"Where were you?" Cy's mother screeched upon seeing me.
"I had to visit a friend..." I cleared my throat uncomfortably.
"Oh well. Next time couldn't you have just called them or something." She sighed dismissively.
Then, I grew angry. Who exactly was she to dictate what I do with my life?
"No. And I think its time I packed up to head back home."
Her face morphed into one of anger and betrayal. It sent a chill up my spine.
"I don't think so." With unimaginable force, she gripped my wrists and dragged me to my room.
Without a second later, the door shut and locked in my face. I was in shock. Who exactly is this woman I had been living with alone?
I tried to calm my shaky breath and forced myself to get back to work. I flung all of my clothes back into my duffel back. I hurriedly switch on my phone, praying it had more juice inside.
However, it spluttered and died.
Screaming in frustration, I flung the useless device into the ground. Then, I tried prying and prodding at the windows. But to no avail. It was bolted shut.
I wanted to scream, cry and curse at the gods. I was fearful, more than I had ever been in my life. With Dante, I was fearful, yes. But I was never fearful because of him. I was fearful of what the future might bring. But now, I was alone with this crazy woman and I knew my safety was in danger.
-
I fell asleep.
When I woke, it was dark. The only light was from the kitchen, streaming into my room.
My door was wide opened. I glanced down to see that I had a different set of clothes on. I shivered in disgust.
Did she change me?
I cautiously peeked out. Maybe Cy had come to my rescue. I wanted to jump for joy when I saw Cy sitting still at the wooden dining table.
However, my hope dropped when I saw her mother humming away at the stove.
"Oh! You're awake dear. Good. In time for dinner. Come join us."
Cy's eyes darted to me in panic, pleading with me to follow her mother's instruction.
I hesitantly took a seat by Cy. I dragged my chair closer to her, seeking safety.
I could feel hairs behind my neck starting to stand as her mother bustled around us. She set down bowls of mushroom soup in front of us and grinned excitedly.
"Isn't this nice? Just like the old times when Cyane used to visit us."
She set down a basket full of bread.
"She used to be your best friend you know. Both of you would run around the house and out into the meadow until dinner when I would ring the bells to call you girls home."
"Now we can do that again. We can do it everyday. Forever." Her smile haunted me and I averted my eyes.
I prayed. I prayed for this nightmare to end. I prayed for the safety I once had. I prayed to be free.
-
The clock was ticking loudly. But it did not stop her from chatting away as if nothing was amiss.
Then something clicked in those eyes of hers and her eyes darted to the door in a panic. Her face snapped back to a shivering Cy.
Cy's eyes mimic of a deer caught in headlight.
"Did you do something to my barrier?" Her mother pointed an accusing finger.
"Look Deme, you're sick. I said I would help you as it would make amends for my past actions but- ." Cy's wavering voice sounded out.
"You betrayed me! You failed me again! You failed Kore again!" Her mother snarled.
"She doesn't want to be here. She doesn't want to stay with you!" Cy yelled.
"She wants to be with her husband!" Cy continued.
But she shouldn't have. Her mother's face turned even more outraged.
"You shall follow your former sisters and be cursed into a siren."
"Stop!" I yelled.
But it was too late. The curse had already touched Cy. The tired naiad slumped in her seat, unconscious, leaving me alone with the witch.
"You won't ever betray me, will you my dearest Kore?" Her ruby red lips pulled back in a grin.
"Who are you?" I asked shakily.
"I'm your mother, remember. We used to spend everyday together. I love you even before you were born. We are going to be together forever now."
She continued with the dinner as if nothing had happened. As if there wasn't an unconscious girl beside me.
"What if we can figure something out?" I started.
I knew I had to get out of there and I knew I had to get out fast. I wanted to get back home to Dante. Because he was one of the only person that ever made me feel safe. That made me feel loved.
She continued humming but nodded her head in attention.
