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A Tale of Hades: (Judgement and the Styxx continued)
I look at the long lines of souls before me. The underworld drifts before me with it's hard floors of rock and a stream of flames beside it. I sigh to myself as my duties are awaiting before me. Seems it will be a very long day here in my kingdom. The guards bring a soul of a formerly wealthy man; he grins at me nervously then takes a knee. I put my finger under my chin and move it, feeling the bristles of a shadow of whiskers. "Approach before your god and King of the underworld I say sharply." I look at him sizing him up and seeing him cower slightly under my gaze. "Speak soul, what are your deeds, what was your legacy and be weary of your words." I say with authority as I motion towards the scales next to my throne. The Man speaks nervously " King I have attempted to be generous in my life. I took care of my family and worked very hard." I listen to him intently sizing him up with a slight glare. " King, I've done a lot of good works and my company has done much good in the world." the Man rambles. " Has it ?, " I say, acting intrigued. The Man smiles and says, " Oh yes we even used proceeds to help build houses for the poor." I look at my nails and stretch my fingers listening to him. "What of the widow that lived down the road?" I say with slight amusement. " Pardon king?" he says, slightly bewildered. I smile softly and glare at him " Yes the elderly widow that lived near you made you pay for trees that you owned after a storm." He looks at me with slight fear. I laugh softly" Yes I do know about your deeds in life. I also noticed how you didn't mention your wife." " My wife sir?" He replies almost choking on the words. "Yes your wife, the one you left and abandoned without a dime to care for your children that you don't see either." He looks away from my gaze in fear. I hold up my hand and say sharply" You may have done some good things but you tried to lie to me and to hide the evil you did in life. For that reason you will not enter Elysium for you have caused hardship for others and aren't willing to admit that." I point to the scale and the man's soul is weighed as condemned to the cave of the underworld. He screams in terror as the guards take him away. I close my eyes as the next soul is brought before me tapping my fingers on the arms of the cold hard throne chair. An old woman stands before me slightly confused then slowly bows. " Approach"I say gently
looking at the scales. " Hello King. I'm Myrtle." I chuckle softly " So Myrtle, tell me of your deeds and life." She looks at me slightly confused " I don't remember much but I was a teacher. I wasn't perfect but I worked hard and tried to show my students love as well as work with them. I never married but I did love my cats. I made mistakes when I was young many of them I lied to my parents I stole a few times I lost my temper." Slightly amused, I listen to Myrtle. " Yes you made many mistakes but you were sorry for them, asked for forgiveness and gave back to others, even your parents. Myrtle you weren't perfect but you are honest." I point to the scales and the scales judge her soul. Myrtle smiles. " I look at her and say enter Elysium." The guards walk off with her as she smiles. The day drags but finally closes to an end. I walk wearily to my room. I get a book on philosophy to thumb through as I sit in my chair next to the fire. For a moment I stare as the flames dance. I miss her as much as I remember her. Persephone left me a long time ago and the few times she came back she had distanced herself from me further, eventually I gave her up. I couldn't have kept her here if I tried. The loneliness she left is crueler than her distain of me. A long time ago I resolved she would never be back. I drink some wine and busy my mind with my book.
