I supported myself against a fairly large boulder and stripped off my sneakers. I wasn't quite sure how to put on the sandals, as there were two long straps draped through leather loops in the leather and hanging from out from the top. I assumed I had to wind both straps around my calves in a crossing pattern, but it took me a few tries to get the straps tied tightly enough in order for them not to slip to my ankles.
Thanatos studied me, and though he attempted to mask it with a stern expression, I swear I caught a vague twinkle of amusement in his dark eyes. The irony of my struggle with the shoes from my time period paralleled his struggle with the coat at the shop, where I'd been most impatient with him. Now I found myself in the selfsame predicament, and could hardly claim I was doing any better. If I could allege to anything, I did not take fifteen minutes as he had.
"Okay, they're on," I said.
Thanatos unfolded his arms.
"Now then, it is quite simple. Initially you must desire to fly, and your mind shall control the movements of the sandals as long as you do not waver in concentration."
"I don't get it…"
"You will. Make an attempt. Go on."
I swallowed. My legs trembled. Heights, right? I guessed I could handle it. I glared at the sandals, focusing mainly on the tiny wings. I willed them to move, to take me up into the air.
The tiny appendages quivered, and began to flap with such speed that they hummed. My feet lifted off of the earth, but I did not stop there. I kept ascending and ascending and—Wow, Thanatos had suddenly become very small. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach.
"Ah! Ah! Ahhhhhh!" I shrieked, and the little wings faltered.
I dropped a couple of feet, but managed not to fall flat on my face with frantic flapping of my arms. Someone was laughing at me. Well; actually, they were chuckling faintly. I didn't see anyone else, so it had to be Thanatos. Thanatos? Seriously?!
He'd extended his own wings and risen up to my level.
"Calm," he said, offering his hand.
I inhaled sharply and grasped it.
"On my lead."
He floated sideways.
I followed his action with my eyes, and wished sorely that I could follow physically. To my utter delight, the wings mimicked my thoughts. I beamed.
"Hey! I did it!"
Thanatos nodded.
"Exactly. As long as you believe you can fly and that you may move in any direction you so choose, the winged sandals will obey you. Similarly, if you wish to land, you are able to do so as well."
"Oh, I get it now!"
I witnessed a cloud creeping up below us, and I dived down to linger by it. I resolved that I would only fall if I believed I would, so there was absolutely no point in panicking. I could fly, and I would enjoy myself if it killed me!
"Which way are the islands, then?" I asked.
"South of here, at the end of the peninsula," Thanatos replied.
"Well, let's go!" I exclaimed, and tore off into the sky without him.
"I knew you would be eager if you could fly of your own accord," he commented.
The trees were specks. The mountains and hills and bodies of water wove under us like elongated snakes. In the distance, the sea sparkled with the magnificence of sunshine. It reminded me of a Celtic folk song I'd listened to once before. I liked strange music sometimes. I felt like singing.
"I'm going to sing you a bit of a song, okay?"
Thanatos glided beside me, and arched a brow.
"I fail to see the purpose of doing so."
I sniffled.
"Because I feel like it! I thought of a song that fits!"
"Very well, then."
I cleared my throat, and sang a few lines. Not amazingly, but decently. I would never succeed as an American Idol.
"We're flying through the air.
We're dancing in the moonlit sky,
And people everywhere will greet us as we fly.
Children gaze open-mouthed,
Taken by surprise.
Nobody down below
Believed their eyes. "
Thanatos regarded me quietly.
"It is not a moonlit sky."
I slapped a hand to my forehead. The momentary distraction caused the need to dodge an incoming cloud.
"No! But it's close enough! Later in the song there's a line that says, 'I'm finding I can fly so high above with you," I informed him.
"I do not know the song nor care for it. But alas, we are at our destination."
He pointed, and sure enough, the southern coast lay directly ahead. Not much further, I spotted a large grouping of scattered islands.
"We should return to Gaia a fair distance from the costal village," he said.
