Sarah Smith's Sexy Guy Voice CD

Not too long ago Sarah Smith asked me what kind of guy voices I liked so instead of telling her, I made a CD for her! Here's the sheet that I made to go along with the CD so she'd know what songs were on it. Enjoy!

Sarah’s SEXY Guy Voice CD: Made Possible by the GENIUS of Ginny Romney! with much help from various family members
On this CD you will find many lovely male voices, all of them beautiful beyond belief. I hope that you enjoy them all, or at least some of them!

1. Do You Love Me- Dick Haymes: This song is from a really cute movie of the same movie. It’s definitely worth watching!
2. Here (In Your Arms)- Hellogoodbye: Forrest (the main singer) has such a sexy voice! That’s all I really have to say!
3. Sobbin’ Women- Howard Keel, Tommy Rall, Russ Tamblyn, Matt Mattox, Alan Davies, C. Parlato, Robert Wacker, Gene Lanham, M. Spergel & Bill Lee: I’m always up for a whole chorus of men singing, aren’t you?
4. You’ll Never Know- The Harry James Orchestra: I know that nobody sings in this song, but Harry James is a guy and he’s playing the trumpet incredibly well, does that count? I guess I’m the one making the CD so yes it is!
5. This is the Night- Clay Akien: This is the very best song to ever come from American Idol. EVER!
6. Your Man- Josh Turner: I know you don’t like Country, but isn’t his voice gorgeously low?
7. Live With Somebody You Love- Stephen Weller: My parents saw this musical (Martin Guerre) and brought back the soundtrack. Regardless to say, we all fell in love with this song!
8. Too Close For Comfort- Sammy Davis Jr: My mom stole this CD from my grandma. The reason why? This song and one other. (Alive was the other, but that’s another story.)
9. There Never Was A Time- Chuck Wagner (and Linda Eder): I know that a girl is singing too, but I just HAD to put this song on! (And she has a fabulous voice too, so it works!)
10. God Only Knows- The Nylons: This is the same group that does In the Jungle. Aren’t they fantastic?
12. Margurite- David Clemmons: He’s the bad guy in the musical (The Scarlet Pimpernel) but man can he hit that high note!
13. That’s All- Michael Buble: Mmmm . . . this CD could have easily become a Michael Buble solo album, aren’t you proud of me that I resisted the urge? And can you really blame me?
14. Stolen- Dashboard Confessional: I’ve heard that a lot of girl’s like the lead singer. Can’t really blame them.
15. You’re Awful- Frank Sinatra: No Sexy Guy Voice CD would be complete without Frank!
16. Where’s the Girl- Terrence Mann: His voice makes me melt. ‘Nuff said.
17. Where’s the Girl (Reprise)- Terrence Mann: I just couldn’t decide on which I preferred. Why choose when you can have both?
18. Confrontation- Bob Cuccioli: This song is from Jekyll & Hyde. Mr. Cuccioli sings both parts. Creepy but cool, eh?
19. Everytime- Rick Astley: This is my Uncle John’s very favorite artist and also his contribution to this CD.
20. Why God Why?- Matt Bogart: I find this a sort of melancholy song but his voice is incredible.
21. Smile- Michael Buble: Since this song is live, he talks for a while but I find that I don’t mind!
22. When You Say You Love Me- Josh Groban: What a way to finish off a CD! Sing to me, Joshie boy!

WICKED!

Over Spring Break, my family went to L.A. to see the musical Wicked. Let me tell you, it was a BLAST! I loved it oh so very much (well, except for Fieryo, but I'll get to that later.) For those that don't know, Wicked is a musical about the witches of Oz before Dorthy came. (It's based on a book that I haven't read because I've heard is extremely obscene.) My mom saw it last year and decided that Kendle and I would love it so she's been trying to find a way to make it possible for a while. Last week we finally saw it! It was way better than I anticipated! I've listened to the soundtrack for a while so I knew most of the words and figured out the plot for the most part but it's a totally different experience when you're actually there. We had really good seats (we were close enough to see facial expressions!) and the singers (is there a technical name for "singers?") were fantastic, except for Fieryo (the love interest.) That was probably because he was the "stand in." I was pretty bummed that he wasn't sensational but I'm still really thankful that I could go. If you ever get the chance, you should totally go and see Wicked! You won't regret it!

Hera: Chapter Three: Joyous News?

