I don't care very much for living; to be frank; nor do I care to die, in fact I welcome death with open arms.

 

It's not like I have much means to live; I have an easy, routine life. Get up in the mornings round seven. Get finished for work –at a library. Go to work for eight the morn. Lean on the counter the whole freak'n day in absolute silence. Go home after six in the evening. Eat dinner in the company of a 'cute' and 'cuddly' dog (a painting that is). And off to bed I go for the night.

 

But! Today_ Today I died, ending this solemn life of mine.

 

I had decided to clean the entire library – all four floors and all 21 980 books cases, each three meters long and each with 15 shelves. Not to mention sorting the books according to category, then alphabetically to authors then to the book name, if it's a series then it's according to that.

 

I've been busy for almost three weeks now. Why? I tried a change of pace - last time I'll even think about getting a life… doing something with it…

 

A snake had made its nest on the fourth floor in an abandoned part of the library no one cares to read books from now-a-days. And it striked without warning. Not that I cared to even flinch as lightning fast as it was. I didn't make a sound. Even when my wrist burned Hell. It felt like hours that I just stood there wonder_ wishing I'd die already.

 

The burning spread. It made my lungs feel like it'll burst with the intense heat that it resonated. My heart felt as if it was being torn at. My knees buck beneath me, as if it was disintegrating.

 

Everything went pitch black.

 

Finally!

 

I'm dead!

 

...

 

"Hear my evil laugh! Hehehehehehehe!" A blond-blue eyed girl started to laugh at her own comment.

 

("So not evil girl! I'm really starting to hate you!") I sigh.

2: To the Rescue?

"Please you have to save our daughter! She's only… she's just eighteen!" A woman in her mid-forties pleaded, her husband embracing her with tender love and care. Her eyes red from the salty tears that soaked her face.

 

A girl was lying on a hospital bed in a private room, with an extreme fever of 49 degree Celsius, her pitch black raven hair clinging to her damp pale skin, her right wrist where the strange snake had bitten her was scarring strangely_

 

No anti-venom or other med to help lower her fever was working.

 

"There is only one other thing I can think of_ It's still in its trial stages, but will be a revolution if it works!" The doctor proclaimed rather proudly.

 

"Anything, please! We can't stand to lose her!" The man in his later forties stated desperately.

 

They laid the girl on an ice cold steel bed; glass enclosed her mechanically – a gas filled the sealed tight space.

 

…

 

A brilliant bright light shone through from somewhere.

 

Slowly the girl opened her grey-blue eyes, glaring at the white walls, white ceiling, the white_ everything.

 

"Why'd they have to save me?"

 

"Eclipse! My baby! I'm so glad you're…" The woman, her mother, burst out in tears.

 

("Agh…") She sighed mentally.

 

After a few days Eclipse finally went home. The only tale of her unfortunate encounter, bite marks silvery in color while it slowly changed to white, snaking around and up her arm – almost like veins – and then it all vanished just before her elbow.

 

She had noticed that she had… changed. Greater strength. More speed. Better hearing.

 

"Wonder what else I'll be capable of?" Eclipse said unbeknownst to herself.

 

("Guess I'll have to do something worthwhile now, even after I promised myself… Oh well - To the rescue!") She shrugged and gave a demonic grin.

 

So she started fighting crime – her superhero life. After countless criminals put behind bars, she soon found her match at the hands of a monstrous man. He had razor sharp vampire like fangs, he controlled fire with just a wave of his hands.

 

("How am I to win against monsters, I'm just a 'mortal'?") She scolded her fate, her destiny, as she was thrown over 15 meters into a sky scraper opposite the one she was fighting on.

 

As she fell black wings trusted out of her back from between her shoulder blades and she took flight with great glee and a shout to the heavens. She flew straight over to the 'vampire' and threw him with a 70 ton truck she had psychically lifted.

 

"Hahahahahah…" A man laughed full heartedly. His grey complexion complemented his silver hair.

 

"You're mother sure knows how to mess up your life, my sweet Sphinx. Those snakes were all hers; going against our promise. Don't take it the wrong way, that's just how she shows she loves you." And he vanished into thin air just as he appeared.

 

…

 

"No! This is just too-way out there! With all this sci-fi shit!"

 

…

 

She shot up! White greeted her.

 

"It was all just a dream_" She said. Sensing something on her back, she peered over her shoulder and black wings made themselves visible to her.

