Eden

Jericho sleeps soundly with his arms wrapped around my waist. After returning to the room from his meeting with Hades I had already put on a face of indifference, trying to hide my inner termoil.

Though Jericho isn't an idiot, he knows something is wrong, but I've continually assured him it's just a mixture of everything going on. If his facial expressions are anything to go by he doesn't believe me and knows I'm just not telling him something..

But I can't. I can't tell him. Maybe it would be easier to just part ways after we finish our mission of finding Aries.

There's no way he'll want me.. I'm the only one who can grant him a child of his own. But I don't know if I can..

The memories play quickly behind my closed eyes of that fateful day I was denied my blessing.

My heart aches as I open my eyes and stare at the dark ceiling of Jericho's room as he sleeps with his arms around me, blissfully unaware of my thoughts.

I can't let my mind and heart linger on things that never came to be. I need to stay focused on the task at hand. I still need to find Aries, and I'm already a chaotic mess over that fact alone. Aries was my closest friend, she was always there for me, even on the nights I cried till exhaustion took me. She was always there for me, and I her.

How could I not have known you had such darkness in your heart, Aries..

"Eden.." Jericho sleepily mumbles. "Yes?" I answer him.

"You haven't slept at all, have you?" He says while burying his face in my hair. "I can't seem to, no.. My mind is a mess, I know within these next few days we'll find Aries, but I'm not prepared to hand her soul over.. And I know it's stupid of me." Tears begin stinging my eyes as I say this aloud to him.

"I can't imagine what you're going through, I've never had to endure handing over a soul I deeply cared for." He says to me, his words slightly comforting. "I don't blame you for being conflicted, Eden.. But I do have to do my job. When it comes down to it I will have to send her to Hades.. There's punishment for those who defies a god." He finishes.

"Is that what those scars are from..?" I whisper to him. He takes a moment before answering, and I already feel bad for asking in the first place.

"Yes.. There are very few things that can scar a Reaper. Hades whips are one of those few things.. I left the underworld two decades ago, and searched for five years for Aries. For a long time, I didn't give a shit if this pathetic planet was cast into darkness, light would eventually win again, I've watched the battle between light and darkness since the beginning. So when I grew bored of looking for Aries I abandoned my mission. For two years I roamed doing whatever I pleased, till Hades caught me and sent me to the pits for the same amount of time, two years. Two years wasted because of my own doing. Two more years wasted as I was tormented day and night for going against Hades. So, technically, I searched for Aries for sixteen years." He finishes. My brain is reeling, trying to process everything he just told me.

"I'm so sorry, Jericho.." Is all I can think to say. "Don't be, I knew my actions would have consequences, and I did it anyways." He replies to me. "Sixteen years is a long time to have to track someone down.." I mumble. For some reason I hadn't thought it would take him so long to find her. Then again, Aries is basically a goddess herself. If she didn't want to be found it would be nearly impossible to do so.

"This world is vast, the possibilities of where she could have hidden were almost endless. Even for a Reaper it was going to be a difficult task. That's why Hades sent me." Jericho says. "What do you mean?" I ask, and he chuckles before replying. "I'm the leader of the Reapers, Eden." I turn in his arms as he says this so I can look up at him.

"You never told me that you were the leader of the Reapers." No wonder he's so cocky around his fellow Reapers, he really could lay them out no problem, being their superior.

"Mmm, impressed?" He asks as he begins kissing the top of my head, slowly working his way to my neck. I can't help but laugh softly at him. "I suppose I might be a little impressed, yes." I say, it's true, but I'm also saying it to humor him.

Suddenly a thought hits me. "Jericho, is Hades your-" He cuts me off before I can finish. "No, Hades is in no way a parental figure to me. I'm not biology his child in any way. He made a deal, a trade of sorts, for nine warrior spirit's. In the depths of the underworld me and the other Reapers were forged from fire and darkness. The closest thing I have to family is my fellow Reapers, being made of the same flames and shadows." He says.

Though I know it wasn't his intentions, I'm overcome with sadness for him. Thoughts of my own parents flow through my mind, though my father passed away when I was young I still remember all the kindness he showed my mother and I. And my mother, who worked so hard to protect me after my powers came to be, she was so determined to keep me safe from those who would label me as evil. My mother lived a beautiful life, passing of old age into the afterlife peacefully.

I miss her dearly.

"Jericho.. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." I say quietly. "Don't apologize. I want you to ask me all the questions your heart desires. I want you to know me.. all of me. Even the ugly parts. So ask away, my Eden." He says, and my chest feels instantly constricted.

He's being so open with me, while I continue to shut him out any time he inquires about my feelings..

This is just too much right now..

"Would it-would it be okay if we.. put things between us on hold until after we deal with Aries..?" He grows still as I say this, and I know I've already hurt him with my suggestion we wait to pursue our soulmate bond.

"It's not that I don't want to be with you, I'm just so confused right now. There's so much going on.. I want things to work between us.. I want you, Jericho.. But the time just isn't right at the moment.." I say, every word being true.

