Summoning Bones
40. Promises in Asphodel Trinkets

Cadmus ran to her side as she collapsed into herself. Her choices, her power, her immortality all weighed on her crushing her under a cloud of doubt.

“Melinoe, Melinoe,” whispered Cadmus, her name tasting like sweet honey on his tongue. “It will be okay. I’m right here.” Yet, as he said those words guilt ripped away. By returning to the Eldridge mansion, Melinoe would be placed in more danger and it was up to Cadmus to prevent it at the cost of his own freedom.

She looked up at him with teary eyes.

“Can you walk?”

“I don’t know.” She pushed him away and pushed herself to standing. Her legs wobbled under her weight, but leaning on Cadmus she was able to cross to the fire and sit beside it.

“We should rest here for the night-” Cadmus began, sitting next to Melinoe and rubbing his hand in soothing circles on her back.

“No! Sorry, it’s just,” Melinoe breathed out. “Hades will begin to hunt us as soon as possible. We need to move as far away as possible.”

Cadmus stared at her, his hand pausing its circular motions.

“You’re right, but you’re in no fit shape to walk.”

Melinoe shook her head.

“We need to move. I can limp along beside you. But tonight, we must make it to the village.”

Cadmus growled, but after seeing the terror in Melinoe’s eyes, he sighed.

“Fine, but I’ll carry you. I won’t let you hurt yourself by walking.”

Melinoe rolled her eyes as Cadmus bent down and lifted her against his chest. She felt his heart beating, counting down the days until he died. She realized her heart now beat with the same ending. She would die. May it be in years or days when Hades caught them.

Cadmus began to walk into the woods. Melinoe closed her eyes to the steady sound of his footsteps and the beat of his heart. He walked quickly, not being slowed by Melinoe’s human-like speed as before. He traveled quickly through the night, wanting to put as much space between Hades and Melinoe as possible.

He walked to the next village, and by the same he had walked to the trees on the other side, the sun had begun to set. The trees cast long shadows over the path and Cadmus as he continued to carry his love through the trees. They opened to the winding road leading to the King’s castle. Cadmus bowed his head and hurried into the secrecy of the trees once more, looking back at the guards. Their numbers had doubled in the days following their theft. He glanced down to Melinoe with a smile, remembering the sight of her in the hallway, holding a crown in her dress. She was stunning then, even with her glamour. Now, she was beyond words.

Cadmus turned from the gates and continued into the forest, hiding under the shadows of night. He turned from the castle and carried Melinoe forward, towards the village he had called home, and towards danger.

Melinoe’s eyes flickered open as she stirred.

“She’s awake,” Cadmus’ voice said somewhere off to her right.

“I’ll get some food, when was the last time she ate?” Zagreus’ voice said on her other side. She groaned and tried to wiggle her toes and fingers, letting feeling return to them.

“Yesterday, I think, I don’t know. Time was strange in the Underworld-”

“You didn’t think to mention she was in the Underworld first?” Yelled Zagreus. Annoyance washing off of him in waves, he hated dealing with wolves and their ridiculous mate bond. If distracted them.

“Things got a little complicated when we left, but her weakness isn’t from that anyways. She had to bring Makaria back with us,” Cadmus growled.

“Makaria’s here?” At his hasty question, Melinoe pushed herself to sitting. She was on Zagreus’ couch, Cadmus sat on the floor next to her, and Zagreus was standing by the doorframe to the kitchen, his arms crossed.

“Yes, she went to replace Mother,” Melinoe said quietly with a hoarse voice.

“And Father?”

“Is still in the Underworld, waiting for a chance to strike like the snake he is,” she grumbled.

“If I know anything, Father will not stay in the Underworld for long. He will chase you down,” Zagreus warned.

“I know, I’ll stay silent here, heal, and recover.”

“Then what? Run? Live your life running? Why do long to stay with the mortals?” Zagreus scoffed. Cadmus growled at him.

“I don’t have a choice,” she whispered. Cadmus took her hand, squeezing it tightly. “Father stole my immortality.”

Zagreus’ arrogance and frustration at his sister fell. He uncrossed his arms. Cadmus pulled Melinoe closer to him, hugging her tightly.

“No,” he whispered. She nodded, tears running down her face. “And you’re going to still run?”

“What choice do I have?”

“I’ll keep you safe, I promise my love,” Cadmus said to Melinoe. Zagreus let out a bark of laughter.

“Ha, a wolf against a god? You will die, and Hades will take your love and make her work under him.”

“I won’t let him,” growled Cadmus.

“It doesn’t matter. Hades gets what he wants, no matter what you say,” Melinoe said quietly. She faced Zagreus with hard eyes. “Make me disappear.”

“It won’t last. No matter what I do now, Hades will replace you.” Zagreus frowned.

Melinoe shook her head. “What choice do I have? Help me disappear, I’ll go to the Lord, save his daughter and leave.”

“I’ll come with you,” Cadmus said quickly. They could run away together and live a perfect life together. When Hades came, he would fight until he died protecting Melinoe.

“Your cloaks will work until I replace something stronger, but how do you intend on bringing the Lord’s daughter back when you have no power?”

Cadmus and Zagreus both looked at her.

“Zagreus, I need a favor,” she said sweetly. He rolled his eyes and laughed.

“Of course, what is it?”

A plan quickly came to her, forming in her mind as she braced herself on Cadmus, pushing to standing. As she walked to the kitchen table, she spoke.

“A glamour. You will look like I did when I left, bring the daughter back to life, you can bring a single soul back? Please,” she pleaded. Cadmus sat beside her, holding her hand in his once more.

“Yes.”