Taken from the tale of Eros and Psyche.

"He is the winged monster prophesied to cause your death! If you don't kill him, you will die!" the cruel taunting voice repeated in Anna's head as it warred against the promise that she had made to her mysterious lover.

"Stop, don't... You promised him that you wouldn't try to see who he is," a soft moral voice countered in her head. "He has been good to you. Why would he kill you?"

"Maybe not today or tomorrow... but someday- he will tire of you. Besides, why would the oracle lie?" the dark voice whispered.

Unable to lean left or right in either direction in terms of her decision, Anna decided that it would be safest to meet it somewhere in the middle. 'I'll just have a peek. If he's not a monster, then I have nothing to fear. He will never have to know that I saw him. But if he is a beast... well... I'll cross that bridge when I get to it,' Anna thought to herself. Besides, her curiosity was dying to know who her fiancé was. As she lit the lamp and moved in close to take a look at who was in the bed beside her- and who she saw shook her to the very core.

It was the god of love himself, Basileus. His handsome form slept soundly, unbeknownst of Anna's eyes gazing down at him with shock. Frozen she was in her stupor that a drop of hot oil spilled out from the lamp and dripped onto his shoulder.

Basileus cried out in pain and sat up, eyes wide with alarm. He looked around in a daze before his eyes met Anna's and both of them sat there in silence- neither of them saying a word. His eyes went from her to her lamp... to the dagger that had dropped from her hand. It was when the look of betrayal crossed his features that the princess knew that what she had done was entirely unforgivable.

"You..." he seethed.

"Basil-" Anna tried, but he cut her off.

"I have given you everything!" Basileus snarled, "a palace, luxury, comfort, love! And this is how you have chosen to repay me!"

"Please, forgive me- I didn't..."

Basileus pushed himself out of the bed and made his way towards the balcony, his wings getting ready for flight. Realizing that she was about to lose him, Anna scrambled after him. "Please wait! I was foolish! I didn't know! I-"

"What? That I wasn't actually a monster?" he sneered. "That I was a god? Well, maybe I never wanted you to know that I was a god! I wanted you to love me for me! And not for what I was! But you couldn't even do that. You betrayed me, Anna... and for that you shall never see me again! Farewell!"

"Wait! Don't go! I love you! I truly do!"

But it was too late, Basileus was gone and Anna was left alone staring into the night with tears in her eyes and a hushed whisper of Basileus's parting words...

"Love cannot live without trust."



Anna © Lilgrimmapple
Basil © Disney
Art © Lilgrimmapple