Gilded Ruins

by Chantal Gadoury

  In his warmth, I found myself drifting back to sleep, lulled by his hushed voice. As much as I tried to fight against its current, to think about his confession, and Darce in the Underworld with Minthe, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I was sinking deeper and deeper into the darkness of sleep; a darkness that I knew and welcomed.

  A darkness that was home.

  From it, a hand reached for mine and took it gently in its grasp. A figure hidden by shadows, guided me up the familiar set of steps that led from the Underworld, up towards the glittering promise of sunlight. Expecting to find Darce beside me, I was surprised to find Morpheus instead. He was dressed in all black; his onyx wings tucked in behind his shoulder blades. He carried my hand gently in his, as we took each step together.

  Confused, I lowered my gaze to my own attire; I was dressed in a pool of cream satin, with a thick golden sash wrapped around my waist. This wasn’t my usual sweater and jeans.

  What was this? What was going on?

  “Where are we going?” I asked as I tugged at his hand. His eyes jerked to mine, surprised.

  “To your mother, of course.”

  “My mother?” I wanted to turn back around. I wanted to go back to find Darce. Why wasn’t he here with us?

  I didn’t want to go to my mother. . .to the world above. A nervous fear filled my stomach and twisted my insides as I desperately tried to pull my hand away from his.

  He wouldn’t relent.

  “Nearly there,” he said over his broad shoulders. His long, silver hair fell to the side, twisted into tiny braids. Braids, that I suddenly recalled making for him. It was a memory that I knew did not truly belong to me.

  “Morpheus?” I asked, breaking the silence just as a sliver of daylight pierced the space between the two of us. “Why? Why are you. . .”

  Morpheus flashed me a smile, pausing to cup my cheek with his hand.

  “I wanted to be the one to send you off with pleasant dreams this time,” he said with a wink. “Something to remember us by until the winter.”

  Winter. The word struck me as odd, until I shifted my gaze to a form waiting in the sunlight. I recognized her face; I knew her. Mom.

  Shaking my head, I took a step back. I didn’t want to go. Not when I was so close to where I wanted to be. I realized in this dream, I was not myself. I was merely seeing everything through another set of eyes. Slowly, her feet moved forward on her own accord.

  Morpheus’ fingers grazed over my cheek, as I turned my focus back to his. I watched as he studied me before lifting my hand to his lips. It was there, nestled in the warmth of his eyes, I could see all that he wanted to admit. There was love in his eyes; a kind of love that kept a loyal man in his place.

  As I turned on my heel, dreading the woman I was walking towards, I heard him gently whisper, “I love you, Summer. I love you. . .”

  Morpheus

  I hated the end of winter almost as much as I used to hate the start of it.

  That was at the beginning, before I knew her. Before I had fallen in love with her.

  I told myself that I was young then, and so was the world. She had been young then too, just a maiden. A woman made of spring and sunshine. She never really left it behind in the winter, she simply brought it with her. Every inch, nook, and cranny of the Underworld smelled like fresh garden beds and lilacs. It had made my nose cringe; the sickly-sweet stench of pollen and early blooms.

  “Morpheus?” Her voice was like music.

  I had sequestered myself to the garden she tended, in an attempt to hide from her. Truth be told, I knew she would find me regardless of where I went. I hadn’t bothered to shut myself away, like I knew I could if it was what I had really wanted.

  “Mil’ady.”

  She was—as she always appeared—breathtaking. Arae had always had a soft spot for the Queen of the Underworld, even if she didn’t want to admit it. In Arae’s hands, she rivaled Hera and Aphrodite. In a soft green gown embellished with vines and pods of blossoming flowers, she strode across the green fields to me. I hadn’t bothered to stand and bow, as she had requested I treat her as anyone else would a friend.

  A friend.

  “You look so lonely here, Morpheus.”

  “I’m simply preparing, mil’ady.”

  Her pink lips quirked, and her eyes sparkled. “Whatever for?”

  “You’re leaving today,” I plucked at the grass between my fingers, dropping my eyes to the patch like a sulking nymph. “Is that not why you’ve come to find me? To say goodbye?”