I'm hot wandering around Greece. The sun is sinking in the background. I open my map as the wind seems to try to rustle it out of my hands. I look up at the sky and watch the sun. I find a large rock and sit moving the reddish brown hair that is plastered on to my cheek. I should have gotten a haircut, but Rick liked my hair long. I sigh a little exasperated from my hiking. I see what looks to be a river below. It looks refreshing. My T-shirt and jeans feel heavy, almost plastered to my skin. I decide to walk a bit further down towards the river. It sparkles in the sunset. Wow! I think that is breathtaking. I go for it the river almost feels like it's pulling me in like a magnet it's beautiful. I gently take a drink then I notice a cave a little off in the distance easy enough to walk to. I start walking towards it out of curiosity. Rick would think I'm nuts if he was here ,but then again since he left me it doesn't matter what he thinks. He's probably happy with his new bride anyway. Why did I think he actually cared about me? I notice a strange orange light in the cave... huh? That's weird, maybe somebody needs help. I scrape my knee slightly on a rock within the entrance of the cave feeling some blood trickle under the hole in my jeans as I do. "Hello?? Anyone there?"I ask into the echoing cave. No answer comes back. Where did that light appear from? I wonder. I feel like I'm walking down into the stomach of a sleeping dragon. The further I walk holding my phone up using the flashlight I notice it reads no signal. Then I hear the beep of it trying to die. " Holy crap!" I say to my phone. Then everything goes dark so I just keep walking and walking in the darkness. I hold out my hand feeling the side of the cave walking slowly as it feels like I'm going down further and further into it. I jump out of my skin when a hand grabs mine. I see the outline of vague light. " Hello?!!" I say yelling it. "Greetings wanderer, my name is Charon" he replies creepily. " Is this a tourist trap or something?" I ask confused. All I can really see is he is in a cloak not much else. He says "It's something like that do you have a coin?" I search my pockets and dig out five coins and put them in his hand. " Payment I'll take you across, " he replies gruffly. "Okay?''I reply nervously. I see a boat with an ancient lantern dimly lit. " Wow they sure go all out making this look like mythology," I say. He says nothing and he leads me into the boat. Well it's all good, I'll just roll with it. I suppose this is kind of cool like going to a haunted house, just ancient Greek style I think. A mist goes by the boat as he rows. "Gotta say this is pretty awesome work and effort," I say in wonder " Silence wanderer," he replies gruffly. Not the friendliest employee I think. He rows for a long time. I drift off to sleep. When I finally wake it feels as if I've slept for an entire night. That's weird I think. I see Charon in his mysterious cloak getup still rowing. Finally, I feel the boat nudge against something. He helps me out. "Welcome wanderer to the underworld,"he says grimly. I look at him it's still lit a little dimly wherever we are, but I see a path way with torches on the wall. "Well thank you Charon I'll try to give you a five star review." I say in a matter of fact way. I hear him grunt as he gets back on the boat. "What a grump!" I whisper. I start walking down the pathway with the torches the floor looks like it's made of bronze. I start hearing murmurs, whispers, and then two men in black armor hold out there arms to me. "Who are you wanderer?" they say with resentment. Man these people are grumps I think. I play along and say "My name is Delphine Greenwood I'm here to speak to the ruler of this realm." "So be it. Come with us," the reply in almost a grunt. Maybe everyone here needs a vacation? I understand roleplay for gigs, but being a tad friendly probably would help business I think. They take me by the arms as I walk with them. I stand behind people waiting on this dude on a throne chair with a helmet on. A scale keeps tipping as he talks to them. I watch as he raises his hand and it moves. Now I dig that, pretty cool way of roleplaying I think. I wait for a while with the two metalhead guards. They finally bring me before the dude in the helmet I can't see his face. He looks at the guards and says "What is this about?" the dude says in an agitated and demanding voice" The two guards look at each other and throw me down hard on the floor. " Ouch was that really necessary you dorks?" I say as I hit my knee on the hard floor with a thump. It throbs in retaliation, and my knee bleeds on the ground. The dude in the helmet almost yells "This wanderer is alive!" I look up at him my face flinching in pain ,and say " Yes genius I am alive and trying to figure out where the hell I am! I went along with it ,but I don't like being throwed around like a doll!" He points a finger at me with authority almost like my highschool principal did once upon a time and says angrily " You are not supposed to be here!" I reply, "Frankly I don't give a crap dude I thought someone needed help that's the only reason I came down here!" He moves back a few steps and says in a surprised voice "Well you aren't leaving. Take her to my palace!" He says in a very demanding way. The guards grab me and I hit one as he takes my arm roughly I say to the guard, " Look I didn't ask for this, but can you chill! Just give me a chance to get up I'm not a doll!" I get up their tight grip loosens on my arms We walk for what seems forever. I stand in front of an extremely large iron looking castle with shadows around it . I can see the sunset and the clouds around the castle. Weird I think pretty but weird. The guards bang on the door it opens. Then they shove me in. We walk on a hard rock floor. I can hear our footsteps clanking across it. I see what looks to be a gold wall with paintings it's gorgeous. They get to a bronze colored door bang on it. The door opens revealing a room with bronze walls. Inside I see a lush red bed, a sitting area, it's huge. It's what I'd imagine a penthouse room looks like in a lavish hotel. I hear the door shut hard as they shove me in and leave. I then notice a bowl of red apples that look enticing. My mouth waters. I eat one then I sit in the velvet green chair next to the bowl of apples not knowing what to do. I feel exhausted from the weird day. I'm either dreaming or I blacked out finally from low blood sugar I think as I drift off into sleep.
