Chapter Two: Charon
Erebus gave her an island of white earth. Aidonea measured her plot of land; wider than one being could own and empty. She spent her waking days digging for stones.
Oftentimes, she would dig up just the same white stones as the earth but very rarely she would find colored ones. She kept those, placing them in a circle around the spot where she often slept.
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Sometimes, she thought of making gifts out of her stones for her siblings when they next meet... if they ever meet again.
Hestia would, of course, receive the red stone. It reminded her of Hestia's red hair and the warm fire she wields.
The multi-shaded blue stone with golden veins was for Hera, because Hera seemed to favor blue in all shades.
An amber crystal embedded on a rough rock was for Demeter. Out of all her sisters, Demeter always seemed to be unbreakable but Aidonea also knew she had a vulnerable side. Her secret infatuation with their youngest brother was an example of that.
A big chunk of blue crystal that reminded Aidonea of water was for Poseidon. If not for her brother's affinity for the great seas, the size of the transparent rock would certainly match his ego.
Lastly, Zeus would receive gold. Well, Aidonea presumed the misshapen piece of rock was gold. If it wasn't... then, it would still match her youngest brother's golden hair and golden skin and golden lightning bolts. She did not know Zeus that well but she believed he would still accept her gift.
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For a long time, Erebus and his wife Nyx, formless deities, were Aidonea only company. Aidonea did not have a proper sense of time anymore. There was neither night nor day in the realm, only eternal twilight, but she felt it had been a long time since she saw a new face.
He was a stooped old man in a heavy black cloak. His name was Charon and he owned a boat.
"A thousand apologies for my tardiness, Lady Warden," he bowed deeply, his long unkempt beard sweeping the white ground, "I'm here to give you the grand tour."
He offered a bony hand and Aidonea hesitated to take. "My stones..." she began, looking back at her pile of precious gems.
"Your treasures will still be there when we return," he assured her, "But if it brings milady peace, I have a small pouch you can use."
He procured the cloth from his deep cloak.
"My thanks, Lord Charon," Aidonea said, taking the offered pouch in tentative hands.
His laughter was like rusted metal rubbed together. "None of that now! Charon will do!"
"Then, please call me Aidonea."
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As promised, Charon took Aidonea around the realm of Erebus in his sturdy boat. And through the loquacious boatman, Aidonea was able to learn much of her new home.
For instance, Aidonea was surprised that the realm consisted of five intermingling rivers instead of one great ocean.
"How do you tell them apart?" Aidonea asked, looking at the deep dark water.
"I've never really put much thought about that," Charon answered pensively, "I suppose I simply know them and where they start and end."
"Will I be able to know myself?"
"Oh, yes, I believe so."
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Charon took her to Tartarus. He navigated the boat across the Pyriphlegethon, a river of molten lava, until they reached a rumbling vortex.
Down and down they went. Charon stirred the boat with ease. Aidonea huddled herself by Charon's feet, holding on for what seemed hours and hours-perhaps, even days-of swirling and grinding and spinning. She feared for the boat breaking apart. She felt her body being crushed by the force of the burning wind. She once thought she was screaming but she could only hear the mighty roar of the vortex until it all finally slowed to a stop.
The boat was again in still waters. The air was frozen and dead silent. The light of the river of fire was gone.
"We're finally through the first gate," Charon said giddily.
"The first? How many gates are there?" Aidonea asked apprehensively.
"There were nine the last time I checked."
Aidonea could feel herself blanched.
Charon lit a candle for her to see. "Your eyes will eventually get accustomed to the darkness, you won't need light at all to see," he said, too cheery, "For now, hold this. We will be paying your father a visit."
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The prison was a cavernous pit, where Cronus and his Titan army lay frozen solid.
One of the Hecatoncheires' mechanical arm brought the small candle closer to the prisoners and Aidonea instantly found her father in midst of the unmoving bodies. Golden crowned, golden-skinned Cronus was forever petrified in anguished rage, reaching for the skies he would never see again.
"I can hear him," Aidonea whispered, almost unheard behind the chattering of her teeth, "In my mind as if he is next to me. Screaming and raging. Always."
"Hecatoncheires and their many hands hold them all down," Charon said by Aidonea' shoulder, "Their many eyes watch them. But you, Lady Warden, you are burdened with the knowledge of your father's every thought. Erebus ensured he will never escape."
"A price I was willing to pay," Aidonea answered somberly.
Charon watched her reverently in silence.
"I've noticed," Aidonea spoke after a while, "My brother Zeus does look very much like him, don't you think?"
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Their exit from Tartarus was quite different from their entrance. The boat sprouted leathery wings on either side that took them gently up to the surface.
"Why did you not use them before?!" Aidonea asked, indignantly.
"You would have missed out all the best part of the trip!" Charon answered.
