Dead of Night

Chapter Three

The next day, I find that I am still pondering Hades' words. If you don't trust her, brother, you'll lose her. I don't understand. I do trust her. It's everyone else I don't trust.

I have to fix what I've done, though, no matter if I really understand it or not. Thanatos won't see me, so I find myself going to the next best thing: Persephone.

I find her sitting on a stone bench in her garden, much like the garden by my own castle; the one I'd destroyed in my rage. I'll have to fix the mess before Thanatos comes back, I note to myself. She loves that garden and won't be too pleased to hear that I'd destroyed it.

Persephone's dark, curled hair hangs like a curtain between us as she leans down to stroke the petals of a wilting, dark red rose. At her touch, it begins to perk up, blossoming once again. As I approach, the goddess leans away from the newly alive rose and glances up. Her brown eyes appraise me as I come to a stop, shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans. She frowns, looking concerned. This gives me pause. I must truly look like hell. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. I'd felt this very same soul shattering loneliness when Thanatos had taken on a human form and forgotten all about me. I'd looked like I'd died then, why should it be any different now?

It had been so . . . strange, standing right in front of the goddess I'd sworn to protect with my last breath while she'd stared at me blankly, without recognition. Strange and painful. It had felt as if I was cursed. Cursed to remember every moment of our long life together, while she remembered not a second of it. But, even as it hurt that she didn't remember, the pain of our separation had been at least partially relieved at the sight of her. As I look at Persephone, I wish to have that moment; to be relieved of this pain.

Persephone recovers from her shock at my gaunt appearance and smiles a little in greeting. "Arawn," she says warmly, her light brown skin glowing underneath the moon's soft shine. I glance up at the night sky a little jealously. My part of the Underworld is stuck in an eternal desert without Thanatos by my side, seeming to react to my loneliness. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Blowing out a heavy sigh, I sit next to my brother's wife on the old stone bench. I rest my elbows on my thighs and clasp my hands together, unsure how to proceed.

"My brother told me that you left him once." I take in an almost nervous breath, tapping my fingers on my jean-clad knee, afraid that she'll tell me exactly what I fear. "He became too protective and you couldn't stand it anymore."

Sympathy fills Persephone's dark eyes. 

"Oh, Arawn. I can't believe he told you that, especially now of all times." She rubs a delicate hand over her face in exasperation at her husband. Her mouth sighs before she looks into my eyes sternly. "The first thing you need to know is that I didn't leave Hades because I stopped loving him, just as I know that Thanatos didn't leave you because she stopped loving you, so get that thought out of your head right now."

I look down guiltily. She knows me so well. Despite her reassurances, I can't help but let the thought in. Thanatos and I have been together for centuries, is it so outlandish of me to think that she'd get bored and want to move on after all of this time? Maybe my protective nature became too much for her. 

"Hey." Persephone snaps her fingers in front of my face. I look up at her, surprised and a little annoyed. She pays no mind to my annoyance, however, and carries on with her scolding. "I said stop."

I frown and retort, "but what if she really has-"

"Gods damn it, Arawn! Thanatos loves you more than life itself. Don't be stupid. She left because she's not okay with you treating her like she's incapable of fighting for herself. She's the goddess of death, for Zeus' sake, not a child."

"Don't you think I know that?" I explode. I grab fistfuls of my jeans and clench them so tightly my fingers rip holes in the material. My insides tremble with the hurt and self-loathing my wife has caused me. Angrily, I continue, "I know my wife better than anybody! I know she's not a child. She's the strongest person I've ever met, but she doesn't know when to stop. She doesn't know when she's fought too hard and has had enough. She's too self-sacrificing for her own good."

"That is exactly why she needs you there with her, not locking her up in the Underworld. If you try to take her out of the fight, she's only going to get that much more involved. You need to do this together. You help each other stay grounded." She pauses to compose herself, losing the heated glow to her eyes. I notice that the plants around her relax as well, as if having been upset by her anger. "You're both spinning out of control, which is exactly what Bel wants. He likes that you've become all dark and self-loathing and that Thanatos is throwing herself into defeating him because it will make it that much easier for him to step in and take her away from you. . . It's a mess, Arawn." She sighs unhappily, a small cough escaping as she does. She wipes a small drop of blood from her lips and shudders. I squeeze her hand empathetically, knowing what if feels like to have Bel's poison killing you slowly. I wish that she didn't have to go through it. 

A though occurs to me. I frown and look at the goddess of springtime. "How do you know what Thanatos is doing? Have you spoken to her?" I ask, desperation seeping into my voice. 

She shakes her head, much to my disappointment. "Not, I just . . . I keep an eye on her," she admits quietly, and I find that I've forgotten how close the two of them used to be. Before Bel poisoned the gods, Thanatos and Persephone were inseparable. That's why it came as such a surprise when Persephone had been so  unwelcoming to Thanatos when I'd brought her here.

I ask why she'd done that and she shrugs slowly, an almost pained look on her face. "Thanatos has been through so much. I just . . . I didn't want to be another name on the list of people she's lost. I love her too much for that." She shrugs again as if she thinks I won't understand.

I understand completely. If I could save Thanatos from all this pain, I would. There isn't anything I wouldn't do if it meant she wouldn't have to feel the pain of loss ever again.

Persephone coughs again, harder this time. When she pulls her hand away from her mouth, it's coated in a dark layer of blood. There's fear in her dark eyes when she looks at me before bending over again to let out another string of coughs. She falls to her hand and knees and the flowers around her react violently. They begin to wilt and die and the vines move to stroke her skin, as if trying to comfort her, but even those wither and die.

I kneel down and try to brush away the dead plants but Persephone stops me. She grips my forearm with bloody hands and stares at me with urgency and desperation.

"Get Hades," she gurgles through a mouthful of her own lifeblood. She trembles and lets out a shuddering breath from her scarlet lips. "Please . . . get-get my husband."

I nod quickly, but before I can get up, I hear from behind me, "oh, love, no."

My brother rushes up to cradle his wife, clutching her to his chest despite all the blood. He strokes her long, dark hair and comforts her the way only a Warrior could comfort his goddess.

I almost ask what's happening, but deep inside, I already know the grim truth.

Persephone, goddess of springtime and the love of my brother's life, is dying.