Lovers of Myth

The halls were empty, with no guards or scientists in sight. In fact, the castle was completely empty of all mortals. Standing face to face, a goddess in long white silk stood tall before her past. He was the spitting image of their life together, but those fiery eyes remained full of agony.

Dhuosnos kneeled in front of the stone wall of his prison. Chains locked his ankles and wrists down as he looked up into the face of his lover. She was herself again, long black hair flowing freely down her back. Those dark eyes held so much hate for him he wanted to die just to escape her glare.

He knew he deserved this. Even after two hundred years, he could admit that, given the chance, he would kill everyone in his path to get to her. Even if he wasn't released for another thousand years, his determination to have her would never dull.

"I was once called Dullahan, Gan Ceann. I loved you and remained at your side regardless of your transgressions against me. For my loyalty, I was broken by your very hands."

Ivory, once a mortal woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, now stood transformed. Long black hair, dark obsidian eyes, and dawning the white silk gown of her past. Once more she was immortal, her mind whole. Her mortal upbringing was a simple drop in the barrel compared to the rest of her existence.

She had been drowning, every night, in the memories of her past life. Her immortal existence had been a long one to catch up on. With Loki's support, she did just that, honing in on every detail until she felt like herself once more. She would remember her human experiences but was grateful to finally be whole.

Lifting the whip she held, made entirely from bone, she faced her last trial. The judgment of her murderer.

"You killed every hope I created for myself, and when you still couldn't break me you tried to murder my lover. Instead, you took my life and that of your own child growing in my womb."

Tears filled his eyes as he remembered his sword digging deep into her chest. He had finally, truly, broken her heart. When he begged the fates to change the past, they did so at a price. He would have to stay in their prison for as long as Dullahan's soul existed. He could never be with her again. Did she know the price he paid?

Killing him would be a lesser punishment, he thought, considering she was immortal. As long as she was alive he would be trapped here. Wouldn't it be better to simply die?

Ceann looked over him in her godly form, her eyes piercing into his dark soul. She didn't want to end his life. In her heart, she knew he was dangerous to her existence, and to her child's safety, yet it hurt to snuff out his soul. She had loved him for so long.

The night before she had been visited by the Three Fates, and their message was for her ears alone. She hadn't thought one life could change so much, but apparently, she had tangled their threads and they weren't happy.

She stood in a dark, stone room just like the ones in Ollphéist Prison. Perhaps they were here, in this castle of torment. The one in front stood tall, her dress different from the other two. She was the one to speak, her words blunt so that they may not be misconstrued.

"We had a deal with another to end the life of your lover. The Trickster. In sacrificing your life you indebted us to another, and cut a very important thread."

The Fate to her left, blonde and innocent-looking, seemed bored of this whole affair. They held onto each other's hands as if they were lifelines. Was that normal for them? Did it really matter? The redhead continued.

"Your child would have been a great being, but you cut her thread."

Ceann opened her mouth to speak, but the third Fate raised her hand. She was a brunette, her gaze severe as she silenced the woman before she could interrupt the first Fate. She allowed the redhead to continue without interruption.

"We don't put the blame on you, child. You chose love, a pure intention. In truth, we didn't want to rid the world of Loki. He is a rather unique form of entertainment for us."

The blonde smiled at that comment. She hadn't seemed to be listening, but obviously, she had a soft spot for the God of Tricks. Ceann, the goddess that used to be Ivory, would note that for future needs.

"We agreed to help your soul, but it was not for the sake of your murderer's guilty conscience. Though they see it as such, you need to know the truth. What we tell you will never touch another's ears, you must swear it."

A secret? Should she agree to such a thing? Did she have a choice? The brunette caught her eye then, moving her head from side to side as if answering the question within her mind. She returned her gaze to the first, nodding in agreement.

"I swear to keep your secret."

All three women smiled, a gesture that absolutely terrified their visitor. The air in the room felt stuffy yet chilled. Their powers were palpable.

"Good girl. You have two choices. Die in your mortal skin, for it can't hold the powers of a deity much longer. Or, return to your immortal existence."

Her brow furrowed as she looked over the three women. That was it? What kind of a choice could that be? Die or live an immortal life. Surely they knew how ludicrous that sounded. Not to mention the fact that if she chose to die this would've all been a huge waste of time and power for them.

The blonde tilted her head to the side a bit at the woman's silence. The brunette smiled an eery grin, and the redhead spoke up suddenly.

"My deity, I almost forgot! The catch you were waiting for, I'm sure."

Her grin grew, then suddenly fell away as her pure white gaze grew wide. Within her empty eyes, Ceann saw a compromise she felt sick to her stomach about. Surely they didn't have that kind of power over life and death. Internally slapping herself she knew that they literally chose who could live and die.

"If you choose your immortal form, you must carry the life that could've been, once more."

She felt her guts twist. The pregnancy? They would save her and her child? Why? It sounded far too good to be true.

"What do you want with my child?"

The brunette and blonde took a step forward, now exactly side by side with the redhead. They all spoke in unison.

"Your child is destined to surpass even the greatest gods. She will be our retribution. You choose life and your child, or death without goodbyes."

They wanted her child. She would raise her child knowing they could take her at any moment. Or what if it was worse than that? What if they were going to use her for something, like a soldier to their whims? No matter how she looked at it she was signing a contract on her child's life. What could she do?

"No harm will come to your child at our hands."

The blonde spoke in a whisper, the other two sisters turning suddenly to look at her in anger. The blonde stood tall, her free hand moving to make an X over her own heart.

"Sworn upon my existence, she will be protected from our wrath."

