Run for your life

[saveyourpoison]

Yes, he had wanted to die. Yes, he had chosen not to heed his mother's warning to leave the woods before the Bacchante arrived. And yet, when he saw the wild, mad, raging women he did not fancy being torn by them simply for the sake of his sex. No. He ran. Ran for a life he had not valued before. A life he had wanted to end and not had the courage

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[get_a_lifetime]

Death was sitting on the shore in a dress, but draped in a black shawl that nearly swallowed her. Her brother had been right. Without her hair, the sun made her neck sting.

Catching a brief flash of movement, she turned to look at who it might be and she recognized a new, very old, face.

She smiled gently and shook her head. She rose like smoke and the wind caught the fringe of her shawl as she faced him.

"Sweet boy," she said, her voice a familiar tone to those who had heard it more than once. A familiar language to make him comfortable in her presence. "Have you only just arrived?"

[saveyourpoison]

The sun was so bright here, by the sea. He had reached it shortly after finding the path and perhaps the brightness was why he didn't see her - despite the blackness in all the white.

The voice was familiar and it was a scare as well as a comfort - he had heard it recently and he had failed her chance. He nodded. "Yes, Aunt Teleute." He knelt in the sand next to her so he could look at her too and she at him. "I was running in the woods of Thrace and then I was here." He feared her judgement, though he knew she wasn't one to judge.

[get_a_lifetime]

"I always liked Thrace. But it was not like here," she replied, looking him, paying particular attention to his neck. "I wasn't expecting you."

[saveyourpoison]

It was a strange answer and the look she was giving him was a bit disconcerting. "I liked it too," he said. "Until all the joy went away. I wasn't expecting this either." It occurred to him that perhaps he should ask what and where this was and what was going on, but he wasn't really sure how to. That and he was still a bit scared.

[get_a_lifetime]

"Orpheus, why were you running in the woods of Thrace?" she asked, looking at him evenly, unblinking, and unsympathetic. She already knew the answer, but she wanted to hear it from him.

[saveyourpoison]

"I was fleeing," he said, looking back at her. He didn't fight, she knew that. "From the Bacchante. They were angry. I did not want to please them the way they like - I swore never to be with another woman."

[get_a_lifetime]

A laugh snorted out her nose and her hand flew up to cover the broad smile.

"Oh, you stupid little boy," she said merrily, shaking her head. "All right, take my hand," she said, offering her other hand as the one against her lips slid lower. "There's a lot we should get clear before I let you go."

[saveyourpoison]

He huffed at being called stupid and little, but he took her hand too. It was nigh-impossible to be annoyed with his Aunt. "Please," he said. "If you say so it must be important." He also owed her for helping him and he trusted her more than most of his relatives. She was also easier to understand than most of them.

[get_a_lifetime]

Her hand was cool, but solid and as solid as the world. "You've got another chance at your life, Nephew. No promises, no deals. One chance. This place is somewhere I've never been. I'm as mortal as you are, now," she said softly, guiding his hand to her chest to feel her heartbeat.

[saveyourpoison]

"Oh..." He breathed deeply, concentrating on that as he felt her heart under his hand, closing his eyes to better feel. "You... are like me...?" He opened his eyes again, the question in his eyes as well. "No god can do this so how did this happen?"

[get_a_lifetime]

"Something greater than myself. Something bigger than all that is known," she replied. "Isn't it keen?"

[saveyourpoison]

"It is both frightening and overwhelming, but you seem happy. If you are happy with this, then I will be too." His hand was still there, feeling, as if he'd understand better with each heartbeat.

[get_a_lifetime]

"Don't be such a downer, Orpheus. Sometimes you're just like your father," she said, still smiling brightly. "...Who is also here. And human. Just so you know."

[saveyourpoison]

He wrinkled his nose. "I would rather I wasn't, but if you say so." It was hardly wise to contradict her too much. "And I cannot imagine my father being human." That simply had to be said. He was still both hurt and angry.