Reyna's eyes slowly drifted open. She blinked a few times and stared at the fog above her. It took her a moment to lift her head and look around. Hades was not what she expected. Granted, she never really thought about what happened after she died, but this felt wrong. Reyna slowly got to her hands and knees.
Reyna looked down at herself, and her heart jumped to her throat. Reyna wore her leather coat and blue jeans. She looked the same, except for the fact that she could see through herself. It was like Reyna wasn't fully there. And, she wasn't. Reyna was dead. Now, she just needed to find her sister.
It took a few moments for Reyna to look around. This place was dark and desolate. There were no other dead souls around. Would she be judged alone? With Hylla? Reyna looked around the darkness. She couldn't see five feet in front of her.
"He really did it," a voice said. Reyna whirled around and stared at the woman in front of her. She recognized that voice. It was the same voice as the woman from her most recent dream. "He sealed his fate."
"You're not Hades," Reyna said after a few moments. Wasn't she suppose to be judged by Hades? Did he pass that responsibility down to others?
"You don't understand, do you? How could you know?" the woman questioned.
"I know plenty," Reyna said. She felt that cold fear run through her chest again, and she swallowed painfully. Reyna just wanted to see Hylla again. That was all that mattered.
"Oh, she's not here," the woman said. Reyna stared at her and slowly moved closer. The woman was wrapped in some kind of cloak. "I thought you knew about Greek mythology."
"What do you mean my sister isn't here?" Reyna demanded. The woman didn't answer her. "What do you mean? Where the fuck is my sister?"
"After all of the warnings and signs that you have been given, you did not figure it out?" the woman questioned. "Or, did you? Did you understand what was going to happen, but you made that vow anyway. You swore on the River Styx to kill each and every member of the Mistveil, even though you were in no position to fight back."
"I could have killed them," Reyna muttered. "That is why I swore upon the River Styx."
The woman laughed. She spoke, "You knew that you were going to die. You knew that your time was drawing to a close, but you did not even put a coin in your pocket for the Ferryman. With nowhere to go and no allies, you made a promise that you cannot keep. How... arrogant.
"I'm not arrogant," Reyna began. She clenched her fist and tried to calm the sea of emotions that were raging inside.
"Hmm. Maybe not," the woman said. She smiled. "Maybe, there is another word that I am thinking of. It is on the tip of my tongue, but I cannot think of it."
"You're playing games," Reyna snapped. "Are you working with the Mistveil?"
"You played a dangerous game by making your vow. How will you get revenge if you are dead?" the woman asked. Reyna didn't answer. She just glared at the woman. "Ah. You may understand."
"I just want to see my sister. Stop talking in riddles," Reyna snapped. "Who are you? Where am I?"
"Mortals call me Nemesis," the woman said. Reyna stared blankly at the woman in front of her. Nemesis sighed. "Do you not know who I am? Goddess of revenge? Balance? Any of this ring a bell?"
"If you're a goddess of revenge, you should be happy that I vowed for revenge. Are you going to help me?" Reyna questioned. Nemesis sighed and shook her head. "Why don't you stop being cryptic and tell me what is going on?"
"Have you ever heard the story of the soldier and his lover? I think you have. There was a soldier that served his country and protected his homeland from the barbarians. This soldier loved his wife with all of his heart. He loved her so much that he swore upon the River Styx to protect her until the day she died," Nemesis said.
"He died in a fight with barbarians. His wife continued on her life, but the River Styx does not forget. It does not forgive," Nemesis whispered. She moved closer to Reyna. "This soldier became a ghost, so he could protect his wife until the day that she died."
"Maurice told me that story," Reyna realized. "Why are you repeating it?"
A chuckle of disbelief left Nemesis. The goddess spoke, "Let me tell you another story. There was once a pirate. The only family that she had left was her older sister, and she loved her sister with all of her life. One day, a rival crew attacked. The pirate's older sister was slaughtered, along with her crew. She swore revenge on the River Styx, but that rival crew killed her. She now wanders as a ghost."
"Until you fulfill your vow," Nemesis stated. Reyna stared at the goddess and took a step backward.
"You're lying," Reyna said. She took another step backward.
"You're going to end up as a ghost. Or, a mania," Nemesis stated. Reyna's knees went weak, and she started to shake. Reyna tried to step back once again, but she fell to the ground. Nemesis knelt in front of her. "You swore an oath on the River Styx. You must fulfill it before you can peacefully pass."
"N..No," Reyna said. She shook her head and found it hard to breathe again. Her heart ached, and she placed a hand to her chest. Reyna swallowed painfully. "No. I'm dead. Let me see my sister."
"Your sister is dead. You are as well. The only difference between the two of you is that she did not make a vow," Nemesis stated.
"I am not a ghost. I am a not spirit," Reyna yelled. The air felt like it was being squeezed out of her lungs again, and she tried to calm down. Nemesis held up a gold coin.
"Some men call this a drachmae. Some call it an obol. Either way, someone who is alive can catch this coin. Someone who is dead can catch it, so you must be able to," Nemesis commented. She tossed the coin forward. Reyna tried to grab it, and the coin went right through her. All of the breath left her.
"You will make an angrier ghost than your father," Nemesis commented.
"No. Please," Reyna begged. She looked up at Nemesis. "Please. I'm begging you. Just let me die. I just want to be with my sister. Please."
