Resurrection

 

by

Erin Wilmes

 

It all began with the passing of the Great Law years ago. It was written that society was responsible for forming the best citizens for the sake of their futures. Now, a statement like that may be well and good, but not when taken so literally as the people did.

 

“Congratulations, Mr. Despur, you have a healthy, baby girl,” the aged doctor announced coming down the mahogany staircase to where a younger, nervous looking man stood, eating his every word.

 

“A-a girl?” the man stammered, as color returned to his face, “yes, yes, good, good...”

 

“Good indeed,” the doctor continued as he began to quickly brush past Mr. Despur towards the door, “I should be getting on my way home now. If you should need me, just send word to my office.”

 

“Wait, Doctor,” Mr. Despur exclaimed suddenly as he spun to face the doctor at the door. “Is she... acceptable?”

 

The doctor was silent for a moment, if you had looked close enough, an odd flicker could be seen behind his eyes. Yet it lingered not even for a moment before the doctor smiled warmly and nodded to the new father.

 

“Of course,” he said firmly, “a pride and joy if I ever saw one. Now I must be off, but congratulations again.”

 

And so Ariadne was born, the first child to Salmoneus and Cassiopeia Despur, a wealthy, uptown (blue blood from old money) type of family. From the start, Mr. and Mrs. Despur celebrated their perfect child. They surrounded her with only the best toys, the best clothes, the best company, “the best” which in their case meant one thing: absolute perfection.

 

Two years later, for instance, Mrs. Despur was out at the park with Ariadne, going for an afternoon stroll. Ariadne was dressed in the usual expensive, pale pink, dress and Mrs. Despur was sure to strut in such a manner that all passerby’s noticed the two of them, elegant and perfect as they were. The toddler, Ariadne, rode in the white baby carriage that her Mother and Father had paid dearly to have made and at the moment, stared out about the park with large dark eyes. Her hair was also dark and full of baby curls with a pink bow pinned in it to match her dress. The worlds sweetest and most perfect baby, at least by first glance.

 

“Oh look, Ariadne! A rose bush!” Mrs. Despur exclaimed in mid-walk as the carriage turned to the side of the path. Little Ariadne stared over the large, green bush with the bold, red blooms opened and reaching out to her. Her mother bent forward to sniff the largest ones and continued to comment on it’s perfection, though her daughter was not listening. Instead, Ariadne’s gaze was on a smaller rose on the bush, one overshadowed by the others. It was darker in color, almost as if it were dying, being choked out by the larger ones that held her mother’s attention. She leaned forward and reached out a small hand towards the flower when-

 

“Ariadne! No!” her mother exclaimed as she pulled the toddler back into her seat. “You don’t want that flower. Here, look at these ones, they’re much better.”

 

Instantly, the big, red roses were brought to Ariadne’s face, obscuring the smaller one from her view. She leaned back from the bigger roses and whimpered as her hands reached out to shove them away.

 

“You don’t want a flower? Alright... I suppose we should go home anyway,” Mrs. Despur said as she let go of the bush, allowing the roses to move back into place.

 

Ariadne immediately leaned forward towards the spot where the smaller rose was on the bush. But as her mother moved out of the way in order for her to see, she noticed it was gone. She only had a moment to stare about, looking for the small rose elsewhere on the bush when her mother pushed the carriage away and continued with their walk.

 

Such things seemed trifling small, hardly noticeable, but Ariadne continued to seek out the lesser of things in life. When she was four, this meant changing out of the pink dresses and into the simpler darker colored ones or pulling out the bows in her hair. When she was outside, it meant playing with the broken toys, helping the bird with the broken wing, and even finding company with ordinary children just off of the street. Of course, only to the point where her parents weren’t stopping her.

 

It came to the point where Mr. and Mrs. Despur were desperate to stop their daughter’s strange “obsession,” as they had dubbed it, with the impure. How could their perfect child want to associate with the common riffraff, why would she want to be seen, or want to touch those sort of obscurities. There was something unnatural about it, something just not right as Mr. Despur would say.

 

“It’s just not right, Cassiopeia,” Mr. Despur hissed one night as they sat before their roaring fireplace.

 

Mrs. Despur leaned back in her chair, her eyes glinting unusually, and her face composed in a sort of fear. “They’ve been talking, Salmoneus, the other day Mrs. Gergaldi saw Ariadne sharing candy with that raggedly boy from Middletown.”

 

“The little dusty boy?” Mr. Despur snapped.

 

“The same,” Mrs. Despur said in a shrill whisper. Leaning forward, she whispered again, “I don’t think Ariadne understands, Salmoneus. We must explain to her, she must know.”

 

“You don’t suppose she’s...” Mr. Despur said darkly as he began to shudder in his chair.

 

“NO!” Mrs. Despur snapped at once, knuckles white as she gripped the chair she sat in. “Of course she’s not!”

 

“Shhh... you’ll wake her...” Mr. Despur hushed his wife as they both glanced at the upper level beyond the dark landing at the top of the mahogany stairs. With just the fireplace to light the room, the usual grand and luxurious Despur Manor took on an eerie glow to it, a mood to match the moment as the couple quieted down in their chairs again, both staring deep into the licking flames of the fire. They remained quiet for a moment before Mr. Despur continued, “But just in case-”

 

“Salmoneus.” Mrs. Despur murmured in protest as she stared to her husband disapprovingly.

 

“Yes, yes, we will talk to Ariadne,” Mr. Despur sighed. “And we shall try again.”

