Disclaimer: I don't own any POTC characters, only my OCs.
Just read through my reviews, and I realized something: I have amazing readers. Seriously. The reviews you guys give me are amazing...bloody brilliant. They are really all so sweet and wonderful, and I LOVE YOU ALL.
Ok.
Sorry. Mushy, I know.
But lately, I've just been sort of…happy. And grateful. Thank you so much for your kind words and I will do the best that I can to make this fanfic amazing.
Anyway, enough with my talk.
Here we go!
Chapter 5: The River Styx
The river appeared like a dream.
A cold, miserable dream.
An icy nightmare.
Finally.
It appeared in the fog of the snow, fading into the whipping white, a streak of pallor, so subtle and beautiful in the white, white cold; the snow clouded it, hiding its fine edges, its cruel, jagged lines, a wispy, faded mist, a trail so faint and delicate, like a whisper of smoke slashing through the white. Fine lines curved in the white wild, so fragile, so weak, that for a moment, for just a moment, it seemed like an actual dream, like an icy, cruel nightmare taunting at my very desires, my very soul, eyes blinded, painted with a hopeful picture of our final destination. It seemed just that, a fanciful dream, a mirage of my shivering body, my numb mind, the soft, delicate swirl of lines like some kind of cruel magic, teasing me, mocking me, rusing me with false hope and pulling me farther into the wild icy heart of Hell itself-
Only it wasn't a dream.
Or magic.
No.
Not at all.
Finally.
Balder's voice chimed like a golden bell.
"Well, at least we've finally made it."
Finally.
Balder was there, right beside me, striding, large, long legs pushing through the thick blanket of falling snow, untouchable and undefeatable in the whipping wind; he stood like a sore thumb, all golden and bronze, a stark dusky brilliance against the sickly pallor of the falling snow, a giant of burning sun in the cold, cold world. His golden hair, those bright bouncing curls, were coated with snow, frails of whitened locks kissing against his broad shoulders as he trudged through the snow, massive feet crushingice without even the slightest bit of effort. Blue eyes pierced out into the white, white world, bright and alive.
Burning with life.
Finally.
My insides twisted.
Finally.
Without another word, I turned away from the approaching wispy, shadowy river, from the grand mirage in the white cold, and towards the burden slumped over Balder's shoulder, carried like nothing more then a sack; Will hung there, limp, lifeless, his dark coat an odd clash against the bright curls of Balder's hair. Black boots hung, kicking against the god's naked stomach, the maroon shirt whipping against the dusk of bronze skin, blood against gold. Hand dangled, loose, pale, white gloves flapping helplessly behind the giant's back, away from the arrows, arms, legs and body completely devoid of life. Dark hair flopped useless, brown locks a shadow in the colourless world.
His exposed skin was the colour of ash.
Will.
Balder's voice came as heavy sigh.
"He's getting cold," he said simply enough, moving effortlessly, arm strapped over Will's back, carrying as if he's nothing more then a rag doll, blue eyes burning down at me, "He's not going to last long."
The wind howled against my ear, biting it raw.
I bit my icy lips.
"Don't say that."
"It's none but the truth, me dame."
"Then, stop speaking and move faster," I growled, and reached up to touch Will's hand, my own black robe fluttering behind, half-dragging in the slushy mess of the pale snow; he was cold, cold as ice, fingers lifeless, hand limp, his skin so white, so very white, like the colours of the snow itself…
Will.
A howl cried in the icy wind.
Will.
I squeezed his dead hand.
Balder sighed.
"You think they would give up after a while," he breathed, puff of white smoke whispering from between his lips as he stared right ahead, golden curls whipping back in the harsh white wind. Blue eyes stared right ahead, eager and burning.
Will's hand burned ice against my own.
I couldn't feel my toes.
Will.
"What?"
"The hounds," Balder threw a glance at me, the dark robe rustling against my numb body, my fingers tight around Will's lifeless, icy ones, "You know? The big black wolves, the ones that were chasing us, the ones that bit-"
"I know what they are, idiot. I remember," I threw him a back a sour look, a downright glare, and then, I couldn't help it; on impulse, without a thought, I reached up my other, numb hand and touched my throat, the left of my neck. Icy, hard fingers grazed over skin, past the black rough cloth of my robe, and a dull ache pursued, a running, writhing sting roiling beneath my skin, a grief, a slight but throbbing pain twanging beneath the touch of my icy fingers, sending bolts of fire down my body-
And reminding me that I was still alive.
In a way.
That I could still feel beneath the cold.
That I could still feel pain.
That I was human.
In a way.
