Red Sky

By Morbid Drama Queen 10 "Dania"

Claimer: These characters don't really belong to anybody, but what's mine is mine. Hands off!

"Ma-aa-ma's girl." The slim blonde behind me drawled as she made the long stride down the row of desks. Her slight, lithe southern accent made me tighten my grip on the text book. Erin, our gossip-girl cheerleading captain, notorious for her love of torment. Practical jokes, snotty insults, boyfriend stealing, gossiping, just to name of few of her delightful pasts times. And today her focus was on me. What a surprise.

I turned slowly, deliberate in my motions. She might be Queen Bee of the field and rule the locker room, but this was my turf. Surely she couldn't be so stupid as to pick on my in my mother's class room. Ag.

Why Erin was talking it I hadn't the slightest clue, but that was beside the point. She really had picked the wrong hour to mess with me. Either the girl had a death wish, or was a few brain cells short of a memory gland. For god's sake, had she really not noticed how our last names were identical? How my mom played favourites with me? Or was she really that stupid?

"Erin-" I started coldly, but Diana cut me off with a sharp "Flip you." Only, she didn't say flip. Not that this comment was directed toward me. It was, of course, all Erin's.

Instead of cowering in fear, as I would have if Diana Hunt had said any thing of that nature with half that venom toward me, Erin merely grinner nastily. She wasn't afraid of much. Something else that supported my "Lack-of-brain-cells" theory. Everyone was afraid of Diana when she was in a mood.

"Naughty, naughty," The monster cooed. Lowering her voice from it's normal high pitched squeak, she said, "I don't think your future in-law would appreciate that kind of language."

Before Diana could lash out, I grabbed her arm, dragging her to the opposite side of the room. "Buzz off, ya hoe." I growled back to Erin. Diana barely struggled, but stared wordlessly back at Erin, silent threats rebounding in her hazel eyes like ice crystals. Diana didn't need anymore ISS time, she already had a week's worth this year, due to her constant and loyal protection of me. The lesbian comment had really hit home. When it got around school two years ago that Di was going to be a virgin forever and hated guys, a lot of people started calling her lesbian. Diana never saw it as an insult, since she never thought there was anything wrong with homosexuality per say, but if anyone mentioned me as part of the insult…she got a little testily. We hung out a ton, so everyone made some assumptions.

"Di." I said, staring at her. "Di, you don't need to do that, I had it under control, I was about-"

"Blonde." Diana murmured. Only, it wasn't blonde, but another word that started with "B". "She's go no-"

"Di!" I said, exasperated. "Really. I was fine. She wasn't going to get away with it, it wasn't a big deal!"

My friend looked down at me pityingly, shaking her head in a "Ah-naive-sweet-little-Kari-of-course-it-wasn't" sort of way.

"Ri, you weren't going to. We both know that. You are so not assertive." Di took the seat across from me, dropping her messenger bag down with a "klunck". She did a once over of the room, and upon seeing that my mother was still occupied, flicked her gaze back to me and leaned in.

"We have more important things to discuss." She said crisply.

"Like…"

"The dance!" she replied brightly. "You've got to go with me this year, it's so much fun! We can get dress together next week-"

"No. Way. In. Hell." I said firmly. "You can go with your posse. I'll help you find a dress maybe offer hair tips, but I will not accompany you to that yearly ritual of mindless socializing. What would I do? Dance? Uh, hell-o, lame." It wasn't even real dancing, just swaying around. And there was never any good music to sway to.

"We don't have to dance. We can mingle. It's strictly social. To meet guys. No biggie. C'mon Kari! We can guy scope."

"I thought you were stay virgin forever."

"That doesn't mean I can't have some fun. Making out and dance isn't giving away your freedom. Just giving you a good time. Now stop changing the subject." She put the full force of her puppy dog eyes on me. "Please please please PLEASE go with me? I'll be lonely without you there." For effect, she even gave a small whimper.

I, in turn, rolled my eyes. I was more the use to Diana's drama queen life. It was how she got our principal, Dr. Zuk, charmed into excusing her from detention on multiple occasions.

"I really don't want to," I started, but her face, so full of misery and melancholy, melted my heart. Again.

"Fine." I sighed. "Fine. I'll go-"

Di squealed loudly, earning some odd looks from other students, and leaned over to hug me.