Nemesis laughed and started to walk away. Reyna scrambled to her feet. Tears came back to her eyes, and she spoke, "Please just stop. Please. What do I have to do to be with my sister?"
"Fulfill your vow," Nemesis answered like it was easy. Like it was something that Reyna could just snap her fingers and do. Reyna collapsed to her knees and placed both hands to her chest. She was dead, but her heart felt like it was about to beat out of her chest.
Reyna couldn't breathe, and she let out ragged gasps. She placed both arms to her chest, trying to find comfort. Her heart was pounding in her ears, and more tears were coming to her eyes. Reyna choked on a cry and rocked back and forth.
Reyna was scared. For the first time in her life, she was alone, and that terrified her. Hylla, her only family, was gone. This crazy goddess was telling her that the only way to be reunited with Hylla was to fulfill her vow. How the fuck was Reyna suppose to kill the Mistveil as a ghost?
Her hands gripped her shirt, and she tried to calm down. Reyna labored for each breath that wouldn't come, and tears trickled out of her eyes. Nemesis spoke, "If it scares you so much, why would you make that vow? Why would you be so arrogant?"
"I didn't know," Reyna choked out. She slowly looked up at Nemesis. "I didn't. Please."
Nemesis walked towards Reyna and knelt in front of her. The goddess spoke, "As a ghost, all you can do is haunt the seas. You can't actually hurt the Mistveil, but I know why this happened. I understand that you were manipulated. That is why I am going to offer you the chance to make this right."
"I just want to be with my sister," Reyna cried. Tears poured out of her eyes, and she let out strangled cries.
"The only way to do that is to fulfill your vow," Nemesis said. She stood. "You can continue to break down, or you can stand and face your duty ahead. You are a Roman after all."
Reyna took deep breaths and tried to calm down. Even though her entire body was shaking, she forced herself to her feet. Reyna tried to calm down, and she quickly wiped her eyes. Nemesis spoke, "Good."
"There are people just like you," Nemesis stated. "They too have made a vow upon the sacred river. I have helped them on their way."
"Why?" Reyna stuttered. She held her arms close to her chest and tried to calm down.
"They vowed revenge, and they help bring a balance to the world. You are going to help bring a balance," Nemesis said. "The last man that I helped swore his revenge on two pirates sisters that tortured and killed him. Really, you brought his upon yourselves, didn't you."
"Stop," Reyna whispered. Nemesis just gave her a look. Reyna closed her eyes tightly.
"Damon was corrupted, and instead of taking his revenge, he has focused on other things. He takes what doesn't belong to him. He has meddled with this world too much, and someone is keeping me from severing his connection. Damon tells everyone that he is greater than the gods. He claims it was his own power that keeps him alive," Nemesis explained.
"I will offer you the same thing I gave to Damon. You will return to life, very much injured but alive and human. Not a ghost. I guess I'll have to put your intestines back where they belong and seal that wound. And your chest wound will be healed, but you will still feel the pain. You will feel the pain as everything puts itself back into place."
"Once my healing is done, you must be careful. Dying again will condemn you to be a spirit forever. Even if you fulfill your vow as a ghost, it will destroy you. I suggest not dying until it is time to," Nemesis said. Reyna studied her. "If you kill every member of the Mistveil and fulfill your vow, you will go the Underworld when you die. You will be reunited with your sister," Nemesis said.
Reyna swallowed painfully and felt her knees give out. She collapsed to her knees and caught herself with one hand. Her other hand gripped her chest. Nemesis knelt in front of her and continued, "You swore on the River Styx, upon your very soul, for vengeance. I cannot just ignore those words. I do not care about your story, but I do see a demigod that is willing to do anything for revenge if she can get over her grief."
"I love nothing more than to tear down the mighty and proud. As or now, no one is more proud than the captain of the Mistveil pirates. He has destroyed his rivals and is on top of the world. He has not learned his lesson and has spat in the face of my gift. He thinks himself better than the gods. But, you know what they say about pride," Nemesis said. She pulled Reyna to her feet.
"I'll do it," Reyna whispered. She slowly looked at the goddess. "I'll kill Damon and all of his pirates. I'll fulfill my vow, and I will see my sister again."
"I believe you will," Nemesis said. She smiled coldly. "If you successfully fulfill your vow, you will have your entire life ahead of you. Whatever may be left of it."
Reyna didn't look at the goddess. When she fulfilled her vow, what did it matter? Hylla would still be dead; unless, Reyna could bring her back to life. Reyna would bring Hylla back. She would destroy the Mistveil and revive her sister.
"Just remember demigod. You already have one foot in the grave," Nemesis warned. Reyna nodded once. "And, you should be very careful. You never know who your thread is connected to."
Before Reyna could ask Nemesis what she meant, the goddess grabbed her face and forced her to look up. They made eye contact, and Nemesis' eyes began to glow. Reyna felt the world around her starting to spin. She heard the roar of water in her ears, and trying to draw in a breath caused her to choke.
"Go," Nemesis whispered. Reyna yelled as terrible pain shot through her body. She tried to draw air into her lungs, but she choked on something that she couldn't identify. Her eyes closed tightly, and she heard the goddess' cold laugh in her ear. "Go forth and enact your vengeance. Burn down the Mistveil. Just don't burn the rest of the world with them."