 

Mrs. Despur’s head snapped immediately to stare to Mr. Despur who was already at his feet, holding out his hand to take his wife’s. Quietly, she gave him her hand and he pulled her to her feet and the two of the descended the stairs to retire for the night.

 

~*~

Twelve years later...

 

A new member of the family had arrived in the Despur household within that time. Freya Despur, a blue eyed, blonde haired miracle child as her fond parents called her. Freya turned out to be the exact opposite of her sister, Ariadne. Freya loved the sunshine, the best dresses, the biggest and most beautiful flowers. Her friends were only among the suitable (other blue bloods) and as she began school, her grades were never below an A.

 

Ariadne, now sixteen compared to her twelve year old sister, was still the dark eyed-dark haired girl she was as a toddler. She now was independent to take care of herself and had long since learned how to make her own clothes. This became a necessity as her parents began to limit her wardrobe choice only to the brightest of colors... yellows, pinks, sky blues, tones that she didn’t much care for at all. Her typical outfits were usually in colors of black, midnight blue, royal blue, crimson, purple etc. She didn’t enjoy the idea of standing out, so despite her color pallet, she would transform her fabrics into suitable dresses, even in the general public would look at her as if she were crazy. But it was typical and she was used to it by now.

 

“Don’t her parents inspect her before she goes out in the morning?” an old lady whispered as Ariadne walked by her in the park one day.

 

“Shh! Don’t you know who that is? That’s the Despur girl,” another lady whispered back.

 

“Oh! The messed up one?” the old lady ushered again.

 

Ariadne rolled her eyes, the usual rumors. Just because she looked different and didn’t prance beneath rainbows and sunshine. Pausing for a moment in midwalk, she stared off to the side of the path where a bush was planted. On one of the leaves, she saw a black spider dangling down by a spindle, legs askew as it kicked around. Moving towards the bush, Ariadne stooped down and laid a flat palm beneath the spider so it could stand upright again. Her hand remained still for a moment, watching the intricate creature walk across her skin to start a web on a new leaf instead. From behind her, she could still hear the two women gossiping. Weirdo, messed-up, freak, strange, names that she had all been called before and had gotten accustomed to.

 

Years back, her parents sat down with her and told her that there were good things in the

world and bad things. The good things were what she was supposed to be playing with, talking to and enjoying in general. The bad things, the broken things, the misfits, the poor, the dirty, she was supposed to avoid because they were not perfect. But it never made sense to her.

 

“I think you’re beautiful too...” Ariadne whispered to the spider as it crawled off of her hand.

 

You’re one of few who believes so... a distant voice whispered inside her mind.

 

Ariadne stood up, eyes wide, staring around and whispered, “Who’s there?”

 

Hahaha... are you afraid, Ariadne? The voice hissed again.

 

Ariadne looked behind her to where the old women were still gossiping on the bench. No, they were too far away, it couldn’t be one of them. The voice was at her ear it seemed, almost in her head, but the source of it she was still puzzled by. “I don’t think so,” Ariadne murmured, “I just wish I could see you.”

 

Then come to the woods, Ariadne, towards the shadows... the voice whispered.

 

The trees beyond the bush swayed a moment, a small woods here in the park, a place that few ever entered. Definitely a “bad thing” that her parents were always warning her about. Ariadne narrowed her eyes a moment, then cautiously stepped off of the path and moved towards the woods. Behind her, the women became silent, she assumed they had noticed her and she began to move faster towards the woods.

 

“You there! Girl! Stop!” one of the women shouted.

 

Ariadne broke into a run and burst into the woods, dodging about trees as her black and midnight blue dress flew behind her as she went. She quickly dodged behind a larger tree and remained there for a moment, listening to see if her pursuer had followed. But the woods were silent.

 

Quick on your feet, that’s very good... the familiar voice whispered again.

 

This time, Ariadne stared in the direction of the darkest part of the woods, pitch black nearly and her eyes tried to focus over it. She could almost see a figure there, but she wasn’t sure. She wasn’t about to come close and find out either, though she had been bold enough to enter the woods, there was still a nerve in the pit of her stomach that was protesting coming any closer.

 

“Who are you?” Ariadne whispered.

 

No one you should be afraid of for starters, Ariadne, the voice whispered as the dark figure beyond the trees seemed to shift. But you may call me Erebus.

 

“How do you know my name?” Ariadne whispered as she leaned off of the tree she was hiding behind, eyes still scanning the darkness for more movement.

 

I’ve known you’re name for a long time now, Ariadne, Erebus laughed darkly. I’ve been waiting years to meet you.

 

“Why?” Ariadne questioned as she began to drift away from the tree, but not coming any closer to the dark shadows.

 

All will be revealed in time, but for now, I want you to have this... Erebus whispered.

 

There was the sound of the clink of metal and Ariadne stared down to the leafy ground to see a blackened necklace fall and curl up there. The metal links were black and a charm adorned the chain, a black star with a black diamond in the center of it. Stooping down, she picked it up and flipped it through her fingers.

 

“It’s pretty, but the chain is too small to fit around my head, and there’s no clasp to undo it,” Ariadne pointed out as she continued to survey it.

 

It’s magic, Ariadne, before you can keep it, I must ask something of you, Erebus ushered on.

 

A catch, of course. Ariadne looked up at the form where Erebus was and nodded her head for him to continue.

 

Be my friend. Ridiculous it sounds, but it’s not easy task, Ariadne, Erebus whispered. I already am something that this world fears and hates, in return for your friendship, I offer you my own friendship and severe loyalty.