In a bust of brilliance, I decided that I would post the last of this story on Valentine's Day. What a wonderful idea, I thought, to post the last of my first really romantic (sort of) story. Alas, in true Ginny fashion, I was a little bit late doing it. It is still Valentine's Day but I doubt anyone will read it on Valentine's Day. Oh well. Well, without further ado, the end of Hera! Woot!

Chapter Three:
Joyous News?

Weeks passed by quickly now that Hera had found an ally in Echo. In the company of Echo and Chara, Hera was able to endure life in the near empty palace better than she thought possible. Zeus had been gone much more than was needful and Hera still couldn’t decide if that she was a blessing or a curse. He was her husband and she knew that when he wasn’t with her, he was with other women. If only there was something she could do about it! Of course, she had no love for Zeus and she felt more as ease without him but knowing that he was with flitting around infuriated her. If only she could get her hands on those sirens . . .

“What is that you’re working on?” Chara asked, looking curiously at the object in Hera’s lap.

Hera met Chara’s eyes, brushing all angry thoughts from her mind. “A sunset,” she lifted up the tapestry to show Chara the bright colors. “It has been a wile since we have had a purple sunset. I was getting tiered of the same old, drab pinks and oranges so I’ve made this new one.”

“The colors are so bright! And your stitches, so small and even; I must admit I’m envious of your skill,” Chara replied, a half smile on her lips.

“It’s only seemly that our queen would have such skills,” Echo laughed than showed the other two her own messy needlework. “I’m just too impatient for such tasks. It takes so long to do a simple flower for spring. I can’t even imagine sewing the colors for the sky.”

“There is such an accomplishment you hear the mortals praise your work,” whispered Hera, remembering the first sunset she had embroidered. “They find such joy in the colors and pleasure in the over all effect that I can’t help but try to please them.”

“You make it sound so poetic but I’m afraid it won’t be enough for me. The work just goes along so slowly. It’s as if it will never end, the constant up and down of the thread filled needle,” Echo impulsively stabbed her embroidery and stuck her tongue out at it.

“How are you feeling today, Hera?” Chara asked, intimating some secret knowledge. “Are you as sick as you were yesterday?”

Hera fairly glowed. “I’m much better than yesterday, although I imagine the nausea will return shortly. I suppose it will be worth it in the end, in fact, I’m sure of it.”

“What on Olympus are you talking about? Please tell me what you speak of!” Pleaded Echo, her brown eyes begging in such a way that no puppy could aspire to achieve.

Hera smiled shyly. “I recently discovered some joyful news. Only Chara knows besides myself.”

“What?” Echo was impatient now.

“I . . . I am with child,” Hera replied happily, bracing herself for the enthusiasm she knew Echo would exhibit.

Echo nearly burst, her happiness was so evident. “Congratulations! Does Zeus know? Is it a boy or a girl? When will it come?” The questions bubbled forth as a geyser from the earth.

“No, Zeus doesn’t know, at least he doesn’t know from me. It will be a boy and with any luck as strong as his father,” Hera tried to sound like se was enamored with her husband but she felt like her attempts came up short. She hoped that with any luck her son would be unlike Zeus in most aspects, such as fidelity.

“When are you going to tell him? It can’t be a secret forever,” Echo’s enthusiasm waned considerably.

Hera’s face flushed, embarrassed that a mere nymph was lecturing her in her wifely duties. The fact that Hera was supposed to be the goddess of wife and home just made it even more humiliating.

“Echo!” Chara flew to her cousin’s defense. “Zeus is a very busy God, he is, after all, God of the Earth and Heavens. Hera just doesn’t want to overwhelm him with such news.”

“That’s the worst excuse I’ve ever heard,” Echo pushed Hera her cushioned chair and ushered her towards the door. “You are his wife and it’s his child. He deserves to know.”

Before Hera could get a word in edgewise, she was standing in the corridor outside Zeus’s room. Echo had disappeared instantly, part of her powers as a nymph.

Hera tentatively knocked, both dreading and anticipating the response. The door slowly opened and Hera held her breath.

“Yes?” Zeus leaned against the doorframe, his mused hair and half clothed body revealing that he had been asleep minutes before.

Flustered for waking him, Hera shuffled back and forth while fingering her blonde locks. “May I speak with you?”

