The River Of Styx And The Garden Of Eden Okay I need a little help from you brilliant writers! So I want to write a story based on both the catholic religion revolving around the garden of Eden and mix it with Greek mythology revolving around the river of Styx. Eden was a place of fertility and growth and beauty while Styx was a river of hatefulness. I was thinking of doing a story along the lines of twins named Adam and Eve. I want to start it with them moving to a new town after the death of their mother. This town is particularly dark. It's often cloudy and all together I want itTo have a dark feeling. The house they move in to is next to a cemetery where eve (who can see the ghosts) meets a ghost named Styx who is guarded by Charon (pronounced like Karen). Styx is told to be like the other ghosts who were taught by Lethe (leth-ee) to forget their former lives. (Lethe is the river of forgetfulness) Styx wants to still be connected with the living realm though, but Charon is constantly pulling Styx back. Does the plot sound okay? Should Styx be a boy or girl? Age ranges? I want them to have child-like innocence but at the same time I don't want like a 7 hear old kid and I don't want that snobby teenager. What else could I add? What could I do to make a stronger plot?

Tired For a little while I've been pretty tired. Tired of people; family, friends, my boyfriend. Tired of things I use to love; dancing, writing, drawing, sculpting. Tired. I'm just tired. I want to stay in my bed and sleep. I'm tired of being around people and I want to be left alone. I don't want to be around my family, friends, co-workers, classmates, the old lady up the street, teachers, anyone. I want to be alone all the time. I'm sad and I don't know why. I have an amazing and loving family. I have fantastic and supportive friends. I have a boyfriend who is the sweetest person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and he even says he loves me (although I'm not quite there). Everyone around me makes me feel loved, so why do I feel so alone? I have no reason to be sad. No one has ever really hurt me, emotionally or physically. I'm not scarred from any traumatic experience. I'm doing well in school and I have a job. Sure in stressed with college stuff and I really hate fast food, but this is normal for any 18 year old. So why am I unhappy? My best friend was adopted from India. He mother was a 17 yea old prostitute and her current parents abuse her. Her dad beats her while her mom is verbally abusive. They are devices and she lives with her mom, but things are still hard for her. She use to cut her wrists and I think she's still depressed, but we all help her through it. She has a reason to e sad. I don't. So why am I sad? I just want to cry. I feel like I can cry at any second of the day. I'm being pushed close to the ends and ill go over at any second, but I'm good at holding on until that night when I cry in my bed. I have nothing to be ungrateful for and I have no reason to be unhappy. So why so why do I want to cry? And no, this isn't a #poem or story I'm legitimately asking for someone to talk to.

In This Style 10/6 Chapter 23 Two more days of restless traveling pass by. The horses slowly bring us upon a large, white, stone castle that glimmers in the clouded light of the less radiant sun. More chess pieces guard the large glass doors in the front. There are slim, tall cherry blossom trees that line the tan, stone path that leads to the magnificent, glass doors. We all hop off our horses as chess and the white princess are helped down. "Careful!" I say annoyed a chess in picked up. "Like I said before, he's in good hands. Stay calm." Mirana tells me, resting a hand on my shoulder. She leads us all down a long corridor with light blue walls lined with tapestries, sculptures, and paintings. Deep red curtains with gold fringe hang aside from the tall windows to let the light in. "Nana, Beyard, this is where you will be staying." Mirana announces in front of a tall, glass door with blue curtains the cover it from the inside. Nana and Beyard are escorted inside by a pawn that then rests outside the door to guard it. The next room is for the hare and Jacob, whom I didn't even know was with us. Suddenly there is a squeaky voice that comes from their room (with an identical door). "Maliumpkin?" Jacob yells. "Is that you?" Out from a smaller door carved in the later door runs a mouse identical to Jacobs mouse form. "Maliumpkin, have you really been here all along?" Jacob yells in excitement. "Indeed I have." The hare whispers into my ear. "Maliumpkin is Jacobs best friend." I nod at the unusual sight as they all enter their room an another pawn piece guards the door. "And this will be your room." She informs me as we walk a few more feet down the hall. The door is just the same as the rest and I walk in. Cool air brushes my face as I pass through. There is a tall, stain glass window on the wall opposite of me. To my left if a raised platform with a white painted bed that is covered by a canopy. The sheets are a light, baby blue and the pillows are white. The floor is marble and shines in multiple colors from the window. I step into the light from the window and immediately I am bathed in pinks and greens and blues and reds. To my right there is a large chest of drawers. It too is painted white. The room almost feels empty. Mariana starts to leave the room when I stop her. "What about chess?" I ask. "He'll be staying in the infirmary with my nurses." She tells me. "Can I still see him?" "Not for a little