Eurydice

9

A face entered my mind, features blurred and white. I could make out a grin that seemed to tug at my heart, and the gurgle of Lethe became a soft roar as two deep, brown eyes locked onto mine. They stared with more love than I thought was possible. His name was a song of its own, and I could remember how it felt on my lips.

"Why is he here?" I asked, my grip tightening on Ander. "How did he die?"

The woman held a hand out. "Calm down, Eurydice. He's alive, and he has traveled all the way down here to rescue you."

Ander was fully awake now. He looked to me then to the woman, his eyes suspicious. "How you know?"

Her ruby lips became a firm line. "I am Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. I know that he is here, child; I've just spoken with him."

My legs began to knock together, my mind blaring with music. All of Orpheus' melodies seemed to stream in through my ears, a glorious cacophony that made me shake. "Milady, how is it possible for me to leave? I'm a spirit, and my body has been buried-"

"If you leave the Underworld under Orpheus' guidance," she interrupted, "you will be alive again. Your body will disappear from its grave as soon as you touch the Earth and the sun shines on you. Understand?"

I nodded, sure that if my heart could beat, it would have exploded right then and there. Unimaginable joy rushed into my chest as I thought of my beloved, how I had another chance of being a mother.

Persephone turned her bright eyes on Ander. "But you'll have to leave him behind. Only you may go."

I looked at the boy in my arms, my happiness snuffed out when I saw his broken eyes. He tore his gaze away when I shook my head.

"I'm sorry." My voice was barely more than a whisper, and something inside me shattered when Ander let me put him down easily, no resistance. As soon as his feet where on the ground, he turned and gave me one final, haunting glare. His colorless eyes were full of something more than hate as he scowled, then he whipped around and bolted through the Asphodel.

I watched him for a while before I looked to Persephone. Her smile still flooded with warmth, but she didn't seem sorry about Ander. 

"When can we go, milady?" I asked, no longer tired. My brain fizzed with new-found energy.

She smiled. "Soon. But first, I need to tell you the rules."

"For what?"

"To get out of the Underworld," she said. "My husband, Hades, has found the kindness in his heart to let Orpheus take you back to the land of the living, but there is a price. He must lead you through the exit without looking back."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why not? Surely it won't be too challenging."

Persphone's smile disappeared. "It will be, since you can't make a sound. He will not know for certain that you're there. If he looks back, you'll be sent down to the Asphodel Meadows indefinitely."

"He will be in doubt the whole time," I said softly, finally understanding. Anxiety replaced my joy, and I bit my lip. "He'll be tempted to turn around."

The goddess nodded solemnly, then held out a smooth, dark hand. "I'm sorry about the circumstances, Eurydice, but we need to go now."

I stared at her, unsure. Why did such fear enter my heart? Orpheus was too clever to look back, regardless of his doubts. But I still didn't feel comforted.

I took her hand, amazed at the softness of her skin. "I'm ready."

Unlike before, no swirling gray cloud filled my vision. The foggy sky and white Asphodel simply faded away, and I found myself standing in a grand throne room. The white marble walls and  obsidian floor made my eyes hurt, and a grand, silver dais rose from the middle of the room. It had to be at least three feet tall, perfect for a god's massive height, and two golden chairs rested on top.

All of my courage shriveled instantly when I saw the man sitting in one. He was taller than Persephone, his skin pale as the walls and his hair like a flock of ravens. His face was made of unbelievably sharp features and seemed to hold no age, and his yellow eyes locked on a smaller man before the dais.

My whole body grew numb when I saw the mortal.

Orpheus knelt with his lyre in hand, and he didn't seem afraid of Hades. My heart clenched at the sight of his sickly gray skin and bloodshot eyes. He looked horrible, starving, and yet he was still beaming at the god.

"Again, my lord, I cannot express my gratitude," he insisted, his heavenly voice making Hades' eyes light up.

The god sat motionless until he grew stone-cold once more, face hard. "Get out of my sight, conniving mortal. Lead your bride up to the earth, and don't come back until you're dead."

Orpheus leaped to his feet, a grin on his gaunt face. "Are you sure you don't want another song, my lord? This one is about the beauty of the Underworld; I just thought of it."

Hades rolled his golden eyes. "Out. Before I kill you myself."

My love hurried away, and went out through the grand iron doors. I took a step towards him, but Persephone put a hand on my shoulder.

"Wait," she said softly. "Give it a minute before you follow him, and remember: Don't. Make. A. Sound."

Her firm voice startled me, but I didn't move. Hades eyed his wife, his face unchanging when she smiled at him.

"You're making the right choice, dear," she insisted sweetly.

He scoffed. "Sure. Now all of Olympus will hear of this and think I'm weak."

I bowed my head to him, but Persephone spoke before I could.

"Go, now. And hurry."

I didn't think as I scrambled to the doors, forcing them open despite how disrespectful I was being to the godly couple. But, in all honesty, as I ran to follow Orpheus, I didn't care about them in the least.