the reader uses she/they pronouns
"There will be a child of Hades that breaks the curse for you," Her words were confident, but it was hard for you to believe. "Look for them in the future — in 100 years."
Year: ????
Location: ????
Darkness had engulfed you for years, the words of the goddess that killed you echoing in your head. A small flame appeared before you and your hope spiked. When the flame didn't move or morph into a different form, you sighed and shut your eyes. A soft giggle made your right eye open enough to see that the flame had disappeared. Your eyes flew open the moment that processed in your head, [E/C] eyes scanning the darkness until it reappeared with a child-like giggle.
"Who are you?" You called out and watched as the flame got closer. "What are you?"
"I don't have a name yet," The flame giggled before hovering in front of you. "I know I'm a powerful soul — but I haven't been reborn in a long time. Zagreus asked me to look for you too—."
"How come your soul looks like a flame?"
"They say I'm to be reborn as the king's child! I guess this is what my soul looks like now that he'll be my father."
'Wait...'
"Do... Do you know what year it is?!"
"Zagreus said it's almost a new millennia... He also said we have to move fast — I should be conceived soon. What's your name?"
"The one I remember is..." 'Why can't I remember my name?'
"Oh... You've been here a long time too," The flame turned a pale blue once those words reached your ears. "After a while, you forget your old life unless you're allowed to move on and not be reborn... Come on."
A hand extended from the flame — the first time it took any kind of shape. You reached for the hand and once you grabbed it, everything went black.
Year: 2019
Location: ?????, Romania
You sighed as you wiped your brow with your sleeve, the heat combined with a cloudless sky meant working was hell. Someone called out to you and your head turned to the castle behind you, eyes landing on one of the newer maids. They made their way over to you with a warm smile. That's something you noticed very early — they only smiled in your direction. Every other maid received a death glare.
"Hey, Isa," You whispered once they were close enough, removing your gloves. "Is everything okay? You've been... Different today. Colder than normal — distant even—."
"I need to talk to you. Alone." Isa turned on their heel before glancing over their shoulder at me. "Now. It's urgent."
You forced back a sigh and stood up, knowing that if Isa was the one being this serious, something bad was going to happen. They often kept a playful aura about them whenever around you, so this side was entirely different. You followed them through the castle until you reached their room, letting them shut and lock the door behind you. They began pacing, the seriously concentrated expression on their face causing a foreign voice to echo in your head.
"There will be a child of Hades that breaks the curse for you. Look for them in the future — in 100 years."
You moved over to them and stopped them in place, swallowing the lump in your throat as the memories you shared with Cassandra flashed in your mind. "I'm cursed, aren't I?"
"...I can fix it."
"Will I still be alive when you do?"
"Ye—..." They swallowed thickly before licking their lips nervously. "...I'm not going to let him kill you. The prophecy came true anyway."
"What prophecy? What was supposed to be so horrible that he went to such lengths to try to prevent it from happening?"
"...My birth," Isa breathed out and scratched the back of their neck. "I don't know why he was so worried... Lady Cassandra can't reproduce — even if given the necessary..." They cleared their throat as pink dust settled on their cheeks. "Y-you know what I'm tr-trying to say he-here!"
"I didn't know you could get this flustered."
"I'm going to hit you."
"Wait!" You frowned as it dawned on you that someone didn't want Isa to be born. "Why was your birth trying to be prevented?"
"Uhm... Long story. I need to fix everything. Just... Stay near the ladies until I return, okay? If they take you before I can speak to her... Either way, you're not dying this time. Even if that means I have to sacrifice myself."
You barely caught the last part of that, but before you could say anything to them, Isa walked off. Once they were out of the room, a sense of impending doom washed over you, making you speed-walk out of the room in search of your girlfriend. You managed to reach her, but the chills that ran up your spine the entire journey made you cling to her immediately. Cassandra squeaked in surprise — pausing in her brush strokes — before glancing over at you.
"Is something wrong, my love?"
"I know," You whispered and locked eyes with her. "I know what you've been hiding from me. And I know why."
Sadness filled Cassandra's eyes before you moved to sit in her lap. "Isa... Isa's going to try to fix everything... Just... Just don't let me leave your side until they return."
"Alright," Cassandra whispered as her arm wrapped around your waist. "That just means I get to hold you like this more often."
'Which is fine with me,' You thought with a smile, nuzzling into her neck. 'I hope Isa's okay...'