"But," I said into her shoulder. "no dress."

At that moment my mother rapped her pointer on the bored to call the class to attention.

"Kari, dear, why don't you give us an example of your essay?"

Maybe this was why everyone hated me. My mother obviously picked favourites with me, her DAUGHTER! Did she realize what she was doing? I bet she did. It was to make sure I got the "Right Friends" because who, but the bravest, would be friends with a teacher pet?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The music sucked. Big time. Some rap and screamo-heavy metal rock that no one could dance to. Not that I was planning to anyway, but other people were disgruntled. Which made me a little annoyed. Cool guys, real nice. Who ever was on the Student Government Board either was playing a prank, or had been high while picking the playlist. Really, really high.

Like I said nobody was dancing.

You would have figured that after nearly thirty minutes if this the D.J. would get a clue, but no. He was still on his head set, banging along, trying to look cool. And was so failing. Herman Wright, class loser and practical joker. Obviously this was his brilliant work.

I stood against a wall, not in but close to a dark corner. Di had left not to long ago, set on mingling and to find a few other friends. After doing everything but forcibly drag me, she'd left in huff. Helpful, because if Mom were to search for me via best friend, she wouldn't be so lucky.

Oh, yeah, that's right. I forgot. My mom is chaperoning the prom. For the first time. All for me. She's breathing down my neck constantly. Nobody else's Mom stalked them to their school dance. Not even Erin's mom, the Drama teacher. It's no wonder I don't have a sate.

Not that I wanted on either. I mean, sure, it would have been nice. But there aren't that many guys in our school that would be deemed "acceptable" by my mother. Mostly cause they're all scared of her, or because they really are unacceptable losers.

Another thing-I do have to wear a dress. Apparently only gowns and tuxedos are allowed at Prom. I offered to wear the former, at least it had pants, but no! Diana says because I agreed to go, I agreed to all that entails, dress included. And shoes. And accessories. And make-up.

Really, Di isn't all that much of a girly-girl, but she wanted to go all out for her senior Prom. And I mean all out. We rented a convertible, had dinner at the most exclusive restaurant, Club Green, at the golf club, where her parents belong to the wealthy golfing-sailing-hunting club. I'll be babysitting all summer to pay off the credit card bills.

Anyways, the dress. The dress was white eyelet with a pink silk sash. It was empire waist, cottony material, with some stylish pink lace at the bottom hem matching the sash. Scoop neck, stopping just below the knee (the skirt, not the neck line. Yikes!), Diana said it made me look innocent. Was that a good thing?

So here I stood, bored out of my mind, wondering if Di had already stained her green mini halter dress with punch when I made the mistake of helping another person.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

She was breathtaking.

It wasn't just the dress either, or the hair, or the make up, no she was always like this. All ways. I should know, I had been watching her for years, I knew her physical appearance by now. Tonight she was at her best. The Hunt girl had done well.

Scanning the crowd, her eyes met mine for a brief second, then moved on. Beautiful. Like spring. Bright golden, with flecks of green bringing them to life. Perfect. Just like she was.

I had heard her talking that day, to her friend Diana, the Hunt girl, about being here. Diana had ruined my plan of rescuing Kari from Erin, but she did do me one service—convincing Kari to go to the Prom, another vital in my plan, almost filling the gap she made. Though, originally Kari would have arrived on my arm instead of with a gaggle of teen girls, and she would be talking of dancing with me, instead of leaning on that wall, doing her best to ignore that awful excuse for music.

Still, the plan was going nicely. I would have her. In only a matter of time it would all be complete.

Valerie, my accomplice, was suddenly before me, on the arm of her date, Ron, who was the local wiz of tech class. Val smiled easily, and I gave her a short nod. Her smiled widened and she moved on, whispering to her boyfriend, who was about a head shorter than her, the plan. Confused, Ron nodded, and let go of her arm.

Phase two was in action.

Right on cue, Val began sobbing. Loudly. Well, I did pick the class Drama Queen for a reason. Everyone turned, stopping their current affairs to look in on the soap opera unfolding before them. This is what Prom was truly about.

"H-how c-could yoooou?" Valerie cried, throwing an arm out theatrically. Ron did his best, really, but there was no stopping Val when she got started. She was, after all, the Drama Queen.