while." She says as her smile droops a little bit. "But, this might lift your spirits; Nana told me that you're skilled at a sewing machine?" "Yea, my mom did stuff like that at home for a living." I explain. "Down the hall and the red door on your right is a room full of fabrics and hems and buttons. I can have a machine brought to your room and you can Fabian yourself a new dress if you'd like." She tells me. I look down at my old, worn, and tattered dress and my face lights up at the idea. I decide to take her up on her offer and I search for the red door. I open it to find a room, much larger than I expected. The walls and shelves are filled with colour! I grab the nearest blue I see. It's a turquoise colour and its beautiful. I rub it on my cheek. It's rough. I then find a soft violet fabric with tacky green leaves all over it. I walk deeper into the huge room. I come across more exotic fabrics, including metal shingles that look as if they're used for amour. I continue on through the maze of colours and fabrics until I get tired and decide to head back to my room. I curl up on the bed in the silk sheets. It's stool not enough bits soft, but not comfortable or warm. This castle doesn't feel like home. I toss and turn in the giant bed for a long time before sitting up and roaming the halls of the castle until I'm lost. I come across a hallway where the stone isn't white, but grey and thee ceilings are much lower. There are only a few windows that leave shadows in their wake. I see a small, deep blue door with a silver knob. I open it. Inside there is a line of beds on opposite walls. There is only one being currently occupied. Chess! This must be the infirmary. There is a mumbling across the room and that's when I notice Mirana sitting next to chess. I can't quite hear her. Her voice is soft and fragile. Chess is also finally awake and they are speaking about something, if only I could hear. Mirana stands, kisses chess on the forehead and leave the room through another door. They didn't notice me. I turn around and try to shut the door when it hits something. I look down to see chess's boot. "Don't worry," he whispers, "she's not the one I love." I spin around and find him gone, back in his bed, looking sound asleep. * * * * * "But why are we wasting time?" I nag at the hare three days later. "Why not attack now?! We have an army and were ready!" "Lass, we have an army, but not a city. We have no subjects to rule." "So what? Once the red queen is beaten her subjects will become ours!" "That's not how war works." He tells me. "War is fought because there is something worth protecting, not just because she's a bad queen." The hare hops away, annoyed with the questions that I've been asking him for three days now. "Is my #life not worth protecting?" I call after him, half joking. "UGGHHH!" I moan. Just as I turn around I see Mirana behind me. "You can all go home now." She says. "And Maliumpkin will be going with you." "What?" I ask. "I am home now and I have protection. All there is now is to wait." "Wait for what?" I shout. "We've been waiting for three days now!" "You've been waiting for the Cheshire Cat to heal. Now I wait for subjects to rule so that a war can wage." I jump at her sudden claim. Leave while its this dangerous to be alone? Wait to start a war? What the hell could she be thinking?! "You can stay a few nights longer if you'd really like to." She offers. "Sure, thanks." I say as I walk the other way back to my room. "Hatter!" I hear the squeaky voice of Jacob behind me, maliumpkin hot on his trail. "Hatter, did you see the room of fabric?" He asks in amazement. "I did." I answer. "Are you going to make a new dress? Maliumpkin doesn't believe me that you made your dress and hat." "Alright." I say with a sky grin. "Challenge accepted!" We dash down the halls to the room of buttons and fabrics. I pick out a red. "How's this?" I ask. They nod their heads in approval. "Make something of this." Maliumpkin challenges. "Will do!" He hands me a white, almost see though piece of fabric with little, black hearts on it that's just torn up. I make my way to a sewing machine and start fabricating a plain red dress with no sleeves. It's tight at the top and the skirt is loose and fluffy with black knitting underneath to help it poof out. "And not this!" Maliumpkin says as he hands me the torn fabric. I pull it around my right shoulder and pin it at my waist like a sash. I pull on my waistcoat. "Wah-la!" I shout. "Oh, and for the finishing touch!" I say placing my hat on my head. The two mouse boys jump and laugh at the excitement and I realize that for the first time Im having fun. I'm smiling a genuine smile. I haven't done that in a long time, even when I was alive. For me, fun and happiness were never lugxeries I had. I walk out into the hall with the two boys bouncing at my feet, laughing and cheering. They were more excited about this than I was. "Hey!" Chess calls from across the hall. His face is hard. "What's going on?" I ask. "New dress?" He asks with a smile. "Mmmmmaybe." I joke. "I need to tell you something. Come with me." He grabs my wrist and vaporizes. We're outside on a white, marble balcony. "Remember the other day when we got out of the queens castle and I said that Mirana knows something about the jabberwocky's blood?" "Yea." "Well, I'm allowed to tell you what it is now." "I wasn't exactly curious to begin with,but-" I begin, but he cuts me off. "If you drink it's blood you'll be sent home! Without a doubt. It's blood can send anyone home! No matter how dead they are."

