by T. G. Ayer
A stream of what looked suspiciously like blood. Evie swallowed hard. A river of blood.
Barren trees dotted the valley, reminding Evie of the valley she'd first encountered on her arrival in Hades.
Their path soon brought them within sight of a group of women, dressed in ragged flowing robes, once white and pristine. Large white jars, painted with elegant gold leaf, were jammed upon shoulders or on hips. The jars were painted with joyous scenes; happy dancing maidens frolicked in meadows, and splashed in rivers, eating fruit from an abundant orchard, and playing lyres. The picture of all-round happiness.
The group of women trailed down to a thin stream whose waters sped along, clear and sparkling. The stream was so tiny, barely wide enough to place a foot and thus neither wide enough nor deep enough to fill the jars. There was only one place in the stream that allowed them to do so. A small rift in the earth had created a tiny waterfall that splashed merrily into a shallow pool below. Every so often the splashing ceased as a woman placed a jar beneath the gushing waterfall and caught the flow of the stream within its mouth.
Once filled, the woman left the river and trailed up the hill to a marble pool. The pearlescent, blue-veined marble of the pool was starkly out of place in this dark and almost evil place. As the women passed to the pool Evie stared at their faces. Each of them was a classic beauty, not just pretty but stunningly beautiful even without the artifice of makeup. But their faces were marked with unhappiness. So unlike the maidens painted on the jars they carried. Eyes were narrowed in frustration, pale skin was marred with splotches of red, dark smudges marked many an eye. They gave off an air of dejected despair which became clearer to Evie only once she and Gavriel drew abreast of the pool. They were careful to maintain their distance though.
The marble bath was a beautiful structure and would certainly have been a luxurious place to soak in cool waters. But only a few dregs of water lay on the smooth surface of the bottom of the pool. Evie was aghast. She stared again at the women and it soon became apparent that something was wrong. Their garments were heavy with water, the fabric stuck to their thighs, drenched and sopping wet from water that sloshed from the jars as they walked to the bath. She watched one woman reach the pool and tip the jar out into the bath. Only a single drop fell from the lip of the receptacle.
The jars were filled with holes and leaked their contents as the women made their way from the stream to the pool.
"What's happening?" Evie hissed softly to Gavriel who had halted beside her to watch the women.
"These are the Danaides." He stated. At her raised eyebrows he continued patiently. "The Danaides were the fifty beautiful daughters of Danuas who were all betrothed to the fifty sons of Aegyptus. The women expressed their dissatisfaction at the marriages by planning to kill their husband's on the wedding night."
"Guess they succeeded then?"
"Minos decreed they could only be absolved from their guilt if they bathed in the Waters of Absolution. That's the stream over there." Gavriel looked at the stream, and Evie turned to do the same. "The only way to be submerged in those waters is to fill the bath and soak within it. Unfortunately, Minos and the other judges failed to mention that there was one minor detail. The jugs could never be filled. So they are doomed to carry those jars between the waters and the bath, for all eternity."
"Like Sisyphus?" Evie asked.
"Exactly like him."
"Seem a bit unfair, don't you think?" Evie asked dryly.
"Maybe less so once you consider this was the premeditated murder of fifty men. All of whom were the sons of their father's brother."
"Okay, then." Evie turned to the doomed woman and sighed softly. It was hard to watch them in their despair. Despite knowing the task was impossible, they continued, like Sisyphus, out of despair. Perhaps they still held some hope in their soul but it all seemed so pointless. Evie turned and walked ahead, unable to watch them knowing they were eternally damned.
She and Gavriel continued their journey. They walked and soon the black temple glared down at them from the cliff-top, like a black mausoleum with all knowing black eyes, watching them as they progressed up the hill.
They were not far from the step to the temple when they came upon a tree, barren of leaves, with branches as dark and scorched as soot. Impossibly, a lone fruit hung on one branch. So ripe and juicy. Evie licked her lips, She could taste the juice of the peach and could almost feel the sweet liquid run down her arms to her elbows, unheeded.