Now staging rage, she slapped Ron on the cheek and high-tailed to the bathrooms, in a flurry of blonde curls and red silk. Nobody knew what Ron had done, but gave him the evil eye anyways. Val was a class favorite, if anyone pissed her off they were giving an offense to everyone.

My flower, my Kari, looked after the swinging door to the ladies' room with concern in her eyes. She decided to follow, possibly to help, maybe to get good gossip, though she really wasn't one to spread the disease of the mouth. Sweet girl. The door closed behind her, snapping shut, unlike it did for Val. Good girl. My accomplice had locked it as planned.

The plan was most defiantly working.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Val?" I called out, peering into the florescent bright room, blinking. The ballroom had been dark, hazy, this sudden bright was hurting my eyes.

"Yes?" a muffled voice asked softly, coming from the back most stall. I strode down the tiled hall, my heels clicking all the way, glancing down to see if we were alone. We were, thank the gods. That was strange. Usually there were twenty or more girls all fighting for mirror or vanity space. Huh. Maybe everyone looked so good tonight they'd forgone the ritual. Or maybe they had found another bathroom.

I stopped in front of the last stall, kneeling, careful to tuck my dress around me so as to avoid the floor. It looked clean enough, but you never knew. "Do you want to talk? I saw what happened out there. He must have been a real jerk or something, huh? "

"Yeah." Her sigh wasn't entirely audible. "Yeah, he was. I'd rather not talk about it, okay?"

"That's fine." I assured her. "Do you need some tissue? The toilet paper is a real killer on the nose?"

"Sure."

I dug around in my purse, a little pink clutch Di had insisted I buy, and finally surfaced with the promised Kleenex. I handed in under, and a few seconds later I heard a snotty snort as she blew. It was a wonder I had fit it into the clutch with all the makeup Di had made me take for a "Just-in-case" and my wallet and my cell. Since I was prone to sneezing after getting out of a car, I had snuck three of the unneeded lip glosses (there were two left!) and the nail polish (um, why?) so there was just enough room.

"I'm sorry." I said when the trumpeting sounds stopped. "I wish there was something I could do…"

"Oh, this is more than enough." Val said. "The fact that you came in here at all…sometimes it seems nobody cares, it's just that I'm popular…none of my friends came in here, you know. But you did, and we're not even friends. Just…acquaintances. That was really nice of you. Thanks." I hear her stand. "I should find Helen." She said, wistfully. "See if she'll drive me home."

"Oh no!" I cried. "You should stay. Show him that you don't need him to have a good time…sorry. It's just, I'm sure you would have a good time just proving you don't need anybody. Besides, you should let him ruin your last Prom. There are a lot of cute guys here. Like Paul." I said, naming the swim team captain. "Or Aaron. That would burn his bacon."

"You know." She said suddenly. "You're right. I will stay. And he can just go flip off, stupid son of a nutcracker."

Only she didn't say flip or nutcracker.

The lock slide back, and there she stood, a marvel in red silk. She held out a hand to help me up and then crossed to the mirror, examining the reflection. "I look terrible!" She exclaimed, grabbing the black pouch that worked as a purse. In a few minutes, with me hovering behind, complimenting occasionally, she made her shiny, red face back into the tanned, smooth masterpiece it was before her fight with Ron. Appling some lip gloss she glanced up at me. "Who are you with?"

"Nobody." I said quickly. "Diana and I had a group, but they went to mingle so I stayed back."

"That was a little mean."

"I'm not one to dance." I said mildly. "And they did their best."

Valerie shrugged pulling out a midnight-blue bottle, tiny and perfect. Without a label, I worried it might be some drug. Then she uncapped it and sprayed in the air around her, walking through the mist. I inhaled, enchanted.

"Like it?" She asked. "I made it myself, though it was my friend's idea. Here, try some." And she sprayed some on my neck. I closed my eyes, sniffing the perfections. It was lavender and vanilla…mint…honeysuckle….

"It's great." I breathed. "You're friend is a genius, and you're-" I broke off, smelling it again.

"Here." Val offered me her corsage, a silver, white and pink lily. That's odd, it didn't go with her dramatic dress…was that why she had been mad at Ron?

"I couldn't."

"Please." She asked, her eyes wide and pleading. "It would look much better on you, and I can't stand to look at it."

"Well…I guess." I said, eyeing the magnificent bloom. Where did he get such a thing, it was unreal.