 

“I don’t have any friends,” Ariadne said as she lowered her gaze a moment to the chain. Her parents had forbidden her to see any of her old friends, the ones that were “imperfect” in their words. Since then she had been alone... with the exception of the perfect Freya always at her heels. “But, I’ll be your friend, Erebus, if you’ll be mine.”

 

Consider it done, Erebus’s dark voice replied happily. Now, place the necklace atop of your head as if you were to put it on.

 

Ariadne took the chain and raised it above her head, as if she were to slip it on like an ordinary necklace. To her shock, the chain did slide over her head as if it had suddenly grown and once it was about her neckline, it seemed to shrink again so it would become unremovable. She flipped the charm about for a moment, then smiled towards Erebus and said, “Thank you.”

 

No, thank you, now you must be off. You’re parents are on their way to find you. Regrettably, those women didn’t chase you into here, they turned around and went after your parents.

 

“How should I find you again?” Ariadne asked as she saw the dark figure beginning to move away.

 

I will be out where there is darkness. I’ll always be with you in your head, Ariadne, even if you can’t always hear me.

 

“Alright, good bye Erebus!” Ariadne called as she turned and ran back the same way she came out of the woods.

 

I’ll talk to you soon... Erebus’s last words whispered into her mind.

 

As Ariadne broke into sunlight again, she paused for a moment to stare back into the woods, halfway wondering if what had happened was real. She was half still in shock from it all and half... happy. A real smile was streaming across her face, the first real on in years. She squinted beneath the sun and brushed her hands on her dress, but otherwise she felt fine until-

 

“Ariadne Despur!” a voice cracked from across the path. She jumped in her tracks and turned to see her parents along with the two women ushering quickly towards her. Her hand was clutched over the necklace as she realized she would have a lot of explaining to do.

 

~*~

 

So they’re solution is to lock you up in your room? Erebus repeated in her head later that evening.

 

“That’s correct,” Ariadne answered as she leaned against the sill against her window, staring out at the last bit of twilight. The first stars had begun to shine and she waited with anticipation for the rest to come out.

 

The best part I think was when you’re Father came after the necklace with a hacksaw... Erebus chuckled.

 

“Why?” Ariadne laughed. “Because it wouldn’t break or take a scratch?”

 

That and the look of frustration on his face... classic... Erebus continued to chuckle.

 

Ariadne laughed again and leaned her head back as she began to stare across to each of the visible stars, eyes alight with a peaceful resonance as she watched them. Night was truly more beautiful than the day in her mind. The sun could be a joy too, but it was often blinding, sometimes too hot and it hogged the sky for itself. During the night, the moon had a soft glow and the stars each took their turn to be seen all year around. Though the night was a time of darkness and most shut their windows out against it, she kept hers open to watch the twinkling wonders.

 

Why is your kind so afraid of the difference? Erebus asked quietly.

 

“The difference?” Ariadne questioned as she stared to her bed. A darker figure lay sprawled across her bed there, though in the dark of the room, she could barely make him out.

 

To be different. The other day I saw a man outside tending to his garden. In his flower beds, the flowers were all red and if one white one came in, he tore it out immediately. Another time, I saw a cat with two different colored eyes get chased down the street by some lady who didn’t want him near her house. The neighbors joined her in chasing it up the street. So pathetic...

 

“It really is, Erebus,” Ariadne whispered with a sigh, “it’s the stupid Great Law. What’s perfect is what remains, what’s weird or different is imperfect and cursed and therefore done away with.”

 

Are you ever afraid that one day they will do away with you? Erebus whispered. You are not normal by their standards either.

 

“I wish they would. I don’t want to be here. Did I tell you my parents pulled me out of school four years ago?” Ariadne mused. “My grades were such a disappointment, being only average, as was my personality that they began to home school me. I guess they figure Freya will gain our family honor or something.”

 

That’s terrible, Ariadne, I hope you know that.

 

“I do know it, but whatever it takes to keep my parents happy. Once I’m old enough, I’m out of here,” Ariadne said stubbornly as she tucked her knees up against her chest. Her eyes rested against the dark skies, to the dazzling stars. She released a sigh and whispered, “So beautiful...”

 

Yes you are... Erebus’s dark voice whispered and for a moment, Ariadne thought she felt something brush against her hair and by her ear. She turned her head immediately and saw that the bed was empty. She stared around wildly, to the corners, the floor, the ceiling, but saw no dark form.

 

“Erebus? Erebus, where are you?” she whispered frantically.

 

I’m still here, you just can’t see me,” Erebus chuckled darkly. Then he stopped suddenly, and hissed, Wait- someone’s coming...

 

“What? Who?” Ariadne hissed back as she quickly stood up just as the door flew open and light from the hallway poured in. Click. The light came on and the room was aglow. In the doorway, Mrs. Despur stood looking accusingly down at Ariadne with Mr. Despur standing behind her.

 

“Who were you talking to?” Mrs. Despur’s cold voice ordered.

 

“Just to the room... to the shadows...” Ariadne answered, weaving a dodging truth.

 

“Shadows?” Mr. Despur’s icy voice clicked from behind Mrs. Despur.

 

“Just to whoever is listening,” Ariadne murmured backing into the wall. For the first time in her life, she saw an odd flicker in her parent’s eyes. Almost as if they weren’t looking at her, but through her. At something disgusting on their new carpet, or at a misplaced decoration. There was just something unnatural about it from their usual bubbly-happy-go-lucky features.

 

“Not lying I hope?” Mrs. Despur snapped as she stepped inside the room to let her husband stand beside her.

