I'm back friends! Thank you for all your kind messages and support. W/O further adieu, please enjoy with the music, as always! :)

Hours later, I sit on the edge of my enormous bed, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My mind keeps constantly replaying my vision from earlier as I struggle to process the strange feelings of nostalgia enveloping me.

When hades had asked me about my episode, I lied to him. I can't explain why, but my lips decided against divulging any details. Especially considering the hushing gesture the figure behind those frosted eyes had extended to me.

Something was wrong here. Very wrong.

I push myself from the plush mattress and wander up to the mirror for a closer look. I am too disturbed by all the events of the past few weeks, when a very palpable thought impedes on my reeling. In the vision, the man had been holding a rose... but not just any rose. It was a rose from...the garden, complete with its distinct petals and thorns that adorned a stem sharp enough to draw blood. What if it meant something?

I needed to go back, and I needed to go back now. If this is any indication that my dreams had any meaning, someone was trying to tell me something, and I'm not going to idle by and leave my fate into the hands of a man who could very well be a stranger for all the "warmth" he'd shown me since my "accident". An accident I remembered nothing about.

Maybe I was supposed to look for some sort of clue in the garden, something that could lead me closer to discovering what really happened to me. But what?

That part could come later. For now, I needed to find a way out, and since I was under quarantine, this wasn't going to be easy.

A plan formulates in my mind. It isn't the prettiest, but considering hades' orders, my options are quite trim, so it was going to have to do. It also involved Violetta, which is going to be the more difficult part: convincing her to let me out. She was an incredibly compassionate soul, but I could tell she was equally fearful and cautious of her lord and his wrath. Understandably so. This isn't going to be easy, but I've exhausted all desire to keep pretending. What is he hiding from me?

After going through my usual morning routine, I waste no time executing. Once I am escorted back from breakfast, I rush into my bath chamber and reach into the front of my dress. I draw out the bundled napkins and empty its contents out onto the quartz vanity.

Three pomegranate slices, stolen from the kitchens, roll out onto the counter. I go straight to work.

Pomegranate Seeds.

See, I had picked up on this strangely distinct detail in one of my many strange dreams.

"You chose to serve fucking pomegranates? I will not allow you to make a mockery of the bride, do you understand me? Don't you know she is allergic? Are you trying to kill her? I will have your head for this! Sergio, get him out of my sight!" booms an angry voice belonging to a broad-shouldered man with hair dusted in snow. Not just any man, the voice, dripping in ice and venom, is familiar. His back is to me however, so I can't make out his face. Thunder cracks in the distance as I pretend not to notice the conversation, combatting my own share of prenuptial nerves.

I recall the dream in a furrowed trance, a lot of the details raising even more questions now in light of my episode. What if my dreams were really slices of my memory? What if they were the key to discovering who I truly am? I'd been writing them off as mere reveries this whole time but maybe they were something more. Especially considering the noticeable lack of the fruit's presence throughout our meals, despite its abundance in the kingdom.

Zeroing in at the slice in my hand, I make swift work of scraping the seeds and place them onto the napkin. Something stirs in my stomach at the sight and smell of the fruit.

I embolden myself before shakily bringing the napkin up to my mouth. I let out a deep, trembling breath and force my eyes shut as I throw the seeds back and swallow them.

Selfishly, a small part of me wishes my body not to react. Wishes this is all some coincidental misunderstanding and that after foolishly realizing I was well off the mark; I could crawl back into my bed and hope to eventually regain Hades' good graces and revel in the bliss of ignorance. After all, that would be simpler...but to what avail? Constantly being subject to a life of walking on eggshells? I fear that would actually hurt me more than any truth I could possibly discover therefore, I must proceed. I must see for myself.

It takes me the better part of 15 minutes to dispose of the empty skins and scrub the dye from my fingers. Exiting the bathroom, I hastily make my way to the bed and allow myself to rest against the soft surface. Waiting...