"Thank you." She smiled, beautiful and popular seeping through her every pore. "I better get out there. Thanks again, Kari. Buh-bye!"

She waltzed to the door, giving me a wave before disappearing.

"Good-bye." I murmured, and left myself.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Minutes later Kari left the restroom with Val coming out shortly before. Val had blotted her eyes with a borrowed tissue. When she saw me, she gave a gin and thumbs up before skipping off to find Ron again. Kari looked after her, still concerned. Then she shrugged it off, making her way back to the corner. Now it was my turn.

I grabbed a cup of punch from a passing caterer, following her though the mob. When I was only a few yards from the wall, Kari's head shot up, eyes meeting mine in a flash, as though she had sensed me. I was frozen, shocked and exuberantly happy. I was right! She smiled a little politely. Of course, she had no clue of who I was. I was wrong about that. If she had, she would be in my arms now, she would be crying and laughing, and kissing me. But she wasn't. So she didn't remember.

I was in front of her before I knew how. She was such an image. More lovely than all those years ago.

"Punch?" I offered.

"No, thank you." She said.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"What kind of pick up line was that?" I wondered. It was rare that unusually hot guys ambled my way, and even rarer that they had multiple brain cells. Not that this one had proven his intelligence yet. But the punch was a sign of peace, a polite offering.

He was hot. Like I said, unusually so. Tall, dark, and handsome. Black hair, a raven's wing of which was falling ever-so-perfectly into his deep eyes that were a blueish-gray, like a storm of emotion. The eyes said deep thinker, world-wearily, soulful, and gravely sad. I was enchanted for the second time that night, and this time it was actually a guy. The sculpted face, pale skin, perfect body, did I mention he was H-O-T? Nothing short of a model.

"Terrible music." He commented, eyes boring into mine. This still didn't give his I.Q., and moron could see this stuff sucked. A deaf guy could, for god's sake!

"Yes." I agreed. "Herman's idea of a joke. Torture really. I hate rap. "

"I do as well. Does Herman often do such things?"

I blinked. His English, while unaccented and flawless, sounded a little old world in his wording. Besides that, everyone knew Herman was a joker. The whole school recalled multiple food fights, goats on the roof, explosions in the lab, escaped dissection frogs, and spray-painted messages on the building, written by him, claiming he was a freak. Even the new kids knew this.

"Are you new here?" I asked, brushing off his own question.

"Yes." He admitted. "I moved her a month ago. Though it seems like an eternity. Do you ever feel like that?"

I felt the meaning of his words were double. But before I could reply with a quirky "Well, florescent lighting and cafeteria food do that to a person." I felt my stomach lurch and my head felt heavy.

"Yes." I said, somewhat dazed. "Yes, I do."

"Good." He said softly, though not to me. "Are you tired, Kari?" He asked intently.

"Yeah, a little-wait." Realization finally dawned. Give the girl a prize. "How do you know my name?"

Had he been asking around about me? I was too flattered to think it creepy.

When I asked that he smiled, and it was like a light had been turned on. That sad face…it was most beautiful when it smiled.

"I wouldn't worry about that, my dear Karianna." He said, still smiling. To me his tone was cocky, but kind, and meaningful. How did he know my full name? Nobody knew that, not even Di!

My whole body began to feel heavy. My arms felt weighted, and I was tired. Drowsy, foggy, I pressed my body into the wall in an attempt to remain vertical. My legs were killing me. Why? I had barely moved all night! No dancing, running, anything! What was wrong with me?

"Tired?" The boy asked softly.

I wanted to lie so badly, to say "No, I'm fine, thank you." and then leave this frightening character behind. But my mouth wouldn't let me. It just wouldn't. Something held the words back, tugging them from my throat so I now spoke the truth.

"Yes." I gasped. "Very."

"Let me help you, Kari." He swiftly wrapped an arm around my waist, leading me gently.

"Where are we going?" I asked. This boy whose name I did not know, was dragging me slowly toward the door way across the dance floor. Where was Diana? I searched frantically all the faces around, but she was not one of them. Aaron, the elder brother of Erin (Yes, they were purposely named the same) looked at me curiously. Formally the school's biggest player and my short-time boyfriend, he had asked me to dance while his date, Peyton, a new girl to our private school, was in the bathroom. I had refused him, and now he was wondering why sensible Kari was letting a stranger take her away. I want to cry for help, run, hide, anything! But my body wouldn't let me.