In This Style 10/6 Chapter 22 when I open my eyes the next morning I'm alone. It's sunny and warm and the light shines through the space between the blue leaves. I hear a crunch beneath me and I jump. I awkwardly cling to the tree and look down to find giant game pieces, pieces from a chess board, marching by. The first in the parade is the king, then the bishop, then the tower. Following them are several pawns and the queen. Behind her are the knights and the rest of the pawns and other pieces. They're huge, taller than me even. "Ches!" I whisper "where are you!?" I panic and begin to shake. They may be other guards of the queen. She may be after me or Ches or Mirana! "Boo." I hear the slight whisper in my ear. I jump in my skin and chills run up my spine and slip from the tree. I drop with a shriek and try to catch the branches below me as I fall. I'm caught and gently set on my feet. The hands that catch me stay connected to my side as I turn around to find Ches. He hugs me while he laughs at how clumsy I am. "Are you alright?" He asks pulling leaves out of my hair. "Yea just fine." I say angrily. Ches and I follow behind the last of the parade into the garden. The may pieces guard the cottage and Ches has to evaporate us to get us inside. "Quick go get your mask." Chess says to me. "Why?" I ask. "We're leaving." He says. I quickly run upstairs and grab my mask and put in on as well as my shoes, hat, and gloves. By the time I reach the bottom of the steps everyone is walking out the door. "So what exactly is going on?" I ask. "We're going to Mowmorial." He announces. "We're taking Mirana home." we hurry outside and hop on a horse following Mirana, the hare, and Beyard and nana. The large chess pieces surround us and protect us as we go along. "Are we there yet?" Ches wines to Beyard. "It's at least a three day journey." Says Beyard. "Three days!?" Ches's draw drops. I tighten my arms around him and I feel him relax. "So what's going to happen when we get there?" I ask leaning my head against his back. "Hide out there i guess." He says. I yawn. "Tired?" He asks. "A little. I guess I'm not accustom to sleeping in trees." I joke. later, after the sky gets dark we stop and rest for the night. The hare goes to a near by bush and sleeps while nana and Beyard sleep against a tree. Mirana just lies on the ground as the guards surround her. I spend my time walking around the wet sand of the beach that's about a mile away from where we stop. I look out over the ocean and see the reflection if the pink#moonon the water. The stars twirl about the sky, illuminating the distance beyond them. The moons face half cries as the crescent shape hangs is the dark. I cool water runs over my bare feet and the soft sand climbs between my toes as the wind messes with my hair. Ches walks up beside me in his pajama pants rolled up to his knees and walks into the water until it reaches the top of his shins. "I thought that cats hated the water." I mock. "Where do you think that all started." I look at him quizzically. "I killed a girl by drowning her in water. Every time I see my reflection I see a monster worth fearing." He says grinding his teeth together. I make my way over to him. The waves get a little bigger as the#moongets higher. The end of my dress is wet now. He looks at me and grabs my shoulders and turns me around. A chill runs up my back as he traces a claw along the scar on my back from Dilah. "It's all my fault-" "Stop it!" I yell shoving him into the water. a wave brushes over his head, making him soaked from head to toe. "I'm sorry for that." He says standing up and having to hold has pants up as well. "Just stop talking like that. Please!" I beg dropping to my knees. he bends down and holds me tight to him. A wave topples us over now drenching me. He pulls my head in and kisses me. He stands and pulls me up with him. "Ches!" I yelp. "Ahh, what's the problem?" He asks slyly. "Your pants!" I laugh. "Pull them up!" he pulls them up, but they still sit low on him. he suddenly becomes serious. "Were you scared?" "Which time?" I ask. "When you fell