A lesser god might have gotten drunk on a light like that far sooner, and by his father’s beard he had tried to fight it, death shouldn’t know weakness. Death is too final for something as flimsy as weakness, too definite to waver - but he watched her all the same. A light like that didn’t go to shadowy places, and while the golden light of a late afternoon made him bristle Hades found himself with his hands resting against the bark of a willow tree that wanted so much to twist and recoil while he, oblivious stared at something that had no business being so captivating.
There was never a where or a when. There was no right moment for death to come falling at the heels of green and vibrant life. The impossibility of it was maddening. Hades had never wanted for anything, lord of the dead and all the riches of the earth, he had known only the occasional rivalrous pang for his two brothers and their temperate domains, but he had never actually wanted for anything.
No, Death didn’t know want until he knew the color of her eyes - and then that became almost all he knew.
Hades moved forward, more shadow than man at some angles, an odd stain against the soft carpet of grass beneath his feet. If he had a heart it would have ached.
“Hello,” he was behind her in an instant, just inside arm’s reach but trying not to be too startling. Which was difficult; he stared at her with fists loosely clenched, eyes wide as though he had been slapped across the face. She was even more luminous up close. It made him ache in a way he hadn’t been aware was possible. “There are good apple trees,” his voice was low and clipped, as though he didn’t like having to talk at all. In truth he didn’t like talking at that moment, didn’t have any idea why he was saying the things he said. Apple trees? That was not part of the plan. “Over there.”
nine years late i know
There was never a where or a when. There was no right moment for death to come falling at the heels of green and vibrant life. The impossibility of it was maddening. Hades had never wanted for anything, lord of the dead and all the riches of the earth, he had known only the occasional rivalrous pang for his two brothers and their temperate domains, but he had never actually wanted for anything.
No, Death didn’t know want until he knew the color of her eyes - and then that became almost all he knew.
Hades moved forward, more shadow than man at some angles, an odd stain against the soft carpet of grass beneath his feet. If he had a heart it would have ached.
“Hello,” he was behind her in an instant, just inside arm’s reach but trying not to be too startling. Which was difficult; he stared at her with fists loosely clenched, eyes wide as though he had been slapped across the face. She was even more luminous up close. It made him ache in a way he hadn’t been aware was possible. “There are good apple trees,” his voice was low and clipped, as though he didn’t like having to talk at all. In truth he didn’t like talking at that moment, didn’t have any idea why he was saying the things he said. Apple trees? That was not part of the plan. “Over there.”