Prophecy.

When Penelope Kenyon was six years old she was told that she was special.
It did not come as a huge surprise; after all don't all six year olds take for granted that such compliments are their due?
She continued playing with her dolls, and if there weren't many other children around to play with in the huge country
estate that her parents had moved to, well that was alright. The nice men in the red robes that wandered the halls were kind to her,
and she even had her own puppy.
For all intents and purposes it was an idyllic childhood.
Until she realised her own purpose.
Drip fed into her subconcious via her governess Mrs Stix. A lady of stern countenance and an affinity for black dresses that in
Penelope's view looked singuarly uncomfortable.
Mrs Stix was quite stern and had an obsession with mathematics that Penelope certainly did not share.  But she also had picture
books of the Amazon river,  the great African plains and the World Below.
Penelope dreamed of seeing all those places.  Perhaps to catch a glimpse of a huge anaconda, or perhaps ride an elephant on safari.
Perhaps she could even pet Cerberus if she took some really big dog treats down to the underworld.
So she learned and she played, and sometimes played tricks on the Guardians of the One who all looked the same and whose silken
cloaks whispered along the stone hallways.
On her sixteenth birthday her mother sat her down on her bed and told her of the prophecy. Rolling up Penelope's sleeve to reveal the
star shaped birthmark on her forearm, she tapped it gently.
"This means that you've been chosen, love," she said.  "You of all the girls on Earth."
"Chosen for what?" She hadn't understood - both her mum and dad had moles and little birthmarks - so did Tanya who worked in the
Kitchens and Old Davy who did the cleaning. What was different about hers?
"I'll show you." Her mother led her away, up to the higher rooms and still  higher too, up the spiral staircase that she was absolutely not
allowed to go near. The thrill of the forbidden battled with her curiosity, until her mother unlocked a big wooden door studded with silver.
The room itself was circular, pale stone glowing in the light of several sconces upon the walls.  In the middle of the room a glass case
held a yellowed piece of parchment, and it was that that her mother led her to.
"Your destiny, daughter."  Penelope's mother stared at the bit of paper reverntly.  "The child that bears the mark.  The one who was born
on the sixth moon when the river runs red. The one who is pure in both heart and body  She will be Minos, Judger of the dead's bride,
and will blaze a trail through the darkness of Hades."
"Hades?" Penelope struggled to get her mind around the words her mother said as though they were perfectly logical. "But I can't go and
Live in Hades, not unless I'm dead. Mrs Styx told me that."  Outrage shot through her. "I'm not going to let someone kill me so I can live there,
and I'm definately not going to marry some ancient bloke that I've never even met!"
"You don't have a choice dear," her mother grit out. "Do you know how many young women, demi gods and demons would  kill to be in your place?"
"Let one of them have him then!" Penolope yelled.  "I'm not doing it."
"Penelope." Her mother closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "If you don't fulfil the prophecy then your soul is forfiet. You know what that means."
Penelope did.  "I hate you," she spat," before fleeing back down the staircase and slamming her bedroom door behind her.
She managed two days of throwing herself in various pity poses on the bed while weeping and ignoring any offerings of food, drink or placation,
reallising that if she starved herself  to death then she'd end up in the underworld anyway.
Washing her face and combing her hair she set off to find her father.
As usual he was in his study, engrossed in a book that engulfed the table and smelled of mould.
"Dad?"
"Penelope!" his relief was palpable.  "How are you sweetling - we've been so worried!  I know that this all must have come as quite a shock, but..."
She gave him her best impression of her mother's glare.
He promptly shut up.
"Look," Penelope said firmly.  "I'm not remotely happy about any of this. But since apparently I have to go along with this whole prophecy nonsense
I'm willing to play along and be a good girl - I'll even smile at the wedding.  I want two things in return though."
"And what would they be?" her father asked cautiously.
"I want to meet my intended husband", she grimaced at the word, "at least a couple of times before the wedding."
Her father looked a bit dubious.  "I'm not sure..."
"It would be the best thing for everyone," Penelope argued. "We'll both know what to expect and I'll be a lot less likely to make an idiot of myself
at the wedding ceremony if he tells me what's expected of me."
"You have a point, he admitted.  "And the other thing?"
"I still have untill the solstice right? That's six months away. If I'm going to spend the rest of my life underground with nothing but death and darkness
then I want to see a bit off the world first."