 

“No, I was just talking, what’s the crime?” Ariadne challenged. Mr. and Mrs. Despur’s eyes flashed for a moment, catching the note of challenge in Ariadne’s tone. They both looked ready to just drop it and leave, much to Ariadne’s relief, but instead the last member of the family slid into the room.

 

“I heard a name,” Freya charmed as she danced in front of her parents, dashing her haughty blue eyes to Ariadne.

 

Ariadne felt the pit of her stomach turn over. Of course Freya would, her room was right next to hers. The little snit probably had her ear pressed against the wall the entire time in order to hear everything that was being spoken. To bad Freya couldn’t hear Erebus, too bad only she, Ariadne, could hear him in her mind. There was a comfort that Erebus was safe at least from her insane family... though she didn’t feel she would be so lucky.

 

“It’s name was Erebus, that’s what she said, whoever that is,” Freya spoke sweetly to her parents.

 

Seemingly innocent little Freya could have dropped the dirtiest, most foul word in the English dictionary right then in front of her parents and their reaction would not have been any different than it was now. Eyes widened in both fear and anger, faces drained of color, mouths drawn tightly together, hands clenched in fists; it was a sight to behold.

 

“Salmoneus...” Mrs. Despur barely whispered as she slowly turned to face her husband.

 

Mr. Despur suddenly lunged at Ariadne and grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the room.

 

“OWW! LET ME GO! LET ME GO! STOP!” Ariadne screamed as her father dragged her down the hallway with her mother rushing behind them.

 

Mr. Despur kept moving, down the hallway past the master bedroom to the last room at the end of the hall. Ariadne realized it was the room she had never seen before, the room she was forbidden to come by. Mr. Despur pulled Ariadne back and gestured to the door, staring wildly at Mrs. Despur.

 

“Open it! Hurry!” he barked as Mrs. Despur jumped forward, pulling a ring of keys from her pocket. She pushed a strange white one into the key hole and the heavy door creaked open. As it did, Ariadne had to cover her eyes from the blinding brightness. The room was all white, white furniture, white light, white everything. There were no windows in here, no vents on the floor or walls, just two small ones on the ceiling by the bright light fixture. She felt herself suddenly being thrown inside as she landed on the floor with a thud. Shielding her eyes, she stood up and squinted around.

 

“Why are you doing this?” she cried as she stared towards her parents as they guarded the door.

 

“It’s what’s best for you now,” Mr. Despur muttered. “Until he leaves, you are barricaded in here at all times unless otherwise supervised.”

 

“But... I don’t understand,” Ariadne protested as she stared about the room, trembling.

 

“It’s for the best, now be quiet and go to sleep,” Mrs. Despur snapped as she and Mr. Despur stepped out of the room and began to shut the door behind them. Ariadne ran at the door and just as it closed, she slammed into it, beating her hands against it.

 

“PLEASE! Don’t leave me in here! PLEASE!” she screamed as she beat at the door, tears streaming down her face.

 

But they didn’t return. She was locked up like some animal inside the white room. There was nothing unusual about it either, besides the all white color. Just a simple bed, a chair, that was it for furniture. Not a large room, just bedroom sized, and it had the feel of a prison cell. Ariadne moved to a corner and curled into a ball, weeping, eyes tightly shut, unable to stare at the room anymore.

 

~*~

Two years later...

 

Routines came and went, three meals a day were delivered to the room. Nothing elaborate, but nothing disgusting either. At first, her mother would escort her to the bathroom a few times during the day but after a while, her father had a toilet, sink and shower installed. These were very simple and all made of hard plastic, as if being built in the highest standard of safety. And of course, all were white. Her clothes were also taken from her and white ones were given instead.

 

Ariadne came to find herself slipping into madness inside the room, she missed the night sky, she missed being outdoors, she missed her colors, she missed Erebus. She wasn’t even aware of time anymore, she had no idea that two years had passed. There was no telling what time of day it was as her parents would tell her nothing and she was no allowed a calender. It seemed she would be trapped here forever before breaking into insanity from lack of freedom. But one day... a thought struck her, if even to break the madness for a moment, it would be worth it.

 

She waited until it was late in the evening, after her parents checked on her one last time before going to bed. She pretended to be asleep, the blinding light still glaring on overhead as it was 24/7. Then, as soon as her parents left the room and locked the door behind her, she listened til she heard them enter their room. She quietly climbed out of bed and stood beneath the light for a moment, plotting in her mind. She knew what she had to do, knock the light out. It was the only way to hear from Erebus before she went totally mad.

 

Moving back to her bed, she gripped the panels of the bed and pulled it to the middle of the room. Taking the small chair, she climbed onto the bed and stood up, with the chair over her head. The chair couldn’t quite reach the light, but if she could throw it... yes, she would have to. Holding her breath for a moment, praying that it would hit or else the noise might wake someone up and her efforts would be fruitless, she bent her arms back and then released, sending the chair to the ceiling light. There was the soft sound of shattering glass and the room was cast into darkness. Ariadne instantly covered her face with her hands, expecting the glass to strike her, but instead, she felt something collide into her, knocking her off the bed as she fell off to the side, yet she didn’t hit the floor. There was no thud from the chair hitting the floor either, just silence as Ariadne took deep breaths, her hands feeling the floor beneath her, but someone’s arms were around her, holding her above it.

 

“Erebus?” she gasped.

 

Ariadne... the dark voice whispered and she felt a warm breath of air caress her face, neck and chest. What have they done to you...

 

“I should have done it before, Erebus, but I’ve been going mad... how long has it been?” Ariadne whispered in a voice on the edge of hysteria.

