Master of Death

Chapter 9 - Solstice

Solstice

My heart, however black, is yours.

I don't think I have ever seen a place so beautiful in all of my short life. In the centre of a meadow laced in wildflowers of every kind, is a white and gold palace giving off a serene and comfortable aura. All around there are weeping trees blooming pink and purple blossoms, and other magnificent forms of plant life. I can hear running water from a small waterfall to the right where there are lush mountains, and it comes to my attention that I could stay in a place like this for a very long time.

Without even thinking I start to step forward, and Thanatos begins to release my hand to allow me to do as I please. But just before my hand is out of his, I twine my fingers in his and force him to come along with me. Besides, he knows this place, much unlike myself. As we walk I catch him look down at his feet, and I glance over to see that the area of the ground on which he steps on withers and dies. I imagine he is frowning beneath his dragon mask.

"Do not be saddened by who you are if you cannot do anything to change it," I say, though I continue down the hill a step ahead of him.

"Can you really say that when I am sucking the life out of the flowers you are so fond of?" he asks skeptically.

"I just did,"

Once we reach the few steps into the palace entrance, Thanatos is the one to take over and lead the way since I obviously have no idea where to go. "I believe the goddess of summer is here if you wish to meet her,"

"If she does not have dark intentions after meeting me then I am more than happy to meet her,"

We wander down a few halls until stopping at a purple door. Thanatos knocks lightly on it and a youthful female voice responds immediately. "Come in, Thanatos!"

He does as she insists and pushes the doors open, revealing the woman seated on a couch in front of the deck. "It did not take you long to figure it was me," he replies.

When the goddess turns her head to look at us, only then does it occur to me to release Thanatos from my grip. "Well your ominous aura makes it quite difficult not to notice you are here." She then looks to me with a rater curious expression on her face. "Thanatos, you brought a beautiful lady without telling me?"

"We came here rather abruptly so I am afraid there was no time to inform you,"

"I see. So who might you be?"

For a moment I forget my own name before saying it. "Isis,"

"Isis..." The goddess's eyes widen at Thanatos. "Could you have brought that missing goddess?"

"Perhaps I did, but what does it matter to you?"

She's baffled for only a second before smiling radiantly. "Honestly it really does not matter unless the poor girl is used as a pawn for the rest of these troublesome gods. Isis, it is nice to meet you. My name is Natsuki,"

"It is a pleasure to meet you," I reply with a small smile.

"I know there is not much to do here, but make yourself at home. I'm sure Thanatos here can show you all his favourite places,"

The god himself looks down at me. "We can go wherever you would like to,"

I simply stare at him for a moment, distracted by the depth in his eyes. "I wish to go wherever it is you like best,"

He seems taken aback by my answer, and Natsuki giggles from her seat. Thanatos shakes his head quickly and turns us around, placing his hand lightly on my waist and guiding me back outside. He's silent as we make our way through a bundle of trees on the back half of the palace, blanketed with a vast number of colourful songbirds that do not exist in the mortal world. Light from the burning sun above cast shadows of the canopy over the green and brown ground. Thanatos drops his arm and allows me to take the lead through this small and extraordinarily bright forest. It's more lively than what I am used to, but I love it equally as much.