“Of course,” Zeus’s face displayed his shock quite openly. The whole of Mount Olympus knew that Hera avoided her husband if she could help it. “Come in.”

Hera took a deep breath and stepped into the chamber. “Zeus, I-“

A knock was heard outside the room. “Father?” A woman’s voice rang out clearly.

It was as if Poseidon had made the very blood in Hera’s veins freeze. Zeus opened the door for a second time.

A beautiful couple stood outside the doorway. “Father!” The young woman, whose brow shown like the moon, flung her arms around Zeus’s neck.

Stepping forward, the glorious young man grasped Zeus’s shoulder while the God of the Heavens returned the gesture.

Zeus turned to his wife, an arm around each of the apparent young god and goddess. “These two are my children, Apollo and Artemis.”

Overcome, Hera fled.

“Hera, wait!” Zeus yelled after her retreating figure but it was too late; she was gone.

Sobbing uncontrollably, Hera had made it to the room she had previously been in. The silent sobs racked her body as she felt her world collapse even further.

She knew that Zeus had affairs with other women but she had never met any of his children that were products of such unions, knowingly at least. Many a strange woman had she banished because she had found them in bed with Zeus but hadn’t she made sure that none of their children had been born? Curses weren’t her forte, though lately she had been using them increasingly more often. In this way these two twin gods were a shock to her, especially since it appeared that they were going to stay.

“Good work, Echo,” she heard another nymph named Axenia say, her voice laced with venom. “Beloved Hera will never know that Leto is the mother of our beautiful new god and goddess. You have kept Hera distracted the past months and for that we are all grateful.”

A chorus of voices tittered their thanks.

Hera was shocked once again. That wench Leto was the last woman Hera has cursed; Leto was promised she wouldn’t be able to give birth on mainland or island. How could such an order go wrong?

“You have surely saved Leto’s life. Because of your service we were able to sneak Leto on and off the mountain and help her find Delos,” another conspirator, a lesser goddess, added.

“Hera? Why are you out here? Aren’t you going to speak with Zeus?” Chara had appeared from behind Hera. “What is wrong?” She noticed Hera’s tear-stained face.

“Thank Gaia you aren’t among them,” whispered Hera, her voice taught with sorrow and anger. “Stay out here, I will be but a minute with the traitors.”

“Hera!” Chara grasped for Hera’s cloak, trying to hold her back but the filmy cloth slipped through her fingers. “Think what might happen!”

It was too late; Hera had entered the room, her wrath hotter than fire. “Echo!”

The nymph looked up, fear in her wide green eyes. “Hera, please forgive me! I never meant to hurt you!”

Hera’s laugh matched her cold eyes and ironic smile. “I thought that you actually meant all of your cheerful flattery. How refreshing to know that your chatter was a ruse. Of course, I must reward you for your hard work.”

“No, Queen Hera. Please no!”

“Echo, nymph of the woodland stream I banish your voice because of it’s monstrosities against me. You shall only repeat what others say from this day forward.”

“From this day forward,” Echo involuntarily said, tears springing from her eyes as she realized what was happening.

“Now leave, all of you!” One by one the nymphs and goddesses left the room, horror struck at the scene they had just witnessed.

Hera sunk to her feet, sobbing as quietly as she could.

“Hera?” Chara rushed to her cousin’s side.

“You are the only person I can trust in this entire court. Thank you for your loyalty,” her face was solemn.

“Before you say anymore I must tell you something,” Chara’s voice shook. “For so long I have heard you speak of Takis. Not too long ago, I began to watch him. My intentions were pure; I only wished to know of whom you spoke. But-” she stopped, her voice cracking, “it wasn’t long before I understood the feelings you had for him. Hera, I will not blame you if you punish me as you did Echo. Please know that I didn’t mean to betray you.” Chara looked down, as if awaiting some horrible punishment.

Hera’s heart broke. What unlucky star had she been born over to merit such a day? If she had any tears left, she would have shed them. “I wish you happiness.”

“What?” Chara was taken aback.

“I can never have him or true happiness, so why shouldn’t my most loyal friend have both?” Smiling, Hera’s eyes shone. “I know that it might not amount to much, but I bless you as well as a can. I suppose that I should be able to assure your happiness together since I am the goddess of marriage but I find joy something sadly lacking in my own. I know that you are good as is he; I know you will complete one another.”