I squeezed Will's hand again.
In a way.
Without another look at Balder, I pulled back my frozen fingers and looked down at them, the ache throbbing, a delicious reminder, a prickling hot sensation writhing beneath my veins as I stared down at my fingers; drops of blood stained against the icy flesh, red, brilliant crimson, so beautiful and tragic in the pale, colourless world, like a star in the dark, dark night. A drop of red fell to snow, burning like flames against my numb skin.
The wind clawed at my body.
In a way.
Balder's voice was a golden whisper.
"Does it still hurt?"
This time, I didn't even try to hold back the glare.
"Of course it hurts, you fucking-"
"Calm down, dame," a little chuckle, and the usual Balder grin cracked across his dusky face, his blue eyes laughing with some misplaced some of humour, his accent rolling warm and bright, Will's black leather coat flapping out into the wind as Balder held on to his limp body tightly, "There's no need to be rude."
"I'm not being rude."
"I may be 4000 years out of touch, but that was rude-"
"Oh, so what if it am?" I couldn't help but snarl, bitterly, flicking the frail drops of blood into the crashing forces of white snow, lapping up the dull, gnawing pain as I wiped my fingers clean on the black robe, feet heavy and numb as lead, fires burning behind my eyes, "I'm tired, alright? I'm fucking exhausted. I'm freezing, I'm starving, I'm bleeding, and Will is dying-"
"Actually, he's already dead-"
"Shut up-"
"Well, so are you, if that makes me feel any better!" he threw a wink, an infuriating wink, blue eyes flashing bright as I bit my chapped, dried lips, golden curls laughing, dancing in the wilds of the icy blizzard, bright against the bleak, "You're dead. Your prince here is dead. I, on the other hand-"
I huffed out a puff of foggy white.
Will's hand didn't move.
"You're not dead."
Another wink of brilliant blue.
"Never have, never will be."
Snow crushed beneath out feet, rumbling in unison.
The wind clawed with icy talons.
I squeezed Will's hand.
Will.
My voice came out in a wispy fog of cold.
"Not if I have anything to do with it."
Balder laughed.
Even in the storm, in the howling lament of the trudging snow, the wind clawing off my ears, biting away every sound but its lonely, tortured cry, I could hear Balder's laughter, the funny, merry, golden laugh, the sweet nectar ringing through the wind. His voice rang, and flashes of gold shot through my mind, images of warmth, of golden sunrises, of laughing springs and sweet morning dew, flowers booming in the bright shrubs of evergreens, the calls of the wild laughing up into the warm, delicious morning-
The world, wakening for a new day.
The bright world.
The golden world.
The living world.
My world.
Balder's voice rang like a clear, crystal bell.
"It was your idea to come here, dame."
The wind screamed, cold and brutal.
The snow clawed, hungry and ravenous.
My heart moaned, tired and longing.
My world.
I squeezed Will's hand.
"I had to save Will," I replied simply enough, using my other, numb hand to pull the black robe closer to my body, yanking it tight, my short hair wild in the wind as the cold slashed against the nape of my neck, "You know that-"
"I know," he shrugged, grunting slightly as he shifted Will's weight along the expanse of his bronze, perfect muscles, his dark cheeks flooded with a cold blush, "and I wanted to hide away from my siblings-
"Which didn't work, by the way."
"I know."
"Too bad, then."
Another chuckle, and the wind howled against us, pushing against our faces, against our trudging feet, Sparrow's beads crashing wildly against my cheek as the icy gale tore across, brutal, horrible. Black robe fluttered back, wild, uncontrollable, and in the icy howl, Balder and I staggered back a little, faltered by the winds of Hell. Snowflakes burned into my eyes.
A howl cried up to the winter skies.
My world.
Will's hand was too cold.
Balder's voice trilled like a golden flute.
"Your lack of sympathy for me is rather startling, my dear."
"Please," I winced, pushing against the whirling wind, snow twirling in the dark air as ice burned down my ankles, my other hand clutching tight to the collar of my black robe, pushing, fighting, never stopping, "You don't deserve pity."
A grin cracked through the snow, a brilliant white grin.
"Really? I helped you save this young lad-"
"And I freed you. We're even."
Silence.
Icy, howling silence.
My world.
For a moment, we just walked, pushing against the storm, ice fiery in my eyes, cold burning through my skin as Balder walked slowly beside me, firm and strong, dark and beautiful in the icy world. Will's body was still so quiet, so very still, hanging like a rag doll, like a lifeless little thing.
His hand burned icy cold in my hand.
My world.
A hound bayed in the distance.
A vein throbbed at the bite wound.
