The Terrifying Truth of Elizabeth Slythe

Elizabeth had been in the hospital for three days before they let her go back home. Severus smiled brightly at her as he picked her up from the hospital. She smiled back, despite the odd things happening in her mind, she had missed him greatly. Her darling Severus.

Severus took her hand and led her out of the hospital, holding her close to him as they Apparated away to their home. He led her inside the house and she smiled. He had gotten it ready for her home coming quite nicely. The rooms were clean and several red roses were scattered about. It reminded her of the roses at her bedside table that he had given her for his proposal. She smiled at him and followed him as he led her to sit on the couch.

"It's good to have you home, Lizzy." He said and she smiled brilliantly back at him.

"It's wonderful to be home, Severus." He leaned in to place a kiss on her lips when a knock sounded loudly at the door. Curious, Severus stood up.

"Who could that be?" he murmured as he made his way back to the door, wand in hand in case of some unwanted visitor. He opened the door and there stood a man Elizabeth would recognize instantly.

"You!" she cried, leaping up from her seat and rushing to the door, pulling Severus away from him. "What are you doing here?" she hissed. Severus looked down at her confused.

"Elizabeth, who is this man? Do you know him?" he asked. The mysterious man laughed heartily.

"That is like asking the Sun if he knows the Moon!" he said, his voice pounding in Elizabeth's ears.

"Elizabeth, it is time to go. I would apologize, but I feel no remorse." He said. Severus looked at his wife in confusion and desperation.

"Lizzy, what's going on? Please tell me…" he said. Elizabeth shook her head.

"I don't know! I'm not going anywhere!"

"The Goddess of Life and Death must return to her rule! You must come with me!"

"What is going on here? Who are you and why are you trying to take my wife away from me?"

"She is not your wife, she is the Goddess of Life and Death! She must come with me!"

"SILENCE!" the two men turned to look at Elizabeth but she shrugged and shook her head as if to say 'it wasn't me.'

"You three need to calm yourselves. This fighting will get you nowhere. Joseph, I am disappointed in you. Charging in like you did and trying to take her back. And Eliza! You must learn that not everything is as you think it is! Your husband as well!" a beautiful voice filled the room. Turning, all three saw the owner of the voice. A woman with near cherry red hair stood in the doorway. She wore a long white dress that seemed like something an ancient Greek would wear. Her robes flowed from her body in a lovely fashion, as if a part of the wind itself. She took a step toward them and it seemed as though her feet never touched the ground as she floated toward them gracefully.

"Marila, what are you doing here?" the strange man asked in annoyance. The woman smiled at him, her bright red eyes twinkling merrily.

"Joseph, you of all people should know that where there is conflict, I appear. I am the Goddess of War you know." She said. Elizabeth glared at the woman as Severus stared at her open mouthed.

"Lily?" he asked. Marila turned to him and shook her head.

"Lillian Evens was not I, my dear boy. Granted her hair was nearly fire, but that makes no difference. She was mortal, I am a goddess. That should be enough for you to know we are not the same." She said before turning to Elizabeth.

"Eliza, it is time to come home. You must return to your rule as Goddess of Life and Death. I know you do not remember, for our father sent you away from home to save you from the wars, but it is time to restore your previous self and return your memories." She said. Elizabeth shook her head.

"I have no reason to go back to a life I don't remember. My reason for living is currently standing between you and I. my name is not Eliza, it is Elizabeth." She said. Marila shook her head.

"Think, dear, your name has always been different. Elisabeth is spelled with a 's' but you spell your name with a 'z'. Tell me, why is that? You are the only Elizabeth who spells her name that way. Even in Muggle cultures. You are Eliza. As you always have been." Marila said and reached forward as if to touch the blond. Severus pulled her back and growled at the woman.

"You will not take my wife from me! I nearly lost her once, I shall not lose her again." He hissed. Elizabeth hugged him from behind. "We will always be together." He said. Elizabeth smiled, love welling up inside her for the man. Marila frowned.

"I know what you are thinking, Marila, but no he cannot return with us. He is no god, nor is he immortal or saint." Joseph said, turning his gaze from Marila to Severus. Elizabeth stiffened.

"I am no goddess, immortal, or saint, and yet you wish me to join you!" she cried and flung her hands in the air. Marila shook her head.

"Eliza, you are a goddess. You belong with us, not here."

"I belong with my husband!"

"You belong in hell!" Joseph yelled. The room froze and Elizabeth was drawn into a memory. Brilliant fires lit around the edges of lovely plains surrounded by walls. Outside the walls was the suffering of man and woman alike. Outside was the punishment for the wicked and the fear of the chaste. Outside her home was hell.

A/N: Hello again. No I am not dead. Obviously.