Gently embracing her cousin, Chara radiated her gratefulness. “I was so worried that you would be angry. How could I have forgotten your giving spirit? Thank you, Hera.”

“Go to him,” urged Hera. Her cousin beamed at her and nearly flew out of the room.

Left to herself, Hera couldn’t help but feel despair. What was left for her?

She felt a small kick inside her womb. “Ares, your name shall be Ares,” she spoke aloud to her unborn baby. “You shall be my life now. I hope that you will be strong and valiant and accepted by this court, unlike I.”

The baby kicked her harder now and she grimaced as she looked out at Gaia below. If only she were like the mortals below. Soon they would die and go to a place of never-ending happiness. For the rest of eternity she would be bound to Zeus but, she reminded herself, there still was hope. She caressed her soon to be swollen stomach. There still was hope.

Hera: Chapter Two: Memories of a Merrier Time

So, I don't know about you but I'm tired of not having this story completed, especially since this is one of the stories that I have finished! I'm not going to make any promises, but I want this who story to be up, even if it kills me. Hopefully I haven't lost my readership. I really enjoy your comments guys, so please don't abandon me! =>

Chapter Two:
Memories of a Merrier Time

“Isn’t it a lovely day today? If I were a mortal I would believe I had done something wonderful to merit such a beautiful day. Perhaps I danced well at the brook last night or enchanted someone with my singing. Soon the god I pleased might materialize before me, disguised of course, and snatch my up, spiriting me away from family and farm to some remote cloud where he shall shower gifts upon me,” a starry eyed nymph chattered happily.

“Are you so sure that would be a good thing, Echo? With my luck I would be kidnapped by one of the more undesirable gods,” Hera replied, her tone lighthearted but her eyes full of irony.

“For a mortal it would be convenient. Gifts are better than work and if your lover is not fair to look on than close your eyes! Coarse hair and ruddy skin can fade into golden locks and tanned muscles as long as ones mind’s eye is open.”

Hera smiled, the first real smile in several days. “You will never find yourself a consort if that’s your standard.”

“That’s just the beginning. My consort will have: icy blue eyes, long lashes, a strong jaw, wheat colored hair, a slightly crooked nose, not really crooked mind you but just enough to . . .”

Soon Hera began to stare down at the earth below, Echo’s list of perfect attributes politely ignored. Echo was a sweet nymph, bubbly and lively as a forest spring, but her incessant chatter could be exhausting.

Echo once lived on earth near a stream where she somehow quietly watched hunter’s come and go. Hera met Echo not long after the wedding and found herself enthralled by the nymph’s constantly enthusiastic attitude. Echo’s chatter kept Hera’s depression at bay though sometimes Hera needed to be alone.

“ . . . Polite, kind, witty, brave, heroic-” Echo was still rattling off her ideal man.

“Thank you for staying with me,” Hera interrupted as nicely as possible, “but I’m feeling a little fatigued. They should be serving mid-day meal soon. Please tell them I’ll be joining them in a while.”

“Of course, I’ll see you soon! Rest well,” Echo skipped out of the room, gaily singing as she continued down the hall.
Hera relished the silence.

Hera gazed down at the Earth below, trying to resist the temptation to spy on her beloved, Takis. She had been faithful to Zeus the past several weeks although she couldn’t say the same for her husband.

One little glance won’t hurt. She rationalized to herself and peered down at the mountainous countryside.

Even though only two and a half weeks had passed for the Gods it was now late summer, early fall for the mortals below. Harvest sacrifices lay on stone alters near the fields, still smoldering as the workers sweated under the golden sun.

Takis was working in the olive groves when Hera spied him at last. She was sure he was the hardest worker out of the lot, and the best looking. Oh to run her fingers through his dark hair and . . . she stopped herself mid-thought. It wouldn’t do to think like that, now that she was married. At least no one could say she wasn’t faithful.

It wasn’t that Takis was just good-looking, though. If Hera were going by looks she wouldn’t have any qualms about womanizing Zeus.

Evidence of Takis’s hard work lay below. As the owner of the orchard, he was well off enough to just hire villagers to do the work for him. Instead he worked along side them, doing as much if not more than the hired help. The house he lived in was made by his own two hands, the elegant woodwork all his own.