 

"Hey girl! Ya had quite a fainting spell there; I told ya you were overworking yourself that library is no joke cleaning! Oh! And ya might want to hide those before the doc sees 'em!" A young man with grey_ rather ash-black hair and as messy as ever, as if he knew not the brush, and brown eyes gleaming with intelligence gestured to her wings.

 

"Hell no!" She wanted to murder someone!

 

"And then your father says I'm 'exotic'! He gave you freak'n wings and to boost it all – these cherry-topped dreams! That annoying bastard!" Time had seemingly stopped and just before Eclipse could make out the demonic woman's figure, everything went back.

 

…

 

Opening her eyes she covered her eyes from the light spying through the curtains of her bedroom.

 

("All just dreams… I hate it; too cheesy, adventurous and happy-ish") She stood up and went to finish up for work. Work_ Where she lazes around the whole day, never to do anything of means.

 

"Ma! Pa! I'm leaving!"

 

"Enjoy your day sweetheart!" Her father chimed.

 

"You only have a week left of summer vacation after all!" Her mother gave her a loving smile.

3: Psychos

Lying on my arms, I stare at my watch, it was a bronze snake that curled around my arm and in its mouth was the 'time keeper', its eye was of onyx gemstones. A second went by and it took forever for the next to go by.

 

I sat up; still slouching; and took out the pendant that hung around my neck for the last nine years – on my birthday. Again a snake that curled inward in a circle and its head in the center stood out, its eyes was of onyx gems while its body was of bronze, it matched the watch perfectly.

 

Since forever I've gotten strange gifts – of snakes_ I'm guessing it's from my biological parent. I was adopted at birth. My parents tell me I'm their most precious gift – an angel sent from heaven. It's my birthday today…

 

"Delivery for a Miss Eclipse Nightingale!" A man with brown hair and exotic green eyes asked out loud. Surely not your typical delivery guy and if I was any other girl, I would have been swooning over him by now. I'm not.

 

"Yeah! Yeah! Keep ya voice down, will ya?" I scolded him, my hand waving outwards suggesting the reason why – the library (I myself didn't want to be disturbed from my reverie).

 

He handed me two small boxes, each with a card.

 

"Sign here." He handed me the clipboard. I signed and he just smiled and turned to walk away.

 

"Oh and I suggest you choose wisely!" The guy grinned evil-ish as he walked away.

 

Having nothing much to do, I opened the cards.

 

"Hey my Sweet Sphinx! Hope you enjoyed the dreams this morning!

 

Today you're finally eighteen. Your mother has been neglecting the truce having sent you all those snake gifts over the years, guess even she, as an overlord… ugh… stris, is capable of 'caring'. In the strangest fashion that is.

 

I guess I… We have a lot to explain, but all that can wait till Hermes comes to fetch you to take you to the Gates. For now I'll just ask you to humor me – you're… I guess an overgod_ Half Overlord and half god.

 

You're the first child to be born as an overgod, since gods and overlords and overlordstris (your mother) are always at war – think of it as an 'Angels and Demons' situation.

 

We'll see you soon at the Underworld Palace, Okay?"

 

I read the letter with a muffled mumble. "Great my 'god' father thinks I'm a dog: 'Hermes! Fetch!'" She yawned for boredom's sake, her voice though always barely audible. I took up the next card.

 

"Dear Eclipse.

 

I'm truly sorry… sorry for… FUCK THIS! And SCREW MOTHERHOOD! I hope you don't have any lovey-dovey and cute-and-cuddly behaviors and feelings! (From what I've seen I'm glad you've not tried to be a goody-two-shoes type of gal! You've got overlord blood in you for crying out loud!)

 

So here goes – You better get in that car or else I'll kill you personally! No child of mine will live in the mortal world longer than needed, heck you're not even a demi! No child of mine will run from Hell, hell not even from Heaven for that matter!

 

Your father probably forgot to mention this, but you can only choose one gift; that bastard, I know he went and tried being nice, don't let him fool you his worse than my demon servants!"

 

"Just Super!" I said louder than intended.

 

"What's 'super'?" A young man with grey-ish-black, rather ash-black, hair snickered from behind me. He was about three years my elder.

 

"I'm going to kill you one of these days, you know?"

 

"You wouldn't, because that would mean you'll be doing something then."

 

"Agh. I just got two letters in cards from my birth parents saying I'm a freak – them psychos!" I said halfheartedly and with a 'leave me be' attitude.

 

"My dearest sister…" He said coldly in a hushed voice so as that I could not hear him, but I guessed.