here. When I abandon you. When i transformed. When the queen came to the garden. When we were at the castle." He catalogues. "Terrified to the point of almost being petrified." "Don't be scared anymore. Because I'm here. I will always protect you, no matter what. I'll never let you go again!" He says grabbing my hand and squeezing it. I roll into his arms. "And I; you." I say. in that moment he seems to relax. His tense body falls limp in my arms and he drops to his knees. I hoist him up, but find that he's unconscious. His mouth hangs open. His eyes lazily droop shut. His tail turns to string and floats with the waves of the water. "Ches! Ches!" I shake him to get him to wake up. I slap his face and dunk his head under the water. His body doesn't move. I drag his wet, sagging body to the sand and place him gently down. I sprint to the camp sight and look for the hare. I rummage through the bush and grab his ears and cover his mouth as I run as to make sure he doesn't wake the others. He squirms out of my grasp. "Eye'! What do yee think you're doing lassi?!" "Please! Ches is hurt! Something happened!" he gives me a strange look. "Where is he?" "The beach." I answer. And the hare makes off into the woods to the beach and I follow at his heals. I maul him over when I don't realize he stopped and I land in the wet and cold sand. The hare cocks his head. I follow his gaze to Ches, who is standing erect on the water. "Ches!" I cry. "He can't hear you." Says the hare putting a hand on my shoulder. "Alice!" Ches yells. "Bring her to me!" I stare in amazement at the sight before me. "The queens usin' his blood to control him! She can read his heart!" Exclaims the hare. "Ahhh smart one!" Mocks Ches. "Bring her to me!" He says before clumsily falling back into the water. I run to him, resisting the push of the waves. The water is cold like ice and stings my body. The water is at my neck and the break of the waves is too strong. I grab his half conscious body. I cling to him and shake him and beg him to wake up. His eye lids flutter and a wave violently breaks on outlet heads. I open my eyes under the water to see nothing but sand at the bottom, and I have to admit I'm surprised. I feel a hand on me and before I know it I'm back on the sand. I look around to see Ches on his hands and knees trying to catch his breath and the hare helps me up. Chess's yellow eyes glow brighter than usual and he looks at me as they widen with fear. "I didn't know she could do that." He gasps. "Laddi..." I crawl over to him and hug him tight. He's soaked to the bone and so am I. I shiver from the cold water and air and he holds me closer. He's warm. He passes out again and the hare helps me carry him to the site where everyone else is. The light starts to break through the blackened sky by the time we get there. "Oh good heavens!" Nana panics as she rushes over to us. "Whatever happened?" the hare explains the situation to her. Mirana slowly walks over to me. "My sister is cruel." She says. "Even to mess with ones feelings by torturing their loved one is harsh, even for her. I know that without Hebert she would be devastated." "The king I'm assuming." "Yes." She says. "But why Ches?" I ask. "Simple, she wants something from you and she doesn't have it. And she won't stop until the two of you are either dead or she has alice. Whichever comes first." "But are we not already dead?" "True your bodies are, but the figure you inhabit now is your souls form. The more damaged it has the more likely you won't be able to wake up. Ches's soul is so broken that his 'body' even shows it." "We'll I won't let anything happen to him!" I say determined. Mirana smiles up at me then walks over to her guards. She is lifted on to her tall white horse and nana and Beyard and the hare mount theirs. One of the knight pieces grabs Ches to carry him the rest of the way. "Hey! Be gentler!" I say. Mirana looks back at me and smiles. "It's okay. He's in good hands." She reassures me. I climb up on the horse I rode the previous day and we start going. the rest of the journey is quiet and lonesome.

