Fídi- Snake

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Samantha

Tartarus is hot, but I'm hotter.

I check myself out in the reflection of the flames, twirling and bending over to check my ass. The heat has done wonders to my skin --even though it was perfectly fine the day I died-- and it's left a subtle glow to my body that hadn't been there before.

If I was sexy on Earth, I'm a goddess now. Literally.

Okay, so maybe not a goddess per se. But definitely immortal or something, because when I awoke here after dying, I realized pretty quickly that the intense hotness wasn't hurting me. It was burning other souls, I could hear their screams of agony and pain coming from somewhere around me, but somehow my body was intact.

In fact, I've been immune to the domain's harshness since I stepped foot on its soil. The torturous domain is full of thick darkness, but I can see everything as clear as day. Like if I close my eyes, I can still see what's in front of me, and those punished for their actions on earth are probably bound by chains or shackles, yet my hands and feet are free.

I don't know why, but the moment I died, all the ashes left behind by the unknown phenomenon that ate me alive suddenly reappeared here in Tartarus.

I know because the first thing to coalesce as a whole were my eyes, and I got to watch how my body was gradually put back together by the dancing flames. Before that, I couldn't see, feel, hear, or smell anything. I was in a limbo-like place, I was trapped in my head like when the Fates transported me back to the Underworld.

It was actually exactly like that-- for several moments I couldn't activate any of my senses, and I had only my mind to wander. It could have been hours, days, weeks, or even months that I spent in that comatose state. I have no idea how much time has passed on earth, and I often wonder what everyone else is doing, especially my dad.

I wonder if he misses me, if he's looking for me, or if he's noticed my absence since all he does is work. I wonder if Bethany is feeling better, and if she still hates me. Sometimes, I even wonder about Luke and if he's doing well. Being alone for a long time makes you think about people and how you treated them, and I actually find myself missing those I wouldn't have given a second glance to.

I frown, suddenly feeling lonely.

I've been stuck in hell for what feels like months now. I've tried finding an escape route for the past several weeks, but I can't find anything-- not a hole, not a cave, not even a path. It doesn't even look like there's a way in, all that exists here is vast land and fire.

I can wander anywhere I want in the domain, I can even see the sky shaped like a ring-- a completed, blazing waterfall on all sides. I've tried staring up the tall opening, but always find nothing but darkness. I can't even catch the dim light of dusk, it's beginning to make me feel restless.

All I can do if I concentrate is see my reflection in the radiance, and occasionally spy on others through fire. It only happened once or twice, and both times it was Daniel I caught playing alone, and both times it was accidental. I asked him to tell Hades to get me out of here, but I doubt he's said anything-- no one's come to my rescue as of yet.

I sigh, falling back onto the ashy ground and enjoying the warmth of the flames. They feel like soothing bubbles in a hot tub, massaging my back and legs. I don't know why they don't burn me, if I was sentenced to spend eternity here, why didn't I pass judgement? Why can't I feel pain?

And most importantly, why can't I escape?

I look down to my body, I doubt I'd want to leave like this anyway. Walking around naked isn't exactly going to make others take me seriously. I mean, I'm not ashamed of my body --especially now that it looks even more amazing-- but what if Daniel sees me like this? Poor kid.

I sit up, looking out into the charring fields. I'm the only soul here, which is the crazy part about all this. I can hear the screams of others being tortured, but so far I haven't seen anyone besides myself.

"Somebody please get me out of here!" I groan, fisting my hands and pounding them on the ground. I receive no response, not even my voice echoes in the emptiness of the burning space. It seems like there's an invisible presence in the place that fills up its corners, not necessarily someone, but definitely some thing. Like furniture cluttering a once vacant house.

I frown at the deserted terrain. Not even the embers in this place keep me company, it seems like the abilities the Underworld gave me stopped working. I've tried summoning my sparks, but nothing travels down my arms and no flare erupts past my palms.

"Can anybody hear me?" I call out again, angling my head to catch any sounds. My frown deepens at the suffocating silence. It's kind of creepy that there's fire all around me, and that it's so quiet --aside from the miserable souls-- that I could probably lose track of my thoughts if I'm not careful.

I sigh, standing up from my spot on the charcoal floor. I don't bother to dust the black dirt off my skin, no one's here to see it anyway. Eyeing the hot waterfall a short distance away, I start walking in its direction with the sole purpose of trying to find a way out again.

This place is like a labyrinth-- a maze meant to drive you insane with each step you take. And as I make my way to the final surge of the river Phlegethon --I remember it because Hades showed it to me on his bident-- I have to remind myself where I'm headed. One stray thought will make you forget what you're doing.

I part my lips open, admiring the nearing cataract. The boiling whirlpool isn't so much a river of water as it is molten lava, and it's the prettiest yet scariest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. It's height could rival the tallest building in the New York City skyline, and even as I'm unaffected by the heat in Tartarus, I can feel the warmth the falling matter emanates.

I extend a hand to the shiny magma, unable to resist touching its clay-like consistency. I've seen close-up pictures of lava, and I've always imagined it felt squishy and satisfying. Something about its thick, bubbly appearance makes you want to ignore your instincts and squeeze it in between your fingers. And as my skin comes into contact with it, I realize I was right.

Lava feels like hot, colorful play-doh. It feels heavy and gooey as it falls on my head when I step beneath it, I've been trying to reach the other side since I gained movement in my legs. But every time I walk into the center of the flaming vortex, something solid and invisible stops me from continuing my path across the second half. And this time is no different.

