Amaurosis

XXIV: I Don't

Nico di Angelo

Nerves wrecked my insides, and my mind raced endlessly, filling itself to the brink of insanity with uncertain possibilities and horrid images. My grip on the reins loosened.

What if I was already too late? What if it's all over and she's stuck with him eternally? What if I never saved her?

Black fur brushed my bare, leatherless arm, and a wet nose nuzzled my palm making me flinch in disgust. I was fading, and she could sense it. But I've come too far to turn back now. I needed to redeem myself.

"I know, girl," I sighed solemnly, stroking the Hellhound's fur. "But I've gotta do this."

Grasping the confidence and strength that remained, I tightened the rope around my wrists, pulling and yelling to go faster as Mrs. O'Leary and I trespassed into Night territory.

We braced for a rocky entrance filled with turbulence, but an eerie silence crept through instead, sending shivers down my spine and causing the Hellhound's fur to stick up. We burst out of the shadows to meet more.

Before we knew it, a wave of wind washed over us, threatening us to turn back, and a massive pitch-black obsidian castle came into view. Stalactites cast dark shadows down the ends of the castle, and it seemed to consume everything around it, blurring its surroundings into endless fields of gloom and despair. Something I could only describe as complete sadness and disappointment swallowed the atmosphere.

It was ironic. Morpheus despises the human race, but he settles with mortal traditions for his once in a lifetime wedding, assuming he's nothing like Zeus and remains loyal. Alexandra never seemed like the white dress type anyway, but she certainly looked beautiful in it.

My heart pumped faster as I drew closer. A lump formed in my throat as never ending what ifs threatened to swallow me whole.

Almost there.

Bleak music grew louder with every paw pounding against the dismal terrain. The sky wasn't any clearer. Endless nothing list made up the ceiling of the massive and deliberately carved out cavern. It wasn't Tartarus, but the two were definitely first cousins. Or married, actually. You really never know with deities. Maybe both.

Soon, a giant hole in the castle walls stood immediately before us. There were no brass double doors with special engravings like Olympus or the Underworld. Just nothing, as if it was missing its soul. Carefully avoiding being impaled by rusted wrought iron bars, I walked through the gates of Hell, though not literally.

This is where the war will be, was all I thought as I stalked through each corridor, being drawn in by the loudening sound of whispers and sense of pride. Though, a feeling of dread rose above them all.

Alex.

I paused at the end of the hallway, bare obsidian walls closing in on each side and a tall mahogany door urging, inviting, me to enter. So I did. Everything, everyone, stopped, and they were all glaring at me.

"I don't recall him being invited."

Morpheus scoffed, dressed in a completely white suit that made him look like a sickly, yogurt-drenched pretzel. A set of horns adorned his head, piercingly sharp, and soulless beady black eyes shot daggers from all who attended the event. Except one.

Her face contorted into a look of horror. Dark circles hovered around her eyes, and ghastly pale skin complemented her straightened chestnut curls. They had her locked in here for days, no doubt.

Hazel irises penetrated mine. She shook her head vigorously and retreated with her steps, eyes brimming with tears as she mouthed the word 'why' over and over again.