In This Style 10/6 Chapter 21 I look at all the small eyes watching me. I'm trapped. I'm surrounded. I have nowhere to go. My only option is to surrender. Give in, take the easy way out! It's all I can do! "Hell yea we did." Says Chess lifting himself up on his elbows. "In fact, I'd say we've already won." A wicked grin peels across his face and his eyes almost look evil. "Imogen got away, your sister got away and I'm damn sure she knows the secret if the jabberwocky's blood! Hah! From the way I see it, there's no way you could win!" he stands up in an aggressive stance over me as some of the guards inch closer. "You should be smart and do as I said before!" he begins, "stay away from her!" He yells jumping at a series of guards and knocking them down like dominoes. there is a hot chill running up my spine when I turn around to see Dilah and her whip. She pulls he arm back again to crack it at me when chess vaporizes in from of me, putting up his arm to block it as it wraps around his wrist. A sly look pops onto Dilah's face. Chess immediately let's go of the whip and grabs my arm and we make to the safety of the shadows of the woods to avoid the electric whip. we run fast, crushing twins and bushes under out feet. Past the brook and through some thorny bushes. He takes to the trees,leaving me on the ground. He instructs me to keep running as he'll jump through the branches to keep a lookout. Finally we get to the arch of the garden and I stop immediately. Chess jumps down, landing in all fours and standing up almost heroically. I look at him as he gazes at the gates. "I'm sorry." He says softly "it's all my fault." He turns me around to look at the rip in the back if my dress and giant purple scar left on my back from Dilah's recent attack. "If it weren't for me abandoning you back there, you wouldn't have gotten hurt, if I had only taken you with me." He says angrily looking at the multiple cuts and scars from being imprisoned in the castle. "Wh-why didn't you fight back!" He yells at me. "What was I supposed to do! You left me alone! I was beat and tortured by people much bigger than me! What could I have done!" I yell starting to cry "why couldn't you protect us?" I whisper through sobs. "I tried," he grabs my arm and pulls me in "I was terrified, but I'm not going to abandon you any more! I'm right here!" He says lifting my chin and kissing my forehead. I stand there and cry into his chest for a long time while he hugs me. He doesn't move or let go. "I'm right here." He keeps whispering to me. If only I could say that to my mother now. If only I could say that I am there for her right now. But Im not, so there's nothing I can do. But I'm not running away anymore. I'll stay and fight! I'll do whatever it take to protect someone instead of abandon them! Never give in to weakness, keep strong and keep fighting, keep going no matter how difficult! Because in the end I know it'll all be worth it, that and so much more. "what do we do now?" I ask pulling away from him. "We take Mirana back to Mowmorial." He says not letting to of my arm. "Mowmorial?" I ask. "What's that?" I take a step back. "Her castle, it's where her followers hide out. Pretty much the resistance." He explains taking a step towards me. "How do we get there?" I ask standing perfectly still. "Beyard's the only one that knows the way." He says putting his forehead to mine. "Hey!" I hear Beyard call from a distance. I jump in the surprise of the sudden noise and chess drops his head almost seeming annoyed, but laughing to himself. Beyard comes running through the archway and pauses. He tries not to laugh. "It's about time!" He cracks up. I jump back. "Uh- no! It's not, we- uh-!" "Chill." Beyard says winking. "I'm kidding." "What's up?" Chess asks leaning against the arch and folding his arms across his chest. "Mirana has some news." "Alright then, lets go in." Announces chess. "No, she has to stay." Says Beyard. I look at them "why what's wrong?" "She doesn't trust you yet." Explains Beyard. "Come on." Says chess leading me into the cottage. everyone's sitting on front of a lit fire. Mirana is all cleaned up. Her dress is white, nana had kept on in the closet upstairs. Her hair is long enough to reach the small of her back and bangs the end just below her eyebrows. Her dark eyes look at me. They are cold and seem just as unforgiving as the queen. "Chess, take her upstairs." Beyard pleads. "Alright," he hesitates "just wait up there." He says leading me to the steps. I make my way up the steps and shut the door behind me. I sit myself on the bed for a while and try to be patient. I find myself getting restless so I walk in circles around the room. They sky outside grows dark and I get annoyed with how long I've been up here. I decide its been long enough so I open the door and peak my head out. I hear slight whispers but the stop almost immediately. Chess vaporizes In front of the door. "Just a little longer, okay?" He says petting my head and shutting the door. I can hear him