"Phhh!" I screeched, pulling away from the person I had smacked into.

"Whoa!" the person exclaimed, as he stepped away from me. I took a good look at his angular face, every changing eyes, and black streaked platinum blond hair. Why did I feel like I knew him? What is with people/gods I remember and don't remember at the same time? I ground my teeth in frustration. I must have looked weird or something, with my face contorted, as he burst out laughing. I glared at him. Rude! Then, my eyes widened in amazement as his hair turned a very bright shade of neon green. What? His hair changed colors! It changed colors! It actually changed colors!

Really, Persephone? a frustrated little voice yelled at me. For Pete's sake! You're a goddess! Your family is made up of gods and goddesses! Your entire existence is based on mythology! Crazy weird mythology! You should be used to this stuff! I decided to ignore that little voice and focus my attention on the dude in front of me.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" he squeaked. "It's just that I've been bored lately and haven't had a good laugh in weeks. His hair then turned a dull cranberry color.

"That doesn't mean you can laugh at me!" I practically yelled. I had almost-but not quite-forgiven him, but I wanted to humor myself as well. His hair transformed dark purple, although a bit of baby blue was noticeable.

"I'm sorry!" he playfully apologized. "Forgive me!" he said, giving me doe eyes. Dude. Seriously?

"Hmm." I pretended to be in mock thought. "I don't know. Maybe."

"Please!" he pleaded. I stifled a laugh.

"Oh, alright." I finally agreed and burst out laughing. He joined in.

"The name's Morpheus," he said, sticking his hand out. That's where he was from! Mother sometimes had Iris over, and I had occasionally heard the name Morpheus. I looked warily at his hand. Do I want to shake it? No.

"Uh, I'm Persephone." His hand was still in the air, but I still didn't want to shake it, so it stayed there until he placed by his side.

Oh, so you're Persephone! I've been hearing about you, but mostly from Embeth." Embeth? How long had I stayed in my room?

"You know Embeth?" I asked.

"Yup," he replied. "After she died, she was a little lonely, so I drop in every now and then to see her." That's nice of him.

"That's sweet," I noted.

"I do what I can," he replied. "Now, where were you going?"

"Erm..." Can I tell him? Can I trust him?

"Oh, so is it a secret?" I gave him a curious look. "I mean, I saw you stalk out of the door ninja- style, and you checked the right hall before running into me." I turned bright red. He laughed. Hey!

"Um...Well...It's not really a secret."

"Oh? Well, then where were you going?" Why so interested?

"Why do you want to know?"

"Well, we can't have crazy lunatics running around. Especially if they're knocking people over," he said with a smile. I did my best to look offended. "Crazy lunatic? I'm no crazy lunatic! In fact, I think you're the crazy lunatic!"

"I'm not the crazy lunatic, you are!"

"No, you are definitely the crazy lunatic!"

"Fine! If I'm the crazy lunatic, you can be another crazy lunatic with me!"

"Hmph! Alright! I will." We laughed together.

"So, well, um..." he trailed off. What? I thought.

"Yes?" I answered, always playing good girl.

"Um, well, I'm getting the impression that you like me, and I like you."

"Not a chance, mister."

"I didn't even finish what I was going to say!" he said, a little alarmed. Why the heck would he be alarmed? Has he never met someone who has interrupted him?

"Go, on, then," I said, now annoyed. Still gonna say no!

"Do you want to go out with me?" His face looked so confident I knew there was only one way I could answer. Which I had already said before.

"No."

"What?" he looked enraged. I mentally facepalmed. Dude, I already said no.

"First of all, I'm in a situation where I don't want anybody. Second of all, you seem too stuck up. The look of extreme unbelief and anger when I replied no said it all."

His face turned red. I could practically see smoke coming out of his ears.

"Uh...I think I'm gonna go. See ya!" I turned and tried to run. An iron grip pulled me back. I swore under my breath,

"Curse Hera's unlucky peacock feathers."

"You're not running away, Persephone." Morpheus spat into my ear, his breath tingling.

He twisted his arm so I was facing him, in the process, tightening the collar of my shirt. I could hardly breathe.

"After all, wouldn't want Flowers over here getting hurt."

"Mi nm int fors." I choked out.

"What was that again, Flowers?" he sneered. My face hardened.

I bit his hand.

"OW!" he shrieked, dropping his hold on my shirt.

I attempted to get up and was rewarded with a nice kick to my spine. Gasping, I crumpled to the ground.

"I said it before, Flowers. You. Are. Not. Leaving!" he growled. I was so, so tempted to say that he had actually said I wasn't running away, not that I wasn't leaving as he had before. But I held my tongue, just like Mom had always told me to do. And the exact opposite of how Apothi behaved.

He grabbed my shirt and brought me up mere centimeters from his face, forcing me to look directly into his eyes.

"You will do as I say," he commanded. "What do you think of that?" A plan began forming in my mind.

"I said, WHAT TO DO YOU THINK OF THAT?!" he screamed. Now the plan was fully developed and I was ready to take action.

"You, know, I think that's a great idea. I do as you say, but will you do as I say? I think..." I punched him in the stomach. He groaned, and once more dropped me.

"Louli sýnora," I said, holding my hands up. Flowers began forming from the palms of my hand and floated to Morpheus, encasing him in the form of chains. Mom had made me learn this spell when I was six years old. Glad to know at least one thing she taught me was useful.

Morpheus looked at me with wide eyes. Didn't think a girl could beat ya, huh? "First of all, you don't take hold of someone and forget about their hands. That's just pathetic.

Second, what you did was very, very, rude and disrespectful. And downright arrogant as well as disgusting." I told him off. "Third, any female can overpower you, you slimy rat. If they have wit and a sharp mind. Now, I'll give you a second chance. I won't tell anyone about our encounter. But be warned that if you do this to me again or if I catch word of you doing this to someone else, I won't hesitate to do so. Oh, and this is for good measure." I kicked him, hard. He almost flew back several feet, but the flower chains held him firmly, increasing the pain.

"Goodbye." I turned on my heel and walked away.

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