"It's okay." The handsome man dragging me said soothingly in my ear, sensing my discomfort and silent panic. "You are okay Kari."

Suddenly we were in the hallway, wall sconces dimmed for effect, elegant with a fancily weaved carpet and mirrors. He was turning us toward the exit.

"N-nuuuoooo." I slurred. "I dun't….go. Stay….please."

"I'm sorry, my flower." He murmured, but didn't even pause.

Now we were outside on the parking lot. The back one for employees. That was when he stop leading me and just carried me, stroking me hair. "Beautiful." He breathed, sounding content, happiest he had ever been in his life.

Some people would be all "Well, why don't you just run? Leave? He hadn't threatened you, you weren't forcibly chained to anything." It was like I was. My body wouldn't let me. His aura was threatening enough. And my own curiosity…not to mention dazed mind were chains enough.

"No." I protested as he stroked my hair, gathering strength. "I want to go back! Let go!" Sure it was childish, but it was all I could manage. At least my words were coming out straight now.

He stopped before a sleek black car, expensive latest model of some foreign company, clicking the button on a remote from key chain I hadn't seen him get out. The passenger side door opened gracefully, reveling black

leather seats, clean and obviously new.

"No." I whispered as he moved forward. I knew what happened in cars. What could happen. Either we drove away or…or things happened. Bad things.

That stopped him briefly. Hesitantly, he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"I'm sorry."

I was lain in the front seat carefully. He shut the door without locking it, but my free movement was non-existent at this point, so it wasn't like he had much to worry about in way of my escape. The car was black from heavily tinted windows and black upholstery making it difficult to make out any features. It could have just been my fuzzy head, though.

When he sat down and started the engine I continued to protest feebily.

"I'm sorry," He kept saying as he drove us to Godknowswherevill. "So sorry. "

"Are you going to kill me?" I finally asked, my voice weak and broken.

He glanced at me, surprised. Shocked, even.

"No," he said. His voice sounded strange. Broken as mine was. "No, I'm not a killer. Or a rapist. "

"Then what are you?" I pleaded. Give me something, please.

We were at a red light and he stared at me pityingly. I got kind of mad than, because the last thing I wanted from him was pity. Mercy, maybe, but pity? Um, no hot helpful thank you. Jerk.

"Just sleep Kari."

"No."

"Please." He pleaded, honestly wanting me to rest.

"I don't want to." I don't trust you. You can't make me.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

She was refusing to sleep, and the drug was wearing off, not that she noticed. If she didn't rest soon, the second drug would be completely useless. Her body would regain control, and the plan would take a sharp, brutal turn.

"I promise I won't do anything." I said quietly, soothing her with my voice. She couldn't deny how it affected her. My fingers weaved themselves in her hair, massaging the scalp. The stylish knot it had once been in was long gone, and she looked beautiful without it. She narrowed her eyes, still distrustful.

"Why should I believe you?" How can I believe you?

"Have I hurt you?"

"No." She admitted. "But that doesn't me you won't."

I gave a leaden sigh. This was more difficult than I anticipated.

"I swear on your life I shall not harm you."

"My life is nothing to you!" she snapped. Yes, the drug was wearing Short-lived and powerful.

"It is worth more than anything. Now please," I pulled a handkerchief out from my pocket. "Sleep. I don't want to force you."

Her eyes widened when she saw the white piece of cloth. Smart girl, she knew it wasn't to smoother but soaked in chemicals that would knock her out.

"Alright." She grumbled. "But touch me, you die, got it?"

I nearly roared with laughter. Me, dying. However, I restrained myself to a chuckle. She really was something, my Kore.

Closing her eyes, Kari shifted so that her back faced me. I leaned forward to brush back a lock of hair from her ear.

"Sleep now, my Kore."

"My name is Kari." She murmured, then blacked out.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I awoke in a bed. Alone, thank the gods, but still in an unfamiliar bed. I knew it was mine from the lack of scent; I had sprayed some lilac-vanilla sleep spray from Bed Bath & Beyond every night for the last three years, these sheets smelled like…a spicy, eucalyptus-y sort of thing. Waking in an unknown bed was a little creepy. Kind of the thing to send you into a panic ASAP.

