The Consort

Forgetfulness

On the dusty floor of the cell Cronus sat with his legs crossed underneath him, his elbows resting on them lightly, palms facing the ceiling in meditation. He breathed deep and slow, his brow furrowing before his azure eyes shot open. They roamed the space before he found me. His mouth stretched into a smile, and ever-so-carefully the God of Time untangled himself and stood. The titanous height overwhelmed the cramped space in which he was held. Cronus crossed his arms, patient. 

“You summoned me?” I stepped closer to the cell, peering into the darkness curiously. I blinked, and as my eyes opened I felt Cronus grab my waist, pulling me closer. His eyes passed through me like no other, it was as if my exterior mattered little, it was my heart and soul the God before me wanted. 

“So the little consort has come after all.” His light, jovial tone lilted through the room musically. 

“Queen.” I corrected, the title wouldn’t officially become mine for another few days, but with my husband gravelly ill, the task of ruling had undoubtedly fallen to me. 

Cronus bowed mockingly. “If you say so, Queen Persephone.”

I laced my fingers together contemplatively, a vial shining from underneath the light-brown tunic of the man in front of me. The antidote. I sighed, closing my eyes and dropping to the floor in front of him, knowing that this was all a part of what Cronus wanted. He wanted to see me desperate, he wanted me to plead for my husbands life. 

“Cronus please…” I had barely begun when the God of Time placed a delicate finger at my lips. 

“Hush child. I already know of what you seek. I merely wonder if you are strong enough to accept the consequences.” His stared straight into me before tilting his head to one side. After a moment Cronus lifted me allowing me to stand upon my own two feet once more. 

“Are you prepared to give up the love of your life to save your husband?” He smiled, his eyes pinning me to the spot. 

“Hades? No!” I gasped, covering my mouth with my hands as the God’s smile widened. 

“Dear, if you really believe he is the man within soul than you are blinder than I suspected.” His laugh was forced and deliberate, finally making the pieces click together. 

“Thanatos…” I whispered his name, even the sound of it on the breeze made me shiver, and I felt more than ever he was close to me.

Cronus only smiled in response. I stood silent before biting my lip and shaking my head. Rhea had warned sacrifice was necessary, but was I willing to go this far for a man I could only love second best? After a moment I straightened, allowing my eyes to rise slowly. 

“I accept your terms. But allow me twenty-four hours, to assure the antidote works.” Cronus raised an eyebrow, as if he would ever give me anything but the true product. He carefully pulled the necklace from around his head and passed it through the bars. 

“Very well your Majesty. You have twenty-four hours and counting.” He sneered and I ran. 

The long winding halls quickly confused me. I no longer knew which way to turn. In my haste to find myself back in the real world I had made several wrong turns. Monsters and other beings stalked their cages and watched as I passed, their chatter following me. I glanced behind me, certain the grumbling noise had reduced to absolute silence. My shoe inevitably found the tree root which stretchered across the hallway. I shot my hands out in front of me, the gravel imbedding itself in my palms.

“Ah.” I groaned, squinting at the scrapes before carefully digging out the largest pieces. I tried to stand before shooting pain wracked its way through my leg, forcing me to sit back down. I cursed lowly, carefully poking at my ankle, the swelling beginning to restrict my movement and pain causing me to jolt whenever I touched the injury.

The overwhelming presence of Thanatos filled my mind, his worry about my situation clear. After a moment, when he realised I was in no danger I felt him release a sigh. “Are you ok?” 

A blush swept up my features. “I just fell, did a little bit of damage to my ankle.”

Thanatos sighed at that, and I could feel he had at least two more people to escort to the afterlife before he would be able to help me. I sighed, closing my eyes - he would be with me soon enough. My eyes opened to the maw of a giant beast inches away from my face. The chimera lunged, its tongue slipping through the bars to reach for my face. 

I screeched, darting backwards into the waiting grip of an eight-armed monster. The beast behind me sniffed at my hair, its strong arms pulling me against its cage roughly. 

“What do we have here Griffon?” It asked of the beast opposite. The chimera looked at us intimately, its breath hard as it realised who I was. 

“The King’s consort.” It licked its lips, jealousy clouding its otherwise spotless eyes. 

The beast behind me laughed, an arm grabbing either breast as another searched for the end of my skirt. As it slithered up my leg I realised the beast behind me had no eyes. I struggled as a large claw ripped my dress and the last arm wound its way around to cover my mouth, lest I intended to scream. 

My dress was torn from my body, and the chimera named Griffon opposite us appeased my body inch by tantalising inch. The eight-legged monster behind me flicked its claws over my n*****s, its long tongue tracing my jawline, moving my hair to reveal the still tender fang marks from my last meeting with Thanatos.   

The chimera growled loudly jumping away from the bars of its cage. “Beware Acacius, she is marked.” The monster behind me did not heed its friends words. 

The light above was dimmed momentarily as Thanatos descended, furling the dark wings that accompanied his role as God of Death and landing before me with a light and grace that still caused my heart to stutter. With a single look in our direction the monster released me, forcing me to my feet and pushing me away.

I stumbled into Thanatos’ arms. He automatically embraced me, dark worried eyes searching mine before he dipped, his arm folding under my knees and lifting me gently. His lips found mine and I smiled, my fingers touching the curve of his cheek as he lifted us into the air.