Balder sighed.
"Ah, so what happens now?"
A puff of white fog whispered between my lips.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean after this, me dame," A throw of flashing blue eyes at me, the bright, Balder smile faltering, dimming just a little in the wild white world, "After we get out of here-"
"If we get out of here-"
"Oh, we're getting out of here, I assure you," he nodded, and Sparrow's beads flew back as the wind took another breath and pushed against us, ice slashing against my skin, Will's hand cold and lifeless, "We're definitely getting out of this place."
"Assure? Well, you did also assure me that we wouldn't get into any trouble down here, that Hel wouldn't find us, and that we would just Will and go quietly-"
"I never said that."
"Yeah, you did. I remember-"
"The point, me dame," he grinned, and that maniac smile just got a little wider, the golden curls wild in the snow, Will's dark hair flopping against his bronze cheek, "The point. What's our plan?"
Will's little finger shivered against my palm.
The wound on my neck still throbbed.
"Our plan?"
"Yes, after this," a notch of impatience, but then Balder was looking forward again, golden curls crashing, bare feet buried away yet untouched by the snow, "When we return, back to your world. Well, my world, now that I think about it-"
"Our?"
"Yes, our. What's the plan then, eh?"
I didn't answer him.
Not immediately.
After all, what was I supposed to say?
Plan?
What plan?
"I don't have a plan," the fog of my words whipped back in the wind, crashing against my cheeks and clouding my eyes, the medicine man's eye chiming a laughing tune in my ear as it sang along with a storm, my fingers cold and numb, my insides frozen dead, "There is no plan. Not really-"
"So what? Do you just intend to pop right back into the living world? Just like that?"
"Oh yeah?" I scrunched my nose, a frown settling deep into my face as I hugged the coat tighter, never letting Will go, "What's your plan then? Huh? Killing your family?"
Silence.
Cold silence.
For a second, it was as if Balder wasn't breathing anymore, his feet crunching deep into the snow, his body silent, his words lost in the icy whirl. No sound came from him, nothing but his heavy steps, crushing ice beneath his sole. Will's black coat flapped against his body, beating his bronze naked chest like a drum.
Wind tore at my ears.
I just want to go home.
Ice clawed at my ankles.
My real home.
Will's hand shivered.
Home.
Balder breathed.
"If you're talking about earlier, with my sister-"
"You know what? I don't care, " it came so flat, so very flat and for the first time, I realised just how exhausted and tired and hungry I was, the burning blood of the sword having died out ago, my body suddenly weak and helpless and pathetic in the icy storm, "I don't give a fuck. You want to kill all your brothers and sisters, and start the apocalypse? Fine. Go ahead. I don't care. Not anymore. I'm going home."
"And where exactly is that, me dame?"
Silence.
Burning, icy silence.
Home.
I tried to not look at Will's hand.
After all, he was right.
He was so right.
Where was home?
Jared?
Was Jared home?
After everything?
After what Scarlett did?
Was Jared still home?
What's home?
The world was dark and cold.
What's home?
And then, the ground gave away beneath me.
It was so sudden, so very abrupt, just a spill of the land, and my feet was moving downhill, rendering helpless to gravity as I began to slip down a white, sudden slope, my hand slipping away from Will's-
Until Balder caught me, fingers stabbing gold into the white and grabbing my arm, holding me back. Hand burned, hot and fiery against my clothed arm, strong as steel, stopping me completely and holding me in place. A soft gasp of surprised spilled out of my lips, my heart thundering in my ears-
And then, I finally saw it.
Finally.
Somehow, in all that talk, in all that icy wind and howling madness and pure terror, we had made it, we had finally, finally made it; there, lying in pristine, like a dream of hope, was the Styx, a jagged jewel in the icy world. It stretched, long and dark, it's width thin and narrow but it's length stretching on through the snow, fading away into the white darkness. Lines, perfect, thin lines carved where the river met the snow, all elegant and crafted, the design of an intelligent creator, twisting and dancing away, into the far distance. Snow, pale white snow banked against the river itself, pure and innocent against the dark of the stream, it's curves and twists so lovely, so very delicate; on the other side of the river, the narrow, thin river, ice faded into the black, nothing noticeable, nothing imaginable except the drifting snow and the howling black darkness. Snow banked up along the river, small, uneven hills of white dipping down to the very edge of the icy black in the snow, the bank long and white, high above the river itself; it was almost like a groove, as if the river had worn itself through the snow, burrowing a path through the ice, a path on its own. Black clashed against white, and elegant curves wisped away into the dancing snow, my feet leaning over the edge of my bank as I looked down at the fabled river and it's never-ending path into the icy blizzard, into the white tempest-
And I blinked.