A little town of sea-side homes and several taller buildings clustered around the very tip of the peninsula. Gradually we dropped to lower latitudes, and touched down in a growth of brush for cover; about half a mile circa the town. I doubted anyone would find flying people ordinary, so it was perhaps best not to be detected.
I took off the sandals and replaced them with my Vans, then stashed the sandals in my bag (which I carried with me everywhere if I hadn't mentioned this before). We roamed into town, and I located a phone booth.
"What are you doing?" Thanatos asked.
I poked through the phonebook hanging by a thin chain, attached to the payphone.
"I'm seeing what there is to do here," I replied.
The town had a movie theater some blocks down to road to my right. I thought that maybe Thanatos would be interested in a projected film on a giant screen with amplifiers; much louder and more impressive than a simple hotel TV set.
"Hey, come with me," I said, and began to plod down the narrow avenue.
"Have you chosen?" he called after me.
Not long after, he added, "I do not like to be left behind."
I slowed just enough for him to catch up. We fell into stride. I didn't say anything else for the remainder of the walk, but smiled secretively as we neared the cinema.
"What is this?" he asked. "Why will you not tell me?"
"It's a surprise," I said.
Once we were inside, I purchased two adult tickets to the latest Pirates movie, as well as one medium Coke and an extra-large bag of popcorn. There didn't seem to be many others in the place, so as soon as we got to Theatre Three, I chose two middle seats in the front row.
The trailers started up almost without delay, and Thanatos stood abruptly and made to survey the screen as he'd done back in the hotel room. His shadow blocked my view of the trailer actress' teeth.
"Thanatos, please sit down and just watch, okay?" I pleaded.
He complied begrudgingly.
"What are these?" he asked, and did not wait for an answer. He scooped a handful of popcorn out from my bag.
"It's a type of food," I said. "It's called 'popcorn'."
"'Popcorn'?"
He popped a few into his mouth and munched.
"Mostly flavorless, except for a bit of something--"
"Salt and butter?" I offered.
"I do not know."
The opening credits rolled, and more or less five minutes into the thing, epic pirate battle scenes commenced.
Thanatos shoved handfuls of popcorn one by one into his slackened jaw; and just as with Spongebob, he appeared entirely immersed. I was the unhappy spectator as my "well" of popcorn diminished at an alarming rate. Finally, I handed him the whole bag so he could knock himself out. I stuck to my Coke.
After a while, Thanatos glances down into the popcorn bag, finding his supply completely exhausted. He gave me one light tap on the shoulder.
"They are gone," he whispered.
"You finished them all," I hissed.
He watched the move silently for a few minutes more. Then he tapped me again.
"I do not understand this." He beckoned to the film.
"I didn't think you would get it. You haven't see the other movies, so--"
"No, I mean that I do not understand the point of the plot. Why is this vulgar lifestyle so enviable?"
I gaped in disbelief.
"Are you kidding me? There's swash-buckling action! Pirates are fun! They swordfight, they get drunk and act silly, and sail the world on beautiful ships! They are the very definition of free!"
I watched Captain Sparrow sway, mixing his words in barely coherent sentences.
"And Jack Sparrow is extremely attractive," I added. "That's a plus for the female persuasion. His life is really exciting, too. We want in on that."
Thanatos went rigid.
"You would chose to live such a life with him?"
I knew he was not trying to sound cold, but I could tell. I questioned myself, attempting to assess why he was suddenly on edge.
"Well, yes, if I loved him and he loved me, I'd follow him to the World's End or farther," I said.
"I see." Thanatos fidgeted with his hands. It's been a while since I'd seen him do that.
"Well, don't you think that if someone is in love they should be willing to do anything for that person?"
"I have met Love. There is nothing remarkable about him," Thanatos muttered.
"Have you ever been in love?" I asked.
"That is none of your concern, mortal," he snapped.
"It was just a question," I murmured. "You don't need to be all offended."
We sat in silence, until Thanatos broke it by offering a timid reason.
"After all… I am Death. I am neither made to love nor to be loved in return. A life with me, whether temporary or eternal, would be indubitably loathsome."
"I don't think so," I said, but in a shy tone. "I don't think you are awful at all."
