No copyright breach intended on any of the storylines I took inspiration from. First story-constructive feedback is better than rude feedback thanks.

Chapter One

I walked up to the mirror on the wall of the room to take one last look at myself. I adjusted a piece of my hair that had come loose from its jeweled clip and breathed a deep sigh. I felt overdressed.

"Persephone, I got it to work now. Come, sit down here."

I turned around and saw my soon-to-be father in law patting the seat next to him on the sofa excitedly. He had finally managed to get the video camera working again. I walked over and sat down next to him.

"Why are you getting me dolled up so much? Only a few people are coming."

"It doesn't matter if it's only a few people Persephone; it's still a big occasion! And I can't sit around waiting for him to come back to enjoy myself now can I? I've got to do something to keep myself in a celebratory mood too, haven't I?"

I smiled at his cheeriness, even if I wasn't feeling all too good.

"….and I mean he is my only son, and I can't just let an important occasion like this one go by without doing anything at all you know… even if he isn't actually present himself. Stuff like this happens only once in a lifetime. We need some memories. Come on now. Let's start again."

He raised the camera to my face.

"Oh no" I groaned.

"But we need this video Persephone! How's he supposed to know whether the ceremony took place or not?"

He gave me an attempt at a puppy dog face which didn't suit him at all but managed to make me crack another smile, but then my hesitation must have made its way onto my face again because he looked me in the eye and said: "Look I know you're having second thoughts and all, but I just know you'll like him. I'm giving you my guarantee. And of course, don't forget: when he comes back and you meet him and you don't like him, you can give him back to me eh, how does that sound?"

I smiled at him again and braced myself to face that camera for a second time. This 'extremely important' occasion that I was overdressed for right now was my 'engagement ceremony'. Everything currently set up in our garden looked grand, almost perfect. It was evening time and the transformation done to the lawns of my father's large house was no doubt amazing. Perfect flowers, perfect columns wrapped with ribbon, perfect table décor, perfect lights, perfect banquet waiting to be served by perfect looking waiters dressed liked penguins and a perfect over-formal engagement dress that I was currently stuffed in. Heck even I looked perfect-my usually dead-straight hair was in elaborate curls today and pinned in a half-up half-down hairstyle. My brown hair was actually shining instead of looking dry and lifeless and its reddish highlights were even complementing my hazel eyes today, and my olive skin had somehow finally managed to attain a perfect glowing look.

The only thing that was imperfect however was the absence of Adonis, my soon to be fiancé who couldn't even attend the event as he was currently overseas on an important work deal. Apparently he was so busy that he didn't even bother to come and meet me and just gave his agreement to our getting engaged over the phone to his dad. He was supposed to arrived yesterday in time for the engagement, but all of sudden he became busy with some new deal and now he couldn't attend the engagement and he didn't even know when he was coming back now. But his dad however was adamant that we here in Turkey still have some sort of celebration, even if that only involved a dinner with some relatives and a recorded video for Adonis so he could see me all dressed up and having the ring he sent over placed on my finger.

I wasn't even sure if Adonis was my type. I hadn't even met the guy once and here I was getting engaged. Yup, total traditional style arranged marriage in the 21st Century. First I wasn't sure about our compatibility, but now after such a tacky way to get engaged, my doubts were increasing fast. Even a Skype call on today's 'event' would have been better than this no show. I mean how busy can a guy get that he can't attend his own engagement?

I clearly remember the day when I had agreed to this wedding in the first place. Adonis' dad, Uncle Cinyras, was both our neighbor and my dad's best friend. He had been so ever since the day he had moved back from America and came to live next to us four years ago. I personally loved Uncle Cinyras to bits just like I loved my dad. My dad was a bureaucrat in Turkey. We lived fairly well off and belonged to the upper middle class of the city. Then one fine day last year dad left on a holiday with Uncle Cinyras to America (where Adonis currently lived and worked for World Bank). And that was all it took for my dad to be mesmerized by Adonis as the perfect son-in-law figure. "Adonis was so this, Adonis was so that. He'll be perfect for you darling!"

Unfortunately, Uncle Cinyras was also on my father's side on this one and insisted that we were made for each other. I however had seen one picture of Adonis in Uncle Cinyras' living room in which he had long shabby hair, dyed in two different colors and he was wearing a horrendous outfit that looked similar to some biker's outfit and that was all that was needed for me to form a horrible image of him in my mind. Uncle Cinyras kept saying that this was Adonis back in his college days and I shouldn't take it too seriously as Adonis was nothing like that now, but I still felt we were a mismatch. Me with my family-centric values, bookish, quiet and nature loving personality having to live the rest of my life with someone like that? No. Never. I had told my dad straight away that no meant no, and he had agreed to keep quiet about Adonis from then on, but I could tell that he was still unhappy about my decision.