He was also kind. Hera knew this from personal experience. As it was custom among the gods, Hera would sometimes transform herself into a beggar by use of disguises. Roaming among the mortals, she would test them, deciding how dedicated they were to the gods. Some mortals had to be punished for their impudent ways if they mocked or mistreated her while others were blessed for their kindness and goodwill.

Hera had been disguised as a crippled woman, her legs lame and her back stooped with age. Stationed near Takis’s property on a dusty, blistering road, she watched, waiting to see what would happen.

Within minutes she was helped inside the cool house and offered food and wine. Takis even sat and ate with her, something no one else had done yet. The mortals had been taught to feed and clothe those who were in need but not many, if any, treated the unfortunate like equals. Granted, Hera really was above Takis but he didn’t know that. Chatting quietly, it didn’t take much to impress Hera. With an extensive knowledge of the surrounding areas and a respect for every creation of the gods, Takis was an admirable conversationalist. Hera found herself captive, her heart stolen by a mortal.

After a bath and a long night’s rest, Hera vanished and that was the last time Takis ever saw the crippled woman.
Whether he noticed it or not, Hera did bless him for his hospitality. His crops were excluded from any pestilences and his stock was kept healthy and strong. And she was sure that he was unaware of her infatuation. That was the real irony. The man she loved worshiped her but had no idea that she worshiped him more.

“Hera?” Echo knocked on the golden plank door and opened it, peeking around cautiously.
“Come in,” Hera replied, dazed.

“Are you alright?” Echo approached Hera slowly, afraid for disturbing what ever vision Hera was having.
“I was just daydreaming,” looking up, Hera smiled sadly. “Do you need something?”

Within seconds Echo brightened, returning to her cheery, babbling self. “You will never believe what just happened! One of the muses . . .”

Hera nodded appreciably and made the necessary obligatory noises at the right moments. Her thoughts still lay below on Earth. Oh that she had never been born! A tear of self-pity slid down her cheek, sparkling like a twinkling star.

“What’s the matter?” Echo exclaimed. “I know that the satyr is going to be in pain for a season or two but it isn’t worth one of your precious tears.”

“I’m sorry,” Hera built a lie around the excuse Echo had just given her. “You just tell the story so well I feel the poor wraith’s anguish. Maybe the muses have lost their touch and now you have become the patron of story-telling.”

The sun wasn’t as bright as the beams that radiated from Echo’s being. “Thank you Queen Hera. Praise from you is praise above any other.”

Hera’s lips parted into a real smile, not the feigned one she had practiced for so many weeks, and it was nearly natural. “You’re welcome, Echo. And thank you.”

In Which Ginny is a Smart Aleck to her English Teacher

To preface this English assignment, I'd like to explain that my teacher is, to put it as nice as possible, completely unprepared to be a High School English teacher. (She's a sub that's taken the job permanently for now since the previous teacher was offered a job somewhere else and the school didn't get a new teacher before school started.) It would appear that she thinks by giving us horribly long assignments and by never answering our questions forthright she can hide this fact. In any case, she gave us approximately 60 vocabulary words to define and write sentences about. I decided I would really give her something to grade and wrote a 4 and a half page story. Now, I know that wasn't too nice of me but I think I'll post it because it was kind of fun to write. Can you find all 61 words? If you can't, then I've done my job correctly. Oh yeah, this story is based on a very weird, very vivid dream of mine.


Ally and Jessica walked through the doorway, mouths agape.

"Though this what you see now is this beautiful manor, you must realize that it has lived through horrible defamation. Conspiring men have spread terrible rumors about this mansion, saying that many deaths have been caused by this house, why I cannot fathom," the real estate agent, Mr. Bostitch, droned on, his voice resonating against the marble foyer.

"Why are you telling this to us?" Jessica blanched.

"He doesn't want me to hear it from someone else and be scared away from buying it, right?" Ally cooly established. "He doesn't need to worry. I'm not scared by superstitious qualms, especially the worries of locals."

Mr. Bostitch looked shocked. "I thought you would be interested in the history of the estate. It is quite notorious for a reason. It's been empty for the last eighty years."

Ally turned around, assessing her surroundings. "You might as well draw up the papers, I'm willing to buy it."

"Let me conjure up the papers," Mr. Bostitch opened the door and began to walk towards the car. "You may look around to make sure this is what you're looking for."

"Sounds perfect," Ally began to ascend the magnificent staircase before her. "Come on, Jessica."