I stare up at the ceiling toying with the fringes of my dress as a million more questions run circles through my mind. I feel scared. Truly scared. This needed to be timed just right if I were to succeed. Letting out a deep breath, I ready myself and stand propped against the doorway, my slippers snug on my feet. I clear my throat and let out one last shaky breath before moving onto the second phase on my plan.

"Violetta!" I call, trying to sound as calm as feasibility allows.

Interlocking my fingers to keep from shaking, I back away from the doorway. A few brief moments later, I hear a soft tapping. "Come in, please!" I beckon warmly. The door opens, as Violetta's short figure appears. She makes her way in and offers me a polite bow."Is everything okay, your highness?"

She looks up at me and concern etches its way onto her face. I can feel the bullets of sweat forming on my forehead, and I clench my hands tighter together to conceal their violent shaking, which is now no longer being caused by nerves.

That son of a bitch. I curse inwardly to myself as realization crashes down on me.

The seeds are working. The seeds are bloody working. I am consumed by disbelief. The reaction however, is progressing much quicker than I had anticipated, which highlights a very important thing: I have to act really, really fast. I probably don't have much time. Trying hard to compose myself, I fight the urge to collapse against the bedpost and force myself to look as calm as possible. "All is well" I let out as serenely as I can, all the while stifling a fit of coughs.

"I was just feeling a bit, under the weather. Maybe some fresh air would do me some good. Especially after today's wild morning with my husband" I let out barely mustering a wink. My body feels as though it is being engulfed in a cloud of flames. I can feel the dampness making its way down my back as the temperature rises further.

"No problem miss, I shall go down and retrieve his majesty at once to accompany you". "-No! Please, no need." I panickily interject. Confusion contorts her softly aged features, but I continue. "I-I wanted to ask you to accompany me instead. I am still a bit embarrassed you see" I add on, hoping my flustered appearance can vouch for me.

"After sharing, erm, an intense moment with Hades, I do not wish to bother him anymore than I need to. Plus, I am well enough aware of his wrath to try anything stupid, for I am his Queen as he is my King, am I not?" I finish. A pang of guilt twists at my heart for lying to her but my plan is already much too far in motion.

Her concerned gaze finds mine and I lock onto it as best I can, resisting the urge to throw up. She studies me for a few more prolonged seconds before sighing and finally giving in. "Very well highness. Should I give you some time to change?"

"-That won't be necessary" I respond with conviction and swiftness, leading the way through the door. As soon as I step foot past the threshold, I am immediately approached by two sentinels, but Violetta who is trailing not too far behind me, quickly waves them away. Initially they hesitate, before eventually yielding upon her approval. I am well aware though of the thicket of suspicion that lingers in the air. Time was officially ticking.

I clear my throat for what must be the hundredth time in 5 minutes, fighting back more coughs. Hastening my now wobbly pace down the stairs, I trudge towards the large garden doors, mere steps away.

Leading up to this point, I had been afforded a breadth of luck, but now I fear that luxury has run out. My body betrays me as it gives way to a violent quaking. I curse under my breath but keep fighting, nonetheless fueled by relentlessness.

As soon as we reach the glass, I push past the doors after Violetta once again signals another pair of guards away. Rushing out into the open air, I take deep, desperate breaths to propel myself forward. To my relief, Violetta has stayed behind to grant me space to roam. Just a little further. My dress is drenched in sweat and my lungs hopelessly contract. Every inch of my body hurts. After a few more steps, my legs cave and I collapse into the rose garden.

I can hear a commotion of guards rushing towards me as I lay sprawled amongst the thick beds and sharp thornbushes, coughing and heaving. Forcing myself to tune out all the noises, I use the last of my willpower to zero in on the reason I came. I don't know what to look for, so in a final defeated resort I reach for the nearest rose and pluck it from its vine.

*Brief Flashback*

"I said they couldn't cut you. I never said they couldn't still hurt you dear. These roses are stronger than a warden's key."

*End Flashback*

"Let's hope you're right once again" I whisper, sticking the long-stemmed flower down my dress just in time as my surroundings go dark.