lean against it and slide Down to the floor. I decide to put on my black dress because its more comfortable and I put my mask in the top drawer of the big white dresser. I light the candle next to the bed and sit. "Hey." Says chess coming in and shutting the door behind him. "So, what's going on?" I ask excitedly until I see the look in his face. He's been thinking I can tell. "A lot. I can't really explain now but I'll tell you soon. I promise." "You're exhausted." I say as he yawns and rubs his eyes. "You should sleep." "Yea, I should." He agrees. "Here!" I toss his pajama pants at his head and laugh. "Hey!" He laughs and chucks a small pillow in my direction. "Oh! I see how it is!" I say looking around for something to throw. I turn to the dresser and open the drawer and grab a small rubber ball that's used to play jacks. I turn back around but he's gone. I go to check the other side of the bed to see if he ducked down. When I try to stand back up he reappears and wrestles the ball out of my hand. We fall to the ground with a thud, him trying not to crush me as he playfully pins down my wrists. We laugh for a long time like that but after a few minutes he stops and looks at me with a serious face. "What?" I ask, half knowing what's about to happen. it's quiet. Not a sound can be heard inside the cottage. If I were alive I bet I'd feel my heart thumping inside my chest, I bet id feel the adrenaline rushing through my veins. chess smiles like he's thinking about something that made him laugh a little. "What's so funny?" I ask. "You." He says leaning his head in. "You're blushing." he leans his forehead against mine and closes his eyes. His tail slows it fickling and he sits up on his knees, pulling me up with him, keeping me close to him. He brings his lips close to my ear. "Be Very still." He whispers. his grip on my right hand tightens and he brings his lips to mine. I push myself closer and feel a sharp pain in my lip. He jumps back immediately. "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have done that!" He says as his eyes get big. "I told you to be still. I didn't mean to!" He takes a towel out of the dresser and holds it to my mouth. It stings. I pull the towel away to see what happened. There is blood. "Wha-" "I bit you." He says licking the blood off his fang and cringing at the taste. "But, the queen killed me." I say. "She doesn't take all of your blood. Just enough that you can't get back. The rest evaporates soon enough." He explains. "But don't worry. I'll get the rest back so you can get back if its the last thing I do!" I lean in and kiss him again. His lips are warm. I put my hand on the back of his head and pull him in tighter. He puts his hands behind me, lifting me up and setting me down on the bed. He kisses me again, pushing me down into the pillows of the bed and kisses down the side of my neck. he abruptly stops and seconds later nana opens the door. "May her majesty sleep in the only bed tonight?" "Sure." Says chess hopping off the bed. "Just a sec." "Alrighty then." She says exiting the room. "We should go then." I say sliding off the bed. I walk out of the room and down the steps and over to the couch. Chess follows shortly behind in his pajama pants. Beyard and Nana are already cuddled up and asleep on the couch and the hare rests on the steps with a pillow and blanket. Mirana is already upstairs. I grab another blanket from the drawer in the side table next to the chair and wrap it around me. I sit myself down on the rug I front of the fire and rest my head on my knees. Chess comes over and pulls me up by my elbow and I follow him out the door holding his hand. "What are we doing?" I ask. "The cottage seems a little crowded." He says grabbing my waist and pulling me close to him. His body may be dead, but he is warm. I huddle close to his bare chest and hold the blanket around us "Watch your step." He says as we vaporize away and drop down into a tree on to a large branch. He leans back against the trunk of the tree and pulls me in close. His body is warm and I feel safe in his arms. He slides down so he is sitting and I'm leaning into him. "What are we doing?" He asks. "I don't know. You're the one that brought me here." I answer. "No, I mean why would you let me get this close to you?" "What do you mean?" I ask looking up at him. "This is bad, we shouldn't be like this. I'm going to get you home. " "I don't have to go back." I say. "He's you do. You can't run away from these things." "You're the one that started this with me so if I wanna stay here and be with nana and the hare and Beyard then I will and if I want to stay here with you then I will!" "This makes you more of a target." He says. "Target?" "Yea, the queen has your blood, she can read your heart. She can read mine too. That's why she went after you." "So she can use anything against us? She could hurt you to get something from me?" I ask. "Yea. But Mirana was telling that the queen keeps the blood, do if we get it back, then you can wake up. "