The brunette and redhead looked horrified. It obviously wasn't a planned promise, but Ceann took the opportunity. She would take the deal, and the protection for her child, before they could change their minds.

"I agree to your terms. I will take back my immortality and my child. I only ask one thing of you."

The redhead raised an eyebrow.

"Have we not given you enough?"

She kneeled before them, bowing her head.

"Give me my retribution."

She looked up into their eyes, her gaze cold.

"You have power over this prison. I know that now. You've been keeping gods here for centuries, punishing them. Your own little collection."

They looked angered at her words. So she was right. It had just been an assumption, considering they reincarnated her and put her on a path straight to this place. Still, she had been right. They were impressed at her intelligence but weary of what she wanted.

"I swear to keep this secret as well. All I ask is that you give me my weapon and deliver him to me. Let it be my choice whether he lives or dies. This prison is no punishment. He knew his sins and still used me yet again when I came to him inside my mortal shell. He has learned nothing."

They were silent, thinking over their options. After what felt like only moments, the brunette was the one to speak.

"To exact such a judgment on another god will cost you."

She locked gazes with the deity.

"I have paid with my life and the life of my child for the minuscule crime of loving another. Something gods do without worry every day. What has he paid for his sins? Affairs, mortal slayings, attacking another god, killing his own child, and the mother of his child. He sits in a room for two hundred years, like a toddler in a corner. No, he deserves far worse."

The women looked taken aback, quickly calming themselves as grins spread wide across their gorgeous faces. Like cracks in the porcelain faces of dolls, their features were petrifying. Like a deadly spider behind the mask of a goddess. The redhead seemed impressed as she spoke.

"We should not be surprised that the mother of such a brilliant goddess is so strong in spirit as well. Very well, we concede. We will allow such judgment this one time, without punishment."

Now she stood before Dhuosnos, skeletal whip in hand, and looked down on his chained-up form for the last time. They had spent so much time together, and she never thought the day would come when she would turn on him. That he would turn on her.

"I never wanted to hurt you. I spent most of my existence allowing you to break me because I loved you and only wished to see you happy. When I left I knew you would never be satisfied. You are empty, hollow. You take and take, but could never feel the warmth of a heart. You know not of love, but simply wish for control and submission."

Lifting the whip, her chest tightened.

"Dhuosnos, The Dark One. Beidh tú damanta. You will be damned."

With her final words, her whip of bones came crashing down on his head. The weapon made easy work of him, cutting his body clean in half. Covered in his blood she silently thanked the fates, remembering their agreement.

Leaving the room she knew now why the place was void of mortals. They were an illusion, all except one. Mr. Kelson, who now stood at the end of the hall waiting for her. With a wave of her hand, she erased the crimson stain on her gown and flesh, her past put to rest for good.

"This way, my goddess."

He bowed slightly, outreaching his hand to a door that hadn't existed before this. She nodded a thank you, following his lead. Once the door opened she saw a bright light, smelled fresh air, and felt free at last. The mortal waited for her to pass through the gateway to another world, then closed the door. He made his choice, now an immortal servant to the Fates.

Ceann walked into a field of poppies, the sky above bright blue. It felt surreal to be here again, yet she didn't doubt it. Dropping the whip it dematerialized before touching the ground, her armor disappearing with it. In this place she was safe, her hand moving to rest on her currently flat abdomen.

Soon she would be round again, full of life. Closing her eyes she thought of her lover, his green eyes shifting gold in her vision. Where was he? Did he know she was free now? He hadn't come to her in a few nights, except in a few sparse dreams.

"To have such a gorgeous creature waiting for me, I am the luckiest being in existence."

She turned, facing the God of Tricks as he stood tall before her. His smile was warm and reassuring.

"I am not as pure as I once was, my love."

His smile never wavered as he moved in to place his hands on her hips. Did he know what she had done? That it was purely her choice to do so?

"I know more than you give me credit for, ást. Dhuosnos knew the price he might pay for his crimes against the gods and fates. He wore those chains willingly. You showed him mercy in his quick demise, something I would've never allowed if he had died by my hand."

So he knew and he didn't care. If anything, he was proud of her. It had been a hard decision, but one that would guarantee her safety. Looking into his eyes she felt her heart skip a beat.

"Do you also know..."

He raised an eyebrow, unsure of what she might say next. She knew by his silence that he was in the dark about her situation. She didn't know how he would feel but refused to keep such a secret. This was her second chance at true happiness.

"In order to accept my immortality from the Fates I had to agree to one thing. I must carry the same child that was stolen from me so long ago."

He looked shocked, his hands trembling slightly. Her child? The child of Dhuosnos. Suddenly all the pieces fell into place. That was what the Fates meant when they told him from the start that she would always hold another in her heart besides him. He would have to choose to love someone who would also love another.

It wasn't her old lover though, but her child. Those damned women had tormented him for two hundred years, having him thinking she still loved the god of the dead that killed her. He was sure they were laughing at him in this moment of truth.

Ceann looked worried, unsure what he might say. After what felt like a lifetime his fingers stilled, holding her tighter. He looked into her black eyes with nothing but love as he leaned closer. When their mouths were a breath apart he spoke.

"I will love and protect your child as my own."

He sealed the promise with a kiss, her smile bright when he finally separated himself. He wanted nothing more than to lay her down in this very field and love her for the next two hundred years without a break, to make up for lost time. Instead, he grabbed onto her hand.

"Come home, my queen. I have missed you terribly."

With happy tears in her eyes, she walked with him. Through the poppies, to Asgard.