 

Almost two years, love, Erebus whispered, as he straightened and set her upright on the ground.

 

“Two years... Oh Erebus... what’s going to happen now... I can’t live like this... I can’t! I have to get out of here!” Ariadne wept as she stared about in the comforting darkness. Without a window or any small light, the darkness was all the same here, her eyes were still adjusting to its peace, but she was strongly aware of Erebus before her, standing very close to her form as she trembled from the shock of what had happened.

 

I’ve been working, my Ariadne, I never forgot you, Erebus whispered as Ariadne felt his hands press against the side of her face and move down her neck. I found others. Others about the land who are like you, seeking difference, wanting to live as they are without having to conform to what society says is beautiful and right. But they need a leader, Ariadne, they are a divided people now, afraid to step out for fear of being wiped out.

 

“Wiped out? There are those who would harm them like has happened to me?” Ariadne murmured.

 

I’m afraid so. I’ve spoken to a few, they want change, they need it, but they won’t act alone. I’m working on gathering them together, then leading them here to free you. Together then, we’ll all go and live on our own away from this mess, from this “perfect” world... Erebus answered darkly.

 

Ariadne leaned her head forward and felt it rest against Erebus’s chest. It was cold, there was no beat of a heart there, but she felt comforted still and remained still as she felt his arms wrap about her, holding her there.

 

“It’s been hell here, Erebus,” Ariadne breathed.

 

The night skies are not the same without their brightest star, Erebus responded.

 

Ariadne was quiet for a moment, her mind was reeling over what Erebus had said, about there being others out there like herself. Others who also were living in fear for being different, others who were not the ideal of society and so were cast aside. Others who needed help... help like what Erebus was ready to offer.

 

“You’re their leader then, correct?” Ariadne asked.

 

Excuse me? Erebus responded lightly.

 

“You’re their leader? The others who are different like us?” she pushed.

 

Right, yes, but I do not want to lead alone, Erebus added.

 

“A second in command?” Ariadne suggested closing her eyes in the dark, though it made no different with the overwhelming amount of darkness.

 

You might say so, Erebus noted, but I was thinking more of an equal.”

 

“But who would fill such a place?” she questioned.

 

Ariadne, what all do you know about me? Erebus turned the tables in asking.

 

Ariadne lifted her head from his chest and pulled back for a moment, though his hands remained about her waist. “Well, you thrive in the dark,” she began. “You have a form, but it’s not easily seen. You speak only in my mind, no one else can hear you that way. You’re an expert at hiding, you’re quick and master at stealth. You’re also my only friend... the only one that understands the real me. The only thing I have left that keeps the thought of life bearable.”

 

Ariadne, I am the dark, you are the only one that can see my true form. I speak in everyone’s minds when I can, only the open minded truly hear me. I am only the best at hiding because hiding within myself is the best camouflage. Being quick and sneaky is also part of my nature, it’s what makes me unpredictable. And yes, you are the only one too that I have opened myself up to like this. Erebus riddled through Ariadne’s words before continuing. Ariadne, you’re parents know of me. That’s why you were locked away. I am not just Erebus; I am Erebus, Lord of Darkness. I am the opposition to this Great Law, the opposite of what they want in a “perfect world.”

 

Ariadne was silent as she stood before him, her eyes could just vaguely draw out his form, but her ears were still ringing when she heard him speak. It all made sense then... why her parents reacted the way that they did, why the room was so white, everything. They were afraid, afraid of Erebus, afraid of her and all because Erebus came chose to her.

 

“Why me, Erebus? What do you want with me?” she whispered.

 

Ariadne... I don’t want to lead these people alone. They need one of their own to help guide them. Someone who can see me, someone who is as close to me as I am to them. This way we would be one and would work together to guide them to a new life. I can’t do it alone though, I need you.”

 

“As second in command?” Ariadne breathed in a weakened voice, eyes widening in shock even in the dark.

 

As Queen, Erebus corrected in a hushed whisper.

 

“Queen... Erebus, I...” Ariadne stammered as she felt the floor seem to leave her feet.

 

Will you, Ariadne? Erebus whispered, as his face came close to Ariadne’s again, the heated breath moving against her skin, pricking at her senses. Be my Queen, be my equal, be the physical Erebus and let me be the darkness that will resurrect you from this perfect hell.

 

Ariadne was quiet for a moment, letting her reaction catch up to the present time in which she tilted her head up to his face and smiled to him through the darkness, knowing he could see it. “I would be honored,” she whispered.

 

In the next moment, she was unaware of anything else. She lost all feeling, the room became a haze. She was spinning it seemed, weightless and off the ground. Her arms were wrapped around the form of Erebus and she felt him crashing upon her. The lips of darkness entangled with her own and in the next moment she was washed away. She became aware that she was no longer standing, but laying on her back, upon what she didn’t know, but joy was for the sudden moment, hers and she latched onto it tightly, refusing to release it. And to her content, Erebus seemed happy not to release her either as their night was spent in courtship til the bitter morning when the sun would rise and with it, her parents to cast their new judgement upon the wrecked room.

 

~*~

Four months later...

 

Chains, their newest idea. Tethered to the wall by her left ankle, it was no more than the mark of the common dog. Her bed was lowered to a weighted mattress on the floor and the chair was gone. The light now had a cage around it to protect it from any incoming objects, though it hardly needed it, there was nothing mobile left in the room to shatter it with.

