Chapter Four

What happened, where am I? she wondered, as her eyes began to flutter. She was feeling groggy, as she started to awaken from her deep sleep. As she came to, she noticed that she was laying next to a pond. Slowly she crawled over to it, and took a look at her own reflection.

A better question would be, who am I? She thought as she stared at the reflection of the unknown woman staring back at her. The confused young woman tried to stand up, but she felt dizzy. Her head was spinning, as she collapsed on the ground. It was at that moment when she looked at what she was wearing.

What the hell do I have on? She thought. It was a sleeveless off-white silk gown, that had two slits on each side. Both almost went all the way up to her thighs. The neckline was plunged so low, that it practically met the top of the slits themselves. On the front of the gown, around the waistline, was adorned with silver that was in the shape of vines.

On the front of the gown, around the waistline, was adorned with silver that was in the shape of vines

It was a miracle that she wasn't falling out of the ridiculous outfit, that was adorning her body. Although she couldn't remember who she was, she was sure of one thing—this was not an outfit that she would have picked out for herself. But then, who did?

All of a sudden, out of nowhere, she heard a deep masculine voice joyfully exclaim. "Ah, I see that you have finally woken up!" Frightened by the stranger's voice, the young woman jumped as she let out a loud gasp.

"Are you alright?" The man laughed. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

As she turned around, she was startled by what she saw. Staring back at her, with a big goofy grin on his face, was a satyr. And just as the legends of the satyrs had been told, this one had a prominent erection.

"Who-who are you?" She asked, as she shivered in fear.

"I am the god, Pan." He told her. "Don't you remember?"

"I don't even remember who I am." She answered. Tears began to well up in her eyes, as it dawned on her that she didn't have any sort of a past.

Pan furrowed his brow, as his eyes made their way towards the small body of water next to her.

"Please tell me you didn't drink from the pond." He said.

"I don't know!" She cried. "I don't know anything, I don't remember anything!" Pan's eyes softened, as he sat down next to her. He started to reach out to her, but feeling afraid, she jerked away from him. She couldn't remember anything about herself, but she could remember what she had learned about satyrs. They were known for being horny perverts, and she was sure that this Pan was no exception.

"Hey don't be afraid, it's okay." He softly replied, "I promise that I am not going to hurt you. Pan then slowly placed his hand upon her cheek. He smiled at her, as he gently stroked her cheek with his thumb. "What if anything, do you remember?"

"I remember the basic information about the world itself." She said. "I even know that I am an American, and I can remember historical events like 9/11. But I have no memory of who I am, or of anyone that I have ever personally interacted with in my lifetime. I don't suppose you know who I am."

"I saw you exploring the forest outside of my kingdom." Pan informed her. "My kingdom is a secret part of the forest, which was once populated by lower deities. But most of the gods have left man's realm. However, I stayed behind to protect mankind itself. That can get rather lonely, and I have been longing for a companion. When I lay my eyes upon you, I knew that I wanted you to be my queen. I was so enchanted by your beauty, so I created a mystical doorway for you. You were then able to walk through the invisible barrier. I'm afraid the only thing that I know about you, is that your name is Cora."

"Wait, you just brought me here?" She asked, as she slowly pushed his hand away. "You decided to just take me, and make me your queen?"

"No." Pan replied. "I proposed, and you accepted. I then gave you a gown to put on, and I went to bring you some trinkets to show my affection. I told you not to drink the water from the pond, because the Lethe river flows into it. But apparently you didn't listen. Fortunately, the river itself is diluted when it mixes with the water from the pond. If you had taken a drink from the actual river, you would have forgotten everything. You basically would have had the same innocence, that would be equal to that of a new born infant. But you wouldn't have had any knowledge of anything. I would have had to teach you how to function as a person. It would have taken time, but I could do it if I had to."

She wasn't buying any of it. Her name might have been Cora, but that was probably the only thing truthful that he was telling her. Deep down she knew not to trust him.

"Well, I'll tell you what." Cora replied. "Why don't you let me out of here, and I'll try and find out who I am. Then when I remember that, I will likely remember agreeing to our engagement."

"I'm afraid that you will never be able to remember anything." He told her. "It's best that you stay with me. You'll just have to trust me, my dear. Now, why don't you accept these wedding gifts, that I brought for you, and then I will take you to your new home."

Pan looked at her, and smiled. He then tried to hand her a golden crown shaped like ivy, and a silver neckless that had a matching bracelet. Cora notice that he was wearing the same necklace, and bracelet combo. They were "C" shaped, and had strange creatures on each end facing one another. Cora didn't know what that meant, all she new was that it was likely a symbol of his trying to claim her.

Cora didn't know what that meant, all she new was that it was likely a symbol of his trying to claim her

"Look, this is all too much for me to accept right now

"Look, this is all too much for me to accept right now." Cora nervously laughed. "Um, I really think it would be best if I get going."

Even though she was still feeling somewhat dizzy, she wanted to get away from him as soon as possible. He was extremely handsome. But not only was he a stranger to her, he wasn't even human. Cora just couldn't shake the feeling that this satyr known as Pan, was dangerous. She stood up as quick as she could. But as soon as she did, he stood up as well.

"You're not going anywhere!" Pan growled, as he harshly grabbed her wrist. His grip was tight, but not tight enough to actually hurt her. However, the look in his eyes were of stone cold anger.

"Let go of me!" she demanded, a she tried to jerk her wrist out of his hand. However, his grip was just too strong, and she couldn't break free.

"Why would you want to leave me?" He asked. "I am a god, and you are a mere mortal. I am offering you so much. I will give you my love, as well as immortality. Your beauty shall be eternal, and I will share my crown with you. Why can't you appreciate all that I have to give you?"

"Because your a possessive pervert, who keeps staring at me with a massive boner!" She exclaimed. Cora's adrenaline then kicked into high gear. Before she even realized it, her knee came up and knocked him in the groin. Even a god like Pan was not immune to pain, when it came to being struck in such a sensitive area. He groaned as he released her, and fell to his knees.

Even though Cora had no idea how she was going to escape, she soon took off running. She had no idea what he planned on doing to her, but she knew she had to get away from him. She refused to fall into his perverted hands.

As Pan began to recover from the pain that Cora had just inflicted upon him, he watched as his little minx ran away.

"Goddesses, nymphs, mortals." He sighed, as he forced himself to stand up off the ground. "Why do you always run from me?" A smile soon crept upon his face.

Still. He thought. I must admit, I do like her spirit. I am going to enjoy breaking it. Perhaps making her fall in love with me is going to be more difficult than I had anticipated, even though I had erased her own past from her memory. But at least this time she won't remember her husband. Oh how I do so love a challenge. Where does my little mortal nymph even think she's going to go? She can only leave the forest if I let her, and of course I won't. I think I'll just let her run around for awhile, until she wares her pretty little self out. Then I will carry her beautiful tired body back to my tree-our tree. I'm sure she will soon learn to love her new home.

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