Through the Marshes
Heaven
Darkness surrounds me, and something that smells damp and old fills my nose. Is that mildew? Whatever it is, it stinks.
I get to my feet, wiping my hands. Whatever I was lying on was slimy. I wrinkle my nose and cast a spell. A ball of light appears in my hand, and I look around.
Is anyone there? I write, hoping someone sees the dazzling gold letters, remembering what the pathfinder had said, to follow the moonlight.
“Nope,” Theo’s drawl comes. “You’re all alone, Goldilocks.”
I roll my eyes. Why him of all people? I turn to look for him, but can’t see him anywhere.
Where are you? I write.
“Right behind you,” he whispers in my ear, making me jump. I catch my balance, almost slipping on the slippery ground. He snickers. “And here I was thinking you were good at sensing people.”
I glare at him. Not funny. Why did I get stuck with you?
“You manifested it with your dreams,” he taunts. “About that, do you want to talk about them?”
My cheeks burn up, and I glare at him. Shut up! I write viciously.
“Make me.”
That is the most immature thing I’ve ever heard. I mean, the last time someone probably said that was Tatum when he was twelve!
Don’t tempt me, or I will, I warn him, planting a hand on my hip.
He chuckles before looking around. My eyes adjust to the odd darkness, and I can see him.
“So, we follow the moonlight. Try to keep up, Blondie; there’s no one to rescue you out here,” he says, shouldering his scythe and leading the way.
I simply glare at his back, following him.
The glowing scars are a good enough target to follow.
They’re thin and small, but as long as he doesn’t go too far, I won’t lose him.
I look up at the moonlight, following the stream of light. I close the gap between us. Follow the moon or the moonlight itself? I ask.
He looks down at me, seeming to think it over.
“Huh. Good question. I’m going to take it literally. We follow the ray of light, and if we don’t get anywhere, we switch plans.”
I nod. I’m glad he’s taking the lead because if we fuck up, he can’t blame me.
We travel in silence for quite a while before he stops.
“I don’t think this is correct; we’re going in circles.
Not sure why we summoned a pathfinder or whatever random weirdo we conjured up.
I mean, if he’s supposed to find the path, then where the fuck is he?
We’re being left to find our own path. This shit makes no sense. ”
I roll my eyes. They created a path; we need to take it ourselves, unless you want to be carried like a princess? I write, wrinkling my nose at him.
I’m waiting for a cocky reply as I turn to look across the marshes when, suddenly, he pushes me. I let out a silent scream as I slip and slide into the murky water. Theo snickers.
“You alright there, Blondie?”
I turn, trying to get up when I feel something wrap around my ankle. Something that feels like a skeletal hand.
I’m in control. Breathe.
I cast a spell, my powers blazing as I blast whatever is in the water, illuminating the darkness. Theo turns sharply just as I see the outline of a figure in the water. My heart betrays me, skipping a beat before several skeletal figures lurch towards me.
“Holy fuck!” Theo growls.
My eyes burn, my aura surrounding me as I send several blades of magic through the water, just as Theo drops to his knees beside the water and grabs me by the upper arm and pulls me.
Pain rips through that shoulder as several hands wrap around my legs, dragging me back down.
I look up at him as he realises he won’t be able to get me out.
Whatever is down there is holding me tighter and taking me further down. My waist is in the water now.
How deep is it? When I fell, I swear I was sitting at the bottom. It wasn’t that deep.
“Fuck,” Theo mutters, his eyes turning milky white.
One hand remains wrapped around my arm as he swings the scythe into the water with his other hand.
Dazzling blue and white flashes through the water, and I see the skeletal figures scatter.
“I got you,” he grunts before he lifts me from the water, pulling me onto solid ground.
I stumble, brushing my legs to make sure nothing is holding on, one hand on Theo’s knee, before I realise and jerk away. I snap my head up to look at him, giving him the best death glare I can. He raises his hand in surrender.
“Sorry?” He grins.
No! I write, shoving him as I stand up, my clothes and hair sticking to me. Taking a deep breath, I’m about to cast a spell to dry myself when Theo curses.
“We should go. Now!” he shouts, grabbing my wrist as he breaks into a run. I look over my shoulder to see the skeletal shadows that are dragging themselves from the water.
Holy Goddess!
