It's Me, Psyche [Greek Mythology]

Princess Psyche's beauty aroused the gods' jealousy, and divine punishment forced her to marry a monster.

Mortals could not defy the gods' decree, so she had no choice but to agree for the sake of her kingdom's safety.

Her monster husband came only at night, warning her not to look upon his appearance.

Psyche agreed, but she often traced his features with her hands while he slept.

How strange.

The monster had a face as flawless and luminous as a statue of a god, with a high nose bridge, long eyelashes, and soft, fluffy hair.

His body was tall and slender, his figure well-proportioned, and his embrace warm and broad. The only monstrous thing about him was his enormous pair of wings.

Before she could make sense of it, the monster seized her hand, furious.

"You must not spy on my appearance! You have broken your vow!"

Psyche turned toward the voice and said, "But I'm blind."

He left without looking back before he could hear her explanation.

Feeling deceived and betrayed, she prayed to the god of light to help her uncover the truth:

"Please restore my sight, and I will pay any price, "

The god of love defied the divine decree. Instead of letting the beautiful Psyche marry a monster, he impersonated one and married her himself.

When the truth came out, he was imprisoned in a tower that only the wind could reach. He heard that she had overcome trial after trial to rescue him.

But when the sturdy prison door opened, Psyche stood outside, took aim with her bow, and shot an arrow of lead, a symbol of hatred, into his heart.

He loved her and wanted to see her.

He hated her and wanted to leave her.

He loved her and wanted to kiss her.

He hated her and wanted to kill her.

Whether in love or hatred, all he wanted was her.

Until one day, a monster with butterfly wings rampaged through the divine mountain. Even mighty Zeus was powerless against it.

The monster looked down at the gods and announced her return:

", It's me, Psyche."

*The setting is very much my own; the monster can freely change forms

*Greek mythology mixed with Roman mythology, with names from both systems

*The cover background is a 19th-century oil painting

Theme: Love is the communication of souls