Beneath the tree, ankle deep in a pool of water, stood a large man. He stared up at the fruit, licking his parched and cracked lips, as if contemplating whether to take the peach or not. Then he reached for it, possibly hunger forcing his hand upward. The movement revealed his ribs, poking through skin so thin she could almost make out the white glare of the bones beneath. His fingers grabbed at the fruit and almost won it's prize when the branch lifted as if some mysterious hand pulled it out of his grasp.
The man sighed in frustration, reminding Evie so much of Sisyphus. Then he rose higher. In the pool, his ankles broke the surface of the pool. He raised himself onto his toes and reached further. His fingers grazed the fine white hair on the skin of the fruit, again almost grasping the peach.
Almost.
Again, cruelly, the tree pulled the fruit away and the man lowered his hand. He looked down, dejected, hopeless and still hungry. At his feet the waters churned and he licked his lips again.
Chapter 19
He bent to cup the water in his hand but the churning waters receded and soon he stood in a small puddle of mud. Despair filled his eyes and he stared at his feet in silence. The tree groaned above and the bough lowered itself, teasing the man with its succulent fruit. The man smiled and reached for the fruit again. Evie clenched her jaw, the muscles of her fingers clenching. This wasn't right. He should know by now there was no hope. The tree was just going to pull the fruit away at the last minute and he'd be hungry again.
"So who is this sorry bastard, then?" Evie asked, anger flooding her veins. Sure this was hell but a few of the punishments she'd seen did really balance out with the crime. And made her furious.
"This poor soul is Tantalus. Doomed to forever covet the succulent fruit, to forever crave the waters at his feet to quench his thirst."
"What did he do then? Murder entire villages? Kill newborns in cold blood?" Evie asked, her voice rising in indignation.
"He made the mistake of coveting another man's wife."
"Huh? Adultery? That is reason to be internally damned to this?" Evie stabbed her finger at the scene before them, as if Gavriel had been the one who decreed Tantalus' punishment.
Gavriel smiled but covered the expression hastily. "It was not just a man's wife he coveted. And won. I might add." Gavriel replied. "When a man commits a crime against a God the punishment is a hefty one. It has consequences."
"And this is justified? Just because the woman was wife to a God?" Evie was shocked. "None of these people have committed anything worse than what humans do to each other on a daily basis. Why have I not seen a mass-murderer anywhere yet? I see a man who thought he was smarter than the King of the Gods. I see women forced to marry men they do not want and who are punished for attempting to free themselves. I see a man guilty only of falling for another man's wife, who you say he won so the woman was part of the relationship too. Guess she's not anywhere around here is she?"
By the end of her rant, Evie's voice has risen enough for Tantalus to look in their direction. In his eyes she saw the dregs of hope perhaps, although his despair won out hands down. He opened his mouth, as if to call out to them, raised his hand to hail them.
Gavriel grasped Evie's hand and pulled her down the path.
"Now see what you have done," Gavriel hissed. "Did I not tell you to try not to attract attention?"
"Why not?" These poor souls don't look like they are about to come running at us with spears and arrows," Evie bit out, refusing to accept it was entirely her own fault.
A loud cawing rang across the valley and Gavriel increased his pace. Soon they were running headlong for the ebony steps carved into the rock. Up the steps they pounded, as Evie wondered what horrible creature they ran from. A dread stabbed her in the gut, knowing she'd be to blame now for opening her big mouth.
Air surged above her and Evie's head snapped up. All she saw was a pair of enormous bird's talons. Talons that ended in nails as large as her upper body. Now, too afraid to search out the sky for their attacker, Evie ran faster then she knew she could. Stupid. If she had only listened to Gavriel in the first place, they would not be in danger of being some horrific bird's dinner.
At last, after what seemed an eternity of stairs, thigh muscles throbbing and burning, lungs on fire, they reached the entrance to the temple. The obsidian pillars lent a shadowed air to the building and spitting vipers lashed out at them in warning.