But then Dad had gotten sick over the year, and as time went by he kept getting worse and no doctors ever gave positive reports, and I wanted to do anything that would make him feel better, anything to see him happy and content once again. He was convinced that he was getting too old and kept worrying about me having no other family left after he was gone. His melancholy was rubbing off on me too and so I, against my better judgment, agreed to marry Adonis as I knew my Dad hadn't truly dropped this subject yet, and that was all that was needed for Dad to be smiling and out of bed for once. Two weeks after my consent, here we were in my dad's lounge with a just as ecstatic Uncle Cinyras holding that damn video camera in my face.

Well even if this marriage did turn out to be a fiasco at least Dad and Uncle Cinyras would now be able to turn their friendship into a relationship. They were so happy and I didn't want to disappoint them by my negativity. I should try to stay positive.

Setting: Outside, in the lawn with the guests

"What is all this? You've been asked to come to your own sister's engagement dinner as a guest. You had no say in the matter whatsoever! You didn't even know anything about it. Somebody should've informed you. How typical of your family."

"Hecate-" began Charon.

"Your dad is walking our way Charon…sush."

Charon's dad Demetri strolled over to the fountain where Hecate was standing with her husband Charon.

"Dad, you made such an important decision about Persephone but you didn't bother to consult me even once! I mean I'm her brother!" demanded Charon, egged on by Hecate's earlier bickering.

"Charon, I met Adonis myself and also spent a considerable amount of time with him. He is perfect for my daughter in every way. There is no need for anyone else to say anything."

"Oh come on dad," said Charon exasperatedly. "It's only been two or three years since you got to know Uncle Cinyras. What family background they come from, what type of person Adonis is…we don't even know. They've been overseas for so long. We know nothing."

"Family background?" Demetri gave an angry glare at Hecate. "Why do you care so much about that all of a sudden?"

Hecate glared back just as angrily.

"Dad, it's different with me. But Persephone will be the one moving to a new place. How do we know how she will be treated over there?"

"Look who's talking. You too left after marriage, and where to we all know very well." Demetri gave another angry glare at Hecate then turned back to Charon. "Anyway, Adonis is at an amazing post in his job, has an amazing career and is also extremely well mannered, cultured and disciplined."

"Hmph. Well ok fine. I get it. She's your daughter, you do whatever you want, arrange her with whoever you want. I'll just be thankful that, like the rest of the guests, you decided to invite me along too. I'm ever so touched at being allowed to be included" Charon drawled sarcastically.

Demetri shook his head.

"Look at how you're talking Charon. What's happened to you? What's the big deal if Persephone's marriage has my preference in it too? No one forced you as to who you should get married to. Why can't you do the same for us this time around, especially when Persephone herself has no problems to the arrangement? Anyway, never mind, I'm going over to Cinyras."

As soon as Demetri was out of earshot Hecate stated "Thank you very much, Charon. Is this why you bought me here? To get insulted by your dad? Why should I have to put up with what your dad says?"

"No no. Hecate…"

Hecate ignored him and stormed off towards the tables.

Setting: Back inside the lounge

"No Persephone, it isn't going to work this way either. Here Hermes, you hold this camera."

I looked up and saw that both our family servant Hermes and dad had walked in.

"Yes, that's better. Now then. Start recording, Hermes."

Uncle Cinyras pulled out a velvet box in which was a silver diamond ring. He looked into the camera and then said "Ok Adonis, here is your ring which you sent and which I am now presenting to Persephone on your behalf."

He then held out the box for me.

"Go on Persephone" dad stated.

I reached over and pulled out the ring. It looked expensive. I then slid it onto my finger as Hermes captured my every move with the camera. Both Uncle Cinyras and dad burst into applause.

"There you go, I now officially declare the both of you engaged!" said dad joyfully looking into the camera. "See Cinyras, the world's first ever engagement done via technology! "

"How are we official though? Doesn't Adonis also have to put his ring on? How do we know if Adonis even received his ring?" I asked.

"I've already spoken to him on the phone while you were getting dressed earlier Persephone," said Uncle Cinyras. "He said he received the package earlier today in which was the ring you chose for him, and he also took a picture of him with it on. I hope he'll email it soon."

"Ok well we're done here, let's go outside the guests are waiting for us," said dad.

"No, no. One last thing Demetri."

I watched Uncle Cinyras pull out another velvet box, only more old looking this time. From it he pulled out a slightly old looking necklace, but it was nevertheless beautiful.

"This belonged to Adonis' mother Persephone. Adonis wanted me to give you this as your first family heirloom."

I took it from him and began to fasten it while Hermes filmed away. Hmph, I thought to myself. So Adonis does acknowledge my existence, even if it is slight.

"There you go Adonis," said Uncle Cinyras looking into the camera. "Now, Persephone is yours. It's just a matter of time now before you come and take her with you. And don't complain that I didn't film anything."

