ᶜʰᵃᵒˢ

˖°🌊𓇼⋆

[ into tartarus ]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐬. The realm was dark, and devoid of life from what you could see. Below you was an infinite desert, the dunes constantly shifting to reveal something new that was buried beneath. 

But you had to admit, the sky was beautiful. It was a clear night sky, with hundreds of constellations and stars scattered across the dark purple sky. 

As you fell to the ground, Sinbad held you closer, covering your face and head with his arms in hopes to soften your fall. But at the feeling of floating, you opened your eyes to find you levitating above the sand. 

"Huh?" Sinbad wondered in confusion as you both stood on the dune of sand. Wind whistled through the dry air as a shadow overcame the dune, the sand moving like waves as you both stumbled down the hill. 

Creaking wood could be heard, and you and Sinbad looked up to find a shipwreck teetering towards you. You panted slightly as he grabbed your hand, pushing the both of you forward to dodge the falling beam as you crashed where you just stood. 

At the feeling of solid rock beneath you, you gasped as the sands dipped from the wind, revealing an army of stone soldiers. You had narrowly avoided their rock lances, the tips extremely sharp, before the dunes covered them again. 

As the wind changed, your eyes widened in discovery of the barren ruins of a lost kingdom. A loud footstep was heard behind you, causing you to spin around. You gasped at the sight of a humungous scorpion, though it was as black as night, with white dots covering its skin. 

"Scorpio," you whispered. 

"What?" Sinbad questioned from beside you as more creatures appeared. He ripped his swords from their scabbards as you inspected the creatures. One was a large cat with spiky tendrils fluttering atop its head, whilst another was in the form of a lizard. You stepped back, trying to avoid the small, buzzing bee. 

"They're constellations and astrological signs. That's Scorpio," you informed, gesturing at the scorpion, before pointing out each of the personified stars, "And Musca, Leo and Lacerta."

"Now, now, my pets. Is this any way to treat a guest?" At the beckoning of the voice, a swirling tornado of sand gathered the beasts before they disappeared into thin air.

The sand whisked away, revealing, what looked to be, a ruined hall. Behind you, two seats appeared, but your gaze was stuck on the high throne at the top of the stairs, where a skeleton sat. 

"Okay, I'm severely creeped out," Sinbad murmured to you. 

"Bravo." Your breath hitched at the sight of a figure forming from black dust. Clapping her hands slowly as she stared down at you, was Eris, the Goddess of Discord. "No mortal has ever made it to Tartarus before." She chuckled as she sat down on the arm of the stone throne. "Alive, that is." The skeleton evaporated into sand as her body morphed for a moment, before she was draping herself on the seat. "Make yourself at home."

Sinbad chuckled nervously as you gripped his arm. "Thank you. Uh... Nice place you got here."

"Like it?" she wondered as she floated forward. "I'm planning on doing the whole world this way."

"Wow, that's a good plan," Sinbad nodded as he tightened his fist in agreement. "Well, I see you're busy, so listen, we'll just take the Book of Peace and get out of your way."

Eris chuckled as she brushed her fingers across her forehead. "What makes you think I have it?"

"Uh, well, you framed me for the theft, so they would execute me."

"You?" she questioned.

"Yeah." Eris tilted her head with a smirk, causing Sinbad's brows to furrow. "No. Proteus! You knew he would take my place."

Eris slid her finger down one of the columns, causing it to crack underneath her touch as she laughed softly, "What a clever little man you are."

"You thought I'd run. Then Proteus would die, and Syracuse would be-."

"Left without the next rightful king, and tumble into glorious chaos." As she spoke, the haul behind her crumbled behind her as she smiled, "You humans are so predictable. Although, this one isn't." Your eyes widened as she pointed down at you, her red eyes pinning you in place. "I didn't expect you to follow after him. Silly me." Sinbad tightened his hold on your hand as she flew beside you both. "Proteus couldn't help being ever so noble, and you couldn't help betraying him," she said as she pushed his chest. 

"But I didn't betray Proteus! I didn't run away," Sinbad exclaimed. 

"Oh, but you did betray him," Eris denied. "You stole his little sister. Look at her, Sinbad. He's not even in his grave yet. And you're doing the one thing he asked you not to do: fall in love with his sister." She patted your back, but her push was strong as you surged forward, falling into his chest. "Face it. Your heart is as black as mine."