  Persephone lowered herself to sit beside me. She bumped her shoulder into mine, jostling me. I heard her laugh, which was light like a little bell. I would miss her laugh. Her smile, and her companionship. I would miss her words, her keen way of expressing herself.

  “It’s never goodbye,” she said. “Not for good, and not for very long. You’ll keep busy without me here and the time will go by. Like five flutters of a Hummingbird’s wings, and then you’ll blink, and I’ll be back.”

  “Shall I send you dreams?”

  “I would like that very much, Morpheus.”

  I looked up at her, scanning her face. I frowned, though deep down I wanted to smile. I wanted to brush the stray curl away from her lips and place a kiss on them instead. But the hair remained and so did my frown.

  “Dreams about the Underworld? Your flowers here, gone to rot because our Lord does not have your green thumb?”

  Persephone laughed again, but louder. It was her real laugh, unrestrained and less like a bell. I liked it better than her practiced laugh, the one she used to chuckle at Zeus’ jokes or Poseidon’s stories. “How cruel, Morpheus. He’s gotten much better at gardening, and you know it.”

  “Perhaps,” I said, unable to fight my own humor, “but he did kill off your vegetables only a fortnight ago.”

  “Indeed, he did.” She sighed and pulled her legs up to her chest, hugging them close. “I shall miss him when I’m gone.”

  I nudged her this time with my own shoulder. “Weren’t you the one saying that time would go by?”

  “Yes, but…” she paused, biting her lip, “...you all have each other here. I pine for all of you, while surrounded by the likes of Zeus and watched constantly by my mother. I love them all, I do, but I never feel quite at home in Olympus the way I am with all of you; Arae’s tantrums included.”

  “Of course, it’s only natural to identify Arae’s tantrums as another being entirely. They are their own ego.”

  She laughed again. “Indeed.”

  We sat quietly for a few moments more, and then she stood; breaking the reverie. She offered her hand and I took it. Her ring—a wedding gift from our Lord—sparkled brilliantly. It had a life of its own as well, as if it were an extension of her. I brushed my thumb over its delicate design and held my breath.

  “I love you.” I said as I had so many times before in my mind, but this time aloud.

  “And I, you.” She cupped my hands in hers; soft like silk and warm. “You are my dearest friend, Morpheus.”

  I did not speak.

  “Come, walk with me. Hades is waiting.”

  Like many times before, we strode through the grass of her own patch of earth. But on her last day, moments before she was gone again, it always felt a little different. This time though, as she pulled me along and rattled on about her new spring flowers, I could not help the strange sinking sensation of this being the last time we’d walk like this together.

  Chapter 15

  When I opened my eyes, I found that I was once again alone in my room. Morpheus was gone, but at least the room was bright with sunlight; dawn had finally come.

  The sounds of the lapping sea echoed just beyond my window. There was a slight movement of the boat I hadn’t noticed before. There was silence; still, thick silence. I didn’t want to leave my room, not yet. I still wasn’t ready to face all of the Gods and Goddesses—and least of all, my mother.

  Morpheus. . .

  Lifting my gaze to
the door, my thoughts drifted to the night before. The memory of his story replayed in my mind, matching the dream I’d had. He had loved her, and somehow that meant me too.

  I shoved a pillow over my head and groaned.

  When was I going to wake up from this nightmare? This whole thing had become confusing, and I didn’t know how to get myself out of this situation without Darce. I recalled a conversation we had before leaving the Underworld.

  “Do you think he’ll rule in our favor?”

  “Only if you woo him enough,” Darce had said. “If he feels important, and you’re the reason, the more likely he’ll do exactly what you wish.”

  I groaned again.

  After staring at the clock for what felt like an hour, I finally decided to push myself out of bed. I knew I couldn’t avoid everyone forever, even if I wanted to.

  I ignored the echoing voice of Arae in my head, telling me to dress accordingly, and instead chose a sweater as yellow as a marigold, and a pair of light blue, ripped jeans. If I was going to face my mom and all the others, I was going to do it as me, and no one else. I was done pretending to be something—someone—that I wasn’t. I didn’t want to be Persephone.