 

"Mmmm? Did you say something Sai?" I asked with just as much coldness in my voice, who does he think he is?

 

After Sai left, I opened my father's small box. In it a fang of a Lynx and a single hair pin decorated with a feather even darker black than imaginable, more so than my hair.

 

Opening my mother's gift, I found a small dagger; it's blade zig-zagged and the hilt was that of a bronze snake with onyx gemmed eyes…

 

Immediately I closed the box.

 

"Too many snakes Mom!" I screamed out sarcastically, the head librarian gave me a look worse than the promise of death, her finger went to her lips…: "Ssshhhhh!" her hush was like that of a hiss of snake.

 

I fell back on my arms sighing in irritation.

 

"Wonder what Ma and Pa got me; probably a family trip to Hawaii_"

4: Hermes Got an Attitude Problem

"Agh!" Eclipse let out a sigh of boredom. The day was silent and uneventful, other than the delivery of her apparently psycho parents' letters and gifts. It was finally time to go home. Stepping outside earlier than usual, a harsh wind swept past Eclipse_

 

"Get in the car!" A man bellowed, standing by a luxurious Kia K900. His brown eyes were plain, just as is light brown hair.

 

"Get in or I swear upon Thor I'm going to kill you myseeeellllfff!" He stretched the last word as thundering lightning struck just before him!

 

"I know! I know! But I can't very well use Zeus' name in vein now either, can I?!" He shouted to the sky in a disrespectful manner.

 

While he was still throwing his fist around in midair and swearing to various minor gods; Eclipse had taken her seat in the back of the car. When he finally noticed, he gawked at how easily she had listened to him – no resisting, no fighting, not even a word. He got in and drove off.

 

"Aren't you going to ask who I am? What I want? Anything? Heck I could be a kidnapper who has ideas of raping you." He gazed at her through his rear view mirror, quizzically. Eclipse just through her hands behind her head and closed her eyes.

 

"You're not even worried that your parents' might be worried sick about you?"

 

"They'd just think I finally decided to go to one or other party I was invited to, maybe even a surprise party for me." Eclipse stated without a second thought.

 

("The exact same scenario they came up with, and will get Loki advertise! Can't believe him, him getting all funny with the overlordstris!") He had literal steam rising from him.

 

"They told me I'd finally get an easy passenger; they just didn't tell me she'd be a negative, spineless snake! Rather more like a worm!" He spat it all out like it was dust in his mouth. Eclipse just gave a slight shrug.

 

"When will I finally have someone worthy of me, someone who is optimistic, positive, curious and excited, rather than negative, resisting, scared or in your case 'gloom-shroom' bastards?" He faked a tear.

 

"Cause they probably don't want you!" She said sarcastically.

 

"Besides that you're a complete stranger who orders them around, an ass and that you have a serious attitude problem – Hermes!" She calmly enlightened him, knowing full well that he'll…

 

"You bitch! I'll show you who's got an attitude problem! Once we get to the underworld I'll make sure you'll go through hell and back! You think I'm an ass! Wait till you meet Zeus, Odin and Ra; They're like demons! You slutty bastard's bitch!" Hermes turned to face her flatly with an enraged expression.

 

"Aghmmmm!" Eclipse pointed for him to look at the road.

 

Just in time as a giant fireball came to crush the infamous Hermes.

 

"Shit!" He grabbed the wheel and swerved to the left. Eclipse just casually laid herself across the back seats; not a worry in the world.

 

"See what you did? You almost got ME killed! Fucking Bitch!" He mumbled the last knowing full well that he was going to have it in for him_

5: Meet Tweedle-Dee and Dum

Driving on the freeway at 247km an hour, Hermes was fuming like a rabid dog. With a snap of his fingers the scenery had suddenly changed. The car stood still; no indication that it had even slowed down. All around Gates of various styles appeared. Above was written where it lead in the oldest of ancient languages, long forgotten by mankind. There were twenty-one Gates in total. Slowly Death's Gate started to open. Rotting dead trees lined a boney-white road (some of the bones even gleamed under the darkened blood-red sky).

 

The Car came to a stop at a massive black graphite palace, the windows of blacker than black glass. The main entrance's doors decorated with full human skeletons, one on each. One hand stretched and held the doorknob the other delicately poised behind their backs, while they looked straight to their guests direction. In their eye sockets where black pearls.

 

"I've brought the damned bastard girl, so I'll be taking my leave now!" Hermes shouted after ordereing Eclipse out of the car.