Both Gavriel and Evie ignored the hissing snakes and brushed right past them. Rather a snake bite that being slashed open by those sharp talons. The bird screeched and the pillars of the temple shook. Even the vipers fell silent. Outside, a shadow darkened the entrance to the building, and Evie stared into eyes as large as her own head. Glassy and black the bird's eye blinked at her, as if contemplating whether to bother to chase after them within the temple. Then, in a flash of feathers and a rush of air the bird turned and flew off.
Evie and Gavriel moved further into the temple, relieved to be rid of their avian pursuer. Evie dared not look at Gavriel, sure he must be angry with her again.
At the center of the temple sat a curved table, occupied by three majestic males. They looked ordinary enough, that was until Gavriel and Evie drew closer and stood a few paces from the table.
"Made it here alive did you?" The man on the right said. His skin was pale, his hair a shock of white that Einstein would have been proud of. His dark eyes studied the visitors, a contemplative look on his face.
Gavriel inclined his head respectfully. "We had a few problems along the way."
"I hope you have not disturbed our .... inmates." He smiled and turned to Evie. "Ah! So this is the reason you are here, Gavriel?"
Evie threw a questioning glance in Gavriel's direction but he just looked at the man who spoke. Perhaps his actions meant it was safer to be polite.
"Yes. I am here to see Daniel."
All three men frowned in disapproval but said nothing.
"Evangeline has the right to speak to her father."
"Not if her father has no rights."
Evie suppressed a sigh. Even she could not have said it better.
There was a painful silence, during which Evie bit her tongue to ensure she did not launch into a tirade of pleading.
"She wishes to speak with him one last time." Gavriel spoke quietly. "That is why we have come. We respectfully request your consideration." The archangel bowed his head and waited.
"Come now, enough of this obeisance nonsense, Archangel. What we need to know is why we should allow this."
"For a thousand years I have tracked my father's movements, learned his history, admired and respected him. All that time I was desperate to find him, have him look at me and be proud that he had a daughter who lived in his light." The men stared at Evie in silence. She paused for breath, hadn't realized she was holding it in the first place. "Until I found out who my real father was, I felt I was someone special. Now I am not so sure anymore."
"But what would you gain from speaking to him now, my dear?" The man in the middle asked her as he shook his head, his gray hair wispy and soft around his head. His voice was gentle although his grey eyes gleamed strong and gave Evie the impression he could see right into her soul.
"I just need him to know. And I need to know why he abandoned me." Evie glanced over at Gavriel. Silent permission to continue. "And I need to know how he could have allowed the Control to kill my mother. How he could have allowed anyone to kill his own child. I just need ..." She stopped speaking mainly because she was incredibly afraid she would begin to cry and the last thing she needed now was to shed tears. She needed to appear strong, in control of her faculties. Would these men allow a wailing imbecile to enter the dungeons of Tartarus?
"Closure." The last man, who had been silent all along, spoke in a voice that had an almost musical ring to it. His face was craggy, and handsome, his brows as dark as his shoulder-length hair.
Evie nodded, relieved that at least one of the men before her understood her deep need to see Daniel.
The three men looked at each other and Gavriel walked over to the table, handing them a scroll. Evie's eyes widened. She hadn't seen the scroll before. Where had he hidden it all this time? Evie snorted silently at her presumption. Of course, archangel glamor is strong enough to be impervious even to a Nephilim.
Gavriel walked to her side and grasped her hand. He drew her away from the table.
"They will confer and tell us the verdict," he said, his eyes still on the three men and the scroll.
"What was that you just gave them?"
"Julian's recommendation," Gavriel said, the words sounding clipped and almost angry again. Evie bit her lip, forcing her mouth to remain shut. Julian had sent a recommendation to the judges in spite of thinking this whole thing was stupid and dangerous. Heat rushed her, followed strongly by a rush of emotion. Julian was actually supporting her in this even though he'd behaved as if he wasn't. What did it mean? Evie flushed warm all over with the realization that Julian was helping her because he cared. The same reason Gavriel was helping her. They'd both been so angry with her, and in the face of that anger Evie had been angry right back.
