Percy Jackson: An Endless of All

Morning light filtered across the sand as the waves lapped against the shore, and the sky was as gray as grief. The funeral was delayed.

"I apologize for the delay," I said softly as I arrived.

"We may begin," one of Orpheus's demigod friends said.

"Without Orpheus?" I asked.

"He isn't coming," Herodius, a son of Hermes and Orpheus's closest companion, said. He wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"He's not ready."

"I will find him."

And so I did.

I found him sitting on the shore, the sea glinting before him, as endless and uncertain as the future. He stared at the horizon, lost.

"You should go to the funeral. Say goodbye," I said gently.

"I can't," Orpheus whispered.

"You attend the funeral, you bid the dead farewell, you grieve—and then you continue with your life," I told him.

"How?" asked Orpheus.

"There will be times when the fact of her absence overwhelms you. And you will weep. But this will happen less and less, I promise. She is dead. You are alive. So live," I pleaded with Orpheus.

"She's still alive," he said. "In the Underworld."

"No," I said, more harshly than I intended.

"She was taken too soon."

"That is not for you to say," I said to him.

He turned to me, desperation in his voice. "Will you not go to King Hades and Queen Persephone and plead my case? They will listen to you," Orpheus asked me. I could do so, but it will come at a cost that I won't pay.

"And when they demand your life in exchange for hers?" I asked, already fearing his answer.

"I will gladly give it."

"But I will not. I will not trade my son's life away."

"If I'm your son, then do this for me!"

"No."

"But, Father—"

"No more," I said in a loud voice.

He scoffed. "Then I am no longer your son," said Orpheus. Seriously, this son of mine.

"Suicide, eh? Are you certain that's your wisest course?" I asked, even if I didn't want to.

"If Eurydice and I cannot be together in this world, then we will be together in the next."

I laughed darkly. "That is the stupidest thing I've heard in centuries."

"You don't understand."

"And you are a romantic fool. You're more in love with the idea of the girl, with the idea of love, than the girl herself," I said angrily and in the want to keep my son alive and whole.

"Take that back!"

But I left him there, hoping he would see reason. He did not.

He went to the Underworld.

As he Descent into Darkness. 

While so, I had Matthew follow my son. So, I can keep an eye on him while in my realm of the dreaming.

"Orpheus," a woman called in the gloom of the Underworld.

"Son of Apollo and Dream," said a second.

"You are not of the dead," said a third.

"Do you know the penalty for trespassing?" asked the first woman.

"No, kind ladies," Orpheus replied, his voice steady, though I could feel his fear. Oh Orpehus. You're a smart and intelligent boy. I know so, but why ask a stupid question?

"Kind ladies?" said the second with a snarl.

"We are the goddesses of vengeance. Of punishment. Of torment," said the first.

"The Dirae. The Erinyes. The Eumenides," said the second.

"To me, you are the Kindly Ones, for you serve King Hades and Queen Persephone… with whom I seek an audience."

From the shadows, their voices boomed:

"Hades…"

"Hades…"

"Hades…"

And then, he came.

"Well, well, well... Orpheus. The balladeer," Hades said with a grin.

"King Hades. Queen Persephone. I greet you."

"Have you a song for us, little mortal man?" Persephone asked.

"A song? Uh… Yes. Yes, I do."

And he sang in Ancient Greek.

♪ I sing you a song of love♪ About my fair Eurydice♪ Who last night in the world above♪ Took my hand and married me

♪ Eternal love we both professed♪ We danced until she fell upon♪ A serpent lying in its nest♪ And all at once my love was gone

♪ I know our mortal lives are brief♪ And that I should be grateful♪ To the gods in spite of all my grief♪ But love has brought me here to you♪ To ask what no sane man would dare♪ And beg you to her soul restore♪ So she may leave and we may share♪ A lifetime or an hour more

As his voice faded, silence followed. Even the Furies wept.

"You are disrupting my realm," said Hades.

"You have made the Furies weep. They will never forgive you for that," said Persephone.

"Well, then, give me my wife, Your Majesties. And I will leave this place."

"Why would we do that, son of Apollo?" Hades asked.

"Perhaps… out of love."

"You are young. And you know nothing about love."

"Then give me the chance. And I will prove to you both that my love for Eurydice is stronger than even death itself."

Hades stared long at him.

"Very well. Your wife may leave with you."

"Thank you, Lord Hades."

"There are conditions. Rules. There are always rules."

A path appeared behind the throne, bathed in shadow and the faintest shimmer of light.

"There is a path that leads to the world above. Follow that path. And do not deviate from it," said Hades.

"And Eurydice?"

"She will follow you as your shadow. You may not seek, nor speak, nor turn to look behind you until… the sun shines upon you both. Then, and only then, will she be yours. Now go, little man."

As the doors groaned open, Persephone added, "And do not look back."

They walked. Orpheus led the way, each step trembling with hope and fear.

Behind him, Eurydice followed — silent, invisible, just as the gods commanded.

They neared the mouth of the cave. The sun was rising. Light crept across the path.

And then—

"Eurydice?" he whispered, just once. He stopped .He turned.

No.

"Eurydice!"

She was there.

And then she wasn't.

Tears poured down his face.

"No! Eurydice! Eurydice! NO!"

His scream echoed across both realms — through the mortal world, into the Dreaming, and the realm of the gods.

And I—I sat on my throne in silence, unable to change what was, or what would forever be.