I was alone, like I said, in a dark room without windows. Reaching my hands out to the side of the bed, I found a bedside table, then a cold metal object. A lamp. Flicking it on, I saw the room was basically empty. Only a bed (full sized, very nice ebony carved in an ancient style, really pretty) , the bedside table, and a lamp. Leaning forward I saw a chest at the end of the bed, doubling as a bench, but nothing else. No décor. The walls were lavender, a misty purple, the sheets were slate black and everything was cold.

No clock to tell me what time it was. How long had I been here? No matter, it was time to get up. I stood, and nearly screamed to see that I wasn't in my dress! He had taken it off! Ohmygoodiegosh, he had seen me-me…he was going to pay for this! My little fashion diva with Nicey Nash's voice was saying that sleeping on my dress would have ruined it, he had done me a favour. "At least now it doesn't have wrinkles!" I knew my favourite TV show host would never been that stupid. My little voice that was Diana's growled in anger, threatening, yelling curses and telling me all the things we would do to this kidnapper.

However, my voice, the true me that was whispering softly said "He was just looking out for you, I'm sure, Kari. It's not like he put you in any Victoria's Secret." This was true. I was just in some black cotton capris, and a tank top. With my original bra still on. My hair had been swept back into a ponytail like it normally was when I went to bed, because my hairdresser, Michael, had told me that it would reduce the rat's nest tangling I had as a child, and prevent acne. This was how I normally went to bed. How did he know that? Was he a stalker?

It was stupid, but I tried the door. Surprisingly, it was unlocked. So I left. Sure, it could have been a trap, but attempting to escape was better than staying here.

When I stepped out into the hallway it was like a completely different world. Medieval-looking stone walls with tapestries and marble floors. At least my room had drywall! This was olden days, with torches!

I looked around nobody in sight, though they could be around a corner at either end. Now I had a choice-left or right?

Since the left hall was darker, with stale air and shadows, it was most likely to be a dead end. The right was brighter, with breezes flowing by. Perhaps it lead to the outdoors? A way out? I ambled off down the right hallway, praying for some form of exit and a taxi waiting to take me home.

Five minutes later my perception turned out to be correct. I was on the outside of a courtyard with marble pillars surrounding it and a fountain in the center. It was something you'd find at a merchant's house in ancient Greece, only it wasn't a broken down moss covered artifact, it was real, and alive! And beautiful. Trees, flowers, grass. Something familiar. Finally.

I sat on the cool grass under a weeping willow in one corner of the yard. Its long tendrils of leaves hid me easily. Maybe I could stay here until nightfall and nobody would find me. I could then search for an escape.

By that time I had figured out this was a huge house, a palace even! Like one of the big mansions in the older part of town, where people had a household of servants and pools in the back yard. Only this one had a crazy owner who was all about the ancient Greek décor and decided to make his house all olden-day. It was too big to be run alone, like our house was, with just me and Mom cleaning it on Saturdays. No, this place had to have a staff. So I would wait.

I lay back, taking a deep breath. I needed to relax. Panicking would not help me. Staying calm and rationally coming up with a plan of evasion would. A slight breeze ruffled the branches and I could now see the sky. I let in a sharp intake of air.

The sky was blood red. Not the beautiful sunset kind, but a dark, deep red, high in the sky. Too high to be sunset or sunrise. I shut my eyes, praying that my mind was just playing tricks. Or had global warming really come true? Was it the apocalypse?

A "crack" from above caught my attention and my eyes snapped opened. A figure cloaked in black crouched on a branch directly above me head. It was looking down. If it wasn't for the sudden sound the twig had made I would have never seen them, for they blended in with the tree's dark shadow. It was the twitch of their form that clued me in. I jumped, spinning to face it. It was only a few feet above me, and I could make out parts of a face. It was smiling. It too jumped, landing only a meter in front of me, and reached out. I drew back, glaring.

The figure stepped forward, into a beam of light from a gap in the leaves, and I once again saw the handsome, pale face of my kidnapper.

"Why did he have to be so hot?" I internally groaned, itching to maul that perfect face.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

My flower was obviously frightened and upset about my intrusion. She wouldn't allow me to touch her now that she had full control of her body. I could only smile. She was so naïve.