 

"Grrr…" A menacing growl emanated from a gigantic black beast. It had three heads, its front paw secured the car from escaping – Cerberus was a nightmare hound, born from the tortured souls of hell.

 

"The master wishes to speak with you." A feminine cloaked figure appeared from behind the beastly dog's other front paw.

 

"Damned dog! I'll be sure to kill his pets one of these days!" Hermes said between gritting teeth, as he got out and headed to the entrance of the deathly palace.

 

"Password." The left skeleton intoned half dignified whilst the right started to snicker.

 

"There is no fucking password!" Hermes snapped at them and vanished into thin air before even reaching the front doors.

 

"How rude!" The right skeleton said with such distaste for him.

 

"So girl, will you be walking through my door?" The left asked.

 

"No! You best be going through me!" The right insisted.

 

"No! Me!" The left stated defiantly.

 

And a full blown argument erupted between them.

 

…

 

Eclipse sighed and tried opening the doors;but did not budge; a power that prevented uninvited intruders, the judgers being the door keeping skeletons, if they don't let you in, you can't go in unless you're someone like Hermes and a bunch of other gods or goddeses. She started tapping her left foot in annoyance…

 

…

 

"Shut-up!" Eclipse shouted in anger! The two finally took notice of her again. For a split second a white-pink tinted aura flared around her.

 

"So will you be going through me?" The right asked wondering if he even should have asked.

 

"Or me?" Asked the left, contemplating over the same issue.

 

Eclipse shoved both the doors open! The doors flew open without resistance. Eclipse walked in and was met by a maze of doors, stairways and halls to her left and to her right; it was bigger than what it appeared from outside. The doors cautiously closed behind her.

 

Eclipse, not in the mood for anything, went to sit on a lone chair just a few steps away from her. She soon found herself at peace and her head bowing as sleep took over.

 

Moments passed that felt like hours, but were in fact only a few short minutes.

 

"If you will please follow me." Two young boys spoke up with as much politeness as they could muster. Their fiery red hair broke the bleak black-grey scheme.

 

Eclipse stood up and the two boys took to two different routes; one to the left and one… yes to the right.

 

"No! This way!" The two boys turned to each and walked pass each again in opposite directions.

 

"Follow meeeeee… This way!" They shouted in joy and pointed to opposite directions.

 

Eclipse having reached a surprising boiling point, took charge and headed straight forward.

 

"No! Not that way!" The boys shouted in protest.

 

"Shut-up Tweedle-Dee and Dum!"

 

"That's not who we are…" The two said in harmony, clearly disappointed yet petrified_

6: Valentine Special - Valentine Rock-and-Roll Concert

Valentine Rock-and-Roll Concert

Okay enough about that lame emo-goth demon, daring to call me blonde, I'm golden mind you... err... her!

So here goes! Hi I'm Valen named after Valentine. I love heavy rock music and tonight I'm hosting the rock-and-roll concert of the year (not necessary the only one... Everything I do is awesome!)!

For those that don't yet know this I'm Hades' daughter, a... demi-demigod... My mother is a demigod, her father being... Eros...

I hate that guy!

Anyways_

Seeing as it's Valentine's day, I'm sort'ta in a colour blue stage... I've never had a boyfriend before. (So his fault! Sometimes I think he should have been a Japanese god; Ero meaning perverted! I don't just trust men, but that doesn't mean I don't want a boy-'pet' for myself!)

That is way I'm throwing this concert! Place:

The Muses' Old Abandoned Theatre District (hot spot for new 'modern' rockers like myself)!

Time: 17h30 for 18h00 till midnight!

Theme: Death Metal (Hey underworld/death god's daughter here!)

Vocalist: Yours truly, ME!

Guitarist: Sai Angel and again me!

Bassist: The every so dreamy - Shin Kaito

Drummer: The lightning mistress Zeal Thorn

Keyboarder: The prodigy gifted by his aunt the Muse of Memory Mneme, Ray Klein.

...

After sweat and tears that my concert was so great we threw an after party. Ray was a music collector so he DJ'd the whole night... morning long! Everyone danced to the rhythm that was us and now they were dancing to Ray's; I myself was lying myself out there not a care in the world of who saw me dancing (personally I'm no dancer!)!

When I went to take a seat at the bar I was really wishing I actually had a Valentine's date, cause Ray had decide to throw in a few slow dances. Everyone had a partner, 'cept me...