When her father opened his mouth to object, Penelope crossed the room and sat at his feet, looking up at him imploring.
"I don't mean going far, and of course with guards, but how can I understand death if I can't understand the living? I just want to watch, maybe talk to
a girl my age - see someone go the Post office.  At least I'll have something to talk about that Minos might find interesting."
"I never was one to refuse you," he sighed. "I'll see what I can do.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

And so it was that Penelope discovered a taste of freedom, albeit in little sips at a time.
She learned what money was and was inordinately pleased when she counted out the amount of money for a chocolate biscuit called a "Kit Kat", and
even bought a newspaper (that she tucked under her coat and read in the forest later - regretfully discarding it later).  She grew to care for Xander and
Danos her guards. The former golden haired and with a playful sense of humour that he kept hidden from most, the latter brooding and dark eyed.
They both accomanied her to the few visits to her betrothed, where she learned that for someone who spent his time passing judgement on the
dead he was pleasant company and they had a surprising amount of things in common.
The four of them became their own little cabal, until finally it was the night of the solsticace.
In the great hall the candles were lit, illuminating the stained glass windows and turning the Guardians of the One into blood red shadows.
Penelope stood barefoot on the flagstones, shivering slightly in her gauzy white dress, a ring of white roses garlending her blonde hair.  It
was not the cold, however that gave her goosebumps, but rather what was to happen next.
She was well aware of her parents garbed in ceremonial robes stood behind her, and wondered what they were thinking.
There was a sudden tectonic shift under her feet and a shimmer in the air that seemed to raise and then settle the entire building. Minos, judger
of the dead strode forward in a cloud of black mist, his purple cloak billowing around him, his eyes flashing as he strode towards his bride.
"Penelope," he said in a low rumble, before bowing.
"My Lord," She replied with a dainty curtsey.
The Guardians as one sank to their knees as the High Priest came forward, a golden circlet intricately inlaid with rubies in his hands. With a bow
he handed it over.  "And so it is time to claim your consort."
"Indeed," Minos boomed. "Danos, come forward".
Penelope gave her dashing dark haired guard's arm a squeeze as he came forward, and he gave her a peck on the cheek before bowing his
head and accepting the crown to be placed on his head by the diety that looked at him with utter adoration.
There was utter silence in the Great Hall, but the air of bewilderment was so thick that you could cut it with a misericord.
"My Lord," The High Priest stuttered.. "The prophecy...?)
"Oh it's alright, no need to worry," Penelope said cheefully, I've sorted all that out - and about time too. "Go and have a look, I've tip-exed out the
bits that we didn't like. Honestly, about time too - have you never heard of equal rights?)
"Tip-exed out the bits you didn't like?" The High Priest said faintly.  "The prophecy is supposed to be sacred, the virgin innocent.." his voice faltered.
"There's nothing in the annals about Tip-ex being used to alter documents -  the term does not belong in the annals of the underworld, but since its signed by
the chosen one on the upper, the alteration is legally binding," Minos said haughtily.  "Besides, that is no maid." He gave Penelope a wink.
"Sorry," Penelope said aplogetically, turning to look at her stunned parents.  "But you really shouldn't have given me such good looking bodyguards."
Glancing at Xander who moved down from the alter steps to stand her, she took his hand.
"It's ok, mum Penelope said reassuringly, patting her mother's arm.  "We  used protection, and you're far more likely to get grandkids from him than
Minos - look at him with his purple cape.  He's gayer than a rainbow of unicorns."
"I thought that you were going to use your time to learn about the world..." Her father looked as though he was about to faint.
"And I did!" Penelope beamed.  "Demon Google - it's brilliant. I'm thinking of becoming a vet.  You know spend some time up here and some time
in the Underworld. There can't be that much difference between Hell hounds and Labrodors right?"
"Penelope?" Minos's voice was amused but firm.
"Right. OK." Penelope gave her bemused parents each a kiss on the cheek. "I said I'd held Danos and Minos settle in, and Xander is, umm going
to help. I'll send you an email.  Or a raven. I don't think they have Skype in Hades."
With a quick black swirl of smoke they were gone.
In the hall there was absolute silence.
"Does anyone know what's happening with the Son of the Volcano child?" the High Priest asked eventually.