  I wanted to be my own Goddess.

  After pulling my hair into a low hanging braid, I emerged from my room and braced myself for the possibility of what could come. The hallway was empty just as it had been the day before. As I reached the top landing of the staircase, I found Eros sitting on one of the main sofas, holding up his phone with a smile. Sounds erupted from his screen, and I realized he was watching something. He looked up from his phone and smiled more brightly. Pressing a finger against the flat screen, he lowered the device into his lap.

  “Good morning, Summer. I’m happy to see that you’ve decided to join us. I was a little afraid you wouldn’t.”

  “I wanted to get some air,” I murmured.

  “Did you rest well?”

  At first I wasn’t sure how to respond.

  “I rested,” I shrugged. “Can we leave it at that?”

  Eros shrugged, not seeming to mind my vague answer. He eased back into the sofa and patted the spot beside him.

  “I’m watching a show. Why don’t you join me?”

  “A show?” I asked, wrinkling my nose. I wasn’t really in the mood to watch anything, but found it even more odd that Eros was watching television.

  “I think you’re curious,” he said with a white-toothed grin. “Aren’t you?”

  “Maybe a little.”

  “I promise it’s good. I’m even in it.” He lifted the screen to show me a close-up of his face.

  “Wait. You’re in it?”

  “Didn’t I tell you? I’m kind of a big deal,” he said with a wink. I wasn’t sure if he was serious, but now I was even more curious than ever.

  “Don’t all actors say that about themselves?”

  “Only the ones that matter,” he laughed. Eros patted the seat again with a smile. “Come see.”

  I couldn’t resist the invitation. At least it would kill some time; distract me until Morpheus appeared from his room. I wanted to keep myself close to him as much as I could. Darce had told me not to trust anyone but Morpheus, and even though he was being friendly, Eros was not an exception to his warning.

  I took the seat beside him and watched as he lifted his phone back up again. Tapping the screen, the scene came to life. I guess I hadn’t ever really expected to find the God of Love watching any sort of television, but it suddenly seemed to make sense. In a really strange way. Least of all a show with himself in it.

  I realized it was a drama of sorts. A Korean Drama. The subtitles on the bottom allowed for understanding, at least on my part. I nearly laughed when I realized the leading man was none other than Eros. Jerking my chin to peer at him, I snorted.

  “That really is you.”

  “I told you, I’m a famous star in Korea.” He smiled warmly and lifted a hand.

  “A famous. . .actor?”

  “Yeah. I’m what they call an oppa,” he said, flashing me another grin.

  “An oppa?” I asked, repeating the word.

  “Don’t fuel his ego,” a deep voice said with a laugh. Lifting my gaze from the screen, I saw Dionysus watching us. This morning his attire was a sleek, pink turtleneck and a dark, grey pair of pants. He lifted his hand, offering a bottle of wine in my direction.

  “Would you like a drink?”

  “It’s like, nine in the morning,” I replied, shaking my head.

  “As they say, it’s five o’clock somewhere, right?”

  “I’ll pass,” I said softly. Eros suddenly laughed and gestured towards the phone.

  “Do you see that girl?” He asked, glancing between the two of us and then back to the show. “She was so desperate for love, that she actually went into the job, hoping to find some sort of flame between me or one of the other men on set. So I paired her with a crew member.”

  “You paired her?”

  “It is my job you know,” Eros chuckled. “To help others find love.”

  My gut coiled with a bittersweet rage as I listened to him. He hadn’t done anything to help Darce or save my love. He had just stood there.

  “Where is Morpheus?” I asked, broken of the spell of his television show. Dionysus shrugged as he popped the cork from the top with his teeth.

  “Haven’t seen him.”

  Eros was too fascinated by what was on his screen to respond. I rose to my feet and headed towards the other side of the boat—back to where I knew Zeus and Poseidon typically stayed. It was like a popularity club with those two. Zeus was like Regina George and Poseidon, as dismissive and happy-go-lucky as he was, happened to be Karen Smith. In all honesty, I wouldn’t have been surprised if they didn’t have their own Burn Book hidden somewhere.