He reluctantly releases me, rolling onto his back in bed. "I'm not going to pressure you into anything, that's why I wasn't going to initially tell you, I knew shit was chaotic for you, you have a lot on your mind, and I know you feel a great responsibility towards what's happening.."

"Jericho-" My voice comes out shaky, my emotions getting the best of me. "It's okay. We will figure things out once everything settles down. For now we need to get up and get going. You may use the bathroom first to bathe if you'd like, while I pack some supplies." He says to me.

My heart sinks a little as I realize what I've just done, creating space between us. He's no longer planning to do intimate things together, like bathing. Not that I blame him, it would be selfish of me to ask for space emotionally, but expect him to still do such things with me.

It doesn't take us long to get ready. As he said, Jericho had everything packed when I got out of the bathroom. And he took barely any time at all to clean up and dress for the journey ahead. I take one last look at myself in the long mirror hanging in the room.

My dark hair is pulled into a side braid to keep it out of my face, I dressed in the clothes Jericho had put together for me, a dark grey form fitting long sleeved shirt, and black pants that fit every curve I have while still managing to be breathable, yet warm enough for a hike up the mountains.

My ankle boots and a warm dark cloak complete my outfit for the journey. Despite how silly I feel about it, I use my magic to freshen up my face, making my lips look glossed and my lashes thicker and longer along with a healthy blush to my cheeks.

I shake my head at myself and head out the door to find Jericho.

He went to find Ajal, his hellhound, who will be accompanying us the rest of our journey. I look forward to seeing the overgrown dog again, I never even got to thank him for helping me, even if it was at the command of Jericho.

I wander down the hall before coming to the large foyer I had first arrived in when Ajal brought us through the portal. Jericho roughly pets Ajal behind his large ears, the sight something odd to behold. The hellhound is absolutely terrifying looking, but here it sits with its tail wagging and it's tongue plopped out to the side with a goofy puppy grin on its large face.

"I'm ready to go." I say to him, though I'm sure he heard me enter the room anyways. He turns and smiles at me, looking me up and down, and back again

Ajal seems to take notice of me and walks right up to me before laying some disgusting, wet, dog breath smelling, kisses all over me. Which seems to only make Jericho laugh.

"He likes you, he never warms up to anyone like that." He says to me, and I take it as a compliment as I try my best to pet the giant beast of a dog. The way Ajal acts you'd assume he thought himself much smaller than he is.

"Alright, Ajal, enough. We need to head out." Jericho says. Ajal backs away from me slightly before sitting down, seeming to wait for Jericho's next move.

He places his hand on the ground, I'm assuming getting ready to summon for our portal out of the Underworld.

His deep voice rumbles out, sending chills down my spine. "Ad montes Bethsabee." And just like that a portal appears in the middle the room, ready to take us to the foothills of the Mountains of Bathsheba.

To Aries.

"Ready?" Jericho asks me as he holds out his hand to me, I happily take it, glad to have the simple contact.

We walk through the portal with Ajal right behind us. As soon as we're through the portal vanishes, leaving us in a forest smelling of pine, but somehow has a feeling of gloom. Like sadness saturates the mist that lingers in the air. I don't like the feeling at all, and instantly feel the unwelcome energy of this forest.

This forest is not like mine, or any other forest I've come across. They speak in their own way..

But this one doesn't seem to speak to me, instead it seems to be.. Screaming. Screams of eternal loneliness and suffering.. So much loss.. Pain..

"Eden.. Eden, stay with me. You can't let the spirits of this forest speak to you, they will feed off of your misery." Jericho says as he cups my face in his hands. I hadn't realized I was seeming to sink into my thoughts, lost to the world around me.

"I've heard stories about the forest of these mountains. The grieving forest. The mountains of Bathsheba are cursed. I just didn't expect to feel it so deeply so suddenly. I'm okay though, really." I say, reassuring him.

I step back and hold out my hands towards Jericho and Ajal, "Praesidium." I say gently, casting a barrier of protection around them, before I cast the spell on myself. Blocking out the dark whispers of the forest to each of us.

Ajal is by my side, nudging my hand gently, almost as if to say thank you. "You're quite welcome, Ajal." I say as I scratch under his chin, something he seems to love.

"Ajal.. Why'd you name him 'the hour of dying', Jericho?" I ask, in turn he chuckles at me. "I didn't name him. It was his name when he appeared to me. He chose me, and has been my companion ever since. He has accompanied me on many journeys, I owe Ajal my life many times over." Jericho says as he smiles at his hellhound.

I smile at the giant dog as I continue to pet him. He will be a much welcome companion on our little adventure.
I look up from Ajal to see Jericho smiling intently at me, seeming to enjoy that his spirit companion has taken such a liking to me.

"Are you ready?" He simply asks me as he adjusts the large pack on his back. "As ready as I'll ever be." I say as I look away from them and up at the mountain tops. From down here I can tell they're still snow capped, being so high up it just stays cold at certain altitudes.

Jericho takes my hand as we make our way up the steep mountain side, Ajal following happily behind us despite the gloomy circumstance.

I'm coming for you, Aries.

Will you be ready for me?

(Edited on 11/26/24)