????? POV
"Father!" The shout brought a faint smile to my face as my eyes shifted from the paperwork on my desk. "Where is she?"
"Where is whom, dear?"
"Pater! You know I don't have a lot of time!"
"You really wish to save her that bad?" I hummed as my youngest gave a firm nod. 'Just like their older brother — so determined to go against the ruling.'
"We both know the only reason this curse was placed was to prevent me from being born," Isa growled as they stepped closer to my desk. "And we both know the only being that agreed with Zeus was Poseidon. Hekate will reverse it."
"How can you be so sure? We gods are known for going against our word."
"...Because I know another way to break it."
'Surely they don't mean—.'
"The curse gets broken if my cycle of rebirth gets ruined," The steadiness of their voice sent a pang to my chest. "Essentially, my soul gets trapped or destroyed and she gets her happy ending finally."
"Isa—."
"Where. Is. Hekate?"
Hekate slowly walked up to Isa and circled them, making me tense. I watched her every step — Cerberus doing the same — until she came to a stop in front of Isa. Tension filled the air as they locked gazes, making me clear my throat — effectively causing Hekate to glance back at me.
"Why must all of your children go against their uncles?" Hekate sighed.
"Maybe because we don't want to listen to rapists?" Isa hissed immediately.
"...Can't argue that. I'll do it — but only because I owe your mother. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to."
"What do you mean by that?" I inquired and raised an eyebrow at the long sigh she let out.
"This is Zeus we're talking about," Hekate growled and crossed her arms. "He made sure it was a very specific spell just in case Hera did what she did. He took precautions just in case Isa was reborn."
"You said auntie had a hand in my rebirth?" Isa's voice reverted to the soft, child-like tone they always used when they were curious about something or wanted information.
'Ah, so that's how they manage to get information out of people...'
Second Person POV
You curled up on Cassandra, gripping the silk that was her nightgown. She shifted and pressed a kiss on your temple before tightening her hold on you, a low growl leaving her as two women appeared out of the darkness. You pressed into Cassandra more as they got closer, a quiet whimper escaping you.
Isa stepped out of the darkness and you relaxed a bit, letting your grip loosen when they sent you a faint smile. You watched their eyes flicker to one of the women before their face lit up, a smile spreading over their face as they made their way over to the woman. The two conversed in a language you didn't understand as the second woman moved closer to you, not flinching when Cassandra hissed at her.
"Do you want the curse broken or not?" The woman huffed, gaining Isa's attention.
"Hekate, be nice. For decades she's known that once [Y/N] is in her life again, you gods would take her again and kill her. She has a right to not trust you."
"You're half god and she trusts you," The woman — Hekate — responded instantly.
"Exactly. Half."
"I don't like you."
"Love you too~!" Isa giggled and a distant memory came back to you.
"I don't have a name yet," The flame giggled before hovering in front of you. "I know I'm a powerful soul — but I haven't been reborn in a long time..."
'It really was them... We've seen each other's souls...'
You weren't sure what happened next because the next thing you knew, you were waking up in Cassandra's arms. She looked like she was sleeping peacefully but the moment you stretched, her eyes flew open. When they landed on you, she let out a relieved sigh and rested her forehead against yours, a smile on her face. You pecked her lips before letting your eyes shut, a content hum leaving you.
"They said if I woke up with you in my arms," Cassandra's husky voice sent a shiver down your spine. "That the curse had been broken."
"Looks like it's been broken," You whispered and wrapped your arms around her.
"Good, because there's something I've been waiting 100 years to do..."
You whined when she moved away from you and sat up, watching as she went to her closet. As she searched for something, you stood and stretched, groaning as your body cracked while your limbs strained to get out of their relaxed state. You sighed as you relaxed, glancing up at Cassandra as she walked over to you. She pulled you in for a chaste kiss before taking a step back and getting on one knee.
"[Y/N]... I've waited for 100 years... I was told about the curse the day you disappeared — now that it's gone, I have one question for you."
You nodded as joy and love overwhelmed you, making tears fill your eyes. "Ask away."
Cassandra opened the box, letting her eyes scan your face as she spoke. "Will you marry me?"
You cupped her cheeks and pulled her in for a kiss, ignoring the tears of joy that slid down your cheeks. It wasn't until she pulled away that you answered, holding your hand out for her to put the ring on your finger.
"And I've been waiting 100 years to give you my answer; Yes."