Chapter 3
I wanted to spend the next day mulling over his every word, but I wasn’t so lucky.
The week had turned over, and with the new one came the start of preparations for our solstice festival, only a few days away.
It would be a grand affair, beginning with an elaborate procession from the city gate to the temple, where sacrifices would be offered to the gods.
Then all through the night we would celebrate with song, dance, and ritual prayer, supplicating Demeter at the start of the new season of growth.
Of course, this meant that my sisters and I, along with the rest of the temple, would be hard at work in preparation.
After an abbreviated morning reverence, we cleared the courtyard and carefully pruned the gardens until not a leaf was out of place.
There were banners to be hung, sacrificial animals to be chosen and purified, and stoneworks to be meticulously cleaned.
Everything must be perfect, since the procession, the sacrifices, and the ensuing party would reflect upon our city’s image in the eyes of the gods.
Unfortunately, when the daylight began to fade, it felt like we’d hardly made a dent in the necessary work.
My arms were heavy from hauling and polishing, and I probably looked even more tired than usual due to my minimal makeup.
Sweat weighed down my light brown waves and pulled against my hairpins, ruining an already sad-looking updo.
And there was so much more to do tomorrow!
Then, to top off the long day, it started to rain.
At that, the last of us still working put away our projects and headed for cover, moving beneath the decorative overhang which marked the edge of the courtyard.
For a blessing, Keeper followed suit, seemingly uninterested in enforcing continued work.
An entrance to the temple’s network of buildings was conveniently nearby, and my sisters led the way inside, looking just as exhausted as I felt.
I sighed sadly, finally alone under the canopy, and frowned out into the rain. It was a warm rain, which was not so bad; nevertheless, the volume was increasing, making the doorway to the dry temple halls look particularly inviting.
But it was sunset, and I wanted to see if Thanatos would come back.
And since I was reasonably sure he wasn’t omniscient, he wouldn’t find me if not right where we liked to meet: all the way across the garden in the rain.
I supposed he hadn’t even suggested a time to meet at all, but I should check every day at this hour, just to be sure.
I thought it best to make the trip as quickly as possible.
With a resigned sigh I jogged in that direction, holding my hand up to shield my eyes.
As I made my way through the trees, I wondered what I might say to Death if he was there.
I wasn’t sure, but I figured the words would come when I saw his face.
What must have been a brief journey felt decidedly longer than that.
As I neared our meeting place, I slowed, dropping to a lazy walk.
No, I did not just run here. No, my face is not all red.
I gave a quick assessment, still blinking raindrops out of my eyes.
Regrettably, the quality of my appearance had fallen sharply since yesterday.
My hairpins were barely holding on, and dirt and leaves covered the hem of my long, white chiton.
My only solace was that the wet garment was clinging to my curves in a satisfying way. Fuck—now my face was definitely red.
I could see our meeting area now. The stone bench was empty, but underneath the oak tree there was a shadow, and then a movement.
Feathers? I wandered off the clay-brick path and up to the tree, ducking beneath its leafy canopy.
Sheltered at last from the rain, I rubbed the droplets off my eyelashes and had a look.
Well, it was a good thing I’d decided to come. Resplendent, incomparable Thanatos waited for me, leaning against the tree trunk. Not a hair out of place. Damn it! He could have at least gotten a little damp to make me feel better in comparison.
“You’re all wet,” he said matter-of-factly. A tinge of amusement glinted in his eyes, barely discernible behind his stoic expression.
“Yes.” I sighed in irritation, trying to wring out my hair. “Well, it couldn’t be helped. Anyway…good evening, Thanatos.” I liked to say his name. It was like speaking something sacred, something hidden between us.
He looked me over again, and I couldn’t read his expression. “You cannot stay like that,” he finally said. Concern?
“Yeah, well, I’m not about to run back through it. Better to wait here until it stops, and we can talk.”
“I can take us somewhere else,” he offered. “Just give me a moment.” And he disappeared.
I blinked at the empty air in front of me. Oh, man. Deep down, I realized that I hadn’t expected him to come, and that part of me was still in shock. The rest was wondering how his beauty seemed to exceed my memory every time we met. Dear gods. Now I was so nervous.