And blinked.
And blinked.
"It's frozen."
Balder chuckled.
"It is winter."
Fuck.
Below, the Styx was frozen, completely frozen, hard, black ice against the falling white snow; there was no water, no ripples, no lapping waves licking against the icy shore, no water streaming, roaring, down one way, moving at its own pace, alive and kicking. There was no action, no movement, not even a shiver of a ripple; it was just ice, pure, untouchable, unshakeable ice. It was black ice, perfect ice, carving atop the river, a perfect glass slate over the black waters, a hard mirror against the soft falling snow. There was nothing, no movement except the wild snow falling on its perfect smooth face, a river of ice carving through the soft dunes of snow and fading away into the wild storm. Nothing could touch it, could change it.
It was just ice.
Perfect, black ice.
Ice.
My voice came out in a squeak.
"It's frozen."
Balder chuckled again, golden in a black and white world.
"Aye."
My insides moaned.
"Frozen."
The wind carried his laughing voice.
"Aye. Aye, aye, ayitty, aye-"
"It's frozen, Balder!" I snapped, and slapped his hot hand away from my arm, pulling back over the edge of the snow bank and throwing a fiery glare at him, staring up at his golden form, my voice cracking with frustration, "Don't you get it? Frozen. Like ice. Like, like…like not water-"
"I know what frozen is, dame. I can see it as clearly as you-"
"Then stop grinning and do something!" I was beginning to yell, I couldn't help it, my insides beginning to burn, my heart starting to flutter, to jump about, brain racing hot through the cold as I glared up into his golden face, Will's body so very quiet, "It's frozen, Balder!"
His grin was like a wicked star.
"So?"
I wanted to punch him.
"So? So? Charon, you idiot!"
His grin only got a little wider.
"Ah, Charon!" He beamed, all snarky and arrogant, golden curls crashing across his laughing, wicked blue eyes, his arm shifting Will's limp weight about his shoulders, "Oh, yes. I remember! We were supposed to find him-"
"And get him to take us back to the mortal world-"
"Right, right, me dame, and-"
"AND THE RIVER IS FROZ-"
He shoved me.
Shoved me.
One moment, I was standing, heart pounding fires in the icy whirl, yelling up at his cheeky smile, and then he pushed me over the icy edge and I was rolling down the bank, head over heels. Black robe fluttered wildly as I grabbed the air, shocked, rolling helplessly like a lost little ball, trashing through the icy hill. Beads chimed, my heart pounding in my mouth and gravity seized me completely-
And landed me, on my ass, at the sloping edge of the frozen river.
Head pounded back against ice.
Red flashed across my eyes.
Ow.
Balder's laughing voice rang through the thrilling white snow.
"You alright, me dame?"
A free hand went up to grab at my aching head.
"What the hell…" I murmured, not that loud as I slowly pulled up into a sitting position, rubbing the sore back of my head as the cruel black ice bit into my back, dark boots still dangling above the white bank; above, Balder was walking down the bank, sliding over the icy hill and down towards me without much effort, Will still slumped over his shoulder. Blue eyes beamed down at me, bright and ever so beautiful.
Pain throbbed down my neck.
Ow.
I raised my voice.
"What the hell, Balder?" I frowned, licking away the ice crystals on my lips, trying to ignore the aching pain. The wound on my neck paled from the headache I was starting to get.
A bitter rolled over my tongue.
Ow.
Balder grinned.
"You were talking too much, dame," he beamed and offered a hand down to me, blonde curls laughing, bright and eager, but I just knocked him away, pushing to my feet on my own, glaring at him the entire time, "Have I ever told you that? You talk too much. You never ever, ever, ever seem to quite shut up-"
"And you're just an idiot."
"Perhaps," he winked, and without a single sound, reached down towards me and pulled me up with one hand, grabbing my black robe and pulling me with it. Bones ached, muscles twanged and a sound of protest spilled from my icy lips as the ice slipped beneath me-
And Balder hoisted me up to my feet, like a rag doll made to stand.
Like we were all rag dolls.
I pushed him away.
He just chuckled.
Idiot.
And then, he walked away, Will still limp over his shoulder, trudging across the thick black ice to the centre of the narrow river. Hills of snow banked us on either side, like a giant white trench, covering us, protecting us from the howls of the icy whirl; above, the snow still danced, wild and roaring, untameable and brutal, but down here, hidden between the banks, the snow fell like jewel crystals, soft and gentle, a sweet, long melody. Fat white flaks, like pompous gems, twirled down onto the icy river, coating it with a soft, white crisp. Wind kissed against the white hills, spraying the cold, pale snow.
