A Song for the Underworld by Adam Alexander Haviaras

Author:Adam Alexander Haviaras [Haviaras, Adam Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781988309453
Publisher: Eagles and Dragons Publishing

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Upon a soaring cliff of blackest adamant, Apollo stood alone in the roaring wind. The sound of keening exploded in his hearing and made him feel more cold and alone than ever he had before in his ageless life. His far-seeing eyes searched for the sun, for starlight, or even the moon, but all he saw was an endless expanse of grey and black, a world constantly aflame with sadness and grief.

He would have wept for all that he saw and felt, for what he could not see or feel in that remote part of the Underworld. But he knew it was the only way…

“Uncle,” he called. “May I speak with you?”

There was a pause in the wind, as if the sound had been taken out of it, and then the tall, shadowy figure of Hades was suddenly standing before him.

The Lord of the Underworld pulled back his black cowl to reveal his dark, bearded face, and his deep green eyes looked over Apollo. “Nephew…” Hades said, his voice deep and commanding, laced with menace and bitterness. “Why do you come to me unannounced?”

“My lord, Hades,” Apollo began, not bowing, but spreading his arms wide. “I come to make a plea.”

“For your son, Orpheus.”

“Yes.”

“He will join me soon enough. He longs for death.” Hades smiled.

“But Death does not yet long for him.”

Hades did not speak, for he sensed the truth of the words.

“My lord…” Apollo did bow then, his crown within reach of Hades’ grasp.

“Rise and speak, nephew. I have no quarrel with you.”

“I come to ask for a soul.”

“Eurydice,” Hades said without hesitation.

Apollo nodded. “Yes. The world needs Orpheus, and he is lost without her. The world of men and gods was better, richer for the two of them being in it, together.”

“You know what you ask is forbidden by the laws of the Cosmos.”

“I do know, yes.”

“Then you have wasted a visit to my realm.” Hades turned to look out over the vast plains of his kingdom from that high cliff, to see the many millions of dead roaming without end, for all eternity, their wailing and weeping incessant and never-ending. He spoke with his back to Apollo. “You say the world needs Orpheus, that he and Eurydice made it a better place. But he never played for me. I was not present at their nuptials. I was not invited to Olympus when his music made the rest of the Gods weep with joy at its beauty.” The Lord of the Underworld sighed bitterly. “Why would I even consider your request?”

“Because I humbly ask you, Lord.” Apollo stepped toward Hades, smaller in his dark presence, though his light did reach out in that lightless place.

Hades turned back to him. “The only way to get a soul back from the Underworld is to give one in exchange. You also know this. Are you willing to sacrifice your son for his love?”

Apollo looked over the far realm of Death and knew that he could not, though Orpheus might have wished for it.

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