I raise my hand, and the earth rises before them, throwing them back into the water.
Theo slows down, slashing through two of the skeletal marsh dwellers.
More are coming! I focus on the ground, breaking off a piece of the earth from beneath us, moulding it together and lifting us several feet from the ground.
Theo spins his scythe, pointing it down as he swings it, cutting through several more as a blade of aura tears from his scythe. The slab of hardened earth tilts, and I turn to see that one of those things has grabbed onto it.
I raise my hand as both Theo and I blast it away simultaneously, and then we’re free from their grasp.
“Well, that was fun,” he remarks. “Nice carpet, Jasmine.”
I glare at him. This was all your fault; you pushed me into the water! I write angrily.
“You’ll live.” He pats my head, only making my anger bubble before he sits on the edge, dangling his legs down. “Is this thing going to be able to handle our weight?”
I ignore him; I’m still mad at him for pushing me!
“Oi, Blondie, you gone deaf now, too?”
That’s it!
Turning, I kick him with everything I have square between his damn back blades, knocking his ass off our ride.
I smile triumphantly as he yells, not expecting that, but the asshole manages to grab hold of the slab of earth before he falls.
“What the hell, Heaven, do you want to kill me? You do know that I’m the hottest Westwood? The world won’t survive without me.”
I snort, glad I can at least make those sounds. You’re not. And the world can! I write. Now apologise properly, or I’m not letting you back up here.
“You sure about that?” he challenges, a glint in those annoying eyes of his.
I cast him a warning glare, and he winks at me. Then, a mist surrounds us, and he’s gone from view. I hear him chuckle, and then I feel him behind me, his arms wrapping around me. “Now, don’t try anything silly because I’m not letting go, cus I know you’ll just fuck me over again.”
I’m too aware of how close he is. I jab my elbow into his ribs. Heat flares through me, irritation mixing with something I refuse to name. I drive my elbow into his side, but he only draws me closer. “Play nice, Blondie. Follow the moon, let’s hope we find the others soon.”
My cheeks burn, but he’s right. Fine, for now I’ll call a truce, but once we’re on the ground, I’m going to get revenge on you for shoving me in the water, I write. I feel dirty, and these clothes are stuck to me.
I look down, but I cannot see anything past his arm as I cast the spell and dry myself.
If I stink, I’m going to murder you, I write, turning to glare up at him.
He grins; those teeth look even sharper up close. “Na, you smell the same as always, floral and earthy.”
I still? That’s how I smell? Shut up! I write. He simply sighs in an exaggerated manner.
“You’re annoying,” he remarks. I simply shake my head, crossing my arms as I guide us to follow the path the moon is casting.
He’s too close, even if there is space between us.
My shoulders are still pressed against him, and occasionally I notice the way my ass brushes against his leg. Urgh, where is my mind going!
I stay quiet after that, unable to think of anything to say when I’m unable to ignore the fact that his arm is lazily slung around my shoulders. “Looks like we’re going in the right direction,” Theo says after a while, breaking the silence.
Wow, I had no idea, I write sarcastically.
“You really want to pick a fight with me, don’t you?” he remarks.
Yeah, because you like picking on girls.
He snickers. “I pick on everyone. You’re the fierce one ready to bite off the head of anyone who gets in your way.”
I roll my eyes. What do you think those things were? I ask, now looking at the murky marshes beneath us.
“Lost souls, or cursed souls,” he answers, with so much conviction in his bored voice that I turn to look at him sharply.
How are you so sure? I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“I know souls.” He shrugs. “But I wasn’t expecting them to be in there. I only noticed them when they made their appearance known.” He grins at me. “See? Wasn’t intentional.”
I don’t believe you, I write, flicking my head.
“Ok, it was intentional, but I didn’t intentionally aim to throw you into a soul-infested pond.”
If that’s an apology, it’s pretty pathetic. Do better, I write.
“You wish, Blondie, you wish.”
We fall silent again and keep moving. I focus my magic on guiding the earth beneath us in the right direction. The spell itself is pretty easy. I infuse it with slightly extra magic so even if my concentration is broken, it will remain airborne for at least two minutes after my spell is destroyed.
He moves slightly and leans forward. “So, tell me, what was the second trade you made with Hades?”
My heart thunders, not expecting that. Isn’t he supposed to be an idiot? How did he remember that?
