The girl wandered through the garden, her nightgown billowing with each graceful step. She was cautious not to disturb the life under her, smooth satin petals stained with Zeus's tears. He had unleashed havoc on the planet a few nights ago, bringing three days worth of non stop rain, the sky trembling with each pierce of his jagged sword, blue and white light crackling against Selene's dark flowing hair, startling passing sparrows. As expected, Selene had not enjoyed this vengeful performance. There was an unsound rule regarding the moon goddess. Once she slipped her delicate body into the narrow crevice the Sun God, Helios, made, her raven curls spilling over the fading hues of yellow and orange, she was to be unbothered. One mere utter from the gods and she would spiral into a frenzy, her frustrated screams echoing in the bitter, biting winds. She wasn't easy to pacify once she reached this point. That's why the gods and spirits alike were careful not to irk her, talking to her like one might while walking on hot coals. Everything coming out in a messy, complicated jumble of words from an impressive high speed blurt. She much rather enjoyed it that way. It was calming.
But of course, nothing good ever lasts for long. Zeus and Poseidon had been on good terms the whole month with a bit of bickering here and there. Surprisingly when November came, it didn't take more than an hour for them to fall back into their repetitive cycle of fleeting peace, followed by one dispute after another. Poseidon had glimpsed a woman on Earth and claimed her as his with a low, level binding spell, restricting her from ever loving anyone else but him again. In fact, this spell would leave her heart unstained from the impurity of human emotion. Hate, anger, deceit, heartbreak, betrayal. So when she entered the heavens, she would have lived a happy peaceful life. When Zeus found out, he demanded Poseidon undo the spell and let her free. The argument lasted for over three days, glass smashing, angry confusing shouts piercing the silence, and bones shattering into grotesque only to be healed minutes later. Sometimes, they forgot how their petty quarrel taxed Mount Olympus.
But the girl guessed it was safe to return now. She had spent the last three days roaming the Earth's diverse geographics, basking in the soft scenery of autumn leaves and dandelions coated with rain drops. Before she left, this had been the last garden to visit on her list. She had gone to almost everyone on earth, using her levitation to make it easier. When she had first arrived at the picket fence, the gardener had cautioned her not to enter. Her pale face had only heightened the girl's curiosity. This place had once been a no man's land after a successful military invasion left commoners with flat scorched hilltops and plains, in which nothing could ever grow. But when they saw the green leafy stem shoot from the ground one night, they knew this was not the case. They had been planting seeds there for over five days, so it was relieving to know the military hadn't been able to take their garden away from them.
She reached the black rose, prominent against a monotony of red, stooping down to ghost the velvety petals. It was just as she had expected. Light, delicate, beautiful. She lifted the stem carefully, twirling it between index and thumb. Was this why the woman had warned her not to proceed? But it was just a flower.
A low thrum met her ears and she glanced around, trying to detect the sound. There was no unusual presence in the atmosphere. Normally by now, she would have sensed a dark spirit or hellhound. The plains began to crumble and crack, jagged lines running across the earth's smooth surface. Rose petals fell limply onto the grass, and everything lay in a scatter of red and green filth. She dropped the rose as if she had just touched fire, scrambling up. 'I need to get out of here'. She was almost to the fence when the pressure gave under her, and she was thrust forward, falling into the endless abyss.
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