Torn Apart

The Mess That We Made

A realm where every green and flowering thing holds itself to screaming perfection is released to wilt. Unroll. Shrivel in cringing relief. The Cage, far in the distance, is a mass of worm-eaten plant mold in minutes, and every living creature within receives the death they were denied for centuries. All growth begins to decay, rotting backwards from the petal to the stalk, the base, the root; a land of green becomes brown and black within seconds, and Persephone proclaims it good. The land must rest, she says. It has endured much, and must be tended for what it is before it is asked to produce again.

The unseen shackles I shouldered under my oath to Demeter fall away. You faint once again for your exertions, yet your senses remain. You continue watching from beyond the limits of your body. You have done this before, under the firstborn's command to sleep, but now because you are not content to slip blindly into the dark. You must know what is happening in spite of your body, and you have my help.

You are taken into Lewis' arms and wrapped in the blanket he manifests. Vivi spends a moment in shock before rising to her feet and demanding you be taken somewhere you can rest. Hades obliges, opening his realm for your return. You are carried down, down, down into the earth in a lengthy procession, laid to rest in a bed with Mystery at your side, likely to keep watch, and Chloe at your feet, already generating the healing aura that comes more easily each time she reaches for it.

All others file out of the room, for Zeus will hear every sordid detail to weigh his judgment, though the sentence is already carried out.

I am free of Demeter, as I was free of the mistress before her. And now she who binds us is weaker by far.

But stronger just because she's not alone. You can't outthink all of us, and we will all keep you in check.

They are already fractured. Stretch your senses beyond the darkness of a mind at rest. Smell the resentment and bitterness steeping in the soul of your dearly beloved, surrounded by those who have done her harm. And she is to simply take them back into her wings?

But she-

The shame swallowing the second born and the eldest son. Their mother, consumed by her own despair.

We can fix-

Fix what? Where are their father's memories, Puppet?

I... you! I had them.. They're gone, you stole them!

But you could not keep them. They would have overcome you. I did you a favor, Puppet. Before you ask, no. I cannot return them. They are a part of me now, and I did not bother to keep them separate. There was no gain for us in such an act. So, the father is broken as well. How long before the youngest child cracks under the strain of-

"Enough." Mystery's command rolled with a warning growl as his paws settled on Arthur's chest. "Forgive me the intrusion, Arthur, but I will not sit by and watch him dismantle you."

Grateful, Arthur clung to Mystery's presence in his mind.

Mystery's words enfolded him, fortifying against the attack. "The family is in tatters, yes, but they survived. Those that have not survived are still, inexplicably with us. Of course they are in shambles, the curses are not to be taken lightly, but they survived what otherwise would have been utter destruction and despair. And now they will be able to rebuild. And so will you, Arthur." His voice glowed with approval. "Above and beyond, Arthur. I wouldn't have thought it of the idiot who stuck a fork in an electrical socket on a dare, but you didn't back down. I daresay your endurance, were it truly understood, would be the terror of every spiritual entity you come across. Already the gods of this realm fear you."