 

But Ariadne sat content on the floor, leaning against the wall. Her eyes were closed, enjoying the only darkness that she knew she could. Her hands were crossed over her middle, over the little bump that was visible there beneath her clothes. She envied the young in her womb, there was no light to bother him or her there, only her motions and perhaps the sound outside of its safe barrier. She sat quietly, hands moving without a conscious thought over her belly, as she hummed a soft song to herself, enjoying another moment before her captors would arrive.

 

In the lateness of things, she had noted Freya’s constant visiting. Perhaps at the thought that she could taunt her more, rub it in her face about all the glory that she had as the perfect daughter, but Ariadne didn’t care anymore, she had the best in her mind. Freya was just a fake, like everyone else, and had nothing compared to what she would have waiting for her when Erebus returned..

 

Just then the door creaked open. Speak of the devil.

 

In flaunted the goddess herself. Young Freya, fourteen and taking over the household budget, a little princess in her own snooty way. Her hair was radiant like the sun and was drawn back in a loose bun with strands falling about her face. Her eyes she always accentuated with too much make-up and mascara, just for the added edge. Today, she sported a burnt orange, rose and yellow dress, which was absolutely livid in the white room, like a fire sprite just entered the area. She stood before Ariadne, arms crossed, icy blue eyes speculating over her form on the floor, though Ariadne just stopped her humming and stared right back, without much of a care.

 

“Not even going to greet me when I bother to visit?” Freya snapped.

 

“Sorry, guess I’m still getting over the shock of this weeks attire,” Ariadne replied with the smoothness of ice. “Did the fire department need a new mascot?”

 

“Ha ha, simply hilarious...” Freya said sarcastically as she stared about the room, making a disgusted face.

 

“It was and I’m sorry I can’t pull a chair up for you... or the bed for that matter,” Ariadne added.

 

“I won’t be long anyways,” Freya replied as she turned to stare back at Ariadne, a smirk on her face as she scanned her sister down. “Good lord you’ve gotten fat. Heavy in the face, arms, belly, legs, not that its unexpected. Sitting around all the time.”

 

“Not like I’ve got a choice,” Ariadne said calmly, keeping her arms folded over her middle. “So what’s new in the outside world?”

 

She really only bothered to ask because she knew that Freya couldn’t help, but to tell. It was her way of rubbing in her obvious freedom over Ariadne. If Ariadne showed interest or upset pleas about wanting to be like Freya, she’d eat it up and continue to talk. It was the only way to follow Erebus’s plan, the gathering of the others who were different according to society.

 

“More uprisings,” Freya sighed absently. “Those freaks, you’d think they’d catch on and just throw themselves off a cliff. No one wants them here anyway.”

 

“Freaks like me... oh how I wish I could join them...” Ariadne posed a fake dreamy sigh to encourage her sister to talk.

 

“Yes, freaks like you. Popping up all over the place now,” Freya added.

 

“Maybe one will finally come and get me out of here,” Ariadne continued in her fake dreamy voice.

 

“You wish,” Freya said in mocking tones. “Rumor is they’re after their Queen. Which is just wonderful to hear. It’s not bad enough that we have enough weirdos running around, now we have a Queen of the Freaks to deal with too.”

 

“She must be something else,” Ariadne said warmly with a smirk darting against her face and eyes that just sparked watching her sister.

 

“If I saw her, I’d probably gag myself in disgust. Freaks are bad enough, but their leader has to be ten times worst if not insane,” Freya snapped, examining her fingernails carefully.

 

Ariadne couldn’t help it anymore. She broke out in a laughing fit, covering her mouth with a free hand to try stifling herself, but she couldn’t stop. The irony was just too much to deal with. Then the sound of distant rushing footsteps grew louder out in the hallway til they stopped outside of the door and two more figures entered. The parents, of course, come to see their insane daughter, the unknown Queen of the Freaks. Perhaps they’d be in time to see Freya gag herself in disgust.

 

“Freya, what are you doing in here?” Mrs. Despur questioned, her beady eyes dancing over her elegant daughter, ignoring Ariadne on the floor who finally managed to quiet her laughter.

 

“Oh, mother, just trying to show some heart for the poor misguided soul... but it’s like Daddy said, she’s a total loss...” Freya moaned, pulling the innocent, caring sister right over her parent’s heads. Ariadne rolled her eyes as Freya cast a smug look to her from the corner of her eye.

 

“Indeed, now, off you go,” Mr. Despur said, “we have business here.”

 

“Stand up, Ariadne,” Mrs. Despur snapped as she pulled out a fresh set of white clothes she had brought with her. “Lazy girl, always laying around.”

 

Ariadne slowly stood up, keeping her arms before her, slouching slightly as she pretended to stare off to the side. She had been hiding her progress with her baby for the past four months which was easy enough. All her mother would have had to have done was noticed a missed period, yet with luck her mother was not that observant. But the bump in her middle, that wouldn’t go unnoticed much longer. With her small frame, the baby’s growth was becoming more and more apparent, and though Freya mistook it for fat, she was sure her mother wouldn’t be so fooled.

 

“So lazy, Mother, perhaps if there was a way that we could arrange for her to have some exercise, she could avoid gaining any more weight upon herself,” Freya spoke poetically. “I’ll bet the Queen of the Freaks is more fit than she is...”

 

Once again, dear Freya could not have chosen better words to set of a chain link of events. First with her mother, who stared over Ariadne, “She’s not gaining that much weight, Freya...”

 

And then with her father who’s eyes seemed to click again as a sort of gleam filled them. The sort that only came with deep thought. Had he put two and two together about the gathering “freaks” and their quest to free their Queen? She couldn’t be sure and she remained quiet to wait for their tongues to erupt.