I walk towards my palace and arrive. I shake my head as the doors open. I wonder how this woman found the hellmouth. It's not usual to have a wandering living person just arrive. I walk and stare at the gold walls for a moment. This isn't exactly something I want to deal with after a very long few months, but I'm going to have to. I could use a small distraction any way I chuckle as I run my fingers across my whiskers. I might as well use the situation for some amusement. This one's a bit firey in spirit, it seems I grin. I've been away since I sent her here for what mortals would say is about 10 hours. So I guess it's time to see my new caged pet. I chuckle. I walk to the bronze room and gently open the door. I'm still wearing my helmet. I'm going to have some fun. I walk into the room noticing her head resting on the green velvet chair in the room. I hear a gentle snore. I laugh softly as I see a half eaten apple in her hand. I see that her reddish brown hair is stuck slightly to her face. She's a beautiful woman but she is dirty. I frown wondering why she's let herself get in this state. Well she's never going to leave now. I roll my eyes looking again at the apple in her hand. What am I going to do with a firey unhygienic woman? Her eyes are shut peacefully. I clear my throat with authority. She snores louder. I grin. I clear my throat deeper then I say with authority "So you chose to eat food of the underworld?" Her eyes slowly open and she drowsily sits up. I see her look around the room puzzled and look at me in surprise. " Where am I? I thought well… I assumed I was dreaming or that I passed out?" she replies confused. I look at her green eyes glistening with confusion. I say slightly gruffly, "You ventured into the hellmouth why?" She looks at me perplexed and replies, "I thought that someone was in the cave and caught or hurt." She looks in confusion around the room. "No, for some reason you came into the hellmouth and now you cannot leave." I say in response sharply. " Why? I was just traveling. Why can't I leave?" she says surprised. I point authoritatively to the apple. I reply sharply, "You are the fruit of the underworld." She looks at me flustered and color drains some from her face slightly. " Who are you? " she asks in a nervous voice. I burst into laughter and reply " I'm Hades, you are in my kingdom, the underworld." She glares at me for a moment. "Dude, look the joke is wearing pretty thin. I get what you are trying to do, an immersive experience and yadda yadda, but look I'm the type that'll press kidnapping charges if you don't let me out of here." I laugh even longer when I see her face get red. " You could at the very least take the bloody helmet off, you are giving me the creeps!" She says angrily. I laugh and try to stop and breathe. " As you wish I take off my helmet and she stares at me. I smirk.
I stare at him. He has the strangest blue eyes I've ever seen and extremely dark brown hair and pale skin. He really looks different from any man I've ever seen. I look away frazzled. This can't be real I think. I mumble "This is beyond weird." I hear him laugh as I stare at the bronze floor. He says amused "Indeed I imagine for you it is." I look into his eyes and see the amusement he thinks is hilarious. " This isn't funny at all." I say angrily. He sits in front of me and peers into my face and grins and says "From where I am it's quite amusing I don't often have women just wander here." I look away. " What's your name?" I say nervously knowing what he might say. He laughs and gently shakes my hand and replies " The names Hades,Delphine." I look at him dumbfounded. Either he's a really good actor or I'm literally in Hell. "This can't be real…." I say in disbelief. He grins at me. "Any modern mortal would assume that," he says smirking. I suddenly realize I'm not in Kansas anymore. I sigh.
© ER
looking at the scales. " Hello King. I'm Myrtle." I chuckle softly " So Myrtle, tell me of your deeds and life." She looks at me slightly confused " I don't remember much but I was a teacher. I wasn't perfect but I worked hard and tried to show my students love as well as work with them. I never married but I did love my cats. I made mistakes when I was young many of them I lied to my parents I stole a few times I lost my temper." Slightly amused, I listen to Myrtle. " Yes you made many mistakes but you were sorry for them, asked for forgiveness and gave back to others, even your parents. Myrtle you weren't perfect but you are honest." I point to the scales and the scales judge her soul. Myrtle smiles. " I look at her and say enter Elysium." The guards walk off with her as she smiles. The day drags but finally closes to an end. I walk wearily to my room. I get a book on philosophy to thumb through as I sit in my chair next to the fire. For a moment I stare as the flames dance. I miss her as much as I remember her. Persephone left me a long time ago and the few times she came back she had distanced herself from me further, eventually I gave her up. I couldn't have kept her here if I tried. The loneliness she left is crueler than her distain of me. A long time ago I resolved she would never be back. I drink some wine and busy my mind with my book.