"Maybe there is a way. Maybe I can come visit you here and spend some time, if you would let me go back."
She stopped humming and the room became deadly silent.
"Go back? GO BACK? You're going back to that husband of yours , aren't you!"
Thunder cackled loudly outside. My eyes darted towards the window. The meadow and fields which were once blooming is now dry and barren.
"After everything I did for you. After everyone I sacrificed for you. You still want to go back to that devil! You are an ungrateful child!"
I clutched my fork tightly.
"I should teach you and him a lesson. I never got what I wanted. Even back then, he won. My younger brother always won. He had everything and yet he still had to take you away from me. The one thing that was mine in this wretched world."
"I wonder how he would take to know the death of his wife." Those exact words were the ones that provoked me to flung the sharp end of the fork towards the crazy witch.
I tried darting toward the door but a long hand stopped me. Her long nails raked down my arm and I screamed in pain.
"Its okay dearest! We will rejoice in the afterlife together. Where I would hide you away from him once again."
"You insane bitch!" I screamed, slamming my foot down on her face.
She fell back, screaming in pain and clutching tightly onto her face which accommodated a newly formed bruise.
Her hands darted around on the kitchen counter till it settled on a knife. A knife with a long pointy blade laced with dark venom dripping from the tip.
With a yell, she charged towards me.
I flung my hands up. But shadows surround me, protecting me from her attack.
She screeched in frustration, trying to penetrate through the shadows to reach to me but it was no use.
"You stupid dog!" She pierced the blade into the shadows.
Cerberus looked angry. So angry that it made her stop for a split second and stand back.
"Enough, Cerberus. Leave her for me." Rich, velvety voice echoed through the room, surrounding and enveloping me.
Through the shadows, I could see him. Standing tall and pride. Not even an ounce of him was ill or wounded. I was excited. I was safe.
Or so I thought. Till I took a glimpse at his murderous glare.
The witch was shaking. Her previous fury was replaced with fear. And I could tell why. Dante's demeanour. His aura. It was enough to shake the grounds of Mount Olympus.
His loud footsteps stopped just before her trembling form. With just one of his large hands, he picked her up by her neck, almost crushing her windpipe.
"You have done an impeccable job of trying to separate my wife from me again." He snarled.
"I- ." Demeter tried to croak.
"Shut up." He flung her towards the wall.
Her body crashed into the wall and grew limp. However, she still managed to lift her head every so slightly. Her eyes pleaded for Hades' mercy.
"She will always come back to me. However, instead of the original tales. She belongs to me. 24 hours a day, 12 months of a year." He growled.
Her lips trembled in fear, unknowing what was going to become of her.
"Tell her the truth, witch." he snarled.
Her failing body struggling to support herself, she whispered, " I fabricated that memory of his infidelity."
My world came crashing down. It was all fake? The kiss between him and Minthe was never real.
If that wasn't real, what was?
I stumbled back. What was real? Was any of these real?
Cerberus carefully nudged Cyane onto his back. However, with my mother, his strong jaw opened and snapped onto her neck with a sickening crunch.
With a bow to both of his masters, he disappeared into the night.
The fortress that was keeping me hidden was gone. The house on the hill with blooming vegetation turned into a disheveled shed with rotting plants.
This leaves the both of us alone. His back was turned to me but I could see his chest heaving up and down ever so slightly.
Scarily, I found myself coming to terms with his actions towards Luke. As if realising that this was how it worked last time and how it would work now.
I could feel him making his way to me but I averted my eyes. I was confused and scared.
How many memories was fabricated and placed inside my head? How did she do that?
Could he do that?
Did he do that?
He placed his fingers gently on my chin, lifting my head up to meet his gaze.
"What was real?" My voice visibly shook.
His eyes saddened as he collected me in his arms.
I was too lost to fight back. Instead I seek refuge in the only thing I remembered and prayed for to be real.
His arms.
"This" His beautiful obsidian eyes shone.
-
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