"Are you daft? You have no connections to this town, your nearest relative lives a thousand miles away and this house has a history of inexplicable deaths yet you want to buy it? You haven't even looked at the place all the way! When you asked me to come along I didn't imagine this!" Jessica's dark eyes flashed as she screeched at her sister.

"Stop with your gibberish," Ally seemed unperturbed by Jessica's outburst. "This is exactly what I need. It's secluded and far away from distractions of any kind. I'm including family on this one."

Jessica's response was nearly inaudible. "I know that you're torn up about how it didn't work out with Mark and -"

"Let's go see what's upstairs," Ally evaded the one topic that brought her grief. "I'm hoping that it doesn't need any renovating. I'd hate to have to ameliorate it. I don't have that much time on my hands since my deadline is due in three months."

Jessica took the bait. "Your publishers work you too hard. If only I could get my hands on them, those heathens! Acting as if you're licentious; why, some of those things they want you to put in your books would shock the dead!"

"When you've been in the business as long as I have you're callous to their base ideals. That's why I write. Altec may want me to put in such things but they always see it my way. It's good to know that I'm contributing to better literature, or at least slightly," Ally flinched at the words that tumbled from her mouth, knowing they were pompous. There wasn't much else she could do. She couldn't afford to let her sister choose the topic.

Jessica was still indignant. "And I know for a fact that your books sell twice as much some of the rubbish that Altec publishes. Why must they insist on changing what you do?"

"Only some of it is rubbish, Jess. Most of the other authors are avidly supporting clean books," Ally examined a period tapestry as she spoke. "There isn't one hole! There must be some moth balls around here."

"I can't imagine how an ugly wall hanging can titillate you. If I were you I'd sell it on eBay and buy something nice from Pottery Barn."

"Sometimes I think it's a good thing you're my sister or else I would hate you're guts. You're a valley girl alright, right down to the bleach blonde hair," Ally's words were sharp but there was humor behind them.

"Oh, Ally, you know that my hair is natural. I would never dye my hair, it causes too much damage!"

Ally nodded in reply but her attention towards her sister was dwindling. Around she looked, absorbing every window pane, reveling in each intricate wood carving. Glancing to her left, a peculiar painting caught her eye. It was of a girl, her slovenly hair green and her skin ice blue. Such peculiar features didn't taint the beauty of her golden eyes, filled with sorrow.

"I can almost imagine that this painting is moving. The wind plays with the girl's hair as she blinks tears from her eyes," Ally, still mesmerized, unintentionally spoke aloud.

"That's one picture to burn," Jessica shuddered in response. She glanced at her cell phone. "Three missed calls. They must be from the kids. And look at the time! I've really got to get going or I might miss my plane! ‘Bye, Ally!" She quickly hugged her sister.

"Tell my nephews that I love them. Hopefully I'll see you guys at Christmas."

"I suppose I'm to have nothing but deference in my heart about you moving here but . . . this place really gives me the creeps! Just be safe okay?" Genuine concern crept across Jessica's normally shallow face.

Ally laughed off Jessica's trepidation. "Don't get superstitious on me! It sounds like my neighbors will have an abundant supply of those! I'll be fine, don't you fret or get you cute kids on my case. That's the last I need. I might not be able to resist their little lisps."

"Good. I'll be sure to do it then."

"I'll find some way to retaliate, mark my words!"

"Ms. Turner, I have the documents for you," Mr. Bostitch interrupted the sisters' banter.
"Oh, where do I sign?" Ally turned to the document.

"See you in ten months then, ‘kay, Ally?"

"I'll try my best! Good-bye, Jessica!" Ally continued to examine the painting with increasing interest. An unintelligible sound behind her drew her attention away and to a figure behind her.
"What are you doing here?" Ally found herself befuddled by a man with a strange, glowing pallor. "I just bought this place an hour ago. If you wanted to buy it, I think you're too late."

The man sadly smiled. "That may have been when my trouble began. I should've known better than to buy this house."

Ally was taken aback. "What do you mean? I just bought it, you can't own this house too," once again she shuddered at her effrontery.

"It isn't too late, you know. You can leave this house now and find happiness."

"I'm not afraid of this house," scoffed Ally.

"You should be. This formidable place is worthy of fear." The man rested his head against the wall with the painting in an act of lethargy.

"You just want me to leave so you can have this house!" She accused.