"Who are you?" she snapped. "Where am I? Why did you bring me here?"

I chuckled, amused. Such a sweetling. She had barely changed.

"Don't laugh at me!" Kore growled, her tiny hands making fists at her sides. I moved closer. She was so mad she didn't draw back, but leaned forward.

"You are in my home," I said calmly. "as an honored guest."

"I don't want to be here!"

"For that I am sorry, for I truly wish you did. But you have no choice in the matter, Karianna."

"Take me home." She demanded, glaring up at me with such ferocity and hate, I nearly…I nearly lost my temper. After all this-this struggling, all for her, how could she demand that? How could she look at me with such hatred? Surely something of her older self was still left?

"Never." I said harshly. "You're here to stay. You'll be happy here."

"I won't!" She huffed, a bit childish I must admit.

"You will. I swear." She would. She had to. It wasn't up for debate, Kore would be happy here. Ecstatically blissfully happy.

"Where am I?"

I almost lied; the truth would be so much, she would freak out.

"In my home." I hesitated. "Elysium."

Her golden eyes widened. "But that's an imaginary place. A myth."

I shrugged, uncaring. Kari knew her myths, being the history geek she was, and so drawn to Greek "mythology" some little part of her had to believe it. With me and the red skies, what else was she to think?

"It is your new home."

"No." she whispered. "No. That's not true. That place isn't real. You're mad." Her head shot up. "Who are you?" she asked, in that same demanding voice she always used.

"Hale." I said softly. "But my given name you already know, My Kore."

"For the last time!" She moaned. "My name is Kari. Car-e. Kari! Not Kore. Kore is not a real name, it's the thing you find inside an apple."

"Don't deny yourself."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

This was not right. My kidnapper, oh, I'm sorry, Hale, was telling me that I wasn't Kari, over-protected child, least popular girl in school due to her Mom's overbearing-ness. Oh no. I was instead Kore, over-protected child, least popular girl in school, goddess of flowers, reincarnation. Yeah. A Goddess. Every girl's dream.

Um, NOT!

Or, not when you are the Goddess famed for being kidnapped by the God of Death, Hades. Who was unfairly hot.

And if it had been true, it wasn't the death thing that bothered me. Not at all, I'm at peace with it. It was the living underground. It was the being kidnapped. And it was the being stuck underground forever. That's what bothered me. I enjoy the outdoors, the sun, the heat. This was a death sentence (no pun intended) for me!

"No." I said. "I am Kari. Not any goddess. Sorry. Wrong number."

"Kore." He said. "It is you destiny. I would not have taken you if I wasn't sure. You are Queen of Elysium. It's your true life." He was looking intently at me now. Why was it all the really hot ones were either crazy or really, really stupid? And what was this destiny crap?

"No." I stepped closer. Gods, he smelled wonderful. Ten times better than that perfume Val had last night. "Way. Am. I. A. Freaking. Goddess."

Only I didn't say freaking.

I had suspected, of course, for years. How could I not? I had an unusual ability to grow things, mostly flowers. We spent a ton of money each year for my gardens. My perennials, the ones that were suppose to die the year you bought them, then never grow back grew back. Sometimes they didn't even die. It was like I could speak to the plants. We could talk to each other.

I had an over-protective mother. There were rumors of my relations to the principal. And now I had been kidnapped by this hottie, who thought he was King of the Underworld.

Here's your sign. Reincarnation, anyone?

There were only a few options as what to do next, if this was real. None of them were really appealing to me. Accept it, reject it, play along, or run.

"Listen," I said through gritted teeth. "Hale. I can't stay here. A) I'm not Kore, B) Even if I was you know the ending, and it's not a happy one for either of us. My mom will kill everyone! You cannot let that happen. It's worthless. Give up. Let me go before any real damage is done!"

Hale regarded me calmly, his blue-gray eyes flitting over my face, giving an evaluation to his own choices. Was he going to say yes? Let me leave? Had my ploy succeeded?

"You do not think you are the reincarnation of the Goddess?"

I sighed. Really, he hadn't struck me as stupid. Just stubborn. "No. No I do not, Hale."

"Prove it."

I blinked. "What?"

"Prove to me that you are not." He strode a few feet away, eyeing a purple flower in the grass. He turned back to me. "I'll let you leave if you can show me that you are average, everyday Kari." He said it like it was a bad thing.

