on, "And when I came by to pick you up at his home." Raven could see that Jon was close to laughing, but controlled himself. "It was nice to see you bond with someone so easily. So yes, Rae, you were smitten. To put it kindly."

Raven picked up the cushion behind her and threw it at Jon, "Why don't you just leave already?"

"Got better things to do?" Jon laughed.

Raven shook her head but the image of the man on her bed flashed in her mind.

Jon stood up and stretched a little, "Since Damian had not been formally appointed yet, he could still play hooky with his responsibilities. Just because the mortals do not need us as much now, does not mean we do not have any responsibilities. I say this with love because we have been friends for so long, I do not mind being a messenger, but for gods sake Raven, please do not forget that he has his appointment ceremony coming up. He cannot miss it."

Raven blushed, "It is not me who is keeping him here."

Jon laughed and approached her, "Oh, dear friend, I am glad that you have found someone." He placed a hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him with a faint smile.

The wooden door suddenly made a sound and Jon and Raven turned to it, but it was shut.

"Must be the wind," Jon mumbled and Raven tilted her head to glance at the door further.

"Yes, perhaps." She agreed.

But if we are being honest, a gust of wind in the Underworld? Well, it was probably nothing.

"As much as I enjoyed hearing about your love life– or sex life. I must go." Jon showed Raven his amulet. "But please, do things in moderation."

Raven rolled her eyes but stood up, "Let me walk you out."

He shook his head in response, "I came waltzing in here while you were asleep and I am sure you have better places to be. Don't bother yourself with something so trivial, I have been coming through these halls long enough to know where the skeletons are hidden." He crunched up his nose and Raven shook her head laughing a little.

Jon was poking fun at the Underworld just a little bit, which he often did to make her smile.

Jon took a step away from her then stopped to turn to Raven, "I do hope your lover will not mind me coming here unannounced in the future. I do enjoy the silence of your palace."

Raven smiled, "I do not think he would be bothered by you. You have always been welcomed here. How could I turn you away from my doors now?"

Jon smiled at her answer and nodded as he headed out the door, "Oh, and before I forget, remember, that we are allowed to take in more than one name." He did not wait for a response and stepped out of the door. Her thoughtful expression was imprinted on his mind.

Jon knew that she knew what he meant. He walked down the dark halls, thinking of how this place had become his haven when he had to get away from his bustling palace. And how much distress he would be in if he could not visit anymore.

But he was also a good friend, and he would not impose on a blossoming romance.

In the darkness, a great distance from Jon, were green eyes seemingly glowing in the dark.

All romances have their bumps in the road, Raven and Damian would surely face their obstacles. However, Jon had no doubts about how their romance would end.

In the year xxxx, the fifth Hades brought the third Persephone into the Underworld. It had been years since the position was filled as Hades' last two predecessors kept the position vacant. But it was the first in the Pantheon's history that one god held both the titles Persephone and Demeter.

It was something that caused a stir in their realm.

And a romantic tale to remember, but that might be for another day or time to share. Thankfully, it's a happy ending for them.

FIN.

~.~.~.~.~

Author's Notes:

If it feels abrupt, it is. I legit gave up. This has been in the works for three years and honestly, I don't remember what I wanted to write next. I know there was some more stuff I wanted to explore. There was more to this story. But I will just end it here. This will serve as a background for this AU whenever I decide to dabble in this AU again.

Sorry, if you read this far and felt like nothing happened, but thanks for reading. I do hope it was enjoyable at the very least.