The ice was as hard as ground.
I shivered.
Crap.
Before me, Balder turned back, grinning like a child, blue eyes bright and eager, his dusky lips parting, mouth opening to say something-
But I cut him off.
Mainly because I didn't really care anymore.
"What now?" I scowled, rubbing the back of my head, trying to ignore the faint throbbing of my skull, my tongue bitter and raw, Sparrow's beads chiming against my cheek, cold laughter indeed. Black robe fluttered faintly, dark drenched in faded white snow.
My short hair bristled near the open wound.
Balder grinned.
"Now, we get out of here."
He said like it was the simplest thing.
"Get out of here?"
"Aye."
"Ok," I took a few steps forward, the black ice beneath hard and strong, like the earth itself, wispy white snowflakes dancing around my ankles, "Well, then? Any plans, genius?"
His blue eyes flared like a brilliant azure light.
"Well, we did plan to find Charon-"
"Until we discovered that the river was frozen-"
"Oh that?" he scrunched up his nose, a touch of dramatics playing into his voice as he looked over at me with purposed exaggeration, beaming too wide, voice too shocked, a mocking tone that pricked the back of my neck, "That's it, dame? That's what you're so sulky over? The frozen river?"
Yet again, I wanted to punch him.
"Of course, I am," I spat, rubbing my head, relishing in the pain, frustration tearing away at what was left of my heart, Will hanging limp and dead, "How on earth are you supposed to summon Charon if the river is ice? He can't find us now."
A wink of flashing blue.
"That's where you're wrong, me dame-"
"Balder-"
And then, just like that, he stuck out his free hand, clenched in a fist, and began to sweep wildly, dramatic, completely silly, his large naked feet dancing back and forth on the slippery ice, his face twisted in a dramatic grin. He ducked back and forth, moving about to some inaudible music, to some invisible enemy, bobbing up and down, looking so damn stupid-
And then, twisting to the side, releasing his clenched fist, and grabbing over his heart, feigning some kind of injury. His face screwed up in mute, exaggerated pain, as he pretended to cry in agony, his knees dropping dramatically to the hard ice, a mute cry tearing from his lips. Will held on, somehow still there on his shoulder, the god's face twisted in over-dramatic fake pain-
I sighed.
"Are you pretending to be stabbed by a sword?"
Golden curls shook and he snapped out of it, fast and quick.
A cheeky grin beamed through the fog of white.
"Oh, you're good at this game!"
Another long, miserable sigh.
Freaking idiot.
Without another word, I reached down into my robe and pulled my sword out from the dark fold, holding tight to the hilt; at touch, the gold burned as usual, the beautiful, delicious warmth burning through my skin and soaring through my blood, consuming all cold, melting away all numbness, flooding all my senses like a giant, rolling golden wave-
And I had to shake it off.
Now wasn't time, after all.
Not now.
Will's hand hung cold and dead.
Not now.
I cleared my throat.
"Ok," I nodded once, ignoring the rush of golden bliss as I heaved the sword upward, the silver hot stabbing up into the white world, red ruby burning with gorgeous joy, Will such a pale and distant figure in horrid comparison, "Here's the sword. What now?"
The wind screamed.
Balder grinned.
"Now, you stab it," he said simply enough, pulling off his dramatic stance, up off his knees and forward towards me, moving confidently and surely as always, Will hanging behind like a dead and useless sack. Ice boomed softly, gentle vibrations against my boots as Balder waltzed his over towards me again, a hulk of brilliant gold in an icy world. Blue eyes beamed, alive and eager.
Excited.
Always excited.
Not now.
Golden fires burned through my veins.
Will hung quiet as the ice.
A howl tore through the night.
Not now.
I bit my lip.
"Stab it?"
Balder couldn't stop grinning.
"Aye!"
Fires raged through my blood.
"Um…where again?"
Balder didn't answer.
Instead, he pointed down with one golden finger, towards his feet, and I followed it, looking down to his bronze, naked feet on the black ice, wondering why, for the love of everything, would he want me to stab his feet-
The ice.
Sparrow's beads laughed in my ears.
Oh.
With a soft sigh, I parted my feet, and held the hilt with two hands, clenching it tight, letting the warmth soar through me as I pointed the blazing silver blade down, towards the black ice, between Balder, Will and I, a bright, beautiful light in a starved, white world. Red ruby laughed, taunting me, laughing cruelly at me.
The wind snickered.
The snow clawed.
