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There was nothing—no light, no sound, no sensations at all. And yet everything felt oppressive. Stifling.
She struggled to breathe, barely able to think. If she couldn’t see where she was walking towards, how would she know when she found him? What if she never could? What if she was stuck here?
Panic threatened to overwhelm her, making her heart thunder and her pulse race. She tried to concentrate, to recall Hades’ instructions.
He does not remember you where he is now, feather dragon. For, the pain of knowing you but not having you is too great to bear.
When he still thought of you, his soul was shredded by the knowledge, that he was dying while you are alive. Where he can never reach you.
I allowed him a window of reprieve, you see. Allowed him to experience the freedom and peace of never having met and loved you. Gave him a glimpse of what it would be like in the Elysian Fields.
Without you.
A creature who should not be here in this time and place. Who is destined to leave him when your quest is done.
Divina gasped, her steps faltering.
Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of Hades’ words. She didn’t trust him as far as she could throw him, but he didn’t lie. He was only pointing out the obvious.
It was true that she wasn’t meant to stay in this time with Andros. His place was with his people, and she would never expect him to abandon them to come to her time and realm. They’d agreed to love in the here and now…
But, gods! it hurt so bad.
To have reveled in True Love, tasted ambrosia on earth, only to lose it when they parted ways.
That saying— “it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”—Divina wondered if it was true.
She couldn’t bear to lose him. She hated that he hurt so keenly because of her selfishness to have loved him in the first place. This was what she feared from the very beginning. That this love would carve out their hearts and hollow out their souls when they must part.
Wasn’t it better that he forgot? Wasn’t it a mercy to set him free?
That’s it, feather dragon,Hades’ voice hummed in her mind, comforting her like a lullaby.
Let him go.
He is better off without you. He will stop hurting if he forgets.
As long as he holds on to your memory, his soul will never rest. He will forever be trapped in the in-between, struggling between life and death. His body in the waking world will be an insensate rock, unable to think, feel or move. His soul in the Underworld will have no comfort, no relief from the agony of losing you.
Is this what you would condemn him to? A hell beyond Hell?
Do not be selfish, dragon.
Let him go…
Tears slid down Divina’s cheeks and plopped from her chin. Dropping into…nothingness.
How much longer did she have? How much farther could she walk? Would she ever be able to reach him? She wouldn’t give up. Couldn’t give up.
But, dear Jade Emperor in Heaven!Shouldshe give up?
You asked for his soul to return to the living. Your lion-dog volunteered to make the trade. I have accepted this bargain. I will even allow the pup to visit the living for half of the human year.
He is my gift to my beloved Persephone, after all. Just as Cere was her gift to me. When my wife returns to the living each year, she may take the pup with her.
Am I not magnanimous?
However…