Thanatos turned his face away. For a second, I could have sworn he blushed. My heartbeat quickened. Maybe Akheilos was right. Maybe I really did have a thing for Thanatos. I hadn't known him for very long, but his awkwardness was endearing to me. I considered that perhaps there was something there.
I did admire him; how his silver curls tumbled nearly to his curved shoulders, the manner in which the corners of his mouth turned down in a solemn, brooding expression. He had a distant, apathetic glaze in his black eyes; where I saw the endless void of isolation from even his own kind, and the magnitude of his loneliness and sorrow that existed somewhere inside of him. He was so awkward and so quiet; and like an old man, felt, in a way, forlorn and feeble. And yet, he appeared hauntingly beautiful and eternally young. I wanted to see what it looked like if he smiled for real.
The rest of the movie passed with little consequence. I said nothing more and he said nothing more. I finished my Coke. I drifted into a reverie and contemplated Death; but not in the usual sense. I entertained the idea that he truly wasn't monstrous, but only seemed and acted so due to preconceptions bestowed upon him by gods and men. I chanced that he'd left me alive when we first met because I had reacted out of the norm, and now treated him as I'd treat anyone—with sincere kindness. In reality, I had nothing against him or his nature. He was simply what he was meant to be.
"I believe it is over," Thanatos said.
Indeed. The end credits scrolled down, thematic music blaring.
I stumbled from my chair.
"I guess we should leave."
I took his empty bag and tossed it and my cup into the trash.
"Where next?" he asked.
"I'm hungry again," I said.
He frowned.
"You are always hungry," he observed.
"That's what it's like being human," I replied. "Three square meals a day."
"Are they really square-shaped?"
"It's just an expression, Than," I sighed.
He wrinkled his nose.
"'Than'?"
"It's your nickname," I answered.
"Nickname?"
"Like an epithet, almost."
"Epithets are different. I am, for instance, 'Akherontis', which means 'the Woeful'."
"Well, I'm calling you 'Than'. Period," I argued.
A puff of air escaped from between his lips.
"If you wish," he said.
I grinned. I expected him to put up more of a fight.
My stomach gave a tell-tale growl.
"I feel like pasta," I noted aloud. Before Than could ask, I said, "You'll find out what it is when you see it."
He bit down on his bottom lip, resentful.
"It seems you are becoming accustomed to my presence, little one. Beware. I may poison your mind with increased exposure."
"Oh, don't say that. I like having you around. I can't imagine why everyone is so afraid of you," I said, shrugging.
"You do not find me threatening?" Thanatos narrowed his eyes.
He sent chills down my spine whenever he did that. He was decidedly threatening.
"It's not that. I just feel like no one ever tries hard enough to get to know you."
"What is there left to know? I take unborn infants, the frail elderly--"
"You watched Spongebob Squarepants! You ate my entire bag of popcorn!"
"And?"
"And you aren't as horrible as people say," I continued. "In fact, I wish we were friends. I feel much happier now that I have someone to hang out with on this trip. Looking back, I think it would have been really boring alone."
"You… Enjoy my presence?" He didn't sound convinced.
"I do!" I asserted. "I enjoy it immensely!"
Thanatos looked intently at me. I was half certain he thought I was lying. He thought I was saying it only to earn his favor, as he was a god.
"You know what? Fine. You don't have to believe me. But I do enjoy it just the same. I swear on my sister's head! Or something like that, anyway…"
"We will see," Thanatos said. "Now, should we not seek out that 'pasta' of yours?"
"Oh, yeah… We should."
I laughed. How could I have forgotten? Oh, maybe it was because Thanatos was so emo and needed reassurance from me that he wasn't the most terrible being in the history of the universe. He required some tireless convincing. I had my work cut out for me. How I would accomplish this task I didn't know, but I could only hope that I'd do it without losing myself on the way or falling in love with him. Because, like it or not, he'd be gone from my life at the end of the week, and I wouldn't see him again until it was my time to die.
What a lovely catastrophe I had gotten myself mixed up in!