My breath was just a white fog.
"Stab the ice?" I whispered, looking down at it, at the blemished, scratched surface, the waters beneath all black and dark, snow drifting over the smooth ice, stark white against the abyss. Balder's feet gleamed gold against the monotone world.
His voice was, for some reason, also a whisper.
"Exactly."
Fires raged through my mind.
"But…you sure the blade can cut it? The ice…it looks pretty thick."
Will's black robe fluttered in between us.
"The blade can cut anything, dame."
Something burned in my throat.
"Even hell ice?"
Balder chuckled.
"Especially hell ice."
The blade was burning, burning so warm and beautiful in my hands, and I looked up, past Balder's eager eyes and towards Will's slumped body, unmoving against the god's shoulder.
Unmoving.
Pale.
Ashen.
Dead.
Not now.
My eyes fell back to Balder's.
Something choked in my throat.
"What happens?"
Golden curls laughed.
"What?"
"What happens when I stab the…ice? Will we drown?"
Another chuckle, a rolling, golden chuckle.
"Charon will find us, dame. Don't worry."
Red ruby laughed.
"What if he doesn't?"
Blue eyes beamed.
"Trust me."
Trust me.
Trust me.
I closed my eyes.
And then, I drove the blade downwards, eyes fluttering open helplessly as the fiery silver blade crashed against the harsh ice, bright sparks flying upwards, through the icy air-
And the blade cut right through, slicing through the thick, solid black ice as if it were nothing more then water, perfect and slick, so very easy, blazing silver clashing against the wispy, messy white snow and the harsh, cruel ice. Fires burned through my skin, warm delicious flames as the red ruby flared, bright and alive, my guts ripping apart as a helpless gasp spilled from my lips-
A loud crack.
A booming, thunderous crack.
Oh God.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
For a moment, I just stood there, holding the burning hilt, keeping the sword stabbed into the ice, body barely daring to move, to breathe as a thundering silence filled the icy world, pounding against my head, ringing in my ears, a horrible, horrible, dreadful silence-
And then, like a snap of fingers, a gold crack broke through the ice.
Oh God.
It appeared from the sword, leading out from the break point, from the ice that had spilt away for the sword, a zig zag of brilliant gold splintering through the harsh ice. It was sudden, so very sudden, a loud crack following its path as it broke through, a splinter of brilliant gold, bright light flooding upward from the fissure, as if the water beneath was made of gold-
And then, another crack, forward this time, splintering through the ice, a jagged, crude fracture of golden light snapping forward through the whipping snow, across the cruel ice-
And then, another, faster, a loud booming crack-
One more, cutting between my legs, moving fast, moving loud, golden light spilling up into the snowy storm-
And then, another one, snapping beneath Balder's feet, bright and beautiful, golden light escaping from the jagged fracture, cracks thundering up into the icy wind-
And then, one more, slithering like a golden snake-
Another there, snapping quick and alive-
Yet another, golden light laughing up to the world-
One more, tearing across the ice, cracks snapping, loud and horrible-
And then, Balder's free arm threw around my neck.
Hold on.
The ice collapsed.
8888888888
I couldn't think.
Not really.
Not anymore.
One moment, I was falling, and then, there was ice, cold, cruel, bitter ice, frigid water engulfing me, consuming me, rushing down my throat, my veins, down to my heart, extinguishing all fires, destroying all hope. Everything collapsed, every thought, every breath, bitter black water devouring me whole, swallowing me up like a dark beast hungry for my fiery blood; there was nothing, nothing but the darkness, the horrible, black abyss, and the icy grip of the waters, jagged, bloody bitter claws slashing across my body, hacking away at me. Lungs froze, vile cold water rushing down my windpipe, the fires in my blood dying as the numbing waters ripped me apart, the world so very black, so very cold…
And hands were pulling me down.
Hands.
Claws.
I was falling, dropping through the watery hell, the blackness, the ice devouring me as claws of blood gripped my ankle, my body so pathetic, so very helpless as the waters of Hell took me, engulfing me, eyes blind, throat burning with ice, my every sense completely ripped apart, my body ravaged by the icy, lurid nightmare. Nothing existed anymore, absolutely nothing, nothing but the darkness and the screaming black cold, the very last of my soul slipping away into the grips of death itself…
Will.
Something pulled me apart.
Will.
