Hope for the Underworld

40

Cora tried to recall what she knew about the Fates but had to acknowledge that most of it came from various Disney movies, hence, did not provide any reliable information. She was, therefore, forced to seek help from her Betrothed.

'The Fates control every single thread of life of each and every living being', he explained. 'There are three of them, each responsible for a different phase of mortals' lives. Clotho is the first, with powers to give life and facilitate births. Lachesis, the middle sister determines how much life is assigned to each soul; this, in turn, represents the number of trials and tribulations each individual is predestined to face. The last one,' he continued, 'Atropos, is expected to cut off the thread, completing the circle of life, deciding when a human will die...' He paused, considering something pensively. 'I know they are not allowed to meddle in human destiny, but in the past Zeus found ways to subtly influence them for his own benefits. Perhaps someone else found a way to...' He didn't finish his thought, but she understood what he meant.

'No!' She held his hand between hers and squeezed it with tenderness. 'Who would be so powerful? Besides, remember what the Oracle told us? That my fate wasn't written in stone, and it would unfold as a result of our own choices and sacrifices.' There was strength in her voice and Hades allowed himself to believe there was no malevolence in what was happening to them.

'But if they are not responsible, then who?'

'Free will?... Love?...' she counted. 'And Zeus said specifically, they were not allowed to mess with gods' destiny.'

'We'd better ask them!' He rose to his feet decisively.

'Will they answer?'

'They have no reason to hide the truth from us.' His reply was measured, but she could still hear a hint of a doubt.

Hades offered his hand, and they teleported out of the palace. Soon they found themselves standing by the entrance to a cave system, but there was nothing else in the vicinity; just an empty, desolate plain, not unlike the grounds around Hades' palace when she first arrived.

'Are you ready?' he asked gently.

'Yes.' She nodded and accepted his hand. 'But why do they live out here?'

'I suppose, it's to avoid others trying to bargain with them.'

They walked slowly into the cave. It was dark and got progressively darker with each step. Eventually, a glow of light appeared ahead of them, and a soft murmur of voices reached their ears. As they entered a big chamber, seemingly carved in the solid rock, they saw a fire burning in the middle of the space, casting shadows that danced on the walls. Three figures gathered by the fire, with their backs to the entrance. They held a shimmering thread and seemed to be spinning it.

Nothing could have prepared Cora for what she saw when the sisters slowly turned towards the newcomers. She expected to see ugly and wrinkled faces of creatures who'd never see the light of day, or the three aspects of human life: youth, maturity, and death... Instead, she faced three young and astonishingly beautiful women, who looked at her calmly, as if already knowing everything about her.

'Lord Hades...' started one.

'...Lady Change...' continued the second.

'...Welcome...' finished the sentence the third.

'We know...'

'...why you've come...'

'...but can't answer all of your questions...'

It was very disconcerting to follow this kind of conversation.

'Why?' Cora tried to remain calm.

'We cannot...'