"What must I do conciliatory? I am a person with probity but whatever I say won't sway you. You cleave to this silly notion that I lie for the sheer fun of it," if the man had more energy his inflection could have been called contentious. "It's an abomination to tell falsehoods."

"My, aren't you adamant? Forgive me," her voice held the intimation of sarcasm. "Were you a puritan preacher in a former life?"

"No, I was a lawyer. Naught could get past me when I was the plaintiff. By the end of the cases I knew the depositions better than the witnesses," a ghost of a laugh fell from his lips.
"That's quite a difference in occupations."

He gave her a sudden look of comprehension, worry on his brow. "I've kept you too long already. You must leave this place. If ever there were a place that was anarchy to your body and soul, it would be this place."

Ally groaned and turned away, ready to keep on looking through the house. "I'm going to keep on going. This is my house. I payed for it and I'm only going to leave to get my things." She turned the corner to find more people, all of them with the same sickly glow.

"Who is this, Michael?" A gaunt older man with graying hair and a stern face spoke to the man behind Ally.

"The new owner," the man, who Ally supposed was Michael, replied.

"Good," a strange smile spread across the man's long features. "It will be good to have this place inhabited again."

"Do you all live here? The real estate agent never said anything like this," Ally was very puzzled and she slightly quailed as a shiver ran up her spine. "It's strange to see a place so immaculate with this many people living together. How much are you paying the maid?" She uneasily smiled.

"Oh, this one is funny. The last few weren't any livelier than us. I think we'll find her very entertaining," the older man laughed weakly. "It'll be good to have some fresh blood about the place."

"If you'd excuse me, Father, I'd like to speak to her, alone," Michael inclined his head towards the empty passageway behind them.

Ally looked once more at the lethargic people and walked down the hallway.

"What can I say to convince you to leave?" Michael's voice was no longer angry but pleading.
"Don't try to beguile me, I'm not inept when it comes to making my own decisions!"

"This place is afflicted with ghosts!" Michael exclaimed, the silvery color around his face showing his rage. "In this house alone there are well over a hundred ghosts, making it one of the largest ghost factions in the world! To stay here is to live in an abyss of the undead! Will you still stay?"

Ally's interest was piqued. "I was wondering why there was such a prodigious amount of people here. I suppose I better leave now."

A smile beamed from Michael. "I knew you'd eventually see my way."

"Well, I must get my things so I can move in."

"You'll be tantalizing death! It won't be long before you can't reprieve your own end." His smile fell as his voice fell below a whisper.

"We'll see," Ally replied. "We'll see."

Hera: Chapter One: Woes of a Reluctant Bride (Part Three)

Hera felt someone grab her wrist and glanced to see who had done so. Surprise danced across her face; her father had actually decided to attend? It had been millennia since she had seen Chronos, in fact, the last time she had seen him he had thrown her up out of the pit of his stomach. Hera had assumed that he had disappeared forever, acutely embarrassed that his youngest son had defeated him. Hera noticed that her mother, Rhea, was standing next to him. They must have reconciled. Hera wondered if her father remembered it had been Rhea’s deceit that had caused his downfall.

Chronos began to speak, projecting so the whole hall could hear. Instantly quiet engulfed the room as the occupants respectfully listened.

“Zeus, Ruler of the Gods, King of Mortals, Supreme Father of All, thou hast conquered much so thou deserves much. For thy accomplishments I give thee a reward very dear to mine heart.”

Hera couldn’t help but give a small, unheard laugh. She had been much closer to his stomach than his heart.

“I give thee my daughter, the eternally beautiful Hera and thy own fair sister, to produce thee legitimate heirs,” Chronos finished his diminutive speech by painfully thrusting Hera towards Zeus.

She stumbled and fell, her cheeks burning from irritation and chagrin. Glowering at the cheering crowd and her self-satisfied parents, she gracefully rose and held on to Zeus’s arm; secretly shuddering as she played the part of a love struck newly wed.

Zeus held Hera close and tore off her transparent veil, exposing her blushing face. The crowd cheered louder, some yelling obscene comments as he passionately kissed her, finally ending the wedding ceremony. Hera sighed, a sigh of relief rather than a sigh of joy as it appeared; thanking the stars nestled in her hair that she would be able to enjoy some peace soon.