He appeared back in front of me with a tiny gust of air and gave me a tentative smile. “Okay. Um, can I touch you?”
I nodded, fighting to keep my expression neutral.
Thanatos put his hands on my waist, and I stepped closer, turning my head to hide my blush.
As I did so, the scenery surrounding us began to fall away, and I realized why he’d needed to hold me.
Our environment was shifting, twisting into knots which tightened and then unwound into someplace new.
I took a breath of different air and looked around.
It was still raining: the same rain, only now it was falling with soft taps onto the circular roof above us.
A long, cushioned bench jutted out from the walls of the small enclosure, and a short table was positioned in the center.
An archway lined with greenery opened the space out into the rainy night.
I knew this place. It was one of the high-walled gazebos in the park on the other side of the complex, meant for peaceful contemplation or philosophical debate.
In truth, that meant a place to which old men walked slowly and in full view, attempting to appear especially learned and wise.
I had never cared to wonder what they discussed in these rooms. The walk from the high wing to here was a pilgrimage of pretentiousness, in my opinion.
But now, lit by a single lantern and with no scholars in sight, I had to admit it did appear quite cozy. Much better than under a tree, in any case. My sleepwear had been placed neatly on the end of the bench.
I raised an eyebrow. “Did my sisters just watch that vanish from the top of my bed?”
Thanatos shrugged. “If they did, they will surely talk themselves out of belief before morning. Just…put your things on. I will go over there.” He had motioned toward the archway, but instead he made a flustered face and decided it was best to simply vanish.
I took the opportunity to briefly hyperventilate, then gathered myself again and peeled off the wet fabric of my chiton.
I set it out to dry near the archway and pulled on the underclothes he’d left on the seat: a white sleeveless tunic of lighter cloth, which fell only to my knees.
The weight of it made me feel conspicuously bare, although I had to admit it was much nicer to be dry.
I arranged myself near the center of the bench to wait for him, crossing my legs timidly over each other.
When Thanatos blinked into the room again, he was holding a purple-colored blanket that looked suspiciously similar to the ones I’d seen stocked in the high wing. He draped it over me and then flickered into the seat at my right, his wings flattened against the backrest.
I couldn’t help but smile as I pulled the opulent fabric up to my chest. “Thank you. And which of the great dignitaries is missing this?” I wondered, delighted.
“Whoever it is, I am sure they would be pleased to have it used in service of the gods,” he snickered. “No need to know which one.”
I laughed, and my lingering unease melted away.
There was something effortless about sitting with Thanatos, now that he offered me more of his personality.
His presence invoked a calming stillness that seemed to hang in the air around us.
“What I wouldn’t give to see those fools groveling at your feet!
” I admitted. “People grovel, right? That’s got to be a thing they do. ”
“Sometimes. Mostly the entitled ones, yes, and those who die unexpectedly. Actually, that is why I was here the day we met. I wanted to see what the old man would do.”
“Oh! Damarion?” I asked excitedly. “What happened?”
“The usual terror and ranting. ‘O Lord Thanatos, I know where I am going, carry me hither, blah, blah, blah.’ Religious people…it is like they rehearse these things.” He rolled his eyes. “It was quite the disappointment, really, until I noticed you gawking in the corner.”
“But was he right?” I asked in wonder. “I mean, he probably thought he’d go to Elysium. I even prayed to send him there as part of our custom! Did it work?”
Apparently that was a silly question, as I received a patronizing glance. “I do not know, though I very much doubt it,” said Thanatos. “I fly the souls across the divide, and then I leave them with the ferryman at the riverbank. Why would I follow where each one ends up?”
“I…suppose you wouldn’t,” I admitted. “I really need to shake this notion that you know everything that goes on down there.”
“Perhaps hold on to it to flatter me.”
“O Lord Thanatos, keeper of wisdom, sage of all knowledge above and below—”
“Fuck off, Cyrie.” But he was smiling playfully. He had a pretty smile.
“Death is swearing at me!” I giggled, marveling at the absurdity of it. “Fuck! The gods swear, too! I’m learning so much today.”