I'm hot wandering around Greece. The sun is sinking in the background. I open my map as the wind seems to try to rustle it out of my hands. I look up at the sky and watch the sun. I find a large rock and sit moving the reddish brown hair that is plastered on to my cheek. I should have gotten a haircut, but Rick liked my hair long. I sigh a little exasperated from my hiking. I see what looks to be a river below. It looks refreshing. My T-shirt and jeans feel heavy, almost plastered to my skin. I decide to walk a bit further down towards the river. It sparkles in the sunset. Wow! I think that is breathtaking. I go for it the river almost feels like it's pulling me in like a magnet it's beautiful. I gently take a drink then I notice a cave a little off in the distance easy enough to walk to. I start walking towards it out of curiosity. Rick would think I'm nuts if he was here ,but then again since he left me it doesn't matter what he thinks. He's probably happy with his new bride anyway. Why did I think he actually cared about me? I notice a strange orange light in the cave... huh? That's weird, maybe somebody needs help. I scrape my knee slightly on a rock within the entrance of the cave feeling some blood trickle under the hole in my jeans as I do. "Hello?? Anyone there?"I ask into the echoing cave. No answer comes back. Where did that light appear from? I wonder. I feel like I'm walking down into the stomach of a sleeping dragon. The further I walk holding my phone up using the flashlight I notice it reads no signal. Then I hear the beep of it trying to die. " Holy crap!" I say to my phone. Then everything goes dark so I just keep walking and walking in the darkness. I hold out my hand feeling the side of the cave walking slowly as it feels like I'm going down further and further into it. I jump out of my skin when a hand grabs mine. I see the outline of vague light. " Hello?!!" I say yelling it. "Greetings wanderer, my name is Charon" he replies creepily. " Is this a tourist trap or something?" I ask confused. All I can really see is he is in a cloak not much else. He says "It's something like that do you have a coin?" I search my pockets and dig out five coins and put them in his hand. " Payment I'll take you across, " he replies gruffly. "Okay?''I reply nervously. I see a boat with an ancient lantern dimly lit. " Wow they sure go all out making this look like mythology," I say. He says nothing and he leads me into the boat. Well it's all good, I'll just roll with it. I suppose this is kind of cool like going to a haunted house, just ancient Greek style I think. A mist goes by the boat as he rows. "Gotta say this is pretty awesome work and effort," I say in wonder " Silence wanderer," he replies gruffly. Not the friendliest employee I think. He rows for a long time. I drift off to sleep. When I finally wake it feels as if I've slept for an entire night. That's weird I think. I see Charon in his mysterious cloak getup still rowing. Finally, I feel the boat nudge against something. He helps me out. "Welcome wanderer to the underworld,"he says grimly. I look at him it's still lit a little dimly wherever we are, but I see a path way with torches on the wall. "Well thank you Charon I'll try to give you a five star review." I say in a matter of fact way. I hear him grunt as he gets back on the boat. "What a grump!" I whisper. I start walking down the pathway with the torches the floor looks like it's made of bronze. I start hearing murmurs, whispers, and then two men in black armor hold out there arms to me. "Who are you wanderer?" they say with resentment. Man these people are grumps I think. I play along and say "My name is Delphine Greenwood I'm here to speak to the ruler of this realm." "So be it. Come with us," the reply in almost a grunt. Maybe everyone here needs a vacation? I understand roleplay for gigs, but being a tad friendly probably would help business I think. They take me by the arms as I walk with them. I stand behind people waiting on this dude on a throne chair with a helmet on. A scale keeps tipping as he talks to them. I watch as he raises his hand and it moves. Now I dig that, pretty cool way of roleplaying I think. I wait for a while with the two metalhead guards. They finally bring me before the dude in the helmet I can't see his face. He looks at the guards and says "What is this about?" the dude says in an agitated and demanding voice" The two guards look at each other and throw me down hard on the floor. " Ouch was that really necessary you dorks?" I say as I hit my knee on the hard floor with a thump. It throbs in retaliation, and my knee bleeds on the ground. The dude in the helmet almost yells "This wanderer is alive!" I look up at him my face flinching in pain ,and say " Yes genius I am alive and trying to figure out where the hell I am! I went along with it ,but I don't like being throwed around like a doll!" He points a finger at me with authority almost like my highschool principal did once upon a time and says angrily " You are not supposed to be here!" I reply, "Frankly I don't give a crap dude I thought someone needed help that's the only reason I came down here!" He moves back a few steps and says in a surprised voice "Well you aren't leaving. Take her to my palace!" He says in a very demanding way. The guards grab me and I hit one as he takes my arm roughly I say to the guard, " Look I didn't ask for this, but can you chill! Just give me a chance to get up I'm not a doll!" I get up their tight grip loosens on my arms We walk for what seems forever. I stand in front of an extremely large iron looking castle with shadows around it . I can see the sunset and the clouds around the castle. Weird I think pretty but weird. The guards bang on the door it opens. Then they shove me in. We walk on a hard rock floor. I can hear our footsteps clanking across it. I see what looks to be a gold wall with paintings it's gorgeous. They get to a bronze colored door bang on it. The door opens revealing a room with bronze walls. Inside I see a lush red bed, a sitting area, it's huge. It's what I'd imagine a penthouse room looks like in a lavish hotel. I hear the door shut hard as they shove me in and leave. I then notice a bowl of red apples that look enticing. My mouth waters. I eat one then I sit in the velvet green chair next to the bowl of apples not knowing what to do. I feel exhausted from the weird day. I'm either dreaming or I blacked out finally from low blood sugar I think as I drift off into sleep.