For me to know, and you to never find- I’m mid-writing when he pushes my hand down, not letting me finish my sentence.
“Oh, come on, I know Hades. It has to be something big. He gave you a lot, and he doesn’t give things without a huge price. Sure, he thinks he took your voice, but I don’t know, I think that second one locked it in for him.”
Maybe he’s not as dumb as he looks, but I can’t tell with him.
Like I said, mind your own business.
“Oh, come on, Shawty, your secret’s safe with me.” Our eyes meet, and I realise this is my chance to ask him another question at the expense of sharing what he wants to know.
And yours are safe with me. I’ll tell you if you tell me what trade you’ve made with him.
Although I have no idea why, I trust him. I know he might be an idiot, but he can keep a secret.
“Oh, we’re not going there.” He shakes his head, his white locks falling in front of his face.
Then I’m not sharing, I write, turning away only for him to remove his arm and instead step around to face me.
“Fine, let’s do it. Don’t be so stubborn.”
Well then, start. I went first last time, I remind him, tilting my head.
He smirks. “So, this stays here, alright? Cause I swear I don’t need anyone knowing shit.” I nod, and I mean it. “I’m fucking crazy,” he mutters, so low that I barely catch it.
That I agree with.
I wait, watching as his eyes scan our surroundings before he massages his jaw.
“The night Ares was attacked at the Academy, he died.” He now looks directly at me, and I feel as if someone has just slapped me.
My eyes widen as I stare at him. “I asked Hades to return his soul since it hadn’t crossed yet…
It wasn’t like he had been dead for hours… ”
I nod slowly, wanting to know what he gave in return for that. I was right; something odd happened that night.
He sighs. “Man, I need a fag.”
So, what did you have to give in return? I write, unable to stop my curiosity.
He grins. “Call it karma, and please don’t push me off when I say this, but my ability to dream, or escape into nothingness.
I can no longer escape my thoughts. Every time I close my eyes, I see the faces of those I’ve killed for Hades.
Twisted, init?” But for the briefest flicker, the edge of that grin falters, and a shadow passes over his eyes.
My heart thuds as I feel pain crushing my chest. For the first time, I feel pain for him. That’s cruel.
“Don’t look at me like that, Blondie,” he murmurs, stepping a fraction closer, the faintest brush of his arm against mine sending a shiver up my spine. “Or I might start thinking you care.”
I look away, not sure why I feel suddenly emotional.
Control, Heaven. Control.
In our own twisted ways, we both hide our emotions, just behind different masks. Mine behind stoic indifference and his behind playful amusement.
No wonder he’s always tired… When he’s sleeping, he’s not really resting; he’s constantly being reminded of the lives he’s taken. Is that why he doesn’t sleep much?
And Ares doesn’t remember anything, does he? He doesn’t know what you did for him? I ask.
He shakes his head, then smirks. “Doesn’t matter, he’s fucking fun to take the piss out of. That trade was worth having him around to torture.”
He’s doing it again.
I nod, not about to call him out when he just shared something so heavy with me.
“Your turn, Blondie. What sacrifice did you make for Curls?”
Sienna…
I smile slightly. I promised that when I die, I won’t enter the higher realm. Instead, I’ll reside in the underworld.
I’ll never get to be with my father again or Grandpapa. I won’t get to live with the rest of my family. Instead, I’ll walk the halls of Hades’ Kingdom forever. I look down, but this time my tears betray me, and I close my eyes, wishing them away.
Don’t cry. Do not cry.
I press my lips together, glad for once that I didn’t have to speak those words because I would have sounded so pitiful.
Strong hands cup my face. His thumbs brush away my tears with surprising gentleness, and I open my eyes to meet the milky white ones before me. He offers me a half-smile, one that feels oddly genuine.
“Guess what, Blondie?” His voice is rough, but there’s an almost teasing softness to it. “You won’t be alone. We’ll be stuck with each other for eternity, ‘cause that’s exactly where I’m headed, too. Besides, we’ll need Heaven in Hell, right?”
It’s not funny. It shouldn’t be funny. And yet, the way he says it, so utterly resigned, yet trying to make me laugh, pulls a smile from me. My chest aches, but a small, silent laugh escapes me.
For a moment, in the reminder of death itself, somehow, Theo Westwood makes it feel less terrifying.