"Alright."

He lifted is boot over the flower and crushed it without the slightest change of expression.

"No!" I cried, lurching forward and bending down to tend to the poor little bloom. When I was only a few inches from the crush thing, a green spark flew from my out stretched fingers and the plant stood again. I stared at my hand in amazement, doing a double take from the flower to my limb.

"Wha-"

"You do that all the time. Only here does the power show itself."

I paled silent. I had lost his gamble. What can I do now?

He had been leaning against the tree, cocky again. Now he pushed himself off and stood before me circling slowly. From behind me he caught my waist, pulling me against him and turning me around to face him all in one smooth move. "Believe me now?" He breathed in my ear.

I did. But I did not want to. It was had to argue with the proof staring you so blatantly in the face. Besides, I had more important things to focus on. Like this hot guy who obviously had the hots for me. It felt good, being held by him. Safe. A little possessive, but safe, all the same. Nice, really. I nodded slowly in answer to his question.

"Good." He purred, nuzzling my cheek.

"But I have to go back." I whispered. I almost didn't want to now but there was that one little problem. He stopped. "She'll kill everyone." I explained, still whispering."

Hale burst out laughing. A joyous, full, roaring laugh. One that made me smile, regardless of the situation. He pulled away to look at me better, laughter still dancing in his eyes, that bright smile lighting his face. He was so much more happier here, it made him all the more beautiful.

"Little on," He breathed. "it has been a long time since your mother has held any power. A very, very long time."

"But…why?" I was confused. Weren't we gods?

"Humans have had control over everything, my Goddess, save a few;" He said gently. "The sun, the moon, the sea, love, chaos, death…"

"But then-"

"Why do you have power? You have it, but you cannot use it against humans. You cannot start chaos. Only the named can do that. Not she, not you, not your father, nor Diana."

I nodded dumbly, shocked.

"That's why we were reincarnated." He murmured. "To a time when those who would stop us had no power."

We were silent, and he continued to hold me, sinking to the base of the tree where we just sat for the longest time, contemplating our roles.

"Did she love you?" I finally asked.

"Who?"

"Persephone."

He was quiet, looking at me, thinking.

"Yes." He finally said. "But not for a while, until I had shown my loyalty, and that I wasn't going to hurt her. It took months. Just a little while before her mother found us. Then…years later, we were destroyed. When our kingdoms died, so did we."

"I don't understand. You died? But you're immortals. Gods."

"We died in the sense that we had no power or abilities to enter the mortal world. After a time, we were given a choice: be reborn as mortals with our powers, or simply be reborn. Get a new body."

"What did you chose?"

"I didn't get a choice. I was reborn, with a mortal family, as a god, with my powers. It just…happened."

"What about me?" I asked. "I don't remember any of it."

"You…you weren't given a choice either. Your mother arranged it without our knowledge, hoping you would forget this," He motioned between us. "An take Apollo, or someone else. "

"How did you remember?"

"How could I forget?" He asked sadly.

"How could I?" I whispered.

Silence assumed us again, until I looked up at Hale. Hades, I corrected myself. Everything he said made sense. The history, me, our connection, this place. I didn't know anything about myself. I missed my family, my friends, my home. But through this I felt an opening. A certain trust in nothing in particular. Immense, deep, unfamiliar, unknown, but it was trust. I could try.

"Will you stay?" He asked, hope and love and fear in his eyes.

"Yes." I answered.

This is my second Greek Mythology Fan fiction, and my 9th in total. Originally this was a short retelling story project for Language Arts, then planned to be split into chapters and lengthened, I needed something to work on between projects. It is written as a mixture of my own style and Meg Cabot's, 'cause she in my favourite writer.

This is my favourite Greek story. I've seen a lot of others on this site, and wanted a quick fiction more humorous than some of my others. And I want to compare it to Meg Cabot's Abandoned when it comes out (Sometime in 09 or 10, can't wait!)

To all my Arty Fans, this is an "I'm sorry for not updating" for the next two weeks. Review. Enjoy.

Oh, one last thing. Persephone. Kari isn't going to be called "Persephone" until she A) Accepts and officially becomes Queen of the Underworld B) Loses her innocents.

Any questions? Comments? Guesses as too whose is what deity? You know what button to push. That's right nods to you as you click "Submit Review"

Dania