Angry and insolent. But all this time they just wanted to protect her. As if she didn't know she was very aware that Daniel would reject her. She expected nothing less from him. And she cared nothing for his affections. It was his answer to those two questions that she wanted.
Why did you let them kill my mother and why did you let them take me?
Chapter 20
While they waited for the verdict Evie observed the three men.
They were nodding among themselves. The Judge on the right spoke softly, a worried scowl creasing his face. He shook his head, his white hair floating around him like a soft cloud.
"Who is he?" Evie asked softly, deciding it was high time she knew the names of these Judges who held her fate in their hands.
"He is Minos of Crete," Gavriel said. "The one in the middle is Aeacus, once King of Aegina. On the right is Rhadamantus. They are brothers, all human sons of Zeus.""
"They were human? Not Gods then?"
"No, not Gods. Their actions in life proved they would be good, impartial judges."
Evie wanted to snort out loud. Impartial judges my ass. How impartial was tricking the Danaides into believing they would attain absolution. What was fair about that?
"Best if you don't voice those thoughts," Gavriel said softly.
"Are you reading my mind?" she asked.
"No, your face tells me exactly what you are thinking and voicing those thoughts here and now will get you in a whole heap of trouble. And perhaps end your plea to see Daniel," he said, keeping his gaze trained on the three judges still deliberating.
"Anyone thinking Nepotism here?" Evie asked after a few moments more of observing the men.
Gavriel smiled. "More than you may think. Guess being half God has its advantages."
"Mmh. Hercules and Theseus may have something to say about that," Evie responded, not too sure how she felt about the rules and regulations of the Underworld. Julian, within his cave palace seemed so unlike his kingdom. Perhaps, having taken over an already established Kingdom, Julian had little to say on its structure and law. He was just the curator until His Highness figured out where he had lost himself in the first place.
A rumble rose from the table as the three Judges seemed to disagree on the terms of Evie's permissions. She sighed.
Nothing is ever easy is it?
Aeacus
spoke in his low thundering voice, "Come forth, Archangel and bring the Nephilim with you. We have decided."
Although Evie bristled at the 'Nephilim' reference she followed him. They moved slowly and stood before the table. Evie's heart hovered somewhere below her ribs. This was it.
"We have decided to allow the Nephilim to visit the Archangel prisoner," Minos spoke and Evie tensed, not sure if elation was the correct response but feeling the rise in her heartbeat anyway. And then her heart plummeted as she saw the narrowing of Minos' green eyes. "There are some conditions though."
Naturally there were conditions. Evie felt Gavriel tense beside her, but he remained silent. It should have been obvious from the eternal punishments of Sisyphus and Tantalus, and even the Danaides that the justice of the Gods of the Underworld was never straight or just. She had known, had suspected something like this might happen but all the same she was intensely disappointed.
Gavriel and Evie waited in silence to hear the stipulations.
"We have a task, collateral and two boons." Minos smiled as if he had bestowed her with the gift of Aphrodite's beauty. Instead it felt like a nest of vipers, sisters to the ones coiled and hissing at the entrance to this black temple. Minos continued. Clearly they were not expected to ask any questions. "The task is simple. We wish you to retrieve the Pearl of Kampe."
This time Gavriel stiffened and did not keep silent. "But that is almost impossible. Evangeline is no match for Kampe." Gavriel looked at Evie, a silent once-over as if to confirm for himself that what he claimed was true. "Neither of us are any sort of match for a Drakaene."
Evie had read somewhere that Kampe was a half-dragon, half-woman, serpent monster. She shuddered to think what a weak chance she might have against a powerful creature like that, who could snap a man in two with her bare hands. And then devour him just to be sure he was dead.
"That is where the collateral comes in." Minos smiled. For a King who was renowned for his goodness and charity, the sly curve to his smile was confirmation enough that he was enjoying the stakes of the game.
