Bows and Eros

Chapter 10: The Oracle

(((Brief author's note, I will probably do double updates on this, every other day, until it's finished. I want to complete before the 6th, when I start my internship and theoretically stop being addicted to wattpad....or less addicted. Also, the banner is the potential casting for Eros, if you are interested. Enjoy, comment, know I love you!)))

My head rested on Gabe's chest, listening to the soundlessness as we rested in the garden. The solicitude of purgatory was beginning to grow on me, especially since it meant Gabe and I were free to do whatever we please. Normal teenagers didn't have the luxury of absolute privacy, but then again, normal teenagers weren't dead. 

"What was it like, living in the 13th century," I asked him. 

"Horrible, generally," Gabe replied. 

"No really, tell me a story," I laughed. 

"Well, if you didn't get the plague or some other disease, there was the conscription into the crusades to worry about. I was almost force to marry some horrid governess, who is still bothering me, even in the afterlife. And before the bloody battle in which I died, I spent my time wondering aimlessly, because truth be told, the Europeans had no clue how to draw maps. Even if I hadn't been burned alive by an enemy faction, we would have ended up in Turkey or Russia before we got to Israel. We were a hopeless bunch, my crusaders."

"Is it weird," I asked. "Seeing history change so rapidly. I mean, I'd pay money to witness your initial reaction to the IPad."

"It isn't that impressive," Gabe laughed. "Your generation is so foolish, their head always glued to a screen. Get off the internet and go outside, I wanted to scream." 

"Well, for me, the internet was my portal to the world," I said. "Cancer had me chained to the bed." 

"I remember," Gabe replied. "But you'll never feel physical pain again. If nothing else came of death, the end of pain is there." 

"But I can feel pain in my heart, in my soul." 

"But not sickness," Gabe said. "And I promise, I will never hurt you again." 

"Unless you stay behind," I said. "When I cross over. Promise me you'll come with me." 

"I will," Gabe said. "I owe Hera more years of service, but when I pay my debt, I will cross over and join you." 

"Really!" I squealed. "So we can be together, for eternity then?"

"Unless you get sick of me, of course." 

I tried imagine not being around Gabe and his earnest but slightly cynical nature, without his crystal eyes and kind words. I couldn't, not for a moment. 

"Not going to happen," I whispered. 

Gabe, as if sensing that I was practically gushing over how he made me feel, just smiled slightly in response. He pulled me closer, kissing my nose and I giggled. It was a perfect moment, almost. It was interrupted perfection. 

"You two are disgusting," Eros said, alerting us of his presence. "I mean, honestly, it's like you don't even realize you're souls are lost, disconnected. Who needs to be alive, you make me feel alive. It's such bullshit." 

"Jealousy is unbecoming of a God," I said, smiling. "But what are you doing here, in purgatory?" 

"I need to speak to you," Eros said. "And you always seem so irritated when I summon you, and you keep telling me to wear pants. So here I am, asking nicely, wearing pants." 

I noticed he'd put on jeans and a sweater, and it was odd. The son of Aphrodite in Abercrombie, I thought to myself, giggling. 

"I see she's forgiven you, guardian," Eros said, nodding to Gabe. "You're lucky, indeed."