"No, Candy wouldn't want that," Klaus shook his head.

Arachne tried to think of something. "No, but Hades might."

Klaus knew that not many knew of his gift which resided in the beard. It was possible that Hades knew so. Hope bubbled in him at the thought of seeing Candy.

"Okay. Take me there."

*******

Mirabel was sewing faster, glancing at the big clock in her home every two minutes. It was Eric's birthday the next day and she wanted to gift him, even though he was angry with her.

The shoe was made of soft leather from the skin of a fawn and she'd dusted it with a sheen of fairy wings, which could be obtained if requested. It would be a comfort to him. She hoped he'd like it.

She yawned wide and looked out at the bright sun and rested her head on her folded knees. Slowly, sleep overtook her.

******

Arachne led Klaus out. "I want to receive the Apple. It isn't gonna happen if I try to get in there."

Klaus nodded. "So, you think they will grant me an entry, then?"

"Yes, they do know that you're Klaus after all."

What Klaus greatly feared was not some barring of entry. He feared seeing fear in their eyes. For to become a monstrous creature was not something so lovely to behold.

When they reached the entrance, they saw a nymph guarding the entrance as always. Her eyes bent low to meet Klaus and he saw it. Fear.

"Klaus..." she said timidly. "Hello. What-what brings you here?"

"I won't hurt you..." he said, bowing to the nymph. "I come to collect something for an old friend."

"We need verification," she nodded hurriedly.

Klaus seemed to panic but felt Arachne whisper to him. "Tell the truth. Not many know of my existence."

Klaus did. "I want to restore my friend, here, this spider. She was bitten by one of your poisonous weeds and turned into one. I need my Jingler back."

The nymph nodded. "May I see her?"

Arachne crawled down and hung from her spider web. The nymph looked at her closely.

"Okay, swear by this flower that if you use this fruit for a wrong purpose, you will suffer."

Arachne did so lazily as the nymph held the iridescent flower close.

"May the curse of the Bond Flower befall you if you're evil and may its fruits fill you with peace if you're in the path of the truth," she recited. She tucked it away, calling another one to bring the Apple of Restoration.

Arachne's mouth watered at the sight. After years of living inside that horrible flute...She bit into it and felt her hairy arms turn into that of a woman. She transformed into a really beautiful person.

"Thank you, Klaus," she said.

Klaus went away with her, hoping to not trouble the nymphs any further.

"Well, I shall be off, then after dropping you off," she said.

"I am really grateful, Arachne."

She nodded, leading the way into Hades realm. Arachne had been to Olympus once. As soon as she saw the spirits, she looked at Klaus and nodded again. "This is it."

"It's...gloomy."

Arachne looked around. "More souls, otherwise still the same. Anyway, I will be off. Just enter from here and you will be fine."

When Klaus entered his realm, he knew that it was all lost. Candy might recollect if she saw him.

"Mighty Hades," said Klaus, bowing. He remembered the last time he'd come in here as a boy. Not a werewolf. And then, after she'd truly disappeared, he turned into an insane werewolf who continued his lover's joys- giving gifts.

"Klaus," said Hades his throat tight. A big hole was starting to open with the fear engulfing him.

"I have come to have Candy back." Just as Hades was about to shake his head, Klaus spoke again. "In return, I will give you a strand of my beard."

Hades scrunched his eyebrows. "I see no use of it for me?"

Klaus took a step back in fear. Had Arachne really betrayed him?

"It brings snow if you choose to give it to the wind. And the retrieval of someone if it is kept in Pandora's box."

Hades looked at his sultry kingdom filled with souls and spirits and other creatures. There was no beauty as such.

"Let us vote in favor for what Candy chooses," said Hades in a small voice. "Candy!"

Candy came out and Klaus waited for her to rush and hug him. His heart thumped loudly. Decades of waiting.

"Candy?" he said in a hoarse voice.

Candy had the most blank look on her face as Hades heaved an imperceptible sigh of relief.

"Candy?" Klaus called out.

Amoris was noticing how the Jinglers did everything without knowing much for what.

"They're pretty good. Don't you think?" asked Phantasos.

"Yeah..." she trailed off. "Except there is no joy as they have no emotions."

"Jinglers have emotions, miss," one of them responded to her query. "Except for love, we know all other emotions."

Amoris frowned. "How come you don't know of love?"

The Jingler shook her head.

"That's weird."

Morpheus nodded. "Where's Arachne?"

Amoris felt a sharp pain shoot through her chest and she fell on her knees, clutching her chest.

"Amoris!" Phantasos bent down holding her. "What is it?"

One of her arrow hair turned black and was struggling to become free.

"My match..." she choked out, holding her hair.

The hair was moving in all directions, struggling to come out. It whipped around, tugging harder. Amoris yelled as the pain became unbearable.

"My match..."

Phantasos nodded at his brother as they carried a yelling Amoris out from Christmas Land.

"Hades..." she whispered, trying to choke the pain. Phantasos looked puzzled.

"Are you sure?"

She barely nodded as another ear splitting scream came out. They passed Styx on the way as they reached Hades realm. She could get in easily, being his daughter.

"Put...me down," she sighed. When she saw clearly, she called. "Dad..."

Both Klaus and Hades turned to look at her. Candy looked at her with some recognition. Hades looked stricken.

"My ...match..." she whispered.

Hades looked scared as he stood there, not knowing what to do. Then, he bent down, holding her hand. "Amoris?"

"Dad...my match..." she said again. "You made one suffer."

Hades looked away as Klaus frowned. "What are you telling?"

Amoris nodded at Candy and Klaus. "My match."

Klaus looked at Candy and then let out a howl. "She doesn't know me."

Amoris looked at her father. "Dad, did you mess with my match?"

"You were hardly here, Mora. I loved you. And I still do," he said. "When I saw Candy come here in pure exploration, I needed someone."

Klaus jumped on him, but one of Amoris' arrow hair pulled him away and kept him at bay. "Hades! This is not fair!"

Phantasos held him too. "Amoris is in pain. Let it be over soon."

"I gave her a drink from River Lethe, the river of forgetfulness. She forgot about Klaus and the others. And she kept me company when you weren't there, Mora. She was like a second daughter."

"I love you, dad, but staying here meant danger because the other gods...don't like me," she said softly. "You need to release Candy."

"I will be all alone, again, dear," he said. A big void was starting to consume him as the fear increased. "Please."

"I will come here. After all, Styx is here. And I will meet you too," she said, closing her eyes. "Even if you come to hunt me down."

********

If any of you have any doubts, regarding the topic of her looking to match Klaus before, then FYI, a person can be matched many times...

Yours,

Rose