I smiled awkwardly into the camera along with him and my dad and then Hermes ended the recording.

"Ok now Cinyras, I can't wait any longer" exclaimed dad rubbing his hands together. "It's feast time!"

Setting: In Hecate and Charon's House

"….and that's why Cinyras took your father overseas. So he could go, meet the guy and finalize everything without us not knowing a single thing about it, kicked us out like outsiders, did not even consider us worthy of family matters….." Hecate trailed off angrily.

Charon and Hecate were currently sitting in bed after coming back from Persephone's engagement. Hecate who had now calmed down somewhat was rubbing lotion on to her hands and as usual was taking this opportunity to talk bad about others.

"…and what was it the guy does? Do you even know?"

"No I don't. Something in World Bank. I was so angry at being invited like an outsider that I didn't bother to ask further. I just hope my sister is happy. She is very sensitive you know. I really worry about her."

"Well everyone's sister is precious to them. Even I am someone's sister."

"What are you trying to insinuate?"

"Nothing. I'm just talking about your dad's attitude. He just can't seem to get over our marriage. My brother even gave heaps on heaps of gold on my wedding, raised your status in society, but still, your dad just says whatever comes to his mind without thinking of how the other will be affected."

"Well, that gold is exactly my dad's problem. Obviously an honest, hard working type of guy like dad isn't going like it if his son starts to run money laundering businesses."

"Hah! Honest. Yeah right. I'd love to see how many moral values and ethics that Adonis has that he's chosen for your sister. Cancelled all plans of his engagement at the last minute just for a work deal? I doubt it. I wonder what he's really doing."

"Look, can we leave this topic now?"

"Why?" snapped Hecate. "Can't stand anything said against your relatives? I'd love to see your reaction if my brother talked in the same insulting tone to you, that your father used for me today."

"I already endure enough of Hades' behavior. Sometimes his rude and psychotic behavior can become beyond bearable. But at least I put up with it without making a big deal out of it for hours unlike you," shot back Charon. "And from on don't discuss Persephone's engagement anymore with me, got it? This topic is closed."

Setting: In Demetri's garden, after all the guests have left

"Persephone, are you going to continue to ignore me like this?"

"Yes, I am."

I was currently sitting on the vacated table with my dad sitting next to me while I pretended to act all angry at him. Hermes was sitting across the table from us and smiling at the scene; he knew I wasn't a good actor.

"Ok then, I'm upset with you too," said dad playfully crossing his arms over his chest and imitating me.

I just shrugged. That seemed to have gotten him irritated however.

"Look, do you really think after loving and raising you all your life and providing you with the best of the best lifestyles, I would give you away to some useless person so you could be miserable forever? Do you really think, that when I choosing Adonis for you, I didn't take into account your likes, dislikes and preferences?"

"Ok, ok I get it. Why are you getting upset at me?"

"I'm not the one getting upset, you are. Girls are happy when they get engaged and just at look at your face. All miserable and depressed."

"Please enlighten me-why should I be happy? Because he lives in America and works in World Bank? Ohhh wow I'm so impressed. Look dad, I love Uncle Cinyras and all but I don't even know this guy." Dad tried to cut in so I continued on. "Ok maybe that fact can be overlooked because after all I ended up agreeing myself, but just think about it Dad. For the past four years Adonis hasn't come here once! Not even to meet his own Dad. Do you really think this guy is family oriented? All the time just work, work and more work. And now this? Cancelling at the last minute and not telling us when or if he is ever going to have the time to come back. Who doesn't have enough time to come to his own engagement?"

"But sweety, I just told you I've met him myself, he isn't like that-"

"And I don't want to leave Turkey either dad. What if he doesn't let me come back to visit you?"

"Now you're just getting paranoid."

"If I may," interrupted Hermes "Perhaps Persephone is right. The next door neighbours sent over their congratulations a little while ago but they also had a message for you Sir Demetri. They were wondering if you were trying to get rid of Persephone and if that is the reason why you chose Adonis as her husband. They were saying he is a very careless and slightly crazy person, who doesn't even know how to dress in a civilized manner, has huge tattoos covering both his arms and is often found with heavy metal playing loudly from his stereo as he goes on car hoons with his friends."

"See! See! I told you dad! Nobody likes him. Nobody thinks well of him. He is utterly and completely one of those guys I hate. And now you've gone and made me stuck with him for foreverrrr!" I wailed desperately wringing my hands through my hair and tears forming in my eyes.

At that point Hermes suddenly burst into laughter and fell off his chair in a fit of chuckles. Dad hesitated a second then understood what was happening and joined in with a hearty laugh.

Offended by how lightly they were taking situation, I stood up, lifted my dress off the ground and stormed off towards the house.

"You think this is funny? I hate you both!" I yelled behind me.