  As I peered in at a distance, I saw Zeus sipping on orange juice, reclined in his chair as he gazed at Poseidon. He shook his head and flipped his hand through the air. Poseidon flicked a speck of invisible dust from his arm, all the while shrugging. Whatever they were talking about, it seemed serious. Their stoic faces said it all.

  I inched closer, hoping to hear what they were talking about.

  “From here, we should leave it up to Demeter,” Poseidon murmured softly. “It would be better to let her mother decide what’s best for her.”

  “That poor girl,” Zeus muttered, shaking his head. “She never had a chance. I never gave her a chance.”

  “You can’t be a father to all of them, brother.”

  Zeus flashed a smile. “Perhaps not. I enjoy the creation of life. But the rest. . .” He waved his hand lazily in the air. “I don’t have a tolerance for fatherhood. And I barely know the girl.”

  “What of Hades?”

  “Let him sulk. He spoke out of turn. He needs to learn his lesson.”

  “But she’s his wife.”

  Zeus chuckled. “Let’s get this straight, Poseidon. He might have bound himself to her in the past, but Summer is a far cry from our Persephone.”

  After a moment, Poseidon cleared his throat.

  “She was a beautiful girl. Warm and gentle.”

  “As all young women are.” He shrugged. “I didn’t care much for either one of them. Demeter used to be. . .eccentric. I had fears Persephone would have followed in her mother’s footsteps, so I never bothered…” His words drifted to silence as Poseidon nodded.

  My heart sank into my stomach at his words. In all the time I spent with my Dad, he had always made me feel as though I were enough. He loved me and wanted to know me. He was a real father. As I watched Zeus from afar, I knew he always would be. Zeus fell short of my expectations.

  “It’s not polite to eavesdrop,” a gruff voice said from behind. I was getting tired of this ‘sneak up behind Summer’ nonsense. Twisting on my heel, I pushed myself into the closest corner. I swallowed my surprise as I gazed up into Ares’ face. His jaw was tense as he glared at me; he looked much more stern than I had remembe
red.

  “I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I didn’t mean to. I was just looking—”

  “You don’t have to explain to me,” Ares replied. “But perhaps be more courteous. Zeus is not always so merciful as he was yesterday.”

  “You call that mercy?” I almost snarled. I had to remember who I was talking to. The God of War would see Zeus’s actions as merciful. I was sure if he had the choice, something much worse would have occurred. Ares didn’t respond. Instead, he pushed past me, entering the room with Zeus and Poseidon. They greeted him with a smile, and an empty chair. I had no desire to follow in after him. Not alone. Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself from the wall and continued my search for Morpheus.

  I found another set of stairs I hadn’t seen before that took me to an upper deck.

  The view from the deck was beautiful. There was nothing but the air, the sea, and the sky. The sun was rising, and the sky was full of beautiful, white clouds. At least here, I felt as though I could take a moment and just breathe. In the silence of the dawn, my mind began to wander. Was Darce alright? Had he made it back to the Underworld safely? Would he try to come back for me? I wanted to know how he had reacted to Minthe’s sudden reappearance.

  I wrapped my arms around myself and released a long, deep breath. I needed to be strong, not only for Darce, but for myself too. I cried enough tears to last a long while. Now, I needed to focus on being strong, and to prepare for the game I would now have to play alone.

  “Summer!”

  Aphrodite’s voice startled me, causing me to turn quickly in place, while my hand braced myself on the railing. Aphrodite peered at me curiously with a tentative smile, and a raised brow. “There you are. I was wondering if we’d see you today.”

  They approached me in a neon green tracksuit, with the perfect shade of eyeshadow to match. Everything about them was perfect. Aphrodite could give beauty gurus a run for their money.

  “Yup,” I said with an elevated sigh. “Here I am.” I had barely attempted to make myself look presentable before I left my room. Honestly, I didn’t care. But I imagined, to at least them, I looked like a mess.