"May I sit here?" A handsome young man, probably in his yearly twenties, sat next to me immediately I fell in love with his smile (So kind and innocent). His light brown hair and oh-so b-e-a-u-ti-ful green eyes spoke to me like none before!

Love at first sight!

"..." Come mouth! Say something! Anything

My mouth was open, and I made a complete fool of myself; choking on my own words!

"Jacques Maxwell." He held out his hand, and I took shook it.

"Ahhh... Valen... Valen Rose..." My mouth was still slightly agape.

"This is for you, Val!" Ray shouted over the mike and I totally turned red!

"May I have this dance Miss Valen?" Oh how sweet he asked me to dance... Move freak'n mouth of mine! Only my head nodded

7: Valentine Special - Dark Side of Love

VaDarklentine Special - Dark Side of Love Side of Love

("Oh! She likes him...") Eclipse's eyes glazed over with pure evil, her white-pink aura blackened and even the 'shivers' went up her half-brother's spine.

"Eclipse?" Sai asked before taking a look to where her stares were focused, and releasing a sigh he didn't know he was holding.

"After almost a year, I can finally ruin that smug girl's live!" Eclipse' voice rang cold and merciless!

"Come on Eclipse! There's no need to do that. What she ever done... Never mind..." Sai quickly remembered while Eclipse stalked towards Valen. Quickly he grabbed her by her collar.

"Eclipse let's leave her be with her possible new boyfriend, okay." Sai sternly scolded her while using all his strength just to keep her from advancing forward.

"Hell no! If one thing is for sure, I know how much she despises Eros! Wait till I tell her who the ass is!" She grinned a malisious grin and Sai almost felt pity towards Valen, almost.

"Finally! Revenge! Times two!" She said and took Sai by his arm that was pulling her by her neck and trew him over her. He landed in front of her with a groan, as his breath was knocked out of him from the inpact. Eclipse moved in for the 'kill'.

"And here I thought she'll never do anything other than lazing around and wishing for death. She sure is strong!" Sai sat up pain riddeled his back and his arm he knew was broken; lucky for him he was a fast healer.

"Hi-ya Valen! See you finally found someone you actually like, maybe even love. I bet your grandfather, Eros, would be so pround!" Eclipse said sarcastically and winked at Jacques, he in return gave her a smug smirk.

"Eclipse... What are you doing here?" Valen said with a fake smile.

"How, you know concert now the party. Sai dragged me with him; you know how he tries to get me out of my room, right? But never mind that! I have something of great importance to tell you!" Eclipse's demonic grin widened, while Valeen's smille was replaced with fear; the type of fear that fuelled Eclipse.

"You can tell me later, right know I have a date here with... agh... Jacques Maxwell... You're so cute and handsome at the same time, you know that?" Valen tried to change the subject and to ignore Eclipse...

"He's Eros' son! In fact he's mother is also Eros' granddaughter just like you! I like these kind of relationship 'in-breeding', don't you?" Eclipse said half unmindfull and finding her nails of even more importance, trying to hide the fact that Valens look of utter shock, then dissapointment and finally hate was exactly what she was waiting for.

1... 2... 3!

"You bastard!" Valen slapped Jacques rightthrough his face.

"I hate you!" She screamed at both of them and stormed off to the Gates.

"You really had to do that, didn't you?" Both Sai and Jacques said in sinc; frustrated and yet ammused.

"By the way. I'm his great-great grandson and my Mother his Albina an Etruscan goddess, while my own farther is a demi-god, child of Aine a Celtic goddess. I myself don't appreciate Eros that much, he is a pervert through-and-through and like most all the gods and even goddesses an ass." Jacques said calmly.

"How'd you even come to that conclusion, and yet I think you know him. Eclipse?" Sai asked, knowing that he would be intruiged at her answer, for surely there had to be a reason Jacques was still being polite towards Eclipse.

"We met at the library. He gave me the gift boxes and cards from my parents when I turned eighteen..." She quickly summed up their encounters.

"Hahahahahaha!" Sai bursted into a laughing fit. Eclipse had just ruined Valen's could have been beautifull love life, for something as simple as getting back at Jacques for spilling water on her perfectly good black dress bit over four months ago.

"So that's why you said 'times' two! For Valen and Jacques!" Sai wiped a tear from his eyes, caused from his still uncontrolled laughter.

"Well at least one person ends up happy today..." Jacques said turning to walk away, and waving towards the future death god (and goddess?).