Ferry of Woe [malexmale]

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

The Ferry, as it had no other name aside from such, was a large ship meant to accomodate a decent amount of souls. Most days, the souls didn't even fill up the ship. In fact, it was hardly necessary for the ferry to be as big as it was. Of course, Hades wouldn't allow me to trade it in for another, claiming this one was special, though, I failed to see how.

It was painted entirely black with a dim array of white lights lining the cabins at the center that led to the captain's quarters above, tucked just behind the wheelhouse. Every part of the ferry was painted either black or dark gray. A suitable set of shades considering how dreary it already was to ride with a crew that was dead.

Every so often, a soul would break free from the natural daze a soul shielded itself with to avoid the trauma of realizing they were dead. Once the soul broke free, it would do one of two things.

Scream hysterically and try to jump into the water to get away.

Or plead for me to bring them back to life.

However, I was a god of death, not a god of creation. I was born for the sole purpose of ferrying souls to their appropriate destination. Otherwise, I was pretty useless.

I made my way to the wheelhouse, pausing on the steps to turn my head sideways, watching the black skeleton guards materialize on the docks below, bringing with them a new group of souls. They were all in their protective dazes, just looking around and seeing their own fantasizes, instead of the bleak darkness that surrounded them. I went up the wheelhouse as the guards led the souls on board.

I didn't even need to touch any of the controls as I waved my hand and the ferry came to life, engine grunting and controls beeping and whirring. I stepped back and stood against the door that went to the captain's quarters. I waited for the souls to be safely on board and comfortable before a skeleton guard approached the wheelhouse, peering in at me.

"All the souls are safely on board, Lord Charon. You're set to leave." He informed. I just nodded and he vanished. I walked up to the wheel, touching a finger to it. That was all it took for the magic to spin itself out and twirl around the wheel, controlling it on its own so we left the docks.

I didn't go down to look at the souls. It was far too depressing. I disappeared into the captain's quarters instead where I found a comfortable spot near the window, watching the gloom of the underworld pass us by as we came down the river. I summoned my journal, flipping it open to the last page before I began to write again.

Alexion.

Where had he come from? Had someone pushed him into the river or was it all an elaborate trap to lure me in so he could take my heart out? He didn't know how to kill me, I knew. Only Hades knew how to do that. He would do it too, if it meant stopping me from doing something stupid. But he would never tell anyone else. He hadn't even spoken of it to Persephone, for which I was truly grateful for as Persephone and I were estranged acquaintances. She was a goddess of creation, fertility, vegetation, and the queen of the underworld. Meanwhile, I was a god of death. We got along as well as a sword to a hydra's head.

But back to Alexion. There was something about him that held me captive.

Maybe it was his eyes. The clearest, strongest blue I'd ever seen. They spoke of centuries upon centuries of pain and caution. They were the eyes of a person who'd seen the darkest corners of this world and somehow managed to come out sane.

Maybe it was his face. Perfectly sculpted by the gods for beauty, seductive. Well formed lips that were meant to be kissed tenderly, hooded eyes that watch the world with suspicion, a strong, square shaped jaw with the crisp stubble of having hadn't shaved in days, long straight nose that gave him an ancient touch of wisdom.