As you stared at Sinbad, you spun around his grip, facing off against the Goddess. "You're wrong about him!"

"He knows I'm not!"

"You don't know what's in his heart."

"Oh, yes, I do," she chuckled. "And, more importantly, so does he." She shoved your shoulder, causing you to gasp as you were pushed to the side. "In your heart, you know that Proteus is going to die because he saw something in you that just isn't there," she bluntly stated as she palmed the back of his head. 

"No," he denied with a shake of his head. 

"You want to bet? I'll tell you what. Let's play a game," Eris prompted. "And if you win, I'll give you the Book of Peace." Raising her hand, the rest of the ruins broke away, revealing a bottomless floor and the Book of Peace, floating at the end of the rock aisle. "There it is, noble hero." Sinbad smiled as he took a step forward but grunted as he vaulted backwards. Where he had just stood on the stone had now crumbled away, falling into the dark abyss below. "Not so fast. My game has rules, Sinbad. "I'll ask you a question. One simple question." As she spoke, Eris curled around him, tapping his nose before continuing, "If you answer truthfully, the book is yours."

"Give me your word," he said. 

The Goddess let out an exasperated sigh. "You still don't trust me?"

"Uh... No," Sinbad smirked.

"Ah, isn't it a pity we live in such skeptical times?" she asked you, causing your brows to furrow in confusion. "Oh, alright. You have my word, as a Goddess." She stroked her pinkie against her collarbone, where a cross appeared, blue and illuminated. "Fair enough?"

You sent a skeptical look to Sinbad as you squeezed one another's hands, before he nodded at you and walked forward. "Ask your question."

"Excellent," she breathed out with a grin. "Now, we all know what happens if you get the Book of Peace. You return it to Syracuse and save Proteus," Eris recalled with a bored snarl. "But if you don't get the Book, you have a choice to make." She flew forward slowly, coiling around him as she brushed your shoulder. "Either sail to paradise with the woman of your dreams. Or return to Syracuse to die. You're either a thief or a hero." As she floated upwards, she stared down at the man. "So, here's my question, Sinbad. If you don't get the Book, will you go back to die?"

The wind whistled as Eris disappeared with the swirling sand, leaving Sinbad to think to himself. He stared at the book, before glancing down at his feet, looking at you from the corner of his eye. You held a saddened frown, your brows furrowed deeply as you watched the pirate in front of you.

"I will go back," Sinbad stated with a small smile. You couldn't help but softly grin at him as he took a step towards the Book of Peace. 

But just as he reached it, the sound of cracking had your eyes widening in shock as Eris appeared from behind him, "You're lying!"

Beneath him, the pathway shattered, and you let out a scream as you fell into the abyss below. As Sinbad reached for the book in a futile attempt, Eris manifested as she stared down at the falling humans, her wicked laughter echoing through your ears. 

You landed with a soft grunt as you floated above the sand for a moment, before dropping to the ground. Standing up, you raised your gaze to the Gates of Tartarus, finding the thin entrance closing as the white light disappeared. 

Sinbad silently sat down at the edge of the small island, and you followed after him, sitting down next to him as you glanced at the pirate. You opened your mouth to speak but could form no words.

"I'm sorry, Y/N." Turning your eyes to Sinbad, you watched as he looked at you with a slight tilt of his head. "Eris is right about me."

"No, she's not. You answered her question," you dismissed with a shake of your head. "You told the truth."

"It wasn't the truth. It was me trying to pass myself off as someone I'm not," he muttered. 

"Sinbad, I've seen who you are! You don't need to pretend!" you exclaimed. "Eris trapped you! Why should you or Proteus or anyone have to die?"

"Y/N-."

"No! You need to escape," you begged as you stood up, gesturing to the sea. "Get as far away as you can. I'll go back, and I'll explain everything."

Sinbad stood up, looking at you with sad eyes, "No, Y/N-."

"I can't watch you die!" you sobbed, breaking away from his gaze. "I love you."

Sinbad's eyes widened, before a gentle smile spread across his lips. Looking away, his eyes latched onto the Chimera, which was resting on the ocean. Returning his stare to you, he softly brushed his fingers over your arm, before cradling your jaw in his calloused hands. Tears blurred your vision as he placed a feather-soft kiss to your forehead, before leaning back and uttering, "But could you love a man who would run away?"

He wiped away the tear that trickled down your cheek as you let out a breath, before moving forward and wrapping your arms around his shoulders as his circled your waist.