I kick and pound my fists on the unseeable force, trying --and failing-- to break through the entire ring. I look around, surveying the never-ending peak of the plunging magma. I wonder if the only way out is to somehow be thrown up the mouth and thrust forward to land on solid ground.

Suddenly feeling dizzy from trying to find the top, I lower my gaze and shake my head, turning back around and walking into the empty fields. I'm approaching my usual spot at the center of the blazing space when something out the corner of my eye catches my attention.

It's dark and fuzzy, and it's growing larger and larger as it moves towards me. I squint my eyes to make out the outline in my distant vision, inhaling a sharp bout of air as I realize it's an unexpected visitor.

I close my eyes, swallowing down a thick lump of fear. I've tried summoning my weapon before, but it doesn't appear at my side like it used to. I'm completely vulnerable in a place I can't run away from.

"It is time," their voice calls out. It's smooth and steady, like the sound of water dropping on a level surface. It's neutral and almost a whisper-- terrifyingly even and cool like the darkness surrounding me.

I shake my head furiously, stepping away from the approaching person. No. No. No! I can't die again! I can't face Hades for judgement! It's going to be so hard to look him in the eye and see our future crumble at my feet-- especially if I'm going to be forced to forget him!

I'm not even wearing any makeup!

"Do not fear, young immortal. I am neither friend nor foe."

Immortal? So I was right?!

I shakily step forward, extending a hand in the direction of the voice. The more they near my spot, the more I realize they have a feminine intonation.

"Who are you?" I ask tentatively, squinting my eyes again to make out their features. I go rigid when they abruptly come to a stop in front of me, and I gasp when I take in their image. The woman in front of me is outlined only by a faint blue light, but the glowing design on her arm and her ebony skin are unmistakable.

"I am darkness, I am the night. I am that which moves among the shadows."

I press my lips together, peering at the emblem glistening on her shoulder. It's the shape of a half circle, with three stars decorating its inner cavity.

"The time has come to bear that which retribution has preserved and created anew."

She extends a gentle hand, boring holes into my face with her intense stare. I hesitantly accept it, following her as she turns around and heads in the direction of the whirlpool.

"I thought you died," I blurt, wincing as soon as the words fly out my mouth. I want to kick myself for saying something so insensitive to one of the universe's most ancient and powerful beings. Thankfully though, she doesn't show any signs of being offended.

"I can not be killed."

I nod, still curious. I want to ask why she sacrificed herself then, if she can't die, but I choose not to say anything because I don't want to risk annoying her. She leads me to the center of the looming waterfall, reaching to hold my other hand and pinning me with a penetrating gaze. It's so fixed, I wonder if she's reading my thoughts.

She tightens her grip on my hands, flattening her stare and materializing a dagger. My eyes grow wide when I realize what she's coalesced, and I start to squirm beneath her firm hold as she releases one of my hands to reach for the floating knife.

She flits her gaze to me, glaring at me to stand still.

"Hey! Let me go!" I screech, tugging on my arm. She presses her lips together, frowning at my struggle to break loose. Shaking her head, she raises the dagger and swiftly plunges it into the skin of my upper arm, right beneath my shoulder, before I have the chance to shake free.

A scream gets lodged in my throat as I realize I don't feel sharp pain, and instantly an orange glow dances along the width of my arm in a back and forth motion. I part my lips in awe, reaching to touch the golden fluid oozing out the wound. Tentative fingertips brush the hot emblem, exploring its snake design and coming into contact with ichor.

It's about an inch wide and two inches long, and it flows down my skin in the shape of a fancy S. As soon as the blood dries up, faint, orange light starts to streak down my veins, letting me see the structure of the vessels running beneath both my forearms.

"Fídi," she says calmly, lightly throwing the dagger up the air. Placing her palm below it, it disintegrates into nothing, and she extends a hand to my arm. She places a finger on the tender skin, inspecting the contours of its glow.

"Embodiment of TÁRTAROS, bear now the fury of your dominion," she declares, grabbing my injured arm and thrusting it into the invisible barrier of the whirlpool's second half. I hiss out a cry as I suddenly feel its intense heat searing into the open gash on my skin, bitting down on my lip so hard, I tear through its soft plushness.

Bright, blinding light erupts from my arm, and it starts to feel numb as fire enters my bloodstream, spreading throughout my entire body and burning a path down my palms. I fist my hands at the heavy sensations of the vortex's pressure, feeling my legs go weak at the intensity of its weight as I fall to a heap on the sooty ground.

My muscles twitch as soon as the tension is lifted off me, and the woman of darkness steps into my line of sight, extending me a hand. Ignoring the protests of my body as I sit up, I take her hand and let her help me stand. She tugs me into following her, and we step across the second half of the waterfall successfully.

"Young immortal," she says, turning to me, "Will the domain to do as you ask, it will expel you from its threshold and introduce you to solid ground."

I wrinkle my forehead, looking down at myself and my lack of attire.

"I can't leave like this! What if someone sees me?"

The woman looks me up and down, reaching for a long, thick shawl cloaked around her shoulders. She hands it to me, gesturing for me to put it on, making me frown.

"Isn't the fire going to burn it?" I ask, taking it and wrapping it around me. I fasten it around my body tightly, knotting it mid-thigh to make it look like a cute, strapless dress. She shakes her head.

"It will not."

I eye her doubtfully, stepping forward and willing Tartarus to take me to solid ground.