I couldn't tell what was happening, I couldn't even think; it was just so cold, so very, very cold, and so dark, as if all the stars had gone out and the world was nothing more then a black, black hole, a never-ending abyss of icy bitter cold-
And the I burst through the surface, breaking through the black waters like a dagger through the night, a whole new different world, air, sweet, beautiful air rushing, shoving down my throat as the darkness peeled back, a dull amber light in the far distance. Stars flared to life, and water eased around me, my dead, helpless body surging above the dark, icy abyss, the black world letting me go, releasing me to above. Air rushed, so sweet, so wonderful, fires burning behind my eyes as muscles began to spring, my lips parting helplessly, breathing, swallowing up the sweet, sweet air, instinct and madness screaming in my blood as the cold gnawed to the bone-
And I'm alive.
I'm alive.
A gasp, a quick, trembling gasp squeezed out of my body as the water pulled me down again, the blackness clawing me, taking me back, ice burning through my blood as the stars faded back into the darkness-
And then, some how, I was out of water.
Will.
I didn't know how it happened; one minute, I was there, drowning in the cold, in the fading light, letting the black engulf me all over again-
And then, I was lying back, on dry wood, a plume of flames dancing above my head. Everything was blurry, wet and foggy, light splintering in the darkness as the world rocked back and forth, shapes nothing but shadows, light dancing a soft, sad tune. Voices whispered, odd, strange voices, the sound of water ringing thick in my ears as the world reeled back and forth, so unclear, so very far away. Everything was so hazy, a smudge of a word, shadows and shapes and whispers in the amber dark, as if…
As if it were all a dream.
As if I were dead.
Truly dead.
The Lighter Lands.
Heaven.
This was heaven.
I was in heaven.
I finally died and now, I'm in-
"Up, up, up, child! There we go!" A voice rang, loud and clear, and all of a sudden, a golden head appeared in the world, a bright golden head with laughing blue eyes, staring down at me with the silliest smile. It was unfocused, a hazy mirage in the dim world, a halo of gold springing bright like a transcendent sun, blue eyes alive, beautiful and bright-
A halo.
An angel?
No.
No.
It couldn't be, could it?
I mean, if it was an angel…
Then I was truly dead.
I had finally died.
I was in heaven.
I'm dead, and this is paradise-
Pain snapped through my nose.
"Ow!"
"Ah, you are alive!" the voice cried again, and the fog began to clear, the strange haze to the world, the colours leaking back in, shadows slowly taking their shapes as the golden curls laughed down at me, blue eyes becoming clearer and clearer and clearer, the dream dissolving away into something real, something dark, "Well, yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No, you've been dead for quite a bit. Yes, you're not dead dead, if there were ever such a thing, and I know, that after 4000 years, me dame, you should never, ever ride anything off. Well, maybe except getting a banana in Hell, because that's just a bloody lie-"
"Balder?" Because now I could see him, looming over me, a huge giant blob in my world, the golden laughing curls suddenly so familiar, those odd blue eyes like distant orbs of memory, the same sharp nose, the familiar flawless dusky skin-
And then, he grinned, and even in of the fog of the world, I knew that it was him.
That it was Balder.
Not an angel.
Balder.
My Balder.
Alive.
A little smile tugged at my lips.
Alive.
"Help me up."
I didn't ask twice.
In the clearing fog, in the dispelling blur and faint haze, Balder pulled me upright, shoving me off my back; muscles sprang awake, and then, my entire body seemed to stretch, the numbness melting as action screamed through my blood again. Bone shivered, cold and icy, and my skin was still so very wet, the black robe stuck to my body as ice trembled down my back, a horrid cold still squeezing over my neck. Fingers cracked, awake from the cold, hair stuck to the back of my neck, trails of water encircling my neck, like an icy noose ready to finish me off. Lungs spasmed, wet and cold, gut fallen through a sickly black hole. Every part of me seemed trapped, icy and bitter.
A gasp spilled from my lips.
My head throbbed.
Alive.
It hurt to be alive.
There was a bitter taste in my throat, a horrid, icy bitter taste and as I swallowed back, waking up my muscles, the world cleared up in front of me, colours fading back, shapes burning into view, shadows flickering in the darkness as the fog of the cold and terror slowly lifted off my eyes, and I could see-
A boat.
We were on a boat.
Alive.
It was a small boat, practically a canoe, all smooth, deep edges and pointed ends, rough wood rocking beneath to the soft slapping of dark waves. It was too dark to see anything, to any sort of detail, but there was leg room, a wide berth that seemed just a little too comfortable, the wood beneath cold and icy against my shivering skin. The centre was widest, and behind me, at its rear tip, a torch of fire whispered above our heads, flickering amber shadows all about this strange world of darkness, black wood gliding in the deep, carved so very elegantly, so very beautifully-
With a black-robed figure standing at its head.
Oh God.
