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Zagreus pulled himself out of the Styx once more, having lost track of just how many times this had happened.
“Blood and darkness…” he muttered, furiously.
Hypnos was asleep—not that Zagreus needed a recap of what had happened to him. Inwardly fuming, Zagreus strode past him, glaring daggers at his father’s empty throne.
“He really gets some sick pleasure out of this, doesn’t he…?” he asked.
“Prince?”
Zagreus turned around, trying to hide the ire meant for his father as he looked upon Dusa once more. Her expression was one of deep sympathy.
“It happened again, didn’t it?” she asked.
Zagreus grunted in agreement.
“I’m so sorry, Prince.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Dusa,” Zagreus assured her. “If anything, knowing that you’re here after I’ve died and revived again softens the blow.”
“I’m glad to be able to provide you with some comfort, Prince—truly, I am.”
“I know you are, Dusa, and I appreciate it,” Zagreus sighed. “You know, I wonder if this is what Than meant.”
Dusa blinked in confusion.
“Meant about what?” she asked.
“Well, the last time this happened—he overheard me complain about dying again,” Zagreus recounted. “He told me that there were many fates worse than death.”
“He’s right,” Dusa replied, without hesitation.
Zagreus looked to her in surprise, and she turned away, blushing as she usually did, but it wasn’t out of her usual shyness—it was out of shame.
“…Dusa…?”
“There’s much about me you don’t know, Prince,” she said, her voice uncharacteristically serious. “You know I don’t like talking about my past.”
“Yes, and I respect that,” Zagreus assured her.
“And I’m grateful,” she acknowledged. “But the things I haven’t said aren’t because I’m afraid of losing your friendship. They are thing that I’ve been trying to forget for centuries. I have many regrets about my life, but I thank you, Prince, for giving me a fresh start here in my afterlife.”
“If there’s anything I can do…”
“You’ve already done it,” she assured him.
Zagreus paused.
“Dusa, why don’t we go have something to eat? I’m sure the Head Chef has made something grand out of all the river denizens I’ve been giving him—and I think you could use a break.”
Dusa managed a smile.
“I would enjoy that, Prince—if you’re sure I wouldn’t be overstepping—”
“It’s my invitation, Dusa,” he reminded her. “You’re not overstepping anything.”
Dusa gave a shy nod, and they headed to the lounge together. She had endured much in life, but she was grateful indeed for what she had in her afterlife.