Hours passed in the giant hall and Hera kicked herself for her stupidity. She couldn’t leave until her new husband was ready to leave. Zeus was a god of pleasure and there was plenty of wine and goddesses to go around. Forgotten in the corner, Hera watched on, feeding angry thoughts to herself so she wouldn’t burst into tears. Not even three hours had passed and Zeus was already letting his eyes and arms wander.

Zeus suddenly stood before her, staggering slightly. “To bed, my wife!” He proclaimed in a slurring voice, loud enough for the mortals on earth to hear. Hera’s face flushed as she followed him out of the hall, mortified.

Members of the banquet followed the couple, singing, laughing and shouting. Not a soul walked in a straight line and several times Hera glanced back to see who was stepping on her gown. Each time it was a different person as the crowd reeled forward drunkenly.

Finally reaching the bedroom that they would share, Zeus swept Hera into his arms and carried her into the chamber. Stumbling to the bed, he threw her down and went to close the door.

Hera braced herself. Soon the dreaded moment would come when he . . .

A loud snore interrupted her train of thought. Next to her on the extravagant bed laid her drunken husband, fast asleep.

All at once Hera found herself rather confused. Should she be laughing or crying? Unexpectedly she had found herself free from an unwanted task but a small singsong voice in her head wouldn’t leave it at that.

You wanted attention. As much as you loathed the idea, you wanted him to notice you. You wanted him to realize that you were better than the other lady friends he’s had. You wanted him to feel badly for neglecting you. Hera shook her head. She didn’t want anything from him. It would be better to have lived inside her father’s belly for the rest of her life as long as it meant Zeus was never born.

The singing and shouting outside the bedroom had begun to cease. Hera supposed that the guests had fallen asleep as Zeus had. She didn’t mind; the raucous laughter had been a painful reminder that everyone had a good time except for her.

Alone, in the silent dark, Hera couldn’t hold herself together any longer. Tears streamed down her face as she loosened the stars from her hair; releasing the ringlets that now cascaded around her face. She curled up and shivered in her silky, thin wedding gown.

What would become of her? With no hope how could she go on? How could she pretend to love Zeus when she knew that he would continue to do as he pleased, without a second thought about her? What would become of her?

Hera: Chapter One: Woes of a Reluctant Bride (Part Dos)

Chara tiptoed out of the chamber, leaving Hera to her own devices.

Hera sobbed uncontrollably, knowing that in a few short moments her life would be changed eternally. As a god she would live forever, as would her husband. Bound in a marriage for which she felt no love for her companion, there was no way out; not even death. As Chara had said, the mortal she loved, the man who was infinitely better than her younger brother, Zeus, would die in a few short years. All she could do was merely stand by and watch.

These melancholy thoughts brought a fresh wave of tears. Hera smiled ruefully. Her wedding would be the most rainy day the mortals ever had. They would more than likely take the rain as a blessing or gift rather than the product of a tragic doom as it really was.

But even if they knew, would they care? The mortals loved her soon-to-be husband and even enjoyed the tales of his affairs with random nymphs as long as Zeus had to shape-shift once or twice. Hera would receive no sympathy for her grievances; that much she was sure of, not from the mortals and most certainly not from her fellow gods.

After several more minutes of weeping, Hera wiped her tears away. Soon the ceremony would begin and although her heart was being broken, Hera still had her pride. It would never do to have the whole population of Mount Olympus see her with red-rimmed eyes and a runny nose. She was one of the most gorgeous goddesses but she knew that crying did nothing for her complexion.

Breathing in and out slowly, Hera had reached the giant hall of clouds. Peeking in, she saw many gods, nymphs and even a few satyrs. Wine flowed freely, even though no union had been formed yet, and it showed. Grimacing, Hera shielded her eyes from a drunk, giggling nymph and a rather touchy-feely satyr who was intoxicated in more way than one. Hera frowned but couldn’t blame them; with such draperies and music one could have mistaken it for a bedroom, minus the hordes of shrieking people.

After scanning the crowds for some time, Hera finally spotted Zeus. Standing in the middle of the crowd, his laugh booming, Hera admitted to herself that she could have to marry worse. He had clearly inherited the family’s good looks and his mere presence was as electrifying as his thunderbolts.

“Hera?” Chara’s voice shook Hera from her musings. “Finally we can begin the ceremony!”

Protesting mutely, Hera was dragged to Zeus’s feet.