It was too dark, far, far too dark, but all I could see its back, a long black robe gliding down the length of the boat, the figure standing at the very first seat, unmoving in the amber shadows. It had a hood, a large, black hood, and there was nothing to tell of it, nothing to say of it except that it was a shadow, a dark shifting shadow that didn't seem to be there, didn't seem to be real. A long, dark stick was held in its hand, the strange paddle sinking in and out of the water slowly, pushing the boat forward like you push a raft, slaps of water sounding in the crisp icy silence with each, trembling movement. There was no face, no eyes, nothing at all but the dark shadow standing silent at the very edge of the boat, moving us forward.
Dark as the cold.
Silent as my heart.
Alive.
My breath was a trembling whisper.
"Is that Charon?"
Balder's voice came from beside me, a low, dark chuckle.
"The boatman of the Underworld," he whispered, and held me up with one damp arm strapped around my hip, his large body warm and hot as shivers ran down my skin, my tongue so bitter, my brain so numb, every part of me trembling from the icy cold; beside me, Balder was wet too, drenched, golden curls darker then usual under the amber shadows, little pale drops of water gliding down his dark skin, ringing around his eyes. His chest was drenched too, and his satchel was still strapped tight to his chest, rings of golden curls dripping pure black jewels onto the wooden floor of the boat. Blue eyes flared bright, so alive, so very thrilled.
It was as if he wasn't cold at all.
Alive.
I leaned against his warmth.
"How?" I couldn't feel my tongue, but there it was, words spilling out of me as I leaned back against Balder's naked shoulder, lapping in the warmth of his skin, trying to burn away the miserable, gnawing cold, "How did he find us?"
A little chuckle, and Balder let me lean in closer to him.
"I told you to trust me."
Sparrow's beads chimed cold against my ear.
"Yeah. Not doing that again."
Another laugh, low but golden as usual-
Then, I saw him.
Will.
He was there, lying in front of us, at the other end of the boat, down on his side, dark hair wet and wild, the edge of his boots twisted against the side of the boat, digging into the wood. Amber light danced upon his tanned face, drops of water glistening like jewels as they glided about his skin, bright, beaming jewels, trailing across his dark fiery cheek and dripping over his strong jaw, dark against the rough wood. His hair was so wet, darker then usual, and hanging over his face and neck in a wild tangle, fingers clawing into the wood as he lay still on his side, helpless and silent. Dark leather splayed about his body, a blanket of black almost as dark as Charon a few steps behind him, water gleaming like teardrops of fire against the darkness of his coat; the maroon shirt beneath was soaked, sucked drenched to his slender body, the faint gleam of the golden medallion burning bright under the whispering amber light. Dark lashes kissed against perfect cheekbones, wet and perfect, forever shut.
My heart burned to cinders.
Will.
My insides screamed.
How could I forget about Will?
Without another word, I tore away from Balder's warm embrace and crawled over to Will, dying to touch him, to make sure that he was ok, that he was going to make it, to protect him even if it meant falling back into the darkness all over again-
Will.
With a soft sob, I touched him and then, with the little strength I had, I pulled him onto my lap, cold, miserable fingers gripping tightly around his pale wrists, insides churning at how cold his skin was, how silent his body was, how light he seemed to be as I dragged his head onto my lap and bent down towards him, holding him, just holding him, never ever wanting to let go ever again-
Because I couldn't.
I wouldn't.
Not ever again.
Not ever, ever again.
Once we were alive again, once we were free-
I was never letting go of him.
Not once.
Not even a single minute.
No matter what happened.
No matter death.
I would never let him go again.
I would never leave him.
Never.
I bent forward and planted a single, shivering kiss onto his icy forehead.
Never.
Balder's voice rang like a bell.
"You dropped something, dame."
There was a loud crack, and when I looked up, Balder's sword was sitting in between him and us, glowing like a star in the whole new world, a bright beautiful light in the never-ending darkness-
But I looked away.
Away from the light.
Away from the warmth.
Away.
And down at Will.
Never.
"Keep it," I murmured, back bent, trembling lips caressing against Will's still, ashen, icy forehead, my arms gripping tight to him as I held on, holding on to whatever was left of him.
Of Will.
Of my beautiful Will.
Of my love.
Of my world.
Stay with me.
Water slapped, deep and dark.
Body shivered, crisp and trembling.
Wood rocked, back and forth.
Silence screamed.
Stay with me.
Balder chuckled.
"Just a little more, Joey. Hold on to him. Just a little more."
+ The END+
Please review and tell me what you think about this! Love you guys lots and see you soon!
XOXO