I walk towards my palace and arrive. I shake my head as the doors open. I wonder how this woman found the hellmouth. It's not usual to have a wandering living person just arrive. I walk and stare at the gold walls for a moment. This isn't exactly something I want to deal with after a very long few months, but I'm going to have to. I could use a small distraction any way I chuckle as I run my fingers across my whiskers. I might as well use the situation for some amusement. This one's a bit firey in spirit, it seems I grin. I've been away since I sent her here for what mortals would say is about 10 hours. So I guess it's time to see my new caged pet. I chuckle. I walk to the bronze room and gently open the door. I'm still wearing my helmet. I'm going to have some fun. I walk into the room noticing her head resting on the green velvet chair in the room. I hear a gentle snore. I laugh softly as I see a half eaten apple in her hand. I see that her reddish brown hair is stuck slightly to her face. She's a beautiful woman but she is dirty. I frown wondering why she's let herself get in this state. Well she's never going to leave now. I roll my eyes looking again at the apple in her hand. What am I going to do with a firey unhygienic woman? Her eyes are shut peacefully. I clear my throat with authority. She snores louder. I grin. I clear my throat deeper then I say with authority "So you chose to eat food of the underworld?" Her eyes slowly open and she drowsily sits up. I see her look around the room puzzled and look at me in surprise. " Where am I? I thought well… I assumed I was dreaming or that I passed out?" she replies confused. I look at her green eyes glistening with confusion. I say slightly gruffly, "You ventured into the hellmouth why?" She looks at me perplexed and replies, "I thought that someone was in the cave and caught or hurt." She looks in confusion around the room. "No, for some reason you came into the hellmouth and now you cannot leave." I say in response sharply. " Why? I was just traveling. Why can't I leave?" she says surprised. I point authoritatively to the apple. I reply sharply, "You are the fruit of the underworld." She looks at me flustered and color drains some from her face slightly. " Who are you? " she asks in a nervous voice. I burst into laughter and reply " I'm Hades, you are in my kingdom, the underworld." She glares at me for a moment. "Dude, look the joke is wearing pretty thin. I get what you are trying to do, an immersive experience and yadda yadda, but look I'm the type that'll press kidnapping charges if you don't let me out of here." I laugh even longer when I see her face get red. " You could at the very least take the bloody helmet off, you are giving me the creeps!" She says angrily. I laugh and try to stop and breathe. " As you wish I take off my helmet and she stares at me. I smirk.
I stare at him. He has the strangest blue eyes I've ever seen and extremely dark brown hair and pale skin. He really looks different from any man I've ever seen. I look away frazzled. This can't be real I think. I mumble "This is beyond weird." I hear him laugh as I stare at the bronze floor. He says amused "Indeed I imagine for you it is." I look into his eyes and see the amusement he thinks is hilarious. " This isn't funny at all." I say angrily. He sits in front of me and peers into my face and grins and says "From where I am it's quite amusing I don't often have women just wander here." I look away. " What's your name?" I say nervously knowing what he might say. He laughs and gently shakes my hand and replies " The names Hades,Delphine." I look at him dumbfounded. Either he's a really good actor or I'm literally in Hell. "This can't be real…." I say in disbelief. He grins at me. "Any modern mortal would assume that," he says smirking. I suddenly realize I'm not in Kansas anymore. I sigh.
© ER