 

“Wait. Move you hands!” Mrs. Despur cried out.

 

Ariadne stared up at her with a dark look crossing her face, as her arms slowly dropped downward.

 

“What’s that?” Mrs. Despur shrieked pointing at her stomach.

 

“Fat,” Ariadne said, “sorry, there’s no space to properly exercise in here, especially when you’re chained to the wall.”

 

“No it’s not!” Mrs. Despur shrieked again, coming closer to her belly, beady eyes flashing dangerously. Ariadne stepped back, staring at each of the three faces before her. Her mother in shock, her father in disgust, her sister in a mock of triumph.

 

“Slut...” Freya laughed.

 

“FREYA GET OUT OF HERE AT ONCE!” Mr. Despur thundered. But Freya only backed away, standing by the door in the distance, still taunting Ariadne.

 

“How did this happen!? HOW!?” Mrs. Despur screamed.

 

“IT WAS HIM, WASN’T IT?” Mr. Despur thundered as he moved towards Ariadne, eyes livid as he stared her over. Ariadne didn’t flinch though. Strangely, she felt a sense of calm coming over her. Even though the situation seemed so bad... there was a nagging sense that still lingered inside her mind, a reminder to herself that she wasn’t as vulnerable as they were believing her to be.

 

“Answer your Father!” Mrs. Despur shouted. “Was it him? Witchcraft? Who was it?”

 

“Oooo! Witch! Witch!” Freya taunted in the background.

 

“What’s the matter?” Ariadne whispered, staring up at her parents through dark eyes. “Not so perfect now?”

 

Just then, Mrs. Despur screamed and slapped Ariadne across the face. “GOD DAMN IT! Why couldn’t I have just had a perfect daughter! WHY? Why did you have to be such a damn freak!” she screamed.

 

“Why can’t you all just accept different!” Ariadne shouted right back, rounding on her mother, “I’m still me! I’m still your daughter! What’s wrong with flaws? What’s wrong with being different? So it’s not perfect to you! Your view isn’t always right!”

 

“You’re a monster!” Mrs. Despur screamed getting in Ariadne’s face, with widened, livid eyes. “And a witch and a slut as far as I’m concerned!”

 

“No, Mother, you’re the monster! All of you are! The world is!” Ariadne screamed back again, stepping toward her parents. “You don’t think for yourselves! You judge by sight and if something or someone is a little different, you reject it!”

 

“I will not stand for this, you darkling!” Mr. Despur roared as he reached forward to grab Ariadne who dodged out of his grasp. “Come here now! We’re settling this problem!”

 

“There is no problem here, Father!” Ariadne hissed angrily hands gripping the wall behind her. “You’re the one who has a problem and I’ll warn you now, you will not be harming me or my child. I promise if you try, you will have sealed your own fate as well as everyone else’s here.”

 

“I don’t see how, not one else is here,” Freya laughed in the background, her menacing look watching Ariadne with delight, waiting for the turmoil to spill over.

 

“But I’m never alone,” Ariadne whispered back, a dark smile crossing her face as she stared to her broken family.

 

Just then, her father lunged at her and pinned her arms behind her back, pulling her down to the floor in one swift movement. Her mother grasped onto her legs to keep her from kicking, holding them between her arms. Ariadne began to wrench and thrash about as her father tightened his hold and shifted himself about.

 

“Hit her, Daddy! Hit it!” Freya cheered in the background and Ariadne shifted herself just in time to see her father release one of his arms and clench a fist, mad eyes fixed over the bump in her belly. An immediate reaction, like a trigger on a gun pulled as the fire goes off, Ariadne suddenly released a blood curling scream that sent everyone in the room squirming.

 

BOOM!

 

The lights above shattered into a million pieces and the room was cast into total darkness. Ariadne didn’t even have time to blink before she felt her parents torn away from her and slammed into opposite walls with a deafening bang. She could feel her chain suddenly come apart and collapse on the floor, it was then she knew she truly wasn’t alone in the room. Screams sounded around her as her parents were lost and confused in the dark, fumbling around. Hurt too apparently as they called out to each other, but Ariadne only stood up quietly, instantly seeing a dark figure approaching each of them. She only took a deep breath and turned away, knowing what was coming next.

 

You. Erebus’s dark voice hissed behind her as he approached Mrs. Despur. Call my Queen a slut? A witch? A freak? She’s more than you’ll ever be, bitch...

 

“ARIADNE! COME HERE AT O-AAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” her mother screamed her last as a gagging noise took over and then silence fell.

 

And you, Mr. Despur, Erebus’s taunting voice continued, though his victims could not hear him, you tried to kill our child. Your own grandchild, flesh and blood. I see how you think. And you are the monster here...

 

“CASSI! CASSI! EREBUS! I SWEAR I’LL MURDER YOU! STAY AWAY FROM ME! I’LL-AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!” was all Mr. Despur’s last words.

 

Oops... looks like I just beat you too it, you filth, Erebus snarled in disgust as he moved away from Mr. Despur.

 

“Mom?! Dad!? Somebody!? HELP!!” Freya’s desperate cries could be heard from the back of the room as she ran into the wall again and again, seeking a way out.

 

Ahh... and the little sister... the perfect one... Erebus chimed as he changed direction and moved towards her instead. I look at you, and all I see are flaws, but don’t worry, it’s not so bad in my world... Then again... this is your world... and you judge differently, so perhaps I should act in accordance to your law...

 

“ARIADNE! PLEASE! I-I-I CAN’T SEE! ARIA-AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” then the sweet silence reigned.

 

Ariadne?

