Valentine.

Delphi's Prophecy.

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There rose a Titan high above,

His fairness governed like a dove,

But one wish wrong and one curse right,

His lordship makes a choice so tight.

Two heirs are born to kingdom light,

But only one can shine so bright,

For eldest's heart bare hate so dark,

A danger to the heavens' mark.

Amortal love forbidden so,

Will torment both and fester foe.

A symptom of this twisted tale,

The dark one's fires doth prevail,

Be wary or thee curse us all,

Should sky prince lose light, Olympus will fall.

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I'm at a loss for words. My face has long since blanched and no matter how hard I try; I can't quite seem to remember how to breathe. Here in my hands, lay my prophecy. My hand goes to my mouth as I struggle to hold back tears. Hades...He must be the dark one the Oracle begs caution about. "A mortal love forbidden so"...does this explain why he'd been so hesitant to touch me? "Will torment both"...Both. This finally explains it. My countless dreams and visions of the frost-haired man... it must be... his brother...

I try to give myself a minute to fully process the information, but my pulse is skyrocketing uncontrollably. I fear if I stood any longer, it would only be a matter of time before I collapsed. The prophecy...my old belongings...my visions and dreams...the pomegranate seeds...Things were very slowly clicking into place, and it made my stomach churn...violently.

This was no kingdom. Hades lied to me.

Something truly disturbing is going on, and it just so happens I've managed to be sandwiched right in the middle of it. But this was much bigger than some petty rivalry. The literal fate of the world had now entered the equation and hung in the balance. I needed to find a way out of here...now.

 
Slipping the scroll into my dress beside the tiara, I shuffle back out of the study and try my hardest to restore the padlock. The sharp sounds of footsteps echoing down the corridor slice through my trance and my movements become twice as panicked as before. Giving up on the tangled chains, I rush over to the cot and thrust myself back into the bed. My pulse is racing a thousand miles per hour and beads of sweat coat my forehead as I force myself to feign sleep.

Within moments, a loud knock echoes against the infirmary door. I squeeze my eyes in despair as Hades' bold voice reverberates from the opposite side of the entry. "It's me. Have you woken yet?"

I bite my lips as I tug the covers towards my chest, desperately trying to fight back the fear and nausea that currently had me its firm grip. Still, I say nothing, not being able to bring myself to face him. I wanted nothing more in this very moment than to grow a pair of wings and flee from this place, never to return.

"I'm coming in" he proclaims before opening the door and entering the infirmary. A stream of dim lights filter in from the doorway and illuminate the room as I continue to act asleep.

Unsurprisingly though, I haven't fooled him. Not one bit. He slowly paces over to the bed and takes my chin in his strong hand. "I know you're awake" he whispers into my ear, his warm breath tickling my neck.