 

“Erebus...” Ariadne whispered, still frozen where she was as the onslaught of her family ended. Instantly, she felt his presence around her and her fiery spirit calmed. It felt good to be back in his arms again, even better to know that the door was unguarded and the chain was unshackled from her ankle... she was free.

 

Come, Ariadne, we need to leave at once.

 

“I don’t want to be Ariadne anymore...” Ariadne stated as she held back a moment, staring about the dark room, “it’s their name, my old life, my old self. I’m anew now, Erebus, I need a new name.”

 

Erebus was quiet for a moment, Ariadne could feel his hands tracing over her face and combing through her long hair. Then, she could almost feel the smile upon his face, just as much as she could barely see it as he whispered, Nyx.

 

So grabbing his Queen by the hand, he led her to the door and from there, Nyx walked down the hallway. She stopped at her bedroom and burst open the door. There were no possessions she needed, but the white clothes had to go. She selected from her old dresses a black one with black lace and a matching ribbon to tie into her hair. She took no more than a moment more to change and to slip on her shoes before she was dashing down the mahogany staircase.

 

From outside the front door, the alarm of screams filled the air and she paused at the front door, wary to run outside. Her eyes stared out the windows, it was evening, the skies were darkening and the stars were beginning to show. And gathering outside of her house, was a group of people, fifty or more of them by estimate.

 

“Erebus...” Nyx whispered hesitantly.

 

Go, Nyx, I have visitors set to meet you...

 

Slowly, she opened the door and stepped outside for the first time in over two years. The cool air greeted her and brushed through her hair as she took her first breath of free air. She let the door close behind her and she waited on the porch as the group took her in. The whispers flew about, as everyone shifted to get a good look at her.

 

Then one stumbled forward, a young man with a burn mark across the side of his face. He paused before her and nodded his head, speaking fluently, “Queen Ariadne?”

 

“Queen Nyx,” Nyx corrected him with a smile.

 

“Of course,” the man said at once. “Queen Nyx, we are the breakers of the Great Law, we were told that Lord Erebus and yourself were going to lead us away to a better world than this of vain judgement?”

 

“You have heard correctly,” Nyx answered stepping down off of the porch and walking towards the crowd. “For who are all of they to stare down upon us and call us less than them? What have we done other than dare to be different to deserve the lower class status, to deserve the suffering and for some to lose our freedom over it. What they don’t understand is not just us, they do not understand themselves. So blind in their race to seek perfection, they change themselves to be the model of perfection constantly. They do not see their own flaws as they are so busy seeking them in others. What they do not understand is that there has always been a balance. How can there be light without darkness? How can there be peace without war? How can there be sickness without health? They had all of these flaws and more within themselves, but they waste their lives lying and hiding who they truly were out of what? Fear? Cowardice? The difference between them and us, that we are no longer afraid. We are proud to be who and how we are and that is something that they will need to face within themselves someday. But today, everyone, you all are the resurrection. A new life, a new day, and so we leave for our new freedom and a new beginning.”

 

The words just slid from her as if they were meant to be said. Perhaps it was the years of undergoing the cruelty for so long that wrote those words and left them upon her heart, but they flew out like free birds to the night sky and the crowd about her cheered. At once, a black horse was brought forward (who was considered impure because he was blind in both eyes) and they mounted Nyx upon him.

 

“Which way home, my Erebus?” Nyx asked the dark figure that stood before the equine.

 

Close your eyes...

 

Nyx did so and instantly images flashed through her mind. An ancient city deep in valley between the mountains, past the river and through the woods. It was ideal and she smiled happily thinking of the new tomorrow that would come for all there, nestled safe within the mountains.

 

“We ride through the Western Woods, past the Calidape River, and through the Ghung Roo Mountain Pass,” Nyx announced to the crowd. “It will be a long journey, but there is an ancient city in the valley between the mountains, there will be our new home.”

 

The crowd cheered again and then the walk began. Other animals were brought along, carrying supplies and resources. Men, women, children alike all traveled, led on by the Queen of Darkness aboard her black steed as Lord Erebus walked before them, guiding the blind equine onward, leaving the dust of a miserable society behind them.

 

~*~

Six months later...

 

It was night again, a cool, calm night about the city of Aersta as the midnight stars gleamed from the heavens and the full moon bathed the lands in a soft light. Queen Nyx was up at this hour, out on her stone balcony, sitting on the stone railing, gazing heavenward and counting the constellations again. Dressed in an evening gown of soft, flowing midnight blue material with her dark hair tied back in a long pleated braid, she sat with graced poise as she nursed her newborn son.

 

He was pale skinned as she was in the moonlight, raven black hair and a soft, infant’s body, small and nicely curved. She smiled down upon him as she stroked his hair thoughtfully and he paused for a moment, staring up at her face with his almond shaped dark eyes before returning to nursing.

 

“My Aphosis...” she whispered as she bent downward to kiss the baby on his head and then tucking his blankets closer about his body to keep the night chill from him. A content sigh she released as she stared up beside her to where a dark masculine figure was leaning against the shadowed pillar behind her. She exchanged a smile with his barely visible one before he slipped behind her to sit on the stone railing, allowing her to rest against his chest as the night lived on.

 

And so ends my story, but the tale does not stop here. It has continued past Erebus, Nyx and Aphosis into today. Into a world that is still battling itself out between perfection and acceptance, where the battle will fall in the future, only you can tell. For in the great scheme of things, all are capable of their own resurrection, of accepting ourselves for how we are, for how others are. What you must ask yourself next is, are you ready to resurrect?

 

Because I believe so...